bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction and intracellular localization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with Acanthamoeba castellanii.
Authors: Moore Deborah Mary , Yu Hongwei , Withers T Ryan , Trzyna Wendy
Published: May 2022

Acanthamoeba spp. are single celled eukaryotic microbes found within a wide variety of environmental niches. Acanthamoeba have a dual lifecycle consisting of an active feeding trophozoite stage, and a dormant cyst stage that enhances their survival when environmental stress is encountered. These protozoa typically feed upon bacteria found within their environment with some bacterial species existing as endosymbionts, while other highly virulent bacterial strains may kill the amoebae. It is also possible that pathogenic bacterial strains that inhabit Acanthamoeba, in order to facilitate their survival, may be capable of undergoing changes such as increased virulence which could enhance invasiveness of the bacteria within their eukaryotic hosts. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gram negative environmental bacterium, known to cause disease was labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker for tagging the bacterial strains of interest that may co-exist within Acanthamoeba. These bacterium were then targeted for their intracellular location within amoeba via fluorescent microscopic analysis. Acanthamoeba cells that had been placed in non-nutrient medium for selected durations were co-cultured with a highly virulent strain PAO1V, and a non-virulent mutant strain PAO1V Δaroa. for different time intervals. Preliminary results show localization of GFP-labeled bacterial cells within Acanthamoeba with clusters of bacterial cells immediately surrounding amoeba cell walls, and more concentrated in certain vacuoles. Determination of the exact intracellular location of these bacteria within Acanthamoeba was made. Further studies into whether bacterial cells are present within amoeba during encystment may also provide a better understanding of this interaction taking place.
The role of cellular signaling during bleaching in the sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida.
Authors: Sloan Richard , Sawyer Sara
Published: May 2022

Corals are symbiotic with dinoflagellate algae. This symbiosis allows corals to thrive in the nutrient poor waters of the tropics. Coral beaching is the loss of the endosymbiont due to environmental stressors such oxygen loss, bacterial infections, and changes in salinity and temperature. The mechanisms underlying temperature-induced coral bleaching are not well understood; however, it is known the process of apoptosis (programmed cell death) is involved. We are investigating the signaling pathways that are involved in temperature-induced bleaching in sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida. We are focusing on two pathways, MAP Kinase (ERK) and PI3Kinase (AKT), known to be activated by various environmental stresses and also play a role in apoptosis. The pathways are activated when the proteins involved are phosphorylated. To investigate whether temperature-induced bleaching activates these pathways, the tropical sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida is heat shocked from 25º C to 30º C. After the stress, proteins are isolated from the anemones, separated by protein electrophoresis and the phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT are determined by Western blotting. Results from these studies will enable us to determine the extent that the MAP Kinase (ERK) and PI3Kinase (AKT) pathways are involved in bleaching and begin to determine how these pathways are involved in the apoptosis that results from bleaching.
The effects of salinity on the survival and reproduction of the freshwater snail, Physa gyrina.
Authors: Snader Ryan
Published: May 2022

The effects of five different salinity levels were assessed on the freshwater snail Physa gyrina, survival rate based on mortality and reproduction based on production of jelly masses. Biofilm accumulation in recirculating aquaculture tanks can negatively affect fish health. The introduction of Physa gyrina to these aquaculture systems can significantly reduce biofilm. Snails were placed in treatments of typical salinity levels, 0ppt – 4ppt, in aquaculture systems normally dosed with salt.
3,5-dichloronitrobenzene induced nephrotoxicity in vitro.
Authors: Tyree Connor L , Pope Deborah , Tate Jordan , Racine Christopher R , Anestis Dianne K , Rankin Gary O
Published: May 2022

Dichloroanilines (DCAs) and dichloronitrobenzenes (DCNBs) are important chemical intermediates in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial, agricultural, and pharmaceutical agents and have been found to induce nephrotoxicity in vivo and/or in vitro. CAs may also be metabolized to CNBs and vice versa. Among the DCNBs, 3,5-dichloronitrobenzene (3,5-DCNB) was the most potent nephrotoxicant in renal cortical slices. The current study was designed to explore the nephrotoxicity of 3,5-DCNB and its possible renal biotransformation using isolated renal cortical cells (IRCC) as the in vitro model. Briefly, IRCC (~4.0 million cells/ml, 3 ml) from male Fisher 344 rats were treated with DMSO (vehicle control) or 3,5-DCNB (0.5 or 1.0 mM), and cytotoxicity determined over 90 min by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release. In some experiments, a pretreatment was added before 3,5-DCNB (1.0 mM) followed by 60 min incubations. The pretreatments were antioxidants, cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibitors, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, a peroxidase inhibitor or flavin monooxygenase (FMO) inhibitors. All antioxidants and metabolizing enzyme inhibitor pretreatments completely or partially attenuated 3,5-DCNB cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the bioactivation of 3,5-DCNB is complex, as inhibition of enzyme systems as different as CYPs, FMOs, cyclooxygenase and peroxidases can provide some cytoprotection. It can also be concluded that free radicals play a role in 3,5-DCNB nephrotoxicity either via participating in the in vitro renal biotransformation of 3,5-DCNB or via being produced as a consequence of 3,5-DCNB biotransformation. Additional studies are needed to ascertain which pathways are critical for 3,5-DCNB nephrotoxicity. Supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434.
Up the mountain, north to the pole: Do species’ elevational and latitudinal limits match?
Authors: Lesser Mark , Seifert Andrew
Published: May 2022

