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GENETIC SUPPRESSOR SCREEN FOR INTERACTORS OF SEC6 TEMPERATURE SENSITIVEMUTANT SEC6-49 AND IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE**
No full textProtein delivery at the cellular level is a vital process involving complex steps which require accuracy. Each step of vesicle budding, physical transport, tethering and fusion involves the recruitment and coordination of hundreds of unique proteins. The focus of this project is the Sec6 protein, a subunit of the octamer exocyst complex that mediates tethering of post-Golgi vesicles to the plasma membrane in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The earlier study by Songer and Munson (2008) presented sec6-49, a SEC6 mutant that harbors mutations of several amino acids that form a distinct patch on the protein surface. These surface amino acid mutations result in severe growth and secretory defects at 37°C. Interestingly, upon further investigation of sec6-49, the exocyst complex appeared to be misplaced from the expected sites, but the complex assembly remains intact. This observation led us to hypothesize that the Sec6 protein is an integral part of the complex serving an important anchor that holds the assembled complex in place at the plasma membrane. We undertook a genetic approach with the goal of identifying the putative interactors that Sec6 binds for anchoring. The screen was initiated by transforming 2µ based genomic library into sec6-49 via electroporation. Transformants were then grown and selected for survival at 37°C , followed by a spotting assay to confirm the suppression of temperature sensitive defect. Selected yeast colonies were subjected to plasmid extraction and retransformed into E. coli for further isolation of unique plasmids. These unique plasmids were retransformed into sec6-49 one by one for testing growth, and sequencing of the plasmid DNA that suppressed temperature sensitivity defect allow us to identify candidate genes for suppression. Currently, we are in the process of sequencing three more unique plasmids that display growth defect suppression and plan on cloning candidate genes to test specific suppression effects
LUNG CAPACITY OF ATHLETES AT BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGE AND THE GROWTH AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA
No full textSeveral causative agents exist for pneumonia; however, the focus of this study was Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. COVID-19 disease has shown coinfection with mainly bacterial community-acquired or nosocomial pneumonia. COVID pneumonia is a lung infection caused by SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Tidal volume (Tv) is an important factor in lung function and can be affected negatively in COVID pneumonia patients. Furthermore, Tv measurements may be higher in trained athletes compared to non-athletes; however, if an athlete is asthmatic, lung capacity can be negatively affected. A two-part study was conducted using cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gram staining was performed and growth in aerobic and anaerobic conditions was tested as well as antibiotic resistance. Staphylococcus aureus was susceptible to erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, oxacillin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim while P. aeruginosa was only susceptible to ciprofloxacin. In the second part of the study, the tidal volume (Tv), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 59 participants from men and women’s collegiate sport teams were measured using a hand-held spirometer. Results for non-asthmatic females: wrestling had the highest average Tv (583.75mL), softball had the highest average FEV1 (340mL) and FVC 2023mL). Results for asthmatic females: track and field had the highest average Tv (329.17mL), softball had the highest average FEV1 (333.33mL) and FVC (1888.33mL). Results for non-asthmatic males: basketball had the highest average Tv (433.33mL) and FEV1 (283.33mL) and wrestling had the highest average FVC (2429mL). Results for asthmatic males: basketball had the highest average Tv (443.22mL) and FVC (266.67mL) while wrestling had the highest average FEV1 (2541.67mL). Student t-tests were performed and data sets showing significant differences are: track and field female compared to male Tv (t = 0.032465); softball versus baseball FEV1 (t = 0.007164) and lastly male asthmatics versus non-asthmatics - wrestling FVC shows a significant difference (t = 0.004236)
THE INCIDENCE OF CONCUSSIONS IN SOCCER PLAYERS AT BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGE AND THE USEFULNESS OF CONCUSSION SYMPTOM SEVERITY REPORTS
