bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of burner geometry on the morphology and propagation of supercritical, CO2-diluted oxy-methane flames in obstructed channels
Authors: Ogunfuye Samuel Abimbola , Akkerman V'yacheslav , Adebiyi Abdulafeez , Kemenov Konstantin 
Published: May 2022

High global demands for energy have promoted innovative research tailored towards exploring novel, more efficient and cleaner power generation. Advanced combustors are a forefront technology being developed in achieving these next-generation energy systems, which can be adapted towards current thermal power plants. One of such promising advanced energy systems technology is utilization of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2)-diluted oxy-methane combustion. The present study therefore scrutinizes the effect of the burner geometry, in particular, the role of the blockage ratio alpha in the propagation and morphology of a CO2-diluted oxy-methane flame at a supercritical condition in an obstructed channel with 40% CO2-dilution. The computational simulation of the fully-compressible supercritical reacting flow equations is carried out with various blockage ratios, alpha= 1/2, 1/3, 2/3, at constant pressure and temperature. It is observed that with an increase in α, the flame propagates exponentially matching earlier works at atmospheric conditions. Also, flame acceleration increases with the channel width. For the α = 2/3 case, high magnitude vortices and shock waves were observed thereby collapsing the concave flame structure observed for α = 1/2 and 1/3 cases.
Effects of CHD8 mutations on the intestinal dysmotility and peristalsis rate in a larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of autism
Authors: Ali Syed Monis , Burgess Harold , Burgess Harold , Burgess Harold , Walters James William 
Published: May 2022

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the fastest-growing disorders in America today. While ASD is primarily known as a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior, comorbidities like constipation from restrictive gut movement also exist. Our work explores gut motility and quantifies the difference in the rate of flow of food in the gut and the smooth muscle movement. Many genes have been associated with ASD our lab is focused on CHD8 as it is one of the prevalent mutated genes. CHD8 is a chromatin helicase involves in brain development and nerve cells, which affects communication and proliferation. To study the CHD8 mutation, we are using Zebrafish to model Autism Disorder. With an intestinal transit assay, 7 days post-fertilization larvae are fed with a diet containing fluorescent beads for 1.5 hours and imaged it for five different time points over the next 24hours. With videography, we blindly recorded the larvae for 5 min at one frame/sec and capture the peristaltic events in the gut. Intestinal measurements of regions of interest were quantified for peristalsis timing and sequence. Larvae were then genotyped. 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.
Transcriptome Response of genes mitigating Reactive Oxygen Species in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Larvae during dietary lipid absorption.
Authors: Walters Elizabeth Anne , Hubbard Gabriella , Sáez Ráez Paula , Schmieta Thomas , Walters James William 
Published: May 2022

The Mediterranean diet is associated with higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as well as lower incidences of cardiac disease and colon cancer (1). Due the presence of multiple double bonds, PUFAs such as alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), are thought to generate fewer harmful metabolites, specifically the Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS). Conversely, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) may lead to relatively increased ROS. In this study we compare two high-fat diets: the MUFA diet containing oleic acid (1 mM C18:1 plus 1 mM cholesterol) and the PUFA diet containing ALA (1 mM C18:3 plus 1 mM cholesterol). We compared gene expression from the dissected intestines of six days post-fertilization zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae after feeding the PUFA and MUFA diets for 3 hours. We measured ROS response indirectly via the increased expression of ROS response genes (GSTO1, GSR, and cyp1a). Our preliminary results show upregulation of the ROS response genes GSTO1, GSR, and cyp1a in the presence of MUFA and await further replicates to become significant. . These data support the hypothesis that dietary fatty acid saturation plays a role in oxidative stress within enterocytes. In the future we plan to measure ROS responsiveness directly via respirometry. 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 and the McNair Scholars Program.
Comparing Virtual and Face-to-face Forensic Science Labs
Authors: Thompson Caroline , Henson Kristy 
Published: May 2022

