Schedule of Events
Science Showcase: Poster Session
Soiland Recreation Center
Students from disciplines in the Natural Science Division will present their results in an interactive poster format. The featured research comes from honors and Capstone projects, class assignments, and faculty-directed collaborative efforts.
Student Abstracts
Localization of the Phospholipid Flippase, ABCA4, in the Developing Chicken Retina
Retinal dystrophies and their causes have been stumping researchers for many years. One known cause of inherited macular degeneration is a defect in the phospholipid flippase ABCA4. ABCA4 is specifically found in the outer segments of rod and cone photoreceptors and functions to transport all-trans retinal and phosphatidylethanolamine across the membrane. Adult and embryonic retinas of the chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus, were studied since the developing chicken retina is a commonly used experimental model. However, little is known of the role of ABCA4 in non-mammals. I investigated when ABCA4 appears in the developing chicken retina using SDS-PAGE, western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Two other photoreceptor-specific proteins were also studied: opsin and XAP-1. My hypothesis is that ABCA4 develops early in outer segment development along with opsin and XAP-1. Preliminary results showed the presence of ABCA4, opsin and XAP-1 in the developing chicken retina, although whether they appear at the same time remains to be determined.
Student(s):
Hasmik Adetyan
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kenneth Long
Designing and Programming Simple Robotic Hand Model
A prosthesis can be defined as an artificial device that used to replace a missing body part such as legs or arms. Artificial limbs will be needed in certain conditions, including accidents, diseases, and congenital defects. In this study, a simple model of an artificial hand will be designed and programmed to be able to do simple daily tasks of movements. For example, grasping and releasing fingers, holding things and pointing to things. Mechanisms of those simple movements including degrees of freedom are studied, then translated into real actions using servo motors programmed by Parallax BASIC stamp language. A simple robotic hand model is built and then a way of connecting the servo motors to the fingers in order to make them work as needed is designed.
Student(s):
Sahar Almalki
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Performance Outcome Using Recent Technology of Rumble & Viber Roller for Self-Myofascial Release
Intro: There is limited research on recent self-myofascial release (SMR) technology utilizing the Rumble (bumps) roller and Vyper (vibration) roller to enhance athletic performance. The research has not been conclusive in improving muscle recovery which impacts performance. This study evaluated the overall power, strength, and endurance of 10 physically active collegiate students at Cal-Lutheran University currently participating in the intramural basketball program. It was a cross-over design so all college volunteers participated in all activities. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if recent foam roller technology (Rumble and Vyper) will improve muscle recovery (prevent soreness/fatigue) and allow active individuals to consistently work-out without down time. Method: Participants were asked to perform a series of athletic performance tests (3 upper body, and 3 lower body). The upper body roller session lasted 5 minutes per each arm with 60 seconds per muscle group (biceps, triceps, anterior deltoid, rhomboids, and lattissimus dorsi). The lower body roller session lasted 6 minutes per each leg with 120 seconds per muscle group (hamstrings, quadriceps, and gastronemius). It was hypothesized that recent roller technology will aid in muscle recovery and enhance performance.
Student(s):
Daniel Andrews
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Hugh Lamont
Data Analysis to Improve Driving Habits
Driving habits influence fuel economy, and can affect how much air pollution is emitted from a vehicle. Drivers may have a general idea if whether they are a “slow” or “fast” driver but there’s more to it than just how fast they drive. Improving fuel economy has many benefits ranging from fuel savings to a reduced impact on the environment. Through the use of an OBDII adapter and tablet, live data will be recorded from a car and then analyzed through an application. The data will be run through a set of algorithms and functions that analyze speed, throttle position (accelerator pedal), and fuel usage. A summary and list of tips on how to improve one’s driving habits will be generated based on an individual’s recorded data. This application will also allow an individual to compare their results after learning new ways to improve their driving habits with those before to see if they have improved. This application will be set up on a laptop.
Student(s):
Dennis Arteaga
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Understanding of the Glenohumeral Joint of the Shoulder
I play tennis and am interested in learning the biomechanics (movement and stress related effects on the glenohumeral joint) with respect to sports. In tennis an overhanded throwing motion (which is not natural) is used heavily. My Capstone is an informational project about the glenohumeral joint, more specifically the labrum that holds the ball and socket of the joint together. As a process I initially researched and defined the biology, anatomy and physiology of the shoulder. I was able to identify a number of different tears of the labrum, and healing methods associated with them.
Student(s):
Sarah Baker
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Aiptasia sp. and Anthopleura sp. as Models for the Heat-Induced Bleaching of Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are a living three dimensional framework that houses organisms dependent upon the resources and niches this structure provides. Coral reef biodiversity is under threat from climate change, which alters sea surface temperature (SST). Coral bleaching can occur from temperature increases of just 1°C to 2°C above thermal tolerance limits, a phenomenon more likely to occur during summer months when coral species are inherently proximal to these limits. Bleached corals generally experience reduced productivity and are susceptible to mortality. In order to better understand the relationship between scleractinian corals and zooxanthellae, I used thermal stress treatments A (+Δ1°C) and B (+Δ2°C) on the model organism Aiptasia sp. (ten specimens per treatment) for ten minutes and quantified the associated released concentrations of zooxanthellae. As a measure of confidence in the observed phenomena, I also applied thermal stress treatments A and B to the temperate California coastal anemone Anthopleura sp. Aiptasia specimenssubjected to treatment A expelled a mean concentration of 8.77 ± 1.53 zooxanthellae per mL, while treatment B specimens expelled a mean concentration of 62.31 ± 13.60 zooxanthellae per mL. Anthopleura specimens subjected to treatment A expelled a mean concentration of 22.59 ± 3.79 zooxanthellae per mL, while treatment B specimens expelled a mean concentration of 73.03 ± 7.06 zooxanthellae per mL. My data reveals that both Aiptasia sp. and Anthopleura sp. specimens expelled a significantly higher concentration of zooxanthellae (p < 0.05) under treatment B (+Δ2°C). Further research should focus on the bleaching response of scleractinian corals themselves.
Student(s):
Jonathan Barton
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard
Parrot Ar Drone 2.0: Analysis and Implementation of OpenCV
The versatility of drones has caused the industry to grow quickly. Professionals in several different fields, such as sporting events, photography, and home delivery systems, are using drones to perform their jobs quickly, quietly, efficiently, and with more detailed results. The Parrot Ar Drone 2.0 is a small quad-copter that comes equipped with two 720p cameras. Presently, the drone is a recreational device. However, its ability to go beyond its factory capabilities is unknown. This study will focus on analyzing the bottom camera of the drone, relating pixels to meters. After determining the real life applications possible with this drone, I will use OpenCV, a open source image processing library, to have the drone react and respond to different images. The language I will be using to program the drone is Java. Static tests will be done at different heights in order to relate the pixels of the image to meters. Also, I will attempt to reduce the lag time between the movement of the drone and the image received by my computer. Finally, I will create a program that uses the bottom camera of the drone to perform different tasks according to what the cameras sees.
Student(s):
Jack Bension
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Roles of SOCS36E Inactivation on extra eye Penetrance in Drosophila melanogaster
The Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway governs many developmental and pathological processes in Drosophila melanogaster. Extra eye (ee) is an incompletely penetrant, variably expressed mutation located on chromosome 2L. Prior studies of JAK/STAT signaling and ee indicate that the penetrance of ee phenotypes increase as JAK/STAT activity is upregulated. SOCS36E is a known feedback inhibitor of the JAK/STAT pathway. Thus, loss of function of SOCS36E may be used to analyze the penetrance of ee in a scenario of intensified JAK/STAT signaling. This purpose of this investigation was to test whether mutations in SOCS36E enhance the ee phenotype as a result of JAK/STAT activation.
Four Drosophila lines were utilized: Wild type (#1), ee (Stock JG1), and two lines containing SOCS36E loss of function mutations (#35896 and #33106). Virgin JG1 females were crossed in three separate instances to males of wild type, and both SOCS36E mutant lines. F1 generations for each of the three crosses were collected and evaluated for ee penetrance. An evaluation of the three crosses indicated that there was a significant increase in ee penetrance in both of the SOCS36E crosses in relation to the control wild type cross. It appears that ee penetrance is heightened by JAK/STAT activation via loss of SOCS36E inhibition.