It is a long-held assumption that species' upper elevational and latitudinal range limits are correlated-i.e., species that grow at higher latitudes also reach higher elevations-but the degree to which these limits match and the climatic factors controlling them have rarely been quantitatively assessed. We compared the upper range limits of tree species along latitudinal and elevational gradients to assess the influence of specific climatic factors-winter temperature, summer temperature, and growing season length-in determining species' range limits. We determined the climatic limits for each of 28 common tree species along a latitudinal gradient in Eastern North America and across an elevational gradient in the Great Smoky Mountains. We calculated the degree of climatic mismatch between species' limits along the two gradients.We found strong positive relationships between species' latitudinal and elevational climatic limits. Winter temperatures were much lower at species' poleward, compared to upper elevational, range limits, but there were close matches between limits for variables related to summer temperature and growing season length. Results suggest that low summer temperatures and short growing season length limit species' distributions along both latitudinal and elevational gradients, whereas winter temperature does not play a critical role. Narrower ranges along elevational gradients may be due to a lack of local adaptation caused by increased gene flow along "shorter" gradients, where upslope dispersal of individuals maladapted to cold restricts upward expansion. Narrower ranges along the latitudinal gradient may be due to limited migration northward from historical range centers in the southern Appalachians.
Alcohol induced alterations in protein- protein interactions of transcription factors associated with proliferation changes in fasd and alcoholism.
Authors: Gainer James , Anthony Bruce
Published: May 2022

Excessive alcohol consumption, during pregnancy (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, FASD) or in adult alcoholism, induces significant developmental and neurological alterations that effect neuronal development or brain plasticity respectively.                                                               It has been shown that alcohol exposure leads to alterations in neuronal stem cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell migration. Our interest was to begin delineation of the mechanism(s) associated with altered growth patterns of neuronal stem cells associated with FASD and alcoholism. Recent studies on protein expression demonstrate alcohol induced increases in expression of cell cycle proteins that effect the G1/S phase transition and likely DNA replication.  These include the E2F1 family of transcription factors that regulate transcription of S-phase specific genes at the start of DNA replication. In addition, alcohol is shown to induce overexpression of the E2F1 dimerization partner(s) DP1 family and the retinoblastoma protein (RB), both of which demonstrate importance in regulation of transcription from E2F1 consensus sites.  However, the mechanism of altered E2F1 activity is poorly understood.  We examined E2F1 interactions with both DP1 and RB by Co-immunoprecipitation of E2F1 and western blotting. We used cortical neuronal stems cells from a rat in cell culture with a moderate (400mg/dl for 8 hr.) alcohol exposure. We examined protein interaction changes for both DP family isoforms as well as the RB protein.Our antibody capture of E2F facilitated all 8 isoforms. We suggest that alterations in RB binding to E2F1 alter transcription of S-phase specific genes and increases transcription of S-phase specific genes in a premature fashion.
Alterations in DNA and RNA profiles from alcohol exposed neuronal stem cells relates a possible mechanism for slowed proliferation and increased apoptosis.
Authors: Lancaster Brooke , Anthony Bruce
Published: May 2022

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are associated with a mother who consumed alcohol while pregnant. FASD symptoms in the fetus include physical effects, behavior abnormalities and learning problems. Phenotypes are associated with alterations in proliferation, differentiation, migration and increased cell death of neural crest stem cells during embryo development. Under normal growth conditions Cyclin D1 expression is transiently increased during late G1 phase and signals the cell to proceed to S-phase. CyclinD1 initiates a cascade of events necessary for transcription of genes required for proper DNA synthesis. It has been shown in mouse embryos that alcohol increases Cyclin D1 protein expression 2-fold, which in turn induces picnosis in 40 % of alcohol exposed neuronal stem cells. We suggest that alcohol has induced premature G1/S phase transition by Cyclin D1 overexpression, which, in turn, alters DNA synthesis and increases apoptosis.Through the use of flow cytometry we examined both RNA and DNA profiles with gating focuses on G1 and S phases respective. We then examined by antibody/fluorescent staining the overlapping expression of Cyclin D1 levels on these gated populations. Under normal growth conditions, Cyclin D1 expression is limited to the G1/S phase transition. Alcohol alters this expression pattern and suggests a continued expression in S phase cells. Profiles allowed an examination of apoptosis percentage as well. Understanding this mechanistic misregulation may eventually lead to a full understanding and improved treatment options for fetuses exposed to alcohol.
Distributed control of cyber-physical systems.
Authors: Boker Almuatazbellah , Chakrabortty Aranya
Published: May 2022

