2017 Summer Undergraduate Research with Faculty (SURF)

1. Student: Evan Bailey Major: ChemistryMentor: Brooke Van Horn Department: Chemistry and BiochemistryTitle: Effect of Alkyl Substitution on Ring-Opening Organocatalytic Polymerizations of CL DerivativesTo continue to move the research of biomedical materials forward and

propose methods to craft new desired tailored materials, we must understand which molecules can be linked into polymers efficiently with different synthetic methods – a truly fundamental aspect of polymer science and synthesis. To that end, this SURF project is intended to extend our current research on alkyl-functionalized derivatives of a cyclic ester monomer for the preparation of polyester materials. We are looking to change the side chain groups on the cyclic ester monomer and test their polymerization with an organic catalyst. We have chosen an organic catalyst over the traditional heavy metal catalysts due to concerns over the possible residual metal in any biomedically-relevant material produced by these chemistries. Our previous results have indicated that there are some side chain groups that limit the utility of this organic catalyst method but the research space needs to be better filled out with a systematic and thorough study. We intend to synthesize and study the following monomer molecules by organic ring-opening polymerization (organic ROP) in Summer 2017: 6-methylcaprolactone, 4-tert-butylcaprolactone, 4,4-dimethylcaprolactone, 6-propylcaprolactone, 6-tert-butylcaprolactone. We anticipate these molecules will help us elucidate the substitution/shape parameters that may be impacting the ability if these monomers to undergo organic ROP and inform any future biomedical material synthetic designs that may include side chain groups of similar substitution/shape as those above.

2. Student: Sam Bleser Majors: PhysicsMentor: Gregory Smith Department: Physics and AstronomyTitle: Automation of Seebeck Coefficient Measurement System Thermoelectrics are a class of materials that convert thermal energy to

electrical energy. Thermoelectric devices are a promising solution for a clean, inexpensive, and renewable energy source to scavenge waste heat from any surface that warms up. Until recently, most work on thermoelectric materials focused on bismuth telluride. These devices work relatively well, but their bulky and brittle form factor coupled with expensive manufacturing limits their widespread adoption. Over the past few years, the materials science community has focused their attention to a class of materials called topological insulator nanomaterials. Topological insulators are characterized by an electrically insulating bulk and a highly conductive surface. These materials are very promising as thin, conformal, and powerful thermoelectric devices when blended into a polymer matrix and cast into a film. Our research group focuses on the characterization of these devices. The objective of this project is to automate the

measurement of a thin-film thermoelectric measurement system. This will be accomplished using LabView software to control the temperature, measure power output, and characterize the electrical properties of the films simultaneously.

3. Student: Kira Bonforte Major: PsychologyMentor: Jennifer Wilhelm Department: PsychologyTitle: Examining the Sex-Dependence of Treadmill Training on Sensory Neuron Regeneration after Peripheral Nerve InjurySevere nerve injury has a devastating impact on the thousands of Americans

it affects every year. Although the peripheral nervous system is capable of recovery, it is slow and often full functional recovery is never achieved. Exercise in the form of treadmill training has been shown to be an effective therapy in promoting motor neuron axon regeneration and improving functional recovery (Gordon & English, 2015). Interestingly, the pattern of treadmill training required for enhancing regeneration is dependent on the sex of the participant (Wood et al., 2012). While regeneration of the motor system is critical after injury, regeneration of the sensory system is necessary for full functional recovery. The effects of treadmill exercise on sensory neuron axon regeneration is unknown. This project proposes to investigate whether treadmill exercise alters sensory neuron regeneration after peripheral nerve injury and if any effects are sex-dependent. The sciatic nerve of male and female mice will be surgically transected and repaired as a model of peripheral nerve injury. After a brief recovery period, the mice will be treadmill trained for two weeks. The regenerated sensory neurons will be labeled and counted to determine whether exercise influences the regeneration of the sensory system. The effects of various exercise paradigms will be compared between males and females to determine if there is a sex-dependence. The results of the project could provide important insight on how to rehabilitate patients suffering from traumatic peripheral nerve injuries to promote full recovery.

4. Student: Joseph Boscia Major: BiochemistryMentor: Amy Rogers Department: Chemistry and

BiochemistryTitle: Isothermal Calorimetry and Crystallography Studies Probing the Pterin Binding Site in Endothelial Nitric Oxide SynthaseTime and again you hear about harmful molecules that should be avoided.

