Poster Presentation – Page 9 – Undergraduate Research Symposium Abstracts

Measuring Gate Stability With A Wearable Acceleromenter In Female Club Lacrosse Athletes

Presenter(s): Haley Segelke − Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Li-Shan Chou

Poster 29

Research Area: Science

Funding: UROP Mini-Grant

Current post-concussion return to play criteria are based on metrics which normalize within 1-2 weeks, however recent research has demonstrated gait-stability deficits in acutely concussed athletes may persist for up to two months post-injury. As such, concussed individuals who return to play within two weeks have a greater risk for re-injury. The purpose of this study was to analyze gait stability in female lacrosse players utilizing a novel accelerometer-based, dual-task gait stability assessment as well as establish the assessment’s clinical feasibility. Nine players from the university club team underwent individual assessments. A wearable accelerometer was placed on L-5 on the subject’s back. Subjects performed a simple walking task at a self-selected pace on an eight-meter path, turned around, and returned to the start position. The walking task was performed under three conditions: normal walking, dual-task walking with auditory Stroop, and dual-task walking with a question and answer test. Raw acceleration data from three orthogonal axes was downloaded for processing. The average testing time was 9:21 minutes ± 57 seconds. This short testing time reflects clinical feasibility when compared to other concussion management assessments, such as the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (IMPACT) procedure takes 25 minutes to complete and the Sort Concussion athletic tool (SCAT5), which cannot be performed in under 10 minutes. Analysis of center of mass kinematic data is ongoing, however early trends support the notion that gait stability in an uninjured, healthy athletic cohort is comparable to laboratory assessments of healthy non-athletes.

Optimization of Deposition Techniques for Thin Film Production and Analysis

Presenter(s): Madelyn Scott − Chemistry

Faculty Mentor(s): Cathy Wong, Kelly Wilson

Poster 15

Research Area: Physical Chemistry

Funding: Community for Minorities in STEM (CMiS) Travel Award Scholarship; Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact

Organic semiconductors offer a green alternative to conventional conductive materials because they can be solution- processed on an industrial scale for use in solar cells and OLEDs. The electronic transitions in organic semiconducting materials determine their charge-carrying efficiency for use in such devices. Transient absorption spectroscopy can be used to track the population of mobile electron-hole pair combinations at controlled delay times after photogeneration by a laser pulse. This technique is typically used to study equilibrated systems, like static solutions or films, but not materials as they evolve. For in situ studies of non-equilibrated systems, the Wong Lab has developed a single-shot transient absorption (ssTA) spectrometer to measure the excited state dynamics of thin films during deposition by a capillary or slot die coater. The solution capillary is two microscope slides spaced by aluminum shims and housed in an aluminum frame. The slot die coater is an apparatus designed to mimic solution-processed films that are manufactured roll-to-roll on an industrial scale. In both deposition techniques, a mechanical slide pusher is attached to the deposition device and positioned over an aluminum
stage to produce films on microscope slides. Experimental parameters considered during optimization of each deposition method included the following: slide pusher velocity, cleaning methods of the deposition slides, temperature of the depositing solution, and materials constructing the slide pusher apparatus. It was determined that the slot die coater enables more control over film quality than the solution capillary, producing films with more homogenous solution coverage. As a result, the slot die coater will be incorporated into the spectroscopy apparatus for the first in situ ssTA measurements of non- equilibrated material systems.

Explaining the Negotiating Positions of Countries Within the Paris Agreement on Climate Change—An Interest-Based Approach

Presenter(s): Sulley Schuster − Political Science, Environmental Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Ronald Mitchell, Craig Kauffman

Poster 123

Research Area: Social Science

Sprinz and Vaahtoranta (1994) developed a theory that state positions within international environmental agreements are driven by two factors: environmental vulnerability and abatement costs. Furthermore, they posit that the interaction of these factors positions states as either pushers, intermediates, bystanders, or draggers in international environmental negotiations. The following study tests whether or not this theory can accurately predict the negotiating positions of states with the Paris Agreement by quantifying the ecological vulnerability and abatement costs of each participating state and comparing it to their observed negotiating position. The results of this analysis show that an interest-based theory can accurately predict negotiating positions around two-thirds of the time, and that ecological vulnerability and international environmental norms also play an important role in shaping negotiating positions within the Paris Agreement. These findings are important in understanding exactly how states develop their negotiating positions within complex international environmental agreements, and can provide policymakers with valuable tools to design future agreements in ways that motivate states to take stronger negotiating positions than they would have otherwise. Subsequent research questions include: Which specific cases fail to fit this theory and why? To what extent are other factors playing a role in leading states to be more, or less, supportive of climate policy than environmental vulnerability and abatement costs would predict?

