Arts - Buffalo State College

102
Physical Geography, Sciences, and Mathematics
Proteins Associated With Hsp110 In
Developing Drosophila Embryos
Rujing Wen, Masters Biology
Faculty Mentor: Professor Douglas Easton, Biology
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a group of highly conserved
proteins that are well distributed in the phylogeny. Drosophila
melanogaster embryos are endowed with large amounts of
Hsp110 (110 kiloDalton) synthesized in the ovaries of female
flies during oogenesis. This level is maintained constant during
embryogenesis, with newly synthesized (zygotic hsp110) replacing
the maternal store as it turns over. This indicates the necessity of
maintaining high Hsp110 levels. It has been found that Hsps act
as molecular chaperones that assist in protein folding and the
refolding or degradation of aggregated proteins. Hsp110 appears
to act as a co-chaperone in complex with hsp70 in mammalian
cell. The location and expression level of Hsp110 has been
determined by using a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) that is
fused on the N-terminus of Hsp110 protein. A new rapid method
of immunoprecipitation of GFP fusion proteins, GFP-Nanotrap
will co-immunopricipitate the proteins that associate with Hsp110
in vivo at different embryonic development stages or under
different experimental conditions. The nature of the associations
between Hsp110, Hsp70 and Hsp90 in Drosophila embryos is
being investigated by determining whether hsp110 is associated
(co-precipitates) with them. This would implicate the roles of
Hsp110 as a chaperone by itself or as a co-chaperone with other
associated proteins during the development of Drosophila embryos.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster VII
Record Low Snowfall On Buffalo State
Campus
Branden Peplowski, Geography
Faculty Mentor: Professor Stephen Vermette, Geography and
Planning
Snow spotters on the campus of Buffalo State participated in
a regional network of snow spotters. Campus snow spotters were
responsible for snowfall measurements, taken between November 1,
2011 and March 30, 2012. Snowfall measurements were made with
a yardstick and were taken on flat surfaces, either on the grass or
sidewalk, avoiding snow drifts and wind scoured areas. A reported
snowfall value usually involved averaging multiple measurements
from a site. This winter’s snow total of 27 inches was the lowest
ever measured on Campus, since records were first taken in the
1999-2000 snow season. The highest snowfall season on campus
occurred during the 2004-2005 season, where 96 inches of snow
fell on campus. The previous lowest snowfall season, with 48 inches,
occurred the following winter season of 2005-2006. This year’s snow
totals halved the previous lowest total and was 40.8 inches below the
11 year average of 67.8 inches. Over the 2011- 2012 snow season, no
snowfall was measured during the month of November. The month
of December reported 1.5 inches. January experienced the most
snowfall, with 15.5 inches, and February started off snowy although
only accumulated 8.5 inches. March was limited to only 1.5 inches
of snow. Campus snow totals were less than the airport’s total of 34.2
inches (by the end of February). The 2011-2012 winter season has
brought more rain to the region, because the temperatures were
warmer than normal. Another thing unique about this winter season
was the fact that the fallen snow did not last long on the ground – a
few inches of snow usually melted the next day or even that same
day it fell.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster IV
A Risk-Based Approach To Environmental
Policy: Shortcomings In Legislation and
Risk Assessment of Environmental Impacts
West Cassenti, Earth Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Professor Kevin Williams, Earth Sciences and
Science Education
Construction of environmental policy is a difficult task and
depends upon objective science and a keen sense of cumulative net
impacts concerning damage to the environment. Actions that have
an impact on the environment often cause a ripple effect that cannot
be mitigated and overextends the reach of the policy under which the
action falls. This may also occur where no regulations exist, leaving
regulatory agencies no precedence and no legislation to act on behalf
of. These instances often go ignored or overlooked. Rather than
approaching environmental issues from a political or economical
standpoint, impacts should be assessed by the risk posed to the
environment consisting of the ecological and human environment.
By looking at gaps and shortcomings in policy, a well-rounded point
of view can be derived in order for more effective environmental
policies to be produced that encompass all aspects of a potential
action and impede negative impacts. Risk-based assessments are
constituted under current policies, such as National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR)
Act by way of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), but
should be adapted to form and benefit all environmental policy. The
goal of this research is to identify the shortfalls of environmental
policy, the strains placed on policy formation and an alternative
method of policy development.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster VIII
Simple Flow Visualization Techniques For
Rotating Fluids
Natalie Alvut and Michael Ludwick, GES 499: Geophysical
Fluid Dynamics Lab
Faculty Mentor: Professor Jude Sabato, Earth Sciences and Science
Education
The complexities involved in geophysical fluid dynamics
typically make it difficult for introductory students to understand
the concepts behind fluid behavior. It is especially difficult to then