Festival of Scholars

Student Abstracts

Using Aziridines in Ring Expansion Reactions

View abstract

Aziridines are three-membered, nitrogen-based heterocycles with a high degree of ring strain. This makes them susceptible to ring expansion reactions, such as aza-Claisen rearrangements. Aziridines are therefore useful starting materials for larger nitrogen-based heterocycle synthesis. We tested four different methods to prepare aziridines in an attempt to design a general methodology to transform 2-vinylaziridines into medium ring azacycles, via a 3-aza-Claisen rearrangement. First, we epoxidized, esterified and azidated cinnamic acid. While successful in producing aziridines, this route resulted in low overall yields. In the second strategy, an aziridine aldehyde dimer was reacted with different Wittig salts to yield various aziridines in moderate yields. However, the overall scope and generality of this method is limited, as only two aziridine aldehydes are commercially available. We also explored a Mitsunobu cyclization of N-trityl-2-phenylglycinol, however poor conversion and a difficult separation of the unreacted starting material from the tritylated aziridine complicate this method. Finally, we were able to produce 2-phenylaziridine in high yields from the corresponding amino alcohol using chlorosulfonic acid to activate the hydroxyl group prior to ring closure. This appears to be the most efficient method for preparing wide arrays of aziridines. Next, I hope acylate 2-phenylaziridine using a procedure already successful in the case of three other aziridines. Subsequent Takai oefination conditions of the acylated aziridines should promote the desired 3-aza-Claisen rearrangement, allowing for study of the regioselectivity and stereoselectivity of the rearrangement, with direct application toward medium ring amine systems.

Student(s):
Anthony Albert

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Jason Kingsbury

Effects of Fatigue on Bulgarian Split Squat Kinematics and Kinetics

View abstract

Bulgarian single leg squats are a popular unilateral alternative to the traditional squat. They allow for more stability than a traditional single leg pike squat by resting the non-support foot on a knee-high surface with the support foot below and slightly in front of the body’s center of mass. These squats are widely implemented as an indicator of injury risk as well as being a effective lower body resistance exercise (Carly et al., 2015). The Bulgarian split squat requires strong activation from the quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteus maximus, therefore causing fatigue after a relatively short number of repetitions, depending on the subject’s muscular endurance (Josephine, 2017). The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanical changes fatigue creates during a bout of Bulgarian split squats. Ten healthy male college students performed a five-minute warm-up on the cycle ergometer at moderate resistance. Next, each support leg, preferred and non-preferred, performed one set of Bulgarian split squats until exhaustion. The second repetition and second to last repetition were analyzed with Nexus 2.5 software. Moreover, eight Vicon cameras (120 Hz) and one Kisler force plate (1200 Hz) collected 3-dimensional coordinate data and ground reaction force data, respectively. Twenty-five reflective markers were placed on specific lower-body landmarks to obtain data. Ground reaction forces, joint torques and angles of the trunk, hip, knee, ankle, and timing were analyzed. Dependent t-tests were computed with SPSS version 24 with p<0.05.

Student(s):
Jaime Alvarado, Brett Green, Eduardo Garcia, Peter Lee

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Mechanistic Model for Raindrops with Persistent Superterminal Velocity

View abstract

As a raindrop falls through the air, it is pulled down by gravity while it is being pushed up by air resistance. When these two forces are equal, the drop will travel at the same velocity for the rest of its fall. This velocity is called the terminal velocity. It has recently been discovered that certain small raindrops can travel faster than their estimated terminal velocities. These raindrops are described as superterminal. An object is superterminal when its speed is at least 30% greater than its estimated terminal velocity. One hypothesis for why this happens is that large drops change shape and burst apart, forming small drops. These small drop move at the same velocity as the original large drop, causing them to be super terminal. The purpose of this research was to create a numerical model for raindrops falling in order to test different hypothesis for why superterminal raindrops exist. We used the programming language Octave. Our program is made up of functions that allow us to manipulate the variables. These functions allow us to calculate the change in the physical properties of the raindrop. Our results show how the system changes as you allow more variable to interact with one another. This research is important because the way we measure rainfall is from a raindrops velocity. This means when measure the large velocity of a small superterminal raindrop, we are estimating it as a large drop. This causes us to overestimate the amount of rainfall we are receiving.

Student(s):
Jennifer Anderson

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Christopher Brown

Automation of a Robotic Arm

View abstract

The focus of this project is to equip a generic gantry (3 degree of freedom) robotic arm with two capabilities: 1) the ability to perform 3 dimensional ground mapping with a color camera and SONAR sensor; 2) the ability to detect and manipulate objects (e.g. colored blocks) with a color camera and a gripper end effector. The robot will operate in two modes. The first is manual (human assisted) via a graphical user interface (written in the Java programming language), USB port connection, and wireless communication. The USB ports will be used to send commands to the robot and receive imagery from the camera. The wireless connection will be used to receive depth data from the SONAR sensor. Through this interface the user will be able to view camera images, read depth information from the SONAR, and guide the robot with various movement commands. The second is autonomous mode where the system will read camera imagery (USB), read SONAR data (wireless), and process all via the industry standard OpenCV Library to make movement decisions based on objects identified in the imagery. Through this research I will gain further insight into image processing, data fusion (image and SONAR), and the engineering of a complex hardware/software/communication system.

Student(s):
Wilbert Andrews

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Toward the Efficient Syntheses of DNA Dye Molecules: Investigating the Reaction Scope with Various Secondary Amines

View abstract

Dye molecules are frequently used to study DNA. The dyes attach non-covalently to DNA strands, allowing detection of DNA-rich areas in cells or electrophoresis gels. The most common dye, ethidium bromide, is toxic, posing a risk to biologists and the natural environment. Our study is part of a program to develop dimethylaminonaphthylpyridinium as a nontoxic and more versatile dye. This summer, a direct amination methodology was examined. In the synthesis step we investigated, 6-bromo-2-naphthol undergoes a formal nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction with a secondary amine nucleophile. The purpose is to examine how the electronic and steric character of various secondary amines affect the reaction’s efficiency. The three amines selected for this study, 4-piperidinemethanol, diisobutylamine and azetidine, represent a range of steric and electronic characteristics. Each amine was mixed with 6-bromo-2-naphthol under conditions reported in the literature. After product purification, 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry were used to determine the purity and identity of the products. The reactions’ relative efficiencies were measured by comparing each percent yield. The reactions with 4-piperidinemethanol and diisobutylamine produced the desired products. 4-piperidinemethanol’s reaction efficiency was twice as high with an average percent yield of 9.6% in comparison to the 4.4% yield of the reaction with diisobutylamine. The azetidine reaction did not yield isolable product. Now that two new potential substrates for dye synthesis have been identified and prepared, the corresponding DNA dyes can be produced and tested for use in a biological context.

