Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Enhancing The Antibiotic Properties Of Meropenem With Hydrophobic Ion-Pairing, Krishna Paul, Bidhan Barua, Lark Perez

STEM Student Research Symposium Posters

Antibiotic Resistance is one of the most urgent global threat to humankind. Most antibiotics are hydrophilic in nature while proteins and peptides are lipophilic. Enhancing lipophilicity of the antibiotic by HIP can increase solubility of the drugs in human and improve antibacterial effect as well. We hypothesized that formation of a hydrophobic drug complex would change the physical properties of the antibiotic and enhance its antimicrobial activity.

Myoglobin Unfolding And Protein Stability With Tmg, Eustratios R. Kossis, Dimitra N. Kossis, Kristen Rass, Taha Shahbaz, Gregory A. Caputo, Timothy Vaden

STEM Student Research Symposium Posters

Myoglobin, a widely studied protein in biophysics, is a small, helical, and highly soluble protein that has been investigated for decades. Its heme prosthetic group facilitates easy analysis of its folding state through absorbance spectroscopy. Ionic liquids (ILs), particularly room-temperature ionic liquids or molten salts, have gained significant attention in the past 15- 20 years for their potential use in electrochemical devices. Recently, their biocompatibility has become a focal point in research, given that certain IL species can either stabilize or destabilize biomolecular structures. This study employs absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy to examine how amino acid-based ILs, specifically tetramethyl guanidine …

Identifying V. Cholerae's Autoinducer To Manipulate Its Quorum Sensing, Jason X. Tran, Daniel Palacio, Lark Perez

STEM Student Research Symposium Posters

• Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative anaerobic bacteria that inhabits brackish or saltwater areas.

• Causative agent of cholera, which results in acute diarrhea and dehydration.

• Uses quorum sensing, a cell density dependent method of communicating with other bacteria and regulating its entire lifecycle of infection. (gene expression of functions such as biofilm formation, virulence, and more)

• Vibrio cholerae determines bacterial population based on the secretion of several signaling molecules called an autoinducer from others of their kind.

• Upon adequate accumulation, they can deactivate their virulence and begin to leave their host’s body to continue infecting other …

Thermal Destabilization Of Azurin By Fatty Acid Ionic Liquids, Brandon Burrell, Austin K. Clark, Achismita Dutta, Esha Prajapati, Sierra Cottle, Andrew Ogungimi, Justin Burrell, Timothy D. Vaden

STEM Student Research Symposium Posters

Azurin is a mixed-structure redox protein involved in bacterial denitrification. Previous studies have shown that azurin is destabilized by imidazolium chloride ionic liquids (ImCl ILs) that can form micelles in aqueous solution, likely by micellar encapsulation. In these ImCl ILs the micelles form from the imidazolium cations. A relatively new class of ionic liquids is fatty acid ionic liquids (FAILs), in which the anion is a fatty acid. In FAILs micelles can form from the fatty acid anions. This presentation presents the results of a thermal unfolding study of azurin in the presence of FAILs in solution. The FAILs tetramethylguanidinium …

Characterization Of Lysozyme Stability In The Presence Of Lonic Liquids, Madison Scott, Ramzy T.M. Malak, Daniel Obeid, Chun Wu, Timothy Vaden, Gregory A. Caputo

STEM Student Research Symposium Posters

Hen egg white lysozyme (Lyz) has been a well studied model system in biophysical investigations for decades. The protein is a small, primarily helical, highly soluble protein that is both commercially available and easily accessible. lonic liquids (ILs), often referred to as room-temperature ionic liquids or molten salts, have garnered great interest in the last 15-20 years as potential components of electrochemical devices or applications. More recently, the biocompatibility of these molecules has developed an increased interest in the field, especially considering that some IL species can stabilize biomolecular structures while other ILs strongly destabilize 3D structures. In this study, …

