The 7th
Annual
NC
Undergraduate
Summer Research Symposium
Reaching Incoming
Students Enrichment (RISE) abstracts
Abstracts are listed in
alphabetical order by the last name of the corresponding author.
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Advani, Sandhya Lastro, Elina |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
CALS |
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Department(s): |
Entomology |
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Research |
Christina
Grozinger/Entomology |
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Title of Presentation: |
Effect
of Honey Bee Queen Insemination Quantity on Supercedure
Rates |
Honey bee queens produce a chemical known as queen mandibular
pheromone (QMP). QMP plays a significant role in maintaining colony
organization and health, and it prevents rearing of new queens (supercedure). Previous studies indicate that queen
insemination quantity affects queen pheromone production and therefore
queen-worker interactions. In a choice test, workers preferred
multi-drone over single-drone inseminated queens. Another study suggests
that workers exposed to a synthetic QMP are more resistant to starvation and
have higher lipid stores. Our objective is to determine if the queen
insemination quantity affects supercedure rates and
worker physiology. In this study queens
will be instrumentally inseminated with either 1 μl or 6 μl of semen and placed in to
two-frame hives. Colonies will be monitored biweekly for four
weeks. The number of queen cups and cells will be recorded and
subsequently destroyed. At this point we will monitor hives weekly until
the queens are superceded. We hypothesize that
the hives containing 1 μl inseminated queens will produce a higher number of
queen cups and cells, and that the queens will be superceded
at a faster rate. We will also observe the worker retinue response and we
expect that more bees will be contacting 6 μl inseminated queens as
compared to 1μl inseminated queens. Our last objective
is to assess the effect of QMP from differently inseminated queens on worker
physiology. Two hundred workers will be placed in each of the hives and
collected after one week. Lipid stores will be measured and compared
between treatments. We expect to see higher lipid stores in workers
exposed to 6 μl inseminated queens. Determining if queen
insemination quantity affects colony health is important for improving queen
rearing, insemination protocols, as well as colony management practices.
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Carducci, Daryl B. |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
CALS |
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Department(s): |
Biochemistry |
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Research |
A. Clay Clark/Biochemistry |
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Title of Presentation: |
Finding a Structural Based
Approach to Determine PAC-1 Activation Mechanism of (Pro) Caspase-3 |
Caspases (cystine-dependant
aspartate-directed proteases) are a family of
proteins that exist as zymogens within the cell and are a vital component in
the apoptotic cascade. Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is
significant in anti-cancer efforts. In this process, death receptors
activate initiator caspases (e.g. caspase-8 and
caspase-10); which then target effector caspases, such as caspase-3. Activated caspase-3 then targets
other proteins imperative to cell life. Activation of procaspase-3 to
caspase-3 is achieved through cleavage events and is necessary for the
inducement of apoptosis in the cell. Once caspase-3 is active, cell death
is inevitable. Recently, a method of bypassing a malfunctioning apoptotic
cascade has been proposed. The procaspase activating
compound (PAC-1) is a small molecule that to binds procaspase-3 and induces
conformational changes within the protein that allows enzymatic activity
without the necessary cleavage events. PAC-1 is the first molecule known
to initiate activity in a procaspase. Initial
studies indicate an increase in enzymatic activity when procaspase-3 is
incubated with PAC-1. Using the computer program DOCK, we aim to find
potential PAC-1 binding regions either on the surface or within caspase-3 that
would support enzymatic activity. Finally, crystallographic analysis of
PAC-1 bound to caspase will confirm the data produced
by DOCK. Using this combined approach, we may provide a valid method to
discover other caspase activating small molecules,
which can have a tremendous impact in anti-cancer therapies.
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Carter, Christin A. Wood, Marie D. |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
CALS |
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Department(s): |
Animal
Science |
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Research |
Vivek Fellner/Animal Science Sarah
Jo McLeod/Animal Science |
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Title of Presentation: |
Could
Trash to Methane Be the Answer? |
The current energy crisis
has resulted in the pursuit of alternative usable and sustainable sources of
energy. Anaerobic digestion of biomass produces methane which is a clean and
sustainable energy source. The objectives of this experiment were to test the
ability of various biomass substrates to produce methane and to test the effect
of supplemental enzymes on enhancing methane production. In total, seven
samples were tested and consisted of waste food from two restaurants, bakery
and meat waste from a grocery store, and a combination of the two, manure from
the dairy barn, and kudzu. Between 10g and 40g of each substrate were
quantitatively weighed and compacted into 125mL Wheaton bottles equipped with
screw caps with rubber liners to maintain air tight conditions. Each substrate
was weighed into four individual bottles. Two bottles of each substrate
received 40mL of water, while the other two received 40mL of bacterial inoculum. The bacterial inoculum
was prepared from ruminal fluid obtained from a ruminally fistulated Holstein
dairy cow. All bottles with the substrates were incubated at 50oC for 6
days. Gas samples from each bottle were taken at predetermined intervals
through the experiment. It is expected that during the initial fermentation period
manure would result in the greatest methane production compared to other
substrates. It is not known which substrate would have prolonged release of
methane over the 6 days. The addition of the bacterial inoculums would enhance
methane production for all substrates.
