2020 Student Showcase by University of Wisconsin-Parkside

student

show case

wednesday

April 29 2020

University of Wisconsin-Parkside Student Showcase 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Welcome letter from Chancellor Deborah L. Ford….….….….….….….….2 Full Abstracts of Art Portfolios….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….…. 3 Full Abstracts of Poster Presentations ….….….….….….….….….….….….….6 Full Abstract of Quick Pitch Presentation….….….….….….….….….….….… 20 Full Abstract of Oral Presentation ….….….….….….….….….….….….….….… 21 Acknowledgments ….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….… 23

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Friends and Colleagues: It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside 2020 Student Showcase. This year’s event is unlike anything we have experienced. We will continue to celebrate research and creative activity across an array of academic disciplines – only this year that celebration is virtual. Consider for a moment the true spirit of research and creative activity – the ability and desire to explore, to adapt, and to discover. This year, 65 student presenters and 24 faculty and staff mentors will display their work and discuss the hypotheses and the outcomes. The platform for doing so has changed, but the excitement and dedication remain the same. During the 2020 Student Showcase you’ll experience research posters, recorded audio and video, and even live presentations in the virtual environment. Each of you has answered the challenge of adjusting to a somewhat new normal. UW-Parkside plays a key role in developing the talent our society will depend upon for future success. Student Showcase, and this year in particular, is an opportunity for students to demonstrate the criticalthinking skills and adaptability they have acquired at UW-Parkside, preparing them to be relevant contributors in our global community. Today, I invite you to enjoy and learn – maybe in a new way – from the scholarship and dedication of our students during the 2020 University of Wisconsin-Parkside Student Showcase. Debbie Ford

Chancellor

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Abstracts of Art Portfolio Presentations When Art is NOT Porn Student Presenter: Mia Beauchamp Faculty Mentors: Lisa Marie Barber, Kristen Bartel Department: Art Abstract: When exploring art sometimes lines get crossed between what is artistic and what is pornographic. My objective is to normalize fetishes through the exploration of light in photography and how it can completely change the overall image. Years ago, when I first started photography, I experimented with shibari (rope bondage) and black lighting. Fueled by how phenomenal pictures came out, I decided to continue my exploration into different styles of lighting and what it could do for the composition of the photos. By introducing projected images, cycling colored lights, and black light into my images, I can completley change how the subject matter can be viewed.

Imagination Unleashed Student Presenter: Adrienne Shimada Faculty Mentor: Lisa Barber Department: Art Abstract: This display is an array of my polymer clay sculptures of characters and creatures of my own making. My love of movies and literature inspire me to create my own worlds and inhabitants. Letting my imagination run wild, I invite viewers to explore fantastical and fictitious beings, leaving reality behind. Polymer clay has been my favorite material in which I make my characters since I was seven, and remains my choice material when making up new things.

Extravagant Media: The Dysfunction of Aesthetic Forms Student Presenter: Leah Huber Faculty Mentor: Lisa Marie Barber Department: Art Abstract: Artist Statement: Nature has been my muse for many years, I’m drawn to the beauty the world has given us, but often goes unnoticed or overlooked. Emotion and personal issues have been the subject of my work recently. I depict moments in time that are forgotten by man, sometimes reclaimed by nature, or left to rot because I’ve always been fascinated by abandoned buildings and the stories they hold. The idea of nature within manmade industrial settings peaks my interests. I dabble in multiple mediums, sometimes they overlap for one piece. I love getting my hands covered in the medium and enveloping myself into the work, it becomes personal and unique. Oil paint, photography, clay and wood are frequently used, each medium translates emotion differently. I’m an advocate for upcycling and recycling materials. In my spare time I restore furniture or use recycled material in my work. I often dig through garage sales for canvas, furniture, scrap or unique materials that inspire me to create. My work is vibrant, raw, textured, detailed and neat. My personal life drives me to create art. I’m a plant enthusiast and crafter. My grandparents influenced me to become an artist because they were crafters when I grew up. My grandmother was a painter and worked with fabric; my grandfather was a woodworker. Travel also plays a role in subject matter of my work. My emotions also drive my work I use creation of art and deep emotional subject matter therapeutically. The beauty of nature personal deep emotion and contemplation of the story being told is what the viewer should embody with my work. I want to remind people of what we often take for granted, to take a minute to envelop themselves into the piece, sympathize with the emotion, and theorize the storyline.

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Staying Alive Student Presenter: Nai Herrera Faculty Mentor: Lisa Barber Department: Art Abstract: My artwork can only be described as “experimental”. I keep new techniques into consideration when I begin developing my artwork. I like to integrate different themes, and elements within my creations such as texture, value, saturated color, fluid forms, femininity, culture, life experiences, and at times loved ones. The media I mostly enjoy working with are either low or high fire clay and oil paint. When I create with clay I either create pottery or sculptural forms. My pottery consists of oddly shaped mugs, bowls, and other vessels used within a home environment. I strive to have a high concentration in glaze layering and to push myself in gaining further experience in utilizing and creating glazes. My human-like sculptural forms were created to be headless in order to convey them as neutral beings with organically shaped bodies. To balance the color palette, I chose to leave the outer surface of the vessels unglazed to display the color and texture of the clay, and glazed the inner portion in a vibrantly color. On some figures, I chose to enhance some details such as stretch marks, and hair with the same vibrant color. These vessels have a range of genders but ultimately express a feminine personality. My oil paintings range from portraits, nature, the human body, or doors. Canvas and glass are the main surfaces I choose to create upon. Texture has a special place within my heart, which then becomes the main component within the work I create. Within the ceramic realm of my artwork, I choose to create texture with different tools to develop an interestingly pleasant experience for viewers and potential clients. For my paintings, I use modeling paste and acrylic to create this desired texture by building up layers within the backgrounds of my pieces. Saturated color is also a highly desired aspect of my artwork. This theme spans across all media I use. Having these highly saturated colors helps me to be expressive and incorporate my personality into my creations.

