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Parameterizing Fluorescent Protein Chromophores For Molecular Dynamics Simulations
No full textFluorescent proteins (FPs) are important to many studies of protein function, and we plan to examine them in the future using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Before running MD, fluorescent protein chromophore parameters must be determined that are consistent with the latest version of the Cornell et al. force field (1995, J. Am. Chem. Soc.), ff14SB (Maier et al., 2015, JTCC.) along with the generalized AMBER force field (Wang et al., 2004, J. Comput Chem.). Parameterization was carried out using quantum mechanical calculations to determine the optimized geometry and electrostatic potential of each chromophore. The restrained electrostatic potential (RESP) charge fitting procedure was used to derive atomic charges. All other parameters (Lennard-Jones, Bond length, Bond Angle, Dihedral Angles) were assigned by analogy to pre-existing force field parameters. Complete MD parameters are presented for the chromophores of six common FPs: EGFP, mCherry, DsRed, EBFP, EYFP, and ECFP
Should the Federal Government be Involved in State-Funded Public Education?
No full textIn the United States, personal choice is highly valued. The individual is paramount to the American ideal, and the country’s Founders made it a point to focus on the rights that each person has to make the best life that they possibly can for themselves and their family. In terms of education, that choice has arguably been taken away from the public and placed in the hands of bureaucrats that draw lines based on zip codes and property tax rates to send children from certain areas to certain schools. Through the use of theories on policy change, I propose a plan to alter the education system in the United States. Careful policy analysis reveals the possibility of creating a system that is more responsive to parents and students who desire improved educational quality, broader selection opportunities, and greater efficiency in public educational funding. This paper includes the investigation of a state-funded voucher system as a more efficient and effective way to offer public education. Such a program seems likely to offer more control and better educational outcomes than the current policy arrangement
The Effect of Runner’s Tea on Fat Oxidation in Recreational Runners
No full textIngestion of Runner’s Tea, a matcha green tea product, may have potential for increasing fat oxidation in various populations of runners. This within-groups study was designed to determine whether or not Runner’s Tea would have an effect on fat oxidation during a 30-minute steady-state running task at 65% VO2 max in recreational runners aged 19-22 years (n=10). Each participant consumed either 8 ounces of Citrus Mint Runner’s Tea or 8 ounces of a placebo citrus mint tea (no green tea or caffeine content) 30 minutes prior to exercise. Participants ran 30 minutes at 65% VO2 max, and Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER), Rating of Perceive Exertion (RPE), and Heart Rate (HR) were taken 6 times throughout each exercise trial at equal intervals. Results showed no main effects for group (p\u3e0.05), and also no interactions between groups over time for RER (p=0.116), RPE (p=0.776), or HR (p=0.212). Currently, no evidence exists to support improvements in fat oxidation when consuming Runner’s Tea compared to placebo tea
The 1-42 Isoform of Amyloid Beta Reduces Cell Viability of Salmonella enterica
No full textAlzheimer\u27s disease (AD) is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, one out of every eight Americans aged sixty-five and older will develop the disease. One pathological hallmark associated with AD and other forms of dementia is the over-accumulation of the peptide amyloid beta. While amyloid beta is present at low levels in all humans, its function is a source of great debate. The peptide has been shown to reduce the viability of microbes that have invaded the central nervous system. However, this finding has only been demonstrated once so far. The present work tested the hypothesis that amyloid beta exerts antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enterica (S. enterica), a leading cause of meningitis. After treating S. enterica with a range of concentrations (1pM-1microM) of both major isoforms of amyloid beta (1-40 and 1-42), we measured bacterial cell viability with the alamar blue assay. Our results revealed that the 1-42 isoform, but not the 1-40 isoform of amyloid beta, had an effect on bacterial growth. More specifically, administration of 10pM of amyloid beta (1-42 isoform) reduced cell viability over 20 percent (compared to vehicle control; F=32.91, p\u3c 0.0001). This result extends the finding that amyloid beta has an anti-microbial function. Moreover, our results indicate that the 1-42 isoform, enriched in amyloid beta plaques associated with dementia, has unique properties that allow it to reduce the growth of S. enterica. Lastly, our data suggest that the peptide can exert antimicrobial effects at a concentration (10pM) lower than that associated with protein misfolding and the plaque formation associated dementia. While ongoing work is being performed to dissect the mechanisms underlying these findings, our data supports the hypothesis that amyloid beta release in vivo is prompted by microbial infection of the central nervous system