Four Drosophila lines were utilized: Wild type (#1), ee (Stock JG1), and two lines containing SOCS36E loss of function mutations (#35896 and #33106). Virgin JG1 females were crossed in three separate instances to males of wild type, and both SOCS36E mutant lines. F1 generations for each of the three crosses were collected and evaluated for ee penetrance. An evaluation of the three crosses indicated that there was a significant increase in ee penetrance in both of the SOCS36E crosses in relation to the control wild type cross. It appears that ee penetrance is heightened by JAK/STAT activation via loss of SOCS36E inhibition.
Student(s):
Jared Berman
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. David Marcey
Biomechanical Analysis Between a Squat Jump and a Squat Jump within a Burpee Pre and Post Fatigue
Body weight exercises are predicted to be one of the most popular fitness trends of 2015 (ACSM Health and Fitness Journal, 2014). They are commonly used by anaerobically trained athletes, and individuals interested in high intensity, time efficient exercises. In previous squat jump studies it was shown technique changes may be associated with greater sheer force in the spine, leading to a greater risk of injury (Potvin et al. 1991). The burpee is a movement that combines the squat with a pushup position with a vertical jump. It is important to determine whether the potential loss of technique in the burpee is outweighed by the aerobic benefits of involving more body parts around a squat jump. The purpose of this study was to determine the similarities and differences between the kinematic and kinetic characteristics in the concentric phase of a squat jump and a squat jump within a burpee. A secondary purpose is to assess the effects of fatigue on the technique of both movements. Ten anaerobically trained college students performed squat jumps and burpees until exhaustion. Jump orders were randomized and a five-minute recovery time was given between conditions. Concentric phase analysis of both exercises were measured with two Kistler force plates collecting ground reaction forces (1200 Hz), while 3-dimensional kinematic data was collected with six Vicon cameras (120 Hz). Joint angles and joint torques of the trunk, hip, and knee were computed using Nexus software. Multiple paired t-tests will be computed using SPSS version 22 (p < 0.05).
Student(s):
Elise Brady, Tyler Tardiff, Allyson Hadley, William Arnold, Megan Lennon
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc
Manipulation of Cytokine Expression and its Effect on Hepatitis C Virus Infected U937 Monocytes
The Human Hepatitis C Virus is a worldwide problem that affects millions of people each day. With nearly 170 million people infected worldwide and 350,000 annual HCV-related casualties, the search for an HCV vaccine is an ongoing priority. Thus, it is important to obtain as much knowledge as possible on how HCV infections are expressed in infected cells. Previous research has demonstrated the importance of cytokines, which are intercellular proteins that act as signals between immune cells like monocytes. Therefore, the initial focus of this ongoing study was to quantify the expression of cytokines in both uninfected and infected monocytes. RNA purification was performed on cultured cells, which was then followed by Reverse Transcriptase (RT) and Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). A standard curve composed of different concentrations of HCV RNA and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were used in order to quantify the analyzed cytokines. Over the course of this study, approximately 25 unique genes were analyzed. From these 25 genes, six genes (TAF1L, TNF, TNFAPI3, TAX1BP1, PAK2, and API5) showed at least two-fold up-regulation in infected samples. All of these genes except TAF1L have been shown to be anti-apoptotic genes. Because liver cells are known to avoid apoptosis during acute HCV infection, these genes are of particular interest. Further quantification studies and analyses will be conducted on these anti-apoptotic genes as well as a gene knockdown to further study their role in HCV infected cells.
Student(s):
Salvador Brito, Dr. Dennis Revie
Faculty Mentor:
Dennis Revie
The Relationship Between Ventral Patches and Dominance in Sceloporus Occidentalis
Sceloporus occidentalis, or the Western fence lizard, is considered a territorial lizard because it exhibits site fidelity, defense of territory, and holds a near exclusive use of the territory. Being territorial entails both intersexual (male-female) and intrasexual (male-male) interactions between members of the species. I propose that one of the ways that male S. occidentalis signal to other males and females that they are the dominant ones is through the use of the blue patches on their ventral side, and that the larger the patch, the more dominant the lizard. I will test this by measuring territories for each lizard spotted within our research site of Mt. Clef and attempting staged encounters that are a more direct comparison of dominance. The territories are measured by using GPS surveys in which we scan the research site (Mt. Clef) for Sceloporus occidentalis and mark their location. Then, the territories are compared with the ventral patches that have been photographed and analyzed in the lab. Last summer, we worked with 13 males with an average of 3 sightings per male with the most sightings for any one lizard being 11 and the lowest sightings being 1. Using these data, we delineated basic preliminary territories.
Student(s):
Luis Burgos, Dr. Kris Karsten, Katherine Dubsky
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kris Karsten
Analysis of Common Proto-Oncogenes in Canine Carcinomas
An ever-increasing demand exists for mammalian model systems between human and canine cancers. The canine genome has become a popular model for mammalian comparative genomics within the past decade. An investigation was conducted into identifying different genomic mutations in canine in situ carcinomas and comparing those mutations with those found in human cancers. It was expected that the tumor cells harvested and cultured in vitro should prove to be useful models for comparative genomic study. Four canine tumor lines, a mammary gland carcinoma, a canine lipoma, a sebaceous adenoma, and a mast cell tumor were harvested from dogs at a local Veterinary Hospital and grown in vitro. DNA was extracted, purified, and amplified with 30 oligonucleotide primer sets, corresponding to common proto-oncogenes shared between canines and humans, using PCR. Their presence on the genome was verified via gel electrophoresis, optimized, and then sequenced via capillary electrophoresis. In vitro studies concluded that the neoplasms harvested were not truly immortalized cell growths, with MG1 cultures going into quiescence after passage 11. Molecular studies concluded and verified the presence of a majority of common proto-oncogenes among all four canine carcinomas. Due to quality of genomic DNA, oligonucleotide design, and further optimization needed, only short sequences obtained were viable candidates for alignment and comparative analysis. In conclusion, our in vitro system can sustain most cell lines for at least 5-10 passages in culture. Primer sets for gene sequencing have been validated and should yield sequences in the next phase of the project.
Student(s):
Tristen Burt
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber
Reducing Carbon Emissions With Efficient Cooking
The developing world consumes nearly 500 million tons of rice annually. In most cases they cook the rice using primitive wood burning stoves, as a result nearly 300 million tons of carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere annually from cooking alone. My goal then is to find a more efficient method of cooking rice using solar energy and insulation boxes so that that number can be cut down significantly.
I intend to develop a plan for cooking rice which will utilize solar energy as a primary source of heat and a kerosene cooker as a back-up. I will build and test an insulation box that is designed to finish the process of cooking rice without requiring any additional energy input. The rice will be moved from the solar cooker or stove once it has reached a certain temperature that will allow it to finish cooking in a reasonable amount of time. The temperature and most efficient method will be determined through experimentation. Once there are accurate numbers to work with it will be a simple task to determine the amount of sunlight necessary to reach the required temperature. From there an in-depth analysis can be performed which would assist in creating tailored cooking schedules for different parts of the developing world where there may or may not be sunlight in abundance. Using that data and previously researched facts about current carbon emissions resulting from biomass cooking fuels, I can predict how great the impact of my method’s implementation might be.
I intend to develop a plan for cooking rice which will utilize solar energy as a primary source of heat and a kerosene cooker as a back-up. I will build and test an insulation box that is designed to finish the process of cooking rice without requiring any additional energy input. The rice will be moved from the solar cooker or stove once it has reached a certain temperature that will allow it to finish cooking in a reasonable amount of time. The temperature and most efficient method will be determined through experimentation. Once there are accurate numbers to work with it will be a simple task to determine the amount of sunlight necessary to reach the required temperature. From there an in-depth analysis can be performed which would assist in creating tailored cooking schedules for different parts of the developing world where there may or may not be sunlight in abundance. Using that data and previously researched facts about current carbon emissions resulting from biomass cooking fuels, I can predict how great the impact of my method’s implementation might be.
Student(s):
Curtis Cagliano
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. John Deisz
Measuring the Efficiency of Live Code (RADLs) & Android SDK in Creating Cross Platform Software
Software development has become more complex with the need of providing applications that work on all available platforms (desktop, laptop, tablet, smart phone) and operating systems (MacOS, Windows, Linux). The purpose of this study is to develop an application using Live Code to see how efficient it is in creating a usable cross-platform application while also comparing it to the typical industry environment, Android SDK (Java). To conduct this type of study, a map application, S.E.A Navigation, was initially developed using LiveCode due to its cross-platform model; it is a binary compatible programming language that was developed with the intention running code on different operating systems. However, it was revealed that there are limitations to using LiveCode. After developing S.E.A Navigation through Android SDK, it will be tested on different platforms on several devices with a specific test plan which focuses on specification fulfillment, resource usage, and speed. It will reveal insights for future development of other IDEs and programming languages that have a similar cross-platform centered design like Live Code and Java.
