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THE ROLE OF METAL PHOSPHITES: ABIOTIC SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND REACTIVITY UNDER EARLY EARTH CONDITIONS**
No full textPhosphorus is a fundamental element in life. According to the geological record, phosphate minerals were abundant on the early Earth; however, they are highly insoluble. Therefore, they were unlikely to be the direct source of phosphorus for life on the early Earth. In comparison, metal phosphites are significantly more soluble and contain phosphorus in an intermediate oxidation state (+3), making them more reactive than phosphates because they can undergo redox as well as acid-base chemistry. Metal phosphites could have been formed by several plausible formation pathways under prebiotic conditions including corrosion of meteoric minerals and iron redox geochemistry in the early Earth’s oceans. Our experiments address the research question, What are the prebiotic species formed when metal phosphites undergo abiotic aqueous chemistry under early Earth conditions? Thus far, we\u27ve synthesized and characterized four of the most plausible metal phosphites (calcium, magnesium, iron (II), and iron (III) phosphite), using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (P-NMR). To calculate percent yields for future reactivity experiments, we have determined the solubility of the metal phosphites using a combination of inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and P-NMR. Future experiments will measure the reactivity of the metal phosphites with glycerol and propanol using NMR. Comparing the percent yields for the reactivity measurements with other prebiotically plausible pathways to the formation of organophosphates may reveal that metal phosphites were key intermediates on the early Earth
BMAL2 IN ENDOTHELIAL CIRCADIAN RHYTHM AND REMODELING
No full textCardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of mortality in humans. Using mouse models of genetic disruption, I have previously found that Bmal1 has an important vascular-specific role controlling hypermuscularization and scarring in the blood vessel in a process called pathological remodeling or stiffening. I have also found that the endothelial cell layer of arteries contributes to the disease in Bmal1 knockout (KO) mice. While Bmal1 is found throughout the body, its functional though much less understood paralog, Bmal2, is more selectively expressed in the endothelium. To understand the role of Bmal2 in vascular disease, I have implemented a widely used experimental animal model of arterial ligation to induce vascular remodeling. I ligated the left common carotid artery (LC) in two groups of mice, control wild-type mice (no genetic mutation) and the experimental Bmal2-KO (global knockout) mice. After two weeks, I isolated the LC and fixed the arteries in optimal cutting temperature (O.C.T.) compound and conducted histological processing (cut cross sections with a cryotome and stained with hematoxylin and eosin). I then quantified the changes in structure in the artery using the ImageJ program on digitized microscope images. My preliminary results suggest that compared to control mice, thickening of the LC was observed in female Bmal2-KO mice only and not in the male Bmal2-KO mice, indicating Bmal2 may have a sex-specific role in vascular remodeling. Future studies will assess the endothelial specific knockout mouse of Bmal2
POTENTIAL ROLE OF ADENOVIRUS E4 11K PROTEIN TOWARD THE INHIBITION OF INTERFERON-BETA EXPRESSION
No full textAdenoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses that cause common upper respiratory infections. Early viral proteins generate an ideal environment to promote viral replication. One early viral protein, E4 11k, has multiple functions, including the redistribution of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies and cytoplasmic p bodies, leading to a potential alteration of their functions. The cell will attempt to respond to viral infection through nucleic acid sensors, such as retinoic-acid inducible gene I (RIG-I), that will induce type I interferon transcription, which can lead to inhibition of viral replication. RIG-I is a viral RNA sensor that activates a signaling cascade to stimulate a type I interferon response. DEAD-box helicase 6 (Ddx6) was recently shown to bind to RIG-I to enhance its functions. E4 11k has been shown to colocalize with and bind to Ddx6, causing Ddx6 to go into aggresomes. Influenza and EV71, both single-stranded RNA viruses, have also been shown to interact with Ddx6, leading to the modulation of RIG-I. Therefore, we hypothesize that E4 11k is binding to Ddx6 to modulate RIG-I, leading to a decrease of expression of interferon-beta. Human lung carcinoma cells (A549) were infected with an Ad 5 wild-type virus and an E4 11k deleted virus for 12, 24, 30, 36, or 48 hours, and RT-qPCR was performed to evaluate expression of RIG-I and IFNB1 . When the expression of RIG-I and IFNB1 was normalized to GAPDH, an internal control, a biphasic expression of both RIG-I and IFNB1 was present during the wild-type infection with peaks at 24 and 36 hours post-infection (hpi) and was decreased at 30 and 40 hpi. When E4 11k was not present, a similar expression pattern occurred; however, there was a sustained increase of IFNB1 expression present after 36 hpi, suggesting that E4 11k is necessary toward the reduction of interferon-beta protein expression
ROLE OF FGF2 mRNA 5ʹ UTR IN CAP-INDEPENDENT TRANSLATION INITIATION **
