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Evaluation Of Differential Blood Stain For Detection Of Enterovirus D68, Michael Bertolio, Bart Tarbet, Chris Peterson, Brett Hurst

Biology Posters

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a small, non-enveloped RNA virus, and is suspected to be the cause of respiratory and neurological disease in young children.1 The most concerning clinical sign is an acute flaccid paralysis of the lower limbs. At the Institute for Antiviral Research, and under the direction of Dr. Bart Tarbet, we have developed an animal model for studying EV-D68 infection. With this model, we will pursue gaining a better understanding of the neuropathogenesis of EV-D68. It has been shown, in in-vitro studies, that EV-68 is able to produce infectious progeny in leukocyte cell lines.2 We will, therefore, compare …

Mean Girls: The Effect Of Multiple Females On Sexual Selection Behavior In Guppies, Douglas Brian, Sean Bergeson, Isaiah Mcdonough

Biology Posters

It is well documented that females play a prominent role in the sexual selection behavior of guppies. Working within the lab in the BNR building, our experiment sought to determine whether the presence of multiple females would, as a result of being within a more competitive environment, affect the sexual selection behavior of female guppies. As we wanted our test to be within a larger environmental context, we decided to use wild type males. One tank had one male on either side with one female in the middle, while the other tank had one male on either side and 3 …

Internship At The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, Shannon Humphries

Biology Posters

This summer I worked as an intern for the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens in Cheyenne, Wyoming and was specifically over the Paul Smith Children's Village. I applied for an internship at this garden because I volunteered in the garden in the past and knew it would be a rewarding experience.

Development Of Murine Model For Enterovirus D68 In Ag-129 Mice, John Mcclatchy, Joseph Evans, Brett Hurst, Bart Tarbet

Biology Posters

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is an emerging picornavirus virus which typically causes respiratory disease. In 2014, a nationwide outbreak of EV-D68 occurred, with a portion of these cases associated with neurological disease. At the time of this outbreak, no animal models existed for Enterovirus D68, making it difficult to characterize pathology and test potential therapeutics. To address this, we developed a mouse model of EVd68 infection in AG-129 mice (immuno-compromised mice).

Avian Hotspots, Daniel Johnson, Danielle Johnson

Biology Posters

Bird Window Collisions

• Result in an estimated 365-988 million bird fatalities each year in the U.S. (Loss)
• Occur because birds are unable to perceive glass panels
  • Reflections in glass are seen as unobstructed paths
• Often result in broken beaks, necks, and internal hemorrhaging
  • Fatalities are a typical outcome
• Psychological distress to onlookers
  • Unpleasant mess on the glass and ground

Vectors Derived From Native Lactobacillus Casei Plasmids, Bryan Coburn, Dennis Welker

Biology Posters

Lactic acid bacteria are frequently used in the preparation of fermented foods and as probiotics. They also are employed by the biotechnology industry to make valuable biomaterials, such as enzymes and lactic acid. The goal of this project was to produce shuttle vectors from the native plasmids found in different strains of Lactobacillus casei. Genetic regions from three native plasmids that contained the plasmid replication origin and genes encoding proteins involved with replication initiation and with partitioning of the plasmids into daughter cells were cloned into an Escherichia coli vector backbone. Maintenance of the resulting shuttle vectors in L. casei …

Altered Feeding Behavior And Viral Detection In Honey Bees Exposed To Organosilicone, Matthew Thompson, Ellen Klinger, Karen Kapheim, Diana Cox-Foster

Biology Posters

Honey bees play an important role in agriculture and the decline of honey bee populations worldwide has generated concern. While the application of pesticides in agricultural settings is often implicated in the deterioration of honey bee population health, pesticide applications contain more than just pesticides; they also contain adjuvants that may have detrimental effects to bee health. One known effect of these adjuvants is the increase of viral loads in honey bee larvae (Fine et al. 2017). We are investigating the effects of one class of inert pesticide adjuvant, organosilicone surfactant (OSS), on adult honey bee health.

