Life Sciences Commons^™

Β-Cell Adaptation To Elevated Palmitate Concentrations (Hyperlipidemia), Daniel R. Lathen, Jeffery S. Tessem Ph.D.

Student Works

It is estimated that over 370 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, and this number is increasing rapidly. Normally, β-cells in the pancreas secrete insulin, which is necessary for proper glucose absorption and storage. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are characterized by decreased functional β-cell mass and insulin production, and increased circulating glucose and fatty acid levels. Diabetics’ pancreata maintain small amounts of functional β-cells, but these surviving cells are damaged and destroyed over time due to the harmful effects of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. These β-cells must adapt to survive. Hence, diabetes is itself a selective process. We …

The Folklore Of Flowers, Lisa Karen Miller

DLPS Faculty Publications

This presentation was prepared for WKU's Society for Lifelong Learning. It relates history and folklore of a variety of flowers, including their use in folk medicine, as food, and other stories and beliefs.

Extensive Dieback In Malosma Laurina In Coastal Exposures Of The Santa Monica Mountains Associated With Unprecedented Drought In California, Gina S. Gilderman, Kaitlyn E. Sauer, Gabriella N. Palmeri

Featured Research

Throughout coastal exposures of the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) there is a recent emergence of widespread dieback in Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina). M. laurina is a keystone species of chaparral that dominates the SMM. A significant trait of M. laurina is an extensive root system exceeding 12 m in depth. We hypothesized that M. laurina was weakened by unprecedented drought in California (2013-2015) and predisposed to fungal pathogens. An initial study conducted in the summer of 2015 revealed all stem samples taken from dieback adult M. laurina plants were infected with Botryosphaeria dothidea, while zero stem samples taken …

Root Hydraulic Conductance In Laurel Sumac Experiencing Severe Dieback In The Santa Monica Mountains, Natalie M. Aguirre, Avery N. Davis, Sarah B. Nelson

Featured Research

Malosma laurina (laurel sumac) is a dominant species in coastal chaparral ecosystems, extending its roots down to an average of 40 feet in rocky, sandy soils. The deep root systems of M. laurina provide structural support for the steep Santa Monica Mountains. The roots also allow M. laurina to draw from the deep water table, increasing its drought tolerance. M. laurina dieback is prevalent in coastal exposures of the Santa Monica Mountains presumably due to historic drought predisposing plant tissues to infection by the fungal pathogen Botryosphaeria dothidea. In ecosystems that experience annual dry periods, a high hydraulic conductance …

Recent Dieback In A Keystone Chaparral Species Is Caused By A Fungal Pathogen, Botryosphaeria Dothidea, Frida Morales, Mariah Taylor

Featured Research

Due to the recent drought in Southern California, the abundance of a keystone species within the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) has been dwindling. This species, Malosma laurina, has an average root depth of 40 feet, so it has little difficulty tapping into the watershed. Recently, this species has undergone extensive dieback, which is potentially attributed to the unprecedented drought and the introduction of the fungus B. dothidea. While this fungi appears to be innocuous to M. laurina when the plant is healthy, it is more susceptible to invasion under water stress due to the dry heated conditions of …

Premature Seed Germination And High Seedling Mortality In A Chaparral Shrub (Adenostoma Fasciculatum) Caused By Severe Drought In Calfiornia, Lexe Evans, Teal Speece, Stephen D. Davis

Biology

The Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) represents one of five Mediterranean-type environments in the world. With sustained summer droughts, this ecosystem is prone to frequent wildfires, a phenomenon that has affected the SMM with regularity once every 32 years. Adenostoma fasciculatum (chamise), is a chaparral shrub well adapted to wildfire cycles because typically its seeds are triggered to germinate by high fire temperatures, smoke, and charate. In the winter of 2015, we were surprised to discover seedlings of A. fasiculatum emerging at an unburned chaparral site without the occurrence of fire. We hypothesized that drought induced canopy dieback at some microsites, …

