Research Experiences
for
High School Science
and Math Teachers
Summer 2002
Advanced Research Program/
Advanced Technology Program
Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board
July 2002
Supplemental Grants for High School Science
and Math Teachers B Summer 2002
Projects at ...
begin on page ...
The Advanced Research Program/Advanced Technology
Program (ARP/ATP) were created by the Texas Legislature in
1987 as competitive grants programs for faculty members at
Texas institutions of higher education. More than 400
research projects are funded each biennium in a number of
different disciplines and research areas.
Baylor College of Medicine ................................................................. 1
In January 1999, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board extended the programs to provide small supplementary
grants to existing grantees who employ high school science
and mathematics teachers to work on these projects during the
summer. The grants are used by research faculty members
primarily to pay for the teachers= salaries for the four to nine
weeks they will work in the university laboratories and to cover
costs for laboratory supplies and travel.
Sul Ross State University ................................................................... 5
This program helps build linkages between high school
teachers and university research faculty, gives the teachers
experiences that they will carry back to their classrooms, and
results in increased interest in science and engineering among
high school students.
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station ............................................... 8
Forty-six teachers participated in research projects in summer
2001. At the end of the summer, almost all of the responding
faculty researchers and high school teachers judged the
program to be excellent or good.
University of Houston ....................................................................... 13
This document lists the teachers and faculty members
participating in the program during summer 2002, and briefly
describes the work that each teacher will do.
The University of Texas at Austin ..................................................... 19
This summer, teachers are working on projects at 13 different
universities, five health-related institutions, and one experiment
station. Teachers are engaged in a wide variety of different
activities ... from computer modeling to sample preparation to
using various scientific instruments to make measurements.
The University of Texas-Pan American ........................................ 22
Lamar University................................................................................. 1
Midwestern State University ............................................................... 2
Southwest Texas State University ...................................................... 2
Texas A&M University ........................................................................ 6
Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi ............................................ 7
Texas A&M University at Galveston ................................................... 7
Texas A&M University System Health Science Center ...................... 8
Texas Tech University ...................................................................... 11
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ............................... 12
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth ..... 16
The University of Texas at Arlington ................................................ 17
The University of Texas at Dallas ..................................................... 21
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center ................ 22
TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD
ADVANCED RESEARCH PROGRAM/ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHERS
SUMMER 2002
Teachers and Professors
Kathreen Lee
Biology and Physics teacher
YES College Preparatory School
Houston
Charles L. Densmore
Professor
Department of Molecular Physiology
Baylor College of Medicine
Bonnie J. Ardoin
Chemistry teacher
West Brook High School
Beaumont
Daniel H. Chen
Professor
Chemical Engineering Department
Lamar University
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Polyethyleneimine-Gene Therapy Given by Aerosol: An Effective Treatment for Pulmonary
Metastases
Ms. Lee will play an important role in our Technology Development Transfer project aimed at developing
aerosol gene delivery technology for clinical application in the treatment of lung cancer in human
pediatric patients. This technology uses a tumor suppressor gene (p53) and/or a cytokine gene (IL-12)
in a unique and patented nonviral formulation which appears to be highly effective in animal tumor
models while exhibiting very low toxicity. Ms. Lee has worked with our collaborator on this grant, Dr.
Genie Kleinerman, of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and is already familiar with some of the
methodology that will be used. This makes her efforts for the coming summer even more valuable. Ms.
Lee has expertise in areas of molecular biology that will enable her to work on redesigning the plasmids
we are using in an effort to increase the persistence of gene expression. Such an improvement could
potentially make the difference between success and failure in our planned pediatric cancer trials. She
will also be involved with animal tumor and tissues culture studies and aerosol particle size studies.
These studies should enable Ms. Lee to transfer her research experience to the classroom.
Super-Porous Titania/NLO-Coated Fiber Optic Photoreactor for Environmental Applications
Ms. Ardoin will work with two research assistants, under the supervision of the principal investigators, on
the synthesis of aerogel TiO2, coating of TiO2 mixed with a nonlinear optical crystal (LiB3O5 or KNbO3)
on optical fibers, and measurement of photocatalytic oxidation efficiency of a selected volatile organic
compound in air. These research activities need strong chemistry knowledge and laboratory
experiences. Ms. Ardoin will have the opportunity to learn and use a Nova surface analyzer, X-ray
fluorescence spectrometer GC-FID, and GC-MS. It is estimated to take three weeks in each of the
above tasks. Ms. Ardoin will learn from the laboratory work, interact with the research personnel, and
have the opportunity to contribute to this emerging technology in air pollution control. It will have a
significant impact on the high school science teaching.
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Teachers and Professors
Janice Lack
Chemistry teacher
Central High School
Beaumont
Xing Fang
Professor
Civil Engineering Department
Lamar University
Cerise Wuthrich
Algebra and Computer Science
teacher
Archer City High School
Archer City
Nelson Luiz Passos
Professor
Computer Science Program
Midwestern State University
Steve Michaud
Physics teacher
Harlandale High School
San Antonio
Patrick Cassidy
Professor
Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry
Southwest Texas State University
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Internet- and Component-Based Modeling System for Lake Water Quality and Fish Habitat
Projections
The goal of this research is to develop a modeling system to predict water quality and fish habitat in
lakes, which can be accessed by users via the internet. These projections require complex numerical
models that integrate various physical and biochemical processes, e.g. hydrodynamics, air-water surface
exchange, and biochemical reactions. The system is designed for three user levels: (1) general
audience, more specifically, science class students in high school, (2) inexperienced and (3)
experienced water quality modelers. Ms. Janice Lack will work on the project and continue her literature
review in the areas of lake ecology, limnology, lake water quality, and water chemistry. Based on her
understanding on what has been taught in high school science classes, she will assess and assemble
information that should be presented on internet for high school science students to learn water quality
and fish habitat models for lakes. She will use advanced web technology and organize information on
the project internet site (http://lakefish.lamar.edu) in HTML and DHTML format with multimedia images.
She will participate in a research group meeting with Co-Principal Investigators at the University of
Houston and Southwest Texas State University.
Flexible Integrated Caching Approach (FICA) for Efficient Content Delivery in Wireless Internet
The research project involves the use of web through wireless devices. Ms. Wuthrich will develop web
pages based on the new WML mark-up language. Ms. Wuthrich will then monitor those web pages,
which will be accessed by students, gathering data with respect to navigation aspects of the defined
hyperlinks. This data will be later utilized in the simulation of web caching described in the main
research project. Expected results include the preparation of Ms. Wuthrich for work in a wireless
environment and her training on the development of a web site under such conditions. Ms. Wuthrich will
also have direct participation in the main research topic by preparing the required simulation data and
making observations to be used in future papers describing the research results.
Improvement of the Performance of Thermoplastic Polymers and Thermosets by Addition of
Fluoropolymers
Mr. Michaud will work on the characterization of materials made possible by the early phases of this
grant. He will use microscopy techniques such as scanning force microscopy and scanning friction
microscopy to characterize surface changes at a nanoscale level. Mr. Michaud has previously worked at
Southwest Texas State University in the physics department.
