bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing trends in Lyme borreliosis reported from Upshur County WV
Authors: Duncan Kyra , Sal Melanie , Bjorgo-Thorne Kim
Published: May 2022

Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is the most commonly contracted tick-borne disease in America. It is transmitted by hard-bodied ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of the genus Ixodes, specifically I. scapularis in the eastern United States and I. pacificus in the western United States. Borreliosis is caused by the spirochaete bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. In 2018, 398 confirmed or probable cases of Lyme borreliosis were reported in 40 West Virginia counties, compared to a total of 772  total confirmed/probable cases of Lyme borreliosis from 2000-2010 (annual range 17-200 cases). In order to test population dynamics of different tick species and Borrelia infection prevalence of I. scapularis, 747 individual tick samples of three different species (I. scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) were collected in and around Upshur County, West Virginia via flagging and dragging methods, and from veterinarians and groomers in Upshur County. After identification, the DNA was extracted from the samples. PCR and gel electrophoresis were used to test for B. burgdorferi presence in the ticks. 1.7% of the 147 ticks tested were positive for B. burgdorferi infection. 3.4% of the ticks tested displayed an unidentified positive band. Lyme borreliosis is now found in most WV counties and is considered endemic in the state. Upshur and surrounding counties, once comparatively free of Lyme borreliosis cases, are now reporting multiple cases per year. Future research will include isolating and identifying this band as well as testing for Rickettsial diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The Role of FTL_1229 during Infection and Erythrocyte Invasion by Francisella tularensis.
Authors: Myers Jennifer Rose , Horzempa Joseph
Published: May 2022

Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative bacterium that causes the disease, tularemia. Due to the highly infectious nature of F. tularensis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified this bacterium as a category A bioterrorism agent. To combat this threat, understanding the pathogenesis of F. tularensis is necessary. FTL_1229 encodes a protein homologous to the ATP binding protein portion of an ABC transporter. This gene is of interest because its expression is induced in the presence of human red blood cells.  Therefore, we hypothesized that FTL_1229 may be involved during invasion of these host cells.  However, we and others have produced evidence that this gene is essential which means that producing a null mutation is unfeasible.  Therefore, we utilized a Tet-responsive promoter system to control expression of FTL_1229 in trans and are attempting to delete the chromosomal copy of this gene.  By modulating expression of FTL_1229, we will be able to evaluate the role of this gene in erythrocyte invasion and during infection. (Supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence and funding from the WV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.14.13] and NIH grant 1R15HL147135-01 and This research was made possible by NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Training Grant # NNX15AI01H.).
Effects of pNaKtide in 5/6 Partial Nephrectomy mouse model having benefits on Red Blood Cells survival and Cardiac Function
Authors: Chaudhry Hibba
Published: May 2022

We have previously shown that Na+/K+-ATPase has a signaling function in addition to its pumping function. Interstitial fibrosis in the heart and kidney are hallmark of pathological changes in Chronic Kidney Failure (CKF) patients with Cardiovascular complications. We have also demonstrated that this signaling function amplifies oxidants and increases cellular oxidant stress; conversely the blockage of this signal cascade with a designed peptide, pNaKtide, attenuates oxidant stress. We investigated this effect of pNaKtide on our mouse model of CKF with 5/6 partial nephrectomy. We randomly divided animals into 4 groups Sham, PNx, Sham+pNaKtide, and PNx+pNaKtide. Biotin labeled Red Blood Cells (RBCs) were detected using Streptavidin-PE in flow cytometry. Our results show that pNaktide ameliorates the phenotypical changes in experimental CKF 5/6 partial nephrectomy (PNx) mouse model. Our PNx model showed non-iron deficient anemia without elevation in the blood pressure compared to Sham surgery animals. Administration of pNaktide in sham and PNx mice induced an increase in the RBCs half-life and reduced fibrosis in the heart and kidney.
Determining the Effects of Animal Decomposition on Soil Microbes
Authors: Sebok Amelia , Flood Mark , Henson Kristy
Published: May 2022

When animals die and decompose, they undergo various taphonomic stages eventually breaking down and becoming one with the earth again. Factors that affect decomposition have been studies but there is very little literature on the effects of animal decomposition on soil microbial communities. In this project, we studied the changes in soil microbial activity at sites of animal decomposition during various taphonomic stages. Soil microbial activity was calculated using Biolog 96-well ecoplates, incubated at 30℃, with readings at 0, 24, and 72 hours. Preliminary tests were conducted at a known gravesite where a carcass decomposed last spring. Soil samples were collected from the head, abdominopelvic region, and an off-site control 2 meters away from the grave. Initially, the soil samples underwent three testing methods. Samples were tested with fresh, frozen, and dried soil. Fresh soil yielded the highest microbial activity followed by the frozen soil; dried soil did not yield any microbial activity. Preliminary results of the fresh soil showed a high level of microbial activity at the one-year-old gravesite compared to the off-site control. The percent functional diversity at 72 hours, for the fresh soil samples, were as follows: Head- 67.7%, Abdominopelvic- 58.1%, and the off-site control- 54.8%. Future research includes testing six fresh animal specimens at one-week intervals.
Epidemiology and Treatment of Cryptosporidium serpentis in a Snake Collection
Authors: Ozersky Sydney A , Cunningham Carly , Guthrie Kinsey , Loughman Zachary
Published: May 2022