Student(s):
Emily Armbruster

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Jason Kingsbury

The Influence of Climate Change on the Symbiotic Relationships of Anthopleura elegantissima and Aiptasia pallida

View abstract

Since the industrial era, temperatures and atmospheric CO2 levels have been steadily increasing. This has caused sea surface temperatures to rise, and seawater pH to decrease. These two factors have been shown to influence bleaching (expulsion of symbiotic algal cells) in cnidarians such as sea anemones. The purpose of this study was to determine how the manipulation of common abiotic factors associated with climate change (temperature and pH) to match predicted values for the year 2100 would affect the symbiotic relationships of two anemone species: Anthopleura elegantissima (temperate) and Aiptasia pallida (tropical). This was done by increasing the ambient water temperature for each species 7°C over a period of three weeks to determine if the temperature increase would cause the anemones to bleach. Additionally, pH was manipulated through the addition of 2M HCL over the same time period until a final pH of 7.6 was reached. It was found that the temperate species experienced a continual decrease in algal cells when subjected to increased temperatures, with significantly different beginning and ending cell counts (p<.05). It was also found that the tropical species was unaffected by the temperature increase. It was concluded that the temperate anemones were more affected by the increase in temperature, and this may suggest that other temperate species sharing this same or similar symbiotic relationships will be more at risk for bleaching if temperatures increase to predicted values.

Student(s):
Samantha Bever

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

RNA Sequencing and Gene Expression Profiling of HCV Infected Monocytes Grown in Adult Bovine Serum

View abstract

This study intends to determine which genes are differentially expressed between monocytes grown in adult bovine serum (ABS) to fetal bovine serum (FBS). mRNA from infected and uninfected monocytes grown in ABS was prepared for sequencing using an Illumina TruSeq Stranded mRNA Library Preparation Kit. Samples were sequenced using an Illumina Miseq sequencer. DNAStar was used to align sequenced reads and estimate RPKM of reference genes. Each sample yielded over 26.4 million high quality reads. Two genes that encode for proteins related to the innate immune system pathway were upregulated, SPPL2B (14989.8-fold) and BTN2A1 (9684.6-fold). SPPL2B encodes Signal Peptide Peptidase-Like 2B and BTN2A1 encodes Butyrophilin Subfamily 2 Member A1. Two genes that are involved in structural cell changes and migration were upregulated, PLXNA1 (2030.7-fold) and CROCC (1983.2-fold). PLXNA1 encodes Plexin A1 and CROCC encodes Ciliary Rootlet Coiled-Coil Protein. CDKN2A was upregulated (19343.3-fold) which encodes Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 2A and assists in the regulation of cell proliferation. ACYP1 was upregulated (17801.0-fold) which encodes Acylphosphatase 1, an enzyme related to pyruvate metabolism. IRS2 was upregulated (2895.1-fold) which encodes Insulin Receptor Substrate 2, a cytoplasmic signaling protein involved in insulin-mediated cell processes. MNT was upregulated (6599.0-fold) which encodes MAX Binding Protein that binds DNA as a heterodimer with MAX to repress transcription. HGH1 was upregulated (9837.7-fold) which encodes HGH1 homolog (p < 0.01, t > 671.07). These genes were also statistically significant for monocytes grown in FBS. These results suggest that serum does not affect gene expression for HCV infected monocytes.

Student(s):
Nicholas Bui

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dennis Revie

Cellular Toxicity of Ethidium Bromide and DANPY-1

View abstract

Ethidium Bromide is a standard chemical reagent used to fluorescently label DNA, but it is also a potential mutagen and is toxic. Dr. Jason Kingsbury and collaborators have developed approaches to synthesize a new molecule, DANPY-1, which can also be used to fluorescently dye DNA. We hypothesized that DANPY-1 is less toxic than Ethidium Bromide to mammalian cell lines. Toxicity was tested by viability, cell growth, and proliferation assays. Immortalized mammalian cell lines were maintained in standard culture conditions. These cells were moved to a six well plate. Each well had various concentrations of either DANPY-1 or Ethidium Bromide dissolved in cell culture media. After two days, the cells were stained with 7-AAD and flow cytometry was done. The percentage of 7-AAD positive cells will measure cell viability. and the count of cells after treatment will measure proliferation when compared to the starting number of cells added to each well. This procedure was repeated with varying concentrations until the maximum concentration that kills 0% of cells (LD0), the minimum concentration that kills 50% of cells (LD50), and the minimum concentration that kills 100% of cells (LD100) was found for Ethidium Bromide and DANPY-1. For Ethidium Bromide with 3T3 cells, the LD 0 concentration was 16.7μM, the LD 50 was 33.3μM, and the LD100 was 41.7μM. Therefore, 41.7μM was the starting concentration tested for DANPY-1 in media. The data shows that Ethidium Bromide is toxic and kills mammalian cells. Therefore, the safer alternative for research is likely DANPY-1.

Student(s):
David Crago, Jason Kingsbury

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber

The Biochemistry and Bioinformatics of Selected Ocular Proteins from Bos Taurus

View abstract

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis commonly referred to, as “pinkeye” in cattle, is an ocular disease that is endemic in cattle worldwide. Our previous study determined the bacteria present in each condition whereas this study focused on identifying genes known to cause infection and to learn more about the virulence mechanisms used by pathogenic bacteria. This study involves the verification and use of MG-RAST, a web application that analyses metagenomes. Two methods were used to establish the reliability of the data produced by MG-RAST. The first technique exploited a sample that contained only E. coli as the sole bacteria identified. By utilizing the KEGG database it was possible to identify more than 75% of the putative proteins included in a number of known pathways. The second technique utilized the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway in KEGG. Comparing all the samples to the pathway more than 85% of the putative proteins were identified (n=18, SD = 1.8). These two techniques suggested that MG-RAST identified a majority of the proteins present. The second objective was to identify functional differences in the samples. Commonly known virulent factors were considered, and in several samples there was a significant lack of genes from the type III secretion system in samples containing virulent bacteria. These missing virulent factors, required for pathogenicity, suggest a possible explanation of the noted avirulence. This study of virulent factors derived from functional metadata can be used to gain a better understanding of the biological interactions and virulent mechanisms in a mixed environment of organisms.

Student(s):
Kacey Egusa

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Robert Richards

Fighting Fake News One Article at a Time

View abstract

Fake news, or news that is either skewed due to political bias or lacking in information, became a recent problem during the 2016 presidential elections. This project aims to establish a foundation for understanding this recent problem by attempting to provide a solution to identifying fake news via a comparison of news stories. Using an API called jsoup, which allows for the extraction of news stories from a website, and an API called java-string-similarities, which will conduct the comparisons, this project first creates a group of stories then compares one of them against the others. The threshold for success during these comparisons will be an average of 40% similarities between the tested story and the four others it’s being tested against.

Student(s):
Cole Elpel

Faculty Mentor:
Chang-Shyh Peng

Metrization Theory in Topology

View abstract

Topology is the study of open sets and to know what properties are required for a topological space to be assigned a metric, or a way to measure distance between two points with the normal understanding of distance. One set of properties that require a space to be metrizable is a second countable and T3. This set of properties leading to a space being metrizable is known as the Uryzohn Metrization Theorem. The process of proving this theorem started with background readings in general topology then focusing down to metrization theory. The proof that a second countable and T3 space is metrizable shows that the combination of different topological properties is greater than the sum of their parts, and that the interaction between properties can be more powerful than intuition may lead us to believe. This work is important because it is gaining the understanding of the early metrization theory done in the late nineteenth century, and research has continued in metrization theory to the present and has lead to many varied metrization theorems that take different properties and prove that any space with those is metrizable. Metrization theory has been studied for over a century due to the importance of the question of what topological spaces are metrizable, which we understand as the question which topologies are metric spaces.

