ABSTRACT. Reliability is an important issue in deployment of IEEE 802.11p based vehicular communication systems for safety applications. One of the major causes for poor reliability of vehicular communication is message collisions from overlapped transmissions of multiple nodes (including hidden terminals and concurrent transmissions). Many schemes and protocols from the perspective of network have been proposed to avoid the collisions. However, there have been no general and effective solutions that enable the vehicular communication system to meet the reliability requirement for all potential safety applications. This project proposes a new scheme combining MAC protocol and iterative collision resolution algorithm to combat both hidden terminal collisions and concurrent collisions from IEEE 802.11p CSMA channel access. The new scheme is designed to find a way to recover collided messages instead of avoiding their collisions. An initial analysis and preliminary testing indicates that the new scheme is able to provide significant gain of reliability for the vehicular communication systems at a price of minor addition of delay.

ABSTRACT. Suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in surface waters is an important predictor of water quality in coastal seas and estuaries because it impacts light available for algae growth and provides a significant pathway for contaminant transport. Despite its significance in a wide range of aquatic environments, major limitations related to modern measurement techniques prevent water resource managers from accurately accounting for SSC when making decisions. For this purpose, we are developing remote sensing technologies that accurately estimate SSC.

To demonstrate the effectiveness and value of remote sensing, a combination of surface suspended sediment concentrations derived from Landsat 7 satellite imagery, a 2D hydrodynamic model, and a fetch-limited wave model were used to estimate the critical shear stress required to suspend sediment in San Francisco Bay. Over the two-year testing period, tidal phase, location, and season all contributed to noticeable variation in SPM and estimated critical shear stress was relatively constant and consistent except for in Central bay where coarse grains are expected to increase the critical stress but also reduce the observed SPM owing to the depth and the fast settling. These results are consistent with previous observations in the region (e.g. Brand et al. 2010).

Although satellite imagery can provide useful information, limitations in spatial and temporal resolution restrict satellite imagery’s applicability in estuaries and lakes, where shifts in winds and tides can change SSC over the course of hours. Therefore, we are developing a low-altitude remote sensing system using off-the-shelf cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to provide maps of SSC on demand. Preliminary results from a field deployment in San Francisco Bay suggest the viability of the technology and reveal the additional image processing challenges accounting for surface waves, sun glint, and cloud cover.

ABSTRACT. Electric Vehicles have demonstrated greater appeal and performance for the past several years. Desired increased performance of these electric vehicles has also pushed the research into advanced battery powered systems and electronics. Presented is our newest electric powered motorcycle which holds a world speed record in the 1/4 mile and is a test bed for research with other industries looking into power automotive electronics.

ABSTRACT. Recent advances in nanomaterials have shown great promise in the fields of drug delivery, biomarker development, and photovoltaic (PV) cells, to name a few. These materials promise to overcome inefficiencies associated with the bulk design of current state-of-the-art technologies by fine tuning physical, chemical, and electronic properties at the nano scale. However, many novel nanomaterials fail to realize full application due to challenges in top-down design and spatial control. DNA-based nanostructures are well-suited to answer this challenge by providing a platform for bottom-up, high spatial resolution scaffolds to organize heterogeneous nanomaterials. DNA origami, a structure created from hybridizing a long ssDNA scaffold strand with multiple synthetic complimentary 'staple strands', is particularly attractive for this application as synthetic ssDNA segments allow for sub-nanometer inclusion of selective binding moieties. Thus, DNA is able to serve as a structural peg board to organize a variety of other materials. This presentation will focus on two such applications for capturing bio-molecules towards sensor development and organizing gold and silica nanomaterials to explore novel photophysical aggregates.

ABSTRACT. The use of composites as multi-functional materials is an area of great commercial and engineering interest.One such application is to use carbon fiber reinforced polymer(CFRP) for storing and distributing electrical energy while continuing to benefit from its structural integrity.Fiber-matrix adhesion is a very crucial factor influencing load bearing capacity of composite laminates .The objective of this study is to quantify the change in the fiber-matrix adhesion when exposed to direct electric current. Unidirectional 16-ply CFRP laminate was prepared using Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique in the lab. Special electrical setup was constructed to subject CFRP samples to maximum direct electric current that is just enough to generate temperature close to the glass transition temperature (Tg) continuously through the sample for 3 hours in a constant current mode. Temperature readings which are indicative of current distribution within the sample were taken using 16x4 resolution thermal imager. Mechanical experiments such as three point bending and Combined Loading Compression (CLC) which are highly sensitive to fiber-matrix adhesion was conducted and values of ultimate compression strengths and strains were compared with non-electrified samples. Differential Scanning Calorimetry was done to quantify the shift in 'Tg'. Results so far have shown no substantial changes in fiber-matrix adhesion strengths plotted against an increasing temperature spectrum that ranges from room temperature to 'Tg'.However, present results are yet to be confirmed with further iterative and comparative studies.

