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BE-61 Hot or not? A link between peroxidases, Pun1 expression, and hotness of Capsicum sp.
No full textCapsicum sp. peppers are known for their spice, which comes from nonvolatile alkaloid compounds called capsaicinoids. Capsaicinoids differ in pungency; for example, the most common capsaicinoid, capsaicin, is nearly 10x as pungent as other capsaicinoids. Capsaicinoids are made through the phenylpropanoid and branched-chain fatty acid pathways, and an important aspect in that process is the Pun1 gene (also called AT3). Pun1 codes for an enzyme, capsaicin synthase, which is active in the phenylpropanoid pathway for synthesis of capsaicin. According to prior studies, expression and length of the Pun1 gene can be correlated with spice levels in peppers as it corresponds to accumulation of capsaicinoids. Further, peroxidase enzymes are involved in breaking down capsaicinoids through oxidation, and peroxidases have been found to generally increase with increasing pungency of peppers. However, peroxidases can also increase due to outside stressors to the plant. Therefore, we hypothesized that pepper pungency could be assayed through testing of Pun1 expression and gene size as well as through peroxidase levels except when plants endured stressors, as stressors would increase peroxidase activity, catalyzing the breakdown of capsaicinoids. Our study investigates the peroxidase content and Pun1 expression and gene length of a wide variety of peppers in different conditions; mild peppers, like green bell peppers, cubano, and cowhorn, as well as some of the hottest varieties, such as jalapeño, habanero, scorpion, dragon breath, death spiral, ghost pepper, mutant X, and Carolina reaper were used. The peppers were grown in a single grow bed at the USC Upstate community garden, and fruits were harvested at varying levels of ripeness, during different average temperatures, and pre- and post- hurricane. Once peppers were picked, they were sealed in a plastic bag and immediately frozen at -80°C. Proteins, RNA, and DNA were extracted from the fruit tissue for further study. Peroxidase activity was measured using chloronaphthol and spectrophotometry, and expression of Pun1 was analyzed using qPCR after extracting and reverse-transcribing the RNA. This study connects Pun1 gene expression and peroxidase enzyme activity to capsaicinoid levels in various conditions, giving insight into what controls heat in peppers. Newer peppers, such as Carolina Reaper and Mutant X, have never been investigated for these qualities before now. Understanding these mechanisms could help with breeding new pepper varieties tailored for specific levels of spice and flavor
BE-64 The Effect of Long Term Exposure to Statins on Cell Proliferation and Mitochondrial Activity in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells
No full textColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Over half of those diagnosed are 65 years of age or older. CRC is often treated with traditional chemotherapies, but drug resistance has been observed in other cancers due to increased expression of the ABCB1 gene after drug exposure. Therefore, it has become increasingly critical to study potential alternatives to traditional chemotherapeutics to combat this problem.
One potential alternative to traditional chemotherapies is statins, a class of drugs utilized to lower levels of low-density lipoprotein, commonly known as cholesterol. Statins are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. HMG-CoA reductase inhibits the mevalonate pathway, which is a complex signaling pathway involved in the production of cholesterol. HMG-CoA reductase functions at the beginning of this pathway by converting acetyl-CoA to mevalonate. Mevalonate can be metabolized to a compound that has been implicated in post translational modification of GTPases Ras and Rho, which have been shown to be oncogenic. In previous studies, statins have been shown to inhibit proliferation and migration in several types of cancer. Additionally, statins are often prescribed for long durations in older adults, making this class of drug an ideal candidate for an alternative cancer treatment in this population, which is most at risk for developing CRC.
For this study, CRC cell lines DLD-1 and HCT-116 were exposed to concentrations of 10 uM and 40 uM of atorvastatin and simvastatin. The positive control was 40 nM doxorubicin, and the negative control was 40 nM DMSO. Cell viability after statin exposure was assessed biweekly via the Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay and the MTS assay to determine the effectiveness of statins in decreasing cell proliferation and its possible use as an alternative to chemotherapies in treating the cancer
BE-67 Pinpointing the start of the breeding season among two populations of Lithobates sylvaticus at differing elevations with passive monitoring techniques
No full textThis study used passive monitoring techniques to record the start time of the breeding season for wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) populations at differing elevations. The research was conducted at Table Rock State Park (elevation 403 meters) and Caesar’s Head State Park (elevation 906 meters). There were two mass migrations for both the Table Rock Site and Caesar’s Head site. The start of the first migration for both sites was on 12-29-24 with the Table Rock population coming out at 9 am and the Caesar’s Head population coming out at 3 am. The second migration occurred for Table Rock at 1 pm on 1-29-25 and Caesar’s Head at 7 pm on 1-31-25. Regarding the first migration, there does not seem to be a noticeable difference in emergence. However, there is an approximate two-day shift in emergence between the two sites with the lower elevation site (Table Rock) showing a sooner emergence than the higher elevation site (Caesar\u27s Head). Other notable difference that were observed between the sites were the Caesar’s Head site had a longer breeding duration for both migrations and they chorused more often and for longer sessions. This could have to do with the Caesar’s head site having a permanent pond, and a larger population but more research would be needed to find this information
BE-72 Do you want Little Blue Dragonlets on Campus? How we can Better Promote Biodiversity in Presbyterian College’s Pond Ecosystem
No full textUrbanization is the leading cause of freshwater degradation. However, management of our stormwater resources can support biodiversity and protect freshwater. An initial bioassessment survey of the campus pond at Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC, was conducted to determine the influences of overmanagement on biodiversity. Odonata were chosen as the study organism because they are biological indicators of the pond’s habitat and quality. We compared adult odonate communities and collected water quality data for two months at PC pond (No vegetation and managed with blue dye) to two stormwater ponds located at Lush Acres Farms, Clinton, SC (diverse aquatic plant community). Dragonflies were caught using aerial nets and identified to species using the John Abbot key. Diversity indices were compared and species composition was calculated using the Bray-Curtis similarity matrix, and visualized using principal coordinates analysis. Two tolerant species, Pachydiplax longipennis and Perithemis tenera, were found in abundance and explained 43% of the variation between farm ponds and the campus pond communities. Damselflies were most abundant in farm ponds, explaining 31% of the variation, which could be correlated to the pond habitat. We suggest that PC re-establishes aquatic vegetation to support a more ecologically healthy pond. Bolstering the odonate community at Presbyterian College will contribute to the exchange of energy between organisms, as they predate on smaller insects such as mosquitos and provide food for spiders and birds. If better managed, the PC pond can serve as a greenspace, benefit students, campus visitors, and support local biodiversity
HS-45 The Impact of Medical Missions on Surgical Attendings and Burmout Mitigation: A Single Institution Study
No full textIntroduction: The demand for accessible, safe and affordable surgical care is increasing worldwide. However, medical missions face criticism for quality concerns and voluntourism. Meanwhile, physician burnout is rising, yet little research explores whether missions can both serve patients and reinvigorate physicians. This study examines surgical attending physicians’ perspectives on the lasting impact of medical mission participation, with a focus on its role in mitigating burnout.
Method: A 15-item online questionnaire was designed to assess physicians\u27 perspectives on humanitarian missions. The survey elicited information regarding physician demographics, trip details, funding, and the influence of the trip on them and the community. This questionnaire was distributed to the surgical attendings at Prisma Health Upstate hospitals in the United States during the 2023/2024 academic year.
Results: Of 42 respondents, 71% had participated in an international mission, while 29% had not. Among participants, 30% agreed that this experience influenced their decision to pursue surgery, while 44% decided beforehand. Most respondents reported trips lasting 7 to 10 days (41%), while 30% took trips exceeding 11 days. When asked about the impact of surgical missions on physician reinvigoration, the response was overwhelmingly positive with 79% agreeing or strongly agreeing that medical missions reinvigorated them as surgeons.
Conclusion: Surgical attendings perceive medical missions as reinvigorating. These trips provide mutual benefits to the physicians and the communities they serve. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of these experiences and how structured mission programs can be optimized to support both global health initiatives and physician well-bein
SS-18 Leagues of Their Own: The Past and Future of Women\u27s Baseball
No full textLeagues of Their Own: The Past and Future of Women’s Baseball
John T. Wilson
The history and legacy of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) and its players has not garnered much public interest, attention, or coverage beyond the 1992 film A League of Their Own. The recent announcement that a six-team women’s baseball league (the Women’s Pro Baseball League or WPBL) will be launched in the United States in 2026 has also lacked attention, aside from the initial reports of the league’s launch. In an attempt to raise the public’s awareness and interest in the AAGPBL and the upcoming WPBL, my poster will succinctly tell the story of the AAGPBL through two League players, Sophie Kurys and Jean Faut. Their statistics alone make them standout – Kurys’s prolific base-stealing rivaled that of Rickey Henderson’s, and Faut’s pitching records rival those of the very best Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers of all time – but the fact that Kurys and Faut were able to achieve such great success in a league that changed its rules and regulations nearly every season, and sometimes in the middle of the season, makes them standout even more. The aim of this poster is not to suggest that the greatness of past players like Sophie Kurys and Jean Faut will translate to greatness for any upcoming WPBL’s players. Rather, the aim of the poster is to share the story of the AAGPBL through two of its greatest players, with the hope that their stories, and the story of the AAGPBL, will bring about greater public interest in the upcoming WPBL
CB-24 Optimizing Energy Harvesting in IoT Networks through GenAI-Driven AIoT Systems
No full textInternet of Things (IoT) devices are commonly powered by compact batteries with limited capacity, requiring frequent recharging or replacements. Conventional energy supply methods, such as battery changes or wired connections, are often impractical and labor-intensive. To reduce costs and ensure uninterrupted connectivity in IoT networks, energy harvesting technologies offer a promising solution. These technologies capture energy from the surrounding environment to power devices or store it for future use, providing a sustainable alternative for IoT networks. This project aims to design and develop GenAI-based smart Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) system to optimize energy harvesting in wireless networks. By utilizing Age of Information (AoI), we plan to enhance real-time data analysis and decision-making within IoT networks, ensuring efficient collection of up-to-date information from IoT devices. Additionally, we will develop GenAI-driven models and algorithms to tackle the challenges of energy harvesting in IoT networks
BS-6 Reducing Fraud in Nonprofit Organizations
No full textFraud in nonprofit organizations is a critical issue that undermines public trust and diverts resources away from essential services. This research presentation delves into the multifaceted nature of fraud within the nonprofit sector, exploring its causes, manifestations, and impacts. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and case studies, the presentation identifies common types of fraud, including financial misappropriation, falsification of records, and conflicts of interest.
The research highlights the unique vulnerabilities of nonprofit organizations, such as reliance on volunteer staff, limited oversight, and the pressure to demonstrate impact. It also examines the psychological and organizational factors that contribute to fraudulent behavior, including ethical lapses, inadequate internal controls, and the influence of organizational culture.
To address these challenges, the presentation proposes a framework for fraud prevention and detection tailored to the nonprofit context. This includes recommendations for strengthening governance structures, enhancing transparency, and fostering a culture of accountability. The role of technology in mitigating fraud risks, such as through the use of data analytics and automated monitoring systems, is also discussed.
Ultimately, this research aims to equip nonprofit leaders, board members, and stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to safeguard their organizations against fraud, ensuring that they can continue to fulfill their missions effectively and ethically
SS-2 Not All Stress is Equivalent: Different Stressors Impact on the Physiological Responses of the Heart
No full textYouth who experience maltreatment can develop HPA axis dysregulation, impacting one’s biological and cognitive stress response. Stress paradigms relevant to maltreated youth are limited, but evidence suggests vocal hostility may be effective. We seek to validate a vocal hostility paradigm to provide a tool for future research to better investigate the role of HPA axis dysregulation on stress response. We compared the vocal hostility (audio stress task) to other validated paradigms (Stroop Task as a cognitive stressor, dynamometer squeezing as a physical stressor, preparing to sing to an audience as a social stressor, and watching a heart surgery video followed by a math challenge as an orienting/reactivity (O-R) stressor. A total of 111 participants (Age M = 20.29, SD = 5.36; 77.5% female, 17% male, 4.5% other gender; 41.5% black, 34.2% white, 24.3% other race) were assigned to 1 of the stress conditions. Analyses revealed a stress main effect (F(2,194) = 8.46, p \u3c 0.001), as measured by heart rate: stress was higher during the task (M = 89.26, SE = 1.33) than either prior to the task (M = 84.26, SE = 1.44; p \u3c 0.001) or after the task (M = 83.97, SE = 1.15; p \u3c 0.001). However, interaction results indicated (F(8,194) = 8.64, p \u3c 0.001), this was only true for the physical stress task (prior M = 84.53, SE = 3.29; during M = 100.57, SE = 3.05; after M = 84.08, SE = 2.65) and the O-R stress task (prior M = 81.05, SE = 3.27; during M = 87.77, SE = 3.03; after M = 83.49, SE = 2.63). Although the social stress heart rate was higher during the task (M = 87.99, SE = 2.97), compared to after (M = 83.46, SE = 2.58; p = 0.012), neither was significantly different from the heart rate prior to the task (M = 85.99, SE = 3.21; p \u3e 0.05). Similarly, self-reported stress varied by task (F(4,102) = 5.86, p \u3c 0.001): the physical task (M = 2.85, SE = 0.23), SST2 (M = 2.36, SE = 0.22), and social stress task (M = 2.66, SE = 0.23) were all rated as significantly more stressful than the cognitive task (M = 1.82, SE = 0.23) and audio stress task (M = 1.57, SE = 0.23). Future studies will need to refine the audio paradigm if it is going to be used to induce stress
