1999 Conference Abstracts

Anthropology & Archaeology
Panetta, Claire: Haverford, Anthropology
SEARCHING FOR KUMARI: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF VIRGIN GODDESSES IN THE
KATHMANDU VALLEY
This study explored the lives of the Kumaris in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kumaris are believed to
be Living Goddesses embodying the powerful Hindu deity Taleju, and as such are ritually
worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists alike. Individually selected from the ethnic group
indigenous to the Valley, the Newars, these young girls reign between the ages of two and twelve,
and are chosen on the basis of physical perfection and emotional stability and strength. Once
selected they lead lives of intense ritual activity, worship and seclusion. They often live away from
their family and are frequently prevented from receiving any formal education. Their reign lasts as
long as they do not bleed, but with the arrival of menstruation, they are dismissed and return home;
a place, which more often than not, they have forgotten. This research focused on the lives of both
former and current Kumaris and attempted to understand their impression of and feelings towards
the experience of being worshipped as a Living Goddess. Over the course of the fourweek
research period, former and current Kumaris in Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur were
interviewed, in an attempt to understand the emotional lives of these girls and the ways in which
they were shaped by their individual experiences. Despite the natural limitations of time and
language, the research was quite successful, and several conclusions were drawn regarding the
ramifications and implications of this practice. Though unanticipated, they shed new light on the
practice of Virgin Goddess worship. It seems that the cult of Kumari is at a juncture; the combined
impacts of tourist enthusiasm and anthropological interest are slowly beginning to redefine the
tradition. Compounded by a burgeoning movement towards modernization, the practice of Virgin
Goddess worship is in a fragile state. The conflict between the need for modernization and a desire
for cultural preservation have left the tradition vulnerable and susceptible to change.

Taylor, Meredith, K,; Sweet Briar College, Department of Archaeology
FAUNAL ANALYSIS ON THE EURASIAN STEPPE
With the assistance of a grant from the National Science Foundation, I was given the opportunity to
join the KazakhAmerican Talgar project during June and July of 1999. Under the direction of
Sweet Briar College Anthropology professor, Dr. Claudia Chang, I joined an archaeological team
on the Eurasian Steppe, and studied environmental archaeology techniques. I specifically
researched the faunal collection recovered from Tsiganka 8, the Iron Age site we excavated this
summer. This research examined the animals thought to inhabit the Eurasian Steppe during the
Iron Age from many perspectives. Petroglyphs carved into a rock outcropping were studied for the
stories that they could tell of Iron Age hunting rituals, and for their pictures capturing the diverse
species of animals that were used by ancient peoples. A modern Kazakh sheep slaughtering was
witnessed in order to better understand the way that bones are ""packaged"" together after a
slaughter, and to help identify butchering marks from those made by a hasty trowel during
excavation. Data from a previous excavation was reviewed to gauge the percentages and species
of animals that had once inhabited the area. From all of this, predictions were made regarding the
numbers and types of animals that would be found at Tsiganka 8. I then followed the bones from
recovery through analysis. At the end of July, the preliminary figures matched those initial
predictions, and showed that the Iron Age settlers at Tsiganka 8 were consuming mainly
domesticated animals.

Campbell, Jeremy M.: Davidson College, Anthropology and History
PRELIMINARY EXPLORATIONS OF KUMAL, A LATE CLASSIC MAYAN POLITY
Over the past twenty years, Mesoamerican archaeology andindeed, the archaeology of state level
societies in general hasbeen concerned with the way in which smaller, peripheral sites of
ancient occupation articulate with larger, established sites. Such investigations ask (and attempt to
answer) pointed questions concerning the social organization of whole civilizations the
idea of "border zones" between polities, the way in which "peripheral" peoples allied themselves with
proximal powers and the creation of a crosspolity system of structural cohesion. This paper
recounts the first field season, the summer of 1999, of work at such a "peripheral" Mayan site,
Kumal located 15 km SE of the larger Ek Balam and 40 km NW of the urban sprawl of Coba. The
important tasks of dating and mapping the sire are discussed and how this information has already
started to contribute to the answering of larger theoretical and practical questions in the study of
the history of preColumbian Mayan civilization.

Cefaratti. Rebecca , J.; Sweet Briar College Department o Archaeology
THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY OF TSIGANKA
Through a grant from the National Science Foundation, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to
Kazakhstan to work on the KazakhAmerican Talgar Project with Sweet Briar Professor Claudia
Chang. Tsiganka 8 is an Iron Age site located outside of Almaty on the southeast border of the
Eurasian steppe near the Tien Shan Mountain range. For two months, I was immersed in the
Kazakh culture, learning the language, religion, and culture of the descendents of Russian
immigrants into the country, in addition to developing my skills as a field archaeologist. Part of the
grant also stipulated that I work with two archaeobotanists, assisting them with the collection of
charred seed remains and phytoliths. This experience was invaluable to my development as a
student of archaeology/ archaeobotany and a member of a global community.

Biology
Hamilton, Patricia, L.: Sweet Briar College Department of Biology
THE EFFECT OF FISH PREDATION ON ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES ACROSS A GRADIENT OF LAKE DEPTHS
Hamilton, Patricia L., ,Alan J. Tessier* Texas A&M University at Galveston
Because they occupy a middle trophic level, herbivores are often simultaneously affected by both
predators and resources. For example, in aquatic systems, suspension feeding zooplankton are
known to be strongly limited by algal resource availability, yet also experience strong mortality from
fish predators. However, across lakes of decreasing depth, there is a increase in the intensity of
fish predation and a change to zooplankton species that are more resistant to fish predation. Along
this gradient of increasing predation, a decrease in biomass of zooplankton and an increase in
resource availability would be expected (trophic cascade theory). However, recent work showed
this not to be true. We performed a set of field enclosure (predation release) experiments to
estimate the strength of resource limitation for zooplankton across a gradient of lake depth. The
experiments involved manipulating zooplankton biomass in each lake and measuring specific
biomass change over 4 day intervals. In all lakes, fish fed selectively on zooplankton prey, but the
pattern of selectivity was most extreme in the deep lakes. Zooplankton response to biomass
manipulation was well described by a linear model with no difference in slope among lake types.
However, the elevation of these linear responses was different. Zooplankton assemblages in
shallow lakes were further depressed below their resource limiting carrying capacity than were
zooplankton in deeper lakes. These results suggest that the lack of change in biomass of
zooplankton across a gradient of predation risk is associated with increased resource availability
and higher productivity of zooplankton in shallow lakes.

Kathryn S Benson, Cameron Kerr , David Volz & Douglas Williams: Univ. of South Carolina,
Marine Science
AN UNDERGRADUATE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC STUDY OF WINYAH BAY, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Marine and Aquatic Research Experience (MARE) program for undergraduates was
established to assist students in making critical connections from the classroom to the research
world. MARE provides science and engineering majors with the opportunity to design, develop and
implement independent research projects in marine science. The MARE team conducted four
expeditions on Winyah Bay, South Carolina, over a sixmonth period from 1998 to 1999. Winyah
Bay is a major estuarine system that is part of the third largest watershed on the East Coast. Using
CTD and GPS systems to establish a physical framework, samples of water and sediment were
taken at approximately 35 stations in order to study the relationship between physical mixing and
the chemical behavior of nutrients in the estuarine system. Student members of MARE will report
on the data from Winyah Bay and make comparisons with results from the published scientific
literature.

Earl E Johnson: Radford University, Department of Biology
DRINKING THE SALTY SEAS
Earl E Johnson & Sam Zeakes*
Are we in danger of running out of the earth's most precious commodity, "fresh water" early in the
new millennium? What can we do to make sure that there is enough fresh water to quench the
thirst of a flourishing human population, and at the same time, prevent countries from going to war
over water? This presentaiton will discuss technologies available for extracting fresh water form the
seas.

Hawthorn, Anya: Radford University Department of Biology
A BEHAVIORAL AND ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE FUNNEL WEB SPIDERS "AGELENOPSIS NAERIA" AND "AGELENOPSIS PENNSYLVANICA " IN REGARDS TO WEB SITE SELECTION AND TERRITORIALITY.
Anya Hawthorn & Fred Singer*
In an ecological study of funnel web sites on a 30 by 30 meter plot in Floyd county Virginia, spiders
of the genus Agelenopsis were observed to spin webs on sites that were positively correlated with
flowering plants, and negatively correlated with grasses and bare ground. A mathematical model
was developed using discriminant analysis that predicted the prescence of a web at a given site
correctly for 23 out of 28 web sites, and17 out of 28 nonweb sites. Behaviorally, A. pennsylvanica
and A. naeria were found to be similar to the previously studied species in this genus, A. sperta,
with a strong resident advantage in contests over territory, and no observable weight advantage.
They appeared to be less territorially aggressive than A. sperta, possibly because good web sites
are easier to find in a temperate environment than in a desert.

