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ARCHIVE: 2007 Graduate Student Poster Abstracts
Poster abstracts are displayed in alphabetical
order, by student name. Use the links below to see a specific
student's abstract, or scroll through all the abstracts.
Barnawi, Waleed
Barrozo, Roberto
Belen-Cordero, Daphne
Block, Darci
Cooper, Erin
DeNeve, Laura
Furnholm, Teal
Gary, Lindsay
Hamblin, Bridget
Kendricks, Kimberly
Kittrell, Danielle
Kukula, Eric
Ledesma, Jessica
Lee, Jane
Letendre, Jon
Maronde, Dan
Mitchell, Elizabeth J.
Pontius, Kira
Postava-Davignon, Marielle
Riddle, Megan
Rocio Caton, Ingrid
Ruths, Justin
Santiesteban, Jr., Oscar
Schultz, Bryan
Shepherd, Cynthia
Strong, Mel
Whalen, Christopher
Wilkins, Christopher
Barnawi, Waleed
Washington University
Engineering Education for a Global Technological Society
Email: Wtb2@cec.wustl.edu
Development of Fragility Curves for Hazard Mitigation with
Smart Dampers
Over the last several years, hazard mitigation has become
an increasingly popular topic. Tragedies such as the Southeast
Asia Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina have taught us the benefit
of preparedness. In accordance with this emerging interest,
the Mid Atlantic Earthquake (MAE) Center has launched an
effort to increase hazard mitigation and preparedness.
Through, the development and implementation of consequence
based engineering areas of high damage probability can be
identified and later retrofitted to ensure a reduction in
losses. MAEviz is the conduit through which hazard mitigation
tools will be delivered to the engineers and decision makesr.
Fragility curves are used to determine the probability of
disaster in structures in the Mid America region, an area
of low seismic probability but high consequences. This study
will focus on the development of fragility curves for structures
which employ innovative supplemental control systems for
vibration suppression during earthquakes. Magnetorheological
dampers are the specific devices to be considered. The results
from this study will be included in MAEviz and allow stakeholders
to identify areas of concern and consider the benefit-cost
ratios in terms of various mitigation strategies.
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Barrozo, Roberto
San Francisco State University
SFSU SEPAL GK-12 Partnership Program
Email: rbarrozo@sfsu.edu
Transcriptional Repressor ATF3 Binds to the IFN-b Promoter
in Macrophages
The cytokine Interferon-beta (IFN-b) promotes beneficial
immune responses to infection and exacerbates or prevents
adverse immune responses that contribute to autoimmunity
and allergy. Macrophages are a major source of IFN-b production.
Under stress-free conditions, macrophages secrete low to
undetectable levels of IFN-b, however, following exposure
to stimuli associated with microbial infection, macrophages
rapidly increase transcription of this cytokine. Recently
our lab observed that macrophages deficient in Activating
Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) produce significantly higher
amounts of IFN-b mRNA than wild type macrophages, suggesting
that ATF3 may be a repressor of IFN-b transcription in macrophages.
In this case, ATF3 might function to limit production of
this cytokine, thereby preventing host pathology associated
with IFN-b over-abundance. To begin testing this hypothesis,
the potential binding of ATF3 to the IFN-b promoter was investigated
in intact macrophages by the chromatin immunoprecipitation
(ChIP) assay. Initial ChIP results reveal that ATF3 is not
detectably bound to the IFN-b promoter in resting macrophages.
However, this transcription factor is bound in bacterial
lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. These data are
the first indication that ATF3 inducibly binds to the IFN-b
promoter in macrophages and this event is likely to mediate
the repressive effect of ATF3 on IFN-b transcription.
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Belen-Cordero, Daphne
University of Puerto, Mayaguez
Graduate and Undergraduate Students Enhancing Science and Technology in K-12 Schools
Email: Dasi_bc@yahoo.com
Hoffman Degradation of the Structure Directing Agent and Post-Synthesis Treatments
of Cobalt Aluminophosphate Nanoporous Sorbents
UCSB-8 (SBE), a large-pore transition-metal substituted
aluminophosphate nanoporous material was synthesized using
1,9-diaminononane as the structure-directing agent (SDA).
However, the UCSB-8Co high transition-metal concentration
contributes to a much lower thermal stability as compared
to other Al3+-rich molecular sieves. While X-ray powder
diffraction (XRD) data confirmed the presence of the Co-SBE
phase, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated
that the crystal morphology was no longer cubic plates.
Instead, the powder material displayed a hexagonal plate-like
habit. Treatments in oxidative and inert atmospheres, respectively,
were used for the removal of the structure-directing agent
that resulted in a “non-porous” framework as
evidenced by low nitrogen uptake at 77K. The latter treatment,
however, resulted in a material with a surface area and
cage diameter of ca. 320 m2/g and 9Å, respectively.
Thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA) showed that the SDA
elimination proceeds in a stepwise fashion. The first weight
lost corresponding to the SDA elimination under vacuum
conditions matches well the predicted formation of alkene
based on the theoretical unit cell data. It can be concluded
from the last weight loss region evolving from the inert
gas treatment that few ammonia molecules are eliminated.
It is therefore possible that some extra-framework cobalt
centers were formed resulting this in both structural distortion
and formation of complexes. Raman and FTIR spectroscopy
data, however, confirmed that the original phase characteristics
remained almost unaffected after inert gas treatment.
