UNDERGRADUATE SYMPOSIUM FOR SCHOLARLY & CREATIVE WORK

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Symposium Judging 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Grand Ballroom at Tutor Campus Center (Judges only – closed to presenters and general public)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

General Presentations, Exhibits, and Displays 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Grand Ballroom at Tutor Campus Center

Awards Ceremony & Dinner Reception 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 pm Town & Gown

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April 13, 2011

Dear Members of the USC Community:

It is my pleasure to welcome you to USC’s 13th Annual Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work. The Symposium is designed to provide USC undergraduates with the unique opportunity to exhibit and share examples of their significant research, scholarly and creative work with the university community. Although the Symposium is modeled on a professional conference poster session, students may exhibit their work in a variety of ways, such as through posters, art exhibits, and electronic media. All undergraduates are encouraged to participate. An award ceremony recognizing the most outstanding works will take place at the end of the symposium and includes First Prize awards of $1000 and Second Prize awards of $500 in each of the following categories.

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

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

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

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Garrett Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

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The USC Undergraduate Symposium for Creative and Scholarly Work provides

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

significant research and creativity with the university community. This year, we have received nearly 140 submissions with participation from over 180 students. Students present work in a variety of ways, such as through poster/panel sessions, art exhibits, and electronic media. All undergraduates are encouraged to participate. For some students, the symposium serves as a culmination of work they have produced in partial fulfillment of a senior honors project, or a research project with faculty, both individually and as part of a program.

ACKOWLEDGEMENTS

On behalf of the Office of Undergraduate Programs and the Office of the Provost, we graciously thank USC faculty and graduate judges for volunteering their time. The success of the undergraduate symposium is largely due to the contribution of their expertise in the judging process. We would like to give special thanks to the USC Trojan

Knights for their faithful service. Also, we would like to give a warm thanks to the

faculty advisors who have sponsored students in this year’s Symposium. Your dedication to embrace teaching through inquiry-based learning has made this event as successful as it has been. And finally, we would like to express our gratitude to USC Stevens for their time, effort and commitment to this extraordinary event.

THANK YOU!!!

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13th Annual Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work

Table of Contents

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ...... ii

LETTER FROM PROVOST ELIZABETH GARRETT ...... iii

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT ...... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... v

ARTS ...... 1

HUMANITIES ...... 17

LIFE SCIENCES ...... 25

PHYSICAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING ...... 45

SOCIAL SCIENCES ...... 65

INDEX OF PARTICIPANTS ...... 81

INDEX OF PARTICIPANTS BY CATEGORY ...... 86

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trusses, in order to resist the wind load through an anticlastic form, the corner condition had to be elevated in a way that resisted the horizontal shear. So our strategy was to design a column that was both aesthetically beautiful and met the Arts structural requirements. The fabric structure allowed for light penetration through the prismatic trusses and the main space was illuminated by natural lighted rather than being dependent on artificial lighting. §§§§

Category: Arts Name(s): Jake Bloch Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Arts Lisa Bitel, History and Religion Name(s): Karen Lee Format: Senior Honors Thesis Submission Type: Individual Title: Awe Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Abstract: G G Schierle, School of Architecture Awe is a fascination with the infinite. Awe Format: Creative Work is humility. Awe pushes people beyond themselves. It is often this Awe that Title: Anticlastic Roof Structure motivates religious fervor and even incites Abstract: religious extremism in certain The objective of the project was to create a circumstances. Awe is often felt towards a structural roof system for a sports center God or gods and fosters identity. Some that has a main column-free space with a people, however, find Awe in the stars. sustainable idea of creating as much During my sophomore year at USC, I natural lighting and ventilation as possible. became enthralled in a class called “The The intent was to consider the synergy of Universe” with professor Nick Warner. form and structure, with attention given to Warner’s students journeyed through the the interface between short-, medium-, cosmos to the beginning of the universe, and long-span systems. The main space learning about the evolution of stars, had a square plan and in response, we planetary systems, galaxies, and the used the midpoints of the square to place creation of the universe. Throughout this two arched prismatic trusses that journey, one notices the remarkable intersected to create a dynamic skylight in similarities between life in the universe and the center. To cover the space, we used a on earth—celestial beings have a beginning fabric system for ventilation purposes. To and end of life in much the same way that resist wind load, an anticlastic curvature earthly beings do. Even more fascinating, was designed into the fabric structure that however, is the cyclical process through had both convex and concave curvatures. which celestial beings are born. The dust Because the main structure is the arched of dead stars fuels the birth of new ones,

1 and some stars collapse into entirely point of view of a character whose child different, powerful entities, like black has recently died, "Remember" is intended holes. Here, one finds a unique parallel to to provoke questions about whether the transcendent element of Awe that attempting to create something (in this resides within most religious traditions; the case a piece of writing) helps the character notion of eternity on an unimaginable to combat her depression. My point of scale. In this sense, the universe provides view is that creativity is often therapeutic, the ultimate view of the infinite in its but not necessarily healing. physical reality—all people have access to the stars and can feel awe about the vast In the second story, "The Worst Thing In and transcendent nature of the cosmos, as The World," I address the disconnect well as the physical principles that describe between reality and perceptions of reality them. The universe, after all, is not through a symbolic story about innocence exclusive, and its beauty is available to all and the often overwhelming terrors of the people regardless of their identity. The world. Written at one of the lowest points Awe one finds in the universe, then, of my own depression, this story was my functions as the source of Awe that all way of trying to use creativity to human beings can share that is beyond communicate what I couldn't put into their own beating hearts, brain synapses, words: the helplessness of discovering that and mortality. the world is not what I thought it was.

§§§§ In the final story, "Smile," I explore a new kind of creativity: human interactions, and Category: Arts the effect they have on depression. My conclusion is that, although symbolism and Name(s): Rachel Porter therapeutic writing can help with Submission Type: Individual depression, the best kind of healing occurs Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): with human interactions. Hopefully, these Jervey Tervalon, Department of English three stories will provide context to one of Format: Creative Work the most debilitating sicknesses: Title: Beauty in Low Places depression. Abstract: §§§§ Depression often results in a disconnect between the outside world and the world inside one's head. What is the healthiest Category: Arts way to deal with this? How can individuals Name(s): Victoria Le find a healthy balance so that a self- Submission Type: Individual destructive cycle doesn't overwhelm their Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): life? In a collection of three stories, I Kristin Calabrese, USC Roski School of Fine address these questions by exploring the Arts relationship between creativity and Format: Creative Work depression. Title: Bro-Nation In the first story, "Remember," I Abstract: communicate the impossibility of living a The purpose of this painting is to capture normal life after a traumatic experience. I the spirit and energy of what it may focus on cyclical thinking that is somewhat stereotypically mean to be a " bro" in an cathartic but leaves the character in the all-male environment. It is meant to be a same place as she started. Written as a humorous look into this lifestyle and the sort of stream of consciousness from the social interaction and group dynamic of

2 these characters. It is also meant to be unifying texture for the skin. In the end I ironic that this subject matter would be so fell in love with the chisel marks carefully rendered in a stylistically themselves, creating a piece totally unique traditional fine art oil painting, with the to my creative process. I believe both intent to be displayed in a gallery setting. sculptures are successful as embodiments of my own artistic explorations, as honed §§§§ by the skills developed within The Roski School of Fine Arts and from a developing Category: Arts understanding of my own internal art discourse. Name(s): Sarah Romanoff Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Jennifer Phelps, Roski School of Fine Arts Category: Arts Format: Creative Work Name(s): Nicholas Brice, Jonathan Title: Contours of me Carmel, Katelyn Endow, Daniel Abstract: Lum, Andrew Ogden, Blade While studying abroad in Florence, Italy, I Olson, Raunak Roy, Lawrence became riveted to the challenge of creating Sequino, Patrick Shay, David art with a heightened conceptual idea. Sommer Working independently, I would explore my Submission Type: Group internalized and intuitive artistic abilities. In Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): working with Marble and Bronze, both Chris Swain, USC Cinema - Interactive mediums I had never encountered before, I Media Department; Michael Zyda, USC would also ensure a learning process Viterbi - GamePipe Laboratory through hands-on trial and error. Format: Creative Work I chose to name my piece Contours of me, Title: Dance Pad - social iPad game because I felt drawn to the curves of my Abstract: feminine figure. I wanted to capture the Interactive entertainment is moving steadily essence and movement of my own body, toward a player-to-player, contribution- as I perceived it. When creating the Bronze focused design philosophy. New sculpture, I first created a clay sculpture relationships are being formed and that I cast in plaster. Next, I filled the mold expanded beyond the developer-to- with wax to unveil a replica of the original audience interaction pipeline to encourage clay figure. I found a cigarette lighter and a players to use a video game's tools to metal rod that I used to manipulate the entertain their fellow audience, wax to create the spine, shoulder blades, transforming players into entertainers belly and breasts. This sculpture was sent to themselves. Dance Pad seeks to innovate in the foundry to be turned to Bronze. To this area and entertain players through create the Marble sculpture, I traveled to different levels of player involvement. the quarries of Carrara, Italy in search of Dance Pad, in its simplest form, is a visually the perfect stone. I wanted to produce appealing rhythm game on the iPad that every aspect of the work myself. Back at has users PERFORM dance moves with their the studio, I found a chisel and hammer fingers. If players appreciate the game, we and began freeing the figure within the allow them to CREATE their own moves stone. It took two weeks to train my arms with a gesture-recorder. Moves created by to use the chisel properly. I found working players can be quickly uploaded to a server on such a small scale even more that stores all user dances and can be challenging when trying to create a accessed by any owner of the Dance Pad

3 application with wireless connectivity. and mid-century pop artist Andy Warhol, Finally, to encourage user-creation and who repossessed the images that creativity, we've incorporated the YouTube surrounded him, the piece explores these API into the app to allow players to concepts within a digital framework. This WATCH how others have performed on framework also includes the poignant original dances in the game or dances development of audience participation in they've created. Players can record and our digital world, by utilizing a video feed submit their own videos to our WATCH that allows the user to be the center piece mode through YouTube and have their of the artwork. Though the piece features videos appear inside the Dance Pad four similar looking video feeds, an application. homage to Warhol's screen prints, each exists with unique manipulations of time. Players are encouraged to explore the One frame contains the original video feed WATCH and CREATE modes of the game manipulated in real time, a second contains through achievements and trophies that the feed delayed by a second, a third unlock small, fun prizes as rewards. contains the feed delayed by 5 seconds, However, because each mode requires and the last is a randomized progression slightly more involvement than the last through the time. The juxtaposition of (PLAY being the simplest, CREATE being these time manipulations serve as a more time-consuming, and WATCH commentary on the imprint we leave on requiring the most dedication) players may our digital world. limit their interaction with the game at any level and decide how they'd like to The project is realized through a program I experience Dance Pad. Together, these created myself, utilizing the multimedia different methods of interaction will foster graphical programming interface a social community of players and content Isadora.Therefore, the project is a mixture contributors that will feed entertainment to of programming and modern art history. itself after the application has been released. §§§§

§§§§ Category: Arts Name(s): Yuan-Yu (Henry) Chang Category: Arts Submission Type: Individual Name(s): Robert Foster Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Submission Type: Individual Lee Olvera, Architecture Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Creative Work Vicki Callahan, Institute for Multimedia Title: For Your Eyes Only Literacy Abstract: Format: Creative Work The genesis of the project began with an Title: filmstudie.2011++ attempt to transform a single, homogenous Abstract: material to something it does not appear to Utilizing the ever increasing power of be, the goal being to explore the property computing technology, my installation limits of materials and how materials can piece explores the unique position of video be applied in new, innovative ways on a art within our increasingly digital age. larger scale. Styrofoam was the material of Drawing from the early twentieth century choice because of its ease of handling. avant-garde filmmaker Hans Richter, who explored the formalist construction of film After experimentation, the first discovery by constructing completely abstract films was that Styrofoam boards could be

4 thinned down to an almost-translucent Category: Arts level (especially with good lighting Name(s): Chaitanya Bhatia, Alexander conditions). The second discovery was that Dimento, Calvin Lee sanding the material with sandpaper of the appropriate grit produces a soft, Submission Type: Group unidirectional texture. These two Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): discoveries lead to the idea that the John Frane, School of Architecture material can be transformed to look like Format: Creative Work flower petals. The challenge that followed Title: Furniture Study: Materials was how to create several layers of petals – Exploration such as roses’ – without the use of explicit Abstract: binding elements in order to preserve the elemental quality of a single material. An Our task was to create a piece of furniture interlocking system that allowed the petals that would seat three people. After of each piece to interlock with the other exploring a variety of materials ranging pieces was devised, resulting in the from tires to cables we decided on using contrasting aesthetic between solid and wiffle balls and zipties. The plastic wiffle void. ball we chose is 3" in diameter and has certain attributes we thought were Therefore, to create weight (contrasting necessary such as durability and its high lightness), a unidirectional texture was tensile strength. We used the holes in the applied to the original, porous surface of wiffle balls as our method of connecting Styrofoam through sanding that aimed to one unit to the next. The primary reason create the perception of a different, denser was to chose a material that symbolises an material than Styrofoam. inversion of comfort - to create furniture that seems uncomfortable but in essence is To create flexibility (contrasting brittleness), the opposite. In addition, the wiffle ball as numerous parts of the components were a unit we aggregated did not need to be hand-pressed for increased density and edited in any manner, by simply finding a malleability and then slowly folded, starting connecting unit, the ziptie, we were able to away from the fold line and then slowly create a final product that brought towards the fold line. This was also a together numerous wiffle balls. This final discovery not previously known. product is hung as a swing and is made up of three 'tear-drop' shaped loops. These To create translucency (contrasting loops can be used in a variety of seating opacity), the edges of the petals were positions which can be chosen by the user. tapered to create the illusion of thinness We felt that allowing flexibility in seating but also to create actual translucency on was a key goal in our project as well the the edges of the petals, where light passes fact that a swinging chair could be hung through the material itself. almost anywhere. The idea that standard objects may be put together in innovative §§§§ methods was the key object of our project, this was difficult in certain situations because it had to hold the weight of three people. However, by investigating the method of putting the wiffle balls together we found an ideal outcome that allowed the swing to be structurally sound. Irregular fabrication techniques is what we carried out, uncommon materials were used and yet, the general public understood the

5 function of the project. Gracie. She not only waggles her horns, but can also bark to the music! This is §§§§ Gracie’s first demo with live viewers, so be sure to look for my table and show support Category: Arts as Gracie Gets Roxy! Name(s): Michael (MJ) Caselden §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Arts Keith Chugg, Electrical Engineering Name(s): David Alvarez Format: Creative Work Submission Type: Individual Title: Gracie Gets Roxy Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Abstract: Taj Frazier, Annenberg School of Gracie Gets Roxy is a live, interactive Communications demonstration of electronic artwork. The Format: Creative Work project features the TR-505, which is a drum machine that was sold by Roland in Title: Grapes the 1980’s. I soldered more than 50 wires Abstract: to the internal circuit board of this device, I have taken a variety of items, mostly and attached these wires to external trash, with no value, and composed a piece connectors on a front panel. Viewers are that re-appropriates the meaning and encouraged to experiment with wires on symbolism of these worthless items. this panel. By connecting and disconnecting cables, the viewer is Over the past couple of months, I collected essentially connecting and disconnecting these objects as I walked through the different nodes of the drum machine’s various parts of the USC campus and the circuit board. surrounding areas.

These modifications to the circuitry result in Some of the objects of "Grapes" were deviant machine behavior and curious intercepted on the way to the trash can audio distortions. Try crossing wires that such as bottle tops, an old toothbrush, pen are connected to the machine’s RAM pins, pieces, and straws. and the machine will play new drum rhythms that no human has programmed. The non-golden grapes represent hope for This project is an opportunity for the change and the efforts of the few who beginning electronics enthusiast to enjoy a truly respect and preserve their natural first-hand experience of “hardware environment. Ironically, the grapes are hacking”. artificial as well.

There is a second component to the §§§§ project: The robotics of a toy dog crossed with the grotesque skin of an old Furby, culminating in red and gold paper maché horns. Yes, it’s Gracie. I sculpted her from old toy parts and acrylic paint, and I’m now using digital pulses from the circuit board of the aforementioned TR-505 (see above) to control the robot’s motions. So by sequencing a beat on the drum machine, one can actually sequence movements for

6 Category: Arts §§§§ Name(s): Bernice Ngo Submission Type: Individual Category: Arts Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Joel Kropinski Erik Mar, School of Architecture Submission Type: Individual Format: Creative Work Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: Housing and Medical Facility in Robbert Flick, Roski School of Fine Arts Floating Village of Tonle Sap Lake Format: Creative Work Abstract: Title: Insert Token The projects are located in the Tonle Sap Abstract: Lake in Cambodia, which is known as the Up. Down. Left. Left. Right. Smash the A largest lake in Southeast Asia. Every year, button. Bash the B, faster -- faster! during the monsoon season, the great lake expands and floods the land in the There's reality. And, then there's virtual surrounding area. As a result, the people reality. As we enter into a new decade of living in the area need to move out every the 21st century, the line between life in time there is a flood. However, they rely on the real world and life lived virtually, the lake for all their resources, which whether it be through a mobile phone, an includes rice and fish, so they continue to entire music library carried around in the return only to leave again once there is a pocket, computers, or social networking flood. sites, is becoming a fact of...well, life. Via an ever growing and unstoppable The concept for this project is to create a technological presence, cultures are prototype house and medical facility so that experiencing a schizophrenic split between the people may use and adapt it to both ourselves and our digital selves. flood and non-flood conditions. In either condition they will be able to operate so But, while the presence, the sometimes people do not need to leave the area. The near obsessive need to maintain the digital house and bridge both float so that it rises self, can be taken on the go, intuited from with the changing water. the home or nearly anywhere, there are still pockets of places that represent the last The project also introduces new systems clash between reality and the virtual world and technology to the site to provide we can inhabit, arcades. people with a better living condition. These systems includes collecting and purifying Arcades, a seeming relic from the 80s water, composting human waste, and culture, can be holes in the wall in a generating energy from watermills and Downtown Jewelery district, nestled in solar voltaic fabrics. The project solves small shopping malls, be places of issues that the people living in Tonle Sap amusement at parks, or cult like dens, dark Lake face. Instead of moving out and and lonely where the only source of light is having their homes destroyed every time emitted from the screens of game cabinets. there is a flood in the region, the house No matter the style of arcade, though, and community facility will be able to adapt these are still places that exist in the world with the changing water levels. This project yet allow us to depart from it for a short shows how architecture may adapt to its while. In studying the faces and environment to meet the needs of its user mannerisms of people intuiting these and also provides them with a better living games there is a look of blank enthusiasm. condition. Is this the face of the future?

7 Regardless, arcades are that dying vestige Abstract: of the place between our world and that of In each drawing I visually describe a very machines, of technology. And all you need real scenario that happened during this is a quarter or two to enjoy. massacre. The government ordered death squads to pillage villages where §§§§ communism was allegedly running amuck. El Mozote is especially famous because the Category: Arts people killed were promised a certain oasis Name(s): Nicole Laureola in El Mozote where food and water would be provided, so many families gathered Submission Type: Individual there, only to be murdered in the most Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): gruesome of ways, half buried in the dirt of Susan Segal, English a place people would now label as "El Format: Creative Work Mozote Nunca Mas." This is a crucial part Title: Love and Death and Death and of Salvadoran history, and my own history, Love: a collection of truths, written which stories I have heard much about and revised from my father and from friends of mine Abstract: who currently live in El Mozote. This is a story that I hope to tell to the rest of the Woody Allen wasn’t the only one world, just as I have been told it. fascinated by it. The universal truths of love and death have and always will be some of §§§§ the greatest mysteries to be posed to the human race. Attempted explanations of these absolutes reveal personal truths that Category: Arts can then be extrapolated into collectively- Name(s): Jayson Kellogg experienced thoughts, feelings and Submission Type: Individual situations. Just like storytelling itself, some Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): things last forever. Caroline Clerc, Roski School of Fine Arts Format: Creative Work This collection seeks to display one view on the themes of love and death that may Title: Memento Mori hopefully be related to by those who come Abstract: across it. Showcasing a single voice I spent six days shooting portraits of emerging from the din, the portfolio students walking on campus, soliciting presented here strives to tap into its them to interact with a real human skull. I viewers’ primal instincts using experimental was interested in how people would relate structures and unconventional narrative to an object that symbolizes among other modes. things that of one's own mortality. §§§§ §§§§

Category: Arts Name(s): Emily McPeek Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Kristin Calabrese, Roski School of Fine Arts Format: Creative Work Title: Massacre at El Mozote

8 Category: Arts fish and even humans on the fringe of society a safe haven. The History of the Name(s): Tiffany Pereira L.A. River is complex, multifaceted and Submission Type: Individual deserves attention. Thus, I journeyed to Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): the River myself to photograph and Xavier Fumat, Roski School of Fine Arts document its story as the focus of Format: Creative Work "Nothing is Black and White." Title: Nothing is Black and White: Depicting an Environmental Case §§§§ Study through Scientific Illustration Abstract: Category: Arts When it comes to Science people tend to Name(s): Junxian Poon believe that answers are right or wrong, Submission Type: Individual black or white. Environmental Studies, by Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): its definition, is the science that it deals Christopher Barnard, Roski of Fine Art; with people and their interactions with the Karen Koblitz, Roski of Fine Art environment. Thus, for any of the Format: Creative Work environmental problems we face, there will be a set of people who carry out research Title: Ouijadiexian with numerical results that are as concrete Abstract: as the textbooks I study from. However, Perfect artworks in terms of aesthetic and the grey area arises in the human element, mimicry should be attractive; they express the interpretation and the implementation beauty through the forms of the pieces and of solutions. Environmental Studies issues talents through the skills of the artists, but all have different perspectives be it cultural, when we look at these artifacts, such as ethnic or racial. dolls and hyperrealist sculptures, we can sense an eerie feeling from them. That Thus, the key problem facing eeriness repels us. Therefore, attraction and Environmental Scientists is communication. repulsion happens simultaneously. How can scientific data be presented in a However, they are bipolar effects; they way that engages and impacts an should not imbed in a same object. My audience, especially those hard to reach work is to address this paradox and to individuals? As an Environmental Studies discover what the perfect art is. I create an Major and a Fine Arts minor, I believe I installation composed of a drawing and five have found a solution. Science and Art do sculptures. The drawing is depicting a fake not exist on separate planes, polarized by demonic ritual that tries to convince different processes. I have found that spectators that it is real. All the sculptures creative mediums can powerfully convey are hand sculpted clay sculptures finished scientific fact. In "Nothing is Black and with acrylic paint; they are a chopped off White" I sought to call upon the discipline hand and four burnt out candles with five of Scientific Illustration to discuss a point star bases. All the artifacts are tried to pertinent yet overlooked issue at the heart be as realistic and as elegant as possible. of my home city of Los Angeles. The L.A. This way of executing the objects is aiming River is known to many as little more than to present a perfect artwork that includes a drain in its current state. Nearly both beauty and eeriness. After seeing the completely channelized this concrete work, lots of spectators receive an eerie wasteland is of little concern to most feeling but attracted by its complexity and Angelinos. And yet, the River still contains prettiness at the same time. They are life, it’s riparian ecosystem still exists in the attracted to approach and look at the work northern reaches of the River, giving birds, but also repelled by its scariness. Most of

9 the audiences are frightened by the hand for everything in the film from the instead of the drawing while the hand is background to the movements of each more realistically and beautifully created. In finger. The hundreds of sounds were then conclusion, this work addresses the condensed and mixed down from 26 tracks paradox of a beautiful and perfect artwork: to 1 track. it presents beauty and horror at the same time. In addition, the spectators’ reactions §§§§ tell that the more perfect the object is, the scarier it will become. Therefore, the Category: Arts perfect art, in terms of both aesthetic and Name(s): Rowan Belden-Clifford, mimic skill, would be pretty and scary at Benjamin Bharier, Brandon the same time. Forrest, Bryan Forrest, Jared Greiner, Clark Kromenaker, §§§§ Jordan Limor, Matteo Marjoram, Travis McLain, Category: Arts Stuart Rodriguez, Colin Name(s): Simon Fink Windmuller Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Group Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): David Maquiling, School of Cinematic Arts Jackie Karira; Aadarsh Patel, Computer Format: Creative Work Science (Game Development); Michael Title: Out of Hand Zyda, Viterbi, Computer Science (Games), Abstract: GamePipe Some assembly is required, some desired. Format: Creative Work This is the story of a robot, its hand Title: Paradox Shift actually, and its journey to find itself or at Abstract: least as many pieces as possible. At a more Paradox Shift is a video game project visceral level, it is about finding acceptance currently in development for the course in a community and wondering at our CTIN 491 "Advanced Game Project." The world from a new perspective. During the game is a 3D adventure where players will robotic hand’s search it encounters hands use only a Time Transport Tool (T3) to connected to human bodies, hands holding instantly shift yourself and tagged objects each other, hands texting and playing back and forth between two time periods instruments before arriving at a junkyard as you traverse levels and solve puzzles. where it hopes to find its own body and With no traditional weapons at your purpose. disposal, evade and distract enemies across time as you stop them from destroying the Behind the scenes, this project contains dam. many technical nuances. The special effect of the disembodied hand was achieved in §§§§ post-production through rotoscoping and motion tracking. All the sounds in the film were recorded and added to the picture after it was shot, using a mix of library sound effects and sounds recorded on a foley stage, where various objects and materials were recorded to mimic the sounds that the audience would expect to hear on the screen. A sound was created

10 Category: Arts §§§§ Name(s): Richelle Gribble Submission Type: Individual Category: Arts Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Savannah Trevino Bob Alderette, Roski School of Fine Art; Submission Type: Individual Margaret Lazzari, Roski School of Fine Art; Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Ron Rizk, Roski School of Fine Art Margit Omar, Roski School of Fine Arts Format: Creative Work Format: Creative Work Title: Parts per Million Title: Permanence Abstract: Abstract: My series consists of five pieces that are The portraits I decided to paint are in honor made up of multiple canvases and of a select few individuals here at USC materials, and draw upon my experience whom I feel have made an impact on me, living in both rural and urban and who I find to be truly inspirational. environments. Having grown up in a small Although they aren’t my best friends, nor mountain town called Idyllwild, CA most of are they people I’ve known for many years, my artwork was influenced by natural they’ve come to represent the importance colors and patterns. Now, as a sophomore of being involved in the world around you at USC, I wanted to examine my reaction to and the people you encounter within that urban areas by focusing on pattern through world. Whether they were the first to reach populations. I'm incredibly fascinated by out and befriend me, to tell me unexpected the ways in which an individual component and heartwarming stories, or to teach me becomes anonymous - a piece of a how to build my first canvas, they each pattern - when placed in a larger group. demonstrated that no matter how big and crazy the world gets, we must always Parts Per Million is a series of paintings that remember that it’s the small things that examine the role of an individual within any count. They remind me in their own way, given system. In a collection, whether that no kind gesture is ever too small, nor containing objects, people, or places, a does it rarely go unnoticed. Small gestures viewer’s overall interpretation of the can make a difference in someone’s life, collection is necessarily influenced and and these paintings try to capture the shaped by each individual component. permanence someone can create for you in However, the reverse is also true; an a world where everything seems fleeting. individual exists within a context, and The presence of today will be gone therefore its neighboring entities, whether tomorrow, so I find that its important to consistent or vastly different, influence the make sure you do your best to be there, way the individual is perceived. and be present in your everyday encounters, because it might make a world To examine these multi-part systems, in this of difference for someone you barely case, the ways in which populations are know. This series simply tries to capture recognized and defined, my main influence and hold the viewers attention on a few was imagery from an aerial perspective. people who have caught and held mine. Housing tracts, expansive farmlands, and coastal stretches reflect the ways that §§§§ populations shape our landscape – each individual house and roadway paves the surface as a single component but is recognized within a larger arrangement.

