Fostering a Community of Student Scholars

University of Washington’s Tenth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium A Decade of Celebrating Undergraduate Scholarship and Creativity

18 May 2007 Mary Gates Hall 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Proceedings

Created by the Undergraduate Research Program with the support of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Office of Research, and the Mary Gates Endowment for Students. The Tenth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium is organized by the Undergraduate Research Program (URP), which facilitates research experiences for undergraduates in all academic disciplines. URP staff assist students in planning for an undergraduate research experience, identifying faculty mentors, projects, and departmental resources, defining research goals, presenting and publishing research findings, obtaining academic credit, and seeking funding for their research. Students interested in becoming involved in research may contact the URP office in Mary Gates Hall Room 120 for an appointment or send an email to [email protected]. URP maintains a listing of currently available research projects and other resources for students and faculty at: http://www.washington.edu/research/urp/.

Janice DeCosmo, Director Jennifer Harris, Associate Director Tracy Nyerges, Special Programs Coordinator and Adviser Jessica Salvador, Graduate Student Assistant James Hong, Staff Assistant

The Undergraduate Research Program is a unit of the UW’s Undergraduate Academic Affairs University of Washington’s Tenth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium

Proceedings

Table of Contents

Poster Sessions 6 Presentation Sessions 107 1A. social and Cultural Identity 108 1B. politics, Policies, and Narratives of the Environment 110 1C. toward Mental Health and Well-Being 111 1D. molecular and Cellular Interactions in Development 113 1E. applications of Discrete Methods 115 1F. an Interdisciplinary and Cross-Historical Look at Global challenges 117 1G. critical Slices: Our Changing Social Context 119 1H. Bioengineering: Materials and Movement 121 1I. evaluating Non-Invasive Imaging and Surgical Techniques in in-Vivo Models 123 1J. nanostructures in Environmental, Biological, and Engineering applications 126 1K. advanced Composite Materials and Systems 127 1L. ecology and Environmental Sciences 128 1M. interdisciplinary International Research 130 1N. genetic Research, Expression, and Behavior 132 1O. molecular Studies of Aging, Disease, and Therapy 134

2A. geology and Biology of the Marine Environment 136 2B. individuals, Community, and Culture 138 2C. invertebrate and Vertebrate Neural Systems 140 2D. experimental Designs that are Exceptionally Clever 142 2E. social Science Analyses of Health, Peace, and Personal Security 145 2F. re-Reading the Past: Varieties of Revisionist Cultural Criticism 147 2G. quantums to Plasmas 149 2H. Bioengineering and Human Health 151 2I. global Perspectives: Past and Present 153 2J. issues in International Political Economy 155 2K. quantum Optics and Quantum Computing 156 2L. investigating Complex Biological Systems 157 2M. swimming in the Muck: Microbes and Organic Matter in Water 159 2N. effects of Environmental Pressures on Natural Populations and speciation 161 2O. novel Biomolecular/Biomaterial Approaches to Major Problems in Biomedical Research 163 2P. researching Dance/Performing Research 166 Index 169 Acknowledgements 176 Please Note: Abstracts are listed alphabetically by the presenter’s last name, unless otherwise noted. Additional Opportunities for Undergraduate Researchers!

Find Research Opportunities at UW and Beyond To learn more how to get involved in undergraduate research, the Undergraduate Research Program maintains a listing of current research opportunities available at: http://www.washington.edu/research/urp/students/atuw.html and offers individual advising to undergraduates; email [email protected] for an appointment.

Travel Awards for Undergraduates to Present Research These awards help make it possible for undergraduates to extend their research experience by contributing to important discussions of current research at professional conferences. Students who have had a paper or poster accepted to a conference may apply for funding for travel expenses and registration fees. Applications are accepted on a continuing basis. For more information visit the Undergraduate Research Program website: http://www.washington.edu/research/urp/students/urta.html. Sponsored by the UW Office of Research, the Undergraduate Research Program and the Mary Gates Endowment for Students

Mary Gates Research Scholarships Through participation in research, undergraduate students learn about the essential role of inquiry in a vital society. These competitive research scholarships are available to enhance the educational experiences of students across campus who are engaged in research with faculty. Application deadlines are in autumn and winter quarter for each academic year. For more information visit the Mary Gates Endowment website: http://www.washington.edu/oue/mge/becoming_research.shtml Funded by the Mary Gates Endowment for Students

Library Research Award for Undergraduates The University Libraries, in cooperation with the Undergraduate Research Program, is sponsoring the “Library Research Award for Undergraduates” competition, recognizing University of Washington students who produce significant inquiry requiring use of information resources, the library, and its collections. Application deadline: May 21, 2007. For more information visit the Odegaard Undergraduate Library website: http://www.lib.washington.edu/researchaward/ Library Research awards are funded through the Kenneth S. Allen Library Endowment and the Friends of the Libraries Students Talk about Why They Participate in the Undergraduate Research Symposium

“This is the chance to show off what you’ve been working so hard for! My project has taken 10 months so far so I’m excited to present to everyone what I’ve accomplished to this point.” 

“Experience! Comfort in front of an audience and getting a feel for a big part of an academic career. Answering questions from non-experts forces you to gain a greater basic understanding of your research; it’s easy to get lost in learning techniques and to forget what’s actually going on.” 

“You get to meet many students who share the same goals.” 

“Self-confidence, after it is over you can relax and say ‘I did it.’” 

“You never understand something until you teach it to someone else. This is an opportunity to teach.” 

“You meet people. A lot of people. And you get to talk to them about what you do, and they are interested. It’s really cool.” Poster Sessions

Please Note: Abstracts are listed alphabetically by the presenter’s last name. Toxicity of Imidacloprid to Salmonids Mentor: Ron Krabill, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Kevin Adams, Senior, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences UW Bothell James Banfill, Senior, Environmental & Conservation Biology Nelson Mandela is inarguably a media icon. He is held up Eahn Holm, Senior, General Biology and Aquatic & as a Messianic figure, a father and grandfather to a broken Fishery Sciences nation, and a leader by not only South African media Neal Jander, Senior, Ecosystem Science & Resource but global media. How did he rise to such eminance? Management And how, as a prisoner for 30 years, did he remain such Andrew Ryznar, Senior, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences a figurehead when his image and words were banned Tristan Stringer, Senior, Biology (Environmental and from the public sphere? Was the South African media Conservation) involved in the thoughtful construction of Mandela, or Mentor: Christian E. Grue, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences was his icon borne out of desperation for leadership? Did the perceptions of Mandela by different groups help to Carbaryl has been used to control burrowing shrimp affect the end of Apartheid? Our collective attempts to within oyster beds in Willapa Bay and Gray’s Harbor, answer these questions examine the historical formation Washington for 5 decades. These shrimp destabilize the of Mandela as this icon, how media has worked towards sediments onto which young Pacific oysters are seeded. A shaping that image throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and legal settlement requires growers to reduce the annual use the specific reactions of South Africans towards Mandela of carbaryl such that use of the pesticide is discontinued using ethnographic interviews. Our research delves into by 2012, and to seek alternatives. Imidacloprid has been the complex relationship between the South African media, shown to be effective in controlling burrowing shrimp Mandela and South African citizens, specifically the and its toxicity to non-target fishes appears to be less shifting ideology of the government towards neo-liberal than that of carbaryl. The static 96-h LC50 for juvenile economic policies. We examine the role of resistance print rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to technical media and the alternative press and its effects on the image grade imidacloprid is 211 ppm, ca. 2 orders of magnitude of Mandela, both towards those involved directly with less toxic than carbaryl to juvenile trout and Chinook the struggle and the White South African population. Our (Oncorhynchus tshawytsha). The toxicity of imidacloprid research includes the media’s construction of Mandela and as formulated products to salmonids, particularly juvenile how he was shaped, represented and portrayed with regards Chinook that occupy waters above the treated beds and to class and race, and what effect this portrayal had on adjacent channels, is not known. In an initial effort to the sharp inequalities in South Africa. We also investigate determine the relative toxicity of a widely used formulation the perception of Mandela from the points of view of of imidacloprid (Admire® 2F, Bayer CropScience), we different generations and gender groups and how the exposed juvenile trout (ca. 14 g) to 0, 75, 107, 151, 215, media, specifically television, affected those perceptions. and 305 ppm AI for 96 h (static) and quantified behavior and mortality; a previous study indicated concentrations The Congress-Media Relationship: Which Party is <15 ppm did not result in overt toxicity. All fish exposed to More Responsive? 75 ppm survived, but were lethargic and exhibited erratic Kyle Albert, Senior, Political Science and Sociology swimming. The LC50 was 163 ppm (95% CI=148-177 Mary Gates Scholar, Undergraduate Research ppm). Results are comparable to those reported previously Travel Award Recipient for the AI and 1.3 g trout. Under a worse case scenario, Mentor: Bryan Jones, Political Science i.e. application at 0.2 lbs AI/ac to a mudflat with 10 mm of water prior to tidal inundation, the maximum concentration My project examines the relationship between the media of imidacloprid would be 0.5 ppm, suggesting a significant and congressional agendas, with particular attention to the margin of safety. Future studies will quantify effects differences between Republican and Democrat-controlled of formulated products on behavior, osmoregulatory congresses. Is one party more attentive to media coverage function, and survival in seawater adapted Chinook smolts than the other? Given the shift to a Democrat-controlled and olfactory-mediated behavior in juvenile rainbow trout. congress in the last election, this question has become particularly relevant. To answer this question, I retrieved data Mandela as Media Icon from the Center for American Politics and Public Policy’s Katy Afruma, Senior, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Policy Agendas Project (available at www.policyagendas. UW Bothell org about trends in the content of congressional hearings Tyler Pratt, Senior, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, and New York Times coverage. I examined the correlation UW Bothell between the percentage of congressional hearings (in both Claire Scarbeary, Junior, Interdisciplinary Arts and the Senate and the House) and Times articles that fell into Sciences, UW Bothell each of the project’s 19 major policy topics for each year Melissa Cushman, Junior, Interdisciplinary Arts and in the dataset (1946 to 2003), separating my data for years Sciences, UW Bothell of Democrat and Republican control of congress. My

 initial results suggest that the correlation between media making body. The data will be compared to measures of coverage and congressional attention is stronger when Congressional attention to examine patterns in what issues Republicans control the House, but the reverse seems to be enter and leave the agenda in the post war period. Also of the case for the Senate. In addition to looking at the broad interest will be how justice ideology impacts the make-up differences in the agendas of the media and Congress, of cases, as well as how the cases granted cert differ from my project also examines how the media-Congress those forced upon the court. These results will be among relationship differs between different policy topics. the first attempts to understand the policy making ability of the court, providing a base for future study of the subject. Variability and patterns of naming errors produced by individuals with aphasia The Role of IA-2 in Insulin Release in Connection Karen Alexander, Senior, Speech & Hearing Sciences with Type 1 Diabetes Mary Gates Scholar Emily Angell, Senior, Biology: Physiology Mentor: Margaret Rogers, Speech & Hearing Sciences Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Dan Bowen-Pope, Pathology The present investigation examines the effect of repetition priming on the naming performance of individuals with an Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the acquired neurological language disorder termed aphasia. body attacks beta cells in the pancreas, destroying or Naming performance was evaluated in terms of accuracy damaging them, causing a reduction or elimination in as well as naming latency in two people with aphasia and insulin production. Insulin is the principle hormone two control participants. Participants were asked to name that regulates cellular glucose uptake. Without insulin pictures presented on a computer monitor, half of which produced by the pancreas, type 1 diabetics experience represented high frequency words and half low frequency persistent high levels of blood glucose, poor protein words. Of the 280 pictures, 40 were “trained” by multiple synthesis and higher risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney exposures to orthographic and auditory representations, failure, high blood pressure, blindness, and nerve damage. along with multiple opportunities for production It is currently unclear how the immune system identifies during the “training” phase of the study. The other 240 and destroys pancreatic beta cells in type 1 diabetics. IA- “untrained” words were presented across “baseline”, 2 is a secretory vesicle protein with unknown enzymatic “training”, and “maintenance” phases of the study. The activity which has been identified as the target of auto- effects of training were evaluated by comparing accuracy antibodies in type 1 diabetes. IA2 is present in dense and latency measures for the “trained” and “untrained” core vesicles that contain insulin in pancreatic beta cells. words across all three study phases for each participant. Determining the function of IA-2 may lead to a better In one individual with aphasia a 60% increase in accuracy understanding of how insulin is released by pancreatic was demonstrated between baseline and maintenance. beta cells and how the immune system targets these cells The other individual with aphasia exhibited a 2.1% in type 1 diabetics. IA-2 resembles a transmembrane increase in accuracy between the baseline and training protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) with a single phases but exhibited an overall decrease in accuracy of catalytic domain, yet preliminary observations indicate 2.5% between baseline and maintenance, suggesting that it has no discernable PTPase activity. IA-2β (Phogrin) some acquisition but poor maintenance. A speed also seems to lack PTPase activity due to an amino acid accuracy tradeoff was realized as in general, naming substitution in its’ catalytic site. Preliminary observations latencies became slower as accuracy improved over indicate that Phogrin has the ability to hydrolyze several the course of training for both individuals with aphasia. phosphatidylinositol phosphatases (PIPs) which play roles in secretion and vesicle dynamics. I will test the Legislating From the Bench: The Supreme Court and hypothesis that the substitution in the catalytic site of IA- Domestic Policy 2 is analogous to the substitution which is essential for Richard Anderson, Senior, Political Science the PIPase activity of Phogrin. Possible PIPase activity Mary Gates Scholar will be revealed by looking for altered PIP2 levels in Mentor: Bryan Jones, Political Science cultured pancreatic β-cells. Successful identification of IA-2 enzymatic activity may lead to a better understanding This project seeks to understand the interaction between of the mechanisms controlling insulin secretion in the political actors, institutional rules, and the caseload pancreatic beta cells which are damaged in type 1 diabetes. composition of the Supreme Court of the United States. Previous studies of these interactions have focused of legal ideas, where a case is only relevant for the legal principle invoked. Employing the first ever Supreme Court data set with cases coded by the area of public policy to which they are relevant, I will examine the cases in a way that appreciates the role of the Supreme Court as a policy

 An Extrinsic Cue Regulates Neuronal Temporal Throughout the juvenile life histories of many salmonids, Identity in Drosophila off-channel habitats provide crucial habitat. On the Hoh Bettye Appiah Apenteng, Sophomore, Neurobiology River, much of the floodplain is in relatively pristine Mentor: Jim Truman, Biology condition and in recent years an organization known Mentor: Lisa Marin, Biology as the Hoh River Trust has purchased much of the Hoh River valley. They now own many of the riparian flood The mushroom body (MB) is an insect brain structure formed plains where these habitats can be found, and to assess by the division of four neuroblasts. Each of these neuroblasts their importance, we compared physical habitat and fish divides to generate 3 neuronal subtypes sequentially. The communities present in three types of off-channel habitats. aim of this project is to determine if an extrinsic cue, These channels were classified into three types, parafluvial, such as a hormone (Ecdysone), may regulate this switch. orthofluvial, and tributaries, with the classifications based I am investing this by using sucrose diet experiment upon their source of flow and frequency of disturbance. manipulations, which temporarily stops larval growth by Physical habitat including, depth, substrate, and large arresting cycling larval tissue cells while MBs and other woody debris was sampled in each of the three channel active neuroblasts continue dividing. Preliminary results types. Fish communities were also sampled by snorkeling, show that when a newly hatched larva is placed temporarily and fish distributions were compared to physical habitat. We on sucrose diet the number of early born MB neurons found a strong relationship between the proximity of an off- increase, suggesting the involvement of an extrinsic cue. channel unit to the main-stem and the density of trout 0+ in channels that flowed directly into the Hoh. This relationship Development of a microvalve for use in polymeric may be a reflection of the suitability of off-channel laminate microfluidic devices using rapid prototyping habitats as rearing areas or of the spawn site selection of technologies adult steelhead. Weaker relationships were found between Steven Asplund, Senior, Bioengineering coho density and depth as well as coho density and LWD. Mentor: Paul Yager, Bioengineering The Hoh is highly turbid due to glacial flour during the summer and it is likely that this had important implications The field of microfluidics involves the manipulation for the distribution of drift feeding juvenile coho. of microliter to nanoliter volumes of fluids using small (1 millimeter or less) channels and features. In general, The Role of ICTs on Sustainable Development in microfluidic devices are constructed out of the soft Africa elastomer poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) or from Yared Ayele, Senior, Comparative History of Ideas and relatively rigid plastics such as Mylar or polymethyl Informatics methacrylate (PMMA). A major focus of our lab is the Mary Gates Scholar, EIP Research Scholar development of disposable microfluidic diagnostic devices Mentor: Doug Merrel, Comparative History of Ideas fabricated from laminated laser-cut Mylar and PMMA Mentor: Ylva Hernlund, Anthropology sheets. In both formats, it is advantageous to integrate fluidic control into the device in the form of a microvalve. The United Nation’s Information and Communications To date, there are many effective microvalves for use in Technology Task Force (ICT Task Force) and the World PDMS devices; however, translation of these valves to Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) were successful polymeric laminate devices is difficult, if not impossible for in promoting pertinent discussions about the many efforts many designs. Thus, there is a clear need for a microvalve to bridge the global divide, and place Information and design capable of providing fluidic control in a rigid Communications Technologies (ICTs) at the service of flow channel. This project presents a microvalve design the world’s citizens. There is a clear recognition by the suitable for polymeric laminate devices. Specifically, we international and academic community, however, that present a combination device where the flow channel is there is a need for civil societies in both developed and constructed from PMMA which is sealed with a thin PDMS developing countries to be part of these discussions. membrane. LabView provides a user interface to a custom My research is intended to spark these discussions on built piezoelectric actuation system that generates force community level and among organizations involved to deflect the PDMS membrane and seal the microvalve. in promoting global partnerships and collaborations. Optimization results for the valve design, fabrication How does ICTs promote symbiotic partnerships and procedures, and microvalve tolerances are presented. collaborations? How do these partnerships promote self- reliance and long-term sustainable development? How Comparing physical habitat and juvenile salmonid are these technologies empowering the youth and their abundance in the off-channel habitats of a large, communities by providing effective and efficient access to glacial river information? What are the new social, cultural and political Will Atlas, Junior, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences opportunities and challenges that ICTs bring to developing Mentor: Tom Quinn, Ocean & Fishery Sciences communities in Africa? My research draws on an experience establishing a computer literacy program in a disadvantage

 township in South Africa. It is based on informal My research in Professor Hille’s lab involves the discussions, surveys and interviews with individuals, investigation of cadherins in cellular motility. Cadherins local and international organizations in Senegambia are transmembrane cell-cell adhesion receptors that are region of West Africa and Cape Town, South Africa. important in development and morphogenesis. Cadherins bind to catenins, such as p120 catenin, and form binding Tracing the Periphery: Neural Anatomy of Tritonia domains to hold cells together. The protein p120 catenin is diomedea hypothesized to play a vital role in cell migration during Amelia Bachleda, Junior, Neurobiology zebrafish morphogenesis by regulating cadherins. I seek Mary Gates Scholar to understand the function of p120 catenin in zebrafish Mentor: Shaun Cain, Biology, University of Eastern embryos. My research is focused on showing whether Oregon p120 catenin is required for motility of cells. My project Mentor: James Murray, Biology, University of Central involving p120Delta 1 catenin is to develop a morpholino Arkansas for a complete knock down of p120D1 catenin mRNAs. I have now sequenced that area so I am designing an inhibitory The ability to trace neuronal synapses overlong distances morpholino that contains the first AUG start codon for is a useful tool in the study of the nervous system. This p120D1 catenin. The advantage of injecting a morpholino study examines possible methods available to trace neural to the translation start codon, rather than the splicing site, projections from the magnetically responsive pedal cell is that the synthesis of proteins from the oocytes’ stored 5, located in the pedal ganglion of the marine mollusk p120D1 catenin mRNA can be blocked. Thus, we can Tritonia diomedea, to the peripheral foot. Functionality block the earliest expression of p120D1 catenin protein and of the peripheral enervations of pedal cell 5 is examined stop its function very early in development as the protein via immunohistochemistry. Labeling patterns of Tpep, will not be expressed. With the use of the new morpholino a protein involved in motor function and Sensorin, I will explore the role of p120D1 catenin in embryogenesis a sensory protein are examined in conjunction with by visualizing the effects of the knock down on the embryos labeled axons extending from pedal nerves 2 and 3, the using DIC microscopy and live microscopy. Another nerves into which the neurites of pedal cell 5 bifurcate. technique to be used is insitu hybridizations to specifically view the effects on the notochord, neuroectoderm and the The Hubble Catalog of Proto-Planetary Nebulae somites without the p120ctn protein. The final technique Jennifer Baerny, Senior, Physics and Astronomy to be used will be a western blot to measure the amount Joe Huehnerhoff, Senior, Physics and Astronomy of protein production as normal levels are 120,000 using Suzanne Hayward, Senior, Physics and Astronomy the first methionine start site. With these steps I will be Mary Gates Scholar able to view p120D1 catenin’s role in embryogenesis. Mentor: Bruce Balick, Astronomy Neuronal Activity in Retrosplenial and Hippocampal We have downloaded, processed, and co-added every Cortices during Context Discrimination image of a Proto-Planetary Nebulae (PPN) obtained Jennifer Barredo, Recent Graduate, Psychology with Hubble WFPC2 and ACS and available in the HST Mary Gates Scholar archives as of May 2006 (≈1200 images). Our immediate Mentor: Sheri J.Y. Mizumori, Psychology aim is to construct a high-resolution multi-filter catalogue Mentor: David M. Smith, Psychology of protoPNe, and to use the images to identify how PPN form and evolve. We will define new morphological classes While the importance of hippocampal function to and sequences for protoPNe, examine the frequencies declarative memory has been documented in both the of defining characteristics in the sample, and relate the experimental and neuropsychological literature, how the observed symmetries to various types of theories for AGB hippocampus and its related afferent structures contribute mass ejection and subsequent mass shaping processes to mnemonic processing is still ambiguous. One way such as fast stellar winds. Already it is clear that the shapes in which hippocampus and its circuits may be crucial to of protoPNe are more various and complex than those of memory function may be through its involvement in the most PNe, showing that the structures initially imposed processing and organization of information about a context by AGB mass ejections are blurred by the momenta of into a framework for the memory of an event. Context ionization fronts and fast stellar winds that come later. can include information about the animal’s environment or the situational demands of an event. We examined The role of p120 catenin on cellular motility in how neurons in the retrosplenial and hippocampal zebrafish embryos cortices contribute to memory for situational cues critical Nadia Bahrami, Junior, Molecular, Cellular & for performance of a spatial discrimination task on an Developmental Biology elevated plus maze. During testing, rats foraged for a Mary Gates Scholar food reward consistently located on one maze arm in the Mentor: Merrill B. Hille, Biology first block of trials (context A) and on the opposite arm

10 during the second block (context B). Extra-maze cues The results of this study will give a clear insight into the were held constant during testing to ensure that the only transcription factors that are necessary and required for the discriminative cue was the reward’s location. Functioning regulation of COX-2 expression in vSMCs and this insight of either retrosplenial or hippocampal cortices was will reveal the upstream events leading to activation. pharmacologically inhibited during early learning and Understanding these upstream pathways may further behavioral effects of inhibition on testing performance elucidate the role of COX-2 in cardiovascular disease. was recorded and compared with that of control animals. Concurrently, neural activity was tracked using single-cell Study of Crystallization of Constrained Ultra-Thin recordings from tetrodes implanted in the uninhibited region Poly(ethylene oxide) Films and comparisons were made across contexts to observe Andrew Bauer, Senior, Chemical Engineering how the firing patterns of individual neurons changed Mentor: Rene Overney, Chemical Engineering between contexts. Data analysis is still in progress at this time, but preliminary analyses indicate that rats receiving Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is a widely studied semi- hippocamapal inactivation were impaired at discriminating crystalline polymer with broad commercial applications, between contexts and expressed a durable preference including paper manufacturing, biomedical devices, and for the behavioral strategy used in context A which was solid state lithium polymer batteries. We are particularly effective in that context but inappropriate in context B. interested in the latter application, where PEO provides Retrosplenial inactivation did not cause similar impairment. strong performance due to its electrochemical stability and compatibility with lithium electrodes. In its solid Molecular characterization of cyclooxygenase-2 amorphous state, the local relaxation and segmental motion expression in vascular smooth muscle cells of PEO promotes ionic conductivity, necessary for battery Kevin Barry, Senior, Biochemistry applications. However, its tendency to crystallize and its Mentor: William M. Mahoney, Jr., Pathology low melting temperature limit its use in this industry. Our Mentor: Stephen M. Schwartz, Pathology group uses interfacial constraints to suppress crystallization, and study the relationship between crystallization, melting Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is the dominant source of temperature, and structural relaxation to film thickness (10- prostaglandins, which are responsible for mediating pain 250 nm). We employ an atomic force microscopy (AFM) and inflammation. The literature does not clearly depict based tool, shear modulation microscopy (SM-AFM) a role for COX-2 in intimal growth in atherogenesis or to determine the melting temperature of ultra-thin PEO restenosis. In activated monocyte/macrophages, COX-2 films, and AFM imaging and scratching to obtain quality is up-regulated, suggesting that COX-2 inhibition might and structural information, roughness, and film thickness. reduce atherogenesis through its anti-inflammatory effects. From an engineering perspective, layered films of PEO and However, inhibition of COX-2 activity has been shown to polyacrylic acid (PAA) will be constructed using a recently induce hyperplasia and remodeling of the vasculature while introduced layer-by-layer technique. The objective of this maintaining luminal geometry, suggesting that inhibition approach is to transpose interfacial constraints in ultra-thin of COX-2 activity may increase the risk of atherogenesis films to a larger scale relevant for engineering applications. or hypertension. The COX-2 promoter contains putative interaction domains for the following transcription factors: Creating novel solid-state gas and humidity sensors NFkB, C/EBP, NFAT, CRE and TATA. While the influence with vanadium oxide of each of these sites has been studied extensively in other Kevin Bell, Freshman, Physics cell types, the role that these transcription factors play in Mary Gates Scholar, NASA Space Grant regulating COX-2 expression in vascular smooth muscle Scholar cells (vSMCs) has yet to be elucidated. By selectively Mentor: Fumio S. Ohuchi, Materials Science and knocking-out each individual promoter binding site, we Engineering aim to determine how each transcription factor contributes to the expression activity of COX-2. A portion of the Thermoelectric responses of vanadium pentoxide and proximal COX-2 promoter (–2935/+379) was cloned from sodium-doped vanadium pentoxide to water vapor and murine genomic DNA and inserted into a reporter vector various gases are being researched. Dependence of (pGL3-Luciferase; Promega). Subsequently, specific electrical conductivity or Seebeck coefficient on exposure transcription factor binding sequences were knocked out by to such substances could be utilized for various sensor site-specific mutagenesis. Once successful mutagenesis is applications. Vanadium pentoxide has a layered structure confirmed by sequencing, promoter-luciferase assays will that allows molecules to be incorporated into it and be performed in vSMCs to determine the individual and change its physical properties, making it a promising synergistic effects on COX-2 promoter activity in vSMCs. candidate for numerous applications as a detector. Upon completion, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays will be used to confirm that the COX-2 promoter activities found in vitro actually occur in vivo.

11 Polycarboxylate Amides and Amines human). My hypothesis contends that miRNA networks Jesse Bergkamp, Junior, Chemistry, The Evergreen State can be mapped based on downstream analysis. Current College research shows that miRNAs have been found to target Mentor: Peter J. Pessiki, Chemistry, The Evergreen State RNA transcription, resulting in a downstream effect on the College level of protein being produced. Based on the available data, it should be possible to find a correlation between A key step in photosynthesis is the light driven oxidation miRNA targets and their protein expression levels. of water. The process is initiated with the excitation of chlorophyll like molecules with light and the subsequent Analysis of Interpersonal and Power Dynamics in transfer of an electron to a quinone. An electron is then Internet-based Patient Health Education supplied to the oxidized chlorophyll, which can then proceed Lauren Bianchi, Senior, Anthropology through the process again. The source of this electron is Mentor: Huong Nguyen, Nursing the water-oxidizing complex, a metallo-enzyme containing Mentor: Lorna Rhodes, Anthropology four manganese ions. We have set out to model this aspect of photosynthesis by attempting to synthesize well-defined Current technology is transforming the methods of metal complexes covalently attached to a porphyrin. This health care delivery and education for both providers led us to a series of compounds consisting of an amide- and patients. Significantly, the internet has become polycarboxylate moiety attached to the meso-position of a tool for disseminating medical information and a tetratolylporphyrin. Though we have been successful in monitoring patients. Current studies have evaluated the our synthesis of a number of such compounds without the effectiveness and impacts of symptom management and metal, our progress has been slowed by our inability to patient education via internet based programs, handheld interpret the results from our metal binding studies. To wireless devices, and chat rooms. With this emerging gain a better understanding of the coordination chemistry mode of medical communication questions arise over the of these polycarboxylates we have set out to synthesize a dynamics and implications of this faceless, and sometimes series of small molecules that have similar potential metal impersonal, interaction. Furthermore, an analysis of the binding sites but without the porphyrin ring. The basic application of biopower must be included when examining structural motif is a tertiary amide, linked via the carbonyl the monitoring of individuals and health with technology. carbon to an aromatic ring. The other two substituents on Transcripts from a randomized clinical study of two the nitrogen are two acetic acid side chains. In addition programs to support symptom management in patients the non-amide analogs and the propanoic derivatives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, have also be prepared. This poster will report on our conducted in the University of Washington and University synthetic progress, structural characterization and our of California San Francisco, provide an opportunity to results on the coordination chemistry of these compounds. examine the use of the Internet to deliver health education and support peer group interactions. Patients participated The Functional Regulation of miRNAs During an in nurse-facilitated live text chat sessions to discuss six Influenza Infection May Directly Influence Protein different topics related to managing their symptoms Expression Levels over the course of 6 months. Reviewing the chat room Herley Beyene, Senior, Molecular, Cellular, and transcripts from this study, the implications of internet- Developmental Biology based communication are analyzed. Moreover, the exercise Mentor: Michael Katze, Microbiology of biopower in the interactions is evaluated. Ultimately, a complex set of interpersonal and power dynamics arises MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small 18-25 nucleotide long within and from internet-based health care interventions. RNA molecules that help regulate gene expression. Their discovery twelve years ago marked an important The Effect of Fundamental Frequency on breakthrough in the field of molecular biology. Since Speaking Rate, Acceptability, and Intelligibility of then the miRNA sequence database (MiRBase) has grown Electrolaryngeal Speech to include 4449 entries for hairpin precursor miRNAs Caroline Bishop, Senior, Speech & Hearing Sciences expressing a total of 4274 mature miRNA products from Mary Gates Scholar primates, rodents, birds, fish, worms, flies, plants, and Mentor: Tanya Eadie, Speech & Hearing Sciences viruses. Current research has shed light on the impact that miRNAs play in embryonic development, hematopoietic A total laryngectomy is a surgical procedure in which the cell differentiation, apoptosis, cell proliferation and cancer. larynx (voicebox) is entirely removed. In some cases, total A single miRNA can target transcripts from multiple laryngectomy may be the only life-saving solution for a genes, and multiple miRNAs can target transcripts from a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer. As a consequence, individuals single gene. This produces a many to many relationship need a new “voice” source for speaking. One method of of targets to transcripts providing a complex regulatory “alaryngeal” speech includes use of an electrolarynx. The network from relatively few molecules (474 annotated for electrolarynx creates a sound through a vibrating head. The

12 sound source transmits frequency vibrations through the skin analyses of alkenons and sterols from the two cultures on the neck. Speakers then move their speech articulators to test whether growth rate influenced D/H fractionation. (lips, tongue) as they would for normal laryngeal speech and words are created. Electrolaryngeal speech is a much Ensemble Forecasting Errors valued mode of alaryngeal communication. However, Kathryn Boyd, Senior, Atmospheric Sciences many investigators have noted its shortcomings in terms Mentor: Gregory Hakim, Atmospheric Sciences of both intelligibility and speech acceptability. One of the primary difficulties with the electrolarynx relates to its Ratios of deuterium to hydrogen in lipids produced by reduced fundamental frequency range. Thus, the purpose phytoplankton and preserved within sediments have been of this study is to examine the effects of four different proposed as a rainfall and salinity indicator. Increased fundamental frequencies on speaking rate, intelligibility, rainfall is associated with low D/H ratios and decreased and acceptability. Twenty normal laryngeal speakers rainfall is associated with high D/H ratios in oceans, (18–25 yrs) were recently recruited. Speakers were trained lakes and their resident phytoplankton. Culturing on the use of the electrolarynx. They were then asked to experiments have shown that phytoplankton D/H ratios use 4 different electrolarynges in a random order set at are near perfect recorders of water D/H ratios. However the following frequencies: 75 Hz, 140 Hz, 175 Hz, and uncertainty remains about the influence environmental 300 Hz. Each speaker completed an intelligibility test, factors such as nutrient availability, growth rate, light, and and read a number of standard sentences. These samples temperature play in altering phytoplankton D/H ratios. To were audio-recorded and are currently being analyzed for determine the possible effect of growth rate on isotopic speaking rate. The speech samples will be entered into a composition we cultured the marine cocolithophorid perceptual software program. Twenty naïve listeners will Emiliania huxleyi at the maximum achievable growth then judge the recordings of the electrolaryngeal speakers rate using f/2 medium in a turbidostat. We then cultured for speech acceptability and intelligibility using rating E. huxleyi at the slowest sustainable growth rate using scales. Results will show whether there is an effect of a chemostat and nitrogen-depleted f/2 medium. After fundamental frequency on speaking rate, intelligibility, and reaching the desired biomass and maintaining a stable acceptability. The results of this study have important clinical growth rate for three generations the cells were harvested implications for the development of electrolarynges and the onto a filter and the lipids purified for D/H analysis. treatment of individuals who undergo total laryngectomy. We will report the results of isotope-ratio monitoring gas chromatography mass spectrometry (irm-GC-MS) Determining the effect of growth rate on hydrogen analyses of alkenons and sterols from the two cultures isotopes in phytoplankton to test whether growth rate influenced D/H fractionation. Jeff Bowman, Biological Oceanography, Biology (Ecology and Evolution) Development of an Undergraduate Laboratory of Mentor: Julian Sachs, Oceanography Scanning Probe Methods Applied to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Ratios of deuterium to hydrogen in lipids produced by Michael Brasile, Senior, Chemical Engineering phytoplankton and preserved within sediments have been Mentor: Rene Overney, Chemical Engineering proposed as a rainfall and salinity indicator. Increased rainfall is associated with low D/H ratios and decreased Nanoscience and nanotechnology are anticipated rainfall is associated with high D/H ratios in oceans, to have a huge economic and societal impact in the lakes and their resident phytoplankton. Culturing near future. Nanotechnology will impact all areas of experiments have shown that phytoplankton D/H ratios industry from cosmetics to defense. At the University are near perfect recorders of water D/H ratios. However of Washington, the NSF supported program NUE uncertainty remains about the influence environmental UNIQUE (Nanoscale Undergraduate Education: Using factors such as nutrient availability, growth rate, light, and Nanoscience Instrumentation for Quality Undergraduate temperature play in altering phytoplankton D/H ratios. To Education) is underway to develop a nationally replicable determine the possible effect of growth rate on isotopic model of a sustainable and up-to-date undergraduate composition we cultured the marine cocolithophorid teaching laboratory of scanning probe methods applied Emiliania huxleyi at the maximum achievable growth to nanosciences and nanotechnology. The objective is to rate using f/2 medium in a turbidostat. We then cultured utilize multiple scanning probe instruments (e.g., atomic E. huxleyi at the slowest sustainable growth rate using force microscopes and scanning tunneling microscopes) in a chemostat and nitrogen-depleted f/2 medium. After a hands-on laboratory environment to an entire class of reaching the desired biomass and maintaining a stable students, and to provide them direct access to the nanoworld growth rate for three generations the cells were harvested in terms of visualization and manipulation. In the course of onto a filter and the lipids purified for D/H analysis. this project, instructional laboratory units are developed. We We will report the results of isotope-ratio monitoring report here on the first units developed for NUE UNIQUE gas chromatography mass spectrometry (irm-GC-MS) in an independent undergraduate study. Developing

13 experiments entails generating a written document that largely unclear to this point, however, what effect rhythm provides students with basic scientific and technical and isochrony might have on other auditory capacities. background information, coming up with a meaningful It is possible, for example, that temporal uncertainty, a problem for the project, selecting appropriate samples, and psychophysical product of stimulus nonisochrony, might constructing lab unit-specific peripherals. In particular, we compromise the ability of the auditory system to localize will present one lab unit that focuses on determination of – sound in space. The current investigation measured Van der Waals (VdW) forces and capillary forces. Extensive interaural time difference sound localization thresholds background material was developed. A humidity controlled (in microseconds) in a series of four- and eight-pulse environment was built to distinguish between VdW and isochronous and nonisochronous dynamic envelope click capillary forces. The lab unit illustrates to students very train presentations. Six subjects completed eight runs nicely the overwhelming effect of water-vapor capillary consisting of five stimulus conditions each. Results were forces compared to the small intermolecular VdW forces interpreted in terms of thresholds between stimulus context that arise from the polarization of molecules into dipoles. conditions. Suggestions for future research were given.

Studies of FMRP isoforms lacking nuclear export Transport of live cells singals in transgenic mice Brandon Brown, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering Luis Briseno, Freshman, Pre-Engineering Mentor: Santosh Devasia, Mechanical Engineering Mentor: David Morris, Biochemistry Transport of live human cells (at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) Previous studies have shown that in neurons, Fragile from one lab to another with one or two hour commute X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) is involved in times can be challenging due to large variations in the transporting certain mRNAs from the soma to dendrites. temperature. In contrast, the transport of frozen cells is FMRP has also been shown to play a role in pruning relatively easy because it is easier to maintain temperatures the dendritic spines. In the absence of FMRP, both in at the freezing point of water. This ability to maintain low Fragile X patients and Fmr1 knockout mice, dendritic temperatures is due to the latent heat associated with phase spine shapes tend to be immature in appearance and lack transitions from solid to liquid, e.g., from ice to water at dendritic pruning associated with mature neurons. The the freezing point of water. A substantial amount of heat Fragile X syndrome phenotype is further complicated by transfer can occur without changes in the temperature. It is the fact that the FMR1 gene is alternatively spliced into difficult to find materials that change phase at 98.6 degrees multiple mRNA encoding protein isoforms of FMRP Fahrenheit, which prevents the use of phase transitions in the whose functional role in neural development remains to design of a temperature controlled environment to transport be determined. As a result of alternative splicing of the cells. One approach is to use active systems with a heater, Fmr1 gene, a functional domain that allows FMRP to exit thermostat and battery to control the temperature at the the nucleus is excluded in half of the known Fmr1 mRNA desired level – recent systems allow the temperature to be transcripts. The focus of my research will be to study two maintained within 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit for 200 minutes. of these Fmr1 mRNA isoforms to better understand their In this work, we designed a cheaper passive system. The biological function in an in vivo system. Using homologous design used vacuum sealed panels for reducing heat loss recombination techniques I will characterize and assemble to the outside along with heated gel packs to increase the expression vectors containing the cDNA of these two overall thermal inertia. Experimental tests show that the isoforms for expression in C57/B6 mice. The resultant system maintains the temperature at 98.6 +/- 0.23 degrees mice will lack all forms of FMRP except those introduced Fahrenheit for two hours and 98.6 +/- 0.62 for three hours. by cloning. The mice will then be studied to determine Thus, the cheaper, passive system provides an alternative the biochemical function and the gross neuro-anatomical approach to transport live cells at normal body temperatures. and behavior and contribution of these forms of FMRP. Screening Genes Involved in Centrosome Remodeling Effects of Temporal Uncertainty on Dynamic Buu Bui, Senior, Biochemistry Envelope ITD Click Train Discrimination Mentor: Kristen Greenland, Molecular & Cellular Andrew Brown, Senior, Speech & Hearing Sciences Biology Mentor: G. Christopher Stecker, Speech & Hearing Sciences The spindle pole body (SPB), the functional equivalent of the centrosome in yeast, is important in organizing the The human auditory system is finely sensitive to the mitotic spindle for cell division. The core component rhythmic structure of speech, music and environmental of the SPB, Spc110p, is taken in and out of the SPB in a sounds. Research has demonstrated that attention to cell cycle dependent manner. In G1/S phase, about half rhythmic structure facilitates better speech understanding of the old Spc110p is exchanged for new Spc110p, and and that sound detection thresholds are lowered in no exchange is seen during G2. Additional Spc110p is temporally regular or isochronous contexts. It remains incorporated into the SPB during G2/M, followed by

14 reduction in the next G1 phase. Growth of the SPB by Working out the history of human occupation of the addition of core components is also seen during various volcanically active Kuril Islands over the past 5,000 cell cycle arrests. These cases, while demonstrating the years is a primary goal of the Kuril Biocomplexity dynamics of Spc110p, suggest a remodeling system for Project. Through many disciplines, including archaeology the SPB, in which damaged SPB’s are repaired. To study and geology, the project’s seeks to understand how the potential genes involved in remodeling SPBs, we environmental changes have affected the lives of the island have conducted a temperature sensitive synthetic genetic inhabitants. Events like tsunamis and volcanic eruptions analysis (TS SGA). A strain containing Spc110p with have left evidence on the island landscapes that can TEV cleavage sites and a galactose-inducible TEV protease elucidate patterns of geological events and provide time was constructed. When grown on medium containing markers for the history of human habitation. Soil samples galactose, TEV protease is expressed and Spc110p is of tephra (volcanic ash) were collected in the summer of cleaved, thereby inducing SPB damage. This strain was 2006 from archaeological and geological sites and brought mated to an array of temperature sensitive mutants and to the University of Washington. Once analyzed, these the resulting strains were assessed for growth on medium samples will provide valuable information regarding the containing galactose. Temperature sensitive mutants that dates of human occupation and the history of volcanic cause a growth defect when combined with SPB damage eruptions for the Kuril Islands. The samples I am working are likely to be important for survival of a cell requiring with are from the Vodopadnaya and Dushnaya sites located SPB remodeling. Once the significant genes are confirmed, on either side of Simushir Island. Vodopadnaya, facing we will characterize their role in the remodeling system. the Sea of Okhotsk, is an archaeological site containing a rich midden where valuable artifacts have been unearthed. The Impacts of Storage and Handling Conditions on Dushnaya, on the Pacific Ocean side of the island, is PBMC Using FACS Analysis susceptible to tsunamis and contains tsunami deposits. Caitlin Burke, Senior, Microbiology With recent earthquakes and tsunamis in the region, it Mentor: Jim Mullins, Microbiology will also be interesting during the 2007 research season to see how these two sites have been affected for future We have sought to understand the impact of handling studies. Although the Vodopadnaya and Dushnaya sites lie and storage conditions on HIV infection in tissue culture. on opposite sides of the island and have different histories, In particular, we have assessed changes in cell surface my study will allow for correlation between them. The expression and human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear information that I record and study will be used in the Cells (PBMC) subset size that result from freezing, larger ongoing research effort of the Kuril Biocomplexity thawing, and cryogenic storage. To this end, we utilized Project, which will help to highlight information Florescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) to determine regarding past human occupation of the Kuril Islands. the changes in cell surface marker expression and population sizes of PBMC subsets. PBMC were isolated The Effects of Starvation in Manduca Sexta: in from “buffy coat” packs of blood cells from HIV- Search of Critical Weight uninfected donors and either used immediately or after Clarissa Cabbage, Junior, Biology viable cell freezing and storage in a cryogenic freezer for Mentor: Lynn Riddiford, Biology greater than one week. Characteristic cell markers for CD4 T-cells (CD4+CD3+), CD8 T-cells (CD8+CD3+), The tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, only grows during B-cells (CD19+), and monocytes (CD14+CD4+) were five larval instars, and then goes on to metamorphose- used as the determining and exclusionary factors in forming first the pupae and then the adult. Before the PBMC subpopulation definition, with subsets quantified animal decides to pupate it must somehow assess its size. following fluorescence “gating”. Florescence intensity of The size that an animal must exceed in order to pupate gated subsets will now be used to compare modulation in on time is called critical weight (CW). The weight which CD marker expression as a function of the storage process. an animal must exceed to pupate at all is called minimum Additional inferences regarding cell subset viability can viable weight (MVW). In order to determine these key be addressed by comparing subset population sizes. This weights in Manduca, we starved fifth (final) instar larvae experiment also serves as a unique and comprehensive at different weights. If a larvae is starved before it has educational tool for an undergraduate researcher to learn reached CW, but after it has reached MVW, metamorphosis tissue culture techniques, optimize protocols, analyze data, will be delayed. If an animal is starved after it has reached and gain an in depth understanding of FACS technology CW, it will metamorphose on time. However, if an animal while addressing fundamental issues of HIV biology. is starved before it has reached MVW it will either die, or form a supernumerary sixth instar which displays a Volcanoes, Tsunamis and Past Human Occupation of mix of both larval and pupal characteristics. We found the Kuril Islands, Russia that CW is about 5.4 grams, and MVW is about 3.5 Bret Buskirk, Senior, Earth & Space Sciences grams. Fed controls normally reach about ten to twelve Mentor: Joanne Bourgeois, Earth & Space Sciences grams before pupating, so CW is roughly half of the

15 final larval weight. According to Fred Nijhout’s critical Representations of the land in the painted image not weight study, the CW of Manduca was about 5 grams only indicate the social view of our relationship with [Nijhout, HF and Williams, CM, (1974) J. Exp. Bio. 61 nature, but also help shape which environments we 481-491] Our was data collected roughly 320 generations place aesthetic value on, and ultimately how we choose later, and indicates that an increase in larval size over to treat all natural environments. Although I do not feel this time period has led to an increase in CW and that artists have a responsibility to carefully choose the subsequent pupa. manner in which they depict nature based solely on its possible social or environmental effects, it is worth the Regional Blood Flow and Ventilation During artist’s time to examine the power of the image and the Sustained Global Hypoxia in the Pig Lung impact that the changing representation of the land can Aletheia Cano, Senior, Biology (Physiology) have on society and on the ways we relate with our natural Mentor: Michael Hlastala, Physiology and Biophysics environment. Through the examination of one artist, we might gain a better understanding of the influence and Blood vessels in the pulmonary circulation are known to power that a painted image can have on nature in a given vasoconstrict in response to low oxygen levels in a process place and historical period. This research focuses on called hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). In American landscape artist Thomas Cole (1801-1848), his disease, regional HPV response causes blood flow to be influence on the art community, as well as the unexpected shifted away from areas with greater levels of constriction, effects of his ideas on the American landscape genre allowing better-ventilated lung regions to be matched and the popular ‘consumption’ of nature in America. with well-perfused areas, and effectively maximizing oxygenation of blood leaving the pulmonary circulation. What are the Beneficial Outcomes of In global hypoxia, however, differences in regional HPV Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Literature Review have no bearing on ventilation-perfusion matching but Catherine Noel Carroll, Senior, Nursing rather lead to regions of high capillary pressure and thus Mentor: Patricia Betrus, Psychosocial & Community to pulmonary edema. Prior to this study the timing of the Health HPV response with respect to its regional heterogeneity during sustained global hypoxia was unknown. To Background: Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) investigate this relationship we used a technique has suffered from a negative image as shown in the popular involving the simultaneous ventilation and infusion of press and movies such as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s fluorescent microspheres (FMS) into the airways and Nest,” the modern practice of ECT has come a long way pulmonary circulation, respectively. After reaching the from these stigmatizing portrayals (Emory Healthcare, lungs, FMS become trapped in the alveoli and in the 2006). Purpose: To compare the benefits versus the pulmonary microcirculation so that post mortem analysis negative outcomes associated with ECT. Methods: A of individual lung pieces yields quantifiable information literature review using the search engine PubMed and the mapping ventilation and perfusion of the entire lung. In search criteria ‘electroconvulsive therapy and depression’ this study a specified regimen of various colored FMS was and ‘electroconvulsive therapy and cognitive effects.’ administered at defined time intervals over a three-hour Limits were set for literature within the last 5 years. period of hypoxia. Lung pieces were then examined for Results: Twenty studies were found. Eighteen reported FMS data from each experimental time point along with beneficial outcomes associated with ECT. These benefits corresponding hemodynamic data. We found that during ranged from relief of chronic pain, reduction of suicidal hypoxia a majority of the lung experienced changes in intent, alleviation of depressive symptoms and aggressive flow and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) beyond behavior. The redirection of cerebral blood flow during baseline levels when compared to control lungs, whereas ECT may be a key factor in the beneficial effects. Chronic regional ventilation changed little. Additionally, pieces pain subsided in relation to an increase in blood flow of the lung that experienced a similar temporal response to the thalamic region in two studies. In another study, to hypoxia were found to be localized to common lung when cerebral blood flow was decreased in the prefrontal regions. This temporal and spatial heterogeneity in the cortex and limbic system depressive symptoms improved. HPV response is likely mediated by different molecular Consensus criteria for the administration of ECT included mechanisms such as endothelin and nitric oxide, and will the results that unilateral administered ECT has less be the subject of further study through specific inhibitors. cognitive side effects than bilateral ECT and is just as effective. Conclusions: ECT is usually used as a last resort Thomas Cole and the Consumption of the American for severely depressed/suicidal and schizophrenic patients. Landscape While there may be some long-term negative side effects Gary Carpenter, Senior, Art of ECT on memory, the beneficial results reviewed in Mary Gates Scholar literature show that the therapy is valuable for improving Mentor: Jose Alaníz, Slavic Languages & Literature the quality of life. Future studies need to look at the effectiveness and long term outcomes associated with ECT.

16 Mapping spatial distribution of hypoxia in distinct maintaining stability of sequences that can form G4 DNA: anatomical regions of human gliomas RecQ, MutS and RNase H. RecQ is a helicase that can Gargi Chakraborty, Junior, Neurobiology and unwind G4 DNA. MutS is a component of the mismatch Biochemistry repair pathway, and may be able to recognize G4 DNA Mary Gates Scholar (its homolog in human, MutSalpha can). RNase H cleaves Mentor: Kristin R. Swanson, Pathology the RNA strand of RNA:DNA hybrids, which form when Mentor: Russell Rockne, Pathology G-rich sequences are transcribed. In our experiment, we use a plasmid, pPH600N, which contains a G-rich mouse Gliomas are primary brain tumors characterized by immunoglobulin switch region sequence cloned into the their highly diffuse and invasive nature. High degree of pBlueScript vector. The plasmids are transformed into proliferation in these tumors results in angiogenesis or eight E. coli cell lines that are deficient in either one or formation of new blood vessels, hypoxia or state of low a combination of the three genes. Plasmid transcription oxygenation, and necrosis or dead tissue. Biochemical is induced for 30 minutes, then cells are plated, and the pathways developed from in vitro studies show that lengths of G-rich regions in single colonies are analyzed growing tumor cells induce hypoxia and angiogenesis due by PCR followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Mutated to an increase in the requirement of nutrients. Hypoxic plasmids are sequenced to analyze the nature of any regions without direct access to nascent blood vessels mutations. My results show that the RNase H, RecQ, become necrotic, which usually occurs at the center of and MutS DNA repair factors work together to prevent the tumor. From evidence of tumor recurrence in humans instability specific to G-rich regions. G-rich sequences are post surgery and the above-suggested biochemistry of overrepresented in human proto-oncogenes, and instability tumor growth, we predict that hypoxia predominates in that results in activation of oncogenes could promote cancer the periphery of the bulk tumor mass. Current imaging development. Thus, we have identified a conserved DNA techniques allow non-invasive visualization of hypoxia repair mechanism that may promote genomic stability and using 18F-Fluoromisonidazole-labeled Positron Emission inhibit G4 DNA-mediated instability leading to tumor Tomography (FMISO-PET) and anatomical tumor regions development. using gadolinium enhanced T1 and T2 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Our study aims to map the distribution Creating a Homeland without Old Friends: A Case of hypoxia in distinct anatomical regions of the brain Study of www.yoolin.com consisting of the necrotic center and the bulk tumor mass Angke Chen, Junior, Anthropology as imaged with T1Gd MRI, and the edema surrounding the Mentor: Stevan Harrell, Anthropology tumor as imaged with T2 MRI by combining functional and anatomical imaging. Through image registration of T1Gd Www.yoolin.com is an active social networking site mostly MRI, T2 MRI and FMISO-PET, and a semi-automatic used by overseas Chinese students, such as those in the program developed using MATLAB, we have measured United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. the concordance of hypoxic regions with necrotic center, As many of the other social networking sites, it enables bulk tumor mass, and edema. In our previous studies, we users to post blog entries, comments, to upload photos, found a statistically significant correlation of hypoxia with and to make friend lists, expect for it is locked down for the tumor detected using T1Gd MRI. In this study, data overseas Chinese students. This study explores qualities from 10 pre-operative cases has been collected, which that make this site appealing to its users. Data includes matches our prediction of hypoxic distribution. As a interviews, qualitative analysis of contents and usage follow-up, we aim to determine the distribution of hypoxia analysis. Both face-to-face and online interviews will in post-operative cases. Results of our study will shed light be conducted. The contents of users’ public blog entries on the effects of surgery and radiation on hypoxia in vivo. will be analyzed as well as the social connections created through wall-to-wall messages and reciprocal comments. Transcription induced instability of G-rich DNA in E. coli The Cultural Context of Disordered Gambling Ingrid Chang, Senior, Biochemistry Cindy Chen, Senior, Psychology Mentor: Nancy Maizels, Immunology and Biochemistry Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Mary Larimer, Psychiatry & Behavioral Eukaryotic genomes contain G-rich regions that have Sciences the potential to form G-quadruplex structures, also Mentor: Ty Lostutter, Psychology known as ‘G4 DNA’. These structures are stabilized by G-quartets, which are planar arrays of four guanines Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) make stabilized by hydrogen bonding. G4 structures can form up one of the fastest growing ethnic/racial groups in the upon transcription and replication, and result in genomic United States. According to 2000 US Census data, the instability evident as sequence expansion or deletion. AAPI population has increased from 1.5% or 3.5 million Our goal is to see how three different genes contribute to to 3.9% or 10.9 million since 1980. AAPI is a broad term

17 which encompasses over 40 different racial/ethnic groups, such as maxilla and mandible are measured using stain each with its own unique cultural heritage and immigration gauge technique, and the pressure on these bone surface patterns to the US. Previous research has suggested that are measured using the implantable pressure transducers. AAPIs are the “model minorities” and has suggested this These biomechanical signals are also measured during group has higher educational achievement and lower rates activations of hypoglossal nerve, its branches and of most risky health behaviors, such as substance use, contraction of individual tongue muscles by electrical compared to other ethnic/racial groups. Despite these stimulations. The outcomes of this study will give rise to findings, recent studies suggest that AAPIs might actually test the hypothesis that when volume of tongue is decreased, be at higher risk for developing disordered gambling and functional loads (bone strain and pressure) will be reduced less likely to seek treatment. Research suggests that the in anterior, but increased in the posterior oral cavity. increased risk of disordered gambling among AAPIs may Supported by Grant R01 R01DE15659 from NIDCR. be due to emphasis on particular cultural variables, such as viewing gambling as beneficial to society, believing Pilot Study: Sensitivity and Specificity of Systolic in the concept of good luck, and having the ability to Pressure and Pulse Pressure Variation in Determining influence gambling events. The proposed research will Fluid Responsiveness and Occult Hypoperfusion in a survey university students of all ethnic/racial backgrounds Hemorrhagic Shock Model in order to examine the role of culture through a series of Antonette Ciola, Senior, Nursing measures, including the Benefits of Gambling, Belief in Mentor: Elizabeth Bridges, Biobehavioral Nursing & Good Luck, and Belief in Control Over Gambling. We Health Systems anticipate that over a quarter of those students will identify as AAPI, allowing us to compare the influence of culture Fluid administration is a centerpiece of the resuscitation of between racial/ethnic identities. It is hypothesized that critically injured patients. Current methods for monitoring individuals who identify as AAPI will view gambling as do not adequately predict if a fluid bolus will increase a more beneficial to society than non-AAPIs. They will also patient’s cardiac output (CO); placing the patient at risk score higher on Belief in Good Luck and Control Over for the inappropriate fluid administration. Functional Gambling Scales, which positively correlate with disordered hemodynamics – systolic and pulse pressure variation gambling severity. Understanding the relationship between (SPV/DPP), which are novel indices that measure culture and gambling could be useful toward developing ventilator-induced variations in blood pressure, are ethnic specific prevention and treatments to reduce sensitive and specific predictors of fluid responsiveness disordered gambling among this high risk population. and detectors of subtle intravascular fluid loss (occult hypoperfusion). Few studies of these indices have been Functional Loads of the Tongue and Consequence of done using small ventilatory tidal volumes (8 ml/kg) and Volume Reduction no studies have been conducted using a model that mimics Hyoejoo Choi, Senior, Biochemistry, Psychology severe hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation protocols Mentor: Zee Liu, Orthodontics consistent with current military combat resuscitation. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the sensitivity The tongue is an essential organ of our body and life. It and specificity of SPV and DPP as predictors of fluid allows us to breath, eat, drink and speak. There are many responsiveness and occult hypoperfusion in a swine clinical syndromes such as malocclusion, obstructive model of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation that mirrors sleeping apnea, Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy, current military casualty care. Methods used include which are associated with tongue dysfunction. Although Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval to anatomy and function of the tongue has been extensively use a well-established swine hemorrhagic shock model. studied in the past, there have been few studies on how Animals underwent a 50% hemorrhage to a MAP of 30 the tongue produces functional loads on its surrounding mm Hg and shock was maintained for 45 minutes, after hard tissues and what consequence occurs after tongue which the animals were resuscitated with two 250 ml volume reduction. Understanding these roles will bring boluses of 6% hetastarch solution (Hextend), a colloidal us step closer to treating many tongue disorders involving volume replacement solution representative of normal an appropriate tongue size or shape. The purpose of this plasma, and monitored for 120 minutes. All animals study is to investigate if the change in tongue volume of were then resuscitated with three units of shed blood and pigs will change functional loading on the surrounding monitored for 120 minutes. Outcomes will be extracted tissues during natural feeing. This study is conducted on from a subset (7/21 experiments) of the main data set six sibling pairs of 12-week Yucatan miniature pigs of each using inspiratory and expiratory systolic/diastolic blood gender. Same gender pigs will be paired. One receives a pressure and CO obtained pre/post each 10% hemorrhage surgery to reduce 18-20% of tongue volume (reduction), and fluid bolus. Analysis discriminating SPV and DPP and the other receives the same incision but no tissue values for each 10% hemorrhage will be obtained and the removal (Sham). During natural feeding, the deformations optimal threshold, sensitivity and specificity of SPV and of the bones (bone surface strain) surrounding the tongue, DPP to discriminate between a positive response (> 10%

18 increase in CO) and negative response (< 10% increase in social behavior towards their reflection. This study tested CO) to a fluid challenge will be determined and presented the self-recognition abilities in macaques, both in captivity using ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves. and in the wild. Captive pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) maintained at the Infant Primate Research N-Body Shop Spiral Galaxy Simulations Laboratory at the University of Washington were tested in Karl Kristian Clapp, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering, three conditions for self-recognition, object-recognition, Chemical Engineering, Physics, and Astronomy and recognition of others. Wild longtailed macaques (M. Mentor: Chris Brook, Astronomy fascicularis) living in a free-ranging social group on Tinjil Mentor: Daryl Haggard, Astronomy Island, Indonesia were tested for self-recognition. While The N-Body Shop is a part of the Department of no subjects in either group were able to positively identify Astronomy at the University of Washington. They work themselves in the mirror, possible intermediate behavior on designing and running software that enables high- between self-recognition and social behavior have been performance computing on a variety of astronomy-related observed. Some subjects appeared confused by their problems, including large-scale structure and galaxy reflection in that they did not recognize themselves, but did not formation. For my job I will be attempting to produce seem to regard the reflection as they would another animal. an image of a simulated galaxy. Then I will decompose the light in a variety of ways and repeat for a different Genetic Mapping of Neurodegenerative Disorders in view of the system. Again I will repeat for a library of Multiple Families simulations. In the end I will compare the different Elizabeth Cochrane, Senior, Biochemistry and Biology measurements and also compare the measurements with (Physiology) what we already know. Some more specific goals of my Mary Gates Scholar project will be familiarizing myself with GALFIT in order Mentor: Wendy Raskind, Medical Genetics to decompose the galactic images, assess how robust the derived parameters are, and to get some familiarity with Neurodegenerative diseases result from deterioration the wealth of data in N-body simulations. GALFIT is an of neurons that are involved in movement, sensation, algorithm that analyzes the light profile of astronomical and/or cognition. Our goal is to identify the genes that objects by fitting/decomposing them with one or more cause some of these neurodegenerative disorders. We are analytic functions. With galactic simulations provided by currently working on two distinct inherited disorders - a the N-Body shops Victor DeBattista I will attempt to fit type of distal myopathy and an uncomplicated form of models with sersic bulge and exponential disk information. spastic paraplegia (without mental retardation or seizures). In general, the N-body shop simulations are amazing Each of these diseases belongs to a group of genetically because they can tell us things that we would otherwise heterogeneous autosomal dominant disorders that affect not know. For instance, knowing the sizes and or masses muscle strength and functioning. Our research begins with of two different galaxies is rather difficult to determine exclusion mapping of all known genes that cause similar considering the distance that they are; not only from us, phenotypes to determine if the disease likely results from but from each other. Therefore, with calculated distances mutation in a known gene. For the distal myopathy study and programs computing the large scale mathematics, the we then performed a genome wide linkage analysis using N-body shop can accurately make the measurements using a genomic screening set of polymorphic markers. The their computer lab and simulations. In the lab, I work on resulting genotype data was analyzed to look for conserved perfecting digital galactic images using GALFIT. The more genomic regions among affected people by creating a I work at it, the better I understand the sersic profiles and lod score ( a statistical estimate of whether two loci are what how I must edit them in order to produce an image likely to be inherited together). Our analysis returned that is nearly a duplicate of the original galactic image. high lod scores for regions on chromosomes 3 and 10. We created haplotypes of these regions to narrow the potential Monkeys and Mirrors: Self-Recognition among gene region by finding recombination events. Within Captive and Wild Macaques the chromosome 3 region we determined six candidate Grace Cochon, Senior, Psychology genes that could possibly be involved in this novel distal Mary Gates Scholar, McNair Scholar myopathy. However, during this process we learned that a Mentor: Randall Kyes, Psychology mutation had been found in the ZASP gene on chromosome 10. We verified this mutation in our family by sequencing Self-recognition has long been considered a distinctly the gene and found that one person who had been thought to human trait, thought to separate humans from the rest of be affected by the disease did not have the mutation. We are the animal kingdom. It has most commonly been tested evaluating other distal myopathy patients for mutations in through the use of mirrors, with humans, chimpanzees, ZASP to study effects of different mutations on the disease bonobos, and orangutans as the only species that have manifestations. For the family with spastic paraplegia yet indicated the ability to self-recognize. Other primate (HSP), by exclusion mapping we ruled out almost all of species, however, have mostly been observed to display the locations for the dominant forms of uncomplicated

19 HSP. We were unable to exclude the location for HSP6 on the Counter-Narrative, which focuses instead on the chromosome 15 and are now sequencing it. If no mutation losses caused by damming, and the people affected by is identified, we will begin a genome wide linkage analysis. them. The narratives can be seen in a variety of cultural artifacts, from popular music to contemporary literature. Cloud Satellite Data By examining both these narratives, and drawing upon Katherine Condit, Senior, Atmospheric Sciences Northwest geology and history to understand what the pre- Mary Gates Scholar, NASA Space Grant damming Columbia was like, we can better understand Scholar how we have changed the river, and how it has changed us. Mentor: Theodore Anderson, Atmospheric Sciences There is no denying that climate forcing is happening as The Route to Persuasion: Does Perceived Source a result of anthropogenic changes to the atmosphere. But Credibility Influence Automatic Evaluations? to fully understand this human-induced climate forcing Cassandra Connor, Senior, Psychology we must understand all major components of the Earth’s Mentor: Susan Joslyn, Psychology energy balance. Cloud coverage and cloud dynamics have an influence on this balance. Low altitude clouds The elaboration likelihood model states that attitudes raise the albedo (average reflectivity) of the Earth while change via two routes. The central route occurs when higher altitude clouds both raise the albedo and contribute the attitude change occurs through evaluation of relevant to the greenhouse effect. It is necessary to understand the arguments. The peripheral route occurs when peripheral way cloud coverage changes the radiative balance of the cues are used to govern the attitude change. The purpose Earth and how clouds contribute to the overall warming of this study was to examine whether source credibility we are experiencing. One particular aspect is examining could affect implicit attitude change. We hypothesized that what happens at the edge of clouds. With so many clouds high source credibility would produce stronger attitudinal covering the Earth the “grey region” where these saturated change. Forty-four University of Washington students parcels meet unsaturated air may be important to this read identical articles that had high or low credibility overall radiative balance of the Earth. The ultimate goal of authors. They completed an Implicit Association Test, this project is to examine lidar satellite data to assess how from which reaction times were measured. We found this “grey region” affects the Earth’s radiative balance. no significant difference between the high and low credibility conditions. This indicates that the central The Columbia River and the Northwest: Cycles of route, rather than the peripheral route, was employed. Change Michael Connelly, Senior, English and Spanish The Effects of Perceived Stress on Social Support Mary Gates Scholar and Avoidant Coping Styles in Women with a Family Mentor: Gary Handwerk, English and Comparative History of Breast Cancer Literature Erica Coppel, Senior, Psychology Mary Gates Scholar Probably the single greatest environmental change Mentor: Bonnie McGregor, Public Health & Community experienced in the Northwest in centuries, if not Medicine millenia, has been the damming of the Columbia River, Mentor: Deborah Bowen, Psychology a decades-long process beginning in the 1930s that has not only physically altered the river itself, but has brought The interactions between perceived stress, coping styles, accompanying economic, ecological, and cultural changes and perceived social support have been extensively studied to the region as a whole. Today there are thirteen major in breast cancer patient populations, but have not been dams on the Columbia alone, including the Grand Coulee thoroughly studied in women at risk for breast cancer due to Dam, the largest concrete dam in the United States, as a family history. This study is a preliminary exploration to well as many others on its tributaries. The story of the examine the relationships of these factors in healthy women damming of the Columbia has been told and retold from with a family history of breast cancer. Baseline data were different perspectives since the idea was first conceived. analyzed for 37 women, ages 18-60, enrolled in a larger Over time, some of these perspectives have become randomized study that is looking at the effects of stress perceived within the public consciousness as the story management and relaxation training on immune function of damming: the Popular Narrative. This is the story and distress in women with a family history of breast that has shaped public opinion about dams, the official cancer. Measures of perceived social support, perceived story that celebrates the engineering triumphs that tamed stress, and coping styles were collected using the Perceived the river to serve our nation with cheap power and other Stress Scale (Cultrona & Russell, 1987), Social Provisions economic benefits. Concurrently, as the Popular Narrative Scale (Cohen et al., 1983), and The Brief COPE (Carver, has emerged, so has another version of the story, one that 1997). Three specific subscales of coping- behavioral challenges the ubiquity of Popular Narrative by offering disengagement, self-distraction, and venting were selected alternative, mostly unheard or forgotten perspectives: due to their avoidant nature and negative association with

20 psychological adjustment. These exploratory analyses media by ELISA to confirm that TLR pathways had been reveal that there was no significant difference in perceived activated. In MyD88 KO primary hepatocyte cultures stress among women reporting high verses low perceived we found that Hamp1 expression is depressed. Lack of social support (p = .340). There was a significant TLR2, TLR4, and MyD88 proteins in the different KO difference in the use of behavioral disengagement between hepatocytes resulted in decreased levels of IL-6 in the participants reporting high verses low perceived stress media as compared to WT primary hepatocytes. These (p = .048), but no significance for either ventingp ( = results indicate that MyD88 is a necessary component .159), or self distraction (p =.068). Further implications of the pathway for Hamp1 expression in hepatocytes, for future research and interventions will be discussed. when the MyD88, TLR2, and TLR4 signaling pathways are interrupted. We conclude that Hamp1 expression Structural Adjustment Programs: Proposed versus is regulated by TLR pathways in hepatocytes. Thus Actual Effects on Public Health as bacterial presence is sensed by TLRs binding to Krycia Cowling, Senior, Public Health bacterial byproducts, they signal the hepatic induction Undergraduate Research Travel Award of Hamp1 to protect the body from invading pathogens. Recipient Mentor: Jonathan Mayer, Epidemiology, Medicine Examining the ability of recombinant Listeria (Infectious Diseases), and Geography monocytogenes to prime protective CD4 T cell immunity Structural Adjustment Programs have been implemented Scott Cuthbert, Junior, Biochemistry in many developing countries as conditions for receiving Mentor: Christopher Wilson, Immunology loans from the International Monetary Fund and the Mentor: Sing Sing Way, Immunology World Bank. While claimed they will benefit public health through the various policy changes entailed in The mammalian immune system is comprised of both the programs, in actuality the public health systems in innate and adaptive components. While the innate immune most recipient countries have declined and remain under system provides immediate protection against infection funded. Research methods for this project include a from a wide variety of microbes, the adaptive immune review of published literature, personal observations in system once primed can confer long term protective Zimbabwe and Ecuador (two recipient countries of SAPs), immunity to a single pathogen. The mediators of adaptive and a comparison of countries´ basic health indicators immunity are specific antibody, CD4 and CD8 T cells. before and after SAP implementation. Preliminary results Experimental infection with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) reveal drastic contradictions between proposed theoretical is a well-characterized model to examine the generation of impacts on public health and the realities that have emerged. pathogen specific CD4 and CD8 T cells acute infection. Moreover, our laboratory and others have demonstrated Toll-Like Receptor Pathways in the Regulation of that recombinant Lm expressing antigen from other Hepcidin pathogens can prime antigen specific CD8 T cells that Juliet Crabtree, Senior, Microbiology confers protective immunity to subsequent heterologous Howard Hughes Scholar challenge. In these studies, the precise role of antigen Mentor: Nelson Fausto, Pathology specific CD4 T cells in protection has not been examined. Mentor: Jean Campbell, Pathology Accordingly, the goal of this current project is to examine the ability of recombinant Lm to prime antigen specific An important aspect of the body’s innate immune response CD4 T cells that are protective. For these studies, we have is maintaining cellular iron homeostasis. Iron imbalance cloned and expressed antigenic proteins containing defined during infection contributes to the morbidity and mortality MHC class II peptides from Yersinia pestis (the cause of of sepsis. Hepcidin (Hamp1), an antimicrobial peptide human plague) and Salmonella typhimurium (the cause of produced and secreted by hepatocytes, modulates typhoid fever) in recombinant Lm strains. These Yersinia iron uptake in macrophages. We wanted to determine pestis and Salmonella typhimurium were chosen because whether Hamp1 mRNA expression is regulated by Toll- protective immunity to these infections are believed to Like Receptor (TLR) pathways in the liver. We isolated mediated by pathogen specific CD4 T cells. We are now primary hepatocytes from WT, and MyD88, TLR2 and in the process of testing the ability of these strains to (1) TLR4 knockout (KO) mice and treated the cultures with prime antigen specific CD4 T cell response to heterologous ligands specific for TLR4 (e.g. LPS) and TLR2 (e.g. Pam3 antigen, (2) the qualitative and quantitative nature of this and SA-PGN). Twenty four hours later we collected cell CD4 T cells response, and (3) the ability of prior infection culture media and isolated RNA from the hepatocytes. We with Lm to confer protective immunity to subsequent measured Hamp1 mRNA levels using Real-Time PCR heterologous challenge with these other pathogens. (RT-PCR) using FAM-labeled primers for murine Hamp1 and 18s as a housekeeping gene. We also determined the levels of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the

21 Porous Nickel Oxide-Yttria Stabilized Zirconia with software package as an executable dynamically linked Unidirectional Pores for Fuel Cell Applications by library (dll). MetaMorph protocols that define the timing Freeze Casting and settings for collection of cellular response are used in Caroline Dang, Senior, Materials Science & Engineering tandem with the reagent control programs that apply the Mentor: Rajendra Bordia, Materials Science & stimulating reagents and create the measured response. Engineering Currently, the PC-16 and developed program have the Mentor: Srini Boddapati, Materials Science & capability to control up to sixteen valves; however, in the Engineering future, different pumps and vacuums will be controlled in this program in addition to the valves from the PC- Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) can directly transform 16 device. Overall, the emphasis of the project was to the chemical energy of gaseous fuels into electrical power, engineer a tool that the practicing cell biologist could and therefore are very relevant in today’s technology. use for fluidic control, therefore allowing the biologist Applications of fuel cells include primary and backup to maintain focus on the critical biology and use simple power, transportation, portable power such as cell phones spreadsheets to define complicated fluidic control protocols. and laptops, and the treatment of landfill and wastewater by generating power from the methane gas produced. There In Vivo Toxicity of Degron Aggregating Variants In are three main components of a SOFC: an electrolyte, a Caenorhabditis elegans fuel electrode and an air electrode. The properties of the Christina Davis, Junior, Biology anode are dependent on microstructure, which consists Mentor: Katherine Steinkraus, Pathology of interpenetrating network of pores, and anode material. The principal function of porosity and pore characteristics Protein aggregation has been associated with age- is to allow fuel passage and provide reaction sites for related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, anodic oxidation. The goal of this research is to process Parkinson’s and Huntington’s. This aggregation is linked in porous nickel oxide (NiO)-yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) an unknown fashion with toxicity and subsequent cell death. for SOFC applications by freeze casting technique. In this A 16-residue peptide, known as a degron, when fused to a process, NiO and YSZ particles are dispersed in water reporter protein such as Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) using Darvan 821A, and the resultant slurry is freeze cast. in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, aggregates and This method, because of its ease of processing and cost- causes similar in vivo toxicity. This toxicity is specific to effectiveness, is promising for fuel cell applications. The the degron peptide, as an unmodified GFP (GFP::unmod) temperature gradient during solidification, size and volume and causes no such paralysis. When these fusion proteins fraction of the particles, viscosity of the slurry and sintering are expressed in the body wall muscles of the nematode temperature are the main governing process parameters. C. elegans, the protein aggregates can be visualized using fluorescence microscopy. Previous studies have shown that Creation of a Non-technical User Interface for perinuclear deposits of GFP::degron lead to toxicity and Automation of a Microfluidic Valve and Pump System paralysis, in a manner possibly related to the toxicity effect Kendra Darr, Junior, Electrical Engineering seen in the above-mentioned neurodegenerative disorders. Mentor: Mark Holl, Electrical Engineering Experiments on three different GFP::degron expressing nematode strains under different feeding conditions have Control of the delivery of reagents to real-time differences in the paralysis rates and lifespans of the strains. experiments on living cells to examine their response to In addition, over expression of Heat Shock Protein-16 (hsp- external stimuli is a common need. When the timing of 16) suppresses paralysis associated with the toxicity of the stimuli along with the collection of data is required, the fusion protein. Based on these assays, in vivo toxicity and technology can bottleneck the design and implementation paralysis is increased and rapidly induced in the GFP:: of desired biologically-driven experiments. Spreadsheets degron strain due to a higher amount of aggregation are a simple and almost universally understood tool and compared to the GFP::unmod and GFP:: degron HSP- can be used to define control protocols for complicated 16 strains. Results show that in comparison with the fed processes. I have developed a program, written in Visual animals, dietary restricted animals have delayed paralysis Basic, to read in a spreadsheet and manage a Universal and increased lifespan of all three of the strains. These Imaging PC-16 valve controller in MetaMorph. The results suggest that the perinuclear deposits caused by the ones and zeros of the different cells in the spreadsheet are degron peptide causes paralysis and shortens lifespan. The converted to serial output for the PC-16. The program findings also suggest that environmental conditions such can run as a standalone, or sequenced inside MetaMorph. as dietary restriction delays the toxicity of the aggregated The sequencing allows the valve cycles to occur between peptide. More studies on why dietary restriction has this other events. The spreadsheet is timed to the millisecond, effect on the toxicity of protein aggregation might increase giving the program maximum accuracy. After normal our understanding of age-associated disease models. design revision cycles, the program runs robustly within the MetaMorph microscope control and image analysis

22 Translational Regulation in Early Embryonic Stem of natural compounds that are present in all natural water Cell Differentiation bodies. During drinking water treatment, these compounds Jason Daza, Senior, Biology can react with disinfectants to form potential carcinogens Howard Hughes Scholar referred to collectively as disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Mentor: Charles Murry, Pathology Removal of NOM prior to disinfection is therefore a key step Mentor: Prabha Sampath, Pathology in controlling DBP formation and is often accomplished by exposing the water to specific particles known as adsorbents, Cellular differentiation and organogenesis involves a which collect the NOM on their surfaces. Several different gradient of signaling, highlighting the need for spatial adsorbents are in common use, and they presumably and temporal control of regulatory proteins. Cell-fate collect different sub-classes of the NOM. To date, limited regulators often act at the transcriptional level; however, progress has been made in identifying the overlap (or posttranscriptional control finely tunes gene expression lack thereof) among the molecules collected by different within differentiating cells by modulating diversity, adsorbents, and in particular whether combinations of level and localization of transcripts, facilitating a cell to adsorbents at moderate doses might work synergistically respond to environmental cues more rapidly than de novo to remove a wider array of NOM molecules than high transcription permits. We hypothesize that translational doses of any single adsorbent. My research investigates the regulation plays a key role in early embryonic stem cell removal of NOM from Lake Washington water using three differentiation. Here we analyze the genes differentially adsorbents (powdered activated carbon, ferric hydroxide, translated, in embryonic stem cells and day-5 embryoid and aluminum hydroxide), either alone or combined. The bodies by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis. efficiency of NOM removal and the consequent reduction Embryonic stem cells hold great promise for regenerative in DBP formation when the water is dosed with chlorine are medicine and tissue repair. Elucidating the mechanisms assessed. Preliminary results suggest that the adsorbents can that control differentiation will facilitate efficient directed behave synergistically, a result that could have significant differentiation of embryonic stem cells to specific cell types implications for improving water treatment processes. and provide a potentially limitless source for cell therapy. Escape from Error Catastrophe in Mutator Phenotype Analysis of Credit Demand and Demand Factors in Cells Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia Daniel Dennis, Senior, Biochemistry Solomon DeLeon, Senior, Economics Mentor: Alan Herr, Pathology Mentor: C. Leigh Anderson, Public Affairs The transformation of a normal cell to a cancerous cell Microfinance organizations seek to provide small loans has long been hypothesized to require an increased rate to people who are typically impoverished and interested of mutation known as a “mutator phenotype”. Mutator in starting small businesses. In 2003, the Daniel J. phenotypes can arise from defects to DNA polymerase Evans School of Public Administration at the UW, the accuracy or polymerase proofreading, as well as mismatch Siberian Academy for Public Administration, and the repair. Combining two mutator phenotypes in the same cell Baikal Institute of Business and Management formed a can elevate error rates above a lethal threshold and arrest partnership with the goal to develop curriculum, conduct cellular division in a process termed error catastrophe. innovative research, and promote training and outreach in In my project, I am using baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces the subject of microfinance. Student researchers, through cerevisiae) to study error catastrophe induced by street interviews, obtained a sample of Russian surveys combining defects in DNA polymerase accuracy with detailing the views on financial situations and credit. The defects in polymerase proofreading. I am interested in data obtained from these surveys will be used to measure determining under what conditions errors in replication the presence and factors of credit demand in the Russian lead to cell death and how this death can be suppressed province where this survey took place. Econometric analysis through secondary mutations which significantly lower the with logistic regression will detail the explanatory factors mutation rate of the cell. The Leu-612 amino acid in DNA which contribute to credit demand. The resulting model polymerase delta has been proven to play an important will provide insight into the credit situation facing Russian role in polymerase accuracy due to its role in nucleotide and the need for microfinance organizations in these areas. selection. My studies have indicated that mutants with amino acid replacement at this position are lethal in Removal of NOM from Drinking Water by combination with proofreading defects. Yeast mutants Combinations of Adsorbents that survive this error catastrophe spontaneously arise Qianru Deng, Junior, Environmental Engineering through mutation and provide important insights into the Mentor: Mark M. Benjamin, Civil & Environmental biochemistry of polymerase delta and its role in genome Engineering maintenance and replication fidelity. I am extending these studies by combining the L612 variants with other Natural organic matter (NOM) comprises a wide array mutations in integral replication components such as flap

23 endonuclease and mismatch repair. By isolating additional This project is on the use of the Fourier Transform (FT) mutations that suppress error catastrophe, more can be to increase acquisition efficiency in analyte separations learned about how mutator cells operate in vivo and may executed in microfluidic chips constructed from provide clues how to suppress the mutator phenotype. polydimethyl siloxane, (PDMS). A separation in micro- channels, in which the movement is driven by electro- Deposition of organic rich sediments in floodplain osmotic flow, is referred to as capillary electrophoresis lakes in an avulsive river system (Cumberland (CE), and it is useful in analyzing the components present marshes, Saskatchewan, Canada) in a mixture. We designed a chip with five parallel Timothy Dillavou, Senior, Environmental Science, UW channels of varying lengths, each capable of running Tacoma a separate separation before recombining at a single Mentor: K. Sian Davies-Vollum, Interdisciplinary Arts & point, where detection occurred. The test-sample was Sciences, UW Tacoma composed of three, fluorescently labeled amino acids. By focusing a laser on the detection region, passing analytes The Cumberland Marshes, sometimes referred to as were excited and thereby fluoresced. The intensity of the “Saskatchewan Delta” represent a large (8000 km2) the fluorescence was measured with a photomultiplier floodplain region of the Saskatchewan River in central tube, and from this the relative amounts of a component Canada. In the 1870’s the Saskatchewan River went through could be recorded as peaks on a graph. Since detection its most recent major avulsion in which anastomosed occurs at a single junction and each separation channel distributary channels prograded into wetlands and shallow yields four peaks, one for each amino acid plus one for lakes and deposited splays and lacustrine deltas over free dye, the peaks become stacked in the recordings preavulsive organic-rich deposits. Avulsion is the process at seemingly irregular intervals. In order to be useful by which a river channel is diverted to a new course at and provide an analytical advantage, the data must be a lower elevation on the floodplain and is a consequence deconvoluted using a mathematical tool known as a Fourier of floodplain aggradations. The Saskatchewan Delta is a Transform. When applied, the model yields improved modern example of ancient avulsive systems and can be peak resolution and signal-to-noise ratios over a single used to increases our knowledge about ancient systems separation, while still conferring the technical advantage which can help with future coal exploration. Organic-rich of a single point of detection. We call this approach deposits are common in many modern and ancient alluvial “Fourier Transform Capillary Electrophoresis” (FTCE). floodplains, some of which are considered to have high potential for coal and hydrocarbons but little is known Landscape Evolution in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, about the deposition and accumulation of organic matter on Antarctica avulsion related river floodplains. This research focuses on Melvin Donaldson, Sophomore, Bioengineering the accumulation of organic matter in shallow floodplain Mary Gates Scholar, NASA Space Grant lakes (less then 1 m) located on the Saskatchewan Delta. Scholar Samples were taken along transects from floodplain Mentor: Jaakko Putkonen, Earth & Space Sciences lakes inside, adjacent to, and outside the avulsion belt to determine trends in organic deposits and their purity. The McMurdo Dry Valleys compose the largest ice-free The analysis of the Total Organic Content (TOC) by region in Antarctica. The understanding of this area is key combustion from the four floodplain lakes yielded values to the understanding of the dynamics of the East Antarctic between 3-82%. The average TOC values for lakes outside Ice Sheet (EAIS). One major hypothesis suggests that the or adjacent to the avulsion belt were in the range of 9-82% EAIS has remained virtually unchanged since its creation while the lake inside the avulsion belt had values of 3-7%. in the mid-Miocene. Dated ash deposits in the area are This can be explained by the constant movement of water consistent with this stable ice sheet hypothesis. However, and sediment within the avulsion belt. This indicated that this hypothesis requires abnormally low sediment erosion organic matter is accumulating outside the floodplain at rates, which, if confirmed, would be the smallest ever higher concentrations then inside the avulsion belt. Results reported on Earth. The objectives of this project are to indicate that exposure to avulsion processes, over bank flow, independently determine sediment transport and erosion and associated sediment inputs act as controls on organic rates for this area. Our research group collected the field deposition. It would seem there is a link between avulsion data in the 2004-2005 and the 2005-2006 field seasons in processes and organic deposition and accumulation. the Arena, Koenig, Beacon, and Upper Wright valleys. Transport patterns of rock fragments that have been Fourier Transform Capillary Electrophoresis broken off and have traveled downslope of large boulders Demonstrated with Laminar Flow-gated Pressure were identified in the field and were measured for trail Injection length, rock fragment sizes, rock types, and hillslope Byron Doepker, Senior, Neurobiology and Chemistry angles. These data are being analyzed to quantify average Mary Gates Scholar sediment transportation rates. Initial findings suggest Mentor: Daniel Chiu, Chemistry that the sediments are much more mobile in the area than

24 was previously believed. The continuing analysis of Due to the nature of touch sensation, the interface the datasets from the last two field seasons will provide between a user and the haptic device must be carefully quantitative estimates of the sediment mobility. It is designed and selected such that the user feels they are expected that this study will shape our understanding directly manipulating a virtual object. This is particularly of sediment transportation in the Dry Valleys. critical for attachment of the fingertips to multiple devices. We chose eight methods of attachment for the Sequence Alignment and Fold Recognition Multifinger Haptic Device developed at the University of Benchmarking of BCL Align Washington to test experimentally and gather objective Elizabeth Dong, Mathematics, Biology, Seattle Pacific and subjective data on force and user preference. Based University on this data we were able to evaluate the quality of Mentor: Wai Lau, Mathematics, Seattle Pacific University the attachment method as a human-device interface.