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Elliott, Samuel D. |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
CALS |
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Department(s): |
Biochemistry |
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Research |
Cynthia
L. Hemenway/Biochemistry |
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Title of Presentation: |
Construction
of a Subclone of the Potato Virus X Genome |
Potato Virus X (PVX) is a
plus-strand RNA virus that replicates in the cytoplasm using ribosomes of host plant cells. The first step in
replication is synthesis of a complementary minus-strand RNA. This minus-strand
RNA is then used as a template to make more genomic plus-strand RNA and
smaller, subgenomic plus-strand RNAs.
A regulatory sequence in the 3’ end of the RNA genome has to interact
with complementary conserved sequences at large distances. These interactions
have been mapped genetically with mutations in a plant protoplast replication
system. It is now important to physically demonstrate these interactions
using in vitro techniques. Consequently a new subclone
from the 5’ end of the PVX genome is being made.
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Kenny, Samuel G. |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
PAMS |
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Department(s): |
Physics |
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Research |
Keith
Weninger/Physics |
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Title of Presentation: |
Analyzing
the Effects of Sma1 on the Bending Dynamics of DNA |
The goal of this research is
to determine the conditions necessary for the restriction enzyme Sma1 to bend
DNA at the Sma1 target sequence. We detect Single Molecule Fluorescence
Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET), a non-radiative dipole-dipole energy transfer, between two fluorophores (red and green) attached to a DNA molecule
utilizing Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM). This
technique allows us to measure the distance between the fluorophores
at any given time. When laser light excites a fluorophore,
it can either emit light or donate its energy to an acceptor fluorophore, which then emits light of its respective
emission spectra. We measure the intensity of this light emitted by single
molecules and calculate the FRET efficiencies between them. Since the FRET
efficiency is inversely proportional to the sixth power of ratio of the
distance between the dyes and the Forster radius (R0 – a dye property), the
geometry of the molecule, bending angle, can be analyzed. The sample is
observed with and without the addition of the restriction endonuclease
Sma1. Sma1 attaches to a site with base pairs CCCGGG on the DNA half way
between the fluorophores. Other biochemical
studies suggest that this enzyme bends the DNA at an oblique angle that we hope
to detect with these methods.
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Long, Sarah K. Muhima, Nyira L. |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
CALS |
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Department(s): |
Genetics |
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Research |
Pat
Estes/Genetics Frances
S. Haire/Genetics |
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Title of Presentation: |
Regulation
of Gene Expression in the Drosophila
Central Nervous System |
The Notch pathway is a form
of cell-to-cell communication that aids in differentiation of neurons and glia in the central nervous system of many organisms. In
the Notch pathway signaling process, a ligand
produced by the signaling cell binds to the Notch protein on the cell membrane
of the receiving cell; in response, it is cleaved and activated. The activated,
intercellular form of Notch enters the nucleus to interact with the Suppressor
of Hairless protein. Together, they activate target genes, even though the
Suppressor of Hairless is a repressor when it is not interacting with Notch. In
order to study gene expression in midline neurons and glia,
components of the Notch pathway in Drosophila are genetically altered, and then
gene expression is monitored by using antibodies to make them visible. The
results from this experiment will tell us how the over-expression of the
components of the Notch pathway affects gene expression within neurons and glia in the developing central nervous system of Drosophila.
|
Marley, Daniel E. |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
PAMS |
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Department(s): |
Physics |
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Research |
Paul
R. Huffman/Physics |
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Title of Presentation: |
Development
of a Cosmic Ray Detector for the Neutron Lifetime Experiment |
A free neutron decays into
a proton, electron, and a neutrino with a lifetime of approximately fifteen
minutes. As part of a larger project seeking to measure this beta-decay
lifetime, a cosmic ray detection system is being developed. Cosmic rays
consist of high-energy protons, electrons, and alpha particles that are emitted
by the sun, neutron stars, supernovae, and black holes. These rays travel
at extremely high energies and are able to pass through most materials
seamlessly. To detect these rays, plastic scintillation detectors are
being used to create pulses of light when the particles pass through.