Systems that share a communication network are ubiquitous in this day and age. Examples of such systems include sensor networks, swarms of robots and power grids. In this work, we design a distributed control system for networks that have multiple dense cluster with sparse interconnection structure. The sparsity pattern in such networks naturally gives rise to a time-scale separation in its dynamics, whereby nodes inside a cluster synchronize over a fast time-scale while the areas themselves synchronize over a slow time-scale. Our goal is to design state-feedback controllers for each cluster so that all cluster controllers can cooperate to shape the closed-loop response of the network. A key feature in our design is that every cluster controller needs to design only one aggregate control law to satisfy this objective for the slow system. Applying results from singular perturbation theory, we show that when these individual controllers are implemented on the actual network model, the closed-loop response is close to that obtained from the approximate models, provided that the clustering is strong. The design procedure is demonstrated by a simulation example.
A comparative analysis of the metabolism and energetics of darters (percidae).
Authors: Kist Emma , Kovatch Jeff
Published: May 2022

Ecological niche theory suggests that, because closely related species cannot coexist in the same ecological niche, subtle differences exist among species that appear to cohabitate. Metabolic rate can explain variations that potentially enable species coexistence. This study evaluated the coexistence of highly sympatric darter fishes by examining interspecific variation in metabolism and behavior.Intermittent-flow respirometry measured oxygen consumption rate of greenside (Etheostoma blennioides) and variegate (E. variatum) darters over 48 h, and activity was analyzed using time-lapse videos. E. blennioides had a significantly greater mean metabolic rate (p=0.0006; 154.64 ± SE 52.54 mg O2·kg-1·hr-1; n=14) than E. variatum (92.51 ± SE 32.70 mg O2·kg-1·hr-1; n=15). The greenside darter’s metabolic rate oscillated more over time, whereas the metabolic rate of the variegate darter decreased. The greenside darter had consistently elevated activity compare to the variegate darter, but was not significantly different over time (p=0.5173), while the variegate darter’s activity was significantly different over time (p=0.0004). The results suggest that the greenside darter is a bolder and more active species than the variegate darter, which exhibited more reserved activity. These physiological and behavioral differences discovered between the greenside and variegate darters could potentially facilitate their coexistence. Therefore, it is a hope that these novel findings for two closely related darter species will lead to future research on darter physiological ecology.
Bobcat demography in West Virginia.
Authors: Landry Stephanie , Anderson Jim , Rogers Rich , Welsh Amy , Ryan Chris
Published: May 2022

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which requires state agencies to affirm stability of their populations before granting exportation authority to international markets. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) has been using survival and reproductive data collected in the 1970s to guide management decisions. With current high harvest rates, it is critical to use updated demographic data. Our primary research objectives are to estimate age distribution, recruitment, and survival of West Virginia bobcats. Results will be used directly by WVDNR to update or modify the current change in population model used to determine harvest limits. Following mass public outreach, hunters and trappers across West Virginia donated 296 bobcat carcasses to the project over the 2014–2015 hunting and trapping season. Lower canines (n=296) and female reproductive organs (n=147) were collected during necropsy to estimate age at mortality and reproductive success. Age was estimated by counting cementum annuli of canines, and implantation rates were estimated by placental scar counts. Preliminary results indicate that yearling (1 - 2 years) bobcats represent 20% of the 296 bobcats collected, with juveniles (<1 year; 20%) and adults (+2 years; 60%) representing the majority of the population. Preliminary implantation rates resulted in 2.18 kittens per adult female (n=88) and 0.63 kittens per yearling female (n=30). Accurate change in population data, along with density estimates, will provide WVDNR with the necessary data to ensure sustainable harvest of bobcats in West Virginia.
Theoretical and computational studies of wall friction flame acceleration mechanism with linear variation of planar flame speed.
Authors: Demir Sinan , Sezer Hayri , Akkerman Vyacheslav
Published: May 2022

Majority of theories, associated with the variety of flame acceleration scenarios, are based  on the "geometrical formulation”: namely, the wrinkled to planar flame speeds ratio, Sw / SL , is evaluated  as  the  scaled  increase  in  the  flame  surface  area,  while  the  entire  combustionchemistry is immersed inSL , which is assumed to be constant. However, in the practical reality,SL   may experience spatial and temporal variations; at least, due to the associated pressure andtemperature distribution within a combustor, and their evolution during burning. In the present work, we initiate the systematic study of a much more intriguing situation – when SL - variations are externally imposed in a manner being a free functional of the formulation. This is relevant, in particular, to multi-phase combustion in dusty environment, with a non-uniform distribution of combustible and/or inert dust; as well as to the event of spatial variations of the equivalenceratio. First, linear variation of spatialSL - distribution is incorporated into the Bychkov theories offlame acceleration due to wall friction [Physical Review E 72 (2005) 046307] and solved analytically. Second, we implement linear variation of flame speed into computational platform.  A backbone for the platform is a fully compressible, finite-volume Navier-Stokes code solving for the hydrodynamics and combustion equations in a homogenously and non-homogeneously - gaseous, laminar environment. It is investigated how linear variation of flame speed can affect the flame acceleration mechanism. Theory also validated by means of computational simulations. This work is supported by the Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of Mine Safety and Health as well as West Virginia University’s Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (PSCoR) and West Virginia University’s Senate Award for Research and Scholarship.
Completed gas wells may not impact localized stream water quality.
Authors: Malcomb Emma , Bjorgo-Thorne Kimberly A
Published: May 2022

