2003 Conference Abstracts

Anthropology/Sociology

KARLI BROOKS SAKAS: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
SOME PRELIMINARY INSIGHTS ON KAZAKH CULTURE: A WORK IN PROGRESS
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstanis strove to establisha cultural past separate from Russia's and consistent with their region'sstrong pastoral nomadic tradition. To gauge the popularity and potentiallongevity of the new national identity, I observed the attitudes ofthree different ethnic and age groups of present-day Kazakh citizenstoward modern-day pastoralists in the Asi Valley of Kazakhstan. Thesegroups were comprised of an ethnically Kazakh mother and daughter pairwho had lived in the capital city most of their lives, a group of ethnicallyRussian high school aged students, and the pastoral nomads themselves.

MANDY WILLIAMS: NEUMANN COLLEGE
TRANSFORMING POSSIBLE GAINS INTO DEADLY LOSSES: FEMALE ATHLETES ANDTHE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD
As a society we are fostering and even encouraging an atmosphere thatis driving a cycle of disordered eating patterns and psychological issuesin the female athlete population. Hobart and Smucker have defined theFemale Athlete Triad as "a combination of three interrelated conditionsthat are associated with athletic training: disordered eating, amenorrhea,and osteoporosis." The current societal perception of the "ideal body"is the driving force behind the epidemic proportions of disordered eatingbehaviors among the female athlete population.

LEONARD TENGCO: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
THE MYTH OF THE MODEL MINORITY: AN ECONOMIC DECONSTRUCTION OF ASIANPACIFIC AMERICAN GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES
As diverse and rapidly changing as the society we live in, Asian PacificAmericans (APAs) do not conform to any single description. Despite this,there continues to be the growing stereotype of the "model minority"myth associated with APAs, which maintains the belief that Asian PacificAmericans have "made it" in society. An economic analysis of the mostrecent study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that AsianPacific Americans earn a higher income than any other racial minoritygroups, and are more likely to earn a high school, undergraduate, andgraduate diploma than any other racial category. But further analysisreveals a bimodal distribution in both disposable income and educationamong APA groups. The categorization of APAs under the umbrella term,"Asian Pacific American," inherently masks the microlevel economic differentiationamong specific APA groups.

Archaeology

JONATHAN HENRIQUES: VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF COLONIAL CULTURAL INTERACTIONS AT THE RICECENTER, CHARLES CITY COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Recent archaeology at the Rice Center has reveled intriguing clues asto the early colonial history of the property. This paper describesrecent archaeological investigations conducted at the site and discusseswhat the site has revealed and may yet reveal about European and NativeAmerican contact on the Virginia frontier in the 17th-century. Thesevery different cultures experienced significant opposition in economicpractice, social organization, and ideology, the details of which arevisible within the archaeological record.

TONY BRADLEY: VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
NATIVE AMERICAN SETTLEMENT AT THE RICE CENTER, CHARLES CITY COUNTY,VIRGINIA
The archaeological record of pre-historic Virginia reveals a significantNative American presence not only within the coastal plains, but alsoalong the banks of major waterways. Sedentary settlements in Virginiamay date as early as the Late Archaic Period (3000 BCE) and perhapssooner. The Rice Center is situated in close proximity to identifiedsites falling within this period. It was not uncommon for settlementsto be in relatively close proximity to each other on both sides of awaterway such as the James River, and excavation at the site has reveledevidence of a possible Native American settlement.

RICK GARRIGAN: VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
A CASE STUDY OF PUBLIC INTERPRETATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE: THERICE CENTER, CHARLES CITY COUNTY, VIRGINIA
The James River has always been an important travel and trade route.Recent research at the Rice Center has disclosed river-centered communitiesdating back thousands of years. This paper will discuss the role ofarchaeology in helping to create unique educational and research opportunitiesfor the communities using the site today. The importance of preservationof the site, public interpretation of its history, and education basedupon the site will be focused upon, as will specific programs for accomplishingthese aims with a variety of audiences.

JESSICA GARBER: VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
THE ROLE OF THE LIFE SCIENCES IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS: THERICE CENTER, CHARLES CITY COUNTY, VIRGINIA
The long history of the Rice Center is now being investigated by a multidisciplinaryteam of faculty and students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Thispaper will discuss the specific contributions of scholars in the LifeSciences, looking at the work of chemists, biologists, ecologists, environmentalscientists, geologists, and information technology specialists.

JOLENE UPDIKE: VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
ARCHAEOLOGY OF CIVIL WAR EARTHWORKS AT THE RICE CENTER, CHARLES CITYCOUNTY, VIRGINIA
Archaeological research at the Rice Center has focused in part on theidentification of artifacts and features associated with the 1862 encampment100,000 Union soldiers under the command of Gen. George McClellan. Whilethe body of the encampment likely lies beyond the boundaries of theproperty, visible, well-preserved earthworks on Rice Center propertysignal a significant presence. This paper will discuss the historicaland archaeological traces of the lives and community of the soldiersliving and working in this encampment.

MEGAN E. EDWARDS: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT BOSTON
REU IN BIOARCHAEOLOGY AT SYLVESTER MANOR: FAUNAL ANALYSIS OF DEPOSITIONAND TAPHONOMY
In the summer of 2003, as in no previous Sylvester Manor field season,students in a newly instituted REU in Bioarchaeology found themselvespulling a massive amount of faunal material from the ground. Concentratedlargely within a few intersecting features, the question arose: to whatend could all this data be used in getting a handle on the formationand function of these features? Using a variety of Zooarchaeologicaltechniques, an attempt was made to learn something of formation process,teasing out depositional patterns and preservation issues that mustbe addressed before higher-end speculations can be made as to humanactivity and cultural land use on a 17th century provisioning plantation.

Art History

SARAH POWELL: THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY
MARY CASSATT: MODERN WOMAN PAINTER, PAINTER OF MODERN WOMEN
More than any other artist (male or female) in the modern era, MaryCassatt portrayed the lives of women with unquestionable regard andadmiration, celebrating their day-to-day activities in the home, withtheir peers and their children as abundant, beneficial, and richly gratifying.Instead of characterizing the home as an oppressive space for women,Cassatt distinguished it as a region of personal avocation, productivelabor, and actualization of the self. Her art is a celebration ratherthan a condemnation of the private world of modern women. Feminism hadbecome a powerful political force for social change, as is reflectedin the artwork of Mary Cassatt, in which the artist dealt with someof the most significant issues of her time, particularly the reconstitutionof a culture.

Biology/Biochemistry/Chemistry

AMANDAA K. BOSTICK: ROANOKE COLLEGE
DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRIC RATIO OF ZINC TO 8-HYDROXYQUINOLINE INA COMPLEX
CO-AUTHOR: DR. JACK K. STEEHLER
The concepts and experimental techniques of fluorescence were used todevelop a stoichiometric experiment suitable for first semester generalchemistry students. The stoichiometric ratio of a metal ligand complex(zinc and 8-hydroxyquinoline) was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy.Two procedures were developed: One involving the addition of variousvolumes of zinc to a fixed volume of 8-hydroxyquinoline and the otherinvolving the addition of various volumes of 8-hydroxyquinoline to afixed volume of zinc. The results of both experiments were comparedand a stoichiometric ratio of ligand to metal was determined.

RYAN CLEMENS: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
THE APPLICATION OF 4-SUBSTITUTEDPHENYL VINAMIDINIUM SALTS TO THE SYNTHESISOF 2,4-DISUBSTITUTED THIOPHENES
Vinamidinium salts are suitable reagents for the synthesis of many heterocycles.One heterocycle yet to be prepared from vinamidinium salts is thiophene.Many thiophene compounds are key intermediates to a wide variety ofsynthetic targets ranging from biologically active molecules to liquidcrystals and conducting polymers. A variety of 4-substituted phenylvinamidinium salts were prepared and allowed to react with methyl thioglycolateto produce 2,4-disubstituted thiophenes in moderate to high yields.

KIMBERLY ANNE WILSON: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL ANTI CANCER DRUG: X-RAY ANALYSISOF [PT(5,6-DIONE-1,10-PHENANTHROLINE)CL2]
CO-AUTHOR: EMMA KATE PAYNE
The compound [Pt(5,6-dione-1,10-phenanthroline)Cl2] (henceforth Pt-dione)has been shown to be cyto-toxic towards a variety of human cancer cells.Furthermore, it has proven to be a useful starting point for the synthesisof a large number of other cyto-toxic molecules. We present the synthesisand characterization of Pt-dione. FT-IR, NMR, UV-vis and X-ray dataare presented.

COLLEEN WALL: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
SYNTHESIS OF PYRAZOLES USING A 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENYL VINAMIDINIUMSALT
CO-AUTHOR: DR. WADE BELL
A new 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl vinamidinium salt was prepared by theVilsmeier reaction. This vinamidinium salt was allowed to react withvarious monosubstituted hydrazines to form pyrazoles. Several of thesepyrazoles were tested against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

STEFAN WIESE: HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
SYNTHESIS OF INTERMEDIATES FOR A SOLID PHASE BAYLIS-HILLMAN CATALYST
CO-AUTHOR: DR. PAUL H. MUELLER
Work toward the synthesis of a new solid-state, asymmetric catalystfor the Baylis-Hillman reaction was carried out. (The Baylis-Hillmanreaction is a useful reaction for carbon-carbon bond formations.) Theultimate goal of this project was to covalently bond a small molecularentity, the actual catalyst (3-(hydroxy(phenyl)methyl)-5-azabicyclo[3.30]octane),to a large polymer-bead solid support. The final product should providea robust catalyst. The solid-state character of the catalyst shouldsimplify the separation of the catalyst from the products of the Baylis-Hillmanreaction and make the catalyst reusable. Several intermediates in thissynthesis were prepared.

