UNDERGRADUATE SYMPOSIUM FOR SCHOLARLY & CREATIVE WORK

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Symposium Judging 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Tommy’s Place at Topping Student Center (Judges only--closed to presenters and general public) Wednesday, April 11, 2007

General Presentations, Exhibits, and Displays 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Trousdale Parkway

Awards Ceremony & Dinner Reception 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 pm University Club

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April 11, 2007

Dear Members of the USC Community:

It is my pleasure to welcome you to USC’s 9th Annual Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work. The Symposium is designed to provide USC undergraduates with the unique opportunity to exhibit and share examples of their significant research, scholarly and creative work with the university community. Although the Symposium is modeled on a professional conference poster session, students may exhibit their work in a variety of ways, such as through posters, art exhibits, and electronic media. All undergraduates are encouraged to participate. An award ceremony recognizing the most outstanding works will take place at the end of the symposium and includes First Prize awards of $1000 and Second Prize awards of $500 in each of the following categories.

• Arts • Humanities • Social Sciences • Life Sciences • Physical Sciences, Mathematics & Engineering

A panel of distinguished faculty will judge submissions in each category. After the judging, you are cordially invited to attend the Award Ceremony in the University Club at 6:00 p.m. where the winners will be announced.

We hope you enjoy USC’s Undergraduate Symposium, which promises to be a highlight of the semester this year and in many years to come.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Garrett Vice President for Academic Planning and Budget

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The USC Undergraduate Symposium for Creative and Scholarly Work provides

undergraduates with the unique opportunity to exhibit and share examples of their

significant research and creativity with the university community. This year, we have received over 80 submissions with participation from over 120 students. Students present work in a variety of ways, such as through poster/panel sessions, art exhibits, and

electronic media. All undergraduates are encouraged to participate. For some students,

the symposium serves as a culmination of work they have produced in partial fulfillment

of a senior honors project, or a research project with faculty, both individually and as part

of a program.

ACKOWLEDGEMENTS

On behalf of the Office of Undergraduate Programs and the Office of the Provost, we

graciously thank USC faculty judges for volunteering their time. The success of the

undergraduate symposium is largely due to the contribution of their expertise in the

judging process. We would like to give special thanks to the USC Trojan Knights for

their faithful service. Also, we would like to give thanks to the faculty advisors who have

sponsored students in this year’s Symposium. Your dedication to embrace teaching

through inquiry-based learning has made this event as successful as it has been. And

finally, we would like to express our gratitude to USC Stevens for their time, effort and

commitment to this special event.

THANK YOU!!!

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9th Annual Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work

Table of Contents

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ...... ii

LETTER FROM VICE PRESIDENT ELIZABETH GARRETT...... iii

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT...... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS...... v

ARTS ...... 1

HUMANITIES...... 7

LIFE SCIENCES ...... 10

PHYSICAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING...... 22

SOCIAL SCIENCES ...... 30

INDEX OF PARTICIPANTS...... 46

INDEX OF PARTICIPANTS BY CATEGORY ...... 50

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series of drawings that would bring light to these stereotypes that are engraved in us by pop culture. My main target became villains and what makes one a CATEGORY "stereotypical" villain. I wanted to be able to make caricatures of these villains in order to add humor to my project so I Arts chose villains that were not cartoons therefore avoiding characters that were already caricatured by creation. I then, using a cross-hatching technique with black pen, set out to draw my chosen villains in non-villainous situations. For example one of the drawings depicts Michael Myers feeding some baby ducks peacefully by a pond. In doing these drawings I hope to bring light to the stereotypes that we have in general and specifically of these perceived villains by humanizing them so as to blur our Category: Arts perceptions. Name(s): Eugenia Sangiovanni Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Ann Page, Fine Arts Category: Arts Format: Creative Work Name(s): Jackie Tu Title: "Complicating Oversimplification" Submission Type: Individual Abstract: Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): In my efforts to include concept in my art, Bernadene Blaha, Thornton School of I decided to challenge the notion of Music, Keyboard Department stereotypes and bring awareness to them Format: Creative Work through a series of drawings. I thus Title: Alberto Ginastera's Twelve began to research common underlying American Preludes, performed by stereotypes amongst our society and to Jackie Tu look into what types of things shape Abstract: these fabricated perceptions we have of others. I came across numerous articles Too often, classical music lives up to its that pointed towards cartoons and stuffy formal reputation, adhering to movies, specifically Disney movies, proper musical forms or composed influencing us as children. The through mathematical equations. True, stereotypical gender roles of women and form provides structure without which men, for example, can become unmusical black dots would erupt from constructed for children by the damsel in the pages of Doheny Music Library’s dusty distress stories where the prince is out to tomes with chaotic cacophony—however, save her. once in a while, serious musicians come across a fun and exciting work that With this idea in mind I set out to create a doesn’t wrestle with mathematically

1 genius complexity. coat of paint and brilliant color designs. Also maiolica’s opaque white glaze makes Alberto Ginastera’s (1916—1983) Twelve it distinguishable from other types of American Preludes comprises of two pottery. One of these techniques which books of six short “mood” pieces, each eventually made its way to Italy was ironically named after traditional forms, lusterware. Lusterware was an iridescent classical techniques, and Ginastera’s paint applied to the ceramics on top of contemporaries. Effortlessly tossed into the other colored painted designs and random wonderfulness, the preludes required a third firing. The background of follow no particular order; Sadness maiolica cannot be traced exactly, succeeds Accents and precedes a rompy however through making connections Creole Dance. Vidala, a non-identifiable between types of art specify and design English word (except in the popular Diablo patterns, and trade, maiolica can be given II computer game in which it serves as the a context in history. Maiolica in Italy name of a specific set of interactive game began to appear as early as the 1200s pieces), follows. Ginastera ends the first and was actively created and traded in the book with a fiery tribute to fellow 14th and 15th centuries. Deruta is a city Argentinean composer Roberto Garcia located in Italy and is best known for their Morillo and begins his second book with maiolica pottery from the 1200s through equally noisily leaping octaves. Ginastera to the 1600s. High quality lusterware then sandwiches a random Pastorale appeared in Deruta in the early 1500s. In between a smoldering slow tribute to order for certain maiolica to be dated, another Argentinean composer Juan Jose they must be placed into historical Castro, a cheerfully dissonant tribute to context. Looking at local and surrounding North American composer Aaron history and culture provides a basis of Copland, and another noisy and rhythmic understanding, which allows art historians tribute to Brazilian Heitor Villa-Lobos. A to place maiolica into a historical context. stately chordal crescendo in the Image designs of Moorish men on pentatonic major mode ends the entire horseback, on pieces of Deruta work, culminating in a crashing finale that lusterware, are similar to images on the slowly decays into nothingness. Portrait medals of Mehmet II. These similar images represent a connection for §§§§ trade and ideas between Turkey, Spain and Italy. Category: Arts Name(s): Jennifer Smith §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Category: Arts Name(s): Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Daniela Bleichmar, Art History; Eunice Patrick Wood Howe, Art History Submission Type: Group Format: Senior Honors Project Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Title: Deruta Lusterware Ceramics from the 1500s Andrea Zittel, Fine Arts Abstract: Format: Creative Work Maiolica is pottery, which has an Title: Good Neighbor iridescent luster, is of a Spain or Islamic Abstract: origin and traveled finally to Italy. Maiolica Good Neighbor is a comedy group. is known for its density of clay, white base We’re young people who strive to create

2 and inspire each other. We were born out of USC’s premier improvisational and Green Flash is a musical journey from sketch comedy troupe Commedus daybreak to sunset. Throughout its five Interruptus, where we’ve entertained and sections I focused on the manipulation of captivated student audiences for our colors and textures rather than thematic entire tenure here. We like to make development. I treat the orchestra as one people laugh, and we also like to make large instrument, capable of creating a people think. It is our belief that one of near infinite number of different colors our greatest strengths lies in our talent as and effects. Through attention to subtle performers. We believe that comedy details and the use of some special comes from truth, and hope we can techniques and effects, the music flows convey this notion through our from color to color seamlessly just as the performances, even when dealing with brilliant colors of a sunset blend in the the absurd. Today, sketch comedy is evening sky. huge, thanks in large part to the Internet, and popular comedy groups like the I wrote the music thinking of a Upright Citizens Brigade. progression of images that one might witness during a day without the We hope to bring something fresh to this adulteration of man’s technology. The new wave of comedy acts. So, our most basic musical building block is the approach is unique. We perform sketches natural harmonic series, representing the live, but also embrace alternate mediums: beauty and symmetry of nature. film, animation, music, and whatever we can find for inspiration from second- hand The world goes by at a faster pace than shops and dollar stores. We want to tell ever, and most people hardly even think real stories about real people. We also to stop what they are doing and look want to tell real stories about real around at the beauty of Mother Nature. Birdmen who fight Dogmen with spears. In Green Flash, I hope to capture a few precious scenes of nature; I hope to §§§§ delight both the aural and the visual imagination simultaneously. Category: Arts Name(s): Roger Zare §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Category: Arts Name(s): Isabelle Shu Morten Lauridsen, Music Composition Submission Type: Individual Format: Creative Work Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Title: Green Flash Abstract: Bart Exposito, Fine Arts Format: Creative Work A green flash is a rare atmospheric phenomenon that occurs as a sunset Title: Internationality: The Grey reaches its end. If conditions are just Movement right, then a spark of green will hover on Abstract: the horizon for a fleeting moment as the In a world of black and white, where are sun disappears. I first witnessed this the shades of grey? subtle effect in Florida a year and a half ago. Seeing this mythical event for the Growing up in a multi-cultural first time inspired this composition. environment, I was exposed to people of

3 different backgrounds and ethnicities. Five time. Trees grow and reproduce to form of my most formative years were spent in forests of identical wooden structures. an international boarding school in Metal ore lies within the earth in an England, where I first witnessed social unchanged form. The wind blows all the segregation - every social clique was same over the planet that has lasted for divided by race. Here at USC, I continue over 4.6 billion years. to notice this separation but to a lesser extent. This project enables me to address Man is a perpetually evolving organism on this issue by showing that if you take planet earth. Mankind has changed both away the color, are we really so different? physically and psychologically and continues to grow as the dominant race §§§§ across the world. Man's personal evolution in turn parallels his ability to Category: Arts recognize and use the natural elements of Name(s): Ehrin Marlow the earth to his own personal benefit. Submission Type: Individual Wood was originally used for fuel as fire, but now serves to build the base of Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): residential houses. Metal is melted and Paul Backer, Theatre; Paula Cizmar, shaped to make pipes for an artificial Theatre running water system. Man can now Format: Creative Work analyze the molecular composition of the Title: Lost In Thought air and gain a greater understanding of Abstract: what truly allows man to live on his planet A One Act Play about a Therapy Session earth. The array of elements themselves between a patient that has conversations has grown itself over time with the in his head and the doctor that he has discoveries of man. conversations in his head with. The patient and doctor get lost in the patients This sculptural presentation reflects on thoughts. It is an existential study of the man's appreciation for the natural writer’s struggles to complete a story. Is elements of the earth and reveals several the story completely in his head? The play ways in which man either studies or uses is an exploration into the mind of the the elements to benefit humankind as a playwright and his actors, some real and whole. Man's continues to evolve in his some fictional. world and thus he develops new and different uses for the resources at his §§§§ disposal. This presentation only skims the surface of man's relation to the offerings Category: Arts of the planet. Name(s): Benjamin Brown §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Jay Willis, Fine Arts Format: Creative Work Title: Man Adapts to the Natural World Abstract: The natural elements of the earth are substances that remain constant over

4 Category: Arts Category: Arts Name(s): Nicholas Lopez Name(s): Mariana Evans Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Tamar Diesendruck, Composition Robert Ballo, School Of Cinematic Arts; Format: Creative Work Kenny Hall, School of Cinematic Arts Title: Soleá Montoya Sound; Duke Underwood, School of Abstract: Cinematic Arts Format: Creative Work In 1928, Spanish poet Federico García Lorca successfully captured ‘duende’ - the Title: Sunrise (short film) austere, sorrowful, and passionate spirit Abstract: of gypsy life – in his poem 'Romance de le SUNRISE SYNOPSIS pena negra'. Never before had a poet so A tragic drama in a post apocalyptic world evocatively manifested the dark after an atomic bomb goes off in Los sentiments and painful innuendo of Angeles. The people in this story have Andalusian life to such critical and popular been exposed to enough radiation that acclaim. That poem, part of a larger their immune systems cannot fight back collection titled “Romancero Gitano” the common cold that has become a married academic literary technique to the plague among the ones left behind in the woes of an outcast people to produce a disaster zones. The story follows a young shockingly brutal yet dignified portrayal of couple the night before they die. It is the Spanish gypsy plight. For myself, about hope, beauty, art and the feeling 'Romance' achieves something much that there is more to us than just this life. more fundamental; it provides an The protagonist, Jasmine, is in love with a exceptionally raw rendition of a people painter who manages to find the beauty that dare to celebrate the inner darkness that the world can offer even in the most of human anguish. horrific of times. His paintings become a sign for Jasmine upon his death. The look Capturing the essence of duende in music of this film is dream like and poetic. is nothing new. For centuries, gypsies have wailed their suffering to the drone §§§§ of guitars and the rhythm of clapping. To behold duende in music is a fantastic Category: Arts experience, the intense fervor and passion Name(s): Ari Levinson of the performers penetrates and Submission Type: Individual mesmerizes without fail. Most flamenco Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): performances have an element of duende in them. However, much as the Spanish Joanna Demers, Arts and Letters; Amanda generally regard duende as an elusive Pope, Cinema spirit, not all performances maintain it. Format: Creative Work For me, it’s not enough to simply imitate Title: The Red Earth: Living With Nature flamenco. Rather, it is more important to in East Africa capture duende and manifest it – as Lorca Abstract: once did – for a new group of performers Africa is changing. Telephone poles and and audience members. paved roads are appearing where none were before. At the same time, the §§§§ Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania,

5 perhaps the oldest culture in the world, maintain their ties with the land. Surrounded by the vastness of the African wilderness, they have learned to live with nature.