Recent Dieback In A Keystone Chaparral Species Is Caused By A Fungal Pathogen, Botryosphaeria Dothidea, Adriana Borges, Frida Morales, Emily Pierce, Mariah Taylor

Biology

Due to the recent drought in Southern California, the abundance of a keystone species, Malosma laurina, within the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) has been dwindling. This species has a rooting depth that exceeds 13 m, so it typically has little difficulty tapping into the water table. Recently, this species has undergone extensive dieback, which might be attributed to the unprecedented drought in California and predisposition fungal pathogen Botryosphaeria. dothidea. While this fungi appears to be innocuous to M. laurina when the plant is healthy, it is more susceptible to invasion under water stress due to the dry and …

Extensive Dieback In Malosma Laurina In Coastal Exposures Of The Santa Monica Mountains Associated With Unprecedented Drought In California, Gina S. Gilderman, Kaitlyn E. Sauer, Gabriella Palmeri

Biology

Throughout coastal exposures of the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) there is a recent emergence of widespread dieback in Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina). M. laurina is a keystone species of chaparral that dominates the SMM. A significant trait of M. laurina is an extensive root system exceeding 12 m in depth. We hypothesized that M. laurina was weakened by unprecedented drought in California (2013-2015) and predisposed to fungal pathogens. An initial study conducted in the summer of 2015 revealed all stem samples taken from dieback adult M. laurina plants were infected with Botryosphaeria dothidea, while zero stem samples taken …

A Machine Learning Approach To Post-Market Surveillance Of Medical Devices, Jonathan Bates, Shu-Xia Li, Craig Parzynski, Ronald Coifman, Harlan Krumholz, Joseph Ross

Yale Day of Data

Post-market surveillance is a collection of processes and activities used by product manufacturers and regulators, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor the safety and effectiveness of medical devices once they are available for use “on the market”. These activities are designed to generate information to identify poorly performing devices and other safety problems, accurately characterize real-world device performance and clinical outcomes, and facilitate the development of new devices, or new uses for existing devices. Typically, a device is monitored by comparing adverse events in the exposed population to a matched unexposed population. This research considers …

Natural Gardening, Lisa Karen Miller

DLPS Faculty Publications

This presentation features methods of natural and organic gardening that preclude the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides.

Novel Seed Germination In Response To California’S Historic Drought May Deplete Soil Seed Banks, Amanda M. Burns, Victoria M. Lekson, Helen I. Holmlund, Stephen D. Davis

Biology

We observed novel seed germination, without a fire cue, in an obligate seeding species of chaparral (Ceanothus megacarpus) during historic drought in California (2014). We hypothesized that premature germination was promoted by drought-induced canopy dieback among adults that allowed high radiation loads to reach normally shaded soils, cracking seed coats, facilitating water uptake. We hypothesized that because premature seed germination was late in the season (April, when December is typical) roots would not have time to penetrate deep moisture resources before the onset of summer drought, leading to excessive mortality and eventual depletion of soil seed banks. We …

Comparative Foliar Water Uptake And Leaf Hydrophobicity In Island Versus Mainland Ferns, Victoria M. Lekson, Helen I. Holmlund, Nicole A. Nakamatsu, Amanda M. Burns, Stephen D. Davis

Biology

In 2014, Southern California experienced the worst drought in the last 1,200 years. In this study, the mechanisms of drought tolerance for eight species of ferns in the Santa Monica Mountains were assessed with a focus on foliar water uptake and hydrophobicity of frond (leaf) surfaces. We measured gravimetric foliar water uptake and angle of contact for a drop of water on a frond. Seasonal shifts were tracked as a method of following drought response patterns.