Natural gas is a valuable resource for West Virginia’s economy and people. The requirements to build wells, however, may have impacts on West Virginia’s land and water resources, especially with over 1,900 completed wells and over 1,700 permitted wells in WV. The purpose of my study was to examine the water quality collected in the area of gas wells. I also determined the streams closest to each completed well. I wanted to focus on streams because the rivers and streams hold wildlife such as native trout that are required to have a healthy habitat to live. Environmental degradation to the soil can cause erosion, which can quickly ruin the stream’s insect and fish populations. I examined the relationship of dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, pH, alkalinity and conductivity in streams that were within 1 km of a well site. For each well site, we looked for effects on water quality within 100m, 250 m, 500m, and 1 km. None of the water quality parameters was correlated with the distance from the well site. Our results indicate that completed well sites do not appear to have an impact on local water quality. However, there could be localized effects on water quality during the placement of the wells that was not captured during water quality data collection. Hydraulic fracturing chemicals can also be leaked into the water source during drilling, which may create hazardous health issues for not only the wildlife, but for the humans who consume the water.
Colonization of mosquitoes by Francisella tularensis via a nectar reservoir.
Authors: Cusick Austin , Payne Jessica , Gaughenbaugh Anna , Horzempa Joseph , Seeber Roger , Kenney Adam
Published: May 2022

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious bacterium that causes the potentially fatal disease tularemia. In parts of Europe, specifically Scandinavian countries, mosquitoes are capable vectors of F. tularensis. Presumably, mosquitoes become colonized with F. tularensis following extraction of blood from an infected mammal.  Mosquitoes feed intermittently on nectar between blood meals, allowing for the possibility of a colonized mosquito transmitting F. tularensis to flower nectar. Consequently, flower nectar may act as a natural reservoir of F. tularensis. We aimed to assess if nectar was a viable reservoir of F. tularensis, as well as the ability of mosquitoes to ingest and transmit F. tularensis from one nectar source to another. Therefore, we first sought to determine the viability of F. tularensis in nectar by inoculating  nectar, in comparison to water and a bacterial growth medium (TSBc).  Bacteria were capable of surviving in sucrose and TSBc over a long period of time relative to water. In addition, mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) that fed on a nectar surrogate (30% sucrose solution) inoculated with bacteria became colonized with F. tularensis as was determined by plating insect homogenates at various time points. The presence of F. tularensis was confirmed by PCR using Francisella-specific primers on the viable bacteria recovered from the mosquitoes that fed from the inoculated sucrose. We are currently investigating whether F. tularensis can be re-deposited into sterile nectar or a nectar surrogate by colonized mosquitoes.
Quantum mechanical structure elucidation of the aldol transition state.
Authors: Mason McKensie , Van Aardt Theunis , Serra Jon
Published: May 2022

The reaction between methyl 2-methoxyphenylacetate and 4-methoxy-2-O-methoxymethylbenzaldehyde to form the aldol product methyl 3-hydroxy-2-(2”-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2’-O-methoxymethyl-4’-methoxyphenyl)propanoate is significant in the current study of the synthesis of trans-pterocarpans, a non-naturally occurring isomer of an isoflavonoid with potentially increased steroid-like properties. The aldol reaction is believed to first involve the transformation of one carbonyl compound by base into its enolate ion, and then form a six-membered ring transition state involving the two carbonyl compounds and a metal ion, which dictates the stereochemistry of the product. To investigate the energetic favorability of such a transition state, Spartan 14 molecular modeling software was used with the B3LYP theoretical model and 6-31G* basis set, selected for their accuracy with large organic molecules and molecular charges as well as reasonable calculation time. Equilibrium geometry optimization and energy profile calculations of models of the connecting phenylacetate compound, represented both as a carbonyl and as an ylide species, with the benzaldehyde compound showed a lowest-energy conformation with the two oxygen anions in a syn orientation, consistent with the orientation necessary for the proposed transition state. Furthermore, a geometry optimization containing a six-membered ring with a lithium cation successfully converged in a boat conformation.
Student/faculty perspectives concerning online education and its future at West Virginia State University.
Authors: Means Joshua , Raines Laurance , Ellis Kaye , Pazos Miguel , Spencer James L
Published: May 2022

