7028 research outputs found
Sort by
Investigation of the G-Quadruplex Structure in Precursor MicroRNA
No full textRNA plays a vital role in all living organisms as both a carrier of genetic information and a regulator of various cellular pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of non-coding RNAs that are associated with gene regulation and developmental processes (Mirihana, 2015). Produced from their own genes or from introns of other genes, miRNAs have been shown to have a correlation in tumorigenesis (Cao, 2018). MiRNAs are transcribed into primary miRNA (pri- miRNA), folding into a stem-loop structure through Watson-Crick base pairing (Mirihana, 2015). Drosha-mediated cleavage then ensues, cleaving the stem-loop in the pri-miRNA, forming precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA) (Cao, 2018). Pre-miRNA forms a shorter stem-loop structure, which is then cleaved by an enzyme known as Dicer (Cao, 2018). About 13-16% of pre-miRNAs have G-quadruplex (G4)-forming sequences, causing an unwinding of the stem-loop and folding into this alternative structure (Tassinari, 2021). The G4 forms due to the interaction between the guanines within the RNA, forming a stacking tetrad through Hoogsteen base pairing (Koralewska, 2021). The G4 structure is notable, as it inhibits Dicer cleavage of pre-miRNA, which may have an impact on human diseases, including cancers (Tassinari, 2021). The stabilization of this structure is dependent on various monovalent cations, including sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+). It has also been shown that the structure can be stabilized through exogenous ligands, such as BRACO-19 and pyridostatin (PDS). The research presented here focuses on using Circular Dichroism (CD) to analyze the presence and stabilization of this structure in a target pre-miRNA, pre-miR-92b. Through CD, we have explored RNA-ligand binding as well as the impact of other cellular conditions on the stability of the G4, including variations in cation concentrations. CD was used to monitor the tertiary folding of the RNA at different temperatures, allowing for a better understanding of the stability of this alternative structure in pre-miR-92b. The research will give insight into the role of the G4 in miRNA processing in general
Revolutionizing Cleft Palate Repair: A Novel Approach to Head Stabilization
No full textRoughly 1 in 1600 infants in the US each year are born with cleft palate, an orofacial defect characterized by a hole in the roof of a child\u27s mouth. Children with a cleft palate may experience difficulty breathing and eating, delayed speech development, hearing loss, and dental complications. Corrective procedures most commonly occur in the first year of life, requiring the child to undergo intensive surgery. Head stabilization during this operation is an afterthought, with no designated device to adjust the angle of the child\u27s neck and provide access to the palate. We developed a device that prioritizes safety, stability, and precision, decreasing the complexity of the surgical setup and ultimately improving pediatric palate repairs
Stable water isotopes provide insight into the spatial variability of As and U in drinking water across the Northern Plains
Full text linkArsenic (As) and uranium (U) contamination in drinking water affects millions of individuals across the US. This issue is particularly acute across rural populations where many people obtain drinking water from unregulated private wells. One specific location greatly affected by high levels of As and U in both surface and groundwater is the Northern Plains of the USA. However, the environmental and anthropogenic factors responsible for the mobilization and heterogeneous distribution of As and U in the waters of this region remain poorly characterized. Groundwater recharge sources and the flow path of water supplying surface water can strongly influence the mobilization and accumulation of aqueous As and U. To understand how hydrologic process affect the distribution of these metals we relied on stable water isotopes (δ2H, δ18O, δ17O). Here we collected stream and spring water samples from 43 locations across South Dakota and Nebraska and measured stable water isotopes (δ2H, δ18O, δ17O) to determine the sources of recharge/inflow to both surface water and groundwater (e.g., heavily evaporated surface water, snow melt, precipitation). We observe strong positive correlations between As and U and stable water isotopes - a finding that suggests that mobilization of these elements is occurring under oxic conditions, mobilization is delocalized, and As and U are likely accumulating along the water\u27s flow path. These results allow for a greater understanding of how hydrology influences As and U occurrence in surface water and groundwater and can be used to help better predict areas at high risk for As and U contamination
¿Cómo se define la maternidad? La diferencia entre madres biológicas y adoptivas en Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo: Madres argentinas luchan por la justicia y La historia oficial
