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Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Karrolyne Fogel, Mathematics
Student: Anna Balana

Cryptography is a field that is constantly growing and needs more secure mathematical methods to ensure an effective encryption system. Public key cryptography is one type of encryption used to secure information, communicate, and avoid stolen information. Public key cryptography is used in time stamping, money transfers, and disk encryption. Thus, the exploration of the “Cantor-Zassenhaus” algorithm, used in public key encryption, is significant for securing information. We focused on the component of the Cantor-Zassenhaus algorithm known as the the distinct degree factorization. The algorithm will be explored by working through previous examples from other literature and there will be an exploration of how the algorithm works for small primes. It is expected to fully understand the algorithm to make conjectures and build on what is already known about the algorithm.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Michael Abdelsayed, Biology
Student: Alexis Jones

Ribonucleic acid thermometers are RNA sequences that oscillate between alternate structures in response to changes in temperature. Under physiological temperature, the ribosome binding site (RBS) is sequestered in a stem-loop structure facilitated by complementary base-pairing within the RNA sequence. The increase in temperature initiates a melting of the thermometer, which allows ribosome access and the beginning of translation. One potential FourU RNA thermometer, which has yet to be annotated,  was found in a bacteriophage that is known to be a pathogen to Bacillus Subtillus. My research aims to test this potential FourU thermometer and confirm its activity in vivo. The specific RNA thermometer being researched was found directly upstream of a protein called BlyA. BlyA is a protein that is known to lyse cell membranes. An enzymatic reporter system was used to quantify the gene expression at twenty-five degrees Celsius and forty-two degrees Celsius. A plasmid was designed to insert the potential BlyA RNA thermometer sequence directly upstream of an enzyme called beta-galactosidase, in order to quantify expression in response to changes in heat. Our results indicate that BlyA has a significant induction of expression at 42 degrees compared to  25  degrees Celsius, which in turn gives BlyA a much higher fold-induction compared to the two controls: gyrase and FourU. Thermometer activity has been confirmed with three biological replicates. 

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Grady Hanrahan, Chemistry
Student: Tiffany Robinson

This study demonstrated the development of an optimized artificial neural network (ANN) platform that predicts median lethal dose (LD50) values of natural medicines and herbal remedies, and the identification of xenobiotic metabolic pathways mediated by liver enzyme Cytochrome P450 that lead to potential toxicity. Bioactive compounds were extracted from natural medicines and identified with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as a reference method. With a focus on flavonoid Quercetin in Ginkgo Biloba supplement pills, theoretical models were developed to predict reactive intermediates and secondary metabolites. Generation of hydrogen peroxide and subsequent hydroperoxyl radical production, as well as free radical intermediates, were proposed as sources of toxicity, as these species are involved in processes such as lipid peroxidation and DNA and protein damage. An ANN platform was programmed in C++ that related chemical structure to LD50 values using a gradient descent algorithm optimized with a momentum term for error minimization. Quantitative determination of Quercetin in one Ginkgo Biloba supplement pill by HPLC standard addition was 33mg ± 4mg, or 9% ± 1% by mass, which agreed with the supplement’s claim of total flavonoid content, not limited to Quercetin, of 24%. Training of the ANN resulted in an average percent error for unknown LD50 value prediction of 24%, the best model obtaining a 9% error.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Jason Kingsbury, Chemistry
Student: Oliver Grant-Chapman

Azepanes are seven-membered heterocycles containing one amine group within the ring. This functional group is found in many bioactive and polycyclic alkaloids with desirable pharmacological profiles. For example, proheptazine is a complex azepane that offers twice the analgesic power of morphine while being only marginally addictive. The key to accessing more breakthrough compounds to address problems in modern medicine lies in development of new synthetic methods for optically pure azepane ring synthesis. Aziridines are three-membered rings containing one amine group and two methylene carbons, and they are the ideal starting point for azepane synthesis. We are investigating a novel ring expansion methodology that would furnish azepanes from strained aziridines. Treatment of commercially available unprotected (R)-phenylglycinol with chlorosulfonic acid, filtering off the insoluble hydrogen sulfate salt, and exposure to base in refluxing toluene provides (R)-2-phenylaziridine. Reacting the free aziridine with benzoyl chloride yields fully substituted N-benzoyl-2-phenyl aziridine as a single enantiomer, though syn and anti amide bond rotamers have been isolated. Alternatively, exposure of (R)-phenylglycinol to acetic anhydride and triethylamine gives (R)-2-acetamido-2-phenylethyl acetate. Subjecting the diacetate to lithium hydroxide in methanol water supplies (R)-N-(2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)acetamide. Ring closure with tosyl chloride and potassium hydroxide yields N-acyl-2-phenyl aziridine. Takai alkylidenation of either substituted aziridine using titanium(IV) chloride, dibromomethane, and catalytic lead(II) chloride is expected to spontaneously initiate a 3-aza-Claisen rearrangement through an enamine intermediate, leading to a cyclic imine that can tautomerize to furnish an azepane fused to an aromatic ring. Homochiral 1-amino-1-vinyl ethanol can be subjected to the same sequence of operations, leading to an alternative azepane substrate. Aziridines were purified with buffered ammonium hydroxide silica gel chromatography to reduce hydrolysis and rupture of the strained ring. Structures were confirmed with 1H-NMR and mass spectrometry.

Program: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Andrea Sell, Psychology
Student: Kayley Hall

While visual imagery is a very important part of human cognition, there has been little research conducted on improving visual imagery skills, where visual imagery is defined as one’s ability to visualize a subject without the physical stimuli being present. One potential method of improvement is through everyday hobbies and leisure activities, like Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPGs). This research sought to investigate whether or not TRPG play has a significant positive impact on visual imagery skill, such that players may be able to visualize a subject more accurately and vividly than those that do not play TRPGs. It was hypothesized that there is a relationship between TRPG play and visual imagery skill, such that TRPG players will have better accuracy and depth in their visual imagery ability than people who do not play TRPG. Additionally, it was hypothesized that people who have more experience with TRPG will have better visual imagery abilities. A quasi-experimental mixed methods study was conducted that recruited participants from Amazon Mturk. Participants were asked to complete the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ; Marks, 1973). Afterwards, participants with TRPG experience were asked to complete an additional questionnaire on their experiences with this type of gaming. In the first analysis, a t-test was conducted to compare the VVIQ scores of players to non-players. Results showed that there was not a significant difference in their scores (t(164)= 0.995, p=0.341, d=0.149). In another analysis, Pearson correlation was conducted to identify possible relationships between player experience in years and VVIQ scores. Results indicated a small significant positive relationship between player experience in years and movement imagery,  such that players with more experience playing TRPGs had higher movement imagery scores (r(85)=0.252, p=0.018). These findings reflect the core elements of TRPG play, and lay the foundation for further research on how TRPGs can be used to improve visual imagery.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Jesus Cordova- Guerrero, Chemistry
Student: Emma Caudill

For centuries, isolates from Mangrove plants located in Southeast Asia, on the coast of the Indian Ocean, have been used by healers as folk medicine to treat diarrhea, malaria, cholera, and viral diseases including influenza. These isolates were named corniculatiolides and contain a rare isocorniculane framework consisting of macrolactones formed by a 17-membered ring and a 15- membered ring. Additionally, the corniculatolide isolates have varying functional groups on carbons 11 and 12 which give each isolate their individual biological properties. Although mangrove plants have been used to treat disease for a long period of time, the synthesis of corniculatioldes from commercially available starting materials has become a more recent area of interest in order to reduce cost and increase the rate of production of the molecules. One such isolate of interest, corniculatolide B, was extracted from the cannonball mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum, and has the potential ability to act as an anti-cancer drug. More specifically, it exhibitis the ability to reduce breast tumors and fight colorectal cancer. The method included a 7-step synthesis using Ullmann coupling to form a diaryl ether as the key step in the synthesis with a 46.2% yield and a Fischer esterification has been proposed to perform an intramolecular lactonization as the last step. To date, optimal reaction conditions for the first 4 steps of the synthesis have been achieved and confirmed by 1 H-NMR.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Andrea Huvard, Marine Biology
Student: Alex Mazaheri