But have you ever heard of a dangerous molecule that you actually need? Nitric oxide (NO), a toxic gas similar to carbon monoxide, is just that molecule. In fact, it was awarded Molecule of the Year in 1992 for its surprising role as a neurotransmitter, vasodilator, and anti-cancer agent. So how this toxic molecule delivers Dr. Jekyll’s effect and not evil Mr. Hyde’s has always been puzzling since

its discovery. The enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) produces NO in vivo by converting the molecule L-Arginine into L-citrulline and NO but exactly how this is done is not well understood. There are several cofactors that are needed by NOS in order for the reaction to produce product; one of them is called tetrahdyrobiopterin (BH4). Without BH4, the reaction does not produce product and reactive oxygen radicals are formed instead. But the exact role of the BH4 is unknown. We believe that one key factor in understanding how NOS produces NO lies in understanding how BH4 binds to NOS and what it is doing during catalysis. Our studies focus on probing the role of BH4 by spectroscopic catalytic assays, X-ray crystallography, and isothermal calorimetry. Uncovering the role of BH4 could provide insights into how NOS produces a toxic gas in a perfect orchestration as to provide essential biological functions like neurotransmission or cardiac blood flow.

5. Student: Patrick Brooks Major: PsychologyMentor: Michael Ruscio Department: PsychologyTitle: Neural Plasticity and Social SystemsNeural plasticity is the ability of the nervous system to change in response to

environmental or intrinsic factors. It is essential for a variety of cognitive functions including learning and social behaviors. The proposed experiment will quantify changes in neural plasticity across the lifespan in two species of rodents with different social systems (monogamous or polygynous). Peromyscus californicus is a monogamous, bi-parental highly social species, whereas Peromuyscus maniculatus is polygnous and uniparental (a social system far more typical among mammals). Arguably, a highly social animal such as P. californicus might require more plasticity, due to frequent or chronic social interactions (males and females of this species mate for life and cohabitate year round). Conversely, it is equally viable that animals such as P. maniculatus, that must continually look or new mates and have more novel social interactions, might require more plasticity to accommodate new crucial social information. These competing hypotheses make this research particularly intriguing.

Additionally, there will be a developmental comparison. It is well documented that neural plasticity diminishes across the lifespan in vertebrates. For example, during the process of normal aging in humans, certain cognitive abilities decline (e.g. memory recall) which is in part due to the nervous system becoming ‘less plastic’. We will examine this process across three stages of the life span (juvenile, adult and senescent) and determine the mechanisms of neural plasticity that change. This comparisons will be made using markers for neural plasticity in the brain and a technique called immunofluorescence (IFC) along with microscopic analysis.

6. Student: William Burke Major: Studio Art

Mentor: Jarod Charzewski Department: Studio Art – SculptureTitle: Folkloric Sculpture through KineticsThe objective of this project is to create kinetic sculpture that will allow for

viewer participation as well as insight to historical and cultural folklore. The methods in which I shall create these works shall involve research into the subject of folklore while also experimenting with different ways to create movement in inanimate objects. The predicted outcome is to create a body of work that will stimulate the imaginations of an audience while also educating them about different folklore from around the world.

7. Student: Kimberly Cranmer Major: PsychologyMentor: Jen Cole Wright Department: PsychologyTitle: A Cross-Cultural Examination of the Intergenerational Transmission of PTSDChildren do not only inherit their parents’ traits genetically but the

environment that they grow up in with those parents affects them in multiple ways. One of the things that can be environmentally transmitted across generations is the after-effect of trauma. In Cambodia, the country experienced a massive genocide in the mid-1970’s. Many of the children who survived that genocide are now parents and grandparents. I’m interested in better understanding whether the significant trauma those survivors experienced as children has been transmitted, in the form of PTSD symptomatology, to their now young adult (college aged) children and grandchildren – and, if so, how. In order to explore this question I will be interviewing young adults around Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (two of the country’s major cities) to determine the level of their PTSD symptomatology and its relationship to the way they were raised and by the more general family environment. Specifically, I’m interested in whether the openness of their parents/grandparents to discuss the genocide (what happened, why it happened, etc.) with their families, and their children/grandchildren in particular, had a palliative effect on the manifestation of PTSD symptoms. I will also be investigating the types of physical and psychological mechanisms—for example, physical punishment, aggression, maltreatment, neglect, alcoholism and drug addiction, malnutrition, etc.—most commonly present in those young adults who display the most significant level PTSD symptoms.