Student(s):
Ryan Fisher

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Nathan Carlson

Quantum Knot Invariants

View abstract

We study the HOMFLY polynomial, a quantum knot invariant. This polynomial can be used to derive three of the most common and important knot invariants, the Jones, Alexander, and Alexander-Conway polynomials. The HOMFLY polynomial is constructed through a skein relation using tensor products and Lie algebras. We follow a construction given in “Introduction to Vassiliev Knot Invariants” by S. Chmutov, S. Duzhin, and J. Mostovoy. The derivation and therefore the proof of such a polynomial rely on Turaev moves, the Yang-Baxter equations, and the linear algebra used in tensor products. We start by proving the quantum Yang-Baxter equation, then show the framed invariant we define meets the HOMFLY polynomial requirements, concluding with the unframed invariant which is a scalar factor of the HOMFLY polynomial.

Student(s):
Ryan Fisher

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Nathan Carlson

Differences in Lower Extremity Kinematics During the Back Squat with and without Gluteal Activation

View abstract

Knee pain is associated with weight-bearing activity, particularly during squat exercises (Nagawa et al. 2012). Proper warm-up technique has been associated with a decrease in injury risk and an increase in performance outcome during exercise (O’Dwyer et al., 2011). The “activation” component of a dynamic warm-up may improve kinematics of movement, further decreasing injury risk (Parr et al., 2017). Barbell squats activate gluteal muscles, the stabilizers of lower limb musculature. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible differences in kinematics of lower extremities during a barbell squat with and without a gluteal-activating warm-up. 10 regularly exercising college male and female students performed weighted barbell squats with and without a warm-up involving gluteal activation. Subjects performed 3-6 barbell back squats at 70% of their 1RM, with a one minute rest between each squat. Subjects then performed gluteal-activating exercises before repeating a second set of 3-6 squats. Differences in joint torque and force production between conditions were assessed. Kistler force plates measured force production through collection of ground reaction forces (1200 Hz), and eight Vicon cameras (120 Hz) were used to collect 3-dimensional kinematic data through motion capture technology. Nexus software was used to analyze joint angles and torques of the hip, knee, and ankle. SPSS was used to perform paired t-tests to determine differences between conditions (p < 0.05).

Student(s):
Stevie Flynn, Carol Craig and Sydnee Morales

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

The Effects of Gender and Load on Gait Mechanics during a Farmer’s Walk

View abstract

Multiple gender independent and dependent factors lead to differences in lower extremity kinematics during gait (Hurd et al., 2004). In particular, loaded walking can lead to injury and has practical implications for occupational and sports specific tasks. When females walk with heavier loads, they do not compensate, leading to increased susceptibility to injury (Krupenevich et al., 2015). An increase in load also causes a variety of lower body kinematic changes such as joint flexion angles and walking speed (Slider et al., 2013). One type of loaded walk is a farmer’s walk, a strongman event that involves carrying a heavy load in each hand and walking a certain distance (Winwood et al., 2014). Because of the lack of co-gender research on the farmer’s walk, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of gender and load on the kinematics of a farmer’s walk exercise. Physically active college students performed the farmer’s walk exercise with equally distributed loads carried in canvas bags for three conditions (0%, 20% and 40% of body weight) at their self-selected pace. 3-dimensional ground reaction forces were obtained using two Kistler force plates (1200 Hz) and kinematic data was collected with an 8 camera Vicon motion capture system (120 Hz). Joint torques and angles of the trunk, hip, knee, and ankle, obtained using Nexus 25 software, were compared between the different loads and genders. Statistical significance was determined using a one-way ANOVA in SPSS version 24 (p<0.05).

Student(s):
Michelle Francois, Doris Toofer

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Role of the Type II Secretion System of Legionella pneumophila on Temperature Dependent Growth

View abstract

Legionella pneumophila (Lpn) is a rod-shaped bacterium that naturally inhabits freshwater. Previous studies demonstrate that Legionella’s type II secretion system (T2S) is necessary for the infection of amoebae, which serve as natural hosts in the environment. Lpn creates health concerns when it colonizes man-made water systems. As the causative agent of Legionnaire’s Disease—a severe form of pneumonia—Lpn infects alveolar macrophages, primarily in immunocompromised human hosts. Currently, individual mutant strains lacking expression for each of the twenty-five T2S proteins have been developed, but studies have focused on the role of T2S in host-infection at 37°C. This study aims to explore the effects of temperature on Legionella pneumophila T2S mutant growth and infectivity. The wild type (130b) and type II mutants (LspF and ProA) were grown on solid media at 37°C for 72 hours prior to transfer to liquid media and experimental temperature conditions. Biological triplicates were created for each strain tested, and the optical densities (ODs) were appropriately adjusted to ensure an equal number of colony forming units per sample. Strains were grown at 22°C or 37°C, and OD readings were recorded to monitor bacterial growth. At both temperatures, the LspF mutant displayed a decline in OD readings at earlier times compared to the wild type, indicating a relationship between type II secretion and Lpn temperature-dependent growth. At both temperatures, the ProA mutant generally displayed increased growth compared to the wildtype, suggesting that ProA inhibits growth of Lpn in these conditions.

Student(s):
Savanah Gallegos, Kayla Cross

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Paloma Vargas

Effect of Hip Strength Asymmetry on Lower Body Gait Asymmetry in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults

View abstract

If asymmetry is present in gait, there is a high risk of overuse injury. A previous study focusing on injury prevention after prior recovery from anterior cruciate ligament strains or tears found that one of the main four predictors of a secondary injury is lower body asymmetry (Hewett et al., 2013). The purpose of this study was to determine whether hip strength asymmetry, in injury-free middle-aged adults, has an effect on gait asymmetry. Twenty-five middle-aged adults walked 10 meters at a self-selected pace several times with sixteen reflective markers affixed to key body landmarks. Eight Vantage 5 cameras (200 Hz) and two Kistler force plates (1000 Hz) collected three-dimensional coordinates and ground reaction forces, respectively. Hip joint muscle strength was measured using a handheld isokinetic dynamometer (Lafayette Instruments). In particular, peak joint flexion, extension, adduction and abduction were used to determine hip strength. Lower body joint angles, ROM, and peak and average joint torques were computed using the Nexus 2.5 software. Ground reaction forces (vertical, anteroposterior, mediolateral), and lower body kinematics and kinetics were compared between the preferred and non-preferred legs and between the stronger and weaker legs using a dependent t-test. Statistical significance was determined with SPSS version 25 (p ≤ 0.05). Significant difference was found between the strong and weak legs for the timing of maximum hip extension, with strong occurring 87.5% through the cycle and weak occurring 86.9% through the cycle, and peak adductor torques, with strong peaking at 0.863N/Kg and weak peaking at 0.936N/Kg.

