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Abstracts Issue | Spring 2012
2012
Abstracts
Issue
In this preview, URJiit introduces you
to the very best of our university's
undergraduate researchers for the
2011-2012 academic year. Read and
enjoy the abstracts provided here and
keep an eye out for the full articles in
our upcoming premiere issue.
URJiit Staff:
Letter From the Editors
Welcome to the first Spring Abstracts issue of
the Undergraduate Research Journal of Illinois
Institute of Technology (URJiit). It has been a busy
semester for the URJiit team as we have worked
diligently to compile, edit, and publish a variety of
undergraduate research submissions.
Research is a means by which the world
discovers, solves problems, and grows; it is a
fundamental discipline for undergraduate students,
especially at such an institution as Illinois Tech, where
scholarly opportunities abound in nearly every
academic realm. It is the goal of URJiit to highlight
and display this research with the hopes of
disseminating scientific knowledge and inspiring
future intellectual endeavors.
URJiit sprouted into an official student
organization through the efforts of IPRO 321 students
one year ago. In its first year of publication, the journal
has built upon this original foundation and will
continue to grow, extending its roots further into the
IIT community and beyond.
This issue serves as a preview to the first full
edition of URJiit, to be published this coming fall. We
would like to thank all those students and faculty
members who have helped make this issue come to life,
effectively planting the seed which we hope will
eventually rise to the rank of a reputable
undergraduate research journal.
Nicole Valio and Mike Purdy
Editors-In-Chief
URJiit seeks to encourage and reward
research across all undergraduate
disciplines at IIT, providing a forum for
discussion and exploration of student
research projects designed to cultivate
intellectual curiosity.
First full issue coming
THIS FALL !
See back cover to learn how to become
involved / submit your research
Chris Roberts
Editing Board
Mike Purdy
Editor-in-Chief
David Ilavsky
Lead Editor
Drexler James
Editing Board
Xin "Sally" Zheng
Editing Board
Nicole Valio
Editor-in-Chief
Liang Hou
Design Board
Ciaran Shaughnessy
Design Board
Raghav Girijala
Business Manager
Nicole Valio
Editor-in-Chief
/// Applied
Sciences
Computer-Assisted Graph
Theory
In the study of networks, hard problems
sometimes become feasible if we restrict attention to k-
trees, which can then be turned into a general
solution. A k-tree is formed from a k-clique by
iteratively adding vertices and incident edges to form
new (k+1)-cliques. Previously proved by Chappell and
Pelsmajer is, for all k-trees, k<4, there exists a vertex
subset, S, that induces a subgraph where all vertices
are of degree at most 1 and max|S|≥ceiling[2n/(k+2)],
where n is the total number of vertices in any k-tree.
Expanding on Chappell and Pelsmajer’s work, this
research considers all k-trees, k>3, with these same
conditions. Our approach involves computer-assisted
search and classification of k-trees and specific
induced subgraphs that meet the conditions. After
reviewing generated graphs, we looked for patterns
and attempted to create a proof by cases followed by
another proof to show that all k-trees with k>3 fit at
least one of these cases. Three cases have been
identified and proved so far and the rest are a topic for
future study. Possible approaches include proving the
heuristic strategy explained in the technical paper
associated with this research. Also, much analysis was
done on 4-trees using one particular case. Focusing on
k-trees with k>4 using this case may lead to new
findings.
Vector-Valued Parametric
Kernel-Based Interpolation for
2D Facial Animations
This paper explores a scattered-data,
interpolation-based approach, which uses a vector-
valued parametric interpolation method for creating
tween frames. This was done by mapping a one-
dimensional curve in the domain to the codomain to
produce an animated face. Using the blendshapes
method, a 27-frame, two-dimensional, facial animation
was generated. Key-frames 1, 3, and 27 were then
used to produce similar animations with the following
interpolation methods:
After generating the three key-frame
animations for each method, the L2 Norm was used to
compare over all performance. At points 1, 13, and 27,
the error reduces to zero, indicating the reference
points used for generating the animations. Moving
away from these points, the error goes up significantly,
indicating that the gross reduction in data points is
having a substantial affect on each method’s
performance. Although these tests are still in the
preliminary stages, it is clear that each method
exhibits basic patterns and trends that may be
exploited towards increased optimization.
Figure: The colored vertices on this k-tree illustrate
a technique used to induce only subgraphs that are
k-trees. Figure: The L2 norm distance from Blend Shapes for the various methods.
Investigating the Validity of the
Black-Scholes Model
One fundamental problem in financial risk
management is the pricing of call and put options. The
fair price of an option is its expected payoff.