No full textSports-related concussions, classified as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), are common injuries. It is caused by a direct blow to the head, which causes the brain to shift and hit the walls of the skull. The diagnosis of a concussion results from how the athlete is feeling and known common symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, numbness, irritability, memory and concentration problems, difficulty sleeping, and sensitivity to noise and light. Athletes are also more likely to suffer an injury to a lower extremity because of a past concussion. Treatment includes ample rest and good nutrition during recovery time. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of head injuries between men and female soccer athletes. It was hypothesized that females will experience more concussion-like symptoms than males, aligning with previous research. Throughout the season, 16 female soccer players and 17 male soccer players were asked to complete a symptom severity report or questionnaire to document specific concussion-like symptoms after a game, rated from mild to extreme. Reports were filled out every two days, for a total of a week after a game. During the same season, the head athletic trainer documented two athletes that had suffered concussions – one women’s volleyball team member and one playing men’s basketball. Analysis of the questionnaires showed soccer players did experience concussion-like symptoms after playing a game, but none were officially diagnosed as concussions. The women’s soccer team experienced more concussion-like symptoms throughout the season reported by all the field positions (a keeper, six defenders, four midfielders, and five forwards), categorized from mild to extreme. For the men’s team, midfielders and forwards reported mild to moderate symptoms more frequently than keepers and defenders. The concussion symptom severity report was found to be useful and it was recommended to the athletic trainer to be used as an additional tool in the prevention and care for head injuries in athletes
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OVINE, BOVINE AND SWINE BRAIN ANATOMY
No full textThe human brain is one of the most studied organs. To better understand its function, neurologists have analyzed and compared the brains of pigs (swine), cattle (bovine), sheep (ovine) to human brains. The purpose of this study was to replicate such comparative vertebrate anatomy studies in a collegiate laboratory to evaluate whether the addition of cattle and pig brains to the classical sheep brain dissection for undergraduate anatomy labs would be beneficial. Brains that were still enclosed in dura, arachnoid and pia mater (meninges) and with intact optic nerves were purchased for the comparative study. Cranial nerves, grey and white matter, sulci and gyri comparisons were made for each brain followed by mid-sagittal and coronal plane dissections. Morphological study shows bovine brains averaged a length of 20.3cm and weight of 376.84g. The ovine brains averaged a length of 12.9cm and weight of 142.33g. The swine brains averaged a length of 13.4 cm and weight of 127.92g. The weight of the meninges that were removed from swine averaged 9.93g, ovine 7.70g and bovine 20.86g. Cranial nerves I-V (Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear and Trigeminal) as well as VII (Facial) were present on all three types of brains. Cranial nerve XI (Accessory) was still attached on the ovine and swine brains whereas Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal) was only present on the swine brain. The ovine specimen had a longer corpus callosum and a more defined arbor vitae. Bovine and swine brain are circular-shaped, while ovine brains are more elongated and oval-shaped. Swine brains had larger and more developed lateral ventricles. Bovine brains had a more developed cerebrum and also more defined cranial glands, namely the hypothalamus, thalamus, and pituitary. In conclusion, coronal dissections also showed that bovine brains contained more sulci and white matter which is indicative of higher cognitive ability and shared the most similarities with human brain anatomy
A TEACHING TOOL: DETERMINING RATES OF CELLULAR RESPIRATION AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS FOR PLANT SPECIES ON GEORGIA COLLEGE\u27S CAMPUS
No full textStudents often have difficulty visualizing complex processes such as cellular respiration and photosynthesis, and this can significantly impact the students’ understanding of the relationship between the two processes. Therefore, the goal of this project was to develop a teaching tool for undergraduate educators and students that: (i) provides a published data set for students to compare their own photosynthesis and/or cellular respiration data to, (ii) develops an excel calculator that can convert oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) measured in part per million (ppm) to units that are easier to grasp, and (iii) shows that not all plants have the same rate of photosynthesis. Additionally, this project was developed