Earlham College, Richmond, IN - Earlham Computer Science ...

2010 

Natural Sciences Division 

Undergraduate Research Poster 

Conference 

Proceedings 

Earlham College, Richmond, IN 

Conference Committee: Eli Darnell, Aaron Fienberg, Rachel Leeman-Munk 

Faculty Advisors: Teresa Herd, Jim Rogers 

Earlham College 

October 19, 2010

URPC Proceedings 

URPC-ii


Conference Program 

Tuesday October 19, 2010 

Poster Session 

1 Geometry Optimization and Reaction Energy Analysis of Transition Metal 

Complexes Using Density Functional Theory 

1 Secondary Structural Investigation of Surfactant Peptide KL4 in Lipid Membranes 

Using FTIR 

2 Study of Ultrasound Interaction with Cells 

2 Analysis of JWH Analogs Used as Synthetic Cannabinoids in Incense Mixtures 

3 Music Generation and Variation from Cellular Automata, Chaotic Trajectories, 

and Reaction/Diffusion Systems 

3 The role of NrCAM in the development of the mouse visual pathway 

4 Refining the IVBSS 

4 Refining the Annotations of Malaria Genomes 

5 Drugs used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders affect α7 nicotinic acetylcholine 

receptors 

5 Antioxidant activity in Anise seed extracts 

6 Concentrations of Terpinen-4-ol in Multiple Brands of Melaleuca alternifolia 

Oil 

6 An Exploratory Screening of Achyrocline satureoids 

7 Reproductive traits of the Nebraska Spiny Softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) 

with notes on geographic variation 

7 The Study of Natural Products: The Extraction and Isolation of Pau d’Arco 

UV Florescent Compounds 

8 Internship in the Exploration and Development Department at YPFB Chaco 

S.A., a Bolivian Oil Company. 

8 Using Oxygen Fugacity to Learn about the Chemical Evolution of the Bushveld 

Complex 

9 Extraction and Isolation of Organic Compounds in the Medicinal Herb Feverfew 

9 Gene expression during developmental differentiation of queen and worker 

castes in a harvester ant 

10 Synthesis of Selected Avenic Acid Analogs 

10 Spin Assignments in Selenium-71 

11 Cognitive Complexity of Linguistic Patterns 

11 Analysis of Jergon sacha 

URPC-iii


12 The Effects of Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrum Coloration on Predation Risk 

of Lepidopteran Larvae 

12 Identification of Basaltic Clasts in Lunar Meteorites: In Search of South Pole- 

Aitken Basin Material 

13 The Late Bronze Age in Ukraine: Preliminary results from the Rozanivka site 

13 The Tracking of Regions of Interest in Sample Phantoms Using Deformation 

Compounding. 

15 List of Authors and Faculty Advisors 

URPC-iv


Geometry Optimization and Reaction Energy Analysis of Transition 

Metal Complexes Using Density Functional Theory 

Tiffani Henn, Erin McIlvain, Evelyn Tandy, Lori A. Watson † 

Department of Chemistry 

Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47343 

watsolo@earlham.edu 

Density Functional Theory (DFT) provides a good method to computationally investigate 

the electronic and molecular structure of transition metal compounds and to obtain 

reaction energies and energetic comparisons of competing isomers. This project used DFT 

(B3LYP) as implemented in Gaussian03 and Gaussian09 to calculate a variety of oxo and 

imido tungsten and rhenium complexes that had been synthesized during previous research 

in the group. Various isomers were calculated in order to predict and/or confirm the experimentally 

obtained structure, and the thermochemistry of several reactions were examined. 

Optimized geometries of each complex were obtained, providing information on the degree 

of unsaturation at the metal center. Molecular orbital calculations were undertaken to 

provide insight into future reactivity studies. 

Secondary Structural Investigation of Surfactant Peptide KL4 in Lipid 

Membranes Using FTIR 

Karman J. Duchon, Jessica R. Jensen, Kalani J. Seu † 



National Road West 

Richmond, IN 47374 

seuka@earlham.edu 

The structure and dynamics of membrane proteins are integral to understanding protein 

function. Membrane peptide interactions play a key role in cell function, as hydration 

states of peptides can alter both the structure and function of the peptide. The goal 

of this project is to investigate the secondary structure of the surfactant peptide KL4 in 

a lipid environment using FTIR spectroscopy. This twenty-one amino acid peptide was 

incorporated into lipid vesicles of varying compositions and the thermal unfolding of the 

peptide was monitored over a variety of temperatures. Additionally, the incorporation of 

specific isotope-labeling provided molecular level resolution of the peptide conformation 

and backbone-solvent hydrogen-bonding. The results of this work will be discussed. 

