Undergraduate Research and Creative Work€¦ · Hitler’s “Final Solution” * next to name in...
Transcript of Undergraduate Research and Creative Work€¦ · Hitler’s “Final Solution” * next to name in...
UndergraduateResearchandCreativeWork
9December2016–8:45amto1:30pmSakamakiHall
CampusCenterBallroomHonolulu,Hawaiʻi
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SCHEDULE
TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION
8:45-9:20a
RegistrationandBreakfast
SakamakiFirstFloor
9:25-9:30a OpeningCeremony SakamakiFirstFloor
9:35-10:30a OralPresentationsSessionOne
BreakoutRooms
10:30-10:40a Break Courtyard
10:40-11:35a OralPresentationsSessionTwo
BreakoutRooms
11:45a-12:30pPosterPresentationsSession
CampusCenterBallroom
12:30-1:30pLunchandAwardsCeremony
CampusCenterBallroom
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MAPSakamakiHall&CampusCenter
Registration & Refreshments
Natural Sciences (B101-104)
Arts & Humanities (A102)
Entrance
Social Sciences (A103)
Engineering & Computer Sciences/
Natural Sciences (A101)
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LOCATION
SakamakiHallOralPresentationsSessionOne 9:35a-10:30aOralPresentationsSessionTwo 10:40a-11:35a
A101 Engineering&ComputerSciences/NaturalSciences
A102 Arts&Humanities–Research/Arts&Humanities–Creative
A103 SocialSciences
B101 NaturalSciences
B102 NaturalSciences
B103 NaturalSciences
B104 NaturalSciences
CampusCenterBallroomPosterPresentations 11:45a-12:30pLunchandAwardsCeremony12:30p-1:30p
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OralPresentationsSessionOne9:35-10:30a
SakamakiA101 Engineering&ComputerSciencesFinishedProjects
StephanieChang DesignofaBiologicalFilterforCarbon
DioxideUsingChlorellavulgaris
HailingLi ReliabilityofPunchingShearStrengthPredictionforExistingBuildings
DerekChan*, TranslatingOralTraditionsIntoAModern,AndrewGuagliardo*, Immersive,InteractiveVirtualRealityAnnaSikkink* Experience
SakamakiA102 Arts&Humanities–Research
FinishedProjects
AmberO'Brien* EnergyEfficiency:TheFutureofGlassMaking
ShelbySullivan DeathCampCommanders:AdministratorsofHitler’s“FinalSolution”
* next to name in schedule indicates student is also presenting a poster
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OralPresentationsSessionOne9:35-10:30a
SakamakiA103 SocialSciencesFinishedProjects
KseniaBussard* KnowledgeandAwarenessofHumanPapillomavirus(HPV)andHPVVaccinationAmongCollegeStudentsattheUniversityofHawai‘iatMānoa:AGenderComparisonStudy
StephanieCacal* KalusuganatKayamanan(Healthand
Wealth)ofFilipinosinKalihi
KyungMooKim* PriceDeterminantsofTuberculosisDrugs
SakamakiB101 NaturalSciencesFinishedProjects
EileenChen, ScreeningMutantHumanAsparaginase-NikkiRousslang ProducingEscherichiacolifortheProduction
ofHighlyActiveHumanAsparaginases
MichelleHu OptimizingAromataseExpressionandUncoveringNovelAllostericInhibitors
CasieKubota, ExpressionofSTAT3inE.coliforSmallMarissaKuwabara MoleculeInhibitorDevelopment
* next to name in schedule indicates student is also presenting a poster
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OralPresentationsSessionOne9:35-10:30a
SakamakiB102 NaturalSciencesFinishedProjects
DaltonMuchow RamanandFluorescenceSpectroscopyforCategorizingCoralHealthinHawai'i
AlainaSmith MaintenanceofDiversityThroughMultiple
TimescalesofVariation
RebeccaMarieWeible MethodDevelopment:IsolatingMicroplasticsfromCopepodsintheAlaWaiCanal
SakamakiB103 NaturalSciencesFinishedProjects
JennySFang* DesignandDevelopmentofPlasmids
ExpressingSexChromosomeEncodedZfy/xGenestoTestSpecificityofNewlyDevelopedAntibodiesagainstMouseZFProteins
StephenMacaspac DeterminationoftheLigand-BindingSitesof
GPCR’sthroughProteinConservationAnalysisandDockingSimulations
CindyVuong FunctionofMouseORC4Fragmentsin
FemaleMeiosis
* next to name in schedule indicates student is also presenting a poster
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OralPresentationsSessionOne9:35-10:30a
SakamakiB104 NaturalSciencesFinishedProjects
JesseBoord TheEffectsofGroundwater-DerivedNutrientsonMacroalgalGrowth
LeoVLouis MarketSurveyofFungiinBhutan
SeanReseigh ConversionofFoodWastetoRenewable
BiogasandNutrient-RichBioslurry
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OralPresentationsSessionTwo10:40-11:35a
SakamakiA101 NaturalSciencesWorksinProgress
KaimiKahihikolo ThievingStarsCaughtbyKepler:ASearchforIntermittentAccretorsinKeplerBinarySystems
MicahPascual MechanismsUnderlyingDifferential
ResponsestoNeuropeptideAllatostatin-C(AST-C)intheCardiacGanglion(CG)oftheAmericanlobster,Homarusamericanus
TaylorTashiro MolecularTaxonomicIdentificationof
NematodeSpeciesinHawai‘i SakamakiA102 Arts&Humanities–Creative FinishedProjects
TylerRamos AMusicalJourney-NationalCompetitionandSummerFestivals
JeremyFrancisco DevelopmentofMen'sFashionintheUSA
Divinagracia
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OralPresentationsSessionTwo10:40-11:35a
SakamakiA103 SocialSciencesFinishedProjects
HyeWon(Judy)Chung MentalHealthStigmaPerceivedbyRuralHealthProfessionals
NicholasKawelakai UnderstandingtheCommunityFoodFarrant MovementonOʻahu’sNorthShoreShannonNoelleRivera NowheretoGo:PerceivedBarrierstothe
UseofAssistedColonizationforClimateSensitiveSpecies
SakamakiB101 NaturalSciencesWorksinProgress
EvanFujimoto, TheProtectiveEffectsofmTORagainstDavisWong HypoxicStressorinCardiomyocytes BrennenYasuda ExpressionofAlternativeRibosomalProteins
inMycobacteriasmegmatisunderStressConditions
SakamakiB102 NaturalSciencesFinishedProjects
LaurenMathews Nutrition&ElementalStoichiometryof
MicrozooplanktonLifeStagesinaChangingClimate
DerekRisch ImpactsofFloodControlManagementon
Water Quality of Kaelepulu and KawainuiStreamsinKailuaBay
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OralPresentationsSessionTwo10:40-11:35a
SakamakiB103 NaturalSciencesWorksinProgress JasonDelaCruz LargeScaleExpressionandPurificationof
Yop1forinvitroTubuleFormation
ChristianMacaspac, VulnerabilityintheDevelopmentalVaniaFernandes RegulationoftheMechanosensorinthe
MexicanCavefish CrystalValdez EvolutionofSymbioticGutBiotaandits
RelationshiptoFattyAcidStorageinMexicanCavefish
SakamakiB104 NaturalSciencesFinishedProjects
MiaDelano HeritabilityofCoralpHTolerance
ZachQuinlan FluorescenceofDissolvedOrganicMatterof
CoralExudates
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PosterPresentations11:45a-12:30p-CampusCenterBallroom
Arts&Humanities
AmberO’Brien EnergyEfficiency:TheFutureofGlassMaking
Engineering&ComputerSciences
DerekChan, TranslatingOralTraditionsIntoAModern,AndrewGuagliardo, Immersive,InteractiveVirtualRealityAnnaSikkink Experience
NaturalSciences
AndrewChang ChemicalCharacterizationandCellularEffectof‘Uhaloa,aNativeHawaiianMedicinalPlant
JennySFang DesignandDevelopmentofPlasmids
ExpressingSexChromosomeEncodedZfy/xGenestoTestSpecificityofNewlyDevelopedAntibodiesagainstMouseZFProteins
KimberlyKahaleua, EpithelialCell-specificMechanismsofMariaPetelo CapsaicininaNativeHawaiianMedicinal
Plant,Nīoi
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PosterPresentations11:45a-12:30p-CampusCenterBallroom
SocialSciences KseniaBussard KnowledgeandAwarenessofHuman
Papillomavirus(HPV)andHPVVaccinationAmongCollegeStudentsattheUniversityofHawai‘iatMānoa:AGenderComparisonStudy
StephanieCacal KalusuganatKayamanan(Healthand
Wealth)ofFilipinosinKalihi KyungMooKim PriceDeterminantsofTuberculosisDrugs
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ABSTRACTS
Abstractsoforalandposterpresentationsarelistedin alphabetical order of presenter’s last name.Informationbelow thename includes the student’smajor, the category of their presentation, andtime/locationofpresentation.Thefacultymentor,ifappropriate,islistedbelowtheabstract.Groupabstractsare listedalphabeticallybytheLastNameof the groupmemberwhosenameoccurs inthislist:
DerekChan,AndrewGuagliardo,AnnaSikkinkEileenChen,NikkiRousslangEvanFujimoto,DavisWongKimberlyKahaleua,MariaPeteloCasieKubota,MarissaKuwabaraChristianMacaspac,VaniaFernandes
Abstractsaredirectfrompresenters;wordingandcontentaretheauthor’sresponsibility.