Computing this requires some model of how asset
prices change in future time. The Black-Scholes model
for asset prices is a popular choice. One of its
fundamental assumptions is that asset prices follow a
geometric Brownian motion with constant drift and
volatility, which implies that the underlying asset is
log-normally distributed. However, market trends
have shown this assumption to be questionable. This
research investigated the validity of the Black-Scholes
model by observing whether the volatility of the stock
price implied by market prices is truly constant. After
noting that this was not the case, a modified Black-
Scholes model, a better fit to market price data, was
investigated. These modifications imply a fatter-tailed
distribution of returns than the Black-Scholes model.
/// Engineering
Crosslinking of Natural
Biomaterials for Tissue
Engineering Applications
Hydrogels are biomaterials that have been
extensively investigated for applications in three-
dimensional tissue reconstruction and regeneration.
One example is the potential use of hydrogels for
treatment of diseased or damaged tissues in patients
with soft tissue trauma and pathological conditions
such as diabetes. Our lab previously developed a novel
method for generating extracellular matrix (ECM)-
rich, tissue-derived hydrogels from soft tissues. These
natural materials have composition and structure
specific to the ECM source and support cell
differentiation and vascularized tissue formation in
vivo. However, low stiffness and rapid degradation
hinder their potential clinical application. Crosslinking
of these materials could improve mechanical
properties, delay degradation, and prolong in vivo
lifetime. The present study investigates the effect of
glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent to
increase resistance to degradation and improve
mechanical properties of tissue-derived hydrogels.
Dermis-based ECM materials were assembled into
hydrogels through pH-induced gelation, and hydrogels
were crosslinked with GA in intervals ranging from 0.5
to 24 hrs. Compression testing results indicated a
significant increase in elastic modulus and yield stress
with increasing GA exposure time (p < 0.05).
Crosslinked hydrogels showed resistance to enzymatic
degradation compared to non-crosslinked gels.   Cell
culture and animal studies indicate that the
crosslinked hydrogels are biocompatible and induce
vascularized tissue formation. These results indicate
that GA-induced crosslinking of tissue-derived
hydrogels can prolong material lifetime and increase
mechanical strength while retaining their unique
biological properties.
/// Natural
Sciences
Influence of Androgen
Receptors on Metastatic
Potential in Prostate Cancer
Cells
Metastasis, the spread of cancer, occurs when
a malignant tumor invades its neighboring blood and
lymph vessels and then develops at distant places
throughout the body. The objective of this project was
to determine the influence of androgen receptors (AR)
on metastatic potential. An in vitro soft agar assay
was used to compare the colony-forming abilities of the
AR-positive 104-R1 and the AR-knockdown ARi cell
lines. In the assay, varying concentrations of agar
provided a three-dimensional culture environment for
anchorage-independent growth of cells to form
colonies. The colony growth of both cell lines was
monitored daily under the microscope. After fourteen
Figure: Uncrosslinked (left) and GA-crosslinked (right)
hydrogels.
days, our results showed that AR-positive cells had a
higher colony count than AR-knockout cells. In
addition, AR-positive cells showed larger and denser
colonies. These results suggest that AR-positive
prostate cancer cells are more invasive than those
from the AR-knockout cell line.
The Interaction of Natural
Organic Matter with Calcite
The Fox River in Illinois is supersaturated
with mineral calcite. However, precipitation of calcite
cannot be observed in the river, indicating the
presence of some sort of inhibitory molecule. Natural
organic matter (NOM), often found in waterways, has
been associated with forming a complexation with
calcite by bonding to its crystallization sites. For this
study, Suwannee River NOM and Nordic Reservoir
NOM were used in place of Fox River NOM because
both are readily available. The two types of NOM used
in this study were found to possess distinctly different
charge densities and were therefore used to study
NOM and calcite complexation. This difference in
charge density indicates varying types of functional
groups as part of the organic matter, providing a net
charge to the molecule as a whole. Tests were done to
find the dissociation rate of calcite in distilled water in
order to characterize the kinetics involved in a possible
complexation of calcite and NOM. The NOM
concentration in solution was measured by an
ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer by means of a
calibration curve relating UV absorbance with NOM
concentration. Calcite was added to a NOM solution,
and samples were taken at various time intervals in
the mixing process. Analysis indicated a decrease of
NOM in solution, which occurs due to complexation
with calcite with a total overall decrease of
approximately 0.5 mg NOM L-1. Although in a small
amount, NOM was found to be one of the substituents
in natural water bodies to interfere with calcite
precipitation. Further studies are being done with
various types of ions to observe other complexations.
Molecular Identification of a
Predator-Avoidance Signal for
a Globally Invasive Species of
Crab
The European shore crab, or “green crab”
(Carcinus maenas), is a globally invasive species.
Though only recently introduced to the shores of the
Pacific Northwest, by out-competing native species for
food and shelter resources, a rapidly growing
population of C. maenas has already had measurable
adverse consequences on local ecosystems and
mariculture in this region—declines in native shore
crab and clam populations have shown a significant
association with increases in green crab abundance.
