West Liberty Research Articles

Characteristics of aerosol chemical components and their impacts on direct radiative forcing at urban and suburban locations in Southeast Texas

The monthly/seasonal characteristics of the concentration and aerosol optical depth (AOD) of four aerosol components (water-soluble, insoluble, black carbon (BC), and sea-salt) and their direct radiative forcing (DRF) were investigated at three environmental locations in Southeast Texas. We used fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples measured at one urban residential (Aldine (AD)) and two suburban (Deer Park (DP) and West Liberty (WL)) sites located around Houston during 2016–2017, and performed model-based analysis using the mass concentrations of the four aerosol components to evaluate their impact on the DRF. Overall, the concentrations, AODs, and DRFs of all four aerosol components at AD were higher than those at DP and WL during the study period. In particular, the water-soluble component was the most dominant contributor, except for absorbing BC. The monthly AOD patterns of the four individual aerosol components (especially, water-soluble and BC) at the three sites were found to have strong associations with their concentrations and/or relative humidity (RH). The DRFs at the top of the atmosphere (DRFTOA) and surface level (DRFSFC) for most of the aerosol components were found to be highest in winter 2017 (AD), spring 2016 and winter 2017 (DP), and winter 2016 and fall 2017 (WL). The exceptions were sea-salt and insoluble components, which showed a peak in summer 2016 and no distinct monthly variation, respectively. Uncertainties in the DRFs of the four target aerosol components calculated using in-situ RH measurements were found to be less than 20%, with the exception of the water-soluble component at WL (24%). A sensitivity test showed that the DRFs of the aerosol components were slightly and significantly influenced by changes in AOD and single scattering albedo, respectively; additionally, sensitively changed with RH.

Europe: Civilizations Clashing: From Athens to the European Union by Piotr Jaroszynski and Lindael Rolstone

Reviewed by: Europe: Civilizations Clashing: From Athens to the European Union by Piotr Jaroszynski and Lindael Rolstone Thomas Michaud JAROSZYNSKI, Piotr and Lindael Rolstone. Europe: Civilizations Clashing: From Athens to the European Union. Berlin: Peter Lang GmbH, 2019. 194 pp. $23.17 As the authors clearly remind the reader, this is an academic work of the philosophy of culture and not a work of Christian apologetics. [End Page 842] It is not premised on advancing a religious truth, nor is it intended to induce conversions to Christian faith. It offers well-argued and wellresearched philosophical critiques of the past, present, and possible future of European civilization. The critiques establish the viability of its proffered prescription that Europe can be saved from its degeneration into moral relativism and progressive ideology by a revival of the universal meaning of Christianity. That meaning is the true value of Christian personalism, the dignity and autonomy of the human person as the authentic foundation of human rights. European culture is assessed as a battlefield of value clashes historically yielding three concepts of European identity: Greek/Hellenic Europe clashing with Persia, Christian Europe clashing with Islam and with itself (Protestant versus Catholic), and Enlightenment Europe clashing with its own Christian heritage. The latest emerging identity concept is being engendered by the European Union (EU), through which, the authors warn, Europe is ceasing to be Europe. The authors contend that the EU's vision of the new Europe is moving toward a fully secular ideology of socialism that denies Europe's Greco-Roman heritage and its Christian foundation. With the EU's socialist trajectory, ideas of the dignity and autonomy of the human person, the profound importance of the family, and the rich diversity of European countries' cultures are being gradually subverted in favor of an atheistic, homogeneous utopia that, in the name of a so-called tolerance, which is an end in itself, is playing a confused game with Islam. In other words, unless the fundamental value of the human person is respected, regardless of whether one is Christian, Jewish, or Moslem, the EU's socialist unity will be the demise of Europe. This work is certainly controversial. Nevertheless, its incisive philosophical critiques demand serious, open-minded attention. There is too much at stake for its message to be summarily dismissed as the extremist laments of disaffected Christians. The authors, moreover, invite readers to engage their thesis to promote the assessment of Europe's condition. One area where the authors' critiques could be augmented is with further analysis of the history of European economic thought and practice. The ideal of a socialist utopian unification has been historically integral to economic collectivism in which statist dirigisme is elevated above and beyond culture, religion, and, indeed, the human person him-or herself. Various Enlightenment philosophies vigorously promoted notions of a collective "soul" or "mind" that evolved into modern versions of a universal transcendental ego, a common "species being," and a collective consciousness and will. These ideas offered historically the metaphysical and anthropological carriage for the development of economic socialism and communism. Additionally, of course, the value of the concrete, individual human person with dignity and autonomy was lost, even erased, within an abstract, unreal collective human identity. Concrete, individual [End Page 843] persons become objects of manipulation and abuse in economic collectivisms that deny their fundamental dignity and autonomy. It is the case, as this work maintains, that the tradition of Christian personalism is the most profound and solid bulwark against the depersonalizing effects of metaphysical, anthropological, and economic collectivism. Without the human person, a de-Christianized new Europe will be the source of its own collapse. Thomas Michaud West Liberty University Copyright © 2020 The Review of Metaphysics

