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A Celebration of Scholarship! 2007 Poster Abstracts
*Main Presenter
(PS.1.a) "The Information Service Sector-Solution to Global Social Justice Or Stimulus for Global Terrorism?"
*Elaine F. Hocevar, M.A., Dr. Ernest DeZolt, Sociology
This research examines the role and function of the Information Service Sector outlined in Benjamin Barber's (1995) Jihad vs. McWorld: Terrorism's Challenge to Democracy. In his book, Barber claims that the Information Service Sector holds promise in responding to global acts of terrorism with a commitment to democracy and social justice. If this assumption is correct, subsequent acts of terrorism will be eradicated while solidifying the democratization of the world. This paper asserts that if the Information Service Sector is to promote democracy and social justice as an representation of its globalist activities (i.e. providing information, communication, and entertainment), it must utilize the process of undistorted communication outlined by Jurgen Habermas (1984) in his Theory of Communicative Action.
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(PS.2.a) "The French in the Americas"
Dr. Martha Pereszlenyi-Pinter, CMLC
French America or l'Amérique française includes the general community of francophones and francophiles, as well as peoples who trace their origins to early French colonization of the Americas. The French first came to the "New World" in the 16th century, as explorers seeking passage to the Indies. They eventually established a colonial empire called "New France." Major French colonies were located in Canada and the Mississippi River Valley, along the Gulf coast in today's Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, on the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Guadéloupe, Martinique, and Ste. Lucie; and French Guiana in South America. As they colonized the Americas, the French founded cities in Canada such as Québec and Montréal, in the USA Detroit, Michigan; St. Louis, Missouri; Mobile, Alabama; Biloxi, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and New Orleans, Louisiana. Each poster in this exhibit explores one aspect of the legacy of the French colonial empire.
Ashley Cerny: A Friendship of Freedom: George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette
Nicole Herrera: Haïti
Ashley Pendice: French Influence in Ohio
Juliana Reifsnyder: Voodoo in Haïti
Julie Slavish: French Gardens
Stacy Stark: Wedding Traditions: 'Tying the Knot,' Cajun Style
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(PS.3.a) "Twentieth Century French Fashion Designers"
Clothes identify our cultures, our social interactions, and our very identities. With the development of technologies and the ready-made garment industry of the nineteenth century, France became notorious for its men's and women's Fashion designers. With this poster presentation students will demonstrate their long lasting influence. Posters Prepared by Students from the French course FR 499: Food and Fashion Through French Literature and Art.
Rima Baltutis : Hubert de Givenchy
Sara Capraruolo : Eing Gowns and Oscar de la Renta
Lauren Danek : Yves Saint-Laurent
Francine Davis : Les Sours Callot
Kristina Drnjevich : Coco Chanel
Marta Fabrykowski: Loulou de la Falaise
Natalia Iacobelli: Hubert de Givenchy
Christina Kyrkos : René Lacoste
Kate Lawson: Charles Kleibaker and Madame Vionnet
Camilla Park : Hermès
Dr. Hélène Sanko: Classic Watteau Pleats 1745-2007
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(PS.4.b) "French and Francophone Women Writers: One Language, Many Voices"
Dr. Hélène N. Sanko, CMLC; Undergraduate Students, Aaron Noon, Christina Kyrkos, Colin Murphy, Caitlin Overdorf, Camilla Park, Elizabeth Irr, Erin Moran, Faith Anderson, Moria Torrington, Natalia Iacobelli, Rima Baltutis, Sara Capraruolo, Vicky Haddad, William Collins
In their poster presentation, students will share their research and knowledge of French and Francophone women writers through the centuries from the Middle Ages to the XXth century. They will illustrate individual women revealing the themes of their works, placing them in the historical and cultural milieu in which their work evolved.
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(PS.5.a) "Rape Myth Acceptance and the Unobtrusive Presentation of Sexually Degrading Images"
*Alyssa A. Williams, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. John Yost, Psychology
Rape myth acceptance, a testable assessment of false justification for rape, has allowed in depth study of possible causes of rape and useful preventative measures. Recently, a correlation was found between males' rape myth acceptance and the display of degrading images of women in their homes. The present study served to experimentally measure this effect. Seventy participants completed the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance [IRMA] scale after being implicitly primed with either a friendly photograph of college friends or a photograph of college friends in which the women are being objectified. As hypothesized, results showed that males in the objectified photograph group scored significantly higher on the IRMA than females. Additionally, females in the objectified group scored significantly lower than females in the friendly group. Results imply a possible explanation for the prevalence of rape myth endorsement and a need for further exploration of women's perceptions of common rape myths.
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(PS.6.a) "Preschool Vocabulary Assessment for Early Learning Initiative for University Circle, Inc."
*April Reed, Graduate Student; Dr. S. K. Dunlap, Education & Allied Studies
The focus of this study was to measure the effectiveness of specific vocabulary teaching aligned with visits to ten cultural institutions from University Circle. The challenge posed by formal assessments for preschoolers was met by utilizing photographs of the concepts represented by the cultural institution. Preschoolers were shown the photographs and were queried, "What is this?" The assessment was administered prior to instruction and visits to the institutions, again shortly after the latter and yet again 6-8 weeks later to measure retention. The data was analyzed separately for each institution. The conclusion of the study yielded information that supports the research literature. Students demonstrated accelerated growth over time but lost ground in the retention area because many of the words could not be revisited over numerous times and applications. Further professional development for the teachers is being conducted this spring and a follow up study will be conducted during the 2007-2008 school year.
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(PS.7.b) "Terror Management Theory and Politics"
*John Simmons, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Yost, Psychology
A key premise of terror management theory (TMT) suggests that when mortality is made salient to individuals, they will be comforted by, and thus affirm, similar worldviews and will be threatened by, and thus reject, dissimilar worldviews. According to TMT, mortality salient conservatives, who tend to have a narrower, dogmatic worldview, should be more accepting of conservative arguments and more opposed to liberal arguments; mortality salient liberals, who tend to have a more open-minded worldview, should be somewhat accepting of both conservative and liberal arguments. To test this hypothesis, 61 participants were asked their opinion of affirmative action practices, once before a salience prompt and once after; the change in scores was recorded and analyzed. Results indicated that making mortality salient to participants had no effect on a change in scores and furthermore that changes in score did not significantly differ among liberals or conservatives. These results refute TMT.
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(PS.8.a) "Connecting Volunteer Experiences to Personal and Social Development"
*Anthony Tarescavage, Ben Beehner, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Nicholas R. Santilli, Planning & Assessment
In this study, we focus on undergraduates' community service experiences. Past research indicates that youth community service deepens civic engagement, heightens moral-political awareness, and stimulates identity development. We expand past research by examining how volunteerism interacts with other experiences aimed toward stimulating civic engagement. Over 900 participants from a larger study completed a survey cataloguing community service background, civic involvement, volunteer preferences, interpersonal relations, and personality characteristics. Participants' narratives of meaningful service experiences and views of society were analyzed using Youniss and Yates' (1997) model of transcendence. Results show significant relationships between transcendence and perceptions of social concerns, the value of service, and personal identity. These findings suggest service provides an avenue to connectedness to society and personal growth. Service opportunities are enhanced by the form of service experiences, leading to a deeper understanding of society, self, and service to the greater good.
