ABSTRACTS

 

BROWN, Jaime

Department of Geological Sciences

DIAMOND FORMATION AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

(Richard Hatheway and Jeffery Over)

A mineral is defined by its chemical composition and its crystal structure. Diamond and graphite are polymorphs because they are both composed of carbon, but have different crystal structures. Thus diamonds and graphite have different appearances and physical properties. Crystal structures can be altered by an increase in temperature and pressure. Diamonds form at much greater temperatures, pressures, and depth within the earth than graphite. The ideal conditions for diamond formation are at temperatures of about 1000 degrees Celsius and 50 kilobars of pressure in country rock at depths between 150-200 km. Diamonds are transported to the surface by small volcanic intrusions called kimberlite pipes. As magma ascends to the surface at a rate of 10-30 km per hour, it brecciates the country rock incorporating diamonds into the kimberlite rock. Most diamonds are mined from kimberlite pipes by open pit mining. Less commonly they are mined from placer and beach deposits where diamonds were deposited as a result of the weathering of kimberlite pipes. Diamonds are valued for their aesthetic and industrial uses as abrasives, and cutting and drilling tools.

 

 

BURKE, Sean

Department of Chemistry

DIGITAL SPECTROSCOPY: CORRECTING THE CASUALTIES OF EVOLUTION

(John Deutsch)

The Chemistry Department at SUNY Geneseo recently acquired an SC2000 digital spectroscope. It is a grating-type ISA card that is fed by a 6-foot fiber optic cable. This type of setup allows us to perform absorbance, emission and relative irradiance spectroscopy. The approximate operating range of this scope is 350-950nm. The device will eventually be applied in our freshman and senior labs. Experimental evidence has revealed that this relatively inexpensive tool can deliver results that are both accurate and precise.

 

 

CAITO, Jennifer

Department of Biology

SPATIAL DATA ANALYSIS OF THE ROEMER ARBORETUM

(Gregg Hartvigsen)

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to perform a spatial data analysis of the twenty-acre Roemer Arboretum at SUNY Geneseo. The Arboretum is overseen by the College and serves as an outdoor classroom for research, natural history and community ecological awareness. Large scale maps (1:3000) were needed as a baseline to display plant communities, the managed areas (e.g., trail system), swales and other special features in the Arboretum. No prior maps of this type existed. Classification was conducted of the various plant communities in different stages of development and was related to these to features such as the slope of the various vegetational units and past land use history. Trees with diameters >24 cm were overlaid on aerial photographs that exist from the past seventy years to assess changes in past land use. Finally, an inventory of the land use history of the area was established to hypothesize the rate of succession occurring in various sections of the Arboretum.

 

 

CHIARELLI, Christian

Department of Biology

QUANTIFICATION OF PLANT SPECIES' ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY IN THE ROEMER ARBORETUM

(Gregg Hartvigsen)

The Roemer Arboretum is composed of heterogeneous patches of persistent old-field pasture communities (released 30 yeas ago), stable shrub communities and a few small woodlands on a west-facing slope of three degrees. A 350 m transect was established during the summer of 1999 through the long axis of the Arboretum. We set up 5 x 5 m paired quadrats continuously along the transect and estimated cover of herbs, shrubs, vines, saplings and trees > 5cm diameter (dbh. Sixteen soil samples were collected along the transect and analyzed for pH, soil organic matter, and various elemental concentrations. An additional 45 soil samples were collected from relatively uniform locations around the 8.1 ha Arboretum and analyzed. A complete species list for the Arboretum was generated, with one third of the most abundant herb, shrub, and vine species being non-native while the dominant tree species black walnut (juglans nigra) is native. We found a significant negative correlation between the abundant shrub Cornus sericea and pH. Interestingly, total tree cover was not correlated with factors such as soil, nutrients or the cover of the most important herb species Poa pratensis.

 

 

CLEMENTS, Casey

Department of Biology

THE EFFECT OF 4-AMINOGUIACOL ON BCL-2 EXPRESSION IN A HUMAN TUMOR CELL LINE

(Robert O'Donnell)

The anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein plays an important role in the progress of many diseases, including neuro-degenerative diseases, AIDS, and cancer. NADPH Oxidase Inhibitors, such as the vanillin derivatives Apocynin, Resveratrol, and 4-aminoguiacol, are chemicals currently being investigated for their therapeutic effects on cancer, atherosclerosis, and other maladies. While it has been shown that these chemicals inhibit NADPH Oxidase and induce apoptosis in multiple human tumor cell lines, the exact mechanism of cytotoxicity is yet unknown. We investigated the effect of the potent drug 4-aminoguiacol on the expression of the Bcl-2 protein using quantifiable western-blot analysis. It was shown that administration of 4-aminoguiacol corresponded with a sharp decrease in the expression of Bcl-2 protein in THP-1 cells. The possible connection between decreased Bcl-2 expression and apoptosis will be discussed.

 

 

COLLINS, Danny and ROOME, Sandra

Department of Computer Science

SMART DOMAIN-SPECIFIC INFERENCE ENGINE

(Ron Lin)

In this work we designed and implemented an inference-engine for a simple expert system called SMART-OPOJ in Common Lisp. We also compare the performance of our reasoning subsystem with the Berkely AIMA system to gain an experience on complex AI software design. Our system works on a narrow domain, solving a type of practical problem in a simpler way than a more general expert system. The software performance is superior to the general system as expected.

The system is first told by the user a set of rules and facts, then it processes logic reasoning using streams of logic derivations, virtually in parallel. Our work demonstrates several interesting features of a typical component in an AI system. Our implementation illustrates the power of logic reasoning in AI systems design.

 

 

COMERRO, Hope

Department of Biology

EFFECTS OF LEAFLET ORIENTATION ON TRANSPIRATION RATES AND WATER POTENTIALS OF OXALIS MONTANA

(George Briggs)

The leaflets of Oxalis montana (wood sorel) show reversible leaflet movements in response to direct solar radiation. In the shade, the leaflets remain in a horizontal position; and upon exposure to direct sunlight, the leaflets move down into a vertical orientaion. The effect of leaflet orientation on the water relations of O. montana was studied using lysimeter techniques and a pressure bomb. The transpiration rate of O. montana with vertical leaflets was found to be higher than the transpiration rate of plants with leaflets in a horizontal position. In addition, the water potential of leaves with leaflets horizontal was significantly higher than the water potential of leaves with vertical leaflets. These results do not indicate that leaflet movement is a mechanism to reduce water loss from the plant or that leaflet movement is in response to water loss. Instead, the response may be protective, reducing incident solar radiation to vertical leaflets.

 

 

CUNNINGHAM, Andrew, OLSEN, Michelle and SCHWARTZ, Brook

Department of Physics and Astronomy

THEORETICAL SIMULATION OF A PLASMA CALORIMETER

(Charlie Freeman)

The plasma calorimeter at the University of Rochester Laboratory of Laser Energetics is being calibrated at the Geneseo Nuclear Structure Laboratory (GNSL). The plasma calorimeter was calibrated by directing a monoenergetic beam of protons at the tantalum foil of the calorimeter. The purpose of this study was to perform a theoretical simulation of the response of the plasma calorimeter based on the governing nonlinear differential equation. This simulation has verified many of the observed experimental results.