Within any large animal collection, parasites and diseases can often be present. One parasite present in many different animal hosts is Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite that targets and infects the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract of its host. In reptiles, specifically snakes, Cryptosporidium serpentis can be lethal. Fecal antigen tests and immunofluorescent antibody testing are commonly used as simple methods to determine if Cryptosporidium oocytes are found within an animal’s feces, however, these tests do not distinguish between the different Cryptosporidium species. Several studies have found another species, Cryptosporidium parvum, within snakes. This species of Cryptosporidium is not pathogenic in snakes. Being able to identify between these species is necessary to provide correct treatment, as both will appear positive on the identification tests. Most zoological institutions rely on these testing methods as their primary way of identifying Cryptosporidium. Limited research has been published on how to deal with Cryptosporidium in snake collections. Standard protocols of zoological institutions either euthanize the infected individual or permanently isolate them. The focus of this study is to determine a protocol to use in the case that Cryptosporidium is identified within a snake collection. The aim is to use snakes from West Liberty University’s Zoo Science snake collection that have tested positive for Cryptosporidium, and work to identify the species using PCR-RFLP. Once identified, a treatment plan using paromomycin will be monitored to try and eliminate C. serpentis in infected individuals.
Application of ACUE module "Embedding Career Guidance Into Your Course" at WVU Tech
Authors: Panta Yogendra M , Hatipoglu Kenan
Published: May 2022

At WVU Tech (West Virginia University Institute of Technology), we employed a teaching module “Embedding career guidance into your course” developed by ACUE (American College and University Educators). In addition, we presented positive outcomes from the implementation of other ACUE module “Developing students’ career-ready skills” that enhances students’ readiness for professional career upon their graduation.  Embedding career guidance into teaching courses relate and equip students’ readiness with the necessary skillsets they need to be successful in their professional career. Through the ACUE module, we learned how to guide students in searching majors, internships/co-op opportunities, and other career options; facilitate opportunities for students to network with alumni and upper-level students; and make a meaningful relevance of course learning outcomes to students’ future goals. Although materials and resource development are still ongoing, we have begun the pilot implementation of this ACUE module into our campus through our primary roles as department- or, program-specific academic advisors. Our first implementation of this module and the outcomes were highly encouraging to be able to provide rich knowledge about myriad of options available selecting elective courses and engineering majors. These interactions with students led to experience their satisfactions in our new approach of advisement that turned to be more effective. We plan to get involved more so that students realize the relevance of course learning outcomes to their future goals.
Sequencing of a npc1L1 mutation in larval zebrafish
Authors: Smith Jordan Marcelle , Walters James William , Walters James William
Published: May 2022

NPC1L1 transport protein is located in the lumen of the intestines and is critical for cholesterol absorption. The reason why we study NPC1L1 is because cholesterol absorption in the intestines affect obesity and diabetes which is still under investigation. Our goal is to investigate the mechanism by which the protein NPC1L1 absorbs cholesterol we are creating an npc1l1 -/- (knockout) line of zebrafish.  We hypothesize that the npc1l1 -/- larval zebrafish will show reduced intestinal cholesterol absorption when feed a high fat diet compared to wild type zebrafish larvae. We are screening two zebrafish lines that carry mutations within the NPC1L1 sequence. These zebrafish lines were obtained from the Zebrafish International Resource Center. Parent fish carrying the mutation are identified by fin clipping, DNA extraction, and DNA sequencing of the potential mutant locus within NPC1L1.After identifying the mutation we will amplify the DNA fragments. The DNA fragments will then be sent off to Marshall Genomics Core for sequencing. The mutation sequence will be compared to a wild type sequence. Then the zebrafish that has been confirmed a carrier will be outcrossed with a wild type to eliminate background mutations and then intercrossed to make a homozygous carrier. This work was supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence and NIH Grant P20GM103434 awarded to Bluefield State College.
Comparison of heart rates measured in supine, prone, and sitting positions.
Authors: Omelchenko-Comer Natalia , Kalb Heather , COHEN LOUELLA , DIGIACINTO CARLEY , GIORDANO EMILY , , GREENE DEEANN , ROBINSON SIERRA , WALLACE DORA , HENDERSON BRYLEE , TAYLOR AUDRIANNA , KNICELY PAYTON
Published: May 2022