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Block, Darci
North Dakota State University
Graduate Student-University-School Collaborative for Science,
Mathematics, Engineering and Technology
Email: Darci.block@ndsu.edu
Characterization of the Heme Environment of the Hemophore
PhuS: Implications for Heme Transfer
Establishment of infection by bacterial pathogens requires
a ready source of iron. A major source of soluble iron
is the host’s hemoglobin and other heme proteins.
Many bacterial pathogens have systems of proteins that
are able to internalize, and metabolize heme from their
host as a means of acquiring the iron needed to establish
infection, (see graphic). These proteins are known as
hemophores. One such hemophore, PhuS, is a 37-kDa cytoplasmic
protein found in the gram-negative bacterium, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. This organism is an opportunistic human pathogen
that primarily affects patients whose immune systems
are compromised by conditions such as AIDS, and cystic
fibrosis, or by aggressive chemotherapeutic regimens
for cancer treatment. The proposed function of PhuS is
transport of heme from the inner membrane to heme oxygenase,
which degrades the heme resulting in release of ferrous
iron. As the heme environment in PhuS is relevant to
its mechanistic role in heme transport, we are working
to elucidate that environment. Visible absorbance and
resonance Raman spectra are presented to address heme
iron spin state, coordination number, oxidation state,
and identity of axial ligands of PhuS. Exogenous ligand
binding properties are presented to address steric, electronic,
and dynamic properties of the heme environment.
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Cooper, Erin
University of Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
Improving STEM Content for K-6 Grades in Coastal Rural
Schools in Oregon
Email: ecooper@uoregon.edu
Spatial Variability in Age Structure of Populations
of Tegula Funebralis on the West Coast of North America
During 2005 and 2006, size-frequency distributions from
22 populations of Tegula funebralis were studied. Sites
were located in Oregon (15 sites), California (5 sites),
and Baja California (2 sites). A latitudinal gradient
in population structure, with less inter-annual variation
in recruitment in the south, had been proposed in Oregon
and Northern California. In contrast, Menge et al (2004)
proposed that recruitment is higher in northern Oregon
due to intermittent upwelling. In Oregon, size-frequency
distributions did not correlate with latitude. Populations
in Oregon show a difference between protected sites (bays
and coves) than the open coast. Most populations from
protected areas are characterized by a peak in the population
size-frequency at small sizes (<3.5 g.); animals weighing
3.5 g. are 5-6 years old (Frank 1975). Populations from
exposed sites have relatively few small sized individuals
and show an older age-structure. In Northern California
and Baja California, all sampled populations, regardless
of coastal topography, are characterized by a peak in
the distribution at individuals <1 g. This difference
may be due to oceanographic conditions that prevent retention
of larvae and high recruitment in exposed sites on the
Oregon coast. Differences in life history between northern
and southern populations may also be responsible.
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DeNeve, Laura
University of Louisville
Groundwork Education in Mathematics & Science (GEMS)
Email:
Ldeneve01@yahoo.com
Elimination of Arsenate Interference in the Malachite
Green Method for the Detection of Phosphate in Archaeological Soil Samples
Soil phosphate analysis is a principle chemical technique
for evaluating human occupation and usage on archaeological
sites. Recently, emphasis has been put on the creation
of methods suitable for fieldwork to increase the efficiency
of phosphate (PO4) analysis. The Malachite Green (MG)
method has been adapted for onsite PO4 detection. MG
binds with phosphomolybdate and creates a green solution,
whose absorbance correlates to PO4 concentration. Several
ions present in soil cause interference with the PO4
signal and produce inaccurate results. A common interferon
is arsenate (As(V)). Due to the interference, measurement
of elevated signals leads to false positive determination
of PO4 concentration. To decouple
the PO4 and As(V) signals, As(V) must be reduced to arsenite
(As(III)), which does not affect PO4 signal.
In pursuance of a field-viable method for the elimination
of As(V) interference in the MG method, two known As(V)
reducing agents — L-Cysteine and thiosulfate — were
investigated. The methods were used to treat standard
samples and soil samples from an archaeological site
in Virginia. While thiosulfate reduced
As(V), it was not compatible with the MG method due to
alteration of the reduction process in the development
reaction. The L-Cysteine method reduced interference
of As(V) without affecting the detection of PO4. Studies
of this method revealed an average RSD of 7.9% when detecting
PO4, which is suitable for archaeological purposes. However,
the method requires 20 minutes to reduce As(V). The time
requirement makes L-Cysteine a viable, yet non-optimal,
reducing agent for As(V) in onsite analysis of PO4 in
soil samples. Further kinetic studies may provide insight
into a reduction of the timescale.
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Furnholm, Teal
University of New Hampshire
Partnership for Research Opportunities to Benefit Education (PROBE)
Email: Trs24@cisunix.unh.edu
Effects of Soil Components on Heavy Metal Resistance
of Frankia
Perhaps the biggest problem facing soil bioremediation
is our limited understanding the complex interactions
between pollution, soil, plants, and soil microbes. Frankia
is a genus of ubiquitous hyphal, nitrogen fixing bacteria
that form a nodulating symbiosis with over 250 species
of Actinorhizal plants. Several species of these symbionts
are known to colonize highly contaminated areas such
as acid mine tailings, and so are of particular interest
for their bioremediation potential. The aim of this project
is to determine how soil components, toxic organic compounds
(TOCs), and the presence of the actinorhizal symbionts
affect the resistance patterns of Frankia to various
heavy metals. Preliminary tests revealed that the three
sequenced strains of Frankia (CcI3, EAN1pec, and ACN14a)
show unusual or high levels of resistance to five metals:
Te+4, Zn+2, Pb+2, Al+3 and Cr+4. It is expected that
metal chelators like oxalate, citrate, and other plant
products will increase the levels of resistance of Frankia.