In recent years, the interest in marine microfiber research has grown substantially, along with the scientific understanding of its impact on various ecosystems, especially the ocean. Microfibers are less than 5mm long and are shed from synthetic fabrics made from materials (i.e. nylon and polyester) that frequently pollute various waterways and their inhabitants. These microfibers can harbor toxic chemicals like dichlorobenzene and nonylphenol ethoxylates. Despite the great amount of attention towards research on a multitude of fish and filter feeder species, this research focuses on Loligo opalescens (The California market squid), a tertiary consumer and a keystone species for many marine and land species found along the coast of Southern California. The purpose of this study was to confirm the presence of microfibers in the respiratory tract (gill tissue) of the squid and to compare the findings with the quantities observed in the squid’s gastrointestinal tract (guts). The number of microfibers was quantified under a light microscope for each sample after the dissection, hydrogen peroxide treatment, and vacuum filtration of the guts and gill tissue. The results indicate that the gut tissue samples contain three times the amount of microfibers found in gill samples on average. These findings suggest that the California market squid has been significantly impacted by microfiber pollution present in its ecosystem, especially when compared to similar organisms like Argonauta nuoryi (Octopus). The squid’s role as a keystone species and the theory of microfiber trophic transfer may also be indicative of the similar impact that other members of its ecosystem may be enduring.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Travis Peterson, Exercise Science
Student: Taylor Garcia

ABSTRACT Sports related concussions have been a global and community health issue, with up to 3.8 million occurring in the U.S each year (Langlois et. al. 2006). Balance assessments have been an integral part of concussion analysis to assess if an athlete can return to play (RTP). Swimmers show significant differences in Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) performance compared to a normal population (Sugiura et. al. 2021). PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine if the SEBT (Plisky et. al. 2009) can assess differences in dynamic balance between land (L) and aquatic (A) athletes as a measure of dynamic postural stability in RTP protocols. We hypothesized that L athletes will outperform A athletes. METHODS: 30 healthy NCAA DIII athletes (13 male, 17 female athletes) volunteered to participate in accordance with the local IRB. Subject height, mass, and leg length were measured. Participants completed warm-up: 10 ant. tibialis raises, 10 squats, and 10 single leg RDL on each leg. After a 3-minute recovery, participants proceeded with 3 trials on each leg of the SEBT. Reach was normalized by leg length and averaged across trials. Paired t-tests in each direction compared L & A athletes (jamovi v2.2.5). Repeated measures ANOVA compared all directions across both groups for each leg. Significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: Athletes were (Mean±SD) 21±1.25 years old, 1.70±0.10 m tall, mass of 73.48±15.95 kg, and leg length of 0.92±0.06m. Both left (F=47.5, p<.001) and right leg (F=52.1, p<.001) revealed differences in directional leg excursions (Fig. 1 & 2). Left leg anteromedial excursions (Fig. 1) were greater for A (85.92%) vs. L athletes (81.39%, t(14) = 2.53, p=0.024). CONCLUSION: The SEBT was able to determine differences in excursion direction and between athlete populations. L and A athletes performed approximately equal in each direction, except for when A athletes reached further in the anteromedial direction with the left leg. In the future, we plan to recruit a larger group and include center of pressure analysis to further evaluate dynamic postural control.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Oksala, Physics
Student: Zachary Murillo

Approximately 10% of hot, massive (>8x the mass of the Sun) stars have large-scale, stable magnetic fields.  A subset of these “centrifugal” magnetosphere (CM) stars rotate fast enough to keep outflowing material trapped, via a centrifugal force. These rare magnetospheres have stable structures that appear as emission in a star’s spectrum. One CM star, HD 23478, was observed with the IR spectrometer GNIRS on the 8-m Gemini Telescope (Mauna Kea Observatory, HI) during 9 nights. The target and telluric star data were reduced using IRAF, with GNIRS-specific reduction routines. An IDL program was used to remove telluric absorption. Using Python, we calculated the equivalent width of hydrogen lines from each of the spectra. Initial analysis indicates most IR hydrogen lines show similar variation of the equivalent width when phased with the rotation period; these results will be combined with optical spectropolarimetry as part of a larger study for further analysis.

Program: ALLIES in STEM Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Megan Fung, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Student: Cecilia Lopez

Paleoclimatologists can reconstruct climate records by drilling for ocean sediments containing the fossilized shells of single-celled marine microfossils, called foraminifera. Under ideal conditions, the shells contain the chemical signatures of the oceanic environment they inhabited, providing information on past temperature, ice volume, and sea level. Until recently,  various definitions have been used to categorize the preservation state of the foraminifera shell.  This has the potential to use poorly-preserved foraminifera in geochemical analyses, leading to inaccurate paleoclimate reconstructions. The purpose of this research is to: 1) expand the use of the newly defined Foraminifera Preservation Index (FPI); 2) determine if the FPI changes during cold, glacial conditions versus warm, interglacial conditions; and 3) examine the influence of preservation on stable isotope data. We expected to see better foraminifera preservation (higher FPI scores) during glacial periods compared to interglacial periods and increasing degrees of chemical deterioration and increasing offsets in isotopic values as the preservation of foraminifera decreases. I focused on 15 marine sediment samples from Site 846 in the Pacific Ocean which ranged in age from ~115,000 to ~50,000 years ago, moving from peak warmth towards cooler conditions. For each sample, all specimens of the genus Cibicidoides were removed under the microscope and each individual specimen was identified by preservation category (ie. glassy, pseudo-glassy, frosty) and the FPI was determined. High-resolution pictures were taken of specimens in each category to help confirm accurate preservation type. Samples were then shipped to the RPI Stable Isotope Laboratory in Troy, NY for isotopic analyses. We found that in each depth interval, there was a higher abundance of Cibicidoides in the size range of 150-250μm. Deeper intervals had high percentages of sand and FPI Scores >15, indicating better preservation. Overall we found higher FPI scores in deeper intervals.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Travis Peterson, Exercise Science
Student: Bethany Metcalfe

Proficiency in static and dynamic balance tests is an indicator of both athletic proficiency as well as an indicator of movement deficiencies. Those movement deficiencies could be due to a neurological issue related to mild traumatic brain injury (i.e. concussion). Previous studies have studied single leg static balance using the BESS (Balance error scoring system) which is also used by the NCAA to pre-test for concussions (Riemann, 2012). Aquatic athletes could be at a predisposed disadvantage in NCAA concussion testing because there is a possibility of having differences in balance ability (as compared to land athletes) that may be mistaken as concussion-like symptoms. Examining the difference between aquatic and land athletes' balance could help us find a better alternative for concussion testing aquatic athletes. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine if land and aquatic athletes have different levels of inherent balance. We hypothesized that aquatic athletes would have worse balance compared to land athletes. METHODS: Thirty healthy NCAA DIII athletes (15 aquatic and 15 land athletes) volunteered in accordance with the California Lutheran University IRB. Subjects performed the BESS test while barefoot. Independent t-tests compared BESS scores for the land and aquatic athlete groups (jamovi v2.2.5). Paired samples t-test determined differences between surfaces (flat vs. foam) across the entire group. Significance for all tests was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: There was no difference between total BESS scores for aquatic (17.13+5.35) versus land athletes (14.86+4.55, t(28)=1.25, p=.221). We found there was a difference in total BESS score between flat (4.3 +2.83) vs. foam (11.7+3.42, t(28) = 10.76, p<.001). There was no difference between total flat BESS score for aquatic versus land athletes (t(28)=.996, p=.342), or total foam BESS score for aquatic versus land athletes (t(28)=1.01,p=.318). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed the BESS test is more difficult on a foam surface compared to a solid surface. The comparison of the BESS scores for land versus aquatic athletes could show differences with a larger subject pool as we saw aquatic athletes generally had higher overall BESS score. We plan to further study the BESS test with a larger sample population of athletes in a wider variety of sports.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Reinhart, Computer Science Department
Student: Roy Vaknin

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an extremely popular and powerful tool in today’s era. This refers to an intelligent program that can develop some sort of human-like feature regarding cognition, language interpretation, and object recognition. Object recognition is referred to the ability of machines or programs to identify objects using advanced AI techniques that run thousands of trials to “teach” the program the object of interest and what is not. Computer vision is a key term used to describe the AI technique that encompasses object recognition. This research sought out to answer the question: how can artificial intelligence/computer vision techniques be used to develop an autonomous drone? Methodology was comprised of Python programming language and various programming libraries containing key packages for the creation and development of the intelligent program to be implemented into the DJI Tello Drone. Such libraries include OpenCV, DJITelloPy, NumPy, and PIL within Python. After conducting the proposed methodology, we achieved success in creating an intelligent program that can recognize an object in a 3D matrix and potentially follow it using advanced image processing algorithms. Test cases included the drone following a red circular cap, mapping it on the grid matrix to identify “left”, “right”, “up”, and “down” coordinates based on the kinetic movement of the cap. This smaller-scale project raises major implications as it helps shine light on how the same coding principles, code, design, implementation, and mechanisms can be scaled even higher like Tesla’s surrounding detection system and autopilot features.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Allan Knox, Exercise Science
Student: Lavleen Sandhu

