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Welcome to the 16th Annual Scientific Research Poster Session
Sponsored by
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You may want to browse the author or discipline list in the 2004 Poster Session Home Page to find the abstract number.
See the Poster Location Map to find its location by number.
Russ J. Andrew, Rita N. Bachmann, Alicia L. Scherini, M. Adam Sine, and Angela C. Halfacre, Department of Political Science
Media plays a crucial role in informing citizens of daily occurrences in their communities. Many scholars and citizens argue that media reporting is an essential link between government officials and their constituents. Recently, in Charleston, South Carolina, citizens have scrutinized local media coverage of potential funding sources for public transportation. This project examines the role that local media coverage played in the debates about public transportation. Our research question is: What is the role of local media in effecting public perception regarding highly controversial and complex issues? To assess our research question, we utilize: 1) content analysis of print media sources and their coverage of this issue and 2) multivariate statistical analysis of a College of Charleston student and Charleston resident CARTA user survey. Preliminary results indicate that there was a lack of adequate and accurate information being distributed to the public regarding the transportation debate in Charleston.
Sarah Sonnett and Robert J. Dukes, Jr., Department of Physics and Astronomy
Bohlender, et. al. (Astron. Astrophys. 307, L9-12,1996) have found evidence of non-radial pulsation in the line profile variations of the Lambda Bootis Star HD 111604. At their request, we put this on the observing program of the Four College Consortium Automatic Photometric Telescope. Here we report on an analysis of approximately 570 Stromgren uvby observations. While our data spacing is atrocious, leading to great aliasing problems we have identified two periods: f1=5.330 c/d and f2=11.632 c/d. There is still much power in the residuals between 9-13 c/d, indicating that there may be additional periodicities. We have also found some indication that the amplitudes of f1 and f2 may be variable. Finally, we assert that a very rapid variable such as HD111604 is not an ideal target for a shared automatic telescope, making it a possible target for a multi-longitude campaign.
Kristin Gettys and Lauren Kolowith, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Phosphate and iron are important nutrients for supporting biological productivity. Sediment cores were collected from Dixie Plantation, in the low marsh and upland border. Porewaters were extracted and analyzed for dissolved inorganic phosphate and iron (II) concentrations using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Phosphate concentrations were lowest at the surface, due to tidal flushing. They reach a maximum of 23-120 mol/L around 10-20 cm depth, due to phosphate release during organic matter decomposition. The Fe (II) concentrations decreased with depth at all sites. At the sediment surface, the low marsh iron concentrations ranged from 220-194 mol/L, while the upland border sites ranged from 7-4 mol/L. Iron decreased to 0 mol/L at 5 cm and 13 cm. The upland border zones revealed less iron and phosphate than the low marsh. These results suggest that tidal creeks and vegetation play a dynamic role in biogeochemical nutrient cycling on salt marshes.
Amanda Thomas and Gorka Sancho, Department of Biology
Phytoplanktonic organisms are the main primary producers in marine surface waters. In temperate climates, their vertical distribution in the water column is determined by summer stratification that occurs concomitant with a shallow thermocline. This stratification disappears during the fall as turbulence due to fall storms increases and air and surface temperatures decrease. This study measures phytoplankton accumulations at specific depths over the continental shelf off South Carolina. Phytoplankton abundance is estimated by measuring the concentration of chlorophyll-a, the principal pigment of photosynthesis. In November 2003, aboard the R/V Savannah, water samples were collected with Niskin bottles from multiple depths at 17 stations along a transect line crossing the continental shelf. Water was filtered on board onto glass fiber filters and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Following the cruise, chlorophyll-a concentrations were measured using a fluorometer. This hypothesis is also tested by analyzing vertical profiles of temperature and salinity in shelf waters.
*Supported by NSF Grant GEO-0331155
Witold Witkowski, Gamil A. Guirgis, Peter Klaeboe, and James R. Durig, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Infrared spectra on n-propyl trichlorosilane (CH3CH2CH2SiCl3) were obtained in the vapor, amorphous and crystalline solid phases in the range 4000-50 cm-1. Additional spectra in argon and nitrogen matrices at 5 K were recorded before and after annealing to temperatures 20-36 K. Raman spectra of the compound as a liquid were recorded at various temperatures between 300 and 153 K and spectra of the amorphous and crystalline solids were obtained.
The spectra revealed the existence of two conformers (anti and gauche) in the fluid phases and in the matrices. When the vapor was annealed to 10 Raman bands and 8 IR bands of the liquid were reduced in intensity in the amorphous phase and vanished in the crystal.
From intensity variations of four independent pairs of anti and HD gauche bands in Raman between 200 and 150 K, an average value 0.3 kJ mol-1 was obtained in the liquid. (gauche-anti) = 4.5 Annealing experiments of n-propyltrichlorosilane in the matrices demonstrate that the gauche bands vanish after annealing, demonstrating that the anti conformer has the lower energy. The spectra of both conformers have been interpreted in detail. Ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G, HF/6-311 G* and B3LYP/6-311 G(d) levels gave optimized geometries, infrared and Raman intensities and scaled vibrational frequencies for the anti and gauche conformers. The conformational energy difference derived was 7.6 and 6.4 kJ mol-1 for the HF/6-311G* and B3LYP/6-311G(d) basis sets, respectively, with anti being the low energy conformer.
Oleg Smirnov and Darryl Adams, Department of Mathematics
Given a set of integers A, the difference set D(A) is formed by taking all possible differences between elements of A. We consider the problem of characterizing difference sets among all sets of integers. This problem is listed as one of the eleven most interesting problems of additive number theory. The problem also relates to the theory of graded algebras. Namely, Smirnov has proved that B is the support of a graded simple algebra if and only if B is a difference set. Conditions for B to be difference set therefore imply restrictions to the possible structures of graded simple algebras. Sufficient and necessary conditions are discussed, including previously known results and those that have come from this research.
Lucas R. Lindsay and Mikhail M. Agrest, Department of Physics and Astronomy
The gas flow rates through capillaries of different radii into liquids of different surface tensions were experimentally measured and analyzed. The gas flow was shown to have a pulsating behavior, creating bubbles that launched from the capillaries once a critical pressure had been reached. To fully describe and understand this flow rate, the critical pressures at which bubble formation began and the critical volumes at which bubbles launched from the different capillaries were measured. Using this data, a related mathematical model for critical pressure was tested. The time rates of change of bubbles and the measured bubble volumes were used to determine gas flow rates for a range of pressures above the corresponding critical pressures. The experimental flow rates were compared to a related mathematical model of the gas flow rate through a capillary tube into a liquid medium.
Amos Wamweya, Asami Kikuchi, and Robert L. Nusbaum, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
The purpose of this research is to identify geochemical and mineralogical differences in soils over hydrothermally altered rock at Pilot Mountain (PM) compared to those at a control site, Morrow Mountain (MM), where alteration did not occur. Our analysis included reflectance spectroscopy to compare soil mineralogy, and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry to delineate geochemical anomalies.
Pyrophyllite was detected in all PM soil samples in addition to kaolinite, or kaolinite-smectite mixtures. Reflectance spectra from MM soil samples vary with rock type. Basalt samples have weak kaolinite-smectite features along with calcite. Kaolinite-smectite mixtures are prominent in rhyolite samples.
PM soil samples have elevated levels of As, Bi and possibly W compared to our control site. Chromium was enriched in some of the PM samples. Manganese and Zn are depleted in PM soils that we analyzed. These results are consistent with intense hydrothermal alteration associated with gold and pyrophyllite mineralization in the Carolina Slate Belt.
Bill Manaris, Brian Muller, Timothy Hirzel, and Clayton McCauley, Department of Computer Science
The connection between aesthetics and numbers dates back to pre-Socratic times. Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristotle worked on quantitative expressions of proportion and beauty, such as the golden ratio. In 1949, George Zipf refined a statistical technique, known as Zipf's law, for measuring proportion in the hierarchical organization of artifacts. We present results from an on-going study of applying Zipf's law to music. We have created a large set of metrics based on Zipf's law. These metrics measure the proportion or distribution of various parameters in music, such as pitch, duration, melodic intervals, and harmonic consonance. We used these metrics and human data to train a neural network to perform pleasantness classification. Our results suggest that Zipf's law, as encapsulated in our metrics, may be used effectively in music classification tasks involving aesthetic evaluation.