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(PS.9.a) "The Effect of Political Ideology and Abuse Type on Sentencing of Battered Women"
*Dana DeNoi, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Yost, Psychology
Ideological values are prevalent in the United States and have a major influence on decisions individuals make daily (Christopher & Mull, 2006). Often studies have found that individuals who consider themselves as conservative are more likely to have strong views on social issues, such as women's rights, and homosexuality. It is hypothesized that individuals who have more conservative ideological values will give a harsher punishment to women than individuals who do not have conservative values. Also condition will be investigated to see if women are punished more often when they kill their husband after being emotionally abused or after being physically abused. Seventy- four undergraduate psychology students from John Carroll University volunteered for the current study.
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(PS.10.a) "Familiar and Unfamiliar Melodies as Mnemonic Devices"
*Dr. David Rainey and Dr. Janet Larsen, Psychology
Rainey and Larsen (2002) reported that participants hearing lists of names sung to familiar melodies were able to relearn the lists a week later in significantly fewer trials than participants who heard spoken lists or saw printed lists. It was unclear how important the familiarity of the melodies was in generating this mnemonic effect. In the current study, authors hypothesized that participants would relearn a list in fewer trials to both familiar and unfamiliar melodies than to a spoken presentation and that a familiar melody would provide a greater benefit than an unfamiliar melody. Pairwise comparisons following an ANOVA revealed that participants required significantly fewer trials to relearn the list in the familiar melody condition than the spoken condition (p<.05), but there was no difference in relearning between the unfamiliar melody and spoken conditions or between familiar and unfamiliar melody conditions.
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(PS.11.a) "The Phonological Similarity Effect in Auditory STM: Perception or Memory?"
*Dr. Janet D. Larsen, Psychology; Alan D. Baddeley, University of York, UK
Baddeley's theory of working memory assumes that auditory information automatically enters the phonological loop of working memory and is stored as a phonological code, reflected in the phonological similarity effect. Jones et al. (2006) however reported the similarity effect was largely confined to recency items, proposing that it reflects a perceptual- gestural process and rejecting the need for phonological short-term storage. Participants heard 20 lists of five, 6, 7, and 8 letters drawn from either eight similar sounding letters, BCDGPTVZ or eight dissimilar sounding letters, FHJKLRQW. Half of the participants whispered the word SEVEN while hearing the letters and half did not. There was a significant phonological similarity effect for all control conditions and all but the 8 letter list with suppression. Our participants maintained a phonological code, even with articulatory suppression with shorter lists. When the list length exceeded memory span, participants appeared to abandon phonological coding.
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(PS.12.a)"Speed Transfer and Class Mergers via Conditional Discriminations: Effects of Differential Transfer Training with One or Two Class Members"
*Christina M. Pratt, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Imam, Psychology
Eleven participants in four experiments demonstrated two independent groups of three three-member equivalence classes, one with and one without a speed contingency. Each participant then experienced transfer training and testing. During transfer training, either only one A-stimulus (with fast (Experiment 1) and slow (Experiment 2) contingencies), or two A-stimuli (with differential slow-fast contingencies on classes 1 and 3 (Experiments 3 and 4)) from the speed classes served as sample for the A-stimuli from the non-speed classes. Transfer test involved the remaining non-speed class members presented in the same session as training blocks (Experiments 1-3) or in separate testing sessions (Experiment 4). Test results showed undifferentiated changes in latencies of the non-speed class members (Experiments 1-3), and more differentiated changes consistent with class membership (Experiment 4). The results implicate discrimination of contingencies in engendering better differentiation of class membership. Funded by the Huntington and Codrington Foundations.
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(PS.13.a) "Binge Eating Disorder and Substance Abuse Among Potential Bariatric Surgery Patients"
*Sarah Kuszczak, Kelsey Maya, Undergraduates; Advisors: Dr. Kathleen Ashton and Dr. Amy Windover, Psychiatry and Psychology, The Cleveland Clinic
Obesity is a leading health concern in the United States today; according to the American Heart Association, 66 million Americans are obese (2007). A person with a Body Mass Index over 30 is considered obese. Many of these individuals suffer from Binge Eating Disorder (BED), or the consumption of large amounts of food in a brief period of time, marked by the individual's feeling of loss of control or guilt (Sarwer, et al., 2004). A common correlate of BED is substance abuse. Six hundred and thirty one patients (age, M = 45.82 years) at the Cleveland Clinic interested in bariatric surgery were clinically interviewed by psychologists. Patients filled out the Eating Behavior Checklist (EBC), which asked about eating habits. A high score on the EBC is synonymous with BED. The data revealed that those with a history of or current substance abuse were more likely to score high on the EBC. Funded by the Huntington and Codrington Foundations.
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(PS.14.a) "Narcissism, Mortality Salience, and Prejudice Against Homosexual Males"
*Kelsey Maya, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Yost, Psychology
The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of narcissism and mortality salience on the evaluation of an out-group member (i.e. a homosexual). Male participants (n = 42) were randomly assigned to either a control or mortality salience condition, and later read about a bad dining scenario where the waiter was either a homosexual or heterosexual male. Participants were asked to determine a tip to give to the waiter on a $100 bill. Results of the analysis revealed a significant main effect for narcissism, but no other effects were significant. Those scoring relatively high on narcissism, on average, gave lower tips than those scoring relatively low on narcissism. Results failed to support the research hypothesis. It is suggested that the experimental materials be revised.
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(PS.15.b) "Obststric Fistula"
*Christine Minges, *Alena Neton,*Jessica Serbin, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
A vaginal fistula is a hole between the vaginal wall and the bladder. An obstetric fistula forms as a result of prolonged, obstructed labor. This condition is virtually unheard of in developed countries, but prevalent in impoverished countries where maternal care is less common. Women with this condition leak urinary waste. They are seen as social outcasts and are often abandoned by family because of incontinence. This can cause them to fall further into poverty, which worsens associated conditions like malnutrition and depression. Most fistulas can be fixed with a simple surgery. Even so, it is estimated that there are up to 2,000,000 untreated fistulas globally. These estimates are crude and difficult to obtain because many women are unlikely to report the condition due to shame and social stigma. Strong efforts are being made to prevent obstetric fistulas simply by raising awareness, providing expecting mothers transportation to maternal care facilities.
