24067 research outputs found
Sort by
Wikipedia Question Answering Using SQuAD1 Dataset
No full textWith continuous experimentation and implementation of Machine Learning when it comes to information processing and retrieval, we hope to further this research by delving into creating a program that uses machine learning to analyze Wikipedia-sources and answer questions based on inquiry from the user. The program will use a combination of document retrieval using TF-IDF (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency) and answer extraction using recurrent neural Networks to pull accurate responses to inquiries based on the target information. We will be both training and testing the algorithm using the Stanford Question Answering Dataset. To goal of the algorithm is to be able to tackle more complex questions and explore alternate retrieval methods. We will utilize extrinsic testing to compare practical results of the program with the anticipated correct response. The results are still pending as we are finalizing testing and comparison, but we hope that the result of this research will show a different approach to information retrieval that could be used for AI-powered inquiry responsive algorithms
Discovery and characterization of arsenic-containing RiPPs: a novel antibiotic family against multidrug resistance
No full textAlarming rise of antimicrobial resistance threatens global public health, calling for discovery of new antibiotics with novel chemical scaffolds and mechanisms of action. Although arsenic is traditionally viewed as a toxic compound, history demonstrates its therapeutic potential—from its use in traditional Chinese medicine, to Paul Ehrlich’s Salvarsan for syphilis, and, more recently, the arsenic trioxide in leukemia treatment. Arsinothricin (AST), recently discovered organoarsenical antibiotic, exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic bacteria and even protozoan parasites with minimal cytotoxicity, further highlighting promises of arsenic-based compounds as antimicrobials. Our objective is to build on this foundation and discover further arsenic-containing antibiotics. To this end, genome mining was employed using the AST biosynthetic gene arsM as a molecular probe, and a novel biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) were identified in Microbispora rosea strain. In addition to arsM, the BGC contains a gene for SPASM domain radical S-adenosyl methionine (rSAM) enzyme, which is often involved in biosynthesis of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), along with a putative gene for a precursor peptide. RiPPs are known for diverse bioactivities, including antimicrobial activity. The gene composition, therefore, strongly suggests that the BGC encodes a RiPP that uniquely contains methylated arsenical, and we name the prospective product an arsenic-containing RiPP (AsRiPP). When cultured with arsenite, M. rosea produced an organic arsenic species. The organic arsenic species crudely purified from a large culture exhibited antibiotic activity, supporting our hypothesis that the strain produces an arsenic-containing antibiotic, presumably the AsRiPP. In parallel, Escherichia coli cells expressing genes from the M. rosea BGC, either solely or in various combinations, were constructed. These constructs are being used to elucidate AsRiPP biosynthetic pathway. These approaches will be continued to clarify the association of the AsRiPP’s BGCs and the discovered organic arsenic species
Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation with Chitinase and Glucanase genes against Aspergillus flavus in Georgia Peanuts
No full textAflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus flavus poses a major threat to global peanut (Arachis hypogaea) production and food safety. The development of genetically engineered peanut varieties with enhanced fungal resistance provides a promising strategy for mitigating aflatoxin accumulation. This project focuses on development of transgenic peanut plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase genes, and quantification of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Peanut embryos of Georgia-12Y strain were co-cultivated with A. tumefaciens using binary vectors harboring the respective genes under the control of a constitutive promoter. Transformed embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing 3mg/L of 2,4-D for callus induction, followed by shoot and root regeneration on media supplemented with 1mg/L Benzyladenine (BA) and 1mg/L Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA), respectively. Untreated samples served as control and experiments were done in replicates. Experimental set up was incubated at 28°C for 14 days. Selection was performed using 25mg/L kanamycin and 250mg/L cefotaxime to identify putative transformants and suppress bacterial overgrowth. Quantification of AFB1 will be done by LC-MS.
So far, our results demonstrated successful callus induction and regeneration of shoots and roots that survived antibiotic selection, suggesting potential transgene integration. Confirmation of stable integration of the resistant genes by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and expression of these two proteins by Western Blot are in progress. Subsequently, quantification of AFB1 will indicate the extent of resistance conferred by these resistant genes. Our molecular and biochemical data will ultimately indicate the role of these PR proteins against A. flavus defense mechanisms.
This research not only advances current understanding of host–pathogen interactions in peanuts but also contributes to the development of sustainable genetic strategies to reduce aflatoxin B1 contamination in peanut production in Georgia and other peanut growing states
Investigating environmental effects upon alternative reproductive tactic frequencies in an urban salamander
No full textA major challenge in biology is understanding the mechanisms maintaining
genetic and phenotypic variation. Genetically determined alternative
reproductive tactics—discrete, intrasexual variation within populations—
provide a unique opportunity to investigate this question. In Southern Two-
lined Salamanders (Eurycea cirrigera), two male tactics are determined by a
Y-linked genetic polymorphism and coexist in metro Atlanta: “searching”
males have mental glands and cirri used in terrestrial courtship, while
“guarding” males have enlarged jaws for mate-guarding in aquatic
environments. As part of a Team Research course, we evaluated how spatial
heterogeneity in environmental variables influences the frequencies of
searching and guarding males. We collected environmental data from
streams and tissue samples from larvae, extracted DNA, and used three
qPCR assays to genotype samples from 26 streams across metro Atlanta. We
then modeled how environmental variables (e.g., substrate type, stream
size, microhabitat, and land cover) influence tactic frequency. We hope that
our results provide insight about how urbanization influences the frequency
of searching and guarding male Eurycea and, more broadly, how spatial
heterogeneity supports the maintenance of genetic and phenotypic variation
Precision Agriculture Route Optimization with Crop Row Constraints
No full textRoute Optimization is an ongoing topic of research for Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) where minimizing task completion time and energy usage are typically considered. In our research, we propose a route optimization method tailored for Precision Agriculture applications in which tasks are located inside planted fields. First, aerial images are taken of the farmland to be processed by a base station. Next, the boundaries of the crop fields, orientation of the crop rows, and UGV task points are extracted from the image. Using these image parameters, a map is created to solve a Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) with the following constraints: minimize UGV energy usage, minimize UGV travel distance, and travel must always be parallel to crop row orientation within the boundary of a planted field. Finally, the UGV executes the generated route to accomplish all tasks. To evaluate the performance of different TSP approximation algorithms with the given crop row constraints a simulated environment is used. Ultimately, our framework aims to optimize UGV performance for Precision Agriculture tasks and effectively utilize aerial imaging in air to ground agricultural applications
User centered design of a mental health app for college students
No full textMental health concerns are an increasingly unmet need among college students. Barriers such as high costs and social stigma often prevent students from accessing well-being support. Digital mental health interventions offer a promising approach to connecting students with mental health resources and enhancing their overall well-being. However, existing mental health applications often lack accessibility, are hidden behind paywalls, or offer limited engagement, which restricts students’ ability to access consistent and meaningful support. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the mental health support needs of college students, informing the design of a mobile mental health application that is usable, engaging, and effectively supports students in strengthening their mental health and well-being. Using a participatory design approach, focus groups and co-design workshops were conducted with 26 college students in Spring and Fall 2025. Students shared their perceptions of existing mobile mental health applications and sketched mobile app templates, visually outlining the features and layouts they would find most helpful for managing their well-being. Analysis of the workshops and discussions revealed four design needs: (1) Customization of the app’s content and layout for enhanced engagement. (2) Consolidation of student wellbeing resources on campus, for quick and easy access. (3) Facilitate Community building with updates on campus events and clubs. (4) Tracking personal well-being through features such as a mood tracker and journaling. Our next step is to translate these findings into mockups and conduct iterative tests with students and stakeholders to collect early feedback. College students\u27 perceptions of an ideal mental health tool are shaped by their individual experiences with social and academic pressure in a university environment. Mental health applications for college students may need to connect self-help features and university wellbeing resources into one place to help them cope with isolation and feel a greater sense of belonging on campus
Developing Scorpion Venom Based Antiviral Peptides Targeting 3-Chemotrypsin Like Protease of SARS-CoV-2
No full textSince the development of COVID-19, a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, there has been a need for the development of an innovative solution to increase the bioavailability of inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 has decreased the global life expectancy by 1.6 years from 2019-2020. Peptide therapeutics are effective because of their high affinity with receptors and low toxicity. Additionally, they can reduce off- target side effects because of their heightened target specificity and potency. Scorpion’s venom contains a mixture of peptides and proteins with varied bioactivities and receives great attention due to their potential application in peptide drug design and development. However, due to their hydrophobic nature, these peptides are difficult to synthesize chemically. The aim of this research is to synthesize scorpion venom peptide using chemical synthesis and test their effectiveness on inhibiting the 3-Chemotrypsin Like Protease of SARS-CoV-2. The scorpion peptide was synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis protocol with a high swelling rink-amide resin with a loading capacity of 0.6 mmol/g and mesh size of 100-200. After the peptide synthesis, the peptide-resin complexes were cleaved with 95% TFA, 2.5% H2O, and 2.5% Triisopropylsilane. The cleaved peptides were filtered and precipitated by adding cold ether. The purity and identification of the peptide was confirmed by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Three charge states of the peptide detected at m/z 1732.04, 866.52 and 578.02 which correspond to [M+H] +, [M+2H]2+ and [M+3H]3+ charge states, respectively. The inhibition efficiency of the peptide against 3CLpro was tested using FRET assay which demonstrated an IC50 value of 12.32 micromolar, indicating that 3CLpro activity was decreasing with an increase in peptide in inhibitor concentration
