UC San Diego Summer Research Conference 2015

Ucsd Summer Research Conference August 13, 2015 UCSD Price Center Sponsored by Academic Enrichment Programs A unit with UCSD Student Affairs

2015 UCSD Summer Research Conference Welcome to the 2015 UCSD Summer Research Conference, which showcases undergraduate research in San Diego each summer.

This year's conference features 317 participants who are part of faculty-mentored summer research programs at CSUSM, SDSU, USD, and UCSD. The presenters include undergraduates from these universities as well as students who have come from institutions from across the country to study in San Diego for the summer. These scholars attend schools ranging from San Diego County Community Colleges to large state universities, small colleges, and Ivy League universities.

We hope you will enjoy the conference and the students’ presentations. We extend our thanks to our faculty moderators for their assistance and support, and to the mentors who have provided training and guidance to their students throughout the summer.

This conference was made possible by generous support from Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Dr. Juan GonzĂĄlez. The UCSD Summer Research Conference is planned and coordinated by Academic Enrichment Programs, which is a unit within Student Affairs.

Thank you to all of the AEP staff. Additional thanks to Drs. Sophia Tsai and Tom Brown who helped to organize the student panels; to Theresa Mendoza, who helped to create the nametags; to Charity Kunold who helped to make this program; and to Laura Puhl and Mark Kinsey of the Price Center.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 8:00 am REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST Price Center Ballroom West Foyer 8:20 am OPENING REMARKS Price Center Ballroom West B Welcome: Karen Van Ness, Conference Coordinator, UCSD Dr. David Artis, Dean of Undergraduate Research Initiatives, UCSD Speakers: Dr. Sandra Brown, Vice Chancellor of Research Affairs, UCSD Dr. Steve Cassedy, Acting Dean of the Graduate Division, UCSD 9:00 am SESSION 1 CONVENES Price Center & Student Services Center Conference Rooms 11:45 am – 1:00 pm LUNCH Price Center Ballroom West B 1:00 pm SESSION 2 CONVENES Price Center & Student Services Center Conference Rooms 3:45 pm CLOSING CEREMONY Speaker: Dr. David Artis, Dean of Undergraduate Research Initiatives Price Center Ballroom West B

CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS AND SPONSORING PROGRAMS Particpants in the 2015 Summer Research Conference were sponsored by the following programs: 4Cs at UCSD ∙ UCSD 4Cs National Science Foundation-Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (4Cs NSF-REU) ∙ UCSD BP-Endure Program ∙ UCSD Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment (CAICE) ∙ UCSD California Louis Stokes Alliance tor Minority Participation (CAMP) in Science, Engineering and Mathematics ∙ UCSD Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, Institute of International Education (CAPES-IIE) ∙ UCSD Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences (CASS) ∙ UCSD Center for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN) ∙ The University of Buffalo, The state University of New York CLIMB UP, Institute for Scientific Enhancement and Educational Diversity (iSEED) ∙ Texas A&M University College of Engineering ∙ California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM) ∙ UCSD Department of Family Medicine and Public Health (DFMPH) ∙ UCSD Dr. Benjamin Grinstein ∙ UCSD Education Studies Department (ESD) ∙ UCSD Genentech ∙ UCSD Gianneschi Lab and Chemistry Connections for Community College Students, NSF REU ∙ SDSU Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) ∙ UCSD Salk Institute Howard Hughes Medical Institute Exceptional Research Opportunities Program (HHMI-EXROP) ∙ UCSD Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior or Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME-BECAS) ∙ UCSD Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) ∙ CSUSM Individual Lab ∙ SDCC Institutional Research and Academic Career Development (IRACADA-Pharmacology) ∙ UCSD Lal Lab ∙ Tufts University Leadership Alliance ∙ USD Lovine Lab ∙ CSUSM Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) ∙ UC Denver, Anschultz Medical Campus Multicultural Achievement Program (MAP Scholars) ∙ CSUSM Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) ∙ University of Texas Southwestern, Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) ∙ UCSD, Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) ∙ CSUSM Maternal Behavior Neuroendocrinology Lab ∙ UCSD McKittrick Lab ∙ UCSD Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair) ∙ USD Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair) ∙ UCSD Mesa Honors Program ∙ UCSD Medical Science Training Program Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MSTP SURF) ∙ UCSD NEW Scholars ∙ CSUSM National Institute of Health (NIH) ∙ UCSD National Science Foundation (NSF) ∙ USD National Science Foundation (NSF) ∙ UCSD National Science Foundation – Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) ∙ USD National Science Foundation – Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) ∙ CSUSM Office for Training, Research and Education in the Sciences (OTRES) ∙ UCSD Pharmacology Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program ∙ MSU Plant Genomics REU@MSU ∙ UCSD Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) ∙ John Hopkins University Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) ∙ CSUSM Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) ∙ Pomona College SDSC ∙ UCSD Sally Casanova California PreDoctoral Scholars Program (Cal Pre-Doc Program) ∙ UCSD Summer Training Academy for Research in the Sciences (STARS) ∙ UCSD Summer Transfer Ahead Research Training Program (START Scholars) ∙ USD Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) ∙ The CSUSM Office of Graduate Studies and Research ∙ UCSD UC Leadership Excellence Through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) ∙UCSD Academic Senate Research Award ∙ UCSD Division of Physiology ∙ UCSD Independent Studies Course 199 ∙ UCSD UC Scholars ∙ UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS) ∙ UC Irvine The Walker Lab ∙

Academic Enrichment Programs, UC San Diego

START Program

CAMP Delfin Acosta Martin Arreola Jahya Burke Gerardo Gonzalez Leonard Lopez Eduardo Lupi Gretel Mercado Yvonne Reyes Ivan Torres Jose Valdes

CAICE Jackie Dowling Arielle Hackel Ritchie Hernandez Ian Martin GENENTECH Nicole Friend Pavel Morales Katherine Suarez

IME-BECAS Jonathan Hernandez Janelle Duenas Arely Guzman Daniel Ortiz Diego Salinas Jorge Ruiz

MCNAIR Roman Aguilera Alyssa Bolden Cheyenne Butcher Jael Castro Clarisa Coronado Edwin Cruz Armando Delgado Nasim Eshragh Nia Hector Gomez Jose Luis Gonzalez Fatima Guardado Alborz Jelvani

MCNAIR (Cont.)

Caine Jordan Lauren Lopez Jocelyn Macho Turi Mullins Artemio Olivas Dante Paul Paola Perez Dianna Ratsamy Alexis Reed Nicole Rodriguez Ariel Rodriguez Jessica Sanchez Monica Sias Jaylin Stevenson Kelsie Telson Anh Tran Jessica Wu

NEW Scholars Alexis Buz Lorenia Gutierrez Jaslem Herrera Valdez Youjin Kim Belen Montoya Gamino Jun Oh Aaron Ong Alejandro Panduro Jonathan Perez Abril Rodriguez Flores Marie Rosario Kanyanat Tongprasearth Jonathan Woo

Lina Abdulnoor Tamara Al Isso Dianne de Guzman Natasha Mazon Oliva Mota Khallyl Abdulnoor Ameen Rahimi Chanin Tangtartharakul Briana Zacharias Andrea Mast

UC SCHOLARS Cole Carter Teodora Dinescu Charles Dorfan Isaac Rozen Jeffery Sun Jenny Woo Fengting Wu Huanqiu Zhang

Other Programs 4Cs at UCSD Frankie Monzon 4Cs NSF-REU Program, UCSD Peter Glatt

Gianneschi Lab and Chemistry Connections for Community College Students, NSF REU, UCSD Sara Beck-Pancer HCOP, SDSU

BP Endure, UCSD Alanah Grisham

Cal Pre-Doc Prog, UCSD Paul Georgi

CAPES/IIE, UCSD Juliano de Souza Silva

CASS, UCSD Kieran Berton

Caylin VanHook

CIAN IOU, UCSD Andrei Isichenko

CLIMB Up (iSEED), The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Erika Luis

College of Engineering, Texas A&M University Grant Varnau

CSUSM, CSUSM Diana Gonzalez Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, UCSD Lila Estrada Dr. Benjamin Grinstein, UCSD Nima Assad Education Studies Department, UCSD Jordan Yoshihara

Robert Altamirano

MARC, UCSD Jacqueline Castro Kevin Tenerelli

Bianca Ayscue Marisabel Coronado Lilybeth Gutierrez Yee Heather Kirchoff Isaac Marquez Carlos Ocadiz Perla Pena Palomino Grecia Sanchez Amanda Whiteley

MARC, University of Texas Southwestern

HHMI-EXROP, UCSD

McKittrick Lab, UCSD

Olga Wroblewski

CIAN, UCSD

MARC, CSUSM

IMSD, SDSU Shannon Yandall

Maternal Behavior Neuroendocrinology Lab, CSUSM Duarlin Mercado Lovine Lab, USD Francisco Javier Hidalgo IRACADA – Pharmacology, UCSD Francisco Peralta Lal Lab, UCSD Vrinda Sant Leadership Alliance, Tufts University Remington Rimple

Cindy Barba

Maternal Behavior Neuroendocrinology Lab, CSUSM Gabriel Holguin Haley Norris

Joyce Mok

McNair, National Institutes of Health Veronica Ramirez

McNair, USD Joylene Aguirre Briana Capuchino Kenneth Davis Madalyn Glim Chyna Gray Jane Henderson Megan Huynh Jordan Jackson Natalie Jimenez Mary Ann Lee Tarez Lemmons Chelsea McLin David Oken Kyle Proctor Jessica Ruiz Gabriella Russo Kayleigh Ward

LSAMP, CSUSM Gbegninon Allognon

McNair, Veteran’s Affairs

MAP, UC Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus

Mesa Honors Program, UCSD

Consuelo Sauceda

MAP, UCSD Astrid Russell

Fiorella Morales

Melanie Michel-Stuart

MTSP-SURF, UCSD Sarah Albrecht Pamela Capellan Angel Diaz Hernandez Luis Gasca Maryam Ige Kamren Livingston Mauricio Marquez Palencia Assata Pyatt Ekanath Rangan Jasmine Rice Ceciley Scarbrough

NET/work, UCSD Khallyl Oliver

NIH, CSUCM Greg Walters

NSF, UCSD Paul Cativiela

NSF, USD Hannah Shapiro Shannon Trujillo

NSF REU, UCSD Jeremiah Blondin Steven Ortiz Bermet Suominen Jessica Sustaita

NSF REU, USD Aria Rostamiasrabadi

OTRES, CSUSM Carlos Betancourt

Pharmacology (SURF), UCSD David Cortez Jasmine Kyung Rachan Narala Nhu Y Doan Delfina Gonzalez Maria Vides Icette Roca Calvin Snyder Raghav Tripathi

Plant Genomics REU, MSU Jocelyn Overa

REU, Johns Hopkins University Sharon Patray

REU, UCSD Nicole Riccobono RISE, CSUSM Annalise Binette Redd Driver Jayme Temple Petrona Gregorio

SDSC, UCSD Maryann Zhao STARS, UCSD Christian Aganze Michelle Aiello Sharmin Alam Christopher Blackburn Alfredo Bolanos Sharon Booth Yesenia Cabrera Takeyah Campbell Juan Cardenas Jacqueline Castro Kattia Castro Brachel Champion Brenda Cisneros Edward Cordasco Robert Cortes Jalyse Cuff Rachel Darko Elan Dawson Lidia De Barros Monica Del Moral-Suazo Nathalie Del Rosario Adriano Dias Corina Espelien Alex Esquivel Blanca Fernandez Nelissa Figueroa Lala Forrest Amitha Gade Mildred Garcia Cesar Garcia Carreon Gabriela Garcia Presa Paul Georgi Ramilyn Gonzales Valeria Gonzalez Ramón González Pérez Janette Govea Alanah Grisham Oscar Guerrero Edwin Guzman Grant Higerd Christian Hissom Andrei Isichenko Marsha-Kay Hutchinson

STARS, UCSD (Cont.)

Naznin Jahan Leigha Jarett Thalia Jimenez Yasmin Kofman Rachel Lester Cuong Liieu Tanisha London Marcel Louis Jocelyn Macho Alejandra Martinez Gabriel Martinez Juan Carlos Martinez Xavier Martinez Suma Massaley Hilda Mejia Crystal Monsale Daisy Monsivaiz Geovani Montoya Brandon Myszka Cynthia Nguyen Khalid Niles-Rodney Selina Nunez Rita Okolo Roshil Paudyal Juan Pham Anhuy Pham Christopher Plunkett Josue Quinonez Mayra Resnik Elizabeth Rodriguez Martin Roldan Deanna Ross Astrid Russell Jessica Sanchez Fatimata Sanogo Joseph Schultz Yacouba Sidibe Sadjo Sidikou Bertin Solis Shannon Soriano Shaina Sta. Cruz Joshua Strauss Adrian Suarez Frank Susi Aaron Tan Jorge Alfonso Tavares Negrete Xien Thomas Benni Vargas Patricia Villalobos Kevin Williams Apsara Williams Diara Wilson Emily Winokur Taneisha Woodard

URS, UCSD (Cont.)

SURE, USD Andrea Mast

SURE program at UCSD, USD Marta Stojanovic

The Walker Lab, UCSD Aditi Munshi

The CSUSM Office of Graudate Studies in Research, CSUSM Erika Mendez Salinas

UC LEADS, UCSD Andrew Chiang Ashley Chong Alejandro Cota Karla Fernandez Imran Hussain Glen Junor Moses Kodur Hanh Truong Daniel Vong

UCSD Academic Senate Research Award, UCSD Deborah May

UCSD Division of Physiology Tara Arbogast

UCSD Independent Studies Course 199 Jennifer Choi

URS, UCSD Jessie Chen Abdul Dahman Gregory Demirjian Christopher Douglas Alan Du Mitchell Flagg Jessica Huang Erika Johannessen Soumya Kurnool Paulina Lara-Aldana Timothy Liang Brian Lien Nour Marogy Theresa Mendoza Pouya Parsa Frank Qiu

Kelsey Roman Mayuri Sadhasivan Robert She Christopher Song Christina Stark Boris Stepanyuk Deepika Suresh Dasha Weeks

Panel #

Panel

Room

Session

1

Robotics

Ballroom A

Morning

2

START Program

Green Room

Morning

3

Material & Nano Engineering

Bear Room

Morning

4

Physics & Engineering

Red Shoe Room

Morning

5

Cultural Studies

Green Table Room

Morning

6

Aerosols

East Ballroom

Morning

7

Higher Education

Muir College Room

Morning

8

Cultural Constructions

Dance Studio

Morning

9

Psychiatry

Revelle College Room

Morning

10

Neurobiology & Neuroscience

Marshall College Room

Morning

11

Psychology: Health

Roosevelt College Room

Morning

12

Pharmacology

Warren College Room

Morning

13

Cellular Systems & Biochemistry

Sixth College Room

Morning

14

Nano Engineering & Chemistry

Student Leadership Chambers

Morning

15

Physics

Governance Room

Morning

16

Molecular Simulations

Forum

Morning

17

Pathogens

SSC 260

Morning

18

Cellular Biology

SSC 350

Morning

19

Endocrinology

SSC 400

Morning

20

Cancer

SSC 450

Morning

21

Tissue Engineering

SSC 554

Morning

22

Stem Cells & Regeneration

SSC 554A

Morning

Panel #

Panel

Room

Session

23

San Diego

Ballroom A

Afternoon

24

Economics & Political Science

Bear Room

Afternoon

25

Immunology & Inflammation

Red Shoe Room

Afternoon

26

Public health

Green Table Room

Afternoon

27

Disease

East Ballroom

Afternoon

28

Education & Leadership

Muir College Room

Afternoon

29

Political Violence

Dance Studio

Afternoon

30

Language & Perception

Revelle College Room

Afternoon

31

Brain Structure

Marshall College Room

Afternoon

32

Psychology Clinical

Roosevelt College Room

Afternoon

33

Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience

Warren College Room

Afternoon

34

Plant Biology

Sixth College Room

Afternoon

35

Applied Math & Computer Science

Student Leadership Chambers

Afternoon

36

Chemistry

Governance Room

Afternoon

37

Medical Engineering

Forum

Afternoon

38

Bioengineering

SSC 260

Afternoon

39

Marine Biology & Ecology

SSC 350

Afternoon

40

Cardiology

SSC 400

Afternoon

41

Genetics

SSC 450

Afternoon

42

Molecular Biology

SSC 554

Afternoon

43

Development

SSC 554A

Afternoon

Panel #1: Robotics West Ballroom A Moderated by Aaron Ma, Graduate Student Mechanical & Space Engineering, UCSD

Janelle Duenas ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Thomas Bewley, UCSD

Robotic Deployment of Under-Door Camera Systems on a BeagleRover Vehicle

Gerardo Gonzalez ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Jorge Cortes, UCSD

Implementing Multi-Agent Distributed Coverage Control using Quadcopters

Aaron Ong ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Michael Tolley, University of California, San Diego

The analysis, design, and fabrication of laminates for printable, self-assembling robotic swarms

Daniel Ortiz ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Michael Tolley, UCSD

Earthworm Inspired Robot

Diego Salinas ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Robert Bitmead, UCSD

Feedforward Control Design for Autonomous Model Vehicle Platform

Panel #2: START Program Green Room Moderated by Professor Eduardo Macagno CDB - Biological Sciences, UCSD

Ameen Rahimi ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Eduardo Macagno, UCSD

Two-sided Homologous Recombination Produces a More Efficient Transformation of A. baylyi Cells

Briana Zacharias ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Elsa Cleland, UCSD

Resource availability and the effects on a competitive hierarchy of California exotics and natives

Lina Abdulnoor ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Eduardo Macagno, UCSD

"Is There a Role for Calcium in Homolog Avoidance in the Leech Nervous System?"

Natasha Mazon ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Eduardo Macagno, Colombia University

Characterization of Innexin Gene Expression Following Injury to the Central Nervous System of the Medicinal Leech

~Break~ Tamara Al Isso ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Eduardo Macagno, UCSD

Possible Role of TOR Signaling in the Process of Aging in Yeast Cells

Dianne de Guzman ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Eduardo Macagno, UCSD

Morphological Analysis of Axonal Regeneration Following Injury in the Leech CNS

Oliva Mota ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Eduardo Macagno, University of California San Diego

Modulation of coupling coefficient of leech Rz-Rz gap junction

Chanin Tangtartharakul ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Eduardo Macagno, UCSD

Investigating genetic stability of a synthetic tumor-suppressing circuit in S. enterica using microfluidics

Panel #3: Material & Nano Engineering Bear Room Moderated by Dr. Ekaterina Evdokimenko (Novitskaya), PhD Materials and Aerospace Engineering, UCSD

Andrei Isichenko ~ Cornell University Mentor: Professor Yeshaiahu Fainman, UCSD

Analysis of the free carrier effect in fully etched silicon nanoscale waveguides

Caylin VanHook ~ Louisiana Tech University Mentor: Dr. Yeshaiahu Fainman, UCSD

Numerical Techniques in Near-field Optics and Materials

Moses Kodur ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Shirley Meng, UCSD

Morphology Controlled Sodium Nickel Manganese Oxide in Sodium-ion Battery Cathode Structures

Isaac Rozen ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Joseph Wang, UCSD

Self-Propelled Nanomotors Autonomously Seek and Repair Cracks

~Break~ Eduardo Lupi ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Andrea Tao, UCSD

Synthesis and Characterization of High Refractive Index Metal-Thiolate Polymers

Joyce Mok ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Joanna Mckittrick, UCSD

Radial and Concentric Freeze Casting Inspired by the Porcupine Fish Spine

Khalid Niles-Rodney ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Professor Joanna Mckittrick, University of California, San Diego

2D Observation of Ice Crystal Growth and Pore Size during Freeze Casting

Ivan Torres ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Joanna McKittrick, UCSD

Investigation of Ice Crystal Growth through 2D Freeze Casting with Clathrate Hydrates

Panel #4: Physics & Engineering Red Shoe Room Moderated by Professor Cathy Constable Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD

Joylene Aguirre ~ USD Mentor: Dr. David Mayhew, University of San Diego

Data Generation: The Distribution of Mega-Data Centers Based On Energy Costs

Marcel Louis ~ Howard University Mentor: Professor Carlos Coimbra, University of California San Diego

Proposed Design for Cost Efficient Solar Sensors to Provide an Affordable Medium for Irradiance Research

Delfin Acosta ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor George Tynan & Dr. Saikat Thakur, UCSD

Comparison of the dispersion relation using 2 point spectra method and 2D cross sections in linear plasma device for Argon and Helium plasmas

Alejandra Martinez ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Dr. Michael Tolley, UCSD

Light Tensegrity Systems

~Break~ Josue Quinonez ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Farhat Beg, UCSD

CFD Modeling of a Supersonic Gas Injector for Pulsed Power Target

Mayuri Sadhasivan ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Catherine Constable, University of California, San Diego

Understanding Variations of the Geomagnetic Dipole

Elizabeth Rodriguez ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Dr. Gilberto Mosqueda, UCSD

Fluid Damping Systems as Energy Dissipation Mechanisms

Jeffery Sun ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Pui shum Shing, UCSD

Characteristics of Highly Workable Concrete in CIDH Pile Applications

Panel #5: Cultural Studies Green Table Room Moderated by Professor Gershon Shafir, Ph.D. Sociology, UCSD

Kenneth Davis ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Michelle Gilmore-Grier, University of California, San Diego

Continuity, Disruption, and Creation: Sunrise from Inside Experiential Creativity

Alexis Reed ~ UCSD Mentor: Associate Professor Christena Turner, UCSD

Japanese Pop Culture: The Impact of Anime and Manga Focusing on the Gender Difference in the Construction of Identity in Non-Japanese Individuals

Charles Dorfan ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Suzanne Brenner, UCSD

Consumption and Gender within the Bicycle Industry

Arely Guzman ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Cristina Rivera-Garza, UCSD

(Auto)Biography of Cotton

~Break~ Jaylin Stevenson ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Wayne Yang, UCSD

Across the Pacific: The Role of Hula in Settler Colonialism

Tarez Lemmons ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Orlando Espin, USD

White Religion, Black Jesus

Robert Cortes ~ Texas A&M Mentor: Dr. Don Rutherford, UCSD

Colonialism

Caine Jordan ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Rachel Klein, UCSD

Early 20th Century Perspectives of Black Women on Gender and Women's Rights

Panel #6: Aerosols East Ballroom Moderated by Dr. Melanie Zauscher, Ph.D. Teaching and Research Postdoctoral Fellow Chemistry & Biochemistry Department University of San Diego

Ritchie Hernandez ~ Cuyamaca College Mentor: Graduate Student Daniel Crocker, UCSD

Stable isotopic compositions of carbon and oxygen in the formation of sea spray aerosols

Jackie Dowling ~ Carleton College Mentor: Professor Kim Prather, UCSD

Reactions of a marine-derived organic compound with an urban air pollutant

Ramón González Pérez ~ Universidad de Guanajuato Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Prather, UCSD

Investigation of Marine Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation

Natalie Jimenez ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Melanie Zauscher, University of San Diego

Characterizing Brown Carbon Aerosol Formation and Water Uptake through Lab Studies

~Break~ Ian Martin ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Kim Prather, UCSD

The Ability of Viruses to Act as Ice Nucleating Particles

Nicole Riccobono ~ San Diego Mesa College Mentor: Dr. Kim Prather, UCSD

Identifying organic molecules in aerosols originating in the sea surface microlayer using vibrational spectroscopy

Robin Richardson ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Kim Prather, UCSD

Investigating the Effect of Drying on Sea Spray Aerosol Spectra

Jessica Sustaita ~ Southwestern College Mentor: Professor Kimberly Prather, UCSD

Influence of Lipase Activity on the Chemistry of the Ocean Surface and Sea Spray Aerosols

Panel #7: Higher Education Muir College Room Moderated by Professor Morgan Appel Education, ESPP, UCSD

Marie Rosario ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Patrick Velasquez, Claremont Graduate University

Undocumented Students in Higher Education

Fatima Guardado ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Olga Vasquez, UCSD

La Clase Mรกgica: Exploring an Academic Identity

Edwin Guzman ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Dr. Luis Alvarez, UCSD

Puente: Closing the Achievement Gap between Latinos and the Majority in Higher Education

Artemio Olivas ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Frances Contreras, UCSD

The Puente Project: Exploring the Impact of Cultural Inclusion on the Success of Latino College Students

~Break~ Bertin Solis ~ UCSB Mentor: Dr. Frances Contreras, UCSD

The Cascading Effect: How the University of California is Streaming Latino Students towards Less Selective Campuses

Monica Sias ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Nancy Binkin, UCSD

Diversity at UCSD: Fact or Fiction

Alaysia Brown ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Joanna Williams, University of Virginia

I am Not my Hair: Experiences of Appearance-Related Harassment within the Black Community

Panel #8: Cultural Constructions Dance Studio Moderated by Professor Christine Hunefeldt History - CILAS, UCSD

Sharmin Alam ~ CSUN Mentor: Professor Nicholas Christenfeld, UCSD

A Glimpse into Dating in the 21st Century: Representation in Online Dating World

Paul Georgi ~ CSU Bakersfield Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Christenfeld, UCSD

The Role of Confidence Validity and Racially-Dissimilar Relationships in the Cross-Race Effect: Identifying strategies for the detection and reduction of minority misidentifications during eyewitness testimony

Lilybeth Gutierrez Yee ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Kristen Wells, San Diego State University

Public Criticism of Angelina Jolie’s Decision to Undergo Surgeries to Prevent Breast and Ovarian Cancer: A Qualitative Study

Jordan Jackson ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Cheryl Getz, University of San Diego

College Men and Masculinities

~Break~ Chelsea McLin ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Carlton Floyd, University of San Diego

Race in the Response: Reader Response to Racial Ambiguity in The Hunger Games

Nicole Rodriguez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Jillian Hernandez, Rutgers

Rethinking Power and Pleasure in the Shame of Abjection

Jessica Ruiz ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Nadav Goldschmied, University of San Diego

The Underdog Narrative in Movies: When Our Memory Fails Us

Alejandro Panduro ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Wayne Yang, UCSD

Race, Spirituality & Critical Analysis of Power

Panel #9: Psychiatry Revelle College Room Moderated by Dr. Susan Powell, Ph.D. Psychiatry, UCSD

Kanyanat Tongprasearth ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Douglas Nitz, UCSD

Neural Activity of the Subiculum in Navigating Rats

Jayme Temple ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Keith Trujillo, CSUSM

Behavioral Interactions between NMDA Receptor Antagonists and Antidepressants in Rats

Robert Altamirano ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Keith Trujillo, California State University San Marcos

Differences in Ketamine-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Adult and Adolescent Rats: The Balance between Reward and Aversion

Annalise Binette ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Keith Trujillo, California State University San Marcos

Differences in Methylphenidate-induced Locomotor Behavior in Adolescent and Adult Rats

~Break~ Grant Higerd ~ UCLA Mentor: Professor Brenda Bloodgood, UCSD

Activity-Dependent Regulation of Inhibitory Circuitry in the Rodent Hippocampus by NPAS4

Tanisha London ~ Spelman College Mentor: Dr. Timothy Gentner, UCSD

Mapping connections between forebrain and sensory regions of the avian cortex

Joseph Schultz ~ Emory University Mentor: Professor Jeffry Isaacson, UCSD

Disinhibiton versus Direct Inhibition: Mapping the Circuitry of Vip cells in the Piriform Cortex?

Panel #10: Neurobiology & Neuroscience Marshall College Room Moderated by Dr. Davide Dulcis, Ph.D. Psychiatry, UCSD

Huanqiu Zhang ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Darwin Berg, UCSD

MicroRNA-127 Regulates Hippocampal Excitability During Early Postnatal Development

Joshua Strauss ~ Boston University Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Spitzer, UCSD

Cholinergic Synapses Gone Glutamatergic: An Exploration into the Phenomenon of Receptor Respecification

Khallyl Oliver ~ GSU Mentor: Dr. Mark Ellisman, University of California San Diego

Immunofluorescent Labelling of Potential Antibodies for Optic Nerve Stem Cell Recognition

Pavel Morales ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Jing Wang, University of Iowa

Chemical control of recombination in drosophila

~Break~ Christiana Stark ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Davide Dulcis, UCSD

MicroRNA Regulation of Neurotransmitter Expression affecting Behavior

Pouya Parsa ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Brenda Bloodgood, UCSD

Profiling Npas4 expression in the hippocampus

Yacouba Sidibe ~ Bucknell University Mentor: Dr. William Mobley, UCSD

Axon-to-cell-body signalling effects on neuronal mRNA levels using brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Madalyn Glim ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Adam Haberman, University of San Diego

Electrophysiological analysis of neuronal aging and stress in Drosophila melanogaster

Panel #11: Psychology -- Health Roosevelt College Room Moderated by Dr. Becky Marquez, PhD, MPH Family Medicine & Public Health, UCSD

Diana Gonzalez ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Kimberly D'Anna Hernandez, CSUSM

Effects of absent father support and cultural stressors on birth outcomes in Mexican and Mexican-American pregnant women

Yasmin Kofman ~ CSU Long Beach Mentor: Dr. Niloofar Afari, UCSD

Resilience, PTSD, and Health Functioning in a Diverse Group of Veterans

Michelle Aiello ~ University of Central Florida Mentor: Dr. Ariel Lang, University of California San Diego

Is meditation good for the heart: A study of the effect of compassion mediation on heart rate variability among veterans with PTSD

Fiorella Morales ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Jena Hales, USD

Women’s Veterans’ Research Assessment

~Break~ Abril Rodriguez Flores ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Kalindi Vora, UCSD

Healthcare and Welfare Access in Undocumented Immigrant Communities

Bianca Ayscue ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Terry Cronan, San Diego State University

Do cognitions and quality of life predict resiliency among breast cancer patients?

Heather Kirchhoff ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Terry Cronan, San Diego State University

Does cancer-related distress and acceptance of one’s condition predict emotional wellbeing among breast cancer patients?

Jennifer Choi ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Colin Depp, UCSD

The role of neurocognition in suicidality among people with severe mental illness: Risk or protective factor?

Panel #12: Pharmacology Warren College Room Moderated by Dr. Darren Casteel, Ph.D. School of Medicine, UCSD

Mauricio Marquez Palencia ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. JoAnn Trejo, UCSD

Activated Protein C induces the activation of Akt and phosphorylation of Caveolin-1 in endothelial cells

Raghav Tripathi ~ Case Western Reserve University Mentor: Professor Shigeki Miyamoto, UCSD

RhoA Signaling Regulates PKD-Dependent PINK1 Accumulation and Mitophagy

Cynthia Nguyen ~ Florida International University Mentor: Dr. Nicole Purcell, UCSD

Regulation of GRK5 by PHLPP2 in Cardiomyocytes

Angel Diaz Hernandez ~ UCR Mentor: Dr. Shigeki Miyamoto, UCSD

Interaction between Mitochondrial HK2 and BCL2 to regulate mitophagy

~Break~ David Cortez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Edwin Paz, UCSD

Analysis of Intracellular peroxin protein production in tissue culture model

Jasmine Kyung ~ UCSD Mentor: Professors JoAnn Trejo & Ruben Abagyan, UCSD

Computer-aided discovery of protease-activated receptor-1 allosteric modulators

Rachan Narala ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Neil Grimsey, UCSD

An In Vitro Assessment of Thrombin Dependent Disruption of Vascular Integrity

Calvin Snyder ~ University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill Mentor: Dr. William Joiner, UCSD

Structure-function relationships in Lynx2: an endogenous regulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Panel #13: Cellular Systems & Biochemistry Sixth College Room Moderated by Dr. Michelle Facette, PhD Biological Sciences, UCSD

Sara Beck-Pancer ~ Cuyamaca College Mentor: Dr. Nathan Gianneschi, UCSD

Assessing the Oral Bioavailability of High Density Peptide Brush Polymers using a Stomach Digestion Model

Cole Carter ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Akif Tezcan, UCSD

Characterization of protein-protein interactions for an ATP bound mimic in nitrogenase

Ashley Chong ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Komives, UC San Diego

Determining the Crystal Structure of the Ankyrin Repeat and SOCS Box Protein, ASB9, with Creatine Kinase

Erika Mendez Salinas ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Sajith Jayasinghe, CSUSM

Membrane Interaction of a Peptide from the Transmembrane Segment of Wza

~Break~ Crystal Monsale ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Gouri Ghosh, University of California, San Diego

The Mechanistic Interactions of GST-tagged IkB-gamma, His-tagged Reg gamma, and His-tagged p62 protein

Steven Ortiz ~ Mesa College Mentor: Dr. Judy Kim, UCSD

Quenching of Tryptophan Fluorescence in Outer Membrane Protein A (OmpA) of Escherichia coli During Folding and Insertion into Lipid Bilayers

Greg Walters ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Kambiz Hamadani, CSUSM

Single-molecule FRET Microscopy

Panel #14: Nano Engineering & Chemistry Student Leadership Chambers Moderated by Dr. Joan Schellinger, Ph.D. Chemistry and Biochemistry, USD

Andrew Chiang ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Darren Lipomi, Harvard University

Analyzing fatigue due to cyclic loading in poly(3-alkylthiophene) thin films with the weakly interacting H-aggregate model

Alejandro Cota ~ UC Berkeley Mentor: Dr. Olivia Graeve, UC San Diego

Size Optimization of YAG:Pr Nanoparticles Produced by Sol-Gel Synthesis for Biomedical Applications

Lauren Lopez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Olivia Graeve, University of California, San Diego

Soft Template Synthesis of Mesoporous Niobium Doped Titanium Dioxide

Vrinda Sant ~ UCSD & Daniel Vong ~ UCSB Mentor: Professor Ratnesh Lal, UCSD

Gold and silicon golf ball janus particles for functionalization and drug delivery

~Break~ Bermet Suominen ~ San Diego Miramar College Mentor: Professor Michael Burkart, UCSD

Developing polyurethane from algae-based polyols.

Youjin Kim ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Gaurav Arya, UCSD

Sanitization of an Overused Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Maryann Zhao ~ Pomona College Mentor: Dr. Ross Walker, UCSD

Van der Waal Interactions Cutoffs in Amber Lipid14

Panel #15: Physics Governance Room Moderated by Professor Adam Burgasser, Ph.D. Physics, UCSD

Nima Assad ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Grinstein, University of California, San Diego

Neutrinoless double-beta decay detection and the implications of a Majorana neutrino

Juan Cardenas ~ California State University, Dominguez Hills Mentor: Dr. Frank Wuerthwein, UCSD

Implicit Detection of the Z Boson via addition of Muon invariant masses

Jonathan Hernandez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Julio Barreiro, UCSD

Laser Feedback Control

Leonard Lopez ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Robert Dynes, UCSD

Portable, Low Noise Cryocooler Measurement System

~Break~ Christian Aganze ~ Morehouse College Mentor: Professor Adam Burgasser, UCSD

Searching for Distant Brown Dwarfs in WFC3 Parallel Fields

Kieran Berton ~ St. Olaf College Mentor: Dr. Carl Melis, UCSD

Breaking the Ice: Explaining the Strange Giant Star TYC 596 145 1 with a Stellar Merger Model

Gretel Mercado ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Adam Burgasser, UCSD

SDSS J1632+3505, A Possible Brown Dwarf Companion To A Nearby Main Sequence Star

Adrian Suarez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Adam Burgasser, UCSD

Understanding the Lowest Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs: Characterizing a Binary at the Hydrogen Fusion Boundary

Panel #16: Molecular Simulations Forum Moderated by Professor Francesco Paesani Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Nathalie Del Rosario ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Rommie Amaro, University of California San Diego

Modeling Membrane Permeability of Common Drugs

Mitchell Flagg ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Trey Ideker, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A Data-Driven Human Gene Ontology

Shelby Friends ~ Palomar College Mentor: Mr. Christopher Lee, UCSD

Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Micelle Self-Assembly by Molecular Dynamics

Arielle Hackel ~ Georgia State University Mentor: Dr. Estefania Rossich-Molina, UCSD

Study of Langmuir monolayers and their properties using molecular dynamics

~Break~ Geovani Montoya ~ CSULA Mentor: Professor Marc Riera, University of California, San Diego

Many-Body Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ionic Solutions.

Aditi Munshi ~ UC Irvine Mentor: Dr. Ross Walker, UCSD

A Comparison of Membrane Molecular Dynamics with Amber and Gromacs: Towards Fast Drug Permeability Simulations

Grant Varnau ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Pavel Tsvetkov, Texas A&M

Danger Close: An Analysis of Alpha Emitters for Localized Irradiation Therapies

Panel #17: Pathogens SSC 260 Moderated by Dr. Roberto Tinoco, Ph.D. Biological Sciences, UCSD

Sharon Patray ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Joel Schildbach, Johns Hopkins University

Isolation of Mycobacteriophages from the Environment

Benni Vargas ~ UCLA Mentor: Dr. Deborah Spector, UCSD

Targeting Cellular Function in Cytomegalovirus Infection as a Therapeutic Strategy for Atherosclerosis

Cesar Garcia Carreon ~ UNAM Mentor: Dr. Justin Meyer, UCSD

P22 Bacteriophage Evolution

Juliano de Souza Silva ~ Federal University of Minas Gerais Mentor: Dr. Justin Meyer, UCSD

Evolving Bacteriophage Lambda to Exploit a New Host

~Break~ Pamela Capellan ~ Cornell University Mentor: Dr. Deborah Spector, UCSD

Induction of Autophagy by Trehalose as a Therapeutic Strategy to Inhibit Cytomegalovirus Infection

Elan Dawson ~ Spelman College Mentor: Dr. Bradley Messmer, UCSD

DeNAno technology

Mayra Resnik ~ SJSU Mentor: Dr. David Gonzalez, UCSD

Characterization of GroEL on Streptococcus pyogenes M1 5448

Maria Vides ~ Pomona College Mentor: Dr. Julieta Aguilar, UCSD

Bioreactivity and Cytotoxicity of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Metabolites

Panel #18: Cellular Biology SSC 350 Moderated by Dr. Elaine Tanaka, M.D. Surgery, UCSD

Kevin Williams ~ Barry Mentor: Dr. Dorit Hanein, UCSD

Determining the effects of different substrates on actin structural features using Cryoelectron microcopy

Jaslem Herrera Valdez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Christopher Dravis, Salk Institute

The Role of Sox9 and Sox10 in Breast Cancer Cells

Kamren Livingston ~ Barry University Mentor: Dr. Nicole Purcell, University of California San Diego

The Effect of PHLPP2 removal in primary astrocytes and the Brain

Delfina Gonzalez ~ Pomona College Mentor: Dr. Stacy Ochoa-Mikrut, UCSD

What’s Phosphorylation Got to do With It? The Role of PLK-1 Phosphorylation on SPD-5 PCM Assembly in C. elegans

~Break~ Cuong Lieu ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Mark Paddock, UCSD

Environmental Response Regulator RpaB's function in Microbial Circadian System

Fengting Wu ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Emily Troemel, UCSD

Identifying Factors that Regulate a Novel Heat Stress Response Pathway in C. elegans

Monica Del Moral-Suazo ~ University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Mentor: Dr. James Hagood, University of California San Diego

Thy-1 as modulator of YAP/TAZ activity in lung fibroblasts

Kattia Castro ~ UANL Mentor: Dr. Kit Pogliano, UCSD

Evaluating the Compartment-Specific Requirement for Fatty Acid Synthesis during Bacillus subtilis Sporulation

Panel #19: Endocrinology SSC 400 Moderated by Dr. Kellie Church, Ph.D. Reproductive Medicine, UCSD

Consuelo Sauceda ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Jane Reusch, University of Colorado, Denver Anschutz Medical Campus

Regulation of vascular mitochondrial plasticity: role of cellular crosstalk

Luis Gasca ~ California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Mentor: Dr. Marion Sewer, UCSD

The Role of ORP2 in the Unfolded Protein Response and Cholesterol Homeostasis

Marsha-Kay Hutchinson ~ Howard University Mentor: Dr. Marion Sewer, UCSD

The Effect of 1-deoxysphinganine on Vitamin D Production in MDA-MB-468 Breast Cancer Cells

Martin Roldan ~ University of Puerto Rico- Cayey Mentor: Dr. Marion Sewer, Emory University

IGF2 Signaling Stimulates Phosphorylation of Steroidogenic Factor 1

~Break~ Ivette Roca ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Dr. Varykina Thackray, UCSD

Is a SNP decreasing the function of the FSHB gene?

Hanh Truong ~ UCSC Mentor: Professor Mark Lawson, UCSD

The Investigation of Xbp1 Expression during Oxidative Stress

Jessie Chen ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Kina Thackray, UCSD

Investigating the role of the FOXO1 transcription factor in pituitary gonadotrope cells

Christopher Song ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Kellie Church, UCSD

Is sexually dimorphic gonadotropin gene expression a result of differing gonadotrope cell population sizes?

Panel #20: Cancer SSC 450 Moderated by Dr. Ivan Garcia-Bassets, Ph.D. Medicine, UCSD

Edward Cordasco ~ Chaminade University of Honolulu Mentor: Dr. David Schlaepfer, UC San Diego

Changes in Ovarian Carcinoma Growth after Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Inhibition

Ramilyn Gonzales ~ Chaminade University of Honolulu Mentor: Dr. David Schlaepfer, UC San Diego

Determining the Role of FAK and Pyk2 in Regulating DNA Damage

Thalia Jimenez ~ CSUDH Mentor: Dr. Jean Wang, UCSD

Role of Nuclear ABL Tyrosine Kinase in Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis

Rita Okolo ~ Howard Mentor: Dr. Dong-Er Zhang, UCSD

Relative Gene Expression of UBE1L and its Association with the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages

~Break~ Hilda Mejia ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Professor Judith A. Varner, University of California, San Diego

Defining the role of macrophages in head and neck cancer

Theresa Mendoza ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Christina Jamieson, UC San Diego

Molecular dissection of WNT signaling in the PCSD new series of patient-derived xenograft models of bone metastatic prostate cancer.

Isaac Marquez ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Gustafson, SDSU

Exploiting Atropisomeric Target Selectivity for Kinase Inhibitors Towards Cancer

Panel #21: Tissue Engineering SSC 554 Moderated by Professor Won Bae, Ph.D. Radiology, UCSD

Takeyah Campbell ~ Howard University Mentor: Graduate Researcher Pengrui Wang, UCSD

Biocompatibility and Biodegradability of 3D-Printed Scaffolds using Green Chemistry

Teodora Dinescu ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Robert Sah, UCSD

Localization and Quantification of Mineral Deposition at the Cartilage-Bone Interface Following Three and Seven Days of Double Diffusion for Mineral Composition Analysis

Nicole Friend ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Robert Sah, UCSD

Effect of Selective Digestion of Hyaluronan and Proteoglycan-4 on the Effective Lubrication of Articular Cartilage in Traumatic Injury and Osteoarthritic Human Synovial Fluid

Juan Pham ~ Florida International University Mentor: Dr. Robert Sah, UC San Diego

Comparison of cartilage repair in the knee joint between empty osteochondral defects and autografts

~Break~ Olga Wroblewski ~ Yale University Mentor: Dr. Robert Sah, UCSD

Characterization of cell viability and hydrogel contraction in cartilage explant seeded type 1 Telo collagen gels.

Anhuy Pham ~ UCI Mentor: Professor Shyni Varghese, UCSD

Development of Vascularized 3-D tissues Utilizing Micro-patterning and Cell-responsive Hydrogel.

Apsara Williams ~ Howard University Mentor: Dr. Christian Metallo, UCSD

Characterizing the diversity of different fatty acid species in mammalian tissues

Panel #22: Stem Cells & Regeneration SSC 554A Moderated by Professor Adam Engler, Ph.D. Bioengineering, UCSD

Robert She ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Eros Lazzerini Denchi, Rockefeller University

Consequences of Telomere Dysfunction in Neural Progenitor Cells

Leigha Jarett ~ Binghamton University Mentor: Dr. Adam Engler, University of California at San Diego

Effects of six growth factors on the proliferation and differentiation of human skeletal muscle progenitor cells

Jasmine Rice ~ Norfolk State University Mentor: Dr. Adam Engler, UC San Diego

Correlation of vinculin deficiency to connexin-43 and N-cadherin expressions and localization in cardiomyocytes derived from individuals with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Kevin Tenerelli ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg, UCSD

Novel transcriptional mechanisms regulate visual pathway development

~Break~ Francisco Peralta ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Dr. John W. Steele, UC San Diego

Differentiation and Isolation Of Human IPSC-Derived PROX1+ Dentate Gyrus Granule Neurons

Brian Lien ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Andrew Huberman, UCSD

Optic nerve regeneration using high contrast visual stimulation

Christopher Douglas ~ UCSD Mentor: MD–PhD Jeffrey Goldberg, UCSD

Investigating the Importance of sAC in Astrocytes on Neuronal Survival and Regeneration

Panel #23: The San Diego Panel Ballroom A Moderated by Professor Oscar Romo Urban Studies and Planning, UCSD

Paulina Lara-Aldana ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Mariana Wardwell, UCSD

San Diego: The Legacy of Institutional Critique

Gabriel Martinez ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Dr. Marisa Abrajano, New York University

Stirring the giant, observing voting tactics in southern San Diego

Joseph Rocha ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Juliana Maxim, University of San Diego

Carmel Valley: the Global World Next Door

~Break~ Edwin Cruz ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Babette Mangolte, UCSD

Homelessness, redevelopment and Gentrification in East Village downtown San Diego.

Jane Henderson ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Jesse Mills, USD

Fighting Racism at its Root: An Examination of San Diego's Community Gardens

Gabriela Garcia Presa ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Dr. Abigail Andrews, University of California San Diego

Comprehending Local Support Systems and Policies to Illustrate the Experiences of Undocumented Immigrants

Panel #24: Economics & Political Science Bear Room Moderated by Professor Philip Roeder, Ph.D. Political Science, UCSD

Mary Ann Lee ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Lawrence Chisesi, University of San Diego

Extracting Rare Earth Elements; The First Link in a Critical Supply Chain

Brachel Champion ~ University of Central Florida Mentor: Dr. Junjie Zhang, UCSD

Analyzing the Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plant Closures on the Health of Local Populations

Cheyenne Butcher ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Jose Suarez, UCSD

Residential distance to flower plantations in relation to a marker of pesticide exposure

Alexis Buz ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Yen Espiritu, UCSD

Agent Orange in Today’s Vietnam: The Tu Du Peace Village & War Remnants Museum in Saigon

~Break~ Melanie Michel-Stuart ~ Mesa College Mentor: Dr. Denise Rogers, Mesa College

Comfort Women: Chinese and Korean Iconographic Symbols and Contemporary Meaning?

Suma Massaley ~ San Diego City College Mentor: Dr. Sebastain Saiegh, UCSD

"The Social Effects of the Liberian War on Civilians"

Kayleigh Ward ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Judith Liu, University of San Diego

Grounded: Tokyo Perspectives on Fukushima

Panel #25: Immunology & Inflammation Red Shoe Room Moderated by Dr. Gen-Sheng Feng, Ph.D. Pathology, UCSD

Katherine Suarez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Soumita Das, UCSD

The Role of Salmonella Effector SifA in Pathogenesis by the ELMO1-Mediated Engulfment Pathway

Rachel Lester ~ Jacksonville state uni.

Mentor: Dr. Anada Goldrath, UCSD

The role of Hypoxia in determining CD8 T cell fate.

Fatimata Sanogo ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Wenxian Fu, UCSD

Dissecting Tertiary Lymphoid Tissues in Pancreatic Islets of Autoimmune Diabetes

Astrid Russell ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Nick Webster, UCSD

Does Time Restricted Eating Improve Adipose Tissue Inflammation

~Break~ Jessica Sanchez ~ CSUF Mentor: Dr. Gen-Sheng Feng, Indiana University

Immune response regulation of Poly I:C on liver tumor formation

Yesenia Cabrera ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Suzi Hong, UCSD

Does leptin play a role in the obesity-inflammation-depression link?

Lidia De Barros ~ Boston University Mentor: Professor Juan Lasheras, UCSD

Investigating the migration of leukocytes in confined environments

Panel #26: Public health Green Table Room Moderated by Dr. Nancy Binkin, MD, MPH Family Medicine and Public Health, UCSD

Deborah May ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Michael Gorman, UCSD

Sleep and Circadian Disruption in Hospital Emergency Physicians

Redd Driver ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Heike Mahler, CSUSM

The Relationship between Three Health Behaviors: Sleep, Exercise, and Designating a Driver

Petrona Gregorio ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Heike I. M. Mahler, CSUSM and UCSD

Age, Gender, Ethnicity, and Designating a Driver

Lila Estrada ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Becky Marquez, UCSD

Relationship closeness between mothers and daughters and its association with weight control communication and motivation.

~Break~ Amanda Whiteley ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Malcarne, San Diego State University

Asian-American and Pacific Islander Women’s Health Beliefs, Ethnic Experience, and Perceptions of Clinical Trials

Belen Montoya Gamino ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Georgia Sadler, UCSD

Quality Assurance Review of First Responders to Clinical Trial Inquiry

Briana Capuchino ~ USD Mentor: Professor Stephen Pearlberg, University of San Diego

Survey Design to Conduct a Validation Study on a Health Promotion Program

Grecia Sanchez ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Patricia Gonzalez, San Diego State University

Nuestra Vida: An Adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program for Midlife Latinas

Panel #27: Disease East Ballroom Moderated by Dr. Corinne Lee, PhD Neurosciences, UCSD School of Medicine

Jun Oh ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Ethan Bier, UCSD

Lethal Effects of the Anthrax Toxin in Drosophila melanogaster and its Pathways.

Nelissa Figueroa ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Winzeler, UCSD

Antimalarial Drug Discovery

Alan Du ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Elizabeth Winzeler, UC San Diego

Differentiation of Plasmodium falciparum Gametocyte Conversion Rate using HighContent Imaging

Lala Forrest ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. William Mobley, UC San Diego

Investigating the Effects of Naturally Secreted Amyloid-beta Oligomers on Endocytosis

~Break~ Martin Arreola ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Albert La Spada, UCSD

Therapeutic reduction of protein aggregates in Huntington’s Disease through activation of a transcription factor

Mildred Garcia ~ St. Mary's College Mentor: Dr. Sushil Mahata, University of California San Diego

Pathway of Catestatin and Type 2 Diabetes

Nhu Y Doan ~ Pomona College Mentor: Dr. Angelina Hernandez-Carretero, UCSD

The role of Ankrd2 in Insulin Sensitivity

Panel #28: Education & Leadership Muir College Room Moderated by Professor Thandeka Chapman, Ph.D. Education Studies, UCSD

Alyssa Bolden ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Thandeeka Chapman, UCSD

The Effectiveness of Upward Bound: Is it Achieving its Initial Goals?