Eva Hanouskova, Thomas P. Ross, Lindsay Clampitt, Kristen Hess, and Meg Williams, Department of Psychology
The Self-Ordered Pointing Task (SOPT; Petrides & Milner, 1982) was developed to assess executive control processes involved in working memory. We sought to examine the temporal stability of the SOPT and its association with measures of intelligence, working memory, and putative measures of executive functioning. Healthy undergraduates (n=68) were recruited from psychology courses at a southeastern university and thirty-one of them were retested.
The test-retest reliability of the SOPT was acceptable at ricc = .87 (n = 31; p.<.001). This measures correlated significantly with working memory; however, it did not correlate with executive measures (e.g., WCST, RFFT). Thus, while the reliability of the SOPT appears promising, its construct validity clearly warrants further investigation.
Lawra Cannon, Kip A. Deaton, Jennifer D. Skilbred, and Angela C. Halfacre, Department of Political Science
This poster examines the effectiveness of public outreach campaigns that utilize scientific information. In this project, we will focus on outreach where complex environmental and technical data must be relayed in a clear and concise manner to stakeholders. We address the following research questions: What are useful approaches to scientific public outreach? How can complex, scientific information be translated for public use? Through our literature survey we compare and contrast the methods previously attempted for disseminating complex scientific data to the public. After this review, we examine our case: the Urbanization and Southeastern Estuarine Systems (USES) project (a multi-disciplinary study, 1990-present) public outreach. We evaluate data through multivariate statistical and content analysis from the USES project public outreach, including phone questionnaires, meeting transcriptions, post-meeting surveys, and media announcements. Through this approach, we will develop a better understanding of which public outreach methods work best, and how to effectively transfer this scientific information to the public.
Craig Bachman, Erin E. Driscoll, Jason D. Lind, and Angela C. Halfacre, Department of Political Science
Scientists increasingly desire avenues to share their research results with environmental decision-makers and other stakeholders. One group of scientists involved with the Urbanization and Southeastern Estuarine Systems (USES) project (1990-present) conducted several town meetings in coastal South Carolina. The intent was to share complex scientific information with the public at a grass roots level. In this project, we examine: How effective was the town meeting approach as a public outreach tool for the USES project? The USES project conducted estuarine research and discovered that in order to maintain the health of our estuarine resources, several current urban development practices should be altered. Public outreach was considered a key element in encouraging communities to utilize the study findings to make decisions about their approach to smart development. This poster examines the effectiveness of the USES town meetings conducted in Charleston, Beaufort and Georgetown, South Carolina in the Winter of 2004. Through our evaluation, we will assess the effectiveness of the advertising campaign for the meetings, the functionality and mechanics of the moderator and panel approach for conducting the meeting, and whether or not the presenters and panel members were successful communicating environmental issues and concerns to the citizens attending. Through this assessment of a town meeting approach, we shed light on the effectiveness of unique avenues for sharing scientific information to stakeholders.
Laura Evans-Blake, Thomas P. Ross, Sara Carter, and Sara Parham, Department of Psychology
We sought to replicate and expand Phillips' (1997) study that examined the validity of fluency tasks as measures of Baddeley's central executive using a dual-task paradigm. Using a within-subjects design, we examined the impact of a concurrent working memory load (i.e., random number generation) on performance during letter fluency (LF) and figural fluency (FF) tasks using 12 healthy participants. An interaction (fluency task X condition) was observed (F(1,11) = 5.72; p.=.03), such that FF performance decreased more than VF during dual-task conditions. When analyzes strategy scores, a main effect was observed for fluency type with more strategic responses seen for LF (F(1,11) =56.77; p.<.001); however, a main effect for condition or an interaction of these factors was not found. These findings replicate those obtained by Phillips (1997) using traditional scores; however, the contention that "strategy specific" scores more precisely tap the "executive" demands imposed by fluency tasks was not supported.
Alex Tsoi and Gorka Sancho, Department of Biology
The ventfish Thermarces cerberus has been shown to play an important ecological role as a predator in hydrothermal vents. This study characterized the principal behaviors of Thermarces cerberus, using focal point sampling from videotapes recorded by the submersible ALVIN during dives at the East Pacific Rise 9oN vent field. Since ventfish are poikilothermic animals, and hydrothermal vents are characterized by extreme temperature gradients, behavioral differences were expected between fish found in different habitats with varying thermal characteristics. Fish behaviors were compared between three different habitats, the warmest tubeworm dominated area, the colder mussel dominated area, and an intermediate mixed area. The proportion of time spent on resting behavior by fish in mussel area was expected to be higher than in tubeworm dominated area, reflecting a decreased metabolic rate caused by lower temperatures. Results showed similar behavioral patterns in all three sites, indicating that ventfish activity is likely not influenced by the temperature regime differences found in these three habitats. Thermarcees cerberus can therefore be considered a fish with extreme thermal tolerance, behaving similarly in water temperatures that range between 1.5 to 24.2oC.
Brett Floyd, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Phosphate nutrient concentrations within the water column are important for biological productivity. Coastal areas often have a higher concentration of phosphate present as compared to outer continental shelf waters because of riverine and anthropogenic input. To test for this, water samples were collected aboard the research vessel Savannah during November 2003 using a CTD and Niskin rosette ranging in depths from the surface to a max of 150 meters from just off the coast of Charleston, across the continental shelf, and into the Gulf Stream. Phosphate concentrations from these water samples will be measured on a UV-VIS spectrophotometer using standard colorimeter techniques. The results from these tests will show the concentration of phosphorous present across the continental shelf off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.
Supported by NSF Grant GEO-0331155
Matt Christy, Beth S. E. Harley, Chris Russo, Lindsay Sage, Ben Whitlock, and Angela C. Halfacre, Department of Political Science
Researchers often argue that declines in public trust erode the legitimacy of government institutions in providing domestic and foreign policy. Previous studies have indicated that public perceptions regarding US foreign policy has a negligible effect on the public's level of trust in the domestic arena. This project examines the following research question: How is the public's perception effected by state-level action in the foreign arena? We use the recent efforts by the state of South Carolina to establish trade relations with Cuba role as a case study to examine public trust in state and federal institutions. By focusing on one important segment of the public, the business community in Charleston, SC, we inventory public trust in state and federal institutions. Our analysis of surveys of the Charleston South Carolina's business community indicates significant differences in public trust in levels of government. In addition, content analysis of public archives and commercial media accounts illustrate public sentiment.
Paige De Benedittis, Barbara Dupont, Greenwood Genetic Center and Robert Frankis, Department of Biology
Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) testing is used to determine chromosomal or genetic abnormalities with the use of fluorescent probes on metaphase spreads. The probe, CEP15 Satellite III, marks chromosomal region 15p11.2 with known variation of signals with 7-10% chance of an extra signal on a chromosome 14 centromere in normal population. Diagnostic testing of the 15 chromosome of autistic patients led to an observation of an increased number of abnormal patterns of the 15p11.2 signal. This led to a population control study for comparison of signal variations. Variations of probe patterns on 440 control patients included an extra signal on chromosome 13, 14, 21, or 22, two extra signals on chromosome 13, 14, 21, or 22, and a lack of a signal resulting in one signal on chromosome 15.
Jennifer Andrews and Robert J. Dukes, Jr., Department of Physics & Astronomy
We present an analysis of four seasons of APT data on the slowly pulsating B star HD21071. This star was found to be variable with a period of 0.84 days by Waelkens et. al (1998, A&A, 330, 215) through an analysis of brightness measures obtained with the Hipparcos satellite. Later (Mills, L. et. al. 1999, BAAS, 31, 1482) confirmed the 0 .84 day term and tentatively found a second term. The subsequent data we have collected confirms the first term as well as the second term of 0.87 days (1.149 c/d). We have also found that these two terms have been nearly stable over the past four seasons. Two other periods have been detected, but at the time of publication it is not possible to determine if they represent true periods of variability.