The Impact of Two-Minute Training Sessions on Confidence level for Providing Compression-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Teresa Faykus, Faculty Advisor, Nursing, West Liberty University; Taylor Curry, Nursing Student and Austin Raines, Nursing Student, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV.The Impact of Two-Minute Training Sessions on Confidence Level For Providing Compression- Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Studies have shown that bystander compression-only resuscitation for adult, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims improve overall survival rates. Unfortunately, 70% of Americans do not know how to administer resuscitation attempts or are afraid of hurting the victim. Therefore, only 27-41% of sudden cardiac arrest victims receive immediate resuscitation attempts. The research question is: Can simplified performance steps, simplified training, and elimination of mouth-to-mouth contact help bystanders feel more confident in taking the appropriate actions for saving a life? Objectives include training college students, staff, and faculty in chest-compression only resuscitation for an adult sudden cardiac arrest victim; measuring self-reported confidence levels before and after the training by using a Likert scale, and gathering self-reported confidence level factors. Nursing students included staff, faculty, and students to randomly participate. Data was gathered, a two-minute training and a return demonstration was completed, and post confidence levels were recorded. Of the total 134 participants, 85% reported a positive change in confidence levels. Of those, 55% had positive differences in their confidence of 2, 3, or 4 levels. When dissecting the confidence factors, three of the six options stood out as being the most chosen: “I feel that I may hurt someone if I don’t do it correctly”, “I don’t know the steps of CPR”, and “I’m afraid that I would get in trouble or get sued”. By understanding how confident the public is in initiating CPR and what influences these confidence levels, training can be better guided.

The antimicrobial activity of Serena repens (Saw Palmetto) extract against Burkholderia cepacia.

UMESH NEPALI & JOSEPH HORZEMPA, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, 26074.The antimicrobial activity of Serena repens (Saw Palmetto) extract against Burkholderia cepacia. Burkholderia cepacia is a gram-negative bacterium and opportunistic human pathogen that most often causes pneumonia in individuals with weak immunity or underlying lung diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis. B cepacia is naturally drug resistant to numerous antibiotics. Therefore, to potentially identify novel antibiotics that inhibit the growth of B. cepacia, we previously screened a library of nearly 4000 extracts of plants, marine life, and fungi from the National Center for Natural Products Research. From this screen, Serena repens (Saw Palmetto) extract significantly inhibited the growth of B. cepacia. The purpose of this work is to validate the antimicrobial activity exhibited by Saw Palmetto extract, and to isolate and identify the compound(s) responsible for this activity. Both disk diffusion and time-to-kill assays will be used to test the antibiotic properties of Saw Palmetto extract. I have conducted pilot studies to optimize experimental conditions that will be used in these assays. Further, we will extract organic compounds from different parts of the Saw Palmetto plant. These extracts will be lyophilized, reconstituted, and then utilized in the bioassays to test antibiotic activity. Subsequently, extracts with activity will be separated by chromatography. To identify the active compounds, pure molecules showing antibiotic activity will be subjected to NMR and Mass Spectrometry. (Supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence)

Epidemiology and Treatment of Cryptosporidium serpentis in a Snake Collection

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.

Creating a Human Gross Anatomy Laboratory: The Experience at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution.

