Summer 2001 MAPs

BIOLOGY: "Reconstructions of Cretaceous Collembola." Summer Ventis [Professor Kenneth Christiansen]. For my MAP, I am doing reconstructive drawings of Cretaceous Collembola. I am using amber fossils of these Collembola and drawings of the fossils that I did last summer as my primary sources of information. Other sources are drawings of modern Collembola and advice from my MAP advisor, Ken Christiansen and from Jarmilla Kuklova-Peck, who has done reconstructive drawings of insects in the past. My goal is to produce two or more drawings by the end of the summer, to be submitted for publication. Unlike all other groups, Collembolan genera have been stable for 45 million years; that is to say, all fossil specimens from the Eocene on can be identified as extant genera. All eight genera that are seen in Cretaceous fossils, however, are now extinct. My reconstructive drawings will make it easier to compare these extinct genera to current forms for evolutionary research purposes. Summer presented a poster at Family Weekend 2001.

BIOLOGY: "Quantitative Genetics: The Characterization of the Major Genes Controlling Floral Traits in Clarkia xantiana." Elizabeth Cooper [Professor Vince Eckhart]. Clarkia xantiana is a plant species from California that consists of two subspecies: C. xantiana ssp. xantiana is an outcrossing subspecies, whereas C. xantiana ssp. parviflora is a self-pollinating species. It is possible to distinguish these two subspecies by examining the floral morphology of the plants. My research project involves characterizing the genes that control the following floral traits: flowering time, protandry, anther-stigma distance, petal length, petal width, style length, filament length, leaf length, leaf width, and ovary length. I will characterize these genes by using a combination of statistical methods and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. These techniques will enable me to build a quantitative trait loci (QTL) map of Clarkia xantiana. Once I have completed this MAP, I will be able to determine the number of genes that control the above mentioned floral traits. Also, this MAP should provide a better understanding of the evolutionary history of C. xantiana, meaning that it may be possible to discern how many times the selfing subspecies evolved. Elizabeth presented a poster at Family Weekend 2001.

BIOLOGY: "Plant Abundance and Diversity in Reconstructed Prairie Communities." Zainab Shakir [Professor Vince Eckhart]. The purpose of my MAP is to study the establishment of prairie species introduced at Grinnell College's Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA) over the last 15 years. I will use a transect sampling method to measure species richness and abundance in several prairie reconstructions differing in their seeding and management histories. Seeding and management history, species life history characteristics, competition with non-native species, and climate are all factors that may influence the floristic composition of the CERA prairies. By using multiple regression analyses, I can determine if there are significant correlations between species richness and abundance and the factors listed above. My results will help shed light upon the effectiveness of past seeding methods and management and guide further research, restoration, and management efforts at CERA. Zainab presented a poster at Family Weekend 2001.

BIOLOGY: "Vertebrate Synapse Physiology." Elizabeth A. Paesch, Kendra Young [Professor Clark Lindgren]. This project looked for a causal link between Ca2+ increase in the Perisynaptic Schwann Cells (PSCs) and reduction of neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junction (nmj), both triggered by the application of Acetylcholine (ACh). The experiments were performed with the cutaneous pectoris muscle of the frog, Rana pipiens. EPPs were measured using standard intracellular recording techniques with application of muscarinic agonists. It was found that high and low concentrations of Oxotremorine, an analogue of ACh that specifically activates muscarinic receptors, similarly depress EPPs. In the coming academic year, Ca2+ concentration will be monitored using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, Fluo-3AM, while muscarinic agonists are locally applied to the nmj via controlled pressure ejection. Most importantly, the electrophysiological and imaging techniques will be performed in unison to determine whether PSCs play a role in the modulation of neurotransmitter release by ACh. The research detailed above culminated in a poster resented at a departmental seminar and at Family Weekend in October 2001. Presented "Glial Cells, Chaperoning the Synapse?" on campus, February 2002.

BIOLOGY: "Quantitative Genetics of Physiological Traits of Lobelia siphilitica and Lobelia cardinalis." Kjärstin Carlson [Professor Christina Caruso]. For my study, I measured the narrow-sense heritabilities of chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water-use efficiency, and carbon isotope discrimination in two species of native wildflower, Lobelia cardinalis and L. siphilitica, in order to determine if they differ in their potential to evolve in response to natural selection. My results indicate that L. cardinalis, a species with small leaves found only in wet environments, had a higher photosynthetic rate and water-use efficiency than L. siphilitica, a species with larger leaves found in both wet and dry environments. These results are contrary to previous research comparing other species inhabiting wet and dry environments in which smaller leaves and high water-use efficiency are associated with a dry environment. I also found that L. siphilitica had higher heritabilities than L. cardinalis for all physiological traits measured, suggesting than L. siphilitica has more genetic variation for physiological traits and could respond more readily to selection than L. cardinalis.

BIOLOGY: "Quantitative Genetic Analysis of Six Morphological Traits of Lobelia cardinalis and L. siphilitica." Alison Mikulyuk [Professor Christina Caruso]. I will measure heritability of and genetic correlations between six morphological characteristics of Lobelia siphilitica and Lobelia cardinalis. The plants are herbaceous, short-lived perennials that produce flowers on a single inflorescence. These closely related species have very different floral morphologies. L. siphilitica has 3-cm long blue bee-pollinated flowers, and L. cardinalis has 4-cm long deep red hummingbird-pollinated flowers. Both species flower from late July to early September, fruit in late August, and overwinter as rosettes. The plants are protandrous. Nectar is produced at the base of the corolla and pollen is held at the end of the fused anthers. The style grows through the fused tube, and opens at the beginning of the pistillate phase. L. cardinalis and L. siphilitica can be found growing along roadsides, abandoned fields, and in sparse forest. L. cardinalis always grows in very moist sites, whereas L. siphilitica can be found in wet or dry areas. I intend to present my findings in a formal scientific paper and a poster presentation during the spring semester.

BIOLOGY: "Effects of Medial and Orbital Prefrontal Cortex Damage on Anxiety and Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Rats." Megan Salter [Professor Nancy Rempel-Clower]. In humans, the prefrontal cortex plays a role in emotional behavior, although its specific functions are not well understood. Fear conditioning in rats serves as a useful model in which to study the contributions of subregions of the prefrontal cortex to emotional memory. For my project, I prepared rats with radiofrequency lesions in the orbital or medial prefrontal cortex and tested their innate anxiety using an elevated zero maze and an open field paradigm. Then, I tested for conditioned fear and fear extinction using a passive avoidance paradigm and assesed extinction of the learned avoidance response. Neither medial or orbital lesions caused alterations in anxiety, acquisition of conditioned fear, or extinction of conditioned fear. Results were presented in a Family Weekend poster.

