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ALLOMETRIC GROWTH IN THE EASTERN BOX TURTLE, TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA
No full textAllometry examines how changes in body parameters are correlated with changes in overall size. There are few studies that have been conducted specifically on the allometric relationships of shell measurements of adult Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). Of these studies, only time allometry is examined focuses on growth studies of T. c. carolina. Allometric growth could understand the different growing states of the turtle. Many growth studies focused on the factors affecting growth of the whole body of the turtle, and they do measurements on carapace length and width and compared it to other factors. The study site that was used in this study was Tumbling Creek Woods in Gainesville, GA, and this study started in May 2013 and is ongoing. The study design is a hybrid design with radio telemetry and monitoring with capture mark and recapture. We used calipers to measure carapace length, carapace width at 2/3 scutes or max, plastron length, and height of the turtle. We compared measurements of males and females to see if there was a relation within between the measurements. Data analysis suggested some relation between carapace length and width, as well as sexual dimorphism
STREAM CHARACTERISTICS AND MACROINVERTEBRATE MONITORING THROUGH SEASON CHANGE**
No full textOrganisms are susceptible to a wide variety of abiotic environmental changes such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and nitrite concentrations. These environmental factors may especially impact macroinvertebrates that live within rivers differently across seasons. Many of these macroinvertebrates serve as food sources for other organisms and are therefore essential to the integrity of the ecosystem. The presence and relative abundance of macroinvertebrates has been used as a proxy to indicate the water quality of stream systems. We hypothesized that there would be changes observed within the populations of macroinvertebrates and abiotic water quality parameters monitored over seasons. Weekly, from August until November 2024, we surveyed macroinvertebrate populations using methods from Georgia Adopt-a-Stream and took abiotic measurements of water quality parameters in a section of the Little Tennessee River near Dillard, Georgia. Of the parameters tested, only water temperature significantly influenced macroinvertebrate presence and relative abundance (p \u3c 0.05). These results could show how changes in temperature due to global warming might affect aquatic ecosystems such as the Little Tennessee River. The lack of significance from other variables may indicate that we should focus conservation efforts on maintaining current water temperature of streams. Future studies could investigate the impact of different substrates within the streams and their effect on water temperature across seasons
SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE GROSS ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY OF THE OVIDUCT IN AN OVIPAROUS LIZARD, SCELOPORUS UNDULATUS
No full textThe seasonal nature of reproductive activity in Eastern Fence Lizards, Sceloporus undulatus, provides an opportunity to examine environmental and hormonal influences on reproductive tract anatomy and physiology. Female fence lizards engage in oogenesis, mating, egg shelling, and egg laying in the spring and summer months, with a period of relative quiescence in the following fall and winter. The oviduct is the site of fertilization and is regionally specialized to receive ovulated eggs, store sperm, support early embryonic development, secrete eggshell proteins and minerals, and oviposit shelled eggs. Seasonal changes in oviduct morphology are evident, but there is limited detailed information about the histological changes corresponding to changes in oviduct function. While descriptive criteria for ovarian and follicular stages have been established, similar staging criteria for the seasonal recrudescence and subsequent regression of the oviduct remain poorly documented. In order to examine these changes, adult female lizards were captured across a sampling period between 2020 and 2023 from the Oconee National Forrest, GA, USA. The oviducts were dissected, weighed, and photographed using stacked imaging for examination of gross morphology. Subsequently, the right oviduct was embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned with a manual microtome, and stained with hemoxylin and eosin. The oviducts of reproductively active lizards exhibit greater epithelial cell height, increased muscularity, and larger and greater abundance of shell glands in comparison to the oviducts of nonreproductive lizards. Our results provide a detailed description of the gross and histological changes in the oviducts corresponding to the annual reproductive cycle of an oviparous lizard in central Georgia. Due to the expansive geographic range of Eastern Fence Lizards, these data will serve as a point of reference for future studies investigating the effects of geographic variation and climate change on reproductive physiology
THE SHOOTING METHOD: AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS IN ODE
No full textThe shooting method is a numerical approach used to solve boundary value problems (BVPs) for ordinary differential equations (ODEs). It works by converting a BVP into an initial value problem (IVP), allowing the use of established IVP solvers like the Euler or Runge-Kutta method to iteratively find solutions. The process will begin with an initial guess for the derivative at one boundary, followed by solving the IVP and adjusting the guess based on how the computed solution aligns with the desired boundary condition at the other end. This research project discussed the theoretical foundations, practical implementation, and convergence characteristics of the shooting method, emphasizing its advantages and limitations relative to other numerical techniques. Through illustrative examples using MATLAB programing scripts, we showcased the method\u27s effectiveness in tackling complex BVPs, highlighting its importance in computational mathematics