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(PS.16.a) "The Killer Epidemic"
*Brittany Daugherty, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. McWeeny, Philosophy
My research topic will be on HIV/AIDS and its dominance in African American communities in the Cleveland Area. I will speak about the virus and how it is transmitted, its percentages and what approaches are being taken to prevent new cases of outbreaks. I will also briefly mention government policies and organizations as well as people who are assisting in educating people about this devastating epidemic. With my research I hope to influence the minds of young people in 3ways: to abstain from sex, practice safe sex, and to get an HIV test. The teachings of these key goals can make a difference in young people's lives and can even save their lives. I will be answering two main questions in my research on HIV/AIDS: Why is the AIDS rate so high in Cleveland and what approach(s) is Cleveland taking to educate people about AIDS? Funded by the STARS Program.
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(PS.17.a) "Schistosomiasis"
*Stephanie Mudery, *Lisa Schnell, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
Schistosomiasis, also known as biharzia, is a disease caused by parasitic worms penetrating human skin and is second only to malaria among tropical diseases as a cause of morbidity. While Schistosomiasis is not found in the United States, it is endemic in over 74 developing countries; 80% of these being in Sub-Saharan Africa. More than 200 million people are infected worldwide and it is estimated that another 600 million are at risk. It affects the health of children, women, and irrigation workers disproportionately in the population causing anemia, vitamin A deficiency, and loss of appetite. The current goals of prevention are to reduce the number of worms in each person instead of reducing the number of people infected with worms, to improve the sanitation systems, to eliminate water-borne snails, to involve the school systems and to utilize special health campaigns.
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(PS.18.a) "Hepatitis C in the United States"
*Matthew Rendulic, *Lauren Ruggiero, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
Hepatitis C is the most common chronic viral bloodstream infection in the United States. Currently, the prevalence of HCV is approximately 4.1 million and the incidence is 26,000 new cases per year. At-risk groups for HCV infection include individuals aged 20-39, men, Hispanics and African Americans, HIV or HBV co-infected patients, and hemophiliacs. Research as found HCV to be linked with poverty by its association with low socioeconomic levels, Hispanic and African American populations, low education levels, increased incarceration time, increased number of sexual partners, and mental illness. To prevent contracting HCV, a person could not use recreational IV drugs, avoid sharing personal hygiene tools such as toothbrushes and razors, and always follow barrier precautions. To prevent spreading HCV, a person can avoid sharing personal items, cover any open wounds, and stop donating semen/body tissues. The only current effective treatment for Hepatitis C is combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
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(PS.19.b) "Diarrheal Diseases"
*Laura Pareso, *Jeannine Stiglitz, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five in developing countries and is the 2nd most frequent illness in the world. Approximately 2 million children die each year as a result of dehydration caused by diarrhea. A variety of pathogens including bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms can cause diarrhea. In developing countries, the high frequency of diarrhea contributes to negative long-term effects on growth, fitness, and cognition in young children. Risk factors for diarrhea include malnutrition, lack of access to a clean water supply, inadequate personal hygiene, failure to educate on how to treat diarrhea, and HIV. Recent developments such as a vaccine for rotavirus and oral rehydration therapy (ORT) have helped to reduce the number of deaths associated with diarrhea.
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(PS.19.b) "Diarrheal Diseases"
*Laura Pareso, *Jeannine Stiglitz, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five in developing countries and is the 2nd most frequent illness in the world. Approximately 2 million children die each year as a result of dehydration caused by diarrhea. A variety of pathogens including bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms can cause diarrhea. In developing countries, the high frequency of diarrhea contributes to negative long-term effects on growth, fitness, and cognition in young children. Risk factors for diarrhea include malnutrition, lack of access to a clean water supply, inadequate personal hygiene, failure to educate on how to treat diarrhea, and HIV. Recent developments such as a vaccine for rotavirus and oral rehydration therapy (ORT) have helped to reduce the number of deaths associated with diarrhea.
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(PS.20.a) "Maternal Mortality"
*Liberty Bost, Anne White, Undergraduate Students; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
Pregnancy can lead to many health complications that may result in death. Maternal mortality tragically ends the lives of hundreds of thousands of women yearly. Maternal mortality is an occurrence that is seen primarily in impoverished countries because women living in developing nations lack access to necessary healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy. The disparity between maternal mortality ratios for developed and undeveloped nations has been noted as the "largest discrepancy of all public health statistics." However, the lower maternal mortality ratio in developing nations proves that there are successful ways to decrease the number of maternal deaths.
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(PS.21.a) "Effects of Poverty on Syphilis and Gonorrhea Rates in the U.S."
*Anne McHugh, *Kellie Ohl, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
There are 25 sexually transmitted diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. Each year, 333 million cases of curable STDs occur in the world. The United States is not invincible to these diseases either. In the U.S., 1 in 5 people has an STD. Two of these diseases, syphilis and gonorrhea, have a long history in the U.S. Both diseases are caused by bacteria that are very treatable, yet both still persist. One of the interesting things about both of these diseases is that they affect the poor disproportionably. Research has shown that STDs are more prevalent in the South, which is also the poorest region in the United States, and that syphilis and gonorrhea are particularly a burden to African Americans, who are especially affected by poverty in the South.
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(PS.22.b) "Poliomyelitis: A Virus on the Verge of Eradication"
*Nick Siegferth, *Heather Timko, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
Polio is a viral disease that has afflicted hundreds of thousands of people all over the world in the last few decades. This disease is predominant in the most poverty stricken places in the world including sub-Saharan Africa, India and parts of East Asia. People stricken with Polio often do not show symptoms but when symptoms do show they are usually severe in nature. One of the most recognizable symptoms of Polio is Acute Flaccid Paralysis. This condition is what makes the limbs look floppy in nature and results in the grossly deformed posture seen in many Polio cases. Global efforts are being made to eradicate Polio completely. Progress has been made and Polio is now endemic in only four countries in the world due to huge vaccination efforts in afflicted areas. With the cooperation and persistence from the global community, it may be possible to rid the world from this horrible disease forever.
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(PS.23.a) "Mechanisms of Female Urinary Incontinence in Diabetes"
*David Sypert, Undergraduate; Dr. Hui Pan, Lindsay Eggers, Dr. Danli Lin, and Dr. Margot Damaser, Biomedical Engineering Department, Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
The objective of this study was to investigate if the effects of pudendal nerve crush (PNC) in diabetic animals resulted in decreased pudendal nerve regeneration. We performed a PNC or sham PNC 8 weeks after induction of diabetes to investigate the effects of pudendal nerve injury in diabetic animals. Control groups received PNC or sham PNC and consisted of both diuretic animals given 5% sucrose in their drinking water for 8 weeks and age-matched controls with normal drinking water. Leak point pressure (LPP) testing for decreased urethral resistance, indicative of stress urinary incontinence, was performed 4 days after PNC or sham PNC. A difference was shown for peak LPP between diabetic PNC and diabetic sham PNC; however, when taken as a group significant differences exist between both PNC and sham PNC animals. The results suggest that pudendal nerve crush after short-duration diabetes decreases urethral resistance as measured by decreased LPP.
