Life Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating Gizzard Shad Dorosoma Cepedianum Populations In Two Kentucky Reservoirs Recently Invaded With Silver Carp Hypopthalmichthys Molitrix, Nathan Klein

Scholars Week

Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum are an ecologically important fish species found in many reservoirs throughout the southeastern United States such as Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. One current challenge that Gizzard Shad may face in these two reservoirs is competition with the invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. However, quantifying the impacts of this competition may be difficult because of limited baseline population data for Gizzard Shad in these two reservoirs. The objective of this study is to describe size structure, condition, age, growth, mortality, and spawning potential of these two populations. Gizzard Shad were collected by boat electrofishing and …

Independent And Interactive Effects Of Genetic Background And Sex On Tissue Metabolomes Of Adipose, Skeletal Muscle, And Liver In Mice., Ann E Wells, William T Barrington, Stephen Dearth, Nikhil Milind, Gregory W. Carter, David W Threadgill, Shawn R Campagna, Brynn H Voy

Faculty Research 2022

Genetics play an important role in the development of metabolic diseases. However, the relative influence of genetic variation on metabolism is not well defined, particularly in tissues, where metabolic dysfunction that leads to disease occurs. We used inbred strains of laboratory mice to evaluate the impact of genetic variation on the metabolomes of tissues that play central roles in metabolic diseases. We chose a set of four common inbred strains that have different levels of susceptibility to obesity, insulin resistance, and other common metabolic disorders. At the ages used, and under standard husbandry conditions, these lines are not overtly diseased. …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Oxytocin Receptor Mutations, Oxytocin Receptor Binding And Autism, Ethan Dayley

Student Research Symposium

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common neurological disorder with a wide range of symptoms, many of them social in nature. Although there is a large body on research regarding ASD, up until now there is no gene-brain-behavior link that has shown the exact cause of ASD. In 2018, Dr. Sara Freeman's research showed differences in oxytocin receptor (OXTR) binding density in two brain regions between typically developing and ASD individuals. Here we show that about 50% of the variation seen in Dr. Freeman's study can be explained by genetic variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) in the OXTR gene, …

Effects Of Eccentric Overload Training When Combined With Aquatic Plyometric Training On Muscle Function Measures, Cassidy Weeks

Student Research Symposium

Previous research done at Utah State using a novel training machine, the Eccentron, has shown large improvements in muscular strength compared to traditional resistance training in a time and energy-efficient manner. This type of training could be beneficial for clinicians looking for a modality that can elicit rapid and large strength increases in populations that may not tolerate traditional resistance training. The strength gains made from the Eccentron did not transfer to vertical jump height or sprint speed indicating limited use for training the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). SSC is a critical contributor to functional and sport performance measures and is …

How Fire Severity Influences Black Bear Space Use, Emily Lowrimore

Student Research Symposium

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the most common bear species in North America and inhabits forested areas throughout Utah state. Black bears provide a variety of ecosystem services including seed dispersal, opportunity for hunting, and offering a representation of pristine wilderness. Food source availability is believed to be the driving force behind black bear movement, habitat selection, and home range formation. Ensuring that black bears have a variety of vegetation types available to them is crucial to their success. Wildfire is a major disturbance in the forested regions black bears occupy and can cause dramatic habitat changes that …

Could Differences In Aerobic Capacity Between Lower Limbs Negatively Impact Mobility Among Older Adults?, Daxton Kennington, Chayston Brown

Student Research Symposium

Falls are a primary cause of injury and mortality among older adults with 28.7% reporting falling each year. Previous research has found lower limb asymmetries are not strictly due to strength differences or previous injury among young, healthy individuals. Our proposed strategy will assess aerobic capacity between limbs and quantify asymmetries by comparing VO2 peak and power in single limb cycling vs. double limb cycling tests. We hypothesis that individuals with asymmetries (limb differences) will have greater fall risk and worsened mobility than individuals without asymmetries. Our sampling will include individuals 65 years of age and older. Limb dominance will …

Light Requirements For Germination Of Native Intermountain West Wetland Species In Competition With Phragmites Australis, Sage Chatterton

Student Research Symposium

Wetlands are important ecosystems that provide many services including carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, improved water quality, migratory bird habitat, etc. However, many wetlands in the Intermountain West are in a degraded state due to the introduction of invasive species, Phragmites australis, which displaces native communities. Wetland managers can reduce Phragmites invasion and improve restoration efforts by understanding differences in germination requirements among species, as germination greatly affects plant success. This research aims to better understand the effects of light duration and intensity on the germination of native wetland species in comparison to Phragmites.

