Category: 2013

Domain-Specific Heaven and Hell: A Matching Theory Method for Generating Permutations of a Popular Joke

Presenter : Noah Cooper

Mentor : Michael Hennessy

Major : Computer & Information Science

Poster 13

Heaven is where the police are English, the cooks are French, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian, and it’s all organized by the Swiss. Hell is where the police are German, the cooks are English, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss, and it’s all organized by the Italians.” So goes the well-known joke reflecting some positive and negative stereotypes of European nations. Every intellectual community, too, has its famous methods, theories, and authors — each known for its merits as well as its shortcomings. So it would seem fertile ground for parodies of the European Heaven & Hell joke. But it turns out this joke has a peculiar structure that re- sists parody. My work analyzes that structure, demonstrating why an ad-hoc attempt at parody is prone to fail. It proposes an alternative algorithmic approach to generating parodies based on matching theory, a subfield of graph theory in finite mathematics. In so doing, I hope it makes some small contribution to the body of knowledge on computer-generated humor and the semantics of humor.“noise” produced by background turbulence may inhibit the capacity of the ctenophore to detect and respond to fluid motions produced by its prey.

Testing Different Models for Cutaneous Thermal Hyperemia

Presenter : Patricia Choi

Mentor : Christopher Minson

Major : Human Physiology

Poster 2

Currently, the assessment of cutaneous thermal hyperemia is done by locally heating the forearm skin from a baseline of 33 to 42 oC at a rate of 0.1oC/1s. The purpose of this study was to test two different heating protocols from the standard heating protocol. The first heating protocol decreased the target temperature to 39oC compared to the standard heating protocol. The second heating protocol used gradual heating rate of 0.1oC/60s compared to the standard heating proto- col. Four microdialysis fibers were placed in the forearm skin of 16 young healthy subjects. In protocol 1 and 2 (female = 8, male = 8): (1) Control, (2) NO inhibitor, L-NAME (3) KCa channel inhibitor, tetraethylammonium (TEA), and (4) L-NAME +TEA . For both studies, skin sites were locally heated on the forearm from a baseline of 33oC to target temperatures. After maintaining the target temperature for about 40 minutes, the four skin sites were heated to 43.5oC to attain maximal skin blood flow (SkBF). SkBF was measured with Laser Doppler flowmetry. Data are presented as % maximal cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), which equals blood flow divided by mean arterial pressure. In protocol 1, all drug sites attenuated plateau CVC from the control sites. Compared to the control plateau CVC, there was 80.1 % decrease with L-NAME, close to 77.6% decrease in the L-NAME +TEA site, and 35.2% decrease with TEA. In protocol 2, L-NAME and L-NAME + TEA sites showed attenuated plateau CVC, 29.1% and 32.2% decrease, respectively, compared to the control site.

Effects of Pentamidine Derivatives on Myotonic Dystrophy

Presenter : Jessica Choi

Mentor : Andy Berglund

Major : Biochemistry

Poster 8

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is a genetic disorder caused by an expansion of the trinucleotide (CTG) repeats in myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) gene. This disease is characterized by myotonia and is commonly presented as the inability to relax muscles after contraction. Currently, there is no known cure or treatment for this disease. However, a drug called, pentamidine, has been discovered to relieve the severity of the disease by decreasing the level of toxic RNA. More specifically, pentamidine has been demonstrated to rescue RNA splicing, which involves excising out introns and combining exons together in an mRNA sequence to ultimately provide a functioning RNA. Without proper splicing, mutations can give rise to serious diseases like DM. In order to decrease the severity of DM, a high concentration of this drug must be administered, which also inevitably results in a significant decrease in cell viability. Thus, designing a derivative of pentamidine with higher efficacy and lower toxicity is the primary goal of this project. Performing a simple substitution reaction (SN2) from a cyano group-containing core compounds and n-butyl lithium is an easy, yet powerful method to produce the derivatives. Some previously synthesized derivatives have shown promising results with less nega- tive effects on cell viability (less toxic) and increased levels of splicing rescue, although further study needs to continue to search for the most effective drug.the overall success of these organisms.