Is Beauty Only Skin Deep? Mate Selection In Guppies, Tyson Alles, Amanda Cook, Alex Kunz, Jeff Merkley

Biology Posters

Our experiment sought to understand mate preference in female guppies, Poecilia reticulata. We observed behavioral differences between wild-type males caught from a local indoor pond and vibrant pet store males, who exhibited higher stress levels, likely due in part to being shipped long distances. Observing these behavioral differences, we hypothesized that females would prefer the less stressed males regardless of color. When a female guppy was presented with both a wild type and a pet store male, we predicted that she would prefer the wild-type male on account of their lower stress.

Tracing Brain Structures Of Alkali Bees To Investigate Endocrine And Social Effects On Neural Plasticity, Justin Tirrell, Mallory A. Hagadorn, Makenna M. Johnson, Karen M. Kapheim

Biology Posters

For highly social bee species, juvenile hormone (JH) and social cues are linked to increased expression of class-based social features. However, little data has been collected on the relationship between these variables and homologous features in non-social bees. To fill this gap in data, we studied the neuroanatomical response of Nomia melanderi, a non-social bee species, to endocrine and social treatments. Since N. melanderi is a non-social bee with pre-adaptations to sociality, such as brood care and aggregative nesting habits, its responses to hormone treatment and social cues can be used to model how neural plasticity in non-social ancestors of …

Be Kind To Dentists, They Have Fillings Too, Ryan Gallegos

Biology Posters

The office at ABC pediatric dentistry is bright, colorful, and has a very open concept. It is a place designed for children. The first thing patients notice when they walk in are the building blocks and toys. They can also see the giant glass windows that allow them to look into the north cleaning bay. The purpose of this is to lead by example. They can see other children getting their teeth cleaned, so they feel more comfortable letting us clean their teeth. Each colored chair has a TV placed above it and the children get to choose from one …

Grandpa Frank, Jon Tanner

USU Student Folklore Fieldwork

All growing up my when something would happen at our house like an appliance breaking or an object falling without an obvious explanation, my mom would jokingly say that it was Grandpa Frank, her dad, messing with her. Over time this practice spread into our whole family so that when trivial unexplained things happened we got into the habit of saying that it was just Grandpa Frank getting our attention or playing tricks on us.

Dental Internship, Mokhinur Khamidova

Biology Posters

A dental internship provides an opportunity to confirm and demonstrate your desire to pursue dentistry as well as picture yourself as a practicing dental professional.

Effect Of Bm-Hpme® Free Protein On Hbm-Mscs In Benchtop Bioreactor With Microcarriers, Adam Talbot

Biology Posters

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies have great potential for treating many age-related diseases. When harvested from human bone marrow (hBM), these cells are relatively scarce and thus is is necessary for the cells to be expanded to achieve the necessary numbers needed for any therapeutic application and for many research applications. In order for the potential of MSCs to be unlocked, a strategy must be developed to expand these cells in the most efficient and effective way possible. Here we present a method to expand MSCs in a benchtop bioreactor with microcarriers and quantify the effect of the addition of …

Importance Of Seed As An Inoculum Source For High Plains Virus In Sweet Corn, Brooke Olson, Claudia Nischwitz

Biology Posters

High Plains Virus (HPV) is found in small grains and corn and is commonly transmitted by the wheat curl mite. In 2016, a local farmer had a high incidence of HPV in all of his sweet corn in three different locations. However no mites were found. Drone imagery was taken of the field and showed a pattern of infected corn plants that indicated that the virus was seed borne. Yield loss was an estimated 50% for the field. Seed transmission of HPV in corn has been considered unimportant in the past due to low percentage of infection (Forster et al. …

Setting The Mood: Background Color And Guppy Mate Choice, Haley Schmid, Michael Thompson, Easton Smith, Kim Sullivan

Biology Posters

▪ There are two prevalent forms of sexual selection in the animals:Male-Male Competition and Female Choice

▪ Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) have been shown to demonstrate Female Choice

▪ Environmental factors, such as background color, have been shown to affect female interest in specific males

▪ Guppies tend to show interest in the color orange and we predicted that females would show a preference for males on an orange background

Engagement Across The Miles: Using Videoconferencing With Small Groups In Synchronous Distance Courses, Amy Piotrowski, Marla K. Robertson

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

This article presents suggestions for conducting small-group work in synchronous distance courses taught using Interactive Videoconferencing (IVC) systems. One challenge of teaching over an IVC system is getting students involved in class activities. The authors share how they have used a videoconferencing tool to break up IVC classes into small groups for discussion activities and get peer feedback on written work. These activities engage students in applying what they are learning and in constructing knowledge through discussion with their peers.

