Academics
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2009 Richter Symposium Schedule All sessions take place in Library Room 221. Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Session A: 12:00-12:20: Remember me? Amie Jones Most research on collaborative memory has revealed that collaborating groups remember more than individuals, but less than non-collaborating groups. Interestingly, this collaborative inhibition did not occur for participants recalling gossip in a pilot study by Matt Reysen. Two follow-up experiments addressed flaws in the pilot and explored the influence of gossip on collaborative memory. Experiment 1 manipulated gossip versus non-gossip and levels of sociability, whereas Experiment 2 examined memory for interesting versus uninteresting gossip as well as interesting versus uninteresting non-gossip. Results of Experiment 1 indicated that while gossip is remembered better than non-gossip, collaborative inhibition is not eliminated. Data collection for Experiment 2 has yet to commence, but predictions will be discussed. Session B: 12:25-12:45: Ally’s Law Ally Bain This presentation will detail the process of writing a young adult memoir to raise awareness of Crohn’s disease. The book, titled I Can’t Wait, follows two journeys—medical and political—of the author’s teenage years. While still facing Crohn’s flare-ups and spontaneous symptoms, Bain wants more than anything to maintain a normal teenage life. The book strives to capture the intimate story of how the author came to terms with her chronic illness, while, to her great surprise, discovering a political cause: securing civil rights for people with disabilities. These experiences eventually lead to a legislative act bearing Bain’s name: Ally’s Law. Session C: 12:55-1:35: Pollution and Sickness—Friends forever! Maria A. Zawadowicz The Hazardous Air Pollutants benzene and toluene are important indicators of air pollution, but have never been extensively studied for the City of Chicago. Benzene and toluene are emitted primarily by car exhaust and specific industrial sources, such as chemical and oil companies. Previous studies have shown that there is a benzene-toluene ratio characteristic of most urban areas, where most of benzene and toluene is produced by traffic. Yet, benzene to toluene ratios have never been reported for Chicago, as the Environmental Protection Agency maintains only two monitoring stations in Cook County. This study will measure benzene and toluene concentrations and are expected to provide additional insight into sources of Chicago air pollution. Kastsetskaya, Yekatsiaryna Telomerase is an enzyme that adds repetitive telomeric DNA to the telomere. If the gene is incorrectly expressed, it adds telomeric DNA repeats which could result in cancer. Studying Aspergillus oryzae is desirable due to the ease of genetic manipulation. Professor Kirk’s lab is interested in the telomerase RNA, which carries the template for synthesizing telomeric repeats. The only known sequence of the telomerase RNA is the template for the telomeric repeats, and thus we are searching the genome for this sequence. By performing experiments such a Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), the length of this RNA can be determined and inserted into a program which folds the sequence in a specific way. By comparison of this structure to the known telomerase RNA structures, we can determine if this is the telomerase RNA in Aspergillus oryzae. The knowledge of telomerase RNA in Aspergillus oryzae could enhance cancer research. Session D: 1:45-2:30: Poster Session Shelly Santo A student researcher in the Cody lab synthesized a never-before-seen compound, [EMIM]7Ni4P13S36 (EMIM = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium), through an unusual approach. In place of a conventional solvent, a low temperature molten salt (ionic liquid) was the reaction medium. Reproducing the experiment has proven extremely challenging. This presentation will discuss Santo’s attempt to optimize the approach and to prepare large quantities of [EMIM]7Ni4P13S36.
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences found at chromosomal ends that have protective functions in cells. They naturally shorten with age, indicating the number of divisions a cell undergoes. Studies in mice show that chromosomes of germ cells have longer telomeres than somatic cells. It is hypothesized that this is because telomere lengths of germ cells are passed on to future generations, thus affecting lifespans of those groups. A more convenient organism for studying telomeres is Aspergillus nidulans–a filamentous fungus capable of sexual and asexual reproduction. Our lab proposes that telomeres in germ cells of A. nidulans are longer than in somatic cells. This is complex to analyze as asexual conidia contaminate preparations of cells from the sexual stage. Hence, we examine contamination levels to determine the amount of A. nidulans conidia that could interfere with germ cell data, enabling the question regarding telomere length to be answered.