MOLLY C. EVERNGAM, NAUSHEENA BAIG, JAIME L. HEIMBEGNER: SWEET BRIARCOLLEGE
SYNTHESIS OF 3-BENZYLIDENEPHTHALIDE ANALOGS
CO-AUTHOR: DR. JOHN J. BECK
(Z)-Ligustilide, a bioactive component of several medicinal herbs ofLigusticum species, contains an electrophilic site that is purportedto be responsible for the molecule's bioactivity. This reactivity hasprompted the investigation of 3-benzylidenephthalide, a simpler versionof (Z)-ligustilide. Successful bioactivity testing of 3-benzylidenephthalidehas led to structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of an entirefamily of benzylidene analogs in an effort to improve the bioactivityof this class of compounds. The results of the syntheses of these compoundswill be reported.

SANDY K. HAN: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
ORGANO-SILICATE NANCOMPOSITES FOR THE REMOVAL OF 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOLFROM AQUEOUS MEDIA
CO-AUTHORS: VALERIE JOHANSEN, BRIAN BISHOP AND DR. TAREK ABDEL-FATTAHDichlorophenol's (DCPs) are organic pollutants that are used for disinfectants,herbicides, chlorination of water, and anitiseptics. Continuous contactto DCP results in kidney and liver damage. The purpose of this experimentis to study the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) from aqueous solutionsby using several nanocomposite materials as adsorbents such as MCM-41,MCM-48, MCM-50, and HMS. DCP concentrations were determined using aHelios UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 284.4nm. Concentrations were calculatedusing a standard curve derived from spectrophotometry analysis of known2,4-DCP concentrations. As temperature increased, an increased amountof DCP was adsorbed when using MCM-41; however, the absorption observedwith the MCM-50 was basically independent from the temperature, andMCM-48 and HMS absorbed less DCP as temperature increased. All absorbentssuccessfully removed DCP over 90 percent.

SETH R. BRUNNER: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
6- ALKYLSALICYLIC ACIDS FROM AN ANT IN THE GENUS CREMATOGASTER
CO-AUTHORS: DR. T. H. JONES, VMI; D. W. DAVIDSON, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
The chemical defenses of ants in the world-wide genus Crematogasterhave been studied for many years. Many species in this genus producean array of unsaturated aldehydes and ketones that serve as electrophiliccontact poisons in their venom glands. Other species produce furanocembranediterpenes in their Dufour's glands as defensive chemicals, and stillother species (cf. C. diformis) produce alkyl phenols and resorcinolsin their metaplural glands. The elucidation and synthesis of a set of6-alkylsalicylic acids from a related species collected in Brunei willbe described. These compounds are lower homologs of the well known andhighly active anacardic acids.

KATHLEEN MARIE WILSON: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
ANALYSIS OF THE MICRONUTRIENTS COPPER AND ZINC IN A COMMERCIAL ORCHARDAND VINEYARD BY ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
Each year commercial farms spend thousands of dollars on fertilizersto increase production so the value of the data collected in this labis easy for the students to appreciate and the monitoring of micronutrientson the lands of a local commercial agricultural site can be an ongoinglongitudinal study, thus allowing the introduction of these sort ofstudies to undergraduate students. Additionally, this lab is easilyadaptable to many laboratory environments due to the fact that thereare 6 micro-nutrient and 3 macro-nutrient elements that can be identifiedby AAS. So it is likely that a suitable lamp is already on hand to beginadapting this lab to local laboratory conditions. Funded by an NSF-CCLIgrant Award Number DUE-0126982.

JONATHAN COX: HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
POSSIBLE IN VITRO METABOLISM OF DANTHRON
CO-AUTHOR: DR. H. J. SIPE
Cassia senna is an herb that is currently being used as an active ingredientin laxatives. The structure of senna is very similar to that of danthron.The senna glycosides are very likely to hydrolyze in the gastrointestinaltract to release danthron. The literature oxygen consumption and ESRspectroscopy experiments were performed on danthron to compare the resultswith those from experiments with phenolphthalein. The results of danthronstudies were inconclusive. The oxygen consumption experiments were notreproducible, but there are signs that indicate that oxygen is beingconsumed in the danthron system. The ESR spectroscopy experiments showedno sign of the formation of free radicals in the danthron system, butwould not have been able to detect short-lived species.

MICHAEL D. WOLTER: ROANOKE COLLEGE
THE SYNTHESIS, PURIFICATION, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SEVERAL HIGHLY-FLUORINATED1,1'-BIS(TETRAFLUOROPYRIDYL)FERROCENE DERIVATIVES
CO-AUTHORS: DR. PAUL DECK AND DR. W. GARY HOLLIS, JR.
The purpose of this research was to synthesize and purify several highly-fluorinatedferrocene derivatives and characterize each by solubility characteristicsin organic and fluorous solvents. 1,1'-Bis(tetrafluoropyridyl)ferrocenewas synthesized from pentafluoropyridine, sodium cyclopentadienide,and iron(II) bromide followed by purification with alumina filtrationand recrystallization. Alkoxy derivatives of 1,1'-bis(tetrafluoropyridyl)ferrocenewere synthesized using this starting material and perfluorinated alcohols.The alcohols added to four positions on the starting material; all positionswere ortho to the nitrogens on the pyridine rings. The alkoxy derivativeswere purified by recrystallization. 1H and 19F NMR were used to characterizethe compounds. X-ray crystallography was used to characterize one ofthe derivatives. Partition coefficients between toluene and perfluoromethylcyclohexanewere determined for the compounds using UV/visible spectroscopy.

ANA CIRIC: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
ISOTOPIC LABELING STUDY OF A VIABLE HOMOGENEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE REDUCTIONCATALYST: THE FORMATION OF COMPLEX MOLECULES USING CO2 AS THE CARBONSOURCE
CO-AUTHOR: NICOLE CROWDER
The first electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide resulting inthe formation of multiple carbon-carbon bonds has been accomplishedin our labs. Simple products such as oxylate as well as a variety oflarger products such as benzoic acid derivatives, phthalic acid derivatives,large alcohols and ketones have been observed by GC/MS analysis andpositively identified. Furthermore, carbon dioxide has been confirmedas the carbon source by use of 13CO2 and 13C-NMR. The catalyst is apalladium based polymer and has multiple active sites thus allowingfor the simultaneous reductions of multiple carbon dioxide molecules.The experimental design and the x-ray structure of the catalyst arepresented.

MEGAN C. VIA: ROANOKE COLLEGE
FIELD TEST FOR IDENTIFYING O-CHLOROBENZALMALONITRILE (CS TEAR GAS) ANDOMEGA-CHLOROACETOPHENONE (CN TEAR GAS) AND MACE BRAND DEFENSE SPRAY
Tear gases are largely used by law enforcement personnel as a riot controldevice. In cases dealing with improper use, it is important to knowwhich tear gas was used in order to use as evidence in a court of law.To date, there have been no field tests developed to identify the chemicalused in an assault of this sort. In this research, a field test wasdevised which could be used by medical or law enforcement personnelto screen for the presence of o-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS tear gas),omega-chloracetophenone (CN tear gas), and Mace brand Triple Actiondefense spray. In addition to the field test, a proper collection methodwas devised and a primary instrument for laboratory analysis was found.

KATHRYN DAVIS: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
PURIFICATION OF MODIFIED AND UNMODIFIED OLIGONUCLEOTIDES
Oligonucleotides, short strands of DNA or RNA, can be synthesized chemicallyin the lab. Oligonucleotides have been tested as antisense drugs, andhave been shown to regulate the expression of disease. The mechanismsof antisense drugs have been studied, but there is still a questionas to which mechanism these drugs use. Modifications to the DNA oligonucleotideshelp these potential drugs to last longer in the cell. For these reasons,it is important to make oligonucleotides more cost effective so thatwe can better understand their mechanisms. My honors summer researchproject was focused on increasing the efficiency of the purificationstep in the production of monothiophosphate DNA in comparison to non-modifiedoligonucleotides of the same and different sequences.

MATTHEW POFERL: ROANOKE COLLEGE
THE DETERMINATION OF THE PARTITION COEFFICIENTS OF SEVERAL HIGHLY-FLUORINATED,ALKOXYSUBSTITUTED BISARYLFERROCENE DERIVATIVES
CO-AUTHORS: DR. GARY HOLLIS, DR. PAUL DECK
The preparation of seven fluorinated derivates of ferrocene was accomplishedin order to determine their partition coefficients between two solventenvironments, one fluorous and one organic. Between toluene and perfluoromethylcyclohexane,the partition coefficients, Concentration Perfluoromethylcyclohexane/ConcentrationToluene, were found to be 0.0539 for 1,1'-bis(2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-1-butoxytetrafluorophenyl)ferrocene(3), 0.3676 for 1,1'-bis(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,7-tridecafluoro-1-heptoxytetrafluorophenyl)ferrocene(4), 0.8191 for 1,1'-bis(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-pentadecafluoro-1-octoxytetrafluorophenyl)ferrocene(5), 1.1384 for 1,1'-bis(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,9-heptadecafluoro-1-nonoxytetrafluorophenyl)ferrocene (6), 2.0962 for 1,1bis(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-nonadecafluoro-1-decoxytetrafluorophenyl) ferrocene (7), and 1.6752for 1,1'-bis(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6, 7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,11 -heneicosafluoro-1-undecoxytetrafluorophenyl)ferrocene(8) by Ultraviolet/Visible Spectrophotometry.