Sex differences in physiological parameters are being increasingly recognized as a robust prognostic factor in individuals at risk or suffering from cardiovascular disease. Body composition and physical performance measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength are strongly associated with overall vascular health. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine if body composition and physical performance measures were related to common carotid artery (CCA) hemodynamics and stiffness in males and females. METHODS: College-aged males and females who were free from cardiovascular risk factors performed a maximal oxygen consumption test (VO_2max) via indirect calorimetry and a maximal leg strength test (1RM) by seated leg press. CCA peak systolic velocity (PS), end-diastolic velocity (ED), time-averaged maximal velocity (TAMAX), time-averaged mean velocity (TAMEAN), pulsatility index (PI), and average diameter (DIAM) were captured in the supine position by Doppler ultrasound. Carotid stiffness index (β), Peterson’s Elastic Modulus (Ep), distensibility, compliance, and average diameter were calculated. RESULTS: Significant associations were observed between VO_2max and β (r=-0.724, p=0.008) within the male sample. Within the female group, associations were evident between 1RM and CCA distensibility (r=-0.537, p=0.039). Total mass (kg) was associated with peak systolic velocity (PSV) (r=-0.524, p=0.037), end diastolic velocity (EDV) (r=-0.516, p=0.041), and CCA diameter (r=0.618, p=0.011). Fat free mass (kg) was associated with ED (r=-0.565, p=0.023) and diameter (r=0.533, p=0.033), in addition to FFM (%) presenting associations with pulsatility index (r=0.531, p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Associations between performance and body composition measures with CCA hemodynamic and stiffness parameters vary between males and females.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Dr. Rafaela Fiore Urizar, Languages and Cultures
Student: Chloe Rodriguez

Gloria Anzaldua was a Mexican American scholar born in Harlingen, Texas in 1941 and she died in Santa Cruz, California in 2004. She has several books published on Chicano cultural studies and Lantinx literature. One of Anzaldua’s main terms is borderland which she defines it as “a vague and undetermined place created by the emotional residue of an unnatural boundary.” 

This research paper examines how Gloria Anzaldua’s poem “To Live in the Borderlands” denounces the social alienation of coming from oppressed cultures but also empowers women of color to uncover the crossroads of their own identity. Understanding Gloria Anzaldua’s writings and perspective will increase awareness on the struggles of Chicano women regarding their identity and social expectations. Through a qualitative analysis this paper adopts intercultural translation and Gloria Anzaldua's own theories on borderlands, including the book chapter “the bridge we call home”, to interpret the poem. The result is a piercing reflection on social expectations and an emotional call for Chicano women to live sin fronteras, without a borderland. In the future I plan on comparing Gloria Anzaldua’s poem with younger female and more current Chicano writers to see if the personal and social struggles continue to be the same.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Allan Knox, Exercise Science
Student: Zaria Opara

Autonomic regulation of the cardiovascular system is involved in normal physiological and pathophysiological function. Epidemiological reports show that there are disparities in the prevalence’s of cardiovascular disease across racial groups. However, the autonomic contribution to such prevalence’s remains poorly understood. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine cardiac autonomic regulation in Black, Hispanic, and White individuals following a maximal oxygen consumption test (VO_2max). METHODS: Heart rate recovery (HRR) was determined following VO_2max in young (20.7 ± 2.36 yrs) volunteers without cardiovascular risk factors. Heart rate (HR) was recorded at peak exercise intensity, and multiple time points following the cessation of exercise. RESULTS: HR before VO_2max was comparable between groups (p=0.125). HR significantly increased at VO_2max in all groups (p<0.001 for all). A time/group interaction was observed for HRR (p=0.028), however posthoc analysis did not reveal any statistical differences between time points after exercise (p>0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular autonomic regulation may to vary between racial groups. Further investigation is warranted with larger samples sizes.

Program: Culver Behavioral Science Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Amanda ElBassiouny, Psychology
Student: Mikaela Caltrider

The purpose of the study is to explore how the intersectional identities of race/ethnicity and religion of a defendant can impact the decision that mock jurors make in a murder case with different types of DNA evidence. Five hundred thirty eight subjects (52.6% male, 47% female) aged 19-79 years participated in the study through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Each participant was randomly assigned one version of a murder case that varied in defendant demographics (religion and race/ethnicity) as well as the type of DNA evidence presented and were instructed to judge the case as if they were on a jury. Each participant was then instructed to answer a series of questions via survey, where they disclosed any judgments of the defendant that arose based on the crime. An attention check was given to ensure sufficient focus on the questions. A 3-way ANOVA was used to determine relationships between the variables that suggest any patterns of bias towards the defendant based on their demographics. There was significance present with anger towards the defendant, confidence in the verdict given to the defendant, and the perceived reliability/influence of the defendant’s DNA evidence. Participants felt more anger towards the White Muslim defendant compared to the White Christian defendant. The Black Muslim defendant was interpreted as more likely to be guilty of the crime compared to the Black Christian defendant, via higher verdict confidence measurements. The DNA evidence representing the Black Muslim defendant was seen as more reliable than for the Black Christian defendant, suggesting the Black Muslim more likely fit the crime. With inconclusive DNA evidence, participants perceived the evidence to be more influential in their verdict decisions with a White Muslim defendant, in comparison to a White Christian defendant. The current study demonstrated bias towards a defendant based on their race/ethnicity and religion. It is clear that jurors must be further educated in identifying their own pre-existing biases and be provided with better guidance in the jury process.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Michael Abdelsayed, Biology
Student: Alina Tong

RNA thermometers (RNATs) are molecules composed of RNA that change their structural conformation in response to temperature changes, allowing them to regulate gene expression. A specific type of RNATs is the Repression Of heat Shock gene Expression (ROSE-like) thermometers, a class of RNATs containing several hairpins that control small heat shock protein synthesis. They are distinct because of a U(U/C)GCU motif at the 3’ hairpin, which blocks the Shine-Dalgarno sequence necessary for the ribosome to bind. Using RNARobo, a bioinformatics structural search tool, several potential ROSE-like RNAT sequences were identified in front of ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC transporters), suggesting that they may be regulated by heat shock. These putative ROSE-like sequences were integrated into plasmids between an upstream GFP (green fluorescent protein) and a downstream RFP (red fluorescent protein) and transformed into competent E. coli. The activity of the RNATs was assessed through incubation of the cells at 25°C or 42°C and measuring relative fluorescence of GFP and RFP using a plate reader. Six of these putative sequences were compared to a positive control of a confirmed RNAT and a negative control of a non-RNAT. Several indicated potential thermometer activity with an increase in RFP expression at higher temperatures. Additional testing was conducted with Lysinibacillus and Streptomyces, 2 sequences that showed higher amounts of RFP expression in the first rounds of testing, by comparing the thermometer activity of the original sequences to sequences modified by the addition or deletion of nucleotides. Both appeared to have an increase in RFP expression at higher temperatures in the original sequences, further suggesting that ABC transporters in some bacteria may be controlled by heat shock. Understanding how regulation of genes like ABC transporters, specifically by heat due to RNA with a unique structure and function, is important for understanding the function of the gene itself and for possibly developing targeted therapeutics for pathogenic bacteria.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Andrea Huvard, Marine Biology
Student: Keury Ortez Hernandez

Fiber production has been an increasing concern over the past decades leading to a significant amount of pollution in the ocean. A study on microfibers was done to determine the number of microfibers found in Ostrea, a consumable oyster found in Morro Bay, CA. Oysters were dissected, measured, and ground into a paste form. These were left in hydrogen peroxide and seawater flasks for 72 hours. The solutions were filtered through a vacuum pump, and the results were analyzed using light microscopy. When small-size Ostrea was compared to big-size Ostrea, we found that there were not significantly more microfibers in small Ostrea than they were in big Ostrea ( t=0.479, df=51 p≥0.05). Heavier weight Ostrea was compared to a lighter weight to determine which weight contained a greater number of microfibers. We found that there was no significant difference between both weights (t=0.531, df= 44, p≥0.05). However, when microfiber colors were compared, we found that there was a significant difference within each color.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Sheridan Wigginton, Languages and Cultures
Student: Melissa Romero

This project focuses on the representation of Dominican culture in eight Spanish textbooks used throughout colleges and universities. The goal of this project is to analyze the application of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. With the concentration of products, perspectives, and practices outlined within the ACTFL standard of “culture.” Products are defined as foods, music, games, and books. Perspectives are the attitudes, values, and ideals. Practices are defined as social interactions. This will include a visual representation of Dominican people within College level textbooks. 