 

 

DABROWSKI, Susan

Department of Biology

POSSIBLE MECHANISMS OF CHEMOACCUMULATION IN ASTREPHOMENE GUBERNACULIFERA

(Harold Hoops)

We previously reported that A. gubernaculifera exhibits chemoaccumulation towards acetate. We are now trying to determine the mechanism that underlies the chemoaccumulation response. The algae are suspended under a coverslip in a solution lacking acetate. A solution containing acetate is placed under a second coverslip. This coverslip is the pushed into contact with the first, creating a steep gradient in the solution below the adjoining coverslips. We then follow the behavior of colonies as they swim from the solution without acetate to one in which acetate is present and back again by videomicroscopy. The algae show a definite response at the interface between the two solutions. However they do not stop as they move from a low to a higher concentration of acetate. This behavior eliminates one potential explanation for the chemoaccumulation response. We are presently trying to determine changes in velocity or straightness of path as they enter or leave the area of higher acetate concentration in an attempt to test other models that could lead to the observed chemoaccumulation.

 

 

DAVIS, Timothy

Department of Mathematics

THE METRICS OF DNA SEQUENCES

(Vyacheslav Rykov)

We have been studying DNA sequences as elements of a metric space. The DNA Similarity Distance metrics are used in the study of this space. Areas that this study can be applied include gene discovery, tissue typing, pathogen detection and identification, and molecular systematics. We will discuss several metrics for DNA sequences. All these have the properties that there distance from a sequence to itself is zero, the distance does not depend on the order of the sequences, and it must satisfy a triangular inequality. The metric allows us to view this in terms of a sphere packing problem. The metric allows us to find the volume of the spheres and knowing the volume of the space you will be able to find the optimal packing. From these spheres we find bounds on the maximum number of sequences of a given distance. These bounds are not always the exact maximum that may exist but nothing exist larger than them. These bounds can be created for several metrics. These include distances based on the Average DNA Similarity, the Minimum Alphabetic DNA Similarity, and the Minimum DNA Similarity.

 

 

ENGELHART, Charlie

Department of Mathematics

BOUNDS FOR REVERSE COMPLEMENT CYCLIC CODES

(Vyacheslav V. Rykov)

Cancers arise from the accumulation of multiple mutations in genes regulating cellular growth and differentiation. Identification of such mutations in numerous genes represents a significant challenge in genetic analysis, particularly when the majority of DNA in a tumor sample is from wild-type stroma. To overcome these difficulties have been developed a new type of DNA microchip that combines polymerase chain reaction/ligase detection reaction (PCR/LDR) with "DNA-code" hybridization. Suitably designed allele-specific LDR primers become covalently ligated to adjacent fluorescently labeled primers if and only if a mutation is present. There is a need to find generalized or universal tags for this technology. We use sets of reverse complement cyclic code to generate DNA codes that can be used for DNA tags. In order to think about DNA codes we transform the alphabet {A,C,G,T} into GF(4) where 0 = A, 1 = C, 2 = G, 3 = T. We then used the theory behind error correcting codes to make codes suitable for this application. We show that the best codes for this application are the reverse complement cyclic codes. We found theoretical bounds of parameters for these codes. I have written programs to remove bad codewords in DNA spaces. It specifically targets shifts and reverse compliments and then shortens the resulting code. I will specifically show the upper bound for length such reversible codes.

 

 

ENGELHART, Charlie

Department of Mathematics

ADAPTIVE GROUP TESTING FOR COMPLEXES

(Anthony Macula)

The screening of biological data sets is an essential aspect of modern biotechnology. Whenever the objective is to find positive objects a test indicating whether at least one positive is in a specific part of the data set can greatly facilitate their isolation. Such tests are called binary group tests and the general mathematical method behind the identification of the positives using such tests is known as classical group testing. In several biotechnical settings, the use of classical group testing to isolate objects which are individually positive has become standard experimental procedure. However, very little work has been done in applying group testing techinques to the identication of objects which are collectively positve. In this talk, we discuss a group testing method which leads to the identification of positive combinations of objects. Our algorithms can be applied to the identification of positive molecular complexes and to the data mining of association rules linking genetic characteristics to disease.

 

 

FISHER, Amanda Beth

Department of Geological Sciences

PRESENCE OF SMALL-SCALL FAULTS (AS WELL AS JOINTS) IN LOCAL CREEK BEDS AS AN INDICATOR OF REGIONAL STRESS

(D. Jeffrey Over and W.J. Brennan)

Three major joint patterns were found in the strata of the Mt. Morris and Sonyea quadrangles correlating to the primary stress fields in New York State. The orientations of the faults found, primarily in Buck Run Creek and Keshequa Creek, fall within the range of one or more of the joint patterns indicating regional stress as the dominating factor. The characteristics of the rock exposed in the creek beds are also thought to be a controlling factor in the frequency and spacing of local faults and joints. The primary rock units in order from oldest to youngest are: Middlesex Shale, Pultney Shale, Cashequa Shale, Rhinestreet Shale, and Gardeau Shale. Shale is an inherently weak sedimentary rock composed primarily of clay minerals as well as varying amounts of organic material and other accessory minerals. An important observation in two primary shale units recognizes the presence of faults in the Cashequa, but only joints in the Rhinestreet. These two units have been studied and many experiments performed in attempt to determine the difference in strength and mineralogic composition of these rocks. It is still in question whether these characteristics of the individual units provide a feasible explanation for this difference.

 

 

FUENTES, Stephanie

Department of Geological Sciences

CONODONTS AND STRATIGRAPHY OF THE OLENTANGY SHALE IN NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY

(D. Jeffrey Over)

The "Olentangy" Shale of northeastern Kentucky is distinct from the type Olentangy of central Ohio. The type section exposed in Delaware, Ohio has been divided into an upper and a lower unit. The Middle Devonain Lower Olentangy Shale is equivalent to the Plum Brook and, to an extent, the Hamilton Group Shales of New York, Ohio, and Ontario. The Upper Devonain Upper Olentangy Shale is equivalent to the Hanover Shale of New York.

The "Olentangy" Shale in northeastern Kentucky has been correlated with the type section based on gamma ray logs, stratigraphic position beneath the Huron Shale,and general lithology. Based on conodont fauna, the "Olentangy" Shale is significantly younger than the type Olentangy of Ohio.

At Herron Hill, the "Olentangy" appeara as a 67 cm thick soft greenish-gray, pyritic, non-calcareous shale. It includes conodonts Palmatolepis minuta minuta, Ancyrognathus bifurcata, Pa. glabra pectinata, and Pa. perlobata schindewolfi, taxa no older than the upper crepida Zone. Along I-64 near Morehead, Kentucky the "Olentangy" Shale appears as an 80 cm dark greenish-gray shale with thin interbedded darker bands. Pa. rhomboidea is present throughout the section, placing the entire "Olentangy" Shale within the rhomboidea Zone or younger. The "Olentnagy" Shale is equivalent to the Shulma Siltstone and Northeast Shales of the Upper Canadaway Group of new York and the Chagrin Shale of Ohio. It is not age equivalent to the type Olentangy of central Ohio.

