May 4th, Breakout Room 1
Sally Robson ‘22
Resilient Carbon Neutrality: Battery Backup Power on Smith Campus. The need for grid resiliency continues to grow as climate change affects weather patterns and the increase in renewable energy introduces greater instability to power systems. Batteries can be used to bridge the gap between our goals of decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing grid resilience while providing numerous other services to battery owners and the grid. In order to achieve Smith’s 2030 carbon neutrality commitment, Smith will likely replace the current combined heat and power plant with geothermal heating, leaving the campus without the ability to generate electricity and supply backup power. This work investigates the economic and technical feasibility of using a battery to provide backup power. Other grid services such as demand response and frequency regulation are explored as sources of profit to offset the cost of the battery. Lawrence Berkeley Lab’s DER-CAM software is used to provide initial battery sizing and cost estimates. The environmental impact and advantages are also explored. A poster session deriving from the McKinley Pre-Honors Research Fellowship and Special Studies with Judith Cardell, Professor of Engineering and of Computer Science.
The Effects of Complex Aqueous Matrices and Exposure Route on the Bioaccumulation Dynamics of Silver and Silver Nanoparticles in Daphnia magna. Treatment wetlands for water purification are typically designed to allow for various physical and biological processes to reduce levels of organic contaminants, metals, bacteria, and suspended solids. Grazing by filter feeding zooplankton such as Daphnia magna can significantly remove pollutants in treatment wetlands. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are widely used due to their antimicrobial properties. As a result, the environmental concentrations of AgNP and dissolved Ag are likely to increase. Silver is toxic to aquatic organisms and understanding the impacts of this contaminant on zooplankton that are critical to treatment wetland function is necessary. Our overarching research objective is to characterize aqueous and dietborne uptake and loss of 109Ag (in dissolved and NP form) in Daphnia magna at environmentally relevant concentrations (i.e. 0.01 – 2.5 µg L-1 Ag). We show that both forms of Ag are bioavailable and that there is greater retention of AgNP compared to AgNO3, which has implications for trophic transfer. Both waterborne and dietborne uptake result in measurable influx and retention of Ag. Evidence of feeding inhibition through dietary exposure at higher concentrations of Ag may have negative impacts on daphnid growth and reproduction. We also determined that water chemistry impacts waterborne influx, showing the importance of using environmentally relevant media. A poster session deriving from laboratory work with Niveen Ismail, Assistant Professor of Engineering.
Maggie Boyle ‘22 and Yeji Lee ‘22
Fn3-PVDMA Protein-Polymer Conjugates for Targeted Drug Delivery. Targeted drug delivery is an important form of treatment for a variety of diseases, specifically cancers and neurological diseases because it can prevent delivery of treatment to healthy tissue. There are a few challenges associated with current methods of targeted delivery, including disease-specific considerations, where the target tissue is located, and the size and charge of the therapeutic being delivered. Neurological diseases, most specifically those of the central nervous system, are difficult to treat due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the central nervous system from harmful chemicals. A variety of approaches have been taken to overcome this problem, one of which is the use of protein-polymer conjugates to connect proteins that target receptors expressed on the target tissue to polymers delivering therapeutics. This allows for an effective way to transgress the blood-brain barrier. Current protein-polymer conjugates have limited ability to functionalize polymers with a variety of molecules, and one of the key polymers used, poly(ethylene) glycol, may have immunogenic effects. Thus, the goal of this project is to synthesize azlactone-functionalized polymers for conjugation to two different protein candidates for targeted drug delivery. To achieve this, we are using poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl-azlactone) (PVDMA) due to its ability to react with a variety of nucleophilic functional groups that are present in proteins. This polymer will allow us to synthesize diversely functionalized protein-polymer conjugates for drug-delivery applications. This project first has involved the purification and characterization of two different protein-polymer conjugates. Currently, we are functionalizing PVDMA with hydrophilic side chains and conjugating to fibronectin domain proteins (see the image) with lysines at different locations; we have confirmed functionalization using IR spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis. Our next step will be to use cellular assays to assess the efficacy of these new protein-polymer conjugates to target and become internalized by a brain cancer cell line. A poster session deriving from a special studies on a collaborative project between the Moore and Buck Labs, supervised by Alexis Ziemba, Postdoctoral Researcher at Smith College.