Jael Castro ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Isaac Martin, UCSD

The Academic Achievement of Latino/a High School Students with Proximity to the Border

Paola Perez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Thandeka Chapman, UCSD

From Resolution to Implementation: the Transition of an Ethnic Studies Requirement in California Districts

Dianna Ratsamy ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Luz Chung, UCSD

"Dropping Knowledge" from the Heart: A Raza Teacher's Critical Pedagogy of Race in an Urban High School

~Break~ Jordan Yoshihara ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Jim Levin, UCSD

Fostering Autonomy, Purpose, and Competence to Build Motivation in Math: A Case Study in an Elementary Classroom

David Oken ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Mary Jo Schumann, USD

Leadership after Learning: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Ongoing Leadership Development of Participants in an International Program

Janette Govea ~ SDSU & Jenny Woo ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Mary Blair-Loy, University of California - San Diego

Links between Gender Balance in Executive Committees and Board of Directors in U.S. Corporations: Further Explorations on the Glass Ceiling Project

Panel #29: Political Violence Dance Studio Moderated by Professor Jeff Haydu Sociology, UCSD

Jose Luis Gonzalez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. John LeJeune, University of California, San Diego

Critique of Political Violence

Dante Paul ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Dennis Childs, UCSD

War on Urban America: The Impact of Militarization of Policing in the United States

Megan Huynh ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Everard Meade, University of San Diego

The Humanitarian Legacy of Death Penalty Cases in California

~Break~ Turi Mullins ~ UCSD Mentor: June Ting, UCSD

Disciplining and Criminalizing Reproduction: Racialized Trans Misogynoir Terror

Selina Nunez ~ USC Mentor: Dr. Luis Alvarez, UCSD

Detention, Policy, and the Criminalization of Migrants

Gabriella Russo ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Greg Prieto, University of San Diego

Enforcing Gender: The Construction of Gender in Juvenile Hall

Panel #30: Language & Perception Revelle College Room Moderated by Professor Arnold Mandell, M.D. Psychiatry, UCSD

Veronica Ramirez ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Christopher Baker, National Institutes of Health

The Effect of Object and Background on Scene Perception

Jacqueline Castro ~ Cal State Fullerton Mentor: Dr. Gary Cottrell, UCSD

Measuring Object similarity: Mapping Emotional Faces and Words

Taneisha Woodard ~ San Jose State University Mentor: Professor Nicholas Christenfeld, UCSD

The effect of semantic information on the racial categorization of an ambiguous face

Diara Wilson ~ Howard University Mentor: Dr. Leslie Carver, UC San Diego

The Impact of Affect

~Break~ Marisabel Coronado ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Claire Murphy, SDSU

The Effect of Age in the Perception of Sweet Taste for Stevia

Shannon Yandall ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Paul Gilbert, San Diego State University

Are Spatial Memory Changes in Older Adults Due to Less Efficient Pattern Separation?

Shaina Sta. Cruz ~ California State University, Fullerton Mentor: Dr. Seana Coulson, UC San Diego

Working Memory and Co-Speech Iconic Gestures

Anh Tran ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Victor Ferreira, UCSD

The Effect of Attention on Syntactic Choice

Panel #31: Brain Structure Marshall College Room Moderated by Professor Lilia Iakoucheva, Ph.D. Psychiatry, UCSD

Tara Arbogast ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Frank Powell, UCSD

Time course of brainstem glial activation following exposure to chronic sustained hypoxia

Alfredo Bolanos ~ University of New Mexico Mentor: Dr. Doris Trauner, UCSD

A closer look at white matter tract integrity in patients with perinatal stroke through diffusion tensor imaging.

Armando Delgado ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Sameer Shah, University of California, San Diego

Structural and Biomechanical Analysis of the L5 Spinal Nerve

Christian Hissom ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. James Conner, UCSD

An anatomical and functional analysis of corticostriatal projections and corticospinal collaterals

~Break~ Naznin Jahan ~ University of California Berkeley Mentor: Dr. Robert Clark, University of California, San Diego

MEC dependent Memory formation: A Closer Look into the Memory Circuitry

Lorenia Gutierrez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Linda McEvoy, UCSD

Brain Structure and Its Effects on Cognitive Behavior in Older Adults

Jonathan Perez ~ UCSD Mentor: Phd Student Stephen Johnston, Salk Institute

Hippocampus, Neurogenisis and Memory

Frank Susi ~ UCSB Mentor: Dr. Brad Voytek, UCSD

Gene Expression Correlated to Functional Brain Networks

Panel #32: Psychology -- Clinical Roosevelt College Room Moderated by Dr. Tiffany Greenwood, Ph.D. Psychiatry, UCSD

Clarisa Coronado ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Nader Amir, San Diego State University

Differential Coping Responses to a Breathing Challenge Among Hispanic and NonHispanic Anxious Individuals

Carlos Ocadiz ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Nader Amir, San Diego State University

Attention and Anxiety: The relationship between Attention, Anxiety and Gender in Social Anxiety

Frank Qiu ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Tiffany Greenwood, UCSD

Factor Analysis of Bipolar Temperament

Ariel Rodriguez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Kristin Cadenhead, University of Texas

Prodromal Latency Analysis for the CARE Program

~Break~ Kelsie Telson ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Amy Lansing, University of California San Diego

An Assessment of Juvenile Psychopathy: Examining the Construct Using Self-Report and Clinical Data

Emily Winokur ~ Emory University Mentor: Dr. Terry Jernigan, UC San Diego

The Relationship Between Measures of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Math Performance in Children

Jessica Wu ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Amy Lansing, UCSD

Body Image and Anorexia and Bulimia Spectrum Disorder Among Adjudicated Female

Panel #33: Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience Warren College Room Moderated by Dr. Shauna Yuan, MD Neurosciences, UCSD

Alanah Grisham ~ Spelman College Mentor: Dr. Robert Clark, UCSD

Memory Retrieval in Rats using Trace Fear Conditioning

Gabriel Holguin ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez, CSUSM

Effects of Hypocretin 2 Receptor Antagonist on Depressive Maternal Behavior in Dams

Erika Luis ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Matthew Paul, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Social play in vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats

Juan Carlos Martinez ~ Instituto Politecnico Nacional Mentor: Professor Yimin Zou, UCSD

Viral mediated gene deletion to study adult brain development

~Break~ Duarlin Mercado ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez, Michigan State University;

Stress Effects on Lactating Dams Compared to Sensitized Virgin Mice

Haley Norris ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez, CSUSM

The Effects of Hypocretin and Parity on Maternal Behavior and Depressive Symptoms in Mice

Marta Stojanovic ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Rachel Blaser, University of San Diego

Learning and Memory in Traveling Salesman Problem in Rats

Panel #34: Plant Biology Sixth College Room Moderated by Dr. Po-Kai Hsu, Ph.D. Biology, UCSD

Brenda Cisneros ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Alisa Huffaker, Washington State University

A study on the effects of alanine substitutions on the maize plant elicitor peptide receptor, ZmPEPR1

Rachel Darko ~ Howard Mentor: Dr. Julian Schroeder, UCSD

Isolation of salt-sensitive mutants through a genomic-scale artificial microRNA mutant pool in Arabidopsis and characterization of salt-responsive phenotype in rack1a1-1

Sharon Booth ~ Imperial Valley College Mentor: Dr. Elsa Cleland, UCSD

Decompostion: Mediated Through Microbial Communitues or Microclimate

Kelsey Roman ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Julian Schroeder, UCSD

Characterization of phenotypes and alleles of osmosensing mutants in plants

Abdul Dahman ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Keith Pezzoli, UCSD

Edible Plant Tissue Analysis

Panel #35: Applied Math & Computer Science Student Leadership Chambers Moderated by Dr. Jane Friedman Mathematics and Computer Science, USD

Roshil Paudyal ~ Howard University Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Remmel, UCSD

A Fibonacci analogue of Stirling numbers

Jeremiah Blondin ~ Grossmont College & Aria Rostamiasrabadi ~ Irvine Valley College Mentor: Dr. Jane Friedman, USD

Fitting Growth Curves using Evolutionary Algorithm

Jose Valdes ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Shachar Lovett, UCSD

Understanding the complexity of the planted clique problem

~Break~ Jahya Burke ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Tajana Rosing, UCSD

Clustering for Large Sensing Networks: Utilizing a Device Hierarchy to Reduce Complexity

Xavier Martinez ~ CSU Long Beach Mentor: Professor Todd Coleman, UCSD

Parallelizing Machine Learning Algorithms on Amazon Web Services

Xien Thomas ~ Texas Southern University Mentor: Dr. Sorin Lerner, UCSD

Polymorphic Blocks

Panel #36: Chemistry Governance Room Moderated by Professor Charles Perrin, Ph.D. Chemistry, UCSD

Gbegninon Allognon ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Trischman Jacqueline, CSUSM

Discovery of 2(4H)-Benzofuranone, 5, 6, 7, 7a-tetrahydro-4, 4, 7a-trimethyl in the Culture Broth of a Cytophaga-like Marine Bacterium

Paul Cativiela ~ MiraCosta College Mentor: PhD candidate Alex Rovira, UCSD

Synthesis of a novel fluorescent nucleoside analog

Peter Glatt ~ MiraCosta College Mentor: Mr. Christain Perez, UCSD

Development of HDAC Inhibitors: Derivatives of hydroxy-1,2-dimethylpyridine-4(1H)thione

Francisco Javier Hidalgo ~ USD Mentor: Professor Peter Iovine, USD

Starch-peptide conjugates for peptide stabilization and release

~Break~ Imran Hussain ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Emmanuel Theodorakis, UCSD

ANCA: A Family of Fluorescent Probes that Bind and Stain Amyloid Plaques in Human Tissue

Glen Junor ~ UCI Mentor: Professor Guy Bertrand, UCSD

Cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene-Copper Complexes for Catalysis

Jocelyn Macho ~ University of Florida Mentor: Molinski Tadeusz Molinski, UCSD

Isolation of Antifungal Terpenes from Marine Sponges

Frankie Monzon ~ Southwestern College Mentor: Dr. Joshua Figueroa, UCSD

Determination of Catalytic Activity of PinBim and Various Boranes for CO2 Reduction

Panel #37: Medical Engineering Forum Moderated by Dr. Linda Shi Institute of Engineering in Medicine, UCSD

Roman Aguilera ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Todd Coleman, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Mobile Wireless Health Monitoring: Implementation of a Miniaturized Programmable System-on-a-Chip

Alex Esquivel ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Richard Garfein, UCSD

Enhancing a Mobile Phone Application for Remotely Monitoring Tuberculosis Treatment Adherence

Valeria Gonzalez ~ Cypress College & Oscar Guerrero ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Shadi Dayeh, UCSD

High Spatial PEDOT Microgrid Array for Simultaneous Subcortical Recording

Jorge Alfonso Tavares Negrete ~ Universidad de Guanajuato Mentor: Dr. Pedro Cabrales, UCSD

Phase-Based Video Motion Processing to measure the heartbeat of a hamster

~Break~ Erika Johannessen ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor David Kleinfeld, UCSD

Functional and Anatomical Mapping of the Cortical Masticatory Area in Mice

Adriano Dias ~ Lehman College - The City University of New York Mentor: Professor Todd Coleman, UCSD

Ergonomics for Surgeons: Using Artificial Intelligence for Injury Prevention

Jorge Ruiz ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Nathan Delson, UCSD

Motion and Image Capture in an Airway Intubation Mannequin

Panel #38: Bioengineering SSC 260 Moderated by Professor Robert Sah, MD, ScD Bioengineering, UCSD

Alborz Jelvani ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Pedro Cabrales, UCSD

Camouflaged Lumbricus Terrestris earthworm hemoglobin: a potent human red blood cell substitute with unique biophysical properties

Sarah Albrecht ~ University of Washington-Seattle Mentor: Dr. Karen Christman, University of California-San Diego

Behavior of Cardiac Cells When Exposed to Different Formulations of Decellularized Extracellular Matrix

Christopher Blackburn ~ Penn State Mentor: Dr. Peter Wang, UCSD

EGFR/PDGFR Internalization Kinetics of Fyn Kinase Downstream Activation Pathways Constructed in an ODE Model Using MATLAB

Nasim Eshragh Nia ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Pedro Cabrales, UCSD

Preventing genetic susceptibility to cerebral malaria: nicotinamide nucleaotide transhydrogenase gene renders mice resistant to cerebral malaria

~Break~ Amitha Gade ~ Duke University Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Fraley, UCSD

Salmonella Identification Using Dimeric Cyanine Nucleic Acid Stains

Christopher Plunkett ~ University of Rochester Mentor: Professor Shiny Varghese, UCSD

A novel co-culture platform to understand the effect of stem cell-secreted morphogens on osteoarthiritic phenotype

Sadjo Sidikou ~ University of Maryland, Baltimore County Mentor: Dr. Shu Chien, UCSD

The Effects of Density on Adipogenic Differentiation in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Aaron Tan ~ UCR Mentor: Professor Geert Schmid-Schรถnbein, UCSD

Effectiveness of Tranexamic Acid in Regulating ฮฑ1d Adrenergic Receptor Density During Shock

Panel #39: Marine Biology & Ecology SSC 350 Moderated by Dr. Michelle Facette, PhD Biological Sciences, UCSD

Jalyse Cuff ~ Howard University Mentor: Cali Turner Tomaszewicz, C.Phil, UCSD

Stable isotope analysis can provide insight on behavior and diet of East Pacific Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) found in stranding locations off the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico

Patricia Villalobos ~ ITSON Mentor: Dr. Brice Semmens, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

An update on Nassau Grouper recovery through size frequency analysis and laser measurements.

Chyna Gray ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Hugh Ellis, University of San Diego

Tissue Metabolic Intensity and Basal Metabolic Rate

Andrea Mast ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Prairie, University of San Diego

An experimental comparison of phytoplankton and marine snow as a food source for copepods

~Break~ Kyle Proctor ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Prairie, University of San Diego

Effects of phytoplankton growth phase on delayed settling of marine snow aggregates through sharp density gradients

Hannah Shapiro ~ USD & Shannon Trujillo ~ USD Mentor: Dr. Geoffrey Morse, Harvard

Diversification of Armored Scale Insects in a Bornean Tropical Rainforest Canopy Gregory Demirjian ~ UCSD

Mentor: Dr. Paul Jensen, UCSD

Induced Secondary Metabolite Production in Salinispora arenicola

Panel #40: Cardiology SSC 400 Moderated by Dr. Ana Maria Manso-Martin, PhD Medicine, UCSD

Ceciley Scarbrough ~ Spelman College Mentor: Dr. Robert Ross, UCSD

Examining integrin and integrin related proteins in a doxorubicin-induced rabbit model of heart failure

Remington Rimple ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Lauren Black III, Tufts University

Evaluating the Efficacy of Silk Sponge Patches for in vivo Repair of the Heart Post Myocardial Infarction Using Immunohistochemistry.

Corina Espelien ~ California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo Mentor: Dr. Karen Christman, UCSD

Delivery of siRNA by injectable hydrogels

~Break~ Julian Garcia ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Karen Christman, UCSD

Quantification of Angiogenic Promoting Components of a Myocardial Matrix Hydrogel

Assata Pyatt ~ Bowie State University Mentor: Dr. Farah Sheikh, UCSD

COP9 signalosome as a novel protein complex involved in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

Dasha Weeks ~ UCSD Mentor: Professor Rolf Bodmer, UCSD

Investigating the role of JAK-STAT signaling in response to bacterial infection in the aging fly heart

Panel #41: Genetics SSC 450 Moderated by Dr. Pei-an Betty Shih, MPM, Ph.D. Psychiatry, UCSD

Cindy Barba ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Richard Wang, University of Texas Southwestern

Do Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) Gene Promoter Mutations Found in Cancer Contribute to Longevity?

Carlos Betancourt ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Angelica Rocha, CSUSM

The Role of Pangu and Endos on Embryonic MitosisThrough Cdk1/cdc2-cyclin B Activity in Drosophila Melanogaster

Ekanath Rangan ~ Amrita University Mentor: Dr. David Roth, UCSD

To be decided

Deepika Suresh ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Irene Su, UCSD

Developing An Educational Intervention To Improve Genetic Risk Assesment In Young Breast Cancer Survivors

Jonathon Woo ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Michelle Mattson-Hoss, University of California Irvine

Oligogenic Inheritance of Diabetes

Panel #42: Molecular Biology SSC 554 Moderated by Dr. Stephan Lange, Medicine, UCSD

Maryam Ige ~ Stony Brook University Mentor: Drs. Neil Chi & Erik Adler, UCSD

Studying the Role of LAMP-2 Isoforms

Jocelyn Olvera ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Hideki Takahashi, Michigan State University

Protein-protein interaction of high-affinity sulfate transporters facilitating sulfate uptake in Arabidopsis thaliana

Blanca Fernandez ~ Imperial Valley College Mentor: Dr. Mark Lawson, UCSD

FFA reduces LHb and FSHb gene expression by ROS

Yvonne Reyes ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. James Golden, UCSD

Characterization of a genetic circuit to downregulate gene expression in cyanobacteria

~Break~ Perla Pena Palomino ~ SDSU Mentor: Dr. Tom Huxford, San Diego State University

Solution binding studies of Drosophila melanogaster UNC-45 protein

Brandon Myszka ~ Canisius College Mentor: Dr. Stefan Aigner, UCSD

Using CRISPR/Cas9 in human pluripotent stem cells to investigate promoter function in a primate-specific microRNA cluster

Jessica Huang ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Amy Pasquinelli, UCSD

Determining unique mRNA targets for highly related microRNAs

Deanna Ross ~ Georgia State University Mentor: Dr. Subhojit Roy, UCSD

Evaluating the interaction of aplha-synuclein and VAMP2

Panel #43: Development SSC 554A Moderated by Professor Karl Willert, PhD Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD

Karla Fernandez ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Eva-Maria Schoetz Collins, UCSD

Acetylcholinesterase localization and function during neurodevelopment in the planarian Dugesia japonica

Shannon Soriano ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Lawrence Prince, UCSD

NFkB and Sp3 Interactions Regulate Key Developmental Genes in the Lung

Boris Stepanyuk ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Amro Hamdoun, Scripps Institute of Oceanography

The localization and function of an adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor, CELSR2, in S. purpuratus during the migration of primordial germ cells throughout embryonic development

~Break~ Daisy Monsivaiz ~ CSUSM Mentor: Dr. Kamil Godula, UCSD

Remodeling the Glycocalyx of Stem cells derived from Embryoid Bodies, using NeoPGs

Hector Gomez Cazares ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Ting Yu, UCSD

Myelination in Wntless Conditional Knockouts

Soumya Kurnool ~ UCSD Mentor: Dr. Richard Daneman, UCSD

Investigation of the Role of Stra6 at the Blood Brain Barrier

Student Abstracts Alphabetical by presenter’s last name

Panel 2 Green Room

Abdulnoor, Lina. START Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Physiology & Neuroscience Mentored by Professor Eduardo Macagno, Biology, UCSD

"Is There a Role for Calcium in Homolog Avoidance in the Leech Nervous System?"

Panel 4 Red Shoe Room

Acosta, Delfin. CAMP, UCSD Sixth Major: Aerospace Eng. Mentored by Professor George Tynan & Dr. Saikat Thakur, MAE, UCSD

Comparison of the dispersion relation using 2 point spectra method and 2D cross sections in linear plasma device for Argon and Helium plasmas We will be comparing the dispersion relation and density fluctuations between helicon source, magnetized, argon and helium plasmas. Drift wave structures driven by the radial pressure gradient in the plasma column created by the linear device, CSDX (Controlled Shear Decorrelation Experiment), are then examined in both plasmas. Visible spectrum light is captured using a high speed digital camera (Phantom VII) at 210,500 frames/s, and analyzed using Matlab. A ring of pixels at a fixed radius is analyzed for all azimuthal positions; a spatial FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) is taken for each frame and layered on the same graph to determine the wave number power spectrum as function of both azimuthal position and time. This is then compared to theoretical predictions for the differences between the two plasmas at approximately equal densities Panel 15 Governance Room

Aganze, Christian. STARS, Morehouse College Major: Physics Mentored by Professor Adam Burgasser, CASS, UCSD

Searching for Distant Brown Dwarfs in WFC3 Parallel Fields

The spatial distribution of brown dwarfs is crucial for understanding their formation, dynamical and evolutionary history, and age distribution. Recent searches for brown dwarfs (2MASS, SDSS, WISE) have been based on wide-field infrared surveys that are relatively shallow (âˆź300 lightyears). While these surveys have provided a measure of the density of local distribution of brown dwarfs, little is know about their Galactic distribution. Using recent data from WISP survey, we are searching for distant brown dwarfs identified in the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) parallel grism fields. We are using spectral indices to identify candidates and measuring spectral types and distances by comparison to spectral standards and photometric data.

Results will constrain the number density and spatial distribution of brown dwarfs over a larger section of the Galaxy.

Panel 37 Forum

Aguilera, Roman. McNair Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Electrical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Todd Coleman, Bioengineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Mobile Wireless Health Monitoring: Implementation of a Miniaturized Programmable System-on-a-Chip

Exploration in miniature transducer use for biosensors and wearable electronics has emerged with specific applications ranging from electroencephalographs (EEGs), accelerometers, phonocardiographs, and other types of analog data sensors. Data transmission and microcontroller technologies have advanced synergistically along with sensor technologies, allowing for wireless mobile heath monitoring. With leading industry standards for transferring data through ad-hoc wireless sensor networks, such as BluetoothÂŽ communication, it has become increasingly easier to implement the wireless transfer and synchronization of large data between patient and observer. Currently, open areas of research that need to be addressed in wireless sensor network technology are (a) user interface, (b) wireless connectivity reliability, (c) energy consumption, and (d) size. Here, we present a novel approach to these bottlenecks by using PSoCÂŽ 4 BLE (Programmable System on Chip, BluetoothÂŽ Low Energy).

However, many specific details still need to be addressed including; (i) Making sure all pieces of hardware (firmware, sensor, and smart phone) in our wireless sensor network are synchronized in communication between each other, and (ii) using programming applications to develop better user interfaces between user and hardware so that we may observe our data in real time.

Panel 4 Red Shoe Room

Aguirre, Joylene. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Dr. David Mayhew, Engineering, University of San Diego

Data Generation: The Distribution of Mega-Data Centers Based On Energy Costs Data centers account for 1.7-2.2% of energy consumption in the United States and are expected to increase their consumption. As energy demand rises, consumers are forced to pay escalating energy costs due to production cost. To reduce grid energy demand caused by data center consumption, an alternative source can be built at center sites, which will allow for energy consumption at the source of production. Although current individual alternative energy technology can provide sufficient average power, the variability of power delivery from renewable energy sources make such energy an unlikely source for direct connection to a data center. Conversely, a hybrid energy source has superior energy availability, and if paired with a modest energy storage mechanism, can support 24-hour computation. By analyzing efficiencies of current alternative energy sources such as wind turbines and water pumps, my research hopes to find an effective combination to provide a self-sustaining source of energy for data centers, thus reducing grid energy consumption and allowing for efficient placement of data centers. This reduced cost can provide computation and information services to the developing world in places that otherwise lack the requisite infrastructure.

Panel 11 Roosevelt College Room

Aiello, Michelle. STARS, University of Central Florida Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Ariel Lang, Psychiatry, University of California San Diego

Is meditation good for the heart: A study of the effect of compassion mediation on heart rate variability among veterans with PTSD The present study investigates the effects of Compassion Meditation (CM) on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) among veterans with PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). CM is a meditative practice focused on the wish that others and the self be free of suffering. Research has found various connections between HRV and meditative practices. Also, CM is associated with positive mood, a sense of belongingness, and reduction of anxiety. Data for these analyses were drawn from the first phase of a feasibility and proof of concept study of CM for veterans with PTSD. Seven veterans diagnosed with PTSD were recruited to complete CM in two-hour group sessions once per week for eight weeks. Veterans’ HR is recorded for 5 minutes before, during, and 5 minutes after each of the eight sessions. It’s hypothesized that veterans’ resting HRV will increase from before to after the group while HR during meditation will decrease over the 8 weeks. If the results support this hypothesis then, CM may regulate the autonomic nervous system of veterans dealing with PTSD, providing insight into one mechanism by which CM may be effective to reduce PTSD symptoms.

Panel 2 Green Room

Al Isso, Tamara. START Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Biochemistry-cell biology Mentored by Professor Eduardo Macagno, Biological Sciences, UCSD

Possible Role of TOR Signaling in the Process of Aging in Yeast Cells To be determined Panel 8 Dance Studio

Alam, Sharmin. STARS, CSUN Major: Psychology Mentored by Professor Nicholas Christenfeld, Social Psychology, UCSD

A Glimpse into Dating in the 21st Century: Representation in Online Dating World Past studies have explored how characteristics such as age, gender, and motives affect the preferences of online daters while searching for a partner. This study explores more which aspects of their lives online daters choose to emphasize in their profiles, such as social, occupational, educational, financial, friend, or family matters. We also examine whether age, gender and desired outcome from the dating site account (long or short term relationship, casual sex, friendship) influences which aspects are emphasized. 200 randomly selected OkCupid profiles were coded by 3 research assistants for levels of each of these topics. Additional concerns of the study include examining the influence of demographic groups such as age with different aspects online daters emphasize on of themselves in self-representation and self-deceptions. Results will be interpreted to develop parameters for a future experiment that will explore differences between participants’ self-reported desired information from potential partners and that which they actually disclose in their pre-existing online-profiles.

Panel 38 SSC 260

Albrecht, Sarah. MTSP-SURF, University of Washington-Seattle Major: Bioengineering Mentored by Dr. Karen Christman, Bioengineering, University of California-San Diego

Behavior of Cardiac Cells When Exposed to Different Formulations of Decellularized Extracellular Matrix

Myocardial infarctions (MI) damage vital cardiovascular tissue, which may potentially lead to heart failure and other serious complications. Due to the lack of cardiogenic progenitor cells (CPCs) and other vital cells present in the heart, cell regeneration is limited post-MI. An injectable hydrogel derived from the decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) of porcine hearts has shown potential as a suitable therapy, specifically improving heart function in both small and large animal models post-MI. Recently, the Christman lab has shown that the ECM may also be separated into soluble and insoluble components. To explore the cellular behavior of the decellularized ECM formulations, the viability and migration of cardiac cells is being investigated. Viability will be assessed on both CPCs and fetal rat cardiomyocytes, under hypoxic conditions to mimic the ischemic environment of the heart post-MI. A migration assay using CPCs will also be performed. Our results will improve our knowledge of possible applications of the ECM formulations by demonstrating that they are safe and encourage cell-cell interactions.

Panel 36 Governance Room

Allognon, Gbegninon. LSAMP, CSUSM Major: biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Trischman Jacqueline, Chemistry, CSUSM

Discovery of 2(4H)-Benzofuranone, 5, 6, 7, 7a-tetrahydro-4, 4, 7a-trimethyl in the Culture Broth of a Cytophaga-like Marine Bacterium A culture of marine bacterium (strain UA 732) was isolated from the surface of algae and challenged by introducing another marine bacterium that coexists naturally in the same habitat. This technique induced the production of secondary metabolites on the challenged strain (UA 732C). Differences could be observed on the H NMR of the challenged strain (UA 732C) and the non-challenged strain (UA 732). The secondary metabolites were isolated for further analysis through solid phase extraction on a C-18 column into 6 different fractions. After performing H NMR on each fractions, it was discovered that fraction 1 had the most active compounds. Therefore, fraction 1 was fractionated into 6 different sub fractions.

The H NMR was used again to analyze each sub fractions. In this case, Fr1-4 had the most active compounds. 2(4H)-Benzofuranone, 5, 6, 7, 7a-tetrahydro-4, 4, 7atrimethyl was discovered after analysis of Fr1-4 by GCMS. Further analysis need to be performed on Fr1-4 in order to detect the other compounds present in Fr14.

Panel 9 Revelle College Room

Altamirano, Robert. MARC, CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Keith Trujillo, Psychology, California State University San Marcos

Differences in Ketamine-Induced Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Adult and Adolescent Rats: The Balance Between Reward and Aversion

Ketamine (KET) has been used as a dissociative anesthetic in clinical settings for numerous years. Increased use and abuse of KET by young people at dance clubs and raves has become an issue. However, little is known about the effects of KET in adolescents, and potential differences between adolescent and adult users. The current study examined the differences between adult and adolescent rats in KET-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). USVs are high frequency calls made by rodents that have been found to reflect affective states. Higher frequency 50 kHz USVs, are associated with pleasurable stimuli or positive affect and lower frequency 22 kHz USVs are associated with aversive stimuli or negative affect.

It was hypothesized that adolescent rats would show greater pleasure to KET and reduced aversion. KET induced an increase in rewarding 50 kHz USVs that was similar in adolescents and adults. In contrast, as hypothesized, adults showed a greater number of aversive 22 kHz USVs in response to KET. Overall, KET appears to be more appealing to younger individuals than adults (equally rewarding but less aversive), which may help to explain the use of the drug by teens.

Panel 31 Marshall College Room

Arbogast, Tara. UCSD Division of Physiology, UCSD Sixth Major: Physiology and Neuroscience Mentored by Professor Frank Powell, Medicine; Division of Physiology, UCSD

Time course of brainstem glial activation following exposure to chronic sustained hypoxia

Neuron-glia communication in the central nervous system (CNS) is proving to be an important component of neuronal signaling, and glial activation in the brainstem may play a role in the increase in ventilation following chronic sustained hypoxia (CSH) exposure. We investigated glial activation in the neural control of ventilation following exposure to CSH (10% O2). Ventilation data was acquired with a barometric pressure plethysmography on unrestrained rats exposed to CSH for either 24 hours or 7 days. Activation of glial cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry, focusing on the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) region of the brainstem. Ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia (VAH) was blocked by minocycline, a microglia-specific inhibitor, and normoxic controls showed no effect with minocycline administration. Microglia displayed an active morphology after 60 minutes of CSH exposure, while astrocytes produced an increase in GFAP fluorescence intensity after 24 hours, and 7 days of CSH. These results suggest that there is a glial activation time line that may contribute to VAH.

Panel 27 East Ballroom

Arreola, Martin. CAMP, UCSD Revelle Major: Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. Albert La Spada, Pediatrics, UCSD

Therapeutic reduction of protein aggregates in Huntington’s Disease through activation of a transcription factor Huntington’s Disease (HD) is an unrelenting neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the huntingtin (htt) gene leading to an aggregate-prone poly-glutamine expansion in the htt protein. Throughout the disease’s progression, these toxic protein aggregates overwhelm protective cellular functions such as autophagy, a process in which the cell’s lysosomes take on a cannibalistic role and break up malfunctioning intracellular components, leading to cellular dysfunction and neuron death. I studied Transcription Factor X (Trans-X), a protein shown to interact with htt, and found that, when activated, htt aggregation was reduced in vitro. Immunoblotting and detection of LC3-II further showed that this reduction in aggregation is due to increased autophagy.

A candidate that successfully reduces toxic protein aggregation may be an effective treatment not only for Huntington’s Disease, but also other polyglutamine expansion diseases.

Panel 15 Governance Room

Assad, Nima. Dr. Benjamin Grinstein, UCSD Muir Major: Physics, Biology Mentored by Dr. Benjamin Grinstein, Physics, University of California, San Diego

Neutrinoless double-beta decay detection and the implications of a Majorana neutrino

While the Standard Model of particle physics is tremendously successful in describing and predicting properties of particles and interactions, for example by giving the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron to a precision of one part in a billion, it can accommodate a number of possible descriptions of neutrinos.

The neutrino was first postulated as a massless, uncharged particle emitted during beta decay in an effort to retain conservation of energy and momentum, and was integrated into the Standard Model through three generations. Recent experiments have revealed that neutrinos propagate as superpositions of flavor eigenstates, leading to an interpretation of non-zero neutrino mass. Further, the observed properties have not determined whether the neutrino is a Dirac or a Majorana fermion, motivating the active search for the double-beta decay signature of a Majorana neutrino. Due to their elusive nature, the detection of neutrinos presents formidable challenges in confirming their behavior. Here, we evaluate current initiatives in neutrino detection and consider the implications Majorana neutrinos would have on the Standard Model.

Panel 11 Roosevelt College Room

Ayscue, Bianca. HCOP, SDSU Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Terry Cronan, Psychology, San Diego State University

Do cognitions and quality of life predict resiliency among breast cancer patients?

A cancer diagnosis can cause a number of psychological problems, thereby lowering quality of life. Resiliency is related to both physical and mental health.

Quality of life is positively correlated with resilience. Breast cancer patients’ awareness of their cognitions affects their psychological well-being. However, the relationships to resilience have not been established for breast cancer patients.

Twenty-three women with a physician’s diagnosis of breast cancer, stages 0 to 3, who had completed curative surgery for their breast cancer, and who showed at least moderate levels of distress, were recruited as part of a larger study assessing the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on quality of life. It was hypothesized that quality of life would be positively associated with resiliency and

that cognitive awareness would be negatively related to resiliency. A linear regression showed that both cognitions (p = .01) and quality of life (p = .03) significantly predicted resilience and accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in resilience (R2 = .55, p = .001). Interventions targeting cognitions for women with breast cancer may increase resiliency and increase quality of life.

Panel 41 SSC 450

Barba, Cindy. MARC, CSUSM Major: Molecular & Cellular Biology Mentored by Dr. Richard Wang, Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern

Do Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) Gene Promoter Mutations Found in Cancer Contribute to Longevity?

Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that protect the end of human chromosomes. Telomeres shorten progressively after each round of replication, which ultimately causes senescence or cell death preventing the development of diseases like cancer. Telomerase and its protein subunit, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), extend telomeres in cells with higher proliferative requirements. The inappropriate activation of TERT caused by specific promoter mutations (C228T and C250T), can lead to the immortalization of many cancers.

These promoter mutations generate a de novo transcription factor binding site, increase TERT transcription, and promote telomere elongation. A possible role for TERT promoter mutations in increasing longevity has not been explored. We amplified and sequenced the TERT promoter region in 132 long-lived, healthy individuals. The cancer associated promoter mutations were not detected but three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were observed frequently in the promoter region. Although these SNPs occurred frequently in the long-lived individuals, they have not previously been reported in the general population. We conclude that known, cancer-associated TERT mutations do not contribute to human longevity. A possible role for TERT promoter variants in longevity and other human diseases will be the subject of future studies.

Panel 13 Sixth College Room

Beck-Pancer, Sara. Gianneschi Lab & Chemistry Connections for Community College Students, NSF REU, Cuyamaca College Major: Anatomy Mentored by Dr. Nathan Gianneschi, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Assessing the Oral Bioavailability of High Density Peptide Brush Polymers using a Stomach Digestion Model Due to their biocompatibility and low immunogenicity, peptides have been developed as therapeutics, molecular probes, sensors and signaling agents; however, peptides have limited bioavailability in vivo due to their size dependent renal clearance, rapid degradation by proteases, and inability to enter cells.

Addressing these limitations, the Gianneschi group showed that peptides displayed as high-density brush polymers, in which the brush is composed of peptides, were able to resist proteolysis and penetrate cells in vitro. The present work expands on these findings, investigating the oral bioavailability of these polymers by determining their stability in a stomach digestion model. The enzyme pepsin, present in high quantities in the stomach, cleaves peptides after aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine). This project will compare a high-density peptide brush polymer to its monomer counterpart, in which the peptide contains a pepsin recognition sequence, to determine if the polymer’s framework protects the peptide from cleavage by pepsin. If a protective effect is shown, this work represents a step toward creating a vehicle that can make peptides more orally bioavailable.

Panel 15 Governance Room

Berton, Kieran. CASS, St. Olaf College Major: Physics & Music Mentored by Dr. Carl Melis, CASS, UCSD

Breaking the Ice: Explaining the Strange Giant Star TYC 596 145 1 with a Stellar Merger Model

Stars near the end of their lives should have atmospheres depleted in lithium and planetary systems relatively free of small dust grains. The giant star TYC 596 145 1 defies both of these norms and additionally is surrounded by a substantial amount of water ice. We are exploring a model in which this star acquired its unusual characteristics by merging with a rapidly orbiting companion. This hypothesized merger event scattered stellar material into orbit around the merged object and thus the relative amounts of different elements should be comparable between the circumstellar material and the merged object's atmosphere. To test this hypothesis, we are measuring oxygen and carbon abundances in the merged object's atmosphere and comparing them with that of the orbiting ice.

Panel 41 SSC 450

Betancourt, Carlos. OTRES, CSUSM Major: Molecular and Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Angelica Rocha, OTRES, CSUSM

The Role of Pangu and Endos on Embryonic MitosisThrough Cdk1/cdc2-cyclin B Activity in Drosophila Melanogaster In addition to and synergizing Cdk1/cdc2-Cyclin B activity, the Polo and Greatwall kinases are important protein kinases for the regulation of mitosis. In particular, Greatwall promotes Cdk1/cdc2-Cyclin B activity by inhibiting its opposing phosphatase PP2A. This is achived by the phosphorylation of the substrate of Greatwall, Endos, which once phosphorylated directly inhibits PP2A. Moreover greatwall interacts with pangu, the catalytic subunit of a wider complex made of two others regulatory subunits, Plutonium and Giant nuclei.

These genes control the S-M cycles of Drosophila melanogaster embryogenesis by enhancing Cyclin B translation and cdk1/cdc2-Cyclin B activity, which is portrayed by the lethality of embryos from females mutant for any of the pangu complex genes. Generations of mutant were selectively bred in order to investigate whether down-regulating the activity of PP2A (which counterbalances cdk1) with PP2A mutants or by increasing Endos dosage would rescue the mitotic failure of pangu mutant embryos. Three separate experiments resulted in variability of the rescue level. The results suggest that although Pan Gu and Endos cooperatively control the level of active cdk1/cyclin B activity in embryogenesis, this is not the only pathway in which they interact.

Panel 9 Revelle College Room

Binette, Annalise. RISE, CSUSM Major: Biological Sciences Mentored by Dr. Keith Trujillo, Psychology, California State University San Marcos

Differences in Methylphenidate-induced Locomotor Behavior in Adolescent and Adult Rats Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a leading pharmacological treatment for adults and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There is growing concern regarding methylphenidate’s effect on the developing adolescent brain and interest in assessing potential differences in response between adolescents and adults. The present study examined methylphenidateinduced locomotor behavior in adolescent rats (30 days of age) and adult rats (60 days of age). In addition, the animals were tested 10 and 20 days later. Based on previous work in our lab, it was hypothesized that adolescents would show greater locomotor activity during the first half of the session and that adults would show greater locomotor activity during the last half of the session.

Consistent with our predictions, adolescents show greater activity just after drug administration, while adult activity doesn’t peak until later in the session. In addition, as adolescents age they transition to the adult pattern of response. The results demonstrate unique timecourse differences not seen in other psychomotor stimulants, such as methamphetamine. The results have implications for the response to methylphenidate in young people when compared to adults.

Panel 38 SSC 260

Blackburn, Christopher. STARS, Penn State Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Peter Wang, Bioengineering, UCSD

EGFR/PDGFR Internalization Kinetics of Fyn Kinase Downstream Activation Pathways Constructed in an ODE Model Using MATLAB Fyn is a tyrosine kinase that is part of the Src family, and it is commonly involved in Alzheimer’s and cancer related treatments. The activation pathways of Fyn kinase downstream of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) have been mapped out schematically.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) images of Fyn kinase activities have been obtained to construct time courses showing the regulation of Fyn activity by the growth factors and receptors. Using the mapped out pathways and time courses, the curves have been modeled in MATLAB using four ODEs. Determination of whether EGFR and PDGFR can be represented with the same set of ODEs or whether a new set of ODEs are required to model PDGFR will be explored. There will be further investigation of how the biophysical properties of growth factor receptors affect the regulation parameters in the ODE model.

With the modeled curves, one will be able to interpret the data of different circumstances with growth factor receptors to determine the kinetics of receptor internalization.

Panel 35 Student Leadership Chambers

Blondin, Jeremiah. NSF REU, Grossmont College Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Jane Friedman, Mathematics and Computer Science, USD

Fitting Growth Curves Using Evolutionary Algorithms

Differential Evolution (DE) is a versatile method of solving non-linear optimization problems. We present the results of an unusual application of the method -- fitting growth curves to data. In particular we fit to logistic and Von Bertalannfy growth curves. We compared DE to the Levenberg–Marquardt method, which is commonly used for this purpose. DE consistently outperforms Levenberg-Marquadt, especially on noisy data sets.

Panel 31 Marshall College Room

Bolanos, Alfredo. STARS, University of New Mexico Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Doris Trauner, Neuroscience, UCSD

A closer look at white matter tract integrity in patients with perinatal stroke through diffusion tensor imaging.

Neuroimaging of patients that experienced a perinatal stroke has given us a wide body of knowledge on brain structure. Research in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has shown a decrease in fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter structures like the corpus callosum in perinatal stroke patients compared to controls, suggesting an abnormal brain structure. Another white matter tract, superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), is important for language functioning. It has been recorded that individuals with a decrease in FA in the SLF did not show a decline in language performance. In this study we will analyze the difference in integrity of the SLF tract in individuals with a perinatal stroke compared to controls and we will compare the SLF’s integrity with overall language scores from participants. FA values will be extracted from SLF tract for both groups to measure integrity, and to compare integrity with language scores. We predict a

decrease in SLF tract integrity in the perinatal stroke group, and that tract integrity will affect overall language scores. Results will lead us to better understand how circuits important for language may be disrupted in patients who experienced a perinatal stroke.

Panel 28 Muir College Room

Bolden, Alyssa. McNair Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Political Science/ Public Law Mentored by Dr. Thandeeka Chapman, Education Studies, UCSD

The Effectiveness of Upward Bound: Is it Achieving its Initial Goals?

The academic achievement gap has been the focus of many pieces of research and as a result, many have proposed a number of solutions to the problem. One of the proposed solutions to ease the achievement gap in the U.S. is the federally funded Upward Bound Program. The Upward Bound program is a product of the Civil Rights Movement, and consequently its goals include the elimination of racial disparities through the leveling of the academic playing-field in U.S. high schools.

Today, many critics of the program argue that it is not fulfilling its initial objectives. More specifically, critics state that Upward Bound is not sufficiently preparing its students academically. In my research I expect to find that although statistics do not show that Upward Bound makes a significant difference academically, it does greatly impact students’ abilities to successfully transition into college. Consequently it is important to recognize that while Upward Bound benefits many students, it is also vital to acknowledge that it may need to change in order to better assist students academically.

Panel 34 Sixth College Room

Booth, Sharon. STARS, Imperial Valley College Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Elsa Cleland, E.B.E Section, Division of Biology, UCSD

Decompostion: Mediated Through Microbial Communitues or Microclimate Decomposition is important for ecosystem functioning, and can be affected by biotic and abiotic factors. Decomposition rates have previously been shown to vary between substrates, depend on rainfall patterns, and are influenced by dominant vegetation cover. However, it is unclear whether these differences in decomposition rates are directly influenced by microclimate or mediated by microbial communities associated with these differences. We hypothesize that microbial communities are directly influenced by their environment. To test this, mesocosms were constructed using soil from a rainfall manipulation experiment where plots had different precipitation and dominant community compositions.

Mesocosms containing litter from an exotic grass and dominant shrub were incubated over a 4-week period under similar conditions, and the only variation was the soil microbial origin. The expected results of the experiment show that microbial communities influence rates of decomposition. We also expect that grass litter decomposes faster than shrub litter under these conditions. The sensitivity of microbial communities to their environment and differences in decomposition rates suggest that microbial communities will be affected by global change. This may have large scale impacts on carbon stocks.

Panel 35 Student Leadership Chambers

Burke, Jahya. CAMP, UCSD Muir Major: Electrical Engineering Mentored by Professor Tajana Rosing, Computer Science and Engineering, UCSD

Clustering for Large Sensing Networks: Utilizing a Device Hierarchy to Reduce Complexity The increasing amount of sensory data available introduces the problem of processing big data efficiently. In a network of sensors there can be millions of nodes that each collect streaming data. Clustering algorithms have been used for interpretation of large data sets. However, with the amount of data retrieved from a large sensing network, reporting full data sets to the cloud would cause a bottleneck in the computation. This work serves to improve clustering application to large sensing networks by using devices in a hierarchy for both data collection and clustering. The hierarchy would include sensor devices, cellular devices, access points and the cloud. It would cluster data by utilizing each device to perform a step that advances the completeness of clustering. Lower levels of the hierarchy would point to low resolution clusters where the next device would search for higher resolution clusters. Ultimately this will give a high resolution picture of patterns that exist in the data. This project will identify algorithms for this application through performance analysis of existing algorithms, and refinement or creation of algorithms that can be used at each level of the hierarchy.

Panel 24 Bear Room

Butcher, Cheyenne. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Global Health Mentored by Dr. Jose Suarez, Family Medicine and Public Health, UCSD

Residential distance to flower plantations in relation to a marker of pesticide exposure Exposure to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibiting pesticides has been shown to have a multitude of negative health effects in humans. Adults and children residing in agricultural communities have been found to be at increased risk of exposure due to off-target drift of pesticides from farms.We hypothesized that greater proximity of children’s residences to agricultural plantations would be associated with lower AChE activity (marking greater pesticide exposure) in children.

Children of 4-9 years of age living in the agricultural county of Pedro Moncayo, Ecuador were examined. Blood AChE activity and hemoglobin concentration were measured, and geographic coordinates of flower plantations and homes were obtained using global positioning system receivers. Linear regression models were adjusted for various factors.

Proximity of homes to flower plantations was positively associated with a marker of pesticide exposure especially among participants living within 185m.

Panel 24 Bear Room

Buz, Alexis. NEW Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Ethnic Studies & Public Health Mentored by Dr. Yen Espiritu, Ethnic Studies, UCSD

Agent Orange in Today’s Vietnam: The Tu Du Peace Village & War Remnants Museum in Saigon This project examines the lingering health effects of Agent Orange exposure on the Vietnamese population and the efforts by activists to win U.S. government compensation for the more than five million Vietnamese people suffering from Agent Orange. The research includes four key tasks: compiling an annotated bibliography on research on Agent Orange; compiling a list of key organizations that advocate for U.S. government compensation: engaging in field research in Ho Chi Minh City at a local hospital that serves children victims of Agent Orange;

and producing a research document that summarizes the main findings and suggests directions for future research.

Panel 25 Red Shoe Room

Cabrera, Yesenia. STARS, CSUSM Major: Biological Sciences Mentored by Dr. Suzi Hong, Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine & Public Health, UCSD

Does leptin play a role in the obesity-inflammation-depression link?

Obesity epidemic is a major threat to public health, being a major risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Obesity is marked by elevated levels of leptin and inflammatory cytokines, and the role of leptin in obesity-related inflammation, has been highlighted. In addition, recent research has implicated leptin in modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis, potentially contributing to the increased prevalence of depression or depressive mood among obese individuals. Given the literature, indicating inflammation as an underlying factor for obesity-depression comorbidity, investigation of the role of leptin in the obesity-depression-inflammation link is timely. Thus, we investigated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and beta-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) mediated inflammation regulation by monocytes through flow cytometry, leptin through immunoassay, depressive mood through Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-Ia), and obesity defined by BMI in asymptomatic lean, overweight or obese individuals. We hypothesize that leptin would be associated with greater depressive mood and decreased monocytic cortisol (GR agonist) or isoproterenol (β-AR agonist) responsivity in inflammation regulation.

This may be a pathway of obesity-related inflammation and depression.

Deciphering these factors underlying obesity-depression comorbidity would inform various modalities of potentially efficacious therapeutics.

Panel 21 SSC 554

Campbell, Takeyah. STARS, Howard University Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Graduate Researcher Pengrui Wang, Nanoengineering, UCSD

Biocompatibility and Biodegradability of 3D-Printed Scaffolds using Green Chemistry In tissue engineering, scaffolds provide a crucial foundation for cell growth, differentiation and proliferation. This foundation ultimately provides a platform for in-vitro organ development and other bio-medical applications. This study focuses on using 3D-printing to create green scaffolds with a gradient of material property with biogenic polyurethane-based materials. The polyurethane scaffolds were synthesized with cyclic carbonate and four biogenic polyamines: putrecine, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine. This novel method eliminates the use of isocynate catalyst, which reduces the cytotoxic effect, thereby increasing biocompatibility. To verify biocompatibility of the scaffold, three cell types, human retinal pigment epithelial cells, A7R5 smooth muscles cells, and 10T1/2 fibroblast were cultured. Then the gels, with a stiffness gradient, were 3D-printed by varying UV exposure times to assess cell behavior on surfaces with different mechanical properties. Cell compatibility of the scaffold was determined over a five to seven day period using microscopy imaging to indicate the number of live, growing cells. In addition, the biodegradability of the polyurethanes was tested using the enzyme lipase for breakdown via hydrolysis. This material could be used in a broad range of tissue engineering applications such as cornea or bone replacement.

Panel 17 SSC 260

Capellan, Pamela. MTSP-SURF, Cornell University Major: Biology and Society Mentored by Dr. Deborah Spector, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD

Induction of Autophagy by Trehalose as a Therapeutic Strategy to Inhibit Cytomegalovirus Infection

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a significant cause of congenital infection and sensorineural hearing loss. Past experiments in the Spector Lab have demonstrated that the disaccharide, trehalose, has antiviral effects on HCMV and also stimulates autophagy. It is of great interest to determine the antiviral mechanism of trehalose. It is possible that HCMV needs to use autophagy proteins for its viral assembly. It is hypothesized that trehalose may be causing autophagy proteins to be removed or unavailable to HCMV. We will determine whether autophagy protein levels are altered or mis-localized during infection by studying the two proteins that assist in CMA, LAMP-2A and hsc70, and several proteins involved in macroautophagy, and their response to HCMV with or without trehalose. The methods used in this study will be the following: tissue culturing, western blot, and immunofluorescence. The aims of this study are to determine if the proteins localize to viral assembly centers during infection and to investigate whether trehalose prevents HCMV from using the autophagy proteins for its viral assembly.