The body position is influencing multiple physiological functions, including blood pressure, lung capacity, and mood. A previous study indicated significant difference in the HR measures in sitting, prone, and supine position if the breathing pace is normalized to the same frequency (Watanabe at al. 2007). The aim of the study was to determine if heart rate is different in sitting, prone, and supine positions under more common circumstances, when the breathing pattern is not unnaturally adjusted. Heart rates were measured for 1 min in 12 male and female healthy volunteers (average age of those was 35.8+/-17.58) after they were instructed to remain in a seated position for 10 min, and then after 5 minutes in prone and supine positions. Participants kept the same posture during HR measures. Average HR in the sitting position recorded in the study was 77.7+/-10.22 beats/min; HR in prone position was 78.5+/-8.32 beats/min; and HR in supine position was 74.8+/-5.61 beats/min. There were no statistically significant differences between group means as determined by one-way ANOVA (F (2,30) = 0.89, p = .42).  Our data indicate that the sitting, prone, and supine position have similar effect on HR if breathing pattern is not adjusted. As prone, supine, or sitting positions are commonly accepted by patients undergoing manual therapy, our data may have an important implication for efficient management of such patients. The finding of this study also can be used for development of better treatment strategies of the individuals that are exhibiting various degree of circulatory compromise.
Antibacterial activity in wild fungi collected in Jefferson County, West Virginia
Authors: Hayes David T , Robertson Laura S
Published: May 2022

Widespread antibiotic resistance is a public health crisis of global concern. Identification and development of new antibiotics is time-consuming and expensive, and few new antibiotics have been developed in recent years. While the first antibiotic, penicillin, was isolated from fungi, fungi in general are understudied. We are identifying wild-collected fungi, characterizing growth of these fungi, and investigating potential antibacterial activity.  Filamentous fungi were isolated from the surface of wild-collected fruiting bodies of Auricularia fuscosuccinea (Jelly Ear), Polyporus squamosus (Dryad’s Saddle), and Loweomyces fractipes. Three isolates were identified to species by DNA barcode: two strains of Mucor nidicola and one strain of Geotrichum klebahnii.  Growth of these three strains was assessed on four different culture media: Cherry Sawdust Agar, Dog Food Agar, Malt-Yeast Extract-Peptone Agar, and Potato Dextrose Yeast Agar. The three strains did not grow well on cherry sawdust agar, but grew well on the other three media. The ability to inhibit growth of the bacteria Escherichia coli K-12, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus cereus was assessed for G. klebahnii, the two isolates of M. nidicola, and for six other fungal strains that we isolated previously: Aspergillus niger, Penicillium herquei, Epiccocum nigrum, and three separate isolates of Trichoderma atroviride.  Several of the tested strains inhibited growth of the Gram-positive B. cereus.
Investigation of environmental and land use influence on watershed bacterial contamination using E. coli quantification and 16s identification
Authors: O'Connor Abigail , Wood James
Published: May 2022

Wheeling Creek in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia was monitored for fecal indicator bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). Since Wheeling Creek is used recreationally, elevated fecal coliform levels pose potential human health risks including gastrointestinal or respiratory illness.   The current study included 12 sites spanning 18 stream km. For each site, weekly or bi-weekly bacteria samples were collected from the water column and water chemistry parameters were recorded. Seasonal trends in bacterial contamination and correlations with site parameters including rainfall, water chemistry, and land use were recorded.   Additionally, monthly water samples from each site were enriched for coliform bacteria, amplified using 16s rRNA primers, and sequenced using Oxford Nanopore’s Flongle technology. Metagenomic analysis was used to determine patterns in the microbial community and note correlations between indicator bacteria and pathogens.   Concentration of E. coli regularly exceeded the USEPA recommendation of 235 CFU/100 mL at many sites. Two sites averaged over 3,000 CFU/100 mL, while five sites averaged less than 126 CFU/100 mL. Development in the watershed correlated with E. coli concentration. Within the water chemistry parameters measured, turbidity, rainfall, pH, and temperature were the best predictors of site-level E. coli concentration, while pH, temperature, and percent developed land use were the best predictors of watershed E. coli levels. Collectively, these data can elucidate human health risk and inform remediation efforts in the Wheeling Creek watershed.   This research was made possible by NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, NASA Agreement # # 80NSSC20M0055, and the Wheeling Water Pollution Control Dept.
Analysis of Metabolic Bone Disease in 3D Printed Skeletal Remains.
Authors: Starcher Krystal , Henson Kristy
Published: May 2022

