Poster Presentations
Hindlimb Myology of the Honey Bear (Potos flavus)
Author(s): Alexandra Hameline, Megan Demshar, and Heather Ahrens, High Point University
Mentor: Heather Ahrens, Biology
This study provides a detailed description of the hind limb myology of the kinkajou, an arboreal mammal. Observations indicate that muscle anatomy is similar to the red panda and ringtail, indicating that both locomotor function and phylogeny influence the hind limb myology of the kinkajou.
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Pulmonary Function Tests: Assessment of Learner Achievement in the Classroom and Comparison of Administration Technique
Author(s): Christopher Houpt, High Point University
Mentor: Courtney Bradley, Pharmacy
The purpose of this study was to determine student confidence in administering a pulmonary function test (PFT) after two phases of an educational intervention. Results analyzed from surveys showed a significant increase in confidence between the first and second survey indicating a benefit to a one phase educational intervention.
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Formulation of a Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System of Fenofibrate
Author(s): Courtney McCorkle and Bradley Clark, High Point University
Mentor: Bradley Clark, Pharmacy
Self-emulsifying lipid delivery systems create oil-in-water emulsions upon contact with aqueous gastric and intestinal fluids increasing surface area for drug release and absorption. This study aimed to create a formulation that provides spontaneous emulsification and release of fenofibrate to increase absorption as monitored by drug dissolution.
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Effect of Valine and Valine-catabolite, 3-Hydroxyisobuterate on Cell Metabolism, Mitochondrial Biogenesis and BCAA Catabolism
Author(s): Emily S. Lyon, Michele A. Johnson and Roger Vaughan, High Point University
Mentor: Roger Vaughan, Exercise Science
Valine catabolite 3-hydroxyisobuterate (3HIB) may enhance cellular fatty acid uptake possibly explaining the correlation between circulating BCAAs (such as valine) and metabolic disease. Our findings in cultured myotubes suggest 3HIB may dose-dependently alter metabolism without changing gene expression of regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis or BCAA catabolism.
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Effect of Saturated Fatty Acid On Markers Of BCAA-Mediated Mitochondrial Biogenesis And BCAA Catabolism In Vitro
Author(s): Michele A. Johnson, Nicholas P. Gannon, Jamie K. Schnuck, and Roger A. Vaughan, High Point University, Medical College of Wisconsin
Mentor: Roger Vaughan, Exercise Science
Branched chain amino acids (BCAA) such as leucine, stimulate favorable metabolic processes, however higher levels of circulating BCAAs correlate with severity of diabetes (possibly from lipid-induced deregulation of BCAA catabolism). Leucine-induced mitochondrial biogenesis was suppressed by concurrent fat treatment. BCAA catabolism remained largely unaffected by leucine with or without lipid.
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Design and Synthesis of a Halogenated Dibenzoxazepine Library to Probe Antibiotic Adjuvant Activity
Author(s): Nicholas Cutrona, High Point University
Mentor: Meghan Blackledge, Chemistry
In 2005, deaths from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outnumbered those from AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, emphysema, and homicide, combined. Antibiotic adjuvants are a novel method for stemming the antibiotic resistance crisis. We have created a dibenzoxazepine compound library to probe the importance of halogen location and identity to adjuvant activity.
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The Effects of Nicotine on the Development of the Cardiovascular System
Author(s): Ryan Casey, High Point University
Mentor: Kristin Ackerman, Biology
20-30% of pregnant woman continue to smoke cigarettes despite many adverse fetal outcomes. Our laboratory is using zebrafish as a model system to study how nicotine exposure effects gross morphological development, specifically cardiovascular development. Preliminary data indicates that nicotine significantly alters heart rate, edema, and blood stagnation.
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Postcranial Morphology of the Foot and Ankle of Anacodon (Arctocyonidae, Mammalia)
Author(s): Heather Estes and Heather Ahrens, High Point University
Mentor: Heather Ahrens, Biology
Arctocyonidae is a family of Paleogene mammals thought to be part of “Condylarthra”. Here the foot, ankle, and distal right tibia of Anacodon are described. Tarsal morphology was compared to that of Galecyon spp., Arctocyon primaevus, and Arctocyon mumak and suggests that Anacodon may have been scansorial, semi-fossorial, or terrestrial.