This paper details the creation of a human gross anatomy laboratory from a defunct chemistry laboratory at West Liberty University, a small primarily undergraduate institution in West Virginia. The article highlights important considerations with regard to the development of a human gross anatomy laboratory including access to human gifts; assessment of the space for size, security, and privacy; assessment of the utilities; acquisition of a dissection table; ventilation; aesthetics in functional design; expenses; and sustainability. The report also identifies favorable conditions and potential pitfalls regarding the creation of a human gross anatomy laboratory. This paper demonstrates that a human gross anatomy laboratory can be created quickly and at little expense.

The characterization of fine particulate matter downwind of Houston: Using integrated factor analysis to identify anthropogenic and natural sources

The interpretation of large air pollution datasets involves a great deal of complexity. To gain a better understanding of the complicated relationships and patterns within datasets, we perform factor analysis. Between December 2015 and December 2017, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples were collected at a suburban site northeast of the Houston metropolitan area, TX. A total of 233 filter samples were analyzed for chemical composition. The average of all PM2.5 samples consisted of 38.1% inorganic ions, 28.9% elements, 29.1% organic carbon, and 3.7% elemental carbon and other organic materials. Principal component analysis and positive matrix factorization were utilized to identify eight factors: regional aerosols, biomass burning, gasoline combustion, industry, crustal material, incineration, marine dust, and fireworks. The first three contributed more than 70% of the total PM2.5 mass. The receptor models also captured the impact of fireworks and classified it as a source of PM2.5 over Houston. To identify the origins of air masses transporting PM2.5 to the site, we applied the NOAA hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory model and performed a cluster analysis of back trajectories and determined six cluster source regions: the Gulf of Mexico, the Southeast, two midwestern clusters, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southwest. The results of our analysis show that during the summer months, marine and crustal sources were often associated with an onshore flow from the Gulf of Mexico and that four clusters covering 38% of the West Liberty area were strongly influenced by trajectories originating from biomass burning. The results of this study represented a variety of sources that affect the PM2.5 over the Houston metropolitan area. The quantified contributions of these sources could provide policymakers with useful information for developing more efficient control systems and making more effective decisions to cope with the harmful effects of ambient air pollution.

On the Frontlines: Rural Iowa Latino/a Ministries during COVID-19

On the Frontlines: Rural Iowa Latino/a Ministries during COVID-19 Kristy Nabhan-Warren34 This past summer, I had the opportunity to be a part of a conversation about how COVID-19 has impacted Eastern Iowa Catholics among local church leaders. These individuals, who are part of the Diocese of Davenport, have decades of experience ministering to an increasingly diverse community of white, Latino/a, Vietnamese, and Burmese parishioners. Before COVID-19 hit the state in the spring, they met in person each month over coffee and pastries; these days they gather over Zoom and have coffee virtually. Yet the joys and challenges of serving multicultural and multilingual populations remains the focus of their conversations. While Iowa is a predominantly white and rural state, the sizeable and growing number of Latinos/as and their ongoing economic and social precarity are of particular concern for these men and women who are committed to a more just church and society. Three interlocking themes emerged from the Zoom meeting: Work is dangerous; There is so much fear; and Latino/a Catholics want community. Work is Dangerous According to Father Guillermo Treviño, the parochial vicar of St. Joseph parish in West Liberty and St. Patrick parish in Iowa City, Spanish-speaking parishioners have been “living in fear” because of immigration laws, potential ICE raids, and now COVID-19. Most Latinos/as in his parishes work in meatpacking at the turkey processing plant in town, West Liberty Foods, or at nearby Columbus Junction’s Tyson hog processing plant. As we have seen in the news, Latino/a workers have contracted COVID-19 at packing plants across Iowa at an alarming rate, as the slaughterhouses have been slow to respond at [End Page 18] best, negligent at worst, in addressing their workers’ safety.35 What we have not heard about as much, says Father Guillermo, is that Latinos/as and other refugees infected with COVID-19 end up spreading it to their family members, as they tend to live in multi-generational homes.36 What Father Guillermo has learned in working closely with his Spanish-speaking parishioners in West Liberty and Iowa City is that some Latinos/as who work at the meatpacking plants and who have COVID-19 have hid their symptoms and continued to work at the plants because they need the paycheck and are afraid of getting fired. According to Father Guillermo, around 500 workers at West Liberty’s turkey plant have been sickened by COVID-19. Some have died. The other Zoom participants nod in agreement when he mentions that the state has not been fully honest in its reporting of the numbers of COVID-19 cases. “The numbers are higher than they have been reported,” Father Guillermo says with a shake of his head. He continues to shake his head, looking down, as he talks about presiding over three COVID-19 funerals for Spanish-speaking parishioners in the past several months, all of whom were infected by the virus at the turkey processing plant. Father Guillermo is correct in his assessment that COVID-19 cases have been underreported in the state of Iowa. A recent report found that Iowa’s State Department of Public Health had recorded 221 cases of COVID-19 in the Tyson plant, whereas the company has counted 522 cases.37 As we have seen on a national scale in the meatpacking industry, Iowa slaughterhouses have been veritable petri dishes for the virus to develop and spread. Workers perform their jobs side by side, mere inches apart and nowhere near the recommended six feet.38 [End Page 19] Father Guillermo says that almost all of his parishioners who have contracted COVID-19 contracted it from the packing plant, or live with someone who works at a packing plant. He emphasizes that for Latinos/as in particular, the family is the central unit and extended families tend to live together, making is impossible for them to maintain social distancing.39 Father Guillermo’s ministerial relationship with his parishioners was complicated during COVID-19 when the vice president of West Liberty Foods asked him to serve as a translator and go-between for the company and his Spanish...

