Seventh Annual Undergraduate Research Conference
Poster Session: Venable Gym 9:00-11:00 am
Poster 1
Title: Determining IPC Synthase Activity in Arabidopsis thaliana
Author: Danielle Morrissey
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Daniel V. Lynch and Prof. Ann Billetz
The significance of Inositolphosphorylceramide (IPC) synthase in plants is currently unknown. It is known that there are three genes that control the production of IPC, by knocking out these genes they can determine how much each gene is involved in the production. My work was perfecting an assay that was an easily reproducible and quantitative way to measure the actual IPC produced by wild type and mutant plants (Arabidopsis). This was done using fluorescently tagged ceramide and results were analyzed using a spectrophotometer.
Poster 2
Title: Genotypic Variations in Plant Defenses and Herbivory of Japanese Knotweed, Fallopia japonica
Authors: Danielle Morrissey & Elizabeth Maldonado
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Emily Mooney
Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is a non-native, invasive species throughout Europe and the United States. Currently there are few known ways to control its growth, and this species has 'escaped' its natural enemies in these new habitats. Our research focused on understanding how plant defensive traits vary among genotypes of F. japonica. We used Spodoptera exigua larvae in a bioassay to assess variation among genotypes in plant defenses. We anticipate that our results will reveal variation among genotypes in defensive traits. Ultimately, such variation could limit the effectiveness of insects as a form of control.
Poster 3
Title: Mutual Fund Portfolio Diversification Strategies for Varying Market Trends
Author: Robin Clapper
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Alla Kucher
When investors are advised to diversify their mutual fund portfolios, they think of purchasing different types of stocks and bonds. However, there are other and possibly more beneficial means of portfolio diversification. In this work, we test two different options for diversification: the Equal-Share Strategy and the Dollar-Cost Averaging Strategy. In order to see results beyond today's economy and falling market, we have applied these two diversification strategies to real current falling markets and real past rising markets as well as computer generated market models. Through these combinations of real data and computer experiments, we have found interesting outcomes of these two strategies for varieties of market conditions.
Poster 4
Title: Fast-Tracking into Sociology: an Outside of the Box Approach
Authors: Gail Alvarez, Felicia Ashfield, Brandon Clinton, Danielle Daby, Barbara DeNucci, Shelley Donovan, Diante Ellis, Jason Kaufman, Amanda Rolli, Andrea Salter, Amanda Sheldon, Molly Tolland, & Stephen White
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Diane Louise Balduzy
Fast-Track is a degree program at MCLA that allows students to complete a bachelor's degree in approximately 3.5 years. It was designed primarily for adult learners and their busy schedules. The pro-gram currently offers two majors: Business Administration and Interdisciplinary Studies. Students from SOCI 432: Doing Sociology, Workshop in Research Methods will present the results of Sociology student awareness of the Fast-Track and the interest of current Fast-Track students in taking Sociology courses as part of the program.
Poster 5
Title: Reversibly Silencing HVC in Zebra Finches
Author: Jon Cavanaugh
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Heather Williams
The zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), a small songbird native to Australia, is a model organism for studying the neural networking of vocal behavior. The zebra finch song system is composed of a motor pathway and an anterior forebrain pathway. The current experiment aimed to reversibly lesion the HVC nucleus of the vocal pathway using silastic implants. It was found that the silastic implants over HVC reduced the stereotypy of the song and produced more variable temporal and acoustic features.
Poster 6
Title: Song Variation in Savannah Sparrow
Author: Jon Cavanaugh
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Heather Williams
A population study was conducted comparing the acoustic structure and temporal pattern of syllables of the savannah sparrow's (Passerculus sandwichensis) song. The two samples were obtained from Kent Is-land, in the Bay of Fundy, and Green River Orchard, in Williamstown, MA. It was found that Kent Island had a faster buzz rate and Williamstown had a faster trill rate. This suggests that each population invests energy into different parts of the song because there is an energy trade-off between the buzz and trill.
Poster 7
Title: College Students' Verbal and Swearing Fluency
Authors: Jon Cavanaugh & Lynne Vanderpot
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Tim Jay
The current study compared general verbal fluency with swearing fluency. It was hypothesized that fluency is fluency: verbal fluency predicts swearing fluency, which contradicts a common perception that people swear because they lack vocabulary. Results indicate a small positive correlation, approaching significance, between verbal fluency and swearing fluency. Additionally, it was found that naming animals showed greater fluency than naming swear words, suggesting that animals are a more congruent category than swear words.
Poster 8
Title: No Man is an Island: How the Social Environment Affects the Self
Authors: Jon Cavanaugh, Devin Bryant-Bosshold, & Lynne Vanderpot
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Maria Bartini
The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between college-aged individuals' perceived friendship quality and their ability to develop and value themselves. Three self-report measures were used to measure participants' perceptions of friendship quality, tendencies towards individuation and autonomy, and self satisfaction. It was expected that because humans are social creatures, the participants would feel most satisfied with a quality of friendship that promotes their social development.