Multiple sequence alignment and fold recognition programs Evaluating the Performance of an Ion Thruster have become key computational tools in predicting the Joey Duncan, Senior, Aeronautics & Astronautics evolutionary history of proteins and determining its NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates structure from the amino acid sequence. BCL Align is Scholar program written by the Meiler lab at Vanderbilt University Mentor: Robert Winglee, Earth & Space Sciences which is used to determine the similarity in sequence and structure between amino acid sequences of proteins. Not Plasmas are being researched by NASA for in-space only does BCL Align evaluate both sequence alignment propulsion due to the high efficiency relative to traditional and fold recognition for a particular set of sequences, chemical propellants. The High Power Helicon II (HPH the program also has a major advantage in that it takes II) is the second generation of an innovative electrodeless into consideration a variety of parameters such as the in-space propulsion concept. To evaluate the performance protein’s chemical properties and several versions of of the HPH II, accurate thrust measurements must be the protein’s secondary structure information. However, made. Diagnostic tools, in conjunction with plasma BCL Align cannot have widespread application until theory, suggest that the thrust is about 1 N. To directly optimal weights are found for each of these parameters. measure the thrust, a torsional pendulum thrust stand It is also important to know how BCL Align compares to has been developed and constructed but has yet to be current programs being used in the field. A Monte Carlo implemented. It uses torsional springs and linear detectors algorithm was implemented to determine the optimal to measure deflection. The practical attachment of the weight set for sequence alignment and fold recognition HPH II and corresponding power supply (including all using the SABmark reference alignment test set. ROC leads) needs to be completed in the vacuum chamber curve analysis of preliminary results indicates BCL so that data can be taken. In order to utilize the thrust Align’s ability to correctly recognize protein folds with stand, it must be calibrated to a known force and a data over 85% accuracy. Performance comparison with five acquisition and interpretation system must be developed. leading sequence alignment programs demonstrates that The calibration must very accurately apply a known BCL Align is among the top two sequence alignment force to the thrust stand so that the displacement can be programs on the SABmark reference set. Future work measured and this distance can be compared with what is includes using the Monte Carlo algorithm with several measured when the thruster is run. The linear displacement different databases of protein sequences to determine sensors will supply data from which thrust can be found. the optimal parameter sets for proteins with particular characteristics. The power in BCL Align is the ability Identification of Genes involved in the elicitation of a to customize the weights of the parameters to maximize hypersensitive response by Agrobacterium vitis the accuracy of the alignment and fold recognition. Julienne Duringer, Freshman, Biology, Seattle Pacific Determining the weights and parameters that correspond University to different protein types will make this program a Mentor: Derek Wood, Microbiology versatile tool in structural biology. BCL Align is available on an online webserver at http://www.meilerlab.org/. Agrobacterium vitis F2/5 causes crown gall and necrosis on grapevines. This organism also elicits a hypersensitive Experimental Evaluation of Attachment Methods for response (HR) on non-host tobacco. Previous work a Multifinger Haptic Device has identified regulatory genes belonging to the acyl- Gina Donlin, Junior, Electrical Engineering homoserine lactone response regulator class that mediate Mary Gates Scholar, NASA Space Grant both necrosis and the HR. We have used plasmid pRL27, Scholar, Undergraduate Research Travel Award which carries a hyperactive Tn5 transposase and a Recipient transposon containing an R6K origin of replication, to Mentor: Blake Hannaford, Electrical Engineering create random insertions within the genome of F2/5. We are currently screening a library of 2,500 insertions

25 in order to identify mutants that are unable to elicit the sparse. This study aims to add to the field of adolescent HR. This system allows easy identification of the site of trauma research by examining the specific factors transposon insertion by cloning transposon-containing influencing recurrent traumatic events in traumatized genomic fragments into a strain that expresses the adolescents. Data was analyzed from 83 adolescent trauma lambda pir gene that mediates R6K replication. Isolation patients admitted to Harborview Medical Center (Zatzick, of resulting plasmids and determination of the flanking 2005). Adolescent data was collected at four time points, DNA sequence will define the location of the transposon beginning immediately after adolescent injury at time one, insertion within the genome of F2/5. Following this and ending one year post-injury at time four. At each of screen, mutants unable to elicit HR will be further the time points, adolescents were assessed for PTSD, using characterized to determine their role in pathogenesis. the UCLA Reaction Index (RI), and alcohol use, using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Localization and characterization of a putative a 10-item self report measure used to identify problem pacemaker region for spontaneous synchronous drinking in an acute care setting (Zatzick, 2005). Number activity in neonatal mouse cortex of traumatic life events was assessed at time one, and Curtis Easton, Senior, Neurobiology labeled as trauma history. Number of traumatic life events Mary Gates Scholar was also assessed at time four, and labeled as number of Jonathan W. Lischalk, Senior, Neurobiology recurrent traumatic life events. Number of stressful life Mary Gates Scholar events was also assessed time four, and labeled as number Mentor: William J. Moody, Biology of recurrent stressful life events. Preliminary exploratory analyses reveal a significant correlation between trauma Spontaneous synchronous activity (SSA) occurs in all history and recurrent traumatic life events (p = .004), as parts of the developing mouse brain. Here we examine well as trauma history and recurrent stressful life events (p the origins and nature of cortical of activity observed in = .000). Significant correlations were also found between cultured slice preparations. The activity was viewed via time one PTSD symptoms and recurrent traumatic life calcium imaging using a high shutter speed (25ms) to events (p = .026), and time one PTSD symptoms and reveal the origin and directional propagation of calcium recurrent stressful life events (p = .020). As of this writing, transients. The origin of transients appeared to be at one no significant correlation between alcohol use and recurrent of two places on either side of the brain. A transient would traumatic or stressful life events has been found. The start very laterally on either the left or right side of the implications of this study for adolescent interventions and brain, and spread around the cortex towards the lateral future trauma research will be included in the discussion. edge of the other side of the brain. Individual slices were seen to have transients that could start from either side of Evolution of Petal and Stamen Identity Gene the brain. If two circular cuts were made bilaterally around Function: From the buttercup family to Arabidopsis the areas just medial and ventral to the observed origins Laura Eiford, Senior, Biology of calcium transients, activity in the cortex disappeared Mary Gates Scholar or was greatly reduced while activity continued within Mentor: Verónica S. Di Stilio, Biology the circular cuts. If a vertical cut was made between the two hemispheres, activity became desynchronized on Angiosperms, the flowering plants, constitute the most either side of the cut. Thus the putative pacemaker region diverse group of land plants. One aspect of this diversity is lies within these circular cuts. Nissl staining performed the differences in the flowers they produce. These flowers on P0 mouse brains revealed a small cluster of cells, are varied in the number and shape of their organs: sepals, corresponding potentially to the claustrum, appropriately petals, stamens and carpels. APETALA3 (AP3) is a B-class positioned within the slice to be the pacemaker gene in the MADS box family of transcription factors that region. Further histology and cutting experiments controls the development of floral meristematic tissue are planned to identify the region, and extracellular into petals and stamens. Thalictrum dioicum, a flowering recordings will be made to directly examine the activity. plant in the buttercup family that retains ancestral floral characters, expresses three variants of AP3 (TdAP3). What Causes Teen Trauma? Factors Influencing Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant distantly related to Recurrent Traumatic Life Events in Adolescent Thalictrum, was used to examine biochemical function of Populations these genes. Arabidopsis mutants lacking AP3 function Elizabeth Ehni, Senior, Psychology were transformed with each of the TdAP3. Wild type Mary Gates Scholar Arabidopsis was also transformed with the three TdAP3 Mentor: Amy Wagner, Psychology under the 35S viral promoter, to assess the effect of ectopic Mentor: Doug Zatzick, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences expression. Fully functional TdAP3 genes were expected to recover petals and stamen in the mutant flowers and The subject of recurrent trauma has often been studied convert sepals into petals in the first whorl and carpels into in adults, but research on adolescent recurrent trauma is stamens in the fourth whorl under the 35S promoter. We

26 observed complementation of the mutant phenotype for Mentor: Stephen D. Hauschka, Biochemistry two of the three genes. The over-expression experiments also showed phenotype changes in the same two lines. Somites are transient developmental structures that give In conclusion, two of the three genes tested showed rise to the dermis, vertebrae and skeletal muscle. Cells conservation of biochemical function between Arabidopsis within the somite receive signals from surrounding tissue and Thalictrum, while one shows divergence, possibly that induce myogenesis and the expression of skeletal non-functionalization. Different scenarios for this lack of muscle specific proteins such as the myosin heavy chains complementation will be discussed. Results will be placed (MyHCs). The signaling factors, bFGF, FGF8, and in the context of B class gene conservation and divergence TGF-b3 are of particular interest as potential inducers in angiosperms and the potential role of gene duplication of myogenesis because they have been detected in chick in providing opportunity for evolutionary innovation. embryos near the somites during development. Previous studies in our lab have shown that bFGF and TGF-b1 Geochemical Provenance of the Upper Kingston act synergistically to induce myogenesis in uncommitted Peak Formation: An Analysis of Neodymium and somite explants (Stern et. al. 1997). The aim of this study Samarium is to test the myogenic inducing capability of the in situ Jesse Einhorn, Senior, Earth & Space Sciences factors, FGF8 and TGF-ß3. Each of these factors was Mary Gates Scholar tested alone and in combination with TGFb3/TGFb1 or Mentor: Darrel Cowan, Earth & Space Sciences FGF8/bFGF respectively. Myogenesis was quantified Mentor: Bruce Nelson, Earth & Space Sciences by immunostaining the explants with a MyHC-specific monoclonal antibody and scoring the number of positive The Snowball Earth events of the late Neo-Proterozoic Era cells and their nuclei. Treatment with bFGF alone induced were global cataclysms, which must have had significant myogenesis in 11 explants out of 47 and treatment with effects upon the pre-Cambrian biosphere. Despite the TGFb3 alone induced myogenesis in only 1 explant out important implications for the development of complex of 24, while FGF8 alone induced no myogenesis in 30 life, the environment and the extent of glaciation during explants. The combination of FGF8 with TGF-ß1 or TGF- Snowball Earth remain poorly understood. Formed by ß3 also failed to induce myogenesis above the controls of periglacial erosion in the Neo-Proterozoic, the Kingston TGF-ß1 or TGF-ß3 alone. However, a strong inductive Peak Formation in Death Valley, California, is a thick effect was obtained with the combination of TGFß-3 and and variable sequence of siltstone and conglomerate that bFGF. In 78% of the explants, there was an average of records climate change during the glacial epoch. Our 17+17 MyHC+ cells with 33+33 MyHC+ nuclei. These previous interpretations of sedimentary structures in results suggest that TGFb3, which is present at the right the field suggested that local topography significantly time and place to play a role in somite myogeneiss, may be affected the mode of deposition, but could not explain the an important component of a FGF signaling pathway that origin of the sediments. By analyzing the lithology and induces muscle differentiation in the developing chick. provenance of sediments we can determine if the sediment source of the Kingston Peak is local or distal, whether Tracking Whales Near the Endeavour Segment the sediment source changed over time, and whether David Englund, Junior, Mathematics, Statistics, and sedimentation was similar throughout the basin. To that Anthropology end, we collected samples of the formation from five Mary Gates Scholar different locations around Death Valley, and chose suitable Mentor: William S. D. Wilcock, Oceanography specimens for microscopic and chemical analysis. We will identify different groups of source rocks by comparing Blue whales (balaenoptera musculus) and finback whales populations of samples with similar composition, and we (balaenoptera physalus) are the two largest mammals living will constrain the location of the source rocks through on our planet today. Due to economic interest in these isotopic analysis. In conformity with the Snowball creatures, they are the focus of considerable conservation Earth hypothesis, we expect that sediments eroded by efforts, and active research on these creatures is discouraged continent-scale ice sheets will have traveled relatively because we are not certain how humans interfere with their long distances and will be deposited homogenously. behaviour. The Keck Endeavour Seismic Network was The opposite result – a local source or heterogeneous deployed to study the seismic activity around hydrothermal deposition – will strongly suggest that the Kingston Peak vents on the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca mid- Formation was not deposited by glacial activity, and ocean ridge, but fortuitously recorded a large number of the suggests that large-scale ice cover was limited to the ocean. low frequency whale calls. Several examples of sequence blue whale calls have been found in the data and fin whales The Effect of FGF and TGF Family Members on the are very common in the winter. By manually picking Induction of Myogenesis in Embryonic Chick Somites arrival times and using algorithms similar to those used to Diana Eng, Junior, Bioengineering find earthquake epicenters, it has proved possible to track HHMI Integrative Research Internship the paths of vocalizing fin whales relatively precisely as

27 they pass within a few kilometers of the network. Building Understanding the links between genetics, development, upon this work, new methods for locating whale calls are and morphological variation is a driving impetus in being explored, with the objectives of being able to improve contemporary evolutionary biology. Juvenile pigmentation the precision of the locations as the whales move away in the three spine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, from the network and of tracking the calls automatically. is one potential system to study these links. Marine and freshwater populations of sticklebacks show differential Building a Playground: Analyzing the Design Process striping patterns in the first 8 weeks after hatching at of Engineering Students which point stripes largely disappear. Marine fish do not Athena Epilepsia, Senior, Technical Communication exhibit conspicuous vertical stripes while many freshwater Avram Epilepsia, Junior, Electrical Engineering populations do. It is hypothesized that juvenile striping Rebecca Kim, Senior, Biochemistry could play a role in crypsis and could have developed in Mary Gates Scholar freshwater populations as a response to a predation pressure Ngoc Bao Nguyen, Sophomore, Pre-Engineering not present in the ancestral marine environment. In this Adrienne Oda, Junior, Bioengineering work, a representative marine and freshwater population Alice Ward, Junior, Bioengineering have been chosen and scored as to their degree of striping. Mary Gates Scholar Lab-reared crosses were scored for the presence of Mentor: Cynthia Atman, Center for Engineering stripes and used to determine the heritability of the stripe Learning and Teaching phenotype. Next, F1 and F2 intercrosses were generated for genetic linkage analysis, which will be used to uncover Do engineering undergraduate students develop better the correlation between genotype and stripes. This analysis designs as they advance through their education? We will will indicate whether there are any loci highly associated be comparing the design processes of six pre-engineering with the presence or absence of stripes. Additionally, in freshmen and eight engineering seniors. The participants situ hybridizations are being performed on fish from 4 individually respond to a “real-world” engineering days post-cross up to 4 weeks post-hatch to determine problem—building a playground—and think aloud as they whether the expression of candidate genes thought to be complete the task. The audiotaped data is transcribed and important in pigment development correlates with the participant’s responses are coded into eight separate design presence or absence of the striping patterns. Results of activities: problem definition, information gathering, the genetic and developmental studies will be presented. generating ideas, modeling, feasibility analysis, evaluation, decision making, and communication. The participants’ Parental Inheritance in T7 bacteriophage designs are evaluated on a strict set of criteria including Christal Eshelman, Senior, Biology safety, materials used, and aesthetics into a “quality score” Mentor: Benjamin Kerr, Biology that makes a comparable assessment of the final playground design by giving each design a rating. The amount of time Parental inheritance occurs when the phenotype of an a participant spends on each of the eight step categories will offspring individual corresponds to its parent’s genotype, be compiled into a “timeline.” Each participant’s timeline rather than its own. One example is the coiling phenotype will show how much time was spent on each activity of the snail shells, where coiling chirality of the offspring and how often they transitioned back and forth between individual is given by the genotype of its mother. I am activities. Representative timelines will be chosen from exploring whether parental inheritance also occurs in each group to demonstrate differences between freshmen T7 bacteriophage, an E. coli virus. Under the parental and seniors. By evaluating these timelines, we will know inheritance hypothesis, the phenotype of the progeny the average number and duration between transitions phage is determined by it’s parent’s genotype. Under the made between the design activities. We can then compare non-parental inheritance hypothesis, the phenotype of the these process measures to their quality scores to determine progeny phage is determined by the progeny phage’s own if there are correlations them. Correlations between genotype. Using a phenotypic marker I am able to use transitions and quality scores will demonstrate how the statistical cues that will support or refute the competing engineering design activities are important in making hypotheses. I have found a phenotypic marker, a host a high-quality design. These results should contribute range mutant, of T7 bacteriophage that arose from a to engineering education and improve the quality of genetic mutation allowing it to infect formerly resistant education for undergraduates in engineering fields. bacteria. I will amplify a small population of phage, preserving each previous generation, to an adequate Genetic and developmental basis of juvenile striping population size where the phenotypic marker usually in threespine stickleback fish arises. Once a host range mutant is detected in the Martin Escandon, Senior, Spanish population, I will reanimate the previous generation and Mary Gates Scholar grow it as many separate populations. If there is a high Mentor: Catherine L. Peichel, Biology variance between replicate populations in the number of host range mutants present in the succeeding generation

28 then the parental inheritance hypothesis is supported. attempt to raise the alveolar PO2. This hyperventilatory Conversely, if there is a low variance between populations response expels CO2 causing a low alveolar PCO2, which the non-parental inheritance hypothesis is supported. lowers blood PCO2 and increases blood pH. In order to Information gathered from the this experiment can lead to lower the blood’s pH to normal physiological levels the better understanding of the life history T7 bacteriophage, kidney excretes bicarbonate ions in the urine. This solute which I hope can be extrapolated to other viruses. load causes an increase in urine output, or diuresis. The objective of this study was to confirm the physiological The Effects of Consumer Ethnicity on Perceived changes in bicarbonate excretion and urine output at altitude, Benefits in a Service Environment while gaining hands-on experience with data collection Iñigo Esteban, Junior, Business, Economics, and Spanish in the field. The study began at sea level in Seattle by Mentor: Detra Montoya, Marketing and International establishing baseline values in 19 subjects. Measurements Business included urine pH, 24-hour volume, and specific gravity. The second part of the study took place at White Mountain The marketplace is reflecting the changing demographics Research Station (3094-3800m) in Bishop, California. in the U.S. The Hispanic population has become the largest Urine pH significantly increased after 1 day of exposure ethnic minority projected to grow from 12.6% to 24.4% by at 3094m, while there was no significant increase in 2050. The Asian segment is the fastest growing segment volume. After 2 days of exposure to 3800m, a significant projected to grow from 3.8% to 8% by 2050 (U.S. Census increase in urine volume was observed as well as a return Bureau, 2004). It is important that marketers understand to baseline urine pH levels. After 1 week at 3800m there the needs of these growing market segments and tailor was an increase in urine specific gravity, a decrease in the their strategies to this new customer base. We conducted urine volume and no significant change in the urine pH. a survey to understand whether these ethnic consumers Although there was not a simultaneous increase in urine pH experience perceived benefits or discounts due to their and urine volume, each response was observed separately, ethnicity in a service environment. The sample consisted consistent with an increase in bicarbonate ion excretion of 259 subjects, ages 19-58, including students at the during the first two 24-hour urine collections at altitude. University of Washington and members of a community The final 24-hour urine collection after extended exposure center in Arizona. In a recent study, Rosenbaum and to hypoxia indicated that bicarbonate ion excretion had Montoya (2007) discovered trends demonstrating that returned to baseline levels and alternative compensatory Hispanic consumers experience discomfort when there are mechanisms were maintaining acid-base homeostasis. no other Hispanic customers and employees in the same retail establishment. In this study, comfort also appears Shallow runs the water: An environmental and to drive customer loyalty. For example, an Asian female cultural history of the Yakima watershed noted that she returned to a specific restaurant in the local Edgar Flores, Senior, Environmental Science and Chinatown because she had received a free meal in the Resource Management, American Ethnic Studies past. She attributed this benefit to her shared language Ronald E. McNair Scholar and relationship with the management staff which Mentor: Devon Peña, Anthropology, American Ethnic created a comfortable atmosphere for Asian customers. Studies and Program on the Environment Similarities perceived through physical attributes establish a relationship between Asian and Hispanic consumers in The proposed research project has two objectives: the first is the U.S. more often than with Caucasians consumers. The ecological and the second is sociological. My first objective data showed that Asians and Hispanics tended to perceive is to develop a set of materials for an environmental history more benefits because of their race than their Caucasian of the Yakima River watershed. This aspect of my study counterparts. Although we found that Asian and Hispanics is concerned more specifically with the impact of human- respondents stated that special treatment is unfair, many induced environmental change on salmon habitat and respondents accepted the perceived benefit and returned populations. This environmental history will require that in the future. These benefits come in the form of perceived we examine the water supply of an arid environment and improvements in service, and only in a few cases was how the Yakima River watershed has changed over the past there actually a gift or tangible benefit that was received. century. The second objective is to conduct a comparative sociological study of the environmental perceptions of Renal Compensation in Humans for Respiratory Yakama, Anglo, and Mexican-origin communities. I am Alkalosis under Hypoxia concerned with perceptions of environmental protection Rian Fisher, Senior, Biology and disparate views of the ecological changes affecting Mentor: D. Scott Weigle, Medicine salmon habitat and watershed integrity. I will focus on the impact that agricultural water use has had on salmon Human adaptation to hypoxia at high altitudes occurs and other fish populations and their habitat in the Yakima through many different mechanisms. One response to Watershed. The study will review existing historical, low arterial PO2 is an increase in the ventilatory rate in an governmental, tribal, and scholarly literatures dealing with

29 the environmental history of the Yakima watershed. The hand from the procedure, thereby eliminating any error study will also involve in-depth structured interviews and caused by operator movement (including the added more informal ethnographic interviews with informants inaccuracy due to fatigue in long procedures). A robotic from each of the three dominant cultural/ethnic groups. The manipulator would also allow for the use of a larger HIFU objective is to outline the social and environmental history transducer (one that may be considered awkward and non- of the area and to develop materials that will allow us to ergonomic as a handheld device). Furthermore, the robotic assess cultural differences in environmental perceptions. capability would allow the handheld applicators to utilize quantitative information on the position and orientation Long-term effects of nitrogen fertilization on of the applicator for precise and accurate imaging and understory vegetation on Douglas-fir plantations in treatment. We have developed a three degree-of-freedom the Pacific Northwest Cartesian manipulator as a proof of concept to assess Paul Footen, Senior, Environmental Science & Resource the feasibility of using a robotic manipulator to control Management the HIFU focal positioning to ablate an area defined by Mentor: Rob Harrison, Forestry an impurity in a tissue phantom. The system consists of this manipulator coupled to diagnostic and therapeutic In five Douglas-fir stands in the Puget Sound Region in ultrasonic transducers. The diagnostic transducer is used Western Washington the long-term effects of nitrogen (N) to track a target in real time and the HIFU transducer will on understory vegetation were quantified. The biomass be used to apply the therapeutic energy to the target. The and nitrogen content of understory vegetation were software algorithms developed allow user-defined and assessed on control (untreated) and N-fertilized treatments automatic target segmentation based on minimal operator that had been fertilized (total amount of applied N 0.9- input, image segmentation and target tracking, as well as 1.1 MG ha-1) with urea 8-30 years ago. Installation level treatment planning and execution. We are systematically values were calculated by averaging all subplots within testing the system to determine the precision and accuracy one installation. Statistical analyses were performed of such a device to determine the feasibility of robot on installation-level data using the Wilcoxon paired- coupled HIFU surgery with diagnostic ultrasound guidance. samples test. Fertilized plots had increased understory vegetation biomass by approximately 78%. Nitrogen Sensation Seeking and 21st Birthday Drinking content on previously fertilized plots contained 123% Kristyn Funasaki, Senior, Psychology more N than the control plots. Repeated fertilization of Mentor: Clayton Neighbors, Psychiatry & Behavioral Douglas-fir forests resulted in long-term effects on the Sciences growth of understory vegetation in the subsequent stand, Mentor: Christine Lee, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences which may be attributed to long-term soil enrichment. Sensation seeking has previously been examined in Proof of concept for an image-guided robotic relation to a number of health risk behaviors among college manipulator for high intensity focused ultrasound students. Alcohol use, in particular, has been associated surgery with sensation seeking, whereby young adults who are Trevor M. Fowler, Senior, Bioengineering and Electrical higher in sensation seeking tend to drink more heavily in Engineering general than those lower in sensation seeking. However, Mary Gates Scholar the relationship between sensation seeking and drinking Mentor: Shahram Vaezy, Bioengineering and Electrical during specific high-risk events, such as 21st birthday Engineering celebrations, remains unclear. The present study examined Mentor: Blake Hannaford, Electrical Engineering the relationships among sensation seeking, intended 21st birthday drinking, and actual 21st birthday drinking in High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising a sample of 316 (58.9% female) college students who technology using focused acoustic waves for delivery were turning 21 and intended to consume at least 2 drinks of a large amount of power to a confined volume within while celebrating their 21st birthday. Students reported virtually any material. HIFU devices are currently being how many drinks they intended to consume on their 21st developed, tested and even used clinically for multiple birthday, how many drinks they actually consumed on their applications such as tumor ablation. An imaging modality birthday, and completed the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking is usually used to guide and monitor the HIFU therapy. Scale. Correlation analyses revealed that sensation seeking The HIFU industry, however, is currently struggling with was positively associated with intentions to drink (r = .27, this technology primarily due to the problem of patient and p <.001) and actual drinking (r = .18, p =.001) on 21st operator movement. A logical solution to the aforementioned birthdays. Similarly, intended drinking for 21st birthdays problems would be to use a robotic manipulator to control was positively associated with actual 21st birthday the placement of the applicator which houses the HIFU drinking (r = .71, p <.001). Regression analyses further transducer and the imaging probe. The manipulator indicated that the relationship between sensation seeking can simplify the procedure by removing the operator’s and actual 21st birthday drinking was mediated by drinking

30 intentions. Results suggest that college students higher fate of acetaminophen and its transformations during water in sensation seeking drink more on their 21st birthday treatment. Previous research has shown that the reactions because they intend to drink more while celebrating their between acetaminophen and chlorine exhibit pseudo-first- birthday. Interventions targeting 21st birthday drinking order kinetics, while the pH of the system is a significant should focus on reducing the amount of alcohol students factor that determines the actual reactions rates. In this intend to consume while celebrating their 21st birthdays, study, we use the methods absorbance and fluorescence particularly for those higher in sensation seeking. spectroscopy as well as the DPD colorimetric method to examine the kinetics and mechanisms of the chlorination God, Glory, and Goal Posts: The glorification of of acetaminophen in the range of pHs from 5 to 10. We also football spectatorship in U.S. newspaper media and take into account the impact of bromide which is present what a full arena means for God’s empty sanctuary in almost all surface waters and can influence the rate and Carina Fung, Senior, Communication and English mechanisms of the transformations of acetaminophen. Mentor: Taso Lagos, Communication Dynamic Monitoring and Optimization of 802.11b This research aims to explore the relationship between Wireless Networks Christian religion and the culture of sports spectatorship. Joseph Garrison, Senior, Electrical Engineering Connection between these two concepts can visually be Mentor: Sumit Roy, Electrical Engineering seen in the form of sports newspaper coverage by the use of Christian terms within articles. Therefore, the method 802.11 wireless networking has become an increasingly of inquiry will be a content analysis of U.S. newspaper integral part of many people lives, especially in business sports sections. Within these sections, professional and and academia. As the number of wireless devices and the college football articles will be used in this research as a number of areas they need to be used in increases, the concentrated, single example of a sport. Football newspaper demand for wireless network which covers a wide physical coverage will serve as a window to the larger concept of area increases. One way to do this is through the use of the interconnection between sports spectatorship and the mesh networking, which involves setting up multiple Christian religion. By examining these articles, Christian access points (APs) to increase the overall coverage area undertones in American football newspaper articles will be to be the sum of the individual APs coverage areas. One revealed through repetition of themes and specific words of the benefits of mesh networking is that APs will route or phrases relating to Christianity. This will illustrate how client traffic through other APs, providing the ability to such religious terms have become common place and scale without sacrificing too much performance. Such a ingrained in the lexicon of football – accepted by journalists large scale network has several problems associated with and newspaper readers. Examining the newspaper medium it. A large network usually means that there are a large will provide further understanding of our contemporary number of users who are more likely than not unevenly society’s growing fascination with spectator sports distributed in the coverage area. On top of load imbalance and the correlation it has with the Christian religion. issues, users can interfere with each other by clogging up the wireless spectrum. Even without users, the Studies of effects of pH and bromide on the physical characteristics of the coverage area may cause transformations of acetaminophen in surface waters areas of intermittent or absent coverage. Since it is often Yuan Gao , Junior, Environmental Engineering impractical, if not impossible, to physically move APs to Mentor: Gregory V. Korshin, Civil & Environmental deal with these issues, the best solution would be a network Engineering that can monitor its own health and be able to adjust itself accordingly. Our lab is investigating how, using computer Today, various pharmaceutical compounds have been simulations and hardware testbeds, improvements to the detected in municipal wastewater effluent as well as lower layers of the network, where things such as the surface waters. Acetaminophen, the most widely used routing of data inside the network and the management over-the-counter analgesic in the U.S., is one of them. of the wireless spectrum take place, to determine what As other pharmaceuticals, it is affected by both waste sorts of parameters need to be analyzed and adjusted to and drinking water treatment processes. Chlorine is create this self-monitoring, self-healing network model. used frequently as a primary disinfectant during the wastewater and drinking water process. Its active forms Molecular Changes in Vascular SRF/CREB in LDL are hypochlorous acid (HClO) and hypochlorite (OCl- Receptor Deficient Mice ). Reactions of acetaminophen with these compounds Hyon-he Garza, Senior, Microbiology transform it to at least 11 discernible products, two of Mentor: Kevin O’Brien, Cardiology which have been identified as the toxic compounds Mentor: Tom McDonald, Cardiology 1,4-benzoquinone and N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine(NAPQI). The high toxicity of these compounds The research looks at Serum Response Factor (SRF) and makes it important to explore reactions that determine the cyclic AMP Response Element Binding protein (CREB)

31 content in vascular smooth muscle cells in mouse aortic structure of the polymer foam into a topographical map sinuses. SRF and CREB are both nuclear transcription of sorts, with “whiter” areas representing areas of higher factors having important roles in many different cell “elevation” (e.g., pixels that are closer to the mass of types. In smooth muscle cells, in which SRF has been the cell) and darker areas representing areas of lower found to upregulate CREB, both SRF and CREB restrain elevation. The watershed algorithm “rains” on the image, proliferation and migration. Thus, SRF and CREB are filling up the cells to a level specified by input parameters. important modulators for normal quiescent vasculature. Atherosclerosis is associated with smooth muscle cells Bootstrapping Text Classifiers for Congressional shifting from contractile to a proliferative and migratory Legislation phenotype. Preliminary research has shown that lipoprotein Alan Gibson, Senior, Political Science receptor-deficient mice fed a high fat “Western” diet had Mentor: Brian Jones, Political Science significantly decreased CREB content in proximal aortas as compared to mice fed a “chow” diet. Our hypothesis Social scientists have become increasingly interested is that genetic and/or diet induced hypercholesterolemia in automated classification of textual documents, but decreases aortic CREB content and function in-vivo. the need for a set of hand-coded exemplary documents The research will compare the individual and combined poses a significant startup cost. In many cases hundreds effects of genetic and diet induced hypercholesterolemia or thousands of classified documents are needed to create on vascular CREB expression. The models to be used are an accurate classifier. I explore methods for automating C57BL/6 and LDLR-/- mice fed either a chow or Western the creation of this initial training set using the Center diet. We also will treat mice of each model and each diet for American Politics and Public Policy’s database of with either placebo or with simvastatin, an agent that has congressional bills. Previous research suggests that a cholesterol-lowering and anti-inflammatory properties. classifier of reasonable accuracy can be “bootstrapped” We hypothesize that treatment with simvastatin will restore if one begins with a small document set. An iterative smooth muscle cell CREB content and function in-vivo. process classifies unknown documents, selects the most representative and accurately classified documents, Computerized Characterization of Polymer Foams then builds a new classifier for the next iteration. The Robert Gay, Senior, Computer Science and Mathematics process results in a usable automated coding system NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates with little or no human intervention. Intelligent sampling Scholar methods can then be employed to increase accuracy Mentor: Jerry Seidler, Physics or minimize the effects of topic drift over time through hand-coding documents with low confidence scores. Cellular solids (‘foams’) play an integral role in industrial and consumer goods, as well as natural products important Stem Cell Characteristics among Ovarian Cancer Cell to everyday life. A few examples of important foams Lines include insulation, aluminum honeycombs for aerospace, Ilya Golovaty, Junior, Public Health and Physiology packing materials, bread, and wood. Even though foams Mentor: Beatrice Knudsen, Pathology are ubiquitous, there is a continuing uncertainty about foam structure, about how foam structures evolve during There is recent evidence for ¨cancer stem cells¨ the coarsening process which is used to manufacture with the ability for (1) self-renewal, (2) escape from polymer foams, and about the relationship between the chemotherapeutic agents, (3) generation heterogeneous microstructure of foams and their macroscopic properties. differentiated progeny and (4) causing cancer recurrence We used synchrotron-based micro-computer tomography and metastasis. Further characterization of cancer stem at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne cells would facilitate the development of novel treatments National Labs in Chicago to image the 3-dimensional to eradicate these dangerous cells. Ovarian cancer is the structure of both open- and closed-cell polymer foams. leading cause of death from gynecological malignancy Since then, I have been working toward the goal of and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women. teaching the computer to decompose the micro-CT images This project examined the existence of stem cell features into idealized structural units such as cells, faces, edges, within a select panel of ovarian cancer cell lines by and vertices using a technique known as watershed measuring the s-SHIP, Oct-4 and Sox-9 putative stem cell segmentation and a variety of pre-processing methods. markers. s-SHIP is identical to the protein SHIP1 but Once processing is complete, it can be compared to contains a truncated N-terminus. The expression patterns theoretical predictions and large-scale simulations of froth of s-SHIP suggest that it may be expressed in committed coarsening. The watershed algorithm functions using stem cell compartments in mouse tissues, however its the same principle that causes puddles to develop: water expression in human stem cells is not known. To measure gathers in an area of the lowest possible elevation. The RNA expression of the 3 stem cell markers in a panel of watershed pipeline that I am writing translates a binary 15 ovarian cancer cell lines we tested several primer pairs (black and white) stack of images representing the 3D for quantification of the respective RNAs by quantitative

32 real time PCR (qRT-PCR). Given the intricacies of the Apocalyptic interpretations of the Bible, namely the stark s-SHIP splice isoform, we examined 10 different primer predictions of dispensationalism, have had a long history sets to obtain three that were specific. The results from in American evangelical Christianity, but it has only been our analysis showed that Oct-4 and Sox-9 were expressed in recent years that there has been a dramatic rise in the in most ovarian cancer cell lines, but expression of s-SHIP number of evangelicals whose motivation for engaging the was restricted. s-SHIP expression only occurred in 7 cell government is rooted in apocalyptic expectation, hoping lines and 5 of these expressed all three “stem cell genes”. that American foreign policy will assist in fulfilling Biblical In addition, s-SHIP was expressed in human embryonic prophecy of the Second Coming of Christ. Although the stem cells (ES cells), but not in a differentiated ES cell intentions of the current administration may go no farther population. In conclusion, our work suggests that ovarian than vote-garnering, it has nevertheless been receptive to cancer cell lines contain populations of cells with significant this particular bloc of evangelicals. Australia, with similar stem cell-like characteristics. In addition, we show for the demographics and a similar sociocultural background, first time that s-SHIP is expressed in ES cells and ovarian in many ways mirrors the social and political trends of cancer cell lines and thus it represents a candidate marker the United States. In the past decade Australia has seen for stem cellness that is more specific than Oct-4 and Sox-9. a sharp rise in political and religious conservatism. The current right-wing government in Australia is modeling Connecting Diets to Disease: Investigating Links itself after the conservative social agenda and religious between Food and Chronic Disease Trends Through power-base of the Bush administration, but this emulation the Use of Computer Learning Models includes no predisposition to apocalyptic or dispensational Chris Gonterman, Senior, Computer Science belief. This disparity speaks to a drastically different social Alex Zheng, Senior, Computer Science & Engineering and spiritual orientation found amongst the right-wing and Environmental Management evangelicals in the two countries. Whereas dispensational Mary Gates Scholar, Merage Fellow belief has been a mainstay in Protestant evangelical Mentor: Rajesh Rao, Computer Science Christianity in the United States for over a century, and Mentor: Dan Suciu, Computer Science has grown in recent decades, it is virtually non-existent in Australia. Despite many surface similarities there Nutritionists and epidemiologists have become is a fundamental difference rooted in the countries’ increasingly concerned about the effects of food on health respective origins that drastically affected the both shape as worldwide diets shift to calorie-high compositions. and influence of Biblical prophecy within either society. However, contemporary approaches to nutrition attempt Australia’s history as a penal colony engendered a capacity to break down foods into their individual components of for self-criticism that proved incompatible with the calories, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and other black-and-white generalizations of dispensational belief; categories. Food experts attempt to construct balances America, however, with its Puritanical and revolutionary of these components, ignoring the significant hidden roots, was founded upon a refusal to compromise, thus complexity of foods and food groups. Every food contains creating a particular aversion to self-criticism that lingered complex chemical packages that provide nutritional costs on in certain religious sectors, providing fertile soil and benefits that are not easily categorized. Over the for the unbending righteousness of dispensationalism. course of time, cultures have developed traditional diets that combine foods and food groups in patterns that provide The Zebrafish Yolk Mass: A Model System for the complete nutritional packages. These combinations Biophysical and Genetic Analysis of Surfactant represent even more complex chemical interactions Deficiency that are not interchangeable. The value of these food Benjamin Grady, Senior, Biology combinations is often lost as cultural diets are replaced Mentor: Mark S. Cooper, Biology with contemporary diets. A model for the analysis of food groups and combinations of food groups on health Extracellular surfactant (surface active agent) plays critical outcomes is presented, using a cross-country sample roles in human pulmonary physiology by stabilizing over several years. The results of this model compose a the shapes of lung alveoli at end expiration, as well as useful framework for assessing the impact of large scale reducing the mechanical compliance of lung expansion changes in food consumption on the health of a population. during inhalation. Strong genetic evidence now exists that surfactant deficiency, arising from aberrant phospholipid The End of (the other side of) the World: Apocalyptic transport, is a likely causative factor in certain cases Belief in Australia and the United States of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). How the Keith Gordon, Senior, Religion, University of Puget lipid components of surfactant are synthesized, stored, Sound secreted, and spread over the inner surface of the lung is Mentor: Douglas Edwards, University of Puget Sound a central focus of infant pulmonary research. Pulmonary Mentor: Suzanne Holland, Religion, University of Puget surfactant in terrestrial vertebrates is thought to have Sound evolved from a protosurfactant in non-airbreathing fish.

33 Phylogenetic analyses of ancient lineages of fish have polymer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have shown that the evolutionary appearance of extracellular been made. These include monitoring the T1 times of surfactant proteins (similar to those found in mammalian individual protons by using an inversion recovery pulse pulmonary surfactant) predate the evolution air-breathing sequence, this allows for quantitative measurements lungs (outpocketings of anterior gut endoderm). Thus, to be made. A carbonyl carbon 13C-NMR analysis the zebrafish has an appropriate comparative context for was performed in order to quantitatively determine the understanding both the ontogeny and phylogeny of human bifunctionallity of the polymers present in solution and pulmonary surfactant. Our laboratory has determined that H-NMR analyses were developed for nanoparticle coat the zebrafish embryonic yolk mass is filled with a reservoir evaluations. The PEG molecule is one on which many of maternally supplied surfactant. This intracellular different nanoparticle drug deliverly systems can be based surfactant serves to bind yolk platelets into a single off of. The characterization methods described have direct cohesive unit. The surfactant compacts yolk platelets applicability to other polymers and nanoparticle coatings. into polyhedral shapes by lowering the interfacial surface energy between platelets. As the yolk platelets become Sertraline-mediated Enhancement of the Epinephrine polyhedral and compacted, the yolk mass transforms Counterregulatory Response to Hypoglycemia into a high internal-phase emulsion. Between yolk Bryant Hall, Sophomore, Biochemistry, Neurobiology platelets, the liquid surfactant forms a trabecular lattice Mentor: Diane Latteman, Psychiatry and Behavioral of interconnected channels, known as Plateau borders, in Sciences the terminology of emulsion/foam physics. Mechanical cohesion between yolk platelets within the compacted Hypoglycemia is a common side-effect of intensive insulin zebrafish yolk emulsion is critically dependent upon regimens, and after the occurrence of multiple bouts of surfactant concentration and the liquid fraction of the local hypoglycemia it has been shown that the neuroendocrine endoplasm. Zebrafish mutants that possess spherical yolk counterregulatory response is blunted. This is known as platelets, instead of compacted polyhedral yolk platelets, Hypoglycemia Associated Autonomic Failure (HAAF) are likely to possess a surfactant deficiency phenotype. and it is common in the 40 million Americans who suffer These strains of zebrafish, which lack polyhedral yolk from diabetes. Our research has shown has shown that the platelets, may possess genetic mutations that can be linked epinephrine counterregulatory response can be recovered to respiratory disease in humans through genomic analysis. with the administration of serotonin-enhancing drugs. Our lab tested the effect of the serotonin-enhancing Polymer Synthesis for use in a Cancer Targeting drug, sertraline, in a rat model. In one study, the rats System were subject to multiple bouts of hypoglycemia, with Eric Gratz, Senior, Chemistry one group of rats being given sertraline infusion pumps, Mary Gates Scholar and the other group being given saline infusion pumps Mentor: Miqin Zhang, Materials Science & Engineering (treatment controls). In the other study, rats were subject to a single bout of hypoglycemia with a similar paradigm Iron oxide nanoparticles are used to enhance magnetic and treatment groups, as the first experiment. For the resonance imaging (MRI) during diagnosis and treatment study of multiple bouts of hypoglycemia, rats that lacked of cancerous lesions. A biocompatible polymer layer of sertraline had plasma epinephrine levels of 678 and 1944 covalently-bound poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has the pg/ml, vs. 1611 and 3776 pg/ml in the sertraline-treated ability to bond to the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles. rats, at 60 and 120 min, respectively. The results from Once covalently bound to the iron oxide nanoparticles, PEG the single bout study showed that after one hour the can enhance the ability of the particles in drug delivery and epinephrine level was 2791 pg/ml for sertraline and 1604 cancer tissue detection applications. The PEG molecule pg/ml for the controls. The results of both experiments serves three functions. First, PEG covalently bound to showed that: 1) the epinephrine response was restored iron oxide nanoparticles increase the steric stability of despite multiple bouts of hypoglycemia; and 2) during the particles and restrict particle agglomeration. Second, a single bout of hypoglycemia, the early epinephrine PEG is biocompatible, which allows the PEG/nanoparticle response was enhanced, by sertraline. There was no complex to pass through the blood stream without being change in any other neuroendocrine parameter measured. degraded by the body’s defense systems. Finally, after This exciting discovery suggests an action of serotonin- being covalently attached to iron oxide nanoparticles, PEG enhancing drugs specifically on the adrenal gland (which serves as a location to attach cancer targeting molecules, releases epinephrine); and may make it possible to help drugs, and fluorescent dyes. The presented research better manage hypoglycemic events that are connected involves the optimized synthesis of this hetero-bifunctional with diabetes, and to prevent the occurrence of HAAF. polymer and enhanced-characterization techniques. The synthesis has been enhanced by monitoring thermal treatment, chemical stocks, and reaction conditions. Several exciting advances in the characterization of the

34 Improvement of Algorithms for Solving the N-Body nocturnal restlessness. Under LL, no beak-up and beak-up Problem flights were observed as birds appeared to sleep during the Scott Hanes, Senior, Physics subjective night. Under DD, birds displayed continuous NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates migratory restlessness as found previously but its intensity Scholar fell short of that during 12L:12D conditions. Our results Mentor: Tom Quinn, Astronomy suggest that migratory behaviors observed in captive autumn migrants are controlled by circadian oscillator but The N-Body problem involves calculating the mutual environmental conditions such as intensity and timing of the interactions of a distribution of N particles – most light conditions can alter the normal daily patterns of activity commonly, the gravitational forces on the particles. This and could affect the success or failure of the migration. is of great interest to cosmologists who want to simulate the formation of large scale phenomena, such as the 12-Month-Old Infants’ Understanding of Causality formation of gaseous planets, galaxies, and the like. Such and Human Intervention simulations involve calculating the dynamics of large Kristina Hardy, Senior, Psychology particle distributions, and performing the N2 calculations Mary Gates Scholar, Undergraduate Research needed to obtain the individual interactions between each Travel Award Recipient particle pair quickly becomes prohibitively complex. It Mentor: Jessica Sommerville, Psychology is therefore desirable to use algorithms that simplify the calculation of gravitational forces on a given particle – for Mature causal understanding requires awareness of how instance, by treating a cluster of particles sufficiently human intervention alters causal events’ structure. Research far away from a given particle as an arrangement whose has demonstrated that infants appreciate the causal nature gravitational force is simple to calculate. Theoretically, of simple launching events (where one object contacts a the complexity of the N-Body problem can be reduced to second, causing the first to move). This study investigates NlnN calculations through such algorithms, with only a infants’ understanding of human intervention’s impact on small sacrifice in force accuracy. In practice, it is a highly causal structure using a visual familiarization paradigm. delicate task to program an algorithm that achieves both In Study 1, infants watched a hand grasp and move a car simplicity and accuracy in simulation. As a result, there into another car, causing the second car to move (hand is ongoing effort to improve on the practical realization launching event) or watched the first car move unassisted of solutions to the N-Body problem. In this project, we toward the second car and upon contact a hand moved hope to test some existing programs that have been the second car away (hand intervention event). During developed by the University of Washington’s N-Body test trials infants saw events in which a still screen pause Shop, the University of Illinois Parallel Programming occurred at the point of contact between the two cars. Lab, and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics. In hand launching events adults ascribe the second car’s movement to the first car, and state that this causal relation Behavioral Analysis of Autumnal Migratory is disrupted by the pause, whereas in hand intervention Restlessness in Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow events adults attribute the second car’s movement to (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) the hand, registering no impact of the pause on causal Shohei Harase, Junior, Biology (Physiology) perception. Infants showed greater recovery of attention Mentor: Gang Wang, Biology to the disruption of the hand launching sequence than to Mentor: Marilyn Ramenofsky, Biology the hand intervention sequence, suggesting infants share adults’ understanding. To ensure that infants’ differential Gambel’s White-Crowned Sparrow (GWCS) is a long responses to the two test events did not emerge from distance migrant that in captivity displays vernal and perceptual differences between the events (e.g., the location autumnal migratory behaviors that include daytime of the hand on the monitor) infants in Study 2 watch a feeding and resting but at night expresses unique behaviors simple launching event and then observe either the hand identified as beak-up and beak-up-flight called migratory launching or hand intervention event. If infants recognize restlessness. Recent behavioral studies identified distinct that both simple and hand launching events share causal responses of vernal migrants when exposed to either status (e.g., the first car causes the second to move) but continuous daylight (LL) ( 50-500 Lux) or dim light the hand intervention sequence does not, infants should night (DD) conditions (<1 Lux) suggesting that migratory show greater attention recovery to the hand intervention restlessness may be influenced by a circadian oscillator event. These results will further elucidate infants’ which may be masked by dim light conditions of night. appreciation of how human agency alters causal structure. Such results are unknown for autumn migrants. In our study, behaviors of captive autumn migrants were recorded during the subjective day and night under the following light-dark conditions (12L:12D, DD, LL). In the 12:12 condition, birds showed typical patterns of daytime and

35 Lipid Phosphates May Potentially Be A Cure For Type is harmful, thus defending the ban. Yet, small business II Diabetes owners have now begun to cite economic concerns which Caroline Hassan, Sophomore, Biochemistry supersede the traditional liberal/paternal debate. I explore Eden Weldethsae, Sophomore, Biology economic data from California and New York along with Mentor: Richard To, Bioengineering anecdotal evidence from Washington. Six months after the implementation of I-901, my research suggests that Genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes involves many businesses cannot say, with certainty, that the ban is bad genes, most of which are still unknown. The lipid for businesses given the volatility of the entertainment phosphatase SHIP2 is a potent negative regulator of insulin industry. Likewise, analyses of non-tribal casino revenues signaling and sensitivity in vivo and is thus a good candidate demonstrate declines before the smoking ban. In short, gene. We will research the presence of SHIP2 gene the controversial nature of the smoking ban is complex mutations associated with type 2 diabetes in humans. The and its political and economic rationale leads to valuable R1142C mutation specifically identified in Goto-Kakizaki insight in the arena of private behavior and public policy. (GK) and spontaneously hypertensive rat strains disrupts a potential class II ligand for Src homology (SH)-3 domain Characterization of GBS Strains with Mutations in and slightly impairs insulin signaling in cell culture. In PBP1a humans, a deletion identified in the SHIP2 3’ untranslated Kimberly Heintz, Junior, Microbiology region (UTR) of type 2 diabetic subjects includes a motif Mary Gates Scholar implicated in the control of protein synthesis. In cell Mentor: Amanda Jones, Pediatrics and Pathobiology culture, the deletion results in reporter messenger RNA and protein overexpression. In addition, genotyping of a cohort Dr. Jones’ lab conducts research on the gram positive of type 2 diabetic and control subjects showed a significant bacteria Group B Streptococcus (GBS). This particular association between the deletion and type 2 diabetes. Our bacterium is one of the foremost bacterial pathogens causing goal is to show that mutations in the SHIP2 gene contribute neonatal sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia in America to the genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in humans. (Schrag and Schauchat 2004). More specifically, our work has focused on the high molecular weight penicillin binding Secondhand Bans: An Analysis of Policy Restrictions protein, PBP1a. This protein is encoded for by the ponA on Public Smoking gene in GBS, and was found to be required for virulence Diana Hawk, Senior, International Political Economy, and resistance to phagocytic killing. Penicillin binding University of Puget Sound proteins are known to catalyze the formation and cross- Mentor: Brad Dillman, International Political Economy, linking of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls. PBP1a is University of Puget Sound predicted to have two enzymatic activities that are involved in this process. The transglycosylase (TG) reaction results With an increasing amount of tobacco control legislation in polymerization of the glycan chains and then nascent passing nationwide, it is important to examine justifications peptidoglycan is cross-linked during the transpeptidase for indoor smoking bans. My research first sets the (TP) reaction. In order to evaluate the relative contribution context from which smoking bans emerged. The current of these two enzymatic activities to the function of PBP1a trends in antismoking legislation grew from a grassroots in virulence, we performed site-directed mutagenesis to movement legitimized by California’s pioneering policies. create mutations in both the TP and TG domains. Growth The greater part of my analysis, however, focuses on rates were determined and the morphology determined by Washington’s Initiative 901 (I-901), the Healthy Clean standard microscopy. Analysis of morphology by Gram Indoor Air Act, which passed in November 2005. staining of mutant strains revealed alterations in chaining Using I-901 as a framework for understanding the behavior that can be linked to the mutations in the PBP1a controversies surrounding anti-smoking legislation, I enzymatic domains. Membrane proteins preparations explore the arguments for and against smoking bans. containing PBP1a were isolated from the strains containing When the growing number of bans extended to bars, the the wild-type and mutated ponA genes. Using Western debate between liberalism (less government interference blot analysis and antibodies directed against PBP1a, we in individual actions) and paternalism (government found that all of the strains containing ponA on the plasmid interference under the guise of what is best for individuals) expressed PBP1a as expected. Incubation of the membrane heated up. Although opponents to anti-smoking legislation proteins with a fluorescent derivative of penicillin have argued over freedom of choice and property rights, revealed that the mutation in the TG domain did not affect complaints of paternalism and the “nanny state” (an over- penicillin binding by PBP1a. In contrast, the mutation in protective government) are refuted by John Stuart Mill’s the TP domain eliminate penicillin binding by PBP1a. The “harm principle.” Mill’s 19th century justification for state impact of these mutations on sensitivity to penicillin was intervention is made on the basis of harm; government’s are also determined. These mutants will be important reagents allowed to limit liberties only if such actions prevent harm. for determining the contribution of the TG and TP activity Scientific evidence demonstrates that secondhand smoke of PBP1a to the virulence defects of our ponA mutant.

36 Pacific Island Youth Survey: Community Relations in of sequence, phylogenetic, and functional genomic data. the Greater Seattle Area Holly Hemmann, Senior, Nursing Sol-gel Processing of Hydroxyapatite Coating on Malaelupe Samifua, Senior, American Ethnic Studies Titanium Substrates: Effect of Water-to-Triethyl Mentor: Barbara Burns McGrath, Nursing Phosphate Ratio on Resultant Coating Hyun-ki Hong, Senior, Materials Science & Engineering Background: Health statistics on U.S. Pacific Islanders Mentor: Rajendra Bordia, Materials Science & that are disaggregated from “Asian Pacific Islanders” are Engineering almost non-existent. A research study, “Pacific Island Youth Survey” (PIYS) is underway to collect health The advent of high-density, high-volume genomic data has behavior data on Pacific Islander teens and young adults created the need for tools to summarize large datasets at (ages 14-21 yrs). The study follows a community based multiple scales. HMMSeg is a command-line utility for participatory research model. This approach is increasingly the scale-specific segmentation of continuous genomic data being used in studies addressing complex health and social using hidden Markov models (HMMs). Scale specificity problems. Establishing relationships with community is achieved by an optional wavelet-based smoothing members is a key aspect. Objective: The purpose of this operation. HMMSeg is capable of handling multiple datasets research project is to examine the process of establishing simultaneously, rendering it ideal for integrative analysis collaborative community relationships in the PIYS study, of sequence, phylogenetic, and functional genomic data. identify challenges encountered, and describe the methods used to achieve collaborative relationships. Methods: The role of nonsense mediated decay in foamy virus Participation in research team meetings and direct Pol protein expression observations of meetings with community leaders provided Megan Horn, Senior, Microbiology data on the process of communicating with community Mary Gates Scholar members, addressing their concerns, and eliciting their Mentor: Maxine Linial, Microbiology support. Results: Some issues raised by community members include: a concern that the survey questions Foamy virus, a member of the Retroviridae subfamily were invasive, and those related to sexual behavior were Spumaretrovirinae, is unique in comparison to other too personal given the cultural norms; and questions about retroviruses. Unlike human immunodeficiency virus how to assure parents were informed about the project; and HIV, which produces gag and pol from an unspliced what would happen to the data once it was analyzed. These RNA product, foamy virus synthesizes these gene challenges were addressed structurally by assuring the products differently. While FV Gag is expressed from research team included Pacific Islanders who understand an unspliced mRNA, Pol is created from a 3’ splice site these cultural considerations, and in the research process located in the C-terminus of gag. Previously, it has been by allocating adequate time to work with the community shown that FV mutants, containing premature termination before data collection. The team also focused on gaining codons (PTC) at the 3’ end of gag, produced decreased support from key community leaders who were able to levels of Pol protein, in comparison to wild type foamy function as advocates for the project among their peers. virus. In eukaryotic cells it is known that a cellular Conclusions: Gaining support from the local community process, referred to as nonsense mediated decay (NMD), is an on-going aspect of conducing community based recognizes mRNAs containing PTC and selectively research. It is time consuming, and can be seen as a barrier degrades them. However, in our mutants it is the Gag to research, but actually enhances the research and assures protein that contains the PTC, and the Pol protein that is the findings will be meaningful to those who participate in it. poorly expressed. Therefore, if NMD is involved in Pol expression, it is not through the classical mechanism. Unsupervised segmentation of continuous genomic We considered several hypotheses, including NMD. We data have used wt and dominant negative forms of one of the Andrew Hemmaplardh, Senior, Biology, Computer proteins involved in NMD (Upf1) to see if the levels of Pol Science, and Biochemistry protein are changed in wt and mutant FV transfected cells. Mentor: William Stafford Noble, Genome Sciences rendezBlue: An Exploration of Technology- The advent of high-density, high-volume genomic data has Augmented Chance Encounters Between Friends created the need for tools to summarize large datasets at Kyle Egaas, Senior, Informatics multiple scales. HMMSeg is a command-line utility for Eric Howard, Senior, Informatics the scale-specific segmentation of continuous genomic data Bennett Hornbostel, Senior, Informatics using hidden Markov models (HMMs). Scale specificity Mentor: Bob Boiko, The Information School is achieved by an optional wavelet-based smoothing operation. HMMSeg is capable of handling multiple datasets The likelihood of a typical University student experiencing simultaneously, rendering it ideal for integrative analysis a chance encounter with friends in their community is

37 quite high. However, barriers can occur such as limited Continuous sorting of superparamagnetic visibility, diverted attention, or high noise levels may nanoparticles via on-chip magnetophoresis cause the student to miss some of these encounters. Can Hou Yufeng, Junior, Materials Science technology help to overcome some of these barriers or Mentor: Kannan Krishnan, Materials Science & even enhance the experience of chance encounters? To Engineering explore the socio-technical ramifications of chance encounters, we’ve created rendezBlue, an application Magnetic nanoparticles are widely used in material for mobile phones that sends a “pop-up” notification to studies and the biomedical sciences. However, chemical users when their friends are nearby. With the growing synthesis methods often produce samples that are availability and sophistication of mobile technology, polydisperse, especially for larger sizes. To obtain rendezBlue can be used by most students with an average- monodisperse nanoparticle samples, we need to design a quality mobile phone. rendezBlue utilizes Bluetooth and device to sort particles by their size. We chose to build Java technology to perform this function cost-free. This an on-chip microfluidic sorter. Chambers and channels project started with a needs assessment, via questionnaire, are patterned in PDMS using photolithography. The of an initial target audience primarily comprised of current sorting of magnetic nanoparticles is achieved by free- University students. Analysis of needs assessment results flow magnetophoresis through the separation chamber. fed into a more informed design and verification of our In continuous flow, magnetic particles are deflected initial assumptions regarding the habits of the target from the direction of laminar flow by a perpendicular population as it relates to our implementation, such as magnetic field, where particle velocity is proportional privacy concerns and potential usage patterns. We have to size. The particles are separated by size as they developed a functional prototype that meets these needs. move through the chamber, before being collected from Finally, a corresponding impact assessment has been distinct outlet channels. We also establish a mathematical completed for this prototype that will inform future design. model describing the movement of particles in the flow and compare the results of our modeling to experiment. Optimization of Thermal Electric Cooling Elements Design 2-D Imaging of the Osteocyte Network Pei-Yu Hou, Sophomore, Electrical Engineering Chao Huang, Junior, Bioengineering Mentor: Karl F. Bohringer, Electrical Engineering Mentor: Ted S. Gross, Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Mentor: Rajashree Baskaran, Electrical Engineering Osteocytes are the most plentiful cells in bone, and When current is running through an IC circuit, hot spots represent the final differentiation step of osteoblasts (cells will be generated on the circuit, reducing its performance. responsible for bone formation). The ways in which bone Thermal Electric Cooling Elements (TEC) is being perceives and responds to external stress are still largely proposed to cool down an IC chip to keep its performance. unknown, although intercellular communication through TEC consists of thermal electric couples, which are pairs the gap junctions that join osteocytes is believed to play of p- and n-type semiconductors, connected with thin an important role. My laboratory group has recently metal films and powered by a DC source. According to developed an Agent Based Model (ABM) of real-time Peltier’s effect, when current passes through TEC, heat cellular calcium signaling between bone cells in response to from one side of TEC will be transported to the other side. application of mechanical loading to the bone. This model, The objective of this research is to design the geometry of which is based upon complexity theory, suggests that two the TEC that will be used to cool down the hot spot on an critical factors underlie bone mechanotransduction: 1) IC chip. An IC chip has a size of 11mm × 13mm and a hot the characteristics of the mechanical loading regimen and spot has a size of 400μm × 400μm. This microprocessor 2) the connectivity of the cells in the tissue. However, it die has a uniform heat load of 100W and a hot spot power has been very challenging to accurately characterize the of 3W. The goal in this project is to reduce the temperature osteocyte connectivity because osteocytes are encased at the backside of the silicon at the hotspot region by 10 in a hard, mineralized matrix in the inner cavity of bone. degree Celsius. In the research, we’ll investigate how My role in the current project is to develop a protocol for the efficiency of a TEC device changes when we vary imaging viable osteocytes within a given section of bone the temperature difference, size and arrangement of without having to analyze successive cross-sections, as thermal electric couples, and input current and voltage. was done in previous studies. Based on a literature review, Furthermore, we’d like to derive equations that describe we are pursuing a method that combines fluorescence the relationships among the five parameters. In the future, staining and confocal laser microscopy to define a 2-D we hope to find a performance curve that will help us osteocyte network within a cross-section of bone. We are design a TEC module for this particular application. in the process of validating the 2-D protocol by collecting data in a series of control mice tibia. The long-term goal is to extend our technique to 3-D imaging through a depth of at least 100 microns. We believe that successfully

38 completing this project will yield substantial insight into a computer-based PANAS-X, a self-report measure that how osteocytes perceive and respond to mechanical stimuli. examines general positive and negative affect identified as dominant dimensions of emotional experience. As predicted, Extraction of Current from the Exclusion Zone of second generation participants reported on average more Interfacial Water on Polymer Surfaces positive emotion than first generation participants, t (223) Benedict Hui, Junior, Bioengineering = 3.687, p<.001, suggesting the role of social experience Mary Gates Scholar and context on emotional processes. Future research will Mentor: Gerald Pollack, Bioengineering examine more specific self-reported emotional differences among generations such as self-assurance or joviality. It was found that an exclusion zone sometimes forms at the interface of water with polymeric surfaces. This exclusion How Do Hormones Regulate Plant Growth? zone is devoid of any solutes and can extend for hundreds Elizabeth Hulphers, Junior, Biology and Comparative of micrometers from the surface. Another property of the Literature exclusion zone is that the water in the exclusion zone is Mary Gates Scholar of a higher pH than normal water and the pH of the water Mentor: Jennifer Nemhauser, Biology directly outside of the exclusion zone is lower than normal water. Thus it was hypothesized that the interfacial water Several classes of hormones regulate plant growth and is of a structure which is lower on protons than normal development. The question of a possible link between two and so, the protons are pushed out of the exclusion zone hormones in particular, auxin and brassinosteroids (BRs), making the water outside of it more acidic. Using this which regulate many overlapping processes, has lead to discovery, I will be designing a fuel cell which extracts an investigation into possible connections between these current from the exclusion zone due to the difference two hormone pathways. It was found that when a plant in pH. My main goal for this project is to find ways to is treated with both hormones there is a non-additive, increase the current which can be extracted from the or synergistic, increase in target gene expression. This exclusion zone. This would include trying different types synergism suggests that there is interaction between of metals or materials for the electrodes, and different these two hormone pathways, yet the specific nature of polymers in addition to different solutions. I will also this interaction is still unknown. Treating with either be conducting experiments involving radiating the water auxin or BRs turns on many common genes. When a with light since it was found in previous experiments that promoter of one of these common genes is attached to there is some correlation between the size and growth a reporter gene, it can be used to visualize the level of of the exclusion zone to certain wavelengths of light. expression in different hormone conditions. Cells where the promoter is active appear blue upon staining. Using Generational differences influence the emotional a selected promoter and hormone condition, mutagenized responses of Asian Americans plants can be screened for a change in the target gene Yin-Ling Hui, Senior, Psychology expression. If a gene is required for the synergistic Ching-Man Pang, Senior, Psychology interaction of auxin and BRs, then a mutation that leads Ann Nguyen, Senior, Psychology to inactivation of this gene should result in a decreased Mentor: Janxin Leu, Psychology expression of the target gene. Through positional cloning, Mentor: Jennifer Wang, Psychology a gene found to be a player in the synergism between these two hormones can be identified. The identification Cultural psychology researchers like Markus and Kitayama of factors that link the auxin and BR pathways is an (1994) have argued that the cultural context influences how important step in our understanding of how plant growth one perceives the self and consequently on their behavior, and development is controlled at a molecular level. such as feelings and emotions. Consistent with this theory, previous research has suggested that North Americans Global Standardization of Advertising--The Case of tend to report more positive emotions overall than East High-Involvement Products: A Content Analysis Asians, who tend to report more negative emotions Melina Hurst, Senior, Business Administration overall. However, few studies have examined the role (Marketing), UW Tacoma of acculturation and generational differences in reported Mentor: Eugene Sivadas, Business, UW Tacoma emotions, in which emotional behavior may be influenced by the dominant cultural environment in the America. Standardization of advertising has been the subject of In this study, we predicted that second generation Asian numerous studies for more than 50 years. However, Americans (i.e. US-born or arrived to US before age of with no concrete conclusions, the question of whether to 12) would report more positive emotion on average in standardize or adapt advertising internationally remains a their daily lives than first generation Asian Americans (i.e. matter of debate. While studies have compared the use arrived to US after age of 12). First generation (n = 36) and of standardization between high-involvement and low- second generation (n = 189) college students completed involvement categories, the research within either of

39 these categories is limited. In general, researchers have pigments such as heme in the blood or chlorophyll in concluded that high-involvement products, or products plants. Our study is based on the optical properties of a that consumers put a lot of time, thought, and research class of synthetically prepared porphyrins called tetra( into (ex: automobiles) generally have more standardized pentafluorophenyl)- porpholactones and involves their advertisements than low-involvement products (ex: free bases and metal derivatives. Previous findings from toothpaste). This paper compares the standardization levels optical absorption spectra have produced a characteristic between different high-involvement product categories: “porphyrin” four banded and two banded spectra, emotional/high-involvement (affective), cognitive/high- respectively. However, with the addition of a strong involvement (informative), emotional/low-involvement nucleophilic base (sodium methoxide) or strong non (satisfaction), and cognitive/low-involvement (habitual) nucleophilic base (DBU: 1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-undec- purchases. The hypotheses are tested via content 7-ene) these spectra produce an uncharacteristically “non- analysis of print advertisements of highly circulated porphyrin” spectral change. We have two hypotheses as American and Japanese magazines. Each ad is coded to what occurs with these porpholactones upon strong and scored on text (heading, subheading, slogan, use of base addition: either there is keto-enol tautomerism of the foreign language, etc) and visuals (background, model, lactone ring, or ring breakage. Our studies to date have placement of product, size, etc) on a 100-point scale based shown that all tetra(pentafluorophenyl)-porpholactones on the system developed by Harris and Attour (2003). produce red shifted absorption bands in the presence of This research contributes to the literatures on high- a base, Q-bands are reduced to one broad band, the Soret involvement and global standardization of advertising. is red shifted with loss of extinction coefficient, the new species produces a 770 nm broad band emission, and Engineering a precision grammar for Hausa the spectral changes are reversible upon neutralization Kelsey Hutchins, Senior, Linguistics and Computer of the bases with a strong acid. We will present UV-Vis, Science NMR and IR spectra that will confirm these findings and Mentor: Emily Bender, Linguistics will also present optical pH dependencies of a series of tetra(pentafluorophenyl)-porpholactones sensor films. We The LinGO Grammar Matrix is a framework developed by will provide further analysis of porpholactones as novel researchers at the University of Washington and Stanford pH sensors due to their reversibility of spectral behavior University to help linguists create precision grammars for upon pH change and to get closer to a hypothesis for their various languages. It includes support for features that are spectral change. The eventual goal is to make a pH sensor universal across languages as well as features commonly using our lactone polymers that will be able to detect found in the world’s languages. Linguists can use pH changes in solid structures like concrete with fiber these already existing components to quickly build up a optic porphyrin films to detect early structural damage. grammar, instead of starting from scratch. By developing new grammars, linguists help expand the Grammar Matrix Equality of Women in Tanzania to support new and previously-uncovered phenomena. I Jennifer Jaffer, Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies, UW am using this framework to create a grammar for Hausa, Bothell a language spoken by about 25 million people in Niger Mentor: Kari Lerum, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, and Nigeria. In order to make the grammar produce the UW Bothell correct syntactic and semantic structures for Hausa, I am modifying and adding to the existing rules and types In recent years women in East Africa have taken a more in the Grammar Matrix. Hausa offers challenges in the prominent role in policy development, including taking way it deals with sentential negation, yes-no questions leadership roles in NGOs that enhance a woman’s and dropped subject pronouns. Besides these three, other economic and educational opportunities and reduce phenomena I am covering include case, grammatical gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Yet women agreement, embedded clauses and auxiliary verbs. The in this region, specifically Tanzania, are not treated equally end result of this project will be a grammar that can be to men in the final outcome. In addition to patterns of used to parse sentences in Hausa. It will also be able institutionalized sexism, racial-ethnic hierarchies within to translate between Hausa and other languages which Tanzania provide further sources of inequality for many have been implemented with the Grammar Matrix. women. When considering accessibility to education, health care, and professional career advancement, Asian-ethnic Development of new dyes for stable pH sensor people living in Tanzania are generally better positioned Sayed Imtiaz, Junior, Biochemistry than African-ethnic people, ultimately resulting in a better Mentor: Gamal Khalil, Chemistry outcome for Asian ethnic women’s socio-economic status. This paper identifies the factors that explain the racial- Porphyrins are molecules that are highly sensitive to light ethnic differences in outcomes between women in Tanzania due to their planar structure and conjugated pi electron and explores strategies for mediating these inequalities. system. They naturally occur in the biological world as

40 Comparing the Effectiveness of Culturally urethra obstruction, protein overload and diabetic mouse Appropriate Treatments and Biomedical Services for models. Other laboratories have reported the role of Chronic Illness in American Indian and Alaska Native metalloproteinase’s (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs(1- Urban Populations 2)) on changes of the extracellular matrix (ECM) during Pamela James, Senior, Social Welfare renal fibrosis. However, extensive research has been done McNair Scholar on those genes that are regulated during the fibrotic stage Mentor: Nancy Nystrom, Social Work where often damage is irreversible and not enough work has been focused on the inflammatory stage. Therefore our While there has been a growing literature confirming the focus is on the activity of acute and chronic inflammation importance of integrating traditional Indian healing (TIH) phases before fibrosis initiates. At the beginning of renal to treat chronic illness in Native American and Alaska fibrosis (RF), cellular inflammation triggers immune Natives (AIAN), few studies are specific in examining responses activating fibroblasts, macrophages and other its prevalence, or to what degree urban clinics combine cell types to secrete growth factors, cytokines, and TIH with biomedicine. Although many urban clinics are interleukins in an attempt to prevent or slow the damage to working towards increasing the delivery of culturally the tubules and the surrounding interstitium. Our specific appropriate care, their efforts are exasperated by a variety goal is to determine the role of Interleukin-6 (IL6) family of obstacles that prevent the development of infrastructure of genes and its two common receptors gp130 and LIFR to support these models. The growing urban Indian (Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor) have on the proteins population has resulted in a supply and demand dilemma that comprise the ECM. We will study the changes on the of TIH in urban health care settings. As a result of this expression levels of genes of the IL6 family that may deficiency, a reliance on biomedical services that bear regulate gene expression of the ECM during the evolution no cultural consideration has developed. Public health of renal fibrosis. We will use the protein gel electrophoresis care providers struggle in their definition of cultural as a technique to analyze our IL6 protein samples and we competency, and this ambiguity can have adverse effects will compare day 0, 3, 5, 7, and 14 to evaluate if there in delivering culturally competent care. Lastly, because is a progress of fibrosis during these different stages. urban Indians have long been ignored in mainstream health research, more studies focusing on this population An Investigation of the Design and Layout of are necessary. This study will combine both qualitative Thermoelectric Cooling Elements for the Cooling of and quantitative methodology to examine the both the “Hot Spots” in Integrated Circuits actual and perceived health status of urban Indians who Hannah Jimma, Sophomore, Electrical Engineering utilize both biomedical services and TIH. Due to limits Emerging Leaders in Engineering Scholar, in time and funding, a purposive sample of local Native Hewlett Packard Scholar health care providers will be used to gather qualitative data Mentor: Karl Böhringer, Electrical Engineering through interviews, with a focus on the level at which they Mentor: Rajashree Baskaran, Electrical Engineering blend TIH with biomedical services. Quantitative data will be collected from existing research and various databases. This project seeks to find an optimal arrangement of Findings from this study can be used to help guide policy thermoelectric cooling elements (TEC’s) in order to makers working in the public health realm towards more cool “hot spots” in integrated circuits. This optimal favorable policy formation, specifically in regards to arrangement of p-doped and n-doped thermoelectric federal funding. Also, an approach for bridging cultures materials (components of TEC’s) will optimize the to facilitate the interaction of traditional healers and non- robustness of the system and allow the system to run Native health care providers can be developed, resulting with minimal impact if a p or n component fails. There in greater cultural competency. This can be accomplished are constraints on the maximum and minimum voltage through community-based participatory research (CBPR). allowed as well as the connection between the p and n components (diagonal connections are not permitted). Interleukin-6 Involvement during Acute and Chronic Based on these constraints, the approach taken will be Inflammation Phases of Renal Fibrosis a “checkerboard” layout with the p and n components Johanna Christa I. Javier, Junior, Biology alternating. The connections between the components are Mentor: Jesus M. Lopez-Guisa, Nephrology being explored through additional analysis and testing.

The numbers of patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is estimated to be around a million in 2010. Therefore, it is pointless to emphasize the importance of investigating the renal inflammation-fibrosis processes in attempt to treat and or prevent ESRD. Over the last years our group’s research has focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of renal fibrosis using the unilateral

41 Effect of HDAC inhibitors in the treatment of Mentor: Clifford Tatum, UW Honors microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in an in vitro model of ALS There are approximately 174 ethnic groups in the city Dominique Jodry, Senior, Neurobiology and Psychology of Amsterdam. Like many urban centers in Europe, Mary Gates Scholar Amsterdam is undergoing an identity shift as migration Mentor: Thomas Moeller, Neurology trends continue to change the ethnic make-up of the city. This summer, the University of Washington is participating ALS is a devastating neurological disorder characterized by in an international collaboration with the Virtual Knowledge progressive degeneration of upper and lower motoneurons, Studio (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences), leading to paralysis and eventually death within 3-5 years of and the International School for the Humanities and Social onset. Although the disease mechanism is likely complex Sciences (University of Amsterdam). Prior to conducting and multilayered, neuroinflammation appears to play a key field research in Amsterdam, the UW students will develop role in motoneuron degeneration. In the central nervous social science and humanities interdisciplinary research system, microglia represent the immunocompetent cell designs that employ digital data-gathering devices and e- population and the mediators of the inflammatory response, research techniques. The conceptual framework utilized in while astrocytes are key support cells that play a role in this study is based on the assumption that technologically maintaining the delicate microenvironment of the CNS. mediated research influences not only the method of Both are thus implicated as important players in disease data collection and analysis but also the character and pathogenesis. In a murine model of ALS, ubiquitous over- process of knowledge production. The field research expression of a mutated form of the superoxide dismutase component of this collaboration will take place in August complex (mtSOD1) leads to symptoms similar to ALS 2007. For the symposium, students will present their in humans. Trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase interdisciplinary research designs prepared for this study. inhibitor, has been proposed to attenuate inflammation Specific research topics are in the areas of urban culture, via regulation of transcriptional activity. We examined immigration, urban way finding, homelessness, and the dose response characteristics of TSA on primary prostitution. Small-group research teams will begin their microglia and astrocytes cultured from mtSOD1 and wild- research in Seattle by seeking out primary nodes of online type mice. We found 50nM TSA to produce consistent interaction related to their research topics. Each student effects on microglia activation. Administration of 50nM researcher will develop an individual blog to use as a lab TSA to both wild type and mtSOD1 microglia appears to notebook documenting their research plan and progress attenuate changes in metabolic activity induced by Control as well as for sharing data resources. Planning elements Standard Endotoxin (CSE). Further, while application of include places to see, institutions to visit, and people to TSA appears to reduce the production of Nitrous Oxide observe and/or interview. Accomplishment of the small- by both wild-type and mtSOD1 microglia, this effect was group research projects will result in a collection of digital more robust in wild type microglia. In contrast, TSA content that is used to create multimedia presentations appears to have little effect when administered to either that are produced as video pod-casts. Additionally, the mtSOD1 or wild type astrocytes in vitro. Interestingly, collective data repository and individual project findings astrocyte conditioned media (ACM) obtained from will be the basis for a multimedia aggregation that astrocytes pre-treated with TSA and stimulated with 10U/ reflects a meta-level synopsis of the overall program. ml IFN-γ appears to be highly toxic to microglia. Thus, while TSA administration to microglia alone may reduce The effect of vessel presence on Southern Resident activation, the interaction between TSA and stimulated killer whale (Orcinus orca) behavior in the San Juan astrocytes and microglia must be examined further to Islands better characterize the therapeutic potential of TSA, and to Amy Johnson, Senior, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences: better understand the mechanism of inflammation in ALS. Science, Technology and the Environment, UW Bothell Mentor: Dawn Noren, NOAA, Northwest Fisheries Pragmatic Tolerance: Exploring Amsterdam through Science Center Interdisciplinary e-Research Jonathan Karademos, Junior, Microbiology Whale watching is a popular activity for many in the Pacific Sunil Garg, Sophomore, Computer Science Northwest, but there is increasing concern that the presence Haley Anderson, Sophomore, Biochemistry of vessels may have detrimental effects to the Southern Mary Gates Scholar Resident killer whales residing in the Puget Sound. These Shirley Chen, Freshman, Pre-Major effects could potentially range from short-term behavioral Irina Kolobova, Junior, Psychology responses to long-term consequences. Dr. Dawn Noren, Jennifer Sager, Junior, Microbiology a physiologist at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Jana Slovic, Junior, Microbiology has been studying the behavior of killer whales in the Mary Gates Scholar presence of vessels to gain further knowledge of these Mentor: Julie Vlllegas, UW Honors potential effects. During the summers of 2004-2006,

42 NOAA researchers conducted whale focal follows in the from consoling victims in that when they are aggressed San Juan Islands to gather physiological and behavioral against in the future, the previous victim is more likely to data, such as dive durations, swim speeds, respiration console them. Consolation and reconciliation are anger rates, and occurrences of surface active behaviors (SABs). management and conflict reducing techniques for gorillas, Using existing data, this study focused on the effect of which reduce tension, signals that the conflict is over, and vessel proximity and vessel activity on the focal whale’s decreases the chance of a second conflict. While the third- surface active behaviors, such as breaches, spyhops, tail party has been shown to benefit from consoling a victim, slaps, or pectoral slaps. Vessel proximity was calculated little research has been conducted focusing on the outcome by use of triangle trigonometry to determine distances for the third-party in relation to the aggressor. My research from the two nearest vessels to the focal whale. The types hypothesizes that the original aggressor will show more of vessels occurring within the closest distance to the immediate aggressive behaviors towards a third-party focal whale were also investigated. Preliminary results who has recently consoled the aggressor’s previous suggest that SAB bouts occur at a higher frequency when victim. This research is currently being conducted with vessels are within 125-149 meters of the focal whale, with one captive group of western lowland gorillas housed in most occurring up to 224 meters. A higher frequency of the Woodland Park Zoo, consisting of one silverback male SAB bouts also occurred when vessels were motoring and five females of varying ages. Data is currently being instead of stationary/idling. These results may have collected using instantaneous scan sampling to record implications for the management of the 100 m/yd “no- post-conflict behaviors within the group. Preliminary go” voluntary restrictions for vessel/whale interactions. results appear to support the research hypothesis.

Infant Strategies for Listening to Simple and Complex Investigation of distributions of neuropeptides in the Tones Tritonia diomedea central nervous system. Stephanie Johnson, Senior, Speech & Hearing Sciences Sergey Karayev, Sophomore, Computer Science and Mentor: Lynne Werner, Speech & Hearing Sciences Psychology Mary Gates Scholar Adults are very sensitive to sound because they can listen Mentor: Shaun D. Cain, Biology, University of Eastern specifically to the frequencies where sounds will occur. Oregon For that reason, they are better at detecting a sound with many frequencies (a complex tone) than at detecting a Behavioral studies have shown that many animals sound with only one frequency (a pure tone). This study across different phyla have the capability for magnetic asks whether the same is true of infants. Detection of a orientation. The marine mollusk Tritonia diomedea, known pure 1-kHz tone or a complex tone in 61 dB SPL (sound to orient magnetically, presents an excellent invertebrate pressure level) pink noise was tested. The complex tone model system for the study of orientation behavior, due was an 18-tone-complex with harmonics between 110 and to its relatively simple Central Nervous System, and 7260 Hz. In both conditions, the signal was 300 ms in the possibility of stimulating natural behaviors while duration. Normal infants and adults participated. Adults electrophysiologically recording from its CNS. There indicated detection using hand raises; infant responses are two main methods of investigation of neuropeptides were indicated by conditioned head turns. Thresholds (type of neurotransmitter) in wholemount Tritonia brains. are measured by varying the intensity of the tone. The The distribution of specific peptides in the tissue can be prediction is that adults will have lower thresholds for investigated using immunochemistry, while their function the complex tone than for the pure tone because they can be investigated using electrophysiology. The first listen selectively to the frequencies in the tone, but that objective of my study focused on using the two techniques infants will have the same threshold for the pure tone and to describe the presence and function of the neuropeptide the complex tone because they do not listen selectively. FMRFamide in the Tritonia central nervous system. FMRFamide is a cardioactive neuropeptide abundant Consequences for Third Parties Involved in Post- in molluscs. Very little is known about neuropeptides in conflict Behavior of Western Lowland Gorillas general, and FMRFamide is no exception—its functions Christina Jordan, Senior, Psychology have not been fully described. First, I described the Mentor: Carissa Leeson, Psychology expression of FMRFamide as detected by the FMRFamide antibody, resulting in a number of wholemount confocal Post-conflict behavior may help primates restore microscope images. Second, I explored the effect of relationships and settle conflicts for scarce resources in FMRFamide on arbitrary neuron activity; findings were social groups through such actions as reconciliation and varied. The second objective of my study was to apply the consolation. Studies have shown that the third-parties technique of in situ hybridization to explore the expression involved in post-conflict behavior (i.e. the party who of the gene Clionin, a neuropeptide of unknown function consoles a victim) were in closer proximity to a victim sequenced through subtractive hybridization from Clioni in times of conflict than others. The third-parties benefit - a pteropod mollusk, in the Tritonia CNS. This was the

43 first application of the in situ hybridization technique to autonomous vehicle which rides along the top of a cable, Tritonia in our lab, and it opened the doors to numerous recording measurements to locate decaying sections of other investigations: for example, one combining cable in need of replacement. The robot uses three different both my objectives and comparing FRMFamide gene sensors to obtain measurements of cable health. An Infrared expression with actual neurotransmitter expression. Thermal Sensor is used to detect temperature spikes in the cable. An Acoustic Sensor detects “partial discharges”, a Flow Imaging Techniques and Heated Vortex Ring phenomenon that can lead to internal insulation breakdown. Generator A Fringing Electric Field (FEF) Sensor detects moisture Davud Kasparov, Recent Graduate, Aeronautics & absorption in cable insulation. In December 2006 a SEAL Astronautics team successfully field tested the robot at the Lockheed Mary Gates Scholar Martin Michoud NASA Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Mentor: Dana Dabiri, Aeronautics & Astronautics The project is currently moving from the proof-of-concept phase to the applied research phase where the vehicle and Historically, single point measurement techniques (e.g. sensors will be further developed. Future models of the hot-wire anemometry, Laser Doppler Velocimetry, robot will be customized for use by individual utilities thermocouples, thermistors, pitot tubes) have been partnering with the University of Washington and SEAL. used to interrogate fluid flows. This resulted in single point data traces that did not provide a complete and Letters to the editor as indicators of opinion: a thorough understanding of the global nature of flows in content analysis of two newspapers covering the War question. While flow visualizations methods provided in Iraq global views, they were not quantitative. To remedy Elizabeth Kellman, Senior, Political Science and this situation, quantitative flow visualization techniques Communication were developed, which allowed for simultaneous 2D Mentor: Taso Lagos, Communication measurements of time-evolving fluid properties. While useful, these newer 2D measurement methods could not The study was designed as a content analysis of letters address turbulent flows, where 3D information is essential. to the editor and editorials in two national newspapers, Towards this end, a new flow visualization technique The New York Times and The Washington Post, over the capable of measuring flow properties within a volume is one-month period following invasion in 2003 and the being developed in the Fluid dynamics Laboratory at the same month from 2004. In today’s increasingly mediated Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics. One of the world of new and innovative communication technologies first fluid flows to be studied with the new technique will it has become uniquely important to reexamine the ways be a heated vortex ring, for which a generator was built. we use traditional media such as newspapers. I have chosen the War in Iraq as a case study and have attempted Robotic Inspection of Underground Power Systems to determine the extent to which letters to the editor are Luke Kearney, Senior, Electrical Engineering reflective of public opinion or editorial opinion in this Mary Gates Scholar, Undergraduate Research case. The analyses of letters and editorials were compared Travel Award Recipient with each other and with Pew Research Center poll results Daniel Hemmons, Junior, Electrical Engineering to determine where similarities and differences existed Mary Gates Scholar between the three data sets. Results about the ways we are Mentor: Alexander Mamishev, Electrical Engineering currently using newspapers and how this usage may reflect Miles of underground distribution cables make condition- our changing consumption of media will be presented. based maintenance exceedingly difficult for power companies. Aging cables are presently dealt with in Gene therapy, tumor-targeting and real-time imaging two ways: entire lengths of cable are replaced after pre- with semiconductor quantum dots determined time intervals, or the cables are simply allowed Daniel Kim, Sophomore, Neurobiology to age until failure. Both measures are quite expensive Mary Gates Scholar to power companies due to the cost and personnel time Mentor: Xiaohu Gao, Bioengineering necessary to replace the cable or to deal with blackouts resulting from cable failure. Power companies and Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals with a customers alike feel the effects of this problem, because range of size between 2-10 nanometers. Depending on the higher operating costs to utilities result in raised rates to size, the quantum dot can absorb and fluoresce different customers. Maintenance based upon accurate knowledge wavelengths of light, allowing for control and flexibility. of cable conditions could prove to be a more cost effective Quantum dots play an integral role in current research option. A new tool is being developed in the UW Sensors, in immunohistochemistry as they offer superior photo- Energy, and Automation Laboratory which will aide stability and brightness than that of traditional organic utilities in implementing condition-based maintenance dyes. These specific strengths and their ability to be of their underground distribution systems. The tool is an conjugated to larger substrates as carrier molecules have

44 led us to use quantum dots in the creation of a real-time Nodal signaling is required for induction of mesoderm video of the process of gene transfection. A real-time video and endoderm during gastrulation in vertebrates, and of the process of lipid-based transfection will allow us to later is necessary for left-right asymmetry. Therefore, we see the specific pathways and mechanisms that are used are interested in the role of nodal during development in intracellularly to modify the proteins that are produced. tunicates and hemichordates. We have found the expression of nodal in the ectoderm on the left side of ascidian larvae The Search for the Gene Responsible for Atypical and are exploring what its function may be in Ciona Werner Syndrome intestinalis, an ascidian species that has its full genome Elice Kim, Junior, Biochemistry sequenced and larvae with a very basic chordate body Mentor: Junko Oshima, Pathology plan. We find that the expression of nodal occurs while the larva is still bilaterally symmetric, but that later asymmetry Werner syndrome (WS) is an adult-onset genetic disorder appears in the position of the ocellus and otolith, sensory characterized by accelerated aging. Individuals with WS structures in the ascidian larvae. These results suggest that prematurely develop an aged appearance and common the expression of nodal may be necessary for setting up the age-related disorders such as cataracts, diabetes mellitus, later asymmetry that we see in the larva. We are now testing and atherosclerosis beginning in early adulthood. whether nodal expression is necessary and sufficient for the Approximately 90% of WS cases carry mutations at the positioning of the sensory vesicles and the adult siphons. WRN gene, which encodes a DNA helicase belonging to the RecQ family. The rest of the cases that were clinically Black carbon in snow and ice, and its effect on surface diagnosed as WS but did not carry WRN mutations were albedo tentatively categorized as atypical WS. My role in this Hyun-seung Kim, Senior, Earth & Space Sciences project was to investigate whether or not mutations in the Mentor: Steve Warren, Atmospheric Sciences and Earth RecQL5 gene were responsible for these atypical cases of & Space Sciences WS. RecQL5 and WRN belong to the same DExH helicase Mentor: Tom Grenfell, Atmospheric Sciences domain, which is thought to be involved in DNA repair. Mutations in RecQL5 have not yet been reported to cause In recent times, many of the permanent snow fields and human diseases. Standard reverse transcription polymerase glaciers have accelerated melting because the Earth is chain reaction (RT-PCR) sequencing methods were used getting warmer. These effects have motivated many for this investigation. Briefly, this involved isolating geoscientists to do research in order to understand the total RNA from patient cells, reverse transcription, causes of this change in temperature, and subsequent amplification of the entire coding region of RecQL5 using melting. One of the reasons for global warming is pollution PCR, and running agarose gel electrophoresis to confirm due to vehicles and industrial development. When soot successful PCR. The PCR products were then sequenced particles from pollution go into snow, they can significantly using an automated nucleotide sequencer and compared to reduce snow albedo which can increase the melting rate of the reference sequence to see if there were any mutations. snow. To support research related to impurities in snow Results indicated that there were no mutations in the and its effect on surface albedo, it is important to know RecQL5 gene. Currently, we are in the process of exploring the concentration of soot in snow. Since the levels of soot other candidate genes including POLG, RecQL1, and TRF2. in the snow at mid-latitude are presently poorly known, I will carry out detailed spatial sampling by this project. To investigate the spatial distribution of impurities in the snow, Nodal Signaling and Deuterostome Evolution I collected snow samples from several different locations HeeSun Kim, Senior, Biology at Snoqualmie Pass, Washington for a range of distances Howard Hughes Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar from local pollution sources along the highway. I expect Mentor: Billie J. Swalla, Biology that the snow near to the transportation corridors will be polluted more, and samples farther from human influence Nodal is a signaling molecule that belongs to the will be less polluted. After collecting snow samples, I am Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-B) superfamily, and is in the process of analyzing them by melting and filtering involved in induction of mesoderm and endoderm during the melt water through 0.4 micron Nuclepore filters in gastrulation and also in left-right asymmetry patterning order to determine the concentration of soot in each snow during embryogenesis in deuterostomes. Nodal homologs sample. We cannot assume that all matter on the filter is have been found in the invertebrate deuterostomes, soot; the filters will also collect dust or mineral particles. echinoderms and hemichordates, as well as in all of the I will obtain electron microscope images of selected chordate groups. The Nodal signaling pathway in sea filters to distinguish the type and perhaps composition urchins results in the activation of a gene network for of the particles collected on them. Through this project, specifying the oral ectoderm and location of the mouth. the results I obtain will provide information necessary Later, nodal expression is found on the right side of the to understand modification of the surface albedo and the larva and inhibits the formation of the adult rudiment. shortwave radiation energy balance of the snow pack.