Analyzing skeletal remains gives researchers the ability to reconstruct an individual’s quality of life. Studying metabolic bone disease in skeletal remains is one way researchers are able to learn how a particular bone disease may have impacted the individual in their daily life. The purpose of this study is to analyze 3D printed skeletal remains and determine if any metabolic bone disease is present or visible. The skeletal remains were extracted from CT files and 3D printed on a ZPrinter. An osteological analysis was previously conducted to determine the age and sex of the individual. To determine if the skeletal remains have any metabolic diseases a macroscopic examination was completed on the available skeletal material. Any sign of bone abnormality will be noted and observed to determine what type of metabolic disease it may be present. Preliminary results suggest that the 3D printed remains may not be of high enough quality to determine if metabolic bone diseases are present.
The application of WEAP in water quantity demand modeling of population centers along the Monongahela River.
Authors: McNeil Wilson Holland , Hopkinson Leslie
Published: May 2022

The Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) has practical applications in rural areas such as modeling water resources and demand while considering varying population and climate. The goal of this study was to use WEAP to model water resources along the Monongahela River through the year 2025 and check for any instances of unmet demand. WEAP was used to analyze the demand placed on the river by the population centers of Morgantown, Fairmont, and Monongah in West Virginia, as well as by industrial large quantity users. Population change in each of the centers was modeled through 2025 using census data. Three different scenarios were modeled: wet, dry, and average, which account for different possibilities in climate effects over time. Results found little variation in demand and flow under average conditions. While wet and dry years experienced variation in supply over time, results indicated that there were no instances of unmet demand in any scenario. This indicates that available water resources are projected to meet demand placed by the public water supply through 2025. The study showed that WEAP was effective as a water modeling tool in West Virginia. This model will serve as the basis for an expanded simulation in the future. Sources of support for this project include the Honors EXCEL program at West Virginia University and by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number G16AP00091 from the United States Geological Survey. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USGS.
Trigger words and the politics of polarization
Authors: Martin McKayla Marie , Huck Katelyn , Williams Christien , Hull Debra , Hull John
Published: May 2022

Undergraduate participants read 16 commonly-used words and phrases which describe politics in the United States, such as conservative, patriot, and Democrat, then evaluated them on 1-5 scales measuring negative-positive emotional response, and comfort in hearing them in a virtual class, in a face-to-face class, and comfort in using them in private conversation. Participants also self-identified as politically conservative, moderate, or liberal (CML), and indicated their degree of support for four Constitutional rights -- free speech, assembly, required vaccination, and owning firearms.Factor analysis of the words, phrases, and rights for emotional response showed an initial factor of 13 items with values higher than .45 or lower than -.45. Liberal” items – Democrat, Biden, liberal – were all weighted negatively, while “conservative” items, capitalism, Trump, gun support, patriotism – were all weighted positively. One-way ANOVAs using self-identified CML as the independent variable and emotional responses and private conversation comfort as dependent variables generally showed statistical significance (25 or 32 ANOVAs for terms and phrases, all four ANOVAs for rights). In all cases of statistical significance, Newman-Keuls post-hoc analyses showed at least the conservative-liberal comparison was significant. Correlated-groups t tests showed no significant differences in comfort of hearing items in virtual compared to face-to-face classes.Our study demonstrates clear political polarization reflected in the words and terms used. Future studies could include additional terms, and examine the extent to which this polarization influences other aspects of individuals’ lives, such as choosing friends, majors, or religious affiliations.
Target Training Juvenile False Water Cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas)
Authors: Williams Michelle
Published: May 2022

Because all animals have the capacity to learn through operant conditioning and other types of learning, zoos and other animal care facilities have shifted towards the utilization of positive reinforcement training to shape the behavior of animals in captivity. Training provides animals the choice to participate in their own husbandry routines and veterinary procedures. While the adoption of these practices has improved the welfare of animals in human care, it has not been applied equally across taxa. Snakes are often overlooked in the discussion of choice and control in a captive setting, likely due to the historical misinterpretation of their intelligence and needs. In general, there is an overall lack of documentation of reptile training. In this study, a shaping plan was developed for juvenile false water cobras (Hydrodynastes gigas), a rear-fanged venomous species. Using behavioral approximations, snakes were rewarded with food when completing behaviors related to the ultimate goal of willingly entering a shift container. At this point in the training process, all snakes have made significant progress towards reliably performing this behavior. The purpose of this project is to use the trained behaviors to allow for routine husbandry practices, such as enclosure cleaning and weighing, while preventing unnecessary stress in the snakes, as well as risk to the keeper.
Using neural networks for molecular energy regression
Authors: Barber John , Holsapple Raymond
Published: May 2022