CAROLINE THOMPSON, Dept of Forensic Science, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV, 26554, and KRISTY HENSON, Dept of Forensic Science, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV, 26554. Comparing Virtual and Face-to-face Forensic Science Labs. Due to Covid-19 and the recent demands for virtual options, this project was designed to investigate potential forensic science online resources and virtual labs and compare these to similar in-person classroom experiences, specifically with regard to student performance on assessments and student perceptions about learning. This project is being conducted by teaching middle schoolers, both in person and virtually, and comparing the different environments. Two virtual software programs are being compared; Learn Engine’s Diablo Highway and Cengage’s virtual forensic science lab. In addition, surveys have been given to participating students for them to provide feedback about the methods. This research found that students who were taught fully in person produced an average test score of 76.67% and lab assignment averages of 83.33% on glass fracture and hand writing analysis lessons; when the students were taught using Learn Engine Virtual on their own, they received an average quiz score of 81% and average lab score of 76% on blood typing and fingerprint comparison lessons; when students worked on Learn Engine virtual lessons with a teacher present, their average quiz score was 72.9% and the average lab score was 86.78% on hair analysis and DNA analysis lessons. The preliminary data suggests that teaching virtually obtains comparable results to teaching in person.
Analysis of Chelodina mccordi from the Audubon Zoo, New Orleans
Authors: Taylor Kaitlyn , Sanclemente Justin , Garrison Nicole , Loughman Zachary 
Published: May 2022

Chelodina mccordi is a small freshwater turtle native to the islands of Roti and Timor in Indonesia. They are considered critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List due primarily to habitat loss and overcollection. Current conservation efforts aim to breed and release them into existing native populations to improve genetic pool quality and heterozygosity, although captive populations are extremely limited. Our study aims to determine the level of relatedness between six C. mccordi individuals held at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Genetic markers indicate which individuals are siblings; this information will allow the Zoo to efficiently manage turtle breeding pairs to yield desired genetic diversity. DNA was extracted from each sample (n=6) and the nuclear marker R35x1 (RNA fingerprint protein 35, exon 1) was amplified. PCR product was sequenced using Sanger sequencing and 1,060 base pairs were recovered after assembly, multiple sequence alignment, and trimming. Across the entire alignment, individuals differed at only 4 sites with no clear pattern of relatedness. Based on these results, there is not enough variation in the exon region that was sequenced to confidently confirm the sibling status. Future directions of this project will involve sequencing a more variable intron region or using a Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method, if necessary. This research was carried out with financial support from the West Liberty University Biology and Zoo Science department.
NSF S-STEM Project Initiation: Supporting Undergraduate Cohorts of Career-Ready Engineering and Science Scholars (SUCCESS) Project at WVU Tech
Authors: Hatipoglu Kenan , Rai Sanish , Panta Yogendra 
Published: May 2022

The SUCCESS project was recently funded by NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM). Our project aims to increase student persistence in STEM fields at West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) over its 5-year duration. Our project provides scholarships with varieties of student support services to the participant students to the program. Not only our support service includes faculty/technical expert from industry/ peer mentoring but also offer some exciting opportunities including cohort shared living and academic experiences; undergraduate research experiences; career exploration; and participation in discipline-specific conferences. Initially, we plan to sponsor for 20 full-time undergraduate students “Scholars” who will pursue bachelor’s degrees either in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) or in Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS). The so-called Scholars will be ideally selected as academically talented, low-income, full-time first-time freshmen through a rigorous selection process. To build a business mindset, the Scholars will be supported/encouraged to choose a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. By connecting Scholars to professional mentors, the project will enhance partnerships between STEM programs and local industries in the state. The project website was built, and applications will be accepted until May 1st, 2021. We are recruiting our first cohort of Scholars for the fall semester of 2021. We hope to update the project progress annually to the WV community at WVAS Annual Meetings. This project is funded by NSF DUE S-STEM Program from 2021-2026.
Contribution of Francisella tularensis FTL_1306 (dipA) in resazomycin susceptibility
Authors: Souder Kendall , Whaby Michael , Hickman Jennifer , Primerano Donald , Denvir James , Schmitt Deanna 
Published: May 2022