11 Category: Arts Category: Arts Name(s): Madison Orgill Name(s): Michael Coursey, Robert Foster Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Group Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Xavier Fumat, Roski School of Fine Arts Vicki Callahan, Institute for Multimedia Format: Creative Work Literacy; Helen Kim, Roski School of Fine Title: Shadow Arts Abstract: Format: Creative Work When asked, "Who are you?" to almost Title: Shakespeare^3 any person you meet you will often hear Abstract: the words "friendly, nice, outgoing, Our project arises from the funny..." which are overused words that intersection/influence of explain nothing about the individual. Then they will go on to explain what type of Picasso's cubist exploration of sight in movies they enjoy, their occupation, and/or traditional oil paint which expanded how many siblings they have. These perspectives within the frame of a single answers are not wrong but do they really painting, 1905 onward tell who they are? So I began thinking, => what characterizes the "who?" Who am I? David Hockney's resulting exploration of What would I say that would really tell a human perspective(s) + photographic person who I am? What makes me process within a single photo collage, different? My study at USC is not 1982-85 necessarily answering these questions but => exploring them and the human condition. Shakespeare's exploration of perspectives In theater I have learned how important it framed within a single theatrical narrative is to be specific with emotions and actions, and within the mind of a single character, having a reason behind everything I do. It is early 1600s onwards amazing how much I found myself and others going for stereotypical emotions like We will synthesize the above into: sadness, anger, or joy. There are millions of our own exploration of the multiplicity of possibilities but we all went to the safe human perspectives and theatrical zone of the general. These actions in and performance in a digital context, digital of themselves are incredibly interesting to manipulations me to the point where I began questioning almost everything I do or believe, becoming Perspectives: The single frame will be a child always asking "why?" What I have divided into nine subframes which will come to realize so far in my search for combine into a single composite face (in unanswerable questions is that we all have closeup). This aesthetic grid will allow us to a specific personality and character that simultaneously play nine unique takes of an changes by who we interact with, other actor reading a selection from peoples beliefs, traditions, etc. until our Shakespeare's Hamlet. The combination of individuality and character is nothing but a separate takes will subtly demonstrate the shadow, sometimes behind us, leading us, multiplicity in both cinematic performance or lost in the dark. and the portrayal/potential readings of character thereby challenging the linear or §§§§ stable conceptions of the contemporary cinema audience

The project will therefore seek to challenge

12 cinema's traditional narrative, aesthetic, Category: Arts performative and temporal representations Name(s): Mario Leon, Yoon Ji Nam, Li in a way similar to the explorations of visual (Leo) Yu representation and human consciousness by Hockney, Picasso, and Shakespeare. Submission Type: Group Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): §§§§ Eric Nulman, School of Architecture Format: Creative Work Category: Arts Title: TANGLED Name(s): Andrea Vancura Abstract: Submission Type: Individual This project explored innovative ways in Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): order to create an object that can hold Morten Lauridsen, Composition-Thornton people, driving away from the original form School of Music of the typical bench. One of the most important aspects is to make people enjoy Format: Creative Work social communication and get privacy at Title: Sound Design and Underscore for the same time while they are resting on our "Japanese Garden" Slot “bench.” Inspired by braiding and an Asian Abstract: knotting system, we did several At first glance, a slot machine game is experiments on diverse materials to find based on a very simple premise: the player one that is flexible enough to easily change inserts money, the reels spin, and the the form and is rigid enough to hold many outcome of the bet is determined; this people. The final material chosen was process takes but a matter of seconds and polyethylene pipe insulation foam, which is can be taken in in a glance. While the soft and flexible enough to braid and knot, premise is simple, the game itself is a and able to provide comfort in a way that complex entity; each play has a different people can relax while they are seated on randomized outcome, and every event that it. We used penetration with strings to occurs in the game has its own reinforce the joining strategy in order to accompanying sound effect, engaging the get a single strip of multiple braiding player by providing sensory feedback. In systems. By knotting, we have a central addition to the individually triggered sound courtyard to promote social communication effects, background music and atmospheric and an extending tail for privacy. This is the ambient sounds serve to create a sound result of knotting the layered braids in such world for the player, creating an impression a way to provide flexible seating; which of the game's tranquil garden setting, would allow for different configurations if securing and maintaining player interest as necessary. Using seemingly mundane pipe they play through the bonus games, and insulation units we managed to create a adding to the excitement when they win both interesting and innovative bench, big! relying on a specific module. On a larger scale, the project conveys our notion of §§§§ architecture, creating forms that are both sculptural and functional in both private and public realms. §§§§

13 Category: Arts When all it takes to be a filmmaker today is Name(s): Aneesh Chaganty a camera, what separates ‘professional’ Submission Type: Individual and ‘amateur’? The MAD Challenge is a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): creative response to fill the void of what is Bill Yahraus, USC School of Cinematic Arts missing in today’s filmmaker: a dense Format: Creative Work knowledge of the medium. Title: The MAD Challenge Abstract: §§§§ I began the MAD Challenge on September 13, 2010 because it was on that day I came Category: Arts to the conclusion that not a single Name(s): Lauren Taniguchi cinematic figure I deeply respected did not Submission Type: Individual have a dense knowledge of the medium. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Furthermore, but it was precisely this Jennifer Floto, Public Relations; Ana Lee, knowledge that they were able to draw Spanish and Portuguese from and create the works of art we all Format: Creative Work know. Title: The Perception of Normality The MAD Challenge is a response to the Abstract: idea that, as an aspiring filmmaker, practice People already have preconceived notions alone cannot fuel passion, but education about certain aspects of life—what is just and personal research should garner as or unfair, what is beautiful or ugly, what is much, if not more, attention. The acceptable or not, and what is normal or Challenge requires that I watch one film obscure. However, there are never any every day for the next year and maintain an definite answers as to what qualities active blog to keep me accountable. characterize those traits. A poisonous apple, a genie in a bottle, and mystical- This Challenge, more than anything, is looking creatures are all objects of the meant to educate. My short-term goal is imagination. To the practical minds, the that by the time it is over, my filmic prior items are not real. Yet a sign and a knowledge will have tripled and that this bus stop bench are objects of existence. challenge will inspire me to continue Those shadows are the ones visible; in watching numerous films as study tactics as other words, common sense tells the mind well as for entertainment purposes. But that only actual items have shadows. through the Challenge, I also hope to reach However, it is really the lurking shadow of out to movie enthusiasts all around the perception that blocks out the bizarre in world. My aim to is create a private internet order to focus on the verifiable. forum, outside of advertising influences and financial incentives, where average Vincent van Gogh once stated, “I wish they filmgoers and cinephiles, alike, can express would only take me as I am.” While their views about film. perfection is impossible, the feeling of invisibility is not. The drawing portrays a From a long-term standpoint, I hope to stagnant situation—at a bus stop, the girl draw upon this knowledge, as many awaits movement from the man and the successful filmmakers have, in the films I man searches for something in the am to make in the future. I hope it begins a distance. That something is change. The journey (maybe never to complete) that man is the object of change and the sign is immerses myself in film, in its theories, in his calling for something to be done. Yet its analyses, and its critical studies. when no action takes place, people are left

14 with the situations they were dealt. Each life in America has allowed her to live person and object has unique and joyously or whether she remains forever distinctive features, yet society tends to distant from a sense of home. overlook those qualities. There are so many unwritten social contracts, and §§§§ society forces us to abide them or otherwise pay the consequences that harm Category: Arts us; we are not accepted for being different. Name(s): Na Young Kim Currently, people wait for change but when nothing is done, the cycle of Submission Type: Individual immediate judgment continues. Items that Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): exist are the ones that leave marks— Jennifer Siegal, Architecture physically, shadows could be an indication; Format: Creative Work psychologically, any figment can be a Title: Unidentified Rush-hour Object perception of normality. Abstract: §§§§ The project is name U.R.O. stands for 'Unidentified Rush-hour Object'. The U.R.O. occupies and utilizes residual spaces in the Category: Arts city, particularly found in the freeway Name(s): Michelle Khazaryan systems. Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): We, Angelinos, live most of our morning Trisha Tucker, Thematic Option sitting in a slow moving traffic during morning rush hour on LA freeway systems. Format: Creative Work Looking at Los Angeles as its current Title: The Sweetest of Pomegranates popular site for food truck industry, this Abstract: project aims to rethink mobile food and If home is where the heart is, what food truck while asking a radical question: happens when you lose your connection to 'What if a food truck serves breakfasts on your home? How does a person cope with the freeway system during morning rush alienation in a foreign country, and can a hours?' LA freeway systems are known as true sense of belonging ever be reached? most congested freeway system in the In my short story, I explore the connections United States. For frustrated LA commuters between an immigrant and her Armenian sitting in their car during morning rush homeland, and how the difficulties of life in hours on the freeway, the project U.R.O. America deteriorate the link between the offers donuts and coffee serving down heart and the home. Through both the from the overpass. Because of its joyous and painful moments of a new unprecedented figure and functionality, American life, the protagonist revisits her U.R.O. will become a phenomenon to Los link to her mother country, through the Angeles. memory of a pomegranate. Many situations that Armenian women face, §§§§ either in Armenia or in America, are depicted as well— depression, domestic abuse, and the tensions between generations. If a tree is uprooted from its native land and replanted in foreign soil, only one of two things can happen— it can either thrive, or waste away. In the end, the protagonist must ask herself whether her

15 Category: Arts and collective shadows into productive light. Name(s): Eli Joteva Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Erika Vogt, Roski School of Fine Arts Format: Creative Work Title: Web Release Abstract: Bound within our own webbed systems of beliefs, values and perceptions, can we ever fully attain a clear grounding of social de- conditioning?

Taking on the meaning of social and psychological structures, the net's engulfment of the physical body ranges through symbolic arenas,-- touching on self-imposed limitations, battle with internal and external perceptions, and struggle to balance the internal feminine under a social system of patriarchal domination. While the material impacts of an imposed structure can be physically observed, piece observes the lingering traces of its cultural and behavioral shadows even when the structure itself is gone.

Ideally, the piece would be installed with the net-swing suspended on the side of the video projection, allowing the space for artistic performance as well an opportunity for participatory engagement with the web on an number of personal levels. Thus, while this video is a personal exploration of dealing with structural systems of beliefs and behaviors, it also transgresses into the social realm in that participants can host their own personal release journey.

Playing on Jungian ideas of embracing the shadow as well as ritualism of psycho- magic, the piece proposes that the ritualistic act of art be utilized as a constructive means of addressing destructive issues; by active and conscious co-operation with the process of resolving internal struggles, and an involved embracing transmutation of both personal

16 that depict early versions of the Buddha’s life. In fact, the Buddha was regularly represented because of the cultural influence of the Greeks who accompanied Alexander the Great to the Indian subcontinent. Hence, my research concerns Humanities important, rare and early depictions of the Buddha that were found in the ancient region of Gandhara, located in modern-day Afghanistan.

The “Life of the Buddha” biography chronicles the life of Siddhartha Gautama, an ancient king who renounced everything he had in order to gain enlightenment and end suffering. Gautama eventually became known as the Buddha. The artifacts in the USC Archaeological Research Collection are directly associated with the Buddha’s biography and depict scenes from his life. Category: Humanities My research combines literary and scientific Name(s): Parin Patel analysis in order to provide a thorough Submission Type: Individual explanation of not only what these artifacts represent, but also to understand their Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): composition, age, and the methods of Lynn Swartz Dodd, Religion creating the artifact. Additionally, in Format: Laboratory-based Research preparation for publication, I am creating Title: Archaeology and the Literary Internet-accessible images of these artifacts Narrative: Using Written Language using a technique called Polynomial Texture to Understand Material Culture in Mapping (PTM), which allows remote users the Buddhist World to move artificial lights around high- Abstract: resolution images of these artifacts. Archaeologists attempt to understand the §§§§ human past through analysis of material culture. Material culture pertains to any physical remains that were used by Category: Humanities humans. This can include pottery and Name(s): Cara Polisini cultivated crops as well as literary texts and Submission Type: Individual human remains. Archaeologists analyze Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): material culture to develop a clearer Lynn Swartz Dodd, Religion understanding of past civilizations. In certain situations, the material culture of a Format: Field Research society depicts stories, images, characters Title: Archaeology Matters and events that are included within the Abstract: literary or religious or political domains of ArcSmart is a partnership between USC’s society. This is the case for a series of stone Archaeological Research Collection, the sculptures that reside in USC’s Archaeology USC international Museum Institute, and Research Center. Through my analysis of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Art Aśhva·ghosha’s “Life of the Buddha”, I am and Antiquities Collection. My research “deciphering” a group of Buddhist artifacts helped launch this successful and

17 substantive archaeology outreach program Category: Humanities to LAUSD’s sixth grade classrooms this past Name(s): Rebecca Ferdman, Alyssa Ortez year. Specifically, I investigated best practice principles of presenting original, Submission Type: Group multi-sensory, extensible archaeology Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): lessons in schools that can no longer afford Robert Delgado, Anthropology field trips for their students and whose Format: Laboratory-based Research teachers are working hard to improve Title: Behavioral flexibility among three student performance on state tests. sympatric non-human primates in Southeast Asia For five consecutive weeks each semester, Abstract: USC “ARC Smart educators” (student volunteers) visit the same classroom and Through field work and direct observation teach five different, original lesson plans all of gibbons, langurs, annd orangutans, the designed to support California state team compiled resesarch on the behavioral curricular standards. Students are able to flexibility of non human primates in “get their hands on the past” by handling Southeast Asia. Collecting data in the field real artifacts; they learn archaeological field consisted of following groups throughout a methods with a simulated excavation; and post logged jungle habitat, acquiring discover how to investigate ancient places samples of prrimate diet, annd calculating and artifacts through Google Earth and homerange. In the labratory, Rebecca and InscriptiFact’s image database. By the end Alyssa gathered data regarding the three of the fifth ARC Smart session, we assess types of non human primates witthin alll of the students through a fun game that Southeast Asia. The information gathered allows students to demonstrate their included previous studies in the same increased knowledge. jungle Alyssa and Dr. Delgado were in, as well as academic journals of surrounding The curriculum research I did, and the state areas. The poster aims to present the standards mapping that was undertaken by distribution of langurs, gibbons, and USC grad student Candace Weddell, were orangutans within Indonesia as well as the foundations for the development of ARC variants of their behavioral characteristics. Smart. Because of this program, USC students get hugs, high fives and thank you §§§§ letters from LAUSD students and teachers who enjoy having their classroom Category: Humanities transformed into an exciting learning Name(s): Jason Lipshin experience about archaeology. Additionally, Submission Type: Individual the outreach work done by USC students is Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): an important “hands-on” demonstration for us of the importance of communicating Andreas Kratky, Institute for Multimedia to the public and of the ethical importance Literacy + Interactive Media Division of stepping outside the “ivory tower” of (School of Cinematic Arts); Mark Marino, academic research in order to engage with Writing Program diverse audiences. Format: Senior Honors Thesis Title: Communicable Disease: Towards a §§§§ Political Ontology of the Computer Virus Abstract: “Emergence is always produced through a particular stage of forces.”

18 -Michel Foucault Category: Humanities Name(s): Jacob Bongers Mirroring the complexity of an emergent, networked topology, defining the term Submission Type: Individual “virus” necessitates multiple movements Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): and intersections across disciplinary lines. Elizabeth Arkush, University of Pittsburgh; The term virus can encompass both a set of Ran Boytner, USC/UCLA; Michael things and a set of concepts: it can define Harrower, Johns Hopkins University such widely disparate materials as nucleic Format: Senior Honors Thesis acids and computer programs, and can Title: Landscapes of Death: GIS-based equally operate as the cultural object of Analyses of Chullpas in the Western fear and paranoia during times of crisis and Lake Titicaca Basin “too much connectivity.” In both its organic and inorganic instantiations, it is Abstract: often considered a vital form: a semi- The western Lake Titicaca Basin is littered autonomous agent that seems to with above-ground funerary towers, known propagate, pervert, and expose on its own. as chullpas, located in a variety of As such, it is imagined to represent a non- geographical contexts and dating to the human, yet uncanny, threat to human Late Intermediate Period, or LIP (AD agency and boundaries on many scales, as 1100-1450), and Late Horizon (AD bodies, machines, and nation-states are all 1450-1532). Over the years, interpretations perceived to be under attack. of these tombs have concentrated upon their roles as loci for ancestral veneration Drawing on the diverse bodies of literature and their abilities to perpetuate memory, concerning viruses in computer science, delineate social ties and territories, and biology, media studies, and critical theory, demarcate access to resources. These views "Communicable Disease" uses the figure share the implicit or explicit assumption of the computer virus to investigate that these mortuary structures were broader historical and theoretical trends intended to be highly visible. Yet this within modernity and network culture. assumption has never been formally tested. Seeking to supplement traditional By using GIS-based geospatial tools and humanistic inquiry with a technical statistical analysis, this paper investigates understanding of how machines operate, it the extent to which chullpas surveyed in implements a hybrid, materialist-cultural the western Lake Titicaca basin visually analysis in order to place technological dominated the landscape. Visibility is design within wider discursive structures of revealed to be a strong location power and ideology. In attempting to determinant for chullpas, thereby tackle such questions, this project also suggesting that this landscape of death takes a multimedia approach by was deliberately constructed to have an incorporating videos, images, and enduring impact on the population. simulations into more traditional scholarly argumentation. Built in the electronic book §§§§ platform, Scalar, it thus seeks to demonstrate what multimedia scholarship can contribute to the digital humanities. §§§§

19 Category: Humanities conclusions about this landscape and its settlement history can be written for the Name(s): Zachary Lindberg, Samuel first time. Our work will contribute to Trevino digital publications and databases, as well Submission Type: Group as a book about this archaeological survey Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): and this ancient landscape. Lynn Swartz Dodd, Religion Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§ Title: Marash Valley Pottery: Cultural Dynamics of the Ancient Middle East Category: Humanities Abstract: Name(s): Matthew Broaddus Our research contributes to the publication Submission Type: Individual of a large, regional archaeological survey Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): the Marash Valley, Turkey. The survey William Handley, English publication project is directed by our Format: Analytical Paper professor, Lynn Dodd, who participated in this field research that identified hundreds Title: Myth as a Function of Genre in of archaeological sites in a region that was Some Major Examples of sometimes independent and fought over by Postcolonial Nigerian Literature expanding empires. Our focus is the Bronze Abstract: and Iron Ages, from 2000 BCE through Over the last two years I have researched 600 BCE. Our team project has been the subject of myth and mythic elements in directed at completing digital major works of Postcolonial Nigerian reconstructions and illustrations of pottery literature. My critical work has focused on vessels that are used as a means of dating three of the most influential authors of the archaeological sites located in the Marash genre: The novelist Chinua Achebe, the valley. The pottery illustrations are created poet Christopher Okigbo, and the from field drawings that have been playwright Wole Soyinka. How do these scanned into the computer. From there, three authors uses myth, a single our team uses Adobe Illustrator to convention, across three generic landscapes construct whole renditions of these pottery (the novel, the poem, and the play)? In fragments. These reconstructions help to Things Fall Apart, Achebe is extremely paint a picture of daily life at Marash. The aware of the novel as a "Western" form vessel types, shapes and clay fabrics tell us and so uses myth often to refute and a great deal about what kinds of sites we disrupt the "flow" of a typical linear have found and their dates. This allows us narrative of a Western novel. The myths to estimate when its population grew or Achebe employs are often stories within contracted; when its sites were more or less stories used to illuminate the pre-colonial numerous; when new styles or even new African culture Achebe depicts in Things people arrived in the region. These digital Fall Apart. Soyinka relies on physical action illustrations and reconstructions allow us to in the form of rituals as well as ritual compare the pottery from this region to drumming and dialogue to create his other areas. These comparisons can be version of the colonial relationship between used to see patterns or trends in the native Africans and their English colonizers historical development of the ancient in his play Death and the King's Horseman. Middle East. Our illustrations are research The poet of Heavensgate, Okigbo, on the productions in the aggregate, allowing us other hand, uses language in non- to gain a clear view of the material culture traditional ways to emphasize the of this region through time. At the same psychological and physical relationship time we comprise a new data set on which between god and man in the postcolonial

20 world. Okigbo is interested in the mythic ablation – laser ablation is effective, but world as one that both connects cultures must be performed carefully to avoid (such as the colonizer and the colonized), damaging the rocks. but he is also unsure about the human mind's ability to connect on a tangible level 300 rock samples were prepared from Lake with the spiritual, the intangible. Perris granite. The samples were painted with graffiti and ablated. Laser power and §§§§ exposure time were varied, to determine their effects uniquely. The effect of rock Category: Humanities morphology on ablation effectiveness was also investigated. Name(s): Bradford Jackson Submission Type: Individual Trials were performed with the 1st Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): harmonic of a standard Nd:YAG laser. Lynn Swartz Dodd, Religion While a range was found for effectively Format: Laboratory-based Research removing black paint, other colors weren’t Title: Native American Sacred Sites: Laser removed as effectively. Initial testing with Ablation as a Culturally Appropriate the 2nd harmonic indicates that it is able to Method of Graffiti Removal remove other colors of paint much more effectively than the 1st harmonic. Abstract: Investigation of the 2nd harmonic is still The ritual practices of the Pechanga and ongoing. San Luis Rey tribes were violently disrupted in 2006 when ceremonial rock sites were §§§§ defaced with graffiti. Many conventional forms of graffiti removal conflict with the Category: Humanities tribes’ beliefs, in which the rocks are viewed as living entities. To the tribes, Name(s): Claire Nickerson using chemical or similar techniques to Submission Type: Individual remove graffiti would be analogous to Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): throwing acid on a child’s face. In a study Bruce Smith, English done by Claire Dean and Meg Abraham, Format: Analytical Paper laser ablation was accepted by most of the tribes as a means of restoring the defaced Title: Textual Musicality in Shakespeare rocks. Abstract: My project focuses on the musicality of This project involves systematic research Shakespearean text on the stage and how aimed at quantifying the effectiveness of it supports the story from an integrated an Nd:YAG laser as a means of removing perspective of phonetics and aesthetics. I graffiti from sacred Native American sites in concentrate specifically on how the sound southern California. Laser ablation in of the words he chooses affects how the particular is being investigated for two actor speaks the line and thus what the reasons: ruined, sacred Native American audience intellectually and emotionally sites in southern California need to be understands the line to mean. cleaned, and traditional cleaning Contemporary actors are not accustomed techniques are abhorrent to many of the to thinking of dialogue as part of the tribes. As more and more tribes have sound design of a play, and therefore funding to purchase portable laser cleaning modern audiences often hear Shakespeare devices, there is an urgent need to inform performed by an actor giving more tribes and other stakeholders about the emphasis to his own interpretation of the limitations and complications of laser denotation of the line than to the sounds

21 that comprise it, leading to a lack of LAUSD high school. The other three schools understanding and appreciation because were charter schools: Fredrick Douglas the unfamiliar language isn’t brought to Academy, an ICEF school on Arlington and life with universally understood inflection. I Adams; Animo Leadership, a Green Dot set out to prove that there is a subtle school in Inglewood; and, Da Vinci School, system of phonetics unique to a project-based charter high school in El Shakespeare’s works and actors who follow Segundo. I spent eight hours at each school it are much more successful at observing classrooms and interviewing communicating meaning, emotion, and faculty and students. I focused my subtext. In the course of my research, I attention on each school’s college attended Shakespearean plays, conducted preparation program, classroom interviews with five Shakespeare scholars, environment, percent of student and read several books by experts on the engagement, curriculum, quality of faculty subject. I then presented to an and relationship with the community. I undergraduate class my close readings of concluded the semester with a proposal of sections of text analyzed for irregular the optimal high school. In the proposal, I rhythm; manners of pulmonic consonants; combined successful qualities exemplified and patterns in the placement of vowels, by the schools, information gathered from for which I created a system of innovative educator, Doreen Nelson, and classification derived in part from the some of my own novel ideas supported by International Phonetic Alphabet and based basic psychological research. on their correlation to the archetypal sounds associated with various human §§§§ emotions. I then played sound clips of actors who did and didn’t inflect and Category: Humanities rhythmize the lines as I suggested and Name(s): Sarah Butler, Renee Duncan- questioned the students as to their Mestel, Bradford Jackson preference. Universally, the students preferred sound clips of actors who Submission Type: Group followed my system, which suggests Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): applications for modern Shakespearean Lynn Swartz Dodd, Religion actors in terms of recapturing the interest Format: Laboratory-based Research and imaginations of their audiences. Title: The Front Lines of Empire: Metal Arrowheads and Projectile Points as §§§§ Indicators of Social and Political Transformation in the ancient Near Category: Humanities East Name(s): Mariana Aguilar Abstract: Submission Type: Individual Artifacts from Near Eastern archaeological Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): sites were analyzed by synchrotron Franklin Manis, Psychology Department radiation-based XRD and XRF at the Format: Analytical Paper Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago in order to understand ancient control of a The End of Education as We Know It Title: strategic weapons material: bronze. We Abstract: learn what the weapons were made of (the For my independent study, Psyc 490 class, I recipe) and how they were fashioned (e.g. designed an observational research project cast, hammered). Our research explores the of four Los Angeles High Schools. The first metal-working techniques used before, school, Fairfax High School, I utilized as the during and after periods of Assyrian and control group because it is a conventional Persian imperial expansion.