Funded by NSF Grants #AST95-28906, and #AST-0071260.
Ashley Furr and Lisa Thomson Ross, Department of Psychology
Eating disordered behavior is a common occurrence among college undergraduates, thus this population is ideal for examining potential family risk factors including family unpredictability and parental psychopathology. It was hypothesized that family unpredictability and parental psychopathology would positively correlate with eating-disordered behavior. Results indicate that unpredictable paternal nurturance and unpredictable family meals have direct as well as indirect relationships with eating disorders, such that their associations with various Eating Disorder Inventory (Garner, Olmstead, & Polivy, 1983) subscales were mediated by family support. Maternal psychopathology also correlated with aspects of eating disorder symptomology, but this relationship was not mediated by family support. As a result, eating disorder prevention and treatment techniques could focus on improving the supportiveness and consistency of the family.
Ashley A. Fields and Laney Mills, Department of Physics and Astronomy
The wind velocity of a tornado generated in a laboratory chamber has been determined in a previous experiment by two different techniques. In the first, the revolutions of the tornado about halfway up its height were timed using a video camera. In the second, the velocity at the base was deduced by measuring the radius of curvature of the bulge in the water formed by the low pressure at the base. In that experiment only one measurement of each type was made. The result was that the wind velocity at the base was measured to be surprisingly higher (by a factor of ten) than the velocity well above the base. This poster will describe a project which attempts to resolve this discrepancy. The plan is not only to refine the measurement techniques but also to make an entire series of measurements to obtain a vertical profile of the spinning speed.
Rebekah Halkyard and Laney Mills, Department of Physics & Astronomy
The ideas and techniques of fractals have found many biological applications, one of which relates to organic tissue structure and mechanics. This project is a 2-dimensional computer representation of a human kidney's biofluid path. We plan to utilize the fact that since the kidney structure remains the same through several magnifications, the kidney structure can be treated as a fractal. Specifically we apply a technique known as Lindenmayer Systems Method (L-Systems) which is easily viewed as the computer equivalent of DNA replication. Our model will be constrained by such physical considerations as turbulence, viscosity, and the continuity of flow. Since fractal structures are often characterized as having fractional dimension, we will report on our efforts at an actual estimate of the fractal dimension of the kidney. The poster will describe the model and show screen shots of the fractal evolution of the structure.
Mark D. Creech1, Steven Jaume'2, and Laney Mills1
1 Department of Physics and Astronomy
2Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Earthquake dynamical rupture propagation and fault interaction can be studied using cellular automata computer models. During dynamical rupture propagation a fault releases and redistributes energy in order to achieve a state of equilibrium. A devised hierarchical fault network is modeled as a grid of cells with varying sizes. Each cell represents an individual fault. Particles representing an energy value are randomly distributed throughout the grid. Once the number of particles in a single cell passes a critical value all particles are redistributed to the surrounding cells, which may themselves pass their critical value and fail, and is analogous to earthquake rupture propagation. The size of each cell is proportional to the size of its respective critical value and therefore to the amount of energy redistributed. This poster will present screens of the model in action and will examine how the structure of the fault network influences its dynamics.
Julia A. Cassidy, MandyE. Martschink, Timothy J. Mullins, Nicole M. Rasch, Anne E. Ruchman, and Angela C. Halfacre, Department of Political Science
Scholars, educators, and citizens often scrutinize public education in the United States. In particular, concerns about appropriate funding and use of funding have significance for public education as well as other state and federal programs. Many of these concerns focus on distribution of resources across schools within a region. In this research project, we examine public sentiment regarding high school appropriations in one southern community. Specifically, our research question is: what is the public's knowledge levels and attitudes about funding decisions made at the County level in Charleston, SC? To address our research question, we evaluate the implementation of the Charleston County School District's motto of "One Message...One Voice...One Team" with regard to funding decisions. Through content and descriptive statistical analysis of interviews with school Principals and School Board members, public opinion polls, local news coverage, and census information, we evaluate the current perceptions of the public regarding equal distribution of funds across schools in the County.
Tom M. Gabel, Daniel B. Poulos, Shawntell S. Rowe, Angela C. Halfacre, Department of Political Science
In recent years, media accounts and governmental reporting indicates a rise in public school violence in the United States. There have been many proposed programs to curb violence within the schools across the country. However, the implementation of these programs has seen limited results, as school violence continues to be a significant problem in most states. In this project, we examine: What is the effect of large-scale, state-level campaigns to decrease violent crimes in public schools? To address this question, we examine South Carolina, a state that has seen a significant increase in the rate of violent crimes within its public schools over the last decade. In this project, we inventory public school violence reduction methods in place and measure their effectiveness. We utilize data from interviews with education officials, observed school activity, and statistical crime rates in correlation to program implementation. Preliminary results indicate that there are successful elements of many programs in place that could be more effectively implemented in conjunction with new methods.
Brad Schondelmeier and Gorka Sancho, Department of Biology
Differences in ichthyoplankton abundance collected with plankton nets in varying light levels have been described in a multitude of studies, including the Marine Resources Monitoring Assessment and Prediction (MARMAP) plankton surveys off the coast of South Carolina in the mid 1970s. In November 2003, oblique shallow water tows (0-50 m) were performed with a 505 micrometer bongo net at each of 17 different stations along a main transect line perpendicular to the South Carolina coast, south of Charleston. Surface ichthyplankton samples (top 50 cm) were collected at the same stations with a 1000 micrometer neuston net. All samples were preserved in 95% ethanol and later examined in order to quantify and identify planktonic fishes. It has been documented that young larval fishes tend to perform diel vertical migrations (DVM), swimming to deeper waters during daytime, primarily to avoid predators. But certain fishes with advanced swimming abilities have also been documented to avoid nets, mainly during daytime hours, due to increased visual detection of sampling gears. By comparing day and night samples, plus simultaneous bongo and neuston tows, we will attempt to determine what influences the differences in ichthyoplankton composition measurements: diel vertical migrations or visual net avoidance.
Alysa Bell, Erin Gallagher, Marcy MacDonald, and Christopher Korey, Department of Biology
The most common of the pediatric neurodegenerative diseases (1 in 12,500 births) are a set of primarily recessive disorders termed Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCLs) due to the loss of central nervous system neurons and the accumulation of auto-fluorescent lipopigment. While most cells contain inclusions, neurons are primarily affected leading to symptoms that include loss of vision, motor dysfunction, intellectual decline, and seizures. Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (JNCL/CLN3), also known as Batten Disease, is an autosomally recessive neurological disorder caused by mutations in the novel cln3 gene. The cln3 gene encodes a transmembrane protein of unknown cellular function. Recent evidence suggests that it may play a role in normal lysosomal and synaptic function. A search of the Drosophila genome sequence has identified the Drosophila homolog of the cln3 gene. We intend to produce mutations in the Drosophila cln3 gene by homologous recombination as the first step towards the development of a Batten disease model in the fruit fly.
Kathleen Kirven and Agnes Ayme-Southgate, Department of Biology
The Drosophila protein, projectin, is a large muscle protein localized over the myosin filaments. It is not known how the Drosophila sarcomere assemble, but it is believed that projectin must interact with myosin. A large portion of projectin is composed of repeating Ig domains, in particular the COOH terminus contains five such domains. In this project, we evaluated the binding properties of these Ig domains using both in vivo and in vitro approaches. A DNA fragment for the terminal three Ig domains was cloned into green fluorescent protein (GFP) and His-tagged vectors to create projectin-GFP and projectin-His tag fusions. The His-fusion protein was purified from bacterial cultures and in vitro binding assays reveal its binding to myosin. The GFP-fusion clone was injected into Drosophila embryos to create transgenic flies. The expressed projectin-GFP fusion will be visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy on larval muscles to test for binding of the GFP fusion to the sarcomeres.
