Interdisciplinary

Protein Kinases in Cancer

Even after years of researching cancer cells, the scientific and medical communities still have a lot to learn about how these types of cells function. This study focuses primarily on utilizing protein kinase inhibitors to degrade kinases that drive cancer progression. We are using a variety of drugs and cells, to attempt to gain a better understanding of how these drugs can control the behavior of these cancerous cells. The main goal of this project is to discover the extent of the degrading effects of Proteolysis targeting chimera(PROTACs). PROTACs are able to degrade kinases by binding to both the kinase itself, as well as an ubiquitin ligase. In order to accomplish this goal, pipetting techniques are utilized to administer chemicals to the cells, which are then analyzed under a microscope. Various chemistry and biology techniques are being used to develop the most complex understanding of these molecules. Recently, one of the drugs that was being tested had a significant effect on the number of cells that were able to survive, and we are continuing to investigate at what dosage this drug became the most effective. These findings help us to understand the type and dosage of drug that is most effective in controlling the cancerous cells, which can help us in our overall study of cellular inhibitors.? This research plays a vital role in understanding how kinase inhibitors can help stop the progression of cancerous cells.

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Digital phenotyping and electrophysiology in mice

Deniz Kirca

The molecular, synaptic, and neuromodulatory variations in a variety of brain regions, namely the the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and the ventral hippocampus1, have been associated with changes in behavior quantified by metrics such as the Forced Swim Test (FST)2, Sucrose Preference Test3, and the Open Field Test4. While the behavior of mice exposed to chronic stress has been extensively studied, there is a need for more information regarding the behavior of these mice over a longer span of time. Additionally, due to the difficulty of recording electrical activity for extended periods of time in specific regions of the brain, there are few studies that analyze the longitudinal alterations in electrophysiology that may be correlated with exposure to chronic stress.

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Analyzing CRISPR-Cas9 Genomic Engineering through Targeted Deletions

ahsahmed

Background: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is a technology used to edit genomes at very high precision. It enables precise editing of genomic loci with a RNA-guided CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) nuclease that can cleave the targeted DNA complementary to a guide RNA (gRNA). Precise gene editing via CRISPR-Cas9 has great potential in treating inherited diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis) or correcting genetic defects.

Objective: To test the specificity and function of the CRISPR-Cas9 in a proof-of-principle experiment, we used two human Emx1 (hEmx1) gene-specific gRNA sequences (3.1+4.1) to guide the Cas9 enzyme for the deletion of the targeted region in human 293AD cells.

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Analyzing CRISPR-Cas9 through Genomic Deletions

kyrodrig

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Relationship Between Depression and Subjective Executive Functioning in Parkinson’s Patients

avaeliza

In addition to physical symptoms, Parkinson’s patients are often diagnosed with mental complications including depression and cognitive dysfunction. However, little is known about the correlation between Parkinson’s patients’ depression and subjective cognitive skills, including executive functioning. This is important because executive dysfunction can cause difficulty in Parkinson’s patients’ ability to complete daily tasks. The main goal of this research is to examine how mental factors such as depression impact a Parkinson’s patient’s subjective executive functioning. In order to compare these two variables, archival clinical data was analyzed in a sample of 175 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD; N(men) = 120, M(age) = 64.41, SD = 8.58). The Geriatric Depression Scale – Short Form (GDS-SF) was used to measure depression, the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) was used to measure subjective executive functioning, and the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III was used to measure PD severity. Pearson’s correlation revealed a significant relationship between the GDS and FrSBe scores, such that higher depression scores correlated with higher self-reported executive dysfunction, R = .42, p < .001. The partial correlation revealed that this relationship remained significant while controlling for UPDRS Part III, R = .45, p < .001. Findings were consistent with this study's hypothesis, such that Parkinson's patients with greater depression were more likely to self-report executive functioning problems. A possible explanation for this is that depressed Parkinson's patients are more likely to have negative self-perceptions, which may cause them to rate their executive functioning skills more poorly.