22 Category: Humanities Our research investigates the relationships Name(s): Grant Dixon between military provisioning, political control, metal manufacturing, resource Submission Type: Individual acquisition and long-distance trade. We Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): compare metal-making traditions during Lynn Swartz Dodd, School of Religion periods of local hegemony with Format: Analytical Paper manufacture in periods of imperial socio- Title: What is a King to Do: An political domination. Tayinat and Judaidah Investigation of Images of Kingship were independent regional centers of the Abstract: kingdom of Patina/Unqi in the Amuq Plain of south-central Turkey during the My research is part of the “Divine and 12th–8th centuries BCE. This socio- Human Form Project” within the USC economically important region was Archaeology Research Center and I am conquered and incorporated into successive contributing to the publication of a catalog imperial control by both the Assyrians and of the Egyptian figurines from the Greek Persians from the 8th–4th centuries BCE. and Roman periods owned by USC. Artifacts from the two imperial centers, Megiddo and Persepolis, provide a baseline My work centers on a Greco-Roman characterization for imperial metal Egyptian terracotta figurine that shows an production. Megiddo (Israel) was the site of image of a man dressed in Roman military an Assyrian governor’s palace during the costume smiting a barbarian enemy. The 8th–7th centuries BCE, while the Persian identification of this artifact proved kings commissioned and provisioned their challenging because we have no details conquering armies from Persepolis (Iran) about its place of excavation, which means during the 6th–4th centuries BCE. Bulk that a study of its form, content, and style elemental characterization and micro- are our only means of attributing it to its structural analysis of the artifacts will proper ancient time and place. To answer permit us to assess changes in the metal this question, I did an extensive search for industries both before and during imperial comparanda. Although Roman emperors domination. In the pre-conquest period, we ruled ancient Egypt, they did not impose a anticipate decentralized, opportunistic completely foreign system into a void. metal production as diverse ethnic groups Instead, the Romans used local Egyptian established new settlements. During the ideas and motifs. My close study of a clay subsequent period of flourishing nation figurine owned by USC reveals one aspect states we expect a more robust, though of this cultural transformation through a decentralized metal industry encompassing rare image of a Roman ruler acting as multiple technological styles, reflecting a pharaoh in the classic “smiting the mix of cultural traditions. In the conquest enemies” pose. period, as Tayinat, Judaidah and Megiddo were subsumed into Assyrian and Persian Along with the identification of this imperial rule we expect centralized, highly artifact, it is necessary to have a more organized, industrial production processes comprehensive understanding of what this to emerge. artifact is by analyzing its origins historically and culturally. To do so, I conducted a §§§§ study of historical uses of the smiting image and a cultural study of Egyptian and Roman kingship. Smiting the barbarian enemy was a concern for both the Egyptians and the Romans.

23 The figurine is a rare example of the vessels changed throughout this time. smiting the enemy pose during the Roman Petrographic examination of the samples period. Additionally, it is – as far as I have excavated from Alalakh allows determined – an even rarer if not unique identification of distinctive features such as example of a figure with multiple paint clay type and temper materials. By colors preserved. I am researching the identifying how these features change specific paints and pigments used to create relative to time--that is, identifying the these colors. differences between early and later pottery--this research strives to outline a §§§§ pottery sequence that will be highly useful for dating purposes. My research involves Category: Humanities examining and photographing pottery samples on a microscopic scale, Name(s): Emily Hron Weigle determining whether and how the ceramic Submission Type: Individual fabric and additions to the clay body Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): changed with time, even while shapes of Lynn Swartz Dodd, Archaeology the vessels remained the same. Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: What Time Is It? The Use of Alalakh §§§§ Pottery Samples in Dating Techniques. Abstract: Pottery is a resource which can provide a wide variety of information regarding the use, dating, and functions of an ancient site. For example, changes in vessel shapes or materials can be used as a means of creating a relative dating of both the pottery vessels themselves and of other archaeological finds. Also, examination of the fabric of a pottery sample--that is, characteristics inherent to the clay body from which the pottery is formed--can provide information regarding the available technology of the society which produced it. Characteristics of a pottery fabric are generally functions of firing temperature and conditions, inclusions in the clay, and the composition of the clay itself.

Alalakh is a palatial center located on the Mediterranean coast of modern Turkey, first excavated by Sir Leonard Woolley in the 1930’s. Ceramic materials originally manufactured over period encompassing 500 years were collected from this site. Because shapes of pottery vessels exhibit little variance across the duration of this period, we must look to other characteristics to define how ceramic

24 of nutrient enrichment experiments (mesocosms) on eleven locations throughout Isfjord Radio, Svalbard were performed. The results of these experiments reveal that the primary producers of this region are highly Life responsive to the increased nitrogen deposition from the burning of fossil fuels in North America and Europe. In particular, Sciences this study shows that, the past decade alone, diatom diversity within these two lakes has significantly decreased in response to the increased nitrogen loading of these freshwater systems. §§§§

Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Erin Schuster Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Life Sciences David Bottjer, Department of Earth Name(s): Cara Magnabosco Sciences; Kathleen Ritterbush, Department of Earth Sciences Submission Type: Individual Format: Senior Honors Thesis Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: Ammonoid Ecology of the Douglas Capone, Biological Sciences Pennyslvanian Epoch Format: Field Research Abstract: Title: A Characterization of the Biology Ammonoids are extinct relatives of squid and Nutrient Cycling of Two Glacial and other cephalopods, and have been in Lakes in Isfjord Radio, Svalbard existence from the Devonian period (415 Abstract: mya) to the end of the Cretaceous (65 Due to the fact that lakes in the high arctic mya). These organisms have progressed are only exposed for two to three months from simple to ornate shell morphology, out of the year, very little is known about and have inhabited most of the world’s the microbiology and nutrient cycling that ancient oceans. Study of ammonoids shows occur in this region. Of greatest interest in aspects of the ancient oceans and patterns these high arctic regions are the primary of speciation. The ammonoids for the study producers that control the majority of the are from the Wewoka Formation in biogeochemical cycling and carbon dioxide Oklahoma, on loan from the University of sequestration of the region. Therefore, it is Oklahoma’s Sam Noble Natural History important to understand how Museum. There are 328 total specimens, industrialization of the 20th and 21st 50% of which were in suitable condition to centuries is affecting these delicate and be measured. This means the specimens vital ecosystems. This study explores two are whole without having been crushed or glacial lakes in the high arctic region of missing crucial aspects of their structure. Svalbard. In order to gain insight on the Within the collection are two different nitrate and phosphate supply ratios driving species, on which the study focused: primary production in the region, a series Eoasianites hyattianum and Wewokites

25 venatum all dating from the Pennsylvanian (OriGene) using Lipofectamine2000. Epoch. This study addresses several broad Colony formation: cells are flow-sorted for questions. The functional morphology can tGFP+ 24hrs after transfection, plated at help to discover if there is a connection low density without further selection and between shapes, sizes, and ecology for grown 11 days. these species of ammonoids. More Mitochondrial depolarization: analyzed in specifically, this looks at the variety of form tGFP+ cells using the MitoProbe Kit (BD). within and between each species. Through the use of functional morphology it is Results possible to determine if the intra- and inter- CHLA-06-ATRT cells transfected with PID1- species variation is due to lack of selection tGFP formed fewer colonies than the tGFP- against certain parameters. control cells, indicating that PID1 conferred inhibitory effect on CHLA-06-ATRT cells. §§§§ PID1-tGFP increased mitochondrial depolarization compared to tGFP by 4.7- Category: Life Sciences fold±1.8 (Mean±SEM, p=0.007, n=4) suggesting possible generation of reactive Name(s): Mathew Schur oxygen species, possible induction of Submission Type: Individual apoptosis, and/or effect on metabolism. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): When combined with cisplatin (1-20µg/ml), Anat Erdreich-Epstein, Keck School of PID1-tGFP-transfected cells showed Medicine, Department of Cancer Biology, increased mitochondrial depolarization Pediatrics, Hematology Oncology; Hong compared to tGFP cells (p<0.001, n=4). Zhou, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Hematology Oncology; Xiuhai Ren, Conclusions and Future Directions Children's Hospital Los Angeles These results indicate that PID1 has an Format: Laboratory-based Research inhibitory effect on CHLA-06-ATRT cells Title: An inhibitory role for PID1 in ATRT and causes mitochondrial depolarization. cells Current work seeks to 1) understand if the PID1 effect is due to decreased survival or Abstract: inhibition of proliferation; 2) examine if Introduction PID1 effect also occurs in other ATRT cell Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumors (ATRT) lines; 3) examine if PID1-induced inhibition are rare highly malignant pediatric brain involves signaling via insulin-family tumors caused by loss of the INI1 tumor receptors. Uncovering the mechanism of suppressor gene. PID1, a novel protein the ATRT-inhibitory function of PID1 will discovered in 2006, inhibits insulin receptor allow us to better understand ATRT. signaling. Our laboratory recently discovered that PID1 expression correlates §§§§ with better outcome and has inhibitory effects in two types of brain tumors, gliomas and childhood medulloblastomas. In this study I examined the effects of PID1 in CHLA-06-ATRT cells.

Methods Cells: CHLA-06-ATRT (primary low-passage cell line isolated by us) passage 22-44 were maintained in 10%FBS/IMDM. Transient transfection: PID1-turboGFP (PID1-tGFP) or tGFP control in PCMV6-AC,

26 Category: Life Sciences §§§§ Name(s): Jennifer Chang Submission Type: Individual Category: Life Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Daniel Gardner Jed Fuhrman, Marine Environmental Submission Type: Individual Biology Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Roberta Kato, USC Keck School of Title: Assessing Spatial Variability of Medicine Marine Microbial Communities Format: Field Research Using Molecular Fingerprinting Title: Blood Flow Response To Cold Face Techniques Stimulation Is Blunted In Patients Abstract: With Sickle Cell Disease Marine microorganisms play a pivotal role Abstract: in climate regulation by removing carbon Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by dioxide from the atmosphere. Recognizing repeated episodes of vaso-occlusion potential patterns in the spatial distribution leading to painful episodes, acute chest of marine bacteria and viruses contributes syndrome, stroke, end organ damage and to our understanding of the factors that death. Blood flow changes that result in control microbial community composition decreased perfusion of tissues and organs and therefore carbon cycling. This increase the risk for vaso-occlusion by information is useful for establishing increasing the residence time of effective conservation policies that target deoxygenated and deformed sickled red seawater quality. I collected triplicate water blood cells in the capillary bed. We samples from Two Harbors, which faces the hypothesized that SCD patients would have San Pedro Channel, and Catalina Harbor, an enhanced vasoconstriction response to an open ocean facing harbor, in January other autonomic stimuli, such as the cold 2011. Bacteria and viruses from these face stimulation test, when compared to samples were collected on 0.22 and 0.021 normal controls and SCD patients who are micron filters, respectively. The nucleic chronically transfused. We studied 13 acids from these mixed communities were normal, ethnic matched, subjects, 12 SCD extracted in order to analyze characteristic and 7 chronically transfused SCD subjects. gene sequences. For bacteria, the Physiologic data including systemic vascular intergenic transcribed spacer region was resistance (SVR), respiratory rate, tidal amplified using polymerase chain reaction volume, heart rate and mean arterial blood with forward16S and reverse 23S primers. pressure, as well as Dermal Capillary These spacer sequences are hypervariable Perfusion (DCP) and Regional Oxygen in terms of length and sequence and are Saturation (rSO2) were continuously assessed using Automated Ribosomal monitored and recorded digitally. A cold Intergenic Spacer Analysis. Viral gp23 pack was applied to the forehead for 60 capsid protein genes were also amplified seconds and the perfusion and and evaluated using terminal restriction physiological data were recorded. In all fragment length polymorphism. three populations there was a rapid Amplification of both bacterial and viral decrease of DCP from baseline DNA has been successful and forthcoming (-38.2%, -26.6%, -22.5% respectively) and community fingerprinting data will provide rSO2 (-8.8%, -4.8%, -3.3% respectively) new insights into the ecology of marine during the cold face stimulation. Thus, microbial structures. compared to controls, the vascular response was blunted in both SCD and transfused SCD. Our results indicate that

27 there is a decrease in peripheral blood flow expressed, when it is no longer expressed, during cold exposure in normal controls and whether it is turned on and off which also occurs in SCD and chronically intermittently. It is also possible to examine transfused SCD; SVR is increased consistent the movement of these cells throughout with peripheral vasoconstriction. development, as they are expressing the Interestingly, the peripheral blood flow promoter. These clues can help us response to cold face stimulation is hypothesize the specific role of the significantly blunted in both SCD and SCD promoter being examined as well as derive with chronic transfusion, and thus new experiments to either confirm or deny transfusion does not correct the the hypothesis. abnormality. In overview, these findings indicate that chronic transfusion partially In my case specifically, I used the red improves autonomic function in SCD fluorescent protein known as mCherry to patients, but does not correct the track capsulin expression in the pharyngeal abnormality in peripheral microvascular arch. The use of the red fluorescence was reactivity. to allow for examination of double positive transients that may use another fluorescent §§§§ protein to track a different promoter. In particular, I went on to examine the Category: Life Sciences interaction between the promoter capsulin, which fluoresced red using mCherry, and Name(s): Jonathan Sepulveda the promoter nkx2.5, which fluoresced Submission Type: Individual green using GFP. While both capsulin and Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): nkx2.5 have been known to aid in the Gage Crump, Cell & Neurobiology differentiation of muscle, capsulin Format: Laboratory-based Research promotes development of craniofacial Title: Capsulin and Craniofacial Muscle muscles such as the eye and the jaw, while Development nkx2.5 promotes the development of cardiac muscles. Abstract: Capsulin is a promoter that has been §§§§ discovered to play an integral role in the development of craniofacial muscles. From Life Sciences previous studies we understand that during Category: development the mesoderm and endoderm Name(s): Jack Peace collect into regions known as muscle cores Submission Type: Individual within the pharyngeal arch. Four muscle Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): cores develop, and these cores eventually Moh El-Naggar, Physics and Astronomy differentiate into different muscles Format: Laboratory-based Research throughout the body, such as muscles that control eye movement, muscles in the Title: Carbon Nanotube-Enhanced heart, or jaw muscles. Electroporation in Escherichia Coli and Shewanella Oneidensis Through the use of transgenic lines we are Abstract: able to track the cells that express This project hinges on the exploring the promoters of interest in order to further loosely understood interaction between understand its role throughout the inorganic carbon nanotubes and bacterial development of the embryo. By taking membranes. My overarching hypothesis images or time-lapse videos of the embryo for this unique interface is that the carbon throughout development, it is possible to nanotubes, which are capable of determine when the promoter is first conducting electricity, serve to enhance the

28 delivery of electrical charge to the Abstract: membrane, creating pores through which Pain sensation (nociception) is fundamental additional genetic material, in the form of to life, but hypersensitivity to pain reduces small, circular plasmids, can be inserted quality of life. For these reasons, our into the cell. The carbon nanotubes may understanding of how nociceptive sensory also assist in keeping these pores open for neurons work is important, potentially an extended period of time, ensuring a leading to therapies to lessen the symptoms long enough time interval for the relevant of painful hypersensitivity. In this research plasmids to enter. In work leading up to project, I focus on cold-induced pain. While this project, I noticed that the nanotube NaV1.8 is the sodium channel active during preparation may also alter the way in nociception, TRPM8 is the ion channel that which bacterial colonies grow. Bacterial responds to both innocuous and noxious colonies that had been exposed to carbon cold temperatures. I aim to determine nanotubes had less defined edges and a whether NaV1.8 and TRPM8 channels are unique appearance compared to colonies co-localized in nociceptive sensory neurons that had not been exposed to nanotubes. in mice. The co-localization of these two This could be due to a number of factors, channels can be assessed both at the protein including the clumping of cells around the and mRNA transcript levels. Here I stain nanotubes or the creation of a biofilm. In mouse trigeminal tissue (clusters of sensory approaching this project, I designed neurons) with fluorescent antibodies to experiments that allowed me to optimize visualize the locations of NaV1.8 and TRPM8 the transformation of the bacteria while proteins. In addition, I prepare NaV1.8 and minimizing a loss of viability as a result of TRPM8 DNA probes to detect mRNA the harsh conditions required to transform transcripts coding for NaV1.8 and TRPM8 bacteria, which include exposing the proteins. Although in situ hybridizations to bacteria to nearly 2000 volts of electricity. I detect co-localization at the mRNA transcript prepared samples that tested the effects of level in mouse trigeminals are not performed the presence of nanotubes, the here, these probes can be used in the future consequences of electroporation, and the to confirm the antibody-staining results. The efficacy of genetic transformation. While data collected from antibody staining shows this work remains unfinished, early results that about thirty-four percent of TRPM8 cells show that carbon nanotubes may in fact also express NaV1.8 channels, indicating that have a positive effect on the efficiency of a subset of sensory neurons are responsible electroporation in E. Coli. These early for cold-induced pain. This subset of neurons results are promising and may yield to new can be further investigated to increase our explorations of this unique interaction. understanding of the mechanisms behind cold-induced pain and how such pain can be §§§§ managed for patients with cold hypersensitivity. Furthermore, if only about Category: Life Sciences one-third of TRPM8 cells in trigeminals also

Name(s): Rebekah Romanu contain NaV1.8, this suggests that not all Submission Type: Individual TRPM8 cells are involved in detecting cold-induced pain, prompting further Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): research to determine ulterior functions of Wendy Knowlton, Neuroscience; David TRPM8 cells. McKemy, Neurobiology Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§

Title: Co-localization of NaV1.8 and TRPM8 in mouse sensory neurons

29 Category: Life Sciences chalcogenides. Name(s): Julia Lazzari-Dean Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Moh El-Naggar, Physics; Ian McFarlane, Category: Life Sciences Physics Name(s): Lindsay (LJ) Agostinelli Format: Laboratory-based Research Submission Type: Individual Title: Direct in vivo Observation of Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Microbially Synthesized Arshad Khan, Biological Sciences Nanostructured Materials Abstract: Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Distribution of neurons expressing While eukaryotes are generally limited to nitric oxide synthase, oxygen as an electron acceptor for their acetylcholinesterase, and metabolic pathways, some prokaryotes, such hypocretin/orexin in the rat as Shewanella species, can respire by - - hypothalamus: relation to basal and reducing Mn/Fe oxides, NO3 /NO2 , U(VI), 2- stimulated levels of Fos and Cr(VI), and S O ( J. K. Fredrickson et al., 2 3 phospho-ERK Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 592, 2008; K. H. Nealson et al. International J. of Abstract: General and Molecular Microbio. 81, 215, Lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) neurons 2002). Certain strains of Shewanella (MR-1 participate in a wide variety of homeostatic and ANA-3) can reduce chalcogen functions, including feeding and energy compounds (S, Se, and/or Te containing) and balance, wakefulness and arousal, and process other elements, including arsenic, motivation and reward. Although the while precipitating nanostructures such as distribution of chemical phenotypes within arsenic sulfide nanofibers. The goal of this the LHA has received much attention, it project is to develop a thorough remains unclear how specific populations of understanding of the process through which certain peptide-expressing neurons are these structures are produced, with the hope precisely distributed with respect to one that it can be used to biotically synthesize another. In particular, whereas additional important chalcogenide hypocretin/orexin (Hcrt), semiconductors. The cells were grown on acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and neuronal pads of agar containing arsenate and nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) have been thiosulfate; time-lapse diascopic and localized to various hypothalamic neurons, bright-field microscopy has been used to their spatial relationship to one another has not been fully explored. Nor is it clear how visualize the cells as they produce the AsxSy fibers. The fibers show up very clearly in basal activation of neurons expressing bright field images because they are activity-dependent markers, such as Fos and substantially denser than the surrounding ERK, are spatially distributed among these cells and fluid. The arsenic sulfide appears to specific neuronal phenotypes. form on the cell membranes, sometimes completely encasing the cell. To more clearly Here, we undertook multiple dual and visualize the fibers and avoid complications triple-label immunofluorescence studies from increased pressure in agar, the cells examining the distributions of these were also imaged while in solution. The data peptides within the LHA under basal and suggest a particular location and rate of stimulated conditions. In keeping with production of the nanofibers, which could earlier studies, nNOS and Hcrt were potentially be used to understand the mutually exclusive in terms of localization in process and to modify it for other the LHA, whereas AchE-containing neurons

30 overlapped in distribution within neurons reduction in female fecundity, TBT has that also express Hcrt. A complete been considered a potential endocrine rostrocaudal mapping and distribution disruptor (Moraitou et all, 1984, Huang et through the hypothalamus was all, 2010). Despite these known findings, undertaken. high and possibly detrimental concentrations of Cu and TBTO can still be The data indicate a widespread expression detected in marine habitats. According to of nNOS in areas that are implicated in WHO, Cu concentrations in seawater vary stress regulation and arousal and from about .15µg/L in clean and wakefulness, such as the tuberomammillary uncontaminated areas to more than .100 nucleus, the LHA, and the paraventricular µg/L in coastal areas undergoing severe nucleus. The AchE expression overlapped in human activities. Due to this remarkable some these areas, but also extended variability of toxicity in different areas, we beyond to other hypothalamic regions as suspect that same marine copepod species, well. Confirming our earlier reports of residing in different geographical areas, phospho-ERK1/2 distribution, a medial might show differential resistance to Cu localization of dual Hcrt+ and phospho- and TBT. Therefore, in order to understand ERK1/2+ neurons was evident; new data the differences in sensitivity, we take two indicated that Fos expression was also Californian populations of copepods San pronounced in medially located Hcrt Diego (SD) and Santa Cruz (SC) and cross neurons. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia did them in two ways :SD female with SC male not appreciably alter basal levels of Fos or (DC), and SC female with SD male (CD). phospho-ERK1/2 in Hcrt neurons, We measured the sensitivity through two suggesting that these markers may not be different test, a chronic development test tracking hypoglycemia as previous and an acute 3-hour test. In the former published reports claim. chronic test, we score the copepods based on development on the 7th day i.e. §§§§ whether or not the copepods are at the naupliar (larval) or copepodite stage. In the Category: Life Sciences latter test, on the 28th day, we subject Name(s): Shiven Chaudhry copepods to high toxic concentrations and measure survivorship after 3 hours. The Submission Type: Individual specific concentrations of the chemicals in Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): toxic treatments for the two tests were Suzanne Edmands, Department of determined through preliminary Biological Sciences, Marine Environment experiments and other published literature. Biology; Wai Leong, Department of We are currently working on the treatment Biological Sciences, Marine Environment and analysis of the data, and we see some Biology; Barret Phillips, Department of interesting trends and effects of TBTO and Biological Sciences, Marine Environment CU on development and survivorship. The Biology results of this study can have practical Format: Laboratory-based Research consequences for coastal water quality Title: Effects of Copper and Tributyltin management and other ecotoxicology Oxide on Marine Intertidal experiments. Copepods §§§§ Abstract: Significant numbers of studies indicate toxic effects of copper (Cu) and Tributyltin (TBT) on marine copepods. While sub-lethal concentrations of copper have reported a

31 Category: Life Sciences all animals were analyzed for changes in dendritic spine density within the striatum Name(s): Matilde Hoffman using biocytin labeling, and microscopy. Submission Type: Individual Our results show that high-intensity Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): treadmill exercise increases spine density Mike Jakowec, Keck School of Medicine; mainly in the indirect pathway. Findings John Walsh, Leonard Davis School of from these studies support the role of Gerontology exercise in facilitating brain repair through Format: Laboratory-based Research enhancing synaptic connections. Title: Experience-Dependent Understanding the mechanisms leading to Neuroplasticity of Medium Spiny recovery of synaptic number and function Neurons in the MPTP Mouse Model (termed synaptic plasticity) in our exercise of Parkinson's Disease model may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for the cure of PD. Abstract: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a disorder of the §§§§ basal ganglia characterized by severe motor impairment and functional disability. In PD, Category: Life Sciences there is loss of dopaminergic neurons, depletion of striatal dopamine, and loss of Name(s): Takanori Ohkubo, Hao-Hua Wu connections (synapses and spines) between Submission Type: Group the cortex and the basal ganglia. Loss of Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): these connections is thought to cause Brad Foley, Molecular and Computational motor impairment in PD. Previous studies Biology; Sergey Nuzhdin, Molecular and have shown that intensive exercise leads to Computational Biology increased synaptic connections and to Format: Laboratory-based Research improved learning and memory. In addition, published work from our lab has Title: Female attractiveness and male shown that intensive treadmill exercise territoriality in a sperm-limited leads to improved motor function in Drosophila melanogaster population individuals with PD and in a rodent model Abstract: of PD. The purpose of my research is to The purpose of our experiment is two-fold. investigate whether exercise-induced The first is to determine how female improvement in motor function may be Drosophila melanogaster will adapt to a due to an increase in spine density in the sperm-limited population in terms of body dorsal striatum. size. Previous published studies showed that larger female body size connoted We used the MPTP mouse model of greater fertility, while smaller body size Parkinson’s Disease (PD) to look at changes indicated that the female was more in the dendritic spine number on medium receptive to mating, i.e. greater spiny neurons (MSNs) of two different promiscuity. Thus, one goal of this striatal output pathways of the basal experiment is to determine which trait of ganglia: the direct (dopamine D1) and attractiveness, fertility or promiscuity, has indirect (dopamine D2) receptor containing greater adaptive significance by analyzing pathways. Mice were administered either female body size after a number of saline or MPTP. The animals were then generations. We hypothesize that fertility treadmill exercised for 28 days, one hour will be the most salient trait of female per day. There were 4 experimental attractiveness, and thus female body size groups: 1) Saline-injected 2) Saline + after a number generations will become Exercise 3) MPTP-lesioned 4) MPTP + larger. The second goal In our experiment is exercise. At the end of the exercise period, to investigate changes in male territoriality