Online instruction in colleges/universities is a growing part of the educational process. An ever increasing percentage of programs at West Virginia State University (WVSU), and higher education institutions in general, involve an online component. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate WVSU student/faculty perceptions regarding this issue. A survey consisting of 17 (seven-point Likert scale) items, two open-ended questions requesting student’s likes/dislikes concerning online education, and five demographic questions was administered to 92 current WVSU students. Selected classes across disciplines were targeted for administration. A modified but similarly themed version of the instrument was given to 14 WVSU faculty, four who have taught online classes previously, and 10 who have not. For both administrations, structured questions were analyzed by averaging scores per their Likert scale values. Open-ended questions were categorized by common theme. Both question types affirm that students prefer the convenience of online delivery, but regret the lack of reliable communication/interaction with professors/peers; they likewise judge the workload associated with online classes to be excessive. Faculty generally echoed student perceptions. While profiles of instructors who have and haven’t taught online were overall comparable evaluating online education’s utility, there was disagreement between the two groups regarding issues such as effectiveness, student effort, workload involved, and potential for cheating in this format. The results confirm the concerns of student/faculty regarding online delivery, and the necessity of integrating these perspectives into future models of effective college and university instruction.
Effects of silver nanoparticles on adult neural stem cell differentiation and beta-catenin signaling.
Authors: Menking-Hoggatt Maya N , Cooper Robert J , Spitzer Nadja
Published: May 2022

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are distinguished by their unique antimicrobial actions. Since AgNPs inhibit the growth of bacteria, they are incorporated into common consumer products such as clothing, electronics and medicine. In concentrations as high as 50-100μg/mL, AgNP cause cytotoxicity in neural cells; yet in low concentrations of 30μg/mL and below, cytotoxicity decreased and cell viability remained. Most people will not be exposed to toxic doses of AgNP, but rather a sub-lethal exposure which may cause subtle effects. AgNP can disrupt the blood brain barrier, cross cell membranes, and accumulate in the brain, resulting in chronic low-level exposure. My project used cultured adult neural stem cells (NCS) to test the effects of AgNP exposure at 1μg/mL, well below cytotoxic levels. NCS play a key role in learning, memory and repair and provide a cell culture model for brain cells. We previously found that low level AgNP exposure disrupted the cytoskeleton structure in cultured NSC, resulting in inhibition of neurite dynamics and the formation of f-actin puncta. This research aims to investigate β-catenin signaling pathways as a potential target of AgNP effects on NSC cytoskeleton function. We found that β-catenin and f-actin puncta co-localize after AgNP treatment. Also, the subcellular localization of β-catenin in differentiating NCS is altered after exposure to AgNP. This suggests an interaction between AgNP and β-catenin, resulting in the formation of cytoskeletal disruptions during NCS differentiation. Consequently, as β-catenin signaling contributes to healthy neural physiology and development, disruption by low-level AgNP could affect proper growth and function.
Assessment of steroidogenic pathway components following exposure of L. palustris to the herbicide roundup or its components.
Authors: Arumuganathan Priya , Phillips Preetha S , Nolan Colleen J , Plautz Carol Z
Published: May 2022

We are analyzing the effects of Roundup and its components on the pond snail, Lymnaea palustris. Roundup is a commonly used herbicide composed of the chemicals Glyphosate, POEA (a surfactant), and Diquat Dibromide (DD). By testing the effects of Roundup and its components on a hermaphroditic organism such as L. palustris, one can observe significant alterations in reproductive output as well as shifts in hormone levels or steroidogenic pathway components following exposure to these chemicals. Preliminary results from our laboratory showed chronic Roundup treatment yielded significantly decreased testosterone levels as well as altered estradiol and progesterone levels. Additionally, chronic treatments reduced expression of StAR enzyme, especially within the ovotestis. In the current study, snails (N=60) were chronically treated in solutions of pond water supplemented with RoundUp, DD, POEA, or Glyphosate. During the treatment period, snail fecundity and mortality were noted on a biweekly basis for each treatment group. After the treatment period, the kidney, gonadodigestive complex, and brain were harvested from each snail to analyze the expression of StAR, and p450AROM enzymes via Western blotting. Standardized amounts of protein from control and treated animals were compared during the analysis for each organ. In a concurrent study, testosterone, cortisol, and estradiol levels were tested at the three and six week marks by enzyme immunoassay. A significant decrease in fecundity was observed in snails in all treatment groups. Shifts were observed in both hormone and protein levels when comparing the results of the treatment groups to the control group.
Simplifying virtual linux containers using docker.
Authors: Miller Ryan , Wang Zhijun
Published: May 2022

