Oral Session VI: 1:30-2:30PM
Oral Session VI- Rooms A-B
Abstract Volume and Quick Reference Guide
__________________________________________________________________________
ROOM A
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1:30-1:50PM
Characterizing the Interaction Between Nitrogenase and CowN
Presenter(s): Terrence Lee, Michelle Jin, Ruchita Kharwa, Sophia Kelsey, Emily Wong
Advisor(s): Dr. Cedric Owens, Max Strul
Biologically available nitrogen is vital for agriculture, however most nitrogen exists as nitrogen gas. The industrial method to convert or “fix” nitrogen gas into biologically usable nitrogen in the form of ammonia is achieved using the Haber-Bosch Process under harsh conditions. Meanwhile, bacteria can also fix nitrogen gas into ammonia and can do so under ambient conditions. Bacteria such as Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus rely on the enzyme Mo-Nitrogenase to fix nitrogen. Mo-Nitrogenase is the key player to produce ammonia biologically. Studying this enzyme opens up prospects for more sustainable ammonia production. However, Mo-Nitrogenases are highly sensitive to inhibition by carbon monoxide. Only small amounts of CO drastically reduce ammonia production. Yet, organisms are still able to grow under CO when Mo-Nitrogenase is inhibited. This is thanks to another protein, CowN. Neither its structure nor its method of protecting Mo-Nitrogenase from CowN have been studied in detail. This work explains how CowN protects Mo-Nitrogenase. In vitro enzyme kinetics reveal that Mo-Nitrogenase is inhibited by CO through a mixed-inhibition model. Adding CowN increases CO’s Ki, helping Mo-Nitrogenase tolerate more CO. CowN specifically decreases the affinity of CO binding since nitrogenase substrates still turn over. These results reveal how Mo-Nitrogenase tolerates CO that is present in the environment.
Chemistry
1:50-2:10PM
Investigating the Cooperative Activation of H-Si bonds with Ir-S and Rh-S Synthetic Complexes
Presenter(s): Joshua Oommen, Zach Nelson
Advisor(s): Dr. Maduka Ogba
Within the last decade, chemists have attempted to design synthetic analogs of [NiFe] hydrogenases, nature's Hydrogen gas evolution catalysts, for potential applications in industrial catalytic reduction reactions and alternative energy production. Hydrogen gas evolution by [NiFe] hydrogenases may occur through the H-H bond's cooperative activation at a metal-sulfur center. Interestingly, despite nature's use of metal-sulfur centers in this mechanism, relatively few synthetic catalysts reported in the literature harness metal-sulfur centers for related cooperative bond activation processes. Furthermore, of the reported catalysts, vastly different reactivity is observed. With little work done to explain such differences, we are limited in our ability to design optimal synthetic mimics. We revisit a seminal work showing that coordinatively unsaturated and cationic, Iridium-Sulfur and Rhodium-Sulfur complexes can successfully activate silane (Si-H) bonds for ketone reductions. Unlike Iridium, the Rhodium-Sulfur complex acted as a catalyst needing (only 2 mol % of the catalyst). Furthermore, while Si-H activation occurred, H-H activation and catalytic ketone hydrogenation were unsuccessful. We used computational chemistry techniques to uncover the factors that govern reactivity in this system. We computed plausible mechanisms for (i) activating H-H and Si-H bonds on the Iridium- and Rhodium- Sulfur complexes and (ii) the transfer process to the ketone (i.e., the subsequent reduction step). We will present the structures' geometries and energies at each mechanistic step and explain how the metal-Sulfur center might engage in cooperative bond activation. We will discuss our current hypotheses for why changing the metal dramatically affects the reactivity and why silane activation occurs rather than but not hydrogen activation.
Communication Studies
2:10-2:30PM
The Relationship Between Yoga and Anxiety
Presenter(s): Olivia Lujan, Jessica Bebawi, Khiry Carter, Tony Varga, Jordan Eisleben, Jake Caan
Advisor(s): Dr. Austin Lee
High expectations of Chapman University students and the uncertainty of their future contribute to increased levels of anxiety. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy have shown that there is a negative correlation between yoga and anxiety. We propose that a 15-minute vinyasa yoga flow held on Zoom will reduce anxiety levels among the university participants. Vinyasa yoga flow consists of mindful breathing exercises and breath-to-movement coordination, stimulating the vagus nerve and promoting the parasympathetic “rest and digest” nervous system response. This leads to a state of relaxation. Participants will complete a survey measuring their anxiety levels immediately before and after the yoga session to measure the change. Reports of decreased anxiety levels would suggest that the mindful practice is effective in reducing anxiety among college students, despite the remote environment. This is useful for campuses to potentially implement vinyasa yoga for anxiety regulation in their student population while life is online. Furthermore, positive results from this study will suggest that online platforms such as Zoom or Skype have the ability to help those suffering from anxiety.
