Poster Session II: 3:30-5:00PM
__________________________________________________________________________
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2. Structural and Biochemical Characterization of Lactobacillus helveticus Chlorogenic Acid Esterase
Presenter(s): Tracie Okumura
Advisor(s): Dr. Cedric Owens, Christine Loverde
Chlorogenic acid (CGA) esterases are industrially relevant hydrolases that cleave CGA into caffeic acid and quinic acid. CGA esterase belongs to a family of enzymes that are capable of hydrolyzing alkyl chain esters of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. The structural and biochemical characterization of bacterial CGA esterases is incomplete. We are interested in the CGA esterase derived from Lactobacillus helveticus (Lh). After cloning the CGA esterase gene into E.coli, we grew and expressed the protein, then purified it. We ran different biophysical experiments, including circular dichroism (CD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to characterize the purified Lh CGA esterase. These experiments showed that the protein is a mix of alpha helices and beta sheets, and that the melting point is 65°C. Michaelis-Menten kinetics assays demonstrated that the enzyme is most active at neutral pH, and that there is a small temperature dependence of the activity. We found that the Lh CGA esterase is the most active esterase known to date with a Km of 0.081 mM and a Vmax of 0.0496 mM/min. We also solved the crystal structure of this enzyme. The structure revealed a deep substrate binding cleft and features a small insertion domain above its active site. Our structure mostly agrees with the first characterized bacterial CGA esterase, which was from L. johnsonii. Compared to Lh CGA esterase, L. johnsonii CGA esterase is much less active. Future work will investigate which structural features are responsible for the unusually high activity of Lh CGA esterase.
3. Crystallization of Lactobacillus Helveticus Chlorogenic Acid Esterase
Presenter(s): Allison Tajii
Advisor(s): Dr. Cedric Owens, Christine Lo Verde
Chlorogenic acid (CGA) esterases are potentially important industrial enzymes capable of hydrolyzing CGA into caffeic and quinic acid. CGA esterases are found in bacteria and fungi, yet bacterial CGA esterases have been studied much less than their fungal counterparts. In this work we present the crystal structure of Lactobacillus helveticus CGA esterase. This is only the second bacterial CGA esterase to have its structure solved. L. helveticus CGA esterase was expressed recombinantly in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. We screened approximately 500 different crystallization conditions and discovered that crystals formed in 50 mM citric acid, pH 4.5. We next improved crystal growth by optimizing pH and protein concentrations, obtaining large crystals that were used for diffraction experiments. The highest quality crystal diffracted to 2.2 Angstrom, allowing us to obtain a high resolution structure. As expected, CGA esterase forms an alpha/beta hydrolase fold and is dimeric. A notable feature in an insertion domain that present above the active site that is not found in most hydrolases. Overall, the structure is similar to that of CGA esterase from Lactobacillus johnsonii but very different from fungal CGA esterases. Our work suggests that bacterial and fungal esterase have fundamentally different structures and that the insertion domain may be a distinguishing characteristic for bacterial CGA esterases.
4. How Exosomes from Tumors Provoke Field Cancerization of Non-Cancerous Cells in the Breast
Presenter(s): Jillian Fahey
Advisor(s): Dr. Marco Bisoffi
Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in their lifetime, with many patients experiencing recurrent tumors that are difficult to prevent without complete breast removal. High rates of recurrence are likely explained by field cancerization, where healthy cells become cancerous from their adjacent tumors. Exosomes secreted by all cells, including normal, pre-malignant, and overtly cancerous cells are thought to be a key mechanism of field cancerization, representing a possible pathway between tumorous and healthy cells. Accordingly, we aim to explore the pro-tumorigenic effect of cancer exosomes on non-cancerous breast epithelial cells with respect to their migration, proliferation, and gene expression, indicative of field cancerization. In the current study, we hypothesized that exosomes produced by primary breast tumors (MCF7 cells) induced field cancerization in healthy, adjacent breast tissue (MCF10A breast epithelial cells). The MCF7 exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation. Qualitative Western blot (WB) and quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) both revealed the presence of the known tumorigenic proteins fatty acid synthase (FASN) and androgen receptor (AR) in exosomes. Non-cancerous MCF10A cells were subsequently treated with MCF7 exosomes and the oncogenic effect on protein expression was determined by antibody array analysis. This confirmed MCF7 exosomes’ ability to induce pre-malignancy in non-cancerous MCF10A cells. Most notably, CXCL8/IL-8 and ProgesteroneR/NR3C3-5, two proteins associated with cancer cell growth, showed greater than 70% increases in expression in response to treatment with MCF7 exosomes. Taken together, our results suggest that exosomes provoke field cancerization by upregulating cancerous proteins in non-cancerous breast cells. These findings may lead to improved detection of recurrent tumors in the same breast without the need for complete breast removal.
Biological Sciences
5. Hagfish Epidermal Thread Cell Thread Properties
Presenter(s): Hannah Campbell
Advisor(s): Dr. Douglas Fudge
Hagfish are primitive vertebrates with a defense mechanism of producing slime to clog their predators’ gills. This slime is comprised of mucus, threads, and seawater. The threads in this slime are stored as highly coiled skeins in gland thread cells (GTCs) in the hagfish’s slime gland. Another type of thread cell called an Epidermal thread cell (ETC) exists, and is embedded throughout the epidermis. ETCs also contain threads, albeit smaller and less complexly coiled than the ones from GTCs used in slime. Little is known about the structures and functions of ETCs. They may have served as an evolutionary precursor to GTCs and their threads; they may play a role in wound response when damage to the skin ruptures them and releases their threads; they may actively release threads onto the hagfish’s skin where they interact with granules of unknown identity, also coming from ETCs, to ward off predators if said granules are noxious. Much is uncertain and still being investigated. Specifically, this study will investigate the protein structures of ETC threads in relation to GTC threads. GTC threads, when stained with Congo red and observed under a polarizing microscope, have a birefringence that can be seen where they have been stretched— where their alpha-helix structure has become a beta-sheet. ETC threads can be collected by scraping a hagfish’s skin with a glass cover slip, and are found on the resulting microscope slide in both coiled and stretched states. By staining these slides with congo red and examining them under a polarizing microscope, it will be seen whether their protein structures behave in the same way as GTC threads’. This could provide evidence to either support or weaken the hypothesis that ETC threads were an evolutionary precursor to GTC threads.
6. The Biomechanics of Hagfish Eggs
Presenter(s): Zachary Baker
Advisor(s): Dr. Douglas Fudge
Since their discovery in 1856, scientists have noted the peculiar morphology of hagfish eggs, which are tipped with mucous-covered clusters of hooked filaments. Each egg is around 2 cm in length with hooked filaments that extend 200 to 400 microns out from the tips of each egg and are 20 microns wide at the stalk and 60 microns wide at the mushroom cap. The hooked filaments, also referred to as anchor filaments, join pairs, strings, or clumps of hagfish eggs on deep ocean sediments, but the biomechanics of this adhesion are not well understood. In the current study, we measured the force required to separate the hooks adhering a pair of hagfish eggs and used microscopy to study the structure of individual hooked filaments. We measured the force required to separate two hagfish eggs. 0.2 N is the average force for separating two hagfish eggs in seawater, a force like separating a piece of Velcro. When running the tests multiple times in water, changes in force attachment were minute. Similar tests were conducted in air, finding maximal forces when the filaments are dry to be 0.7 N the first time the eggs are separated. Subsequent attachments with the same two eggs yielded substantially lower forces at 0.2 N. Breaking strain tests were conducted by stretching individual filaments until they break which provides data on the stress and strain properties of the hooked filaments. Attachment studies revealed that the mucous occasionally found on the hooked filaments prevents them from attaching to other eggs. Ongoing work is exploring the function of the hooks in nature and the ontogeny of the eggs.