Panel 26 Green Table Room

Capuchino, Briana. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Psychological Sciences Mentored by Professor Stephen Pearlberg, Psychological Sciences, University of San Diego

Survey Design to Conduct a Validation Study on a Health Promotion Program Wellness and Health Promotion (WHP) programs are believed to provide many benefits to the workplace. While organizations seek to improve the health of their employees, many healthcare providers and insurers support these efforts by subsidizing program budgets in order to reduce their long-term costs. However, research suggests that WHP programs affect worker productivity, satisfaction, and presenteeism only modestly, at best. Current research was proposed as an assessment of a private university’s recently introduced employee WHP program. After attending informational seminars in 2013 and 2014, employees’ immediate perceptions were measured with a brief survey. However, in-depth analysis of employees’ responses to these surveys indicated the need to construct a more diagnostic instrument. Thus, a questionnaire was developed to identify the strongest and weakest aspects of each seminar and to assess the validity of the entire program.

Panel 15 Governance Room

Cardenas, Juan. STARS, California State University, Dominguez Hills Major: Physics Mentored by Dr. Frank Wuerthwein, Physics, UCSD

Implicit Detection of the Z Boson via addition of Muon invariant masses Implicit Detection of the Zo Boson via addition of Muon invariant masses A confirmation of the existence of the Zo boson is presented. Data will be used from CERN’s Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) taken during run 1 of the Large Hadron Collider, to construct histograms of the invariant mass of di-Muon decays of various energies. We plan to use a computer program called “cmsShow” to display Muon events and show that the paths on which they traveled previously intersected, suggesting that they are the decay products of another massive particle called the Zo Boson. Prior experimental procedures suggest that looking at the four momenta of these Muons will allow us to calculate their

invariant mass. Since one data file contains on average 18 thousand particle events I will create a computer program that will allow me to sift through the data and calculate the invariant mass of each Muon pair. The total invariant masses of each Muon pair will then be forwarded to a histogram file to be plotted using ROOT. We predict to see a mass peak at around 91 GeV, indicating the existence of a Z boson.

Panel 13 Sixth College Room

Carter, Cole. AEP UC Scholars, UCSD Revelle Major: Chemistry Mentored by Professor Akif Tezcan, Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCSD

Characterization of protein-protein interactions for an ATP bound mimic in nitrogenase Nitrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes biological reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia. It consists of two proteins. The larger subunit, called the Molybdenum Iron Protein (MoFeP) is the site of substrate reduction and the smaller subunit, called the Iron Protein (FeP), donates electrons to MoFeP to effect substrate reduction. These electrons are transferred in a mechanism dependent on ATP hydrolysis. It is known that the mechanism for electron transfer is gated; FeP utilizes different nucleotide dependent conformations in multiple docking zones on the surface of MoFeP during each electron transfer cycle, however only 1 docking geometry is active for electron transfer. Furthermore, the conformation of FeP associated with these zones is unclear.

This works seeks to elucidate which docking zone(s) interact with ATP bound FeP. Deletion of leucine-127 on FeP generates a conformational mimic of the ATP bound state. We investigate whether delta leucine-127—and thus ATP bound FeP—associates with docking zone 1. Understanding the docking zones associated with the ATP bound conformation informs our understanding of the way ATP binding is important for conformationally gated ATPases, such as nitrogenase.

Panel 18 SSC 350

Castro, Kattia. STARS, UANL Major: Genomic Biotechnology Mentored by Dr. Kit Pogliano, Natural Sciences, UCSD

Evaluating the Compartment-Specific Requirement for Fatty Acid Synthesis during Bacillus subtilis Sporulation Upon sensing nutrient deprivation, Bacillus subtilis cells undergo the developmental process of sporulation to form dormant, resilient endospores, allowing the organism to tolerate adverse environmental conditions. At the onset of sporulation, Bacillus subtilis cells divide toward a single pole to separate the cell into two differently sized compartments, the larger mother cell and the smaller forespore. Following polar division, the mother cell membrane then proliferates and migrates around the forespore in a process known as engulfment.

Several sporulation-specific proteins are known to contribute toward this cellbiological process, but engulfment also requires substantial fatty acid synthesis and membrane rearrangements, which are catalyzed by enzymes produced during vegetative growth. To study how these processes are compartmentalized during sporulation, I have utilized a compartment-specific degradation system to remove fatty acid and phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes from the mother cell or forespore, using fluorescence microscopy to evaluate effects on engulfment. I found that fatty acid synthesis is restricted to the mother cell, while both compartments retain the ability for phospholipid synthesis. The objective of this project is to activate fatty acid synthesis exclusively in the forespore and to monitor the engulfment completion by fluorescence microscopy

Panel 28 Muir College Room

Castro, Jael. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Sociology Mentored by Dr. Isaac Martin, Sociology, UCSD

The Academic Achievement of Latino/a High School Students with Proximity to the Border A large body of research addresses the question of why historically underrepresented students in general, Latino/a students in particular, have relatively low rates of academic attainment. In contrast to many other hypotheses, which treat Latino/as as a homogenous group, I hypothesize that there may be processes specific to students in Latino/a communities that impede their academic achievement. I further hypothesize that the importance of Latino/a identities may depend on their proximity to the U.S.-Mexican border.

In this research paper, Latino/a students will be examined with respect to their proximity to the international border in order to understand whether this national divide has an affect on high school students’ academic achievement. I hypothesize that Latino/a high school students who reside near the international border have lower rates of academic achievement than those who reside further away. Living near the international border exposes students to a border culture that questions Latino/a identities, which may impede students from having a sense of belonging that is crucial to academic attainment. This research will allow us to further understand the causes of academic underachievement among some Latino/a high school students.

Panel 30 Revelle College Room

Castro, Jacqueline. MARC Scholar, STARS, Cal State Fullerton Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Gary Cottrell, Computer Science and Engineering, UCSD

Measuring Object similarity: Mapping Emotional Faces and Words

Studying how humans categorize object similarities is crucial to understanding the inferences and judgments made during perception. However, the task of obtaining objective similarity ratings on a large set of objects has previously proven challenging. In part, this difficulty can be attributed to the numerous similarity judgments required for each set of paired objects. The present study aims to measure object similarity using Multidimensional scaling (MDS), in which emotional faces and words will be organized in a “psychological space�.

MDS groups data much like a map, outlining the distances between objects, a measure that is then used to calculate object similarity. Participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT) will arrange emotional faces based on perceived similarity. Then participants will arrange emotive words and comparisons will be made to determine arrangement resemblances between words and faces. By using the accessibility of AMT, as well as the practicality of the sorting task, we aim to bypass the factors that limit the production of a large dataset of face similarity. Upon the completion of the database, our goal is to obtain a similarity map comparable to existing MDS models.

Panel 36 Governance Room

Cativiela, Paul. NSF, MiraCosta College Major: Chemistry Mentored by PhD candidate Alex Rovira, Chemistry, UCSD

Synthesis of a novel fluorescent nucleoside analog

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is one of the basic building blocks of life and involved in the processes of coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. It is also involved in many diseases that use these processes. In order to get a better understanding of these diseases we must be able to study the RNA dependent processes they utilize. While various methods of labeling and monitoring RNA in biological systems exist, we will attempt to follow RNA nucleosides with the use of fluorescence. This method replaces the individual building blocks on an RNA strand with fluorescent isomorphic analogs. The goal is that these analogs

undergo the processes listed above similar to those found in nature, but keeping in mind that nature’s nucleosides (adenine, guanine, cyosine, and uridine) are not fluorescent. The design of such an isomorphic analog has been proposed where a fused heterocycle, an isoxazole ring, is attached to a pyrimidine ring. Progress has been made toward the design of such an analog in order to assess the photophysical properties of such a molecule.

Panel 24 Bear Room

Champion, Brachel. STARS, University of Central Florida Major: Economics Mentored by Dr. Junjie Zhang, IR/PS, UCSD

Analyzing the Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plant Closures on the Health of Local Populations

In keeping with carbon emission goals, the EPA has proposed new regulation that would greatly reduce the acceptable level of pollution from coal-fired power plants. At most, the EPA anticipates 21 gigawatts (GW) of energy capacity will be lost as a result of plants closing due to tougher standards. However, the Institute for Energy Research (IER) estimates an additional 51 GW will be lost based on statements by power plants, which were not included in the original EPA analysis. At a total predicted loss of 72 GW, the costs from reduced energy output, higher utility prices, and lost jobs has the potential to outweigh the benefits in human health improvement due to lowered emissions. In this study, we estimate the costs and benefits of the plant closures predicted by the IER and not by the EPA. In particular, we focus on reduced respiratory-related mortality rates in the local populations affected by plant closings.

Panel 19 SSC 400

Chen, Jessie. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Muir Major: Biochemistry Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Kina Thackray, Department of Reproductive Medicine, UCSD

Investigating the role of the FOXO1 transcription factor in pituitary gonadotrope cells

The FOXO1 transcription factor is involved in the regulation of diverse cellular functions including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, stress resistance, metabolism, and reproduction. Recently, the Thackray Lab has shown that FOXO1 in pituitary gonadotrope cells is regulated by insulin and IGF1 signaling and that overexpression of FOXO1 in immortalized gonadotropes decreases transcription of the beta subunits of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone; two hormones that are critical for reproductive success. These results indicate that FOXO1 in the pituitary may play a role in regulating gonadotropin hormone levels and fertility in situations of nutritional insufficiency or excess.

This summer, I will investigate whether pituitary-specific FOXO1 knockout (pitFOXO1KO) mice have impaired fertility. I will determine how many litters and pups are produced from male or female pitFOXO1KO or control mice paired with wild-type C57Bl6 mice in a fertility assessment. I will also assess the estrous cycle of 10- and 18-week old female pitFOXO1KO or control mice to determine if cycling is disturbed in the pitFOXO1KO mice. I will also determine whether GFP-tagged FOXO1 mice can be used for live-imaging of primary pituitary cells treated with various hormones.

Panel 14 Student Leadership Chambers

Chiang, Andrew. UC Leads, UCSD Warren Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Darren Lipomi, Nanoengineering, Harvard University

Analyzing fatigue due to cyclic loading in poly(3-alkylthiophene) thin films with the weakly interacting H-aggregate model Organic semiconductors are promising materials for applications which require mechanical compliance and robustness, such as wearable and implantable biomedical devices and stretchable organic photovoltaics. However, even highly compliant devices experience failure when repetitively strained. This failure (or fatigue), which is likely due to disruption in the quantity and quality of polymer aggregates–which dominate charge transport in poly(3-alkylthiophene)s–can be measured utilizing UV-vis spectroscopy and the weakly interacting H-aggregate model. The polymer films were transferred to stretchable substrates, strained cyclically, and measured periodically to determine the quantity and quality of high-charge transport aggregates. Preliminary data showed a critical number of cycles (dependent on the strain percentage) before the destruction of polymer aggregate began to occur. Understanding the degradation mechanisms and loading limits of conjugated polymer films undergoing cyclic strain will inform scientists and engineers and allow for the intelligent design and selection of polymers for applications requiring repetitive strains such as portable and wearable stretchable or flexible electronic devices.

Panel 11 Roosevelt College Room

Choi, Jennifer. UCSD Independent Studies Course 199, UCSD Sixth Major: Human Development Mentored by Dr. Colin Depp, Psychiatry, UCSD

The role of neurocognition in suicidality among people with severe mental illness: Risk or protective factor?

Most people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder will attempt suicide at one point in their lives. However, the risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behavior are poorly understood in this population. The role of cognitive deficits in suicidal ideation and behavior remains controversial, with some studies indicating cognitive deficits confer protection against risk of suicide, whereas other studies have identified an increased risk of suicidal ideation and behavior. In a sample of 134 outpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia (mean age 49.5 (11.9), we examined the cross-sectional association between lifetime suicidal ideation and behavior with cognitive performance. Cognitive ability was assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and suicidal ideation and behavior were assessed by a structured clinical interview. A total of 68.5% of participants had a history of suicidal thoughts and 45% had previously attempted suicide. The results indicated moderating influence of diagnosis, in that a history of suicide attempt and ideation were associated with better cognitive performance in schizophrenia yet worse performance in bipolar disorder. Potential clinical ramifications of these analyses regarding the mechanism of cognitive dysfunction in suicide risk will be discussed.

Panel 13 Sixth College Room

Chong, Ashley. UC Leads, UCSD Warren Major: Biochemistry/Chemistry Mentored by Dr. Elizabeth Komives, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego

Determining the Crystal Structure of the Ankyrin Repeat and SOCS Box Protein, ASB9, with Creatine Kinase The ankyrin repeat and SOCS box (ASB) family of proteins act as substrate identification subunits in Cullin RING E3 Ubiquitin Ligases, which transfer ubiquitin to protein complexes that are targeted for degradation by the proteasome. In particular, ASB9 protein associates with Elongins B and C, RBX2, and Cullin 5 to form a Cullin RING E3 Ligase. Binding assays, isothermal titration calorimetry, and hydrogen-deuterium exchange experiments

demonstrated ASB9 binding activity toward CKB (brain--type creatine kinase).

ASB9 has been proposed to be an indicator for disease and cancer, as it is responsible for the regulation of CKB levels in the body. Previously, we identified single molecules of ASB9 that bind dimers of CKB. Our objective is to determine the crystal structures of ASB9 with CKB by X--ray crystallography. Different constructs of ASB9 are being explored in order to form a stable complex containing CKB, ASB9 and Elongins B and C for crystallization. The crystal structures will allow for further understanding of the binding interface between the two proteins and how CKB is oriented for ubiquitination. These structures will also expand upon the understanding of ubiquitin ligation by RING E3 Ligases.

Panel 34 Sixth College Room

Cisneros, Brenda. STARS, CSUSM Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Alisa Huffaker, Cell and Developmental Biology, Washington State University

A study on the effects of alanine substitutions on the maize plant elicitor peptide receptor, ZmPEPR1 Plant defense mechanisms are crucial for surviving attack by herbivore pests.

Some defense mechanisms include volatiles, such as ethylene gas, a hormone that triggers production of defense chemicals, and transcriptional reprogramming.

Ethylene is made as part of the signal transduction pathway induced by plant elicitor peptides (Peps) binding to plant elicitor peptide receptors (PEPRs). For my project, I mutated the maize plant elicitor peptide receptor, ZmPEPR1, to change specific amino acids in order to determine which of these amino acids are vital for signal transduction. The plasmid containing the mutated ZmPEPR1 was transformed into Agrobacterium; which, via infiltration, was used to transiently transform Nicotiana benthamiana plant leaves and insert the gene into the plant genome. Transiently transformed N. benthamiana leaves are then challenged with ZmPep3 to allow examination of volatile (ethylene) emission via gas chromatography. We hypothesize that the transiently transformed N. benthamiana leaves, containing the mutated ZmPEPR1, will emit less ethylene than the ZmPEPR1 wild type (WT) protein-containing leaves. This will contribute to understanding agricultural crop resistance and conservation.

Panel 20 SSC 450

Cordasco, Edward. STARS, Chaminade University of Honolulu Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. David Schlaepfer, Reproductive Medicine, UC San Diego

Changes in Ovarian Carcinoma Growth after Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Inhibition

Survival of ovarian cancer patients is low due to the re-growth of tumors after cisplatin (CP) chemotherapy. Ovarian tumor cells can also become resistant to CP, thus new therapies are required. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is highly active in advanced ovarian tumors, resulting in promoted tumor growth and poor patient prognosis. FAK inhibitors (FAKi) are currently tested in clinical trials.

The Schlaepfer lab has discovered that CP-resistant ovarian tumor cells exhibit increased sensitivity to growth inhibition by FAKi. We hypothesize that CPresistant cell lines are more sensitive to FAKi, due to elevated FAK activity. We predict that FAKi treatment will halt CP-resistant cell growth and thus reduce tumor progression. Immunoblotting was conducted after FAKi treatment to determine, if protein levels associated with cellular growth change. These cell cycle proteins control cell division and growth. Our preliminary results indicate that there are higher levels of FAK activity in the CP-resistant cells and that FAKi treatment reduces the levels of cell-cycle proteins more drastically in CPresistant cells. Understanding the mechanism for FAKi sensitivity in ovarian cancer will provide support for clinical testing of FAKi in patients, who are unresponsive to chemotherapy.

Panel 30 Revelle College Room

Panel 32 Roosevelt College Room

Coronado, Marisabel. HCOP, SDSU Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Claire Murphy, Psychology, SDSU

The Effect of Age in the Perception of Sweet Taste for Stevia

The study investigates if older adults have a preference towards Stevia similar to that of sucrose. It is important to study natural sweeteners like Stevia being that high rates of obesity are majorly influenced by the overconsumption of sweet foods. The Stevia leaf is around 200 times more potent than sucrose and it is calorie free, offering to be a viable natural alternative for sucrose. Therefore, it is essential to explore sweeteners such as Stevia that can reduce obesity rates without comprising the preferred palatable sweet taste. Participants were Hispanics and Caucasians, and between the ages of 60-74. In the study we compared hedonic ratings of Stevia and sucrose with two beverage backgrounds: distilled water and acidified water for each sweetener. Participants rated five different concentrations 2%, 4%, 8%, 16%, and 32% of each sweetener. Each sweetener concentration was administered on both backgrounds. Participants were asked to give numerical ratings for pleasantness, overall intensity, sweet intensity, and bitter intensity based on the general Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS). Building on previous research with Stevia and young adults, it is predicted that participants will rate Stevia as more bitter than sucrose.

Coronado, Clarisa. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Nader Amir, Psychology, San Diego State University

Differential Coping Responses to a Breathing Challenge Among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Anxious Individuals Hispanics are the largest minority group (Snipes, 2013) and have a higher prevalence of anxiety (11.8%) than non-Hispanics (7.4%) (Hernandez et al., 2004).

However, few studies have examined coping responses in this sub-population (Hirai et al, 2005). We administered a standardized worry challenge task (sWCT) to Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

During the sWCT we asked them to focus on their breathing before and after a worry induction (WI; Ruscio & Borkovec, 2004). At 8 time points (4 before, 4 after WI) we queried if they were successful in focusing on their breathing or if they were distracted by positive or negative intrusions. As expected, WI resulted in a significant decrease in their ability to focus on breathing (24.6% to 10.7%).

However, Hispanics experienced an increase in positive intrusions (PI) while nonHispanics experienced a decrease in PI from pre to post WI. Moreover, increase in PI was related to lower anxiety as a result of WI across groups (p(68)= -.26).

These findings suggest that ethno-cultural differences exist in coping with worry, with Hispanics using positive distractions more often as non-Hispanics.

Panel 5 Green Table

Cortes, Robert. STARS, Texas A&M Major: Philosophy, Law Mentored by Dr. Don Rutherford, Philosophy, UCSD

Colonialism

Beginning in the 18th century, Positivism was a social and political movement that united an ideologically diverse set of thinkers who aimed to adapt the methods and theories of natural science to the solution of social and economic problems. Porfirists extended this movement to Latin America. They held that most Mexicans were in such a pitiful state that they first required the “correct� education in order to achieve liberation.My project will focus on the historical, political, and philosophical dimensions of Latin American thought. Specifically, I am interested in examining the intellectual movement of "Porfirism," which sought to expand the influence of positivist ideas in Mexico during the presidency of Porfirio Diaz (ruled 1876-1911). My research will involve an interdisciplinary

approach that incorporates decolonialism, environmental ethics, phenomenology, education, and social and political theory. This paper critically assesses the Porfirists with respect to its theory and practical consequences. This project aims at providing recognition of the social and political consequences of positivism within the Latin American context of Mexico, where colonial circumstances resulted in the annihilation of indigenous tribes because they did not possess the “correct” cultural values.

Panel 12 Warren College Room

Cortez, David. Pharmacology SURF, UCSD Major: Microbiology Mentored by Dr. Edwin Paz, Sanford, UCSD

Analysis of Intracellular peroxin protein production in tissue culture model Peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD) share many features associated with neurodegenerative diseases including altered intracellular metabolism. PBDs are caused by peroxin (PEX) mutations resulting in severe developmental brain disorders such as Zellweger syndrome. Peroxisomes are organelles that regulate complex pathways including breakdown of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We are currently attempting to determine the effects of compounds that may alter PEX protein production that lead to effects on intracellular peroxisome levels using a tissue culture model. We hypothesize that pharmaceutical intervention may ameliorate abnormal signaling in neurodegenerative disorders. Using protein assays such as western blot, we are charactering the effects of candidate compounds on pex gene production. Studying these compounds and their associated mechanisms of action may lead to novel treatment modalities for neurodegenerative diseases.

Panel 14 Student Leadership Chambers

Cota, Alejandro. UC Leads, UC Berkeley Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Olivia Graeve, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UC San Diego

Size Optimization of YAG:Pr Nanoparticles Produced by Sol-Gel Synthesis for Biomedical Applications Yttrium aluminum garnet doped with praseodymium (YAG:Pr) is a photoluminescent material, which can be used to effectively transport and deliver anticancer medication. Particles need to be between 50 and 200 nm, small enough to traverse the digestive system. In this study, YAG:Pr nanoparticles were prepared via sol-gel synthesis using praseodymium (III) nitrate hexahydrate as a source of Pr, nanosized Al2O3 as a source of Al, and yttrium (III) pentanedionate hydrate as a source of Y. Powders underwent pre-calcination (1 hr. at 500°C) and calcination (2 hr. at 1200°C) treatments to eliminate possible organic residues.

Morphology of powders was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy; phase purity was characterized by X-ray diffraction; particle sizes were obtained by dynamic light scattering technique (the pH of solvent used was modified for improved measurements). The particles were ultimately mixed with a mortar and pestle or milled for 5 minutes (at 180 rpm), and filtered using 450 nm and 200 nm size filters. Filtered solutions were ultrasonicated for 15 minutes to eliminate possible agglomeration. Preliminary results demonstrate the process produced the desired round particles in the 50 to 200 nm range.

Panel 23 Ballroom A

Cruz, Edwin. McNair Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Visual Arts Media Mentored by Professor Babette Mangolte, Visual Arts, UCSD

Homelessness, redevelopment and Gentrification in East Village downtown San Diego.

For many years, East Village has been home to one of the highest concentrations of homeless and low-income communities within downtown San Diego. However, this is rapidly changing with the redevelopment and in turn gentrification of the area. Today, Pinnacle Condominiums’ 45-floor twin tower project is East Village’s latest residential renovation scheduled for partial inauguration on the summer of 2015. This documentary and research takes a closer look at how housing redevelopment and gentrification as it affects the city's least fortunate.

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Cuff, Jalyse. STARS, Howard University Major: Biology Mentored by Cali Turner Tomaszewicz, Department of Ecology, Behavior & Evolution, UCSD

Stable isotope analysis can provide insight on behavior and diet of East Pacific Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) found in stranding locations off the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico Co-authors: Dr. Carolyn Kurle, UCSD, Dr. Jeffrey Seminoff of NOAA's SWFSC., & Cali Turner Tomaszewicz EP green turtles are a migratory and endangered sea turtle population. The EP green turtles spend the majority of their lifetime in the oceanic zone, which makes tracing their migratory patterns complicated. In the effort to assign location of a turtle based on stable isotope values, we need to validate the isotope signature of a known location. Factors including location-specific baseline values and diet affect the stable isotope values of an organism; these variations can act as a unique signature for identifying a turtle’s geographic location. This study used bone and skin biopsies from stranded green turtles, to help illustrate the isotopic niche of green turtles foraging along the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula (BCP). Results show individuals isotopic values were similar to levels found in previous studies for Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) found off BCP. Furthermore, we investigated individual fractionation levels between bone and skin samples. In terms of averages we found bone is more enriched in both δ13C and δ15N. This research will assist future studies providing an isotopic range for both δ13C and δ15N found in bone and skin of EP green turtles in BCP. Panel 34 Sixth College Room

Dahman, Abdul. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD ERC Major: Public Health Mentored by Professor Keith Pezzoli, Urban Studies and Planning, UCSD

Edible Plant Tissue Analysis

The purpose of this project is to develop a plant testing program that identifies and assesses levels of toxicants in urban and former industrial sites that may be accumulating in edible plant tissues over time. The methods used in this research include the collection, preparation, and analysis of edible plant samples from gardens that are located in potentially contaminated sites. The results obtained will be used to monitor heavy metal accumulation and assess the potential environmental public health risks to a vulnerable community consuming these plants. This project is a collaborative effort that includes other UCSD programs assisting in identifying health risks and further promoting a healthy community.

These findings will be translated into a useful form of science communication that will be applicable to government agencies, local businesses, community organizations and others who can utilize this information to reduce exposure risks. The overall goal is identify and interpret possible health risks of eating

plants from community gardens being established at contaminated sites and how these risks can be reduced.

Panel 34 Sixth College Room

Darko, Rachel. STARS, Howard Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Julian Schroeder, Biological Sciences, UCSD

Isolation of salt-sensitive mutants through a genomic-scale artificial microRNA mutant pool in Arabidopsis and characterization of salt-responsive phenotype in rack1a1-1 In plants, excessive salt suppresses photosynthesis, promotes chlorosis, stunts roots, and inhibits carbon assimilation. In order to understand salt-tolerance mechanisms in plants, a genome-wide amiRNA mutant pool in Arabidopsis thaliana (Hauser et al., 2013) is used to screen redundant genes involved in salt responses. Seventy-two out of 2,600 T2 amiRNA transformants have shown a salt-sensitive phenotype in seed germination assays. This study aims to confirm the salt-sensitive phenotypes of these candidates through root inhibition assays.

Sixty-five of these candidates have been screened with method. AmiRNA transformants with short root phenotypes under salt growth conditions will be isolated as putative salt-sensitive mutants. AmiRNAs inside the salt-sensitive mutants will be sequenced. By this screening, we aim to isolate new and/or redundant genes responsible for salt tolerance.

Additionally, the role of RACK1A, the receptor for activated C kinase 1, in salt responses will also be investigated in this study. Two RACK1A-targeted compounds, SD29 and SD29-12, have been shown to alter salt responses. Root inhibition assays may show that RACK1A contributes to salt resistance.

Understanding the role of RACK1A in salt stress will advance agricultural technology.

Panel 5 Green Table

Davis, Kenneth. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Philosophy Mentored by Dr. Michelle Gilmore-Grier, Philosophy, University of California, San Diego

Continuity, Disruption, and Creation: Sunrise from Inside Experiential Creativity

Critical scholarly work in the field of creativity in the early 80’s by C.R. Hausman suggests that novelty is necessary in any explication of creative acts. In this, contemporary philosophers (e.g. Berys Gaut, Elliot Samuel Paul, and Bence Nanay) have made major contributions to the cannon of The Philosophy of Creativity, thereby resuscitating a significant area of study in aesthetic theory. In Friedrich Nietzsche’s Birth of Tragedy he provides an account of the creation and the social dismissal of the Greek tragedy. In this paper I intended to use Nietzsche's concept of Greek tragedy and its creation as a template in order to articulate an underlying aesthetic theory submerged within the Birth of Tragedy.

Although these works have been helpful in identifying issues central to any philosophical examination of creativity, my aim is to develop a more elusive phenomenon associated with creativity, the necessity of intelligibility.

Panel 17 SSC 260

Dawson, Elan. STARS, Spelman College Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Bradley Messmer, Biology, UCSD

DeNAno technology

Viruses have great use as both vaccines and carriers for cell and gene therapy.

Purifying viruses for commercial use is a major area of bioprocess development.

Currently, filtration and chromatography are poor methods used to recover viruses. Additionally, affinity based purification is not cost effective and limited to certain types of viral strains. Our experiment will use a DNA reagent that uses massive avidity to capture viruses, DeNAno technology. DeNAno technology selects DeNAno DNA nanoparticles that bind to a target virus.

DeNAno libraries are produced and binders are subsequently recovered by a biopanning process. The purpose of this experiment is to select DeNAno particles that bind to a model virus and demonstrate their use as a purification tool by binding them to a nano particle magnetite so they can be used in magnetic capture.

Panel 25 Red Shoe Room

De Barros, Lidia. STARS, Boston University Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Professor Juan Lasheras, Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Bioengineering, UCSD

Investigating the migration of leukocytes in confined environments

Three-dimensional (3D) leukocyte migration is an important aspect of the immune response and inflammation that requires rapid shape changes and the regulation of cell adhesions. This migration has been studied experimentally by using hydrogels and confined spaces that mimic the geometry of the extracellular matrix. In this study, the kinematics of confined leukocyte migration were analyzed to understand the role of cell adhesion in 3D motility. We studied leukocyte chimokinesis by seeding neutrophil-like cells on hydrogels and embedding them in collagen matrices in the presence of N-formyl-methionylleucyl-phenylalanine. Images of migrating leukocytes were acquired and celltracking MATLAB algorithms were used to characterize the changes in cell migration speed and persistence. To investigate the effect of cell adhesion, these parameters were also measured in leukocytes lacking the ability to create adhesion to the extracellular matrix via integrins. Preliminary results suggest that interactions with the surrounding 3D environment dictate cell motility mechanisms. This system may be expanded in the future to facilitate the measurements of forces exerted by leukocytes in confined environments. Further understanding of the kinematics of 3D leukocyte migration may contribute to developing therapies for various inflammatory disorders.

Panel 2 Green Room

de Guzman, Dianne. START Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Cognitive Science Mentored by Dr. Eduardo Macagno, Neurobiology, UCSD

Morphological Analysis of Axonal Regeneration Following Injury in the Leech CNS Panel 17 SSC 260

de Souza Silva, Juliano. CAPES/IIE, Federal University of Minas Gerais Major: Biological Sciences Mentored by Dr. Justin Meyer, Division of Biological Sciences, UCSD

Evolving Bacteriophage Lambda to Exploit a New Host

Viruses can evolve very quickly, yet the mechanisms by which they evolve are still not well understood. When a virus evolves, it may be able to infect new hosts and thus to cause new diseases. Therefore, it can bring new epidemic diseases and agricultural issues. Understanding viral evolution is very important to help us create tools to fight those problems and avoid new issues. The purpose of this

project is to study and analyze the mechanisms by which viruses evolve to infect a new host. We are interested in bacteriophage lambda evolution as a model. It is well known that this phage has as a natural host the Escherichia coli. We are testing the ability of different lambda genotypes to adapt to a new environment where its original host is difficult to find or is not present at all. In order to create this environment, we are using Samonella typhimurium, a bacteria with a receptor similar to the one on E. coli (LamB), but different enough to challenge the phage and maybe to favor mutations in virus’s host recognition protein, J. Panel 18 SSC 350

Del Moral-Suazo, Monica. STARS, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. James Hagood, Pediatrics, University of California San Diego

Thy-1 as modulator of YAP/TAZ activity in lung fibroblasts

Background: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal disease, which usually results in respiratory failure within 3-5 years postdiagnosis. It is characterized by proliferation and accumulation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in fibroblastic foci (FF), and extensive collagen deposition. Thy1, a cell surface glycoprotein, modulates fibroblast proliferation, migration, myofibroblastic differentiation, and survival. Our lab has previously demonstrated that Thy-1 is present on normal lung fibroblasts but absent from cells located in IPF fibroblastic foci. YAP (yes-associated protein) and TAZ (transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif) are transcriptional regulators involved in the control of cell cycle, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, organ growth, and actin dynamics. Enhanced nuclear localization of YAP/TAZ has been reported in human IPF tissue, supporting an essential role for YAP and TAZ in fibroblast activation.

Hypothesis: YAP/TAZ activity is modulated by Thy-1.

Material and Methods: Rat fetal lung fibroblasts (RFL-6) stably expressing full length Thy-1 (CD90.2) or empty vector (EV) will be transient transfected with a YAP/TAZ-responsive synthetic promoter driving luciferase expression vector (8xGTIIC-luciferase). YAP/TAZ activity on lung fibroblasts will be measured with or without TGF-β1 stimulation.

Panel 16 Forum

Del Rosario, Nathalie. STARS, SDSU Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Rommie Amaro, Computational Chemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Diego

Modeling Membrane Permeability of Common Drugs

Analysis of drug permeability through cellular membranes is vital to understanding drug synthesis and efficacy. Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assays (PAMPA) measure in vitro permeability but can provide a strong indication of in vivo oral absorption. The current work aims to create a computational model that accurately predicts experimental PAMPA values and reduces the overall costs of experimental permeability assays. Our study expands upon previous work in the Amaro Lab and estimates permeability as a function of the change in free energy of a compound partitioning between implicit solvent models of water and chloroform. The accuracy of the model is examined across several chemical series among roughly 200 common drugs with measured PAMPA values. The results will aid in making qualitative observations of the domain of applicability model to inform future model improvements.

Panel 31 Marshall College Room

Delgado, Armando. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Physiology & Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. Sameer Shah, UCSD School of Medicine: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego

Structural and Biomechanical Analysis of the L5 Spinal Nerve

Researchers and practitioners have used the term Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) to diagnose a majority of patients who have undergone one or more spinal surgeries and have postoperatively reported recurrent chronic disabling lower back pain with leg pain. However, FBSS is attributed to numerous possible causes; there is no concrete evidence that neuronal fibrosis is the primary cause of FBSS. Thus, the aim of this project is to evaluate and characterize various structural and biomechanical properties of the lumber nerve (L5) in a preclinical murine model and simulate one of the mechanical aspects of FBSS that has been known to cause scar tissue and lower back pain. In order to better understand the physiology and structure of the L5 spinal nerve, analytic immunhistochemistry was conducted on three distinct segments of L5 spinal nerve: the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), the segment proximal to DRG, and the segment distal to DRG. Each section sample was subjected to a primary antibody and fluorescent secondary antibody to observe and analyze the density of myelin, laminin, and extracellular protein via microscopic imaging and ImageJ. Panel 39 SSC 350

Demirjian, Gregory. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD ERC Major: General Biology Mentored by Dr. Paul Jensen, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD

Induced Secondary Metabolite Production in Salinispora arenicola

Little is understood about the mechanisms by which marine microbes produce their fortune of antibiotic compounds. I hope to strengthen our understanding of how secondary metabolites, or bioactive natural products that can fight infectious disease in humans, are produced by Salinispora arenicola, a microorganism collected from marine sediments that dedicates 11% of its genome to secondary metabolite production. S. arenicola is known to produce several bioactive compounds but genome sequence data suggests it can produce many more compounds than what is known. It is possible that environmental triggers such as biological interactions up-regulate the production of certain secondary metabolites. Thus, the project addresses if S. arenicola produces certain secondary metabolites only when in contact with another strain of microbe. To conduct this study, S. arenicola was grown in ecologically relevant culture conditions, or cocultures, alongside different bacterial and fungal strains. An H-Cell apparatus was used to keep cells of different microbial strains separate but allow compounds to flow between cultures. At one, two, and three-day time points compounds were extracted from the media using organic solvents and tested for antibiotic activity.

Panel 37 Forum

Dias, Adriano. STARS, Lehman College - The City University of New York Major: Computer Science Mentored by Professor Todd Coleman, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD

Ergonomics for Surgeons: Using Artificial Intelligence for Injury Prevention Musculoskeletal health is negatively correlated with periods of time spent performing tasks in the same physically stressful positions. Surgeons often develop musculoskeletal issues by remaining in strenuous positions during surgeries. By gathering valuable ergonomic information about surgeons in an unobtrusive manner, we aim to assist them to greatly mitigate these negative effects. Such information was collected by extracting body joint coordinates from Kinect video, and Electromyography (EMG) data, recordings of the electrical activity of muscle tissue provided by self-made electrodes. At first, the data was

filtered and processed, then fed into a machine learning algorithm in order to classify a given posture as supportive or damaging. This project aims to create a real time decision support tool which, in order to prevent such injuries, infers posture and warns the subject when they are prone to injury. An added benefit of this machine learning framework is that it has the potential to enable discovery of postures currently unknown by specialists who may develop injuries.

Panel 12 Warren College Room

Diaz Hernandez, Angel. MTSP-SURF, UCR Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Shigeki Miyamoto, Pharmacology, UCSD

Interaction between Mitochondrial HK2 and BCL2 to regulate mitophagy

Hexokinases catalyze the first step of glucose metabolism and hexokinase-II (hk2) is the predominant isoform in the heart. A significant portion of HK2 localizes at the mitochondria (mitoHK2) and we observed that mitoHK2 was significantly decreased under ischemia. When mitoHK2 dissociating peptide (15g) was expressed in cardiomyocytes, mitoHK2 was decreased by 40% which was accompanied with Parkin translocation to mitochondria and ubiquitination of mitochondrial proteins, suggesting that mitoHK2 dissociation elicits mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy), a protective cellular recycling response.

We observed that 15g expression confers protection in cardiomyocytes against ischemia. BCL2 has been shown to negatively regulate Parkin translocation to depolarized mitochondria. However it has not been determined whether the decreased mitohk2 leads to bcl2 dissociation induced parkin recruitment. We have carried out mitochondria/ cytosol fractionation in cardiomyocytes expressing GFP (control) or 15g to examine the levels of mitohk2 and BCL2.

There has been further examination of overexpression of BCL2 prevents 15g indiced Parkin recruitment and ubiquitination of mitochondrial proteins induced by 15G. There is a possibility these studies may show a correlation between mitoHK2 and BCL2 to regulate mitophagy in cardiomyocytes.

Panel 21 SSC 554

Dinescu, Teodora. AEP UC Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Bioengineering Mentored by Dr. Robert Sah, Bioengineering, UCSD

Localization and Quantification of Mineral Deposition at the Cartilage-Bone Interface Following Three and Seven Days of Double Diffusion for Mineral Composition Analysis Abstract redacted due to pending publication.

Panel 27 East Ballroom

Doan, Nhu Y. Pharmacology SURF, Pomona College Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Angelina Hernandez-Carretero, UCSD

The role of Ankrd2 in Insulin Sensitivity Insulin resistance is a characteristic feature of type 2 diabetes and plays a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Insulin resistance is defined as a reduced response of target tissues such as the skeletal muscle, liver, and adipocytes, to insulin. Skeletal muscle is the major site of glucose uptake in the postprandial state in humans. In this study we used RNA-seq to discover gene expression changes in mouse muscle in obesity and diabetes using lean, low fat (LF) fed mice and obese/diabetic, high fat (HF) diet fed mice. We found that expression of ankyrin repeat domain protein 2 (Ankrd2) was reduced in muscle from HF mice compared with LF diet fed mice. We hypothesized that Ankrd2 contributes to insulin sensitivity in the muscle and that reduction of Ankrd2 may impair insulinstimulated glucose uptake. We used siRNA-mediated knockdown of Ankrd2 in rat L6 myotube cells and performed glucose uptake assays. Preliminary results

show that ~75% knockdown of Ankrd2 expression impairs insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by 1.5-fold. This study will determine whether Ankrd2 is a useful therapeutic target to enhance insulin sensitivity of obese and diabetic individuals.

Panel 5 Green Table

Dorfan, Charles. UC Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Anthropology Mentored by Professor Suzanne Brenner, Anthropology, UCSD

Consumption and Gender within the Bicycle Industry

This article explores, in a twenty-first century context, what Thorstein Veblen described in 1899 as the “leisure class.” My project incorporates a variety of anthropological and sociological commentaries on the subject of consumption in order to assert that today, a particular segment of our society behaves a certain way in relationship with the transactional aspect of consumption. That is, my project explores the demand side of consumption and seeks to shed insight into why people buy things. The site of my research is the discursive field of high end bicycling equipment. Studying one specific company, I have analyzed how advertising media create gendered expectations of commodities. In variously implicit and explicit advertising narratives, bicycles as a commodity, and promises for self-transformation are sold together as a package. Through a single, discrete transaction, as described by the company selling the product, a bicycle offers the consumer a fitter body, a healthier future, and male fraternity or female solidarity solidarity. Once purchased, the bicycle is to offer a richer, more satisfying lifestyle. This discourse projected by the bicycle company is reviewed in the context of gender and transnational capitalism.

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Douglas, Christopher. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Sixth Major: Physiology & Neuroscience Mentored by MD–PhD Jeffrey Goldberg, Ophthalmology, UCSD

Investigating the Importance of sAC in Astrocytes on Neuronal Survival and Regeneration Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) synthesizes cAMP, a secondary messenger that regulates numerous biological processes.

Recently, the Goldberg lab demonstrated that sAC is important for neuronal survival and regeneration following injury. Additionally, it is known that sAC-mediated signaling in astrocytes helps provide energy to neurons during stress. The objective of this study is to further our understanding of how sAC in astrocytes influences neuronal injury responses and to investigate its potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, I used a molecular inhibitor of sAC to demonstrate that sAC is necessary for astrocyte migration and proliferation.

Additionally, I have shown that a sACt vector successfully expresses the constitutively active sAC isoform. Moving forward, I hope to use this vector to assess overexpression and activation of sAC on astrocyte migration and proliferation. Additionally, I will utilize sAC knockout and GFAPCreERT/sACflox sAC knockout animals to determine how sAC in astrocytes affects retinal development and RGC (retinal ganglion cell) survival and regeneration following injury, respectively. Finally, I will virally introduce a GFAP driven sACt vector into the retina to determine whether overexpression of sACt in astrocytes can increase regeneration and survival.

Panel 6 East Ballroom

Dowling, Jackie. CAICE, Carleton College Major: Chemistry Mentored by Professor Kim Prather, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Reactions of a marine-derived organic compound with an urban air pollutant Crashing sea waves emit aerosol particles that are rich in both sea salt and organic material. It is well known that nitric acid gas (HNO3), an important urban air pollutant, heterogeneously reacts with aerosolized sodium chloride (NaCl) particles. Recent work has shown that HNO3 can react with certain organic compounds that often co-exist with NaCl in aerosol particles emitted from the ocean surface. In collaboration with other model studies using substratedeposited particles, this study investigated the reaction of a marine-derived organic compound, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), with HNO3 while suspended in air.

LPS can undergo an acid-base reaction with HNO3 at a concentration comparable to what is present in Southern California. Chemical analysis of individual particles by mass spectrometry allowed CAICE to demonstrate the atmospheric relevance of this reaction. Extending this study, research investigated the capabilities of HNO3 reacted organic aerosols to seed clouds. This reaction mechanism may be especially important in urbanized costal environments. It is crucial to investigate how anthropogenic actions are affecting aerosols, clouds, and the global climate.

Panel 26 Green Table Room

Driver, Redd. RISE, CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Heike Mahler, Psychology, CSUSM

The Relationship between Three Health Behaviors: Sleep, Exercise, and Designating a Driver

Previous studies have examined health behaviors in college students related to sleeping patterns, exercise habits, and designating a driver separately. This study was designed to examine the relationship between this trio of health behaviors in a sample of college students, and to determine whether the relationship differed as a function of gender.

Participants (N =280) completed a survey assessing their sleeping patterns, exercise habits, and likelihood of designating a driver prior to consuming alcohol. It was expected that the more hours participants reported sleeping and exercising, the more frequently they would report designating a driver before taking their first drink of alcohol. Results indicated that the likelihood of designating a driver differed as a function of gender. Females were more likely to report designating a driver than were males F(1, 268) = 3.93, p = .05, however, there was no correlation between sleeping patterns, or exercise habits and designating a driver.

Panel 27 East Ballroom

Du, Alan. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Revelle Major: Molecular Biology Mentored by Professor Elizabeth Winzeler, Pediatrics, UC San Diego

Differentiation of Plasmodium falciparum Gametocyte Conversion Rate using High-Content Imaging An important component of the malaria eradication campaign is eliminating transmission from the human to the mosquito, caused by gametocytes, the sexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum. However, we know little about gametocyte biology and especially how the induction of sexual differentiation, gametocytogenesis, is controlled at the molecular level. To differentiate gametocyte producing capacity between P. falciparum parasites, clonal parasites of strain NF54 were produced by limiting dilution. A high-content imaging assay using immunofluorescence in 384-well plate format was developed using antiPfs48/45 antibody, a gametocyte-specific marker, to quantify gametocytes produced by different clones. We hypothesize that different clones will have different gametocyte conversion rates which can be detected in the high-content imaging assay. If there are significant differences in the gametocyte production level of several clones, whole-genome sequence analysis can be performed to reveal genetic differences associated with gametocytogenesis. Identification of genes involved in gametocytogenesis will advance our current understanding of the P. falciparum sexual stages and provide potential new targets for transmission blocking vaccines or drugs.

Panel 1 Ballroom A

Duenas, Janelle. IME-Becas, UCSD Warren Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Thomas Bewley, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCSD

Robotic Deployment of Under-Door Camera Systems on a BeagleRover Vehicle In hazardous situations such as a fire or hostage crisis, it is vital to perceive what is happening behind closed doors. Previous designs of Under Door Camera (UDC) systems are portable devices which require human aid for positioning.

This project will focus on the design of an inexpensive remote-controlled mechanism to be slung below a small, agile, 4-wheeled vehicle, dubbed BeagleRover, designed by the UCSD Coordinated Robotics Lab. After BeagleRover drives up to a closed door, this multi-linkage mechanism will lower and extend a custom low-cost UDC through the gap between the door and the floor for remote surveillance. The UDC itself is a credit-card-shaped device a few mm thick, with custom electronics (small IR and visible-light cameras, an IR LED illuminator, and a wifi transmitter), a custom printed circuit board (designed in Eagle), and a rugged outer shell; once inserted below a door, the UDC will stream video to a remote operator. This is the first stage of a two-year project, which will continue through my MS year at the UCSD Coordinated Robotics Lab; during the second year, we will focus on semi-autonomous operation of the UDC-equipped BeagleRover system.

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Eshragh Nia, Nasim. McNair Scholars, UCSD Revelle Major: Bioengineering Mentored by Dr. Pedro Cabrales, Bioengineering, UCSD

Preventing genetic susceptibility to cerebral malaria: nicotinamide nucleaotide transhydrogenase gene renders mice resistant to cerebral malaria Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most severe and potentially deadly neurological complication of infection by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which is characterized by hypoxia, inflammatory responses, and leukocyte adhesion.

Previous research on mice has shown that resistance to CM is particularly affected by genes that pertain to immune responses. Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) gene has been shown to have modulatory effects on immune and inflammatory responses. C57BL/6J mice have a gene deletion at the

NNT locus. C57BL/6NJ strain does not have this gene deletion, and thus is hypothesized to be resistant to CM infection. Using a closed cranial window model, intravital microscopy techniques were utilized to quantify hemodynamic changes, oxygen tension (pO2), and pH in vivo in infected and uninfected models.

Preliminary analysis showed decreases in blood flow, vascular pO2, and hemoglobin levels. C57BL/6J mice showed greater extent of leukocytes adherence in postcapillary venules than did C57BL/6NJ. Neurological score and survival rate was also higher for C57BL/6NJ. In conclusion, resistance of C57BL/6NJ to CM can be a strong indication of the role of NNT gene and its protein products in regulation of inflammatory responses.

Panel 40 SSC 400

Espelien, Corina. STARS, California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Karen Christman, Bioengineering, UCSD

Delivery of siRNA by injectable hydrogels

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) encompasses a condition in which a patient’s arteries become narrowed and occluded in the peripheral limbs. Injectable hydrogels of naturally derived extracellular matrix (ECM) have been proven to help restore blood flow to areas affected by PAD by encouraging new blood vessel formation and muscle cell proliferation. This study investigates the potential use of these hydrogels as a delivery system for small interfering RNA (siRNA). By silencing genes that impede the regeneration process, siRNAs could help damaged tissues heal more expediently. In this study, we measured the release kinetics of siRNA from varying concentrations of hydrogel. We then determined which concentration yielded the optimal release profile of siRNA. Next, measured the bioactivity of the siRNA by monitoring the silencing effect on its target gene (GAPDH) in 3T3 cells. We hypothesize the higher concentration hydrogels will have a more sustained release of siRNA and 60-80% of the available siRNA will enter the 3T3 cells with proportional silencing effects of GAPDH. With the ability of siRNA to affect an entire pathway of protein production, this method could provide a powerful alternative to current treatments for PAD patients.

Panel 37 Forum

Esquivel, Alex. STARS, CSUSM Major: Anthropology (medical) Mentored by Dr. Richard Garfein, Global Health, UCSD

Enhancing a Mobile Phone Application for Remotely Monitoring Tuberculosis Treatment Adherence Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) is the third leading cause of deaths due to infectious disease, and is a global health threat affecting approximately two billion people.

Video directly observed therapy (VDOT) was developed by UCSD researchers as a remote method for monitoring treatment adherence as an alternative to inperson DOT, which is the current standard of care worldwide. Researchers at UCSD developed a prototype VDOT application and evaluated it in epidemiological studies in the U.S. and abroad. The next step in the application’s development is to create a patient dashboard to improve user experience.

Methods for developing the dashboard included reviewing literature on TB, becoming familiar with the VDOT application, surveying county TB Control Program staff regarding their needs and preferences, locating dashboard examples on the Internet, and working with UCSD software developers to create the dashboard. The outcome of this internship project will be a modification to the VDOT application by including a dashboard. The public health impact of this project will be the enhancement of the VDOT system, which will allow healthcare providers to more efficiently and effectively manage their TB patients.

Panel 26 Green Table Room

Estrada, Lila. Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, UCSD Revelle Major: Public Health Mentored by Dr. Becky Marquez, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, UCSD

Relationship closeness between mothers and daughters and its association with weight control communication and motivation.

Purpose: Mexican-American women are disproportionately affected by obesity.

To inform a family-based weight management intervention, we examined the association of relationship closeness with communication and motivation on weight control.

Method: A community sample of 53 adult mother-daughter pairs, who were overweight, completed questionnaires.

Results: The higher mothers (age 49.6±8.0 and BMI 35.7±7.0 kg/m2) rated closeness with their daughters (age 24.8±6.0 and BMI 33.8±6.9 kg/m2), the more frequently they communication with their daughters about weight control (r=0.336, p=0.014). Mothers, who communicated with their daughters about weight control more frequently, had higher motivation for eating low fat foods (r=0.435, p=0.001) and eating fewer calories (r=0.400, p=0.003). The closer daughters felt to their mothers, the higher their motivation to lose weight (r=0.388, p=0.004), exercise regularly (r=0.392, p=0.004), eat healthy (r=0.329, p=0.017), eat low fat foods (r=0.343, p=0.012), and eat fewer calories (r=0.343, p=0.023).

Conclusion: Relationship quality between mothers and daughters may affect their communication on weight and could influence their motivation for weight loss and related behaviors.

Panel 42 SSC 554

Fernandez, Blanca. STARS, Imperial Valley College Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Mark Lawson, Reproductive Medicine, UCSD

FFA reduces LHb and FSHb gene expression by ROS The hypothalamus maintains homeostasis by secreting hormones that regulate the production of other hormones in the body. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secrete luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). LH and FSH regulate the ovulatory cycle and the production of sperm. Infertility can be caused by incorrect levels of hormone.