Despite much effort applied to eradicating the species
from key ecosystems and productive fishery zones,
measures to do so have returned only limited, and in
some cases damaging, results: fishing/trapping (man-
hours required were prohibitive), chemical control
(pesticides were not species-specific), and biological
control (parasites were also nondiscriminative).
As an alternative to these traditional and
previously unsuccessful methods, the present study
explores an integrated pest management approach to
eradicating C. Maenas. This method, much like that
already used in terrestrial agriculture, seeks a
chemical signal from a natural predator (Giant Pacific
Octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini) that serves as a
warning signal to the crab species. This concept of
chemically-mediated avoidance in marine applications
is widely accepted. In fact, a number of aquatic prey
species of the subphylum Crustacea (containing C.
maenas) have been reported to respond to chemical
predator stimuli with general avoidance.
Figure: LEFT: AR Positive Cell Line; RIGHT: AR Knockdown Cell
Line; A corresponds to a patch of 104-R1 cells at a lower
magnification (4 X), while a shows a single colony at a much higher
magnification (40 X). The same applies to B and b.
Figure: The Enteroctopus dofleini ("Doug") on IIT Main Campus
holding on to the remains of a recent meal in the suckers of an
outstretched arm. (Photo: Bonnie Robinson)
We hypothesize that the excrement from E.
dofleini contains a chemical compound related to its
diet that serves as a warning signal to the prey species
C. maenas. While the diet of the octopus is varied, we
expect C. maenas will respond statistically negatively
(favor downstream) to crab-fed octopus-conditioned
seawater compared to a seawater control.
Furthermore, we expect the extent of a downstream
bias to be greater than that of bivalve (edible mussels,
Mytelus edulis)-fed octopus-conditioned seawater both
temporally and spatially. To ensure that any
avoidance behavior of C. maenas from E. dofleini is
strictly chemically-mediated, a novel laminar flow,
multitreatment-capable flume system was designed.
Preliminary results demonstrate predator-avoidance,
though error is not yet reduced.
Once the avoidance behavior is confirmed to
statistical significance, isolation of the chemical signal
will commence. Elucidation of the chemical
compound(s) responsible for the avoidance response
will be conducted using both liquid-to-liquid and solid
phase extraction (SPE) methods coupled with either
high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),
hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography
(HILIC), and/or gas chromatography. Structure
determination will be carried out using a battery of
spectrometric methods, including nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR, 300 MHz).
/// Social Sciences
The Implications of Traits on a
Leader's Behaviors
An individual’s traits or personality
characteristics influence a wide range of behaviors.
Although a leader’s motivational orientation, defined
by the Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) trait and self-
monitoring traits have been widely researched and
their relationship to a leader's behaviors has been
documented, no studies have attempted to analyze any
interaction effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study
was to explore if self-monitoring could possibly
moderate the relationship between LPC and leader’s
perceived initiating structure and consideration
behaviors. Data gathered from 83 middle-level
managers from various industries in Mexico was used
to explore this relationship. Results indicated that
leaders’ LPC and self-monitoring did not interact to
predict leader behavior. However, each one of these
traits separately impacted the subordinate’s
perceptions of their leader differently; the self-
monitoring trait had a significant relationship with
consideration behaviors while LPC had a significant
relationship with the structuring behaviors. The
implications of these findings for practitioners are
discussed. Future research needs to focus on exploring
how individuals high and low on these two traits
manipulate various situations in an organizational
setting.
/// IPRO Projects
An IPRO project course is a team-based learning
environment in which students from various
concentrations and disciplines work together to solve a
real-world problem.
IPRO 338: Techno-Economic Analysis of
Electrical Smart Grid Technology Solutions
Our IPRO team was challenged to identify a
facility on campus in need of energy efficiency
Figure: Upstream and downstream exploring velocities of crab in
treatment vs. control seawater flow. All 12 subject crabs reporting
(some with multiple replicates).
Figure: Globally invasive green crab (Carcinus maenas)
on IIT Main Campus. (Photo: Bonnie Robinson)
improvements. We chose to consider Crown Hall for
analysis, as it is considered the most historically
significant and energy inefficient building. Crown Hall
was built between 1950 and 1956, during Mies van der
Rohe’s tenure as director of Illinois Institute of
Technology’s College of Architecture. In order to
ensure that our proposals would not interfere with the
historical significance of the building, we met with a
member of the Mies van der Rohe Society and had
discussions with faculty of College of Architecture.
Due to the limited technology available in the
1950s, Crown Hall does not meet the current
minimum standards set by the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers. The building’s upper level is a completely
open space and is occupied 24 hours a day by students,
however the building still utilizes the same amount of
energy during off-peak hours, when the occupancy is
drastically low. Our energy retrofit ideas had to
accommodate these two issues effectively while
proving worthy of the initial cost of implementation.