2
Teachers and Professors
Matt Holmes
Biology teacher
Lanier High School
Austin
Caitlin Gabor
Professor
Department of Biology
Southwest Texas State University
Ken Bowen
Chemistry teacher
New Braunfels High School
New Braunfels
Heather Galloway
Professor
Department of Technology
Southwest Texas State University
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Species Recognition Versus Mate-Quality Recognition
Part 3 of this Advanced Research Program project consists of observing the behavior of male sailfin
mollies in the field to determine whether their behavior in the lab correlates with their behavior in their
natural setting. Matt is familiar with observing fish in the field because his project last year in the
Principal Investigator’s lab consisted of observing and recording male behavior in a nearby population.
Matt and the Principal Investigator will videotape male interactions in each of the sympatric populations
from which males are tested by visually following males until they move out of sight. They will then bring
the tapes into the lab and obtain the following data. For each focal male (1) the male’s size class will be
estimated, and we will count (2) the number of conspecific males, (3) the number of females within two
body lengths from the focal male, and (4) the number of mating attempts (thrusting, and displays) and
aggressive interactions.
Polymer-Derived Nanowires for Integrated Circuit Strategies
Mr. Bowen will dry-blend block copolymers with the goal of developing improved nanopore/nanowire
devices. Mr. Bowen will gain experience discerning dynamical variables such as volume fraction. This
is the variable, when adjusted properly, that has been found to give the required texture for nanopore
development. Working with faculty to undergraduate students, Mr. Bowen will prepare solutions of block
copolymer/homopolymer blends in good solvents, poor solvents, and theta solvents available for spincasting. While the literature shows only theta solvents as those for spin-casting, other solvents will be
explored in an effort to gain understanding of the behavior of the blend systems in terms of the nanopore
development.
Mr. Bowen’s experience will be enhanced through professional activities such as technical meetings,
group discussions, and individual presentations. The experience gained through these interactions will
be returned to the classroom environment. Furthermore, Mr. Bowen will gain experience in the use of
super-critical carbon dioxide film processing. Atomic force microscopic analyses will be done under the
expert supervision of the physics department.
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Teachers and Professors
Teresa A. Taylor
Biology teacher
Smithson Valley High School
Spring Branch
Joseph R. Koke
Professor
Department of Biology
Southwest Texas State University
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Microarray-Based Neuropathology Studies
Astrogliosis is a characteristic response of astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) to injury and
a broad spectrum of degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s and HIV-1
encephalitis. Recent studies have identified important marker molecules related to neurological
pathology. The goal of the research described here is to use these antibodies with the chip-based
immunosorbent assay system established at The University of Texas at Austin for the determination of
clinically important neuropathology marker molecules in tissue culture supernatants, plasma and
cerebrospinal fluid samples. The long-term objective is to use this novel assay system as a research
tool in conjunction with cellular and animal studies conducted in parallel at Southwest Texas State
University to increase our understanding of the inflammatory and pathological processes that occur in
neural tissue.
Ms. Taylor has experience in immunocytochemistry from previous summer Advanced Technology
Program teacher programs. Her activities in this project will primarily be immunostaining of cells
cultured under normal conditions and comparison of these to cells grown on micro-array chips, as part of
establishing baseline conditions for the cell-based taste chip assay. This will expose her to new aspects
of biotechnology and enhance her ability to teach from a first-hand perspective.
The studies described in this proposal will answer the following questions: 1) can chip-based
microsphere arrays (subsequently referred to as “Taste Chips”) provide a practical, rapid detection of
conditions leading to astrogliosis (and thus a rapid detection or diagnosis of the presence of neurological
disorders); 2) can we use the Taste Chip to better understand the factors that cause astrocytes to
become reactive (cause astrogliosis); and 3) can we use the Taste Chip to determine if and how
astrocytes confer the reactive state on each other? Successfully answering these questions will
significantly advance detection, understanding, and effective treatment of nerve tissue injury.
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Teachers and Professors
Judith A. Koke
Aquatic Science and Biology teacher
Smithson Valley High School
Spring Branch
Linette M. Watkins
Professor
Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry
Southwest Texas State University
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Biodesulfurization of Recalcitrant Organosulfur Compounds
The overall goal of Judith Koke’s summer research project will be to screen a library of enzymes for
enhanced activity and broadened specificity. One of the overall goals of this Advanced Technology
Program funded project is to screen a library of genetically engineered bacteria for the ability to
desulfurize one- and two-ring recalcitrant organosulfur compounds in crude oil, and Mrs. Koke’s summer
research will be directed at achieving this goal. She will work directly with the principal investigator and
the co-Principal Investigator learning new techniques in analytical biochemistry. Specifically, Mrs. Koke
will learn how to conduct high throughput screening of the library using growth-based assays. Bacteria
isolated from the screening experiments will be used to treat hydrodesulfurized fuel. Mrs. Koke will
perform the experiment to characterize the ability of these newly identified strains to remove recalcitrant
organo sulfur compounds from fuel.
Prior to receiving her teaching certificate, Mrs. Koke worked as a laboratory technician for 20 years. Her
previous laboratory experience will enable Mrs. Koke to quickly learn the new techniques in molecular
biology and biochemistry and be a productive member of the research group. In addition to contributing
to the success of the Advanced Technology Program funded project, the techniques learned and the
knowledge gained by Mrs. Koke will be incorporated into the curriculum of her biology classes and her
students will ultimately benefit from this research experience.
Amy Causey
Biology and Environmental Science
teacher
Fort Davis High School
Fort Davis
Keith L. Sternes
Professor
Department of Biology
Sul Ross State University
Microbial Pathogens and Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria in Irrigation Water and on Vegetables
Ms. Causey will perform genetic characterization and strain typing of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains
isolated from irrigation waters derived from the Rio Grande. Isolates of Escherichia coli and
Enterococcus sp. will be genetically characterized for resistance to several antibiotics using PCR
primers. The enterococcal bacteria will be identified to species using a combination of clinical
identification kits and PCR analysis. Identification to strain in order to determine genetic relatedness of
same species isolates will be undertaken using restriction digests of bacterial DNA that is then
separated using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Techniques used during this supplemental grant
research endeavor, will include: bacterial isolation from sediment and water, DNA isolation from Gram
positive and Gram negative organisms, restriction enzyme digest of DNA, gel electrophoresis, pulsed
field gel electrophoresis, and polymerase chain reaction.
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Teachers and Professors
Janet Hassan
Calculus and Algebra teacher
Science Academy of South Texas
Mercedes
James Matis
Professor
Department of Statistics
Texas A&M University
Carol McNamara
Biology teacher
Bryan High School
Bryan
Jack R. Nation
Professor
Department of Psychology
Texas A&M University
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Analysis of a Statistical Host-Parasite Model for Bees and Mites
This grant would support Janet Hassan’s participation in research on stochastic logistic models for
African bee colonies. The deterministic logistic population growth model is central in population ecology.
Janet Hassan, supported by a 1999 Supplemental Grant, was an active participant and is a co-author on
a paper accepted in Ecological Modeling, which develops a saddlepoint approximation for the
equilibrium distribution of the stochastic logistic model. The new methodology is relatively easy to use,
and we expect that it will greatly expand the use of the stochastic logistic model in quantative ecology.