__________________________________________________________________________
ROOM B
History
1:30-1:50PM
Sovereignty, Statehood, and Subjugation: Japanese-American and Native Hawaiian Discourse Surrounding the Hawaii Admission Act of 1959
Presenter(s): Nicole Saito
Advisor(s): Dr. Robert Slayton
Although discourse over Hawaiian statehood has increasingly been described by scholars as a racial conflict between Japanese Americans and Native Hawaiians, there existed a broad spectrum of interactions between the two groups. Both communities were forced to confront the prejudices they had against each other while recognizing shared experiences of discrimination they faced from white Americans, creating a paradoxical political culture of competition and solidarity up until the conclusion of World War Two. From 1946-1950, however, the country’s collective understanding of Japanese American citizenship began to shift with recognition of the community’s military service record and an increased proportion of veterans elected to Congress. This shift prioritized Japanese American interests in statehood, marginalizing Native Hawaiians. From 1950-1959, Hawaii’s indigenous people were forced to frame their political opinions before Congress in two ways: by conforming to stereotypes mainland Americans held against Native Hawaiians, or arguing their opinions based on Japanese Americans’ interests rather than their own. These constraints—along with unfavorable national political circumstances and pre-existing, intra-communal economic tensions—eventually silenced Native Hawaiians in statehood discourse, be they in support of admission or opposed. As such, statehood discourse was defined not by an explicit racial conflict between Japanese Americans and Native Hawaiians, but the empowered assertion of Japanese American identity contrasted with Native Hawaiians’ careful navigation of mainland prejudices, and eventually, their informal political silencing.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1:30-1:50PM
Characterizing the Interaction Between Nitrogenase and CowN
Presenter(s): Terrence Lee, Michelle Jin, Ruchita Kharwa, Sophia Kelsey, Emily Wong
Advisor(s): Dr. Cedric Owens, Max Strul
Biologically available nitrogen is vital for agriculture, however most nitrogen exists as nitrogen gas. The industrial method to convert or “fix” nitrogen gas into biologically usable nitrogen in the form of ammonia is achieved using the Haber-Bosch Process under harsh conditions. Meanwhile, bacteria can also fix nitrogen gas into ammonia and can do so under ambient conditions. Bacteria such as Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus rely on the enzyme Mo-Nitrogenase to fix nitrogen. Mo-Nitrogenase is the key player to produce ammonia biologically. Studying this enzyme opens up prospects for more sustainable ammonia production. However, Mo-Nitrogenases are highly sensitive to inhibition by carbon monoxide. Only small amounts of CO drastically reduce ammonia production. Yet, organisms are still able to grow under CO when Mo-Nitrogenase is inhibited. This is thanks to another protein, CowN. Neither its structure nor its method of protecting Mo-Nitrogenase from CowN have been studied in detail. This work explains how CowN protects Mo-Nitrogenase. In vitro enzyme kinetics reveal that Mo-Nitrogenase is inhibited by CO through a mixed-inhibition model. Adding CowN increases CO’s Ki, helping Mo-Nitrogenase tolerate more CO. CowN specifically decreases the affinity of CO binding since nitrogenase substrates still turn over. These results reveal how Mo-Nitrogenase tolerates CO that is present in the environment.
Chemistry
1:50-2:10PM
Investigating the Cooperative Activation of H-Si bonds with Ir-S and Rh-S Synthetic Complexes
Presenter(s): Joshua Oommen, Zach Nelson
Advisor(s): Dr. Maduka Ogba
Within the last decade, chemists have attempted to design synthetic analogs of [NiFe] hydrogenases, nature's Hydrogen gas evolution catalysts, for potential applications in industrial catalytic reduction reactions and alternative energy production. Hydrogen gas evolution by [NiFe] hydrogenases may occur through the H-H bond's cooperative activation at a metal-sulfur center. Interestingly, despite nature's use of metal-sulfur centers in this mechanism, relatively few synthetic catalysts reported in the literature harness metal-sulfur centers for related cooperative bond activation processes. Furthermore, of the reported catalysts, vastly different reactivity is observed. With little work done to explain such differences, we are limited in our ability to design optimal synthetic mimics. We revisit a seminal work showing that coordinatively unsaturated and cationic, Iridium-Sulfur and Rhodium-Sulfur complexes can successfully activate silane (Si-H) bonds for ketone reductions. Unlike Iridium, the Rhodium-Sulfur complex acted as a catalyst needing (only 2 mol % of the catalyst). Furthermore, while Si-H activation occurred, H-H activation and catalytic ketone hydrogenation were unsuccessful. We used computational chemistry techniques to uncover the factors that govern reactivity in this system. We computed plausible mechanisms for (i) activating H-H and Si-H bonds on the Iridium- and Rhodium- Sulfur complexes and (ii) the transfer process to the ketone (i.e., the subsequent reduction step). We will present the structures' geometries and energies at each mechanistic step and explain how the metal-Sulfur center might engage in cooperative bond activation. We will discuss our current hypotheses for why changing the metal dramatically affects the reactivity and why silane activation occurs rather than but not hydrogen activation.
