Student Projects

Name: Denise Benetatos
Academic Program: Anthropology
Research Mentor: Dr. Laurie Price
Project Tile: Perceptions of Beauty Among Korean Women

Name: Tiffany Chen
Academic Program: Clinical Child/School Psychology
Research Mentor: Dr. Oanh Tran
Project Tile: Promoting resiliency in schools through social-emotional learning

Name: Edwin Contreras
Academic Program: History
Research Mentor: Dr. Linda Ivey
Project Tile: The Agricultural and Early Settlers/Pioneers Legacy of the Cal State East Bay Campus Site

Name: Darlene Decena
Academic Program: Biology
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Gallegos
Project Tile: Characterization of RAB-10 in PLM Neurite Termination

Name: Simarvir Grewal
Academic Program: Chemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. James Murray
Project Tile: Tritonia diomedea hematocytes

Name: Ashley Griffin
Academic Program: Business Administration
Research Mentor: Dr. Tammie Simmons-Mosely
Project Tile: Urban Opportunities and the Quality of Life

Name: Brandon Gruidl
Academic Program: Physics
Research Mentor: Dr. Derek Kimball
Project Tile: Electric Field

Name: Caitlin Ibarra
Academic Program: Anthropology
Research Mentor: Dr. Henry Gilbert
Project Tile: A new look at frontal bone ontogeny

Name: Tobias Larson
Academic Program: Kinesiology
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeff Simons
Project Tile: Effectiveness of a Golf Training Aid

Name: Marina Longnickel
Academic Program: Applied Math & Physics
Research Mentor: Dr. Derek Kimball
Project Tile: Electric Field

Name: Chris McConnell
Academic Program: Physics
Research Mentor: Dr. Erik Helgren
Project Tile: Characterization of Polymer Wafers, R vs T

Name: Dung Nguyen
Academic Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Mentor: Dr. Michael Groziak
Project Tile: Synthesis of a Novel Boron Heterocycle

Name: Lieu Nguyen
Academic Program: Nursing
Research Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Kim
Project Tile: New RN Residency Program at CSU East Bay

Name: Nicole North
Academic Program: Chemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. Danika LeDuc
Project Tile: Understanding Poplar Tolerance to Salinity

Name: Nataly Perez
Academic Program: Construction Management
Research Mentor: Dr. Cristian Caedicke
Project Tile: Bagasse Ash Modified Concrete (BAMC)

Name: Meuy Saelee
Academic Program: Biochemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. Michael Groziak
Project Tile: Diazoxide Analogs - Boron Heterocycles

Name: Claudio Sanchez
Academic Program: Physics
Research Mentor: Dr. Derek Kimball
Project Tile: Spin Gravity

Name: Natalie Sanford
Academic Program: Speech-Language Pathology
Research Mentor: Dr. Nidhi Mahendra
Project Tile: Auditory vs Visual Input: Effects on Recall by Dementia Patients

Name: Maria Silva
Academic Program: Sociology
Research Mentor: Dr. Patricia Jennings
Project Tile: The Cultural Influences Of Hip-Hop on Contemporary Society

Name: Julie Spicer
Academic Program: Speech-Language Pathology
Research Mentor: Dr. Nidhi Mahendra
Project Tile: Qualitative Interviews for Aphasia Research

Name: Tesfay Tesfatsion
Academic Program: Biochemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. Michael Groziack
Project Tile: Synthesis of a Boron Containing Analogue of Allopurninol

Name: Deborah Weber
Academic Program: Nursing
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Tellez
Project Tile: PROCEnf Evaluation

Name: Denise Benetatos
Academic Program: Anthropology
Research Mentor: Dr. Laurie Price
Project Tile: Perceptions of Beauty Among Korean Women
Project Description: As a graduate student in anthropology at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), I am developing my thesis and dissertation work. As a result of my recent teaching and living experience in South Korea, Korean women and Korean culture have become my focal point. With a specific theoretical focus on cultural transmission, I am examining how certain dominant beliefs and ideologies of appearance and beauty are transmitted within a culture. In other words, my research seeks to examine cross-cultural perspectives of beauty and seeks to uncover how concepts and patterns of behavior are reproduced and reinforced through the media and the family. Ultimately, my goal is to deconstruct specific factors that influence perceptions of beauty, which shed light on a deeper understanding of how the media and the family influence Korean culture. Because my research examines a culture that is different from my own, language barriers hinder the data collection process. Since February, when my research began, I weekly commute to a Korean salon in Oakland. Since the salon primarily contains Korean employees and clients, almost all interaction between participants during observation is conducted in the Korean language. Although I am currently studying the Korean language, to achieve fluency requires ample time and practice. The funding awarded with this fellowship will allow me to hire a translator. A translator will provide richer data, because I will then be able to fully understand and record all interaction that takes place. Furthermore, I will use the money to pay interview participants. Paying interview participants will allow a larger incentive for Korean women to participate, as they are sacrificing their time to contribute to my research. In sum, hiring a translator for participant observations and paying informants for in-depth interviews will make my research more valid because it will allow for richer data collection.

Name: Tiffany Chen
Academic Program: Clinical Child/School Psychology
Research Mentor: Dr. Oanh Tran
Project Tile: Promoting resiliency in schools through social-emotional learning
Project Description: I am currently a graduate student in the Clinical Child/School Psychology program. As part of my training, I am working as a Fieldworker in both elementary and secondary schools and as a Marriage & Family therapist-in-training at the Community Counseling Clinic. Addressing social-emotional needs of students was an integral part of the therapeutic process through individual counseling in my field- and clinic-work. I am learning first-hand how supporting students social-emotionally helps promote academic achievement and positive classroom behaviors. Dr. Oanh Tran's, a school psychology professor, research explores such issues of social-emotional learning within the schools. Social-emotional learning is defined as having self-awareness, social and relationship skills, responsible decisions-makings skills, and cognitive skills impacting emotional adjustment. I am excited to be part of a significant research topic to benefit students' well-being and achievement.

The challenge of students engaging in high-risk behaviors and experiencing mental health issues in school is steadily increasing. The goal of Dr. Tran's research is to focus on prevention and early intervention at a system level to alleviate such mental health-related problems. In order to teach positive coping skills to build social-emotional resiliency within students, a curriculum known as "Strong Kids" was developed. The curriculum is psychoeducational with brief 10-12 lessons concentrating on cognitive change and skills, affective education, and behavioral skills. They consist of topics such as Understanding your feelings, Dealing with Anger, Clear Thinking, and the Power of Positive Thinking. They also contain different scenarios for skill-building exercises and for generalization of skills. Part of the research is to measure effectiveness of implementing such social-emotional learning curriculums within the schools.

My role in the research project is to aid Dr. Tran with multitude of research-related tasks such as analyzing data and incorporating the findings in presentations. I am also collaborating with Dr. Tran in preparing for a poster presentation during the National Association of School Psychology Annual Convention 2013 in Seattle. I will be presenting alongside Dr. Tran for a 90-minute period. It is oriented to inform many other professionals in the field the benefits and process of social-emotional learning. In addition to fulfilling the above accomplishments this year, I also hope my participation in this research will guide my practices in my future career as a school psychologist.