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(PS.24.a) "Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis of I k B kinase beta"
*Jennifer Sopkovich, Undergraduate; George Stark, Ph.D., F.R.S., Distinguished Scientist, David Shultz, Medical Student, Molecular Genetics, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic
Two dimensional (2D) electrophoresis, a technique used to separate proteins was utilized to study I k B kinase beta (IKK ß). IKK ß is a component of the IKK complex responsible for phosphorylating I k B. IKK is also involved in interferon (IFN) y dependent gene expression. The focus of the project was to study the post translational modifications of IFN y treated IKK ß protein. In order to compare treated and untreated IKK ß protein, the optimal conditions for 2D electrophoresis of IKK ß were determined. Myc-tagged IKK ß protein was isolated from samples by immunoprecipitation and eluted with six different solutions. The optimal eluting solution was determined to be 9.8 M urea with 4% CHAPS, but 8 M urea, 7 M urea and 2 M thiourea, and 9.8 M urea were all tested with 2% and 4% CHAPS. Successful results were obtained with untreated IKK ß, but not with treated IKK ß.
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(PS.25.a) "Fly Space and Beyond"
*Liz Smietana, Undergraduate; Advisors: Dr. Norris and Dr. Schneider, Mathematics & Computer Science
The Anoto Fly pen is a miniature computer which makes use of a position coding pattern in "Fly Space." This pattern is composed of millions of dots which are arranged so that sections of a certain size appear at most once. This allows a position to be uniquely determined by looking only at a small portion of the pattern. During the past summer I had the opportunity to research position coding patterns and wavelets at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. To illustrate this research, this poster will explore Fly Space, as well as an original pattern, in order to understand what a position coding pattern is and how it works.
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(PS.26.a) "Root Response of Native and Invasive Forbs to Resource Heterogeneity"
*Christina E. Martin, Molly R. Falasco, Undergraduates; Jeremy J. James, USDA-ARS; Advisor: Dr. Drenovsky, Biology.
Soil nutrient heterogeneity is ubiquitous in natural systems, and a plant's ability to exploit nutrients depends, in part, on root morphological plasticity. Our objective was to determine whether native and invasive plants differed in root foraging traits in response to heterogeneous nutrient distribution. We compared a suite of root-related traits among four native and invasive species exposed to heterogeneous (patch) or homogeneous (control) nutrient distribution. Overall, invasive species allocated more biomass belowground, regardless of treatment, although in some cases these responses were species-specific. Invasive species tended to have greater total root length, specific root length, and root length density in patch treatments, but responses were more variable in native species. Creating many, thin roots in nutrient patches may increase invasive species' ability to exploit soil nutrients, augmenting their competitive ability. Given native species variable responses to nutrient heterogeneity, restoration efforts should focus on selecting those with morphologically plastic root systems. Funded by the Huntington and Codrington Foundations.
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(PS.27.a) "Human African Trypanosomiasis"
*Mary Bridget Bowen, *Laura Cronin, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as African sleeping sickness, is a parasitic disease transmitted to a human host through the bite of a tsetse fly. HAT only exists in sub-Saharan Africa and outbreaks are most common in areas stricken with poverty or disrupted by war. Over the past few decades, the incidence of HAT has dramatically increased and parasite resistance has become a growing concern. 60 to 70 million people in the 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of contracting HAT. 22 of these countries are considered to be among the least developed countries in the world. 300,000 to 500,000 individuals are affected by HAT each year resulting in 60,000 deaths per year. In some African communities, particularly in the Congo and Sudan, HAT has become the greatest cause of mortality, even beating HIV/AIDS. This re-emergence of HAT has significantly harmed Africa's social and economic condition.
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(PS.28.a) "Comparison of Abutting Electron Field Treatment vs. Tomotherapy Hi-Art Treatment for Scalp Sarcoma"
*Benjamin White, Undergraduate; Valdir Colussi, PhD.; Ravi Kulasekere, PhD.; Donnie Dobbins, CMD; Barry Wessels, PhD.; Timothy Kinsella, MD, University Hospitals
Purpose of the study was to compare static abutting electron field treatment with photon image guided radiation therapy for treatment (Tomotherapy) of scalp lesions. Treatment of Scalp Sarcoma has been traditionally treated using the very un-uniform and labor intensive abutting electron field therapy. This study compares the electron plan comprised of three static beams with the new Tomotherapy unit. Film dosimetry and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) were used to verify patient predicted the treatment planning. TLD measurements were taken during patient treatment as well as with phantoms when the region of interest was not accessible during treatments.
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(PS.29.b) "Drapernaldia appalachiana (Chaetophoraceae, Chlorophyceae), a putative new species from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park"
*Dr. Jeffrey R. Johansen, Biology; Rex L. Lowe, Biology, Bowling Green State University
A putative new chaetophoralean green alga, which we provisionally name Drapernaldia appalachiana pending publication, was recently collected from a karstic sink hole in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Its sister taxon is likely Drapernaldia platyzonata Hazen, based on the following shared characteristics defining the two as a monophyletic clade: production of secondary branches, sparse production of fascicles, perpendicularly arranged glomerulate fascicles on short stalks, and reticulate plastids. This new species is distinguished from D. platyzonata based on its distinctly swollen axial cells, axial cells that are longer than wide, and maximum axial cell size. We also saw both rhizoids and zoosporangia, features not reported for every species. This taxon is just one of several new species of algae found in the park as a result of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory currently underway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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(PS.30.b) "Spicaticribra kingstonii, gen. nov et sp. nov. (Thalassiosiraceae, Bacillariophyta) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA."
*Dr. Jeffrey R. Johansen, Biology; J. Patrick Kociolek, Diatom Collection, California Academy of Sciences; Rex L. Lowe, Biology, Bowling Green State University
A new genus and species in the Thalassiosiraceae, Thalassiosirales was discovered in Fontana Lake, a reservoir in the Tennessee River Drainage, North Carolina, which makes up much of the southern boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our taxon, Spicaticribra kingstonii, most closely resembles Thalassiosira, but differs in several key aspects. The most diagnostic criteria for Spicaticribra are the presence of spicate cribra that do not match up to the external openings of the areolae and the absence of fultoportulae on the valve face. The internal cribra of Spicaticribra are superficially similar to the cribral patterns of T. pseudonana and T. guillardii, but these species are lightly silicified forms that do not have round or hexagonal areolae visible in external views. Additionally, Spicaticribra lacks external extensions on the marginal fultoportulae, a condition which is unusual for Thalassiosira.
