UTC students share their research at Posters at the Capitol

Whether it be aiding stroke victims with wearable technology or tackling antibiotic-resistant germs, students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are involved in potentially life-changing research.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14, seven UTC students had the chance to present their research at the Tennessee State Capitol as part of Posters at the Capitol—an event that brought together students from eight universities across Tennessee.

UTC Office for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor (URaCE) Program Administrator Caitlyn Kelley accompanied the students to Nashville.

“It’s another tool for their professional development and growth,” Kelley said about the trip. “As a student and somebody that will probably either be attending graduate school or going straight into the workforce, it gives them more opportunity and networking.”

Juan Peña, a senior mechatronics engineering technology major from Columbia, Tennessee, presented his poster titled “Pneumatic Actuated Wearable Soft Robotics System for Mirror Hand Rehabilitation Mechatronics Engineering Technology.”

His research aims to help stroke patients regain hand function.

“After a stroke, regaining hand function can be challenging,” Peña explained. “We aimed to bring rehabilitation therapy straight into people’s homes by designing a unique system.”

The system uses two gloves: one to sense healthy hand movements and the other gently guides the affected hand to mimic the other—“like looking in a mirror,” he said.

Peña said presenting his research at the Capitol gave his work some added exposure.

“It was definitely exciting having the chance to present and possibly revolutionize our research on stroke rehab with a simple glove system, bringing hope straight to people’s homes,” he said.

A benefit of Posters at the Capitol was the ability for the UTC researchers to learn about the work being done by students from other institutions.

“There were a lot of bright minds I was able to talk to regarding their research,” Peña said.

Gillian Morton, a UTC sophomore pre-professional biology major and Brock Scholar from Nashville, also emphasized the value of being able to discuss her work with other students.

“It was a really great experience,” Morton said. “It was crazy to be there with a bunch of other students doing research and being able to share the culmination of all my work.”

Her poster, “Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Mediated Effects on Growth, Membrane Remodeling, and Biofilm Formation in Aeromonas Hydrophila,” examines the effects of fatty acids on the growth, biofilm formation and membrane permeability in the Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria.

The findings shed light on how the bacterium adapts and could help develop better treatments as it becomes resistant to antibiotics.

Another exciting component of the Capitol visit, Morton said, was getting the opportunity to hear Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speak.

“He came in to talk with us,” she said. “He told us how he’s a mechanical engineer and how he really values students in STEM.”

UTC videographer Mike Andrews interviewed Lee at the event.

“I think what we have here are young people that have committed their lives to STEM education,” Lee told Andrews. “But most importantly, they’re the next generation of workers in this state that will fuel and lead the companies, the opportunities that will create opportunity for more Tennesseans.

“These are the future leaders of our state—and engaging with them and reminding them of why it’s important to engage here at the Capitol, it’s important for me.”

Posters at the Capitol research presenters Amanda Lesswing, left, Meredith Grant, Juan Peña, Ward Metcalfe, Nathanael Moore, Gillian Morton, Christina Harris and URaCE Program Administrator Caitlin Kelley. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Kelley.

UTC Posters at the Capitol participants

Meredith Grant

Pre-professional biology, sophomore, Clinton, Tennessee, faculty mentor: Dr. David Giles

The Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Antimicrobial Peptide Resistance in Vibrio Cholerae

One of the top global threats to public health is antimicrobial resistance. There is an urgent need for development of novel therapeutic regimens that can bypass existing microbial mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Previous research has established that exogenous polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are assimilated into the membrane phospholipids of gram-negative bacteria, thereby altering membrane permeability and susceptibility to antimicrobials. Introducing membrane vulnerability may create opportunity for antimicrobials to diffuse through the outer and inner membrane of gram-negative bacteria. In this study, combinatorial treatment of V. cholerae and with PUFAs (linoleic acid [18:2], arachidonic acid [20:4], docosahexaenoic acid [22:6]) and antimicrobial peptides (polymyxin B, colistin, melittin, cecropin A, indolicidin, and LL-37) was evaluated using broth dilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Significant changes in MIC were observed, particularly with polymyxin B and colistin wherein all three PUFAs lowered the MIC at least 8-fold. Increases in MIC were observed for LL-37, cecropin A, and melittin. Collectively, this data highlights not only PUFA-mediated resistance mechanisms, but also the potentiating effects of PUFAs to target gram-negative infections.

