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2014 Armstrong Student Scholars Symposium Poster Presentations, Armstrong State University

Armstrong Student Scholars Symposium (Archive)

2014 Poster Presentations Abstracts (Alphabetical)

Studies On Rationally Designed, Allosteric, Coagulation Inhibitors, Rio Boothello

Theses and Dissertations

Heparin is a natural allosteric modulator, with numerous structural and conformational variations leading to many reports of bleeding complications and variations in anticoagulant effects. A flurry of research has been directed towards understanding this puzzle. This work entails the utilization of three unique strategies to further our understanding of this complex issue. Traditional synthetic, biosynthetic and biophysical approaches have failed to conquer the GAG-protein complexity. Computational analysis however could serve as a powerful approach to decipher this dilemma. A dual filter algorithm was incorporated to identify unique hexasaccharide sequences for HCII and AT. Our experimental studies exhibit a good correlation …

The Dna Methylome And Transcriptome Of Different Brain Regions In Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder, Yun Xiao, Cynthia Camarillo, Yanyan Ping, Tania Bedard Arana, Hongying Zhao, Peter M. Thompson, Chaohan Xu, Brenda Su, Michael A. Escamilla, Chunxiang Mao, Chun Xu

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Extensive changes in DNA methylation have been observed in schizophrenia (SC) and bipolar disorder (BP), and may contribute to the pathogenesis of these disorders. Here, we performed genome-scale DNA methylation profiling using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (MeDIP-seq) on two brain regions (including frontal cortex and anterior cingulate) in 5 SC, 7 BP and 6 normal subjects. Comparing with normal controls, we identified substantial differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in these two brain regions of SC and BP. To our surprise, different brain regions show completely distinct distributions of DMRs across the genomes. In frontal cortex of both SC and …

04-24-2014 Swosu's Tri Beta Wins Impressive Awards At Regional Conference, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

THE BARK ARCHIVE 2014

Seven Southwestern Oklahoma State University biology students at Weatherford recently won regional honors at the 2014 Beta Beta Beta (national biological honor society) South Central Regional Convention held recently at Lake Texhoma.

Understanding The Impact Of Iron Availability On Bacillus Anthracis Metabolism, Eddy Johana Bautista Bautista

Doctoral Dissertations

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, has to be able to adapt to different physical conditions encountered during the beginning and establishment of the infection process inside the host. One of these conditions is the availability of nutrients like iron. B. anthracis secretes siderophores capable of competing with the iron transport/storage proteins of the host. Previous studies have been dedicated to the analysis of these systems. However, the impact of iron availability on B. anthracis metabolism from a global perspective remains as unclear. In this dissertation, I combined an in silico genome-scale metabolic analysis with experimental studies for B. …

Acetobixan, An Inhibitor Of Cellulose Synthesis Identified By Microbial Bioprospecting, Ye Xia, Lei Lei, Chad Brabham, Jozsef Stork, James R. Strickland, Adam Ladak, Ying Gu, Ian Wallace, Seth Debolt

Horticulture Faculty Publications

In plants, cellulose biosynthesis is an essential process for anisotropic growth and therefore is an ideal target for inhibition. Based on the documented utility of small-molecule inhibitors to dissect complex cellular processes we identified a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor (CBI), named acetobixan, by bio-prospecting among compounds secreted by endophytic microorganisms. Acetobixan was identified using a drug-gene interaction screen to sift through hundreds of endophytic microbial secretions for one that caused synergistic reduction in root expansion of the leaky AtcesA6prc1-1 mutant. We then mined this microbial secretion for compounds that were differentially abundant compared with Bacilli that failed to mimic CBI action …

The End Of Alzheimer's Disease - From Biochemical Pharmacology To Ecopsychosociology: A Personal Perspective, Peter J. Whitehouse

Faculty Scholarship

The future of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) field involves a more complete understanding not only the state of current scientific approaches, but also the linguistic and cultural context of preclinical and clinical research and policy activities. The challenges surrounding dementia are large and growing but are only part of broader social and health concerns. In this latter context, the current state of research in the AD area is reviewed together with necessary priorities in moving forward. Creating a more optimistic future will depend less on genetic and reductionist approaches and more on environmental and intergenerative approaches that will aid in …

Associations Between Input And Outcome Variables In An Online High School Bioinformatics Instructional Program, Douglas S. Lownsbery

Dissertations and Theses

Quantitative data from a completed year of an innovative online high school bioinformatics instructional program were analyzed as part of a descriptive research study. The online instructional program provided the opportunity for high school students to develop content understandings of molecular genetics and to use sophisticated bioinformatics tools and methodologies to conduct authentic research. Quantitative data were analyzed to identify potential associations between independent program variables including implementation setting, gender, and student educational backgrounds and dependent variables indicating success in the program including completion rates for analyzing DNA clones and performance gains from pre-to-post assessments of bioinformatics knowledge. Study results …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Oxindole Derivatives; Potential Antibacterial, Antimitotic, And Antitumor Applications, Karem Molinares, Bansi Savla, Kaitlyn Pope

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In the recent years, analogues of Indolin-2-one (2-oxindole) have been found to be highly effective in inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-2 of Multiple Sclerosis. Researchers around the world have focused on methodical modification at several key locations of the molecule with the intent of studying the biological activities. In that line, this research focuses on the synthesis of Knoevenagel adducts with a variety of aromatic aldehydes. In this research, sixteen derivatives of 2-oxindole have been synthesized and characterized by traditional techniques (melting point, FT- IR, and NMR). The potential use of these derivatives is initially to study the anti-bacterial and …

N-Methylmesoporphyrin Ix Fluorescence As A Reporter Of Strand Orientation In Guanine Quadruplexes, Navin C. Sabharwal , '14, V. Savikhin, Joshua R. Turek-Herman , '16, John Michael Nicoludis , '12, V. A. Szalai, Liliya A. Yatsunyk

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Works

Guanine quadruplexes (GQ) are four-stranded DNA structures formed by guanine-rich DNA sequences. The formation of GQs inhibits cancer cell growth, although the detection of GQs invivo has proven difficult, in part because of their structural diversity. The development of GQ-selective fluorescent reporters would enhance our ability to quantify the number and location of GQs, ultimately advancing biological studies of quadruplex relevance and function. N-methylmesoporphyrin IX (NMM) interacts selectively with parallel-stranded GQs; in addition, its fluorescence is sensitive to the presence of DNA, making this ligand a possible candidate for a quadruplex probe. In the present study, we investigated the effect …

A Novel Three Degree-Of-Freedoms Oscillation System Of Insect Flapping Wings, Yi Qin

Open Access Theses

We propose an oscillation system to replicate the dynamic behavior of flapping wings, inspired by insect flight muscles. In particular, we study the flight of the fruit fly Drosophila virilis . We model the wing as a rigid body with three degree-of-freedom, described by three Euler angles: the stroke angle, the rotation angle and the deviation angle. Insect flight muscles are separated into two types: power muscles and control muscles. One actuator and one torsional spring at the stroke angle act as the power muscles. Two torsional springs at the rotation angle and the deviation angle mimic the control muscles. …

Photochemical Elimination Reactions That Proceed Via Triplet Excited State Electrocyclic Ring Closures, Himali Devika Jayasekara

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Cage compounds have become an important tool for the study of biological processes. The research focuses on new cage compounds that can unmask functional groups present in biologically important molecules such as proteins, peptides, and oligonucleosides. The project focuses on certain functional groups that are often difficult to release photochemically. These are the thiolate groups present in cysteine residues of proteins and peptides. Thiolate groups are fairly basic leaving groups, unlike the more labile groups such as the carboxylates that are present in proteins and peptides, or the phosphate groups present in nucleosides. The research takes advantage of the ability …

Modeling Stem Cell Population Dynamics, Samiur Arif

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Because of the stochastic nature of biological systems, mathematical and computational modeling approaches have become more acceptable to experimentalists and clinicians in recent years as contributing to new understandings of complicated cell mechanisms and tissue physiology. Indeed, even single cell or small tissue samples are complex dynamic systems that adapt to environmental challenges in space and time which is poorly understood. Mathematical models and computer simulations can explain and uncover unknown aspects of cell behavior and tissue functions. Models based on key biological mechanisms can give interesting insights and formulate predictions that cannot be derived from physical experiments or statistical …