Lederhouse, Russell, T.; Mary Washington College, Department of Biology
THE DEPLETION OF SEROTONIN AND ITS BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS ON COORDINATION, LOCOMOTION, AND RIGHTING TIME IN ELAPHE O. QUADRIVITTATA
Russell T. Lederhouse and *Dr. John Temple
In previous studies it has been determined that a depletion of serotonin, 5 HT, has been correlated with movement disorders. In this study we used Yellow Rat snakes, Elaphe obsoleta
quadrivittata, to investigate a serotonin synthesis inhibitor parachlorophenylalanine,
PCPA. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of decreasing levels of serotonin and its
correlation to coordination, locomotion, and righting time. A pegboard apparatus was used to test
for initiation and duration of coordination and locomotion, while a balance rod served as an
additional test for coordination and movement. Preliminary studies showed a dose of 500
mg/kg/day x 2 i.p. most successful having the greatest affect on brain chemistry after 4 days.
However, the movement disorders were most pronounced between 6 12 hours after second
injection. A treatment of PCPA 400 mg/kg/day x 2 i.p. significantly reduced 5 HT (38.5%) and its
metabolite 5 HIAA (82.9%). PCPA treatment also suggestively decreased levels of dopamine,
DA, (20.0%). PCPA injection (400 mg/kg/day x 2 i.p.) significantly increased the righting time and
significantly decreased the time spent active on a peg board apparatus. It was also observed that
all PCPA treated snakes appeared dazed until stimulated by touch then resumed normal functions,
this being most observable on the balance rod and righting test. This experiment showed that
PCPA significantly affected the coordination, locomotion, and righting time of the Yellow Rat snake,
however, it is uncertain to say whether the observed responses to PCPA were do to 5 HT
or DA depletion or a synergistic effect.

Radzio, Thomas A.: Longwood College Department of Biology
TRIGGERS FOR DMSP CLEAVAGE IN MICROALGAE
Radzio, Thomas, A.; Wolfe, Gordon, V.*
Many microalgae cleave dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) to for dimethylsulfide (DMS), acrylate and a proton. Volatile microalgal DMS returns sulfur to the atmosphere and also serves an important climatological function as cloudcondensation nuclei. DMSP cleavage may also serve microalgae as part of an activated chemical defense against protist grazers. Gas chromatography was used to examine the effect of sparging, shaking, and polyamino additions as triggers for DMSP cleavage in Emiliania huxleyi. Sparging triggered low strain specific levels of DMS production in E. huxleyi 370, 373, 374, and 379. Shaking did not trigger DMS production in E.
huxleyi, but did trigger production in larger Alexandrium spp. Polyamino additions elicited DMS production in E. huxleyi 373. Preliminary investigations into the lethality of these treatments did not indicate conclusively whether these triggers function as sublethal cues or simply lyse susceptible cells and bring together potentially compartmentalized DMSP and DMSP lyase.

Pressman, Elana, R.; Mary Washington College, Department of Biology
THE FEVER RESPONSE IN THE GARTER SNAKE THAMNOPHIS RADIX RADIX:, A BACTERIA DOSE DEPENDENT RESPONSE
Pressman, Elana, R; Temple, John, G.
"A fever is an increase in body temperature resulting from an elevation in the thermoregulatory set
point. As ectotherms, snakes have a voluntary fever response, they induce a fever by moving to a
warmer location. Research has shown that the fever response of snakes can be used to study the
fever response of mammals. This experiment questions if the fever response in Thamnophis radix
radix is a dose dependent response. Snakes were allowed to thermoregulate in an aquarium with a
thermal gradient on the bottom, and their cloacal temperatures following the injection of the alcohol
killed bacteria Aeromonas hyrdophila and were compared to their cloacal temperatures following
the injection of saline. Preliminary data show a dose and time dependent response of cloacal
temperature following the injection. Injection of 6.5x107 cells/g body weight dose caused a 2.350C
drop in the first 24 hours followed by death, and 6.5x106 cells/g body weight caused a .20C
increase in the first 24 hours and a 1.70C decrease in the second 24 hours. The dose of 6.5x105
cells/g body weight caused a 1.70 decrease in the first 24 hours and an increase of approximately
10C in the second 24 hours. This is an ongoing project. Based on research showing a snake can
maintain different temperatures in different body parts, the dose eliciting a fever response will be
used to give a snake a localized infection, and whether the snake will it induce a fever only in the
infected part of its body will be tested.

Easterly, Evangeline M.: Sweet Briar College Department of Biology
INTERNAL DOSIMETRY OF MICE IN SMALL ANIMAL XRAY CT MICROSCOPY
Evangeline Easterly, Mike Paulus, Kimberly McMahan, Abu Ahmed
The MicroCAT is a small animal CT used to scan mice in order to search for possible phenotypic
mutations and cancers; all effects from radiation, chemical mutagens, or genetic reengineering.
Studies performed on mice are valuable information because their genome is similar to humans.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the radiation dose to the skin and internal organs
of the mouse during a highresolution scan using the MicroCAT. Thermalluminescent detectors
were used to measure the radiation dose. Significant differences were found in the dose to internal
organs. The skin and outer organs received a higher dose than internal organs, depending on the
attenuation of the Xrays as they passed through tissues.

Ponte, Carolyn E. D.: Sweet Briar College Dept. of Biology
A STUDY OF SWEET BRAIR COLLEGE LAND: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MICROBIAL ECOLOGY AND THE USE OF THE LAND
Ponte, Caroyn,E.D. Davies*, Dr. Robin, L.
The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of Sweet Briar College land use on the
health of the land through studying the microbial ecology of the soil. For this study picked five
representative sampling areas including cultivated land, the old dairy lot, grazing land, the lawn,
and the Boone Prior nature sanctuary. Soil samples were collected, diluted, and plated on both
Sabouraud dextrose agar with streptomycin and nutrient agar in order to select for both fungal and
bacterial growth. Each plate was examined for the numbers and diversity of organisms based on
their macroscopic colonial morphologies. Each type of microorganism was isolated and plated
again for further analysis. A total of 50 different types of fungi and 38 types of bacteria were
isolated. The area with the greatest number of bacteria present was the nature sanctuary, while the
lawn sample had the least. The cultivated land samples had the most fungi, while the grazing land
had the least. For the levels of species diversity the cultivated land samples showed the highest
levels of both bacterial and fungal diversity while the lawn samples showed the lowest levels.
Based on the results we conclude that the microbial ecology of the soil is affected by its use.
Possible causes of the effects we observed include the use of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides,
type of vegetation, amount of organic material, and biological burden.

Mary Margaret Shaffer: Randolph Macon Woman's College Dept. of Biology
EXPRESSION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR INHIBITOR2 IN MCF7 CELLS
Mary Margaret Shaffer, Diane Palmieri & Frank Church*
Metastasis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients. Tumor cell
invasion into distant areas of the body is dependent on the cell's ability to degrade the extracellular
matrix, travel through the blood or lymph system, and extravasate to a secondary site to form
metastases. The Plasminogen activator (PA) system is known to play a role in the tumor's ability to
metastasize. I studied the effects of the expression of the serpin, Plasminogen activator inhibitor2
(PAI2) in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. PAI2 is an inhibitor of the PA system and has been
implicated as a positive prognostic indicator in breast cancer. A vector containing the wild type PAI2
cDNA and a "noninhibitory" mutant form of cDNA were transfected into MCF7 breast cancer cells, which do not normally produce PAI2. I examined the expression of mRNA produced by the enriched cell populations through rtPCR and found that when compared to untransfected negative control cells, which are known to produce PAI2,
the message was being expressed in the wild type and mutant transfected cells. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to demonstrate the presence of PAI2 protein in these cells. Mutant cells were observed to grow more slowly than the wild type and untransfected MCF7 cells. Adhesion assays detected no change in any of the cell's
abilities to adhere to serum or vitonectin. In a cytotoxicity assay, I found that the presence of wild type PAI2
slightly inhibited the ability of TNFalpha to induce cell death. Cell survival was slightly lower in the mutants suggesting that PAI2' s ability to inhibit apoptosis is dependent upon its ability to inhibit a protease. The level of PAI2 production may be a critical factor in conjunction with other proteases and inhibitors employed in the future to develop an accurate prognosis for breast cancer patients.