Allylic Rearrangement In Nbs Bromination Reactions, Devann J. Harris, Bryanna L. Wichner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The allylic bromination of alkenes using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) is a useful and selective substitution reaction, in which bromine radicals abstract hydrogen from the alkene to form a resonance-stabilized radical intermediate. However, allylic rearrangement can be a consequence of the intermediate's two resonance structures. Some literature sources imply that NBS bromination gives only one major product from asymmetrical alkenes, e.g., 2-hexene and 2-heptene, even when they should form equally stable but non-equivalent resonance contributors. In this research, bromination of trans-2-hexene was performed using cyclohexane as the solvent, and the products were analyzed using GC-MS to determine if only one product, 4-bromo-2-hexene, …

Ruthenium Metal Complex Interaction With Dna Of Tumor Cells, Danielle N. Baca

Research & Creative Achievement Day

In this project, computational chemistry was used to dock variations of (p-Cymene)Ru(curcuminato)chloro (Ru-cur) in DNA strands to find the best affinity for potential anti-cancer drugs. The Ru-cur complex has been chosen as the metal anticancer complex because it is not very toxic, selective for cancer cells, and has ligand exchange kinetics similar to those of platinum. First the geometry of the Ru-cur complex was optimized via a quantum mechanical method. The GAMESS program was used for this portion. Once the geometry of the complex was optimized, docking programs were explored to find the best docking poses and binding energies for …

Investigating Chemotherapeutic Resistance In Glioblastoma Multiforme A, Katrina M. Yaeger

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Glioblastoma (GBM) multiforme A is a highly variable, grade four cancer that affects the glial tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Cancer cells, including GBM, have purine metabolism markers that make them distinguishable for biochemical research, marked through the rate limiting step in the conversion of inosine monophosphate (IMP) to guanosine triphosphate (GTP), catalyzed by inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). Cell cultures for both 3T3 cells, used to study normal cell cycles, and GBM cells were grown and replicated, until sufficient cells existed to extract the desired proteins. These proteins were then run through a gel electrophoresis apparatus, followed by …

Analysis Of Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titers In The Feline Population Of Winona County, Olivia M. Hendrickson, Jensen K. Christensen

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Canine rabies vaccination, vital for both animal and human health, is well studied and understood. In contrast, our understanding of feline rabies vaccinations, particularly with those that have a compromised immune status, is much less comprehensive. The purpose of this project is to enhance our current knowledge of feline vaccination states through a surveillance study on the feline rabies antibody titer in Winona County's cat population. Specifically, we seek to explore the relationship between an individual feline's immune status and their active anti-rabies antibody titer. To achieve this, we conducted a bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein assay to determine the total …

Making Mutations In A Vrk1 Plasmid, Madeline M. Thoemke

Research & Creative Achievement Day

One of the most common types of mutations is point mutations, which change a single amino acid, sometimes by changing a single nucleotide. These mutations can cause the protein to fold incorrectly or change how it interacts with other molecules. This research used biochemistry methods to prepare mutated proteins to simulate their behavior in the body. Mutations in the protein VRK1 were chosen for this project. VRK1 is present in human tissues and influences cellular division and RNA processing.VRK1 mutations P79L, A66G, and R219Ihave been linked to neurological disorders and were chosen for this project. Our procedure used biochemistry techniques …

Late 3d Transition Metal Complexes Of Bis(Diphenylphosphino)Methane Dichalcogenide Ligands, Connor J. Lehner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Complexes of bis(diphenylphosphino)methane dichalcogenides (dppmE2, E = O, S, Se) have been prepared for Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) by combination with respective nitrate salts. These ligands are relatively unexplored for 1st row transition metals – with no existing reports of metal complexes for dppmSe2. All obtained complexes were paramagnetic precluding characterization by NMR spectroscopy. An array of methods have been employed to ascertain the structural and electronic forms of all obtained complexes as both tetrahedral and octahedral geometries, corresponding to systems with two or three ligands, respectively, are plausible. Additionally, Co(II) complexes, as d7 systems, could be found in either …

Synthesis Of Carbazole Functionalized Benzophospholes And Dibenzophospholes, Marcus Tryg Stokes

Campus Research Day

My presentation is about the synthesis of carbazole-functionalized benzophospholes and dibenzophospholes to try to find a new and easier way to synthesize these molecules and create new ones.

