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Design and Synthesis of 4-CPPA Analogues as Potential T. Cruzi Antiparasitic Agents
No full textvi, 15 p.Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma Cruzi, affects 6-7 million people around the world. Only two drugs (benznidazole and nifurtimox) have been approved for treatment by the FDA. However, both medications are known to cause unwanted side effects and are only effective in the early stages of infection. The Open Synthesis Network (OSN) identified 4-cyclopropyl-3-(pyridine-2-yl)-N-(pyridine-3-ylmethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (4-CPPA) as a potent antiparasitic agent against T.cruzi. The focus of this study is to design and synthesize second-generation 4-CPPA analogues. Using the well-established reductive amination and Williamson ether synthesis, six new analogues were synthesized in yields ranging from 10-74%
Environmental and Non-Fitness Factors Effecting the Lactate Threshold and Non-Fitness Factors Effecting the Lactate Threshold
No full textiii, 13 p.Measurement of the lactate threshold is an important marker of endurance performance and tool to control exercise intensity. Understanding which non-fitness factors affect the data gained from lactate threshold testing is crucial to maintaining accurate tests for researchers, clinicians, coaches, and athletes. This review uses data primarily from studies that utilize graded exercise tests to determine how heat, altitude, diet, time of day, and menstrual cycle may alter the results of lactate threshold results independent of changes in the subjects’ fitness. This review found that altitude and heat significantly lower workload/output at lactate threshold, while menstrual cycle and particularly high or low carbohydrate consumption only change the concentrations of blood lactate that are elicited at various intensities with no effect on the intensity that is reached. Caffeine and time of day may make small changes to the heart rate that corresponds to lactate threshold, but it is unclear from current research. Reinvestigation into the matters of caffeine usage and the potentially linear effects that increasing altitude has on the lactate threshold, as well as a redesigned study on the effects of time of day on lactate threshold are key next steps in filling gaps in the current literature
Modulation of the Osteogenic Potential of Osteoblasts Using Substance P
No full text25 p.SP is a small oligopeptide consisting of 11 amino acids responsible for the regulation of many bodily functions. These functions include but are not limited to stress response, collagen synthesis, anti-inflammatory responses, and regulatory responses. SP is an important regulatory neuropeptide since it binds to the neurokinin-1 receptor which is located in the spinal, and both in the nervous and immune systems. SP can enhance osteoblast activity, promote angiogenesis, and modulate immune responses, thereby facilitating the bone healing process. Additionally, SP may contribute to pain modulation during bone repair, potentially influencing patient comfort and recovery outcomes. Our study aims to demonstrate the involvement of micro-RNAs in the modulation of osteogenesis by SP. Being able to positively impact micro-RNAs through the mediation and administration of varied concentrations of SP could have numerous health benefits for patients in various areas of life, including patient psychological health via stress response and positive physiological effects on patients in clinical settings. Samples of Saos-2 cells were cultured in osteogenic medium and treated under varied concentrations of Substance P. Cell proliferation was tracked using Alamar Blue essay. Alkaline Phosphatase Activity (ALP) was monitored utilizing an ALP Assay. Bone nodules formation was determined from Alizarin Red Staining, while qPCR testing monitored osteogenic markers and microRNAs gene expression. It was determined that SP has no effect on osteoblasts proliferation. SP at lower doses such as 10-10 and 10-8 μM enhance the gene expression of osteogenic markers osteocalcin and RUNX2 at short stimulation period (7 days) whereas higher doses act as an inhibitor. Both SP concentrations and treatment period will affect the bone formation by osteoblasts. Therefore, it’s suggested that a treatment which increases the production of bone could yield crucial patient medicine. When using SP, it is necessary to determine the effective treatment regimen and the delivery method for safer and successful application in bone regeneration and healing. The prior discoveries of microRNAs’ ability to open new avenues applicable to microRNA-based gene therapy that would have a pivotal role in clinical settings
Development of an Optical Microcavity Measurement System