Chemistry & Biochemistry
Radzio, Thomas A.: Longwood College, Biochemistry
USE OF QUARTZ CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE TO DETECT PESTICIDES IN WATER
Radzio, Thomas, A; Burgess*, James, D.
Preliminary experiments to develop a method of realtime
pesticide detection using quartz crystal
microbalance (QCM) are promising. Anti atrazine IgG antibodies were electrostatically immobilized
to gold QCM electrode sensors. Cyclic voltammetry analysis showing decreased electrode
capacitance following antibody immobilization, confirmed the formation of an antibody layer on the
sensor. Atrazine (2ppm) in water was detected as a decrease in electrode oscillation frequency
when bound by immobilized anti atrazine antibodies. Alachor, used as a control pesticide, was not
bound by the immobilized anti atrazine antibodies, while atrazine was bound. To regenerate the
sensor, NaCl solution (mM) was used to detach bound pesticide. This elicited sensor mass
decrease of similar magnitude to mass increase following pesticide binding. Following NaCl
treatment and H2O wash, immobilized anti atrazine antibodies bound atrazine, but not as well as at
initial pesticide exposure. Future work will examine sensor reuse using covalently immobilized
antibodies and voltage perturbations to detach bound pesticides.

Dwarzski, Noelle E.; Sweet Briar College, Biochem./Molecular Biology
ZINC IONS IN UNUSUAL DNA STRUCTURES
Dwarzski, Noelle; Sutter, Sarah; Klevickis, Cynthia; *Granger, Jill;* Sabat, Michal
Recent advances in molecular biology brought to light several new forms of DNA, including hairpins, cruciforms, triplexes, and quadruplexes. Metal ions play a very important role in the formation and stability of these unusual DNA structures. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Xray crystallography, as well as computational chemistry were applied to elucidate the role of zinc ions in AGCT cruciforms and GA hairpins. The results of the studies as well as the biological significance of our findings will be discussed.

Sabat, Agnes E.: Sweet Briar College, Biochemistry
TISSUE CULTURE BASED TESTING OF PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM COMPOUNDS AS ANTICANCER AGENTS
Agnes E. Sabat, Robin Davies* and Rob Granger*
Platinum (II) compounds such as cisdiamminedichloroplatinum (II) (Cisplatin) and cisdiammine
(1,1cyclobutanedicarboxylato) platinum (II) (Carboplatin) are used in the treatment of several
aggressive cancers, including ovarian, lung, testicular, and bladder carcinomas. However, some of these compounds can also have toxic effects on the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system. In order to avoid the toxicity as well as several other problems associated with administration of the drugs, new platinum and palladium compounds have been investigated. We have tested a series of platinum (IV) and palladium (IV) complexes against the normal lung cell line WI38 as well as the cancerous cell lines SW480 and A427.
Our results show that some of the compounds exhibit remarkable activity against the cell lines derived from lung cancer.

Santi, L.: Genetics, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology,
INCREASED FREQUENCY OF GLUTATHIONS TRANSFERASE (GSTT1)NULL GENOTYPE IN PATIENTS WITH APLASTIC ANEMIA AND MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME
L. Santi, M. Stacy, W. Kearns
Background: Aplastic Anemia (AA) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are both heterologous
haemopoeitic disorders with toxic environmental factors contributing to the etiology of both. A link
between and individual's ability to metabolize potential carcinogens and disease state of these
patients, at these loci, may render patients susceptible to the development of AA and MDS and
may therefore act as a potential biomarker for these disorders. Objective: To determine, as part of
an ongoing study, the prevalence of both GSTT1 and GSTM1 null alleles in patients with AA and
MDS. Methods: DNA was extracted form patients' bone marrow samples. Multiplex PCR was used
to specifically amplify both GSTT1 and GSTM1 alleles together. The actin allele was used as the
positive control,to verify PCR conditions. PCR was repeated in all cases showing null alleles.
Results: Thirtyone and 53% of AA and MDS patients, respectively, showed a null GSTT1
genotype, and 58% and 60%, respectively, showed and null GSTM1 genotype. Control values for
the GSTT1 is 16% and for the GSTM1 is 50%. Conclusions: These preliminary results show a
strong correlation between the GSTT1 null genotype with both AA and MDS, suggesting decreased
detoxification of environmental or endogenous carcinogens may be a contributing factor.

Kelly Kitchens. Hampton University, Department of Chemistry
INFLUENCE OF pH FORMULATION ON 9CHLORO2METHYLELLIPTICINIUM ACETATE ENCAPSULATION AND RELEASE VIA BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER
Kelly Kitchens, Eric Crumpler, Robert Langer* Dept of Chemical Engineering, MIT,
Cambridge,MA
The current solution to recurrent tumors is repeated radiation and chemotherapy, which have
various effects on several tumor cells; however, they show no specificity toward any set of tumors
( lung, breast, brain). The ellipticinium derivative salt, 9chloro2methylellipticinium
acetate (CME), is an enzyme inhibitor that is selective for CNS tumors. In this study, the pH of the internal phase
( in the initial formation of microspheres) was adjusted to assess release and loading levels. Microspheres were fabricated of the polymer, 1, 3bis (pcarboxyphenoxy) propane: sebacic acid
(20:80) [(CPP:SA)], using the solvent evaporation method. The aqueous phase was adjusted prior
to CME dissolution and emulsion formation. Basic solution degradation was used to assess loading
percentages of CME [with pH 3.93 (2.75%), 6.49 (2.43%), 7.45 (2.45%) and 9.98 (2.41%)].
Release kinetics were evaluated over a sevenday period. UVvis spectroscopic measurements of
the samples were taken at regular time intervals and the cumulative release of CME from p
(CPP:SA) was observed. After initial burst effects, average release rates of 1.311 mg/hr, 1.138
mg/hr, 1.021 mg/hr, and 0.8936 mg/hr were observed and delivery of 65.52%, 61.11%, 55.98%
and 47.88% CME for microspheres formulated with pH 3.93, 6.49, 7.45 and 9.98 aqueous phase
adjustments, respectively. Loading levels were slightly decreased, and slowed release was
observed (as the pH increased).

North, Micah J.: The Virginia Military Institute Department of Chemistry
VIABILITY STUDIES OF THE CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF PT(DI2PYRIDYL KETONE)CL4
North M. J*.; Wilson M. H.; Garcia S. J.,Granger R. M
We report the synthesis, Xray structure and catalytic properties of [Pt(di2pyridyl
ketone)Cl4], henceforth [Pt(dpk)Cl4]. The compound [Pt(dpk)Cl4] undergoes rapid hydrolysis of the ketone
carbon, yielding a transient gemdiol. One hydroxide of the gemdiol undergoes cyclometalation/condensation reaction yielding a PtO bond and a molecule of HCl. Unlike most ketones the compound Pt(dpk)Cl4] favors the hydrated form. Molecular modeling studies ndicate a severe ring strain is placed on the ketone carbon ""forcing it to adopt an sp3hybridization. This ring strain is confirmed by the Xray structure of [Pt(dpk)Cl4]. This has prompted us to explore the possibility of adding other small molecules across the ketone bond. Reaction chemistry of [Pt(dpk) Cl4] with H2, CO2 and CO is discussed.

Cox, Amanda C.: Lynchburg College Department of Chemistry
A HAIR'S BREATH: THE FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF HAIR IN MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN
Hair has become an integral part of forensic science. The establishment of a relationship between
zinc content and age and gender has the potential to offer an inexpensive and efficient way of
determining a preliminary profile of victims and suspects. In this study, the concentration of zinc in
hair versus age and gender is investigated to determine if a relationship could be established.
Samples of hair from men and women, age thirtyfive to fourtyfive, and children, age one to five,
were collected. The concentration of zinc in each sample was quantified using flameatomic
absorption spectroscopy. In addition, the effects of a pregnancy and hair type on the concentration
of Zn were also explored.