32 when evolved in a heavily female-biased are responsible for improved distinction of environment. Females normally benefit different prosodic conditions. Past research when being presented with a number of has indicated gender differences in males they can compare between in a processing of emotional stimuli on a situation with the least risk, thus enabling behavioral level as well as on a neural level them to select a male that offers the best with demonstrated differences in fMRI prospects as a mate. In many situations, activation of brain regions between males females choose larger aggregations of and females during prosody perception males, which in turn imposes selection on tasks. FMRI analyses were conducted to males for increasing group size by choice of directly compare activation levels between larger aggregations. While we expect to genders and identify particular common see this type of lekking behavior, we regions of activation. These overlapping further hypothesize that an aggregation regions of activation were then analyzed equilibrium would be reached due to the with multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to sheer density that will make mating determine whether these commonalities in ineffective. neural networks process prosody differently. However, the analysis In this experiment, one female-biased suggested that these common regions of population (male/female ratio, 10:100), activation do not undergo different neural one effective population control (m/f ratio, processing mechanisms. While these 18:18), and one population density control commonalities do not suggest different (m/f ratio, 55:55) of Drosophila are allowed neural networks between males and to breed over generations; both weight of females, differences in levels of functional females and patch distribution of flies are activation between males and females were recorded every generation. Each population confirmed following identification of density is placed in its own separate regions of uniqueness in activation population cage, and allowed to breed in between genders. These different levels of an isolated manner. Since we've only gone functional activation between genders align through two generations of flies, our with the observation of behavioral results are still preliminary. differences between genders in response to emotional stimuli, and were also analyzed §§§§ with MVPA to determine if these unique regions served to better distinguish Category: Life Sciences different prosodic conditions between Name(s): Katherine Fu males and females. Results showed that these unique regions of activation also do Submission Type: Individual not suggest different neural networks Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): between males and females, and further Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, Occupational Science; study is necessary to better illuminate the Tong Sheng, Neuroscience manner in which differences in neural Format: Laboratory-based Research activation contribute to perceived Title: Gender-Specific Commonalities and behavioral differences in male and female Uniqueness in Activation for Prosody responses to prosody perception tasks. Perception Tasks §§§§ Abstract: This study investigates commonalities as well as differences in neural networks functioning in prosody perception between males and females to determine whether these commonalities or these differences

33 Category: Life Sciences throughout the ocean, understanding their role in regulating iron chemistry may lead Name(s): Colleen Hoffman to further understanding of iron chemical Submission Type: Individual cycle as an essential micronutrient. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Sarah Bennett, Biological Sciences; Katrina §§§§ Edwards, Biological Sciences; Jim Moffett, Biological Sciences Category: Life Sciences Format: Laboratory-based Research Name(s): Meghan Brown Title: How marine bacteria make their Submission Type: Individual nutrients more digestible Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Abstract: Christian Pike, Gerontology Iron is an essential micronutrient for Format: Senior Honors Thesis microorganisms, yet in the ocean due to iron’s chemical properties and behavior it is Title: Independent and Interactive Effects only present in extremely low of Estrogen and Progesterone on concentrations. In order to make the Neuroprotection in an Animal Model limited Fe more bioavailable (‘digestible’), of Neurodegeration marine microorganisms release low Abstract: molecular weight organic complexes, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a known as siderophores. The Marinobacter neurodegenerative disease of aging that species is an example of one of these differentially affects men and women. In siderophore producing microorganisms. women, several studies have indicated that Marinobacter are opportunistic hormone loss at menopause may promote heterotrophic bacteria that have been the development of pathological and isolated from habitats as diverse as cognitive symptoms of AD. While hormone petroleum-field brines, ballast water from therapy (HT) is considered a possible the Arctic, saline soils, surface seawater, preventative measure for post-menopausal marine snow, coastal hot springs, women at risk for developing AD, certain hydrothermal plumes, volcanic basalts and HT regimens may actually exacerbated the deep seawater. Siderophore production onset of cognitive decline in women. Key has been previously demonstrated by two variables in optimizing the protective of the Marinobacter species, M. aquaeolei potential for HT include the timing of and M. hydrocarbonoclasticus. In this treatment initiation, the estrogen and study, we investigated the production of progesterone components involved, and siderphores by two additional Marinobacter the distinction between continuous versus spp.: M. salsuginis and M. algicola. cyclic hormone administration. In this study, we examine the independent and Initial investigations were carried out using combined neuroprotective effects of a traditional colorimetric assay on active, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) iron replete cultures. This resulted in the treatment in the perforant path lesion detection of siderophores from M. algicola model of neurodegeneration in female but not from M. salsuginis. The Sprague-Dawley rats. Using this model, we siderophores produced by M. algicola were are able to investigate two endpoints for isolated and identified by electrospray possible neuroprotective behaviors: ionization mass spectrometry. A parent ion regulation of neuron viability in Entorhinal at 719 and 799 m/z gave fragmentation Cortex (EC) layer II, and compensatory patterns consistent with petrobactin and neurite sprouting in dentate gyrus (DG). petrobactin sulfonate. Since the Our results indicate that ovariectomy- Marinobacter genus are widely dispersed induced depletion of E2 and P4 worsens

34 both endpoints. Furthermore, markers of pro-inflammatory signaling. neuroprotective efficacy varies for both Protein activity levels were measured via endpoints when hormones are delivered Western Blotting. alone or in combination, as well as in cyclic versus continuous administration. These Results: Treatment with both atazanavir results have significant implications for the sulfate and ritonavir eliminated the increase further development of clinical HT for post- in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake when menopausal women at risk for developing compared to basal indicating induction of AD. insulin resistance. When treatment with metformin or resveratrol was added to the §§§§ atazanavir sulfate and ritonavir treated cells, the expected increase in insulin- Category: Life Sciences stimulated glucose uptake when compared to basal was reestablished, indicating an Name(s): Benjamin Shin increase in insulin sensitivity. Additionally, Submission Type: Individual the JNK1/2 pro-inflammatory pathway was Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): activated with atazanavir sulfate treatment Lorraine Turcotte, Department of but not ritonavir treatment via increased Kinesiology JNK1/2 phosphorylation when compared to Format: Laboratory-based Research control cells. JNK1/2 phosphorylation was Title: Metformin and resveratrol blunt significantly decreased in atazanavir sulfate highly active antiretroviral therapy treated cells with metformin and resveratrol (HAART)-induced insulin resistance treatment when compared to atazanavir in skeletal muscle cells sulfate treatment alone indicating decreased inflammation. Surprisingly, p38 Abstract: was not activated with either treatment, Introduction: HIV affects millions of people atazanavir sulfate or ritonavir, indicating worldwide. Treatment to prevent the that the p38 pro-inflammatory pathway progression of HIV via a pharmaceutical does not contribute to atazanavir sufate- or cocktail known as highly active ritonavir-induced insulin resistance in antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been skeletal muscle cells. Conclusion: shown to be effective. Unfortunately, Metformin and resveratrol are capable of HAART is also known to induce insulin reversing HAART-induced insulin resistance resistance. Fortunately, two pharmaceutical in skeletal muscle cells. insulin sensitizers, metformin and resveratrol, appear to be capable of §§§§ increasing insulin sensitivity and may be able to reverse/blunt HAART-induced Category: Life Sciences insulin resistance. Name(s): Cara Bickers Methods: L6 skeletal muscle cells were Submission Type: Individual treated with the HAART pharmaceuticals, Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): atazanavir sulfate and/or ritonavir, as they Susan Forsburg, College of Letters, Arts, are currently recommended to prevent the and Sciences: Department of Molecular progression of HIV. Insulin sensitivity was and Computational Biology measured via insulin-stimulated glucose Format: Laboratory-based Research uptake as well as the activity level of two proteins known to be activated via Title: Novel Mutants Link DNA Replication inflammation since inflammation has been and Centromere Function in the shown to induce insulin resistance. The two Fission Yeast, Schizosaccharomyces proteins measured were JNK1/2 and p38 as pombe

35 Abstract: sequence each mutant’s genome. The centromere is an area of Hopefully my results will add new heterochromatic DNA that is found on each knowledge to the understanding of DNA chromosome and acts as the site of mitotic replication and chromatin formation at the spindle attachment. This spindle forms after centromere. the completion of DNA replication, and pulls the duplicated chromosomes apart §§§§ during mitosis. My hypothesis is that there are novel genes that link chromosome Category: Life Sciences segregation and centromere function to Name(s): Vanessa Fimreite, Dimple Shah the replication of the DNA. These genes Submission Type: Group could have products with action at the centromere where proper replication and Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): heterochromatin repackaging are vital to Daryl Davies, USC School of Pharmacy proper kinetochore and spindle Format: Laboratory-based Research attachment. Title: Potential for the use of Ivermectin as an anti-alcohol therapeutic agent To isolate mutations in these genes, I am Abstract: isolating yeast strains that are sensitive to Ivermectin (IVM) is widely used in animals both hydroxyurea (HU) and thiabendazole and humans as a treatment for infections (TBZ). These drugs act to arrest the cell of parasitic worms. For over twenty-five cycle by interrupting two separate phases. years, IVM has continually proven to be HU acts by depleting the nucleotide supply clinically safe and its widespread and interrupting DNA replication: S-phase commercial use as an anti-parasitic agent is arrested. TBZ acts as a spindle poison, has led recent efforts to expand the uses of and therefore mitosis cannot properly IVM in humans. IVM has previously been occur. found to significantly reduced ethanol intake in a dose-dependent manner in I began by mutagenizing wild-type S. wild-type C57Bl/6J male and female mice pombe cells with ultraviolet radiation. using a 24-hr access two-bottle choice Surviving colonies were screened for model. Since IVM is already FDA-approved sensitivity to both HU and TBZ. Stringent and is presently being used by millions of testing eliminated 43 of the original 46 people, its novel use to reduce alcohol candidates identified. All mutants were intake creates new possibilities in the classified as separate, single-gene, recessive search for new drugs to treat alcohol use mutations. After further characterization of disorders. Drinking studies, coupled with the mutants, I attempted to identify the behavioral testing, can further prove IVM responsible genes via cloning by ability to decrease alcohol consumption in complementation. In order to find a genetic binge drinking scenarios and provide complement for each mutation, I information on the exact dosage of IVM transformed each strain with the genomic need to bring out this effective decline in library of S. pombe. The library is composed alcohol consumption. By utilizing an of small-circular segments of DNA, each alcohol drinking model that mimics “binge containing a fragment of the genome. drinking”, we were able to test the Transformation of the correct fragment hypothesis that IVM can be used as an should restore proper function and reduce effective treatment for this type of misuse. sensitivity. The responsible fragment can Studies will focus on a restricted access then be sequenced in order to identify the drinking paradigm in which the mice will gene. This process has been difficult, and be allotted only a four hour period (per plans are now being made to deep day, every other day) in which they will

36 have access to alcohol. This paradigm measure transcriptional levels. The genes leads to a high level of alcohol intake studied were Clock, Per, Cry1, Cry2, Tim, resulting in blood alcohol concentrations BMAL1, AK, CycB, CS, and Hsp70. Initial (BACs) of 80-100 mg% which is the level results showed that the clock genes were commonly seen in humans that are strongly correlated with one another (r > “binging” on alcohol. The dosage of IVM 0.6) in both high-site and low-site oysters. used will correspond to 10% of the The studied genes were also found to have individual mouse’s weight, which will be noncircadian transcriptional oscillations. taken daily right before the administration These findings suggest that clock genes not of IVM to ensure an accurate ratio is only maintain circadian rhythms, but they continuously given. Seeing a reduction in also may maintain noncircadian rhythm. the levels of alcohol intake when testing This implies that different rhythms of the IVM supports the hypothesis that IVM same canonical clock genes have evolved represents a novel therapeutic treatment for different environmental cues. for the treatment of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. §§§§

§§§§ Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Marissa Srour Category: Life Sciences Submission Type: Individual Name(s): Jessica Tsay Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Submission Type: Individual Francesca Mariani, Eli and Edythe Broad Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Center for Regenerative Medicine and Andrew Gracey, Marine Environmental Stem Cell Research at USC Biology Format: Laboratory-based Research Format: Senior Honors Thesis Title: Rib Regeneration in a Mammalian Title: Reexamining the role of clock genes: Model noncircadian biological oscillations Abstract: in the oyster Crassostrea gigas Establishing a model for bone regeneration Abstract: in mammals is important for developing The circadian rhythm is an immensely treatments for skeletal injuries and bone important biological rhythm regulated by deterioration that arises with age. The the canonical clock genes as studied in regeneration of skeletal elements is yeast, mammals, and drosophila flies. With typically observed in amphibians, however particular environmental cues being amazingly in humans, there are reported important to the period of biological cases of regenerating digit tips and ribs. rhythms, that clock genes express We developed a model for skeletal noncircadian rhythm remains a possibility. regeneration in the mouse, and our goal The oyster Crassostrea gigas was studied in was to further determine the role of the two groups: intertidal/high-site and periosteum, the fibrous connective tissue subtidal/low-site. Using nonlethal sampling surrounding the bone. More specifically, by hemolymph extraction, gene expression our study aimed: 1) to determine the extent was tracked in six individual oysters over 48 of rib regeneration when both the rib hours. Every 3 hours, hemolymph was portion is removed along with the aspirated from the adductor muscle surrounding periosteum and, 2) to examine through a hole drilled in the shell. This the morphology of the regenerated rib, to experiment was repeated in a controlled better understand innate signaling lab environment. Gene expression was patterns. Mice between 4-8 weeks of age calculated using the qPCR method to underwent surgery in which a sternal rib

37 portion was removed from the surrounding unpredictable. Why then, do androgens periosteum (n=50). The rib cages of MRL increase aggressive behavior? Our study mice and CD-1 mice were examined for the determined if steroids enhance motivation presence of bone and cartilage at ~95 days for aggression in male rats, as determined (n=19) and ~283 days (n=19). In some by operant responding for the opportunity surgeries (n=12) the rib portion was to fight with a castrated intruder. Rats (n= removed along with the periosteum and 8/group) received daily injections of analyzed ~118 days post-surgery. Analysis testosterone (7.5 mg/kg) or vehicle (6% of results showed that: 1) the presence of ethanol in an aqueous solution of 13% the periosteum was necessary for cyclodextrin) sc for 5 weeks. They had the regeneration to occur, 2) interestingly, the opportunity to fight with different regenerated bone is forming islands with castrated males on 5 occasions in an hollow cavities, which may mimic bone operant chamber. Subsequently, rats were marrow cavities, and 3), the MRL strain trained to operate a nose-poke for access showed enhanced healing when the to the castrate intruder on an increasing periosteum was removed along with the fixed-interval schedule up to 10 minutes. rib, indicating that there may be sources Nose-poking reflects the motivation to other than the periosteum that contribute engage in aggressive behavior. This study to skeletal regeneration. In conclusion, we is still ongoing. During 5 days of successfully expanded our model for responding at FI 1 min, vehicle-treated rats skeletal regeneration in the mouse and made 2.9 ± .3 nose-poke responses, while determined the necessity of the periosteum testosterone-treated males made 3.8 ± .9 in the repair process. Our model for skeletal responses (p= .38). During 4 days of repair has clinical significance for the responding at FI 2 min, vehicle-treated rats treatment of skeletal injuries and made 3.3 ± .7 nose-poke responses, while deterioration ranging from osteoporosis to testosterone-treated males made 3.4 ± .4 skeletal injury repair. responses (p= .90). There does not appear to be differences in nose-poking behavior §§§§ between vehicle and testosterone treated rats in this preliminary stage of data. Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Abigail Armstrong §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Category: Life Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Tiffany Sia Ruth Wood, Cell & Neurobiology, KSOM Submission Type: Individual Format: Laboratory-based Research Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: Roid rage in rats? Testing motivation for aggression Katrina Edwards, Marine Environmental Biology; Jason Sylvan, Marine Abstract: Environmental Biology Athletes use anabolic-androgenic steroids Format: Laboratory-based Research (AAS) to enhance athletic performance. However, AAS users may demonstrate Title: Testing the Mantle to Microbe increased aggression (so-called 'roid rage). Hypothesis in the Lau Basin The popular image of 'roid rage is of a Abstract: sudden, uncontrolled reaction. Studies in The East Lau Spreading Center (ELSC) and animals have shown that testosterone Valu Fa Ridge comprise a ridge segment in increases aggression in a dose-dependent the southwest Pacific Ocean, where a manner. However, aggression in spreading region in the north creates host androgen-treated animals is not random or rock of basaltic composition while

38 subduction in the south forms andesite Category: Life Sciences host rock. The transition zone between the Name(s): Ronica Patel two ends forms a mix of both rock types. We studied the microbial diversity on six Submission Type: Individual rock samples collected along the ELSC and Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Valu Fa Ridge in the summer of 2009 by Mike Jakowec, Neurology; Giselle constructing 16S rRNA clone libraries of the Petzinger, Neurology Bacteria that live on these rocks. This Format: Laboratory-based Research process included extracting DNA from the Title: The Effects of Exercise on rocks, PCR amplification, cloning, and DNA Neurogenesis in the Subventricular sequencing. We also identified Zone and Hippocampus in a Mouse characteristics of the rocks by sending off Model of Parkinson's Disease samples for X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thin sectioning. We found that as the host rock Abstract: changed from north to south, so did the Parkinson’s disease affects about one in composition of Bacteria. This suggests that ten over the age of 50 and the risk for the the geochemistry of the rock affects the disease increases with age. The average species of Bacteria that live on it. Basaltic age of onset for Parkinson’s disease is 60. rocks from the northern end of the ELSC The causes of this disease are unknown but had high concentrations of Gamma- and many researchers believe that it is a Alpha-proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. combination of several factors, such as These concentrations decreased on the environmental toxins, and genetic samples as the sources of the rocks moved predisposition. At a biochemical level, further south. Andesite rocks from the Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a southern end had high concentrations of severe loss of substantia nigra Chloroflexi, which decreased in the dopaminergic neurons. The loss of these transition zone and were absent on basalt. neurons causes a decreased amount of Conversely, Epsilonproteobacteria were dopamine, which affects the motor present on the basalt, decreased in the pathways of the basal ganglia. Adult transition zone and were absent on the neurogenesis is the process by which new andesite. The results of this study support neurons are generated and occurs in two the Mantle to Microbe hypothesis in that distinct regions of the brain, the different types of prokaryotes are selected subventricular zone (SVZ) and the dentate for by the composition of the host rock as gyrus (DC) of the hippocampus. The determined by the melt lens underlying the purpose of this study was to examine the ELSC and Valu Fa Ridge. Future work potential changes in neurogenesis entails completing cloning on all six following a high intensity forced treadmill samples, constructing 16S rRNA clone running in a mouse model of Parkinson’s libraries for Archaea, and qPCR to quantify disease, the MPTP (1-methyl-4- bacterial and archaeal populations on the phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) lesioned samples. mouse. Mice were grouped as: 1) Saline, 2) Saline + Exercise, 3) MPTP only, and 4) §§§§ MPTP + Exercise. At two, four, or six weeks of exercise mice were injected for two days with 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) in order to determine the amount of proliferating stem cells. EdU staining of brain sections revealed that MPTP-lesioned mice that continued the intense treadmill regiment for six weeks showed increased neurogenesis in the SVZ and DC than the

39 MPTP-lesioned only mice and the saline + cycle are competed with each other to see exercise mice. Similar trends were seen at any correlation between the extent of two and four weeks as well. This oxidative damage and relative fitness in E. preliminary data sheds light on the coli cells. Through this, the selection of mechanisms of exercised enhanced repair certain populations in long-term stationary following basal ganglia injury and can be phase may be partially elucidated through used to further trials or experiments in an oxidative damage explanation Current order to determine what types of cells results indicate that cells with greater these new neurons become and if these oxidative damage see a lower rate of new cells can help replenish the lost survivability when competed against cells dopamine source. with less oxidative damage; this agrees with the idea that a higher level of §§§§ oxidative damage results in decreased fitness of the organism. This data can be Category: Life Sciences projected to possible theories on other Name(s): John Choi single cell competitions that are commonly observed, like sperm in zygote formation Submission Type: Individual and domination of certain bacterial strains Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): over others in infection. Steve Finkel, Biological Sciences Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§ Title: The effects of oxidative damage on competitive fitness in aging E. coli Category: Life Sciences Abstract: Name(s): Alice Kim Aging is a ubiquitous process in organisms; Submission Type: Individual from bacterial cells to neuronal cells, all Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): living organisms experience a cell life cycle. Rajat Agrawal, Keck School of Medicine Progression of cell cycle, or aging, has been Format: Field Research known to have a positive correlation with many factors, one of which is oxidative Title: The Honduras Eye Disease Study damage. In cells, oxidative damage may (HEDS): Assessing the efficacy of lead to mutation, changes in gene survey-based eye disease prevalence expression, and even cell death. In studies humans, oxidative damage can help lead to Abstract: problems like atherosclerosis and In studies measuring the prevalence of eye Alzheimer’s disease. In bacteria like E. coli, diseases in a population, surveys of the cell life cycles in batch culture show several participants’ basic medical history and distinct phases: after an initial lag in growth specific ocular complaints are employed to that can last for a few hours, there is assess their overall ocular condition. These exponential growth that then enters into results are then interpreted at a population stationary phase after about a day. At the level to give an estimate of the presence third day, the cell enters death phase, and prevalence of the detected eye which continues into long-term stationary diseases. phase after 99% of the cells die. Using this life cycle as a model of aging for the E. coli However, conditions that affect the retina cells, certain populations of cells in post of the eye require additional steps beyond death phase will have accrued greater the survey to properly detect and diagnose. oxidative damage. In the study pursued, Pupil dilation, examination of the retina, cells with differing levels of oxidative and knowledge of retina pathology are damage due to differing points in the life necessary components to reach this

40 diagnosis. Because eye disease prevalence Category: Life Sciences studies typically do not incorporate pupil Name(s): Kianni Courtade dilation and retina evaluation as part of their methodology, the presence of retinal Submission Type: Individual diseases may be undetected, and the actual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): prevalence of retinal diseases may Shrikanth Narayanan, Viterbi School of ultimately be underreported. Engineering; Smeeta Sardesai, Keck School of Medicine; Sheila Woodward, Thornton In this study, we assessed the efficacy of School of Music employing this survey-based methodology Format: Field Research to determine eye disease prevalence in a Title: The impact of maternal sound-based population. Using the World Health intervention on independent oral Organization’s ocular history surveys as feeding, growth and guidelines, a novel survey was developed to neurodevelopmental outcomes in address a spectrum of common perceivable preterm infants anterior and posterior segment eye disease symptoms for each subject. Using this, we Abstract: compared the diagnoses of ocular Considering that the prognosis for optimal conditions based on results from the survey neurodevelopmental and psychological to an ophthalmologist’s actual diagnoses to outcomes for many preterm infants determine any variability in such survey- remains poor through adolescence, the based diagnoses. Subjects were recruited goal of this study is to determine whether from the Centro de Salud Integral ZOE eye maternal sound based interventions in clinic in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, over the premature infants improve physiological, span of two months from June to July, independent oral feeding, growth and 2010. neurodevelopmental outcomes. We plan to follow at least 234 children through 2 years Our findings indicate that there is indeed to determine if continuous rhythmic variability between the diagnoses of eye intrauterine sounds (recorded in previous diseases based on the survey results research conducted by Dr. Woodward) and compared to the diagnoses following a intermittent sounds of the infant’s mother complete eye examination. Further studies singing (presented for several hours each are being conducted to include a larger night) will impact a number of key subject pool and determine a more outcomes, including growth, successful oral effective study methodology for measuring feeding (which is related to discharge the prevalence of eye diseases that dates) and neurodevelopment. The incorporates both the efficiency of surveys potential benefit to society would be and thoroughness of eye examinations. substantial if any of these outcomes is determined to be impacted. It would lessen §§§§ costs if infants are discharged earlier. It would have long-term impact on quality of life for infants and their families, as well as on schools, if it was determined that learning disabilities were lessened as a result of brain development being enhanced by extended periods of auditory stimulation in the incubator. §§§§

41 Category: Life Sciences the song resulting in a stereotyped pattern of vocal output. Name(s): Zhiqi Yip Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Sarah Bottjer, Dept of Biological Sciences, Category: Life Sciences Neurobiology Section; Vanessa Miller-Sims, Name(s): Laura Corrales-Diaz Pomatto Department of Biological Sciences, Neurobiology Section Submission Type: Individual Format: Laboratory-based Research Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: The morphology of axonal Kelvin Davies, Andrus School of projectons from the High Vocal Gerontology; Aaron Hagedorn, Andrus Center to vocal motor cortex in School of Gerontology songbirds Format: Laboratory-based Research Abstract: Title: The Oxygen Conundrum Studying how songbirds learn to generate Abstract: vocal behavior provides an outstanding The mitochondria provide the driving force model for understanding speech for both survival and growth of the cell. production in humans. Song behavior is However, even in the most robust cell, the controlled by an interconnected set of brain mitochondria cannot achieve maximum nuclei called the song control system. efficiency owing to the conundrum of Premotor forebrain nucleus HVC (used as a oxygen reliance. Due to oxygen’s strong proper name) is found in birds that learn affinity for electrons, it is the final acceptor the sounds used for vocal communication in the electron transport chain, providing and is critical to song production in adult both an efficient means of ATP generation, birds. HVC projection neurons send axons coupled with the harmful production of to vocal motor cortex (RA) and drives bursts reactive oxygen species. of activity in RA; RA in turn projects to downstream areas to drive vocal output. Because of this necessary reliance, cells Although a lot of work has been done have developed means to combat oxidative recording from single HVC neurons, the damage that could be detrimental. One microcircuitry within HVC and its efferent specific defense mechanism is the Lon projections is unknown. To better protease found within the mitochondrial understand the pattern of neural matrix, which degrades oxidatively connectivity in vocal output I made a damaged proteins. However, with age, localized injection of biotinylated dextran though the production of reactive oxygen amine (a molecular marker) into HVC and species remains constant, the cell’s defense reconstructed the morphology of single RA- mechanisms wane, including the Lon projecting HVC neurons innervating in RA. I protease. We focused upon the Lon found that these axons have an extremely protease production within varying ages of limited pattern of branching and project to wi-38 cells, a type of embryonic lung tissue, different locations in RA. This pattern through mitochondrial matrix isolation and suggests that a single HVC neuron will cellular staining. The mitochondrial activate only a limited number of RA isolation allows for the measurement of neurons. This pattern is consistent with a mitochondrial activity to determine code of electrical activity in which one HVC mitochondrial functionality. neuron only fires for a brief period of time during the generation of the song. Such a We are using three types of staining sparse code suggests that a population of techniques to determine Lon activity in neurons fires together to drive each part of varying ages of wi-38 cells. Ki-67 staining

