Developing an Unnatural Amino Acid-Specific Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase

Unnatural Amino Acids (UAAs), amino acids not present in the human genetic code, have been synthesized to have a broad range of useful properties, in this case, as metal-binders which could have drug delivery applications. In order for the cell to place a UAA into the protein, two components, a unique aminoacyl tRNA synthetase and a corresponding tRNA must be present. If an amino acid is successfully charged to the tRNA, a stop codon is suppressed and a functional protein is built with the UAA at the mutation site. Such a tRNA molecule has previously been developed, as well as many synthetases specific to UAAs. In this work, the range of UAAs which can be incorporated into proteins using the E. coli’s own machinery is expanded by the development of a novel aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. By making a library of synthetase-coding plasmid variants and performing positive and negative screenings, the binding pocket of the synthetase can be modified for specificity to a UAA while not allowing the tRNA to be charged with a natural amino acid. In this work, we are attempting to evolve new tRNA synthetases for the incorporation of metal-binding amino acids by developing the plasmid library and a screening system to find synthetase variants meeting these criteria

Enhancing General Chemistry Labs to Construct Engaging, Colorful Experiments

General Chemistry I (CHEM 121) sets the foundation for the chemistry education of Valparaiso students; therefore, it is critical that the CHEM 121 lecture and laboratory courses provide rich learning experiences that are meaningful, focused and both academically and visually engaging. In this project, two new or significantly revised laboratory experiments were incorporated into the curriculum during the Spring 2018 semester for the first time: 1) The Limiting Reagent in Action: Determining the Formula of a Precipitate and 2) The Analysis of Microplastic Pollution in Local Soil. The common goal of both labs were to increase student understanding of challenging general chemistry concepts by enhancing student engagement. In the case of Experiment 1, this was accomplished by improving the visual appeal of the reactions employed; in the case of Experiment 2, this was accomplished by directly connecting course material to study real-world pollution problems facing NW Indiana. Results of this experimentation and its impact on student learning in CHEM 121 are described

DEVELOPING A SOUTH CAROLINA TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN ALONG THE I-26 CORRIDOR BETWEEN COLUMBIA AND CHARLESTON

Traffic Incident Management (TIM) programs are used in many states across the nation to efficiently clear interstate incidents and alleviate congestion in response to incidents. The overarching goal of this research is to maintain safety of the motoring public and incident responders while reducing congestion, secondary collisions, and traffic delays from incidents that occur on South Carolina highways. To reduce incident clearance times along the I-26 corridor between Columbia and Charleston through the implementation of a Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Program, several objectives for this thesis were established to move toward the goal, including; defining gaps between national TIM best-practices and SC TIM practices recommending programmatic changes to address gaps based on best-practices literature, developing training materials to address programmatic changes as needed, and assessing existing performance measurement metrics and suggest improvements to better evaluate changes in program effectiveness. The nationally recommended best practices were compared to the current South Carolina practices. Gaps were observed and SCDOT expressed interest in developing towing, coroner, HAZMAT, and crash investigation procedures. Successful programs involving these groups of responders were evaluated, including implementation costs and challenges. Several successful national programs, as well as those in Florida, Georgia, and numerous other states were included in this step. This specifically included incentive based towing programs, fatality removal programs, HAZMAT training procedures, and crash investigation technologies. It is recommended that these programs be considered and investigated further when implementing a SC TIM plan. It was however noted that while basic HAZMAT training is necessary, a large or full-scale program may not be cost effective. After analyzing the data, areas where data collection could be improved were determined. It is recommended that responders more consistently collect on-scene arrival time for all agencies. Additionally, due to the high number of incidents that seem to be timing out and recording recovery times that are too long, it is recommended that improvements to the data collection process be made

You Don\u27t Own Me: Recommendations to Protect Human Contributors of Biological Material after \u3cem\u3eWashington University v. Catalona\u3c/em\u3e

As research using human biological materials has rapidly developed, so too has the debate over the ownership of these highly valuable materials. Most recently, the Eighth Circuit in Washington University v. Catalona held that research participants do not retain any ownership interest in the biological materials they contribute to research. This note argues that the misguided Catalona decision, in combination with unclear, outdated, and inadequate federal research regulations, has left human contributors of biological material largely unprotected and vulnerable to the goals of researchers, institutions, and biotechnology firms. Accordingly, this note proposes critical amendments to the federal research regulations that will ensure the continued advancement of biomedical research by protecting the human sources who make this research possible

Ending Terrorism with Civil Remedies: \u3cem\u3eBoim v. Holy Land Foundation\u3c/em\u3e and the Proper Framework of Liability

Counterterrorism experts agree that, because money is the lifeblood of terrorists, one of the most effective means of combating terrorism is eradicating vital sources of funding. Recognizing this, Congress passed legislation throughout the 1990s that holds individuals criminally liable for providing financial or other material support to terrorists or terrorist organizations. Additionally, Congress created a civil remedy for victims who are injured or killed by reason of an act of international terrorism. In the first case to utilize the 18 U.S.C. § 2333 civil cause of action, the parents of David Boim, a Jewish-American teenager killed in Israel by alleged Hamas terrorists, filed suit in 2000 against several individuals and nonprofit organizations that allegedly funneled money to Hamas through charitable fronts for Hamas. The Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has addressed Boim v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development on three occasions: on an interlocutory appeal in Boim I, on appeal from a $156 million jury verdict in Boim II, and, most recently, on rehearing en banc in Boim III, in which the Seventh Circuit held that defendants who donate or provide other material support to terrorist or terrorist-linked organizations are liable under § 2333 as long as they knew that the donee organization engages in terrorism. This Note discusses the Boim III majority opinion written by Judge Posner, as well as a dissenting opinion written by Judge Rovner. By analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of both judges\u27 frameworks, this Note concludes that neither framework provides the ideal basis for liability. Accordingly, this Note proposes an alternative structure for § 2333 liability that can guide other courts in applying this vitally important statute to complicated situations like that in Boim

Developing an Unnatural Amino Acid-Specific Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase

Unnatural Amino Acids (UAAs), amino acids not present in the human genetic code, have been synthesized to have a broad range of useful properties, in this case, as metal-binders which could have drug delivery applications. In order for the cell to place a UAA into the protein, two components, a unique aminoacyl tRNA synthetase and a corresponding tRNA must be present. If an amino acid is successfully charged to the tRNA, a stop codon is suppressed and a functional protein is built with the UAA at the mutation site. Such a tRNA molecule has previously been developed, as well as many synthetases specific to UAAs. In this work, the range of UAAs which can be incorporated into proteins using the E. coli’s own machinery is expanded by the development of a novel aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. By making a library of synthetase-coding plasmid variants and performing positive and negative screenings, the binding pocket of the synthetase can be modified for specificity to a UAA while not allowing the tRNA to be charged with a natural amino acid. In this work, we are attempting to evolve new tRNA synthetases for the incorporation of metal-binding amino acids by developing the plasmid library and a screening system to find synthetase variants meeting these criteria