Obesity is correlated with low levels of LH. Elevated free fatty acids (FFA) present in obese individuals may affect the pituitary through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during metabolism. We know that FFA decreases the amount of LH and FSH released in response to GnRH. Although ROS is needed for GnRH stimulation of the LH subunit gene Lhb, and the FSH subunit gene Fshb, high ROS levels can cause lower levels of protein synthesis and gene expression. To determine if ROS derived from FFA reduce gene expression. We will block ROS action in a cultured anterior pituitary cell line that expresses the LH and FSH subunit genes Lhb, Fshb, and Cga. Using the ROS scavenger n-acetyl cysteine. We anticipate that reduction of ROS will block the inhibitory effect of FFA on gene expression.

Panel 43 SSC 554A

Fernandez, Karla. UC Leads, UCSD Muir Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Eva-Maria Schoetz Collins, Physics, UCSD

Acetylcholinesterase localization and function during neurodevelopment in the planarian Dugesia japonica Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) to regulate cholinergic neurotransmission, which is used in motor activity and cognition.

Studies suggest that AChE plays an important role in neurodevelopment, which may be completely independent of ACh regulation. However, it remains largely unknown what the balance between these two functions is during the course of neurodevelopment because existing data comes primarily from cell culture experiments. Our objective is to close this knowledge gap and examine the role of AChE in neurodevelopment in vivo. We use the freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica for these studies because it has a simple brain that remains molecularly and structurally homologous to the human brain and has fast brain development.

We found 5 potential AChE candidates and will determine their expression profile through in situ hybridization. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we can further study the function of these candidates in planarians. RNAi phenotypes will be analyzed both on the cellular and behavioral level. The results from these studies will help determine if AChE is essential in neurodevelopment in planarians, and will bring us closer to understanding how AChE is involved in neurodevelopment.

Panel 27 East Ballroom

Figueroa, Nelissa. STARS, SDSU Major: Microbiology with emphasis in Clinical Lab Science and Public Health Mentored by Dr. Elizabeth Winzeler, Pediatrics, UCSD

Antimalarial Drug Discovery

Malaria infects nearly 200 million people and kills over half a million, primarily children under age 5, each year. The most lethal form of malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum and infects humans through vector transmission.

There are anti-malarial drugs currently in use today, but they are becoming less affective as the parasite develops drug-resistance. That leads to out main goal in working in discovering new and more effective anti-malarial drugs. This work investigated the mechanism of action of two potential compounds of interest, MMV570 and GNF179 in order to enhance the use of these compounds.

MMV570 has an identified target, Adenylate Cyclase, so the goals is functional validation of cAMP by measuring cAMP levels in response to drug treatment.

MMV570 affects cAMP signaling pathway, so measuring activity of cAMP will aid in confirming the mechanism of this drug. GNF179 does not yet have an identified target. However, one potential GNF179 target is Acetyl CoA transporter. Assays that help lead in the direction of targeting drug resistant genes include evolving resistant yeast, measuring GNF179 sensitivity in yeast and malaria, and genetic engineering by tagging Acetyl CoA. Panel 16 Forum

Flagg, Mitchell. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Major: Public Health Mentored by Dr. Trey Ideker, Medicine and Bioengineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A Data-Driven Human Gene Ontology

The Gene Ontology (GO) project seeks to manually curate systematic models of biological function structured as ontologies. GO represents a flagship effort in systems biology’s quest for predictive whole-cell models. Despite its omnipresence in modern bioinformatics, however, GO’s manually curated nature creates issues such as incomplete genomic coverage, limited predictive power, and

diseconomies of scale. One proposed solution is computational inference of ontologies directly from data. This project will synthesize machine learning methods and an ontology-generation algorithm previously applied in yeast (CliXO) to this end, constructing a data-driven human gene ontology with manifold biomedical applications across the entire bench-to-bedside spectrum.

Panel 27 East Ballroom

Forrest, Lala. STARS, UCSD ERC Major: Physiology and Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. William Mobley, Neuroscience, UC San Diego

Investigating the Effects of Naturally Secreted Amyloid-beta Oligomers on Endocytosis Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a transmembrane protein most commonly known for its role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Late-stage AD brains are characterized by the presence of senile plaques– extracellular deposits of APP cleavage products mostly composed of insoluble amyloid-ß peptides (Aß).

Interestingly, soluble, oligomeric assemblies of Aß are thought to be toxic to neurons during early-stage AD. To better understand Aß-mediated cellular toxicity, we focus on studying abnormalities in the process of endocytosis, which are thought to be the earliest pathological events in AD. First, we will expose neurons to naturally secreted Aß oligomers obtained from the conditioned media of CHO cells expressing a mutant form of APP. Using biochemical methods, we will examine the activity of the small GTPase Rab5– a protein involved in endosome formation and fusion– after treatment with Aß oligomers. Also, we will measure the size of Rab5-containing endosomes by immunocytochemistry. We hypothesize that Rab5 activity and endosomal size will be elevated after treating neurons with naturally secreted Aß oligomers. This study will provide insight into the early molecular mechanisms of AD.

Panel 21 SSC 554

Friend, Nicole. Genentech, UCSD Sixth Major: Bioengineering: Biosystems Mentored by Dr. Robert Sah, Bioengineering, UCSD

Effect of Selective Digestion of Hyaluronan and Proteoglycan-4 on the Effective Lubrication of Articular Cartilage in Traumatic Injury and Osteoarthritic Human Synovial Fluid Abstract redacted due to pending publication.

Panel 16 Forum

Friends, Shelby. NSF REU, Palomar College Major: Analytical Chemistry Mentored by Mr. Christopher Lee, Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCSD

Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Micelle Self-Assembly by Molecular Dynamics Membrane proteins are targets of 60% of drugs on the market. Yet, they represent only 2.5% of total resolved structures. This lack of representation exists because membrane proteins are typically unstable in aqueous solution. To stabilize the membrane protein it can be placed inside of a detergent micelle, which acts as a membrane mimetic. Without prior knowledge it is difficult to predict which detergent micelles will stabilize the membrane protein. Various detergent compositions are typically empirically screened to solubilize and stabilize the protein of interest. Current experimental methods provide no atomistic insight into why certain compositions fail to provide a stabilizing environment. The detergent-protein interactions can be studied using molecular dynamics to model the protein-detergent complex (PDC). However, prior to simulation of a full PDC, we wish to determine if state of the art forcefields can accurately predict micelle thermodynamic properties. Using Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) as a model detergent, we have simulated a box of SDS in TIP3P water using the CHARMM36 forcefield. We hope to observe micelle self

assembly and to compare thermodynamic properties such as aggregation number, critical micelle concentration, and geometry with experimental measurements.

Panel 38 SSC 260

Gade, Amitha. STARS, Duke University Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Stephanie Fraley, Bioengineering, UCSD

Salmonella Identification Using Dimeric Cyanine Nucleic Acid Stains

A growing concern is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Despite advancements in diagnostic technologies, many infections caused by bacteria are unnecessarily treated with general antibiotics. Salmonella enterica is one such bacteria that has several pathogenic serotypes. While some serotypes are not hazardous, others are known to be highly invasive and should be treated with antibiotics. The goal of this project is to identify specific serotypes of Salmonella enterica in an accurate and timely manner to reduce antibiotic usage without compromising the health of the patient. Amplifying and high resolution melting of the bacteria’s 16S rRNA gene sequences using Evagreen DNA intercalating dye was the initial differentiating technique. However, this could not completely resolve sequence differences of Salmonella enterica serotypes. Various sequencespecific intercalating dyes were identified and tested for their ability to generate differentiable melt curves for Salmonella enterica serotyping. The chosen cyanine dyes prefer either GC-rich, AT-rich, or 5'-CTAG-3' sequences. The results show that BOBO-3 dye, which prefers AT-rich regions, causes distinguishable melt curves for sequences with different AT/GC ratios. Compounded with Evagreen dye and SYBR Green dye, it is possible to further differentiate the serotypes.

Panel 27 East Ballroom

Garcia, Mildred. STARS, St. Mary's College Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Sushil Mahata, Nephrology-Hypertension, University of California San Diego

Pathway of Catestatin and Type 2 Diabetes

Despite its preventability, Type 2 diabetes is an escalating problem, affecting approximately 29.1 million Americans. With Type 2 diabetes, the body becomes insulin resistant and causes an accumulation of glucose in the blood. Under normal circumstances glucose is tightly regulated by the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. Unfortunately, people who are obese have a higher likelihood of insulin resistance. Previous knowledge has shown that catestatin improves insulin sensitivity in diet induced obese mice; however, the cellular pathway for improving insulin sensitivity is unknown. Our goal is to use a Chromogranin A peptide, catestatin, to treat type 2 diabetes to improve insulin sensitivity by helping alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress and improve mitochondrial function. IREl2, PERK and ATF6 levels were quantified using western blots to show that catestatin down-regulates these proteins, as well as up-regulates GRP78; which are all activated to alleviate ER stress. Protein modification via catestatin indicates a role at a genetic level. Therefore, future steps are to investigate catestatin’s genetic role.

Panel 17 SSC 260

Garcia Carreon, Cesar. STARS, UNAM Major: Genomic Sciences Mentored by Dr. Justin Meyer, EBE (Evolution, behavior, ecology), UCSD

P22 Bacteriophage Evolution

When one thinks of the great diversity of organisms and how they acquire new functions it is evident that new advantageous traits helped organisms to expand to new ecological opportunities. However it’s difficult to study the processes by which an organism comes by these new innovations. Of particular importance to us is the means by which viruses evolve to expand from their natives hosts, that is how, they are able to infect organisms previously not in their range. The

purpose of my project is to evolve a model virus, bacteriophage P22, whose native host is Salmonella typhimurium. The evolution is directed to discover if the phage can infect two other bacteria: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella oxytoca. In order to do this, to 90:10 mix of new host:native host bacteria I add P22 bacteriophage, and allow it to evolve. The results of this experiment will help show how likely viral host shifts are and what viral genomic changes enable these transitions. This is important to understand and predict how non-human viruses evolve to affect humans; examples of these are the swine flu, bird flu or HIV. Panel 23 Ballroom A

Garcia Presa, Gabriela. STARS, San Diego City College Major: Social Work Mentored by Dr. Abigail Andrews, Sociology, University of California San Diego

Comprehending Local Support Systems and Policies to Illustrate the Experiences of Undocumented Immigrants

Our research focuses on a group of people who are placed at the bottom of the social stratification pyramid: undocumented immigrants. We will shed light on how local political policies involving police enforcement, nonprofits, and local activism, shape the experiences of immigrants from Mexico in Los Angeles and North County San Diego. First, we will examine policies that incorporate police enforcement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in both counties as well as researching nonprofit organizations that serve immigrants. Secondly, after comparing Los Angeles and North County San Diego, we hope to demonstrate how immigrants are marginalized or integrated into the United States. We have found that Los Angeles County, also known as a "sanctuary" county, creates a safer environment for undocumented immigrants. Although Los Angeles is known as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, deportations in Los Angeles continue to occur. In comparison, North County San Diego has policies that work against immigrants and not enough nonprofits that offer services to undocumented immigrants. The treatment immigrants receive in both counties greatly depends on the policies and support systems available.

Panel 19 SSC 400

Gasca, Luis. MTSP-SURF, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Major: Biological Sciences; Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Marion Sewer, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD

The Role of ORP2 in the Unfolded Protein Response and Cholesterol Homeostasis

Aberrant cholesterol homeostasis carry negative consequences on hormonal balance, vascular health, and cellular function. In the adrenal this can result in nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Oxysterol binding protein-related proteins (ORPs) sense lipid levels and mediate cellular cholesterol efflux and endocytosis. Amongst them, ORP2 is part of a complex involved steroid hormone biosynthesis. Prior research demonstrated that silencing ORP2 leads to cytosolic cholesterol overload and cortisol depletion in adrenal cells. Since cholesterol accumulation is a cause of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which can trigger programmed cell death and is implicated in chronic conditions; we sought to investigate the role of ORP2 in ER stress. We use adrenocortical cells where the expression of ORP2 is normal, silenced, or overexpressed to determine the role of the protein in cholesterol-triggered UPR. We examine the effect of altering ORP2 levels on the expression of UPR proteins, cholesterol trafficking, protein localization using western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and RT-PCR. Additionally, we will assess how altered ORP2 expression affects the ability of various oxysterols to regulate cholesterol homeostasis. By elucidating further aspects of ORP2 and oxysterols, we will improve our understanding of cholesterol homeostasis and adrenal function.

Panel 8 Dance Studio

Georgi, Paul. Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholorship, STARS, CSU Bakersfield Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Nicholas Christenfeld, Social Psychology, UCSD

The Role of Confidence Validity and Racially-Dissimilar Relationships in the Cross-Race Effect: Identifying strategies for the detection and reduction of minority misidentifications during eyewitness testimony Minority men, misidentified by racially-dissimilar, predominantly-Caucasian eyewitnesses, account for nearly 40% of all DNA exonerations (www.innocenceproject.org, 2012). This disproportion demonstrates a moral imperative to better understand the socially-awkward phenomenon known as the cross-race effect (CRE), which describes the increased difficulty in identifying individuals whose race is dissimilar to our own. Predicated on the theory of cognitive-misering and strengthened by recent observations and discoveries made within social and cognitive paradigms, it is hypothesized that, for each racially-dissimilar group independently, participants will exhibit diminished recognition, negatively correlated with the number of group members with whom they hold a persisting relationship, and will self-report confidence ratings which positively correlate with accuracy. Participants will complete preliminary surveys quantifying their interactions with four racial groups, (personal relationships and passive identifications). A subsequent online recognition test measures participant speed (in milliseconds), accuracy and immediately-ascertained, selfassessed confidence of accuracy for each facial-identification (on a five-point confidence scale). Results supporting the hypotheses’ will bolster emerging theories regarding mitigating factors and reliable detections of the CRE, and provide an empirical framework for the implementation of a standardized threshold for the exclusion of eyewitness testimony.

Panel 36 Governance Room

Glatt, Peter. 4Cs NSF-REU Program, MiraCosta College Major: Chemistry Mentored by Mr. Christain Perez, Seth M. Cohen Laboratory, UCSD

Development of HDAC Inhibitors: Derivatives of hydroxy-1,2-dimethylpyridine4(1H)-thione Peter F. Glatt, Christian Perez, Seth M. Cohen Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are metalloenzymes that help regulate gene expression via deacetylation of lysine residues found in histones, a major component of chromatin. Inhibition of HDACs has been validated for treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, with multiple drugs approved by the FDA. However, several of the approved HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) suffer from poor pharmacokinetics, often due to the chemical instability of the metal-binding pharmacophore (MBP). HDACi utilize an MBP to coordinate to the catalytic Zn(II) metal within the HDAC’s active site, which causes inhibition of the enzyme’s activity. In order to develop inhibitors with better properties, we utilized a fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) method where ~100 MBPs were screened against three HDAC isoforms. This screen yielded a potent fragment, 3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethylpyridine-4(1H)-thione. The focus of this project was to synthesize derivatives of the potent fragment in an effort to develop a full-length inhibitor.

Panel 10 Marshall College Room

Glim, Madalyn. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Adam Haberman, Biology, University of San Diego

Electrophysiological analysis of neuronal aging and stress in Drosophila melanogaster

Neurons are some of the longest living cells in the body, and the study of their function is crucial to discovering novel ways of coping with loss of neuronal function. The purpose of this work is to investigate if age and stress together have detrimental effects on neuronal function. We hypothesize that neurons that are more active will show greater dysfunction with age. We will use electrophysiology, which is the study of electrical properties in biological cells and tissues, to measure action potentials of neurons. We will measure the electrical response of photoreceptors in the fly eye in response to short pulses of light with an Electroretinogram (ERG). The flies will be raised in both light and dark conditions and will either be three days or three weeks old. We predict that three week old flies raised in the light will have a greater loss of neuronal function than flies raised in the dark. This experiment will provide insight into the mechanisms of neuronal aging, which is relevant to age-associated neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.

Panel 43 SSC 554A

Gomez Cazares, Hector. McNair Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Ting Yu, Neurobiology, UCSD

Myelination in Wntless Conditional Knockouts

In the developing central nervous system, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) can differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) that are responsible for the structure and myelination of neuronal axons. Understanding the genetic mechanisms of OPC proliferation and differentiation is of interest because of its potential in elucidating novel pathways that can contribute to the development of dysmyelinating diseases and cancer. The cannonical wnt-signaling pathway is known to regulate myelination in OLs and thus we’re interested in examining the role of the Wntless transmembrane protein—shown to regulate the secretion of wnt ligands. To this end, we are deleting Wntless in OLs by creating Wntless conditional knockouts—crossed with the CNP-Cre line—to determine if wnt ligands that are important for myelination in the spinal cord, are secreted by OLs. In addition, we’re to perform further staining with NG2 and PDFR-alpha for OPCs and stain with CC1 for mature OLs to assess differentiation and proliferation through statistical quantification.

Panel 20 SSC 450

Gonzales, Ramilyn. STARS, Chaminade University of Honolulu Major: Cellular and Molecular Biology Mentored by Dr. David Schlaepfer, Reproductive Medicine, UC San Diego

Determining the Role of FAK and Pyk2 in Regulating DNA Damage

FAK (focal adhesion kinase) and Pyk2 (proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2) are a family of kinases that regulate endothelial cell survival, proliferation and motility.

Previous studies from Schlaepfer lab described that FAK induces degradation of p53, a tumor suppressor transcription factor that leads damaged cells to apoptosis. This experiment is investigating the in-vivo endothelial effects of DNA damage proteins when FAK and Pyk2 are knocked out. Genetically engineered mice models were all raised with Pyk2 knocked out (Pyk2 null). The Pyk2 null mice were also raised with FAK manipulations: wild type (WT), kinase dead (KD) and knocked out (DKO, double knockout). We analyzed the expression of p53 and phospho-histone H2A.X in lung sections by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Preliminary results showed a slight increase of p53 and phoshohistone in DKO mice. In conclusion, elimination of FAK and Pyk2 sensitizes endothelial cells to its environment causing up regulations of DNA damage

proteins. Future investigations can be conducted on endothelial cell death through p53 cell cycle regulation through its association with p21.

Panel 11 Roosevelt College Room

Gonzalez, Diana. CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Kimberly D'Anna Hernandez, Psychology, CSUSM

Effects of absent father support and cultural stressors on birth outcomes in Mexican and Mexican-American pregnant women With the onset of pregnancy come increased stressors, which may be eased by social support. Mexican-American women experience high levels of psychosocial stressors as well as cultural stressors during the transition to parenthood.

Cultural stressors are associated with negative birth outcomes while increased social support, particularly from the child’s father, can be protective. However, it is not known if cultural stressors and father support may work together to promote healthy birth outcomes in Mexican-American women. It was hypothesized that cultural stressors would be associated with adverse birth outcomes and that increased father support would buffer these adverse effects.

Forty-four pregnant mothers were recruited and completed surveys related to acculturation, acculturative stress and satisfaction of social support with the child’s father. Maternal acculturation was associated with lower birthweight in infants. Increased acculturative stress was significantly correlated with more total infant complications at birth while more close relatives was marginally correlated less complications. Results suggest that cultural stressors have negative effects on birth outcomes in Mexican-American women and their infants that isn’t buffered by familial or father social support.

Panel 18 SSC 350

Gonzalez, Delfina. Pharmacology SURF, Pomona College Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Stacy Ochoa-Mikrut, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD

What’s Phosphorylation Got to do With It? The Role of PLK-1 Phosphorylation on SPD-5 PCM Assembly in C. elegans Animal cells require centrosomes to nucleate and anchor microtubules (MT) during mitosis. Centrosomes consist of a centriole pair enveloped in a network of pericentriolar material (PCM). Once PCM maturation has occurred, microtubules anchor to the γ–turc complex for proper spindle assembly. Several proteins are required for PCM assembly and maturation, including SPD-5, a scaffolding protein, and Polo-like kinase (PLK-1) a phosphorylating protein. Previous research has shown that PLK-1 aids in the recruitment and assembly rate of SPD5 complexes in the PCM both in vitro and in vivo. This mechanism however, remains poorly understood. We have thus identified potential PLK-1 phosphorylation sites on SPD-5 to mutate in order to understand how Plk1 contributes to PCM assembly. We are analyzing the consequences of making transgenic worms with these mutations. Knocking down the endogenous SPD-5 gene using RNAi will allow us to investigate if these phosphorylation sites have an effect on PCM assembly and maturation, cell cycle dynamics, and overall survivability.

Panel 29 Dance Studio

Gonzalez, Jose Luis. McNair Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Political Science & Economics Mentored by Dr. John LeJeune, Political Science, University of California, San Diego

Critique of Political Violence

Recent events in the United States and Mexico have inspired conversation about the role of violence in human affairs. Protestors have chosen to express themselves in the streets and peaceful demonstrations by day have turned violent by night. Use of violence as expression is usually condemned or embraced

superficially by public opinion. The purpose of this study is to analyze and theorize about the proper role of violence in the political realm. Literature on violence as it pertains to the modern state, the concept of the political, and expression has been reviewed and synthesized. An examination of violence itself has allowed for the distinction between reactionary and political violence.

Nonviolent expression, such as speech and civil disobedience are also considered.

The result of the examination has revealed tension between notions of liberalism and democracy. The importance of political consciousness has been demonstrated in attempting to answer the research question. The final inclination is that very specific acts of violence that prevent grander acts of violence have a place in current political realities. However, further analysis of the implications of this understanding of violence is needed.

Panel 37 Forum

Gonzalez, Valeria. STARS, Cypress College Major: Physics Mentored by Dr. Shadi Dayeh, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD

High Spatial PEDOT Microgrid Array for Simultaneous Subcortical Recording Development of new neurotechnologies can help in higher spatial resolution mapping of brain activity and in diagnosing and treating patients with neurological diseases. Current electrode arrays suffer from low spatial resolution and mechanical mismatch with brain tissue. We are developing a new technology that is minimally invasive and enables high spatial and temporal resolution in brain activity mapping and that is flexible to enable conformed adhesion to the brain surface. The electrodes are built on parylene-C, a known flexible substrate which is FDA approved as a biocompatible substrate. The electrode sites utilize PEDOT:PSS a conductive polymer which exhibits an excellent electrochemical interface with brain tissue. To this end, our approach is flexible and allows rapid prototyping of different array geometries that can be tailored to address specific brain regions. Our first device has been designed to provide full coverage and simultaneous mapping from the motor, sensory, and visual subcortical regions of a rat animal model. As future work we will report our results on in-vivo recordings from a rat’s brain and coordinated activity between different subcortical regions.

Panel 1 Ballroom A

Gonzalez, Gerardo. CAMP, UCSD Revelle Major: Electrical Engineering Mentored by Professor Jorge Cortes, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineeering, UCSD

Implementing Multi-Agent Distributed Coverage Control using Quadcopters Implementing Multi-Agent Distributed Coverage Control using Quadcopters Gerardo M. Gonzalez, Jorge Cortes, Aaron Ma. Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Collections of autonomous robotic agents configured to execute distributed sensing tasks, otherwise known as active sensor networks, are useful in applications concerning remote sensing, such as in exploration and surveillance.

These sensing networks are largely dependent on coverage control algorithms to maximize efficiency in formation control and deployment. In order to examine the control algorithms needed for such vital functionality in these systems, a testbed is required. In this paper, I detail the components and methodologies used in the development of a multi-Quadcopter network to be used as such a testbed.

Panel 6 East Ballroom

González Pérez, Ramón. STARS, Universidad de Guanajuato Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Kimberly Prather, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Investigation of Marine Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation

Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) account for a major fraction of aerosols in the atmosphere. They play a crucial role in affecting climate. However, a detailed knowledge of their formation, properties and transformation in the atmosphere is still unclear. Especially, few of studies have reported how SOA are formed over the ocean area. Therefore, this study investigates characteristics and formation pathways of marine SOA in a controlled laboratory environment, which closely simulates the real oceanic condition. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) are produced from phytoplankton and bacteria from a marine aerosol reference tank (MART) which is filled with seawater. Marine SOA are formed due to the oxidation of BVOC by mixing hydroxyl radical (OH), the most important atmospheric oxidant, with BVOC in a smog chamber. Then, the marine SOA are analyzed by Aerosol Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) in order to study the individual particle composition and size, respectively. The biological variation in MART tank is tracked. The effect of biology in seawater on SOA formation is studied.

Panel 28 Muir College Room

Govea, Janette. STARS, SDSU Major: Sociology Mentored by Professor Mary Blair-Loy, Sociology, UCSD

Are women underrepresented in executive positions? Does this mean the chances of women in CEO positions seem bleak?

The United States of America is believed to be the nation of equality. However, women live in a society where they are treated as inferior to men as an effect of the glass ceiling in the workplace. In my project, led by Professor Blair-Loy, I will be comparing executives from the Fortune 500 publicly-owned companies and the Forbes 200 privately-owned companies. I plan to construct a data base that will examine how many executive members are women. Once I have analyzed the variables, I will be able to determine the inequality that exists among women in some of the most successful companies in the United States. Executive members will be coded in staff or line positions in the data base. As shown in previous studies, women tend to be clustered in staff positions while men are heavily dominated in line positions. We will compare the privately-owned and publicly-owned companies and analyze whether there are differences among the staff and line positions within genders to see if it affects the chances of women in CEO positions. The results will allow us to make further conclusions about the glass ceiling project.

Panel 39 SSC 350

Gray, Chyna. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Hugh Ellis, Biology, University of San Diego

Tissue Metabolic Intensity and Basal Metabolic Rate

Eared Grebes are diving waterbirds that though migratory are flightless when on the water due to changes in their body composition, changes which are extreme among birds (Jehl 1997). Several authors (e.g., Daan et al. 1990) have argued that basal metabolic rate (BMR) should be affected by body composition.

Specifically, the size of metabolically active organs should drive BMR. Ellis and Jehl (unpublished), however, found no BMR change in migrant vs. non-migrant Eared Grebes despite major body composition differences. Might tissue metabolic activity be more important than size? The Ellis lab has found some such differences by looking at enzyme activities of several tissues. We have used two enzymes, citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase, by performing enzyme

assays via spectrophotometric analysis. I am now looking at two other enzymes, 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HOAD, a key enzyme in the breakdown of fatty acids) and pyruvate kinase (PK, an indicator of the glycolytic pathway). Changes in the activity of these enzymes in organs of different sizes will confirm the independence of BMR from body composition. I have established HOAD baselines in several tissues and now am doing comparisons.

Panel 26 Green Table Room

Gregorio, Petrona. RISE (*R25) - NIH Funded, CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Heike I. M. Mahler, CHABSS - Psychology, CSUSM and UCSD

Age, Gender, Ethnicity, and Designating a Driver

Despite relatively extensive research on alcohol interventions to reduce drunk driving among college students, there is little information about students’ perceptions of designating a driver. The present study examined the relationship between college students’ age, gender, ethnicity, and how they viewed people who took the steps to designate a driver before taking the first alcoholic drink.

Participants were California State University college students, who completed a 58-item questionnaire packet that assessed their perceptions of their peers’ and their own behaviors on a variety of health-related topics. Results demonstrated that there was no difference in the opinions about designating a driver between underage and drinking age students. There was also no difference between males' and females' opinions about designating a driver. However, there was a significant difference between Caucasians and Hispanics showing that Caucasians designated a driver more often than Hispanics. Future work should design interventions that target Hispanic students to help them understand the risks of driving under the influence and develop more positive attitudes about designating a driver when they do intend to drink.

Panel 33 Warren College Room

Grisham, Alanah. BP-Endure, STARS, Spelman College Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Robert Clark, Psychiatry, UCSD

Memory Retrieval in Rats using Trace Fear Conditioning

The medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) is part of the medial temporal lobe memory system and is home to spatially-selective cells known as grid cells. Currently, research is being conducted to understand MEC involvement in memory, and unpublished data have shown that MEC lesions impair memory retrieval performance in the watermaze. Our study was designed to determine whether MEC lesions in rats impair context or trace fear memory retrieval. Rats were trained using trace fear conditioning before receiving excitotoxic lesions of the MEC or sham surgeries (to serve as a control group). After two weeks of recovery, memory was tested separately for the context and tone used in initial training. Fear was measured by the amount of freezing during testing. We hypothesized that rats with MEC lesions would be impaired in the retrieval of fear memories associated with the tone and context in which the rat had been shocked. The findings may provide further understanding of the function of grid cells in the MEC in fear memory retrieval.

Panel 7 Muir College Room

Guardado, Fatima. McNair Scholars, UCSD Sixth Major: Human Development Mentored by Professor Olga Vasquez, Communications, UCSD

La Clase Mágica: Exploring an Academic Identity Latinos are one of the most marginalized groups in the US. Low SES Latinos, in particular, experience little access to educational resources (Oakes et al., 2006; Walepole et al., 2005) as they scale an educational system rooted in race and class inequalities (Ramirez, 2011). Research shows that undergraduates who

participate in undergraduate research programs benefit greatly from these experiences (Ramirez, 2011). This study explores one such program called, La Clase Mágica (LCM), a long term, research-based social action program attempting to make a difference in the educational trajectories of Latino youth.

Latino UGs who participate in the program through a practicum course that takes them through the entire research process, experience an identity change, develop professionally (Beatriz et. al) and importantly begin to see the possibilities of a career in academia. Data were gathered from extant data, the program’s Pre and Post Questionnaire, and a brief survey that asked undergraduates about their experiences in LCM. Data were analyzed using Dedoose. Findings reveal information about how UGs gain a greater sense of civic responsibility and undergo an identity transformation as they found the academic in themselves.

Panel 37 Forum

Guerrero, Oscar. STARS, UCSD Revelle Major: Electrical Engineering Mentored by Professor Shadi Dayeh, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD

High Spatial PEDOT Microgrid Array for Simultaneous Subcortical Recording Development of new neurotechnologies can help in higher spatial resolution mapping of brain activity and in diagnosing and treating patients with neurological diseases. Current electrode arrays suffer from low spatial resolution and mechanical mismatch with brain tissue. We are developing a new technology that is minimally invasive and enables high spatial and temporal resolution in brain activity mapping and that is flexible to enable conformed adhesion to the brain surface. The electrodes are built on parylene-C, a known flexible substrate which is FDA approved as a biocompatible substrate. The electrode sites utilize PEDOT:PSS a conductive polymer which exhibits an excellent electrochemical interface with brain tissue. To this end, our approach is flexible and allows rapid prototyping of different array geometries that can be tailored to address specific brain regions. Our first device has been designed to provide full coverage and simultaneous mapping from the motor, sensory, and visual subcortical regions of a rat animal model. As future work we will report our results on in-vivo recordings from a rat’s brain and coordinated activity between different subcortical regions.

Panel 31 Marshall College Room

Gutierrez, Lorenia. NEW Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Physiology & Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. Linda McEvoy, Radiology, UCSD

Brain Structure and Its Effects on Cognitive Behaivor in Older Adults

Aging is associated with major changes in the brain structure that lead to decline in cognitive function and loss of ability to live independently. Because our society is aging, it is very important that we determine strategies to ensure successful aging. The purpose of this project is to determine the extent at which individual white matter tract structures (IFOF, SLF, ILF, and UF) affect cognitive behavior in the 60+ year old community dwelling participants from the Rancho Bernardo study. The subjects’ cognitive ability is assessed by of memory and logical thinking tests. Also, subjects undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in which the different white matter tract structures are defined and recorded. By comparing MRI scans and the results to the cognitive testing it is possible to determine how each one of the white matter tracts affect the decline of cognitive aging in adults. It is expected that the data collected from both MRI scans and cognitive tests will show that a decay in white matter structure will result in a decline in cognitive behavior.

Panel 8 Dance Studio

Gutierrez Yee, Lilybeth. HCOP, SDSU Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Kristen Wells, Psychology, San Diego State University

Public Criticism of Angelina Jolie’s Decision to Undergo Surgeries to Prevent Breast and Ovarian Cancer: A Qualitative Study This study presents a qualitative content analysis of comments to two Op-Eds that Ms. Angelina Jolie published on the New York Times (NYT) website. Ms. Jolie disclosed that she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation and underwent a preventive double mastectomy and a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Conventional content analysis was conducted with Nvivo on all comments to “My Medical Choice” (N=1,712), and “Diary of a Surgery” (N=827). Several subthemes were identified under the emerging “Unhappy/Critique” theme.

Commenters criticized Ms. Jolie’s disclosure of her story, deeming it unrealistic because she is “wealthy and well-supported” and her recovery time was “too short.” Also, commenters expressed concern that preventive surgery is extreme and it is the only option she portrayed in her Op-Eds; others noted the medical industry’s “hidden interests” for performing this type of procedure. This analysis offers a perspective on the feedback that people with a genetic risk for cancer may receive when they choose to undergo invasive medical procedures to manage this risk.

Panel 7 Muir College Room

Guzman, Edwin. STARS, San Diego City College Major: Math/Chicano Studies Mentored by Dr. Luis Alvarez, History, UCSD

Puente: Closing the Achievement Gap between Latinos and the Majority in Higher Education My research explores Puente, an academic program that was created in order to overcome the achievement gap in higher education experienced by Latinos and other underrepresented students in California. More specifically, research from scholars such as Gilda Ochoa’s Academic Profiling and Annette Lareau’s Unequal Childhoods, describes multiple systematic and social factors that affect a person’s trajectory in life, including their race, class, and national backgrounds. I focus my research on San Diego City College’s (SDCC) transfer program Puente. SDCC’s Puente program focuses on providing students with a strong academic foundation and the support needed to be successful in higher education and beyond. I will be conducting ethnographic research, including interviews with students, educators, and staff involved in Puente. My research will draw upon the program’s mission, its development history, previous students’ success rate, and how the program challenges educational barriers. My goal is to address how Puente is closing the achievement gap that affects so many underrepresented students. Furthermore, my personal experience with the program has inspired my research and motives.

Panel 5 Green Table

Guzman, Arely. IME-Becas, UCSD Revelle Major: Literature/Writing and Literatures of the World Mentored by Dr. Cristina Rivera-Garza, Literature, UCSD

(Auto)Biography of Cotton

The evolution of cotton farming in the United States-Mexico borderlands has been multifactorial: world and civil wars on both sides of the border, plagues, and resource mobilization, and political reformations among other events, have shaped the culture and history of these borderlands during the early twentiethcentury. Cotton is central to it all, as all the cultural, social, and economic changes of the time revolve around it. A variety of archives, books, periodicals and theses, along with family documents and testimonials, were used in order to understand the various faces of the expansion of cotton farming along the Brownsville-

Matamoros border. While these topics have been explored through the scope of a single discipline, here, the economic, sociohistorical and cultural aspects are juxtaposed with the personal and human elements, providing a richer understanding of the impact of the collaborative efforts of cotton farming. This biography encourages the appreciation of these different sides as one, while exploring the binational dynamics that it encompasses.

Panel 16 Forum

Hackel, Arielle. CAICE, Georgia State University Major: Chemistry Mentored by Dr. Estefania Rossich-Molina, Chemistry, UCSD

Study of Langmuir monolayers and their properties using molecular dynamics Aerosols are an important component of the atmosphere that influences the climate. Their properties vary drastically depending on their chemical composition. It has been shown that sea-spray aerosols contain a large amount of organic molecules, usually coating the aqueous core. The interfacial region of seaspray aerosols can be described by Langmuir monolayers on aqueous subphases with different compositions. To gain insights into the properties of sea-spray aerosols, we started an investigation of the structural, thermodynamic, and dynamical properties of single-component monolayers on a water subphase.

We focus on palmitic acid (C16) and stearic acid (C18) monolayers. Their properties are investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations allow us to determine the influence of the surface pressure of each monolayer on its physical properties at the air/water interface. Studying two different fatty acids provides an opportunity for understanding the influence of the chain length.

The interplay between the chemical complexity of the monolayers and the surface pressure plays a central role in determining the physical properties of the interfacial region, which may have important implications for chemical processes taking place at the surfaces of sea-spray aerosol particles in the atmosphere.

Panel 23 Ballroom A

Henderson, Jane. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Ethnic Studies & Spanish Mentored by Dr. Jesse Mills, Ethnic Studies, USD

Fighting Racism at its Root: An Examination of San Diego's Community Gardens

In a seemingly ironic historical time where food harvests and profits are at record highs while hunger levels do not decrease, it is common to argue the problem of poor food distribution. However, distribution is only the surface of much deeper structural racism which manifests itself in food insecurity, lack of access to produce and epidemic diseases afflicting communities of color at higher rates than white communities. Though mainstream thought ignores the presence of a racial dynamic in food systems, this research approaches the problem with an understanding that race cannot be separated from food justice; the food system itself was built on the oppression and exploitation of racial minorities through the seizure of American Indian land, African slavery and immigrant farm labor.

In examining the state of food access in underserved communities in San Diego this research asks how community gardens may serve as tools for anti-racism.

Through qualitative research methods-- interviews and observant participation- and an overview of critical race theory, critical food studies and eco feminism literature, this research uses community gardens to ground examinations of structural racism in a conscious attempt for growth and healing.

Panel 6 East Ballroom

Hernandez, Ritchie. CAICE, Cuyamaca College Major: Chemistry Mentored by Graduate Student Daniel Crocker, Physical Science, UCSD

Stable isotopic compositions of carbon and oxygen in the formation of sea spray aerosols Stable isotope analysis was used determine the route in which organic carbon and sulfate are enriched through natural transfer processes between bulk sea water, sea surface micro layer (SSML), and sea spray aerosols (SSA). A Marine Aerosol Reference Tank (MART) was used to replicate the complex chemical and biological process of an oceanic phytoplankton bloom and generate the ocean like SSA. Sulfate samples and organic carbon samples were collected in the bulk sea water, SSML, and SSA over the course of the bloom. Using isotope ratio mass spectrometry the isotopic composition of δ13 C (13C/12C) was determined over the bloom. Concurrently, the δ17O (17O/16O) and δ18O (18O/16O) ratios were also analyzed within sulfate to observe the physical transfer process of sulfate from the bulk water, to SSML, and SSA. Panel 15 Governance Room

Hernandez, Jonathan. IME Becas, UCSD Muir Major: Physics Mentored by Dr. Julio Barreiro, Physics, UCSD

Laser Feedback Control

Atomic physics experiments using ultracold atoms as the basis for quantum simulations and atomic clocks require a precise control of laser frequencies and intensities. For example, to evaporatively cool a cloud of atoms into a BoseEinstein condensate, the trapping laser intensity must be precisely tuned to follow a specific profile; any deviation destroys the condensation by heating the atoms. This precise control is accomplished with fast feedback loops, which in our case control the frequency and amplitude of acousto-optic modulators.

I will implement a fast feedback loop by programming and adapting an open source measurement and control tool called Red Pitaya, which started as a kickstarter project two years ago. Due to the precision and sensitivity requirements, the Red Pitaya’s specifications are ideal for this experiment. Input analog signals are quickly and accurately digitized. The digitized information is quickly processed and a resulting digital signal is quickly converted to analog.

This is accomplished within a few tens of nanoseconds. This feedback control device can be easily adapted to precisely control magnetic fields and to reduce the linewidth of lasers.

Panel 18 SSC 350

Herrera Valdez, Jaslem. NEW Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Christopher Dravis, Molecular and Cellular Biology - Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute

The Role of Sox9 and Sox10 in Breast Cancer Cells Stem cells have tremendous growth potential and ability to self-renew. Cancer cells have an unregulated growth potential, suggesting that cancer may sometimes represent a stem cell disease. Transcription factors Sox9 and Sox10 have recently been identified as important mediators in specifying stem/progenitor cell properties in mammary cells. In addition, it has been demonstrated that Sox10 plays and important role in determining mesenchymallike properties in fetal mammary stem cells. As these two features are hypothesized to be important for tumor progression and metastasis, it is critical to understand the mechanisms that govern them. Moreover, it has been shown that Sox9 and Sox10 promote tumorigenesis in pancreatic cancer and melanoma, respectively, suggesting that these two properties are also conserved in these two types of cancer. The goal of this project is to investigate if Sox9 and Sox10 specify

stem-like and mesenchymal-like characteristics in breast cancer cells. We hope that knowledge gained from this study will allow the development of more efficient breast cancer therapies.

Panel 36 Governance Room

Hidalgo, Francisco Javier. Iovine Lab, USD Major: chemistry Mentored by Professor Peter Iovine, Chemistry and Biochemistry, USD

Starch-peptide conjugates for peptide stabilization and release

Peptides as therapeutic agents offer several advantages over small molecule drugs, some of which are selectivity and biocompatibility. There are, however, still some issues involved in developing peptides as drugs such as decreased bioavailability due to enzymatic degradation. Studies involving polysaccharide conjugates as peptide modifiers are being investigated to enhance peptides’ stability, transport and immunogenicity. In here, we present the synthesis of novel hybrid peptide-starch conjugates. Our synthetic strategy relied on the use of a modular platform with 3 building blocks: the starch, the peptide and dibromomaleimide linker. RGDSC, a thiol containing pentapeptide, was synthesized using microwave-assisted solid phase peptide synthesis. Endfunctionalized macromolecular starch reagents, prepared by reductive amination, were conjugated to a dibromomaleimide-azide derivative using copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition chemistry. The degree of functionalization of starch was quantitatively determined using NMR spectroscopy. Glutathione, a model thiol-containing peptide was successfully conjugated to the dibromomaleimideazide derivative via sulfide exchange. We are currently investing the conjugation of the peptide RGDSC to the dibromomaleimide-starch conjugate. These results represent a proof-of-concept system for the construction of starch-peptide conjugates for peptide stabilization and release. We anticipate these hybrid biomaterials will have potential drug delivery applications.

Panel 9 Revelle College Room

Higerd, Grant. STARS, UCLA Major: Neuroscience Mentored by Professor Brenda Bloodgood, Neurobiology, UCSD

Activity-Dependent Regulation of Inhibitory Circuitry in the Rodent Hippocampus by NPAS4

Learning requires molecular mechanisms to facilitate plasticity of task-relevant neurons. We are studying the role of the activity-dependent transcription factor NPAS4 in regulating inhibitory circuitry in the hippocampus. NPAS4 expression in pyramidal neurons (PNs) results in increased somatic inhibition. There exists a functional dichotomy in inhibition by parvalbumin (PV)- versus cholecystokinin (CCK)-expressing basket cells, but how these are regulated by activity is unknown. We hypothesize that NPAS4 differentially regulates inhibition by these cell types. Hippocampal CA1 PNs from NPAS4 conditional knockout mice are sparsely infected with virus expressing Cre-recombinase to generate a small population of knockout neurons in an otherwise wild-type animal. We then perform whole-cell recordings of evoked inhibitory activity in knockout and wildtype PNs, using cell-type specific pharmacological agents to parse apart the contributions of PV+ versus CCK+ synapses. Our data suggests PNs undergo an activity and NPAS4-dependent increase in somatic inhibition provided specifically by PV+ basket cells. Further, we are performing expansion microscopy to resolve and compare somatic PV+ synapse numbers between wildtype and NPAS4 knockout PCs. Future experiments will test the impact of this plasticity on cognitively-relevant circuit dynamics through recordings in awake, behaving mice.

Panel 31 Marshall College Room

Hissom, Christian. STARS, UCSD Revelle Major: Physiology and Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. James Conner, UCSD Center for Neural Repair, UCSD

An anatomical and functional analysis of corticostriatal projections and corticospinal collaterals

Corticostriatal projections (CStr) and corticospinal collaterals (CStc) are integral to motor control. However, previous attempts to trace CStr and CStc connections have produced confounding results. Based on present data, it was hypothesized that, within the striatum, these neuronal circuits innervate distinct locations, wherein one’s removal will induce deficits in acquisition and performance. To map axonal projections and specify the location of postsynaptic cells, the virus AAVCre was utilized. A variation of the herpes simplex virus that depends on Cre for transcription (Cre-dependent) was thereby able to accurately identify postsynaptic cells. Subsequent neuropeptide labeling was used to distinguish postsynaptic striatal partners (indirect or direct) for both neuronal tracts.

Similarly, a Cre-dependent membrane bound fluorophore was employed to map both axonal tracts. To assess acquisition, CStr of rat subjects within the experimental group were ablated with diphtheria toxin, followed by a distal forelimb reach task. Performance was analyzed by silencing the neural population by using Clozapine N-Oxide, a drug designed to activate a Cre-dependent designer receptor (Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drug).

Subsequent reach task was performed and antagonistic effects on motor performance were evaluated.

Panel 33 Warren College Room

Holguin, Gabriel. CSUSM Maternal Behavior Neuroendocrinology Lab, CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez, Psychology, CSUSM

Effects of Hypocretin 2 Receptor Antagonist on Depressive Maternal Behavior in Dams Hypocretin (HCRT) regulates a wide range of physiological processes, which affect postpartum maternal behavior. HCRT neurotransmission is upregulated during lactation and supports changes in maternal care. Decreased maternal care is associated with depression and anxiety, thus HCRT neurotransmission may underlie depressive symptoms. The proposed study seeks to elucidate a link between HCRT neurotransmission and depressive behavior. Three experiments were performed. In experiments 1 and 2, two sets of postpartum dams (n=8 each group) received an injection of a high (75mg/kg, ip) or low (30mg/kg, ip) dose of HCRT 2 receptor antagonist or vehicle and either observed for depressive behavior on a forced swim test or tail suspension test. In experiment 3, another group of dams were injected with high and low doses of HCRT 2 receptor antagonist along with vehicle and tested for maternal motivation via pup retrieval on the Tmaze. Behavioral scoring is ongoing. We hypothesize that the HCRT 2 receptor antagonist will decrease depressive maternal behavior in dams. These results will increase our understanding of the role in HCRT in postpartum mood disorders.

Panel 42 SSC 554

Huang, Jessica. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Revelle Major: Molecular Biology Mentored by Dr. Amy Pasquinelli, Division of Biology, UCSD

Determining unique mRNA targets for highly related microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs, typically 20-22 nucleotides long, that post-transcriptionally repress messenger RNAs (mRNAs) via imperfect base pairing. MiRNA families, such as the let-7 family in C. elegans, share the same seed sequence (nucleotides 2-7 from the 5’ end), which is known to be critical in miRNA targeting of mRNAs. Thus, families are thought to have overlapping sets of targets. However, recent work has suggested that families of miRNAs may

each repress a unique set of target mRNAs, implying that there are non-seed sequences which may be important for specific miRNA-mRNA targeting. We have identified several targets that are potentially unique to individual let-7 miRNA family members in C. elegans. Using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), we quantified the change in expression of these targets in miRNA deletion mutants to demonstrate regulatory specificity within the let-7 miRNA family. This work furthers our understanding of miRNA targeting by providing insight into how non-seed sequence elements affect miRNA-mRNA binding.

Panel 36 Governance Room

Hussain, Imran. UC Leads, UCSD ERC Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Mentored by Professor Emmanuel Theodorakis, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

ANCA: A Family of Fluorescent Probes that Bind and Stain Amyloid Plaques in Human Tissue A new family of fluorescent markers containing an amino naphthalenyl-2-cyanoacrylate (ANCA) motif has been synthesized and evaluated for its capability to associate with aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides. These fluorescent probes contain a nitrogen donor group that is connected via a naphthalene unit to an electron acceptor motif containing water solubilizing groups (WSGs). Chemical modifications were introduced to explore their effect on the capability of the ANCA-based probes to fluorescently label aggregated Aβ peptides. All synthesized probes bind to aggregated Aβ fibrils with low micromolar affinity and fluorescently stain amyloid deposits in human brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

We found that structural modifications of the WSG site do not affect considerably the binding affinity. However, changes of the nitrogen donor group alter significantly the binding affinity of these probes. Also, increasing the hydrophilicity of the donor group leads to improved contrast between the Aβ deposits and the surrounding tissue in histological staining experiments.

Panel 19 SSC 400

Hutchinson, Marsha-Kay. STARS, Howard University Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Marion Sewer, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD

The Effect of 1-deoxysphinganine on Vitamin D Production in MDA-MB-468 Breast Cancer Cells Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women worldwide. Studies have shown an increase incidence of breast cancer in patients with low levels of vitamin D. Sphingolipids regulate a wide variety of cellular processes, including cell proliferation, and apoptosis. While the roles of sphingosine-1-phosphate and ceramide are well established, the cellular functions of novel sphingolipid species are not well characterized. 1-Deoxysphinganine (1dSa) is one such sphingolipid that was originally isolated from clams and investigated for its anti-cancer properties. Given published data showing that vitamin D promotes cancer cell death and the effect of 1dSa on cancer cells, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of 1dSa on vitamin D production in breast cancer cells. We hypothesize that 1dSa increases the expression of genes that are responsible for vitamin D production which plays a role in regulating cell growth and apoptosis.

To test this hypothesis we will assess the effect of 1dSa on CYP27B1 expression and on the expression of genes involved in apoptosis and cell proliferation. We conclude that 1dSA increases vitamin D production and signaling, thereby promoting breast cancer cell death.

Panel 29 Dance Studio

Huynh, Megan. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Political Science Mentored by Dr. Everard Meade, Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego

The Humanitarian Legacy of Death Penalty Cases in California

As part of a long-term research project on the history of foreign nationals in the United States, this summer research project focuses on the cases of foreign nationals sentenced to death in California from 1870-1949. By examining the effect of foreign nationality and/or the lack of citizenship in the outcome of death penalty cases in California during its heyday, this project seeks to compare how this effect compares to other indices of social inequality or marginality, such as race, sex, or poverty. The effect of foreign nationality can range from little to significant intervention by the governments of origin as well as advocacy by U.S. civic organizations and individuals. This research aims to then demonstrate that such efforts, which operate within the parameters of the aforementioned indices of inequality, neglected the human rights of those sentenced to death, leaving a humanitarian legacy in its wake.

Panel 42 SSC 554

Ige, Maryam. MTSP-SURF, Stony Brook University Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Drs. Neil Chi & Erik Adler, Medicine, UCSD

Studying the Role of LAMP-2 Isoforms

Mutations in the Lysosome Associated Membrane Protein type 2 (LAMP-2) gene are the primary cause of Danon disease, which is an X-linked disorder characterized by cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy and varying degrees of intellectual dysfunction. LAMP-2 is a transmembrane glycoprotein localized in the lysosomal membrane and is critical for the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. Thus, loss of LAMP-2 function results in impaired autophagasomelysosome fusion which leads to the pathologic accumulation of autophagic vacuoles predominantly in cardiac and skeletal myocytes. Through alternative splicing, the LAMP-2 gene generates three isoforms: LAMP-2A, B and C, but it remains unclear as to which isoform may be key to Danon disease pathogenesis.