Our current research is extending the biological realism of the previous model, including the addition of
multiple colony ‘births’. The research would again develop cumulant approximations directly from
assumed (or known) population kinetic parameters for bee colonies, and then substitute these
approximations into third-order saddlepoint approximations. Ms. Hassan would again participate actively
in helping to develop a new scientific paper and in assisting with a research workshop.
Lead Exposure and Polydrug Self-Administration
Ms. McNamara will work 40 hours per week in a drug self-administration laboratory that is supervised by
Dr. Jack R. Nation (Principal Investigator). Ms. McNamara will be integrally involved in all phases of a
project that is designed to evaluate the effects of developmental (gestation/lactation) lead or cadmium
exposure on the intravenous self-administration of cocaine or heroin. Her activities will include surgery
and placement of catheters into the jugular vein of adult male rats that have been exposed to metals in
early development. In addition, Ms. McNamara will be responsible for maintaining patency of the
catheters and collecting and analyzing data during the grant period. Also, Ms. McNamara will acquire
skills in the use of statistical packages such as SigmaStat and graphic design. At the conclusion of the
project, Ms. McNamara will assist in preparing a written manuscript that summarizes the findings from
the project. This manuscript will be submitted to an appropriate scientific journal and Ms. McNamara will
be included as a co-author.
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Teachers and Professors
Sharon Doramus
Geometry, Algebra and Calculus
teacher
Calallen High School
Corpus Christi
James S. Bonner
Professor
Conrad Blucher Institute
Texas A&M University-Corpus
Christi
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Extension of HF Radar for Water Currents and Direct Observation of Transport Model
Coefficients
Managing our coastal resources requires “nowcasts” and “forecasts” of coastal hydrodynamics. This
includes currents, waves, and water quality parameters. This Technology Development and Transfer
(TDT) project will extend HF radar applications to predict the origins and fates of oil spills, water quality,
and thermal and contaminant plume tracking. In addition, we are furthering our environmental sensor
capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico nearshore waters by deploying in-situ real-time sensors that can
monitor such parameters as particle sizes, total suspended solids, etc. The HF radar and the in-situ
monitoring instruments complement our modeling efforts in that the data from the radar system can be
used in groundtruthing our hydrodynamic models and the environmental sensor data helps us
verify/calibrate our water quality models.
As we develop these methods of predicting the dispersion of crude oil using HF radar, field verification
will be conducted using tracer studies in Corpus Christi Bay. Ms. Doramus will have opportunities to
work in the field while the tracer studies are being conducted. The fieldwork will also include working
with the in-situ environmental sensors as they are calibrated and deployed in Corpus Christi Bay. In
addition, Ms. Doramus will work with our graduate students on the modeling. This prediction aspect of
the research is particularly intriguing to her and she foresees integrating components of it into her
classroom. In particular, the trigonometry unit of the Pre-Calculus classes would lend itself to the
forecasting of waves, etc. As many of these students will take Physics concurrently, she can envision
working with the Physics teacher to incorporate some of the research into that course as well.
Daniel J. Hochman
Chemistry teacher
Ball High School
Galveston
John R. Schwarz
Professor
Department of Marine Biology
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Vibrio Parahaemolyticus and Texas Oysters: Biology and Public Health Significance
Mr. Hochman will directly participate in the Seafood Safety Laboratory’s experimental and monitoring
activities involving pathogenic Vibrios associated with Texas oysters. This work includes both bench
and field studies designed to elucidate the population levels and spatial distribution of Vibrio
parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus. Both of these pathogenic bacteria are present at high densities
during the summer months and can cause illness and death in certain high-risk individuals in the general
population following raw oyster consumption. Mr. Hochman will expand the training and experience
obtained during Summer 2001 by implementing procedures and techniques learned last year in the
analysis of this summer’s oyster samples. Specifically, he will determine what environmental conditions
are present this year when DNA isolated from Vibrios in oysters matches the DNA of clinical Vibrio
specimens isolated from people who in the past have become ill from raw oyster consumption. PFGE
and DGGE electrophoretic techniques will be used to determine the degree to which the DNAs match. A
written report will be required which details how the newly acquired information can and will be utilized in
Mr. Hochman’s classes.
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Teachers and Professors
Janice Marie Lalor
Biology teacher
Skyline High School
Dallas
Edward G. Miller
Professor
Department of Biomedical
Sciences
Texas A&M University System
HSC-Baylor College of Dentistry
Mary Booth Lyle
Biology and Chemistry teacher
La Grange High School
La Grange
Patrick Dunne
Professor
Department of Veterinary Anatomy
And Public Health
Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Biological Activities of Citrus Flavonoids
Some of the flavonoids have already been purified and sent to our laboratory for testing this summer.
Janice Lalor will participate in all aspects of the research. Under the supervision of Dr. Miller, she will be
involved initially in the care and treatment of the animals. In addition, she will help with the processing of
the tissues for histological evaluation, the analysis of the tumor data, and the preparation of computer
generated research presentations. As indicated in Ms. Lalor’s resume, she has worked for two
summers in this department with another investigator on a Health Science Center Tobacco Research
Grant. During this time, she was cleared for work with animals and was also trained in histological
techniques. This prior experience will allow her to quickly assume an active role in our research project.
In addition, this research project will give Ms. Lalor insight into another primary risk factor for the
development of cancer – diet.
Generating Conditional FMDV Resistance in Cattle by Inducible Ribozyme Degration of IRES
RNA
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the cause of a highly contagious disease of cattle and other
cloven-hoofed animals. The FMDV genome is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA of 8.4 kb which is
translated to produce a single polyprotein that is then processed by proteases to mature viral proteins.
To prevent the spread of the disease to unaffected animals following initial exposure, we propose to
express catalytically active sense and antisense RNA (ribozymes) that disrupt the regulatory IRES
element on both plus and minus viral strands. As a first step in developing the system, we propose to
generate a set of test ribozymes directed to all predicted conserved single-stranded regions in the FMDV
IRES. In order to test the efficiency of these constructs, we will fuse the IRES element to a luciferase
reporter construct and co-transfect BHK cells with IRES-Luciferase and plasmids containing various
ribozymes expression cassettes.
Ms. Lyle will participate in the construction of one or more ribozyme expression cassettes and in testing
their efficiency in inhibiting FMDV IRES-mediated expression of the reporter. Ms. Lyle will learn some of
the basic techniques of molecular biology such as PCR analysis, DNA cloning and DNA sequencing as
well as some basic procedures of mammalian cell tissue culture.
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Teachers and Professors
Jasson Brock Conner
Chemistry and Agriculture teacher
Amarillo Area Center for Advanced
Learning
Amarillo
L. W. Greene
Professor
Department of Animal Science
Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station
Judy Taylor
Biology, Physics and Chemistry
teacher
Stephenville High School
Stephenville
James P. Muir
Professor
Research and Extension Center
Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Conservation of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Open-Lot Cattle Feedyards
The purpose of this supplemental Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grant for a high school
chemistry and wildlife recreational management teacher is to introduce the environmental research
needs of the Texas Panhandle to area high schools through teacher training, especially for the Amarillo
Area Center for Advanced Learning. This training will be designed for Mr. Jasson Conner who teaches
in the Amarillo Independent School District. During week 1, Mr. Conner will be provided a directed study
in environmental sciences affecting the Beef Cattle Industry of the Southern High Plains. This work will
include library research culminating with a seminar to the ATP research team. Following the seminar
presentation, a general discussion of the research in progress and research to complete will be
generated by faculty, staff and students involved with the project. Beginning on week 2 of the training,
Mr. Conner’s primary workstation will be the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Feedyard.
