UNDERGRADUATE SYMPOSIUM FOR SCHOLARLY & CREATIVE WORK
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Symposium Judging 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Grand Ballroom at Tutor Campus Center (Judges only – closed to presenters and general public)
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
General Presentations, Exhibits, and Displays 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Grand Ballroom, Franklin Suite, and Forum Room at Tutor Campus Center
Awards Ceremony & Dinner Reception 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 pm Radisson Hotel
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April 15, 2015
Dear Members of the USC Community:
It is my pleasure to welcome you to USC’s 17th 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, Math & 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 the Radisson Hotel 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,
Michael Quick 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 170 submissions with participation from nearly 260 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
Helenes 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 the USC
Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy for their time, effort and commitment to this extraordinary event.
THANK YOU!!!
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17th Annual Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work
Table of Contents
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ...... ii
LETTER FROM PROVOST MICHAEL QUICK ...... iii
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT ...... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... v
ARTS ...... 1
HUMANITIES ...... 14
LIFE SCIENCES ...... 22
PHYSICAL SCIENCES, MATH & ENGINEERING ...... 51
SOCIAL SCIENCES ...... 71
INDEX OF PARTICIPANTS ...... 105
INDEX OF PARTICIPANTS BY CATEGORY ...... 111
MAP OF EXHIBITS...... 116
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that the family is so happily antiquated. For Mrs. K, the Wells family is a new case to explore post-retirement. Behind the Times is a comedic exploration of the world of sitcom conventions and a look at what it Arts means to be a family. §§§§
Exhibit#: A18 Category: Arts Name(s): Carrie Moore Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Dana Johnson, English, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences Format: Creative Work Title: Best Behavior: Stories of the Black Exhibit#: A21 Middle Class Category: Arts Abstract: Name(s): Natalie Gordon, Victoria Gordon Toni Morrison once said, “If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been Submission Type: Group written yet, you must write it.” "Best Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Behavior: Short Stories of the Black Middle Joel Parker, Production, School of Class" represents my attempt to do so. Cinematic Arts Though I am widely read, I have often had Format: Creative Work trouble locating novels and stories of Title: Behind the Times contemporary African American middle- Abstract: class experiences. According to a recent Gawker article titled “The Difficulties of For the Wells family, life is one excellent Publishing While Black,” African American adventure after another. Of course, even employees make up only 1 percent of the though it’s 2015 in the real world, they live publishing industry, which makes it more in the non-specific sitcom past. Meet Linda, difficult for writers of color to get their Ron, Brian, Melissa, and Amy, the family stories published in an overwhelmingly more interested in Oregon Trail than World white business. There are not many black of Warcraft; the family where dinner means authors, but novels about slavery such as actual conversation instead of five separate Lawrence Hill’s "The Book of Negroes" and texting conversations; and, most of all, the Edward P. Jones’ "The Known World" family that lovingly mocks the sitcom certainly have a renewed market after the structures and tropes of the first 40 years success of films like "12 Years a Slave." of the medium. Working class experiences with blackness can also be found in Ayana Mathis’ "The While their neighbors have generally come Twelve Tribes of Hattie" or Sister Souljah’s to accept the ways of the "Weird Wellses," "Midnight" and "The Coldest Winter new neighbor Mrs. K, a recently retired FBI Ever." But stories of black middle-class agent, can't wrap her brain around the fact experiences are perhaps even rarer. Terry
1 McMillan, Percival Everett, Ntozake Shange, rejected. Confused, Holly requests Ernessa Carter, and Danielle Evans are permission to visit the doomed man in some of the few authors to tackle black solitary confinement and find out why it middle-class issues, and the critical was refused. Entering further into the attention many receive is small compared prison, Holly meets the prisoner, Waddell, with the fame of their white counterparts. and his anger over her ignorance strikes a As a result, I have written "Best Behavior" chord. as a way of expressing contemporary black middle-class experiences with race and Holly returns to the kitchen and prepares class. The three stories in this portfolio Waddell's meal as specified, and presents it explore varying degrees of racism and to him on the hour before his death. With classism, while also arguing that African his last request fulfilled, Waddell shares his Americans are greater than the sum of the reasoning for the simple, nostalgic request. two. This project also represents the As he is led off to his fate, Holly is left culmination of my work as a creative wondering what she really values. writing major, and I am grateful to Professor Dana Johnson and the other Campbell's was a collaborative effort creative writing faculty for working with between 12 talented film friends. Over an me during my time here. entire semester we wrote, planned, filmed, edited, and finished the ten-minute piece §§§§ using our minimal budget and resources. Our goal was to tell a story about a woman Exhibit#: A20 so caught up in her work that she never Category: Arts stopped to remember what she really valued, and it takes a man's last words to Name(s): Gus Bendinelli, William Cherry, bring it out. Miranda Due, Michael Effenberger, Peter Franklin, §§§§ Stephen Helstad, Jonathan Ho, Sarah Huck, William Ilgen, Exhibit#: A15 William Merrick, Amir Mojarradi, Michael Nader Category: Arts Submission Type: Group Name(s): Yuan Yao Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Submission Type: Individual Sheldon Larry, Production, School of Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Cinematic Arts; Michael Peyser, Doris Sung, Architecture Production, School of Cinematic Arts Format: Creative Work Format: Creative Work Title: Conjoint Mask Title: Campbell's Abstract: Abstract: The idea of the mask comes from the study Holly Weathers, a prestigious chef, of conjoint twins, a circus sideshow performs charitable work by volunteering character in the early 18th century. The to prepare last meals for prisoners on death conjoint twins Chang and Eng had part of row. She is called in one evening to prepare their livers connected, thus they could not a meal for an inmate before she learns his separate from the other. Their conjoint part request: a simple can of Campbell's is especially intricate and interesting Tomato Soup. Holly refuses the simple because it contains complex structures of order and prepares a professional tissues, bones, and vessels. The question is alternative, only to have it violently how to translate the physical connection in
2 an abstract way that can inform the design Contortionists are infamous circus and of the masks? freak show characters know for their acrobatics and extremely flexible bodies. The answer is simply the normal But more critically, they are what would be conversation in our daily life. A face to face called a Spectacle because of their ability to conversation does not have any physical skew the perception of the human body connections between two people, but and its function. A contortionist's unique when they are talking, they need to look abilities translate into the practice of at, listen to, and talk to the other person. Architecture by developing a characteristic The other person needs to respond in the called “hyper-flexible architecture” as we same way. These abstract connections look towards the future of urbanism. bond two people together. However, some Hyper-flexibility is achieved in architecture people in the society have abnormal ways when the physicality of a building stretches of communication. Basically there are three and contorts, skewing the perception of major types. The first type of people wants the image of a building, and generating to listen to other talking and prefer not to those same curiosities and interests that are talk. The second type wants to talk inherent to Spectacles. My research uses constantly without listening to others. And this characteristic to interrogate standard the last type doesn’t want to look at other building dimensions and develop a person during the conversation. response to current urban issues within high-density cities. Through the use of Facing these abnormal types of design fiction, the project specifically communication, the masks also have three showcases a prototype of a contorted types: the blind mask, the silent mask, and house as an alternative to current social the deaf mask. Each mask inhibits one housing developments. Using the tools of essential sense in the conversation. Imagine 3D digital modeling, this house is formed what will happen if a silent people is to be radically fitted and sustainable in that talking to a deaf people, a deaf people is every inch of space is formed specifically talking to a blind people, or a blind people through the guidance of the human body. is talking to a silent people? Finally, the Filling approximately only 500 cubic ft, masks build up the weird and absurd there is absolutely no excess space. With moments in the conversation in a funny that said, each house would be different way that people can experience the because every individual has a different abnormal conversations without being shape. This idea questions Architecture’s embarrassed and realize the importance of quick default to standard dimensions, as it normal conversation. praises individuality and suggests an extreme approach to living. The project §§§§ skews the image of a house and initially will cause discomfort for the spectator. Exhibit#: A05 However, because the space is directly Category: Arts correlated to how the human body moves, the individual’s body experience becomes Name(s): Paulina Sabrina Abella seamless ultimately finding comfort Submission Type: Individual without the limitations of standard door or Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): room sizes. Doris Sung, Architecture Format: Creative Work §§§§ Title: Contorted Living Contorted Abstract:
3 Exhibit#: A01 Through a narrative veil, players enter into Category: Arts a "nature spirit body". This transition grounds their shift into the virtual world. Name(s): Max Pittsley, Deborah Bello, They then use an interface only possible Isabella Marie Benavente, Caroline through presence for creative personal Chiou, Catherine Chooljian, Norman exploration in a Zen Garden-like Chootong, Paula Collins, Michael Duan, environment by sculpting and planting. Quentin Frere-Carossio , Maracel (Mara) Immersion is maintained by making as Guevarra, Katherine Hood, Fangli much of the interaction as possible diegetic: (Simon) Hou, Jonathan (Nathan) E.g. players change their active tool using a Iskandar, Patrick Lancaster, Brendan simulated brush and palette rather than an Lobuglio, Boston Mak, Adrian Mendoza, abstracted menu. Traversal is made Alexander Morgan, Luke Patterson, comfortable by utilizing the orientation of Alexis Russell, Emma Smith, Wai Hwa the body rather than a joystick: players can (Ben) Tan, Christopher (Brady) Thomas, fly around a 360 environment using their Ilani Fay Umel, Jasmine Ying, arms to steer. Alex Lee, Kial Fukuda (Laguna College of
Art and Design) One hope is that by making players feel like Submission Type: Group they can shape a virtual planet, that when Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): they exit the experience and lose their Tracy Fullerton, Interactive Entertainment, virtual nature-powers, they will be more School of Cinematic Arts; Geoffery Long, inclined to understand that they have an Innovation Lab, Annenberg; Laird Malamed, affect on and connection to the real world. Interactive Entertainment, School of Cinematic Arts The team has already invested several Format: Creative Work thousand dollars out-of-pocket, and would use any prize money to further ElemenTerra Title: ElemenTerra by covering the hardware and legal fees Abstract: necessary to continue development and There is a Virtual Reality (VR) renaissance exhibition after graduation. occurring today. Within the next year, over 46 VR head-mounted-displays (HMDs) will be §§§§ released to the consumer market. If video games are a medium for interaction, and film Exhibit#: A16 a medium for story, then VR is a medium for Category: Arts presence (the implications of this are largely Name(s): Susana Lopera unknown). Most VR content available today consists of video games that have simply been Submission Type: Group retrofitted to work with this new hardware. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): ElemenTerra instead attempts to stray from Karen Koblitz, Roski School of Art and convention with holistic ground-up design in Design order to set canonical precedents for VR. Format: Creative Work
ElemenTerra was pitched and accepted as a Title: ElemenTerra 2014-2015 USC Advanced Games Project. Abstract: Currently at BETA, the first round of Lately .I have been devoted to pondering development ends May 15th. ElemenTerra’s the idea of “exocentricity.” Exocentricity authors plan to add accessibility features and means “external center,” meaning that the additional content thereafter. center is not here, .that .wherever you are,
4 meaning is somewhere else. I have Exhibit#: A07 encountered this idea everywhere. One of Category: Arts the best examples in literature of exocentricity is the nostalgia for a past that Name(s): Anaka Morris never existed that suffuses The Great Submission Type: Individual Gatsby. The current trend with remakes of Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): movies also shows that we are trapped in Stephanie Bower, Dornsife College of the past, and yet movies about dystopian Letters, Arts & Sciences futures show an obsession with the future. Format: Creative Work Title: Fame: An Ethnographic Research I wanted to explore the exocentricity in my Through Photography own life by making a self-portrait in clay. Making the piece I realized that when I Abstract: experience a moment, my focus is usually I am currently shooting musicians behind in my thoughts and not in that moment. I the scenes in order to illustrate how an noticed that I stress about the future or artist's persona parallels with their "true" think about better times in the past, and do identity. I have musicians I have varying not live in the present. The past and the levels of intimacy with that are finding future only exit in our minds, and I used the more and more success, and it has been faces inside the mind of the head in this really interesting seeing how as their fame piece to represent my past and present. increases, their persona has to accelerate and become solidified. However, the piece allowed me to escape exocentricity as I focused on moment and To represent two sides of the spectrum, I the act of creation. Nevertheless, clay is a have an artist Uhlife who prefers to use a temporal medium, and as I made the piece mask in order to hide his true identity from I had to worry about keeping the clay from his artistic persona. I also shoot an artist drying out or cracking. Yet I also create clay Kehlani who got famous after being on a out of clay because of its seeming a- reality show, and has chosen to keep her temporality that allows me to assert to identity and her persona transparent. myself that I will leave a permanent mark However artists lie within this spectrum has on the world. reflected a lot about their image as an artist and what they are promoting. Through making the piece, I also recognized that exocentric planning for the I have been shooting these artists on film in future and an awareness of the past are order to give a timeless tone to the photos. necessary. The world would be a dull place Using mainly 35mm and medium format without ambitions, dreams, and memories. film, I have had access to many green rooms, backstages, and exclusive parties in In sum, the piece “exocentricity” is my order to capture emerging artists attempt to capture the intricate nature of comfortably in their social element. Fame exocentricity. is a different experience depending on the artist. Although we all see fame as a sole §§§§ goal most artists work toward, everyone's perception of success is different.
I am interested in ethnographically researching the experience of fame through my own artistic outlet of photography.
5 §§§§ were brought to light by recent events concerning police officers demonstrating Exhibit#: A24 blatant racism towards minority victims. I started doing some research into this issue Category: Arts and what I found was a much more Name(s): Chi Tse (Jacob) Lin complex problem than I had expected. The Submission Type: Individual fact that racism existed in the law Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): enforcement system was clear, but at the Jim Yoder, Annenberg School for same time law enforcement is a dangerous Communication & Journalism job. I decided to make a piece that would encourage viewers to see the situation Format: Creative Work from a more open-minded perspective, Title: Fantasy - red bow tie considering both sides of the conflict. In Abstract: order to do this, I decided to make two As an ordinary person, we all have dreams- paintings, one representing the minority dreams about our goals, our inspirations, or victims and one representing the law just simply things that don't make sense. enforcement agents. I placed the paintings What is real? What isn't? How can we tell facing each other so that they would whether something really exists or not? interact, the cop pointing a gun at the man Maybe life is not supposed to make sense. with his hands up. This way the viewer is Maybe magic is just something that we directly in the middle of the conflict, forced fancy, maybe it does not have to make to stand between the tense parties and sense. Starting with a little bow tie, become part of the situation. Unable to see unexpected surprises occur one after both sides at the same time, the viewer another. In this act, I try to create old and must turn to look at each painting, ancient techniques with modern elements allowing them to see each side from the and themes. other side’s perspective.
§§§§ I can’t fix the problem of racism, but I can do as much as I can to help by making Exhibit#: A09 people more aware. Drawing light to the Category: Arts issue to highlight the problem is the first step towards resolving it. My painting aims Name(s): Zara Dickinson at doing this by putting people in the Submission Type: Individual middle of the issue so that they can Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): understand the problem. Tom Allen, Roski School of Art & Design Format: Creative Work §§§§ Title: Freeze Abstract: Exhibit#: A10 “You can’t delete racism. It’s like a Category: Arts cigarette. You can’t stop smoking if you Name(s): Cameron Overy don’t want to, and you can’t stop racism if Submission Type: Individual people don’t want to.” Mario Balotelli Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): addresses the difficulties of dealing with Andy Ku, Architecture racism, a deeply rooted problem in our Format: Creative Work country. Title: Image in Architecture This artwork was inspired by the issues that Abstract:
6 This visually based project uses drawing as Exhibit#: A03 a tool to extract an aesthetic language and Category: Arts create a character. This object is then used to study the mechanism that mediates Name(s): Anshul Gupta inside and outside as a tectonic relationship Submission Type: Individual between the icon, figure and image in Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): relation to function, components and Alice Kimm, Architecture interior space. Format: Creative Work §§§§ Title: iSpace Abstract: Exhibit#: A11 This project stems from the notion that the concept of mass customization is creating a Category: Arts new user culture. This in turn is creating a Name(s): Elizabeth Phillips new culture for the designer. Rather than Submission Type: Individual using technology to create static designs, Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): architects should express their creativity by Jennifer Siegal, Architecture creating systems through emergent designs occur. Current three dimensional modeling Format: Creative Work programs perpetuate the current state of Title: the in-cube-ator design. Architects should use these Abstract: technologies to create dynamic systems of An upcycled modular tech incubator architecture that can adapt to various composed of aerospace parts, the in-cube- modes of functionality. This project ator is made up of three main cubes - the presents a system of architecture through main frame which holds the circulation, which static design can emerge. plumbing, and electrical aspects as well as the co-working spaces, the connector cube §§§§ which provides lounge and conference spaces as well as the connection between Exhibit#: A17 two main frames, and the unit load devices Category: Arts (ULDs) which function as the actual incubator spaces. With a gantry crane built Name(s): Kirsten Jakob into the main frame, the incubators are Submission Type: Individual able to move within the center of the Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): frame, allowing for variable levels of Mark Shepherd, Writing for Screen and privacy, an important aspect for an Television, Cinematic Arts incubator as start-ups learn a lot from each Format: Creative Work other and consultants are shared among Title: It Started on a Plane them, but they also hold private meetings and have proprietary technology. With the Abstract: modularity of the in-cube-ator, and the Holland Harper gets left at the altar, and freeness of movement of the ULDs within, embarks on her honeymoon to write her it is able to expand and contract with start- next romance novel. However, the all- ups’ demand for space, which often inclusive trip requires a husband, which changes with gained investments and forces her to recruit a starry-eyed stranger project failures. she met on the plane to play the part. But as they gallivant through Europe, Holland §§§§ finds herself falling for him… Will she let her cold heart melt, and put it on the line?
7 §§§§ with which outside viewers/readers can also relate and interact. “The Dream Weaver Exhibit#: A08 Project" is a new media project that draws from my own childhood memories of Category: Arts growing up in with my grandmother in a Name(s): Winona Riley Leon small rural town. I strove to merge my Submission Type: Individual interests in fine arts and graphic/web Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): design instead of just writing a short story, Alice Gambrell, English, Dornsife College hoping for the viewer to also consider the of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Karin Huebner, way in which his or her memory can be USC Sidney Harman Academy for stretched and pulled. I started with a Polymathic Study PowerPoint prototype that is currently being converted into a touch-based Format: Creative Work interactive narrative project. Title: Last Known Surroundings: Exploring the Relationship Between Narrative §§§§ and Space Through Fiction, Art, and New Media Exhibit#: A06 Abstract: Category: Arts Under the guidance of Dr. Karin Huebner Name(s): Remi Yasui and support of the Sidney Harman Academy for Polymathic Study, part one, Submission Type: Individual titled, “Our Mythic Los Angeles: No Longer Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): There,” explores the relationship between Lee Olvera, Architecture narrative and space in the local Los Angeles Format: Creative Work communities of MacArthur Park, Bunker Title: The Mao Jacket Hill, and Chavez Ravine through a series of Abstract: six paintings. I started this project after being inspired by my classes Los Angeles: A In this 5th year topic studio, we were Polymathic Inquiry and Studies in Drawing challenged to create traditional Mao jackets and Painting: Beyond the Senses. I also out of everyday materials in order to study used my interdisciplinary interests in fine materiality, connection, and the specific arts, modernist art theory and urban scale of the human body. Each student was studies alongside archival history analysis limited to two materials (one for and several observations and interviews connection and one for surface) and one with local residents from these method of connectivity (i.e. weaving, communities in order to guide my work. linking, braiding, stringing, etc.) The project is not about fashion but about crafting The second part, "The Dream Weaver spaces for the human body. Clothing, just Project," uses my major emphasis of like buildings, are habitable spaces that creative writing to explore and reclaim humans occupy and interact with and this memory and spatial homes through fiction was a study in how altering the materiality and new media. and operation of an everyday necessity as simple as a jacket can change the way we When I returned to my fiction-writing, I view the idea of clothing and the definition was confronted with my own past and the of 'fabric.' It also begins to question how way fiction has become both a way to this method may be translated into a rebuild and recreate my memories. Overall, building and how recycled materials can be I realized that the recreation of memory used to create conventional architectural ultimately leads to something wholly new, elements in a more interesting way.
8 §§§§ Exhibit#: A19 Category: Arts Exhibit#: A02 Name(s): Nicole Flores, Greta Gabriel, Category: Arts Tyler Moore Name(s): Victoria Fong Submission Type: Group Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Juli Juteau , School of Cinematic Arts; Alice Kimm, Architecture Mark Stratton, School of Cinematic Arts Format: Senior Honors Thesis Format: Creative Work Title: Materializing the Transitional Field Title: Naturale Abstract: Abstract: The human experience requires a balance Naturale is a short film about healthy between the individual’s subjective eating. One girl watches television and eats perception and objective reality. With the a burger filled with nails and bolts, while growing dominance of technology in another eats a healthy meal and is inspired today’s world, virtual reality is becoming to get up and get active. more and more powerful while the importance of physical reality is beginning We live in a society that’s growing more to diminish. The future implications of this and more. In weight. Obesity is an are troubling since the physical nature of epidemic in America that doesn’t seem like our existence is a necessary and it will stop any time soon. We live inescapable reality of human life. This essay unhealthy lives, spending an unhealthy will analyze how architects can shape the amount of time sitting and looking at physical world to match the ideals achieved screens while eating unhealthy, processed by the virtual world. food. And unfortunately, these acts tend to perpetuate each other. You eat a burger, Understanding and modeling the concept you don’t feel good, so you sit and watch of the “transitional field” can bridge the more television, and then you see a gap between physical and virtual realms. commercial for McDonald’s and think, “A The transitional field defines the ongoing burger sounds real good right now.” Eating relationship between physical actions, healthy might seem like a chore and most perception, and understanding as proposed people say in the long run it will help you. by Psychiatrist D.W. Winnicott. In order to But it’s not just in the long run, it’s also do so, this space would need to be right in the moment. Eating food that’s physically engaging and socially inclusive. good for you tends to make you feel better The space would act as a portal; an and can inspire you to get on your feet and interstitial zone between public and private stay active. Being healthy helps you actually connecting individuals physically the way live your life. the Internet connects individuals across the world. §§§§ §§§§
9 Exhibit#: A12 aesthetic to encapsulate the idea of a bright art park experience that includes Category: Arts relics of the airport to remind users of the Name(s): Garrett O'Sullivan history of the site. An attitude of carving, Submission Type: Individual and the intent of expressing the inorganic Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): against the organic, was used as the Jennifer Siegal, Architecture primary driver of design decisions. Format: Creative Work §§§§ Title: Santa Monica Airport Tech Park Abstract: Exhibit#: A14 The lease for the 163 acre Santa Monica Category: Arts Airport is up, and it is very exciting opportunity to give the area new use. Our Name(s): Ziwei (Scarlet) Song 5th year Architecture topic studio Submission Type: Individual assignment was to create a building on the Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): site for a tech incubator and tech offices. Doris Sung, Architecture Format: Creative Work Instead of creating a new building, my solution was to repurpose the existing Title: Selfie mask sheds and hangars for tech and event Abstract: program and weave them together with a Cultural Background: The ubiquity of public art park and bike path. This smartphone cameras, selfie apps and social proposal accounts for short and long term media enables people to take a broad changes; the functions of the sheds can range of photos within the framework of change for different needs, events, and architecture and urban space. The expansions of businesses. The larger Barker technology advancement of camera Hangar, for instance, can be used as part of features such as iPhone camera lens apps, an outdoor concert venue. There are also wide-angle lens, go pro and quick pods designated zones for community farmland, brought us an experiential repertoire we which can be used by locals and for never encountered before. The habits of restaurants on the site. There is no car viewing our world through online selfies traffic on the site to inspire foot or bike dramatically shift our social habits, travel from shed to shed, with bike stations interaction patterns and experience of and parking lots located on strategic points surrounding space. The perception of space along the periphery. exceeds beyond the static and unified, and brings us to the opposite. People constantly I was inspired by the airport's historical use selfies to project their own connection to the community in coming up interpretation onto the otherwise neutral or with the idea of a public park as well as pure space condition. Spatial experience is tech offices; in the 1940's the McDonnell- no longer defined and determined by Douglas Aircraft company employed the internal realities, such as plan dimensions, people of Santa Monica, including many materials, form and geometries, but deeply women, to help with the war effort. saturated and affected by ever changing Today, the Airport is a isolated concrete external relationships with people, who island in a sea of Santa Monica houses. constantly shapes and redefines the With this proposal, the land will be perceptions and characteristics of the connected back to the town. space, through cellphone selfies spread on social media. The project is represented in a unique
10 The selfie mask project embeds itself in this ask them the question: Who/what in your big cultural picture of selfie. Selfies posted life do you feel most grateful for? Can you online often hide, fake, beautify and tell me a moment when he/she made you exaggerate the original facial features : the feel this way? (family members, best friend, skins, the tones and physical contours. They mentor, etc.). This question also asks them exaggerate it to the extent that only the to draw upon experiences of someone they nuance of emotions are retained. feel very close to, and will therefore inspire a sense of empathy towards the special That emotional translation is therefore the person that they are talking about. key concept of this mask: at the inside, you Afterwards, I will create an art piece that saw your true self image from the reflected represents a main theme or moral of their surface ;on the outside, you hide your real story through paper silhouettes; I will write self image and respond to people with the their story on the piece as well. If they let specific emoticons you intend. Since the me, I will share a lot of the stories I have emoticon fully conveys the nuances of your gathered – and created pieces on – to facial expression without revealing your show to the public. I want people to see "actual look" , it could be the selfie mask that we all have different stories to tell and for daily interactions. that everyone can connect with a story, and therefore a person, in one way or §§§§ another.
Exhibit#: A22 §§§§ Category: Arts Name(s): Audey Shen Exhibit#: A04 Submission Type: Individual Category: Arts Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Darle Shinsato Pablo Frasconi, School of Cinematic Arts Submission Type: Individual Format: Creative Work Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: Storytime Alice Kimm, Architecture Abstract: Format: Creative Work When thinking about empathy, I feel like I Title: Terraformed Tower: Grey Water connect with the person by allowing them Recycling Terrarium to share a story, or multiple stories. For me, Abstract: stories are a powerful yet fun way to In California, the water supply relies on 157 engage with people, and they allow us to million acres of land spanning 8 states. express our thoughts and emotions in a Due to the over-consumption of water in carefree style. There are no rules to story this desert climate, the city of Los Angeles telling, which is what I love about it is currently experiencing a massive drought. because it feels more genuine that way. Of Every year, California uses 6 million acre course, not all stories are fun; there are sad feet more than the rivers and aquifers can and emotional ones, and there are sustainably provide. Alarmingly, the embarrassing ones as well. Either way, I majority of the water goes towards feel like it says a lot about the person landscaping. In office buildings alone, the depending on what story they choose to average worker uses 127 gallons per day. tell me. I hope I get to learn a lot more Landscaping does not require precious about those who agree to my request, potable water, yet people are still using it which would increase my empathy for to water their gardens. Currently, there is those people and people in general. I will a negative sentiment towards grey water
11 recycling despite society's need for it. probably heard the engine of the People are afraid of recycled water, for fear motorcycle. But did you hear the sounds of of the "unknown" source. However, night, crickets chirping, owls hooting, and mother nature naturally purifies water in a snakes slithering to their holes, quietly very similar cycle. All water on earth has emerge around the motorcycle? Did you been previous "used" hundreds of hear the dust that was kicked up and thousands of times. gently circled around or the wind that blew past the sudden intrusion of the Less than one percent of the water used in motorcycle? Did you hear the sunset? It is Los Angeles comes from recycled grey the sound designer’s job to say yes to all water. This design aims to exploit the these questions and find, create, mix and beauty of grey water recycling by providing adapt their answers to their chosen media. not just a technical apparatus but a lush community space as well. Because Sound design is the process of specifying, landscaping demands a great portion of acquiring, manipulating or generating the Los Angeles water supply, this design audio elements. It is employed in a variety inverts the idea of nature as an absorber of disciplines including filmmaking, and instead aims to use nature as a recycler television production, theatre, sound of water. The circulation in the skyscraper recording and reproduction, live is rethought and terraformed, to mimic the performance, sound art, post-production, natural water cycle of mother nature. and video game software development. Terrariums are a common decorational Sound Design is not only an important piece that serve this function acting as a form of art but it's an important part of miniature biosphere. In this skyscraper, the life. It's as pervasive and unnoticed as the terrarium system is implemented in the air. It works on large and small scales and circulation core to recycle the greywater somehow or in some way, everyone has used in the building. This creates a self been affected or affected it. sustained garden that serves as a public entity while, paving the path to a water The purpose of this presentation is to conservative city. showcase the often-neglected field of Sound Design. By looking at various §§§§ examples of sound design within different types of media as well as in nature and Exhibit#: A23 everyday life, we will see that despite it’s Category: Arts disregarded nature, some form of sound design exists around us. This conclusion, Name(s): Briana Billups therefore, eliminates the concept of noise Submission Type: Individual in modern society. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Philip Allen, Sound Design, School of §§§§ Dramatic Arts Format: Field Research Title: There is No Such Thing as Noise Abstract: A motorcycle races down a lone desert highway, driving ever farther from the sun, with dusk creeping over the rider’s shoulder. What did you see when you read that sentence? What did you hear? You
12 Exhibit#: A13 improve the lives of its inhabitants by giving them the ideal conditions to maximize their Category: Arts productivity and foster family interaction. Name(s): Daniela Baron This futuristic design will grant architecture Submission Type: Individual the customizability to elevate the human Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): spirit. Alice Kimm, USC School of Architecture Format: Senior Honors Thesis §§§§ Title: Transformative Living: Macron Assembly Abstract: The rise of technology has revolutionized lifestyles and transformed concepts of family-life and dwellings. The last century has brought dramatic transformations to the image of the nuclear family and its effect on architectural spatial configuration. Expectations of the house of the future will require the adaptability to sustain and enhance new lifestyle.
By 2100 Macron Assembly will remodel current housing typologies and create a flexible system that maximizes human efficiency and interaction. Macrons, or small magnetic blocks, will become the new “bricks” or building blocks for home construction. These macrons can be configured based on site conditions, financial costs, and family needs to create ideal homes for families.
Houses can then be adapted or reconfigured based on the modifications of family life such as the birth of a new child, or sending a teen off to college. Homes can also be immediately change to accommodate for sporadic needs such as hosting a birthday party or a spontaneous dinner party. Through this scheme, the macrons can instantly reconfigure to create a structure that can allow for an indoor/outdoor community space.