BIOLOGY: "Identification of Starvation Genes in ADP1." Erin Schmidt [Professor Bruce Voyles]. I am studying the genes that Acinetobacter strain ADP1 uses in response to starvation conditions. In order to do this I am inserting a lacZ/kanamycin resistance construct into the ADP1 genome randomly and then testing the transformed products to see whether or not I have located a starvation gene. Once I have located a gene, I will use subcloning and arbitrary PCR to sequence the genome near the site of insertion. I will compare sequences that I find to known E. coli starvation genes, looking for homologies to see if ADP1 has a similar approach to the problem of starvation. Erin presented a poster at Family Weekend and at the PEW Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fall 2001. She will also present at the HHMI symposium in Spring 2002. Presented "Identification of starvation-induced genes in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus" on campus, March 2002.

BIOLOGY: "Identification of Starvation-induced Genes in Acinetobacter species strain ADP1." Jessica Schmidt [Professor Bruce Voyles]. My summer research project is designed to identify and characterize the effects of carbon-starvation on the bacterium Acinetobacter species strain ADP1. In order to do this, starvation-induced genes will be identified using a promoterless lacZ-kanamycin resistant cassette inserted into chromosomal ADP1 DNA. Recombinants in which the cassette has been successfully inserted into starvation-induced genes will be selected for, and the genes will be sequenced and compared for interspecies homologies. The morphological and viability of starved ADP1 cells will also be examined. Jessical presented a poster at Family Weekend and at the PEW Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fall 2001. She will also present at the HHMI symposium in Spring 2002. Presented "Identification of starvation-induced genes in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus" on campus, March 2002.

BIOLOGY: "Identification of Starvation Genes from Acinetobacter strain ADP1." Robin Lindeman [Professor Bruce Voyles]. During the research period, I will be attempting to characterize genes that are activated in response to starvation conditions in the gram-negative bacteria Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. This involves inserting a reporter gene without a promoter, in this case, a gene for ß-galatosidase production, randomly into the strain ADP1 chromosome. The hope is that in a few cases, the gene will be inserted in a position downstream of a promoter that is normally activated under starvation conditions. When this is the case, a cell culture will show heightened ß-galatosidase production as nutrients in its environment are exhausted. Once cultures with this phenotype are found, I plan to use PCR amplification and gene sequencing to characterize the starvation genes. Robin presented a poster at Family Weekend and at the PEW Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fall 2001. Robin will also present at the HHMI symposium in Spring 2002.

BIOLOGY: "A Study of Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1 Under Starvation Conditions." Ruth Emrick [Professor Bruce Voyles]. This summer we created 123 Acinetobacter species strain ADP1 mutants by inserting a lacZ-knr cassette. These mutants increased their lacZ expression at least 3-1/2 fold after 8 hours when the cells went into stationary phase. This indicates that the cassette was inserted into a stationary phase-induced locus. To characterize this locus, we performed arbitrary-primed PCR to obtain the DNA sequence upstream from the inserted lacZ gene. PCR products from many mutants were visualized on agarose gels, although we were unable to isolate the fragments in sufficient quantities to sequence. Ruth presented a poster at Family Weekend and at the PEW Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fall 2001. She will also present at the HHMI symposium in Spring 2002. Presented "Identification of starvation-induced genes in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus" on campus, March 2002.

CHEMISTRY: "Stereochemistry of Platinum Complexes of Sulfur Containing Amino Acids." Todd Kimball [Professor Luther Erickson]. This summer research project is the extension of previous work completed under Professor Luther Erickson by Paul Bailey and Ben Morgan involving platinum complexes of the sulfur containing amino acids S-methylcysteine, methionine, and their corresponding sulfoxides. Using NMR, computer models, and traditional laboratory methods, this project investigated the stereochemical problem arising from two diastereomers of platinum (II) with an S-methyl-L-cysteine bidentate ligand. The diastereomers of PtCl2(S-methyl-L-cysteine), its corresponding sulfoxide, and S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide were distinguished and identified. Results of this research were presented at a departmental poster session in August 2001 and at Family Weekend in October 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "The Effects of pH on the Kinetics and Mechanisms of the Reaction of Tetrachloroplatinate(II) with Amino Acids Containing Neutral Metal-Coordinating Side Chains." Anna Thelen [Professor Luther Erickson]. The effects of pH on the reactions of tetrachloroplatinate (II) with the amino acids methionine, S-methylcysteine, their sulfoxides were studied. Reactions were monitored using UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy. Rate constants were obtained by performing the experiments either under pseudo first-order conditions or with 1:1 reactant ratios. Reaction pathways were rather complex and therefore not fully characterized by either the NMR or the UV-vis data. It was found that the pH of the solution had an effect both on the kinetics and the mechanisms of reaction. The ratio of amino acid to platinum also affected the kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions involving the sulfides. Overall the initial reactions of the sulfides were about two orders of magnitude faster than those of the sulfoxides. Results of this research were presented at a departmental poster session in August 2001 and at Family Weekend in October 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "Conductivity Studies on Cross-linked Siloxane Polymers Using Lithium Salt." Felipe Bautista [Professor Leslie Lyons]. Six different cross-linked polysiloxane polymers have been prepared and doped with LiN(SO2CF3)2 at a 32:1 oxygen to lithium ratio. These polymers form gel-like polymer-salt complexes after remaining at ~80 °C for 24 to 39 hours. The ionic conductivites of these gels were determined as a function of temperature. Conductivites at 37 °C are in the range of 10-4 and 10-5 Scm-1, with the highest one being 1.64x10-4 Scm-1. It seems that segmental motion is not significantly involved in the conductivity process, but rather ion hoping alone is what causes high ionic conductivities. As a new feature, these gel polymers are solid but still flexible, making them perfect candidates to be used in lithium batteries, as there will be no need for a container to hold the polymer. Such characteristics will allow for the creation of more efficient and less costly lithium batteries that could be used in new biocompatible devices such as in vivo insulin pumps and neurostimulators. Results of this research were presented at Family Weekend in October 2001, and at the PEW Physical Sciences poster session.