The ability of Frankia to bind these metals and degrade
TOCs will also be tested. Growth of Frankia under the
various conditions is being determined by total protein
analysis. Using DNA arrays, the effect of the metal on
global gene expression will be investigated. Genes being
up-regulated will be analyzed by comparative genomics,
and knockout mutants of suspected resistance genes will
be created by allelic exchange. The knowledge gained
from this study may give us insight into the complex
environmental and genetic interactions that influence
heavy metal resistances in soil microbes.
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Gary, Lindsay
University of California, Santa Barbara
Let's Explore Applied Physical Science
Email: lgary@engr@ucsb.edu
Sediment Transport Over Bed Forms
As yet there exists no way to predict with accuracy the
interaction between sediment transport, flow and bottom
topography in rivers having erodable beds. Sediment
transport can be classified into two types. Bedload
transport, where grains roll and hop along the bottom,
occurs at lower fluid velocities, while suspended load,
which is entrained into the flow by turbulent eddies,
dominates at higher fluid velocities for grains of
similar dimensions. A complicating factor arises from
bed forms, such as ripples and dunes, which are often
present both in nature and in a laboratory, and which
vary in space and time. Dunes, which are asymmetric,
triangular forms that are significantly longer than
they are tall, affect the entire depth of the flow,
even deforming the free surface. As water flows over
a dune's sharp crest, the pressure causes the
flow to separate from the bottom. The resulting turbulence
and high shear in the separation zone have a profound
effect on local and overall sediment transport. The
goal of this study is to predict the changes that dunes
undergo in response to changes in the overlying flow.
To do this we must predict the transport as a function
of position over the dunes. Our measurements indicate
that this transport field is uniquely different from
what current models based on simpler geometry would
predict. For example even though sediment will not
be set in motion unless critical flow conditions are
exceeded, downstream of the separation zone turbulence
intensities are so great, these critical conditions
are regularly exceeded by flow in the up- and downstream
directions, resulting in a transport relation appearing
to have no critical conditions.
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Hamblin, Bridget
Pennsylvania State University
Graduate Research and Education in Advanced Transportation
Technology (GREATT)
Email:
bridgethamblin@gmail.com
Integrating Experimental Data and Theoretical Models
of Vehicle Behavior to Increase Safety
The poster presents a theoretical and experimental approach
to investigating vehicle handling. Using Newtonian mechanics,
numerical models of vehicular behavior were derived to
predict vehicle response. The models emphasize simplicity,
attempting to capture gross trends of a vehicle's
response without increasing model complexity. The numerical
models output three states that govern stability: roll
angle, yaw rate, and lateral motion. Experimental validation
of these vehicle dynamic models was performed at the
Pennsylvania Transportation Institute using a military
grade, integrated differential GPS and inertial measurement
unit. Experimental data was compared to model predictions
in both the time and frequency domain, showcasing the
models' robustness. The experimental validation
led to insight regarding factors that influence vehicle
behavior that are commonly overlooked by others. Such
factors include roll steer influences and terrain influences.
Accounting for such influences improved the correlation
between theoretical and experimental response. This increased
knowledge is being utilized in two distinct applications.
Vehicular roll control is a new phenomena and the low-order
models derived in this study will aid in enhancing such
roll control algorithms on the next generation of vehicles.
The other application arose out of the notable effects
terrain can have on vehicle behavior. Using more complex
simulation programs, studies are being performed for
NCHRP 22-21 to study how median profiles can influence
a vehicle's behavior during a median traversal with the
goal being to determine guidelines for median profiles
that maximize passenger safety.
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Kendricks, Kimberly
Auburn University
GK-12 Fellows in Science and Mathematics for East Alabama
Schools
Email: kendrkd@auburn.edu
Using
Groebner Bases to Solve the Inverse Kinematic Robotics
Problem for a 3rd Degree Planar Robot Arm
The purpose of this poster is to illustrate an alternative
method, Groebner Basis Theory, that is more efficient
to solving the inverse kinematic robotics problem. Kinematics
is the study of motion. The inverse kinematic robotics
problem is finding all possible joint movements of a
robot arm that will place the robot hand at a particular
point in space. Robotics engineers have solved the inverse
kinematic robotics problem for a 3rd degree (three joints)
planar robot arm. In doing so, several difficult calculations
must be performed to find all possible joint movements.
Using Groebner Bases allows one to perform simple polynomial
calculations and with the aid of an algebraic computer
software, MAGMA, the solutions can be found faster and,
in particular, more information is attained about the
kinematic capabilities of the robot. By using Groebner
Bases, one can find all of the possible joint movements
to place the robot hand at a particular point in space,
and all of those joint movements that are not possible.
This poster will demonstrate very carefully the advantages
of using Groebner Basis theory to solve the inverse kinematic
robotics problem versus the robotics engineering approach.
The results will not only be a contribution to the field
of mathematics, but also to the field of robotics engineering.
