Gemstone Team Research

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/9070

The Gemstone Program at the University of Maryland is a unique multidisciplinary four-year research program for selected undergraduate honors students of all majors. Under guidance of faculty mentors and Gemstone staff, teams of students design, direct and conduct significant research, often but not exclusively exploring the interdependence of science and technology with society. Gemstone students are members of a living-learning community comprised of fellow students, faculty and staff who work together to enrich the undergraduate experience. This community challenges and supports the students in the development of their research, teamwork, communication and leadership skills. In the fourth year, each team of students presents its research in the form of a thesis to experts, and the students complete the program with a citation and a tangible sense of accomplishment.

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Start date: 2009End date: 2009

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 14
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    Identification and assessment of potential wind energy project sites in the State of Maryland
    (2009-06) Conroy, Erin M.; Green, David A.; Hannam, Phillip M.; Kosmer, Matthew R.; Meiseles, Alexander S.; Roach, Emma K.; Singhania, Sumegha K.; Zhang, Amy D.; Kim, Jungho
    The international scientific community has reached consensus that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to minimize global climate change impacts on the environment, economy, and public health. In 2007, the University of Maryland's Climate Action Plan Workgroup was tasked with charting the University’s path toward carbon neutrality. To aid in this effort, this report identifies the best sites in Western Maryland for wind development. Geographic information systems data on wind speed, land protections, and transmission infrastructure were used to assign scores for physical, social and environmental characteristics of prospective sites. Attribute scores were entered into a systematic weighting system to determine overall site suitability. A financial analysis was conducted for the highest ranked sites using RETScreen software, which generated projections for payback periods and return on investment. The list of suitable sites produced through this research provides the University with a starting point for exploration of off-site wind power production.
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    Harvesting life's energy: increase in the aerotolerence of the electrogenic anaerobe geobacter sulfurreducens due to over-expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase
    (2009-05) Axe, Jennifer; Billmyre, R. Blake; Duty, Kevin Heffner; Hitz, Greg; Trager, Lauren; Weatherford, Allison
    Geobacter-based microbial fuel cells are becoming increasingly viable as a source of alternative energy. Current research and commercial application have been slowed by the inability of Geobacter species to tolerate the presence of oxygen. Oxidative stress protection enzymes normally play a key role in protecting cells from oxygen damage. This project hypothesizes that the over-expression of two important oxidative stress protection enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase, can increase aerotolerance. These genes were amplified from the genome of Geobacter sulfurreducens and cloned into plasmid pRG5 behind the ptaclac promoter. This plasmid was transformed into both E. coli and G. sulfurreducens to examine oxygen tolerance, gene expression, and enzyme activity. Preliminary data show increases in enzyme activity in E. coli and an increase in aerotolerance in G. sulfurreducens for both genes. This seems to be the first example of an increase in an obligate anaerobe's aerotolerance due to the intentional introduction of oxidative stress genes.
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    An investigation of the stability and diffusivity of flexible lipid vesicles for transdermal insulin delivery
    (2009-05) Baumgarten, David; Chait, Nicole; Chen, David; Do, Linh-Yen; Johnston, James; Lu, Keran; Quinn, Kevin; Tylka, Benjamin; Vichayakul, Vanessa; Zhou, Yishan; Wang, Nam Sun
    Flexible lipid vesicles have the potential of complementing or even replacing traditional needle injection methods for insulin delivery. Vesicles are made flexible by the incorporation of a chemical surfactant which may also hinder their stability. We studied the changes in the size and apparent flexibility of vesicles with varying surfactant concentrations over time and the effects these changes have on vesicle diffusion. We found that increased surfactant concentrations lead to greater size fluctuations. In addition, we witnessed a significant decrease in the flexibility of vesicles over six weeks, while the diffusivity of surfactant infused liposomes increased over a single week. Our data suggests that while surfactants are necessary in vesicles for transdermal drug delivery, their long-term stability is uncertain. Using our diffusion data, we developed a model to estimate the insulin delivering capacity of a hypothetical insulin patch which has the potential to stabilize vesicles for extended periods of time.
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    A study of the benefits of retrofitting cardiovascular exercise equipment of a gym with human energy harvesting technology
    (2009-05) Blechman, Adam; Braker, George; Chodnicki, Brad; DuBow, Esther; Pernia, Kelly; Sy, Timothy; Thompson, Matthew; Tucker, Jordan; Kofinas, Peter
    This study seeks to identify the benefits of implementing human energy harvesting technology in gym exercise equipment. The central premise is that work put into fitness equipment by gym members can be used to generate electricity for the gym. This supplemental energy source can reduce the gym's overall need for electricity, therefore enhancing the gym as a green gym similar to the way of other alternative energy sources. The study includes an analysis of consumer preferences using detailed survey questionnaires, as well as an investigation of energy efficiency of gym establishments. Moreover, the feasibility of implementing this technology was evaluated from the standpoint of a business plan. By exploring the issue of a green gym from each of these three perspectives, this research shows that retrofitting a gym with energy harvesting technology can successfully enhance the image of the gym while making its operations more profitable.
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    Improving the use of asset-building financial services by Latino immigrants in Langley Park, Maryland
    (2009-05) Fonseca, Maíra; George, Jason; Girgis, Maryann; Langer, Miriam; Mont, Alexander; Robinson, Shaun; Sriram, Maitreya; Beard, Brian; Grossman, Jeremiah