URPC-1


Study of Ultrasound Interaction with Cells 

Anan Suleiman, Peter McLarnan, Teresa Herd † 


asulei07@earlham.edu 

The goal of our research was to become familiar with acoustics measurements and 

eventually develop techniques that will allow us to explore diagnostic ultrasound imaging. 

Therefore in our experiments, we used tissue-like phantoms that consist agar with embedded 

glass beads. Different sized beads were used to simulate different scattering sizes. 

We measured several acoustic properties of samples. We focused on measuring the ultrasound 

propagation speeds and attenuation coefficients using a narrow band substitution 

technique, as well as measuring the backscatter coefficients (BSC) of different samples. In 

future studies, a cell pellet biophantom technique will be introduced, and applied to the 

ultrasonic backscatter estimate using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. 

Analysis of JWH Analogs Used as Synthetic Cannabinoids in Incense 

Mixtures 

Kate Waters, Yasmin Jaghab, Erin Litchfield, Gordon Lyman, Corinne Deibel † 

Earlham College Chemistry Department 

etlitch08@earlham.edu 

A Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) method has been developed for the quantitative 

determination of three synthetic cannabinoids, JWH-018, JWH-073, and JWH-081, 

reported active ingredients in “Spice” mixtures. Optimum separation was achieved on C18 

EMD reverse phase plates using a 90/10 acetonitrile/water mobile phase. The plates were 

visualized at 366 nm and Rf values of .550 ± .002, .639 ± .002, and .548 ± .003 were found 

for JWH-018, JWH-073, and JWH-081 respectively. Standards of JWH analogs with concentrations 

of 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.1, 0.05 and 0.025 mg/mL were prepared in ethylacetate 

and 1 microliter eluted on the C18 EMD plates. Using a Cannon Canon Digital Rebel XSi 

EOS 450D digital camera, these plates were imaged, and analyzed using Labview software. 

Preliminaries results suggest that the fluorescence intensity is related by power law to the 

concentration of the standard. Four different samples of “Spice” (Bayou Blaster, K2 Fruit 

Punch, K2 Orange, and K2 Summit) were washed with ethylacetate ( 100mg in .5 mL) to 

dissolve the sprayed active ingredient. 1 microliter of the resulting solvent was spotted on 

the C18EMD plate and ran in the same conditions as the standards. The plates indicated 

that a two of compounds that fluoresced at 366nm were present in the samples and one 

band was found to match the Rf value found JWH-018. Scanning electron microscope 

(SEM) images of the purchased “Spice” samples showed the presence of crystals on the 

plant matter. 

This work was funded by the Stephen and Sylvia Tregidga Burges Endowed Research 

Fund. 

URPC-2


Music Generation and Variation from Cellular Automata, Chaotic Trajectories, 

and Reaction/Diffusion Systems 

Thomas Morrill, Anand Pardhanani † 

Earlham Math Department 

tom.draws@gmail.com 

Music may be thought of as a sequence of pitches and chords, each discrete item in 

the sequence influencing pitches and chords that follow. This interconnectedness is also a 

key feature of cellular automata, where discrete cells fluctuate between states based on the 

states of their neighbors, chaotic trajectories, where a particle’s current position is reliant on 

its previous positions, and reaction/diffusion models, where complex patterns are formed 

based on the concentrations of interacting morphogens. This project aims to examine these 

systems as they apply to music—in generating new music and in creating variations upon 

existing pieces. Previous work has explored the use of strange attractors based on differential 

equation models to generate chaotic variations on a given musical piece. In this work, 

we extend some of these ideas by studying different mapping strategies as well as incorporating 

additional components of the musical piece. We demonstrate how simple changes 

to the starting conditions and rules of the systems result in drastic changes to the musical 

output. 

The role of NrCAM in the development of the mouse visual pathway 

Eli Darnell, Galina Demyanenko, Patricia Maness 


Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, UNC-CH 

epdarne07@earlham.edu 

The visual pathway of the brain is composed of several sets of axon projections. Retinal 

ganglion cell (RGC) axons carry visual information from the retina to the Lateral Geniculate 

Nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus, the sensory relay center of the brain. Axons traveling 

to the dorsal LGN (dLGN) segregate into two sections: ipsilaterally (same side) projecting 

axons form the ipsilateral patch, and contralaterally (opposite side) projecting axons 

form the surrounding contralateral portion of the dLGN. The mapping of ipsilateral and 

contralateral axons from both eyes is crucial to the development of binocular vision. From 

the dLGN of the thalamus, axons map to the visual cortex, where visual information is 

processed. Axons travel both from the thalamus to the cortex (thalamocortical, TC), and 

back from the cortex to the thalamus (corticothalamic, CT). NgCAM related cell adhesion 

molecule (NrCAM) is important for axonal mapping, synaptic plasticity, and learning 

(Maness & Schachner, 2007). The NrCAM gene has been identified as a candidate gene 

for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia, disorders which have associated 

visual defects. Here we investigate the role of NrCAM in retinogeniculate (RG), TC, and 

CT axon mapping of the visual pathway in a mouse model. 

