Life Sciences Commons^™

The Hemostatic Effects Of Acute Exposure To Colored Cornstarch Powder During A 5k Run, Robert C. Allsbrook

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: To examine the acute hemostatic effects of particulate matter (PM) in the form of colored corn starch powder during a 5 kilometer race. METHODS: 10 recreationally active adults completed two 5k runs, one with color and one without color. 10 mL blood samples were taken 6 hours prior to the trial and immediately following the trial. PAI-1 activity, FVIII antigen, and tPA activity were measured using an ELISA. RESULTS: No significant main effects or interaction effects (P<0.05) were observed among any of the variables although a trend (P = 0.082) was observed for increased PAI-1 activity during exercise in the color condition. CONCLUSIONS: There is a trend towards increased PAI-1 activity levels during exercise during color runs that could be due to increased inflammation. Furthermore, the lack of increased FVIII:ag and tPA activity suggests that the intensity of the exercise may not have been adequate and further research should be conducted in this area.

The Fate Of Icd-1 During Misfolded Protein Induced Apoptosis In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Kyle H. Perez

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Severe misfolded protein stress initiates cellular responses that often result in the death of the affected cell, typically by apoptosis. An essential aspect of apoptosis is caspase-mediated cleavage of proteins that, once cleaved, further propagate death. One heterodimeric structure putatively targeted in this process in the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC), a translational chaperone thought to help prevent misfolded protein stress in the ER. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the beta subunit of the NAC in C. elegans (ICD-1) is cleaved during the induction of apoptosis, with the hypothesis that ICD-1 is cleaved during stressed-induced apoptosis to …

Occurrence, Antibiotic Resistance, And Survival Of Fecal Enterococci In Turkey Litter, Steven Glynn Mcbride Ii

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Quality Inventory and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 305(b)/303(d) Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report show fecal bacteria to be the most common cause of impairment for both streams and estuaries. Human and animal sources have both been identified as significant contributors of pathogenic bacteria to surface waters. In this study, turkey litter from a farm in Shenandoah County, VA was surveyed for total culturable bacteria and total culturable enterococci before and after a transition to organic rearing practices. The enterococci were identified to species phenotypically using the Biolog Microbial Identification System and resistance …

Variation In Female Mating Behavior And Success In The Damselfly, Calopteryx Maculata, Suzanne E. Allison

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Traditionally, the study of sexual selection has focused on the evolution of elaborate male traits and how they enhance the ability to out-compete other males directly (access to females) and indirectly (access to desirable territories or resources). Female trait studies have focused most on evolved preferences for male traits. While we know much about how sexual selection acts on males, there is a deficit of equivalent study on females. In insects, including damselflies, male size and pigmentation are positively correlated with fat reserves and immune abilities, and therefore with male competitive ability. Here, we show that phenotypic variation that has …

Vertical Movement Of The Endangered James Spinymussel (Pleurobema Collina) And The Notched Rainbow Mussel (Villosa Constricta) In Response To Floods At Different Temperatures And Substrates: Implications For Conservation And Management, Dorottya Boisen

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Freshwater mussels are keystone species in their ecosystems, improving water and substrate quality for other organisms while they are alive, and buffering stream pH and providing shelter with their shells after they die. Approximately 70% of all freshwater mussel species are endangered globally. The James Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) is a critically endangered species that lives in disparate tributaries of the James River of Virginia. Like other freshwater mussels, they have a cryptic appearance and behavior, making them difficult to find and therefore, to study and conserve. Previous studies indicate a higher percentage of mussels are surfaced during their …

Clinical Study Of Canine Tear Lacritin As A Treatment For Dry Eye, Katherine E. Kelly

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), the deficiency of tears also known as dry eye, is a prevalent disease that affects both humans and canines. The current treatment for dye eye, cyclosporine (Restatis®), only provides temporary relief, is often associated with discomfort and is inconsistently effective. Lacritin is a naturally occurring tear glycoprotein secreted from the human and canine lacrimal glands. It has been shown that lacritin stimulates basal tearing in rabbits when applied topically. This study characterized the amount and form of lacritin found in the tears of dogs with healthy and dry eyes—information which may be applied to the development of …

