Oral Presentation Abstracts - Human Services/Social Sciences

What You Don’t Know May Hurt You: Women and Breast Cancer
By Judith Belizaire, Long Island University

According to the current statistics, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women between the ages of 40- to 55 in the United States. It is important to inform women about lowering the risks of breast cancer by living a healthier lifestyle such as exercising, eating healthy and not smoking and drinking alcohol. The presentation will review lifestyle choices and ways in which women can detect breast cancer during earlier stages. Finally, how professionals in the field of occupational therapy can assist women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. More specifically, how Occupational therapists assist breast cancer patients in utilizing the most effective treatments to help improve their level of physical and mental function and to enhance their quality of life.

Youth Violence Prevention
By Daniel Bonnet, Manhattanville College

In today’s world youth violence can be seen throughout television, newspapers and even in our own community. The youth of today need a place where they can feel safe and comfortable to come together and talk about different issues they go through every day. They at times need to break down the barriers that exist between teens of different ethnic groups. The barriers youth create between different cliques and the relationship with teachers in their schools. In a series of interactive activities done in experiential workshops in retreat like settings called Power of Peace; approximately 95 participants from New Rochelle High School, take an opportunity to look at their lives. The uniqueness is that each person’s life experiences make what they encounter in a workshop significant. Their life story becomes a manual that they follow over the course of the workshop. The fact is that most high schools in the country have issues where diverse students are not able to communicate. This was also shared by 99% of the young people that attended the workshops. They also addressed issues of interaction between students and teachers. The research was conducted as an observation of each group’s participation in the workshop, and a pre/post test survey that was designed to measure attitudes towards themselves, others and alternatives to violence. The surveys also included space for narrative comments. Many of the results indicated that the youth of today have concerns with trust and desire a place or a person they can confide in. They enjoy the fact that they can interact with peers from different ethnic backgrounds and personalities. Also, the relationships that are formed with other students and teachers are taken back into the school environment after the workshop. Many participants state that “It is a life changing experience!”. The results indicate that this is so. The strategy is not necessarily to change the culture of a community or school environment but rather to change the climate in which they live and to give them a clearer perception of the world that they inhabit and find positive alternatives for themselves and their community. The intended work is to eventually have all students participate in the workshops and to further evaluate the progress.

PAX 6, Finding New Target Sequences
By Nicholas Calder, Cornell University

This was purely a paper research project. Paper where red to figure out the known target sequences of PAX6 transcription factor. A genomic electronic library was used to analyze the exact sequences of the target sequences. The sequences produced a consensus sequence which was then used a reference in order to locate other sequence with the mouse genome that might possibly be effected by the PAX6 transcription factor. This Paired Box 6 protein binds to many regions in the genome, and is most commonly involved in the development of the eye. It is speculated the PAX6 is also involved in the development of the brains, and various parts of the nervous system. No new target sequences where discovered in my own research. Now according to many papers, new sequences have been discovered, and also the PAX6 gene is not a protein that works on it own. It was believe that PAX6 functioned alone but current research has reveal that PAX6 works in close relationship with other PAX factors. It has also been reveal that the ratio of PAX factors to one another play an important role in the gene expression that occurs afterwards.

I will attempt to present whatever I can about my research from my last year in high school, so that it serve as an example of how even ordinary people can be involved in the scientific process without spending huge amounts of cash. After presenting what I did, I will attempt to discuss the developments made in the understanding of PAX6, especially in terms of functioning target genes.

Are Women Dissatisfied With Their Body Image?
By Omnia Ibrahim, Fordham College

A thin body figure is believed to be society’s ideal appearance. The numbers of women with eating disorders have been drastically increasing due to society’s pressure on female body image. Society also plays a factor on a man’s view on how a female body should appear to be. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether women are dissatisfied with their figure, whether a society is factor to their dissatisfaction/disorder and do women differ from men in their perception. In this study 14 people were randomly selected; 7 females and 7 males. Each person was given a questionnaire indicating their age, sex, occupation and ethnicity. Followed by that, they were given a package, this included silhouettes (generated female body images). Women were to indicate the silhouette that most closely represents their own body conformation by encircling it and writing S in the circle, the silhouette that most closely represents their ideal body conformation by encircling it and writing I in the circle, the silhouette that most closely represents the average female by encircling it and writing A in the circle, and the silhouette that most closely represents the society’s ideal body conformation by encircling it and writing SI in the circle. Men were asked to follow the same procedure excluding the figure the closely represent their figure. Results indicated there were evidence women were dissatisfied with their body image. Results also showed society played a role in dissatisfaction.