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DEVELOPING A DECISION TREE MODEL AND PROTOCOLS FOR THE ETHICAL ACCESSION AND CURATION OF HUMAN REMAINS IN TEACHING COLLECTIONS
No full textThe existence of human skeletal remains in university teaching collections is both well-known and fraught with ethical, moral, and legal issues related to the fact that most are not donated by the decedents themselves. The utility of these collections in research and teaching is unmatched but must be weighed against the potential societal impacts. Recently, Ivy League and other R1 universities have come under media scrutiny spotlighting issues related to the retention of remains of Indigenous peoples, NAGPRA-related concerns, forensically significant cases, and those of historically marginalized and persecuted populations. We analyzed these media spotlights to determine key commonalities, including a lack of transparency with administration and students, improper inventorying, few or no accession procedures, substandard curation, and even normalized indifference to these issues. Using a subsample of human remains that had yet to be accessioned into our teaching collection as a test case, we developed a decision tree for accession, use, display, curation, and storage. The decision tree was then applied to regularly used specimens to test its efficacy. After multiple revisions, the decision tree was found to be one hundred percent effective with the entirety of the collection. Research from the media spotlights and SOPs from other institutions were used to develop rules and procedures for collection use, and the inventory was moved to a cloud-based platform for increased accessibility for faculty and researchers. We also created a shareable learning module to engage students in the historical and cultural contexts behind teaching collections. While their use cannot be divorced from the inherent ethical and moral concerns of non-donated human remains in teaching collections, we believe our decision tree, standardized procedures for use, updated inventory, and teaching module can serve as a new standard of appropriate and honorable curation
ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA IN A LOCAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN NORTH GEORGIA
Get PDFAntibiotics are some of the most essential lifesaving drugs currently available to us against infectious diseases. Several pathogens are developing resistance to these drugs and many have become resistant to multiple antibiotics. Such multi-drug resistance is becoming a global issue and has been found in many environments including wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In this study, we sampled a local WWTP for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This WWTP is in North Georgia and runs directly into Lake Lanier, which is the main source of drinking water for the Atlanta area as well as a popular spot for water recreation. We obtained treated and raw sewage water samples. These water samples were filtered, grown in an enrichment media and plated on selective media containing antibiotics that yielded the isolation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These isolates were further characterized for antibiotic resistance using disk diffusion method and identified using 16s rRNA gene sequencing. All isolates obtained from both raw sewage and treated water samples were multi-drug resistant. Further analysis using PCR revealed all isolates possessed at least one bla gene and hence were identified to be ESBL-producing bacteria. Our results are consistent with other findings reported worldwide suggesting multi-drug resistant bacteria persist in treated water
THE IMPACT OF CONVERSATIONAL TURN-TAKING ON VOCABULARY SIZE IN CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES USING AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION
No full textConversational turn-taking in families with children who are typically developing has been shown to positively impact their child’s receptive and expressive vocabulary scores. However, limited research analyzes whether this relationship exists in children with developmental disabilities and limited functional speech. Research suggests that augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) facilitates a greater vocabulary size in children with developmental disabilities, but it is unknown if conversational turn-taking impacts its success. This study reduces the gap in the literature by examining the impact of conversational turn-taking on the effectiveness of AAC exposure throughout a 12-week language intervention. Additionally, it examines the growth trajectory of conversational turn-taking throughout the AAC language intervention. The results indicated that AAC exposure moderates the relationship between conversational turns and vocabulary size at the end of the intervention, such that increases in total conversational turns between parent-child dyads predicted greater vocabulary size at the end of the intervention, but only in children exposed to AAC. Moreover, throughout the AAC intervention parents and children exhibited similar quadratic growth curves in conversational turns suggesting that parents are meeting the engagement of their children while participating in the intervention. Clinically, these results imply that language interventions using AAC would benefit from increasing opportunities for more conversational turns, but such techniques would be ineffective in the spoken communication interventions. Additionally, when parents take on the role of interventionist, they should be informed of the importance of conversational turns to match the input of their child and maximize vocabulary growth by the end of the intervention
COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY IN THE GEORGIA FRONTIER**
No full textFrontier settings present opportunity in the human experience, both to those who explore and settle, and for the anthropologist, windows into the complex interplay of tradition and innovation in areas removed. This presentation discusses ongoing exploration of an eighteenth century industrial community in the Georgia frontier. There, archaeological survey and testing provide insight to the technological, entrepreneurial, political, ethnic, and social dynamics of a previously unstudied community
A COMPARISON OF SAMPLING METHODS OF INTERTIDAL CRUSTACEANS ON SAPELO ISLAND, GA
No full textIntertidal crustaceans inhabit the area between the average high and low tides on marine coastlines; however, the diversity of these crustaceans is understudied. This diversity of crustaceans varies based on abiotic conditions associated with each ecosystem, including characteristics such as sediment grain size and wave action. These factors can also affect the efficiency of sampling methods. Differences in sediment size will allow for different types of organisms to burrow, and increased wave action causes more difficult sampling. With varying sampling techniques, these abiotic factors can be explored. Three different sampling methods were compared based on the diversity and abundance of intertidal crustaceans collected at an exposed and protected beach on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The sampling methods included a yabbi-pump, D-net, and modified beam trawl during low tide. It was hypothesized that the beam trawl would be more efficient in collecting a diverse array of organisms, while the yabbi-pump and D-net would focus more on infaunal organisms. After sampling, the organisms collected were sorted, identified, and quantified to analyze the sampling methods and determine which is most efficient in the collection of intertidal crustaceans. The data suggest that the yabbi-pump yielded the highest numbers of smaller crustaceans including copepods and amphipods, while the D-net yielded the highest numbers of hermit crabs and other large intertidal crustaceans. These findings will allow future studies to more easily target species of interest when documenting species diversity
TURBID WATERS VS. CLEAR CHOICES: EXPLORING THE WORLD OF DWARF SEAHORSE MATE SELECTION**
No full textAlgal-induced turbidity can alter several important aspects of reproduction and sexual selection. This experiment investigated the effects of algal turbidity on the mate choice of dwarf seahorses (Hippocampus zosterae) who exhibit conventional sex-roles and are indicator species for threatened seagrass ecosystems. The experimental design consisted of an equal 1:1 sex ratio and two sex-biased treatments: female-biased (2F:1M), and male-biased (1F:2M) in clear and turbid water (n=8, 128 seahorses) to quantify mate choice parameters in sex-biased treatments and determine if turbidity impacts mate preference. The parameters surveyed included body measurements and mating activity levels of seahorses. Sexual dimorphic body measurements include females with significantly greater presence of cirri, larger snout length, head length, and trunk length; males possessing significantly larger tail length, body width, and crown areas. However, due to low intrasexual morphometric variation, we used body mass to test for mate size preference, resulting in trends of approximately 75% of matings in clear water being size assortative, whereas matings were random in turbid treatments. Since morphometric traits do not fully explain mate choice and appear to not be under sexual selection, we predict that courtship activity levels could be a more reliable indicator of mate choice, which previous syngnathid studies have already shown. To test this, the mating behavioral analysis is on-going using BORIS software for morning, noon, and night for 20 minutes each. The mating behavior ethograms include quivering, pointing, pumping, holding tails, brightening, and competitive behaviors among the fishes. The preliminary results suggest courting mainly occurs during the early morning hours on the first two mornings, resulting in copulations within 48 hours together. This study’s results will help us better understand mate choice criteria in dwarf seahorses for wild populations, in varied sex ratio conditions, when visually hindered by eutrophication
EXPLORING THE FREQUENCY OF MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM IN RESIDENT VERSUS MIGRATING AVIAN INDIVIDUALS**