Program: Culver Behavioral Science Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Faculty: Haco Hoang, Political Science
Student: Devyn Nordstrom

This research project examines how military force evolved to serve the economic interests of countries over time. Specifically, the United States government’s role in NATO expansion is explored. Throughout the cold war NATO had been the counterweight to the Soviet lead Warsaw pact. After the fall of the Berlin wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. found itself asking if the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was still necessary. The findings of this study point to there being an economic interest within the U.S. government and U.S. business community in seeing NATO expand eastwards. Additionally, there was an expectation within the U.S. and among the prospective NATO nations that the security gained by accession to NATO was necessary for foreign investment and trade. Along with U.S. business interests the U.S. military industrial complex had financial incentives in NATO expansion. U.S. military corporations were essentially guaranteed to meet the needs of these new member states as these states current military manufacturing industry was not capable of meeting NATO interoperability standards. 

This research project examines the intersection of military conflict and economic profits. As the world became increasingly connected through globalization, there is often an assumption that wars are less likely to occur. However, this study examines how the use of force has evolved to serve the economic interests of countries by exploring three questions:

1. What is the relationship between military force and economic interests (literature review);
2. What are recent cases studies that illustrate the continuing link between military force and economic gain (Hungary, Slovakia, and Taiwan); and 
3. How has military force evolved to serve the economic interests of countries over time? 

This study uses both quantitative and qualitative data/methods to analyze the intersection of military and economic power.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Megan Fung, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Student: Shannon Worley

In this research we determine how glacial-interglacial cycles play a role in the preservation of marine microfossils, specifically foraminifera which are organisms with tests (shells) often used in paleoclimate science. These tests are composed of calcium carbonate and the isotopic composition of oxygen and carbon can be analyzed to better understand what the environmental conditions were like when the foraminifera was living. In addition, the preservation state (e.g., well-preserved, poorly-preserved) is important in generating high-quality paleoclimate data. Recent research has developed the Foraminifera Preservation Index (FPI) in order to create more defined criteria for the different preservation stages. This index places tests in a category of either glassy (well-preserved), pseudo-glassy (moderately-preserved), or frosty (poorly-preserved). The foraminiferal genus Cibicidoides is often used when generating paleoclimatic data, therefore this research focused on Cibicidoides from ~36 to 50 thousand years ago. It is expected that Cibicidoides tests from this interglacial section will show overall lower FPI scores with significantly more frosty tests compared to glacial sections. This research presents preliminary FPI scores, total abundance of Cibicidoides per gram of sediment, and grain size analyses. Processing the sediment samples includes weighing the sample (before and after drying), washing the sample to remove fine clays, drying, and reweighing. The sample was then sorted through a 63µm sieve, all Cibicidoides specimens were removed under a microscope, each Cibicidoides test was categorized by preservation type, and each sample was assigned a FPI score. The data displays an overall increase in the total number of Cibicidoides per gram of pre-washed dry sample in both sub-size fractions of >250µm and 150-250µm. The data also presents an overall increase in the percentage of sand present in each sample. The preliminary FPI scores show no overall trend.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Dr Louise Kelly, Exercise science
Student: Rakaihya Thomas

Exercise may have an influence on depression and body image within the demographics of adolescents and people of color. Mental health sickness is common within marginalized communities. Marginalized communities consist of groups excluded from normal social, economic, educational or cultural aspects of life. Studies show that individuals are less likely to receive treatment, yet therapies of any kind in said communities. Results show that 8% of children suffer from depression and with the increase of technology body image can be affected due to weight or social views via social media. Serving groups that fit the parameters of the topic will be analyzed and observed. How to collect data in a sensitive and respectful manner based on cultural views will be investigated to start the second half of research.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Michael Abdelsayed, Biology
Student: Rob Frye

The ability to track molecules in real time has proven to be difficult in the past. This is because it lacks fluorescent capabilities. In order to come up with a solution to this kind of problem, we purified fluorescently tagged molecules related to DNA complexes instead of RNA types. When seen from a medical view, this kind of experiment can provide doctors’ tools to better witness the localization of effects within certain DNA vaccines or even create breakthroughs for scientists who need better techniques to visualize their process of certain experiments. We have selected an aptamer that has just as high of an affinity for DNA as RNA called RNA mango. In order to work with the most DNA molecules, we used polymerase chain reactions or PCR. After acquiring those copies, gel electrophoresis was conducted. This provided aid in visualizing the DNA samples before moving on with research. Once confirmation of samples was complete, clones were made so the purification and mango aptamer application could begin. This process was called in vitro selection. A series of flushing and diluting several containers with the tagged DNA in order to select samples with the highest aptamer affinity. To better visualize the amount of fluorescence attached to each clone in the experiment, charts were created with Excel. With 10 clones total, one indicated the most potential use for the future. This means future direction should involve more rounds of in vitro selection to have a bigger DNA pool to select and test from.

Program: National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Growing Convergence Research
Faculty: Aditi Sengupta, Biology
Student: Justin Garcia

Soil microorganisms serve as the first biotic soil-forming factor responsible for the development of soil. However, the trajectory of soil microbial composition and diversity on a landscape, as it colonizes soil microenvironments, is not well understood. To address this gap, fifty-four soil samples were collected from three artificially constructed hillslopes housed at the Landscape Evolutionary Observatory, Biosphere 2 at the University of Arizona. The hillslopes were built in 2012 and are filled with crushed basaltic tephra representative of an incipient soil system, with a microenvironment of bare soil, soil plus crusts, and moss-covered areas developing over the past few years. Microbial DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was extracted from the soil samples, followed by 16S rRNA (Ribonucleic acid) amplicon sequencing. The sequences were analyzed using a bioinformatics pipeline (QIIME 2, Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology) to reveal microbial alpha and beta diversity characteristics. Statistical analysis was conducted using packages phyloseq and vegan in R studio. Shannon diversity showed significant differences in the community composition using pairwise Kruskal-Wallis comparisons between bare soil-moss and bare-soil-crust (p< 0.05), while moss-crust showed no differences. Pairwise-permanova of the weighted unifrac dissimilarity index revealed significant (p = 0.001) differences in beta diversity between bare soil and crust and moss coverings. Unique amplicon sequence variants matched to reference databases showed unique taxa present in the three environments. Future work will statistically evaluate environmental variables associated with community differences.  The results show that the landscape, despite the evolutionary processes being in the early stages of development, is evolving to have vastly different microbial communities within the microenvironments.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: David Marcey, Biology
Student: Olivia Chee

  Abstract: The Drosophila melanogaster compound eye consists of an arrangement of about 750 single eyes (ommatidia) on lateral aspects of the adult head. Each eye consists of a dorsal and ventral set of ommatidia, separated by an equator, with ommatidia dorsal to the equator having photoreceptor cells arranged in a trapezoidal pattern that is a mirror image to that of ommatidia ventral to the equator. Previous experiments conducted in the Marcey lab demonstrated that D. melanogaster lines that were isogenic for recombinant Racing Stripe chromosomes displayed within-line uniformity but between line heterogeneity in RS expression. It has been predicted that this between-line heterogeneity observed in recombinant RS chromosomes is due to a modifier of Position Effect Variegation (PEV) present on the distal 3R region of the RS chromosome. Specifically, I am positing that the between line heterogeneity in the transgene expression is due to the presence or absence of a Suppressor of PEV in various recombinant lines. To test this, I have crossed various lines carrying or not carrying the hypothesized Su(var) to a known Position Effect modulated white gene, white mottled-4 and screened progeny with the assistance of Alison McAdoo and Ruthie Carmeli. My results will be employed to better understand factors that affect the expression of transgenes in genetically engineered genomes. This project was funded by the McNair Scholars program and the Fletcher Jones Foundation.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: David Marcey, Biology
Student: Olivia Chee

The Drosophila melanogaster compound eye consists of an arrangement of about 750 single eyes (ommatidia) on lateral aspects of the adult head. Each eye consists of a dorsal and ventral set of ommatidia, separated by an equator, with ommatidia dorsal to the equator having photoreceptor cells arranged in a trapezoidal pattern that is a mirror image to that of ommatidia ventral to the equator. Previous experiments conducted in the Marcey lab demonstrated that D. melanogaster lines that were isogenic for recombinant Racing Stripe chromosomes displayed within-line uniformity but between line heterogeneity in RS expression. It has been predicted that this between-line heterogeneity observed in recombinant RS chromosomes is due to a modifier of Position Effect Variegation (PEV) present on the distal 3R region of the RS chromosome. Specifically, I am positing that the between line heterogeneity in the transgene expression is due to the presence or absence of a Suppressor of PEV in various recombinant lines. To do this, I have crossed various lines carrying or not carrying the hypothesized Su(var) to a known Position Effect modulated white gene, white mottled-4 and screened progeny with the assistance of Allison McAdoo and Ruthie Carmeli. My results will be employed to better understand factors that affect the expression of transgenes in genetically engineered genomes. This project was funded by the McNair Scholars program and the Fletcher Jones Foundation.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Dr. Grady Hanrahan, Chemistry
Student: Antonio Huerta