Name: Edwin Contreras
Academic Program: History
Research Mentor: Dr. Linda Ivey
Project Tile: The Agricultural and Early Settlers/Pioneers Legacy of the Cal State East Bay Campus Site
Project Description: The Campus of CSU East Bay is located on land that belonged to the Hauschildt Family of Hayward, not much is known about the agricultural past and the presence of the early pioneers in their relationship to the land that now is the campus of the university. Thousands of students walk and drive around campus without knowing/appreciating the history of the location, and the stories of the immigrant families that made it their home. Even more surprising is the lack of reference points/landmarks on campus that tell the story of those who lived and worked here before the university was built. This public history project aims to fill this gap, by presenting the stories of the early pioneers of the Hayward area, especially of the founding families such as the Hauschildt, Jensen, Meek, etc. and the agricultural operations that were carried out here.

The intention of the project is to also link the history of the campus and campus site to the early years of the California Republic, and its Californio past. With this in mind, a timeline will link the years when Don Guillermo Castro owned most of the area to the years when the University was built, and in the process tell the story of those who made the area their home and the agricultural operations that proliferated and sustained them. Hayward has always been known for its agricultural enterprises, especially before the end of WW 2, and orchards and ranches dominated the landscape, especially near the university site. What kinds of fruits and vegetables were produced? What types of animals were raised? Where were all these productions sent/sold? Who carried these operations? How long did they last? Was the area linked to other parts of California? South America? Asia?. Who established the ranches and farms? How did these families live? Did they all know each other? What was their roles in the development of the East Bay? These are some of the questions that naturally arise from this project.

As the years went by and the new immigrants outnumbered the Californio families of the area, it is also interesting to see these changes in the local cemeteries, especially the Pioneers Cemetery of San Lorenzo, Lone Tree and all saints cemeteries, where many members of the founding families are buried. In addition there is much historical material stored in the Hayward Historical society and the archives of the university that could be used in order to know more about the lives of these families. Of particular interest is the Story of the Danish Hauschildt family, since they owned the Hauschildt Ranch on which the university was built. It is known that Tim Hauschildt bought the land on the Hayward hills in 1860, did he buy from Don Castro himself? or from any of the other families that bought from Don Castro?.

The ultimate goal of this project is to bring the history of the area back on campus for the public and students to appreciate.

Name: Darlene Decena
Academic Program: Biology
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Gallegos
Project Tile: Characterization of RAB-10 in PLM Neurite Termination
Project Description: To better understand how the brain works, it is necessary to study how neurons and dendrites (neurites) control their growth, and maintain their shape. Directed membrane trafficking may be crucial to neural development and morphogenesis. RAB-10, a small GTPase, has been shown to mediate recycling of transport vesicles at the plasma membrane in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. However, little is known about RAB-10 function in neural morphogenesis.

Using the in vivo model, C. elegans, we focus on neurite termination of the posterior mechanosensory neuron, PLM (posterior lateral microtubule). The conserved molecular pathway involved in neurite termination includes two conserved genes, sax-1 and sax-2. sax-2 encodes a large conserved protein that functions with sax-1, a protein kinase. sax-1 and sax-2 single mutants, as well as the sax-1/sax-2 double mutant, lead to similar levels of overextension of PLM. Moreover, single mutant analysis of F09A5.4, an ortholog of yeast Mob2 known to interact with yeast SAX-1, also leads to PLM overextension. Additionally, neuronal SAX-2::GFP (green fluorescent protein) localizes to small puncta resembling transport vesicles. Downstream effectors of the sax-1/sax-2 pathway have yet to be identified in animal cells. However, genetic and biochemical studies with Cbk1p, a yeast ortholog of SAX-1, displays an interaction with Sec2p, an exchange factor of Sec4p, the founding member of the Rab family of GTPases. The closest animal homologs of Sec4p include RAB-8 and RAB-10. We find that loss of rab-10, but not rab-8, disrupts PLM neurite termination comparably to sax-1.

To study the role RAB-10 might play in PLM neurite development, we first created rab-10 single mutant and double mutant strains involving the following genes: sax-1, sax-2, and F09A5.4. The mutant strains will be used to determine if rab-10 functions in the same molecular pathway as the conserved sax-1/sax-2 pathway. Next, we created wild-type (WT) and constitutive active (CA) rab-10 constructs fused to mCherry, a red fluorescent protein marker. Importantly, the WT construct rescues the rab-10 loss-of-function mutant indicating that the construct is functional. This rescuing rab-10::mCherry fusion will be used to observed the subcellular localization of rab-10 alone and in combination with the rescuing sax-2::gfp transgene.

This year we plan to accomplish the following three tasks: (1) Complete the phenotypic analysis of single and double mutant strains to determine gene interactions; (2) Create additional transgenic lines by injecting WT and CA rab-10::mcherry constructs into animals; (3) Use confocal microscopy to observe the subcellular localization of RAB-10, and compare with the localization of sax-2 in neurons. We will present our findings at the International Worm Meeting in June 2013 at UC Los Angeles.

Name: Mathew Fernandez
Academic Program: Cell and Molecular Biology
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Tile: Production and quantitation of GB-Virus C using transfected Jurkat CD4+ and PBMC cells.
Project Description:GB Virus Type C (GBVC) is a recently observed virus which has been shown to be apathogenic to humans. It has been observed that HIV-1 positive patients who are coinfected with GBVC take longer to progress to AIDS. It is not fully understood how GBVC affects HIV-1 progression. The goal of this experiment is to develop assays to measure GBVC production. This will be accomplished in two ways. In one part of the experiment we will clone the entire GBVC genome from a bacterial plasmid into a eukaryotic expression vector. In another part of the experiment we will be using in vitro transcription to produce a high yield of genomic RNA. The vectors containing the GBVC genome and the GBVC RNA will be transfected into Jurkat CD4+ cells and PBMCs. Viral particle production will then be detected via Western blot analysis and quantitated using the Mesoscale system. This information will broaden our knowledge of the mechanisms GBVC uses to replicate inside the host and therefore add to our understanding of how GBVC affects HIV production.

Name: Cara Gallagher
Academic Program: Biology
Research Mentor: Dr. James Murray
Project Tile: Description and localization of olfactory receptor genes in a novel sensory organ in a sea slug
Project Description: Neuroscience has probed extensively into the brains of the opisthobranch Tritonia diomedea, but there still remain unanswered questions about their sensory systems. The function of ciliated grooves on the oral veil tips is the center of this study, specifically their chemosensory abilities. These grooves have been known for decades, but only recently did we show that they are densely covered with motor cilia. The two grooves are on the lateral extremes of the tactile oral veil. This lateral tip is normally held in a vertical posture, pointing toward the substrate, while the ~20 medial tips are extended forward to contact objects. The lateral tips are usually held 0-3mm above the substrate. Our SEM images of the groove show dense tufts of cilia. Our observations of transport of dark pigment show that the cilia are oriented so as to pull fluid up from the tip, vertically towards the lips of the slug (essentially "sniffing" the odor up like a bloodhound). This has led us to the hypothesis that this novel organ functions in olfaction of the slow moving water of the viscous boundary layer on the ocean floor. This viscous layer within 1 mm of the solid surface should contain chemical signals that have diffused into it over minute or hours, and thus is not a temporally-variable as the odors suspended in the turbulent waters above the surface, thus the viscous layer odor cues may be more reliable and consistent. This may increase the likelihood of the slug finding prey and mates by scent. Our experiments have displayed evidence that Tritonia's ciliary beating with in the groove can change speeds under different chemical stimuli, which indicates that these organs may have a sensory function. Using biotechnological techniques we believe that we could show a difference in gene expression between medial (non-ciliated) and lateral (ciliated) oral veils tips. We hypothesize the presence of olfactory genes expression in the location of the groove.