Emily V. Black; Sweet Briar College, Department of Chemistry
EFFECT OF KAINATE RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST,SYM 2081 ON CAPSAICININDUCED
HYPERALGESIA IN RATS
Emily V. Black; Simone, Don A. Ph.D.* Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota,
It is known that transmission of nociceptive information from the periphery to the spinal involves, in
part, excitatory amino acid (EAA) neurotransmitters and their receptors. The function of the various
EAA receptor types in pain transmission is not clear. The goal of this study was to investigate
whether kainate receptors are involved in the development of hyperalgesia by determining whether
the kainate receptor antagonist SYM 2081 attenuated capsaicininduced hyperalgesia. In normal,
untreated animals, interplantar injection of 10 ug capsaicin produces nocifensive behavior
(elevation of the injected paw) suggestive of pain, an increased frequency of withdrawal from
punctate stimuli applied to the paw (mechanical hyperalgesia) and the latency of withdrawal from
noxious heat (heat hyperalgesia). Separate groups of animals were given IP (interperitoneal)
injections of SYM 2081 at doses of 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg at 1hour prior to injection of capsaicin.
The duration of nocifensive behavior was measured for five minutes subsequent to injection of
capsaicin. Withdrawal responses to mechanical and heat stimuli applied to the plantar surface of
both hindpaws were measured before injection of SYM 2081 and again at five and thirtyminutes
after injection of capsaicin. Pretreatment with SYM 2081 produced a decrease in nocifensive
behavior and in hyperalgesia to mehanical and heat stimuli produced by capsaicin, as compared
with vehicle pretreatment. Doses of SYM 2081 had no effect on basal withdrawl responses to heat
or mechanical stimuli. It is suggested that kainate receptors contribute to the development of
hyperalgesia evoked by capsaicin.

Sharma, Chhavi, Sweet Briar College, Department of Chemistry
SYNTHESIS OF PHOSPHOROTHIOAMIDITE
Sharma, Chhavi , *Granger, Jill, *Davies, Robin. L
Antisense DNA can be used to inhibit expression of a gene by targeting the mRNA. This technique can therefore be used to switch off cancer activity. DNA composed of phosphodiester bonds can be used in Antisense therapy, but the anticancer effects are not longlived. Substitution of sulfur for oxygen in the antisense DNA has been an area of considerable interest to researchers in order to increase the effect. Sulfur modified DNA oligonucleotide analogs are synthesized in the laboratory with a Gene Assembler using phophorothioamidites. Synthetic precursors, ethanedithiol monobenzoate and tris (pyrrolidino) phosphine were synthesized in the laboratory. NMR showed that the synthesis technique employed was a success. The project awaits testing of the sulfur
modified oligonucleotide analogs on cancer cells.

Hylton, Matt; The Virginia Military Institute, Department of Chemistry
SYNTHESIS OF DIPYRIDYLPHENAZINE COMPLEXES OF PT(IV)
Hyton M. and *Granger R. M
The synthetic scheme used for the synthesis, of tris(1,10phenanthroline)
platinum(IV) hexafluorophosphate [Pt(phen)3][PF6]4 (1) has been adapted for the synthesis of other Pt(IV)
complexes containing extended ring diimene ligands. We report the synthesis of [Pt(dppz)3][BPh4]
4 {dppz = dipyridylphenazine}. Infrared, UVvis, NMR and cyclic voltammetric data are presented
and discussed.

Ellis, Shannon, L.; Mary Washington College, Department of Chemistry
A TRACE METAL ANALYSIS OF HAZEL RUN
Hazel Run is a tributary of the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1987, a study
was undertaken to analyze the health of Hazel Run by studying concentrations of Chromium,
Copper, Lead, Manganese, and Zinc. A new study duplicated the experimental procedure of the
1987 study to determine if development of the Fredericksburg area had damaged the natural
environment of Hazel Run. Water and sediments samples were collected at eight locations along
Hazel Run. Concentrations of dissolved metal ions in water samples were detected with Atomic
Absorption. Sediment samples were partitioned into adsorbed, reducible, and oxidizable fractions
and tested in the same manner. For water samples, only chromium and copper had higher
concentrations than the previous study. Zinc had similar concentrations. For the adsorbed and
oxidizable fractions of the sediment samples, only chromium had higher concentrations.
Chromium, manganese and zinc had higher concentrations for the reducible fraction. While this
study has shown increased concentrations for some of the metals, further studies are needed to
determine if results are reproducible.

Jason E.; The Virginia Military Institute, Department of Chemistry.
CONFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE 4,6DISUBSTITUTED QUINOLIZIDINES: PREPARATION OF THE 6Z, 10Z DIASTEREOMER.
Jason E. Co, Victor E. Zottig, Tappey H. Jones
A 4,6disubstituted quinolizidine was detected as a major component in a collection of myrmicine
ants belonging to the genus Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum). While there are four possible
diastereomers, the natural compound has been proven to be (6Z, 10E)4methyl6propylquinolizidine.
Synthesis of all four diastereomers has provided material for nuclear magnetic resonance studies. In particular, a stereospecific preparation of the (6Z, 10Z) diastereomer will be presented.

Wood, Justin G.; The Virginia Military Institute, Department of Chemistry
MOLYBDENUM REDOX EQUILIBRIUM IN GLASSMELTS
Justin G. Wood Henry D. Schreiber*
Molybdenum has a tremendous effect on glass products. Glass is often made by internal electrical
heating in which molybdenum compounds are used as electrodes for heating. Molydenum is often
used in specialty glasses as opacifiers. Still yet, it is used as the key ingredient in many secret
industrial trade recipes. In order to more fully understand the role of molybdenum in glass, it is
essential to understand the redox conditions controlling the glass characteristics. The problem with
varying molybdenum redox states in glass is that they show no distinguishing colors. As a result, a
method had to be found to determine the redox state present in various glass compositions.
Potassium bromate titrations helped to determine the relative reducing power of the molybdenum
while magnetic susceptibility tests were performed to help determine the presence of molybdenum
metal. The results helped to identify the molybdenum redox equilibrium and to assign reduction
potential values with respect to other multivalent elements.

Zottig, Victor E.; The Virginia Military Institute, Department of Chemistry
CAST SPECIFIC VENOM ALKALOIDS FROM A PUERTO RICAN THIEF ANT SOLENOPSIS
(DIPLORHOPTRUM) SPECIES.
Victor E. Zottig, Jason E. Co, Tappey H. Jones*
Investigation of venom alkaloids found in an undescribed Puerto Rican Theif ant [Solenopsis
(Diplorhoptrum) sp.] revealed the presence of two diastereomic indolizidines [1] and two piperidines [2]. The structures of 1 and 2 were established by comparison of the authentic samples to the synthetic samples. The implications of the relationship of the alkaloid structures and sterochemistry between the castes of this species will be presented.

Spore, Dixie F.; Mary Washington College, Department of Chemistry
DETECTION OF PROTEOGLYCANS
Dixie F. Spore and Dr. Adele Addington*
The purpose of this research project was to develop a method to detect proteoglycans released
from cell surfaces. Two assay systems were used to determine the presence of proteoglycans: gel
electrophoresis followed by either protein or glycoprotein staining, or Western blot analysis. The
primary antibody used in the Western blotting procedures was a monoclonal antibody directed
against chondroitin sulfate containing four sulfate moieties per subunit. After treatment of porcine
heart valves with the general proteinase trypsin, no intact proteoglycans were detected, although
their presence was confirmed before treatment. Thus a suitable assay system for the detection of
intact proteoglycan loss has been established.

Miller, Peter M.; The Virginia Military Institute, Department of Chemistry
CHARACTERIZATION OF MSX
Peter M. Miller and Dr. Adele Addington*
In the synthesis of platinum (IV) trisphen, a byproduct was formed that was found to have rapid
cytotoxic effects on L1210 cells in culture, killing all of the cells present within 24 hours. This
mysterious compound, called "mystery substance X" , or MSX, has been investigated to determine
its identity. Infrared Spectroscopy was performed and confirmed that the substance was similar to
platinum (IV) trisphen. Elemental analysis was also performed, and using the program SoftShell,
a molecular mass and structure was assigned for the compound. According to the proposed
structure, the compound contains a platinum 2+ ion, not the 4+ ion present in the platinum (IV) trisphen.
The presence Pt 2+ is consistent with the rapid cell death demonstrated by other Pt 2+
compounds such as cisplatin, although earlier data obtained from cyclic voltometry showed the
compound to contain a Pt 4+ ion. The structure of the molecule will be confirmed with Xray
crystallography. Additional toxicity studies are outlined that will determine the timeline
and LD 50 for the material. Cell fractionation studies will also be performed to determine if there is a specific
site of accumulation of the material within the cells, thus suggesting a possible mechanism by
which the compound exerts its cytotoxic effects.