At the feedyard, Mr. Conner will be responsible for setting up the in vitro air emission chambers to
determine volatile ammonia excreted from cattle fed different protein diets. After data samples are
collected, Mr. Conner will then work with the laboratory technician to analyze nitrogen and phosphorus
concentration in the samples.
Sustainable Cultivated Pasture Systems for Texas Meat Goats
Judy Taylor will continue her research into the nutritional anti-quality factors found in recently collected
native legume germplasm. She has collected plant material in 2001 from germplasm established in
2000 and will collect more material in 2002. These plants will continue to be observed in the field for
growth habit, reproductive cycles and productivity. Plant components will be analyzed in the laboratory
for plant dry matter concentrations of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber
residue lignin, condensed tannins and macro-minerals including phosphorus and nitrogen. Rumenfistulated goats will also be used to screen both native and introduced legumes for disappearance rates,
an indication of digestibility. This material will be summarized in the Agronomy Society of America
annual meeting where Ms. Taylor will present a paper, with project support, in November 2002.
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Teachers and Professors
Glenda Overfelt
Environmental Science, Biology,
and Chemistry teacher
Del Rio High School
Del Rio
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Hydrology and Salinity Monitoring and Modeling Along the Middle Rio Grande
Ms. Overfelt will collect water samples from Lake Amistad, contributing tributaries, groundwater wells,
and rain gauges for isotopic and water quality analysis. She will also be involved in intensive sampling in
and around Lake Amistad for the Advanced Technology Program. Ms. Overfelt will participate with
investigators to calculating Lake Amistad’s water balance and contributing sources for lake salinity.
Ranjan S. Muttiah
Professor
Blackland Research and
Extension Center
Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station
David Nitsche
Biology teacher
Amarillo Center for Advanced
Learning
Amarillo
Charlie Rush
Professor
Department of Animal Science
Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station
Development of an Early Warning System for Sorghum Ergot Using Doppler Radar and the NPET
Network
A major aspect of our research will be to determine the specific environmental conditions that favor
disease development. Dave Nitsche will be involved in greenhouse and laboratory studies that relate
specific temperature and moisture regimes to disease incidence and severity. He will help set up
experiments, maintain the study, and collect data. He will learn how to identify the fungal pathogen that
causes sorghum ergot and how to work with the organism. He will learn standard microbiological
procedures for working with plant pathogens, how to inoculate plants with pathogens, and how to
reisolate pathogens from infected tissue. He will be exposed to numerous procedures and techniques
for identifying and differentiating plant pathogens. Based on this experience, Mr. Nitsche should be able
to set up new lessons for his biology classes that focus on plant-disease relationships. This is a subject
seldom taught in traditional high school classrooms.
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Teachers and Professors
Pamela Sharrock
Biology and Chemistry teacher
Centerville Jr/Sr High School
Centerville
Randolph H. Stewart
Professor
Department of Veterinary Physiology
and Pharmacology
Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station
Sonja Crowell
Physics and Chemistry teacher
Lubbock High School
Lubbock
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Anti-Edema Mechanisms: Nitric Oxide and Thromboxane in the Regulation of Lymphatic
Function
Mrs. Sharrock will be working with a laboratory team consisting of two veterinary students, one
undergraduate student, one laboratory technician and the principal investigator in a study designed to
investigate the mechanisms involved in the control of lymphatic function and regulation of tissue fluid
volume. Mrs. Sharrock will be involved in the acquisition, preparation and instrumentation of the
lymphatic vessels to be evaluated. She will become familiar with the computer-based system used to
acquire, record and analyze data from the experiments and will be primarily responsible for this aspect of
the studies. This data acquisition system (PowerLab, ADInstruments) is particularly suited for use in a
high school laboratory setting because of its flexibility and ease of use and the company’s commitment
to supplying and supporting teaching laboratories. Mrs. Sharrock will be able to incorporate, not only the
techniques learned, but also the knowledge gained concerning the scientific method and biological
control systems into her biology and chemistry classes.
Room Temperature Ionic Liquids – Novel Media for Chemical Separations
Mrs. Crowell will be involved in the preparation of new ionic liquids, determination of their physical
properties, and application in metal ion separations by microcyclic polyethers.
Richard A. Bartsch
Professor
Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry
Texas Tech University
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Teachers and Professors
Rubeth Griffing
Biology, Chemistry and
Physics teacher
O’Donnell High School
O’Donnell
Edward L. Quitevis
Professor
Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry
Texas Tech University
Tobi McMillan
Physical Sciences, Biology, Anatomy
Physiology teacher
Lubbock-Cooper High School
Lubbock
Lorenz O. Lutherer, M.D.
Professor
Department of Physiology
Texas Tech University Health
Sciences Center
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Vibrational Dynamics of Microconfined Liquids
Ms. Griffing worked on this project last summer. She learned how to synthesize and fabricate
nanoporous glasses using the sol-gel method. She was shown how Raman spectroscopic
measurements were carried out on liquids confined in these nanoporous glasses. Her main focus last
summer was in the analysis of Raman data, specifically, smoothing and fitting the data to Lorentzian
lineshapes. This summer, she will actually run the Raman spectrometer to obtain data on her own. She
will use the Raman spectrometer to obtain spectra of neat liquids and then spectra of liquids confined in
nanoporous glasses. She will use glass samples that she helped prepare last summer. Using the
methods she learned last summer, she will smooth the Raman data for both the neat and confined
liquids. The smoothed data will then be further analyzed using autoregressive analysis to understand
the effect of confinement on the Raman lineshape. She will help in the preparation of figures and tables
for poster presentations and manuscripts.
Clinical Trial of Oral Interferon Alpha in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
This project involves a Phase 2 clinical trial of an experimental drug for possible treatment of a rare
disease that compromises the exchange of gases in the lungs. Life expectancy after diagnosis is 4.5
years and there is no objective evidence that any current treatment increases either the time of survival
or the quality of life. In this study, subjects will be treated with the study drug for 12 months and periodic
assessment will be made of their pulmonary function and progression of their disease.
Tobi McMillan, under supervision of the Principal Investigator and the Clinical Research Nurse, will
interview potential subjects, explain the study to them, maintain contact with the subjects during the
study, observe the various tests being done, be involved in data collection and initial data analysis.
Through these activities and interaction with the Principal Investigator, Ms. McMillan will obtain
information to take back to her classroom about the processes involved in developing new treatments for
diseases. These include integrating information from the literature that suggests a drug might be
efficacious for treating a certain disease, designing a study to test possible efficacy, getting approval of
the study design from the FDA and the institutional IRB, running the study and evaluating the results.
On days that no subjects are scheduled for clinic visits and data processing is up-to-date, we propose to
involve Ms. McMillan in some ongoing animal studies exploring the mechanisms for the respiratory
responses made by our subjects in order to compensate for the damage to their lungs. This will give Ms.