ADRIA G. MANNON: ROANOKE COLLEGE
DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF CAPSAICIN: A FIELD TEST, COLLECTION METHOD,AND LAB TECHNIQUE
Prior to this research project, no tests were available to distinguishamong and identify certain incapacitant sprays, specifically pepperspray. A method was developed to collect and easily test a sample ofincapacitant spray used on a person for the presence of capsaicin, theactive ingredient used in pepper spray. A small kit was devised thatwould contain the chemicals needed to perform specific color tests,through which preliminary identifications can be made. Once collected,the sample can be transported to a lab and tested more definitivelyusing gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. After being verified, thisevidence of the use of pepper spray could be used to secure an indictment.

TINH NGUYEN: MARY WASHINGTON COLLEGE
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SELF-ASSEMBLY OF MIXED ORGANIC MONOLAYERSUSING SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY
CO-AUTHOR: DR. LEANNA C. GIANCARLO
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) is an indispensable tool for obtaininginformation on the packing order of molecular adsorbates on surfaces.Although STM has been used to probe a rapidly growing list of organicmaterials on surfaces, the mechanism of their 2-D assembly is stillunder debate. It is thus of great theoretical and experimental interestto identify the factors that control the organization of these weaklybound systems. In this project, the self-assembly of organic mixtures(octadecanoic acid and tetracosanoic acid in phenyloctane) physisorbedon graphite was investigated. From the STM images, it can be seen thatmolecular adsorption is driven by the complex interactions between surface-moleculeand molecule-molecule. Longer chain molecules were noted to adsorb preferentiallydue to higher heats of adsorption, resulting in a greater affinity forthe graphite surface.

VALERIE L. JOHANSEN: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
ISOTHERM STUDY OF SURFACTANT MODIFIED ADSORBENTS FOR REMOVAL OF 2, 4-DICHLOROPHENOLFROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CO-AUTHORS: SANDY K. HAN AND DR. TAREK ABDEL-FATTAH
Dichlorophenols (DCP) are used mainly in wood preservation treatmentsas well as in the production of herbicides and antiseptics. The focusof the study is primarily on the amount of adsorbent needed to removethe maximum amount of DCP from solution. The adsorbents used includesynthetic molecular sieves, 5A and 13X, naturally occurring zeolites,Clinoptilolite and Chabazite, as well as activated carbon, aluminumoxide and silica gel. Each adsorbent was modified with dodecylamine(DDA) surfactant to increase adsorbent capabilities. The modified activatedcarbon was needed in the least amount of all the adsorbents for maximum2,4-DCP removal, which was almost 100% after 48 hours. Approximately2.0g of Chabazite, 5A, 13X, and aluminum oxide was required for maximumremoval, with Chabazite removing the most, 75%. There were no pointsof maximum 2,4-DCP removal for Clinoptilolite and silica gel, and bothof these materials were able to remove nearly 50% of the 2,4-DCP after48 hours.

HEATHER J. BROWN: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
MAGNESIUM-DEPENDENT DANTROLENE TOXICITY IN PARAMECIUM TETRAURELIA
CO-AUTHOR: DR. WADE BELL
Paramecium tetraurelia are unicellular eukaryotes with excitable ciliatedmembranes that function partly based on calcium regulation within thecell. Because caffeine stimulation of Paramecium results in an increasein intracellular calcium concentration, it is possible that a calciumchannel similar to the ryanodine receptors found in skeletal musclemay be involved in calcium mobilization. We examine the effects of theryanodine receptor antagonist, dantrolene, on Paramecium tetraurelia.When magnesium was not present in the buffer, dantrolene toxicity wasabolished. It is possible that magnesium amplifies the effect of dantroleneon ryanodine-like receptors in Paramecium resulting in toxicity. Alsoof interest is the lack of protection from dantrolene-mediated toxicityin the mutant eccentric. Lastly, initial experiments indicate that dantrolenedoes not affect the ability of caffeine to increase intracellular calciumlevels.

TSAI YANG-HSI: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
ANTIOXIDANT FROM CORTEX MOUTAN HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TREAT DISEASES WHICHINVOLVE THE APOPTOTIC PROCESS
Dietary intake of antioxidants is now believed to reduce the risk fromseveral chronic diseases believed to be caused by oxidative stress inducedby reactive oxygen species (ROS). Numerous traditional Chinese herbalmedicines have been proven to possess strong scavenging effects againstROS. Previous experiments using the ferric reducing antioxidant potential(FRAP) assay has confirmed that Cortex moutan, an herb used in Chinesetraditional medicine, possesses a high antioxidant potential. Currentstudies of the aqueous extracts on the Jurkat cells, in tissue culture,have shown that Cortex moutan is able to prevent the process of capthesinB induced apoptosis in these cells. These results indicate that a chemical(s)in the Cortex moutan extract might be significant in treating diseaseswhich involve the apoptotic process.

SEANA MCGUFFEY: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
CONTEXT DEPENDENT LEARNING USING AVERSIVE STIMULI IN EASTERN AND WESTERNHOGNOSE SNAKES (HETERODON PLATYRHINOS AND HETERODON NASICUS)
Pavlovian conditioning is one of the simplest ways in which organismsform associations between two stimuli- an arbitrary event, or conditionedstimulus (CS), and a biologically relevant even, or unconditioned stimulusUS). Contextual conditioning is a more specific form of Pavlovian conditioningthat uses environmental cues such as the CS paired with a biologicallyrelevant event. The capacity for snakes to learn was tested using Pavloviancontextual conditioning and a tactile stimulus to observe their anti-predatorbehaviors. There were ten conditioning trials and three test trialsin which both groups were given access to a grass and an asphalt context.Data analysis is ongoing, but preliminary results for latency to immobilityand immobility duration indicate that learning in snakes has occurredin the paired group.

JOSHUA FOX: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
AROMATASE INHIBITOR TREATMENT CAUSES SEVERE DEVELOPMENTAL AND NEUROLOGICALDEFECTS IN ZEBRAFISH EMBRYOS
The aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OH-A) is a steroidthat blocks conversion of testosterone into estradiol by binding irreversiblywith aromatase. These studies are aimed at determining its effects ondevelopment in zebrafish embryos by blocking estrogen production. Themost effective dose with minimal deaths was found to be 50 µM. When50 µM concentrations were used, the embryos still appeared healthy,but had heart rates nearly half that of the control group and had asignificant reduction in body length. Also, after 48 hours in 4-OH-Asolution at 50 µM, the embryos appeared nearly 24 hours behind the controlin development. Future studies will involve histological analysis of4-OH-A treated retinal and brain tissues and to also investigate itsrole in causing the spinal abnormalities observed.

MATTHEW CROWE PARK: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
CLOMIPHENE'S INHIBITION OF DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS ON ZEBRAFISH
Recent research has shown estrogen plays antioxidant, trophic, and neuroprotectiveroles in humans. In order to help understand its role in development,zebrafish were exposed to varying concentrations of clomiphene, a selectiveestrogen receptor modulator. Clomiphene blocks estrogen's ability tobind to its receptor, and therefore cannot influence zebrafish maturation.Clomiphene at 3.5 uM concentration caused a significant delay in neuralgrowth and retina development. Histological studies showing small andunderdeveloped retinas reinforced behavioral and morphological observations.Further studies are directed to determine if estrogen can rescue retinadegeneration caused by clomiphene. If this proves true, the findingscould help lead to a cure for retinopathies and other neurological diseases.

CHI PHAM: RANDOLPH-MACON WOMAN'S COLLEGE
AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR STUDYING THE ENZYME-CATALYZED OXIDATION OF GLUCOSEUSING LUMINESCENT PROBES
Kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions is an important topic being taughtand studied in chemistry at the undergraduate level. The purpose ofthis research was to develop a new technique for the investigation ofone of these reactions, specifically the oxidation of glucose by oxygenin the presence of glucose oxidase. By applying this new method usingluminescent complexes as probes, oxygen concentration may be determinedas a function of time during the reaction. The kinetic parameters calculatedusing this method were in good agreement with the accepted values. Thevalues for Km and kcat were 38 ± 5 mM, and 2.3 ± 0.5 µmol/min/mg enzyme,respectively.

JESSICA RAMSEY: SALEM COLLEGE
VARIOUS KARENIA BREVIS CLONES EXHIBIT CHEMOTAXIS
CO-AUTHORS: JESSICA RAMSEY, DANIEL KAMYKOWSKI, EDWARD J. MILLIGAN, BLAKESCHAEFFER, LAURIE MCKAY, AND GEOFF SINCLAIR
Ten clones of Karenia brevis, a harmful algal bloom species found throughoutthe Gulf of Mexico, were tested for chemotaxis. Chemotaxis, directionalmovement toward a chemical nutrient, was measured using microcapillariescontaining enriched media or filtered seawater. The microcapillarieswere suspended in a darkened box with one end submerged in a 96-wellplate containing K. brevis culture. A 30-minute incubation period allowedcells to swim up into the microcapillaries. The microcapillaries werethen emptied, and the cells that had migrated were counted using a CoulterMultisizer. The Jacksonville and Apalachicola clones displayed a statisticallysignificant preference for the enriched nutrient medium over unenrichedseawater. Characterization of chemotactic behavior in Karenia brevisprovides insight into how these unarmored dinoflagellates find and utilizenutrients in situ.