Biomechanics of Jellyfish in Turbulence

Presenter : Susan Brush

Mentor : Kelly Sutherland

Major : Marine Biology

Poster 25

Hydromedusan jellyfish are planktonic organisms and, as such, are exposed to ocean water motion that directly impacts how they eat, disperse and eventually spawn. To understand the effect that realistic levels of water motion has on individual organisms, our research examines the role that turbulence plays in the swimming behavior of hydromedusae. Using a laboratory turbulence tank, we observed the behavior of two species of hydromedusae with distinct body shapes at two levels of turbulence. We were able to establish that these two species occupy different depths within the water. While statistical comparison resulted in no significant dif- ference in swimming speed and acceleration between turbulence treatments, qualitative comparisons between swimming patterns of the two species suggests that turbulence does influence the swimming trajectories of prolate individuals (bullet-shaped) com- pared oblate individuals (plate-shape). Swimming behavior is closely tied with feeding behavior in hydromedusae. Therefore these findings indicate that turbulent conditions, which are ubiquitous in the ocean, may disproportionately influence feeding in certain species and could impact the overall success of these organisms.

Motionese: Subject to Preference?

Presenter : Natalie Brezack

Mentor : Dare Baldwin

Major :Psychology

Poster 12

Research by Kuhl, Coffey-Corina, Padden, and Dawson, 2005, demonstrated that typically developing infants prefer “motherese” speech to a non-speech analog. In contrast, children with autism spectrum disorder show the reverse preference, and the degree to which this is true predicts their developmental progress in processing properties of speech streams. I am investigating possible parallels to these findings in children’s processing of human action; specifically, whether developmental skills in preschool-aged children predict the degree to which they prefer “motionese” versus a non-action analog (or the reverse), and whether the strength of their preference predicts the sophistication of their processing of intentional action. Preliminary results based on participation from forty 2- to 3-year- olds indicate a significant correlation between executive function skills and degree of preference for motionese versus the non-action analog. Should these findings be borne out in the full sample, they point to important links between the development of language and intentional action processing, and they may have implications for designing interventions for children developing atypically.

Predicted SH3 Binding Motif in Drosophila aPKC is Required for Proper Localization of aPKC During Asymmetric Cell Division of Neuroblasts

Presenter : Ryan Boileau

Mentor : Ken Prehoda

Major : Biochemistry, Human Physiology, Human Biology

Poster 22

Asymmetric cell division of Drosophila neural stem cells, neuroblasts, require the proper localization of factors that influence the orientation of cell divisions and future fates of mitotic progeny. Errors in the generation of this polarity could cause cells to overproliferate and become cancerous. In neuroblasts, atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) has been previously shown to be a key mediator in the genera- tion of apico-basal polarity by localizing to the apical cortex and restricting fate determinants Numb and Miranda to the basal cortex during cell division. This allows the dividing neuroblast to maintain pluripotency while also generating a daughter cell that differenti- ates into neurons. Although the mechanism of how aPKC restricts basal determinants has become transparent, we seek to evaluate how aPKC itself is apically localized. Using a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches, we have found that a predicted SH3 binding motif within aPKC is necessary for apical polarization. We hypothesize that an SH3 domain containing protein binds to aPKC at this site and plays a role in stabilizing apical localization. Future research will be focused on finding interacting partners of this SH3 binding motif using a candidate gene-based approach.

The Indigenous Siberian Health and Adaptation Project: Seasonal Variation in Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders among the Yakut (Sakha) of Siberia