8. Student: Elyana Crowder Majors: AstrophysicsMentor: Laura Penny Department: Physics and AstronomyTitle: Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Study of the Massive O-Type Binary TU MuscaeThe mass of a star is its most important parameter. It determines almost

everything about the star including its lifetime, temperature, radius, final result. There is a maximum mass for stars; current theories suggest this is ~100 MSun. To test theories, we measure the masses of actual stars. For a single star isolated in space, this isn’t possible. But if two stars are together and orbit one

another, their orbital speeds are dependent upon their masses; the more mass, the larger the gravitational force between them, and the faster the stars move. We call these binary systems and they are the only method for observationally determining the mass of a star. We measure how fast the stars move from the Doppler shifts of their spectral features and then determine their masses. High mass stars in close proximity to one another disturb each other, affecting our ability to measure their orbital speeds. In a study using ultraviolet (UV) observations of the massive binary system, TU Mus, we (Penny et al. 2008) found the stars had lower orbital speeds than previous studies had found using observations taken in the optical wavelengths (Terrell et al. 2003). A further optical program (Linder et al. 2007) has shown that different spectral features result in different orbital speeds. Our proposed project is to re-examine the UV observations to see if this is also true in the ultraviolet. A previous study of a similar binary (HD159176, Penny et al. 2016) will provide a template for this work.

9. Student: Lauren DeFeo Major: AnthropologyMentor: Christine Finnan Department: AnthropologyTitle: Sustaining Indigenous Belief Systems in an Indian Residential SchoolIn the Western world there is often an emphasis on the separation of church

and state when it comes to education. In the classroom, students learn a set of beliefs and values, while possibly learning something completely different in the religious setting (whatever those beliefs may be). However, when one’s religious beliefs are also deeply embedded in personal identity, how can the line of church and school be drawn so easily? When studying a group of over 25,000 children coming from 60+ tribes that also have unique religious beliefs this line becomes even more complicated. This study aims to examine the daily lives of students attending the Kalinga Institute for Social Sciences (KISS), the world’s largest residential school for tribal students to explore the ways in which students’ personal religious beliefs are incorporated into their daily life. It also aims to examine the ways the school can better accommodate for students and their unique religious beliefs. When striving for a healthy learning environment the school must make each student feel welcomed and accepted, therefore they cannot simply ignore vital parts of students’ identities.

10. Student: Jonathan Derryberry Major: Biochemistry Mentor: Marcello Forconi Department: Chemistry and

BiochemistryTitle: Modification of a Short Peptide by Nucleophilic Aromatic SubstitutionThe goal of this project is to develop an easy, cost effective way to determine

quantitative information about the local environment within a protein. Certain

groups have been found to yield excellent information about their local electrical environment when analyzed with two of the methods that can be accomplished by machines available in our chemistry department. These specific chemical groups do not occur naturally in proteins. Through a simple reaction we can attach a compound that contains two of these groups, one for each method of analysis, to a specific amino acid called cysteine. If the protein contains cysteine then it can be modified directly and analyzed. If the protein does not naturally contain cysteine, then certain amino acid chains that naturally imbed themselves in proteins can be used. These chains can be modified to include cysteine even if they do not naturally contain it. From here the measurements of chemical attached to the cysteine can be taken using either of the two methods and then compared to measurements taken of the chemical without the protein. By comparing the measurements, it can be determined how the protein changes its local electrical environment, this can give insight to how proteins fold into different structures and how they potentially catalyze reactions, as well as other aspects of their function.

11. Student: Sloane English Major: BiochemistryMentor: Jay Forsythe Department: Chemistry and BiochemistryTitle: Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Model Prebiotic PeptidesHow did the molecules of life come together before the first living

organism(s) emerged? This question plagued Charles Darwin throughout his career, as the theory of natural selection explains speciation, and not the emergence of life from nonlife. Late 19th century scientists had a limited (at best) understanding of biochemical principles and processes, leading Darwin to concede the question would likely remain unanswered throughout his life. Nevertheless, in a letter to a friend Darwin speculated about a “warm little pond” with “light, heat, [and] electricity present,” causing chemicals to interact and form large molecules such as peptides and proteins. The overarching purpose of this research project is to develop an analytical method which allows for the scientific investigation of Darwin’s “warm little pond” concept. Specifically, we will develop and optimize a mass spectrometry method for characterizing depsipeptides, which are similar to peptides and may have been chemical precursors to peptides on the prebiotic Earth. The mass spectrometry technique described herein is commonly used in a number of biomedical research areas; therefore, it is expected the training aspect of this project will groom S. English for a future career in forensics and/or medicine.

