Life Sciences Commons^™

Attitudes Of South-Central Kentucky Residents Towards Coyotes And Their Management, Andrew T. Mcqueen, Stephen Sumithran Phd

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The existence of the coyote in the eastern U.S. is a recent development and the public’s perception of coyotes has been widely studied in urban areas. However, perceptions in rural areas, especially rural Appalachia, have been largely unstudied. It is necessary for wildlife managers to understand the public’s perceptions of coyotes and coyote management when creating management plans. We conducted a public survey in South-central Kentucky to determine perceptions toward coyotes and coyote management methods. The survey contained questions about demographics (age, gender, county of residence, landownership, etc.), perceptions (fears, opinions), knowledge (true/false questions), and preferred management practices (hunting, trapping, …

The Use Of Aloe-Based Silver Nanoparticles As A Possible Treatment For Contaminated Water, Lozetta Davis

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Water contamination is a world-wide issue that causes the death of millions yearly. This comes from regularly tainted water with water borne pathogens, which is typically seen in undeveloped areas. As antibiotics are used more, more resistance is being seen, and thus newer methods of microbial contamination need to be developed. Silver nanoparticles have shown success in microbial contamination on petri dishes, but not in a water system. It was hypothesized that if silver nanoparticles were added to bacteria contaminated water they would be able to reduce the amount of bacteria present. Silver nanoparticles that are synthesized from plants such …

Locomotor Biomechanics In Stream Gobies, Rhinogobius Sp.: Functional Performance Of Waterfall-Climbing Behavior, Ernest W. Murphy

Student Scholar Showcase

Gobiidae is the taxonomic classification of a large fish family comprising over 2,000 species. A few goby species have the unique ability of scaling waterfalls using pelvic fins that are fused into a suction disc (pelvic sucker) located on the ventral side of the body, aiding them in upstream migration to freshwater feeding and reproduction locations. This study aimed to investigate the locomotor biomechanics of Rhinogobius goby fish due to the lack of literature in the area. In particular, climbing performance variables (pressure differential, force, endurance, and kinematics of attachment), pelvic sucker fatigability, and ontogenetic patterns of physical development and …

Body Dimension And Length-Weigh Relationships Of Invasive Exotic Earthworm Species In Huron Mountains Forests, Paula Arroyo, Xiaoyong Chen, Timothy Gsell, John A. Yunger, Mary E. Carrington

Research Days

Invasive exotic earthworms have undesired ecological effects on structure, function, and biodiversity of forest ecosystems in the Great Lakes region. Biological parameters including body length, weight, growth rate, and regeneration patterns of earthworms are necessary to understand their life cycle and impacts on ecological processes such as nutrient biogeochemistry cycling and carbon sequestration in the forests, as well as for forest management practices. In this work, earthworms were surveyed in main forest types of the Huron Mountains Preserve of Michigan, Upper Peninsula during the period of May 2021 to October 2022. Earthworms were captured from established sampling quadrates using a …

Science Alive, Trisha Sudhakar, Rajin Persaud

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The goal of Science Alive is to provide a “sense of wonder” not only for the grade-school children but for the college students and their faculty as well. Science Alive serves to reinforce the scientific knowledge of local grade-school students and community members, while enhancing the education and career development opportunities for college students. Our group does this by providing opportunities for youth to explore science beyond the textbooks through hands-on, interactive discovery, which stimulates interest and fosters confidence for college and grade-school students alike. Our groups lead on-campus and in-class workshops, weekend clubs, after-school programs, and other community events. …

Sea-Phages Research Opportunity, Sarah Ballarin

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Research opportunity targeted for freshmen and sophomores through the SEA-PHAGES program. The goal of the research is to discover new bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) to help combat antibiotic resistance. Phage therapy is a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. Phages have also been widely used in the food industry to prevent microbial growth on certain foods and are currently being explored as a method for bioremediation of oil spills and wastewater treatment.

Last year, my research team discovered two new bacteriophages: Genamy16 and NovaSharks that were able to infect the bacteria Gordonia rubripertincta. These phages can possibly be used for …

Trick To The Treat: Penn Medicine Princeton Health Hospital, Divya Papaiya

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

No abstract provided.

Pfizer Summer Growth Experience, Arman Kakkar

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

From May 9, 2022 till July 29, 2022, I served as a Research Intern at Pfizer. Specifically, I worked in the Vaccine Research and Development Sector in the High Throughput Clinical Immunoassays and Diagnostics Group (HCID). In this group, I was responsible for Phase 3 testing of clinical trial material for the Covid-19 Vaccine. Over this time, I learned a great deal about the process of vaccine production from start to finish. Additionally, I was able to make numerous connections. This is definitely an experience I would recommend to others.