Kwayera Davis, Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Eric Wilcots, Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
We present high resolution neutral hydrogen (HI) observations from the VLA of three Barred Magellanic Spiral galaxies (SBm): NGC 3264, NGC 4288 and NGC 4861. These galaxies range from amorphous to prominently barred in morphology, and NGC 4288 and NGC 4861 are interacting with small gas-rich clouds. We determined that these galaxies have HI masses on the order of 108 solar masses. Rotation curves were calculated out to a radius several times that of the optical disks of the galaxies. From these curves we determine that the galaxies have dynamical masses on the order of 10 10 solar masses.
*This work was made possible by the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program and was supported by a NSF-REU site grant (AST-0139563) to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Megann Helton1, A. Peter Barber1, Wolfgang Pfleiderer2, Bettie Sue Siler Masters3, John H. Dawson4, and Amy L. Rogers1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Charleston
2Universitat Konstanz, Postfach 5560, D-78434 Konstanz, Germany
3Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
4Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia
The free radical nitric oxide (NO) has beneficial roles such as a neurotransmitter, a vasodilator and a cytotoxic agent that attacks tumor cells. The mechanism of NO production by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is not definitively known. NOS contains internal reductants, but without fully-reduced pterins bound, product is not formed. Oxidized pterins do not bind and partially-reduced pterins bind but do not form product. This suggests that the pterin cofactor provides redox chemistry.
This study focuses on learning about the role of pterin by use of the synthetically made pterin analogue, 3-methyl-tetrahydrobiopterin, which is altered at positions that directly hydrogen bond to the heme in the active site. Small-scale hydrogenation experiments of 3-methyl-biopterin to the fully-reduced 3-methyl-tetrahydrobiopterin have been perfected and completed. Insights into intermediates formed with novel pterin analogues will help to understand more of the NOS cycle as well as the need for a reduced pterin.
A. Peter Barber1, Megann Helton1, Wolfgang Pfleiderer2, Bettie Sue Siler Masters3, John H. Dawson4, and Amy L. Rogers1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Charleston
2Universitat Konstanz, Postfach 5560, D-78434 Konstanz, Germany
3Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) produces the radical nitric oxide (NO). NO is a neurotransmitter, a vasodilator, and a cytotoxic agent that targets tumor cells. The mechanism of how NO is formed by NOS is not fully understood. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), is thought to play a redox role in the mechanism in NOS. Studies have shown that BH4) donates one electron forming a BH3).+ radical intermediate.
Our studies focus on learning more about the role BH4 using pterin analogues that are substituted at positions that directly hydrogen bond to the heme in the active site. The as-received synthetically made 4-methoxy-biopterin does not bind to NOS, so experiments on small-scale hydrogenation of the biopterin were perfected and applied to the analogue. A better understanding of the binding and reactivity of pterin analogues will give insight as to exactly how NO is produced in vivo which could lead to therapeutic studies of its regulation.
Eric Y. Marom and Mark D. Lazzaro, Department of Biology
Norway Spruce pollen tube growth is dictated by microfilaments, microtubules, and Ca2+. Microtubules are present in the elongating tip whereas microfilaments are absent. Previous studies found that disruption of microtubules adversely affects microfilament organization. KCBP is a calmodulin regulated kinesin with a myosin tail. Since kinesin interacts with microtubules while myosin interacts with microfilaments, KCBP may be the link between the two systems. The role of KCBP will be examined by immunolabeling KCBP, tubulin, and actin within pollen tubes, and by microinjecting KCBP antibodies to alter streaming. Immunoblots have verified the presence of both KCBP and calmodulin in conifer pollen tubes, but results show significant background labeling. The bulk of this semester was used learning the techniques of microscopy, microinjection, and time lapse video microscopy to be used when continuing the research this summer.
Nicole Abdul and Leslie Sautter, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Benthic foraminifera are sand sized Protista which live in specific depth and salinity ranges and their present day distribution can be used to assess the health of modern environments. Nine sediment grab samples were collected along the Oculina Coral Banks, located off Cape Canaveral, Florida and were analyzed for Benthic foraminifera to determine the dominant genera within and across the coral bank. The banks are located beneath the Gulf Stream where water depths range 200 to 300 ft. Results suggest a very small percentage of the Benthic assemblage in this area consists of living organisms. Analysis of the modern fossil assemblages across 1 northernmost and 1 southernmost transect suggests 4 dominant genera namely, Bigenerina, Bolivina, Hanzawaia and Quinqueloculina. These genera, although commonly found in deeper waters align well with known assemblages found in surrounding areas. Further study is necessary to characterize the Benthic assemblages of the entire Oculina Coral Banks.
Rachel M. Fuller, Ashley E. Nazario and Elizabeth L. Meyer-Bernstein, Department of Biology
In most organisms there is a daily, or circadian, rhythm in visual sensitivity that is an output of the retinal circadian clock. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, an interaction between the proteins NorpA (no response potential A, a phospholipase C necessary for visual transduction) and TIM (TIMELESS, a clock protein) underlies this rhythm. Although the visual system is not necessary for an organism to synchronize, or entrain, its behavior to the external photoperiod, data suggests that an aberrant visual pathway may alter the organisms response to light. Thus, a disruption in the TIM:NorpA interaction, which would disrupt the visual sensitivity cycle, may alter the circadian light response. We tested this by assessing the ability of a light pulse to shift the rest:activity clock in wild-type and norpAP24 mutant flies. We also assayed TIM protein levels in similarly treated flies. TIM protein abundance is inversely proportional to phase shift magnitude and will provide additional insight into the role of norpA in the entrainment process. Preliminary data suggest a greater sensitivity of the circadian system to light in the norpAP24 mutant flies.
D. Parrish McKenzie, Robert L. Nusbaum, and Amer Smailbegovic* Geology and Environmental Geosciences, and *SpecTir Corporation, Reno, NV
The Kramer borate deposit, located west of Death Valley and within five miles Edwards Air Force Base, CA, is the largest borate mine operation in the world. Borate minerals precipitated from shallow hydrothermal solutions circulating through Tertiary lacustrine deposits. Younger sediments protected the borate minerals from leaching and with deeper burial primary borax was metamorphosed to kernite. Although mined continuously since its discovery in 1926, the mine is currently inactive, providing an intriguing baseline target for future remediation studies.
We used 2-meter SpecTir hyperspectral data to map borate and clay minerals associated with tailings and ores. Despite complexities of mixing of minerals during formation and extraction, we mapped distinct concentrations of borax, kernite, and montmorillonite. Other areas appear to be mixtures of these but dominated by borate minerals. An essential part of any environmental remediation or reclamation will require knowledge of surface minerals.
William McNeil, Department of Mathematics
Newton discovered a way to find the roots of an equation by computing multiple iterations of a formula now termed Newton's method. Newton's method can be used to create Julia sets when applied to the complex plane most notably when the equation is a polynomial of degree three or more. Using Newton?s method to create the standard Julia set with the equation z4-1, it can be seen that the equation can be manipulated to create different Julia sets when a change of coordinate map is applied.
Jesse Benko, David W. Brazeau, Robert Davis, Trey Eppes, Rob E. Masters, and Angela C. Halfacre, Department of Political Science
Scholars and citizens often debate the appropriate mode of elected official constituent representation. Some argue that elected officials should follow a trustee approach where representatives follow their best judgment in decision-making; others argue for a delegate approach where representatives directly reflect constituent sentiment in their decision-making. Many studies have examined these forms of representation at the federal level, but fewer have explored these concepts and the relationship between representatives and constituents in Southern states. We examine the following research question: How do state-level legislators communicate and subsequently represent constituents based on information gathered from these communications? To address this question, we conducted a telephone survey with a random sample of state level legislators in South Carolina and analyze these data through a multivariate statistical approach. Our research has relevance for those seeking to better understand governance at the state level and the implications of these communications between constituents and elected officials for governmental accountability and public trust.
Robert Drennan and Robert Dillon, Department of Biology
Monteiro et al. used stocks of the fresh water pulmonate snail Biomphalaria marked with albinism to describe sperm sharing, a new option for reproduction in simultaneous hermaphrodites. My experiment involved an attempt to reproduce the Monteiro results in the fresh water snail Physa. After initially mating 18 sets of three snails, the embryos were collected and analyzed weekly for 70 days showing no evidence of sperm sharing. However, all of the intermediate snails showed 3.3% - 13.4% albino offspring, providing additional evidence of mixed mating or multiple inseminations in this primarily out-crossing hermaphrodite.