Using the available DNA sequences for the olfactory genes from Aplysia californica (Cummins et al., 2009), we will perform multiple sequence alignments. From the resulting consensus sequences, primers will be designed. We will then obtain Tritonia diomedea specimens, extract their DNA, conduct PCR and sequence the PCR products to ensure they encode olfactory genes. RNA from several key locations, including the oral groove, will be extracted and RT PCR will be performed to determine the extent of olfactory gene expression in different locations of the slug. We hypothesize a difference in gene expression quantity and/or quality between the lateral oral veils tips with the possibly olfactory ciliated groove and the gustatory and tactile medial tips.

This project could lead to the possible identification of a novel organ in the nudibranch Tritonia diomedea, and will allow us to compare olfactory receptor genes between two distantly-related sea slugs. If successful, the next step would be to perform in situ hybridization in the brain to determine if any brains cells are generating olfactory receptor proteins and growing sensory neurites to the skin. Once identifying the olfactory pathways in the brain, we hope to show how olfactory cues affect neurons that control crawling and turning, and ultimately understand the mechanisms of olfactory navigation.

Name: Simarvir Grewal
Academic Program: Chemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. James Murray
Project Tile: Tritonia diomedea hematocytes
Project Description: Although an invertebrate, Tritonia diomedea is quite a complex organism. In Tritonia, the hematocytes serve many purposes including: phagocytosis, clotting, and carrying hormones. Using various molecular biology techniques, we hope to better understand the intricacies of intercellular communication in this organism. Serotonin and its receptors have been located on neural cells of this nudibranch, particular because of its large neurons; however, finding these particular receptors on the hematocytes will help us better understand the hormones role in the organism. To conduct the research, we first need to extract the blood from the open circulatory system of the nudibranch. We then need to move onto the most difficult part of the project, cell culturing. Culturing is no easy feat; it has been tried before with limited success. This is due to the fact that optimal conditions for cell growth are still being worked out. Once we get over the stump of culturing the cells, we hope to use methods such as quantitative PCR (a type of real-time PCR) or qPCR and western blotting. After running the western blot, we hope to identify the receptor by using a primary anti-serotonin (also known as 5-Hydroxytryptamine) rabbit antibody as well as a secondary anti-rabbit antibody. Quantitative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and western blotting will help us identify if the receptors are present on the hematocytes. A positive result of serotonin receptors on the hematocytes of Tritonia, using these techniques, will help us better understand the molecule's role in regards to cell-cell communication. It will also be the impetus for us to search for other hormone receptors, such as melatonin receptors, in the organism.

Name: Ashley Griffin
Academic Program: Business Administration
Research Mentor: Dr. Tammie Simmons-Mosely
Project Tile: Urban Opportunities and the Quality of Life
Project Description:Urban Sprawl has a direct relationship to economic performance and the quality of life. As urban sprawl occurs, opportunities in marginalized, low-income communities begin to diminish, resulting in a reduction of jobs, businesses, and proper housing for those remaining in the inner city. Therefore, low-income families become poverty-stricken, furthering the income gap between social classes.

My research will be a quantitative study examining urban sprawl, the real estate market, and zoning and land use regulations in Alameda County, CA. I will conduct my research using statistical data, sprawl indexes, demographics retrieved from the U.S. Census, and information conducted by prior researchers. Alameda County consists of 14 incorporated cities. Therefore, I chose two incorporated cities to examine: Hayward, CA. and Pleasanton, CA. For each city, I will compute the number of home owners versus the number of home renters and note patterns in the growth and decline rates of their populations. I will also attend city council meeting once a month and visit each cities Housing Authority to further understand how each city's planning decisions are made.

Name: Brandon Gruidl
Academic Program: Physics
Research Mentor: Dr. Derek Kimball
Project Tile: Electric Field
Project Description:The end goal is to detect and improve the measurement of the electrons electric dipole moment (EDM). One way to detect the EDM is through the application of a magnetic field and alternating electric fields thus allowing us to measure the stark shift. This measurement is improved if the particles can stay polarized for long periods of time. Recently a new anti-relaxation coating was developed and, should it prove useble in an electric field, could push the boundaries of searching for new physics such as supersymmetry.

Over the summer we were able to determine that by heating this anti-relaxation coated vapor cell we could improve the recovery of atomic density. What we hope is that by characterizing this temperature dependence we will see a point where the vapor density remains constant.

Once we have mapped the vapor density vs temperature we will carry out experiments to verify that the spin relaxation of the coating is still maintaining long spin polarization in the alternating electric field and that the electric field is present within the cesium cell.

If all these tests are successful, we will be able to design a new EDM experiment. The results of our work will be submitted for publication in the Physical Review A.

Name: Caitlin Ibarra
Academic Program: Anthropology
Research Mentor: Dr. Henry Gilbert
Project Tile: A new look at frontal bone ontogeny
Project Description: In the past, frontal bone ontogeny has been studied as a single unit focusing on ectocranial dimensions. With recent advances in skeletal genetics and molecular biology we, have observed multiple genetic influences affecting frontal development. This has given reason to look at the development of the frontal bone in a new light. I plan to investigate the ontogeny of the frontal bone, looking at its overall development and the differences between ectocranial and endocranial functional units.

I plan to use a sample comprising dry skulls divided into four age categories, 1-1.5,3-3.5, 5-5.5, 7-7.5 years-of-age. The sample will consist of a total of 32 dry skulls. The skulls used in this sample are housed at the Spencer R. Atkinson Library of Applied Anatomy Collection at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco. I plan to age each individual using dental radiographs from the CT scans of the dry skulls. Sex determination will not be assigned to the specimens because of the age of the individuals. The individuals in this sample will be chosen because of their lack of visible pathologies on the cranium. The sample will then be scaled on cranial index to eliminate cranial size as a variable.

I plan to make a series of metric and nonmetric comparisons from dry skulls, isosurfaces, and meshes generated from CT reconstructions. CT scans will be provided by the Spencer R. Atkinson Library of Applied Anatomy Collection at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco. Uploading CT scans into Amira software will make reconstructions that will then be turned into mesh files and analyzed in MeshLab. A series of curve measurements will be performed on the dry skull and on the reconstructions to make sure the measurements performed on the isosurfaces and meshes are scaled and accurate. All other measurements will be performed on the meshes and isosurfaces, eliminating the use of calibers on the specimens.

I hypothesize that there will be a difference in development between the ectocranial and endocranial units. If specific growth regions of the frontal and the morphological changes that result during ontogeny are identified, it will allow clarification of evolutionary and pathologic changes in frontal morphology.

Name: Olga Kachina
Academic Program: History
Research Mentor: Dr. Jessica Weiss
Project Tile: Global History Became Local: The Memory of the 1918 Izhevsk-Votkinsk Anti-Bolshevik Uprising in California
Project Description:
Research Question
Why and how did the events of the Civil War in two Russian cities Izhevsk and Votkinsk become part of California local history?