45 Stemming the tide: How students and professionals studying engineering at four college campuses, each differ in their approach to a real world engineering student was given a street crossing problem which design problem involved designing a solution allowing pedestrians to cross Rebecca Kim, Senior, Biochemistry a busy intersection safely. Students were asked to identify Mary Gates Scholar the problem, propose potential solutions, choose a best Mentor: Jason Saleem, Center for Engineering Learning solution, and identify additional information required to and Teaching solve the problem. For our analysis, student responses will be mapped and grouped into specific categories in which How do years of experience shape how engineers the types and the number of responses will reflect whether a approach design problems? To help answer this question, student considers a broad variety of factors. In our group’s undergraduate and professional engineers were asked to prior examinations of how engineering students approach discuss all the factors they would consider in designing problem-solving, gender differences were revealed, with a retaining wall for the Mississippi river. The participant women more likely to consider environmental, societal, transcripts were segmented into distinct responses and other contextual factors relevant to an engineering which were sorted into twenty-seven logical, emergent design task. Similarly, we expect the same outcome in categories. The categories of factors were further the street crossing problem, as we provide a detailed abstracted to five overarching themes found in the data: description of how engineering students approach design. design, human impact, integrative concerns, problem context, and project planning. I found undergraduates Thin Film Deposition of Pd-Ti as a Catalytic Agent in were much more likely than experts to list factors explicitly Hydrogen Fuel Cells tied to the design of a retaining wall, while experts were Craig Chanin King, Senior, Chemical Engineering, The more likely to consider bigger picture, or sociotechnical Evergreen State College factors, such as communication in project planning and Mentor: Rebecca Sunderman, Chemistry, The Evergreen the importance of integration with existing infrastructure. State College Overall, experts attended more to “real world” project issues and displayed greater fluency in addressing Hydrogen fuel cells are a “green” technology, but still contextual design issues. These findings are consistent priced out of the average consumers reach. There are with related studies of engineering learning and may be obvious benefits to exploring less expensive metals that informative to future curricula in engineering design. will perform the same catalytic functions as platinum in hydrogen fuel cells in order to lower over all costs. Gender Differences in Engineering Problem Solving Environmental degradation due to manufacturing is another Teja Akella, Senior, Computer Science & Engineering area that can be improved upon. Previous work done for Angela Du, Sophomore, Chemical Engineering and this project included polymerization of analine and film Biochemistry casting, electroplating, and engineering and designing. Angela King, Senior, Psychology and American Ethnic Electroplating prompted a search for cleaner more Studies environmentally sound processes. As such, another goal of Rukaya Mehter, Junior, Technical Communication this research is to explore cleaner manufacturing processes Charlene Reyes, Junior, Electrical Engineering related to the fabrication of hydrogen fuel cells as well. Mentor: Ken Yasuhara, Computer Science In the Journal of the American Chemical Society Jose L. Fernandez et al, published research into replacing platinum The engineering field is often seen as an area dominated with combinations of other metals, such as Palladium and by men. However, as a growing number of women Titanium, on glassy carbon as the catalytic agent in a continue to enter this field, it is important to understand hydrogen fuel cell. Based on this information it was decided how engineering students approach design problems and if that Palladium-Titanium would be explored as the catalyst there are any gender differences. The Accreditation Board in a fuel cell stack. To this end the technique of sputter for Engineering and Technology’s program outcomes coating was chosen to place metals onto carbon fiber cloth. emphasize that engineers must be able to design solutions To accomplish this, several modifications were made to a within realistic constraints (e.g., environmental, social, Varian 3117 high vacuum furnace to convert it to a sputter political) and with an understanding of the solution’s coater. Samples of Carbon fiber cloth were coated using interaction with global, economic, environmental, the sputter coater starting with silver as a preliminary test and societal context. In our research, we will explore metal. A scanning electron microscope was used to verify how college students solve design problems using the results of the sputtering process and evaluate the quality engineering contextual factors provided by ABET. In of samples coated. Completion of this project entails the particular, our interest lies in uncovering any gender construction of a fuel cell stack with the prepared samples. differences; specifically, we investigate whether women consider a wider variety of factors in problem solving than men. Based on a sample of 150 undergraduate sophomores

46 An International Comparison of Air Quality was mediated by cell adhesion proteins bound on a self- Standards assembled monolayer of functionalized thiols on gold Laura Knudsen, Senior, International Studies and electrodes. The silicon dioxide regions were modified Environmental Studies with a polyethylene glycol monolayer that renders the Mentor: Peter Guttorp, Statistics silicon substrates inert towards protein adsorption and cell adhesion. The result is highly selective cell adhesion Air quality standards vary among different countries of to the conductive gold electrodes, promoted further by the world. While some nations, such as the United States, the local non-affinity of the surrounding silicon dioxide support their standards with enforcement mechanisms, towards cell adhesion. Using these techniques, we other countries do not integrate implementation regulations demonstrate a significant improvement in the signal into their policies. Furthermore, while the World Health strength measured by impedance-based biosensors as Organization suggests health-based air quality standards, well as an improved ability to characterize discrete cells. no international norms exist that regulate air quality. This discrepancy among different nations and their air quality The Selection of RR Lyrae Stars Using POSS and standards forms the basis of our research. We have SDSS compiled a list of the air quality standards for different Jennifer Baerny, Senior, Astronomy and Physics pollutants of different nations and regional bodies such Jennifer Barton, Senior, Astronomy, Physics as the European Union. The stringent World Health Tomasz Biesiadzinski, Recent Graduate, Astronomy and Organization standards are also included in this comparison. Physics Additionally, we have compiled a comprehensive analysis David Longhurst, Senior, Astronomy and Physics of the enforcement policies for the different countries. Furea Kiuchi, Senior, Astronomy and Physics In addition to comparing the standards and their David Krogsrud, Senior, Astronomy and Physics implementations, we have interviewed policy makers and Les McCommas, Senior, Astronomy and Physics scientists who are instrumental in forming these decisions NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates in order to investigate the effectiveness of these regulations. Scholar Brian Oldfield, Senior, Astronomy and Physics Improving Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing Jeffrey Scheidt, Senior, Astronomy and Physics (ECIS) Biosensors via Surface Molecular Engineering Mentor: Chris Laws, Astronomy Techniques Mentor: Oliver Fraser, Astronomy Ryan T. Kosai, Senior, Electrical Engineering Mentor: Ricardo Covarrubias, Astronomy Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Kevin Covey, Astronomy Mentor: Miqin Zhang, Materials Science & Engineering We test a method for identifying candidate variable stars Recently, bio-micro-electromechanical systems (RR Lyrae) based on a comparison of Palomar Optical (BioMEMS) have become more prevalent as a method of Sky Survey (POSS) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey measuring cell properties due to their ability to directly (SDSS) images. Our candidate stars range in SDSS “g” quantify characteristics of a cell. One class of these brightness from 14.4 to 16 magnitudes, or a distance of BioMEMS is electric cell-substrate impedance sensing two to three and a half thousand lightyears. Follow-up (ECIS), which is based on the observation that cells are data obtained a Manastash Ridge Observatory typically generally nonconductive and slightly capacitive. As cells includes 30-40 data points per star. We find that at adhere and spread on an array of gold electrodes, they least two thirds of our sample of 23 objects are clearly modify the impedance within the system, providing a varying in brightness, with variations consistent with vector to characterize cell adhesion, spreading, and motility. RR Lyrae. Candidate RR Lyrae were selected using stars However, present impedance-based biosensors face two that had brightened at least 0.3 magnitudes between major challenges. First, many impedance systems utilize POSS and SDSS, and which had SDSS magnitudes electrodes that, by consequence of their size and chemistry, and colors consistent with previously published values. permit multiple cells to attach to a single electrode, which results in detection uncertainty due to interactions between Search for Low-Mass Subdwarfs in the Sloan Digital cells on individual electrodes. The second challenge is a Sky Survey generally low signal to noise ratio, resulting from current Whitney Kropat, Freshman, Physics and Astronomy leaking around the physical geometry of the cell where Mentor: John Bochankski, Astronomy the cell membrane does not fully cover the measurement Mentor: Suzanne Hawley, Astronomy electrode. An effective strategy to improve cell adhesion Mentor: Andrew West, Astronomy to electrodes is use of a surface molecular engineering technique for precisely patterning cells onto the gold We present our results of our study on low-mass, low- regions of a gold/silicon dioxide substrate. Using these metallicity subdwarfs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. techniques, improved cell adhesion to the gold electrodes These ancient objects, among the first formed in our

47 Galaxy, possess less heavy metals in their atmosphere Mentor: Lynn Riddiford, Biology than stars formed today. This manifests itself as Mentor: Takashi Koyama, Biology changes in both the spectral features and colors of these objects, compared to their main sequence counterparts. In the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta, the expression Subdwarfs have characteristic bands in their spectra, of Broad (BR) mRNA in the larval epidermis is controlled due to Calcium Hydride (CaH) and Titanium Oxide by both ecdysone and juvenile hormone (JH). Studies of (TiO). We inspected thousands of these spectra from the expression pattern of the Z2 and Z4 isoforms of BR the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, constructing templates of have shown that BR appearance correlates in time with the subdwarfs as functions of both mass and metallicity. the ecdysone-induced commitment of the epidermis on This study will place constraints on formation models day 3 of the fifth and final larval instar. Most insects have of the Galaxy by tracing these ancient remnants that four isoforms of BR, but only three had been isolated in were present shortly after the birth of the Milky Way. Manduca. We have cloned the previously missing fourth isoform, Z1, and are presently studying its developmental Indoor air quality and the effects on the respiratory expression in the larval epidermis during the final larval health in children: A study on the urbanization instar and at the onset of metamorphosis. I am developing gradient within the Sichuan province of China a non-radioactive method of Northern hybridization of Bharath Kumandan, Senior, Molecular, Cellular, & total RNA to track this mRNA, as well as simultaneously Development Biology using RT-PCR as a guide to mRNA abundance. This Mary Gates Scholar work is currently still in progress but we expect to find Yuh-Chi Niou, Senior, Molecular, Cellular, & patterns resembling those exhibited in Drosophila Development Biology in which Z1 has a similar expression pattern to Z4. Mentor: Stevan Harrell, Anthropology Carangiform Locomotion Project With the immense increase in the rate of growth found in Timothy La Fond, Junior, Computer Engineering China, the nation has taken to meeting its energetic demands NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates in any way possible. Sources of fuel now span a plethora Scholar of sources, all of which fall along a development gradient Jennifer Zhang, Senior, Electrical Engineering and from the modern, highly developed cities to rural areas Computer Engineering unchanged since before the Cultural Revolution. Some of NASA Space Grant Scholar these fuel sources, and the methods in which they are being Mentor: Kristi Morgansen, Astronautics & Aeronautics utilized, are resulting in health risks which could represent a significant problem to China in the coming decades. Coordination between groups of autonomous vehicles is These health risks are the result of indoor air pollution made difficult by the imperfect nature of sensors which caused by wood and coal burning stoves still commonly prevents precisely locating each vehicle. Belief spaces used in rural China, often without any sort of ventilation representing the probability of the automaton being at any system. While previous research has conclusively shown a given location along with mathematical control functions correlation between exposure to the smoke from these fuel incorporating the location of the vehicles govern the motion sources and respiratory problems in adults, no research has of the group. To test different three-dimensional control been done on the effects in children. Our project seeks to functions in a realistic environment, multiple robotic determine if any such correlation exists in children, and fish were constructed and programmed with autonomous what such an effect might be. Our research was composed guidance based on these control functions. Some of the of two parts: 786 surveys collected from four different programs in progress will give the fish the capability to find points along a developmental gradient, all of which used and follow arbitrary circular, square, or figure eight paths. fuel sources commensurate with their level of development, These vehicles will eventually maneuver as a group using and measurements of the indoor air pollution collected with knowledge of their probable location and the locations various air quality testing machines in select households in of their fellow fish, allowing them to swim side-by-side all of the these gradient locations. The surveys allowed in a coordinated manner. Another goal is to examine children in these (and similar) households to self-assess the dynamics of finned underwater vehicles versus the their health and the effect they felt the pollution had on more conventional propeller propulsion. We focused on them; this information, compared against the air pollution the potential maneuverability available to the fish using readings from the various measuring devices, will provide only their pectoral fins. The fish are capable of propelling a complete assessment of pollution along this gradient, themselves rapidly by flapping their pectorals, and using an and exactly what effect it has had on the children of China. onboard pressure sensor for feedback can accurately dive to programmed depths. The pectorals can also be rotated 180 The Expression of Broad Z1 During and Before degrees, allowing the fish to swim backward. By flapping Manduca Metamorphosis one pectoral the fish even has basic turning capability Henry Kvinge, Junior, Chemistry and Mathematics without using the tail fin. Future applications may find

48 finned underwater vehicles superior to those with propellers can enhance cloud formation by anthropogenic primary due to their greater maneuverability and quiet operation. organic aerosols emitted due to increased hygroscopicity. Furthermore, atmospheric oxidation of particulate matter Plasticity of Cortico-Cortical Connections in Primary may lead to enhanced toxicity of particle bound species Visual Cortex which thus impacts human health. I am investigating the Robyn Laing, Senior, Psychology OH-initiated oxidation of organic particles, using two Mary Gates Scholar proxies for anthropogenic aerosols, palmitic acid and Mentor: Jaime Olavarria, Psychology lubricant oil. Aerosol particles approximately 150 nm in diameter are generated by homogeneous nucleation and then The present study analyzes the age-related changes exposed to the OH radical in a custom-built photochemical in plasticity that occur in cortico-cortical pathways in reactor for a time specified by the flow conditions. The rat primary visual cortex (V1). Previous research has effluent from the reactor is passed through a filter to demonstrated that manipulation of visual input produces collect aerosol particles. Oxidized organic material on the profound changes in the brain and that often, many of filter is extracted and analyzed using a Brucker-Esquire these changes can only be induced during relatively liquid chromatograph ion trap mass spectrometer with brief, critical windows of time during early postnatal electrospray ionization. The spectra are analyzed to assess life. Although much is known about the plasticity of the type of reaction products formed under atmospherically pathways afferent to the visual cortex, relatively little is relevant conditions. Conclusions will be drawn regarding known about plastic changes in visual cortico-cortical the competition between volatilization and oligomerization. connections. We decided to investigate the plasticity of the interhemispheric callosal pathway, which is the largest Conservatism and Accountability in Federal cortico-cortical pathway in the brain. We hypothesized Education Policy that manipulation of visual input would affect the layout of Jami Larson, Junior, Political Science the callosal pattern in V1, but only during a critical period. Mentor: Bryan Jones, Political Science In order to map out this period, we manipulated visual input in rats at different ages and examined the changes In recent years, American education policy has shifted from that were observed in the callosal pattern later in life. The an emphasis on general funding and other school inputs overall patterns of callosal connections were revealed by to accountability policies defined by school outputs. This labeling them with a retrograde and anterograde tracer study examines the effects of elite and mass conservatism on (horseradish peroxidase) and were analyzed in tangential output based education policy through a time series analysis sections cut through the flattened cortical mantle. We found of the post-World War II era. Output education policies in that if visual input is disrupted before five weeks of age, this period deal with school outputs such as standardized the callosal pattern becomes abnormal, but when input testing, and several other policies that emphasize school is disrupted near or after this age, the pattern is similar outcomes. To construct a dependent variable for output to that observed in normal adult rats. Our results suggest policies, I coded congressional hearings from the Policy that callosal connections in V1 are plastic during a critical Agendas dataset that cover the post-World War II era with a period that ends by approximately five weeks of age. dummy variable. Congressional conservatism is measured using NOMINATE scores of congressional ideology, Atmospheric processing of organic aerosols: Is which utilizes a metric measurement of ideology based volatilization of aliphatic aerosols an efficient removal on roll call votes. Public ideology scores are generated process? using the National Election Survey from 1944 through Oradoña Landgrebe, Senior, Chemistry 2004. Using standard statistical techniques, I determine Mentor: Joel Thornton, Atmospheric Sciences the strength, direction, and significance of elite and public conservatism on accountability policies in education. Atmospheric aerosols affect Earth’s climate and Given that a key tenet of conservative ideology is atmospheric composition by scattering solar radiation, individualism, which may lead naturally to accountability nucleating cloud droplets, and by providing a surface or policies, I expect that both public and elite conservatism volume for heterogeneous and multiphase chemistry. In are related to the rise an output oriented education system. addition, aerosol particles are considered harmful to human health. The chemical transformations which lead to changes Testing a New Web Application For Use By Men With in aerosol physical and chemical properties remain poorly Prostate Cancer understood, especially for particulate organic matter. Ignatius Lau, Freshman, Bioengineering Particle oxidation by atmospheric radicals may lead to Mentor: Donna L. Berry, Biobehavioral Nursing & volatilization of condensed organic material, increasing Health Systems volatile organic compound (VOC) abundance which affects the production of ozone while potentially decreasing Men are diagnosed more often with prostate cancer than aerosol size. Oxidation of hydrophobic organic material any other cancer. Yet, when found at an early stage,

49 prostate cancer has several possible treatments and little on campus they formed clubs and communal spaces that evidence for which is best. Research has found that men would prefigure and seed later organizations in the Seattle with prostate cancer go about the decision making process and University of Washington community. Filipinos as by considering their personal characteristics and factors imperial subjects in the early twentieth century have which may be much more influential than any medical left traces of legacies both in the Philippines and in the factor. Until now, few strategies to help men with this United States. Our project aims to track the emergence decision have existed. No intervention has integrated of Filipino individuals and communities by exploring influential personal factors into a decision support system. archival materials available through the UW Special In a new clinical trial at the University of Washington an Collections and the interlibrary loan system, as well as oral interdisciplinary research team will test the interactive, histories and Filipino Student Bulletins from the Filipino internet-based Personal Patient Profile - Prostate (P4) in American National Historical Society. Also, we hope to urology and radiation oncology. This tailored, decision offer a methodology and comprehensive bibliography support system has been developed to enhance men’s accessible online that will serve as a resource and model personal factor clarification, search for information for the historical reconstruction of not only Filipinos, and experiences in expert consultation with physician but other minority populations in higher education specialists. The program is built on a LAMP platform and is based on the investigators’ previous work and experience. The Development of Automated Processes for Before deploying the intervention to patients at home and Generation of Electromagnetic Circuit Components in medical clinics, rigorous and multiple testing strategies Nicholas LaVassar, Junior, Electrical Engineering were required. The research questions relevant to testing Mentor: Vikram Jandhyala, Electrical Engineering include: Is the P4 program accessible by all types of end- Mentor: Arun Sathanur, Electrical Engineering users, and does the navigation of the program work as intended? My role in the project so far as a tester involved Passive circuit components built on silicon wafers have evaluating the program on the following variables: screen become a very important part of today’s high speed chips. resolution, browser type, personal computer type, Internet As the size of such devices decreases and as they are access speeds, fit of pages on screen, wording, text-to- used in increasingly complex circuitry, electromagnetic speech and conditional branching outcomes. We will (EM) effects have increasingly significant effects on present the process and results of this multi-level testing circuit performance. The mathematical models of EM conducted by research team members in various settings. interaction are well established, however, sometimes they are difficult to solve. This project focuses on developing Filipinos of UW in the Early 20th Century: a computer-automated process for generating copper- Reconstructing Transnational Legacies and based electrical passive components which fit supplied Rediscovering a “Forgotten” Past parameters. The goal is to create a tool that can build Joseph Guanlao, Junior, English complete circuit components (inductors, filters, etc.) Carmel Laurino, Senior, International Studies (Asia) and based on select input parameters such as dimensions Political Science and performance characteristics. The tool will use Mary Gates Scholar heuristic techniques in tandem with fast meshing and Mentor: Vicente L. Rafael, History fast electromagnetic solving software to accomplish its task. Such a tool has very desirable qualities that would Our research examines the historical presence of Filipino assist developers in the design of precision components. students at the University of Washington. Under U.S. colonial rule, education was deployed in the Philippines Variation in the Tprk Nichols Clone A over time as an apparatus for the pacification of the colonial subjects Linh Le, Senior, Biology and their socialization by American instruction. While Mentor: Sheila Lukehart , Allergy and Infectious Philippine society underwent a pedagogical acculturation to Diseases the English language and Western standards and practices, a select number of Filipino students were given the Passive circuit components built on silicon wafers have opportunity to study in the continental U.S. After obtaining become a very important part of today’s high speed chips. college degrees and certification, these students would As the size of such devices decreases and as they are return to the Philippines and go on to occupy influential used in increasingly complex circuitry, electromagnetic roles in civil society. The University of Washington, one (EM) effects have increasingly significant effects on of several schools that received government sponsored circuit performance. The mathematical models of EM students from the Philippines, also saw the enrollment interaction are well established, however, sometimes they of many Filipino students who had to work while going are difficult to solve. This project focuses on developing to school. While on school breaks these self-supporting a computer-automated process for generating copper- students labored on farms and in the Alaska fish canneries. based electrical passive components which fit supplied Away from the university they organized into unions, while parameters. The goal is to create a tool that can build

50 complete circuit components (inductors, filters, etc.) High rates of anxiety disorders have been reported in based on select input parameters such as dimensions individuals with bipolar disorders. We undertook this study and performance characteristics. The tool will use to determine the impact of anxiety disorders on bipolar heuristic techniques in tandem with fast meshing and disorders in our tertiary care referral center. We reviewed fast electromagnetic solving software to accomplish its the literature on this topic and also reviewed records of task. Such a tool has very desirable qualities that would 44 treatment resistant bipolar patients evaluated by DLD assist developers in the design of precision components. at the Center for Anxiety and Depression. Twenty-three patients had comorbid panic disorder, posttraumatic stress Three dimensional reconstruction of dental structures disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. We compared with standard digital dental radiographs bipolar patients with and without a history of comorbid Andrew Lee, Senior, Biochemistry anxiety disorders regarding several clinical factors, Mentor: Ram Samudrala, Microbiology including mean age, percentage of women, mean age of onset, history of suicide attempts, history of rapid cycling, Three-dimensional (3D) information regarding tooth history of substance abuse, family history, and mean structure is requisite for clinical dentistry. Minimal ratings for mood rating scales. Statistical differences were information is available from two-dimensional radiographs assessed by chi-square and t-tests. On several measures, produced by single X-ray projections. Accurate 3D bipolar patients with comorbid anxiety disorders were more evaluation is traditionally only transiently available to the significantly ill than bipolar patients without comorbid clinician during exploratory removal of pathology, while anxiety disorders. For instance, patients with an anxiety computer tomography 3D visualization methods result disorder were more likely to have an earlier age of onset of in excessive radiation exposure as well as a low detailed illness, have higher (worse) ratings on the Hamilton Anxiety reconstruction not sufficient for clinical dentistry. We Rating Scale, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, present a method to create accurate 3D digital models of Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Beck dental structures on live patients, with no more expense and Depression Inventory, and lower (more impaired) ratings radiation than a few periapical radiographs, and no tissue on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Comorbid damage. The use of standard digital radiography devices anxiety disorders were also associated with a more frequent may be modified with the application of mathematic history of substance abuse and higher ratings for suicidal inversion to reconstruct a detailed 3D image of the tooth ideation. Anxiety disorders negatively impact the course and its specific anatomical layers. An apparatus fabricated of bipolar disorders. The high prevalence and risk rate of to fit the digital x-ray sensor containing three spheres of comorbid anxiety disorders in bipolar patients highlight differing and known size, radio-opacity, and separated the need for greater clinical attention to this population. distance is introduced. We use this apparatus to form a gradient of radio-opacity to determine thickness and Expression of b-defensins in Human Teeth identify dental structures, derive tooth dimension and Nina Lee, Senior, Chemistry position through triangulation with known distance data, Mentor: Beverly Dale-Crunk, Oral Biology and orient multiple images by the location of sphere Mentor: Orapin Veerayutthwilai, Oral Biology shadows. The mounted apparatus orients the fixed spheres over the occlusal and proximal surfaces of the tooth. Human β-defensins (HBDs) are members of a major Exposures from three different angles provide sufficient antimicrobial peptide family in mammalian cells that relative information resulting in 3D triangulation. This help to protect the epithelia throughout the body from information deciphered by an algorithm based on bacterial invasion. In the present study, we examined Bayesian inversion will formulate a 3D reconstruction expression and regulation of nine HBDs in human of the tooth. The application of this device poses to odontoblasts (OBs), cells which line the inner surface of benefit oral health therapies by dramatically improving the tooth and anatomically resemble epithelial cells. We assessment of oral pathologies. This novel diagnostic expect OBs to have some functions similar to epithelial information enhances treatment planning of complex and cells, therefore, we hypothesize that like epithelial cells, simple oral pathologies, and has disparate effects such as OBs express HBDs. The overall goal of the OB study is facilitating appropriate payment by insurance companies, to learn how cells within the tooth respond to infection. leading to a significant advancement in clinical dentistry. The OBs were generated from tooth pulp, cultured in vitro as previously described and stimulated with bacterial The Effect of Anxiety Disorder Comorbidity on products, Escherichia coli lipopolysachharide (LPS), Treatment Resistant Bipolar Disorders synthetic tripalmitoylated lipopeptide PAM3CSK4, and John H. Lee, Senior, Biochemistry and Biology proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, Mary Gates Scholar tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, and interferon (IFN) γ. Mentor: David L. Dunner, Psychiatry & Behaviorial Total RNA was isolated from unstimulated and stimulated Sciences OBs and processed for the determination of HBD1-9 mRNA expression using semi-quantitative and quantitative

51 polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Constitutive expression Hunter Kincaid, Senior, Psychology of HBD 4, 8 and 9 mRNA was detected in unstimulated Tyler Lee, Senior, Psychology OBs; HBD 4 and 8 were weakly expressed. HBD 1 and 2 Wayne Nguyen, Junior, Psychology were up-regulated in LPS-stimulated cells whereas HBD Ella Mae Santos, Senior, Psychology 9 was down-regulated in both LPS- and PAM3CSK4- Mentor: Brian Raffety, Psychology stimulated cells. HBD 2 was also up-regulated in response to PAM3CSK4. In cytokine-stimulated cells, HBD 9 was We defined the construct of risk attitude as one’s attitude down-regulated, while HBD 1 was up-regulated by the toward behavior which is potentially dangerous. Our proinflammatory cytokines. Our findings suggest that research began by conducting qualitative interviews. β-defensins may contribute to innate host defenses in These data were analyzed via an affinity diagram. OBs in order to protect the tooth from bacterial invasion. Combining the literature on risk attitude and our results, we deduced an 8-item scale to measure low and high risk Immunocytochemical analysis of a novel Drosophila attitude. N=64 participants from a personality psychology mutant with post-eclosion defects class at the University of Washington completed a survey Sarah Lee, Senior, Cellular, Molecular, & Developmental comprised of questions related to risk attitude and other Biology personality constructs. To examine convergent and Mentor: Susan McNabb, Biology discriminant validity, risk attitude was compared to other group’s constructs and the Big 5 (OCEAN). Based on a Previous studies have shown that neuropeptides eclosion factor analysis, one question that did not load properly hormone (EH) and bursicon α and β regulate post- onto our main factor was dropped. The resulting 7-item eclosion behavior in insects. We have investigated a novel scale had good reliability with an alpha of .765. As Drosophila melanogaster mutant that exhibits defects in hypothesized, risk-taking attitude was strongly correlated post-eclosion wing spreading and tanning. To assess neural to “Conscientiousness” demonstrating convergent defects in this mutant, we used immunocytochemical validity. Convergent validity was also demonstrated techniques to evaluate the expression of neuropeptides and by being positively correlated to among others, a class neural proteins such as fasciclin II. Two fly strains were scale measuring the construct of “Outgoing behavior in a used, the brown-scarlet control in which the mutant was social setting.” Discriminant validity was evident in the induced and mutant strain 2-0001. Central nervous systems lack of correlation between “Openness to Experience” (CNSs) were dissected from third instar larva. The CNSs and risk attitude. The scale items demonstrate correlated were treated first with primary antibodies such as rabbit dispositional qualities that help measure degree of risk anti-EH, mouse anti-SCP and mouse anti-fasciclin II. They attitude. Based on past researchers’ findings and this were then labeled with fluorescently-coupled secondary current study, future research may assess the reasons antibodies such as of donkey anti-rabbit Cy5 and donkey for why within the Big 5 “Openness to Experience” anti-mouse Texas Red. The labeled CNSs were scored and and “Extraversion” are unrelated to risk attitude. imaged using fluorescence and confocal microscopy. We found that both neurons that express neuropeptides, e.g. the Expression of g-Glutamyl-Cysteine Ligase from EH neurons, and neurons that do not, e.g. the mushroom Plasmodium falciparum body neurons, are altered in mutant 2-0001. In the mutant, Wayne Liao, Senior, Environmental Health the EH neurons were small and the projections in the fused Mentor: Isaac Mohar, Environmental & Occupational ventral ganglia were either absent or displayed aberrant Health Sciences branching. The SCP neurons were reduced in size, but more noticeably, the expression of SCP was reduced in one Maltose-Binding Protein (MBP) has been shown to be pair of neurons and in all projections. Surprisingly, the very effective at increasing the solubility of recombinantly expression of fasciclin II was also disrupted. Instead of being produced polypeptides to which it is attached. In this abundantly expressed in the mushroom body projections as study, three E. coli strains (BL21-RIL, BL21-STAR, and is normal, this protein was completely absent. Our current ROSETTA-GAMI) were assessed for soluble expression goals are to determine which CNS structures are affected of a MBP fusion protein with the putative glutamate by the mutant and when these defects arise. Since many cysteine ligase from Plasmodium falciparum (MBP- neural proteins expressed in Drosophila are also expressed PfGCL ~150 kDa) from a pMAL-c2x-Pfgcl construct. in humans, the analysis of this mutant may contribute to Cultures were induced with 0.5mM IPTG for 0,1,3, a more general understanding of neural development. or 18 hours at either mid-log or post-log phase and in three different types of growth media: Luria Bertani Individuals’ Evaluation of the Extremes of Risk (LB), Terrific Broth (TB), or Super Optimal (Catabolite Attitude Repression), also known as SOC. Under all conditions, an Nicholas Gwynne, Junior, Psychology empty pMAL-c2x vector was used as a positive control for Mary Gates Scholar induction of MBP (42.5 kDa). The purpose of this study Philip Kim, Senior, Psychology was to determine the optimal conditions for expression of

52 the MBP-PfGCL complex. All cultures were grown and but not in vivo. Recoverin increases visual sensitivity in induced at 37oC, 225 rpm. SOC media was determined to dim light and contrast sensitivity in bright light. Recently, be the best for expression overall. Optimal conditions for preliminary findings propose that in addition to its effect on expression of MBP-PfGCL in BL21-RIL, BL21-STAR, rhodopsin phosphorylation, recoverin also influences energy and ROSETTA-GAMI was determined to be induction metabolism in photoreceptors. The aim of our study was of post-log cultures in SOC media for one hour. These to identify additional activities of recoverin by identifying are the best-observed conditions for isolating the MBP- proteins that bind to recoverin in a calcium sensitive manner. PfGCL protein complex for further use in other areas of To accomplish this, we expressed recoverin in bacteria and study, such as enzymatic analysis and drug development. purified it by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. We (Supported by Puget Sound Partners for Global Health). then immobilized recoverin on CnBr -activated sepharose and exposed it to soluble proteins from a photoreceptor Risk of Preterm Delivery in Relation to Maternal Low homogenate. The proteins that bound recoverin were Birth Weight analyzed by gel electrophoresis. We found that recoverin Stephanie Lin, Senior, Neurobiology binds other proteins only in the presence of calcium. Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Michelle Williams, Epidemiology The Role of GABA-based Inhibition in the Termination of Spontaneous, Synchronized Activity We examined the relationship between maternal low birth in the Neonatal Mouse Brain: GABA blockers restore weight and preterm delivery risk. Information concerning activity after its normal termination maternal birth weight was collected during in-person Jonathan Lischalk, Senior, Neurobiology and interviews. Logistic regression was used to estimate Biochemistry odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% Mary Gates Scholar CI). Preterm delivery cases were studied in aggregate, in Mentor: William J. Moody, Biology subgroups (spontaneous preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, medically induced preterm delivery, Spontaneous electrical activity that is highly synchronized moderate preterm delivery [gestational age at delivery across large populations of neurons occurs throughout 34-36 weeks], and very preterm delivery [gestational the developing central nervous system. Since this type age at delivery <34 weeks]) and were compared with of activity is not conducive or compatible to mature term deliveries. After adjusting for maternal age, pre- information-processing in the brain, it must end at the pregnancy adiposity, household income, race/ethnicity appropriate stage of development. Thus, termination of and parity, women weighing <2,500 g at birth had a 1.54- this activity allows the mature firing properties of neurons fold increased risk of preterm delivery versus women to emerge. Our lab has discovered that this spontaneous, weighing ≥2,500 g at birth (95% CI 0.97-2.44). Maternal synchronized activity (SSA) is self-terminating. That is, low birth weight was associated with a 2-fold increased SSA triggers changes in the properties of immature neurons risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (95% CI 1.03-3.89), that terminate SSA itself. Evidence for such a mechanism but weakly associated with preterm premature rupture of has been revealed in experiments using cultured brain membranes (OR=1.44; 95% CI 0.67-3.09) and medically slices. Using this cultured tissue we blocked SSA during induced preterm delivery (OR=1.10; 95% CI 0.43-2.82). the normal time of its occurrence, and showed that when the Maternal low birth weight was more strongly associated block was removed, SSA continued to be generated much with very preterm delivery (OR=1.94) than with moderate later in development than normal. By comparing control preterm delivery (OR=1.46). Women weighing <2,500 and activity-blocked cultured slices, we can now ask what g at birth and who became overweight (pre-pregnancy physiological changes in neurons does SSA trigger that body mass index, ≥25 kg/m2) before pregnancy had serve to terminate SSA on schedule. One possibility is a 2.17-fold increased risk of preterm delivery (95% that SSA stops then the neurotransmitter GABA, which CI 1.00-4.72) versus women weighing ≥2,500 g at is normally excitatory in the immature brain, converts to birth and who were lean prior to pregnancy (<25 kg/ inhibitory shortly after birth. If this were the case, then m2). Results confirm earlier findings linking maternal blocking GABA action after SSA has terminated in control low birth weight with future risk of preterm delivery. cultured slices should restore SSA, whereas blocking GABA action in slices which are generating SSA should Identification of Proteins That Bind To Recoverin, A have little effect. We therefore applied the GABA blockers Protein that Influences Visual Sensitivity picrotoxin and bicuculline to control and activity-blocked Anna Lindsay, Senior, Biochemistry cultured slices. We found that both blockers restored SSA Mentor: James Hurley, Biochemistry in control slices after it had terminated, but had little effect on SSA in activity-blocked slices. These results indicate Recoverin is a photoreceptor protein that inhibits that GABA excitation plays little role in SSA normally, phosphorylation of rhodopsin in the presence of calcium, but conversion to GABA inhibition is responsible for an activity that has been demonstrated to occur in vitro terminating SSA on the correct developmental schedule.

53 Effects of Alcohol Beliefs and Peer Influence on field, from which length is inferred. Although a powerful College Drinking: Considering Gender Differences and mature technology, the resolution of gel electrophoresis Jennifer Liu, Junior, Psychology for DNA sorting is limited. In addition, large amounts of Gyaltsen Go, Sophomore, Psychology samples are needed with a tedious experimental setup that Kirsten Odegard, Junior, Psychology generally takes hours to days to run. Our research group Mentor: Roisin M. O’Connor, Psychology is proposing a new approach for DNA sorting of different lengths using dielectrophoresis in a micro-integrated Heavy drinking is normative among college students, device. The underlying concept of dielectrophoresis is that which raises a major public health concern. Gaining when a neutral particle is placed in a non-uniform electric a better understanding of why college students drink field, it will experience a force due to the difference in will allow us to develop more effective treatment field strength. This technology will eliminate the laborious interventions. Beliefs about the potential effects of alcohol and time-consuming process of gel electrophoresis while (alcohol expectancies) may be one important predictor achieving low-cost sorting of DNA. We aim to achieve of college drinking. Research has found that those who high-resolution sorting by adjusting the magnitude and have strong positive alcohol expectancies (e.g., “alcohol frequency of the electric field in addition with proper makes me sociable”) tend to drink heavily. Conversely, design of the micro-fluidic channels. This device has the strong negative alcohol expectancies (e.g., “alcohol makes potential to be compact, disposable, fast, low cost, and me aggressive”) may be inversely related to drinking. A require smaller samples compared to gel electrophoresis. second important predictor of college drinking may be peer influence. Research suggests that peers’ drinking How do results on standardized tests relate to social behavior is positively related to college students’ alcohol communication classroom performance for children use. The goal of our study was to clarify the distinct roles with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders? of alcohol expectancies and peers’ drinking behavior on Lesley Low, Senior, Speech & Hearing Sciences college students’ alcohol use. Furthermore, we examined Mentor: Lesley B. Olswang, Speech & Hearing Sciences whether there were gender differences for the effects of alcohol expectancies and peers’ drinking behavior on Children diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum college drinking. 158 college freshmen (82 women) self- Disorder (FASD) struggle with many aspects of social reported their positive and negative alcohol expectancies, communication, particularly interacting with peers in the and their closest friend’s, other friends’, and own alcohol school setting. Often, children with FASD demonstrate use. We found that for both men and women, expecting inadequate problem solving skills and they find reasoning negative effects of alcohol was associated with light with others difficult, which makes classroom performance drinking. However, the effects of positive expectancies and a challenge. Understanding the nature of social peers’ drinking behavior on students’ alcohol use differed communication problems relies on a valid assessment by gender. For men, both strong positive expectancies of children’s performances. Traditionally standardized and heavy alcohol use by closest and other friends were tests are used, yet they sometimes prove inadequate in associated with heavy drinking. Women’s alcohol use was documenting problems that appear during day-to-day influenced by their peers’ drinking behavior only, not their classroom activities. This study took a beginning step at positive expectancies. More specifically, heavy drinking examining how children with FASD performed on several by their closest friend was the strongest predictor of standardized test that addressed social communication women’s own heavy alcohol use. These findings suggest related to how they actually performed in the classroom. that both alcohol expectancies and peer influence play a Twelve children with FASD and twelve typically unique role in college students’ drinking. They also suggest developing peers in the same classroom participated in that college women’s alcohol use may be particularly this research. The children were administered several influenced by their closest friend’s drinking behavior. standardized tests designed to measure social understanding and language skills. In addition, they were observed DNA Sorting Using Dielectrophoresis interacting with peers and teachers in the classroom, and Mei Liu, Senior, Electrical Engineering their performances were coded according to a taxonomy NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates that categorized behaviors as prosocial/engaged, passive/ Scholar, Washington Research Foundation Fellow disengaged, or irrelevant. Using the observational, Mentor: Lih Y. Lin, Electrical Engineering classroom performance data, two subsets of children were identified for examination. One subset of children with The ability to sort and manipulate DNA with different lengths FASD demonstrated performance inside the range of their is an important process in genomics and proteomics. For typically matched peers; this is, their performance looked example, many biological assays require characterization very much like their typical matched peers. The other subset of DNA molecules based on length. One current approach of children demonstrated performance outside the range for DNA sorting is gel electrophoresis where DNA in gel of their typically matched peers; that is, their performance is separated by different mobility under a uniform electric looked very different than their typical matched peers.

54 The results of the standardized tests for the two subsets conditions. The objective of my research is to determine of children were compared to determine if patterns whether a change also occurs for mitochondrial DNA emerged that could explain the differences in classroom (mtDNA) under similar conditions. For my research, performance. This poster will present these results and maize was grown under different light conditions; these are discuss implications for better understanding social light, dark, and dark followed by transfer to light. This will communication problems and approaches to assessment. determine whether mtDNA levels are regulated by light signals. Since there is a progression of cell development Development of microcellular polycarbonate from the base to the tip of the maize leaf, another part of the specimens of controlled porosity and varying experiment is to take 6 samples along the stem to the leaf of thicknesses each plant to determine if mtDNA levels change with cell John Lu, Senior, Mechanical Engineering development. The methods used to detect mtDNA change Mentor: Vipin Kumar, Mechanical Engineering are restriction digest, blot hybridizations and real-time quantitative PCR. All of these methods are employed to The increasing use of composite materials for aircraft determine whether or not there is a change in a mitochondrial applications raise the importance of detecting internal specific gene, cox1. With a nuclear specific gene called damage though nondestructive methods such as ultrasound adh1 as a control, the ratio of the two genes will indicate imaging techniques. This method requires calibration the number of copies of mtDNA there is in each sample. A coupons with prescribed porosity and defects, but the previous experiment conducted in our lab using real-time cost of producing composite materials is extremely high. quantitative PCR showed that the amount of mtDNA in It was proposed to replace composite coupons with light-grown plants is far less than that in dark-grown plants. microcellular plastics, which will drastically reduce the Now, we take a step further by looking at the dark-to-light cost. Microcellular plastics are suitable for this application transferred plants. The results of our blot hybridization for its control over porosity and accurate repeatability. experiments should confirm the hypothesis that light In order to relate the ultrasound response of composites is involved in the regulation of mtDNA maintenance. and microcellular plastics, samples of polycarbonate with varying thicknesses were chosen to be prepared for Protein Interactions in the Dystroglycan/Dystrophin ultrasound testing. The processing parameters to achieve Complex certain void fractions were available for 1.5mm thick Joshua Lucas, Senior, Biochemistry polycarbonate. This experiment explores the effect of Mary Gates Scholar applying these parameters to samples with thicknesses of Mentor: Hannele Ruohola-Baker, Biochemistry 1.5mm, 3mm and 4.5mm. The steady-state, microcellular process can be described in two major stages. The first Human Muscular Dystrophy (HMD) is a hereditary disease stage involves saturating the samples with an inert gas, in characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, this case carbon dioxide, under a very high pressure until defective muscle proteins, and death of muscle tissue and the material cannot absorb any more gas. The samples are cells. Certain forms of HMD are caused by mutations then depressurized and exposed to temperatures near the in genes coding for the trans-membrane dystroglycan/ glass transition of polycarbonate. This is accomplished dystrophin protein complex. Previous work has shown in a heated oil bath with temperature control. As the drosophila melanogaster to be a suitable model organism gas-saturated polycarbonate specimen is heated, a large for the study of this protein complex’s role in muscular number of bubbles nucleate due to lower solubility of dystrophy. In previous work done by our group, we identified CO2 at the higher temperature. The bubbles increase the certain SH2/SH3 binding domains in the dystroglycan/ volume of the samples, which effectively decreases the dystrophin complex that may play a role in the cytoskeletal density. It was shown at the same foaming temperature, 5- rearrangements of muscular dystrophy. Our goal is to 10% higher void fractions can be achieved as the thickness test proteins with similar SH2/SH3 domains for binding increases from 1.5mm to 4.5mm. It is hypothesized to the dystroglycan/dystrophin complex by fluorescence that the amount of foaming that occurs is dependent polarization assays. We have identified the drosophila on a certain amount of constraint on the specimen protein Dock, an ortholog to human Nck, as the primary needed to contain gas, but also allow it to freely foam. candidate for binding, and hope to demonstrate its binding to the dystroglycan/dystrophin complex in order to elucidate The change of maize mitochondrial DNA with the protein pathway involved in HMD muscle breakdown. development and under different light conditions Yunqi Lu, Junior, Biology Mentor: Delene Oldenburg, Biology Mentor: Arnold Bendich, Biology

In maize, the amount of chloroplast DNA was found to change with development and under different light

55 Gender Differences in Improving Marital eight self-report questionnaire items related to social Relationships: Gottman Method Couple Therapy dependency were developed and distributed to 64 Study psychology students along with Big 5 measures and Priscilla Lui, Senior, Psychology and Biology demographic questions. Questionnaire items were coded Mentor: Dan Yoshimoto, Psychology on a 0-4 Likert style scale. The total possible score from participants was 0-40; a high score indicated high level Research suggests that different intervention approaches of social dependency whereas a low score indicated low have varying degrees of effectiveness in the treatment of degree of dependency. We conducted a Factor Analysis distressed heterosexual couples. Previous studies assess to evaluate the scale’s reliability. Our scale’s alpha level such efficacy of treatment by evaluating the couple as a increased to .68 from -.01 after adjusting the factor whole. The present study examines if male and female loadings, reverse coding and dropping some items. Scores marital partners respond to the intervention differently. on the social dependency scale were positively correlated Participants in the study are heterosexual distressed with extraversion in the Big 5 personality inventory and married couples (N = 40) seeking couple therapy and will a sociability scale developed by other students in the be randomly assigned to Gottman Method Couple Therapy course. More analysis and refinement are needed for full (GMCT) treatment condition or a waitlist control condition. development of the social dependency scale. We expect GMCT was developed by John M. Gottman, Ph.D. at the to see improved reliability and validity to the scale. University of Washington as a treatment approach built upon a theory called the Sound Relationship House. This Regulation of Lifespan by Food Sensing in C. elegans theory encompasses intimacy, conflict resolution, and Brynn Lydum, Sophomore, Neurobiology and shared meaning levels. Participating couples are asked Biochemistry to answer self-report questionnaires at four time points Mary Gates Scholar during the study to assess relationship satisfaction, styles Jennifer Sager, Junior, Microbiology and Biochemistry of conflict resolution, conflict, intimacy, and each partner’s Mentor: Matt Kaeberlein, Pathology philosophy about emotions. Couples assigned to the GMCT Mentor: Erica Smith, Pathology treatment condition will participate in 12 weeks of couple therapy sessions. Follow-up assessments with couples will Dietary restriction (DR; also referred to as food restriction occur immediately following the completion of treatment or caloric restriction) has been found to increase lifespan and at 6 weeks after treatment. Waitlist control couples will and slow disease in many different organisms, including delay therapy for up to 6 months. All participants are asked yeast, worms, flies, mice and rats. DR has also been found to fill out the questionnaires before treatment, 6 weeks into to increase stress resistance, which has been correlated treatment, post treatment and 6 weeks after treatment. It with longevity. In our study we are using the nematode is hypothesized that husbands and wives differ in their Caenorhabditis elegans to understand the mechanism by responses during and after couple therapy based on research which dietary restriction DR promotes longevity. Through on gender differences in romantic relationships (Schmitt recent studies conducted in our lab, it has been suggested 2002). We expect to see varying degrees of behavioral that many effects of DR, including effects on longevity and and emotional changes during and after treatment. stress resistance, are mediated by a food sensing mechanism distinct from food consumption. In light of these findings, Developing Personality Trait Scales: Social we hypothesize that that the bacterial food source produces Dependency a chemical signal that modulates aging via an unknown Priscilla Lui, Senior, Psychology and Biology sensory pathway. To test this hypothesis, we will carry out Yu-Lin (Linda) Chen, Senior, Psychology and experiments to test for soluble or volatile signals derived Communication from the bacteria that influence longevity. One such Mary Gates Scholar experiment will be to place bacterial food under the surface Amy Ludig, Senior, Psychology of the agar, where the nematodes are unable to physically Eric Berry, Junior, Psychology contact the food but a soluble or volatile compound could Wendy Lee, Senior, Psychology and Economics diffuse to the surface of the agar, the growth medium where Mentor: Brian Raffety, Psychology the nematodes are maintained. If this treatment partially or completely blocks life span extension or other phenotypes The Big 5 personality inventory provides a basic associated with DR, this will confirm our hypothesis. We framework for defining individual personalities across will also use genetic epistasis to examine which pathways situations, as well as a comparison measure for new are involved in sensing food. Several chemosensory questionnaires. The purpose of the present study was to mutants have been shown to influence life span in C. develop a scale measuring individuals’ social dependency. elegans. We will subject individual chemosensory- Social dependency is defined as a tendency to rely on defective mutations to DR and measure longevity and others and high degree of need to connect with friends stress resistance. If DR confers no further increase in the and family members. As part of course participation, life span of a particular chemosensory mutant, this will

56 suggest that the mutated protein is involved in mediating a 95-bp sequence that enhances MCK transcription and life span extension from DR in response to food sensing. two flanking regions (MR-1A and MR-1B) that appear to If any of the mutants show a connection to DR lifespan suppress the 95-bp enhancer. Here we describe in cultured extension, further experimentation with those mutants will mouse skeletal muscle cells that MR-1A is also able to lead to a better understanding of how DR extends lifespan. suppress the powerful upstream enhancer in a position dependant manor. These studies suggest that MR-1A may The Effect of Radial Orbit Instability in Dark Matter contain elements that function independently of other Halo Collisions MR-1 regions, and the MR-1A region maybe required Ryan Maas, Junior, Astronomy and Physics to establish a steady state level of gene expression. Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Julianne Dalcanton, Astronomy Learning Humanoid Motion Dynamics through Sensory-Motor Mapping in Reduced Dimensional The purpose of this project is to understand how the Spaces density profiles of dark matter halos are established. N- Gabriel Maganis, Senior, Computer Engineering body simulations of dark matter halos tend to produce Mary Gates Scholar density profiles which follow a double power law, Mentor: Rajesh Rao, Computer Science & Engineering suggesting that dark matter particles toward the center of the halo are being swept out. The primary mechanism by Optimization of robot dynamics for a given human motion which this is thought to occur is the radial orbit instability is an intuitive way to approach the problem of learning (ROI) which occurs in spherical systems whose particles complex human behavior by imitation. The goal of this have predominantly radial velocities. The onset of ROI research was to develop a methodology that is based causes such a system to become prolate as the particles on a learning approach that performs optimization of it comprises take on more asymmetric orbits. We have humanoid dynamics in a low-dimensional subspace. The performed n-body simulations detailing the collapse methodology involves several steps. First, kinematic of these systems, and they are consistent with the ROI information from humanoid motion is compactly hypothesis. Currently I am running collision simulations represented in a low dimensional subspace. Motor involving collapsed halos to investigate the behavior commands in the low dimensional subspace are mapped of their density and phase space density profiles as the to corresponding sensory feedback. Then, optimal motor collision parameters are changed. Specifically we will commands are selected based on sensory-motor mapping look at the influence of ROI over the duration of the that also satisfy the kinematic constraints. Finally, a collision and relaxation period, and how it varies with the set of novel postures that result in superior motion mass, initial velocity, and alignment of the colliding halos. dynamics compared to the initial motion are obtained. Results of this methodology were demonstrated on Analysis of Suppressive Regulatory Elements of the both a dynamics simulator and a real humanoid robot. MCK Gene Alexandra MacKenzie, Junior, Biochemistry Sexual Selection, Polyspermy, and Adaptive Evolution NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates of the Avian Reproductive Protein: ZP1 Scholar Sathi Maiti, Junior, Molecular, Cellular, & Mentor: Stephen Hauschka, Biochemistry Developmental Biology and Sociology Mentor: Phillip Tai, Biochemistry Mentor: Jennifer Calkins, Genome Sciences Mentor: Willie Swanson, Genome Sciences

Currently, our understanding of muscle gene transcription Reproductive proteins appear to be adaptively evolving in and the transcription factors that are essential in driving a number of species. This is hypothesized to be a result muscle development and growth are limited. The of sexual selection, in particular sexual conflict over MCK gene is an ideal model for studying muscle gene polyspermy (the penetration of one egg by several sperm). transcription, because MCK is one of the most abundantly The outer membrane of the oocyte of aves is the perivitelline expressed mRNAs in skeletal muscle tissue, and it is layer. In birds, this layer is comprised of proteins including expressed in all striated muscle. By understanding how the ZP3 and ZP1 which are homologous to mammalian egg the MCK gene is transcribed, we hope to better understand coat proteins. In most taxa when an oocyte (and therefore how muscle genes are regulated. Although previous its membrane) is penetrated by more than one sperm this studies delineated major aspects of MCK transcription, results in egg death, however avian egg coat proteins many aspects of this process remain unknown. MCK have shown tolerance to physiological polyspermy. This has three known regulatory regions: 1) the proximal suggests that sexual conflict over polyspermy may not be promoter, 2) the upstream enhancer, and 3) the poorly the primary reason for rapid evolution of these egg coat characterized Modulatory Region 1 (MR-1). Recent proteins. My research focuses specifically on the avian ZP1 studies have shown that MR-1 contains three sub-regions: protein, an egg coat protein involved with sperm activation

57 and entry. If adaptive evolutionary divergence is seen in Mary Gates Scholar this protein it would suggest that there are forces other than Mentor: Raymond J. Monnat, Pathology and Genome conflict over polyspermy that drive adaptive evolution in Sciences egg coat proteins and possibly other reproductive proteins. To examine the pattern of divergence in this protein I The RecQ family of proteins is a class of conserved first designed primers for sequencing ZP1 using avian helicase enzymes that are postulated to be essential in sequences published on genbank. I am sequencing this DNA maintenance and repair. In humans, five members gene using DNA extracted from various avian species and of this helicase family have been identified, and mutations am comparing the pattern of divergence using measures of in three of these (RecQL2, RecQL3, and RecQL4) have the rate of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions been linked to hereditary premature aging and cancer among species to see if there is a pattern of adaptive predisposition disorders. The most extensively studied evolution. Little is known about the evolution of this of these diseases, Werner Syndrome (WS), is caused by particular protein, and next to nothing is known about the mutations that result in loss of the RecQL2, or Werner evolution of avian reproductive proteins in general. My protein (WRN). Clinical phenotypes of WS include a work will shed light on these patterns and generate much prematurely aged appearance, the development of cataracts, needed information on avian and vertebrate reproduction. and scleroderma-like skin changes. Patients also display genetic instability and have an elevated risk of cancer. Simple and Model-Free Algorithm for Real-Time These clinical phenotypes appear to reflect cellular defects Pedestrian Detection and Tracking in WS that include cell proliferation and recombination Yegor Malinovskiy, Senior, Civil & Environmental defects, elevated senescence and selective sensitivity to Engineering and Computer Engineering DNA damaging agents. Current biochemical evidence Mary Gates Scholar suggests that RecQ helicases are involved in a variety Mentor: Yinhai Wang, Civil & Environmental of DNA metabolism processes, including resolution of Engineering recombination products and the stabilization of replication forks. The goal of my research is to use RNA interference Pedestrian monitoring is quickly becoming an avid area of to further investigate these postulated in vivo functions of interest as information regarding pedestrian flow is needed the WRN protein, and the function of other members of not only for developing competent access in particular the human RecQ helicase family. The RNA methodology urban corridors, but also system optimization scenarios, I am using takes advantage of the ability of short RNA’s such as transit systems and intersection control. Presented to bind to and degrade specific mRNAs and eliminate the is a simple, yet effective method for tracking pedestrian proteins they encode from human cells. I am developing objects in a relatively large, unobstructed surveillance and validating shRNA’s to all of the human RecQ helicase area, using ordinary CCTV cameras. Object extraction is proteins, and will plan to use these to selectively deplete accomplished via background subtraction, while tracking single RecQ helicase proteins (or pairs of proteins) from is accomplished through an inherent characteristic cost normal human cells. I will then analyze the growth, function. Composite objects are used as a means to deal survival, recombination and replication properties of these with occlusions on the most basic level. The system is cells in order to better understand the functional roles that being concurrently tested on both synthetic and real video each RecQ helicase plays in human cells, and the functional sequences, currently identifying and tracking pedestrians redundancy between different RecQ helicase proteins. at a nearly 80% success rate. The work has been presented to numerous transportation professionals and the obtained Role of Free Radicals on the Formation of Structured feedback is being used to develop a more practical system. Water Occlusion reasoning will be improved through the use of Marnonette Marallag, Senior, Public Health feature point groups. Image stabilization using stable feature Mentor: Gerald Pollack, Bioengineering points is also being considered as a means of dealing with camera vibration. More difficult environments are also being “Structured water” refers to the region of pure water that is examined, in particular those involving occlusions from adjacent to an anionic hydrogel submerged in an aqueous nearby poles, trees and etc, in order to reduce the number solution of negatively and positively charged particles. of restrictions on the use of the system. Development of The regions are also called “exclusion zones” because they a reliable, flexible and inexpensive pedestrian counting exclude particles in solution. Exclusion zone width varies and tracking system that will simplify analysis of current but widths of up to a few millimeters have been observed. and future civil facilities is the key goal of this study. Harvesting the region of pure water can be a way to obtain water suitable for drinking and other everyday uses, which Functions and Redundancy of the Human RecQ may prove more effective and more efficient than current Helicase Protein Family methods of filtration. UV-VIS optical absorption spectra Frances Mao, Biochemistry and Mollecular, Cellular, & show that structured water produces strong and evident Developmental Biology absorption at certain wavelengths that bulk water (water

58 that is not structured) does not produce. With such evidence electrical conductivity by a factor of ~104 but decreased the current hypotheses suggests that this region forms due to a Seebeck coefficient only by a half. The direct measurement specific structuring pattern of water molecules. However, of the power output verified that those changes resulted in the chemical and molecular basis for the formation of an overall improvement of the power factor up to ~150 structured water is not well understood. Results from times, as compared to that observed from pure V2O5. previous experiments that had conditions that prevent free radical formation strongly suggest that some form of free Phylogeny and Evolution of the Vebenaceae: Evidence radicals is essential to the formation of structured water. from DNA Sequences Even extremely minute concentrations of compounds that Hannah Marx, Junior, Plant Biology discourage free radical formation breakdown the region of Mentor: Richard Olmstead, Biology structured water. These results suggest that free radicals may be intermediates in the formation of structured water. Historically, the family Verbenaceae has been a large and My current experiments further test the effect of different poorly defined group due to the wide range of morphological concentrations of various compounds that discourage characters and geographical distribution. Previous studies free radical formation against conditions that induce have removed many genera of the traditionally recognized free radical formation. If the results of these experiments Vebenaceae to the family Lamiaceae, and redefined conclude that free radicals are essential to structured Verbenaceae to be a relatively small and monophyletic water’s formation, then the chemical and molecular group comprised of 4-7 tribes with 34 genera and 1200 understanding of structured water will be improved. species. Verbenaceae include small forest trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas. The family is predominantly found in Synthesis and Investigation of Thermoelectric the New World, with a few groups in Europe, Asia, Africa, Properties of Na-Doped V2O5 and Madagascar, and occurs in habitats ranging from wet Monika Marciniak, Senior, Materials Science & tropical forests to temperate deserts and high Andean Engineering ecosystems. This study builds upon preliminary DNA Mentor: Fumio Ohuchi, Materials Science & Engineering sequence data, which include chloroplast ndhF gene for 19 genera/44 species and trnL-F region for 22 genera/72 This research examines a newly developed oxide material species, as well as nuclear waxy gene for 19 genera/37 that has a capability of converting heat gradient into species. We aim to produce a detailed molecular phylogeny electricity due to phenomena known as thermoelectricity. that may be used to answer systematic and evolutionary Thermoelectric energy conversion has been used for questions concerning the family, such as the monophyly decades to provide electric power to spacecraft. With of tribes circumscribed by conventional taxonomists based millions of hours of failure-free operation to date, upon morphological characters. Using field-collected leaf this technology holds great promise for earth-bound tissue from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Argentina, applications, including the exploitation of waste heat as well as herbarium specimens, we have sequenced the and the use as an auxiliary current source. For power ndhF, trnL-F, and waxy genes for many more taxa. Here generation by waste heat recovery, the key is to develop we present an updated phylogeny of the Verbenaceae, with thermoelectric materials that can be operated at high the most extensive sampling in both taxa and characters. temperatures in ambient conditions. Conventional materials such as transition metal silicides or Si-Ge alloys suffer from Protective effect of mitochondrially targeted catalase vaporization, surface oxidation, decomposition, or melting (MCAT) against muscle fiber loss through reduction at high temperatures. Oxides are strategically important in oxidative damage and mtDNA deletion mutations due to their thermal and chemical stability under similar Christine Masuda, Junior, Neurobiology conditions. The oxide-based thermoelectric materials are Mary Gates Scholar expected to have wide spread usage across space and Mentor: Peter Rabinovitch, Pathology terrestrial application for waste heat management in the Mentor: Jonathan Wanagat, Medicine future. Those materials may also find their use in thin film- based devices, such as on-chip temperature sensors or Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass and chip “coolers”. Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is a material function that contributes to the reduction in mobility that is that could potentially be used for thermoelectricity. To so pervasive in the elderly. A proposed mechanism for the extend its utility for practical applications, sodium was molecular cause of fiber loss is lifelong oxidative damage. systematically introduced as a dopant to study how the We hypothesize that reactive oxygen species cause an thermoelectric properties were influenced. The melt- accumulation of mtDNA deletion mutations that disrupt quench technique was implemented to dope various cellular function and ultimately lead to cell death, causing concentrations of Na ions into the V2O5 host lattice. X-ray fiber loss and subsequent sarcopenia. It has previously diffraction showed that the doped Na samples dominantly been shown that fiber atrophy colocalizes with red formed the crystalline β-NaxV2O5. It was shown that ragged fibers (RRF), an indicative phenotype of mtDNA an increase in Na concentration caused an increase in the deletions (Wanagat, J. et al. FASEB 2001; 15:322-332).

59 Accordingly, we are testing the hypothesis that transgenic degeneration. This suggests that myelin rescue might mice that express the antioxidant enzyme catalase targeted prevent damage of sensorymotor functions. Therefore, a for delivery to mitochondria (MCAT) will display fewer fundamental understanding of myelin sheath function and phenotypes of mitochondrial deletions in aging than WT myelin development is significant. SCI and many other mice. The rationale is that MCAT decreases oxidative diseases associated with demyelination, such as multiple stress and should therefore decrease mtDNA mutations sclerosis, and adrenoleukodystrophy. In this study, and thus the RRF phenotype. Results supporting this we are interested in the determination of the internode connection will provide support for the hypothesis that lengths (total length of individual myelin sheath). We will oxidative stress is the mechanism of fiber loss in sarcopenia: compare the lengths of myelin sheaths in young (2 week Lifelong oxidative damage à mt deletion mutations old) and adult mice (2 months old). We will bilaterally (RRF phenotype) à fiber loss and atrophy of sarcopenia inject a dye – Fluororuby, and a virus conjugated with GFP (green florescent protein) into the red nuclei of Identification of Physiological, Biochemical, & mice to stain the rubrospinal tract. Then, we will stain Molecular Changes after Fasting in RIIb KO Mice the tissue for the proteins found at the termination zones Michelle Matias, Senior, Environmental Health of individual myelin sheaths and measure the internode Mentor: Traci Czyzyk, Pharmacology length. If the growth ratio of myelin sheath was the same as of axon, we may conclude that the internode length is The RIIb regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) is determined by axonal stretch. The goal of this experiment expressed in brain and adipose tissue. We have previously is to elucidate the developmental property of myelin determined that RIIb knockout (KO) mice are lean with sheaths, and try to understand the signaling pathways a 50% reduction in white adipose tissue. Our goal is to between an axon and myelin sheath during development, determine where RIIb is expressed in the hypothalamic- and in the future apply those principles to myelin repair. pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and to determine if the function of the HPA axis is normal in RIIb KO mice. In Pharmacological Factors Influencing Somatic addition, we would like to identify any alterations in the Hypermutation Rates in B Cells physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses to Amelia Mayberry, Junior, International Studies & fasting in RIIb KO mice. We have previously shown that Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology RIIb is expressed throughout the hypothalamus and other Howard Hughes Scholar brain regions. We now show that RIIb is expressed in the Mentor: Andrew Scharenberg, Pediatrics and adrenal gland and pituitary gland, in addition to brain and Immunology adipose tissue. We found that after a 24-hour fast, plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels increased significantly Somatic hypermutation is an immunoglobulin gene in both wildtype (WT) and RIIb KO mice. However, diversification process that targets B-lymphocytes of the plasma levels of CORT were significantly higher in the immune system, affecting the variable regions of the RIIb KO mice after a fast as compared to WT controls immunoglobulin genes. In vivo, somatic hypermutation that had been fasted for an equivalent amount of time. We involves the deamination of cytosine to uracil in DNA also found that RIIb KO males had a greater decrease in by the enzyme Activation-Induced (Cytidine) Deaminase body weight after a 24-hour fast than WT males fasted for (AID) leading to production of uraci1:guanine mismatches, an equivalent amount of time. We have found that RIIb DNA lesion repair and the introduction of mutations. expression is high in the adrenal glands and is expressed In vitro, the process of somatic hypermutation is active in other regions along the HPA axis suggesting that RIIb in some B-cell lines, and these cell lines may be used PKA can play a role in the production and/or release of in protein engineering to diversify alternative protein corticosterone and the normal response to fasting in mice. targets. However, a current limitation of using somatic hypermutation for diversity generation is the rate at which The Developmental Property of Myelin Sheath it occurs in these B-cells lines, which is slower than Aya Matsui, Senior, Neurobiology is optimal. The pharmacological agents that affect the Mary Gates Scholar CAMP pathway and interleukin-4 in vitro are thought to Mentor: Philip Horner, Neurological Surgery speed up the rates of somatic hypermutation and a similar process, class switch recombination. Using a constitutively Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating traumatic hypermutating chicken B-cell line in which the endogenous neurological disorder resulting in motor and sensory loss light chain locus has been engineered to express somatic of function due to the disruption of axons. In the adult hypermutation, the influence of three pharmacological mammalian central nervous system axons are incapable of manipulations, Forskolin, Cholera Toxin, and Chicken regenerating. Moreover, the secondary damage induced Interleukin-4 (CH IL-4), was evaluated over an 8 week by inflammation and autoimmune responses prevent repair period of cell culture. Data on the rate and spectrum of and neural survival. Secondary spinal cord damages hypermutation induced by each treatment was collected leads to demyelination which may enhance axonal using genomic sequencing and flow cytometry to determine

60 the utility of each pharmacological agent in the manipulation Rosalie McGurk, Sophomore, Astronomy and Physics of rates of somatic hypermutation for protein engineering. Mentor: Michael Castelaz, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute Variable Stars in the ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury Open star clusters are groups of stars held together Les McCommas, Senior, Astronomy and Physics by mutual gravitational attraction and are believed to NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates originate from large cosmic gas and dust clouds. Clusters Scholar are characterized by parameters such as how many stars Mentor: Julianne Dalcanton, Astronomy are members, the types of member stars, and the distance to the cluster. My research involves two such open The ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury is an ambitious clusters, Dolidze 27, a cluster about which little was project aimed at examining our local area of the universe known, and Alessi 10, a cluster that had fairly recent and using the main camera of Hubble Space Telescope. As comprehensive observations. The goal was to determine part of this survey, many long exposure images of cluster membership, the spectral types of the stars in the two our largest galactic neighbors were taken to study the areas, sizes, reddening, distance moduli, and distances to the photometric properties of their stellar populations. The two clusters using spectral and photometric analysis. Two brightness of the hundreds of thousands of stars in the 20-minute exposure objective prism plates were selected ACS camera field of view can be individually measured from the collection of Michigan Blue Sky Objective Prism in each image. Knowing the brightness of each star Plates in the North American Astronomical Photographic over a time period of several days allows us to identify Plate Center located at the Pisgah Astronomical Research variable stars and eclipsing binary systems. Known Institute. The plates were used to determine the spectral types of variables called Cepheids and eclipsing binaries types for the stars in the two clusters. The magnitudes of are great tools for measuring cosmic distances. We have all the stars in 45-arcminute-diameter areas centered on the identified numerous variables in the nearby galaxies clusters were measured from B and V images. The images M81 and NGC 2976. Their variability profiles are being were taken in July 2006 using the 40 cm Panchromatic examined, and calculated distances will be compared to Robotic Optical Monitoring and Polarimetry Telescopes. other distance determining methods to improve accuracy. Color magnitude diagrams from the B and V magnitudes were used to analyze the membership of the clusters A Longitudinal, One-Year Study of Bone Mineral and to determine the reddening, distanced modulus, and Density and Mineral Metabolism in Chronic Kidney distances to the probable members of the clusters. Our Disease. analysis provided new information about the Dolidze Peter McCorkell, Senior, Biology (Physiology) cluster and our results from the Alessi cluster matched Mentor: Bryan Kestenbaum, Nephrology existing information, indicating our methods were sound.

The risk of bone disease and fracture are increased Hallberg Isopycnal Models of a Polar Beta Plane among patients with end-stage renal disease. However, Alexander Mendez, Senior, Physics, Mathematics, and disturbances in mineral metabolism and bone structure Astronomy occur earlier among non-dialysis patients with chronic NASA Space Grant Scholar, Gates Millenium kidney disease (CKD). Kidney dysfunction typically Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar leads to impaired vitamin D activation, raised parathyroid Mentor: Peter Rhines, Oceanography hormone (PTH) levels, and PTH resistance. We propose to examine whether serum levels of PTH, 25-hydroxy vitamin For over three years, I have been working at the Geophysical D (25-OHD), and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25-OH2D) Fluid Dynamics (GFD) Laboratory on the Rotating Beta- are associated with changes in bone mineral density (BMD) Plane studying the physics of Rossby waves, modeling among CKD patients enrolled in the Seattle Kidney Study the wave phenomena, and developing associated computer (SKS), an observational cohort study of CKD in the Puget vision techniques. The Beta-Plane is an experimental Sound area. SKS participants will be selected on the device designed for studying the fluid dynamics of the basis of stage III or stage IV CKD. Approximately 140 atmosphere and ocean waves in general. My current work participants have returned for bone mineral density (BMD) is focusing on the development of Hallberg Isopycnal measurements on two consecutive years. Linear regression Models related to the Beta Plane and Beta effects.This will used to estimate the association of baseline serum will help quantify our measurements in order to more PTH, 25-OHD, and 1,25-OH2D levels with the change accurately model, and thus predict the weather induced in BMD during follow-up. These data will describe the perturbations caused by ocean and atmospheric waves. extent of BMD loss in the CKD setting, and provide insight into potential therapeutic options for fracture prevention.

The Dolidze 27 and Alessi 10 Open Star Clusters

61 Photocatalytical Purification of Water of the signal was varied to find the threshold. Preliminary Lisandro Mercado, Senior, Materials Science & results confirm that adults show less interference for the Engineering delayed signal condition than when the signal and masker Mentor: Rajendra K. Bordia, Materials Science & have the same onset and offset. The results for infants Engineering will also be discussed. Information from these results will allow us to better understand infant’s capabilities in TiO2 is one of a number of semiconductor oxides that complex auditory skills such as sound source segregation. exhibit photocatalytic activity when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Studies have shown that the photocatalytic Muscimol inavctivation of the caudal fastigial activity of TiO2 can be enhanced by the addition of either nucleus affects the amplitude of superior colliculus transition metal or nonmetal dopants. The purpose of this electrically-evoked saccades research is to produce a highly efficient TiO2 system for Nina Miller, Senior, Neurobiology the degradation of organic pollutants in water supply under Mentor: Chris R. S. Kaneko, Physiology & Biophysics ultraviolet radiation or visible light via transition metal and nonmetal doping. Undoped TiO2 nanopowders, as well as Saccades are rapid eye movements, usually lasting less than powders doped with Fe3+ and co-doped with Fe3+ and 100ms, that are used to direct the line of sight. They are Zn2+ are first produced via the sol-gel process. Nonmetal especially prominent in humans and nonhuman primates doped powders, specifically powders doped with nitrogen, who must accurately direct their line of sight to the small are also considered. The main objective of metal doping fovea portion of the retina where visual acuity is best. In is to increase the photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet order for saccades to be directed appropriately, they must radiation, whereas the objective of nonmetal doping is to be precisely controlled. Currently, several models have potentially impart photocatalytic activity under visible light. been proposed to describe the production of quick and Once synthesized, the composition and phase of the powders accurate saccades. It is generally agreed that the input for are confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Finally, the a saccade comes from the superior colliculus (SC) in the degradation of methyl orange is used as a preliminary midbrain (Scudder et al, 2001). The SC provides input evaluation of these powders and a conclusion is reached on to the saccadic burst generator in the brainstem through which powder produced the most efficient photocatalytic two pathways: direct and indirect. The direct pathway activity and enhanced degradation reaction rate. sends inputs to elements of the burst generator, which is responsible for sending the velocity command signal to Temporal Differences Between Sounds Can Reduce motor neurons that control the muscles that move the eye. Constant, Remote-Frequency Masking in Infants and The indirect pathway projects through the oculomotor Adults cerebellum via the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis Deborah Miller, Senior, Speech & Hearing Sciences (nrtp). The oculomotor cerebellum consists of vermal Mentor: Lynne Werner, Speech & Hearing Sciences lobule VI and VIIa and the caudal fastigial nucleus (cFN). The cFN influences the brainstem burst generator through Studies have discovered that adults have trouble detecting direct synapses. Previous experiments have found that target sounds in the presence of varying competing sounds, inactivating the cFN causes visually targeted saccades even though their peripheral auditory system provides to become dysmetric. In our project, we hypothesized enough information to prevent the competing sounds from that if normal saccade production requires the indirect interfering with detection of the target sounds. An infants’ pathway from the SC through the cerebellum to the burst ability to discriminate sounds is more strongly affected generator via the cFN, then inactivating the cFN should by competing sounds whether or not the competing also affect saccades evoked by electrical stimulation. The sounds vary. Competing sounds can be manipulated data we have collected so far reveals that inactivating the to allow adults to improve their ability to detect target cFN does indeed cause dysmetria in electrically evoked sounds. The current research is focused on whether the saccades, which parallels the dysmetria in visually same manipulations improve infant’s abilities to detect evoked saccades. This suggests the unexpected finding the target sounds. Adults and 7-9 month-old infants that the SC commands a very inaccurate saccade and that detected a 1000-Hz pure tone signal in the presence of a the cFN is necessary to produce normometric saccades. 500-ms fixed-frequency two-tone complex, the “masker” or competing sound. Throughout testing, the masker Exploring Cytidine Deaminase Activity of Apobec4 repeated at 500-ms intervals at 60 dB SPL. The signal through an E. coli Mutation Assay was presented simultaneously with one presentation of the William Miller, Senior, Neurobiology masker. Two conditions were tested: (1) the signal was Mary Gates Scholar, Howard Hughes 500-ms with the same onset and offset as the masker; or Research Scholar (2) the signal was 300-ms with a 100-ms delayed onset Mentor: Michael Emerman, Microbiology and 100-ms early offset. Thresholds for detection were determined using an observer-based method. The intensity A powerful mechanism of innate immunity was

62 recently discovered in which Apobec (apolipoprotein peroxide is measured in Trolox (water soluble vitamin mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide) proteins inhibit E) equivalents using a microtiter plate luminometer. Our retroviruses by deaminating cytosine residues in nascent preliminary results show an average Trolox equivalent retroviral cDNA. Apobecs share cytidine deamination of 41.8±9.9 for controls, and 50.0±3.4 for pain subjects. enzymatic activity that changes a cytidine base in viral Although these values are not significantly different, I have deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to a uridine base, thereby many more samples to analyze, and must still incorporate mutating the viral genome. Through computational the ROS data for these subjects into the analysis. If analysis of our genome, researchers found a new member prostatitis is caused by oxidative stress, we would expect to of the Apobec family, Apobec4, on human chromosome see high levels of ROS and/or low TAC in the pain subjects. 1. Similar to other Apobec proteins, Apobec4 contains a cytidine deaminase domain; thus, it should be determined Development of a Photolytic Calibration Source for whether Apobec4 shows cytidine deaminase activity by Field Measurements of Peroxymethacryloyl Nitrate using an established bacterial mutation assay. Previous Anna Moon, Senior, Chemical Engineering studies demonstrate that an antibiotic, rifampicin, Mentor: Joel Thornton, Atmospheric Sciences interferes with the synthesis of nucleic acids by inhibiting DNA dependent RNA polymerase. Rifampicin is an Global tropospheric ozone (O3) is a major environmental antibiotic that inhibits normal RNA polymerase function. concern due to its role as a greenhouse gas, its ability to As Apobec proteins cause random mutations in the cause respiratory problems in humans and its negative effect bacterial genome, the RNA polymerase gene will be on agricultural yields. The anthropogenic contribution altered at a low frequency, thus rendering rifampicin to tropospheric O3 is largely controlled by the emission ineffective against it. Typically, bacteria are capable and transport of NOx (NO + NO2), which catalyzes of repairing the aforementioned mutations; however, tropospheric O3 production during the photochemical to allow for mutation, a Ung -/- E. coli strain, BW310, oxidation of hydrocarbons. Quantifying the impact of NOx will be used. By expressing three different haplotypes emissions on O3 production requires field observations of Apobec4 in this bacterial model, Apobec4’s DNA of atmospheric NOx reservoirs, especially acyl peroxy mutator activity can be measured. Once mutator activity is nitrates (APNs, RC(O)O2NO2), which can serve as a established, further insight into Apobec4’s anti-retroviral transport vehicle for NOx. Because APN concentrations activity can be explored through viral infectivity assays. are typically very low (< 200 parts per trillion by volume (pptv)) in remote regions, their detection in the field Antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma in men with requires a sensitive technique, such as Chemical Ionization prostatitis. Mass Spectrometry (CIMS) as employed by our lab. While Michalina Montaño, Senior, Cellular, Molecular & the detection limit of the CIMS technique to most APNs Developmental Biology is fairly low (a few pptv), that of peroxymethacryloyl Mentor: Charles H. Muller, Urology nitrate (MPAN, R=CH2C(CH3)) has been reported to be three to eight times higher for yet unknown reasons. This research project at the UW Male Fertility Laboratory Since the hydrocarbon precursors of MPAN, isoprene and examined the presence of antioxidants in men with and methacrolein, are almost exclusively of biogenic origin, it without chronic pelvic pain (prostatitis). Antioxidants is important to accurately quantify MPAN to understand protect cells from high levels of reactive oxygen species the interaction between biogenic and anthropogenic (ROS). Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance emissions. To calibrate our CIMS to MPAN, we have between high ROS and antioxidants. ROS are the result developed a photolytic reaction cell which generates of reduction of oxygen, and act as the driving force behind MPAN by the OH-initiated oxidation of methacrolein in many biochemical pathways that regulate cell function. In the presence of NO. Using the results of a computer-based excess, they can damage DNA, plasma membranes, and chemical kinetics model as a guide, we have optimized protein function during periods of oxidative stress. Many the production of MPAN in the calibration source and men with prostatitis have high levels of white blood cells, determined the sensitivity of the CIMS to MPAN under a which produce reactive oxygens, and can be an indication range of atmospherically relevant conditions. The MPAN of oxidative stress. The overall goal of this project is to calibration source will be deployed in summer 2007 to relate prostatitis to levels of oxidative stress. Using a case- Blodgett Forest Research Station in California, where control study design, we addressed the following question: we will study the interactions of local biogenic emissions Do men with prostatitis have lower levels of antioxidants with anthropogenic pollution from the Sacramento Valley. in their semen than controls? We have about 200 samples of frozen seminal plasma with normal or elevated levels of white blood cells from a study on prostatitis. So far, I have measured the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of 18 samples. The ability of the seminal plasma to inhibit ROS produced by horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen

63 The Relationship Between Experiential Avoidance and terminus of Spc110 and the gamma-tubulin complex is Dissociative State: An Experimental Study a potential means by which the SPB could alter its Alaina Mori, Senior, Psychology and Sociology microtubule nucleating ability. In this project we are using Hooria Bittlingmayer, Senior, Psychology purified recombinant Spc110 from Escherichia coli and Mentor: Marsha Linehan, Psychology recombinant yeast gamma-tubulin complex from insect cells to study the role of phosphorylation on their interaction. The present study examines the relationship between We are also purifying large quantities of the recombinant experiential avoidance (EA) - the unwillingness to Spc110 for structural studies of this binding domain. experience aversive thoughts, emotions or bodily sensations, and dissociation- the detachment of the mind The Role of GABA-based Inhibition in the and body from a person’s emotional state. Current data Termination of Spontaneous, Synchronized Activity shows that individuals who experience high levels of EA in the Neonatal Mouse Brain: Activity-dependent have difficulties with emotion regulation. Some theorists changes in GABA reversal potential suggest that dissociation, a marker of dysregulated Audrey Moruzzi, Senior, Neurobiology emotions, could itself be a form of EA (Marx & Sloan, Mary Gates Scholar 2005). This study will contribute to existing literature by Mentor: William J. Moody, Biology directly investigating the relationship between EA and dissociation. In this study, 60 female participants were Spontaneous electrical activity that is highly synchronized administered the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire across large populations of neurons occurs throughout the (AAQ), a nine question self-report measure of experiential developing central nervous system. Because this kind of avoidance. The participants were divided into two groups: activity is not compatible with the mature information- high and low-levels of EA, as established by the AAQ. processing functions of the brain, it must stop at the The participants then engaged in personally-relevant appropriate stage of development so that the mature firing imagery paradigms in which they imagined situations properties of neurons can emerge. We have discovered where they had experienced each of the following negative that spontaneous, synchronized activity (SSA) in mouse emotions: fear, sadness, anger, and neutral (control). neocortex is self-terminating; that is, SSA triggers changes After participants imagined each emotional situation, in the properties of immature neurons that terminate SSA. they filled out the Dissociative State Scale (DSS) –a This conclusion was drawn from experiments in which we twenty-one question self-report measure of dissociative used cultured brain slices, blocked SSA during the normal state. We hypothesize that, across all three emotions, time of its occurrence, and showed that when the block individuals with high EA scores will exhibit higher levels was removed, SSA continued to be generated much later of dissociative state compared with individuals with low in development than normal. By comparing control and EA scores. Data analysis is currently in progress. The activity-blocked cultured slices, we can now ask what implications of this study will be instrumental in the physiological changes in neurons does SSA trigger that development and implementation of more effective serve to terminate SSA on schedule. One possibility is that treatments for women who are high in dissociation. the neurotransmitter GABA, which is normally excitatory in the immature brain, fails to convert to inhibitory when N-terminal characterization Spc110 SSA is blocked. This conversion is normally caused Joshua Morris, Junior, Biochemistry and Neurobiology by a developmental decrease in intracellular chloride Mentor: Trisha N. Davis, Biochemistry concentration that occurs shortly after birth, which in turn changes the reversal potential for GABA-mediated In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mitotic spindle synaptic events (VCl) to more negative potentials. We formation is directed by an organelle called the spindle therefore have measured VCl to see whether it remains pole body (SPB). The SPB exists in the nuclear membrane, more positive in activity-blocked slices. To do this, we spanning it completely: the outer plaque faces the cytoplasm used the gramicidin perforated patch method, which and nucleates cytoplasmic microtubules, the inner plaque allows recording from neurons without disrupting nucleates nuclear microtubules, and the central plaque intracellular recording levels. While recording from the rests between the two. One of the SPB proteins conserved cells, we applied the GABA agonist muscimol, changed the throughout higher eukaryotes is Spc110, which bridges membrane potential, and measure the reversal potential for the gap between the inner and central plaques. The C- the GABA-receptor-mediated events. The results so far terminus binds proteins at the central plaque, while the N- indicate that VCl is more positive in activity-blocked slices. terminus binds the gamma-tubulin complex at the inner plaque. The gamma-tubulin complex is responsible for nucleating and controlling microtubule formation. The N-terminus of Spc110 is rich in phosphorylation sites, which may regulate its interaction with the gamma-tubulin complex. Regulation of the interaction between the N-

64 The Affects of Bars and Orientations on Disk Galaxy by wet analysis using an inductively coupled plasma mass Parameters spectrometer. While the properties of K10Bi4V4O21 Michael Motte, Freshman, Astronomy are not yet known, the fact that some bismuth vanadates Mentor: Chris Brook, Astronomy already show potential technology applications warrants further investigation of this compound. Elucidation Astronomy is one of the few fields of science that presents of the K10Bi4V4O21 structure, refractive indices, and a challenge in the form of most theories cannot be tested exact sample compositions will help to inform future here on the earth. Therefore, it is helpful for scientists in studies of this material’s physical and optical properties. research groups such as the N-Body Shop at the University of Washington to develop high resolution simulations Effect of Sexual History and Situational Factors on of galaxies. These simulated galaxies are becoming Automatic Sexual Perceptions increasingly sophisticated, and follow processes such Peter Mullins, Senior, Psychology as gas cooling, star formation, supernova feedback, and Jeffrey Girard, Sophomore, Psychology metal enrichment, all within a cosmological context. The Mentor: Kristen Lindgren, Psychiatry & Behavioral software package Sunrise takes information about stellar Sciences ages and metal composure from the simulation, as well as Mentor: William George, Psychology modeling the effects of dust, to make mock observations in the wavebands of major telescopes, such as the HST, What factors influence whether a person is perceived as or SDSS. We will run Sunrise on our simulated galaxies, sexual or friendly? Prior research has established that and perform analysis of the simulations as if we were people who have had more sexual experience perceive observers. This allows various assumptions applied by more sexuality in their own and other people’s intentions. observers to be tested, as we have the full knowledge However, previous studies have relied on self-report of the history of the galaxy we are “observing”. In measures. Such measures focus on controlled cognitive particular, we will examine the effects of dust and processes, i.e., processes that require effort and attention. In inclination angle on the derived galactic parameters. addition, self-report measures raise concerns about social desirability and self-presentation. The current study seeks Synthesis and Characterization of a New Potassium to expand on previous findings by incorporating a measure Bismuth Vanadate of automatic cognitive processes, the Implicit Association Sean Muir, Senior, Chemistry, The Evergreen State Test (IAT). Specifically, the authors will examine whether College people’s sexual history is related to their automatic sexual Mentor: Rebecca Sunderman, Chemistry, The Evergreen perceptions. A secondary study goal is to test if people’s State College automatic sexual perceptions are influenced by situational factors. A sample of introductory psychology students Materials with properties such as oxygen ion conductivity, (100 men, 100 women) will complete IATs that measure nonlinear optical response, and ferroelectricity are automatic sexual perceptions about one’s self and about essential to many modern devices. Oxygen sensors, opposite sex others. Then, participants will read a story optical switches, and piezoelectric devices are just a few about a heterosexual date that ends in either romantic examples. One class of solid state materials that have attraction or a desire for friendship. Following the exhibited all of these interesting properties is the bismuth story, participants will complete the IATs again. Finally, vanadates. Our research is aimed at characterizing a new participants’ sexual experience histories will be assessed potassium bismuth vanadate, K10Bi4V4O21. Discovery using self-report questionnaires. Data will be analyzed of this material came about through exploratory synthesis using analysis of variance to test for differences in IAT based on a low number of reported potassium bismuth scores in as a function of participant sexual history (have vanadates. The X-ray diffraction data collected at that vs. have not had sexual experience) and story ending time suggested a hexagonal P space group with diffuse (attract vs. friend). Study findings may illuminate the effect vanadium positions and the possibility of mixed Bi3+/5+ of sexual experience on automatic cognitive processes. oxidation states. Currently, we are synthesizing single crystal K10Bi4V4O21 samples that will be used for The Effects of Light Quality on Chloroplast DNA in further structural, optical, and compositional analysis. Arabidopsis Thaliana The primary goal of our research is to decisively solve Andrew Nam, Junior, Biology the crystal structure for K10Bi4V4O21 using x-ray Mentor: Arnold Bendich, Biology diffraction. After establishing this, we will also determine Mentor: Beth Rowan, Biology the relationship between the material’s refractive index and the vibration direction of light in the crystal lattice. The model organism, Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana), Refractive index measurements will be made using a small flowering plant related to mustard and cabbage, standard polarizing microscopy techniques. Exact has given researchers great insight into the inner workings stoichiometry of the prepared samples will be determined of plants. In 2000, A. thaliana became the first plant to

65 have its entire genome sequenced. A. thaliana has been pause. These experiments revealed that multiple rounds especially useful in understanding a plant’s response to of neomycin resulted in increasingly delayed hair cell light. Light powers photosynthesis, influences directional regeneration with each neomycin treatment. A similar lag growth (phototropism) and a myriad of other biological was found in the rate of cell division using the S-phase processes. Different photoreceptors in plants react to marker BrdU, suggesting that regeneration may be finite, different wavelengths of light (phytochromes to red possibly due to exhausting the potential for support cells light, phototropins and cryptochromes to blue light) and to divide. Further experiments using two different S-phase induce physiological responses such as development and markers, IdU and CldU halogenated thymidine analogs, differentiation of leaves. During early leaf development, to track multiple divisions may determine differences in cpDNA is replicated leading to an increased amount of support cell renewal after repeated damage, and might cpDNA. However, it has recently been shown that the identify hair cell precursors with stem cell characteristics. amount of cpDNA declines dramatically during later stages of leaf development. The role of light quality in the Analysis Of HCV Quasispecies Diversity In Serum of decline of cpDNA has not yet been investigated. To assess Hepatitis C Virus Infected Patients the effects of light quality on the amount of cpDNA in A. Amina Negash, Senior, Biochemistry thaliana, plants were grown under white, red and blue light. Mentor: Sampa Pal, Laboratory Medicine Chloroplasts were isolated at different stages of development Mentor: David Gretch, Laboratory Medicine and stained with a fluorescent, DNA specific dye (DAPI) and observed using fluorescence microscopy. Images Recent breakthroughs in stem cell research illuminated of the chloroplasts were recorded and the fluorescence the medial fields. With this technology cure for some intensity of the DAPI signal will be quantified in order irreversible diseases is expected to be found. Other to estimate DNA content. If the developmental decline of applications include providing insights about human cpDNA is a response to a particular light quality signal, development, transplant therapies and to design and test for then I expect to see a difference in cpDNA content between new drugs. Nonetheless, the research sparked considerable the plants grown under the different light conditions. ethical debate. Most of the ethical dilemma centered on the status of embryos and the controversy about the sources Characterizing the proliferative events and pathways to obtain stem cells. Moreover, the legal restrictions and responsible for hair cell regeneration in a zebrafish scientific problems are other challenges that lingered model the progress of this technology. Taking a definitive Parhum Namdaran, Senior, Neurobiology and Molecular, position toward this research has become somehow Cellular, & Developmental Biology hard for most people. So In this paper I will discuss the Mary Gates Scholar, Howard Hughes Scholar prospects of this technology for medical applications Mentor: David W. Raible, Biological Structure with the emphasis on the moral and scientific hurdles.