as an effort to increase student motivation by promoting the application of scientific knowledge to the area they live in. Approximately ten grams of leaves were collected from twenty-six plant species across Georgia College’s campus during October and November 2021. Leaves were placed in containers equipped with Vernier O2 and CO2 sensors, and gases were measured in light and dark conditions. A LabQuest2 data logger was used to collect data for 1800 seconds, and rates of cellular respiration and photosynthesis were determined in triplicate for each plant species. During photosynthesis, CO2 levels typically decrease while O2 levels increase. In our study, this was true for all plants except for Lopopetalum chinense, which has dark purple leaves, that produced CO2 during the light incubation (6.13 + 2.13 ppm min-1). The greatest rates of photosynthesis were observed in the Hydrangea macrophylla leaves (-23.62 + 1.85 CO2 ppm min-1). Total carbon dioxide retention was also calculated for all plant species; hydrangeas (337.67 + 30.44 ppm) and Hosta spp. (311.00 + 71.69 ppm) retained significantly more CO2 compared to the majority of the other plants surveyed. Conversely, Quercus robur, Lopopetalum chinense, and Salvia rosmarinus experienced a net loss in CO2 of -256.00 + 12.12 ppm, -291.00 + 241.02 ppm, and -371.33 + 45.21 ppm, respectively. Using our excel CO2 calculator, these values are equal to 0.92 + 0.04 mg, 1.04 + 0.86 mg, and 1.33 + 0.16 mg of CO2, respectively
A PILOT STUDY INVESTIGATING VETERAN IDENTITY USING THE PHOTOVOICE TECHNIQUE IN A QUALITATIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH FRAMEWORK**
No full textVeteran identity has been defined as a veteran’s self-concept that derives from their military experience within a sociohistorical context. Reintegration into civilian life can be difficult, experiencing a “reverse culture shock” that can negatively impact many interpersonal relationships and result in experiencing negative feelings such as helplessness, isolation, and emotional disconnection. Understanding how veterans define themselves in their civilian lives can give us insight that could bridge the gaps between them and their available support systems. We utilized a qualitative, community-based participatory action research (CbPAR) model where veterans are empowered to use their voices to tell their stories and researchers serve to help communicate their stories to the community. We are using the photovoice technique where Veterans take pictures that represent the answer to the following prompt: What does being a veteran mean to you? This study is part of a larger project using photovoice and lyric analysis to help define the “sights and sounds” of veteran identity. Our Veterans will then be interviewed individually where they are asked questions to help the researchers understand the symbolism of the images relating to the prompt for them. Transcripts of the interviews are being analyzed to uncover common themes and elements that represent a definition of veteran identity. Preliminary results of these analyses will be discussed after completion of our member-checking process, which helps establish external validity within the community. Our next aim is to present the images and our results in an immersive, interactive gallery experience to allow for the veterans’ stories to be told. We argue that without more emphasis on qualitative, CbPAR methodologies, research with special and/or marginalized populations, like veterans, will continue to be more exploitative than beneficial and will further reinforce the distrust in scientists and clinicians already experienced by many in these populations
INFLUENCES ON SELECTING A COLLEGE MAJOR BEFORE AND AFTER COVID-19 PANDEMIC
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic created stress and hardship for many adults attending college. On the other hand, college students have identified their parents as positive influences in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, while friends were viewed in both positive and negative ways. While much is known about the stressors and hardships associated with the pandemic, relatively little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted life choices, especially career goals. Undergraduates were asked to identify factors which influenced their choice of college major. Pre-COVID-19 cohorts were recruited in 2016 and 2017 (N=102), and compared to a 2022 cohort (N = 74), two full years after the start of the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Students were sampled from courses in colleges of Education, Social Science, and Nursing. The COVID-19 cohort reported greater positive influence of family members in career decision making (M = 3.55, SD = .76) compared to the pre-COVID-19 cohort (M = 1.37, SD = .96) [t(172) = 16.76, p \u3e .001]. Similarly, the COVID-19 cohort reported greater influences of work experiences on their career goals (M = 3.19, SD = 1.02) compared to the pre-COVID-19 sample (M = .97, SD = 1.14) [t(166) = 13.59, p \u3c .001]. Similar differences between cohorts for declaration of major were observed for community experiences and college-instructor influences. In terms of commitment and changing of majors, the COVID-19 cohort reported fewer changes in major (M = .35, SD = .65) than the pre-COVID-19 cohort (M = .60, SD = .85) [ t(173) = 2.1, p = .015]. The increased influence of family in the COVID-19 cohort is consistent with findings of positive support of parental by college students. Additional comparisons of mentor experiences, college instructor influences will be discussed