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JesseBoordMarineBiologyFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB104
TheEffectsofGroundwater-DerivedNutrientsonMacroalgalGrowth
Recent evidence indicates that coastal ecosystems undergoing nutrientenrichment in areas of low circulation are susceptible to communitycomposition shifts, algalblooms,declines in coralhealthandperseveranceofinvasivemacroalgae.Inordertodeterminewhethergroundwater-derivednutrientsimpactthegrowthofmacroalgalspecieslocatedwithinMaunaluaBay, the rates of nutrient delivery over time to different locations weredetermined, before correlations between macroalgal distribution andnutrientloadswereinvestigated.Submarinegroundwaterdischarge(SGD)isa source of high nutrients on Wailupe and Black Point reef flats. As SGDseepsoutontothereefflat, it isdilutedasitmixesoffshore.Toinvestigateany correlations betweenmacroalgal growth and groundwater factors (ie.highnutrientsandlowsalinity),growthassayswereconductedatBlackPointandWailupeinzoneswithvariousdegreesofgroundwaterimpact.Compartmentalizedmesh pouches, each containing a differentmacroalgalspecies, were deployed at 18 locations, spanning 3 zones from highest tolowest groundwater impact (spring, diffuse, and transition) over 5 days.These experiments were repeated 4 times at each site, providing reliablegrowth data with respect to groundwater influence. Different macroalgalspeciesshoweddifferentgrowthrates,revealingthatalgaegrowthdifferedbybothspeciesandzone.Mentor:Dr.FlorenceThomas
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KseniaBussardPublicHealthFinishedProjectinSocialSciencesParticipationforHonors,UROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiA103PosterPresentation:11:45a-12:30pinCampusCenterBallroom
KnowledgeandAwarenessofHumanPapillomavirus(HPV)andHPVVaccinationAmongCollegeStudentsattheUniversityofHawai‘iatMānoa:
AGenderComparisonStudyHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitteddisease in the United States. Some strains of the virus can cause variouscancersandcanleadtogenitalwarts inbothmalesandfemales.TherearethreeFDA-approvedHPVvaccinesthatcanpreventmostoftheHPV-causedcancersandgenitalwarts.Nevertheless,therateoftheiruptakeislowinthenationandinHawai’iinparticular.This research project was designed to estimate the prevalence of HPVvaccination among college students at the University of Hawai‘i atMānoa(UHM), to understand the possible reasons for not vaccinating, and toperform a gender comparison of HPV and HPV vaccine awareness amongUHMstudents.The study was designed as a self-administered cross-sectional survey. Thestudy population consistedof 199UH students 18 to 34 years of age. Thesurvey included multiple-choice questions as well as true-or-falsestatements. The survey results showed that bothmale and female collegestudents atUHM lacked in awareness and knowledge aboutHPV andHPVvaccines.However,male students laggedbehind their female counterpartsinknowledgeaboutHPVandHPVvaccineandthevaccineuptake.Themainreason for not getting vaccinated against HPV was identified as a lack ofgeneral knowledge and awareness about the HPV vaccines. Based on thesurvey results, public health officials should take measures to increaseawareness about HPV and HPV vaccine among college students. Thesemeasures should focus on both male and female students to achievevaccine’sintendedpublichealthbenefits.Mentor:Dr.EricHurwitz
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StephanieCacalPublicHealth,MinorinPhilippineLanguageandCultureFinishedProjectinSocialSciencesParticipationforHonorsOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiA103PosterPresentation:11:45a-12:30pinCampusCenterBallroom
KalusuganatKayamanan(HealthandWealth)ofFilipinosinKalihi
Filipinos in Hawaii have high rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, andtheworstmeasuresofbehavioralriskfactorsliketobaccouseandpoordiet.Toaddressthesehealthissuesandcreateahealthiercommunity,culturallycompetent and relevant programs must be implemented. However, ahealthier community cannot be achieved until health is defined. Eachcommunityownsdifferent capitals/wealth,meaning theyall havedifferentdefinitions of health. This study aims to define health and non-monetizedwealthofFilipinosinKalihi.This studyworkedwithKokuaKalihi Valley (KKV)’s Community Education -Civic Engagement (CECE) program. We conducted cultures circles with 52FilipinoresidentsofKalihibetweentheagesof18-24.Intheseculturecircles,they answered four questions about health, wealth, healing, and theircommunity. The results showed that definitions of health go beyond justthatofthemedicaldefinition.Resultsalsoshowedmanydifferentsourcesofwealththatcanbefoundinthecommunity;thehighestbeingrelationshipsbetweenthepeopleandcommunitythatsurroundthem.Thisstudycreateda framework with strategies and examples on how to approach differentaspects of health defined by the community using their narratives andstories.
ThisstudycreatedaspaceandempoweredtheFilipinoresidentsofKalihitofind ways tomake themselves healthier on their own terms. Through theframework,we hope to aid in developing better programs to improve thecommunity’shealthoverall.Thisstudyalsohopestobringawarenessaboutthe relat ionship between health and non-monetized wealth.Mentor:Dr.JeffreyAcido
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DerekChan,Information&ComputerSciencesAndrewGuagliardo,AcademyforCreativeMediaAnnaSikkink,Information&ComputerSciencesFinishedProjectinEngineering&ComputerSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiA101PosterPresentation:11:45a-12:30pinCampusCenterBallroomTranslatingOralTraditionsIntoAModern,Immersive,InteractiveVirtual
RealityExperience
Virtual reality is an exciting medium that has unexplored potential fornarrative storytelling. This creative project will result in an interactive VRexperience, basedon a Polynesianmyth- a rarely investigated subject.Webegan by conducting extensive background research on Polynesianmyths.WeselectedcandidatesbasedonanestablishedcriteriaforanengagingVRexperience. We chose the myth "How Maui Snared the Sun" because itprovidedastruggleagainstsupernaturalforcesandrequiredcharactersandinteractions that would be impossible to recreate in traditional mediums.The next stepwas to begin to experiment with various ways to bring thestoryintothevirtualrealmandtoadaptthestorysothattheuserwouldfeelthat theyhada role toplay.Weendedupwitha frameworkofaseriesofpossible interactionsthatwouldleadtoacompletestoryline.Notalloftheinteractions are required to complete the story, creating a uniqueexperience,justasatraditionallytoldstorymayvaryslightlyineachtelling.Initial interactions were programmed and tested in Unity3D usingplaceholder models. We built final models and animations in Maya usingsimplifiedmannequinsforourhumancharactersandmorecomplexmodelsandanimationsforthesupernaturalcharacterssuchastheSunandMoon.Finally,ambientmusic,soundeffectsandvoiceoverwasaddedtoincreaseasenseofpresenceandcreateanadditionallayerofemotion.Mentor:Dr.JasonLeigh
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AndrewChangChemistry,MinorinArtFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesPosterPresentation:11:45a-12:30pinCampusCenterBallroomChemicalCharacterizationandCellularEffectof‘Uhaloa,aNativeHawaiian
MedicinalPlant‘Uhaloa(Waltheriaindica)isanendemicspeciesinHawaii.Ateamadefromdriedleaves,flowersandfreshtaprootof‘UhaloaisusedinLa’auLapa’aubyKahunaLa‘auLapa‘au (traditionalHawaiihealthpractitioners) to treat sorethroat,cough,congestion,arthritis,asthma,upperrespiratoryproblems,andinfantthrush.Chemicalcompoundsof‘Uhaloaincludeflavonoidsandotherchemical compounds.Quercetin is a flavonoid in ‘Uhaloawith knownanti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In understanding the basis forla’au lapa’au applications, involved cultivating ‘Uhaloa, in soil andhydroponics with the later showing significantly higher growth rates, toprovidesufficientmaterialforthestudy.Wehavesubsequentlyundertakentheanalysisoftheknowneffectivecompoundsthatmayberesponsibleforthemultiplehealingpropertiesof ‘Uhaloa.Usingextractsderived fromthedried leaves of the cultured plant, we performed chemical and biologicalanalyses. Quercetinwas detected in initial samples from amodified Rao’sprocedure using hexane-acetone-chloroform or ethanol-hexane extract bythin layer chromatography (TLC). High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) pilot analyses of crude ethanol extractswere conducted to identifycompounds with potential biological activities. In bactericidal assays theethanol-hexane fraction, hypothesized to contain multiple flavonoids,showed slightly greater antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureusthanthehexane-acetone-chloroformextractorquercetin.Cell-basedassaysin cultured epithelial cells and monocytes are aimed at identifyinginflammatory mediators potentially modified by ‘Uhaloa extracts, amechanismthatmayserveasthebasisforitsvaluablemedicinalproperties.Mentor:Dr.KatalinCsiszar
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StephanieChangMicrobiologyFinishedProjectinEngineering&ComputerSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiA101
DesignofaBiologicalFilterforCarbonDioxideUsingChlorellavulgaris
Atmosphericcarbondioxidehasbeenincreasingduetomanycausessuchastheuseof fossil fuels. Since it is agreenhousegas, it isnecessary that thelevels are reduced. Carbon dioxide is used naturally by photosyntheticorganismssuchasalgae.Theusagecanvarybasedonthealgae’sabilitytoaccessnutrientsandtheformofthecarbondioxide.Therefore,thepurposeoftheprojectwastotestdifferentmethodsofgrowingalgaetodeterminethebestmethodforcarbondioxideremoval.ThealgaeusedwasChlorellavulgarisbecauseitiseasytocultivateandhasmany uses such as a nutritional supplement and a possible biofuel. C.vulgaris was grown using three different methods. First, the algae werespreadonasheetoffilterpaperandhadthegrowthmediadrippedontothepaper.Next,thealgaeweregrownsuspendedintheliquidgrowthmedia.Inthe lastmethod, the algaewere cultivated on the growthmedia solidifiedusingagar.Mentor:Dr.Wei-WenSu