Fog is becoming more important due to limited ground water. Fog is far more common on Santa Cruz Island off the coast of California …

Fatty Acid Recovery And Identification In Mars Analogue Soil Samples, Kimberly E. Lykens

STAR Program Research Presentations

A primary goal of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission is to gather and store samples of Mars soil that could possibly be returned to Earth in a future mission for investigations into past or present life. In years leading up to a potential sample return mission on Mars and potentially other worlds, samples taken from Chile’s Atacama Desert, the most arid, biologically limited desert in the world, are valuable in developing a capacity for biosignature detection, specifically when exploring fatty acid abundance. Eighteen samples were collected from two sites in the Atacama characterized by biological soil crusts (BSC). BSCs are areas …

Teaching Evolution: A Students’ Perspective, Abdullah Allaoa, Tyniqua Hinton

Publications and Research

Many may wonder “where do we come from?” Over time, scientists have pondered and tested the concept of evolution. Simply put, evolution is gradual change over time. A major tenet of evolution is natural selection, which includes three principles which are variation in population, differential reproduction due to competition, and heredity. These principles are supported by multiple lines of evidence, including biochemical, geographical, fossil, and anatomical evidence. By providing tangible, real-world examples of evolution, we hope to provide a clear understanding of this long-studied scientific breakthrough, while at the same time showing how animals (including us) are related to each …

A Comparison Between Mri Findings And Post Operative Reports Of Labral Tears In The Shoulder, Breanna Davis

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

This experiment investigates the effectiveness of MR arthrography in 28 patients seen at Maine General Orthopedics over the last three years. All 28 patients had an arthroscopic surgery on the shoulders labrum by Dr. Anthony Mancini. I hypothesize the MR arthrography is accurate in diagnosing tears, but not accurate in describing the size and location of the tears. The results found portray the accuracy between MR arthrography findings and the post-operative reports. The study focuses not only on the ability of the MR arthrography to detect a labral tear, but also its effectiveness of finding the location (superior, posterior, inferior, …

Arboretum Pavilion, Jessica Lunde

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

Colbys Arboretum is one of the most aesthetically appealing parts of the campus as well as one of the best educational tools we have. However, it is, unfortunately, underutilized by students and by the public. Theres so much to learn from this environment in terms of scientific study of the environment, but also in terms of self-reflection. The arboretum has been described as a place where one can think without pressure and the structure is guided by this idea of escape.

Regeneration After Destruction: An Investigation About Deforestation For Fruit Boxes In The Provinces Of Tungurahua And Pastaza, Ecuador, Julia Rogers

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

The extraction of wood for use as boxes for fruit in the region between Baos and Puyo in the provinces of Tungurahua and Pastaza in Ecuador is a large source of deforestation in the area. The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of this deforestation on the insects, birds, and seedlings to better understand the effects of small scale deforestation in the cloud forest of Ecuador. Six different sites were studied; 2 sites were cut within 2014, 1 site in 2012, 1 site is a forest of 4 to 8 years, and 2 sites are mature forest. …

Demographic Survey Of The Sohisika (Schizolaena Tampoketsana), James Lucas

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

The sohisika (Schizolaena tampoketsana; family Sarcolaenaceae) is a little-known, highly threatened angiosperm endemic to the forest fragments and savanna of the Hauts Plateaux region at Ankafobe Commune, Madagascar. Through targeted surveillance of sohisika at Ankafobe, this study aimed primarily to characterize the demography of the sohisika via GPS mapping of latitude, longitude, and altitude, through dendrometric measures such as height and diameter at breast height (DBH), and through calculation of distribution patterns via Morisitas index. Secondary goals aimed to describe the ecology of the sohisika within its environment and hoped to identify patterns between age class, aspect, habitat, and surrounding …

Demonstration Of Adaptive Optics In A Laboratory Setting, Jianing Yang

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

We constructed a simple adaptive optics system to demonstrate how a laser guide star coupled with a deformable mirror and wavefront sensor can be used to correct for distortions caused by turbulence in the Earths atmosphere. Adaptive optics (AO) systems are currently implemented at a number of national astronomical observatories, including the W. M. Keck Observatory, Gemini, and Subaru, and is a key design component for the next generation of very large (30-meter-class) ground-based telescopes. Adaptive optics is crucial for improving spatial resolution of ground-based imaging in astronomy. Using AO, we are able to achieve better image quality with the …