McMillan a hands-on experience with the same measurements done in the patients. This secondary
experience will very closely compliment what will be seen in the clinical study. Therefore, it will
contribute to her having a better understanding of what is going on in the clinical study and make it
easier for her to take a complete and meaningful story back to the classroom.
12
Teachers and Professors
Richard Lee Franks
Physics, Astronomy, Geology and
Aquatic Sciences teacher
Lubbock High School
Lubbock
Raul Martinez-Zaguilan
Professor
Department of Physiology
Texas Tech University Health
Sciences Center
Gary Fortenberry
Biology and Chemistry teacher
Monterey High School
Lubbock
David C. Straus
Professor
Department of Microbiology
and Immunology
Texas Tech University Health
Sciences Center
Thaddeus E. Hughes
Physics teacher
Memorial Senior High School
Houston
Edgar A. Bering, III
Professor
Physics Department
University of Houston
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Proton Pumps at Cell’s Surface are Targets to Halt Angiogenesis and Metastasis in Breast
Cancer Cell
We hypothesize that plasmalemmal vacuolar type H+-ATPase (pmV-ATPase) activity at the plasma
membrane can create pH gradients in tumor cells. Whether this is sufficient to create a proton motive
force (PMF) to drive ATP synthesis via F0/F1 ATP synthase (putatively located also at the cell’s
surface), will be tested in this study. To study pH gradients, cells will be intracellularly loaded with
SNARF-1, a pH fluorescent indicator. Then, the pH gradients will be monitored by confocal/spectral
imaging microscopy. These approaches will allow Mr. Franks to study pH regulation in discrete
subplasmalemmal regions at the single cell level. Pharmacological approaches should allow us to
evaluate the interaction between these pumps. Thus, Mr. Franks will be exposed to two state-of-the-art
techniques used to monitor ions with high spatial, temporal and spectral resolution. Because of his
background in chemistry and physics, Mr. Franks is well suited for this study. Mr. Franks will further
benefit because he will learn about working with living cells.
Detection of Airborne Mycotoxins Produced by Fungi in “Sick Buildings”
Research in our laboratory has examined the role of microbial contaminants in buildings reported to have
indoor air quality (IAQ) problems. We have shown that in over 95 percent of “sick” buildings, fungi
growing on wetted building surfaces have been the principal source of the problem. Most notably,
Penicillium, Aspergillus and Stachybotrys species have been found growing in heating, ventilation and
air-conditioning systems and on building surfaces. These fungal species produce a number of potent
mycotoxins. In order to better understand the role of mycotoxins in sick building syndrome, we propose
the following objectives that Mr. Fortenberry will be involved in: 1.) He will learn how to grow fungi on
various building products. 2.) He will learn how to characterize and isolate said mycotoxins. 3.) He will
learn how to assay for these mycotoxins employing various chemical and biological assays.
Thrust and Exhaust Diagnostics for the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket
Mr. Hughes worked with us last summer. He participated in the design of the RPA array that we have
constructed for installation in the VASIMR rocket at NASA/JSC. He spent much of his time learning to
use the software required to carry out his tasks. This year, we propose to take advantage of the skills
and knowledge developed last year to conduct an investigation into the spatial structure of the VASIMR
exhaust plume and to compare that with model predictions. This activity will involve taking and
interpreting data from the operation of the VASIMR taken with the instrument he helped design last
summer.
13
Teachers and Professors
Emily Gresham
Electronics and Physics teacher
Memorial High School
Houston
Yi-Chao Chen
Professor
Department of Mechanical
Engineering
University of Houston
Belinda Stanley
Biology and Chemistry teacher
St. Thomas’ Episcopal School
Houston
Diana Chow
Professor
Department of Pharmacological and
Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Houston
Tricia N. Aguas
Biology teacher
John H. Reagan High School
Houston
Alex Ignatiev
Professor
Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center
University of Houston
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Powder Compaction Mechanisms in Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Solid Products
A series of experiments are being conducted at the Materials Laboratory of the University of Houston.
The purpose of the experiments is to determine the constitutive relations of pharmaceutical powders.
This information is important for developing analytic models of compaction processes. Ms. Gresham will
be participating in these experiments, including making the specimens from powders, designing and
conducting the compaction tests, taking measurements, and collecting and analyzing the data.
Chemoprevention of Skin Cancers by Novel Derivatives of Tempol in Mice and Cultures
There will be two types of experiments that Ms. Stanley will perform with the support of this grant. The
first set of experiments involves the use of cultured cancer cell lines, and the second one employs a
hairless mouse model. Both culture and mouse models will be subjected to UV irradiation to induce
cellular damages. The damages in culture cells will be evaluated by MTT cell survival assay. The
treatment of BE-TOPS with various doses and durations, before and after the irradiation will be
assessed for its chemopreventive and therapeutic potentials against the damages, respectively.
The study with mice will include short-term and long-term UV irradiations on the animal, followed by
sacrificing the mice and harvesting skin samples. The UV-induced changes in the expression of tumor
suppression gene, p53, with and without the BE-TOPS treatment will be evaluated using an established
immunohistochemical kit.
Thin Film Optical Detector for Retinal Implantations: a “Bionic Eye.”
Ms. Aguas will participate in fabrication process of the detector in the Bionic Eye project as follows:
1. Photolithography – Activities in this process include spinning time, pre-baking of the photoresist,
uv exposure and development.
2. Transferring to a polymer carries – Activities include wet etching of the fabricated device for
transferring them from the original substrate to a Polymer film.
14
Teachers and Professors
Amanda M. Moranville
Algebra teacher
Samuel Clemens High School
Schertz
Stuart A. Long
Professor
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering
University of Houston
W. Peyton Schuller
Physics teacher
John H. Reagan High School
Houston
Nasr-Eddine Medelci
Professor
Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center
University of Houston
Clyde Alan Price
Chemistry teacher
John H Reagan High School
Houston
David Starikov
Professor
Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center
University of Houston
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Dielectric Resonator Antenna Applications in Wireless Communications
Ms. Moranville will assist the Principal Investigator and the graduate assistants involved in the research
in several key tasks. She will learn to use the electromagnetics software package, HFSS, to simulate
various dielectric resonator antenna geometries in the vicinity of other conducting bodies. The results of
these simulations will then be correlated and graphed using Excel. In addition, Ms. Moranville will assist
the group with literature searches, both at the library and on the web, and will participate in the
preparation of journal articles and outside proposals for future funding.
Integrated Multifunctional Fluorescence Sensors for Real Time Environmental Effluents and
Water Analysis
Mr. Schuller will perform a market feasibility study for the sensors developed during the project. Mr.
Schuller will also participate in the fabrication process and testing of the prototype devices developed
during the project. This testing will include electrical and spectral characterization.
Self-Aligned Multi-Color Photodetectors Based on III-Nitrades for Advanced Flame/Fire Detection
During his previous work at the University of Houston, Mr. Price has shown excellent hands-on
experience and skills. On this project, Mr. Price will work on the development and fabrication of small
equipment parts for the processing and characterization of the Nitride based flame/fire detector
prototype.