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EileenChen,ChemistryNikkiRousslang,BiologicalEngineeringFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB101ScreeningMutantHumanAsparaginase-ProducingEscherichiacoliforthe
ProductionofHighlyActiveHumanAsparaginases
Current treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) includes theusageofdrugsderived frombacterial asparaginase (ASNase).ASNase is anenzyme that breaks up asparagine, a nonessential amino acid for humansbut essential amino acid for cancerous lymphoblasts. Unfortunately, somepatients experience mild to fatal allergic reactions to the drug due to itsderivation from bacteria. Human ASNase (hASNase) drugs may have thepotentialtodisplacethebacterialASNasedrugs.BecausehASNasesarenotforeign to human bodies, they should not trigger allergic reactions likebacterialASNasesdo.However,hASNaseissignificantlylessactivethanthebacterialASNase.Therefore,ourgoalwastoobtainamoreactivehASNaseby introducing mutations into the hASNase gene. We screened thesemutants using a pH-sensitive assay and isolated mutants with increasedactivity. Then, we developed protocols for expression and purification toextractactivehASNase.OurfuturegoalistoobtainahASNasemutantthatisatleasttwiceasactiveastheoriginalhASNase.AllourresearchtookplaceinDr.HoNg’sproteinstructurelaboratory.Mentor:Dr.HoLeungNg
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HyeWon(Judy)ChungPsychologyFinishedProjectinSocialSciencesParticipationforHonors,UROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiA103
MentalHealthStigmaPerceivedbyRuralHealthProfessionals
To investigate mental health stigma, this study focuses on rural and NativeHawaiiancommunitiesacrosstheStateofHawai`i.Confrontingmentalhealthstigmaisvitaltoimprovinghealthservices.Researchhasidentifiedmentalhealthstigmaisabarriertoaccessinghealthservicesandahigherprevalenceofmentalhealthstigma inruralcommunities.Finally, themajority of Native Hawaiians reside in rural communities, where healthresourcestendtobelimited.An online survey has been designed to assess the extent to which healthprofessionals working in and/orwith rural and Native Hawaiian communitiesparticipate in the Department of Psychiatry (DoP) continuing educationactivities.Thecurrenthonorsprojectenhancedthesurveybyaddingsixmentalhealthstigma items ineffort to identifymentalhealthstigmaasperceivedbyrural health professionals. Data collection will be coordinated under thesupervision of DoP continuing education board member. Local professionalassociationswill be contacted to gain permission to distribute the survey viarespectivelistservs.Datawill be analyzed based on professional context (working in rural,NativeHawaiiancommunity;professionalaffiliation)usingSPSSsoftware,withreportsofdescriptivestatistics.Itisexpectedthatprofessionalsworkinginand/orwithrural and Native Hawai`ian communities will rate perceived mental healthstigmahigherthanprofessionalsworkinginothercommunities.Continuing education may be facilitated by the DoP to enhance rural healthaccess through professional development. Future research should seek toassess the efficacy of the DoP’s continuing education activities in reducingmentalhealthstigmaamonghealthprofessionals.Mentor:Dr.SusanaHelm
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JasonDelaCruzBiologyWorkinProgressinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB103LargeScaleExpressionandPurificationofYop1forinvitroTubuleFormation
One of the most interesting aspects of the Endoplasmic Reticulum withineukaryotic cells is its ability to create a vast network of peripheralmicrotubules throughout a cell. This network allows the EndoplasmicReticulum to facilitate lipid transfer and calcium signaling between localorganelles. This network would not be possible without the presence ofYop1,amembrane-boundproteinthathelpsformthemicrotubulestructure.The overarching goal of this project is to optimize Escherichia coli’sexpression of the Yop1 protein, test the protein’s functionality, andcrystallizetheproteininordertoelucidateitsstructure.Asofnow,I’mstillworking on optimizing the expression protocol to yield higher levels offunctional protein. This process includes varying the growing conditions ofthecellculturesandusingdifferentYop1constructsandexpressionschemessetbyBradyet.al.Yop1playsakeyrole inmaintainingthemorphologyofthe peripheral endoplasmic reticulum, which is important for highereukaryotic organisms. By understanding its structure, we can use theinformation to learnmore about the protein itself as well as neurologicaldisordersassociatedwithendoplasmicreticulumstressincludingAlzheimer'sdiseaseandCrohn’sdisease.Mentor:Dr.HoLeungNg
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MiaDelanoGlobalEnvironmentalScienceFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB104
HeritabilityofCoralpHTolerance
Coral reefsare someof themostbiologicallydiverseecosystemsonEarth,butarethreatenedasanthropogenic(man-made)carbondioxideemissionslowerthepHoftheocean.Thisprocess,knownasoceanacidification(OA),is expected to reduce coral growth rates. Heritable variation underlies thepotential for evolution over time, but the degree of variation in pHtolerancesamongcorals,aswellastheheritabilityofanysuchvariation,hadnotyetbeenstudied.ThisstudyquantifiesthevariationincoralcalcificationtolerancestoOAandtheheritabilityofanysuchvariationamongtheeightdominantcoralspeciesfoundaroundtheislandofO’ahu,constituting>97%coralcoveronHawaiianreefs.Coralcoloniesweresampledacrossnaturalgradientsinseawaterchemistryfrom six different locations around O’ahu, Hawai’i. The experiment wasconductedattheHawai’iInstituteofMarineBiologyinKane’ohe,O’ahu.Six3to5centimetersamples,callednubbins,werecutfromeachparentcoralandplacedinfouroutdoor,flow-through300Lmesocosmtanks,totaling160nubbins per tank. Twoof the four tankswere randomly chosen to receivecarbondioxidedosing(pH~7.6)andtwowerekeptatambientseawaterpH(pH~8.0)forthesix-weekexperiment.Species Montipora patula, Porites evermanni, and Porites meandrinadisplayed strongly heritable calcification rates and varied significantly inresponses between colonies. As coral reefs serve as the basis of vastecosystems, the identification of species that may adapt as the oceanacidifiesisasignificantfirststepinplanningforthefuture.Mentor:Dr.RobToonen
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JeremyFranciscoDivinagraciaFashionDesign&MerchandisingFinishedProjectinArts&Humanities-CreativeParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiA102
DevelopmentofMen'sFashionintheUSA
Fashion is a never-ending update of previous designs. For the menswearmarket,tailoringwaslostovertimeafterthe1960sandiscurrentlyregainingmomentuminthismoderngeneration.Theexponentialgrowthofinterestinmen’s fashion within the industry is recognized nationally. This involveschallengingtheacceptedaestheticsofmasculinityandbreakinggender-fixedclothingsilhouettes.Streetstyleisaneccentricexpressionofcontemporarycultureinfashion.Ithasbecomearesourcethatinspiresdesigners’collections.Hawaiʻiisoneofthe most recognizable travel destinations globally, which brings differentcultures intoone location.Thecombinationofcultures inoneplaceallowsanarrayofdiversitythatcanbeseenonthestreetsofHonolulu.Thesearedocumented in “Honolulu Street Style” by Maile Moran, Attila Pohlmann,andAndyReilly.This creative project focuses on developing a fashion line for thecontemporary menswear market by combining the aesthetics of classicgentlemen’swearwiththediversityfoundinstreetstyleinHawai`i.Mentor:Dr.AndyReilly
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JennySFangMolecularCellBiologyFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB103PosterPresentation:11:45a-12:30pinCampusCenterBallroomDesignandDevelopmentofPlasmidsExpressingSexChromosomeEncoded
Zfy/xGenestoTestSpecificityofNewlyDevelopedAntibodiesAgainstMouseZFProteins
Inmice,twocrucialY-linkedgeneswereidentified,SrydrivingformationoftestesandEif2s3y responsible for initiationof spermatogenesis.Malemicewith Y chromosome contribution provided by these two genes producedhaploid round spermatids, which after injection into the oocytes yieldedoffspring. These round spermatids represented immaturemale gametes asthey lacked tails andwerenotable to fertilizeon theirown.Whena thirdgeneY-gene,Zfy2,wasaddedtomalescarryingSryandEif2s3y,spermwithtailswereformed.Zfy2 isthereforeacrucialgeneformalereproduction inthe mouse, but nothing is known about the mechanism or molecularfunction of its action. The first step to uncover this requires creatingexperimentaltools.ThegoalofmyprojectistoidentifyanantibodythatcanrecognizeZFY2from itsX-linkedhomologueZFXandY-linkedZFY1,bothofwhichareverysimilar.Tofulfillthis,Iwillproduceplasmidsthatwillbeusedfor transfection of Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells in order tomakethemtranslateeachZFX/Yproteins.ThesetransgenicHEKcellswillthenbeused to test the specificity of the anti-ZFY2 antibodies (which we arecurrently developing) using dot blots, western blots, andimmunofluorescence. The importance of this work is that it will allowidentificationof thebestZFY2-specificantibody for future investigationsofthefunctionalroleofZFY2 inspermmaturation.SinceZfy2 isan importantmale fertility gene, the study bears relevance to understanding andtreatmentofhumanmaleinfertility.Mentor:MonikaWard
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NicholasKawelakaiFarrantInterdisciplinaryStudiesandHawaiianLanguageFinishedProjectinSocialSciencesParticipationforHonors,UROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiA103