No full textThis thesis analyzes two primary source films that demonstrate the differing family dynamics during the Argentine dictatorship from 1976-1983. Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo: Madres argentinas luchan por la justicia, directed by Lourdes Portillo in 1985, presents first hand accounts of The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo and their experiences with losing their children to the dictatorship, and the organization that they created to protest it. La Historia Oficial, directed by Luis Puenzo in 1985, shows a military family with an adopted daughter, who happens to be the daughter of a disappeared mother, and the journey of discovery and true identity of the adopted daughter. The two films show the resilience, bravery, and fearlessness of mothers, and the perseverance to do whatever to takes to protect their children. Using both of these films, I analyzed the ways in which biological and adoptive mothers care for their children, and the commonalities between the two. Though there are both positives and negatives to both types of mothers, I observed that one thing remains the same. My thesis further supports that a good mother is someone who will do whatever is necessary to protect and care for their children, even if that means putting yourself at risk
Reducing the Cost of the Turtlebot3 Autonomous Mapping Rover
Full text linkAutonomous mapping rovers are easily one of the most useful types of systems in modern robotics. These systems operate by using sensor data to navigate through an environment and construct a map of the space for future navigation. For this project, we are specifically focusing on reducing the cost of the Turtlebot3 Burger Autonomous Mapping Rover (AMR). The Turtlebot3 uses the Robot Operating System (ROS) which is a decentralized message passing architecture. The primary function of the Turtlebot3 is mapping with the Simultaneous Mapping And Localization algorithm SLAM[5]. However, the Turtlebot3 also supports numerous upgrades and modifications. Thus our specific goal is to reduce the cost of the Turtlebot3 while maintaining ROS compliance and the base function of SLAM. To do this, we decomposed the Turtlebot3 into its individual components and identified those which can be replaced with lower cost alternatives. The primary cost reduction focused on replacing the drive architecture of the Turtlebot3. The original system uses the OpenCR1 microcontroller and two dynamixels wheel encoders for a total cost of 314. This constitutes a 207.60$ reduction in our drive architecture. To maintain ROS compliance, our drive system must subscribe to and publish the same ROS messages as the original. These two primary data types are command velocity, desired system velocity, and odometry, a representation of current location and movement. In the scope of this project, we were able to verify the correct execution of command velocity but were unable to properly generate odometry due to time constraints
Design of a Solar Tracking System with Independent Sensing Unit
Full text linkA hybrid loop, dual axis solar tracking system was developed to increase the efficiency of a stationary solar panel by continuously tracking the highest solar radiation point of the sun. The design features two systems that work to find and track the sun vector, the independent sensing unit and main panel unit. The first detects the optimal point of the sun without expending energy moving the large solar panel. The sensing unit consists of 3D printed ASA plastic parts designed to hold and move single photovoltaic cells, ultraviolet sensors, and light dependent resistors. Once the sensing unit has accurately tracked the sun the optimal point is translated to the second unit for energy collection. The second unit, or main panel system, is made of 3003 Aluminum with 1045 steel shafts that control the movement. It collects solar energy using a 50W mono-crystalline photovoltaic panel and stores it in a 12V lithium polymer battery for self-sustaining operation. The motion is achieved using four Pololu gearbox motors for the elevation and azimuth control of both the sensor and main panel units. Worm gears are utilized on all four shafts to achieve a self-locking structure that can sustain winds up to 60 MPH. An Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller implements a controller algorithm for accurate positional feedback and motion. The proposed system will begin data collection in the spring to determine the energy gain compared to a stationary panel. A 20% increase in energy collection is the expected minimum value that will result from the use of the independent sensing unit paired with the main panel system
Cambiando la narrativa: análisis de la narración en organizaciones sin fines de lucro en España
No full textThis thesis explores the role of storytelling in nonprofit organizations, with an emphasis on Spain. Every organization uses storytelling differently, and evaluates the efficacy of such techniques independently. However, most organizations use techniques that can be observed in two distinct groups: those who use data and facts, and another who relies on personal histories and images that evoke emotional responses from the public. Both instances are essential to the organization\u27s functionality, but I argue in favor of personal stories that encourage more complete, honest and long lasting effects within society. I describe both groups of storytelling techniques through several nonprofit organizations and social entrepreneurship programs in the Basque Country. This study will begin with an examination of the history of nonprofit organizations in Spain, then move into the role and value of storytelling within them. I will connect the two aforementioned groups of storytelling to specific organizations and highlight how storytelling is used in different sectors to appeal to various audiences. The most important discovery in this process is that oftentimes storytelling is used to allow voices that normally get cast aside to be heard loud and clear; especially in reference to non-profit organizations that revolve around taboo topics, and those who work with marginalized groups. This thesis will conclude with an evaluation of the success of each storytelling technique, accompanied by a guide for innovators looking to perfect their narrative skills. We can\u27t change the narrative without reading between the lines first