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Individual and Social Factors that Contribute to Maladaptive Exercising and Eating Behaviors in Individuals Involved in Greek Organizations
Author(s): Sarah Uzzi, Amy Hobday, Heather Estes, and Kelly Curtis, High Point University
Mentor: Kelly Curtis, Psychology
A variety of psychosocial factors contribute to maladaptive eating and exercise behaviors in adults. Questionnaires pertaining to psychological, social, and health behaviors were administered to students affiliated within Greek organizations. Significant correlations were expected between these variables with time involved in Greek organizations expected to make the expected relationships stronger.
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Progress of Synthesizing the Donor and Acceptor Components of Organic Polymers
Author(s): Robert Glass and Soo Min Lee, High Point University
Mentor: Pamela Lundin, Chemistry
Organic polymers show promise as the active material for solar cells. We have designed a polymer capable of being a single component active layer. We are synthesizing the repeat unit of this polymer, as well as its donor and acceptor components. We will present our progress synthesizing the acceptor component.
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Alterations in Glial Activation Following Binge-like Ethanol Consumption
Author(s): Isabella R Grifasi, Scot E McIntosh, and S. Alex Marshall, High Point University
Mentor: Alex Marshall, Pharmacy
Exposure to binge-like amounts of ethanol causes alterations in glial cell function. A non-dependent, non-damaging alcoholic binge model resulted in changes in the microglia (Aif1) and astrocyte (GFAP) mRNA that are only prevalent during intoxication, but there are no persisting alterations during abstinence.
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The Mechanism of IB-DNQ-Induced Cell Death in NQO1 Positive BRCA2-Mutant Breast Cancer Cells
Author(s): Hannah Lee Dixon, Kristen Brokaw, Kate Hutchinson, Lindsey Palmquist, and Melissa Srougi, High Point University
Mentor: Melissa Srougi, Biochemistry
BRCA2-mutant breast cancer cells with increased expression of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) undergo futile redox cycling with hydroquinone isobutyl-deoxynyboquinone (IB-DNQ). Treatment of BRCA2-mutant cells with IB-DNQ should cause DNA damage to induce cell death. Co-treatment with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitors should potentiate cell death. Co-treatment with NQO1-inhibitor should decrease cell death.
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Oral Presentations
The Negro National League
Author(s): Seanna Naylon, High Point University
Mentor: Paul Ringel, History
Starting in 1916-1970, The Great Migration from the Southern states to the Northern and Midwestern states established an audience for the Negro National League. With the change in demographics brought an increase in hate crimes, discrimination, and black suppression, there became a need for African American communities to unite and take a stance politically and socially.
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Identification of a pharmacophore capable of potentiating ß-lactam antibiotics in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Author(s): Kyra Gillard, High Point University
Mentor: Meghan Blackledge, Chemistry
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections kill over 20,000 people a year and is particularly difficult to treat because it employs virulence behaviors, such as antibiotic resistance. We have identified a class of structurally related tetracyclic amines capable of repotentiating MRSA to common ß-lactam antibiotics.
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An examination of UV radiation tolerance and photoenzymatic repair capabilities across temperature in the freshwater cladocerans Scapholeberis mucronata, Diaphanosoma birgei, and Moina spp
Author(s): Harrison Seitz, High Point University
Mentor: Sandra Cooke, Biology
While UV-B radiation causes DNA damage in organisms, some zooplankton species can use UV-A radiation to heal themselves using processes called photoenzymatic repair (PER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER). We examined the effects of UV radiation and the use of PER and NER on three local cladoceran zooplankton species.
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Crafting A Documentary: The Making Of “The Price Of Bone”
Author(s): Heather Frankel, High Point University
Mentor: Brandon Lenoir, Communication
This presentation is meant to be a companion piece to the documentary: “The Price of Bone,” discussing what it takes to make a documentary. It covers the obstacles I faced during filming and post-production, and the step by step process taken in order to create the documentary. The presentation also offers a quick overview of the topics covered in the film.
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