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Kittrell, Danielle
Tuskegee University
GK-12 Fellows in Science and Mathematics for East Alabama Schools
Email:
Daniellekittrell_@hotmail.com
The Influence of Time and Removal of Mulch Type on Nitrogen
Transformation, Soil Microbial Diversity and Enzyme Activities in Soils Planted with
Two Sweet Potato (lpomoea batatas (L) Lam.) Cultivars
Advances in plasticulture have increased the earliness
of many warm season crops. The beneficial effects of
mulches are; conservation of soil moisture, increase
soil temperature, reduces soil erosion, increases root
growth, and nutrient availability, increases yield, and
improves the quality of produce (Manrique, 1995; Tilander
and Bozi, 1997; Schmidt and Worthington, 1998). There
are additional benefits to using mulch for crop production.
Some of these are; the increase of beneficial microorganisms
that increases crop yields above and beyond those obtained
from bare soil control. Khan et al. (1996, 1998) reported
that both vine and storage root productions of sweet
potatoes were greatly improved when grown on clear and
black polyethylene mulches compared to the standard bare
soil. In spite of these research efforts, there has been
very little detail reports on the effects that mulching
has on the microbial and other biochemical transformation
under agriplastic mulch as opposed to soil solarization.
Therefore, the main objectives of this study are: evaluate
the state of nitrogen mineralization under different
plastic mulches; study the effect of different mulches
on two soil enzymes and microbial diversity in the soil.
In this study black and white plastic mulches will be
the main plots, sweet potato cultivars (TU- 82-155 and
TU-1892) as the split plots and mulch removal dates as
split-split plots. The soil treatment combinations will
be: control, (bare soil), control (plastic), and five
mulch removal dates of 35, 55, 75, 95 and 120 days after
transplanting. Soil pH, organic matter, nitrogen mineralization
(Hart et al. (1994) protocol), acid phosphatases enzyme
(Tabatabai & Bremner, (1969) and Eivazi & Tabatabai
(1977) protocols), phosphodiesterase enzyme (Brownman & Tabatabai
(1969) protocols), and microbial diversity will be determined
by whole community diDNA extracted using Mo Bio Soil
DNA isolation kit (Solana Beach, CA, USA). Amlification
of the DNA will be performed using Ready-To-Go PCR Beads
(Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech) with primers PRBA 338f and
PRUN 518r. Community finger printing of PCR-amplified
fragments will be done using DGGE. Identified bands will
be cut, eluted, and refrigerated for further PCR, cloning
and sequencing. Relatedness of microbial communities
will be determined using similarity coefficient of bands
common to two samples and cluster analysis will be performed
on the bands obtained.
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Kukula, Eric
Purdue University
Indiana Interdisciplinary GK-12
Email: Kukula@purdue.edu
The Effect of Fingerprint Sensor Form Factor Design on the
Effectiveness of Use for Fingerprint Recognition Devices
Biometrics is defined as the automated recognition of
individuals based on their behavioral and biological
characteristics. Biometrics by definition requires individuals
to provide information, such as a fingerprint, hand shape,
or iris, to a sensor. This interaction is critical, as
many times, how to use a sensor might not be intuitive
to the inexperienced user. The Human-Biometric Sensor
Interaction is a conceptual model that is centered on
the relationship between the human providing the biometric
trait and the biometric sensor; a relationship that becomes
more critical to understand and research as biometric
sensors become pervasive in society. The successful deployment
of biometric systems, regardless of application, needs
to take into consideration how individuals interact with
the device. Failure to do so will cause a degradation
of the optimal performance of the biometric sensor, causing
problems such as: failure to acquire, failure to enroll,
and impacts in the false reject rate. This research investigates
whether the integration of anthropometric, ergonomic,
and usability characteristics can improve the usefulness,
effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of users,
ultimately leading to improved algorithm performance
of the biometric system, and thus optimizing the relationship
between the human and the sensor. This study aims to
address to two questions: What does the biometric sensor
need to provide the human and what information does the
human need to provide to the sensor for successful interaction.
For more information regarding this project, please visit http://www.biotown.purdue.edu/research/ergonomics.asp.
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Ledesma, Jessica
Saint Joseph's University
GeoKids LINKS
Email: Jl366008@sju.edu
Shoaling Behavior in Juvenile Guppies
For fish, simple social groupings known as shoals provide
benefits that include anti-predator defense and increased
opportunities to find food. Adult fish actively choose
shoal mates on the basis of phenotypic characteristics,
typically shoaling with individuals of similar coloration,
pattern and body size. However, little is known about
the shoaling behavior of juveniles. In this study the
shoaling abilities and preferences of juvenile guppies
(Poecilia reticulata), were tested at three different
ages - 10 days (mean body length = 8.83 mm), 30 days
(13.17 mm) and 50 days (18.6 mm). For each assay a
test fish was placed in the center of a three-chambered
tank and the time they spent swimming near either end
chamber was
monitored. With only one exception, fish from each age
group spent significantly more time swimming near a shoal
of fish rather than an empty chamber, regardless of the
age of the target shoal in the end chamber (the 10 day-old
guppies showed no preference for a shoal of 30 day-old
fish versus an
empty chamber). When presented with two shoals, one of
similar age and one of dissimilar age, only the 50 day-old
guppies demonstrated a significant preference for the
age-matched shoal. These results show that juvenile guppies
form shoals, but do not discriminate on the basis of
age and body size until they reach the age of 50 days
old.