Extravagant Rubbish Student Presenter: Marimar Aguero Faculty Mentors: Lisa Marie Barber, Thomas Berenz Department: Art Abstract: The concept of my work is based on my past experiences and coming of age. This series reflects on certain moments in my life and the emotions I felt in the form of color and portraiture. I grew up in a religious Mexican household in the quiet little town of Kansasville, Wisconsin. Growing up I didn’t have many friends and I often spent my time alone in the local cemetery near my school or running out into meadow across my house. My memories of being bullied and isolated are still so vivid that they have transformed into nightmares. Although I grew up with many religious iconographies, I was always questioning if they were real. If they were really listening to me, why were they allowing this to happen. Thus, my work gives off an unsettling yet beautiful with the exploration of my Mexican heritage, growing up, and places that are important to me. The mediums I used for this series consists of oil paints with hints of gold leaf on a large 24x30 canvas. My style of work consists mostly of self-portraits. It is highly influenced by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali with their use of color and surrealism. In the past, I’ve also based my work off short horror stories and my experiences with sleep paralysis. During my sleep paralysis, I have seen all types of entities and creatures. One in particular is of myself with red eyes. I often wonder what it means seeing myself that way and what relation it has with the way I view myself. I tried to understand it through my artwork and overcome my fears that a darker version of myself is slowly trying to come into the light.

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Discovery of Perspective: A Macro Study of Nature Student Presenter: Kiersten Ekornaas Faculty Mentor: Lisa Marie Barber Department: Art Abstract: The photos in this show are exactly what they appear to be, macro photographs of nature. I wanted to expand upon my artistic skills that I already possess, and that’s why I chose photography, which is a medium I’m not so familiar with. The reason for the choice of subject matter was the way that nature is so organic and beautiful, and I wanted to focus on the organic and natural shapes, as well as all the different colors nature has to offer. Using a macro lens gave me the opportunity to take those shapes and, in a way, crop them down to make them more interesting shapes. Another reason I decided to use a macro lens was to be able to focus on the texture of nature as well, and when the photos are blown up, it’s almost as if you can reach out and feel the texture. I really hope that I have achieved that with this show.

In Different Atmospheres Student Presenter: Kyriin Richmond Faculty Mentors: Lisa Marie Barber, Tom Berenz Department: Art Abstract: The art in this showing doesn’t have any intrinsic meaning in itself, but is rather a direct exploration of various environments and characters in surrealistic means. The pieces are made originating from paper and ink pen drawings, then transferred over by digital means and colored in Photoshop CC. The general idea is have the pieces as cheaply made as possible, to suggest that this can be done by anybody. I’m influenced heavily by video games like Destiny 2 and The Elder Scrolls which generally use larger scale environments and characters that are entrancing to look at. These inspired me to place my pieces in generally larger-looking atmospheres. Ideally, when anyone looks at my work, I would rather them not try to discern the underlying meaning behind the piece (because there is none), but rather lose themselves in the environment and characters expressed.

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Full Abstracts of Poster Presentations Anthropology Analysis and Identification of Lithic Artifacts Recovered from the Montgomery Site, Kenosha County Student Presenter: Genevieve Hill Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert Sasso Department: Geography/Anthropology Abstract: The Montgomery archaeological site is located along the Upper Pike River in Petrifying Springs County Park in Somers, Wisconsin. This site is most well-known for its Euro-American occupation with the Montgomery Cabin, built here in 1834, representing the earliest known Euro-American cabin within Kenosha County. However, this site has been home to a number of prehistoric Native American cultures as well, with some dating as far back as five to six thousand years in the past. The identity and the dating of these prehistoric cultures is determined by the style of the projectile points recovered, as they are both time sensitive and culturally diagnostic. The styles of the points changed over time in a way that archaeologists have dated through the excavation of archaeological contexts at thousands of sites across eastern North America. The main goal of this research was to identify and analyze the prehistoric lithic artifacts that were recovered from this archaeological site. The collection of lithics recovered from the Montgomery Site during fieldwork between 1975 and the present includes a variety of debitage, bifacial fragments, scrapers, blades, and projectile points. The first priority was to tally the amount of recovered artifacts in their respective categories: debitage, bifaces, scrapers, blades, and projectile points. One important focus of this research was the analysis and identification of projectile points (spear, dart, and arrow points), which will be discussed through my presentation with highlights on the other various lithics recovered.

Analysis of Clothing Related Fasteners Found at the Montgomery Site in Kenosha County, WI Student Presenter: Stephanie Hill Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert Sasso Department: Geography/Anthropology Abstract: The Montgomery archaeological site is located in Petrifying Springs Park in Kenosha County. The site was occupied from the early to the late 1800s and included three separate structures, two cabins and a frame house. The Montgomery Cabin is the earliest known Euro-American cabin in Kenosha County, dating to 1834. The Soutor-Coonley Cabin and a wooden frame house were each built nearby around 1855. The nineteenth century occupants of the site left behind a variety of different types of clothing fasteners reflecting many aspects of their daily lives and their fashion. UW-Parkside and the Kenosha Public Museum have spent three seasons doing archaeological surveys and excavations at the site (2013, 2015 and 2017). These efforts followed non-professional work by the Kenosha County Archaeological Society in 1975-77. Overall, fieldwork has yielded many types and designs of buttons, buckles, and hook-and-eyes. I have analyzed these fasteners to determine their shapes, types, sizes, materials, and the processes of manufacture. Primarily, these clothing fasteners have served as functional aspects of clothing, but also reflect the aspects of style and identity. My goal is to better understand the types of clothing fasteners and how they were both made and used over the years.

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Biology Understanding the Effects of Food and Thermal Stress on the Metabolites of Pond Damsels (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) Student Presenter: Rachel Mutchler Faculty Mentors: Jessica Orlofske, Jason Kowalski Department: Biological Sciences Abstract: Climate change has profoundly changed aquatic ecosystems, including the alteration of temperature regimes with disturbances to food webs; thus, reducing organism growth, fitness, and survival. Here, we extend the work of previous studies by investigating metabolite changes in larval damselflies (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) exposed to realistic thermal stress and food reduction while living in controlled environments (microcosoms). Mesh emergence cages containing experimental microcosms were established in the UW-Parkside greenhouse. Microcosms were randomly assigned to four treatments: control, food reduced, heat, and heat + food reduced. Damselfly larvae were collected from a local wetland and randomly assigned to each microcosm. During the first week, heat treatment was applied, and all microcosms followed a normal feeding regime. After one week, food reduction treatments were applied. Damselflies were sacrificed and stored at -80Â°C after an experimental period of two weeks. Damselfly samples were processed to extract metabolites by grinding, sonicating, and lyophilizing the tissue before resuspending for quantification using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were performed on temperature data by cage and treatments. ANCOVA will be used to test for differences in metabolite concentration among treatments. Metabolomics could be used to detect sub-lethal changes in organism biochemistry linked to specific stressors which may lead to improvements in environmental monitoring procedures and enhanced conservation efforts.

