Prostate cancer has a significant heritable component. It is estimated that 10-15% of patients with advanced prostate cancer carry an inherited predisposing genetic mutation, and these patients generally present with a younger age of onset and a strong family history of cancer. The standard in the field of oncology is to conduct short-read DNA sequencing on such patients to find predisposing mutations. While short-read sequencing does well to identify simple mutations that cause disease in many families, our lab concluded that short-read sequencing misses critical mutations in many prostate cancer susceptibility genes. We hypothesized that prostate cancer in many families is due to complex inherited mutations such as genomic deletions, inversions, and mobile element insertions that are not detectable by conventional genomic technologies such as short-read sequencing. To test this hypothesis, our lab specifically recruited prostate cancer patients who, despite having family histories of cancer, did not have any mutations detected via conventional genetic sequencing methods. This project utilizes Nanopore long-read DNA sequencing, which reads DNA in longer fragments and can reliably detect complex mutations. My role is to conduct long-read sequencing on DNA samples from these patients, then analyze the DNA sequence for mutations. I have sequenced 32 patients so far and identified 4 complex mutations through long-read sequencing which were missed by other approaches. These complex mutations include insertions of repeat sequences and duplications which disrupt gene function in BRCA1 and BRCA2. This suggests that, consistent with our hypothesis, some patients who do not have mutations found via conventional sequencing methods do indeed carry causative mutations in well-established prostate cancer risk genes. By finding these mutations, patients can receive more targeted and effective cancer treatment, and undiagnosed family members stand a better chance of catching cancers at earlier stages.

Extreme operating temperatures in rocket engines severely degrades their lifespan, function and reusability. One mitigating approach to help cool rocket engines and extend their lifespans is called Regenerative Cooling, which has been a method actively used in liquid rocket engines (LREs) since 1923. The cooling system utilizes many narrow coolant channels to draw heat away from the liquid propellant near the rocket nozzle. However, experimental research on these channels is rarely done as they are very small and a single channel is difficult to manufacture for basic research testing thereby causing many researchers to look to non-experimentally tested CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations to perform their studies. Our experiment aims to fill the gap between simulation and practical testing by testing scaled up models with V-shaped ribs based on a study done by Zhang et al. These scaled up models would allow for more easily obtainable thermal distribution, stress, and pressure data while also being simpler and cheaper to manufacture. We believe our data could offer an alternative to non-tested CFD simulation data and, as access to experimental data increases, result in the expansion of this area of research.

Electromagnetic launchers currently use a combination of magnetic forces and complex electronic timing to propel objects. One example is the US Navy EMALS system, which uses a linear electromagnetic launcher to launch aircrafts from aircraft carriers. However, using complex electronic timing introduces more failure points within the system, increasing its complexity, making such systems susceptible to being disabled by external electromagnetic interference. Inspired by the design of Tom Stanton, this project explores a new approach that removes the digital-based electronic timing and replaces it with a mechanical timing system that can be used to propel drones or other payloads into the air quickly and efficiently. The goal of reducing the design’s complexity is to create a launcher that is a reliable method for drone and payload deployment. By removing electronic switching and using a mechanically driven circuit closure, this project develops a durable, efficient launch system. The prototype is built using 3D-printed components, powerful magnets, and a coil on a sled with contact arms that touch the conductive rail to complete the circuit. Rather than lining the rail with multiple coils, stationary magnets replace the coils with alternating currents to provide the acceleration when the coil becomes powered. The results allow us to have a competitive design that provides a practical alternative to the typical electromagnetic launchers. Expected results include improved durability, reliable performance due to the simplification of electronics, and reduced energy losses. Our research provides a new way to launch drones or other payloads to be integrated into systems where they would be less susceptible to external electromagnetic interference and jamming.