CHEMISTRY: "Spectroscopic Studies of Lithium Salts with Three Poly(siloxane) Polymer Electrolytes." Jon Dalgleish [Professor Leslie Lyons]. I will be looking at ion mobility of lithium salts within six oxygen side chain poly(siloxane) comb polymers. I will use a variety of spectroscopic techniques and instrumentation in my project which include FTIR, 7Li NMR, and pfg-NMR. Basic familiarity with these instruments came from chemistry courses completed during the past two academic years and I will now apply and expand on that knowledge to look in-depth at these polymer electrolytes. Results were presented at Family Weekend in October 2001, at the PEW Physical Sciences poster session, and will be presented at the Pittsburgh Conference on analytical chemistry, March 2002 in New Orleans.

CHEMISTRY: "The Use of Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry to Study Protein Dynamics." Janelle Raborn [Professor Elaine Marzluff]. Finding a buffer to quench isomeric exchange and a successful enzyme digestion method proved to be more difficult than expected. The majority of the summer was spent researching various buffers and quench conditions in order to develop a successful quench method. It was discovered that keeping the temperature near 0ºC was important to maintain a successful quench. The remainder of the summer was spent experimenting with enzyme digestion methods. It was determined that the presence of the enzyme pepsin disrupted the signal. To solve this problem, microfugal filters were used to separate the enzyme from the protein fragments. Pepsin digestion coupled with microfugal filtering produced an ESI/MS spectra with cytochrome c fragments that spanned nearly the entire backbone of the protein. Now that successful methods have been developed for quenching and enzyme digestion, further experiments can be completed to determine exchange mechanisms for the proteins. Results of this research were presented at a departmental session, August 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "A Study of Protein Dynamics Using H/D Exchange with MS and NMR." Leah Blasiak [Professor Elaine Marzluff]. The goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of three proteins: ubiquitin, lysozyme, and insulin. The technique of hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange will be used to label the portions of the protein involved in its secondary structure. This is possible because the protons that participate in hydrogen bonding or that are buried in the center of the protein will exchange at a slower rate than those exposed to the solvent. I will use the complimentary techniques of mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to observe the rate and location of H/D exchange. I hope to learn more about the flexibility and motions of proteins and possibly gain insight into the mechanism of H/D exchange. Results of this research were presented at a departmentalsession, August 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "Using Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and H/D Exchange to Investigate Inhibition Sites on Calmodulin and Troponin C." Boram Um [Professor Elaine Marzluff]. The development of electrospray ionization (ESI) during the last decade enabled researchers to probe proteins and non-covalent complexes quickly and accurately by mass spectrometry (MS). Using ESI-MS coupled with hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange and collision induced dissociation (CID), we probed the binding region of calmodulin (CaM) and melittin. The H/D exchange data of the fragments produced by CID showed that the first twelve residues of melittin are in interaction with CaM. Results of this research were presented at a departmental session, August 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "Synthesis and Characterization of Coordinatively Unsaturated molybdenum (VI) di-imido Complexes." Frances Namuswe [Professor Martin Minelli]. I will synthesize and study the properties of coordinatively unsaturated molybdenum (VI) di-imido complexes. I will react the di-imido complex Mo(NR)2Cl2(dme) with two tridentate ligands, salicylidene-2-aminophenol (sip) and salicylidene-2-aminothiophenol(sma). The syntheses will be carried out using the Schlenk technique under an argon atmosphere. The products will be analyzed by NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy, ion mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. With this, I will study how the physical, electrochemical and NMR properties of these complexes depend on the R-groups on the imido ligands, and how they depend on the other ligands on the molybdenum. For instance, I expect the chemical shift of the molybdenum peak to be more deshielded by the more electronegative R-group on the imido ligand. Also, since the complexes are unsaturated, I expect to see some dimers, and/or monomers if coordinating solvents are used. Results of this research were presented at a departmental poster session, August 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "The Synthesis and Characterization of Mo(VI)(N-2,6-C6H3Me2)2(ONEt2)2 and Derivatives." Donald Brown [Professor Martin Minelli]. The proposed project is the exploration of molybdenum(VI) di-imido complexes in three related projects. First, I will focus on the synthesis and characterization of the Mo(VI)(N-2,6-C6H3Me2)2(ONEt2)2. To do this I will synthesize the starting material, Mo(N-2,6-C6H3Me2)2Cl2(DME), and react it with two equivalents of diethylhydroxylamine and triethylamine. The second part of my research will be observing the effects different R-groups of the imido group have on the complexes. In the case of the imido-ureato complex, I will use these di-imido complexes to synthesize the MO(VI) imido-ureato complex Mo(NC6H5)(C6H5NC(O)NC6H5)(ONEt2)2. Also, I want to see how the R-groups on the imido ligand affect the formation of the ureato ligand. The different molybdenum complexes that will be synthesized are Mo(N-2,6-C6H3-i-Pr2)2Cl2(DME), Mo(N-2,6-C6H3Me2)2Cl2(DME), Mo(N-2-C6H4-t-Bu)2Cl2(DME), Mo(NC6F5)2Cl2(DME), Mo(NPh)2Cl2(DME). The third project, as mentioned above, is the synthesis of the imido-ureato complex, and exploring if di-imido complex Mo(VI)(N-2,6-Me2Ph)2(ONEt2)2 is an intermediate in the formation of this imido-ureato when MoO2(ONEt2)2 is reacted with excess phenylisocynate. All complexes will be characterized by 1H, 14N, and 95Mo NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and, if possible, x-ray crystallography. Results of this research were presented at a departmental poster session, August 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "Exploration of the characteristics of hydrido-bis-(cyclopentadienyl)tungsten-di-t-butylstannyl chloride in the synthesis of bis-(cyclopentadienyl)tungsten-di-t-butylstannylene." Gamaliel Dominguez, Jr. [Professor Andrew Mobley]. I will be researching the characteristics of hydrido-bis-(cyclopentadienyl)tungsten-di-t-butylstannyl chloride in the synthesis of bis-(cyclopentadienyl)tungsten-di-t-butylstannylene. This summer I will attempt to synthesize bis-(cyclopentadienyl)tungsten-di-t-butylstannylene. This is a continuation of the research started by Vargas (Summer 1999), Wolf (Summer 1999), and Nti-Addae (Summer 2000). I will use procedures in Nti-Addae's notes to synthesize an intermediate compound. I will attempt to remove the chlorine on the intermediate compound by methods used by other researchers in removing chlorine from other compounds similar or not. My project is relatively new and has not been performed by someone else. I predict that I will be successful in removing the chlorine with the methods outlined in my proposal and that I will help achieve the overall goal, which is the synthesis of a nucleophilic stannylene which has never been synthesized.