Persistent Fetal Kidney Lobulation: Anatomy and Pathology

Persistent fetal lobulation of the kidneys is an uncommon condition that causes the surface of the kidney to appear as several lobules instead of smooth, flat and continuous. Persistent fetal lobulation may lead to unnecessary testing and subsequent clinical complications by masquerading as other lesions (e.g., cysts and tumors) in diagnostic imaging. Therefore, this report details the gross anatomy as well as histology of a series of lobulated kidneys. Further, this report provides gross anatomical and histological comparison with other kidney pathologies that may appear similar in diagnostic imaging.Support or Funding InformationWest Virginia University, West Liberty University, NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, and West Virginia Research Challenge FundThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Circle of Willis Variation: Implications for Aneurysm, Atherosclerosis, and Stroke

Arterial variations within the Circle of Willis, especially hypoplastic arteries, are linked to intracranial aneurysm, atherosclerosis, and stroke; therefore, the study of Circle of Willis variants are of clinical importance. In a sample of 116 cadavers, the arteries comprising the Circle of Willis were directly observed and assessed for hypoplasia, hyperplasia, aplasia, duplication, triplication, and plexiform structure. A total of 53 different arterial patterns of the Circle of Willis were identified. The most common vascular pattern was one with no noteworthy variation of the arteries, which occurred in 34.48% (40:116) of the sample. The second most common pattern was a right hyperplastic posterior communicating artery, with concomitant right hypoplastic P1 and right hyperplastic P2 vessels which occurred in 3.45% (4:116) of cadavers. The most common variation of an individual artery, regardless of concomitant variations, was a hyperplastic right posterior communicating artery, which occurred in 19.8% (23:116) of the sample. Similarly, a right hyperplastic P2, right hyperplastic posterior communicating artery, left hypoplastic P1, and left hyperplastic posterior communicating artery each occurred in 18.1% (21:116) of cadavers. A duplicated anterior communicating artery was observed in 12.9% (15:116) of cadavers. Aplasia was only observed in the posterior communicating artery (left‐sided: 7.8%; 9:116, right‐sided: 6.0%; 7:116). The results of this study provide a clearer understanding of the variant vascular patterns of the Circle of Willis that create predisposition for aneurysm, atherosclerosis, and stroke.Support or Funding InformationWest Virginia University, Oman Medical College and West Liberty UniversityThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Investigating the physicochemical niche of the macrophyte Podostemum ceratophyllum Michx. (Hornleaf riverweed)