42 determines if cells have become senescent. injected with saline and exposed to In combination with this, “Mito-Tracker intensive treadmill exercise (control), (iii) Red,” determines mitochondrial activity mice injected with the neurotoxin 1- and “Mito-Tracker Green,” determines methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mitochondrial mass. The hope is that as the (MPTP) (mimics many PD features), and (iv) cell ages, though the mitochondria mass mice injected with MPTP and exposed to increases, the activity of the mitochondria intensive treadmill exercise. Exercise was decline. started 5 days after MPTP-lesioning when toxin-induced cell death is complete and These three staining techniques and was continued for 2, 4, or 6 weeks. Two mitochondrial activity indicate that with days prior to these time points, 5- increasing age, cells decrease their division ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) was rate, coupled with maintaining older administered to mark for proliferating cells. components, specifically the mitochondria, Using EdU fluorescence staining, we looked leading to increased oxidative damage in at the levels of newborn proliferating cells the cell. In contrast, younger cells, which in four brain regions: (a) subgranular zone continually replace older mitochondria, of the hippocampus (SGZ), (b) experience less oxidative damage. As a subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles result, we expect the Lon protease (SVZ), (c) rostral caudal migratory stream efficiency to mirror this wane in growth: (RCMS), and (d) striatum (where a decrease high capacity in the youngest cell group in neurons and level of dopamine occurs and low capacity in the oldest cell group. with PD). For the 6-week cohort of mice, there was increased neurogenesis with §§§§ exercise in the saline-lesioned mice (in SGZ, RCMS) and MPTP-lesioned mice (in SGZ, Category: Life Sciences SVZ, RCMS) compared to the non-exercised Name(s): Ourania Petasis mice. Our findings thus far suggest that exercise may increase the generation of Submission Type: Individual new cells in the injured brain and has Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): implications as a possible benefit of Mike Jakowec, USC Keck School of intensive physical therapy in PD patients. Medicine; Giselle Petzinger, USC Keck School of Medicine §§§§ Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: The Role of Neurogenesis in Exercise- Category: Life Sciences enhanced Motor Recovery in an Name(s): Thomas Kahn Animal Model of Parkinson’s Disease Submission Type: Individual Abstract: Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Studies have suggested that intensive Moh El-Naggar, Physics exercise can be neuroprotective against Format: Laboratory-based Research Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and intensive treadmill exercise can reverse motor deficits Title: Using Microbial Fuel Cells to Harvest in an animal model of PD. While many of Electricity from Bacteria and the underlying molecular mechanisms are Investigate Bacterial Nanowires still unknown, one possible mechanism is Abstract: neurogenesis (present but limited in adults). Shewanella onidensis has the uncommon We aimed to determine if exercise ability to utilize solid-phase electron enhances neurogenesis in the injured brain. acceptors for respiration in the absence of Four groups of mice were compared: (i) oxygen. The main obstacle in this process is mice injected with saline (control), (ii) mice bridging the internal electron transport

43 system with an external acceptor, making bulk electron export a requirement. One proposed mechanism for export is the use of conductive pili, which have been called “nanowires”. Nanowires have previously been measured to be electrically conductive and capable of transfer rates a thousand- fold greater than maximum respirational needs. Shewanella decorates its external surface with decaheme c-type cytochromes that have been shown to be necessary for extracellular electron transport and nanowire conductivity. It is therefore believed that nanowires are not a previously undocumented pilus system but rather a known system that has been modified with cytochromes to become conductive. We hypothesized that type IV pili are serving as nanowires. In our microbial fuel cell experiments, two different mutants with deletions in the type IV system all showed decreased current output as compared to wild type, in concordance with our hypothesis. Additionally, a mutant with deletions in another pili system, mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin or Msh, showed a decrease in current output from wild type although to a lesser extent than the type IV mutants. It is believed that there is sufficient homology between the Msh and type IV systems to allow for some type IV pilus biogenesis by the Msh system, which would explain our results. §§§§

44 Visualization System based on Southern California Earthquake Center-Virtual Display of Objects (SCEC-VDO) that can display information needed for operational earthquake forecasting. This includes displaying seismic sequences in real time, Physical kinematic fault rupture models, and probabilities of ruptures on earthquake faults. The Production Team incorporated Sciences & the above information into animations using SCEC-VDO to be delivered to a wide Engineering variety of audiences and organizations. Another responsibility of the Production Team was to work closely with the Development Team to report any bugs with the SCEC-VDO software, test new plug-ins, and identify where existing functionality needed to be improved. The Production Team also collaborated with the Science Research Team to learn about the topics to be displayed in their animations and with the Content Management System Team (CMS) to assemble metadata and publish animations. The Production Team made animations about the 2010 El Mayor- Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Cucapah earthquake sequence using Name(s): Lauren Gelbach, Bryce Walters relocated hypocenter data from Dr. Egill Kelsey Brunner (The College of Hauksson at Caltech to depict the New Jersey), Salvador Romero northward trend of triggered events. (Pasadena City College), Animations were also created using new Aurelio Valencia (East Los plug-ins to demonstrate how CyberShake’s Angeles College) theoretical earthquakes would affect the Submission Type: Group Los Angeles area and to show UCERF participation probabilities on the important Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): faults in Southern California. In addition to Robert De Groot, Earth Sciences those accomplishments, the Production Department/Southern California Team also created SCEC-VDO tutorials so Earthquake Center; Thomas Jordan, that future interns and other users would Director of Southern California Earthquake know how to use the software and the Center; Michael Ihrig, Santa Monica City new plug-ins. College Format: Creative Work §§§§ Title: 2010 Southern California Earthquake Center Virtual Display of Objects Production Team Abstract: The “Grand Challenge” for the 2010 Undergraduate Studies in Earthquake Information Technology (USEIT) intern class was to develop a Seismic Crisis

45 Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering becomes farther away, the robots “cool down” and return to their solid form. In Name(s): Cauchy Choi, John O'Hollaren this manner, the robotic formation is Submission Type: Group capable of navigating a wide variety of Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): obstacles. Once the robot determines itself Maja Matarić, Computer Science; Ross to have passed the influence of the Mead, Computer Science obstacle, it reestablishes its temporarily Format: Laboratory-based Research ignored spatial relationships. Title: A Distributed Thermodynamics- Inspired Approach to Multi-Robot §§§§ Obstacle Avoidance Abstract: Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering The goal of a robot formation control Name(s): Emre Yuzak architecture is to get a number of robots Submission Type: Individual into a specified form. It must be able to Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): handle real-world events that could disrupt Chi Mak, Chemistry the formation, thus requiring formation Format: Laboratory-based Research repair, obstacle avoidance, and changes in the formation. Our approach focuses on Title: A Graphical Interface for the obstacle avoidance and maintenance of Visualization of Secondary and formations. The obstacle avoidance scheme Tertiary Structures of RNAs draws from the principles of Abstract: thermodynamic phase transitions. We refer RNAs are large biopolymers that have many to the transformation from a multi-robot diverse biological functions in a variety of swarm to a rigid formation as a “phase fundamental cellular processes. While RNAs transition”, since it has many parallels to are best known for acting as carriers of the state phase transitions observed in genetic information (mRNAs) and for their matter. For example, it is useful to think of roles in protein synthesis (tRNAs), they also a group of mobile robots with no particular serve many other important functions programming for interaction with each including catalysis (ribozymes) as well as other, aside from collision avoidance, as gene regulation (riboswitches). Many viral similar to matter in a gaseous state; that is, and sub-viral agents also use RNAs as the the “volume” and shape that the group primary genomic material for their takes on is determined by its surroundings. propagation. The functions of RNA depend Robots in a swarm can be thought of as on its ability to arrange itself in specific similar to matter in a liquid phase—the three-dimensional shapes, so accurately swarm is free to assume the shape of its modeling its shape is critical to our surroundings, but maintains a fixed understanding of cells’ and viruses’ volume. Robots in formation are similar to functions. matter in a solid state, assuming both a fixed volume and shape. While determining the complete three- dimensional structure of a RNA molecule The proposed method applies these would be optimal, most RNAs are not good principles to obstacle avoidance. As robots candidates for the equipment used to on the perimeter of a rigid, “solid” obtain 3D (tertiary) structures – NMR and formation encounter an obstacle, they crystallography. “warm up” and transition to a “liquid” phase. The liquid (or less constrained) My solution is an interface that represents section of the robotic swarm can then 2D structures in a way that prioritizes the circumvent the obstacle. Once the obstacle important (functional) features of the

46 molecule rather than its shape. RNA’s 2D vasodilator nitric oxide. However, the structure is analyzed by the presence of mechanisms have remained unknown. We several recurring sub-structures, called aimed to create new profiles to assess “motifs”, most of which are commonly endothelial response to rapid pulsation recognized in literature. The key motifs associated with cardiac arrhythmia. Bovine within a molecule can be recognized (BAEC) and human aortic endothelial cells through a combination of distinct (HAEC) were subjected to a host of geometric features that describe the pulsatile shear stress (PSS) that varied in interaction energies between various pulse rates, slew rates, and shear stress for nucleotides in the structure. 4 hours. The BAECs and HAECs were analyzed to show how the rapid pulsations This new representation scheme has several affected the endothelial cells of cardiac advantages over what is offered by arteries. We demonstrated that endothelial competing programs: 1. Unimportant nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA regions will not be visually intrusive and can expression in BAECs and HAECs is be hidden from the diagram if desired. 2. significantly up-regulated in response to Large molecules will be as neatly displayed PSS at 50 bpm and 150 bpm compared as smaller ones. 3. Secondary structure with the static condition, whereas eNOS identifications are based on interaction expression is down-regulated in response energies rather than spatial relationship to oscillatory shear stress (OSS). In parallel, between nucleotides. None of the existing NO metabolites, nitrate (NO2) and nitrite programs are comparable in these respects. (NO3), increased in response to PSS50 and in response to PSS150. Furthermore, we §§§§ used a monocyte binding assay to demonstrate that both PSS150 and OSS Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering promote monocyte binding to HAECs to a Name(s): Bo Chan greater extent than PSS50, whereas laminar shear stress down-regulates monocyte Submission Type: Individual binding. We showed that Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): tachyarrhythmias, PSS150, attenuate NO Tzung Hsiai, Viterbi School of Engineering production but promote inflammatory Department of Biomedical Engineering responses compared to PSS50. Our new Format: Laboratory-based Research set of shear stress profiles provides new Title: A New Pulsatile Flow System to approaches to study the mechanisms of Study Cardiac Arrhythmias on cardiac arrhythmias, vascular oxidative Endothelial Function stress and inflammatory responses. These findings will help to better understand the Abstract: consequences of irregular heart Cardiac arrhythmia is a leading cause of contractions and cardiovascular disease. sudden cardiac death. Emerging data supports a link between endothelial §§§§ dysfunction and irregular, rapid pulsation associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Irregular shear stress, such as oscillatory flow, has shown to induce an inflammatory response leading to the initiation of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. In contrast, physiological pulsatile shear stress and laminar shear stress have been shown to stimulate anti-inflammatory pathways such as the production of

47 Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering conjunction with the USC Space Engineering Research Center (SERC), is at Name(s): Billy Stevens work on a dedicated USC satellite mission, Submission Type: Individual Aeneas. Supported by the Operationally Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Responsive Space Office and the Air Force Arjun Narayanan, Chemistry; Surya Research Lab at Kirtland Air Force Base, the Prakash, Chemistry Aeneas mission is helping to validate a Format: Laboratory-based Research Department of Homeland Security Title: A One-Pot, Superacid-catalyzed, technology demonstration program to Microwave Assisted Synthesis of 2- track cargo containers. While commercial Methyl and 2- firms already offer satellite-based cargo Trifluoromethylthiochroman-4-ones tracking services, the low Earth orbiting from Benzenethiols and Crotonic Aeneas design is far smaller and uses different technologies that will enable use Acids of smaller receivers on the ground that Abstract: require less power. Aeneas is a 3U Cubesat, The condensation of benzenethiols with a nanosatellite comprised of three crotonic acid and 4,4,4-trifluorocrotonic interconnected cubic units, each with 10 acid has been investigated. It is found that cm sides. It contains new payload benzenethiols undergo efficient cycli- technology for operation and maturation in acyalkylation with crotonic acids in the radio frequency, computer and distributed presence of superacidic operation applications for Cubesats. trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid as a catalyst and medium. The reactions were Aeneas represents further development of considerably accelerated by using higher the technologies used in Caerus, Aeneas' temperatures with microwave irradiation. smaller 1U predecessor launched in This procedure, combined with a simple December 2010, as well as the addition of workup and flash chromatography, allows other hardware and software to be direct access to 2-methyl and 2- integrated into the system. Noticeable trifluoromethylthiochroman-4-ones, among these additions is a deployable scaffolds which can be further elaborated parabolic antenna that will be folded into for drug discovery and development. the 3U body and deploy after Aeneas is ejected from the launch vehicle on orbit. The structural and mechanical aspects of §§§§ this antenna and its electrical interface with the rest of the Cubesat system are an Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering interesting challenge for the Name(s): Erin Fowler, Eric Teegarden undergraduates at SERC. The Submission Type: Group undergraduates also have the chance to work on a burn wire configuration for Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): deployment of the solar panels, a set of Tim Barrett, Information Sciences Institute secondary whip antennas and the attitude Space Engineering Research Center; determination and control systems which Joseph Kunc, Viterbi Department of will ensure that Aeneas points the correct Astronautics direction on orbit. Aeneas has been a Format: Field Research hands-on opportunity for us to learn how Title: Aeneas Nanosatellite to design, test and assemble a spacecraft Abstract: from a skeleton of commercial off-the-shelf The University of Southern California parts. Information Sciences Institute (ISI), in

48 §§§§ maximize efficiency. This project attempted to improve the size and shape of the SnSe nanocrystals synthesized by the Brutchey Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering group to form a more useful project. Name(s): Brandon Reinus Changes to the reaction time, temperature, Submission Type: Individual reagents, and work-up were attempted in Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): order to improve the quality of the product. Surya Prakash, Chemistry Powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission Format: Senior Honors Thesis electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the nanocrystals. While no Title: An Attempt at an Easy and Cheap conclusively successful improved synthesis Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure has been performed, the benefits of various Amino Phosphonic Acids adjustments continue to be investigated. Abstract: The synthesis of amino phosphonic acids §§§§ (APAs) in enanteriomerically pure form is of interest due to their close relationship to Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering amino acids. Although procedures exist for Karen Fang, David Mittelstein the synthesis of APAs and enantiomerically Name(s): pure APAs, the lack of details and ease of Submission Type: Group synthesis has created the need for a more Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): practical protocol. Herein, we present an Tzung Hsiai, Viterbi Cardiology; Rongsong attempt at the synthesis of an optically Li, Viterbi Cardiology active amino phosphonic acid. We first Format: Laboratory-based Research synthesized a chiral carbamate, which we Title: Atherosclerotic Plaque Rupture - In subsequently utilized in a one-step three- Vitro Model component reaction with benzaldehyde and dialkyl phosphite resulting in a mix of Abstract: diastereomers. Mechanically unstable atherosclerotic plaques at shoulder regions near arterial §§§§ bifurcations often undergo plaque rupture. This implicates hemodynamic fluid shear Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering stress in destabilizing the plaque. Our experiment investigates the mechanistic Maxwell Chang Name(s): involvement of matrix metallo-proteinases Submission Type: Individual (MMP) in atherosclerotic plaque rupture Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): through a proposed in vitro plaque model. Priscilla Antunez, Chemistry Department; Richard Brutchey, Jr., Chemistry The plaque ruptures associated with acute Department coronary syndromes are caused by a Format: Laboratory-based Research degradation of vulnerable plaque’s fibrous cap. Calcifying vascular cells (CVC), smooth Title: An Improved SnSe Synthesis muscle cells that tend to mineralize, were Abstract: used to assess the MMP’s involvement in To create effective and efficient this. CVC form calcified nodules resembling photovoltaic devices, the materials from calcified atherosclerotic plaque in vivo, and which they are constructed must have this experiment aims to establish CVC certain physical properties. While SnSe nodules as a possible in vitro model for nanocrystals have a band gap appropriate understanding atherosclerotic plaque for photovoltaics, the nanocrystals must rupture. have a uniform morphology in order to

49 CVC nodule stability upon exposure to Abstract: simulated hemodynamic shear stress is This research project explores the assessed in response to co-culture with application of thermobimetals in a large monocytes (THP-1) and treatment with scale to create a passively responsive oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL). building skin system. Thermobimetal is a These factors are both physiologically shape changing ‘smart’ material, typically associated with atherosclerotic plaque found in thermostats, that deforms when development and rupture. A flow chamber heated and returns to its original shape was developed to test these nodules in when cooled. While the metal is know to conditions approximating hemodynamic deform, the deformation is relatively small stress (PSS: mean shear stress (Tave) = 23 even when exposed to high temperatures. dyn cm-2; temporal gradient (dT/dt) = 71 This project focuses on designing a building dyn cm-2 s-1 simulating regions of human skin system based on the inherent qualities carotid artery bifurcations). of thermobimetals. The use of this type of system as a passively responsive system (it Results show that treatment with oxLDL can respond to its environment and/or THP-l destabilizes CVC nodules in automatically with zero energy input) response to hemodynamic shear stress and makes it an extremely relevant topic to is associated with both increased MMP current sustainable design and construction activity and gene expression in CVC. practices. The project involves designing, Furthermore, an MMP inhibitor (GM6001) engineering, testing, fabricating, and reverses oxLDL and THP-1-induced nodule assembling full scale mock ups of a system instability. These findings suggest that to be installed in a building scale physiological shear stress promotes plaque installation in August 2011. The project rupture in calcified atherosclerotic plaque also tackles issues of digital design and through MMP induction by oxLDL and fabrication relevant to large scale projects THP-1. including the use to parametric practices to design, fabricate and produce thousands of This in vitro model successfully establishes custom panels. the role of MMP in plaque rupture. These functional similarities between CVC §§§§ nodules and calcified atherosclerotic plaques suggest the validity of this in vitro Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering model for further experimental Name(s): Michael Chiu investigation into the mechanism of hemodynamic plaque rupture. Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): §§§§ Richard Giles, Chemistry; Kyung Jung, Chemistry Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Format: Laboratory-based Research Name(s): Dylan Wood Title: Deuterium/Hydrogen Exchange of Submission Type: Individual Meta-Substituted Arenes Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Abstract: Adjunct Associate Professor Doris Sung, Deuterium is a stable, non-radioactive Architecture isotope of hydrogen, and is naturally- Format: Creative Work occurring in nature. As deuterium carries a neutron, which hydrogen lacks, deuterium Title: Breath: Creating Thermobimetal forms bonds with carbon that vibrates at Building Skins lower frequencies, making those bonds stronger than typical C-H bonds. Its clinical

50 significance is demonstrated when Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering selectively swapping hydrogen in known drug molecules for deuterium, with the Name(s): Melissa Gish idea that the particular bond will not be Submission Type: Individual metabolized as readily. The effect of Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): slowing down the rate of bond cleavage is Russell Sliter, Department of Chemistry; known as the kinetic isotope effect. In Andrey Vilesov, Department of Chemistry principle, deuterium-containing drugs will Format: Laboratory-based Research affect the pharmacokinetics for many drugs Title: Fast Nuclear Spin Conversion in that are metabolized by pathways involving Water Clusters: A Matrix Isolation hydrogen-carbon bond cleavage. Study The pharmacological effects of deuteration Abstract: can be categorized in three types. The first Single water molecules have been isolated effect is an increase in biological half-life of in solid Ar matrices at 4 K and studied by the compound. This could lead to lower ro-vibrational spectroscopy using FTIR in dosing amounts, which would decrease the regions of the ν1, ν2, and ν3 modes. side-effects, and enhance efficacy of the Upon nuclear spin conversion at 4 K, drug, depending on the drug’s essentially pure para-H2O was prepared pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. followed by subsequent fast annealing Typically, any metabolism by the gut wall generating ice particles. FTIR studies of the and/or liver will decrease a compound’s vapor above the condensed water upon efficacy since a large percentage of the annealing to T ≥ 250 K indicate fast re- unmetabolized drug does not reach conversion of nuclear spin to equilibrium systemic circulation. However, since conditions. Our results indicate that deuterium to carbon bonds are more stable nuclear spin conversion is fast in water than hydrogen to carbon bonds, deuterium dimers and larger clusters, which preclude containing drugs can reduce dosing preparation of concentrated samples of requirements and lower metabolic load. para-H2O, such as in ice or vapor. Lastly, many drugs are metabolized in complex patterns, giving rise to both active §§§§ and inactive metabolites. The kinetic isotope effect can lead to the reduced Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering formation of toxic or reactive metabolites, Name(s): Alexa Sieracki as well as increasing the formation of Submission Type: Individual desirable active metabolites. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Throughout the semester, deuteration Sarah Feakins, Department of Earth reactions will be carried out on known Sciences compounds and studied using NMR Format: Laboratory-based Research spectroscopy to determine the selective Title: Geochemical Correlations of exchanged of hydrogen and deuterium. Microtephra in DSDP Site 231 to Assays, in collaboration with another Dated Eruptions at Hominin Sites group, could be run to determine the Abstract: stability of the deuterium-containing compounds, and reactions could later be Marine sediments in the Gulf of Aden optimized to yield better pharmacokinetic contain tephra (volcanic glass) transported and pharmacodynamic effects. far from the sites of explosive volcanic eruptions in East Africa. Through recovery §§§§ of this tephra we are able to construct an eruptive history for the Afar Rift Zone,

51 reflecting the timing and frequency of Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering volcanic events. Many of these tephra Name(s): Szeyan (Charlotte) Chan horizons are not visible to the naked eye but can be identified by examination under Submission Type: Individual a petrographic polarizing microscope. I Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): isolated and examined microtephra from an Massoud Pirbazari, Sonny Astani early Pliocene interval of DSDP (Deep Sea Department of Civil and Environmental Drilling Project) Site 231 corresponding to Engineering; Ryan Thacher, Sonny Astani approximately 4.6-4.9Ma. My results Department of Civil and Environmental yielded evidence of at least 12 volcanic Engineering events. The next portion of this project will Format: Laboratory-based Research entail density separations to further Title: Hexavalent Chromium Treatment in concentrate the volcanic glass ready for Groundwater by Integrated minor element geochemical analysis. This Electrokinetic and Nanoparticle will enable the identification of the tephra Technologies in the marine core in comparison to the dated eruptions recorded at hominin sites Abstract: on land. By merging the terrestrial and After gaining public exposure by California marine tephrostratigraphic records we will resident Erin Brockovich in 1993, improve the absolute age constraints on hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] has become the marine core and provide direct one of the EPA’s priority pollutants, and a stratigraphic ties to events on land, top concern of the WHO, due to its independent of dating uncertainties. We carcinogenic effects from chronic exposure will also present plans for and significant health threats from acute paleoenvironmental reconstructions from exposure. Cr(VI) exists abundantly in this core using biomarker isotopic analyses. groundwater and soils around the world as The δ13C values of plant leaf waxes allow a result of unmonitored discharge from a for the reconstruction of the variable extent wide variety of industries. Many state-of- of forest versus grassland, already shown to the-art remediation technologies are be highly variable for later intervals of the ineffective in aquifer environments with Pliocene and Pleistocene. A well-dated low hydraulic conductivity. Electrokinetic record of environmental change in a remediation, a novel treatment technology, 300,000 year interval between 4.6 and avoids these issues by transporting charged 4.9Ma will provide insights into the contaminants through groundwater using a regional environmental conditions in which low-voltage direct-current. Essentially, some of the earliest bipedal hominids contaminants can be transported and existed. concentrated for more effective and less intrusive treatment. In laboratory-scale §§§§ electrokinetic trials, Cr(VI) transport to the anode has been observed, and anodic reductive conditions convert Cr(VI) to Cr(III), which has much lower solubility and negligible toxicity. However, for compliance with safe water standards, additional remediation is required. Zero-valent iron nanoparticles are an emerging technology capable of bringing Cr(VI) concentrations to safe levels. Laboratory-scale studies show that nanoparticles rapidly reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III), and it is hypothesized that their nano-size gives them the ability to travel

52 through aquifers. Effective nanoparticle treatment column of iron-oxide-coated transport is essential to Cr(VI) remediation sand eliminated these contaminants. The in groundwater. This study evaluates the present study focuses on determining the feasibility of transporting nanoparticles actual mechanisms of arsenic removal through clay soils using electrokinetic within the filter. The previous filter design technology in order to treat Cr(VI) was adapted to include a layer of iron- contamination. Electrophoretic mobility oxide-coated sand. Four sampling ports and particle stability studies were were strategically located to separately performed, which were essential to quantify arsenic removals in the biofilm and evaluating nanoparticle transport potential. iron-oxide-coated-sand layers. Both In addition, laboratory-scale electrokinetic sodium arsenate and sodium arsenite were experiments in soil columns were spiked in the filter influent to determine conducted in the presence and absence of whether arsenic removal was attributable nanoparticles to assess nanoparticle to redox reactions. If arsenic removal transport and Cr(VI) reduction in a occurred within the biofilm layer, the simulated natural system. implications would be ground-breaking, highlighting the ability of bacteria to store §§§§ or process harmful forms of arsenic. Samples of schmutzdecke (biofilm layer) Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering were obtained from the filter for microbial community analysis at two stages -- after Name(s): Szeyan (Charlotte) Chan, acclimation with uncontaminated source Hannah Gray, Avril Pitter, water, and after introduction of arsenic Kristen Sharer, Lillian Ware into the influent. The DNA materials were Submission Type: Group isolated from these samples, and the Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): bacterial rRNA sequences were amplified by Massoud Pirbazari, Sonny Astani polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Department of Civil and Environmental techniques. The PCR products were Engineering; Varadarjan Ravindran, Sonny subsequently separated by denaturing Astani Department of Civil and gradient gel electrophoresis (DGEE), and Environmental Engineering sequenced for fingerprinting identification Format: Laboratory-based Research of dominant bacterial strains, before and Title: Investigating the mechanisms of after exposure to arsenic. Similar samples arsenic removal by microbial layer in were also collected for scanning electron microscopy analysis to morphologically a bio-sand filter used for drinking identify microbial species associated with water purification in developing arsenic removal. Elemental analysis was countries undertaken to determine the locations of Abstract: any immobilized arsenic species. The This research addresses the enormous presentation will address the mechanisms global demand for safe drinking water in and interactions and mechanisms of arsenic developing countries. It focuses on removal in the bioactive filter. removing arsenic and bacterial pathogens from potable water supplies using a bio- §§§§ sand filter. The filter consists of a supporting gravel layer, large sand layer, and biofilm layer containing a diverse microbial population, acclimated to Echo Park pond water. Our previous conclusions were that the filter in-tandem with a pre-