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Lee, Jane
UCLA
GK-12 Science & Mathematics
in Los Angeles Urban Schools
Email: risbecia@ucla.edu
Euphasiid Swarms in the Monterey Submarine Canyon as
Sampled with a Remotely Operated Vehicle
Euphausiids in the Monterey Submarine Canyon (MSC) routinely
form dense aggregations that are exploited by whales,
birds, fish and squid. We examined variability in the
species composition of euphausiid swarms at the shelf-break
and influences of advection on euphausiid swarms. In
situ observations were made in June, July and November
2001 and August 2002 with a Remotely Operated Vehicle
(ROV) that permitted precise location of sampled krill
swarms. The dominant species during all sampling periods
were Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera. We
observed significant overlap of their populations near
the shelf-break, including variations in swarm species
composition over smaller spatial scales (100% E. pacifica
in one sample and 30% E. pacifica and 70% T. spinifera
in a sample 767 m away), and over short time scales at
the same location (8% E. pacifica and 92% T. spinifera
on November 5, 2001 to 44% E. pacifica and 56% T. spinifera
on November 6, 2001). These small-scale variations, as
well as moored acoustic observations from a 12-day deployment
at the shelf-break, suggest the importance of advective
mixing of krill populations at the shelf-break. Influence
of advection on the fine-scale distributions of krill
was also indicated by the observation of acoustic scattering
layers ~1-5 m thick along the periphery of tidal flow
maxima. These unique observations emphasize the importance
of resolving plankton ecology at fine scales in dynamically
complex shelf-break environments, where multiple species
of this critically important trophic level overlap.
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Letendre, Jon
University of Southern Maine
Sustaining the Maine ScienceCorps: Collaborative Integration
of Research Experiences and Active Learning into Bioscience Education
Email:
Jon.letendre@maine.edu
Defining the Microbial and Viral Ecology of Epizootic
Lobster Shell Disease
Bacteriophages, viruses of bacteria, are the most abundant
biological entities on Earth and are fundamentally important
in bacterial evolution as predators and as agents of
horizontal gene transfer. Through lytic infections, bacteriophages
play vital roles in nutrient release from bacterial biomass.
The research reported involves isolating and characterizing
bacterial species that are present in biofilms on the
exoskeletons of American lobsters (Homarus Americanus)
afflicted with epizootic lobster shell disease which
is prevalent in southern New England coastal waters and
then further seeking bacteriophages in the environment
that will infect these bacteria. Presently, we have approximately
90 isolates of bacteria from lobster carapace lesions
that we have identified through 16s rRNA gene sequence
analysis. Bacteriophages that infect the bacterial isolates
of Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas species have also been
enriched from coastal water samples and detected by observing
bacterial lysis (plaques) on host bacterial cultures.
Recent work has focused on four phages that infect different
Pseudoalteromonas isolates. Transmission electron microscopy
in the USM Virology and TEM Laboratory has shown that
these bacteriophages are morphologically highly similar.
However, initial genomic analysis has revealed that they
are genetically distinct. Investigation of the marine
bacteria and their bacteriophages, may lead to better
understanding
of the biological interactions that occur and may modulate
biofilm formation, stability, and degradation and may
also provide more generally important insight into the
marine microbial and viral ecology of the degradation
of chitin, the most abundant carbohydrate in the oceans.
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Maronde, Dan
University of Central Florida
Greater Orlando GK-12 Partnership
Email: maronde@physics.ucf.edu
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Relation and Its Extension to Curved Space
The Heisenberg uncertainty relation is probably the most
widely recognized expression used in Quantum Mechanics.
The concept it represents captures the essence of the
break modern physics made with classical Newtonian physics
early in the 20th century. The uncertainty relation was
developed for and is usually applied in “flat” space.
The research project that I am beginning aims to generalize
the relation to curved spaces. This presentation gives
a brief explanation of the meaning of the uncertainty
relation and its applications and outlines the goals
of my research.
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Mitchell, Elizabeth J.
Florida Institute of Technology
Integrated Science Teaching Enhancement Partnership
Email: mitchele@fit.edu
Movement of Energy Throughout the Earth's Magnetosphere
Due to Storm-time Solar Wind Conditions
Space physics is the study of interactions within our
solar system. Several of these interactions involve the
radial outflow of the Sun's charged particles and
its magnetic fields, or solar wind. As solar wind travels
through space and approaches a planet, its interactions
with local electrical and magnetic fields and charged
particles are govern by the planet's magnetic properties.
My thesis research examines the interactions between
the magnetic fields of the Sun and the Earth. They are
important because they often affect satellite communications,
astronauts and spacecraft, and airplane navigation and
safety. Specifically, my research examines the movement
of energy between the solar wind plasma and Earth's
magnetic field during periods of moderate geomagnetic
activity. Data on the density and velocity of charged
particles and their associated magnetic fields obtained
from two multisensor satellites, known as ACE and WIND,
positioned between the Earth and Sun are combined with
data from ground-based instruments of Earth's
magnetic field to obtain profiles of the magnetospheric
and ionospheric energies in the near-Earth space environment.
Results are used to calculate the transfer efficiency
of energy from the solar wind to the near-earth space
environment. Results to date indicate that solar wind
conditions enhance the transfer of energy throughout
the near-Earth space environment. Future research will
examine conditions prohibiting the transfer of additional
energy between space and Earth's ionosphere.
