Life Sciences Commons^™

Biology Internship In Austria, Maria Gabriela Herrera, Valentina Ramirez

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The summer biology internship in Austria is an excellent opportunity for students who desire to pursue the field of medicine. As part of the program, students will be assigned to the organ transplant team where they will have the opportunity to not only observe such surgeries, but also actually participate and assist during the procedure. Other possible specialties during this program include plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and urology depending on availability. The selected students will travel to Graz, Austria and meet with the organ transplant team and learn how to prepare for and assist in surgery. The …

The Scripps Research Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Ezana Assefa

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

This program is a 10-week internship designed for undergraduates interested in the scientific field to engage in current research. Students have the option of requesting to work under three mentors, one of which they will be paired. Students will work in the lab with the principal investigator and other members of the lab. Along with working in the lab, students in the program will also attend bi-weekly talks/lectures from researchers, grad students, and professionals at TSRI as well as participating in two presentations and a final poster or oral presentation.

The Spatial Distribution And Density Of The Emerald Ash Borer Infestation In Rock Island And Moline, Il, Kendall Smith, Victoria Lason, Tierney Brosius, Michael Reisner

Celebration of Learning

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Copleoptera: Buprestidae) is a destructive colonizer of ash trees that arrived in the United States in 2002. Since then, EAB has been detected in 22 states and two Canadian provinces, and has proven to be a complicated management issue for many cities including Rock Island. The purpose of this study was to determine the spatial distribution and density of the EAB infestation in Rock Island, Ill and to identify potential correlations between host larval densities and visual symptoms. A continuation of spatial distribution was determined through a tree survey examining specific species …

Malosma Laurina Dieback Associated With Fungal Induced Loss In Hydraulic Conductivity And Photosynthesis, Gabriella N. Palmeri, Shaquetta R. Reese, Helen I. Holmlund, Frank W. Ewers, Stephen D. Davis

Biology

Widespread Malosma laurina (Laurel Sumac) dieback is occurring throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. M. laurina is a keystone species within the SMM and its deep roots provide necessary slope stability to the hillsides; therefore, M. laurina’s health is of ecological importance. This study examines whether M. laurina dieback is associated with decreased stem water transport due to the prevalence of a pathogenic fungus within the water transport tissue. Stem samples from dieback and healthy control M. laurina were cultured for fungal growth. 100% of samples from water transport tissue from dieback adult plants contained a fungal pathogen from the …

Using Koch’S Postulate To Identify The Causative Agent Of Dieback In Malosma Laurina During Historic Drought In California, Adriana J. Borges, Emily R. Pierce, Mariah K. Taylor, Frida J. Morales

Featured Research

Coastal Southern California has a Mediterranean-type climate, meaning that it experiences warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Recently, California has been experiencing an unprecedented drought, possibly as a result of climate change. Malosma laurina is a typically hearty chaparral plant is known for being resistant to drought due to its deep rooting depth, but even it is being negatively affected by drought and is experiencing dieback. Some of this dieback is caused by a Botryospharae fungal infection, which blocks xylem conduits and stops water flow through the plant. With a looming El Niño, this study seeks to understand the …

Lungs Of The Planet Presentation, Virginia Raguin

Documentation

This slide presentation traces the creative process of Lungs of the Planet, a tile mural depicting line drawings on individual 6 x 6 inch tiles, as well as larger color images of blossoms, fruit, and birds to symbolize the cycle of life.

The mural was created as a collaborative art project by students in the Natural World Cluster of the Monserrat First Year Program at the College of the Holy Cross. The project was led by Virginia Raguin, Distinguished Professor of Humanities at the College. Particpants included students, faculty, staff and community members.