Fuel sloshing in aircraft fuel tanks plays a crucial role in affecting stability and control. This study examines the dynamics of sloshing in wing tanks, integrating theoretical models and practical calculations. The displacement of the fluid’s free surface is analyzed over time, and the resulting shift in the center of gravity (CG) is determined based on liquid distribution. Experimental data were obtained by recording video footage of turbulence simulations and measuring wave heights from the video frames. The measurements were analyzed using manual calculations and Google Spreadsheet functions. Additionally, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, LiquiGen, was employed to compare the experimental results. For tanks with baffles, the total liquid mass and CG shift were computed in sections, summing the contributions from all sections to determine the overall shift. The experiments showed notable differences: the total CG shift for a tank without baffles was measured at 1.1 m over 5 seconds, compared to 0.08 m for a baffled tank under identical conditions. Similarly, for CFD simulations, the CG shift was 1.2 m for the tank without baffles and 0.07 m for the baffled tank during the same period. Statistical analysis, including the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality, showed no significant departure from normality for both CFD (p = 0.617) and experimental data (p = 0.116). However, a two-tailed t-test revealed a highly statistically significant difference between the two datasets (p < 0.0001), suggesting that LiquiGen does not accurately replicate experimental results. These results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of baffles in reducing CG shifts and stabilizing liquid motion. Moreover, they underscore that LiquiGen is unreliable for precise fuel sloshing simulations, which are critical for aircraft stability assessments.

Western media has perpetuated society’s perspective of the nursing role through a sexual lens rather than a professional. Nurses face high levels of sexual harassment and violence, with some studies showing up to 80% of nurses experiencing some form of sexual harassment in the workplace at some point in their career. The relationship between the media’s sexualization of nurses has led to an increase in harassment and violence in the profession, as well as proliferating the stereotype of ‘sexy nurses.’ In this literature review, I examine both the media and cultural perception of the nurse and the data surrounding sexual harassment and violence of nurses in the workplace. We know that workplace harassment can lead to increased rates of burnout and staff turnover, if the image of nursing is changed then we can create a healthier work environment with higher levels of job satisfaction and safety.

In our biochemistry teaching labs, students conduct 10-week projects using recombinant protein expression and purification protocols, adapted from Fred Hutch, distributed and tracked via GENI-ACT.org, to identify immunoproteins of research or biomedical interest. We hypothesize they can produce antigen fragments for antibody studies and siderocalin proteins, which bind bacterial siderophores, yielding different amounts and results. In Winter 2023, students modeled antibody fragments with I-TASSER, expressed top constructs with His-tags, and purified them using Ni-NTA resin. In Winter and Fall 2024, siderocalins were expressed as GST-tagged constructs in BL21 and DH5alpha cells using longer expression. The human siderocalin in DH5alpha formed an orange solution, consistent with known siderocalin-enterobactin-Fe complexes. Unexpectedly, other species’ siderocalins appeared yellow, pink, or blue, suggesting functional diversity. Students produced enough immunoproteins for viability tests and are now expressing homologs of the blue siderocalin. They participated in all stages, developing spectroscopy and protein crystallization skills for research careers.

Regenerative braking is a well-tested and ubiquitous technology currently used in electric and hybrid vehicles. It recovers electrical energy while stopping or slowing a vehicle rather than simply wasting the energy as heat losses. However, another much-less studied source of untapped energy also exists in vehicle suspension systems, where shock absorbers also dissipate kinetic energy as heat. This study investigates the practicality of regenerative shock absorbers for transforming oscillatory motion (vehicle bouncing) into recoverable electrical energy. In our study, a motor-driven oscillation system simulates vehicle-like suspension movements in controlled experiments. We have created an experimental regenerative electric shock design that uses oscillatory linear actuation of a series of magnets passing through a series of coils to convert mechanical energy into recoverable electrical energy. We have examined the electrical current, voltage and power characteristics and are able to quantify energy-recapture efficiency over broad operating conditions ranging from single-frequency vibrational modes to more complicated and realistic pulse (sudden impact) conditions. Our findings advance knowledge of the feasibility of using regenerative suspension systems to charge auxiliary electronics or augment vehicle power and identify an alternate method of energy recapture for the automobile industry that maximizes vehicle efficiency without sacrificing ride enjoyment.