Nature, of course, continues as it always has: slowly, unperturbed. The Maasai become a part of the landscape. They are the red earth which feeds all life. They are the tall trees where the baboons take shelter from the African sun.

The African wildlife pass like the shadows of clouds on the tall grass. Lion cubs play in the shade, and impalas watch from a safe distance. There is a sense of balance in everything here. Giraffe and Topi keep watch together over the hillside as the light rolls over them.

The Maasai, the stewards of the land, raise their children under the infinite African sky. Follow them, and they will lead you into the bush, on a tour of this majestic land. Listen for their footsteps ahead of you, even if you don’t see them. And when you find their footprints, you’ll know they walk lightly on the red earth. §§§§

6 an emotional experience for the player. I compared the game Final Fantasy VII with Arthur Miller’s All My Sons in order to elaborate on parallels of dramatic CATEGORY storytelling used in both that elicited emotion from people. Next, I evaluate how music has been used in theatre to Humanities conjure emotions through dynamics, pitch, and tempo. I drew upon research to explain how music could be emotional through context and past experiences of an individual and their society. Then I reflect upon how the theatre has utilized these elements to elicit emotions from the audience and how it is applied in the video game Chrono Trigger. §§§§

Category: Humanities Category: Humanities Name(s): Sola Aiyegbusi Name(s): Tina Huynh Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Paul Backer, Theatre Margaret Rosenthal, Italian and Comparative Literature Format: Creative Work Format: Creative Work Title: Dramaturgical Techniques Used in Video Games through Elicit Title: More than Pretty Women: The Emotions Geisha and Courtesan in Popular Western Film Abstract: Abstract: This project evaluated the methods of theatre that could translate to video Since antiquity, poets and artists have games in order to provide an emotional represented the prostitute as victim and experience for the game player. This siren. Little has changed in popular project evaluated elements of story Western culture, when we still see these composition, character composition, archetypes have been transferred to the music and its relation to emotions, music medium of film. Most recently, and its utilization in Western Theatre, and filmmakers have created a prostitute who how each can be implemented to make a is also an independent and accomplished video game an emotionally compelling heroine--but is she really? experience. The premise of my project was that an emotional video game, at its A subgroup of this character type, who core, possessed specific theatrical also defies the prostitute label, has elements to enhance the emotion the become a recognizable protagonist in player would feel while playing a video popular cinema. The geisha and the game. I analyzed two different video courtesan are represented in several games in order to show how each used Western films as selling their arts and the elements of story and music to create skills along with sex. They were historically, some of the most educated

7 and talented women of their time, seeing underlying constraints that dictate themselves as artists, poets, and nickname formation. Researchers have professional dancers. Sex was only a part chosen to focus on hypocoristic formation of their trade. In my project, I compare in four languages from four separate the self-representation of these language families - Polish from the Slavic extraordinary women in their family, Japanese from the Altaic family, autobiographies and poetry with how French from the Romance family, and they are portrayal in modern Western film Arabic from the Semitic family. within the last 10 years. Researchers will present data from these four languages and provide a template to The three films I will focus on are form one's own nickname in any of these "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Kama Sutra: A languages. This format is designed to Tale of Love", and "Dangerous Beauty", demonstrate that nickname formation is which represent the nations of Japan, systematic, and that each language forms India, and Italy respectively. In my project, nicknames within its own set of rules, or I argue that while these films set out to constraint rankings. enlighten a misinformed public about the lives and customs of geisha and §§§§ courtesans and succeed to a certain extent, they fail to escape the typical Category: Humanities prostitute love story. The Hollywood Name(s): Kristin Butler, Carly Dykes, vehicle is inherently flawed, inevitably Hannah Marcuson, Elizabeth romanticizing and marginalizing the lives Martin del Campo, Georgiana and artistic accomplishments of these Nikias, Ashley Sands women. Submission Type: Group §§§§ Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Karen Stern, Religion; Lynn Swartz Dodd, Category: Humanities Religion; Bruce Zuckerman, Religion Name(s): Ashley Flor, Michelle Sklaver, Format: Laboratory-based Research Joe Ungco Title: Re-examining the Past: a Multi- Submission Type: Group University Collaborative Research and Mentoring Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Abstract: Anna Lubowicz, Linguistics Fifty years ago, world-renowned experts Format: Field Research examined a collection of Mesopotamian Title: Nicknames Uncovered cylinder seals. In 2006, 36 USC Abstract: undergraduates reexamined them with The objective of this research project is to cutting-edge imaging technology and examine hypocoristic formation in various critical eyes in order to confirm or revise languages. Hypocoristic formation is the the original findings. New attributions and study of how nicknames are formed from interpretations resulted from this work. a phonological perspective. This was This research project reveals the power of done in various language families, collaborative research by committed including Slavic, Baltic, Romance, Semitic, undergraduates from two major research Germanic, and Altaic. Researchers universities. This collaboration created collected and analyzed data using the new information resources for the methods of Optimality Theory (Prince and museum that owns these ancient Smolensky 1993) in order to discover the artifacts, and these results will be

8 published on that museum’s website. from notable successes like "The Sims"). East Asia, however, is a different case Cylinder seals are small cylindrical entirely. Japan in particular is intriguing artifacts, generally made of semi-precious for its seeming contradictions. stone and decorated with carvings and inscriptions. These seals were used Nintendo, long known for being one of continuously throughout three thousand the few companies able to reach years of Mesopotamian history. They traditionally unreachable demographics functioned like modern signatures as they with its games, has achieved such a high were rolled over clay to verify documents level of mainstream success that I would and protect enclosed contents or worn have assumed that basically everyone in around the neck as protective amulets. Japan - females included - was interested Cylinder seals provide critical historical in gaming. However, as my research information to archaeologists because shows, quite the opposite is true, and they reveal information about those who female gamers in Japan are not only more controlled the flow of goods in society, rare than their counterparts in the States, whether on a personal or societal level. but even more stigmatized than their American counterparts. Like the cylinder seals recently looted in Iraq, these seals lack a find spot. Our §§§§ research is the only way to connect the existing artifact to its ancient origin. Through intensive comparative research we each analyzed a seal’s iconography, inscriptions, material and techniques in order to recover lost information about the seals and their owners. Our project is valuable to both archaeologists and the broader public because our research recovers a context for these orphaned archaeological finds. §§§§

Category: Humanities Name(s): Jonathan Zabel Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Chris Swain, Interactive Media Format: Field Research Title: The Great Divide: Gender Parity in Gaming Abstract: For many, it is a common conception that gaming is a largely male pastime. Western game developers have long coveted the female market segment, but have largely failed in their efforts (aside

9 remains unclear, but it has been suggested that the E2 receptor alpha (ERα;) and the G protein subunit Gα;i/o are involved. This study demonstrates that CATEGORY E2-mediated neuroprotection against NMDA induced excitotoxicity and ERK

activation involved a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) mechanism. Biochemical Life and image analysis of cultured hippocampal slices revealed that E2- Sciences mediated neuroprotection is sensitive to pertussis toxin (PTX), a blocker of Gα;i/o. Immunoblot analysis of cortical cultures showed that E2-induced ERK activation is also sensitive to PTX, while E2 treatment induced GPCR-kinase 2 (GRK2) activation.

Treatment of cortical cultures with E2

initiated the recruitment of ß-arrestin-1, a

GPCR adaptor protein, to ERα; and in a

synaptic membrane preparation ERα; was internalized after E2 stimulation. In Category: Life Sciences addition, image analysis of cortical Name(s): Eric Hu neurons revealed that the ER agonist E2- Submission Type: Individual BSA(FITC) binds to neuronal membranes Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): and also becomes internalized. These findings demonstrate that E2-mediated Michel Baudry, Neuroscience; Reymundo neuroprotection and ERK activation Dominguez, Neuroscience involve Gα;i/o, GRK, ß-arrestin-1, and Format: Laboratory-based Research ERα; suggesting E2 utilizes a GPCR Title: 17-ß-Estradiol mediated mechanism of action. Studying the neuroprotection and extracellular mechanism of E2 action will help us to signal regulated kinase understand its role in the progression and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases Abstract: such as Alzheimer’s. 17-ß-Estradiol (E2) is a steroid hormone known to be involved in sexual §§§§ development, the cardiovascular

system, and bone production. We have demonstrated that E2 is also Category: Life Sciences neuroprotective against excitotoxicity Name(s): Bhavraj Khalsa induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate Submission Type: Individual (NMDA), a glutamate receptor Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): agonist. Additionally, this James Weiland, Ophthalmology and neuroprotection requires the activation of the extracellular signal Biomedical Engineering regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. The Format: Laboratory-based Research mechanism and the identity of the Title: An in vitro Model for a Retinal receptor involved in E2-mediated Prosthesis neuroprotection and ERK activation Abstract:

10 Retinitis Pigmentosa and Age-Related Category: Life Sciences Macular Degeneration are the two most Name(s): Nancy Quach, Taylr Takagi, common outer retinal degenerative Yen-Jung (Joanna) Woo diseases. Currently, the best hope for Submission Type: Group individuals with these blinding diseases is Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): a retinal prosthesis, which transduces a physical light stimulus into an artificial Darryl Shibata, Pathology electrical impulse. The goal of this study is Format: Laboratory-based Research to understand the electrical properties of Title: Analysis of Mutations in Colorectal the retina which will allow the prosthesis Cancer Characterized by Rapid to evoke responses that are well Growth correlated with the stimulus. We looked Abstract: at two aspects of retinal response to Cancer is one of the leading causes of electrical stimulation in salamander death in America in which half of men retinas. A custom-built micro-electrode and one-third of all women will develop. array was used to stimulate and record Cancer is characterized by uncontrollable from the retina. First, we looked at the and abnormal cell growth believed to be effect of electrode-electrode interactions caused by genomic mutations. for cell sites in between stimulating Observations suggest that most cancers electrodes. Cells were stimulated either develop gradually over a period of time with a single electrode, with two and can be detected with regular electrodes of opposite polarity, or with surveillance by practitioners. For example, two electrodes of same polarity. Next, we the development of colorectal cancer is sought to determine frequency thought to take decades. Yet, despite dependence of the response and delivered regular checkups, some patients develop pulse trains to retinal ganglion cells, colorectal cancer within a short period of increasing the pulse frequency for time, which suggests that these cases of successive trains. The resulting data cancer developed at surprisingly presented a counterintuitive result: charge accelerated rates. The goal of our threshold was twice as high for dual research is to determine if some monopolar stimulation than for monoplar mutations are responsible for more rapidly or bipolar stimulation. With respect to growing colorectal cancer. Our study pulse stimulation, frequency greater than compares BRAF, KRAS and Beta-Catenin 10-20 Hz effectively eliminated pre- mutations between rapidly growing synaptic input. These results indicate that colorectal cancer that arise a few years 1) charge is not the only mitigating factor after a negative clinical examination and one needs to consider electric field (colonoscopy) and cancer that arise perturbations from electrode-electrode sporadically with an unknown growth interactions and 2) one can take interval. Potentially the frequencies of advantage of existing mechanisms to these mutations may differ between the drive target ganglion cells by increasing cancers, and therefore suggests certain frequency to eliminate complex pre- mutations are associated with more rapid synaptic input. cancer growth. §§§§ §§§§

11 Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Brad Johnson §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Category: Life Sciences Julia Kroh, Tanya Nguyen John Heidelberg, Biology Name(s): Submission Type: Group Format: Laboratory-based Research Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Title: Anammox in Catalina Island Sediments Melvin Lyon, Biological Sciences Abstract: Format: Laboratory-based Research Anaerobic ammonium oxidizing Title: Animal model of schizophrenia (anammox) bacteria are now recognized shows increases in number of as a major factor in the sequestration of neurons in brainstem fixed nitrogen to N2 gas in both marine Abstract: and freshwater environments, however Experimental studies involving prenatal the extent of global anammox importance stress have been shown to contribute to is not known. This study examines the changes in neuroanatomical development, presence of anammox bacteria in two linked to an increased evidence of marine and two freshwater sediment psychopathology, particularly samples from Catalina Island off the schizophrenia. Two particular nuclei, the southwestern coast of the United States. lateral dorsal tegmental nucleus and the Identification was performed using 16s pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, rDNA amplification by polymerase chain have been identified to contain an reaction, covering all known genera of increased number of cells containing nitric anammox bacteria. Geochemical - + oxide synthase (NOS). These nuclei have properties (porosity, NOx , NH4 , O2) were significant connections to the measured in all samples to better dopaminergic areas affected in characterize anammox habitats. To my schizophrenia. An animal model for knowledge, this study provides the first schizophrenia has been developed to evidence of anammox bacteria in Santa study the effects of prenatal stress on Catalina Island, California marine and brain pathology in pups. In this study, freshwater sediment, further implicating four male rats were injected with d- anammox bacteria as a globally important amphetamine on embryonic days 12-15 marine and freshwater bacterium. while four control animals were injected Experimental results indicated that while with saline solution. After images of the “Candidatus” genera “Kuenenia” and postmortem brain sections were studied “Brocadia” were most likely present at all and cells within relevant nuclei were marine and freshwater locations, counted, results showed an increase in “Candidatus Scalindua” genus was the number of cells within the LDTg that present only at the two locations in the stain for nitric oxide synthase and no freshwater reservoir. It is possible that increase in the number of PPTg cells. “Ca. Scalindua” is particularly well suited Further analysis by statistical programs to the freshwater environment. using t-test for independent variables Furthermore, a broad range of oxidation showed a significant p-value of 0.015 in conditions, organic matter content, and the LDTg and statistical nonsignficance for sediment composition values between the PPTg. The results demonstrate that samples may indicate that the anammox injecting mother rats with d-amphetamine metabolism is more robust than previously prenatally induces neuronal changes thought. similar to those found in schizophrenic