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(PS.31.a) "Intraspecific Color and Morphological Variation in Floral Specie, Penestemon pachyphyllus"
*Laura Cronin, Undergraduate; Andrea Tietmeyer Kramer,Graduate Student, UIC; Rebecca Tonietto, Chicago Botanic Gardens; Advisor: Jeremie Fant, Chicago Botanic Garden Conservation Science
The species of interest is, Penstemon pachyphyllus, and the issues in question are whether discrete populations of P. pachyphyllus exhibit significant color and morphological variation, and if such variation can be attributed to differences in the regional pollinator communities. Flower dimensions were manually measured to determine the extent of morphological variation and the flower color was quantified using Adobe Photoshop to assess differences in coloration. The findings showed significant variation existing between the isolated populations in Snake Mountain Range, along East Schell Creek, and at high and low elevations in Zion National Park. Moreover, a population comparison revealed trends in the prevailing disparity. The degree and pattern of variation suggests that individual populations have shifted towards or away from the species-defining "bee-pollination syndrome" in response to the pressures imposed by local pollinator assemblages. Program in Plant Biology and Conservation Science, supported by the National Science Foundation-REU program.
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(PS.32.b) "Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Individuals Diagnosed with Eating Disorders: An Evaluation of Statistical and Clinical Significance"
*Joshua Marcin, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Ben-Porath, Psychology
The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy treatment in 38 eating disordered patients who presented with severe eating disordered symptoms and 17 patients who presented with moderate symptoms. Outcomes of an uncontrolled clinical trial were evaluated for statistical and clinical significance. Results indicated a statistically significant reduction on several eating disordered outcomes in both groups. RCI scores on group data indicated significant change on several outcomes, but normative group comparisons indicated that overall the samples were not restored to a normative range of functioning on most outcomes. However, when data were examined using the RCI index, 50% of the sample with moderate symptoms was deemed to have made reliable improvement and 33% of the sample with severe eating disorders symptoms was deemed to have made reliable improvement as well as achieving post treatment scores. Funded by the Huntington and Codrington Foundations.
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(PS.33.a) "Optogalvanic Spectroscopy"
*Stefanie Marotta, Kurt Nesbett, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Piracha, Physics
This 2006 summer research was done in collaboration with and under the supervision of Dr. Naveed Piracha, Professor of Physics at John Carroll University, along with Kurt Nesbett, a fellow undergraduate student. We report on the temporal evolution of the optogalvanic signal in neon gas using a commercial hollow cathode lamp in conjunction with a Nd:YAG pumped dye laser system. The optogalvanic signal is a change in impedance of the discharge that occurs when electrons are excited to a higher level by certain wavelengths of the laser. We recorded three transitions excited from each of the 1s levels of neon. These transitions were recorded for a range of discharge current to study the decay rates of these states. We conclude that electron collisional decay is the dominant factor in creating the optogalvanic signal. Funded by the Huntington and Codrington Foundations.
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(PS.34.a) "Unphosphorylated stat3 Drives Gene Expression by Binding k B Element of Rantes Promoter"
*Clayton Petro, Undergraduate; George Stark, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Advisor: Dr. Mascotti, Chemistry
Tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3 activates the expression of many genes, including its own STAT3 gene. However, it was recently found that unphosphorylated STAT3 (USTAT3) activates a set of genes completely unique from its phosphorylated counterpart. Theses genes (including RANTES, IL6, IL8, MET, and MRAS) were identified using Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation. The RANTES gene promoter, consisting of CRE, ISRE and k B elements, showed greatest induction by USTAT3, and was chosen as a working model. Normal human mammary epithelial hTERT-HME1 cells expressing WT-STAT3 or Y705F-STAT3 were transfected with RANTES promoter-driven luciferase constructs. Mutations and deletions to these promoter constructs were introduced to identify the exact elements for USTAT3 up-regulation. A luciferase assay indicated that while activity was not diminished by CRE or ISRE disruption, k B mutations severely inhibited promoter activation. The results support a USTAT3 interaction with k B and are consistent with the finding that most USTAT3 induced promoters contain k B elements.
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(PS.35.b) "Analyzing Copper(II) Oxide for Manganese and Zinc Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy"
*Genna L. Andrews, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Setter, Chemistry
This paper describes the use of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy to detect small amounts of zinc and manganese on the surface of copper(II) oxide powder. FAA is used to monitor the zinc and manganese in solution as the powder particles dissolve. This allows for determination of their content on the surface and within the copper(II) oxide. The rate at which the two metals appear in solution is proportional to the square root of time since the powder was added. This analysis uses a dilute acid solution in a unique filter arrangement described earlier. The sample is introduced to the FAA via a "microboat" allowing 20 µL of solution to be analyzed by the FAA, therefore not altering the concentration of the solution. Basic solutions are also reported here, however neither the zinc nor the manganese dissolve off the copper(II) oxide powder surface when the pH is 7 or greater.
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(PS.36.a) "Oxidant Induced S-Glutathiolation of C-ABL in HEK 293 Cells"
*John F. Sullivan, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Chai, Chemistry
c-Abl is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that mediates the cellular response to oxidative stress and is involved in the initiation of cellular apoptosis. S-glutathiolation, the formation of mixed disulfides of glutathione with cysteine residues of proteins, is a physiological mechanism that is enhanced by an oxidative environment. In order to understand the physiological role of c-Abl S-glutathiolation, in vivo studies were performed with c-Abl transfected HEK 293 cells. S-glutathiolated c-Abl was pulled out from oxidant treated cells by immunoprecipitation. The in vivo data led to the conclusion that not only was c-Abl S-glutathiolated by both diamide and t-butyl hydroperoxide in HEK 293 cells, but that there was a correlation between S-glutathiolation and intracellular glutathione decrease. Therefore, the proposed mechanism is that S-glutathiolation of c-Abl serves as a regulatory mechanism to prevent irreversible oxidation of c-Abl and thereby maintain the kinase activity of c-Abl in oxidant treated cells. Funded by the Huntington and Codrington Foundations.
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(PS.37.a) "Mechanistic and Synthetic Studies of Polystyrene Polymerization Using a Sterically Hindered Alkyl Lithium Initiator"
*Olga Masliantchouk, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Michael Nichols, Chemistry
Polymerization reactions of styrene with the sterically hindered initiator trimethylsilylmethyllithium (TMSMeLi) in the presence of the ligand N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) were studied. The kinetics of the reaction were monitored using proton NMR and visible spectroscopies. The kinetic orders of styrene, TMSMeLi, and TMEDA were determined to be 1, -1, and 1, respectively. More detailed mechanistic studies are currently being performed using Li-6 NMR. The molecular weight distributions of the polystyrene products were determined using Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), and have been found to be approximately 400-2000 amu. The orientation of styrene addition was determined by two-dimensional and deuterium NMR. This project was funded by grants from the John Huntington Foundation for Education and the George W. Codrington Charitable Foundation to JCU.