The following categories were considered for
Crown Hall renovation analysis: lighting, energy use,
geothermal technology, and photovoltaic technology.
Our team conducted an energy audit of the building’s
power and lighting systems and a preliminary design
of an energy retrofit for these systems. Upon
elimination of those smart technologies which were
deemed aesthetically unacceptable, the team
performed an economic analysis to determine the
energy savings and payback timeframe for each
possible implementation. Additionally, we designed a
new solar photovoltaic energy generation system for
the facility.
/// Undergraduate
Research Activity
@ IIT
Congratulations to those who presented at the
2012 Chicago Undergraduate Research
Symposium:
Eda Gjergo, Daniel Eckhardt, Carolyn Schumer,
Barrett Leslie (Award Winner), Xinwei Wang, Yogin
Desai, Michael Machen, Ngozi Nwangwa, Anita
Thomas, Daniel Miladinovich, Xin "Sally" Zheng
(Award Winner), Ruth Jimenez, David Burchell,
Georgi Subashki, Ciaran Shaughnessy, Megan
Christenson, Miriam Schmid,Mariah Kuitse, Ken
Ruffatto, Carolina Verdial, Tim Carsel
Congratulations to the 2012 IIT
Undergraduate Research Day Award
Winners:
Armour College of Engineering
1st: Xinwei Wang, MMAE, Electrostatic Spray
Deposition
2nd: Shefali Umrania, BME, Computer Vision for
Biological Image Analysis in Yeast Cells
3rd: Daniel Miladinovich, MMAE, Mechanical
Properties and Durability of Advanced Environmental
Barrier Coatings in Calcium-Magnesium-Alumino-
Silicate Environments
College of Science and Letters
1st: Henna Eassa, Molecular Biochemistry and
Biophysics, Androgen Receptor Influence on Lipid
Biosynthesis in Prostate Cancer Cells
2nd: Eda Gjergo, Applied Mathematics, Optimization
of Type Ia Supernovae Selection, Photometric Typing,
and Cosmology Constraints
3rd: Barrett Leslie, Applied Mathematics,
Comprehending The Menger Sponge
College of Architecture
1st: Carolina Verdial, Scenario Planning in Urban
Design
Stuart School of Business
1st: Santiago Rodriguez Gutierrez, Business
Administration and Applied Science, Location Based
Services: Opportunities & Challenges in the Value
Chain
Excellence in Engineering Themes
Water: Kenneth Ruffatto, CHBE, The Interaction of
Natural Organic Matter with Calcite
Health: Sophia Pilipchik, BME, Crosslinking of
Dermis-Derived Hydrogels Increases Stiffness and
Resistance to Degradation
Energy: Georgi Subashki, MMAE, Streamtubes Models
for Predicting Aerodynamic Performance of Vertical-
Axis Wind Turbines
Security: Natalie Waksmanski, CAEE, Structural
Health Monitoring Using Sensor Technologies
Figure: Historical Landmark S. R. Crown Hall on IIT
Main Campus
/// How to become
involved with
URJiit
Sit in on one of our round-table meetings!
Once a week, we come together as a General
Editing Body in a meeting led by our Editors-
In-Chief. At these meetings, new ideas are
introduced and updates on current URJiit
projects are presented. Outside these
meetings, we work in small groups on the
many journal projects.
The Editing Board works one-on-one with
authors, faculty, and peer reviewers to ensure
that every submission we receive is top
quality.
The Design Board creates all our journal,
website, and poster designs.
The Administrative Board is in charge of
business management, public relations, and
the general oversight of URJiit direction and
productivity.
Fill out the interest form:
http://tinyurl.com/form-URJiit
/// Contact us
w: urjiit [dot] wordpress [dot] com
e: urjiit [at] iit [dot] edu
/// Special thanks
Assoc. Prof. Robert Ellis
Prof. Eric Brey
Prof. Kathryn Riley
Camras Scholars Program
Office of Undergraduate Research
Student Activity Fund
/// Submit your
work
Any undergraduate can submit work to URJiit! While
it is encouraged, we do not require a laboratory
affiliation or a faculty mentor. As editors and peer
reviewers, we look forward to providing our authors
with constructive criticism in a mutually beneficial
editing process. URJiit accepts documents as (though,
not limited to) the following types:
Formal research article: A traditional scholarly
article that describes the subject of the research, the
methods used to conduct the research, the results of
the research, and the implications and significance of
the results.
Essay: A format intended for Humanities,
Architecture, and any other discipline that does not
typically adhere to the traditional research article
format. Note: essays will be considered for publishing
only if they clearly demonstrate original and
investigative effort by the author.
Literature review: A critical review of a published
work. The article could serve to argue the assertions
made in the work, to highlight issues not addressed in
the work, to evaluate the techniques and methods used
by the work’s author, and similar purposes.