In vertebrates, specialized sensory mechanoreceptor hair Unmasking Reticulate Evolution cells located in the inner ear allow the organism to sense a Jonathan Nelson, Senior, Biochemistry and Cellular, variety of stimuli, namely sound, balance, and orientation Molecular, & Developmental Biology in space. However, hair cells are highly susceptible Mentor: Ben Hall, Genome Science to damage from noise, normal aging, and exposure to ototoxic drugs, including aminoglycoside antibiotics. The evolution of a species can be a very long and complex While the degeneration of hair cells in humans and other journey stemming from multiple origins. In such cases, mammals is irreversible, regeneration of hair cells occurs the DNA sequences at a single locus may not accurately in many non-mammalian vertebrates to replace those represent evolutionary history. Therefore, multiple loci lost or damaged. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have hair cells may need to be examined to accurately infer the organismal located both internally in the ear and externally within the phylogeny. Our lab has carried out phylogenetic analysis lateral line system, in clusters called neuromasts along of genus Rhododendron using RNA polymerase genes; the length of their bodies. Each neuromast contains a however, we need additional markers in order to arrive central group of hair cells surrounded by support cells. at a complete and comprehensive understanding of After exposure to the aminoglycoside antibiotic neomycin Rhododendron evolution. My research focuses on hair cells are rapidly killed but then regenerate within 72 developing methods for identifying multiple genetic hours. Initial studies from the Raible lab have shown that markers in non-model organisms, such as Rhododendrons, after a single neomycin treatment support cells proliferate that can be used to unmask complicated, or reticulate, and differentiate into new hair cells to replace those lost. evolutionary histories. Excellent nuclear markers for To test whether support cells are themselves replenished, inferring species level gene phylogenies are large introns; the effects of multiple neomycin insults on hair cell their many SNP’s (single nucleotide polymorphisms) regeneration were analyzed. Zebrafish were incubated in provide robust phylogenetic resolution. Based on previous multiple rounds of neomycin, each separated by a 72 hour observations we hypothesized that MITEs (miniature

66 inverted-repeat transposable element) are in most part for Estimating Missing Measurements in Nonliving found in large introns. Therefore, the sequencing of parts Specimens of the genome adjacent to MITEs should target large Peter Nelson, Senior, Anthropology and English introns. In combination with a chromosome walking Mentor: Jerusha Achterberg, Anthropology technique, MITE-linked PCR has allowed our lab to Mentor: Patricia Kramer, Anthropology generate specific PCR primers for five rhododendron nuclear genes. Among these are homologs to a root Often, when archaeologists and paleoanthropologists find specific metal ion transporter, a methyltransferase, and hominid specimens in the archaeological or paleontological an oligonucleotide transporter in Arabidopsis thaliana. record, they find only pieces of them. Therefore, anthropologists must estimate what certain missing parts A Pilot Study on Air Pollution Exposure and Airway of an individual looked like based on the parts that they Inflammation on Children from Particulate Matter, find to give them a better idea of how the individual 2.5um moved and lived. I measured a number of features Joseph Nelson, Senior, Environmental Health relating to the human femur including femoral length, Mary Gates Scholar carrying angle, stride length, and stature and converted Gerard De Leon, Senior, Environmental Health these data into a graphical format. The measurements Christine Santiago, Senior, Environmental Health were taken from human subjects in Dr. Kramer’s Autumn Mentor: Gail Kieckhefer, Family & Child Nursing 2006 BIOA 101 class. These data show that these features Mentor: Jane Koenig, Environmental & Occupational are related and that I could create a graphical model to Health Sciences illustrate the relationship between these measurements. These findings are important because they could be used There is an increasing concern among children’s health to estimate unknown measurements (e.g. from a partial care providers and environmental health specialists about femur found in an archaeological dig, we could estimate the prevalence of asthma leading to school absenteeism any of these measurements even if only one is known). and the lost economic opportunity of parents. Efforts to identify interventions on an individual, local and regional Long-term Effects of ADHD Stimulant Medications level have led to acknowledgement of the impact of air on the Brain quality on asthma susceptible people. A growing body of Ly Nguyen, Junior, Microbiology knowledge implicates the United States Environmental Mary Gates Scholar Protection Agency (EPA) regulated air pollutants in Mentor: Theodore Beauchaine, Psychology exacerbation of the asthma syndrome. The EPA criteria Mentor: Lisa Kopp, Psychology air pollutant particulate matter 2.5 mm (PM2.5) has been shown to aggravate asthma. Exhaled nitric oxide and Recent structural neuroimaging studies have consistently spirometry (lung function) are acceptable and consistent reported significantly smaller volumes in brain structures measures of respiratory health. The objective of our study such as the prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, pallidum, was to evaluate whether FENO and lung function data corpus callosum, and cerebellum of individuals with from a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded asthma attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared sleep study of approximately fifty 9-11 year old children with healthy controls. Moreover, recent functional is associated with air pollution exposure. By comparing neuroimaging studies have increasingly associated ADHD measurements of FENO and lung function taken at the UW symptoms with the impairment of the dopaminergic School of Nursing Sleep Lab, with the regional air quality cerebellar-striato-frontal networks, which are believed data from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA), to modulate executive function, attention and response and assigning an exposure factor for each participant, the inhibition. However, it is unclear to what extent the impact of air pollution on sensitive individuals can be observed dysfunction in these regions is a product of further elucidated. Local air quality measurements (PM2.5) long term stimulant medication commonly prescribed at from monitoring stations within ten miles of the children’s young ages for children diagnosed with ADHD. Although homes and the distance traveled from home to the Sleep symptoms reappear rapidly upon termination of stimulants, Lab were used to estimate and assign an exposure factor leading to the supposition that the medication has ceased to to PM2.5. This pilot study has possible implications on the have an effect on brain function, more permanent changes association of children’s asthma and air pollution levels in brain structure and function resulting from regular in the greater Seattle area. It hopes to stimulate further administration of stimulants have not been well explored. attention from a public health standpoint and aid in making A recent animal study has found that methylphenidate, local transportation policies, attaining Washington State’s a common stimulant medication used to treat ADHD, and the EPA’s Clean Air goals, and designing future studies. exerts a long-term effect on the dopanimergic system. The purpose of the current study is to examine the long- Using the Femoral Length, Stride Length, and term effects of ADHD stimulant medications on the brain. Carrying Angle of Human Subjects to Create a Model Male adolescents (ages 12-15) meeting the DSM-IV

67 criteria for ADHD were assessed with functional MRI around the surface of the hydrophilic material Nafion. while playing a simple game where correct answers were In our version of FBV, microspheres are dropped into a rewarded with monetary prizes. Participants with ADHD chamber filled with water and lined at the bottom with were divided into those who were currently being treated Nafion or a control material. A microscope and camera with stimulant medication (n=9) and those who were are then used to observe the spheres as their velocities are either medication naïve, or who had ceased treatment with recorded at specific distances away from the bottom of the stimulant medication a year or more prior to assessment chamber as they approach the Nafion or control surface. (n = 11). Groups did not differ on symptom severity of Though the reasons why are not yet fully understood, ADHD, conduct disorder or IQ. All participants were results have indicated that the interfacial water’s viscosity asked to be stimulant free for 36 hours prior to scanning, around Nafion is indeed much higher than that of water thus differences in functional activation are assumed surrounding a control surface, such as glass or aluminum. to be a function of long term changes associated with Such a finding serves as substantial evidence for the chronic stimulant use as opposed to short term effects. unexpected long-range effects that hydrophilic surfaces can have on water that, if substantiated, can have wide-ranging Characterization of azithromycin-resistant impacts within biology, biotechnology, and other fields. Renibacterium salmoninarum from macrolide-treated Chinook salmon Bio-MEMS (Bio-Microelectromechanical Systems) Oanh Nguyen, Junior, Microbiology Lisa Oh, Senior, Electrical Engineering Howard Hughes Scholar Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Linda Rhodes, Biology Mentor: Babak Parviz, Electrical Engineering

Renibacterium salmoninarum is the causative agent of The field of bio-sensors, also known as Bio-MEMS bacterial kidney disease (BKD), a disease that causes (Bio-Microelectromechanical Systems), has seen a rapid morbidity and mortality among salmon and trout increase in both the number and diversity of “Biochips” worldwide. Symptoms of BKD include granulomas in devices used to detect objects of biological interest, ranging the kidney and other organs and ascites. Current treatment from small molecules to micro-organisms. Bio-sensors are for BKD in captively reared stocks of endangered Pacific fabricated by studying the direct conversion of molecular salmon includes administration of macrolide antibiotics recognition events to electrical signals. DNA is a biological such as erythromycin and azithromycin. Concern about component of particular interest to Bio-MEMS researchers the possibility of macrolide resistance in R. salmoninarum because of its importance in drug development, detection of prompted us to assess isolates from clinical cases of BKD pathogens, genetic screening, and genome sequencing. The in treated fish. Among seven isolates from treated fish, ultimate goal of this research is to develop these sensors that five show increased resistance to azithromycin in broth accomplish these tasks effectively both in time and cost. culture; resistance to erythromycin is also being tested. One feature of DNA sensors that could make both goals Mutations in ribosomal proteins L4 and L22 genes and attainable is the utilization of a transduction mechanism at a “hotspot” in the 23S ribosomal RNA genes that are in nano-scale and can be easily integrated with CMOS frequently observed in macrolide resistant bacteria are not (Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology. found in the four R. salmoninarum isolates. Transcription in genes with potential roles in resistance, such as Determining establishment dates for Douglas-fir in the macrolide efflux pumps and glycosyltransferases, are Northwestern United States being evaluated in both resistant and sensitive isolates. The Holly Olson, Senior, Earth & Space Sciences characterization of these isolates will provide important Mentor: Jeremy Littell, Forest Resources information for management of BKD in both hatcheries and captive broodstock programs for endangered salmon. Climate variability has been well documented in temperature and precipitation reconstructions from tree- Viscosity of water near hydrophilic surfaces ring proxy records for the last 300 years. For example, Jeff Nivala, Freshman, Pre-Engineering analyzing tree ring widths can help determine how much Mentor: Gerald Pollack, Bioengineering rain fell per year in the past before weather records were Mentor: Hyok Yoo, Bioengineering documented. However, the impact of climate variability, especially for decadal and multi-decadal climate variations, Conventional theory predicts the structuring of water near on tree establishment is poorly understood. Climate a surface to extend just nanometers. On the contrary, the should influence tree establishment, especially in places Pollack lab has found surprisingly long-range effects that where ecosystem processes, such as tree growth, species hydrophilic surfaces can have on water as far as hundreds distribution and disturbance by fire, are controlled by of micrometers away. Employing the technique of falling climate. A younger, less resilient tree is more susceptible ball viscometry (FBV), this project seeks to distinguish the to climatic factors then an established tree. Climactic viscosity of this near-surface region of water, specifically variations are observed in tree rings, but tree rings can

68 also be used to obtain information on establishment dates the same step, only obsessive passion (β = .35, p < .000) and mean growth grates. Pseudotsuga menziesii var. was associated with negative consequences above and menziessii, (coast Douglas-fir from Olympic National beyond that related to alcohol use. Findings suggest that Park, North Cascades National Park), and Pseudotsuga understanding students’ passion for alcohol may assist menziessi var. glauca, (Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir from in identifying those who are at risk for greater negative Idaho Panhandle National Forest and Glacier National consequences and alcohol dependence and who, therefore, Park) were cored and collected in the field. By estimating might benefit most from prevention intervention programs. the number of rings that are missing from the measured time series due to missing the tree’s pith in the field and Expression of Support Cell Markers in Cochlear by measuring the segment of the tree’s radius that is Development associated with those missing rings, one should be able Shannon Oltean, Senior, Biology to better identify the individual tree’s establishment Mentor: Olivia Bermingham-McDonogh, Otolaryngology date and growth rate. The diameter of the tree can be better estimated once the radius of the missing rings is The development of sensory cells in the cochlea of the measured. With a better estimated diameter, growth rates inner ear is critical for hearing development. Math1 is can more accurately be determined. Once establishment a key gene for hair cell development in the inner ear as dates have been determined, one can also compare well as other developmental processes in mice. Previous reconstructions of climates in terms of temperature and research has shown that a Math1 deficient mouse fails to precipitation with establishment at different places. develop hair cells. Not much is known about the timing of the expression patterns for support cell markers in the Everything in moderation: Harmonious and obsessive inner ear. The overall aim of this project is to look at the passion for alcohol and associated consequences timing of expression of key genetic markers (p75, S100A1, Nichole Olson, Senior, Psychology and Comparative and NF) relative to the expression of Math1 in the cochlea Religion of mice. Other questions that we are interested in asking Mary Gates Scholar include: is there a certain age in development that these Mentor: Clayton Neighbors, Psychiatry & Behavioral genes turn on, in what sequence, are they continually Sciences expressed, and is there a possible base to apical gradient in timing of expression patterns. Our research was conducted Harmonious and obsessive passion have been studied in by using a transgenic line of mice where the normal Math1 relation to hobbies, recreational activities and gambling promoter drives GFP such that all of the hair cells are (Vallerand et al., 2003), but not alcohol. Previous research green. This allows us to use immunohistochemistry with suggests harmonious passion fosters healthy persistence antibodies to the support cell markers to see the relationship and positive affect. Conversely, negative affect and between these markers and the expression of Math1. Our compulsive activity engagement have been associated preliminary results indicate that these three markers all with obsessive passion (Vallerand et al., 2003). The current turn on at approximately the same time in development, research was designed to evaluate the relationship between and NF and p75 show a definite base to apical gradient alcohol use and negative consequences as a function of of expression. P75 appears to turn off at p7, while NF harmonious and obsessive passion. Participants included seems to be continually expressed throughout the ages we drinking students who were participating in an ongoing tested. The S100A1 antibody does not work well with our intervention trial. Participants (N = 751; 58.3% female) current tissue preparation protocol and at this point we completed measures including quantity and frequency are attempting to use alternate protocols in order to obtain of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related consequences, conclusive results. We are in the process of collecting and the Passion Scale (Vallerand et al., 2003), which additional tissues to further expand our understanding was adapted to assess harmonious (7 items, α = .88) and of hair cell marker expression and development. obsessive (7 items, α = .92) passion for alcohol. Participants reported consuming 10.38 (SD = 10.27) drinks weekly Rebellious Companions: Factors That Contribute to on average, and experiencing 4.88 (SD = 4.92) alcohol Uncontrollable Imaginary Companions related consequences in the previous 90 days. Participants Monicah Ono, Senior, Psychology and Spanish also reported more harmonious (M = 3.35, SD = 1.66) than Mentor: Stephanie Carlson, Psychology obsessive passion for alcohol (M = 1.53, SD = 1.14, t = 66.67, p < .05). Hierarchical regression analyses examined Although many children report their imaginary companions alcohol use and related negative consequences as a are supportive and helpful, imaginary companions can also function of harmonious and obsessive passion, controlling be experienced as mean, disobedient, bossy, argumentative for intervention assignment and weekly drinking. Results and unpredictable. According to Taylor, Carlson, Maring, indicated that greater harmonious (β = .28, p < .000) and Gerow and Charley (2004), 65% of children have had an obsessive passion (β = .13, p < .000) were associated with imaginary companion and 36% of the children described more frequent alcohol use. However, when entered on their imaginary companion as compliant and 29%

69 described their imaginary companion as noncompliant sources and sinks of CO2 in our local watershed. Building (Taylor, Carlson & Shawber, in press). What contributes on our previous research, which found that depth and to these negative accounts of imaginary companions? In season affect CO2 exchange rates in a Puget Sound the following study, I am going to investigate the factors wetland, we examined diurnal CO2 and dissolved oxygen that differentiate children who create uncontrollable cycles in winter and spring at multiple sites in Puget imaginary companions. The participants were 81 children Sound wetlands. To determine the biological influence who participated in a longitudinal study at 24 and 39 on CO2 and dissolved oxygen in wetland systems, we months of age (Carlson, Mandell & Williams, 2004), and characterized the bacterial community at several sites. re-assessed at 4.5 and 6.5 years of age. The descriptions The results of our continued work support the suggestion of imaginary companions reported by parents and children that significant evasion of CO2 occurs in freshwater were coded in this new study for evidence of lack of ecosystems and that the driving forces should continue to controllability, mean or disobedient behavior. The analysis be measured and included in global carbon cycle models. will compare children on demographic and cognitive ability measures. I hypothesize that lower socioeconomic Improved candidate peptide generation using a status, maternal education and verbal ability are associated precomputed peptide database in mass spectrometry with the creation of uncontrollable imaginary companions. Christopher Park, Senior, Computer Science and Having an imaginary companion is common in both the Biochemistry preschool years and early childhood and is associated with Mentor: William Stafford Noble, Genome Sciences a number of positive characteristics. However, because imaginary companions are self-created, they can provide In proteomics, the large-scale study of protein function a window into what is on children’s minds. The aim of and structure, one of the major challenges is to identify this study is to clarify links among demographic factors, the proteins that are expressed in cells at different verbal ability and uncontrollable imaginary companions conditions. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a wildly used during the preschool period. I expect that approximately method for protein identification, however a detailed one-third of the children will report imaginary spectrum analysis is required to match the spectrum to companions as annoying, engage in bad behavior, and the source protein. In algorithms that are used to search do not “listen” to their creator. This is inconsistent with tandem MS spectra data against a protein sequence the belief that the best part about having an imaginary database, a major bottleneck is the identification of companion is that the child is in complete control. candidate peptides within a given mass window. We present an efficient method for generating peptides ina Factors Influencing Carbon Dioxide Evasion in Puget particular mass window by using a pre-computed peptide Sound Wetlands database. Our method reduces the runtime dramatically Cate Overstreet, Sophomore, Botany, North Seattle for large proteome searches compared to SEQUEST (Eng Community College et al. 1995). The peptide index method is implemented Heidi Wilken, Junior, Biology, Computer Science, North in a publicly available software package called “Crux.” Seattle Community College Other methods that avoid re-generating peptides for each Nisa Karimi, Sophomore, Biology, North Seattle search are either not publicly available (Dutta et al, 2007) Community College or require large amounts of disk space (TurboSequest). Rodger Bettis, Sophomore, Chemistry, North Seattle Community College Preparation Through Storytelling: providing children Ben Collins, Post-Baccalaureate, Biochemistry with visual and literary resources to reduce the stress Ali Qasim, Sophomore, Biology, North Seattle of hospitalization Community College Anna Pasquarella, Senior, Nursing and English Camdilla Wirth, Sophomore, Biology, North Seattle Mentor: Debbie Ward, Psychosocial & Community Community College Health Nursing Mentor: Kalyn Owen, Chemistry, North Seattle Community College Little research has been done studying the effects of Mentor: Ann Murkowski, Biology, North Seattle children’s literature in reducing stress in pediatrics Community College hospital admission. Available children’s literature often contains dated medical information or excludes certain In this century, increasing concentrations of carbon age or health groups. To create a children’s book to prepare dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the Earth’s for hospitalization that can be used to reduce pediatric atmosphere are expected to cause warmer surface anxiety. A review of nursing literature was conducted temperatures and changes in weather patterns. Gaining a to investigate the effects of books and other child life better understanding of CO2 sources and sinks on a global interventions on reducing pediatric stress. In addition, the scale is therefore essential to managing potential human availability and quality of children’s literature available impact. Our study examined the chemical and biological to the public through the Seattle Public Library system

70 was explored. Child Life specialists were consulted to fungi within the basidiomycota, the Bearded Tooth Fungi, determine current educational needs among the pediatric Hericium erinaceum, and the Pink Waxcap, Hygrocybe hospital population. While little scientific research was calyptriformis. Both of these species are listed on the available, studies found showed decreased levels of anxiety British Mycological Society’s Red Data List of vulnerable in pediatric ENT surgery patients who received written, and endangered fungi. This research will outline current play, or verbal preparation before the procedure. At least efforts to protect these fungi, and will identify the future ten children’s book titles were readily available at public steps that need to be taken to protect their diversity. libraries, spanning a wide age range (preschool to late elementary). The books provide detailed information on Discovering and Publishing Artistic and Literary hospitalization and vivid illustrations. The text frequently Talent in the University of Washington Community referred directly to the reader to retain attention. However, Christina Pederson, Senior, English some books contained too much information for the target Mentor: Robert McNamara, English audience, and many descriptions provided were inaccurate Mentor: Melissa Wensel, English or outdated. Meetings with Child Life specialists showed the availability of generalized procedure- and For 24 years, Bricolage has provided a space for artistic disease-specific children’s books, but expressed a need and literary talents in the greater University of Washington for literature specific to individual units and certain community to share their artwork, fiction, creative medical conditions. Research has shown that preparing non-fiction, and poetry with the UW and University children for hospitalization can be beneficial. Based on District communities. In the fall, Bricolage seeks out this, a prototype book was developed to help prepare UW students, alumni, staff and faculty to submit their and familiarize children with hospitalization. The book art. In the winter, every submitted piece is extensively was designed to be tailored to a specific unit or type of reviewed by the Bricolage editorial team and a group hospitalization. Future studies will need to be conducted of volunteer readers who single out the highest-quality both to test the effectiveness of the prototype as well as pieces. In the spring, those pieces are published in a of specialized literature on pediatric anxiety reduction. full-color bound journal which is then shared with the UW and U-District communities at a public reading The Bearded Tooth and Pink Waxcap: A Case Study of the journal. The above is the immediate result that is of Fungi Conservation in the UK seen from year to year. However, each individual issue is Alison Paulson, Senior, Biology: Environmental & part of a larger process of creating a journal that is better Conservation and Biochemisty every year. Over the past 24 years, each editorial team Mary Gates Scholar has researched the successes and mistakes of the year Mentor: Joe Ammirati, Biology previous, seeking to improve so that the journal better reflects the University of Washington’s artistic community. ecosystems throughout the world. These organisms take We have and still are implementing these processes by part in the decomposition of plant litter, recycling of amending Bricolage’s constitution. Additionally, we nutrients, form many symbiotic associations and are food are making changes to the journal itself by revising the for animals. Many species of fungi can be found only in submission criteria as well as refocusing our vision for it. areas where specific habitat requirements or environmental needs are met. With habitat destruction occurring TAP Sensory Evaluation throughout the world, there is concern that valuable fungus Kristin Pederson, Senior, Biology species will be lost. Fungi are sometimes sensitive to over- Mary Gates Scholar picking, intensive land management, pollution and loss of Mentor: Pierre D. Mourad, Neurosurgery unimproved grasslands. While fungi are a relatively new Mentor: Michel Kliot, Neurosurgery area of conservation concern, many European countries Mentor: Greg Terman, Anesthesiology have made efforts to increase public knowledge of fungi Mentor: Jerry Jarvik, Radiology and to improve the understanding of fungus life cycles and environmental requirements. This study focuses on Pain is a common indicator of a deeper medical condition. primary and secondary literature surrounding the British Current methods for diagnosing pain, however, are non- Mycological Society’s conservation efforts to increase specific and mostly invasive. For example, discography awareness about fungi, to survey the locations of endangered only probes the discs as a source of back pain when any fungi, and to take appropriate actions when valuable number of other anatomical structures could be causing habitat is found. Mycologists encounter difficulties when the pain. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) trying to conduct fungi surveys, as the fruiting bodies of has been proposed as a non-invasive diagnostic method many species may only be produced once every couple of for determining the source of pain. When applied, HIFU years. Further, many fungi, such as the Chytridiomycota causes transient heat and displacement in the tissue at and Zygomycota, are not currently considered because the focus, thereby offering a means to non-invasively they are difficult to detect. I will be focusing ontwo stimulate a particular anatomical site. HIFU stimulates

71 thermal receptors and mechanical receptors, allowing for facebook.com have become popular ways for young a comprehensive analysis of pain generators in various adults to connect with old friends and meet new ones. tissues. In a procedure called TAP (Transcutaneous These sites make it easy to communicate with other Acoustic Palpation), HIFU is used to stimulate possible users by publishing online profiles that describe yourself pain generators with HIFU. The expectation is that a and your interests. A characteristic feature of these differential response will be seen where the painful tissues sites is the opportunity to create online social networks feel HIFU at a lower acoustic dose than normal tissue. that include “off-line” friends as well as friends made Extensive studies have been performed on rats that have online. Despite the incredible popularity of these sites, shown that it is possible to differentiate between a paw our understanding of how and why people use them is still inflamed with Complete Freund’s Adjuvant and a normal in its infancy. In this research project, I study two facets paw using TAP. Current research looks to move the studies of online social networks. First, I examine the extent to forward into the human population. Preliminary data has which people’s web-based friendship networks simply been collected on humans where HIFU has been applied duplicate their “off-line” friendships. Second, I use social to individuals’ pointer fingers and increased the acoustic network theory, social exchange theory, and the “law” dose until they became uncomfortable with the sensation of homophily to better understand the process by which caused by HIFU. The data indicates that there is a people attempt to connect with others on social network threshold at which people respond to TAP in normal tissue. websites. Specifically, I hypothesize that asking strangers The next step forward is to begin a human study to test a to join one’s social network will reflect both a desire to larger population of subjects to determine a threshold in become friends with others who share interests, and to be humans and determine if TAP could be a viable method for connected with high status others (H1), but that friendship diagnosing pain. These studies would lead to more safety requests to users with similar profiles will be accepted studies in humans and then we would begin testing patients. at a higher rate than other requests (H2). My results are based on a systematic coding of profiles, augmented A new Superoxide Reductase model using pyridine by a survey of local users of myspace and facebook. ethylene diamine backbone ligands to probe the influence of thiolate in the coordination sphere A Data Reduction Algorithm for Evaluating the Brandt Pein, Junior, Chemistry and Mathematics Thrust Produced By the High Power Helicon Engine Mentor: Santiago Toledo, Chemistry David Peters, Senior, Aeronautics & Astronautics Mentor: Julie Kovacs, Chemistry Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Robert Winglee, Earth & Space Sciences Due to size and complexity small molecule biomimetic analogues have been used extensively in elucidating Electric propulsion systems can deliver an order of the mechanism and spectroscopic properties of magnitude performance increase over their chemical metalloenzymes. Superoxide Reductase (SOR) is an iron- counterparts. Before practical implementation, however, containing enzyme responsible for selectively reducing serious obstacles must be overcome such as electrode superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. The catalytically active erosion and thruster mass. The High Power Helicon site of SOR contains four histidine nitrogens and a cysteine (HPH) solves these problems by circumventing the use thiolate arranged in a square pyramidal geometry around of electrodes and by producing a more compact thruster. an FeII center. To date only few functional models and Before HPH can be considered a viable option, the some structural models of the enzyme have been reported. performance characteristics (thrust in particular) must be The role of thiolates sulfur in the mechanism of the evaluated. A rotational pendulum has been constructed enzyme has yet to be understood, thus the need for more and calibrated for steady state thruster operation and is synthetic models of SOR. Through the design of a thiolate now being used to directly measure the thrust of HPH. containing chelating ligand we attempt to probe directly Processing the data obtained from the thrust stand the influence of sulfur in the coordination sphere of the presents unique challenges due to the oscillatory nature complex. Herein we present the high yielding synthesis of the data. In order to speed up data reduction and also of a pyridine containing ethylene diamine based ligand to improve the accuracy and repeatability of the results, as the precursor to a thiolate containing pentacoordinate a data reduction algorithm is being developed using FeII complex. Metal complexation studies have been LabView. This algorithm will be integrated with the rest successful and preliminary reactivity towards several of the data acquisition system so that thrust measurements oxidants including superoxide radicals have been tested. will be available immediately after each shot.

The roles of Homophily and Social Exchange Theory in Social Networking Sites Lorelei Penera, Senior, Communication, Sociology Mentor: Katherine Stovel, Sociology

In the recent years, websites like myspace.com and

72 The Effects of Multiple Opinion Leaders On Learning in Arabidopsis. Small extracellular peptides have been and Retaining Motivational Interviewing postulated as diffusible intercell signals in this cascade, but David Petersen, Senior, Psychology and Business none have been previously identified. Two genes, SML1 Administration and SML2, are good candidates for involvement in stomatal Mary Gates Scholar patterning; they code for small extracellular proteins, and Mentor: John S. Baer, Psychology their expression profiles closely resemble that ofTMM . To test this hypothesis, I genotyped and observed Arabidopsis A commonly identified strategy of promoting innovations plants with mutated alleles of SML1 and SML2, sequenced into social systems is through the utilization of opinion the T-DNA insertions into the genes to estimate the severity leaders. This study examined the opinion leaders’ role in the of the mutations, and made crosses to generate sml1 learning of Motivational Interviewing (MI), an evidence- sml2 double-mutant plants. I found increased stomatal based treatment for addiction problems, within addiction density and irregular spacing in the sml1 sml2 double treatment agencies. Since MI is a complex set of therapeutic mutant, which supports the hypothesis that these genes skills, training and practice are typically necessary for play a role in determining stomatal patterning. Using my successful adoption. Opinion leaders presumably can double-mutant line, Dr. Masahiro Kanaoka in the Torii lab play an important role in supporting efforts to learn and has shown that the interactions of receptor-like kinases maintain MI skills, yet not every individual in a social involved in stomatal patterning are altered when SML1 and system views the same person as the opinion leader. This SML2 are missing. These genes appear to be significant study hypothesized that whom an individual identifies (or factors in determining stomatal distribution in Arabidopsis. doesn’t identify) as an opinion leader affects his or her ability to learn and retain MI. Opinion leaders, and their Hierarchical Classification of Human Activity followers, were identified in three different substance Laura Pina, Senior, Computer Engineering abuse treatment agencies receiving training in MI. Using Mentor: Jonathan Lester, Electrical Engineering clinicians’ reflection-to-question ratio as an indicator of Mentor: Gaetano Borriello, Computer Science & proficiency in MI, opinion leaders and their subgroups Engineering were compared within each agency. Differential learning was found between clinicians who were closely linked Currently, many of us spend much of our time at a specific to identified opinion leaders and clinicians who were not location, without any physical activity. In the United Stats in closely linked to identified opinion leaders in one of the particular, sedentary lifestyles and excessive consumption three agencies. In this agency, clinicians who reported of foods high in calories have led to an obesity epidemic. seeking information from an identified opinion leader The project I am currently working on seeks to develop displayed significantly higher proficiency in MI three sensing technology for monitoring a person’s physical months after the initial training than clinicians who did activity for a variety of applications. The main goal of not report seeking information from an identified opinion the group is to develop an unobtrusive personal activity leader. Limited variability in the formation of opinion recognition system that is practical and reliable, enough leader groups may have limited our ability to detect effects. to be carried throughout the day (in a mobile phone or These results suggest a need for methodological advances wristwatch form-factor). The system should be able to and encourage further study of individuals in social provide accurate journal data on a person’s physical systems for the adoption of clinical practice innovations. activity (e.g., walking, sitting, running, riding a bicycle, driving, etc.) at a fine-grain (i.e., every second). The Small Signaling Peptides Coordinate Epidermal principal element of the system is a multi-sensor board Patterning in Arabidopsis (MSB). The MSB has seven different sensors, including: a Kylee Peterson, Senior, Biology 3-axis digital accelerometer, a digital compass, light level Mary Gates Scholar sensors, and a digital barometer. My current responsibilities Mentor: Keiko U. Torii, Biology are to study and analyze different approaches to classifying physical activities using a hierarchical taxonomy. We are Ancestral plants, such as green algae, lived entirely collecting data from multiple subjects and analyzing it submerged in the water. Land plants have evolved with the various classifiers with the aim of determining specialized epidermal cells to avoid drying out in the air which approaches are more informational and/or accurate while retaining the ability to circulate oxygen and carbon for our applications. The focus thus far has been examining dioxide for photosynthesis and respiration. To minimize specific occasions when the system identified a physical water loss and maximize gas exchange, the distribution activity incorrectly; due to variations in movement across of the epidermal pores called stomata must be tightly different users and activities. These variations are due to regulated. This requires the coordinated expression the fact that the system uses a machine learning approach and function of several genes, including TOO MANY to classifying activities and bases its classifications on MOUTHS (TMM) , YODA, STOMATAL DENSITY AND positive and negative examples of a certain activity. DISTRIBUTION (SDD1), and the ERECTA family of genes Our hypothesis is that a more hierarchical approach to

73 classification will lead to better results as well as being homologous regions, significantly more activation in the capable of recognizing s wider range of physical activities. following left hemisphere regions is found in the frequent My work seeks to prove or disprove this hypothesis. condition: caudate, lateral inferior crus cerebellum, frontal inferior orbital, frontal inferior triangularis, and Using worms as a model to study a human disease insula. The frequent condition is also associated with Sridevi Pochincherla, Junior, Biochemistry significantly more activation in the right compared to left Mentor: Brian Kennedy, Biochemistry homologous regions in the superior anterior cerebellum and putamen. In the infrequent condition, the left inferior Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is precentral gyrus and insula, and right caudate and lateral one of the most common myopathy characterized by superior crus cerebellum showed significantly more degradation of specific muscle groups. FSHD is a genetic activation. Taken as a whole, syllable frequency appears disorder that is transmitted in an autosomal dominant to be an important factor to consider when examining fashion. This disease begins by weakening facial muscles the neural correlates of spoken language production. and slowly spreads affecting the entire human body in an unpredictable manner. A characteristic feature of the Linkages between remote and sub-surface disease is asymmetrical display of muscle weakness. To measurements of internal waves study the gene (FRG1) that is implicated in causing FSHD, Nathan Powel, Junior, Aeronautics & Astronautics and we are using a Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans), a Mathematics small soil nematode that feeds primarily on bacteria and Mary Gates Scholar microbes. C. elegans have a short life cycle, compact Mentor: Ellen Lettvin, Applied Physics Laboratory genome, stereotypical development, small size, ease of propagation, and are transparent throughout their lifecycles, Oceanic internal waves are currently observed using in- making them an ideal model for our study. We have situ sensors such as instrument chains on moored buoys, found a gene homologous to FRG1 in C. elegans, termed ship-mounted radar, and towed sonar instruments. Buoys ZK1010.3. I am constructing a transgenic C. elegans are immobile, can only observe small parts of any wave, strain that is over-expressing ZK1010.3, with a GFP-rol-6 and cannot be deployed in some territorial waters for marker. Preliminary analysis shows GFP expression in the political reasons. Shipboard sensors, though mobile, have walls of the vulva and we are characterizing an egg-laying similar political and range limitations to buoys. Synthetic defect. These studies will help define the function of aperture radar (SAR), a remote sensor, provides images of ZK1010.1 and understand how FRG1 contributes to FSHD. centimeter-scale ocean surface roughness, which internal waves are known to modulate, and previous studies have The neural correlates of non-word repetition: Does noted the presence of internal waves in SAR imagery. syllable frequency matter? However, because little is known of how the internal Rebecca Hunting Pompon, Post-baccalaureate, Speech & properties of the internal waves impact ocean surface Hearing Sciences roughness, SAR images currently can provide only Mentor: Margaret Rogers, Speech & Hearing Sciences qualitative data about internal waves. By investigating the linkages between sub-surface and remote measurements The current investigation uses functional magnetic of internal waves, we hope to facilitate the use of remote resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare the neural activation SAR sensors for gathering quantitative measurements of (as indicated by hemodynamic flow) associated with the internal waves. Satellite SAR observation does not have overt production of high versus low frequency syllables the same limitations as in-situ observation methods and, within non-words for 11 participants. SPM99 is used for with its greater perspective, allows entire internal waves analyses of group results, and the SPM Small Volume to be captured in a single image making it a potentially Comparison tool as well as MarsBaR (MARSeille Boîte À valuable tool in the study of internal waves. For our project, Région d’Intérêt) are used to conduct more detailed region remote SAR images from the South China Sea in summer of interest group analyses, including laterality contrasts. 2005 containing internal waves were collocated with sub- Results from the whole brain analysis suggest significant surface measurements of the same wave. Pixel intensity activation for both the frequent and infrequent conditions cross sections of the remote wave image were compared to in the bilateral crus cerebelli and the inferior precentral the in-situ measurements along the same geographic line gyri, and in the right superior temporal gyrus. Interestingly, to determine how the sub-surface properties of the internal whole brain analysis shows significant “deactivation” wave affected its SAR signature. Data collection for this – primarily in the infrequent condition – in the bilateral project is ongoing and we predict that additional analysis frontal superior gyri, supplementary motor area, anterior will enhance the usefulness of SAR remote sensing for cingulate, caudate, as well as the right anterior insula and researching internal waves and other ocean phenomena. the left putamen. Only the bilateral frontal superior gyri showed deactivation in the frequent condition. Using SPM mean contrast values to compare activation across

74 Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensing displacement value on the field, is used to identify and tag Joshua Probert, Junior, Bioengineering spurious displacement components. The bootstrapping Mary Gates Scholar process is repeated to generate new statistics from the Mentor: Clem Furlong, Medical Genetics untagged displacement components. This process is then repeated multiple times. The resulting mode field is In light of the increasing threat posed by bioterrorism, used as the correction field. Two different displacement bird flu, food contamination and the spread of disease, a fields, each with a different error type, are artificially rapid, portable sensor is needed to identify and track these generated to evaluate the performance of the method. The pathogens. While many bio-detection techniques exist, evaluation is done by measuring the deviation between Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is one of the fastest and the resulting mode field and the perfect displacement most versatile. The Furlong Biosensors lab and Seattle field. The method is then tested on a real turbulent jet Sensor Systems have developed an SPR sensor capable flow, which is obtained from www.pivchallenge.org. of detecting up to 24 separate analytes simultaneously. This device is rugged, compact and perfect for use in Mini-High Powered Helicon the field. However, it does not incorporate some of the Gregory Quetin, Senior, Aeronautics & Astronautics latest advances both in SPR sensing technology. SPR Mary Gates Scholar Microscopy, or SPR Imaging, would potentially allow Mentor: Robert Winglee, Earth & Space Sciences for thousands of different analytes to be processed simultaneously. But this methodology requires sensitive The High Powered Helicon (HPH) is a plasma experiment optical components like lenses, prisms and mirrors as that consists of a helical coil wrapped around a quartz well as some moving parts, which makes the device more tube, set inside an electromagnet and driven by a high fragile and prone to chipping, cracking or other damage. power radio frequency supply. The power supply switches Also, the required calibrations for microscopy to get linear hundreds of amps of current at radio frequencies in the data would limit the use of such a device to someone with helical antenna to couple energy into the plasma. The input extensive training. There are also limitations in our data of energy results in a high speed beam of plasma to be monitoring software. Although the sensor displays current ejected downstream from the antenna. To evaluate theories data, it does not display a time-course of data collected, about the coupling of energy into the plasma the physical and thus limits analysis options. Thus a computer is properties of the plum are measured. The HPH has been needed to store and analyze the data. This is done through funded as a possible in space plasma propulsion device a software program which lacks any statistical capabilities. and theorized as a source of Whistler wave coupling in For serious analysis, a MATLAB user interface program plasma for physics research. As a thruster the HPH creates is used. This would require the use of a laptop for many a very high velocity exhaust much faster than anything applications, and the addition of MATLAB for certain possible with conventional chemical rockets but with a data analysis techniques. For future devices, overhaul much smaller mass than current Electrical Propulsion of both the data analysis components on the sensor devices. The goal of this modification was to reduce the and, perhaps, implementation of the SPR Microscopy physical size of the HPH even more by creating a 2 cm technology will greatly improve the utility of this device. diameter antenna vs. the current 7 cm diameter antenna. Comparing data gathered on HPH to measurements on Mode-Ratio Bootstrapping Method for PIV Outlier the new miniHPH will help in better understanding of Correction the physics involved in the concept at a different scale. Chan Seng Pun, Senior, Industrial Engineering Reducing the size of the device also allows for a higher Mary Gates Scholar energy density to be realized or the possible use of less Mentor: Dana Dabiri, Aeronautics & Astronautics power in a thruster concept. Lower power and size are desirable for space propulsion because of the limits of the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) has been used current in-space power technology and expense of on-orbit extensively to measure velocities and other kinematic mass. The physical characteristics of the plasma generated properties of the observed fluid flows. However, the by miniHPH will be studied using Langmuir probes and an PIV images are always prone to spurious vectors due to ion energy analyzer as plasma diagnostics. This poster is a experimental variability which impedes our studies of report on the concept and characteristics of the miniHPH. velocity quantities. This research proposes a new method for correcting spurious displacement vectors obtained by Cellular Localization of Novel Regulator of G-Protein using PIV. Unlike methods that generate and use statistics Signaling 5 Isoforms from neighboring vectors towards outlier identification, a Stephanie Raghubeer, Senior, Biology bootstrapping process is employed to generate statistics Mentor: William Mahoney, Jr., Pathology for each component of a vector. The mode-ratio criterion, Mentor: Steven Schwartz, Pathology defined as the normalized absolute value of the difference between the mode of the generated statistics and the actual Regulator of G Protein Signaling (RGS) proteins are

75 a complex family of proteins that function to activate collection, it was found that the MRI at UW Medical Center GTPases, thereby regulating the action of G Protein operates for an average of 31 minutes per patient and is signaling. Differential expression of RGS5 in arteries vs idle for an average of 24 minutes per patient. It was also veins, presence in sites of active vessel remodeling, and found that the majority of idle time resulted from patient lack of RGS5 in the fibrous cap have been demonstrated changeover and because of this, has become our main in previous studies. RGS proteins, and specifically those focus of change. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was of the R4 subfamily, contain multiple conserved structural done comparing patient throughput to patient changeover domains. At the amino terminus, RGS5 has an amphipathic reduction. This analysis showed that a significant increase helix thought to function in membrane anchoring, a nuclear in throughput can occur with changeover reduction. export signal, and a cysteine residue at position 2 that Knowing this, further study can be done to implement plays a role in proteosomal degradation. At the carboxy Lean principles and reduce the time between changeovers. terminus, RGS5 has an RGS domain, which is responsible A focus and improvement on the significant causes and for GTPase activity, and a nuclear localization signal. sources of idle time will increase patient throughput and We determined that RGS5 may exist as several isoforms, eventually help the MRI department reach their goals. arising by alternative splicing. The a and b isoforms have alterations in their amino termini that may interfere with Robotic Rehabilitation: A More Compact the nuclear export signals. In addition, b contains an N- Pneumatically Driven Lower Extremity Orthosis with terminal cysteine to alanine variation which may affect Plans for Transformation into a Wheelchair its ability to be regulated by proteosomal degradation. Monty Reed, Junior, Biosynthetics General Studies To determine the cellular localizations of these different Mary Gates Scholar, NASA Space Grant isoforms, we transfected COS cells with plasmids Scholar encoding the various RGS5 isoforms and generated cellular Mentor: Steven Stiens, Rehabilitation Medicine fractionations: nuclear vs. cytoplasmic and membrane- Mentor: Karen Petersen, Biology bound vs. soluble. After performing western blots and immunofluorescence, we observed that wild-type (WT), a, There are many potential robotics applications in and b localize to the membrane, with b present in soluble rehabilitation. Addressing the problems of lower limb fractions as well. Upon treatment with a proteosomal loss and paralysis, we have fabricated a brace support inhibitor, WT, a, b were strongly visible in membrane structure monitored for position and animated by fraction, and also present in smaller amounts in the soluble pneumatically driven actuators to mimic gait. We present fractions. In addition, WT localizes to the cytosol, a to the the current prototype LIFESUIT14 (LS14) from a series nucleus, and b is present in both nuclear and cytoplasmic of demonstration projects. Passive movement and weight fractions. The knowledge of isoform localization and supported ambulation has been accomplished with structure can help elucidate the differential roles of these beneficial results. Patients enjoy the mobility provided isoforms in the cell, and their effect on G Protein signaling. by wheelchairs and upright ambulation lower extremity orthoses. We have explored the possibility of combining MRI Operations Process Analysis powered lower extremity orthotic components and with David Mendez, Junior, Industrial Engineering rear wheels and front casters from a wheelchair to produce Jayson Valencia, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering a hybrid device that allows seated propulsion and upright Magaly Ramirez, Sophomore, Industrial Engineering pneumatically driven ambulation. The improvements Mentor: Richard Storch, Industrial Engineering include: additional axis of movement in the hips and ankles of the brace and reduction in the length of the pneumatic Lean Manufacturing is defined by a set of principles that actuator motors and an overall reduction of the bulk of the promote the improvement of productivity, waste reduction, robotic suit. These improvements have reduced the overall improvement of product quality, and lower manufacturing gadget factor associated with the device that usually costs. These techniques can also be applied in hospitals in causes apprehension on the part of a potential user while the form of Lean Healthcare. The University of Washington improving the comfort, flexibility and overall performance Medical Center, Department of Radiology has set goals of this demonstration device. Future developments will to improve the MRI facilities and operations in order to include construction of the next prototype LIFESUIT15 assist in becoming one of the top 10 diagnostic imaging (LS15) increasing the axis of rotation from12 axis departments in the world. Their main goal is to increase in LS14 to 22 axis in LS15. Implementation of patient throughput by implementing Lean healthcare “Mechanical Balance” whereby the robotic suit will principles. For this reason, Industrial Engineering was balance without the use of dynamic balance electronics asked to evaluate the process flow of the MRI operations or software. Biosynthetic muscle fibers as actuators and at the UW Medical Center. The purpose was to assess Biosynthetic Inner Ear for balance will also be explored the MRI operation’s current state in order to make for implementation into future versions of the LIFESUIT. recommendations to properly implement Lean healthcare and increase patient throughput. Through 8 months of data

76 Determination and Application of Glioma Diffusion vocabulary use, utterance complexity, and intelligibility Rates in vivo: A Computational Approach (the extent to which the utterances could be understood). Patrick Reed, Senior, Applied & Computational In addition, the caretakers provided information on the Mathematical Sciences and Biochemistry nature and size of the child’s vocabulary. When they Mary Gates Scholar were 5 years old, the children were brought back to the Mentor: Kristin Swanson, Pathology laboratory and given a battery of standardized tests that measure aspects of language. The goal of the study was to Glioma, a highly diffuse primary brain cancer, is uniformly examine relationships between language measures at 18 fatal with an average survival time of less than one year. and 24 months and the outcomes of the tests at 5 years. Mathematically, the behavior of glioma cell concentration This project will shed light on early predictors of language as a function of position and time, in vivo, can be modeled proficiency that may, in turn, enable early identification by a partial differential equation which is dependent and intervention of language difficulties. In addition, predominantly upon the tumors net rate of proliferation the findings will provide a profile of linguistic skills in and its net rate of diffusion. Further, the rate of glioma toddlers and their relationship to later language outcomes. cell diffusion has been shown to diverge markedly when invading the grey (Dg) and white (Dw) matter of the brain. Through the Eyes of Family and Nurses: A Closer No technique has previously been shown to quantitatively Look at End-of-Life Care in ICUs determine Dg and Dw uniquely for a given patient. This Rianne Reichner, Junior, Nursing fact has been, until now, a hindrance to the development Nicole Landreth, Junior, Nursing of more accurate, patient specific simulations of a tumor’s Mentor: Sarah E. Shannon, Biobehavioral Nursing & most probable path of invasion; simulations which would Health Systems likely prove invaluable to the treatment of this disease. The computational technique we have developed works Older adults do not always have a choice of where they will by segmenting concurrent sets of patient MR images spend the last days of their lives. Approximately 20% of into probabilistic grey and white matter maps, and tumor all Americans will die in an intensive care setting. In order position. From this data we can then calculate distributions to maintain the highest quality of care, it is important to of diffusion values for grey and white matter. These enhance the care nurses provide and create an environment distributions give insight not only into the relationship that is respectful to patients and their family members. The between Dw and Dg, but more interestingly, into a possible Integrating Palliative and Critical Care (IPACC) study is underlying principle which drives glioma cell behavior in currently being conducted at 13 community hospitals in white matter. Emerging research suggests that glioma cell the Pacific Northwest. As a part of this study, surveys on dispersion in white matter may not be best modeled by the quality of the dying experience and the quality of health simple random diffusion. Instead, there is evidence that care team-family communication were distributed to nurses glioma cells preferentially migrate in the direction of the and family members subsequent to the death of a patient fiber tracts in the white matter of the brain. Diffusion Tensor in the ICU. For this project, we analyzed the comments Magnetic Resonance imaging is a technology capable of written in response to open-ended questions, “Do you mapping the structure and direction of these tracts in three have any comments on things we did well?” and, “Do you dimensions. Our preliminary results support this hypothesis have any suggestions on how to make care provided in the of preferential migration, and as such support the integration ICU better?” Data were analyzed using content analysis of DT-MRI data into the modeling of glioma behavior. techniques including identification of recurring themes. In addition, significant stories were identified and analyzed The relationship between early language development separately for their illustrative meanings. The goal of this and language outcomes at 5 years: A longitudinal project is to identify what health care professionals, such study as nurses, can do to change their own practice in order Star Sinclair Reed, Senior, Speech & Hearing Sciences to provide dying patients and their families with the care Mentor: Carol Stoel-Gammon, Speech & Hearing they desire. Making the results of this study available Sciences to health care professionals will guide them to improve their care of dying ICU patients and their families. The purpose of this study is to investigate the predictive value of early linguistic development on language performance Lithic Technology Production at the Tanginak Spring at the age of five years. Speech samples from 29 children Site: Analysis of Microdebitage were collected at 18 months and 24 months as the children Cedar Reimer, Senior, Archaeology interacted with a caretaker and experimenter. According Mentor: Benjamin Fitzhugh, Archaeology to parental report, the children did not exhibit deficits in speech or language development and their hearing and Tanginak Spring (KOD481), located on Sitkalidak Island cognitive level was within normal range. The videotaped in the Kodiak Archipelago of Alaska, is an archaeological samples were transcribed and analyzed to determine site that has contributed to the understanding of complex

77 hunter-gatherers and island colonization. KOD481 creating a light curve for any public transiting system yielded a substantial lithic assemblage (stone tools and with data taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Obstacles production byproducts), which shows a shift from a in this research include filtering out cosmic rays and dominance of core-and-blade technology to one based adjusting image masks for astrometric drifting. We are on bifacial projectile points. This technological shift has studying the effect of the planet TrES-1 as it makes an been interpreted as evidence that KOD481 represents part transit in front of it’s star HD189733. After light curves of a colonization phase in the archipelago. However, with small error are generated, the timing will be studied preliminary analysis of the macroflake assemblage is not and conclusions about possible new planets can be drawn. consistent with the shift. This raises the question: were bifacial tools from KOD481 produced on-site or were they The Organizational Cultures of Unions: A Case Study imported? To address this problem, this research project of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union focuses on analysis of microdebitage (or microflakes) from (ILWU) KOD481. Microdebitage was identified to material type for George Robertson, Junior, History and Political Science comparison with the raw material distribution of the tool Elizabeth Fawthrop, Junior, Political Science and Labor assemblage and macroflakes. If bifacial tools were in fact Studies imported to KOD481 after initial production, I hypothesize AJ Smith, Sophomore, Psychology and Sociology that microflakes will show a raw material distribution Ashleigh King, Senior, Geography and Political Science similar to bifacial tools (due to on-site sharpening and Mentor: Margaret Levi, Political Science retouch) and macroflakes should match the distribution of non-bifacial tools alone. Alternatively, if both tool types Building on the work of the Union Democracy Reexamined were produced at KOD481, then the combined macro- working group, this project seeks to illuminate and and microflake raw material distribution (representing all discuss the factors that determine the nature of a union’s tool production byproduct) should be similar to the entire organizational culture, and understand how this culture tool assemblage, with the microflake distribution alone affects the preferences of union members. Using the still being similar to bifacial tools. However, there is the example of the International Longshore and Warehouse possibility that the microflake raw material distribution Union (ILWU), we critically examine how the character will not follow either predicted pattern, and additional of the union’s organizational culture relates to its ongoing questions, such as collection or sample bias or pre- support of civil rights, international labor solidarity and depositional artifact removal, will have to be addressed. other ‘social justice’ issues, which often have little bearing In offering further analysis of the lithic assemblage, this on the immediate welfare of union members. How do project hopes to shed further light on KOD481 as part factors such as rank-and-file democracy, leadership, of a colonization event, and may possibly be useful in and institutional structure contribute to a union’s addressing some of the complexities of the site stratigraphy. organizational culture, and in this case, facilitate ‘social justice’ unionism? How does the relationship between Searching for Additional Extrasolar Planets in the union and its members, and among the rank and file, Systems with Known Transits affect and reflect the union’s organizational culture? In Thomas Riecken, Freshman, Astronomy seeking to answer these questions the group has utilized Niki Gilliland, Freshman, Astronomy a paired comparison between the Seattle and Tacoma Mentor: Eric Agol, Astronomy locals of the ILWU. We have conducted a number of interviews with the retired pensioners of both the locals. Can earth sized planets be detected by studying the timing These interviews supplement a historical comparison that of systems with known planetary transits? Roughly a examines the willingness of both locals to engage in social dozen stars have been found that have system inclinations justice activism, particularly in terms of their responses to close to ninety degrees. This means that astronomers the political “screening” of ILWU members in the early can observe of a drop in light due to large planets close 1950’s, as well as other, more recent issues. GIS technology to their parent stars passing between the star and earth. was used to map the changing patterns of housing and This measurable cycle can be scrutinized, and if the period fraternizing amongst ILWU members, and an analysis is inconsistent, then another mass must be interacting in of the changes in ILWU hiring practices has helped us that planetary system. One possible reason could be the understand how the changing demographic make-up of the existence of a small interior rocky world, which would union has affected the union’s political culture. Although be a monumental find. If we found another planet then the research is ongoing, our work does indicate that while it would be the first detection of a second planet ina the rank-and-file may have experienced the ILWU’s ‘social solar system by the transit timing method. Despite the justice’ culture differently, there was an aggregate change possibility of small planets, at such proximity to the star, in the expectations of how the union should function. the habitable zone is not possible; but such detections are another step closer to finding a world that astrobiologists might one day scrutinize. The focus of this research is

78 Quantifying Particulate Air Pollution: Measuring in non-essential genes are maintained in a homogenomic Reflectance of Light-Absorbing Carbon state form the basis for this screen. We are currently Jana Rone, Senior, Environmental Health working to provide proof of concept for a large-scale Mentor: Sally Jane Liu, Environmental & Occupational functional genomics approach to addressing this question. Health Sciences The Effects of Dance Movement Therapy on On a global scale, urban air pollution kills an estimated Depression in Adolescent Girls 800,000 people prematurely each year. Within the United Ami Roy, Senior, Nursing and Dance States, an estimated range of 60-100 deaths per one million Mentor: Jane Cornman, Family &Child Nursing people represents the consequence of urban air pollution Mentor: Gail Bond, Psychosocial & Community Health generated by vehicles, industries, energy production processes, and the natural environment. Urban air The emergence of dance therapy in the last decade has pollution is a complex mixture of many toxic components. introduced the use of movement to enhance the psychosocial Particulate matter (PM) is one component that has been well-being in a variety of populations, including children, consistently linked with minor to severe health effects, adults, victims of abuse and individuals suffering from including reduced respiratory function, exacerbation of cancer. The purpose of the study is to investigate the asthma symptoms, cardiovascular disease and premature therapeutic effects of dance movement therapy (DMT) on death. Recognizing that diesel exhaust is a major source adolescent girls with depression. A computerized literature of PM, the UW Diesel School Bus Study is attempting search from psychology, medicine, dance and women to quantify the levels of on-bus diesel exhaust exposure studies was conducted. The search revealed 20 articles to the respiratory health of elementary school children. related to the effects of DMT on psychosocial well-being, Measuring diesel exhaust PM that has a diameter of 2.5 but only two of these studies investigated the effects of micrometers (PM2.5) is a key feature of this study as it is DMT on depression among adolescent girls. Of these two with state and national environmental agency monitoring studies, one was a meta-analysis dating back to 1996 on programs. The study applies the reflectance method to the effects of DMT. The meta-analysis included studies quantify the amount of light-absorbing carbon, a close that used either a descriptive or experimental design proxy for elemental carbon, to collected particulate matter (quantitative or qualitative analysis). The second study samples. A smoke-stain reflectometer measures the light- was an experimental design with a control group using absorbing carbon component of PM2.5 samples collected quantitative methods. Both studies were reviewed based on Teflon filters by directly determining the intensity of on my search criteria that included: use of DMT as an light reflected through the particulate samples, and is one of intervention, quantitative or qualitative analysis, descriptive the particulate measurement methods utilized by the study. or experimental design, and adolescent girls suffering from An assessment of the scope, effectiveness, limitations, and depression. The literature review found evidence that DMT progress of the reflectance method will be provided in this sessions may improve negative psychological symptoms presentation, as well as a synopsis of the general study. associated with mild depression in adolescent girls. Evidence also shows that DMT modulates neurohormones Generation of a functional genomics screen for in these young girls, with increased serotonin and essential genes in Azotobacter vinelandii DJ2 decreased dopamine levels suggesting therapeutic effects James Rosser, Senior, Biology, Seattle Pacific University on depression. This review demonstrates the limited Mentor: Derek Wood, Biology body of knowledge with regard to the effects of DMT on depression among adolescent girls. Recommendations Azotobacter vinelandii is a soil-dwelling gram-negative for future studies on DMT include the use of randomized bacterium that is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen controlled trials, larger sample sizes, assessment of under aerobic conditions. Recently, the 5.36 Mb genome DMT as an intervention over longer time periods, and of A. vinelandii has been sequenced and annotation evaluation of the long-term effectiveness of DMT is currently under way by a collaboration of research focusing on symptoms of depression in adolescent girls. universities that involves both graduate and undergraduate students. Additionally, functional genomics studies of A. The Role of Maternal Microchimerism in Renal vinelandii are taking place. Specifically, this study seeks Injury, Inflammation, and Regeneration to identify all essential and non-essential genes under Scott Sabo, Freshman, Biology nitrogen-limiting conditions. To address this goal a Tn5 Mentor: Anne M. Stevens, Pediatric Rheumatology mutant library is being constructed in A. vinelandii DJ2. Several previous studies have reported that A. vinelandii Maternal microchimerism (MMc) results from the natural maintains between 4 and 50 copies of its genome exchange of cells from mother to child during pregnancy. depending on growth conditions. This observation coupled Increased levels of MMc in blood and tissues have been with findings indicating that mutations in essential genes found in patients with autoimmune diseases, but it is are maintained in a heterogenomic state while mutations not known if these cells are specifically involved in the

79 development of the disease itself. Instead, these cells may knotweed roots and the quantification of new shoot be recruited in response to non-specific inflammation. development focusing on number of shoots emerging MMc lives on unnoticed in the host body, but when injury and their growth rate. By quantifying the differences occurs these “foreign” cells may be recruited to help mend in the parameters, we maybe able to verify if mowing the injury. Our lab hypothesizes that these “foreign” cells, is an effective control method for Japanese knotweed. i.e. MMc, will proliferate in response to organ-specific The results are inconclusive due to the need for more injury. In order to test this hypothesis, green fluorescent experimentation which will be preformed by March 13. protein (GFP) +/- female mice were bred to GFP-/- males and their resulting progeny were genotyped for Methamphetamine-Induced Locomotor Sensitization the presence of the GFP gene. Renal injury was induced is Dependent on D1 Dopamine Receptors in GFP-/- progeny via intramuscular glycerol injection Christine Scarlis, Senior, International Studies to induce rhabdomyolysis. Blood samples were taken Whitney Hanan, Senior, Biology at d0, d1, and d3 and the plasma assayed for blood urea Mentor: Nigel Bamford, Neurology nitrogen (BUN) to monitor renal failure. The amount of MMc during the stages of acute injury, inflammation, and The basic “striatal microcircuit” consists of corticostriatal regeneration is being quantified by real-time quantitative glutamatergic projections and nigrostriatal dopaminergic PCR for the GFP gene and by immunofluorescence for projections that form synapses on the medium spiny neuron GFP expression in kidneys. Preliminary results suggest dendrites. Addictive drugs such as methamphetamine that MMc is common in the mouse kidney, and that levels release extracellular dopamine, which modulates do not significantly change in response to inflammatory or glutamate release through D2-dopamine receptors located repair signals. This data does not support a model in which on corticostriatal terminals. To determine the effect of maternal cells are recruited to any sites of inflammation. repeated psychostimulants on striatal function, we treated mice with methamphetamine (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 10 Impact of Mowing Japanese Knotweed on Soil days and challenged with amphetamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) Chemistry and Root/Shoot Regeneration during withdrawal. Corticostriatal release (t1/2) was Ben Sachs, Senior, Environmental Science & Resource determined in striatal slices using the endocytic tracer Management FM1-43. Chronic methamphetamine produced a persistent Brian Boehm, Senior, Environmental Science & Resource depression (>3 months) in corticostriatal release (t1/2=335 Management sec vs. 203 sec for saline-treated controls; p<0.001) that Mentor: Robert Harrison, Forestry was partially reversed by drug reinstatement in withdrawal Mentor: Robert Edmonds, Forestry (t1/2=285 sec; p<0.001, ANOVA). This potentiation was occluded with a D1 receptor agonist in vitro (SKF38393; Invasive plants pose a constant problem for resource 10 μM; t1/2=233 sec; p>0.001), which had no effect managers in many federal, state and local agencies. on controls (t1/2=185 sec; p>0.5, ANOVA). Repeated Polygonum cuspidatum, also known as Japanese knotweed methamphetamine enhanced locomotor ambulations has proven to be especially difficult to control due to to amphetamine challenges in withdrawal (p<0.001, its rapid growth and ability to spread quickly over large repeated measures ANOVA). This sensitized behavioral areas, displacing native vegetation. A common control response was also dependent on D1-receptor actions technique is to cut or mow knotweed during the summer as the antagonist SCH 23390 (10 and 20 μg/kg s.c., 30 months in an effort to deplete nutrient reserves in the minutes prior to amphetamine) decreased ambulatory roots. Depleting nutrient reserves in the roots is believed responses in a dose dependent manner (p<0.001) whereas to reduce the vigor and quantity of new spring shoots. controls were unaffected (p>0.5, ANOVA). Thus, chronic This in turn may reduce the impacts to native vegetation. methamphetamine induced a state of persistent striatal This study looks at the impact that mowing over a five- depression that was reversed by a drug challenge. This year period has had on the regeneration of new knotweed potentiation in glutamate release from corticostriatal shoots at Al Borlin Park in Monroe, Washington. The soil projections suggests that locomotor sensitization may chemistry is examined and compared between non-mowed be determined through a new D1 receptor effect that and mowed knotweed sites and adjacent native vegetation. is observed only in mice with previous exposure to Specifically, we examined soil pH of both air dried and psychostimulants. This psychostimulant-induced synaptic field moist soil, organic matter content, soil moisture, plasticity provides further insight into pharmacological and the carbon-nitrogen ratio of the soil. These chemical alternatives for the treatment of drug dependence, Tourette analyses are done to determine the differences between syndrome and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. the three sites and see if the soil itself is changed by the Japanese knotweed, and if so, how? We will also monitor the root portion of the plant for CO2 respiration, evidence of differences in strength of root chemical exudates, carbon-nitrogen ratios between mowed and non-mowed

80 Introduction of Critical Thinking Components to calibration system is that photosensitive position sensor that Astronomy 101 Exercises it requires, is very expensive, power consuming, and large. Shannon Schmoll, Senior, Astronomy By using the SFE to capture an image of a paper target and Mary Gates Scholar using various image processing techniques, we can map Mentor: Ana Larson, Astronomy the coordinates of each pixel in the distorted image to the corresponding pixel in the target image. This will allow Critical Thinking (CT) is an essential part of teaching us to develop a system for calibrating the device that will introductory level science courses through promoting eliminate the need for the current, costly photosensitive understanding and retention of subject material. CT position scanner. The completion of this project will help elements are generally lacking in the University of create a less expensive, less complex device, which requires Washington introductory level astronomy classes, less power, helping to make the team’s long-term goal of especially in exercises presented in quiz sections. Students universal access to low-cost healthcare more achievable. struggle particularly with the concept of trigonometric parallax. Here we present a revised exercise which Measuring Phagocytic Activity of Microglial Cell includes a tutorial and comprehensive questions on the Lines In Vitro Using Fluorescent Techniques trigonometric parallax of stars, with CT and multiple other Luke Seaburg, Senior, Neurobiology components included. The revised exercise was given Mary Gates Scholar to students in the Autumn 2006 Astronomy 101 class. Mentor: Gwenn Garden, Neurology The Autumn 2006 class was then evaluated through the same methods and questions as the Autumn 2005 class, Microglia are inflammatory cells of the CNS that participate which was given the original, unrevised exercise. The in the maintenance of homeostasis. One role of microglia is results show that adding the critical thinking components to phagocytose unwanted extracellular particles, including significantly improved student understanding and retention bacteria, or the apoptotic bodies of dead endogenous cells. on this topic. We also present the procedures we used This phagocytic activity may be a useful indicator of the in writing an exercise that emphasized critical thinking, level of reactivity of these cells. Proper measurement of including our various editing processes. These procedures phagocytic activity could also be useful in understanding could be applied to any exercise or lab to be revised in the the pathogenesis of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s Astronomy Department as well as other UW departments. Disease, stroke, or HIV-associated dementia. We have focused on two methods of measurement, one using Low Cost Calibration Process for Scanning Fiber fluorophore conjugated E. coli derived particles. These Endoscopes bio-particles are applied to cells in vitro and the cells are Mallory Scola, Senior, Computer Engineering given time to phagocytose them. After this the extracellular Mary Gates Scholar fluorescence is quenched and average fluorescence from Mentor: Eric J. Seibel, Mechanical Engineering the phagocytosed bio-particles is measured. The second method uses two different fluorescent dyes to stain the cell Endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic medical membranes of microglia. One set of cells are stained red procedure used to view the interior surfaces of an organ by and bombarded with ultraviolet light to induce apoptosis, inserting an instrument called an endoscope into the body; while a green dye is applied to healthy microglia. The these procedures will benefit from flexible endoscopes red apoptotic cells are applied to the second set of that are extremely thin yet produce high quality images. healthy green cells and incubated at 37 degrees Celsius The Human Interface Technology Lab at the University of to allow healthy microglia time to phagocytose apoptotic Washington has developed a Scanning Fiber Endoscope cells. The cultures are then fixed and can be imaged by (SFE) to provide full color, high resolution images from fluorescent microscopy or analyzed by Flow Cytometry. a flexible endoscope with a small tip diameter. The SFE Any measured changes in phagocytosis due to bioactive works by projecting light through a single optical fiber agents can potentially assist in our understanding of which is vibrated and scanned over a target area, the both the molecular mechanism of the agent, as well backscattered light is then captured and a two-dimensional as what effect that agent might have at the tissue level. image of the target area is created one pixel at a time. In order to properly construct the image on a pixel-by- Fluorescent, Polymer-coated Quantum Dots in pixel basis, the precise positional information of every Medicine point in time of the scanning pattern must be known by Mark Sena, Sophomore, Bioengineering the controller. Any positional inaccuracies will result in Mary Gates Scholar a distortion of the image. However, by calibrating and Mentor: Xiaohu Gao, Bioengineering characterizing the scan pattern of an individual SFE we are able to compensate for distortions caused by the It has been shown that Quantum dots (QDs) have great positional differences between the expected scan pattern potential for use in medicine as novel, nanoscale tools and the actual scan pattern. The problem with the current for biomolecular screening, disease diagnostics and

81 medical imaging. These nanoparticles display unique size- and the role of ownership in democratically developing dependent optical properties such as tunable fluorescence countries. I will also analyze some of the limitations and across the visible spectrum. Light emitting QDs are obstacles that Ugandan journalism faces and make some composed of crystalline semiconductor materials and general policy suggestions that may improve Ugandan range in size from 2-8 nanometers in diameter. In order to democracy through the strengthening of the press. make QDs compatible with living systems, and safe to use as imaging agents in the body, the surface of these highly Memory in macaques: a cross-species analysis fluorescent, inorganic particles must be modified. Our Nahzinine Shakeri, Senior, Biology (Physiology) and work has shown that QDs can be coated with protective Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations bifunctional polymers that have affinity for aqueous Mary Gates Scholar solutions. These specialized compounds have repeating Mentor: Dorothy Mandell, Wake Forest University School hydrophobic (water fearing) and hydrophilic (water loving) of Medicine subunits along their length. Through nonpolar interactions Mentor: Gene P. Sackett, Psychology, Washington between polymer side chains and the nanoparticle surface, National Primate Research Center polymer strands self assemble around QDs. The resulting particle surface is thus saturated with hydrophilic groups M. nemestrina (Mn) and M. fascicularis (Mf) are old which render it stable and water-soluble. Our lab can then world monkey species of the genus Macaca. They occupy conjugate an array of molecular probes such as antibodies usually distinct, but sometimes overlapping, geographical or DNA fragments to the surface-modified QDs and use ranges in Southeast Asia. There is evidence for significant them to target specific biomolecules. For example, these genetic, morphological and behavioral divergence can be antigens in a patients blood that signal the presence between these species, suggesting the hypothesis that there of a particular disease, complementary DNA used in gene are also differences in cognitive abilities. The present chips, or proteins that are displayed by tumor cells of a study investigates species differences in memory. Four particular cancer type. Serving as multicolor fluorescent yearling Mn and 5 yearling Mf were trained to perform tags, targeted quantum dots enable the multiplexed a memory assessment task on a touch screen computer. detection of these biomarkers in highly sensitive assays. Animals saw a list of images, presented one at a time. Each In the future, our lab hopes to show that surface pasivated, image remained on the screen for 10 seconds or until the polymer coated QDs can be used safely in vivo as imaging animal cleared the item by touching it. After seeing the agents for the visualization of tumors in the body. entire list of images, animals were given test trials pairing a list image with a novel image. Animals demonstrated Uganda: A Case of No-Party Politics, Problematic recognition of the list item by choosing the novel image - Press Ownership, and Persistent Journalists novelty being a typical preference of young monkeys. List Karina Seyler, Senior, Communication and Political length began with 2 images and progressed to 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 Science and 15 images. The next highest list was presented when Mentor: Kirsten Foot, Communication the monkey reached a criterion of greater than 80% correct on the previous list. On reaching the 15 image list, animals Despite having a relatively repressive government, were tested for 10 days regardless of performance. Animals Uganda’s media system surpasses most other African not reaching criterion on the 10 image list within 10 days, media systems in terms of being vocal, democratic, were not tested on the 15 image list. One Mn and one innovative, and highly critical of the current government. Mf did not reach criterion on the 10 image list. Repeated However, Uganda’s press is only “free” in comparison to measures ANOVA analyzing proportion of trials correct what it has been in the past. My research seeks to explore on lists 2–7, the lengths achieved by all animals, revealed a the relationship between press and politics in Uganda by main effect of list length (F(4,28)=3.59,p=.017,ε=1.0)and focusing on Uganda’s fragile democracy. This study will a trend for a species difference(F(1,7)=5.38,p=.053). Mf be addressed in four ways. First, through a comprehensive had higher performance levels than Mn, especially on the review of the research and literature that addresses the shorter lengths. All animals had better performance with role of the press in the democratization of developing longer lists. Animals performed most poorly on a length countries. Secondly, I will conduct an in-depth analysis of 2 (Mn:M=.69%,SE=.04; Mf:M=.77%,SE=.04)and of the various documents and legal provisions relating performed best on a length of 5(Mn:M=.85%,SE=.04; Mf: to freedom of press in Uganda. Thirdly, through content M=.81%,SE=.03). There were no significant differences analysis of two local newspapers, the government owned between the species on lists of 15 images (t(5)=1.11,p=.32; newspaper New Vision, and the independently owned Mn:M= .73%,SE=.02; Mf:M=.70%,SE=.01.Both species newspaper The Monitor. And lastly, by conducting performed well and comparably on the most challenging surveys with Ugandan university students about freedom list length. This suggests that species differences on the of press and participating in interviews with various actors shorter lengths are not attributable to memory capacity, involved in the relationship between press and politics. but may reveal species differences in attention or flexible This study will illustrate the importance of a free press rule usage. Perhaps Mn and Mf evolved to process and use

82 information differently due to varying selective pressures temperatures. Cloning and sequencing the 16S rDNA of their distinct evolutionary environments. In any case, the region of the seawater environmental samples revealed results show that memory differences exist between Mn and close taxonomic relationships to the a-Proteobacteria, Mf, and these differences do warrant further investigation. b-Proteobacteria, and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium- Bacteroides (CFB) groups. We found three operational Dynamic Interactions of Live Group B Streptococci taxonomic units (OTUs) most closely related to the CFB with Soluble and Absorbed Fibronectin group, which has been known to survive at the lowest Jared Shannon, Recent Graduate, Bioengineering temperatures in sea ice and are often found associated with Undergraduate Research Travel Award particles. Three more OTUs were most closely related to Recipient the a-Proteobacteria, the majority of which were associated Mentor: David Castner, Bioengineering with the SAR11 clade, which is ubiquitous in all oceans. The last OTU is from the b-Proteobacteria. With only Group B Streptococci (GBS) are a leading cause of sepsis fourteen clones in the clone library, we could expect to and meningitis in newborns, and an emerging cause of find more OTUs if we sequenced more seawater clones. serious bacterial infections in immunocompromised adults and the elderly. The streptococcal C5a peptidase Executive Function and Language Experience in (ScpB) of GBS is a surface associated endopeptidase Children that is found in virtually all clinical isolates of GBS. Ru-Shin Shieh, Senior, Psychology, Speech & Hearing ScpB inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis by enzymatically Sciences cleaving the complement component C5a. ScpB is also a Mary Gates Scholar known Fibronectin (Fn) adhesin; however, it only binds to Mentor: Stephanie M. Carlson, Psychology immobilized Fn and not soluble Fn. This research focuses on using the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to probe Executive function refers to skills that control and suppress live GBS with Fn in two different conformational states. thought and action, such as attention, self-regulation, First, GBS is probed with Fn chemisorbed directly to a working memory, planning, cognitive flexibility, and gold coated AFM cantilever, and second, Fn is tethered monitoring errors. One way that executive function can to the probe via the bifunctional cross linker pyridyldithio be expressed is through self-control (inhibitory control). poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) succinimidylpropionate, then Self-control improves dramatically in early childhood and back filled with a shorter PEG silane. This immobilization it is related to several important aspects of cognitive and strategy is designed to present FN on the probe in a soluble social development. Early research has found that there is form. Control experiments with Bovine Serum Albumin a link between executive function and bilingualism. This showed that the adhesion was specific for Fn, and it was suggests that bilingual speakers are better at suppressing found that adhesion forces were higher with Fn adsorbed their thought processes compared with speakers of only onto gold than with the soluble presentation of Fn. one language because of their advanced mental ability to switch between two languages (Bialystok, 1999). Comparing the Molecular Phylogenetic Diversity of Thus, bilingual individuals may have an advantage Arctic Sea Ice and Seawater Bacteria over monolingual individuals in cognitive functioning. Alyssa Sheih, Sophomore, Bioengineering The current research is a replication and extension of Mentor: Jody W. Deming, Oceanography previous research with Spanish-English bilinguals and Mentor: R. Eric Collins, Oceanography their executive function (Carlson & Meltzoff, 2007). In this new study, we administer different executive Sea ice covers a large portion of the Arctic Ocean and is one function tasks to preschoolers (Korean-English bilingual of the coldest marine habitats on Earth. It serves as a home speakers, English speakers, and Korean speakers). By for many microorganisms, including Bacteria and Archaea, measuring executive function in children with different which live in brine pockets within the ice. The purpose language backgrounds, we can examine whether language of this project was to study the molecular phylogenetic experiences influence children’s self-control ability. diversity of Arctic sea ice and seawater bacteria during the winter. Although previous research has explored the Modeling Forward Scattering in KH15D phylogenetic diversity of sea ice bacteria in the spring and Devin Silvia, Senior, Astronomy and Physics summer, little is known about the same communities during Mary Gates Scholar, Space Grant Scholar the winter. This project aims to further our understanding Mentor: Eric Agol, Astronomy of Arctic bacterial diversity and may provide a baseline for future researchers to compare present bacterial diversity KH 15D is a spectroscopic binary that appears to be to changes in the future caused by global warming. surrounded by a circumbinary disk of gas and dust. Due Winter Arctic sea ice and seawater samples from Franklin the orientation of the system, this T-Tauri star undergoes Bay, Northwest Territories, Canada were examined to periodic eclipses that last for a substantial portion of better understand the diversity of bacteria at subzero the binary orbit. Currently, one of the stars of KH 15D

83 is completely blocked from view and the visible star design, I have also solved several other short-comings is undergoing increasingly longer eclipses as the disk of the original LERIX design, which would further precesses around the stellar objects. The goal of our improve the ease of use and reliability of LERIX-2 with research has been to develop a model for KH 15D that will respect to its predecessor. Preliminary machining and accurately predict the motion of the stars, the motion of the assembly of a prototype, 6-foot diameter hemispherical disk, and the flux we receive from the binary. Currently, support structure for LERIX-2 will begin shortly. we have arrived at a set of parameters that appear to accurately model the system. The most important Searching for Supernovae and Other Variable Objects component of our model is the inclusion of two parameters in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey designed to account for the forward scattering effects of Amanjot Singh, Freshman, Physics and Astronomy the dust contained in the circumbinary ring. Prior models Kathryn Smith, Freshman, Physics and Astronomy have not included the direct computation of these forward Kenza Arraki, Freshman, Physics and Astronomy scattering effects, but our results have shown that they Mentor: Andrew Becker, Astronomy accurately reproduce the more subtle features of the KH 15D light curve. These subtle features include the slight A supernova is an explosive death of a star that ranks among rise in flux during mid-eclipse and the gradual slope of the the most tremendously violent events known to human light curve directly before and after the eclipses. We also kind. Supernovae are extremely short-lived by universal present our estimates of the errors on these parameters. standards, but careful observation of their variation in brightness can yield significant astronomical results. LERIX-2: A Larger Slice of Pi Supernovae of Type Ia are very regular in luminosity, Alicia Skilton, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering making them among the most effective standard candles NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates used by astronomers today, and thus integral in astronomical Scholar research. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is a Mentor: Jerry Seidler, Physics project that gathers a large, accurate amount of data that will address various astronomical questions. We have, as The Lower Energy Resolution Inelastic X-ray scattering part of the Pre-Major in Astronomy Program, aided in the (LERIX) spectrometer was designed and built at the UW, SDSS Supernova Survey by analyzing approximately three- and is now the world’s premier instrument for studies of the hundred images in three different color filters. Utilizing inelastic scattering of x-rays from the core shell electrons image analysis software, we manually scrutinized images of light elements or the less tightly bound electrons for containing possible supernovae and other variable objects. heavy elements. It is now permanently located at the Any such findings were labeled either as “supernova Advanced Photon Source x-ray synchrotron at Argonne candidates”, “asteroids”, or “variable stars” depending on National Labs, outside Chicago. LERIX measurements the difference in their measured positions and brightness are providing previously inaccessible information about in the three filters. Much to our surprise, we detected the local electronic properties of solids, glass, and numerous asteroids and variable stars, but were unable to crystals. Early studies with LERIX span basic physics, identify any supernova within the night and area of our environmental sciences, geophysics, pharmaceutical observation. A list of the discovered asteroids will be issued development, battery and solar cell technology, and fuel- to the Minor Planet Center. In the end, we expect to report compounds for nuclear reactors. The 19 high-efficiency more than 200,000 observations of asteroids positions analyzer crystals on the LERIX spectrometer collect and colors. In the coming quarters, we plan to expand about 40 times more scattered radiation than the best prior our continuing research by developing unique computer user-available instrument; however there are still many programs that do much of the data sorting and formatting important problems where even LERIX does not provide for us, therefore enabling us to go through the enormous sufficient counting rates for a reasonable study. To collect SDSS dataset with greater speed and higher accuracy. more of the scattered x-ray radiation I have been designing LERIX-2. Instead of the 19 spherical analyzer crystals on The production of domoic acid in Pseudo-nitzschia LERIX, LERIX-2 will have over 300 analyzer crystals multiseries allowing it to detect more than 10 times the scattered Tasha Snow, Senior, Oceanography radiation of the current LERIX x-ray spectrometer. In Mary Gates Scholar order for LERIX-2 to be built and transported, LERIX- Mentor: Ginger Armbrust, Oceanography 2 has to be make up of pieces which are small enough to machine, but it also needs to be possible to assemble Phytoplankton are single-celled organisms that use the spectrometer in a reasonable amount of time. To deal photosynthesis as their source of energy. They are the base with these challenges I have used CAD software to design of the entire food chain in the oceans and are, thus, extremely a support structure which includes 30 interlocking pieces important to the marine ecosystem. Phytoplankton are which bolt together, each of which must use state-of-the- essential because they produce a large percentage of the art 5-axis machining in its manufacture. En route to this world’s oxygen, but have also been know to be harmful in

84 some circumstances. One species of phytoplankton that studies from our laboratory. Studies of lipid compositions is a key player in human health issues and is also native of vesicles containing a high melting point lipid (DPPC), a to the Puget Sound is Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries. It low melting point lipid (DOPC), and a sterol (Cholesterol) produces a harmful neurotoxin, domoic acid, which has will be conducted by cholesterol and phosphorus assays on been known to build up in bivalves and, when consumed extruded GUVs, specifically the Invitrogen Amplex Red by humans, cause Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning. To better CholesterolAssay Kit and a previously developed Phosphorus understand the production of this toxin, research is being Assay. NMR on DPPC:DOPC:Chol compositions will done to understand what environmental conditions may also be performed for two reasons: First, to reinforce the be involved in its production. The cells do not always results of the assays and; Second, to develop a method to produce the toxin, but appear to start production under determine the post-electroformation solubility limits of stressful circumstances. In order to further investigate other sterols that lack simple quantification techniques. this hypothesis, Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries cells were grown in seawater with silicate as a control and without Elucidation of the structure and function of the core silicate to create the stressful condition that would domain of aB-Crystallin potentially induce toxin production. In addition, the Chelsea Stewart, Sophomore, Biochemistry and composition of the bacterial community associated with Microbiology Pseudo-nitzschia cells is thought to play a role in toxin Mary Gates Scholar production. Therefore, samples were taken to analyze Mentor: Ponni Rajagopal, Biochemistry the bacterial diversity and abundance associated with the Mentor: Rachel Klevit, Biochemistry cultures. When tested for the concentrations of domoic acid, dissolved and particulate domoic acid levels were Under conditions of cellular stress, a particular class of found to exponentially increase in the samples as the cells proteins, small heat shock proteins (sHSP), are up-regulated. became silicate-starved. These measurements were then The primary role of sHSPs is to act as a chaperone protein quantified by cell counts that normalized the amount of by binding to partially-denatured proteins to prevent domoic acid per cell in the media. Our findings have aggregation. Our work focuses on the mammalian sHSP, shown that silicate limitation does indeed induce a much aB-Crystallin, and its core domain, aB10.1. aB-Crystallin higher rate of toxin production in comparison with cells has been associated with various diseases, such as breast grown in replete silicate. In addition, the RNA from these cancer, Alzheimer’s, and desmin-related myopathy. aB- cells was extracted and reverse transcribed to cDNA. Crystallin exists as a large, polydisperse oligomer, a Through a technique called quantitative polymerase complex of varying number of subunits, and it has been chain reaction, qPCR, this cDNA will later be amplified hypothesized that dissociation into smaller subunits is a to see what genes might possibly be involved in creating prerequisite for chaperone activity. We are investigating domoic acid. Finding the genes involved would provide the core domain, aB10.1, which in its dimeric form is the a better understanding of the toxin production and smallest functional unit of aB-Crystallin. We are using allow for better prediction of when problems will arise. high-resolution, solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and biochemical assays for chaperone activity to Cholesterol Solubility in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles gather data on the structure and function of the protein. (GUV’s) Containing the Ternary Lipid Mixture Through comparison of changes conferred upon aB10.1 as a DPPC: DOPC: Cholesterol. result of various missense mutations in the predicted dimer Mark Stevens, Junior, Biochemistry interface, we hope to gain insight to the three-dimensional Mary Gates Scholar conformation and the mechanism of this chaperone protein. Mentor: Sarah L. Keller, Chemistry Using Transposon Mutagenesis to Search for Genes In the laboratory, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV’s) offer Conferring Polymyxin Resistance in Pseudomonas a similar system to a basic cell membrane for studying aeruginosa miscibility of cholesterol and phosopholipids in a lipid Pnina Strasbourger, Junior, Bioengineering bilayer. The “raft hypothesis” of Simons and Van Meer Mary Gates Scholar postulates that separation of lipids into liquid ordered Mentor: Sam Moskowitz, Pediatrics and liquid disordered regions helps to facilitate many important cell processes. Our laboratory produces vesicles Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a fatal genetic disease that affects through various methods, but this study will focus on about 30,000 individuals in the United States. CF electroformation. We believe that the electroformation patients have mutations in the gene encoding the CF process creates vesicles with the same lipid composition Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) protein. originally put into the cell, up to an ultimate cholesterol CFTR defects result in an accumulation of mucus in solubility limit. It is important for us to test our assumption the lungs causing breathing difficulties and promoting and also to determine the solubility limit in order to chronic bacterial infections that unfortunately lead to understand and properly present the results of other GUV premature death. The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa

85 (PA) is the most common pathogen in these chronic lung perform a pitch discrimination task to determine the infections. Antibiotics represent a crucial treatment for difference with which two tones can be discriminated at these bacterial infections. However, some CF strains 4000 Hz. Participants will then hear a number of dysphonic of PA develop resistance to all available antibiotics. voice samples and they will make judgments of breathiness Our research focuses on defining novel PA genes that and roughness using 100 mm visual analog scales. Both contribute to this bacterium’s ability to develop resistance intra- and interrater reliability of listeners’ judgments will to polymyxin (Pm), a peptide antibiotic. Previous research be calculated. Results will be compared across musicians identified two genes,pmrA and pmrB, as important for Pm and non-musicians to determine whether: a) musicians resistance in PA. To definepmrAB -independent polymyxin demonstrate more sensitive pitch discrimination abilities resistance mechanisms, a PA strain lacking pmrA and than non-musicians; b) musicians are more reliable in pmrB was created and screened on Pm-containing plates; making judgments of dysphonia than non-musicians; several Pm-resistant strains were identified. Transposon and c) pitch discrimination abilities predict listeners’ mutagenesis was then used to define the genes that contribute reliability for making judgments of dysphonia. Results to this resistance. This technique involves modifying the of this study have implications for developing models Pm-resistant strain by introducing a transposon,a mobile of voice perception as well as for developing training DNA element that inserts into the bacterial genome at programs for clinicians who assess voice disorders. different random locations in different Tn mutant strains. The intent is that a transposon insertion may disrupt a Bimodality as an Outlier Detection Criterion for Post gene responsible for the bacteria’s Pm resistance, leading Cross-Correlation PIV Data to loss of resistance. Such genes may represent targets for Andree Susanto, Senior, Aeronautics & Astronautics development of new therapeutics. The transposon used Mary Gates Scholar in this study confers gentamicin resistance and allows Chan Seng Pun, Senior, Industrial Engineering identification and isolation of transposon-bearing strains that Mary Gates Scholar have lost Pm resistance. About 9000 Gm-resistant strains Mentor: Dana Dabiri, Aeronautics & Astronautics bearing the transposon were isolated. Further screening showed that 80 of these Tn insertions were associated Particle Image Velocimetry is a technique that has been with loss of Pm resistance. Work is ongoing to identify the used for many years for velocity measurements. However, transposon-disrupted gene(s) involved in Pm resistance. this technique is susceptible to producing outliers due to a variety of reasons such as seeding inhomogeneities, The Effect of Musical Background on Pitch effects of turbulence, and varying intensity light sheet. We Discrimination Abilities and the Reliability of Judging propose to use a method based on the statistical analysis Voice Quality of the PIV processed velocity field. A certain number of Kelli Stubbs, Senior, Speech & Hearing Sciences points of the field are randomly collected, and these points Mary Gates Scholar are then used to re-interpolate the field. This process, Mentor: Tanya Eadie, Speech & Hearing Sciences which is called the bootstrapping process, is repeated several times, from which statistics and histograms of Voice quality is truly a perceptual phenomenon. Although each point in the field can be obtained. After visually auditory-perceptual methods are frequently used to observing these histograms, significant bimodality seems evaluate voice disorders, they are highly prone to error. to characterize the distribution of the histograms of the Previous studies have indicated that most of the variability outliers, whereas the histograms of non-outliers look in auditory-perceptual scaling relates to the listener. mostly unimodal. The Hartigan test method is employed For example, the reliability of listeners’ judgments may to measure the bimodality coefficient for each point, and be affected by listeners’ experience. Recently, studies a detection criterion (a threshold) is developed based on have shown an effect of musical background on pitch the bimodality coefficient given by the aforementioned discrimination abilities as well as perception of the contour test. Points failing this test will be marked as outliers, of spoken language. One previous study also showed that whereas the ones passing will be marked as good points. musicians may be more reliable judges of voice quality The performance of the method will then be assessed by than non-musicians. However, it is unknown whether pitch counting the number of overdetected vectors (number of discrimination abilities are related to how reliable listeners good vectors detected as outliers) and undetected vectors are in making judgments of voice quality. Therefore, the (number of undetected outliers) resulting from the test. purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between pitch discrimination abilities and the reliability of making judgments of dysphonia (disorderd voice) in listeners with different musical backgrounds. Twenty musicians (> 5 years formal musical training in the past 10 years) and 20 non-musicians are currently undergoing study procedures. First, all participants will