Pedagogical Content Knowledge: Preservice Teachers Working with Fractions
No full textMathematical content related to fractions can be difficult to understand, both conceptually and procedurally. In order to help elementary students develop a better understanding of fractions, preservice teachers must understand and be prepared to teach content related to fractions. In the Math for Elementary and Middle School Teachers course, an intervention involving pedagogical content knowledge was implemented in order to increase preservice teachers’ ability to execute and explain various methods and models of problem solving related to fractions. Preservice teachers were exposed to pedagogical content knowledge through experiences such as analyzing samples of student work, watching videos of elementary students learning material in educational settings, and becoming familiar with a variety of models and explanations that could be used in mathematical problem solving. While these types of activities were integrated throughout the course, this research specifically analyzed the effect of experiences in the fractions unit. In addition to taking a Learning Mathematics for Teaching pretest and posttest developed by the University of Michigan, which covered material related to fractions and other topics, the preservice teachers in the class wrote journal entries on their developing knowledge about fractions. Initially, 57 preservice teachers participated in the course; however, data from some pre and posttests was not used since some individuals dropped or added the course without completing the fractions unit or without taking both tests. Data from 51 preservice teachers is being analyzed, and research is ongoing
Engineering the Future
No full textHigh school students from primarily high-risk backgrounds attended a week-long engineering academy to introduce them to the complementary relationships among science, mathematics, technology and engineering. A coordinated teacher training and high school student engineering summer experience, the inquiry-based program was built around the Engineering the Future curriculum developed at the Boston Museum of Science\u27s National Center for Technological Literacy. The Hope College Center for Exploratory Learning partnered with the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District/Regional Math and Science Center for a second year to recruit teachers to first attend a three day workshop to discuss the use of engineering design as the foundation for STEM learning and to plan the week long student academy in conjunction with Hope College engineering and education students and faculty. Hope pre-service education students gain valuable interactions with practicing teachers; teachers gain hands-on experience using engineering design in their classrooms; and high school students explore fundamental topics in a real-world context
Does Lithium Diminish Manic/Depressive Behaviors in Rats Associated with HCA Exposure?
No full textThe development of novel treatments for Bipolar Disorder has been hampered by the lack of a good animal model for the disease. The purpose of this study was to establish predictive validity for a novel animal model for bipolar disorder. Previous work in Dr. Chase’s lab has demonstrated that early exposure to the glutamatergic agonist, homocysteic acid (HCA), leads to a phenotype which is consistent with a mixed manic/depressive state as is often observed with bipolar disorder. Specifically, we observed that HCA-treated rats displayed increased risk-taking behavior, reduced social behavior, novelty-induced hyperlocomotion, anhedonia, and increased motivational behavior compared to control rats. Now we wish to determine if lithium, a common treatment for bipolar disorder, will lead to a reduction in depressive and manic behaviors associated with HCA. Therefore, we injected 23 rats daily with the endogenous, glutamatergic agonist homocysteic acid (HCA) from postnatal days 3-21. Another group of 23 rats received injection of saline. Six weeks later, the saccharine preference test, elevated plus maze, social interaction test, rotarod test, forced swim test and Morris Water Maze were conducted to assess anhedonia, risk taking behavior, social interaction, motor coordination, depressive behaviors, motivation and risk-taking behaviors. The rats were then treated with lithium for the remainder of the experiment and assessed in the same behavioral tests described previously to observe whether lithium was effective in reducing the behaviors associated with HCA exposure. If lithium is found to reduce manic and depressive behaviors in HCA-treated rats, this would suggest that the HCA model could potentially be used to identify novel pharmacological agents that would better treat the disorder