URPC-3


Refining the IVBSS 

Matthew Jackson, Dillan Funkhouser † , Mary Lynn Buonarosa † 

UMTRI (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute) 

mcjacks08@earlham.edu 

The IVBSS (Integrated Vehicle Based Safety Systems) is a crash warning system capable 

of forward collision, lateral drift, lane-change merge, and curve speed warnings. Cars 

equipped with this system as well as some audio and video recording equipment was given 

to just over 100 subjects. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the system 

on the subjects driving, to determine the how frequently drivers performed secondary tasks 

and if drivers tended to perform secondary tasks during low or high risk situations. The 

video and audio data was sorted and coded in order to achieve these goals. 

Refining the Annotations of Malaria Genomes 

Emmalee Adelman, Alisha Harms, Janell Jensen, Chris Meserve, Martin 

Tinkerhess, William Vincent, Xander Rowland, Alfred Simkin, Lindsey 

Howlett,Gaya Hettiarachchi, Doug Armour, Caroline Hackett, David Courtney, 

Doug Hardesty, and Peter L. Blair † 

Biology Department 


Richmond, Indiana 

blairpe@earlham.edu 

Malaria remains a global scourge to human life and existence and is responsible for 

up to 500 million cases and 3 million deaths annually. Therefore the need to establish 

and design novel malaria drug and vaccine strategies is crucial yet remains challenged, in 

part, due to the current status of malaria gene annotations. While the human malaria (P. 

falciparum) genome deserves the majority of attention, the accuracy of the rodent model (P. 

yoelii) genome is imperative for the traditional pipeline of drug/vaccine development and 

validity studies. Our research utilizes published large-scale datasets, notably Expressed 

Sequence Tags (ESTs), comparative genomics, and bioinformatic approaches to resolve 

and correct the current P. yoelii gene annotations. To date our research group has examined 

1585 genes, 20.2 

URPC-4


Drugs used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders affect α7 nicotinic acetylcholine 

receptors 

Sean P. McGuire, Ross S. Price, Maryam A. Taheri, Robert L. Rosenberg † 


rosenbo@earlham.edu 

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels that are pentamers 

of α and β subunits (α1-10, β1-4). nAChRs are expressed throughout the central 

nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and at the neuromuscular junction. Binding of 

the neurotransmitter acetylcholine or other agonists causes the ion channel to open, allowing 

influx of cations, and causing membrane depolarization. We focused on α7 nAChRs 

which modulate neurotransmission in the CNS, including dopaminergic and serotonergic 

pathways. nAChR activity plays a role in many neuro-psychiatric disorders such as depression, 

addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, ADHD, and 

chronic pain. Our research examined drugs that are in use or in development for the treatment 

of these disorders. Specifically, bupropion is a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake 

inhibitor used to treat depression and nicotine addiction. Zimelidine and fluvoxamine are 

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used to treat depression. Gabapentin is 

used to treat neuropathic pain, epilepsy, and other disorders. Ziprasidone is used for treatment 

of schizophrenia and bipolar disease. The complete, detailed mechanisms of most 

of these drugs are still not completely understood. The goal of our research was to test 

the hypothesis that these drugs could modulate the activity of α7 nAChRs as part of their 

pharmacological action. We obtained evidence that bupropion and zimelidine are competitive 

inhibitors of α7 nAChRs and that fluvoxamine is a non-competitive inhibitor. The 

administration of gabapentin produced no significant change in channel activity. Thus, the 

pharmacological actions of some reuptake inhibitor anti-depressant drugs may include α7 

receptor blockade. 

Antioxidant activity in Anise seed extracts 

Philip Manasseh, Mike Deibel † 

Department of Chemistry, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47374 

pamanas08@earlham.edu 

Anise seed (Pimpinella anisum) is a plant commonly used in the Mediterranean region. 

In this study, antioxidant activities of different extraction methods of anise seed were investigated. 