UnderstandingtheCommunityFoodMovementonOʻahu’sNorthShore
Recognizingopportunities to improvepublichealth,promote regional foodsecurity,andprotectagricultural land,community leadersofOʻahu’sNorthShoreorganizedtheFirstAnnualNorthShoreFoodSummit(NSFS) in2013.Initsfour-yeartenuresincethatinnaguralevent,theNSFShasexploredtheconnectionsthattheNorthShorefoodsystem,includingcommunityhealth,Kanaka ʻŌiwi (indigenous Hawaiian) culture, local and community-basedenergyproduction,waterissues,andlandconservation.Theseconversationshave been facilitated through a wide variety of contexts, includingpresentations and panel discussions, collaborative breakout sessions, sitevisits,andyouthinvolvement.This research involved the compilation and analysis of existing qualitativedata recorded throughout planning and implementation of the four NorthShoreFoodSummiteventstodate.Italsoincludedgatheringandanalyzingthe reflections of prominent NSFS participants and planners on theirexperienceswithandhopesfortheannualevent.Lastly,itdrawsuponotherexamples fromother communities toplace theNSFSwithin the contextofthe contemporarymovement for food reform throughout Hawaiʻi and theWorld.ConclusionsdrawnfromthesedatanotonlyserveasaguideforNorthShorecommunity members’ continued efforts, but also as a record of thismovement to inform and inspire other communities involved in similarefforts.Mentor:Dr.NoelaniGoodyear-Kaʻōpua
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EvanFujimoto,BiologyDavisWong,BiochemistryWorkinProgressinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB101TheProtectiveEffectsofmTORagainstHypoxicStressorinCardiomyocytes
Heart failure is a major cause of death worldwide and results fromcardiomyocyte(CM)injurycausedbyischemicevents.Ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) injury is a major pathophysiological feature seen in clinical practicebecause of reperfusion therapies. I/R injury generates reactive oxygenspecies (ROS) released from mitochondria, thus leading to cell death.Previously we reported that mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin)protects the heart against I/R injury in both in vivo and ex vivo animalmodels. However, the role of mTOR in CMs is poorly understood. In thisstudy, we subjected H9c2 cardiomyoblasts to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced ischemia invitro to study the roleofmTOR in I/R injury.H2O2 isawell-known ROS that increases in I/R injury. Wildtype H9c2 and mTORstable-celllineswereculturedin500μMH2O2for30minutes,andcelldeathwas analyzed using a Live/Dead Cell Viability Assay (Invitrogen). We usedfluorescencemicroscopytophotographthreerandomareasineachwell.Wecountedviableanddeadcells,whichshowedadecreaseincelldeathincellswith mTOR overexpression compared to the wildtype (controls vs. mTOR;11.1±2.4%vs.2.3±0.3%,p<0.05,n=3each).Theresultofthisexperimentisfurther evidence for the protective effects of mTOR in cardiomyocytes.Understanding the cardioprotective effects of mTOR could lead to newtherapiesforheartfailure.Mentor:Dr.TakashiMatsui
28
MichelleHuBiochemistryFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforHonors,UROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB101OptimizingAromataseExpressionandUncoveringNovelAllostericInhibitors
Breastcanceroccurs in1outof8womenwhile2,600newcasesofbreastcancerareexpectedformenin2016alone1.Aromatase,acytochromeP450enzyme that converts androgens, is linked to hormonal breast cancerdevelopment2. Aromatase inhibitors are currently used to treat breastcancer,butthemethodofbindingforsomeofthemremainsunknown.Theobjective of this project is to optimize aromatase expression inE. coli anduncover novel allosteric inhibitors. While screening possible compoundsusinganinhibitionassay,AR11andAR13producedIC50valuesof25.35μMand0.41μMrespectively, compared toknown inhibitorsketoconazoleandendoxifen.Expressionofmutant-typearomatasewasnotincreased,despiteadjusting induction time, incubation temperature, and cell strain. Thoughoptimization of aromatase was not achieved, possible inhibitors wereuncovered which will be used in future crystallization screening onceexpressionisimprovedon.Thesecrystalscreenscanthenbeusedtocreatenew structures for aromatase, leading to improved inhibitor potency andreducedtoxicity.Mentor:Dr.HoLeungNg
29
KimberlyKahaleua,BiologyMariaPetelo,BiologyFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesPosterPresentation:11:45a-12:30pinCampusCenterBallroom
EpithelialCell-specificMechanismsofCapsaicininaNativeHawaiianMedicinalPlant,Nīoi
Nīoi (Capsicum frutescens), has been used by traditional Hawaiian healthpractitioners to treat aches and pains, arthritis, rheumatism and skinconditions. One of its components, capsaicin, topically reduces pain andsymptomsassociatedwithinflammation,acommonfeatureinskindisordersincluding psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and eczema with high prevalence inNative Hawaiian populations. Immune responses and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines are also suppressed by capsaicin. While an earlyinflammatory phase is prominent during skinwound healing, controversialresults were reported for capsaicin treatment involving slow healing,delayed wound contraction, and hypertrophic scars, demonstrating strongeffect on skin epithelial cell functions. However, epithelia-associatedmechanismsandresponsestocapsaicinremainundocumented.We have evaluated capsaicin-induced changes in a secondary analysis ofDNA array data of gene expression in epi-4 human epithelial cells, anddownstream effects on the migration, proliferation and adhesion ofembryonickidneycells (HEK293)andepidermalkeratinocytes (HEKa).Geneexpressiondatarevealedcapsaicin-alteredgeneexpressionofgrowthfactorsand their receptors; of cell-cell interactions; of genes responsible forremodeling the cellular microenvironment; and of those encodingcomponents of the basal lamina that determines epithelial functions.Downstreamphenotypeeffects includeda tendency for reducedmigrationand a significant decrease in cell proliferation of capsaicin treated HEKakeratinocytes, but not HEK239 cells. Both array data and cell phenotypechanges indicated altered cell adhesion. Collectively, results demonstratethat capsaicin has strong, but differential effects on epithelial cell typeshighlyrelevanttoitstopicalapplications.Co-Authors:AndrewChang,NoemiPolgar,RozaliaLackzo,BenFogelgrenMentor:Dr.KatalinCsiszar
30
KaimiKahihikoloAstrophysicsWorkinProgressinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiA101
ThievingStarsCaughtbyKepler:ASearchforIntermittentAccretorsinKeplerBinarySystems
Binary stars, under certain circumstances, have a possibility of forming asymbiotic binary star system---a phenomenon where one star begins todevouritscompanion.Thesesystemscanbedetectedusingthreemethods:studyinglightcurvesforintermittentbrightening,intermittentdimmingandorbital period decay. By re-purposing data from the Kepler telescope andtaking near-infrared photometry using the Faulkes telescope, potentialsymbioticbinarystarsystemshavebeendetected.Followupobservationsofthesepotentialaccretorswillbecarriedoutnextsummer.Mentor:Dr.RobertoMendez
31
KyungMooKimEconomics,CertificateinClassicalLanguagesFinishedProjectinSocialSciencesParticipationforHonorsOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiA103PosterPresentation:11:45a-12:30pinCampusCenterBallroom
PriceDeterminantsofTuberculosisDrugs
Thoughdrugs for tuberculosishasexistedsince the1940s,over9.6millionpeoplefellillwithTBand1.5milliondiedfromdiseasein2014.Developingcountriescarrymuchoftheburden:over95%ofTBdeathsoccurinlow-andmiddle-incomecountries,accountingformorethan80%ofnewtuberculosiscases globally every year. It is therefore important that tuberculosis drugsareavailableandaffordable to countries that arenot adeptatnegotiationand/orprocurement.ThePriceandQualityReporting(PQR)systemisaweb-basedsystemthatcollectsprocurementdata forselectcommoditiesunderThe Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Little empiricalwork has beendoneon factors that affect global tuberculosis drugpricingandaffordability.AdatasetcontainingPQRinformationfrom2006to2014wasobtainedfromtheGlobalFund.We isolatedprocurementdatarelatedto tuberculosis and its treatment. There were 6372 transactions and theproducts purchased amount tomore thanUS$400million (current terms).We analyze using regression analysis the relationship between prices andfactors including time intervals between purchase order date and deliverydate,FDCs,GDPpercapita(Atlasmethod),publichealthexpenditureas%ofGDP,populationdensity,educationrates,governmentcorruption,incidenceof tuberculosis, suppliers, geography, and infrastructure (% roads paved).Preliminary results suggest positive correlations of price with increases inpublic healthcare expenditure, GDP per capita (current US$), populationdensity,CPIAscores,incidenceoftuberculosis,andurbanpopulation.Mentor:Dr.VictoriaFan
32
CasieKubota,BiochemistryMarissaKuwabara,BioengineeringFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB101
ExpressionofSTAT3inE.coliforSmallMoleculeInhibitorDevelopment