Research Description
My research paper is devoted to the 1918 Izhevsk-Votkinsk Anti-Bolshevik Uprising. This uprising has a specific significance in the history of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War because the workers of two Udmurt military factories did not support the Proletarian Revolution despite their class affiliation. Moreover, they overthrew the Bolsheviks in their cities and held power for 100 days, from August 8, 1918 to November12, 1918. When the Bolsheviks suppressed the rebellion, about 60,000 of the workers and members of their families left their native cities and joined the White Army of General Kolchak. The majority of them never returned. Those who survived in the battles of the Civil War immigrated to China, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and the United States. Many of them settled in San Francisco.

Research Plan
In September 2012, I submitted my research proposal to the XXXIX Conference of the Study Group of the Russian Revolution. This is an international conference that will take place from 4-6 January 2013 at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. In October 2012, I have received an official notification that my paper has been accepted to the conference. The preliminary program of the Conference can be found on the following website: (http://www.uea.ac.uk/his/eventsnews/events/BASEES_Russian_Revolution). In order to prepare for the conference, I have to complete my research paper and create a PowerPoint Presentation. I will analyze primary sources related to the uprising preserved in the Museum of Russian Culture in San Francisco, the Bancroft Library, at the University of California at Berkeley, and at the Hoover Institute Archive at Stanford University.

Name: Tobias Larson
Academic Program: Kinesiology
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeff Simons
Project Tile: Effectiveness of a Golf Training Aid
Project Description: I am beginning to conduct a study into the effects of a golf training aid on motor skill acquisition. I hope to determine if a training aid actually helps improve a specific aspect of the golf swing. I plan on conducting a scientific study that will determine within measurable parameters the efficacy of a specific training device. By the end of the year I will have my sample population identified; my research methodologies planned and have all equipment necessary for the study acquired. The outcomes of this study will provide insight into one method for developing motor skills when expert instruction is not available. This study will also provide evidence that will determine the validity of the claims made by the manufacture. This result will generate discussion about the cost effectiveness of training devices and if they are good for consumers. I feel that my biggest challenge in conducting this study will be selecting the best training tool to use for this research. The tool must be easy to use, both in terms of operation and physical strain. The tool must also have a promoted outcome that can be precisely measured to establish a metric for effectiveness. In order to overcome this challenge, I will need to identify what training tools are available. In my selection criteria, I will consider which products are currently market leaders or have the potential to become highly used devices. I will also make my selection based upon tools have measurable claims, beyond just lowering a golfer's score, but a specific change/improvement in the use of a golf club. In addition to the product comparison, I will also conduct an extensive literature review to gain insight into the methodology and outcomes from similar studies.

Name: Marina Longnickel
Academic Program: Applied Math & Physics
Research Mentor: Dr. Derek Kimball
Project Tile: Electric Field
Project Description: The project we've been working on involves polarization of Cesium atoms in a glass cell coated with a new alkene-based antirelaxation coating which enables the atoms to bounce off the cell walls for a prolonged periods of time before losing the polarization. These are many interesting experiments that can be done with such cells if an electric field can be applied to them. One such experiment is a search for a time-reversal-violating and mirror-symmetry-violating electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron that would signal new physics such as supersymmetry.

The problem we ran into was that the density of the metal vapor dropped significantly while reversing the direction of the electric field. Over this past summer we've discovered that slightly heating up the stem of the cell would dramatically increase the recovery rate of the vapor. We are currently designing a heating system and trying to pin point the precise temperature to maintain in the cell for which any drop in density would cease all together.

Once we have determined temperature parameters for which the vapor density is constant during reversal of the electric field, we will carry out experiments to verify that the spin relaxation of the coating are preserved even during the application of the electric field. Finally, we will measure the electric field in the cell using atomic spectroscopy.

If all these tests are successful, we will be able to design a new EDM experiment. The results of our work will be submitted for publication in the Physical Review A.

Name: Chris McConnell
Academic Program: Physics
Research Mentor: Dr. Erik Helgren
Project Tile: Characterization of Polymer Wafers, R vs T
Project Description: Doped Polymer wafers will be characterized in a cryostat using a 4 probe measuring technique. Measurements will be collected with LabView and analyzed to determine the optimum doping to construct photovoltaic cells with the ideal insular-metallic properties. Sample will be placed in the cryostat chamber and a high vacuum will be pulled on the sample chamber. The sample will be cooled off to 4 K over approximately eight hours while continuously taking measurements, the sample will be then brought back up to ambient temperature while continuing measurements at the same rate. Data will be analyzed and plotted, resistivity vs. temperature. The process will be repeated with many different samples to determine the optimum doping to be used to construct photovoltaic test cells. Many results will then be plotted on a single graph to ensure the data makes sense and any irregularities will be investigated.

Name: Farel Miankodila
Academic Program: Construction Management
Research Mentor: Dr. Cristian Caedicke
Project Tile: OPTIMIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES FOR PERVIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE BAY AREA.
Project Description: Concrete is one of the most widely used materials for construction of infrastructure such as highways, parking lots and bridges. While concrete infrastructure is vital for economic development and growth, its utilization may generate environmental issues such as large areas covered by impervious surfaces. Pervious concrete is a special type of concrete which allows water to easily infiltrate the soil due to its high porosity. It is generally used for pavement, residential streets, pedestrian walkways, and also in greenhouse. This concrete has the property to minimize environmental impact in urban areas by allowing rain water to directly percolate into ground and benefiting runoff management. Pervious concrete is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Best Management Practice (BMP) for Storm Water Pollution Prevention (SWP), and is a key in sustainable construction by reducing the impact of large paved areas, reducing the urban heat island effect, and by minimizing the cost associated to special runoff management infrastructure such as water ponds and drainage popes.

While pervious concrete has the potential to significantly reduce the negative impacts of pavement infrastructure in urban areas, its implementation has been limited. One of the main roadblocks that contractors, city officials and building owners have faced is the lack of effective and consistent building practices for pervious concrete pavements. My student project, which is part of Dr. Gaedicke's research in sustainable infrastructure and pervious concrete pavements, will focus on the construction issues and practices needed to widely implement pervious pavements.

The objective of my project is to develop sustainable engineering and construction practices to be used for pervious concrete. This outcome will be achieved by first evaluating the priority that general contractors assign to the quality control of pervious pavements. Each contractor will be interviewed to assess their own best practices and final product quality. A statistical analysis will then be used to establish the practices that significantly improve the quality and sustainability of pervious pavements. An economic versus environmental benefits analysis will be included to assess the overall impact of pervious concrete in green projects (pavements and green building). Finally, the recommended best practices for sustainable pervious pavement construction will be published and digitally shared with construction managers and the community at large.

It is expected that this project will help the construction industry, individual owners and city officials to better understand the benefits of pervious concrete and to reduce the uncertainties associated with pervious pavements construction. A higher awareness will promote the use of this material and generate significant environmental benefits by replacing impervious surfaces such as parking lots with sustainable pervious pavements.

