Laura Denise Barlow Psychology
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Psychology
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): John Begeny
Psychology
Rachel Mitchell Psychology
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The Effect of Parent Implementation Integrity on Students' Reading Fluency Outcomes
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The idea of parent tutoring is an area of research that is promising as a means for assisting students who need to improve academic skills, such as reading. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the degree to which parents can implement The Helping Early Literacy with Practice Strategies Program (HELPS) reading intervention program consistently and accurately (i.e., with integrity), and how implementation integrity correlates with students’ reading improvements. Participants in this study included 17 first and second grade students and their parents. Findings showed little relationship between parent implementation integrity and student reading improvements, but this was likely due to little variability in parents’ implementation integrity data. Low levels of variability likely resulted due to the training parents received prior to the study. Implications, limitations, and future research directions will be discussed.
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Michael G Browne Biomedical Engineering
Whitney Barnette Biomedical Engineering
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Biomedical Engineering
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Andrew DiMeo, Sr.
Biomedical Engineering
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Biomechanical Analysis of both a Globally Inspired and a Variable Movement Clubfoot Brace using a Surrogate Biomodel
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Clubfoot (congenital talipes equinovarus) is the most common musculoskeletal birth defect which occurs in otherwise normal children. This anomaly affects the tendons and ligaments in the lower extremity and foot, either bilaterally or unilaterally. Treatment is based on casting, however, clubfoot tends to relapse requiring post-correction bracing. Current bracing is performed during critical child development stages through age 5.
This research study utilized the work shown by DiMeo et. al. stating that “surrogate biomodeling is an effective method to evaluate wide ranging bracing options.” Using gait analysis software and muscle-tendon unit length changes, a full biomechanical analysis was performed on a variable movement brace and a Steenbeek brace, a low-cost, low-tech brace developed and utilized in Uganda and other developing countries.
Mimicking the degree of external rotation and dorsiflexion from the Steenbeek brace to the U.S. standard of care brace (Ponseti), only one data point showed statistical significance on a 0.05 level when comparing the angles at the knee and hip at 1-inch incremental movements along the sagittal plane (2-inch articulation, knee joint, p=0.0106) suggesting that the braces have similar impacts on the angles of the knees and hips.
Through adjustments to dorsiflexion and external rotation of the variable movement brace, knee and hip compensation angles were analyzed. Initial analysis has shown non-significant difference in knee angle through articulation with varying brace parameters. Hip angle compensation has mainly occurred in the sagittal plane causing maximum hip flexion. Future analysis of both braces will involve muscle-tendon unit forces and length changes.
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Justin David Buie Biology
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Molecular Biomedical Sciences
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Troy Ghashghaei
CVM-Molecular Biomedical Scien
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Cortical Damage Impacts Ependymal Cell Homeostasis within the Mouse Neural Stem Cell Niche
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During embryonic development, neurogenesis occurs ubiquitously throughout the central nervous system (CNS). However, neurogenesis is limited to select regions of the postnatal and adult brain. An established corridor of adult neurogenesis in the mouse CNS includes the subependymal zone (SEZ) of the lateral ventricles, which forms a stem cell niche. Prior research has shown that the ependymal component of the niche is stimulated to divide in response to neural damage, and directly participates in generation of new neurons that migrate to the site of injury. The precise nature of such responses and their underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Our lab recently discovered that a forkhead transcription factor, Foxj1, is required for the differentiation of ependymal cells during early postnatal development. Moreover, we have evidence that the endogenous Foxj1 promoter in the wildtype ependymal cells becomes highly inactive during adult periods. These findings led to the hypothesis that Foxj1 expression in the ependymal component of the niche may increase in response to injury. Using genetic mosaicism in mice I examined the fate of Foxj1 expressing ependymal cells following induced injury. My preliminary findings suggest an increase in Foxj1 expressing cells in and around the SEZ two weeks post injury. This increase in Foxj1 expressing cells may be due to proliferation of preexisting Foxj1 expressing cells, or induction of the Foxj1 promoter in cells without Foxj1 expression prior to injury. These findings provide an exciting platform for future assessment of the role of Foxj1 in the damaged/degenerating adult brain.
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Kristy M Casper Animal Science
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Animal Science
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Ricardo Maggi
CVM-Comp Animal
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Bartonella Detection after Storage
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Bartonella is a zoonotic bacterium that can be transmitted by many vectors, including fleas, ticks, body lice, sand flies and via animal bites, scratches, and potentially ingestion. Bartonella infection in people has been historically associated with Cat Scratch Disease, endorcaditis, bacillary angiomatosis and Trench Fever. Nevertheless, more complex and chronic disorders such as neurological disorders have been recently reported. The objective of this project was to determine if human blood samples containing Bartonella species could be stored for up-to 8 weeks at 4-8°C before tested for the presence of this bacteria could take place. A set of DNA samples (n=59) were extracted from spiked human blood with and without Bartonella henselae. Samples were previously stored at 4° C for up to two months and were tested using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Bartonella DNA was amplified using conventional Bartonella genus PCR primers targeting the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region (ITS). All products were analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. PCR products obtained from samples were sequenced to identify the species and ITS strain type. Results showed that 58 of the 59 samples were accurate to their expected outcome. Bartonella spiked samples were positive and negative control samples were negative from weeks 1-9. Detection of Bartonella in samples after storage is important for when samples may not be tested right away after collection.
