Digital Commons Network^™

Personal Reflections / 12.20.19, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

Happy Holidays. After a week of final exams and projects, our students are headed off to spend a couple of weeks at home with their families. Others will be traveling as part of Intersession trips to Spain, Hawaii, Mexico and Poland, just to name a few. One of our faculty members, Paavo Husen, will host a Russian teacher in his home as part of an exchange program with students from Lyceum Physical Technical High School, St. Petersburg. Our staff, including faculty, will also spend some time away re-energizing and recovering from what seemed like an incredibly speedy first semester. My …

Design Of Efgr Kinase Domain Inhibitors For The Potential Treatment Of Lung And Other Cancers, Jodie Meng '20

Student Publications & Research

In 2018 alone, over 18 million cancer-related cases were diagnosed and 9.5 million cancer-related deaths occurred worldwide. As a small-molecule drug orally administered for the treatment of lung and pancreatic cancer, erlotinib (Tarceva®) inhibits the phosphorylation of the tyrosine kinase domain in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Inhibition of EGFR reduces the bioactivity of tumor-associated endothelial cells and interferes with signal pathways involved in metastasis and development of angiogenesis. Increase in drug concentration leads to adverse effects, ranging from rash and nausea to gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, hepatic failure, among others. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the toxicity and …

Modeling Cardiac Physiology, Sowmya Anjur

Faculty Publications & Research

Participants will focus on integrating physiology applications by using biomedical engineering to visualize the relationships between structure and function of the cardiovascular system. Participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm and plan how to prepare working models of the heart. Once the models have been approved, designed, engineered, and built, participants will be able to model different pathological conditions in their models such as atherosclerosis. Participants will reflect upon the biophysical and biochemical basis of their creations. Through model-building and testing, participants will trouble shoot their inventions, later reflecting upon what changes were made to their original design and how …

2019 Annual Report, Imsa Fund

IMSA Fund Reports

No abstract provided.

Evolution - #0: Advanced Biological Systems, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

The first unit of Advanced Biological Systems is focused on the theory of evolution, the mechanisms of evolutionary change, and discussions of the biological species concept. We discuss briefly how biodiversity stabilizes ecosystems. A study of biological evolution is placed first in the sequence of our curriculum to establish a foundation that explains the diversity of organisms, as well as biochemical processes, and the ongoing change process we witness today. These concepts will later be utilized in our curriculum to highlight cellular and metabolic diversity, the development of cancers, the interactions of bacteria with the ecosystem of the human host, …

Evolution - #8: Ecosystem Disrupted, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

This is the culminating activity for the evolution unit. For this assignment, students must research into the impact human industry has on a small part of our world. Students have had a brief introduction to the history of the planet and the role that carbon dioxide concentration play in climate change. The role of climate and weather patterns is important in a discussion of a chosen place on the planet. Students have spent a large amount of effort in understanding evolutionary theory and mechanisms and seen it in practice as they read about speciation. With this assignment, students can synthesize …

Evolution - #3: Evolution On The Web, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

This lesson is a companion piece the previous one: Evolutionary Evidences and Inferences. It is completed supported by readings at an online site hosted by The University of California at Berkeley. The site is linked here:

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/evo_14

Evolution - #7: Speciation Jigsaw, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

This is a lesson intended to be complementary to the selection simulation. Whereas the simulation was used to develop a conceptual understanding of selection, the readings done here are used to allow students to see the application of their conceptualized understanding to researched examples of selection and speciation.

Evolution - #2: Evolutionary Evidence And Inferences, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

The theory of evolution articulates elegantly a series of inferences from a vast collection of observations and evidence. We present some of those evidences here to stimulate in our students the sorts of scientific reasoning necessary to understand the presence and origin of diversity of life on the planet.

Evolution - #1: History Of Life, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

From the perspective of a biologist, the history of life on the Earth is a recurring story. Although details may be different, what happens today has precedence in the occurrences of the past. Two underlying ideas are vital for students to understand a modern conception of the theory of evolution. First, over long periods of time, and due to natural events, the environment of the Earth has changed, sometimes dramatically. Second, each environmental change has created more favorable conditions for some species to live and reproduce, while producing less favorable conditions for others. This first lesson in our unit on …

Evolution - #4: Genetic Drift And Founder Effect, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

Genetic drift is a term used to describe chance fluctuations in the allelic frequencies in a population over time. The effects of genetic drift tend to be very minor in large populations, but they can be quite significant in small populations. Alleles are different functional forms in which a gene might exist. Humans have two alleles, sometimes the same but sometimes different, of most of their genes. In any population, it is possible to determine the frequency of all alleles. If these alleles get passed on to the next generation at random, then we should expect to see approximately the …

Evolution - #6: Selection Simulation, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

A modern understanding of the theory of evolution revolves around the selection of certain types within a population that over long time periods eventually leads to change of the species. This descent with modification is modeled with this activity, and leads to a subsequent lesson that has students reading about research into examples of speciation.

Evolution - #5: Globin Gene Evolution, Jessica Amacher, Sowmya Anjur, Donald Dosch, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Unit 1: Evolution

For this lesson, students are guided through the steps necessary to compare nucleotide and amino acid sequences available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information that is maintained by the National Institutes of Health. The lesson starts with an examination of the alpha-globin gene. Alpha-globin is one of the proteins that constitutes hemoglobin. Student look at the various sequences of this gene that have been deposited at NCBI with a goal of determining alternative forms of the gene. The lesson then broadens the scope of comparison to include members of the globin protein family. Students create a phylogenetic tree that …

Complex Powers Of I Satisfying The Continued Fraction Functional Equation Over The Gaussian Integers, Matthew Niemiro '20

Exemplary Student Work

We investigate and then state the conditions under which i^z satisfies the simple continued fraction functional equation for real and then complex z over the Gaussian integers.