Macron assembly will create a future of home design that focuses on interchangeability, elasticity, spatial fluidity, personal customization, and performativity. The main focus of this strategy is to
13 perception of their own dramatic history? A simplified answer is that, up to a certain point, there is a very unclear designation of what plays in the United States could be truly called "American," and by the time Americans had forged a national identity in Humanities the theatre, they had already long discovered a voice in the other major branches of literature. Why the delay in theatre? I will examine and attempt to define the development of an "American" drama, and I will do so by studying a pivotal element of the development of earlier American literature—the young country's relationship to its natural landscape. I will use imagery of American nature as a tracing agent through the history of the American theatre, and demonstrate that the use of these images has a direct relationship with the search for Exhibit#: H10 a national theatrical voice and Americans' Category: Humanities perception of their own nation as Name(s): Ryan McRee expressed through their dramatic works. Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Paul Backer, School of Dramatic Arts; Exhibit#: H11 William Deverell, History, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Category: Humanities Format: Analytical Paper Name(s): Rosebud Campion Title: American Nature And Its Theatre: Submission Type: Individual Discovering A National Voice Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Through The American Landscape Joanna Demers, Thornton School of Music Abstract: Format: Analytical Paper Ask the average theatergoer to think of the Title: Can Western Art Music Be Narrative? oldest American play they can, and one will Abstract: rarely find an answer that predates the Does Western art music inherently depict a twentieth century. Yet, we know that the story? In an attempt to answer this history of the United States stretches back question, I studied the scores of Richard centuries further, at the latest beginning in Strauss’s tone poem Till Eulenspiegel, the mid-eighteenth century and arguably Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, and the beginning with the landing of the first scholarly work surrounding these pieces. I Europeans on the North American analyzed Till using the various methods continent. Theatre is such a prevalent Eero Tarasti discusses in A Theory of cultural aspect of world history that we can Musical Semiotics to determine what easily assume there was some sort of structures within the music communicate theatre going on in the United States the narrative. Despite the concrete before the twentieth century. What form appearance of these constructs, did it take, and why does it seem to play interpretation still relies heavily on the such a minimal role in Americans'
14 listener’s context and musical background. the topography in which these societies Therefore, themes rarely correlate solely to lived. One approach is to create 3D one meaning, which leads to multiple landscape models of the interested areas, interpretations of a work. The opposing in order to map waterways, trade routes, views of Susan McClary and Friedrich buried features, vegetation patterns, Nietzsche regarding Carmen epitomize the inaccessible sites on cliff aides, and potentiality for dichotomic analyses of the settlement patterns. In many places, same work. The presence of such widely existing digital elevation terrain models varying interpretations of the same piece (DEMs) do not have sufficient detail or are confirms the idea that musical figures not available. when a site is located on a seldomly represent concrete concepts vertical cliff, DEM data is not relevant. consistently. Thus, the goal of this research project is to Through studying these two pieces, I create an inexpensive, portable propose that extracting meaning from archaeological tool which is able to capture Western art music depends on the complex 3D landscape imagery. This was done by relationship between syntax and semantics modifying a stock, off- the- self DJI within a piece. The ideal balance between Phantom 2 Quadcopter, a small unmanned these two structures creates narrative music aerial vehicle (UAV) or “drone”, by by strategically violating norms and attaching a motorized camera mount, expectations. However, this equilibrium video streaming system, and computer will never achieve universality due to controlled navigation interface. The system differences in time, space, backgrounds, is built around easily obtainable consumer and expectations of listeners, which lead to imaging components, and to this we added varying interpretations of the same piece. custom 3D printed GoPro mount which Because of the narrative’s reliance upon enables the cameras to capture footage in predetermined structures, music’s meaning 3D. We pair these lightweight cameras in is not absolute, but instead depends on the order to capture 3D stereo imagery as an audience’s expectations and the context of operator navigates the UAV in the airspace their analysis. in a grid pattern. The camera can capture detailed, overlapping footage of the §§§§ landscape below. After the flight, the images are analyzed by a computer Exhibit#: H01 program which pixel matches the frames to Category: Humanities create an accurate 3D landscape model. This model can then be used for research Name(s): Sanford (Sandy) George, and landscape visualization. Patrick McDonnell, Atticus Submission Type: Group (You might note how this is similar to or Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): different from what everyone else with a Eric Hanson, School of Cinematic Arts; UAV is doing, if you know about others Lynn Swartz Dodd, Department of Religion who are doing this. Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§ Title: Custom Airborne Stereo Pair Imaging Solutions for Archaeological Research Abstract: To better understand past civilizations, it is critically important to be able to quantify
15 Exhibit#: H07 Exhibit#: H04 Category: Humanities Category: Humanities Name(s): Cameron Espinoza Name(s): Nina Castilla, Alleluia Tyus Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Group Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Juvenal Cortes, Political Science Lynn Swartz Dodd, Religion Format: Analytical Paper Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Elements of Substance: An Analysis Title: Hasmonean Prutot: Cast or Struck? of Dostoyevsky's Stylistic Techniques Abstract: in Crime and Punishment and The coins in this collection are called Brothers Karamazov “prutot” (singular “prutah”) and are of Abstract: small value. These coins are small in size The two rhetorical techniques Dostoyevsky (approximately 13mm in diameter on consistently uses to “give the illusion of average) and include a range of coins logic” (Forsyth 44) and a feeling of minted with at least three different designs. substance behind his arguments, are A problem with studies of these coins is anaphora and anadiplosis. The use of these twofold: (1) coin experts disagree or are devices, in place of a critical reasoning that unclear about the mode of their fabrication would resemble a logic tree or reflective and their elemental makeup; (2) large equilibrium (often used in academic numbers of these coins need to be discussions on ethics) gives the inherently subjected to technical analysis for statistical unreasonable faith-based arguments a viability of results. We separated the coins power that the reader feels to be true. A into groups based on the images and critique of Crime and Punishment words on both the obverse and reverse submitted by Peter Singer, “does not sides. We then used a Bruker Tracer III- regard it [Crime and Punishment] as a great SD Portable XRay Fluorescence on novel in terms of its moral message- that individual coins to determine their Raskolnikov is only redeemed when, chemical compositions. Coins were placed through faith, he submits to moral rules he in the top of the PXRF Gun for 120 seconds cannot justify through reasoning” each. The spectra gave us data based on (Voorhoeve 49). Whether one agrees with the elemental composition of the coin. We Singer or Dostoyevsky’s message is beyond used the Bruker system ARTAX for the scope of this essay. Singer does, comparing the spectra. We found that all however address the weaknesses ‘moral the coins are copper alloys, specifically tin messages’ tend to have. Based on Singer’s bronze. In order to determine how these conclusion one can realize the necessity of coins were made, we performed style in place of traditional sense for metallographic analysis on them. We Dostoyevsky to present his ideology. Both photographed a coin from the collection; of the literary devices stated above, serve to polished it with the Buehler Ecomet V create a more compelling argument, rather Polisher using Monocrystalline Diamond than rational. The two techniques are used Suspension. Using a Nikon Ephiphot using by Razumikhin, in his description of logic’s three levels of magnification (5x, 10x and role in controlling human nature... 20x with polarization). The structures revealed were clearly dendritic and §§§§ suggestive of the coin having been cast. Additionally, the metallography indicated that it likely was a tin bronze. We have begun training for Reflectance
16 Transformation Imaging (RTI). RTI is a panoramas. We created photographs with process by which objects are photographed cameras mounted on drones and in a series where light is shined at different submarines, tripod mounted stereo camera angles to create a texture map of the rails and spherical panorama heads and object. In the next few weeks we will pole cameras. Research was done to find begin using RTI to photograph prutot. the best post-production software to transform and render the photography into §§§§ formats capable of being displayed on giant screens (IMax), fulldome theaters Exhibit#: H02 (planetariums) and virtual reality headsets. Category: Humanities We are fortunate to have access to some unique facilities to present the results of Name(s): Aidan Blant, Sanford (Sandy) our research. The USC Cinema School has George, Patrick McDonnell, provided us with cameras and virtual reality Atticus Vadera headsets and access to a fulldome screen. Submission Type: Group We have screened a 3D time-lapse film at Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): the USC IMax theater in the Zemeckis Eric Hanson, Cinematic Arts; Lynn Swartz Center for Digital Arts. We have spherical Dodd, Interdisciplinary Archaeology panoramas that can be viewed in either Format: Creative Work fulldome or on VR headsets including the Oculus Rift DK2 and the Samsung Gear VR. Title: Immersive Visualization Research for The results of our research provide a way Interdisciplinary Archaeology for archaeologists to record and present Abstract: their findings in a truly life-like immersive Archaeologists originally provided visualization. visualization of archaeological sites through artist’s drawings. Books and journal articles §§§§ were published with accurate depictions of Rome, Greece, Egypt, South America and Exhibit#: H06 other locations around the world. Category: Humanities Archaeologists still refer to these images to gain insight into locations that have been Name(s): Eun (Sharon) Im destroyed or that have changed over time. Submission Type: Individual The invention of photography provided a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): capability that allowed archaeologists to Claudia Moatti, Classics, Dornsife College share visuals with other scientists and the of Letters, Arts, & Sciences public and moving pictures greatly Format: Senior Honors Thesis enhanced that capability. Drawings, photographs and movies do not provide a Title: Mass deportation during early truly immersive experience. They cannot Roman expansion in Polybius' give the viewer a feeling of actually being Histories at the location and seeing it for themselves. Abstract: The goal of this project is to find ways to Roman empire witnessed its first greatest provide the viewer with a realistic expansion during the first and second immersive visualization. century BCE through various warfare in the Mediterranean regions. A Greek historian We researched ways to capture visuals Polybius reports these events in attempt to through advances in photography, show how so much of world's territories including photogrammetry, structure from came under the dominion of a single city, motion, stereoscopy and spherical Rome, in such a short period of time. His
17 text includes several incidences of mass Exhibit#: H05 deportations of Rome's subjugates. These Category: Humanities records of deportations of different populations show some repeated elements, Name(s): Amanda Semler such as common use of vocabulary, Submission Type: Individual procedure, and contexts. This phenomenon Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): suggests that mass deportation in early Lynn Swartz Dodd, Archaeology, Dornsife Roman conquest may have been a regular Format: Field Research practice, which followed the basic preset Title: Methods of detecting submarine principles and procedures. From this groundwater discharge and its perspective, deportation was the "order" implications for ancient and that existed within the chaos of the contemporary civilizations on wartime. Catalina Island This thesis further investigates on this Abstract: finding, examining how deportation as a Since the last glacial maximum, rising sea legal practice was employed by the Romans levels have submerged freshwater during its early conquest. The first part of discharge sites off the Catalina coast with this study explores the use of vocabulary in both ecological and archaeological the description of deportations and what it significance. Pinpointing these now tells about the practice's legal nature. Next, underwater sites is imperative in locating it focuses on the political and social context ancient settlements on the island, as well as around each event of deportation, and the in developing an understanding of current frequency of its occurrences. The last part freshwater fluxes. Policy implications of this research evaluates the related to submarine groundwater historiography of Polybius as a Greek discharge (SGD) may result from historian writing about a Roman practice. groundwater that harbors nutrients derived This last chapter of the thesis provides from anthropogenic sources, as SGD can analysis on the political statement that the be a significant source of pollution to author may be presenting on deportation nearshore waters, with effects such as as a way of organizing the conquered eutrophication and death of marine people. This suggests that the development organisms. In dry climates like Catalina of deportation as a customary practice may Island, where surface runoff contributes have paved a way for Rome into becoming little to the overall water budget, SGD is an empire within the next century. especially important to monitor. Despite this, the topic was largely ignored by the §§§§ scientific community until recently, and a survey of the surrounding literature with an emphasis on the Southern California basin reveals very little information.
To overcome the data shortage and efficiently find sites of freshwater output, thermal images of the northern coast of Catalina Island were first taken by plane. Locally, groundwater is warmer than seawater, so a temperature differential can be used to obtain a broad overview of possible SGD sites. To verify the thermal images, probes measuring temperature and
18 conductivity were later towed by kayak and Exhibit#: H09 small boat over specifically targeted areas. Category: Humanities Results of the surveys will influence further research on the island in the fields of Name(s): Janet Le hydrogeology, archaeology, and ecology. Submission Type: Individual Possible future investigations include Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): measuring the rate of freshwater output; Elda Roman, Dornsife College determining the effects of lower salinity on Format: Analytical Paper plant and animal life; and examining the Title: Reclaiming Community Space role of nutrient output on water quality Through Wall Narratives: The Rise of and tourism. Chicano/a and Latino/a Muralism in §§§§ Pacoima Abstract: Exhibit#: H08 This project focuses on the Pacoima "Mural Mile" in the San Fernando Valley of Los Category: Humanities Angeles as a radical movement where Name(s): Mazen Loan underrepresented groups create "wall Submission Type: Individual narratives" to reclaim public space and Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): assert a self-described identity. In the Christopher Muniz, Dornsife College of tradition of the Chicano Movement (el Letters, Arts, and Sciences / Creative movimiento), but with considerable Writing and Literature differences, the Pacoima Mural Mile Format: Creative Work invokes a collective consciousness based in the mobilization of the community to Title: Nothing has changed, everything provide a sense of belonging and redefine has changed the threatening discourses about Chicano/a Abstract: and Latino/a identities and the spaces that Even in the darkness, he could discern the they inhabit and shape. outline of her features - she looked stunning. Brown hair softly tumbled down I examine the role of muralism in el over her shoulders, her cheeks were bright movimiento and the notions of pink and her lips perfect and full, were “homeland” as a driving ideology for closed into a straight line. Her chocolate Chicano/a art during the period. I consider brown eyes faintly glinted as the light from Judy Baca’s “Great Wall of Los Angeles” the street lamps basked his car. He loved mural painted throughout the 1970s as an looking into those eyes so much, but right example of public art that built community now, they were staring straight ahead, not awareness and rewrote historical narratives wavering from a seemingly important detail for underrepresented groups. Herbert in the distance. The traffic light turned Marcuse’s essay “The Aesthetic green. Slowly and carefully, he changed Dimension” serves as a basis for analyzing gears and drove along the straight road. He how the “Great Wall” protests the did not yet make an attempt at exclusive discourses of a discriminatory conversation; even after all these years the society and becomes a radical aesthetic guilt of his actions had not receded, and so based in ideas of revolution. he would often wait until he felt a bit more comfortable before he made small talk. This review then informs my research on the Pacoima Mural Mile, the contemporary §§§§ art movement in the northeast area of Los Angeles, populated heavily by immigrant
19 (mostly Latino/a) communities. Focusing on psyches: both external (the media and the murals of one of the movement’s societal pressures) as well as internal prominent leaders, artist Levi Pónce, I psychological pressures. First-person analyze the changing Chicano/a mural interviews were conducted and filmed in environment and its various implications on order to provide accurate stories from urban aesthetics, political criticism, and art women who have struggled with as cultural revolution based in community disordered eating. Their words give life to engagement, which mirrors the evolving an issue that is often talked about only in Chicano/a and Latino/a experience. extremes or not at all; we hear about a Through a comparative analysis of the form woman who suffers from life-threatening and content of Baca’s “Great Wall” and anorexia, but not about the college woman Pónce’s murals, this project examines how who occasionally binges and purges post-Chicano Movement muralism exists as because she feels she has no other way to what Marcuse would call a “counter- handle her stress. consciousness” that rejects the oppressive systems in place and creates spaces where This project breaks through the news these systems can be radically changed. articles, statistics and cultural constructs surrounding eating disorders and brings an §§§§ intimate yet broadly relatable voice to the issue. Exhibit#: H13 Category: Humanities §§§§ Name(s): Kylie Nicholson Exhibit#: H12 Submission Type: Individual Category: Humanities Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Linda Wang DJ Johnson, Media Arts and Practice, School of Cinematic Arts Submission Type: Individual Format: Field Research Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: Standards of Self: Disordered Karen Tongson, Gender Studies, Dornsife Thoughts, Disordered Eating, and College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences Eating Disorders Format: Field Research Abstract: Title: Transcultural Reformations: History, Anorexia. Bulimia. Students learn about Identity, and Politics in Dakar Hip- eating disorders in health class as if they Hop Culture were diseases. These disorders come with Abstract: shame and stigma, yet over 60% of college Hip-hop has been often characterized as a aged women engage in some sort of subculture, constructed by and belonging disordered eating: such as binging, wholly to some factions of a population purging, starvation, and taking laxatives. along lines of race, class, gender, Where is the line between healthy and geography, and age. However, with hip- unhealthy? At what point does dieting hop’s transmission globally and adaptation become dangerous? When does disordered to localized cultural practices, perhaps a re- eating become an eating disorder? evaluation of hip-hop’s nature is in order. Hip-hop, I argue, is a transculture; that is to Rather than focusing on eating disorders as say, while there are elements of music, "disorders", this project seeks to unearth speech, dance, and public art unique to and express the mindset behind disordered hip-hop born from specific geo-historical eating. It explores influences on women's circumstances, those elements are
20 continually reconfigured by global using an underwater remotely operated participants and rebranded with new, vehicle (ROV) equipped with two SolinstTM locally-relevant meaning. Hip-hop, at its “Levelogger” sensors in order to determine birth, linked people of common identity: locations around Catalina Island where disenfranchised and dislocated youth in ground water may be leaking into the New York. Today, it is itself a marker of ocean. The sensors measure the identity and a form of global citizenship conductivity of the water at multiple points whereby alternative imagination can be over a given interval, which allows us to expressed. differentiate between fresh and salt water. Using these data points we can record and If we are to understand that Senegalese map these streams of fresh water, which hip-hop artists are not just mimicking black may potentially lead us to discover Americans—that what is going on in Dakar important archaeological sites and which is not just the “closest thing to hip-hop" enables us to reconstruct the ancient and that hip-hop is fundamentally environment. The ROV is piloted just under transcultural—it begs the question of how the surface of the water where it will take aspects of history, deeper historical the necessary measurements, which we will practices within the African diaspora, and then use to create the map in post-field notions of identity and cultural production data management. We are currently in the have contributed to the transculturation of process of building a GPS system that will hip-hop culture in Dakar. This paper allow us to map the position of the data examines the social construction of points acquired by the Levelogger sensors blackness in America and blackness in more accurately as well as allow the ROV to Africa, as well as the ways that the African maneuver itself autonomously through the diaspora has influenced black American water. Autonomous control of the ROV will cultural traditions and the ways that black allow us to access places we previously American cultural traditions have could not go, as well as allow the ROV to influenced today's African cultural follow a grid pattern over the desired area. traditions. Furthermore, this project goes We have also retrofitted the ROV with on to examine the unique role hip-hop stronger motors to deal with currents, plays in economic development and politics reconfigured the payload bay to hold in Senegal. necessary sensors and cameras, and modified our tether by threading wire §§§§ through a rope to lower the chance of it snagging and snapping on a rock. All of Exhibit#: H03 these modifications will allow us to more Category: Humanities accurately acquire the data we are seeking to further our knowledge of early human Name(s): Aidan Blant, Patrick McDonnell, settlement on Catalina Island. Atticus Vadera Submission Type: Group §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Lynn Swartz Dodd, Archaeology Format: Field Research Title: Use of Underwater ROV in Archeological Research Abstract: The goal of this research project is to develop a robust, inexpensive method of
21 habits practiced was constructed; health habit indicators used the original “Alameda 7” operationalizations with the exception of drinking few sugary beverages and consuming limited fast food as substitutes for eating breakfast and avoiding snacks. Life Physiological well-being was measured with an allostatic load index, representing the number of 24 biomarkers from 7 different Sciences physiological systems (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, cardiovascular, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, inflammatory immune activity) for which participant values fell into the highest risk quartile of biomarker distributions.
Analyses indicate that a small minority of Americans practice all or most of the 7 Exhibit#: LS12 health-promoting habits; most Americans Category: Life Sciences practice 4 or fewer of the 7 behaviors. Name(s): Janice Wong Multiple linear regression analysis indicated Submission Type: Individual that practicing more healthy habits Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): predicted lower allostatic load (β = -.18, p> <.001). Analyses also indicated that the Tara Gruenewald, Davis School of association of lower allostatic load in those Gerontology who practice more healthy habits was Format: Analytical Paper stronger in those with higher levels of Title: 7 Health Habits a Day to Keep Poor educational attainment. These findings may Physiology Away help explain the better physical health of Abstract: those leading healthy lifestyles. Findings The Alameda County Study launched in also point to the need for future research 1965 demonstrated that adherence to to understand why those with higher levels seven daily health habits (having never of education may benefit more from health smoked, drinking<5 drinks per sitting, behavior eating breakfast, maintaining a healthy BMI, sleeping 7-8 hours every night, §§§§ exercising regularly, and avoiding snacks) predicted better health and longevity. The present study examines the practice of these 7 health habits half a century later and the association of such practices with a multi-system allostatic load index of physiological well-being.
Data come from 1,153 participants aged 34-85 in the National Study of Midlife in the US (MIDUS) II Biomarker Study. An index of the number of the 7 daily health
22 Exhibit#: LS17 an additional bottle of water (control) over a 30-day period. Using a Barnes maze Category: Life Sciences paradigm, we observed that adolescent Name(s): Lilly Taing HFCS-55 intake impaired hippocampal Submission Type: Individual function and adolescent sucrose intake Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): moderately impaired cognitive function Ted Hsu, USC Neuroscience Graduate relative to the control group. Additionally, Program; Scott Kanoski, Biological the HFCS-55 group had increased Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, expression of pro-inflammatory markers & Sciences; Vaibhav Konanur, Biological interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β in the Sciences, Dornsife College of Arts, Letters, dorsal hippocampus, whereas the sucrose & Sciences group showed no change compared to the Format: Laboratory-based Research control group. For both adolescent sugar groups, liver interleukin-1β and plasma Title: Adolescent consumption of sugar- insulin levels were elevated. In contrast, sweetened beverages impairs intake of SSBs did not negatively affect hippocampal function and promotes hippocampal function, glucose tolerance or neuroinflammation neuroinflammatory markers in adult rats. Abstract: Ultimately, these results demonstrate that Frequent consumption of a Western diet overconsumption of sugar from SSBs rich in saturated fats and simple during adolescence impairs hippocampal carbohydrates is linked to adverse activity, promotes hippocampal and hepatic metabolic outcomes and cognitive inflammation and negatively affects impairment in the hippocampus, a region metabolic function. associated with spatial learning and memory tasks (Kanoski and Davidson, §§§§ 2011). In particular, there has been growing evidence demonstrating the Exhibit#: LS18 negative impact of excess sugar intake on Category: Life Sciences metabolic processes (Bocarsly et al., 2010; Goran et al., 2013). However, the effects of Name(s): Joanna Liang consumption of added sugar on brain Submission Type: Individual function is unknown. Adolescence is a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): critical developmental period characterized Ted Hsu, Neuroscience Graduate Program; by maturational alterations that shape Scott Kanoski, Department of Biological long-term brain function in humans and Sciences, Human and Evolutionary Biology rodents. The effects of excessive intake of Section different sugars during this sensitive period Format: Senior Honors Thesis of cognitive development are also poorly understood. The purpose of this study was Title: Adolescent sugar consumption to investigate whether the harmful effects impairs cognitive function later in life of overconsumption of different types of Abstract: sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) similar A diet high in levels of saturated fats and to those found in Western cultures would sugars (sucrose, fructose) is related to the be amplified during adolescence. rise of health problems in Western industrialized countries. The effects of In the study, adolescent and adult male rats excess fructose consumption in adults have were given access to low-fat chow, water been well researched, but there lacks and either 11% sucrose solution, 11% high sufficient data on the long-term effects of fructose corn syrup (HFCS-55) solution or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) exposure
23 during early development. The present Exhibit#: LS21 study examined the effect of HFCS Category: Life Sciences exposure during adolescence on cognitive deficit later in life (tested with a novel Name(s): Sophia Nguyen object in context (NOIC) task) and Submission Type: Individual motivational learning (tested with an Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): operant progressive-ratio schedule of Erin Quinn, Health and Sciences, Dornsife reinforcement task) with rats. Rats were College divided into two groups: control and HFCS Format: Laboratory-based Research Washout (given 11% HFCS only during Title: Algorithm development for adolescence, access withdrawn after 30- simultaneous PET image days) and cognitive tests were conducted segmentation and partial volume during adulthood, four months after HFCS removal. The results for the NOIC task of correction the first experiment showed significant Abstract: difference of the discrimination index and A positron emission tomography (PET) shift from baseline. The HFCS Washout scanner is an imaging technique that is group spent less time investigating the commonly used in diagnosis and treatment object in the new context, showing of some diseases such as cancer, heart weakened object-contextual recognition problems, and brain disorders. Depending memory. This indicated that their on the type of exam, a specific radioactive hippocampus (brain region responsible for tracer such as fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) NOIC learning) was compromised as a would be administered through an IV result of 30-day HFCS intake during injection. The radioactive tracer produces adolescence. The second experiment positrons which collide with surrounding compared the operant responses for electrons, resulting in the release of two sucrose, using a progressive-ratio (PR) photons. The detectors in the PET scanner schedule as a measure of reward strength measure these photons to quantify the and motivation, and effort required to distribution of the tracer (FDG or other) in receive a fixed reward increased the body. progressively throughout testing. Reward strength often is identified by break point, Despite the promising application of PET the highest ratio completed within a given with capability of providing quantitative test session. The results demonstrated that imaging, it does have its limitations. PET there lacked a significant difference has a much lower resolution compared to between the breakpoints for sucrose other imaging instruments such as CT or rewards for the two groups because MRI. Due to this low resolution, the image motivated responding for rewards is not quality is slightly blurred in PET. As a result, hippocampal-dependent. Our findings analysis of PET images depends on manual show that adolescent HFCS consumption segmentation. This is not only time can impair learning later in life, but had no consuming but it also produces large impact on motivation to work for sucrose variability depending on the user’s reward. experience and the analysis tools used. In addition, the low resolution makes the §§§§ intensity of small objects appear much lower than what it actually should be. This effect is called the partial-volume effect (PVE), which is one of the main issues that PET imaging currently faces.
24 In order to alleviate issues such as PVE, interim analysis of the study, 14 patients expensive imaging programs such as a were included in the study. A Wilcoxon program by Siemens called Inveon Research Signed Rank Test was performed, and the Workplace has developed various tools and mean (SD) values for TSG and USG were algorithms. However, these tools and 1.021 (0.008) and 1.019 (0.007), algorithms are not completely accurate or respectively. Since the p-value was >0.05, precise. Thus, we analyzed the current this difference is not significant and methods available through Inveon Research suggests that TSG correlates well with USG. Workplace in order to determine which one A second interim analysis will be performed would be the best to focus on and further by the first week of April with up to 60 improve. With an improved algorithm, this included patients, and an updated abstract would help expedite how long it takes with be submitted. researchers to obtain their quantitative imaging results, thus helping their research §§§§ move forward. Exhibit#: LS05 §§§§ Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Lauren Stoneburner Exhibit#: LS19 Submission Type: Individual Category: Life Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Pauline Huynh Suzanne Edmands, Biological Sciences, Submission Type: Individual Dornsife College Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Jeanine Hall, Keck School of Medicine Title: Comparative Analysis of Gut Format: Laboratory-based Research Microbiome Among Populations of Title: Assessing the Use of Tear Specific the Channel Island Fox, Urocyon Gravity as a Marker of Hydration littoralis Status in Pediatric Patients Abstract: Abstract: The Channel Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis) The purpose of the study is to determine if has become a species of critical interest tear specific gravity could be used as a non- because of its unique evolutionary history invasive marker of hydration status. It is and recent population decline. Urocyon hypothesized that tear specific gravity (TSG) littoralis live on six of the eight Channel would correlate well with urine specific Islands of southern California, and recent gravity (USG), a current way to measure population bottlenecks may have hydration status, and could thus serve to implications for those populations’ genetic asses hydration status in pediatric patients. variability and pathogen prevalence. In Patients of 6 months to 4 years of age who particular, we are interested in quantifying are to receive a urinary catheterization are the diversity of the island foxes’ gut eligible. As the nurse performs the microbiome, since recent studies have procedure, the patient's tears (if shed) are begun to use microbiota diversity as a collected in a sterile medicine cup. The useful proxy for evaluating health in other specific gravity from the tears and urine are animals. respectively measure and compared. Additionally, a standard patient In order to study the health of island fox questionnaire was used, and clinicians populations in the wild, we will compare would rank the patient's hydration status the microbiota diversity among island fox using a clinical scale. During the initial populations. We obtained scat samples
25 from all six inhabited Channel Islands. We glucosensing and are primary influences for extracted and quantified total genomic the endocrine response to glycemic DNA from U. littoralis scat, and we verified changes. They also contain many neuronal scat samples have canid DNA using canid projections to various brain regions that are specific PCR primers and gel involved in counter-regulation. One such electrophoresis. We are currently region is the periaqueductal grey area amplifying the 16S V4 region of available (PAG), where multiple hypothalamic genomes. We will then sequence the projections terminate. Previous evidence amplified genetic material using Illumina from studies regarding glycemic MiSeq and quantify the microbial diversity homeostasis support a potential in each individual. First, we hypothesize involvement of this area in counter- that more phylogenetically similar regulatory mechanisms. The purpose of this populations will have more similar gut study is to compare neuronal c- Fos activity microbiomes (share more operational in three subdivisions of the PAG, which taxonomic units). Second, we hypothesize have hypothalamic terminals, under that fox microbiomes will co-vary with euglycemic and hypoglycemic conditions. observed individual health status measured Immunohistochemical procedures were by body condition in the field. The results used to mark c-Fos expressing neurons, will likely have valuable implications that which were counted, then analyzed for guide the efforts of restoring the island fox significance. Using this information I was populations by broadening our able to see whether there was a correlation understanding of the relationship between in activity between the PVH, VMH, and the U. littoralis gut microbiota, individuals’ PAG. I found no significant difference in c- health, and strong species-wide Fos expression between the euglycemic and evolutionary forces. hypoglycemic groups, which led to my conclusion that the PAG has no direct §§§§ influence on counter-regulation.
Exhibit#: LS16 §§§§ Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Sana Azam Exhibit#: LS29 Submission Type: Individual Category: Life Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Zachary Chen, William Tzeng Alan Watts, Neuroscience Submission Type: Group Format: Analytical Paper Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: Comparing Neuronal c-Fos Rayudu Gopalakrishna , Cell and Expression in the Periaqueductal Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine Grey Area between Hypoglycemic Format: Laboratory-based Research and Euglycemic Rat Brains Title: Compounds in Green Tea Aid in Abstract: Post-Stroke Recovery In Vitro Hypothalamic counter-regulatory Abstract: mechanisms are critical for stabilizing blood Recovery after injury to the central nervous glucose levels during glycemic changes. system is hampered by myelin-derived Studies show that the paraventricular inhibitor proteins, such as Nogo-A. Natural nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) and the products, such as green tea, which are ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus inexpensive and safe for long-term therapy, (VMH) are both key players in maintaining would support current approaches to glycemic homeostasis. Both regions are treatment. In this study, using nerve
26 growth factor treated neuronal-like Exhibit#: LS04 Neuroscreen-1 cells as our model, we show Category: Life Sciences that extremely low concentrations of unfractionated green tea polyphenol Name(s): Richelle Tanner, Audrey Looby mixture (GTPP) and its active ingredient, Submission Type: Group epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), prevent Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): the recovery inhibiting activity of Nogo-A. David Ginsburg, Environmental Studies, Furthermore, a synergistic interaction was Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and observed among GTPP constituents. This Sciences counter-inhibitory effect was dependent on Format: Field Research 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR) on Title: Correlating Secondary Productivity neuronal cell surfaces to which EGCG binds and Habitat Composition of Eelgrass with high affinity. The antioxidants N- Beds in a Southern California Marine acetylcysteine and cell-permeable catalase Protected Area abolished the effect of GTPP and EGCG, suggesting the involvement of sublethal Abstract: levels of hydrogen peroxide in this process. Big Fisherman’s Cove off Catalina Island is Accordingly, introducing exogenous inside the Blue Cavern State Marine sublethal concentrations of hydrogen Conservation Area. As a no-take Marine peroxide mimicked GTPP in counteracting Protected Area (MPA), it is designed to the action of Nogo-A. Consequently, these preserve essential fish habitats (EFHs). results show for the first time that GTPP However, there is a paucity of data linking and EGCG, through its binding to the 67LR MPA EFHs to increased stocks of and its subsequent elevation of intracellular recreational fishes. By comparing biomass sublethal levels of hydrogen peroxide, and density of a significant fish species to inhibit the antineuritogenic action of Nogo- surrounding eelgrass habitat, we can better A. Our focus on Green tea stems from it understand the fishery utilization of being a cheap, naturally occurring offshore eelgrass habitat within an MPA. substance that is already widely available. The primary objective of this study is to The utilization of such an inexpensive establish a relationship between juvenile product increases the accessibility of the fish populations, specifically kelp bass possible treatments that may stem from it, (Paralabrax clathratus), and eelgrass and ultimately would be able to benefit a (Zostera marina) habitat. Estimates of larger number of people. secondary productivity for P. clathratus are 16.235 g m2 yr-1 and follows eelgrass §§§§ growth trends throughout the duration of the study. Using monthly monitoring, a range of 0-88 g m2 was found, demonstrating the importance of timing for the estimation of secondary productivity for an ecosystem or species. As the first study conducted in the area surrounding Catalina Island, these findings will inform future MPA designation and better illustrate their implications for Southern California recreational fisheries. §§§§
27 Exhibit#: LS15 Females only mate once but produce multiple fertilized egg sacs throughout their Category: Life Sciences lifespans because they have the ability to Name(s): Sneha Swaminathan store sperm. Copepods from five Submission Type: Individual populations ranging from Washington to Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Southern California were cultured as either Alan Watts, Neurobiology, Department of unmated individuals or in mated pairs to Biological Sciences compare the quantities of DNA extracted Format: Laboratory-based Research from mated females, unmated females, mated males and unmated males. We Title: Distribution of Glucokinase predicted that females would yield higher Regulatory Protein within Rat quantities of DNA than males because that Forebrain Neurons they are generally larger and that copepods Abstract: from more northern populations would Glucose sensing is pertinent to the body’s also yield higher quantities of DNA because ability to properly react to changing they tend to be larger than those from energetic needs. This paper focuses on more southern populations. Furthermore, locating neurons related to glucose we hypothesized that fertilized females sensation via the glucokinase regulatory would yield greater amounts of DNA protein (GCKR). The localization of such compared to their unfertilized counterparts neurons will lead to a greater across all five populations due to the understanding of the neural areas related presence of stored sperm. Females yielded to and the mechanisms underlying glucose higher quantities of DNA than males in two regulation. Fluorescent of the five populations examined. immunohistochemistry, and confocal Populations yielded differing amounts of fluorescent imaging were employed to DNA, but there was no relationship to label the presence of GCKR positive cells. geography. We found no statistically significant differences in DNA extraction §§§§ yields from fertilized and unfertilized females and no significant differences Exhibit#: LS03 between the amounts of DNA extracted Category: Life Sciences from males that had recently mated and those that had not. This information will be Name(s): James Sturges beneficial to future studies because it Submission Type: Individual indicates that the amount of DNA extracted Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): is independent of the fertilization status for Suzanne Edmands, Biological Studies, both males and females and that Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Science geography is not a predictor of DNA yield. Format: Laboratory-based Research T. californicus is an emerging model for Title: Do sex and mating status affect the speciation genetics, and knowledge of the amount of DNA extracted from variability in DNA yields across sexes and copepods? populations will be key for planning future studies. Abstract: Copepods are crustaceans found in marine §§§§ and freshwater habitats worldwide. One species, Tigriopus californicus, is commonly found along coastlines from Mexico to Alaska. This species is sexually dimorphic, with males’ antennules modified as claspers used in pre-copulatory mate-guarding.
