2008 Symposium Summary
See Also: 2008 JSHS Program
Relaxing at SeaWorld before the banquet at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium”. (From left to right) Chris King, Vivek Patel, Matthew Han, Justin Menestrina and Taylor Jones at a reception for students at the National JSHS meeting, Orlando, FL, May 3, 2008.
On February 28, 29, March 1, 2008 the 43rd annual Tennessee Junior Science and Humanities Symposium was held at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, At the 2008 symposium the university hosted fifty-five high-school students and twenty-one teachers representing 16 Tennessee high schools. Original research papers from nineteen student research scholars were submitted spanning an array of topics and scientific disciplines from pure mathematics to engineering to clinical medicine. The 2008 competition was particularly keen, and the following represent the top five finishers in the oral presentation category as well as the student with the top poster presentation.
FIRST PLACE
Matthew Han
White Station High School, Memphis
“Knockdown of TauT Gene Expression Via RNAi Increases Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to Chemotherapy”
(Medicine and Health)ABSTRACT
“Standard chemotherapy is highly ineffective against breast cancer; therefore, increasing the vulnerability of MCF-7 (Human Breast Cancer) cells to chemotherapeutical agents would greatly enhance the effectiveness of its treatment. Taurine transporter gene (TauT) is constitutively over-expressed in MCF-7 cells, which exhibit resistance to chemotherapeutical treatment. This observation suggests a potential correlation between TauT levels and drug-resistance tendencies in MCF-7 cell line. We hypothesized that the knockdown of TauT gene expression via RNA interference will increase the sensitivity of human breast cancer cells to chemotherapy. To test this hypothesis, a shRNA-induced TauT-deficient MCF-7 cell line was established as an experimental control. Knockdown of TauT significantly decreased the growth rate of MCF-7 cells, inhibited colony formation, and greatly enhanced the sensitivity of MCF-7 cells to the proapoptotic effect of Doxorubicin. Furthermore, TauT-knockdown arrested the cell cycle at G2 checkpoint, and elevated expression of Slit-2 tumor suppressor gene, which mediates chemotaxis, chemoinvasion, and adhesion of breast cancer cells. This study suggests that TauT plays a significant role in the growth and drug-resistance mechanisms of MCF-7 tumor cells, the TauT-growth/drug-resistance correlation offers great potential as means of treating breast cancer.”
Note: Matthew as our first place winner was invited to present his work as an oral presentation at the National JSHS symposium held in Orlando FL on May April 30 - May 4, 2008.
SECOND PLACE
Taylor W. Jones
Alcoa High School, Alcoa
“Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance in Farm Isolates of Escherichia coli 0:157 Chromosome vs. Plasmid and Potential for Transfer”
(Medicine and Health)ABSTRACT
“Overcoming the rise of antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges facing modern medicine. What is the link between consumption of animal products and the emergence of antibiotic resistance? The link lies within the usage of substantial amounts of antibiotics to farm animals. Farm animals become reservoirs for antibiotic resistant bacteria that can spread to the human population via food. In this study, the objective was to determine distribution/incidence of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations isolated from farm animals and establish the genetic origin of the antibiotic resistance (plasmid vs. chromosome) as a means to evaluate the risk for rapid transmission. Forty-seven animal isolates of Escherichia coli strain 0:157 from 18 different farms across the US were tested for their resistance to antibiotics. Testing the genetic origin of antibiotic resistance in the isolates showed that plasmids were present in 21 isolates. Successful plasmid and associated antibiotic resistance transformations were carried out for all but one isolate. Results demonstrated that E. coli 0:157 isolates from farms across the US were reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes that may be spread to other bacteria via plasmid. Therefore, this study showed that antibiotic resistant genes can be acquired by consumption of animal products.”
Note: Taylor was also invited to present his work as an oral presentation at the National JSHS symposium held in Orlando FL on May April 30 - May 4, 2008. He was also a finalist at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in Atlanta GA, as well as a finalist at the Tennessee Junior Academy of Science competition.
