Life Sciences Commons^™

Mapping Fetch And Diel Movements Of Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix Within Kentucky Lake And Lake Barkley With Gis, Levi Umland

Scholars Week

Title: Mapping Silver Carp movements, relative exposure, and fetch within inland reservoirs using Geographic Information Systems.

Author: Levi G Umland

Invasive species across our country have continued to threaten our native species, compete for habitat via interspecific competition, and have caused economic impacts. Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), commonly referred to as Asian Carp, have remained in the invasive species spotlight throughout the southern and mid-western states as they have continued to spread. Silver Carp have successfully spread through our rivers and reservoirs, but little is known about Silver Carp movement rates/behavior within reservoirs due to their lower abundance within …

Optimization Of Dna Extraction From Difficult Sandy-Loam Soils, Anka Colo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Ginseng is a high value perennial crop grown for its roots. A four-year cultivation cycle is required to obtain marketable ginseng roots, during which a condition called ginseng replant disease (GRD) develops. GRD is characterized by a severe root rot disease, and prevents the growth of newly planted ginseng in a former ginseng garden1. Microbiome analysis of ginseng garden soil will help our understanding of the formation of GRD and its severity. However, extracting DNA from the sandy-loam soils required for ginseng cultivation is difficult. Commercial kits are either too expensive or not applicable to the large volumes of soil …

Understanding The Metabolic Regulation Of Trained Immunity By Palmitic Acid, Khaleda Aqaei, Brooke A. Napier

McNair Symposium

Sepsis is an inflammatory disease that occurs when the body’s response to an infection becomes dysregulated, and infection-fighting processes of the body damage tissues via inflammation, resulting in organ failure and death. Currently, the role for diet in regulating sepsis susceptibility and severity is not fully understood. The Western Diet (WD), the most prevalent diet worldwide, is high in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and sucrose, and low in fiber. Previously, we have used a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis mouse model to show that mice fed a Western Diet (WD) or a diet enriched only in SFAs (Ketogenic Diet; KD), experience increased …

Hybrid-Lipid Coated Silver Nanoparticles As An Antimicrobial, Alexandria Murphy, Marilyn R. Mackiewicz, Michael S. Bartlett

McNair Symposium

Silver has been known to be an antimicrobial for hundreds of years, but wasn’t thought to be useful in the medical field until the 1960’s. In more recent years people have been designing different methods of synthesis for silver nanoparticles, yet none of these methods prevent the oxidized silver (Ag+), which is toxic. As the use of silver nano materials for antimicrobial activity has expanded there has been an increase in interest in the medical field, and how silver nanoparticles can be used as an antimicrobial without having toxic effects. While there is a large availability of silver nanoparticles (AgNp’s) …

The Effect Of Apremilast On Circadian Rhythm In The Ventral Tegmental Area, Courtney Ledford, Angela Ozburn

McNair Symposium

Chronic binge drinking negatively impacts society and is a leading cause of preventable deaths. The purpose of the experiment is to determine if regulation of circadian rhythms in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) will contribute to less ethanol consumption. The VTA plays a major role in addiction. A simple genetic animal model examines iHDID-1 mice and their binge-like drinking intake. The mice undergo Drinking in the Dark (DID) for 6 weeks prior to administration of apremilast or saline treatment at weeks 7 and 8. The mice are exposed to DID and sacrificed at two separate time points (ZT 3 and …

Efficacy Of Curcumin In Asthma: A Systematic Review And Meta Analysis, Tabitha Grow, Adam Sadowski

McNair Symposium

Over 23 million people are affected by asthma in the United States and 262 million individuals globally. Asthma, if poorly controlled, is associated with significant morbidity as well as increased risk for mortality. Asthma involves several complex inflammatory pathways and processes including an increase in immune cell activation. Curcumin, the active constituent found in turmeric, has been studied in numerous in-vivo and in-vitro studies to generate anti-inflammatory effects in pulmonary diseases and, more recently, an increase in clinical data has become available. Since the most recent review assessing the role of curcumin in pulmonary disorders, additional clinical trials have been …