    Throughout the country, low-income, Latino immigrant populations are more likely than others to have difficulty accessing financial services that meet their needs. Langley Park, Maryland, a community with a very large population of recent immigrants, is an ideal place to study this problem. We conducted an analysis of preexisting quantitative data and held a series of focus groups with Latino immigrants in Langley Park. We asked participants about their experiences with and knowledge of financial services. We found that mainstream financial institutions were not always meeting the needs of our target population. We concluded that being “banked” is not always preferable to being “unbanked” – rather, the products and services provided, not who the provider is, are most important. We developed a set of guidelines to help financial institutions (both mainstream and fringe), NGOs, and other local organizations develop financial products that meet the needs of our target population.
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    A navigation and object location device for the blind
    (2009-05) Caperna, Steve; Cheng, Christopher; Cho, Junghee; Fan, Victoria; Luthra, Avishkar; O'Leary, Brendan; Sheng, Jansen; Sun, Andrew; Stearns, Lee; Tessler, Roni; Wong, Paul; Yeh, Jimmy; Chellappa, Rama; Tang, Cha-Min
    Team Vision's goal is to create a navigation system for the blind. To achieve this, we took a multi-pronged approach. First, through surveys, we assessed the needs of the blind community and developed a system around those needs. Then, using recent technology, we combined a global positioning system (GPS), inertial navigation unit (INU), computer vision algorithms, and audio and haptic interfaces into one system. The GPS and INU work together to provide walking directions from building to building when outdoors and the computer vision algorithms identify and locate objects such as signs and landmarks, both indoors and outdoors. The speech-based interface ties the GPS, INU, and computer vision algorithms together into an interactive audio-based navigation device. Finally, the haptic interface provides an alternative intuitive directional guidance system. The resulting system guides users to speci ed buildings and to important objects such as cellular telephones, wallets, or even restroom or exit signs.
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    Mobilizing Maryland: a look into the voting tendencies of students at the University of Maryland
    (2009-05) Choi, Sarah; Jhaveri, Alka; Keefe, Kristen; Murali, Supraja; Kiesa, Abby
    Team VOTE-CP, Voice of the Electorate – Collegiate Participation, studied voting behaviors of undergraduate students at the University of Maryland. The team conducted focus groups and campus-wide surveys to gather information about barriers to voting as well as students’ history and motivations for voting. The resulting quantitative data helped determine a mobilization tactic that focused on distributing candidate information and absentee ballots during the 2008 Presidential Election to treatment and control groups. Statistically non-significant data gives no concrete indication of the tactic’s effectiveness; however, the data from the experiment will provide information and recommendations to aid in further research regarding youth voting and to increase voter turnout at the University of Maryland and other universities in the future.
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    Glutamine supplementation and renal health
    (2009-05) Ahmad, Daniel; Bansal, Megha; Dillon, Elizabeth; Dorsey, Shauna; Jawed, Aysha; Katz, Perry; Newton, Andy; Palagois, Ashley; Sahu, Anita; Sharkey, Curtis; Sharma, Devang; Tostanoski, Sarah; Rogers, Marc
    Team Juiced designed a multi-faceted research project surrounding the potential risk of college students using protein supplements developing kidney disease. Survey research showed that participants taking protein supplements were ingesting double the recommended allowance based on literature values for average American dietary protein intake. Participants predisposed to kidney disease were no less likely to take protein supplements. Kidney cell modeling showed the molecular response to glutamine, an important protein building block. A significant increase in the gene expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor and two sclerotic markers was found in response to glutamine exposure. Gene expression was time- and dose-dependent. Enzymatic degradation and high performance liquid chromatography showed that three popular protein supplements contained more glutamine than stated by the manufacturers.
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    Crossing the cultural divide: assessing the needs of a local immigrant community
    (2009-05) Chisholm, Victoria; Chow, Nancy; Fei, Stephanie; Finder, Jennifer; Gan, Sarah; Hosseinipour, Nicole; Kumar, Priya; Wilson, Allison; Moghadam, Linda
    Located less than three miles from the University of Maryland – College Park, the Langley Park area is a vibrant immigrant enclave. Language and cultural differences, however, may affect residents’ ability to access community services. A comprehensive needs assessment of the community was conducted to determine service utilization, satisfaction with available services and unmet needs. This assessment included a survey of residents and interviews with community leaders and service providers. The results show that the primary obstacle to adequately meeting residents’ needs is the language barrier. Other findings include a need for more accessible legal services, affordable health care based on preventative efforts and increased security and police presence. It is recommended that service providers focus on improving methods of outreach and offering a greater variety of bilingual services to better serve the area’s population.
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    Detection methods for common problems in solar home systems
    (2009-05) Lomaskin, Mark; Mahony, Rebecca; Mooney, Lindsay; Robinson, Ryan; Teitelbaum, Adam; Chang, Peter
    Solar power is a valuable source of electricity for users in the developing world, yet many solar home systems are working at marginal capacity or not functioning at all. This study has two purposes: (1) to determine how common problems afflicting these systems affect the voltage output, and (2) to use patterns in voltage as a means of detecting these problems, via diagnostic tools. Team SHINE simulated common problems on experimental systems, collecting voltage data from the batteries and panels. Using these data, we created computer algorithms to detect the problem affecting the system. After testing several detection methods, it was found that the most successful performed at 86.5% accuracy. The algorithms can be used in future research to create a device for detecting these problems, allowing them to be addressed earlier.