The Effects Of Flooding On Photosynthesis, Transpiration, And Stomatal Conductance Of Three Bottomland Hardwood Species, Angela Sutherland, Hans Williams

Bright Ideas Conference

Many tree species are able to adapt to harsh environmental conditions in order to survive. The degree of adaptability can determine how long a species can survive during prolonged environmental stress. This experiment monitored the effects of flooding on the photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance of three bottomland hardwood tree species: water oak (Quercus nigra), willow oak (Quercus phellos), and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum).

Is There A Relationship Between Physical Inactivity And Visceral Fat Accumulation In Pregnant Women?, Ashlyn R. Showalter, Danielle Brown

Symposium of Student Scholars

Association of Physical Inactivity with Visceral Fat Accumulation in Pregnant Women

Ashlyn Showalter, Danielle Brown

Introduction: Abdominal obesity is associated with chronic diseases such as obesity and coronary artery disease (1). Abdominal (or visceral) fat is strongly correlated with an inactive and sedentary lifestyle. Recent research shows that pregnancy is associated with high levels of visceral fat beyond appropriate levels; however, no studies have linked them with physical inactivity. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between physical inactivity and high visceral fat accumulation in pregnancy.

Methods:

•We recruited eleven pregnant women who are currently in …

How Does The Exploitation And Degradation Of Finite Natural Resources By Industrial Oil Producers Effect Our Future Planetary Environment?, Zachary J. King Mr.

Symposium of Student Scholars

Zachary King

Dr. Tu

26 March 2015

GEOG 3700

Abstract

The purpose of this presentation is to communicate content of the reports given by credible institution on the degradation and exploitation of finite natural resources by corporate institutions, for short term financial gain, and how it will effect the future planetary environment. Methods used in obtaining this research range from point source observation directly from oil spills in the Gulf or pipe leaks in the Mid-West, to analytical and numerical data quantifications gathered over a period of two decades. This presentation encompasses a wide scope of information concerning the way …

Repsa-Directed Identification Of Dna-Binding Specificity For Orphan Transcription Factors, Kamir Hiam

Symposium of Student Scholars

The function of many genes and the biological roles of their encoded products are still not well characterized. Given the sequence-specific DNA-binding properties of transcription factor proteins, it is possible to purify them, identify the responsible polypeptide(s), determine their consensus binding sequences, and identify their genomic binding sites. Thus, one can go from cellular extract to proposed biological regulatory roles in relatively short order. Our goal is to identify and characterize orphan DNA-binding proteins in the model organism E. coli K12 using the novel combinatorial technique, REPSA (Restriction Endonuclease Protection Selection Amplification), as well as further develop the REPSA to …

Fitness Parameters In Malosma Laurina Seedlings Growing Near And Away From Invasive Brassica Nigra, Natalie M. Aguirre, Agustin Vargas, Phoebe Shin

Featured Research

In this study we aim to assess the photosynthetic rate of native Malosma laurina (M. laurina) seedling, in comparison to M. laurina seedlings growing amongst several hundred B. nigra invasive plants. We predicted that there will be a difference in the stomatal conductance of each population. We measured photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), seedling height, and stomatal conductance of two isolated populations of M. laurina seedlings. One population grows near B. nigra, an invasive specie, and the other only grows amongst native plants. We found that M. laurina seedlings growing near weeds …

Effects Of Drought On Malosma Laurina Leaves, Suk Ho (Josh) Chang, Jingyi Chen, Sarah B. Nelson