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Examining how COVID has affected African American women with Hypertension

ptchap

Forty seven percent of African American women are living with hypertension, which increases their risk of contracting COVID-19. We asked 100 African American women living with hypertension (ages 21 to 64) to complete a questionnaire using qualtrics. Using a cross sectional descriptive survey, participants were asked to self-report their blood pressure during COVID. A portion of the survey was used to raise the questions of how paticipants have been maintaining their health through eating and exercise patterns as a result of the virus. Sixty one percent of participants reported that they have not had to change the way that they manage their blood pressure since COVID-19. Participants that reported that they did have to change the way that they managed their blood pressure, ensured that they have had to exercise more, practice healthier eating habits, and that they haven’t seen their physician since COVID-19. In addition, the majority of participants did not lose their job or income due to the “Stay at Home” mandate, nor are they concerned about their ability to get their medications and supplements used to control their blood pressure. Our findings raise the question regarding if participants are considering all factors that have been impacted in their lives by COVID and how participants have been managing their hypertension in the first place.

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Misbehavior in the classroom

ekaraein

Misbehavior has been a problem in classrooms worldwide. Studies in the past have attempted to link misbehavior within the classroom to student race and gender showing that there is potentially some connection between misbehaviors and how a teacher disciplines the student in terms of response. This study builds off of those of the past by utilizing Mobile Eye-tracking in regular class periods to discover the types of misbehaviors most common within the classroom, which misbehaviors teachers see and respond to, and whether these answers differ by student gender. By utilizing multiple cameras at different angles to record all misbehaviors within classrooms, we can code for misbehaviors according to a standard coding rubric. Trained coders watched 52 videos of 26 different 1st? through 11t?h? grade classrooms and noted the frequency of misbehaviors for each of 20 to 30 students, whether the teacher noticed, whether the teacher responded, and the gender of the student committing the misbehavior. The coding is essential in tracking misbehavior frequency as well as teacher response in a hope to identify a common misbehavior and response effects within the classroom. If a link between a common misbehavior and a certain response that prevented future misbehaviors could be identified, we would have new knowledge on what the best way to respond to a common misbehavior would be. We are early in the research process and expect to establish a link between whether boys and girls perform certain misbehaviors in the same frequencies and whether teachers respond to boys and girls fairly. Our end goal of this research study is to identify what method of dealing with misbehaviors is most effective. This expected finding could help inform teacher education programs by preparing pre-service and in-service student teachers to pre-empt their response biases and use Mobile-Eye-tracking technology in reflective practice. This effort may then result in less misbehaviors overall, creating a better environment for both teachers and students that encourages more efficient education.

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Management by Design: Mental Health and its Gendered Discrepancies in the Workplace

nmietus

Beginning in 1967, most office spaces in America were transformed to follow an “Action Office” Design created by Robert Propst. This invention, backed by psychological and behavioral research, was meant to minimize worker fatigue, increase collaboration without too much distraction, and overall boost productivity in the workplace with employees working faster for longer without much realization. The consequences of this new approach, however, weren’t realized until much more recently. Our research project sought to explore and assess the changes in workplace design from 1967 to 2017, focusing on awareness of mental health and gender fairness. Have work conditions improved? Is employee health a concern for corporations? Why is there still a prominent, gendered difference in employee treatment within the workplace? Using Robert Propst’s The Office and the Henry Ford Archives, we were able to get a sense of what was happening behind closed office doors in 1967.

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Creative Writing & Publishing

nsabrina

Introduction: How to get work published is regarded as one of life’s greatest mysteries by many American writers; for this project, our research group decided to comprehensively study American literary journals in hopes of discovering which journals publish which types of work, and what particular journal would be the best fit for each member of our research group. We also practiced our own writing skills and developed our styles. Methods: To accomplish this goal, each group member compiled a database of information surrounding these journals, noting the length of submissions they typically published, the style of writings, and notable features of the journal, including whether or not they had a particular interest in new writers. We also submitted our own creative works (like flash fiction, short stories, poetry, prose) to our research group on a weekly basis for critique to analyze our own styles and determine which journals could be a good match. Results: An analysis of these databases has provided each member with a list of publications to which they will submit work. We have also learned which journals are most likely to print which types of work, and what things editors look for while they are reading submissions. Conclusions: Each member is submitting work now to see if we will be accepted anywhere.

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