CHEMISTRY: "The Investigation of Human Neuronal nAChRs Through Mutagenesis." Jane Chang [Professor Mark Levandoski]. In this research, we will be studying the binding of levamisole to human neuronal a3ß2 and a3ß4 nAChRs through mutagenesis of the ß subunits. The methods to be used are mutagenesis of the cDNA for the ß subunits, transcription of the mutant cDNA into mRNA, and use of Xenopus oocytes to express the mutant receptors. The mutant receptors expressed by the oocytes will be tested for their response to acetylcholine and levamisole using the voltage clamp technique. We expect to find the binding sites of levamisole to the a3ß2 and a3ß4 nAChRs and thus create a model describing the behavior of levamisole on these receptors. Results of this research were presented at a departmental poster session, at Family Weekend, and at the PEW Physical Sciences symposium, Fall 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "Purification and Identification of Zebrafish a7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine." Margaret Seater [Professor Mark Levandoski]. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) will be an ideal model system for the study of nAcChRs. Zebrafish are an excellent material for cellular studies because their embryos are transparent. Transparent embryos provide a unique opportunity to visualize in situ hybridization and radio labeling experiments. In order to promote nAcChR research in zebrafish, we propose to isolate and characterize zebrafish neuronal nAcChR. nAcChR will be isolated by ion exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography. We will use electrophoretic transfer techniques, micro-sequence analysis, and other biochemical techniques to characterize the receptor. We hope zebrafish will provide a powerful model system to study nAcChR. Results were presented at a departmental poster session, at Family Weekend, and at the PEW Physical Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fall 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "PHIP-NMR Studies of DuPHOS." Richard Corley [Professor Andrew Mobley]. DuPHOS is a relatively new Rhodium based catalyst used to catalyze asymmetric hydrogenation reactions, which are important in many areas of organic synthesis, particularly in the production of optically pure amino acids and amino acid derivatives. PHIP-NMR a technique which uses para-hydrogen to dramatically increase the sensitivity of a NMR spectrometer will be used to observe low concentration transitive intermediates in Rh-DuPHOS catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation.

CHEMISTRY: "The Study of New Organometallic Compounds: Synthesis and Characterization of bis-cyclopentadienyl molybdenum di-t-butylstannylene." John Kramer [Professor Andrew Mobley]. My research for this summer followed closely the work of Nti-Addae (Summer 2000) in his attempt to synthesize a nuclephilic stannylene. The first objective of my summer research, which was the synthesis of the intermediate hydridobis(cyclopentadienyl) molybdenum di-t-butylstannane chloride, was quite successful. I was able to obtain 1.0153 g of a relatively clean product without purification, which was an 87.0% yield. Attempts to deprotonate the intermediate to form the stannylene were not successful as determined by H, C, and Sn NMR spectroscopy. Bases that were used included sodium hydride, bulylithium, t-butyllithium, phenyllithium, lithium piperdide, and a "superbase" of potassium t-butoxide and butyllithium. The conditions of reaction such as temperature, time, and stoichiometry were varried but formation of the stannylene was not observed. Future work will likely involve changing the substituents on the intermediate to make it more favorable for deprotonation.

CHEMISTRY: "The Synthesis of bis-(cyclopentadienyl)tungsten di-t-butylstannylene." Rochelle Gandour [Professor Andrew Mobley]. The goal of this MAP was to synthesize and study bis-(cyclopentadienyl)tungsten di-t-butylstannylene, a novel transition metal stannylene. The work followed closely on the results of the work done by Nti-Addae (Summer 2000) over the past year. In addition, a careful literature search provided insight to the chemistry involved in and surrounding this work. A mastery of oxygen- and moisture-free (Schlenk) laboratory techniques was essential to make this organometallic chemistry possible. A departmental talk, laboratory notebook, final paper, and poster presentation tied the research together and made the results available to others. Though the proposed compound was not made, one route of synthesis can now be characterized fully as ineffective. Other methods should now be attempted in the synthesis of this compound. If the proposed compound is eventually made, it will provide new and unique insight to a number of chemical phenomena.

CHEMISTRY: "The Synthesis of Natural Product with Antifungal Properties Isolated from Bucida." Johnathon Smith [Professor Andrew Mobley]. Dr. Karen Lowell has recently isolated compounds from a biological source which preliminary work indicates have antifungal and antibiotic properties. The structure of these compounds has been determined in previous work by Dr. Lowell and myself, but the absolute stereochemical configuration has not yet been elucidated. The work undertaken by Johnathon was an exploratory investigation of the stereochemical identification of these compounds by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic experiments and by stereoselective synthesis of the various diastereomers. The project was primarily laboratory research but required extensive research in the literature to find the best synthetic route. He will continue his research in Spring 2002.

CHEMISTRY: "Investigation of Ionization State of Flavin Hydroquinone in Wild-type and Asp 120 Asn MTHFR." Emily Burke [Professor Elizabeth Trimmer]. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a flavin enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2-H4folate) to methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3-H4folate). MTHFR is an important flavin enzyme to study due to folate's role in lessening heart disease and neural birth defects. In MTHFR, the amino acid Aspartate 120 (Asp 120) resides near the N1-C2=0 position of the flavin, and we want to investigate how the Asp 120 interacts with the flavin at the N1-C2=0 position and whether Asp 120 is a redox-linked amino acid. I will be determining the midpoint potential (Em) of the wild-type MTHFR and a mutant MTHFR enzyme containing an Asparagine (Asn), a neutral amide, in place of Asp 120, a carboxylate. The Em of the wild-type and the mutant will be determined at pH 7.2 (the pH of the enzyme's physiological environment), and at pH levels from 6-10 to determine the protonation state of the reduced MTHFR. To find the Em, I will utilize the xanthine/xanthine oxidase reducing system, take spectrum using an ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer, and do a series of calculations using the Nernst equation. In addition, I will also react MTHFR with sulfite to determine if the negatively charge Asp 120 affects this reaction. Results of this research were presented at Family Weekend and at the PEW Midstates Science & Math Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fall 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "Construction and Characterization of E. coli Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Mutant, Asp 120Ser." Danielle Brinker [Professor Elizabeth Trimmer]. Flavoenzymes catalyze a number of diverse biochemical reactions including dehydrogenation, one and two electron, and the activation of oxygen for oxidation and hydroxylation reactions. This research centers on the flavoenzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2-H4 folate) to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3-H4 folate). This flavoenzyme is of interest because 10% of the human population has a mutation causing elevated homocysteine levels, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and fetal neural tube defects. In order to investigate the role of Asp 120 and the impact of protein environment on the coenzyme flavin adenine dinucleotide, I will make an Asp 120Ser mutant MTHFR enzyme this summer and measure its kinetic properties through spectrophotometric enzyme assays. Results of this research were presented at Family Weekend and at the PEW Midstates Science & Math Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fall 2001.