86 Fuel for the Future: Increasing the Quiescent Period binding pairs dictate specific cellular responses has led of Plasma by Increasing Gas Volume in the Zap researchers to design synthetic biomaterials that display Experiment key signals expected by the cell. To present specific signals Michelle Sybouts, Freshman, Aeronautics & Astronautics to incoming cells, a biomaterial must first resist random Mentor: Uri Shumlak, Aeronautics & Astronautics protein adsorption. In a previous study, we modified a PEUU surface with poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) to prevent random As energy concerns intensify, fusion is being looked protein adsorption and quantified the effects of those PEG at as a potential source of fuel for the future. Fusion coatings on MØ in vitro response (i.e., cell adhesion and occurs when plasma is contained long enough to reach subsequent macrophage cytokine expression). Hypothesis: sufficient temperatures so that the nuclei can combine. As the ability of MØ to orchestrate a healing cascade and a plasma containment experiment, the ZaP project deals successfully defend against bacterial challenges may be with important issues related to the search for alternative controlled by signal molecules presented at a biomaterial’s energy. The experiment applies a voltage across two plates surface. In this study, the adhesion of two bacterial between which a gas has been injected. The gas becomes species - Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus plasma and is accelerated down a tank that is kept at low epidermidis- on the PEUU surfaces, with or without PEG pressure. As the plasma is accelerated down the tank, coatings, was quantified. These results will expand to some of the gas remains to continue to flow of plasma characterize the combined response of MØ:bacteria in vitro. once the initial amount of plasma exit’s the system. Once this secondary plasma is exhausted the column of plasma Mathematical Modeling of Effects of Chemotherapy becomes unstable. The theory is that if we can maintain on Gliomas the supply of gas into the system, the plasma will not “run Mindy Szeto, Senior, Biochemistry and Sociology out” so quickly and we will be able to extend the period of Mary Gates Scholar stable plasma. A resulting issue is the increased pressure Mentor: Kristin Swanson, Pathology and Applied in the tank from the added gas; the vacuum system in Mathematics place can only handle a certain pressure. A bypass across the pump that regulates the pressure in the experiment Gliomas, the most common primary brain tumors, are should remedy this problem. These two changes will extremely aggressive and uniformly fatal, recurring help us to attain a longer containment period of the inevitably despite treatment by surgical resection, radiation plasma, allowing us a more thorough study of the subject. therapy, and chemotherapy. This is especially true of high-grade, rapidly growing glioblastoma multiforme Macrophage (MØ):Bacterial Interactions on Surface- (GBM) which account for nearly half of all gliomas. modified Poly (ether urethane urea) (PEUU) Current imaging modalities are unable to assess the full Tyler Swanger, Senior, Biochemistry extent of diffuse glioma cell invasion. To more accurately Mary Gates Scholar understand the dynamics of GBMs, Dr. Kristin Swanson has Mentor: James Bryers, Bioengineering developed a mathematical model incorporating the diffuse Mentor: Thelma Valdes, Bioengineering invasion (migration rate D) and proliferation (ρ) of glioma cells. Our research aims to extend the model to gauge the A material that is capable of modulating leukocyte effect of different chemotherapies on GBM growth. We behavior would have wide therapeutic potential, such have collected a database of chemotherapy patients with as mediating angiogenesis and inducing the release of two serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to specific cytokines to direct host immune, inflammatory any treatment or surgery. By measuring these images and response, and instigate subsequent healing. Hence, many assuming a spherical structure for the tumor, a mean radius research groups are devoting significant resources to and volume for each imaging date can be found. We can develop new biomaterials with the ability to attract MØ then calculate the rate of growth - which is linear according to a surface, promote their adhesion, and regulate MØ to the model - and determine the patient-specific model metabolism to temper inflammatory response. However, parameters D and ρ. In vivo, ρ should decrease during one reality that will promote excessive inflammation of a treatment due to the cytotoxic nature of chemotherapy. biomedical implant is bacterial colonization and infection. The patient database will be examined for changes in cell Unfortunately, many of the molecules selected to decorate proliferation ρ to pursue the development of a biologically- biomaterials to attract macrophage may also exacerbate based technique to assess and predict treatment efficacy. bacterial adhesion. Nosocomial infections are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. with >2 million cases annually. About 60% of all such infections are associated with an implanted medical device. Poly (ether urethane urea) (PEUU) is a common biocompatible polymer used in many medical devices (e.g., vascular grafts, heart valves). Realization that specific cell membrane receptor-protein

87 Multiple Mice for Computers in Education In Streetcars in Seattle’s Urban Core: Connecting the Developing Countries Central City Neighborhoods Neb Tadesse, Senior, Computer Science Sean Tevlin, Senior, Community & Environmental Mentor: Richard Anderson, Computer Science & Planning Engineering Mentor: Dennis Ryan, Urban Design & Planning

Digital StudyHall (DSH) is research collaboration between Recently the City of Seattle has committed to creating computer scientists and education experts seeking better a much denser urban core, with thousands of more jobs classroom environment using cost-effective technological and residences expected in the coming years. To help tools in rural India. The research addresses the issue of create a more livable and accessible core, the city is not having enough educated teachers in rural areas of the establishing a network of streetcars that seek to connect developing world. The DSH research takes several different the major downtown neighborhoods. My research approaches to deal with this problem. One aspect of the focuses on envisioning and planning a streetcar line research is to record a video of well qualified teacher in cities that connects several central neighborhoods and the and distribute the recording to schools in rural and slum central business district. The proposed line continues and part of India. The materials are shown by facilitators using expands the work of the Seattle Streetcar Network plan, low cost replay facilities. We are developing educational which features the soon-to-open South Lake Union line, application for use in DSH using the Multimouse (MM) the prioritized extension of the Waterfront Streetcar up technology. The MM system gives each student a multiple Jackson to 23rd Avenue, as well as a proposed extension mouse and cursor in the screen, multiplying the amount of of the SLU streetcar to the U-District via Eastlake. The interaction per student per PC with an additional cost of research seeks to establish the feasibility of several closely mouse. The idea is to introduce a facility for allowing the related streetcar routes that connect the neighborhoods of audience members to interact with the electronic materials. Uptown, Seattle Center, Belltown, the Central Business We are creating a demo application to integrate interactive District, South Lake Union, and Pioneer Square. Each ways of learning with the DSH and also to show how potential route will be evaluated on a multitude of criteria, MM can be used for educational purpose. We believe this those used for establishing the SLU route, as well as technology would increase the learning value and also streetcar routes in Portland, OR. First, basic GIS data introduce a collaborative way of study among students. will determine if there are any “fatal flaws” in the routes including such factors as steep grade, low clearances, or A Tale of Two Eggs: Incubation in Magellanic Penguin large underground utilities blocking the route. Second, Eggs the routes are examined from a transportation perspective Darcey Taggart, Junior, Biology looking at such factors as traffic flow and connections to Mary Gates Scholar regional transportation hubs. Third, the economic impacts Mentor: Dee Boersma, Biology of the routes are examined to determine possibilities for development. Fourth, the streetcar lines are examined Magellanic Penguins normally lay two eggs four days from a broader perspective of how they fit into Seattle’s apart but the eggs usually hatch two, not four, days apart. urban core development plans. The final product will be a This means the second egg takes two less days to hatch suggested route based on the preceding criterion, featuring (40 days) than the first egg (42 days). One possibility for photo simulations and maps of the proposed route. this difference is that incubation of the first egg is poor until both eggs are laid. Perhaps the first egg is neglected 9L Single Cells Patterned on Chemically Modified until the second egg is laid. However, usually the first Surfaces by Competitive Adhesion egg is covered after it is laid suggesting incubation. We Johnson Tey, Senior, Material Science & Engineering used data from i-buttons, a temperature probe taped to the Mary Gates Scholar outside of each egg, to measure and record temperature of Mentor: Miqin Zhang, Material Science & Engineering both eggs in fourteen nests. We found that temperatures of the first egg remained below 27o C, the temperature Glioma family of tumors are commonly the most lethal required for embryo development to begin, until three type of primary brain tumor, accounting for 44.4% of days into incubation. Incubation temperatures of both eggs all tumors and a 5% chance of survival over five years increase until day 18 day when egg temperatures stabilize with glioblastomas. Rather than a study of an aggregate at 33.8±0.7o C. Low temperatures inhibit development population, individual cells can be selectively immobilized so that first eggs usually take longer to develop than for accurate statistical analysis such as studying cellular second eggs. Interesting, some eggs hatch on the same pathways. Using a combination of photolithography and day suggesting the first egg remained so cool that no novel surface chemistry techniques, individual biological development took place until the second egg was laid. cells are chemically selected and immobilized on Au/SiO2 The tale of two eggs is all about incubation temperature. patterned substrates employed as sensing elements to biologically active substances present in a system. Self-

88 assembled monolayers (SAM) and biological ligands, genome maintenance to septin ring dynamics are regulated providing an extracellular matrix (ECM) can retain cells by a type of modification that is characterized by the alive for an extended period of time after covalent adhesion covalent attachment of SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like on conductive materials (i.e. electrodes). Specifically, MOdifier). SUMO is attached to lysine residues of target micron-sized gold electrodes are chemically modified proteins by a three-enzyme cascade. My project began as with carboxyl-terminated alkanethiol monolayers to a search for specific SUMOylated proteins and after using enable covalent immobilization of the biological ligand genome-wide Yeast Two Hybrid, I identified proteins Chlorotoxin oligopeptide in ideal conformations to that interact with SUMO and found a highly connective promote strong, single 9L cell adhesion, and the insulative network of interacting proteins. One of the proteins in that substrate is passivated with a silanated PEG (polyethylene network is Hex3, a RING domain protein that is important glycol) monolayer to prevent protein and cell attachment. for genome maintenance. Since it has a RING domain, a Differential interference contrast (DIC) reflectance feature common to SUMO ligases, we hypothesized that microscope images characterized 9L adhesion on three Hex3 might be a SUMO ligase. To test this, we compared 20x20um square patterns, each modified differently by SUMO co-immunoprecipitations of putative target proteins the following variations: PEG only, PEG with adsorbed by both wild type and Hex3 deletion strains. If Hex3 is Chlorotoxin, and fully modified surfaces covalently linking involved in SUMOylating one of the proteins of interest, chlorotoxin to gold-modified SAMs. The efficacy of then there should be a loss of signal for that protein in the covalently-linked is found to promote cell attachment and Hex3 deletion strain. However, to our surprise we found cell spreading superior to physically-adsorbed Chlorotoxin. that specific SUMOlyated proteins actually increased in the Hex deletion strain, suggesting that Hex3 may be Application of Image J software to view 3D X-ray important for degradation of SUMOlyated proteins. Our Microtomographs of Wood Structure data was confirmed by another lab that found that Hex3 is Nilar Thein-Chen, Junior, Paper Science & Engineering actually a part of ubiquitin ligase that specifically targets Mentor: Richard Gustafson, College of Forest Resources SUMOylated proteins for degradation. Understanding the role Hex3 plays in the destruction of SUMOlyated proteins The structure and anatomy of a tree is important for will help us understand how two related yet separate understanding tree function as well as its application cellular pathways overlap to regulate the yeast proteome. to various forest products. To obtain complete three dimensional images of wood structure and anatomy Geologic and Anthropologic Histories of the Kuril generally requires tedious sectioning of samples, imaging Islands, Russia the sectioned samples, and then stacking these images Amy Tice, Senior, Earth & Space Sciences and to reveal the 3D structure. New X-ray microtomography Anthropology (XMT) methods, however, permit full 3D reconstructions Mentor: Joanne Bourgeois, Earth & Space Sciences of wood structures with minimal sample preparations. X- ray microtomography is similar to tomography used in The impact of geologic processes on prehistoric human medical application except that high intensity x-rays are occupants of the Kuril Islands is not well known due to used to produce images with a resolution of approximately lack of detailed knowledge about the their geologic and one micro-meter. In this project we focused on using a anthropologic history. The island chain, located north of free software package, Image J, to produce 3D images Japan on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is tectonically active of wood samples from microtomographs. It was and contains 160 terrestrial volcanoes. Tephra [volcanic found that good images of the wood samples could ash] deposits from these volcanoes overlap archaeological be produced using this software. Image slices could deposits, suggesting a relationship between humans and be obtained in any of the X, Y, or Z directions of the eruptions. To better understand this interaction, a team samples. In addition, complete 3D volumes could be of scientists, including archaeologists and geologists, is constructed. These volumes can be rotated or flipped in conducting an international, multidisciplinary study of any orientation to view the wood anatomy of interest. the islands. The 2006 field team measured stratigraphic sections and took sediment samples from many of the Identification of SUMO substrates in the budding islands. My research involves analyzing tephra and tsunami yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae deposits from the southern part of Urup Island to contribute James Thornton, Junior, Molecular, Cellular, and to the geologic history of the island chain. These sample Developmental Biology and Sociology sites contain similar stratigraphy and volcanic layers, Mary Gates Scholar which allows tephra to be correlated across the island Mentor: Stanley Fields, Genome Sciences and put into a relative timescale. Archaeologists are also analyzing these sites, and samples of charcoal have been Post-translational protein modification is essential submitted for radiocarbon dating. With all these analyses I to regulate cellular processes. In the budding yeast can then use tephra to correlate and date the archaeological Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, pathways ranging from record. Thus, once we understand the timescale of eruptive

89 events and tsunamis, we can combine our results and How Minority Youth Conceptualize Racial Identity: A infer the effect of these events on human populations. Focus Group Study Euki Toshima, Junior, Psychology National Security Strategy: Winning the War on Mentor: Briana Woods, Psychology Terror Mentor: Mary Larimer, Psychiatry & Behavioral Chris Toomey, Senior, International Studies Sciences Michelle Swenson, Senior, International Studies Peter Arendt, Senior, International Studies It has been suggested that racial identity is a protective Alex Valentine, Senior, International Studies factor for ethnic minority youth, especially in regards to Jon Noda, Senior, International Studies their psychological well-being and self-esteem (Seaton, Jordan Corley, Senior, International Studies Scottham, & Sellers, 2006; Buckley & Carter, 2005). Marie Berry, Senior, International Studies Positive attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors toward Kyle Wilke, Senior, International Studies members of an individual’s own racial group as well as Kelsey Cochran, Senior, International Studies members of other racial groups, and an inner security Kimber Schlegelmilch, Senior, International Studies with one’s racial identity are associated with positive Burton Eggertsen, Senior, International Studies outcomes (Buckley & Carter, 2005; Richardson & Alfredo Moreno, Senior, International Studies Helms, 1994). The current study aims to explore how Vi Nhan, Senior, International Studies minority youth conceptualize racial identity through the Institute for International Public Policy use of focus groups. It is important to collect qualitative Fellow, McNair Scholar, Gates Millennium Scholar data on racial identity due to the limits of quantitative Mentor: Peter W. Soverel, U.S. Navy (Ret.), International approaches. The use of quantitative data presumes Studies identity exists on a continuum and may fail to capture all aspects (House, Stiffman, & Brown, 2006). In addition, The United States is at war with an enemy that seeks to the way racial identity is conceptualized and discussed in destroy the founding principles of America and the West. the literature may be different than how minority youth This enemy does not reside within a single state, but actually conceptualize it. Therefore, three focus groups rather in a nebulous conglomeration of extremists across were conducted with a total of 15 youth aged 12-18 years the globe. They target America’s citizens, soldiers, and old. These focus groups assessed youth’s attitudes and allies using brutal tactics to achieve their political goals. perceptions of race and racial identity. The majority of In order to defend against this new kind of warfare, these youth were African American (n = 7). The remainder America needs a new strategy that provides it with the of the youth were Mixed Race (n =5), and Asian American capabilities to meet this new threat and defeat it. To (n =3). Of the youth who reported mixed race, 2 identified accomplish this task, the U.S. must take steps to resolve a as Asian and Black and 1 as White and Black. Youths’ number of global issues. In determining these issues and responses will be examined through content analysis, developing solutions, our Task Force began evaluating with a focus on how racial identity is conceptualized, and what the final outcome would look like when the U.S. themes regarding psychological well-being. The results succeeds. We determined the most salient threats and will have implications for both conceptualization and worst possible outcomes by consulting experts and measurement of racial identity among minority youth. contemporary academic and media sources. Once we had determined our points of focus, each member began his China’s Forests and the Bureaucratic Implications or her own investigation into the current and historical of Environment Policy on Communities at the Local situation, the successes that have been made and the Level: a case study of Baiwu Township challenges we still face. Thorough research using expert Christine Trac, Senior, Environmental & Conservation testimony, Congressional materials, academic journals, Biology and current media sources we were able to develop a Mentor: Stevan Harrell, Anthropology multi-faceted perspective of the situation in each point Mentor: Tom Hinckley, Forest Resources of interest. Once we knew what we were dealing with, we examined solutions that had been tried in hopes of China has a long established environmental history extracting a solution that could work. Our concluding of forest exploitation and destruction. Although report broke the War on Terror into three separate, but considerable deforestation and land conversion has taken related categories: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War place throughout the country’s history, the formidable on Terror. The policies we put forth stress the importance events of forest loss have taken place in the later half of of success in each setting. Our overall policy is one the twentieth century. Not until the consequences of its of diplomatic engagement while preparing to combat land practices were realized due to the summer floods of terror where it lives in the hope of creating a global 1998 did the Chinese government respond to alleviate environment inhospitable to terrorism and promoting the pressure on its environment and restore the function global democratic values. of its ecosystems. Succeeding the floods, which resulted

90 in more than 3000 casualties, China immediately adopted Exploration of Health Care in Costa Rica and the two ambitious environmental policies, the National Forest Value of Studying Health Care Abroad Protection Plan (NFPP) and the Sloping-Land Conversion Charlene Truong, Senior, Nursing Program (SLCP). These programs are directed at reducing Mentor: Sarah E. Shannon, Biobehavioral Nursing and pressure on its remaining forest ecosystems and to increase Health Systems forestland through afforestation of wastelands and returning agricultural cropland to grasslands or forests. I studied the The University of Washington School of Nursing offers an implementation of these two policies in Baiwu Township, opportunity for selected undergraduate nursing students to an administrative district residing in southern Sichuan take maternity and child health classes in Costa Rica. Costa province, mainly focusing on the dynamic between the Rica is a Central American democratic country that offers local community, the government, and the environment. universal and free health care. Care of women surrounding All of which were studied to relate common and conflicting the birth of a child offers an opportunity to observe interests on the implementation of these environmental differences between a U.S. style of health care financing policies in communities directly dependent of forest where many people lack health care insurance versus a ecosystems and their resources. This study evaluates system that offers universal coverage to all citizens. In the land changes that have recently taken place in Baiwu both systems, women with more financial means are able to Township and furthermore the implication of national purchase “amenities” to enhance their comfort during their environmental policy implementation on this community. hospitalization, particularly post-birth. However, basic care and comfort during the birth process and post-birth Organic deposits associated with an avulsion belt, may be better indicators of the society’s values enacted forming in Cumberland Marshes of Saskatchewan, through the health care financing. The attraction of a Canada cross-cultural immersion in a health care system different Thomas Tran, Senior, Environmental Science, UW than the United States is the opportunity to experience the Tacoma provision of care directly as a student learner. Questions Mentor: K. Siân Davies-Vollum, Environmental Science, to be discussed include: How is health care delivered UW Tacoma and funded in Costa Rica? What are the differences between private and public hospitals in Costa Rica? How The Cumberland Marshes are located in east-central does Costa Rica handle preventative care? In answering Saskatchewan, Canada and have an area of 5000 km2. The these questions, ultimately, the exploration of what region consists of different types of fluvial features: old students from the United States take from spending time and new channel systems, meandering channels, levees, in an international health care experience is illuminated. marshes, lakes, bogs, floodplains, crevasse splays. Before its most recent avulsion, which began in the 1870s, the Improving the Understanding of Hydrogen Atom Saskatchewan River had a single channel. The avulsion Transfer in Metalloenzymes Through Oxo-vanadium caused the Saskatchewan River to change its course Model Complexes northward and an avulsion belt was formed. The avulsion Erin Tsai, Senior, Chemistry and Mathematics belt is unstable with frequent channel switching and Mentor: James M. Mayer, Chemistry sediment deposition. Organic-rich materials are known to be deposited on river floodplains; organic substrates need a Many biological processes, such as photosynthesis and stable setting to form without sediment-input. The objective respiration, require the concerted movement of protons of this research is to locate and study the accumulation and electrons. These proton-coupled electron transfer and preservation of organic materials on floodplain in a (PCET) reactions involve the transfer of an electron modern avulsive river system in Cumberland Marshes, coupled to a proton. A hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) Saskatchewan, Canada. We predicted that organic deposits reaction, a subset of PCET reactions, is the transfer of both are formed only in stable areas, which are located outside a proton and an electron from a single reactant to a single the avulsion belt. Also, we predicted that the accumulation product. Small vanadium complexes are being used to of organic materials is greatest on parts of floodplains that model such processes. Following a synthesis for a similar, are distal to active river channels. Samples were taken previously reported compound, [VVO2(bipy)2]BF4 (bipy using a gouge auger from six different floodplains inside = 2,2’-bipyridyl) was synthesized. The characterization and outside the avulsion belt. Using the loss-on-ignition of [VVO2(bipy)2]BF4 involved many different types method, total organic content (TOC) was determined for all of spectroscopy, including Proton Nuclear Magnetic samples. The results show that organic deposits are formed Resonance Spectroscopy (1H NMR) in deuterated within and outside the avulsion belt, which is not consistent solvents. Infrared spectroscopy (IR) was also recorded with our first prediction. However, our second prediction using a solid KBr pellet. Elemental analysis (EA) was is confirmed; results indicate that organic deposits with performed to determine the chemical formula and an X- greater TOC are farther away from the active river channels. ray structure was obtained, confirming the connectivity and geometry of the compound. Cyclic voltammetry was

91 also performed at several different pHs in an attempt to intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as a new diagnostic understand the proton-coupled electrochemistry. HAT tool to assess hyperalgesia from paw inflammation in the reactions have been examined that interconvert this rat, as proof of concept for using this device to identify complex and [VIV(O)(OH)(bipy)2]BF4, which differs nociceptive hypersensitivity of deeper tissues. In our from [VVO2(bipy)2]BF4 by only a hydrogen atom. Since work so far, Complete Freund’s Adjuvant was injected this metal-oxo system is much smaller in size compared into the left rear paw of rats to produce inflammation. to metalloenzymes, it can be more easily understood One week later, HIFU was applied in increasing doses to especially in the electrochemistry and kinetics of the both paws until a paw withdrawal response was induced. electron transfer, and this will provide understanding of The HIFU withdrawal threshold in the inflamed paw was related metalloenzyme processes. Work is in progress to significantly lower than that required in the contralateral fully understand the involvement of [VVO2(bipy)2]BF4 paw or in vehicle injected paws. This data correlated with and related complexes in hydrogen atom transfer reactions. paw withdrawal thresholds to heat measured using the Hargreave’s test. Repeated Hargreave’s testing produced The Effects of Pomegranate Juice on Atherosclerotic no change in HIFU thresholds, and, importantly, repeated Lesions in Mice HIFU testing produced no change in either HIFU or Megan Turner, Junior, Environmental Health Hargreaves test thresholds. Finally, HIFU treatments did Mentor: Michael Rosenfeld, Environmental Health and not produce any grossly observable long-term changes Pathology in sensory or motor behaviors. We have observed that HIFU stimulation of tissue gives a sensitive and specific Dietary antioxidants diminish the progression of early stage measure of hyperalgesia from inflammation in the rat. atherosclerosis in various animal models. Pomegranate Future work will be concentrated on testing our device juice contains a variety of antioxidant phenols such as across a variety of pain generating sources, as well as allaigic acid and urolithin B. Our goal is to determine safety studies to test our HIFU thresholds on a variety the quantitative effects of pomegranate juice as an of tissues. We hope our work will eventually cross over antioxidant in the prevention of early plaque development to human trials and testing. Because HIFU can also be in the ApoE -/- mouse model that spontaneously develops targeted at presumed pain generators deep to the skin, atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular disease progression can this tool (Transcutaneous Acoustic Palpation or TAP) be measured by examining arterial lesions of an animal may one day be useful to more accurately diagnose and assessing the composition and stability of the lesion, patients with a variety of painful disorders of deep tissue. as well as calculating the blood cholesterol levels which, when elevated, increases the risk for cardiovascular Becoming in Dance: Montréal After-Hours disease. In my study I used young apolipoprotein E Robert Tyree, Senior, Comparative History of Ideas deficient mice, and tested for antioxidant effects in Mentor: Phillip Thurtle, Comparative History of Ideas decreasing lesion size and increasing stability. The lesions are assessed by computer assisted morphometry after This study presents an experiential inquiry into dance in straining with Movat’s Pentachrome stain. The results Montréal’s renowned after-hour dance scene that offers from our study will reflect the benefits of antioxidants insights into the potential of dance for meaningful social in controlling risk factors for cardiovascular disease. change. Experiential, ethnographic, and textual research informs a thesis that ultimately envisions such dance’s High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is a Sensitive and potential in terms of progressive politics and personal Specific Test empowerment. The project devotes careful attention to the for the Diagnosis of Inflammatory Pain sensations experienced while dancing, skeptically framing Rowen Tych, Junior, Biology (Physiology) phenomenon according to ideas of synergistic becoming Mentor: Pierre D. Mourad, Neurological Surgery, in a relationship to virtual, yet sensed, attraction. Specific Applied Physics Laboratory attention is given to notable experiences encountered Mentor: Jeffrey (Jerry) G. Jarvik, Radiology and by the researcher, including disorganized vision and the Neurosurgery appreciation of potential in the passing of momentum Mentor: Michel Kliot, Neurological Surgery through flesh. Of central concern is the proposed dance Mentor: John D. Loeser, Neurological Surgery form’s capacity to allow the dancer commerce with a virtual Mentor: Gregory W. Terman, Anesthesiology realm, in turn sublimating the constraints of possibility into the opportunity of potentiality. The researcher was A patient’s pain symptoms correlate poorly with anatomical given the opportunity to research from June of 2006 to abnormalities identified by diagnostic imaging. Moreover, March 2007, with six months abroad in Montréal, Québec. structures deep to the skin are largely inaccessible to specific physical examination maneuvers, such as palpation, aimed at determining anatomically precise pain generators. We plan to conduct initial studies of high

92 The Effect Of Parental Marital Status On College social struggles are similar. Each has written two novels Students’ Relationships that focus on the biracial character struggle with identity. Jennifer Umayam, Senior, Psychology, Seattle University The biracial identity struggle is centralized in examining Taylor Emmerton, Senior, Psychology, Seattle University each novel on its own, and then in the context of each Mentor: Kathleen Cook, Psychology, Seattle University author’s autobiographical information. At the same time, autographical study aids the transferability of the individual Children of parental divorce are known to be affected in identification experience to a broader study of the general myriad ways. The present study focused on the hypothesis experiences that form a mixed race identity. Ultimately, the that a college students’ relationship will be affected by biracial experience is unique in the contemporary struggle whether their parents are in an intact marriage or divorced. with race; a biracial autobiographical writer can construct To determine their level of social intimacy in their the specific experiences and effects of society on identity. current relationships, 123 undergraduates who attended Seattle University completed a 17-item questionnaire. Characterization of novel ionic liquid stationary phase The results indicated that there were no significant main capillary columns for applications in two dimensional effects between parental marital status and the college gas chromatography. students’ social intimacy, suggesting that parental divorce Matthew Van Wingerden, Senior, Chemistry does not negatively affect future relationships. However, Mary Gates Scholar there was a significant relationship between the gender Mentor: Robert E. Synovec, Chemistry of the student and the level of social intimacy. Men were less likely to be socially intimate in their relationships Gas chromatography (GC) has long been used to separate compared to women, who had a higher average score and analyze complex chemical mixtures. The use of on the social intimacy scale. There was a marginally two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC), which significant interaction between the gender of the students involves two complementary separation columns, extends and their parents’ marital status. Women with married this method to more complex mixtures. Current GC x parents scored higher than women with divorced parents GC techniques are limited by the maximum operating and men showed the opposite pattern. Our findings temperature of the separation columns, which in turn suggest that there may be a significant difference in the limits the speed of operation and the types of chemicals way women and men portray personal relationships. that can be analyzed. Recently developed ionic liquid stationary phase capillary columns are able to withstand The Biracial Narrative: An Examination of an much higher temperatures than traditionally used columns, Authentic, Autobiographical Identity but their suitability for use in GC x GC has not been Chloe Valencia, Junior, English explored. The goal of our project is to determine whether Mentor: Lysa Rivera, English ionic liquid columns can be used for high temperature GC x GC. To use the novel columns we must find columns The biracial person struggles to identify him or herself with complementary selectivity. Complementary columns within any radicalized setting. This struggle stems from separate chemical compounds with unrelated selectivity. the inability to identify with one race. The biracial person This gives the maximum benefit from the second dimension must search for a comfortable balance in between their two of the separation. In order to find a complementary races. Their relationships, the most important being with column the ionic liquid columns and various commercially their parents, shape identity and cause them to question available columns will be tested individually. A mixture their authenticity and value as humans. While critical race containing chemicals of various chemical classes will studies examine this problem broadly and extensively, be passed through each column. The relative retention the construction of identity crisis in a fictional narrative times for each compound on one column will be plotted clearly exhibits one character’s struggle in their particular against their relative retention times on a second column. microcosm within the novel. In fiction, a writer can When the two dimensional plots show a strict, linear draw from personal experience and construct empathies relationship the two columns are not complementary. and cohesiveness through their characters. The identity The retention order is the same on both columns and no problem is no longer abstract; it is comprehensible given the new selectivity is added. Our goal is to find a pair of restraints of setting and character in a novel. I will examine columns that give a randomly scattered plot of relative narrative voice, the perspective of events and thoughts retention times, and then use those columns in GC x GC. presented; essentially the character’s role in discourse with the reader and herself within the novel. Danzy Senna and Factors affecting nutria (Myocastor coypus) invasion Zadie Smith are contemporary biracial women novelists. in the Seattle vicinity Senna writes about the biracial experience in the United Phu Van, Senior, Physiology and Ecology States while Smith writes about the experience in England. Mentor: Jennifer Ruesink, Biology Both writers have one black and one white parent; consequently, their personal and biracial character’s Myocastor coypus, a semi-aquatic rodent native to

93 South America was originally introduced to southern tissue sections. Our results will allow us to identify an United States in the 1930’s to control aquatic weeds. It anatomical basis for the modulation of ACh by the 5-HT6 became a serious pest in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and receptor and further understand their role in the various Mississippi with many areas having issued legislation for processes related to memory and other learning paradigms. eradication. Recently nutrias have been sighted in Puget Sound, including Seattle’s Union Bay. To understand the Selected Methods for Non-Invasive Determination of species’ presence and spread in Puget Sound, we collected Intracranial Pressure public sighting reports and performed field observations Pavan Vaswani, Sophomore, Computer Science and in Union Bay, resulting in a rudimentary distribution map Biochemistry and a list of preferred forage. Nutrias appear attracted to Goldwater Scholar, NASA Space Grant flat grassy areas with steep banks near water where they Scholar, Washington Research Foundation Fellow, construct dens. They coexist peacefully with local beavers Mary Gates Scholar and waterfowls and are not disturbed by human presence. Daniel Blizzard, Senior, Bioengineering We are constructing a habitat suitability model to explain Washington Research Foundation Fellow, continued M. coypus presence in Puget Sound using multiple Mary Gates Scholar factors: coverage of preferred forage, elevation and ground Mentor: Pierre D. Mourad, Neurological Surgery, slope, distance to water and distance to den. This model will Applied Physics Lab be tested in Redmond’s Marymoor Park, and should help predict areas in Puget Sound most likely to attract nutria. Intracranial Pressure (ICP), the pressure exerted on the brain, serves as a critical determinant of brain function Are 5-HT6 receptors synthesized in striatal whose monitoring has been shown to improve clinical cholinergic neurons in rat brain? outcome. Elevated ICP, associated with a number of Jeremy Vargas, Senior, Biology: Cell and Molecular neurological conditions including tumors, bleeds, Mentor: John F. Neumaier, Psychiatry & Behavioral hydrocephalus, etc., can result in permanent neurological Sciences damage with prolonged elevation leading to death. Currently, ICP is measured invasively by placing a Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) is a transducer near the brain through a hole drilled through neurotransmitter found in the mammalian central nervous the skull. In order to circumvent the many risks and system. Serotonergic neurons are found in the raphe complications associated with this procedure, several nuclei of the brain stem which are involved in regulating attempts to develop a non-invasive method of making attention, sleep, wake, mood, anxiety and other cognitive intracranial pressure measurements are currently being functions. The study of serotonin and its receptors has made. Vibroacoustography proposes the use of high- clinical significance as they are found to be implicated intensity focused ultrasound to vibrate tissue to allow a in depression, addiction, and other psychiatric and measure of tissue resonant frequency, hypothesized to neurobehavioral conditions. The Serotonin 6 receptor be correlated to tissue stiffness and pressure. Acoustic (5-HT6) is expressed in many different areas of the radiation force imaging (ARFI) proposes to palpate tissue adult human and rat brain, with special abundance in the using HIFU on the order of microns and observe tissue striatum. It has been identified that a 5-HT6 antagonist relaxation rates using diagnostic (A-mode) ultrasound. enhances memory and over expressing 5-HT6 receptors Relaxation rate is expected to be correlated to tissue in the striatum results in impaired learning. Furthermore, stiffness and pressure in this method. An alternate method interaction between 5-HT6 and the release of other of non-invasive ICP measurement monitors the brain neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, dopamine and tissue’s endogenous displacement generated by pulsatile GABA play important roles in long term memory and blood flow, rather than the exogenous displacement from behavior. Acetylcholine (ACh) is directly involved the ultrasound as in ARFI, as a function of ICP. Another memory processes of acquisition and consolidation. It approach monitors the acoustic backscatter using is possible that the 5-HT6 receptor exerts its effects on transcranial doppler (B-mode) ultrasound of the middle memory through cholinergic neurons. Identifying the cerebral artery. In this technique, blood flow and blood probable relationship between ACh and 5-HT6 receptor pressure data are combined into a neural network to detect modulation in cholinergic neurons would lead us to further a multitude of partial signals reflecting ICP. Other methods understand the overall circuitry and the various processes pursued by other groups include monitoring pulsations related to memory. The scope of our project is to identify of the skull on the sub-micron scale induced by small if 5-HT6 receptors are synthesized in striatal cholinergic changes in cerebral blood volume and alterations of the neurons. We approached this hypothesis with a series of optic artery and optic nerve diameters as a function of immunohistochemical assays using 5-HT6 receptor specific ICP. Upon development, these methods may make this primary antibodies and a secondary antibody labeled critical parameter a key part of any neurological prognosis. with fluorescent quantum dots that specifically recognize the primary antibody on striatal cholinergic neuronal

94 Z-Pinch Plasma Spectroscopy optical polarizers and let through the more probable spin Genia Vogman, Freshman, Electrical Engineering up tunneling electrons. When the magnetic moments are NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates anti-aligned, tunneling has a much lower probability, so Scholar the current is much smaller, similar to light when optical Mentor: Uri Shumlak, Aeronautics & Astronautics polarizers are 90º out of phase. An applied magnetic field can be used to switch between the aligned and anti-aligned Plasma is a highly energetic ionized gas that is studied states of the device, resulting in magnetoresistance, or for its unique behavioral properties and its prospective the dependence of the resistance on the magnetic field. In applications in fusion power production, high-energy space order to test the tunneling properties of the DMD material propulsion, and semiconductor photolithography. Naturally and find out whether our layered devices portray spin filter occurring plasma can be observed in our sun; in fact plasma properties, we characterize their resistive dependence on makes up ninety-nine percent of all matter in the universe. temperature, applied magnetic field, current frequency, and Here on earth, however, plasma’s extreme electrical the thickness of the ZnO:Cr (DMD) layer. To do this, we conductivity and instability generally makes it short-lived utilize the capabilities of the physical property measurement and hard to contain. The ZaP Flow Z-Pinch experiment at system (PPMS), impedence analyzer, x-ray diffraction the University of Washington seeks to prolong the existence (XRD), and conducting atomic force microscope (C-AFM). of stable plasmas by using a unique columnar confinement concept and a steady sheared-flow to constrain the gas to Determining Factors of TraD Assembly in E. coli a steady state. In an effort to increase the longevity of the Conjugation pinch, the experiment is focused on investigating plasma Britta Voss, Sophomore, Oceanography behavior and improving the confinement mechanism. Mary Gates Scholar One of the diagnostic tools that help monitor plasma Mentor: Beth Traxler, Microbiology characteristics in the ZaP Flow Z-Pinch is spectroscopy Mentor: Rembrandt Haft, Microbiology – the analysis of discreet light spectra emitted by the plasma. Investigating light intensity and frequency yields Bacterial conjugation is the method by which DNA is qualitative and quantitative information regarding the moved directly from one Escherichia coli cell (the donor) impurities, temperature, bulk velocity profile, and energy to another (the recipient). The process of conjugation in of a given plasma. Recently a 200 to 700 nanometer E. coli involves the interaction of many proteins within the survey was conducted in efforts to map impurities and donor cell. There are about 20 proteins coded for by the “Tra temperatures for the period in which a hydrogen plasma operon” of the F plasmid that cooperate in this fascinating is stable – the results are presented here. Examining process. Dr. Beth Traxler’s lab at the UW Microbiology the temporal behavior of plasma through spectroscopy Department researches various E. coli membrane proteins data in ZaP will improve our understanding of plasma and Tra proteins involved in conjugation. The TraD instabilities and ensure optimized methods of confinement. protein is a transmembrane protein of E. coli that enables conjugation, perhaps by creating a pore in the cell membrane through which the DNA will pass into the recipient cell. In Spin Filter Capabilities of Dilute Magnetic Dielectric vivo studies have shown that TraD requires one or more Chromium-Doped Zinc Oxide F plasmid proteins in order to form a TraD multimer that Patricia Voll, Senior, Physics is functional for conjugation. My goal is to determine Mary Gates Scholar which Tra protein(s) are needed for TraD multimerization. Mentor: Kannan Krishnan, Materials Science & Based on previous work, we hypothesize that TraB and Engineering TraC will be required. I am currently testing TraB with a mutant F plasmid in which the traB gene has been deleted Spin filtering is a proposed method for generating highly to see if TraB’s absence inhibits TraD assembly. I will spin-polarized currents for spintronic devices. Our group perform crosslinking experiments, where a molecule is is interested in the possibility of utilizing the recently added to cells that will bind together any two molecules discovered class of dilute magnetic dielectrics (DMD) as that are close together, with both the wild-type F plasmid spin filter barriers. To study the spin filtering effect, we and the mutant. Then I will run the samples through an first prepare multilayered structures with non-magnetic SDS-PAGE gel, and probe them with a TraD-specific metal (NMM)/DMD/ferromagnetic metal (FMM) layers, antibody. This will allow me to see if TraD is unable to specifically Au/ZnO:Cr/Co. If the conduction band of the form high molecular weight polymers without the direct DMD is spin-split, then below the Currie temperature of or indirect assistance of TraB. I hope to test TraC in the the DMD the electron tunneling energy barriers for spin up same manner. Deciphering the roles of proteins involved and spin down electrons will be different such that spin up in conjugation is important to our understanding of the electrons have a higher probability of tunneling than spin molecular mechanisms involved in bacterial gene transfer. down electrons. Hence, when the magnetizations of the DMD and the FMM layers are aligned, they act as aligned

95 Discrimination between individual humans by spectrometry (MS3D). The general idea is to obtain an urban population of American crows (Corvus distance constraints between pairs of amino acid groups brachyrhynchos) in a particular protein of interest by identifying crosslinks Jeff Walls, Senior, Conservation Biology formed by the pairs through the aid of mass spectrometry. Mentor: John Marzluff, Forest Resources The distance constraints will then be used to generate the structure of a protein using established de novo modeling Crows are among the most intelligent birds and they techniques. To aid this process, we are currently developing live in social groups in close proximity to humans. As an algorithm to determine if a pair of amino acid groups such, we hypothesized that they should be able to are crosslinkable given a protein structure predicted using distinguish between individual humans. A few domestic homology or de novo modeling. The algorithm is based on species recognize human faces, but no study to date has finding the intersection of a line and a sphere: Given two investigated the hypothesis that wild animals do so. We atoms, we first find the line connecting their centers. We tested this hypothesis on the University of Washington then determine if any other atoms in the protein intersect (Seattle) campus from January 2006 to February 2007 this line. The goal of this study is to extend this algorithm by exposing a population of American crows (Corvus to find all possible crosslinkable pairs efficiently in a given brachyrhynchos) to a dangerous and neutral person and protein structure model. Successful implementation of recording responses. To objectively study the responses this algorithm will help the design of the experiments to we used two full masks, one associated with a trapping determine protein structures using the MS3D approach. event in which 7 birds were captured with a net gun, banded, and released (dangerous person), and one that was Novel high-intensity focused ultrasound device for not used during trapping (neutral person). We walked a transient opening of the blood-brain barrier standardized route surveying the birds’ responses to the Alice Ward, Junior, Bioengineering different people. The scolding of crows differed to our Mary Gates Scholar treatments as predicted (F8,60 = 9.7, p < 0.001). There was Mentor: Pierre D. Mourad, Neurological Surgery no change in scolding of the unmasked observers before Mentor: Rachel Sparks, Medicine and after trapping (all p-values > 0.059). But there was increased scolding of the dangerous person after trapping Brain cancer persists as one of the most life-threatening, relative to before trapping (p < 0.001) and equal scolding medically-challenging forms of cancer. Among other of each element of the dangerous person (face and hat, reasons, this is because the blood-brain barrier (BBB), face only, hat only, and inverted face only) after trapping which consists of tightly-joined endothelial cells that line (all p values ~ 1.0, post hoc Boneferonni adjustment). the blood vessels of the brain, prevents most therapeutic The dangerous person was scolded more than the neutral molecules from entering the brain by simple diffusion. person after trapping (p = 0.001). Of the identifiable The purpose of this project is to modify an existing high (banded) crows that scolded the dangerous mask after intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) device that is used trapping 22.2% (2 of 9) were caught and banded by us. for transiently opening the BBB to minimize undesired Therefore, while some crows learned about the danger effects. A HIFU device consists of a piezo-ceramic by direct experience, others learned about the danger by element, to generate acoustic energy, with a focusing direct or indirect observation. We conclude that crows cone, which can be modified to adjust the distribution discriminate between individual humans’ heads and faces. and intensity of the energy. It can target a specific area at which to disrupt endothelial cell junctions with acoustic Determining three dimensional structures using energy. The disruption to endothelial cells is temporary crosslinking and mass spectrometry and selective to the targeted area. A HIFU device could Vania Wang, Sophomore, Computer Science be used after bulk tumor removal on the remaining tissue Mentor: Ram Samudrala, Microbiology to deliver therapeutic compounds to those tissues which may contain residual tumor cells; however, the existing Traditionally, three dimensional protein structures have device is associated with severe side effects such as tissue been experimentally determined by x-ray diffraction damage from overheating or cavitations. In addition, the and NMR spectroscopy. Although these techniques can long-term effects of HIFU use for transient BBB opening produce structures with an atomic level resolution, it often are unknown. By reshaping the acoustical focusing takes several months or years to solve a protein structure. aluminum cone, the intensity of the acoustic waves at the In addition, these techniques require large amounts of focus will be more evenly distributed and of less intensity. pure protein that are well behaved (i.e., form crystals, do Preliminary research using computer modeling has not aggregate, etc.) and therefore many proteins in nature shown marked improvement of the new design over the will not be amenable to structure determination by these existing device in its distribution of acoustic energy. We techniques. We are pursuing a method to determine the expect that this change in distribution of acoustic energy molecular structure of proteins that will overcome these will correlate to less tissue damage. Once this project is limitations using a combination of crosslinking and mass finished, the new device, if proven effective and superior

96 to the existing device, could proceed to clinical trials and America? And perhaps most importantly, how can be incorporated into brain tumor removal procedures. popular depictions of nature and the environment help us to understand not only where we’ve been, but where Westerly Wind Surges through the Strait of Juan de we might be headed in terms of environmentalism and Fuca its evolution as a popular ideological movement? By Mike Warner, Senior, Atmospheric Sciences looking at the history of environmentalism in 20th century Mary Gates Scholar America through the lens of popular culture, specifically Mentor: Cliff Mass, Atmospheric Sciences popular children’s culture, these are some of the questions I have explored through my research. The two films I Extremely high westerly winds in Northwest Washington examine are Disney’s Bambi and The Lion King - both State are a result of intricate coupling between the small- films which occupy an enormously culturally pervasive scale topographical features of the area and the overlying space in the American popular consciousness. Both films synoptic meteorology. Occasionally, very strong winds also play close attention to the evolving environmental can occur which are often poorly forecast and result in concerns of their respective time periods and both millions of dollars worth of damage and loss of life. These films, as I attempt to demonstrate, have played a part in winds affect relatively exposed ports along the northwest informing and molding those concerns at the same time. coast, namely Everett Harbor. On December 17, 1990, an intense low pressure system passed over British Columbia KSHV inhibition of SOCS3, a negative regulator of perfectly aligning with the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This the JAK/STAT3 cell signaling pathway setup funneled very high winds through the strait toward Chris Wells, Junior, Molecular, Cellular, & Everett Harbor, causing millions of dollars worth of Developmental Biology property damage. On October 28, 2003, a similar storm Mary Gates Scholar occurred in which a restaurant at Mukilteo Landing was Mentor: Michael Lagunoff, Microbiology partially destroyed. Many other locations suffered extreme property damage and a Whidbey Island man was killed by Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the falling debris. We are currently looking at climatological infectious agent that causes Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS). KS patterns for these storms and have discovered that their is a skin tumor categorized by red/purple/brown lesions occurrence is highly variable. Over the last 30 years, invasive to soft and connective tissues. Our lab has shown their frequency has ranged from 0 to 10 storms per year. that the STAT3 signaling pathway, which controls cell We are currently compiling a list of dates in which these growth and proliferation, is constitutively active in KSHV- storms occurred and categorizing them according to their infected cells and can contribute to tumorigenesis. SOCS3 synoptic features. This will allow us to create composites is a negative regulator of the STAT3 signaling pathway for the different categories so that we can determine their and puts uncontrolled growth in check. We have shown prevailing patterns. Additionally, we are looking at model that the SOCS3 mRNA and protein is upregulated in output for our two case studies to help us understand their KSHV-infected cells, but STAT3 signaling continues to be 3-dimensional nature. Climatology, compositing, and case constitutively active. The goal of my studies is to determine study analysis will help us gain a greater understanding of why SOCS3 is not blocking STAT3 signaling in KSHV- these storms and aid in better forecasting of them in the future. infected cells. To test if SOCS3 overexpression could overcome constitutive STAT3 signaling, I cloned SOCS3 Disney and the Environment: Lions and Tigers and into a mammalian expression vector (SOCS3 gene with a Deer – Oh My? promoter recognized by mammalian cells), transfected the Anna Waters, Senior, English and Comparative Relgion DNA into cells, and infected the cells with KSHV. Transient Mary Gates Scholar SOCS3 over-expression did not block KSHV activation Mentor: Jose Alaniz, Slavic Languages & Literature of STAT3, as determined by STAT3 phosphorylation by western blot. STAT3 phosphorylation, and thus activation, Modern environmentalism, like any other “ism,” found its was constant under transient expression of SOCS3 genesis not in the minds of the masses, but in the minds indicating SOCS3 function may be blocked by KSHV. To of a few. From these few minds came the philosophical confirm these results, I will create a stable SOCS3 over- treatises on nature and the theoretical frameworks meant expressing cell line and infect them with KSHV and repeat to guide humanity’s relationship to the environment. the same experiments. By constitutive over-expression of These are the ideas in their purest form – ideas that, if SOCS3 I can definitively show that its function is being they withstand the test of time, come to be hashed out in halted in KSHV infected cells. By understanding how university classrooms and at academic conferences. But STAT3 is persistently activated in KSHV infected cells how can one tell when an “ism” has begun to encroach it will lead to a better understanding of the cell signaling upon the mass consciousness? What happens when an pathways altered by KSHV infection. In addition, it may be “ism,” particularly environmentalism, is taken outside possible to block the constitutive activation of the STAT3 of academia and placed inside the homes of Middle pathway and stop tumorigenesis from KSHV infection.

97 Automating Braille Label Placement in Scientific Preliminary findings indicate that many nursing students Diagrams feel they need more information about OTCPM in order Dana Wen, Senior, Computer Science and Music to make educated decisions and suggest locating this Mary Gates Scholar information on or in the package with the medication Mentor: Richard Ladner, Computer Science & and on the internet. Possible reasons behind this lack of Engineering understanding include seeking advice about OTCPM from family members and buying OTCPM based on previous Although the Braille system has served for a hundred and effectiveness of the medication, price, and convenience. fifty years as a quick and effective way to make written materials widely available to the blind community, there Fabrication of Patch Heaters for Microenvironment is currently no efficient method in existence for converting Control and Microscale PCR Applications images found in math, science, and engineering textbooks Kathryn Winglee, Senior, Computer Science and to a tactile format that can be utilized by blind students Biochemistry and professionals. Diagrams, graphs, and charts must be Mary Gates Scholar converted by hand through one of many painstaking and Mentor: Mark Holl, Electrical Engineering time-consuming methods. As a result, blind students and Mentor: Deidre Meldrum, Electrical Engineering professionals lack access to valuable visual resources. The Tactile Graphics Project was created to assess the problems When working with cells, it is often vital to be able surrounding this issue and develop a viable solution. I to control the temperature of a single cell and its have been involved with the Tactile Graphics Project for environment. As a result, the objective of this research the past two years. My role with the Project centers on is to design, fabricate, and test a patch heater to control building a software component to efficiently handle text the temperature of a microenvironment. The devices are label placement in graphs, charts, and diagrams. When fabricated on microscope slides using microfabrication labels are converted from English to Braille, the text often techniques, such as photolithography and metal becomes longer and interferes with graphical elements and depositions. Heat is generated by applying a voltage to other text labels in the image. In addition, some text labels indium tin oxide (ITO), resulting in resistive heating, are placed at an angle in the image, and must be rotated to while temperature is controlled by taking advantage of the the horizontal in order to be properly displayed as Braille. linear increase of the resistance of nickel with increasing My software component corrects these problems by temperature. When used in conjunction with microfluidic automatically creating an optimal layout for the text labels devices, these patch heaters can enable a variety of cell in a given image. Currently, I am working to improve tests to be performed, from polymerase chain reaction my label placement algorithm and developing tests to (PCR) to cell stimuli response, at the microscale level. measure the performance of my label placement feature. Reactivity of Cerebral Arterioles after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage The Use and Understanding of Over-the-Counter Pain Cordelie Witt, Junior, Neurobiology and Biology Medication in 1st year Nursing Students (Physiology) Stacey White, Senior, Nursing Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Vicky Hertig, Biobehavioral Nursing & Health Mentor: Gavin Britz, Neurological Surgery Systems Mentor: Joseph Meno, Neurological Surgery

The public’s lack of understanding surrounding over- Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a common type of brain the-counter pain medication (OTCPM) has been well bleed that typically occurs following the rupture of an documented, but few studies have examined why this aneurysm, and associated mortality is estimated at roughly confusion exists. The aims of this pilot study to explore the 50% percent. Interestingly, up to one third of these deaths reasons behind the lack of understanding and to suggest are delayed, caused by ischemic stroke in which an area ways to increase access to information and enhance of the brain receives insufficient blood flow. When a decision-making related to OTCPM. A convenience subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs, the brain’s normal sample of 86 1st year Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) students chemical balance is severely upset, and a biochemical were surveyed about their use and understanding of signaling pathway involving nitric oxide is skewed. As a OTCPM. The survey was administered during students’ result of this, cerebral blood vessels respond abnormally pharmacology class, but prior to their formal nursing to certain chemicals and may constrict in a phenomenon school education on OTCPM. The 42 question survey known as vasospasm. This constriction limits blood flow, took about 15 minutes to complete and addressed and may cause stroke. We utilize a rat model of SAH students’ use of OTCPM, students’ confidence in OTCPM because rats’ vascular responses to these hemorrhages choices, the conditions under which students seek more are very similar to humans’. We have already performed information about OTCPM, and the sources they go to. studies in vitro that show that cerebral arterioles dilate only

98 modestly when exposed to drugs that would normally elicit understand all aspects of our historical past. Only then can a strong dilatative response. While vasospasm has been we begin to order the many complications of contemporary shown to occur in humans only sometimes, this research race relations and move towards a better beacon of equality. shows that reactivity is compromised in all rat arterioles. The present study examines the changes in the cellular A content analysis on climate change reported makeup of the arterioles using histological techniques. through global, national and blog online news media Many small vessels show signs of vasospasm, evident in Grace Woo, Senior, Communication the corrugations of the vessel walls that are not present in Mentor: Kathy Gill, Communication normal vessels. In addition, we are examining the role of phosphodiesterase-5 receptors (PDE5) in the nitric oxide- Over the past quarter century, global greenhouse gas mediated changes in vessel reactivity. We are investigating emissions have continued their steady increase starting various techniques to quantify PDE5 expression in with the Industrial Revolution, and peer-reviewed science various blood vessels, and the impact of PDE5 inhibitors has documented evidence of human-induced climate such as Sildenafil and Tadalafil on vessel reactivity. change. Nevertheless, the topic remains controversial in the United States due to conflicting views and reports “Strange Fruit”: A New Database for the Study of expressed in the news media. Furthermore, social science Southern Mob Violence research suggests that public viewpoints on controversial Nicholas Wong, Senior, Sociology and American Ethnic issues are shaped by how these issues are reported. Studies How, then, are news media reporting climate change? Mary Gates Scholar This study analyzes online news content about climate Mentor: Stewart Tolnay, Sociology change, comparing environmental news coverage between Mentor: Amy Bailey, Sociology independent online news, global online news media and U.S. online news media. The content analysis explores Between 1882 and 1930, nearly 3,000 African Americans how the topic of climate change is expressed in each were lynched in the South of the United States during the media segment previously mentioned. The fundamental post-reconstruction era. Lynching was a practice of brutal questions are: Is the coverage uniform across each mutilation, and was often conducted as a public spectacle. segment and how does the type of reporting relate to The practice was part of a more general strategy of informal public attitudes? The framework, or theories used for data social control for the newly emancipated black population. analysis are agenda-setting theory (McCombs & Shaw, While previous studies have provided critical evidence 1972), which steams from a social science perspective that regarding geographic location, frequency over time, and mass media influence which of an issue that is important in most cases the purported “offense”, it has given little in the public’s mind, and narrative theory (Shanahan & information on the victim. We aim to statistically research McComa, 1999), which generally holds that humans use if any notable patterns existed amongst those who were narratives to weave together fragmented observations to targeted as lynch victims. Were lynch victims more construct meanings and realties. My analysis will evaluate or less likely to be literate? To own their own homes? if the answer to my research question is a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ To be married? What were their occupations? Were (on the uniformity of coverage), and also elaborate on how they established members of the local community, or this answer affects the public’s view on climate change. migrants? To do this, we use an online census database to search for victims’ records based on the limited available Fostering Local Participatory Communication for information about specific victims, while keeping in Development: A Case Study in San Ramon, Nicaragua mind the sensitivity of time, location and other variable Hailey Wright, Senior, Communication factors. After initial searching, we then go through a Mentor: Taso Lagos, Communication rigorous process of evaluation to determine the likelihood amongst the sometimes numerous matches we generate. Development communication has shifted drastically The findings are then entered into a statistical program throughout the past sixty years. Largely influenced by called EpiData, to provide numerical summations for modernization theory, DC originally took a very universal future researchers wishing to conduct further analysis of approach to development, proposing a uniform plan the history of mob violence. Currently, we are discovering for all developing nations and neglecting to take into new methodologies and progressing through the states account the specific conditions of the countries. This and decades to overall integrate a scientific approach to a theory concentrated on the use of mass media to spread largely social issue. Although we face many unavoidable knowledge from westernized nations to the developing obstacles, such as the under-enumeration of blacks or the world. After many years with little success, an alternative destruction of the 1890 census, we will still emerge with approach to development is emerging, focusing on the critical findings to help explain a chaotic and morbid part empowerment of local communities in order to establish of our history. While as a society we aim to move past their unique approach to development. This micro-level our previous injustices, it is necessary to recognize and approach to development, involving active participation

99 among the people, creates a more historically and culturally bacteria. However, since the vectors were also designed situated, respectful, and ultimately more effective form of to express in mammalian cells, experiments are planned in development. Therefore, it is important to study how this which I will transfect the plasmids into HeLa cells and test approach is attained through participatory communication whether the UL23 and UL24 proteins are produced, bind at the local level. In order to accomplish this, I am to dsRNA, and counteract PKR. Successful completion investigating how participation is fostered in a rural of this project will reveal insight into the lifecycle of community in Nicaragua. El Centro Promocional Cristiano HCMV and the functions and structure of dsRNA. por la Paz y por la Vida (CPCPV) is a non-governmental organization working for improved economic and social The Effect of Alcohol Cues and Relationship Goals on development in San Ramon, Nicaragua. I am focusing my Sexual Intent Perceptions study on the interaction between this NGO and the people to Jessica Blayney, Senior, Psychology and Sociology discover how CPCPV is effectively fostering participation Zhu Zhu Xiao, Senior, Psychology and empowerment among the community members of Mentor: Kristen Lindgren, Psychiatry & Behavioral San Ramon, Nicaragua in order to promote sustainable Sciences economic development and social change. My method for Mentor: William George, Psychology research is largely ethnographic observation. I am interning with CPCPV and living in San Ramon for three months, Men tend to perceive women’s intentions as more sexual thus becoming part of the community and the development in nature than do women (Abbey, 1982; Haselton & Buss, process. During this time, I am recording detailed field 2000). In addition, the presence of alcohol cues has been notes of my observations and ethnographic interviews. shown to lead to more sexualized perceptions of men and In all, I anticipate my findings to assist in establishing an women (George et al., 1988, 1995, 1997). However, little effective development model that integrates previously is know about both alcohol cues gender, and a person’s marginalized voices into the process of development. relationship goals (e.g., friendship vs. attraction) jointly affect perceptions of sexual interest. The current study Identifying new Human Cytomegalovirus double attempts to explore how perceptions of sexual interest stranded RNA-binding proteins are affected by these three factors. One hundred male Brandon Wu, Sophomore, Microbiology and 100 female participants will read a story depicting a Mentor: Adam Geballe, Medicine, Microbiology, and heterosexual dating scenario in which beverage (coffee vs. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center alcohol) relationship goals (friendship vs. attraction) are varied. Participants will complete a questionnaire about Upon detection of viral infection, cells activate a variety what they read, and their sexual and dating history, drinking of anti-viral responses including the activation of Protein history and alcohol expectancies will also be assessed. Kinase R (PKR) by binding to dsRNA, which results in Participants will also complete three Implicit Association the shutoff of protein synthesis. Many viruses, including Test (IAT) which measure automatic cognitions related to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), prevent the activation sex and the self, sex and opposite-sex others, and alcohol. of this pathway by encoding dsRNA-binding proteins that The authors will perform analyses of variance (ANOVA) enable continued protein synthesis and viral replication. to test for the effects of participant gender, beverage, Understanding which proteins these are and defining their and relationship goals on sexual intent perceptions. In role is the goal of this project. In previous investigations addition, the correlations will examine the relations of the US22 family, two murine CMV (MCMV) genes between sexual intent perceptions and participants’ were found to bind to dsRNA and block PKR activation. alcohol expectancies, sexual experience, and IAT scores. Analysis of other members of the US22 family found Study results could further clarify the relationship that M23 and M24 also bind to dsRNA, but do not block between sexual perceptions and alcohol cues. This study PKR activation. Homologs of M23 and M24 in HCMV has an anticipated completion date of March 2007. Data are UL23 and UL24.At present the roles of UL23 and have currently been collected for 93 women and 86 men. UL24 are unknown, but we hypothesize that the encoded proteins bind to dsRNA. To test this hypothesis, I began by Lake Vostok Underneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet: using the polymerase chain reaction method to amplify the Revealing Its Recent Conditions Using Ice-penetrating UL23 and UL24 genes before ligating the products into Radar the pcDNA 3.1/V5-His Topo vector. Next I transformed Marc Yamamoto, Senior, Chemical Engineering the DNA into DH5α E. coli, isolated the DNA from Mary Gates Scholar the resulting bacterial colonies, and identified clones Mentor: Kenichi Matsuoka, Earth & Space Sciences containing the UL23 and UL24 genes in the forward orientation by use of restriction enzymes and sequencing. Because of a balance between insulating ice above and Expecting the proteins to be produced in bacteria, I analyzed geothermal heat below, liquid water can exist underneath bacterial lysates using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the Antarctic ice sheet. Over 140 of these large techniques, but found no evidence of expression in accumulations of water, called “sub-glacial” lakes, exist

100 underneath the ice sheet of Antarctica. The largest one and weight (70 grams vs. 489 grams). On alternate test is Lake Vostok, officially discovered in 1996 by Russian trials, the heavy or light block was placed at the end of a scientists; Lake Vostok is 4000 m below the ice, 250 km cloth and the infants were given the opportunity to pull the long, 50 km wide, and has a depth of 800 m. Radio waves cloth to obtain the block. Infants were more likely to use can penetrate into the ice and comes back when reflecting social strategies when the heavy block sat at the end of the off of different layers, so radar can be used to learn cloth than when the light block sat at the end of the cloth. characteristics of ice and its bed. The project evaluated These findings reveal a new level of sophistication present radio-echo intensities from available ice-penetrating radar in infants’ problem-solving abilities. By 12 months of age data over Lake Vostok. Echo from the ice bottom interface infants not only employ instrumental and social strategies (ice/rock or ice/water) appears on the radar data as the to solve problems, but do so depending on their own ability brightest continuous layer. Echo intensity is affected to solve the task and the overall difficulty of the problem. primarily by the interface, and secondarily by ice along the radio wave propagation path. The main goal for this Cerebellar circuitry of saccades – the surgical project is using the echo intensity data to more accurately resection of posterior fossa tumors and their describe the current conditions of the lake’s upper surface subsequent impairment on eye movements and learn evolution of the lake. Working with Kenichi Justin Yan, Senior, Neurbiology Matsuoka, we completed two main tasks. First, the Mary Gates Scholar brightest echo from the ice bottom is tracked along each Mentor: Ric Robinson, Biological Structure radar transect. The lake is covered by orthogonal radar Mentor: Elena Cherny, Neurobiology & Behavior grids and the total distance that we tracked is 17,000 km. Second, we compiled all of the tracked data and mapped The cerebellum has long been known to make our echo intensity. Consistent spatial patterns were obtained motor movements fast, accurate, and consistent, but from echo intensities measured from the orthogonal radar the mechanisms by which the cerebellum operates has transects which are independently profiled. In general, continued to elude the neuroscience community. By the lake’s upper surface is much brighter than the rock researching the eye movements of macaque monkeys, we interface. However, there are dim and bright areas over can begin to understand a small, yet significant, component the lake. We first discovered that the echo intensity varies of how the cerebellum functions in monitoring and adapting by two-order-of magnitude over the lake. It suggests these movements. Previous data has proven that the caudal that the characteristics of the lake surface vary widely. fastigial nucleus (CFN), located within the oculomotor vermis of the cerebellum, is responsible for driving our “I need a little help here”: Eleven- and 12-month-old saccades. The CFN are bilateral and a burst in one CFN infants’ use of social strategies during problem-solving accelerates the eyes in the contraversive direction; this leads tasks to a delicate timing of bilateral CFN activity to make our Mari Yamamoto, Senior, Psychology eye movements fast, accurate, and consistent. Much of the Undergraduate Research Travel Award activity that precludes the CFN activation resulting in this Recipient timing remains untested. Parallel fibers (p-fibers) synapse Mentor: Jessica A. Sommerville, Psychology onto Purkinje cells (P-cells) which in turn synapse upon the CFN. The timing of p-fiber activity as well as the level Mature problem solvers recognize that there are two of influence p-fibers have on P-cells remains unknown. routes to solving any problem: alone or with help. Infants The experiment to be performed will be a monkey surgery capitalize on both of these problem-solving routes. We which will mimic the common brain surgery performed investigated the conditions under which infants use social on a large percentage of children with brain tumors. and instrumental problem-solving strategies, assessing Post-surgical analysis of the monkey’s eye movements across two studies whether infants varied their strategy (saccades, smooth pursuit, and ramp-step) can potentially usage as a function of the difficulty of the problem-solving uncover the role of the p-fibers, the most abundant cells task. In Study 1, 11-month-old infants were presented of the brain, in these specific eye movements. Clinically, with a problem in which they could pull a cane in order we can demonstrate the importance of the cerebellum to bring an out-of-reach toy within reach. We coded the and hopefully advance the field of neurosurgery, so that frequency of instrumental and social strategies that infants a different protocol is developed to remove these tumors used to solve the task. We found that there was a trade- (posterior fossa tumors) which would preserve the off in infants’ strategy usage: infants who infrequently oculomotor vermis and thus preserve eye movements. used instrumental strategies produced a greater number of social strategies than did infants who frequently used instrumental strategies. In Study 2, we systematically varied the difficulty of the problem-solving task. Twelve- month-old infants received experience playing with two identical blocks that differed only in color (red vs. yellow)

101 Efficiency Enhancing of Organic Solar Cell by processability all need to be considered in the design of the Nanolithography Fabrication material. A typical chromophore has three parts: a donor, Pinyi Yang, Junior, Material Science & Engineering a bridge, and an acceptor. Most common chromophores Mentor: Christine Luscombe, Material Science & utilize dialkyl amino phenyl as their donor group. Density Engineering Functional Theory (DFT) calculations predict higher b value (second order polarizabilities, which is a figure of Compared to traditional inorganic photovoltaic devices, merit for their successful applications) for tri-aryl amine organic photovoltaic devices offer many advantages donors than dialkyl amino-phenyl donors. Furthermore, including the potential to be able to fabricate low cost, replacing the phenyl with a pyrrole group should enhance flexible, and disposable devices. However, the applications b based on the principles of using auxiliary donors. This of organic photovoltaic devices are limited by their low poster will introduce how the alteration of donors from power conversion efficiency and their short lifetimes. diaryl amino-phenyl to diaryl amino-pyrrole affects b. These problems must be overcome before organic devices can become commercially competitive against traditional Flying High: How Bumblebees Compensate for inorganic devices. One way to overcome these problems Reduced Air Density at High Altitudes is to fabricate organic-inorganic hybrid devices. Inorganic Maria Yousoufian, Senior, Biology materials are more robust than organic materials under Mentor: Michael Dillon, Biology irradiation conditions, therefore the use of a combination of an inorganic and organic material will increase the Life at high altitude is hard, presenting challenges such device lifetimes. Additionally, inorganic materials have as cold temperatures and reduced oxygen concentration. improved charge transport properties, which should help Despite these difficulties, bumblebees thrive at high to improve the power conversion efficiency. However, altitudes, where few other insects survive. To fly at high the inorganic material must be nanostructured in order altitudes, bumblebees compensate for reduced air density, to allow effective charge separation in the photovoltaic which limits their ability to produce flight forces. To fly device. In this poster, we present a nanolithography in reduced density air, bumblebees may adjust wing-beat bottom-up approach to fabricate a TiO2 layer, in kinematics. By increasing either the amplitude of each order to fabricate organic-inorganic hybrid devices. wing stroke (the largest angle through which the wings Experiments were conducted on using polystyrene (PS)/ move) or the wing-beat frequency (the number of beats polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) blends and PS-PMMA per second), bumblebees could generate the excess forces block copolymers as templates to create nano-sized necessary for flight at high altitude. To investigate how structures, which were then used to create organized TiO2 bumblebees compensate for reduced air density, bees were structures. Efficiency comparisons between a normal TiO2 captured at high and low altitudes in western China and device and a nanostructure TiO2 device will be presented. placed in a flight chamber. Altitude was artificially altered by manipulating the barometric pressure in the chamber Organic Electro-Optic Chromophore Synthesis and videos of flight were recorded at “altitudes” ranging Benjamin Yen, Senior, Biochemistry from -500 meters to 8500 meters. We measured stroke Mentor: Larry Dalton, Chemistry amplitude using frame-by-frame analysis of flight video Mentor: Philip Sullivan, Chemistry sequences. We determined wing-beat frequency using fourier analysis of the audio track from the video sequences. Non-Linear Optical (NLO) chromophores are materials Both high and low altitude bumblebees increased stroke that have been investigated by many people in the past amplitude to fly at increasing altitudes. Although low decade. These materials may enhance performance altitude bees flew with a maximum stroke amplitude of and reduce cost in areas such as telecommunications, 145 degrees, high altitude bees had a maximum stroke computing and other new applications. The second order- amplitude exceeding 145 degrees, possibly indicating NLO effect may be used for information processing and morphological or physiological adaptation of the flight optical storage of information. Organic electro-optic machinery to compensate for reduced density air. Wing- (EO) materials show advantages over the inorganic beat frequency changed little across altitude for both high competitor material because of their synthetic versatility and low altitude bees. Future studies could investigate and potentially higher operational bandwidth. The main the morphological or physiological mechanisms that give requirements for a successful material involve high high altitude bees higher maximum stroke amplitudes. second-order susceptibility while keeping acceptable thermal, optical and chemical properties, and allowing for a desired percentage of active material to be incorporated into a matrix so that the properties may be optimized. The synthesis of the organic chromophores, which is an integral part of the final EO material, is challenging since the optical nonlinearity, thermal stability, optical transparency, and

102 Natural Product Science; Mentha piperita Analysis were then used for virus amplification. IL-15 expression Andrew Yu, Senior, Biology and Chemistry, The in infected 293 cells was checked using commercially Evergreen State College available ELISA for human and mouse IL-15. Lastly, mice Mentor: Peter J. Pessiki, Chemistry, The Evergreen State with breast cancer tumors will be injected with either the College Ad.h-IL15 or Ad.m-IL15 vector. The size of the tumors found in the IL-15 mice will then be compared to another Mentha piperita has been cultivated at the Chemical set of mice with breast cancer injected with a control vector. Garden, located on the Organic Farm, which is part of The Evergreen State College’s campus. It was identified A New Target for Curing Malaria: Nucleoside Analogs using their botanical details and biomolecule constituents against the Aplastid DNA Polymerase as reference. The mints utilized in this investigation were Yunny Yunita, Senior, Biochemistry and Business grown organically from a strain of Peppermint with a long Administration history at the Organic Farm. The cultivation provides us Mary Gates Scholar plant material that has an established heritage and is free Mentor: Lawrence A. Loeb, Pathology from agricultural chemicals. This research project stems from this previous work of identification and will include Malaria is a serious public health disease that causes analysis of the essential oils in Mentha piperita, commonly more than a million deaths every year. Presently, the known as Peppermint. The essential oils were isolated widespread emergence of drug resistant strains calls for using steam distillation via a Dean-Stark apparatus, as well the identification of new targets and the development of as chemical solvent extractions. Analysis was performed new therapies. We have cloned the apicoplastic DNA using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry. The polymerase (Pom1) from the genomic DNA of the human analysis focused on the ratio between menthol and malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. This polymerase menthone, the primary constituents of Mentha piperita’s is the key enzyme responsible for replicating DNA in the essential oil. A comparison to commercial products that plasmodial apicoplast, a unique cellular organelle, which contain the oil of peppermint will also be made and reported. is essential for parasite growth. Next, we demonstrated that In addition, this poster will report efforts on establishing exogenously expressed Pom1 can functionally complement Mentha spicata, commonly known as Spearmint, and our a temperature-sensitive E. coli DNA polymerase I strain initial analysis of the essential oils found in this plant. (pol Its) in vivo. By assembling an E. coli dual expression vector that co-expresses Pom1 together with herpes Immunotherapy of cancer with IL-15 expressing simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-TK), we adenovirus vectors produced a powerful E. coli genetic complementation Roma Yumul, Senior, Microbiology system to identify nucleoside analogs that may perturb Mentor: Andre Liebre, Medical Genetics Pom1 DNA polymerase function. In this system, HSV-TK will phosphorylate nucleoside analogs to form nucleotides, Adenoviral gene-transfer technology allows for efficient which eventually will be phosphorylated by E. coli expression of specified genes in tumor cells which may then enzymes to make nucleotide triphosphates. The nucleotide be used as an immunotherapy agent to suppress tumors in triphosphate will then be utilized by Pom1 during the cancer patients. The goal was to generate adenovirus vectors replication process. Any nucleoside analogs that impede that produce human or mouse interleukin 15 (IL-15) and Pom1 DNA polymerase function will cause a decrease in to test these vectors in mice with tumors. The expectation survival of the temperature-sensitive E. coli (pol Its) strain. following the injection of these vectors into tumors is that This system will allow us to screen a large library of IL-15 will activate immune responses against the tumor nucleoside analogs for compounds that inhibit Pom1 DNA that will lead to tumor regression. To generate adenovirus polymerase function. Lead compounds that hinder Pom1 vectors (Ad.h-IL15 and Ad.m-IL15), plasmids were DNA polymerase function will then be assessed in living produced containing the IL-15 cDNAs under the control of malarial parasites. Thus, the system we developed may a promoter that allows for expression in tumor cells. Plasmid lead us to the discovery of an alternative cure for malaria. DNA was purified using the QIAfilter Plasmid Maxi Kit and linearized by ScaI digestions. To generate recombinant Online Group-Collaboration Assessment Environment viruses, IL-15 cDNA containing plasmids were transfected using Bayesian Networks and Finite State Machines into 293 cells together with another plasmid that contained Charley Zhang, Senior, Computer Science & Engineering adenoviral genes (pJM17). 293 cells are an epithelial cell Mentor: Steve Tanimoto, Computer Science & line initially derived from human embryonic kidney cells. Engineering For transfection, the calcium-phosphate co-precipitation method was implemented by mixing IL-15 and pJM17 Computer-supported collaborative learning is an with calcium chloride, which then forms a precipitate. interdisciplinary field of growing research interest. My The precipitate is then taken up by the 293 cells thereby research is to extend this field by creating an online creating plaques. Plaques containing the virus and IL-15 environment for assessing two-player collaborative

103 learning techniques. I will do this by creating a two-player One of the intriguing observations in human diseases multimedia activity that allows a pair of students to learn of the central nervous system is that most diseases are together using interactive discussion and quiz questions. It regional specific. For example, it is widely accepted is built on an online educational assessment environment that the substantia nigra (SN), a main contributor of called INFACT, developed at UW by Professor Steve dopamine to the striatum, is highly susceptible to Tanimoto. INFACT enables automatic assessment of neuronal loss in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the students’ learning processes using a technology that is neighboring regions, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) a combination of Bayesian Networks and Finite State and nucleus paranigralis (PN), are much more resistant Machines. Assessment is achieved through automatic to neurodegeneration. The molecular mechanisms recording and data mining of learning patterns and frequency underlying this regional vulnerability are largely unknown. of patterns in online actions. We hope the research will This project aims to study the protein profiles of SN as contribute to our understanding of the nature of online group compared to VTA/PN regions, hoping to identify proteins collaboration and effective group collaboration techniques. unique to each region in the setting of PD that may confer sensitivity or resistance to neurodegeneration. To perform Chloroplast DNA Loss after Dark-to-Light Transfer in this study, 5 human PD cases were age, gender, and post- Zea mays L. mortem interval (PMI) matched with controls and tissues Qi Zheng, Junior, Biology from SN and VTA/PN were dissected from each sample to Mentor: Delene J. Oldenburg, Biology form four groups: control-SN, control-VTA, PD-SN, and Mentor: Arnold J. Bendich, Biology PD-VTA. The pooled samples were then fractionated into cytosol, mitochondrial, and nuclear fractions, respectively. Based on our previous research results, the chloroplast DNA Each fraction is then digested with trypsin, labeled (cpDNA) level of maize (Zea mays L.) decreases after dark- with iTRAQ (isobaric Tags for Relative and Absolute grown seedlings are transferred to light and the etioplasts Quantification), and subjected to mass spectrometry. The develop into photosynthetically active chloroplasts. use of iTRAQ allows not only for the identification but Specifically, three days after dark-grown seedlings were also the quantification of proteins. Subsequent protein transferred to the light, the cpDNA had declined to levels analysis will allow for the determination of proteins equivalent to those of light-grown seedlings. The purpose unique to each region and the relative abundance of of my research is to determine how rapidly this light- proteins in the setting of PD. Proteins of interest will be triggered DNA degradation occurs after exposure of dark- further evaluated for their roles in neurodegeneration, grown plants to light. Several trays of maize seedlings were progression, and possible future treatment methods. grown for 8.5 days in the dark, then transferred to the light and harvested between 3.5 hours and 72 hours in the light. HIV+ Research Participant Experiences of Pager vs. The cpDNA content was assessed by staining the isolated Peer Support in a Medication Adherence Study chloroplasts with the DNA-specific dye, DAPI, and by Timothy Zhu, Senior, Microbiology examination using fluorescence microscopy. Images of Josephine Quitugua, Senior, Psychology chloroplasts were recorded with a digital camera and the Mary Gates Scholar intensity of the DAPI-DNA fluorescence was measured Mentor: Jane Simoni, Psychology using the imaging analysis program OpenLab. After the Mentor: Cynthia Pearson, Psychology dark-to-light transfer, the leaf color of maize seedlings Mentor: Susanna Rojas, Psychology changed from pale yellow to dark green, and correlates with Mentor: Michele Peake, Psychiatry & Behavioral the observed change in color and size that accompanied Sciences etioplast-to-chloroplast development. We found that the cpDNA content dropped to half of the original value within Treatment for AIDS involves administration of Highly 3.5 hours after the transfer. By 10 hours after transfer, the Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), which requires cpDNA content declined to the same level as found for a high level of adherence (90% – 95%) for optimal light-grown seedlings. Additional experiments will be outcomes. Long-term adherence is difficult, especially performed to gain information about the decline during the given the frequent adverse side effects. Although previous first 3.5 hours after transfer and to study the effects of both randomized control trials for the study of HAART light intensity and quality on the rate of cpDNA decline. adherence have shown efficacy, little consensus exists The overall goal of this research project is to determine the regarding the most efficacious strategies for improving mechanism of how light regulates cpDNA loss or retention. and maintaining high adherence to HAART. In particular, existing reports provide limited perspective from the Neurodegeneration of nigral and ventral tegmental participants themselves in regards to their engagement in neurons in Parkinson’s disease adherence interventions. Based on a larger intervention David Zhu, Senior, Economics and Neurobiology trial, this sub-study examined 139 participants’ perceptions Mary Gates Scholar of receiving either 3 months of adherence support from a Mentor: Jing Zhang, Pathology peer with bimonthly group meetings and weekly phone

104 calls (n = 49) or 3 months of an electronic reminder for each prescribed dose from a two-way pager (n = 48) or both peer and pager support (n = 42). We conducted qualitative analyses of semi-structured open-ended interviews that were administered at six time points during the nine- month study at Harborview Medical Center. Each query prompted positive and negative feedback about patient experiences with their respective intervention methods. We transcribed all the responses and created categories for them. Next, two raters independently classified the responses into these categories, focusing specifically on participants’ perspectives on buddy versus pager support. Early findings suggest that positive feedback about the peer intervention highlighted the emotional and psychological support, whereas positive comments about the pager intervention related more specifically to medication adherence. Additionally, participants tended to more positively evaluate the peer versus the pager intervention. In summary, this qualitative study suggested that both personal and technological sources of support are acceptable to HIV+ patients challenged by HAART regimens but that peer support has benefits beyond prompting dose taking and may be more positively received.

The role of assembled polymer gels in marine bacterial growth: an outlet for refractory carbon? Jekaterina Zyuzin, Senior, Neurobiology Mentor: Pedro Verdugo, Bioengineering

The cycling of carbon in the ocean is critical for the transport of organic nutrients from the surface to the seafloor. Carbon from the atmosphere is fixed by photosynthetic plankton and stored as refractory dissolved organic material (DOM) in the ocean. Discrete biopolymers from this DOM pool can spontaneously assemble via ionic interactions to form microscopic polymer gels; approximately 10% of DOM is stored as assembled gel. This estimate predicts that 1016 g of reduced carbon is stored as microscopic polymer gel, a tremendous sink of particulate organic material. We tested the hypothesis that marine bacteria rely on these assembled polymer gels for growth and reproduction by monitoring microbial concentration and distribution in the presence of polymer gels. Our results indicate that bacteria are present inside gels in much higher concentrations than in the ambient seawater, and that bacterial growth is enhanced in the presence of polymer gels. Bacteria may also actively colonize assembled polymer gels. The pool of DOM that was previously considered to be refractory and vital for carbon sequestration may in fact be accessible to microbial consumption in the form of assembled polymer gels, resulting in significant release of carbon back into the atmosphere.

105 2007 Symposium Participants Note Their Mentors’ Best Characteristics

“Provides guidance but leaves room for independent exploration.” 

“Accepts your mistakes and shows you how to do it better next time.” 

“an amazing personality, including a sense of humor!” 

“high expectations!” 

“…she has offered me exceptional professional skills and knowledge in the field of qualitative data analysis and she has respected my analytical thinking, allowing me to develop to the fullest of my abilities.” 

“Someone who will push your limits while realizing that you have classes and a life outside the laboratory.” 

“She not only advised me on my current projects, but helped guide my future academic and career goals as well." 

“…[has] a genuine interest in my learning throughout the process.” 

“Energy and ethusiasm for the topic.” 

“Without his positive and patient approach, I doubt I would have had the courage and excitement to proceed with this project.” 