Studies have shown that adsorption of radionuclides by natural materials such as soil occur in kinetic equilibrium exchange processes. Kinetic parameters based on the sorption capacity of elements in the Uranium-238 decay chain were examined using varying models and temperature variations to assess data trends and patterns. An artificial neural network (ANN) platform was built to be able to predict the kinetic parameters, and their calculated levels, of the decay products for quantitative modeling purposes. Moving forward, the optimized ANN platform will be used to predict kinetic parameters by learning from existing data to elucidate what the outputs, and the kinetic parameters, should look like. Being able to predict the kinetic parameters of decay chains will allow us to better understand the radioactive decay process and how environmental factors play a role in associated decay chains for a variety of radioisotopes.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Dr. Seales and Professor Banuelos, Language and Cultures
Student: Ysabella Gonzalez

Women in history have often been misrepresented because of their gender. One of these women is La Malinche, a Nahua woman who lived during the Spanish Conquest in the 1500s. She was a translator for the Spaniards and was involved in the fall of the Aztec empire. Generally when La Malinche is presented in historical texts she's portrayed as a traitor, victim, and, in rare cases, a heroine. Studies often neglect to take into account the realities and struggles that she lived through.

This research focuses on how La Malinche was misunderstood during her time using feminist theories and comparative literature on the following texts: "Traitor, Survivor, Icon: The Legacy of La Malinche"; "Feminism, Nation, Myth La Malinche"; "La Malinche in Mexican Literature: From History to Myth". "Traitor, Survivor, Icon: The Legacy of La Malinche" focused on how La Malinche is depicted in different art mediums: paintings, tapestry, sculptures, and on vases; before coming to their own conclusion of who she was. "Feminism, Nation, Myth La Malinche" focuses more so on looking at La Malinche through gender, sexuality, and feminism pieces; it's a compilation of different works by many scholars into one general book. "La Malinche in Mexican Literature: From History to Myth" speaks more so to how La Malinche is represented in both history and literature over time.

After a careful examination of La Malinche’s life, and her role in the Spanish Conquest, Latin American radical, socialiast, and cultural feminist theories will be used to assess her contributions. This has shown how she is more human and was just doing her best in that time, and should not be idealized by us and leveraged to our own views or portrayals of her.

I would like to thank California Lutheran University for this opportunity as well as the McNair program. I would also like to thank my mentors Dr. Seales and Professor Banuelos.

Program: The Louis W. and Gladyce Foster Family Foundation Summer Fellowship in Religion
Faculty: Jennifer Hahn, Religion
Student: Jessica Easter

Protestant Christian Denominations in the United States and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community have often had a relationship of mutual unease, if not flat-out intolerance and hatred. There is a history of violence against LGBTQIA+, also referred to as queer, persons. This violence has been perpetrated in subtle ways like derogatory words and statements of “Love the sinner, hate the sin;” it has also manifested in full attacks on queer bodies and identities as in conversion therapy. However, some denominations have made more recent commitments to being inclusive and welcoming toward LGBTQIA+ individuals. One such denomination is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ELCA is a Protestant Christian denomination identifying as an affirming, or inclusive, church, and has released public, churchwide statements claiming this as part of the church’s mission. Statements, however, do not always translate directly into real, visible action, but can effectively cloak continued unwelcome and exclusivity. To understand if and how these statements impact the experience of queer individuals, I interviewed members of the church body about their specific experiences of acceptance, or lack thereof, in the church. Each interviewee was a confirmed adult member of the ELCA, whether as laity or clergy. I have found that, although the ELCA has taken considerable steps towards the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons, there remains an overall lack of true welcome for these individuals. One individual felt often tokenized, while others have admitted to hiding their queer identities within ELCA churches to be accepted. Queer persons partaking in church leadership, whether as council members or clergy, especially face a greater lack of welcome in the church than their parishioner counterparts. Should the ELCA wish to live fully into the statements they have made and continue in the direction of becoming an affirming church, they have more work to do in affirming queer persons in their lives and church communities.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: David Marcey, Biology
Student: Ruthie Carmeli

The Drosophila melanogaster compound eye consists of approximately 750 single eyes (ommatidia). Each eye is separated horizontally by a Dorsal-Ventral (D-V) midline, an “equator,” with ommatidia dorsal to the equator having their photoreceptor cells arranged in a trapezoidal pattern that is a mirror image to those of ommatidia ventral to the equator. During development, the equatorial cells are an important signaling center for proper eye formation. Flies were obtained from Dr. Catherine McElwain (LMU) that incorporate an insertion of a white⁺ (w⁺) transgene into an unmapped location on the 3^rd chromosome. The phenotype of this line is novel in that the w⁺ transgene’s expression pattern, visible in a w^– genetic background and unlike most w⁺ transgene expressions, consists of low-level w⁺ (pigmented/wild-type) expression throughout the eye, with a much stronger expression of the transgene in the equatorial region, an expression named Racing Stripe [RS]. We have obtained variations of this expression pattern, modified in different genetic backgrounds (Pin Stripe [PS] and Swoosh [SW]). This variability is suggestive of epigenetic modification that alters the w⁺ transgene’s expression. Previous students in the Marcey lab mapped the RS transgene to a proximal chromosome 3R location by recombination. It is important to determine if variations of the original RS expression are caused by mobilization of the w⁺ transgene to new genomic coordinates, in which case equatorial expression could be attributed to an intrinsic property of the transgene. We have mapped the SW transgene to the same location as SW. This result indicates that the equatorial pattern in both transgene lines is due to the position of insertion, as opposed to an intrinsic property of the transgene.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: David Marcey, Biology
Student: Allison McAdoo and Ruthie Carmelli

The Drosophila melanogaster compound eye consists of approximately 750 single eyes (ommatidia). Each eye is separated horizontally by a Dorsal-Ventral (D-V) midline, an “equator,” with ommatidia dorsal to the equator having their photoreceptor cells arranged in a trapezoidal pattern that is a mirror image to those of ommatidia ventral to the equator. During development, the equatorial cells are an important signaling center for proper eye formation. Flies were obtained from Dr. Catherine McElwain (LMU) that incorporate an insertion of a white⁺ (w⁺) transgene into an unmapped location on the 3^rd chromosome. The phenotype of this line is novel in that the w⁺ transgene’s expression pattern, visible in a w^– genetic background and unlike most w⁺ transgene expressions, consists of low-level w⁺ (pigmented/wild-type) expression throughout the eye, with a much stronger expression of the transgene in the equatorial region, an expression named Racing Stripe [RS]. We have obtained variations of this expression pattern, modified in different genetic backgrounds (Pin Stripe [PS] and Swoosh [SW]). This variability is suggestive of epigenetic modification that alters the w⁺ transgene’s expression. Previous students in the Marcey lab mapped the RS transgene to a proximal chromosome 3R location by recombination. It is important to determine if variations of the original RS expression are caused by mobilization of the w⁺ transgene to new genomic coordinates, in which case equatorial expression could be attributed to an intrinsic property of the transgene. We have mapped the PS transgene to the same location as RS. This result indicates that the equatorial pattern in both transgene lines is due to the position of insertion, as opposed to an intrinsic property of the transgene. We have also investigated whether the w⁺ transgene’s expression can be affected by mutations known to alter heterochromatin status. Crosses show that changes in heterochromatin status does not alter the expression of the w⁺ transgene. This work holds implications for gene regulation and genome engineering.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: David Marcey, Biology
Student: Allison McAdoo