Hallett, Richard D.; Boyer, C. Tom, Parker, Darrius P.; VMIChem.
CONTINUING STUDIES INTO THE DESIGN AND USE OF A CAPACITOR PLATE FOR THE
REMOVAL OF ADHERENT CELLS FROM CULTURE PETRI DISHES
Hallett, Richard D.; Boyer, C. Tom; Parker, Darrius P; Adele Addington*, J. Shawn Addington,
Edward D. Wheeler*
The purpose of this study is to investigate the design and use of a novel culture petri dish structure,
which utilizes electrical fields for the removal of adherent cells from the surface of the dish. The
realization of this device involves 1) a study of thin film deposition, including material selection,
processing techniques, and electrical characterization; 2) toxicity studies to evaluate effects of films
on cells; 3) electrical testing, including electrical field strength and electrical contact analyses; and
4) cell repulsion testing and comparison with existing techniques. Work thus far on this project has
focused on the realization of electrical thin films. Different chemical compositions (indium tin oxide
and tin oxide) and methods of deposition (spray pyrrolysis, and dip coating followed by firing) have
been tested. Results indicate that none of the thin films realized so far are sufficient to meet the
needs of the device. Preliminary electrical field and electrical contact analyses have been
performed. These, along with the toxicity and cell repulsion studies, are awaiting the development
of a usable thin film. The study will pursue the use of predeposited thin film materials in order to
complete the electrical and chemical characterizations. Once selection of a thin film has been
finalized, a prototype of the device will be realized and tested.

Hewitt, Cindi R.; Ferrum College, Chemistry/Agriculture/Russian
ATTENUATING PESTICIDE RESIDUES
Pylypiw, Harry M. PhD Krol, Walter J. PhD Arsenault, Terri IncorviaMattina,
Mary Jane PhD,Harry M. Pylypiw*
The impact of rinsing, cooking, and refrigeration, on produce pesticide residues was explored over
approximately a ten week period. Fifty gram samples of four specific commodities peas,
spinach, lettuce, and strawberries were subjected to various methods of preparation and then analyzed on
two different gas chromatography detectors for organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides.
While rinsing appeared to have a significant effect on some pesticides, the effects of neither
cooking nor refrigeration can be determined. Both of the latter methods require further investigation
to be able to come to a solid conclusion as to the effects on pesticide residues. Many questions
about pesticide residue reduction still remain unanswered at this time. Questions of nondietary
exposure to pesticides are also being explored. This summer, glove experiments were performed
to determine if there was dermal exposure to pesticides during spraying, harvesting, and handling
of the produce. While the results from these initial experiments are not conclusive, they open the
door for further research in this area.

Yim, Hing W.; U. of NC at Charlotte, Department of Chemistry
GROUP 6 METAL COMPLEXES WITH A NEW THIOETHER LIGAND
Yim, Hing W.; Tran, Linh M.; Dobbin, Ebern, D.; Rabinovich, Daniel*
The first member of a new family of tripodal thioether ligands, the methyltris[(alkylthio)methyl]
silanes MeSi(CH2SR)3 (R = Me), has been synthesized and characterized. Reactivity studies lead
to the isolation of the complete series of group 6 metal carbonyl derivatives {h3MeSi(
CH2SMe)3} M(CO)3 (M = Cr, Mo, W), whose structures have been determined by singlecrystal
Xray diffraction. The three complexes are isomorphous and display distorted octahedral structures with
facecapping tridentate thioether ligands.

Blackwell, William C.; U. of NC at Charlotte, Department of Chemistry
SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF A CHROMIUM THIOETHER COMPLEX
Blackwell, Wiliam C.; Bunich, Dmitry; Rabinovich, Daniel*
The first transition metal derivative of the tridentate thioether ligand MeSi(CH2SPh)3, the chromium
(0) complex {MeSi(CH2SPh)3}Cr(CO)3, has been prepared and fully characterized, including a
singlecrystal Xray diffraction study. The octahedral complex exhibits one of the longest Cr(0)S
(thioether) bond distances ever observed. Preliminary reactivity studies will also be presented.

Richburg, Lauakia M.; Johnson C. Smith University Dept of Chemistry
ZINC BIS(PYRAZOLYL)SILANE COMPLEXES
Richburg, Lauakia, M.; Farouq, Karmal J.; Rabinovich, Daniel*
The two bis(pyrazolyl)silanes Me2Si(3,5R2pz) 2 (R = H, Me) have been readily prepared from
dichlorodimethylsilane and the corresponding lithium pyrazolate salts. These new bidentate
nitrogen donor ligands have been used to prepare the labile zinc derivatives LZnX2 (X = Cl, Br, I),
whose characterization will be described.

Morgan, Kelly E.: Mary Washingon College, Department of Chemistry
EXPRESSION AND INHIBITION OF LEISHMANIA TOPOISOMERASE II
Kelly E. Morgan and Dr. Kelli M. Slunt*
Leishmaniasis is a serious disease caused by the parasite Leishmania. Due to the problems with
current treatments, there is a need for a better therapy.1Mitonafide analogs may selectively target
the topoisomerase II of Leishmania chagasi.2 To discover the most selective drug treatment,
mitonafide analogs were synthesized, purified and verified using H1 NMR.3 Two pure compounds
effectively killed leishmania with LD90 of 50mM and <6.25mM. Further studies require expression
and purification of the leishmanial topo II from bacteria. TOP2 gene was isolated from leishmanial
genome using PCR and analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Purified plasmid DNA and the TOP2
gene were digested using restriction enzymes and ligated together. Transfection of competent
BL21Lys cells with this vector has been unsuccessful, although transfections with a control have
been completed. Future research includes expression and isolation of the enzyme followed by more extensive drug studies.

Nichole Arthur & James Burgess*: Longwood College, Analytical Chemistry
KINETICS OF MONONUCLEAR AND DINUCLEAR PLATINUM COMPLEXES BINDING TO DNA
MODIFIED QUARTZ CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE ELECTRODES
Arthur, Nichole, D.; Burgess, James
These experiments measure the kinetics of covalent attachment between the arnticancer agents
cis[ Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]+2 and [{trans+ Al(NH3)2}2{uH2N( CH2)6NH2}]+2 and single stranded DNA.
Kinetic measurements are made using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) electrodes modified with
thiol functionalized DNA (Tarlov and coworkers, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 120 (1998) 9787). The reaction of cis[
Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]+2 and [{trans+ Al(NH3)2}2{uH2N( CH2)6NH2}]+2 with the
surface confined DNA has been characterized by tracking QCM frequency shifts upon exposure of
the sensor to each of the platinum complexes under walljet flow conditions. Both covalent binding
and electrostatic association between the platinum complexes and DNA are observed.

Buck, Kristin M.: Mary Washington College, Chemistry
PROTEIN ISOPRENYLATION IN LEISHMANIA CHAGASI
Buck, Kristin M. Slunt, Dr. Kelli M.
Leishmaniasis is a potentially fatal disease caused by Leishmania parasites.1 Current treatment
involves injection of pentavalent antimonial compounds.2 These treatments are toxic, expensive,
and moderately effective, making development of alternative drugs highly desirable. One potential
treatment would involve inhibition of protein isoprenylation, a necessary posttranslational
modification for many eukaryotic systems. This project involved basic research on isoprenylation in
Leishmania chagasi. Leishmania were incubated 24 hours in 30?M mevastatin, an inhibitor of
HMGCoA reductase. HMGCoA reductase catalyzes the formation of mevalonic acid, precursor to
all known isoprenoids.3 Tritiumlabeled mevalonic acid was added, and the incubation repeated.
Proteins were isolated by TCA precipitation and nonprotein bound lipids were removed by organic
extractions. Liquid scintillation counting proved that a mevalonic acid derivative was incorporated
into leishmanial proteins.45 Molecular weights of modified proteins were approximated using SDSPAGE.
Incorporated isoprenoid compounds were characterized by GC/MS.6 Future research will
involve cytotoxicity studies with known isoprenylation inhibitors.