OBSERVING THE ANTI-BACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF OREGANO AND THYME ON ORAL BACTERIA
No full textEssential oils have been researched medically as a holistic alternative to allopathic treatments over the last century. Oils like oregano and thyme have been shown to possess anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-carcinogenic, and many other properties. This research aimed to understand the effectiveness of oregano and thyme on S. mutans and S. salivarius, two prominent dental bacteria. Dental caries affects 2.4 billion people annually and are one of the most common chronic diseases. A disk diffusion assay on Brain Heart Infusion agar and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MHC) test with BHI broth were performed on S. mutans and S. salivarius to determine the effectiveness of the oregano and thyme essential oils. Oregano, thyme, and DMSO were undiluted when tested on S. salivarius, and oregano was diluted to a 50/50 concentration, while thyme and DMSO remained undiluted when tested on S. mutans. Oregano had a 15.33 mm average zone of inhibition against S. mutans. Thyme had a 13.33 mm average zone of inhibition against S. mutans, while DMSO had a 5.33 mm average zone of inhibition against S. mutans. Oregano had a 41.66 mm average zone of inhibition against S. salivarius. Thyme had a 28 mm average zone of inhibition against S. salivarius, while DMSO had a 9 mm average zone of inhibition against S. salivarius. The diluted oregano had a MIC of 0.3125% against S. mutans. The undiluted oregano had a MIC of 0.391% against S. salivarius. Thyme had a MIC of 3.125% against S. mutans and a MIC of 6.25% against S. salivarius. DMSO had a MIC of 12.5% against S. mutans and a MIC of 1.56% against S. salivarius, despite the DMSO serving as a control for both the S. salivarius and the S. mutans. This study suggests that oregano and thyme essential oils can be used as an alternative to allopathic treatments
LIKELY PATHOGENICITY OF D119A AND K146N VARIANTS OF HUMAN IDUA
No full textMucopolysaccharidosis type 1 (MPS1) is a disorder of abnormal accumulation of toxic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in various tissues. It occurs due to a decrease in the activity of alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA), which hydrolyzes terminal GAG alpha-L-iduronic acid residues. D119A and K146N are existing human IDUA variants of unknown significance with respect to MPS1 development. Both variants are in critical-domain regions of existing protein models and involve substitutions that change chemical class. To assess the potential clinical significance of these variants we used in silico evolutionary conservation, multiple sequence alignment, protein structure, and molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) tools. Aligning 29 different animal IDUA sequences revealed high conservation of aspartic acid 119 and lysine 146 compared to surrounding regions, suggesting purifying selection on these amino acid positions. We then used predictive software that analyzed the potential deleterious effect of variants D119A and K146N. These tools also suggested a low tolerance to substitutional change for the two variants and their likely pathogenicity. Root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) MDS analysis revealed increased protein flexibility in D119A and K146N (1.343 & 1.464, respectively) over time compared to wild-type (1.276). Root-mean-square-fluctuation (RMSF) MDS analysis showed widespread conformational changes in both variants, with some differences in regions critical to enzyme function (e.g., alpha-L-iduronate and beta-D-mannose binding). Overall, our results support that both D119A and K146N variants are likely damaging and might explain the presence of symptoms consistent with MPS1 in some patients that don’t meet present genetic criteria. In vivo experimentation in a model organism should now follow to confirm the impacts of these variants on MPS1 and GAG homeostasis
A STUDY ON HSP & EI**
No full textThe purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and highly sensitive personality. It specifically aims to explore whether there is a correlation between HSP and EI within neurodivergent or neurotypical individuals. While previous research has examined sensitivity and emotionality, this study builds on those findings by incorporating neurodivergence as a variable. Using established measures by Aron and Aron, the study will survey 300 undergraduate psychology students through an online Qualtrics platform. Before beginning the survey, informed consent will be gathered from each participant in an electronic version. Each participant will be prompted to answer each set of questions from the TEI, HSP Scale, STEM and STEU questionnaires in either a multiple-choice format or a scale. Each participant will also be asked to answer a series of demographic questions regarding their executive functioning (neurodivergence v neurotypicality). A regression analysis will be used to analyze the hypotheses of emotional intelligence in relation to highly sensitive persons as well as neurodivergence in contrast to neurotypical. This research aims to deepen our understanding of how emotional intelligence interacts with personality sensitivity and cognitive diversity
IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCIEVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SOCIAL NETWORK DIVERSITY AND EXPERIMENTAL PAIN INTENSITY, PAIN CATASTROPHIZING, AND STRESS?