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Pontius, Kira
Idaho State University
GK-12: Enhancing Science Literacy in Southeast Idaho
with Community-based Projects and University/K-12 Partnerships
Email: pontkira@isu.edu
Influences of Elevation on Reproductive Strategies of Burying Beetles
I am investigating how parental behaviors vary by elevation
and what influence parental behavior has on life history
traits and phenotypic differences (e.g., body size). Specifically,
I am focusing on whether burying beetles, Nicrophorus
investigator, alter their reproductive strategy based
on the elevation at which
they breed, or based on what population they are captured
from independent of where they breed. From previous studies
we know that adult beetles are larger at higher elevations,
have extensive parental care, and breed on mouse carcasses.
We also know that adult size is based in part on how
much food they
received as larvae, which is partially based on how many
offspring parents decide to rear on a carcass. In my
study I have measured whether the observed elevation
effect is dependent on the local climate or on the genes
in the parent. I captured adult beetles at one elevation
and bred them at another. Then, I
measured how many and the size of the larvae each pair
of beetles produced. My preliminary results suggest that
some environmental factors related to elevation are being
used by parents to alter their reproductive decisions.
This result is interesting because it indicates that
parental behaviors are
plastic and as a result observed phenotypic differences
may be linked to environment. Additionally, these results
mean the species may have the ability to withstand some
degree of climate change.
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Postava-Davignon, Marielle
Northeastern University
GK-12 PLUS (Partners Linking Urban Schools)
Email: Postava-davig.m@neu.edu
Nest Architecture and Disease Susceptibility: the Influence
of Social Behavior and Next Microclimate on the Survival
of the Dampwood Termite Zootermopsis Angusticollis (Hagen)
Social insects use several mechanisms to resist disease,
including behavioral, biochemical, and immunological
adaptations. Previous research has indicated that social
interactions reduce susceptibility to fungal infection
in the dampwood termite Zootermopsis angusticollis (Rosengaus
R. B. et al. 1998. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 44: 125-134;
Rosengaus R. B. et al. 2000. Etho. Ecol. Evol. 12: 419-433).
Based on these studies and a theoretical model (Pie M.
R. et al. 2004. J. Theor. Biol. 226: 45-51), we have
hypothesized that nest architecture may influence both
a) the degree to which termites encounter one another,
and thus the rates of social interactions that can aid
in the control of pathogens (i.e. allogrooming), and
b) the microclimatic conditions within the nest. Given
that temperature and humidity can strongly influence
microbial growth and development, nest architecture could
have an indirect impact on disease susceptibility for
that reason as well. To test disease susceptibility as
a function of nest architecture, we constructed different
nest types modeled after nests constructed by termites
in the field: gallery nest, arboreal carton type nest,
multi-chambered nest, and single-chambered nest. We compared
the survival of Metarhizium anisopliae-exposed versus
control termites, the contact rates among nestmates,
as well as the temperature and humidity within the different
nest architectures. Our results show that nest architecture
is a significant and independent predictor of termite
survival (survival analyses and Cox Proportional Regression).
Z. angusticollis nymphs nesting in the gallery structure
with numerous vertical connections were the least susceptible
to infection by the entomopathogenic fungus, relative
to similarly treated termites housed in the other nest
architectures. These results provide the first empirical
evidence of the impact that nest architecture can have
on disease susceptibility in social insects.
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Riddle, Megan
Western Washington University
Catalysts for Reform
Email:
megancriddle@comcast.net
To Splice or Not to Splice — Alternative Splicing
in the DM Gene Family of Nasonia Vitripennis
Two different mechanisms underlie the evolution of new
gene function: creating new exons (coding regions) within
a gene or duplicating a gene to form a gene family. In
the case of the former, alternative splicing plays a
key role in enabling transcribed portions of the gene
to be rearranged while conserving the original function
of the gene. Similarly, gene families provide the opportunity
for mutation of some members without losing the original
role of the gene. Both of these processes are at play
in the DM proteins of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis.
The DM domain, a DNA binding motif involved in regulation
of gene expression, defines a family of at least two
genes in N. vitripennis. DM domains are unique because
they are the only motif known to be conserved in sex-determining
genes across taxa, present in organisms that range from
worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) and flies (Drosophila
melanogaster) to humans (Homo sapiens). Previous research
has shown that one DM gene in N. vitripennis undergoes
considerable alternative splicing, with many different
transcripts arising from a single gene, while the other
appears to have only one transcript. Current work focuses
on characterizing the expression of various DM gene transcripts
throughout the life-cycle of the wasp and looking for
differences in sex-specificity.
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Rocio Caton, Ingrid
Wichita State University
Pass Me the Salt: Extending the Research Training Tower
to Pre-College Students
Email: irsantospinzon@wichita.edu
Nitrogenase Genes in Urban, Agricultural, and Pristine
Prairie Streams Exposed to Different Levels of Nitrogen
Loading
Ecosystem processes drive biogeochemical cycles, influencing
inputs and losses of nutrients. Human activities have
highly enriched the environment with nutrients, especially
nitrogen. Nitrogen availability is often limiting in
natural environments. In streams, nutrient availability,
geochemistry, hydrodynamics, and humans activities influence
the metabolism and structure of microbial communities.
The aim of the current study is to compare the N2-fixing
guilds in three different types of Kansas streams: urban,
agricultural, and pristine, with the former two being
impacted by nitrogen pollution. Maximal nitrogen fixation
activities, measured by acetylene reduction assays, were
1.0, 0.6, and 0.4 pmol/g/h for urban, agricultural, and
pristine streams, respectively. Highest rates were in
leaf litter and algal biofilms. Samples of sediments
and leaf litter were field-frozen for molecular analyses
of the nitrogen-fixing microbial guild. Direct DNA extracts
were examined by SYBR real-time PCR to determine the
abundance of nifH genes, with a detection limit of 1.3E+3
nifH genes per g of sediment. There was considerable
variance, and no significant correlation was observed
between nitrogen fixation activity and nifH gene abundance.