ABSTRACT. Graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) and other allotropes of carbon are widely used as filler materials in epoxy resin for manufacturing nanocomposites. These nanocomposites often display enhanced mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Nanocomposites made with carbon nanotubes as the filler material have found many applications but recently GnP has become the nanofiller of choice for a lot of researchers for manufacturing nanocomposites. The reasons behind this are its superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. In order to manufacture nanocomposites with GnP and to achieve the desired properties, uniform dispersion of GnP in epoxy has to be ensured and there must be strong interfacial interaction between GnPs and epoxy. In this paper we will mainly discuss about the dispersion and interaction of GnPs in epoxy.

For improving dispersion a few techniques were used. In one of these methods, GnPs were dispersed in a solvent and then the GnP-solvent solution was added to the epoxy. Solvents like isopropyl alcohol, acetone and toluene help in better dispersion of GnP in epoxy. GnPs also tend to form agglomerates in epoxy before curing and this happens due to weak van der Waals forces. In order to avoid this, ultrasonication and ball milling were used as high energy mixing processes for breaking up the GnP aggregates. Ball milled GnPs were dispersed in solvents using ultrasonication and then epoxy was added to it later.

In order to improve the interfacial interaction between GnP and epoxy, surface treatment of GnP was done. Firstly, GnPs were treated with a non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-100. It reduces surface energy, increases wetting and in turn helps in better dispersion of GnPs in epoxy. Secondly, chemical functionalization on surface of GnPs were done using 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane (GPTMS) and (3-Aminopropyl)trimethoxy silane (APTMS) . GPTMS and APTMS chains grafted on GnP surface take part in covalent bond formation with the epoxy matrix.

Fracture toughness and other mechanical properties showed improvements after these treatments and SEM demonstrated better dispersion of GnPs in epoxy.

ABSTRACT. Drug addiction is one of the most costly and devastating health problems in the United States. Over the last decade, opiate abuse in adolescents has increased significantly. One negative outcome associated with use during adolescent development is an increased risk of addiction and dependence. Opiate withdrawal is one of the most powerful factors driving opioid dependence and addictive behaviors. It has been proven that female adolescents are more sensitive to opioid effects than males. However, the exact mechanisms underlying stress induced relapse in adolescents are not understood. To meet the health care needs of Oklahoma and the US population, novel research for understanding the mechanism underlying adolescent rewarding properties are required for treating adolescent opioid withdrawal in real life successfully. In the current study rats received chronic escalating morphine doses during the adolescent period and we used naloxine for participating withdrawl. Naloxone, is a well used and probed opioid antagonist. Withdrawl is the symptoms that occur upon discontinuing intake of a certain drug. Not only is withdrawl a definite side of morphine dependence, but it is also an important element for understanding morphine relapse.

ABSTRACT. Bacteriophage are a common type of virus that infect and kill bacteria. Salmonella and enterohemorrhagic E. coli [EHEC] bacterial infections are a common cause of foodborne illnesses that cause severe gastrointestinal distress. Bacteriophage were isolated from the environment and shown to kill both of these pathogens. Preparations of these bacteriophage can be sprayed onto food processing machinery and leafy greens in order to reduce bacterial contamination, thus preventing foodborne illness. In this project we cloned DNA fragments from one of the bacteriophage, Phage 7, and sequenced the DNA. We sequenced 2,142bp of DNA, and we used this DNA sequence data and phylogeny software to compare our phage with existing phage in GenBank. We identified Phage 7 as a Salmonella-type phage and inferred its relationship with other bacteriophage.

ABSTRACT. The increase of opioid prescriptions has caused misuse and mortality in teens and adults which lead to the American Pain Society(APS) and the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) to create a evidence-based guidelines. We examined their guidelines to check the quality of their recommendations because their recommendations are used by doctors on how to manage and treat their patients. In order to assess the guideline it was necessary to read the APS and AAPM's guideline and obtain a grade from each recommendation based on their level of evidence. We make sure the guidelines are providing adequate information to the public to give them proper care.