 

 

GAUDET, Mike and BORN, Dan

Department of Computer Science

PORTING AN OBJECT-ORIENTED PASCAL SOFTWARE PACKAGE TO JAVA

(Nancy Jones)

As the discipline of Computer Science evolves, programming languages quickly become replaced by newer, more eloquent languages. Often the better design, additional power, and new features of these languages present the need to not only learn the langauge but also to translate old software. This translation process is known as "porting." There are many design issues in porting a software program from one language to another including: the tradeoff between power and usability, the provision for more advanced techniques as students become more advanced, graphical representation of the program, and many others.

Java, with its advanced object manipulation tools, well-defined structure, and multiple-platform support, is currently a very hot programming language in the industry. And yet despite the many advanced features of Java, it remains remarkably easy to learn and use. For these reasons, the "Robbie the Robot" program, currently implemented in the out-moded Object-Oriented Pascal language, was ported into Java. Robbie is a learning tool for introductory students which teaches various programming techniques through a graphical interface of robots completing tasks in their robot worlds. Porting the Robbie software required reorganizing, rewriting, and testing the programmed code. The handling of design issues along with the problems encountered will be discussed and differences between the old and new versions of the program will be demonstrated.

 

 

GOLDFAIN, Albert

Department of Computer Science

IRREGULARITY OF LANGUAGES WITH SYMBOL "DEPENDENCE"

(Douglas Baldwin)

A regular language is defined as any language which is accepted by a deterministic finite automaton or, equivalently, as a language that may be generated by the repeated processes of concatenation, union and Kleene star over a finite alphabet. The focus of this study is languages in which one symbol's occurence is "dependent" on a function of the number of occurences of a separate symbol. This concept of dependence is formalized in languages of the form (a^i)(b^f(i)) with f(i) not equal to O(1). We show that languages of this form are not regular. The obstacles of proving this result via the pumping lemma are discussed. A method of proof based on the Myhill-Nerode Theorem is laid out. It is also shown that the converse statement: (a^i)(b^f(i)) with f(i)=O(1) is regular, is indeed false.

 

 

GORCZYNSKI, Michael

Department of Chemistry

SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME BIPHENYL-CHOLESTEROL DERIVATIVES: STEREOCHEMICAL CONSEQUENCES ON GELATION ABILITIES

(Cristina Geiger)

Organogels are increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives. The unique ability of low-molecular weight gelators to effectively immobilize various organic fluids has led to recent research on organogels. It has been shown that most gels consist of three-dimensional networks in which helical fibrils trap large amounts of organic solvents (one gelator molecule per thousands of organic molecules). However, the mechanism of organogel formation is unknown. The focus of this research is to synthesize biphenyl fatty acid derivatives that are coupled to a cholesterol moiety. These compounds are characterized using NMR, TLC, and GC/MS. The rod-like structure observed by molecular simulation of these compounds allows us to predict that these molecules will form larger aggregates and therefore, form more stable gels. Our group is interested in studying the gelation ability of these stereochemically (R and S) different biphenyl derivatives, determining the proper solvent systems for gelation and aggregation, and studying the aggregation by photophysical characterization.

 

 

GOUGH, Francis M.

Department of Geological Sciences

THE ORIGIN OF THE COLORADO RIVER AND GRAND CANYON

(Dr. Richard A. Young)

The collision of the Pacific Plate with the North American Plate created regional uplift followed by extension resulting from the Laramide Orogeny and Basin and Range extension in western North America. These tectonic events had a major influence on the development of regional drainage and geomorphology of the Colorado River and Grand Canyon. In late Cretaceous to early Eocene time the Laramide Orogeny included an extensive period of volcanism, thrust faulting and metamorphism along with crustal compression as a result of northeast to southwest directed stresses. This uplift in the southwest caused regional drainage to flow to the northeast and deposited sediments derived from the eroded highlands onto the Colorado Plateau. Continued subduction and counterclockwise rotation of the Pacific Plate during late Oligocene to middle Miocene time created regional extension, which is recorded in the Basin and Range Province. New drainage flowed consequent to regional Basin and Range faulting near the western Colorado Plateau where increased headward erosion and possible stream capture lead to the formation of the present Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. There is an uncertainty of 20 to 30 million years during Eocene and Oligocene time as to when this drainage reversal and possible capture began. The use of USGS topographic maps (1:24000 scale), aerial photographs, and field study will aid in acquiring more evidence for the location and extent of the pre-Colorado River drainage that formed the Grand Canyon.

 

 

HUANG, Shan-Fu

Department of Biology

ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF COMBINED DRUG IN CELLULAR CYTOTOXICITY AND APOPTOSIS

(Robert O'Donnell)

The biological reactivity of a chemical compound depends on its structure, functional groups, and the position of different substituents. From previous experiments, it was found that the drug Apocynin was moderately cytotoxic to human tumor cells and induced them to undergo apoptosis. In this investigation we tested a variety of Apocynin related drugs that differed in the position and type of functional group on the benzene ring. In addition, different combinations of drugs were tested, looking for additive or synergistic effects. The Cyquant cell proliferation assay and the Apopain apoptosis assay were used for assessing the effects of the individual drugs and combination of drugs. The combination of 4-Aminoguaiacol and Resveratrol monomer was found to be the most cytotoxic of tested. This combination could only increase the cytotoxic effects in an additive manner instead of a synergistic manner. At the present time, the apoptosis experiments are ongoing and no conclusive results are available.

 

 

HUSON, Rachael

Department of Geological Sciences

IDENTIFICATION OF UPPER DEVONIAN ACROTRETIDS FROM THE LOWER HANOVER SHALE

(Jeffery Over)

Acrotretida are an Order of Brachiopoda, bivalved animals that range from Lower Cambrian to the "Middle Devonian". Acrotretids collected from the lower Hanover Shale at Irish Gulf, New York are Upper Devonian the youngest ever found. The larvae of acrotretids are thought to be free swimming and produce a phosphatic secretion known as the protegulum. The post-larval shell consists of a system of filar segments where each fila represents a ring. Each ring was produced as a result of a secretion and have been compared to the growth rings of trees. It is to be determined if the secretion that produced the ring occurred daily, monthly, or yearly and whether it can be compared to similar growth rings of other Devonian organisms.

 

 

JULIAN, Siobhan

Department of Chemistry

GELATION ABILITIES AND PHOTOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SYNTHESIZED TERPHENYL CHOLESTEROL DERIVATIVES

(Cristina Geiger)

Aromatic derivatized amphiphiles such as stilbenes and azobenzenes have recently been found to have very good gelation abilities; however, due to the photoisomerism of these compounds, gels formed by such compounds are not stable. A synthesis of terphenyl cholesterol derivatives similar in structure to these amphiphiles was performed in an effort to create a gelator that would not be susceptible to photodegradation. Through a series of well-known reactions including the Grignard reaction, the starting products, 4-(4-bromophenyl)-phenol and 6-bromohexanoic acid, were coupled first to each other, then to a third phenyl group, and lastly to a cholesterol group in the R conformation. The final product was a terphenyl cholesterol derivative. The gelation abilities and photophysical characterizations of the organogels formed by this product were then determined.