The PubChem library houses structural data for more than 100 million molecules. Simulations of molecular properties are both computationally and financially expensive. In the first phase of this research, we demonstrated how supervised learning could be used to predict molecular energy using only a molecule’s structure. Specifically, we used a vectorized Coulomb matrix concatenated with molecular shape multipoles as our regression training feature. Various models were compared, with our two primary metrics being root mean squared error (RMSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2). A random forest (RF) model performed best on these metrics; however, model training time was also taken into consideration. A bagging regression model (BG) was consistently within 1% of RF in the primary metrics, but was faster by an order of magnitude. In the second phase of this research, we extended our regression modeling to include various neural network architectures using the same training feature from phase one. We have created and tested models with single and multiple hidden layers. In this phase we have also created a new evaluation metric, K-Accuracy, which computes the proportion of predictions that fall within a specified percentage error. After fine tuning various model parameters in our neural network, results were comparable to RF and BG. Currently, we are in phase three of this research where we are investigating two key improvements. We are coding an algorithm that creates a training feature called Bag-of-Bonds, which accounts for bond-type, and we are extending our neural network to a deep neural network.
The Effect of Dillapiole on Acinetobacter baumannii, a Gram-Negative Opportunistic Pathogen
Authors: Phillips Katherine E , Horzempa Joseph
Published: May 2022

Acinetobacter baumannii is an encapsulated, non-motile, gram-negative bacterium. A. baumannii has become an increasingly important hospital-acquired pathogen, specifically affecting immunocompromised individuals in intensive care units. This bacterium can cause several diseases, including bacteremia, pneumonia, wound infections, and urinary tract infections. A. baumannii has several virulence factors and can acquire antibiotic resistance genes, which have led to multidrug resistant (MDR) strains. Due to the increasing number of MDR A. baumannii strains, the development of new therapeutics is critical. The Horzempa Lab previously discovered that dillapiole, a natural product extracted from fennel, is effective in decreasing virulence factor expression in Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative bacterium. Dillapiole is structurally similar to acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs, a class of quorum-sensing molecules in gram-negative bacteria); quorum sensing is a process that regulates bacterial pathogenesis and biofilm production. The focus of current investigations is to determine if dillapiole decreases biofilm formation and virulence factor expression in A. baumannii.
CHD8 mutation in larval Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Impacting Peristalsis rate and total coordination of the gut
Authors: Ali Syed Monis , Walters James
Published: May 2022

Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have a comorbidity that includes GI distress, including constipation. We used zebrafish (Danio rerio) to model ASD gastrointestinal (GI) constipation as their optical transparency allowed us to readily observe intestinal peristalsis by stereomicroscope. Our hypotheses were that ASD gene CHD8-/- mutants would a) have a slower intestinal transit rate due to reduced peristalsis; b) CHD8-/- larvae would have an overall lower peristaltic activity; and c) CHD8-/- larvae would have uncoordinated peristaltic waves. To determine the rate of food transit through the larval intestine and to visualize the intestinal tract, larvae were fed with fluorescent beads mixed with a regular diet. We then measured the intestinal transit rate; peristaltic wave activity; and coordination of peristaltic movement down the length of the intestine. Our study demonstrates that the presence of food inside the gut after 24-hour post feeding is because of the inability of CHD8-/- mutant larvae to pass food at a standard rate. Surprisingly, peristalsis in CHD8 -/- larvae had a higher mean rate of muscle movement as compared to wild-type siblings. Data suggest that uncoordinated peristaltic contractions in CHD8-/- mutants lead to this phenotype and the contractions are also less effective which leads to slow down of food passage. WV-INBRE Grant# 2P20GM1.3434_14 P1500699. NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence. The Marshall University Molecular and Biological Imaging Center. WV-INBRE grant P20GM103434
Software Developed to Facilitate Calibration of Tumor Growth Models
Authors: CRUTCHLEY BRIAN , Wang Qing
Published: May 2022

Impulsive ODEs can be used to model complex real-world behaviors such as tumor growth and provide insights into how therapies work. Additionally, these models can be enhanced through complementary software that is able to better manipulate the large sample spaces their parameters tend to have. This project seeks to develop a series of software to numerically solve multiple newly developed tumor models and facilitate the simulation of model calibrations against experimental data. The impulsive ODE solver is accomplished by using the Runge-Kutta method to approximate solutions to the models and leveraging computational power to achieve higher precision and speed. The series of software help with data input, output, transfer, speedy pick of optimal calibrations, and graphing in the simulation of a couple of tumor models. The project was supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence and the Research Challenge Fund through a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Grant from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Division of Science and Research.
Genetic Haplotype Mapping of the Allegheny Crayfish (Faxonius obscurus)
Authors: Shanor Addie Rebecca , Loughman Zachary J. , Garrison Nicole L
Published: May 2022

