Meet the Connecticut Science Fair Trip Winners to the
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair,
Indianapolis, Indiana
1st Place - Pfizer Life Sciences
Tracking the Localization of AVP1 in Arabidopsis Thaliana Tissue
Pratistha Koirala, E. O. Smith High School, Storrs, CT
Abstract: The overall aim of the research is to increase the tolerance of plants towards abiotic stresses such as increased exposure to salts and drought. This is being done by genetically engineering the over expression of the gene AVP1, which plays a pivotal role in auxin transport. Specifically, it is hypothesized that plants exposed to abiotic stresses will show enhanced AVP1 expression compared to plants in ideal or normal conditions. In order to observe the localization of AVP1 in plant tissue and its expression pattern, the promoter for AVP1, pAVP1, was placed in front of the sequence for b-Glucuronidase (uidA), GUS reporter gene. A 1.5 kb fragment of AVP1 promoter was amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and cloned into vector pGEM-T. After it was digested with XbaI/BamHI, the AVP1 promoter fragment was transferred to the plant vector pBC308, in front of the GUS reporter gene. The final construct has been transformed into plants. The plants have been screened in order to select healthy transgenic plants.
Biography: Pratistha Koirala is a senior at Edwin O. Smith High School in Storrs, Connecticut. Even though she has been actively involved with science throughout her high school career, this is her first year participating in the Connecticut Science Fair. Outside of science, Pratistha is a reporter for her high school newspaper, The Oracle, and works for the yearbook. She is also engaged in the arts, she has been part of chorus since elementary school. As well as this, she enjoys painting and drawing. Despite her love for the arts, Pratistha’s career goal is to become a doctor. She has spent the past four years volunteering at Windham Hospital. She has also been a Relay for Life team captain for the past three years; this year she captained her school’s National Honor Society team. Next year, she plans to attend the University of Connecticut where she has been accepted into both the Honors Program and the Combined Program in Medicine.
2nd Place - Pfizer Life Sciences
A Novel Non-Invasive Method for the Early Detection
of Malignant Melanoma
Jason Clain, Greenwich High School, Greenwich, CT
Abstract: Malignant melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer related death (12). Millions of people are at risk for melanoma as a result of activities that involve high levels of sun exposure. Dermatologists biopsy suspicious lesions and send the tissue to a pathology lab for conformation analysis. This procedure is not without complications, the biopsy procedure can leave scars and the dermatopathologist can incorrectly interpret the pathology (a potentially fatal mistake). The purpose of this research was to develop a novel method for the non-invasive diagnosis of malignant melanoma using visible spectroscopy. Lesions on patients were analyzed using an OceanOptics HR-2000 spectrometer with an optical fiber reflectance probe and visible light source. A clear difference was observed in the reflectance spectra when suspicious darker lesions and normal skin were contrasted. The reflectance spectra of both malignant melanoma and atypical moles (dysplastic nevi) were compared. Thirty-nine spectra were analyzed and a characteristic signal at 550 nm was identified for melanoma. Eight-three percent of the non-malignant tissue did not show the reflectance at 550 nm. Reflectance visible spectroscopy appears to provide an early non-invasive indication of malignant melanoma. This simple, cost effective screening process could easily be applied by doctors with limited dermatology background and potentially save thousands of lives every year.
Biography: Jason Clain was born in New York City, New York on July 5, 1989. Currently he attends Greenwich High School in Greenwich CT, and is in his junior year. He course studies at Greenwich High include its extensive science research program. He participated in the Connecticut State Science Fair for the first time during his freshman year. After competing at the state level with his science research project, Jason was determined to continue his independent research goals. He continued to pursue research throughout his sophomore and junior years, ultimately making it to ISEF (one of his long standing goals). In his spare time, Jason enjoys racing with his ski team, as well as working as an emergency medical technician.
1st Place - Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration
Physical Sciences
Modeling Auditory Attention by Implementing IHC
Movement into Frequency Selectivity of the Inner Ear:
A Novel Approach to Stimuli Separation
Jonathan Sellon, Staples High School, Westport, CT
Abstract: There are two theories that describe auditory attention. One theory suggests that the primary auditory cortex controls attention entirely. The other postulates that attention can occur at the cochlear level. The present study demonstrates that cochlear-based auditory attention is possible and designed an algorithm to describe the process by separating stimuli into unique components utilizing properties of auditory attention. Varying frequency stimuli were introduced into a cochlear auditory nerve model. Spikes activated for different frequencies of sound were then examined to determine the best method of separation. Next, a mathematical description of the volumetric movement of the cochlea’s inner hair cells was created. The addition of IHC movement into the original developed model allowed for better stimuli separation.
There are several implications for the model. First, the model verifies that cochlear-based attention is possible. Second, these results suggest a new way to separate multiple auditory inputs for sound recognition software. One problem in auditory recognition algorithms today is that many fail to separate two stimuli introduced at the same instance. Incorporating the new cochlear model of auditory attention into a device (such as a cochlear implant or speech recognition device) would provide a new way for the device to process various input stimuli at the same instant.