 

 

KARDOONI, Kaveh

Department of Biology

THE EFFECT APOPTOTIC DRUGS ON PHOSPHOLIPASE C ACTIVITY

(Robert O'Donnell)

Drugs such as Apocynin and Aminoguaiocol are thought to kill cells via Apoptosis. However, the mechanism by which they carry out their action is currently unknown. It is known that apoptosis often results through the modification of the cell signaling pathway. The present experiment looks at the effect of apoptotic drugs on Phospholipase C, a key enzyme in the pathway. It is hypothesized that the drugs increase Phospholipse C activity leading to higher Ca2+ levels within the cells which leads to apoptosis. Cancer cells were incubated with drugs and the phospholipase C activity was assayed via an Amplex Red kit. Results were inconsistent with both inhibition and excitation of Phospholipase C observed with the same drug. The implications are that Phospholipase C is not the main signal transducer in the apoptotic pathway in these cases. Other parts of the signaling mechanism may be involved.

 

 

KLUS, Jeffrey

Department of Mathematics

THE VALIDITY OF PROJECTIVE THEOREMS IN HYPERBOLIC AND ELLIPTIC PLANES

(Edward Wallace)

Projective geometry compensates for the apparent "intersecting" of parallel lines when three-dimensional objects are portrayed in a two-dimensional fashion, and is rooted in Renaissance art. The projective theorems of Desargues, Pascal, and Brianchon will be discussed, as well as their validity (or non-validity) in Poincare`s disc model for the hyperbolic plane, and the spherical model for the elliptic plane.

 

 

KOBOS, Thomas and WEISS, David

Department of Computer Science

BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS OF DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING

(Homma Farian and GreggHartvigsen)

As computer processors are becoming increasingly cheaper over time, it has become possible for a many to one ratio to exist between computer processors and a computer user. This revolution has opened an exciting are in computer science known as distributed computing. A distributed system is a collection of many autonomous computers via some variety of common bus (network). In theory, using proper algorithm analysis, distributed computing can be a powerful tool in reducing the running time of certain algorithms due to the division of labor.

Our presentation will cover the complete experience of our research. This spans the setting up the physical distributed computing environment as well as the design process of a biological algorithm. Included will be the challenges we had to overcome with our hardware and the thought process that has to go into the design of distributed algorithms in general. Finally we will show that although distributed computing can be a very powerful tool, there are certain situations where it is best not to use multiple processors in your algorithm implementation.

 

 

KORZELIUS, Courtney

Department of Mathematics

APPLYING ALGEBRAIC CODE THEORY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF DNA SEQUENCES

(Vyacheslav Rykov)

There is a need to find generalized or universal tags for multiplex genome analysis. We use sets of reverse complement cyclic code to generate DNA code that can be used for DNA tags. These tags are placed on DNA chips and connect with the capture tags floating in solution. The capture tags attach themselves to thses generalized codes and give us information about an individual strand. In general, the process helps with genetic analysation of DNA in an individual. We use the theory behind error correcting codes for construction codes which can be used for this application. We show that the best codes for this application are the reverse complement cyclic codes. We give the table of parameters and the generator polynomials of those codes.

 

 

KORZELIUS, Courtney

Department of Mathematics

PARAMETER ESTIMATION IN MULTI-COMPARTMENTAL MODELS

(Andrzej Kedzierawski)

In constructing a compartment model of physical system, we conceptually separate the system into a number distinct compartments or states between which "material" is transported. Transfer of the "material" between different compartments depend on a finite number of parameters. We consider the inverse problem of determining the unknown parameters of the given system from several observations of different states.

 

 

LAMAR, John

Department of Chemistry

USE OF "LONG PCR" TO COMPARE MITOCHONDRIAL DNA FROM NORMAL AND BLOOM SYNDROME CELLS

(Wendy Pogozelski)

We have been studying changes in mitochondrial DNA that relate to a disease called Bloom Syndrome. Previously, we detected a large deletion in the DNA from cells derived from an individual with this disease. To see if other large-scale deletions also exist, we have been making copies of the mitochondrial DNA using a variation of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Since we are making copies of DNA pieces that are unusually large, we have been extending the limits of PCR. However, using a variation called "Long PCR", we have been able to look at DNA fragments that are several thousand kilobases in length. We hope to use this technique to assess the role of the mitochondria in Bloom Syndrome and similar diseases.

 

 

MEYER, Christopher

Department of Geological Sciences

UPPER DEVONIAN TRACE FOSSILS AND PALEOENVIRONMENT INTERPRETATION OF AN UPPER BED OF THE CANEADEA FORMATION

(Jeff Over)

The Caneadea Formation consists of sandstones and shales that were deposited during the Upper Devonian. Outcrops of the formation are exposed in Rushford, New York. Locomotive and feeding traces from Arthropods and Mollusks are present on the sandstone. The trace fossils are poorly known and physical descriptions of the lithology are poor. The sandstone bed is lenticular and is bounded above and below by shale. Preservation of the trace fossils is special, because the fossils are found on the surface. The presence of low energy induced sedimentary structures contributes to the uniqueness of the sandstone bed. The beds represent the deposition of a very shallow water sand body overlain by fine-grained mud.

 

 

MULVEY, Bridget

Department of Geological Sciences

GEOLOGY OF THE GENESEO QUADRANGLE

(D. Jeffrey Over)

The project is a basic geologic map of the Geneseo 7 1/2" Quadrangle which encompasses approximately 1400 square kilometers (scale 1:24,000); the Geneseo quadrangle includes the SUNY Geneseo campus, located in the central portion of the map. The most recent geologic map for this area is at too small a scale (1:250,000) to be suitable for local use. A geologic map at a scale of 1:24,000 provides detail that allows builders to know what rock unit is below, and thereby assess stability of a site. The knowledge of what rock units are beneath specific locations will also assist the local community with new well placements. This map shows the rock units that outcrop at the surface or would outcrop at the surface if all surficial cover were removed. The data were entered using the Geographic Information System (GIS) ArcView to produce overlays. They note well locations, rock units exposed at the surface, and the variations in elevation of the top of three significant rock units. The map and overlays provide more specific information about the geology of the Geneseo area and will fine tune practical applications for the region's geology.

 

 

NEUBERG, Julie and WOOD, William

Department of Chemistry

DEVELOPING A SAMPLE PREPARATION METHOD USING SOLID PHASE EXTRACTION FOR THE ANALYSIS OF TRANS-RESVERATROL IN RED WINE

(James Boiani)

A method was developed to extract trans-Resveratrol effectively from red wine samples, using solid phase extraction (SPE). The samples were being prepared for further analysis by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis (CZE). The preliminary separation by SPE improves the resolution and detection of trans-Resveratrol by the CZE instrument. A Visiprep vacuum Manifold along with Supelco DSC-18 filters was used to isolate the trans-Resveratrol from the wine. Various rinsing and extraction procedures were tested. The trans-Resveratrol concentrations were measured using a diode array spectrophotometer and a capillary electrophoresis system. Optimum extraction conditions and efficiencies will be presented. Also, the temporal stability of trans-Resveratrol on the SPE will be discussed.