No full textThe FGF2 gene encodes the basic fibroblast growth factor which controls cellular growth, proliferation, and cell signaling. Under normal conditions, FGF2 mRNA is translated via cap-dependent translation. However, under certain stress conditions, an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) reportedly bypasses typical regulation switching to cap-independent translation. Cancer cells overexpress FGF2 protein, ultimately leading to tumor growth. Mechanistically, the reported switch from cap-dependent to cap-independent translation remains poorly described. In order to understand the regulation of the FGF2 IRES under cellular stress conditions, we are investigating its secondary structure using the SHAPE-MaP (selective 2ʹ-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension with mutation profiling) chemical probing strategy under different chemically-induced stress factors. Here we describe our experimental strategy and present a secondary structure model of the FGF2 mRNA 5ʹ UTR built using gently extracted total RNA from the A549 human lung carcinoma cell line, using phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol. We are observing a complex arrangement of nucleotides throughout the targeted region (nucleotides 2-426). We are comparing the cell-free SHAPE reactivity profile with reactivity data from live cells using reagents 5NIA. Prior studies show that FGF2 uses four upstream CUG start codons which are activated in transformed and stressed cells. We present our initial reports on stress-induced cells, where we compare SHAPE profiles to identify the effect of stressors such as hypoxia, nutrient starvation, and heat shock. We aim to elucidate structural mechanisms corresponding to the effects of stress on FGF2 translation control. Lastly, we describe a workflow for future experiments involving DMS-MaP, a strategy for direct nucleotide base-pairing analysis, and RNP-MaP, an RNA-protein interactomics strategy to study the influence of IRES-transacting factors under stress conditions
ZERO IS BETTER THAN ONE : AN ANALYSIS OF BEING FIRST
No full textModern societies place great emphasis on being “the first”: the first to make a discovery, the first to obtain a graduate degree relative to some specific group, etc. Our purpose is to demonstrate by means of explicit examples that this concept, i.e. “firstness” has no intrinsic meaning or significance. Consequently, at the simplest level, it is hard to ever prove that someone is a “first.” So, why the important attention that is given to “firstness”? We provide some answers to this question
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND RECOGNITION IN THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
No full textThe American Chemical Society (ACS) was founded in April 1876. Due to America’s history of Jim Crow segregation policies, many African Americans were not early members of this organization. In spite of decades of discriminatory policies and practices, African Americans overcame obstacles and cultivated achievements in the chemical sciences at both Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). The Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 paved the way for limited and very marginal acceptance of African Americans into national scientific societies. As a result of overt discrimination experienced by African Americans who attended the spring 1972 National ACS conference, the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) was established. NOBCChE was founded in April 1972 and chartered a year later in 1973. Today NOBCChE and the ACS enjoy a mutually beneficial partnership like none other that has fostered membership growth and mentoring opportunities for thousands of future scientists. To date, three African Americans have achieved election as President/President-Elect of the ACS: Dr. Henry Hill in 1977 and Dr. Joseph Francisco in 2009. The first African American female, Dr. Dorothy J. Phillips, was elected in November 2023 as President-Elect
FROM SCIENCE THOUGHT TO SCIENCE PRACTICE: QUESTIONING AND SCIENCE PRACTICE IN THE K-12 CLASSROOM
No full textThis qualitative study aims to explore scientific inquiry, specifically the use of questioning and the relationship between students’ understanding of science content with the implementation of science and engineering practices (SEPs). The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasizes the process of scientific inquiry as a set of “practices” students engage with to investigate the natural world around them. K-12 students engaging in the iBEARS (Inclusive Biologist Exploring Active Research with Students) program learn science content and practice SEPs through inquiry-based learning by participating in an original research experience, concluding in the creation of a research poster. Using a qualitative approach, we used mentor and student views about questioning from the Views About Scientific Inquiry (VASI) instrument and their completed research posters to investigate how students understand and implement questioning skills while “doing science.” Preliminary results of this study give insight into how inquiry-based curricula affect mentor and student views and uses of science practices in the classroom. Future research is needed to understand first, why views about questioning changed after serving as a mentor and. Second how K-12 students view scientific inquiry aspects and develop SEPs. This research is necessary to understand better how inquiry-based learning curricula can support student science content and practice skill development
THWARTED BELONGINGNESS IMPACTS CAREER DISTRESS AMIDST COVID-19: MALADAPTIVE COPING AS A MODERATOR**