12. Student: Carrie Ferrelli Major: TheatreMentor: Charlie Calvert Department: Theatre and DanceTitle: Developing the Scene Design ProcessDevelopment as a theatre artist cannot be fully achieved strictly in a

classroom setting. The nature of this collaborative art form requires immersion in realized production work that takes ideas learned in the coursework and puts them into practice - resulting in a far more in- depth understanding.

“Developing the Scene Design Process” allows for an intensive look into the day-to-day work and research involved for the Scenic Designer on a professional theatrical production. Using the creation of a of an original set design for a producing theatre organization as the framework, this project will allow for the student to gain an understanding of the processes of theatrical design and to be exposed to professional theatre with high production values.

The project requires in-depth analysis of the script, the time period and location of the play, and the logistical challenges unique to each performance space. The student will develop communication and problem-solving skills in a collaborative atmosphere while interacting with the faculty mentor and the members of the production’s creative team - hired by the theatre companies.

While the faculty mentor will serve as the lead designer on the production, the student participant will serve as a collaborator and participate in every aspect of the design process and execution of the design, ultimately leading to a portfolio of professional work produced on the stages of these two critically acclaimed theatre companies.

13. Student: Haleigh Ferro Major: Biology – MolecularMentor: Jennifer Fox Department: Chemistry and BiochemistryTitle: Roles of Homologous SulfohydrolasesEnzymes are responsible for all of the biochemical reactions that occur within

living organisms. Some enzymes are found in nearly every known organism, from bacteria to humans, while others may only be present in specific species. We are studying a group of enzymes that are found in animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. This widespread occurrence in diverse organisms suggests that these enzymes are performing an important biological role. However, their true function remains unknown. These enzymes appear to be capable of destroying a type of man-made molecule found in consumer products like shampoo, but since this molecule did not exist in ancient times and even many modern organisms would never be expected to encounter it, we hypothesize that the true biological substrate of these enzymes is a different but perhaps structurally similar molecule. By investigating three specific members of this group of enzymes found in three different species, we are attempting to discover the true substrate molecule that these enzymes act upon within cells, with the goal of determining the role of these enzymes in biology.

14. Student: Anna Galura Major: Music – Violin PerformanceMentor: Yuriy Bekker Department: MusicTitle: Participating in the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, AustriaThe modern day violinist must have a balance of strong skills performing solo

repertoire, chamber (small ensemble) works, opera and ballet "pit" orchestra, and symphony orchestra performance. With the exception of ballet orchestra, I will receive training in all of the above by participating in the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria.

The work of a performing arts student requires hundreds of hours of creative activities and cultural immersion in performance. By the end of this ten week project, I will disseminate my skill sets by raising the standard of excellence for the 2017-2018 CofC Symphony Orchestra, for the CofC opera production and the CofC performing arts collaborative project between the theater and music departments, serving in the leadership capacity as concertmaster under Yuriy Bekker’s instruction and position as conductor. Attending AIMS will also allow me to submit graduate school applications and career resumes with competitive repertoire experience. The methods of work this summer will be conducted through weekly one hour lessons/coaching sessions with Mr. Bekker, 36-40 hours/week of practice to prepare repertoire and maintain high skill level in performance, 50+ hours/week of participation at AIMS (a six week long portion of the project) where we will have 4-8 hours/day of rehearsal and performance and 3-5 hours/day of personal practice, and 24/7 immersion in arguably one of the greatest musically rich communities in the world (Austria being the birthplace of Mozart and many other avidly performed composers in the world today).

15. Student: Patrick Gross Major: ChemistryMentor: Neal Tonks, Jr. Department: Chemistry and BiochemistryTitle: Drug Delivery Polyurethane Materials Incorporating Fluoroquinoline Antibiotics into Medical Implant MaterialsPolyurethanes are widely used polymer materials that historically have

applications ranging from paint coatings to soft and rigid foams. More recently, polyurethanes are being developed for drug delivery purposes. By incorporating a drug into the polyurethane matrix a material can be produced which slowly releases a drug under physiological conditions. There are two significantly unique aspects to this project. One is biologically compatible materials will be used. Almost all current polyurethane materials are made using chemicals derived from petrochemicals. The major material in the final product by mass consists of a polyalcohol derived from a soy-based edible oil. Secondly, new drugs that have never been used for drug delivery purposes before using polymer delivery systems are being investigated. Previously in this study, a series of successful drug delivery materials were made from the anti-inflammatory drug Ibuprofen, nalidixic acid, a simple antibiotic compound, as well as two potent chemotherapeutic agents. Significant drug release was observed in the drug delivery media in as little as 20 hours, after having been exposed to physiological media. The project will continue this summer, specifically by developing a new pro-drug based on the antibiotic Levofloxacin and by exploring new synthetic approaches to these polymeric materials to yield products with varying applications including type of drugs being released, rate of drug release, and overall composition of the material. In addition, long-term degradation studies of these materials will be performed to confirm their safety in biological environments, and the results will be monitored by mass spectrometry.