The construction and sequencing of PCR-based clone libraries
is being used to assess the diversity of nifH genes in
the different streams. Initial results suggest that methanogens,
sulfate-reducers, and rhizobia are abundant members of
the nitrogen-fixing guild. Understanding the effects
of nitrogen pollution on nitrogen-fixing guilds in small
streams will increase our ability to overcome the challenges
of nutrient pollution. This work was supported by grants
from Kansas NSF EPSCoR and NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows
in K-12 Education.
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Ruths, Justin
Washington University
Engineering Education for a Global Technological Society
Email: Jar2@cec.wustl.edu
Prospects for Global Warming:
Controllability and Observability for a Coupled Climate Model
with Carbon-Cycle Feedbacks
Decades of research into the phenomenon of global warming
have brought us step by step closer to piecing together
a fully integrated Earth model. While there exists ongoing
debate on several issues of global warming, there are
few who question the potential impacts of this effect.
It is one of the grave dangers facing mankind, which
has the capacity to fundamentally challenge our current
way of life on a global scale. Research to date has led
us to the cusp of integrating our present understanding.
The complexity and dynamics of the integrated model require
a control systems analysis approach. We will present
a comprehensive literature review, motivating our plan
to attack this issue and addressing the current place
of research in this area. We will discuss the appropriate
systems analysis techniques needed to gain insight into
the global warming model. We will focus our attention
in particular to controllability, observability, and
possible control strategies of the coupled climate/carbon
model. We will also discuss on the potential proactive
roles we can take in stabilizing our climate based on
the results from our systems analysis.
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Santiesteban, Jr., Oscar
University of Central Florida
Greater Orlando GK-12 Partnership
Email: osanties@gmail.com
Hydrogen Sensor Based on Manganese Dioxide
The growing utilization of hydrogen as a fuel has resulted
in the need for sensors that are highly sensitive to
and selective for hydrogen in the presence of air.
In this laboratory a sensor that meets these qualifications
was developed. The detector developed is based on manganese
dioxide with catalytic
amounts of palladium incorporated. The sensor produced
was found to have rapid response and recovery times,
very high sensitivity, and to exhibit strong selectivity
for hydrogen in air. This report will detail the construction,
composition, and response characteristics of this sensor.
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Schultz, Bryan
University of Tennessee
GK-12: Enriching Earth Science in Rural Tennessee Middle
Schools Through Research-Based Activities on Climate
and Environmental History
Email: bschultz@utk.edu
How Great Was the Great Oxidation
Event?: Exploring Ocean Redox in the Paleoproterozoic
The Great Oxidation Event (GOE) marks a major transition
from reducing to oxidizing conditions in the Earth's
atmosphere and biosphere. My dissertation research uses
C-isotope reservoir modeling in combination with CAS-derived
estimates of sulfate reservoir size (CAS; carbonate-associated
trace sulfate), and high resolution S, Mo and REE data
in an effort to better understand the extent of oxygenation
in the evolving Earth's biosphere prior to and in the
aftermath of the GOE. For this project, I focus on strata
from the ~2.52 Ga Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa
(drill core from the Aguron Institute; potential field
collection of samples) and the ~1.8 Ga Pethei Group,
NWT, Canada (field collection of samples). Both sites
lack post-depositional metamorphic overprinting, and
these units preserve well-documented shallow-to-deep
platform environments that are necessary to define the
vertical structure of the water column and to provide
constraints for geochemical modeling. Initial field collection
of samples will focus on the post-GOE 1.8 Ga Pethei Group.
Pethei group strata occurs on isolated islands in the
eastern Arm of Great Slave Lake, and comprise four cycles
of basin-to-platform development. Measured sections and
collection of high-resolution samples will include basinal
(McClean and Blanchet Fm.), outer shelf (Utsingi and
Hearne Fm.), and shallow platform (Taltheilei and Wildbread
Fm.) facies, which will be carefully correlated through
a sequence stratigraphic framework. An important aspect
of high-resolution chemostratigraphic efforts is that
they potentially allow for direct measure of the oxidizing
potential and redox conditions in the aftermath of the
GOE.
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Shepherd, Cynthia
California State University, Northridge
FERMAT: Fellows Engaged as Resources in Mathematics to
Assist Teachers
Email: Cynthia.shepherd.87@csun.edu
Composite Membranes
The study of vibrating membranes is an aspect of mathematical
physics that is primarily concerned with the geometries
of the membrane corresponding to its frequencies. Membranes
consisting of two materials of different densities
are called composite membranes. We are interested in
determining the shape of membranes with minimal eigenvalues;
in particular the first eigenvalue, or fundamental
frequency, of such membranes. *Research funded by the
international component of the GK-12 program. Research
was done with the IRES program in São Paulo,
Brazil.