AbnormalfunctionandactivationofSTAT3,aproteininhumansthatassistsincellproliferationandsurvival,ismanifestedinmanyhumandiseasessuchas cancer.We are interested in producing high resolution visualizations ofcrystallized STAT3proteins that arebound to an inhibitor. Currently, thereareasurplusofinhibitorsthatbindtoSTAT3,butnonebindstronglyenoughtomakethatinhibitoraviableoptionformedicaltreatment.DuetothefactthatthecrystalstructureofaSTAT3proteinbindingtoaligandisnotknown,scientistsareunabletomoveforward incancertherapyresearch.ThegoalofthisprojectwastocrystallizetwodifferentvariantsoftheSTAT3proteinthat isboundtovarious ligands inhopestogiveresearcherspowerfuldatathatcouldpossibly leadtoabreakthrough incancertreatment. Inordertodothis,STAT3wasexpressedinE.colicellsandthencollectedandpurified.The purified protein was then incubated in crystallization trays containingvarious solutions in an effort to produce viable crystals. Using thesemethods, STAT3 crystals were successfully grown in MCSG-2 and MCSG-4crystallization trays. It was also found that Arginine greatly increased thestabilityofSTAT3whenusedinthepurificationprocess.Thecrystalswillbesoaked in various ligands in attempt to bind the ligands to the crystals. Afollow-up project is currently under way to obtain diffraction data on thecrystalsinordertoproduceaproteinstructureusingdigitalsoftware.Mentor:Dr.HoLeungNg
33
HailingLiInformation&ComputerScienceFinishedProjectinEngineering&ComputerSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiA101
ReliabilityofPunchingShearStrengthPredictionforExistingBuildings
The punching shear strength of steel-reinforced concrete slab-columnconnections inexistingbuildingshasbeen thesourceofmanycatastrophicfailuresduringearthquakesandaccidentaloverloadofbuildings.Whenoldbuildings are analyzed using the current formulas prescribed by theAmericanConcrete Institute(ACI)BuildingCodeRequirements(ACI318-14)engineersconcludesthatthestrengthisinsufficientandrepairsareneededevenifthestructurehasbeenperformingadequatelyfordecades.Tobetterpredict the strength of these connections, the reliability of historical ACIpunching shear models (PSM), from 1912, through today’s code can beevaluated.Areliabilitymodelmustconsiderboththevariabilityindemandandcapacity.PSMs are used to predict the capacity of these connections; however theactual strength is influencedbyvariability ingeometry,materialpropertiesas well as how accurate the model represents reality when compared toexperimentaldata.MonteCarloSimulation(MCS)wasusedtoevaluatehowwell the historical PSMs were able to predict the actual strength ofconnections determined by 522 experiments available in the literature. Aprofessional factor, the mean ratio of the actual failure load to predictedcapacity,wasdeterminedforeachPSM.The professional factor, MCS, and a realistic statistical variation of loadswerethenusedtodevelopaninitialestimateofreliabilityforeachPSM.Atypical slab column connection designed such that the demand perfectlymatched the nominal capacity predicted by the PSM was used for thisanalysis.PreliminaryestimatesofreliabilityforeachPSMwillbepresented.Mentor:Dr.GaurJohnson
34
LeoVLouisEthnobotanyFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforHonors,UROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB104
MarketSurveyofFungiinBhutan
TheKingdomofBhutanisarelativelysmallyetculturallyandbiologicallyrichmountainouslandlockedcountrytothenorthofIndia.Elevationsrangefrom200–7500 meters and includes sub-tropical, alpine, and temperate zones.Bhutan is made up of 20 dzongkhags (districts), and there are 23 spokenlanguages.Morethan69%ofthepopulationliveinruralcommunitieswhereediblewildplants (EWP)contribute toa largeportionofhouseholdannualincome. In particular, harvested mushrooms are extremely important, insome cases contributing up to 70% of the annual income for somecommunitymembers.Despitetheirobviousvaluebotheconomicallyandasafoodsource,limitedworkhasbeendonetoassesstheecologicalandsocialimplications of harvest. Here I present the results from market surveysconducted in three districts in western Bhutan. The goal of these surveyswas to investigate the diversity and relative quantity ofmushrooms beingharvested for sale. As well as local ecological knowledge related to theharvest ofmushrooms. Preliminary results reveal both a large diversity ofmushrooms being sold, and a relatively sophisticated understanding ofmushroom ecology among some community members. However, someBhutanese people have expressed concern that competition amongstharvestersisleadingtoadeclineinmushroomsizeandquality.ForinstanceCantharellus cibarius, considered a favorite amongst many Bhutanese, isexposed to large harvesting pressures that have resulted in a noticeabledecline in sizeandquality inmarkets. These issuesdraw intoquestion theecologicalandsocialimplicationsofmushroomharvesting.Mentor:MichaelB.Thomas
35
ChristianMacaspac,BiologyVaniaFernandes,BiologyWorkinProgressinNaturalSciencesParticipationforResearchLabOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB103VulnerabilityintheDevelopmentalRegulationoftheMechanosensorinthe
MexicanCavefish
Stability of the developmental process is key in maintaining an ‘adapted’speciesinagivenenvironment,whereasitcouldreduceachancetoadapttothe novel environment. The Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, iscomposed of two morphs; the cave dwelling and surface dwelling forms,whichhavebothevolvedfromthesurfacedwellingancestormillionsofyearsago.Throughevolutionintheperpetualdarkandfoodsparsecave,cavefishshowa larger numberof themechanosensory superficial neuromasts thanthat of the surface fish, which are the sensor for a cave-adapted foragingbehavior,rheotaxisandschooling.Totestthedevelopmentalrobustnessofthis sensor,wepharmacologically inhibited theendothelin signaling,whichperturbsthecranialboneformation,thus, indirectlyinducingmorenumberofsuperficialneuromasts.After5timesofrepeatedexperiments,wefoundthattheneuromastnumbersignificantly increasedmoreincavefishthaninsurfacefish,suggestingthatthecavefishmayhaveevolvedadevelopmentalflexibilityinmechanosensorinordertoadapttothenovelenvironment.Weare further exploring the developmental process of this sensor and therelationshipwithitsadaptiveforagingbehaviors.Mentor,Co-Author:Dr.MasatoYoshizawa
36
StephenMacaspacBiologyFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB103
DeterminationoftheLigand-BindingSitesofGPCR’sthroughProteinConservationAnalysisandDockingSimulations
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to be involved in variousphysiological functions. Once ligand-binding sites are identified,pharmaceutical interactions can be further studied and applied to theprofusionofGPCR-relateddisorderssuchashormone-inducedcancers.ThecrystalstructuresofmostGPCR’shavenotbeendetermined,andthebindingsites ofmost ligands have not yet been experimentally identified. Variouscomputationalapproacheshavebeenusedtopredictligand-bindingsitesinGPCRs. Traditionally, docking methods have been utilized to compute thelowest energy orientation of a ligand fit to a receptor surface. Anotherfeaturethatcanbeusedisproteinconservationbecauseligand-bindingsitesof proteins are usually conserved. We applied a hybrid scoring function,using information from liganddockingandproteinconservation, topredictbinding sites on sites on a G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER).Crystal structures of the a2a adenosine receptor and beta-2 adrenergicreceptor have been determined. Because their structures have beenexperimentally isolated with their ligands, they can serve as models toascertaintheaccuracyofthehybridscoringfunctionemployedtoGPER.Thecoordinates for the crystal structures a2a adenosine receptor bound byadenosine and beta-2 adrenergic receptor bound by epinephrine wereacquired from RCSB protein databank and uploaded to chimera. Eachreceptor was screened for amino acids interacting with their respectiveligands. These residues served as a benchmark for comparison withpredictions. Predicted binding sites parallel benchmark residues and verifythe potency of a hybrid scoring function that can be extrapolated toadditionalGPCRs.Mentor:Dr.HoLeungNg
37
LaurenMathewsGlobalEnvironmentalScienceFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB102Nutrition&ElementalStoichiometryofMicrozooplanktonLifeStagesina
ChangingClimate
Copepods, highly abundant microzooplankton, generally have rigidmetabolic needs, andmust adjust their feedingbehavior and/ormetabolicrates in order to compensate for imbalances in food stoichiometry. Ascopepods develop through a lifecycle, their demand for limiting nutrients,suchasphosphorus,shifts;thehighestphosphorusdemandoccurringduringthenaupliarstages.Measurementsofspecificzooplanktonbiomass,grazingrates,and internal stoichiometryaresampled throughoutonecopepod lifecycle from nauplii to adult in order to assess how reduction in relativephosphorous content of a phytoplankton food source will affect a smallcopepod species, Parvocalanus crassirostrus, at different developmentstages. In addition, to simulate variable sea surface temperature aroundHawaii, the same experiment is conducted at three different controlledtemperatures: 25˚C(meanwintertemperature),28˚C,and32˚C.Significantdifferencesacrossfoodtreatmentaswellastemperaturewereobservedforspecific P. crassirostrus biomass for copepodites, while nauplii indicated astronger resilience toboth temperatureand food treatment. Thisdatawillbe presented along with P. crassirostrus grazing rates and carbon:phosphorouselementalstoichiometricdataofbothP.crassirostrusandtheTisochrysis lutea food source for all food treatments and temperatureincubations.Knowledgeofcopepodnutritionandsubsequenthealthastheplanetwarmsandseasurfacetemperaturesriseisimportanttotheabilityoftrackingtheeffectsclimatechangeonbiological lifeandwillcreateabasisthat could lead to a warning system for fishery crashes and dangerousmarineanoxiczones.Mentors:Dr.CraigNelson,Dr.CarolynFaithfull
38
DaltonMuchowGlobalEnvironmentalScienceFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB102
RamanandFluorescenceSpectroscopyforCategorizingCoralHealthinHawai'i