The CDC classifies Francisella tularensis as a Category A bioterrorism agent. Due to the growing global threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria, novel therapeutics against F. tularensis must be developed. Resazomycins are resazurin (Rz)-based compounds that exhibit antimicrobial activity against F. tularensis and other gram-negative bacteria. The action of resazomycins is not well understood, but potential targets of the antibiotic were identified in a high throughput screen for Rz-resistant isolates. The dipA (FTL_1306) gene was identified as mutated in half of the 48 Rz-resistant (RZR) strains sequenced. To further investigate the role of dipA in Rz susceptibility, we introduced a wild-type copy of dipA into select RZR isolates (RZR1, 5, 43, and 46) that contain dipA mutations. The dipA gene was amplified by PCR from wild-type F. tularensis and cloned into the F. tularensis shuttle vector pABST to generate a construct (pABST-dipA) in which dipA will be constitutively expressed under control of the groEL promoter. The pABST-dipA plasmid was mobilized into each of the selected RZR isolates by electroporation. Western blotting indicated that expression of wild-type dipA was restored in RZR strains with the introduction of the pABST-dipA construct. The MIC of resazurin for the resulting RZR dipA-complemented strains was equivalent to that wild-type F. tularensis and significantly different from resistant mutants. Further investigation is needed to fully elucidate the contribution of dipA to the bactericidal action of resazomycins.
Effects of a Radiation Therapy on Tumor Growth: Analysis in Comparison to Experimental Data
Authors: Burner Katey , Wang Qing 
Published: May 2022

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most common and effective cancer treatment options. Due to the need for radiation therapy, research on optimizing the effectiveness of RT is critical. Mathematical modeling and computer simulations provide powerful tools to investigate potential optimal dosage and timing for tumor control. In this work, we have developed a mathematical model using a system of impulsive ordinary differential equations (IODE) to describe how RT interacts with other major players of the tumor microenvironment. Analysis was conducted for the tumor model coupled with experimental data. Future work includes analyzing ways to maximize the effects of RT using computer simulations and experimental data. The objective of this study was to develop a platform to improve cancer management by manipulating dose and fractionation schedules of RT. This study is supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence.
Scientific method for improvement and student success: Plan-Do-Study-Act.
Authors: Heatherly Sue Ann , Harvey Erica 
Published: May 2022

Are you curious what STEM students find to be barriers to their own success? Do you have anything in your courses or research laboratory environments that you would like to improve? In this hands-on session you will learn how to use the basic principles of improvement science, specifically a branch called Networked Improvement Communities (NIC), to identify ideas that you think might produce the improvement you seek. You will be guided through setting up a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to test your change idea on a rapid timescale in your own local environment. The First2 Network (https://first2network.org) is a growing statewide alliance that aims to improve student success and retention in STEM fields, using the NIC framework. First-generation and other underrepresented students are at the center of the work, and we invite all students at the conference to join in and share their own experiences and perspectives with faculty members during this session. First2 Network, a National Science Foundation INCLUDES Alliance, is supported by NSF award numbers HRD-1834569, 1834575, 1834586, 1834595, and 1834601.
Liver damage in a mouse model of methamphetamine overdose.
Authors: Hambuchen Michael , Stevens Travis , Findley David , Brazeau Daniel 
Published: May 2022

Currently, the incidence of death due to methamphetamine (METH) overdose is increasing rapidly in the US. Liver damage is a consequence of METH overdose. Our objective was to produce acute METH-induced hepatotoxicity observable by the clinical serum biomarker alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
In this study, 9 week old male CD-1 IGS mice (n=6-7/group) were administered 0 (saline), 10, or 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip) METH every 2 hours for a total of 4 doses. One day after the first METH dose, mice were weighed and 30 minutes of spontaneous locomotor activity was measured. Immediately afterward, serum was collected for the determination of ALT.
Both the 10 and 20 mg/kg METH regimens increased animal stress as measured by a significant reduction in spontaneous locomotor activity and weight loss (p<.05), but there were no significant differences between the two doses. While the 10 mg/kg regimen did not produce any significant elevations in ALT compared to saline control, the 20 mg/kg METH regimen significantly increased ALT compared to both saline and the 10 mg/kg METH regimen (p<.05).
In conclusion, this 20 mg/kg METH overdose regimen produced acute hepatotoxicity in mice. It will be used in the future development of pharmacotherapies protective against METH-induced liver damage.
Deletion of FTL_0671 to determine the role of this gene in erythrocyte invasion by Francisella tularensis
Authors: Elle Roberts  , Joseph Horzempa  
Published: May 2022