CHEMISTRY: "The Synthesis of 2-Nitroindole." Nicholas Palmer [Professor Hernando Trujillo]. We proposed a new route to synthesize 2-nitroindole, potentially a convenient intermediate in the synthesis of carbazole, an important naturally-occuring ring structure. Previous syntheses resulted in low yields of 2-nitroindole and used toxic and unpredictable intermediates. By directing the nitration of indole with a trimethylsilyl group, we anticipated we could increase the yield of 2-nitroindole while also providing a safer, more general route of synthesis. We found the nitration was not directed to the 2-position as well as we hoped and found only traces of the final product. We did, however, produce and characterize 1-phenylsulfonyl-2- (trimethylsilyl)indole in the course of the reaction. This compound has not previously been reported. This is the compound from which we proposed to produce 2-nitroindole, so further experimentation with different nitrating agents holds much promise. Results of this research were presented at a departmental poster session, Fall 2001.

ECONOMICS: "The Origin of Marginal Economics in Richard Ely's Textbook Outlines of Economics." Gustavo Torres [Professor Brad Bateman]. The examination of Richard Ely's Outlines of Economics and contemporary secondary sources suggested that two eras of neoclassical economics have existed in the history of economic thought. The second, and most widely recognized neoclassical era is traditionally thought to have begun after World War II by Paul Samuelson. My findings (supported by Yuval Yonay in The Struggle Over the Soul of Economics) indicated that this traditional approach to neoclassical development in America is erroneous. The first neoclassical era in America existed nearly 35 years before Samuelson's neoclassical text, between 1870-1914, and was introduced by a group of economic rebels that included Richard Ely.

ECONOMICS: "Educational Quality and Earnings." Katharine Anderson [Professor Mark Montgomery]. The paper I hope to write using the Wave IV GMAC data set examines the effects of education on earnings. I will attempt to estimate the wage value of attending elite institutions of higher education, both graduate and undergraduate. Consider, for example, the prestige of the undergraduate school. Other studies have tried to measure its direct effect on wages in the post-graduate job market. But there is also an indirect effect: an elite college opens doors to elite business schools which lead to higher salaries, etc. This effect has not yet been examined. The question of salary premiums for attending an elite school has obvious importance to students choosing their educational paths. Results will be presented at the Midwest Economics Meeting, March 2002.

ECONOMICS: "Equity Valuation Prophecies." Ammar Bandukwala [Professor Paul Munyon]. This MAP will investigate the alternative claims made in the financial press about how equities should be valued in the new economy. The time-frame for this study will be 1998 to 2001. The methodology will focus on identifying the explicit and implicit assumptions behind claims about a new way of valuing equities and testing those assumptions against traditional models of equity valuation. The research will involve primary research in the financial press, model building, testing and evaluating the results of the tests.

EDUCATION: "Curriculum Development and Pedagogical Theory for Preadolescent Females." Alison Brown, Mary Backes [Professor Kara Lycke]. This MAP will involve research in the areas of educational psychology, motivation, cognitive theory, gender theory, mathematical methods and creative pedagogical strategies, and will culminate in the development of a mathematics curriculum for seventh graders.

EDUCATION: "Student Interactions in Small Groups." Nancy Pellowski [Professor Martha Voyles]. This summer I will be assisting in an ongoing study of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders building and programming robots using Robolab software. I will help plan the courses and course material for the summer 2001 classes, and I will attend and assist in teaching these classes in Wisconsin for two weeks. For my research paper, I will be analyzing student interactions within same sex and coeducational small groups in the classes. First I will obtain and read literature on these types of interactions and examine relevant parts of transcripts from the summers of 1999, 2000, and 2001. Then I will develop a coding scheme for the data and test it on a small sample of data. I will tally the data and perform statistical tests to analyze it for my final formal research paper. For my MAP, results were calculated only for the single sex data because the coeducational data was not coded yet. It was statisticaly significant that males and females differed in the kinds of questions asked to one another. All other results were not statistically significant. Final results will be reported next summer using all the data. Nancy presented a poster at Family Weekend, Fall 2001.

EDUCATION: "Gender Differences in Motivation and Attributions in Technology." Alison Williams [Professor Martha Voyles]. This MAP is part of an ongoing research project by Martha Voyles and her collaborator, Gena Guttshaw, from the University of Minnesota. The past two summers, Voyes and Guttshaw studied fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders in single-sex groups of three working together on a Lego robotics project using Robolab software. This one-week program was part of the University of Wisconsin Parkside's "Children's College." Alison will be joining Voyles, Guttshaw, and two other Grinnell students in Wisconsin this summer to study groups of children, this time in mixed-sex groups of three. In order to answer her research questions, "Do boys and girls attribute their successes and failures differently?," Alison will collect, code and analyze data from the videotaped groups and from student, teacher, and parent interviews. Alison's research culminated with a formal research proposal and a poster presentation during Family Weekend in the Fall of 2001.

GENDER & WOMEN'S STUDIES: "Oral History and Creative Application." Jacob Rhoads [Professor Kathleen Skerrett]. The project focuses on what may be termed 'philosophy of life,' the ever-changing structure by which people make decisions and choose their actions in the world, which is composed from such things as beliefs, opinions, suppositions, unique experience-based knowledge, personal history, and societal influence. While admitting that there is no possibility of fully comprehending another's philosophy of life, I propose to look to each of these categories in order to gain a better understanding of how decisions were made in and affected four different lives--those of my grandparents. I will conduct a series of tape-recorded interviews with each grandparent, portions of which will be transcribed in the final product, which will be a portrait constructed through a combination of oral history, creative non-fiction, personal reflection, and visual art.