Themajorityoftheworld’sreefecosystemsareatriskduetochangesinthelocal and global environments. Many common current techniques thatdeterminecoralhealthoverlargeareasrequirescientiststoSCUBAdiveonacoralreeftomakeobservationsandcollectsamples,requiringanenormousamountofplanningandfunding.RemoteRamanspectroscopyisapowerfultechnique capable of quickly identifying a large variety of chemicals,including pure elements, simple molecules, inorganic chemicals, organiccompounds, biogenic compounds, and rock forming minerals (calcite,aragonite) from any state of aggregation (solid, liquid, and gas phase).Another powerful remote sensing technique is “Time Resolved LaserInduced Native Fluorescence” (TR-LINF) and has been used as a standoffbiofinder capable of differentiating between mineral and biologicalfluorescence. Both of these techniques are fast (detection time <0.1s) andcanquicklyandaccuratelymeasure largeareasof interest.RemoteRamanand TR-LINF’s proven use in categorizing biological markers at remotedistance provides potential for application in measuring and categorizinglargeareasofcoralreefhealthfromadistance.Currently,nobodyinHawaiihas the capability to remotely measure coral and assess its health usingremotespectroscopyunderdaylightconditions.Mentor:Dr.AnupamMisra
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AmberO'BrienArt(Glass)andPsychologyFinishedProjectinArts&HumanitiesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiA102PosterPresentation:11:45a-12:30pinCampusCenterBallroom
EnergyEfficiency:TheFutureofGlassMaking
Innovation and invention have been a hallmark of individual artists toimprove glass making technology since the beginning of the studio glassmovement. Studio operations and equipment are complicated and requireskillful technical maintenance, financial literacy, and access to energyproducing natural resources. Energy consumption, policy and funding ofglassartstudiosandtheiruseofmaterialresourcesareareasofdiscussionthat shouldbe viewed throughapositive lens. Thepurposeof thisprojectwas to encourage the conversation of energy efficiency in the glasscommunityandestablishanetworkofresourcestoactualizefutureresearchand promote sustainable glassmaking practices. Themethods of researchinvolvedgatheringqualitativedatathroughsurveysofpublications,lectures,interviews, and observations from the Glass Art Society Conference andvarious studio visits around the country. The resultshavebeen centralizedinto a comprehensive database,www.GlassArtEnergy.org,which is easy touse and will be continuously updated as the conversation continues. Theconclusion is thatenergy efficiency in the glass studio relies on mindfulpracticesoftheuserandtheawarenessofavailabletechnologiescombinedwith the responsibility toapply them.Thisprojecthasbeenable togatherprimary resourcesandmake themanaccessibleeducational resource.Thisplatformhas thepotential todecrease theenergyexpenditureof theglassmakingcommunityasawholeandprogressustowardsamoresustainablefuture.Mentor:RickMills
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MicahPascualMicrobiologyWorkinProgressinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiA101
MechanismsUnderlyingDifferentialResponsestoNeuropeptideAllatostatin-C(AST-C)intheCardiacGanglion(CG)oftheAmericanLobster,
Homarusamericanus
Peptides are important modulators of neural circuit activity. In centralpattern generator (CPG)-effector systems, peptides allow for flexibility inrhythmic motor output. In the lobster, Homarus americanus, the cardiacneuromuscular system, which consists of the cardiac ganglion (CG) andcardiac muscle (CM), controls the rhythmic motor output of the heart.Recent investigations of the actions of the peptide hormone allatostatin-C(AST-C) on the cardiac neuromuscular system have shown variability inphysiological response among lobsters. Specifically, perfusion of AST-Cthrough the semi-intact heart consistently decreased the frequency ofongoing heart contractions, but showed varied effects on contractionamplitude, decreasing it in some lobsters and increasing it in others. Ourworking hypothesis is that the different responses of the lobster cardiacneuralcircuittoAST-CareduetothetypesofAST-CreceptorspresentintheCG in preparations that respond to AST-C with increases vs. decreases incontractionamplitude.Asafirststepintestingourhypothesiswegeneratedtissuespecifictranscriptomesforthelobster(brain,eyestalkgangliaandCG)andhaveminedthemusinghomology-basedBLASTsearchesfortranscriptsencodingputativeAST-Creceptors.Viatheseanalyses,fourdifferentAST-Creceptor types were identified. We are nowworking to generate severaladditional transcriptomes (i.e., one from CGs that show increases incontractionamplitudeandonefromCGsthatshowdecreasesincontractionamplitude)todetermineiftherearedifferencesintherelativeabundanceofthereceptortypesinanimalswithdifferentphysiologicalresponsestoAST-C.Mentor:AndrewEChristie
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ZachQuinlanMarineBiologyFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB104
FluorescenceofDissolvedOrganicMatterofCoralExudates
Benthic organisms in tropical reef ecosystems all exude dissolved organicmatter as a portion of their primary production. Understanding thecomposition of these exudates as well as the response to changingenvironmental conditions is essential tounderstanding themetabolismsofthese organisms. We collected in-situ filtrate during a multi week surveyfromcorals for thedetectionoforganicexudates.Weanalyzed the filtrateusing fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize the exudate compositionanddifferential exudate concentrations acrossmultiple response variables.Exudateswerecollectedfromthreespeciesofcoral;Pocilloporadamicornis,Porites compressa, Montipora capitata, and across multiple patch reefswithin Kaneohe bay. Using previously catalogued fluorescent dissolvedorganicmatter(fDOM)exudatemarkersforcoralexudationwedeterminedthedistance fromthecoral inwhich theseexudatesignaturesdisappearedduetodispersion.Thecoralcolonieswereselectedfromcloned individualswhich displayed differential thermal tolerance and bleaching during pastbleaching events. Although in-vitromeasurements of proteinaceous fDOMshowedhighexudationofspecificaromaticaminoacid-likecompounds, in-situ coral species were found to exude different proportions of theseproteinaceousexudatesdependentonspeciesandlocation.Mentor:Dr.CraigENelson
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TylerRamosMusicFinishedProjectinArts&Humanities–CreativeParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiA102
AMusicalJourney-NationalCompetitionandSummerFestivals
TheculminatingpieceofmyprojectwasanhourlongsolopianorecitalthatraisedmoneyfortheHawaiiPianoTeacher’sAssociation.IpresentedworksofvariousstylesfromJohannSebastianBach(1685-1750)toAvnerDorman(1975-present). IstudiedtherepertoirepresentedatthisrecitalwithworldrenownedteachersattheprestigiousBanfffestivalinAlberta,Canada,whichtheUndergraduateResearchOpportunitiesProgram(UROP)fundedforme.IpresentedthisrecitalbecauseitshowstherangeofstylesthatIcanperform,and Iwanted to giveback to themusical community thathelped raisemeintothemusicianIamtoday.My project deals with the creative process, and finding an original andappealingvoicedespiteplayingfromthesamescoreaseveryoneelse.HowdoImakethemusicleapoffthepage,whatisstylisticallycorrect,andhowdoIpersonalizethepiecetomyinterpretationofthescorewithoutdeviatingfrom the composer’s wishes? These questions will be answered in mypresentation.Inmymusicalstudies,I’vealwayshadthehelpofmyinstructors,andthey'veguidedme towards independenceandmusicalmaturity. The fruitsof theirlaborshowinmywinningthirdplaceinanationalcompetitionandattendingtheBanffsummerfestival,ofwhich30outof200applicantswereaccepted.Mentor:Dr.ThomasYee
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SeanReseighNaturalResources&EnvironmentalManagementFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB104ConversionofFoodWastetoRenewableBiogasandNutrient-RichBioslurry
FoodwastefromtheUniversityofHawai`iatMānoa(UHM)campuscentercafeteria was converted to renewable energy and nutrient-rich effluent(bioslurry) through anaerobic digestion. Biochemical methane potential(BMP) tests were performed utilizing three foodwaste to inoculum ratios(i.e.3:1,2:1,and1:1volatilesolidbasis).Subsequently,thisstudytestedtheeffectivenessof thebioslurryproducedduringanaerobicdigestionasasoilamendment was also studied. The plant used in the pot experiment wasBrassicaJuncea(BabyKaiChoy).Thepotexperimentconsistedoftwoslurrydosages i.e. with 200 mg of N and 400 mg of N per kg of soil. Anothertreatment was added with 400 mg of N of a commercial fertilizer, and acontrol treatmentwithouta soil amendment.Effluent from thebatchwiththehighestmethaneyieldwasadded in intervals for5weeks tomeet theNitrogencontentgoaloftheslurrytreatments.Theresultsrevealedthatthebatchwith the smallestamountofadded foodwaste (i.e.1:1) showed thehighest methane yield. However, increasing food waste to inoculum ratiocould significantly decrease methane yield. The inappropriate carbon tonitrogenratioof thebatchwithhigh foodwaste to inoculumratio (i.e.2:1and3:1)couldexplainthisphenomenon.Thepotexperimentconcludedthatthe treatment added with 400 mg of N from the slurry produced thehealthiest,densest,andmostnutrientrichplantsincomparisontoawidelyusedcommercialfertilizer.Mentors:Dr.JonathanDeenik,Dr.SamirKhanal
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DerekRischNaturalResources&EnvironmentalManagementFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB102ImpactsofFloodControlManagementonWaterQualityofKaelepuluand
KawainuiStreamsinKailuaBay