Featured Research

Drought induced deformations in the chaparral plant Malosma laurina were observed following the lack of water availability during the years of 2013 and 2014. We hypothesized that the middle leaves grown during the drought would have the lowest productivity, the top post-drought leaves would have the highest productivity, and the bottom pre-drought leaves would have an intermediate level of productivity. We used a sample size of n = 6, representing 6 unique M. laurina plants. To obtain our data, we used the LI-6400 gas exchange system. In our comparisons of photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic quenching of the top, …

Correlation Between Hydration And Reflectance Of Yellow Petals On Encelia Californica, Jayci M. Givens, Kaylee A. Nussbaum, Caitlin R. Kawata

Featured Research

It is known that the NDVI can be used as a measure of hydration in plants because of the variation in pigments due to xanthophyll cycling (Schmitz et al., 2013). Flower petals can also exhibit variations in petal reflectance invisible to the naked eye (Fam & Espinoza, 2013). It was hypothesized that overall hydration levels of a plant would correlate to a difference in the pigments produced for petal color, and thus differences in hydration levels would correlate to differences in petal reflectance. To test this hypothesis, three flowers and two stems were collected from ten different E. californica plants, …

Effects Of High Light Exposure On Photosynthetic Rate And Fluorescence Of Eucrypta Chrysanthemifolia, Alec Flores, Gina Gilderman, Hannah Dario

Featured Research

In this experiment, we examined how a partial shade plant, Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia, found in the Santa Monica Mountains, responded to predictive models of higher light intensities created bydrought. We hypothesized that, with higher levels of light, Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia would respond with a decreased photosynthetic rate, light-adapted, and dark-adapted fluorescence. This was performed by comparing control plants grown in an artificial shade environment to plants exposed to a series of high light intensity treatments. These partial shade plants were found on Piuma Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains. Our data supported our null hypothesis, indicating the photosynthetic rates and light-adapted …

Seedling Resprouts Of Adenostoma Fasciculatum Between Wildfire Cycles Are Promoted By Environmental Conditions That Mimic Fire-Like Environments, Lexe Evans, Teal Speece, Stephen D. Davis

Featured Research

The Santa Monica Mountains represent one of the largest Mediterranean-type environments in the world. With sustained summer droughts, this ecosystem has become prone to frequent wildfires, a phenomenon that has affected the area with regularity (approximately 21 years apart). Naturally, this cycle of wildfires has had a great effect upon the mortality and survival of the diverse chaparral varieties that inhabit the Santa Monica Mountain region. This includes the Adenostoma fasciculatum (chamise), which is the most commonly-found form of chaparral shrub in California. (Redfeldt & Davis, 1996) This species of chaparral is particularly well-adapted to survival in a climate that …

Difference In Chaparral Species Population On The North And South Aspect On Pepperdine University Campus, Alexandra N. Lozano, Drew N. Rasmussen, Ashlyn L. Rawls

Featured Research

In this experiment, we analyzed the difference in population frequencies of chaparral plants along the north and south aspect of a slope on Pepperdine University campus in the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu, CA. We began the experiment by hypothesizing the south aspect would receive the most sunlight, and thus would hold the most amount of plants. By using the Point Quarter Sampling Method, we were able to determine if our hypothesis was correct. After analyzing our data, we found no significant difference between the north and south aspect in terms on frequency. During our experiment we also measured the …

Possible Fungal Infection Leading To Malosma Laurina Dieback, Gabriella N. Palmeri, Braden S. Olsen, Kaitlyn E. Sauer, Stephen D. Davis

Featured Research

There is a significant and apparent dieback of Malosma laurina in the Santa Monica Mountains, some which is found near Pepperdine University. Other areas near Pepperdine show a flourishing growth of M. laurina and our objective was to determine why this difference in M. laurina health exists. We initially hypothesized that in addition to water stress, the unhealthy M. laurina was effected by a pathogen. Under further inspection, the unhealthy plants contained hyphae in some of their xylem vessels, while the healthy ones did not. We sought to determine whether the existence of hyphae in the unhealthy plant’s xylem affected …