 

 

NYQUIST, Joel, OLLIVER, Heather, and THOMPSON, Sarah

Department of Physics and Astronomy

TERTIARY NEUTRON DIAGNOSTIC BY CARBON ACTIVATION

(Steve Padalino)

V.Yu. Glebov, D.D. Meyerhofer, P.B. Radha, W. Seka, S. Skupsky, J.M. Sores, C. Stoeckl, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

T.C. Sangster, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

R. Petrasso, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

Measurement of the yield of tertiary neutrons with energies greater than 20 MeV has been proposed as a method of determining the r R of ICF targets. Carbon has been chosen as an activation material because of its high reaction threshold and the availability of high-purity samples. The (n, 2n) reaction in 12C has a threshold of about 19 MeV. The product of this reaction, 11C, has a half-life of 20.3 min and emits a positron, resulting in the production of two 511-keV gamma rays upon annihilation. The tertiary neutron yield can then be deduced from the measured 511-keV coincident counts. The gamma-gamma coincidence station currently used to measure of 14.1 MeV primary DT neutrons has been shown to work well as a counting system for measuring 511-keV gamma rays produced from the positron decay of 11C. Software modifications to the system now allow for decay constant measurements as well as absolute gamma counting.

The current status of carbon-activation diagnostic development at LLE will be presented together with experimental results and theoretical interpretation of several direct-drive implosion experiments with carbon activation diagnostic on OMEGA.

Funded in part by the United States Department of Energy

 

 

OLLIVER, Heather and THOMPSON, Sarah

Department of Physics and Astronomy

CARBON ACTIVATION USING HIGH ENERGY NEUTRONS

(Stephen Padalino)

Dr. Craig Sangster, Lawrence Livermore National Lab

 

Dr. Vladamir Glebov, University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics

 

Dr. Ed Morrse, Anthony Bellian, Lawrence Berkley National Lab

 

The Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester has been conducting experiments using laser induced nuclear fusion as a possible alternative energy source. The Ariel density of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) reaction can be determined by calculating the ratio of the tertiary neutron yield to the primary neutron yield. During an ICF reaction, 14.1 MeV neutrons emitted from the T(d,n) fusion reaction strike fuel deuterons causing them to accelerate. These deuterons then collide with tritium fuel to produce tertiary T(d,n) reactions that produce high energy neutrons in the range of 18 to 32 MeV. A pure carbon sample is placed near the reaction where it becomes activated through the 12C(n,2n)11C reaction. This reaction has a high neutron threshold near 17 MeV and the primary 14.1 MeV neutrons cannot activate the carbon. Once activated, the sample is removed from the reaction area. The 11C consequently beta decays by emitting positrons. NaI detectors can then count, in coincidence, the back to back 511 keV gamma rays emitted from the positron annihilation. The number of gamma rays counted is directly related to the tertiary neutron yield of the fusion reaction. The chief concern of using this method is that back to back 511 keV gamma rays may be produced from reactions other than the 12C(n,2n)11C reaction. These reactions include 14N(n,2n)13N and 12C(p,g )13N, among others. This recently was investigated at the University of California at Berkley using the Rotating Target Neutron Source (RTNS) which produces copious amounts of mono energetic 14 MeV neutrons. Further studies will be conducted using the accelerator at the Triangle University Nuclear Lab, which is capable of producing large amounts of high-energy gamma rays. Those gamma rays can be used to study the 12C(g ,n)11C reaction which also produces unwanted back to back 511 keV gamma rays. Eventually the carbon activation diagnostic will be used at the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California.

Research funded in part by the Department of Energy.

 

 

OLSEN, Michele and SCHWARTZ, Brook

Department of Physics and Astronomy

PLASMA CALORIMETER CALIBRATION

(Charles Freeman)

The Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester is using a set of plasma calorimeters to study he energy produced in laser-driven inertial confinement fusion reactions. Seventeen of these plasma calorimeters are mounted around the implosion site. Each calorimeter consists of two 25 mm thick tantalum oils and a copper reference plate of equivalent thermal mass. A set of type-E thermocouples is used to make three differential temperature measurements (foil 1-reference, foil2-reference, and foil 1-foil 2). We are developing a technique to calibrate the palsma alorimeters using proton beams of several hundred keV from the 2 MV Van de Graaff ccelerator located at the Geneseo Nuclear Structure Laboratory (GNSL). Using a pair of electrostatic plates, the proton beam is directed toward each of the calorimeter foils in turn. The protons deposit their energy on the foil, causing an increase in the foil temperature. The calorimeter signals are directed to electrometers that convert the signals to a voltage output, which is recorded and analyzed using the LabVIEW interface program. Before striking the calorimeter, the beam passes through a 0.086 mm gold foil, and a 100 mm silicon detector is used to count the protons that scatter at a 45 degree angle. Rutherford scattering is used to measure the current of the beam, which is needed to determine the power of the incident protons. The power and voltage are compared for the calorimeter calibration.

 

 

PEARCE, Jennifer

Department of Mathematics

DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS AND COMPETITIVE MODELS

(Caroline Haddad)

Have you ever thought about taking peculiar actions against people you live with, so you can get into the shower or watch your favorite television show? If so, then don't miss this presentation! I will formulate and analyze a competitive model of these types of situations using a dynamical systems approach. You might just learn how to increase you chances of getting what you want.

 

 

POPESCU, Gerard

Department of Chemistry

STUDY OF A MINOR DNA CUTTING PATHWAY BY INVESTIGATING COPPER(I)-PHENANTHROLINE-MEDIATED DNA SCISSION

(Wendy Pogozelski)

By utilizing the known H-1' abstraction agent bis(1,10 phenanthroline)copper(I) (Cu(OP)2) and comparing the amount of 5-methylene-2-furanone (MEF) produced by this reagent with the amount produced in DNA cleavage by hydroxyl radicals, we hope to explain why the amount of DNA cutting from a H-1'-mechanism as a result of exposure to gamma radiation is greater than the amount observed for the Fenton reaction. Thus far, preliminary radiation experiments have been carried out using Geneseo's own Howitzer neutron source, as well as DNA scission experiments using Cu-(OP)2. We will soon be ready to begin using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the detection and subsequent quantification of MEF and it is these data which will be used to study the relative amounts of DNA scission as a result of exposure to the hydroxyl radical (oOH) via both the Fenton reaction and gamma radiation.

 

 

RAMCHARRAN, Darmendra

Department of Biology

EFFECTS OF 4-AMINOGUIACOL AND ANTIOXIDANTS ON FREE RADICAL PRODUCTION OF HTB-4 CELLS

(Robert O'Donnell)

Inhibition of free radicals production by the chemical 4-aminoguiacol has been observed in human neutrophils and has been shown to be cytotoxic to human tumor bladder cells (HTB-4) by apoptosis. Based upon these findings, the effects of free radical production in HTB-4 cells has been investigated in assays containing 4-aminoguiacol and the antioxidants (free radical scavengers), b-carotene, a-tocopherol and retinol acetate. Dihydrochlorofluorescein fluorescence, measured with a fluorocytometer, was used to quantify the amount of free radical production following a 30-minute exposure to drug and antioxidant. Preliminary findings suggest that 4-aminoguiacol may stimulate free radical production. We are currently investigating the effects of antioxidants on free radical production in the presence of 4-aminoguiacol. In the future, possible correlations between apoptosis and free radical production may then be considered.