ABSTRACT. As female reproductive hormones fluctuate, the body sodium balance changes with there being lower levels of sodium when estrogen levels are elevated. Circumventricular organs (CVOs) are structures in the central nervous system (CNS) that have an incomplete blood brain barrier (BBB) and can detect the hormones associated with changes in the sodium balance. The subfornical organ (SFO), a CVO found in the forebrain, has been shown to have estrogen receptors in it and connections to other regions of the CNS involved in the body sodium balance. Since the BBB is partially comprised of astrocytes, we hypothesized that changes in sodium levels could cause changes in astrocyte density in the SFO. To test this, we used immunohistochemical methods to label astrocytes in the SFO of female rats given treatments of estradiol benzoate and either sodium deficient or regular sodium diets. Astrocyte density increased with the presence of estrogen regardless of dietary sodium levels, which may mean that estrogen influences astrocytes independent of dietary sodium levels. The increased astrocytes may decrease the permeability of the BBB or alter neurotransmitter synthesis and release in the SFO and, consequently, change activity in other regions of the CNS involved in body sodium balance when estrogen levels are elevated.

ABSTRACT. Neuroinflammation is present in many neurological conditions such as trauma, disease and neurodegenerative conditions. Neuroinflammation also plays a key role in obesity. Over 30% of US adults are obese (Ogden et al., 2014). Much research is focused on factors that may contribute to obesity. For example, the chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) has been implicated in obesity (Poon et al., 2014. MCP-1 recruits white blood cells to adipose tissue, which is instrumental in the peripheral inflammation. Most animal studies use male rats and induce obesity using diet or genetic manipulations. However, obesity is particularly pronounced in women, especially after age 60. Interestingly, rats rapidly and reliably gain weight after ovariectomy (OVX; see below). We used this post-OVX weight gain as a model of post-menopausal obesity. This model allows us to focus on the physiological factors that occur during the development of obesity.

ABSTRACT. DNA barcoding provides an effective method for individual identification of species using specific molecular tags derived from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. Taxonomists are only able to identify 0.01% of the 10-15 million species on the planet. DNA barcoding, or microgenomic identification, is an alternative to using morphology in taxonomy. The aims of the study included: i) analysis of number and diversity of individuals and species in the two ponds; ii) lab process analysis of sample loss and concentration of extracted DNA for successful PCR; iii) and an evaluation of fresh water and salt water fish phylogenetic divergence using freely available software. Biodiversity information was used as a monitoring tool for the area on the Southeast Campus of Tulsa Community College. Specimens were collected from two locations, both a rural and urban pond, and identified by national wildlife conservation workers before being harvested. The collected sample DNA was obtained through a lysing procedure, then amplified using published primers for PCR. The product was verified on an agarose gel, then purified using the EZNA Cycle Pure Kit. Nine samples, three of each species of fish, were sent to be bi-directionally sequenced. Sequences were trimmed using FinchTV and aligned using Muscle in Mega7. Each of the 3 species included in the experiment possessed a different amino-acid sequence at COI and diverged from the salt water specimens. While 87% of the total number of fish were found in the smaller rural pond, a greater variety of fish were located in the urban pond. Two successful PCR amplifications were derived from less than 50% of the published concentration needed, and in our hands, only four samples were lost from 24 secured in the field.

ABSTRACT. Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a growing problem in health care. Bacteria become antibiotic resistant by mutation or by acquiring resistance genes from their environment. A possible anthropogenic source of antibiotic resistance genes is effluent from wastewater treatment plants. Effluent may contain resistant bacteria, resistance genes, and/or antibiotics. To assess this source fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria have been isolated from effluent from a wastewater treatment plant, from the river upstream of the discharge point, and from the river downstream of the discharge point. In some cases fluoroquinolone resistance is due in part to plasmids carrying a qnrS2 gene. Sequencing of these plasmids has shown that they are related to previously-reported plasmids from diverse locations in complex ways. We are exploring a graphical approach to displaying sequence comparisons. The plasmid sequence is broken into sequential 200 nucleotide pair segments. Each segment is used for a BLAST search and the top ten hits recorded. The region of homology between the original plasmid and each of the top hits is determined by Pustell DNA matrix and entered into an Excel spreadsheet for graphical display. We hope this approach may make the relationships between plasmids more understandable.