Ray- And Wave-Theoretic Approach To Electromagnetic Scattering From Radially Inhomogeneous Spheres And Cylinders, Michael A. Pohrivchak

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

With applications in the areas of chemistry, physics, microbiology, meteorology, radar, astronomy, and many other fields, electromagnetic scattering is an important area of research. Many everyday phenomena that we experience are a result of the scattering of electromagnetic and acoustic waves. In this dissertation, the scattering of plane electromagnetic waves from radially inhomogeneous spheres and cylinders using both ray- and wave-theoretic principles is considered. Chapters 2 and 3 examine the use of the ray approach. The deviation undergone by an incident ray from its original direction is related to the angle through which the radius vector turns from the point …

A Catalog Of Scolytidae And Platypodidae (Coleoptera), Supplement 3 (2000-2010), With Notes On Subfamily And Tribal Reclassifications, Donald E. Bright

Insecta Mundi

A third Supplement to the 1992 Catalog of the Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Coleoptera) of the World (Wood and Bright 1992) is presented. This Supplement updates the taxonomy, distribution, and biology pertaining to these families of Coleoptera from 2000 to the end of 2010. A few 2011 taxonomic references are included in order to make the nomenclature as current as possible. The format of this Supplement differs slightly from the format of the original 1992 Catalog and the two previous Supplements. Only references relating to general biology, systematics and distribution were selected to be included. Tribal arrangement follows the scheme established …

Submicron-Resolution Photoacoustic Microscopy Of Endogenous Light-Absorbing Biomolecules, Chi Zhang

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Photoacoustic imaging in biomedicine has the unique advantage of probing endogenous light absorbers at various length scales with a 100% relative sensitivity. Among the several modalities of photoacoustic imaging, optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) can achieve high spatial resolution, on the order of optical wavelength, at <1 mm depth in biological tissue (the optical ballistic regime). OR-PAM has been applied successfully to structural and functional imaging of blood vasculature and red blood cells in vivo. Any molecules which absorb sufficient light at certain wavelengths can potentially be imaged by PAM. Compared with pure optical imaging, which typically targets fluorescent markers, label-free PAM avoids the major concerns that the fluorescent labeling probes may disturb the function of biomolecules and may have an insufficient density. This dissertation aims to advance label-free OR-PAM to the subcellular scale.

The first part of this dissertation describes the technological advancement of PAM yielding high spatial resolution in 3D. The lateral resolution was improved by using optical objectives with high numerical apertures for optical focusing. The axial resolution was improved by using broadband ultrasonic transducers for ultrasound detection. We achieved 220 nm lateral resolution in transmission …

Current Pathophysiological Concepts In Cerebral Small Vessel Disease., Fred Rincon, Clinton B Wright

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

The association between cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) - in the form of white matter lesions, infarctions, and hemorrhages - with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), has mostly been deduced from observational studies. Pathological conditions affecting the small vessels of the brain and leading to SVD have suggested plausible molecular mechanisms involved in vascular damage and their impact on brain function. However, much still needs to be clarified in understanding the pathophysiology of VCI, the role of neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's disease, and the impact of aging itself. In addition, both genetic predispositions and environmental exposures may potentiate the development …

Model-Based Analysis For Qualitative Data: An Application In Drosophila Germline Stem Cell Regulation., Michael S. Pargett, Ann E. Rundell, Gregery T. Buzzard, David Michael Umulis

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Discovery in developmental biology is often driven by intuition that relies on the integration of multiple types of data such as fluorescent images, phenotypes, and the outcomes of biochemical assays. Mathematical modeling helps elucidate the biological mechanisms at play as the networks become increasingly large and complex. However, the available data is frequently under-utilized due to incompatibility with quantitative model tuning techniques. This is the case for stem cell regulation mechanisms explored in the Drosophila germarium through fluorescent immunohistochemistry. To enable better integration of biological data with modeling in this and similar situations, we have developed a general parameter estimation …