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Kaitlyn Eileen Casulli Food Science
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Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Brian Farkas
Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences
Keith Poulsen Pathobiological Science;
Derek Foster CVM-Food Animal Eq
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Effect of High Pressure Processing on Viscosity and Immunoglobulin G Content in Bovine Colostrum
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Feeding of high quality, pathogen free colostrum is essential for the health of dairy calves; however, bovine colostrum is often contaminated through improper handling which necessitates its pasteurization. Thermal treatments (62.5°C, 30 min) reduce bacterial contamination, but these increase the viscosity of the colostrum as well as reduce the concentration of biochemically active nutrients, such as immunoglobulins. It was hypothesized that high pressure processing could be applied to bovine colostrum to prevent changes in viscosity and nutrient levels. First-milking samples collected from cows (Holstein) at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University were pressure processed (Autoclave Engineers, CIP2-22-60) at 300 MPa and 400 MPa for 0 to 45 min. while maintaining a temperature of 0°C. Shear stress and viscosity for each pressure processed sample was determined (StressTech, Controlled Stress Rheometer) over shear rates (0.1 to 200 1/s) encompassing those found during calf feeding and at bovine body temperature (37.8°C). IgG content was determined (Bovine IgG RID Test Kit, Triple J Farms) in singlet for each triplicate pressure processed sample. Viscosity values remained constant (0.01 Pa s) over the range of times tested at 300 MPa while values generally increased (0.01 to 0.03 Pa s) with increasing time at 400 MPa with the highest viscosity being acceptable for feeding. IgG values all remained above the minimum threshold (5000 mg/dl) for all treatments except 30 and 45 min at 400 MPa.
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Lauren Elizabeth Cates Biology
Marissa Herchler ;
Kayla Dennis ;
Patrick McCarthy ;
Jenna Montminy ;
Paige Harrelson ;
Kylie Glisson ;
Carolina Caro ;
Hannah Howard Nutrition Science;
Noelle Dalhouse ;
Rocco Colucci
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Microbiology
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): James Brown
Microbiology
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Lionfish: Kudzu of the Caribbean
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The Caribbean, Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, and the entire eastern seaboard from Rhode Island to Venezuela have been invaded by the voracious and venomous lionfish (Pterois miles and P. volitans). This south-Pacific fish, popular amongst marine aquarists because of it's beauty and hardiness, escaped or was released into the waters of Florida, from where they have spread like Kudzu. They are efficient predators, very hardy, have few predators, and multiply quickly. They threaten ecosystems and economies with their voracious appetites. In some regions, including the North Carolina coast, they outnumber all native grouper species (with which lionfish compete) except Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax). We will describe the effects of this invasion, and what is being done to control it and minimize the impact of these dangerous aliens, including our own efforts to raise awareness.
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Michael Clifton Collins Physics
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Physics
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): David Haase
Physics
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Helium Diffusion, Solubility, and Permeability Measurements of nEDM Experiment Construction Materials
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We describe the construction and operation of an apparatus to measure diffusion, permeability, and solubility of helium gas through polymeric materials that could be used in the construction of the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) experiment. The nEDM project is a collaboration of 20 universities and laboratories to set a new experimental limit on the neutron EDM, which is test of the Standard Model of subatomic particles. The results from our diffusion measurements will determine the design and operation of the cryogenic liquid helium containment volumes for the nEDM experiment. The nEDM apparatus will be mounted at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The measurement apparatus was calibrated against published diffusion measurements on thin Kapton films.
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Amanda Lee Cox Chemical Engineering
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Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Richard Spontak
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
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Elastomeric Photovoltaics Derived from Microphase-Separated Block Ionomers
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In our age of dwindling oil reserves and rising energy costs, efforts to identify alternative energy sources are rapidly growing. We are interested in studying the effects of using a pentablock ionomer to facilitate the development of dye-sensitive photovoltaics. Based on the system developed by Velev and co-workers, the two photosensitive dyes incorporated into the copolymer hydrogel are DAS- and [Ru(bpy)3]2+. We have found that the system under investigation produces a current density that is comparable to previous work performed with hydrogels derived from agar. This observation has provided impetus to increase the current density of the cell by changing the solvent used in the dye solution to water, which resulted in a decrease in current density relative to the efficiency of the dyes in ethanol. The effect of using 5 µL of both dyes in the ethanol solvent, putting the DAS- dye in the cell first and then adding the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ dye afterward, has produced the highest current densities in repeat experiments, reaching a maximum of 4.19 µA/cm2. We propose that this sequence of events might be related to interactions between the functional groups of the copolymer and the DAS- dye.