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic had a worldwide impact with unexpected consequences for peoples’ social functioning and mental health. Researchers have noted changes in social relationships across many settings including universities. Social distancing may have negatively impacted students’ sense of belonging in their social groups and reduced their access to this key protective factor and source of stress relief. Not being able to connect to and learn from peers, faculty, and professionals may lead to career distress, which results in uncertainty and the inability to make decisions about one\u27s career path. Pressure to progress and limited internship opportunities posed barriers to student preparation and obtaining information about careers. Furthermore, lack of belongingness and career distress have negatively affected students\u27 adaptability in navigating unpredictable challenges and changes. Many students reported using maladaptive strategies to cope with stress, such as self-distraction, denial, behavioral disengagement, and self-blame, paradoxically increasing distress. Feeling disconnected from others contributed to greater use of unhelpful coping strategies. During the fall 2021 semester, a comprehensive mental health survey was distributed to students. Results were obtained from 642 college student participants for the following measures: Brief COPE, Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and the Career Distress Scale. We hypothesized that thwarted belongingness will significantly predict career distress, with this relationship being stronger for the individuals who engaged in more maladaptive coping. Data collection is complete; data analysis is currently ongoing for this study. We will present results and discuss strategies to offer ongoing support for students in higher education post-COVID, with an eye toward enhancing career adaptability through improved coping mechanisms and a heightened sense of belonging. Implications include implementing various intervention strategies to enhance career adaptability by promoting inclusivity and mental well-being
COLLEGE SPECIFIC DEPRESSION: ANALYZING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CLASS YEAR AND RACIAL/ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS
No full textDepression is a well-known mental health problem for college students. Many factors are considered when determining who is more susceptible for college specific depression and why. For the purpose of this research, we are specifically interested in students of different class years (first-year, sophomore, junior, senior, other) and those of different ethnic backgrounds (Whites, Blacks, Latinix, Asians, and Other demographic groups). Participants were 1,428 Georgia Southern University students, consisting of various ages, genders, class years and ethnic backgrounds, who completed an anonymous online survey containing both demographic and Wooster-Wickline College Adjustment Test (WOWCAT) questions. The WOWCAT measure is a new measure of college adjustment which can be generalized to the population of interest. Two hypotheses were presented. First, we hypothesized that there would be a difference in college specific depression across different classes (first-year, sophomore, junior, senior, other). From running a one-way between-subjects ANOVA we did not find significant differences in depression among the class years. Secondly, we hypothesized that there would be a difference in college-specific depression and different racial and ethnic groups (Whites, Blacks, Latinix, Asians, and Other demographic groups). We then ran a one-way between-subjects ANOVA and found that there was no significant difference between the two variables. The results differ from previous research studies which produced significant differences in depression among class years and racial/ethnic groups. The study would be improved with more resources, a diverse campus, and a factorial design
THE STRESS TOLERANCE MODERATES THE LINK BETWEEN CSA AND THE ABILITY TO RELATE TO OTHERS
No full textChildhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) is associated with difficulties developing intimate connections. Indeed, individuals with CSA histories are more likely to express feelings of isolation than individuals without CSA histories. CSA can also hinder the development of distress tolerance (DT) skills, which help individuals withstand negative emotional experiences. It was found that high distress tolerance was linked to a greater likelihood of having their psychological needs met in romantic relationships. Thus, we examined whether DT moderated the association between having a CSA history and one’s ability to relate to others. We hypothesized an overall positive association between CSA and the ability to relate to others in those with higher DT. As part of a larger study, heavy drinking women with sexual victimization histories (N=216) completed an online background questionnaire that included the Computer Assisted Maltreatment Inventory (CAMI) to assess a history of CSA prior to age 14, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) which includes the Relating to Others subscale, and the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). A linear regression was conducted that included main effects of CSA history (0=no, 1=yes) and DTS as well as their interaction predicting the PTGI subscale Relating to Others. There was a significant interaction between CSA and DTS, F(3,191) = 2.88, p=.02, R^2=.04. Simple slopes analyses revealed no significant association between DTS and PTGI Relating to Others scale for those with no CSA history (b=.22, p=.70); however, there was a positive association between DTS and PTGI Relating to others scale for those with a CSA history (b=3.1, p=.01). Consistent with our hypothesis, high DT is associated with a higher capability of relating to others in people with a CSA history. Results suggest that improved DT skills may help individuals struggling to build interpersonal relationships, particularly if they have a CSA history