Here Comes Santa Clause, Carrigan Price

USU Student Folklore Fieldwork

My grandpa, on my mom’s side again, when we’re all together- which is most years- umm, he always dresses up as Santa Clause. Ever since I was, like, really little I remember him dressing up as Santa, and he comes in with this big red bag with presents for all of the cousins and it’s fun.

Scaling Dissolved Nutrient Removal In River Networks: A Comparative Modeling Investigation, Sheng Ye, Alexander J. Reisinger, Jennifer L. Tank, Michelle A. Baker, Robert O. Hall, Emma J. Rosi, Murugesu Sivapalan

Biology Faculty Publications

Along the river network, water, sediment, and nutrients are transported, cycled, and altered by coupled hydrological and biogeochemical processes. Our current understanding of the rates and processes controlling the cycling and removal of dissolved inorganic nutrients in river networks is limited due to a lack of empirical measurements in large, (nonwadeable), rivers. The goal of this paper was to develop a coupled hydrological and biogeochemical process model to simulate nutrient uptake at the network scale during summer base flow conditions. The model was parameterized with literature values from headwater streams, and empirical measurements made in 15 rivers with varying hydrological, …

Dementia Risk: Is It Nature Or Nurture?, Maria C. Norton, Elizabeth B. Fauth, Jessica Weyerman

All Current Publications

Alzheimer’s is a complex disease for which there is no known method for reversing its effects and no known cure for those who develop it. While a large part of the risk for developing AD comes from genes we inherit, there is evidence suggesting that an even greater part of our risk comes from our “environment,” and more specifically, our lifestyle.

Comparison Of Various Means Of Evaluating Molecular Electrostatic Potentials For Noncovalent Interactions, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The various heterodimers formed by a series of Lewis acids with NH3 as Lewis base are identified. Lewis acids include those that can form chalcogen (HSF and HSBr), pnicogen (H2PF and H2PBr), and tetrel (H3SiF and H3SiBr) bonds, as well as H‐bonds and halogen bonds. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of each Lewis acid is considered in a number of ways. Pictorial versions show broad regions of positive and negative MEP, on surfaces that vary with respect to either the value of the chosen isopotential, or their distance from the nuclei. Specific points are identified where the MEP reaches a …

Restoration Islands: A Tool For Efficiently Restoring Dryland Ecosystems?, Kristin B. Hulvey, Elizabeth A. Leger, Lauren M. Porensky, Leslie M. Roche, Kari E. Veblen, Adam Fund, Julea Shaw, Elise S. Gornish

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Restoration islands are concentrated plantings in strategic locations, created to efficiently use resources to achieve restoration goals. These methods have been used effectively in mesic ecosystems, particularly tropical forests, where the goal of island plantings is often to “nucleate” across a degraded area, providing a seed source for spread outside the planted area. Here, we consider how an island strategy might be used to achieve restoration goals in dryland ecosystems, where limited resources and large areas of degraded land make restoration extremely challenging. In contrast to more productive areas, spread or “nucleation” from restoration islands in drylands may not occur …

Spatial-Temporal Dynamics Of Neotropical Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) Communities Along A Forest-Savanna Gradient, Júlio Miguel Alvarenga, Cecília Rodrigues Vieira, Leandro Braga Godinho, Pedro Henrique Campelo, James P. Pitts, Guarino Rinaldi Colli

Biology Faculty Publications

Understanding how and why biological communities are organized over space and time is a major challenge and can aid biodiversity conservation in times of global changes. Herein, spatial-temporal variation in the structure of velvet ant communities was examined along a forest-savanna gradient in the Brazilian Cerrado to assess the roles of environmental filters and interspecific interactions upon community assembly. Velvet ants were sampled using 25 arrays of Y-shaped pitfall traps with drift fences for one year along an environmental gradient from cerrado sensu stricto (open canopy, warmer, drier) to cerradão (closed canopy, cooler, moister). Dataloggers installed on each trap recorded …

Characterizing The Effects Of Radiation On Muscle Cells, Lori Caldwell, Elizabeth Vargis, Charles Harding, Jr Dennison

Posters

One of the primary concerns for those spending time in low gravity and high radiation environments is muscle atrophy. A major cause of muscular atrophy is oxidative stress which is amplified by increased levels of ionizing radiation during spaceflight. Additionally, high levels of radiation can damage DNA, increasing the risk of cancer. Utah State University’s Space Environment Test Facility was used to irradiate C2C12 myoblasts and human vascular endothelial cells with a beta-radiation dosage mimicking that on the International Space Station and a 3-year deep space mission.