Student(s):
Carla De Lira
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
TP53 and STK11 Mutations in Canine Derived Tumors
Cancer and its effects have been a focus of intense study in the biomedical sciences. In this study, different types of dog tumors received from a local veterinarian, were analyzed for genetic mutations that could potentially correlate with mutations in human tumors. A mast cell tumor was selected for this study. These tumor suppressors and oncogenes were chosen for analysis: TP53, CDKN2A, AURKA, KRAS, STK11, and EGFR. To determine if mutations were present in these genes, PCR and gel electrophoresis were used to amplify and isolate the DNA sequences within the genes of interest. The results of the PCR and gel electrophoresis showed bands for STK11 and TP53. In vitro studies demonstrated that our culture system could sustain up to 3 passages and continuing. This could indicate a correlation between the dog and human genome in these genes and their mutations. Testing the DNA from the mast cell tumors could lead to better understanding of the behavior of cancer cells in canines and humans. We hope to establish a long-term, cancer cell line that can be a model system for further study.
Student(s):
Tyler Delaughder, Karla Aviles, Ryan Zapata, and Dena Hillo
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber and Dr. Dennis Revie
Motion Tracking Accelerometer
Have you ever had a hard time deciding whether to go bowling or stay home and play Wii bowling? What if you could use that Wii controller to throw a real bowling ball? This is a proof of concept project using motion tracking through the use of an accelerometer to control a robotic arm. The accelerometer is built into a human interface device (Wii nun chuck controller) and transmits a signal through an embedded microcontroller to a robot arm. This project enlists mechanical, electronic and software rapid prototyping techniques to speed the development.
Student(s):
Shaun Douglas
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
The Social Effects of Tail Loss on Sceloporus occidentalis
As with many lizards, male Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) are territorial. The more dominant males keep larger territories with better basking spots, hiding places, and food resources. A better territory means that the male will likely have more females nearby and therefore more mating opportunities. Also like other lizards, S. occidentalis can voluntarily lose their tails to avoid predation. However, because they store fat in their tails, losing them may lower lizards’ chance of survival and their social status. We conducted this study to determine if tail loss in males affects ability to maintain territory or access to females. We collected data from males and females in 2014 from May to August. Each time we spotted a lizard, we marked it for identification and collected a GPS point at the exact location where it was found. We mapped individual territories using these points. We determined the number of females accessible to a male by the number of female home ranges his territory overlapped. In total, we recorded 18 males and 17 females and plotted their GPS points on a map of the region. However, because of limited observations for each individual, we were not able to determine territory use for each lizard by the end of the season. This year from March to May, we will collect more data points to accurately delineate territory size. In May, we will remove tails from half of the males and observe how their territories change until the end of the season.
Student(s):
Katherine Dubsky
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kris Karsten
Influence of Matrix Symmetries on Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
This project examines the connections between the bisymmetric matrices R. Reid’s “Some Eigenvalues Properties of Persymmetric Matrices" and the symmetric centrosymmetric matrices of A. Cantoni and P. Butler’s “Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of Symmetric Centrosymmetric Matrices." It demonstrates that bisymmetric matrices and symmetric centrosymmetric matrices are the same type of matrix and describes the group structure of the set of matricies of this type. The proofs given in both papers about the eigenvalue and eigenvector properties of bisymmetric matrices of even order establish a method for determining the eigenvalues and eigenvectors more quickly utilizing the block structure of the matrix. After investigating the methods used in proving the even case, the methods are modified in order to extend the results to prove the statements given in the papers without proof about bisymmeric matrices of odd order, exploring why the different block structure made these changes necessary.
Student(s):
Tavish Dunn
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michael Gagliardo
The Role of SR-B1 and LDLR in the Entry of Hepatitis C Virus in Monocyte Cells
Hepatitis C virus is one of the main contributors to liver disease in a majority of the population. Two receptors that have been determined to contribute to the entry of Hepatitis C in hepatocytes are the scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) and the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). The LDL receptor is important for early stage infection and SR-B1 has been found to contribute to cell-to-cell infection within the liver. In this study, both receptors are analyzed first through qRT-PCR and then with flow cytometry. Currently, only the SR-B1 receptor has been found to be present in the monocyte cell line, U937 uninfected cells, through the use of flow cytometry.
Student(s):
Kayla Edman
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dennis Revie
The Role of pseudo-tRNATrp in antibiotic Resistance in Bacillus thuringiensis.
As antibiotic resistance in bacteria increases, the need for knowledge in this area becomes more necessary. Our research focuses on the gene, pseudo-tRNATrp, found in Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171 that is hypothesized to confer increased antibiotic resistance in this bacterium based on its sequence similarity to a gene that modulates antibiotic resistance in relative Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579.
This hypothesis is being tested by first producing a strain of B. thuringiensis BMB171 that does not contain pseudo-tRNATrp. To delete this gene by allelic exchange, a plasmid was constructed to contain 1 kb upstream and downstream of the pseudo-tRNATrp gene. This was achieved by a multistep PCR process, called PCR-sewing. First, the two nucleotide sequences surrounding pseudo-tRNATrp were amplified separately using primers with an overlapping sequence. Next, the two amplicons were annealed via their overlapping sequence and extended by DNA polymerase, effectively removing pseudo-tRNATrp, followed by amplification of the connected, “sewn”, sequences. The resulting product, ∆pseudoTrp-NAND, was inserted into a shuttle vector, pMUTIN4, by restriction digestion and ligation.
Currently, the deletion plasmid has been successfully produced and induced into E. coli DH5α via transformation. Further transformation followed by selection of B. thuringiensis with recombined plasmid is underway. Finally, antibiotic resistance between this deletion strain and wild-type B. thuringiensis BMB171 will be compared. If pseudo-tRNATrp alters antibiotic resistance in B. thuringiensis, the role of pseudo-tRNATrp can be studied in B. thuringiensis, an insect pathogen, rather than B. cereus, a food pathogen that presents safety concerns.
This hypothesis is being tested by first producing a strain of B. thuringiensis BMB171 that does not contain pseudo-tRNATrp. To delete this gene by allelic exchange, a plasmid was constructed to contain 1 kb upstream and downstream of the pseudo-tRNATrp gene. This was achieved by a multistep PCR process, called PCR-sewing. First, the two nucleotide sequences surrounding pseudo-tRNATrp were amplified separately using primers with an overlapping sequence. Next, the two amplicons were annealed via their overlapping sequence and extended by DNA polymerase, effectively removing pseudo-tRNATrp, followed by amplification of the connected, “sewn”, sequences. The resulting product, ∆pseudoTrp-NAND, was inserted into a shuttle vector, pMUTIN4, by restriction digestion and ligation.
Currently, the deletion plasmid has been successfully produced and induced into E. coli DH5α via transformation. Further transformation followed by selection of B. thuringiensis with recombined plasmid is underway. Finally, antibiotic resistance between this deletion strain and wild-type B. thuringiensis BMB171 will be compared. If pseudo-tRNATrp alters antibiotic resistance in B. thuringiensis, the role of pseudo-tRNATrp can be studied in B. thuringiensis, an insect pathogen, rather than B. cereus, a food pathogen that presents safety concerns.
Student(s):
Jordan Felipe, Dr. Theresa Rogers
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Theresa Rogers
Analyzing Cell Kinetics and the Relation to Integrin Expression in Various Canine Tumors
Tumors are defined as a rapid increase in cell turnover due to several internal factors, principally mutations in DNA. There are many forms of tumor treatments; however, integrins, cell membrane adhesion and signaling proteins, serve as a potential candidate for therapy. It is expected that various types and expression levels of integrins will be displayed in an assortment of canine tumors. It is also expected that canine tumors with a greater amount of integrins will express increased growth kinetics compared to other tumors. Multiple types of canine tumors were retrieved from the Arroyo Vista Veterinary Hospital, macerated and placed in dishes for in vitro culture. The analysis of cell growth kinetics will be based on cell count utilizing hemacytometery and confluency percentages. As a control for growth kinetics, a commonly used and well-characterized transformed mouse fibroblast cell line, 3T3, is utilized. In order to identify certain integrin heterodimers, specific integrin antagonists will be placed into different cultures. The cultures would then be observed for changes in growth kinetics which would indicate the significance of integrins in cell proliferation. With the aim of quantifying integrin expression, flow cytometry will be utilized to measure the amount of certain integrins on the surface of canine cancer cells. The data gathered from kinetics and integrin expression will indicate the relationship between integrin expression and cell growth of these tumor types.
