2008 Proceedings - St. Cloud State University

Abstracts
Session T All Disciplines Ballroom
Atmospheric Wind Interferometer Characterization
Upper atmospheric wind measurements are valuable in gaining a better understanding of upper atmospheric dynamics. As part of a NASA
funded program we are developing a laboratory prototype of a small, rugged optical instrument that may eventually be capable of
measuring atmospheric winds from a satellite platform. The instrument contains a Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer which produces
interference fringes. Measuring the phase of these fringes allows us to determine the wind speed. The accuracy of measuring the fringe
phase, and therefore the wind speed, is limited by practical difficulties such as thermal drift of the instrument and the finite signal-to-noise
ratio of the measured fringe pattern. In this poster we will describe our laboratory set-up for generating interference fringes and tests of
how accurately the fringe phase can be measured. We will also compare our phase precision results with a theoretical model.
Presentation Index: T43
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Physics
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Fuchs, Brody
Harlander, John
Investigations of Temperature Dependence of Charge Carrier Mobilities
While organic semiconductors have started to be used in commercial devices, their full potential will not be realized without further
characterization of their charge carrier transport properties. To understand these properties the temperature dependence of the charge
carrier mobility needs to be investigated. At low temperatures, charge carriers are not associated with a particular molecule and band-like
transport occurs. As temperatures increase, thermal motion perturbs the path of the charge carriers and mobilities decrease. Mobilities
also decrease at extremely low temperatures due to the presence of traps. When the thermal energy of the charge carrier is less then the
trapping energies the charge carrier mobility falls off sharply. Finally, at higher temperatures the charge carriers become thermally
activated and ‗jump‘ from molecule to molecule resulting in a hopping transport mechanism which increases the mobility. In our research,
we study temperature dependant mobilities using a time of flight technique in a helium cryostat to gain a better understand of these
transport mechanisms.
Presentation Index: T44
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Physics
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Pundsack, Thomas; Haugen, Neale
Lidberg, Russell
The First Annotation of the Valine, Leucine and Isoleucine Biosynthetic Pathways of Ammonifex Degensii
Ammonifex degensii is an obligate anaerobic chemolithoautotrophic (obtains energy from inorganic compounds and carbon from CO2)
bacteria isolated from a volcanic hot spring in East Asia in 1994. Ammonifex is the archetype of a new genus (¡°ammonium maker¡±).
Ammonifex degensii is an extremely thermophilic gram negative rod shaped bacterium with optimal growth occurring at 70¢ªC and a pH of
7.5. The genome of Ammonifex degensii is 85% complete, funded by the Department of Energy Joint Genome Program. Saint Cloud State
University is part of a consortium of institutions that make up the Collaborative Undergraduate Genomic Annotation Team. SCSU has
undertaken the responsibility of using comparative genomics to identify the amino acid biosynthetic pathways. Valine, isoleucine and
leucine are three nonpolar aliphatic amino acids. Valine is the smallest of the three, while leucine and isoleucine represent very similar
amino acids. We hypothesize that these amino acids have biosynthetic pathways in Ammonifex degensii, and that we will be able to
identify the genes responsible for the synthesis of these amino acids using a comparative genomics approach.
Presentation Index: T45
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Biological Sciences
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Piotrowski, Aaron; Perera, Deshani; Shrestha, Sharad;
Kvaal, Christopher
Gast, Dawn
Antiviral Chemotherapeutics from Natural Products: Strategic Design, Designed Synthesis & Characterization of a New Series of
Bioactive Triterpenoids
From ancient period, it is well known that Natural Products and their Extracts are widely used for treatment and curing of several common human
and animal diseases. Modern research and development in Natural Products Chemistry have shown the bright perspectives of their pre-clinical
and clinical use as potential antiviral and antibacterial agents. Recent biological studies of some Triterpene based natural products revealed
remarkable biological activity and other valuable pharmacological properties. For instance, Betulinic Acid and Betulin 3-caffeate exhibited strong
anti-HIV and anti-Cancer activity in vitro and in vivo, and identified them as a new class of potential anti-cancer and anti-HIV agents with a novel
mechanism of antiviral action. The ultimate goal of our multifaceted research project is to study and develop a thorough pathway of strategic
design, designed synthesis, modification, characterization and bioactivity evaluation for a new series of highly efficacious triterpenoid based
antiviral chemotherapeutics of novel drug action. At a relatively earlier stage, as an integral part of the project, deliberately we will be focused on
Betulinic Acid. A novel method for semi-synthesis of Betulinic acid will be discussed. A new pathway for selective Protection and Selective
Functionalization of Betulinic Acid will be demonstrated. Strategic Design for Selective Derivatization and Structure-Activity Relation (SAR) will be
illustrated. And, several new synthetic methodologies for preparing Betulinic Acid Derivatives will be outlined.
Presentation Index: T46
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Chemistry
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Shrestha, Sharad; Manandhar, Sonal
Munshi, Kaylan
St. Cloud State University Student Research Colloquium 63
April 22, 2008