Name: Dung Nguyen
Academic Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Mentor: Dr. Michael Groziak
Project Tile: Synthesis of a Novel Boron Heterocycle
Project Description: Biologically active compounds containing boron analogs might lead to new therapeutics such as proteasome inhibitors, anticoagulans, β-lactamse inhibitors and many more. 2-(Hydroxycarbamoyl)phenylboronic acid is the target of our synthetic efforts and study. This novel boron heterocycle was prepared by condensation of 2-ethoxycarbonylphenylboronic acid and hydroxylamine, and recrystallized from distilled H2O. An X-ray crystal structure of this compound revealed the intermolecular interaction between the boronic acid group and the ortho hydroxamic acid group to form a planar 6-membered oxazaborinine ring structure including phenol-like B-OH and lactam functional group.
Some interesting aspects of this crystalline compound have been observed in the lab. Despite the fact that this compound was recrystallized from H2O, it absorbed the residual water of the DMSO solution while taking NMR spectrum of the compound. We expected that it reacted with the trace moisture to form a ring-opened structure, but it did not appear that this was the case. Furthermore, the compound changed forms when we dehydrated the NMR solution. Therefore, further research about those interesting behaviors will be the main objectives this quarter and should help to shed some light on the reactivity of this novel boron heterocycle.
Also, a derivative of 2-(hydroxycarbamoyl)phenylboronic acid will be prepared using 2-ethoxycarbonylphenylboronic acid and O-benzylhydroxylamine. It is very interesting to study its structure and behaviors, and ultimately to compare it to the crystalline compound. Moreover, N-methylation of the crystalline compound will give a great candidate for direct comparison because this methylated structure will be very similar to our target compound. Hopefully, new information will provide us with a better understanding of hydroxamic acid cyclized boronic acids.

Name: Lieu Nguyen
Academic Program: Nursing
Research Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Kim
Project Tile: New RN Residency Program at CSU East Bay
Project Description: The research that I'm interested in is called the "New RN Residency Program" from Dr. Kim. The purpose of this research is to study the effectiveness and how successful the program is in helping new graduate RNs improve their clinical skills, critical thinking, and management responsibilities in order to increase their chances for employment. The research includes collecting data from different RN groups like new graduate RNs who didn't complete the program, new RNs who completed the program, and senior RNs who have experience. This data will be used to compare each group in many categories like clinical competency skills, level of confidence, and readiness to start practicing nursing professionally.

As a level 1 nursing student, I chose to follow this research because the results could greatly influence my plans after graduating. As a participant in this research, I assist in collecting and entering data and possibly review literature from other professionals in the nursing field. My goal is to obtain more information and have a deeper understanding of this program, and if it is possible I would love to introduce this project to many others students, professors, and others staffs at CSU East Bay.

This research could become an effective tool to help Nursing Department develop and improve their "New RN Residence Program". Not only would it be helpful for new RN graduates, it could also encourage other departments to develop similar programs to help their students. By following this research, I believe I would be able to learn more about the program, the school of nursing, and the university.

Name: Nicole North
Academic Program: Chemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. Danika LeDuc
Project Tile: Understanding Poplar Tolerance to Salinity
Project Description: In previous experiments it has been shown that particular poplar clones are tolerant to high salinity and boron concentrations. Identifying protein markers indicative of this tolerance would reduce the need for testing hundreds of other clones and help elucidate mechanisms of salinity tolerance. Dr. LeDuc's lab focuses on protein extraction of leaf tissue from both tolerant and intolerant poplar clones in order to make a comparison. The current objectives are to optimize the method of extraction and analysis of the data that has been obtained thus far.

My specific role for the fall quarter is to analyze the data that has been obtained. We have found that the tolerant clones display an overexpression of enzymes associated with oxidative stress mechanisms. On the hand, the intolerant samples show an overexpression of dehydrin when compared to the tolerant samples. It is unclear how or if the lack of dehydrin in the tolerant clones affects the plant's ability to withstand high concentrations of salt. I will be investigating whether there is in fact a connection. By the end of the quarter I hope to propose an explanation for the lack of dehydrin in the tolerant samples.
In addition to this, I will also be assisting the team in collecting more data through protein extraction and optimization. Currently we are facing issues when trying to separate the proteins through 2-D electrophoresis. We need to compare samples that display usable data with the samples that display little or no data in order to identify changes that can be made in our method of protein extraction. My short-term goal for the team is to optimize our protein extraction method. This will allow us to increase the pace of data collection.

Name: Daniel O'Brien
Academic Program: MBA Finance
Research Mentor: Dr. Glen Taylor
Project Tile: Threads of Success for Business and Educational Leadership and the Impact of the Local and Global Community
Project Description: Success and leadership are the critical components that bind together productive and effective organizations in both business and higher education that have a long term, sustainable, positive impact within our local and global community. The goal of this project is to conduct an in-depth analysis with high-level research and data-mining on what makes an organization in both business and higher education successful. Going deeper into the analysis, we plan on finding what makes the leaders of these organizations successful in terms of net positive results and how they attained their position to be influential within the organization and community within an ethical framework. Understanding the source of both success and positive impact on the community from the organization standpoint as well as the leadership standpoint will allow people in the business world and higher education to have more perspective and awareness about what the formula for success is. It is believed that the ability to understand positive leadership and positive ethical success within business and education will allow future leaders, current students and all involved to have a greater awareness on how to bring about a positive impact within their communities.

The research plan is set to involve many various intensive qualitative and quantitative methods to reach a conclusion, recommendation and analysis. Briefly, here are two examples of some of the research that is already planned to be done. There will be interviews with high-level people within various business and educational positions with set questions for each of them to maximize the yield of the sample. There will be data mining looking into the level of higher education successful people have and how that directly and positively impacts their level of influence, awareness and success within an organization. Much more is planned as a decision tree has been made on where the project will go based upon the research. Through this intensive research project we will hope to find and show that there is a formula for success that benefits an organization, an individual and most importantly the local and global community. As we as a society continue through the twenty first century and the world becomes more complex due to our advancements, progress and knowledge we hope to provide understanding and clarification to the success formula that will benefit all involved.

Name: Nataly Perez
Academic Program: Construction Management
Research Mentor: Dr. Cristian Caedicke
Project Tile: Bagasse Ash Modified Concrete (BAMC)
Project Description: Sugarcane has been grown for over 4,000 years in tropical countries as well as subtropics. Some tropical countries where extensive sugarcane fields can be found are Brazil, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Canary Islands. On subtropics countries can be found in USA (Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii), India, China, Thailand, Pakistan, Mexico, etc.

Nowadays sustainability has taken the lead in the construction industry by implementing the three R's in the built process: Reduce Reuse and Recycled. One of the biggest achievements of green design is the incorporation of recycled materials in different phases of a project.

In sugarcane cultivations fields, for every 10 tons of sugarcane crushed 3 tons of wet bagasse is produced. Bagasse is the by-product of the cane that it is used to produce Ethanol fuel, paper and boards. The final product of burning bagasse waste is the residual sugarcane bagasse ash, which is used as fertilizer. But the pozzolanic characteristic of bagasse ash could provide a big environmental solution to one of the most used construction materials, concrete.

According to scientific researches made in Brazil, Bagasse Ash contains properties and chemicals that allow the partial replacement of Portland cement in the concrete admixture. Therefore, it is the purpose of this research to test and evaluate the quality (Compressive Strength, slump, water absorption, index of porous) and environmental impact (CO2 emissions, waste control) on the implementation of bagasse ash in concrete mix as a partial component of the product.

By diverting the residual created in sugarcane fields (bagasse) and applying this by-product in the production of a new material (Bagasse Ash Modified Concrete), the environmental benefits augment considerably. Some of the contributions that bagasse ash in concrete could furnish are: Provides a life cycle improvement on concrete structures; presents better corrosion protection; CO2 returns to the carbon cycle of the biosphere been able to be absorbed by plants; ameliorates the waste diversion in sugarcane fields; sugarcane is a rapidly renewable material that will reduce the degradation of fossil materials.