Communication Studies
2:10-2:30PM
The Relationship Between Yoga and Anxiety
Presenter(s): Olivia Lujan, Jessica Bebawi, Khiry Carter, Tony Varga, Jordan Eisleben, Jake Caan
Advisor(s): Dr. Austin Lee
High expectations of Chapman University students and the uncertainty of their future contribute to increased levels of anxiety. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy have shown that there is a negative correlation between yoga and anxiety. We propose that a 15-minute vinyasa yoga flow held on Zoom will reduce anxiety levels among the university participants. Vinyasa yoga flow consists of mindful breathing exercises and breath-to-movement coordination, stimulating the vagus nerve and promoting the parasympathetic “rest and digest” nervous system response. This leads to a state of relaxation. Participants will complete a survey measuring their anxiety levels immediately before and after the yoga session to measure the change. Reports of decreased anxiety levels would suggest that the mindful practice is effective in reducing anxiety among college students, despite the remote environment. This is useful for campuses to potentially implement vinyasa yoga for anxiety regulation in their student population while life is online. Furthermore, positive results from this study will suggest that online platforms such as Zoom or Skype have the ability to help those suffering from anxiety.
__________________________________________________________________________
ROOM B
History
1:30-1:50PM
Sovereignty, Statehood, and Subjugation: Japanese-American and Native Hawaiian Discourse Surrounding the Hawaii Admission Act of 1959
Presenter(s): Nicole Saito
Advisor(s): Dr. Robert Slayton
Although discourse over Hawaiian statehood has increasingly been described by scholars as a racial conflict between Japanese Americans and Native Hawaiians, there existed a broad spectrum of interactions between the two groups. Both communities were forced to confront the prejudices they had against each other while recognizing shared experiences of discrimination they faced from white Americans, creating a paradoxical political culture of competition and solidarity up until the conclusion of World War Two. From 1946-1950, however, the country’s collective understanding of Japanese American citizenship began to shift with recognition of the community’s military service record and an increased proportion of veterans elected to Congress. This shift prioritized Japanese American interests in statehood, marginalizing Native Hawaiians. From 1950-1959, Hawaii’s indigenous people were forced to frame their political opinions before Congress in two ways: by conforming to stereotypes mainland Americans held against Native Hawaiians, or arguing their opinions based on Japanese Americans’ interests rather than their own. These constraints—along with unfavorable national political circumstances and pre-existing, intra-communal economic tensions—eventually silenced Native Hawaiians in statehood discourse, be they in support of admission or opposed. As such, statehood discourse was defined not by an explicit racial conflict between Japanese Americans and Native Hawaiians, but the empowered assertion of Japanese American identity contrasted with Native Hawaiians’ careful navigation of mainland prejudices, and eventually, their informal political silencing.
Political Science
1:50-2:10PM
The War on Drugs: United States Public Opinion
Presenter(s): Karmen Pantoja
Advisor(s): Dr. John Compton
I set out to understand how different key demographics of Americans (gender, age, race, college education, political affiliation, and income level) affect one’s support for the legalization of marijuana and federal budget spending on dealing with crime. Looking at the historical and current levels of key demographics will showcase many key answers to who and where the push for legalization of marijuana and federal crime spending is coming from, historically and currently. I postulate that age will be the constant in leading the charge on legalization of marijuana. Alongside, I propose, that the general public support will favor the legalization of marijuana. Using these key variables, a strong foundation will be created to understand greater drug standpoints of these demographics based upon the results yielded. Through the usage of ANES data from the 1970s and 2016 and data analysis there will be a data heavy argument yielded as six key demographics will be tested to showcase positional stances and a crosstab analysis will produce the public support, historical and currently, on the support for the overarching War on Drugs.
2:10-2:30PM
The Counter-Majoritarian Court
Presenter(s): Kaity McKee
Advisor(s): Dr. John Compton
The Supreme Court has an indispensable role in United States government. The Supreme Court differs from the other branches because of the way it interacts with public opinion. The Supreme Court is not expected to make decisions that align with the public’s attitudes at the time, but rather to decide based on constitutionality. This job of the court is referred to as the “counter-majoritarian” function of the court. However, despite the Court being expected to sometimes rule against the people’s wants, public support of the Court remains high. Scholars have argued that this is due to the Supreme Court’s lack of counter-majoritarian rulings, or that people tend to view the government as a whole entity, basing their support on how they feel towards the government as a whole. Previous literature has found that ideology and political knowledge are influential factors on an individual’s support for the Court. This research will confirm that those who are ideologically further from the Court, those who are not moderate, will have a high support for the “counter-majoritarian” function of the Court. Those who are moderate citizens will have less approval for this function but high support for the Court based on decisions that are made in alignment with their opinion. Additionally, the research will determine the influence that political knowledge has on an individual’s support for the Court.