JARED D. HEFFRON: HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
ISOLATION AND COMPARISON OF ACTINOMYCETES FROM TWO DIFFERENT FORESTSOILS
Actinomycetes were isolated and cultivated from soils from a deciduousforest and a pine stand. Soil samples were taken from different strataand horizons in each stratum from each of the two sites. Data concerninglocation, moisture content, and pH of each sample were analyzed, andnumbers of bacteria present in each sample were determined using colonyforming units (CFUs) for each sample following serial dilution. Therewere no differences found by hypothesis of CFUs. However, the typesof colony growth and frequency of colony types was different betweenstrata. Analysis of actinomycete using CFU counts may be inadequateto accommodate the growth of the bacteria. Further research will includecompetition studies between isolated actinomycetes from different strataand different sites and other lab strains.

ELLENA BETHEA: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
NEUROANATOMICAL EFFECTS OF GENE MANIPULATION USING AAV IN KNOCKOUT MICECO-AUTHORS: DR. SONOKO OGAWA, DR. SERGEI MOUSSATOV, DR. DONALD W. PFAFF,ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
Estrogen receptors a and b have been found to play a role in regulatinghormone levels in various brain regions. While the two types of estrogenreceptors are distributed in some of the same brain regions, there arestill several regions in which their distribution fails to overlap.Previous research has shown that the activation of ER-b in knockoutmice inhibits aggression levels. In these experiments, estradiol wasreintroduced by way of adeno-associative virus ER-b. This project seeksin part to investigate the role of oxytocin, a hormone known to havean inhibitory effect on aggression, in estrogen receptor activationof the paraventricular nucleus and medial preoptic area of the micebrain. The presence of oxytocin was measured by reverse transcriptasePCR DNA amplification and immunostaining of bERKO, aERKO, mutant, andwild type brain samples.

KATHERINE KIRKWOOD: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
EMULSION SYNTHESIS OF LARGE POROUS PARTICLES FOR DRUG DELIVERY BY INHALATION
CO-AUTHORS: N. TSAPIS, E.R. DUFRESNE, AND D.A. WEITZ, HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Drug delivery by inhalation has the potential to greatly improve medicaltreatments. Large Porous Particles (LPPs) have useful physical propertiesfor inhalation because the immune system cannot easily target and eliminatethem. The formation of LPPs and the formation mechanism's dependenceon particle interactions and drying methods were studied using scanningelectron microscopy and confocal microscopy techniques; we show thatLPPs can easily be produced in an emulsion synthesis process.

 

KARISHMA RAMESH RAJANI: RANDOLPH-MACON WOMAN'S COLLEGE
THE DETERMINATION OF THE HEAT CAPACITIES OF LIQUIDS WITH THERMAL LENSCALORIMETRY
CO-AUTHORS: JAMIE R. BOYCE AND DR. KURT SEIDMAN
The application of thermal lens calorimetry to the determination ofthe heat capacities of liquids has been reported in the literature.The method is faster than the more traditional calorimetric techniques,but the accuracy was poor. This paper describes two different approachesthat could be used to calibrate the method: a "power" calibration anda "thermal bloom" calibration. The "power" calibration yields reproduciblesystematic errors that are more than likely a result of solvent-dyeinteractions. However, the "thermal bloom" calibration produces resultsthat rival those obtained with more traditional calorimetric methods.It has been observed that the slopes of the calibration lines obtainedwith the "thermal bloom" procedure are nearly constant with respectto dye concentration. This result, if borne out by further studies,has the potential to lead to considerable simplifications in the calibrationprocedure.

AMBER E. SOLIVAN: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
CONSTITUTIVELY ACTIVE AKT INDUCES CELL CYCLE ARREST IN PRIMARY HUMANFORESKIN KERATINOCYTES
CO-AUTHORS: BARRY R. THRASH, DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY/BIOPHYSICS,DENNIS J. MCCANCE, DEPARTMENT OF IMMUNOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY, UNIVERSITYOF ROCHESTER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY
Keratinocytes are the major cellular component of the stratified epitheliumwhich forms human skin. Following mitotic division, a single basal cellmoves upward out of the basal layer and exits cell cycle The cell progressesthrough four strata, reaching its most differentiated state in the cornifiedlayer. Throughout the differentiation process and movement through thestrata, cells receive various signals to induce different processesof the differentiation program. The regulatory mechanisms of these pathwaysare still unclear. One such pathway in keratinocyte differentiationis protein kinase B/Akt. Akt is a serine/threonine protein kinase thatis activated through phosphorylation at residue Thr308 by PDK1, andat Ser473 by an unknown kinase. This study focuses on cell proliferationexamining the effects of constitutively active Akt (myrAkt) on cyclingcells.

MARLENE PARISER: RADFORD UNIVERSITY AND VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
EFFECT OF INTRACEREBRO VENTRICULAR INJECTION OF UROCORTIN IN OBESE ANDANOREXIC MODELS
CO-AUTHORS: M. A. CLINE, A. Y. KUO, D. M. DENBOW, P. B. SIEGEL
The effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of urocotrinon feed intake in 12 male anorexic and 12 male obese chicken modelswas determined. Injections were made via a stainless steel guide cannulathat was surgically implanted into the right lateral ventricle of eachchicken. Feed intake was monitored at 15-min intervals through 180-minpostinjection. The i.c.v. injection of urocortin caused a linear decreasein feed intake in obese chickens from 45 to 60 min postinjection. Noresponse was observed in the anorexic model. These results suggest thaturocortin acts within the central nervous system of obese chickens todecrease feed intake.

MONIQUE BIRMIEL: RANDOLPH-MACON WOMAN'S COLLEGE
QUANTIFICATION OF ANTIOXIDANTS VIA THE FRAP ASSAY
Antioxidants, in today's health conscious society, have come to theforefront of our attention. Many nutritional supplements contain antioxidants,but as these supplements are not regulated, it is difficult to assessthe value of their claims regarding antioxidant strength. In this project,several different supplements were tested to determine the power ofthe water soluble antioxidants present in their pills. The ferric reducingantioxidant power (FRAP) assay was used to measure and compare the antioxidantor reducing power of each of the supplements. Our results indicatedthat vitamin C was the strongest antioxidant tested. Because supplementssold by many of these companies are not standardized, further studiesto quantify the differences between supplements need to be done.

Environmental Science

MARIE D. TRIPLETT: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
RESPONSE OF SOIL RESPIRATION TO TEMPERATURE IN PERMAFROST REGIONS OFTHE NORTHERN BOREAL FOREST IN ALBERTA, CANADA
CO-AUTHORS: WHITNEY CARROLL AND GARY WHITING
Due to global warming, permafrost regions in the high northern latitudeshave started to melt. Typically, soil respiration doubles for every10C increase in soil temperature. In this experiment, the effect oftemperature on soil respiration was determined. Soil samples were collectedfrom permafrost regions in the northern boreal forest of Alberta, Canada,placed in incubation jars, and incubated in increments of 10C between0 to 20C. A LiCor 6200 was used to measure the rate of respiration ineach jar. An Arrhenius equation was used to calculate Q10 values foreach soil type. Q10 values ranged from 1.346nmolCO2g-1h-1 to 5.872 nmolCO2g-1h-1for total soil. With increasing temperature, the CO2 emission may significantlyincrease due to the elevated respiration rates of the soil microbes.

WHITNEY CARROLL: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
REMOTE SENSING INDICES AND RELATIONSHIP TO METHANE AND CARBON DIOXIDEEXCHANGE IN MELTED PERMAFROST SITES OF NORTHERN ALBERTA, CANADA
CO-AUTHOR: DR. GARY WHITING
Permafrost in the high latitude region of the northern hemisphere maymelt in response to global warming and significantly alter how carbonis processed and stored in these regions. Once melting occurs, soilcan become saturated and affect the production and emission of methaneand carbon dioxide (very potent greenhouse gases) which can feedbackto promote more global warming. Remote sensing technology can potentiallybe used to detect these changes in carbon cycling by relating vegetationchanges affected by melting to reflectance indices. We related reflectancemeasured by hand-held radiometers to methane and carbon dioxide exchangesin the same melt plots. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)ranged from 0.55 to 0.86. Edge to middle NDVI differences parallel themethane and carbon dioxide exchanges for the same regions.

CHRISTY L. MICHAELS: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE BUFFALO RIVER WATERSHED, AMHERSTCOUNTY, VIRGINIA
CO-AUTHORS: JENNIFER D. BRAGG, CARRIE L. THOMAS, LEAH K. REEDY, DR.DAVID R. ORVOS
During the summers of 2002 and 2003 the water quality of the BuffaloRiver Watershed in Amherst County, VA was evaluated. Predominant landuse types in this watershed include deciduous forest, pasture and hay,mixed forest, and evergreen forest. Chemical and biological parameterswere tested including nitrogen, reactive phosphorous, total phosphorous,fecal and total coliforms, turbidity, and macroinvertebrate diversity.Mill Creek Lake, a drinking water reservoir for Amherst County and theSweet Briar community, exhibited high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous,fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli in the sub-watershed. A MicrosoftAccess database was developed to facilitate data analysis. Currentlythe database is being merged into the ESRI ArcGIS geographical informationsystem to allow more in-depth analysis.

JEREMIAH J. FREEMAN: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
POREWATER METHANE CONCENTRATIONS IN MELTED PERMAFROST ZONES IN NORTHERNALBERTA, CANADA
CO-AUTHORS: MICHAEL HARRISON, WHITNEY CARROLL, MARIE TRIPLETT, GARYWHITING
Permafrost zones in northern Alberta show little, if any, methane emission,a greenhouse gas. However, as the permafrost begins to melt, methaneproduction increases in the saturated peat leading 100 to 200 timesgreater methane emissions. Measuring porewater methane concentrationthroughout the melted permafrost (edge, halfway, and middle zones) cangive a better understanding of methane production as the melt regionages. The edge of the feature is the recently melted permafrost withthe oldest melted region located in the middle. This past summer resultsare similar to the previous year with concentrations reaching 162µMin the edge region and about 140µM in halfway regions. Overall trendsshow an increase in concentration at the start of the water table continuallyincreasing with depth.