An assessment of coastal wetland health using macroinvertebrate indicators Student Presenters: Eli Cortez, Katherine Loesl-Dunk Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessica Orlofske Department: Biological Sciences Department Abstract: Aquatic invertebrates contribute to wetland ecosystem functions and services including nutrient cycling, water purification, and sustaining vertebrate populations. Furthermore, aquatic invertebrates can be used as bioindicators to assess ecosystem quality. Wetlands surrounding the Great Lakes are vulnerable to environmental pressures from development and climate change. Samuel Myers Park (SMP) and North Beach Park (NBP) are located on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Racine, Wisconsin. These urban wetlands provide essential ecosystem functions including water regulation and filtration, as well as services like recreation and education opportunities for residents. Restoration of the wetlands aims to enhance these ecological functions, create wildlife habitat, and improve the water quality of Lake Michigan. Here, we used aquatic macroinvertebrates to assess the condition of these wetlands. We collected quantitative dip-net samples of invertebrates paired with water quality data, including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity, at one natural and two constructed locations at SMP throughout the summers of 2018 and 2019. We performed similar sampling at a constructed nine-chambered wetland and storm water pond at NBP during the summer of 2019. Invertebrate samples were preserved in 70% ethanol, identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, and enumerated. Water chemistry differs among wetlands and seasons for both locations. We predict similar variation in invertebrate metrics such as richness and diversity among the wetlands. Furthermore, we anticipate increased richness, diversity, and abundance of sensitive invertebrate taxa in natural wetlands as restoration progresses. Our results will help inform restoration and management activities of these valuable coastal wetlands.

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Biology (continued) Effects of trophic pressures on nocturnal activity in Wisconsin microbats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) Student Presenters: Grace Wampole, Kyle Bergendahl, Zachary Williams, Mitchell Anderson Faculty Mentors: Dr. Jessica Orlofske, Dr. Catherine Mossman Department: Biological Sciences Abstract: Bats are susceptible to opposing ecological pressures as both prey and predators. “Lunar phobia” may decrease bat activity time during periods of strong lunar illumination to avoid predation by raptor species. However, many insects are positively phototactic and exhibit greater activity with lunar illumination. Bats must respond to these conflicting pressures. We predicted a positive correlation between bat and insect activity during the first and third quarter moon phases with strong negative correlations during the new and full moon. To test this, we collected paired arthropod samples and bat recordings at dusk for nine 60-minute sampling events between May-August 2019 at two wooded sites in Racine Co., WI. Quantitative arthropod samples were collected using light traps at both sites. Bat calls were recorded using a Baton bat detector attached to a voice recorder. Bat call analyses were completed using the freeware program, Audacity. The recordings were assessed and cleared of background noise in order to quantify the number and duration of each echolocation call. Arthropods collected were identified to family using taxonomic keys and crossreferenced to publications on bat diet and foraging behavior to evaluate food quality. Statistical analyses, including chisquare, correlation analysis, and ANOVA tests, will be used to compare the number and duration of bat calls with insect abundance and environmental factors. We expect lunar illumination to influence bat and insect activity. Understanding how bats and their insect prey respond to natural illumination can be used to predict the impact of light pollution on food web dynamics.

Molecular Genetic Analysis of 5’-3’ Exoribonuclease (Xrn) Mutants in the Model Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Student Presenters: Michael Hertel, Steven Hand Faculty Mentor: David Higgs Department: Biological Sciences Abstract: For an organism to survive and adapt to its surroundings it needs to be able to effectively regulate gene expression, and one way that organisms accomplish this is with 5’-3’ exoribonucleases (Xrn’s). These proteins aid in the posttranscriptional processing and degradation of mRNA and rRNA and can regulate the amount of final gene product expressed. There are two types of Xrn’s in eukaryotes, Type 1 and Type 2. Generally, Type 1 is located in the cytosol and Type 2 in the nucleus. Type 1 Xrn’s degrade and process mRNA in the cytoplasm, while Type 2 Xrn’s process rRNA and help terminate transcription of pre-mRNA in the nucleus. We use Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model to study Xrn functions in green algae. C. reinhardtii is predicted to have four nucleusencoded 5’-3’ exoribonucleases (CrXrn 1, 2, 3, and 4), with CrXrn1 and 4 being Type 1, and CrXrn 2 and 3 being Type 2. We have obtained mutant strains of C. reinhardtii from the Chlamydomonas Library Project (CLiP) with predicted DNA insertions into the CrXrn genes, and two are thought to have mutations in CrXrn4. Using PCR and DNA sequencing, we confirmed insertion mutations in CrXrn4. Mutant 12-1 has a ~2.5-kb insert into CrXrn4exon 5, and mutant 13-1 has a ~2.4-kb insert into CrXrn4-exon 13. We are testing the growth phenotypes of these mutants compared to an isogenic wild-type strain using seven-day growth curves with standard and nutrientstress media (reduced nitrogen). Further testing to characterize the phenotypes will include mixotrophic and photoautotrophic growth as well as changes in light conditions. Phenotype analysis will allow us to learn more about the role of CrXrn4 in these mutants and general function and impact of Xrn’s on gene expression in C. reinhardtii.