16. Student: Kayce Hopper Major: PsychologyMentor: Chad Galuska Department: PsychologyTitle: Voluntary Consumption of Ethanol Produced by Negative Incentive Shifts in RatsNegative incentive shifts involving transitions from favorable-to-unfavorable

situations can disrupt behavior profoundly and may have relevance to the types of environmental stressors that engender alcohol seeking in humans. An existing animal model of negative incentive shifts involves arranging schedules of positive reinforcement differing in the signaled amount of food pellets delivered contingent upon rats completing a lever-press response requirement. We recently demonstrated that the transition from a just-received large food reinforcer to an upcoming signaled small food reinforcer disrupted lever press responding and caused non-thirsty rats to begin drinking sucrose water from a bottle available in the testing environment. In the proposed research, we will determine if these negative transitions in food-reward context produce alcohol drinking. If so, this would model real-world conditions more effectively than existing animal models of ethanol self-administration because the stressor used - transitions between preferred and less preferred activities - are ubiquitous in the real world and are known to promote drinking.

17. Student: Felise Horne Majors: TheatreMentor: Charlie Calvert Department: Theatre and DanceTitle: Pixels to Pigment: Translating Traditional Scenic Art in the Digital AgeWith the introduction of new technologies in the theater and entertainment

industries, changes must be made in the methods of our work. One such alteration is in the work of the Scenic Artist. Traditionally, these painters, who are known for realistically representing all manner of three-dimensional scenes on flat surfaces, are essentially copy artists.

For ages, what the scenic artists were copying from were small paintings created with acrylic paint or some other pigment based medium. Today, however, there is an increasing interest in digital painting. The artwork being given to these theatrical scenic artists is no longer made from pigment but rather from pixels (on a screen) or ink – if they are fortunate enough to have a courteous designer print it for them.

The leap from reading and analyzing pixels and ink, instead of pigment, is a large one. Pixels to Pigment: Translating Traditional Scenic Art in the Digital Age explores the tools and techniques implored by the scenic artist in this digital age. The faculty mentor will serve as the lead scenic designer on a mock production. The student participant will collaborate in the creation of digital renderings, the analysis of their color, and then ultimately the execution of full scale reproductions using theatrical scenic paint.

18. Student: Mason Huebsch Major: BiochemistryMentor: Jennifer Fox Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry

Title: Proteins Important for Mitochondrial FunctionThe mitochondrial "power house" organelle within our cells performs many

vital functions, including operation of the electron transport chain (ETC) that is essential for generating the energy that cells use to fuel all of the biochemical reactions necessary for life. Building many copies of the intricate ETC in each mitochondrion and maintaining all of the other proteins necessary for mitochondrial function are not trivial processes and require the assistance of numerous other proteins. The goal of this project is to elucidate the function of several of these helper proteins that are important for mitochondrial function whose roles are currently unknown. Some of these helper proteins aid in ETC assembly, while others help proteins to fold into their correct shape or destroy misfolded proteins. When these helper proteins are absent or a genetic mutation causes them to malfunction, mitochondrial function is severely affected, which results in disease. In this project, we are investigating what happens when specific helper proteins are missing, determining which proteins they interact with in the cell, and investigating their structure, which is linked to their function. By understanding the purpose of each helper protein on a molecular level, we are working to form a more complete understanding of the complicated process of mitochondrial function, which will enable the development of future therapies for patients with mitochondrial disease.

19. Student: Dashiell Jay Major: BiochemistryMentor: Michael Giuliano Department: Chemistry and BiochemistryTitle: Structural Study of the NeoendorphinsThe opioid receptors in the human brain have been the subject of a great

many efforts to discover new drugs for the treatment of pain and mood disorders. More recently, scientists and doctors alike have become increasingly driven to mediate the side effects of drugs that target the opioid receptors; many, both prescribed and illicit, are addictive. Many of the side effects of these drugs originate in structural differences between themselves and the naturally occurring, or endogenous, molecules that bind to their receptors in healthy human beings. Among the more notorious side effects in the search for new pain medications are the induction of paranoia and neuropathic pain, sometimes simultaneously. Among the three opioid receptors in the human brain, activation of the -receptor subtype is often implicated in these devastating, induced ailments.

While prior and concurrent research in our group has focused on the structures of the endogenous opioid peptides, part of the broader neuropeptide family, we have yet to investigate the structure of any of the -receptor-binding members of this storied class of signaling molecules. Herein we propose the synthesis, purification, and structure determination of the neoendorphins, two -receptor-selective opioid peptides. We hope to explore the origins, rooted in analysis of the overall shape of the molecules, of why certain peptides bind to the -opioid receptor even though some share most of their molecular composition with peptides that function elsewhere in the brain.

20. Student: Kathryn Johnson Major: Psychology

Mentor: Cindi May Department: PsychologyTitle: Changes in Curiosity with AgeCuriosity is the drive to seek out new information or experiences. This drive

can be advantageous and even essential to human existence, for example when we investigate the source of a noise in the basement and discover a leak before damage occurs. Curiosity can also be troublesome or dangerous, and evidence suggests that the curiosity drive is strong enough to motivate action even when outcomes are likely to be negative (e.g., playing the lottery). The present investigation seeks to understand whether this drive changes with age. Perhaps with age, wisdom tempers curiosity. Some research suggests that as people age, they are motivated to maintain a positive emotional state rather than seek new information. This theory predicts diminished curiosity with age. However, other research suggests that inhibitory processes, which serve to control impulsivity, deteriorate with age. These data suggest that curiosity will increase with age. In our studies, younger and older participants will have the option to listen to a variety of sounds and view different images – and they can choose to experience them by clicking buttons on the computer. Participants will be told that the stimuli are likely to be unpleasant, but will not know exactly what the stimuli will be unless they click the button. They will be free to click (or not to click) as they please. We will assess whether curiosity drives our participants to click the buttons (much like Pandora opening her box), and whether this drive changes with age.

21. Student: Ashleigh Kirker Major: GeologyMentor: Vijay Vulava Department: Geology and Environmental

GeoscienceTitle: Surface Water Contamination from Urban Stormwater Runoff in Charleston, SCRapid urbanization in coastal cities in the southeastern U.S., coastal

subsidence, and rising sea levels have resulted in increased instances of storm-related flooding as well as nuisance flooding during periods of high tides. In the Charleston area, a rapidly increasing population has led to the creation of many impervious surfaces. This, combined with poor management of coastal resources has resulted in excess storm-water runoff into the Charleston Harbor. While some research is being conducted to estimate flooding frequency, none of the current studies focuses on water quality of this runoff and the resulting problems to coastal ecosystems. In this study, sampling sites will be identified using geographic information systems (GIS) to determine areas that are most at risk of flooding and exposure to water-related contamination. Water will be analyzed for chemicals and fecal indicator bacteria. An online GIS-based database that visualizes contaminant hotspots will be developed.

22. Student: Dario Linklore Major: BiochemistryMentor: Gamil Guirgis Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry

Title: Preparation, Characterization, and Conformational Analysis of a Sila-and Germacyclopent-3-ene and Their DerivativesCarbon atoms can bond with other atoms to form linear and cyclic structures.

Our laboratory at the College of Charleston has conducted a longstanding research program investigating the structural preferences of cyclic organic (i.e., carbon-containing) compounds incorporating silicon and germanium atoms. From these studies, we have published 90 papers in international journals, demonstrating the capability of College of Charleston to produce world-class research on organo-metalloid chemistry (the chemistry of carbon- and semimetal-containing compounds).

Our previous studies examined saturated cyclic compounds composed of three to six members (i.e., the atoms constituting the ring “skeleton”). Our attention is presently directed towards novel research on five-membered partially unsaturated rings incorporating silicon or germanium atoms within the ring structure. The biological activity and structure of five- membered partially unsaturated rings composed only of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are already elucidated in chemical literature. However, five-membered rings incorporating silicon or germanium are poorly understood and rarely investigated, possibly due to difficulties inherent in their synthesis. Indeed, many five-membered, silicon-containing rings known as 2,5- dihydrosiloles have never been synthesized or theoretically examined. Our technical knowledge of the synthetic routes to these compounds, as well as our experience with advanced instrumental analyses and theoretical calculations required to, will help us to successfully characterize their preferred three-dimensional structure. Our established partnerships with laboratories at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, the University of Missouri Kansas-City, and the University of Eastern Illinois at Charleston for highly specialized instrumentation will help in interpreting the structure of these molecules.