DANIEL C. MILZ: ROANOKE COLLEGE
TREE RING ANALYSIS OF CANADIAN HEMLOCK (TSUGA CANADENSIS) FOR CLIMATERECONSTRUCTION AT MOUNTAIN LAKE, VIRGINIA
CO-AUTHOR: JON C. CAWLEY
Mountain Lake in Giles County, Virginia is a small, oligotrophic, freshwaterlake in the Appalachian highlands. The origins and cyclicity of thelake have been studied via sediment core extending back 6100 years.Lake levels are dependent upon local climatic conditions; the lake providesa record of regional climatic change. Shindell et al. has modeled amechanism of climate response of the Maunder Minimum. For the southernAppalachians the model predicts colder, drier conditions. These projectionsapparently coincide with lake conditions during minima event(s). Treecore were taken from 44 Canadian Hemlock trees at Mountain Lake. Analysisof ring widths showed positive correlation with regional precipitationand temperature records. This correlation has potential for supportingevidence of the solar minima driven effects in the southern Appalachians.

History

ROBERT WILLIAM SERIG: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
POTENT ECONOMICS: NINETEENTH-CENTURY WHISKEY DISTILLING IN ROCKBRIDGEAND AUGUSTA COUNTIES
Whiskey was a great enterprise in the Valley of Virginia during thenineteenth century, rising from the large-scale production of grains.Its production and trade stimulated other industries that supplied orrelied on whiskey as a source of income. Through whiskey sales, tradepatterns emerged between the valley and outside parts. As taxes andlaws were passed to regulate the sale of whiskey in the later half ofthe 1800s, many smaller distillers closed their businesses. Whiskeyproducers played an important role in their local economies and supportedtheir communities. Whiskey, the product of grains, was once a majorindustry in the Great Valley of Virginia, and its influences were presentthroughout valley life.

MARK EHLERS: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
FROM GREENHORN TO VETERAN: THE STORY OF THE 10TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY
A case study of the 10th Virginia Infantry suggests that the life-cycleof a Civil War regiment is not as clearly defined as Paddy Giffith suggestsin his book, Battle Tactics of the Civil War. The study agrees withGiffith's assertion that regiments entered the war as eager and enthusiastic"greenhorns" and after a few battles evolved into a tough, competentveteran unit. However, the study found that because of certain factorsin its own unique evolution, the regiment never arrived at the final,gun-shy and cautious, "old-lag" phase that Griffith argues was the inevitableresult of years of war and mounting casualties.

ELIZABETH EAGER: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
MARKETING ETERNITY: POPES AND TAXES IN THE MIDDLE AGES
In many ways, the medieval Catholic Church functioned similarly to amodern, multi-national corporation. Applying this analogy helps us understandthe Church's relationship with other powers, such as the monarchs ofwestern Europe. While this model demonstrates the administrative structureof the Church, it fails to encompass the motivations behind Church policies.The Church was not driven purely by profit, but rather by religiousideology to secure its position as the undisputed authority in westernEurope and to expand its influence into other regions, such as the HolyLand. To achieve their objectives, popes often resorted to financialmeasures, such as taxing the secular authorities. While some church/stateconflicts arose over economics, more often the church's ideologicalobjectives caused conflict with state powers.

DAVID A. KNIGHTING: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
FOR THE CAUSE OF RELIGION: THE NORTHERN RISING OF 1569
The Northern Rising of 1569 was a brief Northern English rebellion ledby the earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland, two Catholic noblemen,against the government of Queen Elizabeth. The cause of this rebellionhas long been a matter of debate. The succession to the English throne,political tension between the Northern shires and London and Spanishmachinations in English affairs may have had contributory roles, howeverthe deciding factor, as shown by this essay, was religion. Religionpermeates all aspects of the rebellion. This essay, through the useof the official correspondence of both the English and Spanish governmentsand contemporary accounts, establishes the argument that it is impossibleto separate the sacred from the secular in any analysis of the NorthernRising.

ADAM JOSEPH: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
THE FAILURE OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY CULMINATING IN THE CUBANMISSILE CRISIS
For thirteen harrowing days in October of 1962 the United States andthe Soviet Union, two super powers over-armed with nuclear weapons,suddenly teetered on the brink of nuclear war. Ninety miles off thecoast of Florida, the Soviet Union was secretly arming the island nationof Cuba with nuclear weapons. The Cuban Missile Crisis was the culminationof a series of intelligence failures perpetrated by the CIA in Cubabetween 1959 and 1962. With the end of the Cold War and the collapseof the Soviet Union, new information, made available by the RussianGovernment, proved that the CIA failed completely in estimating theSoviet Union's military capability, leading the two super powers tothe abyss of destruction.

STEPHANIE GREGORY: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
BRANCH RICKEY'S PLAN FOR THE INTEGRATION OF BASEBALL
Post World War II America was a dynamic time, especially in regardsto race relations. As soldiers fought against the racism of Nazi Germany,many Americans on the home front started to fight against racism andsegregation. Baseball as America's pastime appeared to be the idealplace to take a solid stand for racial equality in America. In 1945Branch Rickey, the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers created a planto integrate baseball based upon a variety of widely contested motives.The most popular and well-supported theories revolve around three possiblesources of motivation; financial, moral and societal forces. As a team,Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson were victorious, and as a result baseball'sunofficial color barrier to begin to crumble after the 1947 season.

UYEN TA: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
THE BILL OF RIGHTS: WAS THE FEDERALIST ARGUMENT ACCURATE IN PORTRAYINGAMERICAN DEMOCRACY?
Americans today regard the Bill of Rights as the most essential partof the Constitution since it guarantees their civil liberties. But adoptionof the bill was not simple. It is important to understand Federalists'argument against the bill and what finally convinced them. Thomas Jeffersonhad predicted that after the Revolution, the American democratic processwould go downhill. When the Federal Convention was called, the purposewas revision of the Articles of Confederation. There was no discussionof a bill of rights, causing many Anti-federalists to oppose ratificationof the Constitution. Federalists argued that a bill was not necessarybecause the new federal government had no power to infringe upon therights of citizens. But without a bill of rights, American democracywould not have existed.

ASHLEY MIDDLETON: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
"TO BE REALLY USEFUL": THE PHILADELPHIA LADIES ASSOCIATION
My paper focuses on the contributions that women of the PhiladelphiaLadies Association made to the Revolutionary war effort. I discuss thekey figures, including Esther De Berdt Reed and Sarah Franklin and howthey acted as the chief leaders in this all female charity organization.The Ladies Association boosted the confidence and morale of women inthe colonies, giving them the opportunity to donate both their timeand efforts to the Revolution.

MATTHEW HERMAN: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
RIDING THE PALESTINE TIGER: HARRY S. TRUMAN AND THE RECOGNITION OF ISRAEL
The buck stopped with Harry S. Truman. During his presidency, Trumanfaced some of the most difficult issues any leader has ever had to face,including the recognition of Israel. Decisions, solutions, and resolutionsended with Truman. His choices were deliberate, and made with consciousresolve. The pious Baptist never neglected his religious upbringingin making some of the toughest choices any president has ever made.Truman acted on what he thought was moral and right, primarily basedon his religious background and familiarity with the Bible.

DAVID BEEHLER: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
EXODUS FROM EGYPT: A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE HISTORICAL PLAUSIBILITY OFTHE BIBLICAL EXODUS
It is easy to dismiss the notion and concepts of the Biblical Exodusas a mere story. However, there are certain aspects that dealing withthe Exodus, which present a very strong case for its historical plausibility.Two of these areas are: the historical dating of the Exodus and possibilityof Moses as a prince of Egypt. This paper's focus is not to prove theexact dates of the Exodus, nor is it an attempt to prove that the BiblicalMoses was a prince of Egypt. However, this paper will attempt to provethat these Biblical notions of the Exodus have much more historicalcredibility than has been allotted to them. Whether fact or myth, thesetwo concepts of the Biblical Exodus are very plausible.

Interdisciplinary Studies

ALIYA GIFFORD: RANDOLPH-MACON WOMAN'S COLLEGE
AN INQUIRY-BASED ONLINE CURRICULUM FOR K-8 SCIENCE TEACHERS
CO-AUTHORS: DR. PETER SHELDON, DR. PEGGY SCHIMMOELLER, GEMMA GRIFFIN,WEIQIN BAO
Randolph-Macon Woman's College faculty in collaboration with undergraduatestudents have worked on a curriculum development and research projectin which we created on-line resources for assisting teachers to includeinquiry-based science in grades K-8. Science as inquiry fosters problem-solving,creativity, and independent learning, resulting in students who performat a higher level of understanding than their peers in more textbook-basedscience classes. We created lesson plans, wrote accurate content toaccompany lessons, and videotaped children engaged in experiments. Otherresources are being developed, and all are part of our website: Thenew Science Teacher. The website is designed to assist pre-service teachersmeet state teaching standards in the sciences, and is expected to serveas a rich science resource for in-service teachers, many of whom mayhave little background in science.

JENNIFER APRIL: NEUMANN COLLEGE
THE GREENING OF CORPORATE AMERICA: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BUSINESS ANDENVIRONMENTALISM
This presentation will reveal the connection between business and environmentalissues. I argue that the business world and the environmental movementshare many concerns. This examination reveals the impact of environmentalconsiderations for any successful business endeavor. An examinationof how environmental preservation and restoration relies upon the businessworld for continued future success concludes the presentation.

