First Year Students Rachna Burman The Study of Optical Engineering Biomedical engineering is the study of mechanics and machines, which can be used to benefit the human body. In particular, optical molecular imaging is currently being used to further the study of drug development and disease research. Optical imaging helps with the identification of targeted internal organs. Current optical images are scattered and distorted (*why?), making it difficult to pinpoint exact locations and to create and accurate map. Therefore, future research will…???? Kelly-Ann Corrigan The Effects of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Cancer Cells The use of complementary and alternative medicines has skyrocketed over the past several years. Specifically, treatments have been tested and proven to combat cancer in vitro. In past studies, Black Cohosh, a North American perennial, was used to treat in vitro cancer cells, inhibiting cell proliferation by 50%. Its major mechanism of action is the chemical actein, which is known to induce apoptosis in the cancer cells. Current studies are being conducted on other natural products to investigate their mechanisms of action. Anthocyanins are one particular plant phytochemical currently being studied in vitro. They were also determined to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, as they do in Black Cohosh, and to increase antioxidant activity. Future studies hope to further investigate anthocyanin anticancer activity in vivo. Kayla Haran The Interaction Between mRNA 3’ End Processing and the BARD1 Proteins During the course of mRNA processing, different proteins play a role in the endonucleolytic cleavage and poly-A synthesis at the 3’ end of the mRNA strand. The mRNA polyadenylation factor CstF interacts with the BARD1 and BRCA1 proteins to inhibit the endonucleolytic cleavage of poly-A synthesis. Because the BARD1 protein is so closely linked to DNA damage and repair, the link between this inhibition and DNA repair was further tested and confirmed. Additional findings have linked this interaction to tumor suppression and to the degradation of RNA polymerase II. In the future, scientists will continue to explore these newfound links between 3' end mRNA processing and both tumor suppression and RNA polymerase degradation. Dana Hemlall Effects of Insulin Secretion and Insulin Resistance Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar in the body. Insulin secretion and ER (Endoplasmic Reticulum) stress are induced by the contact of glucose with the cell. This can lead to further damage. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) may cause insulin resistance and liver damage after undergoing Endoplasmic Reticulum stress. In the past, researchers have investigated the secretion of insulin in surrounding LPL cells and measured the amount of ER stress when LPL is present. Present and future studies are further investigating the effects of LPL on male mice cells that originated in the liver and muscle, given that they are the most insulin responsive. These effects can be analyzed using a glucose tolerance test so as to determine if tissue surrounding the organ has caused any further damage. Tino Illiparambil Alzheimer's Disease and Cognition Cognition is the study of brain development. It focuses on the neural substrates of mental processes and their behavioral expressions. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal brain disease. Past studies have shown that plaques and tangles inside the brain block communication, thus killing nerve cells. AD results in the complete deterioration of personality and of cognitive function. (More specific past research relating to your chosen article? Then add a final line… future research will investigate…?) Anil James Regeneration of Tissue through Amniotic Stem Cells One of the newest fields in science is regenerative medicine. This field focuses on the regeneration of older, pre-existing tissue as opposed to organ transplant. In many transplantation cases, the patient must endure an extreme drug regimen if the organ is not accepted into the body. Stem cells are multipotent cells with the ability to differentiate into a variety of specialized cells. They provide a safer and more productive way to treat patients through regenerative medicine. A new breakthrough, Hyper-Dry Amnion, is an extremely dried version of the amniotic fluid, containing mutipotent stem cells that can differentiate into specialized cells at very high rates. Future research will attempt to specifically regenerate cardiac tissue that has long presented a challenge. Brenna Joseph Investigating the Effects of Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Therapy in the Regression of Metastatic Melanoma Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Therapy (CLT) uses cytotoxic lymphocytes, or T cells, which are the immune system's main defense. T cells recognize foreign antigens presented by infected cells that are attacked and eventually destroyed. In a process called autologous lymphocyte transfer, T cells are extracted from a patient, exposed to a virus, reproduced in large amounts, and then injected back into the patient. A recent experiment was conducted with patients who were diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. They underwent autologous lymphocyte transfer using lymphocytes originating from the patient, which resulted in 50% of patients having a reduction of tumor growth. Future studies will be conducted to determine the factors that affect the outcome of adoptive immunotherapy. Xenia Kokkinos Visual Attention in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. Symptoms of ADHD include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. Since children with ADHD have difficulty with visual attention, it is often difficult for them to grasp main ideas in television shows and movies. However, it