First, the optimum extraction method was found by running different TLC (Thin 

Layer Chromatography) plates in different solvents. Then, the antioxidant activity was 

evaluated using ABTS. This project was funded by Earlham Ford/Knight Endowed Fund. 

URPC-5


Concentrations of Terpinen-4-ol in Multiple Brands of Melaleuca alternifolia 

Oil 

Gordon Lyman, Michael Deibel † 

Department of Chemistry, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47374 

gjlyman08@earlham.edu 

The percentages of terpinen-4-ol in six brands of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil 

was determined using silica gel coated thin layer chromatography (TLC). This was meant 

to determine the quality of tea tree oil from multiple sources. The tea tree oil was diluted 

and micro-pipetted onto one TLC plate. A terpinen-4-ol standard was also micro-pipetted 

onto the same plate and treated with a p-anisaldehyde dip and heat treatment. The plate was 

then imaged and the data analyzed for the spot absorbency of each sample. The percentage 

of terpinen-4-ol remained consistent among all but one of the brands tested. The brand with 

a decreased amount of terpinen-4-ol was Neutracutical. The companies with similar concentrations 

of terpinen-4-ol were; AuraCacia, Thursday Plantation, Jason, Desert Essence 

and Now Personal Care. The amount of terpinen-4-ol in tea tree oil was, on average among 

the brands, found to be 28 ±4%. The average of terpinen-4-ol among the five brands with 

similar concentrations was 30 ±4%. This project was funded by Earlham Ford/Knight 

Endowed Fund. 

An Exploratory Screening of Achyrocline satureoids 

Lauren M. Shade, Michael A. Diebel † 

Earlham College Chemistry Department, Richmond, IN 47374 

lmshade07@earlham.edu 

Natural products have often been used as an alternative to prescription drugs. Although 

these natural remedies have not been FDA approved, many products contain phytochemicals 

that have been reported to treat various ailments. In this project an herb native to Brazil, 

Achyrocline satuureoids (Macela Powder), was explored to see if this naturally occurring 

product contained some of the properties that had been suggested. To test for the presence 

of these phytochemicals the herb was extracted in a variety of solvents. The extracted herb 

was then run on Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) plates in various solvents to obtain a 

plate that showed desired separation. It was found that the best solvents for extraction were 

Acetone: Water (70:30) and Methanol. It was also determined that the best running solvent 

was methanol: dicholoromethane: acetic acid (0.7mL: 5mL: 1 drop). The TLC plates were 

then exposed to a series of qualitative as well as quantitative tests and processes including: 

an antimicrobial test, a phenolics test, an antioxidant test (DPPH dip), as well as an ABTS 

test. Macela powder was found to have considerably high antioxidant levels and was comparable 

to other natural product values found in similar research projects, such as green 

tea. The powder was then further evaluated for phenolic content and was comparable to 

products such as Blue Violet Leaf, Green Tea (Nature’s) and Red Root. Further research 

on Macela powder is needed in order to isolate individual compounds and determine their 

structures and properties. This project was funded by the Earlham Ford/Knight Endowed 

Fund. 

URPC-6


Reproductive traits of the Nebraska Spiny Softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) 

with notes on geographic variation 

Matt Lachiusa, Ruthie Carter, John Iverson † 

Biology Department, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47374 

recarter07@earlham.edu 

Spiny Softshells (Apalone spinifera) have the third largest range of any North American 

turtle species (Buhlmann et al. 2009). However, due to their elusive and highly aquatic life 

style, softshells are difficult to study, so many of the details surrounding their life history 

remain unknown. In this study and using data from previous studies, we attempted to 

answer questions about the reproductive traits of Spiny Softshells such as the number of 

clutches produced per breeding season, clutch size, relative egg mass, and whether these 

traits correlate to adult female size. In the summer of 2010, data was collected with the use 

of fyke nets to capture gravid females from Rattlesnake Pond in the Western Sandhills in 

Lewellen, Nebraska. These females were then measured and weighed, as well as x-rayed 

to determine clutch size. Findings from previous studies across North America were also 

compiled to ascertain whether these reproductive traits vary geographically. This research 

was supported by the Stephen and Sylvia Tregidga Burges Endowed Research Fund. 

The Study of Natural Products: The Extraction and Isolation of Pau 

d’Arco UV Florescent Compounds 

Benjamin Armour, Michael Deibel † 


bbarmour08@earlham.edu 

Determining the active compounds in herbal medicine is an important step towards 

evaluating the extent of their effectiveness. Pau d’Arco is a medicinal herb derived from 

the bark of a South American evergreen tree called Tabebuia avellanedae. This medicinal 

herb has been used for conditions such as candidiasis (a vaginal or oral yeast infection), 

herpes simplex virus, influenza, parasitic diseases, and a wide range of bacterial infections. 