28 Exhibit#: LS10 carseat. Category: Life Sciences Conclusions: Movement rates were Name(s): Crystal Jiang affected by positioning devices. Both Submission Type: Individual groups of infants tended to make more Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): foot movements when constrained Beth Smith, Division of Biokinesiology and compared to when unconstrained, but Physical Therapy there was a greater difference for the Format: Laboratory-based Research infants with TD. Both groups of infants tended to make more leg movements Title: The effect of positioning devices on when unconstrained compared to when the quantity of leg movements in constrained, but there was a greater infants with typical development difference for the infants AR. Future and at risk for developmental delay directions of this study will quantify arm Abstract: movements and statistically test the results, Background: Infant movement can be used in addition to assessing the movement as an indicator of developmental progress. behavior of infants at risk for This study explores infant leg and foot developmental delay. movement, in various environmental contexts, such as when constrained in a Acknowledgements: USC Undergraduate bumbo or car seat, or when encouraged to Research Associates Program (PI: Smith) move in a jungle gym. Purpose: We aim to and K12-HD055929 (PI: Ottenbacher). determine if infant positioning devices affect infant movement rates, and if so, USC’s Provost’s Undergraduate Research whether the effects are similar in infants Fellowship with typical development (TD) and at risk (AR) or with developmental delay. §§§§
Methods: Video data were recorded of 13 Exhibit#: LS42 infants with TD and 13 AR, placed in Category: Life Sciences supine, a car seat, a bumbo seat, or in supine underneath a jungle gym. Trained Name(s): Danny Le behavior coders identified start and stop Submission Type: Individual times for leg and foot movements. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Steven E. Finkel, Molecular and Results: Preliminary analysis for infants with Computational Biology, Dornsife College TD showed the average quantity of leg of Letters, Arts, and Sciences; Karin Kram, movements in 30 seconds was: 51 in Molecular and Computational Biology, supine, 55 under a jungle gym, 0 in a Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and bumbo seat, and 33 in a carseat. The Sciences average number of foot movements in 30 Format: Laboratory-based Research seconds was: 0.33 in supine, 0 under a jungle gym, 21.5 in a bumbo seat, and 6.3 Title: Effects of Different Rich Media in a carseat. For infants AR, the average Composition on Mutation quantity of leg movements in 30 seconds Frequencies of Escherichia coli was: 43 in supine, 91 under a jungle gym, During Long-Term Batch Culture 5 in a bumbo seat, and 12 in a car seat. Abstract: The average number of foot movements in Bacteria such as Escherichia coli are 30 seconds was: 0 in supine and under a commonly grown to high density to gain jungle gym, 5 in a bumbo seat, and 3 in a understanding of biological processes and
29 to produce biomolecules, including Exhibit#: LS44 plasmids and proteins, for studies in Category: Life Sciences laboratories. To do this, cells can be incubated in rich media that can increase Name(s): Dalton Banh cell yields. However, stresses that are Submission Type: Individual experienced during the short-term growth Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): can affect survival of cells during long-term Steven E. Finkel, Molecular and stationary phase (LTSP). Computational Biology Format: Senior Honors Thesis Whilst many laboratory applications may Title: Effects of Glycation on the Long- require relatively short periods of Term Survival of Escherichia coli incubation, bacteria such as Escherichia coli are usually studied in three phases. These Abstract: phases include the lag phase, exponential Senescence, or biological aging, is an or logarithmic phase, and stationary phase. inevitable process for nearly all organisms The focus of this study is to examine the and is often characterized by degeneration correlation between mutation frequency and dysfunction. The study of aging is and the loss of viability after LTSP important because a fundamental incubation in four different media: LB, understanding of the biochemical 2xYT, Terrific Broth, and Super Broth. mechanisms governing cellular senescence is crucial to developing treatments for age- E. coli cultures were examined for a related disorders such as diabetes, duration of ten days, with viable counts atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s. Diet and (colony forming units, CFU) measured on nutrition have major impacts on aging days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 10. Depending on through a poorly regulated process called which medium was used, cells incubated in glycation (non-enzymatic glycosylation), batch culture began to lose viability which occurs when reactive carbonyl- between 3-5 days resulting in the death of containing compounds such as reducing ~99.99% of cells. The observed sugars cross-link with amino-containing differences suggest that mutation biomolecules such as proteins and DNA, frequency may contribute to death phase destroying their functionality. Glycation and survival in LTSP. Although the specific leads to the formation and accumulation of relationship is unknown, it is evident that advanced glycation end products (AGEs), the different rich media composition has an which also contribute to the slow important role. degradation of biomolecules and are often used as biomarkers for aging. The observed relationship of mutation frequency on death phase and survival in Although most studies of glycation have LTSP when cultured in commonly used rich been conducted in humans and eukaryotic media suggests that the quality and model systems, the process is universal. homogeneity of bacteria and therefore Here, we characterize the effects of biomolecules that are produced in large glycation in various growth medium quantities in laboratories may be affected. conditions on the E. coli life cycle and seek to understand the extent to which §§§§ glycation contributes to the stationary and death phases. Using anti-glycation compounds such as carnosine to rescue cell viability and anti-AGE enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to quantify glycation levels, we provide evidence that
30 glycation can be induced in the absence of encoded in the mitochondrial genome, in reducing sugars in nutrient-rich growth cancer regulation. MOTS-c is a potent media. Mechanistic insights into the regulator of metabolic homeostasis. Within biochemical process of glycation gained the cell, MOTS-c targets the folate-purine using our bacterial model system are of cycle that consequently activates the major clinical relevance. For example, our master energy regulator AMPK, molecular microbiome, which has been shown to pathways that have previously been directly and profoundly impact our health, targeted for treatment of both diabetes is heavily dependent on our diet. Hence, it and cancer. In previous studies, we have is important to understand how differences shown that MOTS-c significantly retards in our dietary composition correlate with tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo, environments in our gut, and how with levels of MOTS-c correlated with the processes like glycation and aging affect malignancy of cancer cell type. Based on the long-term survival and fitness of these observations, the current study microbial populations. further extrapolates on MOTS-c as a mitochondrial-encoded tumor suppressor §§§§ that inhibits cancer proliferation, examining the mechanistic details MOTS-c’s effect on Exhibit#: LS33 cancer cells. Unveiling the role of MOTS-c Category: Life Sciences in cancer presents a paradigm-shifting mitochondrial biology that could Emmeline Kim, Jung-Gi Min, Name(s): significantly expand our understanding of Kathleen Tor cancer metabolism, and also introduce an Submission Type: Group entirely novel target for therapy that Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): focuses on signals from the mitochondria Changhan Lee, Davis School of itself. Gerontology Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§ Title: Elucidating the Mechanisms of MOTS-c: A Novel Perspective in Exhibit#: LS08 Cancer Modification Category: Life Sciences Abstract: Name(s): Archana Bettadapur, Clara In the early 1920s, Nobel laureate Otto Hua, Gio (Kevin) Suh Warburg hypothesized that cancer is a Submission Type: Group metabolic disease, specifically a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): mitochondrial dysfunction, based on his Megan McCain, Viterbi School of observation that cancer cells consume Engineering significantly more glucose. Since then, Format: Laboratory-based Research cancer has become steadily recognized as a metabolic disease, as the malignant cell Title: Engineering the Extracellular Matrix must reprogram its metabolism to support for Regulation of Skeletal Muscle unrestrained growth by producing enough Growth and Differentiation structural components and energy for Abstract: replication. Mitochondria are the keystone Skeletal muscle is vital for movement and of metabolism and are highly implicated in survival in our environment. Skeletal muscle cancer metabolism, but the exact is derived from satellite cells, which mechanistic details of its involvement is differentiate into precursor cells, called unclear. Here we examine the role of myoblasts. Myoblasts fuse and differentiate MOTS-c, a recently discovered peptide into striated muscle fibers that generate
31 force in response to neural or electrical Exhibit#: LS02 stimulation. The objective of this project is Category: Life Sciences to determine if the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), a network Name(s): Brandon So of macromolecules that surrounds cells in Submission Type: Individual tissues and organs, regulates skeletal Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): muscle differentiation. To test this, we Patrick Sun, Earth Sciences, Dornslife cultured and differentiated skeletal College myoblasts on two types of engineered Format: Laboratory-based Research substrates with different elastic moduli: Title: Evolved tolerance to pollution has a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates, fitness cost in absence of the which are stiffer than native muscle, and gelatin hydrogels, which mimic the natural polluted condition in marine stiffness of skeletal muscle. PDMS stamps copepod, Tigriopus californicus were coated with fibronectin, a Abstract: glycoprotein found in the ECM that The ability for an organism to evolve to its provides binding sites for matrix proteins environment is an important trait for its and integrins, and stamped onto PDMS survival. Sometimes, however, there is a coated coverslips. Gelatin hydrogels were cost to such an adaption. The marine cross-linked with transglutaminase, copepod Tigriopus californicus has been adhered to glass coverslips with previously known to become tolerant to glutaraldehyde, and micromolded with the pollutants copper and tributyltin oxide PDMS stamps. Both PDMS and hydrogel over a few generations of exposure. In this substrates were seeded with C2C12 experiment, copper and tributyltin oxide myoblasts, a commercial mouse skeletal exposed and tolerant copepod, Tigriopus myoblast cell line. The cells were cultured in californicus, under the heat stress of 28°C two different types of media to promote for 1 generation, had higher fitness only in differentiation into myofibers. Cells were their own polluted environment. This examined for differentiation into myofibers would suggest that the evolved tolerance and then fixed and immunostained for to a pollutant had caused a reduced ability sarcomeres, a feature that indicates muscle for the copepod to survive and reproduce maturation and differentiation, and nuclei. in a non-polluted environment under heat Myoblast differentiation was quantified by stress. This could have large implications in counting the number of nuclei and the the remediation of polluted sites. If number of differentiated cells. We pollutants in a temperature rising successfully established protocols for environment are removed too quickly or skeletal muscle differentiation and found drastically, it could have negative effects on that delamination and maturation was the site’s inhabitants. improved on hydrogels (gelatin) that mimicked the mechanical properties of §§§§ native muscle compared to rigid polymers (PDMS), indicating that the ECM plays a role in regulating the differentiation of skeletal muscle. Our results also suggest that hydrogels are advantageous substrates for engineering new skeletal muscle constructs with potential applications in regenerative medicine. §§§§
32 Exhibit#: LS23 exercise. For these studies, 8-10 week old male C57/BL6 mice were randomly Category: Life Sciences assigned to one of four experimental Name(s): James Tavornwattana groups: Saline; MPTP; Saline plus Exercise; Submission Type: Individual MPTP plus Exercise. Treadmill exercise was Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): initiated 5 days after MPTP or saline Mike Jakowec, Keck School of Medicine of administration, and continued 5 days/week USC, Department of Neurology; Natalie for a total of 28 days of exercise. Changes Kintz, Keck School of Medicine of USC, in DA levels, and DA receptor expression, Department of Neurology; Giselle was assessed by HPLC and western Petzinger, Keck School of Medicine of immunoblotting respectively at an early USC, Department of Neurology (two weeks after lesion, one week after the Format: Laboratory-based Research start of exercise) and late (seven weeks after lesion, six weeks after the start of Title: Exercise mediates neuroplasticity by exercise) time point. Understanding the altering D1- and D2-like dopamine relationship between DA and PFC function receptor expression in the prefrontal in the DA-depleted brain may provide key cortex of the MPTP-mouse model of insight into new therapeutic targets for the Parkinson’s disease improved treatment of PD. Abstract: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a region of §§§§ brain important for a number of executive functions including, working memory, Exhibit#: LS24 attentional processes, rule learning, Category: Life Sciences decision-making and other cognitive Name(s): Ryan Heintz abilities. Deficits in PFC function have been linked to a number of neurological Submission Type: Individual disorders including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): However, there remains a significant gap in Dr. Daniel Holschneider, Behavioral knowledge regarding the underlying Sciences; Dr. Jean-Michel Maarek, mechanisms and the treatment strategies Biomedical Engineering; Dr. Zhuo Wang, that best address PFC disturbances in PD. Psychiatry & the Behavioral Sciences; Yu- The PFC receives widespread dopaminergic Hao Peng, Biomedical Engineering; Yumei and glutamatergic input from cortical and Guo, Psychiatry & The Behavioral Sciences subcortical areas, and abnormalities in Format: Laboratory-based Research these signaling pathways in the PFC may Title: Exercise training reinstates cortico- underlie disease pathophysiology in cortical sensorimotor functional neurological disorders such as PD. Exercise connectivity following striatal is a promising therapeutic strategy that may exert beneficial effects on PFC lesioning function in PD. Substantial research Abstract: suggests exercise exerts beneficial effects Current rodent connectome projects are on cognitive function in healthy individuals. revealing brain structural connectivity with However, little is known about the role of unprecedented resolution and exercise in modulating PFC function, completeness. How subregional structural particularly DA in the DA-depleted brain, as connectivity relates to subregional observed in PD. The goal of this project is functional interactions is an emerging to examine changes in DA and receptor research topic. We describe a method for expression within the PFC of MPTP-lesioned standardized, mesoscopic-level data mice subjected to intensive treadmill sampling from autoradiographic coronal
33 sections of the rat brain, and for Exhibit#: LS41 correlation-based analysis and intuitive Category: Life Sciences display of cortico-cortical functional connectivity (FC) on a flattened cortical Name(s): Yael Freiberg map. A graphic user interface “Cx-2D” Submission Type: Individual allows for the display of significant Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): correlations of individual regions-of- Susan Forsburg, Molecular and interest, as well as graph theoretical metrics Computational Biology, Biological across the cortex. Cx-2D was tested on an Sciences, Dornsife College; Ruben autoradiographic data set of cerebral blood Petreaca, Molecular and Computational flow (CBF) of rats that had undergone Biology, Biological Sciences, Dornsife bilateral striatal lesions, followed by 4 College; Ji-Ping Yuan, Molecular and weeks of aerobic exercise training or no Computational Biology, Biological Sciences, exercise. Effects of lesioning and exercise Format: Laboratory-based Research on cortico-cortical FC were examined during a locomotor challenge in this rat Title: A Four-Chromosome Yeast Model model of Parkinsonism. Subregional FC for Robertsonian Translocation analysis revealed a rich functional Abstract: reorganization of the brain in response to Robertsonian translocation (ROB) is a lesioning and exercise that was not chromosome rearrangement characterized apparent in a standard analysis focused on by a translocation between two acrocentric CBF of isolated brain regions. Lesioned rats chromosomes (which have centromeres showed diminished degree centrality of located close to one end of the lateral primary motor cortex, as well as chromosomes) to form a single metacentric neighboring somatosensory cortex— chromosome (with a centromere in the changes that were substantially reversed in middle). ROBs occur at a frequency of 1 in lesioned rats following exercise training. 1000 people and have clinical effects Seed analysis revealed that exercise including infertility and Down syndrome. increased positive correlations in motor and We have established a model genetic somatosensory cortex, with little effect in system to study the formation and non-sensorimotor regions such as visual, segregation of ROB chromosomes. auditory, and piriform cortex. The current Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a three- analysis revealed that exercise partially chromosome yeast model for human reinstated sensorimotor FC lost following genetics, and our lab isolated four- dopaminergic deafferentation. Cx-2D chromosome (4-chr) strains in which allows for standardized data sampling from chromosome 3 (Chr3) has split into two images of brain slices, as well as analysis acrocentric chromosomes. If these fuse and display of cortico-cortical FC in the rat together again to reconstitute Chr3, that is cerebral cortex with potential applications a ROB event. These occur through the in a variety of autoradiographic and centromere, a point of constriction on the histologic studies. chromosome flanked by repetitive heterochromatin domains. Its stability is §§§§ essential for proper chromosome segregation during cell division. We are using this system to investigate the genetic pathways that contribute to ROB formation. Thus far, we have identified genes with roles in replication fork stability, centromeric chromatin, and recombination as contributing to ROB formation. In
34 parallel with this, we are also investigating laminin receptor present on the cell the structures ROB chromosomes form with surface. This binding subsequently induces their constituent homologs during meiosis. sublethal levels of intracellular reactive These studies will help elucidate the oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen molecular mechanism associated with a peroxide. While high levels of ROS common human genome instability, as well contribute to cell death, low levels of ROS as identify risk factors for these events. can induce cell signaling. We consequently found that ROS induced by green tea §§§§ polyphenols playing a crucial role in the action of these agents. Collectively, our Exhibit#: LS30 results support the fact that the green tea Category: Life Sciences polyphenols can potentiate neuritogenic ability of BDNF and suggest a potential Name(s): Lu Tian, Jessica Tran application for these inexpensive and safe Submission Type: Group natural products in treating neuronal Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Rayudu Gopalakrishna , Cell and Neurobiology §§§§ Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Green tea polyphenols potentiate Exhibit#: LS36 the neurite outgrowth stimulating Category: Life Sciences activity of brain derived neurotrophic Name(s): Zhiyin Qin factor by a receptor-mediated Submission Type: Individual specific mechanism Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Abstract: Richard W. Roberts, Mork Family Recovery from neuronal injuries and Department of Chemical Engineering and neurodegenerative diseases requires the Materials Science, USC Women in Science delivery of brain-derived neurotrophic and Engineering factor (BDNF) to affected brain region. Format: Laboratory-based Research Systemic administration of BDNF helps repair damaged axons by promoting Title: High Affinity Peptide Ligands neuronal differentiation and axonal Targeting Activated RAS growth. However, clinical administration of Abstract: BDNF has drawback because BDNF does The approach of designing high affinity and not readily cross the blood-brain barrier highly specific ligands for proteins has and have short half-life. Therefore, many potential applications in exogenous potentiators are needed to biotechnology. The RAS gene is a common enhance BDNF’s neuritogenic ability. We oncogene which is mutated in 9-30% of hypothesized that green tea polyphenols human tumors. Therefore, targeting and are the potential potentiators of BDNF. To inhibiting RAS signaling activity has been a evaluate this hypothesis, we conducted a common goal in many cancer therapy series of experiments using PC12 (TrkB) approaches. Although ligands that bind to neuronal cells, which express TrkB, a RAS have been identified, to date, no state receptor for BDNF on the cell surface and selective RAS binders capable of in vivo induce neurite outgrowth when exposed to function have been discovered. Here, we BDNF. We found that extremely low use mRNA display to select for peptide concentrations of green tea polyphenols ligands which bind to the active form of and their active ingredient RAS with high affinity. We found low epigallocatechin-3-gallate bind to a 67kDa- molecular weight state selective ligands
35 capable of in vivo function. both standard and low glucose conditions. Further, cells grown under identical §§§§ conditions show different mechanisms of resistance to erlotinib, which may be due to Exhibit#: LS31 the stochasticity of resistance. Category: Life Sciences §§§§ Name(s): Kaitlin McGillivray, Vishnu Rao Submission Type: Group Exhibit#: LS27 Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Life Sciences Shannon Mumenthaler, USC Keck School Name(s): Daniella Lent of Medicine Submission Type: Individual Format: Laboratory-based Research Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: The Impact of Dosing Strategies and the Tumor Microenvironment on Christian Pike, Davis School of Gerontology Drug Resistance Format: Laboratory-based Research Abstract: Title: The Independent and Cooperative In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Effects of Diet-induced Obesity and tumor cells harboring activating mutations Apolipoprotein E Genetics on in the epidermal growth factor receptor Alzheimer’s disease Pathology (EGFR) kinase domain are particularly Abstract: responsive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors Researchers are interested in understanding (TKIs) such as erlotinib or gefitinib. the interaction between the life-style However, these tumors eventually become choices and genetics on the development resistant to TKIs with continued treatment; of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Non-genetic a majority of resistant cells are due to a life-styles factors, such as obesity, and second site mutation at codon 790 genetic factors, such as APOE4 alleles, are (T790M) of EGFR. Current in vitro studies independent risk factors for the of drug resistance are carried out under development of amyloid beta (Aβ) laboratory conditions that differ greatly pathology in AD. Aβ accumulation is highly from the tumor microenvironment in vivo. exacerbated by inflammation, and obesity and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genetics In this study we sought to understand the influence the activation of pro- impact of both dosing strategies and the inflammatory pathways. Consequentially, it tumor microenvironment on the is possible that these risk factors co-operate development of drug resistance in a high to regulate Aβ production, which leads to throughput manner. 96 erlotinib resistant neurodegeneration in AD. cell lines were derived from sensitive HCC827 parental cells in vitro under In this study, we examined the independent standard and low glucose culture and cooperative interactions between conditions using three different dosing obesity and APOE genetics on the Aβ strategies: dose escalation, continuous high plaque accumulation in the brain. In dosing, and pulse high dosing. Cell particular, we determined the effects of morphology, growth rate, protein APOE3 and APOE4 genetics in the presence expression, and the frequency of the and absence of a western diet (45% fat) on T790M mutation were compared for each the percentage of amyloid beta plaque in dosing strategy and environmental the entorhinal cortex, remaining cortex, condition. Dosing strategy was shown to and hippocampus (subiculum, CA1, influence the mean time to resistance in CA2,3). Three-month old male APOE3-FAD
36 or APOE4-FAD transgenic mice were bred internal cancers when humans ingest them. and maintained on a normal (10% fat) or Furthermore, the genotoxicity of soluble western diet (45% fat) for a 3-month and insoluble hexavalent chromium treatment period. Metabolic outcomes compounds has been studied in were determined, brains were hemisected mammalian cell mutagenesis assays, which and stained for Aβ using showed that Cr(VI) compounds induced immunohistochemistry methods, and the base substitution, deletion, addition, and percentages of Aβ in the entorhinal cortex, frameshift mutations. Cr(VI) compounds cortex, and hippocampus were quantified. also induce DNA-DNA cross links and DNA- Our results demonstrated that the APOE4 protein cross-links in mammalian cells. The genotype and a western diet independently present study examined the ability of the worsen metabolic outcomes and Aβ soluble chromium compounds, sodium pathology in the entorhinal cortex and chromate (Na2CrO4), calcium chromate hippocampus. We determined a non- (CaCrO4) and potassium dichromate significant pattern where obesity and (K2CrO4) to induce cytotoxicity of APOE4 genetics cooperatively exacerbated C3H/10T½ Cl 8 mouse embryo cells. This Aβ accumulation in the brain. These results study sought to test the hypothesis that demonstrate that obesity only exacerbates intracellular reductants, such as ascorbate the amyloid beta pathology when coupled and dehydro-ascorbate, can reduce Cr(VI) with APOE4 genetics. Together our results to Cr(V), Cr(IV), and Cr(III) intracellularly, suggest that non-genetic and genetic thereby making it a strong cytotoxin in factors independently and cooperatively mammalian cells. We realized that regulate Aβ pathology in the brain, which ascorbate is present in serum at may be valuable to understanding the concentrations in the millimolar range pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. under physiological conditions in humans, but that ascorbate is only present in the §§§§ micromolar range in cultures of mammalian cells. We postulated that the relatively Exhibit#: LS35 weak responses for induction of morphological transformation of 10T1/2 Category: Life Sciences cells we previously published by Cr(VI) Name(s): William Liao, Joanne Lin compounds in culture (weak but dose- Submission Type: Group dependent induction of foci by lead Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): chromate, and no induction of foci by Joseph Landolph, Microbiology and calcium chromate, potassium chromate, or Immunology, Keck School of Medicine sodium chromate) might be due to the small and insufficient amounts of ascorbate Format: Laboratory-based Research in cultures of mammalian cells. Therefore, Title: Induction of Cytotoxicity and we investigated the cytotoxic effects of Morphological Transformation by ascorbate on 10T½ mouse embryo cells, Soluble Cr(VI) Compounds in and the effects of the highest non-cytotoxic Cultured C3H10T1/2C18 Mouse concentrations of ascorbate on Cr(VI)- Embryo Cells: Enhancement by induced cytotoxicity in 10T½ cells. This Ascorbate and Dehydroascorbate information is important for our future Abstract: experiments, when we design a protocol to Compounds containing hexavalent incorporate ascorbate into our cell chromium [Cr(VI)] are well-documented transformation assays assessing the human carcinogens that cause cancers in cytotoxicity and cell transforming activity of the respiratory system when inhaled, and Cr(VI) compounds. that cause stomach cancers and other
37 §§§§ other. In the centrifugation experiments, two different banding patterns for the one- Exhibit#: LS43 day and five day fractions were observed. Based on the competition experiments, it Category: Life Sciences was found that all five-day-old fractions Name(s): Tristan Jordan outcompeted the one-day-old fractions. Submission Type: Individual These studies suggest that aging of E. coli Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): in batch culture generate a greater degree Dr. Steven E. Finkel, Molecular and of oxidative damage, and that favorable Computational Biology genetic changes that might occur during long-term stationary phase contribute to Format: Laboratory-based Research greater fitness. Title: Investigating the Physiological Effects of Oxidative Damage in §§§§ Escherichia Coli Abstract: Exhibit#: LS09 Oxidative reactions in E. coli are known to Category: Life Sciences cause cellular deterioration through protein Name(s): Helen Chou damage. Using an in situ immunological technique and density gradient Submission Type: Individual centrifugation, subpopulations of cells with Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): higher oxidative damage in the form of Francesca Mariani, Keck School of Medicine protein carbonylation were shown to Format: Laboratory-based Research exhibit a higher buoyant density (Desnues Title: Investigating the Role of Cartilage in 2003). In addition, stress response genes in Bone Repair this subpopulation such as RpoS, RpoH, and SoxRS were shown to be more highly Abstract: expressed concurrent with the low Bone is a highly dynamic organ, with the expression of superoxide dismutase genes ability to break down and regrow through (Desnues 2003). Although these previous the process of bone remodeling. We studies have assessed the possible wanted to look at the various components biochemical and genetic origins of protein that take part in this process to find oxidation, we have limited knowledge therapeutic implications for bone repair. about the physiological effects of oxidative This project was divided into two parts: damage. Time-lapse experiments of E. coli bone regeneration and bone induction. cells demonstrated slower growth for daughter cells originating from older poles The first part uses CD1 mice to observe the of dividing parent cells in which the cellular process of bone regeneration, including “debris” from oxidative damage are whether variation in resected bone length asymmetrically allocated, indicating the affects regeneration. We resected ribs in generational differences in growth due to CD1 mice of lengths varying from 5 to 8 oxidative damage (Stewart et al., 2005). To mm long and allowed them to rehabilitate further assess the physiological effects of for different periods of time, after which oxidative damage as E. coli age, we we isolated the rib cages and stained them performed density-gradient centrifugation to visualize regrowth of the resected area. to separate one- and five-day old batch Histological stainings were done to visualize cultures of E. coli, where cells are expected and analyze bone markers at various time to possess different buoyant densities. We points during regrowth. then assessed the competitive fitness of the cellular fractions with respect to each The second component of this project
38 looked at bone induction from cartilage The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is progenitors. We used ATDC5 cells, derived responsible for food related reward from ATDC5 cells, which are derived from behavior and has monosynaptic projections mouse teratocarcinoma cells and shown to from the vHPC. Because of these be a promising model for chondrogenesis. projections, the mPFC is a logical We conducted trials with varying downstream target. To demonstrate the concentrations of Smoothened agonist, importance of this connection to the which acts on a receptor in the hedgehog reduction of food intake, we utilized signaling pathway, one that has been designer receptors exclusively activated by implicated in bone formation. After a seven designer drugs (DREADDs), a viral to 14-day cell culture, we used RTPCR to technique that allows for the synaptic analyze various bone and cartilage markers, silencing of pathways. Inhibitory DREADDs including osteocalcin, RUNX2, Col1 and paired with viral vectors transfect the vHPC Col10. Ultimately, our goal is to determine (CA1 pyramidal area) neurons. Clozapine-N whether cartilage can potentially be used oxide (CNO) is the otherwise physiologically to facilitate bone repair. inert DREADDs ligand and the delivery of it activates DREADDs on the vHPC, §§§§ temporarily silencing synaptic communication between the vHPC and the Exhibit#: LS28 mPFC. We inject GLP-1 receptor agonist Category: Life Sciences exendin-4 to the vHPC immediately following the CNO injections and measure Mehul Trivedi Name(s): food intake 24 hours later. Our results Submission Type: Individual show a dulled GLP-1 anorexic effect Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): following the vHPC →mPFC disconnection Ted Hsu, Neuroscience; Scott Kanoski, suggesting that this connection is required Biological Sciences for the anorexic effects of GLP-1 signaling. Format: Laboratory-based Research These results suggest a novel neural Title: Investigation of the neural circuits pathway where GLP-1 receptor signaling reduces food intake and body weight. through which glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor signaling reduces §§§§ food intake. Abstract: Exhibit#: LS26 Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a Category: Life Sciences metabolic hormone produced in the small intestines and the neurons in the nucleus Name(s): Joanne Jiang, Katherine Young tractus solitaries (NTS) of the hindbrain. Submission Type: Group GLP-1 receptors are found in the ventral Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): subregion of the hippocampus (vHPC), a Christian Pike, Davis School of Gerontology brain region that is involved in motivated Format: Field Research behaviors such as feeding. As we’ve been able to show recently, activation of the Title: Is the Female Brain Inherently More GLP-1 receptors cause a reduction in food Vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Disease? intake, body weight and effort to work for Abstract: palatable food (Hsu et al., Sex steroid hormones have effects in both Neuropscyhopharmacology, In Press). The early development (called organizational next step is to investigate the downstream effects), and later in adult life (activational neural circuitry involved in the anorexic effects). Studies show that these hormones effects of vHPC GLP-1 receptor signaling. may be protective against Alzheimer’s
39 disease in adulthood, and that the normal Exhibit#: LS22 age-related loss of these hormones Category: Life Sciences increases risks for AD in women and men. Although aging is a significant factor in the Name(s): Bronte Ficek development of AD, the higher incidence Submission Type: Individual of AD in women indicates that the Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): organizational effects of sex steroid Assal Habibi, Brain and Creativity Institute hormones may also come into play. Our Format: Creative Work study focuses on organizational effects of Title: A Lecture Recital on the Brain and testosterone. Studies have shown that early Music life exposure to testosterone makes both male and female brains relatively less Abstract: feminine and more masculine. We are In February, 2015, I presented a benefit exploring the possibility that low lecture recital on the brain and music, in testosterone exposure – and thus, a more which I intertwined mini-lectures on how “feminine” brain – can serve as an the brain processes music with indicator for increased risk of AD. In order performances of music I have learned at to gauge testosterone’s effect on AD USC. Purposes for the recital were to development, we measured the 2nd digit present an oral review of current research to 4th digit (2D:4D) ratios of our subjects: on the brain and music in a format easy to Los Angeles area men and women over the understand, share my favorite classical and age of 65, both with and without jazz music and use the music to significant memory impairment, a demonstrate the neuroscience concepts I characteristic of AD and related dementias. address, and raise funds for a foundation in Higher 2D:4D ratios, which reflect elevated the Philippines that provides for the testosterone levels during prenatal medical needs of impoverished people. My development, are maintained throughout submission is the lecture recital itself, in the the lifespan. This is supported by clinical form of video recordings. and experimental evidence—the genes for testosterone release and finger length The music portion of my recital represents belong to the same DNA sequence. my musical journey through college, Importantly for our research, analyses of emphasizing collaboration with others these ratios show differences both within because I believe music is communication and between sexes. Although we are still in and provides a powerful way to connect the process of analyzing our data, we with others. I begin by playing violin in a hypothesize that we will see an inverse violin-cello duet, as well as in a Filipino folk correlation between testosterone exposure song; later I sing jazz in a guitar-voice duo, and Alzheimer's diagnosis. These results used later in my discussion about sad have the potential provide an additional music. In the second half I conduct a choir predictive tool for Alzheimer’s of friends, as well as perform one vocal development, as well as provide more classical piece and present my own insight into an underlying cause of and care composition for voice and piano to for the disease. demonstrate musical synesthesia; I end with a capella jazz ensemble tunes. §§§§ Nestled between musical performances are lectures addressing the following questions, among others: How is music processed by the brain? Why do we like sad music? Why does music trigger chills? Can music
40 training make us more intelligent? More specimens. Dr. Matt Dean and I worked to empathetic? These questions I answer with develop a new method of morphometric about three years’ worth of research in the analysis by generating minimum bounding Brain and Creativity Institute, in the form of rectangles around each shell. Principle literature searches and my own projects. component analyses were performed on the length, width, and length-width ratio My hope is that the information imparted data for these rectangles, and the first two will guide musicians’ approaches to and principle components were plotted against appreciation of the complexity of music in each other and against oyster mass. These their own musical endeavors. data were analyzed based on oyster sex, and it was found that males tend to have §§§§ less mass and smaller shells than females. It was also found that shell size is responsible Exhibit#: LS01 for most of the variation among shells. Dr. Category: Life Sciences Hedgecock’s lab has genotyped the oysters. So far, I have analyzed 614 SNPs (short Emily Kopania Name(s): nucleotide polymorphisms) and identified Submission Type: Individual 31 SNPs with significant phenotype effects. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): I will eventually analyze over 10,000 SNPs Matt Dean, Molecular and Computational to complete the process of mapping the Biology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, genes responsible for variations in shell and Sciences; Dennis Hedgecock, Marine morphology. and Environmental Biology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences; §§§§ Alberto Arias Perez, (Postdoctoral Fellow), Marine and En Exhibit#: LS34 Format: Laboratory-based Research Category: Life Sciences Title: Mapping the Genes Responsible for Name(s): Christopher Sulistio Variations in Oyster Shell Submission Type: Individual Morphology Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Abstract: Stacey Finley, Biomedical Engineering Oyster shells exhibit observable variations in Format: Laboratory-based Research shape and size, which are important traits Title: Modeling the anti-angiogenic in the aquaculture industry because they actions of thrombospondin-1 in correspond to oyster quality. Prior studies tumor cells and blood have shown that these variations are influenced by genetics rather than Abstract: environmental factors. Thus, it is of great Angiogenesis is the formation of new benefit to the aquaculture industry to be blood vessels from pre-existing vessels and able to quantify shell morphology in order is one area of research that could produce to map the genes responsible for variations viable treatment options for slowing or in shape. For this project, over 200 stopping the growth and spread of tumors. Crassostrea gigas shells from an F2 family Restricting the angiogenic process would were scanned to generate a 3D data file for help in preventing tumor cells from each shell. Usually, morphometric analyses proliferating and initiating metastases by are performed using landmarks to compare moving to other locations throughout the shapes, but this does not work on oyster body. We have created a computational shells due to high variation in shell shape model to simulate the reactions of and lack of consistent landmarks across all thrombospondin-1, an anti-angiogenic
41 factor, with various receptors and signaling Exhibit#: LS13 molecules. Thrombospondin-1 works by Category: Life Sciences inhibiting the action of growth factors such as VEGF, a strong promoter of Name(s): Layla Farrahi, Annie Park angiogenesis, and affecting a pathway Submission Type: Group leading to cell apoptosis. We are modeling Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): these interactions to further understand the Adam Leventhal, Preventive Medicine effects thrombospondin-1 has on tumor Format: Laboratory-based Research angiogenesis. Title: Negative Urgency Predicts Heightened Negative Affect and To model the thrombospondin-1 reactions, Urge During Tobacco Abstinence in we wrote 242 differential equations with Regular Smokers 105 species using the SimBiology toolbox in MATLAB based on interactions found in Abstract: literature. Many of the kinetic and BACKGROUND: Negative urgency- the geometric parameters used are taken from disposition to act rashly during periods of previous computational studies and extreme negative emotional states has experimental research involving been implicated in the etiology of smoking. components relevant to our model. The However, the mechanisms linking negative model currently contains two urgency and smoking motivation are compartments representing tumor cells and unclear. This study tested the hypothesis blood. We are working to add a third that negative urgency amplifies negative compartment for normal tissue to more emotions experienced during acute tobacco completely reflect in vivo conditions. We abstinence, which in turn increases the simulated the concentration of the urge to smoke to suppress negative angiogenic factors over time and tuned the emotions as part of a mediational pathway model to match known steady state that ultimately maintain smoking behavior concentrations. For parameter values that in urgent individuals. are disputed or unknown, we ran sensitivity analyses in MATLAB to determine the METHOD: Adult smokers (n=180, >10 impact of those components. Specifically, cig/day) attended a baseline session at we examined how the number of cell which self-report measures of negative surface receptors present in each urgency and other co-factors were compartment influence the predicted administered and then two concentrations of thrombospondin-1 and counterbalanced experimental sessions other angiogenic factors. By creating a involving either 16 h of smoking abstinence comprehensive model, we hope to gain a or smoking as usual. At both experimental better understanding of how the anti- sessions, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, angiogenic effects of thrombospondin-1 affect, and smoking urge were assessed. can be utilized to restrict tumor growth. RESULTS: Negative urgency predicted larger §§§§ abstinence-induced increases in withdrawal symptoms, negative affect, and urge to smoke to alleviate negative affect with and without controlling for baseline anxiety, depression, and sensation seeking (betas > .21, ps < .006). The predictive influence of urgency on abstinence-induced increases in urge to smoke to alleviate negative affect was mediated by greater
42 abstinence-induced increases in negative Dentognathic material is relatively affect (betas > .066, p< .003). Negative abundant and often attributable to specific urgency did not significantly predict taxa, but postcranial remains from Songhor abstinence-induced changes in positive are few and difficult to allocate to any one affect or the urge to smoke for pleasure species. In this study we describe KNM-SO (ps > .13). 31233, a complete left anthropoid first metatarsal (Mt1) and addressed two CONCLUSION: These findings suggest a questions: 1) Which, if any, fossil primate potential risk pathway whereby smokers species currently recognized at Songhor with higher (vs. lower) negative urgency are can KNM-SO 31233 be attributed to? 2) prone to more severe negative affect states How does the morphology of KNM-SO upon smoking abstinence, which in turn 31233 compare with other known stem- promotes an urge to smoke to suppress catarrhine or stem-ape Mt1s? We compare these negative emotions. These results also this specimen to a large number of extant suggest affective specificity to aversive (vs. anthropoids including New and Old World appetitive) mechanisms underlying the link monkeys and apes (n>520), and several between negative urgency and abstinence- fossils attributed to stem catarrhines provoked smoking motivation. Extending (Catopithecus; Aegyptopithecus), these findings to clinical populations and proconsuloids (Proconsul; Afropithecus), outcomes, such as relapse propensity and and pliopithecoids (Epipliopithecus). dependence, is warranted. Morphometric data was obtained from 3D surface renderings derived from CT and §§§§ micro-CT scans. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess phenetic Exhibit#: LS06 affinity with the comparative sample. Category: Life Sciences Regression analyses were performed to estimate lower second molar dimensions Name(s): Cassandra Tran from Mt1 size variables in order to possibly Submission Type: Individual associate this specimen with fossil dental Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): remains found at Songhor. Overall, KNM- Biren Patel, Keck SOM (Cell and SO 31233 is similar in size to Mt1s of Neurobiology Deparment) extant gibbons and spider monkeys, while Format: Analytical Paper its shape is most similar to extant pithecine monkeys, spider monkeys and gibbons. Title: A new anthropoid first metatarsal Among fossil Mt1s, it looks most like from the early Miocene site of Catopithecus from the latest Eocene, and Songhor, Kenya does not resemble any other Miocene Abstract: primate currently known. Based on its size, Songhor is an early Miocene fossil locality it likely can be attributed to Limnopithecus. in Kenya that is known for its diverse mammals including several catarrhine §§§§ primate species: Limnopithecus evansi, Kalepithecus songhorensis, Dendropithecus macinnesi, Proconsul major, and Rangwapithecus gordoni. Of these, Proconsul major was the largest known primate at Songhor, and Rangwapithecus was the most common taxon (based on the number of recovered fossils). Songhor is the type locality for both taxa.