Cpm-8 Europa Unveiled: A Multi-Wavelength Analysis, Trinity A. Ward, Michelle Deady

SC Upstate Research Symposium

This study is an analysis of the compositional structure of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, by utilizing multi-wavelength spectroscopy. The objective of this study is to enhance our understanding of Europa’s compositional and potential biological characteristics.

Spectral data was obtained from various space missions and instruments. We are looking at imaging and spectroscopy-focused instruments RALPH, LORRI, LEISA, ALICE, and MVIC which were all part of the New Horizons spacecraft that launched in 2006. The data collected was from the Jupiter fly-by in February-March 2007.

This project sets the tone for the year with the upcoming Europa Clipper mission by NASA, set …

Hgs-3 The Influence Of A Tandem Cycling Program In The Community On Physical And Functional Health, Therapeutic Bonds, And Quality Of Life For Individuals And Care Partners Coping With Parkinson’S Disease, Leila Djerdjour, Jennifer L. Trilk

SC Upstate Research Symposium

Purpose Statement: Several studies have shown that aerobic exercise can have a positive impact on alleviating symptoms experienced by individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite this evidence, the potential benefits of exercise for both PD patients and their care partners (PD dyad) remain unexplored. This research project investigates the effectiveness, therapeutic collaborations, and physical outcomes of a virtual reality (VR) tandem cycling program specifically designed for PD dyads.

Methods: Following approval from the Prisma Health Institutional Review Board, individuals with PD were identified and screened by clinical neurologists. The pre-testing measures for PD dyads (N=9) included emotional and cognitive status …

Extraction Of Sandalwood Essential Oil: Isolating Α/Β-Santalol, Maeren Horton

Dr. Jay W. Boland Undergraduate Research Symposium

Sandalwood oil is a high-value essential oil extracted from the heartwood of East Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album) and Australian Sandalwood (Santalum Spicatum) and is prominent in numerous luxury perfume brands due to its exotic, versatile, and pleasant fragrance. α-Santalol, the main aromatic constituent in S. album and S. spicatum, exhibits anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-cancer properties, accounting for the oil’s medicinal and dermatologic applications. High demand of the oil resulted in excessive harvesting of sandalwood trees, necessitating a need to develop more efficient and sustainable extraction methods. This study investigates the efficiency of traditional extraction methods of sandalwood oil …

Combination Nanomedicines For Cancer Therapy, Noureen Siraj

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Nanomedicines derived from combination ionic nanomaterials (INMs) offer synergistic therapy for effective treatment of cancer. This approach addresses the limitations of conventional treatment options and offers active targeting of tumors due to EPR effect

Study Of Solvent-Free, Microwave-Assisted Ring-Opening Reactions Of Phenyl Glycidyl Ether With Azoles, Marygrace Mcafee, Joshua Pack, Brian Walker

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Literature precedent supports that microwave-assisted organic synthesis can afford fast, high-yield, and efficient synthetic pathways, often comparable to or better than traditional heating methods. Building on this, our work utilizes microwave-assisted synthesis for the epoxide ring opening of phenyl glycidyl ether through nucleophilic addition, aiming to create both pyrazole and imidazole derivatives. These heterocyclic azole compounds have been shown to be important due to their presence in many natural products, as well as their anti-fungal and other pharmacological activities. We are exploring the use of microwave irradiation under neat (solvent-free) conditions, focused on a streamlined approach to minimize time, energy …

Commemorating Women Nobel Prize Laureates In Chemistry, Jordan Smith

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

In this review study we describe contributions of women chemists who earned a Nobel Prize in Chemistry, notably the most prestigious award in the field. Based on our analysis of data, the number of women Nobel laureates in Chemistry is increasing with time. However, women still are the minority group compared to men in a pool of Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry.