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Strong, Mel
University of New Mexico
E-MRGE: Ecohydrogeology in the Middle Rio Grande Environment
Email: mstrong@unm.edu
Water Vapor, Isotopes, and Flying
Machines: Deducing Water Vapor Transport Pathways into
New Mexico Using Deuterium
Here I demonstrate the use of deuterium as a tracer to
track the oceanic sources of water vapor in central New
Mexico. For decades, the moisture source for New Mexico's
summer rains has eluded climatologists. Interannual variability
in the summer rains has resulted in decade-scale droughts,
while future activity of this circulation pattern in
future global warming scenarios remains uncertain. A
major hurdle in predictability is uncertainty in the
moisture source(s), which could include the Pacific,
Gulf of California, and Gulf of Mexico. To address this
problem, we developed a new technique for extracting
water vapor from atmospheric air samples and analyzing
for deuterium content. Air samples have been collected
on the roof of the UNM geology building one to three
times a day since April 1 2005. Air has also been collected
in an ultralight aircraft at ~300 meter increments up
to ~3 km above ground level in an effort to construct
vertical profiles of the isotopic composition of water
vapor in the troposphere. Large isotopic variations are
observed in both the daily rooftop time series and within
single vertical profiles. Within vertical profiles, systematic
variations in the isotopic composition of water vapor
rarely ever correlate with any conventional measurements
made by weather balloons, suggesting that the isotopes
are revealing structures in the lower atmosphere not
previously observed. Reverse-calculated trajectory models
suggest that the observed isotopic variations are due
to changes in advection. The moisture source for central
New Mexico oscillates between oceanic sources in as little
as 24 hours while vertical bands of water vapor with
distinctive isotopic values imply that New Mexico can
receive moisture from multiple sources simultaneously.
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Umphlett, Natalie
University of Nebraska
Project Fulcrum
Email: numphlett@gmail.com
Behavior of Boundary Layer Schemes and Land Surface
Models in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model
During Simulations of an Urban Heat Island
The difference in temperature between an urban area and
its rural surroundings is known as the urban heat island
effect. The study of urban heat islands is critical as
they can pose risks to human health, generate higher
energy use which leads to greater emissions of greenhouse
gases, and also increase the costs of energy. This study
focuses on the characteristics of the boundary layer,
the lowest portion of the atmosphere in which the effects
of friction and surface temperature are significant,
over an urban area. The Weather Research and Forecasting
(WRF) Model is employed for simulations of the urban
boundary layer. As shown from earlier studies, the maximum
urban heat island conditions occur during clear, calm,
nights. These conditions are used as initial conditions
for the model. Each planetary boundary layer scheme and
land surface model combination available in the WRF model
is run and differences in development and structure of
the boundary layer are observed. The newly released urban
canopy model in WRF will be used as a comparison to the
previous results.
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Whalen, Christopher
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
GK-12 Graduate Teaching Fellowships
Email: cwhalen@uiuc.edu
Aligning Functional Surface Brain Recordings with Anatomical
MRI: Minimizing Registration Errors
A common problem in brain imaging is how to appropriately
co-register anatomical and functional data into a common
space. For surface-based recordings such as the event
related optical signal (EROS), near-infrared spectroscopy
(NIRS), event-related brain potentials (ERPs), and magnetoencephalography
(MEG), alignment is typically done using either (1) a
landmark-based method involving placement of surface
markers that can be detected in both modalities or (2)
surface alignment involving sampling many points on the
surface of the head in the functional space and aligning
those points to the surface of the anatomical image.
Here we compare these two approaches and advocate a combination
of the two in order to optimize coregistration of EROS
with structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI). Digitized
3D sensor locations recorded from a Polhemus Digitizer
can be effectively co-registered with a sMRI using fiducial
alignment as an initial guess followed by a rigid body
transform (df =6) that operates via a least squares Levenberg-Marquardt
minimization routine to match the two surfaces. Further
refinements such as scaling (df=3) and a point-by-point
surface restriction are then added to further improve
fitting. Overall results show that these alignment procedures
place the lower bound error (residual error) at 1.7±1.5
mm (μ ±s) and the upper bound error (map
error) at 4.1±2.0 mm (μ ±s) showing
significant improvement compared with either procedure
alone. By optimizing alignment techniques, the spatial
resolution of EROS can be significantly improved.
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Wilkins, Christopher
Polytechnic University
Revitalizing Achievement by Using Instrumentation in
Science Education (RAISE)
Email: wilkic@gmail.com
The Utilization and Elimination of the J2 Perturbation
for Earth Orbiting Spacecraft
In my initial NSF funded research at Polytechnic University,
I exploited the J2 effect (the perturbing effect of the
oblate Earth) as a timing mechanism to insert one hundred
cubesats into sparsely populated 60 degree inclination
orbits around the Earth using a change in orbital inclination
only. In addition, I outlined a "proof-of-concept" single
stage propulsion system that provides necessary propulsive
input for the velocity change needed for the orbital
inclination change of cubesats. This work lays the ground
for a more efficient method of putting a network of Earth-observing
satellites into orbit. In my second paper, I developed
a numerical algorithm to determine initial conditions
that yield periodic, symmetric equatorial and polar orbits
in the presence of Earth's oblateness. My research outlines
J2-invariant initial conditions and presents them in
a concise formulation useful for spacecraft trajectory
designers. Finally, in my third paper, I developed a
control technique that uses a constant radial acceleration
to eliminate the rotation of spacecraft's perigee that
occurs due to the J2 perturbation. The findings of my
second and third papers will allow spacecraft to perform
the same tasks as they do now, but with less fuel required
to do so, enabling larger payloads and/or extended mission
durations. These three papers are currently under review
for publication in the proceedings of an international
conference.
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