Scholars Week 2014

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    3D PRINTING BODY PARTS: AN OVERVIEW OF HOW ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING IS SHAPING TISSUE ENGINEERING
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-23) Cross, Grant ; Boraiko, Carol ; Engineering Technology
    Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, is a manufacturing technique that emerged in the 1980 s mainly focused on engineering prototyping. Recent advances in the precision and cost of the techniques, as well as the widespread use of 3D modeling have increased 3D printing s scope of use from high-end engineering prototypes to a large variety of uses in manufacturing. 3D printing has been shown to improve the processing time, reduce waste, and increase the level of customization of certain products by eliminating the need for the specialty tooling and dies that are traditionally used in manufacturing. Additionally, the ability to physically print complex shapes based on a computer model has given rise to new products that would otherwise be simply impossible to create. The field of tissue engineering has taken advantage of this technology by printing organic cells and inorganic biomaterials with levels of control and precision that surpass previous production techniques. Furthermore, 3D printing allows for applications that can be customized on a case-by-case basis to fit the needs of individual patients. This review will overview the 3D printing-based techniques being used in tissue engineering, and discuss the current applications and challenges of this rapidly advancing field.
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    Does Sugar Help You Run?
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-18) Branstetter, Kelsey ; Robertson, Katelen ; Hartshorn, Emily ; Ridge, Brian ; Duncan, Dominique ; Health & Human Performance
    Context: Carbohydrates are the main source of energy used by the body when running; due to this, many endurance athletes take a supplement during competition. Numerous studies have observed long duration activities and the time frame to ingest supplementation for optimal effects. There has not been much research on the carbohydrate supplementation during middle distance running. Objective: Examine whether the addition of carbohydrate supplementation will yield performance improvement when compared to simply ingesting water during middle distance running, and if improved performance is effected by the type of carbohydrate supplementation. Design: Repeated Measure Design Methods: The participants (n=15) were volunteers from Middle Tennessee State University Womens Soccer team, ranging in age from 18-21| Participants were divided into three supplementation groups: 1) water, 2) Starburst, 3) Gatorade Chew. Each group ran a timed mile, followed by a 15-minute break to consume their assigned supplement, and then ran another timed mile.
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    Drug Discovery: Primary screening of Traditional Chinese Medicines for anti-cancer activity using high-throughput screening
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-25) Ridings, Amy ; Altman, Elliot ; Gao, Iris ; Biology
    Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced in Asia for over two thousand years, however it has been mostly overlooked in drug discovery studies. Cancer is one the deadliest and most complicated diseases on the planet. Effective treatment usually involves highly toxic chemotherapies that reduce the patient s quality of life, and many cancers can develop resistance to currently available therapies. New drugs that eliminate these challenges are a must in order to treat cancer effectively. A handful of new drugs for cancer treatment such as Paclitaxel, Arsenic Trioxide and Camptothecin derivatives have come from the TCM vault, but there are thousands more remedies that have yet to be thoroughly studied as potential drugs for cancer treatment. The Tennessee Center for Botanical Medicine Research (TCBMR) has taken on the task of studying TCMs for their potential in the western drug market, and one of its goals is to find new drugs to fight cancer. One of the earliest steps in this process is primary screening, which involves in vitro testing of TCM extracts for cytotoxicity on lung and breast cancer cells and very low toxicity on healthy cells. Using a high-throughput screening technique and fluorescence indicator AlarmarBlue, the effectiveness of each extract sample can be characterized. High throughput screening will allow a large number of extracts and concentrations to be tested simultaneously. AlarmarBlue, which is initially blue in color will be converted to a highly fluorescent pink compound in the presence of viable cells. Completion of primary screening provides information needed for further study of promising extracts and advances them to the next step in the long process of drug discovery.
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    An Examination of Undergraduate ESL Preparation
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-24) Rodgers, Shunda ; Craig, Dorothy ; Educational Leadership
    Since the fall of 2004, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has experienced a yearly increase in undergraduates, making MTSU the undergraduate college of Tennessee. MTSU offers a variety of different programs. While the education program teaches, addresses many factors in relation to the skills and techniques required and used in the classroom, it seems to lag in other areas- like ESL (English as a Second Language) education. ESL education is provided in schools across America to students that a have a native language other than English. Moreover, there are several education classes available at MTSU that address literacy in the classroom, practicums, and even a SPED (Special education) class that addresses the needs of special children. However, there is no program or class that addresses the needs of ESL children. So, are we truly preparing education majors for real life issues and situations in the classroom? In this action research, the researcher will interview twelve students, in different classifications, that are currently in the teacher education program. With the data retrieved, the researcher will report its findings to MTSU in hopes of creating a pilot program for ESL preparation for classrooms.
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    How Does the Amine Ligand Affect Nanoporous Material Affinity for an Explosives Model?