53 Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering flux decline patterns. Membrane autopsy and surface characterization studies were Name(s): Hannah Gray employed to investigate the nature and Submission Type: Individual type of membrane fouling and obtain a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): better understanding of fouling Massoud Pirbazari, Sonny Astani mechanisms. These studies included Department of Civil and Environmental Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x- Engineering; Varadarjan Ravindran, Sonny ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray Astani Department of Civil and diffraction analysis, scanning electron Environmental Engineering microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Format: Laboratory-based Research A membrane transport model was Title: Investigating the potential of employed for performance prediction of membrane processes in removing membrane processes (ultrafiltration and precursors to toxic and carcinogenic nanofiltration), regarding permeate flux and NOM rejection. The model contaminants from water incorporated mass-transfer resistances Abstract: attributed to membrane material, The occurrence of natural organic matter concentration polarization, external gel (NOM) in potable water sources presents a formation, and internal fouling, besides major problem in water treatment including mass-transfer and boundary layer scenarios. The NOM are precursors to the effects. The predictive capability of the formation of toxic and carcinogenic organic membrane transport model was validated contaminants during disinfection by as the experimental results were in good chlorination and advanced oxidation agreement with the theoretical predictions processes. These contaminants are regarding permeate flux decline patterns exemplified by several aldehydes, ketones, and NOM removal efficiencies. halo-acetic acids and trihalomethanes. The presence of NOM also causes severe §§§§ fouling, undermining the efficiencies and economics of membrane processes from Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering the standpoints of permeate flux decline and increased energy consumption. The Name(s): Chandni Raja, Dennis Su, Haili present research addresses these aspects Sun, Emily Van Guilder regarding NOM rejection and associated Submission Type: Group membrane fouling mechanisms. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Membrane processes characteristically Wenrong Cao, Earth Sciences; Valbone encounter permeate flux decline problems Memeti, Earth Sciences; Scott Paterson, due to organic, biological, inorganic and Earth Sciences Department particulate fouling, among which organic Format: Field Research fouling is the most dominant mechanisms North-vergent thrust faults in in water treatment scenarios. Membrane Title: filtration tests using polymeric ultrafiltration accreted oceanic sediments and arc and nanofiltration flat-sheet membranes volcanics Central Asian Orogenic were conducted in plate-and-frame cells. Belt, Inner Mongolia These tests were conducted with humic Abstract: and tannic acids as model compounds The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) (representing NOM), under different formed during long-lived Paleozoic operating conditions. These tests convergence between the Siberian and investigated membrane rejection North China cratons. The rock types, characteristic with regard to NOM location and timing of sutures, and removals, membrane fouling and permeate vergence direction in much of the CAOB

54 are poorly constrained. Mapping and U/Pb amalgamation ceased by early Mesozoic zircon geochronology study in the time. Dashizhai region revealed Permo-Triassic ocean floor metasediments (depositional §§§§ age around 270-300 Ma) , arc metavolcanics (288 Ma) and plutons Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering (226-245Ma) unconformably overlain by Name(s): Tisa Thomas weakly deformed Cretaceous volcanics (130-135 Ma) and intruded by later granitic Submission Type: Individual dikes (132 Ma). Paleozoic packages are Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): composed by mainly deformed Surya Prakash, Department of Chemistry metaandesites, metadacites, and less Format: Laboratory-based Research common metarhyolites juxtaposed with Title: One-pot synthesis of N- greenschist grade slates, phyllites, and local (Fluoroethyl)amines by MCR strategy marble and chert. using Fluoroalkyl Sulfones as Efficient Fluoromethyl-Transfer All units are weakly to strongly deformed Motifs by E-W striking, south dipping cleavages that are locally axial planar to tight to Abstract: isoclinal folds of bedding. We also Introduction of fluorine into organic recognized a major E-W striking, south compounds brings forth significant changes dipping (average 095/31) ductile thrust in their chemical, physical, and biological system, often along margins between the properties. Fluorinated ethylamines can be Permo-Triassic metavolcanic and prepared by many methods. However, a metasedimentary units. In these ductile simple and efficient approach for highly thrusts strains increase to >400% diverse derivatives of fluorinated extension parallel to a southward plunging ethylamines from their simple molecular mineral lineation (average 32/196) units by a multicomponent reaction (MCR) and >80% shortening perpendicular to protocol was not known. We have found foliation. Local kinematic indicators support that fluoro(bisphenylsulfonyl) methane and top-to-NNE (average 016) motion in these fluoro(nitrophenylsulfonyl) methane can act thrusts. Late quartz veins developed in the as efficient fluoromethyl-transfer motifs for area with average 124/57 orientation likely the synthesis of various substituted formed in tension gashes consistent with fluoroethyl amine derivatives by a new formation during northward thrusting. F2 multicomponent methodology using the folds that deform the mylonitic fabric in the corresponding fluoro(phenylsulfonyl) thrust faults have average orientation methanes, amine, and formalin. This simple 15/290 and southward dipping axial planes and convenient base free methodology also consistent with north-vergent affords many advantages such as non air thrusting. sensitive route to fluorinated ethylamines, short reaction time, room temperature Our field study suggests in the Late reactions, and high selectivity avoiding Paleozoic, Dashizhai region was dominated separation processes in most cases. The by a northward vergent fold and thrust belt methodology can also be extended to that involved deep to locally shallow water prepare a diverse array of fluorinated marine sediments and oceanic arc rocks. ethylamines by suitable choice of During thrusting, crustal thickening led to substituents on fluoro(phenylsulfonyl) ambient metamorphic conditions in the methane, amines, and carbonyl greenschist facies. No prominent suture has compounds. yet been recognized. Thrusting and final

55 §§§§ displayable. This plugin shows ground displacement in real time as well as total Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering final ground displacement. The ability to view time-dependent rupture probabilities Neil Anderson, Michael Name(s): of various points on a fault was also added Sheehan to SCEC-VDO. Using data from the UCERF Ben Siver (Illinois Institute of model, users can now view the probability Technology), Saul Castro (East of any particular point on a fault Los Angeles College) participating in ruptures of various Submission Type: Group magnitudes. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Robert De Groot, Southern California §§§§ Earthquake Center - USC Format: Creative Work Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Title: Operational Earthquake Forecasting Name(s): Patrick Vail Abstract: Submission Type: Individual Since 2002, interns in the Undergraduate Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Studies in Earthquake Information Dan Erwin, Astronautical Engineering; Technology (USEIT) program at the Anthony Pancotti, Astronautical Southern California Earthquake Center Engineering; Taisen Zhuang, The George (SCEC) have been developing a robust and Washington University fully interactive software suite to be used Format: Laboratory-based Research for exploring seismic data in 3D space. Each Title: Performance Characterization of year, interns in the USEIT program Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster for implement new functionality into the Nanosatellite Propulsion Southern California Earthquake Center’s Virtual Display of Objects (SCEC-VDO). The Abstract: software is used for a variety of purposes Future nanosatellites will require low-thrust including scientific research, rendering propulsion systems for orbital maneuvers to animations, and spreading earthquake counter the effects of trajectory awareness to the general public. perturbations and for attitude control. In addition, the ability to accurately measure The 2010 SCEC-VDO development team and characterize the performance of these focused on implementing features under propulsion systems is essential for the scope of operational earthquake demonstrating their potential usefulness. A forecasting. One such feature is the real micro-cathode arc thruster has been time earthquake plugin, which is capable of developed at The George Washington displaying and navigating through the most University that is advantageous for recent earthquakes in 3D space. Data from nanosatellite propulsion due to its efficient the California Integrated Seismic Network is usage of propellant (high specific impulse). now displayable in real time through this To generate thrust, the micro-cathode arc plugin. Furthermore, end users are able to thruster expels a highly-directional plasma view a live screencast of this utility via the plume that is generated by an arc discharge SCEC website during seismic crises. between a titanium cathode-anode. The Another feature added to SCEC-VDO is the thruster employs a variable-strength ability to view static and kinematic fault magnetic field produced by a coil around ruptures based on data from the the anode to direct the plume and rotate CyberShake project, although any data in the arc-spot to mitigate cathode corrosion. the Standard Rupture Format (SRF) is also Due to its potential use as a propulsive device for nanosatellites, the micro-cathode

56 arc thruster was fully characterized on a color change in response to a stimulus. torsional thrust stand mass balance (nNTS) Such stimuli include physical strain in the in vacuum chamber IV of the Collaborative form of stretching or localized pressure, High Altitude Flow Facility (CHAFF-IV) at temperature change, and ligand binding. the University of Southern California. The Each stimulus expands or contracts the nNTS is a specialized low-thrust polymer, causing a change in the measurement system that was used to periodicity of the particles or void array obtain direct measurements of the thrust and, subsequently, a reflected color produced by the micro-cathode arc change. thruster. The total impulse of the device was found to be 0.7 micro-Newton- The current project investigates the seconds, which agreed well with predicted potential of several different arrangements values, and the total impulse was shown to of nanoparticle/nanovoid polymer increase with increasing magnetic field structures. Lumerical™ photonics and strength. The specific impulse of the device optics design software was used to was determined by measuring the mass measure and evaluate effects of changes in loss from the cathode after repeated firings different aspects of the sensor structure on and was found to be 2500 seconds, and the resultant color changes. Simulation the nominal thrust-to-power efficiency was results were coupled with 14%. Future research will concentrate on spectrophotometer measurements on increasing the efficiency of the thruster polymer samples to propel more effective power supply and designing a propellant polymer structure designs. The advantages storage system suitable for long spacecraft of these polymer structures lie not only in missions. their flexibility and reversibility in sensing, but also in their intrinsic reflectivity—they §§§§ don’t require an electric current or magnetic field to produce visible color. Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Consequently, further avenues of research Name(s): Victoria Saadat include inducing color change using an electric current or a magnetic field, Submission Type: Individual particularly for applications in electrical Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): engineering or medicine. Michelle Povinelli, Viterbi School of Engineering §§§§ Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Polymeric Photonic Crystal Sensors Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Abstract: Name(s): Brian Rose Many fields, ranging from chemical Submission Type: Individual engineering to medical diagnostics, can Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): greatly benefit from reversible and energy- Andrea Armani, Mork Family Department efficient sensors that can be reused and of Chemical Engineering and Material that do not require elaborate procedures or Science; Heather Hunt set-up. Recently, polymeric photonic Format: Laboratory-based Research crystal arrays have been identified as an arrangement than can potentially meet Title: Silica Sol-Gel Synthesis for these needs and successfully overcome Integrated Photonics such obstacles. They consist of a periodic Abstract: array of spherical dielectric nanoparticles or One of the focuses of the Armani Lab is air nanovoids embedded in a polymer layer. fabricating high-sensitivity, low-detection The entire polymer structure produces a limit silica waveguides for use as biosensors

57 and integrated photonics. Silica is the ideal anthropogenic input). The rise during the medium for an integrated photonic device deglaciation has been an enigma to because of its low propagation loss and paleoceanographers; an explanation has low susceptibility to non-linear effects. yet to be set forth that accounts for the However, the high stress, which is inherent entire 100 ppm of the rise. A number of to thermally grown oxide, can result in hypotheses, most evoking the structural defects in the optical devices, sequestration abilities of the deep ocean, which will degrade the device performance. have been formulated in an attempt to Therefore, we are investigating alternate account for the rise. A new hypothesis, routes of depositing silica on silicon. Our however, states that the rise in CO2 was a primary approach is based on silica sol-gel result of the release of liquid CO2 chemistry. Sol-gels are a unique way of originating from subduction arcs. If producing a silica thin film through the feasible, this could not only account for the hydrolysis and condensation of an rise in CO2, but also for the observed drop alkoxysilane precursor. One of the great in atmospheric ∆14C as well as an advantages of sol-gels is the ability to tailor excursion in planktonic-benthic age optical properties of the thin film by using differences in foraminifera in the eastern different catalysts and precursors. In the Pacific. Here we use Element/Calcium data Armani Lab, tetraethyl orthosilicate is from planktonic and benthic foraminifera conventionally used as the precursor. to reconstruct a history of carbonate ion However, we have also investigated using a and trace metal concentrations in the combination of methyltriethoxysilane, or Eastern Equatorial Pacific to reexamine the MTES, and titanium butoxide to form a mechanisms behind the last deglaciation. composite film that would have a higher We found that atmospheric CO2 rose refractive index than pure silica. before the deglacial temperature rise seen in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific (EEP); the §§§§ timing of the CO2 rise and the warming lend crucial support to the hypothesis. Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering These results have profound implications Name(s): Kathleen Harazin for our understanding of carbon dioxide and climate sensitivity in the past. In Submission Type: Individual addition, our trace metal reconstructions Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): possibly indicate the enrichment of Sergio Sanudo-Wilhelmy, Department of micronutrients in the EEP, suggesting the Earth Sciences and Department of presence of nutrient-rich Antarctic Biological Sciences; Lowell Stott, Intermediate Water at the site. Department of Earth Sciences Format: Senior Honors Thesis §§§§ Title: Submarine reserves of liquid CO2 and glacial/interglacial atmospheric CO2 variability Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO2) plays an essential role in modulating Earth’s climate; during glacial terminations, CO2 increases concomitantly with temperature, and during glacial inception, they decrease. Between the last ice age and today, atmospheric CO2 has increased by over 200 ppm (100 ppm of that is a result of

58 Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering the electromagnetic spectrum (a region lacking absorption in current OPV devices), Name(s): Niral Patel they are also studied in neat films for Submission Type: Individual potential device fabrication. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Mark Thompson, Department of §§§§ Chemistry; Matthew Whited, Department of Chemistry Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Format: Laboratory-based Research Name(s): Kristan Culbert Title: Symmetry Breaking via Submission Type: Individual Intermolecular Charge Transfer in Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): meso-linked BODIPY dyads Wenrong Cao, Department of Earth Abstract: Sciences; Scott Paterson, Department of Boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes have Earth Sciences been of recent interest due to their high Format: Field Research extinction coefficients, high fluorescent quantum yields, and sharp absorption Title: Tectonic implications of the age and profiles. These compounds have been characteristics of sedimentary extensively used as molecular probes and packages for the growth of the labels, as they exhibit absorption and Mesozoic arc, central Sierra Nevada, emissions profiles independent of solvent California polarities. Abstract: Geologic units in the central Sierra Nevada, A series of BODIPY dyads, through direct California record valuable information meso-linkage and via an intervening about the growth of a Mesozoic phenylene linker, were synthesized and continental margin magmatic and overlying characterized via standard spectroscopic volcanic arc. I am examining accompanying methodsUnlike the parent BODIPY metasedimentary packages that specifically fluorophores and recent derivitizations, the provide additional constraints on the dyads demonstrate a very different effect geologic setting of and active tectonics with changing solvent polarity. Excited during arc formation. U/Pb La-ICPMS state behaviors of these molecules detrital zircon ages collected from demonstrate a symmetry broken state, metasedimentary samples with Permian- leading to intermolecular charge transfer, and Mississippian fossil-bearing clasts at the marked by a drastic red-shift in emission. base of the arc section indicate that the arc This behavior is previously undocumented started forming by ~260 Ma, ~30 million in the red/near IR part of the visible years earlier than previous researchers had spectrum. previously determined. Overlying these metasediments is a thick pile of Triassic, Symmetry breaking, which is most Jurassic and Cretaceous metavolcanics. prevalent in the photosynthetic reaction Metasedimentary units are rare higher in system, utilizes a charge separated state in the Triassic volcanic section, but the “special pair” of chlorophyll molecules. increasingly common in the Jurassic This inorganic mimic could potentially serve section. Here thinly bedded, marine as an interfacing layer between the donor metasediments, one with an early Jurassic and acceptor layers in lamellar organic fossil (Weyla) give way to a thicker photovoltaic cells, and facilitate charge sequence of marine sediments to the north separation at the highly polarized D/A that have zircon populations dominated by interface. As these molecules are highly Jurassic zircons (~170-180 Ma) plus zircons absorbing in the visible and near IR part of with Precambrian ages compatible with a

59 North American source. The Jurassic degrees ranging up to 1000. We have volcanic section is unconformably overlain collapsed the 385 sets of un-averaged by a thin unit of Cretaceous terrestrial three-day power spectra into 357 sets of metasediments and volcaniclastic units 'm'-averaged power spectra. We then fit a (96-98 Ma) which in turn are overlain by total of 4,390,537 peaks in these 385 sets coarse volcanic breccias and rhyolite tuffs of 'm'-averaged power using our WMLTP associated with the Minarets Caldera fitting code and symmetric Lorentzian complex. These data suggest that the arc profiles. We also re-fit all 385 sets of 'm'- was built in a shallow marine setting on the averaged power spectra using the WMLTP edge of North America with the Jurassic arc code and asymmetric profiles. We then not as emergent as the Triassic and inter-compared these 770 tables of 'p'- Cretaceous arcs. mode parameters and we performed linear regression analyses of the differences in 'p'- §§§§ mode frequencies, widths, amplitudes, and asymmetries as functions of the differences Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering in as many as ten different solar activity indices. From these linear regression Name(s): Jared Brooks, John Rising, analyses we have discovered new Jorge Rodriguez signatures of the frequency shifts of the Submission Type: Group 'p'-modes. We have also discovered a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): similar but slightly different signature of the Edward Rhodes, Department of Physics temporal shifts in the widths of the and Astronomy oscillations. We have found yet another Format: Field Research different signature for the changes in the Title: Temporal Changes in the asymmetries of the peaks, and we have Frequencies, Widths, Amplitudes, found an unexpected signature of the shifts and Asymmetries of the Solar p- in the amplitudes of the oscillations. mode Oscillations During Solar Cycle 23 §§§§ Abstract: Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering We present a study of the temporal changes in the sensitivities of the Name(s): Jack Seeley frequencies, widths, amplitudes, and Submission Type: Individual asymmetries of the solar 'p'-mode Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): oscillations to corresponding changes in the Sarah Feakins, Earth Sciences levels of solar activity during Solar Cycle 23 Format: Laboratory-based Research and the beginning of Solar Cycle 24. We Title: Tephrostratigraphy of the Gulf of have analyzed 'm'-averaged power spectra Aden from 5.03 to 5.2 Ma obtained from a combination of MDI and GONG full-disk Dopplergram time series Abstract: obtained between 1996 and 2010. We We present a tephrostratigraphic record have divided all 15 of the MDI Dynamics from the Gulf of Aden from 4.9 to 5.2 Ma Runs obtained during 1996 and 2010 into using identification of volcanic glass shards a total of 357 three-day time series. We in the marine sediment core from DSDP have also employed 28 additional three-day Site 231. This record can help reconstruct time series obtained with the GONG++ the history of explosive volcanism in the instruments during 2001. We have Gulf of Aden and the Afar Rift Zone, in computed a total of 385 sets of un- terms of timing and frequency of eruptions averaged power spectra from these three- with distally transported tephra. We day time series for spherical harmonic provide semi-quantitative shard counts,

60 which may contain information about the bridge the gap between the academic relative volumes of eruptions, modified by science world and the general public, as transport biases. For my section of the media is the primary transportation channel column, which is from 5.03 to 5.2 Ma, through which we consume and interpret there appear to be at least 11 events, new information. In this project, perhaps more if these eruptions can be earthquake science and the consequences distinguished geochemically. of geologic occurrences along the San Tephrostratigraphy also presents wonderful Andreas fault at the Carrizo Plain National opportunities for constraining the age of Monument are communicated in the form samples by correlating distal deposits of of short videos. The Carrizo Plain has been volcanic glass in the marine core to dated studied by geologists across the globe due mineral grains in tephra deposits near the to the unique preservation of geological source volcanoes. Future work will attempt data pertaining to earthquake science and to measure minor element geochemistry in geomorphology. The camera in this project order to allow correlation to previously captured the pieces of information from documented eruptions in terrestrial records. the landscape and from knowledgable Positive identification would provide a experts in the field to form the story of the means of improved dating for terrestrial Carrizo Plain and the San Andreas fault. and marine sequence of the Gulf of Aden Footage describes paleoseismology and and Afar region. tectonic features such as sag ponds, pressure ridges, and offset channels. With §§§§ potential to be used in classrooms and in web-based forms, these videos are filled Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering with both basic and detailed information about geology and earthquake science that Name(s): Natalie Ballew can be understood and used by anyone Submission Type: Individual from the blossoming elementary school Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): child to the curious post-doctoral scholar. Ramon Arrowsmith, Arizona State University; Robert De Groot, Southern §§§§ California Earthquake Center Format: Creative Work Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Title: The Carrizo Plain: Puzzle Pieces to Name(s): Catherina Ticsay Understanding the San Andreas Fault Submission Type: Individual Abstract: Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): California has a notorious fault splitting Dr. Veronica Eliasson, Aerospace and through the state, known for its interesting Mechanical Engineering; Chuanxi Wang, geologic features and potential to cause Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; major damage to many cities in California: James Tamashiro, Aerospace and the San Andreas Fault. Earth scientists flock Mechanical Engineering; Daniel Gally, to California to get a chance to study this Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; major strike-slip fault, but those who are Martina Troesch, Aerospace and Mech interested in geology on a more basic level Format: Laboratory-based Research may find much of the jargon and concepts tricky to wade through. This can be said for Title: The Effects of Cavitation Due to much of the scientific world, making basic Pulses Propagating Through Fluid- concepts that are intrinsic to human life Filled Cracks and our world seemingly inaccessible. Abstract: Presenting scientific information in multi- Experiments were conducted to investigate media forms can resourcefully be used crack propagation due to shock-induced

61 cavitation. The experimental apparatus Information Center (EPIcenter) Network used a pressurized gas gun to simulate now consists of over 65 free-choice shock impact upon polycarbonate samples. learning institutions primarily located The samples had machined cracks and throughout California. Members of the contained varying levels of water. Both EPIcenter Network share a commitment to single-framed and high-speed Schlieren encouraging earthquake preparedness photography were used to capture the through demonstrated leadership in risk- shock impact and view wave and crack reduction and earthquake education. propagation throughout the structure. It Currently, the EPIcenter Network is building was of interest how cavitation and overall a strategy for sustainability. The purpose of fluid-structure interaction affect crack the research was to develop impact behavior. Crack propagation in a water- measures for the EPIcenter Network filled crack was compared to that of a through grounded theory. simple polycarbonate sheet with no water. Major stress spots were seen at the crack A literature review on informal learning tips due to impact. Crack growth had the environments and evaluation methods was tendency to grow along the line of impact, conducted. Six members of the EPIcenter and it was observed that the addition of Network in Southern California were more water led to greater damage of the interviewed, representing five types of samples. Fracture surface analysis has led informal learning environments—natural to the hypothesis that cavitation increases history museums, children’s museums, the crack velocity. Despite the initial libraries, outdoor areas, and science and results, further investigation of damage technology centers. The purpose of the characteristics is necessary to form interviews was to understand each conclusions about the strength of solid institution’s mission and participation in the structures. More test runs are necessary to EPIcenter Network. The data from the confirm if these observations are interviews were incorporated into six logic consistent. Photo-elasticity and caustics models, one for each member, and are two additional visualization methods analyzed. A seventh logic model was also that will be used to understand crack created to represent the overall EPIcenter growth and aid in developing a model to Network. measure crack velocity. The logic models illustrated how the §§§§ mission of the EPIcenter Network supported the mission of each institution Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering through similar theoretical long-term Name(s): Irene Gow outcomes. The logic models also indicated the need to continue the development of Submission Type: Individual the EPIcenter Network through research, Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): increased visibility, and increased Thomas Jordan, Department of Earth communication among members. In Sciences addition to the continuation of the Format: Field Research literature review, data collection, and Title: The Impact of the Earthquake analysis of logic models, the development Country Alliance Earthquake of a rubric that will allow individual Education and Public Information institutions and the EPIcenter Network as a Centers (ECA EPIcenters) whole to measure success and identify areas of improvement was recommended. Abstract: Starting as an informal alliance in 2008, the §§§§ Earthquake Education and Public

62 Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering pluton emplacement, and low T to post pluton cooling. Name(s): David Horrell Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Scott Paterson, Earth Sciences Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Format: Field Research Name(s): Hanlong Chen Title: Unfolding the Tectonic History of Submission Type: Group Joshua Tree National Park: A Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): structural and petrologic study of Robert De Groot, Earth Science the Johnny Lang Canyon area Department; Thomas Jordan, Earth Science Abstract: Department Joshua Tree National Park, in southeastern Format: Creative Work California, displays a spectacular ~ 2 b.y. Title: UseIT 2010 Media Team geologic history of the evolution of the western North American margin. Evidence Abstract: lies in deformed and metamorphosed The task of the 2010 UseIT Media Team Precambrian sedimentary and plutonic was to capture the experience of the UseIT rocks, the construction of a Mesozoic intern class and demonstrate how students magmatic arc, and recent strike-slip from across the country came together for faulting and block rotation. In the Johnny eight weeks to achieve the "Grand Lang Canyon region of the park, a large Challenge". We collaborated with the anticline of Mesozoic age folds the other multi-disciplinary teams to accurately Precambrian rocks and is closely tied to portray the roles of each group in achieving formation of the Mesozoic magmatic arc. the Grand Challenge for this year, which The ~1.75 Ga (age of zircon cores dated by was to produce a seismic crisis visualization Barth and Wooden) Precambrian rocks system based on SCEC-VDO. In order to (para- and orthogneisses) were highly accomplish our task, we first learned how deformed and metamorphosed at around to operate the camera and audio 1.4-1.45 billion years ago (age of zircon equipment as well as how to edit audio rims from Barth and Wooden). During the and video using media editing software. late Cretaceous (~82-70 Ma) a complex of The first stage of the movie making process sheet-shaped to large elliptical plutons was to draft the script. As we went were emplaced, which field relationships through multiple revisions of the script, we establish is the same time as the formation were challenged to effectively describe of the large anticlinal fold. Thin section UseIT and the Grand Challenge. It was analysis of the rocks reveals changing important for us to portray the struggles deformation and metamorphic that the interns faced to show our assemblages that follow a retrograde path audience the nature of the UseIT program. from high pressure and temperature Coming from different backgrounds, the assemblages of biotite+garnet+kyanite interns learned to collaborate and develop associated with intense deformation to software used by scientists. Finally, footage moderate P and high T assemblages of obtained over the course of the internship biotite-sillimanite associated with moderate was edited and assembled into the final deformation and finally to lower PT static product. To help the interns remember assemblages with chlorite-sericite- their summer experience, a SCEC intern t- clinozoisite. We link the high PT shirt was produced for everyone, which we assemblage to the 1.4 Ga zircon rims, the oversaw. We were also responsible for moderate PT assemblages to Cretaceous assisting in planning the UseIT poster session at the SCEC Annual Meeting so

63 that each team's poster was presented in a uncomformity, where erosion or magmatic logical manner. inactivity creates a gap in the history between 146 to 96 Ma. Cretaceous §§§§ volcaniclastic and terrestrial sediments occur immediately above this second Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering uncomformity, and are overlain by rhyolitic tuffs and volcanic breccias formed in a Name(s): Ian Cox caldera collapse setting. Plutonic bodies Submission Type: Individual (the now frozen magma plumbing systems) Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): occur throughout the region and now Wenrong Cao, Department of Earth intrude the tilted and deformed volcanic Sciences; Valbone Memeti, Department of sequences. Earth Sciences; Scott Paterson, Department of Earth Sciences Our new mapping, geochemistry and Format: Field Research geochronology allow us to track the Title: Volcanoes and their Underlying temporal and geochemical history of this Magma Forming Systems: The evolving continental margin arc between formation of a Volcanic Arc in the 260 and 96 million years ago and thus better constrain the Mesozoic tectonic Central Sierra Nevada history the North American margin. Abstract: Over the course of millions to 100s of §§§§ millions of years, the subduction of oceanic crust beneath continental margins leads to the melting of crust at depth and the formation of magmatic arcs, that is chains of volcanoes and their underlying plutonic plumbing systems. Based on field mapping and geochronology, we have begun to explore the magmatic history of one of these ancient and now partially eroded arcs in the central Sierra Nevada, California.