Sensory Modalities Underlying The Escape Response Of The Cricket, Acheta Domesticus, To Looming Stimuli, Ariel M. Childs

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

In order to prevent injury or capture by a predator, animals have evolved escape behavior. Despite offering a more realistic, multimodal, approximation of an approaching predator, looming stimuli have rarely been used to evoke escape behavior in crickets. Wind stimuli, however, have been used on a variety of insects, including crickets where it has been found that direction of escape is directly correlated to the angle of incoming wind stimuli. Wind stimuli are detected by sensilla trichodea, small filiform hairs covering the cerci of crickets, locusts and cockroaches. Despite having other complex sensory systems, such as antennae and vision, …

Alignment Of Neurochemically Defined Modules In Multimodal Aspects Of The Mouse Inferior Colliculus., Chris H. Dillingham

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Processing of sound requires precise coordination of various levels of the auditory system. Auditory reflexes and orientation behaviors require interactions with other systems and modalities, emphasizing the importance of highly organized integrative circuits. The inferior colliculus (IC) is a unique midbrain structure in that it exhibits aspects that are specifically arranged for processing auditory cues, as well as regions that handle multisensory inputs and thereby exhibit an entirely different organization. While the central nucleus of the IC (CNIC) is primarily auditory and arranged tonotopically, the lateral cortex (LCIC) is multimodal and exhibits a unique array of modular and extramodular fields. …

Reverse Genetic Screening Of Innexin Gap Junction Proteins In Drosophila Neurons, Shannon P. Fox

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The reflexive response and perception of pain (nociception) is an evolutionarily conserved process in animals. Pain can be a major health concern and current treatments often prove insufficient, especially in regards to chronic pain. Greater understanding of the molecular processes underlying pain sensation could lead to new and more effective treatments. The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cold nociception in Drosophila melanogaster. A specific subset of peripheral sensory neurons (Class III dendritic arborization (da) neurons), are implicated in Drosophila larvae’s response to noxious cold.

Previous literature has associated a family of gap junction protein, …

Hematological Changes In Response To A Drastic Increase In Training Volume In Recreational Cyclists, Jessie E. Axsom

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Changes in blood volume contribute to improvement in VO2max with chronic endurance exercise training. Although hematological changes to chronic endurance training have been well documented, it has not been well established whether an increased volume of training in trained individuals preferentially affects plasma volume vs. red cell volume. To answer this question, we studied 8 female and 3 male recreational cyclists before and after exposure to drastic increases in training volume. Following the 10-week training period, mean Hct of the 10 subjects who completed the study significantly (p<0.05) increased from 42.9% to 48.45%. Mean Hb also increased significantly (p<0.05) from 14.6g/dL to 16.4 g/dL. The changes in Hct and Hb were not significantly (p>0.05) correlated with the change in self-reported weekly mileage (R = 0.13 …

Macronutrient Supplementation For Endurance Athletes, Jonathan B. Hurst

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: The present study addressed two questions related to macronutrient supplementation during endurance exercise. Firstly, the effects of carbohydrate and protein co-ingestion on time trial (TT) performance were compared to carbohydrate alone. Secondly, the effects of isolated protein ingestion on TT performance were compared to a placebo.

Methods: Six trained cyclists (Age: 22 ± 1 years; Height: 167 ± 12 cm; Weight: 60 ± 10 kg; VO_2max: 62 ± 7 ml/kg/min) completed four experimental trials, consisting of constant-load cycling for two hours (55% W_max) immediately followed by a 30-km simulated time trial. During the trials, subjects …

Searching For Potential Binding Partners Of Arabidopsis Β-Amylase2 Using Yeast 2-Hybridization, Megan E. Hines