Webber, Keith A.: Mary Washington College, Chemistry
A STUDY OF CYTOCHROME C USING MEMBRANE MODIFIED ELECTRODES
Scott, Raymond* & Keith A. Webber
Although several experiments had previously been performed to study the electrochemical
properties of cytochrome c, all of these experiments involved an environment very dissimilar to
cytochrome c's native environment: within a cell's mitochrondria. In this experiment, a membranemodified
gold electrode was built to imitate the mitochondrial membrane in which cytochrome c
naturally functions. This was done by growing a lipid bilayer containing cytochrome oxidase onto
the electrode surface. Cytochrome oxidase is a hydrophobic enzyme which selectively oxidizes
and reduces cytochrome c as the potential of the gold electrode varies. Cyclic voltametry was used
on the electrode to study both the progress of the membrane fabrication on the electrode and the
electrochemical properties of cytochrome c itself. Having accomplished that, this experiment also
served as an example to show that other hydrophobic enzymes can be grown into lipid membranes
onto an electrode.

Friedline, Nathan K.; The Virginia Military Institute Department of Chemistry
N4FLUOROBENZYL ANALOGS OF NDIARYLMETHYL PIPERAZINES AS POTENTIAL DELTA OPIOD RECEPTOR LIGANDS AND IMAGING AGENTS.
Nathan K. Friedline, M. Scott Furness, Kenner C. Rice, Richard B. Rothman*, and Tappie
Jones**
A 4,6disubstituted quinolizidine was detected as a major component in a collection of myrmicine
ants belonging to the genus Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum). While there are four possible
diastereomers, the natural compound has been proven to be (6Z, 10E)4methyl6propylquinolizidine.
Synthesis of all four diastereomers has provided material for nuclear magnetic
resonance studies. In particular, a stereospecific preparation of the (6Z, 10Z) diastereomer will be
presented.

Humanities
Overstreet, Carson E.: James Madison University, Department of History
THE DIARIES OF LANDON CARTER 17521778: OPINIONS CONCERNING SLAVE MORALITY
The personal diaries of Landon Carter lend valuable insight into the mind and life of one of the
members of the Virginia aristocracy. Through these diaries, though often implicit, one can begin to
understand what an upper class Virginian deemed important in the eighteenth century. Carter does
not write frequently about his slaves, but the times that he does, he is often angry with them. This
paper examines his diaries to find instances in which Carter is angry and the way that he believed
the slaves should be punished.

Schoettinger, Daniel G.: James Madison University Department of History
INFLUENCE OF MAHAN'S THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON HISTORY, 1660-1783
The rapid growth of the U.S. Navy during the mid1890s coincided with a general change in foreign
policy. While there were many economic, social, and political factors leading to these changes,
some historians argue that nothing popularized them more than Alfred Thayer Mahan's The
Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 16601783. Its sharp analysis described the contemporary
position of the United States in terms that most Americans understood. More importantly, Mahan's
work suggested goals for the future and described the means by which to achieve them. He argued
that the U.S. must promote American economic interests abroad if it wanted to compete with
Europe and Japan. This could be done through the acquisition of colonies and the creation of a
modern navy to defend it. Mahan further suggests that the very nature of naval warfare had
changed significantly and that U.S must adapt its naval strategy accordingly. Though historians
debate the level of influence the book had on American society, its popularity makes The Influence
of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 an important factor in the American shift towards
imperialism.

Lozano, Matt: History, James Madison University
BILLY GRAHAM: ON MIDDLE GROUND
The focus of my research is the life of Billy Graham and his role during the Civil Rights Movement.
My thesis is that Billy Graham's 1957 Crusade in New York City placed Graham in the center of the
struggle between segregationist and integrationist Christians in America My research covers the
entire life of Billy Graham and specifically the formation and application of his racial ideology
throughout his life. In my paper I show how Graham was transformed from a believer in white
superiority into an tentative integrationist. Furthermore, primary sources reveal how the 1957
Crusade was crucial in solidifying Graham's role as a mediator and peacemaker in the years to
come. His statements during the Crusade not only gained himself fame as an evangelist, but
placed him directly between segregationists and social activists for integration.&nbsp; The example
of Billy Graham reveals much about America's process of change and confusion during the Civil
Rights Movement.

Sessa, David J.: James Madison University Department of History
THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF SLAVERY
Frederick Douglas once said that "slavechildren are children, and prove no exception to the
general rule." The often overlooked part of a slave's life are their formative years before they began
work in the fields. What was life like for these young, growing slaves? This study will attempt to
describe the early years of a slave's life. In fact, a major focus of the slave culture was the young,
teaching them how to survive and be safe while in bondage. While cases do vary, common themes
arise in the early formative day to day lives of young slave children's family and social atmosphere.
Raising a child in the rigors of American slavery required a strong effort by the entire community,
not just the parents, who, all too often, were sold away. In the state of enslavement, young children
were prepared to face the rigors of slave life, even before they fully understood the true nature of
their future life in bondage.

Ryan, Kara E.: James Madison University Department of History
"WALK TOGETHER CHILDREN": THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, 1955-1956
Kara E. Ryan and Dr. Raymond Hyser*
This paper takes a critical look at the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956 and more specifically
the court case that officially ended segregation of public transportation, Browder v. Gayle. Through
the use of memoirs, newspapers and court records a clear distinction is made between the public
and judicial aspects of the boycott. The way in which the social and legal issues impacted the
movement and the results that came from each are discussed as well.

Galvin, Girard A.: James Madison University
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE GOOD FRIDAY PEACE ACCORDS OF 1998
The troubled past between the United Kingdom and Ireland has been a continuous source of strife,
mistrust, and violence. My objective is to briefly explain this past and describe how the peace that
has been elusive for hundreds of years is finally becoming a reality. More specifically, the focus of
my presentation is how America and it leaders helped to foster peace. Attention is also paid to the
motives of each of the main participants in the peace process; not surprisingly, the main objective
for some was not always peace. I plan on giving enough background information to make the
listener comfortable with the events leading up to the signing of the Good Friday Peace Accords in
April of 1998.

Arner, Joseph N.; James Madison University, Department of History
THE RUINS OF REYKJAVIK
This presentation examines the October 1986 summit meeting at Reykjavik, Iceland between
Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. It discusses the setting and issues, which prompted the
necessity for a summit. The primary purpose is interpreting what actually occurred during the two
days of negotiations and the astounding offers that were put forth and eventually rejected. Finally,
the implications of the summit will demonstrate the role it took as a turning point in SovietAmerican
relations. The main sources used in researching are primary memoirs, U.S. government
documents: reports and treaties, speeches and recorded interviews.

Iovino, James P,: Virginia Tech,History
THE AMERICAN PERCEPTION AND RECONCILIATION OF THE FRANCOAMERICAN ALLIANCE
A possible alliance, whether military or economic, posed several problems to the United States
during the Revolution. In establishing an alliance with France, the Americans had to reconcile
several differences between the two nations. Much of this reconciliation depended on how different
factions in the United States perceived the alliance. There were three main responses in the United
States to the FrancoAmerican alliance. While ultimately each response arrived at much the same
perception and reconciliation, each had its own unique framework in which to arrive at that
conclusion. These three responses were that of the politians, the clergy, and the press in America.
The perception of each of these groups was that American independence was the primary goal of
the Revolution, and that this goal justified any and all alliances and diplomatic maneuvers. These
groups successfully reconciled both the monarchy and Catholicism of France within the context of
the ideals of the American Revolution. Consequently, British tyranny became associated with
Catholic"Popery," while the monarchical King of France became associated with the defense of
liberty and natural rights.

Spero, Patrick: James Madison University, Department of History
TYRANNY, OPPRESSION AND THE PAXTON BOYS' REBELLION: A PROLOGUE TO THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The serenity of the Pennsylvanian winter exploded in 1763 when a band of frontiersettlers
from the backcountry towns of Pennsylvania raided an Indian camp in Lancaster County. This marked
the beginning of the Paxton Boy's Rebellion. The examination of the ensuing "pamphlet war"
reveals its underlying catalyst. The rebels' cause rested on their underrepresentation
in the state Assembly. This sense of underrepresentation fostered a series of frontier grievances that
manifested itself in this rebellion. The rhetoric of the proPaxton pamphlets repeatedly attempts to
justify the rebels' actions by faulting the oppressive state government. The frontiersettlers' view of
the state government as tyrannical produced a strong regional divide in Pennsylvania. The frontier
was composed of an entirely different people, with an entirely different outlook on life, but they
were governed by a disparate body unwilling to listen to the complaints of the frontiersmen. This
revolt and consequent rhetoric draw a parallel to the American Revolution. The frontiersmen's cries
for representation resemble the familiar phrase from the Revolution, "No taxation without
representation." The frontiersmen, like the revolutionaries, felt separated and isolated from their
government and this isolation was furthered by their inability to express themselves in the policy
making body. The underlying the cause of the Paxton Boys' Rebellion and the American
Revolution was the oppression the underrepresented inhabitants felt by a tyrannical government.
It was this tyranny that fostered their grievances, and forced their revolt. In this sense, the Paxton
Boys' Rebellion and the rhetoric used to justify their actions serve as a prologue to the Revolution.