Our new geochronology indicates that arc formation began 260 +/- 10 Ma, when subduction of an oceanic plate beneath the North American margin initiated melting and construction of an arc unconformably upon older Paleozoic metasediments. The base of the arc is marked by metasediments with zircons ranging back to ~260 Ma that are in turn overlain by a thick sequence of Triassic and Jurassic volcanics that were formed between 250 to 146 Ma. These volcanic rocks range in composition from rhyolite to andesite and range from coarse breccias to ash flow tufts. Marine metasedimentary layers were also found in thin layers throughout the Jurassic volcanics. At the top of the Jurassic volcanics, we found a second large

64 child physical aggression and substance use examining both the focal child and their parents. I hypothesized that youth who were victims of parent-to-child physical aggression were more likely to perpetrate aggression towards their offspring than Social youth who were not victimized. I also hypothesized that youth who abuse alcohol are more likely to perpetrate aggression Sciences towards their offspring than those who do not abuse alcohol. Consistent with hypotheses, a 2 X 2 X 2 between subjects ANOVA revealed that youth who were victims of parent-to-child physical aggression were more likely to perpetrate aggression towards their offspring than those who did not experience victimization. In addition, youth who abuse alcohol are more likely to perpetrate aggression towards their offspring than youth who do not abuse alcohol. Lastly, results showed that females were more likely to perpetrate Category: Social Sciences aggression towards their offspring than Name(s): Erika Levonian males. This is a prospective study with the purpose of identifying predictors of risk for Submission Type: Individual parent-to-child physical aggression. Since Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): parent-to-child physical aggression is such a Brian Baucom, Department of Psychology big problem, it is important to pinpoint risk Format: Senior Honors Thesis factors in order to strengthen the Title: Alcohol Use and the prevention effort. Intergenerational Transmission of Parent-to-Child Physical Aggression §§§§ Abstract: Social Sciences Alcohol abuse and parent-to-child physical Category: aggression are major problems in society Name(s): Emily Frank today and there is a need to further Submission Type: Individual understand these issues and find ways to Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): prevent them. The purpose of this study is Brian Baucom, Psychology was to examine the relation of alcohol Format: Senior Honors Thesis abuse and the intergenerational transmission of parent-to-child physical Title: Alcoholism and Family Conflict aggression. Gender differences were also Abstract: looked at. The data for this study was Alcoholism and binge drinking are taken from the National Longitudinal Study associated with a wide range of negative of Adolescent Health (Add Health). One outcomes for college-aged adults including thousand seven hundred eighty-four adults increased risk of academic failure, (approximately 29% male and 71% symptoms of psychopathology, morbidity, female) between the ages of 24 and 32 mortality, risk of contact with sexually years completed surveys and in-home transmitted infections, and legal problems. interviews that in part assessed parent-to- Additionally, alcohol use is a major

65 contributor to distress in clinical and Category: Social Sciences community samples. The effects of Name(s): Lu Zhang problematic alcohol use extend well beyond the individual user and frequently Submission Type: Individual spill over to influence family and friends. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): One of the enduring questions in the Eileen Crimmins, Davis School of empirical literature on alcoholism is the role Gerontology of family factors (parenting styles, family Format: Senior Honors Thesis coping styles, and family conflict) in Title: Cardiovascular Health Disparities increasing risk for problematic alcohol use. and Risk Factors in Chinese Older While it has been shown that both genetic Adults: Analysis of the 2008 and family environmental risk factors CHARLS Study significantly contribute to alcoholism and binge drinking, it is not well understood Abstract: how inherited genetic risks interact with Background: The health and nutritional learned behaviors to increase risk. This environments have transformed study investigated how family history is significantly in China during the last twenty associated with current alcohol use years, with a decline in communicable behaviors indicated by college students. diseases and a rapid increase in chronic The sample population was recruited illnesses such as cardiovascular disease. through the psychology department subject However, effects of these changes on the pool. This population consisted of 267 USC aging population have received relatively college students. The study utilized five little attention even though the older self-report questionnaires, including population is the fastest growing age demographics, family of origin history of group in China. My research focuses on the alcohol use and current alcohol use of the prevalence of cardiovascular health participant. Additionally, participants indicators across socioeconomic and completed a demand and withdrawal demographic groups as risk. measure looking at family conflict and finally an open-ended questionnaire Methods: I will be analyzing data collected describing their family of origin in the 2008 cross-sectional pilot survey of environment. This qualitative component the Chinese Health and Retirement was derived through interviews conducted Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), with 2,529 for this study with inpatient residents at a adults aged 45 and over included in the drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. analysis. SAS was used for statistical Responses were analyzed using a analysis. Cardiovascular health indicators computational linguistics program include hypertension and high cholesterol, determining thematic concepts to help which are both self-reported and measured paint a general picture of the phenomenon in order to provide indicators of high risk of alcohol addiction. This research project conditions, and knowledge of these proposed that the alcoholic individuals’ conditions. Gender, rural and urban perception of their family of origin might residence, education, and obesity (as shed light on the process by which indicated by BMI) are all related to CVD alcoholism develops. Multiple regressions health risks. were used to test study hypotheses. Results: The results indicate relatively high §§§§ prevalence of hypertension and high cholesterol among older Chinese adults, with rates of 46.43% and 36.76%, respectively. The prevalence of both indicators is highest among urban

66 residents, women, the uneducated, and aggression was linked to higher levels of overweight individuals. However, under- negative mood; higher levels of coping diagnosis of CVD risk indicators remains a were linked to higher levels of positive severe issue, especially among the rural mood. When both aggression and coping residents, women, the uneducated, and were present, the interaction lessened the underweight and normal weight relation between higher levels of positive individuals. mood and higher levels of coping. These findings demonstrate the threat aggression Conclusion: The high prevalence of CVD poses to children’s mood on a daily basis risk indicators raises alarm over the health and highlight coping’s role as a protective education, provision, and management of factor promoting positive adjustment for older adults in China. The issue is more children living in aggressive families. severe among rural communities, women, and the uneducated. §§§§

§§§§ Category: Social Sciences Name(s): Daniel Paris Category: Social Sciences Submission Type: Individual Name(s): Allison Maxwell Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Submission Type: Individual Jo Ann Farver, psychology; Karen Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Hennigan, psychology Brian Baucom, Psychology; Gayla Margolin, Format: Senior Honors Thesis Psychology Title: Conceptual and Empirical Format: Senior Honors Thesis Definitions of Group Membership: Title: Children’s Daily Mood as Influenced Measuring Street Gang Affiliation by Intrafamilial Aggression and Abstract: Protective Factors At present, there are two leading methods Abstract: of measuring gang membership: self Current research suggests that intrafamilial nomination (Esbensen, Winfree & Taylor, aggression negatively affects children 2001) and the Eurogang assessment of key across a number of important functional attributes of a youth’s group of friends domains including mental health, physical (Decker & Weerman, 2005). Like most self- health, and academic functioning. The report measures, these are subject to self purpose of the study was to examine the presentation concerns. But in addition, influence of marital and parental contrary to popular stereotypes, emerging aggression on children’s daily mood and gang cliques are not highly structured or how children’s coping mechanisms may cohesive groups with clear boundaries, and mediate this relation. Participants were 67 as such the respondents themselves may children involved in a longitudinal study of have difficulty with answering categorical the impact of multiple violence exposure on (in or out) questions. Research shows the families and on children’s adjustment. The need for a comprehensive, agreed upon, study used up to 14 days of daily diaries and consistent definition for measuring completed by each child. These diaries gang membership. However, little is known included measures of aggression, coping, about the overlap in these very different and mood. The data were analyzed using approaches. The current study compared complex survey methods for Structural the reliability and validity of these two Equation Models, which are appropriate for approaches using the dataset from the the nested design of this dataset. Gang Reduction and Youth Development Consistent with the hypotheses, increased study.

67 societal issues increased college aspirations §§§§ and self-concepts. Results also revealed that some African American adolescents' Category: Social Sciences academic achievements caused their peers Name(s): Ashley Williams to ridicule their racial identity. This study Submission Type: Individual encourages future discussions on stopping the endorsement of African American Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): stereotype portrayals in network news, Felix Guiterrez, Annenberg School for implementing media literacy into Communication and Journalism classrooms, and connecting African Format: Field Research Americans' academic aspirations to their Title: Connecting Network News to the racial identity. College Aspirations of Minority High School Students §§§§ Abstract: Television news impacts individuals’ Category: Social Sciences perceptions of themselves. Compared to Name(s): Mark Lay, Tavish Nanda, local news, network news has a greater Brooke Sanders impact on its audiences due to its national Submission Type: Group presentation of issues and current events. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Previous studies demonstrate that network Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Brain and news’ portrayals of African Americans Creativity Institute/Rossier School of increase the endorsement of minority Education; Xiaofei Yang, Brain and stereotypes and racial attitudes within Creativity Institute society. Since African American adolescents watch more television than any other Format: Laboratory-based Research demographic, increased exposure to Title: Cultural differences in behavioral television network news programming may and psychophysiological empathic affect their college aspirations and self- reactions to physical pain concepts. Abstract: In an ongoing fMRI study headed by Mary This experiment investigates whether Helen Immordino-Yang and conducted by viewing television network news Xiaofei Yang, Chinese participants in programming affects the college Beijing and American participants in Los aspirations of Hispanics/Latinos and African Angeles were exposed to narratives American high school students. An online designed to evoke admiration and survey was administered to more than 150 compassion. These narratives were students, predominantly African American, presented in full during a video recorded recruited from Crenshaw High School in interview prior to the fMRI. In the fMRI Los Angeles, California. Students were machine, participants’ EKG data were asked a serious of questions based on their collected while being reintroduced to previus experience with televsiion network reminder clips of each narrative, while a news viewing, education aspirations, button-pressing system was utilized to societal issue of interests, and self-images. record the intensity of the feeling of Results demonstrated subjects believed emotion while in the fMRI. network news programming encouraged negative stereotypes towards African The undergraduate team was responsible Americans, and network news for transcribing the videos of each subject. programming that includes a successful After each transcript was verified by a African American providing solutions to separate transcriber, the team developed a

68 coding system to analyze the behavior of participants are reading short texts and subjects’ responses when viewing stimuli answering questions about them, question designed to evoke compassion for physical type has an important effect: If the pain. The coding system designated four questions are superficial (do not require levels of expressiveness to quantify the much more than basic recollection), behavior of each participant’s response to participants tend to engage in shallow, the narratives. After establishing inter-rater incomplete processing; if the questions are reliability for the codes they were more demanding, participants will work to compared to the psychophysiological data attain a more in-depth analysis of the recorded during the fMRI. sentence.

The data suggest that the stoicism In the context of this study, we investigated expected in Chinese culture can be how differences in processing depth observed behaviorally in the Chinese influence participants’ processing of participants’ lack in exhibition of expressive pronouns. We tested whether pronoun emotions. Furthermore, these results were interpretation is facilitated by pronouns’ corroborated by Xiaofei’s gender cues (“he” vs. “ she”) and psychophysiological data interpretations, in information from verbs, under deep and which a majority of Chinese participants shallow processing. If people process input exhibited EKG patterns with a lack of the shallowly, they may not “bother” to immediate sympathetic spikes in activity engage in pronoun resolution, whereas characteristic for the majority of American participants processing deeply will strive to participants. Despite these differences, interpret the pronouns. Thus, we can see upon comparison of button-press data, whether the presence/absence of gender or both groups reported the same intensities verb cues has different effects under of emotion. Consequently, the correlation different processing modes. We utilized between the behavioral coding data and Self-Paced Reading, where participants the psychophysiological data suggests that read sentences word-by-word (pressed the Chinese stoicism is not only observed space bar to “unmask” words one-by-one). behaviorally, but also influences This allows us to measure the reading time psychophysiology, while emotional intensity for each word, to see whether participants remains similar between cultures. slow down more when faced with ambiguous pronouns. §§§§ Our results have the potential to provide Category: Social Sciences new insights into how depth-of-processing Name(s): Monica Do influences participants’ resolution of pronouns, and can also help us to obtain Submission Type: Individual new insights into what kinds of strategies Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): can involve reading comprehension more Elsi Kaiser, Linguistics generally. We hope to extend this study to Format: Laboratory-based Research include data by non-native English speakers Title: Deep or Shallow? Effects of in order to determine whether same factors processing depth on pronoun that influence native speakers’ processing interpretation depth apply to second-language learners. Abstract: §§§§ Past research has shown that the degree to which people process the information they receive is intimately related to the demands of the task at hand. For example, if

69 Category: Social Sciences Category: Social Sciences Name(s): Alexandra Battat Name(s): Nitika Kumar Gupta Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Karen Jungblut, Shoah Foundation Carol Prescott, Psychology; Susan Luczak, Institute (was professor for 2010 Problems Psychology Without Passports Cambodia); Kosal Path, Format: Senior Honors Thesis International Relations Title: Exploring Gender and Religio-Ethnic Format: Field Research Differences in Tobacco Use among Title: Ending Vindictiveness: The Role of People in Mauritius Buddhism in Achieving Forgiveness Abstract: and Reconciliation in Cambodia In 1972, the Joint Child Health Project was After the Khmer Rouge started in Mauritius to study the mental Abstract: health of the inhabitants of the island. This The course itself was Conflict Resolution study examines the tobacco use among the and Peace Research, but within that JCHP cohort, and distinguishes the smoking framework we were free to pursue our habits between males and females, and own research topics. I chose to focus on among the three main religio-ethnic Buddhism and its effect on the groups, Hindus, Muslims, and Creoles (a reconciliation process in Cambodia 30 years mix of African and French descent). The after the genocide took place. Buddhism results show gender differences in firmly believes that to end the cycle of smoking – only 22 of the 517 women in revenge one should not seek vengeance the sample reported smoking, whereas 304 against a perpetrator, but in the aftermath of the 651 men reported smoking. Further, of such a catastrophic event as a genocide, it was found that there were significant this is simply not enough as a means for differences between the males in the moving forward and for reconciliation. religio-ethnic groups – the Creole and What Cambodia needs is dialogue; people Muslim men used significantly more need to feel safe enough to speak about tobacco than did the Hindu men in this their experiences, and the country's youth sample. Further research can examine the need to be educated about what happened reasons for these differences. This study so that history is not repeated. Buddhism has implications for further research with provides the peaceful environment for this younger adults, as it has been noted that to take place by encouraging its adherents there is an increase in tobacco use in to be forgiving, but extra steps need to be developing nations. taken if Cambodia is truly going to move beyond its troubled past. §§§§ §§§§

70 Category: Social Sciences “American” food really is. Name(s): Chanel Honda §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Social Sciences Thomas Gustafson, English Department, Name(s): Erika Levonian, Amanda Spoto College of Letters Arts and Sciences; Leland Saito, Sociology Department, Submission Type: Group College of Letters Arts and Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Senior Honors Thesis Brian Baucom, Department of Psychology; Title: From Yellow Peril to Model Minority: Gayla Margolin, Department of Psychology Evolving Perceptions of Chinese Format: Laboratory-based Research Food and Chinese Americans in Title: Impact of Family Aggression on Society Emotional Expression during Family Abstract: Conflict This research project will use food and Abstract: restaurants as a way to examine the Family aggression has wide ranging impacts changing views of society toward the on parents and children, including their Chinese in the United States. I will look at psychological, social, and interpersonal the evolving perceptions of Asian functioning. Though the impact of family Americans and examine if or when Chinese aggression on emotional expression and cuisine became more mainstream. Do these experience is theorized to be an important processes occur simultaneously or mechanism by which aggression affects separately? Is looking at the receptiveness outcomes, very little is currently known or enjoyment of one’s cuisine a good about the ways that emotionality is indicator of how we perceive an ethnic affected by family aggression. The group? This study will reveal the emotional security hypothesis suggests that relationship between the acceptance and higher levels of family violence are likely to acknowledgement of Chinese food with be associated with restricted range of the acceptance and assimilation of Asians, emotional expression which may be particularly the Chinese, into American associated with subsequent maladjustment. society. There will be a brief historical Researchers have used many different ways overview of the important political and to measure emotional expression. We used social events that have occurred in Asian a system based on component process American history, as well as significant models of emotion that focus on different dates of when Asian dishes were invented dimensions of emotion rather than or brought over to the states. However, different specific emotions themselves. Our while I will be looking at how Asians were work focuses on two dimensions, facial viewed in the past, my focus will be on valence and vocal arousal. We hypothesize contemporary times. A large part of my that higher levels of family aggression will thesis will be focused on Chinese be associated with lower variability in restaurants in Los Angeles. I will be looking arousal and valence, lower peak arousal at the set-up, décor, location, awards won, and less extreme valence, and lower and diners or who is eating there. I will also average arousal and valence. So far, we be using online reviews and focusing on have tested these hypotheses using what is being said about service, the food, correlations. Consistent with our and the restaurants as a whole. I hope to hypotheses, higher levels of family reveal the societal impacts and cultural aggression are significantly associated with exchange processes of ethnic restaurants, lower levels of average arousal for fathers. and will attempt to define what We will further analyze our data using

71 multiple regressions prior to finalizing our applying for citizenship, and the workshops poster. These results suggest that fathers’ affect on an individuals emotions towards emotional expression may be particularly the application process. This research is the sensitive to family aggression. Given the first step in evaluating citizenship assistance important role of fathers in modeling and workshops, and provides recommendations responding to emotion during conflict, to increase workshop effectiveness in an these results identify a potentially effort to help immigrants attain their legal important target for clinical intervention. and political rights as American citizens. §§§§ §§§§

Category: Social Sciences Category: Social Sciences Name(s): Erica Silva Name(s): Joshua Real Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Ricardo Ramirez, University of Notre Dame Brian Baucom, Psychology; Gayla Margolin, (formerly at USC Department of Political Psychology Science) Format: Senior Honors Thesis Format: Field Research Title: Linking Blink Rate to Motivational Title: Is Now the Time? Examining the Systems and its Neural Substrates Naturalization Process through Abstract: Citizenship Assistance Workshops The appetitive and aversive motivational Abstract: systems are thought to be the neural In response to the 2006 pro-immigrant substrates that underlie reward seeking and marches and growing anti-immigrant punishment avoidant and have been shown legislation emerging across the nation, the to play a major role in overall psychological National Association of Latino Elected and functioning. For example, greater appetitive Appointed Officials (NALEO) created the Ya motivation is linked to greater overall life Es Hora ¡Ciudadanía! (It’s Time for satisfaction, greater marital satisfaction, Citizenship) campaign in an effort to and fewer symptoms of depression. The increase naturalization rates among the appetitive and aversive motivation systems Latino community. This research addresses are typically measured using either invasive the effectiveness of NALEO’s citizenship physiological methods or time consuming assistance workshops and what role they self-report instruments that are not good play in an individual’s propensity to apply candidates for use during social interaction. for citizenship. Prior research has explored Though the appetitive and aversive immigrant reasons for naturalization and motivational systems are likely to be a the political mobilization of newly significant determinants of behavior during naturalized citizens. Although social interaction, but very little work has naturalization rates are up to 118% in Los been done to establish the construct Angeles, no study has evaluated the validity of measures of the appetitive and effectiveness of these workshops on an aversive motivational systems, such as individual’s propensity to apply for endogenous eye-blink rate, that can be naturalization. Using a pre and post survey, used during social tasks. This study seeks this paper analyzes the change in attitudes to identify whether endogenous eye-blink among workshop participants in California rate during triadic family conflict is and Texas. The survey explores immigrant associated with symptoms of anxiety, perceived barriers towards USCIS depression, and PTSD. Greater procedures, the role of support networks in endogenous eye-blink rate, which is

72 indicative of greater appetitive motivation, experiences during the postpartum period is associated with lower symptoms of and interviews with experts regarding the anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Consistent possibility of SIDS misdiagnosis, of mother- with hypotheses, we found that the induced SIDS, and of what they consider to correlation between blink rate and be typical maternal behaviors. The research depression was significant (r=0.XX, p<.031) also makes use of literature regarding risk and that the relationship between blink factors for SIDS, misdiagnosed cases of rate and anxiety was nearly significant (r= SIDS, and maternal instincts. Participant 0.XX, p><.084). Additionally, the observation was conducted to investigate correlation between blink rate and PTSD the experiences of new mothers. It was was significant when three influential found that the experiences of mothers vary observations were removed (r=0.XX, p> greatly and cannot be considered universal. Of the participants, those with better §§§§ support systems and more resources fared better in terms of coping with the birth of Category: Social Sciences an infant and adjusting to the change of lifestyle. Mothers living with extended Name(s): Silvia Green family and/or who participated in an Submission Type: Individual activity away from their infant regularly Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): experienced less depressive symptoms than Joseph Hawkins, Anthropology and did those in neolocal residences and/or Gender Studies with little support. It is important to identify Format: Senior Honors Thesis these as risk factors for postpartum Title: Maternal Infanticide and Sudden depression, which may lead to a mother Infant Death Syndrome: How harming her infant and subsequently be Maternal Instincts Can Lead to misdiagnosed as SIDS. Hidden Cases of Maternal Infanticide §§§§ Abstract: In our society nurturing maternal instincts Category: Social Sciences are often thought to come naturally to women. Cases of maternal infanticide Name(s): Nicole Nowparvar made public are shocking, and the mothers Submission Type: Individual are often portrayed as monsters. Because Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): maternal instincts do not come naturally to Stanley Huey, Jr., School of Letters, Arts, all women, mothers do not always ensure and Sciences; Caitlin Smith, School of the safety of their offspring. It may even be Letters, Arts, and Sciences argued that maternal infanticide is an Format: Senior Honors Thesis adaptive reproductive strategy for women. With this in mind, it is important to Title: Monetary Incentives and Job- investigate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Seeking Behaviors in Gang-Affiliated (SIDS) objectively and acknowledge that Juvenile Youth some cases may be diagnosed incorrectly. Abstract: This research examines the possibility that Gang-affiliated juvenile delinquent maternal behaviors are not biologically behavior is a serous, costly problem that produced, but rather culturally and socially undermines the well-being of victims, reproduced. The experiences of new perpetrators, and communities. Previous mothers and how these align with our studies have shown that adolescent cultural expectations of motherhood are delinquents respond positively to monetary the main focus of this project. The study gains by increasing positive behaviors, such presents cases of women with differing as employment and decreasing their rates

73 of recidivism. The purpose of the proposed over time; B) Perceptions and behaviors will study was to observe the effects of be moderated by age, sex, party, and monetary incentive on job-seeking region. behaviors in gang-affiliated delinquent youth. These participants are recruited from The data used was derived the 9997 total the Behavioral Employment Intervention participants of the ABC News’s and CBS Program and were selected on a single-case News’s polls collected from 2001 until study basis using a multiple baseline 2006. The current study investigates the approach. We hypothesized that monetary responses to seven questions asked across gains would motivate the youth to engage 10 polls regarding the respondents in job-seeking activities, such as submitting emotional, cognitive, and behavioral completed job applications and resumes, reactions. Respondents’ answers to the making follow-up calls to potential seven poll questions were analyzed using employers, attending job interviews, and independent, univariate ANOVA with each meeting regularly with a counselor for independent variable (time, sex, age, party, scheduled counseling sessions. and region).