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Christina Harris

General biology, Innovations in Honors, senior, Harrison, Tennessee, faculty mentor: Dr. David Giles

Antimicrobial Activity and Permeabilizing Effects of piscidins on Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Piscidins are fish antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are an important part of the innate immune system due to their potent antimicrobial properties. Piscidin 1 (P1) exhibits strong membrane disruptive properties, while piscidin 3 (P3) targets DNA. These piscidins can experience metalation with copper (Cu2+) which enhances their antimicrobial activity in vitro. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a gram-negative bacillus, is one of the leading foodborne pathogens in humans, causing acute gastrointestinal and immunological disorders. To examine polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) impacts on piscidin activity, we performed permeability and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays with linoleic (18:2), arachidonic (20:4) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acids. PUFAs raised the MIC for P1 and P1-Cu2+ while the opposite effect was observed with P3 and P3-Cu2+. Our data highlights antimicrobial susceptibility differences dependent upon piscidin isoform. Each PUFA caused a distinct change in membrane permeability, while the effects of each piscidin was variable. The data herein sheds light on bacterial membrane dynamics resulting from piscidin activity and/or PUFA-mediated effects.

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Amanda Lesswing

Psychology, senior, Fairview, Tennessee, faculty mentor: Dr. Kristen Black

Examining Attorneys’ Attitudes Toward Mental Health Treatment

Previous research has established that attorneys struggle with mental health problems and problematic drinking, but little is known about what may affect their attitudes toward receiving treatment from a mental health professional. Also, the majority of current research focuses on law students, with less data from practicing attorneys and other legal professionals. The American Bar Association has recognized that the mental health condition rates among law students and attorneys are concerning and has reported recommendations to address this concern. However, in order to fully understand and address this concern, more research needs to be done to understand what impacts attorneys’ attitudes toward receiving treatment. The purpose of our study is to examine the relationship between an attorney’s stress mindset, work climate, perceived barriers/facilitators to treatment and attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment. Attorneys may be waiting for the problem to be severe before seeking treatment and could benefit from earlier intervention. Additionally, attorneys may view stress as a necessary and normal part of their job opting for self-reliance in addressing stress concerns rather than seeking help. Our study can provide more specific insight into these possibilities and can be foundational in providing better recommendations for encouraging help-seeking when needed.

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Ward Metcalfe

Mechanical engineering, senior, Brentwood, Tennessee, faculty mentor: Dr. Mohammad Mahtabi

Determination of the Representative Gage-Section Volume for Reliable Fatigue Testing of 3D-Printed Metallic Parts

A considerable part of attempts to analyze the fatigue behavior of materials and additive manufactured metals has been made using force-controlled (i.e. stress-controlled) cyclic experiments on standard hourglass specimens. However, one major concern with such specimens is the fact that only one plane of the specimens (i.e., at the root of the curved gage section) is under the controlled stress amplitude of σa. We believe that this can affect the results of the fatigue life as such a limited volume of the material may not be a suitable representative of the bulk of the material, in which various imperfections may exist. This is of even greater concern when considering additive manufactured metals due to the greatly unknown consistency of the process. Therefore, we propose to experimentally determine the effect of the volume (length) of the gage section of the fatigue specimens for durability qualification of the additive manufactured parts. This will be done using cylindrical bars with a diameter of D0 = 10 mm and 120 mm long, additively manufactured using laser-based powder-bed fusion (LPBF). The gauge sections will vary from 2 mm to 10 mm, testing which length is needed for the most accurate analysis.