Application of Mycoremediation to Reduce Escherichia coli in Runoff.The degradation of clean freshwater sources due to microbial pollutants has adverse effects on human health and the environment. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are engineered pollution-control systems that supplement traditional water treatment methods with alternate filtrative, vegetative and structural practices. A potential addition to bioretention basins, a type of BMP, is fungal mycelium that operates as a biologically active filter. Mycelium is the vegetative body of fungi and is known to secrete antibacterial enzymes. Previous research has indicated through permeability and resiliency testing that Pleurotus ostreatus could potentially inactivate Escherichia coli present in contaminated water. This research provides a systematic approach to determining and testing conditions to increase E. coli inactivation using mycelium. A poster session deriving from special studies and SURF with Niveen Ismail, Assistant Professor of Engineering.
Lucy Metz ’22
Electricity Generation in the Decarbonized Massachusetts Power Sector. Massachusetts recently enacted a new climate law committing the state to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Clean electricity is crucial to this effort, because decarbonization in the other sectors relies on electrification (e.g., electric vehicles and heat pumps). As the building and transportation sectors decarbonize, demand for electricity will increase. This means that the electricity supply will simultaneously need to decarbonize and expand. For my thesis project next year, I will use two computer simulation models to examine the tradeoffs between emissions and cost as clean energy standards in Massachusetts tighten. A poster session deriving from Special Studies with Judith Cardell, Professor of Engineering and of Computer Science.
May 4th, Breakout Room 2
Elizabeth Lee ‘21
It’s getting hot in here: lifetime estrogen load and menopausal symptoms. The menopausal transition is accompanied by a wide variety of symptoms, including physical symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats or vasomotor symptoms;VMS), cognitive symptoms, (trouble concentrating, and mood disruptions), and an increase in experience of depressive symptoms. The menopausal transition is marked by decreasing levels of estrogen, which may be partially responsible for the experience of menopausal symptoms. However, the role estrogen exposure plays in menopausal symptom experience has not been entirely determined. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether 2 different estimates of prior estrogen exposure are associated with menopausal symptom experience. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent via Qualtrics to 82 women (age=54±6 yrs; height=165±6 cm; weight= 64.1±11.5 kg). Women were asked about their menstrual history, obstetrical history, contraceptive use, and menopausal symptom experience. Two estimates of estrogen exposure were constructed. The first index of lifetime estrogen load, referred to as the Reproductive Years Index (RYI), was constructed by subtracting the age at the final menstrual period or current age if final menstrual period has not yet occured from the age at first menses. The second lifetime estrogen load index, referred to as the Comprehensive Estrogen Measurement Index (CEMI), was constructed by adding estrogen based contraceptive usage in years and time pregnant in years to the RYI and subtracting bouts of amenorrhea in years. Global physical symptom experience was calculated by adding the number of physical symptoms each participant reported experiencing. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the relationship between RYI and CEMI and participant characteristics. Multiple regression models for CEMI and RYI were constructed using reverse stepwise methods, and age was always included in the model. Independent t-tests were used to determine whether CEMI or RYI differed based on VMS experience. A 2×3 ANOVA was run to determine whether CEMI or RYI differed by menopausal status. RESULTS: There was no statistical significance depicted for either index’s association with global physical symptom experience (all P>0.05). However, CEMI was significantly correlated with physical activity (r=0.253, P=0.022) and BMI (r=-0.247, P=0.025). Mean RYI scores were significantly higher for those who experience VMS (t=2.876, df=80, P=0.005), and there was a trend toward a greater CEMI score in those reporting VMS (t=1.878, df=80, P=0.064). ANOVA analysis determined that menopausal status influences RYI (P=0.027), but VMS experience did not. Additionally, ANOVA analysis determined that VMS symptoms influence CEMI (P=0.035), but menopausal status did not (P=0.814). CONCLUSIONS: These two methods of estimated lifetime estrogen load were not associated with global physical symptom experience, suggesting that lifetime estrogen load does not play a significant role in overall symptom experience. However, RYI is significantly higher in women who experience VMS symptoms, suggesting that VMS may be more associated with higher estrogen exposure than other menopausal symptoms. Future research should be conducted to evaluate the role of lifetime estrogen exposure on VMS. Further the role of follicle stimulating hormone, another major reproductive hormone, on menopausal symptom experience should be investigated. A poster deriving from special studies with Dr. Sarah Witkowski, Associate Professor of Exercise & Sport Studies