43 Exhibit#: LS37 §§§§ Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Makana Krulce Exhibit#: LS07 Submission Type: Individual Category: Life Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Saumya (Sam) Copparam Richard W. Roberts, Department of Submission Type: Individual Chemistry Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Lorraine Turcotte, Biological Sciences, Title: Optimization of in vitro translation Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences and fusion formation Format: Senior Honors Thesis Abstract: Title: Potassium Channel Expression in mRNA display is an in-vitro selection Contracting Skeletal Muscle technique, widely used to generate Abstract: proteins (ligands) capable of binding other Regulation of potassium homeostasis is proteins (targets) with high affinity and critical for optimal exercise performance. specificity. This process begins by screening During muscle contraction, potassium a pool of over a trillion unique proteins and effluxes from the muscle cell into the narrowing the list to mere thousands of extracellular fluid (ECF). This leads to an potential binders. An important step in increase in ECF (and blood) potassium mRNA display is “fusion formation.” Fusion levels. To rectify this, potassium must be formation happens during translation, pumped back into the muscle by a variety where the mRNA coding for a protein is of channels and transporter proteins. Due covalently linked to the newly synthesized to this, it has been hypothesized that the protein. Unfortunately, this is one of the activity and/or content of the transporter least efficient steps of mRNA display, proteins that regulate potassium re-uptake greatly reducing the total number of into muscle should be higher during muscle molecules that mRNA display can screen. contraction. However, we know very little Here, we plan on increasing the efficiency about the changes in the muscle content of of fusion formation by optimizing the the various potassium channel proteins that sequence upstream of the start codon, regulate potassium fluxes during muscle called the untranslated region (UTR). It is contraction. our hope that by optimizing the UTR region, we will increase the efficiency of The purpose of this study was to determine translation as well as fusion formation. The whether moderate-intensity muscle current UTR used for in vitro translation contraction would affect the expression of and fusion formation is derived from the the ATP-sensitive inward rectifying tobacco mosaic virus. Using mRNA display, potassium channel (Kir6.2), the calcium- we have identified up to five candidate activated potassium channel (KCNMA1), sequences to increase the fusion formation the inward rectifier potassium channel efficiency. Our sequences show a high (Kir2.1), and the sodium-potassium- degree of similarity with sequences chloride cotransporter (NKCC1) in discovered by other researchers looking to contracting muscle. These channel proteins optimize translation. We hope to test are plausible regulators of the re-uptake of these sequences to determine the potassium with muscle contraction because improvement of fusion formation and to they have been shown to be important explore other applications of enhanced in- potassium flux regulators in other vitro translational efficiency. physiological conditions.
44 Western blotting was used to separate little research has examined the health proteins from homogenate samples correlates of the collective practice of these prepared from rat hindlimbs that were behaviors. We also know relatively little perfused at rest or during muscle about the physiological pathways through contraction. The proteins were probed with which engagement in these behaviors leads antibodies against the regular and to better health. Given the high prevalence phosphorylated channels. The resulting gel of cardiovascular disease in the U.S., the bands were visualized using enhanced current study investigated autonomic and chemiluminescence and gel density was cardiovascular correlates of the practice of quantified using the NIH ImageJ program. the Alameda 7.
The big picture of this project is to gain a Analyses utilized data from the Biomarker better understanding of the cause and Substudy of the National Survey of Midlife regulation of muscle fatigue, a full in the U.S. (MIDUS). An aggregate index understanding of which is still unknown. A representing the number of the 7 health better understanding of muscle fatigue habits regularly practiced was examined as could lead to treatments and applications a predictor of multiple indicators of in the real world to reduce it (for example, autonomic (high frequency heart rate in athletes) or to relieve it (for example, in variability (HRV)) and cardiovascular(heart senior citizens). rate) function under both resting and challenge conditions (cognitive lab §§§§ stressors). Multiple regression analyses controlling for menopausal status, Exhibit#: LS11 medication intake, and socio-demographics Category: Life Sciences factors were used to investigate whether greater healthy habit engagement Name(s): Farid Zeineddine predicted healthier autonomic and Submission Type: Individual cardiovascular activity. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Tara Gruenewald, Davis School of Participants that reported practicing a Gerontology; Diana Wang, Davis SChool of greater number of the seven healthy habits Gerontology demonstrated greater high frequency heart Format: Laboratory-based Research rate variability (β =.091, p < .05) and heart Title: Practicing the “Alameda 7” daily rate (β =0.081, p < .01) stress recovery. health habits predicts better Those who practiced more health habits cardiovascular and autonomic also exhibited a more favorable basal function and recovery from stress profile of autonomic health, as indicated by higher heart rate variability (β = .073, p Abstract: < .05). These findings indicate that greater A half century ago, the practice of 7 health practice of the 7 health habits may confer habits was identified in the Alameda better daily physiological function and County Study to predict physical health and greater physiological stress resistance. longevity. These habits included: never having smoked, drinking less than five §§§§ drinks at a time, sleeping 7-8 hours a night, maintaining a desirable weight for height, exercising, not snacking, and eating breakfast daily. Subsequent research has independently linked the practice of each of these behaviors to better health, but
45 Exhibit#: LS14 prior to ethanol access resulted in a significant reduction in 20E intake in Category: Life Sciences female mice with the Drinking in the Dark Name(s): Jamie Thuy paradigm, where the mice had 4 hour Submission Type: Individual limited access to ethanol starting 3 hours Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): into the dark phase. Our hourly study Daryl Davies, Pharmacology and further established that the effects on Pharmaceutical Sciences; Liana Asatryan, alcohol intake were significantly reduced at Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical 4 hours after administration, compared to Economics & Policy 9 hours with IVM. Importantly, we Format: Laboratory-based Research observed no signs of overt toxicities during these investigations. Collectively, these Title: Preclinical Development of findings support the development of MOX Moxidectin as a Novel Therapeutic as a novel therapeutic for AUD with a for Alcohol Use Disorder promising long-term safety profile. Abstract: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) poses a major §§§§ socio-economic issue with current therapies having limited success. Previously, the Exhibit#: LS25 Davies laboratory has focused on the Category: Life Sciences repurposing of ivermectin (IVM), as a novel pharmacotherapy for AUD. Our Name(s): Rachel Rosales investigations have shown that IVM can Submission Type: Individual significantly reduce ethanol intake acutely Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): and chronically in both male and female Suraiya Rasheed, Keck School of Medicine mice, and IVM was recently tested in 10 Format: Laboratory-based Research alcoholic patients where no safety events Title: Proteomics of HIV Associated were reported. However, IVM’s poor blood Dementia brain barrier (BBB) penetration may limit its utility as a long-term treatment. The Abstract: current study extends our investigation to HIV Associated Dementia (HAD) is one of moxidectin (MOX), an avermectin-related the leading causes of neurologic deficits compound with superior BBB penetration among a younger population group of HIV- as established by earlier preclinical reports. infected individuals (McArthur, Sacktor & Recent electrophysiological findings from Selnes, 1999). HAD has the typical our laboratory have shown MOX conditions of Dementia of impaired antagonizes ethanol-induced inhibition cognitive functioning that can interfere activity on P2X4Rs, ion-receptors in the with one’s daily activities. A key difference dopamine reward system relates to ethanol is that HIV Dementia results from HIV- intake. infection and is a rapidly progressive form of dementia while the typical form of Our preliminary investigations found that Dementia is usually a gradual onset acute intraperitoneal injection of MOX (5 (Potocnik 2013). Because the disease is so mg/kg) significantly reduced 10% ethanol debilitating, it is important to understand (10E) v/v solution intake in both male and the disease’s pathway and how the disease female mice using a 24-hr-two-bottle progresses. paradigm, where the mice had continuous access to both 10E and water during the About ¼ of patients with AIDS will develop testing period. Extending this work, HIV Associated Dementia in the course of administration of MOX (5mg/kg), 4 hours their illness (Pandey et al., 2009). An HIV
46 patient usually does not present symptoms error rate. Normal human DNA has a ~ one of HAD until later in the course of the in 100 million rate of substituting an disease or before the onset of AIDS; incorrect DNA base for the correct one, yet however, HIV affects the brain at an early NGS sequencing can introduce errors at stage of infection. The brain serves as an rates as high as one in 1000 bases, an important reservoir for the virus that allows increase of ~ five orders of magnitude. The the disease to manifest itself in the person most common error introduced is a later on (Ances & Ellis 2007). One reason substitution of the base thymine in place of why HAD rarely occurs before the onset of a cytosine. This is due to a deamination of advanced HIV disease is that a vicious cycle the cytosine to a uracil in some NGS of immune dysregulation and Blood-Brain preparation step, such as during the Barrier dysfunction is required to achieve Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Though sufficient entry of infected or activated it is commonly believed that uracil cannot immune cells into the brain to cause be copied by the commonly used DNA neuronal injury (Kaul et al. 2001). Polymerase Phusion (which would prevent the mutation from being detected), we HIV proteins can infect the Blood-Brain have contrary evidence that this Barrier and enter the brain by infecting assumption is not true. Based on this macrophages and microglia causing observation, our ultimate goal is to be able neuronal damage. In other cases, due to to run the PCR reaction for studies on rare their solubility, the HIV proteins can enter mutations in the presence of enzymes that the Blood-Brain Barrier causing neuronal would eliminate DNA strands containing damage. These proteins were the basis of uracil and effectively suppressing the my research. “noise” produced during NGS. Our preliminary trials on potential DNA §§§§ glycosylases show promise, as many can function well in conditions very different Exhibit#: LS39 from that inside a living cell. We are also Category: Life Sciences investigating the possibility of adding other enzymes to reduce additional false Name(s): Sina Torabi mutations produced by the NGS process Submission Type: Individual itself. Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Norman Arnheim, Molecular Biology and §§§§ Biochemistry; Peter Calabrese, Biological Sciences; Soo-Kung Choi, Molecular Exhibit#: LS32 Biology and Biochemistry; Song-Ro Yoon, Category: Life Sciences Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Name(s): Karthik Vasan Format: Laboratory-based Research Submission Type: Individual Title: Reducing Error in Next-Generation Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Sequencing of Rare Mutations Shou-Jiang Gao, Molecular Microbiology Abstract: and Immunology Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a Format: Laboratory-based Research ground-breaking method that allows investigators to sequence DNA in order to Title: The Role of Class III HDACs in the find and quantify the number of molecules Growth and Survival of Acute with rare mutations, among other uses. Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) However, the downfall of Next-Generation Abstract: Sequencing (NGS) in this context is its high Class III histone deacetylases (HDACs), also
47 known as Sirtuins (SIRTs), consist of seven Our internal representation of the external HDACs that control gene expression in world is based on patterns of neural activity response to intra- and extra-cellular signals in our cortex. These patterns are by regulating both histone proteins to profoundly influenced by inhibitory mediate epigenetic modifications and non- neurons. The most numerous class of histone proteins to affect their functions. inhibitory neurons in the cortex express Sirtuins use NAD+ as a cofactor for their parvalbumin (PV+). The function of these activity. However, the catalytic product of neurons during active sensation is NAD+, nictotinamide (NAM), which is the unknown. We sought to determine the role amide of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3), is a PV+ interneurons play in the cortical feedback inhibitor of sirtuins. Because the processing of the sense of touch in the activity of SIRTs depends on NAD+, which mouse whisker system. Mice sweep their reflects the cellular energy status, they are whiskers back-and-forth to detect, locate commonly thought to be metabolic sensors and identify objects, much like humans use of the cell. In this study, we have shown their fingers. Furthermore, many aspects of that SIRT1, 3, 4, and 7 are upregulated in cortical circuits that process touch are Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), an conserved across mammalian species, acute cancer of white blood cells that including mice and humans. We addressed inhibits normal hematopoiesis. Significantly, how PV+ neuron activity shapes the activity inhibition of SIRTs using NAM, and a patterns in primary somatosensory cortex specific small molecule inhibitor of SIRT1, 2, (S1) associated with whisker-object contact and 3, Tenovin-6, reduced cell proliferation, and whisker motion during whisker- induced apoptosis, and caused G1/S phase mediated object localization. We recorded cell cycle arrest in ALL cells. Mechanistically, whisker motion and object contact with NAM induced DNA damage whereas 1ms precision, calculated sensory input, Tenovin-6 induced autophagy, suggesting and correlated these variables spiking that different SIRTs might mediate the patterns in S1 neurons. We then effects of the inhibitors on ALL cells optogentically silenced PV+ interneuron through distinct pathways. These results activity in the whisker representation of S1 allude to the therapeutic potential of SIRT during object localization and compared inhibition for treating ALL. how the encoding of sensory and motor variables differed between these two §§§§ states. Finally, we linked these changes in neural activity to shifts in perception of Exhibit#: LS20 object location. This revealed underlying Category: Life Sciences computational mechanisms by which object location is perceptually constructed from Name(s): Vincent Huang, Nahyun neural activity in S1. (Mariah) Kim, Jason Strawbridge, Jonathan Sy §§§§ Submission Type: Group Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Andrew Hires, Neuroscience, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: The role of PV+ interneurons in rodent primary somatosensory cortex during object localization Abstract:
48 Exhibit#: LS40 as well as by studying the cleavage activity of human serum. Category: Life Sciences Name(s): Chenyu Wang §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Exhibit#: LS38 Richard W. Roberts, Viterbi School of Category: Life Sciences Engineering Name(s): Devika Das Format: Laboratory-based Research Submission Type: Individual Title: Understand Protease Resistance Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Using mRNA Display Irene Chiolo, Biological Sciences, Dornsife Abstract: College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Laetitia Peptides (small proteins, generally less than Delabaere, Postdoctoral Scholar; Taehyun 30 amino acids) have several therapeutic Ryu, Molecular & Computational Biology; advantages over common antibodies: they Brett Spatola, Molecular & Computational are cheaper, faster, and easier to produce Biology and purify, and they generally do not Format: Laboratory-based Research require cold temperatures for storage. However, their current applications have Title: Visualization of DNA Double Strand been limited due to their instability in the Break Repair in Heterochromatin presence of proteases and peptidases, Through In Vivo Fluorescent Imaging naturally present in the human body. These Abstract: enzymes can degrade peptides in a matter Heterochromatin is a large nuclear domain of minutes, leaving the peptides unable to characterized by repetitive sequences. The reach their target to be effective. abundance of repeated sequences can Understanding the rules governing the trigger massive ectopic recombination, and cleavage process of proteases and genomic instability during double-strand peptidases can significantly advance the break (DSB) repair. These outcomes are field of peptide therapeutics. Previous leading causes of human diseases such as studies of protease and peptidase activity cancer, fertility disorders, and required each peptide to be individually developmental defects. However, little is synthesized, purified, and tested. By known about the mechanisms of DSB combining high-throughput sequencing repair in heterochromatin. Chiolo et al. with mRNA display, we were able to (Cell, 2011) previously discovered that simultaneously analyze the stability of heterochromatic double strand breaks millions of peptides against common (DSBs) start repair inside the proteases. We studied the cleavage heterochromatic domain but relocalize to patterns of chymotrypsin, trypsin, and the euchromatic space to complete repair proteinase K, proteases commonly used in by homologous recombination (HR). Most biological research. Our preliminary results recent studies from the Chiolo lab revealed show clear cleavage activity bias of each that these sites eventually relocalize to the protease, and we are able to identify nuclear periphery to continue repair (Ryu et particularly effective and ineffective al, submitted). In these studies, the substrates for each protease. Furthermore, heterochromatin-associated HP1a protein our model successfully predicts the relative was used as a live marker for the stabilities for peptides found in the heterochromatic region as opposed to literature. We plan to continue this project heterochromatic DNA sequences. by using a larger randomized peptide Furthermore, DSBs were induced by library to further refine our analysis model, ionizing radiation, which introduce DSBs at
49 both euchromatic and heterochromatic sites. My work aims to generate more specific tools for studying heterochromatin repair by: 1) fluorescently labeling repeated DNA sequence in heterochromatin with the recently developed TALEN sequences (359-2 TALE-light) and 2) inducing a DSB in a specific heterochromatic sequence with site-specific endonucleases. With these new tools, we will be able to characterize repair in heterochromatic regions more specificity, using powerful live imaging techniques. Using these tools, we will visualize and track heterochromatic repair foci as the heterochromatin becomes more dynamic and repair sites reach the nuclear periphery to undergo successful repair. §§§§
50 a natural experiment that allows us to examine the influence of seismic events on the organic carbon cycle. This project aims to characterize organic carbon transport after the Wenchuan earthquake, in the context of the steep Longmen Shan Physical topography and the earthquake-triggered landslides. Following a source-to-sink sampling strategy, we collected samples Sciences, from landslide deposits, river bedload, and a downstream reservoir, capturing the Math & route of organic carbon from landslides to the reservoir. For characterizing the compositions of the organic carbon, we Engineering decarbonated samples and analyzed for δ13C, %Corg, and %N. To constrain the potential variation of organic carbon across different grain sizes, we also analyzed grain size-separated samples. Here we report the preliminary results on the organic carbon Exhibit#: PS24 compositions and sources, providing initial Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering insights into links between earthquakes Name(s): Ellie Hara and the carbon cycle. Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): §§§§ Zhangdong Jin, State Key Laboratory of Exhibit#: PS22 Loess and Quaternary Geology; Jin Wang, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering China; Fei Zhang, Institute of Earth Name(s): Kevin Chan, Elise Shea Environment; Joshua West, Earth Sciences, Submission Type: Group Dornsife College; Gen Li, Earth Sciences, Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Dornsife College; W Robert De Groot, Earth Sciences, Dornsife Format: Laboratory-based Research College Title: Characterization of organic carbon Format: Field Research transport in the aftermath of a large Title: Citizen Science with the EPIcenter earthquake and Quake-Catcher Networks: Abstract: Promoting Seismology Research and While large earthquakes play important Activities in Free-Choice Learning roles in the geodynamic and topographic Venues evolution of active mountain belts, the links Abstract: between earthquakes and the carbon cycle The Quake-Catcher Network (QCN) is a remain unclear. Occurring in the steep collaborative initiative for developing the Longmen Shan range at the eastern world’s largest, low-cost strong motion Tibetan Plateau margin, the 2008 Mw7.9 seismic network by utilizing sensors in and Wenchuan earthquake triggered over attached to internet-connected computers. 60,000 co-seismic and post-seismic Managed by Stanford University and the landslides. These landslides mobilized large United States Geological Survey (USGS) amounts of organic carbon from Pasadena Field Office, the Quake-Catcher vegetation, soil and bedrock, and provides
51 Network (QCN) seeks to form the world’s Exhibit#: PS17 largest strong-motion seismic network by Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering empowering individuals with software to improve earthquake monitoring, Name(s): Joseph Yoo earthquake awareness, and the science of Submission Type: Individual earthquakes. QCN uses low-cost seismic Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): sensors to record data in real-time on Andrew Clough, Chemistry, Dornsife volunteer computers and engages College; Courtney Downes, Chemistry, participants in authentic science. The Dornsife College; Smaranda Marinescu, primary goal of this project was to develop Chemistry, Dornsife College a pilot program to facilitate the installation Format: Laboratory-based Research and marketing of the QCN sensors for Title: Cobalt Dithiolene-like Metal Organic research and broader impacts activities in venues that provide free-choice learning Surfaces for Efficient Hydrogen opportunities. To facilitate this, members of Evolution the Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA) Abstract: Education and Public Information Center Cobalt dithiolene species, among the most (EPIcenter) Network – whose commitment efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution is to encouraging earthquake and tsunami reactions, were synthesized into metal- preparedness by demonstrating leadership organic surfaces using trinucleating in risk-reduction and education – have conjugated ligands. Benzenehexathiol and taken part in this endeavor, thus forming triphenylenehexathiol were reacted with the joint QCN-EPIcenter Seismic Network. cobalt (II) at a liquid-liquid interphase in As of now, there are more than 130 free- order to produce a stable film, which upon choice learning institutions participating in analysis via powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) the QCN-EPIcenter Seismic Network, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy including museums, schools, and (XPS), supported the presence of cobalt universities throughout California, Oregon, bisdithiolene complexes. Washington, and Alaska. With the growing number of participants, a higher resolution Electrochemical studies, via cyclic of earthquake seismicity can be analyzed. voltammograms, showed a separation of Various promotional and informational oxidation and reductive peaks, which is products have been developed to indicative of surface level redox reactions. encourage the growth of the Network, This current steadily increased as the pH of including flyers, stickers, installation guides, the solution was lowered, and was activity guides, and a website in the works. confirmed to be solely from the film by repeating the experiments on bare §§§§ electrodes and obtaining negligible current. These complexes do not tend to decompose to form active heterogeneous materials as experiments in pH 1.3 solutions of H2SO4 and 0.1 M KNO3 did not lead to significant current after being rinsed and transferred to a clean solution.
The current development is to synthesize one-dimensional metal-organic wires, which would be done via dinucleating conjugated ligands such as 1,4 diamino 2,3,5,6 tetrathiol phenylene and 4,5,9,10
52 tetrathiol pyrene. These species are features to classify high versus low levels of desirable to study for the open positions empathy in each session with a support that may be further modified to alter ligand vector machine (SVM) classifier. Second, we environments, allowing for the used n-gram language models (LMs) built optimization of overpotential and the by the SRI language modeling toolkit possibility of functionalization to align wires (SRILM) to obtain probability distributions via a condensation reaction, or possibly add for each word used in the conversation. We a photosensitizer to directly couple then evaluate the level of therapist photocatalysis. empathy in each session by computing the probability that the therapist language was §§§§ generated from either the high or low empathy LM. Our results show the tf-idf Exhibit#: PS27 technique to be more accurate for empathy Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering classification than the n-gram models. We further improved the n-gram’s classification Name(s): Francisco Romero accuracy by increasing the n-gram order. Submission Type: Individual Beyond classification, the conversational Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): transcript feature extraction gives indication James Gibson, Ming Hsieh Department of of the language related to empathy and Electrical Engineering; Shrikanth the word choice used in empathy-rich Narayanan, Ming Hsieh Department of conversations. Electrical Engineering Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§ Title: Computational Methods for Predicting Therapist Empathy in Exhibit#: PS07 Motivational Interviews Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Abstract: Name(s): Taylor Clarkin In the United States alone, over 10 million Submission Type: Individual people are treated for psychotherapy each Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): year; however, the treatment methodology Stacey Finley, Biomedical Engineering and state of the art has remained Format: Laboratory-based Research unchanged for several years. We are Title: Computational Modeling of the interested in developing and evaluating methods for quantifying the language use Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Signaling of mental health experts to determine how Pathway it affects their perceived efficacy. One Abstract: measure for determining therapist efficacy Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) induces is empathy. This construct attempts to angiogenesis via binding to its receptors capture the degree to which the therapist and initiating intracellular signaling. understands the patient’s perspective. We Angiogenesis is the formation of new hope to gain novel insights into this blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, and domain by developing computational is vital for processes in the body such as methods for evaluating empathy from wound healing. However, when therapist language use. We compare two uncontrolled, it also plays a role in deadly methodologies for this task. The first, term diseases, particularly cancer. Potential exits frequency- inverse document frequency (tf- to control angiogenesis via promoting or idf), is a numerical method that estimates interrupting the binding of FGF2 to its the most salient words in the receptors; however, the details involving conversational transcripts. We use these FGF2 interactions are not well understood.
53 We have created a computational model of Exhibit#: PS20 FGF2 signaling to better understand the Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering dynamics of FGF2 binding, and the impact of inhibiting this factor on angiogenesis. Name(s): Natalia DaSilva Submission Type: Individual The model includes interactions between Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): FGF2 and its receptors, as well as Lynn Swartz Dodd, Archaeology and promoters and inhibitors of FGF2-receptor Religion, Dornsife College binding. Six promoters exists in the model Format: Laboratory-based Research that increase and strengthen binding of Title: Conservation of Native American FGF2 to its receptors. In addition, there are Sacred Sites: Analysis of Damage to three inhibitors included in the model that Rock by Laser Removal of Graffiti block binding of FGF2 to its receptors. The balance of these promoters and inhibitors is Abstract: what ultimately controls the amount of Laser ablation is a method-- internationally angiogenesis. The model was written using accepted by art conservators-- used to the Simbiology toolbox in MATLAB, based clean rock surfaces, which includes the on biochemical reactions and parameter removal of graffiti paint from Native values from experimental data. American sites in the USA. My research focuses on the damage that laser ablation The model predicts the concentrations of can cause. 74 species. We are particularly interested in the levels of free (unbound) FGF2 and other Eight years ago, USC students used a Nd: soluble species. Given the lack of data YAG laser in the first harmonic to ablate regarding the secretion rates of FGF2 and graffiti paint from local California rocks. its inhibitors and activators, we performed They did so to better understand if laser parameter sensitivity studies to match ablation was the best way to clean local experimentally determined concentration Native American sacred sites that were values. Our model accurately predicts the being vandalized. concentration of free FGF2 in normal tissue and blood. The model provides more It is my job to asses whether the lasers left detailed insight into the interactions any physical or chemical damage to the between FGF2 and other soluble factors rock. Knowing this is important; many and the impact on FGF2 receptor binding. tribes allow this method of conservation to We can apply the model to study ways of be used mainly because they have been enhancing or diminishing FGF2 binding told that ablation does not damage the beyond normal ranges to thus increase or natural rock surface. decrease angiogenesis. I am testing for damage using a SEM and §§§§ EDAX. Together, I use them to look for abnormalities and changes in the rock both before and after ablation. Likewise, I focus on areas of rock that were discolored by the laser to see what kind of damage--if any-- was done.
This work is important because it provides documentation of the efficacy and limitations of a technique that could potentially cause irreparable harm to
54 heritage resources around the world. Not parameters, such as setup time, hold time, only would that be detrimental to clock-to-Q delay, etc. For instance, the preservation efforts, but also to the people setup time is the minimum time the input groups who still revere the objects as data must be valid before the clock sacred. triggering edge, and the hold time is the minimum time the input data should be §§§§ held steady after the clock triggering edge. It is desirable that a flip-flop has both small Exhibit#: PS29 setup and hold times, so that the pipelined Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering processor would be more resilient to process variations and stage timing Name(s): Xinyu Yi violations. Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): In this investigation, I have characterized Massoud Pedram, Ming Hsieh Department and analyzed the above-mentioned timing of Electrical Engineering; Yanzhi Wang, parameters using HSPICE, an accurate Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical circuit simulation engine, for five Engineering representative flip-flops designed with 7nm Format: Laboratory-based Research FinFET technology by varying the data input slew rate and the clock slew rate. The most Title: D Flip-flop Design Exploration Using suitable flip-flop structure has been 7nm Deeply-scaled FinFET Devices determined through this investigation Abstract: process. Moore’s law has forecasted the scaling trend of integrated circuit design for about §§§§ 40 years and research is now focused on driving the smallest possible transistor size Exhibit#: PS11 with each new technology generation. The Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering new multi-gate device technology, known as FinFET technology, is preferable to bulk Name(s): Karl Heyer CMOS counterparts due to their enhanced Submission Type: Individual energy efficiency, better ON/OFF current Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): ratio and voltage scalability, the reduction Farzad Jalali-Yazdi, Chemical Engineering; of short-channel effects that limit Richard W. Roberts, Chemical Engineering scalability, and the elimination of random Format: Laboratory-based Research dopant fluctuation due to the absence of channel doping. It is generally perceived by Title: Developing the Next Generation of major semiconductor vendors (e.g., Intel, Cancer Diagnostics IBM, TSMC) that the FinFET technology will Abstract: replace conventional CMOS at 14nm Over the last three decades, the field of technology node and beyond. cancer diagnostics and therapeutics has advanced significantly, in no small part due Flip-flops are the main building blocks of to the development of antibody reagents. the sequential logic of a state-of-the-art Antibodies are able to recognize their microprocessor. Therefore, designing target of interest with a high level of robust FinFET-based flip-flops with high specificity and affinity. Peptide ligand can performance and low power consumption mimic antibodies, while offering several is of crucial interests for future computer advantages over them such as cost or ease systems. The performance of a flip-flop is of generation and storage. Here, our goal is characterized by several important timing to develop a peptide ligand to use in an
55 antibody-free diagnostic assay for HDM2, a feasible carbon-neutral storage method. protein implicated in many cancers such as Our iridium-based system is the first non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, example of formic acid dehydrogenation esophageal cancer, leukemia, and without the use of other solvents or formic melanoma. We used mRNA display, an in acid-amine adducts. It proceeds with near vitro peptide evolution technique, to select perfect selectivity and can be re-used peptide ligands against HDM2. We used a without regeneration through multiple two-step selection process to create an cycles. Because of its reusability and its enriched library of ultra-high affinity ability to dehydrogenate formic acid with peptides with sub-nanomolar dissociation an unprecedented turnover number of constants (Kd). First a randomized short 2,000,000, this catalyst proves to be peptide library (9 amino acids) was incredibly robust. While many solutions are enriched for binding to HDM2. The known for formic acid dehydrogenation, enriched library was then extended on this is the only one with the mild either end by another 9 random amino conditions, high selectivity, and tolerance acids and further selected for HDM2 of high formic acid concentrations with low binding, creating ultra-high affinity 18 catalyst loading. This research has involved amino-acid ligands. We have characterized characterizing the reactivity of the catalyst the ultra-high affinity peptide library and and identifying the mechanism through are currently testing individual members of which it works. The group will continue the library, identified by high-throughput researching the potentials of this system, DNA sequencing, for affinity and specificity. including improving the catalyst’s reactivity We hope to combine our peptide ligand and addressing broader applications, such with a peptide ligand already identified for as use of the catalyst for converting carbon this molecule in order to develop a selective dioxide to methanol, acetyl compounds, and highly sensitive immunoassay for and acetone. These applications would HDM2. make this catalyst system carbon-neutral and, therefore, very attractive both §§§§ economically and environmentally.