GENDER & WOMEN'S STUDIES: "Images of Woman Saints." Sara Barr [Professor Kathleen Skerrett]. This project will compare the ways in which woman saints are portrayed in art with how they portray themselves in their works. I will look at women such as Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avilla, Catherine of Siena, and Claire of Assisi. I will look at how these women are shown in various works of art, and especially how they are portrayed on the covers of modern publications of their works. I will look at the gendered symbolism that the artists give their bodies. Furthermore, how do modern publishers choose to portray these women on the covers of their own works? What do the publishers intend to convey when they select a picture representing the woman saint? What aspects do they think the modern reader will relate to? How do they portray men (John of the Cross, Bernard of Clairvoux, Francis of Assisi, etc.) in comparison with the women? I will look at series such as the Classics of Western Spirituality series to compare how female and male saints are portrayed differently by modern publishers. Sara presented her results on campus, November 2001.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE: "Classifying Virtual Knots on the Surface of a Torus." Jared Corduan [Professor Royce Wolf]. This past summer I did not find a classification of all virtual knots on the torus, though I did discover some interesting things. My first hypothesis was that all virtual torus knots relate to classical torus knots in a very specific way, namely that all virtual torus knots are what I call "plucked" torus knots. Plucked torus knots are knots that are derived from classical torus knots by a procedure which I defined. I proved this hypothesis to be false. My next hypothesis was that all classical knots, torus or non-torus, are virtual torus knots. I did not succeed in proving this hypothesis to be true or false, though I did show that a handful of classical non-torus knots are virtual torus knots, a pretty odd result. This summer I was also able to collect a substantial amount of the literature that is available on virtual knots. Jared presented a poster at Family Weekend 2001. Presented "Virtual Torus Knots" on campus, April 2002.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE: "Flows on the Sphere." Daisuke Ueno [Professor Marc Chamberland]. The main purpose of this project is to investigate the dynamics of autonomous differential equations on a spherical surface, which exhibit unique characteristics, although the dynamics can be equivalently carried over to those on the plane. All orbits on the sphere are bounded, and hence subject to the Poincare-Bendixson Theorem. We will first qualitatively analyze the types of possible flows on the sphere in conjunction with the number of equilibrium points. Index Theory will help us categorize the possible dynamics. Later, we will attempt to develop concrete examples that describe the systems mathematically. Results were presented at a departmental seminar and at Family Weekend 2001.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE: "Independent Research." John Wray [Professor Marc Chamberland]. This summer, I worked with strings of four general numbers, (a,b,c,d). Using previous summer research projects by Oleksiy Andriychenko and Dolph Robb as background information, I studied the number strings of length four using asymmetric weightings. I determined properties of strings with a (-1, 3, -2) weighting to see where such strings iterate to. In my paper I disclosed five theorems which I was able to prove during my research. While I was unable to generalize my results for all 4-strings with this particular weighting, I feel very close to a solution and am confident that with a little more work, the problem will be completed. I hope that by achieving this, I will help those who are researching the 3x+1 problem, as my research is in many ways connected to the 3x+1 problem due to the unique weighting of number strings. Results were presented at a departmental seminar and at Family Weekend 2001.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE: "Universal Covers." Ari MacKinnon [Professor Charles Jepsen]. The general problem that inspired the research I will carry out this summer is the problem of finding the set of smallest area that is a universal cover for all triangles of perimeter two. In this generality the problem is unsolved. However, there is a substantial body of literature that documents solutions for the problem in particular cases, for particular shapes. For example, the smallest rectangle, square and equilateral triangle that respectively cover all triangles of perimeter two are known. Professor John E. Wetzel is responsible in large part for the discovery of the rectangle, square and equilateral triangle of least area that act as universal covers for all triangles of perimeter two. His research has led to several interesting questions, two of which he proposed in a paper titled "Boxes for Isoperimetric Triangles," which appears in the October 2000 edition of Mathematics Magazine. Wetzel asks, "1. Find the smallest triangle similar to a given triangle that can cover every triangle of perimeter two, or every rectangle of perimeter two" and "2. It is easy to see that every triangle of perimeter two has a circumscribed rectangle whose area is no larger than 2*(sqrt.(3))/9, and since the equilateral triangle of perimeter two lies in no smaller rectangle, this constant is sharp. How large a circumscribed rectangle can one guarantee?" My proposed MAP problem is to answer these two questions, and to write a research paper documenting my findings. Ari gave a Journal Club presentation explaining the findings of the research, and elaborating on the processes that led to the results. Results were also presented at a Family Weekend poster session, Fall 2001. Ari presented "Covers for Triangles of Perimeter 2"" on campus, April 2002.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE: "The Game of Life in Finite Arrays." Rajendra Magar [Professor Marc Chamberland]. This project is a continuation of Ole Nelson's work in Summer 2000. Ole conjectured, last summer, that all possible dimesions of tori have a cycle which would not cycle in the infinite grid. My major goal this summer was to test the conjecture and work on an underlying theorem. In our attempt to prove and write the theorem, we focused on the columns of a torus, which is actually the idea initiated by Ole. All the even string lengths (number of columns) have at least one initial state that cycles and it is very easy to show that a composite number will yield a cycle if one of its prime factors has a cycle. This narrows the testing down to prime numbers only. However, dealing with the prime numbers only was not easy, so we tried to come up with a more general strategy. One was to look at odd numbers. When looking at odd numbers, we considered numbers congruent to n mod 8, where n<8 and odd. The string lengths congruent to 3 mod 8, and 1 mod 8 seemed very cooperative in the sense that it was easy to observe cycles with some configurations, while those congruent to 5 mod 8 and 7 mod 8 were not as friendly. Ole had conjectured that for numbers of the form 3(2^k)-1 and 3(2^k)-3, there is a 2^k cycle for k>1. I was able to prove the theorem for this. While each of these two expressions covers infinitely many odd numbers, it still leaves behind a huge collection of other odd numbers between any two consecutive numbers in the series with the collection getting bigger as the value of k increases. The other general strategy was to try to discover an algebraic polynomial that would assist us in looking for cycles, but we could not make much progress. While the conjecture is very viable, it does not seem like there is one single general strategy that will help us through proving it. If there is one, it is obviously not an easy one. This fragmented analysis seems to be helpful, but it is not cooperative when it comes to dealing mathematically. To see all the work done on this project, go to http://www.math.grin.edu/~magar/SummerResearch/LifeInColumns.cgi
Results were presented at a departmental seminar and at Family Weekend 2001.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE: "Dissections of Rectangles." Ming Gu [Professor Charles Jepsen]. We wanted to find if it is possible to dissect a p:q rectangle into a finite number of p:q rectangular elements of different sizes. For each possible case, we wanted to find p and q. Prior to this summer, Professor Jepsen and his colleagues have found through a computer search that there are two, three and three ways of dissecting a rectangle into 10, 11, and 12 elements respectively. This summer, my project was to find the number of ways to dissect a rectangle into 13 elements of the same ratio but different sizes. I applied my past experiences in linear algebra, combinatorics and computer programming to write a program in Maple to achieve this task. After much code optimization and system tuning, I was able to run my Maple program on 12 machines simultaneously. It took 5 days for the entire search to be finished. Mr. Jepsen and I were very excited to find that there exist 26 simple perfect dissections for order 13, a significant increase from that of lower orders. The final product of this project was a paper explaining the program and giving the results obtained and a Math/CS Journal Club presentation. Results were also presented at a Family Weekend poster session, Fall 2001. Presented "Dissecting a p:q rectangle into 13 pieces" on campus, February 2002.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE: "Clio: Exploring Web Usage." Joe Simonson, Greg Fuller [Professor Sam Rebelsky]. The World Wide Web has been increasingly used in classrooms since its inception, but there has been little formal evaluation, due to inadequate analysis tools, of its effects on learning. The 2001 Clio team built upon the research done by the 2000 team and extended the scope of Clio from an application for creating unique web logs to a functional web log generator and analyzer. The analysis of the specialized Web server logs assists educators in discovering how their students use the Web. The software constructed provides the analyzer with directed graph, bar graph, summary, slideshow, and other capabilities. By the conclusion of the summer, the 2001 Clio team had created a Web-based method of exploring and analyzing the specialized Web logs. Results were presented at a departmental seminar and at Family Weekend, Fall 2001.

MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE: "Annotating the World Wide Web." Elias Vafiadis, Joshua Vickery, Khong Lovan [Professor Sam Rebelsky]. This summer we worked on the Annotations system originally developed by Rachel Heck, Sarah Luebke, and Hilary Mason. The system allows users to annotate any web page, reply to existing annotations, and search through existing annotations. This tool permits discussions on static web pages, personal notes, and more interaction on the World Wide Web (WWW). Our goal this summer was to make the system reliable and the user interface seamless, while adding to the system's overall functionality. Research this summer focused on three key aspects of the system: first, the manner in which web pages are identified by the system; second, the way in which annotations are located and placed in documents; and third, the user interface. Results were presented at a departmental seminar and at Family Weekend, Fall 2001.

MUSIC: "Soundscape Composition: Exploring Grinnell." Natalie Kneip [Professor Jon Chenette]. This summer I completed the first half of a larger composition project that will be finished this fall in Chicago with ACM Chicago Arts. I examined and sampled various soundscapes in the Grinnell area and completed a set of three pieces. I also researched soundscape and environmental composition before embarking on my own soundscape project. The samples incorporated common outdoor sounds found in natural areas, downtown, and outdoor social areas, as well as some noise from previously published CDs. I explored the way living in Grinnell on my own affected my state of mind, and used some original poetry in the presentation of these musical discoveries. All samples were well documented and any copyrights were observed. The set of pieces ended up being approximately 13 minutes in length. I also wrote a brief paper describing my experiences this summer, and compiled a performance-ready CD and poster for Parents' Weekend. Created poster display to accompany CD recordings of compositions for Family Weekend, Fall 2001.

MUSIC: "Iowa Soundscapes: A Multimedia Approach." David McClelland [Professor Jon Chenette]. This summer I will be composing electronic music based on recordings made in Iowa soundscapes. The composition will be divided into separate movements developing the themes of Iowa's contrasting natural, geo-political, and social boundaries. In particular, the music will focus on how natural and human-made sounds divide and define space and time. In tandem with composing, I will be developing an interactive Flash-based website for presentation of the music. The website will provide an artistic and academic context for the composition, featuring photographs and maps of recording sites, quotes from research materials and interviews, and explanatory text.

PHILOSOPHY: "Subjectivity and Power: Habermas and Foucault." Erinn Gilson [Professor Johanna Meehan]. Jürgen Habermas and Michel Foucault are two of the preeminent social theorists of the twentieth century. While each has offered a compelling account of subject formation I believe that neither fully captures the complexity that characterizes the subject. Habermas’ account of a fully linguistic process of socialization results in a subject that is completely autonomous, rational, and ultimately capable of self-reflection and constitution. Such an account finds difficulty in dealing with the volatile, and occasionally inexplicable, emotions that are an inextirpable part of the experience of the human subject. Foucault’s theory, on the other hand, falls more in line with a postmodern account of a decentered subject that is constituted by myriad power relations. His theory leaves too many questions unasked and unresolved. For a theory that focuses on the constitution of the subject within the social world, Foucault falters in his failure to appreciate the intersubjective nature of that social world and the role relations between subjects plays in subject formation. Despite their radically divergent theories of subject formation, Habermas and Foucault share a simplification of the unconscious. Rectifying this lacuna in both their accounts would, I have argued, demonstrate the necessity of drawing their theories together. An account of subject formation that explicates how the psychic and the social, and the unconscious and the conscious interact will illuminate the possibility that Habermasian and Foucaultian perspectives each have something to glean from the other, and neither is complete without aspects of the other. A psychic account of subject formation elucidates the development of conscience as well as the normatively ambivalent nature of social norms. In this respect, feminist and psychoanalytic theory can reveal the necessity and desirability of conscience and norms for Foucaultian theory, as well as the ambiguous content of social norms and their influence on the subject for Habermasian theory.

PHILOSOPHY: "Heidegger's Being and Time." Andrew Gorski [Professor Johanna Meehan]. I will be studying Marten Heidegger's magnum opus Being and Time. This key work of the twentieth century is a revolutionary inquiry of the human situation. Being in Time is perhaps best described as a re-examination of the Greek question of Being a through lens of phenomenology. Each week I will read a section of Being and Time as well as corresponding sections of appropriate secondary sources. At the end of each week, I will discuss my readings with my faculty advisor. My research will culminate in a paper due at the end of the summer and a presentation sometime thereafter.

