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Isolation of 32 Mycobacteriophages and Genomic Analysis of the Novel Mycobacteriophage, Minnie
No full textThirty-two new mycobacteriophages were isolated from soil samples collected on or nearby Hope College in Holland, Michigan. All were capable of infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis and produced a variety of plaque morphologies based on size, shape, and clarity, consistent with the isolation of an assortment of different phages. Both lytic and temperate phages appear represented in this collection. Thirty-two purified phage stocks were used to prepare genomic DNA samples for restriction digest analysis. A comparison of those 32 digest results revealed few similarities among the group, further supporting our interpretation that most of the new phage isolates were distinct. One mycobacteriophage, Minnie, was chosen for complete genome sequencing using the Illumina Sequence platform and comparative genomic analysis. The predominant plaque produced by Minnie was 1-2 mm in diameter and displayed a turbid center with a comet-like tail after 24 hours of growth at 37°C. Comparison of the restriction digest pattern for Minnie with more than 200 known mycobacteriophage genomes did not yield an exact match, suggesting Minnie was a novel mycobacteriophage. Genome sequence data for Minnie supported that prediction but also revealed a relationship to a large group of mycobacteriophages in Cluster F1. The genome of Minnie is 59 Kb, 61.5% GC, and contains 101 genes in agreement with the genome characteristics of closely related phage. A detailed analysis of the complete genome sequence and comparison with sequenced members of this small and unique group of mycobacteriophages is the subject of the second semester of this yearlong course and is presented
Testing Quinazolinespirohexadienone Photochromes As Gatable Photoinduced Charge Transfer Initiators
No full textThe quinazolinespirohexadienone (QSHD) photochromes have the potential to gate photoinduced charge transfer (PICT). The long wavelength isomer, LW, is a modest photooxidant while the short wavelength isomer, SW, is not able to act as a photooxidant. SW isomerizes to LW by absorbing UV light. LW is capable of initiating PICT from a donor molecule after excitation by visible light. The cation radical of the donor molecule can then be used in a cation radical chain process. It is important that the fade from LW to SW occurs by a purely thermal mechanism so that the LW photochemical channel is available for PICT. Photochrome reversion from LW to SW has been studied for the parent photochrome, perimidinespirohexadienone (PSHD), and QHSD in the dark and with irradiation at 578 nm. After accounting for temperature differences between the solutions, it appears that PSHD LW reversion is a purely thermal process. QSHD photochrome LW reversion shows very modest acceleration by 578 nm light, but this may not be statistically significant. While the QSHD LW is not a particularly potent photooxidant, it should be sufficient to oxidize N,3-(bis-trans-1-propenyl)carbazole. This readily oxidizable monomer is distinctive because upon one electron oxidation it undergoes a genuine cation radical polymerization. Syntheses of this monomer and close analogs are underway with the ultimate goal of testing QSHD’s ability to gate the PICT-initiated cation radical polymerization of these monomers
Investigating The Decarbonylation of Cyclic Imides Using a Nickel Catalyst
Get PDFPrevious research established that the decarbonylative nickel-mediated cross coupling reaction of N-substituted cyclic imides with diorganozinc reagents is possible with a range of phthalimide substitution and diorganozinc reagents. Current investigation into this reaction demonstrates that electron deficient N-aryl substitutions promote more catalyst turnovers than the previous work suggested.
All of the previous reactions utilized N-substituted phthalimides. Reaction development is underway to expand the scope of this reaction to imides with saturated backbones. Further studies to investigate the effect the saturated backbone have been performed via NMR and in situ IR
POLYAD: Predicting and Fitting Mixed Vibrational States to a Multi-Resonant Hamiltonian
Get PDFPolyad is a computer program that constructs sets of strongly interacting vibrational states from resonant interactions. It utilizes the multi-resonant Hamiltonian model which accounts for resonances directly and handles weaker interactions using second order perturbation theory. The model is defined at runtime and includes harmonic, anharmonic, and resonance constants. Polyad connects theory to experiment by predicting energy levels within a user-defined energy range from spectroscopic constants, fitting spectroscopic constants to a set of spectroscopic data, and assessing agreement between a computed model and a spectrum. Results are provided for vibrational levels of water with up to 15,000 cm-1 of energy
Imagine: Living on Less than $2 a Day...How Can Education Help Eradicate Poverty?