Student(s):
Spencer Gottmer

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Effect of Trunk Position on Upper Extremity Mechanics During Wheelchair Propulsion

View abstract

Upper extremity injury and pain during manual wheelchair use can further limit performance and lower quality of life, so it is important to train individuals in the most optimal wheelchair positions for generating movement (Rodgers et al., 2000). Therefore, it is useful to understand the effect the trunk has on the upper extremity, and if there is a trunk position which puts the wheelchair user more at risk for injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of trunk position on upper extremity mechanics during the wheelchair propulsion phase. 10 subjects (5 males and 5 females) of college age (18-20) with no previous wheelchair experience or upper arm injury performed 3-5 trials in two different conditions of wheelchair propulsion. In the first condition, the subject was firmly secured to the back of the wheelchair and in the second condition the subject was secured at a slightly flexed trunk position. Eight Vicon Vantage 5 cameras collected motion capture data (120Hz) and Nexus v.2.5 was used to analyze the 3-dimensional coordinate data from the trials using the Nova Ortho Manual Wheelchair with brake resistance. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v.24 using paired-samples t-tests to determine differences with p<0.05.

Student(s):
Nicole Guerriero, Brian Alex and Andre Morales

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Biomechanics of Stair Ascent and Stair Descent in Middle-Aged Adults

View abstract

Ascending and descending stairs are common activities in daily living Stair navigation is a complex task that becomes even more challenging when the aging process leads to physical deterioration, especially muscular strength. Stair research has been conducted on both young and elderly individuals, however little work has focused on middle-aged adults. The purpose of this study was to determine kinematic and kinetic values for middle-aged adults during stair ascent and descent in a comparison between preferred and non-preferred legs. Subjects ascended and descended a short set of stairs at a self-selected pace at least four times with their left and right legs as lead leg, respectively. Eight Vantage 5 motion capture cameras and two Kistler force plates obtained 3-dimensional coordinates at 200 Hz and ground reaction forces at 1000 Hz, respectively. Knee muscle strength was determined by each subjects’ peak knee flexion and extension torques measured using isokinetic dynamometry. Kinematic and kinetic analysis focused on ground reaction forces and hip, knee, and ankle joint angles and joint torques values. When leading with the non-preferred during stair ascent, the lead leg’s maximum vertical force was significantly greater than when leading with the preferred (11.74±1.90 N vs. 11.52±1.81 N; p<0.05). By delineating the influence of leg preference on the biomechanics of stair ascent and descent in a healthy, middle-aged population, this study will help to later distinguish normal from abnormal patterns of movement, which may inform strategies to promote safe stair negotiation.

Student(s):
Gubidxa Gutierrez Seymour

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Smartphone Daily Step Count and Body Composition In Free-Living, College-Aged Students Living On and Off Campus

View abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the difference in daily step count and body composition between college students living on and off campus in free-living conditions. Bipedal, college-aged students living on and off campus (N=16) were assessed for body fat percentage and Body Mass Index (BMI). All participants were measured for daily step count for one week using tracking software in smartphones. Independent samples t-test were utilized to determine differences (p≤ 0.05). It is expected that on campus students will accumulate more daily steps and have lower body fat percentages and BMI values as compared to off campus students. If confirmed, these data may suggest that steps per day and body composition differences could be due to a higher walkability of the environment for on campus as compared to off campus students, the latter who may depend on other methods of transportation, thus, accumulating fewer total steps per day.

Student(s):
Holly Hart

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Steven Hawkins

Physical Activity of Young Children Aged 12-36 Months

View abstract

Children are highly sedentary (SED), which is associated with obesity (Oliver et al., 2007). Overweight children are likely to become obese adults (Freedman et al., 2001). More evidence is needed to help determine the target age for obesity prevention programs. The purpose of this study was to quantify the physical activity (PA) of toddlers, aged 12-36 months. PA was measured in 100 participants, aged 12-36 months, after Actigraph GT1 accelerometers were worn on the right hip for 3-7 days using a 15 second epoch. PA levels were defined by SED <181 counts/ 15 seconds (epoch), light physical activity (LPA) 182-434 counts/epoch, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) ≥435 counts/epoch. Percent of time spent in SED, LPA, and MVPA per day was found. Gender and ethnic differences in PA were measured by T-test or Mann-Whitney U test.

Student(s):
Jordan Hildebrand

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly

Modern Methods of Game Mechanics Utilizing Kishōtenketsu in Video Game Design

View abstract

This research project focuses on designing a 2D platformer video game for the Nintendo 3DS handheld system. The game features multiple levels in which the player sprints, jumps, and dodges enemies to traverse through the world. In order to achieve gameplay with fluid physics, the game was built using a raycast based engine, in which objects project raycasts to sense their environment. This allows the player to move over ground of differing slopes, and to interact with various enemies. To build engaging levels that test and delight the player, the game took advantage of design philosophies such as Kishōtenketsu, which is used by designers like Koichi Hayashida, level design director of Super Mario Galaxy. When using Kishōtenketsu in game design, every level is built in four different segments. The first segment teaches the player a new skill or mechanic, followed by a segment which tests the player for mastery of the skill. The mechanic is then twisted, forcing the player to experience it in a new light. Finally, the level finishes with a conclusion. This kind of structure of introduction, development, twist, and conclusion can be seen in four panel Japanese comics or Chinese pomes. The game was built to accommodate the handheld system, and takes advantage of the 3DS’s stereoscopic screen, which allows players to enjoy 3D visuals without the need for 3D glasses. The development of the game utilized Unity and C#.

Student(s):
Joshua Janik

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Characterization and Analysis of Integrins on Immune Cells Found in Canine Carcinomas

View abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze integrins found on cytotoxic T cells, macrophages, and tumor cells present in canine tumors. Additionally, we aim to identify roles of these integrins in immune cells as well as other cells found in the tumor. Based on previous studies, I predict that the canine integrin alphaLbeta2 will be found on cytotoxic T cells and the integrin aMb2 will be found on macrophages in canine primary tumors analyzed. Primary methods for this study include cell culture and flow cytometry. Tumors received from veterinarians are rinsed with basal media and disaggregated; half the cells are seeded for cell culture. The remaining half are used for flow cytometry. We stained the cells with fluorescently-labeled antibodies that bind to specific integrins. The cells are run through the flow cytometer to detect integrin expression of the cells. We have been using antibodies both specific to canine species, but also some that are cross reactive for canine. We have seen expression of the aL subunit with two tumor samples. In previous studies, we have found expression of the a6 subunit on the canine cancer line, D17. We aim to perform inhibition assays with integrin blocking antibodies or peptides in vitro to assess the role in survival, migration or adhesion in the tumor microenvironment. By learning more about the integrins expressed on cytotoxic T cells and macrophages in canine tumors, we can make predictions about the role that the integrins play in cancer progression.

Student(s):
Mary Jarjour, Andrew Crago

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber

A Field Study of Urine Washing Behavior Among Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) in Eastern Amazonia

View abstract

Many New World primates perform a behavior called urine washing (hereby UW), in which an individual will urinate into the palms of their hands and wipe the liquid on the soles of their feet. Though UW has been extensively studied in captive monkeys, the adaptive function of this behavior remains a mystery. The purpose of my study was to test four hypotheses on the function of UW by examining what social and environmental factors contribute to its frequency in a wild population of squirrel monkeys. The study was conducted in Eastern Amazonia, 150 km east of Belém, Brazil. I followed three groups of squirrel monkeys in their natural habitat over six weeks (N=104 contact hours). Behavioral data was collected using focal animal sampling and all-occurrence observations whenever UW was performed. Additionally, I recorded the temperature and humidity every 30 minutes while in contact with the study groups. Analysis of the behavioral data revealed little support for the hypothesis that UW serves as a form of social communication. Stress was a predictor for UW frequency, but this correlation was stronger in juveniles than in adults. Lastly, there was a positive correlation between UW rate and ambient temperature and a negative correlation between UW rate and humidity, suggesting a potential role in thermoregulation. However, neither of these variables alone fully predicted the behavior. Future studies should explore the relative importance of the factors that this study examined in order to construct a more accurate model for predicting UW.

