Melanoma is a fast metastasizing skin cancer. Rates of melanoma are increasing with limited treatment options. Oncolytic Adenoviruses (OAds) bind directly to tumor cells, replicate, infect, and kill the cell while delivering tumor-specific therapeutic transgenes. Murine cells do not permit the replication of human OAds, which affects the analysis of biodistribution and adenovirus-mediated toxicity. Syrian hamsters have been reported to permit replication of human adenovirus. The goal of this study was to establish a hamster model for melanoma.

Multiscreening (i.e. the use of multiple screen media at the same time) has recently become more popular, but research has demonstrated that it has negative effects on cognitive outcomes, specifically brand and ad memory. Segijn, Voorveld, & Smit (2017) found that multiscreening was less detrimental to cognitive outcomes when people engaged in related tasks. Task relevance is defined as “whether the tasks involved in media multitasking serve closely related goals (or a single overarching goal)” according to Wang et al. (2015).

Mindfulness Breathing Training (MBT) involves being anchored in the present by focusing on one’s breath and has been known to improve regulation of emotions, which may be helpful as an alternative treatment to depression. However, it is unclear who will fully engage in this. It is important to consider what characteristics, including emotion regulation, affect, and depressive symptoms predict adherence. Participants were randomized to complete transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), brain stimulation that targets the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, or a sham control.

My project’s overarching goal is to learn more about the environmental and biological effects of nanoparticles through the lens of bacterial resistance. Examining the correlation between bacterial resistance to nanoparticles and antibiotics will demonstrate that nanoparticle resistance has implications beyond just metals and nanoparticles and into the realm of organic antibiotics. To determine whether bacterial exposure to nanoparticles increases the transfer of antibiotic resistance plasmids, I will implement a simple plate-counting method.

This research experiment will consist of utilizing the characteristics of 1-electron processes to develop aryne intermediates, which will lead to the difunctionalization of arenes and heteroarenes. 1-electron processes will aid in the site-selectivity of 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4- arenes. After that, first row transitional metal catalysts will be screened because of their unique characteristics like diradical trapping to assist in the regioselectivity of arenes. Such research provides applications to the pharmaceutical industry.

Catalysts are compounds that accelerate chemical reactions without being consumed. They can increase product selectivity and enhance sustainability by reducing energy usage. Thus, more efficient results in shorter periods of time can be achieved. Organocatalysts are metal free catalysts that contain organic functional groups. They typically take place in hydrogen-bonding interactions, which alter their structures, and therefore their electrophilic activities. Thus, the reactivities of these catalysts can be measured by monitoring their responses in hydrogen-donating reactions.

Group members: Jasmine Do, April Hagemeister, Hannah Littel, Emma Mandick, Nate Murphy, and Srivats Yerragunta

Group members: Anna Maunu and Abigail Spoden

Group members: Jasmine Do, April Hagemeister, Hannah Littel, Emma Manick, Christina Meleck, and Nathan Murphy

Group members: Jasmine Do, Hannah Littel, Emma Manick, Christina Meleck, Nathan Murphy, and Srivats Yerraguntal