The 16th Annual

NC State University
Undergraduate Research Symposium

 

Abstracts

 

 

Physical & Mathematical Sciences

Abstracts

Abstracts are listed in alphabetical order by the last name of the corresponding author.

 

 


 

 

  • Biological Sciences abstracts

Applied Sciences (Crop, Poultry, Animal, and Horticultural Sciences)

Ecology, Environmental, Conservation, Botanical
Molecular, Biochemical, Genetics, Cell Biology
Zoology, Physiology, Behavior, Neurobiology

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Anderson, Trevor E.

Department(s):

Physics

Research Mentor(s)

Keith Weninger/Physics

Title of Presentation:

Pure SNARE Proteins for a Complex-Study

 

 

A family of proteins known as SNARE’s catalyzes many biological events that involve membrane fusion. Specific interactions among SNARE proteins influence whether or not two membranes will merge. A deeper understanding of many biological events will result from greater knowledge of both how the proteins interact with each other, and also how foreign molecules such as toxins can influence or prevent the whole process. I have spent the last semester expressing and purifying SNARE proteins to produce high-purity, concentrated samples for biochemical studies. I have used these samples to determine the ability of unrelated families of SNARE’s to assemble into stable complexes.

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Atakturk, Burcu A.

Department(s):

Accounting

Research Mentor(s)

Al Chen/Accounting

Title of Presentation:

Evaluating Alternative Strategic Cost Management Approaches

 

 

This research project analyzes different costing systems in use and planned to be used in business settings and identify strengths and weaknesses of each system analyzed. The costing systems considered include activity-based costing (ABC), Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Resource Consumption Accounting (RCA). A distinction is also drawn between traditional cost analysis and strategic cost analysis. Questions addressed include: What is strategic cost management? What different perspectives on cost exist? And finally, what is the strategic cost management process? One of the fundamental ventures of any business is to make a profit. Good cost management within a business is vital to making profit. There are multiple costing systems in use today and it is essential to know which is the best for the current venture. ABC and TOC are two of the most popular costing systems in use today. RCA, on the other hand, is a relatively new system about which little is known. It is important to know the difference between these three systems and how best to utilize each of them, both individually and in combination with other methods.

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Attarian, Adam

Department(s):

Mathematics

Research Mentor(s)

Hien T. Tran/Mathematics

Title of Presentation:

A Hybrid Optimization Approach for the Optimal Design of Traveling Wave Tubes

 

 

Traveling wave tubes are common devices with widespread use in both satellite and terrestial comunications as well as areas such as electronic counter measures. We present a hybrid optimization approach for the optimal design of the electron based device based on two independent physics-based design and simulation codes. In particular, we use the CHRISTINE suite of large signal codes to model the slow wave circuit, in conjunction with Beam Optics Analysis to model a multi-stage depressed collector. These two simulation codes will be combined in a hybrid framework to automate the process of optimizing several physical parameters while realizing several design constraints. The equations describing the device properties as well as the objective functions will be discussed, and examples of optimized TWTs will be presented.

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Blackmer, Amanda C.

Kelley, Richard L.

Department(s):

Chemistry

Research Mentor(s)

Stefan Franzen/Chemistry

Title of Presentation:

In vitro Assembly of Synthetically Produced Viral RNA Transcripts

 

 

Red Clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) provides an ideal platform to develop a multifunctional particle with specific application to therapeutic and gene delivery in humans. In vitro assembly is a controlled method to propagate engineered virus-like particles in high yield with greater purity than those obtained by plant propagation. The assembly of the RCNMV capsids is dependent on the presence of viral RNA. To obtain the RNA for in vitro assembly, we performed transcriptions of viral RNAs cloned into PUC expression vectors. These transcript products were characterized using UV/VIS and agarose gel electrophoresis. The purified capsid proteins were obtained from disassembled wild type RCNMV. The purity of the protein was confirmed by UV/VIS and SDS/Page gel electrophoresis. The in vitro assembly was accomplished by mixing the protein and RNA in a dialysis cassette at pH 10 and then reducing the pH to 5.5 overnight. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy imaging (TEM) were done to confirm the formation of particles. Further experiments will be conducted to access the in vivo infectivity of the virus-like particles.

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Brewer, Jason P.

Johnson, Matthew S.

Thelen, Michael Y.

