2019 Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity
Browse the 2019 - Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Collections
Simvastatin enhances Th1 mediated cell death in pancreatic cancer cell lines04/09/2019Recent clinical trials utilizing autologous dendritic cells for the treatment of early stage breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ; DCIS) induced strong immune responses characterized by production of Th1 cytokines including Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). About 30% of vaccinated subjects showed complete regression of tumor by the time of surgery. Follow-up in vitro studies showed that two principal Th1 cytokines, IFN-γ and TNF-α, were capable of inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines, thus suggesting that Th1 cytokines are at least in part responsible for the tumor regression seen in vivo. Furthermore, recent data shows that combinational therapy using small-molecule inhibitors could enhance Th1 mediated cell death in breast cancer. Thus, we hypothesized that simvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that also interferes with Ras oncogene activity, could enhance the apoptotic effect of Th1 cytokines in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Each cell line was cultured either without treatment, with cytokines only, with simvastatin only, or with both for 3 days. Metabolic activity via the Alamar Blue assay, vital staining with Trypan Blue, and Flow cytometry-based apoptotic cell death assays indicated strong additive effects between cytokines and Simvastatin. |
SlimFit Activewear04/09/2019Leonitia Mason, Teloria Vega, Bohuai Jiang Keywords: Performance wear, Technology, Shapewear Design Statement: For this project, we chose to create a collection of performance wear out of the three possible categories. We also wanted to incorporate specialization and technology to benefit the customer. The business plan we chose to go with for this project was heartbeat lifestyle wear. We thought about how we help women of all sizes feel comfortable and shaped in our collection. We decided to name this collection SlimFit. We decided to make a collection that included some sort of shaping technology in the clothing. To achieve this, we added a layer of compression fabric that would synch a woman in and smooth out the body for a slimmer fit on the outside. This can be seen in the waistband of the joggers and leggings and in the interior of the body suit. We also wanted to help with an issue that women with bigger thighs have which is chafing between the legs. To help with this in our design we inserted a gel padding between the thighs that helps to keep the thighs from rubbing together and prevent wearing and tearing in that area from the fabric. The fabrics we chose were a cotton jersey for the leggings, sports bra, and bodysuit. Which we dyed ourselves to black, pink and green. And we created two different prints for the same type of fabric. One the prints containing a logo for the SlimFit Collection. For the windbreaker, we used a cotton canvas and for the hoodie and joggers we used a brushed fleece. We also incorporated a neon cording for the hoodie and sports bra for detail. |
Something Old, Something New, Something Greek, Something Blue04/09/2019While the collective human ideas of decoration and the creation of beauty have been present throughout time, the process of creation can be one that also includes defacing the world around us. The presence of graffiti and street art has been apparent since ancient times with examples being unsurfaced in the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. These subsects of art have always existed alongside and within urban areas. Now it cohabitates alongside the antiquated streets of Athens, Greece and the numerous fantastical creations of the ancient Greeks. Art in many of its different forms has looked to the Classical Greeks for inspiration for thousands of years. By incorporating both the ancient and modern forms of art found in Athens, a piece can be created that embodies the essence of this ancient city. This piece will include three main pieces: a dress, a wig, and a pair of earrings. The wig will be created with research into the techniques and styles used by the ancient Greeks. The dress takes much of its inspiration from printed research of the construction of garments, prior research of both sculpture and architecture, and pieces found while studying abroad in Athens (March 23-30). The earrings will take their inspiration from examples of ancient art and the modern people of Greece. The piece will mainly feature airbrushed art inspired by examples of graffiti found in the streets of Athens and will be primarily in white and blue. |
Sound Beyond Music: The Use and Perception of Creative Sound Beyond Musical Thought and Pedagogy04/09/2019The most traditional use of creative sound is music. Beyond practice and performance, the traditional pedagogy of the western harmonic and engraved systems of music molds how we hear and envision the use of sound. I explore the creative uses of sound beyond that of only music; explaining how artists implement and perceive sound to benefit the aesthetic choices within their mediums. Through a comparative analysis, I compare western thoughts on musical systems against thoughts on sound from a non-musical, artistic perspective. Aesthetic choices and the use of sound can vary from being used as a tool for manipulation, to audio design, ambience, and environmental imitation. I also analyze the use of sound and harmonic variables in nontraditional sound mediums, such as sound sculpture, sound installation, sonified imagery, and futurist urban instruments. To move beyond the compartmentalization of sonic art from being only music is necessary to have a better grasp on sound as an art form as well as having a better understanding of sound as it relates to physics, acoustics, acoustic imitation. |
Species identification of root samples using gene sequencing04/09/2019Tree species are typically identified using leaf and bark traits but identifying species by roots is extremely challenging and would not be feasible by morphological features. Currently, our lab is in the process of identifying roots from mixed species forests to compare belowground productivity between species. We will be using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing to identify tree root presence. Four different genes (Matk, psb-trn, Rbcl, and ITS) have been identified as possible candidates for PCR identification. To test these genes, sequences have been downloaded from NCBI and compared using BioEdit. Not enough sequences were found for psb-trn in NCBI, so tests were unable to be run on this gene. Matk had very poor distinguishing ability and therefore was excluded from further testing.Using a single gene, Rbcl had the best ability to distinguish between species alone. There was one genus, Carya, could not be distinguished. Using a combination of ITS and Rbcl for single tree specimen samples 35/41 species could be identified. Four of the six that were unidentifiable were within the genus Carya. These results will be validated by sequencing our own tree samples with primers Rbcla-F and Rbcla-R, ITS-p5 and ITS-u2, and psbA3 and trnHf_05. Results for psb-trn genes will then be able to be compared with Rbcl and ITS. This information will then be used to test our larger hypothesizes to better understand positive and negative feedback loops within different tree species. |
