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PublicationEstimates of Human Surface Area for a Partially Entrapped Grain Victim and Associated Extraction Force Loads(American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2020)A prediction model for estimating extraction forces on a victim was enhanced and modernized in 2018 from the original model. The prediction model is divided into two conditions based on the entrapped victim’s relative position to the grain surface. The first condition is when the victim is completely below the grain surface. The second condition is when the victim’s shoulders are above the grain surface; this condition is the primary focus of this paper. A variable in the prediction model that changes with the depth of entrapment is the surface area of the victim. A sample of 60 male models was used to approximate the human surface area at optimal discrete positions selected based on visually identifiable anthropometric landmarks. Extraction forces for twelve male human body types combining stature and body mass indexes were calculated for partially entrapped victims. The extraction forces were calculated for conditions when the victim’s arms were raised up (above the grain) and were lowered (in the grain). Results from the prediction model showed that surface areas from short and underweight bodies contributed less to the required partial extraction force than tall extreme obese bodies. The contribution from surface areas at the lower human landmark identifiers Medial Malleolus (MM) and Knee Crease (KN) did not contribute noticeably to the partial extraction forces. It was not until the human landmark identifier of Crotch (CR) that the contribution from surface area was noticeable.
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PublicationER Stress Tolerance Genes in Arabidopsis( 2018-05)Plants respond to environmental stresses, some of which can lead to the unfolded protein response (UPR).The objective of this research was to identify the genes for ER stress tolerance. It was found in previous studies that tunicamycin successfully induces stress on the endoplasmic reticulum to create the unfolded protein response. The hypothesis was that through the utilization of phenotypic information from tunicamycin induced stress and Genome Wide Association study (GWAS), we would be able to identify genes that control stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. This was carried out using a low dose application of tunicamycin to seedlings that were then grown in a growth chamber for 6 days along with untreated seeds from the same ecotype. The root length was measured from day 2 to day 6 using ImageJ .This data was collected for 144 ecotypes. The phenotypic data was input into easyGWAS which computes and annotates a GWAS. The program identified At1g69810 WRKY36 and At1g68570 root GA transporter as potential candidates. Knockout lines were obtained and screened to ensure homozygosity, and overexpression lines of the candidate genes will be generated. These plants will then be screened on tunicamycin to ensure they align with the genes obtained through GWAS. Preliminary results from these approaches will be presented.
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PublicationOptimization and Design of Influenza Virus Vaccine( 2018-05)Influenza vaccines protect against few strains because the virus is constantly adapting. Annual alterations of the vaccination based on predictions for the coming influenza season are necessary. During the 2017-2018 influenza season, the vaccination ineffectively matched the strains present, leading to increased infections. Thus, a universal vaccine capable of generating immunity to all circulating strains is desired. Influenza virus has a surface-exposed hemagglutinin protein (HA) comprised of a head and a stem region. Current approaches for developing a universal vaccine involve eliciting antibodies to the stem region, but this method has proven difficult. We have a candidate vaccine that may target antibodies to many HA regions and may elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies. To further evaluate this option, we developed a recombinant HA protein similar to our live attenuated vaccine for further efficacy testing in animals. Moreover, using molecular techniques, we cloned a HA protein in bacterial plasmids cells. We then facilitated large-scale growth of insect cells to generate recombinant HA using baculovirus. The protein was purified and tested by injection into multiple species, which showed neutralizing antibodies to many strains of influenza. We conclude based on the evidence that the vaccine may be a potential candidate for a universal vaccine.
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PublicationSpin Dynamics in Ordered Magnetic Systems( 2018-05)Ordered systems such as crystals possess collective excitations also associated with thermal vibrations. These collective vibrations have been found to have wavelengths that are correlated with their energies. Similarly, ordered magnetic systems, such as the one in figure 1(a), also exhibit excitations that are known as spin-waves, as shown in figure 1(b), and they also show strong dependence between their energy and their wavelengths. The dependence for the particular ground state in figure 1(a) is shown in figure 1(c). In this project, we determine the energy scale associated with the interaction between nearest-neighbor spins and also next-nearest neighbor spins in two dimensions for both ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic ordering of spins in the ground state. We can then use this theoretical prediction and experimentally observed dispersion relation, using neutron scattering, to model the system and extract interaction properties between spins. This information is very useful in designing materials and understanding their magnetic and electronic properties.
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PublicationA College Guide to Medication and Alcohol Interactions( 2018-05)Roughly 60% of college students consume alcohol and nearly 66% of students engage in binge drinking monthly.1 Prescription medication usage of Ritalin and Adderall increased by 93% on college campuses in the last twenty years.2 As of 2014, the most rapidly growing drug problem in the United States is with prescription medication, and education is a major combatant against it.6 Medications can interact with alcohol, altering metabolism of alcohol and/or medications. Classes of medications that interact with alcohol include antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, histamine H2 receptor antagonists, muscle relaxants, non-narcotic pain medications, anti-inflammatory agents, opioids, warfarin, and other over-the-counter and herbal medications.7 Twenty medications, prescription and over-the-counter, that are most likely used by college students are described in use, mechanism, metabolism, and interactions with alcohol. However not all medication-alcohol interactions are described. Caution should exercised when medications and alcohol are consumed together. Specific medications, relevant to college students, that may pose an increased (moderate to severe) interaction risk include but are not limited to: methylphenidate, amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, sertraline, fluoxetine, metronidazole, acetaminophen, ExcedrinⓇ, ibuprofen, naproxen, MidolⓇ, and cetirizine. Medication-alcohol interactions have serious consequences, and education is the key to preventing unwanted and unnecessary outcomes.