Finally, the newly prepared compounds may lead to collaborations with physics and biology faculty at the College of Charleston to investigate the bonding character and bioactivity of these unique compounds.

23. Student: Linsey Passarella Major: PhysicsMentors: Linda Jones Departments: Physics and Astronomy

Wesley Dudgeon Health and Human PerformanceTitle: Penetration of Near Infrared Light during PhotobiomodulationLow intensity Near Infrared light applied before exercise results in an

increase in performance and a decrease in muscle damage and fatigue [1]. To our knowledge, the proposed study will be the first to apply laser light during exercise. In many light treatments, the light dose is a uniform prescription for each patient. However, light penetration through tissue varies greatly for individuals. With the use of an accurate Monte Carlo computational program, we will carry out simulations of the depth of light flow through the forearm of volunteers with varying adipose (fat) thickness. The thickness of each volunteer’s adipose layer will be estimated from skin fold thickness. The objective is to determine whether the laser treatment outcome depends on the

amount of light that reaches the muscle. A pilot study done here at the College of Charleston in Spring 2013 resulted in a preliminary positive correlation between delay in muscle fatigue and the light fraction reaching the muscle. We expect that a larger number of volunteers will result in statistical significance. It may also contribute to optimizing the treatment with individual light doses.

24. Student: Crystina Perez Major: AnthropologyMentor: Christine Finnan Department: AnthropologyTitle: Creating Change Agents for Environmental Sustainability in an Indian Residential SchoolTribal populations in India are facing environmental destruction and are not

equally represented in their political system. There is currently a shortage of well-educated tribal people who can advocate for their people in the face of destructive corporate and governmental development plans. The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) is teaching children from these tribal communities to become change agents. The boarding school, which is free of cost and houses more than 25,000 children, is pushing for their alumni to become speakers and protectors of their communities. My personal objective for this research is to develop ethnographic research skills by observing students in the school and interviewing students about their knowledge on current environmental situations in their communities. The interviews will also allow me to gain an understanding of the relationship between formal schooling and their willingness to become change agents. Within the scope of the research, a literature review will be conducted in order to understand environmental issues facing indigenous populations in India and how formal schooling affects children of these populations. The data collected will be reported to KISS on the current conditions of the children’s willingness to become change agents, with the possibility of recommendations for service improvements. The data will also be presented to College of Charleston via a presentation at a departmental research seminar and possibly by attending a professional conference. The overall objective of the research project is to produce a publishable research paper describing how and if the children at KISS view themselves as environmental justice change agents.

25. Student: Brooke Thomas Major: EnglishMentor: Terence Bowers Department: EnglishTitle: Anglo-Americans in Italy: The Performance of Tourist and Travel WriterThe Grand Tour was a standard form of travel for young males of the English

aristocracy in the eighteenth century and to a lesser extent in the nineteenth. This form of travel allowed young men of the nobility to see Europe’s antiquities, visit the learned men of France, Germany, and Italy, master foreign languages, learn about art, politics, manners, and other things necessary for one to become a gentlemen and member of the British elite. As Grand Tourists went on their journeys, they were not simply observing the manners, customs, and artifacts of foreign countries, but also engaging in an exchange of displays with the locals: as the locals would perform for the tourist, so too would the tourists perform for the locals. This phenomenon became known as the “tourist performance,” and

when the tourists returned to England, it continued. Upon their return, it was common for most to bring back foreign clothing, portraits of themselves in the far off landscapes, and other forms of art that reflected their cultivated aesthetic sensibility.

By the late nineteenth century, though travelers still retained their predecessor’s fascination with the ancient world and fine arts, their motives and goals for traveling were far different. My objective is to prove that the travelers of this period were attempting to escape an oppressive, rigid life in England and America in search of a more authentic and liberating one. The Anglo- American world, especially in the early twentieth century was confining. Nationalism demanded new levels of dedication to one’s country, which eventually created a stifling environment. A number of writers, such as those of the Lost Generation, criticized this nationalistic world. They protested the war, imperialism, and modernity. Thus, when the Grand Tour died out, not only did travel change, but so did travel writing, becoming a mode of protest against and critique of the oppressive structures of one’s own nation. By examining the travel narratives of writers such as D.H. Lawrence (Etruscan Places, Sea and Sardinia, and Twilight in Italy), Henry James (Italian Hours), Norman Douglas (Old Calabria), and others, I will show how travel writing served as a subtle, but potent genre of social, political, and cultural critique of one’s own country that helped developed a discourse of “internationalism.”