Responses Of Utah Native Plants To Saline Water Irrigation, Asmita Paudel

Student Research Symposium

Native plants are of great value in urban landscape as they are drought, disease, and pest tolerant. Use of native plants also helps to reduce air pollution and promote biodiversity. However, limited information exists for salinity stress responses of native plants. Four Utah native plants [Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick), Cercocarpus ledifolius (curl-leaf mountain mahogany), Cercocarpus montanus ‘Coy’ (alder-leaf mountain mahogany), and Shepherdia × utahensis ‘Torrey’ (hybrid buffaloberry)] were evaluated for relative salinity tolerance under greenhouse conditions. Plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.2 dS·m-1 (control) or saline solutions at ECs of 5.0 or 10.0 …

Evolution Of Floral Microbes And The Resulting Effects On Pollinator Preferences, Hailey Hatch

Student Research Symposium

Floral microbes are an overlooked aspect of the extended floral phenotype. They mediate interactions between flowers, pollinators, and other floral microbes that have significant implications for pollinator and plant health by altering floral nectar chemistry. The interactions between floral microbes and pollinators are critically important to understand as pollinators have a key role in both the crop and natural ecosystem world. Our aim is to explore how floral nectar traits may affect evolution and competition within the floral yeast Metchnikowia reukaufii, the floral bacteria Bacillus subtilis, and other microbes isolated from Brassica rapa nectar. To address this, we are conducting …

Developing A Novel Method For Testing Stopping Ability For Balance Recovery, Charlie Baggett, Chase Mitton

Student Research Symposium

This is a pilot study to determine a new method to assess response inhibition in a reactive balance context. Our aim is to create a method for assessing inhibition of a balance recovery step similar to past cognitive neuroscience research where button press responses in seated participants are used. A total of 17 young adults (18-30 years) were recruited for testing using the ReacStick and lean & release system in which participants were placed in a harness connected by a support cable to the wall behind them and another failsafe cable attached from the ceiling. Participants leaned into the support …

Correction Of F508del And G542x Mutations In Sheep Fibroblasts Of Cystic Fibrosis Models Using Crispr/Cas9 And Piggybac, Kaden Bunch

Student Research Symposium

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a human genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. Among the ~2000 known CF mutations, F508del mutation is found in 84% and G542X in 4.6% of the CF patients in US, respectively. The F508del mutation occurs in the exon 11 and is characterized by the deletion of the ‘CTT’ nucleotides that ultimately deletes the Phenylalanine residue at the position 508 of CFTR. It causes the misfolding of the CFTR protein, which is further degraded by proteases. The G542X is a nonsense mutation found in the exon 12 and associated with …

What Makes For A Good Silk?, Elijah Moss

Student Research Symposium

In Dr. Justin Jones' research lab, research is being conducted on different silks. The quality of the silk must be evaluated, and so I have identified three paragons that each silk strain is compared to: commercial viability, the efficacy of transgenic antimicrobial peptides, and tensile strength.

Phylogeny And Historical Biogeography Of Uroleucon Aphids, Audrey Mullen

Student Research Symposium

The aphid genus Uroleucon (Aphididae: Aphidinae: Macrosiphini) is a diverse group of about 230 species feeding mainly on Asteraceae as host plants and found globally in most temperate regions. However, the origins of the South American species are unknown, as are the relationships of these taxa to northern hemisphere Uroleucon species. This study seeks to establish the relationships between Uroleucon aphids native to South America and their North American and Eurasian counterparts using genetic data. We will use phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1 and 2 mitochondrial genes as well as the elongation factor 1α nuclear gene to …

The Relationship Between Isometric Strength And Time To Stabilize, Parker Carroll

Student Research Symposium

Forward falls are the most common fall direction and pose a safety concern for adults. To assess individuals’ balance recovery response, we analyzed how individuals stepped on a forward force plate. Multi-joint, lower limb isometric strength may provide additional insight to balance recovery after a forward, unanticipated perturbation. Gender indicates reaction time differences in the time to stabilize, with males more likely to produce greater isometric strength. Our research question was does maximal, isometric strength, and gender predicts the time it takes to stabilize after a perturbation. We hypothesize that maximal, isometric strength and gender would predict the time to …

Balance Recovery Time Was Different Across Age Groups, Cody Overson

Student Research Symposium

Falls can take a serious toll on the quality of life and independence of daily activities. Among falls, forward falls are the most common fall direction. To prevent forward falls, compensatory steps and change-in-support reactions (e.g., foot contact) are critical for stabilizing after unanticipated, balance disturbances. The purpose was to determine if the time to stabilize varied across ages. Participants were grouped into three age groups (18-24, 25-33, and 40-58 years old). Participants performed 24 forward perturbation trials. Time to stabilize was evaluated as the time from their foot contacted the front force place to when the net anterior-posterior (AP) …