The Drosophila melanogaster compound eye consists of approximately 750 single eyes (ommatidia). Each eye is separated horizontally by a Dorsal-Ventral (D-V) midline, an “equator,” with ommatidia dorsal to the equator having their photoreceptor cells arranged in a trapezoidal pattern that is a mirror image to those of ommatidia ventral to the equator. During development, the equatorial cells are an important signaling center for proper eye formation. Flies were obtained from Dr. Catherine McElwain (LMU) that incorporate an insertion of a white⁺ (w⁺) transgene into an unmapped location on the 3^rd chromosome. The phenotype of this line is novel in that the w⁺ transgene’s expression pattern, visible in a w^– genetic background and unlike most w⁺ transgene expressions, consists of low-level w⁺ (pigmented/wild-type) expression throughout the eye, with a much stronger expression of the transgene in the equatorial region, an expression named Racing Stripe [RS]. We have obtained variations of this expression pattern, modified in different genetic backgrounds (Pin Stripe [PS] and Swoosh [SW]). This variability is suggestive of epigenetic modification that alters the w⁺ transgene’s expression. Previous students in the Marcey lab mapped the RS transgene to a proximal chromosome 3R location by recombination. It is important to determine if variations of the original RS expression are caused by mobilization of the w⁺ transgene to new genomic coordinates, in which case equatorial expression could be attributed to an intrinsic property of the transgene. We have mapped the PS transgene to the same location as RS. This result indicates that the equatorial pattern in both transgene lines is due to the position of insertion, as opposed to an intrinsic property of the transgene. We have also investigated whether the w⁺ transgene’s expression can be affected by mutations known to alter heterochromatin status. Crosses show that changes in heterochromatin status does not alter the expression of the w⁺ transgene. This work holds implications for gene regulation and genome engineering.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Grady Hanrahan, Chemistry and Exercise Science
Student: Jessica Farfan

This study demonstrates the oxidative breakdown of ethanol and its effects on the cardiovascular system. A mechanistic model of the metabolism of chronic ethanol consumption and low ethanol consumption was proposed, resulting in the confirmation of stress induced inflammation and lipid peroxidation by reactive oxygen species. An extensive literature search provided data that correlated 50g of alcohol to increased levels of Malondialdehyde and C-Reactive protein in the body, and artificial neural networks were utilized to construct a colormap of correlation coefficients. Subsequently, mechanisms of Vitamin C and Vitamin E were proposed to display a possible way hydrogen peroxide levels could be reduced. Results provide inferences for cardiovascular health risks from chronic ethanol consumption and will be further observed through the artificial neural network modeling platform, C++.

Program: National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Astrophysics
Faculty: Mary Oksala, Physics
Student: Sophia Letendre

We are studying the magnetic massive star HD23478, which has a strong magnetic field and is ~6x more massive than the Sun. The magnetic fields of massive stars are large scale dipoles that remain stable.  HD23478 was observed using the Narval spectropolarimeter on the Bernard Lyot telescope in France and the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii.  To analyze the optical data, I wrote a Python program to load in spectral data, locally renormalize spectral lines, calculate the equivalent width with its uncertainty, and determine the rotational phase.  We will measure the equivalent width of strong hydrogen and metal lines and this data will be used to build on the previous studies of the star to make a more accurate model by adding more data and combining infrared spectra and magnetometry. This work will collectively further the understanding of these types of dynamic stars.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Dr. Jason Kingsbury, Chemistry
Student: Julian Sanchez

Azepanes are fully saturated variants of seven membered azepine rings, which are found in bioactive and polycyclic alkaloids. These structures and their medicinal value are pushing chemists to develop new ways to synthesize medium rings that stray from conventional methods. Synthesizing (R)-2-acetamido-2-phenylethyl acetate (1) from (R)-phenylglycinol gives a 90% yield and (R )-N-(2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)acetamide (2)  is then formed in 95% yield. Our future work is to find the best methods to purify N-acetyl-2-phenylaziridine (3) formed by tosylation and ring closure under basic conditions.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Chad L. Barber, Ph.D., Biology
Student: Malik Hays

Synthetic substances known as forever chemicals are used in the production of many consumer goods such as: fast food containers, nonstick cookware, water resistant clothing, and personal care products. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Perfluoroalkyl or polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) are in the bloodstream of about 97% of Americans. PFAS such as Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) have been proven to induce major health concerns such as thyroid disorders, decreased function of the immune system, and a number of cancers. Although these chemicals have been phased out from production due to a regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS break down at an incredibly slow rate, which, over time can result in their accumulation in the environment, animals, and people. As of August 2022 the EPA is working to label these ''forever chemicals'' as hazardous. Cell cultures of U937-DC-SIGN were treated with varying amounts of PFOA and analyzed for cell survival, proliferation and apoptosis using hemacytometery and flow cytometry.We used a range of .3M to .12M of PFOA from our working dilution. It was determined that there was a 7.5% decrease of the number of cells from .3M to .12M of PFOA. Our data indicated a larger concentration of PFOA caused a significantly larger number of dead cells. And that PFOA decreases proliferation and increases apoptosis in healthy human cells. Companies are now resorting to creating shorter carbon-chain compounds, but the concern is that these shorter carbon-chain compounds pose the same threat to human health. Our research supports the class of PFAS being labeled as hazardous, and we aim to further study the mechanism of action of these effects.

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Dr. Andrea Sell, Psychology
Student: Angelina Garcia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore what national institutional policies and protections are in place for undergraduate research students, particularly in the social sciences. For example, many natural science students are asked to wear closed toed shoes, or only work in the lab when they have a lab partner present. However, similar policies and safeguards may not be in place for undergraduates doing research in social sciences, despite clear risks. For example, some studies show that social science researchers contend with harassment, participant aggression and threats, and secondary trauma related to the research topics (DeGroot and Carmack, 2020; Williamson, et al., 2020; Given, 2008). In this study, we sought to understand if institutions have protections in place for undergraduate research students, particularly in the social sciences. Participants completed a survey which asked about the level and presences of research safeguards at their institutions. Results will be summarized and used to create guidelines for institutional research offices that work with undergraduate research students. 

Keywords: undergraduate researchers, safety protections, faculty 

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Dr. Amanda ElBassiouny, Psychology
Student: Jorge Macias

Research shows that adolescents growing up in high-risk communities are more likely to be victims of violence, use alcohol/other substances; suffer with mental health and engage in risky sexual behavior. A shift from the nation’s focus on treating mental health and illness after it occurs to a concentrated effort on preventing the root causes of these problems within high-risk communities is needed.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Sebastian Carron Montero, Physics
Student: Long Hoang

Grand Unified Theory (GUT) seeks to combine the four known fundamental forces into one theory. However, many models rely on supersymmetry (SUSY) in the search for the GUT. Our research seeks to inspect the experimental evidence of minimum supersymmetric particles (SUSY-MSSM). Particularly, we look into stop-anti stop pairs decaying in the dilepton channel at CERN’s CMS experiment. The Standard Model top anti-top quark looks almost identical to the stop-anti stop production except for two decay supersymmetric neutralinos 0. We cannot directly detect stops/anti stops at CMS detectors since they are expected to quickly decay. Instead, we study the kinematical variables of decay daughter particles. We use MSSM top-antitop quark as well as Standard Model WW, WZ, ZZ, and Drell-Yan simulations to train a neural network with the goal of maximizing the statistical separation signal and background. We will present the status of our search algorithm. Our ultimate goal is to apply this trained algorithm to CMS experimental data.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Sebastian Carron Montero, Physics
Student: Van Haslett

In the search for a Grand Unified Theory, which seeks to combine the four known fundamental forces into one theory, many models rely on supersymmetry. Our research seeks experimental evidence of minimum supersymmetric (SUSY-MSSM) particles. Specifically, we are searching for stop-antistop pairs decaying in the dilepton channel at CERN’s CMS experiment. We cannot directly detect stops/antistops at the CMS detectors since they are expected to quickly decay. Instead, we study the kinematical variables of the decayed daughter particles using a software we built to distinguish the differences between our signal and expected background processes. Our selection software was run on simulated samples for both our SUSY top quarks as well as our expected sources of noise (these are the WW, WZ, ZZ and Drell-Yan particle processes), using the daughter particles' kinematical characteristics. We will present the results of this filtering along with key kinematical differences that will help us distinguish between our signal and background processes, as well as our techniques for selecting these events.

Program: Culver Behavioral Science Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Haco Hoang, Political Science
Student: Kyrie Fairbairn

It is pertinent that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights under the Biden Administration evaluates the effectiveness of its proposed Title IX regulations in a timely manner. The regulations released on June 23, 2022 require purposeful consideration for implementation. Failure to fulfill what was promised under Title IX, that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from...or be subject to discrimination under any educational program” is unacceptable.

Over the last 50 years Title IX has increasingly gained notoriety for its application to cases of sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct “is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX” which is prevalent particularly in the university setting where women, first-year students, and those that identify as LGBTQI+ are disproportionately affected. Sexual misconduct undoubtedly creates an environment for learning that lacks equity. 

Title IX has seen changing regulations from the Obama, the Trump, and now the Biden administration. This, coupled with increasing awareness of sexual misconduct brought on by the #MeToo movement, has made it obvious that this is a less than optimal time to have ineffective policies and regulations in Title IX. 