DENADA RAMNISHTA: NEUMANN COLLEGE
GOING INTERNATIONAL: CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN DOING BUSINESS ABROAD
This presentation will explain various challenges that global corporationsface when doing business abroad. Different management orientations andtheir costs and benefits will be examined. I will reference examplesof various business cases and different cultural perspectives relatedto them. I will argue that cultural adaptation and communication formone of the strongest bases for a successful business endeavor.

MICHELLE REESE: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
MUSIC IS REVOLUTION: WOMEN'S PROGRESSION IN THE AMERICAN MUSIC INDUSTRYDURING THE 1960S
The 1960s in American culture was a revolutionary time for several socialgroups: the African Americans sparked the civil rights movement, thecounterculture flourished and the second wave feminist movement beganto gain in strength. Women of all ages insisted on equality betweenthe genders in American society. Women in the music industry faced similarprejudices as in society, yet several women produced successful careers.Janis Joplin blended the characteristics of masculinity and femininityand gained fame with her rough sex appeal. Joan Baez led the folk musicmovement to express her support of peace and equality. Aretha Franklinemerged as a sensational crossover artist. Franklin embodied all themovements with her hit "Respect" because the 1960s was simply a cryfor respect and equality.

MICHELE C. HACKETT: NEUMANN COLLEGE
NURTURING PALESTINIAN TERRORISM IN CHILDREN
Movements are instruments of change. The Palestinians use terrorismas a strategy for the reform they desire. Terrorism is successfullyconducted by attaching it to a religious and nationalist purpose. Palestinianterrorism is carried out by Islamic extremists, which can be seen byobserving some of the Middle Eastern schools and practices and the detrimentaleffects of these teachings. We can see how hatred is nurtured throughthe pressure to conform in these schools. Terrorists are training childrento be used as tools for their goal: to reclaim Palestine under a religioussociety and government. As a way of attaining this goal, hatred is nurturedin Palestinian schools.Literature

SEAN C. WILLIAMS: RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE
LEFT AND RIGHT: AN ANALYSIS OF THE POST-WAR LITERATURE OF OE KENZABUROAND MISHIMA YUKIO
In this paper I will be analyzing the Post-War literature of the Japanesewriters Oe Kenzaburo and Mishima Yukio. My focus will be exploring theconcept of humilation and its reflection on both Japanese society andliterature by looking at two specific works: Sheep(1958) by Oe Kenzaburoand Patriotism(1961) by Mishima Yukio. These two short stories givea post and prewar perspective on the concept of humiliation. Oe andMishima take different stances on pride, dignity and the concept ofhumiliation and these differences become key to understanding the attitudesin both Japanese society as well as the authors' literature. I willshow that through literature Oe Kenzaburo and Mishima Yukio were ableto capture the concept of humiliation and display it, through whollydifferent perspectives, in all its realized detail.

RIAN KERFOOT: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
PARALLEL LIVES: THE LINK BETWEEN THE BRONTË AND PROZOROV SISTERS
Many parallels exist between the Prozorov sisters in Anton Chekov'sThree Sisters and the lives of the infamous Brontës. Not only did theylead similar lives, but they also shared character traits and familyrelationships. Both sets dealt with the loss of their mothers and wereraised by their fathers. The Prozorov's brother Andrey is strikinglysimilar to the Brontë's brother Branwell, who was talented and intelligentbut squandered his aspirations and fell into debt. The towns in whichthey reside are both stifling and isolated. The dreams expressed soeloquently by the Brontë sisters in their novels and poems are echoedin the words of the play. The link is important because it adds a senseof reality, humanity and history to a piece of important and celebrateddrama.

Physics/Engineering/Mathematical Sciences

JENNIFER A. WARDE: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
MODELING OF HELICAL JETS EMANATING FROM ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
CO-AUTHORS: MARIANA LAZAROVA, DR. GRANT DENN
Four Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) were studied utilizing the high resolutionradio imaging capabilities of the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radiotelescope. The objects studied included three BL Lac objects and onequasar. Data were collected for two epochs, August, 2001 and January,2002, at three different frequencies, 15.4 GHz, 22.4GHz, and 43GHz.We attempted to use a helical model to describe the geometry of thejets emanating from the AGNs. The BL Lac objects 1749+096 and 1823+568showed no evidence of helical behavior. We determined several geometricalparameters including jet opening angle, axis to line of sight, and initialpitch angle for two of the objects (BL Lac and the QSO 2134_004) usingboth brute force techniques and a genetic algorithm search routine.

CAVILLE STANBURY: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY OF SINGLE CRYSTAL YVO4
YVO4 is an emerging optical material used in telecommunication componentsand as a solid laser state host. When grown, the material has a yellowdiscoloration, which may affect its technological usefulness. The goalof this research is to better understand the causes of this discoloration.In this preliminary study, absorption spectra of two samples of YVO4of different discoloration were taken. Laser excited luminescence spectrawere also measured as a function of time. The emission spectrum producedby the more yellowed sample peaked near wavelength 470 nm, while thatof the other sample peaked at wavelength 475 nm. The decay time of thephotoluminescence of the more yellowed sample was 34 µs and that ofthe less yellowed sample was 43 µs.

KATHERINE KIRKWOOD: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
ERBIUM DOPED FIBER LASER MODELING
CO-AUTHOR: H.M. YOCHUM
A key component to developing the lasers used in technological applications(e.g. fiber optic telecommunications) is a fundamental understandingof the underlying physics. A physical model that can be used to predictrelevant laser characteristics (output power, output wavelength, pulselength, etc.) is a vital part of this understanding. The main goal ofthis project is to model the lasing process in erbium doped opticalfiber (edf). The model involves equations that govern the erbium ionpopulation dynamics and optical power propagation in the fiber. A computerprogram is being written to solve these equations numerically. Thismodel will be used to study novel erbium doped fiber laser designs,and the preliminary results of this project will be presented at thisposter.

MATTHEW KYLE WATTS: JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
THERMOELECTRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF VACUUM DEPOSITED THIN FILMS
CO-AUTHORS: DAVID J. LAWRENCE AND DR. GERALD R. TAYLOR
Vacuum deposited thin films were characterized in terms of thermoelectricproperties relevant to thin film thermopiles. Thin films of Germanium,Antimony, Bismuth, Vanadium Oxide, and Aluminum Oxide were evaporatedand/or sputtered onto substrates of glass and oxidized silicon wafers.The Seebeck effect is the voltage generated by a material per degreetemperature difference. Integrating the test apparatus with LabVIEWallowed for simultaneous voltage-temperature data collection. Seebeckvalues of Antimony and Bismuth were measured to be + 29.8 mV/°C and- 54.4 mV/°C respectively. The high resistance of some Ge films preventedaccurate measurement of the Seebeck coefficient. Isochronal heat treatmentof layered film structures performed at temperatures from 400°C-700°Cf or 1 hour failed to lower resistance by more than 1 order of magnitude.

TIMOTHY KRAUS: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
POTENTIAL USE OF QUASI-OPTIMAL BOUNDING ELLIPSOID (QOBE) IN CLASSIFICATIONPROBLEMS
CO-AUTHOR: GIHAN MANDOUR
The quasi-optimal bounding ellipsoid (QOBE) algorithm is a member ofthe set membership (SM) algorithms that are used to identify linear-in-parameterssystem models. In this work we demonstrate the potential use of notonly the central estimator of the ellipsoidal set but also "other" parametersin the set in a real life classification problem. We investigate theuse of QOBE in classification of speech vowels based on the formantresonance frequencies that characterizes them. The database consistsof vowels sounds spoken by different speakers and by using an autoregressive(AR) model we classify frames of speech data into one of the vowel sounds.The potential of using QOBE non-central estimators is promising in producingbetter formant estimates, with respect to the references, than the centralestimators.

JENARIEL KOTONIAS: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
LASER SPECTROSCOPY OF BISMUTH DOPED AND UNDOPED CADMIUM TUNGSTATE
CO-AUTHOR: CAVILLE STANBURY
Cadmium Tungstate (CdWO4) is a scintillating crystal used to detecthigh-energy particles. The goal of this project is to further the understandingof the role that impurity ions play on the optical properties of CdWO4.Other groups have found emission spectra of CdWO4 characterized by twobands each with a different lifetime. One band is often related to oxygenvacancies and the other due to intrinsic emission. It was recently shownby others that unintentional bismuth impurities play a significant rolein the emission spectrum of CdWO4. In this work we excite bismuth dopedCdWO4 in order to characterize the emission spectra and emission kinetics.Our results suggest that emission kinetics previously related to oxygenvacancies are due to bismuth impurity ions.

LY TRAN: MARY BALDWIN COLLEGE
THE EFFECT OF SURFACE TENSION ON NATURAL RESONANT FREQUENCY OF LIQUIDSIN A CYLINDER
The main purpose of this study was to find out whether surface tensionof liquids affected the frequencies at which standing waves of thoseliquids were generated. The liquids investigated were pure water andsolutions of propanol and acetone at different concentrations. Liquidsurface tensions were measured by modifying and applying both the duNouy ring and Wilhelmy plate methods. Standing waves were generatedby controlling the oscillator-amplifier on which a cylinder of liquidwas attached. Based on the data collected, a mathematical model wasdeveloped for the relationship between liquid surface tension and frequencyat which certain standing waves were generated. The results were similarto those obtained for a standing wave on a drum membrane and supportthe hypothesis that higher liquid tensions are associated with higherstanding wave frequencies.

