From Cellphone Surface to Microbial Identity: Characterization of an Unknown Bacterium

This presentation explores the identification of an unknown bacterium isolated from a cellphone, highlighting the presence of microorganisms on everyday surfaces. Through microscopy, biochemical testing, and metabolic analysis, the organism was systematically characterized based on its morphology and physiological properties. Key tests included Gram staining, motility analysis, and multiple biochemical assays to determine metabolic capabilities. The results suggest that the organism is a Gram-positive, non-motile, fermentative bacterium most consistent with a Streptococcus species. This project demonstrates the importance of microbial identification and emphasizes the relevance of microorganisms in human-associated environments

Optimising Time for Schoolwide Improvement: Developing a Time-Use Study Process for MTSS Leadership Teams

School reformers have inundated staff with numerous improvement efforts in recent years. These efforts include multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) that involve early, preventative interventions. Educators, already burdened with heavy workloads, may feel frustrated by the lack of time to implement MTSS approaches. Researchers suggest that time-use studies could help educators better understand and optimize their use of temporal resources. However, no time-study research has specifically addressed school MTSS leadership teams. This research involved developing a time-use study process to support leadership teams in gathering and reflecting on time-use data to improve MTSS implementation. Researchers gathered educators’ recommendations from four participants using focus group methodology for time-use study codes, data collection, and reporting protocols. Participants emphasized the need for a clear purpose, efficient data collection, and staff motivation to ensure meaningful participation. Implementing time-use studies following these recommendations may help MTSS team members to improve their effectiveness, efficiency, and sense of wellbeing

Science and Environmentalism in Indigenous Traditions and Christianity

Conflict with science is a phenomenon seen somewhat frequently within sects of Christianity, while Indigenous religions more commonly weave science into their beliefs, which goes hand in hand with their stewardship of the earth. This research explores why the two traditions relate to the environment differently, using their relationships with nature and science to contextualize their environmentalism. Understanding science denial within different religious contexts can help us understand and mend the gap between dominant US culture and the environment

Elucidating the Function of an Evolutionarily Conserved Embryonic Splice Variant of Type II Collagen During Vertebrate Development

This study investigates the role of exon 2 in the zebrafish col2a1a gene, a paralog of the human COL2A1 gene essential for connective tissue and skeletal development. Exon 2 encodes the von Willebrand Factor Type C (VWF-C) domain, which binds TGF-β ligands involved in embryonic dorsoventral patterning. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we aim to delete exon 2 and prevent expression of the embryonic splice variant (v1), forcing premature use of the post-embryonic variant (v2). We hypothesize that loss of the VWF-C domain will disrupt TGF-β signaling, leading to defects in embryonic development and vertebral formation

The Polysemous Word Flow Task: A novel way of understanding creativity

Creativity is defined as the generation of new ideas to solve problems and likely involves the interplay of three brain networks:, the Default Mode Network (DMN), the Executive Control Network (ECN), and the Salience Network (SN). The recently developed Polysemous Word Flow Task (PolyFT) may serve as a model to assess triple network activity. In this study, we plan to use Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to correlate two components of the PolyFT, clustering and switching, with the triple network model. We predict that the clustering component is tied to DMN function while the switching component is tied to ECN function

Investigating Host Factors in Coronavirus Assembly and Egress

Coronavirus (CoV) structural proteins congregate at the ER-Golgi intermediate compartments (ERGIC) prior to virus budding into the organelle lumen. Subsequent trafficking and fusion of virus-containing, ERGIC-derived vesicles then release nascent viruses from infected cells. Our findings in this dissertation illuminate mechanisms by which CoV structural proteins coalesce at the virus assembly and budding sites. The cytoplasmic tails of all CoV spike (S) glycoproteins contain variants of a consensus KxKxx coatomer-binding motif. Host coatomer complexes facilitate retrograde trafficking of client cargo proteins via recognition of such motifs. Utilizing reverse genetics methodologies, we introduced variations in the S coatomer motif in a prototype mouse hepatitis coronavirus (MHV) model. Viruses with altered coatomer affinities were debilitated and rapidly acquired suppressor mutations. These variations had profound effects on S intracellular localization, and subsequent interaction with other viral structural proteins, yet particles were released from infected cells. Secreted viral particles with altered motifs had reduced specific infectivities, which could be traced to sub-optimal S protein incorporation into virions. Our findings point to precisely evolved affinities between CoV S and host coatomer complexes, such that the requisite levels of S proteins are trafficked to ERGIC, where they integrate with other viral proteins for efficient virion assembly. Findings from this work provide a better understanding of CoV S intracellular trafficking and highlight their previously underappreciated influence on particle assembly

Interference Colors to Thickness: Measuring Thin-Film Dynamics with a Camera and Arduino

In this project, we studied how the thickness of a soap film can be measured using the colors created by thin-film interference. When light shines on a soap film, some light reflects off the front surface and some off the back surface. These light waves combine and create colorful patterns that depend on the film’s thickness. By observing these patterns, we can learn how the thickness of the film changes over time. We used two methods to collect data: a camera to capture the colors of the film and a phototransistor connected to an Arduino to measure the intensity of reflected green light. The data showed that the intensity of light changes in an oscillating pattern, which matches the expected behavior from interference theory. As time passed, the changes in intensity became larger, suggesting that the film was thinning and forming more defined patterns. However, our results were affected by noise, air currents, and limitations in our equipment, which made it difficult to calculate exact thickness values. Even so, our observations agreed with the general theory. In the future, improving the setup—such as using a laser and better controlling the environment—could lead to more accurate measurements

Sliding a convex set under a convex function

An existing form of approximating a non-differentiable function, f, is to slide a convex set, A, along the graph of f and take the lower boundary to form a differentiable function g. Our work reveals that sliding a convex set, A, under the graph of f gives the same approximation function, g, as sliding the set A-A along f. Additionally, sliding a convex set, A, under f is the same as sliding -A under f, or A-A along f. Due to this, if A is smooth from above or below, the approximation function g is essentially differentiable