Exhibit#: PS16 §§§§ Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Name(s): Elyse Kedzie Exhibit#: PS03 Submission Type: Individual Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Heidi Homma, Kim Luong Travis J. Williams, Chemistry; Jeff Celaje, Submission Type: Group Chemistry; Yao Lu, Chemistry Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Laboratory-based Research Orlando Delpino Gonzales, Mechanical Title: Development of Reusable Catalyst Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering; for Hydrogen Generation from Neat Veronica Eliasson, Mechanical Engineering, Formic Acid Viterbi School of Engineering Abstract: Format: Laboratory-based Research In this project we have introduced a new Title: Effect of Solid-Fluid Interaction on iridium catalyst for the dehydrogenation of Crack Propagation of PMMA formic acid, a prospective hydrogen storage Abstract: medium. Formic acid is an inexpensive, The purpose of this project is to analyze the nontoxic, easily handled liquid that can be crack propagation of PMMA due to generated from carbon dioxide, making it a transferred stress waves in a water
56 environment by fluid-solid interactions due Exhibit#: PS21 to impedance mismatch between the Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering impacting solid and water. PMMA samples with cutouts of varying shapes such as Name(s): Richelle Tanner rectangular and logarithmic spiral, will be Submission Type: Individual impacted by a projectile launched from a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): pressurized air gun to examine the Lisa Collins, Environmental Studies, transferred stress waves from the water to Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and PMMA. Previous experiments studied Sciences projectile impact onto a water-filled pipe Format: Analytical Paper where the resulting pipe deformation due Title: The Effects of Urban Heat Island and to the wave generated by impact and the Climate Change in California Cities pipe was studied. However, there is not much detailed analysis on the dynamic Abstract: behavior of fluid-filled cracks subjected to With its temperate climate and water impulsive loading. availability, California plays a disproportionality important role in food The samples will be submerged in water, production for the US. Agriculture output where a projectile from the air gun will in California generated $44.7 billion dollars impact a piston inside the water-filled in 2012 and supplied 40% of US fruits, aquarium. This project will determine nuts, and table foods. Climate change and whether this form of fluid-solid interaction the urban heat island effect threaten to will be able to transfer stress waves into the destabilize California climate, thus samples to cause fracture with the impacting food security for the nation. The presence of a notch. For the cut-outs, a impacts of urbanization on climate are logarithmic spiral shape and rectangular realized as the urban heat island (UHI) shape will compare the correlation effect and measured by comparing between the shapes and the amount of temperatures in metropolitan areas with energy transferred to cause fracture. temperatures in rural areas in close proximity. With such megalopolises as the The experimental setup consists of a Greater Los Angeles and the Bay Areas, the pressurized air gun, PMMA samples, and a UHI effect was expected to play a large role high-speed visualization system. We will in the change in California climate over the use high-speed photography to capture the last century. Instead, the UHI effect was not crack propagation. When the bullet present in the majority of CA cities impacts the material, a crack advances surveyed (37.5%). Instead, climate change down the sample and deflects the light was present in 100% of the significant which forms a caustic, or a dark spot where samples. Samples were divided into four light in the plane is deflected around the climatic regions: coast, desert, mountain, crack tip. By measuring the size and speed and valley. Mountainous cities experienced of the caustic, along with strain gauge the least change in overall climate, verification, we can interpret some reflecting the findings of the most recent characteristics of the crack growth such as IPCC report detailing the effects of altitude its speed and stress intensity. and topography on temperature ranges. Valley cities experienced the fewest §§§§ instances of UHI (17%), which is often associated with rapid population change and development. Additional measurements indicate that the seasonality of heat days has not changed significantly
57 over the last century; however, the quantify the effects of mitigation. Results frequency of heat days has increased in a have also been compared to numeral majority of the sampled cities. As expected, simulations, and show good agreement. cold days have declined with time (62.5% of the sample size). While findings from §§§§ this study may seem intuitive, the effects of climate change in California for average Exhibit#: PS13 and extreme temperatures are increasingly Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering apparent and will influence CA agribusiness significantly. Name(s): Lesley Chan Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Jongseung Yoon, Chemical Engineering Exhibit#: PS04 Format: Laboratory-based Research Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Title: Fabrication of Bifacially Name(s): Jane Hong, Monica Nguyen, Nanostructured Ultrathin Silicon for Robert (Bryce) Welborn, Dillon Enhanced Optical Absorption Wessing Abstract: Submission Type: Group Precise control of light-matter interaction is Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): critically important for many optical and Veronica Eliasson, Aerospace and optoelectronic devices. The ability to Mechanical Engineering implement and engineer nanoscale structures on both surfaces of ultrathin Format: Laboratory-based Research semiconductor materials can be useful for Title: Experimental Investigation of Passive numerous applications including solar cells, Shock Wave Mitigation using Solid batteries, photodetectors, and others. In Obstacle Arrangements the present work, we developed a novel Abstract: fabrication pathway to independently With its vast range in applications, control nanostructured morphologies and especially in the defense industry, shock optical properties of ultrathin silicon with wave mitigation is an ongoing research the thickness of ~1.2 and 3.0 um at both area of interest to the shock dynamics front- and rear-surfaces. We used community. Passive shock wave mitigation procedures of transfer printing to expose methods range from forcing the shock the bottom surface of ultrathin silicon wave to abruptly change its direction to membrane derived from silicon-on-insulator introduction of barriers or obstacles of wafer, where hexagonally periodic various shapes and materials in the path of nanohole arrays were formed by the shock wave. Obstacles provide nanosphere lithography and dry etching. attenuation through complicated shock For front surface nanostructures, soft wave interactions and reflections. In this imprint lithography has been used. Optical work, we have performed shock tube properties of resulting bifacially experiments to investigate shock wave nanostructured ultrathin silicon were also mitigation due to solid obstacles placed studied by the numerical modeling, where along the curve of a logarithmic spiral. optimal designs of front- and rear-surface Different shapes (cylindrical and square) of nanostructures to maximize the photon solid obstacles have been used. High-speed absorption were obtained. schlieren optics and background oriented schlieren techniques have been used §§§§ together with pressure measurements to
58 Exhibit#: PS28 different sets of parameters, and the sets of parameters evolve through the generations Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering in order to more closely match the results Name(s): Evan Brown of the quantum simulation. In this way, we Submission Type: Individual attempt to improve the accuracy of classical Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): simulations as much as is possible given Aiichiro Nakano, Computer Science, their simple approximation of atoms. Physics & Astronomy, and Chemical Future directions may include exploring Engineering & Materials Science; Pankaj methods of optimization other than genetic Rajak, Chemical Engineering & Materials algorithms and running optimizations with Science; Chunyang Sheng, Chemical much larger population sizes. Engineering & Materials Science Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§ Title: Genetic Algorithm Optimization of Reactive Force Field Parameters in Exhibit#: PS02 Molecular Dynamics Simulations Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Abstract: Name(s): Jacob Beaudin, Alfredo (Freddy) In the USC Collaboratory for Advanced Ramirez, Alejandro Computing and Simulations, we run Schugurensky, Mathew Walsh molecular dynamics simulations that yield Submission Type: Group new knowledge of the microscopic Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): properties of materials with applications Najmedin Meshkati, Viterbi including solar cell and battery Format: Analytical Paper technologies. We use both classical and Title: Health, Safety, and Environment in quantum mechanics based simulations Hydraulic Fracturing: Lessons from because they excel in different areas. Recent Accidents Classical simulations are less computationally intensive, and the largest Abstract: simulations can have trillions of atoms Accidents, incidents and unintended while the kind of quantum simulations that negative consequences attributed to the we run can have a maximum of thousands hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operation of atoms. Quantum simulations are much can cause financial and environmental more accurate, however, because individual damages, can harm the reputation of the electrons are modelled as opposed to operating company and sully the image of individual atoms in the classical version. In the entire industry. The (hydraulic Reactive Force Field (ReaxFF) classical fracturing) industry occupational fatality simulations, the forces are calculated using rate is 2.5 times higher than the force field parameters, and in this project, construction industry and 7 times higher we sought to optimize these parameters to than general industry. There is a shared match the results of quantum mechanics concern that the result of the November 4, based simulations. In order to do this, we 2014 referendum in Denton, TX, which used a genetic optimization algorithm banned fracturing primarily because of its where the “population” consisted of sets adverse safety and environmental of parameters and the objectives were to consequences, can transcend well beyond match the numbers of different types of Denton's city limits, can become a bonds in a “ground truth” quantum precedent-setter and affect the future of mechanics simulation. A “generation” in the entire unconventional oil and gas this genetic optimization consists of many industry in the United States. In order to ReaxFF simulations being run in parallel on alleviate public concerns and again their
59 acceptance, sustainable shale industry in diffuse on the sensor’s microscopic silica the US must operate in the safest and most ring. Eventually this would allow for the environmentally conscious manner, using a development of a microlaser sensor that proactive systems-oriented approach detects transport through passive channels. towards Health, Safety and Environmental These self-supported lipid bilayers can be (HSE) considerations. analyzed in real-time, by excitation of fluorescently labeled molecules. In this project, thorough scrutiny of the Investigation towards a protein-ligand bond hydraulic fracturing process has been used that is expected to provide the necessary to decompose a typical fracking operation spacer between the substrate and a lipid into steps. Simultaneously, we conducted a bilayer is performed, thus allowing for thorough literature search to examine sufficient space to have a protein be recent fracking accidents and determined introduced to the lipid bilayer. This will be their respective stages of occurrence in the investigated through the following tasks: fracking process. By understanding when development of a multi-modal detection and how accidents occur on a hydraulic system, verifying adhesion of a tethered fracturing site through root cause analysis, lipid bilayer via biotin-streptavidin linkers, we can determine where fracking operators and incorporating different types of need to strengthen their focus. This will proteins and analyzing passive versus active make fracking safer for both people and transport. the environment. Bilayer fluidity with single-molecule §§§§ diffusivity measurement will be confirmed using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Exhibit#: PS12 Microscopy (TIRFM). In addition, resonant Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering cavity excitation will be employed to generate an evanescent field, which is Name(s): Leah Tsui performed by coupling a tunable 633 nm Submission Type: Individual laser to the sensor using a tapered optical Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): fiber. There will be biotinylation of the Andrea Armani, Mork Family Dept of substrate (which is the solid surface to Chemical Engineering and Materials which a bilayer is adhered to) followed by a Science; Victoria Sun, Mork Family Dept of wash in streptavidin. Then our prepared Chemical Engineering and Materials liposomes will be incubated with the Science substrate and FRET/FRAP measurements Format: Laboratory-based Research taken. Tethered lipid bilayers have been shown to facilitate lipid fluidity and allow Title: Lipid Bilayer Tethering Via a Protein- sufficient space for protein insertion in the Ligand Bond membrane. Various proteins can be Abstract: incorporated into the lipid bilayer, which The lipid bilayer is the universal basis for could allow for an analysis of passive versus cell-membrane structure. Lipid molecules in active transport. cell membranes are amphipathic and phospholipids are the most abundant §§§§ membrane lipids, where they have a polar head group and two hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails. In the Armani Research group, an optical sensor was developed in 2012 which allows study of the behavior of lipid membranes as they self-assemble and
60 Exhibit#: PS26 Exhibit#: PS23 Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Name(s): Jianliang Chen, Yinyi Chen, Name(s): Krista McPherson, Ryan Meier Yimin Jia, Yuting Liu, Dipanwita Submission Type: Group Maulik, Linda Xu Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Submission Type: Group Thomas Jordan, Earth Sciences, Dornsife Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): College Craig Knoblock, Information Sciences Format: Laboratory-based Research Institute Title: Loma Prieta Near You Earthquake Format: Laboratory-based Research Simulations Title: LODStories: Educational Stories Abstract: Using Linked Open Data The 2014 Class of the Undergraduate Abstract: Studies in Earthquake Information There is a great deal of data on the internet Technology (UseIT) program at the but it is difficult for a person sort through Southern California Earthquake Center all of it to find the most relevant and (SCEC) created visualizations using the interesting information about a topic. To Southern California Earthquake Center address this problem, we have developed Virtual Display of Objects (SCEC-VDO), an an application called LODStories that allows object-oriented, open source, visualization people to explore the semantic web in a software for demonstrating complex more human-friendly way. We focus earthquake science concepts. This team of specifically on the data in the Linked Open undergraduates created eighteen Data cloud, using databases such as visualizations of possible seismic events DBpedia and information from the between a magnitude of 6.9 and 7.1 in the Smithsonian Art Museum which has been Northern California region that could be mapped to a similar ontology. The similar to the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta application allows people to learn about earthquake of 1989. These visualizations various topics and their connections while were created using the Uniform California also constructing interactive multimedia Earthquake Rupture Forecast, Version 3 stories. LODStories uses text from DBpedia, (UCERF3) fault model. For the selected images from the Google Search API, and earthquake scenarios, the team computed videos from the YouTube API to allow users ShakeMaps displaying peak ground to create an educational video that can acceleration (PGA) utilizing the Open then be saved and shared. A machine Source Seismic Hazard Analysis (OpenSHA), learning algorithm that was applied to rank an earthquake software application the most interesting connected topics and Scenario ShakeMap, and displayed them in natural language processing techniques are SCEC-VDO. This provided insight as to used to ensure the data collected about the which faults posed the greatest hazard in topics are in a human-readable format. particular regions. Earthquake scenario LODStories helps turn the great deal of data from ShakeMap was then information on the internet into an easily implemented into Hazard United States accessible, shareable, and interactive (Hazus), which allowed the generation of format to engage and educate users. By population and building exposure models turning information into multimedia stories, utilizing the capabilities of ArcGIS spatial LODStories makes the semantic web a data analysis. The visualizations were source for a variety of educational uses. developed in conjugation with the Northern California United States §§§§ Geological Survey (USGS) and can now be
61 viewed publicly on their website along with identified was praseodymium. Several downloadable ShakeMaps and Hazus different sol-gel combinations with calculations for each scenario. These praseodymium were made including products are a demonstration of the samples doped with different capabilities of the UCERF3 model as well as concentrations of pure praseodymium, a tool, which can be used to educate the samples co-doped with praseodymium and public about local earthquake hazards. thulium and samples doped with praseodymium and aluminum isopropoxide §§§§ (AIP). Problems in making the AIP doped sol-gels due to contamination from Exhibit#: PS14 atmospheric water were present initially, Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering but eventually were overcome by keeping the samples in an isolated environment (a Name(s): Samuel Kushner-Lenhoff glove box). Fourier Transform Infra-red Submission Type: Individual (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to ensure that Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): silica matrices were still being formed in the Andrea Armani, Chemical Engineering and presence of various dopants. Materials Science Format: Laboratory-based Research Altogether, this project is pushing the boundaries of lasing microdevices and Title: Low-threshold integrated red pioneering new ground in the field of microlaser from samarium-doped microlasers which will make cost effective silica integrated microlasers a reality for the Abstract: future. The development of a silica microtoroid with close to unprecedented circulating §§§§ photon lifetimes laid the groundwork for low threshold micro-lasers integrated on a Exhibit#: PS08 silicon chip. These devices are able to build Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering up optical circulating powers approaching 100 Watts. The present work uses this Name(s): Libanos (Libby) Redda ability to achieve microwatt lasing Submission Type: Individual thresholds for samarium rare-earth ions Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): doped in silica. Using a pump wavelength Stacey Finley, Biomedical Engineering of 409nm, narrow linewidth lasing peaks Format: Laboratory-based Research were observed at 552nm, 590nm, and 636nm. The ultra-low thresholds achieved Title: Mechanistic computational model of for samarium lasing in silica are promoters and inhibitors of muscle unprecedented. This project is part of a mass in prostate cancer larger series of works aimed towards Abstract: developing the background necessary for PGC1α4 is a transcriptional coactivator that achieving ultraviolet (UV) lasing in silica. regulates the muscle growth promoter IGF1, while also inhibiting the muscle Previously, UV lasing capabilities were growth inhibitor myostatin. Due to these explored for cerium ions doped in silica, effects, there is a largely positive net impact and attempts were made to pump this rare on boosting muscle growth. Thus, PGC1α4 earth dopant with thulium ions through an is an ideal target for therapies aiming to upconversion process. However, no UV reverse muscle loss. Androgen Deprivation lasing was observed. Another potential Therapy (ADT) is widely used in the upconversion lasing candidate that was treatment of prostate cancer patients, and
62 approximately 45% of men are given this Exhibit#: PS25 therapy within the first year of diagnosis. Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering ADT is effective in terms of decreasing tumor growth that is fueled by Name(s): Ziyu Ouyang, Yu Chuan Shan testosterone, but decreasing testosterone Submission Type: Group levels also has significant consequences, Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): namely in the form of cachexia. Cachexia, Kyohyouk Kim, Spatial Sciences Institiute; the loss of skeletal muscle mass, is John Wilson, Spatial Sciences Institute experienced by 80% of patients with Format: Creative Work advanced cancer, leading to death in 20% Title: Modeling 3D Campus And of the cases. Our group seeks to investigate Visualizing Indoor Routing this prevalent issue with a comprehensive computational model that includes Abstract: important targets for protein synthesis and The purpose of this project is to help degradation. We will use the model to people make better routing decisions by quantify changes in muscle growth in providing a reality-based 3D model of USC response to PGC1α4-induced modulation University Park campus. Geospatial of IGF1 and myostatin. technology developed rapidly since it entered the public eye in the late 20th The present model contains 115 species century, as it has brought revolutionary and 171 reactions and builds upon existing influence on everyday transportation. computational models. The novelty of our Nowadays the demand for assistance to work is the great mechanistic detail travel indoor is also becoming more and encompassing a wide breadth of chemical more significant due to the increased reactions involving both IGF1 and complexity of building structures. However myostatin. Previous models only include traditional applications for geospatial fragments of the larger pathway that we technologies such as GPS and GIS can only have created, but by assembling smaller provide environment visualization in 2D, models and utilizing additional kinetic data, which is insufficient for indoor traveling we have constructed an unparalleled model that often involves navigations between of muscle regulation pathways. The model different surfaces. Therefore we are predicts the concentrations of extracellular combining GIS software with CityEngine, a factors and intracellular signaling species. modeling application that can generate large-scale building models and virtual In summary, the unprecedented scope of cities, so as to transform 2D data into 3D our model will allow for an enhanced models. This project involves three phases. understanding of muscle growth The first is the data collecting period. We mechanisms that can boost the quality of collected building footprint data (CAD) life and improve the prognosis for patients from USC Facility Management Services battling cancer and many other illnesses. and took photos for the visible exterior of every building on Campus. Then §§§§ geographic information values are assigned to the CAD files of each construction in ArcGIS in order to align them on the location. Then among those closed-polyline features in every CAD file, relevant polylines are selected as geometry for the building. During the last phase georeferenced CAD file is imported into CityEngine, where the built-in
63 programming language CGA (Computer Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft Generated Architectures shape grammar) during mid-2010. We generated this table will be applied to generate basic 3D by applying a new version of our program models. And then we will add textures that fits the peaks in averaged power cropped from the photos we took to the spectra. We also used this new program to building and make it identical with the simultaneously estimate the formal real construction as much as possible. uncertainties in these frequencies. We went on to identify the outlying frequencies in §§§§ our new table and we replaced these outliers with re-fitted frequencies. We then Exhibit#: PS30 employed a helioseismic inversion program Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering to convert these frequencies and their uncertainties into estimates of the solar Name(s): Xinkai (Casey) Chen, Cesar internal sound speed. The fact that our Hernandez, April Nishinaka, sound-speed estimates agree better with a Shawn Rhoads, Sophia Singh, theoretical solar model that includes Yifei (Luke) Yang turbulent pressure throughout the solar Submission Type: Group convection zone suggests that an improved Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): standard solar model needs to be Stephen Pinkerton, Physics and Astronomy, generated that includes this pressure in a Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & mores-systematic manner in order to Sciences; Edward Rhodes, Physics and reduce the discrepancies we have found Astronomy, Dornsife College of Letters, with the current standard solar model. Arts, & Sciences Format: Analytical Paper §§§§ Title: New Estimates of the Speed of Sound in the Outer Solar Interior Exhibit#: PS10 Abstract: Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering We present new estimates of the speed of Name(s): Forrest Zhang sound in the outer portion of the interior of Submission Type: Individual the Sun that are systematically different Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): than the predicted sound speeds in the so- Travis J. Williams, Department of Chemistry called “standard model” of the Sun. We Format: Laboratory-based Research will demonstrate that these new sound- Title: Orally Available "Sticky" MRI T1 speed estimates are closer to the Contrast Agent for Diagnosis of predictions of a non-standard solar model Gastric Motility Disorders over much of the solar convection zone than they are to the predictions of the Abstract: standard model. We have obtained these The aim of our research is an “MRI Pill” new sound speed estimates using the consisting of an orally available MRI T1 techniques of global helioseismology. contrast agent for the stomach, which will Specifically, we have inverted a new table visualize GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) of the frequencies of the solar p-mode and gastroparesis (delayed gastric oscillations that we computed from a new emptying). These diseases affect tens of set of averaged solar power spectra. This millions of Americans. Our solution new set of power spectra was based upon provides value through a fast, high 72 consecutive days of observations resolution, and simple diagnostic tool for obtained using the Helioseismic and gastrointestinal primary care physicians and Magnetic Imager experiment on NASA’s surgeons. Unlike current diagnostic
64 methods, our solution avoids the use of A series of amine bridged calix[4]pyridine radioactive technetium and thus the cobalt complexes (CoPy₄(NR)₄²⁺, where R = associated availability issues. The pills H, Me, Allyl) were synthesized and studied contain a gadolinium-based MRI contrast for catalytic activity for the reduction of agent that is masked within the pill until it CO₂. Single Crystal X-Ray diffraction shows is delivered into the stomach. Once arrived, a saddle-like geometry, with the bridging the pill casing degrades in the low pH of amine groups pointing outwards. This the stomach, thus releasing and activating geometry has been noted to be suitable for the gadolinium contents. MRI imaging will CO₂ reduction, because CO₂ is within then indicate the motion of the contrast hydrogen bonding distance from the agent through the GI and indicate the amines. These secondary sphere elements exact degree of GERD while revealing are thought to stimulate enzyme like anatomical details of the GI track. pendant proton relays to be used to Preliminary data collected in the Williams capture CO₂ and assist with proton coupled (Dornsife) and Chang (Keck/CHLA) groups electron transfer during its reduction. These has shown the utility of the MRI pill for complexes were studied using cyclic gastric emptying in a rat model. voltammetry, under inert atmosphere and CO , in the presence and absence of The contrast agent used in the pill will be ₂ protons. All complexes showed reactivity functionalized to allow selective and reversible cross-linkage to the mucosal towards CO₂ reduction. CoPy₄(NH)₄²⁺ was membranes of the larynx and esophagus. determined to be the more active catalyst This modification will enable membrane of the complexes, with bulk electrolysis retention and thus enhanced sensitivity for showing a Faradaic Efficiency of ηCO= the detection of gastroesophageal reflux. 100% ± 10% with high TOF. CoPy₄(NMe) We believe that this will have utility both as ₄²⁺ and CoPy₄(NAllyl)₄²⁺, however, were an improved approach to characterizing found to be less active towards CO₂ gastroparesis, whereas the MRI pill reduction and more prone to surpasses existing nuclear medicine decomposition, due to exo-protonation of technology both in anatomical resolution the ligand to the metal. and safety, and in the rapid identification of GERD, whereas it can enable rapid, §§§§ initial screening at the level of the general practitioner. Exhibit#: PS05 §§§§ Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Name(s): Christopher Dougherty, Ryan Miller Exhibit#: PS18 Submission Type: Group Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Thomas Do Veronica Eliasson, Aerospace and Individual Submission Type: Mechanical Engineering, Viterbi School of Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Engineering; Gauri Khanolkar, Graduate Alon Chapovetsky, Chemistry; Smaranda Collaborator Marinescu, Chemistry, Dornsife College of Format: Laboratory-based Research Letters, Arts & Sciences Title: The recreation of a unique shrimp's Format: Laboratory-based Research mechanically induced cavitation Title: Proton Assisted Reduction of CO₂ by bubble Cobalt Pyridine Amino Macrocycles Abstract: Abstract:
65 The Alpheus heterochaelis, appropriately In 2010, Chas, M., & Phillips, A. provided a nicknamed the ``pistol shrimp'', possesses bound for the minimum possible number an oversized claw that creates a cavitation of self-intersections of any element in the bubble upon rapid closure. The implosion group. Although this bound is powerful of this bubble results in a shock wave that because of its generality, often it is also can stun or even kill the shrimp's prey very wide. In this research project, I (Versluis et al., 2000). Additionally, the constructed algorithms that establish implosion is so violent that tighter upper bounds for two types of sonoluminescence may occur. This light elements of the fundamental group: implies extreme temperatures, which have been recorded to reach as high as 10,000 K 1) For elements composed of only the two (Roach, 2001). By developing an analogous generators (and not their inverses), all of mechanism to the oversized claw, the goal which take the form aa1bb1…aan bbn, the of this experiment is to verify that self intersection number is bounded by Ʃ(i= cavitation can be produced similar to that 1:n)((2i - 1)(ai + bi – 2) + n – 1). of the pistol shrimp in nature as well as to analyze the resulting shock wave and 2) For elements of the form (as bt )n the self sonoluminescence. High-speed schlieren intersection number is bounded by (1/2)(s + imaging was used to observe the shock t)(n2 + n) – n2 + n – 1. dynamics. Furthermore, results on where n,s,t, and all ai and bi are positive cavitation collapse and light emission will integers. be presented. §§§§ Additionally, for elements of type (2), I provide a proof that the bound is tight; that is, the algorithm provides a curve with Exhibit#: PS31 minimal self-intersection. Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Name(s): Cameron Thieme §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Exhibit#: PS19 David Crombecque, Mathematics, Dornsife Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences Name(s): Renée Wang Format: Analytical Paper Submission Type: Individual Title: Self-Intersection Number for Closed Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Loops on the 3-Punctured Sphere Joshua West, Earth Sciences, Dornsife Abstract: College The homotopy classes of closed curves on a Format: Laboratory-based Research topological space form a group called the Title: Standardized Organic Carbon fundamental group. The fundamental Analysis for Geological and Modern group of the 2-punctured plane is free on Timescales two generators where each generator is a Abstract: simple closed loop around a puncture; we I tested and refined a method for will denote these generators by a and b. In measuring organic carbon concentration this project, we address the problem of finding the minimum number of self- (%OC) and the stable isotope ratio (δ13C) intersections of closed curves of a free of OC in sedimentary rocks. Organic carbon homotopy class in the 2-punctured plane. in sediments plays an important role in carbon cycle mass transfer, and OC preserved in sediments deposited in the
66 past records information about the carbon Exhibit#: PS01 cycle throughout Earth’s history (from 100s Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering to millions of years). Despite vital information to be gained from measuring Name(s): Matthew Austin, Howard Gil, Marina Robson %OC and δ13C, existing methods are known to have shortcomings and Submission Type: Group alternative methods have not been carefully Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): defined. In general terms, there are three Woonhoe Kim, Sonny Astani Department main analytical difficulties: 1) Total carbon of Civil and Environmental Engineering; content in sediment samples is a sum of Pirbazari, Sonny Astani Department of Civil organic carbon plus carbon in carbonate and Environmental Engineering; Xinyuan minerals (Ccarb). Ccarb must be removed Zheng, Sonny Astani Department of Civil prior to δ13C analysis (a process called and Environmental Engineering “decarbonation”). 2) Ccarb can be Format: Laboratory-based Research removed by acid dissolution, but if Title: Sustainable Power Generation Using conditions are too strong, OC itself usually Integrated Wetland Sediment and starts dissolving, biasing results. 3) The Microbial Fuel Bioreactor (WS-MFC) preparation process can unintentionally add Technology carbon to our samples, i.e., contribute a Abstract: methodological blank that also will bias results. Liquid-phase decarbonation with The purpose of this research was to weak acid (e.g., 1M HCl) has been used observe and monitor the power production previously but is known to lead to OC loss of microbial fuel cells under varying in solution. I chose an alternative method chemical and biological configurations. based on heated vapor-phase acidification. Sediment samples for all of the microbial This method has been used in some prior fuel cells constructed during research were studies but not widely tested. I designed a taken from the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife blank test and initially found high C blank Reserve and the Ballona Wetlands Marsh. A levels. I refined the method to reduce total of eight bioreactors were prepared blanks and then tested the refined method and examined in pairs in order to on a large sample set of river sediment determine the maximum power from the Andes. I found good agreement production, with one serving as the control with prior results using liquid and the other having the experimental decarbonation. These results show that variable. The first bioreactor pair examined vapor phase treatment is a viable technique the effect of adding E. coli cultures to the that may lead to less OC loss than liquid native microbial population. Another pair phase treatment, though the length of of reactors examined the effect of the vapor phase treatment can affect the addition of powdered activated carbon to amount of OC loss and must be carefully the anode graphite electrode. The next considered. bioreactor pair was designed to observe the difference between using an activated §§§§ carbon anode and a carbon felt anode. The last bioreactor pair compared the effects of added cultures of Geobacter and Shewanella strains and its effect on energy output. All resulted in favorable voltage output, which would be enough to power various low voltage temperature sensors and data transmissions.
67 The simplicity of this project means it will by uni- and bi-lateral Paralympic athletes to lend itself well to deployment in both generate horizontal impulse during the developing and developed countries. The sprint start. These results served as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is an basis for providing feedback to ideal candidate because of the vast Paralympians during a training camp at the availability of wetlands along the Congo Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. River. The WS-MFB is a low cost, low Data was collected on the first steps of maintenance device that will continue Paralympic sprinters with force plates (1000 generating energy as long as the microbial Hz) and side video (240 Hz). Uni- (n = 3) colony continues to thrive. The materials and bi-lateral (n = 2) lower limb Paralympic required to establish the WS-MFB are sprinters participated. Magnitude and cheap and easily accessible, another reason direction of the reaction forces (RFs) were why it would be well suited for a analyzed during the first three steps of the developing country like the DRC. sprint start. Video was analyzed (Kinovea) and combined with resultant RF data in a §§§§ custom Matlab program to link kinetics and kinematics. Bi-lateral amputees had longer Exhibit#: PS06 contact time with the ground on each step. Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering Unilateral amputees averaged ~0.155 seconds of ground contact duration, while Ruben Espana, Alaina George, Name(s): bi-lateral athletes had ~0.25 seconds of Marissa Gustavson, Troy ground contact duration. The peak RF for Herrera-Rice, Samantha bi-lateral amputees occurred at ~ 0.16 Minnich, Alyssa Naritoku seconds, whereas the peak RF for unilateral Submission Type: Group amputees occurred at ~0.08 seconds. The Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): time from peak force to last contact in all Jill McNitt-Gray, Biological Sciences and sprinters is similar. The bi-lateral amputees Biomedical Engineering; Travis Peterson, had a longer contact time, leading us to Biomedical Engineering; Grace Privett, believe they are spending more time Biomechanics Garage Project; Chris Ramos, coordinating the balance than their Biomedical Engineering; Antonia Zaferiou, unilateral amputee counterparts. Biomedical Engineering Understanding balance and techniques in Format: Field Research the sprint start task will improve athletic performance as well as provide insight for Title: Techniques used by Uni- and Bi- all populations aiming to improve balance. lateral Amputee Paralympic Sprinters to Generate Horizontal Impulse and §§§§ Regulate Balance during Sprint Starts Abstract: Exhibit#: PS15 Maintaining balance while generating force Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering is an essential concern for populations with Name(s): Connie Li balance impairments--especially for people with lower limb amputations. Elite level Submission Type: Individual Paralympic athletes must regulate reaction Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): forces in a balanced position during the Jonathan Kuo, Biomedical Engineering; extremely demanding task of leaving the Ellis Meng, Biomedical Engineering; Kee blocks in the sprint start. Being in a position Scholten, Biomedical Engineering to exert a horizontal force on the ground is Format: Laboratory-based Research a priority in this task. In this study, we Title: Thermocompressive Bonding of compared and contrasted techniques used Parylene C and SU-8
68 Abstract: Exhibit#: PS09 The use of Parylene C and SU-8 photoresist Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering is prominent in the fabrication of Name(s): Brian Shaw microfluidic devices. Current uses of the bonding of such polymers include the Submission Type: Individual creation of SU-8 and Parylene Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): microchannels as well as wafer level Paul Macklin, USC Center of Applied packaging of integrated circuits. The Molecular Medicine - Department of aforementioned processes exclusively utilize Medicine Parylene to Parylene bonding or SU-8 to Format: Analytical Paper SU-8 bonding. While there exists literature Title: Using a Branch Growth Algorithm to addressing such bonding between the Generate Virtual Hepatic Lobules same polymer, scarce to no literature Abstract: addresses the bonding of Parylene to SU-8. Through this project, we propose to Colorectal cancer metastases that grow in characterize the novel idea of SU-8 to the liver are poorly understood, which Parylene bonding using thermocompression impedes the treatment and prevention of techniques that lead to polymer further metastases. To increase our entanglement at the interface, resulting in knowledge, in silico experiments of a bond. The proposed method to bond the metastases can be simulated in digitally two polymers, Parlyene C and SU-8 is a modeled liver tissue. However, developing hybrid of protocols adapted from the anatomically accurate models generally bonding process of Parylene to Parylene requires high-resolution imaging and and SU-8 to SU-8. Testing parameters will sophisticated image processing, both of be at the cross section of the ideal which are difficult, costly, tedious, and parameters known to work for same- sometimes impossible. polymer bonding. Through preliminary testing, we have established a general We developed a branching algorithm with trend regarding the temperature and a simpler alternative: we manually annotate pressure at which the bond is formed, in gross macroscopic structures in the liver addition to characterization of a lower limit histology—central veins, portal veins, portal for possible bond strengths relative to the arteries—and then use an agent-based surface area of bonding. With a successful model to computationally “grow” a characterization of SU-8 to Parylene sinusoid network that mimics the anatomic bonding, these techniques may be structures. Over the past year, we refined accessible and exploitable for those and simplified the model until it could working on micromachining and the create complex vascular structures quickly development of microfluidic devices. on a laptop or desktop computer. By reducing the complexity of agent §§§§ behaviors, gradient calculations, and image processing, the newest model can simulate the entire vasculature at faster computational times and higher resolutions.