Oxytocin Receptor Gene Variation and Forgiveness: A Study of Traits and States
No full textOxytocin is a neuropeptide associated with social bonding and empathy for others. In the context of interpersonal offenses, level of empathy for one’s offender is a significant predictor of granting forgiveness. This study assesses whether empathy and forgiveness-related responses vary based on genetic variations in the oxytocin receptor gene. One single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is believed to be a factor in individual differences in the expression of empathy and other affiliative behaviors. Those with one or two copies of adenine (A) in intron 3 of the OXTR gene may have less dispositional empathy and greater stress reactivity than those homozygous for guanine (G). Our study uses a mixed design to test traits and states in 100 males and 100 females. First, we will determine the proportion of GG, AA, and AG participants. Second, using a between subjects natural groups design, we will compare GGs to A carriers for the traits of empathy, forgiveness, and the tendency to ruminate or use positive reappraisal coping styles. Third, we will test whether GG and A carriers differ in their responses to offense cognition conditions within participants. Participants each identify an unresolved interpersonal offense committed against them by someone they know. In the repeated measures design, participants are instructed to ruminate about the offense and to complete two different positive reappraisal conditions in counterbalanced orders: compassion-focused and benefit-focused reappraisal. Compassion-focused reappraisal emphasizes the humanity of the offender and how that person needed to change, whereas benefit-focused reappraisal prioritizes how the participant may have grown through facing the offense. We test whether these two natural groups (AA/AG vs. GG) differ in their response to the repeated measures conditions of positive reappraisals (versus offense rumination) for the dependent variables of state empathy, benevolence, and forgiveness, as well as unforgiveness responses of revenge and avoidance
Which Activities Matter? The Effects of Preschool Curricula on Future Educational Outcomes
No full textAs the literature in economics examining child participation in preschool has grown substantially in the past two decades, little has been done to determine what aspects of an early childhood education program make it effective. While most research in this field studies the broad effects of preschool participation on later-life educational and labor market outcomes, this paper investigates the relationship between engaging in specific math- or reading-related activities during preschool and children’s future educational outcomes. Understanding the effects of particular activities is crucial for informing decision making by parents who send their children to preschool and policymakers trying to incentivize optimal early childhood investment. The Head Start Impact Study provides nationally-representative child-level data on the frequency with which children engage in certain math- and reading-related activities, such as reading stories aloud and playing math games, as well as teacher evaluations of children’s math and reading aptitudes in second grade. I identify the effects of including specific activities in an early childhood education curriculum on future educational success by controlling for a variety of childcare provider characteristics and the socioeconomic background of children’s families
Take a Look at Snail Fever
No full textSchistosomiasis is the second most devastating socioeconomic parasitic disease in the world. Snail fever, Schisto, and swimmer’s itch are common names for this parasitic disease. Found in bodies of stagnant water, schistosomiasis causes many horrible symptoms, including brain damage, and can cause death if left untreated for a long period of time. This disease is easily curable, but highly contagious. Praziquantel is the drug that cures Schistosomiasis which is readily available for those in first world countries. However, developing countries struggle to get the necessary drug due to the price and availability. Sometimes the drug is not prescribed to those in developing countries because reinfection often occurs within a year. It is important for people in developed countries to seek solutions to this problem as well because this disease affects people regardless of their economic status. This study explores the following steps that can be taken to work to reduce the instances of Schistosomiasis; donations to organizations to make Praziquantel more economically available; build wells in developing countries so that a clean, uncontaminated water supply may exist for the population; educational programs focusing on safe water management such as boiling water to help reduce the occurrences of snail fever