Student(s):
William Frem
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber
Tacobout It
Tacobout It is an Android application that will make it extremely easy for food trucks to establish their current location of business at any given time, and will allow for customers to track and find food trucks around them. Customers will be able to create profiles and have lists of preferred vendors, and vendors will have their own set of profiles as well. This application will utilize Google's Location and Maps API for finding and assigning locations of food vendors and customers. Today, customers mostly rely on several social media sites to find their favorite food trucks, which is extremely unreliable. My application will give everyone a centralized hub for all their food truck needs.
Student(s):
Eduardo Garcia
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Forecasting GDP Using an Integrated Model of the United States Automotive Sector.
Motor vehicles and parts represent a significant share of the durable goods component of personal consumption expenditures. Because the automotive sector reacts promptly to changes in various aspects of the economy, it is a key sector to use to model changes in expectations. Adding the auto sector to a Macroeconomic forecast model should improve the model’s ability to characterize the future. The research attempts to demonstrate that the auto sector model provides a valuable mechanism to capture dynamics and inter-linkages that represent an influential segment of the economy. The model uses a bottom up approach. The detail included breakdowns of new versus used auto markets, as well as breakdowns of automobiles versus light trucks. I also incorporated differing credit costs for the new versus used vehicle markets. The resulting forecasted auto-sector variables were integrated into the personal consumption portion of the GDP model and used as regressors in arriving at its forecast. The automotive sector proved sensitive to changes in exogenous levers and modeled consumer behavior during economic downturns appropriately. Its integration into a broader GDP model yielded a much more detailed forecast of the largest component of GDP, personal consumption expenditures, that was very responsive to the assumptions made. This detail added important inter-connections with various segments of the economy that a model without the auto sector would not account for.
Student(s):
Karina Ghoul
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dan Hamilton
Mechanical Properties of Components Produced with Makerbot 2 3D Printer
The recent availability of affordable 3D thermoplastic printers allows rapid prototyping used in industrial and academic engineering settings alike. Additionally, opensource websites now distribute digital manufacturing designs that are shared by owners from around the world. However, for these designs to be used in engineering application, the mechanical properties of the materials used must be known. This study defines the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the two most common thermoplastics, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA), with a standard template used for testing of unreinforced plastics (ASTM D638).
Student(s):
Patrick Gregory
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Longitudinal Associations Between Measures of Sarcopenia and Osteopenia
The purpose of this study was to determine the longitudinal associations between anthropometric and functional measures of sarcopenia and osteopenia. Fifty-three subjects (19 males and 34 females) aged 68-91 yrs were recruited from the previous study completed in 2011. Bone mineral density was measured by a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. A leg strength test, performed on a leg press machine, and pinch strength and handgrip strength tests, performed with a dynamometer, were used to measure muscle strength. Get up and go was performed as a measure of functionality. Data were compared across time by paired samples t-tests (p < 0.05). For males, there was a significant decline in leg press (471±158 vs. 379±125 lbs, p < 0.05) and grip (40±8 vs. 37±7 kg, p < 0.05) strength. GUG time (6.8± 1.3 vs. 7.8±2.9 s) and hip BMD (0.930±0.14 vs. 0.902±0.15 g/cm2) approached significance. For females, GUG time (6.7±1.1 vs. 7.1±1.3 s, p < 0.05), grip strength (27±5 vs. 25±6 kg, p < 0.05), and hip BMD (0.761±0.10 vs. 0.741±0.11 g/cm2, p < 0.05) changed significantly. For both males and females, change in GUG time and change in grip strength were the strongest predictors of change in hip and spine BMD. It appears that strength and functional measures may be useful to predict osteoporosis in older men and women.
Student(s):
Amanda Hamilton, 1Amanda Hamilton, 2Jessica Tran, 1Steven Hawkins, Ph.D., FACSM 1Department of Exercise Science, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA; 2Cell and Molecular Biology and Public Health, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Steve Hawkins
Neural Control of Drone
This project is about controlling drone movements using an EEG headset that will allow the user’s thoughts to be the input for control. This could have many applications in almost any field that will allow a user to use their own thoughts to control any piece of technology equipped with this capability. The goal of this project specifically is to use the headset to control the drone to move forward, backward, left, right, and spin. With all of these controls, you can move the drone in any shape and move it practically anywhere in open space. This project will focus on designing a code that can move the drone in specific directions, and that will allow communication between the headset and the drone. I will be designing the code so that a specific input reading from the headset will be put into a database that will be matched with a movement. Once the drone is active, anytime the headset receives an input, it will look into the database to find the input and the movement it is matched with. The movement will then be executed in the drone.
Student(s):
Richard Hegner
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Acute Effect of Kinesio Taping on Peak Torque in Isokinetic Testing Between Athletes & Non-athletes
There is a growing interest in the benefits of using Kinesio tape (KT) for rehabilitation and sports medicine. However, there is an unclear effectiveness of KT on muscle facilitation, which points to the need for additional research. The aim of this study is to investigate the acute effect of kinesio taping on quadriceps peak torque during maximum concentric isokinetic testing between Division III athletes and Non-athletes. Participants visited the Exercise Physiology Laboratory GSFC 243, for a total of three testing sessions; one randomly assigned mode per session: (No taping, Kinesio Taping, and Placebo Taping). Isokinetic knee extension testing (5 reps at 60˚/s, 5 reps at 120˚/s, and 5 reps at 180˚/s) on a Biodex System 3 Isokinetic Dynamometer collecting quadriceps peak torque was used with each taping session. There was a 60 second rest period in between the 3 velocities tested on the Isokinetic Dynamometer. Statistical significance was determined with p<0.05.
Student(s):
Brita Hoffman
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly
Applying Queuing Theory to a Queuing System
Queuing theory uses flow balance equations derived from steady states to determine the probability of each state; in queuing theory a state represents the number of customers present at the system. I modeled the queuing system at the Centrum cafe on California Lutheran University campus assuming that the arrival and service rates follow exponential distribution.The queue system at the register followed M/M/1/FCFS/1/1. I figured out the arrival rate, and service rate. I computed the waiting time and compared it to the data. I simplified the model at the kitchen to M/M/1/FCFS/1/1. Then I connected them using the fact that of kitchen depends on of the register. After calculating the probability of each steady state, I calculated the queue time at the register and the kitchen.
Student(s):
Su Ji Hong
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. John Villalpando
The Effect of Carbohydrates on Blood Glucose Levels During and After Exercise
The race to find a cure for diabetes has shown promising results in the past few years. Many new medical devices and products have been developed to increase the quality of life; however, during exercise, these devices are not always practical to use. Knowing how the body reacts to different types of carbohydrates is important for maintaining great control over this condition. In this study I will be looking at how different types of carbohydrates (slow acting vs fast acting) effect glucose levels with regards to different types of exercise (anaerobic vs aerobic). To do so, I have followed a consistent program for both types of exercise as well as defined my fast and slow acting carbohydrates. In order to reduce the variability among the data, there are strict guidelines to be followed such as ensuring there is no active insulin in my system prior to the start of the test. Being a type I diabetic, I want to come to a definitive conclusion regarding the correct type of carbohydrate to consume prior to exercise in order to sustain normal blood glucose levels both during and after exercise.
Student(s):
Patrick Horton
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
An Efficient Synthesis of Coumarin Crosslinkers
Prior investigation into the field of fluorescent DNA markers has presented the need for a marker that could operate in live cells without causing mutations, and would also be highly photoactive.
Purpose: This project examined the synthetic route taken by applying Suzuki cross-coupling in order to add variable side-chains to Coumarin as well as determined the efficiency of this step in order to increase yield of the desired Coumarin Crosslinkers.