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

BAM2 is a chloroplast-targeted member of the β-amylase gene family that currently has an unknown function in starch hydrolysis. Previous research indicated that BAM2 did not have significant catalytic activity, but, because the gene is highly conserved and there is a starch-excess phenotype in older plants lacking BAM2, it was hypothesized that BAM2 may instead have a regulatory function. Many regulatory proteins function by interacting with other proteins, so we wanted to test for potential protein binding partners for BAM2 using the yeast two-hybrid system. A plasmid containing the BAM2 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana was co-transformed into Y190-strain yeast ( …

Epigenetic Characterization Of Human Retina Cells, Nicholas R. Dunham

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modifier that modulates gene expression in plant and vertebrate genomes. The aim of this study was to characterize the role of DNA methylation in the human retina, particularly within rod and cone photoreceptor retinal neurons. Previous studies investigating DNA methylation in murine retinal cells and retina-derived human retinoblastoma immortalized cell culture lines demonstrate an inverse relationship between DNA methylation and transcriptional activity. Here, we used gene-specific bisulfite pyrosequencing analysis to measure DNA methylation in the genomes of human ocular cells in an effort to characterize the role of this important epigenetic modifier. These results can …

Embryonic And Post-Embryonic Hoxa13 Expression In The Four-Toed Salamander, Hemidactylium Scutatum., Breanna R. Lee

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The process of somitogenesis occurs during embryological development and results in the definition of persisting axial segments. The four toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum, exhibits post-embryonic segmentation while most other vertebrates stop segmentation at the end of embryological development. HoxA13, a transcription factor expressed along the developing anteroposterior axis, plays a role in specifying caudal segmental identity, cell ingression into the pre-somitic mesoderm (PSM), and PSM truncation. HoxA13’s responsibilities in influencing embryological development make it an interesting candidate for involvement in post-embryonic segment addition mechanisms. This study explores the role of HoxA13 in tail segmentation in H. scutatum embryonic, larval, …

Compost Land Management And Soil Carbon Sequestration, Kylene A. Hohman

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Extensive fossil fuel burning has released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Under proper ecological conditions plants convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into stable soil organic matter, a natural and efficient means of mitigating climate change. In the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizae and plants, mycorrhizae provide plants with essential nutrients in exchange for carbon sugars leaked from the plants. Mycorrhizae convert carbon sugars to an exudate called glomalin, a protein that assists in developing soil aggregates composed of sand, silt, and clay. These aggregates, called humus, store carbon for hundreds of years under healthy ecological conditions. Compost prompts soil microbes to aerobically …

Nonlinear Dynamics Of Filaments In Free Space And Fluids, Victoria Kelley

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this paper is to study a straight rod, held at both ends, with a known twist and tension or compression. We study the stability of this steady state when the system is dominated either by inertia or drag. In order to do this, we first replicate the work of Goriely and Tabor to look at the case with inertia, without drag. After conducting the analysis for that case, we then apply their framework to perform a linear stability analysis of a model that is without inertia, but with hydrodynamic drag. Our motivation is the study of locomotion …

Escape Strategy Of The Cockroach (Gromphadorhina Portentosa) To Heat And Looming Stimuli, Jiangda Ou

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Escape responses to aversive stimuli have been observed in insects, including species of cricket, fly, locust, and cockroach. The goal of this study was to investigate the escape strategy of the Madagascar cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa. In regard to this species, Erickson and colleagues (2015) showed that electrical stimulation of both cerci and antennae together could generate an escape response. However, in other reports (Olsen and Triblehorn, 2014), it was observed that wind could not elicit the escape response. In this study, G. portentosa was stimulated by looming and heat stimuli. A 2.5’’ black ball approaching at 1 m/s was used …

Isolation And Enumeration Of Vibrio Vulnificus And Vibrio Parahaemolyticus From Coastal Virginia, Zackary A. Zayakosky

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus are gram-negative, halophilic bacteria that are found throughout estuarial waters during the summer months, and are commonly associated with human infection. Gastroenteritis and other related symptoms can occur following infection from either organism, which most often occurs as a result of consumption of raw oysters or other seafood. V. vulnificus is particularly virulent, and can also produce wound infections that lead to severe septicemia and death. Due to the increasing rates of infection for these two organisms, recent research efforts have focused on potential environmental conditions and reservoirs that would be indicative of increased Vibrio …