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Richard McAlister Deans Chemistry
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Chemistry
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Jonathan Lindsey
Chemistry
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Facile Synthesis of a Close Analogue of Vitamin B12
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Vitamin B12 is the most architecturally complex molecule employed in enzymatic catalysis in living systems. Understanding the catalytic properties of such cofactors requires access to a range of synthetic analogues for examination in diverse model reactions. However, the complexity of vitamin B12 has stymied this time-honored approach. The molecular skeleton of vitamin B12 is a corrin, which differs from the well-known porphyrins (e.g., heme) in (i) the high degree of saturation, and (ii) the contraction of the ring by one carbon. Fully unsaturated corrin analogues (octadehydrocorrins) have been studied extensively, yet more reduced analogues have remained synthetically inaccessible. We found previously that self-condensation of a dihydrodipyrrin-acetal affords a B,D-tetradehydrocorrin (TDC-T7T17) in good yield. Tetradehydrocorrin macrocycles occupy a reduction level halfway between that of octadehydrocorrins and corrins, and have been little studied despite their close similarity to corrins. However, the reactive 1-acetal moiety of TDC-T7T17 was an Achilles heel, enabling rearrangement of the macrocycle to the analogous bacteriochlorin under acidic conditions. Here, the reaction of two distinct dihydrodipyrrins in the presence of Ga(OTf)3 afforded (29% yield) a novel B,D-tetradehydrocorrin (TDC-EP7T17), which lacks the reactive 1-acetal moiety and is stable to acid. Furthermore, this directed route enabled the installation of distinct substituents on opposite sides of the macrocycle. We are presently examining the metalation of TDC-EP7T17 with cobalt and nickel to achieve further structural similarity with vitamin B12. The facile access to stable, synthetically tailored metallo-B,D-tetradehydrocorrins should open the door to diverse fundamental studies related to vitamin B12.
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Kevin Favreau Biology
Bailey Green Biology;
Jenna Beck Biological Sciences: Integrated Physiology & Neurobiology;
Christopher Carr Biology
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Biological Sciences
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Robert Grossfeld
Biology
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BIO 483: Multiple Theories of Multiple Sclerosis: Autoimmunity vs. Oligodendrogliopathy
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects two million people worldwide. This disease is very difficult to diagnose and has no known cure, but various disease-modifying treatments are available. It is widely considered that during MS progression, the body’s own immune system attacks the myelin sheath, which is essential for transmission of electrical signals by nerve cells. According to the Autoimmunity Hypothesis, naïve T-cells are activated within the lymph nodes, inducing differentiation and migration to the CNS. Infiltration of the blood-brain barrier occurs after T-cell migration, which leads to neuronal demyelination and inflammation due to these myelin-reactive cells. Upon further research, a novel hypothesis has been created that advocates for the initial stages of MS progression being oligodendrocyte apoptosis and dystrophy as opposed to immune system activation. Utilizing post-mortem histopathological examinations from MS patients, four major lesion types were categorized. Type III and IV lesions (characterized by oligodendroglial apoptosis and dystrophy, respectively) have never been described in relation to the autoimmune hypothesis or to Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), the primary animal model for MS. The Oligodendrogliopathy Hypothesis states that inflammation is not the cause of MS (as with the autoimmunity hypothesis), but rather a result of oligodendrocyte apoptosis. Further examinations of this novel approach to MS pathogenesis can lead to more precise lesion characterization and an increased understanding of the mechanism underlying this complex disease.
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Eva Marie Frantz Animal Science
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Animal Science
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Joan Eisemann
Animal Science
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Using Moodle Forums: ANS 230 Nutrition of Domestic Animals
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As a Teaching Assistant for ANS 230 Nutrition of Domestic Animals, I knew that few students used office hours or attended review sessions. Therefore, I created a weekly Moodle forum to provide an alternative for these events and an additional source of information to students. My weekly forums were intended to help students study by providing a weekly review. In addition, I hosted a 3 hour review session before each test where students could post questions and have a quick response. To evaluate my weekly postings and online review sessions, I wrote a survey to obtain student feedback and analyzed the Moodle tracker for forum use. The survey consisted of 10 questions asking about whether students used the weekly forums or review sessions and how useful the forums were. Use of the forums was calculated in Excel. It was broken down by week to observe when students accessed (the week it was posted or shortly before the test) and how many total students used each week’s post. Forum use was greatest for the first six weeks of class, and at week ten declined until the last posting right before the final. My data collection suggests around 60% of students used the forums where the majority of use was within the week of testing, and that overall, 87% of students found Moodle to be a helpful tool. My study shows that Moodle forums are a helpful tool and in the future, can be adapted to increase usage and effectiveness.
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Mark Edward Herring Biology
Alison Mitchell Biological Sciences - Human Biology Concentration
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Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Suzie Goodell
Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences
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Preschool Education in Agriculture/Nutrition Sciences: The Barriers in the Development and Implementation of Early Childhood Nutrition Intervention Curriculum
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Preference for fruits and vegetables improves with increased exposure to novel foods, and a preschool nutrition curriculum can provide this educational exposure. Barriers like obstruction to lesson implementation and inconsistent school policies can undermine the effectiveness of an interventional curriculum in regards to encouraging children to eat more fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this study was to assess preliminary findings related to the barriers in the development and implementation of PEAS (Preschool Education in Agriculture/Nutrition Science), a hands-on preschool nutrition education curriculum. Over a period of 24 weeks, college student volunteers implemented lessons in local Head Start classrooms on a weekly basis. Students (n=6) provided feedback on their experiences after implementing each lesson. Preliminary analyses were conducted on 55 lessons in 11 of the 15 developed units. Student feedback rated 85% of the lessons as “easy” for preschoolers to understand and 75% of the lessons as “easy” to implement. Lesson implementation faced barriers in the classroom with regards to school policies prohibiting use of activity sheets and food preparation in classrooms. Modifications were made to lessons to improve alignment with educational Head Start center policies. The PEAS curriculum may be a tool preschool teachers can use to educate their students and encourage more consumption of fruits and vegetables.
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Jason Michael Hite Applied Mathematics
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Nuclear Engineering
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Hany Abdel-Khalik
Nuclear Engineering
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Subspace Methods for Gaussian Process Surrogate Construction
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For many techniques of interest in computational science it is often necessary to evaluate a given model a large number of times. This task can become computationally intractable for realistic models, many of which can take hours or days for just a single evaluation even when using leadership-class supercomputers. A common alternative practice is to first construct a computationally inexpensive surrogate from a small number of direct model evaluations, which can then be used as an approximate substitute for the direct evaluation of the model. This research examines one particular class of these surrogates, the so-called Gaussian process. These methods presume that the model is dependent on an underlying set of random variables that are drawn from a Gaussian random field. The parameters describing the underlying field are inferred from the true model evaluations and the resulting Gaussian process can be used to estimate both the true model value and uncertainty at any point in the training domain. Here, we will demonstrate an improvement upon standard Gaussian process techniques that relies on sampling of the model gradients and which permits a reduction in the number of true model evaluations required to reach acceptable accuracy. Numerical experiments show that the new approach produces a dramatic improvement in the accuracy of the resulting surrogate model, as well as reducing the cost of constructing the surrogate itself.
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Levon P Keusseyan Nuclear Engineering
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Nuclear Engineering
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Steven Shannon
Nuclear Engineering
Mohamed Bourham Nuclear Engineering
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D-T Fusion Neutron Source Shielding and Application Design
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uThe rapid evolution of the nuclear technology industry has fostered unanticipated applications utilizing nuclear devices for a wide range of applications. The NC State University High Energy Neutron Source (HENS) design team proposes a comprehensive shielding and application design for a plasma accelerator, a fusion-based neutron source, to be acquired by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI). A full breadth of applications is considered, including, but not limited to, the production of medical isotope as a high priority application, Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel enrichment verification, and neutron activation analysis techniques. Utilizing a monoenergetic 14.1 MeV isotropic source of 10^12 neutrons/cm^2/s generated via Deuterium-Tritium fusion reaction, full graphical design detail is presented for a licensable shielding configuration compliant with NCRP dose limits. Product life cycle analysis revealed unrealistic aspirations of isotope production, yet burgeoning niche applications available. System parameters and flux profile are modeled using Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) software, culminating in a comprehensive three dimensional simulation platform. Engineering design-based applications are considered with special attention paid to product life cycle, resulting in chronological challenge assessment as seen in the following report.
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Brittany Anne Lang Physical Education
Jennifer Wheeley Biological Sciences-Human Biology Concentration;
De'Ja Alexander Biological Sciences
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Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Suzie Goodell
Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences
Alice Raad Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences;
Natalie Cooke Food Science
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Qualitative Assessment of Medical School Coursework Received by Third and Fourth Year Medical Students for the Treatment and Prevention of Childhood Obesity
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All physicians’ should be given nutritional informationwithin their coursework in order to prevent and treat childhood obesity. In this qualitative assessment, researchers investigated third and fourth year medical students’ overall knowledge of the etiology of childhood obesity and their viewpoints on the quality of their education regarding their readiness to prevent and treat childhood obesity. Researchers conducted phone interviews with 78 allopathic and osteopathic third and fourth year medical students across the nation. Researchers found that the medical students felt their coursework did not adequately prepare them to prevent and treat childhood obesity. The majority of students stated that there was too much information to learn in their first two years of medical school; therefore, there was not enough time to provide additional information regarding nutrition and childhood obesity. Others said that the information that was provided to them was minimal or typically focused on adults rather than children. Some students thought that providing additional lectures outside the classroom may be beneficial. With additional nutrition information, medical students may feel that they will be more confident in counseling obese children.
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Travis T Lekich Chemistry
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Chemistry
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Walter Weare
Chemistry
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Harnessing the Power of the Sun Through Metal to Metal Charge Transfer
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As the world's population grows, so does its use of fossil fuels and CO2 output. Many have proposed use of alternative energy sources to solve this problem such as hydroelectric, wind, and solar power. Even though these technologies are promising, they all lack an important aspect that fossil fuels have which is the storage of energy. For these reasons, we are studying molecular systems that can capture sunlight and store that energy in a chemical species such as hydrogen or CO2. To do this, we have designed a compound containing an oxygen-bridged molybdenum and titanium that is potentially capable of light-induced metal to metal charge transfer. This charge transfer is used to provide high-energy electrons and holes for catalysis of unfavorable reactions such as the splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen.
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Danielle A Lindquist Zoology
Kaitlyn Schill Animal and Poultry Science
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Population Health & Pathobiology
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Ronald Baynes
Department of Population Health and Pathobiology
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Tetracycline Residues in Porcine Stomach
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Tetracycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic used to treat infections in swine. The maximum residue levels of tetracycline in pork stomach tissue in Europe, Russia and the United States are 10, 200 and 2,000 ppb respectively. This difference in accepted safety levels may be the reason why stomach tissues that the United States exports continue to be residue violators in overseas markets. In this study, 30 pigs at two different stages of production (weanling and finisher) were treated with tetracycline following the label instructions. Blood samples were collected at 0, 72, 78, 96, 102 h after exposure. The medication was stopped at 120 h and blood samples were again collected at 126, 144, 168, 192 and 216 h after exposure. Five animals were slaughtered at withdraw day 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 post dosing and stomachs were collected. All blood and tissue samples were analyzed by HPLC. Tetracycline levels in plasma were below level of detection after withdraw day 4. The stomach tissues had residues reaching an average of 671.72, 330.31, 297.77, 136.36 and 268.08 ppb on withdraw days 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 respectively. This study shows that tetracycline residues are still detected in the stomach tissues, even after the withdrawal time of four days in the US. These residue levels could explain why stomach tissue tested in Russia and Europe show up as positive for tetracycline, even though the meat passed inspection here in the US prior to export.
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Madiha S Malik Graphic Design
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Graphic Design
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Martha Scotford
Graphic Design
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Glorifying the Holy Script: The Past and Present of Islamic Calligraphy and Typography
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The art of Islamic calligraphy comes with years of practice, patience and knowledge of the language that derives from Arabic, known as the “mother of all languages.” The beauty of Islamic calligraphy is that it brings forth such a rich history, culture, and religion. A current question is whether the modern world of today is losing access to the authenticity of Islamic calligraphy as it might become a rare tradition. Speculative research on the history and traditions of Arabic calligraphy, as well as on the calligraphic letterforms in comparison to Arabic typographic letterforms, will allow for a better understanding of this question. When exploring the treasures of Islamic calligraphy, I was able to gather a comprehensive history of its evolution from origins in various areas of the Middle East. I became aware of the numerous styles of calligraphy that are not only exclusive to Arabic, but also to Persian, Urdu, and Turkish. Freydoun Naeymi-Rad is an Iranian calligrapher artist who studied the art of calligraphy with the great masters in Iran. He is presently in Raleigh, creating beautiful Persian calligraphy that reflects the poetry and religion of Iran. I was able to interview a Pakistani calligrapher from Virginia and attend a workshop in UNC Chapel Hill by another Iranian calligrapher, Dr. Mohammed Ali Bat-haee. Through interviewing these artistic individuals, I learned that the forms of handwritten calligraphy come straight from the heart, which is not as well expressed through the typography.
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Catherine Grace McVey Animal Science
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Animal Science
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Daniel Egger
Duke Center for Quantitative Modeling
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Equine QFBR: A Computational Approach to Equine Temperament Anaylsis
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Within the equestrian community there is a great deal of antiquated knowledge relating anatomical features of the equine face to aspects of personality/temperament. This noninvasive behavioral evaluation technique offers equine professionals a distinct advantage in identifying horses cognitively suited for success in today’s competitive equestrian discipline, yet most methods for applying these techniques have traditionally been guarded as training secrets, and as a result remain highly subjective, inaccessible, and scientifically unexplored. The purpose of this project was to bring objectivity and accessibility to this facial evaluation technique via a user-friendly and statistically validated computational approach. A test-retest methodology was first employed in a bias-controlled setting to evaluate the objectivity of facial classifications. All facial regions rejected the null hypothesis at the 2 % significance level, and the facial characteristics themselves were concluded to be both objective and quantifiable. A total of 26 trigonometric measures were then derived to quantitatively describe this confirmed variation within the relevant structures of the equine face. These measure next were coded into MATLAB, and, using the program’s interactive image-analysis interface, applied to a sample of 81 national-caliber Arabian show horses. The computed measurements were subsequently used to develop a trinomial categorization model capable of predicting riding discipline with 79% accuracy (using only four facial measures) and three separate multiple linear regression models capable of predicting the win percentiles of individual horses within each riding discipline with statistically significant degrees of correlation.