15
Teachers and Professors
Gary W. Himmler
Math, Physics, Chemistry and
Computer Science teacher
Lutheran South Academy
Houston
Kenneth W. White
Professor
Department of Mechanical
Engineering
University of Houston
JoAnn S. Yannazzo
Anatomy/Physiology, Chemistry and
Microbiology teacher
North Side High School – High
School of Medical Professions
Fort Worth
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Scale-Up of Ceramic Composite Components for Advanced Mining and Aerospace Applications
Mr. Himmler will continue to support our scale-up efforts through completion of the following projects:
1) Develop reliability models for the 80% Si3 N4 material developed for optimum properties in large
thickness
2) Work with undergraduate students to collect necessary mechanical property data to validate
model.
I expect this work to be his own effort and result in a publication.
Function and Regulation of Polycystin-2 in C. Elegans – A Model for Polycystic Kidney Disease
Research will include testing chemicals on the nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans to observe their effect
on intracellular calcium ion channels. Fluorescent techniques will be used to quantitate the amount of
calcium ions inside the cells.
Peter Koulen
Professor
Department of Pharmacology and
Neuroscience
University of North Texas Health
Science Center at Fort Worth
16
Teachers and Professors
Judi Maddox
Biology teacher
Midlothian High School
Midlothian
Perry Fuchs
Professor
Department of Psychology
The University of Texas at Arlington
Jennifer Stimpson
Chemistry teacher
Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet
Center
Dallas
Martin Pomerantz
Professor
Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry
The University of Texas at Arlington
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Neural and Biochemical Mechanisms Associated with the Affective/Motivational Determinant of
Pain
It is expected that Judi Maddox will become actively involved in all of the methodological components
that are listed in the procedure sections outlined in the current Advanced Research Program funded
research proposal. More specifically, experiments that address specific aim 2 will be completed during
the summer months. Specific aim 2 is designed to explore the role of the cingulated cortex on
mechanical hyperalgesia and place avoidance behavior. The methodology requires the induction of
hyperalgesia using tight ligation of the L5 spinal nerve, behavioral measurements of mechanical
hyperalgesia and escape/avoidance behavior, chronic stereotaxic implant of stimulating electrode and
guide cannula within the region of the anterior cingulated cortex, and focal brain stimulation and
intracerebral microinjection techniques. In most cases, it takes about 3-6 months of training in all the
techniques that are listed. However, I do not expect Ms. Maddox to master all of the techniques, but will
be directly involved in either performing the majority of the techniques, or at least assisting graduate
students and the principal investigator. Ms. Maddox will also be exposed to data entry, data analysis
and writing of final projects as part of normal daily ongoing research activities.
Nonlinear Optical Devices Fabricated by Ionic Self-Assembled Monolayer Techniques
Ms. Stimpson will be involved in our interdisciplinary research on nonlinear optical devices fabricated by
the ionic self-assembled monolayer technique. She will do laboratory work on the preparation of cationic
organic polymers and will be involved in the self-assembly of these materials onto substrates such as
glass. The alternating layers of the cationic polymer and an anionic polymer, which can be built up to
several hundred bilayers and which provides the nonlinear optical properties, will be prepared using our
robotic system.
Since this is an interdisciplinary project, Ms. Stimpson will work closely with electrical engineers and
physicists who will study the optical properties of the systems and devices she prepares and who will
make additional devices from her materials. She will present her work at our group meetings and will
also learn about the other aspects of the project from the talks by the students and postdoctoral
associates working on the project. Not only will Ms. Stimpson learn considerable new chemistry but she
will learn some engineering and physics and how interdisciplinary research is carried out, all of which will
help her in her teaching. Involvement in this interdisciplinary state-of-the-art research program will also
help to keep her enthusiastic about teaching chemistry. We also plan on discussing how we might get
involved in the education of high school students to try and pique their interest in chemistry and physics,
and in science and engineering in general.
17
Teachers and Professors
Jay B. Atman
Physics teacher
James Martin High School
Arlington
Suresh C. Sharma
Professor
Department of Physics
The University of Texas at Arlington
Rodney M. Bond
Physics, Algebra, and Computer
Science teacher
Lamar High School
Arlington
Jianzhong, Su
Professor
Department of Mathematics
The University of Texas at Arlington
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Newly Discovered Radiation Detector: Nanometer-Size Liquid Crystal Droplets Dispersed in
Polymer
Mr. Atman is a highly-regarded physics teacher at Martin High School in Arlington. This grant will
provide him with an excellent opportunity to experience modern techniques of optical characterization of
materials. He will gain invaluable hands-on experience with laser spectroscopy and radiation detectors.
I am sure that he will pass his experience, enthusiasm, and knowledge to his students.
Mathematical Analysis of Fluid Fingering Problems in Porous Media
Mr. Bond will continue his summer research project on fluid fingering after his successful work last
summer. He has accomplished the analytic study of short-term and long-term behavior of Hele-Shaw
flow. This summer, Mr. Bond will undertake the following activities: (1) Finish the coding part of new
numerical scheme; (2) Computer simulation of Hele-Shaw flow under various boundary conditions; (3)
Compare the fingerings in Hele-Shaw flow and Reaction flow; and (4) Incorporate the moving grid
technique in computer simulation of fluid fingering.
Mr. Bond will participate in department weekly seminars and meet with the Principal Investigator
regularly to discuss progress of the research projects. Also, Mr. Bond will be provided with an office and
access to computational facilities in the department to assist his research activities. In all, Mr. Bond will
bring his expertise and contributions to this project. Meanwhile, his experience in this summer project
will also help to bring him closer to the frontier of applied mathematics research which in turn benefits
the high school students that Mr. Bond teaches during the regular school year.
18
Teachers and Professors
Brian Cummings
Physics and Chemistry teacher
Port Aransas High School
Port Aransas
Edward J. Buskey
Professor
Marine Science Institute
The University of Texas at Austin
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Application of Cell Recognition Technology to Environmental Studies of Harmful Algal Blooms
The purpose of the Advanced Technology Program grant is to test a new technology, the FlowCam, for
recognition of red tide cells in natural plankton samples. Red tides in Texas are caused by a toxic
dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, which contains a potent neurotoxin and causes extensive fish kills along
the coast of Texas. The FlowCam combines the capabilities of a flow cytometer (laser excitation of cells
to measure size and chlorophyll content) with digital image capture of each cell and image analysis to
identify cells in a plankton sample based on size and shape characteristics.
We will just be beginning this project in the summer of 2002, so Mr. Cummings would be involved in
initial trials of the FlowCam. Mr. Cummings would be involved in both field and laboratory studies. In the
laboratory Mr. Cummings would learn phytoplankton and zooplankton culture methods. Red tide
cultures would be grown, and studies of zooplankton feeding rates on red tide would be carried out using
the FlowCam to count red tide cells. Mr. Cummings would also participate in field sampling of plankton
populations so that these samples could be screened for red tide cells. This would provide Mr.
Cummings with an excellent opportunity to experience both laboratory and field studies of marine
science.
Dr. Charlotte May
Calculus and Algebra teacher
Bowie High School
Austin
Robert Flake
Professor
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin
Speedy Delivery – A new Approach for VLSI and Broadband Packaging Interconnect Design
The goal of this summer project is to investigate new applications for Speedy Delivery Technology.