After defining rules for agent behaviors, the algorithm seeds agents in an oxygen gradient predetermined by a given lobule histology. Next, these agents trace out sinusoid branches based on interactions
69 with oxygen, suppressor signal, and repellant signal gradients. Rules governing the agents include agent chemotaxis plus the proliferation, activation, and inactivation of migrating agents. We use a generalized reaction-diffusion solver to calculate all substrate gradients and their release in the network. The current branching algorithm can now simulate hundreds of thousands of agents within 10 minutes of computational time.
We present several typical networks that emerge from varying rules and parameters, including patterns that qualitatively match liver lobules. This work is an important step towards building anatomically realistic liver tissues without using other expensive imaging and image processing techniques. Future directions for this work include adding hepatocytes and using a mechanics- based model to update the cells' positions. §§§§
70 Female; Mean age=14.1) who reported no prior history of smoking experimentation completed self-report surveys measuring impulsivity, willingness to try cigarettes given the opportunity, and a range of non- substance behavioral addictions. We Social conducted mediation analyses to test the hypothesis that adolescents with greater self-reported impulsivity would report Sciences greater willingness to smoke, and that this relationship would be mediated by the number of non-substance behavioral addictions. RESULTS: As predicted, there was a significant total effect association from impulsivity scores to willingness to smoke (ß=0.087, p < 0.001, CI [0.057, 0.117]), indicating that more impulsive adolescents reported greater willingness to smoke cigarettes if given the opportunity. Additionally, this association was mediated Exhibit#: SS04 by the number of self-reported behavioral Category: Social Sciences II addictions (significant indirect effect: ß= Name(s): Cheng-Wei (Isaac) Chuang 0.003, p = 0.12, CI [0.001, 0.007]). Submission Type: Individual DISCUSSION: Non-smoking adolescents with higher levels of impulsivity reported Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): greater willingness to smoke and this was Matthew Kirkpatrick, Keck School of mediated by non-substance related Medicine, Department of Preventive behavioral addictions. These findings Medicine; Adam Leventhal, Keck School of suggest that non-substance related Medicine, Department of Preventive behavioral addictions may account the risk Medicine of tobacco use initiation in the future Format: Field Research carried by impulsivity, perhaps because Title: The Association Between Impulsivity behavioral addictions may be a marker of and Willingness to Smoke is general addiction propensity that is yet to Mediated by Current Behavioral extend to substances of abuse until after Addictions in Never Smoking early adolescence. Given that behavioral Adolescents addictions could manifest during Abstract: adolescence well before smoking initiation, behavioral addictions should be considered BACKGROUND: Previous literature indicates as a potential early indicator of future that impulsivity increases risk of smoking tobacco use and should be addressed in and engagement in non-drug addictive tobacco use prevention in impulsive behaviors in adolescents. Here we further teenagers. investigated the potential relationship between impulsivity, engagement in §§§§ behavioral addictions (e.g., problematic gambling, online and offline gaming, exercise), and willingness to smoke in adolescent non-smokers. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, high school students in the Los Angeles area (N=2045; 55%
71 Exhibit#: SS40 Exhibit#: SS37 Category: Social Sciences Category: Social Sciences Name(s): Engie Salama Name(s): Alexa Smith, John (Andrew) Submission Type: Individual Clark, Margaret (Magalie) Carey Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Submission Type: Group Ian Haworth, USC School of Pharmacy Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Analytical Paper David Black, Keck School of Medicine Title: Automated Curriculum Mapping Department of Preventive Medicine Using Latent Semantic Analysis Format: Field Research Abstract: Title: Benefits of the Use of Wellness Objective: Using a Latent Semantic Analysis Resources by USC Students of course syllabi to identify educational Abstract: outcomes associated with the course. Stress is the #1 impediment to academic success at USC. This is evident every year in Methods: A search algorithm was applied the NCHA/ACHA survey distributed among to 30 syllabi for the USC School of students by the Office for Wellness and Pharmacy 2014-2015 academic year. The Health Promotion (OWHP). However, there algorithm determined which of 235 ACPE are an abundance of resources including outcomes a course covered. We the Engemann Student Health Center— determined appropriate thresholds for OWHP, Counseling Services, Center for outcome identification based on comparing Women & Men, Residential Life, Academic the results with a faculty survey. Support Services, USC Libraries and so many more to help students cope with this Results: The specific thresholds identified stress. The question is: do students know outcomes as introductory, reinforcing, and about and use these resources proficient. A reinforcing outcome was a key appropriately? If used wisely, these subject matter of a course. The search resources could change the face of stress at algorithm reproduced the faculty survey USC. Students in HP 300 tackled this data for outcomes with 63.3% sensitivity problem with help from their peer research and 62.6% specificity. A similar analysis at assistant for their topic coming up with the standards (a group of outcomes) level many ways to change the climate of stress yielded 58.1% sensitivity and 51.6% and anxiety on this campus. Many groups specificity. surveyed students in order to understand perceptions of various health behaviors, Conclusions: The LSA may potentially came up with solutions through creating a replace faculty survey data for curriculum specific health intervention, and were mapping. This saves faculty time, provides connected with numerous resources to real time updates on the curriculum and work with in order to ensure plausibility of allows finer control in delivery of the their ideas. This resulted in many ideas to curriculum. increase student wellness by exploring the benefits of student resource utilization. §§§§ §§§§
72 Exhibit#: SS23 analysis of variance tests were used to evaluate these effects. Results revealed Category: Social Sciences II that those exposed to the negative prime Name(s): Katherine (Kate) McBride, recalled 3 fewer words on average than Wendy Sun those exposed to the positive prime (B Submission Type: Group = -2.978; β = -0.289; p = 0.013; d = 0.54). Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): There were no significant differences in gait Tara Gruenewald, Davis School of speed between those exposed to the Gerontology; Elizabeth Hagood, Davis negative versus positive primes. These pilot School of Gerontology results suggest that exposure to negative Format: Laboratory-based Research messages regarding older adults’ social value may be particularly damaging for Title: Can Positive Versus Negative cognitive function. The public health Messages Regarding Older Adults’ significance of this finding is underscored Social Value Impact Cognitive and by the profound impending growth of the Physical Functioning? older adult population in the US. Abstract: The United States Census Bureau (2014) §§§§ reports that the population of older Americans will grow at an unprecedented Exhibit#: SS02 pace over the next forty years, increasing Category: Social Sciences II from 40 million to 84 million. While the burgeoning population of older adults in Name(s): Sara (Ivette) Merced the US has enormous contributory potential Submission Type: Individual as volunteers, mentors, and grandparent Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): caregivers, many pundits argue that older Karen Hennigan, Psychology individuals have no social value. Format: Senior Honors Thesis Unfortunately, the popular media abounds Title: Can Self-Differentiation And with negative portrayals of older adults as a societal burden. An important but as yet Countervailing Behavioral Norms unexplored empirical question in Weaken Gang Identity and Reduce gerontology is whether negative versus Crime? positive messages regarding older adults’ Abstract: social value can impact health and well- The current study seeks to understand the being. The present experiment tested the role of self-differentiation in reducing an effects of negative versus positive social individual's social and emotional value priming on older adults’ cognitive identification with street gang groups. and physical functioning. A pilot sample of Social psychologists have demonstrated 51 participants (ages 55—85) were that group identification promotes randomly exposed to a mock news article acceptance and internalization of group containing a portrayal of older adults as norms that minimizes ones focus on either a societal resource (positive prime) or personal individual norms or proclivities a societal burden (negative prime). (see Tajfel 1978). We hypothesize here Participants were then asked to complete that strong identification with a street gang post-exposure assessments of verbal is associated with weak self-differentiation. memory performance and gait speed in Individuals with a strong focus on his or her order to evaluate the respective impact of self as an individual is less influenced by the priming manipulation on cognitive and group norms (Bowen 1978; Skowron, physical performance. Standard ordinary Stanley & Shapiro 2009). To test this least squares multiple regression and hypothesis we analyzed baseline data from
73 the Los Angeles Family Case Management of prosocial behavior suggest social Gang Intervention programs. The clients connectedness, self-enhancement (e.g. are either active gang members, affiliated pride, and confidence), and general positive gang members or at risk youth who are emotionality pathways may serve as associates of gang groups. This study mechanisms underlying these associations; examined the relationship between self- however, there has been little empirical differentiation, gang identity and violent examination of these proposed behavior among participants these associations. intervention pro-grams in Los Angeles over a twelve-month period. These gang The current study utilizes daily data desistance programs are part of a collected through the National Study of comprehensive Gang Reduction And Youth Daily Experiences, a sub-study of the Development Program in the city of Los National Survey of Midlife Development in Angeles. This study asked two questions: 1) the U.S. (MIDUS), to investigate the How is self-differentiation related to gang cognitive-affective correlates of generative social identity (defined as emotional and activity. Additionally, the study explores behavioral commitment to the gang)? 2) whether an individual’s perceived level of How is self-differentiation related to generativity has the potential to moderate involvement in violent and criminal the strength of the proposed well-being activities? We predict that self- outcomes. differentiation, a concept borrowed from family systems theory, will prove to be a Individuals with greater average levels of powerful influence on both of these. volunteering experienced higher daily levels of social connectedness (B=.381, p=.000) §§§§ and positive affect (B=.303, p=.000). On volunteer days, they also reported greater Exhibit#: SS29 social connectedness (B=.038) and self- Category: Social Sciences II enhancement (B=.036). Similarly, on days when individuals gave unpaid assistance, Name(s): Cristina Gago they felt greater social connectedness Submission Type: Individual (B=.051, p=.002) and self-enhancement Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): (B=.036, p=.018), compared to their Molli Grossman, Davis School of average. Individuals’ self-perceived levels of Gerontology; Tara Gruenewald, Davis generativity were not found to significantly School of Gerontology moderate these relationships. Format: Analytical Paper Greater daily generative engagement, in Title: Cognitive-Affective Correlates of the form of volunteering and unpaid Generative Activity: Potential for a assistance, is associated with Giver's High? enhancements in daily positive affect, self- Abstract: enhancement, and social connectedness Generativity is defined by positive, socially states. Findings suggest potential contributive actions, and has been shown mechanisms through which generative to be associated with better physical and activities may hold the potential to psychological well-being over time. While positively influence well-being over time. previous research has demonstrated this link between generative activity (or self- §§§§ perceptions of generativity) and improved well-being, the mechanisms linking these factors remain relatively unknown. Theories
74 Exhibit#: SS06 father's overall coparenting score moderated the relation between mother's Category: Social Sciences II community violence exposure and mother's Name(s): Kristene Hossepian monitoring, β = -.208, p < .01. Father's Submission Type: Individual overall coparenting score also moderated Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): the relation between mother's community Gayla Margolin, Psychology, Dornsife violence exposure and mother's College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences attunement, β = -.246, p < .01. A direct Format: Senior Honors Thesis relationship was observed between Title: Community Violence Exposure and mother's monitoring levels and father's the Moderating Effects of coparenting scores within low violence Coparenting communities. Conversely, an inverse relationship was observed between Abstract: mother's monitoring levels and father's Research illustrates that parenting styles coparenting scores within high violence play a significant role in how family communities. The same interaction effect members process community violence existed when mother's attunement levels exposure. Despite wide-spread acceptance was the outcome variable. of the benefits of effective parenting, little research has been conducted to investigate Future research should explore the relation the predictive factors of parenting between child outcomes and parenting behaviors. Therefore, this study explores techniques as impacted by perceived levels the relation between community violence of coparenting within high and low exposure and parenting style, as defined by violence communities. parental monitoring and emotional attunement. This study also investigates the §§§§ idea that spousal support of one's partner's parenting style, or an effective coparenting Exhibit#: SS32 alliance, could moderate the negative relation between community violence Category: Social Sciences II exposure and parenting style. Name(s): Chloe Foon Submission Type: Individual 162 ethnically and racially diverse families Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): completed surveys as part of a larger William Breland, Psychology, Dornsife longitudinal study. Exposure to community College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences violence was assessed by parent responses Format: Senior Honors Thesis to a modified version of the Survey of Children's Exposure to Community Title: Confronting burnout: The relations Violence (Richters & Saltzman, 1990). A 14- among health professional burnout, item coparenting questionnaire was used neuroticism, empathy, and social to measure three aspects of coparenting: and organizational support cooperation, conflict, and triangulation Abstract: (Margolin et. al, 2001). Children Burnout is a negative consequence of high completed an 85-item questionnaire and workload in a stress-filled environment. parents completed a 35-item questionnaire The purpose of this research was to clarify that assessed parenting style. the self-protective implications of the structural relations among burnout, A negative main effect relationship did not empathy, social and organizational support, exist between community violence and neuroticism. One hundred and twenty exposure and parenting style. However, health professionals participated in the
75 research study. The data was obtained such as the absence of a parent or frequent through self-reports from health household moves, as well as normative professionals via an Internet-delivered stressors, such as cognitive and emotional questionnaire on burnout, neuroticism, developmental changes, that lead to empathy, and social and organizational elevated stress. The current study assesses support. The Maslach Burnout Inventory the influence of military youths’ was used to assess the dimensions of perceptions of military family life stress burnout. Primarily, the study was focused (MFLS), a possible stressor, and mother- on testing the moderating effects of youth communication, a possible resource, neuroticism and empathy on the relations on their coping abilities. We hypothesized between burnout and social support. that increased MFLS would be associated Lethargy was identified as the fourth with less constructive (i.e. active) coping. component of burnout, in addition to the We also predicted that better mother-youth three Maslach dimensions of emotional communication would be associated with exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced more social support coping. sense of personal accomplishment. Health professionals with higher levels of 70 youth and their mothers participated in perceived organizational support report less a home interview, in which they discussed burnout. Social support conclusions were their fathers’ service history and family mixed and inconclusive. The interactions experiences over the past five years and with dimensions of social support from a completed surveys about family significant other, family, and friends and relationships and coping. MFLS was empathic concern reveal significance in assessed in two ways: (a) total duration of predicting the dimensions of burnout. This the service member’s deployment current study extended the previous absences, and (b) number of important understanding of the relationship between family life events the service member social and organizational support and missed during deployments. Both mother- empathy. The study offers opportunity to youth communication and coping were intervene and mitigate burnout in health assessed through youth self-report professionals. measures.
§§§§ Length of deployments and missed events were both negatively associated with Exhibit#: SS08 youths’ active coping, and mother-youth Category: Social Sciences II communication quality was positively associated with social support coping. Name(s): Corey Pettit Submission Type: Individual Military adolescents report less active Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): coping at higher levels of MFLS, perhaps Gayla Margolin, Psychology ; Aubrey because they perceive MFLS as a type of Rodriquez, Psychology stress they are unable to cope with in a Format: Laboratory-based Research problem-focused way. Further research should assess whether reduced active Title: Coping Among Military Adolescents: coping with MFLS is associated with Effects of Mother-Adolescent maladaptive outcomes for military youth, Communication and Deployment- and should explore resources beyond the Related Stressors family that encourage military adolescents Abstract: to use positive coping strategies. Adolescents in military families often manage situations specific to the military, §§§§
76 Exhibit#: SS52 developmental math and English programs in community colleges in California. We Category: Social Sciences found that they varied significantly from Name(s): Roxana Ontiveros college to college, with varying levels and Submission Type: Individual requirements. Data was collected on the Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): progression of students through these Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, Sociology programs, again with great variance in Format: Senior Honors Thesis terms of success rates. Title: Criminalization, Racialization, and §§§§ Informality: Mexican Immigrant Labor Participation in the South Central and Compton Pallet Industry Exhibit#: SS33 Abstract: Category: Social Sciences II My research focuses on Mexican immigrant Name(s): Adwight Risbud labor in the informal economy, with a case Submission Type: Individual study of the pallet industry in South Central Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): and Compton. First, it aims to describe the Tara Gruenewald, Davis School of social organization of the pallet industry, as Gerontology; Diana Wang, Davis School of it has been under-researched. Secondly, it Gerontology attempts to provide new insights on the Format: Laboratory-based Research relationship between Mexican immigrant Title: Does spousal support provision exact labor and the informal economy, the latter which is defined as a part of the economy a physiological toll in those with that occurs outside of government lower socioeconomic resources? regulation and taxation (Richardson and Abstract: Pisani 2012). I intend on explaining why A substantial literature documents the and how it occurs through a series of 10 benefits of receiving support for mental semi-structured interviews with pallet and physical health. A growing body of business owners and employees selected research also suggests benefits of providing through judgment sampling. support. However, caregiving research suggests that support provision may impair §§§§ health. The health correlates of providing support may also depend on other Exhibit#: SS39 individual and contextual factors, such as the resource level of the giver. The current Category: Social Sciences project is designed to examine whether Name(s): Haley Demian, Anoush level of physiological dysregulation across Djrbashian multiple physiological systems in the body Submission Type: Group is linked to the provision of social support Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): to a spouse and whether this hypothesized Tatiana Melguizo, Rossier School of link varies in those with varying levels of Education; Federick Ngo, Rossier School of socioeconomic status, as measured by Education educational attainment. Format: Analytical Paper Analyses utilized data from the Biomarker Title: Developmental Math and English Substudy of the second wave of data Programs in Community Colleges collection in the National Survey of Midlife Abstract: Development in the U.S. (MIDUS). Social Our study looked into the structures of support provision was measured by a
77 survey of perceptions of giving support to the academic success of college students. one’s spouse among married participants. Previous literature indicates that perceived Multi-system physiological dysregulation, or intoxication may enhance creativity. The allostatic load, was assessed as the level of present study measured types of drinking physiological dysregulation in seven styles and how those styles impact the different physiological systems (sympathetic effects of intoxication on creativity. The and parasympathetic nervous systems, Alcohol Use Inventory (AUI) measured types hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, of drinking styles. The study used two cardiovascular, lipid metabolism, glucose verbal creativity tests: the Remote metabolism, and inflammatory immune Associates Test (RAT) measured convergent activity) measured as the proportion of creative thinking and the Alternative Uses biomarker indicators for each system for Task (AUT) measured divergent creative which participant values fell into the thinking. Thirty-six participants were highest risk quartiles of biomarker randomly assigned to either a non-alcohol distributions. A multiple regression analysis or alcohol-deception condition. The controlling for age, sex, race, and health respective beverages were mixed in plain condition burden indicated no significant view and served before participants main effect of spousal support provision on performed the creativity tasks. No drink level of allostatic load. However, education (non-alcohol or alcohol-deception) interacted with support provision in contained alcohol. Participants in the predicting level of allostatic load, such that alcohol-deception condition scored higher greater support provision predicted higher on average than those in the non-alcohol allostatic load among individuals with lower condition for every dimension of divergent educational attainment, while support creativity, although no difference was provision did not predict allostatic load in statistically significant. These findings, the higher educated. The findings suggest limited by the study’s small sample size, that due to a lack of resources, lower SES indicate perceived intoxication may reduce individuals may be more burdened by inhibitions, thereby facilitating creative giving social support to their spouses. expression. The study also found perceived drink strength and perceived social benefit §§§§ of drinking significantly predicted each divergent creativity dimension, as those Exhibit#: SS18 who drink for social benefits likely do so to Category: Social Sciences II reduce their inhibitions. Name(s): Steven Childress §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Exhibit#: SS35 Jo Ann Farver, Psychology, Dornsife Category: Social Sciences II College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Name(s): Caitlin Wilhelm William Breland, Psychology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences Submission Type: Individual Format: Senior Honors Thesis Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: Drinking to Create: The Creative Elsi Kaiser, Linguistics Benefits of Self-Enhancing Drinking Format: Laboratory-based Research and Perceived Intoxication Title: Effects of Emotional and Cognitive Abstract: Empathy: Boosting people’s Creativity has a positive impact on everyday perspective-taking abilities life, including business, social life, and even Abstract:
78 When people speak of “empathy,” they perspective-taking than affective primes, often mean affective or emotional both primes tend to have noticeable effects empathy - the ability to understand and in non-linguistic perspective tasks. These feel another’s emotions. But there is also results help to answer how empathy primes cognitive empathy, dealing with attribution affect linguistic perspective, indicating that of knowledge states to others. Given cognitive empathy may be more influential previous findings that these subtypes can than affective empathy in determining how be impaired or enhanced independently people will respond in linguistic (e.g., autism generally correlates to a perspective-taking tasks. deficiency in cognitive empathy with no effect on affective empathy), it appears §§§§ that these subtypes are underlyingly distinct (e.g., Rogers et al 2006; Blair 2007). Exhibit#: SS13 Category: Social Sciences II The current work builds on previous Angelica (Angie) Fullerton research in the USC Language Processing Name(s): Lab, which investigated Free Indirect Submission Type: Individual Discourse (FID) and how comprehenders Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): engage in linguistically-motivated Laura Baker, Psychology, Dornsife College perspective-taking. Crucially, because FID of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Nicholas shifts perspective from narrator to Jackson, Psychology, Dornsife College of character without quotes or embedding Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Catherine (e.g. Mary looked at Lisa. Poor girl, she was Tuvblad, Psychology, Dornsife College of sick), we manipulated comprehenders’ Letters, Arts, & Sciences perspective-taking by using particular kinds Format: Analytical Paper of adverbs and adjectives. The current Title: Effects of Head Injuries on the research extends this work by asking how Developmental Trajectory of non-linguistic perspective-taking can influence perspective-taking in a language- Impulsivity based task: Can priming with stories based Abstract: around second-hand embarrassment Head injuries are the leading cause of (affective empathy) or lies/double bluffs death and disability for children and (cognitive empathy) increase participants’ adolescents (Andrews, Rose, & Johnson, likelihood of taking characters’ 1998; Rosenthal et al., 1998). There is a perspectives? particular vulnerability to head injuries during development such that head injuries Participants completed a perspective-taking in childhood have been associated with task where they were first primed with a cognitive, emotional, and behavioral story that promoted affective empathy, impairments in adulthood. Specifically, cognitive empathy, or was neutral. In the head injury has been associated with testing phase, participants were asked to behavioral changes such as impulsivity and perform a perspective check, and then antisocial behavior (Konrad et al., 2000; asked to answer questions about whether O’Keeffe et al., 2007). In fact, children and FID-cued sentences had affected their adults with head injuries have significantly interpretations of ambiguous pronouns or higher levels of loneliness and antisocial choice of narrator-based or character-based behavior coupled with lower self-esteem perspective. and levels of adaptive behavior (Andrews, Rose, & Johnson, 1998; Taylor et al., 2002; Our data suggest that, while cognitive Hanks et al., 1999). The current sample primes are more likely to trigger FID was drawn from participants in the
79 University of Southern California (USC) Risk snack food consumption, and how Factors for Antisocial Behavior (RFAB) twin awareness of plate size effects and study. Impulsivity was measured by the differences in the sizes of plates available errors of commission on a Go/NoGo will influence consumption at two different behavioral task. Measures were taken at time points. The hypotheses for the study Wave 1 (ages 9-10), Wave 3 (ages 14-15), were: (1) large plates will lead to more Wave 4 (ages 16-18), and Wave 5 (ages consumption of snack foods than small 19-20) of this longitudinal study. Self- plates at time 1, (2) there will be an reported head injury history was taken at interaction between plate size and Waves 3 and 5. Mixed effects linear awareness influencing consumption during regression models were used to examine time 2; those unaware of the conditions the effects of head injuries in early will show compensation at a subsequent childhood on the developmental trajectory time and for those aware, the effects of of impulsivity. It was seen that those with plate size will be enhanced, and (3) using a and without head injuries showed scale for externality to examine how decreases in impulsivity over time on the participants are generally affected by the Go/NoGo task. However, those with early environment, those that have a higher head injuries (prior to age 10) had externality score are predicted to be more significantly less of a decline in impulsivity influenced by plate size. Results were relative to those without head injuries. Our insignificant. findings indicate that early head injury may play a significant role in blunting the §§§§ decline in impulsivity across development, perhaps exposing an additional risk factor Exhibit#: SS36 for antisocial behavior. Category: Social Sciences §§§§ Name(s): Margaret (Magalie) Carey, John (Andrew) Clark, Alexa Smith Submission Type: Group Exhibit#: SS26 Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Social Sciences II David Black, Department of Preventative Name(s): Jennifer Chang Medicine, Keck School of Medicine; Submission Type: Individual Michael Li, Department of Preventative Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Medicine, Keck School of Medicine Andrew Larsen, Psychology; Wendy Wood, Format: Field Research Psychology Title: Evaluating a Sexual Consent Format: Senior Honors Thesis Educational Intervention in a College Title: Environmental Cues and Food Setting Consumption Abstract: Abstract: Understanding sexual consent its The need for an efficient dietary strategy complexities and what drives consensual has increased with the prevalence of behavior is currently evolving among young overconsumption and obesity. Examining adults. The University of Southern the environment, specifically controlling for California’s Office for Wellness and Health plate size, has been commonly suggested Promotion (OWHP) has established a as a dieting strategy, using smaller plates curriculum to augment students’ claimed to decrease consumption and aid understanding of this topic to build sexual in weight loss. The study examined plate communication skills. The purpose of this size as a moderating environmental cue on study is to evaluate this intervention and to
80 assess current campus climate regarding chance in the pragmatic and prior student perceptions of what entails sexual engagement conditions suggesting that consent and acceptable modes of children can successfully consider an establishing consent. Univariate analyses agent’s “need” as well as experiential tested associations between sexual consent knowledge during communication. constructs at baseline and changes from However, both age groups performed pre to post intervention. Findings indicated worse in the visual condition although the that significant changes in attitudes and four year olds’ performed significantly preferences for verbal consent were found better than the three year olds. This immediately after the intervention. Our illustrates that despite robust performance findings shed light on key components to in visual perspective taking skills at this age, address in college-based interventions for children fail to consider another's visual sexual consent promotion. perspective during ambiguous referential communication. The trend at age four §§§§ suggests that this ability does begin to emerge around this age but further Exhibit#: SS14 investigation is needed. Category: Social Sciences II §§§§ Name(s): Lillie Moffett Submission Type: Individual Exhibit#: SS01 Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Social Sciences II Henrike Moll, Psychology Name(s): Ariadne Lyon Format: Laboratory-based Research Submission Type: Individual Title: Four Year Olds Recover Referents in Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): an Ambiguous Communication Task Karen Hennigan, Psychology, Dornsife Abstract: College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences Little is still known about the development Format: Senior Honors Thesis of referential communication in young children. In this study, 3 and 4 year olds Title: Friends or Family: A Study of Gang were presented with a communication task Identity and Criminal Behaviors in which two of four compartments in a Abstract: shelf were visually occluded from the This research examined the connection experimenter but not the child. Similar between identity and behavior in objects were placed in the compartments, adolescent Los Angeles gang members. differing only in size (i.e. big, middle, small; Gang affiliation leads to adolescents short, middle, tall etc.). There were three increasing their participation in violent conditions; first, a pragmatic condition crime and dropping out of school at higher where the experimenter entered the room rates than adolescents not affiliated with and told the child that they needed the X- gangs. Gang affiliation detrimentally affects est (i.e. biggest/smallest) object. Second, a the social development of adolescents and prior engagement condition where the even after leaving the gang former experimenter set up the objects with the members struggle with economic instability child, then told the child that they wanted and continuing criminal involvement. The a X (big/small) object. And third, a visual dimensions of gang identity and emotional condition where the experimenter told the ties (gang identity) and family emotional child that they wanted them to pick the X- ties were measured using a survey created est object they, the experimenter, could by Hennigan (2013) and administered to see. Both age groups performed above gang-involved youth as part of the Gang
81 Reduction and Youth Development Abstract: Program (GRYD). The strength of gang The success of performing a goal directed versus family emotional ties, and the behavior can have serious implications. In mediating variable of family involvement in some cases, like losing weight to reduce a gang, were measured and hypothesized one’s risk of heart attack, success might be to have an effect on level of violent criminal the difference between life and death. For acts committed by the gang member. It this reason, previous research has focused was expected that gang identity would be on better understanding self- control, an associated with higher levels of violent essential component of long-term goal crime, while emotional ties to family would pursuit. Two pilot studies suggest that be associated with lower levels of violent performing habitual behaviors do not crime. If the participant had family require self-control and may actually members who were in a gang, it was increase it. To test this effect, the present expected that a high level of family study required participants to exert self- emotional ties would lead to high levels of control on an initial task and then violent crime. The hypotheses were only measured the effect of performing habits partially supported. Results showed that (vs. control or rest) on self-reported self- gang identification was correlated with control and a stroop task. Results indicated higher reported levels of violent crime, and increased state self-control for habit family involvement in a gang was performance, rest, and no habit learning correlated with higher levels of violent conditions after initial exertion of self- crime, as predicted. However, family control, supporting the initial hypothesis. emotional ties was also correlated with However, the control condition did not high reported levels of violent crime. show the hypothesized self-control change Exploratory analyses found that family pattern, preventing the attribution of organization led to lower reported levels of increased self-control to habit performance violent crime, even when participants had or another factor. These findings indicate family members involved in a gang. This that further research should examine research has applications for gang possible explanations for a positive increase reduction and prevention. in self-control following habit performance, but not through the use of this study’s §§§§ initial self-control exertion task.
Exhibit#: SS28 §§§§ Category: Social Sciences II Name(s): Tori Hirata Exhibit#: SS45 Submission Type: Individual Category: Social Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Saee (Sayuli) Bhide, Casey Jo Ann Farver, Psychology, Dornsife McMahon College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Submission Type: Group Jennifer Labrecque, Psychology, Dornsife Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Wendy Elsi Kaiser, Linguistics, Dornsife College of Wood, Psychology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences Letters, Arts, & Sciences Format: Laboratory-based Research Format: Senior Honors Thesis Title: Hearing half the story: What cell- Title: Habits and Self-Control: An phone conversations can tell us Examination of the Benefit of Habit about language processing Performance on Self-Control Abstract:
82 The prevalence of cell phones makes it the memory-load results suggest this carries difficult not to be distracted by others’ a cognitive cost, and may not occur if conversations. In such ‘halfalogues,’ where resources are limited. only one side of a dialogue is overheard, how does the mind process the missing §§§§ information? Or do we ignore it? Imagine that you overhear someone saying “I heard Exhibit#: SS42 that Bob helped Tim move into his new Category: Social Sciences apartment.” After someone responds (inaudible to you), the speaker says, “Oh Name(s): Jordan Furlong wow, he did?” Would the overhearer try to Submission Type: Individual guess who “he” is, and what the inaudible Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): response was? Investigating these Marion Philadelphia, Marshall questions can shed light on debates Format: Field Research regarding deep vs. shallow language Title: Hispanic Scholarship Fund processing. Consultation Our halfalogues (like the example) Abstract: mentioned two characters (e.g. Bob, Tim), Today, effective marketing requires depth so the pronoun (‘he’) was ambiguous. On and breadth of knowledge of digital media. some trials, there were two additional The world is becoming more and more sentences about the subject (e.g. Bob) globalized to the point where the most cost before the inaudible response, signaling efficient and instantaneous media of that Bob is central/topical. communication are through digital media. Whether these channels are through social The study had three variants: The “neutral” media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, group listened to halfalogues and LinkedIn, etc.), TV, or even advertising answered a question probing who the final campaigns in mobile apps, digital sentence was about, to measure pronoun marketing has come and it is here to stay. interpretation. The “Guess” group guessed at the inaudible response, before An organization like the Hispanic answering the same questions. The Scholarship Fund whose mission is to “Recall+Guess” group did the same, and provide academic and professional finances also had to retain a new letter sequence in and resources to the Latino community memory during each halfalogue. needs to carefully find what effective marketing looks like in their day to day Results: The Neutral and Guess groups marketing strategies. After an in depth pattern alike: Both tend to interpret the analysis of their philosophy, budget, and pronoun as referring to the subject (e.g. practices in regards to marketing, my team Bob), especially when Bob is topical. This and I determined more effective means for suggests people fill in the missing turn even them to spread their altruistic message and if not required to do so. Strikingly, the resources. Recall+Guess group show mostly chance- level performance in pronoun §§§§ interpretation -- suggesting that the memory task impairs ability to attend to halfalogues.