12 patients. An increased number of cells in motor memory, interference of the LDTg may increase dopaminergic consolidation will have to occur only with activity to the rostral forebrain, an area infusion into the cerebellar cortex, with which high dopaminergic activity is rabbits demonstrating baseline levels of characteristic of schizophrenic symptoms. performance in the following training These finding are important because NOS- session. However, as it is not the containing cells are increased in such cerebellar cortex but the IP nucleus that regions provides support for the prevents motor memory consolidation, development of treatment using NOS- infusion into the cerebellar cortex does inhibition as treatment for schizophrenia. not inhibit consolidation. Rather, it is the rabbits with infusion into the cerebellar §§§§ nuclei (particularly the IP) which demonstrate baseline levels of Category: Life Sciences performance with further training. Name(s): Janice Bitong Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Category: Life Sciences Richard F. Thompson, Neuroscience Name(s): Alexandra Demco, Ross Levin, Senior Honors Project Format: Wei-Cheng Tai Title: Cerebellar Cortex Function in Submission Type: Group Motor Memory: Essential in Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Consolidation? Abstract: Jack Turman, Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Cell and Neurobiology, IGM Despite compelling evidence which has Format: Laboratory-based Research shown a strong link between consolidation of motor memory and the Title: Cognitive Outcomes Following Rat interpositus (IP) nucleus of the cerebellum, Perinatal Brain Injury Are Age one finding not only refutes the existing Dependent link, but offers a new one. This finding Abstract: asserts a link between the consolidation Purpose: Following a neonatal hypoxic of motor memory and the cerebellar ischemic (HI) brain injury, children often cortex of the cerebellum. In search of the present with cognitive disabilities. To evidence that justifies the new link, an differentiate the impact that time of injury experiment will be conducted using has on the development of cognitive standard delay conditioning of the disabilities, we utilized postnatal day (P) 3 nictitating membrane response in rabbits. and P7 rat models of unilateral HI brain A tone conditioned stimulus (CS) will injury. These models mimic brain injury in overlap with a 100-ms airpuff second and third trimester human infants unconditioned stimulus (US) over a 250- respectively. Following injury, we ms interval. Directly after training, the longitudinally investigated the impact of cerebellar cortex of the rabbits will be injury on cognitive outcomes using the infused with the GABA A receptor agonist open field paradigm. muscimol, a chemical agent that acts to erase short term memory and prevent Methods: P3 and P7 rats underwent right consolidation when the infused area is carotid artery cauterization or sham integral to the consolidation process. To surgery followed by 1.5 hours (P3) or 2.5 substantiate the claim that the cerebellar hours (P7) exposure to 8% oxygen or cortex is necessary in the consolidation of room air (shams). All rats were tested in

13 the open field on P7-9 (preweaning) and demonstrated that female mice exhibit P22-24 (postweaning). A number of higher levels of ß-amyloid than age- behaviors including rearing, grooming, matched male mice. In this study, we circling, and line crosses and wall time sought to investigate the gender were quantified. Behavioral data were differences in the age-related progression analyzed using Observer Software by of AD neuropathology in a triple Noldus, Inc. and analyzed using SPSS transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg- statistical software. AD). We evaluated ß-amyloid and tau pathology in male and female 3xTg-AD Results: P7 injured animals demonstrated mice at the following three stages: 2-4 open field deficits only during the months of age, 6-8 months of age, and preweaning testing period. P7 injured 12-14 months of age. We found that animals were characterized by increased female 3xTg-AD mice at 12-14 months of circling behavior and decreases in both age suffered a greater ß-amyloid burden wall time duration and frequency. P3 in the subiculum and CA1 regions of the injured animals showed deficits, hippocampus and in the frontal cortex of characterized by a paucity of movement, the brain. Male 3xTg-AD mice at 12-14 which persisted through the postweaning months of age, in contrast, demonstrated period. higher levels of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Taken together, these results Conclusions: Rats with neonatal HI brain suggest that significant gender injury at P3 or P7 show a different set of differences exist in the age-related cognitive deficits as measured in the open progression of AD neuropathology in field paradigm. Our data suggests that 3xTg-AD mice. This has important earlier brain injury results in the implications for therapeutic strategies for persistence of cognitive deficits. AD involving the administration of sex steroid hormones. §§§§ §§§§ Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Sara Kreimer Category: Life Sciences Submission Type: Individual Name(s): Kristi Lieber Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Submission Type: Individual Christian Pike, Gerontology Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Lawford Anderson, Department of Earth Title: Gender Differences in Alzheimer's Sciences Disease Neuropathology in 3xTg- Format: Laboratory-based Research AD Mice Title: Human Lower Extremity Muscle Abstract: Design Alzheimer’s disease (AD), an age-related Abstract: neurodegenerative disorder characterized Currently, models of the human lower by the accumulation of ß-amyloid (Aß) extremity are based on studies of the and hyperphosphorylated tau protein in skeletal muscle architecture using either the brain, occurs with greater frequency two or three cadaveric specimens. in women than in their male Clearly, these statistics are not counterparts. Consistent with this representative of the population. The observation, several transgenic mouse purpose of this study was to create a models expressing ß-amyloid database of human lower extremity

14 architecture and their respective skeletons Abstract: which would be internationally accessible. Evidence from previous studies supports Ten formaldehyde-fixed lower extremities the notion that a subset of ethanol were scanned using magnetic resonance induced behavioral effects is mediated via imaging. The mass and muscle length ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs), such as were measured, fibers were subsequently the glycine (GlyR), GABAA (GABAAR) and microdissected and the sarcomere length purinergic receptors (P2XRs). However, the was measured using laser diffraction. In sites on these receptors responsible for order to predict force generation, ethanol action are unknown. We have physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) begun to elucidate these sites through the was calculated. Unlike the previous use of molecular strategies, namely reports of lower extremity muscle chimeric receptor construction and site architecture, the muscle fiber lengths directed mutagenesis. Using site-dircted were not significantly different between mutagenesis (mutating a single amino acid the quadriceps and hamstrings. PCSA was residue) we have shown that the Loop 2 much larger in the quadriceps, which is region in the extracellular domain of GlyRs not surprising as quadriceps are is important for ethanol action. Next, we antigravity muscles at the knee. However, used a chimeric receptor construction the surprising result is that the muscle approach to extend the study of the role fiber lengths of the quadriceps are not of the Loop 2 to GABAAR which is highly significantly different from those of the , sensitive to ethanol amongst LGICs. After hamstrings, since the hamstrings are sequence alignment between the Loop 2 mainly two-joint muscles. It is also domains of GlyR α1 and GABA R δ noteworthy that the only two-joint muscle A subunits, the Loop 2 region of the GlyR α1 in the quadriceps, the rectus femoris, had subunit was replaced with homologous the shortest fiber length of all the quadriceps. These data support the amino acid residues from the GABAAR δ notion that the vastus lateralis muscle is subunit using site directed mutagenesis. the “key” to knee function. The previous The resulting chimeric receptor report that hamstring muscles are demonstrated GABAAR sensitivity to designed for excursion is not supported ethanol, supporting the importance of by these data. These data will Loop 2 in ethanol action in LGICs. A undoubtedly provide clinicians and different chimeric strategy involving scientists with a new view of lower introduction of restriction sites, restriction extremity muscle design in these muscles. digestion, and ligation of appropriate fragments was used to search for sites of ethanol action in P2XRs. Results of this §§§§ chimeric receptor suggested that the

target of ethanol lies within the Category: Life Sciences extracellular region of the P2XRs. These Name(s): Anuj Aggarwal findings illustrate that molecular strategies Submission Type: Individual can be successfully utilized to elucidate the Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): sites of ethanol action in LGICs.

Daryl Davies, Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology §§§§

Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Molecular Strategies to Identify Sites of Alcohol Action in LGICs

15 Category: Life Sciences model in which motorneurons possess a Name(s): Margaret Cass repellant activity that facilitates the Submission Type: Individual guidance of c-axons in the ventral spinal Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): cord. Samantha Butler, Neurobiology §§§§ Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Novel repellant activity of Category: Life Sciences motorneurons in the guidance of Name(s): Kelly McMullan commisural axons Submission Type: Individual Abstract: Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): During embryonic development, maturing Christian Pike, Gerontology/Alzheimer's neurons project axons which function as Research, Leonard Davis School of essential informational connections within Gerontology the nervous system. As axons grow, they receive and interpret chemical signals Format: Laboratory-based Research which dictate how to reach their targets. Title: Progesterone blocks the One model system for studying axon neuroprotective effects of estrogen guidance is the trajectory of commissural in aged female rats axons (c-axons). C-neurons originate in Abstract: the dorsal spinal cord and send out axons While the neuroprotective effects of that project ventrally towards the estrogen in young rodents are well- floorplate. To investigate the guidance known, the influence of progesterone in activity of the floorplate, we first both young and aged rodents remains to attempted to examine the role of Sonic be elucidated. In this study, we Hedgehog (Shh), a proposed investigated the neuroprotective effects of chemoattractant, in c-axon guidance by estrogen and progesterone, both alone misexpressing Shh in chick embryos. and in combination, against a kainic acid While our misexpression experiments lesion to the CA2/3 of hippocampus in 14 revealed the morphogenic power of Shh, month old reproductively senescent we were unable to evaluate Shh’s role as female rats. Our results suggest that a guidance cue. We then took a different estrogen, but not progesterone, approach and analyzed the Gli2-/- mouse treatment was partially neuroprotective. and the BMP7-/-/Gli2-/- mouse. Since When replaced in combination, Gli2-/- mice lack a floorplate, we were progesterone significantly blocked able to examine c-axon growth in the estrogen’s beneficial effect. This study absence of guidance cues from the suggests that the aged female rat brain is floorplate. Our analysis of the Gli2 responsive to estrogen in the regions mutant revealed that although c-axons involved in learning and memory. Despite still reach the ventral midline, their these findings, the case for a loss of trajectories become highly disorganized as hormone-responsiveness in the brain with they project through the ventrally shifted age is apparent in this study, due to the population of motorneurons. To further fact that our results were not as investigate the interaction between c- pronounced as previously seen in axons and motorneurons, we performed experiments with younger animals. These open book preps on Gli2-/- spinal cords results have important implications for and found that c-axons avoid areas rich in hormone therapy in light of the Women’s motorneurons and favor regions with few Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS). motorneurons. Thus, we propose a This study also furthers the discussion in

16 relation to hormone therapy and its Category: Life Sciences benefit for the treatment/ prevention of Name(s): Nihal Patel Alzheimer's Disease. Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Daryl Davies, Pharmacology and Category: Life Sciences Pharmaceutical Sciences Name(s): Ryan O'Shea Format: Laboratory-based Research Submission Type: Individual Title: Sites of Ethanol Action in Purinergic Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): P2X3 Receptors Steve Finkel, Biology Abstract: Format: Creative Work P2X receptors (P2XR) are cation-selective ion channels activated by extracellular ATP Title: Selection of an acid resistant strain that are widely expressed in the CNS and of Shewanella onedensis MR-1 may play a role in mediating some of the Abstract: cellular and behavioral effects of ethanol. Shewanella onedensis MR-1 is a Our laboratory has previously shown that microorganism that converts chemical ethanol inhibits ATP-gated currents in energy into electrical energy, making it of P2X2Rs but potentiates currents in P2X3Rs. potential utility as an alternative energy However, sites of ethanol action in P2XRs source. At this time, its abilities are limited are unknown. Our laboratory has been and its efficiency and power density must utilizing a chimeric strategy that exploits be improved before its integration into the opposing effects of ethanol on P2X2Rs technological devices. In this study, and P2X3Rs to search for regions within adaptive/directed evolution was utilized to P2XRs that play a role in ethanol action. select for Shewanella onedensis MR-1 The present study extends chimeric that can tolerate an acidic environment. strategy to test the hypothesis that P2XR Acid profiles and serial dilutions were used ectodomains (extracellular) contain to search for an acid resistant strain that important sites for ethanol action. We will increase power output in a microbial constructed chimeras that contained fuel cell (MFC). Several trials were exchanged ectodomain sequences of conducted in which MR-1 was placed in P2X2R/P2X3Rs. The effects of ethanol on progressively more acidic media over time ATP-induced currents were measured in in order to select for the most resilient Xenopus oocyte expression system using strains. Using directed evolution two-electrode voltage clamp. Ethanol techniques, four acid resistant strains were sensitivities of wildtype P2X2R and P2X3R isolated (Larry, Bird, #33 and Son of Bird). were transferred to the chimeras that Bird and Son of Bird are capable of contained the corresponding ectodomain growing to full density (10^9 CFU/mL) in sequences. However, for the P2X3R there MES buffered (50mM - 225mM) minimal was a critical length of the ectodomain for media with an initial pH of 5.5. Wild-type the potentiating action of ethanol. Ethanol MR-1 cannot survive in buffered media inhibited the function of the chimera that lower than pH 5.8. Acid resistant mutants contained shorter P2X3R ectodomain of MR-1 will increase the electrical output sequence (amino acids 60-301 versus 45- of the MFC. 318). These data indicate that the P2XR ectodomain is an important site for

ethanol action. Moreover, P2X3R §§§§ ectodomain regions 45-59 and 302-318 (proximal to the transmembrane domains)

17 are involved in the potentiating effect of ethanol. §§§§

§§§§ Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Andrea Cheung Category: Life Sciences Submission Type: Individual Name(s): Mimi Shkalim Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Submission Type: Individual Kenneth Nealson, Earth Sciences Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Richard F. Thompson, Psychology and Title: The Evaluation of Different Strains Biological Sciences of Shewanella sp. in a Microbial Format: Senior Honors Project Fuel Cell Title: Startle Responses in Wild Type Mice Abstract: Abstract: As the cost of current energy sources The cerebellum may play a crucial role in rapidly increases, one possible alternative memory retention for classical is the microbial fuel cell; an conditioning paradigms. A Thompson et electrochemical device that produces al. (1996) experiment, lesioned the electricity through the oxidation of interpositius nucleus (one of the major organic acids into protons and electrons cerebellar nuclei) in wild type mice, using bacteria as catalysts. Bacteria that implicating the necessity of the IP nucleus can be used as catalysts are rare because in eyeblink conditioning. A similar they must be able to use a solid substrate experiment published by Koekkek et al. as an electron acceptor. It has been (2003) contradicts the Thompson study determined that Shewanella oneidensis implying that the IP nucleus is not MR1 is a successful catalyst, yet, other essential for learning. The Koekkek study strains of Shewanella sp. have not been used a 10 kHz tone (CS), while the characterized within a fuel cell. Thompson study used a 1 kHz tone (CS). The proposed project is an attempt to Twelve different strains of Shewanella sp. indicate that perhaps Koekkek’s reported were studied. They were grown in CR was a startle response by mice to a identical liquid cultures using sterile high frequency tone. The experiment uses techniques and injected into a fuel cell. two groups of mice exposed to unpaired The fuel cell is connected to a computer- sequences of tone and shock: one group automated digital multimeter that is exposed to a 1 kHz tone, while the continuously monitors the voltage output other group is exposed to a 10 kHz tone. of the fuel cell over an extended period of The experiment is seeking to prove that time given an external resistance. In Koekkek et al. (2003) research findings addition, electrochemical impedance are flawed due to the lack of a proper spectroscopy tests and polarization definition of a CR, resulting in the sweeps were performed to characterize substitution of the CR for the startle the theoretical potential of the fuel cell, response. This study merits significance both with and without bacteria High since operational definitions are pressure liquid chromatography was also significant tools in the field of research, used to assess which organic acids were when studying classical conditioning present in the anodic and cathodic paradigms in animals, and especially compartments of the fuel cell as the when experimental studies warrant metabolism and growth phases of the replication. bacteria changed with time.