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RT-qPCR of Met4 target genes in MET31-MET32 Promoter Swap Strains Student Presenter: Anmol Patel Faculty Mentor: Dr. Traci Lee Department: Biological Sciences Abstract: Transcription (making RNA copies) is the first step of gene expression. Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins that bind DNA and regulate this process. In humans, many of our TFs exist in families that arose by duplication of a gene encoding the TF. Mutations led to divergence of the duplicated products to produce TFs that bind the same target genes but regulate those genes differently. To better understand how TF families diverge to have distinct roles, we study how the expression of sulfur metabolism genes is controlled by a simple two-member TF family of Met31 and Met32. Met4 is the transcriptional activator for sulfur metabolism genes. Met31 and Met32 serve to bring Met4 to target genes to allow their expression. Met31 and Met32 diverged to exhibit different expression profiles upon induction of Met4 - possibly due to changes in the promoter region. Our lab is investigating the role of Met31 and Met32 in transcription by swapping their promoters. Met4 was induced in MET31-MET32 promoter swap strains and control strains, and samples were harvested from different time-points (0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes). The expression of Met4 target genes at the various time-points were then analyzed via reverse transcription of RNA and real-time PCR; much of my time in the lab was spent optimizing standards for real-time PCR. When driven by its own promoter, Met31 has been shown to have a steady rate of transcription, and Met32, when driven by its own promoter, has an increase of transcription as time goes on. The purpose of the MET31-MET32 promoter swap is to see if swapping the promoters of Met31 and Met32 will swap the roles of Met31 and Met32 in mediating Met-activated transcription.

Glucose-phosphate stress response regulators affect the recovery of Escherichia coli from stringent carbon starvation Student Presenters: Elaine Dandan, Emily Campell, Dr. Gregory Richards Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gregory Richards Department: Biological Sciences Abstract: All organisms experience environmental stressors such as fluctuations in nutrient availability. For example, glucose-phosphate stress occurs when glycolytic metabolism is inhibited, leading to accumulation of sugar-phosphates in the cell and cessation of growth. Escherichia coli possess a mechanism to combat this stress: the transcription factor SgrR and the small RNA SgrS act to prevent further uptake of sugar-phosphates and bypass the glycolytic block. While regulation by SgrR and SgrS is well understood, recent research has only begun to shed light on other regulatory aspects of the glucose-phosphate stress response. We previously showed that the transcription factor DksA and the nucleotide alarmone ppGpp, regulators of the stringent response to nutrient starvation, also help E. coli recover from glucose-phosphate stress, in part by increasing expression of sgrR and sgrS. Here, we examine the effect of SgrR and SgrS on the recovery from stringent starvation conditions. sgrR and sgrS deletion mutants were screened for changes in growth compared to wild-type E. coli under a variety of stringent conditions. Of the conditions tested, the sgrR and sgrS mutants exhibited growth defects only under conditions of stringent carbon starvation. This carbon starvation-specific growth defect is consistent with the role of SgrR and SgrS in alleviating the block in carbon metabolism associated with glucose-phosphate stress. Because ppGpp is a nucleotide derivative synthesized under stress conditions, we also analyzed the effect of genes related to nucleotide salvage and de novo synthesis on glucose-phosphate stress. Deletion of genes encoding functions related to nucleotide transport and metabolism but not de novo synthesis affects growth during stress. These results suggest that nucleotide metabolism could contribute to the recovery from glucose-phosphate stress by affecting ppGpp production and/or by providing alternative carbon sources that bypass the glycolytic block.

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Biology (continued) Oligomeric structure analysis of short chain fatty acid (SCFA) kinases Student Presenters: Brian Weinzirl, Hannah Gross Faculty Mentor: Robert Barber Department: Biology Abstract: Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are prominent environmental metabolic intermediates produced and utilized in response to energy needs within various prokaryotic consortia. A key step in SCFA metabolism is the activation of these molecules using an ATP-dependent phosphorylation reaction catalyzed by SCFA kinases. Biochemical characteristics of SCFA kinases have been determined for several enzymes, primarily regarding substrate specificity, optimal assay conditions, etc. One aspect that has not been investigated in a systematic manner is oligomeric structure. A few enzymes have been shown to form active dimeric structures, while protein crystallography indicates that octameric structures could be possible for other enzymes. Structural elements and their amino acid content related to subunit interactions of SCFA kinases have been determined using available protein structural models. This information is being used to assess the potential for oligomeric structures among uncharacterized SCFA kinases predicted in numerous genome sequences. Further, the ability to predict oligomeric structure is being assessed using selected purified SCFA kinases and gel filtration chromatography.

How do Transcription Factor Family Members Delegate Expression of Their Target Genes? Student Presenters: Seth McConnell, Dr. Traci Lee, Joseph Tobalsky Faculty Mentor: Dr. Traci Lee Department: Biological Sciences Abstract: In yeast, the expression of sulfur metabolism genes are completely controlled by the transcriptional activator, Met4. However, Met4 cannot bind directly to its target genes. It must be recruited by two sets of transcription factors that bind to the target genes. The first set is Met31 and Met32, and the second is Met28 and Cbf1. Met31 and Met32 make up a two member transcription factor family that arose from a duplication of the same gene and diverged over time. Their amino acid sequences are very similar but their expression profiles, which are controlled by a region in front of the gene called a promoter, are different. There are three classes of Met4 target genes based on their requirement for Cbf1 and Met28 for expression. Class one genes completely depend on Cbf1 and Met28. Class two genes have an intermediate dependence on Cbf1 and Met28. Class three genes are independent of Cbf1 and Met28. Unlike Met28 and Cbf1, all Met4 target genes are completely dependent on Met31 and Met32. When Met31 and Met32 are lost, Met4 target genes are not expressed. The loss of just Met32 interferes with expression of class one and two target genes, whereas the loss of just Met31 does not. To understand the functional difference between Met31 and Met32, a promoter swap of either Met31 or Met32, and a control strain with just Met31 or Met32 deleted will be used to examine the expression of the different classes of Met4 target genes.

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The role of the promoter in expression and regulation of MET32 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Student Presenter: Wesley Cruz Faculty Mentor: Traci A. Lee Department: Biological Sciences Abstract: Transcription factors (TF) play a key role in gene expression and regulation. Large TF families in humans bind to the same DNA sequences but different family members allow different responses. To understand how these TF families coordinate expression of target genes, studies are done on a simpler eukaryotic organism known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Met4 is a transcription factor that regulates sulfur metabolism genes in S. cerevisiae yeast cells. In order to transcribe the necessary genes, Met4 must bind to the promoter region of DNA, however Met4 lacks a DNA binding domain. Because of this, Met4 relies on Met31 and Met32 for recruitment. These DNA binding proteins are paralogous zinc finger proteins belonging to a two member transcription factor family. Despite having redundant functions, such as helping yeast cells grow in the absence of methionine, Met31 and Met32 serve distinct roles. Under conditions of Met4 hyperactivation when Met4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s negative regulator Met30 is absent, studies have shown that Met32 plays a more prominent role over Met31. This prominence may be due to the differences in how Met31 and Met32 are expressed, which is controlled by their promoters. Promoter swap studies allow one to investigate how certain genes are expressed and how their protein products and functions are affected by this change. This lab has swapped the MET32 promoter such that MET32 is driven by the MET31 promoter potentially giving insight into the evolution of TF families. In order to investigate why Met32 plays a more prominent role over Met31, protein levels and gene transcript levels were characterized for Met32, Met4 and other relevant TFs upon Met4 hyperactivation in a strain lacking Met31. These same proteins and transcripts were characterized in a strain lacking Met31 when MET32 was driven by the MET31 promoter.

