Analysis of De Novo Missense A-alpha Mutations Associated with Intellectual Disabilities in the PP2A Holoenzyme

Intellectual disability (ID) is a genetic disorder characterized by limitations in intellectual capabilities, such as below-average cognitive functioning and deficiencies in social and practical skills, which affects 1-2% of the world population (Hu et al., 2015). A recent study by Houge et al. presented information on cases of ID that identified de novo missense mutations … [Read more…]

A Systematic Evaluation of Memantine and Donepezil’s Active Conformations, Affinities, and Location of Binding on an NMDA Receptor

As of 2015, 46.8 million individuals worldwide are estimated to have dementia, and it is thought to double every 20 years, eventually reaching 74.7 million in 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050. Dementia is defined as a mental disorder caused by brain disease or injury to the brain, which can result in memory disorders, personality … [Read more…]

Gas Separations by Mixed-Matrix Membrane and High Surface Area Carbons

Mixed-matrix membranes and high surface area carbons (HSACs) are promising methods for cost-effective gas separation, which is important for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We tested the pressure dependence of permeability and selectivity for a triblock copolymer membrane loaded with 0, 5, 10, 20, or 30 wt.-% hollow carbon spheres. We … [Read more…]

Systematic Characterization of Resveratrol in Planar Lipid Bilayers by Single-Molecule Studies

Resveratrol, a polyphenol found commonly in red wine, is linked to a number of health benefits including the prevention of cardiovascular disease, suppression of cancer, and stimulation of genes associated with longer lifespans. Although many of these properties have been investigated, the exact mechanism by which resveratrol causes these effects within the body is not … [Read more…]

On the Duration of Time-Averaging in St. Croix Chione

One of the most compelling modern applications of paleoecological research focuses on utilizing subfossil assemblages to determine the impact of human activity on shallow marine environments. The extent of anthropogenically-mediated changes, however, cannot be determined without a pre-disturbance ecological baseline against which the altered state may be compared. To overcome this limitation, paleoecologists rely on … [Read more…]

Sedimentary Properties and Metal Concentrations of St. Croix

Sedimentary properties can affect many aspects within the marine environment. It can affect everything from the way benthic organisms live to the pollutants causing changes to the environment. Some organisms prefer to live in more carbonate sediments while others prefer siliciclastic. The properties of sediments can be used to test the metal concentrations of the … [Read more…]

Site Comparisons of Earthquake Destructions in Roman Corinth

Corinth has been subject to much seismic activity throughout the years. Due to Corinth’s placement near tectonically active plates, it is expected that there would have been many earthquakes throughout its history. Romans occupied Corinth from 44 BCE to the 12th century CE. During this time, several Roman phases occurred. Several ancient literary sources (Suetonius, … [Read more…]

Deconstructing the Dichotomy: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and Their Views on the French Revolution

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are most notable for their contributions to the American revolutionary cause. Both of them worked to advance the Revolution. What is not as widely discussed is their influence in the discussion on the French Revolution in the United States of America. If the topic is discussed, it is narrowly defined … [Read more…]

Privacy Interfaces for Remote Telepresence Robots

As teleoperated robot technology improves, remotely-operated telepresence robots will certainly become more prevalent in homes and businesses, allowing guests and business partners to visit without being physically present. That said, privacy remains a subject of concern. An Internet-connected telepresence robot has the ability to, unbeknownst to the robot’s owner, spy on its local area. Whether … [Read more…]

QPOC’s Development of Social Capital and Wellbeing

Using the Social Justice Sexuality Survey from 2015, the relationship between queer social capital and ethnic/ racial social capital is investigated, along with its effects on wellbeing or importance of identity. I analyzed these relationships in an attempt to study the positive effects of social capital and how they applied specifically to queer people of … [Read more…]

Appeasement

Appeasement was the policy of conceding to Hitler’s aggression, giving him what he wanted in order to keep peace in Europe. After the number of casualties in World War 1, Britain was not interested in starting another war so they adopted the policy of appeasement. What were the Pros and Cons of appeasement? Why do … [Read more…]

Cardiac Risk among Eating Disorder Patients

Problem or Purpose: Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric diagnoses and affect approximately 10% of adolescent girls and young women. The disorders are associated with serious medical complications and premature death from a myriad of causes; a high percentage of these premature deaths are linked to adverse cardiac events. Identifying reliable … [Read more…]

Structural Studies of Ebola Viral Homolog Encoded by Microbats

High case fatality rates are observed during sporadic Ebola virus outbreaks. Currently, elusive or not available is the Ebola reservoir host or any safe efficacious treatments. Bats, given their unique features, have been identified as one potential reservoir host, but why Ebola is highly virulent in some mammals and not in others is not well … [Read more…]