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(PS.38.a) "Origin of Surface Ordered Phase in Poly(n-alkyl acrylates)"
*Melissa Zwilling, Undergraduate; Ping Yuan Hsu, graduate student, University of Akron; Advisor: Dr. Ali Dhinojwala, Polymer Science, The University of Akron
When most substances melt, the surface melts before the bulk. However, for small molecule alkanes and alcohols, the bulk actually melts before the surface. Similarly, polymers with alkyl side-chains have been observed with surface layers melting up to 10K higher than the bulk. Two transition states have been observed on the surface of poly(n-alkyl acrylate); crystalline to smectic-like, and smectic-like to liquid. Methyl ends have lower surface energy than methylene groups, which may be the reason for surface freezing. If this hypothesis is correct, then replacing the methyl with a more polar group would eliminate this surface freezing. To test this, we have synthesized 12-(acryloyloxy)-1-dodecanol through transesterification of acryloyl chloride and 1,12-dodecanediol. These monomers were then polymerized using a free radical method with AIBN as the initiator and analyzed with GPC and NMR. Surface tension measurements using a Wilhemy balance are underway to determine if an ordered surface phase is present.
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(PS.39.b) "Nanostructured Lead Selenide"
*Ian Steward, Undergraduate; Dr. Clemens Burda and Xiofeng Qiu, Case Western Reserve University; Advisor: Dr. Dyck , Physics
Lead selenide is a classic thermoelectric material (TEM) that has been studied rigorously in bulk form for many years. TEMs are materials that employ the Seebeck or Peltier effects to convert heat energy into electrical energy and vice versa. A problem keeping TEMs from popular use is the rather exorbitant cost and relative inefficiency (when compared to contemporary heating and cooling systems). Recent developments have seen the possibility of crafting lead selenide nanoparticle thin films. The hope is that this new engineering process will result in higher values for the thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT. To test this hope the resistance, Seebeck coefficient, and Hall coefficients of some lead selenide samples were measured over temperatures ranging from 50-300K, and analyzed to compare with other current TEMs. Through these measurements, along with estimations of the sample dimensions, a limit can be placed on ZT that may help future research classify this new formation of lead selenide. Funded by the Huntington and Codrington Foundations.
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(PS.40.a) "Study of Mn-SOD/Nucleic Acid Interactions by Fluorescence Quenching:
Preferential Binding to Single-stranded Nucleic Acids"
*Lana Bengez, Angela C. Smolik, Undergraduates; Dr. Mascotti, Chemistry
Bacterial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) has been found to associate with double stranded DNA based on in situ immunostaining, gel retardation and nitrocellulose assays. Since then, no studies have been published with regard to MnSOD-RNA interactions. Also, no variation of solution conditions, or thermodynamics, have been reported. We present evidence of fluorescence quenching upon binding single-stranded (ss) RNAs as well as double stranded plasmid DNA. We report the binding affinity (Kobs) as a function of monovalent salt concentration for each. Additionally, we
have measured Kobs at different temperatures, leading to van't Hoff enthalpy determinations, also as a function of [salt]. At any given [salt], the binding affinity of MnSOD is higher for the ss RNAs than for the dsDNA, indicating that although MnSOD has the potential to bind chromosomal DNA, its main function may be to bind either single-stranded regions of DNA or to mRNAs. Funded by JCU Chemistry Department.
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(PS.41.a) "The Euclid Creek Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program"
*Dr. Michael A. Nichols, Chemistry
The Euclid Creek Watershed, located in Cuyahoga and Lake Counties, covers 24 square miles within 11 municipal communities and drains into Lake Erie. It is one of the most highly urbanized areas along the Ohio Lake Erie coastline. In 2006, the Euclid Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program was established and its goal is to provide participatory environmental education to adults and students as part of a community-based watershed stewardship effort to monitor and document water quality of the watershed and establish long-term trends. It is currently being submitted for approval under Ohio EPA's Credible Data Criteria Program. The Program consists of monthly water quality monitoring by citizen volunteers/groups, grade school, high school, and college students. JCU is supporting this program by serving as a central repository for portable monitoring equipment, analyzing the volunteer-collected water samples and hosting a website containing the data. An overview of the program will be presented.
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(PS.42.b) "Analysis of Copper(II) Oxide Powder using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography"
*David Sypert, Undergraduate Student, Advisor: Dr. Setter, Chemistry
This study uses High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to investigate the surface composition of copper(II) oxide powder. The study reports testing of five standard solutions which contain varying amounts of Copper, Manganese, Zinc and Iron on the HPLC. The calibration curves generated from these standards are used to determine the presence or absence of these components and their respective concentrations on the surface of the powder sample. The approximate retention times for the components in the standard solutions are also determined on the HPLC and aid in detecting these elements on the sample powder. Copper, Manganese and Zinc are both separated and detectable when using the HPLC. Further studies are currently being performed on the HPLC with a copper(II) oxide powder sample in order to begin determining its actual surface composition. During these studies the powder is placed directly in the HPLC for dissolution using a previously described technique.
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(PS.43.a) "Trapping of Micro-spheres with Optical Tweezers"
*Andrew Gibel, Benjamin White, Undergraduates; Dr. Piracha, Dr. Dyck, Physics
Since its presentation, the method of optical particle trapping deemed, "Optical Tweezers" has grown in popularity and is being implemented in multiple ways. In an inexpensive configuration containing minimal optics and using a visible diode laser with a power output of 35mW, trapping of microscopic polystyrene spheres was achieved. Optical tweezers in practice are used in biophysics in the trapping and manipulation of cells and other organisms. Using a computer camera, we have obtained videos of this trapping and will later use analytical software to determine particle speed which will be useful in future quantitative calculation of trap strength and force.
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(PS.44.a) "The Origin and Evolution of the EPRS WHEP Domain"
*John Francis, Undergraduate; Dr. Partho Ray, Dr. Paul Fox, Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Advisor: Dr. Lissemore, Biology
The glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase (EPRS) is a bifunctional tRNA synthetase that can promote translational silencing of ceruloplasmin mRNA in humans. The EPRS is unique because it is the only aminoacyl tRNA synthetase that is fused together by a linker region. In this linker region exists a series of WHEP domains that aid in the translational silencing of ceruloplasmin mRNA in humans. In this project, we constructed a phylogenetic tree to trace the origin and evolution of the EPRS WHEP domain. We have discovered a possible earlier fusion event in the EPRS WHEP that occurred before the divergence to the bilaterian lineage. We have pin pointed where certain gene duplications, or deletions, have occurred to give rise to a variant number of WHEP domains. We also detected a lineage specific fission in the Nematoda, suggesting a rare case of fission and fusion in the same gene.