§§§§ A significant interaction with time was found in all but one of the poll questions. Category: Social Sciences Each of the moderating variables also provided significant interactions with time. Name(s): Shelly McArdle Finally, over time both the emotional and Submission Type: Individual behavioral responses returned to a normal, Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): even state after one year, while the Richard John, Psychology; Heather Rosoff, changes in beliefs were still diminishing as USC CREATE late as September 2006. Format: Analytical Paper Title: National Responses to September 11 This information is critical for providing Over Time: Analyzing Changes in insight into how citizens will perceive and Emotions, Beliefs, and Behaviors respond to an attack on the airline system, and for contributing to the development of Abstract: effective organizational policies and Before 9/11, the small number of attacks recovery. Further experimental research on and a limited number of people directly the airlines’ responses to attacks would be affected by the attacks left it unclear how beneficial. Americans perceive the likelihood and consequences of terrorist attacks. §§§§ September 11 created a natural experiment; a real attack from which we Category: Social Sciences can examine how the event affected people across the nation in different ways. Name(s): Jordan Vieira With this information, we investigate the Submission Type: Individual behaviors, emotions, and beliefs of people Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): nationwide. Tok Thompson, Anthropology Format: Field Research Using poll data collected consistently over the five years following 9/11, we further Title: Performance, Sex, and Politics: The investigate the changes over time. We Quest for Identity in Southern hypothesize that: A) There will be a time Uganda when the heightened responses in reaction Abstract: to September 11 will dissipate and plateau It is an understatement to assert that

74 neocolonialism as a consequence of 19th 14 to 21 were interviewed from areas century imperialism has formed numerous where civil gang injunctions did or did not catalysts resulting in profound effects on take place. Relations among street gang the subsequent world reconfiguration and involvement and uncertainty and criminal- global sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and related possible selves were compared sociocultural development. This project between gang affiliated youth and those explores such effects in the context of the who were not. intersections between contemporary "traditional" performance, agency, and §§§§ politics among the Baganda people of Uganda. Sampling traditional narrative of Category: Social Sciences the Baganda Kingdom and then examining Name(s): Megan Moine the state's attempt at creating national identity post-colonialism, I analyzed the Submission Type: Individual implications of female and homosexual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): agency via performance in terms of identity Minah Kim, USC School of Social Work; creation and political ramifications. Using Kyeung Hae Lee, USC School of Social drum playing and dance as a symbolic and Work; Ann Marie Yamada, USC School of practical baseline assessment of agency, Social Work the research also draws upon folklore Format: Senior Honors Thesis narratives, government policy, and Title: Spiritual Leaders and Mental Illness: examples of western involvement to A Cross-Cultural Study of Etiology unpack and reveal the multiple layers and Treatment involved with performance of everyday life. These components all demonstrate how Abstract: one can look to these common practices Due to inherent cultural beliefs regarding and political rhetoric for a holistic mental illness, many Asian Americans do assessment of identity construction, not seek help for mental health issues. negotiation, and agency within a According to the National Latino and Asian developing, post-colonialist state. Americans Study, only 8.6% of clinically diagnosed Asian Americans sought services §§§§ (Wang et al., 2005). Research literature suggests that for Asian Americans who do utilize services, their needs are poorly met; Category: Social Sciences current approaches to counseling often Name(s): Andrew Choi neglect culturally specific idioms of distress, Submission Type: Individual culture-bound syndromes, and the extreme Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): societal prejudice associated with mental Karen Hennigan, Psychology illness (Bateman et al., 2009). Despite the Format: Senior Honors Thesis need for culturally competent mental health services for minority immigrant Title: Possible Selves and Street Gang populations, little research exists on the Involvement in Los Angeles Youth topic. Furthermore, many factors prevent Abstract: Asian Americans from accessing adequate This study examined the relationship help: language barriers, cultural between individuals' involvement with insensitivity, mental illness stigma, lack of social groups and measurements of their awareness of resources, loss of face, possible selves (future beliefs about their shame, and belief in traditional medicine self concept). The study was a secondary (Lee et al., 2008). However, as role models analysis of data gathered from the Social of their respective spiritual communities, Identity Project, in which 416 males aged pastors may serve as bridges for

75 congregants seeking mental health policy towards its neighbors is because of services. The purpose of this study was to domestic disagreement between the compare Korean and Euro-American Western Ukrainian population which is pastoral perspectives on mental illness mostly pro-West and the Eastern Ukrainian etiology and treatment. According to population which is mostly pro-Russia. This previous studies, etiological explanations of split in national opinion manifests itself the causes of mental illness reflect ethnic politically in which political leaders from patterns of beliefs, which subsequently both parts of the nation change the course influence treatment behavior (Yeh et al., of the country when obtaining power after 2004). An exploration of the beliefs and elections. With such a deep split between treatment endorsed by clergy may help to the Ukrainian population resulting in major explain the racial disparities in Asian political disagreement, Russia is able to American mental health service utilization. isolate Ukraine from the West and also Implications for the development of manipulate Ukraine economically and culturally competent services for Asian politically for Russian gain. Although this Americans in need of individualized study does include a historical overview in treatment will be discussed. Data will order to put the current conflict into reflect the specific needs of an underserved perspective, this research project focuses minority population in treatment and speak on events following the collapse of the to the need for active collaboration Soviet Union in 1991 up until the present. between mental health services and Specifically, the paper covers two pressing religious communities. issues impacting the conflict: the role of NATO and the impact of Russia’s energy §§§§ trade with Ukraine and the West. The study also includes a section on the future of Category: Social Sciences Ukrainian foreign policy towards Russia and Name(s): Angad Singh the West. Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Robert English, International Relations Category: Social Sciences Format: Analytical Paper Name(s): Christopher Feather Title: Stuck in the Middle: An Analysis of Submission Type: Individual Ukraine's Domestic and Foreign Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Policy in Balancing Between the West and Russia Fayez Hammad, School of International Relations Abstract: Format: Analytical Paper This research study analyzes Ukraine’s unique geopolitical situation as a nation Title: Tempting the Tides of Turmoil: caught between the West and Russia Healthcare and Governance in through a thorough examination of Somalia Ukrainian domestic and foreign policy. This Abstract: paper examines the political values, Somali healthcare presents an intriguing economic goals, defense needs, and and different way to examine the state of cultural heritage of Ukraine in order to Somali affairs. The development of understand why Ukraine struggles to form hospitals, treatment, and care providers is a cohesive and consistent foreign policy linked inextricably to external and internal towards the West and Russia. The paper factors within Somalia. Such factors span contends that the primary reason for not only Somali society but also that of the Ukraine’s failure to form a unified foreign international system in different

76 governmental, economic, and Category: Social Sciences nongovernmental institutions. Who has the Name(s): Emily Kamen ability to administer care for Somalis gives an interesting look into the dynamics of Submission Type: Individual power within the state. The rise and Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): fragmentation of the incumbent Islamic Biing-Jiun Shen, Department of Courts Union (ICU) of President Sharif and Psychology; Karan Singh, Department of the weak Transitional Federal Government Psychology (TFG) does have a telling relationship with Format: Senior Honors Thesis healthcare and other government services Title: The Effects of Central Adiposity and that are administered by groups not under Perceived Task Difficulty on their control. These power politics and the Cardiovascular Recovery different relations between these militant groups are linked to who provides services Abstract: that the TFG has been circumvented in By examining factors that lead to administering. cardiovascular disease, preventative measures can be taken to address this These different actors and the nature of leading cause of death in the United States. their actions regarding the current situation The degree of cardiovascular reactivity in Somalia are examined using three during laboratory stressors and recovery different tools: 1. Levels of analysis in afterwards has been associated with the foreign policy making, 2. Historical and risk for future heart disease. Obesity, as statistical data, and 3. Analogical well as perceived difficulty of the stressful reasoning. Many aspects of the situation situation, may both influence investigated: from human factors like cardiovascular response. The current study individual leaders of different groups in examines the relationship between obesity Somalia and in the international and perceived task difficulty on community, to the national attributes of cardiovascular recovery as measured by the East African state and its neighbors, to respiratory sinus arrhythmia. systemic attributes of the international system and the rule of law, to global §§§§ factors like transnational social movements and the media. These levels of analysis are Category: Social Sciences further supported by historical analysis of Name(s): Sarah Sack the modern-conception of Somalia—like Submission Type: Individual colonial status, identity politics, previous Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): governments, and regime types. Finally the application of analogical reasoning in this Biing-Jiun Shen, Psychology case gives future decision-makers an Format: Senior Honors Thesis important framework in governing through Title: The Effects of Relationship such situations in dealing with “failed Satisfaction and Social Support in states.” Appraising Life Stressors Abstract: §§§§ There are many known health and psychological benefits of having adequate social support. Marital support is a unique form of social support, the benefits of which are contingent upon marital quality for women. The effects of social support are not fully understood. Little is known

77 about how healthy, post-menopausal Category: Social Sciences women experience marital and social Name(s): Tiffany Pouldar, Hyeran Shin support in relation to life stress. The proposed study will examine the relation Submission Type: Group between relationship satisfaction, social Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): support, and perceived undesirability of Laura Baker, Psychology; Adrian Raine, negative life events in post-menopausal Psychology; Theodore Botwick, Psychology; women. Mike Kelly Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§ Title: What Makes You Sweat: Genetic and Environmental Influences on Category: Social Sciences Skin Conductance Response to Stress Name(s): Rebecca Layne Abstract: Submission Type: Individual The ways in which we respond to stressful Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): situations varies tremendously. We John Monterosso, Psychology/College of investigated these individual differences in Letters, Arts, and Sciences a large twin study of adolescents, in which data were collected on their physiological Format: Senior Honors Thesis responses to stressful situations as well as Title: The relationship between response their cognitive abilities, personality, and to reward in the ventral striatum and stressful life events. We examined skin impulsivity and cigarette smoking conductance responses elicited during two Abstract: stressful laboratory tasks, one involving a Nicotine addiction is a serious problem in difficult math challenge and the other the United States. Abnormally steep delay involving making a speech. Sex differences discounting has been repeatedly observed in the skin conductance stress responses in smokers. In addition, smokers have a were tested, and compared to each high correlation with depression, a specific subject's math and reading abilities, as aspect of which, anhedonia, has been assessed using cognitive tests in laboratory shown to decrease the likelihood of as well as school grades and achievement smoking cessation. Interestingly, both tests. One hypothesis we tested was delay discounting and anhedonia seem to whether individuals with better abilities have a neural tie to the ventral striatum. To showed less stressful responses (i.e., lower investigate this possibility, brain scans of skin conductance) compared to others with smokers will be examined to isolate the lower abilities. Genetic and environmental ventral striatum. This study proposes to influences on stressful responses were also hand-draw the ventral striatums of smokers tested by examining twin correlations in the and examine response to reward in this two stressful tasks. The relationship of region and relate this to delay discounting physiological stressful responses to self- and anhedonia. reported stressful life events was also examined, in order to understand the §§§§ relationship between individual propensity and experiences that result in individual differences in stress. §§§§

78 Category: Social Sciences §§§§ Name(s): Sarah (Katie) Camarda Submission Type: Individual Category: Social Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Josephine Chou Dorinne Kondo, Anthropology and Submission Type: Individual American Studies and Ethnicity; Andreas Kratky, School of Cinematic Arts, Institute Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): for Multimedia Literacy David Neal, Psychology Department Format: Senior Honors Thesis Format: Field Research Title: When Material and Digital Culture Title: Why What You Wear Matters: The Collide: Ethnographic Expressions of Type and Salience of Attire Influence "The Contemporary" Message Impact Abstract: Abstract: Fashion is the cultural construction of Sometimes people are not only persuaded embodied identity (Steele). In turn, it is a by the message, but also by features of the sharp and important indicator of broader messenger. This study was based on the cultural phenomena. Currently, through a Elaboration Likelihood Model of series of bi-annual Fashion Week fashion persuasion, which suggests that people are shows, both fashion shows and media persuaded by peripheral cues (e.g., a coverage of the events are taking on messenger’s attractiveness) if they lack the intriguing new forms in cities around the resources to process central cues (e.g., the world. “Fashion presentations” such as quality of the messenger’s argument). In fashion films, installations , and installation- this study, we focused instead on whether runway shows have begun replacing the peripheral cue of a speaker’s clothing traditional runway shows. Similarly, the (business vs. casual) significantly influenced recent development of Web 2.0 the listener’s perception, if presented in a technologies have created a contingent of salient manner. A sample of 80 students independent, self-appointed journalists from the University of Southern California known as fashion "bloggers" who now was randomly asked to participate in this cover the events alongside "elite" fashion study, which was masked as a study on journalists. Enabling users to shape the memory. Religiosity surveys were flow of media through participation conducted before and after the memory (Jenkins), Web 2.0 bloggers have changed task, which consisted of four statements the aesthetics of media by creating an from the Christian Gospel. The messenger expressive "participatory" culture. Just as was wearing either casual, USC attire or emerging technologies have altered the formal, business attire, which constituted aesthetics of fashion and media, the manipulation of peripheral cues. academia’s humanities have undergone Salience of these cues was manipulated by recent shifts, with the “digital humanities” having the speaker read the Gospel points striving to transition its traditional (thus the participant was looking at the cue disciplines into a digital era. By examining during the presentation of the argument) the relationships between media users, or by having the subject read the participants, and the recent configurations statements from a piece of paper (thus, the of Fashion Week fashion shows through an cue was present, but not salient). Formal, anthropological lens, one may understand business attire led to significantly higher how these forms of cultural expression are religiosity than casual, USC attire, but only producing new constructions of knowledge when the cue was made salient. These that are reflective of wider cultural results suggest that some cognitive capacity practices occurring in this digital age. or attention is required for peripheral cues

79 to influence people. important as well. §§§§ §§§§

Category: Social Sciences Category: Social Sciences Name(s): Kerry Zweig Name(s): Dana Jebreel Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Wendy Wood, Psychology Thomas Lyon, USC Gould School of Law Format: Senior Honors Thesis Format: Senior Honors Thesis Title: Windows of Opportunity for Title: Young Children’s Ability to Altering Habits Generate False Statements as a Abstract: Precursor to False Belief The general purpose of this research was to Understanding give greater insight into behavioral Abstract: methods that may encourage more The purpose of this study was to assess 36 healthful eating. More specifically, the three and four year old's ability to generate purpose of this study was to examine the false statements under three different possibility that there is a window of conditions. Preschool children participated opportunity in new eating settings, before in a ‘No Fish’ card game. In order to study eating habits are established, when the emergence of an ability to lie, children intervention such as healthy eating were told to never state they have a fish information and implementation intentions card, and instead state they have a Duck. may effectively help direct study Perceptibility of the actual card itself was participants to form healthy eating habits. also manipulated on whether the child, After this window of opportunity has child and experimenter, or neither could passed, however, participant eating habits see animals on the cards, i.e. whether the may become more firmly established, and truth was hidden or revealed. We healthy eating intervention may become hypothesized that the youngest children less effective. The independent variables of would make made false statements if they interest for this study were the timing of didn’t know the truth, and older children the intervention window, and the specific would have difficulty if they or the recipient set of interventions used to attempt to knew the truth. The youngest children induce dietary change. The dependent found it easiest to make false statements variables of interest were participant food when the truth was not revealed. Within consumption habits and attitudes. The the oldest children no significant difference results confirmed this window of time was found between whether only the child hypothesis, and showed, to the p=0.035 or the child and experimenter could see the level of significance, that subjects eating for cards. This study has implications for the first time in a new location were indeed understanding the emergence of deception more likely to be influenced to eat healthier in young children, and for child witness than subjects who had already established assessments of competency and credibility. eating habits in a familiar location. California has now instituted a requirement §§§§ that restaurants have to provide nutritional information to customers. This study helps confirm the wisdom behind this public policy, and further suggests that exactly how this information is presented may be

80 Symposium Participant Index

A Brice, Nicholas 3 Broaddus, Matthew 20 Agostinelli, Lindsay (LJ) 30 Brooks, Jared 60 Aguilar, Mariana 22 Brown, Meghan 34 Alvarez, David 6 Brunner, Kelsey 45 Anderson, Neil 56 Butler, Sarah 22 Armstrong, Abigail 38 C B Camarda, Sarah (Katie) 79 Ballew, Natalie 61 Carmel, Jonathan 3 Battat, Alexandra 70 Caselden, Michael (MJ) 6 Belden-Clifford, Rowan 10 Castro, Saul 56 Bharier, Benjamin 10 Chaganty, Aneesh 14 Bhatia, Chaitanya 5 Chan, Bo 47 Bickers, Cara 35 Chan, Szeyan (Charlotte) 52 Bloch, Jake 1 53 Bongers, Jacob 19 Chang, Jennifer 27

81 Chang, Maxwell 49 Forrest, Brandon 10 Chang, Yuan-Yu (Henry) 4 Forrest, Bryan 10 Chaudhry, Shiven 31 Foster, Robert 4 Chen, Hanlong 63 12 Chiu, Michael 50 Fowler, Erin 48 Choi, Andrew 75 Frank, Emily 65 Choi, Cauchy 46 Fu, Katherine 33 Choi, John 40 Chou, Josephine 79 G Corrales-Diaz Pomatto, Laura 42 Coursey, Michael 12 Gallegos, Jesse 60 Courtade, Kianni 41 Gardner, Daniel 27 Cox, Ian 64 Gelbach, Lauren 45 Culbert, Kristan 59 Gish, Melissa 51 Gow, Irene 62 Gray, Hannah 53 D 54 Dimento, Alexander 5 Green, Silvia 73 Dixon, Grant 23 Greiner, Jared 10 Do, Monica 69 Gribble, Richelle 11 Duncan-Mestel, Renee 22 Gupta, Nitika Kumar 70 E H Endow, Katelyn 3 Harazin, Kathleen 58 Hoffman, Colleen 34 F Hoffman, Matilde 32 Honda, Chanel 71 Fang, Karen 49 Horrell, David 63 Feather, Christopher 76 Hron Weigle, Emily 24 Ferdman, Rebecca 18 Fimreite, Vanessa 36 Fink, Simon 10

82 J Lum, Daniel 3 Jackson, Bradford 21 22 M Jebreel, Dana 80 Magnabosco, Cara 25 Joteva, Eli 16 Marjoram, Matteo 10 Maxwell, Allison 67 K McArdle, Shelly 74 McLain, Travis 10 Kahn, Thomas 43 McPeek, Emily 8 Kamen, Emily 77 Mittelstein, David 49 Kellogg, Jayson 8 Moine, Megan 75 Khazaryan, Michelle 15 Kim, Alice 40 Kim, Na Young 15 N Kromenaker, Clark 10 Nam, Yoon Ji 13 Kropinski, Joel 7 Nanda, Tavish 68 Ngo, Bernice 7 L Nickerson, Claire 21 Nowparvar, Nicole 73 Laureola, Nicole 8 Lay, Mark 68 Layne, Rebecca 78 O Lazzari-Dean, Julia 30 Ogden, Andrew 3 Le, Victoria 2 Ohkubo, Takanori 32 Lee, Calvin 5 O'Hollaren, John 46 Lee, Karen 1 Olson, Blade 3 Leon, Mario 13 Orgill, Madison 12 Levonian, Erika 65 Ortez, Alyssa 18 71 Limor, Jordan 10 P Lindberg, Zachary 20 Paris, Daniel 67 Lipshin, Jason 18 Patel, Niral 59

83 Patel, Parin 17 Sepulveda, Jonathan 28 Patel, Ronica 39 Sequino, Lawrence 3 Peace, Jack 28 Shah, Dimple 36 Pereira, Tiffany 9 Sharer, Kristen 53 Petasis, Ourania 43 Shay, Patrick 3 Pitter, Avril 53 Sheehan, Michael 56 Polisini, Cara 17 Shin, Benjamin 35 Poon, Junxian 9 Shin, Hyeran 78 Porter, Rachel 2 Sia, Tiffany 38 Pouldar, Tiffany 78 Sieracki, Alexa 51 Silva, Erica 72 R Singh, Angad 76 Siver, Ben 56 Raja, Chandni 54 Sommer, David 3 Real, Joshua 72 Spoto, Amanda 71 Reinus, Brandon 49 Srour, Marissa 37 Rising, John 60 Stevens, Billy 48 Rodriguez, Jorge 60 Su, Dennis 54 Rodriguez, Stuart 10 Sun, Haili 54 Romanoff, Sarah 3 Romanu, Rebekah 29 Romero, Salvador 45 T Rose, Brian 57 Taniguchi, Lauren 14 Roy, Raunak 3 Teegarden, Eric 48 Thomas, Tisa 55 S Ticsay, Catherina 61 Trevino, Samuel 20 Saadat, Victoria 57 Trevino, Savannah 11 Sack, Sarah 77 Tsay, Jessica 37 Sanders, Brooke 68 Schur, Mathew 26 Schuster, Erin 25 V Seeley, Jack 60 Vail, Patrick 56

84 Valencia, Aurelio 45 Van Guilder, Emily 54 Vancura, Andrea 13 Vieira, Jordan 74 W Walters, Bryce 45 Ware, Lillian 53 Williams, Ashley 68 Windmuller, Colin 10 Wood, Dylan 50 Wu, Hao-Hua 32 Y Yip, Zhiqi 42 Yu, Li (Leo) 13 Yuzak, Emre 46 Z Zhang, Lu 66 Zweig, Kerry 80

85 Symposium Participants by Category

Arts 12 Greiner, Jared 10 Alvarez, David 6 Gribble, Richelle 11 Belden-Clifford, Rowan 10 Joteva, Eli 16 Bharier, Benjamin 10 Kellogg, Jayson 8 Bhatia, Chaitanya 5 Khazaryan, Michelle 15 Bloch, Jake 1 Kim, Na Young 15 Brice, Nicholas 3 Kromenaker, Clark 10 Carmel, Jonathan 3 Kropinski, Joel 7 Caselden, Michael (MJ) 6 Laureola, Nicole 8 Chaganty, Aneesh 14 Le, Victoria 2 Chang, Yuan-Yu (Henry) 4 Lee, Calvin 5 Coursey, Michael 12 Lee, Karen 1 Dimento, Alexander 5 Leon, Mario 13 Endow, Katelyn 3 Limor, Jordan 10 Fink, Simon 10 Lum, Daniel 3 Forrest, Brandon 10 Marjoram, Matteo 10 Forrest, Bryan 10 McLain, Travis 10 Foster, Robert 4 McPeek, Emily 8

86 Nam, Yoon Ji 13 Nickerson, Claire 21 Ngo, Bernice 7 Ortez, Alyssa 18 Ogden, Andrew 3 Patel, Parin 17 Olson, Blade 3 Polisini, Cara 17 Orgill, Madison 12 Trevino, Samuel 20 Pereira, Tiffany 9 Poon, Junxian 9 Life Sciences Porter, Rachel 2 Agostinelli, Lindsay (LJ) 30 Rodriguez, Stuart 10 Armstrong, Abigail 38 Romanoff, Sarah 3 Bickers, Cara 35 Roy, Raunak 3 Brown, Meghan 34 Sequino, Lawrence 3 Chang, Jennifer 27 Shay, Patrick 3 Chaudhry, Shiven 31 Sommer, David 3 Choi, John 40 Taniguchi, Lauren 14 Corrales-Diaz Pomatto, Laura 42 Trevino, Savannah 11 Courtade, Kianni 41 Vancura, Andrea 13 Fimreite, Vanessa 36 Windmuller, Colin 10 Fu, Katherine 33 Yu, Li (Leo) 13 Gardner, Daniel 27 Hoffman, Colleen 34 Humanities Hoffman, Matilde 32 Aguilar, Mariana 22 Kahn, Thomas 43 Bongers, Jacob 19 Kim, Alice 40 Broaddus, Matthew 20 Lazzari-Dean, Julia 30 Butler, Sarah 22 Magnabosco, Cara 25 Dixon, Grant 23 Ohkubo, Takanori 32 Duncan-Mestel, Renee 22 Patel, Ronica 39 Ferdman, Rebecca 18 Peace, Jack 28 Hron Weigle, Emily 24 Petasis, Ourania 43 Jackson, Bradford 21 Romanu, Rebekah 29 22 Schur, Mathew 26 Lindberg, Zachary 20 Schuster, Erin 25 Lipshin, Jason 18 Sepulveda, Jonathan 28

87 Shah, Dimple 36 Harazin, Kathleen 58 Shin, Benjamin 35 Horrell, David 63 Sia, Tiffany 38 Mittelstein, David 49 Srour, Marissa 37 O'Hollaren, John 46 Tsay, Jessica 37 Patel, Niral 59 Wu, Hao-Hua 32 Pitter, Avril 53 Yip, Zhiqi 42 Raja, Chandni 54 Reinus, Brandon 49 Physical Sciences Rising, John 60 Rodriguez, Jorge 60 & Engineering Romero, Salvador 45 Anderson, Neil 56 Rose, Brian 57 Ballew, Natalie 61 Saadat, Victoria 57 Brooks, Jared 60 Seeley, Jack 60 Brunner, Kelsey 45 Sharer, Kristen 53 Castro, Saul 56 Sheehan, Michael 56 Chan, Bo 47 Sieracki, Alexa 51 Chan, Szeyan (Charlotte) 52 Siver, Ben 56 53 Stevens, Billy 48 Chang, Maxwell 49 Su, Dennis 54 Chen, Hanlong 63 Sun, Haili 54 Chiu, Michael 50 Teegarden, Eric 48 Choi, Cauchy 46 Thomas, Tisa 55 Cox, Ian 64 Ticsay, Catherina 61 Culbert, Kristan 59 Vail, Patrick 56 Fang, Karen 49 Valencia, Aurelio 45 Fowler, Erin 48 Van Guilder, Emily 54 Gallegos, Jesse 60 Walters, Bryce 45 Gelbach, Lauren 45 Ware, Lillian 53 Gish, Melissa 51 Wood, Dylan 50 Gow, Irene 62 Yuzak, Emre 46 Gray, Hannah 53 54

88

Social Sciences Zhang, Lu 66 Zweig, Kerry 80 Battat, Alexandra 70 Camarda, Sarah (Katie) 79 Choi, Andrew 75 Chou, Josephine 79 Do, Monica 69 Feather, Christopher 76 Frank, Emily 65 Green, Silvia 73 Gupta, Nitika Kumar 70 Honda, Chanel 71 Jebreel, Dana 80 Kamen, Emily 77 Lay, Mark 68 Layne, Rebecca 78 Levonian, Erika 65 71 Maxwell, Allison 67 McArdle, Shelly 74 Moine, Megan 75 Nanda, Tavish 68 Nowparvar, Nicole 73 Paris, Daniel 67 Pouldar, Tiffany 78 Real, Joshua 72 Sack, Sarah 77 Sanders, Brooke 68 Shin, Hyeran 78 Silva, Erica 72 Singh, Angad 76 Spoto, Amanda 71 Vieira, Jordan 74 Williams, Ashley 68

89