Docker is a relatively new take on Linux container based virtualization. Docker is quickly being adopted and used worldwide for its ease of use. It makes use of Linux kernel namespaces and control-groups to isolate running container instances, which are self-contained and fully-functioning systems. This makes it possible for multiple container instances to run on the same host natively using the same host Linux kernel. This contrasts with the current trend of hypervisor based virtualization, which uses a virtual guest operating system running on top of the host operating system. Because each system has its own configuration, porting hefty applications can be troublesome. Using Docker, applications can be ported from a development environment to a production environment quickly and seamlessly. Docker packages this technology into an easy-to-manage system which can be maintained by both system administrators and developers alike. By utilizing Docker, businesses can increase their efficiency and productivity by saving time which is usually reserved for systems configuration.
Adult carrion fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) visitation patterns by time of day at sunlit versus shaded pig carrion in southwestern West Virginia, USA.
Authors: Joy James
Published: May 2022

A study to determine adult visitation patterns of two forensically important carrion flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Phormia regina (Meigen) and Lucilia (= Phaenecia) coeruleiviridis Macquart, was conducted at a wildlife management area in southwestern West Virginia. Pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) were used as surrogates for human bodies in sunlit vs. shaded field plots in four separate experimental periods; May of 2006, 2007 and 2008, and June of 2008. Aerial collection samples revealed that the proportion of P. regina was greater at sunlit carcasses than shaded ones, whereas the reverse was true for L. coeruleiviridis. Phormia regina adults, either alone or co-occurring with L. coeruleiviridis, were the first to arrive at sunlit carcasses, but L. coeruleiviridis consistently made up the “first arrivals” at shaded carcasses. Both species were most frequently collected at 2:00 p.m. and least likely to be collected at 8:00 a.m. on sunlit carcasses for all experimental periods. At shaded carcasses both species were least likely collected at 8:00 a.m., but P. regina and L. coeruleiviridis were most commonly collected at 2:00p.m. and 8:00 p.m., respectively. Sex ratios for both carrion fly species were decidedly female-biased in sunlit and shaded conditions.
Spreading sunlight: connecting communities with solar energy research.
Authors: Moore Allison , Humphreys Kelly , Price Chelsea , Harvey Erica
Published: May 2022

Students of all ages across West Virginia are being recruited to help with solar energy research. Fairmont State University is the headquarters of the West Virginia Brigade of the Solar Army, which is searching for cheap, abundant metal-oxide combinations that can help sunlight make clean-burning hydrogen fuel from water. Our lab has been adapting and refining sample preparation methods for informal settings. Community outreach involving family units, local schools, our campus community, and other organizations has reinforced the citizen-science mission of the Solar Army. Expanding community engagement introduces students and other individuals to renewable energy and provides a unique opportunity to conduct scientific research and contribute to the betterment of society. Student-friendly instruments known as SHArK (Solar Hydrogen Activity research Kit, University of Wyoming) and SEAL (Solar Energy Activity Lab, California Institute of Technology) are used to test samples. Our techniques, explanations, and website are improving by seeking viewpoints from groups beyond our headquarters. Through advertisements, workshops, demonstrations, and focus on communication and easy-access materials, we are bridging the gaps between our campus, our collaborators, and the general public.
Chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors positioned in the food canal of the horse fly, Tabanus abdominalis (Diptera: Tabanidae).
Authors: Dyer Naaman , Joy James
Published: May 2022

Putative sensory structures in the food canal, and distal vestibule region entering the canal of Tabanus atratus, are described. Two pairs of sensilla were observed in the walls of the vestibule; a distal pair of the basiconic type, and a pair of setifiorm mechanoreceptors at the base of the vestibule.Vestibular sensilla were constant in type, number and position. Conversely, sensilla in right and left walls of the food canal varied in number from one fly specimen to another, and lacked evidence of pairing (i.e., sensilla in one wall did not necessarily have a counterpart in the other wall). Food canal sensilla were of setiform (trichite) design, with the exception of a single basiconic sensilla in each lateral wall of the food canal in every fly. When the food canal was partitioned into four equidistant regions sensilla were aggregated in the two distal-most regions, with relatively few sensilla observed in the two proximal canal regions. This aggregation was significant (X 2 = 204.15; df = 3; P < 0.0001), leading to rejection of the null hypothesis that sensilla were evenly distribution throughout the length of the food canal.
A night of devastation: Natural and life history observations of an en-masse single night collection of Fallicambarus devastator.
Authors: Myers Greg A , Dillard Zachary W , Scott Katie , Sadecky Nicole M , Sadecky Luke K , Loughman Zachary J
Published: May 2022