It seems that the mind has a strong impulse to ‘fill in’ missing information. However,
83 Exhibit#: SS30 importance of vaccinating children, and the lack of success of previous vaccine Category: Social Sciences II promotion interventions, this study is Name(s): Carolyn Windler important in revealing possible moral Submission Type: Individual underpinnings of vaccine ideology and Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): providing background knowledge that can Jesse Graham, Psychology, Dornsife be used to create future interventions. College of Letters, Arts & Sciences Format: Senior Honors Thesis §§§§ Title: How Purity Beliefs Impact Moral Judgments Regarding Vaccines Exhibit#: SS43 Abstract: Category: Social Sciences Vaccines require breaking the skin’s natural Name(s): Luna White barrier to inject some form of unnatural or Submission Type: Individual foreign antigen into the human body, a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): seemingly inherent purity transgression. Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, Sociology, However, little research has been done to Dornsife; Veronica Terriquez, Sociology, examine moral implications on people’s Dornsife beliefs about vaccines. This project Format: Senior Honors Thesis investigates purity beliefs as predictive factors for vaccine ideology. Recruited from Title: Identity and Civic Engagement: Amazon Mechanical Turk, 337 participants Studying Civic Responsibility and completed the purity subscale of the Moral Intersectional Political Awareness Foundations Questionnaire and either read among South LA Youth obituaries describing deaths due to vaccine Abstract: complications, deaths due to vaccine- Many scholars study civic engagement, and preventable diseases without vaccine several lay out models of paths to reception, or natural deaths. Participants becoming a civically engaged individual. then self-reported the extent to which each Jane Addams outlines a particularly helpful death was morally wrong and disgusting. It path to a holistically engaged person, a was hypothesized that participants with person who feels responsible to engage not high purity beliefs would perceive deaths only in non-political service but also in the due to vaccine complications as more political sphere. But this model, along with morally wrong and more disgusting than others, have an underlying bias that only participants with low purity beliefs, and the allows for the examination of how wealthy, opposite would be true with deaths due to educated, white individuals might become vaccine preventable diseases. It was engaged in this capacity. This research expected that there would be no difference incorporates Intersectionality to illuminate between individuals with high and low other paths to this sense of civic purity beliefs when reading about natural responsibility, and what that might mean. deaths. A MANCOVA revealed a significant Using data from 51 surveys and 6-10 effect of type of death on ratings of disgust interviews, this case study examines a when using purity as a covariate. youth group called South Central Youth Furthermore, correlational analysis revealed Empowered through Action (SCYEA) which that high purity beliefs were significantly engages low-income Black and Latino high related to higher ratings of both moral school students in South La through wrongfulness disgust in the vaccine political advocacy and education. This complications condition compared to the study shows that many of these students vaccine omission condition. Because of the do in fact report a sense of civic
84 responsibility, and cite their political and case characteristics. Results supported social education as reason for finding this previous research on the efficacy of open- sense of responsibility. This study also ended questions but showed that open- shows that the way that these students ended questions are most effective when adhere to this sense of civic responsibility is asked as “Tell me why” questions rather closely linked to the ways in which they than “Do you know” questions. Therefore, were politicized during their participation at the structure of an open-ended question SCYEA. can diminish its effectiveness and disclosure in children. §§§§ §§§§ Exhibit#: SS16 Category: Social Sciences II Exhibit#: SS24 Name(s): Wendy Garcia-Nava Category: Social Sciences II Submission Type: Individual Name(s): Eun Ah Cho Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Submission Type: Individual Thomas D. Lyon, USC Gould Law School Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Senior Honors Thesis Tara Gruenewald, Davis School of Title: Interviewing Children: Effects of Gerontology Question Type and Case Format: Laboratory-based Research Characteristics on Children’s Title: Investigating the Effect of Consistent Disclosure of Sexual Abuse Engagement in Leisure Activities Abstract: Over Time on Cardiovascular A large body of theoretical and applied Function in Older Adults research has investigated the Abstract: developmentally appropriate strategies for Leisure activities are defined as volitional questioning young children about activities that older adults enjoy in their free allegations of maltreatment. From this time which are hypothesized to promote research, structured forensic interview better mental and physical well-being protocols (i.e. NICHD, TenStep) have been through both direct and stress-buffering developed, and serve as guidelines for legal mechanisms. Leisure activities are typically professionals as to best practices when categorized into four domains: cognitive, interviewing young victims and witnesses. physical, social, and generative. We These protocols include suggested hypothesized that older adults who questions to use in order to obtain consistently engaged in leisure activities disclosures from young children. However, over a decade-long period would have a there has been little research conducted on healthier profile of cardiovascular function, how these questions are used in practice, under both resting and challenge and the productivity of each question type conditions. The current analyses utilize while considering specific case data from the first two waves of the characteristics (e.g., abuse severity). The national Study of the Midlife Development present study explored the influence of in the U.S. (MIDUS), a longitudinal, question type and case characteristics on epidemiological investigation of the children’s disclosures in actual forensic psychosocial and behavioral factors that interviews. One hundred and thirty-five affect healthy aging. Leisure activity data transcripts of children, aged 3- to 16-years from the first and second wave of the old were analyzed for disclosure question MIDUS Study was used to construct type, the leadingness of its content and decade-long patterns of physical, social and
85 generative activity. These activity patterns adapting to our complex and rapidly were examined as predictors of cardiac changing environment. Ingenuity, defined vagal tone assessed in a Biomarker as the quality of being clever, original and Substudy conducted at the second MIDUS inventive, addresses the practical wave. Cardiac vagal tone, as indexed by applications of creativity to everyday life. high frequency heart rate variability (HF Other individual factors, such as personality HRV), is an indicator of the traits, may also play a critical role in parasympathetic nervous system regulation navigating life’s challenges and shaping of the heart, and an important predictor of goal-directed behavior. Of the Big Five cardiac and other forms of health. Cardiac Personality traits, conscientiousness has vagal tone measures included both resting been linked to the accomplishment of tasks and cognitive challenge recovery measures and goals, while openness to experience is of HF HRV. Results indicate that only consistently associated with creativity. This consistent generative (volunteer) activity study looks at how potential educational, was associated with greater resting levels mental and physical well-being benefits of of HF HRV. However, analyses of HF HRV creativity/ingenuity may be moderated by recovery from cognitive challenge indicate the individual attributes of the person that the magnitude and/or time to full putting them to use. Analyses utilize data recovery was better in those with greater from Project Talent, a longitudinal study of levels of each form of leisure engagement over 300,000 American high school over the preceding decade. Promoting students which began in 1960. Ingenuity sustained engagement in leisure activities in or creative problem-solving ability and older adulthood may act to bolster older personality were assessed when adults’ ability to recover physiologically participants were in high school. under challenging conditions and promote Educational attainment and psychological better overall health as a result. (life satisfaction) and physical (self-rated health) well-being were examined at an 11- §§§§ year follow-up in over 80,000 cohort members and at a 50-year follow-up in a Exhibit#: SS09 small subset of cohort members. We Category: Social Sciences II hypothesized that greater ingenuity, conscientiousness and openness would Name(s): Shivanti Kariyawasam predict better educational and Submission Type: Individual psychological and physical well-being Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): outcomes in young and later adulthood Tara Gruenewald, Davis School of and that ingenuity and personality would Gerontology positively interact in the prediction of better Format: Analytical Paper adult outcomes. Results indicate that greater ingenuity, conscientiousness and Title: Is it better to be curious, openness to experience predicted higher conscientious, or clever? Adolescent levels of educational attainment and personality and intellectual greater life satisfaction and self-rated predictors of life course health in adulthood. However, personality socioeconomic and psychological factors did not interact with ingenuity to well-being. predict educational and well-being Abstract: outcomes. Findings suggest that both early Creativity has been linked to better life creative ability and personality may socioeconomic and mental and physical operate to promote educational success well-being outcomes in adulthood and is and well-being across the adult life course. increasingly viewed as a crucial skill for
86 §§§§ (8.7%), intubation (6.5%) and feeding (4.3%) seldom occurred. Exhibit#: SS56 Our study found that, combined, both Category: Social Sciences shows inaccurately portrayed the Name(s): Krystle Irvine immediate survival CPR rate at 69.6% Submission Type: Individual compared with actual rates of 36.8%. We Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): found that popular medical dramas provide Susan Enguidanos, Davis School of viewers with an overly optimistic view of Gerontology; Jaclyn Portanova, Davis CPR outcomes and little opportunity for School of Gerontology; Jae Yoon Yi, Davis vicarious learning through observation of School of Gerontology care preference discussions. Format: Laboratory-based Research §§§§ Title: It Isn't Like This on TV: Revisiting CPR Survival Rates Depicted on Exhibit#: SS46 Popular Television Shows Category: Social Sciences Abstract: Name(s): Tyler Tokunaga Television portrayal of life-saving interventions such as cardiopulmonary Submission Type: Individual resuscitation (CPR) can perpetuate Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): unrealistic expectations about the success Elizabeth Fife, Viterbi School of of extraordinary measures. Nearly two Engineering decades ago, a study of CPR in popular Format: Analytical Paper television shows found that the high rates Title: Japanese Smartphone of successful CPR depicted did not reflect Manufacturing and Strategic Agility the reality of clinical cases. In recent years, education and communication around life Abstract: sustaining interventions has been This paper examines the failure of Japanese enhanced. The purpose of this study was to mobile phone manufacturers in the mobile assess the accuracy of CPR portrayed by phone market after the emergence of current popular media. Additionally, we smartphones. This paper overviews the sought to examine discussions about care smartphone market, then examines the preferences in medical television shows. case of Japan. It finds that current theories Two popular medical dramas airing do not sufficiently explain the difficulty between 2010-2011, Grey’s Anatomy and Japanese firms face. It uses a literature House, were independently coded by two review of studies of firms attempting to trained research assistants. Patient adapt to technological change in the characteristics, survival rates, and goals of mobile phone market to pinpoint care discussions were recorded. CPR was commonalities and differences between depicted 46 times in the 91 episodes. those firms and Japanese firms. This paper Grey’s Anatomy depicted immediate concludes that Japanese firms failed to survival after CPR as 68.6% while House recognize the importance of software and had a 72.7% survival rate. Among those its ability to allow the user to quickly and who experienced immediate survival, more easily upgrade their phone. than half of the patients (71.9%) survived to hospital discharge and 15.6% died §§§§ before discharge. Advance directive discussions only occurred for two patients, and preferences regarding code status
87 Exhibit#: SS34 (LIWC; Pennebaker, Booth, & Francis, 2007) to count the number of positive and Category: Social Sciences II negative emotion words used by the Name(s): Mary Hakimeh couple. To measure marital satisfaction, Submission Type: Individual couples completed the Dyadic Adjustment Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Scale (DAS; Spanier, 1976). Results showed Jo Ann Farver, Psychology; Gayla Margolin, that wives’ marital satisfaction was Psychology; Michelle Ramos, Psychology significantly associated with her expression Format: Senior Honors Thesis of both positive (r=.34) and negative emotion words (r=.43), whereas husbands’ Title: A Linguistic Analysis of Couples’ satisfaction was not related to emotion Communication and the Effects on word usage. Findings suggest that marital Marital Satisfaction satisfaction, at least for wives, involves the Abstract: ability to express a range of emotions, Intimacy and the desire for close including negative emotions. relationships are inherent in the human need to belong (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). §§§§ How couples communicate is often indicative of their relationship satisfaction Exhibit#: SS20 and the actual language used may be Category: Social Sciences II important. This study utilized linguistic analysis to examine couples’ use of positive Name(s): Catherine Swaidan and negative emotion words during a Submission Type: Individual family problem-solving discussion and Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): associations with relationship satisfaction. Tara Gruenewald, Davis School of More positive emotion words were Gerontology predicted to be related to high marital Format: Field Research satisfaction, and more negative emotion words were predicted to be related to low Title: Living Canvases: An marital satisfaction. An exploratory Intergenerational Life Review and approach for a ratio of positive to negative Art Creation Program words will also be used to identify whether Abstract: a certain amount of positive words may Living Canvases is an intergenerational override the effects of negative emotion wisdom-sharing program designed to words. facilitate the sharing of elders’ life stories with young adults and the broader The current study examined 32 couples, a community. During three workshop subset from a larger study of 103 families discussions, elder participants chart their that examined the effects of family conflict life stories and identify key turning points on well-being. Couples were middle-aged from their lives. Elders’ life stories are then [Wives M(SD)=41(4.9); Husbands M(SD)= translated into visual art form by young 43(5.3)] and ethnically and racially diverse. artists who receive the wisdom of elders’ This study used data from a 3-4 hour life experiences through art creation. Life laboratory visit where families completed a stories and the art the stories inspire are variety of questionnaires. The families then then shared with the larger community participated in a 15-minute problem- through a recognition reception, as well as solving discussion about things they most in other exhibits and print and electronic want to see changed in the family. media. Elder workshop participants and the Discussion transcriptions were analyzed young adult artists who illustrate their life using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count stories come together during the
88 recognition reception for intergenerational Abstract: exchange and learning. A derivative of EEG is the event-related potential (ERPs), which refers to an average The Living Canvases Pilot Research Study of EEG responses at a specific time that was recently launched to identify the occur due to complex processing of a feasibility of program implementation and certain stimuli. ERP components are named to query the experiences of program for polarity (N is negative, P is positive) and participants. The current study aims to then latency (the number of milliseconds identify the sociodemographic and after the stimulus during which the ERP psychosocial characteristics of young adult occurs). Previous studies have found a and elder participants and the association reduction in target P300 amplitude for of such factors with participants’ motives marijuana users, suggesting that marijuana for participation and experiences in the users have a deficit in executive control and program. To date, sixteen elders and decision-making, which have been thirteen young adult artists have enrolled in previously implicated with the P300 ERP. the program. Key motives for elders’ High-risk adolescents, however, may have participation in the program are pre-morbid (before use) neurobiological opportunities for self-reflection and vulnerabilities, so a longitudinal design is personal growth and to contribute to necessary in order to determine whether young artists, the broader community and changes in EEG were induced by marijuana scientific research. Key motives for the use, or if they represent differences that are young adult artists’ participation were to inherently present in users. interact with, and learn from, the experiences of elders and to contribute to Results show that target P300 amplitudes their community and help bring elders’ were significantly (p<0.5) lower for users stories to life. A post-participation survey of compared to non-users even before use of elder workshop participants indicated that marijuana (Figure 1), which suggests that elders enjoyed the opportunity to share the difference found in previous studies their own, and learn from peers’, life may not be a reflection of marijuana use, experiences and that they would but rather just reflect inherent differences recommend the life review workshops to a in the brain. The current study bears friend. Overall, initial analyses indicate important implications for continuing feasibility and successful implementation of discussion of marijuana’s effects and the intergenerational Living Canvases prediction of use. The study finds that users program. inherently possess lower executive control than non-users and the decrease in the §§§§ P300 amplitude is not necessarily caused by marijuana use. Exhibit#: SS03 Category: Social Sciences II §§§§ Name(s): Janis Yue Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Laura Baker, Psychology and Neuroscience, Dornsife College Format: Laboratory-based Research Title: Marijuana and the Mind: Brain Differences between Users and Non- Users
89 Exhibit#: SS12 social support, with demographic diversity playing a large role. It is imperative these Category: Social Sciences II variations be further addressed to Name(s): Alexandra Antosy adequately assist this population. Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): §§§§ Jo Ann Farver, Psychology ; Kim Morris- Eggleston, Occupational Science and Exhibit#: SS58 Occupational Therapy Category: Social Sciences Format: Senior Honors Thesis Name(s): Tianqi (Amber) Liang Title: Mothers Need Help Too: Examining Submission Type: Individual the Barriers to Support Systems for Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Mothers of Children with Autism Jessica Peet, School of International Abstract: Relations, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, Mothers of children with autism experience & Sciences higher levels of stress not only compared to Format: Analytical Paper mothers of children with typical development, but also when compared to Title: A New Approach to US-China mothers of children with other Relationship: Grassroots developmental disorders (Sanders & Ambassadors Morgan, 1997). These additional stressors Abstract: can be mediated by support systems, which As Edward R. Murrow famously said, the have been found to prevent as well as critical link in the international decrease many of the negative responses communication chain is the “last three associated with stress (Honig & Winger, feet,” which is bridged by personal contact. 1997). However, significant barriers prevent Unlike any traditional definition of mothers from accessing the help that they diplomacy, Chinese students are engaging require. Mothers of children with autism with their American classmates in a peer- are one of the most at-risk parent to-peer level and forming personal populations for stress, which is detrimental friendships. The underlying impact on not only to their personal health but also to diplomacy is far greater than what a treaty the physical and mental health of their through negotiation and coercion can children. The study recruited a sample of behold. The trustful relationship between 11 mothers of children with Autism from individual can transcend to a state level to multiple child development clinics in the influence bilateral relationship between Los Angeles area, to identify the stressors countries, possibly stronger than any that act as barriers to accessing support traditional diplomatic effort. As my systems. Mothers completed the Parenting initiative of peer-to-peer diplomacy, Stress Index (PSI-SF), the Parent Locus of “Grassroots Ambassadors” allows basic Control Scale (PLOC), the Social Support communications stemming from personal Index (SSI), and a demographics level to influence diplomatic relations questionnaire. A case study was conducted without government intervention. for each participant based on their Unintentionally, Chinese and American respective scores on the PSI-SF, PLOC, and students are weaving a web of personal SSI, as well as their answers to the engagements to influence future U.S. – demographics questionnaire. There were China relations. variations within each particular case, however the overall trend was consistent §§§§ with high levels of stress and low levels of
90 Exhibit#: SS53 §§§§ Category: Social Sciences Name(s): Luis Villanueva Exhibit#: SS21 Submission Type: Individual Category: Social Sciences II Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Jodie Guller, Natasha Sosa Lorcan O'Herlihy, USC Architecture Submission Type: Group Format: Creative Work Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: The New Entrepreneur - Bridging Steven Greening, Davis School of South Central Gerontology, Psychology; Mara Mather, Abstract: Davis School of Gerontology, Psychology, Neuroscience Graduate Program There are 4,821 correctional facilities in the United States. 415 of these were built in Format: Laboratory-based Research the last five years. The increase of jails is Title: Older adults display a lack of due in large part to the return rate of differential conditioned response recently released offenders. In 2006 nearly during fear conditioning despite 400,000 people were released from state accurate contingency awareness and federal prisons as well as juvenile Abstract: delinquent centers. By 2009 284,000 had The accuracy of fear conditioning can be returned. assessed either explicitly, by having participants report how likely each The continuous construction of correctional conditioned stimulus (CS) is to predict the facilities, coupled with the high return rate unconditioned stimulus (US), or implicitly, of inmates, is a testament to a failed by measuring physiological reactivity like system. According to experts, the problem the skin conductance response (SCR). lies in the limitations, obstacles, and Previous research found that older adults barriers recently-released inmates, also (OAs) had significantly worse contingency referred to as "transitioning peoples," face awareness and reduced SCR to the CS+ once released from jails. With little compared to younger adults (YAs) using a guidance from peers or professional loud tone as the US. The current study counselors, transitioning peoples often fall tested the prediction that using shock- back to old habits that ultimately escort based fear conditioning (the gold standard) them back to jails. would lead to accurate contingency awareness and differential SCR in OAs, As a result of this trend, grassroots which would be similar to the YAs. The rehabilitation centers, like Homeboy participants completed two conditioning Industries and the Amity Foundation, have and one extinction run, in which they taken it upon themselves to solve the identified whether tones were high or low problem. In doing so, they have created pitch. In conditioning runs, half the CS+ progressive models of treatment and tones were paired with shock. In the simultaneously changed the urban extinction run, no tones were paired with landscape of their respective regions shock. After each run, participants were forever. The latter is a phenomenon this asked to estimate the proportion of trials project aims to investigate further. When it that were paired with shock for each tone comes to the rehabilitation center typology (on a scale from 0% to 100%). There was and its relationship to urban engagement, a group by condition interaction for there remains much to be done. This is a participants’ contingency awareness challenge this project aims to approach [F(1,63) = 7.035, p = 0.01, η2 = 0.10] such head on. that the OAs tended to underestimate the
91 likelihood of receiving a shock on CS+ trials 18 females), ages 18 to 25, completed and overestimate the likelihood of receiving hourly surveys on mood and wore a shock on CS- trials. However, OAs ambulatory biosensors that recorded EDA estimate of the CS+ likelihood was for 24 hours. Participants also completed a significantly greater than their estimate of 66-item dating violence questionnaire CS- trials. [t(32) = 11.62, p<0.001]. There (Bennett et al., 2011). Multilevel regression was a significant group by condition models showed that female victims of interaction for SCR [F(1,52) = 4.468, p = dating violence had lower overall levels of 0.039, η2 = 0.079] such that OAs had a EDA throughout the day (b = -0.23, p reduced response to the CS+ relative to the = .02). Additionally, males with a greater YAs. OAs had reduced accuracy of history of violence perpetration showed contingency awareness and lacked the heightened EDA during moments of differential conditioned response during irritation towards their partners (b = 0.40, p fear conditioning compared to YAs. < .01). These findings provide evidence that violent individuals have altered patterns of §§§§ physiological reactivity and that such reactivity is an important component in Exhibit#: SS07 understanding dating partner violence in daily life. Category: Social Sciences II Name(s): Afsara (Sara) Haque, Jamie §§§§ Nguyen, Shelby Rosenberg, Yeji Yang Exhibit#: SS55 Submission Type: Group Category: Social Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Jordan Kondo, William Liao Sohyun C. Han, Psychology; Gayla Submission Type: Group Margolin, Psychology; Adela C. Timmons, Psychology Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Format: Field Research Erin Quinn, Science and Health, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences Title: Patterns of Physiological Activity Associated with Dating Violence in Format: Analytical Paper Daily Life Title: The Perfect Crime: Solving the Abstract: Global Problem of Counterfeit Drugs Violent individuals tend to demonstrate Abstract: lower baseline autonomic arousal but In 2013, the global pharmaceutical market higher autonomic reactivity to stressful was estimated at a gigantic $300 billion a events (Patrick et al., 2008). Yet data are year, a value predicted to rise to $400 mixed for studies examining these billion in the next three years (WHO, phenomena in naturalistic environments. 2014a). Unfortunately, unscrupulous The present study examined associations people, keen on making money in such a between dating violence and physiological lucrative market, have established an illicit reactivity as measured through industry that manufactures and sells electrodermal activity (EDA) in couples’ counterfeit drugs to unwitting patients and daily lives. We hypothesized that physical consumers. According to estimates by the dating violence would be associated with World Health Organization (WHO), an lower baseline levels of physiological international public health agency of the arousal but higher levels of physiological United Nations, the counterfeit reactivity in moments of irritation towards pharmaceutical market is valued at over one’s partner. Eighteen couples (18 males, $35 billion and comprises more than 15
92 percent of the drug market worldwide, participants in four different treatment with this proportion rising above 60 conditions, and it was found that percent in developing countries (Ambroise- participants who were in Drug Court (DC) Thomas, 2012). In this paper, we will along with evidenced based treatment such examine the wide array of consequences of as Multisystemic therapy (MST), had better counterfeit drugs. These illegitimate drugs treatment outcomes compared to those challenge and undermine efforts of who were in the non-MST condition. The organizations worldwide to eradicate purpose of this study is to find which communicable diseases, diminish pretreatment factors predict poorer confidence in the global health system, and treatment outcomes in juveniles who are lead to drug resistance due to substandard abusing substances. It is important to levels of essential active ingredients. examine which factors affect treatment Furthermore, many countries lack the outcomes, to better understand what necessary medical infrastructure to regulate population MST is best suited for. Finding their pharmaceutical markets. We will effective treatment for adolescents is examine where in the world fake drugs are important to keep community and family a significant problem and how they are expenses low. The participants in this study supplied and distributed. We will also detail are 161 participants, between the ages of efforts to combat fake drugs and some of 12-17, who were referred by the the complicating factors. Lastly, we will Department of Juvenile Justice in provide our own recommendations to Charleston, South Carolina. This study address the issue. Since counterfeit drugs plans to examine risk factors that are can be lethal and threaten the many tenets associated with poorer treatment outcomes of public health and medicine, united such as: criminal activity, substance use, global efforts backed by strong political family structure, and economic status. and legislative will, along with international Multiple regressions and correlation cooperation and resources, are necessary to analyses will be done to analyze the data eliminate fake drugs and to provide high and to find the significant pretreatment quality drugs to patients. factors associated with poorer treatment outcomes. The data will also be analyzed to §§§§ see if participants who were in the MST condition had weaker relationships Exhibit#: SS05 between pretreatment risk factors and Category: Social Sciences II treatment outcomes. Name(s): Karishma Dhanani §§§§ Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Exhibit#: SS25 Stanley Huey, Jr., Dornsife, Psychology Category: Social Sciences II Format: Senior Honors Thesis Name(s): Vicente (Vince) Victoria Title: Predicting Factors Associated with Submission Type: Individual Treatment Outcomes in Delinquent Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): and Substance Abusing David Walsh, Psychology, Dornsife College Abstract: Format: Senior Honors Thesis The predicting factors of substance abusing-juveniles are being tested in this Title: The Psychology Effects of Frequent data secondary analysis of data that was Self-Weighing collected by Henggeler et al, (2006). The Abstract: primary study compared the outcomes of The purpose of the present study was to
93 examine the psychological effects of daily Exhibit#: SS57 self-weighing in undergraduate students. Category: Social Sciences Participants were recruited from two undergraduate Statistics classes in Name(s): Kathryn (Katie) Peabody psychology during the Spring 2014 Submission Type: Individual semester. Participants first completed an Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): online prescreening survey. Included in the Heather Wipfli, Ph.D., Associate Director prescreening survey were measures for for the USC Institute for Global Health, depression, body image, and life Keck School of Medicine satisfaction. Those who qualified were then Format: Creative Work invited to come to the social behavior lab Title: Public Health Week - Uganda where their weight and height were taken and recorded both at the beginning and Abstract: the end of the study. Participants were The Uganda Public Health Week connects randomly assigned into a control or medical knowledge about mental and experimental condition. Those in the physical health to the children in Uganda experimental condition were given a scale through elaborate research and design of a to take home and were instructed to weigh week-long health program. This program themselves on a daily basis and record the uses activities based in public speaking, art, results. Participants in the control condition theater, dance, debate, and more to did not receive any instructions related to educate about health behaviors that extend weighing behaviors. At the end of the 10- life through the maintenance of mental week study, all participants were weighed and physical health. The five areas of and measured once again, and completed education include: basic sanitation, our psychological well-being measures infectious disease prevention, vector once more. We predicted that participants transmitted disease reduction, abuse and in the experimental group would violence prevention, and reduction of experience decreases in depression and HIV/AIDS stigma. These are some of the body dissatisfaction, and increases in life most prevalent and concerning issues faced satisfaction, as compared to the control by Ugandan children and this project group. We also predicted that individuals involves specific programs and curriculum would perceive maintaining physical health that address these areas specifically. as a more salient goal in the experimental condition at the end of our 10-week trial. Designing a camp for children using art, Future studies should focus efforts on movement and interaction to impart crucial recruiting a stronger pool of participants, health education is an ideal project for and following them over a longer period of what I have learned at USC. I am currently time. on track to graduate USC in May 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Health §§§§ Promotion and Disease Prevention and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. I believe strongly in community building and encouraging healthy lifestyles. The Ugandan Public Health Camp combines the three areas I have chosen to prioritize in my USC education: helping people reach their full potential through access to education and healthy living, using art, public speaking, and movement to encourage a passion for learning and telling stories, and
94 building community and friendship with have difficulty answering open-ended young people. As a part of this project, I questions about the importance of truth- did extensive research on how to teach telling to physicians, they demonstrate this specifically the rural Ugandan populations understanding when asked using scenario- about public health and what tactics are based questioning. Implications from the effective to reach students of many ages present study suggest that the across barriers of socioeconomic status, recommended guidelines are not effective language and levels of education. I created at demonstrating children’s actual lesson plans and ran trials with students I understanding of the roles of medical currently work with to create a program professionals. that is effective and powerful. §§§§ §§§§ Exhibit#: SS49 Exhibit#: SS17 Category: Social Sciences Category: Social Sciences II Name(s): William Orr Name(s): Hania Adib Submission Type: Individual Submission Type: Individual Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Philip Ethington, History Thomas D. Lyon, Gould School of Law Format: Analytical Paper Format: Senior Honors Thesis Title: Reckless and Indiscriminate: The Title: Questioning Children about Their Impact of Japanese Bombing in the Understanding of the Physician's Role Second Sino-Japanese War on pre- Abstract: World War II American Depictions of This study explores children’s Area Bombing understanding of the physician’s role, Abstract: focusing on the importance of truth-telling Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden, Coventry, to physicians, as this information may be Guernica. These are some of the place- eligible in court under the medical names which most often come to mind diagnosis hearsay exception. Question type when one thinks of the bombardment of was examined to determine effective civilian populations from the air. Missing techniques for assessing children’s from this geographic roll-call of civilian understanding of the roles of medical suffering, however, are names like professionals (N= 48; 3-year-olds to 5-year- Chongqing, Shanghai, or any number of olds). The currently recommended protocol other Chinese cities. Between 1937 and (as stated in a recent ruling by the Indiana 1941, Japanese air forces rained terror and Supreme Court) is verbally demanding and destruction down upon Chinese cities may trigger biases in children’s responses during the first half of the Second Sino- that can hinder their accuracy and Japanese War. Approximately 60,000 credibility. The present investigation Chinese civilians were killed over the course developed scenario-based questioning of the Japanese strategic bombing techniques to determine their effectiveness, campaign, but the story of bombing in while simultaneously comparing children’s China, and America’s reaction to this performance to the recommended bombing, is often overshadowed by the protocol. Results indicate that children as three other major bombing campaigns of young as 3 years old have a clear this era: The Blitz against Britain, the understanding of the help-seeking function Combined Bomber Offensive against of doctors. Additionally, while children Germany, and the United States Army Air
95 Force’s campaign against the home islands factors (school and community violence) of Japan. Of these campaigns, however, could potentially influence those views. the Japanese bombing of China is the only major strategic campaign to occur before The present study utilizes quantitative the outbreak of war in Europe in the fall of methods to investigate if individual factors 1939. As bombs fell on the international such as age and gender, or life experiences metropolis of Shanghai and the wartime such as school and neighborhood violence capital of Chongqing, American newswires, exposure, can influence the degree to newspapers, and newsreels carried tales of which a young adult resonates with death and destruction to American restorative or punitive justice. doorsteps and movie theaters. American public opinion reaction and civilian 480 participants total (including 155 high leadership condemnations illustrate the school students & 325 USC evolving moral and humanitarian Undergraduates) completed an anonymous opposition to the bombardment of cities online Qualtrics survey assessing topics from the air during this period. By 1945, such as discrimination, adverse childhood however, American public opinion, civilian experiences, school and community leaders, and air war planners were all violence, and criminal justice opinions. condoning and participating in the more destructive and more deadly bombing of The relationship between participants’ the Japanese home islands. This paper school and community violence exposure seeks to demonstrate the moral and and their justice perceptions is specifically humanitarian resolve exhibited by American examined here. In regards to prior violence media and civilian leaders during the experiences, participants are asked whether bombing of China and the significance of or not they’ve witnessed an assault, the American departure from this moral shooting, or murder in their neighborhood, stance during the subsequent bombing of and if they’ve ever been bullied, or Japanese cities in 1945. witnessed an assault, riot, or physical fight at school. §§§§ Overall, main effects of age were found for Exhibit#: SS44 both restorative and punitive justice views: Category: Social Sciences college students had greater mean restorative views compared to high Name(s): Vivian Rotenstein schoolers, while high schoolers had greater Submission Type: Individual mean punitive justice views compared to Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): USC undergraduates. A positive correlation Gayla Margolin, Psychology; Michelle was found between school violence Ramos, Psychology exposure and restorative justice views for Format: Laboratory-based Research males, but not for females. Title: Restorative versus Punitive Justice Future studies could look into how the Attitudes: Influences of Age, exact nature of the violence exposure Gender, and Violence Exposure (directly witnessing something vs. being a Abstract: victim of violence vs. violence exposure Despite a recent shift towards more through the media) influences restorative restorative views within the juvenile justice and punitive justice perceptions. system, little is known about adolescents’ own justice perceptions, and what §§§§ individual (age, gender) and situational
96 Exhibit#: SS27 calorie foods. The results did not provide evidence for the relation between Category: Social Sciences II restrictive eating behavior and automatic Name(s): Rachel Rehert inhibition or the relations among Gray Submission Type: Individual (1987a)’s BIS and BAS and automatic Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): inhibition. However, self-reported BIS John Monterosso, Psychology, Dornsife sensitivity and behavioral inhibition were College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Jo Ann related, supporting the notion that self- Farver, Psychology, Dornsife College of reported BIS can be used as a measure of Letters, Arts, & Sciences inhibition. Format: Senior Honors Thesis §§§§ Title: Restrictive Eating as an Automatic Inhibition in Response to Food Cues Exhibit#: SS31 Abstract: Category: Social Sciences II Restrictive eating behavior may be facilitated by automatic inhibition, which Name(s): Shawn Rhoads occurs when individuals consistently inhibit Submission Type: Individual their automatic approach response to a Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): stimulus and over time develop associations Jo Ann Farver, Psychology; Jonas Kaplan, between that stimulus and stopping. Psychology Accordingly, individuals who regularly avoid Format: Senior Honors Thesis high calorie foods may develop associations The Role of Identity in Belief between these foods and not eating, Title: easing future dieting attempts. Gray Flexibility (1987a)’s behavioral inhibition system (BIS) Abstract: and behavioral activation system (BAS) may This present study aimed to investigate the be related to automatic inhibition. In the role of political identity in the flexibility of present study, female participants who had political beliefs. A previous study by Hall, refrained from eating for three hours prior Johnasson, and Strandberg (2012) to the study completed two computer- demonstrated the phenomenon of Choice based behavioral tasks to assess their Blindness, in which many people fail to inhibition and approach in response to notice that their answers on a survey have food cues: a Food Cue Stop Signal Task been changed. When confronted with a and an Approach and Inhibition Task. They survey in which they appear to have also completed questionnaires to assess answered a question in a way to counter to their restrictive eating behavior and BIS and their original belief, many people defend BAS sensitivities. It was predicted that the new, opposing attitude. While Choice individuals who exhibited more restrictive Blindness demonstrates an apparent eating behavior would display an automatic flexibility of beliefs, some beliefs may be inhibition in response to high calorie foods. harder to change than others. In particular, Additionally, it was predicated that higher beliefs that are tied to one’s identity may BIS scores and lower BAS scores would be be especially inflexible. The present study associated with faster inhibitory responses. focused on political identity to understand It was also hypothesized that individuals how attitude reversals relate to strength of with higher BAS sensitivity would identity. We predicted that strong experience greater approach in response to identifiers would have stronger resistance high calorie foods, and individuals with to show flexibility in their beliefs. higher BIS sensitivity would experience Participants were presented with political greater inhibition in response to high and nonpolitical belief statements and
97 asked to rate the extent that they agree or proposes that sequences following high disagree with each statement. This survey reward will be learned better than used a slight-of-hand technique to expose sequences followed by low reward. participants to a reversal of their original Additionally, this study will investigate attitudes, which allowed us to record individual differences in reward sensitivity. whether they were prepared to endorse It is hypothesized that reward sensitivity and argue for the opposite view of what determines the magnitude of the effect of they had stated only moments ago. Our reward on sequence learning. results succeeded in replicating the original finding of Hall et al. (2012) with 68.3% of §§§§ participants failing to detect at least one mismatch between their original intention Exhibit#: SS19 and final outcome for a simple Category: Social Sciences II questionnaire. Furthermore, there was a main effect of participant’s ratings of how Name(s): Manali Begur, Curtis Kim political they consider themselves on the Submission Type: Group number of changed political statements Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): detected by participants in the survey. Molli Grossman, Davis School of Participants who rated themselves as highly Gerontology; Tara Gruenewald, Davis political were more likely to notice the School of Gerontology belief change. These results suggest that Format: Laboratory-based Research political identity strength is a predictor of Title: Sages & Seekers: An flexibility in political beliefs. Intergenerational Wisdom-Sharing §§§§ Program Abstract: Exhibit#: SS11 Sages & Seekers is an intergenerational wisdom-sharing program that partnered Category: Social Sciences II older adults over the age of 50 (“Sages”) Name(s): Hootan Omidvar with young adult, USC undergraduate Submission Type: Individual college students (“Seekers”). During the 8- Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): week program, Sages and Seekers met Dennis Ruenger, Psychology, Dornsife weekly to share their life stories in an effort College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences; Wendy to bridge the gap between the two Wood, Psychology, Dornsife College of generations. The Sages & Seekers Pilot Letters, Arts, & Sciences Study was designed to explore participants’ perceptions of the program and potential Format: Senior Honors Thesis changes in psychosocial well-being over the Title: The Role of Reward and Reward 8-week program period. Participants were Sensitivity in Sequential Learning given a baseline survey, participant Abstract: experience surveys during week 4 and 6, The following study investigates whether and a follow up survey at the end of week reward facilitates sequence learning as 8. Pre- and post-program surveys queried assessed by response times in a triplets multiple domains of psychosocial well- learning task. Reward is represented by being and attitudes hypothesized to be points, which follow correct responses shaped by participation in the program, made to visually presented stimuli. These including assessments of loneliness, points correlated with a real monetary depression/anxiety, empathy, generativity, reward given to the participants at the end lifestyle activity, and expectations regarding of the experiment. Specifically, this study mental, physical and cognitive aging.