Poster 9
Title: Predictive Factors of Relational Aggression in College Students: Friendship Quality and Personal-ity Traits
Authors: Lynne Vanderpot & Nicole Mace
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Maria Bartini
The purpose of our study was to examine different aspects of friendship in college students and relate them to personality traits predictive of aggression. Our research combines several self-report measures, including friendship quality, social network density, dispositional empathy, aggressive behavior, and social anxiety. We hypothesized that relational aggression would be predicted by lower dispositional empathy, higher social anxiety, lower friendship quality and greater social network density.
Poster 10
Title: Adolescent Attitudes about Gender Roles and Social Behavior
Authors: Aubrey DeMarsico & Jennifer McMurray
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Maria Bartini
Boys and girls differ biologically, which in turn has made them different in many aspects of life. One hundred and thirty six seventh graders participated in this study and gender role flexibility was measured in terms of attitude, self perception, and behavior by using the COAT Scale as well as personal diary entries. We hope to find out if adolescent attitudes about gender role identification influence their social life, such as their peer groups and dating behaviors. This will help further research in the field and hopefully answer some questions as to why adolescents make the distinct choices that they make in their everyday lives.
Poster 11
Title: Developing an EMS Education program for a Boy Scout Troop
Author: Gregory Rosen
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Myles Whitney
A service project designed to expand the educational experience of local Boy Scout Troop 88 working toward a first aid merit badge will be presented. The scouts will experience hands-on Emergency Medical System education at the North Adams Ambulance Service. A curriculum will be designed by the EMS educator and an MCLA student. Research regarding EMS education in the community will inform the project.
Poster 12
Title: The Effects of Napping and Rehearsal on Procedural Memory
Authors: Megan Alpert & Jessica Smosky
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Peggy Brooks
This study was concerned with the effects of either a nap or rehearsal condition upon procedural memory. To study this effect we chose to utilize a silenced track on the Guitar Hero: World Tour video game and measure - through test and re-test - percent improvement according to each condition. At the time of this publication, results were not yet available. However, through careful study of alternate research available in the field, marked improvement is expected in those who were part of the nap condition.
Poster 13
Title: Greenhouse Horticulture
Authors: Anita Parker
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Emily Mooney
For my research project, I worked in the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts greenhouse and identified 49 plants by family, genus, and species. From research, I created a greenhouse catalog containing information on sun exposure, water requirements, soil pH, propagation methods, seed collecting, and diseases or pest which the plant/s may be especially susceptible.
Poster 14
Title: The Effects of Temperature and Salinity on the Growth, Survival, and Chlorophyll Content of Rhizophora mangle
Authors: Anita Parker, Michelle Rimcoski & Dominique McCoy
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Emily Mooney
Global warming could lead to increased temperature and salinity in coastal habitats. Our experiment examined the interactive effects of temperature and salinity on Rhizophora mangle, which is a beneficial species in coastal ecosystems worldwide. We set up a two-way factorial experiment, with 30 R. mangle seedlings in 6 aquaria. We measured chlorophyll content of these plants, counted leaves, and observed their survival. Overall, both elevated temperatures and salinity had negative effects on R. mangle. Plants in elevated salinity and temperature had reduced survival and chlorophyll content. These results suggest that R. mangle could experience detrimental effects due to global warming.
Poster 15
Title: Identification of dinoflagellates and bacteria associated with the anemone Aiptasia pallida
Author: Michelle Rimcoski
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Anne Goodwin
Anemones are marine animals that are not capable of photosynthesis. In order to obtain nutrients, they form important symbiotic relationships with dinoflagellates, which are algae that live inside the anemones' tentacles. To identify the specific dinoflagellate species associated with the anemone Aiptasia pallida, DNA was extracted from symbionts and amplified using polymerase chain reaction techniques. Bacterial aggregates are known to live on the surface of corals and hydra, but little is known about anemone bacteria. I have observed and isolated bacteria associated with anemones, and am currently in the process of identifying them using Gram stain techniques and electron microscopy.
Poster 16
Title: Substance Use and Aggression in College Students
Authors: April Dunham & Beth McWhirt
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Maria Bartini
This study attempts to explore the relationship between drug and alcohol use and aggression among college students. Previous research indicates that substance use tends to increase aggressive acts. Participants will complete an internet survey on drug and alcohol use and aggression. We expect to find that the more alcohol and drugs a person uses the more they will engage in aggressive acts. With this research we can gain a better understanding of the relationship between these factors which could lead to ways to help combat problems with aggression and bring more awareness to the relationship between drugs, alcohol and aggression.