18 Thus far, six of the twelve strains have placement of these proteins in a genetic been tested. Results show that all six pathway. have the potential to work as catalysts in a fuel cell, with varying success among the strains as compared to S. oneidensis §§§§ MR1. The remaining six strains have yet to be tested. Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Nisha Alle §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Category: Life Sciences Wendy Gilmore, Department of Name(s): Paula Tran Neurology; Peili Li, Department of Submission Type: Individual Neurology Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Susan Forsburg, Molecular & Title: The influence of estrogen and Computational Biology progesterone on immune function during and after pregnancy in Format: Laboratory-based Research women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Title: The Histone Acetyltransferase Abstract: Mst1p Plays a Role in the Hyperosmotic Stress Response Objective: The project was designed to Pathway in Schizosaccharomyces determine the effect of progesterone pombe alone, and in conjunction with estradiol (E2), on the development of Tregs in vitro Abstract: by measuring the level of foxP3 In budding yeast, the arginine expression. methyltransferase HSL7+ was first isolated in a screen for proteins that were histone Background: Pregnant MS patients show synthetic lethal. The mutant hsl7∆ was a significant reduction in MS relapses. This later shown to be salt-sensitive. Similarly benefit from pregnancy is believed to the fission yeast homolog of HSL7+, result from hormone-induced changes in Skb1p, is necessary for polarization of immunity. These changes may result in an actin to cell ends in the presence of high increase in function and/or in number of salt concentrations. Previous work by the regulatory T cells (Tregs) to control a Forsburg lab demonstrated that Skb1p pathological T cell response. Studies have interacts with the histone shown that E2 may contribute towards acetyltransferase Mst1p via a yeast two Treg proliferation, but the role of hybrid assay. This study examines progesterone, the major pregnancy whether Mst1p also has a role in salt hormone, remains unclear. We response. Results garnered from hypothesized that progesterone promotes exposing ∆skb1 and temperature sensitive foxP3 expression, an indicator of a Treg mst1ts and mst1ts∆skb1 fission yeast response, and that progesterone and E2 strains to potassium chloride media together have an additive effect in suggest that Mst1p plays a part in promoting development of Tregs in vitro. hyperosmotic stress adaptation. Evidence that Skb1p and Mst1p share responsibility Design/Methods: Peripheral blood in helping S. pombe fully combat mononuclear cells were collected from a hyperosmotic conditions challenges pregnant MS patient. CD25- cells were future experiments to look at the isolated and treated with anti-CD3/28 in

19 culture to induce foxP3 expression under “serpentinization”. The Nealson Lab is four conditions: no hormone, E2 only, working to elucidate and understand the progesterone only, and 10:1 ratio of microbial community within this ultrabasic progesterone to E2. After a seven-day spring complex in a search for some of the incubation period, cells were stained with world’s most extreme alkaliphiles. The fluorochrome-labelled antibodies to astrobiological significance of this type of measure the percentage of foxP3+ and site is potentially very high since IFN-gamma+ cells by fluorescence serpentinization reactions are a possible activated cell sorting (FACS). explanation for the methane found on both Mars and Titan. In turn, Results: On average, the number of cells serpentinization is thought to have that expressed foxP3 was slightly higher occurred since the Earth first cooled with E2 treatment (43.83%) than cells sufficiently to enable water-rock treated with both progesterone and E2 chemistry; therefore, these serpentinizing (39.34%) or progesterone (34.19%). aquifers may be very similar to the earliest Cells showed increased foxP3 expression niches for life on Earth. Life in the when treated with hormone(s) over no ultrabasic springs of the Cedars Peridotite hormone (28.28%). endures one of the most extreme low temperature environments on the planet Conclusions: While E2 alone was the (high pH, low salinity, Eh < - 650mV, lack strongest in promoting foxP3 expression, of obvious e- acceptor, and the insolubility progesterone does play a role, perhaps of many important biological elements). secondary to E2. However, progesterone Despite these challenges, extremely and E2 have a synergistic, not additive, alkalitolerant enrichment cultures of both effect in promoting development of Tregs. methane and hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria Further studies need to be conducted to have been obtained that have pH determine if one hormone antagonizes the tolerances up to 11.5 and 10.5 other. respectively. Enrichment cultivation and isolation strategies, phylogenetic §§§§ affiliations, as well as preliminary physiological data for cultivated organisms will be presented. Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Martin Wainstein §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Category: Life Sciences Kenneth Nealson, Earth Sciences Name(s): Chad Agy, Michael McCaughan Format: Senior Honors Project Submission Type: Group Title: Ultrabasic Geomicrobiology from the Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Cedars Peridotite: Life at pH 11.5 Kathleen Burke, Institute of Genetic Abstract: Medicine; Jack Turman, Department of The Cedars Peridotite, located in coastal Cell & Neurobiology Northern California, is a geobiological Format: Creative Work Mecca composed of ultramafic rocks (of Title: UNILATERAL NEONATAL HYPOXIC- mantle origin) which react at low ISCHEMIC BRAIN INJURY ALTERS temperature with liquid water to produce PREFRONTAL CORTEX hydrogen-rich ultrabasic fluids (~pH 11.8) DEVELOPMENT in an ancient geological process called, Abstract:

20 Purpose: Severe hypoxic ischemic (HI) injury in the perinatal period is a major cause of motor disorders such as cerebral palsy. However, even mild HI injury can lead to deficits in attention and memory indicative of abnormal prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning. A rat model has been developed to investigate the effects of HI injury on brain development; however, the prefrontal cortex has not been examined in this model. In this study we used anatomical methods to assess the effects of right hemisphere HI injury on neuron growth in the rat PFC.

Methods: Postnatal day (P)7 rat pups underwent right carotid artery cauterization or sham surgery followed by 2.5 hours exposure to 8% oxygen or room air (shams). Rats were perfused at P15 or P150 (adulthood). The brains were removed, processed for paraffin sectioning and stained with hematoxylin. Medial and lateral PFC regions from a single section (Bregma +3.70) were digitally imaged and cell somal areas measured using ImageJ software. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software.

Results: On gross examination, right cerebral hemispheres of injured animals showed either mild (atrophy) or severe (cystic infarct) injury, while left hemispheres appeared normal. However, in HI rats, PFC cell sizes were significantly altered in both hemispheres. In general, mean PFC cell sizes in injured rats were reduced at P15 and enlarged at P150.

Conclusions: Taken together, these data show that unilateral neonatal HI injury induces a bilateral response in the rat PFC with both early and long term effects on neuron growth. §§§§

21 Although problems remain with our program, this preliminary version is working successfully.

CATEGORY §§§§

Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Physical Name(s): Pavitra Krishnaswamy, Israel Morales, Jeanie Paik Sciences & Submission Type: Group Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Martin Gundersen, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Material Science Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: An Interdisciplinary Study of Apoptotic Effects Induced by Nanoelectropulses on Cancer Cells Abstract: We present a set of interdisciplinary projects conducted to advance studies of nanoelectropulse-induced electroperturbation of malignant cells and tumor tissues. Ultra-short (< 30 ns) high Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering electric field (1.5 MV/m – 6 MV/m), low Name(s): Mario Bialostozky energy nanopulse technology induces Submission Type: Individual apoptosis (programmed cell death) in mammalian cell lines. Past research has Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): shown that pulsed cells externalize David D'Argenio, BME phosphatidylserine (PS) - a phospholipid Format: Laboratory-based Research marker for phagocytosis – from within the Title: A Non-Invasive Method for inner leaflet of the cell membrane to the Evaluating Cardiovascular Health outer leaflet. Since PS externalization is Abstract: expected to serve as a signal for The prevalence of coronary heart disease phagocytotic clearance, we have begun (CHD) in the United States is alarming. It preliminary research to study whether is of great concern that a great number of pulsing cells would cause increased those afflicted by this complication are phagocytosis by macrophages. unaware of their condition. Therefore, it is Particularly, we have been able to critical for the biomedical community to determine appropriate experimental develop non-invasive methods for conditions for such phagocytosis assessing the health of seemingly healthy experiments using various dyes such as Yo- individuals. We have developed a Pro 1 and Hoescht to observe changes in computer program that enables computer cell membrane permeability and cell users to observe their electrocardiogram morphology respectively. (ECG) while they use their personal computer, allowing them to track their Further, we use novel pulse generators we cardiovascular health on a regular basis. have designed to vary pulse parameters from the 30 ns regime down to the

22 subnanosecond regime and investigate experiment is to elucidate the correlation how cellular responses change with pulse between structure and energy transfer width. In addition to discussing changes in properties in photosynthetic systems, cell responses, we discuss the technical helping to refine the hopping model of issues faced in integrating the pulse energy transfer, confirm and interpret generators we have developed with our simulated data, and provide both biological loads, and present methods to understanding of natural molecules and improve our current designs. guidance in the synthesis of more effective artificial light harvesting systems. §§§§ §§§§ Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Name(s): Andrew Horning Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Submission Type: Individual Name(s): Benedikt Riedel Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Submission Type: Individual Stephen Bradforth, Chemistry Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Dr. Edward Rhodes, Department of Title: Around the Ring: Molecular Physics and Astronomy Geometry & Energy Transfer In Format: Laboratory-based Research Photosynthetic Systems Title: Comparison of Solar Internal Abstract: Dynamics using Ground- and Common natural photosynthetic systems Space-Based Observations consist of circular structures built of Abstract: absorbing chromophores subunits, One of the primary goals of modern solar arranged in such a way that energy can physics is an improved understanding of hop around the molecule from the mechanism underlying the solar chromophore to chromophore before activity cycle, which is essential in order to relaxation. To further understand the develop improved methods for predicting dynamics and properties of this solar activity. Solar ctivity is thought to intramolecular energy transfer process, originate within the convection zone in especially the impact of a circular the outer interior of the sun. The molecular geometry, both naphthalene generally-accepted theoretical models of and fluorene-based synthetic analogs of solar activity involve a complicated natural polymers have been studied using interplay between zonal (East-West) and a variety of modeling and computational meridional (North-South) flows and methods. This work demonstrates an vertical convection motions—the Dynamo unexpected dependence of energy Model. Within the past five years the tools transfer properties upon the uniformity of of local helioseismology have been used the ring array – most notably dramatic to produce the first subsurface flow maps differences in energy transfer between a during Solar Cycle 23. cyclic arrangement of chromophores and other molecular shapes. Using synthetic Our project focuses on the measurements naphthalene polymers in both cyclic and of the meridional and zonal flow patterns linear forms, energy transfer processes at different depths during Solar Cycle 22. were examined experimentally using Our primary contribution lies in the ultrafast laser pulsed TCSPC investigation of a possible instrumental measurements for polymers of different misalignment at the 60- Foot Solar Tower sizes and shapes. The purpose of this at Mt. Wilson Observatory (MWO) and an

23 increase in capacity to process MWO and The wild type and mutants were evaluated SOHO Michelson Doppler Imager data. in experiments specifically designed to This paper presents the analysis of the obtain data that could be processed by observed misalignment of the MWO and statistical computer image analysis, to flow patterns produced using corrected investigate the mechanism of metal oxide data. We have compared images taken reduction. during the transition between Solar Cycle 22 and 23, to develop a difference in flows between cycles and develop a Thirteen experimental variations clarified correction for the instrumental that high velocity activity in the immediate misalignment. proximity of the metal oxide particle was directly correlated to rapid reduction of Our goal is to increase the accuracy of the metal oxides. Competition with other correction and number of flow maps for electron acceptors demonstrated that Solar Cycle 22. These results will allow us substrates including nitrate, fumarate, and to analyze solar internal flows back to the thiosulfate slowed reduction and impaired beginning of the MWO observations in the bacteria’s metal oxide seeking 1988. behavior. Results obtained with mutants in chemotaxis genes CheA_1(∆SO2121), §§§§ CheA_3 (∆SO3207), and a double mutant lacking both genes demonstrated that the

inability to detect MnO2 leads to slow Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering proximal velocities and subsequently a Name(s): Howard Harris hampered reduction. Furthermore, Submission Type: Individual mutants lacking genes essential for metal reduction (MtrA and MtrB) and normal Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): pilin and type II secretion (PilD) function Kenneth Nealson, Earth Science demonstrated retarded reduction rates. Format: Laboratory-based Research The results indicate that the ability of the bacteria to detect and move toward the Title: Demonstration of Metal Oxide MnO is essential for the reduction process. Sensing by Shewanella oneidenis x