Increased Symptomatic Fatigue May Impair Standing Balance in People with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease caused by chronic demyelination of the central nervous system. Its effects are often disabling and it is the most common neurological disorder found in individuals 20 to 50 years old. People living with MS consistently rate balance and gait limitations as having the greatest negative impacts on their quality of life. Balance impairments demonstrated by individuals with MS are likely multifactorial in etiology but previous research suggests that impaired somatosensation, reduced strength and/or fatigue may play a role. Previous research suggests that balance impairments increase with increased fatigue but to our knowledge this has not been studied among individuals with MS. Therefore, the purpose of the current project was to analyze the postural stability of individuals with and without MS, as perceived levels symptomatic fatigue rise. Postural sway during quiet stance and forwards and backwards reaching tasks were quantified before and after a 30-minute bout of walking. Primary analysis found worsening balance performance measured by reduced postural stability and increased sway following walking. These findings were more significant in the MS group and more apparent in the backwards direction and a fixed reach task. However, when a maximal reach task was performed, individuals with MS maintained a higher level of stability than did the control cohort but greatly reduced their reach distance. This finding suggests that individuals with MS are reluctant to approach their stability boundaries and appear to prioritize stability at the expense of task performance. Given the decrement in stability that occurred following fatiguing exercise, the stability boundary itself or the perception of the boundary, may be hampered by muscle fatigue or could be related to reduced somatosensation in this cohort. Regardless, individuals with MS should be cautioned that they may be at greater risk of balance loss when their fatigue levels are elevated. A poster deriving from special studies with Dr. Stephanie Jones, Assistant Professor of Exercise & Sport Studies
Does Physical Activity relate to the Hot Flash Experience? Hot flashes (HFs) are a menopausal symptom experienced by about 80% of women. The frequency and severity of HFs are related to cardiovascular disease risk in peri-menopausal women. The cause of HFs is still unknown; however, some reports suggest self-reported physical activity (PA) may mediate the subjective HF experience. The hot flash experience can be measured with an ambulatory monitor and is separated into subjective (only reported by participant), objective (recorded by a monitor), and concordant (reported by participant as a monitor recorded it). The overall goal of this project is to determine whether the hot flash experience, as broken down by the three mentioned categories, is altered by objectively-measured physical activity. Physical activity can be broken down by intensity into: Light, Moderate, Vigorous, and Moderate-to-Vigorous (MVPA). In bivariate analyses, objective HF frequency (HF/hour) was associated with duration in moderate PA (r = 0.285, p = .020) and duration in MVPA (r = 0.303, p = .013). Concordant HF frequency was correlated with time in vigorous PA (r = 0.376, p = .002) and time in MVPA (r = 0.286, p = .020). In hierarchical models controlling for age and monitor wear time, objective HF frequency was predicted to increase per minute of MVPA (β = 0.291, p < 0.05), and concordant HF frequency was predicted to increase by per minute of vigorous PA (β = 0.301, p < 0.05) and of MVPA (β = 0.265, p < 0.05). The subjective HF experience was not associated with any form of PA. Overall, our data suggest greater amounts of time in moderate and vigorous PA predicts increases in objective and concordant HFs. Understanding the role of physical activity on hot flash experience can advance efforts to optimize therapies and provide accurate information to women undergoing menopause. A poster derived from the STRIDE program with Dr. Sarah Witkowski, Associate Professor of Exercise & Sport Studies
Altered Gait in Women With and Without Multiple Sclerosis at Preferred and Matched Walking Speeds. Multiple sclerosis (MS) a demyelinating disease where an autoimmune response damages the myelin sheaths surrounding sensory and motor neurons of the central nervous system. Fifty percent of the MS population reports decreased mobility while walking and experiences falls in day-to-day activities. Past studies have reported gait impairments, including reduced step length and reduced knee flexion, however, these studies compared individuals with and without MS at preferred speeds. In these studies, people with MS preferred to walk at slower speeds, which could explain the altered gait patterns demonstrated. Therefore, in the current study, we assessed joint kinematics of the ankle, knee, pelvis, and trunk at three matched speeds slow (0.6 m/s), medium (1.0 m/s), and fast (1.4 m/s) and preferred speed, and compared between individuals with and without MS. We found that individuals with MS have decreased sensation during a tuning fork vibration assessment, and longer walking times at both brisk and preferred walking speeds. Individuals with MS tended to restrict their knee ROM across walking speeds, which may have required increased motion of the pelvis, particularly at faster walking speeds. At the knee, the appropriate tuning of knee ROM to walking speed was blunted in the MS group. This is particularly evident at the higher walking velocities and may indicate a freezing of degrees of freedom under increasing task demands. Given the reduced sensation at the foot plantar surface in the MS cohort, which can lead to instability and greater reliance of visual information to guide foot placement, this cohort may be reluctant to increase ROM with faster speeds. Increased knee movement could introduce more variability of foot position at heel strike. With impaired foot sensation, less knee movement may be desirable because it reduces the variability of foot placement that must be detected by the somatosensory system in order to maintain stability. A poster derived from Data Analysis and academic research paper composition with Dr. Stephanie Jones, Assistant Professor of Exercise & Sport Studies
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