Phi Kappa Phi Student Research and Fine Arts Conference
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/624598
The annual Phi Kappa Phi Student Research and Fine Arts Conference is an opportunity for all students at Augusta University, regardless of disciplines, to showcase their scholarly and artistic endeavors. Participating students were competitively selected from abstracts of their proposed conference projects. The proposed project may have been presented elsewhere or be expected to be presented elsewhere, and it must endorsed by a full-time Augusta University faculty member. The conference is open to all undergraduate students. Students and faculty sponsors are not required to be members of Phi Kappa Phi. All presentations are assessed by faculty judges, with awards given to the top presenters in each session.
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Item Metadata only A Study of Human Skin Color, a Natural Sunscreen: Physiology, Molecular Evolution, Public Health and Student Learning(1/30/2020) Ayala, Juan; Mukhopadhyay, Soma; Augusta University; Biological Sciences; Mukhopadhayay, SomaHuman skin coloration is a combination of pigmentation, ultraviolet (UV) exposure, gene expression and natural selection. Skin tone is also associated with several physiological processes, such as vitamin D synthesization, calcium homeostasis, maintaining proper blood folate concentration, and the production of serotonin. In recent years, the study of molecular evolution has become very significant not only to understand the human body but also becoming an integral part for understanding public health and other fields of medical science. Our goal of this project was to create an interactive course module for Anatomy and Physiology students to show how skin physiology was driven by evolutionary pressures. Also, the module was intended to show how exposure to some UV radiation is important for certain biological processes and to offer protection against cancer and on the other hand how overexposure might cause damage and lead to cancer. Students were introduced to molecular evolution of skin color and the production of different pigments, eumelanin and pheomelanin to shield DNA from harmful UV light. Additionally, UVAB and UVC irradiance were measured and compared to the UV index which indicates the strength of UV radiation for the day to make people aware of the environmental factors arouItem Metadata only ADIPOSE HDAC9 DELETION PROTECT AGAINST DIET INDUCED OBESITY IN MICE THROUGH REGULATING ENERGY EXPENDITURE(2/13/2019) Hassan, Nazeera; Zarzour, Abdalrahman; Augusta University; Department of Biological Sciences; Department of Medicine; College of Allied Health Sciences; Kim, Ha Won; Weintraub, NealItem Metadata only APOROSA OCTANDRA: STUDY THE PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ITS BARK EXTRACT AGAINST D-GALACTOSE INDUCED COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN MICE AND ITS PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION(2/13/2019) Schinder, Sonya; Augusta University; Department of Chemistry and Physics; Panda, SilvaAging is a multifarious natural process, linked with several biochemical and morphological variations in the biological system. Aging not only challenges the increased vulnerability as well as homeostasis network to the cognition and locomotion but also to physical, mental or social activities. Medicinal plants have been used since ancient time to cure and prevent various diseases. Several natural compounds such as isoflavones, anthocyanins, and catechins isolated from plant sources act as a potent antioxidant against ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species).�Antioxidants, especially natural antioxidants are recommended for the prevention of aging. In this study, we utilized an unexplored traditional medicinal plant�Aporosa octandra�(Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) that�belongs to the family�Euphorbiaceae,�sub-family Phyllanthaceae that is shrub to tree, up to 15 m high and comprises of 50 species, which are distributed throughout Asian regions. This plant is enlisted as a medicinal plant and is used for centuries in the Ayurvedic system. We investigated phytochemical contents of the plant and evaluated the biological activity.Item Metadata only Are NFL teams getting the most out of their wins? The Efficiency of Year End Revenues of Ten NFL Teams(2/12/2018) Gonzales, Savanna; Thompson, Mark; Augusta University; Hull College of Business; Thompson, Mark; Hull College of Business; Hoffman, Todd; Department of English and Foreign Languages; Hunt, David; Pamplin CollegeMajor sports have taken over many prominent industries in today's world. With the economic impact of athletics