Presenter : Vimal Balu

Mentor : Josh Snodgrass

Major : Biology, Anthropology

Northern populations physiologically adapt to extreme cold by upregularing basal metabolic rate. The thyroid appears central to this adaptation. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolic responses to chronic cold among indigenous Arctic populations. However, it is un- clear whether this adaptation among circumpolar groups predisposes them to autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITDs). This study ad- dresses this question by examining correlates of seasonal variation in anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) concentrations among the Yakut of Siberia. Anthropometric and biomarker data were obtained on two occasions (Summer 2009 and Winter 2011) on a sample of Yakut men (n=52) and women (n=88) (≥18 years old). TPOAb levels are higher in summer than winter in both men (P<0.01) and women (P<0.05). Women have significantly higher TPOAb levels than men (P=0.05), and are more likely to have an AITD (28% of women versus 4% of men; TPOAb >30 IU/mL). TPOAb concentrations are associated with several anthropometric dimensions among men (negative trends with weight [P=0.08]). Finally, changes in TPOAb showed a positive trend association with change in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH; P=0.06) among men, but among women change in TPOAb was negatively associated with change in HDL cholesterol and showed a positive trend with change in triglycerides (P=0.1) and hemoglobin (P=0.08). This study documented impor- tant sex differences in AITD risk among the Yakut, and an unexpected drop in TPOAb levels between summer and winter.

Increasing Access to Clean Water: Four Elements of Integrated Water Resources Management as Observed in Two Angolan Water Projects

Presenter: Julia Stafford (Political Science, History)

Mentor: Ron Mitchell

Oral Presentation

Panel C: “Explorations in Chemistry and Water” Oak Room

Concurrent Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm

Facilitator: Sheri Donahoe

By what means can we effectively deliver a bigger quantity of safe, clean water to more people? Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is the dominant framework, calling for the integration of every scale of stakeholder power to achieve increased clean water access. Participatory decision making, capacity building, public‐private partnerships, and valuation are four elements of IWRM that contribute to an effective water management project. Participatory mechanisms increase clean water access by incorporating the principle of subsidiarity. Capacity building creates sustainability by strengthening local resources that would otherwise restrict the expansion of clean water access. Public‐private partnerships alleviate pressure on public institutions which may be incapable of water management independently. Valuation increases the economic viability of water projects. In an evaluation of two IWRM projects in Angola, participatory mechanisms and capacity building are most prominent. In addition, each project reflects the mission of their supporting organization: a social focus for the United Nations Development Programme and an economic one for the World Bank. The United Nations’ project in Angola is more effective in increasing clean water access, validating their human rights and community‐ based project structure.

Utilizing Shear Reactor Technology for Optimizing the Ozonolysis of Alkenes Reaction

Presenter: Ajay Ryerson (Chemistry)

Mentor: David Tyler

Oral Presentation

Panel C: “Explorations in Chemistry and Water” Oak Room

Concurrent Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm

Facilitator: Sheri Donahoe

Ozone is a great oxidizing agent because its byproducts are water and oxygen. Current ozonolysis processes are either slow or dangerous for large scale reactions though. The use of flow reactors is a new technology that solves these problems. We have developed a process for mixing ozone, water and an organic phase together to get our desired material out with little work-up or purification needed. We utilize the Sythetron shear reactor developed by Kinetichem to achieve this mixing. Current yields are comparable to those found in the scientific literature, but results from several experiments have shown that decreasing the volume of gas in the reaction will increase yields. We are very optimistic that once we have an ozone generator that can produce concentrated ozone we will be able a produce material at rates unprecedented in the literature, all while being easier to work‐up than any oxidative process to date.

Making a Catalyst in order to Study the Break Down of Plastics and Other Polymers

Presenter: Mollie Bello (Chemistry)

Mentor: David Tyler

Oral Presentation

Panel C: “Explorations in Chemistry and Water” Oak Room

Concurrent Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm

Facilitator: Sheri Donahoe

The break-down of plastics is an important area of research; however, the way in which these plastics break down is a very complicated reaction. In order to better understand the how different environmental factors play a role in this degradation, the Tyler Lab has synthesized very weak polymers (polymers are the building blocks of plastics). Simple polymers of this type have already been synthesized, which is why my project has been focused on making these weak polymers with a more complicated structure. In order to make this reaction work, a catalyst is needed. In order to use this catalyst, it needs to be synthesized. The production of this catalyst is where my focus has been centered. When the reaction conditions described in the literature are used, I have proven that a different molecule is formed. Going forward on this project, I want to discover why the catalyst is not being formed, and what I can change about my reaction conditions in order to make the desired product.