No full textOur world is filled with poverty with more than 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 per day. In the areas of most extreme poverty, most often the children do not attend school either because there is not one nearby, they are infected by worms, or girls do not have the proper products to deal with their menstrual cycle. However, education is perhaps the best way to break the cycle of poverty and create sustainable communities. In developing countries, the education of girls is especially important because they play the central role in taking care of the family. Their education in simple sanitation and health is often the difference between the life and death of a child. It is proven that simple treatments can increase the attendance and mental capacity of children. There are many organizations such as Brac, Unicef and Compassion that help provide practical education to children of developing nations. While there is still much to accomplish, much progress has been made
From Within and Without the Wall of Troy: A Discussion of War and Domesticity in The Iliad
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Ruthenium-Poly(Vinyl Pyridine) (RuPVP) Metallopolymers for Catalyzing Self-Oscillating Gels
Get PDFStimuli responsive polymer gels, in which a single stimulus (e.g. temperature, pH, etc.) causes a change in volume, have been the subject of intense interest for applications such as drug delivery and biological sensors. In these gels a periodic external change in stimulus is required for a periodic oscillation to be observed within a gel. However, many biological systems maintain periodic oscillations under constant environmental conditions, transforming chemical energy into mechanical work. Materials capable of mimicking this biological behavior represent exciting opportunities for extending responsive behavior through chemical energy harvesting and autonomous function. Autonomous oscillations can be achieved by the oscillating Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction within gels containing the BZ catalyst. When a gel containing a catalyst metal, such as ruthenium, is placed in a solution containing the BZ reactants (minus the Ru), the catalyst within the gel undergoes oscillation in its redox state. Due to the difference in the hydrophilicity of the polymer network at the Ru2+ and Ru3+ states, the gel displays swell-deswell oscillations. One of the challenges in producing self-oscillating gels is the lack of options for BZ catalysts. Currently used catalysts are either cost prohibitive or overly difficult to synthesize. To alleviate this problem, a facile, relatively inexpensive synthesis of ruthenium catalyst complex was attempted following previously reported procedures in the coordination polymer literature. Using readily available precursors, cis-Dichlorobis(2,2’-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) and poly(4-vinylpyridine) a ruthenium-poly(vinylpyridine) (RuPVP) metallopolymer was prepared. BZ reactions were successfully triggered by this ruthenium catalyst. With the catalytic ability of RuPVP established, this research can proceed with grafting the catalyst into a polymer gel, creating a versatile and accessible self-oscillating gel
Effects of Kinesiology Taping on Static and Dynamic Ankle Balance in Individuals Aged 18-22
No full textAnkle-taping techniques are the primary means for preventing injury in athletes. In recent years, kinesiology tape, (including but not limited to Kinesio™ tape, Cramer Sports Motion Tape, KT tape etc.) has grown in popularity, offering a variety of alleged therapeutic benefits unmatched by traditional white tape. These tapes, which are comprised of elastic material enabling it to be stretched to as much as 140% of its original length, provide similar therapeutic benefits which may include: assisting weakened muscles by correcting their action, improving circulation by lifting the skin from the fascia allowing the muscle to “pump” debris from the injured area, decreasing pain, relieving unwanted tension that is ever present in unstable joints (Hettle, Kase et al). It has also been suggested that the presence of this tape on the skin can elicit stimulation of mechanoreceptors, causing an increase in joint proprioception as a result (Murray and Husk). The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of KinesioTape based products, namely Cramer Sports Motion Tape, on static and dynamic balance of the ankle joint
The Effect of 4 Weeks of Fat Gripz on Grip Strength in Male and Female Collegiate Athletes
Get PDFResistance training is one of the most important aspects for athletic improvement in every level of athlete. With respect to resistance training, there has been much controversy regarding the effectiveness of different training techniques. Collegiate athletes often have limited time for resistance training. To be successful, athletic programs must maximize effectiveness with the short amount of time available. This study aims to compare the effects of four weeks of pull-up training using Fat Gripz vs. standard Olympic bar training in male colligate athletes. Fat Gripz are removable rubberized bar attachments that increase the standard Olympic bar to over double its thickness. The purpose of this study is to determine whether forearm grip strength and/or upper-body functional strength will differ with training between groups. Each group will perform three sets of pull-ups, three times a week, for four weeks. Each set of pull-ups will be completed to failure with a two minute rest between sets. For both pre and post training measurements, a hand dynamometer will be used to measure grip strength and a one rep-max lat pull down will be used to assess upper body functional strength. We hypothesize that there will be a greater increase in both forearm grip strength and one rep-max lat pull down in the Fat Gripz group compared to the standard group. If the results show greater strength gains for the Fat Gripz group then this training can be recommended to improve performance in athletes