When Two Critiques of Universalism Collide: Seeing Majara Residence through Post Modernism and Critical Regionalism
No full textWhen discussing the most famous and renowned architects, instantly recognizable names such as Le Corbusier or Frank Lloyd Wright are often the first to come to mind. This is because, for most of the 20th century, serious architecture was defined by Modernism. In the late 1960s, however, a new movement arose in reaction to Modernism’s strict, minimalist, and sterile style that suppressed ornament, color, and individuality. Robert Venturi, an American architect, is often credited as one of the founders of Postmodern architecture. He pioneered the movement with his pivotal 1966 manifesto Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture, in which he criticized Modernism for its flat sameness and proposed an opposing design approach for what serious architecture could be. In the decades since, contemporary architecture has frequently revisited the visual and conceptual tools of postmodernism, often as a means to resist the flattening effects of globalization. Yet, the most compelling contemporary uses of postmodern techniques emerge when these bold formal gestures are grounded in reflecting and serving local context and social purpose. This is an ideal that echoes the voice of early critics of postmodernism, who sought a deeper alternative in critical regionalism. This paper argues that ZAV Architects’ Aga Khan award-winning Majara Residence operates at the intersection of these two postmodern reactions: it borrows the expressive, formally experimental visual language of postmodernism while grounding it in the ethical and contextual intentionality of critical regionalism. Themes of postmodernism, critical regionalism, and globalization are explored to frame ZAV Architects’ work as both a continuation and a transformation of postmodern design strategies. It draws on the writings of those like Robert Venturi to situate postmodernism’s formal playfulness and symbolic language within broader critiques of modernist homogeneity. Simultaneously, Kenneth Frampton’s theory of critical regionalism informs this paper’s view of ZAV’s practice as one rooted in contextual responsiveness and local identity. This paper examines ZAV’s Majara Residence in comparison to postmodernist works to analyze its use of color, geometry, and repetition. Additional reference to ZAV’s Habitat for Orphan Girls supports the argument that the firm extends these ideas into socially embedded, materially grounded design. This research argues that ZAV Architects’ Majara Residence demonstrates how postmodern visual expression can coexist with regionalist intentionality to create architecture that is both visually striking and socially rooted. The project echoes the color and vibrance of postmodernist works yet departs from abstraction by intentionally embedding those same postmodern gestures within a real, lived community context. In doing so, ZAV brings substance to the spectacle, turning postmodernism’s design language of irony into a built dialogue between form, color, and community
Resisting Globalization: Gando Primary School and Majara Residence Beyond Critical Regionalism
No full textWhat happens to countries that do not have the economic power to initiate or keep up with globalization? In moments of revolution, architecture often plays a pivotal role in shaping and boosting the economy for cities. However, this is more often portrayed or studied in wealthy countries like Germany, Russia, and the United States. Countries that do not have economic power, especially developing nations, begin to mix culture with modern architecture. The Gando Primary School, a project located in Gando, Burkina Faso is a school that was built cooperatively by the village community funded by members who lived away from home. This project consisted of clay walls that support a double structured roof and a tin roof that made the inside of the building up to six degrees cooler than a singular layer tin roof. This project was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and contributed to Francis Kéré receiving the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Similarly, the Majara Residence was awarded the Aga Khan Award in 2025, which is described as a vibrant archipelago of varying programs that serve to incrementally build an alternative tourism economy. This paper investigates how architects Francis Kéré and ZAV Architects Collective used local materials and community engagement to develop impactful buildings that reflect the local culture. This paper compares these two precedents through the interpretation of Kenneth Frampton’s 6 Points of Architecture Resistance, showcasing the resistance to globalization aesthetics through a design strategy that incorporates the unique characteristics of a specific location. This research argues that struggling countries or cities can combat the standards of globalization through designs that involve the community, adapt to local materiality, and embrace culture, establishing cultural agency
Bridging Intergenerational Gap: A Campus for the Cohabitation of the Elderly and Foster Children
No full textFifteen cigarettes per day: research on addiction underlines the severity of social isolation. Statistics show that addiction is proven to be the only way out of loneliness and isolation. There are two groups that are at risk of being affected by this phenomenon: the elderly and the foster children. Architecture, as a spatial and social medium, has the capacity to mend these fractures. This design research explores how architecture can cultivate a sense of belonging and work against isolation through cohabitation of these two seemingly apart social groups. Social science research shows that both groups face alarming levels of loneliness, with studies revealing that nearly seventy percent of older adults and sixty percent of foster youth experience isolation. This paper starts with identifying needs for each group under examination to propose a spatial solution that incorporates their unique needs and emotional ideals. To bridge their distinct needs, this paper draws on the notion of “Third Space,” understood as an intermediary zone between separate domains to in the end connect them through architectural spaces. Social connection encompasses the structure, function, and quality of relationships, directly influencing our biological, psychological, and behavioral health. When these bonds weaken, so too does our sense of self and purpose. The overlap presents design opportunities to foster mutual support between two generations; but how can architecture be the solution to this problem? This design proposal envisions an intergenerational environment as a catalyst for human connection where the elderly may not only gather but also live, sharing daily experiences with the youth. Through intentional spatial programming and combining the wisdom of the elderly with the energy of the young, the project redefines architecture not merely as a building for human activity but as a participatory agent in the cultivation of community and the restoration of human connection