Francisella tularensis is a bacterium that causes the zoonotic disease tularemia. During infection, F. tularensis bacteria invade erythrocytes, a phenomenon that enhances the colonization of ticks after a blood meal. To gain insight into the mechanism of erythrocyte invasion, we hypothesized that transcription of bacterial genes important in red blood cell invasion would increase upon exposure to these host cells. An RNA-seq analysis revealed that transcription of 7% of F. tularensis genes increased when in the presence of erythrocytes. Of these, we identified three putative transcriptional regulators, namely FTL_0671, FTL_1199, and FTL_1665. The goal of this work was to determine the role of FTL_0671 in erythrocyte invasion by F. tularensis LVS. After successfully generating a DFTL_0671 strain by homologous recombination, we tested the ability of this mutant to invade erythrocytes using a gentamicin protection assay. As seemingly more DFTL_0671 bacteria invaded red blood cells than wild-type LVS, this preliminary experiment suggested that FTL_0671 may restrict erythrocyte invasion. In addition to being a potential transcriptional regulator, FTL_0671 is homologous to PanK, a protein required for CoA biosynthesis in some bacteria. To determine whether FTL_0671 functioned in this capacity, LVS or DFTL_0671 was cultured in a chemically defined medium, devoid of CoA. In this experiment, DFTL_0671 did not exhibit diminished growth, suggesting that either FTL_0671 does not encode an enzyme required for CoA biosynthesis, or that F. tularensis can utilize an alternative pathway to synthesize this critical coenzyme.
Evaluation of the use of AMD sludge as soil amendment
Authors: Rodrigues Silva Amanda , Watters Brady , Hopkinson Leslie , Quaranta John 
Published: May 2022

The treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) involves chemical treatments to raise pH and precipitate solubilized metals. The byproduct of this process is an AMD sludge precipitate, and its management and disposal are a continuous environmental concern. This study evaluated the application of AMD sludge as a soil amendment to support vegetation establishment. A small-scale growth study was completed with six treatments composed by different percentages of topsoil and AMD sludge: i) 100% topsoil (100T), ii) 10% sludge, and 90% topsoil (10S90T), iii) 20% sludge and 80% topsoil (20S80T), iv) 30% sludge and 70% topsoil (30S70T), v) 40% sludge and 60% topsoil (40S60T), and vi) 50% sludge and 50% topsoil (50S50T). Four replications of each treatment were considered. Ground cover was monitored weekly for nine weeks (September 29, 2021 – December 2, 2021). Stem length and biomass were measured. Non-parametric testing analyzed differences in ground cover, stem height, and biomass. Ground cover ranged from 14.6% to 70.1% across all treatments at the end of the study period. The 100% topsoil treatment had the greatest median ground cover (=60.6%); however, no statistical differences were determined among the 100T, 20S80T, 30S70T, 40S60T, and 50S50T treatments. Biomass ranged from 1.41 to 6.22 g, and average stem length varied from 3.6 to 5.3 cm. These preliminary results suggest AMD sludge may be considered for land application as an alternative means of disposal. Generally, treatments with greater amounts of sludge performed better than those with lower sludge amounts. Additional testing at field scale is needed.
The Effect of Efflux Pumps and Oxidative Stress on Neisseria gonorrhoeae Susceptibility to Resazomycins
Authors: Gibson Jordan Faith , Young Emily , Schmitt Deanna , Rice Justin 
Published: May 2022