Hidden Players Of Ethical Mentoring For Women Graduate Students In Science And Engineering, Laura Gelles, Idalis Villanueva, Marialuisa Di Stefano

Engineering Education Faculty Publications

The relationship a graduate student and their research advisor have while they work together in academia is pivotal to the development and success of the research and involved parties (Polson, 2003). Students rely on their advisor to guide them through the academic and research process while also being a role model of professional and ethical behavior (Johnson, 2016; King, 2003). In essence, a research advisor must accept the trust and confidence of the graduate student to act in their best interest by following ethical mentoring principles. However, if the advisor is unaware of the best interest of their students or …

Quantitative Pcr Assays For Detection Of Five Arctic Fish Species: Lota Lota, Cottus Cognatus, Salvelinus Alpinus, Salvelinus Malma, And Thymallus Arcticus From Environmental Dna, Torrey W. Rodgers, John R. Olson, Stephen L. Klobucar, Karen E. Mock

Ecology Center Publications

The North Slope of Alaska contains arctic fish populations that are important for subsistence of local human populations, and are under threat from natural resource extraction and climate change. We designed and evaluated four quantitative PCR assays for the detection of environmental DNA from five Alaskan fish species present on the North Slope of Alaska: burbot (Lota lota), arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus), and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus). All assays were designed and tested for species specificity and sensitivity, and all assays detected …

Winter Ecology And Spring Dispersal Of Common Ravens In Wyoming, Luke W. Peebles, Michael R. Conover

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Numbers of Common Ravens (Corvus corax) have increased in western North America, and these high abundances are the source of problems throughout the species' range. Little is known about the winter ecology of ravens. We studied a population of ravens in Wyoming during the winters of 2013–2015; our goals were to examine use of landfills for foraging and use of anthropogenic structures for roosting, as well as dispersal patterns of ravens from these landfills in the spring. On average, 22% of radio-marked ravens foraged at landfills on a given day and 68% roosted at anthropogenic sites (e.g. on buildings or …

The Utah Statesman, October 17, 2017, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Mindfulness And Acceptance-Based Trainings For Fostering Self-Care And Reducing Stress In Mental Health Professionals: A Systematic Review, Myriam Rudaz, Michael P. Twohig, Clarissa W. Ong, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

This review summarizes the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to foster self-care and reduce stress in mental health professionals. Twenty-four quantitative articles from PsycInfo and PubMed were identified that focused on mindfulness, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, stress, burnout, or psychological well-being. All MBSR and MBCT studies lacked active control conditions, but some of the ACT studies and one MSC study included an active control. Most studies support evidence that all training programs tend to improve mindfulness and some also self-compassion. In addition, psychological flexibility was measured in …

Driven By Curiosity, Usu Professor Turns To Nature For Drug Discovery | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

At age 17, Jixun Zhan left his small hometown to attend college in the capitol city of China’s Jiangxi province.

Wildland Recreation Disturbance: Broad‐Scale Spatial Analysis And Management, Kevin J. Gutzwiller, Ashley D'Antonio, Christopher Monz

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Wildland recreation that does not involve animal harvests (non‐consumptive recreation) often influences various components of natural systems, including soils, water, air, soundscapes, vegetation, and wildlife. The effects of non‐consumptive recreation on wildlife have typically been assessed at spatial scales that are not only much smaller than the overall distributions of this disturbance but also much smaller than the areas that species use during a season or year. This disparity in scales has prevented effective assessment and management of broad‐scale recreation disturbance for many species, especially wildlife. We applied three software systems (ArcGIS, FRAGSTATS, and Conefor) to demonstrate how metrics commonly …