No full textiv 14 p.As metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) rise in popularity, methods for testing their adsorption capabilities become imperative to their development process. The ability to produce a high throughput detection method on-site lowers costs and limits the requirements for specialized instrumentation. Fabry-Perot cavities (FPCs) can be utilized for gas sensing with small volumes due to their sensitivity to refractive index changes within the cavity. Typically, FPCs are singular macro-scale cavities, but efforts to miniaturize the cavities have increased with the increase in mirror reflectivity. Although endeavors such as fiber Fabry-Perot cavities (FFPCs) have decreased the volume of gas required for measurements, they still largely exist as single cavities. Efforts to increase the number of cavities have faced complications with their alignment and increased costs. We propose the production of FPCs in multi-well plates. This method minimizes costs by using common instrumentation and constituents, allowing their on-site production and use. While preliminary method designs have been underway for creating cavities within the wells of a plate, work has been done on the design, calibration, and implementation of a set up for test measurements of the cavities
In Vitro Investigation of Small Molecules Against HIV-1 5’ Untranslated Region
No full textiv, 33 p.Progress in therapeutics against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has significantly decreased fatality and improved the life expectancy of people who are living with the infection. The most successful are antiretroviral drugs such as reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease inhibitors in a combination therapy also known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, long-term usage of HAART has been shown to rapidly increase drug-resistance mutation rates which complicate later treatment regimens and ultimately leads to unsuccessful drug therapy. Therefore, it is important to continue discovering therapeutics that can specifically target other HIV replication steps while minimizing off-target effects. Since HIV-1 requires dimerization of its genome RNA (gRNA) to replicate, small molecules that can induce structural changes hindering dimerization have high therapeutic potential. This thesis focused on experimentally test computationally screened potential drug molecules against the target HIV-1 gRNA 5’ unstructured region. In vitro structural changes of the target RNA in presence of small molecules were monitored using circular dichroism. Simultaneously, we investigated the compounds’ cytotoxicity and specificity in human cell lines. Finally, the compounds’ potency was tested using viral packaging assay on human cell lines. In the future, these compounds can be further developed to be used as potential drugs for HIV-1
From Samurai Code to Modern Ethos : The Evolution of Bushido
No full text29 p.Bushido has been a topic of many discussions both inside and outside of Japan. The origins and aspects of Bushido change depending on who you ask and what time period. To some, Bushido was the honor code that the great samurai lived by; to others, it is the soul of Japan that lives within every citizen to drive the country of Japan to greatness, an important component of sports and the Japanese version of European chivalry. Then to others, it had to be separated from samurai who in reality were criminals and a part of imperialism, as Japan would take certain views of Bushido to the extreme in the 1930s and ‘40s. The first time we see the usage of Bushido being widely used is during the Meiji era in the 1890s, and the most influential person during this time was Nitobe Inazō. His book Bushido: The Soul of Japan serves as almost the foundation of every discussion about Bushido and gives us some of the main ideals such as rectitude or justice, courage, benevolence, politeness, veracity or truthfulness, honor, loyalty, and self-control. These codes are believed to be the same ones that the samurai of Japan’s past followed and the same codes that the citizens of today follow in times of peace and strife from everyday acts, sports, and national emergencies. This leads to the question, if Bushido started as a way for the samurai to lead their lives then how did it continue to exist after the samurai were abolished in the Meiji era, and what aspects, if any, of Bushido changed as it was now being discussed in civilian and military life. This paper will examine the shifts in Bushido from premodern Japan to modern Japan, the arguments and discourse of bushido, and their impact on the Japanese population in both military and civilian life following the abolition of the samurai. This paper argues that the shifts in bushido from pre-modern Japan to modern Japan are not only significant but were also driven by socio-political and historical forces. It looks at the changes that reshaped both military and civilian life in Japanese society from the time of the samurai to the abolition of the samurai in modern times, and the influence on the soul of Japan and its citizens
Displaced in the Name of Progress : The Destructive Pattern of Urban Development in New Orleans