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Nathanael Moore

Mechanical engineering, senior, San Jose, California, faculty mentor: Dr. Mohammad Mahtabi

Effect of Grain Structure on Mechanical Behavior of Steel

Fatigue failure in structural materials and on a smaller scale, grain structures, greatly influences material durability. Fatigue failure, occurring at loads well below a material’s strength, is one of the most common causes of structural breakage, accounting for a substantial portion of failures. Factors influencing fatigue resistance include loading conditions and material characteristics, such as strength and microstructure. While extensive research has explored the impact of various factors on fatigue resistance, the grain structure of materials has received limited attention. The typical microstructure of engineering materials consists of clear-cut grain boundaries. However, this study proposes manipulating the grain structure to create intertwined grain boundaries, potentially retarding fatigue crack initiation and growth. This novel approach aims to enhance the durability of metallic materials under cyclic loading. Thus, the main objective of this study is to determine the effects of an intertwined grain structure on the durability of metallic materials. This research could pave the way for the development of stronger, longer-lasting materials capable of withstanding higher stresses over extended periods. Addressing this aspect of grain structure may offer valuable insights for engineers and materials scientists seeking to improve fatigue resistance in structural materials.

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Gillian Morton

Pre-professional biology, Brock Scholar, sophomore, Nashville, faculty mentor: Dr. David Giles

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Mediated Effects on Growth, Membrane Remodeling, and Biofilm Formation in Aeromonas Hydrophila

Aeromonas hydrophila is a gram-negative bacterium commonly found in warmer, freshwater climates, typically affecting humans and fish. In humans, the pathology of A. hydrophila presents itself through skin and tissue infections, gastritis, and septicemia. This bacterium enters the body through contact with contaminated water. Additionally, due to A. hydrophila’s pervasiveness in fish, it may also be passed to humans through ingestion of contaminated organisms. Many treatments for this bacterium are currently ineffective due to its antibiotic resistance. It is becoming increasingly evident that gram-negative bacteria can utilize polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for membrane remodeling and phenotypes associated with virulence. This study explores the effects of PUFAs on A. hydrophila’s growth, membrane lipid assimilation, permeability, and biofilm formation. Variable growth effects were observed over 12-hour growth curves for A. hydrophila in the presence of seven physiologically relevant PUFAs. Thin layer chromatography indicated assimilation of PUFAS into the major phospholipids of A. hydrophila. Uptake of the hydrophobic dye crystal violet was significantly increased when arachidonic acid (20:4) was supplemented, raising membrane permeability by 25%. Assessment of biofilm formation revealed differences depending on exposure to each PUFA. Collectively, the data highlights A. hydrophila’s ability to utilize exogenous PUFAs for physiological and behavioral purposes.

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Juan Peña

Mechatronics engineering technology, senior, Columbia, Tennessee, faculty mentor: Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu

Pneumatic Actuated Wearable Soft Robotics System for Mirror Hand Rehabilitation

The hand is among the most important elements of the human body and due to the specialty of finger bone characteristics, it is easy for patients who have suffered from a stroke to lose motor function. Hand rehabilitation is one of the most difficult and time-consuming treatments compared to the other body parts treatments, this resulted from it having many nerves, blood vessels and many small muscles. Our hand rehabilitation system represents a significant advancement in the field of rehabilitation therapy. By seamlessly integrating mirror therapy and task-oriented therapy, we have developed a comprehensive solution that addresses both sensory and motor aspects of hand rehabilitation. The design and fabrication of the sensory glove and motor glove mark a departure from traditional rigid devices, offering a softer and more flexible approach that prioritizes comfort and safety. The incorporation of resistive touch sensors in the sensory glove enables precise motion detection, while the motor glove’s pneumatics-actuated flex cylinders provide invaluable assistance to the affected hand during training tasks. Our system’s holistic approach, user-centric design, and advanced technology hold great promise for enhancing the effectiveness and overall experience of hand rehabilitation, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and quality of life.