Student(s):
Jacob Jasper

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Anita Stone

Effects of glutamate and its receptor antagonists on the feeding behavior of freshwater snails

View abstract

Studies of gastropod nervous systems have proven useful in providing fundamental information regarding the molecular and cellular signals that mediate behavior. Glutamate is a common neurotransmitter in both vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. I used both isomeric forms of glutamate to assay its effects on the feeding behavior of two freshwater snail species, Lymnaea stagnalis and Helisoma trivolvis. In addition, the AMPA/kainate receptor antagonists, CNQX and DNQX, were studied to test their ability to block the effects of glutamate. Feeding behavior was assessed by measuring the snails’ response to agar pellets containing 20 mM maltose. The pellets were pinned to the Sylgard®-lined bottoms of chambers containing artificial pond water (APW). The number of snails feeding on maltose pellets was recorded every 5 minutes over 1-hour intervals (20 snails per test). L- and D-glutamate in APW at concentrations ranging from 10-6 M-10-2 M in APW were tested. The lowest concentration of both L- and D-glutamate that significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited feeding was 10-4 M in both species. Both L- and D-glutamate inhibited feeding in L. stagnalis and H. trivolvis in a dose-dependent manner. To assess whether glutamate’s ability to inhibit feeding was due to its binding to glutamate receptors the receptor blockers CNQX and DNQX were tested. 10-4 M concentrations of L- or D-glutamate were combined with 10-4 M CNQX or DNQX in APW. In L. stagnalis CNQX significantly blocked the inhibition of feeding behavior induced by L-glutamate, but DNQX did not. Additionally, CNQX did not block the inhibition of feeding caused by D-glutamate. In H. trivolvis, L- or D-glutamate inhibition of feeding behavior was significantly blocked by both CNQX and DNQX. Since CNQX and DNQX differ somewhat in their receptor selectivity, the differences observed between their effects indicate that more than one class of glutamate receptor mediates feeding behavior in these species.

Student(s):
Kailey Jordan

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kenneth Long

Antibacterial Effects of Natural Ingredients on Staphylococcus cohnii and Pseudomonas putida

View abstract

Recent trends in medicine have started looking at homeopathic remedies for mild ailments (Clark et al, 2015). These techniques are gaining more attention from the scientific community as possible alternatives to helping the body fight off mild infectious diseases (Itamura, 2007). Personally, my family has had years of success in using a mixture of apple cider vinegar and vegetable root extracts. Tonic, or Master Tonic, is a mixture of apple cider vinegar, tumeric root, garlic, ginger, white onion and horseradish. To make the Tonic, each of these roots is shredded or chopped and steeped in apple cider vinegar for two weeks. The mixture is then strained to clarify the liquid Tonic, which can be used medicinally. Several hypotheses exist for how these ingredients help the body fight infections. However, the purpose of this study was not to distinguish between the most effective reason Tonic aids to fight off infections, but to test the Tonic and it’s ingredients for antimicrobial properties. The Tonic’s ability to inhibit growth of Staphylococcus cohnii and Pseudomonas putida was tested using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. Pure apple cider vinegar and individual root extracts served as negative controls and the antibiotic gentamicin was used as a positive control. All disks were shown to inhibit bacterial growth. The individual extracts and Tonic were more effective than the pure apple cider vinegar (student t-test, p>0.05). The zones of inhibition for each of the extracts were consistently 0.3-0.6 mm in diameter larger than the pure apple cider vinegar.

Student(s):
Ryan Kemp

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Rogers and Dr. Rosenberg

The Effects of Ankle Taping on the Knee Joint During a 90° Cutting Maneuver

View abstract

Ankle taping has long been lauded for being an effective way to support and protect the ankle joint from injuries, particularly inversion sprains. However, recent studies involving more rigid restriction of the ankle, (e.g. ski boot or rigid ankle braces) have shown that restricting ankle joint movement and range of motion creates greater forces and strains on the knee joint (Klem et al.,2017; St-Onge et al., 2004). Since knee injuries are prevalent, especially in cutting maneuvers, it is important to investigate all factors that may alter the risk of injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate how adhesive ankle tape affects knee kinematics and kinetics during a 90° cutting movement. College aged male football players performed the movement under four different conditions: taped cutting to the right and left and not taped cutting to the right and left. Measurements were taken before the tape was applied and a sufficient warm up was completed on a cycle ergometer before testing. The cutting movement was performed on a Kistler force plate (1200 Hz) which collected vertical, anteroposterior, and mediolateral ground reaction forces. Three-dimensional kinematic data was collected through an eight camera Vicon motion capture system (120 Hz), collecting 18 reflective markers put on bony landmarks. Joint moments and angles of the knee and ankle were computed using Nexus 2.5 software. A two-factor ANOVA (direction and taping condition) was performed using SPSS version 24 (p < 0.05).

Student(s):
Allison Kraus-Saravia, Nicole White-Madolora; Rebecca Kozlowski

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele Leblanc

Strategies for Multicore Joins

View abstract

An essential operation when querying data is joining, where data from one source is combined with data from another. Joining data from multiple sources allows us to answer questions that cannot be answered from a single source alone. Making joins execute efficiently is a central problem in database systems. Existing strategies for joins are optimized for single-core CPUs, but modern hardware features multi-core CPUs – our research explored effective join strategies in this context.
A database query can be represented as a binary tree, where each node is a data processing operator. Two operators of interest are receives, found at the leaves of the tree and used for retrieving data from data sources, and joins, found as internal nodes and used for combining data. Data starts at the receives and flows through the tree to the root. Trees can be executed in different ways. We first developed an execution strategy, the Queuing Strategy, which employs a “threads-and-queues” approach. Operators execute as threads and pass data to each other through buffers. This strategy functions as a baseline against which we can measure other strategies. We then developed the Phased Strategy, where trees are executed in two phases. First, join and receive operators on the left of the tree are executed as individual threads. Second, a group of worker threads is used to take data from the rightmost receive in the tree and push it through the tree to the root.

Student(s):
Kevin Lee

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Graham Matthews

A Comparison of Janus Kinase Signaling levels in extra eye (ee) and wild-type Drosophila melanogaster.