 

 

REINGOLD, Jeffrey

Department of Chemistry

SYNTHESIS OF LINKER LIGAND TEMPLATES

(David Geiger)

Our research efforts are focused on the synthesis of a series of complexes for use as linking groups in multi-molecular photonic devices. We have synthesized a series of diiodo aromatic compounds with solubilizing groups. These compounds have been used to prepare mono- and di- substituted ethynyl compounds. We have also synthesized corresponding carboxaldehyde complexes. These functionalities give us the potential to carry out a myriad of reactions to link a chromophore and an electron acceptor. We will discuss the synthetic strategy employed.

 

 

RENAK, Jennifer and GIESLER, Dan

Department of Chemistry

DEVELOPMENT OF A PROCEDURE FOR ANALYZING GRAPE SEED EXTRACT USING HPLC WITH PHOTODIODE ARRAY DETECTION

(James Boiani)

Grape seed extract is known to contain useful anti-oxidant compounds. Grape seed extract from Polyphenolics Inc. was analyzed using a Hewlet Packard HPLC model 1100. Different mobile phases were tried, the most effective being 90% of a 2% acetic acid solution and 10% pure HPLC methanol. Pure standards of catechin and epicatechin were run with the same mobile phase. The retention times were 7.1 minutes and 17.4 minutes respectively. The catechin and epicatechin peaks in the grape seed extract have been identified by comparing them to the retention times and the UV absorbance spectra at 280 nm of the standards. Other peaks in the chromatogram of the extract were characterized for peak purity.

 

 

RIZZUTO, Jessica

Department of Geological Sciences

ASSESSMENT OF GSCI 100 COMPUTER PROGRAMS

(Phillip Boger and Jane Boger)

Our Geologic Environment, GSCI 100, is an introductory geology course offered to non-science students to fulfill the science portion of SUNY Geneseo’s liberal arts requirement. Interactive computer programs were developed to assist the lab exercises. An assessment of these computer programs was given during the Fall ’99 semester. The purpose of this assessment was to determine if the computer programs: 1) promote consistent teaching, 2) give clear and concise explanations and information, and 3) are utilized outside of lab via the campus network. These self–paced, interactive applications allow students to test their level of understanding, identify their misconceptions, practice skills, and seek explanatory information as needed. From this assessment, the results showed that 1) 80% of students responded that the information given by teaching staff and the computer programs was consistent and 94% of students responded that the lab manual information and computer program information was consistent, 2) 98% of students responded that the information given in the computer programs was easily understood, and 3) 90% of students were utilizing the computer programs outside of lab, with the most use being through residence hall rooms on personal computers.

 

 

ROOME, Sandra

Department of Computer Science

INFORMATION FLOW AS A MEANS OF MODELING REUSABLE CODE

(Douglas Baldwin)

Structuring object-oriented programs around the information that flows through classes may lead to greater amounts of code reuse. The purpose of this project is to measure code reuse in the design of a bare-bones software library used to siimulate parallel processing machines. By designing the classes in the library with specific attention to the idea of information flow, we hope that the classes will be better suited to being subclassed by users, thus increasing code reuse. Information flow in particular will be the focus since the design of the classes must be general enough that the users can adapt our classes to fit almost any needs. Measures of code reuse will focus on the different types of reuse identified in the literature, including verbatim, leveraged, direct and indirect. "Verbatim" and "leveraged" describe whether methods were used with or without modification, whereas "direct" and "indirect" describe whether those methods are accessed via another method or with no intermediate access.

 

 

ROTONDO, Kristina

Department of Geological Sciences

BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC AGE OF THE BELPRE ASH (FRASNIAN), CHATTANOOGA AND RHINESTREET SHALES IN THE APPALACHIAN BASIN

(Jeffrey Over)

The Belpre Ash was first described from the subsurface in eastern Ohio. The Belpre Ash has been identified in the Chattanooga Shale in Tennessee and in the lower Rhinestreet Shale in New York. At Eighteenmile Creek, NY, conodonts collected from the Belpre Ash interval in the Rhinestreet Shale include Ancyrodella nodosa and Palmatolepis punctata, which range from MN Zone 5 to MN Zone 9. At Little War Gap, TN, the Belpre Ash at the base of the Chattanooga Shale rests on an unconformity. The underlying strata are upper Givetian in age and contain Klapperina disparalvea and K. disparilis. The Belpre Ash suite in the Chattanooga Shale yielded Palmatolepis punctata, P. sp. H, and Ancyrognathus barba. Ancyrognathus barba is only known to MN Zone 8. Shale above the topmost ash yielded P. ljaschenkoae, which occurs from the top of MN Zone 8 to MN Zone 11. This refines the age of the Belpre Ash suite to MN Zone 8.

 

 

ROWE, Gregory and BORN, Daniel

Department of Computer Science

MULTIPLYING STREAMS OF LARGE MATRICES IN A PARALLEL AND DISTRIBUTED ENVIRONMENT

(Rong Lin and Indu Talwar)

In this work a method of fast matrix multiplication using parallel machines and distributed systems is explored. The goal is to find a simple and practical method of multiplying streams of large matrices using reasonable additional hardware resources that are available locally. This would be helpful to scientific and engineering applications where large matrices must be multiplied. Large-size Matrix multiplication is a slow process because of the large number of multiplication operations. Utilizing multiple machines in a local network for such a process can greatly speed up the computation. Our preliminary design and simulation have shown an advantage in comparison with a sequential process.

We present a client/server type of setup implementing two Java applications for the simulation. One acts as the server, and the other acts as the client. The simulation has the following features: (1) Each client has a 16x16-b hardware based matrix multiplier which is currently a JAVA method but could practically be implemented by an affordable reconfigurable (FPGA) board in our future work. The hardware multiplier is utilized to multiply small-size sub-matrices in high speed. A client has two major tasks. The first is to connect to the server and download sub matrices. The second is to multiply the downloaded sub matrices using the hardware matrix multiplier, and send the result back to the server. To reduce the computation delay, the client has a multi-threaded design to simulate two processors working in parallel, so that it can receive data from the server while it is processing its current data buffer. (2) The server is responsible for loading the source matrices, partitioning them into smaller matrices, transmitting the sub-matrices to client machines, and finally accepting the results of the clients and reassembling them to produce the final product. The server is also multi-threaded to simulate multiple processors, handling tasks in parallel.

 

 

SCHWELL, Rachel and BIENVENUE, Rebecca

Department of Mathematics

AN ANALYSIS OF THE HUNDRED-METER DASH

(Caroline Haddad and Michael Moody)

Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessarily the raw initial propulsive force alone of a sprinter that determines the outcome of a hundred-meter dash. We analyzed data from the 1997 and 1993 World Championships and developed a model by using a differential equation with two parameters, representing endurance and propulsive force for each individual runner. We found that the runners with the quickest overall times did not necessarily have the fastest push-off. We then compared the data for male versus female runners and 1997 versus 1993 races. Through this model we were able to graphically relate physical conditions to numerical values.