THIRD PLACE
Justin L. Menestrina
Farragut High School, Knoxville
“Whole Genome Association of Adipocyte Cells”
(Medicine and Health)ABSTRACT
“With the recent obesity crisis, research into the genetics behind obesity’s health effects is becoming more important. Even in non-obese individuals, the mass and distribution of adipose tissue and the size of adipose cells (adipocytes) vary in a way this is significantly impacted by genetics. Adipocyte size is inversely correlated with insulin resistivity. In Whole Genome Association, strains of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice were crossed to yield a recombinant population. Next, using microslides, pictures of fat pads from each strain were taken then measured in the computer using Image J. These relative sizes were then averaged for each strain and entered into an online database called WebQTL. The site preformed a QTL analysis of the data yielding regions of the genome associated with adipocyte size. In this project, Chromosomes 15 and 19 both showed regions of interest for future study.”
Note: Justin was invited to present his work as an poster presentation at the National JSHS symposium held in Orlando FL on May April 30 - May 4, 2008.
Honorable Mention
Landon Smith
Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge
“Evaluation of Surface Derivatives Based Upon a Hermite Interpolation”
(Mathematics and Computer Science)
ABSTRACT
"The work reported herein is part of a project to develop a general cubic Hermite interpolation algorithm for solving boundary integral equations in three dimensions. The Hermite interpolation requires the ability to compute, rapidly and accurately, first order function derivatives on the boundary, e.g., boundary potential gradient or stress tensor. In this work, the previous linear element analysis for surface derivatives is successfully extended to Hermite interpolation of the primary function. Test calculations demonstrate the correctness of the method."
Honorable Mention
Vivek Patel
Farragut High School, Knoxville
“Creation of an MCMV Expressing the Chemokine Binding Protein, M3”
(Life Sciences)
ABSTRACT
“Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a type of herpes virus, infects the majority of the population usually without obvious symptoms. Through this project, the virus and its pathogenesis are being studies to fully understand how the virus affects the body and, ultimately, to find treatments. The first step of the project is to understand HCMV chemokine proteins, which involves homologous recombination between mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and DNA containing a specific chemokine or chemokine binding protein. One aspect of the project is to study how host chemokines affect the MCMVs ability to spread throughout the body. In order to study this, a chemokine binding protein, one that “soaks up” a bunch of host chemokines, is inserted into the MCMV genome. In this study, the M3 gene was inserted into the viral genome. Since the M3 protein lacks homology to known chemokines, chemokine receptors, or chemokine binding proteins, use of this protein could be informative for studying mechanisms of immune evasion. The M3 protein binds both mouse and human chemokines with high affinity and blocks chemokine signaling. This demonstrates a novel mechanism by which herpesviruses interact with the chemokine system: secretion of a high-affinity chemokine binding protein that inhibits chemokine action.”
Note: Vivek joined four other students as part of the delegation from the State of Tennessee that attended the National JSHS symposium held in Orlando FL on May April 30 - May 4, 2008.
Poster Award
Christopher J. King
Creek Wood High School, Charlotte
“Wireless Power Transmission Through Electromagnetic Resonance”
(Engineering)
Abstract
“The purpose of this experiment was to analyze and determine the feasibility of using a radio frequency electromagnetic field to transport electrical power using a resonant air-cored transformer and a receiver coil. A transmitter coil was constructed using a self-resonant topology to switch electrical power at a high frequency into a primary coil of a Tesla Coil. The secondary of the came Tesla Coil was magnetically coupled to the system by being placed inside the primary coil. Due to the self-oscillating nature of this completed device, the secondary coil began to emit radio frequency energy in the order of a few megahertz in frequency. A receiver coil was placed at various distances from the transmitter and the power the receiver coil was able to extract from the surrounding air was measured. This project showed that the transmission of a usable amount of electrical power over a small distance using radio waves is possible. Possible applications of this technology include transmission of electrical energy to locations where it is typically impossible to use power lines or other physical means of transport.”
Note: Chris joined four other students as part of the delegation from the State of Tennessee that attended the National JSHS symposium held in Orlando FL on April 30 - May 4, 2008. Chris received recognition for his work on electromagnetic resonance and was also invited to present his work at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Junior Academy of Science. Chris also was a finalist at the 2008 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
The 2008 TN-JSHS Teacher Award
Annually, the TN-JSHS recognizes one science teacher for their excellence and commitment in stimulating talented young high school students to pursue their interests in science, and for providing research experience or mentoring for these students. Behind each talented young mind is a teacher that provides guidance. We are pleased to recognize Terrill Johnson from Creek Wood High School in Charlotte Tennessee as the 2008 winner of the TN-JSHS award.