MR-1 Abstract: §§§§

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 reduces Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering numerous electron acceptors including metal oxides such as FeOx and MnOx under Name(s): Wendy Mata anaerobic conditions. These electron Submission Type: Individual acceptor substrates are insoluble, and Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): therefore are expected to be either undetectable by classical chemosensory Edward Rhodes, Physics & Astronomy processes or to require as yet identified Format: Laboratory-based Research sensory network that enables MR-1 to Title: Do the Solar Oscillation Amplitudes detect insoluble electron acceptor Increase with Increasing Altitude in substrates. In order to determine whether the Sun MR-1 actively seeks out FeOx and MnOx in the environment, a suite of targeted Abstract: deletion mutants disrupted in various The sun is constantly filled with acoustic functional classes has been constructed in waves which are trapped within its MR-1. interior. These sound waves cause the surface and atmosphere of the sun to

24 constantly move radially inward and devices use an external camera, but rapid outward. These waves can be modeled head movements induce dizziness and with a sophisticated mathematical model nausea. To minimize head movements, which predicts that the amplitudes of social estrangement, and limited mobility, these motions grow with increasing we are developing an internal camera to height above the solar surface. In this couple to the electrode array. Through project I have used a combination of both simulations and testing of prototype ground-and space-based observations to cameras, we have found that an measure the amplitudes of these waves at aspherical lens provides extensive depth of three different heights in the solar field and makes implantation feasible. My atmosphere. Initially, I processed two research studies camera depth of field different sets of solar Dopplergrams and the psychophysics of low-resolution which were observed using the 60-Foot vision. Solar Tower at the Mount Wilson Observatory. I converted these two sets of In retinal prostheses, the resolution is Dopplergrams into two sets of power limited to the number of electrodes on spectra. I then fit the peaks in both sets of the electrode array, currently only 16 MWO power spectra and demonstrated pixels. The resolution required for that the amplitudes of the waves which recognition, and the effects of motion originated higher in the solar atmosphere and blur, provide resolution goals that were higher than the amplitudes of the correlate with desired functionality. My waves which originated lower in the solar psychophysical analysis showed that 625 atmosphere. I am now finishing the pixels are adequate for object recognition processing and fitting of a similar set of given a significant degree of image blur. Dopplergrams which were observed by an Another important factor for the instrument onboard the SOHO spacecraft. intraocular camera is the incorporation of accommodation, and the extensive depth §§§§ of field of the prototypes eliminates this constraint. In this study, I derived the Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering analytical equations for depth of field and Name(s): Noelle R. B. Stiles determined how prototypes can be Submission Type: Individual engineered with this feature. Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): The results of these studies will reduce Armand R. Tanguay, Jr., Electrical camera design constraints, making further Engineering, Materials Science, Biomedical ultra-miniaturization possible. These Engineering, Neuroscience Graduate intimately coupled low-resolution vision Program and optical design limitation studies are Format: Laboratory-based Research critical for the design and fabrication of Title: Intraocular Camera for Retinal future generation cameras. Prostheses Abstract: §§§§ One million Americans are blind, suffering from debilitating diseases such as macular Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Name(s): Elizabeth Ball, Glenn Fischer, Retinal prostheses may restore their vision Bradford Foley, Jeffrey by stimulating the functional retinal Thompson ganglion cells with an implanted Submission Type: Group microsimulator array. Current prosthetic

25 Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): but not identical magma lineages. The Lawford Anderson, Earth Science; plutons were emplaced at ~ 2.5 kbars (10 Valbone Memeti, Earth Science; Scott km depth). The metavolcanic units display Paterson, Earth Science; Geoffrey considerable vertical ductile strain and Pignotta, Earth Science peak metamorphic conditions at 650-750 Format: Field Research oC. The overlapping ages, present juxtaposition, high temperature, strain, Title: MAGMATIC AND VOLCANIC and similar chemistries suggest that the PLUMBING SYSTEMS, CRUSTAL volcanic rocks were immediately displaced EVOLUTION, AND THE SEARCH downwards to 10 km depths after they FOR THE MYSTERIOUS MOJAVE- formed at the surface, where related SNOW LAKE FAULT: 2006-07 magmas intruded them, all within less EARTH SCIENCES than a few million years. UNDERGRADUATE TEAM RESEARCH IN THE HIGH SIERRA §§§§ Abstract: The Mojave-Snow Lake fault is a Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering hypothesized structure that Name(s): Christopher Der, Toan Vo accommodated as much as 200 to 400 km of Cretaceous dextral displacement, Submission Type: Group bringing Precambrian through Ordovician Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): miogeoclinal rocks from the Mojave Will Berelson, Earth Sciences; Frank Desert north to the central Sierra Nevada, Corsetti, Earth Sciences where they became “host rock” for the Format: Laboratory-based Research formation of a Mesozoic magmatic arc. Title: Novel Application of Carbonate Our Research Team used geologic Associated Sulfate Methodology to mapping, and structural, stratigraphic, Climate Change geochemical and geochronologic analyses Abstract: to: 1) test possible links between Walker Lake is a closed basin lake in West metasedimentary pendants in the Sierra Central Nevada. Carbonate deposits on Nevada to miogeoclinal rocks found in the the adjacent hillside have been used western Mojave, and 2) to evaluate the previously to reconstruct lake level change temporal and genetic relationships over time (and by extension, climate between volcanic and plutonic rocks change over time), given the assumption exposed in the Cinko Lake area. Mapping that they formed at or near the shoreline. in the 102 Ma Harriet Lake granodiorite We have investigated the CAS (HLG), 94 Ma Cinko Lake quartz diorite composition of these carbonate deposits (CLQD), Fremont Lake granodiorite (FLG) and determined that this assumption may and ~148 Ma metasedimentary and ~107 not be valid; ancient lake level history Ma metavolcanic pendants, found no needs to be reexamined. evidence for the large-scale dextral shear. Any fault must have been active between Sulfate is an excellent chemical proxy of ~148 and ~107 Ma and is no longer salinity, which is directly related to lake exposed in this area. level, thus we propose that CAS constitutes a paleo-lake level indicator. The HLG and FLG plutons and host This is a new application of the CAS metavolcanics exhibit distinct, but methodology. We collected carbonate overlapping chemical trends suggesting a structures from various locations adjacent common magma source and comparable, to the lake. We have analyzed the sulfate

26 content of the carbonate accretions on a anomalous earthquake behavior, mm-cm scale sampling transect, thus especially behavior that could be creating a time series of CAS. Our results precursory to future large earthquakes. show that CAS contents of these forms The group created tools for research vary by a factor of 2 or more, suggesting conducted by graduate student (and lake volume variability of 2 or more, UseIT alumnus) Jeremy Zechar to quantify hence, there is no way that these the success of earthquake predictions, carbonate accretions formed during a beginning with the Relative Intensity static lake level. Our results suggest that prediction scheme, which states that the the climate record based on previous more earthquakes that have occurred in a assumptions needs to be reevaluated. given area, the more likely a large earthquake will occur there in the future. To test CAS integrity, we are measuring Our software tools allow a user to view this quantity on lake sediments on which these data in adjustable graphs layered we have radioisotope age dating onto 3D landscapes, and will help Zechar information indicating sediment age as a and other scientists illustrate and function of depth. We also have historical communicate this exciting theory that data relating age to lake level. Our CAS may assist seismologists in better analysis on sediments will test the preparing for earthquakes. Each year’s reliability of this widely used interns build upon UseIT’s SCEC-VDO geological/geochemical tracer. (Virtual Display of Objects), an open- source, interactive, 3D visualization §§§§ software that currently lets users display, study, and make movies of earthquakes Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering and related datasets as they occur Name(s): Kristy Akullian, Austin Elliott, globally. Some of the most drastic new Becky Gallagher, Christine developments occurred during this year's Marie Kahn, Kevin Milner, Pius research. While adding new features, we Pack, Nick Rapp, David also accepted the overwhelming challenge Richardson, Randall of compiling years of work into an easily Robertson, Tom Robinson, installable distribution package that Jared Sain, Lauren Schenkman worked without annoyances for users Submission Type: Group with and without “domain science” knowledge. In addition to earthquake Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): scientists, USC students in a new Sue Perry, Southern California Earthquake multimedia literacy lab course now use Center our software to better understand Format: Creative Work earthquakes and make movies illustrating Title: SCEC/UseIT: Virtual Display of significant events. Earthquake Related Objects Abstract: §§§§ The 2006 Southern California Earthquake Center /Undergraduate Studies in Earthquake Information Technology (SCEC/UseIT) multi-disciplinary intern team experimented with software design and applied principles of end-user programming and usability engineering to develop fault-system tools to detect

27 Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering 27-55% of the biogenic silica reaching the Name(s): Becky Gallagher sea floor is recycled back into the water column to embark on another segment of Submission Type: Individual the silica cycle. Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Douglas Hammond, Earth Sciences §§§§ Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: The Efficiency of Biogenic Silica Burial Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering in Cascadia Basin Sediments Name(s): Joel Linke, Kristin Swihart Abstract: Submission Type: Group Diatoms consume silica in the ocean and use it to construct their shells. They are Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): the most important member of the Adam Fincham, Aerospace and Mechanical phytoplankton community that takes up Engineering Department CO2 from the surface ocean and Format: Laboratory-based Research atmosphere. Their efficiency in removing Title: Wave Generation for a Surfing CO2 depends on the overall biogenic silica cycle in the ocean. I am attempting to Environment by Bottom Moving calculate the rate at which the diatom Bumps remains (biogenic silica) are buried in Abstract: Cascadia Basin sediments and the This experiment was completed as part of efficiency with which they are re-dissolved a larger study with an objective of and returned to the overlying water reproducing consistent waves of pro- column. This is a critical part of the silica surfing quality and of variable difficulty, cycle. The study location was selected within the laboratory. However, unlike because of the enrichment of silica in its conventional methods of wave generation bottom waters. (e.g., pneumatic, paddles, hydraulics, etc.), the analysis focused upon waves The burial rate can be calculated by generated by flow over two-dimensional obtaining oceanic mud cores, determining objects on the bottom. In order to the porosity of the sediments by weighing analyze these topographic effects within them wet and dry, measuring the the laboratory, the bumps along the radioactive decay of excess lead-210 by bottom were held stationary while a Gamma Spectroscopy, and determining water channel was utilized to circulate the percent biogenic silica in the sediments water over the bump with varying using an alkaline leaching technique. velocities and water depth. This creates a standing swell or wave that can be easily analyzed as opposed to a traveling wave The excess Pb-210 measured in the from a moving bump in stationary water sediments is incorporated from seawater which is much more problematic to by falling particles, to which Pb-210 easily observe. Specific objectives included adsorbs. Ideally, sediment burial rates can determining the relationship between the be calculated from the downcore decrease blockage factor of the bump and the of Pb-210. Due to mixing of sediments by upstream Froude number (function of burrowing organisms (bioturbation), the water velocity, water depth and gravity) Pb-210 profile gives an upper limit for the of the water flow, determining the effects burial rate: 0.17-0.23 cm/yr. Given this of bump geometry, obtaining the upper limit and silica dissolution rates maximum swell or wave height from a measured by others in our group, at least minimized bump height, reproducing

28 wave regimes from previous fluids for the observational GONG power research and identifying a wave regime spectra in place of the symmetric profiles which yields a swell or wave with the that were employed in past studies. specified characteristics. Additionally, particular emphasis was placed upon the This paper presents analysis of temporal analysis of supercritical Froude numbers shifts in the solar p-mode frequencies. We (greater than one) and whether a swell have compared frequencies from these can be produced at a height greater than short-duration observations in an attempt the bump height. The result of this to maximize the sensitivity of the analysis concluded that turbulent frequency changes to changes in the hydraulic jumps and swells from underlying levels of solar activity. supercritical flow are the most realistic regimes for producing waves with surfing Our goal is to compare the correlation characteristics. between the frequencies of the oscillations and different indicators of §§§§ solar activity at times of solar maximum with earlier correlations obtained at the Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering time of the last solar minimum, in order Name(s): Hector Pang, Lawrence Yu to determine whether or not the use of Submission Type: Group the asymmetric profile supports any of the earlier results. Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Edward Rhodes, Physics and Astronomy §§§§ Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Why Do the Solar Oscillation Frequencies Change? Abstract: Helioseismology is the study of the internal structure and dynamics of the sun though analysis of the motion of trapped acoustics waves. These standing waves, known as the solar p-mode oscillations, cover wide ranges in frequency and spherical harmonic degrees. Previous studies have shown a direct correlation between changes in the frequencies of many of these harmonic modes and the 11-year solar cycle activity. Most of these studies have utilized long time series of observation, which often cover two or more solar rotations. Such long time series average out regions of different properties on the sun.