Chronic Corticosterone Exposure Persistently Elevates The Expression Of Memory-Related Genes In The Lateral Amygdala And Enhances The Consolidation Of A Pavlovian Fear Memory, Melissa S. Monsey, Lara M. Boyle, Melinda L. Zhang, Caroline P. Nguyen, Hope G. Kronman, Kristie T. Ota, Ronald S. Duman, Jane R. Taylor, Glenn E. Schafe

Publications and Research

Chronic exposure to stress has been widely implicated in the development of anxiety disorders, yet relatively little is known about the long-term effects of chronic stress on amygdala-dependent memory formation. Here, we examined the effects of a history of chronic exposure to the stress-associated adrenal steroid corticosterone (CORT) on the consolidation of a fear memory and the expression of memory-related immediate early genes (IEGs) in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA). Rats received chronic exposure to CORT (50 μg/ml) in their drinking water for 2 weeks and were then titrated off the CORT for an additional 6 days followed …

Strad Pseudokinases Regulate Axogenesis And Lkb1 Stability, Biliana O. Veleva-Rotse, James L. Smart, Annette F. Baas, Benjamin Edmonds, Zi-Ming Zhao, Allyson Brown, Lillian R. Klug, Kelly Hansen, Gabrielle Rielly, Alexandria P. Gardner, Krishnaveni Subbiah, Eric A. Gaucher, Hans Clevers, Anthony P. Barnes

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

No abstract provided.

Perspectives Of Social Work Students On Nutrition And The Nutrition Effects On Mental Health, Diana Tran

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Nutrition is related to the mental well-being of clients. However, the nutritional views and practices of social workers in the mental health field have not been thoroughly explored. By using the post-positivist paradigm, 15 mental health social work students were interviewed for their perspectives regarding nutrition and nutrition’s effect on stress. Their main ideas were identified, connected, and organized to develop a theoretical statement. The resulting theory focused on the development of social work students' perspectives in applying nutrition into their mental health practice. The students were influenced by a variety of background factors, including their education, barriers to applying …

Exploring Local Adaptation And The Ocean Acidification Seascape - Studies In The California Current Large Marine Ecosystem, G. E. Hofmann, T. G. Evans, M. W. Kelly, J. L. Padilla-Gamiño, C. A. Blanchette, L. Washburn, F. Chan, M. A. Mcmanus, B. A. Menge, B. Gaylord, T. M. Hill, E. Sanford, M. Lavigne, J. M. Rose, L. Kapsenberg, J. M. Dutton

Faculty Publications

The California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME), a temperate marine region dominated by episodic upwelling, is predicted to experience rapid environmental change in the future due to ocean acidification. The aragonite saturation state within the California Current System is predicted to decrease in the future with near-permanent undersaturation conditions expected by the year 2050. Thus, the CCLME is a critical region to study due to the rapid rate of environmental change that resident organisms will experience and because of the economic and societal value of this coastal region. Recent efforts by a research consortium-the Ocean Margin Ecosystems Group for Acidification …

Mentoring Undergraduates Via Organic Synthesis, Steven L. Castle

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This report summarizes the results of the mentoring environment in my laboratory that were generated from January 2012 to present. During this period, a total of seven undergraduates performed research in my laboratory. Their names and accomplishments are listed below.

The Ipocamp Pressure Incubator For Deep-Sea Fauna, Bruce Shillito, Françoise Gaill, Juliette Ravaux

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Animal Biology studies have always benefited from the achievement of experiments on live animals, which obviously provide data on dynamic aspects of physiology. When it comes to deep-sea fauna, in vivo experiments are impaired, and in some cases impossible, due to the severe and often lethal stress experienced by animals throughout the sampling process. However, freshly collected deep fauna may be maintained alive and in good condition, by using specific aquaria which restore environmental conditions prevailing at depth in situ. Here we describe the pressure device named “Incubateur Pressurisé pour l’Observation et la Culture d’Animaux Marins Profonds”, or IPOCAMP, and …

Imaging Interferometric Microscopy To The Limits Of Available Frequency Space, Alexander Neumann