Department(s):

Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

Statistics

Research Mentor(s)

William F. Hunt Jr./ Statistics

Title of Presentation:

Protecting Human Health: Modeling the Prevalence of Fine Particulate Matter in Air Quality Index Reporting

 

 

Fine particulate matter is a significant pollutant that endangers human health. Small particulates, 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less, penetrate further into the lungs of humans than larger particulates leading to increased cases of respiratory diseases and eventual death. Both annual mean and 24 hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards have been set for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). PM2.5 is one of five pollutants reported in the USEPA’s Air Quality Index. It is critically important that today’s PM2.5 value can be accurately forecasted so it can be reported to the public with an appropriate health advisory. Our objective is to develop reliable forcasting regression models to serve as tools for predicting PM2.5. The regression models will take into account various meteorological parameters such as temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and yesterday’s PM2.5 measurements. Our client, Maryland Department of Environment, provided all meteorological and particulate matter data. Analyses of selected particulate matter monitoring stations and meteorological sites in the state of Maryland have lead to discoveries of certain PM2.5 patterns. Trends show PM2.5 variations between winter and summer seasons as well as weekday and weekend periods. Various patterns, interaction terms, nonlinear curvature, and other possible confounders will be taken into account. Regression analysis and model building techniques will be implemented for prognostic purposes and also for interests in inferential procedures on linear combinations of regression variables. Development of more specific regression models and software packages for these different periods will improve future forecasts of PM2.5 in addition to making the information readily accessible to the public.

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Burleyson, Casey D.

Bryant, M. Tai

Department(s):

Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Research Mentor(s)

Sandra Yuter/Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Title of Presentation:

Observation and Analysis of 19 Winter Storm Events In the North Carolina Mountains

 

 

The purpose of this research is to obtain and analyze observations of the physical characteristics of precipitation during snow events in the southern Appalachians. On average, this region receives 125 cm of snowfall per year. We assembled a meteorological tower on Poga Mountain, located on the western slopes of the Appalachians at an elevation of 1137 m, to measure temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and soil moisture. Collocated with the instrument tower is a vertically pointing Ku-band radar to observe the vertical profile of storms as they pass overhead. Additional measurements are made of particle size distributions, snow depth at the surface and snow liquid water equivalent. During the 2006-2007 snow season there have been 19 snowfall events at the site with accumulations ranging from 0.25 cm to 14.7 cm. Twelve of the 19 snow events occurred when the wind was out of the northwest and flowing up the mountain slopes. The three heaviest snow events (10.2 cm, 13.9 cm, 14.7 cm) occurred when Canadian air masses pushed southeastward into the Appalachian range. Ratios of snow liquid water equivalent to snow depth ranged from 0.0125 to 0.5 with most values < 0.1. The majority of storm top heights for the observed snow events were less than 2 km above ground level, much shallower than previously thought. Results from the analysis will be used to improve understanding of the physics of snow and to better forecast snow events.

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Carroll, Turhan K.

Department(s):

Applied Mathematics

Research Mentor(s)

Hien T. Tran/Mathematics

Title of Presentation:

Acoustic Pressure Waves in a Pipe

 

Sound is a part of our everyday experience. As a sound wave travels through a medium, it either reaches the end of the medium or enters another medium through which it could travel. The interface of the two media is referred to as the boundary. Understanding sound pressure waves and corresponding boundary conditions is important for the proper operation of many musical instruments and for the design of, for example, concert halls and auditoriums. In this project, acoustic pressure waves in a PVC pipe were studied using three types of physical boundary conditions: a hard plate, a soft foam sponge, and no boundary. A different mathematical model was used to model each of the boundary conditions. Acoustic data in a PVC pipe is being used to validate the proposed mathematical models for the boundary conditions.

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Christoph, Elizabeth E.

Hornsby, Fawn E.

Department(s):

Statistics

Statistics and Applied Math

Research Mentor(s)

William F. Hunt Jr./Statistics

Title of Presentation:

Toxic Overload: Modeling Ambient Mercury Air Pollution at a Trillionth of a Gram

 

 

Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can cause adverse health effects in humans through bioaccumulation in fish. It is released into the atmosphere in several ways, most of which involve industrial processes. The primary health effect of mercury is impaired neurological development. Impacts on cognitive thinking, attention, memory, communication, and fine motor skills have been seen in children exposed to mercury in the womb. Other effects of elevated blood mercury levels include impaired vision, lack of coordination, impaired speech, tremors, insomnia, muscle weakness, and even death. From the atmosphere, mercury enters the water via wet and dry deposition where it bio-accumulates in fish. Because of this concern, mercury air monitoring sites were established in Elizabeth and New Brunswick, NJ. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection used the Tekran Continuous Mercury Analyzer to measure elemental, particulate and reactive gas mercury during 2004 and 2005. Using this data, we are constructing a statistical model for our client that will predict mercury as a function of meteorological variables. Using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) to analyze the data, the mercury concentrations were first broken into diurnal patterns and a lognormal relationship was found in the three phases of mercury: elemental mercury, particulate mercury and reactive gas mercury (RGM), even though the data is measured in a billionth or a trillionth of a gram. We examined weekly, daily, and hourly patterns in the data and compared the three forms of mercury data with meteorological variables to look for other possible patterns in the data. We observed a correlation between wind speed, wind direction and mercury concentrations. Initial scatter plots revealed a cyclical pattern in the data when viewed over time and from wind direction. We developed several models to predict mercury concentrations, and compared them to the current model used by decision makers.

 

 


 

 

Student Author(s): 

Diaz, Michael L.

Department(s):

Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences