Determining the Effects of Depressant Drugs via Heart Rate of age varied Daphnia
Daphnia, also known as water fleas, are optimal subjects for observing heart rates because of their transparent bodies. The objective of this research was to observe the effects of depressant drugs on daphnia and whether their age causes variable results. Adolescent and mature daphnia were treated in 15 second intervals to determine beats per minute. it was discovered that adolescent daphnia heart rates increased and mature heart rates decreased when treated with Xanax. Also, in both groups, average heart rates decreased as concentrations increased. In conclusion, treating and observing daphnia furthers the understanding of how drugs like Xanax may affect the human heart.
Eastern Black Walnut Extract as a Stain for the Epithelial and Connective Tissues
This researchers study was conducted to determine if black walnut fruit pulp extract could be used as a specialized histological stain for epithelial and connective tissue. His methods were to gather, harvest, peel, and pulp fruits of a black walnut tree which was located on WSSU's campus. The pulp was filtered to remove solids followed by many rounds of high speed centrifugations. The supernatant was collected and used to stain various tissues. His results showed a gray-black stain imparted in most of the tissues specifically on ECM and fiber parts of the connective tissues. On epithelial tissues, the extract acts as a cytoplasmic stain. The black walnut extract provided as much contrast as any histological staining procedure when compared. On the basis of his results, he concluded that the black walnut stain could be used to successfully stain epithelial and connective tissues.
TTP induces Adipogenesis in hMSCs via PPARy
Triphenyl phosphate (TPP), a flame retardant, has been determined to activate the transcription factor PPAR gamma in murine models and regulate adipogenic gene expression. The researchers have previously shown that TPP induces adipogenesis in human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) and hypothesized that it binds PPAR gamma to induce this effect. To elucidate this mechanism, hMSCs were differentiated in adipogenic media with 10 micrometers rosiglitazone and 200 micrometers indomethacin, known PPAR gamma activators, as well as 10,20,and 40 micrometers of TPP in the presence and absence of the PPAR gamma inhibitor. After 14 days, the cells were stained with oil red O and the remaining stain in each well was quantified. Images of cells showed decreased lipid accumulation, when compared to those without the inhibitor. The PPAR gamma inhibitor blocks the effect of TPP demonstrating the TPP actively binds PPAR gamma in hMSCs. Their study siggested that TPP may influence cell differentiation during development and potentially promoates obesity via PPAR gamma.
Exploration of the Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Program in the Department of Biological Sciences
The Winston Salem State University Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) Program offers students the ability to expand on leadership opportunities while also developing critical skills such as public speaking, time-management, and creativity. In her study, she evaluated the different ways teacher assistants engaged their students with activities and the outcomes of those activities. She also analyzed the outcomes of being a teacher assistant and highlighted the benefits of the UTA and undergraduate students that are enrolled in classes that have UTAs.
My Research
Examining Undergraduate Students’ Views About Scientific Inquiry
This study investigates Views About Scientific Inquiry (VASI; Lederman et al., 2014) among a sample of undergraduate students in the Exercise Physiology department. Enhancing STEM education depends on integrating opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in scientific inquiry and exploration. Scientific inquiry leads to scientific knowledge, requiring undergraduate students to use a combination of general science skills, traditional science content, creativity, and critical thinking (Lederman et al., 2014). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prior scientific experiences, Pell Grant eligibility, gender, and ratings on the VASI.
Ideally the amount of science courses an individual completes in high school should have a positive correlation to one’s scientific inquiry. H1: The more courses in science should yield a higher average VASI rating score. H2: The more advanced placement courses completed should yield a higher average VASI rating score.