ABSTRACT. DNA in our cells is continuously subjected to endogenous and exogenous damage. Our cells respond by activating the DNA Damage Response (DDR) pathway, which will lead to the repair of damaged DNA. Mutations in the DDR pathway can cause genomic instability and frequently lead to cancer. Minichromosome maintenance 10 (Mcm10) is required for both initiation and elongation steps during DNA replication. However, Mcm10’s role in the DDR pathway is not known. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that Mcm10 interacts with Maintenance of Replication Checkpoint 1 (Mrc1) through yeast-two-hybrid. Mrc1 is critical for the DDR pathway by recognition of DNA damage and activation of the S-phase checkpoint. Our laboratory has also shown the interaction between Mcm10 and Mrc1 occurs through the C-terminus region of Mrc1. Our project attempts to further narrow down the region of interaction on Mrc1. To accomplish this, we have successfully constructed truncated Mrc1 (498-1096) in a yeast-two-hybrid vector. We have also successfully inserted both Mrc1 and Mcm10 into our yeast-two hydrid. To check if Mrc1 is interacting with MCM10 we will grow them on X-Gal plates. If the interaction is positive we can begin obstructing the interaction of this truncated Mrc1 with Mcm10 and study the yeast for cell cycle and growth phenotype.

ABSTRACT. Mutations associated with Mcm10 and polymerase epsilon are associated with several health disorders including cancer and congenital diseases. Polymerase epsilon, a key enzyme involved in replication, has shown to interact with Mcm10 in past research. The scope of this project is to introduce mutations in endogenous polymerase epsilon at locations experimentally found in our lab to interact with Mcm10. We hypothesize that the mutant yeast cells will exhibit growth defects due to abrogation of Mcm10 and polymerase epsilon interaction. We are using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to introduce mutations on the yeast genome that codes for a region of polymerase epsilon that interacts with Mcm10. CRISPR-Cas9 is a technique evolved from bacterial defenses against invading viruses. Using this procedure, a section of a genome can be targeted and replaced in a very efficient manner. The sequence being inserted can have mutations not found in the wild type, and this allows researchers to observe phenotypic outcomes in the presence of the mutations. This technique involves two steps: creation of a Cas9-gRNA plasmid and then target the budding yeast genome by homologous recombination. We have successfully constructed a CRISPR-Cas9 Pol2 gRNA plasmid in the laboratory and inserted the mutations into the yeast genomic DNA. Agarose gel electrophoresis and colony PCR verify ligation. PCR was ran to verify the insertion of the mutations. An 80mer with mutations (Pol2 GE1425, 1428AA), also based on Pol2 subunit, was created. Both the plasmid and the 80mer were transformed into yeast cells where the gRNA will assist in inserting the 80mer into yeast genome through homologous recombination. The mutation was successfully inserted.

ABSTRACT. OBJECTIVE. We wanted to know the number concealed carry license holders in the NSU-Tahlequah campus community, so we analyzed published data to estimate. METHODS. Raw data came from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the US Census Bureau, NSU employment and enrollment figures. We took into account the number of annual approvals, expirations, renewals and revocations. RESULTS. In Oklahoma and Cherokee County, about 10% of eligible adults have concealed carry permits; 265,000 and 3,000 respectively. The estimate for the NSU-Tahlequah campus is about 350, which includes faculty, administrators, staff, seniors and graduate students. CONCLUSION. Oklahoma residents must be at least 21 years old and pass a background investigation to obtain a handgun license. The law allows licensed concealed carry on college campuses with written permission of the university president. Otherwise licensees must store their guns in locked cars. Since about 10% of eligible Oklahomans have handgun licenses, we estimate that 200-300+ people may be legally bringing guns onto the NSU-Tahlequah campus on any given day. Similar analysis can be applied to other college campuses in Oklahoma. This information may be useful for administrators and campus security planners.

ABSTRACT. Organic photodetectors are especially promising due to their strong absorption in the visible and near-infrared (IR) regions, color selectivity, and compatibility with low-cost roll-to-roll processing. In this study, small molecule near-infrared (NIR) photodetectors were fabricated by using Tin(IV) 2,3-naphthalocyanine dichloride (SnNcCl2) and C60 as the NIR absorbing donor and as the acceptor, respectively. The SnNcCl2 photodetectors show strong NIR response beyond 1100 nm which commercially available Si-based photodetectors cannot offer. However, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of a SnNcCl2 is too close to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of C60 acceptor. Thus, the SnNcCl2:C60 NIR photodetectors show very high dark currents (~ 3 × 10-5 A/cm2 at -1 V) due to the charge generation effect between the HOMO level of a SnNcCl2 donor and the LUMO level of a C60 acceptor. Using a Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) acceptor with high-lying LUMO level, the dark current of the SnNcCl2 photodiode was significantly reduced to ~ 4 × 10-8 A/cm2 at -1 V, thus leading to the enhancement in the detectivity (> 1 × 1011 Jones at 700 ~ 1100 nm NIR wavelengths).