Stream Sediment Monitoring In Morehead Kentucky, Kristopher Krolikowski, Jen O'Keefe

2021 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Oral Presentations

Sediment loads in stream systems play a big role in how overall runoff behaves. Streams naturally transport sediment at various ratios depending on precipitation. When vegetation is removed in upstream environments, sediment loads on streams increase. Sudden increases of sediments in streams can cause many issues, such as flooding or stream re-direction. In Morehead, KY, large-scale logging operations on the ridge above Knapp Avenue and on the ridge above the north end of Allen Avenue have caused increased sediment load in a small stream called Oxley Branch. This stream flows south parallel to Knapp Avenue and along the eastern property …

Analysis Of Botulinum Toxin A And Interacting Proteins In Skeletal Muscle Cells: An Investigation Into The Mechanisms Of Botulinum Toxin A As A Treatment For Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome, Lauren Kee

Pence-Boyce STEM Student Scholarship

Background: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a condition in which muscle tissue expands against the surrounding fascia during activity and is compressed along with the nerves and blood vessels within the muscle compartment, leading to abnormally high intracompartmental pressure (ICP) and debilitating pain. Treatment typically includes fasciotomy, which results in significant levels of CECS recurrence; however, botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection has recently been seen to decrease both ICP and pain through an unknown mechanism with little to no recurrence.

Methods: In this study, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E₂ receptor 4 (EP4), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), …

Lichen Delimitation Within The Collemataceae Family, Catherine Austin

Undergraduate Research Competition

Lichens are composed of fungal and algal or cyanobacterial components that participate in a mutualistic relationship. Recently, lichen-associated bacterial microbiomes have also been discovered to play a role in this relationship. Gathering information concerning lichen evolutionary relationships can bring more clarity to how lichens have evolved to be better equipped to house these bacterial communities. Specifically, this study aims to understand the evolutionary relationship between lichen species within different genera of the Collemataceae family. Broadening the taxa being studied from the Kosuthova et al. 2020 study to 20 total lichen species within the Collemataceae family, allows for a phylogenetic approach …

Use Of Ultrasounds And Cystotomies In Diagnosing And Resolving Bladder Stones, Kirsten Cline

Biology Presentations

The use of ultrasounds are the most safe and effective way to detect bladder stones. Bladder stones are easy to detect with acoustic shadowing, a white bright twinkle effect, and heaviness. Cystotomies are one of the most common procedures to solve bladder stones with one of the lowest mortality and morbidity rates. Kiara, a one year old feline presented with UTI symptoms and was diagnosed with bladder stones. An ultrasound was used and a cystotomy was performed.

Investigating The Effect Of The Wee-1.3 And Pam-1 Mutations On Meiosis After The Fertilization Of Oocytes In C. Elegans, Sophie Lear, Alex Bender

Biology Presentations

Currently, we are working with two genes: pam-1, which functions in the asymmetric division in meiosis and corresponding polarity, and wee-1.3, which functions in oocyte maturation. The mutation pam-1 is known to disturb embryo viability and reduces the hatch rate to 2% in the worms. However, a rescue mutation, wee-1.3, is known to bring the hatch rate up to 42% because polarity and asymmetry defects are suppressed. From previous research we know that during meiosis, the pam-1 mutation results in meiotic exit delays and other mutant phenotypes such as failure of meiosis II. Currently, we are imaging …

Research Proposal: Clarifying Any Interactions Between Cytoskeletal Proteins And The Aminopeptidase Pam-1, Alexis Ayala

Biology Presentations

Caenorhabditis elegans is a transparent roundworm that functions as an ideal model organism for studying the complex processes that occur during embryonic cell division. The cell division process is comprised of distinct phases that ensure the development of a healthy and robust embryo. The cytokinesis phase is characterized by the formation of a contractile ring near the middle of the embryo. When this contractile ring constricts, the embryo can effectively divide into two cells. Recent work in the Lyczak laboratory has focused on better understanding how the aminopeptidase PAM-1 works in conjunction with cytoskeletal proteins to regulate the actomyosin cytoskeleton. …