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Joseph Anthony Moo-Young Chemical Engineering, Textile Engineering
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Textile Engineering, Chemistry & Science
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Melissa Pasquinelli
Textiles
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Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Carbon Nanotube-Polythiophene Interactions
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The goal of this work is to investigate the interactions between a series of polythiophenes and zig-zag carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with varying diameters using molecular dynamics simulations. We hypothesize that the interfacial interactions between the polythiophenes and CNTs will largely be a function of the chemistry of the polymer aliphatic substituents, as well as CNT diameter. These results provide the best combination of polymer and CNT diameter that produces desired material properties for unique application in better solar cell technologies. The correlation of these simulation results to experiments done by a collaborator will be discussed.
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Megan Alyse Morse Genetics
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Genetics
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): David Threadgill
Genetics
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Correlation between Genotype and Mouse Limb Length
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Among the animals used in research, mice are among the most widely used organism due to the remarkable genetic similarity between mice and humans; making them the experimental choice in research (Hart). Within mice there are many genetic developmental markers that play an essential role in the development of limbs. Mice limbs develop in a series of 15 developmental stages that have been defined as the time from the first appearance of the limb bud to the completion of the limb outgrowth (Wanek). Genes that are commonly associated with limb development are; FGF10, AER, TBx4/5. FGF10 is associated with the formation of a limb, while the apical ectodermal ridge, AER, gene is responsible for the outgrowth of the limb. TBx4/5 is responsible for proximal/distal formation (Grubb). The experiment analyzed 150 mice specimens. The mice were packaged into 8” x 11” plastic packages; 4-6 mice per package dependent on specimen size. The packs of mice were then exposed to x-ray radiation, through means of a Faxatron x-ray unit. The radiograph was analyzed by completing a series of ten measurements through a measurement program, ImageJ. Measurements were taken in the following order, right to left; femur, tibia, hind foot, humerus, and ulna. The data suggests similar measurements between the length of the right and left limbs. This signifies symmetrical development. However, there is some variation; the future of the research will be to explore the cause of the variation in the measurements.
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Kira Ashton Pruitt Biology
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Crop Science
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Ralph Dewey
Crop Science
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Inducing Early Flowering in Tobacco using a PVX Viral Expression System
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This project aims to incorporate the Flowering Locus T (FT) gene from Arabidopsis into a Potato Virus X (PVX) vector to induce early flowering in tobacco cultivars. The ability to induce early flowering represents a powerful tool that could greatly accelerate the breeding process by shortening the generation time of the plant. The FT gene has already been successfully incorporated as a stable transgene into the tobacco plant genome for this purpose; however, a viral vector system offers several advantages: it allows researchers to induce early flowering into any tobacco cultivar without having to initially introduce the stable transgene in advance; this methodology utilizes a transgenic virus, so the virus is transferred to each individual plant and only targeted plants will be infected, thus, this system doesn’t require maintenance or screening for the FT gene in each generation; this methodology means that the trait isn’t passed from parent to offspring so the plants are non-transgenic, which offers a strong benefit due to the current controversy over transgenic plants; and the gene doesn’t need to be crossed out of the final cultivar since the seeds won’t carry the virus. After successful propagation of the virus throughout the plant, the infected leaf tissue can be frozen for storage and used at a later time to inoculate other plants with the FT virus, making the system a quick, effective means to achieve flowering and collect seeds at any time with little preparation.
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Christopher William Schaefer Parks, Recr & Tourism Mgmt
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Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Jonathan Casper
Parks,Recreation & Tourism Mgt
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Psychological Attachment and the Influences of Constraints and Motivations: A Study on the Students of North Carolina State University
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For years marketers have used product or service consumption as a way to segment markets. The Psychological Continuum Model (PCM) has been able to provide a new method of segmenting markets based on psychological segments and the degree of attachment. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding on how motivations and constraints relate to spectatorship based on the four different psychological segments of the PCM. It was hypothesized that as an individual moves up the PCM the motivations will become more important and the constraints will be less important. In order to test this hypothesis surveys were distributed across the campus of North Carolina State University using a convenience sample (N = 226). The results confirm the hypotheses. As the levels of the PCM increase from awareness to attachment constraints and motivations show an inverse relationship. As one proceeds up the levels of the PCM, the importance of the constraints decreases while the importance of the motivations increases. The most important constraints were location, lack of team success and an individual’s time and schedule. The most important motivations were socialization, performance and excitement. This study is important because it gives marketers an alternative way to segment the market. By doing this, marketers can alter strategies and tactics to hit more specific target markets and ultimately increase a consumer’s attachment to a team, sport or organization.