ABSTRACT. Organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells are a rising star in the photovoltaic community due to its remarkable performance and rapid progress in the past five years. Recently, lead acetate has been widely used as a lead precursor salt for planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells due to its relatively short processing time. CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite film has been deposited by spin-coating a lead acetate precursor solution with a single-step post-annealing process at a constant temperature (80o C-100o C). In this work, we investigate a two-step post-annealing process for further enhancing device performance in perovskite solar cells. A planar heterojunction perovskite solar cell was fabricated with the following structure: ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CH3NH3PbI3/PCBM/C60/Bphen/Ag. Spin-coated lead acetate precursor films are first annealed at a lower temperature (60o C) and then annealed at a higher temperature (80o C). While the open circuit voltage (VOC) decreases slightly, fill factor (FF) and the short circuit current (JSC) increase with the two-step annealing process compared to the single-step annealing process. Finally, the perovskite solar cell with the two-step annealing process showed the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.2%.

ABSTRACT. Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of a mobile telephone electromagnetic field (MP-EMF) on human brain bioelectric activity, at the T3 location, and information processing speed. Human brain bioelectric activity was assessed by calculating power spectral density (PSD) values from electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, and information processing speed was assessed by the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). Eighty-four people (ages 18-25) participated in this study. Materials and Methods: Each subject had two consecutive 15 minute single-channel EEGs (baseline and treatment) taken with either a T3/T5 or T3/CZ monopolar montage configuration. The treatment EEGs consisted of either exposure to an MP-EMF or a placebo telephone with no electromagnetic field. The mobile telephone or placebo telephone was held by the test subject and against their left ear for the duration of the 15 minute treatment EEG. Subjects were blind to the possibility of exposure to a placebo telephone. The PASAT is subject to practice effect, so a Solomon four-group design was implemented. Half of the groups received a pretest and posttest, while the other half only received a posttest. Results: A three-way mixed ANOVA was used to analyze the PSD values, and a meta-analytic approach was used to analyze the PASAT scores. Neither set of data, PSD measurements or PASAT scores, produced statistically significant results. Conclusion: These results indicate that 15 minutes of exposure to an MP-EMF does not produce a statistically significant effect on human brain bioelectric activity at the T3 location. While the PASAT scores also indicate no effect on cognitive functions from MP-EMF exposure, many confounding factors, like the sensitivity and placement of the PASAT and duration of MP-EMF exposure, may have influenced the statistics. Further research controlling for these factors is suggested.

ABSTRACT. Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking. However, the components of e-juice have not been thoroughly tested for toxicity. Hence, the present study aims to determine the toxicity of e-juice components on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells grown in vitro. CHO cells were exposed to media containing e-juice base, e-juice base and nicotine, e-juice base and nicotine and cinnamon flavor. After a 48 hour exposure time, cell toxicity was determined by performing an MTT viability assay on CHO cells that were grown in the presence of the different components of e-juice. The e-juice flavoring was extremely toxic not only to cells growing in the medium containing the cinnamon, but also to cells in adjacent wells that had no cinnamon in the medium. There was a correlation between viability and distance from wells that contained media with the cinnamon flavoring; the further away from the cinnamon, the higher the viability. Future testing will need to take place in order to determine if the nicotine has negative effects on cells. Our results show that e-juice cinnamon flavoring is highly toxic to CHO cells, even at very dilute concentrations.