Poster 17
Title: Testing Special Relativity Using Muon
Author: Bridget Gormalley
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Emily Maher
In this experiment, the student has recreated a classical test of Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity. Muons are elementary particles that travel to Earth from space at speeds greater than 0.99 times the speed of light. The student calculated the rate of muons expected at two different altitudes above sea level using classical mechanics and relativistic mechanics. Using a muon detector, the student measured the rate of muons at two different altitudes. The student will present the results.
Poster 18
Title: Models for Expansion of the Universe
Authors: Darsa Donelan, Bridget Gormalley & David Spolidoro
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Carl Wolf
Ever since the discovery that the universe was expanding, theoretical cosmologists have been searching for a model to describe the universe. Standard models include the closed, open, flat, and accelerating models. Each of these models predicts different expansions of the universe, which will occur over billions of years. In addition, the present paradox of Dark Energy allows for strange new models. In this poster we compare and contrast the most popular models of expansion and discuss the ramifications of these models.
Poster 19
Title: Buiding a Geiger Counter
Author: David Spolidoro
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Emily Maher
Radiation from radioactive decay surrounds us; it bombards our bodies every day. This background radiation is not dangerous because it comes in low doses. Larger doses of radiation can be harmful, or they can be harnessed for good uses, such as cheap energy and radiation therapy. In 1908 Hans Geiger invented the Geiger counter, a tool that continues to be useful today. The Geiger counter detects radiation levels. I am building a Geiger counter using various electronic components and a GM tube. This poster will explain how it was built, how it works, and why it is important.
Poster 20
Title: Effects of Relational Aggression and Victimization Over Time on College Romantic Relationships
Authors: Marie McMarrow & Jeanette Won
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Maria Bartini
This study examines the effects of relational aggression experienced in adolescent peer relationships on later adult romantic relationships in college students. Three self report instruments were posted on a web-site called Survey Monkey, including the Aggression and Victimization Self Report scale, the Adult Romantic Relationship Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory. We expect to find a significant effect of prior relational aggressive experiences on later romantic relationships. It is expected that involvement in college social activities will decrease and depressive symptoms increase as romantic relational aggression increases.
Poster 21
Title: The Collaborative Curatorial Process: Vivid Wonders of a Startled Imagination Exhibit at Gallery 51
Authors: Mike St. Pierre, Jeff Gagnon & Rachel Seklecki
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Lauren O'Neal
So often we think of the curatorial process as the work of one person done mysteriously behind closed doors. The Museum Studies class (part of MCLA's Arts Management program) however, worked together to combine ideas, opinions, and tastes to create all aspects of a professional gallery exhibit at MCLA Gallery 51. Through sustained group work, class discussions, and passionate dedication, students developed a theme, selected artwork, hung work in the gallery, publicized the exhibit, and planned special programming. The exhibit, "Vivid Wonders of a Startled Imagination," puts theories of museum and gallery management into practice, but also serves as a testament to an emerging, collaborative model of curation. The project revealed alternate approaches to defining and evaluating art, new ways of defining and defending aesthetic choices, and strategies for designing spaces to reflect conceptual goals for visitor engagement.
Poster 22
Title: Neurotransmitters of the Sea Anemone Aiptasia
Author: Erin Halton
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Anne Goodwin
The sea anemone, Aiptasia, has a nerve net extending throughout its body. Neurotransmitters stimulate the nerve net and cause tentacle contractions as a response to nutrients or danger. The purpose is to find which neurotransmitters influence tentacle movement. Tentacles are removed from the anemone and are treated with chemicals. Photographs are taken before and after chemical addition to analyze change in length. Chemicals tested include serotonin, dopamine, melatonin and antho-RF-amide since they have all previously been associated with anemones. Serotonin and antho-RF-amide have shown promising contractile results.
Poster 23
Title: The Effect of Halide Versus Fluorescent Lighting on the Chlorophyll Content of Corals
Author: Sarah Taylor
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Anne Goodwin
Coral reefs are a very important part of the planet's ecosystem due to the biodiversity they uphold in the marine world. Light intensity can affect the chlorophyll content and growth of coral. The goal of this study is to examine different, non-natural light sources to determine which allows for the best coral chlorophyll levels. To do this, I am measuring the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) values of each light source and the chlorophyll content in coral samples over a period of time. By optimizing an artificial environment for coral we can maintain healthy coral populations for observation and learning.
Poster 24
Title: Individual and Combined Effects of Changes to Stream Substrate Size and Stability on Macroinvertebrates and Their Food Sources
Authors: Samantha Burke, Megan Curran, & Cassandra Kessman
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Elena Traister
We are interested in how stream bottom stability and substrate size affect macroinvertebrate communities. Four replicate streams were each divided into 80-m reaches that included: a control reach, a reach in which large rocks were removed at the beginning of the experiment, a reach in which the stream bottom was physically disturbed bi-weekly, and a reach that received both of these treatments. We quantified macroinvertebrate abundance and food sources within each of these 80-m reaches every six weeks for six months. Results from this research will be important for understanding how stream biotic communities are influenced by changing stream conditions.