Non-indigenous species are a significant threat to freshwater biodiversity. In the Potomac Basin there are several known invasive crayfish species including F. virilis (virile crayfish) and F.rusticus (rusty crayfish). It is imperative to discover whether F. obscurus is in fact an invasive crayfish that needs a management plan or simply another native species that needs protection. F. obscurus is a wide-ranging crayfish species that is native to the northeastern United States. Populations found in the Atlantic Slope Drainage basins are considered invasive. Using CO1 and 16S primers, we will be creating a range-wide haplotype map to investigate these invasions.
Comparison of Aerobic Digestion and Oxidation Ditch Wastewater Treatment Systems
Authors: Anglin-Irwin Kathryn Marie , Kim Young B.
Published: May 2022

Wastewater treatment is the process of converting wastewater into water that is suitable to be discharged back into the environment. Proper wastewater treatment  is essential in order to ensure the health of the population and the environment. According to a June 2012 USEPA case study in Fairfax County, Virginia, poorly designed/managed wastewater treatment systems lead to the pollution of nearly 900 miles of streams, lakes, and ponds. Due to environmental consequences resulting from poor management, two distinct treatment systems will be explored to observe their efficacy. They are aerobic digestion at Bland Correctional Center and oxidation ditch at Appalachian Detention Center. Both systems are common as they are simple and cost effective.My hypothesis is that aerobic digestion will be the more effective over oxidation ditch, and objective is to determine which is the more effective system. The tests to be performed include carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and E. coli. Once all data from both institutions are collected, it will all be analyzed and compared against current USEPA standards.It is anticipated that the Bland Correctional Center’s aerobic digestion system will have much lower E. coli, TSS, and CBOD readings in their samples because the institution sends samples to Blue Ridge Analytical Environmental Laboratory thrice weekly to ensure compliance to EPA standards, while Appalachian Detention Center only sends samples once monthly. Given the data observed so far, all tests conducted at Bland Correctional Center have proved that the facility is well within compliance of USPEA standards.
Learning to Improve: Early Evaluation of the First2 Network
Authors: Howley Caitlin
Published: May 2022

The first two years of an undergraduate student’s STEM program of study are particularly treacherous, with roughly half of STEM majors switching to other fields or dropping out entirely after their sophomore year. Moreover, attending a rural high school that was unable to offer higher-level math courses and being a first-generation college student further increase the likelihood of STEM attrition.   This presentation will feature evaluation results from the First2 Network’s first two years of operation. Funded by the National Science Foundation, First2 is a collective impact effort to improve STEM persistence among rural, first-generation college students in West Virginia. With students themselves as co-creators of solutions to problems of persistence, core Network activities include iterative testing of improvements to practice, development of a statewide network to support student success, and capacity building to ensure sustainability.   Study methods include surveys and interviews, observation of Network activities, document review, social network analysis, and tracking of student progress. Key findings suggest rapid Network expansion, establishment of core processes to support workgroups, provision of Network-wide training in improvement science, and successful facilitation of summer immersive research experiences for targeted students (in-person in 2019 and virtually in 2020). Early outcomes include statistically significant improvements in students’ STEM efficacy and STEM identity following summer immersive experiences, and improved survey scores indicating progress through iterative testing cycles. Early persistence data from participating students is less promising. But since the purpose of the Network is to learn how to help students persist, members continue their efforts to improve.
Vascular Flora of the Yew Mountain Center, Pocahontas County, West Virginia
Authors: Baranski Michael J
Published: May 2022

A baseline floristic study was conducted on the 500 acre Yew Mountain Center (YMC) in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.  The YMC is a non-profit educational center providing programs emphasizing Appalachian ecology, culture, and arts, with one of its goals being the development of field research and study opportunities for outside researchers and students.  Fieldwork conducted in 2019-2021 resulted in 383 recorded vascular plant taxa, with 25 new additions to the known Pocahontas County flora (possibly as many as 83 total new taxa have been found by the author in the county).  The majority of the new additions were not unexpected.  Two taxa (Juglans cinerea and Prunus alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis) are significant occurrences tracked by the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program.  Approximately 85% of the taxa are historical natives, as compared to 75% native flora for West Virginia as a whole.  The primarily forested YMC harbors a diverse assemblage of Mixed Mesophytic, Mixed Hardwood and Appalachian Oak forest communities that is relatively free of exotic invasive and noxious weed infestations.  The study demonstrates how a moderately-intensive examination of a small area can result in a significant increase in floristic knowledge of a region.
Who benefits when embedded students provide formative Feedback to instructors? Everyone!
Authors: Richards-Babb Michelle
Published: May 2022