No full textIs social support or social network diversity associated with pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and stress in an experimental pain task? When you are experiencing pain, many factors can affect how you respond to and experience pain. This study aimed to look at the relationships of social support and social network diversity on the pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and stress reported before and after the cold pressor task. We hypothesized that those with greater levels of perceived social support and a wider variety of types of relationships would experience a lower pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and stress and higher pain tolerance and threshold. This study was conducted using a cold pressor where 25 undergraduate participants over age 18 were instructed to keep their hand in the water until it became too painful. The water was maintained between 2-4 degrees Celsius. Our results partially supported our hypothesis as perceived social support explained 64% of the variance in dispositional pain catastrophizing (p = .004). Specifically, reassurance of worth predicted lower pain catastrophizing (p = .002). Even though sample size limited our ability to detect additional significant results, the remaining findings suggested that perceived social support might be associated with lower stress in the last month (43% variance; p = .097) and pain intensity during an acute painful event (46% of variance; p = .125) and number of relationships might be associated with situational pain catastrophizing (11% of variance; p = .104). Effect sizes suggest that perceived social support was a more important predictor than social network variables. Future research should examine the relationships between social support variables and pain response using a larger sample size
PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS: EMOTION & ANIMACY IN SCENE PERCEPTION
No full textAnimate and inanimate conceptual categories represent domain-specific knowledge systems that are subserved by partially distinct neural mechanisms. Recent work suggests that the early posterior negativity (EPN) is sensitive to animacy. Here we test the impact of scene animacy and emotion on ratings of valence and arousal, as well as modulation of the EPN and the late positive potential (LPP). Participants (n=77) viewed 180 scenes of pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant people, objects and landscapes, balanced for luminance and complexity. People scenes excluded erotica & mutilations, in an effort to balance arousal ratings across all scenes. EEG data were recorded from 128 channels and converted into baseline-deviated ERP epochs from each participant and scene category. All scene contents evoked the expected patterns of valence and arousal ratings. However, emotional people and object scenes were rated as significantly more arousing than landscapes. LPP modulation followed the arousal ratings, with the greatest positivity for emotional people scenes, followed closely by emotional object scenes, while emotional landscapes did not modulate the LPP. Modulation of the EPN showed a similar pattern, with pleasant people and pleasant objects prompting the greatest negativity, a pattern that remained in a subset of people and object scenes that were closely matched for rated arousal. The EPN was not enhanced by pleasant, relative to neutral landscapes. Thus, scene content interacts with emotional modulation of the EPN and LPP. Specifically, pleasant and unpleasant landscapes, despite strong valence ratings and reliably enhanced arousal ratings, did not evoke differential ERPs relative to neutral landscapes. In contrast, highly arousing emotional objects are capable of modulating the LPP to a similar extent as moderately arousing emotional people
THE EFFICACY OF 3D MODELS OF HUMAN BONE IN UNDERGRADUATE ANTHROPOLOGY CLASSES
No full textHigh-quality casts and human bone specimens have been staples in biological anthropology education for decades. However, casts are expensive and fragile, and human bones come with ethical concerns regarding their acquisition and use in classrooms. The affordability of 3D models presents a potential solution for teaching undergraduate courses focused on human skeletal anatomy. This study explores whether 3D printed models have the necessary detail to identify key anatomical features. We sourced free or inexpensive files online and printed 20 skulls using various printers and filaments. These models were shared with faculty teaching sections of introductory courses in four-field anthropology and biological anthropology, a lower division course in human osteology, and an upper division course in paleoanthropology to gather qualitative feedback on their features and classroom utility. Additionally, 40 students in upper and lower division biological anthropology courses were asked to identify anatomical landmarks on the 3D printed models compared to purchased casts and human bone specimens. Preliminary results indicate that while the 3D models are sufficiently detailed for introductory courses, they may lack clarity for advanced osteology classes, potentially introducing ambiguity. Given the ethical issues associated with procuring real human skulls and the costs of high-quality casts, we recommend that departments consider creating their own 3D models, particularly for introductory level classes, to build their teaching collections cost-effectively and ethically