10th Annual University Research Conference Mobile | Page 10

Emma Sumple ( V , P , In ) The Effects of Invasive Plant Removal Restoration on Soil Bacteria Communities Plant biodiversity is an important factor in ecosystem conservation . Soil microbial communities affect plant diversity . The relationship between plants and soil bacteria can be analyzed through ecological restoration . The purpose of this research is to study how the removal of plants can impact soil microbial communities , by analyzing pre- and post-plant removal soil microbial communities during ecological restoration . It was hypothesized that there would be slight differences in bacteria community structure during early restoration . There was some level of change between soil bacterial communities pre- and post-plant removal , but many of the same species remain .
Timothy Susavage ( V , P , In ) The Effects of Temperature on the Enzymatic Activity of Ketoreductases in Plants A group of dioxygenase enzymes , indoleamine 2,3- dioxygenase ( IDO-1 ), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase ( IDO2 ), and tryptophan dioxygenase ( TDO ), have been linked to immunosuppressive properties that prevent cancer cells from being targeted . Utilizing small molecule inhibitors that target IDO-1 , IDO-2 , and TDO could be used in cancer treatment . Difficulties in obtaining pure hydroxylamines have warranted an investigation into using plant-derived catalysts to synthesize hydroxylamines such as ketoreductases . There were two findings : increasing the temperature of the reaction increases the ability of ketoreductases to carry out the reduction of ketones to alcohols and radish leaves appear to provide the best source of ketoreductase enzyme .
Computer Information Science
Carleigh Beres ( V , P ) AI-Powered Virtual Reality This research project will examine the integration of artificial intelligence ( AI ) and virtual reality ( VR ). AI-powered simulations in VR can provide realistic training environments , can be used for storytelling , and can even create realistic avatars and characters in video games . After looking at where AI-powered VR is today , how these technologies might be used in the future will be explored . AI-powered VR has the potential to change education , healthcare , and how humans interact with the world around them . Extended reality ( XR ), augmented reality ( AR ), and mixed reality ( MR ) will also be discussed .
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