Category: Poster Presentation

The Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE): Depression and Body Composition Among Aging Populations

Presenter: William Olson

Mentor: Josh Snodgrass

Poster: 26

Major: Biology

Previous research has documented complex associations between depression and body composition; in some studies, depression increases risk for being underweight, while in other studies it has been linked to obesity. However, the links between depression and body composition remain relatively unexplored among older adults and, additionally, no studies have systematically examined this relationship in non-Western countries. We used Wave 1 data from WHO’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), a longitudinal study of nationally representative samples of older adults (>50 years old) in six middle income countries (China(nM=6024 nF=6803 n=12827), Ghana(nM=2237 nF=2050 n=4287), India(nM=3302 nF=3255 n=6557), Mexico(nM=869 nF=1330 n=2199), Russian Federation(nM=81 nF=267 n=348), and South Africa(nM=1551 nF=2103 n=3654)), to examine relationships among body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and depression (based on a symptom-based algorithm). Results indicate substantial differences in depression prevalence by sex and country, ranging from 1.6% (men in China) to 22.9% (women in Mexico). Variation by sex and country was also evident in prevalence of obesity (from 4.3% among Indian men to 52.7% in South African women) and underweight (0.5% in Mexican women to 40.3% in Indian men). Multiple regression analyses were used with weighted population samples to examine the relationship between body composition measures and depression classification while controlling for key covariates such as age, smoking, drinking, marital status, and income. Among older South African women, depression was positively associated with BMI (P=0.003). Otherwise, the lack of a significant relationship between depression and body composition variables in the individual SAGE countries suggests that depression is not a major driver of body composition among older adults.

Attentional and Neuropsychological Assessments Following Concussion in Adolescents and Young Adults

Presenter: Madison Murray

Mentor: Li-Shan Chou

Poster: 25

Major: Biology

Executive function has been defined as utilizing external stimuli to plan purposeful action and may be a sensitive way to detect concussion-related deficits. The adolescent brain has not reached full maturation and is undergoing rapid development of executive functions, so this age group may be affected by head trauma more than young adults. It was hypothesized that adolescents with concussion would perform worse on executive function tasks than young adults with concussion in relation to matched control groups. Two executive function tests, (Attentional Network Test and Task Switching Test) and one neuropsychological test (ImPACT), were each administered to 44 subjects who sustained a concussion (24 adolescents, 20 young adults) and 44 healthy control subjects matched by sex, height, and weight (24, adolescents, 20 young adults). Tests were administered within 72 hours of injury, and again at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months post-injury. Results indicated that conflict resolution ability deficits persisted in the adolescent group compared to their controls throughout the two months of testing (p=0.043). Such differences were not detected between young adult concussion and control groups. Differences between adolescent concussion and control groups on ImPACT variables were detected up to one-month post injury (p<0.05), but not between young adult concussion and control groups. Based on the results, adolescents appear to display greater deficits throughout the two months post-injury than young adults in relation to a control group on measures of attentional and neuropsychological function.

Heating Up Gerlinger

Presenter: Matthew Moyano

Mentor: Alison Kwok

Poster: 23

Major: Architecture 

This study investigated the thermal conditions of Gerlinger Hall’s south façade Sun Porch. Ellis Lawrence intended for the hall to be passively heated most of the year. The authors believe that the gallery space of Gerlinger has enough direct sunlight through its windows that it can passively reach thermal comfort levels during winter without excessive mechanical heating. However, it is currently unable to do so. Damaged and sealed windows do not allow airflow. Outdated radiators cause heat to be continuously released, much more than needed. Hobos, small indoor temperature recorders, collected the data over the span of three days and calculated the heat changes over time. Raytek Lasers identify the heat released and stored in different materials. Variables that affected the data collected were: use of the building, opening of doors, use of central heating, opening of windows, and drafts created by infiltration through historic, single-paned windows. Results of the research show intense heat released from radiators, around 140 deg. F. Walls and floors reach 100 deg. F. The average heat of the area is near 80 deg. F, going in and out of the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers) comfort zone. In response to the data, recommendations for more efficient heating practices will be made in order to make the space more efficient. Such recommendations are: rehabilitation of historic windows and updating and correcting of heating system.