ABSTRACT. The aim of the study was to clone a portion of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene from common Oklahoma plants and analyze the sequences of the clones using bioinformatics. GAPDH is an enzyme that catalyzes the sixth step of glycolysis that breaks down glucose for energy production. The focus of this study is a specific GAPDH gene, the highly conserved “house-keeping” gene GAPC. Human GAPDH is an area of study in 21 different types of cancer, DNA replication, membrane fusion and aging–related neuronal afflictions like Alzheimer and Huntington diseases. The Oklahoma range of vegetation includes approximately twenty-five hundred plant species. The goal of the investigation was to identify plants on the campus, isolate the DNA, amplify the GAPC gene, clone the gene and analyze the sequences of the clones through bioinformatics. While investigating a series of new molecular techniques in a collaborative classroom environment, three aims of the research include: i) a comparison of the experimentally derived sequences with digitally derived sequences; ii) an analysis of the DNA spectrophotometric data with stringent published protocols; iii) and a comparison of the sequences to verify Angiosperm family assignment. Following plant identification and DNA extraction using columns, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. The PCR product was ligated into a plasmid vector and transformed. The minipreps of the ligation product were analyzed through restriction digest and promising clones were sent for sequencing. We hypothesized that we could separate the experimental plant sequences from other organisms using bioinformatics and verify family names while achieving PCR success with one half of the required quantity of DNA suggested in published protocols. Our results show that 80% of our PCR successes were 75% below suggested protocol DNA concentration and organisms from conifers, legumes, and asters verify our phylogenetic placement while possible GAPC isozyme sequences confound the results.

ABSTRACT. Soil microbes are a key component of natural and managed ecosystems and the bacterial diversity in soils taken from the rhizosphere of different plants in specific ecological niches has allowed us to begin to identify factors that shape the microbial communities and the organisms that are present in those communities. Information about possible future bioresources, bacterial nutrient availability in different areas, and the effect pH levels have upon bacterial presence, could allow for the creation of new natural fertilizers through a better understanding of nitrogen fixing bacteria. Agricultural studies continue to investigate safe, effective ways to feed seven billion of us. We investigated the ecological space of the rhizosphere of three different trees from three different biomes; a Douglas Fir Tree from a temperate coniferous forest, an Acacia Tree from the Sonoran Desert, and a Black Mulberry Tree from a temperate grassland. Methods included a culture dependent and culture independent approach, and DNA was isolated from each soil sample. Since the use of the 16S rRNA gene to study bacterial phylogeny and taxonomy has been one of the most widely used genetic markers, the culture dependent approach relied upon the individual 16S rRNA gene analysis and the culture independent used metagenomics pyrosequencing analysis of the same gene to accurately describe the bacteria present in each sample. The metagenomics results showed the experimentally derived number of different bacterial phyla present in each sample, and the culture dependent studies allowed for individual organism focus. Specifically, in our hands, Pseudomonas organisms were most easily cultured and sequenced while the metagenomic data revealed that the majority of the soil bacteria (≈80%) in both samples were from the phyla Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia.

ABSTRACT. INTENSITY MATTERS: PERINEURONAL NETS REMODELING IN NALOXONE-PRECIPITATED MORPHINE WITHDRAWAL ON FEMALE ADOLESCENT RATS. Ashley Zongker1, R. Gaglia 2, P. Gonzales 1, R. Velasquez 3, D. Vazquez-Sanroman 2 1Tulsa Community College, 2Oklahoma State University-Center for Health Sciences, 3Southern Nazarene University

Introduction: Female adolescents are more sensitive to opioid effects compared to males. However, mechanisms underlying adolescent morphine rewarding properties in females are not fully understood. Changes in structural neuroplasticity can occur in GABAergic parvalbumin (PRV) positive neurons, which are enveloped by perineuronal nets (PNNs). In the current study, rats received chronic escalating morphine doses during the adolescent period, followed by immunofluorescence measurements for PNN number and intensity expression in substantia nigra (SN). Methods: Adolescent female Sprague dawley rats (PND 34) were administered increasing doses of morphine (5 to 25 mg/kg, s.c.) every 12 hours, for 6 consecutive days. Control rats received saline. On day 6, naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected 2h after last morphine administration. Somatic signs of morphine withdrawal were recorded and brains extracted for immunofluorescence analysis. Results: We found that adolescent morphine escalating dose treatment resulted in the development of morphine dependence as measured by increased withdrawal signs (defecation, digging, mastication and grooming). A one-way ANOVA revealed reduction on the number of PNNs [F (1, 3) = 25.36, p < .05] and PNN intensity [X2(1)= 8.96, p<0.05] in the morphine-naloxone group compared to saline controls. Conclusions: These results indicate that morphine dependence produced by escalating dose treatment, followed by precipitated withdrawal, remodels PNNs surrounding GABA interneurons, suggesting a new possible cellular target where morphine-induced neuroplasticity takes place. Funding Source: Research in this abstract was supported by OK-START UP- 7-113587 and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number P20GM103447. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

ABSTRACT. Honors Research Assistants Anna Mueller and Elise Adelmann will be presenting on their collaboration with Dr. Korstad, a biology and environmental science professor at Oral Roberts University. In the Spring of 2017, they aided in gathering and entering information about sustainable practices on the ORU campus into the Sustainable Tulsa Scor3Card. ORU was awarded with a silver certification from Sustainable Tulsa based on the score of their submission. This semester, Anna and Elise are working on improving their submission to the Scor3Card as well as invigorating Sustainability efforts on campus.