7. Comparative Analysis of the Canine Nasal Cavity by Vertical or Horizontal Cribriform Plate Angle
Presenter(s): Alexa Ortega
Advisor(s): Dr. Lindsay Waldrop, Dr. Nicholas Hebdon
Throughout the evolution of the family Canidae, there is a continuous belief that canines have an exceptional olfactory system for heightened sense of smell. However, while the trait is highly regarded, the exact role of nasal morphology is understudied. We aim to investigate the angle direction of the cribriform plate by basal lamellae within various species of Canidae to understand the morphological differences between anatomical spaces. To understand the horizontal or vertical passage of air and how it impacts the olfactory accessory, the identification of the angle that air bounces through the nasal cavity between craniofacial ratios is measured. To develop this method, we will employ 7 Computerized Tomography (CT) scans of a German Shepherd, Chow Chow, Pug, English Bulldog, American Bulldog, Russian Wolfhound, and a Wolf from the LA County Natural History Museum. From these we create 3D models of these skulls within SlicerMorph to outline the placement of the Cribriform plate, nasal cavity, and turbinates. The cribriform placement varies from Dolichocephalic species to Brachycephalic breeds. Cribriform plate has multiple holes for olfactory axons to contact turbinates thus connecting the olfactory system to the brain. Terminals have horizontal area with limited vertical area by muzzle length. From our sample, the Pug’s cribriform plate displays turbinates that rise up towards the brain area by their shortened muzzle. In this study, we determine the movement of the air following the vertical angle of the cribriform plate and where the air is diverted from Dolichocephalic to Brachycephalic breeds. In previous studies, the air flow direction displays rejection of sharp turns however, the natural flow for canine nasal cavity is different then the results of the sharp airway movement. In the future, we will expand our data set to various Canidae species and integrate them into computational fluid dynamics analysis.
Chemistry
8. Alkyne Hydrosilylation Using Cationic Zinc Bistriflimide Complexes
Presenter(s): Alexa Wilson
Advisor(s): Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin, Zach Thammavongsy
Mono-cationic, low coordinate zinc becomes more Lewis acidic when paired with weakly coordinating anions. In this work, we have investigated organozinc complexes stabilized by the bistriflimide (NTf2–) anion. A (C6F5)ZnNTf2 catalyst was synthesized in one step from commercially available starting materials and was characterized by 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. Alkyne hydrosilylation catalysis catalyzed by (C6F5)ZnNTf2 was studied for a variety of silane and alkyne substrates.
9. Effects of Dissolved Sulfate on the Sorption And Retention Of Cu(II) And Zn(II) to Suspended and Aggregated Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles
Presenter(s): Emma Kocik
Advisor(s): Dr. Christopher Kim
Metal contamination poses a potentially significant threat to the health of humans and the environment, particularly as a result of mining and industrial activity. Iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles (NPs) and their aggregates are known to serve as effective sorbents of metals in aqueous environments. However, it is less clear what occurs to metals sorbed to these NPs aggregates with increasing salinity, which is of importance when considering metal contaminants flowing from freshwater sources towards the ocean. In this study, the influence of sulfate, the second most common anion in seawater, on the retention of metals sorbed to iron oxyhydroxide NPs and their aggregates is investigated. Macroscopic batch uptake experiments were conducted on suspended monodisperse NPs and NPs aggregated by increased pH, ionic strength, and temperature to measure the adsorption and retention of dissolved Cu(II) and Zn(II) at sulfate concentrations ranging from 0-0.30 M using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results indicate significantly enhanced retention of Cu and Zn upon the introduction of sulfate at 0.03 M, and a continued gradual increase with further increase in sulfate concentration. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy was also applied to select samples to determine changes in Cu(II) or Zn(II) coordination environment with increasing sulfate. Combined results suggest that sulfate plays a dual role in both reducing surface charge repulsion and possibly initiating tertiary surface complexation, which together aid to increase metal adsorption and retention to NP aggregates.
10. Effects of Aggregation Through Freezing and Drying On Zn(II) Adsorption/Retention to Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles
Presenter(s): Abigail Kim
Advisor(s): Dr. Christopher Kim
Iron oxyhydroxides are widespread and naturally occurring in surface aqueous systems as fine-grained, sometimes nanoscale particles. Due to their small size, high surface area, and chemical reactivity in their natural state, they also act as highly effective sorbents for dissolved metals, largely through (ad)sorption processes. Under various geochemical conditions (such as changes in pH, water salinity, and temperature), the nanoparticles aggregate, affecting their sorption and retention capabilities and increasing the complexity of the interactions between dissolved metals and the nanoparticle aggregates. The impacts of particle aggregation at the nanoscale on sorption/retention properties are poorly characterized; therefore, understanding these effects requires the exploration of nanoparticle aggregation mechanisms and metal ion speciation at both the macro and atomic scale. We investigated the effects of partial/complete nanoparticle suspension freezing and drying on nanoparticle aggregation and the subsequent sorption to and retention of Zn(II) onto those aggregates through a combination of macroscopic batch uptake experiments and X-ray spectroscopic analysis. Zn(II) adsorption/retention behavior was assessed through batch experiments and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Zn(II) speciation was examined using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. ICP-OES analysis yielded a decreasing trend of initial uptake of Zn(II) indicative of lowered surface area. The aggregates showed an increase in Zn(II) retention, however, likely due to sorption within inter-particle nanoporous spaces. EXAFS spectroscopy showed variations in zinc speciation that indicate a variety of Zn(II) sorption complexes, with the more strongly-bound species left after a pH-based desorption step. These studies better inform our understanding of (ad)sorption/retention capabilities of the nanoparticles and their aggregates and the optimization of their use in remediation of contaminated aqueous systems.
11. Tuning the Geometry and Electronic Structure of Core-Shell Plasmonic Nanoparticles
Presenter(s): Ishaan Shah, Chelsey Cortes, Gabby Montgomery, Stephanie Hoang
Advisor(s): Dr. Jerry LaRue, Bingjie Zhang
The chemical reactions that take place in petroleum industries and automobile engines are significant contributors to carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. CO oxidation involves formation of CO2 upon reaction of CO with atomic oxygen. The methods used by petroleum industries to produce crude oil, are energy exhaustive; therefore, there is a need to develop more energetically efficient methods to produce hydrocarbon fuel. Core plasmonic metal surfaces can produce excited electrons and can be coupled to high energy electronic states of a metal shell and subsequent reactants to facilitate excited state chemistry. To investigate how these catalytic metal surfaces can enhance the selectivity of chemical reactions, 18 nm Au and Ru/Au NPs were synthesized at 1/1. 2/1, and ½ molar ratios. The structure and composition of the catalysts were then characterized through Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-vis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) to understand whether they were ideal catalysts. A photoreactor chamber will be used to test the photochemical activity of bimetallic nanoparticles for CO oxidation and hydrogenation reactions. The geometry and electronic structure of metal catalysts were tuned for enhanced reaction outcomes for CO oxidation and hydrogenation reactions.