Molecular Phylogeny of a potential new species of Mexican Woody Bamboo Student Presenters: Ariana Hernandez Faculty Mentors: Dr. Jessica Orlofske, Dr. Christopher Tyrrell Department: Biological Sciences Abstract: This research project is examining the possibility of a new species of Mexican woody bamboo in the genus Rhipidocladum, using DNA sequence data to confirm its disimilarity from another species or genus. Recent research found an entirely new genus of bamboo classified within a related genus, Arthrostylidium. This genus was overlooked based on physical characteristics but revealed with genetic data (Tyrrell et al. 2018). We performed a similar procedure to test for a possible new species.The four plastid markers ndhF, trnC-rpoB, trnD-trnT, rps16-trnQ and three nuclear markers pabp1, gpa1, and pvcel1 are being analyzed to determine the classification of the new species relative to 2 other bamboo species: Rhipidocladum bartlettii and R. martinezii. Using DNeasy Plant Mini Kits, DNA was extracted and amplified. Preliminary results were compiled using sequence data from Triplett et al. (2014) to create three phylogenetic trees from the same genes- pvcel1, pabp1, and gpa1. These will be compared to the new species DNA once it has been sequenced. The three trees were created usingRAxML on the online public platform CIPRES. These trees will be used as a framework to look at the evolutionary position of the sequences from the putative new species and the 2 related species of Mexican woody bamboo. The comparison will help determine how closely related the bamboos are to each other and determine if Rhipidocladum bartlettii, R. martinezii and the target bamboo are all separate species.

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Chemistry E,Z,E)-GGPP: A Potential Novel Bactericidal Compound Student Presenters: Leah Poulos, Lara Ferrari, Thomas Schrauth Faculty Mentor: Francis Mann Department: Chemistry Abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), a pathogenic Actinobacterium, has infected one quarter of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population, according to the World Health Organization. The standard treatment of Mtb are antibiotics which has resulted in a mutated strain, XDRTb, that is resistant to every known antibiotic. The key to this antibiotic resistance is thought to be the fastidious cell wall. Most bacteria, including Mtb, utilize an isoprenoid glycosyl carrier for transfer of proteoglycan structures to the extracellular side of the membrane; however, unique to Mtb is the flexibility of its isoprenoid metabolism. Mtb synthesizes a carrier composed of 10 stereospecific isoprene units that is produced by elongation of the two-unit E-GPP by the Z-FPP synthase, Rv1086, to produce Z,E-FPP which then has 35 carbons added in a cis-orientation by Rv2361c resulting in Z8,E-DPP. Although this pathway is well characterized, multiple additional isoprenoid synthases are encoded in the Mtb genome, and previous in vitro studies have indicated Rv2361c can utilize alternate substrates. While attempting to understand the apparent flexibility of DPP metabolism, it was observed that heterologous co-expression of either of the encoded E,E,EGGPP synthases, Rv0562 or Rv3383c, with Rv1086 in the heterologous host, Escherichia coli, results in complete cell death. Computational modeling of Rv0562 and Rv3383c suggests that both active sites may accept Z,E-FPP as a substrate, and if this is true, the product would be the novel compound E,Z,E-GGPP. Protein purifications of Rv0562 and Rv3383c individually combined with synthetic Z,E-FPP have resulted in the synthesis of the potentially novel terpenoid product, E,Z,E-GGPP. Subsequent coupled assays of Rv0562 or Rv3383c and Rv1086 resulted in higher product formation than the synthetic substrate, suggesting complex formation. Purification of the proposed novel product will be confirmed spectroscopically and has implications for synthesis of a new antibiotic.

Biodiesel research in undergraduate organic Lab Student Presenter: Hunter Cheney Faculty Mentor: Yujuan Liu Department: Chemistry Abstract: As the world transitions into a more contemporary era, there are increasingly advanced methods used to innovate disparate experiments to maximize renewable resource production with minimal drawbacks. Green chemistry is an area of chemistry and chemical engineering focused on implementing sustainable methods and processes to reduce negative environmental impacts. Different approaches are introduced to undergraduates for these concepts to be established; for instance, conducting experiments that focus on synthesizing biodiesel. In recent years, biodiesel has gained significant attention as an environmentally friendly fuel source and renewable resource, unlike petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel is derived from many sources of vegetable oil including, but not limited to, olive oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. In the future, we will develop a new biodiesel lab based on 12 Principles of Green Chemistry.

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Synthesis of E,Z,E-GGPP - A Novel Bacterial Compound Student Presenter: Thomas Schrauth Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Mann Department: Chemistry Abstract: Terpenoids, which are constructed of smaller repeating 5 carbon terpenes, are naturally occurring products in all domains of life. Terpenoids are essential in the processes of cell wall biosynthesis, quinone synthesis, isotuberculosinol synthesis along with many other metabolic functions in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This is shown in Mtb when a single E-geranyl diphosphate is elongated by a Z-farnesyl diphosphate synthase encoded by gene Rv1086. This Z-FPPS (1086) adds the terpene in a cis-configuration to the existing GPP, making the resulting product Z,E-FPP. Z,E-FPP is the precursor to Z,E- decaprenyl diphosphate, which is elongated by a decaprenyl diphosphate synthase encoded by Rv2361c. DPP plays a crucial role in the creation of the cell wall in Mtb through the assembly of arabinogalactan: a vital component of Mtb’s survival in extreme environments and the evasion of the human immune system. While investigating alternate forms of DPP, it is hypothesized that an unnatural product due to the interaction of enzymes encoded by Rv0562/Rv3383c and Rv1086 was produced. Due to the importance of DPP in Mtb survival, finding alternate forms of DPP in the metabolome was of interest. Using E.coli as a host, the interaction of various enzymes was investigated for the discovery of additional DPPs. With the combination of GGPPSs (Rv0562 of 3383c), which encode the enzymes that synthesize quinone and isotuberculosinol respectively and Z-FPPS (1086), the result was total cell death. As a result an alternate DPP could not be investigated, thus the resulting cell death must be investigated further. After genes of interest were successfully expressed in E.coli, purification of enzymes using chromatography, and verifying protein size using SDS-PAGE gels, enzyme assays were conducted. Mass spectra of assay products revealed a strikingly similar fragmentation pattern to E,E,E-GGPP despite a chromatographic shift, indicating this is a novel isomer of GGPP.