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Miles Patrick Smaxwell Psychology
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Psychology
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Eric Wiebe
Depart Of Math Science And Technology Education
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JavaTutor: The Influence of Learning Environment and Engagement Level on Conceptual Change
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This study looked at computer-based learning environments. The learning environment of this study involved remote, computer-facilitated human tutoring of introductory-level, college computer science students on JavaScript through the application JavaTutor. The research focused on the JavaTutor environment’s efficacy to sustain an appropriate level of engagement in order to affect conceptual change (i.e., learning). In particular, the research aimed to find significant interactions between level of engagement and conceptual change. Prior research indicates that conceptual change requires deep processing and that deep processing typically coincides with high levels of engagement (Taasoobshirazi & Sinatra, 2011). Following Sinatra’s Cognitive Reconstruction of Knowledge Model (CRKM), conceptual change was measured through short-term learning gains and long-term retention items. Engagement was assessed through the User Engagement Scale (O’Brien & Toms, 2008; 2010) and NASA-TLX (Wiebe, Roberts, & Behrend, 2010) instruments. Positive correlations were found between some of the learning activities and measures of engagement. These findings will be discussed along with how this informs future development of the JavaTutor system and future research into the development of machine-based tutors with the ability to promote engageed learning.
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Colin Travis Smith Mechanical & Aerospace Engr
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Biomedical Engineering
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Anthony Lau
Biomedical Engineering
Ted Bateman Joint Dept. Biomedical Engineering;
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Modeling the Effects of Microgravity on Overall Proximal Tibia Bone Stiffness
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Studies and experience in spaceflight has shown that the absence of gravity in the skeleton will cause severe declines in total bone mass. Astronauts manning long duration spaceflights experience substantial bone loss, which include microstructural changes in cortical and trabecular bone leading to decrease in bone effective stiffness. The objective of this study is to investigate how spaceflight affects the bone strength in mice through finite element modeling. Three groups of mice were used in this study each with n=15: Mice flown on STS-135, a baseline, and control group. Tibias were excised from each mouse, in the case of the Spaceflight group, immediately upon landing. The bones were scanned in a micro CT scanner at 10 um isometric resolution. For analysis on these models the 3D Image data was exported into a finite element mesh. After which compression was simulated on a 1.0mm thick section of the proximal tibia to determine the effective stiffness of the bone structure at this location. The bone was compressed to 5% of total height and the resultant force output was measured, which provides the effective stiffness of the bone specimen. The results showed a statistically significant decrease in bone strength between the mice aboard the spacecraft and the other two groups. The results from the model showed that the spaceflight group had around a 30% decrease in bone strength compared to the ground control group (P<0.001), while the percent difference between ground control and baseline is twenty percent.
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Medha Surampudy Political Science
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Political Science
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Traciel Reid
Public & International Affairs
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Comparative Approaches to Transitional Justice in the Former Yugoslavia
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This project examines the international and domestic efforts in the Balkans to create peace, security, and a reconciliation process after the devastating wars of the 1990s. Through the examination of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and the domestic courts in Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, this project determines the value of these efforts in establishing the facts of the war, but argues that these institutions largely failed to provide widespread justice and, equally important, reconciliation among the groups. It is argued that, in addition to these institutional failures, the Dayton Accords created a system that is designed to prevent future conflicts, but is not conducive to reconciliatory efforts, particularly within Bosnia and Herzegovina. By examining these institutions and the Dayton Accords, it is established that governmental efforts at transitional justice have largely failed to create social capital and understanding in the region. It is argued that, in order to see improved relations among the various ethnic and religious groups, international and domestic actors must instead focus on the development of civil society, nongovernmental organizations, and a reformed educational system. It is through these societal vehicles that these conflicting and polarized parties can develop the necessary social capital to move towards reconciliation.
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Joseph Tokeshi Taylor Marine Earth & Atmospheric Sci
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Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Ryan Boyles
Marine,Earth & Atmospheric Sci
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Predicting Observed Soil Moisture Using Statistical Modeling
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Soil moisture is the amount of water contained in a volume of soil. This parameter is very important to agriculture, coastal ecosystems, and environmental engineering. For example, the amount of water holding capacity for a particular soil type is essential when studying the low elevation ecosystems and learning how to prevent flooding. However, soil moisture is only measured at certain locations in the U.S. The North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network (ECONet) measures this parameter. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of a soil moisture estimation technique to assist with quality control of ECONet data, and prediction of missing data. Observed hourly average of soil moisture from each station is used to create a statistical model that can produce a predicted value. Using 4 to 5 years of hourly data, this model has a time series component to account for the change in soil moisture. The model can predict values up to 24 hours in advance. With every new observed soil moisture value, the model corrects itself to account for new information. The model captures the observed soil moisture with an average error of less than +/- 0.07 at every ECONet and USCRN station. However, one limitation of the model is that the station of interest must measure soil moisture for at least a year in order to have minimal error.
