2010 - Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity

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evaluated. The ion binding of BSA was compared to ion binding values of BSA through modeling and in silico methods. Colorimetric and fluorescence detection of volatile organic compounds using electrospun nanofibers The Effects of Proton Pumping on the Osmotic Pressure of Macromolecular Crowded Environments Chris Hale, Bioengineering Contributor: Devin W. McBride Mentor: V. G. J. Rodgers Department of Bioengineering Macromolecular crowding are solutions that contain high concentrations of proteins. These crowded protein solutions are observed in cellular systems and the concentration of total proteins range from 50-400g/L. The thermodynamics of cellular systems is extremely complex and thus, difficult to model and understand the mechanisms. However, studying the thermodynamics of crowded protein solutions in vitro can shed light onto the mechanisms. The osmotic pressure of crowded protein systems have been studied for a few proteins and it behaves non-ideally near-saturation. We developed the free solvent model which is able to predict the crowded protein osmotic pressure using only measurable parameters. The free solvent model is able to accurately predict the osmotic pressure using the protein-ion binding and protein hydration. To more accurately model the thermodynamics of cellular systems, we began to study nonequilibrium situations, such as proton and ion pumping. Proton pumping occurs in cellular systems during many processes, two of which are ATP production during cellular respiration and photosynthesis. To understand how proton pumping affects the cellular system, we study the crowded protein osmotic pressure while varying the pH. To further mimic the cellular system, we rapidly alter the pH of the solvent stream using physiological pHs; 4.5, 5.4, and 7.4. In our studies, bovine serum albumin (BSA) is the protein of interest due to the extensive literature about the physiochemical properties, ion binding, and hydration of BSA. Christopher Hare, Chemistry Co-author: Bryce Davis, Chemistry Mentor: Quan Jason Cheng Department of Chemistry The development of efficient sensors for the detection of volatile organic compounds has gained attention. Conventional approaches can be time consuming, costly, and do not always result in accumulation of useful data. A quantitative approach using color and fluorescence differentiation of common volatile organic solvents has been developed. A polydiacetylene (PDA)-embedded electrospun fiber mat, prepared with 10,12 pentacosadiynoic acid-derived diacetylene monomer, displays an array of solvent sensitive color transitions when exposed to common organic solvents. The color transitions can also be measured quantitatively using fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence data can be used to differentiate between solvent samples. Arrays of PDAembedded nanofibers have been constructed by electrospinning poly(ethylene oxide) solutions containing a specific ratio of the diacetylene monomer. Unique color patterns were developed when the conjugated polydiacetylene-embedded fiber mats were exposed to vaporized organic solvents in a manner which enabled direct colorimetric differentiation of the tested solvents. Geometric Characterization and Structure- Property Relationships in a Heterogeneous Impact-Tolerant Biomineral Steven Herrera, Chemical Engineering Contributors: Garrett Milliron, James Weaver, Ali Miserez, Elaine DiMasi, Javier Garay, Hsiao-Yun Milliron Mentor: David Kisailus, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Hierarchically structured biominerals are made from common and mechanically unimpressive constituents, but the spatial distribution of these elements combine to form ultrastructures which Fourth Annual UCR Symposium for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity 32
display extraordinary mechanical properties. In the case of stomatopods, they have evolved a dactyl club capable of delivering high velocity impacts in order to break through the hard exteriors of their heavily armored prey (mollusks and crustaceans). Stomatopod dactyl clubs represent a unique biomineral that displays regional as well as multiscale ordering. By performing structural and property measurements on the mineralized dactyl club we can begin to identify structure-function relationships which can be modeled and synthesized. We have performed many measurements including SEM, EDS, RAMAN, Synchrotron X-ray diffraction, polarized light microscopy, and nanoindentation. We have begun modeling (FEM) the structures observed, and developing synthesis techniques which can recreate the observed geometries in order to create new impact-tolerant materials. Personality as a Determinant of Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy Lannah Ho, Business Administration Mentor: Curt Burgess Department of Psychology Self-efficacy and self-esteem have been used somewhat interchangeably, where self-efficacy is the belief that one is competent enough to attain goals and self-esteem is the self evaluation of one‘s self worth. However, it is more productive to think as self-efficacy as the foundation on which self-esteem builds and where personality can be a determinant of selfesteem and self-efficacy. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the personality traits of openness and agreeableness can interact in determining self-esteem and self-efficacy. Participants (384) from the University of California, Riverside completed several online tests. The analyses consisted of two- 2X2 analyses of variance. It was hypothesized and then rejected that there is an effect of agreeableness on self-esteem and self-efficacy, but there is an effect of openness. There is also an interaction such that people who are open and agreeable scored higher on self-esteem and selfefficacy. Prior research indicates personality as changeable. This research suggests who may most benefit from social skills training. From the Oppressed to the Oppressor: The Role Black Males Play in Oppressing Black Females Krystal Huff, Women‘s Studies/African American Studies Mentor: Caroline Tushabe Department of Women‘s Studies In her article, ―Heterosexualism and the Colonial/ Modern Gender System‖, Maria Lugones calls into question the complicity of men of color in upholding the patriarchal system. Oyéronke Oyéwumi‘s Invention of Women challenges gender thinking and calls for de-colonizing relations among colonized males and females. Systems of colonization and slavery drastically shifted power relations between and social status of males and females of African descent constructing them as men and women under a patriarchal system. African males and females have historically, in varied degrees, resisted violence against them consequent of the imposed colonial gender system. However, with colonial ―enticements‖ colonized males or black men embody the assigned masculinities that have assumed infliction of violence against colonized females or black women. War, poverty, inadequate of education opportunities and lack of access to healthcare for African Americans position African Americans in ways that may seem to motivate some sense of unified critical resistance to violence. However, that is not the case, and it leaves one to ask: ―why have the African American males been so largely receptive of the violent masculine roles in the patriarchal system? Why do they participate in the oppression of half of their people? This paper argues for new masculinities that defy violence against black women, based on the historical understanding that African slaves came from parts of Africa where there was no gendered system that organized relations or social roles, and in fact, during slavery enslaved males and females were treated as things and property without gender. Fourth Annual UCR Symposium for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity 33
Page 1 and 2: Welcome from the Chancellor May 7,
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents Welcome from Chan
Page 5 and 6: Oral Presentation Sessions Each ora
Page 15 and 16: Poster Presentation Session During
Page 17 and 18: Using a Computational Model to Asse
Page 19 and 20: Generation Status and Interracial M
Page 21 and 22: consequences and causes in Indian s
Page 23 and 24: gene, when the bacteria are supplie
Page 25 and 26: screening 27 compounds at varying c
Page 27 and 28: The Revitalization of the Inner Cit
Page 29 and 30: Design and Synthesis of Novel Anand
Page 31: and school problems (e.g., Cao, Su,
Page 35 and 36: Evaluation of Estrogenicity of Sele
Page 37 and 38: Mandragora Michelle Leal, Creative
Page 39 and 40: The Mismeasure of Black Men: Shortc
Page 41 and 42: ace and sexual orientation exacerba
Page 43 and 44: Evaluation of Estrogenicity of DDT
Page 45 and 46: have transformed into a specific in
Page 47 and 48: Determination of the Heparin Bindin
Page 49 and 50: have a negative effect. Our results
Page 51 and 52: exaggerated or slightly skewed mann
Page 53 and 54: Index of Presenters Continued Prese

2010 - Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity

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