aPKC Induces Polarization of Numb by Inhibiting Cortical Targeting Sites

Presenter: Lyle McPherson

Mentor: Ken Prehoda

Poster: 23

Major: Biochemistry 

Cell polarity regulates important functions for metazoan cells, including epithelial, neuronal and stem cells. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that allow cells to establish cell polarity. aPKC, the kinase of the evolutionarily conserved Par complex, polarizes cellular proteins. In these polarized cells, protein polarization genetically downstream of aPKC maintains tissue integrity and establishes cell identity. For multiple aPKC substrates, phosphorylation induces protein polarization by displacing substrates from aPKCcontaining membrane domains. Despite the clear role of aPKC in establishing cell polarity the molecular mechanism by which aPKC’s kinase activity polarizes its substrates remains unclear. We characterized the polarization mechanism of Numb, an aPKC substrate, using cell biology and biochemistry. We identified lipidbinding sites within Numb that mediate its recruitment to the cellular cortex by binding to negatively charged phospholipids. Additionally, we found that specific amino acids within these sites are phosphorylated by aPKC to inhibit lipid binding. Our findings suggest one mechanism for aPKCmediated cell polarity where aPKC polarizes Numb by phosphorylating it to inhibit cortical association thereby resulting in its polarization. We are currently investigating other domains of Numb containing aPKC phosphorylation sites to further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind this process. The mechanism of Numb’s polarization by aPKC illustrates to us a way that a kinase can induce cell polarity by destabilizing a protein’s membrane association in specific regions of the cell.

Variation of Self-sorting Behavior and Jaw Bone Morphology in Early Development within Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Presenter: Natasha Mckibben

Mentor: Charles Kimmel

Poster: 22

Major: Human Physiology

Research at Oregon State University has shown that two types of juvenile fish are present in a hatchery stock of spring run Chinook salmon derived from locations along the Upper Willamette River Basin in Oregon. The two groups differ in body morphology, agonistic behavior, growth, and whether they live at the surface or the bottom of the water column. However, they maintain the same diet and identical rearing conditions under captivity. The juveniles appear to resemble wild fish rearing in downstream and upstream sites in the Willamette River Basin respectively, and leave their home streams for the main stem of the river during the same time of year each wild group does. Based on understanding in another species, stickleback, I hypothesize that the fish growing at different depths also differ in their feeding strategies and, therefore, might exhibit changed jaw morphologies and mechanics, even though the genetic basis is unknown. To test this prediction, I quantitatively compared lower jaw bone morphologies in the two types of juveniles at the 50 mm stage. Supporting my hypothesis, I found significant differences between the groups in the shapes of both lower jaw bones, the angular-articular and the dentary. No difference was present in the bone sizes relative to body size. These results provide further evidence that early differences in behavior may be predictive of juvenile life history tactics.

All Out the Window: A Study of Infiltration in Deady Hall

Presenter: Russell McIntire

Co-Presenters: Rebecca Fletcher, Lisa Sparks

Mentor: Mathieu Deraspe

Poster: 21

Major: Architecture

For this project we chose to study a building that did not provide adequate thermal comfort for its occupants, as well as had problems with air-leakage. After talking to University of Oregon students, we found that the historical Deady Hall fit the bill. Complaints ranged from an overly warm third floor, to frigid temperatures in the basement.
We considered these issues and developed the hypothesis: The top floor of Deady Hall loses a high amount of heat energy through air-gap infiltration and radiation, and thus is overheated to maintain that difference (equivalent to $6 of heat energy per day for the top floor). After placing HOBO sensors in one classroom and the hallways on each floor, conducting a blower door test, and analyzing the data with a few calculations, we found that the heat lost through infiltration was equal to $7.26/day, money just flying out the window. Upon more calculations, we discovered that if the findings for infiltration and heat radiation could be applied to all the windows in Deady Hall, the entire building is losing $10,464 per year to heat energy flying out the window. That is more than one student’s tuition, which we feel is important for the University community to know about if renovations are ever to be made.

Creating a Sense of Place Along the McKenzie River

Presenter: Kaley McCarty

Co-Presenters: Sierra Druley, Shahnaz Mooney, Forrest Hirsh

Mentor: Katie Lynch

Poster: 11

Major: Environmental Studies 

Across cultures, storytelling is an ontological tool that connects people to each other and to the natural world. Stories forge a cognitive and sensory link between people and place as they are shared within a community and across generations. Although science can be an important tool in understanding what makes a place ecologically significant, it alone cannot inspire love and stewardship. Storytelling brings us into emotional and sensory conversation with place, augmenting empirical learning to compel us to care for and protect our environment. The River Stories project, as part of the Environmental Leadership Program, aims to harness the power of storytelling to bring the Eugene area and the University of Oregon into closer conversation with the many facets of our sole water source: the McKenzie River. The McKenzie River watershed is home to a unique mix of wildlife, natural landscapes, and human cultures. The River Stories team is focused on gathering and showcasing stories about the McKenzie River from the perspective of the people who live there.

Using a mix of photography, text, audio and video, the team seeks to understand the McKenzie River through the eyes of people who know it intimately. For example, Faith Davie crossed the river in a rowboat every morning to get to school in the 1920s. By bringing these stories into focus, the team hopes to serve the existing McKenzie River community (both human and ecological), and to expand the network of stewards who care for this river. We are working in conjunction with community partners, including the McKenzie River Drift Boat Museum and the Lane County Historical Museum, to further these goals. Stories about the river and its history will be displayed through public art installations, including a showcase at the Lane County Historical Museum, throughout the summer and fall of 2014.