Out of the Ashes: Examining Forest Biodiversity Conservation Efforts in Post-Conflict Vietnam and Sierra Leone

Presenter(s): Caitlin Scarpelli − General Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Philip Romero, Craig Kauffman

Poster 72

Research Area: Natural and Social Science

When the word paradise comes to mind, words like prosperity, nature, and peace do as well. There is one phrase that most likely does not: armed conflict. However, over the past 70 years, armed conflict has significantly overlapped with biodiversity hotspots, areas with both high species variety and high degradation. When armed conflict causes land-use changes, resource exploitation and pollution, direct damages to ecosystem health, ecosystem services and human health occur. Conservation seeks to protect natural ecosystems, but can also protect the people who are often ravaged by conflict. This thesis examines how countries in biodiversity hotspots implemented strategies for forest biodiversity conservation in post-war periods and proposes a conservation strategy which any country could theoretically implement after armed conflict. I utilized the Most Different Systems Design, which seeks to identify similar factors between two extremely different case studies, to compare conservation efforts by the Vietnamese and Sierra Leonean governments. My time frame was 16 years after their respective conflicts ended: between 1975 and 1991 after the Vietnam War, and between 2002 and 2018 after the Sierra Leone Civil War. Both countries sought to increase their conservation capacity post-conflict, whether through increasing governmental funding, passing conservation policies, or creating protected areas. While conservation can occur through various methods, establishment of protected areas was essential for successful forest conservation. However, forest conservation was unsuccessful when local people were not consulted. Therefore, an emphasis on communication, coordination, and collaboration between departments and local people is vital for successful forest conservation.

Systemic Inflammation Increases Expression of Pro-Inflammatory Interleukin-1 Receptors On Neurons And Astrocytes, but Not Microglia, in the Cervical Spinal Cord

Presenter(s): Kelly Royster − Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Adrianne Huxtable, Austin Hocker

Poster 64

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

Funding: Adrianne Huxtable’s Parker B. Francis Fellowship, University of Oregon

Inflammation is a component of all diseases, whereby key pro-inflammatory signaling molecules and receptors increase systemically and in the central nervous system (CNS). Systemic inflammation activates astrocytes and microglial cells in many regions of the CNS, which alter neuronal function and lead to behavioral changes. Our work has shown systemic inflammation impairs respiratory function through activation of the pro-inflammatory interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1RI) in the cervical spinal cord, but the roles of different cell types are unknown. To better understand how activation of IL-1RIs undermines breathing, we first need to determine what CNS cell types express IL-1RIs and how systemic inflammation changes IL-1RI expression. Based on the expression of IL-1RIs in other CNS regions, we hypothesized systemic inflammation would increase IL-1RI expression on identified neurons, astrocytes and microglia in the cervical spinal cord. Using immunohistochemistry to fluorescently label cell types and IL-1RIs, we first determined the optimal concentration of the IL-1RI antibody (1:250) by
a dilution series (n=5) in the hippocampus, where IL-1RI was known to be expressed after systemic inflammation. Further, preliminary data (n=2) suggest systemic inflammation increases IL-1RI expression on neurons (labeled by NeuN, 1:500) and astrocytes (labeled by GFAP, 1:500), but not microglia (labeled by Iba1, 1:1000). These results suggest neurons and astrocytes are likely the key cells undermining respiratory function after systemic inflammation. Understanding the mechanisms by which systemic inflammation undermines respiratory function may lead to targeted therapeutic interventions to promote breathing.