MARIANA LAZAROVA: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
HELIUM ACCRETION AND DETONATION ON WHITE DWARFS
We investigate helium accretion on a carbon-oxygen white dwarf (WD)of sub-chandrasekhar mass, 0.8 solar masses, following the nucleosynthesisand the hydrodynamic phases of evolution. The effects of the WD's initialmass and the accretion rate on the critical mass for thermonuclear runawayare studied. Exploratory calculations are performed using a reducedreaction network -- including only 19 isotopes -- and with an extendedadaptive network - including up to 2554 isotopes. In order to reproducethe runaway mass of the calculations by Goriely et al. (2002) who founda critical mass of 0.18 solar masses, we needed to use a lower accretionrate when using a more realistic initial composition for accreted He-richmaterial.

MICHAEL D. MCFARLANE: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
DEVELOPING DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE FOR A DC SQUID SYSTEM
When taking data with highly sensitive SQUID sensors, small amountsof noise can often overshadow weak signals. When testing for defectsin aluminum using a DC SQUID gradiometer system, two problems are regularlyencountered. The first is background noise, caused by poor inducer alignmentor a noisy environment. The second is non-uniform current induction,which is detected by the SQUID as a change in magnetic field. Unevenspacing between the sample and inducer causes this. In order for thesignal from the defect to be detected, noise from these additional sourcesmust be minimized. One method for achieving this is software data processing.By normalizing and leveling each component of the measured signal, thenoise is minimized and the detectability of small defects is increased.

MARY EVANS: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
USING THE LEAST MEAN SQUARE (LMS) ALGORITHM FOR SPEECH RECOGNITION PROBLEMSWITH DIFFERENT NOISE SIGNALS
CO-AUTHOR: GIHAN MANDOUR
As a pilot talks through the radio, there are different noise signalsin the cockpit of the airplane that are applied with the speech signalthat makes it unrecognizable. The ability to recognize speech in noisyenvironments is one of speech recognition applications. The objectiveof this research is to investigate the different speech signals thatare being transferred through the radio to the receiver and cancel outthe noise from the speech signal. This will be accomplished using anadaptive filtering technique called the Least Mean Squared (LMS) algorithm.The LMS algorithm and the TDT Speech Equipment in the CNU Speech ProcessingLab at Room 130 Gosnold Hall, will be applied to individual recordedsignals with different noise signals to simulate the actual problem.

ANDREA FALDEN: SALEM COLLEGE
THE HAT PROBLEM
We investigate the hat color problem for both perfect and imperfectteam sizes by considering ways of constructing sets of losing configurationsand corresponding strategies. We also obtain upper bounds for the numberof equivalent sets of losing configurations for both perfect and imperfectteam sizes.

ELIZABETH TOOLE: SALEM COLLEGE
TOWERING HELIX CURVES: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION
This research began asking what would happen if cards were arrangedin such a manor that the bottom corner will rest on the top corner ofanother card. Using three cards, we created a triangle. Once a trendwas established, the artistic nature of the resulting three-dimensionalhelix was considered as well as the process of reproducing this in ascientific way. Predictions were attempted to speak of how a changein the variables would alter the results. Once we found the underlyingstructure, research began on similar structures and patterns. Connectionsare made to Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and the Fibonacci sequence,as well as to three-dimensional design.

EDWARD J. JONES JR.: ROANOKE COLLEGE
CHANNEL FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT IN THREE DIMENSIONAL SQUARE GRIDS
There exists a problem involving the assignment of frequencies to devicesthat communicate with another device in a specific geographical area.There has been extensive studies done on the problem and many areashave known solutions however I will be examining one know scheme fora know schema that has a less than adequate exhaustive solution. Inthis paper we study the behavior exhibited in three-dimensional spaceand explain the importance of our findings.

CYNTHIA BELLER: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
MEASURING LIGHT OUTPUT OF SCINTILLATING GLASS FOR NUCLEAR DETECTIONSYSTEMS
Four samples of scintillating glass, three from Pacific Northwest NationalLaboratory (PNNL) and one commercially available sample, were irradiatedwith gamma rays from a ~10 μCi 137Cs source. A nuclear system consistingof glass and NaI detectors were used to test light output for thesesamples of scintillating glass. Coincidence data between the glass andNaI detectors were recorded for repeated tests of each glass, whichled to a determination of light output for each glass. For instance,PNNL sample 666 had a mean light output of 2,125 photons/MeV, whichwas 30% greater than that of the commercial sample. All three PNNL samplesproved to be better scintillators than the commercial sample.

THANANART KLONGCHEONGSAN: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
AN ENHANCEMENT OF SONOLUMINESCENCE DRIVING CIRCUIT
An improvement to the sonoluminescence driving circuit obviously enhancesits stability and brightness. A new function generator and a new adjustableinductor are used to help to increase its stability. The new resonantfrequency is found between 30.45 kHz and 30.50 kHz. The spectrometeris installed to obtain its visual spectrum. The maximum intensity isachieved in the area of wavelength between 500 and 520 nm. A spectralpeak that extends into ultraviolet is absorbed by water so we are unableto predict the bubble's approximate temperatures. A driving waveformconsisting of first and second harmonics is programmed to drive thecircuit. By using different amplitude ratios and relative phases betweenthe harmonics we observed the increase of the bubble intensity of upto 400%.

CONSCHETTA WRIGHT: SALEM COLLEGE
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN IN MATHEMATICS, PHYSICALSCIENCE, AND ENGINEERING
Has the percentage of undergraduate degrees awarded to females who majoredin mathematics and science increased since 1992? Researchers at theHenry Luce Foundation had 177 randomly selected institutions answera survey. Of the 13081 degrees awarded in math and science in 1992,4410 were awarded to females. In 2002, 18199 degrees were awarded, 6389earned by females. Is the percentage difference large enough to implythat more females are interested in earning a degree in math or science?Note: These statistics do not include students who earned degrees inthe biological sciences.

Psychology

MINDY WOLFROM, CAROLYN BURTON, COURTNEY PATTI: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
THE EFFECTS OF PERSONALITY TYPE AND SELF-DISCLOSURE ON FEELINGS OF INTIMACY
Research has shown that intimacy is facilitated by personal self-disclosure.However, experimental manipulations that control personal self-disclosureare rare. This experiment examined the effects of personality type andself-disclosure on feelings of intimacy. Twenty-five women were placedin high, low, or no self-disclosure groups. Confederates were used toprovide consistent self-disclosure levels. Participants were told toself-disclose with two confederates, one who reciprocated and one whodid not, and then rated their feelings of intimacy for the confederates.Higher levels of extraversion and self-disclosure led to significantlygreater feelings of intimacy. Participants felt more intimate towardthe confederate who disclosed to them compared to the confederate whodid not. These findings suggest that intimacy is created through mutualself-disclosure and is related to personality type.

CARRIE A. CONDON: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
USING A STATISTICAL MEASURE TO INCREASE WORD RECOGNITION ACCURACY
CO-AUTHORS: MANDI WINES AND DR. JEFFREY A. GIBBONS
In three experiments, we attempted to use a statistical measure combiningreaction time and recognition judgments to increase accuracy of predictionsin a word recognition task. Participants viewed words individually ona computer screen. Participants then made recognition judgments for40 targets (words previously exposed) and 40 foils (words not previouslyexposed). Recognition accuracy and reaction time were recorded. Thedata were placed into SPSS and analyzed. In Experiment 1, a 48-hourretention interval was used. In Experiment 2, each word was displayedfor 2-seconds with no interstimulus interval and recognition judgmentswere made immediately. In Experiment 3, we added an interstimulus intervaland increased exposure to 4-seconds. We found that reaction time combinedwith recognition judgments predicted exposure above and beyond recognitionjudgments alone.

LEAH DAVIS: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
CAN SEXUAL CONDITIONING OVERCOME THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON FERTILITYIN FEMALE JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX JAPONICA)?
Neuroendocrine investigations have shown that animals living in stressfulenvironments produce relatively fewer offspring. Pavlovian investigationshave revealed that sexual conditioning increases the number of offspringan individual produces. The present experiment tested whether sexualconditioning could overcome the negative effects of stress on fertility.Eighteen female quail served as subjects and food deprivation was usedto induce stress in half of the birds. The remaining birds were notfood deprived. Nineteen conditioning trials were conducted during whicha 30 second tone (the CS) was either paired or unpaired with accessto a male (the US). Results indicated that food deprivation reducedfertility, but only in unconditioned females. This suggests that conditioningcompensates for stressful living conditions, and that sexual conditioningmay provide animals with adaptive advantages that ultimately improvetheir reproductive success.

MELANIE JENKINS: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
THE EFFECTS OF MAKING PLEASANTNESS RATINGS ON WORD RECOGNITION
CO-AUTHOR: DR. JEFFREY A. GIBBONS
The present study examined the effects of making pleasant ratings inconjunction with a word recognition task. Two experiments were doneusing a within-subjects design in order to control for differences inindividual recognition ability. Both experiments used different retentionintervals between word presentation and test. In both experiments, participantswere presented two lists of words for 20 seconds each. After the passingof the respective retention intervals, participants returned to completeeither word recognition task or pleasantness rating for trial 1 andthen participants completed the remaining task (either pleasantnessratings or recognition judgments) for trial 2. Pleasantness ratingswere expected to increase the hit rate for words recognized comparedto when pleasantness ratings were not made. The data supported the hypothesisfor participants who demonstrated poor recognition ability.