Because there are currently no specific treatments for this debilitating disease, we believe that a greater understanding of these isoforms will be critical to the development of novel therapeutics for Danon disease. To this end, we propose to use a combination of in vitro and in vivo systems to a) assess the relative expression levels of each isoform in different tissues, b) identify the binding partners of each isoform, and c) evaluate which isoform(s) can rescue the Danon disease phenotype.

Panel 3 Bear Room

Isichenko, Andrei. CIAN IOU, STARS, Cornell University Major: Engineering Physics Mentored by Professor Yeshaiahu Fainman, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD

Analysis of the free carrier effect in fully etched silicon nanoscale waveguides Silicon - the building block of present-day electronics - can be used in nanoscale optical waveguides for high efficiency and high bandwidth communication.

Silicon exhibits nonlinear optical properties when subjected to a mechanical strain gradient. These properties can lead to faster, higher bandwidth modulators in fully optical circuits. However, the origin of this phenomenon is more complex than previously thought because of the free carrier effect. Free carriers, i.e. electrons and holes, can affect the absorption and refraction coefficients, altering the optical properties of the waveguide. The purpose of this project is to explore the time response and sensitivity of free carriers in capacitively-driven, dielectricclad, fully etched silicon waveguides to potentially separate the optical effects due to free carriers from intrinsic nonlinear effects. Using the SILVACO semiconductor simulator, fluctuations in free carrier concentrations will be

probed, and the nonlinearity will be extracted via the photonics simulator Lumerical. Waveguides will then be fabricated and subsequently characterized on an optical setup. If the capacitively induced free carrier effect alone fully explains the exhibited nonlinearities, fast optical modulation may even be achieved without the need for a complex strained-silicon platform.

Panel 8 Dance Studio

Jackson, Jordan. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Political Science Mentored by Dr. Cheryl Getz, Leadership Studies, University of San Diego

College Men and Masculinities

College men take up many leadership roles on various campuses; however, there are certain fears about themselves that prevent them from further strengthening their leadership capacity. This fear has to do with masculinity. There is such a broad range of definition for “masculinity” and many college men and women view this term in different ways. The college man’s idea on masculinity affects them internally and eventually leads them to have social, emotional, and academic implications. From birth, there is a gender language for every mannerism a man has: the way they talk, the way the walk, the way they eat, and what they wear.

The purpose of this research is to understand the behavior of college men and how they make meaning to their own experience relating to masculinity. By learning about their masculinity and how it affects their peers, male college leaders on college campuses will be more adapt to the promotion of a more cohesive environment.

Panel 31 Marshall College Room

Jahan, Naznin. STARS, University of California Berkeley Major: Molecular Cellular Biology-Neurobiology Mentored by Dr. Robert Clark, Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego

MEC dependent Memory formation: A Closer Look into the Memory Circuitry The medial temporal lobe of the brain consists of medial entorhinal cortex (MEC)-hippocampal circuitry, known to be important for memory formation and retrieval. Our lab has previously shown that MEC lesions caused partial deterioration of some hippocampal dependent spatial encoding, specifically water maze acquisition, but not others, including context fear memory acquisition.

These findings suggest that MEC and hippocampus are involved in different types of memory formation. Using rats as our model organism, we did bilateral excitotoxic lesions of the MEC in the experimental group and sham surgeries in the control group. After a two week recovery period, both groups underwent trace fear conditioning. Rats were then tested on their memory for the context and tone that were predictive of the shocks during training. Percent freezing was measured as an index of fear memory. Our preliminary findings suggest that rats with MEC lesions show intact freezing to the context, but deficits in trace fear memory. These findings suggests that there might be an involvement of MEC in trace fear acquisition and timing of memory formation.

Panel 22 SSC 554A

Jarett, Leigha. STARS, Binghamton University Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Adam Engler, Bioengineering, University of California at San Diego

Effects of six growth factors on the proliferation and differentiation of human skeletal muscle progenitor cells Skeletal muscle progenitor cells (SMPs), which have the ability to differentiate into myoblasts and form myotubes, are being investigated as possible treatments for degenerative muscle disorders such as Duchene Muscular Dystrophy because of their potential to reduce inflammation and produce healthy muscle fibers.

However when grown in culture, human SMPs (hSMPs) do not expand and differentiate in sufficient quantities to be substantive in the human body. In an

effort to encourage proliferation and differentiation, we observed the effects of six different growth factors [FGF-2, FGF-6, FGF-19, HGF, IGF-1, Oxytocin] on hSMPs in vitro. hSMPs were isolated from rotator cuff muscle samples and grown on 11kPa polyacrylamide gels, to mimic the skeletal muscle microenvironment, or glass, as a control, in media containing one, all, or none of the above growth factors. Immunofluorescent staining assays were used to quantify the number of hSMPs that divided and the number of cells that differentiated into myosin heavy chain-expressing myotubes. Preliminary results indicated that cells grown with FGF-2 had the highest proliferation rates, indicating that it may be useful for growing enough cells to be used in stem cellbased therapies.

Panel 38 SSC 260

Jelvani, Alborz. McNair Scholars, UCSD Revelle Major: Bioengineering Mentored by Dr. Pedro Cabrales, Bioengineering, UCSD

Camouflaged Lumbricus Terrestris earthworm hemoglobin: a potent human red blood cell substitute with unique biophysical properties Lumbricus Terrestris is a species of earthworm that has a type of acellular hemoglobin (Hb) known as erythrocruorin (LtEc) naturally assembled with a high molecular weight (MW) of 3.6 MDa, which is very stable, resistant to autoxidation, has lower nitric oxide (NO) dioxygenation activity, and efficiently transports oxygen (O2) to tissues. These characteristics render LtEc a potent candidate for Hb-based oxygen carrier (HBOC). The purpose of this study is to determine the systemic and microvascular hemodynamic changes and pharmacokinetics parameters of LtEc coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is hypothesized that PEG-LtEc will have a longer circulation time in vivo compared to that of the LtEc alone. Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) was used to purify the LtEc, which was then infused consecutively to increase the LtEc level in vivo from 0.5 to 1.5 g/dL. The hematocrit (Hct) percentage, plasma LtEc and PEG-LtEc concentration level, heart rate (HR), mean atrial pressure (MAP), microvascular hemodynamics and blood flow, and non-compartmental variables (NCVs) of plasma LtEc and PEG-LtEc were all quantified. Preliminary data showed that PEG-LtEc circulate four times as long as LtEc. Panel 6 East Ballroom

Jimenez, Natalie. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Melanie Zauscher, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of San Diego

Characterizing Brown Carbon Aerosol Formation and Water Uptake through Lab Studies Brown carbon (BC) aerosol has a significant impact on climate due to its atmospheric abundance and strong absorbance. Although all the formation pathways and products have not been fully elucidated, certain reactions between organic compounds and ammonium sulfate (AS) have produced BC. Additionally, the phase of these products in atmospheric droplets determines how much they contribute to global warming. This research focuses on aqueous-phase photochemical and dark reactions between carbonyls, amines, and AS to identify light-absorbing products in order to better understand the formation of BC. Varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) were added to explore radical BC formation. The reaction progress was monitored by UV-Visible spectroscopy; HPLC and mass spectrometry were used to identify products. In hydroxyacetone-methylamine reactions, the formation of BC at 300-400nm was delayed by the addition of HOOH. Reactions containing hydroxyacetone-glycine formed BC faster with the addition of HOOH. Water uptake by simulated atmospheric droplets was quantified through humidity-controlled experiments.

The droplets were composed of the semi-solid organic-AS reaction products and

the deliquescence point was measured. The mixed aerosol particle reactions with higher organic-AS ratios deliquesced at a lower relative humidity than pure AS. Panel 20 SSC 450

Jimenez, Thalia. STARS, CSUDH Major: Microbiology Mentored by Dr. Jean Wang, Medicine, UCSD

Role of Nuclear ABL Tyrosine Kinase in Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis

Cisplatin is used to treat many cancers, but it also causes kidney injury. The renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTC) are killed by cisplatin, and nuclear ABL is required for cisplatin to induce RPTC apoptosis. The goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that ABL stimulates translation of the pro-death PUMA protein to cause apoptosis. Recombinant PUMA plasmids will be transfected into cells with wild-type (WT) or nuclear import-defective (NID) Abl. Cells will be treated with cisplatin and PUMA RNA will be measured by quantitative realtime PCR and PUMA protein will be measured by Western blotting. We expect that cisplatin will activate Abl in the WT but not the NID cells. We expect that the PUMA RNA will be unchanged because it is transcribed from a plasmid promoter. We expect that cisplatin will stimulate PUMA protein expression in the WT but not the NID cells. This study is the first to investigate the translational regulation of PUMA. Knowledge gained from this study will provide clues on how to regulate PUMA in RPTC and in cancer cells to protect the kidney but not the cancer cells from cisplatin.

Panel 37 Forum

Johannessen, Erika. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Muir Major: Physics Mentored by Professor David Kleinfeld, Physics, UCSD

Functional and Anatomical Mapping of the Cortical Masticatory Area in Mice The neuronal circuitry that orchestrates rhythmic jaw movements during mastication in mammals is thought to involve a diverse set of brain regions. One such region is an area of the motor cortex called the cortical masticatory area (CMA), a region which is sufficient to generate rhythmic jaw movements in some species. From there, CMA neurons ultimately influence a putative central pattern generator in the medullary reticular formation of the brainstem. The goal of this project is to identify a cortical area in mice that may be responsible for activating the CPG, similar to the CMA described in other species. We demonstrate that rhythmic movements can be generated via tonic micro-stimulation of a frontal cortical region in mice. We also use transsynaptic retrograde virus labeling techniques to identify the brain regions that ultimately provide inputs to the jaw musculature. Through both of these methods, we are mapping a region which may correspond to a putative mouse CMA. Because of the powerful genetic tools available in this species, this finding will enable unprecedented cell-type specificity in future studies of the functional organization of rhythm generating circuits in the brain.

Panel 5 Green Table

Jordan, Caine. McNair Scholars, UCSD ERC Major: General Biology & History Mentored by Dr. Rachel Klein, History, UCSD

Early 20th Century Perspectives of Black Women on Gender and Women's Rights In the late 19th/Early 20th Century, black women were faced with various challenges. From the beginning, they tasked themselves with the uplift of their race. To accomplish this impressive feat, black women employed such tools as Women’s Clubs. One of notoriety was the National Association of Colored Women. Examining the impact of this organization, the rhetoric and status of its

membership, the perspectives of contemporary non-club members on the club itself and the specific issues it attempted to tackle enlightens one on the score of women’s rights and gender in the early 20th Century. Historically, the perspectives of white women on women’s rights and gender have been highlighted in a variety of monographs. However, this study delves into the view of middle-class black women with heavy involvement in the NACW. Panel 36 Governance Room

Junor, Glen. UC Leads, UCI Major: Chemistry Mentored by Professor Guy Bertrand, Chemistry and Biochemsitry, UCSD

Cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene-Copper Complexes for Catalysis

Low turnover numbers plague homogeneous catalysis due to fast decay of the active metal species into inactive forms of metal(0), imposing high precatalyst loadings. Sophisticated ligands have been designed to circumvent this issue and allow the use of transition metal complexes at the ppm level while reaching high TONs. More specifically, copper catalysts have mostly been used in specific types of reactions leading to C-O or C-N bond formation (e.g. alkyne hydroalkoxylation and hydroamination). Hence there is, to date in the field, no general and attractive catalytic system which would be both redox stable and highly active in C–C bond forming reactions. To address these limitations, new air-stable copper cyclic(alkyl)(amino) carbene (CAAC) complexes (CAAC)CuX have been synthesized from cheap starting materials.

Following previous work where (NHC)AuCl has been used in the cyclization of 1,5-diynes, leading to valuable photovoltaic and pharmaceutical synthons, it is hypothesized that our linear copper complex will have similar reactivity, thus making it an attractive, cheaper alternative to the currently used (NHC)AuCl. Characterization by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and single crystal x-ray diffraction studies are reported along with preliminary reactivity data.

Panel 14 Student Leadership Chambers

Kim, Youjin. NEW Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Professor Gaurav Arya, NanoEngineering, UCSD

Sanitization of an Overused Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Efficient and financially feasible methods for sanitization if an overused polyamide thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane was studied in this experiment to increase the spread of higher-level water treatment and to reduce waste. Water sample collected from a puddle in coastal California was purified through a coarse filter in order to avoid overloading the RO system.

The filtrate was fed through a simple RO system consisting of a pressure pump (Aquatec CDP 6800 series RO booster pump) and a polyamide TFC RO membrane (Dow Filmtec TW30-1812-100). Upon intentionally leaving the system to be polluted, the RO membrane was attempted to be cleaned with solutions of varying pH formed from household cleaning solutions and accessible chemicals. Directions and chemicals used for the membrane cleaning, as was recommended by the manufacturer, were considered in forming such solutions.

The cleaning solutions were introduced to the RO membrane at the maximum temperature and flow rate, as was allowed by the manufacturer. The success of the membrane cleaning was determined through the extent of pressure drop within the system, which was measured with a 160psi multipurpose pressure gauge (McMaster-Carr #4089K61) towards the inlet.

Panel 11 Roosevelt College Room

Kirchhoff, Heather. HCOP, SDSU Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Terry Cronan, Psychology, San Diego State University

Does cancer-related distress and acceptance of one’s condition predict emotional well-being among breast cancer patients?

More than 32% of women diagnosed with breast cancer exhibit symptoms of distress, which interferes with the ability to cope and the treatment outcome. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether cancer-related distress and acceptance of the condition predict emotional well-being among breast cancer patients. It was hypothesized that distress would be negatively related to emotional well-being, but that acceptance of the condition would predict higher emotional well-being. Twenty-four women with a physicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diagnosis of breast cancer who completed curative surgery for their breast cancer, and who showed at least moderate levels of distress, were recruited. Participants completed a series of questionnaires to assess their physical and psychological well-being. A linear regression showed that together distress and acceptance accounted for 64.7% of the variance in emotional well-being (p < .001). However, while acceptance (p = .03) significantly predicted emotional well-being, distress did not (p = .21).

Interventions that promote acceptance of breast cancer diagnosis thus show promise for increasing emotional well-being.

Panel 3 Bear Room

Kodur, Moses. UC Leads, UCSD Sixth Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Shirley Meng, Nanoengineering, UCSD

Morphology Controlled Sodium Nickel Manganese Oxide in Sodium-ion Battery Cathode Structures As technological integration in society soars, the drive to develop new electrochemical storage devices steadily increases. Sodium-ion batteries are being investigated as potential large scale energy devices due to its abundance and the similar properties that sodium shares with lithium. Many studies have been conducted on structured cathode materials, however, they exhibit low reversibility and poor rate performance during electrochemical cycling.

Morphology controlled Na0.78Ni0.23Mn0.69O2 will be presented as a potential cathode. Hydrothermal synthesis was used to manufacture this material and successful synthesis was confirmed through x-ray diffraction. Half-cell batteries constructed from this material demonstrated remarkable rate capability. When tested from 2.5 V to 4.5 V at 0.1 C rate, the specific capacity was about 135 mAh/g. When the rate was increased to 5C, its specific capacity only decreased to 120 mAh/g. The precise mechanism of the internal redox reaction is not yet known. Currently, in-situ X-ray absorption data while performing electrochemical cycling of a sodium ion battery is being used to discover and elucidate the rate capability of this material so that it can be engineered for future use in everyday life.

Panel 11 Roosevelt College Room

Kofman, Yasmin. STARS, CSU Long Beach Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Niloofar Afari, Psychiatry, UCSD

Resilience, PTSD, and Health Functioning in a Diverse Group of Veterans

P Yasmin Kofman, BA, Elizabeth Floto, MA, James Pittman, MSW, Niloofar Afari, PhD Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often linked to poor health functioning.

Few have examined psychosocial factors that may help protect against such adverse mental and physical health outcomes. This is especially crucial to examine among non-white veterans who may be disproportionately affected by PTSD and have more severe symptomology. The present study examines: (a) associations between resilience and PTSD, mental health functioning and physical health

functioning, and (b) whether these relationships differ as a function of race (i.e., White, African American, Asian). A self-report clinical screening battery was collected from 995 newly enrolling veterans (mean age 32 Âą 8 years; 68% White, 19% African American, 13% Asian) seeking healthcare at a local Veterans Affairs hospital. Using hierarchical regression analyses, it is expected that greater resilience will be associated with less severe PTSD symptomology and better physical and mental health functioning, and that these associations will be moderated by race. The results of this study could point to the importance of PTSD interventions that target vital resilience factors and that are culturally tailored to fit the needs of veterans from diverse racial backgrounds.

Panel 43 SSC 554A

Kurnool, Soumya. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Revelle Major: General Biology Mentored by Dr. Richard Daneman, Pharmacology, UCSD

Investigation of the Role of Stra6 at the Blood Brain Barrier

The blood-brain-barrier (BBB) is an integral component of the CNS that maintains homeostasis by regulating the flow of ions, molecules, and cells into the brain. This project seeks to understand differences in the BBB in different brain regions and their importance for region-specific functions. To explore this question, RNA sequencing was done on endothelial cells purified from different brain regions (forebrain, cerebellum, and spinal cord) to identify the gene expression signatures of each region. Specifically, Stra6 was enriched in the forebrain compared to the other regions. Immunofluorescence co-staining of Stra6 and CD31 on mice brain sections at P10 and P56 revealed that Stra6 expression at the BBB is region and age specific. This observation suggests that the expression of Stra6 changes with development. Furthermore, brain regions where BBB Stra6 is highly expressed were found to overlap with brain regions with high acetylcholinesterase activity, including the striatum. This finding has prompted the study of Stra6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effects at the cellular and molecular levels, which may shed light on Stra6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in the uptake of retinol in critical brain regions that could impact functions such as learning, language and problem solving.

Panel 12 Warren College Room

Kyung, Jasmine. Pharmacology SURF, UCSD Warren Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Mentored by Professor JoAnn Trejo, Pharmacology & Professor Ruben Abagyan, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD

Computer-aided discovery of protease-activated receptor-1 allosteric modulators Atherothrombotic disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Proteaseactivated receptor-1 (PAR1) are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that induce cellular responses to coagulant and anticoagulant proteases and play a crucial role in mediating atherothrombotic disease. Presently, Vorapaxar is a selective and potent antagonist for anti-platelet therapy, but has shown adverse effects, so developing therapies that inhibit harmful pathways, while protecting or activating beneficial pathways is ideal for targeting this disease. We characterized an allosteric binding pocket next to PAR1 antagonist binding pocket based on the crystal structure of PAR1 using Molsoft ICM and virtually screened chemical databases that were filtered for the allosteric pocket against the receptor. We identified allosteric compounds: C9H9FN6 with fluorine in either meta- or para- position of the benzene. These compounds were tested for cytotoxicity and for signaling using cultured cells. Preliminary results indicate that the compounds are nontoxic to the cells and are predicted to have some effect on signaling pathways. Our findings reveal how functional agonism and antagonism may be achieved allosterically and will aid the development of novel PAR1 modulators.

Panel 23 Ballroom A

Lara-Aldana, Paulina. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD ERC Major: Art History, Theory and Criticism Mentored by Dr. Mariana Wardwell, Art History, UCSD

San Diego: The Legacy of Institutional Critique

The first part of this research project consists of various artists that responded to the political climate of the late 80's and early 1990s. This complex time period rearranged economic, political relations between Mexico and the United States.

It led to tensions between people and to controversy in California and Mexico, especially in regards to how they were impacted by immigration and I would like to further explore the political interests and reactions by engaging with contemporary art and artists during this period.

Panel 24 Bear Room

Lee, Mary Ann. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Business Economics Mentored by Dr. Lawrence Chisesi, Economics, University of San Diego

Extracting Rare Earth Elements; The First Link in a Critical Supply Chain Rare earth elements (REE) are a series of chemical elements found in the Earth's crust that are vital to many modern technologies, primarily consumer electronics and national defense. The United States, once reliant on domestically produced REEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, has become completely dependent on its supply for REEs on other countries, particularly China, for the last fifteen years. With Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monopoly on the market and its recent history in limiting rare earth exports to countries in the past, industry analysts have expressed a rising concern over the growing scarcity of REE metals and the dependence on foreign sources to supply the demand for REEs. This literature review identifies economic and geo-political issues facing technology companies and governments around the world that rely on the constricted supply of REE. It examines economic theories centered on scarcity that predict that for any raw material growing in scarcity, there will always be a search for new supply, search for alternatives, and development of a broader supply chain through all phases of production, from mining to final product.

Panel 5 Green Table

Lemmons, Tarez. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Theology Mentored by Dr. Orlando Espin, Theology, USD

White Religion, Black Jesus

This research seeks to be a theological inspection of the divide between the Black and white understandings of Jesus. More specifically, it seeks to demonstrate how the historically inaccurate, white images and associations of Jesus could be problematic for the ways in which African Americans understand themselves and the divine. Ultimately, the research will contrast the Black understandings of Jesus prevalent in the Black community with the popular notions of Jesus prevalent in society as a whole. The hypothesis is that the historically inaccurate, racially idolatrous, white images and associations of Jesus are not only contrary to the popular Black understandings of Jesus, but also generate a feeling of inferiority in African Americans as to their status in the Christian community, that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely to ever be undone. This is homogeneous to what Chief Justice Earl Warren had concluded of dejure segregation after reviewing the findings of the Clark Doll Experiment in the Brown v. Board decision of 1954.

Panel 25 Red Shoe Room

Lester, Rachel. STARS, Jacksonville State University Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Anada Goldrath, Immunology, UCSD

The role of Hypoxia in determining CD8 T cell fate.

CD8 T cells play a major role in defending the immune system against pathogens.

These T cells can differentiate to become long lived memory cells or transient effector cells. Transcriptional regulators such as hypoxia inducible factors(HIFs) have a role in CD8 T cell differentiation. Recent studies suggest T cells utilize HIFs to respond to varying O2 concentrations in vivo and in vitro. We used the Vaccinia virus as a respiratory virus infection model to determine whether hypoxia exist in infected tissue and how this might influence T cell localization and phenotype. Hypoxyprobe is a reagent that marks cells in hypoxic conditions by visualizing hypoxic zones using confocal microscopy. Major questions of interest were, if hypoxia exists, where it exists and, on what day does it reach maximum hypoxia? Numerous days post infection were analyzed to determine the effect of viral infection on hypoxia and CD8 T cell fate over time.

Panel 22 SSC 554A

Lien, Brian. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD ERC Major: Neuroscience, Physiology Mentored by Dr. Andrew Huberman, Biology, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, UCSD

Optic nerve regeneration using high contrast visual stimulation

Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons in the adult mammalian visual system do not regenerate after injury, leading to permanent deficits in vision. The failure of RGC axon regeneration remains a considerable scientific and clinical problem, especially in the case of optic nerve diseases like glaucoma. Regeneration of the adult optic nerve and restoration of visual perception would ultimately require RGC axons to regrow, navigate to the correct targets, and reform functional synapses in the appropriate visual subcortical nuclei. In order to study RGC axon regeneration in vivo, we used the optic nerve crush lesion model. For three weeks, animals were treated with passive visual stimulation involving moving, highcontrast sinusoidal gratings alternating between vertical, horizontal, and orthogonal orientations. Our data show that daily visual stimulation of injured RGCs in adult mice triggers RGC axon regeneration past the optic nerve lesion site. Because there are currently no clinically satisfactory ways to regenerate the damaged optic nerve, further studies will focus on elucidating a better understanding of the role of visual stimulation in RGC axon regeneration and its possible therapeutic role in the recovery of lost vision.

Panel 18 SSC 350

Lieu, Cuong. STARS, UCSD Marshall Major: Microbiology Mentored by Dr. Mark Paddock, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Environmental Response Regulator RpaB's function in Microbial Circadian System The cellular circadian clock serves an important role in a wide range of organisms, allowing for the coordination of physiological and behavioral functions to changes in the diurnal rhythms of the environment. These modulations of cellular functions are controlled through the output of a circadian oscillator system. Here we study the model system for cellular circadian study in the cyanobacteria, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. At the center of its circadian system is a trio of proteins of which the ordered phosphorylation of KaiC facilitated by KaiA and KaiB functions as the temporal pacemaker of the cell.

Through interactions with KaiC, the antagonistic pair of histidine kinases: CikA and SasA serve as the output of the oscillator to regulate many important cellular functions through the response regulator, RpaA. Many details of these interactions are not well understood and could involve other protein interactions.

Recently, the phosphorylation state of the related environmental response

regulator RpaB has been demonstrated to correlate with that of RpaA. Here we discuss an effort to express and purify RpaA and RpaB in order to study their protein-protein interaction and these effects on the RpaA phosphorylation state Panel 18 SSC 350

Livingston, Kamren. MTSP-SURF, Barry University Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Nicole Purcell, Pharmacology, University of California San Diego

The Effect of PHLPP2 removal in primary astrocytes and the Brain

A wide variety of cellular processes, such as gene transcription, metabolism, cell survival, cell growth, and protein synthesis, are regulated by the serine/threonine kinase Akt. Upstream kinases phosphorylate Akt on Thr308, in its activation loop, and at its hydrophobic motif, on Ser473. PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP) is a newly discovered phosphatase that functions to decrease Akt activity by dephosphorylating the Ser473 site. Akt signaling in astrocytes has been shown to be regulated by PHLPP1 and its loss increases Akt activation, protecting the brain from ischemic injury. In previous studies, Akt activation was not changed by PHLPP2 knock-down in primary astrocytes.

Recently, we have generated PHLPP2 global knockout mice. The focus of this study is determine the effect of PHLPP2 removal on Akt as well as other kinases in the brain which may influence cell survival, and on primary astrocytes from wild-type and PHLPP2 knock-out mice. Our findings will demonstrate the cerebral consequence of PHLPP2 removal and suggest the potential for PHLPP inhibition in treating or preventing cell death following ischemic injury.

Panel 9 Revelle College Room

London, Tanisha. STARS, Spelman College Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Timothy Gentner, Psychology, UCSD

Mapping connections between forebrain and sensory regions of the avian cortex Natural vocal communication relies on the association between sounds and relevant behavioral events and requires active learning throughout life. To better understand the neuroanatomical basis of this learning we use staining and tracing methodologies to study the connections between auditory cortex and forebrain regions known to be involved in higher cognitive processes. We use a songbird species, European Starling, as a model because they face cognitive challenges for vocal communication similar to humans. Previous research suggests that the nidopallium caudolateral (NCL) in songbirds is equivalent to the mammalian prefrontal cortex based on their ability to integrate sensorimotor information (Kröner & Güntürkün, 1999). With the use of immunohistochemical techniques and an anatomical tracer we map the location of dopaminergic neurons. NCL also acts as a secondary auditory region and has putative connections to the primary auditory region, hyperstriatum ventrale, pars caudalis (HVC). HVC is involved in production, control, and perception of song and is known to project to a forebrain pathway (Appeltants, et al., 1999). We are interested in characterizing the projections to and from NCL as well as projections in HVC.

Panel 14 Student Leadership Chambers

Lopez, Lauren. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Olivia Graeve, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego

Soft Template Synthesis of Mesoporous Niobium Doped Titanium Dioxide Mesoporous materials exhibit large accessible pores and a large surface area.

These pores are capable of encapsulating larger molecules like biocatalysts.

Enhancing the electrical conductivity through a doping process may improve the function of encapsulated enzymes. The purpose of this project is to synthesize electrically conductive nanostructures to serve as reactors for biocatalysts which require an electrically conductive environment to function. Mesoporous titanium

dioxide doped with niobium was synthesized by use of a soft template method. Xray diffraction was used to confirm the synthesized powder material phases.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a uniform doping of niobium throughout the material. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) allowed for a closer look at the powder morphology, revealing a mesoporous structure. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller test (BET) confirmed the mesoscale pores by revealing two pore sizes, 6 and 9 nm. The surfactant and titanium precursor amount as well as the calcination temperature will be varied to change the pore size. A range of powders with differing pore sizes will be synthesized to analyze electrical and thermal conductivity changes. As part of a collaborative project, enzymes will be encapsulated within the pores for future biocatalyst study.

Panel 15 Governance Room

Lopez, Leonard. CAMP, UCSD Revelle Major: Electrical Engineering Mentored by Professor Robert Dynes, Physics, UCSD

Portable, Low Noise Cryocooler Measurement System

Superconducting circuits require extreme operating temperatures making portable applications difficult to implement. This project is aimed towards determining if portable applications with highly sensitive circuits (i.e. circuits where typical environments will degrade circuit function) are possible with a specific cryocooler based system approach. The system will be housed inside of a box which will include the superconducting sample and supplemental low noise, room temperature electronics including a line driver, oscillator, and amplifier.

The sample to be used will be a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), a sensitive magnetic field sensor capable of measuring extremely small, subtle changes in magnetic fields.

Panel 4 Red Shoe Room

Louis, Marcel. STARS, Howard University Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Professor Carlos Coimbra, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego

Proposed Design for Cost Efficient Solar Sensors to Provide an Affordable Medium for Irradiance Research

Pyranometers are a fundamental component of broadband solar irradiance data gathering. Large scale data collecting can be prohibitively expensive due to the significant cost associated with the purchase of instrumentation. For this reason, current efforts in the advancement of solar research are often hindered by financial constraints. The goal of this research is to develop a pyranometer that is cost effective, while also providing a standard of operation necessary for scientific research. A design proposed incorporates a photodiode, the necessary signal conditioning circuitry, and a device housing. The pyranometer is then placed on the roof of CALIT 2 and irradiance data collected. The data is then analyzed using the relevant time series error metrics and correlation statistics.

Where necessary, the variability response is accounted for by normalizing over a clear sky model. It is expected that the results will indicate that this design of the pyranometer performs with close to if not equal proficiency to those currently available. It is desired that the design will make large scale data gathering accessible to more scientists and ultimately facilitate the progression of solar science.

Panel 33 Warren College Room

Luis, Erika. CLIMB UP, Institute for Scientific Enhancement and Educational Diversity (iSEED), CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Matthew Paul, Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Social play in vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats

Many neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, are characterized by deficits in social interactions, including social play. Emerging evidence implicates the neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) in social development, but AVP’s precise role remains unknown. Our lab has found that AVP-deficient Brattleboro rats show lower levels of isolation-induced play than wild type (WT) rats, which have normal levels of AVP. These deficits could be due to AVP’s regulation of social behavior, stress (altered response to the isolation protocol), and/or daily rhythmicity. The current study investigates the latter two possibilities asking whether Brattleboro rats show deficits in their daily rhythms of spontaneous play. Same-sex, same-genotype pairs of WT and Brattleboro rats were recorded in their home cage 24 h/day from weaning until late puberty (>50 days of age). Forthcoming analyses of the total amount and daily timing of social play will determine whether play deficits of Brattleboro rats manifest in the absence of the isolation protocol and whether they are due to altered daily timing. These results will contribute to our understanding of AVP’s role in social development.

Panel 3 Bear Room

Lupi, Eduardo. CAMP, UCSD Warren Major: Nano Engineering Mentored by Professor Andrea Tao, Nano Engineering, UCSD

Synthesis and Characterization of High Refractive Index Metal-Thiolate Polymers

Advances in optoelectronic devices have led to an increased interest in materials with a high refractive index. These types of materials are crucial for enhancing the performance of these devices by altering the difference in refractive index between a photoresist substrate and a surface. Optical transparency and birefringence are also typical requirements of these materials. Polymers with a high refractive index are highly desired materials because they can improve processes such as photolithography. In addition, they can be utilized in lithographic processes as a photoresist material. Here, the synthesis of a high refractive index polymer that possesses a metal-sulfur coordination backbone is being investigated. This will be achieved by cross-linking metal coordination centers with bifunctional thiol linkers. The goal is to design a polymer with a refractive index greater than currently existing Si-based polymers, which have a refractive index of n = 1.8.

Panel 36 Governance Room

Macho, Jocelyn. McNair Scholars, STARS, University of Florida Major: Chemistry Mentored by Molinski Tadeusz Molinski, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Isolation of Antifungal Terpenes from Marine Sponges

Marine sponges are rich in biologically active natural products. Our interest is specifically in Marine Sponges which produce these complex molecular structures that can be used to develop novel pharmaceutical treatments. The goals of the Molinski group are to thus isolate and elucidate the structures of these compounds and create them through total synthesis. This project focused on elucidating various antifungal terpenes derived from sponges collected from Atolls in the Pacific Ocean using NMR, IR, and Mass Spectrometry. These extracted compounds were tested against various yeast strains, such as Candida Albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans v. gatti.

Panel 20 SSC 450

Marquez, Isaac. HCOP, SDSU Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Jeffrey Gustafson, Chemistry & Biochemistry, SDSU

Exploiting Atropisomeric Target Selectivity for Kinase Inhibitors Towards Cancer Kinases are an important family of proteins that regulate a wide variety of chemical and biological pathways within a cell. Such pathways are important for cell development to cell homoeostasis to cell division. Healthy cells in the body utilize EGFRK, AB1, RET and SRC kinase to activate cell proliferation and migration within the tissues in the body. These kinases have been also identified as primary targets of drug therapeutics for the role they play in a cancerous cell.

Our approach in the Gustafson group is to target each specific kinase over the other to create a selectivity protocol for us to be able to treat each cancer more specifically and directly without harming neighboring healthy cells. Currently we have created a molecule that inhibits all the kinases mentioned at safe concentration. This represents a problem with the toxicity levels of the molecule among healthy cells that need these kinases to be activated and functioning for their normal living rather than being inhibited. This method would serve as a novel way of fighting specific cancers in the body and of not harming other healthy living cells in their surroundings.

Panel 12 Warren College Room

Marquez Palencia, Mauricio. MTSP-SURF, UCSD Muir Major: Microbiology Mentored by Dr. JoAnn Trejo, Pharmacology, UCSD

Activated Protein C induces the activation of Akt and phosphorylation of Caveolin-1 in endothelial cells

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory reaction caused by severe bacterial infection. In sepsis, an increase of cytokines and coagulation responses causes vascular leakage and tissue edema. Activated Protein C (APC), an agonist for protease-activated receptor 1(PAR1), induces cytoprotective signaling in the endothelial cells that line blood vessels, protecting against vascular permeability. However, the FDA withdrew APC as a treatment for sepsis because of increased bleeding events.

This project aims to determine the mechanism of APC cytoprotective signaling.

Our hypothesis is that APC activation of PAR1 induces the phosphorylation of Akt and Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in a Src-dependent manner in endothelial cells.

Towards investigating the APC signaling pathway, we found that Akt and Cav1 are phosphorylated in endothelial cells stimulated with APC. We will next use pharmacological inhibitors and shRNA-mediated gene silencing to investigate the function of Src and PAR1 in the APC-induced phosphorylation of Akt and Cav-1. In future studies, we will examine the role of Akt activation and Cav-1 phosphorylation in the protection of the endothelial barrier following APC stimulation. By understanding the APC cytoprotective signaling pathway, we may discover new therapeutic targets for sepsis treatment.

Panel 6 East Ballroom

Martin, Ian. CAICE, UCSD Revelle Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Kim Prather, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

The Ability of Viruses to Act as Ice Nucleating Particles

Ice nucleating particles (INPs) provide a surface to trigger ice formation in clouds that would otherwise remain supercooled at -38°C, and are vitally important to precipitation. Biological particles likely act as INPs: the increase in bacteria and virus number concentrations during the death-phase of a phytoplankton bloom in a marine environment sometimes results in an increase in ice nucleation (IN) activity, but because the increase in bacteria and virus concentrations temporarily coincide, which species causes the IN activity has yet to be established; the goal

of this research is to determine if viruses contribute to this IN activity. An ice spectrometer, which lowers the temperature of sample wells containing species in solution, will be used. Freezing events of virus solutions at a higher temperature than the homogenous freezing point of water (-38°C) would suggest that viruses have potential to act as INPs and would motivate further studies of viruses in aerosol form. Additionally, number concentration will be observed as a parameter to determine what concentration of viruses is needed in solution before freezing occurs, as well as what concentration results in freezing at the highest possible temperature.

Panel 4 Red Shoe Room

Martinez, Alejandra. STARS, San Diego City College Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Michael Tolley, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCSD

Light Tensegrity Systems

Mechanically light tensegrity systems have typically been used in the scientific community to observe forces that satisfy configuration and equilibrium in the systems. However, connecting rigid bodies to tensile bodies has been typically conducted with metal wire and rods which can be tedious and complex to manufacture. Therefore, I report the development of an alternative tensegrity system that is easily manufactured and can hold twice its original weight.

Cardboard and Mylar were manufactured in a layered function which allows the tensegrity system to transition from a two-dimensional (2D) to a threedimensional (3D) system. Various software designs including different materials, geometries, and configurations were also tested using AUTOCAD and evaluated for thoroughness. The results of this research will give precedent to tensegrity systems that simplify the manufacturing process, which has application in large scale self-assembly processes (e.g. NASA Tensegrity Robots, etc.)

Panel 23 Ballroom A

Martinez, Gabriel. STARS, San Diego City College Major: Political Science Mentored by Dr. Marisa Abrajano, Political Science, New York University

Stirring the giant, observing voting tactics in southern San Diego

My objective is to understand effective methods for mobilizing Latino voter turnout in the Chula Vista and National City. The South Bay has the largest concentration of Chicanos voters in the County of San Diego (US Census 2014).Latinos are the majority population in the cities of Chula Vista, National City, and the Southern portion of San Diego (SDVote.com). I examined various voting tactics used in the Chula Vista and National City Mayoral Elections to determine if they would elect a mayor that is representative of the majority of the population (Latinos), Despite the large concentration of Latinos in both cities, only Chula Vista elected a Latina mayor, Mary Salas. Her campaign used student volunteers, literature about the candidate, phone calls and door-to-door canvassing, all of which has shown to be effective in getting voters to the polls (Nickerson 2006; Green and Gerber 2000; Garcia Bedolla and Michelson 2012).

This research can help inform future campaigns regarding the effective strategies for mobilizing Latinos in Chula Vista and potentially other areas in San Diego County.

Panel 33 Warren College Room

Martinez, Juan Carlos. STARS, Instituto Politecnico Nacional Major: Biotechnological engineering Mentored by Professor Yimin Zou, Biological sciences, UCSD

Viral mediated gene deletion to study adult brain development

Failure in social interaction is linked to abnormal neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, a serious behaviour problem. Nevertheless these studies must be assessed by recombinant techniques (gene deletion) along with behavioural tests.

To investigate the role of a series of same-pathway-sharing genes we performed

targeted disruption in mice. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) was injected in the mice brains as a way to perform the gene deletion in the group of interest.

The behavioural test was performed in a chambered choice task to measure sociability. Preference for the novel object is interpreted as an autism-like phenotype. The novel object test will be used to determine the mice's ability to remember an object over a previously experienced one. Failure to prefer the novel one indicates no recognition of familiar object previously explored. The open field test will be used as a measure of anxiety.

Results expected are related to the proper diffusion of the virus through the brain and its ability to generate deletion in order to seek for the correlation with the behavioural tests.

Panel 35 Student Leadership Chambers

Martinez, Xavier. STARS, CSU Long Beach Major: Computer Science Mentored by Professor Todd Coleman, Bioengineering, UCSD

Parallelizing Machine Learning Algorithms on Amazon Web Services

In this research project, we discuss the viability of implementing and parallelizing a machine learning algorithm that can accurately and efficiently compute Bayesian inference, on Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS specific Python libraries, such as Fabric and Boto3, were used in configuring the environment for the parallel algorithms to effectively communicate with an AWS Cloud. AWS natively supports Hadoop configurations and uses a MapReduce framework. A python library called â&#x20AC;&#x153;mrJobâ&#x20AC;? is used to structure our algorithm as a parallelizable MapReduce job. By distributing our algorithm onto a multi-node cluster setup, we were able to parallelize the processing load onto multiple machines within a single Elastic Compute Cloud instance. This project will create a doorway to new applications and the ability to process big data in an efficient manner using Bayesian inference, in order to identify trends that could be helpful in various industries (e.g. healthcare, etc.) where inferential measures are necessary.

Panel 24 Bear Room

Massaley, Suma. STARS, UCSD Major: Political Science Mentored by Dr. Sebastain Saiegh, Political Science, UCSD

"The Social Effects of The Liberian War on Civilians"

The purpose of this research is to examine the social effects of the Liberian Civil War (1999) on civilians. The main goal of this study is to analyze the suffering that Liberians endured during and after the war. The first phase of this project involves discussing the decline of population that was caused by disease, violent killings, and famine during the Liberian War. The second phase of this project will observe the post-war social effects in Liberia, specifically on refugees and education system. I will be reviewing various scholarly articles, documentaries, and archives, while also providing my own personal experience as a survivor of this war. From my research, I hope to demonstrate how this war has negatively affected the Liberian population not only during and after the war, but today as well. Finally, my research will challenge stigmas about international students like yourself, and how they become integrated into a U.S. educational system.

Panel 39 SSC 350

Mast, Andrea. SURE, USD Major: Marine Science Mentored by Dr. Jennifer Prairie, Environmental and Ocean Sciences, University of San Diego

An experimental comparison of phytoplankton and marine snow as a food source for copepods The constant shower of marine snow in the ocean is responsible for the vertical movement of organic carbon from the photic zone to the deep ocean, thus playing an important role in the carbon cycle. While the marine snow is descending, it

may be decomposed by bacteria, fragmented into smaller particles, or eaten by organisms. I will present results from a study in which we investigate zooplankton grazing on marine snow. We conducted feeding experiments in which zooplankton, specifically copepods, were incubated in roller tanks with either individual phytoplankton cells or marine snow as their food source. After each experiment, the gut pigment contents of the copepods were analyzed. This allowed us to compare the ingestion rate of the copepods fed individual phytoplankton to those fed marine snow, thus determining whether marine snow is a viable food option for copepods compared to individual phytoplankton. The results of this experiment will provide information on the interaction, if any, between zooplankton and marine snow, and shed some light on whether zooplankton are contributing to marine snow degradation as it falls through the water column.

Panel 26 Green Table Room

May, Deborah. UCSD Academic Senate Research Award, UCSD Marshall Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Michael Gorman, Psychology, UCSD

Sleep and Circadian Disruption in Hospital Emergency Physicians

To provide uninterrupted care, Emergency physicians (EPs) are typically staffed utilizing a rotating shiftwork schedule. Rotating shiftwork is known to cause profound circadian disruption. We sought to quantify the circadian disruption that results from current EP scheduling practices, with the goal of identifying strategies that mitigate symptoms of disruption. In Experiment 1, subjective measures of sleep and alertness in EPs at an urban hospital were reported across three different shift types (n = 31). Sleep quality between shifts was rated worst between night shifts (p<0.0001), and subjectively-reported alertness was significantly lower on night shifts (p<0.0001). In Experiment 2, sleep and vigilance across different shift types were assessed utilizing actigraphy, predicted sleep strategies, sleep log data and the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT). Data collection and analysis for Experiment 2 is ongoing; preliminary results suggest that alertness as measured by median reaction time on the PVT is significantly lower on night shifts than on day or swing (p<0.05). These data suggest decreased sleep quantity, quality, and levels of alertness in EPs during night shifts. Subsequent analyses of sleep and sleep strategies may lead to additional scheduling recommendations.

Panel 2 Green Room

Mazon, Natasha. START Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Microbiology Mentored by Dr. Eduardo Macagno, Cell and Developmental Biology, Colombia University

Characterization of Innexin Gene Expression Following Injury to the Central Nervous System of the Medicinal Leech Panel 8 Dance Studio

McLin, Chelsea. McNair Scholars, USD Major: English Mentored by Dr. Carlton Floyd, English, University of San Diego

Race in the Response: Reader Response to Racial Ambiguity in The Hunger Games What do readers presume to know about a character’s race in texts in which such signifiers are not explicitly marked, and what do those presumptions mean for reading? This line of inquiry first took shape from my reading of responses to The Hunger Games, published in 2008, and subsequently adapted to film. I was struck by online commentary concerning the filmic depiction of one character, Rue, as Black. One commenter, republished on Jezebel.com, noted that when they “found out Rue was Black her death wasn’t as sad.” This reader ignored the racial cues in the text, reading Rue as white, largely because to see her otherwise gave

them less reason to identify with her. Given recent claims that we exist in a postracial society, the racial comments expressed above suggest race, if not racism, informs how we read. I hypothesize that this readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comments privilege whiteness as a desirable characteristic particularly if one wants to sympathize with the character. I propose to study whether and to what extent the default identifier for characters, particularly characters that elicit sympathy or empathy, is white, even potentially, among non-white readers.

Panel 20 SSC 450

Mejia, Hilda. STARS, San Diego City College Major: Human Biology Mentored by Professor Judith A. Varner, pathology, University of California, San Diego

Defining the role of macrophages in head and neck cancer

Macrophages can be polarized into two distinct states that either promote M1 or and resolve M2 inflammation. While M1 macrophages promote inflammation secondary to chronic infections that may predispose to cancer, M2 promote tumor growth by suppressing T cell response. Head and neck carcinomas can exhibit extensive infiltration by immunosuppressive macrophages. I will test the hypothesis that head and neck tumor secreted factors induce immune suppressive M2 polarization in vitro and in vivo. To accomplish this I will test the effect of head and neck carcinoma secreted cytokines on macrophage polarization in vitro by incubating primary macrophages with tumor cell conditioned medium and evaluating the macrophage gene expression in response to these factors. I will characterize the immune response to head and neck tumor cell inoculation in vivo by characterizing the invasion of tumors by NK cells, T cells, B cells and M1 and M2 macrophages. Finally, I will evaluate the effect of altering macrophage polarity on the growth of tumors in vivo. Since head and neck tumors may induce immunosuppressive macrophage polarization, drugs that alter macrophage polarity might be effective to overcome immunological tolerance and promote tumor regression.

Panel 13 Sixth College Room

Mendez Salinas, Erika. The CSUSM Office of Graduate Studies and Research, CSUSM Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Sajith Jayasinghe, Chemistry & Biochemistry, CSUSM

Membrane Interaction of a Peptide from the Transmembrane Segment of Wza

Wza is a channel protein localized in the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria. Wza belongs to a relatively new class of outer membrane protein in which the membrane spanning region is comprised of an ι-helix. In the case of the more common outer membrane β-barrels, their TM segments are inserted in the outer membrane using a protein complex. However, the manner by which the TM segments of Wza like proteins insert into the outer membrane is not known.

Here, we investigated the conformation of a peptide derived from the TM segment of Wza (Wza TM) and its ability to interact with artificial lipid membranes, and membrane mimetic environments, as a first step towards determining its mechanism of membrane of membrane interaction.

Panel 20 SSC 450

Mendoza, Theresa. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Sixth Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Christina Jamieson, Surgery, UC San Diego

Molecular dissection of WNT signaling in the PCSD new series of patientderived xenograft models of bone metastatic prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer patients are surviving longer due to improved androgen deprivation therapies. However, over 80% of advanced patients develop bone metastatic prostate cancer in which there is no cure. Therefore, the goal of this

project is to determine which signaling components would serve as potential targets for bone metastatic prostate cancer therapy using our lab’s new prostate cancer xenograft models. Researchers have shown that the WNT signaling pathway regulate various processes that are important for cancer progression, including tumor initiation and metastasis. Thus, it is hypothesized that the following WNT signaling components, WNT5A, BMP6, and ROR receptors help prostate cancer thrive in the bone microenvironment in the absence of androgen. To determine whether these WNT signaling components were expressed at the RNA level in our lab’s new prostate cancer xenograft models, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reactions have been performed. The results of this study showed that BMP-6, ROR1, and WNT5A components are expressed in our prostate cancer xenograft models. Future experiments will utilize real-time PCR, immunohistostaining assays, knock-out, and overexpression methods to determine whether WNT signaling components would serve as effective targets for bone metastatic prostate cancer therapy.

Panel 15 Governance Room

Mercado, Gretel. CAMP, UCSD Revelle Major: Physics Mentored by Professor Adam Burgasser, Physics, UCSD

SDSS J1632+3505, A Possible Brown Dwarf Companion To A Nearby Main Sequence Star Studies on brown dwarf companions to stars are valuable to the advancement of brown dwarf knowledge. These sources are advantageous finds because fundamental properties such as mass and age, which are difficult to measure for brown dwarfs, can be obtained for their main sequence stars primaries. We have identified a brown dwarf, SDSS J1632+3505, as a possible companion to the sunlike star HD 149361. We confirm that this pair is gravitationally bound by determining that they have similar distances (29±5 pc for the brown dwarf 36±6 pc for the star) and similar proper motions. We classify the near-infrared spectrum of SDSS J1632+3505 as an L1 dwarf and find its temperature to be 1900±200 K. We also find a rough age estimate of 40-600 Myr for this source, and are working toward an age estimate for the star using both high and low resolution optical spectroscopy which may further constrain the age of the system. This system will be a useful benchmark for testing atmosphere models of cool stars, brown dwarfs, and extrasolar planets.

Panel 33 Warren College Room

Mercado, Duarlin. individual lab, CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez, Psychology, Michigan State University

Stress Effects on Lactating Dams Compared to Sensitized Virgin Mice

Lactating dams display reductions in the hormonal and behavioral response to stress relative to lactating dams. It is unknown whether effects are driven by hormones or pup exposure. This study will analyze the effect of stress on maternal behavior in lactating dams vs. sensitized mice (virgins exposed to pups).

Lactating dams (LD; n=10) and sensitized virgins (SV; n=10) were sensitized to pups two hours/day PND 1-4. On the last day, SV and LD underwent a 15 minute maternal behavior test. On PND 5, LD and SV experienced a stressor and maternal behavior was analyzed. Dams were perfused and brains are being assessed for c-Fos, an indirect marker of neuronal activity. Overall, LD were quicker to retrieve pups and spent less time nursing than SV. Following stress, SV displayed shorter latencies to self-groom and lick/groom pups. Results suggests pregnancy hormones rather than pup exposure underlie an adaptive maternal response to stress.

Panel 24 Bear Room

Michel-Stuart, Melanie. Mesa Honors Program, Mesa College Major: Human Biology Mentored by Dr. Denise Rogers, Fine Arts Department, Mesa College

Comfort Women: Chinese and Korean Iconographic Symbols and Contemporary Meaning?

Forced sexual slavery of Chinese and Korean women during the Asian Pacific War is a clear demonstration of male entitlement. Human rights violations including rape as a weapon of war, torture, and genocide are examined to determine if these acts of violence are perceived as male privilege during wartime campaigns. Silence over these abuses due to structural integration of the shame culture in Asian society and its effect on personal grief are also discussed.