Invariant Sum Defined In Terms Of Complex Multivariate Polynomial Given Degree, Matthew Niemiro '20

Exemplary Student Work

We use a generalized version of arithmetic progressions to obtain a non- trivial everywhere-zero sum in terms of a complex univariate polynomial and its degree. We then remark on its generalization to multivariate polynomials.

Aurora Smart Cities Youth Summit, Betty Hart

Publications & Research

Mayor Richard Irvin has set the! goal to make the City of Aurora a regional technology hub. Poised to become a sandbox for innovation, Aurora's 605 Innovation District is partnering with world-class companies and investing in smart city infrastructure to become a leading-edge urban development hub for the State of Illinois and beyond.

What is a Smart City | As defined by the United Nations “a smart sustainable city is an innovative city that uses information a11d communications technology and other means to improve quality of life, efficie11cy of urban operations and services and competitiveness while ensuring that it meets …

Report Of The President / November 20, 2019, José M. Torres

President's Report

LEADERSHIP MATTERS

This report provides the Board of Trustees with information regarding Academy activities and the progress that we are making toward achieving our IMSA Impact and Outcomes Statement and Priority Outcomes. I organize the Report of the President, where appropriate, around the IMSA Impact and Outcomes document:

Three pillars:

1. STEM Teaching and Learning
2. Operational Capacity
3. Stakeholder Engagement

One Strategy—Strengthen Employee Engagement and IMSA’s two priorities for Academic Year 2019-2020

1. Advance equity and excellence-- Supports IMSA Impact and Outcomes Statement
2. Implement our Global Strategy (formerly "international Strategy and includes Innovation Campus, Phase 1) --Supports IMSA Impact and Outcomes Statement …

Personal Reflections / 11.20.19, José M. Torres

Personal Reflections

As we prepare to gather around the table next week to celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to thank you for taking the time to read these reflections and for your commitment and support of IMSA. I also want to ask you to take time to reflect on the many blessings you have, and to encourage you to be thankful.

Neurological Disorders And Developing Countries, Monika Narain '21

TEDxYouth@IMSA

No abstract provided.

Manipulating The Limbic System To Create Space In Our Schedules, Devraj Thakkar '21

TEDxYouth@IMSA

No abstract provided.

Occupational Mismatch Among Immigrants, Sophia Pribus '20

TEDxYouth@IMSA

No abstract provided.

2019 Veteran's Day, Carolyn Brynildsen '06

Keynotes, Speeches, and Lectures at IMSA

I am honored to join you all on Veteran’s Day. I hope you’ve deduced by my uniform, and my being here that I am in the military, and a veteran myself. I am married to a veteran and I am the child of veterans. This day is near and dear to my heart, and dare I say it’s a bit of a family tradition.

Breaking Barriers: Self-Advocacy Essentials For Underserved Gifted Learners, Deb Douglas, Joy Davis, Dina Brulles, Marcia Gentry, Tamra Stambaugh, Adrienne Coleman

Publications & Research

Learners who advocate for themselves are more apt to discover the intellectual challenges they want and need. Systemic barriers, however, can keep students from finding/using their own voices. Panelists share ways to empower the self-advocacy of underserved gifted students - specifically those who are Black, Hispanic, Native American, low SES, and Black and Latinx females in STEM.

Building A Positive Culture Around Mental Health, Kevin Kusy

Staff Publications & Research

Creating a safe and open environment for students and staff to talk about mental health and wellness is a key to developing healthy, productive students. This session will discuss how to effectively develop and sustain mental health interventions within an educational setting.

What Stem Can Learn From The Digital Humanities, Eric Rettberg

Faculty Publications & Research

Three main goals to the presentation.

• First, just to show some of the work my students have been doing in a new English elective at IMSA, Digital Literary Studies. In the second half of the presentation especially, I’ll be explaining the class and showing this work.
• Second, to give some sense of the field of the Digital Humanities, which has been a significant force in humanities at the college level for some time now, especially in the last ten years.
• Finally, to propose a rethinking of the way we think about the role of the humanities in STEM education. And …

He, She, They, Them, Us: Teaching Gender Studies In A Stem Environment, Erin Micklo, Leah Kind

Faculty Publications & Research

In this session, we will share the importance of teaching Gender Studies as an English elective in a STEM school. We will introduce our curriculum, including biological and socially constructed theories of gender and how these inform gender-related legal and social challenges in our world. Areas of focus include the role of gender in: politics, sports, media, literature, and culture. Our aim is to share our experiences and course materials with other humanities teachers and discuss and strategize ways to eliminate gender bias in our own schools as well as prepare students for the post-secondary world.

Digestive System, Janna Jann '20, Andrew Du '20, Ishan Nikam '20, Nikhilesh Gupta '20

Human Diseases Graphic Novels

No abstract provided.

Addisons Disease, Kailey A. Light '21, Tori Shepherd '21, Jemea Hilmara '20

Human Diseases Graphic Novels

No abstract provided.

Chlamydia, Lauren Pickett '20, Namit Padgaonkar '20, Vidhi Singh '20, Olivia Orobor '20, Samuel Rabideau '20

Human Diseases Graphic Novels

No abstract provided.

Alzheimer's, Sophia Pribus '20, Shivang Bhaskar '20, Pratibha Bhalla '20, Zahra Vasi '20

Human Diseases Graphic Novels

No abstract provided.