Our study analyzes 17 short-duration (three-day) time-series of data taken by the six stations of the Global Oscillation Network Group Project (GONG). Our fitting methods use an asymmetric profile

29 or chastise it with sanctions, reach out to its people or bomb its nuclear facilities. This heated discussion of the best approach to negotiating with North Korea CATEGORY begs a close examination of one of the few resounding successes of U.S.-North Korean relations: the 1994 Agreed Social Framework. This landmark document set the stage for unprecedented cooperation and mutual trust-building between these Sciences long-time rival states. One way of analyzing this series of interactions is through the Prisoner's Dilemma model. By qualitatively translating the U.S. and North Korea's actions as symbols of cooperation or defection, a linear narrative emerges. This "story" represents the joint process of relationship development and the growth of cooperation. A map to fruitful negotiation among these states can be gleaned from the lessons contained within this analysis, as well as prospects Category: Social Sciences for the viability of Prisoner's Dilemma in Name(s): Eugene Marder the present context. Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): §§§§ Hayward Alker, IR; G. Wayen Glass, IR Social Sciences Format: Creative Work Category: Meredith Roberts Title: A Crucial Map, a Critical Peace: Name(s): Prisoner's Dilemma and the Agreed Submission Type: Individual Framework Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Abstract: Karen Hennigan, Psychology; Joy Stratton, Political and military experts agree that Psychology the spread of nuclear weapons is one of Format: Senior Honors Project the greatest threats to world peace. Since Title: A Manipulation of Group Salience making public its intermittent pursuit of in Adolescents these destructive armaments, North Korea Abstract: has gained public attention and infamy, This study tested the influence of group culminating in the placement on George identity salience on participants' collective W. Bush's "Axis of Evil." The United and implicit self-esteem as measured by States gives high priority to eliminating the Collective Self-esteem Scale and the North Korean potential or capability, Implicit Association Test (IAT) however in two decades of addressing respectively. Participants were 63 this issue it has yet to formulate a adolescents recruited from the San Pedro concrete policy on North Korean Body’s and Girl’s Club, and consisted of disarmament. Presently, the debate youth involved in a variety of social, considers whether to engage North Korea academic, sport, and leadership groups. or to isolate it, placate it with incentives Participants were instructed to

30 concentrate on either a core group The corollary of implementing the membership or a fringe group suggested decision thresholds is discussed. membership. Participants then completed a computer-based measure of implicit self- §§§§ esteem as well as measures that served to manipulate group salience, and a Category: Social Sciences manipulation check. Results showed a Name(s): Sally Handmaker significant difference between the two Submission Type: Individual groups on the measure of Collective Self- Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): esteem, but found no significant difference between the groups when it Jo Ann Farver, Psychology; Thomas Lyon, came to their Implicit Self-esteem. USC Gould School of Law Format: Senior Honors Project §§§§ Title: Are They Crying for Justice? Children's Testimony in Sexual Category: Social Sciences Abuse Trials Name(s): Nicholas Scurich Abstract: Submission Type: Individual In child sexual abuse cases, the child and Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): the perpetrator are often the only Richard John, Psychology witnesses to the crime. Thus, the child’s credibility as a witness strongly affects Format: Senior Honors Project trial outcomes. Title: Applying Value to Decisions in Actuarial Predictions of Violence: A Jurors often doubt a child’s credibility if Bayesian Analysis the child does not display emotion during Abstract: testimony. This study examined eighty The developments in the science of criminal child sexual abuse trial transcripts violence risk assessment have lead to the (children aged 5-19) for 905 relevant creation of numerous actuarial violence questions and analyzed the extent to risk assessment tools, reaching their which different types of questions elicited culmination in the Macarthur Study of emotional or evaluative information from Mental Disorder and Violence. One child witnesses. Three different kinds of inchoate aspect is in the decision making emotional or evaluative information were process, determining which cases possess examined: references to emotions, sufficient risk to qualify as being predicted references to cognitive states, and to be violent. The decision thresholds of references to physical sensations. Across the Macarthur tool are based on a all three topics, “How” questions (e.g. heuristic, admittedly for illustrative “How did you feel?”) and “Wh” purposes. Using a Bayesian approach, the questions (e.g. “What did you think?”) implications-in terms of societal values, of reliably elicited the most overall utilizing such thresholds were calculated. information. Option-posing questions It is revealed the de facto methodology (e.g. yes/no questions) elicited the least implies false negatives are worse than information. Additionally, “How” and false positives, something diametric to “Wh” questions elicited the most judicial sentiment and case law. Through emotional and evaluative information; the use of Signal Detection Theory, more option-posing elicited the least. These efficacious decision thresholds are results were established by examining suggested that are both mathematically where the reference to emotion or sound and in accord with societal values. evaluation was made (in the question,

31 the answer, or both). These results were Category: Social Sciences also established by identifying whether Name(s): Celeste DeFreitas, Ashlee the child’s response was elaborative Welday (going beyond the words in the attorney’s Submission Type: Group question) or non-elaborative (merely Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): repeating words mentioned in the attorney's question or choosing an option Toben Mintz, Psychology & Linguistics; posed by the attorney). This study can Rachel Walker, Linguistics lead to the development of better Format: Laboratory-based Research methods for questioning children in court Title: Baby Linguists: Infants attend to with the ultimate goal of producing more complex vowel patterns to accurate trial outcomes. understand speech Abstract: §§§§ Before infants acquire language, they must determine where spoken words Category: Social Sciences begin and end—but how? Unlike printed Name(s): Jessica Jimenez text, pauses rarely occur between words Submission Type: Individual in speech. Our study investigates a Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): property of some languages (like Turkish) that infants could use to segment speech: Jo Ann Farver, Psychology vowel harmony (VH). VH requires vowels Format: Senior Honors Project within a word to match in particular Title: Assessing the Validity of the Get articulatory dimensions. We hypothesize Ready to Read Screener in Spanish that points of disharmony within speech and English could provide infants with segmentation Abstract: cues. This proposed study will investigate the validity of the Get Ready to Read! (GRTR) Previous work demonstrates English- screener. Participants will be children of reared infants can conjecture word diverse backgrounds (racially, ethnically, boundaries using VH patterns when or linguistically) from low income families. harmony affects all dimensions (Mintz & This research will compare the GRTR Walker, 2006), despite English not having screener (in its English and Spanish forms) VH. The present study investigates VH as with measures of emergent literacy skills. a potential cue when harmony restricts a The children will be given a variety of single dimension—backness—requiring all previously validated literacy assessments. vowels within a word to be produced Their scores will be compared to their either in the front (/e/, /i/) or back (/u/, /o/) scores on the GRTR screener administered of the mouth. in only English or both Spanish and English, when applicable, to determine We tested our hypothesis by familiarizing the screener’s accuracy and reliability as a seven-month-old, English-reared infants more concise assessment capable of to 90 seconds of continuous synthesized measuring cross language transfer of speech. The stream consisted of four two- cognitive skills on reading ability from syllable nonsense words with backness Spanish to English and English to Spanish. harmony (dite, pubo, bide, tupo) repeated in sequence—ditepubobidetupo—without §§§§ pause between words. Using the Head- Turn Preference Procedure (Kemler Nelson et al., 1995), we measured infants’

32 attentiveness to two types of sequences ambiguity. from the familiarization stream: words (dite, tupo) and part-words across word §§§§ boundaries (podi, detu). Category: Social Sciences Infants listened longer to words than part- Name(s): Ashley Brown words in the experimental condition, Submission Type: Individual suggesting they segmented harmonic Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): words from the stream and were exhibiting a familiarity preference. Results Michael Dawson, Psychology support our hypothesis that infants can Format: Senior Honors Project use VH patterns to parse speech, Title: Contingency Awareness During regardless of ambient language. Emotional Learning: The Role of Working Memory §§§§ Abstract: This study examined the relation between Category: Social Sciences working memory capacity and detection Name(s): Kwok Yin Karen Choi of a CS-UCS contingency within Submission Type: Individual emotional learning paradigm. Previous Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): research has shown that pattern Jo Ann Farver, Psychology; Thomas Lyon, recognition was found to be related to Gould School of Law becoming aware of the CS-UCS contingency using fear-relevant stimuli. Format: Senior Honors Project Recognition of systematic occurrences Title: Child witnesses' difficulties with requires an individual to hold past factors pragmatics and referential in their working memory. It was ambiguity. hypothesized that participants who Abstract: become aware of the contingency will The aim of the proposed study is to have larger working memory spans. identify and evaluate how attorneys’ use Awareness was determined using a post of question frames as indirect speech acts conditioning survey and a concurrent relate to child witnesses’ ability to verbal task. Working memory span was understand the questions, to measured using forward and backward disambiguate and give elaborate answers. digit span tests. The hypothesis of this Question frames of “do you remember” study was not supported. It was and “do you know” will be analyzed for determined that the digit spans capacities whether children’s responses reflect of aware and unaware participants are limitations in pragmatic understanding not statistically significant. These results and referential ambiguity. The study will may suggest that awareness of the CS- examine court transcripts of 67 felony UCS contingency is more of an child abuse trials. Children in the trials unconscious and emotional process than studied will range in age from 5 to 9. It is previously thought. Although this original hypothesized that the youngest children hypothesis was not supported, preliminary will exhibit some difficulties in pragmatic data suggests that working memory span understanding, whereas somewhat older is related to emotional reactivity of the children will appear to understand the subject. This effect appears to be pragmatics of indirect speech acts, but fail mediated by the awareness of the to elaborate on their answers given individual. limited understanding of referential

33 §§§§ article argues that there are essential factors that need to be present for states Category: Social Sciences to establish multilateral security institutions in particular regions. Name(s): Isabelle Lacson Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Andrew Manning, School of International Category: Social Sciences Relations and Department of Political Name(s): Joanne Zhang Science Submission Type: Individual Format: Creative Work Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Title: Coping with the Threat: The U.S. Behrokh Khoshnevis, Industrial and and the Imposition of Regional Systems Engineering Multilateral Security Institutions. Format: Field Research Abstract: Title: Cost Impact of Automated Institutionalist scholars converge on the Construction on the Building ability of regional multilateral security Industry institutions to foster cooperation and reduce the perception of threats. When Abstract: the United States faced the Soviet threat As part of a larger project to during the Cold War, the establishment of commercialize Contour Crafting as a the North Atlantic Treaty Organization competitive method of construction in the (NATO) was pursued to deter the threat building industry, the purpose of this and increase cooperation among the research is to predict the impact of North Atlantic allies. However, the Asia- Contour Crafting, a fully automated Pacific, then devoid of a substantial threat method of construction through a cost to U.S. interests in the region, was analyses comparing it to conventional and overlooked. The current rise of China, prefabricated construction methods. regionally and globally, presents the U.S. Specifically, the cost analyses compares with a post-Cold War threat to its the average US square foot costs for the interests in the Asia-Pacific. While the new construction of a 1600 square foot approach in the North Atlantic constituted home in 2007 using Contour Crafting, the establishment of a formal regional conventional stick built, and multilateral security institution, the U.S. prefabrication. Related to the approach in the Asia-Pacific has been investigation of cost impact, the project marked with inconsistency and ambiguity also identifies the potential social impact due to the government's shifting of automated construction on the perceptions of China and weak support building industry after examining the for the application of the multilateral differences in labor, material, equipment approach. Why do states shift support for SF costs and needs among the three the establishment of regional multilateral techniques. security institutions when faced with threats? Since coping with threats is §§§§ significant to the maintenance of security and the formation of foreign policy, it is of importance to examine how powerful states manage to interpret threats and respond to them. The author of this

34 Category: Social Sciences reading intervention should primarily Name(s): Christine Marie Kahn target decoding skills but give increasingly Submission Type: Individual more emphasis to oral language skills. Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): §§§§ Franklin Manis, Psychology Format: Senior Honors Project Category: Social Sciences Title: Development of Reading Name(s): Jeff Berry, Connor Gants, Phil Comprehension in Spanish- Zager Speaking English Learners Submission Type: Group Abstract: Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): This research continued a longitudinal Mark Kann, Political Science study on reading development in Spanish- speaking English language learners. It Format: Field Research examined differences in how well English Title: Digital Democracy: The Internet and Spanish decoding skills (phonological and Youth Political Participation awareness and print knowledge) and oral Abstract: language skills (expressive vocabulary and When the New York Times designated the listening comprehension) from grades 2006 Midterm election “The YouTube three, five and seven predict grade seven Election” in August, the role of the reading comprehension in 208 subjects. Internet in democracy rose to Based on Hoover and Gough’s (1990) prominence. Another area of national adaptation of the simple view of reading, prominence is the traditionally low decoding skills were expected to explain turnout of young voters in elections. We most of the variance in younger children’s wanted to find out whether all this new RC, while oral language skills were technology could solve the very old expected to explain more variation in problem of low youth involvement in older children’s RC. As expected, grade politics. Our research into “digital three English decoding skills were the democracies” took us into three main strongest predictors of English RC. At areas: civic engagement, political grade five, English LC and EV increased in consumerism, and participatory culture. predictability, while PK decreased and PA Our research into civic engagement increased. At grade seven, English LC and explored how the internet affected both EV continued to increase in predictability, traditional avenues of political while PK and PA decreased. Similarly, engagement and non-traditional avenues grade three Spanish PK explained the such as community service and Jr. ROTC. most variance in grade seven Spanish RC. When one participates in “political At grade five, Spanish LC and EV consumerism,” one chooses whether or measures increased in predictability, as not to support a company based on how did PK and PA. At grade seven, LC and EV the company’s policies line up with one’s increased further in predictability, as did viewpoints. Examples include a boycott PA. PK decreased slightly but still of Nike for using sweatshop labor or a accounted for the most unique variance in “buycott” of New Balance for using grade seven Spanish RC, contrary to American labor. When people create expectations. These results suggest that their own culture and then share that English reading intervention in Spanish- with the world via YouTube or flickr, this speaking ELLs should target decoding is “participatory culture.” Another way to skills at early grades and oral language explain participatory culture is that in a skills at later grades, while Spanish participatory culture average citizens go

35 from passive consumers of culture to Category: Social Sciences active producers of culture. In short, we Name(s): Camille Boudreau examined both the past impacts of the Submission Type: Individual internet in democracy, and the bright Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): future for the internet to change youth involvement in democracy. Thomas Lyon, USC Law Format: Senior Honors Project §§§§ Title: Finding An Effective Way to Question Children Using “Before” Category: Social Sciences and “After” Name(s): Marjorie Slater Abstract: Submission Type: Individual In fields such as child witness testimony Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): concerns are rising about the fact that the way children are asked questions can Penelope Trickett, Social Work affect their answers. For instance, in Format: Senior Honors Project sexual abuse cases where children may be Title: Exploring Childhood Sexual Abuse: the only witness to a crime, much How Attitudes about Eating and importance is placed on their ability to Sexuality affect the Development communicate their knowledge in court. of Eating Disorders. Many times a child’s confusion about a Abstract: question can be mistaken as dishonesty. This exploratory study will examine the This is just one of the many reasons why it relations among childhood sexual abuse is important to find an effective way to (CSA), eating disorders (ED), attitudes question children by using questions that about eating and attitudes about are worded to match the level of a child’s sexuality. This proposed study will carry cognitive development. In this study out a secondary data analysis based on preschool children were read stories and longitudinal data collected on 166 asked questions to test their ability to sexually abuse females from the greater understand the concepts of “before” and Washington D.C., metropolitan area, who “after.” The wording of the questions were between ages 6 and 16 initially, was varied to test not only for their where approximately one-half was understanding of these terms but also to sexually abused by a relative and the check for a forward order bias, and an other half was a demographically similar order of mention effect. By finding out comparison group. The purpose is to how a child's understanding is affected by determine if attitudes about sexuality and the wording of questions, we can hope to eating affect the development of eating find a way to question children at a level disorders as defined by Body Mass Index that matches their cognitive development (BMI). in order to produce the most accurate responses. §§§§ §§§§