There have also been studies on Pau d’Arco’s anti-cancer properties. The primary purpose 

of this project was to work with different extraction and separation methods to determine 

an ideal procedure for isolating some of the ultraviolet active compounds. This study was 

able to isolate different products from an extraction with dichloromethane and separation 

using TLC plates with three difference mobile phases. These results were replicated using 

the flash chromatography whereby extracts were fractioned off and then compared to TLC 

plates for identification. Once the extraction method and mobile phases had been established, 

three different compounds were identified based UV fluorescence. Additionally, 

p-anisaldehyde reagent was utilized in order to identify the presence of phenol groups in 

all three compounds. The presence of phenol groups provides a basis for future analysis of 

the Pau d’Arco herb. This project was funded by Earlham Ford/Knight Endowed Fund. 

URPC-7


Internship in the Exploration and Development Department at YPFB 

Chaco S.A., a Bolivian Oil Company. 

Alvaro Puente, Andrew Moore † , Meg Streepey † 

YPFB Chaco S.A. 

apuente07@earlham.edu 

The exploration and exploitation of oil reservoirs is a field that, has been, and still is 

growing in Bolivia. Taking into account that both geology and geophysics have an important 

role in these two processes, I decided to work as an intern for YPFB Chaco S.A., 

an oil company based in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. During the three months, I worked mostly 

with the geophysics department on the planning of a 3D seismic profile acquisition project. 

Using the observer’s report data of previous 2D seismic projects I developed a statistical 

analysis of the regions, within the acquisition territory, in which the drilling of shot points 

was to be difficult. I found that 30% of the acquisition site had to be drilled with equipment 

more powerful than usually required. I also worked at a drilling camp assisting the 

head geologist in the analysis of samples obtained from the BBL 10 well which was still 

in the perforation stage. With this information it was possible to make a lithostratigraphic 

correlation between this well and two others, which had been previously drilled, and were 

completed and under production. 

Using Oxygen Fugacity to Learn about the Chemical Evolution of the 

Bushveld Complex 

Edward W. Marshall, Jill VanTongeren † 

AMNH REU 2010 

edmarshall4@gmail.com 

The chemical evolution of the Bushveld Complex and other layered igneous intrusions 

has long remained a mystery. Whether the Bushveld Complex evolves toward iron enrichment 

(Fenner trend) or silica (Bowen trend) is still unknown. This study seeks find which 

trend was followed in order to uncover the composition of the final residual liquid. Oxygen 

fugacity is one of indicators that can point to which evolution trend occurs. By discovering 

the oxygen fugacity of the Bushveld Complex one can deduce the evolution trend of the 

magma. Oxygen fugacity was calculated from magnetite–ilmenite pair compositions using 

the oxybarometers QUILF (Anderson et al, 2003) and the Fe-Ti Oxide Geothermometer 

(Ghiorso and Evans, 2008), and from vanadium in magnetites and clinopyroxenes using a 

relation between fugacity and the partition coefficient of vanadium in clinopyroxene (Toplis 

and Corgne, 2002). The Fe–Ti oxide results seem to point to a Si-enriching Bowen trend, 

while the vanadium results remain inconclusive. 

URPC-8


Extraction and Isolation of Organic Compounds in the Medicinal Herb 

Feverfew 

Nathanial J. Torres , Michael Deibel † 

Earlham College Chemistry Department 

njtorres08@earlham.edu 

Feverfew, a medicinal herb used to help with migraines, reducing fever, and arthritis, 

contains sesquiterpene lactones, also known as parthenolides, that give the herb most of 

it’s medicinal characteristics. In order to isolate the parthenolide from the herb, preliminary 

tests using TLC were conducted to obtain a qualitative analysis of how to isolate this particular 

organic compound. From the information gained from those tests, Soxhlet and ethanol 

extractions were then completed and flash chromatography was used to physically isolate 

the parthenolide from the herb. Although a compound was successfully isolated, the identification 

of that compound cannot be labled as being a pure parthenolide sample because 

no additional verification methods were completed. This project also included two quantitative 

tests performed on feverfew: a phenolics test, measuring the phenolic content in 

the herb, and an ABTS test, measuring the concentration of antioxidants. This project was 

funded by the Earlham Ford/Knight Endowed Fund and by the Earlham College Ronald E. 

McNair Program. 