Coastaldevelopmentandurbanizationnegatively impactwaterqualityandalter the movement of freshwater. Management actions such as streamchannelization accelerate the delivery of freshwater, along with dissolvednutrients and sediments, tomarine ecosystems. The purpose of this studywas to compare the impacts of rainfall events onwater qualitymetrics intwoadjacenthuman-modifiedstreamsystemsthatdischargetotheocean.Kawainui stream receives surface water from the Maunawili watershed,whileKaelepulustreamislargelycutofffromthewatershedduetoabarrierbuilt by the Army Corps of Engineers. Four sampling stations wereestablishedineachstream,arrangedlinearlyfromthemouthofthestreamtoward the interiorof thewetland.Samplingwasconductedmonthly fromMay to August 2016 on the highest tide, as a baseline, and when rainfallmeasured intheMaunawiliwatershedexceeded2.7cm.Waterqualitydata(salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity) were collected using a YSIProPlus multiparameter instrument. Surface water was collected at eachstationandiscurrentlybeinganalyzedfordissolvedinorganicnutrients(NO3
-+NO2
-,PO43-,NH4
+,H4SiO4).PreliminarydatafromtheYSIinstrumentshowalargedifferenceintheresponseofthetwostreamstostormevents.Salinity,pH, and DO were relatively unchanged following the largest storm in theKaelepulustreamsystem,whilethesamestormcausedasubstantialchangeacrossallparameterswithintheKawainuistream.AsimilartrendisexpectedforinorganicnutrientconcentrationswithhigherconcentrationsinKawainuiduetorunoffinthewatershed.Mentor:Dr.MelissaRPrice
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ShannonNoelleRiveraEnvironmentalStudiesandGender&ConflictResolutionMinorsinZoologyandDanceFinishedProjectinSocialSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiA103NowheretoGo:PerceivedBarrierstotheUseofAssistedColonizationfor
ClimateSensitiveSpeciesTheHawaiianIslands,astheplanet’smostremotearchipelago,arehometoan array of species that are as vulnerable as they are unique. With thehighest rate of extinction per square mile on earth, timely and effectiveactionsmustbetakentocountertheadditionalpressureplacedbyclimatechange on the 400 species in Hawai‘i listed as Endangered. Assistedcolonization,the intentionalmovementandreleaseofanorganismoutsideitshistoricalrange, isonemanagementoptionforspeciespredictedtolacksuitablehabitatunderlikelyclimatechangescenarios.Withafocusoncaseswhere such an extreme action may provide a reasonable hedge againstextinction,firstpersoninterviewswithemployeesoffederal,stateandnon-profit agencies were used to evaluate both the perceived and existingobstacles to the use of assisted colonization. We found several potentialbarriers to utilization of this management tool. Assisted Colonization isconsidered by many to be high-risk, due to factors such as the cost ofpreparing the target habitat, and potentially highmortality in translocatedindividuals.Our results suggest that,despiteexistingpolicies thatallow forassisted colonization in cases where it is warranted, this action is rarelyconsidered.Sinceassistedcolonizationisbestcarriedoutwhenpopulationsare robust enough to tolerate the removal of individuals for translocation,we recommend that this management action must be considered inconservation planning for species projected to have little or no suitablehabitatremainingasclimatechangeprogresses.Mentor:Dr.MelissaRPrice
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AlainaSmithGlobalEnvironmentalScienceFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforHonors,UROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB102
MaintenanceofDiversityThroughMultipleTimescalesofVariation
Diversity can be maintained through resource fluctuation because speciescan evolve different strategies to thrive under different conditions. Thesestrategies include being able to grow the fastest, being able to store themostresources,orbeingable touseresourcesmoreefficiently, thusbeingthe best competitor under limited resources.Nutrient supply in the oceanlikely varies overmultiple time scales (e.g., seasonal variation vs. storms);however, we do not understand how multiple frequencies of variationaffectsphytoplanktoncommunities.Totesttheroleofmultiplefrequenciesof variation, I amusing amodel describinghowphytoplankton respond tovarying nutrient supply. I compared how the community structure duringconditionswherethereweretwopulsefrequenciesdifferfromcommunitiesunderonepulsefrequencyconditions.Under one pulse conditions it was reiterated that species with differentstrategies did better under competition at different periods. As the pulseperiods increased therewere clear shifts in the community structurewithrespect to the strategies. However, when a second pulse frequency wasadded, pulse periods where species with one strategy usually dominated,were found to contain a co-existence between species with multiplestrategies. In short, it was found that multiple frequencies of resourcevariationallowforagreaterdiversityofstrategiespresentinthecommunity.Understanding themaintenance of diversity in phytoplankton is importantbecause they are the base of the foodweb and they play amajor part inbiogeochemical cycles including the carbon cycle, which affects how thebiospherereactstoclimatechange.Mentor:Dr.KyleEdwards
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ShelbySullivanHistoryFinishedProjectinArts&Humanities–ResearchParticipationforHonorsOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiA102
DeathCampCommanders:AdministratorsofHitler’s“FinalSolution”
Historianshaveacknowledgeddifferentelementsthatcombinedtoproducethe Holocaust, ranging from ideology and totalitarian leadership, todetached and numerous bureaucrats and desk-murderers, to rank-and-fileexecutionsasthosecommonpeoplewhosupporttheirwork.Betweenthesepolarends–theupperechelonleaderswhoremainedlargelydisconnectedfromtheon-sitemurdersandtheslavelaborerswhoassistedthem–thereisa middle level functionary who is in a different position. The high levelleadersconcernedthemselveswithlong-rangeplans,statisticalreports,andeffortstorealizethevisionoftheFuhrer.Thoseindividualsremaineddistantfromthekillingsthatthey indirectlyauthorized.Manyofthe lower-rankingindividualswhowould takepart in theactualkillingofpeoplewouldclaimthey were under orders, or working under threat of death. The fewindividualswhowereon-siteandwhohad theability toactwitha relativeamountof personal initiative are the subject of this study. Thepurposeofthis paper is to examine a small group of SS leaders who were given theresponsibility of runningHitler’s extermination camps. The individuals thatwere appointed to oversee these centers represent an important middle-levelofmanagementintheexterminationsystem,andtheywillbeanalyzedagainstthebackdropofinterdisciplinaryscholarshipinordertogaugewhatattributes these men possessed, the extent to which they affected campoperations,andwhethertheymettheexpectationsoftheirsuperiors.Mentor:Dr.PeterHHoffenberg
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TaylorTashiroMolecularCellBiologyWorkinProgressinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiA101
MolecularTaxonomicIdentificationofNematodeSpeciesinHawai‘i
Nematodes that attack and parasitize plants have become an issue foragricultural crops and food security in Hawaii as well as other localitiesaroundtheworld.IdentifyingnematodesusingDNAcouldgreatlyfacilitateidentification of nematodes to the species level. This could be of vitalimportance for assessing biodiversity and for finding ways of properlydealingwiththesedestructiveandhighlyinvasivespecies.Inthisstudy,therelatively new DNA based method known as “DNA Barcoding” is used.Barcoding uses DNA sequences obtained from one specific gene that hasbeen characterized in awide rangeof organisms. Using this approachwehopetoidentifythepresenceofdestructiveplant-parasiticnematodessuchas root-knot nematodes in the genus Meloidogyne, possibly down to thespecies level. For this project the organisms used were both laboratorycultured nematodes andwild specimens collected in a field on Kauai nearKauai Community College (KCC). This process included 4 basic steps: (1)extracting DNA of specimens, (2) using PCR to amplify copies of the COI“barcode” gene aswell rRNA genes to produce viable DNA sequences, (3)analysisofDNAsequencesobtainedusingcomputersoftwareprogramssuchas DNAStar, (4) comparisons of DNA sequences to international databasessuchasGenBank.Throughouranalysiswehaveidentifiednematodespeciessuch asM. arenaria,M. incognita, andM. javanica to be present in ourcollections.Furtherresearchwillbedonetoidentifymorespeciesandfindproperimplicationsfortreatmentoftheparasites.Mentor:Dr.DavidHaymer
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CrystalValdezBiologyWorkinProgressinNaturalSciencesParticipationforResearchLabOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB103
EvolutionofSymbioticGutBiotaanditsRelationshiptoFattyAcidStorageinMexicanCavefish
Gutmicrobiota iscrucial forgutdevelopment,guthomeostasisandproperfunctionofhost immunesystem,metabolismandneuralprocessing.Short-chainfattyacidsareanemergingcomponentthatmicroorganismssupplytothe host which appears crucial for gut structure, immune response andneuralprocessing.Astyanaxmexicanusisaspeciescomposedofblindcave-dwellingmorphandtheirsightedsurface-dwellingmorph.Thesightedcavefishancestorsweretrappedincavesmillionsofyearsago,shiftingtheirdietofsmallfishandcrustaceanstoaleandietofrottenorganicmatterandbatguano. Despite significant changes, they remain interfertile, allowing us toapplypowerfulgeneticstoresolvetheevolutionofthegutbiotasymbiosm.Here,weperformedgeneticanalysesongutmorphology,gutbiotaandfattyacid composition of cave fish, surface fish and F1 hybrids. They were fedthree diets—nutrient-rich brine shrimp, nutrient-poor spirulina and batguano.Morphometrics revealed that cavefishhave significantly lesspyloriccaeca,longermicrovilliandawiderhind-gutthansurfacefish.Analysisofgutbiotausing16SribosomalRNAsequencingshowedthatsurfacefishandcavefish gut biota significantly differ, while F1 hybrids are an intermediate ofbothmorphs. Regardless of diet, gut biota remains stable suggesting hostgeneticsareinvolvedthus,Astyanaxmexicanusmayserveasanalternativemodel to highlight the molecular mechanisms of the gut symbioticinteraction. We will report how gut morphology changed under thecombinationofdiet,morphandfattyacidcomposition insurfacefish,cavefishandF1hybrids.Co-Authors:KateCoyle,ReadeRoberts,JoanneYewMentor:Dr.MasatoYoshizawa