Research experience: A personal narrative
highlighting the experience of being involved in
undergraduate research, rather than the content and
results of the research itself. IIT alumni may submit
research experience articles if the research was
conducted while the author was attending IIT as an
undergraduate. This type of article can be particularly
useful when the research being discussed is under
copyright.
Posters and videos: We accept these formats for
online publication. It is particularly encouraged of IIT
IPRO Program teams, who have these as required
semesterly deliverables.
Submissions can be emailed to urjiit@iit.edu. A staff
member will confirm the submission, and begin our
process of peer review and constructive feedback. Please
visit our website for details.
Prepared by MagCloud for URJiit Undergraduate Research Journal at IIT. Get more at urjiit.magcloud.com.

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  • 1. Abstracts Issue | Spring 2012
  • 2. 2012 Abstracts Issue In this preview, URJiit introduces you to the very best of our university's undergraduate researchers for the 2011-2012 academic year. Read and enjoy the abstracts provided here and keep an eye out for the full articles in our upcoming premiere issue. URJiit Staff: Letter From the Editors Welcome to the first Spring Abstracts issue of the Undergraduate Research Journal of Illinois Institute of Technology (URJiit). It has been a busy semester for the URJiit team as we have worked diligently to compile, edit, and publish a variety of undergraduate research submissions. Research is a means by which the world discovers, solves problems, and grows; it is a fundamental discipline for undergraduate students, especially at such an institution as Illinois Tech, where scholarly opportunities abound in nearly every academic realm. It is the goal of URJiit to highlight and display this research with the hopes of disseminating scientific knowledge and inspiring future intellectual endeavors. URJiit sprouted into an official student organization through the efforts of IPRO 321 students one year ago. In its first year of publication, the journal has built upon this original foundation and will continue to grow, extending its roots further into the IIT community and beyond. This issue serves as a preview to the first full edition of URJiit, to be published this coming fall. We would like to thank all those students and faculty members who have helped make this issue come to life, effectively planting the seed which we hope will eventually rise to the rank of a reputable undergraduate research journal. Nicole Valio and Mike Purdy Editors-In-Chief URJiit seeks to encourage and reward research across all undergraduate disciplines at IIT, providing a forum for discussion and exploration of student research projects designed to cultivate intellectual curiosity. First full issue coming THIS FALL ! See back cover to learn how to become involved / submit your research Chris Roberts Editing Board Mike Purdy Editor-in-Chief David Ilavsky Lead Editor Drexler James Editing Board Xin "Sally" Zheng Editing Board Nicole Valio Editor-in-Chief Liang Hou Design Board Ciaran Shaughnessy Design Board Raghav Girijala Business Manager Nicole Valio Editor-in-Chief
  • 3. /// Applied Sciences Computer-Assisted Graph Theory In the study of networks, hard problems sometimes become feasible if we restrict attention to k- trees, which can then be turned into a general solution. A k-tree is formed from a k-clique by iteratively adding vertices and incident edges to form new (k+1)-cliques. Previously proved by Chappell and Pelsmajer is, for all k-trees, k<4, there exists a vertex subset, S, that induces a subgraph where all vertices are of degree at most 1 and max|S|≥ceiling[2n/(k+2)], where n is the total number of vertices in any k-tree. Expanding on Chappell and Pelsmajer’s work, this research considers all k-trees, k>3, with these same conditions. Our approach involves computer-assisted search and classification of k-trees and specific induced subgraphs that meet the conditions. After reviewing generated graphs, we looked for patterns and attempted to create a proof by cases followed by another proof to show that all k-trees with k>3 fit at least one of these cases. Three cases have been identified and proved so far and the rest are a topic for future study. Possible approaches include proving the heuristic strategy explained in the technical paper associated with this research. Also, much analysis was done on 4-trees using one particular case. Focusing on k-trees with k>4 using this case may lead to new findings. Vector-Valued Parametric Kernel-Based Interpolation for 2D Facial Animations This paper explores a scattered-data, interpolation-based approach, which uses a vector- valued parametric interpolation method for creating tween frames. This was done by mapping a one- dimensional curve in the domain to the codomain to produce an animated face. Using the blendshapes method, a 27-frame, two-dimensional, facial animation was generated. Key-frames 1, 3, and 27 were then used to produce similar animations with the following interpolation methods: After generating the three key-frame animations for each method, the L2 Norm was used to compare over all performance. At points 1, 13, and 27, the error reduces to zero, indicating the reference points used for generating the animations. Moving away from these points, the error goes up significantly, indicating that the gross reduction in data points is having a substantial affect on each method’s performance. Although these tests are still in the preliminary stages, it is clear that each method exhibits basic patterns and trends that may be exploited towards increased optimization. Figure: The colored vertices on this k-tree illustrate a technique used to induce only subgraphs that are k-trees. Figure: The L2 norm distance from Blend Shapes for the various methods.