In the current study we also compared women’s representation in chemistry to women’s representation in two other science fields of a Nobel Prize award: (i) Physics and (ii) Physiology or Medicine. Based on our analysis, the numbers of …

Women In Stem Conference, Maryann Rettig, Sara E. Hubbard Ph.D

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Analysis of BPA Leaching from Feminine Hygiene Products into Simulated Vaginal Fluid using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry

Maryann Rettig and Sara E. Hubbard, Ph.D.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical compound commonly used to produce several plastics and epoxy resins. Recently, BPA has also been detected in feminine hygiene products. Because of a structural resemblance to estradiol, BPA can act as an endocrine disruptor, which has linked BPA to several health complications such as cancer development, reduced fertility, and early puberty. In recent summer research at Ouachita Baptist University, it was determined that fluorescence spectrophotometry could be used to monitor BPA leaching over …

Computer Aided Design Of Aromatic Foldamer Targeting Protein-Protein Interaction, Bamidele Towolawi

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

With the computational tools developed in our lab for accurate prediction of structures and solution dynamics of aromatic foldamers, we now target protein-protein interaction (PPI) by appending proteinogenic side chains on the external surfaces of the helical aromatic foldamers. Particularly, the activation of a regulatory protein NF-κB, a key player in the inflammatory response and cell proliferation, involves binding of NEMO (NF-κB Essential Modulator) with linear di-ubiquitin. In this study, we designed various sequences based on established protocols and investigated, by utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, their potential binding to di-ubiquitin, specifically targeting the NEMO binding interface. This study complements …

New Ways To Improve Dispersibility Of Nanotubes: Approaching From The Formation Of Silicon Nanoparticles By High Energy Reactive Ball Milling (Herbm) In Polar Solvents, Julie P. Vanegas, Yolanda V. Gutierrez, Joaquin Rivera, Juan García Jr.

Research Symposium

Background: This research aims to synthesize stable silicon nanoparticles using different molar ratios of N-Cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP) and Silicon to demonstrate if there is any significance towards the production of effective nanotubes. To determine this, the synthesized nanoparticles will be characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV visible absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL).

Methods: 50 Mg of silicon wafer are added with differing ratios of ligand (CHP), 5mL of water, and 3 steel iron balls into a ball milling vial. Vials are then placed into a ball milling apparatus for 7 cycles or 3.5 hours. Once the cycles are complete, …

Mechanistic Investigation Of C—C Bond Activation Of Phosphaalkynes With Pt(0) Complexes, Roberto M. Escobar, Abdurrahman C. Ateşin, Christian Müller, William D. Jones, Tülay Ateşin

Research Symposium

Carbon–carbon (C–C) bond activation has gained increased attention as a direct method for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Due to the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inaccessibility of the C–C bonds, however, activation of C–C bonds by homogeneous transition-metal catalysts under mild homogeneous conditions is still a challenge. Most of the systems in which the activation occurs either have aromatization or relief of ring strain as the primary driving force. The activation of unstrained C–C bonds of phosphaalkynes does not have this advantage. This study employs Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate Pt(0)-mediated C–CP bond activation mechanisms in phosphaalkynes. Investigating the …

Assessment Of Mucin 13 (Muc13) As An Imaging Target For Guiding Colorectal Cancer Treatment: A Pathway Towards Theranostic Development, Ryan P. Coll, Aiko Yamaguchi, Jianbo Wang, Xiaoxia Wen, Denise Hernandez, Subhash C. Chauhan, H. Charles Manning

Research Symposium

Background: A theranostic strategy combining diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy in a single regimen is proposed for improved management and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Increased specificity in detection by the noninvasive imaging technique positron emission tomography (PET) can be achieved by radiolabeling antibodies (Abs) designed to target tumor-associated antigens with increased expression post-translational modifications present in cancer cells. In this study, an Ab designed to target the transmembrane glycoprotein mucin 13 (MUC13) was radiolabeled with the positron-emitting radionuclide zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr) for PET imaging of a xenograft mouse model of CRC. Specified uptake of this radioimmunoconjugate was observed …

Predicting The Reactions Of Cs2, Ocs, And Co2 With Group Iv And Group Vi Transition Metal Oxides, Marissa Shea Blair, Zachary Ryan Lee Phd, David A. Dixon Phd