12. Excited Electron Chemistry on Bimetallic Tintantium Nitride Plasmonic Core-Shell Nanoparticles
Presenter(s): Chelsey Cortes
Advisor(s): Dr. Jerry LaRue
Catalysts are integral to many chemical reactions as they reduce energy consumption and minimize pollution. Modern catalysts, however, are not selective nor efficient enough to satisfy some of today’s global challenges and, in some cases, can even lead to an increase in pollution. The Petroleum industry, for instance, is one of the most significant contributors of carbon monoxide pollution and hydrocarbon emissions attributable to the incomplete combustion of petroleum. By coating plasmonic titanium nitride nanoparticles with an active transition metal, we aim to create highly selective and active plasmonic photocatalysts. These promising novel catalysts can potentially be utilized to carry out excited state chemistry reactions and may be used to mitigate carbon monoxide pollution in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner. This works because when the plasmonic metal core is excited by light and its plasmon resonances decay, it creates highly energetic “hot” electrons that can promote excited state reactions, while the transition metal shell functions to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of the reaction. This project aims to understand how the geometry and electronic structure of photocatalytic surfaces can be tuned to allow for the conversion of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide or methanol. We have synthesized and characterized titanium nitride core nanoparticles with a transition metal, ruthenium or rhodium, shell and will be studying the photocatalytic efficiency of the core-shell nanoparticles through hydrocarbon and oxidation reactions. These bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles lay the foundation for the next generation of green photocatalysts.
13. Mechanism of HOCl-Mediated Oxidation of Two-Thiolate Zinc Complex
Presenter(s): Natalie Saadeh
Advisor(s): Dr. O. Maduka Ogba
Bacteria harness zinc thiolate complexes to sense and respond to strong oxidants (e.g., hypochlorous acid) produced by animal hosts. Studying this mechanism would help develop a better understanding of how microorganisms navigate host systems. In this study, we investigate the mechanism for the HOCl-mediated oxidation of a two-thiolate zinc complex. Quantum mechanical calculations were used to determine the most stable geometries of the ground and transition states in order to create a complete reaction coordinate diagram of the oxidation process. Insights from this study would provide a greater understanding of how zinc makes sulfur compounds more susceptible to oxidation, and more generally how metals can be used to control the reactivity of sulfur containing compounds.
14. Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in the Newport Back Bay
Presenter(s): Kaitlyn DiCostanzo
Advisor(s): Dr. Warren De Bruyn
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a part of the carbon pool in aquatic ecosystems. Carbon is transformed in these aquatic systems via photolysis, which is the biological and photochemical mineralization of DOM. It is also transformed through biological processes like decomposition and respiration, as well as physical processes like flocculation and settling into sediments as a carbon sink. These photochemical, biological, and physical processes affect DOM’s molecular characteristics and bioavailability, and therefore produce a range of reactive transient species and small volatile organic compounds that impact aquatic biogeochemical cycles. Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), the light-absorbing component of dissolved organic matter (DOM), provides protection for microorganisms and drives photochemistry in these systems. We have measured the optical properties of water samples collected from three different sites in the Newport Back Bay to characterize the CDOM content of the estuary. These three sites vary in terms of location and what impacts them, whether it be oils from boats in the marina or water flow from a creek. The optical properties measured from the water samples collected from the three sites include absorbance measurements, three-dimensional steady state excitation emission fluorescence spectra (EEMs), and time resolved fluorescence measurements. A range of fluorescence indices have also been calculated. Trends in optical properties associated with changes in the amount of CDOM, CDOM sources, and CDOM processing will be presented and discussed.
Communication Sciences and Disorders
15. Diversity of Mother-Infant Interactions and Vocabulary Development in Infants with Early Cochlear Implantation
Presenter(s): Matthew Kim
Advisor(s): Dr. Mary Fagan
Infant vocabulary size is correlated with both the quantity and diversity of language interactions between mothers and infants. The more diverse the mother’s language, the more developed the baby’s vocabulary, which influences later linguistic and academic achievement. Vocabulary development is made of two components: vocabulary comprehension and vocabulary production. Vocabulary comprehension is defined as an individual’s ability to understand the meaning of words. Vocabulary production is defined as one’s ability to use labels and describe a stimulus. Most infants with cochlear implants have less hearing experience than hearing infants of the same chronological age. Chronological age is defined as an individual’s age from birth. Hearing age is defined as the hearing experience of an individual. The hearing experience of infants with cochlear implants begins when they receive cochlear implants. Infants who received cochlear implants in the first or second year tend to have smaller delays in vocabulary acquisition than infants who received their cochlear implant after the second year. Although studies have analyzed vocabulary delay in children with cochlear implants, few have studied maternal language and vocabulary development for infants with cochlear implants in the first year. Our research project examines infants’ language and communication skills and the influence of maternal language on vocabulary development. Using the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory, the vocabulary size of infants with and without cochlear implants was compared to their hearing age and their chronological age. The goal of this study is to examine the influence of maternal language on vocabulary development in infants who received cochlear implants at 13 months of age or earlier.
Economics
16. Will Genius Fail? The Effect of Aging on Fear of Financial Collapse
Presenter(s): Peter Cline
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
From the fall of Long Term Capital Management in 1998 to the housing derivative bubble of 2008, financial collapses have caused catastrophe in the United States. In this paper, I examine the correlation between age and fear of financial collapse. Scholars have examined the correlation between age and risk aversion and the correlation between past financial collapse and stress; however, determining age’s effect on fear of financial collapse provides scholars and fund managers alike with important insights into the aging investment mindset. This study is conducted with data from the Chapman Survey of American Fears 2020/2021 edition, a representative national sample of United States adults. I expect a strong relationship between age and fear of financial collapse due to experience in prior recessionary conditions and a higher risk aversion with impending retirement. This work dissects consumer sentiment as it connects age and fear of economic collapse, providing scholars and finance professionals with a discussion of the causation of changing risk aversion and investment allocations with age.
Environmental Science and Policy
17. Particle-Size Dependent Trends in Arsenic Bioaccessibility Through In vitro Extractions of Mine Wastes
Presenter(s): Micah Char
Advisor(s): Dr. Christopher Kim
The mining and processing of gold and silver in the Mojave Desert, California has generated vast quantities of mine wastes containing elevated levels of several trace elements, including inorganic arsenic (As). Although regulatory agencies typically utilize bulk As concentrations to estimate exposure risk, simulated gastric fluid (SGF) extractions represent a more physiologically-relevant metric by which to assess As bioaccessibility and potential exposure. Additionally, physicochemical characteristics controlling As bioaccessibility associated with particle size can be critically important yet are not often systematically considered when estimating exposure risk. Processed mine tailings and unprocessed waste rock from six former mine sites in the Mojave Desert region were physically separated into 11 discrete size fractions and analyzed for initial As concentration and reactive surface area before subsequent exposure to both in vitro SGF and water leach extractions. Mine tailings and waste rock samples exhibited distinct trends across both extraction analyses. Arsenic bioaccessibility, expressed as a percentage of As released in SGF, was moderately to strongly correlated with reactive surface area (R2=0.27-0.91, avg. 0.71). When bioaccessibility was expressed as As concentration released in SGF, initial As solid concentration exhibited the strongest positive correlation (R2=0.83-0.91). Stepwise linear regressions showed that reactive surface area, initial As concentration, and water solubility, respectively and in order of importance, explained most of the variation of As bioaccessibility across sample types. Differences in arsenic speciation and physical encapsulation of As may explain the remaining unaccounted variability in As bioaccessibility.