  • 4. Investigating the Validity of the Black-Scholes Model One fundamental problem in financial risk management is the pricing of call and put options. The fair price of an option is its expected payoff. Computing this requires some model of how asset prices change in future time. The Black-Scholes model for asset prices is a popular choice. One of its fundamental assumptions is that asset prices follow a geometric Brownian motion with constant drift and volatility, which implies that the underlying asset is log-normally distributed. However, market trends have shown this assumption to be questionable. This research investigated the validity of the Black-Scholes model by observing whether the volatility of the stock price implied by market prices is truly constant. After noting that this was not the case, a modified Black- Scholes model, a better fit to market price data, was investigated. These modifications imply a fatter-tailed distribution of returns than the Black-Scholes model. /// Engineering Crosslinking of Natural Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering Applications Hydrogels are biomaterials that have been extensively investigated for applications in three- dimensional tissue reconstruction and regeneration. One example is the potential use of hydrogels for treatment of diseased or damaged tissues in patients with soft tissue trauma and pathological conditions such as diabetes. Our lab previously developed a novel method for generating extracellular matrix (ECM)- rich, tissue-derived hydrogels from soft tissues. These natural materials have composition and structure specific to the ECM source and support cell differentiation and vascularized tissue formation in vivo. However, low stiffness and rapid degradation hinder their potential clinical application. Crosslinking of these materials could improve mechanical properties, delay degradation, and prolong in vivo lifetime. The present study investigates the effect of glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent to increase resistance to degradation and improve mechanical properties of tissue-derived hydrogels. Dermis-based ECM materials were assembled into hydrogels through pH-induced gelation, and hydrogels were crosslinked with GA in intervals ranging from 0.5 to 24 hrs. Compression testing results indicated a significant increase in elastic modulus and yield stress with increasing GA exposure time (p < 0.05). Crosslinked hydrogels showed resistance to enzymatic degradation compared to non-crosslinked gels.   Cell culture and animal studies indicate that the crosslinked hydrogels are biocompatible and induce vascularized tissue formation. These results indicate that GA-induced crosslinking of tissue-derived hydrogels can prolong material lifetime and increase mechanical strength while retaining their unique biological properties. /// Natural Sciences Influence of Androgen Receptors on Metastatic Potential in Prostate Cancer Cells Metastasis, the spread of cancer, occurs when a malignant tumor invades its neighboring blood and lymph vessels and then develops at distant places throughout the body. The objective of this project was to determine the influence of androgen receptors (AR) on metastatic potential. An in vitro soft agar assay was used to compare the colony-forming abilities of the AR-positive 104-R1 and the AR-knockdown ARi cell lines. In the assay, varying concentrations of agar provided a three-dimensional culture environment for anchorage-independent growth of cells to form colonies. The colony growth of both cell lines was monitored daily under the microscope. After fourteen Figure: Uncrosslinked (left) and GA-crosslinked (right) hydrogels.
  • 5. days, our results showed that AR-positive cells had a higher colony count than AR-knockout cells. In addition, AR-positive cells showed larger and denser colonies. These results suggest that AR-positive prostate cancer cells are more invasive than those from the AR-knockout cell line. The Interaction of Natural Organic Matter with Calcite The Fox River in Illinois is supersaturated with mineral calcite. However, precipitation of calcite cannot be observed in the river, indicating the presence of some sort of inhibitory molecule. Natural organic matter (NOM), often found in waterways, has been associated with forming a complexation with calcite by bonding to its crystallization sites. For this study, Suwannee River NOM and Nordic Reservoir NOM were used in place of Fox River NOM because both are readily available. The two types of NOM used in this study were found to possess distinctly different charge densities and were therefore used to study NOM and calcite complexation. This difference in charge density indicates varying types of functional groups as part of the organic matter, providing a net charge to the molecule as a whole. Tests were done to find the dissociation rate of calcite in distilled water in order to characterize the kinetics involved in a possible complexation of calcite and NOM. The NOM concentration in solution was measured by an ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer by means of a calibration curve relating UV absorbance with NOM concentration. Calcite was added to a NOM solution, and samples were taken at various time intervals in the mixing process. Analysis indicated a decrease of NOM in solution, which occurs due to complexation with calcite with a total overall decrease of approximately 0.5 mg NOM L-1. Although in a small amount, NOM was found to be one of the substituents in natural water bodies to interfere with calcite precipitation. Further studies are being done with various types of ions to observe other complexations. Molecular Identification of a Predator-Avoidance Signal for a Globally Invasive Species of Crab The European shore crab, or “green crab” (Carcinus maenas), is a globally invasive species. Though only recently introduced to the shores