98 Participant experience surveys queried sleep was significantly related to being participants’ perceptions of the program more likely to eat breakfast, higher life and interactions with their Sage/Seeker satisfaction, and lower stress. Those who partners. Paired t-tests, conducted to got the least sleep and who less often ate compare participants’ psychosocial well- breakfast were most likely to feel that being and attitudes before and after school should start later. Students’ GPA program participation, indicated significant was not significantly correlated with improvement in expectations regarding amount of sleep or with eating breakfast. aging (p < .01), social well-being (p < .05), This study also looked at other factors perceptions of generativity (making related to GPA. A higher GPA was related important contributions to others) (p to taking more AP classes, rating their < .05), as well as decreases in depression memory as better, and having a lower BMI. and anxiety (p < .001) among young adult Gender was found to be correlated to Seekers. Results also revealed significant memory, stress level, and the amount of increases in activity level (p < .01) and time spent on homework with girls empathic concern (p < .05). Generally, both reporting worse memory, a higher stress Sages and Seekers rated their experience in level, and more time spent on homework, the program and with their program despite the fact that there was no partner very favorably (>5, max: 6). Overall, significant gender difference in terms of our results suggest that both younger and GPA or the number of AP classes. The older adults can enjoy and benefit from findings indicate that sleep deprivation was intergenerational wisdom-sharing activities, common, and that the effects of sleep although they seem to benefit in unique deprivation manifested themselves in ways. excessive sleepiness in class. However, there was no support for the admonition §§§§ that getting enough sleep and eating breakfast would enhance GPA. Exhibit#: SS10 Category: Social Sciences II §§§§ Name(s): Sagarika Arogyaswamy Exhibit#: SS47 Submission Type: Individual Category: Social Sciences Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Name(s): Judith Fong Margaret Gatz, Psychology Submission Type: Individual Format: Field Research Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: Sleeping Through High School Lisa Collins, Environmental Studies, Abstract: Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences This study surveyed 287 students in an Format: Analytical Paper urban high school in California, looking at sleeping habits, how students spend time, Title: Stakeholder Communication on and their satisfaction with life. On average, Santa Catalina Island students reported 6.5 hours of sleep on Abstract: school nights. 48.6% reported at least one My study employs a research technique class where they felt sleepy every day that called Social Network Analysis, which will class met. Amount of sleep was not related explore the network of stakeholders on to how much time that students reported Catalina. Specifically, I am looking to see if spending on homework, extra-curricular there are any gaps in communication that activities, sports, recreation, socializing, could potentially benefit the stakeholders’ chores, or a part-time job. Getting more operations and improve conservation if
99 resolved. My research methods consist of problems in novel ways and contribute to conducting a combination of surveys and the advancement of the professor’s field of interviews with some of the prominent expertise. stakeholders, and analyzing the data obtained to identify patterns and gaps. My Dr. David Black designed a unique URAP survey hopes to expose linkages in experience for former, exemplary students communication between stakeholders, from the Health Promotion 300: Theoretical commenting on power relations, flows of Principles of Health Behavior class, in which knowledge, decision-making, and resource undergraduates act as peer project mentors allocation. I also look into shared goals for current students. The current HP 300 between stakeholder groups and whether group was split into three groups or not that influences the level of corresponding to prominent health topics interaction or the quality of the at USC including “Sexual Consent,” communication. For analysis, I will use “Substance Use/Misuse,” and “Wellness”. network analysis methods to map the Students then divided into smaller sub- structure of the stakeholder patterns on groups and selected a specific issue or topic Catalina Island. The hope is that with this within their overarching discipline, based information, the Catalina community can on demonstrated severity and/or be more effective in balancing their prominence among undergraduates at the operations with resource management and University of Southern California. The conservation. URAP mentors assisted HP 300 students throughout the fall 2014 semester in §§§§ developing a theoretically-based intervention program that may be Exhibit#: SS38 considered for implementation by the Category: Social Sciences University. Name(s): Margaret (Magalie) Carey, John §§§§ (Andrew) Clark, Alexa Smith Submission Type: Group Exhibit#: SS54 Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Social Sciences David Black, Keck School of Medicine, Name(s): Heidi Banh, Helen Banh Department of Preventive Medicine Submission Type: Group Format: Field Research Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Title: A Student-Led Cooperative Effort to Promote Campus Safety and Well- Panayiota Courelli, Keck School of Medicine being Format: Field Research Abstract: Title: Targeted Marketing Strategies by The USC Undergraduate Research Sex Tourism Websites to Attract Associates Program encourages the Male Consumers collaboration between professors and Abstract: students in an attempt to form an A global industry that is transforming the academic relationship that lends itself to ways men feed their sexual addictions, sex advanced problem solving skills for both tourism is a major contributor to the spread parties. By blurring the lines between of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted “student” and “teacher” responsibilities diseases. Organized sex tourism agencies and working collectively, a professor and throughout the world, particularly in an undergraduate both benefit from new developing countries, have taken perspectives that may help to solve advantage of the modern reliance on
100 technology to promote sex tourism and depending on whether they are attributed target male consumers that generally travel to a majority or minority source. Research from developed countries. We will perform has also demonstrated that using inclusive a literature review on an exploratory, language helps group leaders persuade qualitative study design that utilizes their followers to support their vision of content analysis to explore the common social change. Inclusive language is a themes and patterns of a comprehensive communication tactic that highlights the sample of 20 sex tour websites (Bender and collective identity of a group by using Furman, 2004). The information from each words such as “we,” “us,” and “our.” The website was individually analyzed, and independent variables of source status and were later compared with other websites’ language type were manipulated in a information and categorized into major speech concerning climate change and themes and patterns as follows. These renewable energy. The dependent variables agencies depict the male consumer were students’ direct attitudes and indirect through three main roles -- a sexual attitudes. Direct attitudes, also called focal conquistador, a companion seeker, and as attitudes, are the focus of a persuasive overworked and unappreciated. Male message, whereas indirect attitudes are consumers also leave statements on related to the focal attitudes but are not websites about their perceived personal directly the subject of the message. In this inadequacies, reflecting their struggle with study, the focal attitudes were students’ their sexual self-identity in a daily context -- attitudes on climate change and renewable this is a second sub-theme that we will energy. Indirect attitudes were be explore. A third major sub-theme is that sex represented by the students’ attitudes tour websites conduct targeted marketing, toward water conservation, recycling, capitalizing on the consumer’s wildlife extinction, and biodiversity, which vulnerabilities by sending different were not directly addressed in the speech. messages to the male consumers regarding Group differences in attitudes are expected their flaws. based on the context comparison model and social identity framing theory. §§§§ Investigating how the source and language in a message can impact people’s attitudes Exhibit#: SS51 will yield insight into why certain beliefs Category: Social Sciences persist, and what circumstances present an opportunity for attitude change. Name(s): Crescent Cheng Submission Type: Individual §§§§ Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Jo Ann Farver, Psychology, Dornsife Exhibit#: SS41 Format: Senior Honors Thesis Category: Social Sciences Title: Targeting Environmental Attitudes: Name(s): Karen Arcos The Impact of Majority and Minority Submission Type: Individual Source Status and Inclusive Language Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Abstract: Jo Ann Farver, Psychology; Kimberle Kelly, The study examines the effects of majority Psychology and minority source status and inclusive Format: Senior Honors Thesis language on students’ environmental attitudes. Research in social psychology has Title: Teachers Think Too: The shown that persuasive messages have Relationship of Teacher different effects on people’s attitudes, Metacognition to Student Learning Abstract:
101 The current study explored three relations better serve teachers if they developed among principles of learning (content both domain-specific content knowledge knowledge, metacognition, and access to and pedagogical content knowledge prior knowledge; Bransford et al., 2000) in focused on metacognitive strategies and eighth grade school teachers enrolled in utilizing prior student knowledge. professional development (PD) targeting Chemistry and Astronomy content and in §§§§ control teachers who did not receive training. First, the relation between Exhibit#: SS22 teachers' chemistry content knowledge and Category: Social Sciences II their self-assessed accuracy (metacognition) was established using data from a Name(s): Jodie Guller, Natasha Sosa Chemistry Concept Inventory. Teachers Submission Type: Group overestimated their actual performance Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): (percent correct) by about 8%. When Steven Greening, Davis School of provided with actual performance Gerontology; Mara Mather, Davis School feedback, teachers' self-assessment of Gerontology accuracy did not significantly improve, Format: Laboratory-based Research possibly because their original predictions Title: Threat-induced arousal interacts were fairly accurate. When evaluating this with attention to influence relationship using data from an perceptual awareness Astronomy/Space Science Test, teachers' actual performance was significantly Abstract: related to ratings of certainty about their Emotional stimuli interact with attention to answers. Second, the contribution of influence awareness using the attentional teachers' Chemistry content knowledge blink paradigm. For example, emotionally- and metacognition to how accurately they arousing T2 stimuli are able to overcome predicted their students' prior content the attentional blink, and emotionally- knowledge was explored. Results showed arousing T1 stimuli have been found to that teachers have a very limited further enhance the effects of the understanding of their students' prior attentional blink. This research assumes knowledge. Further, no significant emotional stimuli are having an influence relationships were found between the because of their arousing nature, yet no accuracy of teachers' predictions of research has independently manipulated students' prior content knowledge and emotional significance. The arousal-biased teachers' content knowledge, competition (ABC) posits that being in a metacognition, or their combination. Third, state of arousal will influence perception the study assessed how teacher measures depending on the priority (i.e., goal of these principles of learning related to relevance or perceptual salience) of their students' eventual performance on competing stimuli. We independently standardized tests in a series of multiple manipulated arousal using a fear regression analyses spanning both trained conditioned auditory tone (CS+) and also a and control teachers in chemistry and second tone that was never paired with astronomy content areas. The most shock (CS-). We used two experiments to significant predictor of student test the prediction that arousal interacts performance was teacher metacognition with stimulus priority (i.e., both bottom-up scores, suggesting teachers’ awareness of saliency and top-down goal relevance) to what they do and don’t know may be more influence attention. critical than what they actually know about science content. PD programs would thus For the first experiment, we looked at the
102 effects of arousal and a 200ms stimulus industries. Historically since colonial onset asynchrony on T2 accuracy during occupation in 1867, many indigenous First both dual and single tasks when the T1 Nations, Metis and Inuit have dealt with was also perceptually salient. During the the brunt of environmental and social dual task, when T1 is both the primary goal costs, while not being able to enjoy the and perceptually salient, T2 accuracy was considerable economic gains that the significantly greater on non-arousing trials corporate and political elite has amassed. than on arousing trials [t(42)= -2.07, This has led to a situation of gross p<0.05], but there was no significant inequality that mirrors the colonial trend difference in T2 accuracy between arousing initiated by the first European settlers in and non-arousing trials for the single task. Canada. Through the case study of an In experiment two, where the T2 image grassroots movement called Idle No More, was the perceptually salient image, we saw this project will look at how Canadian the opposite pattern. T2 accuracy was indigenous activism and the use of social significantly greater on arousing trials than media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram on non-arousing trials during the single and Tumblr, facilitate public engagement task [t(36) = 2.21, p><0.05], but there was around the legacies of colonialism, no significant difference in T2 accuracy economic exploitation, and the destruction between arousing and non-arousing trials of the environment. This research is for the dual task. Therefore, arousal interested in how Idle No More utilizes appears to have opposing effects on low social media as a tool to model new forms and high priority (i.e., salient) stimuli. of political intervention, both nationally and regionally, and how might their strategies §§§§ serve to model alternative forms of political solidarity under increased state repression Exhibit#: SS48 of protest activities. Category: Social Sciences §§§§ Name(s): Rachel Jones Submission Type: Individual Exhibit#: SS50 Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): Category: Social Sciences Eliz Sanasarian, Political Science Name(s): Tyler Schiffman Format: Analytical Paper Submission Type: Individual Title: We will not be silent no more: the Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): case of Canada's Idle No More and Indigenous Political Resistance in the Lisa Collins, Environmental Studies, Digital Age Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences Abstract: Format: Analytical Paper Contemporary Indigenous political activism Title: The Wrigley Institute for around resources and development is Environmental Studies Waste Stream mobilizing attention to transnational Abstract: problems such as environmental In 2012 Americans produced 251 million degradation, government marginalization tons of trash and only 34.5 percent of the and the impact of neoliberal development yield was recycled (EPA, 2014). As the for these communities. In Canada, world population increases, waste increases mirroring patterns found worldwide, more rapidly and at an uncontrollable rate. indigenous nations reside on land that has As waste builds, more land is being used been increasingly sought after by oil, for the buildings of landfills and waste mining and other fossil fuel extractive factories. Landfills have been expanding
103 due to the increase of overflow. Landfilling Exhibit#: SS15 is one of the most prominent methods to Category: Social Sciences II dispose of waste however, both underdeveloped countries and developed Name(s): Xinyu (Catherine) Liang countries practice uncontrollable dumping, Submission Type: Individual producing a high threat to the environment Project Sponsor(s) and Collaborator(s): (Sharma et al., 2008). Analyzing the waste Thomas D. Lyon, Law School stream provides data that can be used to Format: Senior Honors Thesis find alternatives for waste disposal. On a Title: “You Said Sad, Tell Me More About more local level, the average American That”: Exploring the Subjective creates 4.38 pounds of trash a day, which Reactions of Children Disclosing equals 1,600 pounds of trash a year (EPA, Sexual Abuse 2014). A total of 60 percent of America’s trash could be recycled yet the Abstract: maximization of recycling is not occurring It is currently unclear how children feel (mnn, 2011). Municipal waste is brought about abuse, if they are able to express to landfills with recyclables mixed within these feelings during their disclosures of causing an increase of methane emission abuse, and whether their feelings are being released into the atmosphere. related to the characteristics of abuse. The Composting is an alternative to waste present study examined how children disposal, which diverts organic matter from describe their subjective reactions, such as the waste stream. The organic waste is emotional feelings, cognitive thoughts and broken down by bacteria within the soil physical sensations, to their experiences of converting the matter into nutrients and abuse with regard to their age, their food for plants and animals. The island of relationship with the perpetrator, the Catalina is home to the Wrigley Institute for severity of the abuse, and the frequency of Environmental Studies. On a small scale, the abuse. 177 interviews with 4- to 12- waste can be difficult to dispose of and year old children disclosing sexual abuse sustainable methods can be hard to were analyzed for subjective content. achieve. All of the waste created is taken Older children, children abused by father off the island and shipped back to the figures, children abused more severely, and mainland. To prevent more contributions children abused more frequently of trash to landfills from WIES, local mentioned more subjective reactions than composting of organic waste as well as their counterparts. regulations of waste on WIES can prevent landfill buildup. §§§§ §§§§
104 Symposium Participant Index
A Bello, Deborah 4 Benavente, Isabella Marie 4 Abella, Paulina Sabrina 3 Bendinelli, Gus 2 Adib, Hania 95 Bettadapur, Archana 31 Antosy, Alexandra 90 Bhide, Saee (Sayuli) 82 Arcos, Karen 101 Billups, Briana 12 Arogyaswamy, Sagarika 99 Blant, Aidan 17 Austin, Matthew 67 21 Azam, Sana 26 Brown, Evan 59 B C Banh, Dalton 30 Campion, Rosebud 14 Banh, Heidi 100 Carey, Margaret (Magalie) 72 Banh, Helen 100 80 Baron, Daniela 13 100 Beaudin, Jacob 59 Castilla, Nina 16 Begur, Manali 98 Chan, Kevin 51
105 Chan, Lesley 58 Due, Miranda 2 Chang, Jennifer 80 Chen, Jianliang 61 E Chen, Xinkai (Casey) 64 Chen, Yinyi 61 Effenberger, Michael 2 Chen, Zachary 26 Espana, Ruben 68 Cheng, Crescent 101 Espinoza, Cameron 16 Cherry, William 2 Childress, Steven 78 F Chiou, Caroline 4 Farrahi, Layla 42 Cho, Eun Ah 85 Ficek, Bronte 40 Chooljian, Catherine 4 Flores, Nicole 9 Chootong, Norman 4 Fong, Judith 99 Chou, Helen 38 Fong, Victoria 9 Chuang, Cheng-Wei (Isaac) 71 Foon, Chloe 75 Clark, John (Andrew) 72 Franklin, Peter 2 80 Freiberg, Yael 34 100 Frere-Carossio, Quentin 4 Clarkin, Taylor 53 Fukuda, Kial 4 Collins, Paula 4 Fullerton, Angelica (Angie) 79 Copparam, Saumya (Sam) 44 Furlong, Jordan 83 D G Das, Devika 49 Gabriel, Greta 9 DaSilva, Natalia 54 Gago, Cristina 74 Demian, Haley 77 Garcia-Nava, Wendy 85 Dhanani, Karishma 93 George, Alaina 68 Dickinson, Zara 6 George, Sanford (Sandy) 15 Djrbashian, Anoush 77 17 Do, Thomas 65 Gil, Howard 67 Dougherty, Christopher 65 Gordon, Natalie 1 Duan, Michael 4
106 Gordon, Victoria 1 Irvine, Krystle 87 Guevarra, Maracel (Mara) 4 Iskandar, Jonathan (Nathan) 4 Guller, Jodie 91 102 J Gupta, Anshul 7 Gustavson, Marissa 68 Jakob, Kirsten 7 Jia, Yimin 61 Jiang, Crystal 29 H Jiang, Joanne 39 Hakimeh, Mary 88 Jones, Rachel 103 Haque, Afsara (Sara) 92 Jordan, Tristan 38 Hara, Ellie 51 Heintz, Ryan 33 K Helstad, Stephen 2 Hernandez, Cesar 64 Kariyawasam, Shivanti 86 Herrera-Rice, Troy 68 Kedzie, Elyse 56 Heyer, Karl 55 Kim, Curtis 98 Hirata, Tori 82 Kim, Emmeline 31 Ho, Jonathan 2 Kim, Nahyun (Mariah) 48 Homma, Heidi 56 Kondo, Jordan 92 Hong, Jane 58 Kopania, Emily 41 Hood, Katherine 4 Krulce, Makana 44 Hossepian, Kristene 75 Kushner-Lenhoff, Samuel 62 Hou, Fangli (Simon) 4 Hua, Clara 31 L Huang, Vincent 48 Lancaster, Patrick 4 Huck, Sarah 2 Le, Danny 29 Huynh, Pauline 25 Le, Janet 19 Lee, Alex 4 I Lent, Daniella 36 Ilgen, William 2 Leon, Winona Riley 8 Im, Eun (Sharon) 17 Li, Connie 68
107 Liang, Joanna 23 Minnich, Samantha 68 Liang, Tianqi (Amber) 90 Moffett, Lillie 81 Liang, Xinyu (Catherine) 104 Mojarradi, Amir 2 Liao, William 37 Moore, Carrie 1 92 Moore, Tyler 9 Lin, Chi Tse (Jacob) 6 Morgan, Alexander 4 Lin, Joanne 37 Morris, Anaka 5 Liu, Yuting 61 Loan, Mazen 19 N Lobuglio, Brendan 4 Looby, Audrey 27 Nader, Michael 2 Lopera, Susana 4 Naritoku, Alyssa 68 Luong, Kim 56 Nguyen, Jamie 92 Lyon, Ariadne 81 Nguyen, Monica 58 Nguyen, Sophia 24 Nicholson, Kylie 20 M Nishinaka, April 64 Mak, Boston 4 Maulik, Dipanwita 61 O McBride, Katherine (Kate) 73 McDonnell, Patrick 15 Omidvar, Hootan 98 17 Ontiveros, Roxana 77 21 Orr, William 95 McGillivray, Kaitlin 36 O'Sullivan, Garrett 10 McMahon, Casey 82 Ouyang, Ziyu 63 McPherson, Krista 61 Overy, Cameron 6 McRee, Ryan 14 Meier, Ryan 61 P Mendoza, Adrian 4 Park, Annie 42 Merced, Sara (Ivette) 73 Patterson, Luke 4 Merrick, William 2 Peabody, Kathryn (Katie) 94 Miller, Ryan 65 Pettit, Corey 76 Min, Jung-Gi 31
108 Phillips, Elizabeth 7 Shinsato, Darle 11 Pittsley, Max 4 Singh, Sophia 64 Smith, Alexa 72 Q 80 100 Qin, Zhiyin 35 Smith, Emma 4 So, Brandon 32 R Song, Ziwei (Scarlet) 10 Sosa, Natasha 91 Ramirez, Alfredo (Freddy) 59 102 Rao, Vishnu 36 Stoneburner, Lauren 25 Redda, Libanos (Libby) 62 Strawbridge, Jason 48 Rehert, Rachel 97 Sturges, James 28 Rhoads, Shawn 64 Suh, Gio (Kevin) 31 97 Sulistio, Christopher 41 Risbud, Adwight 77 Sun, Wendy 73 Robson, Marina 67 Swaidan, Catherine 88 Romero, Francisco 53 Swaminathan, Sneha 28 Rosales, Rachel 46 Sy, Jonathan 48 Rosenberg, Shelby 92 Rotenstein, Vivian 96 Russell, Alexis 4 T Taing, Lilly 23 S Tan, Wai Hwa (Ben) 4 Tanner, Richelle 27 Salama, Engie 72 57 Schiffman, Tyler 103 Tavornwattana, James 33 Schugurensky, Alejandro 59 Thieme, Cameron 66 Semler, Amanda 18 Thomas, Christopher (Brady) 4 Shan, Yu Chuan 63 Thuy, Jamie 46 Shaw, Brian 69 Tian, Lu 35 Shea, Elise 51 Tokunaga, Tyler 87 Shen, Audey 11 Tor, Kathleen 31
109 Torabi, Sina 47 X Tran, Cassandra 43 Tran, Jessica 35 Xu, Linda 61 Trivedi, Mehul 39 Tsui, Leah 60 Y Tyus, Alleluia 16 Yang, Yeji 92 Tzeng, William 26 Yang, Yifei (Luke) 64 Yao, Yuan 2 U Yasui, Remi 8 Umel, Ilani Fay 4 Yi, Xinyu 55 Ying, Jasmine 4 Yoo, Joseph 52 V Young, Katherine 39 Vadera, Atticus 15 Yue, Janis 89 17 21 Z Vasan, Karthik 47 Victoria, Vicente (Vince) 93 Zeineddine, Farid 45 Villanueva, Luis 91 Zhang, Forrest 64 W Walsh, Mathew 59 Wang, Chenyu 49 Wang, Linda 20 Wang, Renée 66 Welborn, Robert (Bryce) 58 Wessing, Dillon 58 White, Luna 84 Wilhelm, Caitlin 78 Windler, Carolyn 84 Wong, Janice 22
110 Symposium Participants by Category
Arts Franklin, Peter 2 Frere-Carossio, Quentin 4 Abella, Paulina Sabrina 3 Fukuda, Kial 4 Baron, Daniela 13 Gabriel, Greta 9 Bello, Deborah 4 Gordon, Natalie 1 Benavente, Isabella Marie 4 Gordon, Victoria 1 Bendinelli, Gus 2 Guevarra, Maracel (Mara) 4 Billups, Briana 12 Gupta, Anshul 7 Cherry, William 2 Helstad, Stephen 2 Chiou, Caroline 4 Ho, Jonathan 2 Chooljian, Catherine 4 Hood, Katherine 4 Chootong, Norman 4 Hou, Fangli (Simon) 4 Collins, Paula 4 Huck, Sarah 2 Dickinson, Zara 6 Ilgen, William 2 Duan, Michael 4 Iskandar, Jonathan (Nathan) 4 Due, Miranda 2 Jakob, Kirsten 7 Effenberger, Michael 2 Lancaster, Patrick 4 Flores, Nicole 9 Lee, Alex 4 Fong, Victoria 9 Leon, Winona Riley 8
111 Lin, Chi Tse (Jacob) 6 Castilla, Nina 16 Lobuglio, Brendan 4 Espinoza, Cameron 16 Lopera, Susana 4 George, Sanford (Sandy) 15 Mak, Boston 4 17 Mendoza, Adrian 4 Im, Eun (Sharon) 17 Merrick, William 2 Le, Janet 19 Mojarradi, Amir 2 Loan, Mazen 19 Moore, Carrie 1 McDonnell, Patrick 15 Moore, Tyler 9 17 Morgan, Alexander 4 21 Morris, Anaka 5 McRee, Ryan 14 Nader, Michael 2 Nicholson, Kylie 20 O'Sullivan, Garrett 10 Semler, Amanda 18 Overy, Cameron 6 Tyus, Alleluia 16 Patterson, Luke 4 Vadera, Atticus 15 Phillips, Elizabeth 7 17 Pittsley, Max 4 21 Russell, Alexis 4 Wang, Linda 20 Shen, Audey 11 Shinsato, Darle 11 Life Sciences Smith, Emma 4 Song, Ziwei (Scarlet) 10 Azam, Sana 26 Tan, Wai Hwa (Ben) 4 Banh, Dalton 30 Thomas, Christopher (Brady) 4 Bettadapur, Archana 31 Umel, Ilani Fay 4 Chen, Zachary 26 Yao, Yuan 2 Chou, Helen 38 Yasui, Remi 8 Copparam, Saumya (Sam) 44 Ying, Jasmine 4 Das, Devika 49 Farrahi, Layla 42 Ficek, Bronte 40 Humanities Freiberg, Yael 34 Blant, Aidan 17 Heintz, Ryan 33 21 Hua, Clara 31 Campion, Rosebud 14 Huang, Vincent 48
112 Huynh, Pauline 25 Tor, Kathleen 31 Jiang, Crystal 29 Torabi, Sina 47 Jiang, Joanne 39 Tran, Cassandra 43 Jordan, Tristan 38 Tran, Jessica 35 Kim, Emmeline 31 Trivedi, Mehul 39 Kim, Nahyun (Mariah) 48 Tzeng, William 26 Kopania, Emily 41 Vasan, Karthik 47 Krulce, Makana 44 Wang, Chenyu 49 Le, Danny 29 Wong, Janice 22 Lent, Daniella 36 Young, Katherine 39 Liang, Joanna 23 Zeineddine, Farid 45 Liao, William 37 Lin, Joanne 37 Physical Looby, Audrey 27 McGillivray, Kaitlin 36 Sciences, Math & Min, Jung-Gi 31 Nguyen, Sophia 24 Engineering Park, Annie 42 Austin, Matthew 67 Qin, Zhiyin 35 Beaudin, Jacob 59 Rao, Vishnu 36 Brown, Evan 59 Rosales, Rachel 46 Chan, Kevin 51 So, Brandon 32 Chan, Lesley 58 Stoneburner, Lauren 25 Chen, Jianliang 61 Strawbridge, Jason 48 Chen, Xinkai (Casey) 64 Sturges, James 28 Chen, Yinyi 61 Suh, Gio (Kevin) 31 Clarkin, Taylor 53 Sulistio, Christopher 41 DaSilva, Natalia 54 Swaminathan, Sneha 28 Do, Thomas 65 Sy, Jonathan 48 Dougherty, Christopher 65 Taing, Lilly 23 Espana, Ruben 68 Tanner, Richelle 27 George, Alaina 68 Tavornwattana, James 33 Gil, Howard 67 Thuy, Jamie 46 Gustavson, Marissa 68 Tian, Lu 35
113 Hara, Ellie 51 Walsh, Mathew 59 Hernandez, Cesar 64 Wang, Renée 66 Herrera-Rice, Troy 68 Welborn, Robert (Bryce) 58 Heyer, Karl 55 Wessing, Dillon 58 Homma, Heidi 56 Xu, Linda 61 Hong, Jane 58 Yang, Yifei (Luke) 64 Jia, Yimin 61 Yi, Xinyu 55 Kedzie, Elyse 56 Yoo, Joseph 52 Kushner-Lenhoff, Samuel 62 Zhang, Forrest 64 Li, Connie 68 Liu, Yuting 61 Social Sciences Luong, Kim 56 Maulik, Dipanwita 61 Adib, Hania 95 McPherson, Krista 61 Antosy, Alexandra 90 Meier, Ryan 61 Arcos, Karen 101 Miller, Ryan 65 Arogyaswamy, Sagarika 99 Minnich, Samantha 68 Banh, Heidi 100 Naritoku, Alyssa 68 Banh, Helen 100 Nguyen, Monica 58 Begur, Manali 98 Nishinaka, April 64 Bhide, Saee (Sayuli) 82 Ouyang, Ziyu 63 Carey, Margaret (Magalie) 72 Ramirez, Alfredo (Freddy) 59 80 Redda, Libanos (Libby) 62 100 Rhoads, Shawn 64 Chang, Jennifer 80 Robson, Marina 67 Cheng, Crescent 101 Romero, Francisco 53 Childress, Steven 78 Schugurensky, Alejandro 59 Cho, Eun Ah 85 Shan, Yu Chuan 63 Chuang, Cheng-Wei (Isaac) 71 Shaw, Brian 69 Clark, John (Andrew) 72 Shea, Elise 51 80 Singh, Sophia 64 100 Tanner, Richelle 57 Demian, Haley 77 Thieme, Cameron 66 Dhanani, Karishma 93 Tsui, Leah 60 Djrbashian, Anoush 77
114 Fong, Judith 99 Rosenberg, Shelby 92 Foon, Chloe 75 Rotenstein, Vivian 96 Fullerton, Angelica (Angie) 79 Salama, Engie 72 Furlong, Jordan 83 Schiffman, Tyler 103 Gago, Cristina 74 Smith, Alexa 72 Garcia-Nava, Wendy 85 80 Guller, Jodie 91 100 102 Sosa, Natasha 91 Hakimeh, Mary 88 102 Haque, Afsara (Sara) 92 Sun, Wendy 73 Hirata, Tori 82 Swaidan, Catherine 88 Hossepian, Kristene 75 Tokunaga, Tyler 87 Irvine, Krystle 87 Victoria, Vicente (Vince) 93 Jones, Rachel 103 Villanueva, Luis 91 Kariyawasam, Shivanti 86 White, Luna 84 Kim, Curtis 98 Wilhelm, Caitlin 78 Kondo, Jordan 92 Windler, Carolyn 84 Liang, Tianqi (Amber) 90 Yang, Yeji 92 Liang, Xinyu (Catherine) 104 Yue, Janis 89 Liao, William 92 Lyon, Ariadne 81 McBride, Katherine (Kate) 73 McMahon, Casey 82 Merced, Sara (Ivette) 73 Moffett, Lillie 81 Nguyen, Jamie 92 Omidvar, Hootan 98 Ontiveros, Roxana 77 Orr, William 95 Peabody, Kathryn (Katie) 94 Pettit, Corey 76 Rehert, Rachel 97 Rhoads, Shawn 97 Risbud, Adwight 77
115 2015 Undergraduate Symposium Tutor Campus Center – Ballroom Exhibits A01-A09 on STAGE
A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 A15 A16 A17 A18 Arts
PS03 PS02 PS01 A24 A23 A22 A21 A20 A19 Physical
PS04 PS05 PS06 PS07 PS08 PS09 PS10 PS11 PS12
Sciences
PS21 PS20 PS19 PS18 PS17 PS16 PS15 PS14 PS13 & Engineering
PS22 PS23 PS24 PS25 PS26 PS27 PS28 PS29 PS30
LS08 LS07 LS06 LS05 LS04 LS03 LS02 LS01 PS31
LS09 LS10 LS11 LS12 LS13 LS14 LS15 LS16 LS17
LS26 LS25 LS24 LS23 LS22 LS21 LS20 LS19 LS18 Sciences
Life
LS27 LS28 LS29 LS30 LS31 LS32 LS33 LS34 LS35
LS44 LS43 LS42 LS41 LS40 LS39 LS38 LS37 LS36
SS01 SS02 SS03 SS04 SS05 SS06 SS07 SS08 SS09 Social
SS18 SS17 SS16 SS15 SS14 SS13 SS12 SS11 SS10 Sciences
SS19 SS20 SS21 SS22 SS23 SS24 REGISTRATION
116 2015 Undergraduate Symposium Tutor Campus Center – Franklin Suite (TCC 350/1/2)
Social Sciences
SS35 SS34 SS33 SS52 SS53 SS32 SS31 SS30
H13 SS25 SS26 SS27 SS28 SS29
H12 H11 H10 H09 H08 H07
H01 H02 H03 H04 H05 H06
Humanities
A – Arts H – Humanities LS – Life Sciences PS – Physical Sciences SS – Social Sciences
117 2015 Undergraduate Symposium Tutor Campus Center – Forum Room (TCC 450)
Social Sciences
SS55 SS56 SS57 SS58
SS54 SS53 SS52 SS51
SS50 SS47 SS48 SS49 SS46
SS44 SS43 SS42
SS45 SS39 SS40 SS41
SS38 SS37 SS36
A – Arts H – Humanities LS – Life Sciences PS – Physical Sciences SS – Social Sciences
118