The Association Between Parenting Style and Birth Order in Relation to Functioning in College
Full text linkPrevious research surrounding birth order suggests that firstborn children tend to display higher levels of academic achievement than later born siblings. My research aimed to assess whether birth order is associated with Baumrind\u27s (1971) parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, neglectful), with the inclusion of two measures of helicopter parenting (overprotective, over-involved parenting). The measures of helicopter parenting utilized were by LeMoyne & Buchanan (2011) and Schiffrin et al. (2014). My study explored how this potential association between birth order and parenting may mediate outcomes for college students, such as academic performance and party habits. 121 Union College students completed the questionnaire online. Unexpectedly, birth order did not correlate with any of the four traditional parenting styles. However, also unexpectedly, birth order negatively correlated with both helicopter parenting measures and the autonomy support measure, with firstborns reporting more helicopter parenting and more autonomy support than later borns. As hypothesized, birth order was positively correlated with the number of days students reported partying per week, such that later borns reported partying on more days than firstborns. These findings suggest that helicopter parenting and autonomy granting are not mutually exclusive, and parents are perceived to be providing both to their firstborn children more so than their later born children
The Russian Migration Following the Aggression in Ukraine: an analysis of the implications concerned with increasing cost of living
No full textFollowing the Russian aggression into the Ukraine in 2022, a large number of Russian citizens temporarily emigrated to avoid being trapped in Russia as the conditions worsened and the threat of the draft loomed. Many migrants are of middle to upper income and their movement is concentrated into urban areas of the various nations of the Caucasus and Central Asia. There have been reports of more than 350,000 Russian citizens flying into Armenia\u27s Zvartnots airport alone in the first six months of 2022. Hundreds of thousands also flew into countries like Georgia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. All of these countries have relatively small developing economies and their ability to accommodate the new immigrants is limited. This paper analyzes the impact the increase in the average rent costs as a result of the influx of the high income migrants. This is shown through a simple difference in difference model, similar to the work of Albert Saiz (2003) in his analysis of the housing shock in Miami due to the influx of low income migrants. The results of the paper indicate that the migrants had a significant and positive relationship with the average cost of short term housing in the impacted regions of Tbilisi, Batumi, Yerevan, Dilijan, Almaty, Toshkent and Ulaanbaatar during the period when the treatment is deemed to have been experienced. As the migrants are temporary, their departure threatens the economies of these affected countries as the cost of living increases in tandem with poverty and other concerning statistics
A firm-level Analysis of Political Donations and their Impact on Firms\u27 ESG Ratings
No full textThis paper aims to explore the interactions between firm-level political connection, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) score, and firms\u27 changes in portfolio allocation toward research and development (R&D). The main question this paper investigates is how being a politically connected firm affects a firm\u27s ESG score through changes in expenditure towards R&D. Through the use of a two-way linear fixed effect model, a firm\u27s political donation amount and change in allocation towards R&D will be used to see the change in ESG. Additionally, a regression analysis will be conducted to investigate an interaction variable that will be used to see how donations, when interacted with R&D change, has effects on ESG. The data set hand-collected primary data, deriving information publicly available via Bloomberg data as well as data harvested via OpenSecrets- a nonprofit that tracks campaign finance and lobbying. The data\u27s main variables of interest include firm-level financial statements and includes relevant information such as the number of employees, price earning ratios, revenue, and an ESG disclosure score. Through use of a panel data set and analysis at the firm level on years of interest (two-year intervals relevant to American presidential elections and midterms), a two-way fixed effects panel regression presents inconclusive results supporting the motivation to grow the data set and continue possible deeper understanding of the subject