Methods: The synthetic route for the target molecule had a crucial intermediate step that needed to be optimized. This step involved the binding of Coumarin with two different long carbon chains. We then altered the conditions with which we ran the Suzuki Couplings, for instance we adjusted the concentration of the reactants in our solvent system from 0.05M-0.1M, temperature from 75oC-95oC, and equivalencies of the reactants to increase the overall yield. Following the examination of the reaction parameters, we moved on to evaluate the stability of each product as well as see which of the products was higher yielding. We sought to ensure the work up for the reaction was efficient, so we checked what solvents allowed for the best separation of our products by column chromatography.
Results: In the end the highest yields we managed to achieve were ~80% and ~70%. In addition, the purity of our resultant compounds was high, so the overall performance of the synthetic route was very good. We did also discover that the product containing the longer side-chain was the higher yielding and more stable.
Purpose: This project examined the synthetic route taken by applying Suzuki cross-coupling in order to add variable side-chains to Coumarin as well as determined the efficiency of this step in order to increase yield of the desired Coumarin Crosslinkers.
Methods: The synthetic route for the target molecule had a crucial intermediate step that needed to be optimized. This step involved the binding of Coumarin with two different long carbon chains. We then altered the conditions with which we ran the Suzuki Couplings, for instance we adjusted the concentration of the reactants in our solvent system from 0.05M-0.1M, temperature from 75oC-95oC, and equivalencies of the reactants to increase the overall yield. Following the examination of the reaction parameters, we moved on to evaluate the stability of each product as well as see which of the products was higher yielding. We sought to ensure the work up for the reaction was efficient, so we checked what solvents allowed for the best separation of our products by column chromatography.
Results: In the end the highest yields we managed to achieve were ~80% and ~70%. In addition, the purity of our resultant compounds was high, so the overall performance of the synthetic route was very good. We did also discover that the product containing the longer side-chain was the higher yielding and more stable.
Student(s):
Trevor Hougen
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Jason Kingsbury
A Study of Pascal’s Triangle, and d-Dimensional Generalizations
Pascal’s Triangle was studied along with a Square Pyramid and Tetrahedron. These were later generalized to two different families of d-dimensional shapes and fractals contained in these shapes were generated. Two formulas for dimensions were discovered and a theorem that justifies an earlier assumption was proven.
Student(s):
Kevin Howe
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Nathan Carlson
Powering CLU: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Installing Photovoltaics at California Lutheran University
One of the biggest challenges the world faces today is reducing the effects of climate change. The production of energy using fossil fuels results in emissions of carbon dioxide, and this increasing abundance of greenhouse gases is causing global warming. Today there exist sustainable solutions and renewable technology that can help reduce or even solve these problems. Photovoltaic panels produces energy from solar radiation with zero emissions of carbon dioxide. However, they are costly to produce. In Southern California there is a high insolation rate and thus a good opportunity to harvest energy from the sun. The purpose of my senior capstone research is to perform a cost-benefit analysis of installing solar panels at the California Lutheran University, from an economical and environmental perspective. By investigating the school’s energy consumption, power content and cost I will make a prognosis for future energy consumption, cost and emissions. That will be compared by the potential savings and reduced carbon dioxide footprint after the instalment of solar panels.
Student(s):
Beatrice Jansson Palmer
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. John Deisz
The Effect of a Weighted Vest on Knee Mechanics during Unanticipated 45° Cutting Maneuvers
Non-contact injuries to the knee joint are most common in sports requiring sudden deceleration and change of direction maneuvers which have been found to increase knee valgus angles and the strain on the knee. These mechanical changes have been found to increase the risk of non-contact ACL injury (Otsuki et. al, 2014). It is common for athletic trainers and coaches to stress the importance of lower extremity strengthening to reduce injury, however, little to no attention has been directed to proper loading mechanics in agility and speed drills. Football players are required to perform these drills in practices with heavy equipment on which may affect their mechanics. The purpose of this study was to compare the lower extremity kinematic and kinetic characteristics of unanticipated cutting maneuvers with and without a weighted vest. Ten collegiate males with prior football experience performed a 45° unanticipated cutting maneuver following a run-up with the cut direction indicated just prior to the required cutting move. The cutting move was performed with the plant foot on a Kistler force plate (1200 Hz) while 3-dimensional kinematic data was collected through six camera Vicon motion capture system (120Hz) collecting 16 reflective marker locations on lower extremity anatomical landmarks. Ground reaction forces (vertical, anteroposterior, mediolateral), knee flexion and valgus torques and angular kinematics were compared between the two treatments. Statistical significance was determined using dependent t-tests with SPSS version 22 (p < 0.05).
Student(s):
Juliana Jones, Matt Ritz, Jagade Snyder, Katie Kochalko
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc
Analysis of Concentrations of Cell Surface Proteins Before and After HCV infection in U937 Cells
Hepatitis C virus is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer in the US, causing 15,000 deaths each year, however the entry mechanism of Hepatitis C is unknown. An understanding of the cell surface proteins could lead to a better understanding of how to prevent infection of hepatitis C and other flaviviruses, such as west nile virus and dengue fever. The purpose of this study is to detect the expression of cell surface proteins, occludin, claudin-1, claudin-6, claudin-9, dynamin 2, FCγI, FCγII, and FCγIII in Hepatitis C virus infected and uninfected U937 monocyte cells. The concentration of the proteins were examined by applying primers to cDNA which was converted from purified RNA, and quantified using qRT-PCR. The results of the qRT-PCR implied over expression of occludin, claudin-9, dynamin 2, FCγI, FCγII, and FCγIII during infection. Flow cytometry was then used to determine the concentrations of claudin-9, occludin, and FCγI.
Student(s):
Gabriel Katz
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dennis Revie
Smarter Use of Online/Real-time Map
Student: Blin Kazazi Faculty Mentor: Dr. Chang-Shyh Peng
With ever growing population and urban development, it is getting more and more difficult to maneuver the maze of streets, highways, and country roads. How can the cell phones be of service to this daunting task? The purpose of our project is to find a new and easier way to use real-time maps, which come with critical information such as traffic update, reminders, etc. Our approach was "survey and reinvent". First step was to study well known apps such as Google Map and Waze. The second, and the critical, step is to build better and smarter app. Dr. Peng and I prototyped an Android app that used relational MySQL database, Yahoo Maps API, Javascript/PHP, and customized js libraries. And this app is able to automatically recognize user's home, work, and place of interest locations.
Student(s):
Blin Kazazi
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chang-Shyh Peng
The Effect of a Balance Board on Postural Sway Measures
Balance boards are primarily used in a rehabilitation setting. Clinicians use these boards to strengthen injuries in the lower extremity, but can also be used for exercise purposes and to cause fatigue. Postural sway is movement that occurs when standing still. It was beneficial to compare postural sway measurements to a healthy population to see the effect of fatigue from a balance board on postural sway. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a balance board on postural sway measures in college-aged students. Fifteen California Lutheran University students participated in this study and did not have any lower extremity injuries. Participants stood with both feet on one Kistler force plate (100 Hz) to determine center of pressure to find postural sway. Three trials were performed with eyes open for forty seconds. The participant then continuously balanced on a wobble board for five minutes. Three more postural sway trials were measured after the balance board.
Student(s):
Kelsey Lindquist, Dr. Louise Kelly and Dr. Michele LeBlanc
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly
The Effect of Hoop Weight on the Lower Extremity Kinematics and Kinetics of Hula Hooping
Hula hooping is thought of as mostly a childhood activity that involves oscillating one’s hips and knees to keep the plastic hoop around your waist. Cluff, Robertson and Balasubramaniam (2008) studied hula hooping and the associated kinetics, but their study involved only three subjects with different strategies for each. Recently, weighted hula hoops have been touted as an effective exercise that requires more core muscles which leads to an increased caloric expenditure. However, no research about how the heavier hoop affects the mechanics has been conducted. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of hula hoop weight on lower extremity joint kinematics and kinetics. Participants included 12 physically active college students who are capable hula hoopers. Each participant performed 3 trials of 20 seconds with a standard hoop and 3 trials with a weighted (11.1 N) hoop. Condition order was randomized and participants stood in their natural hula hooping foot stance with stance position being held consistent by foot tracings. Two Kistler 9281AC force plates (1200 Hz) collected vertical, anteroposterior, and mediolateral ground reaction forces. Reflective marker (16 on the lower body and 4 on the hoop) 3-dimensional coordinates were determined by six MX40 Vicon motion capture cameras (120 Hz) and Nexus software. Variables analyzed include ground reaction forces, hoop velocity, and hip and knee angular kinematics and kinetics. Dependent t-tests were used to determine differences (p<0.05).