Film
18. Like Tears in Rain: An Analysis of the Overlooked Disability Stories in Fantasy and Science Fiction Films and Television
Presenter(s): Laine Marshall
Advisor(s): Dr. Nam Lee
Although fantasy and science fiction media offer viewers an exciting view into worlds and characters unlike our own, they reflect the world around us. When analyzing fantasy and science fiction film and television through the lens of Disability Studies, it becomes clear that these two genres are uniquely comfortable showing disabled characters and telling disabled stories while still falling into many of the problematic pitfalls when representing disabled characters. By analyzing films like "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Mad Max: Fury Road" and television shows like "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "The X-Files," a series of problematic character design ideals and narrative tropes begin to emerge. Because film is an inherently visual medium, character designs are used to immediately signify a character’s personality and ethics (especially in animation), but this often means using a disability as a means of reflecting an inner evil. Additionally, the general public's lack of familiarity with many disabilities is exploited by film and television and used as a scary element of the unknown ripe for narrative evil. The imaginative nature of the fantasy and science fiction genres takes character designs and narratives surrounding good and evil to an extreme not seen as commonly in other genres. Disability representation in film and television is slim, only representing 2.8% of broadcast series regulars on television in 2021 according to a study by GLAAD. When representing disabled characters and their stories, pieces of fantastical filmic media hold both great power and responsibility regarding the public outlook on real disabled people due to their genre-specific grandeur and place within pop culture’s small pool of disability representation.
Health Sciences and Kinesiology
19. Exploration of Mindfulness Meditations and Effect on Attentional Awareness
Presenter(s): Alexa Hallock
Advisor(s): Dr. Manjari Murali
Mindfulness meditation practices are traditionally designed to cultivate mindful awareness and have been shown to have numerous benefits, including attentional awareness (Norris et al., 2018). In the current self-study, the effects of two Mindfulness Programs on attentional awareness were observed using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) at four different time points, once before and once after the completion of each course. Chapman’s Fish Interfaith Center’s Mindfulness Certification Course is a 6-week mindfulness program taught by Julie Artman over zoom. The Koru Basic course, developed at Duke University, is a 4-week mindfulness program taught by Dr. Dr. Manjari Murali over zoom. In addition to one live class meeting per week, both programs require that students meditate on their own for at least 10 minutes every day. This self study will compare the outcomes of both mindfulness programs, and determine how they each contribute to attentional awareness based on MAAS scoring. It is hypothesized that the Koru Mindfulness Program will be more effective than Fish Mindfulness Course in increasing accountability for frequent meditation, so that the difference in MAAS scores before and after the Koru Mindfulness Program will be greater than the difference in scores before and after the Fish Interfaith Mindfulness Certification Course. Preliminary data has shown that MAAS scores after the Fish Interfaith Mindfulness certification course have increased. The Koru Mindfulness program is currently underway and results will be available before the Symposium.
20. Can Mindfulness-based Meditation Practices Prove to have a Positive Effect on Academic Performance and Progress?
Presenter(s): Neha Upponi
Advisor(s): Dr. Manjari Murali
Research indicates that the incorporation of mindfulness meditation in daily student life can improve their academic performance, specifically in short-term academic endeavors (Mai, 2018). To independently validate this finding, I performed a self-study to compare the effects of two different Mindfulness Programs on my academic performance using practice Generalized Record Examinations (GRE) at three-time points. Timepoint T1 took place before the start of Chapman’s Fish Interfaith Center’s 6-week Mindfulness certificate course. During this course, different mindfulness techniques such as anchoring, walking meditation, equanimity and balance, and loving-kindness were taught. Timepoint T2 took place after completion of this first course and before the start of the 4-week Koru Basic course, developed at Duke University. The Koru mindfulness course had weekly reading assignments; and taught mindfulness techniques such as dynamic breathing, gatha, guided imagery, and labeling feelings. Timepoint T3 took place after completion of the Koru Basic course. Both the Fish and Koru courses required participants to attend once weekly live classes over Zoom, meditate daily for at least 10 minutes, and maintain a daily meditation log. GRE test scores (scale of 130-180) from T2 and T3 were compared to those from T1 to assess changes in academic performance. We hypothesize that while both the Fish and Koru Mindfulness courses will enhance academic performance compared to baseline, Kore will show a greater improvement compared to Fish. Results from this self-study will be presented at the Symposium.
History
21. They Were Refugees, Not Vacationers: Kindertransports Refugees Housed in British Holiday Camps
Presenter(s): Gabby Butler
Advisor(s): Dr. Jeffrey Koerber
This project examines the British “holiday camps” that served as refugee housing for Jewish children evacuated from Nazi Germany on “Kindertransports.” These holiday camps served as a weigh station for refugee children who entered the country with “unguaranteed” status, meaning that a foster home had not yet been secured for them. Holiday camps were just what they sounded like - warm weather vacation destinations for residents of Great Britain. Yet refugee children arrived during the winter months, heightening their already difficult situation. This project examines a series of research questions: Why were refugee children sent to holiday camps? What was their experience like in these first “homes'' as refugees who were separated from their parents? How did these “weigh stations” help or hinder their transition to their future lives? Under what circumstances did they leave these temporary settings? Many refugees who experienced living in holiday camps discuss their memories of these camps in oral histories. One former child refugee was Eva Urbach, who talked about her time living in the Dovercourt holiday located near Harwich in Essex. Urbach spoke about her daily life, the layout of the camp, and how she was able to eventually leave. Despite the winter cold in what was seasonal summer housing, Urbach specifically remembered her time at the holiday camp as an adventure. However, she also recalled how on Saturday and Sunday foster families came to look at children to potentially take into their homes, which to many seemed like a “cattle call” because these foster families only wanted the prettiest and best behaved foster children. In addition to oral histories, historic photographs and scholarly secondary sources support this research.
Pharmacy
22. Targeting Different Proteins in Triple-Negative Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines Using CRISPR/Cas9
Presenter(s): Dylan Holder
Advisor(s): Dr. Hamidreza Montazeri
Genetic engineering with Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) can potentially be incorporated into clinical applications to target specific proteins in targeted cells, including malignant cells. The capability of CRISPR/Cas9 to permanently silence virtually any protein in transfected cells creates a significant potential for clinical therapies, including cancer treatment. Targeting proteins that have a crucial role in cell growth and survival in human cancer cells can potentially inhibit tumor growth. In this project, we aimed to target two different proteins involved in the proliferation and survival of a human triple-negative breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231: MCL-1, an anti-apoptotic protein, and Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinase (RPS6KA5), a kinase that is involved in an intracellular signaling pathway that enhances survival mechanisms. We have previously reported that simultaneous silencing of these two proteins halts the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro and in vivo. We used a variety of in-house designed nucleic acid carriers to deliver CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RPNs) targeting Mcl-1 or RPS6KA5 to MDA-MB-231 cells. The total population of cells was used to extract total DNA after transfection, and PCR was performed using multiple in-house designed primers to enlarge the targeted piece of DNA. The samples were then exposed to the T7 endonuclease enzyme to detect the mismatch in the targeted site as an indication of the transfection. Our results show effective transfection of the cells, where the extent of transfection was comparable to the commercially available Lipofectamine CRISPRMAX reagent. In the future, the transfected cells can be identified and separated from the non-transfected cells to create a subpopulation of cells with non-functional Mcl-1 or RPS6KA5. The cell function and reaction to different treatment strategies will be examined in these sub-populations in comparison to the naïve cells.