Due to the way institutes of higher education have largely failed to adequately and effectively apply Title IX regulations to create safer campuses for students, it is of the utmost importance to evaluate the newly released policies 

The implementation recommendations will focus on:

1. Creating clear expectations for implementation of regulations at institutions of higher education.

2. Strengthening the external investigator and adjudicator models that do exist, and adding them to institutions that lack them, as to avoid recurrent bias and conflict of interest within investigations.

3. Cultivating campus climates that prevent sexual misconduct from occurring, rather than simply attempting to punish it when it does.

Program: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Ariana Young, Psychology
Student: Sierra Knopp

Watching television and listening to podcasts are popular pastimes in our society. The crime genre has recently grown in popularity, with many people enjoying fictional crime shows, true crime shows, and true crime podcasts. Previous research has shown that watching crime shows may be related to a person’s fear of crime and personality traits. However, prior research has not accounted for the different subgenres that exist within crime shows, such as crime drama, crime comedy, and true crime. Furthermore, research on true crime podcast listening behaviors is quite limited. The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationships between crime show viewing behaviors (e.g., frequency, enjoyment) and specific personality traits and individual differences (e.g., the Big Five dimensions of personality, self-esteem, attachment style, belief in a just world, need for cognition, fear of crime, victim blaming, cognitive closure, etc.). We hypothesize that certain personality traits will be associated with crime show viewership. Specifically, we predict that higher agreeableness and extraversion will be negatively related to frequency and enjoyment of crime show viewership, whereas higher conscientiousness, negative emotionality, and open-mindedness will be positively related to crime show viewership. We also expect that those who report greater belief in a just world, need for cognition, victim blaming, and fear of crime will be associated with higher crime show viewership. Furthermore, we predict that greater desire for cognitive closure will be negatively associated with crime show viewership. This study will employ a correlational design. A community sample of approximately 300 participants will be recruited to complete an online survey on MTurk. The survey will assess participants’ crime show and podcast preferences, personality traits, and individual differences. We are currently in the data collection and analysis phases of this research. We view this study as an important step in better understanding the correlates and consequences of crime show viewership.

Program: Culver Behavioral Science Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Faculty: Kirstie Hettinga, Communication
Student: Carrollyne Aasen and Rachel Martinez

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there were about 62.1 million members of the Latinx population in the U.S. Past research shows there was an increase of 211% of Spanish speakers from 1980 to 2007. News media in the U.S. plays an important role for Spanish-speaking individuals because they provide relevant news coverage, such as politics and immigration, for Latinx and Hispanic communities. As the higher education enrollment of Latinx and Hispanic students is expected to increase to 4.4 million students by 2025, it is possible the demand for Spanish-language content and curriculum will increase as well. Some colleges and universities provide students with opportunities to publish Spanish-language media. Previous research suggests with these publications, students can communicate “their identities and communities” through their coverage and opinions.

Therefore, the purpose of this research is to explore what Spanish-language student media outlets are covering and to investigate whether coverage varies among institutions that identify as Hispanic-serving, public vs. private, etc. 

To cultivate a deeper understanding of Spanish-language student media content, the authors are conducting a content analysis (N=300) of Spanish-language articles from seven different colleges and universities. The sample includes three private and four public colleges and universities, of which four identify as Hispanic-serving institutions. In the coding, the authors address the topics covered including whether they address issues of immigration, DACA, Dreamers, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the authors are coding for use of visuals, such as photos and multimedia. 

In future analysis, the authors will seek to determine whether there are similarities or differences in coverage among different types of colleges and universities. This research may be among the first to explore student-generated Spanish-language content and its findings may enhance our understanding of Spanish-language student media.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Jesus Cordova Guerrero, Chemistry
Student: Josephine Abbott

The field of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is an emerging area in materials science; relevant advances have been reported in numerous fields including the research involving anti-cancer applications. By synthesizing Fe-MIL-88B and its derivatives through solvothermal processes, followed by biological studies on cancer cell cultures allowed for the determination of whether or not geometry plays a role in the ability to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). 

Program: Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar
Faculty: Jesus Cordova Guerrero, Chemistry
Student: Maximilian Segeberg

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFS) are materials that have led to multiple biomedical applications to be discovered. MOFS are described to be highly crystalline, porous structures that are formed by organic linkers and metal clusters via reticular synthesis. One application was originally believed to be only drug delivery systems, transitioned into the MOFs own ability to have anticancer materials as well. Two such MOFs to exhibit these behaviors are Fe-MIL-101 and Fe-MIL-53. Substituted terephthalic acids can be used to synthesize and activate Fe-MIL-101 and Fe-MIL-53. This was studied through solvothermal synthesis. We then sent the products to a facility in Pasadena where they performed x-ray crystallography to analyze if we accurately made the desired product. While being able to synthesize these two families of analogs, their anti-cancer activity will be studied in collaboration with California State University of San Marcos, so those results will be presented in due course.  We have obtained the results from the x-ray crystallography, and while a few of the MOFs were accurate, most were not. Thus, we are going to have readjust the reaction conditions. I plan on synthesizing the rest of the planned analogs and once we obtain the results of the cytotoxicity of the analogs, we seek to correlate Metal-Organic Frameworks as catalysts for free-radical reaction. Thus, free radicals could determine how effective an anti-cancer agent is.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Jesus Cordova Guerrero, Chemistry
Student: Sophie Cochiolo

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been developed significantly since their discovery in the mid 1990s. MOFs are cage-like structures that are highly porous, hybrid materials that are composed of metal clusters and organic linkers that allow for tunable pore sizes. Due to their porous structures, MOFs are extremely crystalline with large surface areas. These qualities make them prime candidates for anti-cancer drug therapies through their potential to have controlled drug delivery and high drug storage capacity. Chemotherapeutic agents present a wide variety of chemical architectures, mostly small molecules, that do not present bio-specificity in many cases. This leads to high and frequent dosage, limited pharmacokinetics and unpleasant side effects. Because of the structural properties and low toxicity of MOFs, there has been a lot of interest and investigation of the possibility to use these materials for a controlled drug release with high drug storage capacity. Iron-based MOFs have been used as drug delivery systems and have shown to have low toxicity. A new organic linker was synthesized in order to research the capacity of these MOFs for drug delivery in a six-step synthesis using the Sonogashira coupling. To deliver the pseudo-drug from the synthesized MOFs, they will undergo light-induced release. Thus far, the optimal reaction conditions for the first five steps of the synthesis of organic linker 2 up to the SN2 reaction have been found with yields in the range of 39%-86%. The SN2 reaction was successfully run, with 1H-NMR confirming the correct structure. The next steps after fully synthesizing the organic linker will be the crystallization with the metal cluster to form the complete MOF. The following steps will include analyzing the time-release of the pseudo drug through light-induced photo release. Ideally, the synthesized MOF will eventually be used as a drug delivery model system.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Michele LeBlanc, Exercise Science
Student: Isabella Martinez

Previous research has provided conflicting results regarding interjoint coordination during a squat jump for young and old adults. In particular, researchers have noted if a proximal-to-distal sequencing (PDS) pattern characterized by hip, then knee, then ankle movement was utilized. Argaud et al. (2019) concluded that both groups used a PDS pattern while Haguenauer et al.(2005) reported that older adults exhibited a more simultaneous strategy. However, both of these studies only investigated male subjects. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there are differences in joint power sequencing between sexes and age groups during a squat jump. Methods: 32 active and injury-free subjects participated (19 young (9F, 10M) and 13 older (7F, 6M)). Subjects performed squat jumps from a minimum knee flexion angle of 120 degrees with hands on hips. 3D body coordinates and ground reaction force data were collected using seven Vicon Vantage cameras and two Kistler force plates, respectively. Three trials per subject were used for analysis, excluding any trials with a countermovement. Hip, knee and ankle joint power data were computed using Nexus software and used to assign the degree of PDS for each trial (both leg, one leg, neither leg). Chi-squared was run to determine associations between sex and age with degree of PDS (p &lt; 0.05). Results: There was a significant association between age and degree of PDS (p = 0.041). Both legs used PDS for 74% and 49% of the younger and older adult trials, respectively, and neither leg used PDS for 12% and 21% of their trials, respectively. There was no significant association between sex and degree of PDS. However, 71% and 56% of the males and female trials used PDS for both legs while 8% and 23% of their trials used PDS for neither leg. Conclusion: Older adults, especially females, use a PDS strategy less frequently when attempting to generate lower extremity power. This difference is unrelated to activity levels or disease and may be related to neuromuscular changes associated with aging or jump experience.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Dr. Michele LeBlanc, Exercise Science Department
Student: Kylie Garcia