“He has allowed me to get involved in aspects of the experiment that I didn’t think that I, as an un- dergraduate, would be allowed to work on.” Presentation Sessions

Please Note: Abstracts are listed alphabetically by the presenter’s last name, unless otherwise noted. ______Men as victim advocates: Why are they less likely than women to volunteer? Session 1A Autumn Allen, Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies, UW ______Bothell Mentor: Elizabeth Thomas, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, UW Bothell Social and Cultural Identity Session Moderator: David Domke, Communication In my experience as a volunteer coordinator for a non-profit Mary Gates Hall Room 074 organization, I have found that women more frequently volunteer as advocates working with violent crime victims. *Note: Titles in order of presentation. In order to better understand why fewer men serve in this role and the meanings men bring to the advocate role, The Students’ Voice: Experiences with Conflict within this qualitative research project examines the experience Small Learning Groups at UWB of men who serve in advocate positions and men who Debbie Anderson, Recent Graduate, Interdisciplinary initially planned to become advocates but did not complete Arts & Sciences, UW Bothell advocate training. Methods for the research project include Mentor: Diane Gillespie, Interdisciplinary Arts & in-depth interviews and analysis of archived data from Sciences, UW Bothell volunteer applications. The applications and interviews both allow each person to put into their own words what Peer based inquiry, commonly referred to as collaborative advocacy means to them. I will present findings of the and/or cooperative learning requires students to work project and discuss the implications of these findings for together in small groups on various tasks with an emphasis victim advocacy organizations and for further research. on interpersonal communication. The incorporation of these educational practices has significantly increased Diversity in Engineering Teaching – Views from at all levels of education and has been the focus of Future Engineering Faculty numerous studies in the field of education. Furthermore, Brook Sattler, Senior, Technical Communication scholars and researchers have found that students who Mentor: Jennifer Turns, Technical Communication engaged in peer based inquiry demonstrated improved Mentor: Jessica Yellin, Technical Communication learning outcomes, such as the development of a deeper Mentor: Yi-Min Huang, Technical Communication understanding of the topic, better long-term retention of the materials studied, and an increased ability to apply Even though diversity issues have not always been their understanding of the material (critical thinking). addressed in engineering education they remain a key Peer learners also express greater satisfaction with the issue. For example, attrition from engineering programs learning process itself, especially when compared with remains a significant issue across all groups. However, students who have studied in isolation. However, as for underrepresented groups, recruitment and retention students engage in group activities it is normal for conflict in undergraduate engineering programs is especially to arise and take different forms. The unspoken goal of critical because significantly fewer engineering degrees collaborative and/or cooperative learning is for students were awarded to students from underrepresented minority to progress past the initial stages of conflict and engage groups in the last decade. We believe that diversity does each other in a form of interpersonal conflict that arises not magically get addressed in engineering teaching, from differences of opinion and/or perspective in regards but rather it gets addressed conscientiously by educators to the task, known as socio-cognitive conflict. This study purposefully taking it into account. But how do engineering questioned how the role of conflict affected the students’ educators conceive of diversity and how do they go about lived experiences in multiple small learning groups in the considering these issues in their teaching? Very little has Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences program at University been published about the conceptions of diversity held of Washington, Bothell. Did the interpersonal conflict that by engineering educators and how these conceptions normally arises prior to socio-cognitive conflict impede the influence their teaching. This current paper uses a learning outcomes attributed to small group pedagogies? qualitative analysis approach to explore the conceptions The findings argue for a small group learning policy that of diversity as expressed by future engineering educators. informs students of the educative processes and conflict’s Engineering graduate students and post-docs (future role in small group activities. Additionally, it calls for a engineering educators) wrote a statement of diversity as policy that fosters a deeper understanding of various small it relates to teaching engineering as a component of a group methodologies, their uses, and questions how to teaching portfolio. We then interviewed these participants coordinate the time requirements of small group learning about the processes they used for this writing task. tasks within a unique community of commuter students. During the interview, they reflected on their processes in writing the diversity statement; they also discussed their personal experiences with diversity issues and through

108 these discussions revealed their attitudes, beliefs, and While the gap between rich and poor in the United States is conceptions of diversity. In this exploratory study, we growing bigger every year, the selling of “luxury” and the focus our analysis on these interviews and present our promotion of “luxury lifestyles” is becoming a booming findings on three emergent themes across four case studies. industry (Danziger, 2005; Frank, 1999). But what is luxury? This research project examines the websites of 100 of the Societal Implications of Language Hierarchies: Why world’s most “exclusive” or luxurious hotels and analyzes pidgins can’t fly and creole is tasteless the range of linguistic, visual and material resources these Sara Parker, Senior, European Studies: Linguistics, websites use to communicate an image of luxury. The Spanish, Seattle Pacific University method used is Critical Discourse Analysis which aims Mentor: Kathryn Bartholomew, Foreign Languages and to show how the choice of words and images in ordinary, Literatures, Seattle Pacific University micro-level texts represent and also reproduce large-scale social realities. This is especially true in travel where Inequitable language laws withhold social mobility tourists are often more concerned with finding their image from those who speak unofficial languages by limiting of a place rather than being in the place itself (Thurlow et educational opportunities, thereby promoting illiteracy al., 2004). By looking at marketing in the travel industry and contributing to a general sense of linguistic inferiority. we see how luxury lifestyles are being created through Covert language hierarchies give rise to overtly prejudiced discourse and how ideologies produce what Bourdieu laws which grant official status only to the primary (1991) refers to as symbolic capital. Especially in today’s language(s) of the upper socio-economic group(s). This consumer-driven world, the possession of symbolic paper focuses on the case of pidgins and creoles. Though capital “legitimates” people’s social status. Even though sometimes creole languages are inaccurately termed they are places of leisure and pleasure for guests, luxury ‘pidgins,’ pidgins are ‘contact languages’ that arise out hotels are also places of great inequality for workers of a need to communicate for a limited amount of time (Sherman, 2005). Like Thurlow & Jaworski (2006), my between linguistically foreign groups and are always analysis of the linguistic/visual content and design of learned as secondary languages. The term ‘creole’ refers luxury hotel websites shows how “super-elite” identities to the further development of a pidgin into a language depend more on the performance and consumption of governed by complex grammatical rules and learned symbols than on traditional variables like wealth and as a primary language. My research investigates the power. In fact, the images and lifestyles created and social dynamics of creoles, focusing on Haitian Krèyol, promoted in luxury hotel marketing are clearly designed which recently received official legal status, while also to seduce a much wider audience of (potential) consumers considering Haiti’s Caribbean counterparts, none of regardless of their wealth. Through close textual analysis, which has made proportionate legislative movements studies like this one can reveal some of the different toward mobilizing substrate language speakers. Creole- ways linguistic and visual communication practices are speaking societies in the Caribbean tend to be highly helping to create new elite identities and class structures. stratified socio-economically as a lasting result of European colonialism. The lower socio-economic classes Gender Roles in Contemporary Mainstream Film constitute the linguistic majority but the languages they Alan Hui-Bon-Hoa, Senior, Communication speak remain legally unrecognized, thus limiting speakers’ Mentor: Gina Neff, Communication social and economic possibilities. Acknowledging the tension between economics and linguistic standards of Mainstream films have a unique and highly influential the day, the proposed solution is advocating bilingualism, role in contemporary media. They operate in two beginning with standardization of the substrate language capacities: reinforcing dominant ideas about gender and, and moving into teaching the standard (e.g., French in doing so, they become a sort of social barometer that or English) as a second language. Steps that prepare indicates prevailing normative standards. This research a language for standardization are outlined, including paper investigates the cultural and social assumptions of alphabetization, agreement on grammatical structures, gender roles in popular mainstream films, with particular compilation of didactic tools, and the training of attention to how gender roles are created and the extent to teachers. Research suggests that substrate languages must which the films enforce the dominant gender paradigm. I undergo standardization before literacy in another more selected three films from 2005’s top ten highest grossing economically predominant language can be achieved. films: Hitch, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, and War of the Worlds. Utilizing a qualitative textual methodology, I cite instances Red-carpet treatment: A critical discourse analysis of of gender formation and gender roles. My findings identify social distinction and class inequality in luxury hotel gender formations and gender roles in each film, followed advertising by a discussion of the dominant gender paradigm as Kristine Mroczek, Senior, Communication represented in the three films. In Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Mentor: Crispin Thurlow, Communication deeply entrenched social boundaries and disconnects between men and women are firmly asserted. Moreover,

109 women are profoundly sexualized and achieve their Iberian descendants remaining that evolved and adapted agency through sexual exchanges. Hitch also demonstrates to harsh environmental conditions. The ‘wild horse’ and well-defined and often opposing gender roles. The lack of ‘mustang’ are deconstructed in their many contexts, and female characters in War of the Worlds and its depictions ruling myths are re-examined. Today extant wild mustangs of violence create a gendered construction of heroism are for the most part under the stewardship of the Bureau through physical violence. All three films indicate a high of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. The degree of male dominance across political, social, and mustangs are examined as American and Native American cultural areas. These conditions also indicate the gendered symbols of freedom and identity, and deconstructed to nature of many, if not all, social functions mainstream reveal their current contradictory environment. Imbalances film. My research indicates that these films largely of both national and international political and economic replicate a heteropatriarchal social organization that almost systems relate to the mustang’s contribution to both exclusively places men in positions of power. The cultural land degradation while decreasing in herd population. logic that informs these arrangements of social organization strongly upholds the dominant gender paradigm. Climate Change: A complex issue with complex solutions ______Michaela Dorres, Senior, International Studies and Economics Session 1B Junko Nozawa, Junior, International Studies ______Tamaso Johnson, Senior, International Studies Richard Johnson, Junior, International Studies Mentor: Scott Montgomery, International Studies Politics, Policies, and Narratives of the Environment Issues: Climate change is one of the most pressing yet Session Moderator: Michael Kucher, Interdisciplinary challenging issues in current politics. New research Arts & Sciences, UW Tacoma indicates the highest level of confidence yet regarding Mary Gates Hall Room 082A the existence, direction, and causes of climate change. There is also a new recognition among world leaders America’s Wild Mustang: Pest or Endangered Horse for reductions in greenhouse gases. Awareness of the Breed? human contribution to climate change has become Melora Bacheller, Senior, English and Humanities common knowledge. However, the phenomenon is more Mary Gates Scholar complicated than presented in the mass media. It is also Mentor: Lucy Jarosz, Geography necessary to understand the wide variety of issues that are associated with it. Description: This presentation My research utilized a political ecology case study approach will provide a summary of the scientific basis for climate to wild horses in America. Political ecology explains the change, including a description of greenhouse gases and relationship between the conditions and changes in the the greenhouse effect, observed effects, and predictions conditions of environmental and social systems, with for the future. Following, there will be by a description of particular focus on relationships of power. This approach the United States energy economy, including why energy finds causes as opposed to symptoms of problems such as consumption is so high. A section will discuss the potential natural resource depletion and soil erosion. It is apparent impacts of climate change on key food production factors, that ecological systems are political, and our conceptions as well as potential impacts upon certain crops. Finally, of these systems are defined and directed through these the presentation will describe American risk perceptions economic and political processes. That the wild mustangs on climate change and civilian participation. Lessons have been intertwined in our country’s history, involving a Learned: A careful review of the scientific consensus span of cultures over time positions them as both cause and as well as uncertainties that exist is necessary to drive effect within a political ecology context. Horses originated reasonable policy. The United States energy economy is and evolved in North America, then became extinct about largely dependent upon fossil fuels. Major policy will be 11,000 years ago during the later part of the Pleistocene. needed if this will change. Different climate modeling They were reintroduced to North America by the Spanish computer scenarios predict decreases in food production in the 16th century; eventually spreading onto the plains, regionally, especially in tropical and low-lying areas. Great Basin, and other areas of the continent until they Recommendations: Forms of adaptation and mitigation numbered in the millions. The re-entrance of horses in are necessary to curb climate change. A form of a cap and the 16th century North American landscape ushered in trade system to reduce industrial emissions and R&D into the availability of horse cultures for indigenous people, alternative energy sources is necessary. Food insecurity enabled wide scale cattle-ranching by the Spanish, and should be treated as an important issue because of its served as conveyance of transportation until replaced by implications for global health and international security. the railroad and car. Currently there are few of the original

110 Open Spaces: Tracing the Margins in Seattle’s Pioneer Hindsight Bias Across a Life Span Square Parks Dieu-Huong Huynh, Senior, Psychology and Sociology Ingrid G. Haftel, Senior, English and Comparative Mentor: Daniel M. Bernstein, Psychology and Institute History of Ideas for Learning and Brain Sciences Mary Gates Scholar, Undergraduate Research Mentor: Joy Durham, Institute for Learning and Brain Travel Award Recipient Sciences Mentor: Jose Alaniz, Slavic Languages & Literature and Mentor: Andrew N. Meltzoff, Psychology and Institute for Comparative Literature Learning and Brain Sciences Mentor: Lucy Jarosz, Geography We are conducting a large-scale developmental study of This project seeks to identify the ways in which Pioneer participants ranging from 3 years of age to adulthood to Square Park and Occidental Park, two public parks in determine the relation between hindsight bias (the “I- Seattle’s historic downtown region are highly politicized knew-it-all-along” effect) and age. Participants complete and, thus, contested spaces. This research necessarily a trivia task, a computer task, and a hide-it box task. In critiques the assumption which holds urban parks as the trivia task, participants are asked a series of questions ‘natural’ and innocent spaces; in the words of Simon to which they are not expected to know the answers (e.g., Schama, ‘[Although] we are accustomed to separate nature How many days can a cockroach live without a head?). and human perception into two realms, they are, in fact, The computer task requires participants to identify blurry indivisible. Before it can ever be a repose for the senses, images of common objects (e.g., chair) as they become landscape is a work of the mind. ‘ Through historical less blurry on the computer screen. In the hide-it box research, an examination of Seattle municipal planning and task, objects (e.g., sunglasses) are hidden behind ten filter codes, analysis of design policy, community interviews, screens; participants name each object as the filters are and photographic data, I highlight the conditions which lifted one by one, thereby making the hidden object more reinforce the marginalization of certain groups and social visible. Then, participants complete the tasks once more issues in these public settings. By constructing the dominant with modified instructions. For both the computer and narrative of Pioneer Square and Occidental Parks, this project hide-it box tasks, participants estimate the point at which seeks to make room for the re-imagining of these valuable a same-age peer would be able to identify the objects. In Seattle resources as sustainable and truly public spaces. the trivia task, participants are told the correct answer, and then asked to recall their original answer for half the Chinese Sheep and Mongol Wolves questions (experimental condition). For the remaining Jeffrey Alexander Kyllo, Senior, International Studies and questions, they are asked to recall their original answer, Chinese and then told the correct answer (control condition). Data Mary Gates Scholar collection is ongoing, but preliminary findings using half Mentor: Lucy Jarosz, Geography of the sample suggest that participants inaccurately recall their original answers as being closer to the correct answer This research project investigates the conflicting narratives than their actual original answers. Additionally, participants on the causes of and solutions to the degradation of grassland overestimate the ability of a same-age peer to identify ecosystems in Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region in blurry or hidden objects. For all three tasks, children and northern China. Western scholars have criticized the Chinese adults exhibit hindsight bias, with no significant decline in state-endorsed narratives, which tend to either blame the the bias observed with age. Thus, hindsight bias represents locals or past regimes for the ecological deterioration. a lifelong cognitive bias, and could help explain a variety This project explores the emergence of a new, indigenous of perspective-taking errors that children and adults make. counter-narrative, as reflected in the bestselling Chinese novel Wolf Totem, and its implications for China’s popular The Need for and Proposal of a UW Nap Room discourse on the connections between ethnicity and ecology. Angela Ju, Senior, Political Science, European Studies, Latin American Studies, and Spanish ______Mentor: Edward M. Weaver, Otolaryngology, Head and Session 1C Neck Surgery ______Mentor: Michael Vitiello, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Mentor: Nathaniel Watson, Neurology Toward Mental Health and Well- In order to assess the need for a UW nap room, I conducted Being a cross-sectional observation of napping by students Session Moderator: Ana Mari Cauce, Psychology (defined as eyes closed and in sitting position) onthe Mary Gates Hall Room 228 fourth floor of Odegaard Undergraduate Library on6 days at times ranging 12:35-14:45. Out of a total of 762

111 people observed, 144 (19%) were observed to nap at Benjamin Reed, Senior, Psychology some time during the observation period. Seventeen to Mentor: Edward Weaver, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck 22% of people were observed to nap on any given day Surgery of observation. These findings demonstrate the need for a napping facility at the UW. The vision of this project Study Objective: Assess the effect of pre-existing is the eventual implementation of napping facilities at insomnia on subsequent CPAP use. Design: Prospective the University of Washington. The nap room pilot project cohort study. Setting: Harborview Medical Center Sleep would be staffed with volunteers and occupy a space of Lab. Patients: 272 patients within the original sample and roughly 16’ by 11’ with a cot-like bed at each of the four 232 patients within the exploratory set both diagnosed corners, separated by dividers. Table paper rolls would with obstructive sleep apnea. Interventions: Patients obviate the need to change sheets for each napper. The answered questions in Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index students would sign in with name, time of entrance, and immediately prior to sleep apnea diagnostic and again duration of desired naptime and sign out with the time of six months later. Objective CPAP use was downloaded exit, level of alertness, and completion of a satisfaction at six months. Measurements and Results: 272 patients survey. The sign-in/sign-out process will enable collection were enrolled in the original sample: age 47±12, 58% of information regarding the total number of users, the male, and pre-treatment apnea-hypopnea index 51±35 number of different users, the average sleep time per use, events/hour. The Spearman correlation between minutes and user benefit. If the pilot feasibility project is successful, to fall asleep pre-CPAP (mean 30±36 minutes) and 6- future projects will investigate the impact of the nap room month CPAP use (mean 161±178 minutes/night) was on school performance and other outcome variables. -0.03, not statistically different from 0.00 (p=0.62). Exploratory analysis revealed consistent associations Neural Correlates Of Face Perception In Teens With between seven measures of ongoing insomnia and CPAP Autism use (all p <0.05). These associations were confirmed in Audrey Quinn, Senior, Neurobiology an independent sample of 232 patients. Conclusions: Pre- Mary Gates Scholar existing insomnia is not associated with subsequent CPAP Sara Jane Webb, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences use in newly diagnosed adult sleep apnea patients. It is possible that some pre-existing insomnia is due to sleep Mooney stimuli are black and white abstract representations apnea that is treated successfully by CPAP, so that it is of faces that are commonly perceived as faces when shown not a useful predictor of subsequent CPAP use. However, upright. For typical adults, the amplitude and latency of the ongoing insomnia while on CPAP is associated with N170 ERP component in response to Mooney stimuli is decreased CPAP use, so future studies should asses the related to both the stimulus orientation and the conscious impact of insomnia treatment in this setting. perception of a face. Children and adults with autism (ASD) demonstrate disrupted processing of faces and a Problem Teen Gambling lack of an inversion effect for intact pictures of faces. This Christine Sogn, Junior, Social Work study assessed the role of conscious face perception on the Mentor: Todd Herrenkohl, Social Work amplitude and latency of ERP components that represent attention and face perception. ERPs were collected from Ideation of risk-taking, coping with stress, family history, 27 typical adolescents and 28 adolescents with ASD and a predisposition to addiction all can lead to problem while subjects were presented with upright and inverted teen gambling. In the 1950’s pathological gambling was Mooney face stimuli. Subjects responded to each stimulus identified as an addiction brought by compulsiveness by pressing one of two buttons, signifying either the in adults only. By the 1980’s it was a medical disorder perception of a ‘Face’ or ‘No Face’. This study found no encapsulated in the DSM III. However, at the same time, significant differences between the two subject groups in adolescent problem gambling was beginning to show the percent of stimuli recognized as faces. However, when its face in the United Kingdom with 15 to 19-year old upright Mooney stimuli were recognized as faces, both the participants engaged in playing a jackpot game known P100 and N170 components were more positive and of as the fruit machine. Deviancy, mental health disorders slower latency in adolescents with ASD in comparison to and family dynamics were said to be the cause of such of controls. The teens with ASD also demonstrated a slower compulsivity among youth playing this game. From 1986 P100 latency for inverted Mooney stimuli recognized through the present, only a handful of research has been as faces. In conclusion, individuals with ASD not only conducted on the phenomenon of adolescent gambling. differ in responses to normal faces, but also when top- With the introduction of video games, online chat rooms, down resources are dedicated to making a decision about online sport betting, online gambling, and casinos being the face-like characteristics of more ambiguous stimuli. built and introduced to the public, the percentage of adolescent problem gambling has risen considerably. My CPAP Use is Associated with Ongoing Insomnia but research will assess the causes and consequences of teen Not with Pre-existing Insomnia gambling by in-depth literature review on problem teen

112 gambling; data and descriptive information will also be H2A.Z is an evolutionarily conserved histone H2A variant provided in the conceptualization and implementation involved in transcriptional regulation, silencing, anti- of a first-of-a-kind teen gambling intervention program silencing, and genome stability. The mechanism by which in the State of Washington. Case studies will be used to it regulates transcription, however, is not yet understood. illustrate the intervention approach. Understanding how We have detected Htz1 in the promoters of certain genes teens are introduced to gambling and how much of this dependent on the transcription factor Adr1. In particular, is through family, peer or society influence may give us a we have localized Htz1 to the nucleosomes flanking the better understanding how to approach and facilitate ways nucleosome-free region (NFR) in the ADH2 promoter in in which to guide our teens through this trend of teen vivo by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) coupled problem gambling. with a nucleosome-scanning assay (NuSA). Deletion of Htz1 influences the regulation of certain glucose-repressed The Potential for Robots to Aid in the Social Adr1-dependent genes, causing a delay in expression kinetics Development of Children with Autism upon glucose depletion. Here we propose a model for how Cady Stanton, Senior, Psychology Htz1 regulates chromatin structure and gene regulation. Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Peter Kahn, Psychology DNA Modifying Activity of a Bioengineered Polypeptide This research explores the proposition that emerging robotic Jun Blaine Amora, Senior, Neurobiology technologies hold promise as one potential method for Mary Gates Scholar addressing a key deficit in children with autism: impaired Mentor: James Bassuk, Urology, Seattle Children’s social interaction. In this study, children with autism Hospital Research Institute interacted with Sony’s robotic dog AIBO (the experimental condition), as well as with a mechanical dog (the control Numerous critical cellular events including cell division condition). Each condition consisted of time for participant- and regulation of protein synthesis are dependent on the directed play and exploration of the artifact, followed by a modification of the conformation and length of DNA. semi-structured interview conducted while the participant Transcription and replication both occur only when the continued to interact with the artifact. Emerging results DNA is in a conformation that complements the enzymes suggest: (1) that participants made more attempts to that carry out these processes. For this to occur, certain interact socially with AIBO than with the mechanical dog, DNA modifying enzymes including DNA helicases and and (2) that more episodes of joint attention occurred in topoisomerases are required to guide the DNA to the the experimental condition (AIBO), as compared to the correct conformation. In vitro, the importance of these control condition (the mechanical dog). If these emerging DNA modifying agents is just as evident. Recombinant results bear up under final analysis, then this study will DNA technology has been a by-product of our knowledge provide support for the proposition that animal robots may of nucleases, restriction enzymes and polymerases. serve as a transitional step between the world of objects, Bioengineered polypeptides that carry highly specific which children with autism interact with comfortably, and regulated functions hold the promise of optimizing and the world of people, with which they struggle. these technologies. As such, the goal of this project is to investigate a novel bioengineered polypeptide that ______carries DNA modifying properties. This polypeptide has been shown to interact with DNA in the presence Session 1D of cofactors Ca2+ and Mg2+. DNA treated with the ______polypeptide migrates much faster than native DNA in a polyacrylamide gel. In a spectrophotometric assay Molecular and Cellular whereby DNA and the polypeptide are incubated at 37oC, an increase in A260 is observed over time. If, however, Interactions in Development the DNA was incubated with a higher concentration of Session Moderator: Ron Stenkamp, Biological Structure the polypeptide, a proportional increase in A260 vs. time Mary Gates Hall Room 231 slope was observed indicating the this activity is both concentration and time dependent. This project targets *Note: Titles in order of presentation. at fully characterizing the mechanism by which the bioengineered polypeptide interacts with DNA. Once this The Role of Histone Variant Htz1 in Regulation of is accomplished, this polypeptide may be employed in Glucose-Repressed Genes many biochemical and therapeutic applications including I-Ting (Judy) Wang, Senior, Biochemistry and modifying potentially errant DNA features within cells. Neurobiology Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Elton T. Young, Biochemistry

113 Subcellular localization of the scaffolding protein of lipophilic hormones. The C. elegans hsd-2 is predicted Gravin regulates cell shape and behavior to encode 3-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which is a James Stewart Lang, Senior, Spanish and Biochemistry conserved enzyme required for formation of all classes of Mary Gates Scholar steroid hormones. In order to determine whether hsd-2 is Mentor: David Kimelman, Biochemistry required for the glp-1 lifespan extension, I measured the Mentor: Douglas Weiser, Biochemistry lifespan of glp-1 worms when hsd-2 activity is reduced. I used RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down hsd-2 in Gravin is a scaffolding protein and potent inhibitor of glp-1. Comparing the glp-1 animals on hsd-2 RNAi versus tumor metastasis, through inhibition of Src-induced control bacteria, I found that the lifespan of glp-1 on hsd- oncogenesis1. Further, Gravin is required for the control 2 RNAi was reduced. Parallel control experiments with of cell shape during gastrulation, and loss of Gravin results wild-type worms indicated that this reduction resulted in defective gastrulation movements2. As a scaffolding in the glp-1 worms having a similar lifespan to wild- protein, Gravin interacts with other proteins and controls type worms. The above results indicate that reduction their subcellular targeting. It is our hypothesis that of hsd-2 function blocks glp-1 lifespan extension. To subcellular localization of Gravin is required for the normal conclude, steroidogenesis is required for the loss-of- function of cells, and that the action of switching on and germline longevity signal and thus, the lipophilic hormone off the plasma membrane is required for Gravin function. linking reproduction and aging is most likely a steroid. We have generated two GFP-fluorescent Gravin mutants, one that binds irreversibly to the plasma membrane, A genetic approach to understanding drug-induced eliminating membrane shuttling, and another that greatly hearing loss, using the zebrafish lateral line system as reduces membrane targeting. Gravin elicits a number of a model stereotypical cell shape changes when overexpressed, Katherine Reinhart, Senior, Molecular, Cellular & including increased cell flattening and reduced stress fibers. Developmental Biology We will test whether these mislocalized Gravin proteins Mary Gates Scholar, Herschel and Caryl Roman elicit similar cell shape changes in tissue culture. In Undergraduate Scholar addition, Gravin is required for cell shape changes during Mentor: David Raible, Biological Structure gastrulation. We will determine if mislocalized Gravin Mentor: Edwin Rubel, Otolaryngology, Bloedel Hearing proteins function in vivo similar to wild type. Thus we will Research Center be able to determine if Gravin’s membrane localization and/or membrane shuttling are required for cell function Hearing loss is a devastating clinical side effect of some and gastrulation. This will provide valuable mechanistic therapeutic drugs, notably aminoglycoside antibiotics such information on how Gravin regulates cell shape with direct as neomycin. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that implications to both cancer and embryonic development. these drugs kill mechanosensory hair cells, the cellular It is our hope that the results of this study will further unit of vertebrate hearing, although the mechanisms of reveal the importance of Gravin in embryo development this hair cell death are still under intense investigation. The and allow us to draw parallels to human health. lateral line system of fishes and other aquatic vertebrates is composed of external hair cells similar in structure and Steroid hormones link reproduction with organismal function to those in the inner ear, with similar sensitivity to aging in the nematode C. elegans aminoglycoside toxicity. The ease of breeding, large clutch Danika Svy, Senior, Biochemistry size, and rapid development of sensory function in the Mentor: Weiqing Li, Biological Structure zebrafish,Danio rerio, make it an ideal model organism for a genetic approach to the study of hair cell physiology and Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode with a wild-type pathophysiology. We have conducted a mutagenesis screen life expectancy of two weeks at 25°C. In C. elegans, to identify genetic modulators of hair cell toxicity, and are regulation of reproduction and lifespan are dependent on in the process of characterizing a number of mutations that environmental conditions. Favorable conditions promote confer resistance to neomycin damage. One such mutation, development of the germline at the expense of increased merovingian, is the focus of my research. The first step longevity. It has previously been shown that when in determining the molecular nature of this mutation is reproduction is interrupted by a loss of germline stem cells, to map the affected gene. I am testing genetic markers a lipophilic hormone signal is generated, which extends the on each chromosome for cosegregation with the mero adult lifespan of C. elegans by ~40%. However, the nature mutation to determine its genomic location. In addition, I of this hormone is unknown. The aim of my experiment am assessing the mutant phenotype in a number of ways. was to determine if this lipophilic hormone is a steroid. Acoustic, vestibular and visual assays have demonstrated The glp-1 gene is essential for the maintenance of germline impaired sensorineural and motor function in homozygotes stem cells. glp-1 mutant animals are sterile and exhibit an compared to wild-type siblings. Fluorescent vital dyes that extended lifespan phenotype, which can be blocked by stain hair cells enable dose-response assays for neomycin eliminating the function of enzymes involved in biogenesis and cisplatin, an ototoxic cancer drug, to determine the level

114 of protection against hair cell death. Microscopy reveals its strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge is especially the extent and nature of the ear malformation. Future important for vaccine development. One salient feature of work will include electrophysiological assays, molecular the HIV Env is that it is heavily shielded by carbohydrate cloning of the mutated gene, phenocopying by antisense moieties that are added to specific arginine (N) residues. knockdown, and in situ hybridization to determine the It has been demonstrated that these carbohydrates can role of the affected gene in physiology and development. undergo change, affecting both CD4 binding and escape from neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). In previous data Prostate- Specific Differentiation of the Pluripotent obtained from an animal model of infection, the addition Stem Cell NCCIT of carbohydrates at amino acids N276, N386, and N397 Christina Shadle, Senior, Cellular, Molecular, and were shown to correlate with enhanced Env cleavage. This Developmental Biology was further shown to correlate with escape from nAbs. Gates Millennium Scholar In order to directly test if carbohydrates at these three Mentor: Laura Pascal, Urology locations can facilitate escape from nAbs by enhancing Mentor: Alvin Liu, Urology Env cleavage, I introduced these specific mutations into the envelope (env) DNA sequences. A single, wild type Adult stem cells are present within the prostate, and Env expression plasmid was used as a backbone for these stem cells are likely to be inducible by stromal site-directed mutagenesis. Mutagenized plasmids were mesenchyme cells to differentiate into functional epithelial co-transfected with an additional plasmid containing the cells. Stromal cells are fibromuscular cells that show organ remainder of the viral genome into producer cells. This specific gene expression. Pluripotent embryocarcinomal creates pseudovirions that are capable of a single round cell line, NCCIT, was used as a stem cell substitute to of infection and contain the mutated Env of interest. The characterize stromal induction of epithelial differentiation. infectivity of each viral variant was tested by incubation NCCIT cells respond to diffusible factors (in stromal with a reporter cell line permissive to HIV infection. A cell conditioned media) as well as contact with prostate similar assay is used to test the resistance of each variant stromal cells to show prostate-specific differentiation. to neutralization by antibodies. A quantifiable western blot Undifferentiated stem cells (such as NCCIT) have a high system was used to visually compare the amount of cleaved expression of alkaline phosphatase; this expression is lost versus uncleaved Env protein. All collected data were in the progeny of NCCIT after stromal induction. When combined and used to correlate the effect of these specific assayed by gene array analysis, in which expression of mutations on Env cleavage and overall virus infectivity and many genes is scored, NCCIT cells in stromal conditioned neutralization escape capacity. These new findings help media (signaling molecules) showed gene expression to illuminate a possible mechanism by which changes in signature of prostate luminal epithelial cells, the functional carbohydrates can alter Envelope processing and ultimately cell type of this organ. In the presence of stromal cells aid the virus in escaping host immune surveillance. (cell contact), prostate secretory products like prostate specific antigen (PSA) were detected. CD63, a luminal marker, was also detected by flow cytometry. These ______results indicate that prostate-specific differentiation can be induced by prostate stromal cells. This model can be Session 1E used to determine the molecular mechanism of prostate ______development and the defects that might lead to prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of Applications of Discrete Methods death in men in this country. The current idea is that lethal Session Moderator: Jim Morrow, Mathematics prostate cancer is due to the presence of cancer stem cells, Mary Gates Hall Room 234 which share many of the properties of normal stem cells Examining Pinochle Strategies through Machine Sugar-Coating HIV: Characterization of Learning Glycosylation Sites on HIV glycoprotein Kristen Bornemann, Senior, Mathematics and Statistics Theresa Kasprzyk, Senior, Cellular, Molecular, & Catherine Porter, Senior, Applied & Computational Developmental Biology and Biochemistry Mathematical Sciences and Spanish Mary Gates Scholar, Howard Hughes Scholar Mentor: Sara Billey, Mathematics Mentor: Nancy Haigwood, Microbiology and Pathobiology Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence that is concerned with developing algorithms that allow Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) uses surface a computer to learn from experience, much like a human Envelope (Env) glycoproteins to bind CD4 and a coreceptor being. Machine learning algorithms have successfully on a target cell, mediating entry into the cell. Many current been implemented in many fields of study, including studies focus on this glycoprotein in an effort to characterize credit card fraud, speech and handwriting recognition,

115 medical diagnosis, and strategic game play. The goal of performing scheduling, placement and routing. First, the this project is to utilize machine learning techniques in scheduler looks at the available hardware in the desired order to determine the optimal strategies of Pinochle, a architecture and the data dependencies in the unrolled four person card game. Previously, we designed a Pinochle algorithm (data flow graph) and then time-multiplexes the simulator that sought to identify the optimal pass-back algorithm to fit the specific target architecture. Then the strategy. While the original simulator only tests five placer maps each dataflow operator to a specific physical different passing strategies, machine learning will allow device in the target architecture. Finally, the router maps us to examine all potential passing strategies. The specific all the connections between each operator and configures machine learning algorithm that we are developing is the programmable interconnect in the target device. reinforcement learning, a technique that requires the Unfortunately, in most course grained reconfigurable computer to collect its own data and analyze it. This type architectures, the available routing hardware is the primary of machine learning has been applied to backgammon bottleneck resource, and thus the placement algorithm and chess, where at each decision point all players know needs good congestion information to produce good the state of the game. However, Pinochle presents a new placements. Thus we are attempting to create an accurate challenge: a player does not know which cards the other congestion estimation technique that can be run before three players have in their hands at every given moment. the placer. Congestion estimation is done by repeatedly These unknowns therefore increase the intricacy of the doing an all-pairs (device to device) mapping using the game model. Thus, the results of the study and algorithm pathfinder algorithm and keeping track of the wire usage will provide the groundwork for future game play research. for each net. This data is then fed back into the placer and used within the placement cost function to create Structural Analysis of Music Using Context-Free better placements. While our approach is specifically Grammar Inference applicable to course grained architectures, we believe that Chester Chan, Senior, Computer Engineering the same approach may be applicable to FPGAs as well. Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Richard Ladner, Computer Science & Using an Artificial Neural Network Implemented Engineering on a Graphics Processing Unit to Forecast Air Contaminant Levels in King County Determining the structure of a piece of music using Ruth Davidson, Junior, Mathematics traditional methods of analysis requires years of training William and Margaret Paynter Scholar and practice. Even for experienced musicians, such Bernhard Kovacevich, Senior, Applied and analyses often require substantial investments of time Computational Mathematical Sciences and effort. In contrast, data compression algorithms Ryan Weh, Junior, Physics can quickly give insight into the degree of hierarchical Mentor: Payman Arabshahi, Applied Physics Laboratory structure within different kinds of input. “Sequitur,” Mentor: Toby Burnett, Physics developed by Craig G. Nevill-Manning and Ian H. Witten, is such an algorithm. With one pass through an input, it Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are a type of fuzzy can generate a context-free grammar by following simple logic system designed to mimic the behavior of biological constraints. “Music Sequitur” and “Rhythm Sequitur,” neurons. ANNs may require considerable processing which are enhanced versions of the original Sequitur power when implemented on a central processing unit algorithm, are even better at finding structure in pieces (CPU), which is the component of a computer designed to because they take commonly-used compositional tools execute programming instructions and process data. ANNs into account in generating grammars. We have found implemented on a graphics processing unit (GPU) require that the degree of structure found by Music Sequitur and significantly less processing power due to the parallel Rhythm Sequitur can be affected by the style in which the programming structure inherent in graphics applications. piece was composed and by the musical form of the piece. We transfer data from an array in the CPU into the GPU via data structures, called textures, which store color Improved Algorithm Placement for Course-Grained values for each pixel of an image in a frame buffer object Reconfigurable Architectures Using Wire Congestion (FBO). A FBO employs data that would normally create Estimation images on the screen in other graphics applications. This Nathaniel Chapman, Senior, Computer Science provides the programming flexibility that we require to Mary Gates Scholar create the ANN. The ANN performs its computations Mentor: Carl Ebeling, Computer Science & Engineering using a program called a ‘shader’ that produces numerical color values which are read from the CPU. The original Coarse grained reconfigurable architectures are a good way purpose of shader programs was to allow a GPU to to provide a quick hardware implementation of massively perform more computations. Our ANN exploits this design parallel computation algorithms. However, compiling to to reduce processing time. ANNs are useful in modeling these architectures is a very complex problem that requires applications that involve large numbers of parameters

116 whose causal correlations are difficult to identify. Research Mentor: Rajesh Rao, Computer Science has shown ANNs to be effective in making forecasts of air Mentor: Dan Suciu, Computer Science contaminant levels, requiring minimal analysis of causal relationships between multiple meteorological parameters. Nutritionists and epidemiologists have become We will compare the performance of an ANN implemented increasingly concerned about the effects of food on health on a GPU and a traditional ANN coded in MATLAB which as worldwide diets shift to calorie-high compositions. forecast air contaminant levels at local monitoring stations. However, contemporary approaches to nutrition attempt to break down foods into their individual components of Commercial Ubiquitous Computing: The Nike+iPod calories, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and other Sport Kit categories. Food experts attempt to construct balances J. Francisco Gomez Gamino, Junior, Electrical of these components, ignoring the significant hidden Engineering complexity of foods and food groups. Every food contains Mentor: Gaetano Borriello, Computer Science & complex chemical packages that provide nutritional Engineering costs and benefits that are not easily categorized. Over Mentor: T. Scott Saponas, Computer Science & the course of time, cultures have developed traditional Engineering diets that combine foods and food groups in patterns that provide complete nutritional packages. These As computing advances, it weaves its way into our daily combinations represent even more complex chemical lives. An example of this is the Nike+iPod Sport Kit; a gadget interactions that are not interchangeable. The value of for tracking one’s running workouts. The kit consists of a these food combinations is often lost as cultural diets are sensor the user puts in their shoe and a receiver connected replaced with contemporary diets. A model for the analysis to their iPod Nano. While the user is running or walking, of food groups and combinations of food groups on health the sensor wirelessly sends data to the receiver connected outcomes is presented, using a cross-country sample to the iPod Nano. Software on the iPod then determines the over several years. The results of this model compose a user’s walking or running pace from this data. The objective useful framework for assessing the impact of large scale of our research is to develop an efficient and inexpensive changes in food consumption on the health of a population. sensor for ubiquitous computing applications in the home and on the go based on the technology of the Nike+iPod ______Sport Kit. In order to accomplish this, we intercepted and analyzed the data broadcasted by the Nike+iPod to create Session 1F an algorithm for calculating pace from the transmitted data ______(as a replacement for using the iPod software). Once we were able to interpret the sensor data, our research focus An Interdisciplinary and Cross- shifted to developing novel software applications that expanded upon the technology of the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. Historical Look at Global For example, one of the applications we have developed Challenges uses the Nike+iPod Sport Kit as a tracking device to Session Moderator: Julie Villegas, Honors Program assist the care of an elderly person who requires constant Mary Gates Hall Room 238 monitoring. The sensor allows the caretaker to be aware of the daily activities performed by the elderly person as well *Note: Titles in order of presentation. as any deviations from predetermined patterns of activity. Another application we have explored in the fitness When “Global” Meets “Local” in the New domain uses pace information of the user to determine Architecture of China the type of music the consumer hears. The application Xiaowei Zhang, Junior, Architecture and Urban Planning would automatically change the play list depending on if Mentor: Dan Abramson, Urban Design & Planning the user is walking or running. Our future research will look at more applications that can be enabled by low We are living in a world marked by the “Global”. In cost commercial sensors like the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. the architecture and urban planning fields, we face the challenge of dealing with the homogenization caused by Connecting Diets to Disease – Investigating Links the globalization and the loss of “local color”. China, as between Food and Chronic Disease Trends Through a fast-developing country, is in a key period of shaping the Use of Computer Learning Models its modern urban form and architectural style. More and Alex Zheng, Senior, Computer Engineering and more foreign architectural firms are entering this big Environmental Management market. Meanwhile, more and more students, who will Merage Fellow, Mary Gates Scholar be the next generation of Chinese architects and planners, Chris Gonterman, Senior, Computer Science are studying abroad and returning to China to practice Mary Gates Scholar the skills they learned in “the West”, but in various local

117 contexts with their own history, culture and political- US Humanitarian Intervention Throughout Africa as economic arrangements. My research focuses on finding Neo-Colonialism the intersection of “globalization” and “localization” in Bradford Baker, Senior, Comparative History of Ideas the field of architecture; and discussing the contributions Mary Gates Scholar Chinese architects are making to this combining process Mentor: Vicent Rafael, History by analyzing the work of one of China’s leading young architects, Yung Ho Chang, who is also Head of the Since my first experience ‘helping’ in Africa, in Department of Architecture at the MIT. I was able to 2001, I have been deeply troubled by the relationship interview him in person, for the course and the symposium between a ‘privileged’ helper and a ‘subaltern’ helped. “Critical Practice in Globalizing World: A stranger in a Humanitarianism, as it exists at this current historical Strange Land” in Autumn 2006. The interview reveals how moment, especially with regards to the socio-political he conceives of the “global” and “local”, how he combines encounters between the US and African countries, shares “Western modernity” and “Chinese tradition”, and how he many commonalities with old colonial discourses. It sees all those elements being represented in his design. is my contention that this stems from the existence of a To put his work in greater professional context, I am also contemporary (post-1964 Civil Rights Act) racialized US analyzing the responses of various Seattle-area design society that continues to privilege whiteness and socially practitioners who were interviewed as part of the UW constructs ‘white helpers’ who usually, despite best course “Asian Cities: History, Theory, Practice,” in Spring intentions, sustain neo-colonial relationships throughout Quarter 2006. Through the research, we will see that the Africa. Therefore, I have analyzed and historicized the conversation between “globalization” and “localization” current historical moment of US whiteness, the relationship is indispensable, and with respect to cultural forms, between the US and Africa, and the role of humanitarianism hybridization and transformation also can be found in much in sustaining those relationships. To conduct field research, contemporary architecture, and indeed have a long history. I embarked on a self-designed 7,000 mile overland trip from Cairo to Cape Town. On it, I conducted over 60 Financing Microfinance Institutions in Latin America interviews with aid, charity, and development workers, and Dorota Ulatowska, Senior, Finance (Business Honors) met with over 30 different international NGOs. I chose this Mentor: Mike Gimabattista, International Business and ambitious method of surveying and witnessing, for data Marketing collection, to experientially engage with, to the greatest degree possible, the multitude of ‘helping projects’ that The United Nations Capital Development Fund estimates are currently taking place throughout Africa. During these that only 50 million out of 500 million people eligible for encounters, I experienced first-hand the brutal disparity microcredit receive help from microfinance institutions between rhetorics of ‘helping’ and realities of the ‘helped.’ (MFIs) worldwide. Based on my comprehensive research What I hope to offer from this overall project is a mapping and two interviews with MFIs’ workers from Guatemala out of the imaginative geographies of the spacing between and Angola, I discovered that in order to achieve significant a privileged US ‘helper’ and a subaltern African ‘helped, outreach, MFIs have to find a linkage to financial markets. to try and theorize how to best navigate that space. I will Non-commercial equity is a necessary source of capital show how contemporary well-intentioned, well-educated, only for the first few years of their business lifecycle. US white helpers are bound up within a ‘white mans The goal of each MFI should be to decrease dependence burden/white savior complex’ history of colonialism on outside donations and base their continued operations throughout Africa. Though this is a critique of Western on retained earnings, client savings, and stable access to humanitarianism, it is not a question of if we help but commercial banks, capital markets, and equity investors. instead a questioning and problematicizing of how helping Only successful MFIs with operational and financial self- currently manifests itself, with the hope that such a project sustainability, poverty-focused mission, as well as, large- can lead us towards a more humane relationship with Africa. scale operations can induce economic growth and stabilize societies worldwide. If MFIs offer investors attractive Holocaust Remembrance in the Netherlands: A returns for a given level of risk, they can expect a wide Comparative Analysis of Memorialization in the access to commercial capital needed to open new offices Concentration Camps of Amersfoort, Westerbork, domestically and globally, install management information and Vught software, train employees, offer new financial services and Lisa Mahlum, Senior, History products, and most importantly, provide easy and rapid access Mary Gates Scholar to microcredit for the world’s poor. The volume of MFIs’ Mentor: Julie Villegas, Honors operations can be increased through leverage, borrowing money from outside investors. Leveraging existing equity As the Holocaust drifts farther and farther into the past, enables MFIs increase the volume of their operations, the process of memorialization becomes increasingly serve a larger number of clients in hard to reach regions, important for the preservation of the Holocaust in the and attract both domestic and international investors. minds of the present. In the decades following the

118 Holocaust, there has been an international proliferation of government has on all venues of information. The research memorial construction in an effort to preserve the memory will also focus on the legal, political, and economic of the Holocaust and commemorate the victims who died structures in which Chinese media exist. Since clear and at the hands of the Nazi regime. The process of Holocaust uninterrupted information is the main catalyst of political memorialization reflects a delicate balance between giving change, one can then tentatively link the liberalization credence to the horrors of the past, engaging the visitors in media to the democratization of politics and society. in the context of the present, and inspiring a memory for the future. For this project, I will look specifically at the The Non-Image of the Holocaust: The Virtual Model Dutch experience of the Holocaust and the memorials of Memorialization built to create a Dutch, national memory. My work has Melissa Andrada, Senior, Comparative History of Ideas explored how the memorials at Camp Amersfoort, Camp Mentor: Philip Thurtle, Comparative History of Ideas Westerbork, and Camp Vught use symbolism of physical structures to link the past experience of the Holocaust Over the past twenty years, there has been a significant with the present construction of public memory. There rise in photography, literature, and art on the Holocaust, were three types of symbolism conveyed within the particularly in the United States and Europe. The increase exhibits at these three camps. Each type of symbolism in representations of the Holocaust may be leading to a reflects a different representation of the past and provokes greater level of collective forgetting in the Western World. a different emotional response from the viewer. When If overexposure may lead to desensitization, how can we considered in concert with one another, these three re-engage people? The non-image of photography may be exhibits create a collective Dutch memory surrounding one way of understanding and approaching this issue. The the decimation of the Dutch Jewry during WWII. non-image is the virtual photograph; it is that which has not been taken. The non-image is not one actual photograph, Press Freedom in China but a field of potential photographs. The virtual photograph Vi Nhan, Senior, International Studies and Political is a state of becoming; it is more of a process than a Science product. Drawing from Gilles Deleuze, Maurice Blanchot, IIPP Fellow, McNair Scholar, Gates Millennium Susan Sontag, and other media and memory theorists, I Scholar argue that the non-image of photography is one model Mentor: Susan H. Whiting, Political Science of memorialization that allows room for reflection and engagement. The virtual photograph calls attention to the Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, images that already exist and the effects that our picture freedom of the press is essential to democracy and human taking may have in the future. The non-image also reminds rights. Though cultural and developmental distinctions do us that photographs are catalysts for remembering and that impact media flows within a country, repression of media the act of remembering is always highly personal. This by its government is a violation of that basic human right. model of memorialization may be used to understand other China, governed by the Chinese Communist Party, has had mediums of representation and may also be effective for one of the most dismal records of press freedom in the world. understanding how we may memorialize other tragic events. It censors all information media to maintain its monopoly on power and information while pushing ambitious ______economic modernization reforms. However, there have been signs of liberalization and hope of a freer media Session 1G in response to the modernization reforms. This research ______investigates whether or not liberalization in Chinese print media is superficial and simply a change in methods of the Critical Slices: Our Changing Social state to more effectively control the media. My research method will focus on critical stories on government Context corruption to determine the possibility, nature, and extent Session Moderator: Dennis Ryan, Urban Design & of a larger national trend of media liberalization. This will Planning involve a comparative analysis between press articles Mary Gates Hall Room 248 garnered through the internet in Chinese and English from a popular newspaper and a government-run newspaper. The *Note: Titles in order of presentation. hypothesis is that if disparities exist between two sources of information available to the Chinese readers, they would Leadership effects on constituent beliefs: A case signal a reform in the press. The research method will study of the Northwest locals of the International utilize content analysis to objectively and systematically Brotherhood of Teamsters under the leadership of identify specific characteristics of messages that would Dave Beck denote liberalization. From there, one can conclude Morgen Myrdal, Senior, Political Science on the level of influence and the method of control the Mary Gates Scholar

119 Mentor: Margaret Levi, Political Science state comparison. It then suggests the practical impacts of variable wages for waitstaff by comparing states’ mandated Labor unions provide useful case studies for understanding wage levels to their rating on a livable-wage index. This different types of organizational structures and their investigation is part of a larger study of tipped restaurant consequences. During critical times in a union’s history, work in Washington State, as well as in national chains with leadership has the opportunity to achieve the contingent locations in both Seattle and Chicago. The study, directed consent of its constituency, allowing it to shape the beliefs by Prof. Anna Haley-Lock (Social Work) and funded by of its membership. Some leaders use this credibility the UW Center for Labor Studies and West Coast Poverty to encourage the allocation of union resources toward Center, will collect original data from restaurant employers advancing socially progressive goals, while others prefer and their waitstaff. The present, smaller project generates to stick with “bread and butter” issues like wages and critical historical context about “tip credit” legislation. benefits. In this research project, I focus on the case of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), a union of the Pills, Proclamations and Peers: Women of the “bread and butter” variety, under the leadership of Seattleite University of Washington Law School, 1965-1980 Dave Beck. I try to determine what the rank-and-file Seattle Jean Marie Callan, Senior, Economics and Philosophy, Teamsters, with Dave Beck as their leader, wanted and Seattle University expected out of their union. I also investigate the extent Mentor: Dean Peterson, Economics, Seattle University to which Beck created and molded these expectations. Beck’s reign in the Teamsters lasted from the 1920s to Less than forty years ago, professional education in the the 1950s, during which he climbed the national ranks of United States was on the verge of significant change. It the union and eventually became international president. was no longer to be the near exclusive realm of men, and His vision was to increase economic returns to Teamster women were about to pour into law schools in record membership by implementing aggressive organizational numbers. Three main economic accounts have been utilized tactics, establishing predominantly amicable relationships to explain the upsurge in women’s human capital investment with employers, and developing a top-down, hierarchical in the early 1970s: long-term economic and demographic organizational structure which gave the rank-and-file little changes, the institution of anti-discrimination laws and the say in union affairs. He also is known to have embezzled availability of “the pill.” The last of these was developed Teamster funds in several instances, a crime for which he by Claudia Goldin, and has perhaps been granted the most was eventually sent to prison. Despite these drawbacks, credibility within the academic literature. This paper seeks evidence suggests that the majority of rank-and-file to investigate these main accounts by way of a case study Teamsters tolerated Dave Beck’s leadership style because of testing the validity of each hypothesis using enrollment data the positive economic returns to membership and the lack of from the University of Washington Law School from 1965 to viable possibilities for exit. Investigating this case helps us 1980. The data analysis leads to a rejection of the traditional understand the mechanisms that shape membership beliefs theories in the scholarship on the subject, and instead leads to and determine the defining characteristics of a labor union. the support of a new and largely ignored hypothesis, recently suggested by Stacey Jones, that compounding change Variation in “tip credit” policies across the U.S. in social norms was a critical factor driving revolution Shayne Kraemer, Senior, Social Work in women’s educational investments. In addition, the Mentor: Anna Haley-Lock, Social Work historical record suggests that the reemergence of feminism, particularly in the city of Seattle, was central to the eruption This study examines variation in publicly available, state- of female participation in the labor force and in professional level data on policies affecting the compensation level of education on the University of Washington campus. restaurant waitstaff across the U.S. Specifically, it “maps” state minimum wage laws (relative to the federal minimum Public Financing of State Elections and Women’s wage of $5.15 per hour), as well as the nature of what are Representation in the Legislature termed “tip credit” laws. Tip credit laws constitute legal Robin Engle, Senior, Political Science waivers extended to employers of tipped employees from Mentor: Mark Smith, Political Science paying them a state’s given minimum wage, allowing firms to deduct estimated tips. Finding divergence across the states The current state-level research on campaign finance in basic minimum wage level, as well as in the formula used suggests that public financing regulations can decrease the for employers to deduct tips from wages, suggest potential, cost of campaigns, but does not address how decreasing the and practically meaningful – variation in the compensation costs of campaigns might affect the “representative-ness” of available to restaurant waitstaff nationally. The data for our state legislatures. This is one of the least researched areas this study has been obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, of campaign finance, and yet it has potentially profound U.S. Department of Labor, and each state’s Department of implications for the nature of representation in the U.S. More Labor. Through the use of an integrated analysis, this study specifically, how does public financing affect the diversity first shows differences in wage income through a state-to- of legislatures? Because public financing levels the financial

120 playing field and allows more nontraditional candidates to How Criminal Profiling Can be Used to Prevent win, I predict there will be more women in state legislatures Crime that have public financing. By studying states with full public Donna Larsen, Senior, Interdisciplinary Arts and financing of state legislative elections to see if they have a Sciences Political Economy higher proportion of women candidates, one can extrapolate Mentor: Michael Allen, History, UW Tacoma what variables truly affect representative diversity. I expect that state liberalism will also be a very important factor, Crime has been increasing in the United States over the increasing the number of women in the legislative body. I past 30 years. Because the current reactive practice of also predict that state legislative professionalism will have incarceration does not seem to be working, a more proactive a strong effect, but in the opposite direction by decreasing approach might work better. While criminal profiling has the number of women in the legislature. My experiment is been used for many years to locate perpetrators of violent a multivariate analysis of the members of state legislatures. and sexual crimes, it has not been used to prevent crime. I include various control variables such as chamber, state The use of criminal profiling can be used by pinpointing liberalism, state legislative professionalism, party division five conditions that lead to many different types of crime. in the legislature, etc. I hope to discover what effect public Once these conditions are pinpointed then programs can be financing has, but also to discover what other factors designed and implemented to mitigate a subject’s tendency increase the number of women in the legislature. My results toward crime. The five conditions that lead people to commit so far provide support for my hypotheses. State liberalism crimes are inability to compete in the US job market, seems to be the most important factor in increasing women biology, abuse suffered as a child, environment, and culture. in the legislature, while state legislative professionalism We contend that none of these conditions are controllable decreases the number of women. When controlling for by the individual. Free will is a concept that allows society these other factors, state public financing seems to lead to punish people for breaking the law. This free will to more women legislators, albeit only weakly. My data concept has hampered crime reduction due to judgments will be more robust when I finish and expand the dataset. placed on criminals as being “bad.” Using research done on pedophiles, drug addicts, prostitutes, and high school State of Disinformation: The Effect of Divided dropouts along with evolutionary criminal justice programs Government on Congressional Midterm Elections such as Drug Court and Prostitution Court, this presentation James McAllister, Senior, Political Science challenges the conventional wisdom and shows how every Mentor: John Wilkerson, Political Science crime makes sense and what society can do about crime.

The United States has a historically low level of voter ______turnout during presidential elections; the turnout is even lower for Congressional and local midterm elections. During Session 1H periods of unified government, where the party in control ______of Congress is different than the party the controls the presidency, voters are likely to know which party controls Bioengineering: Materials and the presidency and Congress. This is in contrast to divided government, where voters hear competing claims about Movement who is to blame for problems associated with the federal Session Moderator: Gerald Pollack, Bioengineering government. Thus, divided government would affect how Mary Gates Hall Room 251 a citizen votes by increasing uncertainty about the party in control of government. During midterm elections, there is a well-documented phenomenon of voting behavior in which Biocompatible, Zwitterionic Hydrogels with Improved voters tend to vote for the out-party candidate, or the party that Mechanical Properties does not control the presidency. Following the methodology Timothy Chao, Senior, Bioengineering and Biochemistry of Nicholson and Segura in their 1999 paper, I would expect Mary Gates Scholar that a situation of divided government will increase the Mentor: Shaoyi Jiang, Chemical Engineering and likelihood of voters not voting for the out-party candidate Bioengineering because of the conflicting information voters hear from the Mentor: Zheng Zhang, Chemical Engineering two parties, both of which are in power. Using National Election Studies district-specific election data, Nicholson The non-specific adsorption of proteins onto the surfaces and Segura examined midterm elections from 1978-1994. of implanted scaffolds is commonly believed to be the I will continue their examination by looking at the recent cause of bacterial or macrophage adhesion, leading to midterm elections of 1998 and 2002. I expect that these years an infection and the foreign body response respectively. will confirm the findings of the authors; divided government Especially for long term applications, it is desirable to confuses voters about the control of government and use more stable, yet non-fouling materials other than lowers the probability of voting for the out-party candidate. poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which was proved to be

121 unstable under physiological conditions. Previously, we Infectious diseases are still the main health burden grafted the zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methyacrylate), in the developing world; millions annually die from poly(SBMA), on gold and glass surfaces and showed that diseases such as malaria and AIDS. An important part the resulting surfaces highly resisted protein adsorption of controlling these diseases is to accurately and quickly and bacterial/endothelial cell adhesion. In this project, diagnose patients. Therefore, efforts have turned towards we prepared both physically crosslinked and chemically compacting diagnostic assays for several diseases onto crosslinked poly(SBMA) hydrogels. The reological microfluidic chips. As a part of these efforts, weare properties, swelling properties and mechanical properties developing a system for the separation of pathogen of both hydrogels have been studied. Using a novel DNA from blood samples to diagnose viral diseases in method of preparing chemical-physical double networks, microfluidic channels more sensitively and accurately. The the mechanical properties of poly(SBMA) hydrogels were system utilizes the properties of the smart polymer Poly(N- improved. Together with in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm). PNIPAm collapses when evaluation, we aim to show that a whole class of superlow heated above its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) fouling hydrogels can be used for biomedical applications and transitions from a hydrophilic to a hydrophobic state. from tissue engineering scaffolds to contact lens materials. The transition is completely reversible upon the removal of the stimulus. The reversibility of the transition is utilized Assessing cornea morphology using non-invasive high to create a switchable surface trap by grafting PNIPAm resolution optical coherence tomography from a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic Mirna Farika, Senior, Bioengineering channel surface. The viral DNA used to test the system Mary Gates Scholar is the single stranded DNA (ssDNA) M13 bacteriophage Mentor: Xingde Li, Bioengineering plasmid which is comparable in size to the typical virus’s Mentor: Tueng T. Shen, Ophthalmology nucleotide content. Complementary oligonucleotides are used to specifically separate the target from the In clinic, central corneal thickness measurement and cornea flow-through in the channel. The oligonucleotides are cross sectional imaging utilize ultrasould pachymetry and conjugated to PNIPAm synthesized by Reversible addition- ultrasound biomicroscopy respectively. However, these fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT). A standards require direct contact to cornea that leads to poor carboxylic functional group at one end of the PNIPAm patient compliance and increases probability of epithelial is reacted with amine functionalized complementary lesion and disease transmission. The axial and lateral oligonucleotides. The oligonucleotides conjugates are resolution only ranges from 20 to 100µm. Eye Bank current allowed to hybridize to the target DNA. Upon heating standard use microscope and corneal topology to screen the channel above the LCST, the PNIPAm chains of the donor cornea quality. These tools cannot examine cornea conjugates aggregate with the PNIPAm covering the without removing it from its sterile storage. Therefore, channel walls separating the target DNA from the flow- there are some risks of contamination during screening through. When the channel is cooled below the LCST, which can decrease number of corneas for transplant. the target DNA is released and flows through the channel OCT can overcome the limitations of the aforementioned for downstream quantification to complete the diagnosis. corneal assessment technique. This non-contact and non- invasive imaging has high spatial resolution (~1.5-2.5µm Mannose-Substituted Distyrylbenzene Chromophores: axial resolution) similar to histology. Cornea transparency, Water-Soluble Optical Reporters for Monosaccharide- high index of refraction and thickness may make OCT a Protein Recognition Events feasible tool to image cornea cross sections and measure Linda Jin, Junior, Biochemistry, English its thickness both for clinical and Eye Bank uses. In this Mary Gates Scholar study, we assess cornea morphology prior and post surgical Mentor: Glenn Bartholomew, Chemistry procedure namely lamellar cut using femtosecond laser, moria microkeratome and hand dissection as well suture The proposed mannose-substituted fluorescent probes have morphology. This high resolution imaging information the potential to provide detailed information about sugar- will be useful in evaluating tissue response to different protein binding interactions. In this study, chromophores processing techniques for creating customized corneal will be synthesized with four mannose substituents tissue for transplant. The non-contact and sterile feature of attached to a distyrylbenzene (DSB) backbone via oligo- OCT can be considered for Eye Bank tissue characterization. ethyleneglycol (OEG) linkers. The four mannose (sugar) pendants attached to the OEG linkers will bind the Smart polymer switchable surface traps for viral DNA chromophore to the mannose-specific lectin, Concanavalin in PDMS microfluidic channels A (ConA). The mannose probes also make the hydrophobic Wafa Hassouneh, Senior, Bioengineering chromophore units water soluble and suitable for binding Mary Gates Scholar to the mannose-specific lectin in aqueous/physiological Mentor: Rupert Davies, Bioengineering conditions. The conjugated backbone acts as a fluorescence Mentor: Patrick Stayton, Bioengineering reporter, while the OEG linker provides protein specific

122 distances between sugar probes to facilitate binding to (Asbury et al, 2006). It is unknown how, exactly, this Dam1 the target and increase binding specificity. Upon binding, complex interacts with the microtubule lattice; it may form a shift is expected in the emission spectrum of the into a closed ring or only a loose conglomeration while chromophore due to a change in polarity of the backbone’s interacting with the lattice with nanomolar affinity. Because immediate environment. In addition, anisotropy studies the model simulates the mechanical forces between will confirm the binding of the chromophore to the protein. individual tubulin dimers in the microtubule array due to polymerization, depolymerization, curling, etc, it may Soft lithography of conductive polymer mixed with allow us to distinguish between these and other possible aqueous magnetic nanoparticles mechanistic details. To do this I have created an explicit Christopher Petz, Senior, Materials Science & Dam1 complex (a ring). By applying arbitrary forces to the Engineering depolymerizing microtubule through this Dam1 complex, NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar I can explore depolymerization rate as a function of force, Mentor: Kannan Krishnan, Materials Science & subject to different mechanistic assumptions. By the end of Engineering Winter quarter 2007, I hope to have a model, closely tied to experimental designs in the aforementioned UW labs, that Soft lithography is a developing non-photolithographic can produce a realistic and experimentally verifiable force- method for enabling micro- and nano- fabrication velocity relationship for depolymerizing microtubules. with a new range of materials. This is a fast and cheap alternative for replica modeling of non-photosensitive Kinetic and Computational Study of a Pd-Catalyzed polymers and other organic materials. Soft lithography Hydroamination thus allows patterning of conductive polymer materials Eric Stenehjem, Senior, Chemistry and Biochemistry which is an exciting development for organic electronics. Mentor: Forrest Michael, Chemistry One such polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)- poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT), has shown patterning Kinetic studies and computational modeling were used capability at this narrow size and has yielded conductivity to investigate the reaction pathway of a palladium- in the semi-conductor range. The processing methods catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of unactivated for the combination of PEDOT and aqueous cobalt aminoalkenes. The electronic effects at the nitrogen reaction magnetic nanoparticles will be explored. This system center were examined by measuring the reaction rates by of materials has electronic and magnetic properties and 1H-NMR for several substrates. These were systematically may allow simple fabrication of a granular giant magneto varied through the use of electron donating and withdrawing resistive (GMR) device. Finally, in order to quantify the nitrogen protecting groups. DFT calculations were GMR effect, the variation of electrical resistance will performed to further explore the intermediates and transition be measured as a function of applied magnetic field. states of the reaction pathway. Understanding the reaction pathway can lead to future advancements in substrate Modeling Microtubule-Dam1 Interactions on a scope of the reaction and development of novel catalysts. Molecular Scale Kris Skotheim Hillis, Sophomore, Mathematics ______Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Jonathan Alberts, Biology Session 1I ______During the fall quarter (2006) CCD apprenticeship, I began development of an agent-based microtubule simulation designed to study single microtubule behaviors such as Evaluating Non –Invasive Imaging and hydrolysis, polymerization, and catastrophe. I’ve since Surgical Techniques in refined this model, working in collaboration with CCD In-Vivo Models staff and in consultation with faculty at the UW main Session Moderator: Amy Cizik, Orthopaedics and Sports campus (Chip Asbury, Linda Wordeman, Trisha Davis) Medicine with the aim to mimic, in silico, concurrent experiments Mary Gates Hall Room 271 in those labs. Microtubules can serve both as cellular highways for motor proteins and behave as rapid minus- *Note: Titles in order of presentation. end motors themselves when protofilaments curl during catastrophic depolymerization. I hope my simulation can Developing poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) further our understanding of the mechanistic details of hydrogel as phantom for high-intensity focused these important cell behaviors. Recent experiments show ultrasound dosimetry that external forces, applied through a Dam1 complex that Zuotian Tatum, Senior, Bioengineering accumulates at the microtubule tip, influence the rate of Mary Gates Scholar, Washington Research microtubule depolymerization and rescue from catastrophe Foundation Fellow, Goldwater Scholar

123 Mentor: Lawrence Crum, Bioengineering vibroacoustography, which would allow measurement of Mentor: Stuart Mitchell, Bioengineering this critical parameter in all patients at risk of developing increased ICP whenever early detection of elevated ICP High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging and impending neurological catastrophe could lead to more application of therapeutic ultrasound. HIFU treatment effective management of patients. Preliminary testing has can increase the focal area temperature up to 60oC in one indicated a positive correlation between brain stiffness and second. It triggers local cell death and protein denaturation ambient pressure in an enclosed chamber. We intend to on live tissue, and is a promising non-invasive surgical exploit this variable tissue elasticity through a determination tool for various applications. However, this capability of tissue resonant frequency by observation of brain tissue’s also requires high orders of calibration to ensure accurate acoustic response to low frequency vibration. Two beams delivery. One of the current methods for calibrating lesion of confocal high intensity ultrasound are used to remotely size with respect to acoustic parameters is to perform HIFU and non-invasively palpate and vibrate tissue while its treatment on tissue mimicking materials, or phantoms. acoustic response is analyzed to determine frequency Unfortunately, virtually all phantoms only match some content. A preliminary system has been constructed and characteristics of soft tissues and/or cannot indicate the early tissue phantom and ex vivo tests show promise. focal lesion formation. In this research, we propose a design for a hydrogel based phantom, whose acoustic properties Ultrasound-induced palpation of brain for the non- are similar to soft tissue and is also chromogenic to heat. To invasive determination of intracranial pressure design the phantom material, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate Daniel Blizzard, Senior, Bioengineering (HEMA) and acrylamide were chosen to mimic soft tissue NASA Space Grant Scholar, Washington properties based on their previous hydrogel applications, Research Foundation Fellow and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) was investigated Mentor: Pierre Mourad, Neurological Surgery and to introduce heat-induced optical change in the hydrogel. Applied Physics Laboratory The effects of polymer composition, cross-linking degree, water content, and solvent components on phantom Intracranial Pressure (ICP), the pressure exerted on the acoustic properties were evaluated and cpared with soft brain, is a critical determinant of brain function which is tissues. Our proposed phantom design has an acoustic measured following trauma or indication of other serious attenuation coefficient at 1MHz varied from 0.5 ~ 2 dB/ neurological conditions: (tumors, bleeds, hydrocephalus cm with the speed of sound variation from 1650 ~ 1800 etc.). Elevated ICP can result in permanent neurological m/s, depending on the exact formulation of phantom. The impairment with prolonged increase leading to death. (HEMA-co-acrylamide) polymer retains very high optical However, with continuous monitoring physicians are able transparency, therefore acts as a good polymer backbone for to design a more effective treatment plan and significantly chromogenism. The remaining challenge is to incorporate improve patient prognosis. Currently, ICP is measured NIPAAm with lower critical solution temperature invasively by placing a transducer through a hole in the of 60oC into phantom for HIFU lesion formation. cranium, a procedure requiring the skill of a neurosurgeon. In an effort to circumvent many of the inherent risks and Non-Invasive Determination of Intracranial Pressure complications associated with the current technology, we by Means of Vibroacoustography propose a non-invasive measuring methodology using Pavan Vaswani, Sophomore, Computer Science and high-intensity focused (HIFU) and diagnostic ultrasound Biochemistry (A-mode) to transcranially palpate and measure brain Washington Research Foundation Fellow, NASA tissue, respectively. This method, known as acoustic Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar radiation force imaging (ARFI), uses displacement Mentor: Pierre D. Mourad, Neurological Surgery and measurements recorded at a known repetition frequency to Applied Physics Laboratory calculate the rate of tissue relaxation following a palpating Mentor: Michel Kliot, Neurological Surgery pulse. Since it has been shown that tissue stiffness if positively correlated with applied pressure, analysis of Intracranial pressure (ICP) is a critical parameter of brain reflections from diagnostic interrogation can be used to function and, when elevated, is associated with a number quantify tissue stiffness as a function of relaxation rate. of serious neurological conditions that include intracranial Through extensive in vitro testing, we have shown that masses such as tumors and bleeds; hydrocephalus; stroke; our prototype device is effective in precisely quantifying infections; high altitude sickness; and brain edema from micron-order tissue displacements and distinguishing traumatic head injury. Monitoring ICP in these traumatic between in vitro pressure changes of 5mmHg. Using situations has been shown to improve clinical outcome, but various tissue phantoms (plastics, animal tissues, etc.), we it is currently measured invasively by drilling a hole through have measured the rate of relaxation of tissue under various the skull to place a transducer near the brain, a procedure external pressures. Using a commercially available pressure that cannot be conducted on all patients. We propose a monitor in combination with our device, we are able to simple, non-invasive method of monitoring ICP using correlate the decay constants of exponential-fit curves to

124 known pressure values. Analyses of these results indicate and to optimize parameters – including contrast agent that this methodology could provide a useful alternative to concentration and incubation time – for these methods. the current technology. Furthermore, preliminary animal Phagocytotic leukocytes (white blood cells) have the studies have indicated that our device will be able to ability to uptake contrast agent molecules and deliver them effectively illicit and measure transcranial displacements. to infection sites during natural immune responses, thus allowing visualization of infected regions. Rat models Blood Vessel Damage in Shock Wave Lithotripsy are used for in vivo study. Methods: MRI: White blood Bion Johnson, Freshman, Applied and Computational cells were isolated from rat whole blood and labeled with Mathematical Sciences and Physics Feridex® (MR contrast agent). After inducing tissue Mary Gates Scholar irritation, Feridex®-labeled leukocytes were reintroduced Mentor: Michael Bailey, Applied Physics Laboratory to the rat intravenously. Irritated legs were imaged at four time points using MR for 24 hours following irritation Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is a noninvasive surgical induction. Region of interest (ROI) analysis of MR images procedure used to treat uncomplicated kidney stones. and histology of muscle tissue were performed. Optical Cavitation, the violent oscillation of bubbles, created imaging: Various concentrations of ICG molecules were by shock waves has been implicated in causing tissue incubated with white blood cells (drawn and isolated damage during SWL. As blood from injured vessels pools from rat whole blood) after opsonification. Fluorescent in the damaged tissue, cavitation increases; but it is not microscopy was performed to detect successfully labeled known how the blood vessels break in the first place. It cells. Results: Image analysis showed that a signal is, however, known that the first few waves do not break intensity reduction (relative to control) as much as the vessels; animal studies show about 1000 shock waves 6.3% was detected in experimental groups at 24 hours. are applied before bleeding can be quantified in the kidney Histology confirmed presence of Feridex®-labeled cells tissue (over 2000 are used for patient treatment). The in the periphery of irritated muscles. Optical microscopy trend toward more finely focused shock waves has led to found no detectable fluorescence from ICG-incubated greater tissue damage. This experiment tests whether or cells. Conclusion: Feridex®-enhanced MRI may offer a not the shock waves could have a cumulative effect on the noninvasive infection-detection method. More design and displacement of tissue in the focal region by measuring optimization are needed for optical infection imaging. the elastic recovery of the kidney tissue. The hypothesis of this work is that the lithotripter focus creates a sharp Effective Cancer Treatment Comparison: Calibration transition from small to large displacement in the tissue Phantom Analysis Project from the shock wave. If the tissue returns to its original Yogesh Saletore, Sophomore, Computer Science and position before the next shock wave, then there could be Bioengineering a cumulative effect. Materials and Methods: A system has Mentor: Paul Kinahan, Imaging Research Lab, been engineered to align a gel or tissue in the focus of an Radiology acoustic source that both creates a localized displacement in the sample and measures the time to recovery of the initial We are developing a display and analysis tool to be used position. Results: Initial tests on gel phantoms show the with a calibration phantom for medical imaging scanners. recovery time of gel is shorter than the shock wave firing Medical imaging using dual-mode positron emission period of a lithotripter, and no cumulative effect would be tomography and x-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) expected. However, tissue, particularly the kidney papilla, scanning is an effective method of diagnosing cancer, but is less still than the gel phantom. Conclusions: As of this inherent variations between scans can lead to data that writing, the system is ready for testing of kidney tissue. does not always indicate whether the cancer therapy is having the desired effect. We propose a simple and non- In vivo Infection Imaging Using Paramagnetic invasive procedure to predetermine these differences. The Nanoparticle-labeled Leukocytes calibration phantom is a solid plastic/epoxy container with Xinli Hu, Senior, Bioengineering spheres of radioactive germanium that is used as a reference Mentor: Satoshi Minoshima, Radiology control in cross-calibrating different scanners used in multi- Mentor: Xingde Li, Bioengineering center imaging studies. Our hypothesis is that the display and analysis tool (Multiviewer) will provide a consistent In many diseases and disorders, infections occur deep and accurate estimation of key parameters in PET and CT within organs and tissues, and cannot be located with blood images. The automated analysis is a multi-step process. tests. Medical imaging offers noninvasive techniques First, a parser is created to read in the DICOM file format for detecting abnormalities early and accurately. We used for medical image data transfer. Second, the regions propose to use contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance of interest (ROIs) are found within each 3-dimensional Imaging (MRI) and/or optical imaging with Indocyanine image. The sphere edges are located by finding the local Green (ICG) to detect infections and inflammations. maxima and minima of the gradient, which are expanded The goal of the project is to obtain a proof of concept, to encompass the spheres, and then segmented by location

125 and distance into discrete ROIs, one for each sphere. The 0, 10 and 50 m from the surface. However, at 100 m from ROIs are then used to determine the average and maximum the surface both large and small sized polymers have an radioactivities that each scanner finds within each sphere, equal probability to become gel assembled. In addition, which are normalized against the detected background we show that small sized polymers have almost constant maximums and averages to allow for better comparison. contribution to gel-assembly process at 0, 10, 50, and 100 Manual analyses conducted by our lab indicate that the m from the surface. By increasing the rate of micro-gel variability is indirectly proportional to the size of the assembly it may be possible to accelerate the carbon cycle phantom’s spheres. Validation of the Multiviewer tool is in the ocean which could result in speeding up the global still in progress, but we expect our automated analysis tool carbon cycle. Therefore, this work could lead to an effective to corroborate these results. Our results can then be used to method of drastically reducing carbon levels in the air. allow for a more reliable comparison of PET/CT images, and a more accurate diagnosis of cancer treatment effectiveness. Exploring Heterogeneous Self-Assembly Within Electrical Devices ______Louis Draghi, Junior, Electrical Engineering Mentor: Babak Parviz, Electrical Engineering Session 1J Mentor: Samuel Kim, Electrical Engineering ______Mentor: Ehsan Saeedi, Electrical Engineering

Fluidic self-assembly possesses great promise when used Nanostructures in Environmental, in conjunction with electrical devices on unconventional Biological, and Engineering substrates such as glass or plastic. The self-assembly process uses gravitational, fluidic, and capillary forces to Applications assemble crystalline semiconductor elements onto the final Session Moderator: John Sahr, Electrical Engineering substrate. The self-assembly process is also programmable Mary Gates Hall Room 085 via shape recognition by using specifically shaped receptor sites into which elements complementary in shape will *Note: Titles in order of presentation. assemble. The self-assembly experiments are carried out on micro fabricated circuit templates. These circuits possess Dissolved Oraganic Polymer Size: Large Polymers the electrical contacts and receptor sites where the elements dominate the micro-gel assembly process may assemble. When the elements fit into the receptor Chung Jonj Yu, Junior, Biology sites, a mechanical and electrical connection is made Mentor: Verdugo Pedro, Bioengineering through the use of a low melting point solder alloy which has been patterned onto the substrate. We would like to Since the industrial revolution, the equilibrium between show that self-assembly processes can be used to integrate carbon released into the atmosphere and that recaptured by heterogeneous components onto common platforms, the ocean has become drastically unbalanced. Due to this enabling novel devices and architectures in the future. situation, there is increased academic interest in the global carbon cycle. The ocean contains about 1018 g of carbon Mathematics of Gold Nanoparticle Functionalization as the form of dissolved organic matter, which is almost June Peng, Junior, Chemistry and Biochemistry equivalent to the combined mass of carbon in atmospheric Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar CO2 and the amount of carbon in terrestrial biomass and Mentor: Eric Klavins, Electrical Engineering soil humus. Through the self-assembly process of dissolved organic matter into particulate organic matter, dissolved This project seeks to use mathematics to study the organic matter plays a significant role in global carbon distribution of beads created during DNA-functionalization cycling. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the self- of gold nanoparticles. DNA is a chemical of profound assembly process is essential to understand global carbon importance as the carrier of genetic information, but cycling. We investigated the effect of dissolved organic its relative stability and inherent programmability also matter polymer size on the micro-gel assembly process makes it an ideal tool in constructing molecular sized based on two boundary conditions: (1) the concentration self-organizing systems. One such system is comprised of dissolved organic matter decreases exponentially of DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles, whose with molecular size and (2) the probability of assembly aggregation is accompanied by an obvious colorimetric increases with the second power of polymer concentration, change. The chemistry of this system has been studied in and of polymer length. Using fluorescent spectrometry, detail by other groups, who have demonstrated assembly we investigated the size effect on assembly. Percentage and disassembly of aggregates, as well as utilization of the increases in fluorescence were used to give the relative system as a probe for various metal ions. The mathematics amount of micro-gel assembled. Our results show that of the system, however, has been mostly unexplored, and large size polymers dominate the gel-assembly process at the ultimate goal is to use mathematics to predict the final

126 number and size of aggregates, as well as the kinetic paths fashion—yet there are currently no effective methods to that are taken, based on the initial conditions. In order to engineer such systems. Previously, we built a set of triangular predict the aggregation behavior, it is first necessary to self-organizing robots which can automatically aggregate know how DNA is distributed on beads when they are into any planar structure that can be built from triangles, and first functionalized and this project seeks to model the we developed a method to optimize the assembly process. functionalization using molecular statistical calculations. Unfortunately, our optimization technique becomes Ultimately, the goal is to learn how to exert exact control computationally intractable for assemblies involving over this and other self-organizing systems by use of more than ten robots. As a consequence, we began mathematical models that elucidate the connections between investigating a technique to extend the applicability of our the local interactions and the global behavior of the systems. results by assembling a desired structure hierarchically, first constructing a set of fundamental components from Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Palladium our robots, then building the desired final structure from Nanostructures those basic components. Assembly at each level in the Honggang Cai, Junior, Chemistry hierarchy can be optimized using our original method, Mentor: Younan Xia, Chemistry and the process can then be iterated to build even larger Mentor: Yujie Xiong, Chemistry structures. Hierarchical composition introduces new difficulties, particularly when an energetic assembly Shape control of metal nanostructures has received a spontaneously disassembles during a collision with another steadily growing attention because it allows for fine-tuning structure, or when information must be propagated across of properties with a greater versatility than can be achieved a large structure. We demonstrate the application of this by alternative methods. According to thermodynamic hierarchical assembly method to the construction of large arguments, palladium atoms should nucleate and grow aggregates, and discuss techniques we are investigating in a solution phase to form cubooctahedrons of spherical to overcome the difficulties introduced by composition. shape with their surfaces bounded by a mix of {111} and {100} facets. Experimentally when ethylene glycol (EG) ______was used as a reductant, the reduction was kept fast and led to the formation of the thermodynamically favored shape - Session 1K cubooctahedrons. Recently we developed two approaches ______to other shapes: i) We turned the reaction into kinetic control by using a mild reductant, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) instead of EG. As a result, hexagonal nanoplates Advanced Composite Materials and of palladium were obtained with a yield as high as 70%. Systems Each nanoplate is bound by two {111} planes as the top Session Moderator: Rajendra Bordia, Materials Science and bottom faces and a mix of {100} and {111} planes & Engineering as the side faces. ii) We introduced bromide into the Mary Gates Hall Room 284 reaction system, and altered the order of surface energies of different facets. Under the ideal condition, the energy *Note: Titles in order of presentation. of {111} facets of palladium crystals should be lower than that of {100} facets so that it is impossible to realize a Processing of HfB2/SIC Ultra-High Temperature large {100} coverage. In the current work, the bromide Ceramic Composites was found to be able to adsorb onto the palladium surface Ian Hamby, Senior, Materials Science & Engineering and thus promote the formation of {100} surface. As a Mentor: Rajendra K. Bordia, Materials Science & result, palladium nanocubes, whose surface was covered Engineering by {100} facets, were obtained with a yield as high as Mentor: Mairead Stackpoole, NASA Ames 95%. As expected for a kinetically controlled product, the nanocubes are so unstable that they evolved into the Hypersonic vehicle design calls for sharp leading edges thermodynamically favored shape during an aging process. to improve vehicle safety during reentry. A sharp leading edged vehicle is capable of entering an atmosphere from Hierarchical Scaling for Self-Organizing Systems virtually any point during its orbit and landing safely. The Sam Burden, Junior, Electrical Engineering shuttle orbiter, in contrast, has a narrow window in which Mary Gates Scholar, Washington Research it can safely reenter, due to its blunt bodied design. The Foundation Fellow same applies to launch, where a sharp leading edge vehicle Mentor: Eric Klavins, Electrical Engineering has a decidedly larger abort window than blunt one. Vehicles with sharp leading edges will, however, require Self-organizing systems abound in nature—processes higher temperature thermal protection materials. Ultra- like chemical reactions, DNA transcription, and cell high temperature ceramic (UHTC) composite material specialization all occur spontaneously and in a distributed consisting of Hafnium Diboride (HfB2) reinforced

127 with Silicon Carbide particles (SiC) have shown good level (i.e. drop height). For inelastic impact responses, oxidation resistance in reentry environments. In this work, where damage is introduced in the structure, these models the effect of processing parameters on the mechanical cease to apply, as the instantaneous stiffness of the properties of HfB2/SiC composites was investigated. material varies during the event due to accumulation of HfB2/SiC composites were prepared by varying the SiC damage. The research builds upon previously published phase content. The SiC phase in the composites was either experimental data and empirical relationships, which generated by pyrolyzing a polymeric precursor of SiC or relate the peak force generated to the available impact adding SiC particles supplied by a vendor. Dense billets energy, and employ a discretized damaged stiffness were fabricated by hot-pressing well mixed powder in a approach. The objective of this study was to implement graphite element furnace at 2200°C. The hardness and these relationships into a custom-generated computer the density was measured, and the microstructure was model and verify their applicability, and to generate a examined with a SEM. Normally the SiC forms either user-friendly routine that could be used by engineers in the equiaxed or elongated grains depending on the processing design phase to size a structure against the impact threat. conditions. We observed that in addition to the processing The model is based on a reduced set of experimentally conditions, the source of SiC (polymer precursor or determined force vs. time data, and predicts the entire particles) controls the shape of SiC. There is a correlation force vs. time trace (including peak force) that will between hardness and the amount of SiC present in the be generated over the spectrum of possible impact composite, but there is no apparent relationship between energies. The model was used successfully to predict an hardness and the presence of the high aspect ratio phase. “average” peak value, but tends to show increasing error at increasing impacting energy levels. This error is due Unique Notched Behavior of OSB Wood Composites to the finite set of damaged stiffness values available, Derek Hazen, Senior, Mechanical Engineering and further improvements to the model would account Mentor: Paolo Feraboli, Aeronautics & Astronautics for continuously-varying instantaneous stiffness values.

Oriented strand board (OSB) is a form of wood composite Crash Worthiness and Energy Absorption with manufactured from long, narrow strands bonded together Composite Materials with resin under heat and pressure. Since its debut in the early Francesco Deleo, Senior, Aeronautics & Astronautics 1980s OSB has virtually replaced plywood and all other Mentor: Paolo Feraboli, Aeronautics & Astronautics structural panel materials in new residential construction. Today, all building codes in the U.S. and Canada recognize Energy absorption during a crash is a fundamental aspect of OSB panels for the same uses as plywood on a thickness- the design of air and ground vehicles to increase the chances by-thickness basis, as its mechanical properties are virtually of survivability of occupants and payloads. A new method of identical to plywood at a lower cost. The research identifies the characterization of specific energy absorption (SEA) is and characterizes a unique characteristic of this material, presented in this paper. It differs significantly from previous which is that it is notch-insensitive. A large experimental attempts in that a corrugated plate is used instead of thin database is gathered here that shows that OSB’s open hole walled tubular and plate specimens. Corrugated specimens tension strength is the same as the un-notched strength for offer the advantage of being self supporting unlike plate several hole dimensions, and that for relatively low hole specimens; hence they do not require complex fixtures. A sizes it occurs in the gross section away from the notch. systematic study on the possibility of standardizing this A behavioral analysis of OSB can be concluded by this specimen to determine the SEA of composite materials data, and further research will examine whether similar is presented here, and it shows successful results for properties of the OSB can be seen in other composites. the several structural configurations investigated.

Modelling of Force-Time Traces in Low Velocity ______Impact Events on Composite Structures Peter Miller, Junior, Computer Science and Germanics Session 1L Mentor: Paolo Feraboli, Aeronautics & Astronautics ______

Composite structures can be greatly damaged by foreign object damage, such as the one resulting from low velocity Ecology and Environmental Sciences impact events (e.g. tooldrops). Current modeling efforts Session Moderator: Frieda Taub, Aquatic and Fishery are rely on large and costly empirical databases due to Sciences the complexity of modeling material response. Adequate Mary Gates Hall Room 287 closed-form models exist to predict the elastic impact response (i.e., undamaging) of a hard striker impacting a Identification and Regulatory Analysis of composite surface. Based on spring-mass models, they can Immunological Genes from VHSV Infected Pacific predict the peak force generated at a given impact energy Herring

128 Aaron Black, Senior, Molecular, Cellular, & shrimp density. These burrowing shrimp present a threat Developmental Biology to the aquaculture industry in Washington State due to Mary Gates Scholar their ability to de-stabilize the substrate on which shellfish Mentor: John D. Hansen, Pathobiology and United States are grown. Despite an active burrowing shrimp control Geological Survey-Western Fisheries Research Center program in these estuaries, it seems unlikely that current burrowing shrimp abundance and availability as food is Pacific Herring are a common and typically hardy a limiting factor for threatened green sturgeon stocks. Northwest fish which serve as a major forage food However, these large predators may have performed source for many other species including salmon, sharks, an important top down control function on shrimp lingcod, sea lions, whales, and bald eagles. Due to their populations in the past when they were more abundant. ecological importance as a major food source, declining Pacific herring populations could pose a threat to species The dinoflagellateAlexandrium catenella: encystment that depend upon them for sustenance. Viral hemorrhagic and temperature control in Discovery Bay, septicemia virus (VHSV), a rhabdovirus, is a well-known Washington fish virus that possesses a wide host and geographic range. Deni Malouf, Post-Baccalaureate, Biological In the case of Pacific herring, VHSV has been shown to be Oceanography particularly virulent in laboratory acute challenges, with Mentor: Daniel Grunbaum, Oceanography mortality approaching 90-100%. Furthermore, VHSV is now nearly ubiquitous among local Pacific herring in the Alexandrium catenella is a dinoflagellate that produces Puget Sound, with confined populations often resulting in saxitoxin, a neurotoxin that is bioaccumulated in shellfish severe epidemics. Therefore VHSV could present a limiting and passed onto humans when shellfish are consumed. The factor for populations of Pacific herring. The first aim abundance of the organism in Puget Sound is an economic within this study is to develop an Expressed Sequence Tag threat to the shellfish industry, as well as a health threat (ESTs) database from Pacific Herring representing genes to the general public. A more complete understanding of that are differentially regulated during viral infection. These the bloom dynamics of A. catenella may be used to help candidate genes will then serve as sentinels of the immune sustain the economic stability of the shellfish industry response in herring for examining host factors that govern and provide advanced warnings for consumers. These disease resistance and susceptibility. In the second aim, we cells have been found in high abundance in Discovery assess the transcriptional regulation of these ESTs during Bay, Washington where A. catenella presence has also VHSV infection in controlled laboratory challenges. Taken caused shellfish farm closures. This dinoflagellate has a together, these studies have been designed to learn more complex life cycle: under warm conditions, it is actively about host-pathogen interactions in the marine environment swimming and dividing in the water column but under and the overall molecular interactions that govern fish health. cold conditions it forms resting cysts in the sediment. I will quantify A. catenella cyst abundance in sediment Burrowing Shrimp in the diet of Sturgeon in the samples from Discovery Bay, Penn Cove, and the Main Pacific Northwest Basin of Puget Sound in Washington collected aboard David Holden, Senior, Biology the R/V Thomas G. Thompson from 19 March 2007 to 23 Mentor: Alan Trimble, Biology March 2007. I will also measure the temperature decrease necessary, in a land-based laboratory, to cause encystment Green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) and white sturgeon of the active cells. I hypothesize that enclosed regions, (Acipenser transmontanus) are frequent inhabitants of such as Discovery Bay, have the preferred environment coastal estuaries from northern California, USA to British in which cells most readily encyst. Enclosed regions have Columbia, Canada. An analysis of stomach contents from different circulation patterns and water temperature than 92 green sturgeon and 5 white sturgeon commercially open regions, which may contribute to unique conditions landed in Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, and the Columbia supporting increased encystment. If the enclosed regions River estuary during 2000 – 2005 revealed that 40 have predictable encystment patterns, the magnitude of – 95% had empty stomachs, but those fish with items in a potentially toxic bloom can be anticipated based upon their guts fed predominantly on benthic prey items and the cyst abundance in the sediment the season before fish. Burrowing thalassinid shrimp (mostly Neotrypaea the bloom. With this information, farmers can take californiensis) were important food items, especially for precautions to minimize the risk of harvest poisoning. green sturgeon taken in Willapa Bay, Washington during summer 2003, where they represented 75% of the biomass A quantitative look at the effect of the common ingested. Small pits observed in intertidal areas dominated pesticide carbaryl on the copepod Euchaeta elongate by these shrimp, are likely made by these sturgeon and Brianna Fox, Senior, Oceanography we present evidence from exclusion studies and field Mentor: Daniel Grunbaum, Oceanography observation that the predator making the pits can have a significant cumulative negative effect on burrowing In 2004, a court-ordered pesticide buffer was imposed

129 around West Coast waterways that are known to support the county-town. The purpose of the consolidation was to endangered salmon species. The court order prohibits more efficiently allocate education resources in response the ground application of 36 pesticides within 20 yards to greater financial pressure on the local government and of “salmon supporting waters.” The court’s primary a rising number of failing village-level primary schools. concern was the direct effect these chemicals will have This study looks at the impact of this new policy, to on endangered salmon. In one Seattle area watershed, the examine whether it has been beneficial to rural students. US Geological Survey has measured carbaryl, one of the We examined the situation of the local education system listed pesticides, at 0.48 ppb, 24X the maximum aquatic and compared five local elementary schools. Each field concentration recommended by the National Academy of site is differentiated not only by administrative level Science. The presence of carbaryl at this concentration (county, township, or village) but also by its position in the was likely due to storm runoff from yards. In addition county’s economic structure, using a model loosely based to direct effects, pesticides potentially have negative on G. William Skinner’s Hierarchical Regional Space indirect effects in downstream marine waters. Copepods model (HRS). If we examine aggregate education data and other zooplankton represent major food sources for for the county as a whole, compared to previous years, juvenile fish, including salmonids, that may be equally Yanyuan County has had many triumphs: enrollment has at risk in Puget Sound. This project considers potential reached record heights and there are an adequate numbers indirect effects on salmonids by quantifying the acute of teachers. However, national and provincial government toxicity of carbaryl on the copepod Euchaeta elongate and data use the term “rural” to blanket agricultural regions at the Hood Canal zooplankton community. Zooplankton the sub-county level, thereby hiding emerging disparities samples were collected from Hood Canal, Washington, between townships and villages. We find that within in March, 2007. From those samples, Euchaeta adults, Yanyuan County, although the new school consolidation eggs and nauplii, along with representative samples of policy has increased the average quality of basic education, the Hood Canal zooplankton community were exposed schools have become less accessible to students living in to a wide range of carbaryl concentrations to determine remote areas. Students living in mountainous villages far whether levels they may encounter in Puget Sound are from township centers face higher transportation costs potentially harmful. Preliminary results suggest levels for attending school. In addition, the few village schools measured in Seattle area waters have no short term left after the 2000 consolidation have had to become harmful effects. For both the adult copepod and the self-reliant in maintaining school facilities and quality. zooplankton community experiments, increased mortality This is a working paper and currently is around 25 pages. was not observed until concentrations of 1 ppm and 100 ppb, respectively, 200X or higher of that measured in The Philippine Diaspora and the Medical Brain Drain Seattle area waters. This study is an effort to improve Loida Erhard, Senior, Biology and Public Health our understanding of how urban populations directly Myra Aquino, Junior, Physiology and Comparative and indirectly impact salmon and other aquatic animals. History of Ideas Aaron Veroza, Junior, Linguistics, Physiology ______Joanne Almag, Senior, Environmental Studies Carmel Laurino, Senior, International Studies and Session 1M Political Science ______Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Jose Franciso Benitez, Comparative Literature Interdisciplinary International A substantial increase in the immigration of health care Research professionals from the Philippines to the United States Session Moderator: Steve Harrell, Anthropology has occurred in the recent years. Although the brain drain Mary Gates Hall Room 288 phenomenon from developing to industrialized countries has been a continuing unfortunate circumstance, it has School consolidation in Rural Sichuan: Quality vs. taken extreme proportions in the last two decades. As equality a result, there exists a considerable health work force Christina Chan, Senior, Economics imbalance where low-income developing countries are Mary Gates Scholar, Undergraduate Research losing important health care capabilities. It is argued Travel Award Recipient that the U.S. and Philippine immigration policies Mentor: Stevan Harrell, Anthropology encourage the exodus of health care professionals, due to demands within the health care system of U.S. as well In the year 2000, Yanyuan County of Sichuan Province as within many other wealthy countries. Lastly, the key conducted a rapid consolidation of its elementary schools. element to overseas workers remains to be the pursuit The county closed 90% of village primary schools and of a relatively higher socioeconomic status that cannot expanded “key-point” schools located in townships and be attained in the Philippines. This study presents an

130 analysis of the migrational determinants of healthcare DW’s microfinance program has been very successful in professionals within the Philippines. Furthermore, rebuilding social capital in Huambo. The results of this a focus will be placed on the possible strategies to research suggest that DW’s microfinance program was reduce the negative effects on the Philippine health care successful because they inherently approached the post- system by presenting data on health migration patterns, conflict situation in Angola from a cultural perspective. analyzing relevant literature and comparative studies, and That is, implicit in their deployment of microfinance interviewing selected health care professionals in Seattle. projects is a consideration of the systems of reference in which Angolans were functioning, the various parameters Health and Human Development: The Effect of Adult fashioning their economic and social choices, and broader Mortality on Foreign Direct Investment cultural concerns such as the different meanings behind Ashish Gupta, Senior, Economics the concepts the West generally use to deal with these Mentor: Michelle Turnovsky, Economics issues. There is a dearth of in-depth studies that focus on microfinance’s social impact and social rebuilding ina The effect of population health on economic development collective level in post-conflict societies. My case study is widely acknowledged, yet not fully understood research of DW’s program and the rebuilding of the quantitatively. This paper investigates the relationship Ovimbundu society will contribute to this lack of literature between adult mortality, a proxy for population health, and on this field by providing a different analysis to post- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), an important component conflict microfinance and gaining a better understanding of economic development. This paper offers a critique of of its possible entrench into the cultural aspects of society. previous research findings that suggest that increasing life expectancy by one year in low- and middle-income The Effects of Government Policies and Economic countries can increase gross foreign direct investment Conditions on Immigration Patterns: A Case Study of (FDI) inflows to those countries by 9%. Investors looking Chinese Immigration to Italy and Canada to take advantage of cheap production and labor costs in Steven Margitan, Senior, International Studies and developing countries may focus more specifically on the Economics health of the working age population when making their Mentor: Kathie Friedman, Jackson School of investment decisions; thus, adult mortality may be a better International Studies proxy variable for health than life expectancy, which is highly skewed by infant mortality. By analyzing panel data Chinese migration to Italy has increased significantly since of 74 industrialized and developing countries, I expect to the 1980s. Unskilled labor has flocked to the country in find, when controlling for other determinants of FDI inflows, search of the jobs and opportunities migrants before them that improving adult mortality generates greater FDI inflows found. These jobs typically come in the textile industry – than does improving life expectancy of a population. the Chinese in Italy are famous for their work in this sector and have developed a strong ethnic niche in the industry. Tapping into Culture: Examining a Post-Conflict While Italy has become home to an increasing number of Microfinance Approach Chinese over the last twenty years, it is not the only country Renata Lemos, Senior, Business Administration and that was hit by a demographic-changing wave of Chinese International Studies migrants. Beginning in the mid 1980s, Canada began Mary Gates Scholar receiving an increasing number of Chinese immigrants. Mentor: Wolfram Lastch, Jackson School of International These immigrants came from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Studies the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in search of a new life in Canada. In their new country, these immigrants Post-conflict microfinance projects have had enormous entered a variety of fields and spread throughout the major ramifications. The purpose of microfinance organizations is cities of the nation. Chinese immigration has had a large to extend institutional financial services to those who are not impact on Canada’s culture, economics and, according to currently serviced. Globally, microfinance during and after some frustrated Canadians, real estate prices. I found the conflict has been used to regenerate war-torn economies, differences between these two patterns of immigration reduce dependence on relief, support development could be attributed to differing governmental policies programs and improve gender roles. However, at the and economic conditions in the two host nations. Italy’s micro level, facilitating conditions for the success of post- ambiguous immigration laws allowed a large influx of conflict microfinance programs include the pre-existence undocumented immigrants to enter the nation. This, along of a minimal level of social capital in the society combined with a substantial informal sector, led to the rise of a strong with a settled population and the availability of skilled ethnic niche economy. Unlike Italy, Canada’s class system and educated local labor force. This study challenges this heavily regulated immigration. By encouraging high-end idea by examining the case of Development Workshop’s migration, this policy prevented the establishment of ethnic (DW) microfinance program in Huambo, Angola, with niche economies and fostered cultural integration. This work the Ovimbundu population. Against all likelihoods, adds to the limited literature on Chinese-Italians, examines

131 the role different immigration patterns have on ethnic regions through two techniques. The first is using multiple niche markets, and explains how government policies and data sources to obtain sequences to use in the alignments. economic conditions create different immigration patterns. Using more than one data source adds complexity to the process, so part of our work has gone into creating Understanding the Concentration of Filipino an effective abstraction for sets of genomic locations in Entrepreneurs within the Healthcare and Social order to hide differences in the details of different data Assistance Industry sources. To further improve our results we assess the Joseph Sunga, Senior, Business Administration alignment’s statistical significance. This assessment (Marketing/Entrepreneurship) allows us to prune out sequences that appear to be Mentor: Michael Verchot, Business & Economic unrelated to the others, creating a more reliable alignment Development Center from which to base our predicted regulatory regions.