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(PS.45.a) "Experimental Design of an Undergraduate Laboratory Assay of the Shelf-Life of Beer"
*Nathan A. Moss, Undergraduate Student; Advisor: Dr. Miller, Chemistry
The well known "cardboard" off-flavor of beer when it has been left out of the refrigerator for some time is attributed to the products of free radical oxidation (FROx). At cool temperatures the FROx process is slower than that at higher temperatures. Industrial production and distribution of beer does not allow continual control over storage environments, but industry has methods of measuring the oxidative stability of beer to find an optimal shelf life for consumer satisfaction. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) provides a useful technique to measure the degree of resistance in beer to FROx. Once the natural antioxidants in beer are consumed, during a time period known as "Lagtime," the beer becomes "skunked." "Lagtime" is directly related to shelf life. We will design a spin trapping method to measure this "Lagtime" and introduce the background, physical methods and EPR techniques used in this experiment to the undergraduate laboratory curriculum.
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(PS.46.a) "Chagas' Disease"
*Kate Glass, Olga Masliantchouk, Undergraduate Students
Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis) is a disease relatively unheard of in the developed world, yet it is the 4th leading cause of death in Latin America. It is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. It is endemic to 21 countries in Central/South America. Approximately 16-18 million people are currently infected with Chagas' disease. Transmission occurs through contact with feces of an infected triatomine bug, through blood transfusion, through organ transplantation, and congenitally. There are three stages of Chagas' disease: acute, intermediate, and chronic. If the disease reaches the chronic stage, it may cause damage to the heart, esophagus, and colon, leading to death. No vaccine is available for Chagas' disease. Insecticide spraying and the improvement of the household environment are ways of preventing the spread of the disease. Two drugs, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, are available for treatment of acute cases. Both of these drugs are expensive and have serious side-effects.
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(PS.47.b) "Effecting Change Through Endogenous Development: Ashoka and Social Entrepreneurship in Nepal"
*Shannon Kelly, Undergraduate; Christina Monson, School For International Training: Nepal; Anil Chitrakar, Ashoka Fellow
Through working with Ashoka Fellows and interviewing five recipients of Ashoka Fellowships I intended to look into the gap between the perceived fatalism inherent in Nepal's culture and the staggering success of Ashoka's social entrepreneurs. I have examined the arguments detailing Nepal's supposedly fatalistic culture and discussed these things with those currently involved in endogenous change. Through these discussions I examined problems within Nepal's society that impede development. However it is clear that those people motivated to make positive changes within Nepal are actively engaging in social entrepreneurship.
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(PS.48.a) "Role Annotations and Adaptive Aspect Frameworks"
*Matthew Kucera, Peter Kovacina, Joe Teets, Undergraduates; Advisor: Dr. Seiter, Mathematics & Computer Science
Over the past summer, the John Carroll Computer Science Department researched and began implementing ways to extend the capabilities of Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP). Currently features of AOP such as the pointcut do not offer the capabilities necessary for some applications; we researched several dynamic programming plug-ins for Java. We also researched a few dynamic programming languages such as; Ruby and PHP. These applications did not provide the features that we needed so we had to develop a new Java plug-in for the Eclipse IDE. We developed an AOP framework to simplify existing multi-agent swarm applications. The framework introduces a layer of observers that monitor the conflicts that arise during agent collaborations. The results collected during the observation can be used to experiment with different conflict resolution techniques in order to avoid system thrashing. Funding from the Huntington and Codrington Foundation.
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(PS.49.a) "Ribosomal RNA leader sequence permits secondary structure determination of the ITS region in heterocystous cyanobacteria"
*Mary Bridget Bowen, Undergraduate; Advisors: Dr. Johansen, Dr. Martin, Biology
Microorganisms have very few morphological characteristics that allow for differentiating between organizational classes. The paucity of phenotypes necessitates the use of molecular characters. Typically, researchers compare the 16S rRNA gene sequence and 16S-23S Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequence to determine evolutionary relationships among species. However, exclusively examining the linear DNA sequences ignores the functionally relevant secondary structures. We cloned and sequenced the promoter/leader/16S rRNA/16S-23S ITS region from 15 hetercystous cyanobacterial species. The leader sequence and proximal 16S-23S ITS region base pairs in the secondary structure. The sequences we determined have permitted us to determine the secondary structure of the ITS, particularly the poorly studied structure of the beginning part of the ITS that binds to the leader. Student salary was funded by the Huntington Research Fellowship, and supplies were funded by the Department of Biology.
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(PS.50.a) "Developing a Model to Investigate Tumor Interaction With Bone in Immune Competent Mice"
*Frank A. Luckino, III, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Tatiana Byzova, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
The purpose of my project was to assist in the development and characterization of a new model for investigating the interactions of tumor and bone, specifically in mice deficient in the bone matrix protein: secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC). SPARC expression is crucial for normal bone maintenance (turnover), but its role in tumor growth in bone is unclear. To investigate this, we used mice deficient in SPARC paired with either murine prostate or breast cancer cells, two carcinomas which in humans frequently metastasize to bone. Techniques that I learned during this work included cell culture, osteoblast and osteoclast harvest from mouse long bones, western blotting, nickel affinity chromatography for the purification of recombinant SPARC, and microCT analysis of tumor induced bone remodeling. While most of the in vitro studies concerning tumor and bone cell interactions are ongoing, microCT analysis indicates that both the breast and prostate cancer cell lines used promote extensive osteolysis.
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(PS.51.a) "John Carroll & New Orleans: Moved to Do More"
*Chester Banaszak, Peter Aubrey, Undergraduates
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, John Carroll University has sent many of its own to the Gulf Region to assist in the relief efforts. By May, six trips will have already been success stories. Students 1,200 miles away here in Ohio are taking initiative to rebuild and renew hope in a city battered by tragedy. Not only are we saving the homes for the families we help, we also revitalize in them a sense of community and optimism that they desperately need. This poster project will outline the work that we have accomplished, the families we have helped, the students who have given up their time to tackle these major issues, and the need for more assistance for the Gulf region.
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(PS.52.a) "Magneto transport measurements as a function of pressure on Sb2-xVxTe3 thin films"
*P. C. Quayle, Undergraduate; Y. -J. Chine and C. Uher, Physics, University of Michigan; Advisor: Dr. Dyck, Physics
Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors (DMS) are semiconductor materials into which a small concentration of magnetic ions have been introduced. They are of great interest because of their combined semiconducting and magnetic properties, and the applications that they promise. The focus of this study is Sb2Te3, our semiconductor host, doped with the magnetic ion Vanadium. Both carrier concentration and ferromagnetic transition temperature have been shown to be pressure dependent in Sb2-xVxTe3 single crystals with x=0.03. The Molecular Beam Epitaxy growth process allows for the growth of thin films with a Vanadium content of an order of magnitude greater than single crystals. We present data displaying the effect of pressure on the magnetic properties of thin film samples with x ? 0.32. This pressure dependence allows for theoretical insight into the physics underlying the properties of DMSs and furthers the cause of developing a room temperature ferromagnetic DMS. Supported by Research Corporation.