No full textiv, 39 p.This paper explores the ongoing pattern of displacement in New Orleans, focusing on the impacts of urban development in neighborhoods like Tremé and Lower Mid-City. By examining the rise of Airbnb and the construction of the University Medical Center (UMC) in 2011 years after Hurricane Katrina, the paper highlights how marginalized communities have been uprooted in the name of progress. Both cases demonstrate the tension between economic growth and the erasure of cultural and historical identities. Commercialization and development often come at the expense of long-standing residents, replacing community stability with tourism and corporate interests. Through personal reflection and historical analysis, the paper underscores the need to preserve the cultural heritage and the communities that have long defined New Orleans
Experience at a Day Center : Volunteering for Cascadia Health at David’s Harp
No full textvii, 12 p.Throughout the summer, I volunteered back home in Portland, Oregon at David’s Harp, a day center under an organization called Cascadia Health. More specifically, I supported staff during both the morning and afternoon session twice a week. My responsibilities consisted of tasks to complete to open at the beginning of the day, before each group session, and after each group session. Basically, my work at David’s Harp connected well to my Introduction to Psychopathology, Experimental Methods, and Psychology of Prejudice courses. Essentially, these courses gave me a basic understanding of the mental health field and various mental health conditions, helped me to analyze my own inherent bias, and prepared me to work well on a team. In terms of the future, my volunteer experience has inspired me to gain experience in the residential and healthcare subfields of mental health after graduating from Kalamazoo College and to continue my professional and career development journey. Further, my experience this summer inspired me to seek out employment at Cascadia Health in the future. All-in-all, even though my experience at David’s Harp did not help me determine exactly what graduate programs and career I want to pursue, it did give me a better idea of what opportunities I want to seek for the next few years
The Role of Diet and Animal Personality on the Impact of Native Ecosystems by Invasive Squirrel Species
No full textii, 13 p.Invasive alien species (IAS) pose significant threats to biodiversity, ecosystems, and human livelihoods, especially as their establishment and spread increase. Squirrels, particularly tree species, are highly adaptable and frequently transported by humans, making them successful IAS across many regions. This paper explores the behavioral traits, diet, and environmental adaptability of invasive squirrel species, focusing on their competition with native species. Invasive squirrel species such as Sciurus niger and Sciurus carolinensis disrupt ecosystems by competing for food and habitat, altering ecosystem functions, and directly harming native species. Key traits contributing to their success include boldness, aggression, and behavioral flexibility, enabling them to thrive in urbanized and fragmented habitats. Using Orcas Island, Washington, as a case study, where Sciurus niger interacts with native Tamiasciurus douglasii, this paper examines how these traits influence competitive dynamics. The role of animal personality in IAS success and native species displacement is underexplored but critical, particularly in relation to anthropogenic factors. This review underscores the importance of behavioral studies in developing management strategies for invasive species. Future research should focus on how personality traits and diet impact the success of invasive species and inform more effective control measures in anthropogenic environments
Decoding Neurodegeneration: Machine Learning Approaches to Understanding Brain Disease
No full textiii, 17 p.Machine learning (ML) is bringing new possibilities to the diagnosis and management of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s (AD), Parkinson’s (PD), and Lewy body dementia (LBD). The complexity of these diseases makes traditional diagnostic processes, which depend on subjective examination by trained professionals, less effective. ML provides a fresh approach, making it possible to explore large datasets and detect patterns that might otherwise be missed, enhancing the ability to track disease progression. Methods like HistoAge and BrainAGE, which combine data from histopathology and imaging, have helped shed light on how aging affects the brain in health and in disease. These methods enable the development of more personalized treatment plans based on imaging data and improve the reliability of diagnostic tools. While histopathology-based models like HistoAge are typically used for post-mortem analysis, their insights can inform in vivo imaging techniques, enhancing the overall diagnostic process. The accuracy and accessibility of diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases continue to improve as ML evolves. With this new method it’s easier to create more effective treatment approaches that address the limitations of older techniques