Previous research has identified greater asymmetry in lower extremity strength tests in older adults with a fall history when compared to older adults without a fall history and to younger adults (Perry et al., 2007).  However, it is not known if these strength asymmetries manifest in asymmetrical movement patterns or if the asymmetries differ for females and males. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sex and age on lower extremity joint power asymmetry during a squat jump. METHODS: Thirty two subjects including 19 young adults (9F and 10M) and 13 older adults (7F and 6M) who were injury-free and physically active participated. Subjects were asked to perform squat jumps with their hands on their hips from a starting position with at least 120 deg. of knee flexion with no countermovement.  Kinematic and kinetic data were collected during each squat jump using a 7-camera Vicon motion capture system and two Kistler force plates.  The average over three trials was used for analysis. Dependent t-tests identified differences in peak joint powers (PP), the timing of peak joint powers, and mean joint powers (MP) between the right and left hip, knee, and ankle for each sex and each age group (p < 0.05). RESULTS: At the hip, there were significant differences in PP and its timing for Older and Male subjects (p < 0.042) and in MP for all groups except Older (p < 0.041). There were differences in only Younger subjects for knee PP and MP (p < 0.021). At the ankle, MP differed for all groups (p < 0.042) and PP differed for Younger and Female subjects (p < 0.019). When significant differences were identified, the right side PP and MP values were greater in all differences identified at the hip and ankle while the left side values were greater at the knee. CONCLUSIONS:  It could be that controlling for the minimum knee flexion angle may have minimized the knee differences in most groups. While the older adults may have strength asymmetries, it appears that they had no greater movement asymmetries than the younger adults. 

Program: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Faculty: Andrea Sell, Psychology
Student: Kailee Kriesel

Motivated forgetting involves removing specific memories from consciousness because there is a motivation to do so like stress, anxiety, or an intention to forget. Removing the memories allows for better cognitive functioning for the individual. Cognitive control is intentionally using certain thoughts and behaviors to accomplish goals like emotional regulation. Strategies like positive self-talk are simple cognitive control tasks that could be used anywhere. This experiment was designed to see if positive self-talk can decrease the effects of motivated forgetting and increase the recall of information that participants are instructed to forget. Participants completed a reading task while repeating sentences aloud to demonstrate cognitive control. All participants were asked to read two educational paragraphs. The experiment consisted of four participant groups: positive-remember, positive-forget, neutral-remember, and neutral-forget. Participants in the positive-remember group were instructed to remember the content of both paragraphs and repeat previously prepared positive sentences aloud. The positive-forget group was instructed to forget the content of the paragraphs, but also had to repeat the positive sentences aloud. Participants in the neutral-remember and neutral-forget conditions were given the same instructions as the previous conditions (either remember or forget); however they were given neutral statements to repeat aloud. A 2x2 factorial ANOVA was performed to analyze the effect of the type of self-talk and cue type on recall of information from the two educational paragraphs. The effect of the type of self-talk (positive vs. neutral) was not significant, p = .137, d = .029. The effect of the cue type (remember vs. forget) was not significant, p = .69, d = .002. The interaction between the two variables (cue type and self-talk type) was not significant, F(1,77) = 2.23, p = .137, d = .029. These results show that it did not matter what cue or type of self-talk participants received because everyone recalled similar amounts of items.

Program: The Louis W. and Gladyce Foster Family Foundation Summer Fellowship in Religion
Faculty: Dr. Julia Lambert Fogg, Religion
Student: Maia Sable

Many people take the connection between humans and the earth for granted, ultimately leading the earth and her environments on a steady decline as a result of human neglect. In order to combat this decline and to save the natural world, micro communities have come together to help repair the broken relationship between humans and the earth. This research analyzes one such micro community, the not-for-profit faith-based farm organization in Fillmore, CA known as The Abundant Table (TAT). Using an environmental psychology (EP) lens reveals how TAT works to restore the human-earth relationship in their local context. Specifically, TAT employs multiple EP strategies of community building. By analyzing these EP strategies implemented in various ways at TAT, this study reveals the flaw in the EP framework. EP strategies use nature to heal humans and to build human communities. TAT’s local strategies of community building challenge this fundamental EP aim by working to heal both human health and the health of our natural world in mutual benefit. Further work must be done, but this study offers the possibility of 1. Reshaping EP aims from unidirectional benefit (nature enhances the human environment for human healing) to a mutually beneficial approach (humans and nature work together to heal each other) and 2. Redefining human community to include nature. That is, building community between humans and the earth in order to heal both. This research includes a literature review, interviews and conversations with TAT community members, and personal engagement with the farm’s community outreach.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Katherine Hoffmann, Biochemistry
Student: Ashley Dumas

Pathogenic bacteria are becoming more resistant to current antibiotics. A simple infection that could be easily eliminated previously becomes more difficult to get rid of. Creating a new class of antibiotics will be critical for our future ability to survive infections. The long term goal of this lab is to utilize structure-based drug design to design new antibiotics. Our target is a unique family of proteins in bacteria called NIS Synthetases, involved in siderophore biosynthesis; our model enzyme is Desferrioxamine D (DesD) from Streptomyces coelicolor. 

Siderophores are small molecular iron chelators that are produced by microbes and whose function is to gather iron from the host and provide this essential nutrient to microbes. They are synthesized from many different pathways, however, the NIS pathways are understudied, and their siderophore products are associated with bacterial virulence. NIS pathways have a member of a unique family of enzymes called NIS Synthetases—great drug targets because of their associating with virulence, unique structure, and chemistry. A model enzyme from this family is DesD from Streptomyces coelicolor bacterium, which catalyzes the last three bonds made in the siderophore dfoE. 

The literature on DesD has indicated a qualitative broad substrate specificity due to its iterative, successive bonds to the same substrate. We will test this hypothesis with quantitative binding data using isothermal titration calorimetry, and predict a significant preference for HSC (small substrate) and dfoG (large substrate) over analogs (dfoB or cadaverine) or products (dfoE). These studies will also allow us to describe the differences in binding to small vs. increasingly larger substrates in a quantitative exploration of iterative activity. To ensure that binding dynamics are not upstaged by catalytic turnover, we will use catalytically inactive variant Arg306Q DesD in an assay using both cofactor and substrates.

This project is key to future studies mapping the binding site and testing the binding of designed inhibitors to siderophore synthesis.

Program: John Stauffer Research Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Grady Hanrahan, Chemistry
Student: Chelsea Munoz

This study demonstrates the tested link between model phenolic compounds (2,4,6 trichlorophenol & 2,4 dichlorophenol) and the formation/electrophoretic separation of them through biomarker screening instruments gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). Abundance and mass-to-charge determinations were used to confirm their presence in standards of methanol and to construct relevant calibration graphs on the GC-MS. Baseline resolved separation of these compounds were also demonstrated by CE under the following conditions: 50 mM Sodium Tetraborate buffer (pH=8.0) with 5% methanol and 25 mM Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, +10.0 kV running voltage, injection time = 3.0 s. These results exhibit the ability to detect the compounds at different concentrations in order to be able to elucidate them in human urine and blood samples. This along with the mechanistic approach, allows us to understand the breakdown of these compounds and how they may be presented/detected in urinary and blood samples for biomarker research.

Program: Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowship
Faculty: Grady Hanrahan, Chemistry
Student: Ruthie Carmeli

CA125 is a soluble protein that is widely used as an indicator for ovarian cancer when it is found in elevated levels (above 35 units/L) in the blood. However, this method alone for the diagnosis of early-stage ovarian cancer has been proven to be limited, as only 47% of women with early-stage ovarian cancer actually have elevated levels of CA125. Due to a lack of effective screening tools, only 20% of women are successfully diagnosed in the early stages of the disease. Prior studies utilizing artificial neural networks (ANNs) have shown promise in the prediction of ovarian cancer through the use of a Bayesian change-point model to assess CA125 levels along with HE4 and glycodelin to better optimize the detection of the change-points in the time series data to better diagnose ovarian cancer. ANN platforms are inspired by the sensory processing that takes place in the brain by creating a simulated network of computational neurons. The goal of this study was to develop an optimized artificial neural network platform in Python that addressed the limitations of the conventional CA125 blood test and of previous ANN studies by utilizing CA125 along with additional proteins (such as HE4, glycodelin, Alpha-fetoprotein, and Beta hCG) that are associated with ovarian cancer and will improve the sensitivity of the tests. In addition, other factors that can also lead to elevated CA125 levels, such as menstruation and endometriosis, were considered as part of the assessment of early-stage ovarian cancer. The ANN platform utilized a Bayesian change-point model and was optimized with Numpy to assess blood samples found in previous studies. This model not only provides key insights in human health and in decrease of cancer mortality through early detection, but will also pave the way for future studies requiring the use of advanced computational techniques to solve societal problems.