Life Sciences Commons^™

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

Scholars Week

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

Author: Levi G Umland

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

The Impact Of Mental Fatigue On Motor Unit Firing Behaviour: A Pilot Study, Bernadette C. Tierney Ms.

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Examining the effects of muscle fatigue on force and motor unit firing behaviour using surface electromyography to quantify motor unit firing behaviour.

Effect Of Carbon Monoxide Releasing Molecule 3 (Corm - 3) On Platelet Adhesion To Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells, Najat S. El-Farra

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Sepsis is characterized by the widespread inflammation of the body. Systemic inflammation activates and recruits inflammatory cells (e.g., leukocytes) and platelets to the affected organs.

During these inflammatory conditions, human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMEC) and platelets both upregulate adhesive molecules rendering platelets to adhere to hBMEC.

Although carbon monoxide is thought of as a toxic molecule to many, previous work shows its anti-inflammatory properties. Evidence has shown carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (e.g., CORM-3; that release small, non-toxic amounts of CO) can combat the effects of severe inflammation in several in vivo animal model.

In this current study, we are looking …

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

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

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

Familiarity As A Motivator For Information-Seeking, Danielle Raynes-Goldfinger

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Curiosity is an integral part of motivation and results in information-seeking behaviors to obtain rewarding information. Theories on curiosity suggest that it occurs when an information gap is detected. Here, we explored whether the assessment of familiarity may result in the induction of curiosity. We employed 3 phases, the first involving memorization of face-name pairs. Next, participants were presented with new and the old faces and were asked to judge whether they fully remembered the name, whether the face was familiar despite the name being unrecallable, or whether the face nor name was familiar. To conclude, we allowed participants to …

Investigating Stop Codon Readthrough In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Amy Kwon

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Stop codon readthrough occurs via genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, resulting in a longer polypeptide chain at the C-terminus. Although these readthroughs may seem like an error made by translational mechanisms, evidence from yeast suggests that stop codon readthrough has an impact on various cellular processes. Readthrough has the potential to create genetic diversity, similar to RNA splicing, mRNA editing, and protein modification. The diversity created by translational readthrough may result in a beneficial change in phenotype, and thus have a role in evolution and adaptability. Translational readthrough is observed in organisms such as yeast and E. coli but may also …

Using Wgcna For Comprehensive Understanding Of Genes Involved In Suberin Biosynthesis From Rna-Seq Data Analysis, Stephanie Wu

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Suberin is a heteropolymer comprising a cell wall-bound poly(phenolic) domain (SPPD) covalently linked to a poly(aliphatic) domain (SPAD) that is deposited between the cell wall and plasma membrane (Woolfson 2018). Previous studies have measured phenolic and/or fatty acid compounds in suberized tissues, and for many of these the biosynthesis is known, However, restricting analyses to only those biomolecules that are known does not yield new information about other genes that may be involved. This experiment serves to identify suberin associated gene clusters within Modules, based on an analysis of their expression patterns using Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA). Once …

Niche Partitioning And Utilization Of Different Nitrogen Sources By Marine Cyanobacteria Synechococcus, Angel Bui, Anne W. Thompson

McNair Symposium

The Cyanobacterium Synechococcus plays a major role in the ocean’s biochemical processes and is responsible for a significant amount of primary production, especially around coastal areas. Synechococcus has a wide geographical distribution that includes both polar and high-nutrient waters. Within the genus, there are defined subpopulations that are ecologically distinct that allow them to niche partition the dynamic oceans. To further explore niche partitioning of Synechococcus, this project combines a bioinformatic and culture-based approach. I examined data along the North Pacific Subtropical Front (NSPF) to analyze the community structure. This analysis demonstrated that a particular ecotype identified as clade II …

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

McNair Symposium

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

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

McNair Symposium

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

Cd40l And Tnf-Alpha Levels After Traumatic Injury, Queen Revollido, Martin Schreiber

McNair Symposium

The biomarkers CD40 ligand and TNF-alpha are proteins that exhibit proinflammatory and prothrombotic effects. A small clinical study has shown that soluble CD40 ligand may have a role in early coagulopathy and inflammatory complications in severely injured patients. It is known that a CD40 ligand increases the production of cytokines such as TNF-alpha, thus, the current study aims to investigate the kinetics of these biomarkers and the extent of upregulation after traumatic injury. Frozen samples collected from baseline, 8, 24, and 48 hours after admission will be used. CD40 ligand and TNF-alpha levels will be quantified using Luminex that will …

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

McNair Symposium

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

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

McNair Symposium

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

Using Bioenergetics To Model The Effects Of Climate Change On Bluntnose Minnows Pimephales Notatus In A Western Kentucky Stream, Christian Slone, Christian Slone

Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Bioenergetics considers a variety of factors like consumption, excretion, and metabolism to quantify the energy use of an organism. A common use of bioenergetics modeling is to help solve fish stock problems. This project looks to develop a bioenergetics model for Bluntnose Minnows Pimephales notatus to help predict effects of climate change on the biodiversity of western Kentucky streams. We used R and NetLogo to create an agent-based bioenergetics model to simulate the size distribution of Bluntnose Minnows under various temperature regimes. Bluntnose Minnow metabolism increases, and consumption decreases with an increase in water temperature. Fish growth seems to be …

Classical Conditioning Of Cognitive States, Arthur Burns

Neuroscience Presentations

This research sought out to do preliminary testing to prepare for honors research in the 2021 academic year. This research focuses on attempting to classically condition cognitive states. Learning tasks were designed to elicit relaxation or arousal in partisans and a combination of EEG data, pupil dilation data, performance on cognitive tasks, and self-report were used to evaluate the level of cognitive states in participants.

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

2021 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Oral Presentations

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

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

Pence-Boyce STEM Student Scholarship

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

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

Binder Cover Garden Ecology, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 10: Garden Ecology

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Educator And Student Instructions, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 10: Garden Ecology

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Maintaining The Garden, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 10: Garden Ecology

No abstract provided.

Binder Cover, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 13: Birds in the Urban Landscape

No abstract provided.

Urban Birds, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 13: Birds in the Urban Landscape

No abstract provided.

Hummingbird Pictures For Picture Walk, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 13: Birds in the Urban Landscape

No abstract provided.

2017 Student Hummingbird Poster, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 13: Birds in the Urban Landscape

No abstract provided.

Picture Walk Cards, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Coyote Ecology & Resilience, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Preparing The Garden Site, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 10: Garden Ecology

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Instructional, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 10: Garden Ecology

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Coyote Population Dynamics, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Coyote Traits, Adaptations & Behavior, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.