Tag: Poster 23

Woolf and Tolkien: The Significance of Literary Illustration

Presenter: Tyler Lantz

Mentor: Helen Southworth

AM Poster Presentation

Poster 23

British essayist and novelist Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) was a notable literary presence in the Modernist literary movement of the early 20th century. In her 1919 short story Kew Gardens, Woolf’s texts are accompanied by her sister and acclaimed artist Vanessa Bell’s illustrations. Bell was a critically acclaimed painter of the time, and was often compared to male artists of her time, such as to the painter William Blake by critic Diane Gillespie in her 1988 essay “The Sister’s Arts”. The importance of illustration to Woolf’s writing can be compared to J.R.R. Tolkien’s self-illustrated 1937 fantasy novel The Hobbit. There are some notable similarities between Tolkien and Woolf’s motivation for including illustrations in their works. First, both Tolkien and Bell’s simple ink drawings provide a subtle guidance to the stories without compromising the imagination of the reader. Second, both sets of illustrations provide a distinctive accompaniment to the tone and intentions of the works. Woolf’s friend and colleague Roger Fry addresses the significance of literary illustration in his 1926 “Transformations: Critical and Speculative Essays on Art”.

Tour de Fans: An Exercise in Comfort

Presenters : Erik Larson, Kyle Stuart-Willis, Robert Nicholls

Mentor : Alison Kwok

Major : Architecture

Poster 23

We are architecture students at the University of Oregon investigating into the Environmental Control Systems of an architectural space and the level of success for their implementation. This study analyzed the UO Rec Center’s spinning (stationary bike) exercise room and how human activity affects environmental conditions. By studying the temperature and relative humidity during a class we were able to understand human-generated heat in a room and apply more ventilation equipment in order for the room to remain in the architecturally-defined “comfort zone” (defined by ASHRAE standard 55) for a longer period of time. We hypothesized that a third fan added during a spin class would increase the time spent in the comfort zone by 20%. The study took place over 2 weeks to gather data with multiple controlled variables. Devices known as HOBO data loggers took intermittent measurements of the classroom’s temperature and relative humidity We concluded that the implementation of a third fan dramatically increased the classroom’s circulation, resulting in highs up to 46% lower in temperature and 35% lower in relative humidity. Our investigation shows that proper research of the ventilation/air circulation of an architecturally-designed space results in a more pleasant environment for users and a greater contribution to society for the architects involved. We also learned that participating in multiple spin classes leads to great glutes.

Heating Up Gerlinger

Presenter: Matthew Moyano

Mentor: Alison Kwok

Poster: 23

Major: Architecture 

This study investigated the thermal conditions of Gerlinger Hall’s south façade Sun Porch. Ellis Lawrence intended for the hall to be passively heated most of the year. The authors believe that the gallery space of Gerlinger has enough direct sunlight through its windows that it can passively reach thermal comfort levels during winter without excessive mechanical heating. However, it is currently unable to do so. Damaged and sealed windows do not allow airflow. Outdated radiators cause heat to be continuously released, much more than needed. Hobos, small indoor temperature recorders, collected the data over the span of three days and calculated the heat changes over time. Raytek Lasers identify the heat released and stored in different materials. Variables that affected the data collected were: use of the building, opening of doors, use of central heating, opening of windows, and drafts created by infiltration through historic, single-paned windows. Results of the research show intense heat released from radiators, around 140 deg. F. Walls and floors reach 100 deg. F. The average heat of the area is near 80 deg. F, going in and out of the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers) comfort zone. In response to the data, recommendations for more efficient heating practices will be made in order to make the space more efficient. Such recommendations are: rehabilitation of historic windows and updating and correcting of heating system.

aPKC Induces Polarization of Numb by Inhibiting Cortical Targeting Sites

Presenter: Lyle McPherson

Mentor: Ken Prehoda

Poster: 23

Major: Biochemistry 

Cell polarity regulates important functions for metazoan cells, including epithelial, neuronal and stem cells. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that allow cells to establish cell polarity. aPKC, the kinase of the evolutionarily conserved Par complex, polarizes cellular proteins. In these polarized cells, protein polarization genetically downstream of aPKC maintains tissue integrity and establishes cell identity. For multiple aPKC substrates, phosphorylation induces protein polarization by displacing substrates from aPKCcontaining membrane domains. Despite the clear role of aPKC in establishing cell polarity the molecular mechanism by which aPKC’s kinase activity polarizes its substrates remains unclear. We characterized the polarization mechanism of Numb, an aPKC substrate, using cell biology and biochemistry. We identified lipidbinding sites within Numb that mediate its recruitment to the cellular cortex by binding to negatively charged phospholipids. Additionally, we found that specific amino acids within these sites are phosphorylated by aPKC to inhibit lipid binding. Our findings suggest one mechanism for aPKCmediated cell polarity where aPKC polarizes Numb by phosphorylating it to inhibit cortical association thereby resulting in its polarization. We are currently investigating other domains of Numb containing aPKC phosphorylation sites to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind this process. The mechanism of Numb’s polarization by aPKC illustrates to us a way that a kinase can induce cell polarity by destabilizing a protein’s membrane association in specific regions of the cell.