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Building on a recent serious of high level electronic structure studies of Lewis acid gas reactions with metal oxide sorbents, DFT (B3LYP and ωB97X-D) and CCSD(T) methods are being used to predict the Lewis acid-base addition (physisorption) and formation of metal oxide carbonate/thiocarbonate formation (chemisorption) reactions of CS2, OCS, and CO2 of CS2, OCS, and CO2 with Group IV (MO2)n and Group VI (MO3)n (n = 1 - 3) nanoclusters. For the Group IV oxides, chemisorption to form terminal carbonates and thiocarbonates is predicted to be the most favored, with thiocarbonate ligand binding energies slightly more exothermic than their carbonate …

Quantifying The Role Of Water Quality On Nitrogen Cycling In A Trophic Estuary, Kayla Gonzalez-Boy

Symposium of Student Scholars

Jobos Bay Estuary is an intertidal, tropical estuary located in southern Puerto Rico. The estuary covers about 12 km² and has a variety of habitats, such as seagrass beds, mangroves, mud flats, and coral reefs, which play important roles in sediment trapping and water quality maintenance. Seagrasses also serve as nursery and feeding grounds and provide shelter for macrofauna. Currently, the role of seagrasses and water quality on nitrogen (N) cycling in trophic estuaries is not well constrained. Understanding variations in sediment-based effects on N cycling rates and transformations, and how they are associated with water quality, is an …

Biomimetic Modifications On The Bridging Cys Residue Ligand Of An Feni Hydrogenase, Madeline Kesner

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Glow Soap Faucets For Medical Settings - Partnering With A Startup, James Christenson

Day of Scholarship

Hand hygiene is critical in many sectors of society and particularly in medical settings. Abluo is a startup company that designed an automated faucet with a black light and glowing soap. This allows users to visualize soap coverage during lathering and soap removal during rinsing. A study run at Bethel University found that users had 2.7x fewer bacteria on their hands after using an Abluo glow soap faucet system compared to a standard handwash. A glow soap faucet system was also installed at Regions Hospital (St. Paul, MN). The response from medical professionals was overwhelmingly positive, with 95% agreeing with …

Computational Chemistry At Bethel, Rollin King

Day of Scholarship

In the 21st century, computational methods play a significant role in all areas of chemistry, ranging from small-molecule spectroscopy to drug design. Research in computational chemistry is multidisciplinary, involving the application of physics, math, and computer science to address questions and challenges in chemistry. This poster will survey the field, highlight the outstanding work of Bethel students, and present a couple of ongoing projects.

Determining The Ideal Concentrations Of Ethanol And Propylene Glycol In Ethosomes For Transdermal Delivery Of Vitamin D3, Rebecca Conner

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

Vitamin D₃ is an important chemical in the human body, however, many Americans have low levels of this vitamin. There are plenty of oral supplementations for Vitamin D₃ deficiency, but those of older age and busy schedules may struggle to meet the minimum requirement. A recently developed ethosomal transmembrane delivery system (Touitou, 2000), similar to liposomes but also containing ethanol, allows users to apply a gel dermally and have the desired drug or active ingredient reach the bloodstream faster. However, there is considerable variation in the concentration of ethanol and permeation enhancers used. Using an affordable method to …

219 - Developing A Portable System Of Environmental Dna (Edna) Surveillance To Monitor Fish Population Dynamics And Detect Invasive Species In Conesus Lake And The Philippine Seas, Karina Mirza, Micah Ford, Morgan Comstock

GREAT Day Posters

Climate change is an increasing threat to many ecosystems worldwide. Due to global warming, many species are under threat of extinction while others are forced into unusual patterns of migration. In the Philippines, the fish Round Scad is a cheap source of protein in the diet of common citizens. Alarmingly, it is rapidly declining in both population and body size. In this project, we aim to develop a cheap, rapid, and sensitive method of monitoring the population dynamics of this fish in the wild. Recently, a new method called environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has been developed as a cost-effective way …