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-25) Ashley, Gabrielle ; Kiri, Ja'be G. ; Friedli, Andrienne C. ; Friedli, Andrienne C. ; Chemistry
    Imprinted polymeric materials can recognize template molecules from vapors or solutions. Organically-modified silicates (ormosils) containing functionalized organosilanes, including phenyl trimethoxysilane and either 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (1), 3-(N-methylamino)propyl trimethoxysilane (2), or 3-(N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (3). The ormosils were spin-coated from sol-gel solutions containing template 2, 4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), a model for the explosive 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). After being heated in an 80?C furnace for an hour to solidify the gels, organic components in the resulting films were quantified with UV spectroscopy, film thicknesses were obtained using profilometry and ellipsometry, and surface hydrophobicity was measured with contract angle geometry. After template extraction with methanol, films were exposed to DNT vapor and then re-extracted. Results of films containing a secondary amine (2) and a tertiary amine (3) will be compared to preliminary data and results using primary amine 1 and the secondary amine 3-(N-methylamino)propyl triethoxysilane with the tertiary amine expected not to show strong affinity for the template DNT. Preliminary results show the rate of extraction was highest when no organic material was present and lowest when primary amine was used.
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    Incidence and Thermal Biology of an Invasive Cladoceran, Daphnia lumholtzi
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-25) Marcy-Quay, Jessica ; White, Jeffrey ; Pompilius, Melissa ; Fischer, Robert ; Fischer, Robert ; Biology
    Nearly every wetland and aquatic ecosystem in the U.S. is being impacted by non-indigenous species (NIS). Among these, the Southeast Atlantic-Gulf region has the greatest number of aquatic species introductions. In addition to documenting introductions and assessing their impacts, it is important to summarize the traits that characterize successful invaders. One NIS that is generating increasing interest is the subtropical zooplankton Daphnia lumholtzi, which has spread to aquatic systems throughout the US. Many studies have documented the success of D. lumholtzi in reservoirs and lakes, where high thermal tolerance allows it to exploit a vacant thermal niche. However, to date there has been limited characterization of its establishment in estuarine environments. The Alabama River delta offers a unique opportunity to investigate D. lumholtzi distribution compared to native species, as well as how thermal factors may affect its invasive potential in this ecosystem. We collected monthly zooplankton samples from 8 sites across the Alabama River delta system over a two-year period, which confirmed that D. lumholtzi has established a population in the estuary and is most often found during warmer summer months. We are currently conducting studies to determine how thermal factors affect its survival and life history characteristics in the estuary.
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    A PETROLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF TERTIARY TO QUATERNARY MAGMA EVOLUTION IN THE MOUNT HOOD REGION, CASCADE RANGE, NORTH AMERICA
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-01-15) Worrell, Victoria ; Cribb, Warner ; Geosciences
    Over the last 700,000 years, Mount Hood, Oregon has erupted chemically consistent andesitic lavas and pyroclastic flow deposits. Lavas generally fall into the calc-alkaline range with a restricted composition of approximately 50-65 wt% SiO2. Major element geochemistry suggests Tertiary lavas have undergone more fractional crystallization and magmatic differentiation processes than those of the Quaternary. Evidence of magma mixing is also found in thin section analyses with inclusions, sieve textures, and resorbed phenocrysts. Trace element analyses indicate the absence of HSFE depletion relative to LILE in Quaternary samples, indicating Tertiary samples exhibit a closer relationship to arc magmas than what is seen in Quaternary samples. The depletion in Tertiary samples implies a modification of their upper-mantle source region by slab-derived fluids in the subduction zone to the west of the Cascades. The depletion also implies that Quaternary lavas underwent less intereaction with subducted sediment or less magmatic differentiation than Tertiary samples.
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    A preliminary analysis of GK-12 graduate fellow classroom interactions on secondary students perceptions of science
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-25) Lytle, Rachel ; Sadler, Kim ; Farone, Anthony ; Farone, Mary ; Rowell, Ginger ; Biology
    "The NSF GK-12 program at MTSU partners graduate students and high school teachers with biotechnology companies to promote STEM learning opportunities. Graduate Fellows spend one year in high school biology classrooms mentoring student research projects. The purpose of the study was to determine if introducing Graduate Fellows into high school science classrooms to engage with students during the year influences the students attitudes toward science. We hypothesize that implementing programs such as GK-12 may generate a positive perception of science and increase interest in pursuing a science career.
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    The Relationship Between Bullying and Substance Use Among Senior High School Students in Ghana, West-Africa
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-25) Harvey, Marquinta ; Owusu, Andrew ; Health & Human Performance
    "Introduction: School-based bullying, a global challenge, adversely contributes to psychological and physical development of adolescents. Existing evidence indicates an association between bully perpetration and substance use. Conversely, bully prevention interventions are linked to lower reports of substance use. This study examines the relationship between bullying perpetration and substance use among senior high school students in Ghana, West Africa.
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    Scholars Week 2014 University Exposition
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014) Scholars Week
    Schedule of Events for Scholars Week 2014 University Exposition
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    Scholars Week 2014 Winners
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014) Scholars Week
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    A Systematic Review of the Effect of Chromium on Fasting Blood Glucose Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-2-25) Qureshi, Kanwal ; Human Sciences
    "Background: Although the functions of most nutrients are well known and recognized, the function of trace minerals like chromium, are not as well understood. This trace mineral has often been called the 'Glucose Tolerance Factor' due to its claimed effect of lowering blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic patients by increasing insulin sensitivity. I conducted a systemic review to evaluate the reliability of these claims and to identify the mechanism, effect, and (possible) benefits of chromium for type 2 diabetic patients. My goal was to confirm or refute the hypothesis that chromium supplements can be used to prevent or treat type 2 diabetes.