1. Seminars Spring 2013
Hidden Properties of Carbon Dots Revealed After HPLC Fractionation
On February 28th
, 2013, we were presented a seminar on Carbon Nanoparticles
research. The speaker explained his research project in a very simple way. Carbon dots are
particles with a high degree of homogeneity. When synthesized, these C-dots reveal
luminescence properties. They possess specific emission wavelengths, and differences in
emission quantum yield. Therefore C-dots are isolated and then used as cellular imaging
probes. It has been found that these particles are responsible for the broad emission profile
typically observed for a given synthesis.
Legionella pneumophila
A former University of Puerto Rico at Cayey student, Dennise A de Jesus Diaz, presented
her seminar on Legionella pneumophila Research march 19th
, 2013. Before explaining her work
she gave a brief summary of how she accomplished her goal successfully. She participated in
the RISE Program, conducted summer research and then got into the PREP program. She did
what is called a Post-Baccalaureate. Here she took Grad school courses, got a GRE preparation,
and also did research. She explained that this experience was the best decision she ever made
because it helped her in the transition from Cayey to Grad-school. Dennise works with
microbes in the lab. She did a project on Legionella pneumophila. This bacterium lives in
amoeba and in the human lungs. Her daily work was staining cells to see the excited cells with
laser. She detected the phase of the cell during meiosis and found that bacteria hold the cell at
the G1 phase.

2. Schizophrenia Research
April 4th
, 2013, José Peña gave a seminar presenting his research on a disease called
Schizophrenia. People with Schizophrenia experience delusions, hallucinations, lack of
motivation, alterations in the memory and executive functioning. This affects 1% of the
population. Schizophrenia is caused by various disorders on the brain, and developmental
disruption. He explained his work in the lab with mice. He decapitates them and uses the brain
to see what goes on in the brain of a schizophrenic mouse. This is where disbinding and
schizophrenia gene alteration is done with cannabis abuse. He also works on treatment,
controlling the patient and its effects.