Jennifer Fountain and Gorka Sancho, Department of Biology
Zooplankton communities were sampled across the continental shelf off Charleston, South Carolina from the oceanographic R/V Savannah in November 2003. Shallow water (0-50m) plankton samples were taken at night using a 505 m mesh-size bongo net along a main transect set perpendicular to the coastline. Sample biomass was measured employing a volumetric displacement method, and organism diversity was estimated through the identification and quantification of zooplankton samples. Spatial differences in coastal phytoplankton primary productivity are hypothesized to directly affect zooplanktonic communities. Phytoplankton concentrations frequently decrease with distance from the shore, therefore, zooplankton biomass is expected to diminish with distance from the coastline, and be positively correlated to chlorophyll-a concentrations. Zooplankton composition is predicted to vary across the continental shelf, reflecting differences in the amount of benthic organisms larvae (meroplankton) due to increasing depth. The ratio of pelagic zooplankton (holoplankton) to meroplankton abundance is projected to increase along the continental shelf.
*Supported by NSF Grant GEO-0331155
S.V. Harder1, D.M. Amatya2, T.J. Callahan3, and C.C. Trettin2
1Masters in Environmental Studies Program, College of Charleston SC
2 USDA Forest Service, Center for Forested Wetlands Research
3 Dept. of Geology and Environ. Geoscience, College of Charleston, SC
A water budget analysis is being conducted for a first order forested watershed located in the Atlantic coastal plain at the Santee Experimental Forest, SC, using both monitoring and modeling methods. The study site is WS80, one member of a paired watershed system under long-term hydrologic monitoring at the Santee Experimental Forest. Our approach focused on understanding hydrologic processes on a finer time scale than previous studies conducted on the site to quantify components of the hydrologic budget. Intensive monitoring of precipitation, throughfall, water table elevation, evapotranspiration, and stream outflow was used in our analyses. Preliminary results show that 44% of the 1672mm of rainfall was accounted for by stream outflow and 55% was lost to evapotranspiration for the year 2003. Preliminary estimates show that the interception component of the total ET was found to be 15% of the total rainfall. WS80 experienced a wetter than normal year for 2003 and evapotranspiration rates were assumed to be equal to our potential evapotranspiration most of the year. Soil hydraulic properties were measured including porosity values which ranged from 0.34 to 0.48, bulk density which ranged from 1.48 to 1.82g/cm3, and saturated hydraulic conductivity which averaged 0.22ft/d. These parameters will be inputs to DRAINMOD, which was selected for modeling the hydrologic budget. DRAINMOD has been extensively tested on other drained forested watersheds in the coastal plain, and this watershed afforded the opportunity for its evaluation on a watershed with a natural drainage system. Further research work is currently being conducted to complete the study.
Scott Cowen and Jeffrey L. Wragg, Department of Physics & Astronomy
A radio telescope and receiver, operated at 20.1 MHz, was constructed and operated on the roof of the CofC Science Center. The position of Jupiter and the phase of its moon Io were determined using the computer program Radio Jupiter Pro. Radio emissions from Jupiter were recorded for about six hours over seven nights of observation. The signals were scaled to the audio spectrum, and converted using the program Radio Sky-Pipe to strip charts for inspection. The data was investigated for a correlation between the radio signal and the location of Io. Preliminary results show no correlation between the position of Io and the intensity of Jupiter's radio emissions.
Anwarel S. Fergsuon and Fred Watts, Department of Physics and Astronomy
The storage of data in the form of light and dark spots on a holographic film makes the idea of holographic data storage a much more favorable technique than today's storage methods. In holograms, the images are recorded as interference fringes on the film. The spacing of the interference fringes is comparable with the wavelength of the light used to make the hologram. Pages of binary information in the form of dots may be recorded on a similar scale. This suggests the possibility of compact storage of information, especially for the use as computer memory. An advantage of a holographic storage system is the capability to make multiple channel holograms on a single film. Each channel recorded within the film would contain an array of data resulting in an immense amount of data recorded within the volume of the holographic storage medium.
Maya Wolf and Charles Biernbaum, Department of Biology
Spatial distributions of sessile and semi-sessile epifauna were compared for two local colonial hydroid species, Eudendrium carneum and Tubularia crocea. Measurements were taken of epizoite distance from hydranth and base, distance from hydroid forks (in Eudendrium), and the amount of substrate (hydroid surface) coverage by these species. Epizoite representatives from three phyla were common on both hydroid species: Bryozoa (Bugula neritina), Arthropoda (tubes of the amphipods Jassa falcata and Corophium simile), and suctorian ciliated protists. Eudendrium supported additional species of Bryozoa, Chordata, Cnidaria, and Rhodophyta. Results indicate differences in epizoite presence, abundance, and distribution, both between Eudendrium and Tubularia and between different epizoite taxa. Explanations for these observed differences are considered.
Brad Knaus and Alem Teklu, Department of Physics & Astronomy
It was recently discovered that magnesium diboride MgB2 undergoes super-conducting phase transition near 40 K. Magnetization and resistivity measurements revealed bulk superconductivity in MgB2 at a transition temperature of 39 K which is believed to be the highest yet determined for a non-copper-oxide bulk superconductor. This discovery has renewed the interest in metal borides. In this work, we are interested in the mechanical properties of MgB2. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) will be used to measure the resonance frequencies of MgB2 in order to determine its elastic-stiffness constants.
Mark Walsh, B. Lee Lindner, James Neff, and Timothy Giblin, Department of Physics and Astronomy
A new research grade telescope was recently installed at the Etelman observatory on St. Thomas, USVI. In hopes of operating the telescope remotely, a reliable way of predicting clouds and rain had to be established. The project deals with all aspects of collecting and analyzing weather data. Starting from the installation of a weather station, the project quickly lead to logging the weather station's data and making it available online. The next phase was to develop the skills required to manage the large database, which finally lead to analyzing the data to study the effect of wind direction on the formation of clouds and rain at the Etelman observatory. In short, the project gives a comprehensive view of the realities of weather prediction and data collection.
Jay Dandrea and Alem Teklu, Department of Physics & Astronomy
The elastic moduli Cij of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) were measured using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). This technique works by inducing vibrations in the body and detecting its resonant frequencies. The elastic constants can then be determined from the resonant frequencies. The sample used was a single crystal rectangular parallelepiped of about 2 mm in size. 52 resonances between 0.6 and 2.5 MHz were measured and the six independent elastic constants were fit to this data with an root mean square value of 0.08 %. The values obtained for all six elastic constants fall within the error limits of previous measurements.
Alexis Gilbo and Allan Strand, Department of Biology
South Carolina is unique in that it supports a diversity of carnivorous plant species. We are particularly interested in a hybrid population of pitcher plants and the insect capturing ability of these organisms when compared to their parent species, Sarracenia minor and Sarracenia rubra. This hybrid swarm has been monitored and 65 plants were assigned a hybrid index value according to morphological characteristics that identified the plant taxonomically. The number of insects caught by each pitcher was counted and it was found that hybrids with index values closer to that of S. minor were more successful in capturing insects. Now it is our goal to genetically characterize these hybrids using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and to see how successful genetic methods are in resolving hybrid origin. We will then use this measure of hybrid index as an independent variable in an examination of hybrid plants ability to prey on insects. As of now we have successfully identified pure populations of both Sarracenia rubra and Sarracenia minor in the Francis Marion National Forest. We have found reliable means for extracting total genomic DNA from Sarracenia leaf tissues, and sequencing has shown significant divergence at one chloroplast locus between the S. rubra and S. minor species. This is encouraging since the chloroplast genome shows unique maternal inheritance, and we can maybe come to some conclusions as to the maternal species in the hybrid swarm, as well as identify specific insertion/deletion events that occurred during the past history of these species.