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(PS.53.a) "The Effect of Perceptual Set on Global and Local Processing"
*Tim Warner, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Yost, Psychology
The global-precedence theory is the idea that people see whole images before detailed images. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether a person responds faster to whole images or detailed images and whether the type of instruction used can impact the process. In two separate conditions, instruction for whole images (n = 25) and detailed images (n = 27), participants were presented with the same stimuli. Based on past research, it was expected that there would be faster responses for larger, whole images and that the instruction used will elicit faster responses for whole images compared to smaller images. However, there was only a marginally significant difference for the type of instruction, which means that the results are likely to be significant if more participants took the study. Future research should employ a larger sample and increase the number of stimuli.
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(PS.54.a) "Analyzing Copper (II) Oxide Powder with Differential Pulse Stripping Voltammetry"
*Lindsey Syktich, Undergraduate; Advisor: Dr. Setter, Chemistry
This paper describes the development of a technique to determine the surface composition of powders with differential pulse stripping voltammetry. This technique is demonstrated with copper(II) oxide. Differential Pulse is a highly sensitive type of anodic stripping voltammetry. It can be used to analyze the surface of powders by monitoring the dissolution of the powder in a solution without requiring the separation of the solution from the powder. This describes experiments run using the powder and a three electrode potentiostat that focused on seeing the activity of copper compared to zinc. The working electrode is a thin film mercury electrode. Standardization studies are included that determine the effects of analyte concentration and the amount of mercury on the electrode to the signal peak. Further studies will concentrate on improving the resolution of the small zinc signal in the presence of the far larger copper signal from the copper(II) oxide powder.
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(PS.55.a) "Transfection in HUVEC cells versus Bovine cells"
*Anne McHugh, Undergraduate; Smarajit Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D. Department of Cell Biology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Transfection is a commonly used technique in cell biology, in which a foreign piece of DNA is inserted into a cell. In this experiment, transfection of a 510 bp promoter sequence and GFP in HUVEC and bovine cells were compared. The goal was to initiate the expression of E-selectin, a cell adhesion molecule that plays a role in inflammation. Each group of cells was treated with either targeffect or lipofectin reagent, as well as, TNF-a. In the end, only the bovine cells treated with lipofectin had significant induction values of over 20-fold.
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(PS56.a) "Identification of TNF-a receptor-II (p75) specific pro-inflammatory gene expression in human endothelial cells"
*Matt Lemke, Undergraduate; Unni M Chandrasekharan and Paul E DiCorleto, Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) binds to two distinct cell surface receptors; TNF-a receptor-I (TNFR-I: p55) and TNF-a receptor-II (TNFR-II: p75). In the present proposal, our goal was to determine the role of p75 on pro-inflammatory gene expression in human endothelial cells (hEC) in response to TNF-a. hEC express both p55 and p75 constitutively. To achieve our goal, we used small interference RNA (siRNA) technique to suppress p55 specifically in hEC and then determined the TNF-a-mediated target gene expression using Real time quantitative PCR technique. We identified that p75 activity is critical for TNF-a-induced ICAM-1, whereas; p75 had partial contribution to the induction of E-selectin, VCAM-1 and MCP-1 in hEC. Identification of genes that are specifically induced by p75 in hEC will lead to new hypotheses about the underlying mechanisms of the cell's response to TNF-a.
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(PS.57.a) "Synthesis and Calibration of {(BiSe)1.10}x(NbSe2)y"
*Ryan Tappel, Undergraduate; Colby Heideman, the Dave Johnson Lab, University of Oregon
In the summer of 2006, the National Science Foundation funded a fellowship for undergraduates and professors interested in solid-state chemistry. The University of Oregon hosted the initial week of summer lectures before the participants departed throughout the country to work on various projects. The Dave Johnson Lab at the University of Oregon dedicates its time and efforts to the development of thermoelectric materials, used by NASA to power spacecraft. A more common application of thermoelectrics would be the replacement everyday compressor refrigerators if efficient enough material were developed. The series of compounds {(BiSe)1.10}x(NbSe2)y was believed to be practical materials for the synthesis of thermoelectrics using interwoven layered materials, which allows a compound to posses the physical properties of its constituents. The {(BiSe)1.10}x(NbSe2)y system was successfully synthesized and calibrated, and it is ready for further exploration of its physical properties and how useful a thermoelectric it would be.
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(PS.58.a) "The Role of NOS Hinge Region in Electron Transfer"
*Anthony T. Mustovich, Undergraduate; Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque; Koustubh Panda; Jesus Tejero Bravo; Kulwant S. Aulak; Mohammed Fadlalla; and Dennis J. Stuehr, Department of Pathobiology, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic
Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule serving the body with a wide variety of physiological processes. NO is produced by a group of enzymes known as Nitric Oxide Synthases (NOSs). There are three isoforms of NOS: neuronal NOS (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS), all of which convert arginine to citrulline generating NO in the process. Although sharing a similar homology, each has different modifications and catalytic behaviors that enable their specific roles in biology. Of note, NO synthesis activity of eNOS is 5 to 10 times lower than that of nNOS and iNOS. It was believed that certain structural elements of the eNOS protein may contribute to this discrepancy. An eNOS and nNOS chimera was constructed, purified, and exposed to a variety of catalytic assays. It was determined that an eNOS protein bearing certain nNOS structural characteristics had catalytic behaviors similar to nNOS wild-type protein.
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(PS.59.a) "Alternative Splicing and its Role in Cardiac Development"
*Tony Macedonia, Undergraduate Student; Andrea Ladd, Ph.D. Department of Cell Biology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Alternative splicing is a mechanism by which different mRNA sequences are generated from identical primary transcripts. These different mRNAs can lead to the translation of different proteins with distinct functions. It is believed that over 74% of human genes are alternatively spliced. However, most previous studies have not focused on pre-mRNA splicing during development, and there has never been a systematic study of splicing events and how they coordinate developmental changes during cardiac morphogenesis. To examine whether splicing changes were occurring during cardiac development, RT-PCR was used to analyze splicing patterns in the heart during various stages of development. We identified 144 variable regions in 75 genes in the heart. 10 out of the 40 variable regions tested so far have exhibited changes in alternative splicing during heart development, demonstrating that alterative splicing is dynamic during embryogenesis.
Funded by the Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Research Award from the March of Dimes.
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(PS.60.a) "BL 260 Biological Consequences of Poverty, A New Course on Poverty and Health"
*Dr. Jim Lissemore, Biology
During the Fall 2006 semester, I taught a new course, BL 260 Biological Consequences of Poverty, focusing on the links between poverty and health. The specific goals of the course included providing: a basic understanding of global and domestic poverty, public health, and epidemiology; basic understanding of the biological consequences of poverty on domestic and global health; basic understanding of evolutionary factors in disease; a direct experience of public health problems in the city of Cleveland through community-based learning; awareness of career opportunities in public health and related areas; and awareness of ethical issues in public health research, prevention, and treatment. More information about the course and preliminary results of student surveys and evaluations will be presented. Development of this course was supported by a JCU Ethics Course Development Fellowship during Summer 2006.
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