Biography: Jonathan Sellon is a senior at Staples High School in Westport, CT who actively strives to demonstrate the link between physics, neuroscience and music. For the past two years Jon has conducted auditory research at both Yale and Rockefeller Universities with the hope of demonstrating the connections between various interests with funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Last year, Jon received the American Academy of Neurology’s 2005 Neuroscience Creativity Prize for his proposal. For his auditory modeling efforts this year, Jon has received Siemens-Westinghouse Competition National Semifinalist status and was a national Intel Science Talent Search Finalist. Additionally, Jon is the captain of his school’s engineering team which placed 2nd in this year’s National Engineering Design Challenge. As a violist and vocalist, Jon plays in the Staples High School Symphonic and Chamber orchestras and sings in the Staples A Capella Choir and Orphenians group. Jon also has published his previous instrumental research in the American String Teacher Journal. In his spare time, Jon is an active Medical Response Technician for the Westport EMS ambulance service. Next year in college, Jon hopes to continue his studies in neuroscience and physics and bridge the understanding between these two subjects.
2nd Place - Connecticut Center for Science & Exploration
Physical Sciences
Nanoengineering Aerogel for Insulin Insulation
Alex Capecelatro, Brewster High School, Brewster, NY
Abstract: The need for passive long-term insulin storage is crucial in guaranteeing the safety, well-being, and freedom of diabetics. Aerogels cross-linked with hexamethylene diisocyanate were investigated for the specific application of insulating insulin. Using a TMOS monomer, gels were formed through a hydrolysis polymerization reaction. A non-supercritical drying process was implemented using ambient drying techniques to cut costs, time, and size restrictions during the production of silica aerogels. Drying sol-gels at ambient pressures normally results in the formation of xerogels, which lose the porosity desired in aerogels. The cross-linking process, however, strengthens the aerogel significantly so as to allow drying at ambient pressures. The aerogels were characterized through BET and BJH analysis, as well as TEM and SEM imaging. Thermal characteristics of prototype devices were measured with computer controlled thermocouple readings. The silica aerogel showed traditional characteristics with a surface area of 765 m2/g, average pore size of 22nm, and 89.01% porosity. The aerogels dried through a supercritical extractions process were indistinguishable from the aerogels dried through an ambient drying technique. The aerogels showed good insulating characteristics and can be implemented into capsules designed for insulin storage among numerous other applications.
Biography: Alex Capecelatro is a senior at Brewster High School who will be presenting his work with sol-gel chemistry at the 2006 ISEF. As a diabetic, Alex has incorporated insulin with aerogel to produce a long-term passive storage device. Aerogel serves as a super-insulator and strengthening silica aerogels through a cross-linking process allows for a wide range of affordable applications including light-weight tiles for the space shuttle, electronic insulation, and of course, insulin storage. Alex is currently the president of Brewster’s Engineering Club, which he started up junior year. He is also president of the Photography Club, SciTech Club, and Video Production Club. He is recording secretary of the Science Honor Society and an active member of the National Honor Society as well as executive editor of the year book. Alex plans on majoring in Materials Chemistry at the University of California at Los Angeles next year.
Meet the Science Horizons Fair Winner to the
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair,
Indianapolis, Indiana
Comparing Salt Marshes On The Long Island Sound
Using Health Indices In Fundulus Heteroclitus
Andrew Taylor, Newtown High School, Newtown, CT
Abstract: Water quality is often measured by water chemistry indices. Unfortunately these measures do not depict the long-term effect of human impact on the environment. Using biological indicators is, therefore, more indicative of water quality. Fundulus heteroclitus, small minnow fish, were demonstrated to be exceptional indices of the environment, being the dominant fish species in the marshes, and high enough up the food chain to bioaccumulate nutrition and toxins. Two samples of F. heteroclitus were collected in October, 2005 from Long Island Sound on the coast of Connecticut: one from Great Meadows Marsh in industrial-developed Stratford, and the other from pristine Barn Island in Stonington to compare water quality. They were analyzed using a condition index, liver-somatic index, and liver glycogen assay. The differences in overall health were indicated by the variances between the two data samples collected, which in turn correlated back to which of the salt marshes was healthier. Statistical comparison of data from the fish tested showed that the mean for the fish at Barn Island was larger in mass, length, liver mass and glycogen content. A two-way Analysis of Variance showed that the data series for the condition index was significantly different (ALPHA<.05) between the two sites and between genders. The ANOVA also assessed that the liver somatic index and the liver glycogen assay data series were significantly different between the two sites, but not between genders. All three indices demonstrate that the fish at Barn Island were healthier and thus that marsh has better water quality.
Biography: Drew Taylor is a junior at Newtown High School, Connecticut. He has always been interested in the ocean, and the Long Island Sound being the nearest body of water was an ideal location for his project, which compared the environments of two salt marches on the Sound using health indices in small minnow fish. He was a finalist in seventh and eight grade at Danbury Science Horizons, which he won best overall poster this year to compete at the ISEF. Drew plays on the varsity soccer and golf team. He works at Rock Ridge Country Club as well as Mount Southington as a snowboard instructor. Drew is also Vice President of student council and a member of SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions. Drew is a Member of the Danbury Civil Air Patrol Cadet program and is working to become a Cadet Airman First class and receive his pilots license. He is presently looking to apply to the Air Force Academy, where he wants to become a pilot or work in the field of engineering.