APEX Presentations
March 21, 2005
Viral, Bacterial and Noninfectious Equine Abortions
Name: Brooke Bertle
Major: Psychobiology
Academic Advisor: Dr. Matthew Hils
APEX Advisor: Dr. Kimberley Phillips
Location: Burger Veterinary Services, Canton, Ohio
Dr. Alvin Burger, D.V.M
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
4020 Faircrest Street SW, Canton, OH 44706
330.484.2068
A normal equine pregnancy requires 320 days (approximately 10.5 months) to be considered full term. If the fetus is born before 300 days, it typically will not survive. There are several reasons for these abortions. The most common cause of abortion is from the Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV1). This virus can show up from the fifth to the eleventh month of pregnancy. The fetus has an enlarged liver, edema of the lungs and jaundice. Another cause of abortion is bacterial forms of Streptococci, Salmonella and Actinobacillus. Noninfectious causes such as progesterone deficiency, certain drugs and umbilical cord torsion are also common. Mares pregnant with twins usually cannot carry both to term because of placental insufficiency. Many lab tests of the fetus are required in order to know the cause of abortion. Currently, vaccinations are available to help with the viral and bacterial causes.
Training, Husbandry, and Environmental Enrichment Applied to Captive Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncates) at the National Aquarium in Baltimore
Name: Amanda R. Weigand
Major: Psychobiology
Academic & APEX Advisor: Dr. Kimberley Phillips
Baltimore, Maryland
Elizabeth Manning
Senior Marine Mammal Trainer
501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, Maryland 21202
410.576.3800
BManning@aqua.org
Training, husbandry, and environmental enrichment have become an integral part of the daily management of marine mammals in captivity. These principles have been used to enhance the lives of animals in zoos and aquariums. Training has become a useful tool, as well as an enriching one. The Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins at the National Aquarium in Baltimore have been trained using the principles of operant conditioning. The trainers primarily used positive reinforcement and extinction when conditioning the animals. Animal husbandry provides for methods or apparatus for breeding, feeding, housing and the overall general care of the animals. Husbandry behaviors are learned behaviors for medical purposes. These behaviors allow for the voluntarily participation in routine physical exams and treatments by the animals. These behaviors are of the highest priority for the care and safety of the animals that are being maintained. Environmental enrichment is also a very fundamental part of animal care. This enrichment provides the animals with stimulating experiences and challenges that are designed to improve the animal’s quality of life, as well as enhance the animal’s psychological and physical well-being by encouraging natural behaviors. Increased knowledge and application of these principles can provide a better understanding of the importance of training, husbandry, and environmental enrichment in zoos and aquariums. This allows for visitors to not only be entertained, but to be educated as well, which leads to the ultimate goal of public awareness and conservation of marine live and their habitats.
Reversing the Trend: Promoting Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyle among Young People in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area
Name: Emily Wittenmyer
Major: Biology
Academic & APEX Advisor: Dr. Dennis Taylor
Location: Cairns and Brisbane Australia
Melissa Haswell
Senior Researcher at the School of Population Health
University of Queensland, Brisbane, OLD 4072 Australia
61 7 4050 3670
Melissa_Haswell@health.qld.gov.au
Source of Funding: NHMRC Diabetes and Related Disorders Research Program
Over the past decade, the prevalence of Type II Diabetes has dramatically increased all around the world. However, the Indigenous population of Australia has been unequally represented among people with this chronic illness. Researchers recently found that Indigenous children are also being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes early in life. While several factors put people at risk for diabetes, a group of researchers from University of Queensland chose to look at physical inactivity. A project called “Reversing the Trend” was created in 2001 and continued through 2004. The objective was to promote physical activity to promote a healthy lifestyle in these high-risk groups, particularly in the Northern Peninsula Area and on Thursday Island. Several activities took place to increase physical activity in both of these communities, including the establishment of a network of people associated with health as well as sports and recreation in the two communities. We report here the results from an evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the project in hopes to assist future researchers. Two interviews conducted in the Northern Peninsula Area on members of the network were chosen for analysis. We conclude that “Reversing the Trend” was effective in increasing awareness, initiating actions that increased activities in the community and schools, and networking information between different groups of people concerned with children's health and physical activity.