 

 

SESSA, Jocelyn

Department of Geological Sciences

INTERPRETATING PAST CLIMATE CONDITIONS USING FORAMINIFERA

(D. Jeffery Over and Brian Huber, Smithsonian Natural History Museum)

The climatic conditions that existed in the world’s oceans during the mid-Cretaceous time period, 98 to 101 million years ago, can be interpolated from the chemical signals preserved within the shells of foraminifera, tiny marine organisms that remove elements from seawater in order to precipitate their shells. The ratio of isotopes of carbon and oxygen show the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida was about 24° C. In this study, the isotope values of four different species were used to determine paleoclimate and to examine the evolution of the planktic foraminifer species Costellagerina libyca.

 

 

SHELLEY, Andrea

Department of Biolgy

THE MECHANISM OF PHOTOTAXIX IN VOLVOX SECTION VOLVOX

(Harold Hoops)

There are at least two contrasting models that could explain phototactic steering in Volvox spheroids. In one model (the variable beat frequency model), the turning results from a change in beat frequency of the flagella in cells exposed to abrupt changes in light intensity. The opposing model (the variable beat direction model) proposes that the spheroid turns because of a change in beat direction of the flagella after such changes. Our lab has been testing these models by examining the kinetics of positively phototactic spheroids in response to a 10X step-up stimulus. If turning is caused by a change in beat frequency, it is proposed that both rotation and progression rates would change in the same direction and magnitude after a step-up stimulus. If turning is caused by a change in beat direction, a decreased rate of progression would be predicted in conjunction with an increased rate of rotation. Previously, our lab has demonstrated that the variable beat frequency model describes phototactic steering in V. carteri (section Merrillosphaera). However, the variable beat direction model was originally formulated after examination of photoresponses from algae belonging to section Volvox. The responses of V. rouselletti (section Volvox) and V. globator (section Volvox) more closely follow the kinetics predicted for the variable direction model. After a 10X step-up stimulus, 60% of the spheroids that we tested increased their rate of rotation while decreasing their rate of rotation and all test organisms displayed a dramatic increase (71% and 47% respectively) in the ratio of rotation to progression.

 

 

SMITH, Beth and KOZINSKI, Margaret

Department of Biology

INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF NADPH OXIDASE INHIBITORS ON SUPEROXIDE ION PRODUCTION IN MOUSE PERITONEAL EXUDATE CELLS AND THE THP-1 CELL LINE USING THE CYTOCHROME C ASSAY

(Robert O'Donnell)

We investigated the in vitro superoxide ion production by mouse peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and a human tumor monocyte/macrophage cell line (THP-1). The cells were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator, to first determine if this activity could be enhanced and then to determine the effects of NADPH oxidase inhibitors on this process. The cytochrome C assay was used to measure superoxide production. A positive reaction was observed when a positive change in absorbency at 550 nm occurred. Statistically significant superoxide ion production was observed in the PEC when stimulated with PMA. In preliminary experiments, enhancement of superoxide ion production by 4-aminoguaiacol in the PEC was observed but it was not statistically significant due to substantial well-to-well variation. We switched to THP-1 cells in an attempt to limit variation. Prior to the start of the assay PMA was required so that the THP-1 cells would differentiate in vitro and attach to the wells. Inconsistent results were obtained when investigating if THP-1 superoxide ion production was stimulated by PMA, possibly because the controls were also treated with PMA prior to the experiment. We concluded that the PEC were the better choice and are using them in subsequent experiments.

 

 

STAGER, Katherine and MEYER, Jeanne

Department of Chemistry

LIPID VESICLE-BINDING OF APOLIPOPROTEIN A-I

(Lihua Jin)

Atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arterial walls due to cholesterol deposit, is one of the leading causes of death in the Western Hemisphere. Studies have shown that excess cholesterol are removed from membranes of peripheral tissues and transported to the liver for catabolism through high density lipoprotein (HDL) in a process called reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). In RCT, apoA-I, a major protein component of HDL, seems to be important in the initial efflux of cholesterol from peripheral tissues. We are planning to study the interaction of apoA-I with cell membranes through the use of a model membrane system, small unilamella vesicles (SUVs), with varying cholesterol content and varying phospholipid composition. We are currently in the process of making and purifying SUVs. Two methods will then be used to study the interaction between apoA-I and SUV. The column separation method will be used to find the binding constant between apoA-I and SUV. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) will be used to further analyze the binding of apoA-I. Results from these two methods will also prepare us for kinetic studies of the apoA-I and SUV interactions using the Surface Plasmon Resonance biosensor technology, which is made available to us through Dr. Ana Jonas' laboratory at the University of Illinois. We will be conducting the biosensor experiment over the summer of 2000.

 

 

STANTON, Greg

Department of Mathematics

ON MATHEMATICS OF THE HOPFIELD ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY

(Viacheslav Rykov)

Neural networks are models based on the mathematical idealizations of biological memory. If we describe the instantaneous state of a neural network as the collective state of the individual neurons at a single time t, then the study of a neural network can be described as the collective state of the individual neurons over time. Each neuron in the network is a simple processing element which represents a single piece of information. The state of a system of n neurons can be represented mathematically as a binary n-tuple. Further, each individual neuron is interconnected with other neurons in a highly complex three dimensional system which can be modeled with linear synaptic connections. This three dimensional system of interconnections allows the individual neurons to communicate through a simple scalar message and adapt their state depending on the current state of the system. This talk will focus on the mathematical concepts behind the communication and adaptation of the Hopfield Associative Model of neural networks.

 

 

SWALI, Angie

Department of Biology

WAVELENGTH EFFECTS ON AVIAN MAGNETIC ORIENTATION

(Robert Beason)

Specific wavelengths of light have been shown to influence magnetic orientation in a variety of animals including flies, amphibians and birds. The purpose of this project is to investigate the effects of light on the magnetic orientation response of the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorous), and the wavelength dependence of these effects. The orientation behaviour of thirty-nine bobolinks was tested during the fall migratory period under light of various wavelengths. In the absence of visual cues, under white (control) light the birds showed orientation in their migratory direction, indicating that a magnetic compass was in use. Under blue light (450nm) the modal direction was not significantly different from the control. However, under light of 585nm, the direction of orientation shifted, and was found to be bimodal. When subjected to red light (600nm) the birds demonstrated disorientation. The reason for these changes is thought to be due to the effect of the longer wavelength of the light. After analysing these results it was apparant that intermediate wavelengths were necessary for a greater understanding of the effect on orientation. During the spring migratory period similar experiments will be carried out at 500nm and 550nm to give a more complete picture of the spectral sensitivities of the photoreceptors used for orientation.

