Summer Research Celebration 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
4-6 p.m. Winter Hall - Poster Display and Reception in the Rotunda
4:30 Talks to be held in Darling Foundation Lecture Hall
Featured Speaker - Dr. Amanda Sparkman '03 Assistant Professor of Biology
Researchers have worked over the summer in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, English, Economics & Business and Religious Studies. The following abstracts detail their work and collaboration with faculty members. Faculty, students, parents, alumni and prospective students are invited to attend. Please RSVP to Barb Kennedy in the Provost's Office at bkennedy@westmont.edu
FUNCTIONALIZED CHIRAL AUXILIARIES FROM CYCLIC CARBONATES USING THE WITTIG REACTION
Advantageous, organic compounds containing high stereoselctivity can be synthesized from Wittig reagents with chiral auxiliaries. The Wittig reaction can involve aldehydes or ketones to form carbon-carbon double bonds. The generated alkene can then be transformed in stereoselective ways to form useful, and functionalized, organic molecules. This project synthesized cyclic carbonates from readily available, optically active, and chiral diols, to be used in Wittig reactions in order to induce ester linkages with the chiral auxiliary. Terpene diols resulted in molecules showing primarily E-selectivity with 72% of compounds displaying trans conformations. Xylofuranose diols demonstrated similar results, however, the reacted compounds also indicated a higher selectivity towards less highly substituted sites, with primary configurations composing 94% of total material. Jennifer Davis ‘14; David Marten, Professor of Chemistry.
N-SUBSTITUTED OXAZOLIDINONES IN THE PREPARATION OF FUNCTIONALIZED CHIRAL AUXILIARIES USING WITTIG REAGENTS
Wittig reagents with chiral auxiliaries can be used to stereoselectively synthesize useful organic compounds. Wittig reagents are used in a reaction with aldehydes or ketones to form carbon-carbon double bonds. The resulting alkenes can be transformed in stereoselective ways using organometallic reagents to produce useful organic compounds. Three novel chiral N-substituted oxazolidinones were used to produce Wittig reagents with an ester linkage to a chiral auxiliary. The use of an N-mesitoyl group with a 5,5-dimethyl substituted oxazolidinone resulted in a 91:9 E/Z ratio in the chiral enoate. When an N-tosyl group was used with an unsubstituted oxazolidinone, the Wittig reaction occurred as expected to yield a chiral enoate with a 95:5 E/Z ratio. Using the N-mesitoyl substituted oxazolidinone, the Wittig olefination occurred with 99% E selectivity. Aleah Bond ‘14 and David Marten, Professor of Chemistry
RESONANCE ENERGY TRANSFER FROM NAPHTAHLENE TO FLUORENONE ON α-ALUMINA
Resonance energy transfer (RET) was observed among aromatic molecules on a dielectric surface. Molecules were vacuum deposited as bilayers on the surface of a crystal and electronically excited. The crystal was heated in a temperature programmed desorption experiment and molecular luminescence was recorded. The donor molecule, naphthalene (N), was shown to fluoresce with λmax ~ 420 nm, and the acceptor, fluorenone, absorbed this energy and emitted at a lower energy, λmax ~ 550 nm. Close to the desorption temperature of N, mixing of the layers resulted in the formation of a complex which facilitated RET. Hannah Ryan, Shanan Lau, Bradly B. Baer ‡Department of Chemistry, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA 9310‡ Department of Chemistry, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA 92106
LAZER INDUCED FLUORESCENCE DECAY OF 1-METHYL-, 1-METHOXY- AND 1-ETHYLNAPTHALANE ON α-ALUMINA DURING TEMPERATURE PROGRAMMED DESORPTION
The laser induced fluorescence lifetimes of excited molecular films of several substituted naphthalene molecules were recorded as a function of temperature. 1-methylnaphthalene, 1-methoxynaphthalene, and 1-ethylnaphthalene were each vapor deposited as thin films on an α-alumina crystal as the surface was heated and the decays upon excitation with a Nd:YAG laser at 266 nm was monitored. The decays were assumed to be a first-order exponentials and were curve fit by least square regression routine. The slopes yielded the decay rate constants and were plotted during the temperature programmed desorption. The total decay was found to have long and short components, the values of which allowed the assigned to different excimers and traps that formed as the surface temperature was raised. Shanan Lau, Hannah Ryan, Bradly B. Baer‡, Department of Chemistry, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA 93108‡ Department of Chemistry, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA 92106
IMPROVED SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF N-FERROCENYL ISONICOTINAMIDE AND[Ru(bpy)2pyCONHphen]