Eileen Stocum1 and Craig Plante2
1Biology Department
2Grice Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC
Artificial defaunation of sediments is widely used in ecological studies examining the disturbance and recovery of benthic macrofaunal communities. Standard methods of defaunation include asphyxiation, freezing and sieving. Although sediment chemistry and microbiota can affect animal recruitment, few studies have considered the impact of these methods on the benthic microbial community. We performed a field experiment to determine their effects. Same-sized patches of sediment were defaunated by covering sediment with plastic sheets, freezing, or sieving. Macrofaunal counts indicated each treatment removed fauna, but that defauantion was <100% successful. Microbial samples were collected to determine the initial and long-term effects of defaunation on microbial community structure. Numerical effects were determined via epifluorescence microscopy, whereas differences in microbial community composition were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Numerical differences were not observed; however, differences in the number and pattern of DGGE bands among treatments indicated that the treatments differed from ambient sediment as follows: frozen > sieved > asphyxiated.
Eileen Stocum1, Stephanie Dellis1, Cynthia F. Wright2, and Betty W. Oswald2
1Biology Department
2Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
Gene expression in vaccinia virus is temporally regulated and three gene classes have been idenfied: early, intermediate, and late. The 26 kDa product of the vaccinia virus intermediate gene A2L is one of several viral factors necessary to activate viral late gene transcription. In order to characterize the biochemical properties of this protein, we over-expressed it as a maltose-binding fusion in Escherichia coli and purified it to apparent homogeneity through the use of amylose-affinity and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The product was confirmed to be A2L through western blotting and was shown to be active by its ability to stimulate viral late gene transcription in vitro. The purified fusion protein was then used in electrophorectic mobility shift reactions to examine the binding preference of A2L for different oligonucleotides consisting of late promoter sequences and mutations thereof. The effect of magnesium concentration on the binding affinity of A2L was also examined.
Thomas O. Busby and Craig J. Plante, Department of Biology
The present study examines the influence of the facultative deposit feeder Mesochaetopterus taylori on microbial community structure of sediments. The goal was to compare bacterial communities from two types of M. taylori fecal material, ambient sediments, and suspended material. Samples were collected from Debidue Creek sandflats in North Inlet, South Carolina. Bacterial assemblages were compared by DGGE fingerprinting of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA. Epiflouresence microscopy was used to enumerate total and active bacteria. The DGGE band pattern for the brown (suspension-feeding) egesta was markedly different from gray (deposit-feeding) egesta and ambient sediments, the pattern exhibited unique bands and also lacked bands detected in other samples. Although not as dramatic, band patterns from gray fecal material differed significantly from surface and deep sediments, due mainly to a loss of bands in the feces. Thus, net effect of M. taylori on sedimentary microbial structure is potentially great, as it both digestively removes bacterial types and reduces diversity while deposit feeding, yet introduces species to surface sediments by pelletizing suspended particulate.
Emily Sekula1, Carl C. Trettin2, and Timothy J. Callahan1
1Dept of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
2USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Forested Wetlands Research, Charleston, SC
Quantifying the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases is important in global warming research. Other than carbon dioxide (CO2), two important trace gases are methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Globally wetlands are recognized as sinks for CO2 and sources for the majority (22.5%) of CH4. Many agricultural lands have been restored to wetlands in hopes of sequestering atmospheric carbon. Research is now focusing on forested wetland greenhouse gas emissions. Most studies have been conducted in boreal regions and show that disturbed wetlands can act as sinks for CH4. However, an informational gap from temperate climates remains. Using static chambers and gas chromatography analyses, our purpose is to quantify CH4 and N2O effluxes for a Southeastern U.S. forest. The site is in the Francis Marion National Forest, 48 km north of Charleston, South Carolina. Research will provide information in a natural temperate forest for comparison to restored forested wetlands in similar regions.
John Karabees and Katie Williams, Honors Program, Susan Simonian and David Gentry, Psychology Department
Previous research has shown that student satisfaction with college life is multidimensional. The present study was designed to determine what variables are important in determining overall happiness for College of Charleston students and how subgroups may differ on these variables. A 27-item questionnaire was administered to 238 College of Charleston students who were selected by a cluster sampling. Nine items assessed demographic variables and the remaining 18 items assessed satisfaction with various aspects of college life. All but one satisfaction item were significantly correlated with overall happiness. Males and females differed on the variables that make the highest unique predictions of overall happiness. In-state students were found to be more satisfied than out-of-state students on several measures. A factor analysis of the items resulted in six factors which we labeled friends, health, academic, job, intimacy, and comfort.
George Seago and Laura Penny, Department of Physics & Astronomy
The projected rotational velocities, Vsini, of very massive O-type stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) will be studied. As of yet, it is not known if massive stars in different galaxies have the same rotational velocities. The Vsini values of 21 lower metallicity, high mass stars in the SMC will be determined using ultraviolet observations. The method to be used is based on a study that produced Vsini Values for galactic O-type stars based on the Conti & Ebbets (1977) system. This will be the first study to produce Vsini values for O-type stars outside the Milky Way and is vital in the theoretical study of massive stars and stellar evolution.
Jan Marnicki, Department of Biology, and Norman S. Levine, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Charleston, South Carolina experienced the most damaging earthquake in the Eastern United States. The August 31, 1886 earthquake had a magnitude of 7.3 and was felt over 2.5 million square miles. Evidence from this earthquake can be seen throughout the Charleston region. This poster is an outgrowth of a class project in Geology 449 (introduction to GIS). GIS is an Integrating Technology that facilities the dissemination of map-based information to scientists, policy makers and the general public. The class worked in teams to collect and map sites where damage from the earthquake is still visible. The teams then created brochures that could be used for an educational tour of historic downtown Charleston that would highlight its unique seismically active history. We have integrated elements from each of the brochures to create a final tour brochure to be used with both school groups and tourists.
Meghan Chafee, Department of Biology
Sargassum spp. is a brown (Phaeophyte) macroalgae that can form large mats on the ocean surface. A variety of organisms can utilize these algal clumps as spawning, nursing, refuge and feeding areas, since they offer a floating substrate with high structural complexity. Distribution and abundance data of Sargassum spp. algae and neustonic organisms and were collected with a neuston net across the continental shelf off Charleston (South Carolina) in November 2003. The overall spatial distribution of Sargassum and associated species will be analyzed along the cross-shelf transect. Use of Sargassum as spawning substrate will be tested by correlating abundances of algal clumps with adult Halobates micans insects, which employ floating objects for egg laying. Zooplankton biomass will be used as an indicator of the amount of food available for fishes associated with Sargassum, in an attempt to discern if algal clumps are used by fishes for feeding for as refuge.
Angela T. Jones, Environmental Studies; Norman S. Levine, and A. K. Fronabarger, Department of Geology and Environmental Geology
The Theban Necropolis is a burial complex that encompasses a number of well know Egyptian archeological sites including: The Valley of the Kings, The Valley of the Queens, Dayr-el Medina, and Sheikh Abd el Qurna. This region covers an area of approximately 40 square Kilometers. Our study investigates the use of Remote Sensing data for enhanced mapping of the full Theban Necropolis, as well as, improved visualizations for analysis and reconnaissance. Digital Elevation Models (DEM) were created for the region using two techniques; an automated computer model generated directly from remote sensing data (ASTER) and the hand digitization of a topographic map. The scales of the two DEMs were significantly different, changing the accuracies of each DEM. High resolution satellite imagery (Digital Globes Quickbird) was draped over the DEM data to create three-dimensional visualizations of the Theban Necropolis.
William J. Rieter and Jason S. Overby, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Currently we are developing a number of new ligand motifs that are suitable for studying metalloenzyme active sites. Included in these ligand architectures are compounds with a variety of binding sites as well as containing groups that can enhance water solubility. In addition to the synthetic studies of the ligands themselves, we will present our initial work with binding to a variety of transition metals of current interest for metalloenzymes.