No full textGame birds are notably susceptible to Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) disease. However, MG can also be found in other wild bird species, even though there is rarely any sign of infection. The disease can be contracted through ingesting contaminated food and water sources or through contact with other individuals. We hypothesize that migrant birds are more likely to test positive for MG than residents, because there is a greater chance of exposure to the disease while traveling. Tissue samples were collected from 291 birds that died between 2013–2020 that died due to skyscraper collisions in Atlanta between 2013-2020. Atlanta is located along a North American flyway, so there are many opportunities for birds of different migratory statuses to interact. Respiratory organs were targeted for the tissue collection because MG is predominantly a respiratory disease. The samples were preserved using FTA cards, which preserve organic material at room temperatures. The gene, MCG2, was amplified, and gel electrophoresis was used to detect the presence of MG. We classified sample birds into four migratory categories: resident, through migrants, over-wintering migrants, and breeding migrants. We had 10 birds that tested positive for MG, 9 of which were migratory species. A chi-test indicated that migratory status did not correlate with MG infection for our birds. We found ~4% infection rate for any bird which is the normal background infection rate for this disease. Otherwise, our analyses merely show that the number of birds positive for MG reflected the number of birds we sampled within each migratory category. Likely the highly mobile nature of birds potentially equalizes any differences in MG infection that might initially exist between migration groups. For now, our data indicate a low level of MG infection in wild birds that migrate through the Atlanta area, regardless of their migratory status
SURFACE CHEMISTRY FROM ELECTRON IRRADIATION OF SCHREIBERSITE (FE2NIP)**
No full textAmong the biogenic elements (C, H, O, N, P, S), phosphorus significantly ranks higher in its relative abundance for biological systems compared to other environments (c.f., 6th most abundant in life versus the 18th most abundant in the universe). This suggests that phosphorus could be the limiting ingredient for life, and phosphorus-containing organic compounds may have use as biomarkers. During the ROSETTA mission, P+ was observed in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and the potential source of this P+ is still being debated. Rivilla et al. (2019) have suggested that the P+ may be a fragment from PO. Schreibersite (Fe,Ni)3P is one of the first P-containing minerals to condense during planetary cooling and one of the primary P-containing minerals in iron and stony-iron meteorites. Therefore, it is a likely P-bearing mineral in cometary cores. This project will attempt to observe the formation of small P-containing molecules when ice-covered synthetic schreibersite is irradiated with electrons of varying energies (10-1000 eV). The relative abundance of the most likely parent molecules of P+, including PO, PN, CP, HCP, and PH3 will be measured using surface sensitive IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry under conditions mimicking comets (i.e., temperatures below 150 K and ultrahigh vacuum pressure). Preliminary results will be shared. Our measurements will help constrain the conditions under which volatile phosphorus species are formed in the outer Solar System. Additionally, they may impact our understanding of the phosphorus chemical cycle on icy planetary bodies (e.g., comets, Jovian and Saturnian moons) and the potential habitability of planets elsewhere
THE IMPACT OF DIVERSE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS ON FATTY ACID CONTENT OF COFFEE GROUNDS**
No full textFatty acids are the building blocks of fat in our bodies and the food we eat. They have very important functions in the body, including energy storage and acting as a fuel to cells when glucose is unavailable. Fatty acids have roles outside of the body, including acting as lubricants, in cooking, and the production of soaps, detergents, and cosmetics. Fatty acids are accurate indicators for coffee quality evaluation. The composition of fatty acids depends on various factors such as varieties and production areas, and comparison of fatty acid patterns is an effective method for classifying coffee. This project attempts to determine how varying production areas affect the fatty acid content of coffee grounds. Two coffees with varying elevations and regions were used: Nicaragua beans from the Jinotega District with an elevation of 980-1,400 meters and Ethiopia beans from Yirgacheffe District with an elevation of 1,700-2,200 meters. Lipid extraction occurred via reflux, gravity filtration, and rotary evaporation. A transesterification was performed on the resulting fatty acids using NaOH in ethanol. Fatty acid content was quantified and analyzed to determine differences using mass and IR
SYNTHESIS OF IRON(III) OXIDE COLLOIDAL SOLUTIONS FOR NANOPARTICULATE PHOTOELECTRODES
No full textThe mineral hematite (α-Fe2O3, iron(III) oxide) is of particular interest for use in photoelectrochemical solar cells. The photocatalytic ability to split water to produce hydrogen gas and light absorption in the visible range make iron oxide a great candidate for research and development in fields like alternative fuels and solar energy. Preparation of the photoelectrodes is done with colloidal solutions of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles, which are typically synthesized via the hydrolysis of iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) solution. Rust, a commonly found material, contains iron oxides. The synthesis of the colloidal nanoparticle solutions using laboratory grade Fe2O3 and a sample of rust was carried out and confirmed by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The absorbance spectra of the dialyzed and concentrated solutions were the same as that of the typical hydrolysis reaction. The recycling of rust to obtain Fe2O3 colloidal solutions was possible due to careful control of the concentration of reagents. Fabrication of photoelectrodes is ongoing in order to characterize the photocurrent efficiency of the films obtained with the recycled rust