Architectural Design, Light Exposure, and Microbial Viability in the Built Environment

Presenter: Kyla Martichuski

Mentor: Jessica Green

Poster: 20

Major: Biology/Human Physiology

Researchers working at the intersection of biology and architecture have begun to investigate how building design structures the microbial communities of indoor environments. Given that we spend approximately 90% of our lives indoors, there is great potential to impact human health by incorporating biological understanding into building design. Ultraviolet light and direct daylight have well-known detrimental effects on the growth and viability of bacteria, but this relationship has not yet been applied to indoor environments. We designed an experiment to test how different architecturally relevant daylighting schemes impact the viability of microorganisms in the built environment. We constructed 3 sets of 1:32 scale models of a classroom with window glass panes transparent to either UV, visible, or no light. Bacteria were grown on media at 15 distinct locations throughout the model to reproduce the distribution of light exposure in a typical classroom. We measured bacterial viability after one day of exposure to the respective light treatments. Levels of both UV and visible light typically experienced in built environments were found to significantly impact the viability of Pseudomonas monteilii and Escherichia coli—two human-associated bacteria commonly found indoors. Most notably, viability was reduced in areas near windows with higher light exposure.

This evidence could inform future decisions about lighting schemes in hospitals and other healthcare facilities where biological insight is crucial. This study aims to demonstrate that integrating biological knowledge into architectural decisions can create a bioinformed perspective on buildings that promotes human health.

Establishing Baseline Data at Strube Ponds

Presenter: James Lauder

Co-Presenters: Ella Deck, Emily Erickson

Mentor: Peg Boulay

Poster: 12

Major: Environmental Science

The South Fork of the McKenzie River historically supported a prolific spring Chinook salmon run, but it has been severely impacted by the construction of Cougar Dam in the 1960s. The flood control dam dramatically decreases the amount of water released below it and impedes natural transportation of large woody debris and sediment downstream. Additionally, leftover materials from the construction were used to create levees and revetments downstream, channelizing the historic floodplain near Strube Ponds. Our team of 11 students from the Environmental Leadership Program collected mapping and monitoring data in the general Strube Ponds area below Cougar

Dam in order establish baseline data for future restoration prioritization. To meet these goals our team conducted field monitoring with community partners from the McKenzie Watershed Council, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Forest Service to: inventory and map levees, revetments, and historic side channels; survey macroinvertebrates, fish species, amphibian egg masses, and terrestrial herptile presence/absence; and evaluate western pond turtle habitat conditions. Compiled into a formal report, the results of our fieldwork include the egg mass locations of five herptile species which aid our community partners in prioritizing restoration activities amongst the ponds as well as maps of levees, revetments, and historic side channels to help them explore levee removal. This information will be used by our community partners to develop grant proposals for restoration work at Strube Ponds that is planned to start in 2016.

Prevention of Ischemic Vascular Injury: Targeting Cellular Stress in the Endothelium with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR)

Presenter: Sarah Johnson

Mentor: Chris Minson

Poster: 19

Major: Biology

Ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common complication in which tissues reperfused after an ischemic period experience further damage and dysfunction. Activation of endothelial cells (EC) produces excessive oxygen radicals and triggers vascular inflammation, cellular stress and apoptotic activation, which contribute to the pathophysiology of I/R injury. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) stimulation has been shown to reduce I/R injury following coronary ligation, though the mechanism and cell specificity are unclear. Therefore, we hypothesize AICAR, an adenosine mimetic previously shown to activate AMPK, will promote cytoprotective pathways in ECs, reduce stress and attenuate apoptotic activity under hypoxic stress. To model ischemia, human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured at physiological normoxic or hypoxic (8 / 1% O2) conditions and treated with AICAR (0.2, and 2mM). Cell protein and media were collected for further analysis. AICAR increased (p<0.05) pAMPKα/AMPKα in hypoxic conditions, but not in normoxia. AICAR pretreatment (2mM, 1hr) and subsequent exposure hypoxia (24hr) showed decreased (p<0.05) BiP expression and cell-adhesion molecule ICAM-1 compared to normoxic control. AICAR reduced (p<0.05) cellular metabolic activity measured by MTT assay in both 8% and 1% O2. Further, reduced ET-1 secretion (p<0.05) followed AICAR treatment (434 ±14 vs. *179 ±1pg/mL). Endothelial permeability increased (p<0.05) with AICAR at 12 (869%) and 24 hours (315%) compared to controls. These data suggest that through AMPK activation, 1 hour treatment with AICAR slows cellular metabolic activity which reduces cell stress and apoptotic activity, and could be a novel modality for prevention of I/R injury in various reperfusion models such as coronary, transplanted tissue models, and vascular disease. Further in vivo studies are needed to assess these promising in vitro results.