The Purification And Characterization Of Beta-Amylase6 In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Catherine E. Torres

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Experimental evidence indicates that the family of beta-amylase (BAM) proteins is largely responsible for the hydrolysis of starch in land plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana there are nine BAM genes, six of which are targeted to the chloroplast, but only four of those are presumed to be catalytically active: BAM1, -2, -3, and -6. Currently, little is known about the expression, characterization, or function of BAM6. Our study of starch accumulation in Arabidopsis indicates that BAM6 may be playing a role in older plants, although it has a minimal role in young plants. To further investigate the function of BAM6 we …

Population Projection And Habitat Preference Modeling Of The Endangered James Spinymussel (Pleurobema Collina), Marisa Draper

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The James Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) is an endangered mussel species at the top of Virginia’s conservation list. The James Spinymussel plays a critical role in the environment by filtering and cleaning stream water while providing shelter and food for macroinvertebrates; however, conservation efforts are complicated by the mussels’ burrowing behavior, camouflage, and complex life cycle. The goals of the research conducted were to estimate detection probabilities that could be used to predict species presence and facilitate field work, and to track individually marked mussels to test for habitat preferences. Using existing literature and mark-recapture field data, these goals were accomplished …

A 16-Week Run Sprint Interval Training Does Not Have An Effect On Cardiovascular Risk Measured By Framingham Risk Score On Prediabetic Women, Joan A. Mandelson

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The Framingham risk score (FRS) was developed to determine the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the next 10 years using an individual’s age, gender, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), smoking habits, and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Run-sprint interval training (R-SIT) has shown improvements in various health and blood markers while reducing total exercise time. To date there has not been a study that examines the effects of R-SIT and moderate intensity training (MIT) on framingham risk. The purpose of this study was to determine if a reduction of the 10-year risk of CVD (determined by …

A Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet Combined With Six Weeks Of Crossfit Training Improves Body Composition And Performance, Rachel M. Gregory

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

A low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is a popular approach to weight and fat loss. CrossFit is a high-intensity power training (HIPT) type exercise for all levels of age and fitness that has gained recognition as one of the fasting growing sports in America. No previous research has been found which examines body composition changes or performance in individuals consuming a LCKD and participating in CrossFit training. PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of a 6-week LCKD and CrossFit program on body composition and performance. METHODS: Twenty-seven non-elite CrossFit subjects (mean ± SD age = …

The Effect Of Water Quality On The Survival And Fitness Of Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) Eggs, Alevins And Fry In Aquaculture And Deep Springs Along The South River In Waynesboro, Va, Thomas D. Teears

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Brook trout populations have been extirpated in many Virginia streams due to poor water quality thus establishing populations of brook trout for recreational fishing is an important priority of fisheries management. The ability of a stream to protect developing brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) eggs and larval fish from adverse effects from acidification and metal toxicity as well as provide needed minerals such as magnesium (Mg²⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) for early-stage development is controlled primarily by geology, which influences water hardness and acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC). The focus of this research was on the effects of …

A Single Night Of Sleep Restriction Impairs Recovery From Heavy Exercise, John D. Chase

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

We examined the effects of one night of sleep restriction (Sleep-; 2.5 hrs) on subsequent 3-km cycling performance and skeletal muscle recovery from heavy exercise compared to a full night of rest (Sleep+; 7 hrs). Seven recreational cyclists (n=6 male, n=1 female; age = 24.4 ± 7 yrs; height = 170 ± 10 cm; weight = 68 ± 13 kg VO_2max = 61.5 ± 4.4 ml/kg/min) completed four simulated 3-km time trials (TT) and six peak isokinetic torque trials at different speeds (30 and 120°/sec) under both conditions. The first exercise trial (EX1) consisted …

The Effect Of Sleep Restriction On Coagulation And Fibrinolysis After Heavy Exercise, Paul A. Roberson

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Introduction: Research has shown exercise elicits a hemostatic response affecting coagulation and fibrinolysis. Furthermore, prior research has determined circadian fluctuations exist where clotting potential increases in the morning as a result of increased PAI-1 and decreased tPA which is further exacerbated by exercise. These circadian fluctuations and exercise responses have the potential to be accentuated by poor sleep. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of sleep restriction on tPA activity, PAI-1 activity, and Factor VIII antigen activity (FVIII) while resting and after exercise.

