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Seminar Abstracts
 

Shelly Porcellino, MTSC
The purpose of this presentation is to introduce science students to another career option besides research and clinical work--science writing. The presentation will cover what educational background is necessary for a career in science writing, where science writers work, what roles they play within an organization, and the benefits and challenges of being a writer. I will also share some of my personal experiences as a professional writer.
Tom Sawyer
I will describe aspects of the visual system(s) in relationship to the filters that have been designed to alter the time course of dark adaptation. Also, I will review the protocol for testing participants, and hopefully share a little data.
Jennifer A. Arens Gubbels
Ovarian cancer is a deadly disease that causes the death of over 14,000 women in the U.S. each year. This cancer type, in late stages, spreads rapidly within the abdominal cavity and is extremely immune resistant, making late stage diagnosis survival rates very low. Tumor cells from epithelial ovarian cancer express high levels of the mucin, MUC16, both on the surface of the cells as well as secreted into the peritoneal fluid in the abdominal cavity. This molecule is extremely large and has many carbohydrate chains on its protein backbone. Although its function in normal tissue is yet unknown, we have determined that MUC16 in ovarian cancer may utilize its adhesive and non-adhesive properties to aid the tumor in metastasis while at the same time avoiding immune cell attack. We have shown that MUC16 can bind to mesothelin, a protein present on mesothelial cells that line the peritoneal cavity. Tumor cells can thus slough off of the main tumor and bind to the peritoneal cavity wall via the MUC16-mesothelin interaction. Concurrently, we have data that indicates the large size and reach of MUC16 interferes with immune cells being able to form immune synapses with the tumor cells. Immune synapses require close cell-to-cell contact, and these synapses cannot form when MUC16 is present on the tumor target cell. Therefore, MUC16, utilizing both its adhesive and non-adhesive properties, can promote metastasis while at the same time protect ovarian tumor cells from immune attack.
Emily Johnson
The Great Lakes system has been compared to a sewer as it has become a catch-all for contaminants from various sources including industries, agriculture, shipping, and households. In 2007, the British Petroleum company (BP) was given permission by the Indiana government to increase their emissions of ammonia and industrial sludge into Lake Michigan. This research focused on the potential negative effects of Lake Michigan water concentration on crayfish weight, feeding behavior, and activity level. In this experiment, male and female crayfish were studied in unfiltered, 5× concentrated, and 10× concentrated Lake Michigan water. It was found that at the concentrations tested, there was no differential effect on the weights of the crayfish. Feeding behavior, for both males and females, was shown to decrease with an increase in the concentration of the lake water, but this trend could not be substantiated due to missing data. Males displayed a decrease in the average activity levels with an increase in water concentration. No relationship was observed for the females’ average activity levels and concentration of Lake Michigan water. Further experimentation is needed to expand and corroborate the findings of this research.
Dr. Christine L. Weilhoefer
This seminar will discuss the methodology and results of several government sponsored biomonitoring projects. I will also discuss research that I hope to pursue with students at NCC.