Characterizing Inhibition of α-Amylase by Kombucha Tea Student Presenters: Adam Ghouse, Nathan Bigna Faculty Mentor: Francis Mann Department: Chemistry Abstract: The number of individuals diagnosed with obesity and diabetes has reached all-time highs across the globe. Today, the World Health Organization estimates more than two million deaths annually due to complications surrounding these two preventable diseases. In response to this alarming trend, the rate of research and development of hypoglycemic and antilipidemic agents to target these major health problems has also increased. One potential compound could come from kombucha tea, a fermented version of black or green tea which has been gaining popularity for its possible health benefits. The proposed mechanism by which a kombucha tea compound could work is by inhibiting certain digestive enzymes, specifically α-amylase. To assess the inhibition mechanism of this enzyme by kombucha tea, a set of enzyme assays were designed and performed to compare kombucha tea inhibition to regular tea inhibition. The assays varied in the amount of tea (inhibitor), starch substrate, and α-amylase. Inhibition was measured via spectroscopic analysis by measuring the absorbance of a coloring agent at 540nm. Previously, it has been shown that the inhibitory compounds in kombucha tea are catechins, molecules activated due to fermentation. Using solid phase extraction, the kombucha tea was washed with acetic acid and methanol to collect three different fractions (decant, acetic acid wash, and methanol wash), each potentially containing these catechins found in the tea. The same enzyme assays with these washes were run and inhibition was characterized. The catechin compounds in each wash will be identified via HPLC and LC-MS. With the identity of these compounds, a viable agent could be made specifically for diabetic and obese individuals.

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Chemistry (Continued) Synthesis of E, Z, E-GGPP – An Unnatural Bacterial Compound Student Presenters: Thomas Schrauth, Leah Poulos, Lara Ferrari, Nick Cina, Elizabeth Jackson Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis Mann Department: Chemistry Abstract: Terpenoids, which are constructed of smaller repeating five carbon isoprene units, occur naturally in all domains of life. These products are essential in the processes of cell wall, quinone, and isotuberculosinol biosynthesis; along with other metabolic functions in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases (GGPPS) Rv0562 and 3383c encode the enzymes that synthesize quinones and isotuberculosinol respectively. Cell wall construction in Mtb begins when a single E-geranyl diphosphate is elongated by a Z-farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) encoded by gene Rv1086. This Z-FPPS adds the isoprene unit in a cis-configuration to the existing GPP, making the resulting product Z, E-FPP. The precursor to Z, E- DPP is Z, E-FPP, which is elongated by a decaprenyl diphosphate synthase encoded by Rv2361c. Decaprenyl diphosphate (DPP) plays a crucial role in the creation of the cell wall in Mtb through the assembly of arabinogalactan: a vital component of Mtb’s survival in extreme environments and the evasion of the human immune system. Due to the importance in Mtb survival, finding alternate forms of DPP in the metabolome was of interest since prior research shows related organisms have multiple forms of glycosylated DPP products. Although involved in different pathways in Mtb, it is hypothesized an interaction of enzymes encoded by Rv0562/Rv3383c and Rv1086 result in the production of an unnatural product. Heterologous expression of GGPPS Rv0562 or 3383c and Z-FPPS 1086, results in cell death while individual expression is nontoxic. After individually expressing genes of interest in E. coli, purification of enzymes using chromatography, verifying protein size using SDS-PAGE gels, and enzyme assays were conducted, Gas Chromatography was used for the analysis of assay products. Mass spectra revealed a strikingly similar fragmentation pattern to E, E, E-GGPP despite a chromatographic shift, indicating this unnatural product is a novel isomer of GGPP.

Stability and Determination of Cannabinoids Student Presenter: Mitchell Glodoski Faculty Mentor: Lori Allen Department: Chemistry Abstract: This presentation examines the determination and stability of cannabidiolic acid, cannabidiol, d9tetrahydrocannabinol, and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in oils using liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. In the context of the determination, oils are easier to manipulate and extract than plants, but oils are often infused with other ingredients and are more potent, requiring additional measures to guard against interferences. Towards this, we will compare chromatographic methods that emphasis throughput to those that emphasize the degree of separation. In considering stability, this report examines the role that variable environmental conditions of transportation and shelf storage may have on the cannabinoids of interest. This report concludes with findings for consumers using CBD oils.

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Computer Science Hawthorn Hollow Student Presenters: Joseph Wodicka, Alyssa Roberts, Ming Fang Li Faculty Mentor: Zaid Altahat Department: Computer Science Abstract: The hawthorn Hollow project is an app being developed for Hawthorn Hollow. Hawthorn Hollow is a nature sanctuary and arboretum. They preserve historic buildings, wildlife, and provide room for education and events. The app being designed is a leaflet style app that allows the user to access information on events, education activities, destinations and general business information. It includes full google maps functionality and a local map for trail use when out of service area walking the trails of Hawthorn Hollow.

BLE Scanner Student Presenter: Eh Hser Faculty Mentor: Zaid Altahat Department: Computer Science Abstract: The application is developed to scan for a particular type of Bluetooth LE devices using ScanFilter. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is designed to provide significantly lower power consumption. This allows Android apps to communicate with BLE devices that have stricter power requirements, such as proximity sensors, heart rate monitors, and fitness devices.