26. Student: Ashley Turner Major: GeologyMentor: Vijay Vulava Department: Geology and Environmental

GeoscienceTitle: Competitive Sorption and Transport of Sildenafil and Vardenafil in Natural SoilsIn recent years, pharmaceutical drugs have become of increasing concern to

the health of our environment. As a result of wastewater treatment plant discharge and various sources of surface runoff, pharmaceuticals can be found in trace amounts in our most common water resources. Sildenafil and vardenafil, drugs marketed to treat erectile dysfunction, are amongst the top 20 most prescribed pharmaceutical products in the U.S. The goal of this project is to examine the absorption and transport behavior of these compounds in natural organic matter- and clay- rich soils. The data collected thus far shows that sildenafil adsorbs strongest in clay-rich soils, likely due to ionic bonds that form between the permanent negative charge present on clay mineral surfaces and the positive charge on sildenafil ions. We hypothesize that vardenafil will behave similarly. We further hypothesize that both compounds will compete for similar binding sites on soil surfaces. The overall results from this study have strong

implications for future environmental management of treated wastewater, pharmaceutical chemical effluents and land application of treated wastewater sludge.

27. Student: Nicholas Van Zandt Major: PsychologyMentor: Adam Doughty Department: PsychologyTitle: Functional Units in Reinforced Behavioral VariationReinforcement is the process by which behavior is strengthened by its

consequences. As such, reinforcement typically promotes behavioral repetition. Importantly, however, variable, or non- repetitive, behavior also can be reinforced. Reinforced behavioral variation, or operant variability, can occur in many species. For example, hungry pigeons can be trained to emit seemingly random four-peck sequences by delivering food after a sequence only if that sequence was not one of the last X sequences. Despite the sizeable literature documenting the social significance of operant variability (e.g., reducing repetitive behavior in autism and depression), the mechanisms underlying it remain unclear. The goal of the proposed research is to understand better how animals learn to vary. Our specific aim is to understand better how reinforcers, or rewards, impact the variable behavior sequences that precede them. Specifically, what portions of these sequences are more affected by reinforcers, both in terms of size and location? We will address these questions in two related experiments. In Experiment 1, we will compare two approaches to reinforcing variable behavior: (1) where only the start of the behavior sequence is targeted versus (2) where only the end of the behavior sequence is targeted. In Experiment 2, the same comparison will occur but under conditions that also manipulate reinforcer amount, a variable known to influence variation. The findings should improve our understanding of both basic-science issues, such as understanding the nature of operant variability, and applied issues, such as repetitive behavior disorders and creative problem solving.

28. Student: Bailey Williamson Major: AstrophysicsMentors: John Hakkila Departments: Physics and AstronomyTitle: The Role of Inter-Pulse Separation in Gamma-Ray Burst ClassificationCosmic gamma-ray bursts are the most energetic phenomenon in the

universe. Gamma-ray burst durations range from milliseconds to hundreds of seconds, although two burst classes have been identified because of the relative numbers of short and long bursts (Hakkila & Preece et al. 2011). Since gamma-ray burst light is emitted in the form of pulses separated by dark interpulse gaps, a gamma-ray burst’s duration includes both the time it is emitting and the dark time between pulses. We hypothesize that the existing classes might result from these interpulse separations: the short burst class might be dominated by single-pulsed bursts while the longer class might be dominated by multi-pulsed bursts. We explore this hypothesis using computer modeling techniques and testing the results against the known distribution of gamma-ray bursts durations.

29. Student: Jason Witry Major: AstrophysicsMentor: Chris Fragile Department: Physics and AstronomyTitle: Numerical Simulations of a Neutron Star Burst Bombarding an Accretion DiskNeutron stars are extremely compact remnants of the cores of stars that

have burned all of their fuel. Due to their high density, the gravitational fields of neutron stars are incredibly strong, and when the neutron star is in a binary (two-star) system with a normal star, it can siphon material from the secondary star to create an accretion disk around itself. [An accretion disk is a disk- shape distribution of gas orbiting and slowly falling onto a central object.]

As material from the accretion disk accumulates on the surface of the neutron star, it is compacted by the strong gravity and the pressure of subsequent material falling on top. Eventually, this pressure becomes large enough to spark nuclear fusion, the same process that powers our Sun, on the surface of the neutron star. Emission from this process is uninhibited because it occurs on the surface, and the resulting blast of X-rays is immensely powerful.

Recent observations of these neutron star “bursts” have demonstrated that they can disrupt the surrounding accretion disk. We plan to examine this interaction of burst radiation with the accretion disk using computer simulations.