Gene expression during developmental differentiation of queen and worker 

castes in a harvester ant 

Mark Abbey-Lambertz, Keilah Clay, Noah Gettle, Meredith Naughton, Chris 

R. Smith † 


crsmith.ant@gmail.com 

Queens and workers (castes) in ants represent an extreme example of phenotypic plasticity 

(developmental fate determined by environmental factors). These two castes often 

differ dramatically in physiology, behavior, life span, and reproductive capability. In most 

ants it is impossible to determine the point in development when differentiation occurs. 

However, in the red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) castes are genetically hardwired, 

allowing for early diagnosis of caste fate using genetic markers. Genetic markers 

were used to determine the caste of individuals (during larval, pupal, and adult stages) and 

gene expression was assayed using qPCR for target genes in the insulin signaling pathway, 

which is known to be involved in honey bee caste determination. DNA and RNA 

were extracted from over 200 individuals from which about 40 were assayed for three different 

genes. Only one gene, TOR (target of rapamycin), showed clearly different levels 

of expression between queen and worker larvae (when castes are known to differentiate). 

From these preliminary data TOR is an interesting candidate for further study, and shows 

non-intuitive differences in expression between queen and worker castes. These data also 

provide an important proof of concept for using this system to find genes that differ in 

expression during caste development. 

URPC-9


Synthesis of Selected Avenic Acid Analogs 

Nicholas L. Cummings, Rebecca W. Ransohoff, Mark G. Stocksdale † 

Department of Chemistry, Earlham College, National Road West, Richmond, IN 47374 

stockma@earlham.edu 

Graminaceous plants, when grown in iron-poor soil produce and secrete low molecular 

weight iron-chelating compounds (phytosiderophores) for the sequestering and active 

transport of iron to the plant itself. We are interested in synthesizing avenic acid (the phytosiderophore 

produced by oats) and related analogs in order to study this iron-transport 

system. We present our synthesis of selected avenic acid analogs. 

This research was supported by the Stephen and Sylvia Tregidga Burges Endowed Research 

Fund. 

Spin Assignments in Selenium-71 

Stephen Kuhn, Dr. Robert Kaye † 

Ohio Wesleyan University 

sjkuhn08@earlham.edu 

Se-71 shows signs of moderate collectivity by having both organized behavior of excited 

states (grouped into rotational bands) at high spin (or angular momentum) and an 

irregular pattern of excited states at low excitation energy. Previous research at Ohio Wesleyan 

suggests that adjustments should be made to the level scheme of Se-71 by changing 

a positive-parity band to a previously “missing” negative-parity band. This reorganization 

of the level scheme, however, opened new questions about the discrete spin values of the 

excited states belonging to this band. The primary goal of this research was to measure 

the spins of the energy levels in the new negative-parity band using data collected from a 

fusion-evaporation reaction at Florida State University that populated high-spin states in 

71Se. The analysis techniques used were comparisons with similar nuclei, structural arguments, 

and directional correlation of oriented nuclei (DCO) ratios. DCO ratios compare 

γ radiation intensity at different angles to show whether quadrupole or dipole radiation is 

emitted, and thus determine how much spin is carried away by the γ photon in a transition 

between two energy states. Thus if the spin of one of the states involved in the transition is 

known, then the spin of the other state can be determined. The experimental DCO results 

were compared against theoretical DCO ratio predictions in order to infer the change in 

spin involved with as many transitions in 71Se as possible. The spins of 18 excited states 

were measured. The results show that Se-71 is similar to its next lightest isotone 69Ge at 

low excitation energy, but is more similar to its heavier neighbors 73Se and 73Kr at high 

spin, indicating the transitional nature of this nucleus. Also, a re-investigation of the γ-ray 

coincidence data revealed new transitions in 71Se that extend the level scheme to higher 

spins. 

URPC-10


Cognitive Complexity of Linguistic Patterns 

Margaret Fero, Aaron Weeden, David Wellcome, Sean Wibel, James Rogers † 

Earlham College Computer Science Theory Group 

amweeden.earlham@gmail.com 

A fundamental part of the human experience is language recognition, a key part of 

which is word recognition. While linguists recognize that there is a wide range in the 

complexity of the patterns that occur in words (Phonological patterns), the methods they 

have for estimating relative complexity are unable to resolve these differences. 

Using tools and algorithms from Computer Science, Mathematics, and Linguistics, we 

have been working on classifying stress patterns that occur in human languages based on 

their cognitive complexity. Here, cognitive complexity refers to the nature and quantity 

of the cognitive resources required to determine if a given word is formed correctly with 

respect to a pattern. Our categorization identifies groups that are of similar cognitive complexity, 

which provides a concrete way of talking about the relative complexity of patterns. 