The mural was installed on the west …

Using Koch’S Postulate To Identify The Causative Agent Of Dieback In Malosma Laurina During Historic Drought In California, Adriana J. Borges, Emily R. Pierce, Mariah K. Taylor, Frida J. Morales

Featured Research

Coastal Southern California has a Mediterranean-type climate, meaning that it experiences warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Recently, California has been experiencing an unprecedented drought, possibly as a result of climate change. Malosma laurina is a typically hearty chaparral plant is known for being resistant to drought due to its deep rooting depth, but even it is being negatively affected by drought and is experiencing dieback. Some of this dieback is caused by a Botryospharae fungal infection, which blocks xylem conduits and stops water flow through the plant. With a looming El Niño, this study seeks to understand the …

The Effect Of Water Deficit On Photosynthetic Properties Of Salvia Leucophylla, Brianna Scott, Theadora Ordog, Alexis Lordi

Featured Research

California has been in a severe drought in recent years due to anthropogenic warming, and it has had a major effect on chemical and physical properties of native plants. Salvia leucophylla, a common plant in Southern California, has evolved an adaptation to water stress through losing its leaves, known as a drought deciduous plant. Considering the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere, it is absolutely essential for leaves to retain their ability to photosynthesize to maintain the health of the environment through CO2 sequestration. The objective of this experiment was to see how drought levels affect the physical and …

The Effect Of Temperature On Root Nodulation And Growth In Glycine Max, Brooke O’Neill, Katherine Kawachi

Featured Research

This investigation explores the effects of temperature on root nodulation and other plant growth factors in soy bean plants. Vegetative development such as node appearance rate increases as temperatures rise to the species’ optimum level, in which the maximum temperature for growth in C₃ plants is 25 °C. (Hatfield, 2015). We hypothesized that soy bean plants would produce more nodules in 25°C than 35°C, rationalizing the Q₁₀ theory which states that a 10 degree temperature change produces measureable effects in biological and chemical metabolic systems. This idea becomes worthy of experiment when looking at how increasing temperature affects …

Comparison Of Nighttime Stomatal Conductance In Malosma Laurnia And Encelia Californica, Stephanie R. Kaplan, Jessica T. Gash, Hannah H. Ziegler

Featured Research

The experiment aimed to look at the comparison between the nighttime stomatal conductance of Malosma laurina and Encelia californica. Through the use of leaf porometry and subsequent data analysis, it was determined that there was no statistical differnce between either species, due to the fact that the Malosma laurina was a resprouted species, that needed significantly less water than a fully mature M. laurina plant would have needed.

The Effect Of The Tapia Water Treatment Plant On The Growth Of Lemna Minor, Morgan Clark, Imani Goodman, William Ota, Alora Yarbrough

Featured Research

Human beings are changing not just global temperature but even the makeup of the water in our planet's rivers and streams. The Tapia Water Treatment Facility is located in the upper section of Malibu creek and treats around 9.5 million gallons per day of water which is then released into the Malibu watershed. This water is treated using chemicals not typically found in local streams and these chemicals may be harming the organisms that live downstream of the water treatment plant. Downstream from the Tapia water treatment plant we were able to find increased levels of both nitrates and phosphates …

Allelopathic Compounds In Adenostoma Fasciculatum Leaves May Inhibit Seed Germination Of Ceanothus Megacarpus, Olivia L. Le Sage, Shamiran C. Prater, Christian M. Botello

Featured Research

We investigated the effects the allelopathogen thought to be found in Adenostoma fasciculatum leaves on seed germination in Ceanothus megacarpus seeds. We hypothesized that seeds treated with an extract containing the allelopathogen would not germinate, compared to seeds not treated with the allelopathogen. We hypothesized this because Adenostoma fasciculatum is known to produce an allelopathogen which inhibits growth in nearby plants in a natural environment. We prepared a 70% ethanol extract with Adenostoma fasciculatum leaves and treated 30 scarified Ceanothus megacarpus seeds with it; 30 additional Ceanothus megacarpus seeds were only given 70% ethanol. We placed these seeds in a …

Root Hydraulic Conductance In Laurel Sumac Experiencing Severe Dieback In The Santa Monica Mountains, Natalie M. Aguirre, Avery N. Davis, Sarah B. Nelson, Stephen D. Davis

Featured Research

Malosma laurina (laurel sumac) is a dominant species in coastal chaparral ecosystems, extending its roots down to an average of 40 feet in rocky, sandy soils. The deep root systems of M. laurina provide structural support for the steep Santa Monica Mountains. The roots also allow M. laurina to draw from the deep water table, increasing its drought tolerance. M. laurina dieback is prevalent in coastal exposures of the Santa Monica Mountains presumably due to historic drought predisposing plant tissues to infection by the fungal pathogen Botryosphaeria dothidea. In ecosystems that experience annual dry periods, a high hydraulic conductance …