Due to their fossorial tendencies, primary burrowing crayfish are the most difficult behavioral group of crayfish to study in-situ. In this study we elucidated both natural and life history aspects and intraspecific behaviors from a collection of 111 individual Fallicambarus devastator collected in Angelina County, Texas, on the night of May 15th, 2015. We also intend to emphasize the importance of environmental cues on collection success. Significant amounts of precipitation occurred during the days prior to 15 May 2015, resulting in the majority of burrows to be flooded on the day of collection. All animals were collected either traversing the landscape or captured at the portal of their burrow. Behaviors observed included excavation, respiration, feeding, and interspecific interactions. The majority of animals observed were adults, with juveniles noticeably absent on the surface. Life history observations included evidence of synchronous alteration to reproductive form in males, as well as sexually-dependent chelae morphometric ratios. Fallicambarus devastator meristically displayed sexual dimorphism between form I male and female chelae, with form I chelae having longer propodus length and greater palm widths, compared to the squamous and shorter chelae of females. Understanding the significance of studying these animals in favorable conditions is of paramount importance to the quality of future primary burrowing crayfish research.
DNA origami platform development for the detection of metals in water.
Authors: Norton Michael , Rahman Masadur , Neff David , Kumar Manjira , Waddell Ian , Hensley Andrea
Published: May 2022

Many people are becoming increasingly interested in learning the composition of their drinking water. However, for a variety of reasons, only very limited information is available to the public and even to the suppliers of drinking water. Clearly, ubiquitous water testing would be ideal, and this challenge provides motivation for the analytical chemistry community to develop new approaches to quantitation. This project seeks to address this information gap through the development of thin organic arrays, composed of DNA, which are functionalized with molecular species which can selectively bind metals of interest and enable optical detection and characterization of these reversible binding events. Progress in two areas, DNA platform development and ligand design will be presented.Tiles constructed from DNA have been generated which can present a variety of molecular species with a local periodicity of ~100 nm. Modulation of the strength and directionality of interaction of these tiles has been shown to lead to partial or local ordering of these tiles, an important step toward the construction of large scale arrays.Organic ligand systems for two metals of interest, Al and U, have been designed. These ligand designs include two modules, one module enabling covalent attachment to the DNA based platforms through a DNA linker sequence, while the other module supports a binding and reporting function. The synthesis of these ligand systems is currently in progress.Funding for this project was provided by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium and NSF Cooperative Agreement No. OIA-1458952.
Li-Fi: Using led lights for internet connectivity.
Authors: Corp Nathan , Guzide Osman
Published: May 2022

The term Li-Fi stands for light fidelity, which was coined by Harald Haas, the inventor and main researcher for Li-Fi. This technology uses LED (Light Emitting diodes) lights that can transmit data faster than what the human eye can pick up, allowing the user to use lights to be able to connect to the internet without using Wi-Fi. This research explores the possibilities of Li-Fi, compares and contrasts Li-Fi to traditional Wi-Fi, as well as explores the advantages and disadvantages of this new technology. Li-Fi allows places such as hospitals, where there can be no radio wave interference to have connectivity in places such as x-ray rooms, as well on airplanes, where it would allow people to have their own personal internet connection from the small light that is above their heads. Harald Haas believes that this will be in major cities in public areas where it will allow people to connect to internet no matter where they are at. This technology has already been tested and has proven that connecting through Li-Fi is faster than Wi- Fi.
Field notes on the reproduction of the Cheat Mountain Salamander (Plethodon nettingi).
Authors: Pauley Thomas K
Published: May 2022

In 1989, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Cheat MountainSalamander as a federally threatened species. I have collected data on this speciesover a 39-year period spanning from 1976 through 2015. Sexually mature malesdisplay two secondary sexual characteristics, squared snouts and swollen cloacae.Squared snouts are usually first observed in late July and early August. Cloacae startto swell in late August and early September. By mid-September, both characteristicsare obvious and these traits continue to be observable until late May of the ensuingyear. Mature ovarian eggs are visible through the body wall of sexually maturefemales in late August or early September. Gravid females, i.e., those with matureovarian eggs, are easily distinguished from nongravid females in September, October, and November or until they submerge into their winter subterraneous refugia. Gravid females continue to be easily identified the ensuing spring after emergence from winter refugia to early June. The latest date I have found gravid females in the spring/summer is June 10. By early June, gravid females have deposited their eggs and are tending them in nests under rocks, logs, or in logs. I have observed nests with eggs and tending females from May 15 to July 26. I have found neonates in nests with females in September, indicating that eggs hatch in September.
Synthesis of trans-Pterocarpans.
Authors: Horner James , Mason McKensie , Van Aardt Theunis , Serra Jon
Published: May 2022

The objective of the research project is to synthetically produce trans-pterocarpans, a new but non- naturally occurring flavonoid. In order to achieve this, a synthetic method must be developed to produce the desired stereo outcome of the pterocarpan product.  First, a Williamson ether synthesis is performed to protect the hydroxyl functional group of a benzaldehyde molecule, to be later combined via an aldol condensation with a protected acetophenone. The aldol products can then be converted to trans- pterocarpans by sequential cyclization of the 5-membered ring and the 6-membered ring using protection and deprotection procedures. At this point, the aldol condensation has been completed; however, the reaction procedure needs to be optimized in order to achieve better yields. The presence of the aldol product was verified via NMR, including H1, C13, DEPT, HETCOR, and COSY spectrums.
Examination of ku70/80 proteins in non-homologous end-joining repair of double-stranded dna induced by alcohol exposure in neuronal stem cells.
Authors: Dahlheim Nichalos , Anthony Bruce
Published: May 2022

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) demonstrates increased DNA damage and ultimately apoptosis in neural crest stem cells necessary for early development. In adult alcoholism, neuronal stem cells also demonstrate increased DNA damage from chronic and binge drinking.Although increases in cell death are a hallmarks of stem cell alcohol exposure, there is little understanding of the mechanism that induces DNA damage. Previous comet assay suggest both single and double stained DNA breaks. In this study, neuronal stem cells were treated with 400 mg/dl alcohol over an 8 hour period and examined for double stranded DNA breaks. KU70/80 proteins are part of the repair complex for double stained DNA breaks and bind to non-homologous ends at DNA strand breaks. We suggested that increases in DNA breaks from alcohol my work through a similar repair mechanism to recovery from DNA damage. Examination of this protein was achieved by immunocytochemistry using exposed stem cells.  The results in KU expression show only slight increases in expression of either KU70 or KU80 after alcohol exposure. This suggests that KU70/80 protein expression and repair is not the only DNA repair mechanism associated with alcohol exposure and cell death.
Use of the parallel lasers photogrammetric technique for the in situ estimation of length of the endangered diamond darter.
Authors: Rizzo Austin , Welsh Stuart , Thompson Patricia
Published: May 2022

Length measurements are an integral part of age/length data used for fish population studies. For those species that are rare, threatened, or endangered, using a nonintrusive method to obtain measurements may be imperative in allowing for continued study of the organism. We used measurements from photographs, i.e., photogrammetric techniques, to obtain length measurements of the federally-listed Diamond Darter. We also evaluated the photogrammetric technique on two surrogate darter species, where total length (TL) and body length (BL) were obtained from direct and photogrammetric measurements. For photogrammetry, digital photographs from the dorsal view of each individual were taken using a waterproof camera paired with two parallel lasers. Photogrammetric measurements of TL and BL were conducted with ImageJ software. Agreement between direct and photogrammetric measurements was examined with concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs). Precision and accuracy of measurements were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the bias correction factor, respectively. The CCCs for TL and BL were similarly high for both surrogate species, indicating that the photogrammetric technique is an effective method for measuring benthic darter species.
A high throughput screen of a natural product library for the discovery of novel antibiotics with efficiacy against Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Authors: Chang Brandon , Schmitt Deanna , Horzempa Joseph
Published: May 2022

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a gram negative bacterium in the enterobacteriaceae family. This organism is an opportunistic pathogen that has been associated with antibiotic resistance in recent years. The discovery of new antibiotics is critical to combat this rising trend in resistance. The National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) has assembled a library of over 2500 extracts derived from plants, fungi, marine, and algae species with potential antibacterial properties. In partnership with NCNPR, we have developed a rapid and effective method for screening large quantities of organic compounds for antibacterial sensitivity against K. pneumoniae.  Bacteria were inoculated into a microtiter plate containing liquid growth medium. A small volume of each compound was added to a corresponding well in the microtiter dish.After incubation at 37°C, bacteria growth was measured using a plate reader. Wells lacking treatment or containing antibiotics known to be effective at inhibiting K. pneumoniae were used to identify normal or inhibited growth levels respectively. At least four extracts exhibited potential for inhibiting K. pneumoniae: blanket flower, smallflower globemallow, Arizona walnut, and tree fern. Future investigations will involve the characterization and a detailed analysis of the antimicrobial efficacy of these compounds.
Status survey results and distribution of Cambarus veteranus across the upper guyandotte basin of West Virginia.
Authors: Sadecky Nicole , Dillard Zachary , Scott Katie , Loughman Zachary
Published: May 2022

Cambarus veteranus (Guyandotte River Crayfish) is endemic to West Virginia’s Upper Guyandotte basin (UGB) and currently petitioned for federal listing as endangered by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. At the turn of the last century, C. veteranus was documented occurring throughout the UGB. Basin wide surveys completed in 2009 only found the species in Pinnacle Creek, indicating C. veteranus had experienced extensive population decline. During May and June 2015, surveys were performed across the UGB to determine the current distribution of the species. Seventy one sites were sampled, including all historic as well as semi-randomly selected streams, with at least one and as many as nine 125m reaches sampled per wadeable stream. Surveys determined that Pinnacle Creek populations persist along a minimum of 4.8 stream kilometers. Cambarus veteranus was absent at both the confluence with the Guyandotte and headwaters of Pinnacle Creek. Animals also were procured for the first time from the Clear Fork/Laurel Fork watershed, with C. veteranus limited to a minimum of 21.7 km there in. Cambarus veteranus were not encountered in any other historic locations including Still Run and Huff, Barker, Briar, Indian, Little Indian, or Turkey Creek. At present, C. veteranus is known to occur within a minimum of 26.5 stream kilometers in two subwatersheds in the UGB, and given this limited distribution and apparent population decline, is deserving of federal protection.