Student(s):
Kelsey Lindquist, Valencia Hamilton, Kaylee Kastrup, Johnston Wang
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc
Powerful Contemporary Web Applications, Simplified
Simplifying the development of client and server side web applications is vital to meeting the dynamic requirements that exist in business today. Representational Entity State Transfer (REST) is a simple architectural style that typically leverages a well-known protocol called HTTP. AngularJS (Angular) is a client-side JavaScript library that uses the Model View Controller design pattern to allow for a clear declarative programming paradigm. This allows the developer to simply and cleanly build a single page web application that can be bound, asynchronously, to one or more RESTful web services. The use of Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Entity Relationship (ER) diagrams provide an easy to follow blueprint for the development of a game statistics analysis application. The application contained in this blueprint is then built by using the Microsoft .Net Platform as it provides rich support for both REST services as well as Angular client applications.
Student(s):
Michael Maio
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Three Dimensional Isopygosity in Middle and Late Cambrian Agnostoid Trilobites
We investigated trilobite isopygosity in Middle and Late Cambrian agnostoid trilobites using Z-stacking microscopy. Isopygosity, usually regarded as a two dimensional trait, is here examined in three dimensions. Preliminary results confirm Middle Cambrian members of the genus Peronopsis to be isopygous in three dimensions. The Late Cambrian species Pseudagnostus communis, however, is not isopygous in three dimensions, with growth in cephalic volume lagging behind pygidial growth through ontogeny. The result is significant because shape change in this Late Cambrian species is a precursor to widespread shape change in trilobites long noted in the Ordovician and later Paleozoic. The results are additionally significant because, in the case of Pseudagnostus communis, they highlight a potential example of species selection. Increased pygidial volume accommodated larger oxygen absorption area in the semi-enrolled agnostoid carapace, giving Pseudagnostus communis a selective advantage during Late Cambrian extinction events.
Student(s):
Hayden Malloch
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Linda Ritterbush
Analyzing KPNA2, FOXM1, and CKIT Genes in Canine Adenomas and Mast Cell Tumors
The study of mutations and their adverse effects on cell behavior aids in the understanding and prevention of cancers. A Canine adenoma and mast cell tumor were analyzed for mutations in the proto-oncogenes KPNA2, FOXM1, and CKIT. These genes help control cell division and can become dysregulated in cancer. Tissue and blood samples were examined using DNA purification, PCR amplification, and gel electrophoresis. We plan to sequence the above genes from the tumors to determine if they contain mutations compared to the normal sequence. Tumor cells were also dissected and cultured for future experimentation. This in vitro study of canine tumor cells focuses on specific pathways mutated in tumors, to understand the broader impact of specific mutations on cell behaviors in tumors.
Student(s):
Megan Marlow, Ethan Flyer, Brenda Cruz, Haley Hodgson, Sinjin Todd, and Monica Bernal
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber and Dr. Dennis Revie
Influence Of Gender, Weight And Hispanic Ethnicity On Physical Activity In Toddlers
The purpose of this study was to observe a possible correlation between activity levels and BMI percentile between genders and between various ethnic groups. Physical activity (PA) was assessed over three to seven days using the ActiGraph GTM1 accelerometer in 80 toddlers (mean age 1.88 years; 58% male; 38% Hispanic; and 43% overweight) defined by weight percentile (≥85th percentile for age and gender) from Ventura County, California. There does not appear to be any significant difference in the activity levels or BMI percentiles between genders or ethnicities. Data does not appear to support the hypothesis that there is a significant difference in the activity levels and BMI percentiles between genders and ethnicities.
Student(s):
Ashley Marten
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly
Bite Force and Sprint Speed in Sceloporus occidentalis (The Western Fence Lizard)
Performance traits are important for survival and access to mates and thus may increase
survivorship and fitness. In the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, I examined bite
force and sprint speed to observe their relationship with each other. These performance traits are
important in lizards because if a male can bite harder, the individual will obtain more mates and
therefore be able to reproduce with more females. Additionally, if a lizard can run faster, they
will be able to escape predators more successfully than slower lizards. Bite force was calculated
with a force transducer, body size was measured with a caliper, and sprint speed was calculated
along a two meter track with sensors placed every 0.25 m from each other using RaceMate. For
sprint speed, each lizard was placed at one end of the track and sprinted to the other side, with
sensors being activated when the individual passed each sensor. I performed data analysis using
IBS SPSS Statistics 22 program with independent sample t-tests, correlations, and regressions. I
found that there was no correlation between bite force and sprint speed for male and female S.
occidentalis. Lizards with stronger bites did not run faster. However, I determined that bite force
is significantly correlated with body size. Larger heads generate a stronger bite.
survivorship and fitness. In the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, I examined bite
force and sprint speed to observe their relationship with each other. These performance traits are
important in lizards because if a male can bite harder, the individual will obtain more mates and
therefore be able to reproduce with more females. Additionally, if a lizard can run faster, they
will be able to escape predators more successfully than slower lizards. Bite force was calculated
with a force transducer, body size was measured with a caliper, and sprint speed was calculated
along a two meter track with sensors placed every 0.25 m from each other using RaceMate. For
sprint speed, each lizard was placed at one end of the track and sprinted to the other side, with
sensors being activated when the individual passed each sensor. I performed data analysis using
IBS SPSS Statistics 22 program with independent sample t-tests, correlations, and regressions. I
found that there was no correlation between bite force and sprint speed for male and female S.
occidentalis. Lizards with stronger bites did not run faster. However, I determined that bite force
is significantly correlated with body size. Larger heads generate a stronger bite.
Student(s):
Amanda Miller
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kris Karsten
Hadoop and Big Data: What it is, How it Works and Why it Matters
Hadoop is an open-source framework that fundamentally stores and processes big data on large clusters of commodity hardware. We have volumes and varieties of data growing day by day and we need to store that data somewhere, we need something to handle that data and then to process and retrieve that data as fast as possible, that is why Hadoop was invented. The main accomplishments of Hadoop are storing massive data and processing that data very quickly. The two main components that accomplish the tasks are Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) and MapReduce. HDFS is used to store all types of data and MapReduce is used to processes the data. It is designed to move from single servers to thousands of machine in which all offer local computation and storage. Hadoop facilitates solutions that are scalable, flexible, fault tolerant and cost effective. For this project, I have set up a Hadoop simulator to demonstrate what Hadoop is, how it works and why it’s the most talked about technology.
Student(s):
Ragina Mohammadi
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Antibiotic Resistance in Local Waterways and the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant
Antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens has increased dramatically over the past three decades. Several studies have demonstrated that antibiotic resistant bacteria thrive within wastewater treatment plants and then may enter local waterways. These studies may underestimate the amount of antibiotic resistant bacteria entering local waterways because they rely on culturing bacteria to test for antibiotic resistance, while only about 1% of bacteria can be cultured. This study aimed to use culture-independent techniques to determine the abundance and proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes within a local wastewater treatment plant and connected waterways. We collected water samples three times from May through August 2014 at five locations within and surrounding the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant. Culture-independent techniques included water filtration to collect bacteria followed by DNA extraction and purification. We will detect and quantify the presence of several genes known to confer resistance to the antibiotics erythromycin, tetracycline, and sulfonamides using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
Student(s):
Danielle Montoya
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Theresa Rogers
Association Between Bone Health and Vitamins in Males and Females over 55
Numerous studies have shown that vitamin consumption, as part of a healthy diet, has a positive influence on bone mineral density (BMD) as well as overall bone health. This study looked at the relationship between intake of vitamins in daily diet and bone mineral density of male and female participates subdivided into different quartiles based on age. Subjects, all over the age of 55, were recruited from local retirement communities in Ventura County. Exclusion criteria included subjects that were taking medications that might influence bone mineral density or had disorders that might influence bone health. BMD of the calcaneus was measured using a Sahara Clinical Bone Sonometer (Hologic). The diet of the subject was assessed using a 5-day dietary recall. This information was then used to calculate vitamin and mineral consumption. There were no associations between vitamins and BMD that reached statistical significance (p<0.05) even when the subject populations were spilt into quartiles based on age. The results from this study do not support other literature that has indicated a positive beneficial relationship between vitamins and bone health. Our results may be due to our biased sample of socioeconomically advantaged elderly subjects and possibly the limitation of measuring BMD of only the calcaneus. There is definitely a need for future studies that examine subjects from broad socioeconomic backgrounds.