comes its evolution from a spectator event into a business. Each team in the major leagues is now not only pressured to produce winsbut as a business, they must also bring in revenue. This means that efficiencyof funds is a vital goal of team managers and financial specialists. Thisresearch projectexaminesthe effects of various factors on year-end revenues for the top ten most valuable teams in the National Football League. Through the use of a DEA model that analyzes such inputs as income, team record and stand out players we areable to determine how efficiently each team is performing based on their revenues, or the output. Of the 10 teams studied, 5 were deemed efficient while 5 were deemed inefficient.Teams that didnot see successful revenue reports were analyzed based on their weaknesses and offered recommendations on which to improve where efficient teams were used a comparison. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to identify factors to improve revenue efficiency across the league as a whole by looking at the top performing teams (or best practices).Item Metadata only Assessing Local Parks for their Infrastructure Issues, and Use.(1/29/2020) Shabu, Elizabath; Peritore, Nicole; Augusta University; Kinesiology and Health Science; Peritore, NicoleThis research project assessed public park physical activity infrastructure use in Richmond and Columbia County. Prior research has shown that children not only enjoy outdoor time but also consider parks as a place for socializing. Further, research has shown that playground time positively impacts children imagination. The playground also aids in the physical fitness of children by offering interactive experiences that can add into the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Park assessments were conducted utilizing the Physical Activity Resource Assessment (PARA) Tool and found that overall parks in both counties were well taken care of. Additionally, there was a wide variety of amenities available to utilize. There were some areas of concern in the parks however, which included cigarette buds, alcohol containers, trash and cracked sidewalks. In both counties, parks were observed to see how much children utilized the playground equipment. Observations concluded that the majority of the children utilized the different variety of equipment, with the swings and slides being the most commonly employed. In conclusion, this presentation will describe the diversity of amenities, challenges in maintenance, and the overall use of public parks in Richmond and Columbia Counties.Item Open Access Assessing Medical Students Knowledge in Diagnosis and Initial Treatment of Depression(2017-03) Youssef, Nagy A.; Thomas, Andria; Ange, Brittany; Yassa, Mark; Boswell, Elizabeth; Wallach, Paul M.; Augusta University; Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior; Department of Psychological Sciences; Department of Chemistry and PhysicsDepression is one of the leading causes of premature death, and one of the highest burdens of overall disability. Depression rates are around 13% in primary care settings. Depressive episodes are still underdiagnosed and undertreated. Factors that contribute to this include lack of detailed knowledge, lack of confidence in treatments among others. Thus, addressing these gaps would improve patients care. Moreover, bipolar depression can be difficult to distinguish from unipolar; and requires a different treatment. Improving education of students in these areas would improve care for patients. Aims are as follows: 1) assess students’ level of confidence and knowledge in diagnosing and treating depression, and any barriers to gaps in knowledge, 2) assess students’ knowledge in differential diagnosis of depression and any barriers to gaps in knowledge. We are assessing these by an online survey on website used by Medical College of Georgia for student questionnaires, sent to all third-year medical students after internal medicine rotation. The survey is sent through academic affairs office. This will provide valuable knowledge in improving our education and curriculum for the new generation of physicians.Item Metadata only ASSESSING STUDENTS' SPATIAL ABILITIES IN NEUROANATOMY EDUCATION(1/31/2020) Kumar, Aria (Arundhati); Appel, Joanna; Wyatt, Tasha; Augusta University; College of Science and Mathematics; Department of Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine; Appel, JoannaNeuroanatomy requires students to acquire, assimilate, and apply knowledge of complex neuroanatomical structures. Three-dimensional (3D) physical models and computer-aided digital models are effective in promoting the development of neuroanatomical spatial representations. However, what remains unclear is