Teacher Quality and Well-Being: a Q-Squared Analysis

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Lisa Keovongsa and MacLeans A. Geo-Jaja, Educational Leadership & Foundations Introduction Literature review argues that teachers are the most important element in determining the quality of a national education system (Gopinathan 2006). While quality education is often defined in the narrower sense of measurable outcomes, teachers still play an equally significant role in achieving widespread […]

Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance of silicon vacancies in SiC: Predicting resonance of cylindrical cavities

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Kyle Miller and Faculty Mentor: John Colton, Physics and Astronomy Introduction: Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance is one method of performing Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) on a material. ESR is used to determine the electron spin lifetime of a material, an important parameter for use in quantum computing. Resonant cavities are conducting containers that are frequently […]

An Advanced, Online Spanish Usage Dictionary

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Hector Jimenez Blanco and Faculty Mentor: Daniel Zappala, Computer Science Department Introduction In response to the lack of study materials available for advanced Spanish, Tumbaburros was created to allow its users to understand the different meanings of one word across all Spanish-speaking countries. This reference application aims to help intermediate and advanced Spanish students master […]

Role of the Viral LANA Protein in Human Cancers caused by Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

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Gregory Low and Brad Berges, Microbiology and Molecular Biology The purpose of our experiment was to ascertain the importance of the LANA protein encoded by the Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV). LANA is believed to be essential for the survival of KSHV in human cells. KSHV causes a variety of cancers including Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), multicentric […]

Novel G-protein Coupled Receptor Expression and Modulation of Synaptic Plasticity

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Michael Thayer Christensen and Dr. Jeff Edwards, Physiology and Developmental Biology Introduction According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s disease – infamously known for its patients’ loss of memory and other intellectual abilities – is the sixth most common cause of death in the United States. Sadly this is just one of […]

Finding Clues to Phosphate Homeostasis Through Transposon Sequencing

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Tanner Dean and William McCleary, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Introduction Though Escherichia Coli is a thoroughly investigated species of bacteria, questions still remain concerning genes involved in phosphate homeostasis. Phosphate homeostasis is the idea that a cell or bacterium adapts to changing environmental phosphate concentrations. Cells need to adapt to changing phosphate conditions because phosphate […]

The role of HDAC1 in increasing β-cell glucose stimulated insulin secretion and apoptosis resistance

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Carrie Draney and Jeffrey Tessem, Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science Introduction Type 1 and type 2 diabetes affects more than 9% of the American population and the incidences of diabetes continue to increase at a startling rate. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes impede β- cell function (insulin secretion) by destroying β-cell mass. Increasing […]

The role of Wnt secretion from Neural Crest Cells in proper craniofacial development

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Bradley Haynes and Stark Michael, Physiology and Developmental Biology Introduction Both Wnt signaling and neural crest cells (NCCs) have a well-established role in the development of facial bones and cartilage. Wnt signaling is known to be required for neural crest cell formation; however, Wnt expression originating from the neural crest after their specification by Wnt1 […]

Confirming the spatial relationship between iron, tau protein, and amyloid beta within the subiculum as a means to better detect Alzheimer’s disease with Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Brandon Herrington and Jonathan Wisco, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology Introduction As the 6th leading cause of death in the United States1, and because of the significant deterioration it causes in the quality of life of its victims, Alzheimer’s disease is an area where research to improve its early diagnosis is paramount to establishing […]