Claire Gollety, Department of Biology
Margolisianum bulbosum is a parasite of the southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma. Next to nothing is known about the life cycle of this nematode except that the females break down their encasements, found in the buccal and gill cavities, to release their larvae in the aquatic environment in order to the life cycle to occur. An enzymatic mechanism was favored over a physical degradation of the fish tissue because those nematodes have no teeth or other appendage that would help go through their encasement. A histological study was performed, which revealed that the female nematodes are always within collagenous tissue, suggesting the nematodes use of a specific enzyme. So far, comparison of adult female extracts on substrate sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) seems to support the presence of a collagenase. However, more gels are needed to confirm this enzymatic activity. Future research will also focus on characterizing any isolated enzyme.
Emmanuel Bourrin and Isaure de Buron, Department of Biology
Margolisianum bulbosum is a philometrid nematode parasite of the southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma. Although flounders smaller than 175 mm showed no worms, we hypothesized that younger fishes (smaller than 175 mm) may be infected with larvae and we tested our hypothesis using a molecular approach. Since no DNA sequence data were available for this species of nematode, we developed a DNA probe for M. bulbosus (on the basis of COX I gene region conserved among nematode species) and tested its efficiency by performing a series of PCR on parasite and fish samples. A 700 bp product corresponding to a non-identified region of the parasite genome was obtained and partially sequenced.
Fuller, S. P., Hakkila, J., and Giblin, T. W., Department of Physics & Astronomy
A simple classification scheme for Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) morphology remains an elusive endeavor of the scientific community. The scheme suggested relies on observable temporal changes seen during GRB time history events. Attributes used are: Number of Pulses, Number of Emission Episodes, Variability, and Emission Spectral Evolution. The Internal Luminosity Function (ILF) is a measure of the distribution of luminosity within a GRB event and can be fit by two strongly correlated but independent attributes: a power-law index and a power-law curvature index. We demonstrate here that the ILF indices anti-correlate with the number of pulses found in a GRB. It is also apparent that simple bursts with few pulses and emission periods have flat power-law indices while complex, highly variable bursts with many pulses and emission periods have steep indices. The ILF is thus an indicator of morphology because there is more low-luminosity emission from multiple pulses than high- luminosity emission.
Nicholas W. De Nitto, Robert T. Dillon, Jr. and Robert C. Frankis, Jr., Department of Biology
The breeding biology of the freshwater pulmonate snail Physa acuta has attracted interest recently due to the cosmopolitan nature of the species and its adaptability to culture. A study by Wethington, et al. currently in review has reported two haplotypes in a single population of P. acuta at Charles Towne Landing State Park, differing in excess of 30% of base pairs for two genes. DNA was isolated from a random sample of 22 Charles Towne Landing snails then PCR and Cycle Sequencing techniques used to determine an approximately 650bp fragment the of the CO1 gene. Breeding studies are planned to determine whether the high genetic diversity observed by Wethington is better attributed to admixture of two conspecific populations or a pair of cryptic species coexisting.
Jerry Sattler, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Refraction micro-tremor analysis was used in determining shear wave velocities for four Charleston, S.C. sites. These sites are correlated with Advanced National Seismic Systems strong motion sites for the area and provided some existing data to compare to as well as providing new data for sites never before measured. With the help of the SeisOpt Remi software, all sites were determined to be NEHRP type D sites, a stiff soil classification meaning the average shear-waver velocity in the top 30 meters falls within 180 and 360m/s.
Nathan W. Duncan-Gould and Justin K. Wyatt, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Cytosporone E, a novel antibiotic, was isolated as a racemic mixture from the antibacterial active broth of two endophytic fungi. We have recently finished the synthesis of this compound as a racemic mixture and as enantioenriched forms. We will begin antibacterial testing on the racemic compound and we are working on making enantiopure samples for testing also. It is known that many pharmaceuticals are more active as a single enantiomer, and therefore we would like to test to see if one enantiomer is more active with our antibiotic. We will present both the racemic and enantioselective synthesis of cytosporone E and attempts to isolate enantiopure samples of the antibiotic.
Nasar A. Siddiqi and Justin K. Wyatt, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Cytosporone E, a novel antibiotic, was synthesized, and biological activities have been conducted. Initial results show that it is not a super potent antibiotic. A new project in our group involves developing and synthesizing derivatives to improve the antibiotic activity of the parent cytosporone E. We plan to begin these structure activity relationship studies by initially modifying the central phenolic position, which appears to be the business end of the molecule. We are going to present the modifications that are in progress and are planned in the future.
M. F. Sassano and Justin K. Wyatt, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The project is focused on the synthesis of a,a-disubstituded amino acids that will be used to make chiral aromatic oxazoline derivatives. These compounds are envisioned to increase the control of the diastereoselectivity of the asymmetric Meyers ortho-alkylation. This reaction is of particular interest because it is a key step in our synthesis of the antibiotic Cytosporone E. I will be presenting our efforts towards the synthesis of these chiral disubstituted amino acids.
Jennifer N. Kelly, Justin K. Wyatt, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Susan J. Morrison, Department of Biology
A novel class of natural products, the Cytosporones, were recently isolated from the culture broth of two endophytic fungi. They are of particular interest because two of the isolates have been shown to have antibacterial activity. Cytosporone D and E have been shown to be equipotent in their activity against certain strains of bacteria and fungi. We have been working with racemic Cytosporone E in particular and we plan to derive more conclusive data about the antibacterial activity of this compound. We will present our initial results illustrating the antibacterial activity and potential of Cytosporone E as an antibiotic. This information will be the groundwork for developing future analogues of the parent antibiotic so that we can obtain an understanding of the structure activity relationship.
Kyle Strickland, Ashwayn Patel, and Stephanie Dellis, Department of Biology
Justin McCrary, Clemson University
Cynthia Wright, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
The vaccinia virus proteins, A1L, A2L, G8R, and H5R, interact with cellular host factors and viral RNA polymerase to induce transcription of the late class of vaccinia genes. We studied the interactions between these proteins to better understand viral gene transcription. A yeast two hybrid assay was used to detect interactions between the proteins. This procedure required cloning the genes of these proteins into plasmids and then transforming the plasmids into yeast. To quantify the interactions, a B-galactosidase assay was performed on each of the yeast cultures. The results from these two experiments showed an interaction between A1L and G8R as well as self-interactions between A1L, G8R, and H5R. In addition to the yeast two hybrid assays, these interactions were corroborated via GST pulldown experiments. Our results suggest that the late transcription factors may interact with themselves and with each other during the regulation of late gene transcription.
A. Megan Diminich, Stephanie Dellis, Biology Department
Cynthia Wright, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
A1L protein is one of several vaccinia virus factors that activate late gene transcription, but little is known about the mechanism of activation. Previous researchers have identified two areas within the protein that may be important for A1L function; a potential zinc finger motif, and a point mutation that results in a failure of the virus to propagate in vivo at the nonpermissive temperature. In this study, we investigated these potentially important regions. PCR-based site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce a cystine to alanine change into the putative zinc finger, and in a separate reaction the temperature-sensitive point mutation was introduced into the A1L gene. Our laboratory has shown that A1L protein interacts with itself and with other vaccinia late gene transcription factors in the yeast two-hybrid assay. This assay was repeated using the mutant A1L proteins to determine if the mutant proteins were still able to interact in vivo.
Maribeth Veal and Lisa Thomson Ross, Department of Psychology
The effect of parental monitoring, including television monitoring, on family functioning and adolescent binge drinking was examined in this study. College student volunteers (N = 149; 90% Caucasian, 79% female) participated. The surveys they completed assessed family of origin and individual characteristics, including parental monitoring, family background, and drinking behaviors. Analyses of the parental monitoring items and television monitoring items suggest the creation of two new retrospective scales (as= .84 and .85, respectively). Results showed a negative correlation between both parental and television monitoring and binge drinking, and a positive correlation between parental monitoring and healthy family functioning. This study presents two new retrospective scales that measure parental monitoring and television monitoring by parents. Implications for use of these new scales and ideas for related future research are discussed.