We are developing metal salens with Ruthenium-modified and Iron-modified axial ligands as redox active catalysts for the oxygenation of organic substrates. This summer our goal was to improve the synthesis and complete the characterization of the axial ligands N-ferrocenyl Isonicotinamide and [Ru(bpy)2pyCONHphen]. The N-ferrocenyl isonicotinamide synthesis was improved from a 28% yield to a 61% yield by means of an HOBt/DCC coupling synthesis. Crystals of the product were grown for x-ray crystallography and the structure was found to be orthorhombic with the space group Pcba and an R value of 0.0357. Most of our attempts at an alternate synthesis of [Ru(bpy)2pyCONHphen] have been unsuccessful, but we were able to purify and obtain an improved 13C-NMR spectrum of a sample from the original synthesis. The alternate synthesis we have explored have proved difficult in the preparation of pyCONHphen, although recently we have discovered a promising DCC coupling synthesis for pyCONHphen. Currently we are working on purifying the product to obtain its 13C-NMR spectrum and to attach it to Ru(bpy)2(Cl)2 to complete the synthesis. Eric Patterson '13, Stephen Contakes, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
A LOOK AT MARITAL STATUS AND GLOBAL COCNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN LATE LIFE
Currently, research shows that marital status serves as an indicator of measures of memory and mood in late life. If a person is married, generally he or she will score better on these measures. Some have speculated that the mental exercise of marriage serves as buffer for memory. However, a paucity of research on general cognitive functioning exists. Our study set out to identify what other domains may be affected by marital status. We measured the domains of memory, attention and processing speed, visuospatial skills, executive skills, and language skills. We found that consistently, married participants scored significantly better than non-married (single, widowed, or divorced) in the domains of memory, visuospatial, and language skills. Our present study lends itself to clinicians to consider marital status in a holistic cognitive analysis, as well as to spur on future research into possible reasons for marriage as a buffer. Spencer Fox ’12, Dr. Steven Rogers, Associate Professor of Psychology
EXEGETICAL GUIDE TO THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT: REVELATION
The Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (EGGNT), published by B&H Academic, will be a twenty-volume series designed to help students (or former students) of the Greek New Testament study the text. Dr. Bruce Fisk has the contract to write the volume on Revelation. I am assisting him in the early stages of this project. Each volume will include a discussion of vocabulary, lexical semantics, grammar, significant textual variants, and differing interpretations of each phrase in the passage. This series develops the interpreter’s abilities to read the NT text closely, ask good questions and form sound exegetical judgments. It makes the text more accessible by sorting through a lot of technical information and citing tools such as dictionaries, concordances, lexicons, commentaries, grammars and critical apparatus. This project is deepening my understanding of Greek grammar, developing my exegetical skills and sharpening my hermeneutical instincts. This poster illustrates how various research tools can shed light on Revelation 1:1-3. Grace Hayashi ’13, Dr. Bruce Fisk, Professor of Religious Studies
IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL-WELLNESS: A STUDY ON THE WAY EXERCISE AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES RELATE TO MEMORY FUNCTIONS AND PERSONALITY
This study examined if participation in exercise and leisure activities was related to cognitive performance and personality. Fifty-four older adults (44 women; mean age = 76.65) completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery that included tests of memory (WMS-III Logical Memory & Visual Reproduction, CVLT-II, Rey-O 3’ & 30’), personality (NEO-FFI), and mood (GDS, BAI). Participants also indicated how many times they engaged in exercise and leisure activities each week. The results showed that those with higher levels of conscientiousness and extroversion engaged in more exercise. Those with greater conscientiousness were also likely to participate in more leisure activities, whereas those with greater depression and neuroticism endorsed fewer leisure activities. The results also found that exercise may benefit delayed recall and retention relative to learning, whereas leisure engagements may differentially benefit nonverbal learning and memory. These findings provide support for the implementation of both leisure and exercise as means to strengthen memory functioning in older adults. Cory E. Burns ‘13 , Steven A. Rogers, Associate Professor of Psychology
ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH CO. CASE STUDY
A business case is a narration of an actual situation in a company where a decision, challenge, or opportunity took place. At Westmont, we are interested in developing a series of business cases to explore technology, marketing, and management decision-making. Abercrombie and Fitch Co. has grown into one of the most well-known clothing brands of today. From the beginning, A&F stuck “to (their) knitting by not trying to be all things to all people” and instead adopted the philosophy of creating a unique brand experience. The company’s CEO, Mike Jefferies, has focused attention on expanding direct-to-consumer operations and international business, while closing stores domestically. The brand saw growth in sales in recent years but, in 2011, saw a drop in shares (ANF) after missing Wall Street’s projected estimates. A&F has been in an interesting position when it comes to focus of the brand and the market segment they catered to. Cameron Mahi '13, Dr. David Anderson, Associate Professor of Economics and Business
EXAMINING THE ROLE OF plrS in Bordetella bronchiseptica VIRULENCE GENE EXPRESSION
Bordetella bronchiseptica is a respiratory pathogen that uses two-component regulators (TCR) to control gene expression in order to colonize the respiratory tract of many mammals. A recently discovered TCR sensor kinase, plrS, is necessary for Bordetella to colonize rodent respiratory tracts. Microarray analysis was performed on wild type and plrS deficient cells, which indicated altered expression of several known virulence functions, including type III secretion (TTSS), cyaA, and nitrogen response genes. To determine the effect that plrS has on TTSS, cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays were performed. On macrophage-like J774 cells, plrS mutants showed statistically significant decreases both in cytotoxicity and hemolysis compared to the wild-type (normal) strain. Western blot analyses show less CyaA in plrS mutants, but CO2 levels do not appear to affect these differences. Finally, the expression of at least one protein is affected in plrS mutant strains in nitrogen-limiting conditions, and the difference is independent of a known regulatory system that governs the bacterial response to nitrogen stress. Dean LaBarba ‘13, Jeffrey Midgley ‘13, Michelle Wheeler ‘13 and Dr. Steve Julio, Associate Professor of Biology
SPATIAL SENSITIVITY AND TIME DEPENDENCE OF EVANESCENT-WAVE CAVITY RING-DOWN SPECTROSCOPY
Evanescent-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (EW-CRDS) is a highly sensitive, absorption-based technique. The spatial sensitivity and time dependence of EW-CRDS may be demonstrated by measuring changes in absorption as substances adsorb to chemically modified silica surfaces. In this study, the adsorption of methyl red to a surface modified with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) was monitored as a function of both position and time. Allison Vander Wall ‘13 and Claire Berchiolli ’13. Dr. Michael Everest, Professor of Chemistry
CALIBRATION OF THE SWEEPER CHAMBER CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTORS AT NSCL, MUS
About half of the elements in the periodic table heavier than iron are produced through the S-process over the lifetimes of the most massive stars. When they die in supernovae explosions, new heavy elements further from the line of stability are rapidly produced by the R-process, which relies on the rapid accumulation of neutrons that are freed by the explosion, thus creating very neutron rich nuclides in the blink of an eye. By studying neutron-rich particle-unstable nuclei and their decay energies, we are able to learn more about their properties and specific details of nuclear synthesis of heavy elements in the R-process. The MoNA and LISA neutron array detectors, built by a collaboration of 8 undergraduate institutions (including Westmont College) in conjunction with the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University, are specifically designed to detect neutrons emitted from the decay of particle-unbound nuclear states from accelerator based experiments on exotic atomic nuclei near the neutron dripline. Our research over Summer 2012 involved analyzing the data taken from the 2011 LISA commissioning experiment to study the excited states of 24O produced from a 26F secondary fragmentation beam. I was specifically involved in calibrating the various detectors in the sweeper chamber, which are used to track the decay and measure the trajectory and energy of the charged fragments, allowing us to begin identifying element isotope separation in our data. The results of our analysis will be used to calculate the decay energies of these isotopes and thus analyze the properties of 24, 23, 22O excited states. Sierra Garrett ‘15, Nathaniel Taylor ‘15, Alyson Barker ‘15, and Dr. Warren Rogers, Professor of Physics.