exactly which tools benefit students the most. This study investigates whether there is a relationship between individuals' spatial abilities and their neuro-spatial knowledge, and to determine whether learning neuroanatomy is enhanced using one of three instructional tools. The spatial aptitude of undergraduate medical students enrolled in neuroanatomy was measured by tests previously validated as predictors of visual-spatial abilities, and a spatial aptitude profile was generated for each student. Students were given a pretest designed to assess critical spatial skills within the context of applied-neuroanatomy. Following the pretest, students attended a learning session where they interacted with one of three learning tools: a) 3D printed neuroanatomical models, b) 3D virtual neuroanatomical models, or c) hands-on deep-brain dissection. Effectiveness of each tool on student learning was evaluated by posttest. Preliminarily, all three instructional tools proved effective when assessing percentage change in pretest:posttest scores. Data is under analysis to determine if there exists an interplay between individual students' spatial abilities and the effectiveness of each learning tool.Item Metadata only ATAD3A: a critical driver for head and neck cancer(1/15/2020) Caleb Jensen; Yong Teng; Liwei Lang; Augusta University; Biological Sciences; Yong TengFor patients with head and neck cancer whose tumors are HPV negative HPV(-), current therapy does not lead to significant longevity and most succumb to loco-regional recurrence of the primary tumor. We discovered that HPV(-) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) highly expressed ATPase family AAA-domain containing protein 3A (ATAD3A). ATAD3A is the mitochondrial protein, which has been demonstrated as an oncogene in breast and lung cancer. However, nothing has been reported regarding its role in HNSCC. Using the HPV(-) HNSCC cell line HN12 as a cell model, we show here that knockout of ATAD3A expression by CRISPR-CAS9 in HNSCC cells, leading to reduced cell proliferation and decreased the ability of colony formation and anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. Importantly, ATAD3A loss also significantly suppressed HNSCC cells to grow in 3D culture. Together, these findings suggest the potential oncogenic role of ATAD3A in HNSCC cells, and implicate that ATAD3A represents a promising target for better treatment of patients with HPV(-) HNSCC.Item Metadata only ATYPICAL MAGNESIUM REQUIREMENTS IN A PHYLLITE POPULATION OF RARE PLANT SPECIES, PEDIOMELUM PIEDMONTATUM(1/31/2020) Zimmerman, Matthew; Bennetts, Stacy; Augusta University; Biological Sciences; Bennetts, StacyPediomelum piedmontanum, Dixie Mt. Breadroot, is a rare legume species that was discovered in 2006. Currently, there are only three known populations, which are growing in either serpentine or phyllite soil. Both soil types contain extremely high concentrations of Mg as well as some other heavy metals. Previous experiments have revealed that propagation of P. piedmontanum is unsuccessful in potting soil, with high levels of mortality approximately two months after germination. Since Mg is unusually high in both soil types, it was hypothesized that survivability and growth of seedlings would be greater with Mg enriched soil than in potting soil. In order to test this hypothesis, seedlings from a phyllite population (7 plants/pot with 3 replicate pots/Mg group and 2 pots/control) were transplanted into one of the following potting soil enrichments: 50μM MgSO4, 100μM MgSO4 or controls with no Mg enrichment. During 12 weeks, seedlings in 100μM Mg displayed the greatest survivability and shoot growth, with the lowest survivability in control pots. Atypical Mg requirements have been noted in the literature for some plants adapted to serpentine soil, but this is a unique discovery for a population adapted to phyllite.Item Metadata only Avatars of Vishnu in Hindu Culture(2/12/2018) Thompson, Celeste; Srivatsa, Abhiram; Augusta University; College of Science and Mathematics; Heckman, Christina; Department of English and Foreign Languages; Rust, Brian; Department of ArtAccording to the Hindu religion, Vishnu, the God of Preservation, incarnates on earth in times of trouble. Whenever there is a threatening evil, Vishnu comes down to Earth in various forms, or avatars, to defend righteousness by eliminating the evil. Thereare a total of ten major avatars of Vishnu that Hindu tradition focuses on. These avatars are collectively known as the dashavatar, which literally translates to "ten avatars" in the ancient language of Sanskrit. This presentation focuses on three specific incarnations of Vishnu: Matsya, Kurma, and Narasimha. Matsya is a fish-form avatar