MICHAEL SUIS: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A DISCRIMINATORY STIMULUS ON CONDITIONED AGGRESSIONIN BETTA SPLENDENS
CO-AUTHORS: ANDREA VELISSARIOS, ALICIA BURNS, DR. ANDREW J. VELKEY IIInstrumental Choice behavior in Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens;N = 10) was investigated. The discriminative stimulus (SD) was a bluecheckerboard pattern placed on one choice door. Subjects were allowedto choose between an encounter with a conspecific (another live male)and a nonconspecific (nothing). The SD was expected to be associatedwith the presence of the conspecific. Three fish demonstrated reinforcement,denoted by decreased swimway times, and treated the pattern as a conditionedreinforcer (S+). Three fish demonstrated reinforcement but treated theunmarked door as an S+. For two fish, swimway times increased, denotingpunishment. Finally, two fish did not show a consistent choice patternor stable swimway times. The disparate results may indicate that dominanceplays a role in choice behavior.

RYAN CLEMENTS AND ELISE JUDD: WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
STEREOTYPES ABOUT MEMORY AND AGING
CO-AUTHOR: DR. DAVID ELMES
The current study investigates the effects of memory performance, andbeliefs about memory performance through false feedback on judgmentsand target memory ratings. Thirty-six elderly participants from retirementhomes and the W and L community (mean age= 73) were recruited. The studyconsisted of participants completing self-memory evaluations, a shortmemory test, and then receiving various levels of feedback on theirperformance before they rated the memory ability of others. Resultsindicate that beliefs about one's memory affect one's ratings of thememory ability of others. People who believed they performed well onthe memory test were harsher in their judgments of targets. However,actual memory performance does not affect target ratings. Participantswith high evaluations of their memory had higher memory scores.

KELLY GIBBONS: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
CONTEXTUAL CONDITIONING OF FERTILITY IN MALE AND FEMALE JAPANESE QUAIL
Sexual Conditioning is a specific form of Pavlovian conditioning inwhich the opportunity to copulate with a member of the opposite sexserves as the unconditioned stimulus (US) paired with the conditionedstimulus (CS). Three experiments explored the nature of sexual conditioningand its effect on fertility in Japanese quail. In Experiment 1 the femalewas signaled using a specific environmental context as the CS pairedor unpaired with access to a male copulation partner (US). In Experiment2, the male quail was signaled using the same context while the femalesdid not undergo conditioning. In Experiment 3, both sexes underwentconditioning. Results are interpreted with respect to the adaptive significanceof conditioning in the sexual behavior system.

LISA M. KARNES: RADFORD UNIVERSITY
MODERN DIETS AND EVOLUTIONARY VIEWS OF EATING
CO-AUTHOR: DR. DONALD M. HALL
I will research four of the most popular diets (Zone Diet, the Atkinsdiet, the Ornish Diet, the Blood Type diet) and analyze them with respectto evolutionary psychology theory. They will be analyzed by comparingthem to the Paleolithic diet, one based on eating behaviors during Paleolithictimes. Specifically, how likely is each diet to satisfy evolved eatingtendencies (e.g. "cravings"), and is this likelihood correlated withhow long people tend to stay with each of the diets? The scientificliterature will be surveyed to find any such long-term studies of thepersistence of dietary compliance, to determine whether compliance likelihoodis predictable from evolutionary psychology theory.

KRISTIN WILSON AND LINDSAY BOUTWELL: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
MEMORY FOR CHARACTER SEX DIFFERING ACROSS MOVIES WITH POSITIVE OR NEGATIVETHEMES
CO-AUTHORS: CHERYL A. TAYLOR & DR. JEFFREY A. GIBBONS
This experiment examined the effect of movie viewing, either positiveor negative, on participants' memory for character sex in short stories.Psychology students from a southeastern liberal arts university (N =175) were asked to complete a survey consisting of 4 different scenarios.Each scenario consisted of a male or female lead character, which waseither positive or negative. Each scenario also consisted of supportingcharacters, which were the opposite sex as the lead characters. Afterreading the scenarios, the participants were instructed to answer surveysregarding the scenarios and also list the last 4 movies they watchedafter completing an interpolated task. The results showed that participantsdid not remember character sex for scenarios depicting positive leadcharacters when participants watched negative movies.

LINDSEY HAVENS: RADFORD UNIVERSITY
BRAIN FINGERPRINTING: USES AND MISUSES
CO-AUTHOR: DR. DONALD M. HALL
Brain fingerprinting, a technology which analyzes brain waves to detecta subject's recognition of a stimulus, is said to be foolproof by itsdeveloper, Larry Farwell. Media reports also have made impressive claimsfor the technique and its possible use in forensics. My project willexamine the scientific literature regarding Brain fingerprinting, todetermine whether the claims made by Farwell and the media are justified.

KIM FAULKNER: NEUMANN COLLEGE
AGGRESSION: NATURE OR NURTURE?
My paper will discuss aggression in regards to the nature versus nurturedebate. Biological factors will be considered as well as the role thatsociety plays via role models and expected rewards. The influence thatgender has on aggression will also be examined. Finally, I will examineFreud's theory that aggression is instinctive and universal.

CHERYL A TAYLOR: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
FORGETTABLE HEROES AND NOTABLE VILLAINS: GENDER STEREOTYPES PORTRAYEDIN THE MASS MEDIA
CO-AUTHOR: DR. JEFFREY A. GIBBONS
Researchers (e.g., Cobb et al., 2001; Signorielli, 1989; Signorielli& Kahlenberg, 2001) have shown that the stereotypes presented in themedia have an effect on personal stereotypes of individuals. This studyexamined the gender stereotypes, which are typically portrayed in themass media in modern times. The venues of the media examined by theresearchers were music, news, sports, television, and theatrical films.Across the venues, women were marginalized if they were portrayed aspositive characters, and they were portrayed negatively if they wereportrayed as powerful characters.

DAWN M. NEERING: CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY
MATERNAL RESPONSE TO DAUGHTERS' DISCLOSURE OF INTRAFAMILIAL SEXUAL ABUSE
A sample will consist of 80 mothers with daughters between the agesof 2 and 17 years to whom intra-familial sexual abuse disclosure wasmade to all area Virginia, Hampton Roads Child Protective Services fromJanuary 2002 to January 2003. Maternal response to disclosure of intrafamilialsexual abuse will be examined via a questionnaire focusing on the daughter'sage (at time of abuse) and the severity of the reported abuse. The responsesto this questionnaire will be converted over to PRIDS scores (ParentalResponse to Incest Disclosure Scale) that will be used to determinedegrees of maternal response. The hypothesis that older-aged daughterswho endure high severity abuse will be less believed than younger-ageddaughters or daughters who endure low severity abuse should be substantiated.

MARTIN J. SCHMIDT: HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
UNILATERAL ROSTRAL INTRALAMINAR LESIONS PRODUCE DEFICITS IN INTENTIONALMOTOR FUNCTION
CO-AUTHOR: G.D. WEESE
The role of the centrolateral (CL) and paracentral (PC) thalamic nucleiin the selection and initiation of learned movements was examined byperforming selective unilateral ibotenic acid lesions in the CL andPC of rats after they learned to respond in the direction of a targetlight presented either to the left or right. A decrease in correct responsesdirected contralateral to CL and PC lesions was mirrored by an increasein incorrect responses directed ipsilaterally in 3 of 6 rats. Reactionand movement times increased when correct responses were made in thedirection of the deficit. These data suggest that the CL and PC playa role in directing contralateral intentional movements by facilitatingthe initiation and execution of learned responses.

PAMELA ARMATA: ROANOKE COLLEGE
SPATIAL ITERATED PRISONER'S DILEMMA
This project involved work with the Prisoner's Dilemma. The Prisoner'sDilemma is a game that models human interactions. We wrote a programto explore a spatial variation involving a larger number of playersof a Prisoner's Dilemma game. The players lived on a two dimensionalgrid and only interacted with neighbors in their neighborhood. Aftereach iteration of interaction, the players were allowed to move accordingto rules. Based on the living environment and the type of game played,my project is titled Spatial Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma. We gatheredinformation about the formation of clusters, and which strategy wouldusually win. We learned how certain strategies would protect themselvesand others against defectors.

JASON BRIGHTWELL: VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
HOW FAR DOES THE SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM GO? COMPARING MMPI SCHIZOPHRENIASCALE SCORES & EEG CHARACTERISTICS
This study was initiated in an attempt to find a positive correlationbetween theta (4-8 Hz) & beta (13-21 Hz) brain wave ratios and the schizophreniascale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Participantswere 33 undergrads (32 males, 1 female) from the summer sessions atVMI. Participants were alternately given the survey before and afterthe EEG sample was taken, and took the survey alone in a room to avoidsubjective social pressure. Findings yielded a non-significant negativePearson correlation (-.309, p = .080) with the theta/beta ratio, buta positive significant Pearson correlation (+.376, p = .031) betweenbeta 2 (16-20 Hz), which is found in anxiety disorders and is thoughtto be "bad" EEG.

MARY GORDON SEAY: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE
THE EFFECT OF PRESENTATION MODALITY ON FREE RECALL OF INFORMATION
This experiment used a between subjects design within which list andlist order were counterbalanced. It was expected that more words wouldbe recalled from lists presented in the auditory modality and that primacyand recency effects would be present in both auditory and verbal modalities.Forty-three Sweet Briar College females were presented with two wordlists, one in each modality. A mathematical distraction task was thengiven after each list followed by a free recall test. Word lists werepresented verbally on a computer screen and auditorily through a recording.Results were significant in that more words were recalled from the auditorymodality. Only the primacy effect was evident in list recall for bothverbal and auditory modalities.