Greenridge Cemetery App Student Presenters: Jacob Lampada, Alex DiGiammarino, Tim Allen, Kyle Cudewicz Faculty Mentor: Zaid Altahat Department: Computer Science Abstract: This is a presentation of the progress made on an app for Greenridge Cemetery in Kenosha. The app is meant to preserve historical data in an online format that can be accessed by anyone wanting to learn information about important figures from Kenoshaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. It is also meant to aid people in locating the monuments of those historical figures, in a kind of self guided virtual tour.

Git Tracker Student Presenters: Timothy Guilfoyle, Jordan Brekke, Victor Huarota, Yan Berezkin Faculty Mentor: Zaid Altahat Department: Computer Science Abstract: Git Repositories are critical in the collaborative world of Software Development. We have been actively developing applications that allows developers to visualize the data that Git stores. The application extracts raw data and presents it in readable charts, highlighting file changes and author contributions. We seek to utilize our application to help developers gain insight into their applications and help build a firm foundation in Git for new developers and students. Through our analysis we hope to identify commit trends within projects so developers can track the state of their projects and identify progress.

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Computer Science (Continued) Prexo Student Presenter: David Barreto, Kevin T. Defries, Viet D. Phan Faculty Mentor: Zaid Altahat Department: Computer Science Abstract: Prexo. A mobile application that is designed and tailored to represent all the presidential executive orders that are either signed or currently in the process of being signed by the President of the United States of America. It implements a simple search tool to help find different types of executive orders and can tailor executive orders based off personal preference. Prexo is considered a modern mobile application because of its modern concept and modern-day design to allow easy user end navigation and usage. Infrastructure. The front-end uses flutter which can deploy applications for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Google Fuchsia and the web from one source code. The back-end uses Firebase which stores and gathers data dynamically streaming it into the program. Firebase uses a safe and simple plugin for authenticating user credentials to ensure a safe login. The application will also have a profile page where the user may update and customize their profile, so when the user clicks on an article they will be able to see an icon which takes the user to that articleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comment page, where the user may post a message and talk about the current executive order. The students and client have worked hard to build, create, and improve Prexo. They believe it will be a strong source of information for the upcoming November presidential election and believe Prexo will change the way we view political information as it will modernize data for all ages to view.

Geoscience (Interactions of Kaolinite and Halloysite Clays with Safranin O Student Presenters: Jessica Hebert, Jessica Baker, Mike Troedel, Nick Rivera Faculty Mentor: Dr. Li Department: Geoscience Abstract: Because dyes pose a variety of health and environmental risks, the growing textile industry ignited a concurrent rise in studies investigating dye removal from wastewater by adsorption involving low cost adsorbents such as clay. Safranin O, a cationic dye also known as basic red 2, is used in the manufacturing of textiles, paper, and paints. This study investigates adsorption of safranin O in aqueous solution onto kaolinite (KGa-2) and anhydrous halloysite nanoclay (HNC) by batch experiments. Kaolinite and halloysite are selected for this study because they exhibit identical chemical composition with differing structures. Previous studies determining the safranin O uptake of kaolinite are in disagreement, ranging from 45 mmol/kg to 160 mmol/kg, therefore this study aims to contribute further understanding. In this study, adsorption is investigated under variable conditions including initial concentration, agitation time, pH, temperature, and ionic strength. The supernatants are analyzed by HPLC analysis, spectrophotometry, while the solid samples are analyzed by XRD and FTIR analysis. Preliminary findings determine safranin O uptake for halloysite to be 130 mmol/kg and kaolinite uptake of safranin O of 30 mmol/kg. Further dye-clay interactions with variables such as agitation time, temperature, will be evaluated.

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Physics Effect of Parameter Choice in Density Functional Perturbation Theory Calculations of Phonons and Related Properties Student Presenter: Ryan Glusic Faculty Mentor: Dr. William Parker Department: Math and Physics Abstract: Materials are made up of atoms, and the ways in which atoms vibrate determine how a material conducts heat and electricity. The vibrations of atoms occur in groups called phonons. The rules for determining which phonons happen in a given material require solving the equations of quantum mechanics for the electrons in the atoms. One method for solving the equations is called Density Functional Perturbation Theory (DFPT). In this method, the electron density is calculated for their atoms at the equilibrium positions. Then, the change in the electron density for small displacements of the atoms is calculated for every unique displacement direction combination. From these small changes (perturbations) in the electron density, the frequency of each unique vibration can be calculated. With the full array of vibrational frequencies for all unique atomic displacement collections, we can calculate, among other things, the electrical conductivity of the material or its entropy at a given temperature. We investigate the effect of parameter choices in DFPT on the phonons and derived quantities in three materials: one insulating, one conducting, and one semiconducting.

Electron Density Simulation of Phase Transition under Pressure in Silicon Nanomembranes Student Presenters: Joel Ambriz Ponce, Evan Macintosh Faculty Mentor: William D. Parker Department: Mathematics and Physics Abstract: Silicon is an important material at the center of the microelectronic systems industry, and nanomembranes of silicon have a wide range of material, mechanical, optical, and device applications. Recent experimental advances have achieved nanometer-scale flatness, and membrane properties have been found to depend directly on thickness. We use an atom-based slab model simulating electrons through their density to investigate a phase transition of silicon under pressure in the membrane; the transition from semiconducting diamond phase to metallic beta-tin phase. We vary the parameters in the model that produce approximations, comparing to bulk values in each approximation. With the approximations under control, we calculate the electron band gap, which predicts the electrical conductivity of the phase, as well as the vibrational dispersion with direction in each phase of the membranes. The dispersion relationship predicts how the material conducts heat and whether the phase is mechanically stable. These results allow us to suggest the experimental feasibility of investigating this phase transition under pressure in silicon nanomembranes.

Do Students Feel AWE in Introductory Level Astronomy Class Student Presenter: Chad Jocius Faculty Mentor: William Parker Department: Mathematics and Physics Abstract: Have you ever felt overwhelmed with how vast our world is, and you just couldn’t take it all in? Did that intense feeling change the way you acted or perceive the world around you? If so, then you have likely experienced awe. Awe has been connected to motivation when studying multifaceted topics and has the potential to support a student’s learning. Before we went to test the hypothesis that awe motivates students, we wanted to see first if students already experience awe in any of their course activities. During an introductory astronomy course, we gave students two surveys developed by psychologists. One survey measured students’ experiences of awe in nature, and the second one probed students’ experiences of awe during class activities. We discovered that, on average, no participants had experienced awe in nature while participants had experienced awe in their course activities, most notably during sky observations. Consequently, we intend to investigate next the impact awe has on a student’s learning experience. UW-Parkside Student Showcase ■ 17

Political Science Political Attitudes Student Presenters: Chesney Fix, Cassie Gillen Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sylvia Beyer Department: Psychology Abstract: We examined interrelations among conservatism, gender, and prejudice and found that prejudice is often generalized rather than specific. Individuals high in modern sexism and modern racism indicated negative feelings towards many stigmatized groups. Conservatives and men were more prejudiced than liberals and women, which explains the gender gap in voting.