Gregory V. Baccari and Seth G. Pritchard, Department of Biology
CO2 is a substrate of photosynthesis of which the implications for plant growth and agricultural production are enormous. The study of plant roots is a daunting task that has recently been aided by the invention of the minirhizotron technique, by which a clear tube is inserted into the ground so that a camera can then take pictures of the roots. The experiment involves the comparison of two data sets, which include ambient and elevated levels of carbon dioxide. These two test groups were used to determine the root growth responses to CO2 in field grown clover. Open-top chambers (OTC) were utilized to perform the experiment in a field rather than an in-door growth chamber. Images were collected for the 6 OTC at seven different times and at 36 different depths. The findings of this research are of the utmost importance to persons within the agricultural realm.
Mary Beth Charles, Zeenith Masood, Nicole Rothen, Marion Doig, and Robert Frankis, Departments of Biology and Chemistry
There is accumulating evidence that nitric oxide plays a role in regulating a variety of physiological activities in plants. The possible role of nitric oxide in pollen tube elongation and germination was investigated in both angiosperm and gymnosperm species through the use of two inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase: NG-Methyl-L_Arginine Acetate and NW-nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester. An NADPH diaphorase histochemical staining assay was also used to detect and localize the production of nitric oxide in elongating pollen tubes.
Sandra Harper and Kristin D. Krantzman, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Molecular dynamics simulations of the bombardment of a organic film on a gold substrate with Au and Au2 projectiles have been performed in order to understand the role of mass matching in the mechanisms for energy transfer. There will be an effective energy transfer from the projectile to the substrate atoms if the atom impacts the substrate unimpeded by molecules in the organic film. When a projectile atom hits an organic molecule, the process of fragmentation absorbs its incident kinetic energy and it enters the substrate region with little energy left. With Au2, there is a higher probability that one or more of the projectile atoms will hit a bare portion of the surface and initiate collision cascades with sufficient energy to result in ejection.
Renee Lambert and David Gentry, Department of Psychology
People encounter countless opportunities for choice everyday. Frequently, individuals must choose between acting impulsively or with self-control. An impulsive choice is one that will result in a smaller, immediate reward whereas the alternative self-control choice results in a larger, delayed reward. Delay discounting, is the degree to which a person places increased value on a more immediate reward and decreased value on a reward delayed some time in the future. The present experiment explores the relationship of delay discounting with impulsivity (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1978) and procrastination (Lay, 1986).
It is predicted that scores on the procrastination and impulsivity questionnaires will be positively correlated with participants degrees of delay discounting. High degrees of delay discounting have been associated with numerous addiction problems including gambling, smoking and drug abuse. Support for the current hypotheses will provide further evidence for the role of delay discounting in decision-making. Current research is looking at educating individuals who perform self-injurious behavior on the logic involved in decision-making.Kelly Settle1, Jeff Wragg1, and Hassaan Alkhatib2
1Department of Physics & Astronomy
2Roper St. Francis Hospital
A computerized treatment planning system will be used to compute radiation dose calculations for 6MV photons and 3x3, 5x5, 10x10 and 15x15cm field sizes. A computerized plan will plot the radiation dosage for the phantom. A phantom of homogenous material and a phantom of heterogeneous material will be treated with the Elekta linear accelerator and measured with an ionization chamber for the actual dose of radiation the phantom receives. The ADAC computerized system dose calculations were compared with the actual dose calculations obtained during treatment. All regions had less than a 2% error for the homogenous material. The heterogeneous material had some regions with a greater than 2% error.
Maggie Rearden and Terry Richardson, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Equipment and techniques for using digital consumer cameras to serve as all sky light pollution monitoring instruments were developed and tested. Problems with thermal noise from uncooled exposures were reduced by averaging sufficient identical exposures. Conventional digital CCD data reduction techniques were employed. Light pollution sky maps for a selected urban location and a relatively dark sky rural location in Charleston County, South Carolina were produced and compared to light pollution models.
Rebecca Christenbury, Jamie McClellan, Amanda Polliard, and Angela C. Halfacre, Department of Political Science
Previous research indicates that parental involvement in education enhances student performance. In this project, we evaluate the impact of one program that seeks to improve community participation in public education implementation. Our research question is: What are the impacts of programs to encourage parent participation in schooling? To shed light on our research question, we analyze the impact of the First Day of School Initiative for Charleston County Schools in South Carolina. Using participation data from the 2003 initiative as well as participant and organizer interviews, we assess the effectiveness of the program. We examine these data through reporting univariate statistical indicators and content analysis. We also compare the 2003 Charleston initiative to similar First Day Initiatives throughout the country. Preliminary results indicate that the Charleston program had positive impacts; in particular, levels of participation by community members exceeded expectation. Our research draws distinctions between participation in the program and the impact of parental participation in education throughout the academic year.
Kristen Williams and Agnes Ayme-Southgate, Department of Biology
We use Drosophila as a model organism to study myofibril assembly and growth. Projectin is a large protein and it is proposed that projectins COOH terminus interacts with the myosin filaments to organize the myofibrils. The COOH-terminus contains a unique sequence and the goal of the project is to ascertain the interactions of this unique sequence with myosin. For the in vivo assay, a clone was created to fuse the unique region with the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and integrated into the Drosophila genome to obtain transgenic flies. Binding of the projectin-GFP fusion on myofibrils will be detected using immunofluorescence microscopy. For the in vitro assay, the unique region was fused to a six-histidine tag. The fusion protein was isolated from bacteria and used in protein binding assays with myosin. The binding properties of the unique sequence as determined by the in vivo and in vitro assays will be presented.
Brooke Bivens1, Stephanie Dellis1,2, and Karl Karnaky Jr.2
1Department of Biology
2Department of Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina
In studies on breast cancer carcinogenesis, many dietary and environmental factors have been suggested as possible causes. Two multidrug resistant transporters are thought to play a vital role in the excretion of endogenous molecules and xenobiotic compounds. MRP1 and MRP2, members of the ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) superfamily, have been studied because of their role in multidrug resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, but some of the molecules involved in breast cancer happen to be substrates for MRP1 and MRP2, which are present in human breast epithelial cells. First, breast epithelial cells were cultured on a filter, and then electron microscope studies, immunocytochemistry, and SDS-gel electrophoresis were performed on the cultured cells to illustrate the localization of MRP1, MRP2, and two proteins located in the tight junction. Finally, measurements of the resistance of the cells and transepithelial transport rates of the MRP2 substrate, Texas Red, were determined.
Lancie Affonso, Marlon Brown, Troy Nelson, and Arpan Kotecha, Department of Computer Science
Education organizations and researchers have increasingly supported the view that incorporating information technology into learning and teaching is an important aspect of keeping the curriculum relevant and preparing students for their future in a complex knowledge based world.
The purpose of this project is to design, validate and evaluate an online tool that accesses the information technology literacy level of current or prospective students at the College of Charleston. The tests will be designed to meet the Deans' proposed Basic Information Technology Standards for incoming students.
Leah Emory, Department of Biology
There are six species of sea turtle found in the oceans off the coast of the United States. All of these species are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Several measures have been taken to prevent the loss of these precious creatures from our oceans. The establishment of rehabilitation centers for injured sea turtles is one of these measures. The South Carolina Aquarium houses a rehabilitation center for injured turtles found on our beaches. They have succesfully rehabilitated 6 turtles and released them into the wild. I have had the privilage to assist with this program through my internship at the aquarium. I have aided in the care of the three turtles we have at the aquarium now and we are just beginning the rehabilitation process of a turtle that was brought in last week. I have also been working on an educational program that will inform visitors of the rehabilitation program and steps they can take to conserve sea turtle populations.
Lynne C. Wincenciak and W. Frank Kinard, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The goal of this project was to investigate the application of energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) as an analytical method to study a Pb contaminated soil that is typical of downtown Charleston. The Pb in the sample comes from old paint and years of leaded components in gasoline. An additional goal was to test our EDXRF analytical procedure using the NIST Standard Sequential Extraction Protocol that is being developed to determine uranium and plutonium geochemical fractionation in soils and sediments. Sequential extraction is the application of progressively more aggressive treatments to a soil or sediment sample to dissolve selective geochemical components important in assessing the hazard of a contaminated soil. Experimental results for Pb and a number of associated elements will be presented.