Physical Therapy
23. Parkinson's Disease Patients’ Walking Parameters
Presenter(s): Mira Ananthanarayanan, Shenhao Jin
Advisor(s): Dr. Rahul Soangra
Parkinson's Disease (P.D.) severely impacts the basal ganglia region in the brain. Many P.D. patients experience the deterioration of mobility control. The gait of P.D. patients, therefore, deserves a systematic study and evaluation under different walking parameters. The walking parameters include the examination of step length, step time, step width, swing time, and stance time at different points of the gait cycle. This study thoroughly compares these parameters of P.D. patients in a normal-walking setting and dual-task(walking while answering conversational questions). The expected outcome would assist in the identification of risk factors among P.D. patients to prevent injury risk. For the dual-tasking trials, the prediction is that the more distracted the participant is with answering questions, the faster their gait will be. The tests conducted are as follows: normal-walking, stroop, walking-and-stroop, The kinematic and kinetic data were recorded from the participants for data analysis. We hope to recruit 40 to 50 participants for the control group and roughly the same number of Parkinson's patients. The data was collected by infrared markers, force plates, and xsens accelerometers.
24. Impact of STROOP Dual-Tasking on Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s Patients
Presenter(s): Talia Brennan, Caitlin Ha
Advisor(s): Dr. Rahul Soangra, Michael Shiraishi
Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder that progressively affects one’s movement by initiating tremors, stiffness, loss of balance, and slowness in everyday activities. Individuals with Parkinson’s often experience freezing of gait (FOG), which is described as the sudden inability to move due to sudden changes in motor actions. During an episode of FOG, an individual will feel stuck and are unable to move their feet forward despite having the intention to walk. This results in the shuffling movement of the feet followed by small steps, which is characteristically seen in Parkinson’s patients. In this gait initiation study, our goal was to observe whether or not there was a difference in gait in the initial steps from standing still. Each subject was instructed to stand on a treadmill, begin walking, and stop walking. They performed these actions with both dual-tasking and single-tasking assignments. The dual-tasking assignment involved a STROOP task, which required them to identify the color of a word displayed on the screen while also walking. Reaction forces collected from the force plates embedded in the treadmill, sway, and joint angles of the legs were all measured in order to identify any differences within the first few steps of the subject’s gait cycle during both single-task and dual-task environments. We hypothesized that there would be a difference in reaction forces, joint angles, and sway during the initiation of walking for dual-tasking and non-dual tasking for Parkinson’s patients.
Political Science
25. Who Fears Immigrants?: Decoding the Characteristics of Americans who Fear Immigrant's Impact on the Economy
Presenter(s): Kate Riccardelli
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Understanding which characteristics impact Americans' position and fears towards immigrants will generate a sense of what drives and unleashes fear-driven behavior on immigrant populations. One particular area of public perception towards immigrants that gets a high degree of political debate is immigrants' impact on the economy. This paper will evaluate the relationship between a person's social-economic status, age, and education level towards the perception that immigrants are negatively impacting the American economy. The link between a fear of immigrants and the stated characteristics will be evaluated through the Chapman Survey of American Fears, a representative national survey of American adults. Based on my perception and analysis of statistical correlations, those making over $100,000 a year and belonging to a high socioeconomic status will be less fearful of immigrants' impact on the economy. I predict this to be derived from the high percentage of immigrants belonging to a lower socioeconomic class, which means they do not compete for jobs with those in a higher economic bracket and have less impact on high-income earners' wealth through social welfare taxes. However, the data seems to present a far less significant relationship between income and perception of immigrants, suggesting the public feelings on immigrants' impact is less connected to economic status. I also hypothesize that the data will prove that younger people are far less critical and fearful of immigrants' direct impact on the American economy. The American Survey of Fears has presented this relationship to be statistically substantial. This I predict, is derived from younger generations' acceptance and general tolerance towards minority populations. Linking characteristics to a person's general fear of immigrants and their impact will help decode people's complex and significant feelings towards immigrants. Historical waves of immigration essentially characterize the United States; thus, understanding and interpreting what drives people's sentiments towards
26. Fear and Right Wing Terrorism in America
Presenter(s): Ashley Hight
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Instances of right wing terrorism are terrifying for victims and their families, but what other characteristics make a person more likely to fear it? Who fears right wing terrorism and who does not? What makes these people more or less likely to have a fear of these instances? Is there any correlation between age or race and those who fear right wing extremism as opposed to left wing? By using the Chapman Survey of American Fears, I will analyze data that will help me to form data about what traits people who fear (or do not fear) right wing terrorism tend to have in common. Right wing extremism is on the rise, but is not as prevalent in the media as the COVID-19 pandemic or the Russia-Ukraine conflict, so is it at the forefront of Americans minds? The purpose of this project is to highlight why Americans have a fear of right wing extremism and why people with similar demographics may have a higher perceived fears than those in differing demographic categories. This type of terrorism and extremism has been increasing in recent years, so I will also be analyzing how the fear has increased along with it and whether the demographics have changed as well.
27. Why do Americans Report a Greater Fear of Government Restrictions on Firearms than in Years Prior?
Presenter(s): Ethan Oppenheim
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
In recent years, studies have shown that support for increased gun control legislation has decreased to its lowest point in nearly a decade and yearly gun sales have approached record numbers. Statistical data found in the Chapman Survey of American Fears suggests that over the past three years, the percentage of Americans who fear government restrictions on firearms has dramatically increased. In this project, I examine this dramatic shift in sentiments and identify the racial, ethnic, and religious demographics which are driving these evolving sentiments on firearm regulations. Upon observing responses given in the most recent survey as well as the previous survey conducted in 2019, I discover a moderately strong correlation between both race and religious affiliation and the observed increase in fear of government restrictions on firearms. According to the data, both Asian Americans and Jewish Americans report a significantly higher fear in government restrictions on firearms in 2021 than in 2019. Further, Black Americans and Hispanic Americans report a moderately higher fear in government restrictions on firearms in 2021 than in 2019. I infer that this relationship can be explained by the recent spike in hate crimes and prevalence of police brutality and civil unrest since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the extent to which support for gun control has declined and gun sales have increased have been studied, the breakdown of demographics driving these changes and the reasons for such are yet to be studied. By delving into this realm, my research findings will explain why certain groups have felt the need in recent years to purchase firearms and why they now express fear of firearm restrictions to a greater extent than in years prior. Reflecting upon these findings may allow us to make greater strides toward making people feel safe in American society.