PHYSICS: "Gamma-Ray Spectral Analysis of Markarian 421." Claire Christensen [Professor Charles Duke]. Within the first few weeks of beginning my MAP, the scope of my project narrowed to focus on analyzing the variability timescale of the flux of high-energy gamma rays emitted by the active galactic nucleus, Markarian 421. My task became twofold: I had to write a number of MatLab programs that first read in huge files of gamma-ray event data, and that then cleaned this data (i.e. removed non-gamma events); I then created another program that both binned the cut data on different timescales and that performed a statistical analysis on this binned data. The latter program employed a modified chi-squared analysis to determine whether or not the emissions from Markarian 421 were constant about a mean emission rate. Although further analyses must be performed, it appears that the minimum timescale for flux variability of high-energy gamma rays from Markarian 421 is on the order of 10 minutes. Results were presented at a departmental seminar and at Family Weekend, Fall 2001.

PHYSICS: "Energy Spectrum Analysis of Markarian 421." Morgan Page [Professor Charles Duke]. Very high-energy (VHE) gamma rays are created by some of the most powerful processes in the universe, and they therefore can give unique information about the inner dynamics of supernova remnants, pulsars, and active galactic nuclei (AGN). We will be studying gamma rays in the 300 GeV to 100 TeV range, as are seen by instruments such as the Whipple Telescope at the Fred Lawrence Observatory. In particular, we will be investigating the behavior of Markarian 421, an AGN, during a flare that included the Spring 2000 and the Fall 2000 observing sessions at the Whipple Observatory. We plan to look for periodicity in the data, as well as investigate how the energy spectrum varies with flux. Results were presented at a departmental seminar and at Family Weekend, Fall 2001.

PHYSICS: "Magnetic Transitions in REAuCu4 Single Crystals." Heather Thiessen [Professor Charles Cunningham]. I propose to study the magnetic, thermodynamic, and transport properties of cubic REAuCu4 single crystals. These materials are rare-earth transition metal intermetallics whose electronic ground states are determined by the cubic crystalline electric field and by the interaction of the rare earthsí 4f electrons via 4d conduction electron intermediaries. Some of these compounds have been studied in polycrystalline samples; however, mine will be the first study of these compounds in single-crystal form. The principal advantage of using single crystals is that I will be able to align high-symmetry directions of sample crystals with an applied field to look for anisotropies. My studies will yield magnetic phase diagrams, which I can compare with the magnetic phase diagrams of the structurally-similar REAgCu4 single crystals already characterized by Dr. Cunningham. I will also look for evidence of superzone gap formation, indicating the likely presence of Fermi surface nesting. Results were presented at the Family Weekend poster session and at a departmental seminar.

POLITICAL SCIENCE: "Between Black and White: Affirmative Action, Proceduralism, and Habermas." Joseph Nelson [Professor Leonard Feldman]. Relying on important insights developed by the German social theorist Jurgen Habermas, this study was aimed at investigating questions surrounding the anti-affirmative action backlash. Three sets of questions guided the investigation of the matter at hand: (a) historically, is there evidence that the American polity has allowed for open and unconstrained deliberation in the public political sphere about the necessity and legitimacy of affirmative action policies? (b) Are affirmative action policies in accordance with the procedural framework of the Constitution? (c) If affirmative action policies prove to be legitimate according to the two standards above, how can we institutionalize these policies so that they effectively address the economic and educational discrimination that hinders the ability of American blacks for self-realization and equality?

PSYCHOLOGY: "The Effects of Prefrontal Cortex Lesions on Fear-Potentiated Startle and Anxiety." Megan Hagenauer [Professor Nancy Rempel-Clower]. The purpose of my investigation is to examine the role of the medial and orbital prefrontal cortices in anxiety and the acquisition of emotional memory. I will explore this question by creating lesions of the medial and orbital prefrontal cortices in two respective groups of rats, and performing sham lesions on a third group of rats. I will then compare the performance of these groups of rats on various behavioral tasks. Two standard paradigms - the elevated zero maze and the open field test - will be used to measure the lesions' effects on the innate anxiety levels of the rats. Another standard paradigm - the fear-potentiated startle - will be used to measure the lesions' effects on the acquisition of fear conditioning. Based on related research by Grinnell seniors Matt Blankenship and Maulik Patel last year with Professor Rempel-Clower, I expect that the rats with the medial prefrontal cortex lesions will have elevated anxiety and that the rats with the orbital prefrontal cortex lesions will have enhanced acquisition of fear conditioning. Results were presented in a Family Weekend poster session.

PSYCHOLOGY: "Neurochemical Modulation of Memory Consolidation." Ania Mikos [Professor Ken Short]. It is well known that emotional arousal enhances memory. We can study the interplay of certain neurotransmitters related to emotional arousal with the process of memory consolidation by training rats to make fear-related associations and then injecting a drug which interferes with a neurotransmitter that is normally involved. My research first addresses the question of whether peripheral injections of a norepinephrine antagonist have the same effects as injections into the amygdala, the part of the brain thought to be highly involved in emotion and memory. This research is geared towards resolving a discrepancy in the literature on norepinephrine-involved modulation of memory. Second, I will turn to serotonin, another neurotransmitter involved in memory consolidation. I will attempt to determine whether serotonin exhibits biphasic effects on memory consolidation, as has been suggested in the literature. Results were presented at Family Weekend, Fall 2001.

THEATRE: "Mask Making and Performance Study." John Catron [Professor Christopher Connelly]. I spent the summer exploring some possibilities of wood and papier mache mask making construction. Over the ten week MAP period I designed and created twenty five masks intended to be used by actors in a performance study setting. In mid-October I will be conducting a mask workshop with these masks. There is also a possibility I might develop a one-man show using the masks later this year. John participated in "Bridging Projects on Masks" in summer 2001.

THEATRE: "Filming Contemporary Expressionism." Alicia Reid [Professor Christopher Connelly]. This MAP will begin with an investigation into fundamentally persistent definitions of the cultural movement known as Expressionism. This movement encompasses many fields: music, dramatic literature, painting, sculpture, dance, and film. By examining examples of works from these fields and art historical criticism, I will find a working definition of Expressionism to apply to the style, structure and theme of a short original narrative film.