Timely, formative feedback is just as important for instructors as students. In this project, “embedded students” provided instructors with formative feedback through anonymized reports. Students associated with the First2 Network NSF INCLUDES Alliance and enrolled in first or second year STEM courses volunteered to submit weekly reports documenting their ongoing experiences in learning STEM content, specifically in chemistry and math courses. Embedded students journaled about (i) their hours devoted to the course, (ii) their level of content mastery or confusion, and (iii) instructor pedagogy. Reports were anonymized and sent to instructors. Instructor work was limited to agreeing to receive the weekly reports, look them over, and potentially use them to inform upcoming teaching. Embedded students benefited by thinking about their learning in the class (metacognition) and focusing their learning for the upcoming week. Preliminary results from this project, including changes in students’ learning strategies and instructor’s perceived use level of reporting information, will be presented and discussed. Anecdotal evidence indicates positive benefits to both the instructors and the reporting students.
Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Mutations in West Virginia
Authors: Patricia Best  , Dr. Rachel Cook
Published: May 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has led to a pandemic that has impacted the world for over two years. With new variants and mutations on the rise, the objective of this project was to determine how the variants of concern (VOC) that were discovered in West Virginia differed from the original SARS-CoV-2 strain found in Wuhan, China. Using the NCBI SARS-CoV-2 database, sequences were selected and sorted based on the location of the mutation in the genomic sequence. Complete nucleotide sequences of the surface glycoproteins from West Virginia patients were identified. These sequences were then compared to the first recorded accession of each VOC in the NCBI database. The genomic sequences were analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree and protein alignment of each VOC were produced. The preliminary results show that all four of the VOCs shared more than 99% similarity with the reference sequence.
Analysis of stomach acid extraction of lead from children’s jewelry
Authors: O'Brien Samantha
Published: May 2022

Research shows that children in the U..S are being seen in emergency departments for swallowing small objects at an increasing rate, with 7.0% of visits attributed to swallowing jewelry.1 Treatment for lead poisoning occurs when the concentration of lead in blood is 45 μg/dL (450 ppb), however, no level of lead is considered safe2 and the CDC uses 3.5 μg/dL (35 ppb) as a reference as to when a pediatrician should consider “follow-up services” to reduce possible long-term effects.3 This experiment measures the concentration of lead extracted by stomach acid from various samples of children’s jewelry

   Simulated stomach acid solution heated to body temperature was used to attempt extraction of lead from children’s jewelry samples that had previously been determined to contain lead in their metal alloy composition. The simulated stomach acid samples were analyzed for lead content using AA spectrophotometry. Preliminary results indicate that while stomach acid does not dissolve jewelry, it is capable of extracting lead, which could lead to lead poisoning depending on the amount of lead extracted and absorbed into a child’s bloodstream should they swallow a piece of jewelry.
Integrating co-requisite math for STEM student success.
Authors: Cutright Lindsey , Amanda M. Smith  , Erica Harvey
Published: May 2022

Gateway math courses can be a major hurdle for students to get over in order to continue on with their majors, especially STEM majors. Previously, students could have taken up to four semesters of remedial math before being able to place into the first gateway math course needed for their major. With Math Support, students no longer have to take those remedial courses; the remediation is built in to the course in addition to the regular level content. These co-requisite courses allow students to start into their major courses much sooner than in the past, therefore allowing them to stay on track in their major and finish successfully.

   Developmental math courses have been replaced with co-requisite and accelerated learning models. All students can now progress through gateway courses within their first year, regardless of test scores. Gateway courses are offered with additional support to aid students in learning and understanding and fill in any gaps. Fairmont State was one the first colleges in WV to offer these services at full-scale. Attendees will be given an overview of Math Support at Fairmont State and how we have adapted our course to meet the changing needs of students as a result of the COVID pandemic. More data will be reported.
The role of three putative transcriptional regulators of Francisella tularensis during replication within host cells
Authors: Cashbaugh Mariah , Horzempa Joseph
Published: May 2022

Francisella tularensis is a pathogenic bacterium capable of replication within host monocytes and macrophages and is the causative agent of Tularemia. We utilized the attenuated live vaccine strain to model the infection and replication of F. tularensis in the mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line. Our lab has previously identified three genes predicted to encode transcriptional regulators that are upregulated in the presence of human blood cells: FTL_0671, FTL_1199, and FTL_1665. The objective of this project is to determine if these genes play a role in the pathogenesis of F. tularensis. 