Name: Meuy Saelee
Academic Program: Biochemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. Michael Groziak
Project Tile: Diazoxide Analogs - Boron Heterocycles
Project Description: My research is conducted in Dr. Groziaks's research lab in the Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Science. Our research focuses on the research, design, synthesis and characterization of new boron heterocycles that may be of interest and/or have significant application in biomedicine. We have already synthesized and characterized a large number of new boron heterocycles. Some have anti-bacterial properties and were proven to be active against E. coli or M. smegmatis. Others are new variations of the chemical structures of existing drugs or compounds of other chemical or biomedical interests and/or applications.

According to a 5-step approach, I am synthesizing two boron heterocycles that are analogs of the antihypertensive drug diazoxide, brand name Proglycem. In addition to its current medical use, studies have shown it may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. My main goal, long term, is to synthesize the analogs in sufficient quantities for complete chemical characterization (analysis through infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, etc.) and testing for biological activity. Other long-term goals are to inventory and characterize the products formed in this multi-step synthesis and document an effective and reproducible process of the chemical synthesis. So far, I have successfully completed the first chemical reaction and am now working on successfully and smoothly completing the 2nd reaction. Goals for this quarter is to successfully complete a 3rd reaction that will produce one of the analogs. Ultimately, we hope these analogs may be substitutes for diazoixide but without the adverse side effects.

There is a constant need for better medicine, anti-bacterials, and other compounds of chemical and biomedical use. We have already produced many compounds some with antibacterial properties, some of which display never seen before structures through X-ray crystallography, and other compounds that just have never been synthesized before. My research for this quarter will be another step in our collective goal of contributing to and broadening our knowledge in chemistry and biomedicine.

Name: Gezal Saffi
Academic Program: Biochemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. Chris Baysdorfer
Project Tile: Isolating, Identifying, and Characterizing Active Retrotransposons in Liliaceae Family in Hopes of Understanding the Role These Transposable Elements Have on Expanding Plant Genomes.
Project Description: The Liliaceae family includes species with some of the largest genomes ever reported for any plant as well as some of the much smaller genomes. Why do some plants belonging to this family have such large genomes while others have much smaller genomes? In order to answer this question, both small and larger plant genomes from the Liliaceae family must be studied. The genus Fritillaria will be a major focus of this study because they contain species with some of the largest plant genomes and they contain a great deal of retroelements. In addition to Fritillaria (haploid genome size 51 pg) other Liliaceae (Prosartes 3 pg, Scoliopus 9 pg, Clintonia 19 pg, Lilium 50 pg) and a member of the sister family Smilaceaceae (Smilax 5 pg) will be analyzed in this study to obtain data from plants with large and small genomes. Understanding how and why there is such diversity in genome size is still something researchers are trying to get a better handle on. Studies, however, are suggesting that one major difference between larger and smaller plant genomes is the amount of transposable elements present in the genome, mainly focusing on retrotransposons.

Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements, which with the use of reverse transcriptase, transpose as an RNA intermediate. In other words, they are DNA elements that are transcribed to RNA (the RNA intermediate), move to another part of the genome, and through the use of the gene reverse transcriptase, insert themselves in the new site of the genome as DNA. Because they continuously copy themselves in new places of the genome, in a copy and paste fashion, they greatly increase the plant genome size. These active retrotransposons are important because they form VLPs (virus-like particles). VLPs are formed by self-assembling from the envelope and or capsid proteins from viruses. Isolating VLPs will allow us to isolate the active retroelements in the plant genomes. Studying active retroelements are important because it may help us better understand why some plant genomes are large and why others have remained small. Identifying the specific active retroelements present in the Liliaceae family genome and comparing the retroelements present between the larger and smaller genomes within the Liliaceae family will allow us to get a better understanding of how and why these genomes have expanded. Are the large genomes a result of very "aggressive" retroelements attacking the genome or was it that their defense system was deficient for some reason and not able to fight against the retroelements?

Thus far, ultracentrifugation techniques to isolate VLPs and an RT assay to confirm their presence in the Liliaceae family have been successful. In addition, techniques to isolate and quantify RNA and the development of a good protocol to convert RNA to cDNA for NGS have also been successful. Our study will therefore focus a great deal on using NGS (next-generation sequencing), as this will allow us to sequence the RNA from the VLP preps and characterize and study the transposable elements they contain. The PGM is a massively parallel NGS benchtop platform, which will be used to attain more information about these larger plant genomes. The funds from this grant will go to paying for the NGS reagents, which are quite expensive. The specific aim of this study is to use the Ion Torrent PGM (personal genome machine) to sequence the RNA isolated from VLP preps belonging to larger and smaller plant genomes in order to identify which retroelements are an active part of the VLP pool, and then by a bioinformatics characterization of the elements themselves, draw conclusions about the role these active retroelements play in the expansion of plant genomes.

Name: Claudio Sanchez
Academic Program: Physics
Research Mentor: Dr. Derek Kimball
Project Tile: Spin Gravity
Project Description:

Name: Natalie Sanford
Academic Program: Speech-Language Pathology
Research Mentor: Dr. Nidhi Mahendra
Project Tile: Auditory vs Visual Input: Effects on Recall by Dementia Patients
Project Description:The National Institute of Health defines dementia as "a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that can be caused by a number of disorders that affect the brain," one of the most common of which is memory loss resulting from Alzheimer's disease.

To clinically diagnose dementia, physicians rely foremost on administering memory tests which generally require the patient to listen to some sort of auditory information – such as a short story or a list of words. The patient then repeats it back, both immediately following the input and again after a short amount of time has passed, to see how much he or she is able to recall. Dementia disproportionately affects the geriatric population, and hearing loss is a common component of the normal aging process. Can hearing loss affect ability to recall information when that information is presented in auditory form? And if so, to what extent has this confounded the assessment of memory loss in people with dementia? Little research has been done to test memory retention of people with dementia when information is presented in a different form such as visually through pictures and text or in animated form, for example.

A few years ago, Dr. Nidhi Mahendra conducted a pilot study on a small sample of dementia patients to see if the manner in which information was presented had an effect on how much information could be recalled. Thirteen patients were presented with stories in auditory and visual form. The subjects were then asked to recall the information directly after the story, and again after a delay. The results showed a significant increase in information retention from stories presented in visual form. These results imply that people afflicted with memory disorders such as dementia can retain new information given the right conditions. This has tremendous importance in thinking about the potential for rehabilitation of dementia patients.

In a follow-up controlled study, the test was rerun on thirty new participants, but the data has yet to be analyzed. I am applying for this student research fellowship to pick up where the study left off and analyze the data, and interpret it with an ultimate goal of learning more about dementia and exploring ways to improve diagnosis of the condition.

My project goals for this academic year are as follows:

Fall Quarter: Draft and submit an IRB application for this study by the first week of November, enter and analyze data already obtained from the aforementioned visual memory test
Winter Quarter: Administer the test to more subjects to complete the data set; analyze the complete data set
Spring Quarter: Prepare the findings and submit them for a presentation at a national or state conference.

Name: Osman Sharifi
Academic Program: Cell and Molecular Biology
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Tile: Evidence for Toll-Like Receptors in Mediating Control of the Innate Immune Response in the Sea Slug,Tritonia diomedea
Project Description: The sea slug Tritonia diomedea can be regarded as a valuable ecological marker, especially with respect to ocean acidification. When marine environments change, so does the physiology of these marine invertebrates, providing an opportunity for potential pathogens to invade. The ability of pathogens to infect these animals represents a breakdown in their ability to fight off infection.