Stonewall 50+: Building the Wall04/09/2019This coming year will be the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a pivotal point for LGBTQ+ rights. As such, a group of students and faculty here at Kent State began plans for a play. As the project developed, ideas began to form for ways that there could be a set or even prop to bring the planned play to life. This project started as a prospective set, and grew into it’s own entity. A wall, not to close people out or even blockade progress, but as a path to invite change and cooperation. To show that students, that people can leave an impact in many ways. This wall will represent Kent State, students and faculty alike, as well as any allies or LGBTQ+ people who worked on it. After the show closes, the wall will separate into two halves and become an art installation, to inspire and support LGBTQ+ individuals. A way to show that we, as students and people, won’t forget those who came before us, those alongside us, and those after us. One of the key challenges is designing and building something that will be a set for a play, something sturdy yet pliable, allowing for an interactive feeling for the actors and audience, and then taking that set and finishing it so that it will be a permanent structure. Then the challenges of developing and learning different ways to make the wall a reality, from using varying techniques and alternative paths to achieve a final structure. |
Strive for balance: Deviation from a balanced time perspective mediates the relationship between lifetime trauma exposure and self-esteem04/09/2019Most individuals will experience a traumatic event within their lifetime, such as the unexpected death of a loved one or unwanted sexual attention. This study assessed direct and mediated relationships between lifetime trauma exposure and self-esteem, with deviation from a balanced time perspective as a potential mediator. Participants were 133 undergraduates (87% Caucasian, 84% female; mean age 23.76, SD = 8.61) who completed online surveys. Lifetime trauma exposure was assessed using the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ; Kubany et al., 2000; e.g., life-threatening illness). Time perspectives were assessed using a modified version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI; Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999; e.g., “Painful past experiences keep being replayed in my mind.”). Self-esteem was assessed with the revised Self-Liking/Self-Competence Scale (SLSC-R; Tafarodi & Swann, 2001; e.g., “I am highly effective at the things I do.”). A majority of participants (89%) reported experiencing at least one traumatic event (range 0 to 12; mean = 3.62, SD = 2.83). Regression coefficients were utilized to establish mediation according to Baron and Kenny’s (1986) guidelines, and mediation was confirmed with the Sobel test of mediation. Results indicated that deviation from a balanced time perspective partially mediates the relationship between lifetime trauma exposure and lower self-esteem (Sobel’s test statistic = -2.02, p = .043). Overall, more lifetime trauma exposure was related to greater deviation from a balanced time perspective, which likely resulted in lower self-esteem. Encouraging individuals to strive for balance may be one way to help those adjusting to challenging life events. |
Sustainability and Laundering in the Consumer Use Phase of the Apparel Life Cycle04/09/2019MERCH According to recent life cycle assessment data, the consumer use phase has significant harmful effects on the environment, and there is a critical need to assess consumers’ awareness and current perceptions of their role in the apparel life cycle. In this study, we used the content analysis method and a survey to determine consumers’ awareness of various topics such as laundering and drying practices, microplastics, and sustainable detergent alternatives. After reviewing the data, we concluded that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of how various aspects of the laundering process affect the environment and some have even adopted more sustainable habits, though their reasons are not necessarily because of environmental conservation. |
Sustainable Dining04/09/2019Kent State Dining Services throws away hundreds of pounds of food each day. This food goes to landfills and can never be decomposed. We would like to expand the university community garden to have more sustainable food options in the dining halls and Campus Kitchen while fertilizing campus grounds with compost made from leftover food. Collectively, this will decrease the University’s impact on the environment while providing healthy, fresh options for students. This sustainable option will be implemented through compost bins within the dining halls that will be transported to a garden near Eastway. Produce from the garden will be harvested and given to nearby dining halls and Campus Kitchen. This process will be tested using the Nixon Community Garden and be further implemented across campus. |
Tentacles of Violence from the Most Well-Organized Gang in the World04/09/2019Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, is a gang formed in Los Angeles, CA, by mostly Salvadoran inmates during the 1980s. Due to the high rate of violence inside the prisons where they were incarcerated, many were deported to their home country where they soon emerged as organized gangs without control from the State. Since then, this criminal organization has highly corroded the Salvadoran society and spread to other Central American countries, such as Honduras and Nicaragua. In recent decades, MS-13 has emerged in various other parts of the world like the US, the Middle East and Spain. An example of their criminal actions in the U.S. is the case of the gang member Brenda Paz, from Virginia, who tried to leave the gang. Despite being granted witness protection in exchange for her testimony against the gang, she was assassinated immediately after the gang members found out about her collaboration with police. Florida International University conducted a survey to 1200 prisoners in El Salvador. 58 percent responded that the church was the only place where the gang’s members could rehabilitate and then leave the organization; but they were strongly advised not to release any compromising information. The governments from the affected countries have been trying to find ways to eliminate these criminal organizations. Some have only partially succeeded; and others not at all. Considering the rapid growth of MS-13, will this criminal organization ever come to an end? |