36 Category: Social Sciences found to benefit most from culturally- Name(s): Stephanie Grayson adapted one-session treatment (OST-CA) Submission Type: Individual compared to standard one-session Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): treatment (OST-S) or manualized self help. The present study assessed whether Jo Ann Farver, Psychology; Margaret Gatz, OST-CA was indeed more culture- Psychology responsive than OST-S, and whether Format: Senior Honors Project greater responsiveness to culture Title: Going for the Goal: Evaluating the predicted better clinical outcomes. Two Efficacy of a Life Skills Intervention coders were trained to rate each OST-S Abstract: and OST-CA therapy session for culture- This study evaluates a middle school life responsiveness (e.g., using skills intervention called Going for the directives/commands, extensive Goal (GOAL). It was designed by Steven psychoeducation, problem normalization). J. Danish at the Virginia Commonwealth Outcome data was collected at pre- University in 1992. The GOAL program's treatment and post-treatment. purpose is to teach fundamental life skills Preliminary analyses showed that OST-CA to high risk urban adolescents. Two 6th sessions were more culture-responsive grade classrooms participated in the than OST-S sessions. Moreover, culture- program at St. Vincent Middle School, responsiveness appeared to be associated one in 2005 and the other in 2006. with reductions in phobic anxiety. These Undergraduate students from the preliminary results suggest that Asian University of Southern California taught Americans may benefit most from the program material to the middle school treatment that incorporates Asian cultural students. Data regarding the values. effectiveness of the program was gathered through questionnaires given to §§§§ the 2005 class, the 2006 class, a subsequent follow-up with the 2006 Category: Social Sciences class, one middle school teacher, and the Name(s): Kimberly White undergraduate leaders. Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Brian Lickel, Psychology Format: Senior Honors Project Category: Social Sciences Title: Manipulating Skin Tone: The Name(s): Dominica Hernandez Effects of Skin Tone on Self Esteem Submission Type: Individual and Mood Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Abstract: Stan Huey, Department of Psychology Colorism is discrimination based on skin Format: Senior Honors Project tone. An experiment was conducted to Title: Investigating Cultural Modifications explore how skin tone affects the self- to One-Session Treatments for image of young African-American phobias in Asian American Adults. women, using measurements of self- Abstract: esteem and mood. Knowledge of the role In a recent clinical trial (Huey & Pan, skin tone plays among African-American 2006), Asian American students with women increases our understanding of simple phobias (e.g., fear of spiders) were colorism and also improves our ability to build positive self-regard among African-

37 American women. Issues of race and gender are ever-changing and must be §§§§ consistently studied. Skin color stratification is a topic that must also Category: Social Sciences looked at from every angle possible as its Name(s): Hala Mohammad sources and effects are varied. Preliminary Submission Type: Individual results show us that when African- Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): American women are led to believe that Ellen Seiter, Cinema Critical Studies lighter skin is favored, feelings of shame and anger increase as skin tone becomes Format: Creative Work darker. Also, when lighter skin is favored, Title: Media portrayal & Middle Eastern women with fairer complexions women: Reconstructing experience feelings of guilt. Orientalism & Empire? Abstract: §§§§ In today’s technically advanced age, media holds an unprecedented status in Category: Social Sciences conveying information regarding people Name(s): Meghann Sherman from far-away places. People are more Submission Type: Individual receptive to consider the information Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): supporting the preconceived notions and ideas about a group that is most distant Gia Robinson Shurgot, Psychology (Shaheen, 1985). This article examines Format: Senior Honors Project representations of Middle Eastern Women Title: Mastery and Perceived Stress in in News photographs printed in the Los Latino Caregivers of Dementia Angeles Times as well as New York Times, Patients and compare them to images from 19th Abstract: century colonial photographs and As advances in medicine and healthcare postcards. I argue that contemporary continue to grow, so does the average life western media is heavily influenced by the span and, in turn, the prevalence of political and social divide between East dementia. Consequently more family and West, and continue to misrepresent members are placed in the caregiving Middle Eastern women by echoing role. In the next fifty years elderly ethnic themes of colonial power dynamics. minority populations will rise as well. Population diversity requires This article will look closely at the understanding how different ethnic literature of significant authors in the field groups experience illness and the of Middle Eastern Studies such as Edward caregiving experience. This study Said, and Lila Abu-Lughod, to give a examined the mastery and stress in Latina backdrop about how the visual caregivers of dementia patients. It was representation of Middle Eastern women hypothesized that perceived stress would have been shaped and continue to be be negatively associated with caregiver shaped by political and social tensions and mastery. Latina caregivers of dementia intentions. The methods for this research patients (N=41) completed questionnaires are primarily qualitative; analyzing the on perceived stress and mastery. The images of these photographs as well as results showed a moderately strong critically evaluating the captions by relation (Pearson r = -.614) between utilizing Stuart Hall’s research on semiotics mastery and perceived stress, indicating as well as the study of semiotics for that the hypothesis was supported. studying pictures.

38 arguments. This study augments a timely critical subject, that being “During this time of §§§§ history when the Americans are more prone to accepting any (mis) information, Category: Social Sciences the News media should give a wider and Name(s): Yesenia Sanchez fuller perspective of history and politics Submission Type: Individual with regards to Women of Middle East”. Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): §§§§ Gia Robinson Shurgot, Gerontology Format: Senior Honors Project Category: Social Sciences Title: Patterns of Religious Coping and Name(s): Hannah Buerano, Katie Health in Latina Dementia Gibelyou, Victor Lee, Lauren Caregivers Nakamura Abstract: Submission Type: Group This cross-sectional study examined the Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): relationship physical health as measured Lon Kurashige, History by cortisol levels and perceived physical health, and religious coping methods in a Format: Field Research help-seeking sample of 39 Latina women Title: Origins of Tolerance: Race and caring for a family member with National Identity in 20th Century dementia. Participants were administered America questionnaires primarily through in-person Abstract: interviews conducted in their home and In the early 20th century, all Asians were were also asked to provide saliva samples excluded from immigrating to the United for two consecutive days after the initial States because the country was deemed a interview to assess cortisol levels. It was white nation. Today, Asian immigration hypothesized that the adoption of positive and multiculturalism is a pillar of the religious coping methods will be American experience and yet, historians associated with both higher ratings of still cannot fully explain this change. Our perceived health and higher slope values project examines the early development of the cortisol stress hormone in of multicultural nationalism through key comparison to participants who primarily intellectuals who articulated a more used negative religious coping methods. inclusive definition of national identity No significant results were found, which through their interactions with Asians in may be due to the small sample size. America and overseas. For example, Furthermore, this sample was not David Starr Jordan was a product of a representative, given that most Social Darwinist society, believing that participants were religious and used only white was on top of a racial hierarchy, but positive religious coping methods. Future he still glorified Japan as equal to any studies should address methodological European nation. John P. Irish embraced issues to obtain a more accurate the Asian immigrant as vital to American understanding of the Latina caregiving business in California. Finally, Carey experience. McWilliams, whose tolerant opinions were influenced by the writer Louis §§§§ Adamic, ardently fought for minority rights in California and across the nation with intellectual and passionate

39 Category: Social Sciences Category: Social Sciences Name(s): Monica Bennett Name(s): Janelle Colangelo, Hannah Submission Type: Individual Brice Keltner, David Press Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Submission Type: Group María Luisa Zubizarreta, Linguistics Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Juliana Fuqua, Health Promotion Disease Title: Prosody in Second-Language Prevention Acquisition Format: Field Research Abstract: Title: Religiosity and Perceived Stress This study looks at how second language among College Students learners acquire the stress and intonation Abstract: system of their second language. As part Stress is a societal, economic and of the cross-linguistic analysis, data from individual problem that has been linked to second language learners of Spanish and physical and mental health. Previous English were examined to determine how research has identified religious stress is computed in their native involvement as protective against language, and if this in turn affects how psychological stress among a variety of stress is computed in their second populations including among females, language. Protestants, and low-income African Americans. In the current study, the goal The research question asks whether was to analyze the association between English and Spanish differ with regards to religiosity and stress among college prosody for certain linguistic students in an urban university who were constructions, and where evidence of this interested in health promotion and difference can be found. We investigated maintained relatively healthy lifestyles. We the hypothesis that a transfer effect from expected religiosity (daily spiritual the native language would be observed experiences and religious involvement) to with respect to prosody and focus be negatively associated with perceived alignment in second language speech. stress among college students, despite their healthy lifestyles. To assess the The experiment compared two speaker association, self-report surveys were populations: native English speakers who distributed to a sample of 59 learned Spanish as adults, and native undergraduate students enrolled in a Spanish speakers who learned English as research methods class. The survey adults. Ten participants from each contained questions on respondent population completed three tasks as part background, lifestyle attributes, perceived of the experiment: Question and answer stress, daily spiritual experiences and pair reading task, narration of stories, a religious involvement. After controlling for Cloze test to determine proficiency. year in school and lifestyle factors (diet, sleep, exercise, tobacco, alcohol, social Results from the experiment confirmed activity, social network, social support, the hypothesis, namely second language time management, and utilization of quiet learners transfer stress patterns from their time), linear regression analyses revealed native language for the linguistic that daily spiritual experiences and constructions under study. religious involvement were predictive of perceived stress. Specifically, the more §§§§ religiously active and the more spiritual experiences, the less perceived stress that

40 the healthy college students reported. The prill was found, no direct evidence existed results of this study will be used to demonstrating that ancient metalsmiths provide direction for a larger study on mixed refined tin with copper to achieve religion as a coping mechanism for the the much harder bronze alloys. Indirect reduction of stress among college evidence (such as tin ingots) made that a students. Implications of the current study likely scenario. But, our analysis of this and future directions (e.g., intervention prill likely provides the first and only direct strategies to reduce stress among college evidence of this method of bronze students) are discussed. manufacture for the time period.

§§§§ Additionally, this prill provides data for this specific case study of metal Category: Social Sciences production at this ancient Assyrian Name(s): Ashley Sands northern capital city and also Submission Type: Individual demonstrates that bronze was manufactured onsite. Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Lynn Swartz Dodd, Religion §§§§ Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Rewriting the History of Category: Social Sciences Technology: unique proof of tin Name(s): Chloe Menon bronze manufacture Submission Type: Individual Abstract: Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): My research investigates metal artifacts at Norman Miller, Psychology an ancient Assyrian city and provides Format: Senior Honors Project unique evidence for how bronze was made from tin and copper. Title: Rumination and Displaced Aggression In 800 BC, Assyria established a massive Abstract: capital city, Tushhan, in the northernmost Thirty six university students participated reaches of its empire. In 2001 AD, metal- in a study in which they were evaluated working installations were discovered on negatively on several writing tasks and the high mound at Tushhan. A small asked to judge the competency of their copper prill (a tiny mass of congealed evaluator as a being and potential copper metal) was found containing researcher. This assessment of the intact flecks of tin. My research used X- evaluator was done in a written form, ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Florescence formally and confidentially. Participants (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy. were assigned to one of two conditions: Normally, tin melts immediately when The rumination condition, and the no placed in melted copper. Thus, the only rumination condition. Students' way a tin fleck can survive in molten assessment of their evaluator's copper is if, once thrown into the liquid competency was measured as an indicator copper, it immediately causes a small of displaced aggression. Results revealed splash (a copper droplet) that carries it out that participants who were made to of the molten mass, giving the tin no time ruminate over the negative evaluation of to melt. their performance tended to engage in more displaced aggression than students Why is our ability to describe this process in the no rumination condition. in detail so significant? Because, until this

41 §§§§ learners are influenced by the transfer of their native languages (when their native Category: Social Sciences language has articles) or semantic universals (when it does not). Age and Name(s): Anna Bokarius, Matt Wallace type of exposure don't make a difference. Submission Type: Group Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): §§§§ Tania Ionin, Linguistics; María Luisa Zubizarreta, Linguistics Category: Social Sciences Format: Field Research Name(s): Giulia Suro Title: Sources of Linguistic Knowledge in Submission Type: Individual Second Language English Article Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Acquisition Norman Miller, Psychology Abstract: Format: Senior Honors Project English learners are known to make two Title: The Effect of Perceived Provocateur errors with English articles: omission and Status and Rumination on substitution. Proper use of articles by Displaced Aggression learners of English can be affected by the knowledge of their native language or Abstract: innate linguistic knowledge. In this The aim of this study is to examine the project we investigated the use of English relationship between provocateur status articles by native speakers of Russian and and justification of provocation and its Spanish. For languages with articles, effect on displaced aggression with speakers were expected to transfer their rumination acting as a moderating use of English articles based on their variable. Research has already confirmed a native languages. Therefore, Spanish- strong link between rumination and speakers, who use articles in Spanish, displaced aggression as well as the status should be able to transfer this use of of a provocateur, justification of the articles to English. Languages lacking provocation and resulting displays of articles do not have transfer abilities. aggression. This proposed study seeks to Russian speakers are then expected to combine these pieces of knowledge and draw on their innate language knowledge investigate the effects of status and since Russian has no articles. We tested justification combined with a period of adult and child Mexican Spanish and rumination on ensuing displaced Russian learners of English to see aggression. Participants will read a differences between exposure to English scenario involving a provocation with as well as age differences. We also had 6 varying provocateur status and native English controls and obtained our provocation justification. All participants data using a written elicitation task with will then be placed in either a rumination dialogues. We found that Spanish condition for 20 minutes before entering speakers transfer the meaning of Spanish the trigger or no-trigger condition. In the articles onto English, regardless of age trigger condition, participants will receive and type of exposure to English (in the US a harsh evaluation of a writing sample vs. in Mexico); and that Russian speakers while in the no-trigger condition; have direct access to semantic universals, participants will receive an average again regardless of age and type of evaluation. Levels of aggression will then English exposure (in the US vs. in Russia). be measured through different dependent So we found evidence for universality - variables.

