Category: College of Arts & Sciences
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Using Transition State Theory to Understand the Kinetics for the Gas-Phase Synthesis of Ammonia
By Chloe Boyd, Stephen Case, Abigail Seputro Faculty Mentor: Leanna Giancarlo Abstract To identify the rate-determining step and the most stable transition state for the Haber-Bosch synthesis of gas-phase ammonia, electronic structure calculations for the reactants (N2, H2, NNH2, H2NNH2, HNNH3), intermediates, and transition states were found using the program GAMESS and the basis sets…
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Non-Traditional Early Voting and Voter Turnout
By Dana Smith Faculty Mentor: Amrita Dhar Abstract Although formal voting has existed within the United States for nearly 250 years, changes in the makeup of the electorate, policy changes, and global events like the COVID-19 pandemic have changed turnout levels over time. The election of 2020 experienced the largest spike in turnout ever recorded…
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Some Not-So-Good News I’ve Just Heard About on the Web: How An Online Cyberstalking Community Preserves Digital Artifacts
By Eugene Hlaing Faculty Mentor: Daniel Hubbard Abstract Since 2008, an online cyberstalking community called the Christorians began documenting the life of Christine Weston Chandler (AKA Chris Chan), an internet micro-celebrity, on a MediaWiki page called the CWCki (pronounced quick-ee). Over the last decade, this on-going archive has become an unintentional project to preserve digital…
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Endothelial Tube Maintenance & Analysis in a HUVEC Cell Model for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
By Jada Gundy, Arshpreet Brar Faculty Mentor: Ginny Morriss Abstract Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multi-systemic condition that results in severe muscle weakening and wasting. DM1 is caused by an expanded region of CTG repeats in the DMPK gene, resulting in expression of a toxic CUG repeat-containing RNA. While the primary DM1 mutation…
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The Effects of CUG repeat expression on VEGF signaling in a Cell Culture Model of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
By Jada Gundy Faculty Mentor: Ginny Morriss Abstract Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multi-systemic condition that results in severe muscle weakening and wasting. DM1 is caused by an expanded region of CTG repeats in the DMPK gene, resulting in expression of a toxic CUG repeat-containing RNA. While the primary DM1 mutation is known,…
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The Effects of Injury on PDGFRβ Expression in a DM1 Context
By Victoria Ashton Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ginny Morriss Abstract Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is a condition that causes severe weakening and wasting of muscles, caused by an expansion of CTG repeats in the DMPK gene. Previous studies have shown that activation of the protein platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) is deregulated in DM1.…
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The Effects of Estrous Stage on Voluntary Wheel Running and Anxious Behavior in Female CD-1 Mice
By Abigail Algeier and Emily Landry Faculty Mentor: Parrish Waters Abstract Women report having anxiety and other mood disorders at nearly twice the rate of men. The female menstrual cycle involves fluctuations in pituitary hormones, estrogen, and progesterone. Each of these hormones are psychoactive and can potently affect mood state, both acutely and chronically. In…
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The Effects of Estrous Stage on Voluntary Wheel Running and Anxious Behavior in Female CD-1 Mice
By Abigail Algeier and Emily Landry Faculty Mentor: Parrish Waters Abstract Women report having anxiety and other mood disorders at nearly twice the rate of men. The female menstrual cycle involves fluctuations in pituitary hormones, estrogen, and progesterone. Each of these hormones are psychoactive and can potently affect mood state, both acutely and chronically. In…
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Synthesis of KasA Enzyme Inhibitors to Induce Tuberculosis Cell Death
By Carrie Garvey Faculty Mentor: Dr. Davis Oldham Abstract The World Health Organization names TB the 13th leading cause of death and the second leading infectious killer in the world, with current drugs becoming less effective as the cells grow more resistant. The KasA protein in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) catalyzes a four-step fatty acid elongation…
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Optimization of Adsorption of Methylene Blue Dye on Activated Charcoal
By Abigail Seputro Faculty Mentor: Dr. Leanna Giancarlo Abstract Methylene blue and crystal violet are cationic dyes of high intensity that are commonly discharged in wastewater. The colored compounds in this environment inhibit sunlight penetration in waterways, resulting in the destruction of aquatic ecosystems. Activated carbon offers an attractive option for the efficient removal of…