We are applying these tools and algorithms to a database that covers essentially all of 

the stress patterns occurring in human languages that have been attested in the literature. 

So far, we have been able to classify about three-fourths of them, and they all fall into 

the least complex class. Patterns in this class ignore everything except the last k sounds 

at each point in the word, with the complexity of the patterns increasing as k increases. 

We have found that, of the patterns that fall into this class, the largest k that occurs is six, 

which means that recognizing the patterns only requires being able to remember the six 

most recent syllables. 

Analysis of Jergon sacha 

Maryam Taheri, Michael Deibel † 



maryam.a.taheri@gmail.com 

The purpose of this research was to determine extraction methods for Jergon sacha, and 

identify bioactive compounds found in J.sacha. Extraction techniques were explored; first 

beginning with processes outlined for plants without known compounds and then modifying 

these to try to improve extraction. After optimizing extraction of J.sacha, normal and 

reverse phase TLC was utilized to try to separate the compounds/compound classes in the 

J.sacha extract. Various developing solvents were explored to optimize separation of the 

bands present in the extract. Different UV lamps (254nm and 365nm) as well as several 

dipping reagents (DPPH and natural products) were utilized to help visualize the bands. 

Lastly, the phenolic content and antioxidant ability of the extract were determined. This 

project was funded by the Earlham Ford/Knight Endowed Fund 

URPC-11


The Effects of Ultraviolet and Visible Spectrum Coloration on Predation 

Risk of Lepidopteran Larvae 

Phoebe C. Hallowell 

Earlham College Biology Department 

pchallo07@earlham.edu 

Lepidopteran larvae are known to use cryptic and protective colorations as adaptations 

to avoid detection by predators. There has been a lot of research on the role of coloration 

within visual spectrum; however some predators, such as birds as well as many insects, can 

see ultraviolet (UV) coloration and this may be a factor when predators are foraging. In this 

study I tested whether or not predators of Lepidoptera larvae use UV signals in detecting 

and selecting their prey. I hypothesized that predators use both visible and UV coloration 

cues when foraging. I predicted that caterpillars with UV markings would incur in more 

predator damage than plain caterpillars and caterpillars that are of the opposite color of the 

substrate (e.g. green caterpillar in brown substrate) will have more damage than those of 

the same color. To test this hypothesis, I conducted a field experiment with 4 different clay 

caterpillar type options (Brown No UV, Brown UV, Green No UV, and Green UV) on either 

a green or brown substrate in a rainforest edge in south eastern Peru.. After 48 hours, they 

were collected and I determined if the caterpillars were untouched, mildly damaged by a 

predator (i.e.,a few insect markings) or severely damaged by a predator (e.g. bill or teeth 

marks or having been completely removed from the immediate area). My results suggest 

that predators use cues from both the visual and ultraviolet spectra in locating and selecting 

their prey. I found that caterpillars with UV colorations and caterpillars with visible spectrum 

coloration opposite to that of the substrate had higher predation rates. Thus, visual 

and ultraviolet coloration play an important role in the survival of Lepidopteran larvae. 

Identification of Basaltic Clasts in Lunar Meteorites: In Search of South 

Pole-Aitken Basin Material 

Katie Marshall, Cari Corrigan † 

Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History 

kjmarsh07@earlham.edu 

The South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA), located on the far side of the Moon in the Southern 

Hemisphere, is the largest (250 km), deepest (8-12 km), and oldest ( 4Ga) basin on the 

Moon. Due to its great depth, the SPA Basin may expose the lower crust and even the 

mantle of the Moon. In order to find SPA Basin material, lunar meteorite thin sections in the 

Smithsonian Institutions Antarctic Meteorite Collection were analyzed for basaltic clasts. 

These clasts were located by the component minerals plagioclase feldspar, olivine, and 

pyroxene, using an optical microscope, an electron scanning microscope, and a microprobe. 

In six of the lunar meteorite thin sections a total of seventeen basaltic clasts were located. 

These clasts will undergo future tests, including Ar-Ar age dating and analysis for rare 

earth elements, to determine if they are South Pole-Aitken Basin material. 