Podostemum ceratophyllum Michx. (Podostemaceae), henceforth known as Podostemum, is an angiosperm that inhabits mid-order montane and piedmont rivers in eastern North America. Podostemum, a “foundation species,” strongly influences stream ecosystems by increasing substrate habitat heterogeneity for macroinvertebrates and fishes, sequestering water column nutrients, and contributing to food webs.Currently, NatureServe reports Podostemum is critically imperiled to vulnerable (S1 to S3) in 15 of the 26 US states it occurs in, and seven state populations are unranked/under review. Stream degradation, including excessive sedimentation, hydrological alterations, and acute water chemistry fluctuations are postulated to impact Podostemum’s survival negatively; however, the physical and chemical environment that supports Podostemum requires additional investigation to improve habitat degradation evaluations. In response, the primary study objective was to identify physicochemical conditions associated with Podostemum ceratophyllum.Podostemum percent cover and stem length, as well as eleven physicochemical characteristics, were collected from fourteen sites in nine West Virginia (S1) mid-order rivers. These data were analyzed using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (R package: MCMCglmm) hierarchical modeling to incorporate sampling site as a grouping variable.Percent cover and stem length exhibited significant positive and negative associations with substrate size and canopy cover, respectively. Additionally, both percent cover and stem length were positively correlated with the interaction between flow velocity and water depth. Relationships between Podostemum and chemical predictors were inconclusive due to low sample sizes. Subsequently, long-term physicochemical studies would further elucidate Podostemum niche requirements. The research was supported by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium and West Liberty University.

Ecology of Nerodia sipeodon (Common Watersnake) in North Fork Creek, Ohio County, West Virginia. Elijah Henderson, Dan Meyer and Zachary Loughman, West Liberty University, Dept. of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty, WV

The ecology of Nerodia sipeodon (Common Water Snake) was studied concurrently with ecology of Regina septemvittata(Queen Snake) in North Fork of Short Creek, Ohio County, West Virginia. Snakes were captured via hand collection or aquatic funnel traps. All captured animals were measured, weighed, pit-tagged, and underwent gastric lavage when food boluses were present. Snake activity peaked in the spring, followed by a mid-summer brumation period. Activity reoccurred in mid-August through the fall. Trap captures outnumbered hand captures, though most juvenile animals were collected by hand. Frequently encountered food species included Black Nose Dace, Creek Chubs, and Long Nose Dace. Daily activity peaked in the morning hours, was reduced during the heat of the day, and began again in earnest during the late afternoon and early evening hours. Though concerted effort was undertaken to collect them, zero gravid females were collected with this study. Neonates appeared in the population beginning in late August. The most frequently encountered behavior was basking, followed by various defensive behaviors allied with capture. To date, close to 50 individual snakes have been PIT tagged and released at the study stream. Future efforts will focus on the use of radio telemetry, as well as the capture of gravid females.

The ability of VBNC F. tularensis to replicate within THP-1 cells.

CARLY CUNNINGHAM, STUART CANTLAY, AND JOSEPH HORZEMPA, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV USA. The ability of VBNC F. tularensis to replicate within THP-1 cells. Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative coccobacillus is the causative agent of tularemia, a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. Under laboratory conditions, F. tularensis enters a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state. VBNC is a state of dormancy bacteria enter during stressful conditions and can have implications for persistence and pathogenicity. Our first aim is to use molecular cloning to create recombinant fluorescent proteins for cell wall and division proteins in F. tularensis. Fusions to FtsZ, MreB and RodA will be generated and used to analyse the localization of these proteins during the transition into the VBNC state. Our second aim is to investigate the effects of transition into the VBNC state on pathogenicity. To test this, we will use microscopy to analyze fluorescently labelled F. tularensis during infection of THP-1 cells. THP-1 cells are a spontaneously immortalized monocyte-like cell line, derived from the peripheral blood of a childhood case of acute monocytic leukemia. THP-1 cells are a model for mammalian blood monocytes that provide protection against infection by gram negative bacteria. Our hypothesis is that VBNC F. tularensis will be able to interact with THP-1 cells in an in vitro infection assay. Further, the ability of VBNC F. tularensis to replicate within THP-1 cells will be analyzed. (Supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence).

Utilizing the Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain as a novel vaccine platform against the Ebola Virus

GAGE PYLES and JOSEPH HORZEMPA, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV. Utilizing the Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain as a novel vaccine platform against the Ebola Virus.Francisella tularensis and the Ebola Virus (EBOV) are classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Category A select agents for their potential use in bioterrorism. The F. tularensis Live Vaccine Strain (LVS) has been shown to provide over 30 years of protective immunity against F. tularensis, while for EBOV there remains no clinically approved protective vaccine. Due to the immunogenic properties of LVS, we propose that LVS may be a promising vaccine platform, of which recombinant strains may be able to confer protection against both F. tularensis and other pathogenic microbes such as EBOV. To test this, a fusion protein consisting of the glycoprotein of EBOV (GP) and LpnA (an immunodominant outer-membrane lipoprotein of F. tularensis) has been created. This newly generated chimeric protein (LpnA-GP) will ultimately be expressed in LVS, and the efficacy of this strain as a vaccine against both pathogens will be determined.

Containment of a Cryptosporidium serpentis outbreak in a snake collection - A case study

Cryptosporidium is a parasitic apicomplexid that causes respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses across many vertebrate species. Infections in mammals and birds rarely prove fatal in healthy adult animals. However, in reptiles, the infection will most likely become lethal. Specific to snakes, Cryptosporidium serpentis infects the gastrointestinal tract and causes hypertrophy of the mucosa of the stomach resulting in the inability to pass food down the gastrointestinal tract. Disease pathology is known, but a proven cure for this disease in snakes still remains unknown. When infections arise, most zoological institutions rely heavily on quarantining and euthanasia to deal with this highly contagious and lethal disease. On December 1, 2018, a case of the disease was confirmed within the West Liberty University Zoo Science Snake Collection. To maintain the health and safety of the collection and prevent further spread of disease, major steps were taken through sanitation practices and fecal testing to track disease outbreak back to a case 0. Herein, we report individual snakes that had Cryptosporidium spores present but were ultimately able to pass the infection and return to a disease-free state. Therefore, evidence exists within this collection that a particular clade of snakes may prove to be more disease resistant than others. We also report an active strategy to isolate diseased individuals and contain a Cryptosporidium infection outbreak in a large snake collection.

Range-wide conservation assessment and analysis of land use impact on Cambarus spicatus (Broad River Spiny Crayfish)

The Broad River Spiny crayfish, Cambarus spicatus, is a rare species found in disjunct drainages in the Broad River watershed in North Carolina and South Carolina. In recent years, land around streams with apparently suitable habitat has been disturbed by urban and agricultural development. In the summers of 2017 and 2018, the West Liberty University Crayfish Conservation Laboratory (WLUCCL) surveyed 147 sites in the following watersheds in South Carolina: Broad, Catawba, Enoree, Pacolet, Saluda, and Tyger. ArcMap and the National Land Cover Database 2011 were utilized to obtain land use types from three hundred diameter buffer zones centered on each of the sites sampled. Of 147 sites, C. spicatus was present at five and absent at 142. A Zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) was the first statistical analysis chosen because of a large amount of negative data in the dataset. Secondly, a nonmetric multidimensional scale (NMDS) model was created to better observe presence and absence relationships C. spicatus had with each land cover type. ZINB results were insignificant and showed that land use alone did not predict the presence or absence of a rare crayfish. The NMDS model showed that the presence of C. spicatus was associated with three major groups of land cover types. At most sites where C. spicatus was present, “Forest” land cover type was present within the buffer zone. However, a large portion of captures occurred in the land cover types, “Crop” and “Pasture”. Future research, including a life history study, is needed to understand more about C. spicatus and what habitat and environmental conditions the species needs to thrive.

The prevalence of the accessory infraorbital foramen among sexes: preliminary results.

BRANIGAN L. MCGOWAN, DALTON S. BOLON, Dept of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, 26074, and MATTHEW J ZDILLA, Depts of Natural Sciences & Mathematics and Graduate Health Sciences, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV, 26074 and Dept of Pathology, Anatomy, and Laboratory Medicine (PALM), West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, 26506. The prevalence of the accessory infraorbital foramen among sexes: preliminary results.The infraorbital foramen is an opening in the maxillary bone below the infraorbital margin of the orbit through which the maxillary nerve travels. The infraorbital foramen is particularly important in nerve block procedures. Occasionally, an accessory infraorbital foramen may be present, complicating nerve block procedures. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of the accessory infraorbital foramen among sexes. A total of 565 crania of known sex were assessed (301 males and 264 females). In the total population, 108 of 565 crania (19.1%) were found to have an accessory IOF. With regard to sex, 66 of 301 males (21.9%) and 42 of 264 females (15.9%) were found to have an accessory IOF. The results of this study underscore the importance of screening for the accessory infraorbital foramen in both males and females prior to infraorbital nerve block.

Antimicrobial Effects of Arctostaphylos uva ursi Extract against Acinetobacter baumannii. Dicey Stewart*, Elliot Collins*, James Healy*, Caleb Martin*, Francisco Leon#, Joseph Horzempa*. *Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV. #Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative, opportunistic pathogen associated with a high mortality rate in those infected with this bacterium. There are few classes of antibiotics that can successfully eliminate A. baumannii infections; therefore, it is imperative to find novel therapeutics to reduce the mortality rate of those infected with these drug-resistant bacteria. Preliminary studies from our laboratory have shown that Arctostaphylos uva ursi (kinnikinnick) leaf extracts (AUU) inhibit the growth of A. baumannii. The AUU compounds were separated by chromatography, and the resulting fractions were tested for antimicrobial activity using an agar-based diffusion assay. This indicated that two fractions exhibited substantial antimicrobial activity. These results were verified using a Galleria mellonella larvae infection model. The G. mellonella model also indicated that active fractions were not toxic to these insects. The fraction with the most robust antimicrobial activity was further separated via chromatography and bio-assay guided fractionation (agar-based diffusion assays and G. mellonella infections) was used to identify fractions containing the active compound. Once the active compound has been isolated via a final round of chromatography using a sephadex column, this molecule will be elucidated via NMR and mass spectrometry.(Supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence and through the WV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.14.13])

Identification of plant extracts with antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant bacteria .

Identification of plant extracts with antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant bacteria. Kéren Lubembo and Joseph Horzempa. Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WVMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a drug-resistant opportunistic pathogen that can cause serious infections which may lead to sepsis and even death. We previously identified extracts from 10 plants that exhibited antimicrobial activity toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa – another drug-resistant opportunistic pathogen. The goal of this study was to determine if any of these extracts also exhibited antimicrobial activity against MRSA. Here weused a disk diffusion assays to measure antibiotic sensitivity. Of the ten extracts tested, only extracts of Agrimonia gryposepala (tall hairy agrimony) produced measureable zones of inhibition. Vancomycin was used as a positive control and produced robust zones of inhibition (as this antibiotic is known to have antimicrobial activity against MRSA; the negative control [vehicle, ethanol] did not produce zones of inhibition). These data suggest that A. gryposepalaextracts may contain a compound that could have broad applicability toward drug-resistant bacteria whereas all other extracts tested exhibited a narrower spectrum of activity. (Supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence)

Vaccine development for protection against both Tularemia and Ebola

Vaccine development for protection against both Tularemia and Ebola: Gage Pyles and Joseph Horzempa. Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WVThe Ebola Virus (EBOV) and Francisella tularensis (the causative agent of tularemia) are classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Category A select agents because of their potential for use in bioterrorism. The development of a vaccine against both pathogens could therefore substantially increase our preparedness against bioterror. The overall goal of this research is to develop a vaccine that could combat both EBOV and F. tularensis. We are in the process of generating a fusion protein consisting of GP (the glycoprotein of EBOV) and Tul4 (an immunodominant outer-membrane lipoprotein of F. tularensis). This newly generated chimeric protein (Tul4-GP) will ultimately be expressed in F. tularensis LVS (Live Vaccine Strain). Patients previously immunized with this strain show an immunological memory of over 30 years after being vaccinated. Following transfer into F. tularensis LVS, expression of Tul4-GP will be confirmed and the efficacy of this strain as a vaccine against both pathogens will be determined.