Coastal Western Australia Paleoclimate over the Last Five Glacial Cycles Using Stalagmite Carbon Isotope Values from Cape Range, Western Australia

Climate proxies are any biological or geological record that preserves temperature or precipitation fluctuations prior to human records. This project’s climate proxy is stalagmites, which are cave formations created from drip water on a cave floor. In particular, this study focuses on carbon isotopes, which record vegetation and moisture changes, spanning parts of the last … [Read more…]

The Relationship Between Causal Uncertainty and Rumination

Causal uncertainty is the degree to which an individual believes they understand why social events occur. When people feel causally uncertain, they become motivated to reduce their uncertainty, and past research has shown that individuals high in causal uncertainty (i.e. frequently feel uncertain about the causality of social events) will engage in more thoughtful and … [Read more…]

Maximizing Energy Storage in Activated Carbon Supercapacitors

In modern times, energy storage is an everyday obstacle. Keeping your phone, kindle, laptop, and even your car charged is a constant reminder of the way storing electrical charges efficiently and speedily is essential to our way of life. Activated carbon supercapacitors have been the middle ground between rechargeable batteries and electrolytic capacitors since their … [Read more…]

The Intersection of Religion and Culture in Predominantly Muslim States

I committed to spending my spring break in Baku, Azerbaijan in order to conduct research into the impact of religion in Azerbaijan society. Azerbaijan, located in Eastern Europe by Turkey, is predominantly Muslim. This presentation will be a comparative analysis on Azerbaijan, Morocco, and Senegal–and how Islam is represented in each country. I wanted to … [Read more…]

Growth, Survival, and Habitat Use by Hatchling and Juvenile Ornate Box Turtles

The eastern ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata ornata) is listed as a threatened species in Iowa. Understanding basic information, such as growth rate, range, habitat, and survival rate, is important to help protect this species. Students and faculty from Cornell College and Mt. Mercy University have conducted a 23-year study of ornate box turtles in … [Read more…]

Panfilov’s Twenty-Eight in the Twenty-First Century

The 28 guardsmen of the Red Army’s 316th Rifle Division, led by Major General Ivan Panfilov, presumably died battling German tanks on the outskirts of Moscow in the freezing winter of 1941-1942. The myth of Panfilov’s 28 Guardsmen, perpetuated by high-ranking government officials, serves to exemplify Soviet Russia’s supposed superiority and satisfies the Russian Federation’s … [Read more…]

The Readers and Writers of Creative Nonfiction

With respect to today’s memoir craze, readers seem to expect factual truth and are generally unforgiving of truthbending and artistic liberty. However, with respect to the broader genre of Creative Nonfiction, expectations have yet to be agreed upon. Specifics such as how ethical stretching the truth is, how much liberty a writer is “allowed” to … [Read more…]

Synthesis of Brooker’s Merocyanine and Derivatives: Study of Chromism, and Determination of pKas

Over the summer of 2016, we developed and optimized procedures to synthesize a series of solvatochromatic dyes: MOED, MOEL, MeO-MOED, and MeO-MOEL. These dyes have vibrant colors that change depending on solvent, pH, and temperature. A series of different experiments were developed that demonstrated the various unique color-changing properties of each dye. The results are … [Read more…]

The Sonnenschein Collection of Master Drawings: New Insights

The Sonnenschein Collection of 58 old master drawings was gifted to Cornell College in the early 1950s by Mr. Robert Sonnenschein II, whose father, Chicago lawyer Edward Sonnenschein (1881-1935), amassed a vast and diverse art collection in the early 20th century. As a gesture of his friendship with Cornell College President Russell D. Cole, Robert … [Read more…]

¡Si Se Puede!: Mujeres Mexicanas que Lucharon Contra el Patriarcado y Cambiaron la Historia de México

Throughout time, individuals have been presented with histories of different countries that have heavily lacked the feminine perspective. This has resulted in an overall skewed interpretation of history that has supported and perpetuated patriarchal standards and norms that have consistently impacted both men and women in negative and diverse ways. Therefore, in order to shed … [Read more…]

Characterization of the Effect of Ethanol, 1-Octanol, and Octanoic Acid on Model Gramicidin Ion Channels

An estimated 1.1 to 10.64 million Americans have Essential Tremor (ET). However, many people are misdiagnosed or simply go undiagnosed because they do not seek medical treatment. This neurological movement disorder causes shaking of the hands, head, voice, and occasionally legs and trunk, sometimes leading to a dramatic decrease in quality of life. Previous studies … [Read more…]