28. Sociodemographic Traits, Death and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
Presenter(s): Ariel Gries
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have wanted a path to an end to the increasing number of infections and deaths. In December 2020, the first COVID-19 vaccine was released and there seemed to be a glimpse of hope for a future without COVID-19; however, since then, a new hurdle has emerged; the hurdle of vaccine hesitancy. In this paper, I will examine the determining factors that make a person more likely to fear the COVID-19 vaccine, such as religion and religiosity, political affiliation, education, and one's emotions towards death. Using the Chapman University Survey on American Fears, a representative national sample of U.S. adults ages 18 and up during January 2021, I will examine which sociodemographic determinants increase a person's likelihood of fearing the COVID-19 vaccine. Among the interesting findings, it is observed that highly religious respondents were more likely to be vaccine-hesitant. Similarly, it was also observed that respondents with a conservative-leaning political affiliation were also more likely to be vaccine-hesitant, as well as similar results for people with below a high school education. Lastly, it is expected that a decrease in fear and emotions towards death creates more of a likelihood for someone to be hesitant of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These findings can help in understanding the steps that can be taken in helping increase immunity through the COVID-19 vaccine and ultimately end the pandemic. Being able to understand which demographics are more likely to be hesitant of the vaccine as well as the correlation between emotions towards death creates an opportunity to use that information in better communicating the benefits of the vaccine in a way that is suitable to people of these demographics.
29. What Are You Scared Of? How Social Media News Consumption Impacts Voter Fear
Presenter(s): Emilie Haskell
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
In the ideal world, all voters create the perfect democracy by voting through rational choice: logically comparing the available candidates, and selecting the one they perceive to best promote the public good. However, this is not always the case, and the rise of social media news has brought new levels of fear and distrust into the polls. In this piece, I will be examining whether those who reported getting their news from social media are likely to vote for a politician because of their fears. I will be using data collected by the 2020/21 edition of the Chapman Survey of American Fears, a national survey with over 1,000 participants, all of voting age. There is a strong correlation between the two variables, with the interesting addition of a high volume of fear based voting amongst those who consume no social media news whatsoever. However, those who range from getting their news from social media “once or twice a month” to “everyday” fall into a pattern of increased voting based on fear. I will additionally be including data regarding the correlation between fearing corrupt government officials and viewership of social media news, because a significant amount of psychology and media research reveals fear mongering media tactics to be a powerful tool for swaying more moderate voters. As social media use continues to increase, it is incredibly relevant to examine its effect on voters’ increasing fear and distrust of the government.
30. Thanatophobia- The Fear of Death
Presenter(s): Matt Cotti
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
In this analysis of the Survey of American Fears, the relationship between the fears of death and illness both in oneself and in loved ones, and other independent factors including religiosity, income, employment status, age, and gender are examined. Empirical research regarding the fear of death, particularly with respect to its origins and implications, has yielded ambiguous data with varied interpretations. Previous research on the fear of death indicates that striations along gender lines exist. Those studies implied that women are disproportionately susceptible to feelings of anxiety and depression, leading to increased levels of thanatophobia- the fear of death (Perez-Mengual, 2021). Similar findings purport that emotions, like grief and anxiety, coordinate with and affect one’s fear of death (Gegieckaite, 2022). Other investigations into the relationship between thanatophobia and religiosity have yielded mixed and inconclusive results, not only indicating direct and inverse relationships, but also suggesting no relationship at all (Bassett, 2021). This investigation into the causes and effects of the fear of death attempts to clarify the existing research on the topic, as well as add and amend different underexplored variables to create a more comprehensive understanding of a universally applicable phenomenon.
31. Do America’s Underlying Christian Morals Correlate with Islamophobic Immigration Policy?
Presenter(s): Shea Foresti
Advisor(s): Dr. Ann Gordon
While America was founded with emphasis on a separation of church and state, its’ Chistian roots seep into policy and the perspectives of its citizens. In recent American history there has been an increase of imlamophobia, particularly after the terrorist attack on 9/11. In this paper, I will examine the link between the belief that America’s underlying Christian morals are responsible for the success of the nation and support for islamophobic immigration policy. Relying on the Chapman Survey of American Fears, a representative national sample of U.S. adults, I expect to find a strong correlation between those who believe that the success of the United States is part of God's plan and the belief that America should cease all immigration from Muslim countries. This is because the Christian faith has ties with the Protistant religion which believes in a God who punishes sins. With faith in God’s plan and America, those who are perceived to encroach on the country’s progression may be deemed a threat. I expect to see this correlation due to the historical relationship between these beliefs and and the increase in disrespect for Mulsims and Islam.
Psychology
32. How Self-Evaluation of Demographics Modulates the Effects of Attractive Celebrity Images on Self-Image
Presenter(s): Leyla Rakshani
Advisor(s): Dr. Aaron Schurger, Dr. Marina Kahana, Dr. Matthew Ballew
Recent research indicates an effect of attractive celebrity images on mood and body image (Brown, 2016). This effect can further develop into long term issues, such as body dysmorphia or depressive/suicidal symptoms. Female adolescents are especially susceptible to these effects, as they are likelier to engage in intense personal celebrity worship (Maltby, 2005), although this may also be attributed to the lack of research on the impact of media exposure on males’ body image (Agliata, 2004). My research will focus on how a self-evaluation of one’s own demographics (race, gender, etc.) may modulate the effect of attractive celebrity images on selfimage. I predict that participants will rank themselves as less attractive when asked questions about their demographics before being exposed to images of celebrities versus being asked those questions after (as is usually done in research).
33. Online Dating During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Is it the New Norm?
Presenter(s): Sara Henry, Emily Foster, Alexandra Kraft, Amanda Gesselman
Advisor(s): Dr. Amy Moors
For many who were single during the COVID-19 pandemic, this public health crisis may have led to issues with dating or finding a romantic partner. To understand the impact of the pandemic on dating life, in the present study, we examined single people’s dating app usage collected as part of The Kinsey Institute’s annual Singles in America project. Using a nationally representative sample of people who were currently single in the U.S. (N = 4,877 with an average age of 45.92), we found that the vast majority of single people (96%) were using dating apps (e.g., Tinder, Bumble, Match) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-two percent of the sample identified as women and 37.4% identified as men; 88.5% identified as heterosexual and 11.5% identified as a sexual minority (gay, lesbian, or bisexual). One-quarter (24.9%) of single people were using dating apps more frequently than compared to before the pandemic; nearly one-half (42.5%) were less active during the pandemic (the remaining reported no change in dating app usage). Multiple linear regression results show that men and sexual minorities were using dating apps at a higher frequency during the pandemic, compared to women and heterosexual people, respectfully (B = .16, p = .006 and B = .19, p = .01). Age was not associated with dating app usage during the pandemic. Information about video date usage and enjoyment will be discussed as well as common video date activities (e.g., long conversations, sex, games) during the pandemic. Taken together, these results suggest that dating app usage decreased during the pandemic (except for men and sexual minorities), which is likely due to health concerns. At the same time, video dating may have become a new norm during this time period.
34. Prosocial Behaviors Compared: Different College Majors and the Theory of Mind
Presenter(s): Maryanne Cozzetto
Advisor(s): Dr. Desiree Crevecoeur-MacPhail, Dr. Tara Gruenewald
My research over the past two semesters has studied the relationship between college majors and certain aspects of personality for Chapman University undergraduate students. Prosocial behaviors such as empathy levels, self-reported creativity levels, and emotional regulation levels were compared between specifically art majors and non-art majors, expecting to find higher levels of these prosocial behaviors amongst art majors. Additionally, overall satisfaction with college majors was compared between art majors and non-art majors by using a single factor self-report scale. To measure these factors, Chapman students completed a 51-item survey composed of 6 demographic questions, 1 major satisfaction question, the fantasy and perspective-taking scale subsection of the second version Empathy Questionnaire (Davis et al., 1980), the emotional regulation questionnaire (Gross, 2003), and the 20-item Kaufman Domains of Creativity Scale (20-K-DOCS) (Tan et al., 2021). Participants consisted of Chapman undergraduate students who were thanked for their participation and remained completely anonymous. The expected results of this study are that art majors will report higher levels of empathy, emotional regulation, creativity, and overall satisfaction towards their major in comparison to non-art majors. Implications of this research include a wider acceptance of art-based majors in comparison to more traditional majors, showing art majors report higher levels of empathy, emotional regulation, creativity, and overall satisfaction towards their major in comparison to non-art majors.