Impacts Of Cftr Mutations On Pulmonary Development In Sheep, Kaden Bunch

Student Research Symposium

Due to various mutations, the loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function causes cystic fibrosis (CF), predisposing the lungs to chronic infection and inflammation. In young infants with CF, structural airway defects are increasingly recognized before the onset of significant lung disease, which suggests a developmental origin and a possible role in lung disease pathogenesis. The function of CFTR in lung development is unclear and developmental studies in humans with CF are not feasible. Young CF sheep show similar lung development and spontaneous postnatal lung disease similar to humans impacted by CF. We studied lung development in the …

Strawberry High Tunnel Effects On Different Forms Of Soil Nitrogen, Mark Kindred

Student Research Symposium

Nitrogen is an important component of plant nutrition. However, nitrogen in the soil comes in many different forms including some proteins, amino acids, and mineral nitrogen. Not all of these forms are available to plants. Things that affect the availability of nitrogen are temperature, moisture, and chemical composition of the material. It is difficult for organic farmers sourcing nitrogen because of low nitrogen content and availability from organic sources. However some plants can better utilize organic forms of nitrogen when it is available. This experiment examines how temperature affects different forms of inorganic and organic nitrogen. Additionally, it will explore …

Antimicrobial Activity Of Sagebrush Roots, Lauren Mcfadden

Student Research Symposium

Plants produce secondary metabolites for a variety of functions, one of which is for antibiotic reasons. Sagebrush has historically been used by Native Americans for a variety of medicinal purposes, suggesting that it may have secondary metabolites that would make good antibiotics. The purpose of this study is to continue previous research on antimicrobial activity of sagebrush by specifically testing the root extract against a handful of bacteria. Six BSL 1 bacteria were tested: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, E. coli DHSα, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pseudomonas syringa pv. Tabacia, and Pseudomonas syringa pv Tomato DC3000. All of the bacteria tested had some …

Halotolerant Endophytes: Identification And Characterization Of Plant-Growth Promoting Microbes In Saline Conditions, Katherine Hewitt

Student Research Symposium

Part of a plant’s biosphere are endophytes, microbes found between the cells of a plant. Plant-microbe relations are integral to plant survival and crop productivity, and can be beneficial to help a plant cope with abiotic stressors such as salinity. Our soils in Utah are high in salinity due to topography and climate. Climate change has increased soil salinity worldwide, and water availability is becoming scarcer, leading agriculture to use more saline sources to irrigate. Thus, salt is a concern for farmers. We aim to identify halotolerant endophytes which can benefit plant health. Microbes were isolated from Ceanothus velutinus, Snowbrush, …

Isolation And Characterization Of Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria From The Root Nodules Of Ceanothus Velutinus, Teja Sai Ellanki Narendra

Student Research Symposium

Ceanothus velutinusis an evergreen shrub native to the Intermountain West region of the US, commonly known as snowbrush. The center for water-efficient landscaping (CWEL) recommended this plant for sustainable landscaping as its moderately drought tolerant. The roots of these plants form an actinorhizal symbiotic relationship with Nitrogen fixing actinobacteria Frankia, which initiates root nodules formation. Besides, these plants also harbor Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) that help plants in nutrient uptake, plant hormone production, protecting the plants from ethylene stress, and production of metabolites, thus playing an essential role in plant growth and development. They can be used as biofertilizers to …

Transgenic Mice Demonstrate The Level Of Contribution Of Protein Cd38 To Nad+ Decline Seen In Human Aging, Abby Tucker

Student Research Symposium

Niacin (NAD+) is a a vital molecule in human metabolism. NAD+ decline with age is well documented and low NAD+ levels may cause aging symptoms, however the molecular cause of NAD+ decline is poorly understood. Few pathways in the human metabolism fully consume NAD+ as it is usually recycled to NADH. One protein found on immune cells, called CD38, does fully consume NAD+ in its reaction, and so it may contribute to niacin deficiency by depleting the NAD+ in the body over time. To determine CD38’s role in causing niacin deficiency and aging, we knocked out the CD38 gene in …