Description of Pleistocene-Holocene carnivoran, Meles leucurus, from Kyrgyzstan

Presenter(s): Julien Royer − Anthropology

Faculty Mentor(s): Win McLaughlin, Samantha Hopkins

Poster 8

Research Area: Paleontology

Kyrgyzstan has a scarce paleontological history with most of the previous and current studies focusing on the Miocene- Pliocene. However, Russian geologists in 2012 mapped regional faults and reconstructed uplift rates in the Tien Shan mountains, where the material present in this study was recovered from the Kochkor basin and classified as Meles leucurus from the Pleistocene-Holocene. The fossil record present in Kyrgyzstan reflects mostly large ungulates from the Miocene- Pliocene. This specimen is the first described carnivore from the Late Pleistocene-Holocene from Kyrgyzstan. The carnivoran fossil was recovered from the QIII abandoned river terrace (the regional convention for naming uplifted terraces) with an approximate age of 5,000-20,000 years old through carbon dating of other QIII river terraces. In addition, an associated snail shell and vertebra, rib, tibia from the specimen were used for radio carbon dating material. Moreover, a CT scan of the encapsulated m1 is used for positive morphological diagnosis. A domestic dog skeleton, being a carnivoran sharing similar anatomical shapes with the studied material, is used for morphological comparisons. The tribosphenic shape of the single deciduous tooth, its sharp cusps, and high protocone leaves us to believe this fossil to be a carnivoran burrowing mammal. The specimen diagnosis is Meles leucurus through the average size of the bones and robustness of the long bones and ankle bones needed to burrow. The fossil is a juvenile, resulting from an encased adult m1 in the lower right jaw, a single deciduous tooth, and unfused epiphyseal plates. Considering the location of the origin of genus Meles in the Pliocene, ‘’the out of Tibet hypothesis’’ supports a migration pattern from the Tibetan Plateau to Kyrkygzstan through antecedent species of badgers. Although we believe the fossil to be a part of species leucurus, it is cautious for us to suppose the specimen might belong to another species or sub-species because of a sympatric zone shared by Japanese, European, and Eurasian badgers occurring in the West of the Tien Shan during Pleistocene-Holocene.

Monitoring Squirrel Populations at LCC Campus Using Ink Tunnels and Hair Tubes

Presenter(s): Mallory Roberts − Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Stacey Kiser

Poster 56

Research Area: Biology

Student researchers at Lane Community College have studied and monitored a vast array of species on campus over the past several years. While the presence of squirrels may seem ubiquitous in this area, we don’t have much data regarding species distribution and population on campus. Easy access to such information allows for further student research and may encourage interest in squirrels and squirrel-related activities on college campuses (survey). Over the course of two terms, squirrel populations were monitored in different areas of LCC Campus using two different methods. The first method captured tracks of small mammals by using an ink tunnel. Ink was placed on the outside of the tunnel with paper inside, allowing the animals to walk through and track the ink onto paper. Peanut butter and birdseed were used inside the tunnel as bait. One tunnel was placed at each of three locations throughout campus, and a game camera was placed outside of each tunnel. I was able to confirm tracks of both mice and squirrels with this method. I observed squirrels at locations closer to the wooded area near the south parking lot and chose to explore this area further. During the second term, I selected a different method using hair tubes which were constructed with PVC pipes measuring approximately two feet in length (61 cm) and three inches diameter (8 cm). I placed three wood pieces (shims) approximately two feet in length inside the pipe and secured them using a drill and screw, and double-sided tape was placed on the wood at each entrance to the pipe. The tape captured hairs from animals that entered the tubes, allowing for another method of identification. Peanut butter and bird seed were again used as bait. I selected two locations within the south woods and placed three hair tubes near each other in both locations. Each tube was secured vertically on a tree trunk, approximately five feet from the ground. A game camera monitored each location. Using photographs along with identification of tracks and hairs, I was able to affirm the presence of several different species at LCC main campus. Townsend’s chipmunks (Tamias townsendii) visited the south woods sites most frequently and appeared during both fall and winter terms. I also confirmed sight of a fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) and a western grey squirrel (Sciurius griseus) in the south woods. I captured images of other species throughout this project, including a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Data collected regarding squirrel species and population will be entered into a national database used for research on college campuses.

References: Peplinski, J. and Brown, J. “Campus Squirrels”. Survey.

Utilizing the Optomotor Response to Measure the Effect of Cadaverine on Larval Zebrafish Behavior

Presenter(s): Laura Reich − Biology

Faculty Mentor(s): Adam Miller, Matt Smear

Poster 41

Research Area: Natural Science

Zebrafish behavior is strongly influenced by environmental stimuli, and olfaction (sense of smell) is a powerful driver of behavioral responses. Our overarching goal is to measure an odorant’s effect on a behavioral response and to understand the sensorimotor transformations that occur within the brain as the animal smells its world and reacts accordingly. As a first step towards this goal, we used a repetitive visual stimulus to induce the optomotor response, causing the zebrafish to swim in the direction of perceived motion. This method allows us to orient the larval zebrafish towards a region of water with an odorant of interest. This research specifically focuses on the impact of cadaverine, an odorant known to stimulate an aversive response, on larval zebrafish. We hypothesize that while a repetitive visual stimulus is in use, the distribution of larval zebrafish in a petri dish will differ when cadaverine is administered to a section of the water. Rather than moving with the visual stimulus, we predict that the fish will avoid regions with cadaverine, halting the optomotor response. This research serves to demonstrate that olfaction, the sense that is often forgotten and taken for granted, plays an important role in zebrafish and can potentially overcome visually-directed behavior.

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