Meiofauna Distribution Patterns on a Sandy Beach of Sapelo Island, Georgia
Get PDFSubstantial abundance and diversity of intertidal invertebrates known as meiofauna are evident on a sandy beach of Sapelo Island, Georgia. Meiofauna are small, benthic, nearly ubiquitous animals. They consume microbes and detritus and are a food source for juvenile fish and ghost shrimp. Meiofauna were manually separated from sand samples collected from three intertidal zones and two depths during low tide in January, March, June, and October, 2017. Fifteen major meiofaunal clades were identified in June, while only eight were observed in January; in all, there were sixteen clades observed. Highest meiofauna densities were found in the middle intertidal zone and in the top 5 cm of sand. Abundance was high year round, and highest in the summer and fall months. Temperature, sand grain size, slope of the beach, and weathering processes may influence this meiofaunal variation. This research could contribute future insight into metazoan food webs and beach disturbances
A Professional Development Program for Science Adjunct Faculty: The Mentoring-Learning Community (MLC)
Get PDFInstitutions of higher education have become increasingly dependent on adjunct faculty. These faculty members are often unfamiliar with current teaching strategies emphasizing an active learning approach. To support science adjunct faculty in learning about active learning, a professional development program was designed and implemented by the authors of this study, the Mentoring-Learning Community. The Mentoring-Learning Community program design was informed by literature regarding the use of professional development programs that focused on adjunct faculty. To determine the impact of this program, participants in the Mentoring-Learning Community were observed and interviewed over one semester. Mentoring-Learning Community participants transformed through all three Transformative Learning Theory dimensions, felt more empowered to utilize active learning approaches in their classrooms, and modified some aspects of their instruction
EMERGING VIBRIO HARVEYI AND VIBRIO CAMPBELLII PATHOGENS IN GEORGIA WATERS: PRESENCE, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONCENTRATIONS**
No full textIn the face of global warming and ocean acidification, waterborne pathogens are geographically expanding and rapidly evolving. The Vibrio genus contains a number of pathogens of humans and aquatic animals, many of which benefit from elevated temperatures and low pH conditions. Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio campbellii belong to the Harveyi clade and are barely distinguishable upon their genetic make-up. Natively found in warm waters of Asia and South America, these species are well-established pathogens that infect fish, shrimp, and mollusks. Due to climate change, the Southeastern United States is potentially becoming an accommodating environment for these pathogens, however this has never been previously documented. In addition to using selective growth media for definitive pathogen detection, V. harveyi and V. campbellii-specific virulence genes, including toxR, luxR, vhh, vhh(a), srp, vhp, and rpoA, have been chosen for quantitative PCR analysis of environmental samples. Sediment and water were monitored for their presence and concentration at three sites around Townsend, GA. In summer 2022 monitoring, all seven genes were detected but their profiles and concentrations varied between sites, media, and sampling events. In water, toxR, luxR, srp, and rpoA were detected in 83% of the sites, and vhh(a), vhp, and vhh were detected in 100% with average gene copy concentrations from 10^2 to 10^8. In sediment, srp, vhh(a), and rpoA were detected in 83% of the sites and toxR, luxR, vhp, and vhh were detected in 100% of the sites with copy numbers from 10^1 to 10^9. These results evidenced that V. harveyi and V. campbellii inhabit Georgia coastal waters in high numbers. Additional data obtained in a supplemental study suggested their presence in oysters and clams. They also evidenced that not all previously published target genes are suitable for detection of these pathogens