Robin Graber Guppies provide an ideal organism in which to study evolution via sexual selection. Guppy sexual selection is determined by female choice. Guppy courtship behavior consists of male guppies “displaying” for the female and the female expressing her preference by the degree of her response. Male guppies exhibit many different color morphs in a single population. Previous studies have shown females prefer males with rare and novel color patterns and males with a greater amount of orange coloration. We are currently hypothesizing that a female guppy is less responsive to a male with a similar morph to the one that has most recently courted her and more responsive to a male with a different morph. In this presentation I will discuss whether females actually do express this preference, based on an observational study and statistical analysis. Anneliese Szutenbach Caenorhabditis elegans, one of the simplest multicellular organisms, serve as a great biological model to study development. It was the first animal to have its genome completely sequenced. C. elegans develop and reproduce rapidly, are transparent, and each cell can be traced in its defined patterns of lineage. Current research includes working with and genetically mapping a mutant line of C. elegans, M77, in order to determine the genes responsible for their mutation. The M77 worms exhibit a mutated pharynx, with differentiation of the pharynx muscle cells causing a short and wide pharynx. M77 worms are being crossed with deletions strains M690, M696 and NG2618 in attempt to narrow down the genes causing the mutation. The discoveries in C. elegans research provide a pathway into a better understanding of the full range of genetics in multicellular eukaryotes. Session F: 345-4:45: Dead White Men Mary Ashley Federer Despite the fact that William Makepeace Thackeray was born in India a decade after the height of Regency England (early 1800s), he became one of the most recognizable authors on the period. His most famous period novel, Vanity Fair, wasn’t even written until 1847, yet its impact on the perception of the Regency still stands strong today. Thackeray’s portrait of English society is shaped by his sarcastic and disapproving voice. His condescending tone, however, is tinged with fascination and an acknowledgement of the necessity of the dandy. Based on Thackeray’s personal history and an analysis of his use of voice and style throughout these works, this presentation will demonstrate that Thackeray’s view of dandyism and Regency society is ultimately a reflection of his jealousy of the dandy.
In the theater, visual research encompasses the collection, examination, and analysis of the cultural, social, and political representations of a specific time period. Everything from architecture to sewing needles, down to the details of a doorknocker, must be accounted for in order to visualize and create the environment of the play. From the most realistic backdrop to the most abstract setting all design work is dependent upon accurate investigation and collection of images. Visual research is an essential aspect of any designer’s process; these images inform as well as inspire the designer for every theatrical production. The research presented here focuses on two time periods: 1875-1935 Andalusia, Spain; and 17th-century Paris, France, for the Lake Forest College Theater Department’s productions of Federico García Lorca’s House of Bernarda Alba and Molière’s Tartuffe.
Session G: 9:15-10:00: Identity, Economics Caitlin Smith Current economic development in China has intensified several dualities, including rural-urban, traditional-industrialized, and informal-formal economic contrasts. While China is one of the fastest growing economies, high rates of income inequality and poverty persist. To close these ever-increasing gaps, microfinance activities, successful elsewhere, might be initiated. Although China has moved toward free market capitalism, many aspects of society continue to encounter strict government control, resulting in a system that could be labeled “managed capitalism.” Research activities involved secondary data sources along, with field observations and interviews, to assess the potential of microfinance and microenterprise for addressing various economic and social concerns. Alexander Gilbert Traditionally, race has only been view from the perspective of black and white. Racial identification was based on the color of an individual’s skin and the categories that were offered by government institutions (such as the US Census) reflected the choice between black and white. However, as the country accepted immigrants from all over the world, the racial composition of the country changed. Today, the United States is a very diverse country with people of all races. As the racial diversity rises, so does the challenge in identifying and categorizing race. There is no better evidence than in the rise of the “some other race” census option that an individual may turn to in rejection of mono-racial categories. This presentation will focus on new perceptions of racial identities, generated from interviews and focus groups.
Daniella Brutman and Paulius Kuprys The ability of cells to regulate their volume is one of the most fundamental life processes. Volume regulation is especially pertinent when cells are exposed to dilute conditions or when cells absorb particles. Regulatory volume decrease (RVD) is a compensatory response whereby swollen cells remove specific solutes, which is then followed by water, leading to volume recovery. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of potassium and chloride in RVD, the two most abundant inorganic ions in cells. The amino acid taurine was also studied. Rainbow trout red blood cells (RBC) were used as a model system (we hypothesized that these cells would exhibit an enhanced RVD response given their unavoidable exposure to dilute conditions as they pass through the gills). Cells were exposed to dilute environments and then their volume recovery was studied under different conditions and with specific pharmacological agents. Cell volume was measured directly with a Coulter Counter and the structural integrity of cells was examined with a spectrophotometer. The lab’s main hypothesis was that the efflux of both potassium and chloride is key to the RVD response and therefore blocking the transport of these ions would inhibit volume regulation. The lab also hypothesized that taurine would contribute to RVD.
Kayla Ahlstrand and Peter Sullivan
Angela Spoto Beowulf is named after its male protagonist, and yet, at the heart of the story are two powerful female characters: Wealhtheow, queen of the Danes, and Grendel’s mother, mother of a monster. Not only in the ancient epic, but also in modern reinterpretations, these two figures are counterparts: Wealhtheow uses words to assert her power, while Grendel’s mother uses the force of her actions. Each also serves as a sovereignty figure, granting the king/future king the authority to rule—either through her blessing or through her defeat. This presentation will examine the story of Beowulf and the characters of Wealhtheow and Grendel’s mother as well as the evolution of their portrayal in popular culture. This presentation will then illustrate how these two characters are sovereignty figures and mirror image counterparts.