Sociology Sensory Deprivation and the Capacity of Auditory Memory Student Presenter: Autumn DePaoli Faculty Mentor: Melissa Gregg Department: Psychology Abstract: Research has revealed that sensory deprivation can enhances abilities in other sensory modalities. For example, temporary visual sensory deprivation has resulted in enhanced perception of sound properties, such as loudness, pitch, and harmonicity. Temporary visual deprivation has also been found to enhance tactile processing of spatial representations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether visual sensory deprivation can also enhance auditory memory. Participants were tested on their memory for sounds. Half of the participants wore a blindfold during the experiment and the other half did not wear a blindfold at any point of the experiment. All participants first completed a study phase in which they were instructed to try to remember a set of 64 sounds. The study phase was immediately followed by a memory test in which participants were presented with a studied sound or a foil sound and were asked to determine whether each stimulus was “old” (i.e., previously studied) or “new (i.e., not presented during the study phase). The results indicated that blindfolded individuals performed better than non-blindfolded individuals on the auditory memory test. The results suggest that short-term visual deprivation does have the ability to enhance auditory abilities. The results are consistent with the idea that the brain undergoes plasticity as a compensatory mechanism in an attempt to adapt to different environmental input.

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Auditory Memory in Visually Impaired Individuals Does Not Approach Visual Memory in Sighted Individuals Student Presenter: Maritza Esqueda Faculty Mentor: Melissa Gregg Department: Psychology Abstract: Research has shown that healthy individuals possess a visual superiority as a result of a large amount of exposure and intrinsic properties of visual stimuli, thus, making visual stimuli more memorable. Through research, it has been established that visual deprivation can enhance processing abilities in other senses. This leads to the question of whether visual deprivation in visually impaired individuals and their reliance on auditory senses, contributes to their superior auditory memory. Studies show that visually impaired individuals do have superior auditory memory compared to sighted individuals. However, this project approaches a different perspective, its purpose being to determine whether the superior auditory memory performance of blind individuals compares to visual memory performance in sighted individuals. Participants first completed a study phase in which they listened to a series of environmental sounds and were asked to commit those sounds to memory. Once completed, they moved on to the study phase which also included environmental sounds. Their task was to determine and state whether each sound they heard was either old, a sound previously presented in the study phase, or new, a sound they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heard before. Results showed that despite visually impaired individuals having superior auditory memory, it is not superior nor does it compare to visual memory in sighted individuals. Regardless, the results to this study provide valuable information that could develop strategies to improve auditory processing, thus, could improve the lives of visually impaired individuals.

The Evolution of Sex Offender Registration and Notification Process Nationwide Student Presenter: Kate Knudsen Faculty Mentor: John Navarro Department: Criminal Justice Abstract: This study utilizes web-scraping data from the National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction (NICCC), which collects sex offender legislation from each state. Data from across the nation were then categorized into four sections. The four categories include residency restrictions; employment restrictions; registration and notification; and other: consisting of laws detailing GPS and loitering limitations; identification standards; and civil commitment legislation (among others). Two themes became apparent as the data was accumulated: specificity of legislation and whether non-violent offenders have an advantage over violent offenders. The data collection offers some critical perspectives: can longer laws be easily misunderstood, and does the broadness (brevity) of some laws encourage multiple interpretations. Some states have extremely detailed laws while others have very succinct, minimalist laws that could be interpreted in many different ways due to their lack of specificity. The data could also be used to indicate whether or not states are giving local authorities complete control over sex offenders or if there does exists a statewide organized concept of dealing with released sex offenders. The current legislation at the state level indicates a mixed legal reaction to offender restrictions but appears to lean towards specific and rigid boundaries.

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Full Abstacts of Talks Investigation of the Aging Colon Student Presenter: Breanna Palmen Faculty Mentor: Fabian Preuss Department: Biology Abstract: The ability of tissue to regenerate and proliferate in response to a stressor is reliant on stem-cells. Stem cell aging leads to decreased regenerative and proliferative ability leading to eventual cell death. Within the intestinal tract, intestinal crypts contain stem cells responsible for proliferation and regeneration of the gastrointestinal tract. Using intestinal tissue and intestinal crypt organoids, this study aims to investigate the effect of aging on the colon. This study consisted of two different age groups of young mice (7 weeks) and aged mice (14 months). Evaluation of regenerative ability and health of colon tissue was performed through multiple analyses after tissue exposure to alcohol (a stressor); analysis included bacterial composition, PCNA staining (proliferation), phospho-gamma H2AX (DNA damage), and surface area of organoids. There was a significant difference in bacterial composition between the two groups, with the aged group showing significantly higher values of the shannon index, the simpsons index, species richness, and species evenness. Phospho-gamma H2AX staining showed significantly higher evidence of DNA damage in the aged group in both colon tissue and colon organoids. Additionally, young mice organoids demonstrated significantly higher surface area, which indicates healthier cells. This study illustrates the importance of stem-cells in the regeneration in aging of the colon. Younger colon tissue and organoids showed a better response to the stressor with less DNA damage, more proliferation, and generation of functional organoids. Stem cells are crucial in cell regeneration and maintenance, and it shows in the aging colon.

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Acknowledgements Sponsors of the 2020 UW-Parkside Student Showcase Office of the Provost, University of Wisconsin-Parkside University of Wisconsin System Undergraduate Research and Discovery Grant Program

Members of the Showcase Steering Committee Kristen Bartel, Assistant Professor, Art Rachel Headley, Assistant Professor, Geosciences David Higgs, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences Laura Mason, Director, Creative Services Robert Sasso, Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology Gary Wood, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Innovations in Learning Maggie Loney, Instructional Designer

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