Comparing Morphometric Methods in Macaca mulatta crania

Presenter: Rachel Glenzer

Mentors: Stephen Frost and Frances White, Anthropology

Poster: 23

Major: Biological Anthropology 

We compared the precision of a relatively new method for collecting three-dimensional landmarks, 3D photogrammetry with Agisoft Photoscan, to that of two other well-known methods: Microscribe 3DX and Nextengine Laser Scanner. Landmark editor was used to place landmarks on laser and photoscans. Two crania (one male, one female) of Macaca mulatta from the University of Oregon Comparative Primate Collection were digitized by two users, (RG) and (KC), who each collected 10 replications with all three methods using a well-established 45 landmark protocol. The 120 replications were then analyzed with generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) in Morpheus with scale restored. An external scale factor was applied to the photoscans to make them consistent. To assess the overall magnitude and patterning of the three different methods, the Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and scores were compared. PC 1 (46 % variance) separated the two specimens. PC 2 (16 % variance) separated the two specimens by user. PC 3 (6 % variance) sorted the Microscribe from the other methods. There is some significant separation within user based on method (P < .0001), but this was much smaller in magnitude than the other factors. Among the three methods, the laser scans had the best precision (0.42 mm), followed by photoscans (0.67 mm), and least precise was microscribe (0.62 mm). Our results indicate that photoscan is as precise as well-known methods.

”Thinking Inside the Box”: Comparative Analysis of Post-consumer Cardboard Building Insulation

Presenter: Nathaniel Leigh

Co-Presenters: Gianna Prather, Alexa Thornton

Faculty Mentor: Alison Kwok

Presentation Type: Poster 23

Primary Research Area: Design

Major: Architecture

In an age where efforts to conserve natural resources and limit greenhouse gas emissions are more critical than ever before, it is vital to reduce waste and use already harvested resources as effectively as possible. Creating products from post-consumer material is one way to greatly reduce the amount of waste making it into landfills. The authors of this study explore the use of post-consumer corrugated cardboard as building insulation. Two methods for insulating with cardboard were assessed – stacked and shredded. The authors hypothesized shredded cardboard would be a better insulator than stacked cardboard. A second hypothesis was tested; fiberglass batt insulation would be a better insulator than stacked and shredded cardboard. R-13 fiberglass batt insulation was used to represent the minimum insulation requirement for a residential building located in the United State Zone 4 climate as defined by ASHRAE standard 90.1. Three identical boxes were constructed, each with a different insulation. Interior and exterior temperature data from each box was collected using HOBO Pendant 001 data loggers. Differences in interior and exterior temperature were compared across each box in order to determine effectiveness. Comparative analysis was used to assess the performance of the cardboard insulation types against each other and the fiberglass batt. All hypotheses were proven incorrect; the findings show that both types of cardboard insulation perform comparatively to R-13 fiberglass batt insulation.

Effects Of Histamine-Receptor Blockade And Exercise On Blood-Glucose Concentration

Presenter(s): Sabrina Raqueno-Angel − Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): John Halliwill, Matt Ely

Poster 23

Research Area: Natural Science

Funding: OURS Program, the Oregon Undergraduate Researchers in SPUR (Summer Program for Undergraduate Research in Life Sciences)

Histamine is a molecular transducer released from mast cells during exercise, and its role during the exercise period is unknown. The experiment’s purpose was to determine if H1/H2 histamine receptor blockades would decrease blood-glucose concentrations during exercise. It was hypothesized that histamine receptor blockade would decrease blood-glucose concentrations during exercise. Subjects were chosen if ages 18-40, had a BMI of ≤ 25 kg/m2, experience riding/racing bikes, and can perform 3 hours of continuous exercise. The independent variable was the pill taken (antihistamine or placebo), and the dependent was blood-glucose concentration. After a screening and two familiarization visits, the subject completed four study visits, in which they performed a 120-minute cycling exercise at 50% VO2 max on a stationary bike in a temperature and humidity-controlled room. Before each study visit, the subject was randomly given a placebo pill or antihistamine and rested for two hours. Measurements were taken from the earlobe pre-exercise and three times during exercise at 15, 60, and 120 minutes. Repeated-measures two-way ANOVA (RM ANOVA, Group X Time) was used for statistical analysis. No differences were found between placebo and antihistamine groups (p = 0.801), and no Group X Time Interaction was determined (p = 0.881). Blood glucose levels at 15, 60, and 105 minutes were lower than the pre-exercise levels (p<0.001). No significant differences in blood-glucose concentrations were found between placebo and antihistamine groups. This research provides valuable information regarding histamine’s role in the cardiovascular system’s physiological pathways, which is important for forming cardiovascular disease prevention.

Investigation of Riboswitch Structure and Dynamics Using Fluorescent Spectroscopy

Presenter(s): Michael Veirs

Faculty Mentor(s): Julia Widom

Poster 23

Session: Sciences

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is a photophysical phenomenon in which the excitation of a donor fluorophore results in fluorescent emission from an acceptor fluorophore when the two molecules are in close proximity. Using a FRET system, we intend to investigate the folding dynamics of the preQ1 riboswitch, which is an RNA species that regulates gene expression in bacteria. We used a double-stranded DNA system and the fluorescent adenine analog 2-aminopurine (2AP) to determine fluorescent molecules that can be used as FRET acceptors for 2AP. We found mFluor violet 450 and Atto390 to be appropriate acceptor fluorophores for use in more complex RNA systems. We also found that the riboswitch has a tendency to dimerize under our experimental conditions. To investigate this process, we ran our RNA samples using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We determined protocols for minimizing dimerization of our RNA by varying the procedure by which the construct was annealed and stored. These results lay the foundation for using FRET to study the folding of this riboswitch and, by extension, the mechanism by which it regulates gene expression.