Generations of Chinese and Korean women are still living in the collective shadow of personal and national tragedy. Contemporary Chinese artist Wang Yingchun, “Comfort Women Series” (2003) is compared to the work of fellow contemporary Korean artist Jungeun Lee, “Silenced Suffering: The Comfort Women Project” (2010). The artists’ interpretations are analyzed in relationship to the work of Ren Xiong and his “Self-Portrait” (c.1850) and traditional Korean funerary objects. These examples of art within a culturally defined framework serve as iconographic symbols to convey strong metaphorical connections.

Likewise, subtle layers of cultural contextual meaning are intended to shift the critical “gaze” away from the women as victims and on to the societal violence directed against them.

Panel 3 Bear Room

Mok, Joyce. McKittrick Lab, UCSD Warren Major: Structural Engineering Mentored by Professor Joanna Mckittrick, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCSD

Radial and Concentric Freeze Casting Inspired by the Porcupine Fish Spine The micro-structure of the porcupine fish spine has an interesting radial and concentric ring pattern that may contribute to its strength and flexibility. The concentric rings are thought to aid in crack deflection, while the radial patterning is thought to aid in transverse loading. Freeze casting is a process that takes advantage of the growth of ice crystals to create porous ceramic scaffolds.

Through this method, the structure of the porcupine fish spine will be imitated by creating a freeze cast scaffold with radial and concentrically aligned pores.

This novel bio-inspired scaffold will then be mechanically tested to assess its material properties.

Panel 13 Sixth College Room

Monsale, Crystal. STARS, SDSU Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Gouri Ghosh, UCSD Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego

The Mechanistic Interactions of GST-tagged IkB-gamma, His-tagged Reg gamma, and His-tagged p62 protein

Normally, the NF-kappaB family of transcription factors plays diverse physiological roles including roles in immune response, inflammation, and cell survival. However, without proper regulation, NF-kappaB can assist in progression of chronic inflammation. NF-kappaB family member, NF-kappaB1, also known as p50, is generated from a precursor molecule p105 where the Cterminal region, inhibitor of NF-kappaB (IkB-gamma), is degraded by the proteasome. We found the C-terminal region not only interacts with proteasome regulator 11S Reg gamma, but also with factors of the autophagy pathway (p62) in vivo. Currently, the mechanism of these IkB-gamma mediated interactions are not fully understood, but our goal is to determine if these interactions occur in vitro. We will express and purify GST-tagged IkB-gamma, His-tagged Reg

gamma, and His-tagged p62 protein in E. coli and test binding affinities through GST pull-down assay. We expect to see interactions between these expressed proteins, and the efficiency of pull-down will reflect strength of binding.

Interaction between these proteins would indicate presence of cross-talk among these important cellular pathways. Detailed mechanistic understanding of these pathways of immune response system can indicate appropriate targets for regulation of inflammation, critical for future drug discoveries Panel 43 SSC 554A

Monsivaiz, Daisy. STARS, CSUSM Major: Chemistry Mentored by Dr. Kamil Godula, Chemistry/Biochemistry, UCSD

Remodeling the Glycocalyx of Stem cells derived from Embryoid Bodies, using NeoPGs Embryonic stem cells have a capacity for multilineage differentiation when allowed to expand in culture under optimal conditions; producing explicit cell types. Under this premise, potential differentiated human stem cells can be used to replace impaired tissue, as well as paving the way for personalized medicine.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are proteins that contain long saccharaide chains and are involved in facilitating growth factor interactions with their receptor, with sulfation determining ligand binding. NeoPGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (proteoglycans) are synthetic, multivalent polymers containing disaccharides that mimic native HS. They have displayed binding specificity to several growth factors that are necessary for differentiation. It was previously shown that these polymers bind FGF2 and the receptor (FGFR), and direct plated stem cells toward neuroectoderm. It is proposed that using these polymers, stems cells can also be directed toward mesodermal lineages. To achieve this, embryoid bodies (EBs), which mimic embryo conditions, must be made. To achieve differentiation, the polymer must be distributed to most of the cells in the EB, so we must first characterize the polymer labeling in this system. To do this, flow cytometry will be used to characterize the percentage of labeled cells.

Panel 16 Forum

Montoya, Geovani. STARS, CSULA Major: Chemistry/Physics Mentored by Professor Marc Riera, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego

Many-Body Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ionic Solutions.

Molecular interactions between ions and surrounding water molecules are central for understanding specific ion effects that control the underlying physicochemical processes inside living cells, marine environments, and in atmospheric aerosols.

While there have been extensive experimental and computational studies on ion hydration, a definitive picture of how these ions are hydrated and to what extent structural differences in the hydration shells translate into differences in the thermodynamic and dynamical properties is still lacking. Although the progress of understanding ion hydration through computer simulations has been impressive, simple potentials appear to fail to reproduce structural and thermodynamic properties at the same time. To this end, we have recently extended our many-body molecular dynamics (MB-MD) methodology to study complex ionic solutions. This talk will focus on describing the results obtained from MB-MD simulations for structural, thermodynamic, and dynamical properties of hydrated halide and alkali-metal ions from small clusters to solutions, which provide fundamental molecular-level insights into the nature of ion-water interactions in direct connection with available experimental measurements. The implications of this work in regards to the long sought-after unified theory of ion hydration at the air-water interface will be discussed.

Panel 26 Green Table Room

Montoya Gamino, Belen. NEW Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Georgia Sadler, Surgery, UCSD

Quality Assurance Review of First Responders to Clinical Trial Inquiry

The purpose of this study is to assess clinical trials across the United States in order to see if they implement ways of accommodating Spanish speakers that could potentially become participants in those same studies. Based on the clinicaltrials.gov website, we identified the studies that were recruiting participants over 18 and had at least 30 days remaining before closing. Randomly selected subsets of those studies were then tagged for inclusion. Our research team constructed a semi-standardized script varied to align with the type of study we will be contacting, as well as a semi-standardized rubric to score the interaction between caller and first responder. First responders are the employees in charge of telephone inquiries from potential participants and are therefore essential in the accrual of subjects to research studies. Once the data is collected and evaluated we expect to see a greater accessibility to clinical trial studies, for Spanish speakers in areas of the country with dense Hispanic populations.

Panel 36 Governance Room

Monzon, Frankie. 4Cs at UCSD, Southwestern College Major: Chemistry Mentored by Dr. Joshua Figueroa, Chemistry, UCSD

Determination of Catalytic Activity of PinBim and Various Boranes for CO2 Reduction Abstract: Catalytic competency toward the activation of CO2 with a new class of frustrated Lewis acid/base pairs (FLP) synthesized by 1,1-hydroboration of the m-terphenyl isocyanide CNArDipp2 (ArDipp2 = bis–2,6–(bis 2,6– diisopropylphenyl)phenyl with secondary boranes dicyclohexylborane, and pinacolborane are presented. Under desired catalytic conditions, dicyclohexyl boryliminiomethane decomposes via 1, 2-cyclohexyl shift to the α–carbon of the (boryl)iminomethane functionality thus deactivating the FLP reactivity of the BIM towards CO2. Accordingly, incorporation of the electron withdrawn cyclic borane, pinacolborane, shows resistance to migration and attenuated Lewis acidity making it the preferred Lewis acid in the generation of boryliminomethanes adducts towards activation of CO2. Presented here are the results delineating catalytic activation of CO2 with this new class of frustrated Lewis acid/base pairs.

Panel 10 Marshall College Room

Morales, Pavel. Genentech, UCSD Muir Major: Molecular Biology Mentored by Professor Jing Wang, Neurobiology, University of Iowa

Chemical control of recombination in drosophila

Flp-frt recombination is an important tool for isolating and tracing neural circuits. The projections of a cluster of neurons can be mapped by sparsely labeling individual cells using flp-frt recombination. We propose to modify the flp-frt recombination system to confer chemical control on flp-dependent recombination. To do this, we plan to use the destabilizing domain (DD) technology. Linking DD with any protein of interest destabilizes the fusion protein and marks it for degradation. However, in the presence of a stabilizing ligand, trimethoprim, the fusion protein is spared from degradation. We plan to fuse flippase to DD and thus control its activity in a TMP dependant manner.

This modification allows us to have a greater temporal control of the recombination. Additionally, by varying TMP dosage, we can control the sparseness of recombination in a cell population. We plan to test this system using Drosophila melanogaster by making a flp-DD transgenic fly and using it to map projections of individual neurons in the Drosophila olfactory system.

Panel 11 Roosevelt College Room

Panel 2 Green Room

Morales, Fiorella. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Behavioral Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. Jena Hales, Psychology, USD

Women’s Veterans’ Research Assessment

Women veterans’ are one of the quickly growing underrepresented groups in the VA healthcare system. This study investigates women veterans’ health in several areas such as treatment preference, barriers to care, mental and physical health issues, and pre and /post-deployment experiences. The findings from this study will aid in the development of treatments to improve post-deployment outcomes in women veterans. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire after a complete informed consent at the La Jolla VA Medical Center. A social worker then contacted the veteran to follow-up on any health issues that needed to be addressed. While this study alone will not directly benefit the participants, the data and information gathered from the study may lead to future benefits. Since this study is comprehensive, participants may be identified and referred for treatment earlier than if they had not participated in the study. These findings may inform the development of new interventions, which may target quality of life outcomes in women veterans. There are minimal risks to the participants, and the findings are expected to help improve access to appropriate medical services for women veterans.

Mota, Oliva. START Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: biology with an emphasis in biochemistry and cell biology Mentored by Dr. Eduardo Macagno, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego

Modulation of coupling coefficient of leech Rz-Rz gap junction Not Available.

Panel 29 Dance Studio

Mullins, Turi. McNair Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Critical Gender Studies Mentored by Ph.D. Graduate Student June Ting, Literature, UCSD

Disciplining and Criminalizing Reproduction: Racialized Trans Misogynoir Terror Abstract: This research explores the violence against trans women of color through problematizing and theorizing ideas around reproduction, family and the state.

Panel 16 Forum

Munshi, Aditi. The Walker Lab, UC Irvine Major: Computer Science and Engineering Mentored by Dr. Ross Walker, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

A Comparison of Membrane Molecular Dynamics with Amber and Gromacs: Towards Fast Drug Permeability Simulations Molecular dynamics (MD) is the computer simulation of atoms and molecules using chemical parameters and Newtonian dynamics to predict their motions.

MD simulations generate statistical distributions of structures that a biomolecule will sample over time and has been a widely used computational method to study condensed-phase biomolecular systems such as proteins and nucleic acids.

Cellular membranes, ubiquitous plant and animal molecular structures that control the movement of molecules in and out of the cell, host such proteins that control intracellular signaling and regulate cellular processes. Therapeutic drug molecules often must pass through membranes or interact with membrane proteins, making them very important drug targets.

We performed simulations of a membrane patch of 72 DMPC lipids using the MD software Gromacs with the Amber GAFFlipid force field for lipid molecular parameters. Structural properties including area per lipid and lipid thickness were calculated and compared to experimental data of the same artificial bilayer.

Results were compared to membrane simulations under identical conditions using Amber MD software. The findings from this study of membrane simulations with different MD programs and parameters will be presented, with application to further biophysical studies of membranes.

Panel 42 SSC 554

Myszka, Brandon. STARS, Canisius College Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Stefan Aigner, Cellular & Molecular Medicine, UCSD

Using CRISPR/Cas9 in human pluripotent stem cells to investigate promoter function in a primate-specific microRNA cluster MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by silencing genes post-transcriptionally. Previous research has shown that a primate-specific cluster of 46 miRNAs on chromosome 19 (C19MC) is specifically expressed in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) but not in rhesus ESCs. In this project, we use CRISPR/Cas genome editing to investigate if this cluster is inactive in rhesus ESCs because of a two nucleotide difference, compared to the human sequence, within a putative Oct4 transcription factor binding site upstream of the C19MC. We designed and cloned single guide RNA sequences corresponding to a sequence near the putative Oct4 site into a plasmid coexpressing the Cas9 nuclease. We also designed a 165-mer oligonucleotide serving as the repair matrix for introduction of the mutation into the genome by homology-dependent repair. We will use nucleofection to introduce these DNAs into hESCs and identify mutant cells using a restriction enzyme assay on PCR products from genomic DNA. Using small RNA high-throughput sequencing, we will determine the impact of this mutation on the expression of these miRNAs. Future research on the function of these miRNAs will reveal paramount insights into primate evolution.

Panel 12 Warren College Room

Narala, Rachan. Pharmacology SURF, UCSD Muir Major: Human Biology Mentored by Dr. Neil Grimsey, Pharmacology, UCSD

An In Vitro Assessment of Thrombin Dependent Disruption of Vascular Integrity

Vascular integrity is maintained in part by the cell-cell interactions of endothelial cells that line the lumen of blood vessels. Monolayers of endothelial cells create strong barriers through the formation of adherens junctions, which are multiprotein complexes that directly connect cells. Protease activated receptor-1 (PAR1), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed on the surface of endothelial cells, can be activated by thrombin stimulation. When PAR1 is activated, it triggers intracellular signaling pathways to induce disassembly of adherens junctions between cells, causing an increase in vascular permeability.

The goal of my project is to compare thrombin-induced barrier permeability using TEER (trans-endothelial electrical resistance) measurements of multiple endothelial cells lines (EA.hy926, HUVEC, and HBMEC). When adherens junctions are disrupted, there is a significant decrease in TEER across the cell monolayer. We showed previously a role for both c-Src and p38 MAP kinase in the regulation of thrombin mediated endothelial barrier permeability, so our hypothesis is that inhibition of c-Src or p38 MAP kinase will block thrombininduced reduction in TEER. Panel 12 Warren College Room

Nguyen, Cynthia. STARS, Florida International University Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Nicole Purcell, Pharmacology, UCSD

Regulation of GRK5 by PHLPP2 in Cardiomyocytes

Cellular interactions that lead to cell growth, metabolism, proliferation and survival depend on the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation state of proteins

which are imperative for maintaining physiological functions. In particular, the serine/threonine phosphatase, PHLPP (PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase) has been found to directly dephosphorylate many members of the AGC family of kinases (Akt, PKC, and S6). Knockdown of PHLPP1 by siRNA in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes increases Akt activity however, PHLPP2 does not affect Akt phosphorylation. We have found that knockdown of PHLPP2 increases cardiomyocyte hypertrophy as assessed by myocyte size and increases in fetal gene expression. Our hypothesis is that PHLPP2 can directly or indirectly bind and regulate an AGC kinase, GRK5 (G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5) which has been shown to be an HDAC5 kinase and regulate cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo. Since little is known about the non-canonical regulation of GRK5, understanding whether phosphorylation and localization is regulated within the cardiomyocyte by PHLPP has potential for new therapeutic targets in the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and failure.

Panel 3 Bear Room

Niles-Rodney, Khalid. STARS, San Diego City College Major: Aerospace Engineering Mentored by Professor Joanna Mckittrick, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego

2D Observation of Ice Crystal Growth and Pore Size during Freeze Casting Freeze casting is a physical process that uses the directional freezing of water to separate solid particles within a slurry between growing ice crystals. Alcohol additives included in the slurry present variations in the final pore size of the scaffold due to the individual alcohol molecules being encapsulated by water molecules to form clathrate hydrates. This phenomenon of varying pore size is of interest as its mechanism is crucial to controlling reaction kinetics of materials.

An explanation for the mechanism by which the pore size changes is explored through design and implementation of an adjustable, rectangular, transparent plastic mold for 2D freeze casting. The freezing front of the frozen ice block is observed through the front side of the mold at various thicknesses. The velocity of the freezing front with and without alcohol is measured using calipers to chart the ice growth and then evaluated under microscope for observation of the ice crystals in greater detail. Change in pore size may be due to the formation of clathrate hydrates or a slower freezing rate from the anti-freezing property of the alcohol that allows for larger ice crystal growth.

Panel 33 Warren College Room

Norris, Haley. Maternal Behavior Neuroendocrinology Lab, CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez, Psychology, CSUSM

The Effects of Hypocretin and Parity on Maternal Behavior and Depressive Symptoms in Mice The neuropeptide, hypocretin (HCRT), is upregulated during lactation and regulates arousal and reward associated with maternal behavior that may be associated with mental health. Previous research suggests mental health of multiparous mothers worsens over time relative to primiparous mothers, which may be supported by HCRT. In the current study, it was hypothesized that primiparous dams would show less depressive symptoms, but decreased maternal motivation relative to multiparous dams and a HCRT1 receptor antagonist (HCRTR1A) would reverse these effects. The maternal behaviors were observed PND 1 and 2. On PND 5, the dams received HCRTR1A or vehicle and retrieved pups in a T maze to assess maternal motivation and a forced swim test (FST) for depressive symptoms. Multiparous dams spent more time licking and grooming while primiparous dams engaged in more nest building and more time on nest not nursing. In the T maze, multiparous dams showed an increased latency to lick and groom pups. However, when given the HCRTR1A, multiparous dams were quicker to pup retrieve. There was no effect in the FST. Results suggest

upregulation of HCRT based on parity as blocking HCRT in multiparous dams increased maternal motivation Panel 29 Dance Studio

Nunez, Selina. STARS, USC Major: Sociology and Chican@/Latin@ Studies Mentored by Dr. Luis Alvarez, History, UCSD

Detention, Policy, and the Criminalization of Migrants

My research project investigates how policy and experience of detention in Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities impacts the families of detainees. I consider how U.S. immigration policy exacerbates the criminalization of immigrants, disrupts family life, and reveals their resiliency in navigating transnational migrant circuits. Following scholars such as Joanna Derby, my goal is to broaden our approach to detentionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s familial impact by exploring the relevant immigration policy, the role of federal institutions involved, and, importantly, the perspective of migrants and their families. By integrating review of the existing literature with a new methodology that includes newspaper and policy research, ethnography, and oral interviews, I will outline my eventual project in prospectus form. During the next academic year, I will use the prospectus to complete a honors thesis at USC. For the STARS Conference, I will present my prospectus along with a bibliography and a set of interview/survey questions. By completing this project, I hope to bring attention to the injustices that are result of ICE and its policies and show that it is imperative to find a remedy for the everyday problems faced by many immigrants.

Panel 32 Roosevelt College Room

Ocadiz, Carlos. HCOP, SDSU Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Nader Amir, Psychology, San Diego State University

Attention and Anxiety: The relationship between Attention, Anxiety and Gender in Social Anxiety Research suggests that individuals with deficient attention control show an increased vulnerability to develop emotional disorders. Moreover, there are a few studies suggesting cognitive differences between genders. This study aimed to investigate differences in attention control in socially anxious males and females.

Additionally, this study evaluated the relationship of attention control and emotionality. Socially anxious participants (n=235) were given a computer based task measuring attention. The ANT (Attention Network Task) was implemented, assessing three attention networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control.

Participants responded to a row of five horizontal arrows and/or dashes, indicating the direction of the center arrow while ignoring the direction of the peripheral arrows and/or dashes. It was predicted that there would be a negative correlation between attention control and emotionality. Furthermore, it was expected for there to be gender differences in attention control. This investigation aimed at extending previous research on attention, addressing the relationship between attention control, anxiety and gender. The findings would add to the ongoing debate of cognitive function and emotional disorders.

Panel 27 East Ballroom

Oh, Jun. NEW Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Neuroscience/Psychology Mentored by Professor Ethan Bier, Division of Biological Sciences, UCSD

Lethal Effects of the Anthrax Toxin in Drosophila melanogaster and its Pathways

Anthrax toxins are bipartite exotoxins that consist of Edema Factor (EF), Lethal factor (LF), and protective antigen (PA). These toxins are secreted by Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. While EF is a potent Adenylate Cyclase producing a pathological rise in cAMP levels, LF cleaves and inactivates several MAPKKs, inhibiting all three MAPK pathways. Once the LF and EF catalytic

subunits enter host cells via PA binding and receptor-mediated endocytosis, they cause a variety of effects including disrupting cell junctions, inducing cell death, edema or impairing many aspects of immune function. The research delves into the intracellular pathways of EF and LF, utilizing Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) as a model organism, One of our goal is to block intracellular anthrax activity after the toxin release into the cytoplasm.

As of now, flies with NP1; UAS-EF construct, in which the EF expression can be induced in the gut , are ready for potential screening of drug candidates such as PKA inhibitors (eg. H89) to test for suppression of EF dependent lethality. The expectation is that various drugs that inhibit EF activity will lower the lethality observed in these flies. Also, dominant negative forms of EF and LF are being recovered which show a promising potential as EF and LF inhibitors. Further research will hopefully identify candidate drugs that could have therapeutic applications in the treatment of the anthrax toxin.

Panel 28 Muir College Room

Oken, David. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Mary Jo Schumann, Director of the USD Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research, USD

Leadership after Learning: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Ongoing Leadership Development of Participants in an International Program This study explores the cultural transferability of leadership development and examines how leadership capacities are demonstrated over time. A modified version of the Socially Responsible Leadership Scale will be administered to 16 international and five American students a total of three times: before, immediately following, and six months after their participation in a three-week California program on leadership and international cooperation. It is hypothesized that there will be little change in socially responsible leadership capacities due to a selection process that favors applicants who demonstrate advanced, pre-existing levels of leadership development. After both postprogram surveys are analyzed, researchers will conduct qualitative interviews via Skype to better understand participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experiences, as well as their leadership characteristics and how they are manifested over time. The research findings will help inform future programs with similar goals, as well as contribute to the literature on leadership and cultural transferability.

Panel 20 SSC 450

Okolo, Rita. STARS, Howard Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Dong-Er Zhang, Pathology, UCSD

Relative Gene Expression of UBE1L and its Association with the Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Ubiquitin-activating enzyme UBE1L is an E1- like protein for the IFNstimulated gene, ISG15, and is the specific activating enzyme for ISGylation. Our group has observed using survival analysis that higher UBE1L gene expression correlates with improved patient survival. However, little is known about how UBE1L mediated protein ISGylation regulates myeloid recruitment and polarization in the cancer microenvironment.

To further understand the role of UBE1L in mediating cancer progression through cell polarity, we have conducted experiments to quantify the relative gene expression of certain cancer biomarkers (iNOS, ARG1, IL-10, and TNF) in pertinence to their polarity: m1 indicative of anti-tumor progression and m2 indicative of pro-tumor progression. We hypothesize that there will be little to no differentiation in the polarity of the myeloid cells. Our methods will measure gene expression in CD11B + myeloid cells isolated from breast cancer tumors originating from the (MMTV-PYMT) mouse model through quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR).

Our investigation will aid in understanding how UBEbe1L mediated protein ISGylation in cancer cells modulates the polarization of the tumor-associated macrophages in the microenvironment to create novel therapies manipulating the polarity of myeloid cells to decrease tumor progression.

Panel 7 Muir College Room

Olivas, Artemio. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Literatures of the World Mentored by Dr. Frances Contreras, EDS, UCSD

The Puente Project: Exploring the Impact of Cultural Inclusion on the Success of Latino College Students Over the past 75 years California has experienced a significant increase in its statewide and public school Latino population. In 1940 Latinos constituted only 6% of the population. However, in 2014 Latinos made up close to 40% of the total population with the K-12 population at 55% (Bautista, 2002; U.S. Census, 2014; California Department of Finance, 2015). One major problem that has emerged is the historic and contemporary academic underachievement of Latino students.

Recently however, there has been an emerging body of academic discourse exploring the reasons behind this phenomenon (Darder, 2011, 2012; Sleeter, 2005, 2012) as well as others attempting to offer solutions to the issue (Rendon, 2009; Gandara, 1995, 2002).

The Puente Project, a California academic program, uses a unique pedagogical model that has seen over thirty years of success with its Latino students (Gandara, 2002; Gandara & Contreras, 2009). Using qualitative research methods on a sample of Puente students and Faculty, this study found that culturally relevant curriculum content, ethnic compatibility between professor and student, and non-traditional English classroom pedagogy, are important practices that support Latino student success and carry implications for other educational contexts.

Panel 10 Marshall College Room

Oliver, Khallyl. NET/work, STARS, GSU Major: Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. Mark Ellisman, Biomedical Sciences, University of California San Diego

Immunofluorescent Labelling of Potential Antibodies for Optic Nerve Stem Cell Recognition I tested biomarkers for optic nerve stem cells. It has been proposed that optic nerve stem cells serve as a source of neoplastic growth in a murine model of Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated optic glioma (Hegedus, 2009).

Further investigation has purported the existence of stem cells in NF-1 gliomas identifiable with antibodies against CD133, LGR5, and Abcg1 (Chen, 2015).

Astrocytes in optic gliomas and optic nerves express GFAP and SOX2, but it is currently unknown whether the novel stem cell population identified with CD133, LGR5, and Abcg1 express GFAP, SOX2, other astrocytic markers, or are potentially markers of other macroglial cell types (Kim, 2010). This study was intended to confirm the presence of optic nerve stem cells, characterize the cells and their usefulness as biomarkers for a specific subpopulation of cells. The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles were chosen as controls for labeling as resident stem cell niches exist therein (Ming and Song, 2011). If there is a stem cell niche within the optic nerve, then these antibodies may be essential for labeling tissue specific cells via basic immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining.

Panel 42 SSC 554

Olvera, Jocelyn. Plant Genomics REU @ MSU, CSUSM Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology Mentored by Dr. Hideki Takahashi, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University

Protein-protein interaction of high-affinity sulfate transporters facilitating sulfate uptake in Arabidopsis thaliana In Arabidopsis thaliana, sulfate is taken up from the soil via two high-affinity sulfate transporters, SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2, expressed in root hairs, epidermal and cortical cells of roots. Both SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2 are induced under low-sulfate conditions, increasing the number of sulfate transporters expressed at the plasma membranes to facilitate the uptake of sulfate from the environment. It is hypothesized that SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2 cooperatively mediate sulfate uptake in the roots under sulfate-starved conditions. To investigate the interplay of SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2 in plants, transgenic lines expressing SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2 fused to either the N-terminal or Cterminal part of yellow fluorescent protein (nYFP and cYFP) were created in the Arabidopsis sultr1;1 sultr1;2 double mutant background. Our results showed that the root growth defect of the mutant was restored in all transgenic lines, indicating that nYFP- and cYFP-tagged SULTR proteins are functional as sulfate transporters. Furthermore, the interaction between SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2 was observed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation of nYFPand cYFP-tagged SULTR proteins in roots of transgenic seedlings grown under sulfate-deficient conditions.

Panel 1 Ballroom A

Ong, Aaron. NEW Scholars, UCSD Revelle Major: Bioengineering Mentored by Dr. Michael Tolley, Mechanical and aerospace engineering, University of California, San Diego

The analysis, design, and fabrication of laminates for printable, self-assembling robotic swarms Robot manufacturing is typically expensive and time consuming, due to highly specialized and complex designs. These robots are designed to perform one given task over the course of their lives. However, swarm robots, inspired by collective insects, are capable of performing a variety tasks beyond the scope of any single robot. They are able to cover more ground and are also more resilient, armed with the ability to continue the task even after a few robots are lost. Upon completion of its purpose, the low-cost collective can be designed to ultimately be disposed, recycled, or reprogrammed.

Here, we present an affordable collective of robots that is manufactured using laminate technology. We take inspiration from the collective behavior of animals, such as ants and bees, the ancient art of origami, and the evolutionary design from nature. Laminates self-fold and self-assemble into the final 3-D robot conformation. Self-assembly addresses the limitations of manually constructing a robot; down-scaling the robotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s size allows us to produce large quantities in a relatively short period of time. Finally, laminates can produce high strength-toweight ratios paving the way for new possibilities in space exploration.

Panel 13 Sixth College Room

Ortiz, Steven. NSF REU, Mesa College Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Judy Kim, Biophysical chemistry, UCSD

Quenching of Tryptophan Fluorescence In Outer Membrane Protein A (OmpA) of Escherichia coli During Folding and Insertion into Lipid Bilayers Membrane proteins make up a third of all proteins in the human genome, acting as cell receptors, enzymes, ion channels, transporters, and principal drug targets.

The dynamics and mechanism for protein insertion and folding into lipid bilayers

are not well understood. The outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of Escherichia coli is a model for studying folding of porin-like proteins. OmpA, following the dilution of urea, spontaneously forms a beta barrel pore in lipid bilayers in vitro.

We aim to describe a picture of the folding process from the urea-denatured state to the folded state via fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence quenching was used to monitor the solvent accessibility of a single-tryptophan residue in OmpA during insertion and folding of the protein into a lipid bilayer. We observed an exponential decay in the Stern-Volmer constant, Ksv, from 8.50 M-1 to 1.59 M1 between the time points 0 to 6 hrs after initiation of the folding reaction.

Elucidation of the folding mechanism may give way to understanding the molecular basis of protein folding diseases and engineering membrane proteins for selective transport of particulates.

Panel 1 Ballroom A

Ortiz, Daniel. IME-BECAS, UCSD Warren Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Professor Michael Tolley, Mechanical Engineering, UCSD

Earthworm Inspired Robot Earthworms are some of natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simplest invertebrates with a unique way of getting around. Worms achieve locomotion in a two-step cycle: they first elongate in the desired direction, then expand radially to create a temporary anchor. These two steps are then repeated along the length of its body. They also have the remarkable ability of self-regeneration when damaged. Worms are able to continue moving and living after a large portion of their bodies has been removed. This ability is what has inspired the creation of the following tethered soft robot. The robot being designed at UCSD, under Professor Michael Tolley's Bio-inspired robotics design lab separates itself from previous work because it will be able to have a portion separated or removed and continue to work.

Specifically this robotic worm will be pneumatically powered, and primarily consist of silicone rubber. The body will be cylindrically shaped and partitioned into approximately four segments or modules. Each of these segments will be tethered to a fluidic control board, which will regulate the pressure. The control board will be programmed to adjust the movement of the robot by sensing pressure changes due to damaged areas.

Panel 8 Dance Studio

Panduro, Alejandro. NEW Scholars, UCSD ERC Major: Undeclared Mentored by Dr. Wayne Yang, Ethnic Studies, UCSD

Race, Spirituality & Critical Analysis of Power

Throughout history, social activists have assumed their role as leaders in the efforts to establish a better society. However, the role of their sense of spirituality and/or religious practices in influencing and sustaining their activism is often ignored, glossed over, or undertheorized in literature on social movements. In this research, the main objective is to analyze the role of spirituality at the personal level of social activists when leading social movements. Patterns in the lives of several social movement leaders who identify with specific religious practices and/or spirituality will be identified and analyzed, such as Malcolm X and Dolores Huerta. The findings will be juxtaposed to theories of spirituality and activism.

Panel 10 Marshall College Room

Parsa, Pouya. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Warren Major: Physiology and Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. Brenda Bloodgood, Neuroscience, UCSD

Profiling Npas4 expression in the hippocampus

In this project we analyze the temporal and spacial expression of Npas4 in the hippocampus. Different subregions in hippocampus have different computation functions, and we hypothesize to see different Npas4 expression.

Panel 17 SSC 260

Patray, Sharon. REU, CSUSM Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Joel Schildbach, Biology, Johns Hopkins University

Isolation of Mycobacteriophages from the Environment

Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Phages attack their host by binding to surface receptors and injecting their DNA into the host. Phage replicate in the host and are released by lysis, killing the bacterium. Because they can introduce DNA into bacteria and can lyse them, phages are of broad scientific interest. I am participating in a research project isolating phages against Mycobacterium smegmatis from the environment, sequencing their DNA and creating a database of phages for future research. Soil samples were incubated with the host, extracted by filtration, and plated with the host. Phage from four plaques were selected for further study. So far, DNA has been isolated from one phage, and DNA concentration and quality was assessed by gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometry. DNA will be isolated from the other three phages.

Electron microscopy (EM) analysis will be conducted on all four phages to gain more insight in to their physical characteristics. We plan to sequence the genomes of all four phages. Analysis of these genomes will help us understand the genetic diversity of these phages.

Panel 35 Student Leadership Chambers

Paudyal, Roshil. STARS, Howard University Major: Mathematics Mentored by Dr. Jeffrey Remmel, Mathematics, UCSD

A Fibonacci analogue of Stirling numbers

The Fibonacci numbers are defined by setting đ??š1 = 1 = đ??š2 and đ??šđ?&#x2018;&#x203A; = đ??šđ?&#x2018;&#x203A;â&#x2C6;&#x2019;1 + đ??šđ?&#x2018;&#x203A;â&#x2C6;&#x2019;2 for đ?&#x2018;&#x203A; â&#x2030;Ľ 3. The sequence of Fibonacci numbers is one the most studied combinatorial sequences in all of mathematics and there is even a journal devoted to the study of the properties of Fibonacci numbers. Recently, there has been interest in studying Fibonacci analogues of other classical combinatorial numbers. For đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;đ??š ! example, đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;đ??š ! = đ??š1 â&#x2039;Ż đ??šđ?&#x2018;&#x203A; and (đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;) = đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; !â&#x2C6;&#x2122;(đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;â&#x2C6;&#x2019;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;) are Fibonacci analogues of đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;! and ! đ??š

the binomial coefficients

(đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;)

=

đ??š

đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;! . đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;!â&#x2C6;&#x2122;(đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;â&#x2C6;&#x2019;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;)!

đ??š

The Stirling numbers đ?&#x2018;&#x2020;đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;,đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; and đ?&#x2018;?đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;,đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; are

defined by the equations: đ?&#x2018;Ľ đ?&#x2018;&#x203A; = â&#x2C6;&#x2018;đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;=1 đ?&#x2018;&#x2020;đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;,đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; (đ?&#x2018;Ľ)â&#x2020;&#x201C;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; and (đ?&#x2018;Ľ)â&#x2020;&#x2018;đ?&#x2018;&#x203A; = â&#x2C6;&#x2018;đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;=1 đ?&#x2018;?đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;,đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; đ?&#x2018;Ľ đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; , where (đ?&#x2018;Ľ)â&#x2020;&#x201C;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; = đ?&#x2018;Ľ(đ?&#x2018;Ľ â&#x2C6;&#x2019; 1) â&#x2039;Ż (đ?&#x2018;Ľ â&#x2C6;&#x2019; (đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; â&#x2C6;&#x2019; 1)) and (đ?&#x2018;Ľ)â&#x2020;&#x2018;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; = đ?&#x2018;Ľ(đ?&#x2018;Ľ + 1) â&#x2039;Ż (đ?&#x2018;Ľ + (đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; â&#x2C6;&#x2019; 1)) are the standard falling factorial and rising factorial bases. We study the combinatorial properties of Fibonacci analogues, đ?&#x2018;şđ?&#x2019;&#x2021;đ?&#x2019;?,đ?&#x2019;&#x152; and đ?&#x2019;&#x201E;đ?&#x2019;&#x2021;đ?&#x2019;?,đ?&#x2019;&#x152; , of the Stirling numbers which are defined by the equations: đ?&#x2018;Ľ đ?&#x2018;&#x203A; = â&#x2C6;&#x2018;đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;=1 đ?&#x2018;şđ?&#x2019;&#x2021;đ?&#x2019;?,đ?&#x2019;&#x152; (đ?&#x2018;Ľ)â&#x2020;&#x201C;đ??š,đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; and (đ?&#x2018;Ľ)â&#x2020;&#x2018;đ??š,đ?&#x2018;&#x203A; = â&#x2C6;&#x2018;đ?&#x2018;&#x203A;đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;=1 đ?&#x2019;&#x201E;đ?&#x2019;&#x2021;đ?&#x2019;?,đ?&#x2019;&#x152; đ?&#x2018;Ľ đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; , where (đ?&#x2018;Ľ)â&#x2020;&#x201C;đ??š,đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; = đ?&#x2018;Ľ(đ?&#x2018;Ľ â&#x2C6;&#x2019; đ??š1 ) â&#x2039;Ż (đ?&#x2018;Ľ â&#x2C6;&#x2019; đ??šđ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;â&#x2C6;&#x2019;1 ) and (đ?&#x2018;Ľ)â&#x2020;&#x2018;đ??š,đ?&#x2018;&#x2DC; = đ?&#x2018;Ľ(đ?&#x2018;Ľ + đ??š1 ) â&#x2039;Ż (đ?&#x2018;Ľ + đ??šđ?&#x2018;&#x2DC;â&#x2C6;&#x2019;1 ) are the Fibonacci analogues of the falling factorial and rising factorial bases. In particular, we develop a new rook theory model to give combinatorial interpretations to the numbers đ?&#x2018;şđ?&#x2019;&#x2021;đ?&#x2019;?,đ?&#x2019;&#x152; and đ?&#x2019;&#x201E;đ?&#x2019;&#x2021;đ?&#x2019;?,đ?&#x2019;&#x152; .

Panel 29 Dance Studio

Paul, Dante. McNair Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Political Science Mentored by Dr. Dennis Childs, Literature, UCSD

War on Urban America: The Impact of Militarization of Policing in the United States Between the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to the present, the United States of America has experienced a transformation in its policing methods, protocol, equipment, training, procedures, and tactics. And Since the late 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and the early 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the United States federal government have distributed billions and billions of dollarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; worth of military grade equipment to local law enforcement agencies in America. With

this persistent transition towards militarized policing in America, came another corresponding racialized formation of black bodies. Racism has plagued the Black community since the creation of the United States and policing has established itself as another method of racism and a symptom of the mass incarceration of black bodies in America. The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between militarized policing, the expansion of the prison system, and its impact on the mass incarceration of black bodies in the United States. The end goal of this project is to decipher ways to demilitarized civilian policing. The issue has been brought to light by American media and news and sparked many conversations on whether policing in America is promoting peace or creating chaos?

Panel 42 SSC 554

Pena Palomino, Perla. HCOP, SDSU Major: Chemistry Mentored by Dr. Tom Huxford, Biochemistry, San Diego State University

Solution binding studies of Drosophila melanogaster UNC-45 protein

The UNC-45 gene has been demonstrated as necessary for proper folding, assembly, and function of skeletal muscle in roundworms, flies, and zebrafish.

Despite its clear phenotype, the mechanism by which the UNC-45 protein influences muscle assembly is not known. In an effort to biochemically characterize UNC-45 function, we designed and prepared a bacterial expression plasmid encoding full length UNC-45 from Drosophila melanogaster fused to an amino-terminal glutathione-S-transferase (GST) protein. The protein expresses as a 138-kDa single chain polypeptide and can be purified by glutathionesepharose affinity chromatography and size exclusion chromatography with a yield of 5-10 milligrams protein per liter of culture. We have also engineered two expression plasmids of the full length UNC-45 protein from the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster with the A. victoria Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) fused to either the amino-terminal or carboxy-terminal ends. Using the x-ray crystal structure of D. melanogaster UNC-45 as a guide, the binding affinity of Hsp83 and myosin to UNC-45 will be studied qualitatively via GST-pulldown and quantitatively in solution by MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) in order to map the interactions of the biomolecules.

Panel 22 SSC 554A

Peralta, Francisco. IRACADA-Pharmacology, San Diego City College Major: Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. John W. Steele, Larry Goldstein Lab, UC San Diego

Differentiation And Isolation Of Human IPSC-Derived PROX1+ Dentate Gyrus Granule Neurons According to recent statistics from the Alzheimer's association, there are currently an estimated 5.3 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is the most common form of dementia among the elderly, leading to loss of memory and other intellectual abilities that interfere with daily life. The emergence of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has opened new avenues in the field of neurodegenerative disease biology and drug discovery. Our lab uses human iPSC-derived neurons to study the abnormal regulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau in neurons. However, based on the knowledge that not all neurons are equal, we are led to believe that not all neurons have the same susceptibility to disease processes.

We believe that prox1-expressing dentate gyrus granule neurons (DGNs) may be susceptible to tauopathy and, therefore, are developing a method to study tau regulation in purified prox1-positive human iPSC-derived neurons. Our overall aim for this project is to develop and test tools for the rapid and high-yield purification of prox1-positive human iPSC-derived DGNs, and further to investigate the expression and turnover of tau in this AD-susceptible population of neurons.

Panel 28 Muir College Room

Perez, Paola. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Sociology Mentored by Dr. Thandeka Chapman, Education Studies, UCSD

From Resolution to Implementation: the Transition of an Ethnic Studies Requirement in California Districts

Ethnic Studies courses benefit K-12 achievement for students of color personally, socially, and academically. Given the established benefits of Ethnic Studies curricula on high school students, it is crucial to delve into more critical studies regarding the facets of the implementation of Ethnic Studies. This research paper will attempt to uncover the structural and professional challenges district leaders face as they establish Ethnic Studies courses within Social Studies and other departments. I seek to answer the question: how do K-12 districts transition to incorporating a mandatory Ethnic Studies requirement following the resolution process? By conducting in-depth qualitative interviews with Ethnic Studies district leaders across California, I will critically analyze the necessary resources, structures, and partnerships needed to build a successful mandatory Ethnic Studies curriculum in K-12 districts. In this way, I will reveal how the transition process is translated from resolution to implementation and, subsequently, how these processes can inform other Ethnic Studies resolution processes across California. Ultimately, I hope to provide insight on what effective Ethnic Studies classrooms encompass and how these characteristics can be implemented on a larger, district-wide scale without losing substance under a standardized curriculum.

Panel 31 Marshall College Room

Perez, Jonathan. NEW Scholars, UCSD Revelle Major: Human Biology Mentored by Stephen Johnston, Ph.D. Student, Genetics Lab- Gage Lab, Salk Institute

Hippocampus, Neurogenisis and Memory

Salient autobiographical memories, known as episodic memory, are thought to be encoded through the concerted activity of ensembles of neurons in the hippocampus. How the hippocampus segregates one memory from the next remains unknown. This project aims to elucidate mechanisms of memory formation and segregation by directly imaging the neural activity of hundreds of individual neurons deep within the brain, in successive sub-regions of the hippocampus, as awake behaving mice perform memory separation tasks. Stephen Johnston (Gage Lab) will act as my mentor as I assist him with his Ph.D. thesis to these ends.

Panel 21 SSC 554

Pham, Juan. STARS, Florida International University Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Robert Sah, Bioengineering, UC San Diego

Comparison of cartilage repair in the knee joint between empty osteochondral defects and autografts Abstract redacted due to pending publication.

Panel 21 SSC 554

Pham, Anhuy. STARS, UCI Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Professor Shyni Varghese, Bioengineering, UCSD

Development of Vascularized 3-D tissues Utilizing Micro-patterning and Cellresponsive Hydrogel.

Hemophilia B is a genetic disorder characterized by noticeable deficiency of clotting protein factor IX (FIX.) Symptoms include spontaneous, prolonged bleeding, and hemorrhaging after childbirth. One current treatment for the

disease is to intravenously infuse factor IX into patients. Our current project in the Varghese lab is to develop a bioengineered implantable liver tissue surrogate for in vivo regulation of FIX. However, one of the key challenges is to create a fully functional vascularized tissue construct to ensure proper delivery of nutrients and export of waste products. To address this, we combine micropatterning techniques and cell-responsive, degradable hydrogels to create functional, vascularized, 3-D tissues. To this end, PEG-Dithiol is micropatterned into capillary channels within a cell-laden 3-D PEG Diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel. The composite is then treated with cytocompatible molecules like Cysteine to cleave the backbone disulfide bonds, thereby dissolving the gel and leaving hollow tube-like vasculature within the construct. Once this dissolvable system is properly developed, we anticipate that in future in-vivo studies native endothelial cells can be recruited into the hollow tubes to form an integrated vascularized functional liver structure.

Panel 38 SSC 260

Plunkett, Christopher. STARS, University of Rochester Major: Bioengineering Mentored by Professor Shiny Varghese, Bioengineering, UCSD

A novel co-culture platform to understand the effect of stem cell-secreted morphogens on osteoarthiritic phenotype

Chondrocyte-human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) interactions through soluble factors have been shown to have significant effects on chondrogenic differentiation. It is also well established that the hMSCs exhibits the potential to secrete anabolic factors such as anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic molecules.

We propose to develop a coculture condition to study the effect of hMSC-secreted morphogens on osteoarthritic chondrocyte (OAC) phenotypes. Specifically, we will develop a method of OAC MSC co-culture which utilizes micropatterning to minimize the morphogenic gradient between cells. Passage 4 MSC’s will be embedded in photopatterned micro-pillars of chondroitin sulfate methacrylate (CSMA). The cell-laden CSMA pillars will then be surrounded by Alginate containing hOACs and co-cultured up to 14 days. Chondroctyes will be harvested and analyzed with RT-qPRC and immunohistological staining with corresponding homogeneous cell culture controls. Following co-culture results are expected to show elevated expression of chondrogenic genes Collagen type II (ColII) and aggracan along with ColII and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) staining.

There is also an anticipated decrease in hOAC phenotypic markers MMP13, and ADAMTS4. These findings would suggest a therapeutic effect of stem cells on hOAC’s and provide incentive for further optimization of micro-patterning to regenerate healthy chondrocytes.

Panel 39 SSC 350

Proctor, Kyle. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Environmental Studies Mentored by Dr. Jennifer Prairie, Environmental and Ocean Sciences, University of San Diego

Effects of phytoplankton growth phase on delayed settling of marine snow aggregates through sharp density gradients

Marine snow aggregates are collections of organic material and sediments that form in the upper ocean and play a fundamental role in the marine carbon cycle.

Since marine snow aggregates are larger and thus sink faster than individual phytoplankton, aggregates often dominate carbon flux – the movement of particulate carbon from the surface ocean downward to the deep ocean where it can be sequestered for long periods of time or recirculated throughout the ocean.

Using samples of cultured phytoplankton from four growth phases, we formed marine snow aggregates in roller tanks in the laboratory. We will present data which illustrate that aggregates experience greatly reduced settling rates when passing through sharp density gradients and that the phase of the phytoplankton used to form these aggregates has an effect on this delayed settling behavior. A

thorough understanding of the impact of algal growth phase on the delayed settling behavior of marine snow offers insight into the way algal blooms may affect carbon flux and the carbon cycle as a whole, especially in the context of climate change and other anthropogenic impacts.

Panel 40 SSC 400

Pyatt, Assata. MTSP-SURF, Bowie State University Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Farah Sheikh, Department of Medicine, UCSD

COP9 signalosome as a novel protein complex involved in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a young heart disease that arises from a dysfunctional right ventricle, leading to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Studies revealed that ~40% of ARVC cases stem from mistakes in desmosomal genes, which makeup a mechanical cell-cell junction in cardiac muscle. Mechanisms impacting the remaining 60% remain unknown. Our lab recently identified a novel interaction between the desmosomal protein, desmoplakin, and COP9 signalosome6 (CSN6), which is part of a complex that functions to inhibit protein turnover. Our lab showed that CSN6 is localized to the cardiac muscle cell-cell junction and that its localization, levels and/or function are dysregulated in mouse and human models of ARVC. We are also generating a cardiac-specific CSN6 knockout mouse model that will define the role of CSN6 in the heart. However, to better understand the role of CSN family members (contains 8 subunits) in the context of the cardiac muscle cell-cell junction, we will perform western blot and immunofluorescence microscopy analyses to determine the specificity of the CSN family members in the heart. Our studies will provide novel links between the CSN complex in the heart and mechanisms underlying ARVC. Panel 32 Roosevelt College Room

Qiu, Frank. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Marshall Major: Neuroscience Mentored by Professor Tiffany Greenwood, Psychiatry, UCSD

Factor Analysis of Bipolar Temperament

Dysregulation of temperaments, heritable emotional states that are stable over time, has been posited as the heritable phenotype underlying bipolar and other mood disorders. In this study, we performed a combined factor analysis of the TEMPS-A and TCI temperament questionnaire scores of a large bipolar sample; the TEMPS-A and TCI were used in conjunction because they were based on clinical interviews and neurobiological foundations respectively, and we hoped to capture multiple domains. We were able to isolate various factors that not only represented distinct emotional domains (ie. sadness, anger, etc.), they also tracked comorbidities in the bipolar subjects. Later, these factors were used as quantitative traits in a GWAS, and several regions of interest in the genome have been identified.

Panel 4 Red Shoe Room

Quinonez, Josue. STARS, SDSU Major: Aerospace Engineering Mentored by Dr. Farhat Beg, Engineering, UCSD

CFD Modeling of a Supersonic Gas Injector for Pulsed Power Target

Energy sources today such as coal and oil are becoming more and more of an issue to use which has spurred the search for alternative energy sources. Nuclear fusion is a process that could generate almost unlimited amounts of energy at very low costs with no impact to the environment. The goal of this research is to design a gas injector in order to funnel a uniform gas flow to be compressed and heated by an intense current pulse and produce fusion reactions. We used Methods of Characteristics and ANSYS Fluent, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program, in order to design the nozzle to create an isentropic flow that

experiences a velocity of Mach 4.99 at the exit. Implementing engineering principles in the design of the valve and nozzle we hope to soon begin the manufacturing process. It is believed that with enough current and understanding of the phenomena we might achieve â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;break-evenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the short term and a fusion power plant in the future.

Panel 2 Green Room

Rahimi, Ameen. START Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Molecular Biology Mentored by Professor Eduardo Macagno, Biological Sciences, UCSD

Two-sided Homologous Recombination Produces a More Efficient Transformation of A. baylyi Cells To Be Determined Panel 30 Revelle College Room

Ramirez, Veronica. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Christopher Baker, Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institutes of Health

The Effect of Object and Background on Scene Perception

Complex real world scenes contain visual components that can be separated into objects (e.g. bicycle) and the general spatial layout or background (e.g. street).

Previous work suggested a strong influence of background on object perception by presenting consistent versus inconsistent backgrounds during an object identification task (Davenport & Potter, 2014). Here, we investigated which aspects of images observers prioritize during perception. We used an unconstrained classification paradigm in which participants arranged naturalistic photographs spatially on a computer screen based on their perceived similarities.

Each image contained an object contextually congruent to its setting, with objects occurring in multiple settings, and each recurring setting containing different central objects. The distance between the arranged pictures measures perceived similarities of the images. We find that objects and backgrounds differentially contribute to overall perception with large individual differences among observers. These findings can be compared with fMRI data acquired during perception of these images, focusing on regions that are either object- or scene-selective. Our preliminary findings suggest limited interactions between objects and backgrounds in general perception of real world scenes.

Keywords: Image perception, naturalistic photographs, unconstrained classification paradigm, object-selective area, scene-selective area.