Thus far, the focus of the research effort during the past two years has been the development of
applications related to electrical energy pulse propagation in one-dimensional transmission lines. One
example is in Testing Technology for locating and the evaluation of impairments in telephone lines used
for Broadband DSL data transmission. Analogous test methodologies are found in geophysical
exploration involving acoustical energy signals. There are more examples in other fields. Many of these
potential applications of Speedy Delivery Technology involve signal propagation in two or three spatial
propagation. The preliminary investigation of Speedy Delivery pulse propagation behavior in higher
dimensions and in various media will be carried out using spreadsheet data analyses and associated
graphical visualization tools. Dr. May has prior experience with spreadsheet tools and is proficient in
their use. Her assistance in these preliminary studies this summer would be a valuable contribution to
the research effort.
19
Teachers and Professors
Sarah F. Griffin
Algebra and Geometry teacher
Westwood High School
Austin
Glenn Y. Masada
Professor
Department of Mechanical
Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin
Heather K. Pedraza
Physics and Chemistry teacher
Stephen F. Austin High School
Austin
Tess J. Moon
Professor
Department of Mechanical
Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Reliability in Electronics Packaging: A New Design-Testing Paradigm
The project objectives are to develop new design and testing paradigms to increase the reliability of
solder joints connecting electronic integrated circuits (IC) to printed wiring boards (PWB). Modeling and
experimental efforts have been underway for two years. Experimental efforts include thermal cycling
electronic assemblies (ICs soldered to PWBs) for the past two years. Assemblies are periodically
removed from cycling and destructively tested to determine the evolution of cracks and material changes
in the solder.
Ms. Griffin will be responsible for developing a teaching module on electronics packaging that would be
an appropriate resource for high school students. The web-based module would include background
material on electronics packaging (types, geometries, material properties), critical issues (reliability, size
and heat constraints), and future trends. Appropriate links and text will be developed. Ms. Griffin will
also help in gathering and analyzing the data and determine trends based upon the data – take optical
microscope pictures of the solder joints, measure the shape, size and orientation of crack areas, and
apply image processing and statistical programs to determine the correlations between joint locations,
number of cycles, types of solders, crack area, and crack orientation.
Towards Early Cancer Detection: A Novel Functionally-Integrated Cytoskeleton Model
The project objective is to determine if pre-cancerous cervical cells demonstrate detectable changes in
their cytoskeletal elasticity which are reliable precursors of cancer. The project will develop a
quantitative modeling and experimental framework to study the cytoskeleton, its elastic response and
the in vivo contributions of actin filament and microtubules. The experimental part of the study will
characterize cytoskeletal elasticity with a series of in vivo whole cell elasticity measurements from an
optical stretcher and an atomic-force-microscope on normal and malignantly transformed cell lines. Ms.
Pedraza will be responsible for developing a teaching module on cell structures that would be an
appropriate resource for high school students. The web-based module would include background
material on cell structures (types, geometries, material properties) and how these properties change in
diseased cells. Appropriate links and text will be developed. Ms. Pedraza will also aid in the model
development, carry out experiments, and participate in the data reduction analysis.
20
Teachers and Professors
Donna Slaughter
Biology. Chemistry, Physics
and Astronomy teacher
Stony Point High School
Round Rock
Don Winget
Professor
Department of Astronomy
The University of Texas at Austin
Lee R. Silva
Biology teacher
Clark High School
Plano
A. Dean Sherry
Professor
Department of Chemistry
The University of Texas at Dallas
Teacher activity as described by grantee
Dying Stars, Living Planets
Ms. Slaughter will carry out observations of white dwarf stars at The University of Texas’ McDonald
Observatory using the recently completed Argos CCD prime-focus, high-speed photometer. She will
assist in the reduction, analysis and interpretation of the data. The goal is to discover new pulsating
white dwarf stars and use variations of the pulse arrival times to search for reflex orbital motion as a
signature of extrasolar planets. This is the first search sensitive enough to detect planetary systems
dynamically similar to our own. Ms. Slaughter will be a co-author on publications of the research we
carry out this summer. She will participate in the full spectrum of scientific research from planning to
publication, and co-author the scientific papers we submit based on our research.
MT Contrast Agents: A New Paradigm in Molecular Imaging
The goal of this research is to develop a new type of MRI contrast agent that “responds” to various
biological events inside the human body. We have recently discovered a new class of lanthanide
complexes wherein a Ln3+-bound water molecule is in slow exchange with bulk water. The goal of this
summer project is to synthesize a series of tetra-amide ligands with four appended peptide side chains
that form a secondary structure above a Ln3+-bound water molecule. The peptide will be synthesized on
a peptide synthesizer using standard Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis protocols. Purification will be
carried out using reverse phase HPLC. Circular dichroism will be used to characterize the secondary
structure and folding properties of the purified peptides. We will then test the hypothesis that water
exchange with bulk solvent can be altered by enzymatic cleavage of those peptide chains thereby
exposing the bound water to bulk solvent. This will be detected using magnetization transfer NMR
techniques.
21
Teachers and Professors
Miguel Torres
Algebra and Geometry teacher
McAllen High School
McAllen
Miguel A. Gonzalez
Professor
Engineering Department
The University of Texas-Pan
American
Jessica Zenker
Biology teacher
YES College Preparatory School
Houston
Eugenie S. Kleinerman, M.D.
Professor
Division of Pediatrics
The University of Texas M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center
Teacher activity as described by grantee
A Fuzzy-Based Human Reliability System for Web-Based ACLS Training and Performance
Miguel Torres will work on:



Basic evaluation and analysis of the fuzzy-based human reliability model for the ACLS webbased program.
Assisting the Principal Investigator on the research and evaluation of the web-based ACLS
training.
Aid in the improvement and application of the web-based ACLS program by gathering crucial
data from end-users from the medical field.
Polyethyleneimine-Gene Therapy Given by Aerosol: An Effective Treatment for Pulmonary
Metastases
Ms. Zenker will play an important role in our Advanced Technology Program/Technology Development
Technology (ATP/TDT) projects aimed at developing an aerosol gene therapy technology for treatment
of lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases in human patients. This technology uses a therapeutic
gene complexed with a cationic polymer which appears to be highly effective in transfecting lung tissue
in vivo while exhibiting little or no toxicity. Ms. Zenker will work in our labs at M.D. Anderson and in the
labs of our ATP/TDT collaborator at Baylor College of Medicine on several aspects of this important
project. She will conduct tissue culture studies to screen new modifications of our polymer-gene
formulations in an effort to further optimize the antitumor responses that we have already reported in
several animal models. She will learn PCR technology needed to study the biodistribution and clearance
of these formulations after they are delivered to the lungs by fine particle aerosol. Ms. Zenker will also
assist in histological studies to determine which cell types in the lungs exhibit the highest degree of
uptake of the aerosol-delivered complexes and which regions subsequently exhibit the highest degree of
gene expression. These studies should enable Ms. Zenker to transfer her research experience to the
classroom.