ABSTRACT. Trying to decide which content management systems (CMS) is better for you? This poster presentation will compare and contrast two popular website creation platforms – WordPress and Weebly.com. More specifically, this project will compare 1) template designs available, 2) drag and drop structures, 3) user support, 4) advertising, 5) popularity, 6) tools, and 7) comparison of pricing. Hopefully, this project will help you decide overall whether WordPress or Weebly.com is the better website creation platform for your needs.

ABSTRACT. Medical Tourism (MT) or travel has emerged as an act of traveling to different countries in order to obtain specialized medical services. Though medical tourism is still an emerging sector, the World Tourism Organization has already defined it as a sector in its own right i.e., “Medical Treatment/Health”.

Rapid advancements in medical care in South East Asian countries (e.g., China, India, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore), makes available health services at the tertiary level (similar to a one-stop shop of care) – at certain hospitals – and at a level comparable to the US. (e.g., Arnold, 2006)

Though exact value and magnitude of growth is unavailable, the global MT industry was valued at USD 10.5 bn (2012), and expected to grow to USD 32.5 bn by 2019 and annual growth of 17.9% ( Transparency Market Research). Some medical services utilized include bariatric surgery, cardiac surgery, cosmetic surgery, dental procedures, gender reassignment procedures, and ophthalmologic care.

Proposed Framework MT as a sector can potentially be lucrative for both countries -- source (such as the US, Europe) and the destination (e.g., Malaysia). We use the Porter’s Diamond model with its 4 factors to identify drivers, challenges and opportunities. Surveys will will be used to understand consumer awareness, needs and decision making process. Demand conditions: The price (cost) advantage of comparable services as low as 10% the price makes it an attractive possibility (e.g., Apollo Hospitals in India) even for the under insured or uninsured; some US insurance companies are open to this model. (McReady 2007) Factor Conditions: Availability of well-trained physicians who trained in the US can catapult MTs growth Strategy Structure & Rivalry: With globalization, several private health hospitals in MT locations now offer such services which are ISO certified. Support Industries: MT opens possibility explore and enjoy a new culture a. (CBS 60 minutes, 2007)

Several Challenges exist at each of the 4 factors discussed above, The framework will be used to examine each in greater depth and identify consumer level and macro factors essential to promoting MT which can lead to growth in all nations.

ABSTRACT. The primary driver for this research is to determine what improvements need to be made in Computing degree programs to address the skills needs of organizations and subsequently improve enrollments in those programs. Additional output of this research uncovers what types of computing jobs that are available, the relative quantity of different job types, and current trends in required skills. The approach taken to gather the data used in this research is to collect job ads from Internet job sites looking for CS, MIS, and IT degrees and extract the required skills and other data from those job ads for further analysis.

ABSTRACT. Northeastern State University has adopted new videoconferencing software for virtual class meetings. Zoom records when students enter a session and when they leave. Many students connect over wireless connections. Compared with wired Ethernet connections, wireless connections are more prone to disconnect and reconnect. Connection problems also indicate potential video rendering problems such as lag, distorted voice, and decrease of sharpness of the shared desktop since both tend to occur at lower bandwidths. Zoom statistics also include an Attentiveness column, which shows the percentage of time that students have the Zoom window in focus. When students have other windows open to surf the web, work on other assignments, etc., this is automatically recorded. Both connection problems as measured by the average number of connections per session and the attentiveness score will be used to measure a possible connection with test scores in the class.

ABSTRACT. The binomial theorem is a well known theorem that utilizes the Pascal’s triangle to expand a binomial. In this research, several variations of the sum and difference formulas were generalized. This research derives these special cases into eleven unique formulas by using Newton’s generalized Binomial Theorem. Initially, these cases were only proven to be true with respect to integers but have been expanded to numerous variations involving real and complex numbers. Furthermore, some applications of these special cases have been explored, which includes investigating power series’, deriving an alternative definition to the Riemann Zeta Function, and exploring the relationship between primes and powers. Future applications include combining these special cases with the Gamma Function, complex variables, and the sum of two squares problem.