Baird, Lauren N; Davidson College; English
NATIVE RESONANCE: THE RESTIVE VOCABULARY OF LOUISE ERDRICH'S LOVE MEDICINE
Conversations in the ancient Native American idiom remain hidden or unfinished in Louise
Erdrich's Love Medicine, and the essence of the novel inhabits these sequestered moments. This
paper presents a reading of the work that explores its narrative infrastructure for native sounds.
The inability of an American industrial and urban vernacular to communicate the nuances of tribal
expression obliges another option; June Kashpaw and Lulu Lamartine in particular evince the
strength of this alternate venue. Lulu's voice relies on modern words but employs the images and
impulses of the elusive native language: names wield a manifest power, and she seeks narrative
asylum in untranslated Chippewa asides. The quiet inflections of June's old and careful dialect
subdue the cacophony of the tribe's contemporary predicament, and the images she invokes are
metaphors for the entire novel. Water functions throughout as a symbol and sound of the culture's
peculiar argot. By engaging the language of the past and its specific terminology, modern Indians
recreate its referents. In the American literary tradition, Emerson's discourse on the language of the
"universal soul" and Dickinson's attention to poetic diction prepare the reader to listen for this
linguistic substructure. However, the precedent cannot adequately catalogue Erdrich's native
resonance; the words immersed in tradition lap silently against the ethnic etymology of Love
Medicine.

Pugh, Elissa, M.; Sweet Briar College, English/Film
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: THE FEMALE AMERICAN ROAD TRIP
During the 1960's in America, the male road trip was sifted in terms of focus and purpose by the
female road trip. While men were searching for themselvs and exploring with a (usually) national
and American context, women were searching for identity with a/their family and within a
community of other women. During the growth of the women's revolution in the 1960's, the coming
of age of the female road trip is particularly relevant.

Chalk, Brian P.: JMU, English
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WORDS IN HAMLET
My paper seeks to elucidate Shakespeare's use of words in Hamlet by examining the signifance of
a specific stage direction. The stage direction "Enter Hamlet reading on a book" (2.2.167) typifies
Hamlet's tendency to ponder his predicament rather than act on it. The stage direction displays
Hamlet's preoccupation with books and words, and illustrates his inability to set his plan of revenge
into action.

Stark, Caroline G.: Sweet Briar College, Latin
AENEAS' DESCENT TO THE UNDERWORLD: BELIEFS OF THE AFTERLIFE
As part of my senior honors thesis, I will be exploring the concept of death and the afterlife during
the late first century, B.C. with special emphasis on Book VI of Vergil's Aeneid. For the Marcus
Conference, I would like to present work already done specifically on the influences in Book VI of
the Aeneid. In the Aeneid, Vergil combines many different beliefs of the afterlife to create his own
version of the underworld. Using elements from Homer's Odyssey and expanding his theory to
include elements of Orphism, Pythagoreanism, and Platonism, Vergil cleverly intertwines ideas of
metempsychosis along with issues of morality and justice to create a lasting impression of death
and the underworld. His vision of the afterlife has influenced the minds of writers and theologians
ever since, especially in Dante's Inferno where Vergil is his guide. Vergil's hero, Aeneas, conquers
"death" and obtains wisdom of the afterlife and the cyclical nature of the universe. Vergil
incorporates many of the mysteries of the various religious cults of his time along with virtue and a
sense of justice in the life after death, giving validity and incentive to this new government he is
supporting under Augustus.

Shusko, Christa M.: Sweet Briar College Department of Philosophy/Religion
ON HAVING NO HEAD: MADNESS AND MULTIPLE OTHERNESS
Assisted by a Sweet Briar Honors Summer Research Fellowship, I researched Western modern
and postmodern theories of the body, perceptions of madness, and ideas of "otherness." This
presentation offers a synthesis of these three topics. I argue that the "mad" are often perceived as
multiple Others. Perceptions of the insane as having no reason, or of having lost their reason,
places the "mad" in the same or a similar category as other persons characterized as Others who
are also thought to lack reason. Those persons lacking reason are, in Western society, traditionally
those who are identified with the body, as an exploration of the works of Rene Descartes and JeanJaques
Rousseau indicates. This perceived absence of reason is often attributed particularly women and those from "Other" cultures, i.e. nonEuropean. And so, with categories of madness and insanity also viewed as nonrational,
people from these "Other" groups can easily be perceived and presented by the dominant members of society as doubly irrational, or irrational for multiple reasons: thus a person may be identified by as an/Other Other.

Young, Robert A. III, Religion & Buddhist Studies: HampdenSydney College
THE PRACTICE OF ENGAGING REALIZATION: AN APPROACH TO SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF THE SIX PARAMETERS OF MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
Robert A. Young and Lowell Frye*
I designed a research project to investigate the relationship between meditation and social
engagement specifically focusing on Mahayana Buddhism and Zen practice. The method had two
components: academic research and experiential research. I already had solid academic
understanding from previous research on Engaged Buddhism. For my field research, I visited two
organizations: the Greystone Foundation founded by Tetsugen Glassman Roshi a mandala of forprofit
and notforprofit business offering jobs, housing, childcare and health services, and the San
Francisco Zen Center where I was a guest student. In the presented research, I discuss meditation
and social engagement through a twofold process. First, the practice of realization is explained
though the path of nonattachment outlined in the Six Paramitas. Second, the practice of engaging
realization is discussed using two questions, which allow for an investigation into the problems I
found arise when combining meditation and social engagement.

Jeremiah W. John, Political Science: HampdenSydney College
MAIMONIDES ROOTS OF THE DIVINE LAW AND THE POLITICALPHILOSOPHICAL CRISIS IN MEDIEVAL JUDAISM
John W. Jeremiah and Lowell Frye*
Without a state of their own since the beginning of the Christian era, medieval Judaism faced
politically dominant Christianity, but also a more theoretical challenge in Greek philosophy. Moses
Maimonides, a 12th century Jewish rabbi and physician, understood these challenges, and sought
to redefine Judaism through a reconciliation of his religion with Aristotle. In his Guide of the
Perplexed, he continues the Muslim tradition of formulating "roots," or fundamental principles of the
Law, and yet goes beyond the merely defensive purpose that the Muslim theologians employ. The
roots for Maimonides amount to an establishment of a truly "Jewish" view of political life, as well as
the truths by which man becomes perfected. Such perfection, like Maimonides' true science of the
Law, ultimately lies beyond politics.

Koss, Timothy A.: Washington and Lee University, Religion
ARISOTLE AND KANT: DIVERGENT VIEWS OF MORALITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
I spent this past summer working in the Religion Department for Professor Davis, who is currently
compiling a volume of essays on the theory of responsibility, including views from the Christian,
Greek, and modern philosophical traditions. I read and screened certain books pertaining to the
subject of responsibility, then wrote summaries of these books and discussed them with Professor
Davis. These books included Moral Judgement, by James Q. Wilson, The Question of German
Guilt, by Karl Jaspers, Doing and Deserving, by Joel Feinberg, and Moral Responsibility and the
Boundaries of Community, by Marion Smiley. In the last part of my R.E. Lee research work,
Professor Davis asked me to write a paper containing the views of responsibility found in Kant and
Aristotle, drawing upon my other readings to help me analyze their positions. In my paper, I
demonstrate that Aristotle grounds his theory of responsibility in the social and political realm, while
Kant says that responsibility is absolute duty to the categorical imperative under the guidance of
autonomy, or giving the absolute moral law to the self. While both views have good points,
Aristotle's willingness to consult the community allows him to speak about moral dilemmas in ways
that Kant cannot.