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains underscores the need for novel antimicrobials against this pathogen. Resazomycins, derivatives of resazurin (Rz), have shown robust antimicrobial activity against N. gonorrhoeae (Ng) in vitro. In vivo, however, resazomycins exhibit limited efficacy in a mouse model of gonorrhea. Previous experiments have shown that N. gonorrhoeae is more resistant to resazurin at oxygen levels comparable to those seen in host tissue (2%). We hypothesized this difference in susceptibility at low oxygen compared to atmospheric oxygen (~20%) was due to altered activity of multi-drug efflux pumps. To test this, we screened a selection of N. gonorrhoeae mutants that do not express or overexpress either the MtrCDE or NorM efflux pumps for Rz susceptibility. Overexpression of MtrCDE resulted in increased resistance to Rz at both 2% and ~20% oxygen suggesting resazurin may be a substrate of this efflux pump. Loss of expression of either MtrCDE or NorM had no effect on the increased resistance of N. gonorrhoeae to resazurin at low oxygen. We next sought to determine whether the increased susceptibility of Rz at 20% oxygen is due to oxidative stress. To test this, we measured the susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae to Rz in the presence and absence of the antioxidants, cysteine HCl and glutathione, at 20% oxygen. In the presence of cysteine HCl or glutathione, multiple N. gonorrhoeae strains had a higher Rz MIC at 20% oxygen. Here, we have shown oxygen concentration affects N. gonorrhoeae susceptibility to Rz due to increased oxidative stress.
Identification and characterization of fungi isolated from a cheese cave in the Eastern United States
Authors: Banks Alex , Behrmann Emily , Robertson Laura 
Published: May 2022

Fungal spores are ubiquitous; however, the species vary, depending upon the environment and usage. This study investigates the culturable fungi found in the built environment of a cheese cave. Using three different media, viable fungi were captured from a cheese cave in the Eastern United States. Captured fungi were isolated and putative species identified by sequencing the ITS region of rRNA (DNA barcode). In addition, two control fungi were identified by DNA barcode: a commercial strain used for cheese-making and a strain commonly used in the teaching lab where this study was conducted. Due to insufficient sequence variability within the ITS region, the 31 isolated fungal strains plus two control strains were identified to genus or species complex, but could not be resolved to species. Three genera were identified: Cladosporium (4 isolates), Scopulariopsis (1 isolate), and Penicillium (26 isolates, plus both control strains). Most isolates, including the commercial cheese-making strain, belong to a group of Penicillium species that cannot be distinguished by ITS sequence (Penicillium fuscoglaucum, Penicillium palitans, Penicillium commune, Penicillium caseifulvum). The growth of a representative sample of the cheese-cave fungal isolates was assessed on milk agar, salted milk agar, and malt extract agar. The commercial cheese-making strain exhibits more robust growth on milk-based media (similar to cheese) compared to malt extract agar, correlating with the use in cheese production and indicating characteristic traits of domestication.
Use of Heliopsis and Epilobium extract to test for reduced viability of Francisella tularensis
Authors: Theresa Evangelista  , Joseph Horzempa  , Elle Roberts  
Published: May 2022

THERESA EVANGELISTA & JOSEPH HORZEMPA, Department of Biomedical Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, 26074. Use of Heliopsis and Epilobium extract to test for reduced viability of Francisella tularensis.

Through a collaboration with the National Center for Natural Products Research, we identified multiple extracts from plants that exhibited novel antimicrobial activity. These extracts led to reduced viability of the pathogenic bacterium, Francisella tularensis during an in vitro infection but did not alter bacterial viability in the absence of host cells. Therefore, rather than inhibiting a central biological pathway of bacteria, these extracts either functioned through immune activation or dampening virulence factor expression of F. tularensis. Two of these extracts were obtained from plants of the genera Heliopsis and Epilobium. In this work, we sought to validate and extend the previous findings. Future experimentation will utilize bio-assay-guided fractionation to isolate and identify the compounds responsible for the previously observed antimicrobial activity. In addition, we will conduct mechanistic studies to determine whether the responsible compound activates host cells or downregulates virulence gene expression of F. tularensis.