Very little is known about the immune system of T. diomedea. Unlike vertebrates, invertebrates do not possess an adaptive immune system. Instead, they must rely on their innate immune response to fight infections. The innate immune response is considered the first line of host defense in which the body recognizes microbes as "foreign". Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs), specialized proteins, are primary players in the innate response. There are several TLRs that have been identified in vertebrates and invertebrates; however, these molecules have not been identified in gastropods. Animals sense pathogen invasion through pattern-recognition receptors. A group of transmembrane proteins, Toll-like receptors (TLRs), play critical roles as pattern-recognition receptors. They are mainly expressed on antigen-presenting cells, such as macrophages or dendritic cells, and their signaling activates antigen-presenting cells. We believe that T. diomondea has evolved a TLR-system to combat potential pathogens. In this study, we search for evidence to support our hypothesis, specifically the expression of TLRs.

We will obtain an insight on Tritonia deomondia's immune system. Using our findings, we can potentially develop a solution for saving such invertebrates from dying. In order to protect these important ecological markers, our study will ensure they can survive against natural infections. By understanding how Tritonia Diomedea counters infectious disease, we as a society can ensure that we keep a very important ecological marker healthy enough to respond to environmental changes in the oceans.

Material and Methods
This research will use immunological and molecular genetic techniques to identify and/or measure genetic expression of Toll-Like receptor (TLRs) proteins. TLR's are receptors that recognize molecular patterns of potential pathogens and activate phagocytic cells to engulf and destroy the pathogen.
Isolation of genomic DNA: We will start by Lysing the sample in 200 μl of a sample-specific lysis buffer. We will then add 20 μl proteinase K and 200 μl Buffer AL (without added ethanol) to the sample, and mix thoroughly by vortexing. While keeping the pH below 7, we will add 200 μl ethanol (96–100%), and mix again thoroughly by vortexing. We will Pipet the mixture into the DNeasy Mini spin column placed in a 2 ml collection tube and Centrifuge at ≥6000 x g (8000 rpm) for 1 min. We will add 500 μl Buffer AW1, and centrifuge for 1 min at ≥6000 x g (8000 rpm) followed by addition of 500 μl Buffer AW2 and centrifugation for 3 min at 20,000 x g (14,000 rpm) to dry the DNeasy membrane. We will finally Place the DNeasy Mini spin column in a clean 1.5 ml or 2 ml microcentrifuge tube and pipet 200 μl Buffer AE directly onto the DNeasy membrane. After, Incubate at room temperature for 1 min, and then centrifuge for 1 min at ≥6000 x g (8000 rpm) to elute.

Generation of TLR gene primer sequences: Known TLR gene sequences will be aligned using Clustal X software to compare gene sequences and find homologous regions in which primers can be generated for amplification of TLR gene sequences by PCR. TLR specific regions that identify different TLR isotypes will be obtained for primer generation in qPCR experiments (see below).
Identify TLR genes or genetic homologues: Standard PCR will be used to identify TLR genes or homologues of innate receptors. Initial PCR conditions are as follows: We will first Choose target substrates and PCR primers specific to TLR genes. We will then set up the reaction using the components; water, 10x Reaction Buffer, MgCl2, dNTPs, forward primer, reverse primer, target DNA and polymerase enzyme. The first step is the DNA denaturation step that renders all of the DNA in the reaction single stranded. This is routinely accomplished at 94 degrees or 95 degrees for 30 seconds. The second step is the primer annealing step during which the PCR primers find their complementary targets and attach themselves to those sequences. Finally, the last step in a PCR cycle is the polymerase extension step during which the DNA polymerase is producing a complementary copy of the target DNA strand starting from the PCR primer sequence (thus the term primer). The usual temperature of this step is 72 degrees, considered to be a good optimum temperature for thermal-stable polymerases.
Quantitative PCR (qPCR): To look for active message generation qPCR will be used to determine the concentration of TLR mRNA. This will be done on both activated and non-activated cells. Activation of hematocytes will be through the addition of 10ng/ml of Bacterial LPS (Lipopolysaccharide) for five hours at 37oC. We will dilute the cDNA sample and pool an appropriate amount from each sample to create standard 1 (i.e. 30μl x 12 samples = 360μl standard 1; Calculate out the final volume of your standards and try to make it as close to the final volume of your samples as possible.)We will create different standards similar to standard 1, but with different ratios of standard to water; 1:4, 1:16, 1:64, 1:256. We will dilute the remaining samples (cDNA) further in a 1:5 dilution with H2O.

On our plate, in each well, we will pipette 10μl SYBR Green Mix, 0.4μl Forward Primer (10μM stock), 0.4μl Reverse Primer (10μM stock) and 1.2μl H2O. After, we will pipette 8μl cDNA in each well which will bring the total volume of each well to 20 μl. Measure protein expression via Western Blot: To ensure functional expression of the TLR total cellular protein will be isolated and used for Western Analysis. We will first prepare total cell lysates by solubilizing cells in an appropriate sample buffer, such as 2X SDS sample buffer (20 mM dithiothreitol, 6% SDS, 0.25 M Tris, pH 6.8, 10% glycerol, 10mM NaF and bromophenyl blue), at approximately 2x106-1x107 cells per mL. The extracts will be heated in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes and then sonicated with 3-4 bursts of 5-10 seconds each. We will then transfer the electrophoresed proteins to a Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane and incubate for 1 hour at room temperature in Blocking Solution. We will incubate the membrane overnight at 4°C in Antibody Solution containing primary antibody. Next day, we will wash the membrane at room temperature for 30-60 minutes with 5 or more changes of Blotting Buffer. After washing, we will incubate the membrane for 1 hour at room temperature in Antibody Solution containing appropriate dilution of HRP-conjugated secondary antibody. We will then wash the membrane for 30-60 minutes with 5 or more changes of Blotting Buffer and Detect with Chemiluminescent Detection Substrate. Finally, using our qPCR machine, we will expose to film and develop image.
Expression of TLR via FACS Analysis: We will add 1ml 100% EtOH to 0.5ml our grown cells and rotate a minimum of 1hr. We will wash with 1ml Tris 50mM pH7.5 and add RNase 1mg/ml 0.5ml and vortex. We will incubate 37 deg for 1-2 hours, or 4 deg overnight and add 1ul of 20mg/ml Proteinase K in water. We will wash with 1X PBS, sonicate and pellet and resuspend in the dark with 200ul of 100ug/ml propidium iodide. We will finally incubate for one hour and dilute 100ul to 0.5ml in PBS in a falcon 2052 tube.

Conclusion
How invertebrates defend themselves from microbial infection is still unknown. This is especially true for members of the nudibranch clade, which includes sea slugs. How the nudibranches have evolved and adapted to their surroundings has been extraordinarily effective, since nudibranches have been around for over 65 million years. In an era in which marine environmental changes are both dramatic and rapid, our organism of choice, Tritonia Diomedea, must have an established system to ward off microbial infection or it would seem to be at an evolutionary disadvantage for survival.
Additionally, by understanding how Tritonia Diomedea counters infectious disease, we as a society can ensure that we keep a very important ecological marker healthy enough to respond to environmental changes in the oceans. It is important to have ecological markers because they tell us about the quality of our waters. Without ecological markers, we would not know if our water conditions are bad which would affect other sea animals. This could intern harm us if we eat a sea animal such as fish, crab or lobster that is sick. Environmental changes make Tritonia Diomedea more susceptible to infections. Understanding the immune response of ecologically sensitive species will be a huge benefit for the slug, the ocean and human beings.
Our future directions, should TLRs be identified in Tritonia diomedea, as we expect, we have to test for functionality. This will be accomplished through activation of established signaling pathways. We will search for important end-point activation markers such as NF-kB (an immuno-specific transcription factor) that regulates many immuno-response genes in mammals and some invertebrates.