View abstract

The extra eye (ee) mutation in Drosophila melanogaster exhibits complex genetic characteristics that suggest epigenetic suppression of an important down-regulator of the Janus Kinase signaling pathway (JAK-STAT). In both vertebrates and invertebrates, the JAK-STAT pathway has been found to play a key role in many developmental processes such as cell proliferation, segmentation and immunity. In insects, JAK-STAT signaling centers are responsible for establishing early eye field development, and artificial over expression of JAK in developing heads leads to extra eye formation, along with other head deformities. The goal of this study was to reexamine and extend previous observations that suggested a pronounced elevation of JAK-STAT signaling attributable to the ee mutation. To discern levels of JAK-STAT signaling, we employed a stock containing an activated STAT-inducible Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) reporter gene. Crosses of this stock with ee and withseveral control strains were made. We observed and compared activated STAT-induced fluorescence in several tissues of the F1 progeny and backcross progeny of these crosses using confocal and wide-field fluorescence microscopy. Results of several of these comparisons are presented.

Student(s):
Amanda Miller

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. David Marcey

Analyzing the Gut Microbiota of Green Sweat Bees, Agapostemon spp., from the California Coast

View abstract

Within the last decade, worldwide honey bee populations have been threatened by Colony Collapse Disorder, in which the majority of worker honey bees abandon the hive, leaving behind the queen and immature bees to die. Several studies have linked honey bee health to their gut microbial community (microbiota). The decline in honey bee colonies highlights the importance of native bees for crop pollination, however, research on native bees is lacking. North American bumble bees, the most studied of native bees, have gut microbiota distinct from that of honey bees. Native to the American continents, green sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.) are primarily solitary bees that pollinate a variety of plants and burrow into the ground to form nests. This study is the first to explore the gut microbiota of green sweat bees native to the coastal Southern California mainland. We collected female and male green sweat bees from the Ventura Botanical Gardens, Ventura, CA. The bees were chilled on ice, anesthetized with carbon dioxide, then dissected to extract the fore-, mid-, and hindgut from which DNA was extracted. We performed PCR with barcoded primers to tag individual samples and amplify small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences of Bacteria and Archaea. We are using the IlluminaⓇ MiSeq Next-Generation Sequencer to sequence all samples and QIIME software to assess sequence quality, determine phylogenetic identity, and analyze α- and β-diversity. We expect the gut microbiota to be distinct between native green sweat bee, bumble bees and honey bee populations.

Student(s):
Asia Moore

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Theresa Rogers

The Effect of Extrinsic Factors on Vertical Jump Performance

View abstract

Vertical jump performance with the use of various extrinsic factors has been studied extensively, and has shown that these extrinsic factors show a positive effect on both active and athletic populations. Some of these extrinsic factors include the use of motivational self-talk (Edwards et al., 2008) and an overhead goal achievement (Borzucka et al., 2016). There has been minimal research related to these extrinsic factors and their impact on individuals that are considered sedentary or moderately active. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of three extrinsic factors of augmented feedback, overhead goal achievement, and extrinsic rewards on vertical jump performance. Three-dimensional kinematics of 10 college aged, moderately active males were tested using an 8 camera Vicon motion capture system (120 Hz). 16 reflective markers were placed on lower body anatomical landmarks using the Plug in Gait marker set. The subjects were instructed to perform a maximum effort countermovement vertical jump with their right foot on the force plate, while simultaneously reaching up with their hand to reach the Vertec. Force production during the jump was analyzed through a Kistler force plate (1200 Hz). Knee joint moments, forces and angles were computed using Nexus software. One-way ANOVA was performed through SPSS version 24 with p< 0.05 denoting strong significance.

Student(s):
Kevin Oetken, Marissa Holguin and Maile Osumi

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele Leblanc

Effects of High Intensity Interval Exercise on Newly Acquired Fine Motor Skills

View abstract

The benefits of physical activity has been proven to improve physiological and behavioral aspects of the brain. Multiple levels of human cognition have shown improvement as a result of exercise (Frith et al., 2017). Skriver et al. (2014) emphasized specific neurochemicals increase in concentration during acute moderate-intense exercise, which are also attributed during learning and memory consolidation. Arousal levels and sensory excitability are enhanced during exercise, which optimize attention capacity attributing to cognitive tasks (Lambourne et al., 2010). This study investigated if a single bout of high intensity exercise enhances performance in a newly acquired fine motor skill. Explored in this study was the question if high intensity exercise would be the optimal approach to learning a new motor task. Fifteen students naive to the fine motor skills were recruited from California Lutheran University. Testing was performed at the California Lutheran University Exercise Physiology Lab. Subjects performed the Purdue PegBoard (Lafayette32030), two plate tapping (Lafayette32012), and hand-steadiness (Lafayette32011) tests. Motor skill acquisition was assessed 48 hours prior to a high intensity interval exercise for baseline performance measurements. Exercise consisted of cycling on the Cycle Ergometer (Monark 915E) at 85% exercise intensity. 85% intensity was determined using the Karvonen method (Heyward & Gibson, 2014) to determine target heart rate. Three trials were performed at 2 minute intervals with 1 minute rest in between trials. Motor skill retention and performance were evaluated 30 minutes post exercise. A paired t-test examined the difference between the conditions using SPSS v24 (p≤ 0.05).

Student(s):
Paulina Rivera

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

The Effects of a Guided Meditation Intervention on Perceived Stress and Cortisol Levels in Collegiate Students

View abstract

Stress is a universal phenomenon that every human experiences at varying levels. Long periods of excess/increased levels of stress have been shown to result in various health disorders for many populations. This study investigated the application of a holistic intervention and its success in reducing factors of stress in individuals. The purpose of this study is to asses whether or not a guided meditation intervention successfully lowers the perceived stress of individual participants, as well as cortisol levels in their blood. Each participant was measured for anthropometric measurements, and then given a survey, the perceived stress scale (PSS). Then participants were taken to Quest Diagnostics Lab in Thousand Oaks to get their blood drawn to test their cortisol levels. Following initial baseline testing, the participants took part in a 3-week intervention consisting of completing a guided meditation 5x/week. Following the conclusion of the three-week period, participants reconvened and were retested for post-intervention testing for the PSS and cortisol blood draw. A significant difference was found between the initial PSS scores and the final PSS scores (p=0.005), indicating a decrease in the perceived stress of all participants following the intervention. A trend was visible for decreasing cortisol levels, but the difference between the initial and final values was not significantly. Consistent guided meditation can effectively reduce the perceived stress of individuals, and if done long enough, may start to lower cortisol levels as well, therefore reducing health risks associated with high stress and excess cortisol.

Student(s):
Teigan Schentrup

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly

Symmetry in the Sit-to-Stand Movement and the Role of Hip Muscle Strength in Middle Aged Adults

View abstract

Previous studies have shown that the sit-to-stand (STS) movement is mechanically demanding, requiring more lower extremity joint torque and range of motion than walking or stair climbing (Berger et al., 1988). The purpose of this study was to investigate the symmetry of movement in the STS in middle aged adults and to determine if hip muscle strength played a role in any identified asymmetry. Healthy adults between the ages of 47 and 70 (6 males, 16 females) performed several STS movements while eight Vantage 5 cameras (200 Hz) and two Kistler force plates (1000 Hz) collected body landmark and 3-dimensional ground reaction force data, respectively. Subjects were asked to sit comfortably on a chair of standard height (46 cm) while each foot was on a separate force plate then transition to standing position. Hip muscle strength in the sagittal and frontal planes was then measured using a handheld dynamometer (Lafayette Instruments). Peak and average ground reaction forces (vertical, anteroposterior, mediolateral), joint ROM, and peak and average joint torques were computed using Nexus 2.5 software. Comparisons were made between the subjects’ preferred and non-preferred legs and between the stronger and weaker leg. Subjects showed that they had a significantly stronger leg (209.02±53.72 Nm vs. 190.22±54.66 Nm; p=0.00001). During the STS movement, subjects had a larger peak medial ground reaction force for their stronger side vs. weaker side (-0.197±0.177 N/kg vs. -0.150±0.174 N/kg; p=0.0003). Interestingly, twelve out of twenty subjects showed that their preferred leg differed from their stronger leg.