Methods: 7 Subjects underwent two similar exercises sessions (EX). EX1 occurred in the …

The Effect Of Stimulus Location And Initial Posture On The Kinematics Of The Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex Of The Tail In Intact And Unanaesthetized Rats, Yulhea Kim

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) is a protective reflex that allows mammals to avoid noxious stimuli by withdrawing the affected area of the body away from the stimulus. Although previous studies on non-human mammals showed that the NWR depends on stimulus location and initial posture, these studies were performed on spinalized or anaesthetized animals, which may yield results differing from intact animals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the kinematics of the NWR of the tail depends on stimulus location and initial posture in intact and unanesthetized animals. The NWR was evoked by heat applied to …

Next-Generation Sequencing Of A Multi-Drug Resistance Plasmid Captured From Stream Sediment, Kevin G. Libuit

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Plasmids in agriculturally-impacted bodies of water may play a significant role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Previously, Erika Gehr, as part of her M.S. thesis work in our laboratory, captured environmental plasmids without cultivation of host bacteria from stream sediment into Escherichia coli. Individual plasmids were capable of conferring resistance to a surprising array of antibiotics including aminoglycosides and extended-spectrum β-lactams. In this study, we developed a method to sequence multi-drug resistance plasmids using both Oxford Nanopore MinION and Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine sequencers. Plasmid pEG1-1 was sequenced on both platforms and a hybrid assembly utilizing data …

The Influence Of Time-Of-Day Consumption And Training Status On The Ergogenic Properties Of Caffeine, James C. Boyett

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Purpose: The objectives were to determine the effects of time-of-day consumption and training status on the benefits of caffeine supplementation for cycling performance and peak muscle strength. METHODS: Twenty untrained and trained subjects completed four trials consisting of isokinetic peak torque testing and 3-km time trials (TT). Subjects ingested either 6 mg/kg of caffeine or a placebo one hour prior to each trial. Treatments were: morning + placebo, morning + caffeine, evening + placebo, evening + caffeine. Magnitude based inferences were used to evaluate treatment differences. RESULTS: Caffeine (‘very likely’ and ‘likely’) improved 3-km TT performance in the morning and …

The Effects Of Chronic Partial Sleep Deprivation And Chronic Voluntary Alcohol Consumption On Δfos B Accumulation, Kristian Ponder

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The present study explores the relation between sleep restriction and alcohol use and the neural substrates that result from chronic behaviors. Accumulation of the transcription factors ΔFosB is suggested as a possible outcome of chronic behaviors, such as addiction. Sleep is discussed as possible mediating factor in the relationship between ΔFosB and chronic alcohol consumption. There were four experimental groups in this study: Control (C), Sleep Deprivation only (SD), Alcohol Exposure only (AO), and both sleep deprivation and alcohol exposure (B). Levels of ΔFosB accumulation in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) revealed a significant main effect of sleep deprivation, but no …

Using Morphometrics To Evaluate Taxonomic Relationships In Eleocharis Tenuis (Cyperaceae), Lane D. Gibbons

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

North America is host to multiple complex taxa, and unresolved relationships in the genus Eleocharis (Cyperaceae). Of noteworthy significance, are lasting taxonomic uncertainties involving plants referable to E. tenuis (var. tenuis, var. verrucosa, and var. pseudoptera) of the E. tenuis species complex. Morphology of E. tenuis is traditionally recognized as being widely variable, and intermediate among taxa along a broad geographic gradient. Cytological and morphometric data however, indicate that the varieties of E. tenuis are unique in cytology, and are consistently delimited by five morphological characters. Furthermore, this study shows that cytological data correlates with unique morphological …