Developing a Rapid Method to Estimate Fecal-Indicator Bacteria Concentrations of the Cuyahoga River
Name: James V. Cireddu
Majors: Biology/Biomedical Humanities
Academic Advisor: Dr. Sandy Madar
APEX Advisor: Dr. Brad Goodner
Location: Cuyahoga National Park in US Geological Society Lab
Rebecca N. Bushon,
Hydrologist
U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
6480 Doubletree Avenue, Columbus, OH 43229
614.430.7783
rnbushon@usgs.gov
Source of Funding: United States Geological Survey and the National Park System
The twenty-three miles of dynamic Cuyahoga River that run through the national park system offer visitors both a source of recreation and the consequential threat of bacterial infection. Through efforts undertaken by the United States Geological Survey, a rapid method to detect fecal indicator bacteria has been developed that is capable of replacing the current twenty-four hour plating technique. By combining readily accessible measurements of stream flow, rainfall, and turbidity with breakthroughs in immunomagnetic separation and adenosine triphosphate technology, a rapid method has been developed that has proven to have a strong correlation to traditional media techniques. Optimization of the rapid method through the elimination of double vacuum filtration and the addition of sonication has further increased the correlation’s strength. As parks nationwide search for techniques to reliably notify the public of up-to-date water quality, the rapid method offers park managers a way in which to post bacterial levels in under half an hour, rather than providing the previous day’s antiquated forecast.
Pregnancy Zone Protein acts on PP14 for Enhanced Immunoregulation of the Mother to Assure a Healthy Viable Fetus
Name: Joe Dombroski
Majors: Biology/Biomedical Humanities
Academic Advisors: Dr. Dennis Taylor & Dr. Sandy Madar
APEX Advisor: Dr. Prudence Hall
Location: North Eastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Immunology and Microbiology Dept.
Dr. Peter Koo
Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and Biochemistry
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
4209 St. Rt. 44, P.O. Box 95, Rootstown, OH 44272
330.325.2511
pkoo@neoucom.edu
The proteins present in the fetus received from the father’s genetic contribution might elicit a foreign, antigenic, immune response from a mother to a developing fetus. However, certain proteins have been characterized aiding in the regulation of the immune response to the father’s antigenic contribution. This allows the fetus to be viable and develop normally without being rejected. Many of these proteins are involved in suppressing T-cell proliferation and activating/deactivating specific cytokines. Human Placental Protein 14 (PP14) is a well known immunosuppressive protein. PP14 is found in amniotic fluid in the human placenta. The mechanisms for the immunosuppressant activity expressed by PP14 have not been characterized. Pregnancy Zone Protein (PZP) has been shown to have an α -Macroglobulin binding domain. Interaction between PZP and PP14 may be one possible mechanism. This study tested the effects of the proteins, PZP and PP14 suppressing the immune system by monitoring their interaction to regulate human T-cell proliferation and to induce specific interleukins and cytokines. Their interaction was tested using a T-cell proliferation assay and cytokine array analysis. Proliferation assay results showed that individually PZP and PP14 each had a significant impact on proliferation. When tested individually inhibition of proliferation was around 16% for PZP and 25% for PP14. However, when tested in combination both PZP and PP14 affected cell proliferation in an additive manner, reducing cell proliferation by 37%. In addition, PZP and PP14 have been shown by Microarray analysis to stimulate other interleukins. The concentration of the cytokines, interleukin 6 and 8, increased when T-Cells were induced by PZP and PP14; increased concentrations may affect immunosuppresion.
Sinkers not swimmers: The histological analysis of bone from early Cetacea and Tethytheria
Name: Noel-Marie Gray
Major: Biology
Academic Advisor: Dr. Brad Goodner
APEX Advisor: Dr. Sandy Madar
Location: Hiram College
Dr. Sandy Madar
Associate Professor of Biology
Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234
Previous histological analysis has shown that the late Eocene archaeocete Basilosaurus bears microstructural changes in bone associated with aquatic lifestyle similar to modern sirenians and other secondarily aquatic tetrapods. Here we study the bone histology of early cetaceans, including members of the Pakicetidae, Ambulocetidae, Protocetidae, Remintonocetidae, and Basilosauridae, representing the first ten million years of their evolutionary transition to obligate aquatic habitats. Each taxon shows signs of secondary osteological specialization, thought to be attributed to development of a complex buoyancy control system. In addition, several tethytherians (sirenians and proboscidaen anthracobunids) found at the same localities as early cetaceans are examined histologically for similar osteological signs of aquatic adaptations. We undertake a descriptive analysis to track the progression of secondary adaptation to aquatic lifestyle in cetaceans. We then examine whether both the Tethytheria and Cetacea achieve their osteological specialization in the same manner. We will also attempt to understand the mechanism of bone development in these mammals via a comparison to a range of modern aquatic and terrestrial mammals. While little outward skeletal aquatic specialization is seen, histological analysis clearly shows increased bone density that is dependent on an aquatic environment in all early whales and several early members of the Tethytheria.
The role of the USDA Farm Bill in implementing and evaluating wildlife habitat practices
Name: Matthew Watson
Major: Biology
Academic & APEX Advisor: Dr. Matthew Hils
Location: Clemson University’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, South Carolina.
T.J. Savereno
Wildlife Biologist
2200 Pocket Road; Florence, South Carolina 29506
843.662.3526 ext. 250
asavere@clemson.edu
Source of Funding: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is one of several offered through the USDA Farm Bill. WHIP is a voluntary program for any private landowner to create or improve habitat for wildlife populations. Associated with WHIP is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which provides technical as well as financial assistance for participating landowners. During the summer of 2004 a long-term study on the implementation of agricultural and forest improvement practices, in accordance with the USDA Farm Bill, was begun at Clemson University’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, South Carolina. The research was started to promote and support wildlife diversity through the use of: filter strips, hedgerows, field borders, native warm season grass (NWSG) plots, and prescribed burnings. Other methods being tested are forest stand improvements, random forest openings, riparian forest buffers, and a Longleaf pine restoration project. An evaluation of these practices will be completed and the assessment will be used as reference for any future modifications or improvements that may be essential for the program.
Molecular Systematics of the North American Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Name: Tim Guiher
Major: Biology
Academic Advisor: Dr. Greg Szulgit
APEX Advisor: Dr. Brad Goodner
Location: Hiram College
Dr. Brad Goodner
Professor of Biology
Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234
330.569.5260
goodnerbw@hiram.edu
Source of Funding: Howard Hughes Medical School Year Stipend
Phylogeographic relationships of the North American copperhead (Agkistrodon contortix) have been inferred primarily from morphological data. Despite robust morphological studies spanning more than sixty years, evolutionary relationships within the clade (Agkistrodon) are poorly understood. Failure to come to agreement on the proper subspecies assignment of many Agkistrodon contortrix specimens resulted in a disproportionate amount of the range being labeled as intergrade area. In this study we provide the first comprehensive mitochondrial DNA data set in an attempt to resolve the evolutionary relationships among Agkistrodon contortrix. The mitochondrial gene cytochrome b was sequenced from representatives of all five subspecies (c. contortrix, c. mokasen, c. laticinctus, c. pictigaster, and c. phaeogaster). In addition, specimens were chosen from three distinct geographical areas; east of the Appalachians, west of the appalachians and east of the Mississippi, and east of the Mississippi, in order to investigate whether the Appalachian mountains and Mississippi river could serve as geographical barriers for three distinct clades.