Panel 41 SSC 450

Rangan, Ekanath. MTSP-SURF, Amrita University Major: Medicine Mentored by Dr. David Roth, Medicine, UCSD

To be decided Panel 28 Muir College Room

Ratsamy, Dianna. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Ethnic Studies Mentored by Dr. Luz Chung, Education Studies, UCSD

"Dropping Knowledge" from the Heart: A Raza Teacher's Critical Pedagogy of Race in an Urban High School This case study examines how an urban high school teacher embodies critical pedagogy and the field of Ethnic Studies inside and outside of his Economics/Government classrooms and possibly produces positive outcomes for M.E.Ch.A. students who are exposed to his pedagogical framework. Research methods include observations and interviews that will be analyzed with a critical pedagogy of race and empowerment social capital theoretical framework.

Preliminary findings are that this teacher's counter-narrative informs his practice

of "student and community driven" teaching, empowerment agency for students, and self-reflections of working with students and the community with love. The teacher's M.E.Ch.A. students who embody "self-determination" and transformative agency refute, to an extent, critics of critical pedagogy who claim that this teaching philosophy fails to develop students' academic skills crucial for their higher education. Implications include that this teacher's pedagogy can guide other educators on how to positively impact urban youth's personal and academic development through social justice teaching. School administrators also need to address and resolve major issues raised by students on their campus to build safe, inclusive school environments for the student population.

Panel 5 Green Table

Reed, Alexis. McNair Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Anthropology Mentored by Associate Professor Christena Turner, Sociology, UCSD

Japanese Pop Culture: The Impact of Anime and Manga Focusing on the Gender Difference in the Construction of Identity in Non-Japanese Individuals The impact of anime and manga on the Western world, especially in the United States, has elevated the status of Japan and the Japanese people into becoming â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cool Japan.â&#x20AC;? The successful integration of anime and manga laid the foundation for fans to cosplay their favorite character(s). A majority of non-Japanese individuals show great enthusiasm for cosplay because through cosplay they are able to identify with the character. Furthermore, the influence of Japanese popculture plays a significant role in non-Japanese individuals wanting to identify as Japanese. Throughout this research, I ask why do non-Japanese individuals identify with characters from anime and manga? Furthermore, why do these nonJapanese individuals want to identify as Japanese? Is there a gender difference for the desire to identify with characters from anime and manga? Finally, is there a gender difference for the desire to identify as being Japanese? In conducting this research, I use the field methods of participant observation and interviews. I plan on interviewing eight college students in their early 20s. In this study, I will argue that Japanese pop-culture impacts the process of identity formation in individuals who are not Japanese.

Panel 17 SSC 260

Resnik, Mayra. STARS, SJSU Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. David Gonzalez, Pharmacology and Pharmacy, UCSD

Characterization of GroEL on Streptococcus pyogenes M1 5448

Virulence factors are essential for the pathogenicity of microorganisms. Without them, bacteria cannot invade, colonize, nor multiply inside hosts. Our lab utilizes a novel proteomic approach to study virulence factors by combining nanosponges and mass spectrometry. Nanosponges are nanoscale red blood cell mimics capable of capturing and immobilizing pore-forming toxins so we can isolate, recover, and study them with the mass spectrometer. We extracted the supernatant from Streptococcus pyogenes M1 5448, and incubated it with the nanosponges. We then extracted, separated by size exclusion chromatography, and analyzed the attached toxins. The analysis detected GroEL, a molecular chaperone. The fact that GroEL was found in this environment raises the possibility of the protein having a second function, a moonlighting activity that has not been studied in GAS. To assess the role of GroEL in hemolysis, we will perform allelic exchange mutagenesis to delete groEL. We hypothesize that the loss of this gene could affect the RBC lysis capability and the pathogenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s virulence. Future applications of this discovery could involve vaccines and antivirulence treatment in lieu of the classical bacteriostatic-antibiotic treatment.

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Reyes, Yvonne. CAMP, UCSD Muir Major: Microbiology Mentored by Dr. James Golden, Biological Sciences, UCSD

Characterization of a genetic circuit to downregulate gene expression in cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are microorganisms whose photosynthetic capability and capacity for genetic engineering make them a promising platform for the production of renewable biofuels as well as other valuable biological products. A key to unlocking their potential lies with designing and evaluating new genetic parts, devices, and circuits. The purpose of this project is to contribute to the expansion of this genetic toolbox by evaluating a NOT gate circuit composed of the lacI repressor controlled by a theophylline-inducible riboswitch in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

Panel 6 East Ballroom

Riccobono, Nicole. REU, San Diego Mesa College Major: Chemistry Mentored by Dr. Kim Prather, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Identifying organic molecules in aerosols originating in the sea surface microlayer using vibrational spectroscopy

Sea Spray Aerosols (SSAs) represent a natural source of particles that contribute to the composition of the atmosphere. These particles play a critical role in cloud formation and climate change. Although there is a strong connection between the ocean and aerosols we still know little of the chemical composition of SSA or the sea surface microlayer (SSML). To develop a more comprehensive understanding of ocean and SSA chemistry, a phytoplankton bloom was artificially induced in a 30-foot wave channel with three types of samples collected daily: aerosol, SSML, and bulk seawater. A combination of solid-phase and liquid-liquid extractions was used to isolate organics for attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Raman analyses. Using these methods, we are analyzing functional groups to resolve the chemical composition of the bulk, SSML, and SSA. We expect to find functional groups enriched in the SSML to also be found in SSA. These data, in collaboration with the information gathered using Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (ATOFMs) and Flow Cytometry, will be used to determine the chemical compounds ejected as SSA. Panel 22 SSC 554A

Rice, Jasmine. MTSP-SURF, Norfolk State University Major: Biology/Pre-Professional Mentored by Dr. Adam Engler, Bioengineering, UC San Diego

Correlation of vinculin deficiency to connexin-43 and N-cadherin expressions and localization in cardiomyocytes derived from individuals with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease associated with left ventricular dilation and dysfunction. Animal models with knockout vinculin (Vcl), a cytoskeletal protein associated with cell-cell and cell-matrix junctions, have cardiomyocytes with disorganized intercalated discs, decreased contractile function, and increased incidence of DCM. Vcl also plays a vital role in cytoskeletal stability and contractile filament function. Cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) that contain a Vcl mutation were studied to determine if their mutation could result in functional deficits leading to DCM. iPSC lines were generated from two DCM patients expressing the mutation and two related individuals without the mutation. Western blot analysis proved that patients carrying the genetic mutation expressed ~50% less Vcl than unaffected relatives. We hypothesize that reduced Vcl expression may alter the expression of connexin-43 (Cx43), an integral membrane protein that contributes to synchronized contraction and N-cadherin (NCAD), a transmembrane glycoprotein that is part of adherens junctions. Western blot and

immunofluorescence were utilized to evaluate Cx43 and NCAD expression in patient versus control lines to determine mechanism. The results of the study can help to better understand DCM and potentially improve drug testing and treatment.

Panel 6 East Ballroom

Richardson, Robin. CAICE, UCSD Marshall Major: Environmental Chemistry Mentored by Dr. Kim Prather, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Investigating the Effect of Drying on Sea Spray Aerosol Spectra

Aerosols are aqueous or solid particles that are suspended in the atmosphere such as smog or sea spray.

The Aerosol Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (ATOFMS) is an important instrument used to study these particles. The ATOFMS is able to measure an aerosol’s chemical composition and size in real time on an individual particle basis. The ATOFMS uses Laser Desorption Ionization (LDI) in order to produce dual polarity mass spectra of each particle so its size resolved chemical composition may be determined. However, LDI can produce variability in mass spectra, even in particles that have an identical chemical composition. Particle phase water of an aerosol can change the intensities of certain ion signals within a particle’s mass spectrum. The goal of this experiment is to see whether the particle phase water reduces the amount of negative ion spectra as well as higher m/z ion clusters in sea spray aerosols.

Additionally, this work will reveal if smaller particles are dried more completely within the same time frame as larger particles by observing the amount of more negative ions as well as higher m/z ion clusters.

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Rimple, Remington. Leadership Alliance, CSUSM Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Lauren Black III, Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University

Evaluating the Efficacy of Silk Sponge Patches for in vivo Repair of the Heart Post Myocardial Infarction Using Immunohistochemistry.

During myocardial infarction (MI) or “heart attack,” a localized area of myocardium becomes necrotic. The goal of this preliminary investigation was to evaluate silk, a natural biomaterial in the repair of damaged myocardium post-MI using an in vivo rodent model. We hypothesized that scaffolds would provide both structural support, and enhance host cell integration for regeneration when extracellular matrix is incorporated. To assess these aims, three silk patch formulations were surgically implanted onto infarcted areas of Sprague Dawley rat hearts two weeks post infarction: 1) an isotropic silk sponge, 2) an anisotropic silk sponge, and 3) an anisotropic silk cardiac extracellular matrix composite sponge. Eight weeks following patch implantation, the hearts were collected, paraffin wax embedded, and sectioned (12um) using a microtome. Heart sections were analyzed by Hematoxylin & Eosin staining, Masson’s Trichrome staining, and Immunofluorescence to observe differences in tissue repair.

Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that silk patches show potential for myocardial repair and the addition of cardiac extracellular matrix enhances cell infiltration and sponge degradation. Our future work aims to demonstrate that natural biomaterials like silk have potential to aid in repair of damaged heart tissue post-MI.

Panel 19 SSC 400

Roca, Ivette. Pharmacology SURF, San Diego City College Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Varykina Thackray, Reproductive Endocrinology, UCSD

Is a SNP decreasing the function of the FSHB gene?

Infertility affects about 10% of couples in the U.S. One of the causes of infertility is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Recent genome-wide association studies have found an association between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) near the human FSHB gene and PCOS. Gonadotrope cells in the anterior pituitary gland are responsible for the production of Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which is necessary for spermatogenesis in men and folliculogenesis in women. Recent studies in the Thackray Lab showed that a G/T SNP at -211 of the FSHB promoter resulted in decreased binding of the LHX3 homeodomain transcription factor and decreased FSHB transcription.

These results suggest that decreased levels of FSH observed in men and women with the -211 SNP are due to decreased LHX3 binding to the FSHB promoter.

Currently, I am investigating the function of an intergenic region located ~30 kb upstream of the FSHB gene which contains several SNPs. I hypothesize that this region functions as an enhancer of FSHB transcription and that the SNPs will result in decreased FSHB transcription. I am performing transient transfection experiments in immortalized gonadotropes to test my hypothesis.

Panel 23 Ballroom A

Rocha, Joseph. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Architecture Mentored by Dr. Juliana Maxim, Art, Architecture, and Art History, University of San Diego

Carmel Valley: the Global World Next Door

Suburbia has long been the object of extensive sociological and historical analysis with several sources describing it as a uniquely American phenomenon. This research focuses on the particular environment that is Carmel Valley and aims to produce a monographic study of its social, economic, and architectural character.

One of the fictions on which suburbia is built is that it emerged on virgin land, on a site without history. In our research, we take issue with the abolition of history that suburbia seems to require. Through archival research in the County of San Diego’s records, as well as through interviews with long-time residents who remember Carmel Valley “before Carmel Valley,” we reconstitute a history of the site before its transformation into one of the county’s most desirable neighborhoods. In addition, the research explores the relationship between architectural development and recent immigration patterns, for instance the Chinese community steadily establishing itself in some of the most recent planned communities, transforming what at first sight looks like a conventional suburb into the Chinatown of the 21st century.

Panel 4 Red Shoe Room

Rodriguez, Elizabeth. STARS, San Diego City College Major: Environmental engineering Mentored by Dr. Gilberto Mosqueda, Structural department, UCSD

Fluid Damping Systems as Energy Dissipation Mechanisms

During the last few decades, fluid damping systems have been used as energy dissipation mechanisms. In 1991, these damping devices were implemented into the buildings and bridges for hazard mitigation applications. This research provides an analysis of the amplification factor of damper displacement in two novel frame configurations. In addition, a comparative study is performed between the novel and classic configurations: Diagonal and Chevron brace configuration. Key parameters to monitor during experimental testing are frame interstory drift, interstory shear, damper displacement and damper force. For practical applications the classic amplification factor values of the diagonal and Chevron configurations were 0.799 and 1.000 respectively. The value of the

amplification factor of the two new structures ranges from 1.2 to 2.6 for each structural configuration. This value it is due to the geometry of the frames, which affects the efficiency of the systems by amplifying the damper displacement.

Amplifying the damper displacement will increase the velocity of the damper, and dissipate seismic energy, and decrease the damage into the structure such as light-framed wood structures and multi-stories buildings.

Panel 8 Dance Studio

Rodriguez, Nicole. McNair Scholars, UCSD Revelle Major: Ethnic Studies Mentored by Dr. Jillian Hernandez, Ethnic Studies and Critical Gender Studies, Rutgers

Rethinking Power and Pleasure in the Shame of Abjection

My research stems from my personal experiences as a young queer Latin@ from a border city that is heavily impacted by power structures such as migration, deportation, citizenship, and exile and has zero to limited resources for LGBTQ youth of color. This paper explores the different ways in which to unlearn the discourses that inform Latin@ girls 'sexualities. Latin@s are represented through stereotypes like the virgin-whore dichotomy; as either sexually repressed or unchaste. In this paper, I argue that the emphasis on Latin@s as sexually repressed and the trope of the mother as a repressive figure ignores and erases the larger social and political power structures that dominate and shape Latin@ girls’ sexualities. By reading the films “Mosquita y Mari” and “Real Women Have Curves” I critique the trope of mothers as repressive figures of sexualities, and instead argue that Latin@ girls’ sexualities are dominated and shaped through power structures like poverty, deportation, migration, and violence. While submission to stereotypes forced upon Latin@s is demonstrated in these films, I argue that there is power and pleasure in the shame of abjection.

Panel 32 Roosevelt College Room

Rodriguez, Ariel. McNair Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Kristin Cadenhead, Psychiatry, University of Texas

Prodromal Latency Analysis for the CARE Program

Background: The startle paradigm is a well-researched biomarker (Cadenhead et al. 2013, Cadenhead et al. 2010) used to study neural substrates and to investigate information processing abnormalities in a variety of clinical disorders, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Startle latency responses, which may detect speed of processing, have only rarely been used to study SSD. This project compares participants at Clinical High Risk (CHR) for psychosis, to individuals in their First Episode (FE) of psychosis and Healthy Controls (HC) by assessing their startle latency as a candidate biomarker for SSD. Hypothesis: Startle latency will show gradation between CHR, FE and HC groups with the HC having the shortest latencies, CHR having comparatively medium latencies, and the FE with the longest latencies.

Methods: A 4-block (115 db) acoustic startle paradigm. Electromyographic (EMG) recorded the startle eye blink responses during the paradigm.

Discussion: This is the one of the first reports to examine startle latency in early psychosis subjects. If an association is determined this test would be a relatively simple biomarker for the analysis of SSD. Future analyses will be conducted to further evaluate startle latency in this population.

Panel 11 Roosevelt College Room

Panel 19 SSC 400

Rodriguez Flores, Abril. NEW Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Ethnic Studies Mentored by Dr. Kalindi Vora, Ethnic Studies, UCSD

Healthcare and Welfare Access in Undocumented Immigrant Communities In this paper I investigate how Healthcare and Welfare access by undocumented immigrants and their families are misrepresented under a public burden/ public charge narrative. I will draw upon: interviews I have conducted with stakeholders in the undocumented community; analysis of images from the social justice campaign, “Health4all”, by the California Endowment; analysis of “Undocu-art”, a piece by artist Julio Salgado; and auto-ethnography and “Participatory Action Research” in order to foreground what the public burden narrative does to these said communities and how they responds to this narrative. My goal is to engage undocumented immigrants in a conversation that is already being had about them without them, by giving them a space where they can vocalize their stories and experiences and to intervene on the “public burden” discourse that racializes and criminalizes this community.

Roldan, Martin. STARS, University of Puerto Rico- Cayey Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Marion Sewer, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Emory University

IGF2 Signaling Stimulates Phosphorylation of Steroidogenic Factor 1

Adrenal cancer is rare, aggressive cancer that is typically characterized with a high secretion of steroid hormones. Studies have identified that two genes, steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) and IGF2 (insulin-like growth factor 2), are overexpressed in adrenal cancer and correlated with poor prognosis. SF1 is a transcriptional factor that promotes adrenal gland development and steroid hormone production, and IGF2 is a growth factor that stimulates cell proliferation. IGF2 is a ligand for the IGF receptor 1 and an activator of several kinases, including PI3K, AKT, and mTOR. Given that the ability of SF1 to activate target genes is regulated by phosphorylation, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of IGF2 on the phosphorylation of SF1. We examine the effect of IGF2 on SF1 phosphorylation in H295R human adrenocortical cells by western blotting. The role of IGF2 signaling in regulating SF1 function will also be tested using H295R cells where the expression of the IGF receptor 1 is silenced. We conclude that SF1 is a novel target of IGF2 and that the phosphorylation of this transcription factor in response to IGF2 contributes to adrenal cancer progression.

Panel 34 Sixth College Room

Roman, Kelsey. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Muir Major: Biochemistry & Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Julian Schroeder, Cell & Developmental Biology, UCSD

Characterization of phenotypes and alleles of osmosensing mutants in plants Water deprivation due to drought or high salinity causes an osmotic stress response in plants. Plants cope with this stress by enacting a complex signaling network. One of the earliest responses to osmotic stress is the influx of calcium ions into the cytoplasm, which eventually leads to closure of stomatal pores to prevent water loss. But it is unknown how plants initially sense the osmotic stress.

We recently identified a gene that may be involved in this sensory pathway. From a pool of EMS mutants, we selected a line with a strong osmotic-induced Ca2+ response impairment. In this line, we discovered additional phenotypes related to osmotic stress that may or may not result from the same mutation. I am currently testing whether the Ca2+ response phenotype co-segregates with these other osmosensing phenotypes.

We have identified additional mutant lines that also display altered Ca2+ responses to osmotic stress. Through reciprocal diallelic crossing, I am determining whether these mutant lines represent additional alleles of the same gene or whether they represent novel loci involved in this pathway.

Panel 7 Muir College Room

Rosario, Marie. NEW Scholars, UCSD Sixth Major: Math: Computer Science Mentored by Professor Patrick Velasquez, Education, Claremont Graduate University

Undocumented Students in Higher Education

Undocumented students in the United States are students who face uncertainty and limitations in the United States education system. It is common for these students to discontinue their pursuit of higher education as they believe they are not eligible for federal financial aid in majority of colleges and universities.

Undocumented students face many difficulties that can stem from financial burden, social separation, and a limited education. Due to their difficulty in reaching postsecondary education, it is important to understand undocumented students who decide to pursue a higher education and how they navigate through the their institution in regards to limited opportunities because of their status.

Panel 42 SSC 554

Ross, Deanna. STARS, Georgia State University Major: Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. Subhojit Roy, Neurosciences, UCSD

Evaluating the interaction of aplha-synuclein and VAMP2

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), affect millions of people every year. Alpha synuclein (a-syn), a presynaptic protein, has been shown to be involved in many neurodegenerative diseases. However, the normal functions of a-syn remain unclear. There are two competing hypotheses surrounding the normal functions of a-syn: 1) it suppresses neurotransmitter release and 2) it promotes SNARE assembly by interacting with VAMP2, a protein involved in vesicle fusion. We hypothesize that these two hypotheses are related: the full sequence of a-syn along with its interaction with VAMP2 is required to attenuate neurotransmitter release. Recent studies in our lab have shown that a-syn is a multimer that clusters synaptic vesicles and attenuates neurotransmitter release. We have also found that certain sequences of a-syn fail to bind to VAMP2 resulting in failure to reduce neurotransmitter release. We will perform bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) to visualize a-syn and VAMP2 interactions. Before doing live cell fluorescence imaging, I will use a western blot assay to optimize protein expression of the different sequences of a-syn. Ultimately, evaluating the normal function of a-syn can help in understanding the molecular mechanisms that facilitate neurodegeneration.

Panel 35 Student Leadership Chambers

Rostamiasrabadi, Aria. NSF REU, Irvine Valley College Major: electrical engineering and computer science Mentored by Dr. Jane Friedman, Math and computer science, USD

Fitting Growth Curves using Evolutionary Algorithm

Differential Evolution (DE) is a versatile method of solving non-linear optimization problems. We present the results of an unusual application of the method -- fitting growth curves to data. In particular we fit to logistic and Von Bertalannfy growth curves. We compared DE to the Levenbergâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Marquardt method, which is commonly used for this purpose. DE consistently outperforms Levenberg-Marquadt, especially on noisy data sets.

Panel 3 Bear Room

Rozen, Isaac. AEP UC Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Professor Joseph Wang, Nanoengineering, UCSD

Self-Propelled Nanomotors Autonomously Seek and Repair Cracks

Biological self-healing involves the autonomous localization of healing agents at the site of damage. We report on the design and characterization of a synthetic self-healing system where self-propelled nanomotors seek and localize at microscopic cracks. These chemically-powered catalytic nanomotors, composed of conductive Au/Pt spherical Janus particles, can autonomously detect and repair microscopic mechanical defects to restore the electrical conductivity of broken electronic pathways. This repair mechanism capitalizes on energetic wells and obstacles formed by surface cracks, which dramatically alter the nanomotor dynamics and trigger their localization at the defects. The systems' dynamics are simulated over a range of particle speeds and densities to verify the process by which the nanomotors autonomously localize and accumulate at the cracks. We take advantage of this localization to demonstrate that the nanomotors can form conductive 'patches' to repair scratched electrodes and restore the conductive pathway. Such a nanomotor self-healing system represents an important step toward the realization of biomimetic nanosystems that can autonomously sense and respond to environmental changes, which can be expanded to a wide range of applications, from self-healing electronics to targeted drug delivery.

Panel 8 Dance Studio

Ruiz, Jessica. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Nadav Goldschmied, Psychology, University of San Diego

The Underdog Narrative in Movies: When Our Memory Fails Us

Past research (Paharia et al., 2011) utilizing open-ended item generation and subsequent factor analysis has found that the underdog construct is composed of (1) external disadvantage as well as (2) passion, and determination. Goldschmied and Vandello (2012) found that a disadvantaged entity was predicted to do better than the odds if it was labeled as â&#x20AC;&#x153;underdogâ&#x20AC;? than if it was not given the label. In the current study, we explored participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recollections of two underdog boxing movies. As expected, participants accurately remembered James Braddock beating the champ, Max Baer, in the end of Cinderella Man (underdog consistent plot) while failing to recall Apollo Creed beating Rocky in the end of Rocky 1 (underdog inconsistent plot). After ruling out alternative explanations (e.g., time since film viewed, emotional attachment), we propose that the underdog schema is one of disadvantage but ultimately triumph and this narrative is strong enough to bend past memories so they fit the mold.

Keywords: underdog, disadvantage, memory

Panel 37 Forum

Ruiz, Jorge. IME-BECAS, UCSD Warren Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Nathan Delson, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCSD

Motion and Image Capture in an Airway Intubation Mannequin

In the medical field, mannequins serve an important role as training devices for medical practitioners. To assess the skill of the practitioners and effectiveness of the training, it is desirable to quantify the motion of the trainees. The procedure being studied is airway intubation with a video laryngoscope. In order to quantify the training, sensors were incorporated in the laryngoscope and the stylet.

Ascension magnetic position sensors that track xyz position and orientation were used. These sensors were also integrated into a parametrically adjustable medical mannequin, and a commercially available one to capture the trainees' motion within each mannequin. Data was collected from both mannequins during training sessions. The position and video data was displayed on a graphical user

interface (GUI) which was interpreted by the medical professional to give the trainee constructive feedback. This data is also used to compare the teaching abilities of both mannequins. The goal of this study is to determine whether the parametrically adjustable mannequin has training advantages over the commercially available one.

Panel 25 Red Shoe Room

Russell, Astrid. MAP, STARS, CSUSM Major: Biological Sciences Mentored by Dr. Nick Webster, Medicine, UCSD

Does Time Restricted Eating Improve Adipose Tissue Inflammation

One out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Studies have shown strong connection between obesity and breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The mechanism for which obesity induces breast cancer is not greatly understood. It is known that chronic low levels of inflammation and insulin resistance are common characteristics in adipose tissues of individuals on high fat diet (HFD), which is the common diet in the obese western population.

Caloric restriction (CR) and intermediate fasting (IF) have had significant benefits for individuals. In a pilot study where mice were fed a HFD or the HFD coupled with IF, the mice in the HFD with IF had improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Our focus is on the mammary fat pad. We will measure tissue cytokine and using QPCR in response to HFD and IF. By closely monitoring the increase or decrease of inflammation response we will have a better idea as to what specific genes and cytokines are responsible for the changes in tumor growth. This IF model could be applied to a large human study if results favor this dietary intervention.

Panel 29 Dance Studio

Russo, Gabriella. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Sociology Mentored by Dr. Greg Prieto, Sociology, University of San Diego

Enforcing Gender: The Construction of Gender in Juvenile Hall

Though Foucaultâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work on sex and punishment has been widely cited, scholars have faulted him for ignoring the intersection between the two: the role of gender in shaping carceral systems (Bartky 1988, McLaren 2002). Furthermore, Bartky suggests that gendered characteristics of men and women come into being through disciplinary institutions and everyday interactions that impose gendered discipline. Therefore, I analyzed and compared the male and female relationships among their peers (other inmates) and guards within two detention facilities.

Preliminary analysis showcases that the greatest distinctions of male-female behavior and treatment are visible through outdoor activities and optional classes only offered for women, such as parenting and nutrition. This is explained through Freedman, (1981) whose work asserts that women in prison facilities are taught to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;homemakers.â&#x20AC;? In addition, this study leads to suggest that juvenile detention regimes contribute to the overall expected production of masculinity and femininity. As a result, these young women and men encounter gender expectations that are pitted against their own aspirations. Consequently, the juvenile detention facilities appear to be disempowering these adolescents in an environment that is expected to do just the opposite.

Panel 4 Red Shoe Room

Sadhasivan, Mayuri. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Revelle Major: Physics Mentored by Dr. Catherine Constable, SIO - Earth Sciences, University of California, San Diego

Understanding Variations of the Geomagnetic Dipole

Earth's geomagnetic field is generated by a self-sustaining dynamo in Earth’s liquid (mostly iron) outer core. The largest and most dramatic variations in the field point to multiple geomagnetic excursions and reversals over the last two million years. While limited in accuracy and temporal resolution, paleomagnetic data and geochronological dating methods have been combined to reconstruct variations in Earth’s magnetic dipole strength, labeled PADM2M, (Paleomagnetic Axial Dipole Moment for 0-2 Myr.). Subsequent analysis revealed asymmetric growth and decay rates of PADM2M, at periods above 25 kyr. We suspect that ohmic diffusion in the core spearheads decay while advection, via exchange between kinetic and magnetic energies, facilitates growth. This project examines the differing timescales for growth and decay by building a simple mathematical model for PADM2M variations. The model combines deterministic growth and decay terms with a stochastic contribution attributable to noise and possible interference from non-axial-dipole magnetic field variations. This research builds up on and adds to concurrent, novel studies that seek to provide a statistical description of paleomagnetic secular variation on million year time scales.

Panel 1 Ballroom A

Salinas, Diego. IME-Becas, UCSD Revelle Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Robert Bitmead, MAE, UCSD

Feedforward Control Design for Autonomous Model Vehicle Platform

Aspects of feedforward control techniques will be explored for an electrical autonomous model vehicle platform associated with IEEE Grand PrIEEE and Natcar competitions. Feedforward control takes into account previously obtained information about disturbance signals in order to achieve improved control performance over mere feedback control systems. In the context of the model car, this will be accomplished with the use of image data obtained from a forwardlooking line scan camera or webcam. A systematic approach to designing this controller is utilized with an initial objective of understanding and appreciating image processing methods for extracting information relevant to the design of the controller. Research has already commenced in understanding the behavior of the optical sensors and the signal processing that is necessary to acquire reliable preview information, with the ultimate goal of implementing these techniques in conjunction with modest computational power and servo control, to negotiate the steering and traction of the autonomous vehicle accurately as it navigates the test track.

Panel 25 Red Shoe Room

Sanchez, Jessica. McNair Scholars, STARS, CSUF Major: Psychology, Bio/Chem Minor Mentored by Dr. Gen-Sheng Feng, Molecular Biology, Indiana University

Immune response regulation of Poly I:C on liver tumor formation

Liver cancer is one of the common cancerous diseases causing many deaths worldwide. The immune response in the liver tumor microenvironment involves inflammation that promotes or suppresses tumor formation depending on different immune factors. Poly I:C is an immunostimulant which suppresses tumor formation in the liver. This study will investigate whether poly I:C has anti-tumor effects on liver cancer by modulating anti-tumor immune responses, we will analyze immune cells population and cytokines production (IFNγ, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β et al.,) using ELISA, qPCR and FACS analysis in

diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced SHP2hep-/- mice. We hypothesize that Poly I:C provides immune regulation by balancing anti-tumor and pro-tumor responses in the liver. Ultimately, understanding the link between the immune system, specifically inflammation, and hepatocarcinogenesis will lead to a better understanding of the development of liver cancer which can evolve to future medical cures for this disease.

Panel 26 Green Table Room

Sanchez, Grecia. HCOP, SDSU Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Patricia Gonzalez, Public Health, San Diego State University

Nuestra Vida: An Adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program for Midlife Latinas

This research evaluates the effectiveness of the Nuestra Vida pilot intervention to reduce type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (i.e. adiposity indicators such as elevated weight, body mass index [BMI], and waist circumference) among 38 Latina women. The Nuestra Vida intervention is a peerlead 12-week cultural adaptation of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a lifestyle intervention for diabetes prevention. Culturally relevant features of the Nuestra Vida intervention include: group format, community setting, peerdelivery and appropriate content modifications such as emphasis on problem solving and overcoming common cultural and socioeconomic-related barriers to healthy lifestyles. It was hypothesized that participants would show a reduction in weight, (BMI, and waist circumference) across 3-months (post-intervention).

Participants (N=38) were Latino women aged 45-65 years and residing in South San Diego. At selection participants were overweight or obese (BMI â&#x2030;Ľ 25) with no previous diagnosis of diabetes. The results are still pending. The Nuestra Vida intervention is a promising culturally-tailored adaptation of the DPP that could help prevent type 2 diabetes and CVD by reducing adiposity indicators among midlife Latino women.

Panel 25 Red Shoe Room

Sanogo, Fatimata. STARS, UCSD Revelle Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Professor Wenxian Fu, Pediatrics Diabetes Research Center, UCSD

Dissecting Tertiary Lymphoid Tissues in Pancreatic Islets of Autoimmune Diabetes

Type I diabetes (T1D) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease. This disorder is the result of the destruction of beta cells (only insulin-producing cells in the body) by the immune system. It is a really critical health and social problem because the incidence of T1D has dramatically increased in the last few decades, especially among children under the age of five. The etiology of T1D is still unknown, but it is understood today that immune cell dysfunctions and autoimmunity play critical roles in the disease progression. In this project, we are interested in dissecting the various aspects of immune cell infiltration and organization in disease lesions in T1D. Using major animal models of T1D, we will comprehensively dissect the patterns of infiltrated immune cells into pancreatic islets at various stages of T1D. We expect to define how the variety of immune cells assemble secondary lymphoid structures within the inflamed pancreatic islets and how these immune cells change their compositions over time along the disease development.

These data will provide important clues for understanding the pathogenesis of this complex disease and help develop more targeted immune regulatory strategies for disease suppression.

Panel 14 Student Leadership Chambers

Panel 19 SSC 400

Sant, Vrinda. Lal Lab, UCSD ERC Major: Bioengineering (Biotech) Mentored by Professor Ratneshwar Lal, Bioengineering, UCSD

Design and Fabrication of Janus Nano-particles for Drug Delivery

Several colloidal nano-particles with two or more unique surface chemistries, janus particles, have been developed over the years. These nano-particles are of interest in drug delivery as their dual surface chemistries are capable of constituting a material with its own unique properties. Silica is an attractive material that has been used to synthesize colloidal nano-particles of different morphologies. Here we explore the synthesis of asymmetric nano-particles fabricated from combinations of silica, polystyrene and gold.

On one hand, a bowl like silica structure is made using modified polystyrene particles and the challenge lies in optimizing the method of synthesis and maximizing payload capacity of the carrier system. On the other hand, hollow and porous gold nanoshells are easily synthesized using a hierarchical template, but the challenge is creating the fabrication scheme to incorporate silica on the inner shell of the gold. These hybrid janus particle nanocarriers are relatively biocompatible and can be functionalized to enhance the applications capabilities. We have developed a simple hierarchical template to synthesize the nanocarriers. The template allows the synthesis of nanocarriers of various sizes, as characterized by dynamic light scattering, that can be used in the drug delivery treatment of diseases such as diabetes or cancer.

Sauceda, Consuelo. MAP Scholars, CSUSM Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. Jane Reusch, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver Anschutz Medical Campus

Regulation of vascular mitochondrial plasticity: role of cellular crosstalk

Diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.

Diabetes impairs mitochondrial function and turnover. Our lab previously reported that the diabetic blood vessel lacks mitochondrial adaptation, plasticity, to stress (mitochondrial function (respiration), mitochondrial turnover and dynamics). My project focuses on the cross-talk between vascular cells to characterize the contributors to vascular mitochondrial plasticity. We hypothesized that factor(s) secreted by diabetic smooth muscle cells (SMC) would be toxic to endothelial cell (EC) mitochondria and conversely, that factor(s) secreted by control EC would improve the function of mitochondrial in DM SMC. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells and primary aortic SMC were isolated from control Wistar (W) and diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat aorta. Both W and GK cells were treated in control media over a 48-hour period (starvation or fed state). EC conditioned media (CM) was introduced to SMCs and SMC conditioned media to ECs (1, 4 and 24 Hr. periods) to analyze their response to secreted factors. Western blotting and confocal microscopy were employed to define mitochondrial content and plasticity. Endpoints were: mitochondrial content/biogenesis/dynamics (OXphos, VDAC-1, AMPK, PGC1a, mfn1/2, Opa1, Fis1, Drp-1) and mitochondrial structure by confocal microscopy.

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Scarbrough, Ceciley. MTSP-SURF, Spelman College Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Robert Ross, Cardiology, UCSD

Examining integrin and integrin related proteins in a doxorubicin-induced rabbit model of heart failure Congestive heart failure is characterized by a heart muscle that cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body. Doxorubicin, a widely used antitumor treatment, has been found to have side effects that can lead to congestive heart failure. A doxorubicin induced heart failure model in rabbits will be implemented for this study. Previous studies have shown the structural and

signaling roles that integrins and integrin related proteins play in the heart.

When deficient or dysfunctional, these proteins can contribute to heart failure.

My hypothesis is that these protein expression levels will differ when comparing healthy rabbits to rabbits that have doxorubicin induced heart failure. My planned studies will be to examine the expression levels of integrins and associated proteins in different chambers of the heart, before and after doxorubicin treatment. I will also examine the intracellular localization of these proteins. My findings will be used to better understand the mechanisms by which doxorubicin provokes heart failure. The long-term goal of this study is to identify novel therapies that will improve heart muscle dysfunction, rather than just treat the symptoms of heart failure.

Panel 9 Revelle College Room

Schultz, Joseph. STARS, Emory University Major: Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Mentored by Professor Jeffry Isaacson, Department of Neuroscience, UCSD School of Medicine, UCSD

Disinhibiton versus Direct Inhibition: Mapping the Circuitry of Vip cells in the Piriform Cortex?

The primary olfactory (piriform) cortex (PCx) is a simple three-layered brain region that plays a critical role in odor perception. Although recent studies have explored how different subtypes of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons regulate information processing in visual and auditory areas of neocortex, how particular interneuron subclasses regulate PCx circuits is unclear. We use optogenetics and whole-cell recordings in mouse PCx brain slices to examine the properties of a particular class of local interneurons, vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing (Vip) cells.

Although Vip cells make inhibitory synaptic contacts onto principal pyramidal cells in neocortex, they are primarily proposed to mediate â&#x20AC;&#x153;disinhibitionâ&#x20AC;? by providing stronger input to other local interneurons. However, the nature of circuits formed by Vip interneurons in PCx is unknown. To address this question, we make simultaneous recordings from identified pyramidal cells and interneurons in slices from mice expressing the light-activated ion channel channelrhodopsin-2 in Vip cells. We find that photoactivation of Vip cells elicits stronger inhibitory synaptic transmission onto pyramidal cells than neighboring interneurons. Unlike the case in sensory neocortex, these results suggest that the main function of Vip cells in PCx is the direct inhibition of pyramidal cells.

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Shapiro, Hannah. NSF, USD Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Geoffrey Morse, Biology, Harvard

Diversification of Armored Scale Insects in a Bornean Tropical Rainforest Canopy

Armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) are cryptic, cosmopolitan plant parasites found throughout the world. Despite the magnitude of their diversity and range little is known about their life histories beyond the taxa most commonly associated with agricultural crops. Nearly nothing is known about armored scale insects from tropical rainforest canopies, where we have found them to be extraordinarily abundant. Furthermore, their small size and cryptic morphology makes finding specimens and differentiating between taxa difficult.

Fortunately, advances in modern molecular genetic techniques have made it possible to rapidly distinguish taxa based on various gene regions. In this study, we surveyed a tropical rainforest canopy in Malaysian Borneo using the canopy crane at Lambir Hills National Park. In conjunction with a previously published large set of DNA sequence data from armored scale insects, phylogenetic analysis of our environmental samples reveals an impressive amount of previously undocumented biodiversity at both the species level and deeper phylogenetic

levels. Our results suggest there is not only a large amount of undiscovered species diversity, but deeper phyletic diversity as well.

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She, Robert. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Revelle Major: Biochemistry/Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Eros Lazzerini Denchi, Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Rockefeller University

Consequences of Telomere Dysfunction in Neural Progenitor Cells

TRF2 is one of six proteins in a telomere protecting complex known as Shelterin.

One main function of TRF2 is to distinguish telomeres from sites of chromosomal double-stranded breaks. TRF2 knock out cells ex vivo have been shown to have fused chromosomes which ultimately lead to senescence or death. In this study, we knock out TRF2 in neuronal stem cells, neuronal progenitor cells, and postmitotic neurons in a mice model. The loss of TRF2 in neuronal stem cells caused a lethal phenotype embryonically. The loss of TRF2 in progenitor cells, however, led to a partial loss of hippocampal structure. Whereas the loss of TRF2 in postmitotic neurons had no visible defect at all. The partial tolerance seen in the progenitor cells is crucial in determining cell tolerance to genomic instability and were shown to be partially caused by the p53 pathway. Functional neurons in the cortex, olfactory bulb, and the cerebellum were shown to have fused telomeres.

The mice had an intact connectivity of neurons and showed only mild behavioral differences. This partial tolerance of telomere dysfunction indicates that nondividing somatic cells are unaffected by abnormal heterochromatin organization.

Panel 7 Muir College Room

Sias, Monica. McNair Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Public Health Mentored by Dr. Nancy Binkin, Family and Preventive Medicine, UCSD

Diversity at UCSD: Fact or Fiction

Comparing transfer and freshman demographic profiles to assess the need for more inclusive admissions and retention criteria to enrich the learning of students and create a diverse set of healthcare professionals capable of serving underserved and disenfranchised communities through the Bachelor of Science Public Health Program at UC San Diego.

Panel 10 Marshall College Room

Sidibe, Yacouba. STARS, Bucknell University Major: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. William Mobley, Neuroscience, UCSD

Axon-to-cell-body signalling effects on neuronal mRNA levels using brainderived neurotrophic factor.

Neurons are complex, polarized cells with subcellular domains that vary in morphology and function and rely on extracellular cues for survival. There is limited information, however, regarding the molecular mechanism responsible for axon growth induced by one such cue, brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). Through a series of experiments, this investigation seeks to measure changes in the levels of certain messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in both the axon and cell body of neurons, as they respond to retrograde (axon-to-cell-body) BDNF signaling. Of the applicable proteins that aid in the facilitation of axonal maintenance and growth, it is hypothesized that BDNF is responsible for upregulating mRNA transcripts. To demonstrate this, cultures containing neurons from the hippocampus of embryonic rats were procured. An apparatus allowing ‘microfluidic’ separation of axons from their cell bodies was employed. After one week in vitro, the experimental group was treated with BDNF. Using quantitative PCR, changes were recorded in the levels of mRNAs coding for cytoskeletal and structural proteins between groups. If supported, these findings will enrich our understanding of neuronal signaling and how it may relate to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome.

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Sidikou, Sadjo. STARS, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Shu Chien, Bioengineering, UCSD

The Effects of Density on Adipogenic Differentiation in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesemchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are known to have multi-differentiation potential to give rise to chondrocytes, osteocytes, and adipocytes. It is known that the seeding density affects cell shape and fate which are intrinsic manifestations of form and function in density-dependent genes. Adipose tissue is the connective tissue with high density and compact of adipocyte. We hypothesize that cell seeding density influence MSC-adipocyte differentiation through c-jun signaling.

To investigate how seeding density affects the MSC-adipocyte differentiation efficiency, MSCs were seeded in culture plate with different densities (low density [LD], medium cells; very high density [VHD]) under adipogenic induction and the expression level of density-dependent genes was been performed by immunostaining and QPCR. Our results indicate that seeding density influenced the expression level of these genes and modulated the proliferation rate and differentiation efficiency of MSC. Follow-up studies will delineate longer-term effects of density and seeding protocol on modulation of stem cell fate and cell assembly to form tissues.

Panel 12 Warren College Room

Snyder, Calvin. Pharmacology SURF, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Dr. William Joiner, Pharmacology, UCSD

Structure-function relationships in Lynx2: an endogenous regulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors α7 and α4β2 nAChRs are abundantly expressed in the brain, where they normally regulate synaptic signaling, visual plasticity, cognition and the sleep/wake cycle.

Under pathophysiological conditions they also contribute to addiction and to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. The normal and deranged cellular processes to which α7 and α4β2 nAChRs contribute may be better understood by studying the means by which these receptors are regulated by endogenous proteins. Examples of such endogenous regulators include members of the Ly6 family, which are membrane-associated prototoxins that control gating kinetics and trafficking of nAChRs. Using a combination of deletion mutagenesis and a calcium-based FRET assay for nAChR activity, we investigated the relation between structure and function of Lynx2, a member of the Ly6 protein family implicated in the effects of chronic nicotine exposure as well as anxiety-related behaviors. Our data will help elucidate the mechanism by which Lynx2 regulates nAChRs with the goal of identifying novel therapies for the treatment of nicotine addiction and other disorders of the nervous system.

Panel 7 Muir College Room

Solis, Bertin. STARS, UCSB Major: Sociology Mentored by Dr. Frances Contreras, Education Studies, UCSD

The Cascading Effect: How the University of California is Streaming Latino Students towards Less Selective Campuses While the U.S. Census reports that as of July 2014 Latinos make the largest ethnic group in California, research demonstrates that Latinos remain largely underrepresented in Higher education especially in the more selective institutions. In fact, researchers have referred to the “cascading” effect in higher education, where students are denied access to highly selective institutions and then admitted to less selective institutions. This study informs on Latino students’ applicant, admit, and enrollment trends within the University of California (UC) system since the implementation of Proposition 209 in 1998 by the UC administration. This study examines secondary data from the UC Office

of the President to demonstrate that while there has been an increase in the number of Latinos entering the University of California system, Latinos are being shut out of flagship campuses such as the UC Berkeley and UCLA and streamed towards less selective campuses such as UC Merced and UC Riverside. Particular focus is attributed to the role of the UC Eligibility in the Local Context on Latino college applicant, admit, and enrollment trends and the streaming of Latino students to less selective campuses Panel 19 SSC 400

Song, Christopher. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Warren Major: Biochemistry/Cell Biology and Economics Mentored by Professor Kellie Church, Reproductive Medicine, UCSD

Is sexually dimorphic gonadotropin gene expression a result of differing gonadotrope cell population sizes?

Fertility is dependent on proper reproductive hormone secretion from the brain and pituitary gland. Abnormal expression of luteinizing hormone and folliclestimulating hormone, two glycoprotein hormones produced by the gonadotrope cells in the anterior pituitary, have been shown to be a cause of many reproductive disorders. Despite the importance of these hormones, little is known about the development of the cells in the anterior pituitary gland and whether development differs between males and females. Our preliminary data identified a dramatic sex difference in expression of these two genes during late fetal development in mice.

To explain this dimorphism we hypothesized that the increased gene expression seen in females is a result of an increased number of gonadotrope cells in female pituitaries during fetal development. To test this hypothesis, mice were timemated and fetuses were collected at fetal day 18.5. The fetal pituitary gland was processed in formaldehyde fixative, embedded in paraffin and sectioned on a microtome for immunohistochemical analysis of the number of gonadotrope cells.

The data collection and histological analysis is currently ongoing.

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Soriano, Shannon. STARS, UCSD Revelle Major: Human Biology Mentored by Dr. Lawrence Prince, Pediatrics, UCSD

NFkB and Sp3 Interactions Regulate Key Developmental Genes in the Lung In preterm infants and animal models, inflammation and subsequent NFkB activation inhibit normal lung development. The Prince lab has shown that NFkB reduces expression of key developmental genes in the lung. In the case of fibroblast growth factor 10, NFkB-Sp3 interactions inhibit promoter activity and gene transcription. We therefore hypothesize that Sp3 is required for inflammation-induced loss of developmental gene expression. RNA sequencing showed that the bacterial endotoxin and NFkB activator lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibited expression of meningioma1 (Mn1) and C/EBPα, two transcription factors important for cellular proliferation and differentiation.

However, LPS had no effect on Mn1 and C/EBPα in Sp3-/- cells. We will next determine how these changes might regulate lung development. Real-time PCR will measure expression of Mn1 and C/EBPα in Sp3+/+, Sp3+/-, and Sp3-/fetal lung explants treated with LPS. Immunostaining will confirm the cellular sites of Mn1 and C/EBPα by protein expression. Control experiments will measure expression of C/EBPβ, which is not influenced by LPS or loss of Sp3.

These findings will determine how interactions between NFkB and Sp3 regulate changes in the developing lung exposed to inflammation.

Panel 30 Revelle College Room

Panel 10 Marshall College Room

Sta. Cruz, Shaina. STARS, California State University, Fullerton Major: Communicative Disorders Mentored by Dr. Seana Coulson, Cognitive Science, UC San Diego

Working Memory and Co-Speech Iconic Gestures

Previous studies suggest that people vary in their ability to take advantage of the information in co-speech gestures. The current study tested whether kinesthetic working memory (KWM), the memory system for encoding body movements, is important for co-speech gesture comprehension. Here we compared the role of KWM and visuospatial working memory (VSWM) in gesture comprehension through a dual-task paradigm. Participants performed two kinds of trials in which they were asked to multi-task. In both kinds of trials the primary task was discourse comprehension in which subjects rated the relatedness between cospeech gestures and picture probes. In KWM trials, we imposed a load on the KWM system by asking subjects to remember and recreate body positions while performing the primary task. In VSWM trials, we imposed a load on the VSWM system by asking subjects to remember and replicate sequences of grid locations while performing the primary task. The dependent variables are the speed and accuracy of responses to picture probes. Results will be interpreted with respect to prominent models of gesture comprehension.

Stark, Christiana. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Muir Major: Molecular Biology Mentored by Dr. Davide Dulcis, Psychiatry, UCSD

MicroRNA Regulation of Neurotransmitter Expression affecting Behavior

Following the discovery of neurotransmitter neuronal plasticity and its involvement in the recognition of kin vs. non-kin odorants occurring in the accessory olfactory bulb, there has been the interest to understand the underlying molecular basis.

Behavioral studies have led to the relationship between neurotransmitter levels of dopamine and GABA and kinship recognition.

Emphasis on gene regulation has led to the isolation of potential genes that contribute not only to the increase in dopamine levels, but a concurrent decrease in GABA levels. Understanding neurotransmitter regulation can further contribute to the development of treatments for neurological disorders.

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Stepanyuk, Boris. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Revelle Major: Molecular Biology Mentored by Dr. Amro Hamdoun, Develomental Marine Biology, Scripps Institute of Oceonagraphy

The localization and function of an adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor, CELSR2, in S. purpuratus during the migration of primordial germ cells throughout embryonic development

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have recently been discovered to contribute to significant processes in embryo development, including ciliogenesis. EP4 [GPCR] controls ciliogenesis, which leaves room to identify the signaling pathways of other GPCRs, such as CELSR2. CELSR2, an adhesion GPCR (aGPCR), has been linked with cancerous cell metastasis. Identifying the signaling pathways of this aGPCR will give insight to the relevance of secondmessenger mediated signaling pathways in cell migration of S. purpuratus during development. In this project, an attempt will be made to identify and localize CELSR2 in S. purpuratus as well as set the groundwork for understanding the pathways in which it partakes.

Panel 5 Green Table

Stevenson, Jaylin. McNair Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Ethnic Studies Mentored by Dr. Wayne Yang, Ethnic Studies, UCSD

Across the Pacific: The Role of Hula in Settler Colonialism

This research project examines the phenomena of settler colonialism of the nation of Hawaii through a geopolitical framing of both San Diego and Hawaii as two separate locations under a similar colonial objective that spans oceans. In order to study these phenomena in these two particular locations, I chose to study the cultural site of hula as a bridge that enables the settler colonial process across both spaces. While concentrating solely on the settler colonialism of Hawaii, I will be looking at the implications of hula as the producers of both imagined intimacy across the globe as well as the cornerstone of militourism as an institution. Lastly, I will be analyzing the documentary Kumu Hina to understand how the site of hula has been reclaimed to break down colonial structures regarding gender and sexuality.

Panel 33 Warren College Room

Stojanovic, Marta. SURE program at USD, USD Major: Behavioral Neuroscience Mentored by Dr. Rachel Blaser, Psychology, University of San Diego

Learning and Memory in Traveling Salesman Problem in Rats

The traveling salesman problem (TSP) is a combinatorial optimization problem that is used to study spatial cognition in human and non-human animals.

Although rats appear to use a distance-minimization strategy in this task, the mechanism by which they solve the task is not yet understood. While the TSP is similar to the radial arm maze and the Morris water maze, it may require different strategies than other popular spatial tasks. Most previous research with the TSP has focused on planning and route selection, but our goal was to determine whether the task could also be useful to study learning and memory. Rats were given five days of training with each of three different TSP arrays, and then given a memory test at 24, 48, or 120 hours post training. Performance improved significantly across days of training, providing evidence of learning. There was also an effect of the delay of memory test, with a similarly good performance after 24 and 48 hours, but a decrement at 120 hours. Further research is needed to understand the cognitive processes mediating these effects.