Romaniuk, Yulia V.: Roanoke College, Mathematics/Art
THE GOLDEN RATIO: ARCHITECTURE, ART, AND OUR PERCEPTIONS OF BEAUTY
The Golden Ratio is a unique mathematical ratio that can be frequently encountered in nature. The
Ancient Greeks considered the ratio to be the ideal proportion and used it when designing
sculpture and architecture. Following the example of the Ancient Greeks, artists and architects
throughout history used the Golden Ration in their compositions in an attempt to make their works
perfect. Scientists have discovered that the Golden Ratio is the most pleasing proportion to the
human eye. Moreover, the Golden Ratio is found in several areas of mathematics, such as
logarithms and matrices. My goals for the Summer Scholar research are to study mathematical
theories and applications that involve the Golden Ratio, to trace its use by painters, sculptors and
architects, and to conclude with an experiment aimed at supporting the notion that the Golden
Ratio creates proportions most pleasing to the human eye. I will explore how ancient and modern
mathematical theories and artistic traditions are present in our everyday life. This project is unique
and interesting because it brings several areas that may seem unconnected at first sight:
mathematics, art, and our perception of beauty.

Psychology
Bobb, Susan C.; Sweet Briar College, Department of Psychology
INTERPERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN SUCCESS OF TASK COMPLETION
Occupational therapy trends advocate increased therapistclient interaction to enhance client
recovery. Based on this tendency, the following two experiments hypothesized that increasing
interaction between experimenter and participant should increase improvement on an assigned
task. In Study 1, the task consisted of tossing pennies. 37 participants were chosen from a
women's liberal arts college, and were randomly distributed into one of three levels of interaction:
limited interaction in which participants performed the task alone; physical interaction in which the
experimenter was present during the sessions with limited verbal interaction; and emotional
interaction in which the experimenter was present and established an emotional rapport with the
participants. There were no significant main effects. Significance was found for perceived difficulty
of task, in which the physical interaction group found the task most difficult. An overall positive
attitude towards the task was also found significant. Mean trends support the original hypothesis.
Study 2 incorporated the design of Study 1. However, performance was measured using a block
assembly task. 26 participants were chosen from the same women's liberal arts college, and were
randomly distributed into the same three levels of interaction which had been slightly modified.
Results showed no significant main effects. Significance was found for perceived influence of
practice and of experimenter on performance. Overall feelings of participants decreased from
session 1 to session 2. Mean trends support the original hypothesis.

Pruitt Jennifer C.: Lynchburg College Department of, Psychology
CAFFEINE SELECTIVELY DISRUPTS CONTEXTUAL FEAR CONDITIONING IN RATS.
Pruitt , Jennifer C. and Corodimas , Keith P.*
The present study was undertaken to determine whether caffeine influences emotional learning to
spatial (conditioning context) and nonspatial stimuli (tone). A classical fear conditioning paradigm
was used to examine the effect of caffeine on the acquisition of context conditioning, a
hippocampaldependent associative task, and tone conditioning, a hippocampalindependent
task. In the first experiment, acute administration of caffeine 15minutes before the presentation often
toneshock pairings severely disrupted the acquisition of context conditioning, but had no effect on
tone conditioning, when conditioned fear was measured in rats 24 h later. This effect was dosedependent:
a dose of 10.0 mg/kg had no effect on either context or tone conditioning, whereas
doses of 20.0 and 30.0 mg/kg selectively disrupted context conditioning. Experiment 2 indicated
that caffeine's preferential effect on context conditioning could not be attributed to statedependent
learning. Experiment 3 examined the effects of chronic caffeine administration on emotional
learning. Continuous exposure to caffeine (3 doses) for 7days had no effect on the acquisition of
context or tone conditioning. Together, these findings indicate that acute administration of caffeine
severely disrupts, in a dosedependent fashion, fear learning to contextual spatial cues, while
sparing fear learning to discrete nonspatial cues (tone).

Bellan, Melissa J.: Sweet Briar College Department of Psychology
INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE: DOES THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIME EFFECT HOW EVIDENCE IS HANDLED?
The present research attempts to discover the effects that inadmissible evidence and crime
severity have on case outcomes. The method for studying these effects involved two studies, one a
pilot study and the second a slight modification to the scenarios used in the pilot study. For both
studies, a 2x3 (severity x evidence type) factorial design was utilized. It was hypothesized that the
manipulation of severity (victim or no victim) and evidence type (admissible, inadmissible, or no
additional evidence) would have effects on juror decisions. An overall result in the pilot study was
the unexpected lack of guilty verdicts across all conditions. In study two more incriminating
evidence was added to the scenarios in an effort to increase the number of guilty verdicts. This
modification did increase the number of guilty verdicts, but the change was not significant.
Statistical analysis did not reveal significant findings, but further analysis of both studies did reveal
important trends. Results demonstrate a trend toward more guilty verdicts in the severe (with
victim) conditions, as predicted. Means for each evidence category showed a trend toward more
confident results in the admissible and inadmissible evidence conditions than the no additional
evidence conditions, as predicted. The percentage of guilty verdicts also revealed a trend toward
more guilty verdicts when any additional evidence was introduced, than when no additional
evidence was presented.

Collinson, Ellen, M; James Madison University, Department of Pyschology
THE ROLE OF SPIRITUALITY/RELIGION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN COPING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESSES
A recent Gallup Poll (1999) found that 95% of Americans say that they believe in God, 58% say
that religion is very important in their lives, and 71% say they are members of a church or
synagogue. The number of Americans claiming to have a belief in God or placing a high
importance on religion according to the Gallup Poll suggests that spirituality/religion may play a
significant role in coping with serious life threatening illnesses. In addition to spiritual/religious
beliefs, social support has been identified as a primary resource for individuals coping with life
threatening illnesses. The purpose of this research was to create a proposal for a protocol at the
National Institutes of Health, Warren Grant Magnusum, Clinical Center. The studies presented in
this proposal indicate that spirituality/religious beliefs and social support do play a role in coping
with serious illnesses. It is in facing life threatening illnesses that people reassess how it is that
they have defined themselves and their worth in this world and they are forced to come to a new
understanding of their being and purpose. These studies attest that patients using spiritual/religious
methods of coping and those patients with high levels of social support cope better with major
stress events than those who lack the comfort of a strong faith or social support. The proposed
protocol will determine the importance of spirituality/religion and social support in coping with
serious illnesses.

Sociology
Flood,Sarah M.: Randolph Macon College, Sociology
A SUPPORT GROUP FOR TEENAGE MOTHERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE FAMILY FORM: A CASE STUDY
My research seeks to examine the effectiveness of support groups for teenage mothers and
mothers to be as "alternative familial arrangements." I am especially interested in not only how the
immediate family copes or fails to cope with a birth to a teenager, but in how "substitute" or
"surrogate" family members play a role. I conducted an ethnographic analysis of aprogram
designed to provide educational, emotional, and social support for teenage mothers and mothers to
be. In conjunction with my observations of support group meetings, I distributed surveys to
program participants addressing their family situations and future plans. My analysis indicates that
this support group operates as a functional alternative to the family, a finding that has relevance for
the development and maintenance of alternative familial arrangements. My research indicates that
familial diversity is an empirical reality that calls for the acknowledgement of such diversity and the
possibility of system change to accommodate and enhance familial alternatives.

Murray Jessica: Wake Forest University, Department of Applied Anthropology
THE MEXICAN EXPERIENCE: AN EXPLORATION OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANT HEALTH IN NEW YORK CITY
Jessica Murray & Steven Folmar*
This paper describes the unique set of challenges Mexican immigrants face in accessing health
care. I studied Mexican immigrants in New York City, a recent immigrant population and distinct
ethnic group characterized by strong ties to their culture and family. Any ethnic group displaced
into a foreign culture will experience barriers in accessing health care. My research focused on
identifying these barriers and posing responsible and plausible solutions to overcome them. This project was facilitated by CrossCultural Affairs of the New York City Department of Health, and Wake Forest University. Through a thorough literature review and indepth interviews with community healthcare and advocacy providers, the following issues were addressed to determine these barriers: Mexican traditional health beliefs, cultural conditions that affect health, the medical encounter, and the current health problems of Mexicans in the United States. My research concluded that three major barriers preventing Mexican patients from receiving adequate care in New York City include intimidation and lack of trust of the system, different cultural
conceptions of health form the provider, and communication difficulties. Solutions lie in a negotiation of cultural understanding between the provider and patient.