Prosthesis Grip Optimization, Taylor Thompson

Student Research Symposium

Custom prosthetics can be extremely expensive and any that are covered by health insurance have limited mobility. Those issues can become compounded when a young child outgrows their prosthetics quickly. One current solution to overcome these problems is 3D printed prosthetic hands. These can be produced quickly and be custom fit for the user, however, they are limited in mobility and grip options.The goal of this project was to develop a prosthesis that allowed each finger to move independently to increase mobility and grip options. After researching, designing, modeling, and printing, that goal was accomplished. The end product is a …

The Biology Behind Chemistry, Oakley Statham

Student Research Symposium

I have seen that majority of people find romance to be an abstract idea that can’t be defined. The research was aimed at finding out how much hormones affected people's relationships with each other. I knew that there was some effect but hypothesized that there was a large effect. I felt like this knowledge is important to understand because it would give readers an understanding of what is happening to them as they are navigating a relationship or wanting to begin one. Through the internet, library, and personal interviews I gathered sources that presented knowledge on my topic. By collecting …

Changes In The Female Athlete Triad Knowledge After Educational Intervention: A Pilot Study, Kate Buckley

Student Research Symposium

A 10-Minute educational intervention, investigating knowledge of the Female Athlete Triad among USU Female athletes. Knowledge was assessed using a 7 question survey both before the educational intervention and after to compare knowledge scores.

Effect Of Partner Loss On Oxytocin Measures In The Social Brain Of Monogamous Coyotes, Blake Nielson

Student Research Symposium

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is important in social behavior and in the formation of pair bonds between mates. One study found that oxytocin receptor levels in monogamous female prairie voles were lower in animals which had been separated from their mate for some time. In order to further study oxytocin's importance in social bond formation and to test for any possible effects partner loss could have on oxytocin in the brain, I conducted a study on monogamous female coyote brain tissue. Four brain specimens were examined from paired female coyotes, while three brain specimens were examined from widowed female …

Military Money, Luke Hayes

Student Research Symposium

With one of the largest budgets for any program in the United States, The military of the United States of America is often accused of having too much money allocated to their program. Even though the military keeps well-documented reports on their spending, the average U.S. citizen has little to no idea about how this money is spent. This project attempts to reveal that the spending is reasonable and necessary to accomplish the goals of the United States military. This was accomplished by studying many primary and secondary sources, mainly relying on official financial reports of the United States military. …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Owyhee Clover (Trifolium Owyheense), Lindsey K. Wise

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Owyhee clover (Trifoilum owyheense) using NatureServe methodology, 2022.

Pre-Growth Environmental Stresses Affect Foodborne Pathogens Response To Subsequent Chemical Treatments, Amandeep Singh, Veerachandra K. Yemmireddy

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes are known to survive under different environmental stresses with an effect on their physiological properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different environmental stresses on the foodborne pathogens response to subsequent chemical treatments. Three types of pathogens Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes were subjected to different environmental stresses: (i) Desiccation (ii) high salt (iii) low pH, and (iv) temperatures (14, 23, and 37 °C) during their growth. The cells harvested at their early stationary growth phase were subsequently subjected to chlorine (100 …

Dietetic Student Perceptions Of Interdisciplinary Teams, Mckenna Voorhees

Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Interdisciplinary/interprofessional collaboration (IDC) is an important component of healthcare delivery through which providers can efficiently and effectively meet the diverse and complex care needs of patients/clients. Interprofessional education (IPE) enables the acquisition of skills needed for IDC. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) function as important members of interdisciplinary teams; as such, shifts in dietetic program accreditation standards currently require the incorporation of IPE in curricula. A broad exploration of interdisciplinary dietetic student attitudes is needed to pinpoint target areas of improvement in IPE to promote effective participation in future IDC among RDNs. Objectives: To examine overall dietetic student attitudes of …

Lymphocyte Depletion Rate As A Biomarker Of Radiation Dose To Circulating Lymphocytes During Fractionated Partial-Body Radiation Therapy, Susannah G Ellsworth, Anirudh Yalamanchali, Tim Lautenschlaeger, Stuart A Grossman, Clemens Grassberger, Steven H Lin, Radhe Mohan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Radiation causes exponential depletion of circulating lymphocyte populations; in turn, radiation-induced lymphopenia is associated with worse survival for many solid tumors, possibly owing to attenuated antitumor immune responses. Identifying reliable and reproducible methods of calculating the radiation dose to circulating immune cells may facilitate development of techniques to reduce the risk and severity of radiation-induced toxic effects to circulating lymphocytes.

Methods and materials: Patient-specific lymphocyte loss rates were derived from a clinical data set including 684 adult patients with solid tumors. Multivariable linear regression was used to model the relationship between the lymphocyte loss rate and physical parameters of …