62021 research outputs found
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Identification of unique tRNA-specific effects of tRNA modifying enzymes on 5-fluorouracil toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Full text linktRNA acetyltransferase 1 (Tan1), methyltransferase 1 (Trm1), and pseudouridine synthase 1 (Pus1) are three highly conserved tRNA-modifying enzymes that lack phenotypes when deleted on their own in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under normal growth conditions. However, each of these S. cerevisiae knockout strains exhibits heightened sensitivity to stress induced by growth in the presence of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU), resulting in a growth defect. Since each of these enzymes modifies substrate tRNAs at locations outside of the anticodon loop, we hypothesized that destabilization of one or more hypomodified tRNAs in these deletion strains is the reason for increased 5FU cytotoxicity and that certain tRNA species may be more affected than others by the missing modifications. This hypothesis is consistent with the trend followed by the previously characterized 5FU sensitivity of m1G9 methyltransferase Trm10, which modifies a range of tRNAs in yeast but plays a biologically important role for one of these substrates, tRNATrp. Here, I show that in tan1Δ strains lacking the 12th position N-4-acetylcytidine (ac4C12) modification, individual overexpression of only two of the six hypomodified Tan1 substrates, tRNASer(CGA) and tRNASer(UGA), suppresses hypersensitivity to 5FU, indicating another example of a modification present in several tRNAs but only biologically essential for a subset of these species. Correspondingly, the same two tRNAs (tRNASer(CGA) and tRNASer(UGA)) also rescued growth hypersensitivity of the trm1Δ strain to 5FU, while the 16 other Trm1 substrate tRNAs for m22G26 dimethylation in S. cerevisiae did not. However, overexpressing any individual tRNA substrate did not suppress the toxicity of 5FU in pus1Δ strains lacking pseudouridylation by Pus1. To identify the quality control pathway encountered by hypomodified tRNASer(CGA) and tRNASer(UGA), an enzyme related to sensing several such pathways was deleted in combination with Tan1 and arrested the 5FU-induced growth defect. The effects of modification by Tan1 on tRNA stability were also examined with northern blotting, which revealed that these tRNAs are subject to a distinct mechanism of quality control from that which had previously been implicated after the loss of the m1G9 modification. Moreover, the specific genes related to decay of these hypomodified tRNAs remain undetermined, as well as how 5FU toxicity specifically impacts different small non-coding RNAs. Such studies have important implications for elucidating the biological impact of these highly conserved tRNA modifications.No embargoAcademic Major: Biochemistr
The Impacts of Plasma Treatment on Airborne Microorganisms for Space Environment Applications
No full textIn space environments, microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi exhibit enhanced growth parameters and resilience to antibiotics, complicating mitigation efforts. This behavior increases risks of structural damage to the spacecraft and health issues such as infections and hypersensitivities among astronauts in closed environments such as the International Space Station (ISS). To address this, a cost-effective, low-waste technology called CAFAAI (Cabin Atmosphere Filtration using Ambient Air Ionization) has been developed for continuous microbial neutralization using the generation of negative plasma discharge. CAFAAI is optimized for low- power operation with no moving parts, making it a low-maintenance option. This study evaluated CAFAAI’s effectiveness in neutralizing three microorganisms commonly found on the ISS – Aspergillus (filamentous fungi), Aureobasidium pullulans (polymorphic fungi), and Bacillus atrophaeus (bacterium). Cultures were nebulized and treated under two voltage potentials and two treatment durations, repeated three times. Microbial survival was assessed by collecting samples post-CAFAAI treatment and monitoring growth on agar plates after incubation. Results demonstrated that higher voltages and longer treatment durations enhanced microbial neutralization for all microorganisms tested. Furthermore, a tradeoff between treatment duration and voltage potential was observed; doubling the contact time decreased the colony forming units on the plates 3x more than doubling the voltage potential. CAFAAI’s ability to continuously reduce microbial loads without producing significant waste or requiring moving parts positions it as a promising addition to spacecraft systems. This technology offers a sustainable solution for maintaining healthier and safer environments for astronauts during long-duration missions.A one-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Aerospace Engineerin
Varying responses of field pennycress seedlings under waterlogging
Full text linkField pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) is an emerging intermediate oilseed crop with significant potential for integration into existing crop rotations during the offseason, offering both economic and environmental benefits. However, fall waterlogging stress poses a potential challenge to successful pennycress establishment during the seedling stage. This study evaluated the waterlogging tolerance of 22 genetically diverse pennycress natural accessions by measuring mortality rates, plant height, and width under control and waterlogging conditions. Seedlings were grown under standard conditions for 7 days before being subjected to either waterlogging treatments or control conditions for two weeks. Measurements were taken on Day 0, Day 7, and Day 14 to track growth and mortality outcomes. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, unpooled t-tests, and Wilcoxon tests, were conducted to identify significant differences between treatment and control groups. This study found that there is a clear distinction between the most tolerant and most susceptible accessions. 13/22 accessions displayed significantly higher survival in control conditions while 4/22 showed significantly higher survival in waterlogged conditions. The accessions that had high survival in waterlogging showed extremely limited growth, suggesting an energy trade-off between plant growth and plant survival. These accessions also grew very little in control conditions, pointing to a genetic mechanism for survival that includes slow growth regardless of conditions. The findings provide valuable insights into the variability of waterlogging tolerance in pennycress, identifying promising candidates for breeding programs aimed at improving resilience to environmental stress. By identifying tolerant accessions, this research contributes to advancing pennycress as a viable winter annual cash crop capable of thriving in unpredictable climate conditions.U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Genomic Science Program grant no. DE-SC0021286OSU CFAES Undergraduate Honors Program Scholarships & Small Grants Will C. Hauk Endowment fundNo embargoAcademic Major: Sustainable Plant System
A Wearable Medication and Supplement Dosing System to Help Manage Emotions - B.Well
No full textCollege students often struggle with stress, lack of focus, and emotional fluctuations due to academic, professional, and personal pressures. And yet, the same students can identify when and how they would like their mood to change.
The healthcare system often prioritizes treatment over prevention. When addressing medical issues, the focus is typically on diagnosis and disease management rather than proactive care. This reactive approach extends to emotional well-being, where stress and anxiety are often ignored until they escalate into serious conditions. Shifting toward preventative solutions can help address these challenges before they become critical.
Addressing this issue, we present B.Well, an innovative wearable injection system designed to help users take control of their emotional well-being. It utilizes advanced mood detection technology to monitor real-time emotional states and deliver personalized support. This project was explored in collaboration with Battelle, aligning with their interest in finding potential applications for the use of their existing technology in mood management and emotional regulation. Their guidance prioritized user-centered research to ensure the design meets real-world needs and enhances emotional well-being.Battelle Memorial InstituteNo embargoAcademic Major: Industrial Desig
Deciphering Cell Polarity Through Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis and its Implications for Breast Cancer Cell Migration
No full textMetastasis is the process by which cancer cells spread to distant organs. Cellular events that underpin metastasis include endocytosis and polarity establishment 4. These events are highly dynamic and thereby require new tools and techniques to understand these processes in live cells. In this study, we investigated the spatial regulation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), a process by which cells internalize membrane proteins and extracellular molecules through clathrin-coated vesicles, and its role in guiding polarized cell migration 4, 5. Using a custom-designed microfluidic device, we established a stable epidermal growth factor (EGF) gradient to induce directed migration of SUM159 triple-negative breast cancer cells. Through fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis, we observed enhanced CME at the rear of migrating cells, correlating with increased migration speed and directional persistence. Targeted inhibition using Dyngo-4a and Pitstop 2 revealed that rearward endocytosis promotes migration.
To support high-throughput and accurate quantification, we employed a Cellpose-based machine learning model to segment and analyze migrating cells from microscopy images. This automated segmentation pipeline enabled extraction of cell trajectories and endocytic features, streamlining the analysis of large image datasets. Our findings highlight the importance of spatially controlled endocytosis in cancer cell motility and lay the foundation for future investigations into how membrane trafficking and adhesion dynamics differ between cancerous and healthy cells.A three-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Biochemistr
Towards Explainable & Efficient Automated Crisis Response
No full textRecent advancements in Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision have been largely propelled by the advent of foundational models, such as large language models (LLMs) and state-of-the-art vision systems. These models have achieved unprecedented performance in a variety of tasks, ranging from translation and summarization to image segmentation and classification. In the context of crisis response, where multi-modal data streams are abundant, the utilization of these models offers a promising way to assimilate trustworthy and contextually grounded information. Nevertheless, the inherent black-box nature of these models poses significant challenges in terms of explainability, and their substantial computational demands restrict deployment in resource-constrained environments, particularly where dedicated GPU hardware is unavailable.
In this study, we investigate methodologies aimed at mitigating these critical limitations. Firstly, we propose a framework that leverages LLMs to facilitate decision-making processes underpinned by high-quality factual data. Secondly, we present a series of optimizations applied to a large-scale vision model to enhance resource efficiency, and discuss its applicability in Knowledge Gap Identification.
Our results indicate that addressing both the explainability and efficiency deficits inherent in foundational models improves the utility of these capable models in real-world crisis response scenarios.No embargoAcademic Major: Computer Science and Engineerin
Reimagining CGM Systems for Preventative Prediabetes Care – Buzz CGM System
No full textPediatrics and Family Health (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research
Forum)Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are becoming increasingly prevalent within the United States. However, research shows a lack of education about preventative treatments as well as a lack of motivation among patients to adopt those treatments. The Buzz Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System works to help prediabetics understand their condition, learn how to manage it, and acts as a motivational tool to promote proactive management of the disease.
Research for this project began with a prompt from Battelle with a focus on exploring potential applications for implantable systems. From there I began secondary research looking into different types of media, existing technologies, as well as different conditions for application. After significant secondary research, I began looking further into diabetes. I completed surveys with responses from over 100 diabetic patients. After the surveys, I conducted multiple interviews with diabetics, therapists, and healthcare workers. With the information collected from the surveys and interviews, I run multiple formative assessments to test my findings and ideas for possible interventions. Through that research, I concluded that there is a lack of education as well as a lack of motivation among prediabetic and type 2 patients with respect to preventative treatments. Based on the insights I discovered through this research, I designed the system called Buzz.