The majority of Filipino entrepreneurs have been focusing Building Modular Tools in D. melanogaster on the healthcare and social assistance industry, making Scott Kerr, Senior, Cellular, Molecular, & Developmental up 37% of all Filipino-owned businesses in the United Biology States. This study focused on understanding why there Mentor: Celeste Berg, Genome Science is a large concentration of Filipino entrepreneurs within this industry. Through investigating the motivations and Modularity is defined as a system that employs a module the background of these entrepreneurs, this will provide or modules as the basis or design of construction. When a profile of Filipinos who have started businesses in this studying a process it is useful to have modular tools to industry, ranging from nursing and residential care facilities increase efficiency. An example of modularity is the to medical professionals. A qualitative field research study GAL4-UAS system, a genetic tool used in D. melanogaster. has been conducted on a sample of Filipino entrepreneurs GAL4 encodes a transcription factor found in yeast that in Washington State. Eight qualitative interviews were activates a sequence of DNA known as the Upstream performed, accompanied by a questionnaire, which Activating Sequence (UAS). In this system, regulatory gathered data on motivations, education, industry regions of interest from D. melanogaster genes are background, immigration, and business profile. From this attached to the yeast GAL4 gene. This system will drive information, this study has shown several trends, which expression of GAL4 at the time and place that the fly gene has given a better understanding of Filipino entrepreneurs is expressed. Furthermore, the UAS regulatory region is within the healthcare and social assistance industry. attached to other D. melanogaster genes of interest, or to an exogenous gene from another species. When separate ______flies containing theGAL4 and UAS constructs are crossed, the progeny express the gene attached to the UAS when Session 1N the regulatory region attached to the GAL4 is expressed. ______This system allows for genes of interest to be expressed at various times and locations that do not naturally Genetic Research, Expression, and occur in the fly. An example of a useful UAS construct is to attach UAS to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) Behavior gene. If you want to know where a gene of interest such Session Moderator: Hannele Ruohola-Baker as Broad is expressed, you attach it to GAL4. Crossing Mary Gates Hall Room 295 this Broad-GAL4 construct with a UAS-GFP fly will express GFP in cells that express Broad, marking where Using computational techniques to create a catalogue Broad is expressed in the fly life cycle. By using multiple of human regulatory elements different GAL4 lines, crossed with multiple different Jessan Hutchison-Quillian, Senior, Computer Science UAS lines, one can test many genes in many locations Mary Gates Scholar and times. Theses examples demonstrate how modularity Mentor: Martin Tompa, Computer Science & Engineering increases efficiency. In this project I am creating a GAL4 driver to be used as a tool in studying D. melanogaster Regulatory elements are short sequences in non-coding oogenesis and dorsal appendage formation. By attaching regions just before gene transcription start sites and help the regulatory region of the vitelline membrane protein determine whether a gene will be translated into a protein, gene, Vm26Aa, to GAL4, we will be able to create a fly and at what rate. In computational biology, the standard that expresses GAL4 in the follicle cells of the developing technique for determining these regulatory elements is to egg chamber in D. melanogaster. We can then cross align sequences that are predicted to be homologous to this fly line with various UAS lines. This tool will let us the upstream region of a human gene and then find short express reporters such as GFP and lacZ as well as genes sequences that are conserved across the aligned sequences. of interest in the follicle cells of developing egg chamber. Our goal is to create a more reliable catalogue of these

132 Gene expression profiling as a means of identification precursor region is processed, the mature region is the part and classification of JSRD that survives to perform the actual function of the molecule. Biswajit Paul, Senior, Biology Of these 24 SNPs we located, two were positioned in Howard Hughes Scholar, NASA Space Grant mature regions. We characterized the allele frequency Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar distribution of miRNA SNPs and found that the majority of Mentor: Daniel Doherty, Pediatrics polymorphisms (n = 22) were found at very low frequency (2%). Using SNP locations from the dbSNP database and Joubert syndrome and related disorders (JSRD) is a miRNA region locations from the UCSC Genome Browser group of autosomal recessive conditions resulting in (http://genome.ucsc.edu/index.html) and miRBase (http:// lifelong, multisystem issues including mental retardation, microrna.sanger.ac.uk/), we wrote custom Perl scripts to hypotonia, irregular breathing patterns and eye movement verify the location of SNPs in miRNAs as well as identify abnormalities. Mutations in three causative genes, AHI1, all SNPs within 1 kb up and downstream of the precursor NPHP1, CEP290 and two other loci are responsible region. We did this to compare miRNA variation in the for fewer than 50% of JSRD cases. The functional context of surrounding regions of the genome. With relationships between these genes are currently unknown. alignments from the UCSC Genome Browser, we wrote a We are investigating whether known disease-causing custom Perl script to calculate the conservation of precursor mutations in AHI1 and NPHP1 affect expression of AHI1, regions for human miRNAs with their corresponding NPHP1 and CEP290 in lymphoblastoid cell lines, using chimpanzee, mouse, and rat regions. Since levels of Quantitative real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Q- genetic variation in miRNA regions are significantly PCR). If observed, gene expression differences between less compared to non-functional regions, we interpret a affected and unaffected cell lines will indicate possible reduction in genetic variation as evidence for functional regulatory relationships between the three genes implicated constraint. Thus, our data suggests that polymorphisms in causing JSRD. In addition to directly improving our in miRNA regions tend to be deleterious and rapidly understanding of JSRD pathophysiology, these experiments removed from the population by purifying selection. will provide preliminary data for future experiments using microarrays. Microarray chips can determine Relatedness and Social Structure in Felines: A the expression levels of most genes in the genome in a Population Analysis of Washington State Feral Cats single experiment (global expression profiling). Specific Katherine Skordal, Senior, Chemistry genes and/or functional pathways with altered expression Mary Gates Scholar levels in affected cell lines can then be explored as other Mentor: Jennifer Calkins, Genome Sciences potential causes for JSRD. Distinct expression profiles Mentor: Willie Swanson, Genome Sciences could be used to classify genetic sub-types of this varied Mentor: Connie Anthony, Political Science, Seattle group of disorders which will be beneficial in genetic University mapping studies. Other benefits include improved understanding of JSRD genes and their role in hindbrain Little is known of the social behavior of the modern feral development. This knowledge will lead to improved pre cat. Viewed by most people as an independent, antisocial and postnatal diagnosis as well as improved prognosis creature, feral cats are assumed by many to live alone. of medical complications and hopefully, treatments. Despite their reputation for antisociality recent research indicates that feral domestic cats do not necessarily live Population Genetics and Evolution of MicroRNAs in independently. Related females appear to group together Humans and defend a region of land while male feral cats pursue Kimberly Sacha, Senior, Mathematics either a strategy of remaining in their mother’s colony or Mentor: Joshua Akey, Genome Sciences dispersing at sexual maturity and wandering nomadically between matrilineal groups. Our goal is to test whether MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of feral cats in Washington State demonstrate this form of non-protein coding RNA genes that serve as regulators social structuring by performing a genetic analysis of of gene expression. Currently, 321 miRNAs have been the population structure across the region. We obtained identified in the human genome. Previous research genetic material from a local feral spay and neuter clinic has focused on miRNA identification and functional and are using single locus microsatellites and mtDNA characterization. Considerably less work has been done sequences to analyze the relatedness within and between on understanding basic issues related to the population kin groups as well as the number of males contributing to genetics and molecular evolution of miRNAs, which was litters and elucidate male gene flow and breeding patterns. the focus of our research. We performed bioinformatics Understanding the social structure of modern cats will help analyses using the database dbSNP (http://www.ncbi. veterinarians deal with feline behavior issues as well as aid nlm.nih.gov/projects/SNP/) and found twenty-four single in the evaluation of spay neuter programs. Finally, our nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a type of genetic research will help contribute to the growing body of research variation, in miRNA precursor regions. When a miRNA evaluating the evolution of social behavior in vertebrates.

133 Utilization of Bacterial Homologous Recombination to Create Deletions in the Human MAPT Gene for ______Identification of its Regulatory Elements Harkirat Sohi, Junior, Molecular, Cellular and Devel- Session 1O opmental Biology and Applied & Computational Math- ______ematical Sciences Mentor: Parvoneh Poorkaj Navas, Psychiatry & Behav- Molecular Studies of Aging, Disease, ioral Sciences, Medical Genetics and Therapy The gene that encodes the microtubule (MT) binding pro- Session Moderator: Wendy Raskind, Medicine tein tau (MAPT gene) plays an important role in several Mary Gates Hall Room 389 neurodegenerative disorders such as Frontotemporal De- mentia (FTD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) *Note: Titles in order of presentation. and may also play a role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A specific series of sequence changes in the DNA encoding The genetic expression changes of interferon regula- the tau protein, called the H1 haplotype, is over-represent- tory factor 8 in aging hematopoietic cells ed in subjects with PSP. The other less common haplotype, Yongjae Edward Choi, Senior, Molecular, Cellular & H2, has an inverted MAPT transcriptional orientation Developmental Biology when compared to the H1 haplotype. Alternative splic- Howard Hughes Scholar ing of exons 2, 3 and 10 results in variable inclusions of Mentor: Derek L. Stirewalt, Medical Oncology these three exons and tau mRNAs which can produce six different protein isoforms. MAPT exons 9, 10, 11 and 12 Analyzing genetic expression changes in aging hemato- each encode microtubule binding domains. Tau proteins poietic (blood forming) system is an excellent model to that include exon 10 have 4 MT binding domains and are explore the relationship between aging and cancer because referred to as “4 R” isoforms whereas tau isoforms with- both the normal and malignant cells are readily accessible out exon 10 are called “3R” isoforms. When compared to unlike some other forms of cancer. DNA microarrays were normal subjects, the ratio of 4R:3R tau in certain FTD, used to identify the age-related expression changes in he- PSP and AD patients is greatly changed due to changes matopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and lymphocytes. We in alternative splicing. It is possible that single nucleotide identified significant age-related expression changes of in- polymorphisms (SNPs) or groups of SNPs in MAPT may terferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) using multi-variable re- be involved in susceptibility to PSP and it is possible that gression analyses. To validate the microarray findings, the these SNPs are within the regulatory elements that have expression of IRF8 was determined using a quantitative not yet been identified. The overall goal of the project is to reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) identify nucleotide variants in MAPT that influence splic- assay on ABI taqman platform. These studies found that ing and/or transcription. We hope to identify these poten- lymphocytes from older adults displayed a significant de- tial regulatory regions by deleting evolutionarily conserved crease in expression as compared to younger adults. In ad- sequences in the human tau gene on both the H1 and H2 dition, an in vitro model system was developed to explore haplotypes and to look at the deletion effects on transcrip- the biology of IRF8 in hematopoietic cells. We utilized a tion and translation in tissue culture transient transfection hematopoietic cell line (HL60S) that undergoes differen- assays. My project is to introduce the MAPT deletions into tiation with exposure to a drug (ATRA), and a mutated an H1 MAPT PAC (P1 Artificial Chromosome) and an H2 HL60 cell line (HL60R) that does not undergo differen- MAPT BAC (Bacterial Homologous Recombination) us- tiation for these studies. A quantitative RT/PCR analyses ing the technique of bacterial homologous recombination. showed that HL60S cells express IRF8 at the RNA level, but the HL60R cells does not. IRF8 is believed to be a The Role of Gp130 in the Progression of Renal Fibro- DNA transcription factor that has been linked to differen- sis tiation and the development of leukemia in mice. These Jacquelyn Carlsson, Recent Graduate, Biochemistry previous studies, combined with our findings, would sug- Mary Gates Scholar gest that a decreased expression of IRF8 may block dif- Mentor: Jesus Lopez-Guisa, Pediatrics ferentiation, which eventually leads to leukemia. We plan to knock down expression of IRF8 using RNAi in HL60S Chronic tissue fibrosis, including renal, cardiac, hepatic to determine if decreased expression prevents differen- and pulmonary fibrosis can be a serious and often fatal tiation. We also plan to introduce Tetracycline-construct consequence of inflammation. Fibrosis can develop when in HL60R to determine if IRF8 expression promotes dif- inflammatory signals trigger the production and prolifera- ferentiation. These studies will lay the groundwork for tion of extracellular matrix components such as collagen identifying critical molecular pathways that govern ag- and fibroblasts. The signal transducing receptor subunit, ing in early HPCs, and promote age-related malignancies. glycoprotein 130 (gp130), serves as a shared receptor com-

134 ponent to many of these inflammatory signals, particularly viral backgrounds. Furthermore, mutants containing both those in the IL-6 family of cytokines. This relationship of the transmembrane amino acid changes showed an en- between gp130 and critical inflammatory/fibrotic signals hanced sensitivity. This suggests that small changes near has led us to hypothesize that gp130 serves as a regula- the transmembrane region may have an important global tory factor in the fibrotic response. To test this hypothesis, role in neutralization sensitivity. In the future, we would we have compared the levels of inflammatory signals and like to test these modified neutralization sensitive viruses the progression of fibrosis in wildtype and gp130 hetero- in animal models to see if they are more immunogenic. zygous mice after they had undergone unilaterial ureter These data may offer insights for future vaccine design, as obstruction(UUO) surgery to induce fibrosis in the kidney. viral envelopes with these sequences that are more read- As expected, during the peak of the inflammatory response ily neutralized by antibodies may be better immunogens. the wildtype mice were able to produce higher concentra- tions of gp130 than the heterozygous mice. We found that “What does Viagra have to do with Malaria?”: Phos- the suppressed levels of gp130 in the heterozygous mice phodiesterases as Novel Drug Targets for Malaria caused significant changes in the concentrations of critical Ciara Huntington, Senior, English and Cell, Molecular, & receptors such as IL-1Ralpha, OSMR, and TGF-betaR at Developmental Biology the site of insult. This change in the molecular environ- Mary Gates Scholar ment was accompanied by decreased amounts of fibrosis, Mentor: Paul Pottinger, Allergy & Infectious Diseases in mice with depressed levels of gp130. These results sug- gest that gp130 acts as an influential pro-fibrotic member Malaria kills between one and three million people annu- of the complex signaling environment during renal fibrosis. ally, mostly African children under the age of five. Plas- modia, the parasites that cause the disease, are develop- Generation of Neutralization-Sensitive HIV-1 Enve- ing resistance to many critical medicines at an alarming lope Variants Through Amino Acid Changes in the rate in developing nations, signaling the immediate need Transmembrane Domain for new, affordable, and effective anti-malarial therapy. In Minh-An Nguyen, Senior, Biochemistry and Chemistry response, we are investigating a class of enzymes called Howard Hughes Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar phosphodiesterases (PDEs) as potential drug targets with- Mentor: Catherine Blish, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Re- in the parasites. Pharmaceutical companies have already search Center developed myriad drugs to inhibit human PDEs (best-sell- Mentor: Julie Overbaugh, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Re- ing drugs Viagra and Cialis are PDE inhibitors). Plasmo- search Center dium-specific PDE inhibitors may interrupt infection by blocking activity of the enzymes, thereby disrupting cel- There are over 39.5 million people presently infected with lular communication and regulation. We are investigat- Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1). A major focus ing the molecular aspects of these drug targets along two of efforts to halt this epidemic is the development of a vac- parallel lines of inquiry: What are the functions of PDEs cine that will generate neutralizing antibodies to HIV-1. in Plasmodium? Gene deletion vectors for each of the Such antibodies, which recognize the viral envelope pro- four Plasmodium falciparum PDEs were cloned in E. coli tein and prevent the virus from entering cells, have been and transfected into human red blood cells infected with found to protect from infection in animal models. Unfortu- parasites. Resulting “knockout” (KO) parasites will allow nately, generating neutralizing antibodies that are broadly for phenotypic analysis. Where are PDEs located in the reactive has proven quite challenging. Our aim is to char- parasitic cell? Protein domain modeling suggests that the acterize viral features that make HIV-1 more susceptible to PDEs are anchored within cellular membranes. To study antibodies. Previous studies showed that among the viral the intracellular location of PDEs within the parasite, we isolates from one subject, two amino acid changes in the expressed PDE “chunks” in E .coli, purified the resultant transmembrane region were critical to convert a neutral- proteins, and injected each with adjuvant into rabbits and ization-resistant envelope to a neutralization-sensitive en- guinea pigs. The resulting polyclonal antibodies will be velope. In order to explore whether these changes in the used in immunofluorescence microscopy of fixed, infect- transmembrane sequences had a broad effect on neutraliza- ed human red blood cells. Additionally, we are currently tion of various HIV-1 strains, we have engineered similar constructing a DNA vector using the Gateway© clon- amino changes using site-directed mutagenesis into other ing system which will tag the PDEs with green fluores- viruses and examined neutralization sensitivity. In order cent protein (GFP). This GFP construct will allow us to to generate these mutants, we created primers with the de- visualize the enzymes in live Plasmodium cells. These sired nucleotide sequence changes and used these to am- molecular studies of Plasmodium PDEs are the first of plify modified viruses using the Polymerase Chain Reac- many steps in developing a potential anti-malarial drug. tion (PCR). We then evaluated neutralization sensitivity to various monoclonal antibodies and antibodies in plasma. We found that the specific residue changes individually caused an increased sensitivity to neutralization in diverse

135 Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors in Human Em- HR1, that my lab developed, and a reporter gene, Green bryonic Stem Cell Self-renewal Fluorescent Protein (GFP), we were able to achieve trans- Xiaoji Chen, Junior, Biology, Sichuan University-Univer- fection efficiencies several times higher than SuperFect (a sity of Washington Exchange Program transfection reagent developed by QIAGEN that is used Mentor: C. Anthony Blau, Medicine, Hematology as our positive control) transfection. Moreover, by adding proteasome (proteolytic complexes that degrade cytosolic Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are pluripotent cells and nuclear proteins) inhibitor, such as MG 132, to the derived from the inner cell mass of human blastocysts. cells to be transfected, transfection efficiencies were even They can undergo self-renewal in vitro while maintain- greater than using peptide alone. Similar results were ob- ing their pluripotent status and they can also differenti- tained using a modified peptide (HR1GA4) that inhibits ate into multiple somatic cell types. Their ability to dif- the function of proteasome. Currently, we are conducting ferentiate into virtually any somatic cell type makes them experiments using MG 132 in concert with HR1GA4, and potentially extremely valuable for regenerative medicine. reporters such as GFP and mSEAP in mouse models to im- Besides, hESCs also represent a new and unique in vitro prove peptide-mediated gene delivery efficiency in vivo. model for studying mechanisms for controlling differ- entiation and pluripotency during early human develop- ment. For these reasons, understanding the mechanisms ______for controlling the self-renewal of hESC has now come Session 2A to the forefront. Previous reports indicated that high con- ______centrations of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can maintain hESCs in an undifferentiated state in vitro (Xu C, et al, 2005). Our experiments found low concentra- Geology and Biology of the Marine tions of bFGF (4ng/ml) to be helpful for ESC growth. Environment However, the receptors activated by bFGF on hESC and Session Moderator: Ginger Armbrust, Oceanography their roles in maintaining self-renewal remain largely un- Mary Gates Hall Room 074 known. We examined FGF receptor (FGFR) expression in hESCs by Quantitative-PCR and found that all FGFR *Note: Titles in order of presentation. receptors (FGFR 1-4) were expressed with the highest ex- pression of FGFR1, then FGFR4, FGFR2, and the lowest Tsunami Frequency in the Southern Kuril Islands via FGFR3. Because the FGFR family FGFR1-4 has a variety Microprobe Analysis of Volcanic Ash of FGFR isoforms that are generated by alternative splic- Jesse Einhorn, Senior, Earth & Space Sciences ing of FGFR transcript, we examined different isoforms Mary Gates Scholar using isoform-specific primers and the result suggested Mentor: Joanne Bourgeois, Earth & Space Sciences that FGFR1c, 2c and 3c are the predominate isoforms in hESCs. A simultaneous interrogation of 42 receptor ty- In the remote islands of the Russian Far East, basic rosine kinases (RTKs) in hESCs after stimulation with a questions about large-scale tectonics remain unresolved. high concentration of bFGF revealed only trace phosphor- Because the historical record of earthquakes is incomplete, ylation of FGFR2 and FGFR3, but no phosphorylation of the relative plate motions near the boundary of North FGFR1 and FGFR4. Lentiviruses encoding FGFR shR- America, Eurasia, and the Pacific are poorly understood. NA will be transduced into hESCs to evaluate the effect Using prehistoric tsunami deposits as a proxy for large of knocking down these receptors in hESC self-renewal. earthquake occurrence, we can extend that record and test hypotheses of long-term plate dynamics. In July of Increasing the Transfection Efficiency in Peptide-Me- 2006, we traveled to the island of Kunashir during the diated Nonviral Gene Delivery System field season of the Kuril Biocomplexity Project, where we Jefferey Chen, Senior, Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, described stratigraphic sections for several excavations on & Developmental Biology the north end of the island. The excavations were located Mentor: Carol Miao, Pediatrics close to sea level on the Pacific-facing side of the island, within the zone of inundation for large tsunamis, and less Gene therapy is a potential treatment for many genetic dis- than ten kilometers from an active volcano. We recorded eases. One way to achieve gene therapy is through peptide- the presence of tsunami-deposited sand layers in the mediated nonviral gene delivery. Peptide is a short strand excavations, and also collected samples of volcanic ash; of amino acids linked together that, when synthesized rich each layer of ash represents a specific time horizon in the in positively charged amino acids such as arginine and stratigraphic profile. By counting the number of tsunami lysine, may act to condense DNA and perturb the cellu- deposits between an ash layer and the surface, we can lar membrane and allow gene delivery to be possible. My establish tsunami frequency in the time period since that ash project focuses on increasing the transfection (insertion was deposited. I have cleaned ash samples from northern of plasmid DNA into a cell) efficiency. Using the peptide, Kunashir, and examined them under a conventional

136 microscope, and I will obtain highly precise chemical reflected in large scale alterations of ecosystem processes. composition data using the JEOL 733 electron beam Zostera japonica was introduced from Japan and competes microprobe. After comparing this chemical “fingerprint” with Zostera marina, the native eelgrass, in the intertidal to published analyses by other scientists working in zone of Padilla Bay, Washington. This project aims the region, we will be able to establish a preliminary to characterize the denitrifying bacteria in sediments tsunami frequency for the southern Kuril Islands. associated with Zostera marina, Zostera japonica, and unvegetated mudflat in Padilla Bay. We will be focusing The role of biotic resistance in the distribution of an on bacteria responsible for denitrification, as nitrogen is introduced marine gastropod often a limiting nutrient in primary productivity of coastal Marla Koberstein, Senior, Environmental & Conservation zones, including estuaries such as Padilla Bay. Sediment Biology cores were collected in November for molecular and Mentor: Jennifer Ruesink, Biology denitrification potential analyses. Following extraction of bacterial DNA from the sediment cores, quantitative-PCR Successful biological invasions often result when an (q-PCR) will be used to quantify the amount of target DNA. invader ‘escapes’ from a native predator or pathogen. DNA will be amplified in the presence of a fluorescent However, native predators in introduced regions may indicator, and the initial amount of DNA will then be also influence the success or distribution of an introduced determined by measuring the increase in fluorescence over species. This concept, termed biotic resistance, was time. Specific primers will be used to amplify nirS genes, explored in the intertidal region of Willapa Bay, which code for denitrification enzymes. NirS genes will be Washington, between Ocinebrinus inornatus, a marine present only in those bacteria involved in the denitrification gastropod snail introduced from Japan, commonly referred process. The results of this work will be valuable for to as an oyster drill, and two native cancrid crabs, Cancer invasion biology, as the effect of invasive species on magister and C. productus. Feeding trials were set up in microbial communities is a relatively new research area. July through September of 2006 to explore the feeding Providing this knowledge will help managers and policy interactions between each crab species and drills of three makers create better strategies for dealing with the costs size classes. Results suggested that Cancer productus had and ecosystem degradation that result from invasions. a significantly higher feeding rate onO. inornatus than did C. magister. On average, C. productus crushed 3 drills Biotin Synthase Activity in Thalassiosira pseudonana per day, whereas C. magister did not appear to crush any under varying Iron, Bacterial and Biotin conditions drills. If biotic resistance is implicated as a determining Wendy Guo, Senior, Oceanography factor, a negative correlation between Ocinebrinus and Mary Gates Scholar C. productus distributions throughout Willapa Bay is Mentor: Virginia Armbrust, Oceanography expected. Therefore, drill size frequency distributions and crab distributions across sites in Willapa Bay will Globally, there are large oceanic regions where the marine also be compared. Early analysis suggests Ocinebrinus ecosystem is characterized by regionally high-nutrients densities are negatively correlated with C. productus and low-chlorophyll. In these regions, it has been shown densities throughout Willapa Bay, although abiotic factors in repeated experiments that higher primary productivity such as salinity tolerance may also influence proliferation. has been linked to the addition of iron. Biotin or vitamin

B7 , is a crucial vitamin used as a cofactor in many Characterization of microbial communities biochemical reactions and cycles such as the Krebs cycle. associated with Zostera marina, Zostera japonica and Biotin is readily available in the marine environment since unvegetated mudflat in Padilla Bay, Washington marine bacteria produce this vitamin in excess and Biotin Alison Paulson, Senior, Biology: Environmental and synthase requires a [Fe-S] cluster thus iron limitation Conservation and Biochemistry should favor biotin uptake rather than intercellular Mary Gates Scholar production. Thalassiosira pseudonana is a model diatom Mentor: M. Claire Horner-Devine, Aquatic & Fishery found in many marine environments. The genome for Sciences Thalassiosira pseudonana has been fully sequenced and Mentor: Jess Silver, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences contains genes for both biotin synthase and biotin uptake genes. The described study uses quantitative PCR for Bacteria play key roles in ecosystem processes including the biotin synthase gene in T. pseudonana to measure nutrient recycling, decomposition of organic matter, and biotin synthase activity under all possible combinations cycling of atmospheric gases. Invasive plant species of these conditions: iron replete and iron deplete, with or may alter microbial communities, as invasive plants have without biotin, with and without the presence of bacteria. been shown to change nutrient availability, root structure, I will discuss the relationships between T. pseudonana, and micro-environments in sediments at a gross and/or bacteria, iron, environmental biotin concentrations and the microscopic level. Differences in bacterial communities relation to biotin production thus gaining insight on new due to the introduction of an invasive species may be diatom-bacteria interactions in iron-limited environments.

137 “Coming out” is a speech interaction by which gay people ______bring their queer identities into narrative (and therefore, lived) reality. The ubiquity of coming-out as a phenomenon Session 2B experienced by gay people in North America and Europe ______is reflected in literature on “coming-out stories” asa recognizable genre of life narrative in the lesbian and gay community. Little extant work exists on the special Individuals, Community, and Culture complications in coming out faced by lesbian and gay Session Moderator: Lisa Kopp, Psychology people of ethnic minorities, many of whom are the second Mary Gates Hall Room 082A generation of recent American immigrants. Some of these complications may include differences in language Finding self, selling self: The construction of identity, fluency, the politics of transnational identity formation, sex/uality and consumer(ist) lifestyles in Manhunt.net and perceptions of risk unaccounted for in literature which Patrick Dent, Senior, English and Comparative History has focused mostly on mainstream white coming out of Ideas experiences. My work examines the coming out stories of Mentor: Crispin Thurlow, Communication multicultural lesbian and gay people on two levels: on one, these stories reveal characteristics of how multicultural Contrary to popular perception, HIV/AIDs is not a thing lesbians and gays come out and how they evaluate their of the past in the USA: quite the opposite. Recent research coming out; on another level, the way in which these shows that a new epidemic is growing and a new generation stories are told reveals a negotiation of identities occurring of young people is quickly becoming infected. What is at the site of the storytelling. In particular, stories told also on the rise is consumer-driven lifestyle marketing and entirely in English “overdub” non-mainstream elements a homophobic public discourse. Against this backdrop, of the teller’s life experience while simultaneously young gay men and other MSM (“men who have sex with constructing a mainstreamed representation of the teller men”) look to find a place for themselves in a society for consumption by the larger lesbian and gay community. which is emotionally, socially and romantically rewarding. One solution is to be found in online ‘safe-haven’ dating Caucasian Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) and social networking sites such as Manhunt.net – one Assumptions About Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI) of the most popular of these “spaces” for gay men/MSM MSM in Internet Hook-Ups which promises its purported 300,000 members: “If he’s Jarron Magallanes, Senior, Social Welfare (BASW) out there, he is on here, we just make him easier to find.” Mary Gates Scholar Like other such commercial sites, this is also a site for Mentor: Tracy Harachi, School of Social Work the strategic representation and active production of both identity and sex/uality. To this end, my paper reports a Today, within the gay community, some interracial critical discourse analysis of over one hundred user profiles relationships between Caucasian men who have sex from Manhunt as well as institutional data about the site with men (MSM) and Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI) itself. In analyzing the linguistic, visual and technological MSM may reflect a racist homopatriarchy—a systematic resources used by members and the site owners, I identify domination of gay men of color by Caucasian men the main discursive trends and priorities within the network. by unequal opportunities, rewards, punishments, and Amongst other things, these trends and priorities limn a the internalization of unequal expectations by sex role hyper-commodified performance of sex and sexual identity differentiation. One contemporary context where the entrenched in the rhetoric of choice but which occludes the discourse of racist homopatriarchy can manifest is on need for sexual awareness. In an age of post-queer and post- websites for meeting sexual partners. Previous studies have feminist consumer lifestyles, Manhunt appears to show the found that in many cases of such sexual encounters, the “rise of the individual,” emphasizing self-determination engagement of high-risk sexual practices and anonymous and depoliticizing social differences and inequalities. sex heightens the risk for contracting HIV. My research This, I believe, threatens to inculcate a new generation of will begin to bridge the gap between theories of Asian male young gay men and MSM into a doctrine negligent of the masculinity and high-risk sexual behaviors among A/PI personal, social and political implications of their sex/uality. MSM by first examining racist homopatriarchal discourses in partner selection and expectation on the internet. By Overdubbing identity – perspectives gained and lost investigating how Caucasian MSM construct A/PI MSM in multilingual coming out stories as sexual partners, I hope to illuminate the discourses Alex Kim, Senior, Anthropology that potentially subject A/PI MSM into submissive roles Mary Gates Scholar that increase their risk for HIV/AIDS. I will collect data Mentor: James Green, Anthropology by using Craigslist, a popular public website for dating Mentor: Celia Lowe, Anthropology and anonymous hook-ups in the MSM community. I will analyze personal ads written by self-identified Caucasian

138 men (ages 35+) who are seeking Asian men for a date and/ has made homosexuality illegal, stating that it violates a or hook-up (GWM 4 GAM). I will analyze the content “conservative Asian norm.” In some countries in Asia, of the personal ads by using grounded theory methods acceptance of homosexuality is portrayed as a cultural to examine the cultural and social vulnerabilities of A/PI phenomenon that originated in Western societies. The MSM in their sexual relationships with Caucasian MSM. reality is quite different. Although there are no firm data, there are probably as many homosexuals in Asia as in other Developing Character Through Agency: Actuating world regions. In many Asian countries, there are openly and Actualizing Interactive Narrative gay communities that are widely accepted. I will attempt Cale Schupman, Junior, Digital Arts & Experimental to explain the significant variations in attitudes towards Media homosexuality between Asian countries. According to Mentor: Stephanie Andrews, Digital Arts & Experimental the 2001 World Values Survey, 29% of the population Media sampled in the Philippines believes that homosexuality is “never justifiable,” compared to 53% in South Korea Games have always been an essential element in human and 82% in the People’s Republic of China. One potential culture. They have been played and philosophized about explanation for these variations is globalization theory, for centuries, yet rigorous academic study has only come which argues that homosexual tolerance is explained by about recently. Most of this study has been centered on the influence of Western ideas in non-Western countries. probabilities and underlying numerical structures. My I will test globalization theory by attempting to measure research focuses on the experiential and socio-cultural exposure to Western ideas, such as how much money aspect of game design, an area that is just beginning to Hollywood movies make in each Asian country. Another blossom. Based on what I am discovering in this research, theoretical perspective is modernization theory, which I am creating a work that seeks to define games as a suggests that culture, including tolerance of homosexuality, form of art. By integrating the theory of games with the can be explained by economic development. I will practice of making art, I am moving the medium forward measure modernization by examining the percentage of by investigating and expanding new forms of visualized those seeking higher education. It is possible that both narrative. This piece comprehensively represents the globalization and modernization may explain variations research I have done and demonstrates the potential of in tolerance of the gay life style in countries like the what interactive narrative can be. Through games, there Philippines, South Korea, and China. These comparative are many new stories to be told, and perceptions about theories may not explain all variations, however, because our world to be altered. I am examining the underlying each country has its own distinct culture and history. structures of games and the many layers of their design in order to discover what kinds of emotions can be evoked Personal Journalism: Toward Individuals Affecting and ideas that can be conveyed. The story I am using Collective Memory for my work is about three characters, each occupying a Maureen Trantham, Senior, Communication separate aesthetically unique universe, and conceptually Mary Gates Scholar coming together to represent some important but often Mentor: Phillip Thurtle, Comparative History of Ideas unseen connections within our social order. The characters never interact with one another in physical space, but their Peter Jennings breaks down on national television as actions inform the direction of the narrative for the next he narrates the fall of the World Trade Center Towers. character. The story unfolds in a non-linear fashion that Anderson Cooper cries out in anger as he disseminates the encourages exploration and thorough understanding of the pleas of the citizens of New Orleans. These are images that content. The core of the game comes from the individual live in the minds and imaginations of Americans and remain tasks and challenges as character studies, and how the ideas intricately woven into the critical incidents they represent. the characters come to represent affect each other character. Indeed, as instances of individuals interpreting events for themselves as opposed to pure narration, they are part of Varying Levels of Homosexual Tolerance Across the story of these iconic incidents in the national collective Asia, Explained Using Globalization Theory and memory. The actions of Jennings and Cooper, however, Modernization Theory are also evidence of a change that is occurring in the world Yuvachira Songtantarak, Senior, Sociology and Political of journalism. It is a change that may be imperceptible to Science most American journalists, or, perhaps as culture of media, Mary Gates Scholar we all merely lack the vocabulary to describe it. I believe Mentor: Charles Hirschman, Sociology this change represents a shift towards personal journalism and the rise of individuals affecting collective memory. I In Asia, as in most regions of the world, homosexuality intend to examine ways in which journalism is becoming is considered a taboo topic, and is considered by many more personal and plural through the case study of three to be in conflict with deeply held religious, family, and events: the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the cultural values. For example, the government in Singapore Hurricane Katrina disaster and aftermath and the most

139 recent video-taping of Sadam Hussein’s execution. In the System Remodeling and Hormone Action in Drosophila case of each event, I will ask: How is the reporting of this melanogaster event more than just “fact” and perhaps more personal Chris Goiney, Senior, Neurobiology interpretation-based? and, How are more and more Mary Gates Research Scholar, Washington individuals becoming involved with “telling the story”? In Research Foundation Fellow the end, I hope to create a model and a vocabulary for this Mentor: Jim Truman, Biology will mean in terms of our collective memory of these events. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is used as a model for exploring many biological functions including nervous ______system development. Drosophila metamorphosis is a particularly relevant model for understanding nervous Session 2C system development because the transition from larva ______to adult involves hormone-dependent remodeling of the animal’s nervous system (Weeks and Truman, 1985). This remodeling can be followed at the cellular level using a set Invertebrate and Vertebrate Neural of thoracic neurosecretory neurons, the TV cells, which Systems have a pruning phase when their larval axons are reduced Session Moderator: Horacio de la Iglesia, Biology followed by an outgrowth phase that produces the adult Mary Gates Hall Room 228 axonal arbors. Cellular remodeling is driven by the insect steroid hormone, ecdysone, whose action is mediated The Interaction of Yeast Transcription Factors, As through three ecdysone receptor (EcR) isoforms: EcR-A, Investigated through Their Deletion EcR-B1 and EcR-B2. When bound to ecdysone and the Erin Arms, Senior, Biochemistry, Anthropology proper cofactors, EcR can activate, repress or de-repress Mentor: Elton Young, Biochemistry genes that control nervous system remodeling. Selectively over-expressing mutant forms of these receptors (referred The multi-protein complex, SAGA, is involved in regulating to as dominant negatives) in Drosophila TV cells allows transcription in the yeast S. cerevisiae. Three subunits us to investigate the individual role that each EcR plays in of SAGA: GCN5, SPT3, and SPT20 (Histone acetylase, nervous system development. Four such dominant negative transcriptional activator/inhibitor/recruitment factor, and EcR constructs (EcR-B1W650A, EcR-AW650A, EcR-B1F645A integral structural unit respectively) have been identified and EcR-B2W650A) have been investigated previously, as vital for normal SAGA operation. The main objective resulting in varying pruning and outgrowth defects of of this project is to explore the interaction of these protiens TV cell remodeling (Brown et. al. 2005).Each of these in relation to other transcription factors, namely ADR1 and dominant negatives has a mutation in the ligand-binding CAT8. ADR1 and CAT8 are single protein transcription site of the receptor protein, while the accompanying N- factors involved in the regulation of a wide range of genes terminal activational regions of the proteins are left that are necessary for the metabolism of non-glucose unchanged. Currently, we are investigating the effects carbon sources. Deletions of the above SAGA components of another EcR-dominant negative (EcR-B2E9K,W650) that will be made in four yeast strains: wild type, ∆adr1, ∆cat8, has an additional mutation in its activational region. By and ∆adr1∆cat8 to create three sets of SAGA mutants. using immunocytochemical staining specific to TV cells Native gels and qPCR performed on cDNAs synthesized in Drosophila expressing EcR-B2E9K,W650, we hope to from repressed (grown in the presence of glucose), 3 determine the function of the activational region with hours derepressed (grown in the absence of glucose) and regards to neuronal remodeling. Preliminary results 12 hours deprepressed will be examined to determine indicate no visible difference between experimental the effect of these SAGA deletions in conjunction with and control animals, but continued investigation should ADR1 and CAT8 deletions. Through this work, I hope to give us additional insight into both the isoform-specific determine the effect of GCN5, SPT3, and SPT20 deletions functions of each EcR and the importance of EcR-mediated on the expression of ADR1 and CAT8 dependent genes, derepression vs. activation of genes in TV cell remodeling. as well as the order of recruitment of SAGA, CAT8, and ADR1 to promoter regions. The S. cerevisiae genes GCN5, ArcuateInsulin Supresses Nucleus Accumbens SPT3, and ADR1 have been identified as homologous to DAMGO-stimulated Free Feeding in Rats human genes with similar functions. Having a clearer Richard Martin, Senior, Neurobiology understanding of the interactions of these protiens Mary Gates Scholar and their effect on gene expression under conditions Mentor: Dianne Lattemann, Psychiatry & Behavioral of glucose deprivation may aid in diabetes research. Sciences

Use of Immunocytochemistry and Dominant Negative Activation of mu-opioid receptors in the nucleus Ecdysone Receptor Constructs to Investigate Nervous accumbens (NAc) suggests that this area contributes to the

140 regulation of reward based feeding. Unilateral injections first goal of my project is to clone sequence homologs of of the mu-opioid agonist DAMGO into the NAc of adult genes that underlie circadian rhythmicity in other species. male rats stimulate acute free feeding of chow or other The second goal of my project is to study the expression foods. Overall feeding, however, is regulated by both of these genes both at the mRNA and protein level and reward and metabolic factors. Included in these factors are to assess how this expression is associated with overt insulin and leptin, which are known to influence feeding circadian and/or circatidal rhythms. I am focusing my through their effects on energy-regulating nuclei such studies on a northwest crab species, Cancer Productus, as the arcuate nucleus (Arc) of the hypothalamus. An as well as on other crustacean species that lack circatidal increase of insulin acting at the Arc, for example, should rhythmicity and therefore serve as natural experimental parallel the increase of insulin levels following a meal. The controls to address evolutionary questions. Studying the behavioral response to high insulin levels is suppression molecular and neural substrate of biological clocks is the of food intake. With clearly defined synaptic connections primary drive of the lab and will lead to advances in both between the Arc and lateral hypothalamus (LH), and the knowledge about how biological rhythms are regulated, LH connections with reward centers such as the NAc, as well as possible ways to manipulate those rhythms. we hypothesized that insulin and leptin may indirectly decrease the reward response by acting at the Arc. To Computer control of the flight path of the hawkmoth test this hypothesis, we administered bilateral injections Manduca sexta of insulin into the Arc (2.5mU/side) immediately prior Marie Suver, Senior, Biology and Computer Science to unilateral injection of DAMGO (3nmol) into the NAc Mary Gates Scholar and recorded free feeding within a 0-4 hour interval. Our Mentor: Thomas Daniel, Biology preliminary results show that insulin suppressed the acute free feeding of chow when compared to a positive control While much attention in insect flight control has been given group receiving bilateral Arc (aCSF) and unilateral NAc to wing motions, there are secondary flight control structures (DAMGO). (Arc/NAc drug treatments; aCSF/DAMGO: including legs and the abdomen. Recent evidence suggests 4.25 ± .25 gm; insulin/DAMGO: 2.75 ± .479 gm; n=4). that abdominal movements may provide secondary control This suppression of reward based feeding by manipulation in maneuvering flight, by shifting the insect’s center of energy-regulating nuclei suggests that interactions of gravity. It has recently been shown that the abdomen between the reward and metabolic pathways exist not only in the giant hawkmoth (Manduca sexta) acts as a brake via synaptic connections, but also in functional behavior. during movement, slowing body rotations initiated by the wings (Combes, Hedrick, and Daniel). Working towards Molecular and Neural Basis of Biological Rhythmicity the goal of producing directed perturbations during free in Crustaceans flight, we have created a direct digital stimulus paradigm Joseph R. Roberts, Senior, Neurobiology capable of eliciting strong, directional abdominal motions Mary Gates Scholar in tethered animals. Stimulus patterns were generated Mentor: Horacio de la Iglesia, Biology using a Programmable System-on-a-Chip and delivered via a 9-pole electrode assembly to nerves innervating Virtually all organisms exposed to the environmental the proximal abdominal muscles. In the tethered moth, light-dark (LD) cycle have biological clocks that generate we identified stimulus patterns and electrode geometries circadian rhythms, that is, physiological and behavioral capable of inducing flexion in the lateral and vertical rhythms with a period close to 24 hr and synchronized to directions. Results were documented on video tape. This the LD cycle. In all species studied so far the circadian work is directed towards a computer platform capable of clock is constituted by feedback loops of transcription and directing flight paths of insects, and it provides a test bed translation of so-called clock genes. Crustaceans inhabiting for exploring the neural and mechanical bases of flight the seashore are especially interesting organisms because control. they are exposed to two environmental cycles, the LD cycle and the tidal cycle. Virtually nothing is known about Investigation of the Functional Circadian Link Between the molecular and neural components of these animals’ the Master Circadian Occilater and Locus Coeruleus circadian system, and still less about the molecular in Hamster and neural substrates that generate circatidal rhythms, Beryl Swanson, Senior, Neurobiology namely rhythms with a period close to the tidal cycle and Mary Gates Scholar synchronized to this cycle. Evolutionarily speaking this is Mentor: Horacio de la Iglesia, Biology interesting because, given the widespread distribution of circadian clocks, crustaceans could have adapted to the Circadian rhythms are the daily physiological and behavioral tidal environment by modifying pre-existing circadian fluctuations that are synchronized to the solar day. Circadian components, or alternatively through the evolution of new rhythms are governed by a master circadian clock located molecular and neural mechanisms that underlie circatidal within the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). rhythmicity. To address some of these questions, the The neuroanatomical pathways by which the SCN controls circadian rhythms are still not completely understood. The

141 locus coeruleus (LC) is a nucleus rich in noradrenergic we found correlations ranging from .13 to .28 between neurons. LC release of norepinephrine is implicated in neuronal and muscle activity over a 24-hour period, arousal via widely distributed projections throughout the indicating an association between the neurons recorded brain. The SCN makes an indirect connection to the LC. and certain arm movements. Subsequently, we used the This project investigates the functional link between SCN activity of these neurons to trigger stimulation of an arm circadian activity and LC activity. The SCN and LC are muscle. During the 24-hour period that muscle stimulation bilateral structures in the brain. In hamsters housed under was delivered based on cortical activity, neural firing rates light/dark cycles or under constant darkness, the activity decreased to 25-56% of baseline. These changes in firing of the bilateral SCNs oscillate in phase generating a single rate over time demonstrate that an artificial connection bout of activity per cycle. Under constant light conditions, from brain to muscle can influence cortical activity; the however, most hamsters will show two locomotor activity central nervous system seems to modulate activity based rhythms that result from the antiphase oscillation of the on their presence. This modulation is critical for the right- and left-sided SCN. Most SCN projection neurons success of motor neuroprosthetics. For a neuroprosthetic in the hamster project ipsilaterally to extra-SCN target to effectively restore functional movement, the CNS must sites, i.e. the left-sided SCN projects predominantly to be able to change activity appropriately to take advantage left-sided nuclei. Thus, the split hamster offers a unique of artificial connections bypassing injured pathways. animal model in which the bilateral SCNs are conveying lateralized information to extra-SCN targets. I am using this model to evaluate whether the asymmetric pattern ______of activity in the SCN is mirrored by the activity of LC neurons, which would constitute evidence for a functional Session 2D neural connection between the SCN and the LC. Using ______immunohistochemistry, I have stained for the immediate early gene EGR1 as a marker of neuronal activity in Experimental Designs that are the LC. Double-labeling of this marker with tyrosine hydroxylase, a precursor of norepinephrine, determined Exceptionally Clever specifically whether noradrenergic cells were activated. Session Moderator: James Bassuk, Urology Unilateral activity in LC noradrenergic neurons would Mary Gates Hall Room 231 serve as an indication that the connection from the SCN to the LC serves as a substrate for the circadian control of the Effects of FGF-10 protein on biomimetic epithelia LC arousal system. grown on implantable scaffolds Kiran Dyamenahalli, Senior, Bioengineering Towards a motor neuroprosthetic: creating artificial Mary Gates Scholar connections from brain to muscles. Mentor: James A. Bassuk, Urology Kate McElwain, Senior, Neurobiology Mary Gates Scholar Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)-10 belongs to a family Mentor: Chet Moritz, Physiology and Biophysics of 22 highly similar growth factors shown to regulate the Mentor: Eberhard Fetz, Physiology and Biophysics proliferation and differentiation of their target tissues. Within the urinary bladder, FGF-10 is produced in the In most cases of paralysis due to spinal cord injury, motor lamina propria and acts on urothelial cells that comprise cortex neurons and peripheral muscles remain functional; the transitional epithelium. In vitro and in vivo testing it is only the connection between the two that is severed. using recombinant preparations of human FGF-10 have Thus far in clinical practice, there is no cure for such a shown that the protein dramatically increases the rate of condition. Motor neuroprosthetics may provide a way proliferation of basal urothelial cells. This represents a to artificially connect cortical neurons with peripheral remarkable departure from the low rates of regeneration muscles, bypassing areas of neural deficit. A recent advance observed during the normal state of quiescence. Recent in neurophysiology is the development of a neurochip, a advances in the field of urology have resulted in the small system that records from and stimulates the primate ability to reliably grow biomimetic epithelial tissue from brain and muscles. The advantage of the neurochip, a urothelial cells in the laboratory. We intend to characterize miniature version of components normally found in a FGF-10’s effects on this biomimetic tissue in order neurophysiology lab, is that it can be chronically attached to develop the protein as an innovative treatment for over longer periods of time and during free behavior of lower urinary tract disorders such as hypospadias. Initial the animal in his cage. With this system, we used neural studies have indicated that FGF-10 has several profound activity of the motor cortex to trigger muscle stimulation in effects. FGF-10 appears to augment the trans-epithelial a monkey with an intact nervous system. We first recorded resistance (TER) of biomimetic epithelia derived from baseline electrical activity from electrodes in isolated both normal and diseased cell lines. TER values are an motor cortical neurons and arm muscles. In four cases, indicator of the epithelium’s barrier function. Because

142 natural bladder urothelium plays an important role as a Development of a Streptavidin-Listeria fusion construct barrier against the harsh urine environment and invasion for delivery of biotinylated cargo into the cell of pathogens, FGF-10 could represent a means to bring the Teresa Peterson, Senior, Bioengineering biomimetic epithelial model closer to natural urothelium. Mary Gates Scholar In addition, FGF-10 may be involved in the differentiation Mentor: Suzie Pun, Bioengineering of biomimetic epithelia, as evidenced by changes in cytokeratin expression. Our long-term strategy is to grow Gene therapy, the introduction of therapeutic DNA into biomimetic urothelia on materials with characteristics diseased cells in the body, has the potential to revolutionize that make them suitable for both cell culture and surgical the treatment of life-altering diseases like cancer. One of the implantation. This will allow us to develop the model of the major needs in gene delivery to tumors is the development biomimetic urothelium as a tissue graft, negating the need of carriers that can efficiently transport therapeutic genes for sub-optimal donor tissues from other parts of the body. into tumor cells. Listeria monocytogenes is a promising potential carrier because it is highly efficient at moving Exploration of a layer-by-layer approach to gene through and between cells. Listeria has the potential delivery from tissue engineering scaffolds to make its way past the most accessible layer of the Kathy Liu, Senior, Bioengineering tumor, reaching deeper, central cancer cells for delivery. Mentor: Suzie Hwang Pun, Bioengineering To deliver therapeutic genes to tumor cells, we propose Mentor: Justin M. Saul, Bioengineering to attach them to the surface of Listeria via streptavidin- biotin linkage. Streptavidin is a “linker” protein used in Gene delivery plays an important role in tissue engineering many biotechnology applications because it binds very (TE) to direct the development of cells into a functional strongly to the vitamin biotin. My hypothesis is that unit within TE scaffolds. For example, delivering DNA streptavidin can be displayed on the surface of Listeria encoding for different growth factors at specific time points and used as a “hook” to carry macromolecules, such as can trigger cellular cues to promote cell proliferation, DNA, into cells. Over the past year I have succeeded migration, and differentiation. However, obtaining in inserting the streptavidin coding sequence into the temporal control of DNA release and expression from the internalin A (InlA) gene, a naturally expressed protein on surface of TE scaffold remains a formidable challenge. the surface of Listeria that is essential for cell invasion. The layer-by-layer (LBL) polyelectrolyte system has By inserting streptavidin into this gene it too should be been suggested as a surface modification technique to displayed on the surface of Listeria, making it available to temporally control the release of DNA from the substrate bind to biotinylated cargo. Mutations within the sequences surface. The LBL system consists of alternating layers of for InlA and streptavidin, which were introduced during cationic polymers such as polyethyleneimine (PEI) and the cloning process, were corrected through site-directed anionic polymers such as DNA. To date, LBL strategies mutagenesis. Once the correct sequences were verified this have been employed on glass or other solid substrates, new gene was inserted into Listeria via electroporation. but have not been adapted to use on materials widely Studies have begun that will assess the ability of this mutant applicable for TE. This study was to test whether the Listeria to bind and carry biotinylated materials into the utilization of an LBL polyelectrolyte system is an effective cell and through the cell layers of a tumor. Current studies approach to achieve gene delivery from porous fibrin include assessing the binding capabilities of the engineered scaffolds suitable for TE applications. LBL system with Listeria to biotin-coated plates and to fluorescently-labeled different numbers of alternating PEI and secreted alkaline biotin for visualization by fluorescence microscopy. phosphatase (SEAP) plasmid DNA layers were fabricated on a two-dimensional fibrin film. NIH3T3 fibroblasts Biofabrication of Protein-Capped Quantum Dots were then cultured on the fibrin film for up to 10 days and Alvaro Presenda, Senior, Chemical Engineering cell viability and transgene expression were determined. McNair Scholar We expect to achieve sustained SEAP expression in the Mentor: Francois Baneyx, Chemical Engineering cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts. After achieving single-stage gene delivery, a second plasmid DNA will be incorporated Quantum dots (QDs) are nanoparticles composed of atoms into additional layers to determine if controlling the spatial from groups IIB bonded with VIA and IIB bonded with VA location of the plasmid in the LBL system will alter the of the periodic table whose physical dimensions (typically gene expression profile. We hypothesize that the different 1-10 nm) allows them to penetrate cell walls. QDs have DNA sandwiched between the cationic polymers will many advantages over traditional biological dyes used for be released in a temporally controlled manner, resulting cell labeling including broadband adsorption, tunable (size- in multi-stage gene expression in the cultured cells. dependent) fluorescence emission with narrow bandwidth, Ultimately, these approaches will be applied to three- large Stokes shift, high brightness, photostability and dimensional porous fibrin scaffolds for TE applications. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) visualization. QDs are generally synthesized in organic solvents using colloidal chemistry and are inherently hydrophobic.

143 To become useful in biological application, they must In addition, the efficiency of TSP2 knockdown by plasmid therefore be functionalized with coating that improve and siRNA delivery was compared. water solubility and/or that allow targeting (e.g. proteins, antibodies, ligands). All theses steps add to the production Killing tuberculosis one thymidine at a time cost of QDs and preclude their wide spread use in biology, Chris Thouvenel, Senior, Cellular, Molecular and medicine, and as generic taggants. Our goal is to construct Developmental Biology designer proteins and defined electrochemical routes for Mary Gates Scholar the low cost and high yield synthesis of protein-capped Mentor: Carol Sibley, Genome Sciences quantum dots fluorescing at various wavelengths. The advent of recombinant DNA technology, together with Thymidine is a component of DNA and its production progress in the understanding of protein structure-function, is necessary for all replicating cells. Mycobacterium and the development of “irrational” approaches to create or tuberculosis is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, select polypeptides for properties that were never intended an infectious respiratory disease that is a major killer by nature, has opened the door to a new paradigm of worldwide. These bacteria synthesize thymidine using materials science called molecular biomimetics. This new a novel thymidylate synthase, ThyX, that is structurally field can be used as a tool that will allow us to achieve our unrelated to the more common thymidylate synthase found results. The first step of the molecular biomimetic approach in all mammals, ThyA. This difference suggests that is to isolate short polypeptides. The next step consists in specific inhibition of ThyX would preventM. tuberculosis contacting the library with the desired substrate, eliminating from synthesizing needed thymidine without impairing weak or non-specific binders by mild washing steps and that function in the human host. In order to design a recovering cells that bind to the target. Finally, we will test specific inhibitor of ThyX, the essential amino acids of the different fusion proteins and/or perform mutagenesis on enzyme must be identified. The crystal structure of the the inorganic binding sequence to tune core particle size ThyX enzyme has been solved and also studied using site- and hence λmax making light emission more intense and directed mutagenesis, but the binding and reaction steps easier to be perceived by the human eye. are still uncertain. My goal was to identify the amino acids that are essential for activity of the ThyX enzyme. siRNA-Mediated Inhibition of Thrombospondin 2 I performed random mutagenesis on the M. tuberculosis Expression ThyX gene and tested its function in an E. coli strain that Tammy Shen, Senior, Bioengineering is unable to produce its own thymidine. If a mutated ThyX Mentor: Suzie Pun, Bioengineering gene does not complement, that result identifies residues Mentor: Paul Bornstein, Biochemistry in the ThyX protein structure that are crucial for activity. Of the ThyX enzymes examined so far, six carried Thrombospondin 2 (TSP2) is a matricellular protein that multiple mutations and were unable to complement the inhibits local angiogenesis after the implantation of a thymidylate synthase deficient E. coli. To begin to define biomaterial. It has been shown that TSP2 null mice have which of the mutations are most likely to affect enzyme different wound responses to implanted materials than those activity, each changed amino acid was analyzed based on of wild type mice. Specifically, the foreign body capsule that its relative location to known substrates, the amino acid is usually formed around the implant is thinner and more propensities of the secondary structure involved, and vascularized. TSP2 down-regulation by antisense cDNA the physiochemical severity of the substitution. These has been demonstrated to increase local angiogenesis and evaluations suggest that amino acids C43, H96 and R172 offers the potential to increase the efficiency and lifespan are important and can contribute to the rational drug design of implanted materials and devices. In this work, siRNA of an inhibitor of the M. tuberculosis ThyX enzyme. (small interfering RNA)-based down-regulation of TSP2 was investigated as an alternative, and possibly more potent, approach for TSP2 knockdown. RNA interference occurs naturally in the cell as a safeguard against foreign genetic material and can be triggered by the introduction of siRNAs, which mediate the inhibition of specific genes by degrading the messenger RNAs responsible for expression of those genes. However, siRNA delivery is hindered by its rapid rate of degradation as well as by its poor cellular uptake. Our approach is to incorporate a DNA sequence that encodes TSP2 siRNA into a plasmid to counter these barriers by increasing the stability of the nucleic acid and by increasing the ability to amplify and produce siRNA in situ. In this study, real-time PCR was used to measure and validate the plasmid’s ability to inhibit TSP2 expression.

144 ______the region, attempt to scientifically prove the local-origin theory even as bacteriologists were about to find the Session 2E clinching evidence that would disprove it? I argue that ______the British were concerned about protecting their image as a modern, civilized power – an image that required Social Science Analyses of Health, them to use the language of science and rationality even while approaching the question of cholera from a political Peace, and Personal Security and economic perspective. Being “modern” helped Session Moderator: Judy Howard, Sociology provide the means and justification for European nations Mary Gates Hall Room 234 to conquer large parts of the rest of the world during the “New Imperial” age (1880s-1914), and coinciding with *Note: Titles in order of presentation. the rise in nationalism, countries also competed with each other over which had the best claim to civilization. Soviet Hangover: Russia, Alcoholics Anonymous and Through an analysis of the reports and correspondence the Soviet Legacy of British officials during the epidemic, I will show that Daniel Catchpole, Junior, International Studies although Britain used arguments that today seem outdated Mentor: Joel Migdal, Jackson School of International to try to prove the local-origin theory, they did so in the Studies name of modernity. It was, however, a specifically British notion of modernity, one based on the British notions of The Russian Federation faces a grave public health and using common sense and good sanitation to fight disease, social crisis today in the form of alcohol abuse. In 2004 but nonetheless expressed as a theory to compete with alone, an estimated 700,000 Russians died from alcohol the growing field of bacteriology. This little-studied related causes. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are not episode of colonial history provides a window into the new problems. For decades they have ravaged the Soviet frenzied competition during the New Imperial age and its Union and the Russian Federation. There is overwhelming relationship to the concurrent progress of medical science. public recognition of the problems by Russian citizens, the medical community and government officials. Yet Characterizing Neurobehavioral Decline Among HIV alcoholism treatment in Russia is under funded and Groups In Zimbabwe: A Pilot Study employs antiquated methods long abandoned by the Sarah Goldenkranz, Senior, Neurobiology Western addiction treatment community. The world’s Undergraduate Research Travel Award largest and best known treatment program, Alcoholics Recipient, Mary Gates Scholar Anonymous (AA), has spread very slowly in Russia. Mentor: Diana Echeverria, Environmental and Based on a comparison of AA growth rates in states with Occupational Health Sciences similar alcohol consumption patterns, and the program’s spread in other post-Communist European states, a The general population prevalence of HIV is ~22% in reasonable person could expect AA to flourish in Russia. Zimbabwe and use of anti-retroviral (ARV) therapies This paper identifies the impediments to AA’s acceptance increases the duration of living with the disease, resulting in Russia today. Many of these are the legacy of the in potential declines in cognition among people diagnosed Soviet Union’s Marxist-Leninist ideology and attitudes with HIV. We conducted a feasibility study to determine toward alcoholism and alcoholics. Russian resistance whether a neurobehavioral test battery could i) differentiate to AA is important not only in terms of public health. populations at various stages of HIV infection; and ii) When viewed as a mutual-help and social movement, AA discriminate scores between patients taking or not taking serves as a measure of the health of Russian civil society. ARVs in order to quantify potential recovery, and iii) be adapted for use in a longitudinal study in Zimbabwe. The Sanitation and the Great Game: Britain’s Handling of population includes HIV-negative controls, asymptomatic the Egyptian Cholera Epidemic of 1883 HIV-positive, symptomatic HIV-positive; and symptomatic Emma Grunberg, Senior, International Studies and HIV-positive taking ARVs (n=30 each). Participants are History administered a 3-hour standardized computerized and Mentor: Shaun Lopez, History pencil-and-paper test battery that addresses 9 cognitive domains (Visuomotor Processing, Attention, Selective During the 1883 cholera epidemic in Egypt, then a British Attention, Working Memory, Verbal Declarative Memory, colony, colonial officials tried to prove that the epidemic Visual Declarative Memory, Cognitive Flexibility, Motor had originated in Egypt and had not been brought there Speed and Coordination, and Hold Tests). Assessments on a British ship through the Suez Canal. Admitting began in Winter 2006 and are expected to continue through that the latter theory was correct would have meant June 2007. Preliminary data analysis on 45 subjects will quarantining the Canal, slowing British trade and reducing be stratified by group. Successful completion of the study profits. Why would the British, the dominant power in will characterize for the first time the long-term cognitive

145 effects of HIV on people’s ability to perform everyday been documented as countries of origin, 137 as countries of problem solving in Zimbabwe that affects wellbeing destination and around 4 million women and children are i.e., nutrition, personal health practices, adherence trafficked each year. Despite the fact that Southeast Asia to medical regimes, and social and sexual behaviors. has the largest number of victims trafficked internationally each year, there does not exist a comprehensive report Projecting HIV Prevalence from Verbal Autopsy Data that examines the sex trafficking situation in Southeast in the Agincourt DSS (rural South Africa) Asia as a whole. Why is sex trafficking is so prevalent in Jeff Eaton Senior, Mathematics, Statistics and Sociology Southeast Asia and what are the underlying factors that Washington Research Foundation Fellow, Mary propel the sex industry in Southeast Asia? Strong forces of Gates Scholar, Goldwater Scholar demand and supply catalyze trafficking and the industry. Mentor: Samuel J. Clark, Sociology While socio-economic factors, gender inequality and the profitability of trafficking and the sex industry fuel the Accurate information on and reasonable projections of recruitment of women from impoverished backgrounds, local HIV epidemics are essential for planning public the growing demand for women arises from the growth of health interventions, including assessing the likely future sex tourism that is driven by customers and clients from demands on public clinics and hospitals and coordinating/ Western, industrialized countries. In addition, pressures implementing rollout of antiretroviral treatment programs. from the World Bank, IMF and UNDP for Southeast Asian For many rural settings population-based data on HIV countries to establish and expand their entertainment incidence and prevalence produced through HIV testing industry as a development strategy in the 1970s ignited do not exist. Verbal Autopsies (VAs) are one possible the sex industry in the region. Sex trafficking works on source of data. VAs are post mortem evaluations of many levels; the recruitment process, trafficking process, cause of death based on an interview with the deceased’s the abuses and consequences of trafficking and ‘contracts’ closest caregiver. The interview elicits a description of that keep the women in the industry. While corruption in the nature of the illness leading up to the death. It may be these countries erodes government authority and hampers possible for mathematical models to use VA information the implementation of policies, an increase in awareness on HIV as a cause of death to project and/or forecast of the issue and better documentation about the subject the HIV epidemic in rural settings. We use a multistate can help promote initiatives to aid victims of trafficking Cohort Component Model of Population Projection and work towards improving counter-trafficking activities. (CCMPP) developed by Heuveline (2003) to model the HIV epidemic affecting the population studied by the Bridging Peace in a Land of Conflict: A Historical Agincourt Demographic Surveillance System (DSS), a Analysis of the Intergrated Education Movement in health and demographic research site in rural Mpumalanga Northern Ireland Province, South Africa. The CCMPP is a two-sex, age- Shantel Martinez, Senior, History structured model that allows demographic parameters to Mary Gates Scholar, McNair Scholar, vary with time, and thus makes maximal use of the high Presidential Scholar quality demographic data collected by the Agincourt DSS Mentor: Ed Taylor, College of Education over the past 15 years. After calculating demographic parameters (fertility, mortality), HIV prevalence is Although Northern Ireland is not in the chaotic state that estimated using 15 years of VA information. Parameter it has been in for the last hundred years, peace is still not estimation is carried out using Bayesian statistical present. Tensions and distrust still exist between Unionist methods yielding probabilistic prediction intervals for and Nationalist communities. While the amount of murders HIV prevalence in the Agincourt DSS from 1992 – 2012. and bombings has tremendously lowered in Northern Preliminary results indicate that VAs can provide a Ireland since the Good Friday Accords, there is still a valuable source of information for calibrating models that lot of work that needs to be done. Local governments, can be used to inform policy. Results are sensitive to the organizations, communities, and figures need to cooperate accuracy and completeness of VA data and evaluations. together for progress to continue to occur. One way that peace is progressing in Northern Ireland, is through Sex Trafficking in Southeast Asia educational reforms. The most influential of these reforms Janice Phaik Lin Goh, Junior, International Studies and has been the establishment of the Integrated Education Psychology Movement in the 1980’s by parents. The purpose of Library Research Award Recipient the Movement is to bring students from both Protestant Mentor: Nancy Kenney, Psychology and Catholic backgrounds and teach them in the same learning environment. Although this does not appear to Sex trafficking is a global phenomenon that involves be a monumental change, schools in Northern Ireland the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or are still segregated by religion to this day. In addition, obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act. the Integrated Education Movement has lead the way In a 2006 UN global report on trafficking, 127 countries have for cross-community dialogue and cross-community

146 relationship/trust building, which have been crucial for in Die Fackel. Through this association, I will be able the existence of the IEM and its future. However, the to explore in more depth the concept each character Movement has its enemies. Historically, a percent of represents. Through the interplay of the characters social and religious leaders have been skeptical of the as well as the dialogue presented in the piece, a deeper reform and as a result, change is slow. Only five percent theme can be identified, one with religion as its base. In of all schools in Northern Ireland are integrated and the this context, the characters of the work take on another curriculums are still debated. But advocators continue to representation—one which resembles the structure of the persist and have successfully kept the Movement alive. Christian Faith yet is based on deceit and manipulation. By using Northern Ireland as a case study, researchers are able to acquire knowledge and insight and use it to The Past and Progress in Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry develop techniques in which post conflict societies may Orchard: Kaleidoscopic Viewpoints of the Orchard as continue their peace process. Although Northern Ireland a Commodity Fetish still has many hurdles to clear before peace can fully Anagha Gadgil, Senior, English exist, the Integrated Education Movement is one method Mary Gates Scholar that Northern Ireland can stay on a path of harmony. Mentor: Gary Handwerk, English and Comparative Literature

Bill Brown notes an object’s identity -- be it in association ______to its historical value or use value -- varies with time: “…[the] temporality obscures the all-at-onceness, the Session 2F simultaneity… the thing seems to name the object, just as ______it is, even as it names something else” (5). The orchard landscape, in Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, can Re-Reading the Past: Varieties of be defined through multiple temporal viewpoints, given how each major protagonist in the play associates the Revisionist Cultural Criticism orchard with their own desires and place in society. I posit Session Moderator: Brian Reed, English that the play’s orchard is a combination of commodity Mary Gates Hall Room 238 and fetish which the play’s characters use to express the landscape in a way that reflects their socio-economic Symbolism in Karl Kraus’s “The Last Days of position. Chekhov’s play departs from realism into the Mankind” world of symbolism, through his portrayal of the titular Erin Arms, Senior, Biochemistry, Anthropology cherry orchard as a microcosm of early 20th century Russia Mentor: Richard Gray, Germanics - that is, as a hybrid blend of westernized and traditional identities as shown through the temporal perspectives Karl Kraus (1874-1936) was in his time Austria’s most of the aristocratic landowner, Madame Ranevskaya, and prolific and famous writers. His work was of a mostly satirical the merchant capitalist and ex-serf, Lopakhin. Lopakhin nature, with government officials as well as members of the values the orchard as a Marxian commodity and he Press as his main targets. Although considered extremely eventually emerges as the sole victor and owner of the arrogant by many of his contemporaries, his work showed orchard as he successfully colonizes the orchard space in an insight into human nature that few then or now have modern 20th century Western fashion as he demolishes been able to obtain, let alone surpass. In an effort to make the natural landscape for his urban villas. Ranevskaya, on his work more available and known, both among students the other hand, is dissociated with present time fetishizes of German Literature as well as political satire, I have the orchard’s beauty, and dwells in an idyllic and past undertaken a project in which I hope to elucidate Kraus’s aristocratic lifestyle and emotionally associates the orchard genius through his choice of characters in his most well- with sentimental, childhood innocence. The characters’ known work, Die letzten Tage der Menschheit (The Last responses to the periods of “rapid social transition” brought Days of Mankind--1922). This work is a satirical critique on by technological advancement in human civilization is on the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, its leadership a typical one in these uncertain times of socio-economic during the war, and the abuse of the public by the popular instability; critics have proposed that man, afraid to work, press. Perhaps the work Kraus is best known for is the sought comfort in embracing the pristine natural world independent magazine he published, Die Fackel (The while reminiscing the pre 20th-century past. Torch, 1899-1936). By comparing Kraus’s treatment of Count Berchtold of Austria in both Die Fackel and Die letzten Tage, I hope to establish his treatment of popular characters in Die letzten Tage as the representatives of greater societal evils Kraus saw in Austria during WWI, as opposed to their more journalistic depiction as themselves

147 Experiencing the Gnostic Sophia: A Close Reading of bear on what follows and precedes. Nevertheless, when the Figure of Sophia in The Apocryphon of John and taken in concert with the remaining three narrative On the Origin of the World perspectives of the book, it is clear that Benjy, though Heather Gillooly, Senior, Religion, University of Puget severely mentally handicapped, has told a tale that makes Sound sense. Similarly, Roman Polanski, who himself directed Mentor: Greta Austin, Religion, University of Puget a version of Macbeth (1971), has frequently offered Sound narrative from the perspective of an “idiot”. In films such as Repulsion (1965) and The Tenant (1976), what occurs During the early centuries of the forming Christian Church, in real-time and what occurs within the imagination a variety of unorthodox traditions coexisted with each of the main character is blurred, to the extent that it other, including one we have come to know as Sethian renders the perspective both “idiotic” in its inability to Gnosticism. The popularity of this movement is evident in distinguish reality, but wholly sensible with regards to the Sethian texts that have survived as well as the criticism how the imagination copes with reality. My research it gained from early Church Fathers like Irenaeus. Sethian explores representations of the “idiot” in the literature of Gnosticism’s unique understanding of the origin of Faulkner and the cinema of Polanski, and why, for both, human experience and the individual’s connection to the the “idiot” figures so prominently as a tool for tale-telling. divine are expressed in its creation myths, including the Apocryphon of John (ApJohn) and On the Origin of the Edgar Allan Poe and the Abject: Embodiment, World (OrigWorld). The figure of Sophia functioned as Permeability, and the Natural World a mediator between the Gnostic and the Invisible Spirit Rachel Jenkins, Senior, English, Comparative History of and imparted knowledge about divine nature and potential Ideas to the Sethian Gnostics. This personal connection to the Mary Gates Scholar divine through Sophia is a defining characteristic of Sethian Mentor: Gary Handwerk, English Gnosticism. Sophia embodied a reified, mythological instructor and an internalized, existential wisdom, fusing In this project I will investigate how theories of female aspects of Platonism, Neo-Platonism, Judaism, and embodiment, pertaining to boundaries of the self, relate to Christianity that were predominant in the second and the environment and the individual’s relationship with the third centuries. A close, analytical reading of ApJohn and natural world. I will attempt to demonstrate how symbolic OrigWorld provides new insight into Sophia’s function and literary renderings of the body manifest in the abject in the Sethian Gnostic cosmos and their understanding of and challenge conventionally accepted binaries. The project enlightenment. In this critical approach to the texts, the will work from a focused reading of The Masque of the Red language and themes demonstrate Sophia’s complexity Death by Edgar Allan Poe. Ultimately, the project aims as a character that cannot be categorized in terms of to understand how Poe relocates the human body back in limiting gender roles or dualistic terms. Scholars of early nature by mingling the dead with the living; how traditional Christianity have largely overlooked this crucial gap in the categories breakdown when the body is encroached upon study of Sethian Gnosticism, resulting in a simplistic and and violated by sickness, and imagined bodily thresholds inaccurate conception of Sophia. A close examination of transgressed. A look at socio-cultural impacts upon gender Sophia contributes to a greater understanding of the early discourses will conclude my treatment of the topic. Christian world. In a time of religious disorder, Sophia acted as a mythological mediator imparting knowledge Masculine / Feminine surrounding the philosophy of human experience. Yasaman Naraghi, Senior, Cinema Studies and Comparative Literature The “Idiot”’s Narrative in Faulkner and Polanski Mentor: Claudio Mazzola, French & Italian Studies Lauren Graf, Senior, Comparative Literature Program Mentor: Leroy Searle, English and Comparative Literature It may be argued that cinema is dominated by a male gaze, both within and outside of the frame, due the prevalence For his fourth novel The Sound and the Fury, William of male filmmakers or perhaps the watchful eyes of male Faulkner plucked a line from Shakespeare’s Macbeth for characters upon female subjects. However, certain female a title: ‘[Life] is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and filmmakers such as Catherine Breillat and Christina fury, signifying nothing.’ In Faulkner’s novel, an idiot Comencini have altered the direction of this gaze by – Benjy – figures prominently as a tale teller; though his focusing on representations of female sexuality, and in tale, in the first quarter of the book, is glimpsed inthe the process of reversing the gaze from a male subject to manner of something like a temporal kaleidoscope of free a female one, they have compromised representations of association. Benjy’s narrative leaves much indeterminacy masculinity and male sexuality. Films such as Comencini’s – such as who is speaking, and when, and how events, La bestia nel cuore (2005) subtly exhibit the liberation since they don’t always follow a chronological sequence, of women from the male gaze through depictions of the

148 stereotypically male notions. Other films, such as Breillat’s ______Romance (1999), are more explicit in their diminishment of their male characters’ sexual fortitude, to the point where Session 2G female characters become hypersexual, a characterization ______conventionally appointed to a male character. My research chronicles the collapse of male sexuality within the Quantums to Plasmas two approaches of storytelling, and examines whether Session Moderator: Robert Winglee, Earth & Space in the context of feminism these films are effective. Sciences Mary Gates Hall Room 248 “The illustrious virgin”: A Translation of the Life of St. Cecilia from Latin to Modern English The Explicit Analytical Determination of the Spectral Rachel Woodbrook, Senior, English Literature & Classics, (In)stability of Stationary Solutions of the One- Seattle Pacific University Dimensional Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation Mentor: Owen Ewald, Foreign Languages & Literatures Nate Bottman, Sophomore, Mathematics and Applied & (Classics), Seattle Pacific University Computational Mathematical Sciences Mentor: Luke Reinsma, English, Seattle Pacific Mary Gates Scholar University Mentor: Bernard Deconinck, Applied Mathematics

This presentation is a close analysis of choices made in Recent years have seen a lot of activity around the translating a passage from the life and death (the Passio) stability analysis of stationary periodic solutions of of the martyr St. Cecilia from medieval Latin into modern Nonlinear Schrödinger-like equations. Some of this work English. Although Cecilia is significant—she is the has been numerical, some perturbative, some analytical. patron saint of music—no published English translation All approaches would benefit from a better knowledge of of the full text of her life currently exists. The context the stability spectrum of the periodic stationary solutions for the narrower scope of this presentation is a project to of the integrable Nonlinear Schrödinger equation. In this be completed in June 2007: an annotated translation of talk I will discuss a method to completely determine this her full Passio, along with an analysis of its history and stability spectrum. The method relies on the squared- thematic elements. The focus of the presentation is a short eigenfunction connection between the stability spectrum passage of Cecilia’s Passio. The text is significant because and the Lax pair spectrum, so often used in the soliton its interpretation is the basis of Cecilia’s association case. This latter spectrum is determined analytically using with music, and because it reflects the strong medieval Krichever’s method of stationary flows. I will present connection between virginity and holiness. Using this results on both the defocusing and focusing equation, and passage, the presentation addresses issues of translation on both solutions with trivial and nontrivial phase profiles. including foreignization vs. domestication, connotative equivalence, grammatical ambiguity, and textual integrity. Pulse Programming for Qubit Transitions The historical context of the source text’s composition, Ryan Bowler, Senior, Physics, Mathematics subsequent interpretations and uses of the text, and scholarly Mary Gates Scholar research are emphasized as ways of better understanding Paul Pham, Graduate Student, Computer Science the aims and meaning of the text. Within the scope of Mentor: Boris Blinov, Physics the presentation, the purpose of this understanding is its role in creating a translation neither literal nor too free. We report on the implementation of a homebuilt pulse The goal is a new narrative in the target language which programmer for qubit transitions. The device contains reflects various aspects of the text’s meaning and ideas digital-to-analog converter (DAC), variable gain amplifier and makes them accessible to a contemporary audience (VGA), and digital synthesizer circuit boards which are who has little background in Latin or hagiographical controlled through a programmable pulse sequencer study. The presentation does not seek to provide either motherboard. The device allows for TTL (transistor- a developed, coherent theory or a methodology to apply transistor logic) bit signals to be sent into the digital-to- to the practice of translation, but addresses the reasoning analog converter to produce any desired waveform (of behind some choices made within the specific context of particular interest is the Gaussian) to mix (as an envelope) this passage, its history and the reason for its translation. with microwave emissions for atomic transitions. The Fourier transformation of a square wave has sidebands to which a pulse loses energy and which also can cause unwanted transitions in Zeeman-split levels of the hyperfine structure. The Fourier transformation of a Gaussian is a Gaussian, and is an ideal waveform carrier for our pulses. The TTL bits have a 10ns minimum duration for 32 simultaneously switching outputs. The digital synthesizer

149 allows for direct control of the microwave emissions for awash in an enormous background which will drown stable phase controlled transitions. This produces phase out much of the new physics signal. Here, we present a controlled output signals with a programmed envelope novel way in which to analyze the data by categorizing to be mixed with a microwave for atomic transition. the structure of events which are characterized by several The pulse programmer has 8 input triggers to be able jets, where a jet is a complicated spray of particles with an to cycle through various programs based on user input interesting substructure. This analysis could help separate and 2 waveform output channels. Future improvement backgrounds from new physics signals at the LHC. will include a pulse counter to allow triggering based on the quantum state, more sophisticated clock control, Searching for the Permanent Electric Dipole Moment and remote internet control of the programmer. in 199Hg David Meyer, Junior, Physics and Electrical Engineering The Pulsed High Density (PHD) FRC Experiment Mentor: Norval Fortson, Physics Daniel Harmon-Gross, Junior, Physics Mentor: Blayne Heckel, Physics Mentor: John Slough, Aeronautics & Astronautics Time reversal symmetry, which requires that the laws of The Pulsed High Density experiment (PHD) is a plasma physics to be unchanged if the arrow of time could be physics experiment in the Plasma Dynamics Laboratory reversed, has been a cornerstone of our understanding at the University of Washington. The goal of the PHD of the laws of nature. One consequence of time reversal experiment is to confine a very hot (100 million degrees symmetry is that the electric dipole moment (EDM) of an Celsius) and dense plasma long enough ( ~ 1 millisecond) elementary particle must be zero. The Standard Model (SM) for nuclear fusion to occur. The plasma that is formed of particle physics predicts EDMs of fundamental particles in this experiment is unique in that it is confined by a that are immeasurably small using today’s technology. magnetic field created by currents flowing within the However, there exist several theories beyond the SM, such plasma. This closed magnetic field isolates the plasma as supersymmetry, that predict EDMs tantalizingly close from the boundary and forms a plasmoid known as a Field to today’s technological limits. Our current search for the Reversed Configuration (FRC). Once formed, the FRC nuclear EDM of 199Hg is, therefore, a search for physics plasmoid is accelerated to high velocity (250 km/sec) by beyond the SM. Our experiment places Hg vapor in four a series of magnetic coils pulsed sequentially. To date, the quartz vapor cells. The middle cells have electric fields FRC plasmoid has been formed and accelerated. The next applied across them such that one is parallel and the other step requires that a drift region be constructed where the anti-parallel to an externally applied magnetic field. Our high velocity FRC can be trapped and the kinetic energy outer cells are free of electric fields. They are used to help of motion can be converted into the thermal energy of the reduce magnetic field gradients that cause noise as well plasma. The trapped FRC will be confined by an axial as a systematic check on charging and leakage currents. magnetic field formed by set of 19 coils connected in We use standard optical methods to measure the spin series and parallel to form the appropriate confining field precession frequency of the 199Hg nucleus. Experimenter shape. A set of magnetic field loops will be placed inside biases are excluded using a blind analysis protocol. these coils to determine the shape, volume, energy, and We expect to publish our findings, which will place lifetime of the FRC plasmoid. The design and calculations a new limit on the 199Hg nuclear EDM, within a year. performed to determine the positioning, wiring and powering of these coils, as well as the methodology for Flux Rope Behavior in the Earth’s Magnetopause diagnosing the plasma conditions will be presented. Jennifer A. Porter, Sophomore, Physics NASA Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar, The Large Hadron Collider Olympics Mentor: Robert Winglee, Earth & Space Science Andrew Larkoski, Senior, Physics and Mathematics Mentor: Erika Harnett, Earth & Space Science Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Matthew Strassler, Physics Reconnection is a process by which particles can be heated to extremely high energies when the magnetic field within a The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will be the largest plasma merges together. The process by which reconnection particle accelerator and physicists’ most powerful tool of magnetic fieldlines occurs is not well understood, but in probing very high energy (and hence very short it happens in a variety of astrophysical settings, from the distance) physics. It is important that theorists who Sun’s corona to planetary magnetospheres. At the earth, predict what physics exists at energy scales accessible reconnection occurs when plasma from the solar wind to the LHC understand the experiments and the ways impacts the earth’s magnetic field and the interplanetary in which the physics will be identified. The goal of the magnetic field diffuses across the boundary separating solar LHC Olympics is to help theorists become familiar with plasma and terrestrial plasma, called the magnetopause. the accelerator and data analysis so as to prepare them When diffusion takes place, the opposing magnetic field for the advent of LHC data. However, this data will be from the solar wind decouples from the plasma and

150 contacts the earth’s magnetic field, creating a magnetic As a result, most papers have inconclusive findings and anomaly, or flux rope. These flux ropes travel through therefore much of ESWT mediated pain regulation is the magnetopause, undergoing transformations in shape left to speculation, making a complete understanding of and eventually dispersing. Flux rope formation can create ESWT-induced analgesia difficult. The neurochemicals areas of superheated gases in the earth’s magnetopause, implicated in nociception, the pathways pain travels, and contribute to magnetic storms. Our laboratory employs and regulation of these pathways must be studied in experimentally-derived parameters to create multi-fluid vivo to further elucidate the mechanism by which this simulations of plasma behavior at various planets. By means therapeutic treatment modality confers its analgesic effect. of our simulations, flux ropes in the earth’s magnetopause have been three-dimensionally modeled, and visualizations Design of a Perfusion Phantom for Optical Imaging of the various conditions of the earth’s magnetopause Using Indocyanine Green Fluorescence have been created. I seek to further the understanding of James Kuo, Senior, Bioengineering and Political Science the behavior of flux ropes in the earth’s magnetopause by Mary Gates Scholar performing optimization and analysis of such simulations. Mentor: Xingde Li, Bioengineering Mentor: Satoshi Minoshima, Radiology ______Information on perfusion, the amount of fluid reaching Session 2H an organ or tissue, can help assess tissue viability and ______healing, predict the progression of tumors, and indicate successful grafts. Current methods to quantify perfusion Bioengineering and Human Health are often time-consuming, invasive, expensive, or Session Moderator: Wendy Thomas, Bioengineering imprecise. Indocyanine green (ICG) is a non-toxic Mary Gates Hall Room 251 contrast dye that absorbs and fluoresces in the near infrared range, an optical window of tissue, and binds *Note: Titles in order of presentation. with a very high affinity to plasma proteins. Our goal is to develop robust quantitative methods to correlate fluorescence intensity of ICG to amount of perfusion Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and its Effects reaching a tissue. Phantoms, or models of human tissue, on the Nervous System – A Critical Review of Current are important for in vitro assessment of the performance Literature of imaging and quantification methods in controlled Morgan Wise, Junior, Physiology settings. A perfusion phantom was designed to simulate Kevin Seals, Junior, Bioengineering blood flow through tissue and optimized for use with Mentor: Michael Chang, Rehabilitation Medicine this optical imaging modality. The phantom was imaged while varying factors such as the concentration of ICG, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is a the flow rate, and the orientation of the imaging device. versatile treatment modality used over the past 25 years This phantom data will provide ICG perfusion kinetics to disintegrate nephrolithiasis, and has recently been that will be used for mathematical modeling to permit shown to have multiple clinical applications in human non-invasive, in vivo quantification of tissue perfusion. musculoskeletal systems. Although initially painful, ESWT evokes a subsequent analgesic response and thus The Development and Characterization of must interact with the nervous system. However, there Thromboresistant Coatings for Cardiovascular Stents has been little research into the mechanism and results Donald Responte, Senior, Bioengineering are often contradictory. We have compiled an extensive Mary Gates Scholar review of the current ESWT-NS research via electronic Mentor: Tom Horbett, Bioengineering journal databases in an attempt to better understand how SWs affect the nervous system. Our goal was to analyze Despite recent innovations in stent technology, blood the relationship between the contradictory papers and offer clotting still threatens patients and results in 45% of late explanations, general conclusions and future directions stage stent-related fatalities. This project aims to address with relation to the individual papers and ESWT-NS this clinical need by coating stents with thromboresistant interactions as a whole. Our review offers an overview polymers and then evaluating the thrombogenicity of of the nervous system as it relates to ESWT, followed by the surfaces. These coatings are polyurethanes designed an in-depth analysis of past and current research within to minimize the fibrinogen adsorption that is known the peripheral and central nervous systems. This analysis to contribute to the platelet adhesion, activation, and encompasses neuropeptide release, neuronal morphology, aggregate formation during clotting that biomaterials the endogenous opioid system, hyperstimulation analgesia, induce when they contact blood. To coat cardiovascular and the gate control theory. Ultimately the complexity of the stents with these polymers, a dip coating method has been nervous system makes analysis and methodology difficult. developed. Catheters are then used to expand the stents

