Annually the top two senior-level projects that meet the stringent requirements for entering the International Science and Engineering Fair win the Grand Award. Grand Award winners received an all-expense paid trip to the 2011 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, California May 9-13, 2011.

Sponsored by:

Winner: Tyler Howard

Title of Project: Hydrolize: Kinetics of the Hydrogen-Production of the Magnesium-Water Reaction in Aqueous Solution

Abstract: As an alternative energy, the magnesium water (Mg-H2O) reaction generates H2 gas and show promise as an energy carrier. An understanding of this reaction was developed through a three phase experiment: Mg passivation layer dissolution, Mg-H2o reaction kinetics, and Mg-H20 reaction type of gas analysis. The first phase investigated percent dissolved of MgO and Mg(OH)2 after 30 minutes in environmentally benign 1.00 M NaH2P04, NH4H2PO4, NH4Cl, citric acid, and L-ascorbic acid solutions. The second phase measured the H2 volume, temperature, and pH of the Mg-H2O reaction gas samples with FTIR to ascertain the types of gasses being produced. For the first phase, citric acid and L-ascorbic acid solutions were capable of nearly completely dissolving MgO and Mg(OH)2, while NaH2PO4 and NH4H2PO4 increased the solids' masses. Appropriately, the second phase reaction rate data shows, to a 99% statistical confidence, the citric acid produced the most moles of H2, followed cleasely by L-ascorbic acid and NH4Cl due to their acidity. These two salts were fit with exponential mathematical models to allow for interpolations and extrapolations of the data. The third phase FTIR results suggested teh NH4Cl produced approximately 2.7% volume of NH3 gas alongside H2 gas. Becase the first and thrid phase data support the mathematical models of the second phase, it is possible to fully optimize the H2 production of the Mg-H2O reaction to create a sustainable energy carrier.

Teacher: Matt Peterie
School: Olathe Northwest High School
District: Olathe

Winner: Prarthana Dalal

Title of Project: Modeling of human non-deletional hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin ((HPFH) conditions in B-globin locus transgenic mouse models: The -175 (T to C) and -195 (C to G) A-gamma gene point mutations

Abstract: Hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease (SCD) are common genetic diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. hemoglobinopthies affect hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells. These abnormal hemoglobin molecules distort red blood cells into sickle cell causing vascular complications leading to high morbidity and mortality. Symptoms can be treated by reactivating human fetal hemoglobin which contains gamma-globin subunits. A natural condition called hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) results in elevated fetal hemoglobin production even in the adult stage of life. In non-deletional HPFH, genetic mutations in the gamma-globin gene case increased gamma-globin synthesis. The -175 (T to C) and -195 (C to G) mutations were hypothesized to create HPFH conditions. In this study novel mouse models were created using human beta-yeast artificial chromosome transgenesis to analyze the effect of these mutations on human gamma-globin gene expression. Results show that both mutations significantly increase gamma-globin gene expression and this indentification opens new avenues for treatments of hemoglobinopathies.

Teacher: Cole Ogdon
School: Shawnee Mission East High School
District: Shawnee Mission School District