STUDY OF EXCITED STATES OF EXOTIC NEUTRON-RICH NUCLEI AT THE NATIONAL SUPERCONDUCTING CYCLOTRON LABORATORY AT MSU
We analyzed data from an accelerator-based commissioning experiment for the newly constructed LISA neutron detector array located in the N2 vault at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. We calibrated several charged particle detectors used to determine the trajectories and energies of the charged fragments that are produced in the breakup of unbound neutron-rich nuclei. Detectors we calibrated included two position sensitive Cathode Readout Drift Chambers (CRDC), an Ion Chamber that measures energy deposition of passing charged fragments, and two energy-sensitive scintillator detectors. We also worked with the MoNA and LISA neutron array detectors (partly constructed by Westmont students) to investigate the nature of the neutrons emitted in the breakup reactions. Finally, we calibrated the timing of several detectors located along the entire beamline in order that all detectors be synchronized to within a few tenths of a nanosecond. The goal is to determine the decay energy of several excited states of neutron-rich 24O, in order to better understand the nature of nuclei near the neutron dripline. Sierra Garrett ‘15, Nathaniel Taylor ‘15, Alyson Barker ‘15, and Dr. Warren Rogers, Professor of Physics.
A STUDY OF THE HUMAN MIRROR NEURON SYSTEM IN A SOCIAL EXCHANGE TASK
The mirror neuron system is proposed as the basis for empathy and understanding the motives of others. Mirror neuron system activity can be measured by EEG as decreases in the amplitude of the mu frequency band (7-14Hz) while observing the movements of others, referred to as mu suppression. Subjects engaged in a social exchange task with an experimenter across a table while observing their movements through a mirror rather than directly. Observing through the mirror allowed for the illusion that the movements of another were the subjects’ own. Mu amplitude was measured as the subject moved, observed a second experimenter move, and moved synchronously with the second experimenter. Subjects showed variation in their patterns of mu suppression for each condition, and more significant patterns are expected as more data is collected in the coming months. Meg Seymour ’14, Adam Hess ’14, Dr. Tom Fikes, Professor of Psychology
SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF RUTHENIUM-DIIMINE MODIFIED PAMAM DENDRIMERS
We are interested in developing Ruthenium modified PAMAM dendrimers that retain the ability to bind ions. In the present work we used HOBt/EDC coupling to attach sub-sotichiometric ratios of [Ru(bpy)2(dcbpy)](NO3)2 (dcbpy = 4,4’-dicarboxybipyridine) to G2.0 PAMAM dendrimers containing amine surface groups and [Ru(bpy)2(5-aminophen)](NO3)2 (5-aminophen = 5’-amino-1,10-phenanthroline) to G1.5 PAMAM dendrimers containing carboxy surface groups. The product Ru:dendrimer ratio increases nonlinearly with the Ru:dendrimer reactant ratio and approaches the 16:1 stoichimetric ratio, although high loadings could not be consistently achieved with the G1.5 dendrimer labeling reactions. The coupling yields for the reactions involving conjugation to the G2.0 dendrimers were consistently higher than those involving the G1.5 dendrimers, in part due to the use of an aromatic amine in the latter reactions. The conjugates’ absorbance and emission spectra indicate that the Ruthenium diimine complexes experience a relatively hydrophobic environment. Specifically, the conjugates’ MLCT bands are broadened and their emission spectra exhibit maxima at unusually long wavelengths that decrease with Ru:dendrimer ratio, eventually becoming closer to that for [Ru(bpy)2(phen)]2+. The low loading G2.0 conjugates exhibit anomalously large emission quantum yields of ~12% that decreases to ~2% as the Ru:dendrimer ratio is increased from 3 to10. These results are consistent with interior bound Ru-diimine groups that undergo increasing intergroup energy transfer at higher loadings. Garrett W. Johnson ‘12, Tamara Sparks ‘13, Jeffrey T. Kuwahara ‘11, Anneka Rienstra ‘15, Michelle Haas ‘11, Stephen M. Contakes, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
WACky CARTOGRAPHY: MAPPING WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
Combining inquiries in humanities and the social sciences, this summer project extended existing institutional research on Writing across the Curriculum (WAC). In the 2011-2012 academic year, we collected a range of data related to faculty and student experiences of writing. The data included surveys and writing center data. One significant, persistent problem in institutional research is not only interpretation of data but also the communication of its relevance to local audiences. Meeting this challenge by developing skills in the digital humanities, Grace Miller (an English major with a passion for design) experimented with visual representations of WAC data—in effect, making maps of the WACky terrain we navigate as students and teachers of writing. Her main objective was to pursue compelling ways to "speak" visually about writing at Westmont. Ultimately, she created four discrete graphics to illuminate the data for our academic community. Though this project has its origins in institutional assessment, it asks larger questions about the relationships among language, statistical data, and visual design. As a WACky cartographer, Grace explores such relationships with maps that are both practical and evocative. Grace Miller '14; Sarah Skripsky, Assistant Professor of English