Effects Of Drought On Antimicrobial Properties Of A Chaparral Indicator Species — Adenostoma Fasciculatum, Andrew Shute, Jennifer Duff, Salina Pearce-Harris

Featured Research

The dominant plant type of Pepperdine’s Malibu campus is chaparral, of which an important indicator species is Adenostoma fasciculatum. It is known that A. fasciculatum produces compounds that are deadly to many bacteria. However, California is currently experiencing unprecedented drought, which is pushing plants well beyond their normal stress levels. In this study, we investigated the effect of drought stress on the ability of A. fasciculatum to inhibit growth of bacteria. We hypothesized that extract from drought-stressed plants would be better able to kill bacteria than hydrated ones, because the plant would be induced to produce more antimicrobial compounds …

Extensive Dieback In Malosma Laurina In Coastal Exposures Of The Santa Monica Mountains Associated With Unprecedented Drought In California, Gina S. Gilderman, Kaitlyn E. Sauer, Gabriella N. Palmeri

Featured Research

Throughout coastal exposures of the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) there is a recent emergence of widespread dieback in Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina). M. laurina is a keystone species of chaparral that dominates the SMM. A significant trait of M. laurina is an extensive root system exceeding 12 m in depth. We hypothesized that M. laurina was weakened by unprecedented drought in California (2013-2015) and predisposed to fungal pathogens. An initial study conducted in the summer of 2015 revealed all stem samples taken from dieback adult M. laurina plants were infected with Botryosphaeria dothidea, while zero stem samples taken …

The Effects Of Human Involvement: A Study Of Transplanted Nassella Pulchra In A Competitive Environment, Miranda Prints, Summer Ngo, Taylor Purdy

Featured Research

When construction began on the Drescher Graduate Campus, the need to preserve a rare native California grass saw the creation of a transplant garden. A perennial bunchgrass, Nassella pulchra (purple needlegrass), was replanted. Based on a hypothesis that Avena fatua (wild oats), a competitor, would have a greater health than the native grass Nassella pulchra, we measured stomatal conductance, fluorescence, evident fitness, and water potential. In our second hypothesis, we proposed that the naturally occurring Nassella pulchra would have a higher stomatal conductance, a higher fluorescence, a higher water potential, and overall higher fitness than the transplanted …

Extensive Dieback In Malosma Laurina In Coastal Exposures Of The Santa Monica Mountains Associated With Unprecedented Drought In California, Gina S. Gilderman, Kaitlyn E. Sauer, Gabriella N. Palmeri

Featured Research

Throughout coastal exposures of the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) there is a recent emergence of widespread dieback in Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina). M. laurina is a keystone species of chaparral that dominates the SMM. A significant trait of M. laurina is an extensive root system exceeding 12 m in depth. We hypothesized that M. laurina was weakened by unprecedented drought in California (2013-2015) and predisposed to fungal pathogens. An initial study conducted in the summer of 2015 revealed all stem samples taken from dieback adult M. laurina plants were infected with Botryosphaeria dothidea, while zero stem samples taken …

Botryosphaeria Dothidea Impacts Relative Water Abundance In Malosma Laurina, Andrew Lozano, Michael Gribble, Jared Delapaz

Featured Research

Over the past decade, the California drought has been affecting native chaparral in the Santa Monica Mountains. Some parasitic fungi species such as Botryosphaeria dothidea have taken advantage of the drought by invading open wounds, or cankers, in a plant. When extreme environmental stress such as drought occurs, the immune system of the plant is compromised; the fungus can then multiply within the plant, blocking the vascular tissue. In this study, we aim to determine if there is a relationship between the presence of B. dothidea and an increase in the flammability of the native chaparral species Malosma laurina. …

Nodes Alter Stem Mechanical Strength In Heteromeles Arbutifolia, Gabriella E. Chan, Caleigh A. Howard, Callie E. Shelley

Featured Research

Our thesis was that the presence of nodes in stems of Heteromeles arbutifolia plants would increase the mechanical strength of the xylem and the bark, allowing the stems to be better protected against harsh weather conditions during the severe California drought. We conducted research on two sample groups, one with nodes and one without nodes. An Instron machine tested the mechanical strength by bending the stems until the xylem broke. Values for MOR (modulus of rupture) and MOE (modulus of elasticity) were measured to determine the overall strength of both groups. We found that the xylem of the stems was …