Panel 10 Marshall College Room

Strauss, Joshua. STARS, Boston University Major: Neuroscience/Philosophy Mentored by Dr. Nicholas Spitzer, Neurobiology Department, UCSD

Cholinergic Synapses Gone Glutamatergic: An Exploration into the Phenomenon of Receptor Respecification The â&#x20AC;&#x153;one neuron-one neurotransmitterâ&#x20AC;? theory has been dogmatic in neuroscience, but recent evidence suggests that changes in activity can modify neurotransmitter phenotype. The vast array of different neurotransmitters and receptors makes it difficult to predict how functional circuits are maintained in the event of neurotransmitter switching. To address the problem of neurotransmitter-receptor matching, we focused on the developing Xenopus neuromuscular junction, where synapses are normally cholinergic. Our experiment focused on the expression of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors upon exposure to exogenous glutamate. It's known that sensitivity of Xenopus myocytes to glutamate increases when cells are cultured with glutamate; however, this effect wanes when cells are exposed to glutamate receptor inhibitors. Thus, glutamate is necessary and sufficient for enhanced glutamate sensitivity. We hypothesize that enhanced glutamate sensitivity is a result of heightened glutamate receptor expression. Western blots were used to assess AMPA and NMDA receptor expression in myocytes cultured in the absence or presence of glutamate. Preliminary results suggest that the GluR1 (AMPA)

subunit levels is unaffected by glutamate, while the NR1 (NMDA) subunit is upregulated. Understanding receptor respecification could lead to therapies designed to restore damaged circuitry in Epileptic patients.

Panel 15 Governance Room

Suarez, Adrian. STARS, UCSD Warren Major: Physics with spec. in astrophysics Mentored by Dr. Adam Burgasser, Physics, UCSD

Understanding the Lowest Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs: Characterizing a Binary at the Hydrogen Fusion Boundary Stellar systems containing brown dwarfs, stars whose masses are so low that they cannot sustain hydrogen fusion (0.07 times the mass of the Sun), play an important role in understanding the formation of the very lowest mass stars and measuring their masses. We present analysis of the system SDSS J14532589+1420418AB, composed of a very low mass star and brown dwarf identified by its blended near-infrared spectrum. Using the index selection methods described in Bardalez Gagliuffi et al. (2014) and implementing a new binary fitting code written in Python, we characterize the spectral types of the components of this unresolved binary and examine whether they have unusual metallicities or surface gravities.

Panel 25 Red Shoe Room

Suarez, Katherine. Genentech, UCSD Sixth Major: Human Biology Mentored by Dr. Soumita Das, Pathology, UCSD

The Role of Salmonella Effector SifA in Pathogenesis by the ELMO1-Mediated Engulfment Pathway The human gut maintains the immune-homeostasis between non-pathogenic commensal and pathogenic enteric bacteria. While host cells recognize lipopolysaccharides on pathogenic and non-pathogenic gram-negative bacteria, the inflammatory response comes from pathogenic bacteria. Our group found that the Engulfment and Cell Motility Protein 1 (ELMO1) differentiates between pathogenic Salmonella and non-pathogenic E. coli and interacts with Salmonella effector protein SifA. SifA maintains the integrity of Salmonella-containing vesicles (SCV) and bacterial survival inside host cells by preventing lysosomal degradation by an unknown mechanism. Understanding how SifA hijacks the host endosomal pathway and aids in pathogenesis can lead to new targeted therapies which only kill pathogenic bacteria.

ELMO1 and SifA interaction will be further elucidated by using full length, N or C terminal ELMO1 by immunopulldown. The effect of SifA on ELMO1-mediated inflammation will be detected after infection of 1) myeloid cell specific ELMO1 KO mice and 2) non-myeloid cells using enteroids isolated from WT and ELMO1 KO mice intestine with WT and SifA mutant Salmonella. Proinflammatory cytokines MCP-1, TNF-ι and IL1β will be measured by RealTime RT-PCR. Bacterial internalization will be tested by plating assay and quantification of bacterial gene by PCR. Panel 4 Red Shoe Room

Sun, Jeffery. AEP UC Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Structural Engineering Mentored by Professor Pui shum Shing, Structural Engineering, UCSD

Characteristics of Highly Workable Concrete in CIDH Pile Applications

Caltrans requires that Cast-in-drilled-hole (CIDH) pile applications created with the slurry displacement method be designed with inspection pipes that are placed parallel to longitudinal reinforcement. Inspections pipes are necessary to evaluate the integrity of the structure after construction is completed; however, with the addition of inspection pipes, space for the concrete to flow during construction is more limited and voids are more likely to occur in the cured product. Highly workable concrete mixtures are therefore desired to compensate for the increased

congestion in CIDH piles. Various concrete mixture proportions provided by Oregon State University are assessed for their ability to provide adequate workability characteristics, such as flowability, passing ability, and stability. The sensitivity of the C-Bar and L-Box test is examined in concrete mixtures with a wide range of workability characteristics. A selection of varied bar spacing may be assessed in the C-Bar test to represent different CIDH piles. In addition, scaled CIDH piles may be created using the slurry displacement method and studied for their structural performance. Based on the results of this research, recommended concrete mixtures that possess adequate workability may be provided for CIDH pile applications.

Panel 14 Student Leadership Chambers

Suominen, Bermet. NSF-REU, San Diego Miramar College Major: Bioengineering Mentored by Professor Michael Burkart, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Developing polyurethane from algae-based polyols.

In recent years, mounting environmental concerns have sparked interest in energy and materials based on renewable resources. As part of a broader research effort to develop new, sustainable polymers in the form of polyols – compounds with multiple hydroxyl groups – we are focused on the synthesis of a polyurethane foam intended for surfboard production. Fatty acids, which serve as the starting material, are isolated from various strains of microalgae using a liquid-liquid extraction system and then concentrated via “lipid trap”. Since the starting material is not a pure compound, the main challenge is to achieve homogeneity of the future polymer. Therefore, characterization using GCMS is important for future manipulation of the polymer qualities. Polyurethane is synthesized through first epoxidation of lipids, using formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. This is followed by the ring opening reaction of the epoxide group, yielding hydroxyl groups, which are polymerized in the reaction with isocyanate.

This research is designed to develop techniques to improve the qualities of the bio-based surfboard and is a part of the more extensive polyol project, in which the main objective is the development of sustainable polymers using algae lipids Panel 41 SSC 450

Suresh, Deepika. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Revelle Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Irene Su, Reproductive Medicine, UCSD

Developing An Educational Intervention To Improve Genetic Risk Assessment In Young Breast Cancer Survivors Ten percent of the 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. are under the age of 45. Because young breast cancer survivors are at higher risk of carrying germline mutations that increase cancer risks, professional society practice guidelines endorse referring these women to genetic risk assessment.

Genetic risk assessment can bring to light predispositions for further cancers such as ovarian cancer, allowing women to take preventative measures.

Furthermore, many cancer-related genes are hereditary, with implications on passing on the cancer risk to their children. However, recent data has shown that only about 30% of breast cancer patients are referred for genetic screening.

The goal of our research project is to develop a web-based educational intervention to improve genetic risk assessment in young breast cancer survivors.

We have identified various barriers preventing young survivors from undergoing genetic risk assessment via systematic literature review, key informant interviews and professional society guidelines. Addressing these barriers is the first step in encouraging young survivors to undergo risk assessment. Therefore, we are developing preliminary content addressing these barriers. Our future direction is to test this preliminary survivorship care intervention in focus groups.

Panel 31 Marshall College Room

Panel 6 East Ballroom

Susi, Frank. STARS, UCSB Major: Biopsychology Mentored by Dr. Brad Voytek, Cognitive Science, UCSD

Gene Expression Correlated to Functional Brain Networks

Functional networks are defined by simultaneous or correlated activation in different brain regions during fMRI scanning associated with an explicit mental function or task. Through the use of statistical analysis techniques, recent studies have shown correlated gene expression in resting-state networks where areas of functional networks could successfully be predicted based on gene expression data. It, however, remains unclear to what extent genetics may be correlated with areas involved in other functional networks including cognitive, pathological and behaviorally defined functional areas. Our work involves using NeuroSynth, a comprehensive database containing a literature-wide meta-analysis of fMRI studies, to define brain regions whose activations are associated to specific tasks, in combination with the Allen Brain Atlas, a database of post-mortem gene expression specific to different locations in the brain. By combining data from these extensive databases we hope to find sets of genes with highly correlated expression patterns across regions of the brain associated to specific functions as defined by fMRI activity. Through the investigation of several sets of functionally associated regions related to multiple cognitive and behavioral functions, we hope to identify genes related to specific functions.

Sustaita, Jessica. NSF-REU, Southwestern College Major: Environmental Policy Mentored by Professor Kimberly Prather, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSD

Influence of Lipase Activity on the Chemistry of the Ocean Surface and Sea Spray Aerosols Sea spray aerosols (SSA), which are generated by breaking waves, can have different chemical and physical properties. These properties determine how SSA scatter solar radiation or serve as the seeds for clouds, so understanding which factors influence SSA production and composition are important for understanding their role in climate. Recent research suggests that changes seen in the chemical composition of SSA between two consecutive phytoplankton blooms were determined not only by phytoplankton primary production but also by bacterial degradation processes. In particular, enzymatic lipase activity was hypothesized to influence the composition of organics found in SSA through rapidly breaking down lipids into fatty acids. In order to better understand the effects of microbial degradation on the physical and chemical characteristics of the ocean surface and SSA, the surface tension of lipid, lipase, and fatty acid model systems are being investigated. Changes in surface tension in such systems would suggest that these molecular interactions might influence SSA production and composition. SSA are also being collected and analyzed to determine if enzymatic activity in nascent SSA is significant and might lead to chemical processing in the atmosphere.

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Tan, Aaron. STARS, UCR Major: Bioengineering Mentored by Professor Geert Schmid-Schönbein, Bioengineering, UCSD

Effectiveness of Tranexamic Acid in Regulating α1d Adrenergic Receptor Density During Shock

Shock is a state of reduced perfusion and is characterized by a loss of blood pressure. Vasopressor drugs are administered to raise mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in patients. However, an induced resistance to the drugs reduces the efficacy of treatment. A possible explanation is that proteases in the gut escape into circulation during shock and cleave various membrane receptors. α1d adrenergic receptors (α1dAR), responsible for vasoconstriction in response

to vasopressors, may be among the receptors being cleaved. Previous research was directed towards the enteral injection of a protease inhibitor, tranexamic acid (TXA), to improve MABP and survivability. Here, TXA is investigated in the context of vasopressor resistance to determine its viability for treatment. The density of α1dAR in the femoral artery of rats was determined following induced hemorrhagic shock and treatment via immunohistochemistry. Phenylephrine was given during the reperfusion period to confirm and assess vasopressor resistance.

During shock, the density of α1dAR decreases. Upon TXA treatment, MABP is partially restored, and the number of α1dAR was increased compared to the shock group. The results suggest that attenuating protease activity with TXA will facilitate vasopressor treatment for shock patients.

Panel 2 Green Room

Tangtartharakul, Chanin. START Scholars, UCSD Muir Major: biochemistry Mentored by Professor Eduardo Macagno, Neurobiology, UCSD

Investigating genetic stability of a synthetic tumor-suppressing circuit in S. enterica using microfluidics Panel 37 Forum

Tavares Negrete, Jorge Alfonso. STARS, Universidad de Guanajuato Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Pedro Cabrales, Bioengineering, UCSD

Phase-Based Video Motion Processing to measure the heartbeat of a hamster The study of heartbeat and blood flow is important to understand and resolve pathological conditions. The heart as a producer of electrical signals is studied using the electrocardiogram, however examining blood flow in vivo can expose intricacies of the different phases of the heartbeat. Phase-Based video analysis amplifies underlying frequencies to reveal motions normally imperceptible to the naked eye. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of perfusion pressure on blood velocity profiles and blood flow of small arterioles via high-speed intravital microscopy of the hamster cremaster muscle using the phase based video analysis technique. Due to the speed of measurement, and the phase amplification technique, we study how blood flow changes with different phases of the heart beat and how diseases influence this flow. Using this phase based video method we show preliminary results in trying to recover the different phases of the heartbeat that are hidden at low frequencies and thus could analyze the relationship between blood flows and speed to major cardiac pathologies.

Panel 32 Roosevelt College Room

Telson, Kelsie. McNair Scholars, UCSD ERC Major: Biological Anthropology Mentored by Dr. Amy Lansing, Psychiatry, University of California San Diego

An Assessment of Juvenile Psychopathy: Examining the Construct Using SelfReport and Clinical Data The construct of psychopathy has experienced a dynamic history in which the defining features and assessment techniques have undergone extensive research in a variety of populations. This study aimed to address highly controversial topics within the field before evaluating the responses of juvenile delinquents on 1) multiple self-report psychopathy measures (YPI, CPS, APSD) and 2) clinical interviews used to inform a psychopathy profile (PCL: YV, RBAP). These results were utilized to identify potential inconsistencies or issues in operationalizing the construct of psychopathy. Interpersonal, Affective, and Behavioral dimensions in each measure were used as platforms to evaluate life-course persistent delinquent (LCPD) youth on three self-report measures of juvenile psychopathy (YPI, CPS, ASPD). Additionally, this study compared differences in endorsement of psychopathic traits on the YPI between two groups of incarcerated girls.

Interview data was used to evaluate the diagnosis process from a clinical, rather than a quantitative, perspective. Findings suggest that the current construct, assessed with both self-reports and interviews, does not adequately account for various factors present in certain populations and that further research is needed to create a measure capable of assessing psychopathy independently and consistently without bias.

Panel 9 Revelle College Room

Temple, Jayme. RISE, CSUSM Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Keith Trujillo, Psychology, CSUSM

Behavioral Interactions Between NMDA Receptor Antagonists and Antidepressants in Rats

Traditional antidepressants are thought to act by blocking reuptake of monoamines. Desipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant medication that acts by blocking norepinephrine reuptake. Past work in our laboratory, and others, has demonstrated that the combination of an NMDA receptor antagonist with a traditional antidepressant produces a profound increase in the locomotor stimulant effect of the NMDA antagonist. This suggests a strong neurochemical interaction between classical antidepressants and NMDA receptor antagonists.

Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has been shown to have promising antidepressant effects in humans, including individuals resistant to currently available medications. However, because ketamine produces significant sideeffects, it is important to better understand ketamineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s antidepressant effects and develop alternatives. In the present study we examined the locomotor effects of two different NMDA receptor antagonists, ketamine and MK-801, in combination with desipramine (DMI) in Sprague Dawley rats. We hypothesized that a combination of an NMDA receptor antagonist and DMI would produce a stimulation of activity greater than either drug alone. It is possible that combination treatments, such as this, will improve the treatment of depression.

Panel 22 SSC 554A

Tenerelli, Kevin. MARC, CSUSM Major: Biological Sciences Mentored by Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg, Ophthalmology, UCSD

Novel transcriptional mechanisms regulate visual pathway development

What pathways specify retinal ganglion cell (RGC) fate in the developing retina?

RGCs are born from multipotent retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) but little is known about the cell-autonomous mechanisms and environmental signals that specify RGC fate. Using an in vitro differentiation model of RPCs, we screened and identified transcription factors important for RGC fate. Using knockout mice models, we further studied the mechanism of RGC specification in retina flat mounts by immunofluorescence and in human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell cultures assaying for RGC differentiation. We found a new molecular pathway involving Sox4/Sox11 is required for RGC differentiation from retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and for optic nerve formation in mice in vivo, and is sufficient to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells into electrophysiologically active RGC-like cells. We also found a novel soluble regulator for RGC differentiation, TGFβ superfamily member GDF-15, which acted through Sox4 to induce RGC differentiation from progenitor cells. These data define novel regulatory mechanisms for this SoxC molecular network, and suggest pro-RGC molecular manipulations with potential promise for cell replacement-based therapies for glaucoma and other optic neuropathies.

Panel 35 Student Leadership Chambers

Thomas, Xien. STARS, Texas Southern University Major: Computer Science Mentored by Dr. Sorin Lerner, Computer Science, UCSD

Polymorphic Blocks

We aim to create a simulator that focuses on proofs and puzzles to highlight the transformation rule. The end product would be a Boolean logic simulator for mathematicians and computer scientist to use to replenish their understanding of Boolean logic. Blocks snap into place according to color using a JavaScript environment. Polymorphic blocks are visual aids representing logical proofs and are visualized as shapes. Various polymorphic blocks such as, triangles, T’s, L’s have logical symbol counterparts X, Y, Z respectively. Counterparts are mapped using the transformation rule, which states two arguments can be evaluated through Boolean logic.

Panel 9 Revelle College Room

Tongprasearth, Kanyanat. NEW Scholars, UCSD Warren Major: Cognitive Science Mentored by Dr. Douglas Nitz, Cognitive Science, UCSD

Neural Activity of the Subiculum in Navigating Rats

The hippocampal formation is known to be essential in spatial cognition and episodic memory. This neural structure encodes spatial properties such as positioning in an environment. Anatomically, the subiculum serves as a major output of the hippocampus, yet its role in spatial navigation remains unclear. In this study, we recorded neural activity from the subiculum of trained rats as they performed a spatial navigation task. We also recorded from medial precentral cortex and CA1 in order to make comparisons to the subiculum. To perform the spatial task, the rat traverses pathways containing straightaways and 90-degree turns to receive a reward. Analyzing the linearized positional firing rate vectors and the spatial rate map reveals relationships between the neural firing and the animal’s spatial experience. Patterns of neural activity of the subiculum were found to correspond to the animal’s location in the environment. Another group of neurons correlates to specific movements in a navigational sequence. Additionally, some neurons exhibit high activity with respect to both the animal’s movement and its location. Results indicate that the subiculum is a key component of the network connecting the spatial processing hippocampus to the motor-related medial precentral cortex.

Panel 3 Bear Room

Torres, Ivan. CAMP, UCSD Warren Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Professor Joanna McKittrick, Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCSD

Investigation of Ice Crystal Growth through 2D Freeze Casting with Clathrate Hydrates The freeze casting process is a fabrication method in which porous structures are templated by the growth of ice crystals. It has been significantly studied due to its potential to create bioinspired, biomedical and structural materials. One of the strengths of this technique is its versatility in producing modifiable, fabricated scaffolds through simple alterations to the materials and processing parameters employed. One such previously reported method utilizes isopropanol (IPA) as an additive in order to induce non-stoichiometric structures (clathrate hydrates) during the growth of templating ice. This results in final structures characterized by enlarged porosity. Although these clathrate hydrates are verifiably present, the physical means by which they alter porosity during this growth is still a mystery. In order to bring a sense of clarity to this issue, a two-dimensional freeze casting setup was designed and implemented, allowing for direct observation of the growing ice crystals (i.e., the freezing front). More specifically, the freezing

front growth rate of zirconia (ZrO2) based slurries, varying in IPA concentration, were examined so as to pinpoint the principal factors generating these enlarged porous structures.

Panel 30 Revelle College Room

Tran, Anh. McNair Scholars, UCSD Marshall Major: Psychology Mentored by Professor Victor Ferreira, Psychology, UCSD

The Effect of Attention on Syntactic Choice

Research has shown that some language production processes, such as selecting a word from your mental dictionary, require attention. My project investigated how attention affects linguistic choices at the level of syntax via two experiments.

In both experiments, we used long (100 ms) and short (1500 ms) SOAs to assess effects of differences in attention.

For each critical trial, participants identified a priming picture after hearing a syntactic prime, discriminated a tone, and described the target picture by using either one of two phrase structures: an adjective-noun phrase or AN (e.g. “the red house”) and a relative phrase or NA (e.g. “the house that’s red”). Results from the first experiment (n = 36) showed a different amount of NA produced between long and short SOA, thus suggesting that syntax requires attention. The second experiment (n = 15) with the constant amount of time between when subjects respond to the prime and when they name the target replicated the previous results, which clarified the effect of attention on syntactic choice.

Panel 12 Warren College Room

Tripathi, Raghav. Pharmacology SURF, Case Western Reserve University Major: Biology and Medical Anthropology Mentored by Professor Shigeki Miyamoto, Pharmacology, UCSD

RhoA Signaling Regulates PKD-Dependent PINK1 Accumulation and Mitophagy

RhoA is a small GTPase that regulates myriad cellular events, including adhesion, migration, invasion, cell cycle progression, gene expression, and cellular protection. RhoA is activated by various GPCRs, including those for sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Signaling through the pathway of S1P/RhoA has been shown to provide cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury.

However, it is unclear whether RhoA activation protects against sustained ischemia and resulting energy depletion. During ischemia, macroautophagy is induced to sequester intracellular components and organelles including mitochondria for lysosomal degradation, providing a source of energy. In addition, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) accumulation within the mitochondria during hypoxia leads to mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy).

This project investigates the hypothesis that RhoA provides a novel signaling pathway for PINK1 regulation that expedites mitophagy and provides cellular energy. We have observed that RhoA expression in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes increases PINK1 expression; this was also observed when RhoA was expressed in the heart by AAV9 RhoA tail vein injection.

We determined that RhoA-induced PINK1 accumulation is Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) independent but Protein Kinase D (PKD) dependent.

Future research entails further elucidation of the downstream pathways of RhoA activation leading to macroautophagy/mitophagy.

Panel 39 SSC 350

Trujillo, Shannon. NSF, USD Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Geoffrey Morse, Biology, Harvard

Diversification of Armored Scale Insects in a Bornean Tropical Rainforest Canopy

Armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) are cryptic, cosmopolitan plant parasites found throughout the world. Despite the magnitude of their diversity and range little is known about their life histories beyond the taxa most commonly associated with agricultural crops. Nearly nothing is known about armored scale insects from tropical rainforest canopies, where we have found them to be extraordinarily abundant. Furthermore, their small size and cryptic morphology makes finding specimens and differentiating between taxa difficult.

Fortunately, advances in modern molecular genetic techniques have made it possible to rapidly distinguish taxa based on various gene regions. In this study, we surveyed a tropical rainforest canopy in Malaysian Borneo using the canopy crane at Lambir Hills National Park. In conjunction with a previously published large set of DNA sequence data from armored scale insects, phylogenetic analysis of our environmental samples reveals an impressive amount of previously undocumented biodiversity at both the species level and deeper phylogenetic levels. Our results suggest there is not only a large amount of undiscovered species diversity, but deeper phyletic diversity as well.

Panel 19 SSC 400

Truong, Hanh. UC Leads, UCSC Major: Biochemistry Mentored by Professor Mark Lawson, Regenerative Medicine, UCSD

The Investigation of Xbp1 Expression during Oxidative Stress

In females, the pattern of regular ovulatory cycles requires a balance hormonesr to function normally. Our goal is to elucidate the impact of fatty acids on production of two pituitary hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which are essential for human fertility and development. In women, obesity is associated with elevated circulating free fatty acids, decreased fertility and lower gonadotropin levels. Fatty acid metabolism can result in production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is known to cause cellular stress by induction of the unfolded protein response. This can reduce protein synthesis and gene expression. When cells experience oxidative stress, they increase mRNA splicing and expression of the transcription factor Xbp1. In the pituitary, cell stress results in the reduction of LH and FSH production. If this occurs during any part of the ovulatory cycle, normal cycling can be disrupted. We hypothesize that ROS is responsible for suppressed LH and FSH synthesis. In order to test this hypothesis, we will use a mammalian gonadotrope cell line to test the effect of an ROS scavenger and inhibitor on induction of stress as indicated by Xbp1 mRNA splicing.

Panel 35 Student Leadership Chambers

Valdes, Jose. CAMP, UCSD ERC Major: Computer Science Mentored by Professor Shachar Lovett, Computer Science and Engineering, UCSD

Understanding the complexity of the planted clique problem

In a graph G(V,E), a clique is a set S ⊆ V where S is a complete subgraph of G. Finding the clique with maximum cardinality, namely the maximum clique, in a random graph model G(n, ½), where G contains n vertices and each possible edge between vertices is included with probability ½, has been an open problem for a long time. Jerrum [Jerrum ‘92] and Kucera [Kucera ‘95] introduced the planted clique model G(n, ½, k) as a variant of this problem. Let K be a “planted” clique formed by picking randomly a k number of vertices and forcing them to become a clique by adding edges between them. It has been possible to find the clique K

with high probability in polynomial time when k = O(√n). However, when k = o(√n), no polynomial time algorithm solves this problem. The focus of this research is to understand why k = √n has become a natural boundary by comparing different approaches that have led to that result and inferring about the relationship between those approaches and the assumption that a graph G has a planted clique.

Panel 3 Bear Room

VanHook, Caylin. CIAN, STARS, Louisiana Tech University Major: Electrical Engineering & Physics Mentored by Dr. Yeshaiahu Fainman, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD

Numerical Techniques in Near-field Optics and Materials

Metamaterials are artificial structures that are designed to have electromagnetic properties that do not occur in nature, such as negative permeability and permittivity. Metamaterials that utilize surface-bound electromagnetic waves, called surface plasmon polaritons, have applications in sub-diffraction limited imaging (i.e. an “optical needle”) and bio-sensing (i.e. surface-enhanced Raman scattering, SERS). All-dielectric metamaterials are an improvement over conventional metal-dielectric configurations because they have much lower resistive losses. We design and simulate an all-dielectric metamaterial that generates local maxima where the electric field is several orders of magnitude greater than the amplitude of the incident electromagnetic wave. The metamaterial is designed to use the constructive interference of non-propagating evanescent modes along the surface. We use the COMSOL Finite Element Modeling suite as an E&M numerical solver to design this meta-surface. We will then use dry etching techniques on a silicon wafer to fabricate the dielectric metamaterial. Afterwards, we plan to perform characterization of the metamaterial using existing NSOM (Near-field Scanning Optical Microscope) and confocal microscopy techniques, to confirm if the metamaterial reproduces the effects shown in the simulation.

Panel 17 SSC 260

Vargas, Benni. STARS, UCLA Major: Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Mentored by Dr. Deborah Spector, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD

Targeting Cellular Function in Cytomegalovirus Infection as a Therapeutic Strategy for Atherosclerosis Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a significant human pathogen and recent studies have proposed that HCMV infection plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. New strategies for atherosclerosis treatment targeting HCMV infection are being studied. Statins are used to treat hypercholesterolaemia due to their ability to inhibit the production of cholesterol. In addition, statins have pleiotropic benefits which may include inhibition of HCMV replication. Trehalose –a disaccharide that protects cells from numerous environmental stress factors– is also a promising candidate because it has recently been shown to not only induce autophagy in certain cells, but also to reduce viral infections. We hypothesize pitavastatin and trehalose will inhibit replication of HCMV in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). We will study the effect of pitavastatin and trehalose on HAECs infected under static conditions as well as under different patterns of shear stress –mimicking conditions favorable for atherosclerosis. We will use Western blot to analyze HCMV viral protein expression in pitavastatintreated, trehalose-treated, and non-treated HAECs. Insight into the effects of statins and trehalose in viral replication can lead to new therapeutic treatments to help reduce the HCMV risk factor in atherosclerosis.

Panel 16 Forum

Varnau, Grant. College of Engineering Texas A&M University, SDSU Major: Physics Mentored by Dr. Pavel Tsvetkov, Nuclear Engineering, Texas A&M

Danger Close: An Analysis of Alpha Emitters for Localized Irradiation Therapies Current research indicates that while Ion beam therapy is effective for cancer treatments, damage often occurs to structures surrounding the tumor area.

Localized treatments are currently being investigated and have proved to be even more effective in both eliminating the tumor and minimizing damage around the target area. Localized insertion of radio-isotopes shows promise, and can be accurately modeled through the use of Monte-Carlo simulations in various programs. One program known as SRIM (Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter) is utilized in this paper to analyze candidate alpha emitting radio-isotopes for their therapeutic potential. This paper discusses the use of different nuclides for treatment of tumors in biological structures through the use of SRIM. The nuclides were narrowed down to 5 based upon their lifetime and decay branching, and biological structures were identified and modeled within the program. The damage, range, and energy distributions of the alpha emitting nuclides inside each anatomical material will be evaluated. Further analysis of this data will hopefully provide a model for ion distribution in biological media and encourage further investigation of localized radiation therapy, specifically for pancreatic tumors.

Panel 17 SSC 260

Vides, Maria. Pharmacology SURF, Pomona College Major: Molecular Biology Mentored by Dr. Julieta Aguilar, Pharmacology, UCSD

Bioreactivity and Cytotoxicity of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Metabolites In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major challenge to public health, affecting 80,000 individuals each year and causing 11,000 deaths in the United States alone. Two main strains of MRSA have been identified, hospital-associated methicillin resistant S. aureus (HAMRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). Currently, the virulence of CA-MRSA is poorly understood. Using a peptidomics approach, six bioactive peptides were identified in CA-MRSA, which are absent in HA-MRSA. These peptides robustly stimulate primary immune cells and cause lysis of blood cells.

Since CA-MRSA typically cause skin and soft tissue infection, this study will test the effects of the 6 peptides on immune cells and skin cells. Preliminary studies show that these peptides cause cell death. Further studies will identify the process of cell death by mass spectrometry and microscopy. This project will provide a new understanding of how CA-MRSA peptides damage mammalian tissues, and will lead to the development of new pharmacological avenues of intervention for the treatment of MRSA infections.

Panel 39 SSC 350

Villalobos, Patricia. STARS, ITSON Major: Environmental Science Engineering Mentored by Dr. Brice Semmens, Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

An update on Nassau Grouper recovery through size frequency analysis and laser measurements.

Population of many marine fishes are in decline due to overfishing leading to species listings and fishery closure. Species that form spawning aggregations are particularly vulnerable to fishing pressures. Since 2002, studies have been conducted on a Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) spawning aggregation site to document its recovery. While tagging studies have been conducted to estimate abundance, size analysis provides a deeper insight to population dynamics. To collect data, divers use an underwater video-based system with parallel calibrated lasers that are pointed at the fish to measure its length. This is an efficient and

highly accurate method to obtain length distribution data and study marine species size frequency over time. In 2007, a recruitment of juvenile fish was detected, showing signs of size diversity in the later years. The current goal is to analyze data from 2011 to 2015 to find an increased number of bigger sized fish and assess the population changes in time to confirm recovery success and enforce sustainable fishery to conserve the species.

Panel 14 Student Leadership Chambers

Vong, Daniel. UC Leads, UCSB Major: Mechanical Engineering Mentored by Professor Ratnesh Lal, mechanical and aerospace, UCSD

Gold and silicon golf ball janus particles for functionalization and drug delivery Janus particles, particles with two or more surface properties, are an exciting class of nanomaterials that have versatile applications which include catalysis, photonics, biosensing, and drug delivery. Hollow and porous gold nanoshells are easily synthesized using a hierarchical template, but the challenge is creating the fabrication scheme to incorporate silica on the inner shell of the gold. These hybrid janus particle nanocarriers are relatively biocompatible and can be functionalized to enhance the applications capabilities. We have developed a simple hierarchical template to synthesize the nanocarriers. The template allows the synthesis of nanocarriers of various sizes, and is characterized by dynamic light scattering, which can be used in the drug delivery treatment of diseases such as diabetes or cancer.

Panel 13 Sixth College Room

Walters, Greg. NIH, CSUSM Major: Molecular & Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Kambiz Hamadani, Biochemistry, CSUSM

Single-molecule FRET Microscopy

There are approximately 50 genetic diseases that have been found to be associated with protein misfolding; including Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and ALS. Protein folding research is still in its infancy, though there are currently methods that allow us to visually see and study aspects of protein folds using click-chemistry.

Currently, our lab is developing a technique that uses PCR and click-chemistry assays to watch proteins fold in real time, while still attached to the ribosome, as it does in nature.

Click-chemistry allows us to attach fluorescent dyes onto specified points in Ribosome Nascent Chains. Using Single-Molecule FRET microscopy, we can excite the fluorophores, artificially activate protein folding, and watch the proteins fold in real time. Different dyes react chemically allowing us gauge how the protein is folding. As the fluorophores become closer in proximity, fluorophore colors will interact and begin to change, giving us an approximation of distance.

Barnase is the immediate focus of this assay, primarily because of its predictability. Ultimately, this assay could be applied to larger, more complex proteins for further research and study, including misfoldings and proteopathic diseases.

Panel 24 Bear Room

Ward, Kayleigh. McNair Scholars, USD Major: Sociology Mentored by Dr. Judith Liu, Sociology, University of San Diego

Grounded: Tokyo Perspectives on Fukushima

This research focuses on the sociological implications of the Fukushima nuclear disaster by examining the question: What are the urban perspectives of Tokyo residents about nuclear radiation and what are their affects upon residents of Fukushima? As the most populous urban area and the capital, Tokyo residents may have a greater influence on potential outcomes for Fukushima prefecture.

Because media coverage has been one of the only available sources of information, the quality and quantity of information may have influenced the perceptions these residents have about the disaster. Ethnographic interview data and current literature reveal that the prefecture of Fukushima has become largely isolated from the rest of Japan and as such, the information surrounding the disaster highlights larger issues such as risks to Japanese society.

Panel 40 SSC 400

Weeks, Dasha. UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholarships (URS), UCSD Revelle Major: Human Biology Mentored by Professor Rolf Bodmer, Pediatrics and Pathology, UCSD

Investigating the role of JAK-STAT signaling in response to bacterial infection in the aging fly heart Drosophila melanogaster is a useful genetic model for studying aging and cardiac disease. The JAK-STAT signaling pathway is essential for normal heart development in Drosophila and plays a protective role in the cardiac stress response in humans. We looked into whether STAT transcription factor is activated in response to bacterial infection, and whether this response is age dependent. We assessed the effect of changing STAT 92-E expression on heart function after infection with E.coli and Erwinia bacteria. In our assessment we used young (1wk) and old (5wks) flies with overexpressed and under expressed STAT 92-E. After function assessment we checked whether structure of the heart was affected by the infection. We stained the actin in heart muscle fibers with fluorescent stain and imaged them with Apotome microscope.

Despite having a different anatomy to human hearts, the Drosophila heart goes through a very similar deterioration with age and genes that control heart development and function are conserved between flies and humans therefore any discovery in the fly should highlight homologous mechanisms in the human heart.

Panel 26 Green Table Room

Whiteley, Amanda. HCOP, SDSU Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Vanessa Malcarne, Psychology, San Diego State University

Asian-American and Pacific Islander Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health Beliefs, Ethnic Experience, and Perceptions of Clinical Trials

The Asian-American and Pacific Islander (API) communities are underrepresented in clinical trials (CTs), making findings hard to generalize to them. Health beliefs and acculturation experience impact perceptions of CTs, affecting accrual to CTs. For API women, this is not well understood. This pilot study profiled API womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health locus of control (HLC) beliefs, ethnic experience (EE), and perceptions of CTs, and investigated how these parameters are related. The findings of this study may inform interventions to improve the accrual of API women to CTs. Self-identified adult API women (age 21 - 70) completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MLHC) scales, Scale of Ethnic Experience (SEE), and Barriers to and Benefits of Clinical Trials Participation (BBCTP) scale. The sample comprised 50 women from different API ethnicities. Descriptive statistics are provided by mean scores for each scale.

The relationships of MHLC scales with each other, MHLC scales with SEE and BBCTP scale, and SEE with BBCTP scale are assessed by Pearson correlations.

Predicting BBCTP scales from MHLC scales and SEE scores are analyzed by hierarchal regression analysis. Study results are forthcoming. Given the limited sample size, further study is warranted.

Panel 18 SSC 350

Williams, Kevin. STARS, Barry Major: Biology Mentored by Dr. Dorit Hanein, Biology, UCSD

Determining the effects of different substrates on actin structural features using Cryo-electron microcopy Actin is an essential protein found abundantly in eukaryotic cells and play a role in wound healing,cell motility, cell development and can be implicated in different form of cancer. The function of actin is determined by the set of actin binding protein that bind to it. The structure of actin is strongly associated with its function. In this project, we will look at how the substrate placed over an actin sample affect its structure, and thus, its apparent function. Previous research lab shows that that thinner substrate tend to restrict actin molecule. Actin will be investigated under three different substrates (formvar, triafol and commercial quantifoil) under high resolution imaging conditions to see if various landscape conditions affect its structure. It is hypothesized that actin polymer are going to change the structures as a function of the environment that it is embedded in.

This parameter will be tested by making three different substrates that have three different thickness. Different images of the substrates will be taken to determine which process the best image for actin. Additionally, we will determine whether the different grid preparation have an effect on actin structural quality Panel 21 SSC 554

Williams, Apsara. STARS, Howard University Major: Chemical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Christian Metallo, Bioengineering, UCSD

Characterizing the diversity of different fatty acid species in mammalian tissues Branched chain fatty acids (BCFA), while commonly found in bacteria were not, until recently, thought to be abundant in mammalian cells. While several theories have been postulated as to the need for these BCFAs, little is still known about their function in mammals. The purpose of this project is to characterize the abundance and relative composition of both branched chain and straight chain fatty acids in a spectrum of different tissue samples such as adipocytes and muscle tissue as a gateway to better discerning their function. This will be accomplished by analysing both tissue and mouse derived primary cells via gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as well as thin layer chromatography (TLC).

Characterization of the BCFA abundance will allow for better understanding of their origin and ultimately their physiological role in mammalian cells and the impact they have on health.

Panel 30 Revelle College Room

Wilson, Diara. STARS, Howard University Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Leslie Carver, Psychology, UC San Diego

The Impact of Affect

Social relationships often originate from imitation. This study examines how affect impacts overimitation in typically developing children. Over imitation can be defined as unnecessary steps preformed to obtain a goal. In this study, children will be randomly placed in an experimental group where the experimenter has either a positive attitude or neutral attitude. Regardless of the placement, the child will be given a toy and observed on what they do with the toy. The child will then watch the experimenter play with the toy and perform a series of steps to successfully find a hidden toy within the toy. While performing the steps, the experimenter will include an overimitation action that is not necessary to find the hidden toy. This action could include something to the effect of hitting the table.

Now that the child has had an example of how to use the toy they should be able to find the hidden toy. The question is whether the child will include the overimitation step based on the experimentorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emotion. I expect the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

participation in over imitation to solely depend on which emotion the child closely relates to.

Panel 32 Roosevelt College Room

Winokur, Emily. STARS, Emory University Major: Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Mentored by Dr. Terry Jernigan, Cognitive Science, UC San Diego

The Relationship Between Measures of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Math Performance in Children Many people have math anxiety, a fear of numbers and equations that interferes with overall mathematical performance. Math anxiety can extend from childhood to adulthood where individuals struggle with basic calculations. Anxiety is moderately heritable, and anxious thoughts interfere with working memory functionality. Despite the knowledge of math anxiety hindering math performance, little research addresses the effect of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) on math performance in children. The present study will look at the relationship between trait-anxiety and performance on the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Achievement Applied Problems and Calculation sections. Anxiety levels will be determined using scaled scores based on self and parent-completed standardized questionnaires relating to child anxiety phenotypes. It is predicted that children with higher measures of anxious behavior as indicated by consistent reports across the standardized questionnaires will perform lower on mathematical tasks, specifically the Applied Problems that requires more working memory. Additionally, self-reports will be a better predictor of performance on math tasks because of the way in which negative self-perception, a common measure that is included in the anxiety questionnaires, could trigger unwanted and distracting thoughts especially when presented with material involving mathematics.

Panel 28 Muir College Room

Woo, Jenny. AEP UC Scholars, UCSD Revelle Major: Sociology Mentored by Professor Mary Blair-Loy, Sociology, University of California - San Diego

Links s between Gender Balance in Executive Committees and Board of Directors in U.S. Corporations: Further Explorations on the Glass Ceiling Project

Is there a glass ceiling in corporate America? Women and racial-ethnic minorities make up significant portions of the workforce but only a small percentage of highlevel corporate positions. Women and racial/ethnic minorities encounter structural barriers, metaphorically described as these glass ceilings, that create barriers to their advancement in corporate professions. As part of a larger project led by Prof Blair-Loy, we explore some of the reasons behind glass ceilings.

Specifically, we examine whether there is an association between the gender and race make-up of the corporate board of directors and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive committee. If so, we draw on various literatures and previous studies to account for this relationship. We construct a data base of the gender and race composition of the executive committees and boards of directors of the top Fortune 500 publicly-owned companies as well as the top Forbes 200 privately-owned companies in 2014. The results of our data analysis of this data base will allow us to make further conclusions about the glass ceiling project.

Panel 41 SSC 450

Woo, Jonathon. NEW Scholars, UCSD Sixth Major: Biochemistry/Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Michelle Mattson-Hoss, Bioengineering, University of California Irvine

Modeling Oligogenic Diabetes

Many genes have been implicated in type 2 diabetes; however, specific combinations of genes that predispose individuals to diabetes are poorly understood. Utilizing zebrafish for their rapid development and easy genetic manipulation, we will generate new lines of zebrafish with mutations in genes that are implicated in diabetes. Specifically, we will model a human case where two parents each carried mutations in genes that typically cause maturity onset diabetes, but were asymptomatic for diabetes. Their daughter inherited the two different disease alleles and was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus requiring insulin (DMRI) at 8 months old. Building on this case study, we will attempt to establish a model of oligogenic diabetes that replicates the mutations observed in the two parents and results in early onset diabetes in the zebrafish.

Following the initial proof of principle, this model will be further developed by screening for combinations of genes implicated in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that also result in diabetes phenotype. The zebafish lines established will serve as tools to better understand the development of diabetes and screen for drugs with potential therapeutic effect.

Panel 30 Revelle College Room

Woodard, Taneisha. STARS, San Jose State University Major: Psychology Mentored by Professor Nicholas Christenfeld, Social Psychology, UCSD

The effect of semantic information on the racial categorization of an ambiguous face Do you believe everything you read? Research shows that basic visual information and higher order cognition can influence how people categorize others. We conducted this study to examine if semantic information influences a person’s racial categorization of an ambiguous face. First, participants filled out a profile about themselves and were given an African American or Persian/Caucasian profile to read. Next, the participants were given a prequestionnaire pertaining to the profile. The condition exposed participants to a racially ambiguous person who was congruent or incongruent with the racial profile they read. Then they were taken to a separate room for a tape-recorded conversation with the confederate. The task allowed the participants to form a perception of the confederate’s race. Next, the participants filled out a postquestionnaire to measure if the semantic information was consistent with the racial categorization of the confederate’s race. We predict that those who receive a profile of an African American will contribute less to the conversation with the confederate, than those who are given a Persian/Caucasian profile. The purpose of this research is to aid in changing the racial misidentification, stereotyping, and profiling of minorities.

Panel 21 SSC 554

Wroblewski, Olga. HHMI:EXROP- STARS, Yale University Major: Biomedical Engineering Mentored by Dr. Robert Sah, Bioengineering, UCSD

Characterization of cell viability and hydrogel contraction in cartilage explant seeded type 1 Telo collagen gels.

Abstract redacted due to pending publication.

Panel 18 SSC 350

Wu, Fengting. AEP UC Scholars, UCSD Sixth Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology Mentored by Dr. Emily Troemel, Biology, UCSD

Identifying Factors that Regulate a Novel Heat Stress Response Pathway in C. elegans The ability to maintain protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is important for the function and survival of cells. The disruption of proteostasis in human brain cells was discovered to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease. Through our analysis of C. elegans response to intracellular infection, we identified a novel heat stress response pathway that appears to improve proteostasis capacity. This pathway is distinct from previously described proteostasis pathways that promote thermotolerance, such as the canonical heat shock pathway that involves heat shock proteins (hsps). Instead, it involves ubiquitin ligase components and genes of unknown function, C17H1.6 and F26F2.1, which are highly induced after intracellular infection and chronic heat stress. I will perform a transcription factor RNAi screen and an EMS mutagenesis screen to identify genes that may regulate this heat stress response pathway. I will use a strain called jyIs8 that contains a transgene with C17H1.6 promoter fused to GFP, and will utilize GFP as a readout in both screens. The results will provide insight to how cells improve proteostasis after stress, which may be relevant to human disease caused by a loss of proteostasis capacity.

Panel 32 Roosevelt College Room

Wu, Jessica. McNair Scholars, UCSD Revelle Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Amy Lansing, Psychiatry, UCSD

Body Image and Anorexia and Bulimia Spectrum Disorder Among Adjudicated Female Eating disorders are serious conditions that not only contribute to a variety of physical health issues but can also be detrimental to other aspects of a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. In this study, the prevalence of a multitude of eating disorders symptoms and their health effects are examined using the Structured Clinical InterviewAnorexia & Bulimia Spectrum (SCI-ABS) among the adjudicated female juvenile delinquents in San Diego County. The SCI-ABS is a self-report questionnaire with 134 items across nine domains, four of which have their own sub-domain.

The data from the SCI-ABS are then cross-examined with a variety of self-report questionnaire and interviews which address impulsivity, childhood traumas and losses, experiences of neglect, personalities, etc. in an effort to seek out predictors for eating disorders. If significant predictors can be extrapolated, they can serve to deepen our current understand of eating disorders and can be used for early interventions and perhaps prevention.

Panel 30 Revelle College Room

Yandall, Shannon. IMSD, SDSU Major: Psychology Mentored by Dr. Paul Gilbert, Psychology, San Diego State University

Are Spatial Memory Changes in Older Adults Due to Less Efficient Pattern Separation?

Spatial memory impairment has been well documented in healthy older adults.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of interference on spatial memory in healthy young (n = 23) and older adults (n = 22). Participants were administered a delayed match-to-sample task involving varying levels of spatial interference. The participant was asked to indicate whether a choice phase circle was in the same position as a sample phase circle (same trial) or a different position (different trial) in which the circle moved in varying distances of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 cm. A 2x4 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), with age group (young, older) as the between-group factor and spatial separation distances

as the within-group factor revealed a significant main effect of age group (p < .05) with young adults outperforming older adults on the different trials. In addition, a main effect of separation revealed that both groups improved as a function of increased spatial separation and lessened interference (p < .001). These findings provide additional evidence that age-related declines in spatial memory may be due in part to less efficient pattern separation.

Panel 28 Muir College Room

Yoshihara, Jordan. Education Studies Department, UCSD Sixth Major: Computer Science Mentored by Dr. Jim Levin, Education Studies, UCSD

Fostering Autonomy, Purpose, and Competence to Build Motivation in Math: A Case Study in an Elementary Classroom One of the key determinants of studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; success in school is the amount of effort they invest in their learning. This effort is usually directly related to how motivated the students are to learn. Although students are motivated by a wide variety of factors, many of their sources of motivation share underlying principles of autonomy, purpose, and competence. In this case study, I examine the experiences of six third-grade students and what motivated them to learn math.

By participating in the classroom, I was able to try various motivational strategies with them. In the end, I argue that their responses to competition, leadership, goals, role models, fun, and community all relate to these three principles of motivation.

Panel 2 Green Room

Zacharias, Briana. START Scholars, UCSD ERC Major: General biology Mentored by Dr. Elsa Cleland, Ecology behavior and evolution, UCSD

Resource availability and the effects on a competitive hierarchy of California exotics and natives Panel 10 Marshall College Room

Zhang, Huanqiu. AEP UC Scholars, UCSD ERC Major: Physiology and Neuroscience Mentored by Professor Darwin Berg, Biological Sciences, UCSD

MicroRNA-127 Regulates Hippocampal Excitability During Early Postnatal Development Brain function undergoes an important developmental transition stage within the first two weeks of postnatal life in rodents, with changes occurring in molecular, cellular and network levels. MicroRNAs (miR) have been implicated in previous researches to have roles in coordinating different aspects of transitional changes, due to their ability to regulate multiple gene transcripts simultaneously. Here, using qPCR, we show that miR-127 and miR-136 have increased expression levels during the crucial time window (P2-P11). Transient blockade of miR-127 with locked nucleic acid (LNA) antagonist in dorsal hippocampus starting at P2 results in higher frequency of synchronized events and total events, indicating imbalances in the excitatory-to-inhibitory (E/I) ratio in the developing network. miR-136 antagonist did not generate significantly different parameters from control animals through Ca2+ imaging analysis. Future target-site blockers (TSB) experiments will reveal specific downstream targets that are normally regulated by miR-127, and viral infection of miR-127 sponges will extend the blockade into early adulthood to determine long-lasting changes in brain function. Finally, the diverse pathways regulated by miR-127 and other miRs to guide brain transition may provide potential treatments to neurological disorders whose patients demonstrate imbalances in E/I ratio.

Panel 14 Student Leadership Chambers

Zhao, Maryann. SDSC, Pomona College Major: Molecular Biology Mentored by Dr. Ross Walker, Biochemistry, UCSD

Van der Waal Interactions Cutoffs in Amber Lipid14

In membrane simulations, there is debate about the effects of truncating van der Waal interactions. It is important that truncating van der Waal interactions is done correctly because of the effects it has on the accuracy of simulations. There has been a study that shows that as van der Waal cutoffs increase, the area per lipid decreases. However, this study was performed using the Berger force field with Gromacs software. My interest involves the Lipid14 force field used in the Amber software in order to see if the same relationship applies to this force field.

Currently, Lipid14 is suggested that users truncate the van der Waal interactions at 10 Angstroms for Lipid14 under the assumption that longer cutoffs have insignificant differences on the results. My question is whether or not different cutoffs from 6-16 Angstroms truly provide different results and if a shift function affects the area per lipid of a simulation. The results of this experiment can help users determine which cutoffs to use in order to optimize their time and costs as longer cutoffs mean longer simulations.

NOTES

Student Service Complex (SSC)

ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS STAFF David Artis, Ph.D. Dean, Undergraduate Research Initiatives, Director, Academic Enrichment Programs (858) 822-4161 • dartis@ucsd.edu ❊ Veronica Bejar Assistant Director, Academic Enrichment Programs/McNair Program (858) 534-8254 • vbejar@ucsd.edu ❊ Jacqueline F. Azize-Brewer, Ph.D. Coordinator, CAMP Science Program (858) 534-8839 • jazize@ucsd.edu ❊ Thomas K. Brown, Ph.D. Coordinator, McNair Program (858) 534-2937 • tkbrown@ucsd.edu ❊ Karen C. Van Ness, M.A. C.Phil.

Coordinator, Faculty Mentor Program, UC Scholars, & Undergraduate Research Conferences (858) 534-5791 • kvanness@ucsd.edu ❊ Adele S. Savage, M.A. Coordinator, Health and Medical Professions Preparation Program (858) 534-7579 • asavage@ucsd.edu ❊ Sophia Tsai, Ph.D. Coordinator, Undergraduate Research Scholarships & NACME Programs (858) 534-9014 ❊ Kirsten Kung, Ph.D. Coordinator, MARC Program (858) 822-3750 • kkung@ucsd.edu ❊ Charity Kunold Administrative Support (858) 534-1774 ❊