SURF - Natural Sciences Posters

Pollinator Services by Wild Bees on Local Produce Farms

Caitlin E. Digman

Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in SMARCA2 as Related to Frontal Lobe Gray Matter Volume in Individuals with Schizophrenia.

Sarah M. Casey et al.

Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the world population and is associated with delusions, disorganized speech and behavior, hallucinations, and abnormal brain structure and function. The risk of developing schizophrenia is associated with both environmental and genetic risk factors. Schizophrenia is genetically heritable; it has been found that offspring have a 10% chance of inheriting the disease from an affected parent. Because of this genetic heritability, searches for schizophrenia genes have been long underway using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). One GWAS discovered gene is SMARCA2, a member of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SMARCA2 have also been associated with changes in gene expression. Koga, et al. associated SNPs in rs3763627 and rs3793490 with low SMARCA2 expression levels in the postmortem prefrontal cortex. Allelic determination of these two SNPs was performed for a selection of individuals with Schizophrenia and healthy controls using TaqMan genotyping assays. The data set was combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and calculated brain lobe volumes for each individual sample. It was found that the genotype GG in rs3793490 in affected individuals showed decreased frontal lobe gray matter volumes when compared to affected individuals who are T-carriers in the same SNP. However, this result cannot be concluded as statistically significant due to the small sample size of the GG group.

Cloning of TfRGFP in Sindbis

Ashley E. Angell

Formation of Hydroxylated Compounds by Microsomal Metabolism of 2,2’,3,3’,6,6’-Hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-136)

Ananya Pramanik

To investigate the correlation between the amount of hydroxylated PCB metabolites produced and the time of incubation in a series of time course experiments involving rat liver microsomes treated with PCB 136.

Matlab-based Nanoscale Device Characterization

PAUL HAUGEN

Device characterization is an extremely important aspect of any laboratory at any scale. As electronic devices are fabricated, whether it be using new materials, designs, or processes, accurate characterization of these devices is essential. In the interest of consistency, automation of the characterization process is essential. These devices are essential in areas of nanoelectronics, spintronics and energy harvesting technologies.

In this context, the interfacings of laboratory characterization instruments with computers can be a difficult and resource intensive task. In this project, we present a package of automated software solutions to this problem for select laboratory instruments.

Neurofibromatosis II Protein – Merlin – Inhibiting Glial Tumorigenesis

Nicolas A. Aguilar

Merlin (Moesin-Ezrin-Radixin-Like) is a tumor suppressor protein predominantly found in nervous tissue where it links actin filaments to cytoskeleton and helps regulate cell signaling. In the familial cancer syndrome Neurofibromatosis I, mutated Merlin can be found in neoplasms, including vestibular schwannomas.

While Merlin’s influence on cell cycling and suppression of tumorigenesis has been well studied, its physiological function is generally poorly understood. Models have suggested that Merlin correlates with cell cycle entry via interactions with certain transmembrane receptors, like Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (ErbB2). Recent studies also indicate entry into the nucleus and suppression of the oncogenic E3 ligase CRL4DCAF1 transcriptional initiation regulator.

To provide more direct evidence of these interactions, a functional Merlin tagged with CFP (cyan florescent protein) will be transfected into human schwannoma cells. Merlin’s intracellular activities can then be visually monitored using fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy.

Is Sleep Deprivation Related to Obesity Among Law Enforcement Officers?

Laura M. Budde

Optimization of novel sulfenamide polymer based microparticles for drug delivery

Laura A. Northrup

Perceptions of Depression Training Based on Nurses' Education Level

Courtney Lee

Neutrophil activation during bacterial sepsis: a finely regulated process

Emily A. Gross