35. Parental Leave Length and Feelings Towards Leave Predict Postpartum Mental Health
Presenter(s): Christine Chang
Advisor(s): Dr. Laura Glynn, Sabrina Liu
Previous research has identified the postpartum period as a sensitive period for women’s mental health due to the changes in both biology and life circumstances. For a subset of women, those that are working, this can be an especially vulnerable time as they must contend with the challenges of balancing their work and family life with the addition of a child. It is widely assumed that parental leave benefits maternal wellbeing postpartum, however, little is known about the specific characteristics of parental leave that influence maternal mental health. Therefore, the present study investigated the extent to which working women’s leave length and feelings towards their leave was linked to mental health at six and twelve months postpartum. Participants included [N = 93] women who had worked during their pregnancy and recently gave birth. Mothers completed questionnaires about their leave length, whether their leave was paid or unpaid, whether they missed their previous activities at work, and whether they felt confined or trapped at home. Maternal depressive symptoms were measured at 6- and 12- months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results revealed a significant association between feeling confined at home while on leave and depressive symptoms at 12-months postpartum. Feeling confined at home did not moderate the relation between leave length and maternal depressive symptoms at 6- and 12- months postpartum, but missing work significantly moderated the relation between leave length and maternal depressive symptoms at six months postpartum. For women who missed their previous activities at work, longer leaves were associated with increased depressive symptoms at six months postpartum. This study is one of the first to address how a women’s feelings toward work could impact her mental health while on parental leave and emphasizes the need for additional research on the experiences of working women postpartum.
36. Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on College Student Stress and Anxiety
Presenter(s): Derek Stein
Advisor(s): Dr. Tara Gruenewald, Dr. Desiree Crevecoeur-MacPhail
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the lives of hundreds of millions of people globally. We as a society have been forced to adapt to our new environment, and for many people feelings of stress and anxiety have come alongside these changes. This study seeks to add to the existing pool of literature regarding the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on mental health and well-being. This experiment specifically looks into the mental health implications of the pandemic on college students, an underrepresented group in existing literature surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates whether college students report experiencing more symptoms of anxiety and stress during the pandemic in comparison to individuals within other age groups. Additionally, this study looks into how loneliness is correlated with anxiety in individuals that completed the initial study administered at the height of the pandemic. Lastly, this study investigates possible effective methods of stress reduction in the form of exposure to animals or pet ownership. All of the data generated from the second administration of this study were compared to the data generated from an administration that occurred in April of 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Both administrations of this study utilized Cohen’s 5 Item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-5), Spitzer’s 7-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the 4-Item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Results are expected to indicate that mental health components such as anxiety and stress have worsened within the pandemic. Additionally, the results are expected to show that individuals that were college students during the pandemic had higher levels of stress and anxiety than individuals within other age groups. Finally, assuming these negative implications of the pandemic are verified, effective coping mechanisms and strategies must be identified so all who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can be effectively helped and healed.
Religious Studies
37. Mesopotamian Goddess, Ereshkigal
Presenter(s): Natalia Olmos
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
There are many different interpretations of what we perceive as the afterlife. Some cultures, such as the Greeks, referred to it as the underworld, which was ruled by the god Hades. However, in Mesipataian culture, it is referred to as the netherworld. A realm, which is ruled by Ereshkigal, goddess of the underworld. The goddess Ereshkigal is looked up to because she holds such an important and dominating role among the Mesopotamia gods and goddesses. She is a female representing a role that is mostly given to male gods, an example being the Greek god Hades. While taking a closer look at Ereshkigal, it is important to see that while she does hold such an important and meaningful status, why is it that a goddess is to be chosen to be responsible for thighs such as death, disease, and famine? This allows us to explore not only Ereshkigal as a goddess but the gender roles in ancient Mesopotamia, along with looking for gender stereotypes when this goddess is being discussed or represented in the literature.
38. The Zodiac: Should Science Erase Tradition?
Presenter(s): Stuart Ledbetter
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
Astrology, along with those who believe in its divination properties, have been ridiculed by academia for almost a hundred years. This is despite astrology, and in fact many other types of divination have been believed and accepted as legitimate scientific practices for much longer. Therefore, I intend to research why people believed in astrology and the zodiac signs in the beginning, and how that belief has persisted and changed across cultures for thousands of years. Clearly, something that has existed for that long of a time is bound to change somehow. Nowadays astrology, divination, and the zodiac have been firmly classified as pseudo-science, a classification I agree with. Nonetheless, examining how beliefs started and have changed provides invaluable insight into what different cultures believed, valued, and rejected throughout history. Although this perception on astrology has only emerged recently, one must ask why it changed in the first place. There are a plethora of sources detailing the beginning of and use for astrology and the zodiac, and there are also plenty of people, books, websites and more detailing how people interpret it today. My prediction is that once astronomy began to flourish with the creation of better telescopes that were able to differentiate between star, planet, moon, asteroid, galaxy, and every other celestial body, the mystery and mysticism of the sky declined into a more rational, categorized field of research, and belief of magic declined as such.
39. Women And Death In Mesopotamia
Presenter(s): Moira Wu
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
The ghost or spirit is one of the most prevalent figures in societies spanning from eastern Asia to ancient Greece, medieval Europe, and of course, Mesopotamia. Mesopotamian ghost culture stems from the tale of Belet-ili, who mixes his flesh and blood with clay so that god and man are mixed, and the spirit is produced from the god’s flesh. In this way, the eṭemmu revealed godliness in a human being, the spirit. The culture around ghosts and the afterlife was so present in Mesopotamian society that the spirit world could be considered as integral as the living world to Mesopotamians; after all, ghosts were quite literally all around you with your family’s bodies buried in your house’s walls and floors. Much like ghosts, which were cemented into daily life in Mesopotamia, gender roles also held rigid structures in Mesopotamian society, especially in relation to death and the spirit world. Women played an integral part in the culture relating to death, both as professional mourners and as those that prepared the bodies for burial by washing and anointing the corpse. In the spirit world, too, one woman in particular played an important role. Ereshkigal ruled the realm of the dead and was considered one of the more powerful goddesses for it. My research will take both the living and the spirit world into account and explore the parallels between ghosts and the spirit world to Mesopotamia's gender role structure, emphasizing the connection between women and death.