This light is detected using photomultiplier tubes (PMTs)
that operate at high-voltage (-3000 V). We have been constructing a
custom 8-channel, high-voltage power supply for use with these detectors.
Upon completion, events detected in this cosmic-ray system will be used to
actively veto background events detected in the neutron lifetime
experiment. I will describe the cosmic ray detection system and present
characterization data taken using one of the eight detectors.
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Oxendine, Sarah E. |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
CALS |
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Department(s): |
Zoology |
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Research |
Robert
Grossfeld/Zoology |
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Title of Presentation: |
Cellular
Responses to Chemical Signaling |
Development and function of
cells is influenced by intercellular chemical transmitters, such as ATP and the
amino acid glutamate. We are investigating whether chemicals
such as these alter the activity of glial cells in
neonatal rat optic nerve or of mesenchymal stem cells
(MSCs). Glial cells
regulate development and function of nerve cells and blood flow in brain.
MSCs possess the potential to form cartilage or bone
that eventually may be used for tissue repair in the clinic. Optic nerves
from 4-14 day old rats were isolated, desheathed, and
loaded with a dye that emits light upon binding calcium. MSCs were similarly incubated with the dye. Digital
images were collected every second and analyzed with ImagePro
software. Upon flowing artificial cerebrospinal fluid past
optic nerve or Earle’s Balanced Salt Solution past the stem cells, some glial cells or MSCs exhibited
spontaneous changes in calcium concentration; MSCs
may have been activated slightly by the flow itself. ATP and
glutamate activated large increases in calcium among most of the
cells. These studies provide insight into how nerves or stem
cells might be manipulated in vivo or in vitro to alter their development or
function.
|
Smith, Brittany |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
CALS |
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Department(s): |
Microbiology |
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Research |
Jonathan W.
Olson/Microbiology Denise
M. Aslett/ Microbiology |
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Title of Presentation: |
Is
the Colonization of Campylobacter jejuni Affected by Other Bacteria? |
Campylobacter jejuni is a human pathogen that
causes severe diarrhea, and is typically contracted by eating raw or under
cooked poultry. C. jejuni is a common resident in the ceca
of chickens, which is home to many species of bacteria. These bacteria assist
the birds in the digestion of plant materials such as cellulose, hence all the
plant nutrients can be metabolized. This project entailed comparing the
types of bacteria present in the ceca of C. jejuni
infected birds versus those uninfected with C.
jejuni. Bacteria were identified using the
sequence of the 16S ribosome, molecule that is common to every living
organism. The 16S rRNA genes were amplified by
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), separated by Denaturing Gradient Gel
Electrophoresis (DGGE), and sequenced. The sequences will be identified
and analyzed using Ribosomal database project II software. These results
will help us determine if the presence of certain other bacteria in the
chicken's cecum affects the colonization of C. jejuni.
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White, Stephen E. |
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Home Institution: |
NCSU |
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Program: |
Reaching Incoming Students Enrichment (RISE) |
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College: |
Engineering and Technology
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Department(s): |
Nuclear Engineering |
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Research |
Mohamed A. Bourham/Nuclear Engineering |
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Title of Presentation: |
Characterization of
High-Density Metal Plasmas in a Pulsed Plasma Generator |
The experimental facility AGEIS (Arc Generated Explosion Impact on Substrate)
provides for the study of high-density plasma interactions with solid and
liquid materials for studies relevant to both magnetic and inertial fusion
reactors. The idea of using a liquid-metal curtain as first wall and interior
fusion reactor chamber components has been a long-standing idea for fusion
reactors such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and the International
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in which lithium metal was proposed
as a circulating first wall. The facility produces metal vapor plasmas from
exploding wires as a result of extensive joule heating from a high-current
discharge. Tests are designed to analyze the electrical and optical data from
the plasma using various wire materials and gauges to generate dense vapor
plasmas. The pulse power system consists of a high-voltage charger, a 330
micro-Farad capacitor, and an ignitron switch; upon its closing, the switch
allows for the stored capacitor energy to discharge through the wire, causing
the wire to explode and form plasma. Discharge voltage, voltage drop over the
plasma, and current are measured to study power deposition during the pulse.
Calculations are done from these measurements to study power distribution.
Optical emission spectroscopy is used to identify the plasma species and to
determine the metal plasma parameters, including electron number density,
temperature, and energy distributions of charged and neutral species. Typical
electron number density for plasmas produced by exploding copper wires for
discharge energies of ~1.485kJ (for charging potential of 3kV to the energy
storage capacitor) ranges between 4 and 6 x 1023 m-3 and
electron plasma temperatures in the range of 1.0 to 2.0eV.
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Last modified June 2008 by Sharon E. Hunt