has been observed that when time limits are generous, ADHD children actually achieve better recognition of information than normal children. This suggest that the ADHD children’s main reason for visual attention deficits may be the constraint of time. Future research will… ? (add something more specific) in order to (add the reason why it’s important). Matthew Kraljic The Silent Blended Wing Body The goal of modern aviation engineers is to create a silent aircraft. Past studies have been conducted in order to experiment with different engine designs. Fuselage shapes have also been researched. Certain shapes, specifically, the blended wing body, have shown great promise. The Blended Wing Body is an aircraft with wings that are blended into the fuselage. In the future, researchers hope to create a full-scale model that will be silent, fast, and fuel efficient. Tricia Kubair PIK3CA and CDKNIC as Tumor Suppressor Genes in Breast Cancer Breast cancer is characterized by malignant tumor that originates from rapid cell division in the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant areas of the body. Past studies have shown that one major cause of contracting breast cancer is through hereditary genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. Other genes that have been implicated are PIK3CA and CDKNIC. Normal copies of these genes actually suppress tumor growth, but mutant forms have actually been found to increase the chance of developing breast cancer. Besides BRCA1/ 2, PIK3CA and CDKNIC, there are other mutated genes that have been linked to breast cancer. Future research will attempt to identify the cause of these mutations so that effective treatments and preventative measures for breast cancer can be developed. Adrienne Kurtz An Epigenetic Role in Cancer Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) that inhibit normal cellular growth are frequently silenced epigenetically in cancer. Gene regulation can involve non-coding RNAs such as antisense RNAs. Antisense RNA is single-stranded RNA that can inhibit translation of a complementary messenger RNA strand. Past studies have focused on the relationship between the TSG p15 and p15 antisense RNA (p15AS). An inverse relationship between the p15AS and p15 sense expression in leukemia was discovered. Genes and their protein products can have enhanced expression in cancer. Other studies have determined that SATB1, a protein that regulates gene expression, is present in aggressive breast cancer cells and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Future research will apply these finding to augment current diagnostic capabilities, especially with regard to genetic screening for leukemia. Olivia Leach Stem Cell Transplantation as a Method of Engineering New Tissues All stem cells have the potential to differentiate into any somatic cell found in the body. Researchers have successfully placed bone marrow stem cells in the chemicals busulfan and cyclophosphamide and then implanted them into the tissue of immunodeficient mice, where they were able to revitalize tissue. Researchers have also been able to add non-heart muscle cells to a culture of embryonic stem cells in order to facilitate the development of those cells into vascularized heart tissues. In the future, similar studies can be conducted in order to further elucidate the full potential of using stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues. Elizabeth Matamoros Predicting Earthquakes using Plate Tectonics and Glaciers Models of the earth are integral for scientists to be able to understand the inner workings of our planet. These schematics demonstrate how and where the mantle of the Earth and the tectonic plates are moving. Analysis of data from seismic events allows for conclusions to be drawn about the depth of the crust and adjacent layers, as well as the composition of these layers. Current studies are incorporating glaciers into the models because they have been found to cause disturbances similar to earthquakes. The accuracy of existing maps and models is constantly questioned so as to incorporate new information drawn from more recent events. This dynamic instability exists because of constant surface movement. By observing and accounting for these changes, scientists hope to better predict future movement, so that they will be able to warn of disasters prior to their occurrence. Edwin Mathieu Effects of Phytochemicals in Vegetables and Mutagens in Meats on Breast Cancer Risk Vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables, have long been regarded as potential inducers of carcinogen-detoxifying enzyme systems. Vitamins in these vegetables have been highlighted as potential anticarcinogens. Inversely, certain mutagens and amino acids found in meats have been found to increase the risk of certain cancers, the exact cause of which is not presently known. Future studies are aimed at pinpointing the specific substances within the vegetables that are anticarcinogenic. Future implications of this research may be enhanced and stricter dietary restrictions for those at risk as well as the development of clinical drugs that would amplify the effects of these discovered anticarcinogenic chemicals. Finally, laws may even be imposed that would prohibit certain food handling procedures, much like those that are have recently been instituted so as to limit trans-fat and consequent heart disease. Pooja Patel Self-Assessment in Service Learning Self-assessment has been found to enhance student awareness and allow for a better understanding of their learning material. Service learning is a program in which a student is educated by engaging in related activities as opposed to traditional means of education. It occurs simply from doing meaningful work. Past studies have found that service learning promotes selfassessment. It has also been discovered that the best