of the Pacific Northwest, by out-competing native species for food and shelter resources, a rapidly growing population of C. maenas has already had measurable adverse consequences on local ecosystems and mariculture in this region—declines in native shore crab and clam populations have shown a significant association with increases in green crab abundance. Despite much effort applied to eradicating the species from key ecosystems and productive fishery zones, measures to do so have returned only limited, and in some cases damaging, results: fishing/trapping (man- hours required were prohibitive), chemical control (pesticides were not species-specific), and biological control (parasites were also nondiscriminative). As an alternative to these traditional and previously unsuccessful methods, the present study explores an integrated pest management approach to eradicating C. Maenas. This method, much like that already used in terrestrial agriculture, seeks a chemical signal from a natural predator (Giant Pacific Octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini) that serves as a warning signal to the crab species. This concept of chemically-mediated avoidance in marine applications is widely accepted. In fact, a number of aquatic prey species of the subphylum Crustacea (containing C. maenas) have been reported to respond to chemical predator stimuli with general avoidance. Figure: LEFT: AR Positive Cell Line; RIGHT: AR Knockdown Cell Line; A corresponds to a patch of 104-R1 cells at a lower magnification (4 X), while a shows a single colony at a much higher magnification (40 X). The same applies to B and b. Figure: The Enteroctopus dofleini ("Doug") on IIT Main Campus holding on to the remains of a recent meal in the suckers of an outstretched arm. (Photo: Bonnie Robinson)
  • 6. We hypothesize that the excrement from E. dofleini contains a chemical compound related to its diet that serves as a warning signal to the prey species C. maenas. While the diet of the octopus is varied, we expect C. maenas will respond statistically negatively (favor downstream) to crab-fed octopus-conditioned seawater compared to a seawater control. Furthermore, we expect the extent of a downstream bias to be greater than that of bivalve (edible mussels, Mytelus edulis)-fed octopus-conditioned seawater both temporally and spatially. To ensure that any avoidance behavior of C. maenas from E. dofleini is strictly chemically-mediated, a novel laminar flow, multitreatment-capable flume system was designed. Preliminary results demonstrate predator-avoidance, though error is not yet reduced. Once the avoidance behavior is confirmed to statistical significance, isolation of the chemical signal will commence. Elucidation of the chemical compound(s) responsible for the avoidance response will be conducted using both liquid-to-liquid and solid phase extraction (SPE) methods coupled with either high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), and/or gas chromatography. Structure determination will be carried out using a battery of spectrometric methods, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR, 300 MHz). /// Social Sciences The Implications of Traits on a Leader's Behaviors An individual’s traits or personality characteristics influence a wide range of behaviors. Although a leader’s motivational orientation, defined by the Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) trait and self- monitoring traits have been widely researched and their relationship to a leader's behaviors has been documented, no studies have attempted to analyze any interaction effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore if self-monitoring could possibly moderate the relationship between LPC and leader’s perceived initiating structure and consideration behaviors. Data gathered from 83 middle-level managers from various industries in Mexico was used to explore this relationship. Results indicated that leaders’ LPC and self-monitoring did not interact to predict leader behavior. However, each one of these traits separately impacted the subordinate’s perceptions of their leader differently; the self- monitoring trait had a significant relationship with consideration behaviors while LPC had a significant relationship with the structuring behaviors. The implications of these findings for practitioners are discussed. Future research needs to focus on exploring how individuals high and low on these two traits manipulate various situations in an organizational setting. /// IPRO Projects An IPRO project course is a team-based learning environment in which students from various concentrations and disciplines work together to solve a real-world problem. IPRO 338: Techno-Economic Analysis of Electrical Smart Grid Technology Solutions Our IPRO team was challenged to identify a facility on campus in need of energy efficiency Figure: Upstream and downstream exploring velocities of crab in treatment vs. control seawater flow. All 12 subject crabs reporting (some with multiple replicates). Figure: Globally invasive green crab (Carcinus maenas) on IIT Main Campus. (Photo: Bonnie Robinson)