Name: Maria Silva
Academic Program: Sociology
Research Mentor: Dr. Patricia Jennings
Project Tile: The Cultural Influences Of Hip-Hop on Contemporary Society
Project Description: Research Summary: It has been suggested that Hip Hop, a once thriving social and cultural movement is something of the past. Gone are the days when one could look around and view transparent representation of both the culture and the movement. It came on the scene abruptly only to be trampled by the commodification of rap; consequently, is has been suspected that Hip Hop went underground for the sake of preserving the essence of the true culture and movement. However, there is evidence that shows Hip Hop is not hidden away like an old relic that is only to be utilized when a historical reference is needed. Moreover, the influences of the culture and the social movement are still influencing artists today which should put to rest the idea that it was just a passing fancy or a fad; something the existed for a time and then vanished without a trace to the place where all fads go to die.

Research Question: Does the Hip-Hop culture matter, and if so, how do professionals in the Arts view its major influences on today's society? This question will allow me to explore the way in which Hip Hop has been influential as well as exploring the historical content including the reason(s) why it's important to recognize it as a both a culture and a social movement. This research will also explore how Hip Hop music which was understood to be enjoyed almost exclusively by marginalized people in society, has managed to find its way into hands of the music conglomerates. They have exploited the music under the label of the genre called "Gangster Rap" which has had negative consequences on the social identities of black youth in America. Interviewees: For the purpose of identifying the ways in which Hip Hop has been influential, I will interview a Symphonic Composer who draws from the rhythms and beats that were born out of the Hip Hop culture; a disc jockey that was raised in the hip hop culture, and plays old school Hip Hop, Rap at parties; a Hip Hop dancer [classic B-Boy style] who also pops and locks; a Hip Hop dance instructor; Six-Mix-a lot's road manager, and a young rap artist.

Name: Julie Spicer
Academic Program: Speech-Language Pathology
Research Mentor: Dr. Nidhi Mahendra
Project Tile: Qualitative Interviews for Aphasia Research
Project Description:During the 2012-2013 academic year as a graduate student at Cal State East Bay, I propose a research plan expanding upon an existing aphasia research project of the Aging and Cognition Research Clinic (ACRC), directed by Dr. Nidhi Mahendra. Aphasia is a "disorder that results from damage to the parts of the brain that contain language. Aphasia causes problems with any or all of the following: speaking, listening, reading, and writing" (ASHA, 2012). According to ASHA's incidence and prevalence report of language disorders in adults in the USA, aphasia affects nearly 1 million Americans, with approximately 80,000 individuals acquiring aphasia each year (ASHA, 2008). There is a dearth of data regarding how families cope with aphasia; further investigation by means of qualitative interviews may reveal cultural or linguistic factors that impede or enhance access to services. I am interested in collecting data through detailed interviews to determine if there are trends among clients and/or families affected by aphasia. For example, I would investigate clients'/families' perspectives on encounters with speech therapists, related health care providers who provide referrals to speech therapists, and third party payers or health care intermediaries (e.g. HMOs). This data could further an understanding of the barriers that minority clients face. Further, the data could augment the quality of education, outreach, and therapeutic services provided to culturally and linguistically diverse clients affected by aphasia.

My research plan would include collaboration with Dr. Mahendra in her aging and cognition research clinic (ACRC) in cooperation with the Aphasia Treatment Program (ATP) at CSUEB. ATP is a nationally recognized program that offers a group treatment approach to aphasia. This program provides a structured clinical environment for interactions with many different aphasic persons and certified clinical supervisors . I anticipate having excellent access to this pool of economically and ethnically diverse participants. I plan to interview about 6-8 spouses or family members of persons with aphasia, including participants in ATP, with the goal of developing a better understanding of their experience accessing speech therapy services, gaps in service delivery, and understanding the role/importance of rehabilitation in recovery from stroke.

This fall, my short-term goals would be to attain IRB approval, approach potential participants in APT in order to have 6-8 individuals/families consent to interview this fall and winter quarter (2 this quarter, 6 winter quarter). I have spoken with my mentor, Dr. Mahendra, regarding submitting these data in spring quarter for presentation at the Fall 2013 convention of ASHA, or submitting in July for the state conference of the California Speech Language Hearing Association (held in San Francisco in Winter quarter 2014). Alternatively, she has mentioned that we may present at CSUEB at Diversity Day or at the RSCA research symposium.
References:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (2012). Aphasia.
Available from http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Aphasia/

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (2008). Incidence and Prevalence of Speech, Voice, and Language Disorders in Adults in the United States: 2008 Edition.
Available from http://www.asha.org/research/reports/speech_voice_language/

Name: Tesfay Tesfatsion
Academic Program: Biochemistry
Research Mentor: Dr. Michael Groziack
Project Tile: Synthesis of a Boron Containing Analogue of Allopurninol
Project Description: In Dr. Groziak's lab, we're focused on developing a new class of compounds that can be used in biomedical studies as possible antiviruses, antitumors and antibacterials. In doing so we have developed a new method of design, synthesis and characterization of new boron heterocycles that might contain a biological effect. In addition, we're also researching a new method of synthesizing and characterizing nucleoside analogs.

My specific focus is to synthesize a boron-containing analogue of a well-known drug, Allopurinol. Allopurinol is a drug that is prescribed to people with gout in order to bring down the levels of uric acid in their body. In the coming weeks I will place a protecting group, benzyl chloromethyl ether, on sites 1 and 5 of the pyrazole ring and attempt to attach the boronic acid group on the fourth carbon of the pyrazole ring.

If this succeeds then proceed to reducing the protecting groups and follow with oxidizing and finally ring closure to give a boron-containing Allopurinol. From there we hope to test out the new compound to see it will have the same biological effect in bring down the uric acid levels in the body. The knowledge that I've gain while working in Dr. Groziaks lab is vital is my success as a research scientist and my understanding of new and unique reactions.

Name: Deborah Weber
Academic Program: Nursing
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Tellez
Project Tile: PROCEnf Evaluation
Project Description: Technology has been shown to improve the quality and safety of health care. This project is designed to evaluate the accuracy of PROCEnf, a computer technology based decision support program, in assisting staff nurses in developing nursing diagnoses. The program asks nurses a series of questions which are answered based on the patient assessment. The program then formulates a nursing diagnosis based on the answers to those questions. PROCEnf uses a standard worldwide language for nursing, North American Nursing Diagnosis Association-International (NANDA-I). Data was collected using nurses' assessment inputs at the University Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. NANDA-I diagnoses determined by the PROCEnf program will be examined for reliability and accuracy. The effect of different answer choices by nurses during their patient assessments will also be analyzed. In addition, validity of the PROCEnf program will be assessed looking at whether NANDA-I terminology accurately reflects the cases seen in Brazil. Joining this project as a Level I nursing student, I expect to assist in sorting through the available data. In addition, I expect to gain a better understanding of research in nursing and the nursing process.

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