42 §§§§ lower intrinsic eating. These results suggest that dieting and other restraint- Category: Social Sciences type eating behaviors are inversely correlated with self-esteem, and that Name(s): Nicole Schneider these behaviors are found more Submission Type: Individual frequently among sorority women. Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Carol Koprowski, Institute for Prevention §§§§ Research, Keck School of Medicine Format: Senior Honors Project Category: Social Sciences Title: The relation between self-esteem Name(s): Leah Manchester and eating behavior. Submission Type: Individual Abstract: Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): The rate of dieting, especially among Laura Baker, Psychology females, has drastically increased over the Format: Senior Honors Project past few decades. Additionally, a strange Title: The Role of Genetics and phenomenon is occurring—as the rate of Electroencephalogram Asymmetry dieting increases, so does the rate of in Antisocial Behavior obesity among the same population. Many studies have found a relation Abstract: between these restrictive eating behaviors This project uses a subset of data from (limiting types or amount of certain foods) the Southern California Twin Project to and low self-esteem. Recently, the theory examine the degree of heritability of of Intuitive Eating was developed, which electroencephalogram (EEG) power and discourages restrictive behaviors by asymmetry and the relationship between encouraging people to listen to the body EEG and antisocial behavior. Five signals of hunger and satiety. First, the homologous electrode sites, representing study aims to research self-esteem as it the frontal and parietal brain regions, and relates to intuitive, disordered and two alpha power bands from 843 nine restrained eaters. The study also and ten year old twins were analyzed to compares self-esteem and eating determine the heritability for alpha power behaviors among sorority, and non- at each site for boys and girls. After sorority populations. To test this, females computing asymmetry scores by from a private university in Southern subtracting the power of each left California were recruited to complete a hemisphere site from its homologous questionnaire assessing their self-esteem, right hemisphere site, the heritability for level of restrained eating, eating disorder asymmetry was also computed. Results history, level of intuitive eating, and show a high degree of heritability for involvement in Greek life. Results suggest alpha1 and alpha2 in boys and girls, that self-esteem correlates positively and which is confirmed by other research, but significantly with intrinsic eating behavior, no heritability was found for EEG extrinsic eating behavior, anti-dieting, and asymmetry. Because asymmetry is self-care, and there are significant correlated with a person's ability for negative correlations with dieing, bulimic regulate his or her emotion, the tendencies, disinhibition, and hunger. relationship between asymmetry and Analysis of variance found that the emotionally charged antisocial behaviors, sorority group had higher self-esteem, namely violence, was examined. For boys and cognitive restraint of eating, and higher left than right asymmetry in the frontal sites is correlated with violent

43 behavior, and in girls higher right than left Category: Social Sciences asymmetry in the parietal site is correlated Name(s): Shinichi Daimyo with violence. In conclusion, EEG Submission Type: Individual hemispheric asymmetry is correlated with Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): violence, although the direction of asymmetry is dependent on gender, and Ruth Chung, Counseling Psychology, this relationship is mostly due to School of Education environmental factors, as genetics have Format: Senior Honors Project little effect on EEG asymmetry. Title: The Secret to "Good" Parenting Abstract: §§§§ The connection between self-esteem and parenting style is consistent within the Category: Social Sciences present literature: authoritative-type Name(s): Martha Monroe parenting correlates with high self- Submission Type: Individual esteem, while authoritarian parenting Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): correlates with low self-esteem (Lau & Cheung, 1987; Kawash, Kerr, & Clewes, Karen Hennigan, Center for Research on 1985). However, studies conducted by Crime and Social Control Chao (2001) and even Kawash el al. Format: Senior Honors Project (1985) reinforce the idea that parenting Title: The Role of Self-Stereotyping practices and self-esteem need to be Among Antisocial Youth considered under a culturally specific Abstract: lens. Moreover, Chao (2001) further This research was conducted to explore emphasized the effect of acculturation on self-stereotyping among antisocial parenting style in the academic teenage males. Previous research (Pickett, achievement of Asian-Americans, which Bonner, and Coleman, 2002) showed the implies that acculturation may presence of self-stereotyping among consequently act as an influential factor prosocial, college students although on self-esteem. Therefore, the current neglected to test any antisocial groups. It study will examine the relation between was proposed that self-stereotyping parenting style and acculturation and self- would be exhibited in antisocial group esteem in Asian-American and European members the same as prosocial group American college students. Data from members. Thirty antisocial teenagers measures of self-esteem and parenting ranging from fifteen to eighteen were style in Asian-Americans and European given a series of questionnaires to American college students, and measures investigate groups in their lives. The of acculturation administered to Asian- needs for assimilation and differentiation American college students, will be were manipulated and preliminary results analyzed to examine this relationship. suggest the need for self-stereotyping Not only will this study further the among antisocial group members. knowledge on cultural differences in Although the power is weak, the results parenting style and its impact, but it will show that this is a promising area of study also contribute to the gap of knowledge and should be explored further. between parenting style and acculturation and their effects on self-esteem. §§§§ §§§§

44 Category: Social Sciences Name(s): Melanie Billow Submission Type: Individual Faculty Sponsor(s) and Department(s): Thomas Lyon, Law Format: Senior Honors Project Title: Young Maltreated Children’s Ability to Answer and Understand Oath-Taking Compete Abstract: In child sexual abuse cases, the victim is often the only witness to the abuse. Before children can testify in court, however, they must be found competent. They need to understand the difference between telling a truth and a lie, their obligation to tell the truth, and the consequences of lying. To ensure that children’s cognitive abilities are accurately assessed, it is important to ask children questions that are easy for them to understand and appropriate for their level of development. This study examines transcripts of testimonies of 118 children aged 6-15 years who were questioned in felony sexual abuse trials. The transcripts were analyzed to test children’s comprehension of concepts such as meaning, morality and oath that they need to understand to qualify as competent to take the oath. The results indicate that children under the age of ten have more difficulty answering competency questions. Children had high accuracy in answering questions about the meaning of truth and lies and had near perfect scores in evaluating the ethics of lying in general. They found it more difficult, however, to admit to ever having lied and to express the consequences of their own lies. These findings suggest that children are so acutely aware of lying and its consequences that they are unwilling to admit what would happen to them if they were to tell a lie. §§§§

45 Symposium Participant Index

A Boudreau, Camille 36 Brown, Ashley 33 Aggarwal, Anuj 15 Brown, Benjamin 4 Agy, Chad 20 Buerano, Hannah 39 Aiyegbusi, Sola 7 Butler, Kristin 8 Akullian, Kristy 27 Alle, Nisha 19 C B Cass, Margaret 15 Cheung, Andrea 18 Ball, Elizabeth 25 Choi, Kwok Yin Karen 33 Bennett, Beck 2 Colangelo, Janelle 40 Bennett, Monica 39 Berry, Jeff 35 Bialostozky, Mario 22 D Billow, Melanie 44 Daimyo, Shinichi 44 Bitong, Janice 13 DeFreitas, Celeste 32 Bokarius, Anna 42 Demco, Alexandra 13

46 Der, Christopher 26 Johnson, Brad 11 Dykes, Carly 8 K E Kahn, Christine Marie 27 Elliott, Austin 27 34 Evans, Mariana 5 Keltner, Hannah 40 Khalsa, Bhavraj 10 F Kreimer, Sara 14 Krishnaswamy, Pavitra 22 Fischer, Glenn 25 Kroh, Julia 12 Flor, Ashley 8 Foley, Bradford 25 L G Lacson, Isabelle 34 Lee, Victor 39 Gallagher, Becky 27 Levin, Ross 13 27 Levinson, Ari 5 Gants, Connor 35 Lieber, Kristi 14 Gibelyou, Katie 39 Linke, Joel 28 Grayson, Stephanie 36 Lopez, Nicholas 4 H M Handmaker, Sally 31 Manchester, Leah 43 Harris, Howard 24 Marcuson, Hannah 8 Hernandez, Dominica 37 Marder, Eugene 30 Horning, Andrew 23 Marlow, Ehrin 4 Hu, Eric 10 Martin del Campo, Elizabet 8 Huynh, Tina 7 Mata, Wendy 24 McCaughan, Michael 20 J McMullan, Kelly 16 Menon, Chloe 41 Jimenez, Jessica 32

47 Milner, Kevin 27 Robertson, Randall 27 Mohammad, Hala 38 Robinson, Tom 27 Monroe, Martha 44 Mooney, Kyle 2 S Morales, Israel 22 Sain, Jared 27 Sanchez, Yesenia 39 N Sands, Ashley 8 Nakamura, Lauren 39 41 Nguyen, Tanya 12 Sangiovanni, Eugenia 1 Nikias, Georgiana 8 Schenkman, Lauren 27 Schneider, Nicole 43 O Scurich, Nicholas 31 Sherman, Meghann 38 O'Shea, Ryan 17 Shkalim, Mimi 18 Shu, Isabelle 3 P Sklaver, Michelle 8 Slater, Marjorie 36 Pack, Pius 27 Smith, Jennifer 2 Paik, Jeanie 22 Stiles, Noelle 25 Pang, Hector 29 Suro, Giulia 42 Patel, Nihal 17 Swihart, Kristin 28 Press, David 40 Q T Tai, Wei-Cheng 13 Quach, Nancy 11 Takagi, Taylr 11 Thompson, Jeffrey 25 R Tran, Paula 19 Rapp, Nick 27 Tu, Jackie 1 Richardson, David 27 Riedel, Benedikt 23 Roberts, Meredith 30

48 U Ungco, Joe 8 V Vo, Toan 26 W Wainstein, Martin 20 Wallace, Matt 42 Welday, Ashlee 32 White, Kimberly 37 Woo, Yen-Jung 11 Wood, Patrick 2 Y Yu, Lawrence 29 Z Zabel, Jonathan 9 Zager, Phil 35 Zare, Roger 3 Zhang, Joanne 34

49 Symposium Participants by Category

Dykes, Carly 8 Arts Flor, Ashley 8 Bennett, Beck 2 Huynh, Tina 7 Brown, Benjamin 4 Marcuson, Hannah 8 Evans, Mariana 5 Martin del Campo, Elizabet 8 Levinson, Ari 5 Nikias, Georgiana 8 Lopez, Nicholas 4 Sands, Ashley 8 Marlow, Ehrin 4 Sklaver, Michelle 8 Mooney, Kyle 2 Ungco, Joe 8 Sangiovanni, Eugenia 1 Zabel, Jonathan 9 Shu, Isabelle 3 Smith, Jennifer 2 Life Sciences Tu, Jackie 1 Aggarwal, Anuj 15 Wood, Patrick 2 Agy, Chad 20 Zare, Roger 3 Alle, Nisha 19 Humanities Bitong, Janice 13 Cass, Margaret 15 Aiyegbusi, Sola 7 Cheung, Andrea 18 Butler, Kristin 8

50 Demco, Alexandra 13 27 Hu, Eric 10 Harris, Howard 24 Johnson, Brad 11 Horning, Andrew 23 Khalsa, Bhavraj 10 Kahn, Christine Marie 27 Kreimer, Sara 14 Krishnaswamy, Pavitra 22 Kroh, Julia 12 Linke, Joel 28 Levin, Ross 13 Mata, Wendy 24 Lieber, Kristi 14 Milner, Kevin 27 McCaughan, Michael 20 Morales, Israel 22 McMullan, Kelly 16 Pack, Pius 27 Nguyen, Tanya 12 Paik, Jeanie 22 O'Shea, Ryan 17 Pang, Hector 29 Patel, Nihal 17 Rapp, Nick 27 Quach, Nancy 11 Richardson, David 27 Shkalim, Mimi 18 Riedel, Benedikt 23 Tai, Wei-Cheng 13 Robertson, Randall 27 Takagi, Taylr 11 Robinson, Tom 27 Tran, Paula 19 Sain, Jared 27 Wainstein, Martin 20 Schenkman, Lauren 27 Woo, Yen-Jung 11 Stiles, Noelle 25 Swihart, Kristin 28 Physical Thompson, Jeffrey 25 Vo, Toan 26 Sciences & Yu, Lawrence 29 Engineering Akullian, Kristy 27 Social Sciences Ball, Elizabeth 25 Bennett, Monica 39 Bialostozky, Mario 22 Berry, Jeff 35 Der, Christopher 26 Billow, Melanie 44 Elliott, Austin 27 Bokarius, Anna 42 Fischer, Glenn 25 Boudreau, Camille 36 Foley, Bradford 25 Brown, Ashley 33 Gallagher, Becky 27 Buerano, Hannah 39

51 Choi, Kwok Yin Karen 33 Colangelo, Janelle 40 Daimyo, Shinichi 44 DeFreitas, Celeste 32 Gants, Connor 35 Gibelyou, Katie 39 Grayson, Stephanie 36 Handmaker, Sally 31 Hernandez, Dominica 37 Jimenez, Jessica 32 Kahn, Christine Marie 34 Keltner, Hannah 40 Lacson, Isabelle 34 Lee, Victor 39 Manchester, Leah 43 Marder, Eugene 30 Menon, Chloe 41 Mohammad, Hala 38 Monroe, Martha 44 Nakamura, Lauren 39 Press, David 40 Roberts, Meredith 30 Sanchez, Yesenia 39 Sands, Ashley 41 Schneider, Nicole 43 Scurich, Nicholas 31 Sherman, Meghann 38 Slater, Marjorie 36 Suro, Giulia 42 Wallace, Matt 42 Welday, Ashlee 32 White, Kimberly 37 Zager, Phil 35 Zhang, Joanne 34

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