Student(s):
Alastair Moody
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly
Unmanned Air Vehicle Simulator
Unmanned Air Vehicles, or UAVs, have soared in popularity in recent years. The goal of this simulation was to develop mission planning using a 3 axis industrial gantry robotic arm with a mounted camera and SONAR device. Specifically, we wanted to develop a ground mapping system for the UAV to survey the various heights of a terrain during a preliminary flight, allowing the UAV to fly over the terrain contours a set distance from the ground during a secondary flight. This system could be applied to various tasks, such as search-and-rescue missions. This problem is being solved through development in Java on a laptop station with connections to the robot, camera, and SONAR device. Ground mapping will be done through SONAR feedback, and image processing will make use of the OpenCV library.
Student(s):
Hannah Moraes
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Quantum Dynamics of Non-Linear Interaction Generating Nonclassical States
We study the time evolution of quantum systems including
explicit time-dependent interactions. We are particularly interested in
quantum control and the generation of non-classical states. We choose
non-linear Hamiltonians and apply algebraic techniques to obtain an
analytic expression for the evolution operator, which we then apply to
special initial states. In particular we study nonlinear oscillators in Kerr
media to look for the formation of Schrödinger-cat states from coherent
states. We construct the Lie algebras corresponding to the operators of
the Hamiltonian. This allows us to separate the complexity of the time dependence
from the complexity of the non-commuting operators. We
also consider mean field approximations in the case that the interaction
operators do not lead to a closed algebra.
explicit time-dependent interactions. We are particularly interested in
quantum control and the generation of non-classical states. We choose
non-linear Hamiltonians and apply algebraic techniques to obtain an
analytic expression for the evolution operator, which we then apply to
special initial states. In particular we study nonlinear oscillators in Kerr
media to look for the formation of Schrödinger-cat states from coherent
states. We construct the Lie algebras corresponding to the operators of
the Hamiltonian. This allows us to separate the complexity of the time dependence
from the complexity of the non-commuting operators. We
also consider mean field approximations in the case that the interaction
operators do not lead to a closed algebra.
Student(s):
Carlos Moran
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. John Deisz
Emergency Signal Android Application
With so much going on in today's world, it can be hard to keep track of things, and sometimes there are cases of emergencies where you're hard pressed for time to contact someone. The idea of the app is to create an application that is free to users that would allow them to input emergency contact information and personal user information. In the event of an emergency they could readily press a widget or button that would alert the contacts that you are in need of help, and include your current location as well. Whereas sometimes to alert someone you'd need to text or call them, this would work at the push of a button. Sometimes the first minute and even seconds are the most important times of an emergency and this would help to reduce the time it would take to contact someone in that event.
Student(s):
Maijizi Moua
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Biomechanical Comparison of Drop Lateral Jumps Between Male Football and Soccer Athletes
Power is the ability to generate force quickly and is an important attribute in many sports including football and soccer. Often, an athlete may need to quickly jump laterally in order to avoid contact with an opponent or to continue running up the field of play. Drop jumps are often used to determine an athlete’s ability to generate power. There have been many previous studies examining drop jumps, but little research has investigated lateral jump performance (Rosen et al., 2013). The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematics and kinetics of drop landings followed by lateral jumps between football and soccer athletes. Twelve collegiate soccer and football athletes (six from each sport) performed drop landings from a 60 cm box onto two Kistler force plates (1200 Hz) immediately followed by a lateral jump. Subjects were instructed to jump quickly and to maximize lateral horizontal displacement. Horizontal position was marked and used to motivate future jumps. Six Vicon motion capture cameras (120 Hz) collected the 3-dimensional position of 16 reflective markers placed on various anatomical landmarks. Ground reaction forces in the vertical, mediolateral and anteroposterior directions were analyzed. Hip, knee and ankle kinematics and kinetics were determined during the absorption and propulsive phases of the landing and jump, respectively, and analyzed. Differences were determined by independent t-tests using SPSS version 22 (p < 0.05).
Student(s):
Garrett Nunes, Alex Hird, Jake Miller, Kiyle Playter
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc
The Acute Effects of Static vs. Dynamic Stretching on Gross Body Reaction Time
Limited research has been conducted to investigate the effects of different stretching protocols on reaction time in athletes. This study examined the acute effects of static vs. dynamic stretching protocols on reaction time in NCAA Division III volleyball players. The purpose of this study was so investigate the acute effects of static vs. dynamic stretching protocols on gross body reaction time. One stretch protocol, static or dynamic, was assigned to the athlete, with the other protocol being used in the following session. Reaction time was then measured using the Just Jump voice-activated pressure mat system. Movement time was recorded and measured using a 2D Panasonic HC-V110 video camera. Subjects were asked to respond to an auditory stimulus signaling them to step onto the mat. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the means of the two protocols with the statistical significance set to p < 0.05.
Student(s):
Hannah Orlandi
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Hugh Lamont
Does Abnormal Static Posture Among College-aged Females Predispose them to Knee Injury?
Injury to the knee joint has become an increasingly common site for athletic injury in women. However, there is limited research analyzing the relationship between deviated lower extremity mechanics and the frequency of knee injuries in young women. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between static posture and knee injury among college-aged women. In order to do so, twenty physically active females were chosen: ten with previous knee injuries and ten without. Each participant had seven variables measured including hamstring length, femoral anteversion, sanding sagittal knee extension, pelvic position, standing knee angle in frontal plane, subtalar joint neutral position, and navicular drop. Univariate and multivariate analysis was uses along with regression statistics. A statistical significance level of p ≤ 0.05 was used for classifying results.
Student(s):
Erin Parks
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly
The Effects Of Dynamic And Static Stretching in Broad Jump Performance Prior to Exercise in Division III College
In exercise, it is very crucial to have a specific warm up prior to exercise. It’s vital to warm up due to prevention of injury, to warm up core body temperature, and increase range of motion in joints and muscles. There have been many arguments due to whether dynamic stretching before exercise will improve performance and help prevent injury. There have also been claims that static stretching prior to exercise will hinder performance and result in injury. The methodology of this study will require each subject to come in for two sessions. The first session the subjects will run a 4×100m laps at low to moderate intensity on a football field. The subjects will start with a dynamic warm-up with different stretches that will include balance, stability and mobility. Following the warm up, each subject will perform three trials of a broad jump. The second session will start with the same 4×100 yard laps on a football field at low to moderate intensity. The subjects will go through a series of static stretches such as active stretching, and passive stretching while being stationary prior to the broad jump. Subjects will perform another three trials of a broad to jump for distance horizontally.
Student(s):
Kiyle Playter, Dr. Patrick Holmberg
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly
Electronic Basketball Training Aid for Visual Shooting Mechanics
For years, the proper visual mechanics for shooting a basketball have been controversial. Coaches have taught players to stare at various locations, which include the back, front, and middle of the rim. Gary Boren, shooting coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, ended this age old controversy by hiring a team of mathematicians and physicists to solve this problem. They found that on a perfect shot, the ball strikes the back of the net at approximately seven to eight inches below the back of the rim at a forty-five degree angle. That location on the net is the visual bullseye. This electronic device hangs on the rim in that location at approximately the size of a small mobile phone. It will be used to improve the shooter’s visual mechanics and display their shooting percentage. Selected randomly, one of three lights on the device will blink when the ball makes contact with any part of the basketball hoop. Immediately after contact, the shooter should be able to identify which light blinked. Shortly after contact, the device will beep a number of times, respective to the light that blinked (one, two, or three). This is a self-checking system for the shooter, to ensure that they identified the correct light. By measuring vibration and the device’s swing on the y-axis, the user’s shooting percentage will be calculated. It will be displayed in real-time on a small seven-segment display. Shooters can now work on their visual mechanics and measure the improvements of their game.