Buzz has both physical and digital components that work hand in hand. The reusable applicator was designed with sustainability in mind, and generates less waste than currently available products. The transmitter worn by the patient is equipped with an e-ink display controlled from the Buzz app, and displays graphics to express the patient’s style. The Buzz app also allows a user to view live glucose levels, set goals, earn rewards, customize the e-ink display, and interact with friends and other members of the prediabetic community.
Buzz - take the sting out of prediabetes!Battelle Memorial InstituteNo embargoAcademic Major: Industrial Desig
Pronoun Peril: Undergraduate Evaluations of Nonbinary Instructors
Full text link2nd Place: Denman Undergraduate Research Forum (Business, Society, and International Relations)2nd Place: DEI Mini Conference Trainee Presentation Competition (Psychology Grad DEI Comittee)Despite the diverse range of identities under the transgender label, research into transgender prejudice primarily focuses on transgender men and women (Burke et al., 2023). The present study expands on the limited research into nonbinary prejudice by examining potential differences in undergraduate evaluations of nonbinary instructors. This study tests the hypotheses that (1) Instructors perceived as nonbinary receive more negative evaluations than instructors perceived as male or female, and (2) Increasing the accessibility of the gender binary results in more negative evaluations of nonbinary instructors. A 3 (perceived instructor gender: male vs female vs nonbinary) x 2 (prime: binary gender vs eye color) between-participants experimental design was used. 158 undergraduates (age 18-25; 75.9% female; 54.3% White) from an introductory psychology course answered questions about personality and attitudes toward nonbinary individuals, viewed a course syllabus and lecture video, and then rated the instructor on teaching quality (Ohio State University, 2024), perceived warmth and competence of the instructor (Fiske et al., 2002), likelihood to enroll in a course with the instructor, and warmth toward the instructor. Instructor evaluation measures were analyzed using a 3 (instructor gender) x 2 (prime) between-subjects ANOVA (α = .05). Unfortunately, the perceived instructor gender manipulation failed: roughly half of the participants were unable to correctly recall the instructor’s gender. Analyses were null for main effects and interactions, but data from the pre-manipulation measures provide insight for future directions. Overall, there was insufficient evidence to support the research hypotheses. Further research is needed to understand nonbinary prejudice in academia.No embargoAcademic Major: Psycholog
Gamification of Financial Literacy
No full textGaming is becoming more mainstream and popular. Across every generation we see a rise in how many hours people are gaming per week. With Gen Z and millennials gaming the most.
Meanwhile, financial literacy among adults is low. Personal finances can often cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Learning the ins and outs of finance can feel overwhelming and intimidating.
With “Finnegans Finances” it takes the complexity and intimidation of financial literacy and transforms it into a fun and engaging learning experience. In this game you set sail with your first mate Finnegan and explore the seven seas of financial literacy. You’ll go on quests and manage your crew to help you learn the basics of finance. Each Sea has a “sea monster” that will test you on what you’ve learned so far. Bonuses are earned through daily streaks and visiting Huntington locations. This game will expose you to financial concepts so that when you do run into them in real life it’ll be a concept you recognize.Huntington BankNo embargoAcademic Major: Industrial Desig
Own It
No full textExploring the impact the media has on consumer behavior and the perception of style. Exploring how to cultivate a shift from constant consumption to sustainable fashion practices. Challenging the notion that fashion relevance is dependent on frequent purchases.
In today’s fast-paced world of fast fashion, it’s easy to feel the pressure to keep up with the latest trends, constantly buying new clothes to stay relevant. But what if we told you that true style doesn’t come from the next purchase? Instead, it’s about rediscovering the beauty of what you already own. I explored online resources to understand where people seek fashion styling advice and what approaches are effective or ineffective. I reviewed articles that offered styling tips, recommended sources for fashion guidance, highlighted current trends, and provided insights into future trend forecasting. From my media scan, I identified four online platforms that women turn to for styling advice and inspiration: Pinterest, LikeToKnow.it, Pureple, and Stitch Fix. I examined these platforms through three key aspects: their look and feel, features, and overall functionality. By analyzing four different style inspiration platforms I was able to gain knowledge of what is effective and what is ineffective. This knowledge will aid my decision-making as I move into the design phase of the process. I developed two personas of women to gain a deeper understanding of my target audience. This will inform my design decisions to better address their needs and preferences, fostering empathy and ensuring my final product resonates with users while enhancing their experience..My proposed solution that was derived from this research is the application own it. Own it. is a revolutionary app designed to help women unleash their unique fashion style using the clothes they already have in their closets. This app fosters community, features that makes styling clothes effortless and is personally curated to the specific user.
Underconsume is a magazine that is an addition to the application, it promotes styling clothes already purchased. It bridges the gap between expectation and reality. This showcases personal stories, influencer styling tips and tricks and helpful information that will help anyone in their “underconsumption” journey.No embargoAcademic Major: Visual Communication Desig