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Imaging interferometric microscopy (IIM) is a synthetic aperture approach offering the potential of optical resolution to the linear systems limit of optics (~lambda/4n). IIM allows one to resolve structures not accessible in a conventional illumination setup, while using a low NA microscope objective and thus keeping the large working distance, depth of focus and field of view associated with the lower NA. The goal of this dissertation is to reach ultimate resolution limits of non-fluorescent microscopy by using IIM in new optical configurations realizing a solid immersion technique with immersion materials employed in advanced regimes unsuitable in other systems. The …

Copy Number Variation In Chickens: A Review And Future Prospects, Xiaofei Wang, Shannon Byers

Biology Faculty Research

DNA sequence variations include nucleotide substitution, deletion, insertion, translocation and inversion. Deletion or insertion of a large DNA segment in the genome, referred to as copy number variation (CNV), has caught the attention of many researchers recently. It is believed that CNVs contribute significantly to genome variability, and thus contribute to phenotypic variability. In chickens, genome-wide surveys with array comparative genome hybridization (aCGH), SNP chip detection or whole genome sequencing have revealed a large number of CNVs. A large portion of chicken CNVs involves protein coding or regulatory sequences. A few CNVs have been demonstrated to be the determinant factors …

Repair Of Oxidative Dna Damage And Cancer: Recent Progress In Dna Base Excision Repair, Timothy L. Scott, Suganya Rangaswamy, Christina A. Wicker, Tadahide Izumi

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

SIGNIFICANCE: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by exogenous and environmental genotoxins, but also arise from mitochondria as byproducts of respiration in the body. ROS generate DNA damage of which pathological consequence, including cancer is well established. Research efforts are intense to understand the mechanism of DNA base excision repair, the primary mechanism to protect cells from genotoxicity caused by ROS.

RECENT ADVANCES: In addition to the notion that oxidative DNA damage causes transformation of cells, recent studies have revealed how the mitochondrial deficiencies and ROS generation alter cell growth during the cancer transformation.

CRITICAL ISSUES: The emphasis of this …

An Ethnobotanical, Ecological And Lc-Ms-Based Chemometric Investigation Of Phaleria Nisidai, A Traditional Adaptogen Containing Diterpene Esters From Palau, Micronesia, Daniel Kulakowski

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

An ethnobotanical, ecological and LC-MS-based chemometric investigation of Phaleria nisidai, a traditional adaptogen containing diterpene esters from Palau, Micronesia

Palau is a country with a rich heritage of traditional medicine still being practiced. One of the most popular and respected remedies in Palau is a tea made from fresh leaves of Phaleria nisidai Kaneh. (Thymelaeaceae). Interviews conducted to determine the use of this plant revealed that it is employed non-specifically to treat a variety of general health concerns. Its use as a prophylactic to keep away sickness, as a 'system cleaner', as well as for strength and energy indicate …

Weighted Inverse Weibull Distribution: Statistical Properties And Applications, Valeriia Sherina, Broderick O. Oluyede

Mathematical Sciences: Faculty Publications

In this paper, the weighted inverse Weibull (WIW) class of distributions is proposed and studied. This class of distributions contains several models such as: length-biased, hazard and reverse hazard proportional inverse Weibull, proportional inverse Weibull, inverse Weibull, inverse exponential, inverse Rayleigh, and Fr´echet distributions as special cases. Properties of these distributions including the behavior of the hazard function, moments, coefficients of variation, skewness, and kurtosis, R´enyi entropy and Fisher information are presented. Estimates of the model parameters via method of maximum likelihood (ML) are presented. Extensive simulation study is conducted and numerical examples are given.

The Brain’S Response To Physical Activity Studied With Fmri, Ren Weidman, Dr. Travis Oliphant

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In recent years the fields of medicine and physiological research have made many advancements as a result of application of technology. One example of this is the device known as the Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine (MRI). MRI machines use innovative methods based on principles of physics and electronics to effectively attain a cross-sectional view of the human body. The MRI machine emits an electromagnetic field in the presence of a static field to manipulate the nuclear spin of hydrogen atoms in the body. The received signal can then be interpreted and reconstructed to plot a picture of the section examined. …