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Motorola Solutions Foundation Cybersecurity Experiential Scholarship Program
Full text linkThis presentation includes the recipients of the Motorola Solutions cybersecurity scholarship. It also includes a summary of the program and the competitions recipients participated in
Analysis of β-glucosidase Mutant T352V
Full text linkThis study looks at mutant T352V Β-glucosidase B (BglB). The mutant product was hypothesized to show reduced kinetic activity and thermostability compared to the wild-type. This was determined through modeling of the mutation using the FoldIt software. The protein was then purified and expressed through SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting. The results indicate that there was no production of a soluble protein. However, the Western Blot indicates the production of an insoluble protein. FoldIt modeling helps to explain the insoluble protein, as it indicates that the proximity of molecules without binding could cause aggregates to form inclusion bodies
Völuspá: A New Translation with Commentary
No full textThis project attempts to translate the Völuspá – the poem of the Poetic Edda which narrates the beginnings and endings of the world in Norse religion – as primarily a religious text, and to provide commentary that elaborates Völuspá’s plot and major theological points in order to make it accessible for theological examination
Characterization of Enzyme Function After Proline to Leucine Amino Acid Mutation at Location 41 in β-Glucosidase Enzyme
Full text linkOur work is part of a research project led by the Seigel lab at University of California–Davis called Design to Data. Collaborating with undergraduate labs across the country, the goal of this project is to create large datasets that will be able to train and improve the predictive abilities of artificial intelligence protein modeling software. For our project, we generated a mutant of the enzyme β-glucosidase (BglB), characterized it, and uploaded our data to the national database. As specific amino acid mutations are characterized, the database will be able to improve the understanding of mutational effects in proteins. β-glucosidase is a critical catalytic enzyme in the pathway for cellulose digestion.1 We hypothesized that our mutant enzyme, with a proline to leucine mutation at position 41, will demonstrate slightly decreased catalytic efficiency and decreased thermal stability in comparison to the wild type protein. Using Foldit, a graphic user interface, to score the protein suggests an acceptable likelihood of expression, with an increased total energy of 2.921 units, and no visible changes in the intermolecular forces. This energy increase also suggests that the protein will be slightly less stable and therefore slightly less active. In order to test our hypothesis, a kinetic assay was ran to determine the function of the enzyme post-mutation. This characterization will allow for further overall understanding of the enzyme β-glucosidase
Old Earth Creationism vs Young Earth Creationism
Full text linkFor this project, we were asked to pick a research question, which we explored throughout the semester, related to relevant class materials, which explored the NOMA model, and examined its relevance in various ways
Unlocking the Potential of Refugee Students
No full textForging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA) is a Chicago-based non-profit that provides tutoring services to refugee students including Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE). As a Restorative Justice Educational Intern at FORA, I worked individually with students to provide High Impact Tutoring that focused on developing literacy skills. Over the course of my internship, I researched the most effective methods for comprehensively accommodating the educational and emotional needs of SLIFE who are experiencing a formal classroom setting for the first time. My research showed that FORA fills important gaps when it comes to effectively educating SLIFE
Investigating the Intersection of ‘God of the Gaps’ and NOMA
No full textThis study explores the intersection between God-of-the-gaps arguments and whether these arguments cooperate with the guidelines of Stephen Jay Gould’s view of “non-overlapping magisteria” (NOMA). God-of-the-gaps arguments are used to explain current unexplained scientific phenomena by crediting God. If new scientific discoveries can eventually explain these phenomena, this would decrease the evidence for God. Three perspectives on this argument are explored: both theological and scientific arguments against God-of-the-gaps and an argument in favor of God-of-the-gaps. Through reading these perspectives, the findings suggest that each point of view presents an argument showing that God-of-the-gaps does not cooperate with the NOMA guidelines
The Utility Of The Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition for Children Suspected to have Autism: Examining the SRS-2 in Light of Children\u27s Race and Ethnicity
Full text linkThe shortage of autism specialists and lack of culturally sensitive autism assessment tools are helping to perpetuate racial and ethnic disparities in autism identification and treatment. Using DisCrit as a framework, this quantitative study examined the utility of one autism assessment tool, the Social Responsiveness Scale, second edition (SRS-2) for Black, Latine, and White students suspected of being autistic. Results suggest that there is low inter-rater agreement between parents and teachers on the SRS-2 and that the SRS-2 demonstrates low predictive validity across racial/ethnic groups. Implications for practice are provided highlighting the importance of culturally responsive approaches in addressing disparities in autism evaluation
School Psychologists’ Experiences and Roles in Trauma-Informed Practices
Full text linkDue to a wide breadth of training, school psychologists are uniquely qualified to provide indirect and direct services outlined by best practices, such as school-based mental health services, special education evaluations, and trauma-informed practices. Professional standards indicate that school psychologists are equipped to identify trauma response symptoms and provide evidence-based services when supporting students with trauma histories. However, an identified gap between best practices and the present realities of school psychologists\u27 has been identified in the literature. The few studies that explored the experiences of school psychologists endorsed a lack of training and confidence with identifying trauma response symptoms and subsequent trauma-informed services. The present study used a phenomenological qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews to determine the realities of Illinois school psychologists in providing these trauma-informed practices. The results of the present study added to the literature by highlighting eight participants’ experiences with learning and implementing trauma-informed care at the graduate and professional level. Key findings suggest that these participants received baseline, or general, knowledge of identifying trauma response symptoms and trauma-informed care through graduate training programs and professional development opportunities offered through their school district and state or national organizations. While these participants reported feeling more confident and prepared in their ability to identify trauma response symptoms, they desired explicit application-based training to better understand how to support students with trauma histories through school-based therapeutic and counseling approaches. Further, these participants highlighted systemic barriers (e.g., resources, school psychologist shortage, limited school-wide knowledge) and facilitators (e.g., team-based support, consultation) that impacted their ability to provide trauma-informed care. The findings obtained from the eight interviews sparked possible implications and future directions for the fields of school psychology and education
Psychology of Religion & Science Denial
No full textThis presentation from my THEO 280 class is the introduction to my ongoing research project regarding the psychological motivators religion and science denial, and prefaces my exploration of the relationship between the two topics