2009 National Convention Presentations
Saturday March 28, 2009 Session
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2009 National Convention Presentations Saturday March 28, 2009 Session |
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| Saturday Session March 28, 2009 |
Friday Session March 27, 2009 | Poster Session | Saturday Session March 28, 2009 |
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K. Marie Damron, Robert W. Arts, and Joseph C. Whittaker Chapter: Beta Xi Abstract: Previous research has shown that salamanders react to sound and vibration, and these reactions may include both behavioral and physiological changes. In the Appalachia region, the vibrations and sounds produced by vehicles such as coal trucks may induce behavioral changes in salamanders. Species that were examined included Desmognathus monticola (seal salamander), Plethodon cinereus (red backed salamander), Notophthalmus viridescens (eastern newt), and Gyrinophilus porphyriticus (spring salamander). Overall, there was a total of nineteen subjects. Trials consisted of exposing salamanders to simulations of vibrations consistent with those generated by local phenomena such as passing coal trucks. Data for the vibration simulations were collected from a moving coal truck using three low-g accelerometers. Data used for the sound simulation came from video footage of the moving coal truck. Subjects were observed before, during, and after the trials. There was a grand total of 106 trials. Overall, five categories of behaviors were observed and recorded. Categories used included avoidance, posturing, grouping, seizures, and no movement/no change. Although some behaviors were shared between species, different species performed particular behaviors not observed in other species. The relationship between species and behavior will be further discussed.
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Nicole Thom and Dr. Megan Nagel Chapter: Beta Iota The copolymerization of acrylamide with 1-hexene is expected to give a material with new and desirable properties. This copolymerization has been performed using radical initiation, and the amount of 1-hexene incorporation can be increased with the addition of a Lewis Acid. Up to 10% incorporation of the 1-hexene has been demonstrated. To monitor the kinetics of this process, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used. The polymerization rate of each individual monomer was measured during the copolymerization reaction, and carbon tetrachloride was used as an internal standard.
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Sarah Modak Chapter: Beta Iota Degenerative joint disease affects millions of Americans increasingly every year. Unfortunately there is no cure for this debilitating disease. Over the past decade there has been increasing interest and research on a molecule found in extra cellular matrix of joints called aggrecan. Aggrecan is a molecule composed of protein and carbohydrate side groups and is thus labeled as a proteoglycan. This molecule sparked interest in the medical research community when it was found to be degraded in higher amounts in patients who have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Osteoarthris (OA). After discovering this suggestive new information research began to try and discover and classify the enzymes that degrade aggrecan. So far two types of such enzymes have been discovered: matrix metalloproteases and aggreacanases which are synonymous with ADAMTSs (a disintegrin and a metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs). This literature review will attempt to integrate the structural features of both the molecule aggreacan and its proteolytic enzymes ADAMTS and MMPs and will also discuss what current research has discovered about their interactions and what possible clinical applications this information implies.
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Megan M. Dudley and (Dr.) Peter A. Adcock Chapter: Alpha Beta Electrodeposition of zinc from acidic solution is used to refine about 80% of primary zinc production. Hydrogen evolution influences zinc deposit morphology in various ways. The rate of hydrogen evolution is sensitive to chemical additives. Many additives change the minimum current (per unit area) required to stabilize zinc. The nucleation and growth of each zinc crystallite is sensitive to chemical composition and physical conditions. This presentation will describe an analysis of current - voltage plots for acidic zinc electrolytes. The curves will be shown to have distinctive features, characteristic of the various interactions described above.
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Kim Williams, Jennifer L. Rose, and Joseph C. Whittaker Chapter: Beta Xi The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and deer mouse (P. maniculatus) are two of the most common small mammals in North America and are known to be sympatric. It is especially difficult to differentiate between these two species in the field. Recent research in Michigan and Wisconsin has noted an apparent replacement of deer mice by white-footed mice (Hoffman, unpublished research proposal). While both species have at some time been recorded from Pike and surrounding counties (Thomas, 2001), the current status of these mice populations is unknown. Analyses by Hargis (unpublished data), Thacker (unpublished data) and Wright (unpublished data) identified only one deer mouse from valley fills and reclaimed mine habitat in eastern Kentucky. Morphological measurements are normally used to distinguish deer mice from white-footed mice. However, these measurements tend to be inconsistent even within an area. Reliable identification is possible through detection of different allozymes for salivary amylase from deer mice and white-footed mice. In an effort to better understand the distribution and ecology of these two species of mice, we used cellulose acetate electrophoresis to definitively identify these two species. During the course of this summer, we ran more 700 saliva samples from eastern Kentucky and northwestern Minnesota. Our initial analysis identified the first deer mice we have captured after several years of sampling from Pike County, and the data from Minnesota indicate that there, conversely, deer mice are apparently stable and abundant, at least in forest and prairie reserves.
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Stephanie Bartlett & Jamison Landey Chapter: Upsilon An eight-week program covering fundamental concepts and experiences in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computer science for local home schooled children has been developed and implemented for the past three years by Anderson University's Upsilon chapter. This talk will discuss the start up process, advertising, lesson plans, group involvement and financial aspects of the program. Over the course of eight weeks, approximately forty home school children utilized the university's laboratory space for one hour per week and were instructed by Sigma Zeta members and other volunteers. The students were divided into two groups based on grade level and would spend either one or two weeks (sessions) on a particular subject. During each session, students received direct instruction over lesson plans and experiments written by Sigma Zeta members. This has proven to be a rewarding experience for both the university and home schooled students as well as an effective program to excite elementary and middle school students about science.
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June 30, 2009