This research aimed to find already existing commentaries on specific parables that had been previously selected by Professor Ron Miller. It then analysed the various interpretations on the parables at the same time as any apparent correlation between these interpretations, the way parables were grouped in different books and the overall image of Christianity and Jesus that they wished to convey. Furthermore, Professor Miller’s approach to the teachings of Jesus is radically different from any other encountered during the research. With the raise in criticism of religious faith and the polarisation of different religions which increasingly see each other as enemies rather than allies, this interpretation of the Christianity of Jesus brings to attention what truly lies at the heart of all religions. All religions invite the individual to a transformation of consciousness, which in turn will alter the individual’s behaviour, and their sense of community. Valerie Miller This presentation will focus on the Hebrew mythological figure Lilith, Adam's first wife, and her appearances in classical and modern literature. The presentation will emphasize her origins in Kaballah and Jewish myth and the Sumerian epic Gilgamesh, as well as in the 1970s feminist movement, the fantasy works of Lilith by George MacDonald and C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, George Bernard Shaw's Back to Methuselah, the poetry of Robert Browning and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Beloved by Toni Morrison.
Kosova Kreka Electron-molecule and electron-atom collisions are common in the natural world. Some examples include: plasma processing of semi-conductors, fluorescent lamps, and plasma flat screen televisions. Also, results from electron-impact studies increase our knowledge of atom and molecule structures. What we call a cross section is proportional to the probability that a particular electron molecule collision happens. When we collide a target gas with electrons some of the gas molecules gain energy, and when they lose that amount of energy they produce light. This presentation will examine the light produced to retrieve data necessary to define the cross section.
Session L: 3:00-3:30: Lake Forest College Gets a Printing Press (sort of). Sarah Spoto This formal presentation will cover three main aspects of my project: the Plonsker residency, &Now anthology, and Beyond Burnham book--emphasizing various aspects of the publishing process using the three different projects from the Lake Forest College Press. The Plonsker residency is best delineated through an explanation of the application and selection process. For &Now, the presentation will similarly discuss an anthology selection process. For Beyond Burnham, the presentation will discuss the minutiae of book production and design.
Session M: 3:45-4:45: Math Gone Wild: Music and Misdemeanors (de)Mystified with Matrices and Mathematica Huy D. Nguyen Caitlin Pickens Working with Professor Ed Packel Wolfram’s Mathematica is a powerful program used for mathematics computations. For our research, Huy and Caitlyn have been studying how Mathematica functions. They are learning the patterns of commands, shorthand methods to calculate, and ways to employ the program in problem solving situations. With this knowledge, they plan to create a “Manipulate” or “Animate” program to submit to Wolfram Mathematica for publication as a demonstration. Caitlyn's research is focused on music created randomly with Mathematical probability matrices. By studying Bach, The Math Behind the Music, Markov Chains, and other resources, she plans to write a program that can generate and play a short musical composition. The command pulls ideas from the following subfield: probability (Markov Chains, probability trees, weighted probabilities), linear algeba (matrix theory), and even calculus (is it possible to use a function to create notes?). In his project, Huy studied the Prisoner's Dilemma. Using matrices, tables, and game theory concepts, he developed a program that explains the problem in both table and tree form. He worked to simplify and clarify the concepts so that his program could be used in the classroom, for both game theory and economics classes. |
Wed., July 15 Session A: Remember me? Amie Jones, with Prof. Kelley Session B: Ally Bain, with Prof. Chapman Session C: Maria A. Zawadowicz, with Prof. Del Negro Kastsetskaya Yekatsiaryna, with Prof. Kirk Session D: Shelly Santo, with Dr. Cody Saajidha Rizvydeen, with Prof. Kirk Session E: Robin Graber, with Prof. Houde Anneliese Szutenbach, with Prof. Smith Session F: Mary Ashley Federer, with Prof. Chad McCracken Samantha Parkison, with Minxu Zhang, with Prof. Schneiderman Thurs., July 16 Session G: Caitlin Smith, with Prof. Dlabay Alexander Gilbert, with Prof. Nordlund Daniella Brutman and Paulius Kuprys, with Session I: Kayla Ahlstrand and Peter Sullivan, with Prof. DeBurman Angela Spoto, with Prof. Brown Fiorella López, with Prof. Miller Valerie Miller, with Prof. Goluboff Session K: Kosova Kreka, with Prof. Schappe Session L: Sarah Spoto, with Prof. Schneiderman Session M: "Music and Misdemeanors (de)Mystified with Matrices and Mathematica" |