Student(s):
Anthony Seddio

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Effects of Octopamine on Feeding Behavior of Freshwater Snails L. stagnalis and H. trivolvis

View abstract

Freshwater snails’ nervous systems are commonly used to study neurological processes because they are quite simple compared to other species. Octopamine is a known neurotransmitter whose function in invertebrates is analogous to norepinephrine, and to a lesser extent dopamine, in vertebrates. It is known to stimulate neurons in the buccal ganglia of snails and modulates the mouth movements used in feeding. Chlorpromazine is an octopamine receptor blocker and may also inhibit the reuptake of octopamine. We hypothesized that octopamine would stimulate feeding behavior in both species and its receptor antagonist would inhibit the stimulation of feeding. We conducted feeding behavior tests in which a range of octopamine concentrations were added to the water containing two species of snails, Lymnaea stagnalis and Helisoma trivolvis. Feeding responses to agar pellets containing 20 mM maltose were measured in hour- long tests in order to determine the optimal concentration of octopamine’s effects. For H. trivolvis and L.stagnalis, the threshold concentrations were 0.05 mM and 0.01 mM of octopamine, respectively. Contrary to our hypothesis, octopamine inhibited feeding in H. trivolvis and may be acting as a stimulant of movement, though in L. stagnalis, octopamine stimulates feeding and movement. Once we determined threshold concentrations, we tested the effects of the octopamine receptor antagonist chlorpromazine. In H. trivolvis, chlorpromazine appeared to act as an agonist to octopamine, intensifying its inhibitory effects. We are currently testing the effects of chlorpromazine on feeding behavior in L. stagnalis.

Student(s):
Emily Sim, Kailey Jordan

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kenneth Long

Body Size, Bite Force, Limb Length, and Sprint Speed of Sceloporus occidentalis in Urban and Non-Urban Environments

View abstract

Urban environments may be drastically different than natural habitats. These drastically different microhabitats may lead to a very different selection pressures on animals living in both environments. In some lizards, those who live on more broad surfaces have longer limbs (and higher sprint speeds) whereas those that live on narrow surfaces have shorter limbs, slower sprint speeds. The purpose of this study was to analyze the possible differences in sprint speed, limb length, bite force, and body size of Sceloporus occidentalis lizards in urban and non-urban environments. We predicted that urban lizards will have larger body sizes, longer limbs, and sprint faster. We also tested if urban lizards differed from non-urban lizards in bite force, which may be important for social interactions, catching prey, or defense. Lizards were collected at CLU (urban) and two natural habitats: Malibu Creek State Park and Mt. Clef. After collection, lizards were incubated for 1 hour at 35˚C, their optimal sprinting temperature, then ran on a 2m track with infrared sensors every 25cm. Each lizard was raced three times with a 1-hour rest between each sprint. After sprint trials, we photographed each lizard and analyzed the images with ImageJ software to measure hind limb length. Contrary to predictions, we found no significant difference in body size or sprint speed between urban and non-urban lizards. However, urban lizards were found to have longer limbs at larger body sizes and urban lizards bit significantly harder than their non-urban counterparts.

Student(s):
Brian Song

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kristopher Karsten

Effect of Foot Incline on Back Squat Mechanics

View abstract

Nearly all sports utilize additional equipment that is aimed toward either increasing performance or reducing the risk of injury (Fortenbaugh et al., 2010). Squat shoes contain elevated heels, and are designed to increase the force and power production during a weighted back squat. Minimal research has been conducted on how a toe insert would alter the force production and kinematics of a back squat. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanics of a back squat when wearing flat shoes and shoes using a heel insert, or a toe insert. This study will investigate different angles that the lower body produces, resulting from different foot positions. A secondary aim of this study is to determine how gender may alter mechanics during these three conditions. 14 recreationally active lifters (7 male and 7 female) were recruited for this study. Three-dimensional kinematic data was collected using 8 Vicon Vantage 5 cameras (120 Hz). Joint angles and joint torques of the trunk, hip, and knee were computed using Nexus software. Ground reaction force data was collected using two Kistler force plates (1200 Hz). Two factor ANOVA was used to determine the differences based on a shoe condition using SPSS version 25 (p < 0.05).

Student(s):
Jake Spatola, Alexis Stamey, Andrew Schiantarelli, Antonia Rapisardi

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele Leblanc

Assessing the Effects of Upper Body and Lower Body Stretching on Anaerobic Swim Performance

View abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of upper body (UB) stretches against lower body (LB) stretches on 50 yard swim sprint time. It is hypothesized that stretching the LB pre-event will improve swim sprint time compared to stretching the UB pre-event. Eight current male swimmers and water polo players will be recruited to participate in the study (mean height = 1.86 m, mean weight = 89.6 kg). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two different stretch groups, LB or UB stretches. On the day of the trials, participants will complete static stretches as per assignment. Each individual will then swim a 300 yard freestyle at 50% effort to warm-up. Upon completion of the warm-up, each participant will swim a timed 50 yard sprint using the front crawl stroke. Five total swim trials will be conducted with mean time used for comparison. Independent samples t-test will test for differences in time by group, (p < .05).

Student(s):
Forrest Sullenbarger

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Steven Hawkins

In silico Characterization of Hypothetical Proteins from a Next-Generation Sequencing Experiment

View abstract

Microbial sequencing projects produce a significant number of “hypothetical proteins” or sequences not functionally identified by sequence comparison. This percentage can reach as high as half of the genes sequenced in any given study. Our interest is focused on identifying the functions of these uncharacterized genes. The previous study involved taking eye swabs of both healthy cattle and cattle with signs of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjuctivitis (IBK) commonly known as pink eye. The study was successful in obtaining more than 15 million sequences, and during the analysis of the study there were numerous “hypothetical” proteins identified. We hypothesized that we could construct a crude search tool using Linux commands along with readily available bioinformatics tools from various university and government websites to identify these proteins in silico. So far, we have only investigated one sample from for this project. This sample contained more than 800,000 sequences of which approximately 20% were hypothetical. We submitted seventy-six hypothetical proteins to the structural prediction tool, I-TASSER, of which eleven returned with hits. In addition, using basic Linux commands we searched the hypothetical proteins with the sequences of ten conserved functional domains, and identified four proteins. The success seen using the I-TASSER program to identify function of the hypothetical proteins can be automated with the use of DNASTAR’s Lasergene Structural Biology Suite. This program can run multiple sequences in FASTA format for future studies, greatly increasing the efficiency of this method. Overall, this study is successful in identifying function in hypothetical proteins from sequencing projects.

Student(s):
Michael Sunnaa

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Robert Richards

Settling & Growth Rates of Mytilus Fouling Communities at Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, California.

View abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the population dynamics of the intertidal mussel, Mytilus sp. at two locations within a harbor. Analyzing the settling rates of Mytilus at both sites will allow us to compare the rate of larval maturation. Growth rate measurements will allow us to determine which of the two environments allows Mytilus to achieve the fastest shell growth rate in order to deter predation. Mytilus is the keystone species of its environment, its population regulates the ability of other organisms to grow. Data on settling and growth rates of Mytilus will give us insight on the population dynamics of other species within the intertidal community. Mytilus growth rates and settling rates are affected by physical parameters, including; salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature, all of which were monitored fortnightly at each study site. In order to obtain settling rate data, plankton samples at each study site were taken every other week and analyzed for the presence of a Mytilus larval bloom. Once a larval bloom was determined, the date was marked and used as the settling rate start date. Settling rate end date was determined when juvenile Mytilus began to settle on ceramic plates deployed at each study site. Growth rate was determined by measuring the size of each individual mussel present on each of two ceramic tiles deployed at each study site. Mussel measurements were taken every other week for one year once settlement began.

Student(s):
Juliana Vitagliano

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Infrared Diagnostics: A Tool to Study Low-Density Massive-Star Magnetospheres

View abstract

Certain massive stars have large-scale, stable, strong magnetic fields. These stars also have very strong winds, known as stellar winds. The stellar winds are so strong that they blow particles from the star’s surface out into space. Because of the charged nature of the particles, they get stuck in the star’s magnetic field (magnetosphere). When observing these massive stars in optical wavelengths, the star itself is much brighter than the often low-density, cooler materials in the magnetosphere. By observing using the infrared, the star dims, but the particles stay bright. According to theory, these particles can be trapped in the magnetic field because of the field’s strength, its stellar wind strength, and its rotational rate. To try to detect this material in cases where the optical fails to reveal the material, infrared spectral data was collected for several different known magnetic massive stars. A computer program called IRAF, or Image Reduction Analysis Facility, was paramount in analyzing the data. By using an observational approach called “nodding” along with several tasks within the IRAF program, much of the background noise was removed from the spectra. One of the most challenging issues with this data set was the removal of atmospheric features in the spectra from water vapor. A program called xtellcor_general in the IDL programming language did remove some of the atmospheric noise by comparing a target star to a corresponding standard star. At this point, the results are inconclusive; however, there were indications of the materials present in the data.

Student(s):
Alanna Walsh

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Mary Oksala

Diversity and Abundance of Zooplankton and Phytoplankton Populations in Channel Islands Harbor, CA in 2017-2018

View abstract

This project explored the diversity and abundance at the level of phyla for zooplankton and phytoplankton over the course of one year from March 2017 to February 2018. The data was collected in Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, California. There is no data on any plankton species at this site collected previously, so the purpose of this study was to establish a baseline of phyla known to be present during the four seasonal fluctuations for later comparison. This way, if there are harmful blooms, such as from invasive phyla, there will be a control known data set of plankton phyla at this size-range to compare to the blooms. This study was conducted using a horizontal collection method along two separate docks at two different sites for a full breadth of the harbor, and two net sizes were used. These nets were dragged along each dock for approximately one hundred yards before samples were collected from the cod ends for analysis back at the lab at California Lutheran University. There, under a compound microscope at four times magnification, the plankton were individually counted and assorted into phyla. The numbers were averaged by month to observe the fluctuations. The fluctuations were confirmed statistically normal in all cases except one, in which the fluctuation at Site 2 was found to be different than normal temperate conditions, but this was thought to be because of a larger than expected phytoplankton bloom then death. Further analysis of the results will be required.

Student(s):
Samantha Wulfestieg, Junliana Vitagliano

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

« Back to Schedule

Schedule of Events

Science Showcase: Poster Session

Student Abstracts

Using Aziridines in Ring Expansion Reactions

Effects of Fatigue on Bulgarian Split Squat Kinematics and Kinetics

Mechanistic Model for Raindrops with Persistent Superterminal Velocity

Automation of a Robotic Arm

Toward the Efficient Syntheses of DNA Dye Molecules: Investigating the Reaction Scope with Various Secondary Amines

The Influence of Climate Change on the Symbiotic Relationships of Anthopleura elegantissima and Aiptasia pallida

RNA Sequencing and Gene Expression Profiling of HCV Infected Monocytes Grown in Adult Bovine Serum

Cellular Toxicity of Ethidium Bromide and DANPY-1

The Biochemistry and Bioinformatics of Selected Ocular Proteins from Bos Taurus

Fighting Fake News One Article at a Time

Metrization Theory in Topology

Quantum Knot Invariants

Differences in Lower Extremity Kinematics During the Back Squat with and without Gluteal Activation

The Effects of Gender and Load on Gait Mechanics during a Farmer’s Walk

Role of the Type II Secretion System of Legionella pneumophila on Temperature Dependent Growth

Effect of Hip Strength Asymmetry on Lower Body Gait Asymmetry in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults

Effect of Trunk Position on Upper Extremity Mechanics During Wheelchair Propulsion

Biomechanics of Stair Ascent and Stair Descent in Middle-Aged Adults

Smartphone Daily Step Count and Body Composition In Free-Living, College-Aged Students Living On and Off Campus

Physical Activity of Young Children Aged 12-36 Months

Modern Methods of Game Mechanics Utilizing Kishōtenketsu in Video Game Design

Characterization and Analysis of Integrins on Immune Cells Found in Canine Carcinomas

A Field Study of Urine Washing Behavior Among Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) in Eastern Amazonia

Effects of glutamate and its receptor antagonists on the feeding behavior of freshwater snails

Antibacterial Effects of Natural Ingredients on Staphylococcus cohnii and Pseudomonas putida

The Effects of Ankle Taping on the Knee Joint During a 90° Cutting Maneuver

Strategies for Multicore Joins

A Comparison of Janus Kinase Signaling levels in extra eye (ee) and wild-type Drosophila melanogaster.

Analyzing the Gut Microbiota of Green Sweat Bees, Agapostemon spp., from the California Coast

The Effect of Extrinsic Factors on Vertical Jump Performance

Effects of High Intensity Interval Exercise on Newly Acquired Fine Motor Skills

The Effects of a Guided Meditation Intervention on Perceived Stress and Cortisol Levels in Collegiate Students

Symmetry in the Sit-to-Stand Movement and the Role of Hip Muscle Strength in Middle Aged Adults

Effects of Octopamine on Feeding Behavior of Freshwater Snails L. stagnalis and H. trivolvis

Body Size, Bite Force, Limb Length, and Sprint Speed of Sceloporus occidentalis in Urban and Non-Urban Environments

Effect of Foot Incline on Back Squat Mechanics

Assessing the Effects of Upper Body and Lower Body Stretching on Anaerobic Swim Performance

In silico Characterization of Hypothetical Proteins from a Next-Generation Sequencing Experiment

Settling & Growth Rates of Mytilus Fouling Communities at Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, California.

Infrared Diagnostics: A Tool to Study Low-Density Massive-Star Magnetospheres

Diversity and Abundance of Zooplankton and Phytoplankton Populations in Channel Islands Harbor, CA in 2017-2018