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Rachel Lynne Turner Biology
Christine MacInnes Zoology
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Microbiology
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Session 2, D10
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Mentor(s): Amy Grunden
Microbiology
Rushyannah Killens Microbiology
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Characterization of a recombinant Metallosphaera sedula lipase (Msed_1072) for algae biofuel production
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With the push towards creating renewable biofuels, algae have emerged as a promising feedstock due to its ability to produce significant amounts of oil for fuel conversion in a relatively small amount of land. However, in order for algae to be a viable alternative, the biofuel conversion process must become more efficient. One way to increase efficiency of the algal biofuel conversion is to use thermostable lipases, which cleave free fatty acids from the algal lipids. The research project described here was focused on the recombinant expression of the Metallosphaera sedula DSM5348 gene Msed_1072, which encodes for a thermostable lipase in an effort to biochemically characterize the lipase for its application in algal biofuel production. The target lipase gene was amplified using genomic DNA from Metallosphaera sedula as well as molecular biology techniques to generate an expression vector for recombinant protein production in the bacterium Escherichia coli. The vectors used for the recombinant protein expression coded for a his-tag either at the N or C terminus, which enabled protein purification via metal affinity chromatography. The presence of the his-tag can affect the way that the protein folds and therefore can ultimately influence the overall activity of the protein. After both the N and C terminus-his tagged proteins were purified, temperature range, pH range, and substrate affinity assays were completed to determine the conditions under which the lipase has optimal activity.
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Akshitha Vijayakumar Biochemistry
Clay Gruber Biology;
Austin Graves Biological Sciences;
Heather Hill Biochemistry;
Megan Fruchte Biological Engineering
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Microbiology
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Eric Miller
Microbiology
Devon Viscount Microbiology;
Susan Carson Plant Biology
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A Putative tmRNA of Mycobacteriophage Astraea
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As students in the first year Phage Hunters course, we isolated and characterized Astraea, a novel myoviridae phage of the C1 subcluster. We purified its double-stranded DNA genome and had it sequenced by the DHMRI. Phages often contain components relating to protein synthesis within their genome. Among these may be tRNAs, tmRNAs, and genes regulating transcription and translation. During annotation of the Astraea genome, we identified a putative transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA). Further research into tmRNAs showed that they initiate a process known as trans-translation. This process rescues ribosomes stalled during translation, tagging the faulty protein and extracting it from the ribosome. The tmRNA places an ogliopeptide tag at the C-terminus of the incomplete protein, marking it for proteolysis. A number of proteins aid in this process and were identified in either the Astraea genome or the genome of its host, Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2-155. Comparison between the genome of Astraea and the genomes of other bacteriophages in the C1 subcluster showed that the sequence for the tag peptide matches those found in mycobacteriophages Bxz1 and Catera. The tmRNA is also highly conserved among the other bacteriophages in the C1 subcluster. Our findings suggest that tmRNA may play a role in degrading faulty proteins and recycling amino acids during infection by Astraea and related mycobacteriophages.
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Keiko Marie Wadsworth Microbiology
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Genetics
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): David Threadgill
Genetics
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Environmental Carcinogen-induced Retinal Degeneration in a Population-based Mouse Model
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Retinal degeneration is a heterogeneous disease and a leading cause of human blindness in the United States. The population-wide susceptibility to retinal degeneration is largely unknown but is thought to be induced by both genetic factors and environmental factors. Dietary contaminants, trichloroethylene (TCE) and inorganic arsenic (iAs), have been implicated in retinal degeneration pathogenesis, however due to a lack of population-based experimental models, the contribution of environmental exposures in the development of retinal injury remain unexplored. To examine susceptibility to environmentally-induced retinal degeneration, we utilized an F3 intercross mouse population model derived from a cross between FVB/NMdrb1a/1b-/-, a multi-drug resistant p-glycoprotein knockout mouse, and CAST/EiJ a wild-derived strain. F3 mice were divided into nine dose groups, and administered TCE and sodium arsenate via their drinking water and chow, respectively, at environmentally-relevant concentrations for 56 weeks. Ocular tissues of F3 mice exposed to dose-ratios of TCE and iAs were formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and histological sectioning of eye tissue samples was performed. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and the neural and associated ganglion layers of the retina were quantified. Degeneration of the outer nuclear layer was sex-dependent, and hyperplasia of ganglion cell layers was observed in both arsenic alone and co-exposed groups. To examine retinal layer apoptosis, a marker of degeneration, we used the TUNEL assay followed by fluorescent microscopy. Co-exposed mice showed the highest measure of retinal layer apoptosis. This study revealed the involvement of environmental co-exposures in the development of retinal degeneration in a genetically heterogeneous mouse population.
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Andre Kurepa Waschka Applied Mathematics/Economics
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Economics
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Session 1, D10
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Mentor(s): Robert Hammond
Economics
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Optimizing the BCS Tournament Format
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The current college football system known as the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the attendant human polls have ignited numerous debates over the competence, efficiency, and fairness of the system. The complaints about the current system can be organized into two major areas: the ineffective or low-predictive power of the current system to determine a national champion, and the radical inequality in the distribution of the economic benefits among the various university teams and conferences. In addition, recent changes to the BCS have denied the possibility of using the national championship as a collectively consumed good. An improvement to the current system that makes use of a binary, single elimination tournament format for four teams is proposed as a solution to many of the problems of the present system. The results, based on a mathematical analysis using a Monte Carlo method of testing indicate that the predictive power of the system could be significantly improved at the cost of one additional game. Furthermore, a basic statistical analysis of bowl game revenues indicates that a non-trivial amount of money could be brought into the system with the addition of that single game.
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