Root Hydraulic Conductance In Malosma Laurina Experiencing Severe Dieback In The Santa Monica Mountains, Natalie M. Aguirre 5861995, Avery Davis, Sarah Nelson

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Malosma laurina is a dominant species in coastal chaparral ecosystems The deep root systems of M. laurina provide structural support for the steep Santa Monica Mountains and allow M. laurina to tap into the deep water table. M. laurina dieback is prevalent in coastal exposures of the SMM, presumably due to historic drought predisposing plant tissues to infection by the fungal pathogen Botryosphaeria dothidea. In ecosystems that experience annual dry periods, a high hydraulic conductance in roots is necessary to provide plants with sufficient water. A recent study has examined the effect of Botryosphaeria on the hydraulic conductance of M. …

A Putative Dual Role For Yorkie In Hippo Pathway Signaling, Caroline Hall

Celebration of Scholarship 2012-2017

The Hippo Pathway inactivates genes involved in organ size and when aberrant, can lead to cancer. To control organ size, the Hippo Pathway inhibits Yorkie (Yki), a transcriptional co-activator that works with Scalloped (Sd), a DNA binding protein. When active, Yki translocates into the nucleus and initiates transcription. Conversely, when inactive, Yki remains in the cytoplasm. However, my work shows that cytoplasmic, inactive Yki interacts with other proteins in the Hippo Pathway by recruiting them to the plasma membrane. Accordingly, this study challenges the notion that cytoplasmic Yki is inactive and instead, may play a dual role in the Hippo …

Clinical Guidelines In Practice: How Well Are Primary Care Providers Following National Chronic Kidney Disease Recommendations?, Kaitlyn Edbauer

Celebration of Scholarship 2012-2017

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), prevalent in more than 10% of the United States population, is a progressive, degenerative disease affecting the renal function of afflicted individuals. CKD has gained awareness among clinicians due to growing concern about the many complications that arise in patients with CKD. The KDIGO (Kidney Disease; Improving Global Outcomes) 2012 clinical guidelines for the treatment of CKD created uniform measures aimed to improve quality care and effective treatment of the CKD population. This study investigates the extent to which these measures are being implemented and adhered to among providers at the practice level.

The Chondrocranium Of Lepidochelys Olivacea And The Taenia Marginalis, Vinh Trinh

Celebration of Scholarship 2012-2017

This study describes the anatomy of the chondrocranium of Lepidochelys olivacea (Cryptodira, Cheloniidae) through embryonic development, and aims to understand the taenia marginalis. Cleared and double-stained embryos were dissected and observed. The taenia marginalis is present as a thin, ribbon-like process that extends posteriorly from the dorsal margin of the planum supraseptale, and was found to be present as a transient anatomical bridge between the planum supraseptale and the otic capsule in a late Stage 24 specimen. Though present and well-formed for a short period of time, the taenia martinalis is quickly resorbed and is absent in all later specimens …

Seed Germination Requirements Of Four Fire-Recruiter Chaparral Shrubs, Kati Mcclain

Celebration of Scholarship 2012-2017

No abstract provided.

Lactate Dehydrogenase Is Crucial For Tumor Associated Macrophage Protection Of Multiple Myeloma Cells Against Chemotherapy, Carolyn Stierhoff

Celebration of Scholarship 2012-2017

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer characterized by an accumulation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Although chemotherapy is the most effective treatment, the majority of patients experience relapse. The major cause of treatment failure is the development of multidrug resistance. Thus, overcoming drug resistance will greatly improve patient survival. The enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) plays an important role in anaerobic respiration by converting pyruvate into lactate in the absence or low supply of oxygen. It has been observed that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) present in tumor environments can protect MM from chemotherapy treatment. We discovered that an LDH …

Tile History: A Brief Presentation, Virginia Raguin

Documentation

Slide presentation used to introduce the art and history of ceramic tiling to participants who worked on Lungs of the Planet, a tile mural created as a collaborative art project by students in the Natural World Cluster of the Monserrat First Year Program at the College of the Holy Cross. The project was led by Virginia Raguin, Distinguished Professor of Humanities at the College. Particpants included students, faculty, staff and community members.

The presentation includes photographic examples of ceramic tiling in architecture located in Jerusalem and Istanbul.