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CindyVuongMolecularCellBiologyFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB103
FunctionofMouseORC4FragmentsinFemaleMeiosis
During female mammalian meiosis, the oocyte extrudes half of itschromosomes twice to reduce DNA content to 1N. The extrudedchromosomeswithinpolarbodieshaveminimalcytoplasmandareincapableof fertilization.Themechanismsbehindpolarbodyextrusion (PBE)are stillunclear. We previously demonstrated that in both meiotic divisions ofmurineoocytes, theDNA replication licensingprotein,ORC4, forms a cageonlyaroundthesetofchromosomestobeextruded inthepolarbodyandnotaroundthechromosomesremainingintheoocyteforfuturefertilization.This ORC4 cage possibly helps expel chromosomes unused by the finaloocyte. Theproposedproject testedwhatpartsofORC4arenecessary forcage formation. We reasoned that the cage required polymerization ofORC4, either with itself or another protein(s). Using the predicted three-dimensional structure for ORC4, we synthesized three mRNA-ORC4-HISfragments (120 bp). These fragments represented amino acids facing theprotein exterior that might disrupt the ORC4 cage by competitive bindingwithpolymerizationsites.WeinjectedthemRNAfragmentsindividuallyintoMIIoocytesandobservedoocytedevelopment.TwomRNAfragments,neartheN-terminusandnearthemid-regionoftheprotein,inhibitedORC4cageformation and also prevented PBE. The third mRNA fragment, containingpartsoftheC-terminus,hadnoeffectonORC4cageformationorPBE.TheseresultssuggestthatORC4isrequiredforcageformationandPBE,whichisanessentialprocessforpreventionofclinicaldisordersrelatedtochromosomalabnormalitiessuchasDownandTurnerSyndromes.Mentor:Dr.WStevenWard
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RebeccaMarieWeibleMarineBiologyFinishedProjectinNaturalSciencesParticipationforHonors,UROPOralPresentation:Session1(9:35-10:30a)inSakamakiB102
MethodDevelopment:IsolatingMicroplasticsfromCopepodsintheAlaWaiCanal
Microplastics are less than 5 mm in size (Zarfl & Matthies, 2010) andoriginate from the breakdown of larger plastics, cosmetic scrubbers,synthetic fibers, and air-blasting (Cole et al., 2011). Past studies haveindicatedaconcernforbioaccumulationofmicroplasticsinthefoodchainasapossibility(Coleetal.,2011;Desforgesetal.,2015;Zarfl&Matthies,2010),butnopublisheddatatestingthishypothesishasappearedintheliterature.Therefore, the focus of this project was on developing methodologies toidentifywhetherornotmicroplasticsexist in theAlaWaiCanaland if theyare consequently available and consumed by the canal’s copepods. Thisstudyanalyzedtheefficiencyofmethodsthat involvecopepod ingestionofmicroplastics less than 1mm in size. Results indicated that plankton towswere the most efficient method of collecting copepods andmicroplastics,that digestionswere not very effective, and that a baseline understandingfor the featuresandpropertiesofmicroplastics less than1mm in size stillrequires testing in order to isolate microplastics from copepods in theirnaturalenvironments.Inconclusion,furtherbaselinestudiesandknowledgeneedstobeacquiredbeforeonecandeterminewhetherornotmicroplasticsare biologically available to zooplankton, much less determine ifbioaccumulationupthefoodchainisapossibility.Mentor:Dr.KarenSelph
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BrennenYasudaMicrobiologyWorkinProgressinNaturalSciencesParticipationforUROPOralPresentation:Session2(10:40-11:35a)inSakamakiB101ExpressionofAlternativeRibosomalProteinsinMycobacteriasmegmatis
underStressConditions
The biological function of ribosomes to perform translation on encodedmRNAs is vital for life. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causativeagent of TB, has been shown to express both primary and alternativeribosomalproteins(AltRPs).AprimaryribosomalproteinS18-1ismorelikelyto be incorporated into ribosomes when zinc is available. At low zincconcentrations,however,theexpressionofhomologousAltRP,S18-2proteindramatically increases, and it is able to replace S18-1 during ribosomebiogenesis. S18-1 and AltRP S18-2 proteins are also found in a relatednonpathogenic bacteriumMycobacterium smegmatis (Msm) and thereforeweusedthisorganismtofurtherinvestigateAltRPs.WetestedifconditionsotherthanlowzincinduceAltRPexpression.Invitrostressconditionswerechosen to test for expression of AltRPs based on similar physiologicalstresses thatMtb encounter during infection. First, a series ofMicroplateAlamar Blue Assays were performed to determine minimal inhibitoryconcentrations (MICs) for Cumene hydroperoxide (oxidative stress),DETANONOate (nitric oxide stress), Diamide (thiol oxidation stress), andPlumbagin (superoxide stress). Further,we exposedMsm to stresses at orbelow theirMICs and followedexpressionofAltRPsbyusing a fluorescentreporter controlled by the altRP promoter. However, results fromfluorescence readings show an increase in AltRP expression whenMsm isexposed to Cumene hydroperoxide compared to the untreatedMsm cells.Currently,weplan topurify andanalyze ribosomes in cells exposed to theCumene hydroperoxide in order to get a better understanding how theircompositionchangesinresponsetostresses.Mentor:Dr.SladjanaPrisic
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NOTES
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
MAHALO NUI LOA to Interim UH-Mānoa Chancellor David Lassner, Vice Chancellor for Research and Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Michael Bruno, and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education Ronald Cambra. STUDENT VOLUNTEERS We would like to thank the student volunteers who helped to set up and take down the facilities and to monitor the rooms during sessions. STAFF The organizers would like to extend a special thank you to their respective office staff for all their hard work behind the scenes during the conference and throughout the year. Thank you to: Michelle Brown Graduate Assistant, Honors Program Dr. Siobhán Ní Dhonacha Academic Advisor, Honors Program Dr. Vernadette Gonzalez Director of Honors Program & UROP Dr. Sue Haglund Educational Specialist, Honors Program Angelique Lepordo Student Assistant, Honors Program Troy Peiler Student Assistant, Honors Program Dr. Jayme Scally Academic Advisor, Honors Program Jasmine Samiere Student Assistant, UROP Sheela Sharma Educational Specialist, UROP Sylvia Wu Educational Specialist, Honors Program SPECIAL THANKS We would like to thank our event partners:
Ako Kifuji and Ahmad Ramadan for catering from Da Spot Campus Center Meeting and Event Services Staff for
facilities and planning assistance Copy Hut Hawaii for program and poster printing services Sakamaki Hall for use of facilities Sodexo staff for catering services
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
JUDGES AND MODERATORS We would like to thank all the faculty members, administrators and researchers who volunteered to judge and moderate the sessions and to lend their experience and expertise to this student conference: FACULTY JUDGESDr. Kimo Armitage Jason Mitchell, PhD, MPH Dr. Kasey Barton Dr. Aaron Ohta Dr. Amy C Brown Dr. Sladjana Prisic Dr. Katherine Finn Davis Leon Roose Dr. Kyle Edwards Dr. Raul Rudoy, PhD, MPH Dr. Nicole S Grove Dr. Rebecca Schweitzer Dr. Nicholas G James Ms. Angie Solomon Wendy Kawabata Dr. Anna Stirr Dr. Kent Kobayashi Dr. Zoia Stoytcheva Dr. Mukesh Kumar Prof. Eric Szarmes Dr. Rozalia Laczko, PhD Dr. Philip von Doetinchem Dr. Creighton M Litton Dr. Lori Yancura Dr. L Joyce Z Mariano GRADUATE STUDENT MODERATORS AND JUDGES Kaleonani Hurley Roberto Rodriguez Navid T Khajavi Nicole Schlaack Becca Lensing Maura Stephens Nicole Muszynski Lindsay Veazey Jourdan Posner Nathaniel Wehr
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FACULTY MENTORS We would like to acknowledge the time, effort and expertise that faculty mentors put into advising students on their projects. Mahalo to the following people for their hard work:Dr. Jeffrey Acido Andrew E Christie Dr. Katalin Csiszar Dr. Jonathan Deenik Dr. Kyle Edwards Dr. Carolyn Faithfull Dr. Victoria Fan Dr. Noelani Goodyear-Ka‘ōpua Dr. David Haymer Dr. Susana Helm Dr. Peter H Hoffenberg Dr. Eric Hurwitz Dr. Gaur Johnson Dr. Samir Khanal Dr. Jason Leigh Dr. Takashi Matsui Dr. Roberto Mendez
Rick Mills Dr. Anupam Misra Dr. Craig E Nelson Dr. Ho Leung Ng Dr. Melissa R Price Dr. Sladjana Prisic Dr. Andy Reilly Dr. Karen Selph Dr. Wei-Wen Su Dr. Florence Thomas Michael B Thomas Dr. Rob Toonen Monika Ward Dr. W Steven Ward Dr. Thomas Yee Dr. Masato Yoshizawa
The Honors Program provides opportunities for talented and motivatedundergraduates to excel in their academic studies. Students complete achallengingenquiry-basedcurriculumthatencourages independent researchandcreativeexpression.Theyenjoyintimateandpersonalizededucationalexperienceswithin the settingof a large researchuniversity through small classes,dedicatedadvising, peer mentorship and faculty-guided projects. The Honors Programpromotescriticalthinkingandoral,writtenandaudio-visualcommunicationskills;respectfordiversityandcommitmenttosocialjustice;andcivicparticipationandcapacityforleadership.Itfostersamongitsstudentsandfacultyasenseofidentityand a joy in scholarship, which it communicates to the university and thecommunity.manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/honors/
TheUndergraduateResearchOpportunitiesProgram(UROP)wasformed in2011with generous support fromUHMānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshawto promoteandfosterundergraduateresearchinitiativesatUHMānoabyofferingfundingforundergraduate research projects and providing access to on- and off-campusresearchopportunities.
manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/urop/