who saves humanity from devastating floods. Kurma is a giant turtle incarnation who steadies a mountain on his shell. Narasimha is a half-lion half-man avatar who defeats an evil tyrant. This presentation will introduce and then show a video that was made as a Humanities project, which highlights the stories of Matsya, Kurma, and Narasimha. Utilizing Final Cut Pro and incorporating high quality images, the video explains the significance of Vishnu and of these three incarnations in the Hindu religion.Item Metadata only BENCHMARKING OF SRNL ENVIRONMENTAL DOSIMETRY CODES TO GENII VERSION 2.10.1(2/12/2018) Bell, Evaleigh; Jannik, Tim; Augusta University; Savannah River National Laboratory; Department of Chemistry and Physics; Newton, Joseph; Department of Chemistry and PhysicsGENII2.10.1 is a dosimetry program developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) that recently passed DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) safety software quality assurance and was approved for DOE's safety software Central Registry. The GENII 2.10.1 system compiles several programs for estimating radiation dose, risk and cancer incident due to routine radionuclide releases into the environment. Methods for calculating dose include aqueous, atmospheric, individual, populations, chronic releases, and acute releases. The available methods include atmospheric transport, surface water transport, waste/soil redistribution, and terrestrial uptake. Current Site input parameters had to be verified, and unknown Site parameters had to be defined and tested for GENII 2.10.1 calculations. This project transferred current SRS models, usage parameters, transfer factors, bioaccumulation factors and uploaded them to the GENII 2.10.1 environmental dosimetry code for use at the Savannah River Site and was tested to demonstrate SRS is in compliance with DOE Order 458.1 (2011a).Item Metadata only Blurred Lines within the Music Industry: A Different Perspective of Copyright Law and Sampling in the Digital Age(2/13/2019) Wingate, Montrel; Augusta University; Department of History, Anthropology & Philosophy; Turner, Wendy; VanTuyll, Debra; VanTuyll, HubertThis thesis focuses on the relationship of music and law. Throughout, the debated question is: should the laws of copyright be redefined? The case Williams v. Bridgeport Music, Inc., which focuses on the songs "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke and "Got to Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye is the trial central to this thesis. Following a brief history of sampling, Williams v. Bridgeport Music, Inc. is reexamined, challenging the substantiality of the evidence presented. The court proved that the songs have similarities on the surface, yet there is a notable structural difference among the songs. A proposed solution is given, advocating a revision of copyright laws and a substantive similarity test with emphasis on the expert listener rather than the lay listener.Item Metadata only Can fast fashion be sustainable and still be profitable?(1/31/2020) Miralles, Eva Miro; Medcalfe, Simon; Augusta University; Hull College of Business; Medcalfe, SimonFast fashion is the approach to designing, creating, and marketing clothing that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and available to consumers. It is destroying the world we live in, creating a big opportunity cost for society, because it is the second largest polluter after the oil industry. Can the giants of fast fashion keep earning the amount of money they earn if they start complying with the best environmental regulations and sustainable practices? Economic theory suggests that if consumers demand higher ethical practices from fashion companies then profits will rise. However, if these practices increase costs then profits will fall. The 2019 Ethical Fashion Report published by Baptist World Aid Australia gives grades to 130 fashion companies according to five different ethical management practices. This data is used to determine how fashion companies� profits vary with different metrics of ethic and sustainable practices and which have the biggest impact on profit.Item Metadata only Case Competition(11/20/2019) TBD; Augusta University; TBA; TBAThe third Augusta University Case Competition, sponsored by the Hull College of Business, is a competition for student pairs to analyze a given business situation and advise the business's key decision-makers of the merits of their recommended course of action through a written memo. Topics include business processes, internal controls, and ethics. The top five student teams will proceed to a poster display and an in-person presentation to a panel of judges made up of local professionals in the accounting and finance fields. The top team will be named March 6, 2020, and (as discussed with Dr. Patel) the information will be provided for inclusion in the PKP Conference booklet and schedule.Item Metadata only CBD analysis in Oils and Foods(1/13/2020) Foley, Joanna; Augusta University; Chemistry and Physics; Myers, StephanieCannabidiol (CBD) has become a very prominent topic in the medical community and popular marketplace because of its widespread consumer use. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other similar molecules can be present in commercial CBD products, so testing is necessary to determine purity of the CBD. Existing methods of analysis for CBD oils are only known on GC-FID (gas chromatography - flame ionization detector) and these methods are not optimal for the wide variety of commercial CBD products available. Thus, I have optimized using a GC-MS method, based on a published GC-FID method, that can be applied to a wide variety of foods, gummies, and other items that may contain CBD and similar molecules. I have optimized the method by varying column temperature, ramp rates, and parameters within the mass spectrometer, to find a balance between run times, analyte detection, and resolution for the CBC/CBD/CBN, etc. cannabinoid molecules present in commercial CBD oil samples. I then used the optimized method on a variety of commercial and self-prepared CBD edibles to assess the recovery and degradation of CBD and other similar molecules.Item Metadata only Characterization of a Cyclic Peptide AD05 as a Novel Inhibitor of the Hsp90 Chaperoning Machine(1/31/2020) Fang, Wayne; Lu, Sumin; Jilani, Yasmeen; Debbab, Abdssamad; Chadli, Ahmed; Augusta University; Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf; Biological Sciences; Debbab, Abdssamad; Chadli, AhmedProtection of oncogenic proteins is the foundation of many hallmarks of cancer. Based on this, hsp90 inhibitors have emerged as a potentially potent strategy for cancer treatment. The clinical efficacy of the earlier Hsp90 inhibitors remains unsatisfactory, in part due to their induction of heat shock response and anti-apoptotic mechanisms in cancer cells. To identify alternative therapeutic agents without these effects, we have developed a cell-free high-throughput screen (HTS) platform based on the folding of progesterone receptor (PR) by the core components of the Hsp90 chaperoning machine. During our initial screening of 175 natural products from North African medicinal plants, we discovered the cyclic peptide AD05 as a novel Hsp90 inhibitor. AD05 has shown a powerful antitumor activity against various cancer cell lines including HeLa, Hs578T, MDA-MB231, MDA-MB453, E0771, THP1, and U937. Western blot analysis revealed that AD05 destabilizes Hsp90 client proteins without inducing heat shock response as indicated by lack of upregulation of Hsp70, Hsp40 and Hsp27. Remarkably, AD05 does not induce apoptosis but rather triggers autophagy in various cell lines.Item Metadata only CHARACTERIZATION OF NF-¿B DEFICIENT BONE-MARROW MACROPHAGES(2/12/2018) Pepper, Anthony; Fischer, Jeffrey; Augusta University; Department of Biological Sciences; Bradford, Jennifer; Department of Biological SciencesThe aim of this study was tocharacterize bone-marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) that lack canonical nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-?B) signaling. The macrophages for the study were obtained by harvesting the bone-marrow fromp65LysMCre (KO) mice and LysMCrecontrolmice.To determine NF-?B deletion efficiency, p65 (a transcription factor in the canonical pathway) protein levels were evaluated by fluorescent microscopyin bothKOand control BMDMs that had been stimulated withlipopolysaccharide(LPS).The induction ofiNOSwasmonitoredin KO and control BMDMswhenactivated by NF-?B stimulatorsIFN-?andLPS.The regulation of iNOSwas assessedby comparing macrophages that had been treated withLPS, IFN-?, or both to a control treatment under fluorescent microscopy. In addition to staining, a nitric oxide assay was employed to help determine the extent of iNOS activity.The macrophages were also visualized under light microcopyby comparing macrophagesthat were stimulated with LPS andIFN-?tounstimulated cellsusing fluorescence microscopy.Currently,a caspase assay is in progress to help further evaluate the effects of p65 losswithin macrophages.Item Metadata only Characterization of Proton Sensitive G protein-Coupled Receptors(1/31/2020) Nam, Alisha; Okasha, Najeah; Spencer, Angela; Lambert, Nevin; Augusta University; Biological Sciences; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Chemistry and Physics; Spencer, AngelaG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound receptors