40. Ancient Mesopotamian Omens & Modern Day Superstitions
Presenter(s): Morgan Tapia
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
If you spill salt, you will have bad luck unless you throw the salt over your left shoulder. If you wear a rabbit’s foot, it will bring you good luck. If you open an umbrella inside, you will get struck by lightning. Most call these superstitions, but in the Mesopotamian era, they would be classified as omens. Omens were the most common source of divination, and unlike modern day superstitions, Mesopotamian omens were seen as factual scientific works. Omens were an indication that the gods were displeased, so the Mesopotamian’s tried to decode their messages. One way of doing this was the practice of extispicy. Extispicy was the act of sacrificing an animal (usually sheep), asking the gods to place certain signs on the left or right side of the liver, then deducting an answer from what the gods did; that answer was then written on a cuneiform tablet and delivered to the querent. Extispicy was one of four provoked methods. The other three methods were lecanomancy, libanomancy, and aleuromancy. There were unprovoked methods as well which included: abnormal birth omens, private omens, and astrology. Whether the omen was provoked or unprovoked, they all had the same format: “If this happens, then that happens.” In Mesopotamian times, omens were seen as something of concrete proof. In modern times, most people do not believe in superstitions and often find them foolish. Many of the ancient Mesopotamia omens and practices still have some connection to our modern day superstitions, but their importance faded away as time went on. How did omens not only evolve into superstitions, but why did their importance diminish as well? For example, ancient Mesopotamian texts of omens were the beginnings of our modern superstitions. My research examines the development of these omens.
41. Mesopotamian Omens and Astrology
Presenter(s): Joseph Wall
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
Omens were a part of daily life in ancient Mesopotamia. People could interpret Omens in various ways, from death to the weather. Omens also came up in a variety of ways. Sometimes it was something as simple as an eclipse telling of a bad event. Other times, the people would seek answers, kill a sheep, and “read” its entrails. By definition, Omens are the gods indicating future events to the people. The Mesopotamians took Omens very seriously. An omen could predict life or death. Specifically, certain astrological occurrences could indicate future events. This also leads into mesopotamian astrology. Astrology was another way ancient Mesopotamians could predict future events. Omens and astrology are very similar. Along with this, the moon was a big piece in omens. Eclipses were almost always a huge sign of something bad happening in the future. Omens and astrology are closely link but have in common one thing: They predict some sort of outcome for the future. Omens and astrology have also carried themselves into our everyday lifes. We still have omens, for example if a black cat crosses your path its bad luck. We have western astrology, which has many similers to ancient mesopotamian astrology. These two future predicting tools were very present in the mesopotamian society, and they still have a presence now.
42. Mesopotamian Depiction vs Modern Day
Presenter(s): Luca D'Emilio
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
The depiction of ancient Mesopotamian gods has changed so much over time. There are such vivid sketches that were preserved that give us a clear image of what these gods supposedly looked like, yet our generation as well as previous ones have taken it upon themselves to change the image of these gods when it is not their place to. By comparing the ancient versions of what these entities looked like according to the ancient Mesopotamians with their modern representation, this presentation will be able to show the differences between our cultures and the culture of ancient Mesopotamia. I am hopeful to learn why Mesopotamians decided to depict the gods the way they did and where these images originally came from. For example. The depiction of the demoness Lamashtu, who was responsible for death and danger to pregnant women and infants, varies greatly from her original Mesopotamian appearance to how moderns portray her. Ancient carvings and drawings of her represent a figure with an animal head holding two snakes, while a modern-day depiction is a wild animated and almost sexualized version of a being that has almost no resemblance to the Mesopotamian version at all.
43. Mesopotamian Rituals: The Afterlife and Witchcraft
Presenter(s): Raneem Rahman
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
I'm sure that we have all kept up to date with images of the paranormal and witchcraft shown in popular culture and that we all have a specific picture of what these elements look like to us. It is known that early Mesopotamia did engage with witchcraft and the afterlife, but not how we see it portrayed today. Mesopotamian life has followed one specific theme, rituals. Early theories of magic were seen in the early nineteenth-century rise of scientific interest in magic, and it's based upon the association of ideas. Many people were trying to differentiate magic and religion because they both involve ritual and symbolism, deal with forces beyond science, and rely on a worldview in which other events cause events. Magic applies images and symbols and responds to a human need to control destiny and their own life - it provides knowledge and control. Magic involved the supernatural, which also ties into ghosts, fixed time, specific rituals, and taboos to be observed. Everyday Mesopotamian life was genuinely affected by the issue of pesky ghosts and the task of performing rituals to aid their society. Like many others, I believe in the paranormal and omens. My goal is to bring to light the extent of ritual use and why and how essential these elements of life were to the growth of Mesopotamia. My research explores the difference between religion and witchcraft during this time, the relation between magic and the paranormal/afterlife, and how rituals were used in almost every sense of life.
44. A Bull (of Heaven) in a China Shop
Presenter(s): Faith Ho Russell
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
The Bull of Heaven, also known as Gugalanna, is a Mesopotamian mythological creature that caused a great deal of chaos in both the earthly and godly worlds. He was sent by Goddess Inanna to attack the city of Uruk and defeat its leader Gilgamesh. However, upon arrival, Gugalanna is confronted by both Gilgamesh and his legend-of-war friend Enkidu, which ultimately leads to the Bull’s demise. His death combined with the threat to kill Inanna in the same dismembering manner enrages her and other gods to seek vengeance. Gugalanna is commemorated by the Taurus constellation. This story is important to tell and delve deeper because the cascading events as well as the bull’s great involvement in Mesopotamian history as a whole demonstrates the complex connections and plotlines in ancient Near East mythology. In addition, his symbolism appearing frequently in astrology today sheds light on the true relevance of an unsung culture, and reveals historical significance that tends to get lost during modernization. I intend to create a work that comprises visuals of the beast from his original to contemporary form, as well as verbal descriptions of crucial events he partook in.
45. The Story of Creation: The Reason for Creation
Presenter(s): James Serpa III
Advisor(s): Dr. Julye Bidmead
First of its kind and believed by many from its time is the Ancient Mesopotamian creation, Enuma Elish. Enuma Elish details how the world was created by Marduk, the god, after defeating Tiamat and how humans came to be. Historians have studied creation myths not because it was a popular story back in the day but because they revealed what that culture believed in, what they valued, and how they fit into the bigger picture. The natural question of “why?” arises when it comes to these creation stories: why did they believe this or that, why did this happen, but the biggest “why” is, why were these myths created in the first place? Some believe creation myths were created to explain the world and how it came to be, after all, people nowadays are still asking that same question. My thesis, however, is that the purpose of these myths is to explain the role humans play on this earth and how the world was created is merely just a piece of the explanation. Looking at details included in Enuma Elish along with research on the context of when and where this story was created will reveal this myth (and just like other creation myths) was created to explain the purpose of humanity’s existence and reveal what exactly is the purpose of humanity according to the Ancient Mesopotamians.
World Languages and Cultures
46. La République Démocratique du Congo: Aide humanitaire dans un pays grandement divisé
(English: The Democratic Republic of Congo: Humanitarian aide in a greatly divided country)
Presenter(s): Harrison Gross
Advisor(s): Dr. John Boitano
This work aims to analyze systemic problems with humanitarian aid programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to propose a new approach based upon relevant secondary research as well as a general examination of recent political history of the region and intertwined alliances of armed groups in the area. This analysis of the modern Congolese problem consists of three parts; First, the examination of recent geopolitical history in the region (1990-present), and the current humanitarian situation in the DR Congo in order to understand the complex set of relationships between actors in the region, and to specifically define the humanitarian needs in the DR Congo. Second, an analysis of the humanitarian programs currently in operation in the Congo and the theory of modern international humanitarian intervention, to understand the flaws and difficulties with current aid programs. Third, an examination of proposed solutions and improvements to current aid structures in the context of the problem within DR Congo.