learning occurs when the professor actively engages students by encouraging the service learning program. In the future, researchers would like to see if ethnicity plays a role in service learning and self-assessment. Shraddha Prabhu Synesthesia: Brightness, Loudness, and Pitch Synesthesia, which means joined sensation, is a neurological condition in which two or more senses are coupled together. In synesthesia, specific events in one sensory modality produce experiences in another. In past experiments, synesthetes were to judge how loud or bright, and how high or low is the pitch of a phrase. The phrase included visual words, like sunlight, and auditory words, like thunder. It was determined that in synesthetes, visual words exhibited more brightness and auditory words demonstrated more loudness. Pitch has been found to be a steady correlate of brightness. Future goals are to further investigate why synesthetes perceive these phrases as they do. ShellyAnn Rohitsingh Impairments in Empathetic Skills and Latent Endophenotypes Involved in Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by weakness in both perception and expression of reality. Impairment in empathy skills, eye movement, sustained attention, and consistency are also known to be substantial symptoms of this disorder. Past studies have demonstrated that schizophrenics are unable to fully express emotions, empathize with others, and maintain stability in comparison to healthy controls. For current and future advancements, studies will utilize testing schemes and investigate causes of impairment to a deeper degree. Kathryn Ruffini Attention-Personality Characteristics and Symptoms Associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that mostly occurs in young children between the ages of seven to eleven years old. ADHD prohibits a person from staying focused for long periods of time. It has recently been found that ADHD can occur in young adolescents as opposed to only younger children. Past studies have shown that college students with symptoms of ADHD tend to be more aggressive toward peers in their environment. Current studies are investigating the correlation of college adjustment, social skills, and selfesteem in college students with symptoms of ADHD. Research is also being conducted on the personality characteristics related to ADHD. Some of these personality characteristics include neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion. Future studies will look at other factors that might further elucidate the correlation of ADHD with certain personality characteristics in conjunction with social and family support. Carlos Sanchez Investigating the Circadian and Neurological Basis of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Development Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) occurs during the seasonal change from fall to winter. It is a change in mood, characterized by depressive symptoms. Past studies have concluded that short-wavelength light therapy is particularly effective when treating SAD. It links closely with the human circadian rhythm system, or the normal cycle through which a human body proceeds in a typical 24 hours. Future research intends to explore the neurological basis of SAD development. Also, researchers hope to develop methods of SAD treatment, even more consistently effective than light therapy. Rita Tautonico The Use of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) is a short-term, evidence-based intervention designed for families with children between the ages of two and six who are experiencing a variety of behavioral, emotional, and familial problems. Previous research has shown that PCIT greatly increases the relationship status of children and parents who have a history of maltreatment and negative interactions. It has also been shown to lessen symptoms when used on children who are suffering from disorders like anxiety and depression. Future studies will investigate the impact of PCIT on more varied disorders in both children and their parents. Doing so may potentially reduce abuse and neglect cases. Stephanie Tuminello 5-HT Dysfunction Associated with Altered Neural Plasticity in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and inexplicable death of an infant under 1 year of age. Ongoing research indicates that the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) may in fact be correlated with SIDS; a possible cause is a deficiency in the number of functional 5HT receptors in the brain. Studies have shown that SIDS cases have a higher 5-HT neuron density and a lower number of 5-HT receptors, and that these alterations of the 5-HT pathway may lower the infant's ability to respond to harmful environmental stresses, such as an increase in CO2 levels. This is supported by the prolonged apnea and bradycardia exhibited by infants who are later victims of SIDS. Future studies are necessary in order to further investigate a diagnostic mechanism for a reliable identification of those infants most at risk. Tiffany Varughese Sickle Cell Disease and its Effects on the Brain Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a blood disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, which results in sickled cells and the consequent adhesion of blood to endothelial walls. It has been recently discovered that SCD also affects the brain in young patients as well. Past studies have demonstrated a correlation between SCD and the development of lesions in the brain in patients as young as six years old. Other research has linked SCD to a greater incidence of strokes and volumetric growth delay in the brain. Blood transfusions have been shown to improve the condition of patients with SCD. Further studies will attempt to better explain if the neurological problems associated with SCD are caused by actual growth delay rather or by complications that result from the disease.