that can stimulate an intracellular signaling pathway following activation by a ligand. According to the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) database, GPR4, GPR65, and GPR132 are Class A orphan GPCRs with protons reported as their putative endogenous ligand; however, these receptors are currently understudied. After confirming whether these receptors are pH-sensitive, the purpose of our study was to investigate the interactions between GPR4, GPR65 and GPR132 and G protein subtypes (G?s, G?i, G?q, and G?12) upon stimulation with an acidic solution. Using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), we studied the coupling between luciferase-tagged GPR receptors and fluorescent protein (Venus)-tagged G proteins in response to pH changes. Data indicated that all three receptors responded to pH changes. Upon extracellular response to pH changes, the receptors activate different G protein subtypes and thus, different signaling pathways: GPR4 activates G?i, G?q, and G?12; GPR65 activates all four subtypes; and GPR132 activates G?i�and weakly activates G?q, and G?12. Identifying these receptors as true proton sensors leads the way in understanding the role they play in maintaining acid-base homeostasis and will be critical for the development of novel drugs combatting acid-base related disorders.Item Metadata only Characterization of Serotonin Receptors in Response to Ligand Binding Using BRET(2/12/2018) Trang, Amy; Adams, Elizabeth; Acevedo, Aja; Miller, Donnyell; Farooq, Maheen; Little, Lauren; Lambert, Nevin; Augusta University; Department of Biological Sciences; Department of Chemistry and Physics; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Spencer, Angie; Department of Chemistry and PhysicsG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are receptors that act in signal transduction pathways via activation of guanosine nucleotide-binding proteins, known as G proteins. An extra-cellular signal (a ligand) activates a receptor from outside the cell and working through a G protein, the external signal is transmitted inside the cell. There are four main classes of G proteins: Gs, Gi, Gqand G12. When activated, eachof these G protein types is responsible for a specific intracellular event, often determined by measuring how the concentration of a second messenger changes as a function of the concentration of the external signal. This indirect approach limits our understanding of the role of each type of G protein in signaling pathways. Our group is currently using Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) to directly measure G protein activation by GPCRs in response to external stimuli (includingboth endogenous and synthetic ligands). We have generated recombinant DNA for nanoluciferase fused to GPCRs in the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptor family. These genetic fusions, along with fusions of yellow fluorescent protein and various G proteins were co-transfected into HEK293 cells for BRET assays. Initial results show that activation of receptors 5-HT1D and 5-HT1F with serotonin are coupled to Gi. Future studies will include a G protein profile for all twelve receptors in the serotonin family.Item Metadata only CHARACTERIZING THE ROLE OF PANCREATIC STELLATE CELLS IN THE TRANSITION OF CHRONIC PANCREATITIS TO PANCREATIC CANCER(2/13/2019) Godoy, Catalina; Augusta University; Department of Biological Sciences; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology; Csanyi, Gabor; Sabbatini, MariaBackground- Chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic cancer are two diseases that share a mutual histological feature known as fibrosis produced by pancreatic stellate cells (PaSCs). In response to pancreatic inflammation, PaSCs are activated from quiescent phenotype into myofibroblast-like cells, which express extracellular matrix components. PaSCs are also known to facilitate the migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, which are accompanied by increased matrix metalloprotease (MMP) production and epithelial-to mesenchymal transition (EMT). NADPH oxidase (Nox) is a family of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of an electron from NAD(P)H to oxygen to generate superoxide or hydrogen peroxide. Because Nox1 is expressed in PaSCs, the objective of this study was to assess the extent to which Nox1 in PaSCs facilitates the migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by regulating the expression of MMP and genes involved in EMT. Results/Discussion-We found that the lack of Nox1 lowers the expression of MMP-9 mRNA and the EMT-induced gene Snail in PaSCs. Further studies need to be done in PaSCs from mice with CP and CP-associated oncogenic KRas-driven pancreatic cancer.