  • 7. improvements. We chose to consider Crown Hall for analysis, as it is considered the most historically significant and energy inefficient building. Crown Hall was built between 1950 and 1956, during Mies van der Rohe’s tenure as director of Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture. In order to ensure that our proposals would not interfere with the historical significance of the building, we met with a member of the Mies van der Rohe Society and had discussions with faculty of College of Architecture. Due to the limited technology available in the 1950s, Crown Hall does not meet the current minimum standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. The building’s upper level is a completely open space and is occupied 24 hours a day by students, however the building still utilizes the same amount of energy during off-peak hours, when the occupancy is drastically low. Our energy retrofit ideas had to accommodate these two issues effectively while proving worthy of the initial cost of implementation. The following categories were considered for Crown Hall renovation analysis: lighting, energy use, geothermal technology, and photovoltaic technology. Our team conducted an energy audit of the building’s power and lighting systems and a preliminary design of an energy retrofit for these systems. Upon elimination of those smart technologies which were deemed aesthetically unacceptable, the team performed an economic analysis to determine the energy savings and payback timeframe for each possible implementation. Additionally, we designed a new solar photovoltaic energy generation system for the facility. /// Undergraduate Research Activity @ IIT Congratulations to those who presented at the 2012 Chicago Undergraduate Research Symposium: Eda Gjergo, Daniel Eckhardt, Carolyn Schumer, Barrett Leslie (Award Winner), Xinwei Wang, Yogin Desai, Michael Machen, Ngozi Nwangwa, Anita Thomas, Daniel Miladinovich, Xin "Sally" Zheng (Award Winner), Ruth Jimenez, David Burchell, Georgi Subashki, Ciaran Shaughnessy, Megan Christenson, Miriam Schmid,Mariah Kuitse, Ken Ruffatto, Carolina Verdial, Tim Carsel Congratulations to the 2012 IIT Undergraduate Research Day Award Winners: Armour College of Engineering 1st: Xinwei Wang, MMAE, Electrostatic Spray Deposition 2nd: Shefali Umrania, BME, Computer Vision for Biological Image Analysis in Yeast Cells 3rd: Daniel Miladinovich, MMAE, Mechanical Properties and Durability of Advanced Environmental Barrier Coatings in Calcium-Magnesium-Alumino- Silicate Environments College of Science and Letters 1st: Henna Eassa, Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics, Androgen Receptor Influence on Lipid Biosynthesis in Prostate Cancer Cells 2nd: Eda Gjergo, Applied Mathematics, Optimization of Type Ia Supernovae Selection, Photometric Typing, and Cosmology Constraints 3rd: Barrett Leslie, Applied Mathematics, Comprehending The Menger Sponge College of Architecture 1st: Carolina Verdial, Scenario Planning in Urban Design Stuart School of Business 1st: Santiago Rodriguez Gutierrez, Business Administration and Applied Science, Location Based Services: Opportunities & Challenges in the Value Chain Excellence in Engineering Themes Water: Kenneth Ruffatto, CHBE, The Interaction of Natural Organic Matter with Calcite Health: Sophia Pilipchik, BME, Crosslinking of Dermis-Derived Hydrogels Increases Stiffness and Resistance to Degradation Energy: Georgi Subashki, MMAE, Streamtubes Models for Predicting Aerodynamic Performance of Vertical- Axis Wind Turbines Security: Natalie Waksmanski, CAEE, Structural Health Monitoring Using Sensor Technologies Figure: Historical Landmark S. R. Crown Hall on IIT Main Campus
  • 8. /// How to become involved with URJiit Sit in on one of our round-table meetings! Once a week, we come together as a General Editing Body in a meeting led by our Editors- In-Chief. At these meetings, new ideas are introduced and updates on current URJiit projects are presented. Outside these meetings, we work in small groups on the many journal projects. The Editing Board works one-on-one with authors, faculty, and peer reviewers to ensure that every submission we receive is top quality. The Design Board creates all our journal, website, and poster designs. The Administrative Board is in charge of business management, public relations, and the general oversight of URJiit direction and productivity. Fill out the interest form: http://tinyurl.com/form-URJiit /// Contact us w: urjiit [dot] wordpress [dot] com e: urjiit [at] iit [dot] edu /// Special thanks Assoc. Prof. Robert Ellis Prof. Eric Brey Prof. Kathryn Riley Camras Scholars Program Office of Undergraduate Research Student Activity Fund /// Submit your work Any undergraduate can submit work to URJiit! While it is encouraged, we do not require a laboratory affiliation or a faculty mentor. As editors and peer reviewers, we look forward to providing our authors with constructive criticism in a mutually beneficial editing process. URJiit accepts documents as (though, not limited to) the following types: Formal research article: A traditional scholarly article that describes the subject of the research, the methods used to conduct the research, the results of the research, and the implications and significance of the results. Essay: A format intended for Humanities, Architecture, and any other discipline that does not typically adhere to the traditional research article format. Note: essays will be considered for publishing only if they clearly demonstrate original and investigative effort by the author. Literature review: A critical review of a published work. The article could serve to argue the assertions made in the work, to highlight issues not addressed in the work, to evaluate the techniques and methods used by the work’s author, and similar purposes. Research experience: A personal narrative highlighting the experience of being involved in undergraduate research, rather than the content and results of the research itself. IIT alumni may submit research experience articles if the research was conducted while the author was attending IIT as an undergraduate. This type of article can be particularly useful when the research being discussed is under copyright. Posters and videos: We accept these formats for online publication. It is particularly encouraged of IIT IPRO Program teams, who have these as required semesterly deliverables. Submissions can be emailed to urjiit@iit.edu. A staff member will confirm the submission, and begin our process of peer review and constructive feedback. Please visit our website for details. Prepared by MagCloud for URJiit Undergraduate Research Journal at IIT. Get more at urjiit.magcloud.com.