URPC-12


The Late Bronze Age in Ukraine: Preliminary results from the Rozanivka 

site 

P. Geer Gillespie, Zoe T. Middlebrooks, Cynthia M. Fadem † 

Earlham College Department of Geosciences 

fademcy@earlham.edu 

Current paleoclimate research hypothesizes that there was a climatic shift from a cooler 

and wetter environment to a warmer and drier one at the Bronze Age-Iron Age transition 

in the region of the Ukrainian steppe. Archaeological research suggests that occupations 

became smaller and less intensively occupied at this time, indicating a shift to a more nomadic 

social structure. Our research focused on collecting data on the soil on-site and 

off-site, and the topography of the Rozanivka site. We are analyzing and describing the soil 

profiles and samples to interpret the paleoclimatic changes of the region and the affects of 

human occupation on the site soils. With topographic information obtained using differential 

GPS, we are mapping the hydrologic systems of the area surrounding the site. We 

will map and model landscape and groundwater systems in GIS. This investigation, along 

with our soil data, will help us to determine soil transport, ground water movement, and 

landscape change for both modern and paleoclimatic contexts. This information will be 

particularly important for defining the landscape changes that have taken place since the 

time of archaeological interest. Recent alterations to the landscape around the Rozanivka 

site may be causing a significant loss of soil and site materials due to the formation of a 

channel through the middle of the site. 

The Tracking of Regions of Interest in Sample Phantoms Using Deformation 

Compounding. 

Eric Wolfson, Teresa Herd † 

Physics and Astronomy, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47374 

eswolfs07@earlham.edu 

Deformation Compounding is a method that reduces the noise in power spectral estimates 

for quantitative ultrasound techniques over small regions of interest. This region of 

interest represents a homogenous and isotropic media in a heterogeneous background. It 

is done by averaging power spectra of the radio frequency (RF) echo signal from tissue 

at varying amounts of compression. Using a small window size that still gives accurate 

tissue properties is useful for learning about lesion properties. Based on the results of this 

experiment around 3 to 4 mm of window depth size gives usable results. 

URPC-13


URPC-14


List of Authors and Faculty Advisors 

Abbey-Lambertz, Mark, 9 

Adelman, Emmalee, 4 

Armour, Benjamin, 7 

Armour, Doug, 4 

Blair, Peter L., 4 

Buonarosa, Mary Lynn, 4 

Carter, Ruthie, 7 

Clay, Keilah, 9 

Corrigan, Cari, 12 

Courtney, David, 4 

Cummings, Nicholas L., 10 

Darnell, Eli, 3 

Deibel, Corinne, 2 

Deibel, Michael, 6, 7, 9, 11 

Deibel, Mike, 5 

Demyanenko, Galina, 3 

Diebel, Michael A., 6 

Duchon, Karman J., 1 

Fadem, Cynthia M., 13 

Fero, Margaret, 11 

Funkhouser, Dillan, 4 

Gettle, Noah, 9 

Gillespie, P. Geer, 13 

Hackett, Caroline, 4 

Hallowell, Phoebe C., 12 

Hardesty, Doug, 4 

Harms, Alisha, 4 

Henn, Tiffani, 1 

Herd, Teresa, 2, 13 

Hettiarachchi, Gaya, 4 

Howlett, Lindsey, 4 

Iverson, John, 7 

Jackson, Matthew, 4 

Jaghab, Yasmin, 2 

Jensen, Janell, 4 

Jensen, Jessica R., 1 

Kaye, Dr. Robert, 10 

Kuhn, Stephen, 10 

Lachiusa, Matt, 7 

Litchfield, Erin, 2 

Lyman, Gordon, 2, 6 

Manasseh, Philip, 5 

Maness, Patricia, 3 

Marshall, Edward W., 8 

Marshall, Katie, 12 

McGuire, Sean P., 5 

McIlvain, Erin, 1 

McLarnan, Peter, 2 

Meserve, Chris, 4 

Middlebrooks, Zoe T., 13 

Moore, Andrew, 8 

Morrill, Thomas, 3 

Naughton, Meredith, 9 

Pardhanani, Anand, 3 

Price, Ross S., 5 

Puente, Alvaro, 8 

Ransohoff, Rebecca W., 10 

Rogers, James, 11 

Rosenberg, Robert L., 5 

Rowland, Xander, 4 

Seu, Kalani J., 1 

Shade, Lauren M., 6 

Simkin, Alfred, 4 

Smith, Chris R., 9 

Stocksdale, Mark G., 10 

Streepey, Meg, 8 

Suleiman, Anan, 2 

Taheri, Maryam, 11


Taheri, Maryam A., 5 

Tandy, Evelyn, 1 

Tinkerhess, Martin, 4 

Torres , Nathanial J., 9 

VanTongeren, Jill, 8 

Vincent, William, 4 

Waters, Kate, 2 

Watson, Lori A., 1 

Weeden, Aaron, 11 

Wellcome, David, 11 

Wibel, Sean, 11 

Wolfson, Eric, 13

Earlham College, Richmond, IN - Earlham Computer Science ...

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