A Bacterial Microbiome Analysis Of Solarized Ginseng Garden Soils, Anka Colo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a highly valued perennial crop grown for its roots during a four-year cultivation cycle. American ginseng is subject to ginseng replant disease (GRD) in which severe root rot develops in newly planted ginseng grown in a former ginseng garden. A common strategy to mitigating GRD is not available and techniques such as fumigation, fungicides, and biocontrol are ineffective, banned, or are slowly being phased out. Alternatively, soil solarization is a pre-plant technique used to treat soil to reduce disease inoculum and alter soil microbiomes. In summer 2019, a six-week soil solarization experiment was …

Screening For The Effects Of Signalling Types In Fruitless Containing Neuron Affecting Social Space And Climbing, Khadijat Oluwakemi Mosuro

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Knockdown of neurotransmitter signalling types in the Fruitless neuron to see how they affect social space and climbing in the Drosophila melanogaster

Spotted Salamander Egg Masses Exhibit A Unique Internal Microbiome In Relation To Their Environment, Christian Sorensen

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Investigation Of Oncogenic Ras And Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Calcium Flux And Their Relationship In The Context Of Tumorigenesis, Emma Anderson

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Theoretical Proposal

Investigating Antimicrobial Chemicals Released From Developing Amphibian Eggs, Christian Sorensen, Abigail Piddock, Alexandria Hannah, Ciara Johnson, Connor Chapman

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Theoretical Proposal

The Presence Of Ehrlichia In White-Tailed Deer In Central Virginia, Brenna Kurtz

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Theoretical Proposal

Investigating The Genetic And Morphological Differences Between Stocked Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) And Stream Bred Brook Trout Populations In Central Virginia, Jonah Sheridan, Elijah Stanley, Maxwell Galbraith, Morgan Lowe

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Theoretical Proposal

Casein Kinases Are Required For The Stability Of The Glucose Sensing Receptor Rgt2 In Yeast, Danny Bloor

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Validating Methods For Monitoring Physiological Health Of Plethodon Hubrichti Along An Elevational Gradient, Taylor Salvigsen, Kyra Todd

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Characterizing The Cutaneous Microbiome Of Eurycea Lucifuga As A Potential Defense Against Infectious Diseases, Madeline Key, Mckenzie Perkins

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Effect Of Bpc Exposure On Ikaros And Rag-1 Gene Expression In Zebrafish, Robert Fisher, Anna Osborn, Asia Eskaros, Michael Chembars, Pierce Knepley, Thomas Russell

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Genetic Analysis Of An Isolated Population Of The Peaks Of Otter Salamander, Julia Hoopman, Alexis Anello, Geneva Fleischer, Hannah Kelley, Mary Grace Blalack

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Binding Affinities Of Bpa Derivatives To The Human Estrogen Receptor: Utilization And Assessment Of Autodock Vina, Luke Newman

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Design, Synthesis, Cloning, And Expression Of Heme-Containing Peroxygenase From Cucurbita Moschata, Rebekah Walker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Cutaneous Microbiome Of The Eastern Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus Viridescens) And Its Role As Defense Against Fungal Pathogens, Joseph Bierbaum, Danielle Sweeney, Dylan Peterson

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Use Of Molecular Beacon Sirna To Induce Degradation Of Sars Cov-2 Mrna In Infected Cells, Katelynn Sepke, Hanna Dutt

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Casein Kinases Interact And Stabilize Glucose Sensing Receptors In Yeast, Julia Humble, Levi Mailloux, Sophia Adams

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Effect Of Ethanolic Echinacea Purpurea Root Extracts On The Production Of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators In Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages, Trey T. Nguyen

Student Scholar Showcase

Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as the purple coneflower, is utilized in medicinal preparations due to potential immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Present bioactive metabolites such as alkamides, polysaccharides, and caffeic acid derivatives provide pharmacological elements essential to mitigating symptoms produced by upper respiratory illnesses. The chemical composition of E. purpurea holds medicinal value, but there remains controversy surrounding the efficacy of its use in medicine. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of an 75% ethanolic E. purpurea root extract on LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Treatment groups included ethanolic E. purpurea extract (3µL, 15µL, 30µL), …

The Plant And The Pathogen: Elucidating The Relationship Between Root-Knot Nematodes, Ph Levels, And Arabidopsis Thaliana Development, Rachel Garnett

Student Scholar Showcase

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) within the Meloidogyne genus are considered one of the largest threats to plant health and subsequent crop yield and profit (Forghani and Hajihassani 2020; Bernard et al. 2017). As a pest that presents global consequences, its mitigation through sustainable interventions may confer results for the treatment of similar plant pathogens. A member of the Brassicaeae family, Arabidopsis thaliana, was chosen for this study to determine plant responses to RKN-standard pH media. pH was varied between control and experimental groups, and phenotypic variables of primary root length and plant height were observed and analyzed. Wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana …

Nutrient Uptake And Grafting In Ironwood Trees, Tyler Edvall

Student Academic Conference

No abstract provided.

Human Adaptation And Morphological Variation: Expanding Diversity In Anatomy Curriculum, Jordan Cass, Cooker Storm

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Introduction: The recent upturn in our nation’s socio-political conversation has fueled interest in ensuring that college curricula is diverse and inclusive. Because human anatomy is ubiquitous across colleges, it may be a valuable avenue to purposefully incorporate topics of diversity in a way that positively impacts our socio-cultural relationships. Providing students with a scientific understanding of our visible differences may mitigate subconscious bias when we see others who have different features. Purpose: We investigated the biogeographical factors that contribute to the morphological variability of the face, hair, and body size; with the secondary aim of developing diverse and …

Endogenous Cftr Expression In Human Epithelial Cell Lines, Zithlaly Amezquita

Undergraduate Research Conference

CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane-conductance Regulator) is a plasma membrane protein that functions as a chloride ion channel on many epithelial cells. There are over 1000 mutations that affect the function of this protein; however, the most common mutation is DF508. CFTR mutations target many secretory organs like pancreas and lungs causing the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF), common among Caucasians of northern European origin. Detection of endogenous CFTR expression is possible by a difficult and costly immunoprecipitation method but not by the most used western blotting method. Therefore, the goal of this project was to detect the endogenous CFTR expression …