Identifying Proteins that Interact with the Novel Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins PDR19 and PDR20 and Bioinformatic Characterization of Genes Involved in TTG Cellular Responses

One of the most critical structures in cellular biology is the plasma membrane, due to its ability to respond to environmental stresses. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a model, single-celled eukaryote that has been used to investigate many aspects of cell biology. A recent genetic screen in yeast for plasma membrane homeostatic proteins identified three related proteins of unknown molecular function that participate in these processes. These proteins, termed PDR19, PDR20, and PDR21 for Pleiotropic Drug Resistance, are each approximately one hundred amino acids in size and share a small conserved domain, namely the core sequence KITRYDL. In the case of PDR21, the core sequence is VITRHDL. The coding sequences for this set of proteins are found in the ORFs YGR035c, YLR346c and YPR145w-a, respectively. A triple mutation of these genes led to an observed decrease in membrane homeostasis, when cells were treated with the membrane- disrupting compound digitonin, natural products that disturb membranes and in the presence of the clinical antifungal drug amphotericin B. The observed phenotype suggests this set of novel proteins functionally regulate membranes in response to membrane-altering conditions, as an observed fifty-fold increase in membrane sensitivity of the triple mutant was observed. In order to help determine the molecular function(s) of the PDR proteins, a GAL4 two-hybrid system is being used to screen for proteins that may associate with the PDR 19/20/21 family proteins and help mediate their cellular functions. That this system can be used has been confirmed through negative autoactivation tests involving a Gal4DBD-PDR fusion construct and done in a modified Y187/Y190 mating strain carrying the pACT II activation domain plasmid containing the ADGal4. Plasmid sequencing of the Gal4DBD-PDR fusion proteins is in process to help confirm proper cloning of the bait proteins in addition to library screening. In addition to this work, bioinformatic characterization of genes involved in TTG cellular responses was conducted. In a previous screen in the Erdman lab, 4,851 deletion strains were screened, of which 991 strains demonstrated a degree of sensitivity or resistance to TTGs. In an attempt to further understand and classify these results, a bioinformatics tool was used to reveal underlying modes of genetic control governing the range of observed phenotypic sensitivities

Rednecks and Hillbillies: A Thematic Analysis of the Construction of Pride and High Self-Esteem Exhibited by Southern Characters

The purpose of this study is to examine television shows portraying redneck and hillbilly culture from 2010 to 2017 to examine the limitations of focusing on traditional stereotypes about southern culture when understanding the complexities of redneck and hillbilly society. According to a literature review, redneck and hillbilly characters have historically been associated with poverty, have been used as comedic symbols to portray southerners in the lower classes as jokes, and the terms have been used as insults. A thematic analysis was conducted analyzing redneck/hillbilly themed television shows from the years 2010 through 2017 to examine them for the presence of traditional stereotypes and to discuss changes in television shows over time to include nontraditional, positive stereotypes that now make-up docudrama and reality television show portrayals of rednecks and hillbillies

Applied Industrial Augmented Reality

The goal of our project was to create an application that demonstrates the usefulness of augmented reality within an industrial context. In order to align our project goals with those of our sponsor, Newport News Shipbuilding, we created an augmented reality application to supplement a chainsaw’s instruction manual. Using an instruction manual for a Stihl MS361 chainsaw, we adapted the material into a digital context. In the application, we included step-by-step instructions for starting the chainsaw and changing the chain. In addition, we included an augmented part identification mode, where the user can identify parts of the chainsaw by touching them on the screen. Through the use of a mobile device’s camera and fiducial markers, the user is able to see the functionality of the instruction manual superimposed directly over the chainsaw. We created the application using Unity, a cross-platform game engine. We used a set of Unity plugins from Vuforia, an Augmented Reality Software Development Kit (SDK) for mobile devices. Vuforia provided us the tools for image target identification and tracking, allowing us to easily show augmented content on a digital device. Our application aims to maximize safe and proper chainsaw use, demonstrates the potential of augmented reality for future industrial applications and exemplifies a paperless and eco-friendly guide.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/capstone/1180/thumbnail.jp

NGOs as Bridging Organizations In The Planning, Adoption, and Management of The Raja Ampat MPA Network

The coral reef ecosystems in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, are among the most diverse habitats on earth and provide essential ecological and social services. Communities in Raja Ampat managed and conserved their ecological resources through traditional practices that eroded over time. These practices were revitalized, however, through government decentralization and the restoration of tenure rights in 2001, allowing international conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to work with local communities to develop community-based MPAs. I employed a case study approach to assess specific bridging strategies utilized by NGOs in the planning, adoption, and management of the Raja Ampat MPA Network. Results suggest NGOs used multiple bridging strategies including co-production of knowledge, facilitation of community engagement, and capacity building. Recent research suggests the Network is socially and ecologically effective, potentially attributed to the NGOs&rsquo; bottom-up approach. This research identifies the bridging tools NGOs can utilize to facilitate positive social-ecological outcomes.</p

A longitudinal study of self-assessment accuracy

Although studies have examined medical students' ability to self-assess their performance, there are few longitudinal studies that document the stability of self-assessment accuracy over time. This study compares actual and estimated examination performance for three classes during their first 3 years of medical school. Methods  Students assessed their performance on classroom examinations and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) stations. Each self-assessment was then contrasted with their actual performance using idiographic (within-subject) methods to define three measures of self-assessment accuracy: bias (arithmetic differences of actual and estimated scores), deviation (absolute differences of actual and estimated scores), and covariation (correlation of actual and estimated scores). These measures were computed for four intervals over the course of 3 years. Multivariate analyses of variance and correlational analyses were used to evaluate the stability of these measures. Results  Self-assessment accuracy measures were relatively stable over the first 2 years of medical school with a decease occurring in the third year. However, the correlational analyses indicated that the stability of self-assessment accuracy was comparable to the stability of actual performance over this same period. Conclusion  The apparent decline in accuracy in the third year may reflect the transition from familiar classroom-based examinations to the substantially different clinical examination tasks of the third year OSCE. However, the stability of self-assessment accuracy compares favorably with the stability of actual performance over this period. These results suggest that self-assessment accuracy is a relatively stable individual characteristic that may be influenced by task familiarity.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75505/1/j.1365-2923.2003.01567.x.pd

At the boundary between speech and writing: fostering productive interdisciplinary collaboration on multimodal communication courses

First-year composition courses have long been a focus of considerable research and pedagogical development in English studies. In recent years, we have seen a movement to transform the traditional first-year composition course from one that focuses exclusively on writing to one that is multimodal, integrating elements of oral and visual communication to better prepare students for communication practices in the twenty-first century. The successful development of these multimodal communication courses requires collaboration between faculty in various disciplines such as speech and design. However, little research has been conducted on the ways in which interdisciplinary collaboration on multimodal communication courses could be made more productive. Particularly in the case of English and speech departments, a long history of separation has made it difficult for faculty and scholars in these disciplines to work together. This dissertation presents a study conducted on the interdisciplinary collaborative experiences of speech and English faculty at a small Midwestern liberal arts university who came together to develop a multimodal communication course. Through one-on-one interviews with faculty who participated in creating this course, I was able to determine some of the discontinuities that arose between members of the two disciplines. I apply Sanne F. Akkerman and Arthur Bakker\u27s model of boundary crossing learning mechanisms to illustrate the ways in which the collaboration between speech and English faculty could have been more productive. Ultimately, this study calls for a reuniting of speech and composition in the service of creating more effective multimodal communication classes that integrate the pedagogical traditions of each discipline

Improving medical students’ competence at breast examination

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135217/1/ijgo173.pd