Wild type F. tularensis LVS and mutant bacteria with FTL_0671, FTL_1199, and FTL_1665 gene deletions were constructed and engineered to express an extremely bright variant of Emerald Green Fluorescent Protein (encoded in the plasmid, pKHEG).  These strains were used to infect RAW 264.7 macrophages and fluorescence was monitored over time using a plate reader.  Our results suggest that FTL_1199 and FTL_1665 are attenuated for intracellular replication indicating that the products of the mutated genes may be important for pathogenesis.
Challenges, Successes and Lessons Learned in Implementing Hyflex Course Module during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era
Authors: Panta Yogendra M
Published: May 2022

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges in many areas of our everyday lives including in exploring novel ways for teaching and learning to occur in higher education. As the pandemic has been affecting the way of our lives, educators, universities, and students have been facing new challenges to keep up a sound teaching and learning environment. The challenges we faced during this difficult time made us explore teaching modules to keep an active learning environment thriving in the classroom.

In this pandemic era, educators and universities are constantly testing the efficacy of various teaching modules and formats including Synchronous/Asynchronous online, Hybrid, and Hyflex tools. A hybrid flexible, or HyFlex course design offers a plethora of options including attending classes and learning/practicing course materials on campus or, via online, or a combination of both, based on your preference including a blend of synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (on your own time) online elements. Various teaching modules including the Hyflex module and its components were successfully implemented to keep engaging students in the classroom. During the last two years’ annual meetings, we shared our experiences on “Active Learning,” “Demonstration-based Learning,” “Embedding Career Guidance,” and “Developing Career Ready Skills” followed by “Active Learning during the Pandemic Era.” This session’s presentation will include discussion of what worked, what didn’t work, and its future concerning the Hyflex module.
Machine Learning applied to an RNA Classification Problem
Authors: Moseman Andrew , Bhatta Samon , Miller Jason Rafe
Published: May 2022

Long RNA sequences can be classified as protein-coding messenger RNA (mRNA) or as long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). RNA classification based on sequence alone is a bioinformatics challenge with potential to enlarge our understanding of the causes of many human diseases. We chose to compare two classification approaches: (1) applications of correlation statistics and visualization tools, and (2) training a convolutional neural network. Both approaches used human RNA sequences from the public GenCode database. We found that the machine learning approach was superior, achieving an accuracy of 87.37%, which is not as high as some published classifiers. These results indicate that machine learning techniques are a more effective solution to the problem of human RNA classification compared to the other techniques tested. For future work, we propose to build, train, and compare other convolutional neural network models for this classification task.
An Overview and Analysis of First2 Network Campus Clubs.
Authors: Ashlea Krasnansky  , Beth Thompson  , Beth Thompson  , Erica Harvey
Published: May 2022

Underrepresented groups often face various, tedious obstacles when pursuing postsecondary education; many times, students find it difficult to impossible to overcome these obstacles and either avoid or drop out of college. The First2 Network is a statewide network of innovative stakeholders collaborating to solve and share STEM persistence issues. At the core of network’s shared vision is the assumption that students should be co-creators of the solutions. Funded by the National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES initiative, First2 hopes to double the retention rate of first-generation, underrepresented, and/or rural STEM students in higher education through many enriching and diverse opportunities, events, and initiatives. One of the most student-led and effective methods of outreach and support is the utilization of campus clubs across the state. Participants in this presentation will hear an overview about each First2 campus club and highlights of the work they are doing, how this work can affect systems change, and the benefits for those who participate.

Ashlea Krasnansky, Dept of Mathematics, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, 25755; Erica Harvey, Dept of Natural Sciences, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV, 26554; and Beth Thompson, Dept of Natural Sciences, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV, 26554. An Overview and Analysis of First2 Network Campus Clubs.
Specific microhabitat utilization, resource partitioning, and movement biology of Cambarus callainus Thoma 2014 (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in Tug Fork, WV, USA.
Authors: Scott Katie , Dillard Zachary
Published: May 2022

Following the description of Cambarus callainus (Thoma et al., 2014), a range-wide survey was completed to determine the current distribution and conservation status of the species, resulting in federal protection enforced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 2016 and listing as Threatened on the U.S. Endangered Species Act. While significant efforts evaluating the life history of Cambarus callainus have been completed (Vopal & Loughman, 2021), a more specific analysis of microhabitat utilization, habitat preference, resource partitioning, and movement patterns remains incomplete. High-resolution data involving the specific habitat requirements of crayfishes are lacking, which is recognized as a significant limiting factor in crayfish conservation and management (Jones & Bergey, 2007). We aim to resolve these unknowns by observing potential micro- and macrohabitat associations and individual movement patterns of adult C. callainus individuals, assessed via radiotelemetry across a temporal scale. We also hope to determine movement biology and any potential accidental or behavioral drift of crayfish young-of-the-year. Previous studies indicate that radiotelemetry methods are effective in determining the movement biology of Cambarid crayfishes (Bubb et al., 2004, 2006a, 2006b; Sadecky, 2020). Radio-monitoring of C. callainus will be beneficial for conservation management involving this species and will expand our ability to efficiently address issues affecting Threatened and Endangered crayfishes in the future.