Student(s):
Alfredo Ranieri
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Modifying the Searth and Rescue Algorithm to Monitor the Interaction of Two Artificial Intelligences
Artificial Intelligences (AI) are prevalent in many industries for their ability to autonomously accomplish tasks. As an example, a metro system in Hong Kong is managed by an artificial intelligence program and has seen significant improvement across the board which includes having a 99.9% on time record and saving two days of repair time a week. By relegating tedious tasks to AI controlled devices, it allows people to do other tasks that cannot be conducted by AIs. A dependable intelligence combined with reliable hardware will save costs and free up individuals for other jobs that require more technical skills or remove individuals out of hazardous occupations. Using this as an inspiration, this study is aimed towards experimenting with the search and rescue algorithms and modifying them in order to investigate how two AI interact. This is implemented by using two different AI robots; a “search and rescue” drone that will search, locate, and attempt to track a “fugitive” robot to evade the tracking AI. By doing so, we can see how the tracking AI will behave based upon the movements of the “fugitive” robot trying to evade the “search and rescue” drone. Currently, the project has a working robotic arm which can simulate behavior that would be used by the “search and rescue” drone, but the AI that will control it is incomplete.
Student(s):
Nickel Revie
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
The Localization of the ABCA4 Phospholipid Flippase in Developing Photoreceptors
Flippases are proteins that transport lipids across cell membranes and serve as key regulators of cell polarity. A defect in the photoreceptor-specific flippase ABCA4 is linked to Stargardt macular degeneration in humans. In the adult fish retina, there are developing photoreceptor cells at the periphery of the eye (close to the iris) along with fully differentiated photoreceptors throughout the rest of the retina. Using goldfish retinas allows the visualization of the developmental appearance of ABCA4 and related proteins in photoreceptors.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of different commercial antibodies in labeling flippases (ABCA4 and ATP8a2) in the goldfish retina. Commercial goldfish were used. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were used to determine the molecular weights of the proteins and to tell which antibodies bound proteins of the goldfish retina. The antibodies tested included Abcam's monoclonal anti-ABCA4, GeneTex’s polyclonal anti-ABCA4, Santa Cruz Biotechnology's anti-ATP8a2 (a related flippase) and anti-opsin. Light and dark-adapted retinas were also fixed and processed for immunocytochemistry.This study demonstrated that GeneTex’s polyclonal anti-ABCA4 is effective in labeling ABCA4 in goldfish retinas. Santa Cruz Biotechnology’s monoclonal anti-ABCA4 requires a great concentration of these antibodies to work. Immunocytochemical results demonstrated ATP8a2 and opsin labeling of developing photoreceptors. Since the polyclonal anti-ABCA4 from GeneTex and the anti-ATP8a2 work in the goldfish retina, they can be used in further studies to find more about these flippases and their developmental appearance in the retina.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of different commercial antibodies in labeling flippases (ABCA4 and ATP8a2) in the goldfish retina. Commercial goldfish were used. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were used to determine the molecular weights of the proteins and to tell which antibodies bound proteins of the goldfish retina. The antibodies tested included Abcam's monoclonal anti-ABCA4, GeneTex’s polyclonal anti-ABCA4, Santa Cruz Biotechnology's anti-ATP8a2 (a related flippase) and anti-opsin. Light and dark-adapted retinas were also fixed and processed for immunocytochemistry.This study demonstrated that GeneTex’s polyclonal anti-ABCA4 is effective in labeling ABCA4 in goldfish retinas. Santa Cruz Biotechnology’s monoclonal anti-ABCA4 requires a great concentration of these antibodies to work. Immunocytochemical results demonstrated ATP8a2 and opsin labeling of developing photoreceptors. Since the polyclonal anti-ABCA4 from GeneTex and the anti-ATP8a2 work in the goldfish retina, they can be used in further studies to find more about these flippases and their developmental appearance in the retina.
Student(s):
Sharena Rice
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kenneth Long
Syncing Music with Android Devices
With Apple unquestionably dominating the music player market with the iPod, the only other alternatives include third party MP3 players and Android devices. However, if one were to prefer Android devices and want to sync music to them effortlessly, there are few programs that can allow for that to happen. The main goal of this project is to create a media player that connects to a separate Android application that is also a media player and syncs music with it. In order to accomplish this, the base media player will be built first. Then, the Android application will be built as a separate media player to complement the first one. Finally, a way to sync music between the two applications will be established. After this, any necessary debugging will be performed. If time permits, any additional features that can be added will be implemented as well.
Student(s):
Kevin Rinaldi
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Class Project - Robot Xylophone Players
Students in BIEN210 Introduction to Engineering must complete a semester-long design project using, hardware, software, a microcontroller, and 3D printing. This semester's project is a machine or robot which plays the xylophone.
Student(s):
Robert Rumer, BIEN 210 Class
Faculty Mentor:
Mr. Robert Rumer
Does Sports Participation Predict Academic Performance in Young Children?
Research that has taken place correlating fundamental movement skills of children with academics focuses mainly on individuals with learning disabilities. Additionally, most of the previous studies are conducted on extremely young children (typically newborns). This study explored the relationship between gross motor skills and academics in children ages 6 to 11 years old without any preexisting learning disabilities. The purpose is to observe the difference in fundamental movement skills between children who participate in team sports compared to those who do not participate in team sports between the ages 6 years-11 years old, and see the effects it has on academic success. Fundamental movement skills will be assessed using the Sheridan Protocol for jumping, balancing, catching, throwing, and kicking. Academic grades will be collected through a self-report sheet sent home with the parents. Statistical significance of p≤0.05 will be used.
Student(s):
Natalie Samuelian
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly
Studying Catalyst-Transfer Direct Arylation and Related Polymer Applications
Direct Arylation, a type of Palladium catalyzed C—H activation, presents a different synthetic process for conjugated polymers (CPs) without the unstable and/or toxic monomer functionalizations, required by similar techniques such as Grignard metathesis, Suzuki, and Stille. Reaction conditions favoring catalyst transfer in coordination with an initiator are ideal in the synthesis of CPs. To better understand catalyst transfer properties of Direct Arylation, four small molecule systems were used to model the polymerization reaction of poly-3-hexyl thiophene(P3HT), a common conjugated polymer. After extensive optimization on these systems, we observed that lower catalyst loadings (1%) and a moderate temperature (70°C) was ideal for conversion and catalyst transfer. However, even for these optimized conditions we found that as our model systems better represented P3HT, we observed less C—H activation control. Through the development of a ligand specifically tailored for Direct Arylation this synthetic technique could yield polymers analogous to controlled polymerizations such as GRIM.
Student(s):
Timothy Schwochert, Hillis Johnson, Joseph Enders, Astrid Olivares, Keenan Woods, Lindsey Lawerence
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. John Tannaci
Hand-Mounted Distance Detection Device for the Visually Impaired
The “legally blind” is considered to be uncorrectable vision of 20/200 or less. Whether, full blindness or a mild visual impairment, the disability limits the necessary interaction to surroundings. The purpose of this project is to ease the disability by providing an alternative to sight. My methodology includes the design and building of a wearable haptic feedback system as a hand mount. The feedback system utilizes an ultrasonic sensor to detect distance from objects of a user’s surroundings and translates that information into pressure onto the hand. The device onto a hand glove allows easy and quick use by pointing at any object or environment without unnecessary accessories and interference.
Student(s):
Celene Udasco
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart
Variations in Sceloporus occidentalis between Populations of Mount Clef and Malibu Creek State Park
Many characteristics of an animal are a result of adapting to their habitat. This mechanism usually follows a trade-off in which one characteristic will be lowered in order to have an optimal characteristic in return. Such changes can occur even with animals of the same species, given the populations live in different environments. I compared sprint speed, bite force, and hind limb length of two separate lizard populations of male Sceloporus occidentalis to understand what types of environments promote the prevalence of one characteristic over others. I measured sprint speed by releasing a lizard in a closed track containing infrared sensors. As the lizard crossed the sensors, it recorded a time. We converted the distance covered over time to sprint speed. Hind limb length measurements were measured with both calipers and digital measurements of the limbs via counting pixels on a photo, and bite force was recorded by having each S. occidentalis bite down on a bite force transducer. As for the habitats, the two populations of S. occidentalis in question are from Mount Clef Ridge and Malibu Creek State Park with Mount Clef having a high incline, rocky terrain, and high obstruction density whereas Malibu Creek State Park is flat grassland with fallen logs. Those particular environments can be the driving force behind the favorable characteristics between these two different populations.
Student(s):
Randolph Viola, Dr. Kris Karsten, Luis Burgos, Katherine Dubsky, Katherine Frank, Yesenia Morera, and Taelor Young
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kris Karsten