 

 

TALLMAN, Robert

Department of Physics and Astronomy

SEEKING AN ATOMIC-LEVEL UNDERSTANDING OF THE GIBBS-THOMSON EFFECT

(James McLean)

The thermodynamic Gibb-Thomson effect says that when a condensed phase and a vapor phase are in contact, the equilibrium density of the vapor depends on the curvature of the phase interface. One type of system to which this applies is a surface with clusters of atoms (the condensed phase) and diffusing adatoms (the vapor phase). However the relationship between thermodynamic effects and the microscopic dynamics on surfaces is not well understood. A Monte Carlo Dynamic simulation was used to investigate the cluster vapor interface as it varied in curvature. The program simulated a single layer ‘island’ of atoms on a lattice of possible sites. The atoms are then allowed to move between site. The likely hood of an atom moving depends on its local configuration, or how many neighbors it has. We gather statistics on the average number of times the local configurations occur to correlate with thermodynamic predictions. Large amounts of computer time are required in order to get statistically significant data on rare local configurations.

 

 

THOMPSON, Sarah and OLLIVER, Heather

Department of Physics and Astronomy

DIAGNOSTIC USE OF SECONDARY D-3HE PROTON SPECTRA FOR D-D OMEGA TARGETS

(Stephen Padalino and Kurt Fletcher)

F. H. Séguin, C. K. Li, D. G. Hicks, and R. D. Petrasso, Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

J. M. Soures, P. B. Radha, V. Yu. Glebov, D. D. Meyerhofer, S. Roberts, and C. Sorce, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

T. C. Sangster and M. D. Cable, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

The use of high-resolution spectra of secondary fusion protons for studying the areal densities of D-filled capsules is demonstrated with charged-particle-spectrometer data from OMEGA implosions. These data allow us to determine the energy loss suffered by the protons as they pass through fuel and shell while leaving the capsule, which is directly related to total rR. It is shown that the same technique should prove useful for study of total areal density in future experiments with cryogenic DD capsules. This study involved calibration experiments at SUNY/Geneseo to accurately determine the energy of protons in CR-39 track detector.

 

Funded in part by the United States Department of Energy

 

 

TRIPI, Laura

Department of Biology

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS FACTORS ON PHAGOCYTOSIS

(Robert O'Donnell)

Phagocytosis is a cellular process involving the ingestion of particles like bacteria or dead cells from surrounding blood or tissues, particularly by macrophage cells that are specialized for this process. This study focuses on the effects of various NADPH Oxidase inhibiting drugs as well as low density lipoprotein (LDL or bad cholesterol) on the ability of mouse macrophages and THP-1 cells (human macrophage monocytes) to phagocytize. These cells are capable of ingesting particles like fluoresceinated dextran beads and E. coli particles bearing fluorescent tags. Phagocytosis can then be detected and measured using a fluorescent plate reader. In general, most of the NADPH Oxidase inhibiting drugs that were tested (such as 4-aminoguiacol and rottlerin) inhibited phagocytosis of the particles, while LDL enhanced the cells' ability to phagocytize. This study relates to the human patient's ability to fight off infection via phagocytic activity while suffering from artherosclerotic diseases (involving an increased level of LDL) or undergoing cancer treatment using NADPH Oxidase inhibitors.

 

 

WARNER, Nicholas

Department of Geological Sciences

CONODONTS OF THE CHATTANOOGA SHALE IN SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA

(Jeffery Over)

High-resolution conodont stratigraphy has been used to correlate sequences of Upper Devonian black shales within the prodeltaic marine facies of the Appalachian Basin. Conodonts were recovered from an outcrop of the Chattanooga Shale along US Route 23 (north) near Norton, Virginia. The section is found to be correlative to the Hanover Shale member of the Java Formation in western New York. The Hanover Shale is a greenish-gray silty pyritic shale interbedded with organic-rich laminated black shales, argillaceous carbonate beds, and calcareous nodules. Further analysis of the conodonts in this section shows the relative position of the Upper Devonian, Frasnian-Famennian extinction boundary within a 1.9 m black and greenish-gray shale sequence. The boundary within this sequence is recognized by the disappearance of Frasnian conodonts and the appearance of typical Famennian conodonts such as the species Palmatolepis triangularis. This sequence of the Norton, Virginia section correlates to an approximate 5.0 m sequence (containing the Frasnian-Famennian boundary) of the Hanover Shale in western New York.

 

 

WILSON, Alison and WOELLER, Collynn

Department of Chemistry

DISCOVERY OF POTENTIAL GENE SEO (SENESCENCE ENZYME OPERON)

(Wendy Pogozelski)

The process of aging is better characterized in simple organism than in humans. We have used our understanding of senescence in simple organisms to determine if a similar process might be operative in humans. Together with colleagues at NIH, we have been searching the human genome for genes that might be similar to those in simple multi-cellular organisms that are known to result in age-dependent chemical changes to cells.

 

 

WIXTED, Maura

Department of Biology

COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS AMONG TWO GRASS SPECIES IN THE ROEMER ARBORETUM

(Gregg Hartvigsen)

Above-verses below ground allometries and relative growth rates were analyzed for two grass species, Poa pratensis, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Plants were grown in interspecific and intraspecific competition under high and low density with half of the treatments receiving fertilization. Experiments were conducted both in a greenhouse and in field plots in the Roemer Arboretum at SUNY Geneseo. Harvests were conducted throughout a nine-week period during the summer of 1999 to investigate above and below ground allocation over time in response to competitor identity, density, and fertilization. In the field, fertilization treatments had a significantly higher growth rate than non-fertilized treatments for S. scoparium while P. pratensis did not. Poa pratensis and S. scoparium had growth rates that were significantly higher in low density treatments over high density treatments in the intraspecific competition that were located the field. Poa pratensis increased allocation to above ground biomass when fertilized and in the greenhouse, while S. scoparium did not change allocation despite its increase in growth rate. Low density P. pratensis had a lower growth rate in interspecific competition than in high density competition, while the opposite was true for S. scoparium.

 

 

WOOD, William and NEUBERG, Julie

Department of Chemistry

THE ANALYSIS OF TRANS-RESVERATROL IN RED WINES USING CAPILLARY ZONE ELECTROPHORESIS

(James Boiani)

Red wines contain many phenolic compounds that are anti-oxidizing agents, among them is trans-Resveratrol (3,5,4N-trihydroxystilbene). Methods that have been used to determine the concentration of trans-Resveratrol in red wine include high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). CZE is the fastest method of analysis of the techniques mentioned. A recently developed sold phase extraction phase (SPE) procedure combined with CZE was used to determine the trans-Resveratrol content of various wines. The results will be presented and discussed.

 

 

ZERRAHN, Joanne

Department of Chemistry

SYNTHESIS OF PRECURSORS TO LINKER LIGANDS

(David K. Geiger)

Our research efforts have been directed towards the synthesis of complexes for possible use as catalysts in solar energy conversion. My research has focused on the synthesis of brominated aromatic and pyridine compounds that will be used as precursors to ligands capable of linking transition metal components. I have synthesized 5-bromo-1,10-phenanthroline and am in the process of developing a methodology for the synthesis of 4-ethynylpyridine, which can be reacted with ethynyl and iodo- compounds, respectively. I will be discussing the syntheses of these bidentate ligands.