Life Sciences Commons^™

Cloning And Expression For The Future Characterization Of The Air2 Protein, Emily Sue Frampton

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Air2 is a eukaryotic protein involved in multiple biological processes including protein-protein interactions as well as RNA binding. Air2 plays a critical role in RNA quality control and also helps regulate post-translational modification of various proteins. Although previous studies have revealed information regarding Air2's roles within a cell, the molecular and structural basis for Air2 function is unclear. Using a codon-optimized version of the Air2 gene, various constructs were created that improved the expression and solubility of Air2. Additionally a co-expression complex of Air2 with a PRMTI mutant, K13S, was made to obtain the Air2 protein with a native binding …

Evaluation Of Pro-Inflammatory Biomarkers As Potential Early Indicators Of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (Ards), Makda Solomon Gebre

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Infections with the 2009 pandemic influenza A(HlNl) virus often leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in high-risk patients. In these patients, ARDS has a mortality rate of 40-50 % [1]. Patients may die before any intervention is possible since there are few if any early biomarkers that are indicative of ARDS and can be used for diagnosis. In a search for biomarkers that signal early disease progression in mice, multiple acute phase proteins involved with inflammatory responses to infectious stimuli were proposed. Three biomarkers were evaluated for this project. These included C-reactive protein (CRP), Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and …

An Evaluation Of An Auditory Neurophysiological Model, Alysha Nicole Waters

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Individuals with normal hearing are adept at understanding speech in the presence of noise, such as other speakers or environmental sounds. In contrast, individuals with hearing loss struggle to understand speech in the same adverse conditions. Neural processing in the inferior colliculus (IC) of the brainstem appears to contribute to the ability to separate simultaneous competing sounds. A computational model developed in the Sinex lab reproduces the responses of IC neurons to complex sound mixtures. It seems likely that the model can be applied to improve the processing of speech in noise. The computational model's effectiveness at improving the processing …

Regularity Of Performance On A Computer Tracking Task Is Different Between Concussed And Non-Concussed Individuals, Kedric James Glenn

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Concussion in athletics has raised public interest as more is learned about the damage done to the athlete. Some of the current field methods of assessing concussion do not look at neuro-cognitive recover, which can remain impaired long after the symptoms of concussion have passed. Other direct methods of assessing concussion are extremely expensive and are not easily portable.

We created a new assessment for concussion that is relatively inexpensive and portable using non-linear time series analysis of performance on a visual-motor tracking task. Approximate entropy (ApEn) is a tool that enables us to calculate the structure of variability form …

Mycoplasmas & Mycobacteria: Minimalists At Work, Shalee Killpack

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Mycoplasmas and mycobacteria are two types of opportunistic pathogens whose prevalence and virulence have long been underestimated. As a broad overview, this paper will explore the current understanding of these bacteria as well as some common pathological outcomes they can induce. Chronic infections, such as contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and Johne's disease, can have extensive health and economic impacts on animal industries when improperly managed. Contamination of biopharmaceuticals and human variants of disease, are also matters of concern as more research is conducted in these areas. A more detailed understanding of these bacteria is beginning to emerge-a view which reveals mycoplasmas …