This research was inspired by the unique patterns that are embedded in square numbers. These patterns form the core foundations in understanding these formulas. One of these patterns, the sums and differences of squares, was extended to different powers using Pascal’s Triangle, which eventually turned into Binomial Theorem Generalizations.

ABSTRACT. A hallmark of cancer is a high rate of mutations and genome instability, caused by genetic changes. Many of these changes are caused by errors during DNA replication. To prevent such errors, cells have evolved replication stress (S phase) checkpoint, a mechanism that slows replication in response to lesions that are difficult to replicate. Although the stress response pathway is understood fairly well, there is an outstanding issue as to how it is activated. It has been suggested that replication proteins may be involved in this checkpoint activation process. Two independent genome-wide screens for factors that maintain chromosome integrity identified minichromosome maintenance protein 10 (Mcm10) as one of the few replication proteins that are highly effective in preventing DNA damage. However, how Mcm10 promotes normal S phase progression and prevents DNA damage is still an open ended question. Mcm10 is an essential protein at the replication fork where it coordinates DNA unwinding with replication fork progression through its interaction with a multitude of proteins. Coordination of these two essential activities is one of the key functions of the S phase checkpoint in order to prevent fork collapse. Although, there is no evidence that Mcm10 itself is a target of the S phase checkpoint, our data suggests that Mcm10 functions in replication and S phase checkpoint pathways through its interaction with Mediator of replication checkpoint 1 (Mrc1) and Polymerase epsilon (Pol). We have observed a strong interaction between Mcm10 and the C-terminus domain of Pol2, the catalytic subunit of Pol. The C-terminus domain of Pol2 is essential and functions in checkpoint activation. Furthermore, this interaction is cell cycle regulated. We are currently carrying out mutational analysis by CRISPR-Cas9 system to characterize this interaction. Our present data suggests that Mcm10 functions not only during DNA replication but is also involved in checkpoint pathways. Overall, understanding of Mcm10 and its functions will help us understand how it supports genome integrity, lack of which leads to genetic changes with tumorigenic consequences.

ABSTRACT. TH2 cells play a critical role in clearing external pathogens, such as helminths; however, inappropriate or overactive response can lead to diseases such as asthma and allergies. Therefore, understanding how these cells develop and regulate their effector functions is of great importance. Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1 α or IRE1α, a molecule important for reducing stress in the ER caused by accumulation of misfolded/unfolded protein, is implicated in TH2 effector functions. Activation of mouse primary T cells in the presence of 4µ8c, a small molecule inhibitor of IRE1α, results in reduced IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. However, it was unknown if 4µ8c could inhibit TH2 cytokines in established TH2 cells. Therefore, we explored if 4u8c can be used to regulate cytokine secretion in established TH2 cells. Treatment of established mouse and human TH2 cells with 4µ8c results in inhibition of IL-5 and IL-13, but not IL-4 as measured by ELISA. Reduced cytokine expression is not due to differences in mRNA stability or mRNA levels; however, established cells appear to produce cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 as measured by intracellular staining and flow cytometry, but are unable to secrete them. This indicates that the inhibition of these cytokines is due to post-translational processes. IL-5 and IL-13 produced by TH2 cells are critical for promoting chronic, inflammatory asthma, and 4µ8c blocks their expression. Future studies will have to be performed in order to determine if 4µ8c can be used to treat chronic asthma. This work is supported by the NSU Faculty Research Council grant and an OK-INBRE minigrant.

ABSTRACT. Wired health monitoring systems, such as BioPac or OmegaWave, integrate many different sensors to build a comprehensive profile of physiological health for research use. However, power and data cables restrict which environments the systems are used in; typically stationary in a room dedicated to the system. Advancing to wireless sensors would expand the range to include unique research environments or even home monitoring. Currently, there exist few wireless health monitoring systems suitable for research. AirStrip offers a clinical wireless solution for health monitoring. It operates within standards set by the FDA and is thus rigid in its function. For research that requires devices and services offered by AirStip, it is sufficient. Research often demands adaptability and novel devices and would need a more flexible system. Some modern wireless sensors, such as Zephyr devices or the popular FitBit, are on the market and perform some of the same measurements as the wired systems. A wireless, flexible physiological health system is only achievable through custom integration of different wireless sensors. Wireless sensors follow their own proprietary wireless protocol and resist integration. The individual sensors exist, but there is no standardized strategy, or protocol, that can bring them together. This presentation will describe a problem research-orientated wireless health monitoring systems, cover one solution to building such a system, and propose future solutions.