2005
Scholars of Distinction Award Winners
Click on
a paper below to read i's abstract or introduction
The Likelihood of Exotic Earthworm Invasions on Forest Ecosystems Due to Leaf Pact Type Phase-III
Jillian Beaufeaux and Kirsti Hakala
In situ Localization of MT3 and Associated Proteins in Mouse Brain Tissue
Andrew Davis
Colin Drummond and Daniel McKeon
Abundance and Distribution Levels of Weevils, Euhrychiopsis lecontei, on Lake Minnetonka
William Inglis
Effect of Internal Nitrogen Cooling on Moisture Distribution in Cheddar Cheese Blocks
Christopher Jackson
Trends in Hybridization Rates of Crappies (Pomoxis) in aMinnesota Lake
Michael Lew
Effects of Resmethrin Spray on Monarch Butterflies and Larvae (Danaus plexippus)
Rosemary Lelich
Statistical Study of Host Fish for the Round Pigtoe Mussel (Plueurobema coccineum)
Megan Marzec
Stabilizing Fluorochrome-Labeled Antibodies in Lyophilization with Disaccharide Excipients
Meredith Pearcy
Niccola Perez
Amy Pikovsky
Shaina Short
Effect of Light on Tuberization of Multiple Potato Varieties
Shardé Thomas
Designing an Optical Waveguide: Combining Electrophoresis and Waveguide Technology
Matthew Trusheim
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The Likelihood of Exotic Earthworm Invasions on Jillian Beaufeaux and Kirsti Hakala
Abstract “Concerns have been raised about the
widespread loss of native forest plant species and the stability of hardwood
forest ecosystems” (Hale, 2004). Evidence of exotic earthworms in these
devastated areas may be the cause of forest floor vegetation loss. The
earthworms studied were Lumbricus terrestris, Apporrectodea, Lumbricus
rubellus, and Dendrobenia. This led to the question: if worm
species with similar biomasses are introduced into a hardwood forest, will
the bulk density and nutrient content in the soil change due to species
type? The hypothesis was if different exotic worm species are added to
a simulated forest floor environment, then species type will have an effect
on soil bulk density and soil nutrient content. Four species of
earthworm were collected at the |
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In situ Localization of MT3 and Associated Proteins in Mouse Brain Tissue Andrew Davis
Introduction Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by memory loss, inhibition of motor skills, and deterioration of the part of the brain that controls thought, memory, and language. Nearly 5% of humans between the ages of 65 and 74 have Alzheimer’s disease and about half of those 85 years and older suffer from the disease (1). The third isoform of metallothionein (MT3) was found to inhibit neuronal growth and, while somewhat controversial, MT3 was found reduced in Alzheimer’s disease brains and therefore conjectured to play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease (2). The purpose of my study was to investigate the location of MT3 in situ in brain tissue using immunohistochemical methods and to examine specific protein:protein interactions between MT3 and associated proteins. Metallothionein is a ubiquitous, low molecular mass, cysteine-rich protein with three main isoforms: MT1, MT2, and MT3 (3). While MT1 and MT2 do not have verifiable functions, MT3 was the focus of my study because it has a specific biological function as a neuronal growth inhibitory factor and is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (3). Because a multi-protein complex that includes creatine kinase (CK), heat shock protein 84 (HSP84), and MT31 has already been characterized using whole Mus musculus brain homogenates, the aim of my study was to investigate the co-localization of MT3, CK, and HSP84 in situ (4). Mus musculus brain tissue was chosen because mouse-brain samples are closely related to human-brain samples (5). My study was the first effort to attempt to examine the co-localization of MT3 and associated proteins in the multi-protein complex directly in the tissue. Heat shock protein 70 and DHP-like Protein 2 were characterized as part of the multi-protein complex but were not examined in the study because specific antibodies for these proteins could not be attained.
A 2003 study by Armitage et al.
found that while total protein in mouse brains was similar between transgenic
2576 Mus musculus mice—those engineered to express the pathology and
symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease—and controls, there was a 30% reduction of
MT3 in the transgenic Alzheimer’s mouse brains (6). Furthermore, the
Armitage study reported that neuronal nitrous oxide synthase (nNOS) —a
brain-specific protein—was reduced in these transgenic mouse brains to a
similar extent. For this reason, nNOS was examined in my study to determine
whether the protein co-localizes and/or interacts with MT3. The first goal of
my study was to examine the multi-protein complex in situ. Because
MT3, CK, and HSP84 were recognized as part of a multi-protein complex in
mouse-brain tissue, the first hypothesis was that MT3, CK, and HSP84 would be
co-localized in mouse brains (7). The second goal was to examine
whether specific interactions occurred between MT3 and CK and/or nNOS by
monitoring enzymatic activity with varying concentrations of MT3. The second
hypothesis was that MT3 would neither activate nor inhibit the enzymatic
activity of CK and nNOS (2). The third goal was to attempt to confirm
the multi-protein complex using size-exclusion chromatography, a method of
separation of complex mixtures based on their shape and varying molecular
masses. The third hypothesis was that the multi-protein complex would remain
intact during size-exclusion chromatography and therefore fractionate at the
combined molecular mass of the proteins in the complex. |
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Silicon Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor Prototypes for SrTiO3 MISFET Fabrication Colin Drummond and Daniel McKeon
Introduction This paper details an attempt to fabricate a metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MISFET), using a strontium titananate (SrTiO3) substrate. (For terms, see Glossary in Appendix.) In its doped form, SrTiO3 exhibits the properties of a superconductor and is a potentially valuable substrate material. As a substrate, SrTiO3 allows for easy growth of manganites and cuprates, which are used in microelectronic switching applications such as transistors and microchips (1). Today, transistors are the dominant solid-state devices in the world (2). They are substantially smaller than the first transistors and millions exist in such devices as cell phones and computers (3).
Conclusions Our engineering goal was to fabricate a MISFET using a SrTiO3 substrate. The first problem we ran into was when we tried sonicating after each process. Since sonication dislodged gold from the substrate, we altered our procedure so that we only sonicated before sputtering, and then stored the substrate between depositions to keep it clean. The second difficulty we encountered was a faulty QCM crystal, which we were able to replace. The third problem occurred because we elevated the mask above the substrate due to the fragility of the SrTiO3. This caused problems when evaporating aluminum onto the substrate. Finally, we increased the radius of the coil to match the radius of the aluminum wire we had substituted for the gold, but since the tungsten could not be coiled tightly enough, the aluminum melted out of the coil. To successfully evaporate the aluminum, we needed a more tightly coiled tungsten wire that would not break, but would also hold the aluminum in place as it evaporated. Because of time constraints, we were unable to complete this fabrication. In future studies, by using a larger diameter and more tightly coiled wire, a viable SrTiO3 MISFET could possibly be fabricated. Though we were unsuccessful, our efforts did not prove fruitless. Beyond mastering sputtering and evaporation procedures to
the point where we could address problems as they arose, we made a
significant discovery regarding the fabrication of a SrTiO3 MISFET. We
discovered that the evaporation protocol needed modification. We learned that
in order to successfully deposit the aluminum, we would require a thicker
wire tungsten boat to hold the aluminum in place. Future research might
reveal the possibility of using a MISFET such as the one we were designing to
vary the superconductivity temperature of SrTiO3 through a piezo electric
effect. Such research would open the door for the use of SrTiO3 MISFETs in
manganite and cuprate microelectronic applications. |
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Abundance and Distribution Levels of Weevils, Euhrychiopsis lecontei, on Lake Minnetonka William Inglis
Introduction Eurasian milfoil, Myriophyllum
spicatum, is an invasive species that has taken over the natural
vegetation of many |
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Effect of Internal Nitrogen Cooling on Moisture Distribution in Cheddar Cheese Blocks Christopher Jackson
Abstract The refrigeration of 640-lb stirred-curd
Cheddar cheese blocks, commonly produced by |
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Trends in Hybridization Rates of
Crappies (Pomoxis) in Michael Lew
Introduction The goals of this project were to
determine trends in the rate of hybridization and its effects on growth in the
following species of crappies in |
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Effects of Resmethrin Spray on Monarch Butterflies and Larvae (Danaus plexippus) Rosemary Lelich
Introduction The purpose of my project was to determine if the insecticide resmethrin is harmful to monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus).
Resmethrin is a type 1 pyrethoid, which is a syntheticversion of a natural
insecticide produced by chrysanthemum flowers. The chemical is a nerve poison
that acts on sodium ion channels in nerve cell membranes (1). The
Environmental Protection Agency has approved the licensed, controlled
spraying of resmethrin and states that resmethrin products have low toxicity
to humans but are extremely toxic to fish, bees, and mosquitoes (2). Due to
increased outbreaks of the West Nile Virus in
The first goal of my project was to
estimate the percent mortality of monarch larvae and adult monarchs due to
resmethrin exposure. I hypothesized that resmethrin would be lethal to
monarchs because the estimated percent mortality of monarch larvae exposed to
permethrin, a similar pyrethoid, is 92%, 89% and 71% for first, second and
third instars1 respectively, as shown in a study by Oberhauser et al. in
2003 (4). Although my study used a similar insecticide, the insecticides in
the two studies were applied in different ways. In my study, I set out larvae
and adult monarchs in a field and exposed them to resmethrin, mimicking the
way that they would be exposed in a natural environment. This differed from
the permethrin study where larvae were not exposed to direct spraying. Also,
the 2003 permethrin study did not include adult monarchs, whereas my study
did (4). The second goal of my project was to determine if there were
sub-lethal effects of resmethrin exposure on monarch larval development time
and adult size. I hypothesized that when exposed to resmethrin, surviving larvae
would develop at a slower rate and emerge as smaller adults, a trend that was
suggested by the 2003 resmethrin study. The third goal of my project was to
compare the overall mortality of monarchs to short term mortality of
mosquitoes. I hypothesized that the mortality of sprayed mosquitoes would be
higher than monarch larvae that were sprayed with resmethrin. Because
mosquitoes are smaller than monarch larvae, mosquitoes have a higher surface
to volume ratio, which suggests that a higher concentration of toxin would
enter their body tissues (5). |
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Statistical Study of Host Fish for the Round Pigtoe Mussel (Plueurobema coccineum) Megan Marzec
Introduction Mussels serve a biological importance by
cleaning streams and rivers. Large quantities of heavy metals, pesticides,
and agricultural residues in the water accumulate in the tissues of mussels
and can be potentially toxic to not only the mussels but their predators (1).
Sudden die-off of mussels should trigger concern for the quality and health
of a river system and may adversely affect other wildlife in river systems
since mussels serve as an important source of food for many animals such as
muskrats and minks (2). |
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Stabilizing Fluorochrome-Labeled Antibodies in Lyophilization with Disaccharide Excipients Meredith Pearcy
Abstract The goal of this study was to find the
best excipient solution to stabilize fluorochrome labeled antibodies in
lyophilization. The problem with lyophilizing antibodies and especially
fluorochromes is that they tend to aggregate and therefore lose activity due
to the harsh processes of freezing and drying. Four individual rat anti-mouse
antibodies were tested and a cocktail of three rat anti-mouse antibodies were
tested. The four individual antibodies were PE-Cy7™- conjugated CD3e, PE-conjugated
CD4, APC-conujugated CD8a, and FITC-conjugated CD8a. The antibodies in the
cocktail were PE-Cy7™-conjugated CD3e, PE-conjugated CD4, and APC conujugated
CD8a. Three excipient solutions were tested, varying by protective
disaccharide they contained. One excipient contained 15% sucrose, another
contained 8% sucrose and 7% sucrose, and the final one contained 5% trehalose
and 7% mannitol. The excipient solutions were formulated, antibody was added,
and the solutions were lyophilized. The samples were tested with flow
cytometry. The results showed that the excipient containing 15% sucrose was
the most effective in protecting antibody and fluorochrome activity of the
cocktail and was consistently shown to be the most effective solution in
protecting antibody and fluorochrome activity of the individual
fluorochrome-labeled antibodies. |
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Preliminary Findings for Establishing
a Pilot-Study for Accelerating Government Health Program Objectives for
Reducing Anemia in Adolescents (15-19 years old) in Rural Niccola PerezAbstractObjectives: The objectives of this preliminary study were: a) to complete an initial assessment of the status and efforts of current Salvadorian Ministry of Public Health Programs addressing iron-deficiency anemia in the target population of adolescents (15-19 years old) in El Salvador, b) to identify key challenges in achieving target population compliance with program implementation strategies, and c) to identify strategies for initiating a pilot-study for accelerating achievement of nutrition education program milestones and objectives based on a review of the literature and initial on-site research to be completed in the rural Southwestern province of Sonsonate in El Salvador in June 2005.
Methods: Qualitative methods were used to gather data. An extensive
review of the literature was completed and a qualitative questionnaire was
used to gather data from Ministry of Public Health on anemia-reduction
programs and their status. Additional data was gathered from two (2) field
visits to the Ministry of Public Health Clinic in the
Results/Findings: As a result of preliminary findings from this
study, strategies were identified for further testing in a controlled pilot-study.
Strategies were focused on accelerating achievement of government program
objectives for reducing anemia in adolescents. Strategies identified included
the controlled and targeted use of iron supplementation and demographically
customized nutrition education and health communication methods designed to
increase awareness of anemia and its risks within the adolescent population
groups in
Conclusion: The problem of iron-deficiency anemia remains among
adolescents in |
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Preferred Temperature, Metabolic Rate, and Circadian Rhythms of Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) Amy Pikovsky
Abstract I investigated preferred temperatures,
metabolic rates, and circadian rhythms of snapping turtles (Chelydra
serpentina). Snapping turtles are ectotherms, so the temperature of their
environment is the same as their body temperature. Body temperature affects
the rate of turtles’ biological functions, including growth, digestion, and
metabolism. I used a temperature gradient to determine the preferred
temperatures of the turtles under constant light, a 24-hour light/dark cycle,
and a 48-hour light/dark cycle. I looked at my data for circadian patterns in
turtle movement. I measured the amount of carbon dioxide that the turtles
produced over a 24-hour period to determine their metabolic rates at
temperatures at five-degree intervals between 5 and 30 °C. I also found that
the turtles’ preferred temperature was around 19 °C. I also found that the
turtles moved more when the lights were on than when they were off. The
turtles’ metabolic rates were directly related to their body temperatures.
They showed a second degree polynomial fit with an r2 value of 0.99 (p =
0.0010). |
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Effects of Herbivore Damage and Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Selective Benefits of the Medicago Truncatula Legume-Sinorhizobium Meliloti Rhizobia Mutualism Shaina Short
Abstract: This study focused on a sugar and
nitrogen uptake symbiotic relationship between Medicago truncatula legumes
and Sinorhizobium meliloti rhizobia bacteria through cultivation,
plant fitness, and data collection. Different genomic populations of legumes
were studied to find variations in the mutual responses of each population
towards rhizobia strain. Soil nitrogen concentrations were tested for their
effects on four varied populations of legume, originating from |
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Effect of Light on Tuberization of Multiple Potato Varieties Shardé Thomas
Introduction Factors that contribute to tuberization
of potato plants are light, temperature, and nitrogen levels. Light has one
of the biggest effects on potato tuberization (1). A study by Liscum et
al. showed that photomorphogenesis in plants is induced by blue (400-500
nm), red (600-700 nm), and far-red (700-800 nm) signals through
cryptochromes, phototropins, and phytochromes (3). A previous study by Tong et
al. showed that Norland plants do not produce tubers under blue light,
but Desirée plants do (2). The same study showed that Norland potato plants (S.
tuberosum L. cv. Norland) did not form any tubers in blue light but
formed Purple tubers without light (Figure 1). Desirée potato plants (Solanum
tuberosum L. cv. Desirée) formed pink tubers1 under blue light (440 nm)
but formed white tubers when no light was present (Figure 2) (2). While these
studies have been conducted using blue light, red light, and far-red light,
not many have been done with long-day white light, which is defined as
constant 24-hour exposure to white light. The study by Tong et al. suggested
that Norland plants tuberize under long-day white light. The same study found
that Desirée potato plants did not produce tubers under long-day white light
(2). Research has shown that all varieties of potato plants tuberize under short-day
light, which is defined as a non-constant 24-hour exposure period with
alternating white light and darkness (4). In my study, I wanted to determine
if tuberization and tuber colors of different variety\ies of potato plants
would bedifferent under blue light (440 nm), long-day white light (fluence
rate2 of 198.98 µmolm-2s-1), and darkness. Fluence rate was used since white
light is made up of multiple wavelengths of light so there is no one
wavelength for white light. |
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Designing an Optical Waveguide: Combining Electrophoresis and Waveguide Technology Matthew Trusheim
Introduction Genetic testing is one of the most
exciting new fields in medicine today. For many diseases and conditions, it
offers physicians and patients more rapid and conclusive diagnoses than older
methods. However, not every physician has access to genetic tests, due to a
lack of interpretive expertise and affordable apparatus (1). That is
where my project comes in. The goal of my project was to engineer an
instrument that adapted gel electrophoresis to a planar waveguide (PWG)*.
This instrument, which I named Optical Waveguide (OWG), would make genetic
testing less expensive. Ultimately, this OWG could be used in any laboratory
by technicians, and the data could be sent through the Internet to an expert
for interpretation. With cheaper analytical instruments specifically designed
for telemedicine, such as the OWG, telemedicine could become a reality. |
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The Use of Barley Straw to Control
Algal and Macrophyte Growth on AbstractDuring the initial phase of this four
year study five-centimeter lengths of barley straw were applied at different concentrations
to seventy, 80 milliliter cups of fertilized water, along with two
milliliters of stock Selenastrum capricornutum (green algae). This study
showed that the barley straw at the surface enhanced algal growth, unlike
most other studies that reported inhibition on blue-green algae During the
next phase, to eliminate possible barley substrate effects and a longer
rotting time, only the resulting liquors obtained from the rotting barley
straw (100% & 50% barley liquor concentration) were incubated for seven
days with the stock Selenastrum capricornutum. Six buckets were incubated in
a grow lab over an eight week period. Inhibition of algae occurred during
this phase of the experiment for all concentrations. The study done in 2002
added aerated barley straw buckets along with sets of non-aerated buckets
during liquor production. Aeration of the rotting barley straw was included
because many studies indicate that inhibition of blue-green algae will only
occur in oxygen rich situations. Aeration did not have a significant affect
for all incubation periods and concentrations. These studies showed that
barley straw could be used to treat algal problems in a laboratory setting,
but would the same results occur in a lake setting? In June of 2003, The
Duluth News Tribune reported that Dan Jezierski, a landowner on |
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