151 and ensure that the coating can withstand the expansion Mentor: James Bryers, Bioengineering process. To assess the thrombogenicity of the coatings, the amount of fibrinogen adsorbed to the surfaces has been Our laboratory is investigating the tissue engineering of quantified using I-125 radiolabeled fibrinogen. The high small intestine. Previous research has demonstrated the sensitivity of the radiolabeled protein method allows even advantage of flow based culturing systems for improving ultralow fibrinogen adsorption from blood or blood plasma cell attachment, survival, and proliferation on biomaterials. to be measured quantitatively. The platelet adhesion to We have designed a perfusion based bioreactor system for the surfaces, a second indicator of the thrombogenicity, long-term in vitro conditioning and dynamic seeding of is measured using a lactose dehydrogenase assay. To intestinally derived multi-cellular clusters of mesenchymal further increase the thromboresistance of the materials, an and epithelial cells (organoid units). The specific uses antiplatelet drug is incorporated into the coatings. Drug of the bioreactor will be to dynamically seed organoid elution profiles are determined using UV spectroscopy. In units onto biodegradable polymer matrices and provide addition, ToF-SIMS analysis with state of the art ion sources favorable long-term culture conditions for new tissue allowing high resolution imaging will be conducted to development. We are working to characterize the optimal determine the drug distribution within the polymer matrices. conditions for dynamic cell seeding and long term culture of intestinal cells on polymer scaffolds. We hypothesize Molecular Dynamics Simulations of von Willebrand that there exists an optimal flow rate that maximizes the Factor A1 Domain I546V cell-scaffold exposure time and ensures high cell retention Linda E Farn Chen, Senior, Bioengineering on the scaffold. In this respect, the mixing characteristics Mary Gates Scholar as well as optimal seeding conditions to seed intestinal Mentor: Wendy Thomas, Bioengineering epithelial organoid units are explored, as well as the design considerations put behind the perfusion bioreactor. The interaction between the platelet glycoprotein receptor Ibα (GPIbα) and the A1 domain of von Willebrand factor Primary determinants of early and mature biofilm (vWF) is critical in platelet aggregation and binding structure under model and physiological conditions ability of platelets onto injured vascular endothelium. A Albert Ding, Senior, Bioengineering gain-of-function mutation at the A1 domain, I546V, is Mary Gates Scholar associated with type 2B von Willebrand disease (vWD), Mentor: Wendy Thomas, Bioengineering a bleeding disorder resulted from spontaneous binding of plasma vWF to circulating platelets. Detailed mechanisms Biofilms are complex bacterial communities embedded of this platelet interaction in hemodynamics flow are not in extrapolysaccharide matrices occurring on biomaterial yet understood. Understanding the binding mechanism surfaces. Once a biofilm develops, the resident bacteria of vWF will greatly aid in developing therapeutic or exhibit a dramatic increase in resistance to host defense, pharmaceutical treatments to benefit patients with mechanical removal, and antibiotic effects; thereby vWD or thrombosis. Crystallographic structures have producing the majority of nosocomial infections that lead shown structural differences between wild type vWF A1 to failure of many medically implanted devices. The most domain and mutant I546V. Previous structural studies common fimbrial adhesin of E. coli, FimH, is responsible hypothesize that a hydrogen contact at the mutation site for E. coli’s ability to bind to mannose glycoproteins, leads to conformational modulations of the A1 domain which frequently coat the surface of medically implanted and thus activates binding. We propose to perform devices. The FimH adhesive subunit has novel shear- Molecular Dynamics and Steered Molecular Dynamics activated properties that allow E. coli to weakly adhere simulations to virtually model bond dissociation of and roll across a surface under low fluid shear. High the complex. The simulations demonstrate enhanced shear stress causes the same FimH-mediated adhesion binding affinity of the mutant complex comparing to mechanism to switch to a strong stationary mode. We are the wild-type complex, but the results disagree with the investigating the surface colonization patterns of biofilms previously proposed mechanism. More investigations resulting from these different modes of adhesion. These on conformational modulations and native contacts experiments, however, have been primarily performed between vWF A1 domain mutant and platelets will be with model ligands and engineered mutants in laboratory carried out with the final goal of proposing an alternative strain backgrounds. By studying natural FimH variants in hypothesis for the activated binding mechanism. clinical isolates instead of engineered mutations, important differences in surface adhesion properties between model Design and seeding optimizations of a perfusion E. coli and virulent strains of E. coli can be addressed. bioreactor system for intestinal tissue engineering Since strains from other groups often carry the same FimH Parwiz Abrahimi, Senior, Bioengineering variants, it may also be possible to determine whether Mary Gates Scholar, Howard Hughes Scholar, differences in genetic background, in addition to mutations Boeing/OMA Scholar in FimH itself, affect FimH-mediated surface adhesion. Mentor: Stephen Kim, Surgery, Bioengineering Comparisons between the virulent and model strains of

152 E. coli will be made in early-stage and mature biofilm Filipinos going abroad for employment opportunities, experiments to isolate the importance of FimH variance the amount of money sent back to the Philippine nation- and background gene differences at all stages of biofilm state continues to grow. This paper will try to understand formation providing novel information in developing new mainstream Filipino cultural perceptions regarding this methods of prevention against these types of infections. massive labor capital flight by examining a body of films produced within the last 15 years. At the same time, the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and the Killing paper will question how certain filmic codes and popular of Bacteria cinematic styles problematize the conceptualization Kevin Seals, Junior, Bioengineering of the OFW figure in the Filipino imaginary. Although Mentor: Michael Chang, Rehabilitation Medicine the films selected discuss Filipinos in a variety of employment situations, my paper pays particular attention Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is the to domestic labor and how the space of home and application of acoustic waves to biological tissue in the domesticity become the primary sites in which to examine treatment of disease. We have recently completed what the racializiation and engendering of certain kinds of is, to our knowledge, the first review paper describing work, the globality of labor-capital distribution, and the the SW-bacteria interaction. This represents a novel discrepancies in constructing a monolithic Filipino laborer. application of ESWT that is just beginning to be explored. SWs are high-pressure acoustic waves that deposit energy Global Citizenship Education in Hawaii and at acoustic impedance gradients. When this energy is Washington released in biological tissues, the shock waves create Chanelle Chin, Junior, Geography cavitation bubbles, produce free radicals, and yield Zesbaugh Scholar, Gates Millenium Scholar extremely high localized temperatures. While ESWT was Mentor: Wanda Brown, College of Education initially used exclusively to disintegrate kidney stones in Mentor: Lauren Newman, Seattle Girls School lithotripsy, many new applications of the technology are being explored. The application of primary interest to our The purpose of the following paper is to explore how lab is ESWT and bacteria-killing, as some studies suggest the states of Washington and Hawaii address global SWs can kill bacteria. For obvious reasons, this property citizenship in their educational agendas and to understand has great clinical potential. While we are relatively certain these agendas in a political geography context. This that ESWT can kill bacteria, we currently have little was achieved through a content analysis of newspaper understanding of how this occurs mechanistically. Some articles and an explanation of my findings through the possibilities include a mechanical tearing of the bacteria by political geography theory, “the power of place.” Firstly, shockwaves, high localized temperatures leading to bacteria I conducted a content analysis of educational policies, death, and free radical production killing the bacteria. Hawaii and Washington state newspaper articles, and academic journal articles written with the past 3 years. I compared the main themes from these samples to the ______definition of global citizenship according to “Democracy and Diversity” (Banks et. al. 2005). The findings show Session 2I that Washington state’s educational agendas are focused ______on a citizen fit for a global market economy and not the type detailed in Banks’ “Democracy and Diversity” (et al 2005). Majority of the issues surrounding education Global Perspectives: Past and in Washington state regard student performance in Math, Present English, and Science related to the Washington Assessment Session Moderator: Clarke Speed, Jackson School of of Student Learning (WASL) and preparing students for International Studies higher education and the work force. Secondly, these Mary Gates Hall Room 271 findings are explained through the political geography theory, “the power of place.” The theory helps to understand that Washington’s educational agendas are predicated on New Heroes, Hollywood, and the Promise of Love: broad historical and social context exclusive to that state. Overseas Filipino Workers in Contemporary Tagalog Cinema Edward Basse, Recent Graduate, English Literature Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Enrique Bonus, American Ethnic Studies

In 2006, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) remitted nearly $13 billion. Given the ever increasing number of

153 Pragmatic Tolerance: Exploring Amsterdam through led to the deaths of about 1.5 million Armenians. Each Interdisciplinary e-Research year, on April 24th, Armenians gather in front of the Alexander Nathan Gwozda, Junior, Biology and Turkish Consulate building in Los Angeles to protest Sociology for Turkish nationalist and US federal recognition of Chase Winslow Marotz, Junior, English the Armenian Genocide. The Los Angeles protest is one Julia Ling-Ling Hamilton, Sophomore, Biology and of many that are held throughout the world on this day. Music The Turkish government refuses to refer to the massive Edward Crabbe, Junior, Biochemistry deaths of Armenians during this time period as Genocide. Sathi Maiti, Junior, Mollecular, Cellular, & They believe that the deaths were merely war casualties Developmental Biology and Sociology and make a point at claiming that Turkish peoples lost Mark Stevens, Junior, Biochemistry about 23,000 people, which is marginal in comparison. It Mentor: Clifford Tatum, UW Honors and English has been argued that it is the memory of this Genocide Mentor: Julie Vlllegas, UW Honors which brings the Armenians of the world together under a unified identity. Yet, it is interesting to note that in the There are approximately 174 ethnic groups in the city United States, a country known for its strong technological of Amsterdam. Like many urban centers in Europe, cultural appeal; there are young generations who are taking Amsterdam is undergoing an identity shift as migration part in these genocide protests in spite of their absorption trends continue to change the ethnic make-up of the city. into American culture. I wonder why it is that young (35 This summer, the University of Washington is participating years and under) Armenian-Americans continue to protest in an international collaboration with the Virtual Knowledge for the universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide Studio (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences), when they are several generations and continents away and the International School for the Humanities and Social from the situation? Of the many contributing factors Sciences (University of Amsterdam). Prior to conducting to these actions, my purpose is not to explain all of the field research in Amsterdam, the UW students will develop reasons why Armenian youths participate in protests. My social science and humanities interdisciplinary research purpose is to examine how collective identity/memory may designs that employ digital data-gathering devices and e- serve as a motivator of youth protest participation and how research techniques. The conceptual framework utilized in Armenian cultural groups use collective identity as a way this study is based on the assumption that technologically of stimulating youth involvement. From this study I may mediated research influences not only the method of also be able to examine how creating ethnic ties within US data collection and analysis but also the character and youth populations could be difficult considering the global process of knowledge production. The field research community that many young people are actively part of today. component of this collaboration will take place in August 2007. For the symposium, students will present their What the Beat Can Carry: The Role of Popular interdisciplinary research designs prepared for this study. Cuban Music from the Collapse of the Soviet Union to Specific research topics are in the areas of urban culture, Today’s Increasing Globalization immigration, urban way finding, homelessness, and Deva Wells, Sophomore, Pre-Sciences prostitution. Small-group research teams will begin their Mary Gates Scholar research in Seattle by seeking out primary nodes of online Mentor: Clarke Speed, Jackson School of International interaction related to their research topics. Each student Studies researcher will develop an individual blog to use as a lab notebook documenting their research plan and progress Similar to American jazz and rock, the world has felt as well as for sharing data resources. Planning elements the infectious pulse of Cuban music. This research will: include places to see, institutions to visit, and people to 1) highlight the ways in which popular Cuban music observe and/or interview. Accomplishment of the small- reflects Cuba’s current socioeconomic conditions, group research projects will result in a collection of digital drawing especially from work-class “Afro-Cuban” ways content that is used to create multimedia presentations of life and stretching the limits of permissible speech that are produced as video pod-casts. Additionally, the and self-expression; and 2) examine the music’s role collective data repository and individual project findings in generating commercial interests and capturing the will be the basis for a multimedia aggregation that aspirations of Cuban youth, many of whom have become reflects a meta-level synopsis of the overall program. disenchanted with the ideals of the Cuban revolution and the government’s socialist rhetoric. In Cuba, although Motivating Armenian Youth Protest music has always centered on festivities and functioned as Katherine Hallaian, Junior, Sociology and Art History a king of communion with the people, its latest evolution Mentor: Steven Pfaff, Sociology has promoted – and been driven by – a growing interest in consumerism, urban identity and foreign musical forms. April 24, 1915 is historically accepted as the beginning of Since the Soviet Union’s fall, the Cuban government the Turkish campaign against Armenians which ultimately has increasingly depended on tourism and capitalized

154 on the appeal of popular Cuban music. Most nightclubs This project also finds that the short-term extensiveness in Havana utilize Cuba’s double currency system: one of the war was limited and this is the main contribution form of currency circulates among tourists and privileged of this project. Using military atlases, the percentage of Cubans, while the other is worth significantly less and total area covered by conflict was estimated and found to used by the vast majority of Cubans. Most Cubans live be low. Weighting this estimate with population density in serious economic hardship, although top-rate Cuban obtained from historical census data, the extensiveness musicians can now travel around the world and return to of the war’s direct impact on civilians was calculated and Cuba to access to the “tourist” currency; however, they also found to be low. As estimated from official reports, continue to look towards Cuban “black urban culture” diaries, letters, and secondary sources, property destruction for musical and lyrical inspiration. I will present results overall was also limited. The findings of this project do from my field research based in Cienfuegos, an industrial not support the assumption of the Mercantilist paradigm city about three hours away from Havana, during in the case of the American Civil War. The question winter 2007. This includes numerous trips to Havana still remains whether most war cases also undermine (arguably, Cuba’s “musical epicenter”) and Santiago the Mercantilist position that world is based on war. de Cuba (a city famous for its traditional Afro-Cuban music), where I will conduct interviews with musicians, Applying the EU Integration Criteria to Emerging figures in the music business and music enthusiast. Nations Debt Markets Mauro D’Amato, Senior, International Business, Finance, ______& Business Economics Mentor: Ali Tarhouni, Business, Finance & Business Session 2J Economics ______During the European Union economic integration, Issues in International Political national interest rates converged across underdeveloped and developed European economies. This was due to Economy what is termed as the Maastricht Criteria. The criteria Session Moderator: Lucy Jarosz, Geography stipulate that countries joining the Euro currency project Mary Gates Hall Room 085 should converge to a set of macroeconomic standards to maintain price stability across the Euro zone. The The Extensiveness of Destruction during the benign economic results displayed by EU entrants since American Civil War the turn of the century indicates that the Criteria has Alvin Chen, Senior, Business, International Studies been capable of decreasing what financial markets term Mary Gates Scholar as sovereign risk. Diminished sovereign risk enables a Mentor: Kazimierz Poznanski, Jackson School of country to access funds more readily due to a diminished International Studies probability of financial crisis. In turn decreased sovereign risk enables countries to access funding at less costly Theories in political economy can be broadly categorized terms to then provide their infrastructure and economy into three main paradigms: Mercantilist, Liberal and with real investment opportunities. This diminished cost Marxist, each representing a particular worldview based of funds also allows domestic banks to decrease their on a set of notions about human nature. The Mercantilist lending risk premia. As risk premia charged on corporate paradigm assumes the primacy of conflict in driving human loans is decreased, economic agents will in turn have a affairs. This research project attempts to examine the merits wider set of investment opportunities due to increased of such an assumption by analyzing the extensiveness of a supply of loan-able funds. Our sovereign risk study specific war’s impact on society. While the American Civil analyzes broad-based macroeconomic trends in emerging War often invokes images of destruction and bloodshed, world economies in terms of Maastricht Criteria and many historians and cliometricians have long debated its seeks to compare the catalysts driving real appreciation in long-term impact. For some, such as Louis Hacker and certain emerging market debt with integration measures Charles and Mary Beard, the Civil War triggered extensive employed by the EU. Part of the study will also analyze institutional changes that amounted to a second revolution. countries which have had no real appreciation in their For others, such as Thomas Cochran, the war briefly retarded sovereign debt and simulate the macroeconomic impact of the economy but with no long-term impacts. Adding to using the Maastricht Criteria in their future policy agenda. this body of work, this project examines the extensiveness of the war’s destruction both long-term and short-term. In terms of long-term impact on the macro level, the statistical analysis supports previous findings that the war did not have a significant impact on overall population, wage rate, industrial production, workforce size, nor national product.

155 An Analysis of the Structural and Proximate Causes SpectrUW: computing spectra of linear operators in of Hunger and Food Insecurity in the Occupied one and more dimensions Palestinian Territories Firat Kiyak, Senior, Computer Engineering Syed Obaid Quadri, Junior, Philosophy and Law, Mary Gates Scholar Societies, & Justice Mentor: Bernard Deconinck, Applied Mathematics Mary Gates Scholar Mentor: Lucy Jarosz, Geography Spectra of linear operators play an important role in various aspects of applied mathematics. For all but the This paper argues that the political and economic relations simplest operators, the spectrum cannot be determined of dependency between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian analytically and as such it is difficult to build up any Territories are the primary causes of hunger and food intuition about the spectrum. One way to obtain such insecurity among the Palestinian population. In the wake intuition is to consider many examples numerically and of the second Intifada (uprising) in September 2000, the observe emerging patterns. This is feasible using an question of Palestinian hunger and its root causes had efficient black-box numerical method, i.e., a method that become quite urgent as food insecurity increased from requires no conceptual changes for different examples. 20% in 1999 to roughly 80% in 2002. Needless to say, the Hill’s method satisfies these requirements. It is the violence of the Intifada played a significant role in bringing mathematical foundation of SpectrUW (pronounced about such dire levels of food insecurity, but it would be “spectrum”), mathematical black-box software that a gross oversimplification to identify the violence as the serves as a laboratory for the numerical approximation of primary or the sole cause of hunger among Palestinians. spectra of one- and multi-dimensional linear operators. The violence in 2000 was only a proximate cause, i.e. a tipping point which led to hunger at unprecedented levels CdSe Nanocrystals: Photoluminescence and single in an already very food insecure Palestinian population. quantum dot lifetime behavior Before 2000, however, the extreme asymmetry of power Ilan Jen-La Plante, Senior, Chemistry between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories Space Grant Scholar, Mary Gates Scholar had given rise to a set of structural constraints, i.e. Mentor: David Ginger, Chemistry political, economic, and other institutional arrangements, increasing Palestinian vulnerability to hunger and food CdSe nanocrystals, or quantum dots, are of great scientific insecurity. For example, Palestinian lands were isolated interest for their unique optical and electronic properties. from each other and the world through a system of These small (2-5 nm diameter) semiconductor crystals checkpoints and cantonization imposed by Israel. Various have high photoluminescence efficiencies and size- Palestinian land and water resources were destroyed and tunable emission, making them extremely useful as expropriated by Israel for security reasons; Palestinians chromophores in applications such as lasers, biological became heavily dependent on the Israeli labor market for tags, and LEDs. Previously, our research has confirmed their livelihoods; each of these factors played a critical that surface chemistry and environment have profound role in diminished the availability and accessibility of food effects on the photoluminescence behavior of CdSe to the Palestinians. Sadly, these structural constraints have quantum dots. Specifically, photoluminescence may either been legitimated and further entrenched by the various be quenched or enhanced depending on the ligand type economic and peace accords that have consistently favored and concentration in solution, or on the shell material Israeli interests at the expense of the Palestinians. At its encapsulating each quantum dot. However, although core, the problem of hunger in Palestine is fundamentally these bulk colloidal properties have been measured, it is one of political and economic dependency; hence, an still unknown how this is behavior is manifested on the adequate solution to it must address the dependencies single particle scale. To study these properties, we have that predispose the Palestinians to experience hunger. constructed a sample scanning confocal fluorescence microscope which measures photoluminescence lifetime ______signals from single quantum dots using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC). Currently, we are Session 2K synthesizing quantum dots of varied sizes and changing ______the type and thickness of the surrounding shell material via the Successive Ion Layer Adsorption Reaction (SILAR) Quantum Optics and Quantum procedure. Using these quantum dots, we measure the rate of emissive decay to compare how changes in the Computing surface chemistry affect the lifetimes of single quantum Session Moderator: Gerald Seidler, Physics dots. From this lifetime data, we hope to more fully Mary Gates Hall Room 284 understand the mechanisms of photoluminescence enhancement and quenching in CdSe nanocrystals. *Note: Titles in order of presentation.

156 Trapped Ion Qubit Readout via Adiabatic Passage rushes to the vacuum chamber where the ions are trapped. Joanna Salacka, Senior, Physics and Computer Science Mentor: Boris Blinov, Physics ______Trapped ions are one of the most promising candidates Session 2L for the implementation of quantum computation. We ______are trapping single ions of barium-137 to serve as our qubit, because the hyperfine structure of its ground state Investigating Complex Biological and its various visible-wavelength transitions make this isotope favorable for quantum computation. The two Systems hyperfine ground levels will serve as our ‘1’ and‘0’ Session Moderator: Phil Reid, Chemistry states. The readout of the qubit will be accomplished Mary Gates Hall Room 287 by shelving the ion directly to the metastable D5/2 state using a 1762 nm narrow band laser. This laser will shelve *Note: Titles in order of presentation. the ion only when it is in the F=2 hyperfine level, and while in the D5/2 state the ion will not fluoresce when Preparation of biopsied breast cancer cells for use illuminated with the cooling lasers. This will allow us to with single cell capillary electrophoresis determine which state the qubit was in. The transition to Joan Bleecker, Junior, Chemistry the D5/2 state is most efficiently achieved with adiabatic Mary Gates Scholar passage. We are developing an electric circuit which will Mentor: Norman J. Dovichi, Chemistry output a linear voltage sweep that will scan the 1762 Mentor: Melissa M. Harwood, Chemistry nm laser frequency to accomplish the adiabatic passage. Mentor: Haley Pugsley, Chemistry

Pulse-picking an ultrafast laser for trapped ion Our group has previously described the use of the MCF- quantum computing 7 breast cancer cell line for homogenate and single-cell Viki Mirgon, Senior, Physics analysis by capillary electrophoresis. While the use of a Mentor: Boris Blinov, Physics cell line, such as the MCF-7 cell line, has the advantage of providing readily available breast cancer tissues for Trapped ion quantum computing has made significant method development, MCF-7 cells do not demonstrate the strides in the last few years. We are trapping single heterogeneity exhibited from patient-to-patient and within barium-137 ions in an RF quadrupole trap. The hyperfine a breast cancer tumor. Cell lines lack the variability needed structure and convenient ground state of 137Ba+ make it for a thorough understanding of the proteome in breast an attractive candidate for quantum computing. We use an cancer. We have recently obtained access to invasive ductal infrared modelocked titanium-sapphire laser with a pulse carcinoma breast cancer tumor tissues of grades I, II, and width of approximately 400 femtoseconds (10-15 seconds) III, in addition to normal tissues. While breast cancer and pulse repetition rate of about 76 MHz. The laser light tumors consist primarily of cancerous cells, they also is frequency-doubled to 455 nm (blue wavelength) in a contain normal epithelial, endothelial, and fibroblast cells. BBO crystal to resonantly drive the S1/2 to P3/2 transition Homogenate analysis of the proteins in these tumor tissues in trapped barium ions. When the ion decays, it emits a would give a protein expression signature from all these single photon, whose frequency state is entangled with the cells, not just the cancerous cells of interest. Additionally final spin state of the ion. High numerical aperture lenses metastatic, or migrating cancer cells, and chemotherapy- collect the emitted photons and send them down an optical resistant cells are frequently present in small amounts. fiber enabling the transmission of quantum information. In homogenate analyses, the proteins expressed by these We built a pulse picker to select individual pulses form cells could be masked by more abundant proteins. For the 76 MHz pulse train, allowing us to precisely control these reasons, we perform capillary electrophoresis at the when the 455nm light reaches the ion. To enable that, single-cell level. But in order to perform these analyses an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is placed in the with cancerous tissues, a method for isolating single cancer modelocked laser beam path. The AOM acts as an optical cells had to be optimized. Sample treatment methods and switch that lets the laser light through only when the TTL the use of several proteases were investigated for the logic controlling the AOM is high. The timing of the TTL dissociation of cells from bulk breast cancer tissues. The pulses is synchronized with the modelocked laser pulses enzymes investigated included collagenase, papain, trypsin, by mixing a signal from the control computer with the and dispase. It was also shown that following tumor cell reading of a fast silicon photodetector placed in the laser dissociation, we could characterize the protein expression beam path. When the trigger is initiated, a short TTL signal in single breast cancer cells by capillary electrophoresis. (about 20 nanoseconds in duration) initiates an RF switch that sends approximately 1 watt of RF at 200 MHz to the AOM. The AOM is activated, and a single laser pulse

157 Targeting angiogenesis in tumor cells using fluorescence due to eGFP in tandem with H342 and superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles PI fluorescence, it is possible to study repair protein Amit Khandhar, Senior, Materials Science & Engineering activity in damaged organisms to the exclusion of ghost Mary Gates Scholar cells and other “false” sources of eGFP fluorescence. Mentor: Miqin Zhang, Materials Science & Engineering Localization and Functional studies of Angiogenesis is the process that leads to growth of new Facioscapulohumeral Region Gene 1 blood vessels into tissues. All cells show some level (FRG1) Protein of angiogenesis, through the expression of the αvβ3 Xylena Reed, Junior, Biochemistry integrin receptor. Tumor cells show exaggerated levels Mary Gates Scholar of this receptor and thus provide an opportunity to be Mentor: Brian Kennedy, Biochemistry molecularly labeled. The Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid (RGD) peptide sequence has been shown to specifically Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is the third bind with this integrin. The bi-cyclic version of the most common muscular dystrophy, affecting 1 in 20,000 peptide, compared to the linear or the uni-cyclic version, persons. FSHD is an autosomal dominant myopathy that has been proven to show higher binding affinity with cells has been linked to a large chromosomal deletion on the exhibiting angiogenesis, and therefore a bi-cyclic version distal tip of chromosome four. The deleted region consists which consists of two sequences of cyclic-RGD was of a repeating DNA sequence called D4Z4 repeats. The chosen for this study. This peptide will be conjugated onto healthy population has 11 to 150 repeats, while most the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, FSHD patients have fewer than 11 D4Z4 repeats. Studies using a suitable cross-linking reagent, and viewed in vivo suggest the repeats suppress the transcription of one or using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Different cross- more of the nearby genes: FRG1 (FSHD Region Gene linking methods have been employed to obtain the optimum 1), FRG2 (FSHD Region Gene 2), and ANT1 (Adenine amount of peptides per nanoparticle. Characterization Nucleotide Translocator-1). Gain of function studies techniques like FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy were used show that over-expression of FRG1 results in a muscular to obtain both qualitative and quantitative information for dystrophy phenotype in mice; however, the function of each conjugation step. Nanoparticles were also tagged with FRG1 is unknown. My work is focused on determining a fluorophore so that in vitro experiments can reveal their the role of FRG1 in muscle. Towards this end, I examined uptake by target cells, while comparing with a control sample. the subcellular localization of FRG1 in myoblasts. Bioinformatics analysis of FRG1 with proteins of known Multicolor flow cytometry to monitor DNA repair in function have found an amino terminal nuclear localization D. radiodurans signal (NLS), and a carboxyl terminal bipartite nuclear Vanessa Palmer, Junior, Chemistry localization signal (biNLS). FRG1 also contains a fascin- Mary Gates Scholar like domain potentially involved in actin bundling, and a Mentor: Norman Dovichi, Chemistry lipocalin motif. I deleted each motif and examined the sub- cellular localization by immunofluorescence microscopy. Deinococcus radiodurans (DEIRA) is not only the most The full length protein and the biNLS deletion localize radioresistant form of life known but is also capable of almost exclusively to the nucleus. The amino terminal withstanding high concentrations of genotoxic compounds, NLS deletion results in nuclear localization and limited making its robust repair mechanism of particular interest. cytoplasmic staining. A mutant containing only the The repair protein RecA is produced by the organism to fascin domain is ubiquitous, and the lipocalin deletion initiate the SOS pathway in response to DNA damage shows localization similar to the NLS mutant. These data and is the primary focus of our current DEIRA studies. will be used as a foundation as we further investigate Building upon an earlier method implemented by Nellen, how FRG1 affects muscle differentiation. Current our group is developing a flow cytometry-based method studies are focused on the potential of FRG1 to affect for monitoring levels of RecA in a population following RNA processing and together these data may provide genetic damage while simultaneously examining cell insight into the role of FRG1 in FSHD pathogenesis. conditions within population. We employ HAL, a strain of DEIRA our group has engineered which synthesizes its Homologous Nucleotide Binding Domains RecA molecules with a green fluorescent protein (eGFP) Jessica Smith, Junior, Chemistry and Biochemistry fusion tag, enabling quantization of RecA levels using Washington Research Foundation Fellow, Mary conventional fluorometric analyses. After exposure to the Gates Scholar, NASA Space Grant Scholar crosslinking agent mitomycin C, HAL cells are incubated Mentor: Beth Traxler, Microbiology with the fluorogenic dyes Hoechst 33342 (H342; blue emission) and propidium iodide (PI; red emission). H342 In order to transport most molecules across membranes, is a DNA-binding cell-permeable dye, while PI is able cells utilize a variety of different membrane transport to enter only dead or damaged cells; thus, by examining proteins. ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters

158 comprise one important family of these proteins, with scheme. A wide range of parameters have been investigated, representatives found in all organisms. For instance, including the use of organic and aqueous solvents, various malfunction of these transporters causes cystic fibrosis linking chemistries, and ratios of reagents, to optimize in humans; in bacteria, ABC transporters can provide the loading of MTX on these nanoparticles. Chemical multi-drug resistance. These transporters consist of characterization techniques, such as Fourier transform transmembrane domains and cytoplasmic domains that infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultra-violet/visible light bind and hydrolyze ATP during transport. Together, these spectroscopy (UV/VIS), are used to detect and quantify proteins form complexes capable of transporting molecules the amount of MTX on the nanoparticle. Subsequent such as sugars and amino acids. The ABC transporters research will include the optimization of MTX release of interest in this project are involved in the transport of from the nanoparticles and evaluating their cytotoxic maltose (MalFGK2) and glycerol phosphate (UgpAEC2) effect on tumor cells. The specificity of our nanoparticles into E. coli. Of specific interest are the homologous ATP- to target cancer cells will be determined by intracellular hydrolyzing domains of MalK and UgpC, which share iron content measurements, while the efficiency of MTX 48% amino acid identity. Previous studies have shown that release will be evaluated by in vitro cell viability assays. UgpC can act inefficiently with MalF and MalG in absence of MalK to transport maltose. We seek to identify critical contacts between the ATP-hydrolyzing domains and ______membrane spanning domains. To do so, we isolate UgpC mutants that better complement MalFG for growth on Session 2M maltose media. These mutants have allowed us to identify a ______region of UgpC (and by extension, MalK) that is important for specificity of transport and for proper assembly into Swimming in the Muck: Microbes and a functional oligomeric complex. Current data indicates that subtle changes can significantly impact the way these Organic Matter in Water proteins interact. We’re currently studying site directed Session Moderator: John Banks, Biology, mutants to further investigate the region identified by Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Tacoma random mutagenesis. This and future research will shed Mary Gates Hall Room 288 light on how homologous genes evolve for divergent functions and what protein-protein contacts are important *Note: Titles in order of presentation. for functionality and specificity of protein folding. Prioritizing areas for riparian restoration Iron Oxide Nanoparticle and Methotrexate Conjugate surrounding a eutrophied lake: a pre-restoration for MR Imaging and Drug Delivery analysis of New Zealand’s Lake Omapere Zach Stephen, Junior, Chemistry and Biochemistry Nathaniel W. Hough-Snee, Senior, Program on the Mary Gates Scholar Environment Mentor: Miqin Zhang, Materials Science & Engineering Mentor: Kern Ewing, College of Forest Resources

The targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs to tumor cells Eutrophication, the enrichment of a water body that leads would provide a significant advantage over conventional to increased productivity, has been described as the most chemotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of cancer. persistent, and pervasive global water quality problem in In our previous work, a multifunctional nanoparticle the world. Commonly a product of non-point agricultural conjugate was developed to specifically target gliomas, a pollution, eutrophication has many symptoms including a brain tumor diagnosed in approximately 17,000 Americans shift from native aquatic vegetation to algal biomass that, annually. This nanoparticle consists of an iron oxide upon bacterial decomposition, deprive waters of dissolved core coated with a layer of biocompatible poly(ethylene oxygen. These hypoxic conditions alter lake chemistry glycol) (PEG) polymer, which is covalently linked to causing fish declines and shifts in ecosystem equilibrium. chlorotoxin, a peptide with high affinity for tumor cells Lake Omapere, a shallow, 12 Km2 lake in New Zealand’s of neuroectodermal origin. Currently, we are developing Northland region began to show signs of eutrophication a new nanoparticle conjugate to serve as a targeted drug in the 1980’s due to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) delivery vehicle capable of delivering the therapeutic inputs from surrounding dairy farms. Recent restoration cancer drug, methotrexate (MTX). In addition to serving and management plans by the Northland Regional Council as a drug carrier, the superparamagnetic nature of the iron (NRC) outline a plan to reduce nutrient inputs to the lake oxide core provides significant MRI contrast enhancement. through the installation of planted buffers along Lake Through MRI scans, this nanoparticle conjugate would Omapere’s shoreline and the banks of inflowing streams. If allow for real-time monitoring of therapeutic drug delivery restoration succeeds, these vegetated buffers will intercept to target cells. In pilot studies, folic acid (FA), an analog P and N from surface water, reduce erosion of enriched of MTX, was used in determining a practical conjugation sediments, and allow formerly grazed lands to establish

159 native vegetation. However, before restoration can begin, concern. For example, it has been shown to cause adverse areas must be prioritized for buffering based on their affects to wildlife at trace concentrations, such as reducing potential to slow the flow of surface waters, utilize nutrients the survival rate of tadpoles. Although 90 percent of for vegetation growth, present land use, and current levels triclosan is removed during conventional wastewater of degradation from grazing as well as upstream nutrient treatment, municipal wastewater effluents remain a primary inputs. A review of water quality data from New Zealand’s source of this contaminant to the environment. Currently, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and the microbiological processes and microorganisms land use records from the NRC are being used in cohesion involved in transformations are unknown. For this study, I with aerial photographs, the limited GIS data available and started with activated sludge from the King County Metro topographic maps of the watershed to prioritize riparian West Point Wastewater Treatment facility and inoculated it areas for buffering in June 2007. This pre-restoration into defined liquid media with triclosan as the sole carbon prioritization assessment will provide a basic outline to source. Once the triclosan was fully degraded, I performed aid lake managers in selecting areas for riparian buffer sequential transfers into new bottles, in order to enrich the creation to most effectively mitigate non-point runoff. microbial community capable of triclosan degradation. Enrichments are monitored using high performance liquid Can Mytilus galloprovincals larvae utilize dissolved chromatography (HPLC) to measure triclosan, pH as an organic material to survive without particulate indicator of nitrification, and terminal restriction fragment material? length polymorphism (TRFLP) to monitor microbial Janet Roach, Senior, Environmental Science, UW Tacoma community simplification. My recent HPLC results Mentor: Bonnie Becker, Interdisciplinary Arts and show that the current microbial community is capable of Sciences, UW Tacoma degrading triclosan, starting at environmentally significant concentrations, by one hundred-fold in less than two Ballast water has been identified as an important vector for days. Preliminary TRFLP results show only four main non-indigenous species (Ruiz et al., 2000). Ballast tanks peaks in current enrichments, confirming the microbial are closed water systems without light for the duration simplification of our consortia. On-going experiments of a voyage which could last 20 days or more. It would include sequence analysis to identify the populations in seem logical that phytoplankton and other particulate the consortia, along with most probable number (MPN) food sources would decrease or become depleted due dilution series and MPN-PCR to estimate biomass in to restricted reproduction and increased consumption these extreme low biomass enrichments. These biomass by zooplankton, invertebrate larvae, and other larger concentrations will be used as a first estimate of cell organisms. As the particulate food source decreases, the yield based on the known initial triclosan concentrations. larvae may die, survive without nutrient intake, or utilize After the eventual identification of microorganisms dissolved organic material (DOM) as a nutritional source. capable of aerobically degrading triclosan, future research If larvae are able to utilize DOM, they may have a higher will include identifying microbiological degradation rate of survival over a longer period of time of decreased pathways and eventually designing for selection of these particulate availability. In this study invertebrate larvae microorganisms in wastewater treatment facilities to are maintained in solutions of filtered seawater, increased achieve complete removal of triclosan before discharge. DOM without phytoplankton, and feeding concentrations of phytoplankton. They are examined periodically for Establishing Methanogenic Microbial Communities to concentration and aliquots are given feeding levels Study Anaerobic Digestion of microalgae. Viability is assessed 24 hours later by Kris McArthur, Senior, Civil & Environmental brightlight microscopy for movement and by fluorescent Engineering microscopy using the autofluorescence of chlorophyll Mentor: John Ferguson, Civil & Environmental to identify its presence in the larvae gut as an indication Engineering of the ability to feed. (Moran and Manahan 2004). Mentor: Heidi Gough, Civil & Environmental Engineering Microbiological degradation of triclosan in a liquid media by organisms originating from the activated Anaerobic digestion is a common process for treating sludge of a wastewater treatment facility settled solids in modern wastewater treatment plants. Tate Nixon, Senior, Civil & Environmental Engineering Still, a number of digesters across the nation fail each Mentor: John Ferguson, Civil & Environmental year for unknown reasons. During anaerobic digestion, a Engineering community of microbes degrades complex organic carbon Mentor: Heidi Gough, Civil & Environmental and generates methane, a valuable energy by-product. This Engineering process, called methanogenisis, is mediated by microbes called methanogens, and has been identified as critical Triclosan, an antibiotic found in deodorants and hand soaps, for system stability. In this study, I have established two is an emerging environmental contaminant of ecological reactor enrichments dedicated to cultivate two types

160 of methanogens, Methanoscarcina and Methanosaeta. the concentration of the RNase A/T1 is a critical parameter, These organisms belong to a sub-division of methanogens, with apparent variability in sensitivity among the model the acetoclasts, which use acetate as their sole carbon organisms. Our next step will be to hybridize and digest source. I have programmed different pumps attached to known mixtures of 14C-labeled and unlabeled rRNA to test the feed source with specific feeding schedules to establish if the hybridized perfect match can be protected. We plan conditions within each reactor to favor only one of these two to then apply our method to identifying microorganisms competing organisms. The Methanosaeta-enriched reactor responsible for critical steps in bioremediation, is fed a small amount of acetate media each hour, which wastewater treatment, and microbial ecology. results in low, but fairly constant acetate concentrations in the reactor. Alternatively, the Methanoscarcina-enriched reactor is fed in one large daily dose, causing a surge in acetate concentration and favoring Methanoscarcina’s ______growth habits. I have measured continued increases Session 2N in headspace methane formation, indicating active ______methanogenisis in the system. Further, soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements have demonstrated that acetate is being converted to gases. On-going work Effects of Environmental Pressures will also establish acetate concentrations in the reactors. on Natural Populations and The goals of this project were to re-establish and confirm Speciations healthy communities of both Methanoscarcina and Session Moderator: Martha Bosma, Biology Methanosaeta using information learned in an earlier Mary Gates Hall Room 295 project phase. After the communities have been established, further investigation will be conducted using these *Note: Titles in order of presentation. reactors to study the causes of anaerobic digester failures. Bergmans Rule In Warblers Using Ribonuclease Protection Assay to Link Jessica Ni, Senior, Biology Phylogeny to Microbe Function in Complex Mentor: Jon Herron, Biology Communities Fan Lee, Sophomore, Bioengineering Bergman’s Rule tells us that body size should increase Hanh Hoang, Senior, Biochemistry with latitude, however it gives neither a proximate nor an Mentor: Heidi Gough, Civil & Environmental ultimate explanation for why this should occur. Various Engineering studies have suggested that the how and why differ among Mentor: Stuart Strand, Civil & Environmental genera and species. In the warbler genus Dendroica, Engineering Bergman’s Rule appears to apply only to certain species. Therefore it makes sense to look more closely at the Ribonuclease protection assays (RPAs) are used to detect natural history of the species of Dendroica for which and measure mRNA levels in culture studies and to monitor we have data. By mapping aspects of natural history changes in RNA composition that occur during incubation. and conformity to Bergman’s Rule on a phylogenetic We have designed modifications to this protocol to identify 14 tree, we hope to test hypotheses about correlations organisms that incorporate C from a labeled compound in between natural history latitudinal clines in body size. an undefined microbial community as a molecular technique that correlates microorganisms with their ecological role. In 14 Contributions and controversy of museum collections: our application, C-labeled community RNA is extracted Bird conservation lessons from the past and hybridized against probes made by transcribing 16S Jessie H. Barry, Senior, Ecology and Evolutionary gene sequences originating from the mixed community. Biology The hybrid is digested with RNase A/T1 to degrade un- Mentor: Sievert Rohwer, Biology hybridized single-stranded RNA, including hybrids with single base-pair mismatches, leaving only the double- Museum collections are critical to scientific research stranded perfect match hybrids. Perfect matches with a and conservation. Collections in ornithology started as radioactive signal can be identified by sequencing their private collections, which set a foundation for museums associated probe. Currently we are conducting proof-of- that today are housed in public institutions. Scientific concept experiments using model organisms with variable specimens are very important to ornithological research, levels of sequence similarity (Escherichia coli, Acidovorax yet active collecting is heavily scrutinized by the public defluvii, Acidovorax avenae citrulli and Acidovorax avenae and policy makers. Few people realize how minuscule the avenae). We have successfully differentiated between number of birds taken for research each year by collectors, organisms at the species level and are currently working relative to the 100 million birds killed by housecats each on the sub-species level. Further, we have discovered that year in the United States. The world’s museums hold

161 only approximately 8.5 million bird specimens, which Mary Gates Scholar have been collected in the span of 200 years. Collecting Mentor: Toby Bradshaw, Biology is often criticized for being “old fashioned” or a “thing of Mentor: Sievert Rohwer, Biology the past,” but without a record of the status and birds of today, there will be nothing to look back on in the future. Western Painted Buntings (Passerina ciris) must complete Museum specimens provide the sole source of new data two annual migrations, breed, and replace worn feathers on the past. For example, when Peregrine Falcons were (molt) in the course of a year. Molting is an essential contaminated by DDT it caused the eggshells to be thin and component to surviving the winter, attracting a mate, breakable. Yet, without collections there would have been and migrating, and is also energetically taxing. Because no reference point as to what the thickness of eggshells was the quality of feathers grown during molt strongly affect before the birds were contaminated. Because collections survival and successful reproduction, competition for were available, the problem could be diagnosed, so the quality molting sites should be high. My research focuses Peregrine’s story is a success. The information generated on the aggressive interactions between western Painted from a small number of birds that were collected has lead Buntings and their correlation with sex, age and plumage breakthroughs in conservation practices, like in the case prior to and during their annul molt in western Mexico. of the Greater Prairie-Chicken. Museum collections are an Painted Buntings are sexually dimorphic- adult males invaluable tool in research that deserves public support. are bright red, blue, and green, while females and young males are a dull grey-green. Observational data from Effects of Chronic Corticosterone on Cognition in the past two years shows that aggression is concentrated Captive White-Crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia on dull grey-green birds and suggests that aggression leucophrys) increases with densities, prior to molting. Bright adult Carolyn Bauer, Sophomore, Biology: Ecology and males will attack dull (grey-green) individuals and other Evolution bright males, while grey-green individuals will only attack Mary Gates Scholar other grey-green individuals. Bunting densities should Mentor: John C. Wingfield, Biology be highest in high quality habitats. Therefore, the most Mentor: Jason Davis, Biology aggressive individuals (adult males) should occupy these high quality weedy fields, while less aggressive individual Corticosterone (CORT), the major stress hormone in birds, are marginalized to low quality habitats. However, once has been extensively studied in White-Crowned Sparrows molt is initiated, aggression levels plummet (our data (WCS). Increased CORT is associated with a variety of show a nearly 50 fold decrease in the rate of aggression), outcomes in WCS, including suppression of reproductive and buntings undergo an intensive molt in which they behavior, increase of gluconeogenesis, and increase of become nearly flightless. Why is there a bias in aggression relative movement. The effect of CORT on WCS cognition toward dull individuals? Do buntings assort themselves and spatial memory, however, has not been examined. into groups based on aggression levels? This data raises The focus of our study was to determine the relationship interesting questions in biology; I will speculate on the between CORT and cognitive ability in captive housed significance and implications of these observations. WCS. Eight WCS were given CORT implants that steadily released a predetermined amount of CORT for 60 days, Climate Change and Seasonality: Using Nicrophorus while eight WCS in the control group were given placebo to make predictions for global extinction patterns implants. To test the bird’s cognitive ability, we used a Tara Smiley, Senior, Biology and Earth & Space Sciences testing chamber that had eight possible exits, seven of Mary Gates Scholar which were blocked by transparent plastic. The location Mentor: Joshua Tewksbury, Biology of the exit-hole was varied for every trial. Subject birds were tested multiple times over the course of two months, Climate change has always strongly influenced biological with every trial timed and videotaped. Blood samples populations. Presently, a warming event is projected were taken to confirm that the CORT implants were to increase global mean temperatures by 1.4 to 5.8°C releasing consistent amounts of CORT. Results suggest within the next century. With this drastic shift in global that CORT-implanted WCS had decreased escape time temperatures, species are expected to change in their relative to the placebo-implanted WCS, and also suggest range and phenology, and many species will face that sex of the bird plays a role in determining speed of extinction pressures if they are unable to cope with this escape. This study helps to elucidate the effect of CORT shift. It is reasonable to predict that organisms with on memory and cognition, and through this, suggests high thermal sensitivity will not adapt well to climate possible adaptive roles of increased stress response. change. High thermal sensitivity is linked with a stable climate, or low levels of seasonality. Without variance in Pre-molt aggression in Painted Buntings: A battle for climate, organisms are only exposed to a narrow range molting sites? of temperatures and are well adapted to remain within Vanya Rohwer, Senior, Biology: Ecology and Evolution that range. Species in stable climates, such as the tropics

162 or along the coast, are therefore lacking the toolbox of the genetic composition of various R. macrophyllum physiological adaptations that species from more seasonal populations. Several of the haplotypes found today in R. environments, such as high latitudes or inland regions, macrophyllum are relicts from now-extinct species that possess. This prediction can be tested locally by asking the hybridized with the ancestral form of R. macrophyllum. question, are species living in a stable environment west of the Cascade Mountains expected to be under greater Phylogeny of the family Pedaliaceae based on trnL extinction pressure than species living in a highly seasonal and ndhF sequences environment east of the Cascade Mountains? Using the Keri Cardon, Senior, Biology burying beetle, Nicrophorus, common on both sides of Mentor: Richard Olmstead, Biology the Cascades, fitness can be measured via vertical flight performance of adult beetles to a goal, such as food, under Previous classification systems have been inconsistent various temperature conditions. The temperature range of a with their placement of taxa near-to and within the plant ‘fit’ species west of the Cascades is expected to be narrower family Pedaliaceae (Sesame and relatives). Cronquist than that of a related ‘fit’ species east of the Cascades, developed the first well-known plant classification system suggesting a greater extinction rate of beetles in the stable before molecular techniques became widely available. climate west of the Cascades under warming conditions. The Cronquist system recognized both the Pedaliaceae This extinction pattern has implications for global and Martyniaceae families. The Angiosperm phylogeny extinction patterns, potentially resulting in high extinction group (APG) has subsequently separated the two groups. rates in areas of low seasonality, such as the tropics. No published phylogenetic study has assembled a comprehensive phylogeny of Pedaliaceae at the species The formation of current populations of level. An analysis of the ndhF region of the chloroplast Rhododendron macrophyllum in northwest America indicates that Martyniaceae and Pedaliaceae are not closely Wenyu Zhou, Junior, Biology related. A larger data set combined the intergenic spacer Mentor: Benjamin D. Hall, Biology and Genome Sciences trnL-F, also within the chloroplast, to resolve relationships of more closely related taxa. Representatives sequenced Washington state has five Rhododendon species, chief were chosen to provide an accurate representation of among them R. macrophyllum, the state flower. The range Pedaliaceae, with an emphasis on the genus Sesamum. of R. macrophyllum extends, in patchwork fashion, from Genes from the trnL-F region were PCR amplified San Francisco to Nanaimo, B. C. and from the Pacific Ocean and sequenced. The phylogeny of both the found trnL- inland to the Cascade crest. From eight R. macrophyllum F and ndhF trees agree with the APG classification. populations we collected multiple samples and extracted DNA. Sequences of a large intron in nuclear gene RPB2 (encoding an RNAPII subunit) were used to characterize ______these populations. Over the entire area, all sequences recovered fall within five haplotypes, each typified by a Session 2O unique pattern of SNPs and deletions. Population-wide Fst ______determinations were used to measure the genetic distances between populations. The populations of the Kitsap Novel Biomolecular/Biomaterial and Olympic Peninsulas and Columbia Gorge (Carson, WA) are similar to one another, while the populations in Approaches to Major Problems in Florence, OR and Nanaimo B. C. were genetically unique. Biomedical Research From a phylogeny of RPB2 sequences comparing the four Session Moderator: John Clark, Biological Structure haplotypes with related species in Rhododendron subsection Mary Gates Hall Room 389 Pontica, we infer that these haplotypes shared a common ancestor that was closely related to R. brachycarpum Characterization of the Immune Response to (N. Japan, Korea) and to R. catawbiense (Virginia and Influenza Virus Infection in P58IPK-deficient Mice North Carolina). Our studies seek to determine how R. Alison Eastman, Junior, Microbiology macrophyllum reached the Pacific Northwest and how its Mary Gates Scholar distribution and evolution were affected by major geological Kevin Wilmot, Junior, Microbiology and paleoclimactic events. We entertain three alternative Mentor: Michael G. Katze, Microbiology models for further test; R. macrophyllum is descended from a single ancestral type that initially diversified Influenza infection is a prominent concern amongst the genetically into the five haplotypes we see today. As the public health community, accounting for approximately result of geologically-driven population subdivision events 40,000 American deaths annually. Additionally, the global and accompanying genetic drift, the current population health community is preparing for an influenza pandemic structure developed. With an origin as described in 1), that may result in tens of millions of deaths, similar to that natural selection in diverse habitats acted to differentiate of the 1918 pandemic. During infection, influenza recruits

163 the host cell protein P58IPK (inhibitor of protein kinase) partially inhibited microtubule assembly. In contrast, which inhibits the activation of the interferon-induced, the interactive sequences, 131LTITSSLSSDGV142 dsRNA-activated protein kinase R (PKR). This series and 156ERTIPITRE164, promoted microtubule of events prevents normal host cell shut-off of protein assembly. The relationship between the structure and synthesis, including viral protein synthesis. To elucidate function of the interactive domains of αB crystallin the role of P58IPK during influenza infection, our in regulation of microtubule assembly/disassembly laboratory has generated a mouse strain lacking expression was the basis for the design of novel therapeutics of P58IPK. We previously examined changes in global for diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. gene expression profiling in P58IPK-/- mice infected with a mouse-adapted strain of influenza. Microarray analysis Real Time Cell Death Reporter demonstrated that P58IPK-/- mice exhibit an up-regulation Joe Jardine, Senior, Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, & of immune responsive at an earlier time-point post- Developmental Biology infection compared to P58IPK+/+ controls. Based on this Mary Gates Scholar data, we hypothesize that P58IPK is recruited by influenza Mentor: Brian Kennedy, Biochemistry to inhibit the immune response to the virus. Key mediators Mentor: Matt Kaeberlein, Pathology of the immune response against the virus are chemokines and cytokines. ELISA will be used to determine chemokine Aging research, which has become a subject of intense and cytokine levels in the serum and lungs of influenza biomedical research, is done primarily by screening for infected P58IPK-/- mice. Additionally, we will perform genetic factors that extend longevity. A problem shared flow cytometric analysis to examine potential disruptions by many labs conducting aging research is the ability in immune cell compartments of P58IPK-/- mice as a result to measure life span in a high throughput manner. I am of influenza infection. The immunological data obtained developing a fluorescent cell death reporter that monitors from these studies will be compared to our previously calcium (Ca2+) levels in the cytoplasm of cells. All obtained microarray data to define a role for P58IPK in living cells actively maintain Ca2+ at extremely low the subversion of the immune response to influenza. concentrations in the cytoplasm by pumps that actively remove Ca2+. All pumping stops upon cell death, causing Identification of Microtubule Interactive Domains levels of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm to increase 50,000 fold in the Small Heat Protein αB crystallin: Insight into in a matter of hours. The change can be monitored using Novel Therapeutics for Cancer a pericam, which consists of a green fluorescent protein Scott Houck, Senior, Biochemistry (GFP) covalently bound to two other proteins, M13 and Mentor: John I. Clark, Biological Structure calmodulin, which bind in the presence of Ca2+ and allow Mentor: Joy G. Ghosh, Biological Structure the GFP to fluoresce. Genetic mutants expressing a pericam will enable researchers to determine when cell death has Microtubules are critical components of the cytoskeleton occurred by monitoring fluorescent activity. Such a cell that disassemble and assemble in a very precise manner death reporter is particularly useful because it delivers a during cell division, cell transport and cell migration. real time signal, as opposed to using chemical stains that Disruption of microtubule assembly/disassembly is a can only determine which cells have died when the stain characteristic of some neurodegenerative diseases such was applied. The reporter could be adapted to conduct high as Alzheimer’s disease. In cancer, rapid cell division throughput lifespan assays, enabling researchers to screen depends on the assembly/disassembly of microtubules for a wide variety of genetic and chemical determinants of which are a target for anticancer agents that interrupt longevity using an automated fluorometer to measure the proper cell division causing cancerous cells to die. In my fluorescence output of many organisms at once. In addition studies, the small heat shock protein (sHSP) and molecular to greatly increasing the reliability and productivity of chaperone αB crystallin modulates microtubule assembly lifespan experiments, there are other important applications and disassembly, making it a potential target for the for a fluorescent cell death reporter, such as to monitor the development of anticancer agents. Using a fluorescence order of tissue death in an organism at the end of its life. assay to quantify the effect of human αB crystallin on For example, in the nematode C. elegans, it is thought that microtubule assembly at varying ratios of tubulin and muscle tissue is among the first to senesce, but there is little αB crystallin, αB crystallin was observed to inhibit evidence directly supporting this hypothesis. Connecting microtubule assembly at high concentrations (>2:1 αB existing technology for in vivo fluorescence imaging crystallin to tubulin). However, at low concentrations (1:4 to the field of aging will have many positive impacts. – 2:1) αB crystallin promotes microtubule assembly. To investigate the interactive surface domains responsible for the regulatory activity of sHSP, peptides corresponding to interactive sequences of αB crystallin were synthesized and tested for their effects on microtubule assembly. The αB crystallin interactive sequence, 113FISREFHR120,

164 A chlorotoxin-bound polymeric nanovector loaded in initiating the healing process. Therefore, the negative with BMP-2 encoding plasmid DNA for treatment of implications of inflammation may be alleviated by further medulloblastoma tumors characterization and control of the particular type of Forrest Kievit, Senior, Bioengineering inflammatory response that is induced. Previous studies Mary Gates Scholar have characterized three basic types of inflammatory Mentor: Miqin Zhang, Materials Science & Engineering response – classical activation, alternative activation, and post-apoptotic cell uptake. Modification of biomaterial Medulloblastoma (MB) is a highly malignant brain tumor surfaces with proteins that induce a specific inflammatory and the most common brain cancer in children with an response is one approach to alleviate the damaging incidence rate of 1:150,000. Current therapy regimens effects of uncontrolled inflammation often resulting from include surgery, followed by radiation therapy, and/or biomaterial implantation. Osteopontin(OPN) is one such chemotherapy. Surgery is highly invasive and it is often protein that interacts with macrophages, controlling a difficult to distinguish tumor from normal brain tissue, variety of different cell processes, including modulation while radiation therapy and chemotherapy may illicit many of inflammatory responses, chemoattraction, and unwanted side effects. To overcome the limitations of recruitment. Cleavage of OPN at specific sites has been current therapies we have developed a targeted polymeric shown to alter the activity of OPN in vitro, exposing nanovector for selective delivery of bone morphogenetic specific active sites that may play important roles in protein-2 (BMP-2) encoding plasmid DNA to MB. BMP- mediating the inflammatory response. In this study we 2 is a secreted protein that kills MB cells in an autocrine have characterized the inflammatory response of RAW and paracrine fashion, and does not cause apoptosis in 264.7 macrophages and murine bone marrow derived healthy cells. The nanovector was prepared by complexing macrophages by activating cells in vitro and quantifying poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) with plasmid DNA encoding the gene upregulation using real-time PCR. Future studies will BMP-2 gene. The formed nanoparticles were then modified include immobilization of cleaved OPN fragments to poly with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and functionalized with (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), and characterization of the chlorotoxin, a ligand with high specificity and affinity to inflammatory response of murine bone marrow derived primary brain tumors. The amount of DNA incorporated macrophages when plated on OPN-coated surfaces. within the nanovector was quantified through gel electrophoresis. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the Development of Immune Tolerance transfection efficiency and specificity of the nanovector. Katherine Nutsch, Senior, Cellular, Molecular, & The therapeutic efficacy of the nanovector was measured Developmental Biology through an annexin V based apoptosis assay. Our results Mentor: Alexander Rudensky, Immunology demonstrated that the developed nanovector is capable of selectively delivering a therapeutic dose of the BMP- During development in the thymus, immature T cells 2 encoding plasmid DNA to medulloblastoma cells in randomly generate antigen-receptors, creating a repertoire vitro. We believe the specificity of chlorotoxin in targeting of T cells with the potential to recognize antigens from brain tumors, and the strategy of delivering a therapeutic any pathogen without prior exposure. However due to gene which is only capable of eliciting cell death in tumor the random nature of the generation of antigen-receptors, cells, will significantly improve the prognosis of MB. some of the T cells created will be reactive to self antigens, creating the potential for autoimmune disease (Burnet Biomaterial Implants: Controlling the Inflammatory 1959). Most of these autoreactive T cells are deleted Response by Biomaterial Surface Modification before leaving the thymus, but some escape. One of the Katharine Liang, Senior, Neurobiology mechanisms preventing these escaping cells from causing Boeing-OMA Scholar, Howard Hughes Scholar, autoimmune disease is a subset of T cells called regulatory Mary Gates Scholar T cells (Tregs). Recent research has demonstrated that Tregs Mentor: Marta Scatena, Bioengineering are differentiate in the thymus from a subset of undeleted Mentor: Cecilia Giachelli, Bioengineering autoreactive T cells, gaining the suppressor function to inhibit pathogenic T cells (Hsieh 2006). The anatomical Biomaterial performance is often impeded by implications location of this differentiation process in the thymus of the Foreign Body Reaction upon implantation into is of importance, as the cortex and medulla constitute host tissue, a reaction that results in inflammation that distinct microenvironments, with different displays of can often lead to implant degradation by recruited self-antigens. During development immature thymocytes macrophages. This innate host immune response can start in the cortex and then move into the medulla. Tregs prevent the biomaterial implant device from performing first appear in the medulla, so it has been assumed this its intended function. While macrophages recruited in the is where their differentiation takes place. However, using inflammatory response can often have damaging effects immunofluorescence we found that Tregs still develop in an implant-host environment, recent studies have normally when signaling through the antigen receptor is highlighted the additional roles that macrophages also play eliminated in the medulla. Furthermore, when thymocyte migration from the cortex to the medulla is blocked Tregs

165 appear in the cortex. This demonstrates that a considerable ______number of Treg precursors commit to this lineage in the cortex, after which Tregs rapidly migrate to the medulla. Session 2P This understanding of the location of Treg conversion is ______important because cortex, unlike the medulla, displays only a limited number of self-antigens, so that the T cell repertoire Researching Dance/Performing selected as autoreactive Tregs in the cortex may be missing key antigen specificities, reducing their effectiveness Research at preventing autoimmune diseases such as diabetes. Session Moderator: Betsy Cooper, Dance Meany Hall Studio Genetic analyses of the RNAi – centromere – recombination interactome in the fission yeast S. Through This Winding: Choreographing through a Pombe multidimensional process Fynn Tseng, Senior, Bioengineering Katrine Behrend, Senior, Dance and Community, Mentor: Gerald R. Smith, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Environment, and Planning Research Center Mentor: Jurg Koch, Dance Mentor: Donald A. Martyn, Bioengineering “Through This Winding” is a dance solo created in the In wild-type cells, meiotic recombination at centromeres context of the University of Washington’s Dance Majors is suppressed. However, in fission yeast mutants lacking Concert, an annual performance of works choreographed certain proteins involved in RNAi, DNA double-strand by dance major students. The creation of the solo took place breaks (DSBs), which are initiators of recombination, were over five months during which I collaborated with dancer detected at the centromere of chromosome III (cenIII). Andrea Cowles, lighting designer Michael Wellborn, and It is known that these RNAi mutants are also deficient musician Mikhail Kashock. The rehearsal process included for Histone-3-Lysine-9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), an researching memory through improvisational movement epigenetic label on chromatin. Taken together, these exercises; writing and drawing assignments; and visual observations suggest a link between RNAi, centromeric and imaginative scenarios. These multidimensional studies chromatin structure, and recombination. It is my purpose rendered short movement phrases, spatial maps, and narrative in this project, then, to examine the nature of these links. stories that guided the dancer’s movements, gestures, and I wish to test whether the breaks incurred in the RNAi spatial pathways. I worked with these movement phrases deletion mutants do, in fact, cause recombination at the by composing them into longer sequences and distinct centromere. To test for this de-repressive effect at cenIII, spatial pathways. Performance coaching and feedback we inserted markers into the genes immediately flanking sessions with mentors and peers provided opportunities to the 5’ and 3’ boundaries of the centromere. By screening critique and analyze my choreographic choices. “Through for meiotic segregants, from meioses in which these This Winding” is the reflection of these diverse research markers have decoupled, I can then determine the map processes. The performance of the piece aims to create distance (linkage) across the centromere in five different a curious world for the viewer through fluid movement, RNAi mutants. Thus far, we have found that in strains that flickering light, and swelling sounds; a journey through are depleted of the Dicer RNAase, there seems to be a ten- secrets, tenderness, frustration, resistance, loss of control, fold increase in recombination at the centromere. Only and surrender. As a new choreographer, witnessing the a subset of the RNAi deletions showed the induction of evolution of the piece- from the starting seed of memory, DSBs at the centromere. This suggests that RNAi might to the dynamic dance solo- is what draws me to further not be involved directly in the stimulation of recombination investigate multidimensional choreographic processes. at the centromere. The bifurcation must arise from some duality of an RNAi protein. To test this hypothesis, I The Creative Process Of A Dance Piece will measure cenIII recombination in a background in Andrea Cowles, Senior, Dance which Dicer is present, but has lost its nuclease activity. Undergraduate Research Travel Award A phenotypic split, with respect to the Dicer-null mutant, Recipient substantiates the existence of an RNAi-independent Erica Claassen, Senior, Architectural Studies and Dance pathway; a non-split indicates that RNAi does in fact Kathryn Hightower, Senior, Dance mediate centromeric recombination, most probably by Mentor: Elizabeth Cooper, Dance the recruitment of chromatin modifiers vis-à-vis siRNAs. Melded from collaboratively generated material, Corvus brachyrhynch moves beyond the dichotomous to explore the continuum of light and shadow, agitation and repose, unity and isolation, creating a mood both mysterious and (accessibly) human. This presentation discusses

166 the creation, collaboration and reworking of a dance and writers must tear down purist conventions, work, piece from the perspectives of the choreographer as and converse in multiple forms. A short story written by well as cast members and includes a live performance. Shawn Wong and Kaia Chessen has served as the jumping- off-point for our imaginations. The overarching themes Tre Marie: dancing with the digital are everyday movement becoming extraordinary and the Shannon Narasimhan, Senior, Dance and Biology tension between public and private identities. As artistic Mary Gates Scholar directors we take the lead to create the context for our Alice Gosti, Senior, Dance, English cast to engage in the creative process. Our methodology Rachel Randall, Senior, Dance, Anthropology (improvisation) allows the unpredictable and exciting Mentor: Betsy Cooper, Dance nature of this collaborative praxis to unfold. Ultimately, the performing arts are not disparate; each discipline offers Tre Marie, originally performed as part of Dancing in the different angles on the common goal of human expression. Digital Domain (2006), is a collaborative project involving Intersection of these forms, emotions, and moods provide a University of Washington dance graduate choreographer the audience with a fresh view on artistic creation. Pamela Pietro, DXArts graduate students, Annie Oh Ni Performance dates are Thursday May 17, 2007 through Wan and Hiroki Nishino, and three undergraduate dancers. Sunday May 20, 2007 at the UW Ethnic Cultural Theater. Together we created an innovative new dance performance successfully merging the moving art form of dance with The Professional Dancer: Desire and Sacrifice in Body the computer science of digital art design. Tre Marie is an and Life interactive audio-visual dance improvised performance. Leah Schrager, Senior, Dance & Biology (Physiology) The system in progress is a RF-ID (radio-frequency Mary Gates Scholar identification) technology for dance performance, which Mentor: Jennifer Salk, Dance improvises, live visuals on stage. The performance is a reconstructed architecture of space that encodes the spatial This ethnographic project investigates the extent to which aesthetics of the interaction between human, theatrical and dancers’ intense obsession and unique perspective on the cinematic space. Choreographically, the movement was human body affect their life trajectories, their professional created through use of group improvisation, which has then choices, and their art. The activities that any person does been set. The sensory information the audience receives is throughout the day mold her mind and body and change that of irony: the rawness and naturalness of the dancers how she experiences the world. For a professional dancer opposed and within the digital black and white screen of who spends a significant amount of the day dancing, randomized images. As dancers, we are the tangible research body anatomy and physiology are changed. I conducted as well as integral parts to the creative process. Through interviews with a diverse selection of professional modern the development of this artistic challenge, we have learned dancers in the Seattle area. With my personal knowledge the difficulties concerning the collaboration between such of dance technique and scientific background, I interpret different artistic mediums. Collaboration will allow more anecdotal stories to explore the effects modern dance people access to the concept of fusing dance and technology has on an individual’s life. Through different forms of and serve as a springboard for future projects in both fields self-making and supplementary activities, dancers find of dance and digital art. Not only are we presenting a the heightened awareness and perception of the body unique dance to a wider audience, we are presenting the liberating as well as restraining (e.g. weight constraints idea that this kind of digital arts technology and dance can imposed by the ballet aesthetic). Most dancers feel they be mixed and mingled to create a new performance art. are sacrificing success as traditionally defined in American society (money, social prestige, family stability, etc.). All Getting Undressed: Performance Art had aspirations for the future rooted in the belief that art Shannon Narasimhan, Senior, Dance & Biology can affect the world. The varying degrees of obsession (Physiology) and mindfulness to which dancers subject their bodies Mary Gates Scholar illuminate different life philosophies. So do the ways in Leah Schrager, Senior, Dance & Biology (Physiology) which their self-identities and personal habits are tied Mary Gates Scholar up in these practices. Yet, for all, dance is a way of life. Mentor: Hannah Wiley, Dance

This project brings together artists from a variety of art forms with the common goal of interdisciplinary collaboration. The rehearsal process aims to integrate dance, music, drama, and creative writing into a cohesive performance narrative. Traditionally, each discipline has developed its own paradigm for rehearsal and performance. In this process, dancers, actors, musicians,

167 Undergraduate Researcher “No-No’s”: Advice From Experienced Student Scholars

“Never do your 1st interview run with an actual participant. Try them out on a peer or friend. It can help to point out inconsistencies or redundant questions.” 

“Don’t be scared to ask questions! Communication is key when there is teamwork involved.” 

“Recognize that before you can really answer your essential research question you must take small, sometimes tedious steps.” 

“Make sure you can handle schoolwork combined with the research, so you need to know your limits in balancing between the two.” 

“When spinning blood, always make sure to fasten the lid.”



“You may be smart, but don’t assume you’ll remember all the steps to an experiment a few months down the line. Write things down.” 

“NEVER CITE WIKIPEDIA!” 

“Leave your cute open-toed shoes at home.” 

“When people are using abbreviations that you don’t understand ask for a translation.” 

“Do NOT wait until your senior year.” “If you think you want to get involved in research, just do it. The earlier you get involved, the better.” Proceedings - Index

A

Abrahimi, Parwiz 152 Bornemann, Kristen 115 Adams, Kevin 7 Bottman, Nate 149 Afruma, Katy 7 Bowler, Ryan 149 Akella, Teja 46 Bowman, Jeff 13 Albert, Kyle 7 Boyd, Kathryn 13 Alexander, Karen 8 Brasile, Michael 13 Allen, Autumn 108 Briseno, Luis 14 Almag, Joanne 130 Brown, Andrew 14 Amora, Jun Blaine 113 Brown, Brandon 14 Anderson, Debbie 108 Bui, Buu 14 Anderson, Haley Elizabeth 42 Burden, Sam 127 Anderson, Richard 8 Burke, Caitlin C. 15 Andrada, Melissa 119 Buskirk, Bret 15 Angell, Emily 8 Apenteng, Bettye Appiah 9 C Aquino, Myra 130 Arendt, Peter 90 Cabbage, Clarissa 15 Arms, Erin 140, 147 Cai, Honggang 127 Arraki, Kenza 84 Callan, Jean Marie 120 Asplund, Steven 9 Cano, Aletheia 16 Atlas, Will 9 Cardon, Keri 163 Ayele, Yared 9 Carpenter, Gary 16 Carroll, Catherine Noel 16 B Catchpole, Daniel 145 Chakraborty, Gargi 17 Bacheller, Melora 110 Chan, Chester 116 Bachleda, Amelia 10 Chan, Christina 130 Baerny, Jennifer 10, 47 Chang, Ingrid 17 Bahrami, Nadia 10 Chao, Timothy 121 Baker, Bradford 118 Chapman, Nathaniel 116 Banfill, James 7 Chen, Alvin 155 Barredo, Jennifer 10 Chen, Angke 17 Barry, Jessie H. 161 Chen, Cindy 17 Barry, Kevin 11 Chen, Jefferey 136 Barton, Jennifer 47 Chen, Linda E Farn 152 Basse, Edward 153 Chen, Shirley 42 Bauer, Andrew 11 Chen, Xiaoji 136 Bauer, Carolyn 162 Chen, Yu-Lin (Linda) 56 Behrend, Katrine 166 Chin, Chanelle 153 Bell, Kevin 11 Choi, Hyoejoo 18 Bergkamp, Jesse 12 Choi, Yongjae Edward 134 Berry, Marie 90 Ciola, Antonette 18 Bettis, Rodger 70 Clapp, Karl Kristian 19 Beyene, Herley 12 Cochon, Grace 19 Bianchi, Lauren 12 Cochran, Kelsey 90 Biesiadzinski, Tomasz 47 Cochrane, Elizabeth 19 Bishop, Caroline 12 Collins, Ben 70 Black, Aaron 129 Condit, Katherine 20 Blayney, Jessica 100 Connelly, Michael 20 Bleecker, Joan 157 Corley, Jordan 90 Blizzard, Daniel 94, 124 Cowles, Andrea 166 Boehm, Brian 80

169 Crabbe, Edward 154 G Cushman, Melissa 7 Gadgil, Anagha 147 D Gamino, J. Francisco Gomez 117 Gao, Yuan 31 D’Amato, Mauro 155 Garg, Sunil 42 Davidson, Ruth 116 Garrison, Joseph 31 Daza, Jason 23 Garza, Hyon-he 31 Deleo, Francesco 128 Gay, Robert 32 DeLeon, Solomon 23 Gibson, Alan 32 Deng, Qianru 23 Gillooly, Heather 148 Dennis, Daniel 23 Girard, Jeffrey 65 Dent, Patrick 138 Go, Gyaltsen F. 54 Dillavou, Timothy 24 Goh, Janice Phaik Lin 146 Ding, Albert 152 Goiney, Chris 140 Doepker, Byron 24 Goldenkranz, Sarah 145 Donaldson, Melvin 24 Golovaty, Ilya 32 Dong, Elizabeth 25 Gonterman, Chris 33 Donlin, Gina 25 Gordon, Keith 33 Dorres, Michaela 110 Gosti, Alice 167 Draghi, Louis 126 Grady, Benjamin 33 Du, Angela 46 Graf, Lauren 148 Duncan, Joey 25 Gratz, Eric 34 Duringer, Julienne 25 Grunberg, Emma 145 Dyamenahalli, Kiran 142 Guanlao, Joseph 50 E Guo, Wendy 137 Gupta, Ashish 131 Eastman, Alison 163 Gwozda, Alexander Nathan 154 Easton, Curtis R. 26 Gwynne, Nicholas 52 Eaton, Jeff 146 Egaas, Kyle 37 H Eggertsen, Burton 90 Haftel, Ingrid G. 111 Ehni, Elizabeth 26 Hall, Bryant 34 Eiford, Laura 26 Hallaian, Katherine 154 Einhorn, Jesse 27, 136 Hamby, Ian 127 Emmerton, Taylor 93 Hamilton, Julia Ling-Ling 154 Eng, Diana 27 Hanan, Whitney 80 Engle, Robin 120 Hanes, Scott 35 Englund, David 27 Harase, Shohei 35 Epilepsia, Athena 28 Hardy, Kristina 35 Epilepsia, Avram 28 Harmon-Gross, Daniel 150 Erhard, Loida 130 Hassan, Caroline 36 Escandon, Martin 28 Hassouneh, Wafa 122 Eshelman, Christal 28 Hawk, Diana 36 Esteban, Iñigo 29 Hayward, Suzanne 10 F Hazen, Derek 128 Heintz, Kimberly 36 Farika, Mirna 122 Hemmann, Holly 37 Fawthrop, Elizabeth 78 Hemmaplardh, Andrew 37 Fisher, Rian 29 Hemmons, Daniel 44 Flores, Edgar 29 Hillis, Kris Skotheim 123 Fond, Timothy La 48 Hoang, Hanh 161 Footen, Paul 30 Holden, David 129 Fowler, Trevor M. 30 Holm, Eahn 7 Fox, Brianna 129 Hong, Hyun-ki 37 Funasaki, Kristyn 30 Horn, Megan 37 Fung, Carina 31 Hornbostel, Bennett 37

170 Hou, Pei-Yu 38 Kincaid, Hunter 52 Houck, Scott 164 King, Angela 46 Hough-Snee, Nathaniel W. 159 King, Ashleigh 78 Howard, Eric 37 King, Craig Chanin 46 Hu, Xinli 125 Kiuchi, Furea 47 Huang, Chao 38 Knudsen, Laura 47 Huehnerhoff, Joe 10 Koberstein, Marla 137 Hui, Benedict 39 Kolobova, Irina 42 Hui, Yin-Ling 39 Kosai, Ryan T. 47 Hui-Bon-Hoa, Alan 109 Kovacevich, Bernhard 116 Hulphers, Elizabeth 39 Kraemer, Shayne 120 Huntington, Ciara 135 Krogsrud, David 47 Hurst, Melina 39 Kropat, Whitney 47 Hutchins, Kelsey 40 Kumandan, Bharath 48 Hutchison-Quillian, Jessan 132 Kuo, James 151 Huynh, Dieu-Huong 111 Kvinge, Henry 48 Kyllo, Jeffrey Alexander 111 I L Imtiaz, Sayed 40 Laing, Robyn 49 J Landgrebe, Oradoña 49 Jacquelyn Carlsson 134 Landreth, Nicole 77 Jaffer, Jennifer 40 Lang, James Stewart 114 James, Pamela 41 Larkoski, Andrew 150 Jander, Neal 7 Larsen, Donna 121 Jardine, Joe 164 Larson, Jami 49 Javier, Johanna Christa I. 41 Lau, Ignatius 49 Jenkins, Rachel 148 Laurino, Carmel 50, 130 Jimma, Hannah 41 LaVassar, Nicholas 50 Jin, Linda 122 Le, Linh 50 Jodry, Dominique 42 Lee, Andrew 51 Johnson, Amy 42 Lee, Fan 161 Johnson, Richard L. 110 Lee, John H. 51 Johnson, Stephanie 43 Lee, Nina 51 Johnson, Tamaso 110 Lee, Sarah 52 Jordan, Christina 43 Lee, Tyler 52 Ju, Angela 111 Lee, Wendy 56 Lemos, Renata 131 K Leon, Gerard P. De 67 Liang, Katharine 165 Karademos, Jonathan 42 Liao, Wayne 52 Karayev, Sergey 43 Lin, Stephanie 53 Karimi, Nisa 70 Lindsay, Anna 53 Kasparov, Davud 44 Lischalk, Jonathan 53 Kasprzyk, Theresa 115 Liu, Jennifer 54 Kearney, Luke 44 Liu, Kathy 143 Kellman, Elizabeth 44 Liu, Mei 54 Kerr, Scott 132 Longhurst, David 47 Khandhar, Amit 158 Low, Lesley 54 Kievit, Forrest 165 Lu, John 55 Kim, Alex 138 Lu, Yunqi 55 Kim, Daniel 44 Lucas, Joshua 55 Kim, Elice 45 Lui, Priscilla 56 Kim, HeeSun 45 Lydum, Brynn 56 Kim, Hyun-seung 45 Kim, Philip 52 M Kim, Rebecca 28, 46

171 Maas, Ryan 57 Nelson, Peter 67 MacKenzie, Alexandra 57 Nguyen, Ann 39 Magallanes, Jarron 138 Nguyen, Ly 67 Maganis, Gabriel 57 Nguyen, Minh-An 135 Mahlum, Lisa 118 Nguyen, Ngoc Bao 28 Maiti, Sathi 57, 154 Nguyen, Oanh 68 Malinovskiy, Yegor 58 Nguyen, Wayne 52 Malouf, Deni 129 Nhan, Vi 90, 119 Mao, Frances J. 58 Ni, Jessica 161 Marallag, Marnonette 58 Niou, Yuh-Chi 48 Marciniak, Monika 59 Nivala, Jeff 68 Margitan, Steven 131 Nixon, Tate 160 Marotz, Chase Winslow 154 Noda, Jon 90 Martin, Richard 140 Nozawa, Junko 110 Martinez, Shantel 146 Nutsch, Katherine 165 Marx, Hannah 59 Masuda, Christine 59 O Matias, Michelle 60 Oda, Adrienne 28 Matsui, Aya 60 Odegard, Kirsten C. 54 Mayberry, Amelia 60 Oh, Lisa 68 McAllister, James 121 Oldfield, Brian 4 7 McArthur, Kris 160 Olson, Holly 68 McCommas, Les 47, 61 Olson, Nichole 69 McCorkell, Peter 61 Oltean, Shannon 69 McElwain, Kate 142 Ono, Monicah 69 McGurk, Rosalie 61 Overstreet, Cate 70 Mehter, Rukaya 46 Mendez, Alexander 61 P Mendez, David 76 Mercado, Lisandro 62 Palmer, Vanessa R. 158 Meyer, David 150 Pang, Ching-Man 39 Miller, Deborah 62 Park, Christopher 70 Miller, Nina 62 Parker, Sara 109 Miller, Peter 128 Pasquarella, Anna 70 Miller, William 62 Paul, Biswajit 133 Mirgon, Viki 157 Paulson, Alison 71, 137 Montaño, Michalina 63 Pederson, Christina 71 Moon, Anna 63 Pederson, Kristin 71 Moreno, Alfredo 90 Pein, Brandt 72 Mori, Alaina 64 Penera, Lorelei 72 Morris, Joshua 64 Peng, June 126 Moruzzi, Audrey M. 64 Peters, David 72 Motte, Michael 65 Petersen, David 73 Mroczek, Kristine 109 Peterson, Kylee 73 Muir, Sean 65 Peterson, Teresa 143 Mullins, Peter 65 Petz, Christopher 123 Myrdal, Morgen 119 Pina, Laura 73 Plante, Ilan Jen-La 156 N Pochincherla, Sridevi 74 Pompon, Rebecca Hunting 74 Nam, Andrew 65 Porter, Catherine 115 Namdaran, Parhum 66 Porter, Jennifer A. 150 Naraghi, Yasaman 148 Powel, Nathan 74 Narasimhan, Shannon 167 Pratt, Tyler 7 Negash, Amina 66 Presenda, Alvaro 143 Nelson, Jonathan 66 Probert, Joshua 75 Nelson, Joseph 67 Pun, Chan Seng 75, 86

172 Q Shakeri, Nahzinine 82 Shannon, Jared 83 Qasim, Ali 70 Sheih, Alyssa 83 Quadri, Syed Obaid 156 Shen, Tammy 144 Quetin, Gregory R. 75 Shieh, Ru-Shin 83 Quinn, Audrey 112 Silvia, Devin 83 Quitugua, Josephine 104 Singh, Amanjot 84 R Skilton, Alicia 84 Skordal, Katherine 133 Raghubeer, Stephanie 75 Slovic, Jana 42 Ramirez, Magaly 76 Smiley, Tara 162 Randall, Rachel 167 Smith, AJ 78 Reed, Benjamin 112 Smith, Jessica M. 158 Reed, Monty 76 Smith, Kathryn 84 Reed, Patrick 77 Snow, Tasha 84 Reed, Star Sinclair 77 Sogn, Christine 112 Reed, Xylena 158 Sohi, Harkirat 134 Reichner, Rianne 77 Songtantarak, Yuvachira 139 Reimer, Cedar 77 Stanton, Cady M. 113 Reinhart, Katherine 114 Stenehjem, Eric 123 Responte, Donald 151 Stephen, Zach 159 Reyes, Charlene 46 Stevens, Mark 85, 154 Riecken, Thomas S. 78 Stewart, Chelsea 85 Roach, Janet E 160 Strasbourger, Pnina 85 Roberts, Joseph R. 141 Stringe, Tristan 7 Robertson, George 78 Stubbs, Kelli 86 Rohwer, Vanya 162 Sunga, Joseph 132 Rone, Jana 79 Susanto, Andree 86 Rosser, James 79 Suver, Marie 141 Roy, Ami 79 Svy, Danika 114 Ryznar, Andrew 7 Swanger, Tyler 87 Swanson, Beryl 141 S Swenson, Michelle 90 Sybouts, Michelle 87 Sabo, Scott 79 Szeto, Mindy 87 Sacha, Kimberly 133 Sachs, Ben 80 T Sager, Jennifer 42, 56 Salacka, Joanna 157 Tadesse, Neb 88 Saletor, Yogesh 125 Taggart, Darcey 88 Saletore, Yogesh 125 Tatum, Zuotian 123 Santiago, Christine T. 67 Tevlin, Sean 88 Santos, Ella Mae 52 Tey, Johnson 88 Sattler, Brook 108 Thein-Chen, Nilar 89 Scarbeary, Claire 7 Thornton, James 89 Scarlis, Christine 80 Thouvenel, Chris 144 Scheidt, Jeffrey 47 Tice, Amy 89 Schlegelmilch, Kimber 90 Toomey, Chris 90 Schmoll, Shannon 81 Toshima, Euki 90 Schrager, Leah 167 Trac, Christine 90 Schupman, Cale 139 Tran, Thomas 91 Scola, Mallory 81 Trantham, Maureen 139 Seaburg, Luke 81 Truong, Charlene 91 Seals, Kevin 153 Tsai, Erin 91 Sena, Mark 81 Tseng, Fynn 166 Seyler, Karina 82 Turner, Megan 92 Shadle, Christina 115 Tych, Rowen 92

173 Tyree, Robert 92 Yunita, Yunny 103 U Z Ulatowska, Dorota 118 Zhang, Charley 103 Umayam, Jennifer 93 Zhang, Xiaowei 117 Zheng, Alex 33, 117 V Zheng, Qi 104 Valencia, Chloe 93 Zhou, Wenyu 163 Valencia, Jayson 76 Zhu, David 104 Valentine, Alex 90 Zhu, Timothy 104 Van, Phu T. 93 Zyuzin, Jekaterina 105 Van Wingerden, Matthew 93 Vargas, Jeremy P. 94 Vaswani, Pavan 94, 124 Veroza, Aaron 130 Vogman, Genia 95 Voll, Patricia 95 Voss, Britta 95 W Walls, Jeff 96 Wang, I-Ting (Judy) 113 Wang, Vania 96 Ward, Alice 28, 96 Warner, Mike 97 Waters, Anna 97 Weh, Ryan 116 Wells, Chris 97 Wells, Deva 154 Wen, Dana 98 White, Stacey 98 Wilke, Kyle 90 Wilken, Heidi 70 Wilmot, Kevin 163 Winglee, Kathryn 98 Wirth, Camdilla 70 Wise, Morgan 151 Witt, Cordelie 98 Wong, Nicholas 99 Woo, Grace 99 Woodbrook, Rachel 149 Wright, Hailey 99 Wu, Brandon 100 Y Yamamoto, Marc Y. 100 Yamamoto, Mari 101 Yan, Justin 101 Yang, Pinyi 102 Yen, Benjamin 102 Yousoufian, Maria 10 2 Yu, Andrew K. 103 Yu, Chung Jonj 126 Yufeng, Hou 38 Yumul, Roma 103

174 Students Talk About the Benefits of Doing Undergraduate Research

“You learn an amazing amount, more than you would in a normal class. The experience is needed for grad school and it is just fun.”  “You get to apply classroom learning to exciting, new projects.”  “Skills are learned, but what’s more important is the way of thinking. Students are usu- ally focused on ‘what’ while researchers are more concerned about ‘why’ and ‘how’.” 

“Whether it’s discussing the latest technique in a paper or brainstorming over coffee, the people you meet can have a tremendous effect on your learning.”  “One-on-one discussions with experienced mentors – it’s like taking a class and having the professor all to yourself!”  “Field work!” “Playing in the mud.” 

“You get to feel like your work is actually helping to progress our understanding of a field of research.”  “Confidence.”  “Great way to test the waters of a potential lifelong career.” 

“An amazing portfolio for graduate school applications. You actually understand why you are applying to graduate school!” Acknowledgements

The Undergraduate Research Program wishes to recognize all of the faculty members, postdoctoral associates, staff, and graduate students who have provided guidance and mentoring to the undergraduate researchers featured in this symposium.

None of this would have been possible without you. 

A special note of thanks to the faculty who released their classrooms in Mary Gates Hall for this event, and to the Gateway Center, the Center for Career Services, and the Honors Program for opening up their lobby space for student posters.

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We wish to thank all of the volunteers who helped to organize and run this event: Session Moderators: Ginger Armbrust, John Banks, James Bassuk, Rajendra Bordia, Martha Bosma, Ana Mari Cauce, Amy Cizik, John Clark, Horacio de la Iglesia, David Domke, Stevan Harrell, Judy Howard, Lucy Jarosz, Lisa Kopp, Michael Kucher, Jim Morrow, Gerald Pollack, Wendy Raskind, Brian Reed, Dennis Ryan, Phil Reid, Hannele Ruohola-Baker, John Sahr, Gerald Seidler, Clarke Speed, Ron Stenkamp, Frieda Taub, Wendy Thomas, Julie Villegas, Robert Winglee; Planning Assistance: Dan Blizzard, Sam Burden, Gary Carpenter, Jeff Eaton, Chris Goiney, Ingrid Haftel, Katharine Liang, Obaid Quadri, Jessica Smith, Zuotian Tatum, Pavan Vaswani; Event Preparation and Support Staff: Center for Experiential Learning Staff, Laura Avila, Patience Browne, Amanda Burrows, My Christiansen; Jodene Davis, Rod Davis, Neil Dobson, Wendy Durant, Tom Gething, Joshua Gibbs, Lindsey Grad, Harry Hayward, Roberta Hopkins, Sandra Kay Johnson, Michaelann Jundt, Kyla Lackie, Jon Linse, Virginia Lupori, Catherine O’Donnell, Mona Pitre-Collins, Eric Poon, Judy Robertson, Bob Roseth, Nancy Ruzycki, Kathryn Schrenk, Jo-Ann Sire, Christine Stickler, Irene Svete, Susan Terry, UW Postdoctoral Association, Aly VanderStoep, Jennifer Walters, Debbie Wiegand, Matt Winslow, Steve Woodard, Rachel Woods, Pat Wrobel Special Guests: Provost Phyllis Wise, Executive Vice Provost Ana Mari Cauce, Vice Provost Mary Lidstrom, Dean and Vice Provost Ed Taylor.

Hearty thanks to Phi Eta Sigma and all the other volunteers who helped make this event a success.

We express appreciation for sponsorship of this event to the Office of Research, the Mary Gates Endowment for Students, and Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

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