22
Summary of 2002 Supplemental Grants Awards and Participants
Supplemental Grants to High School Science and Math Teachers B Summer 2002
Awards by Program and Year of Original Award
1999 Projects
2001 Projects
Totals
Program
Number of
Awards
Dollars
Awarded
Number of
Awards
Dollars
Awarded
Number of
Awards
Dollars
Awarded
ARP
6
$ 45,900
12
$ 85,500
18
$131,400
ATP
9
$ 66,600
15
$111,600
24
$178,200
TDT
1
$
8,100
4
$ 29,700
5
$ 37,800
Totals
16
$120,600
31
$226,800
47
$347,400
Projects selected in the 1999 and 2001 Advanced Research Program and Advanced Technology Program (ARP/ATP) grants
competitions were eligible to receive Supplemental Grants to High School Teachers for summer 2002. Technology Development and
Transfer (TDT) grants are made in the ATP to commercialize research discoveries.
One of the teachers participating in this summer research program has a doctoral degree, 20 have master=s degrees (including 10
Master of Science degrees), and 26 have bachelor=s degrees (including 18 Bachelor of Science degrees). The doctoral degree was
awarded in math education. The master=s and bachelor=s degrees were awarded in various areas of science, math, education, and
engineering.
23
Supplemental Grants to High School Science and Math Teachers – Summer 2002
Gender of Participants by Program
Teachers
Investigators
Program
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
ARP
6
12
18
16
2
18
ATP
10
14
24
21
3
24
TDT
1
4
5
4
1
5
Totals
17
30
47
41
6
47
Technology Development and Transfer (TDT) grants are made in the ATP to commercialize research discoveries.
Most of the participating teachers are female, while most of the investigators are male.
Twenty of the teachers also participated in the 2001 supplemental grants program. Six of the teachers participated in both the 2000
and 2001 programs and one participated in all four years of the program. Twelve of the teachers will be working with the professor
who supervised their research during the summer of 2001. One teacher has worked with the same professor for all four summers.
Seventeen of the professors with 2002 supplemental grants also received 2001 grants. Two of the professors have participated in all
four summers.
24
Name Index
Aguas, Tricia N.................................. 14
Ardoin, Bonnie J. ................................. 1
Atman, Jay B ..................................... 18
Bartsch, Prof. Richard A. .................. 11
Bering, Prof. Edgar A., III .................. 13
Bond, Rodney M. .............................. 18
Bonner, Prof. James S ........................ 7
Bowen, Ken ......................................... 3
Buskey, Prof. Edward J ..................... 19
Cassidy, Prof. Patrick .......................... 2
Causey, Amy ....................................... 5
Chen, Prof. Daniel H. .......................... 1
Chen, Prof. Yi-Chao. ......................... 14
Chow, Prof. Diana ............................. 14
Conner, Jasson Brock......................... 9
Crowell, Sonja. .................................. 11
Cummings, Brian............................... 19
Densmore, Prof. Charles L ................. 1
Doramus, Sharon ................................ 7
Dunne, Prof. Patrick ............................ 8
Fang, Prof. Xing. ................................. 2
Flake, Prof. Robert. ........................... 19
Fortenberry, Gary .............................. 13
Franks, Richard Lee .......................... 13
Fuchs, Prof. Perry ............................. 17
Gabor, Prof. Caitlin.............................. 3
Galloway, Prof. Heather ...................... 3
Gonzalez, Prof. Miguel A .................. 22
Greene, Prof. L. W .............................. 9
Gresham, Emily................................. 14
Griffin, Sarah F. ................................. 20
Griffing, Rubeth ................................. 12
Hassan, Janet ..................................... 6
Himmler, Gary W............................... 16
Hockman, Daniel J. ............................. 7
Holmes, Matt ....................................... 3
Hughes, Thaddeus E ........................ 13
Ignatiev, Prof. Alex. ........................... 14
Kleinerman, Prof. Eugenie S. ........... 22
Koke, Prof. Joseph R. ......................... 4
Koke, Judith A ..................................... 5
Koulen, Prof. Peter ............................ 16
Lack, Janice ........................................ 2
Lalor, Janice Marie .............................. 8
Lee, Kathreen...................................... 1
Long, Prof. Stuart A .......................... 15
Lutherer, Prof. Lorenz O ................... 12
Lyle, Mary Boothe ............................... 8
Maddox, Judi ..................................... 17
Martinez-Zaguilan, Prof. Raul ........... 13
Masada, Prof. Glenn Y. ..................... 20
Matis, Prof. James. ............................. 6
May, Charlotte, Ph.D. ........................ 19
McMillan, Tobi. .................................. 12
McNamara, Carol ................................ 6
Medelci, Prof. Nasr-Eddine ............... 15
Michaud, Steve ................................... 2
Miller, Prof. Edward G. ........................ 8
Moon, Prof. Tess J. ........................... 20
Moranville, Amanda M ...................... 15
Muir, Prof. James P............................. 9
Muttiah, Prof. Ranjan S ..................... 10
Nation, Prof. Jack R. ........................... 6
Nitsche, David ................................... 10
Overfelt, Glenda ................................ 10
Passos, Prof. Nelson Luiz ................... 2
Pedraza, Heather K........................... 20
Pomerantz, Prof. Martin .................... 17
Price, Clyde Alan ............................... 15
Quitevas, Prof. Edward L .................. 12
Rush, Prof. Charlie ............................ 10
Schuller, W. Peyton .......................... 15
Schwarz, Prof. John R. ....................... 7
Sharma, Prof. Suresh C .................... 18
Sharrock, Pamela ............................. 11
Sherry, Prof. A. Dean ........................ 21
Silva, Lee R ....................................... 21
Slaughter, Donna .............................. 21
Stanley, Belinda ................................ 14
Starikov, Prof. David. ........................ 15
Sternes, Prof. Keith L. ......................... 5
Stewart, Prof. Randolph H ................ 11
Stimpson, Jennifer. ........................... 17
Straus, Prof. David C ........................ 13
Su, Prof. Jianzhong. .......................... 18
Taylor, Judy. ........................................ 9
Taylor, Teresa A.................................. 4
Torres, Miguel ................................... 22
Watkins, Prof. Linette M. ..................... 5
White, Prof. Kenneth W .................... 16
Winget, Prof. Don.............................. 21
Wuthrich, Cerise ................................. 2
Yannazzo, JoAnn S ........................... 16
Zenker, Jessica ................................. 22
Related documents available from the Division of
Finance, Campus Planning and Research:
Research Experiences for High School Science
Teachers, Summer 2001
Follow-Up Report on the Summer 1999 Supplemental
Program to Provide Research Experiences for High
School Science and Math Teachers, June 2000
For further information about this program, contact:
Advanced Research Program/Advanced Technology
Program Fiscal Year 1999 Progress Report with a
Special Report on Texas-Mexico Border Research
1998 – 2000
Dr. Linda Domelsmith
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Division of Finance, Campus Planning and Research
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 427-6150
Advanced Research Program/Advanced Technology
Program, 2001 Program Announcements
E-mail: linda.domelsmith@thecb.state.tx.us
Advanced Research Program/Advanced Technology
Program, Report of Awards, May 2002
Information is also available on our website:
http://www.arpatp.com
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board does not discriminate on
the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age or
disability in employment or the provision of services.
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