The Perceived Differences In Employee Engagement Through Multiple Generations In The Workplace: An Hr Perspective, Ashley Dawson, Tammy Brown

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Theoretical Proposal

Synthesis Of A Material For The Sensitive And Selective Sorption Of Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Alicia Loucks, Stephen Hobson

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Characterization Of The Microbiome For The Northern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea Bislineata) And Its Ecological Interactions With The Pathogen Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis, Kristen Enns, Matthew Becker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Influence Of Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein On Axon Subtype Specific Sheath Targeting, Nazmus Sakib Khan

Ramaley Celebration

During the development of the Central Nervous System, oligodendrocytes wrap axons with myelin, which is necessary for rapid, efficient nerve impulse propagation. For reasons unknown, oligodendrocytes direct myelin to certain subtypes of axons, leaving others incompletely myelinated, or even totally unmyelinated. Previous studies demonstrated mice harboring Mag mutations showed improper sheath targeting of myelin to axons indicating that MAG is a possible facilitator of axon-glia communication.

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that loss of mag decreases the proportion of myelin directed towards specific axon subtypes. To test this, we perturbed Mag function in zebrafish embryos using knockdown …

The Cutaneous Microbiomes Of Appalachian Salamanders And Their Role As An Innate Defense Against The Pathogen Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis​, Miranda Sheridan, Matthew Becker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Microbial Assemblages In Relation To Host And Environmental Surroundings, Mark Fischer, Gabriel Hooper, Kyle J. Harris, Matthew Becker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Amphibian Skin Pathogen Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis Surveillance In Ecuador, Kristen Enns, Connor Chapman, Jaden Seman, Kyle J. Harris, Sheryl Welfel, Matthew Becker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Theoretical Proposal

The Cutaneous Microbiome Of The Red-Spotted Newt And Its Role As Defense Against Fungal Pathogens, Mikaela Radka, Nicholas Swiader, Lillianne Bartone, Joseph Bierbaum, Matthew Becker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Theoretical Proposal

Characterization Of Peroxidases From Zucchini And Squash Skin And Their Potential Use In Bioremediation, Christina Hardin, Taylor Villani, Kalie Nuss, Alexa Deckert, Gregory Raner

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Investigating The Link Between Ph Regulation And Membrane Trafficking In Cryptococcus Neoformans, Allyson Hardin, Michael S. Price

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Flow Cytometry Analysis Of A Jc-1 Assay In Isolated Mitochondria, Olivia Echols, Abigail Solitro

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Investigation Of Individual Pesticide Toxicity In Relation To Y-Glutamyl-Transferase Production, Jessica Welty, Isaac Dotson, Amelia Wickham, Kyle J. Harris, Abigail Solitro

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Genetics Of An Isolated Population Of Plethodon Hubrichti, Alexis Anello, Julia Hoopman, Geneva Fleischer, Paul W. Sattler, Matthew Becker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Microbiome Characterization Of The Cave Salamander As Potential Defense Against Emerging Infectious Diseases, Jenna Stuck, Mckenzie Perkins, Olivia Beiler, Elizabeth Wymbs, Matthew Becker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Effects Of Rainfall On Presences Of Giardia Lamblia And Cryptosporidium In Local Water Sources, Lauren Western, Alan L. Gillen

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Locations Of Mafb Genes In Mice Genome, Joshua Sparks, Gary D. Isaacs, Michael S. Price

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Investigating Antimicrobial Chemicals Released From Amphibian Eggs, Connor Chapman, Abigail Piddock, Christian Sorensen, Cara Arrasmith, Ashton Young, Alexandria Hannah, Ashley Warren, Kyle J. Harris, Matthew Becker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Understanding The Chemical Mechanism Involved With A Peroxidase Enzyme Isolated From The Seeds Of Multiple Pepper Species, Mason Wolk, Myles Robison, Christi Fertich, Andrew Perry, Gregory Raner

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic