Tag: Poster 11

Pravastatin Attenuates Preeclamptic-like Symptoms in Rat Model of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Presenter: Haley Gillham

Mentor: Jeffrey Gilbert

AM Poster Presentation

Poster 11

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition characterized by an imbalance of circulating angiogenic factors and new onset hyper- tension. Although current treatment options are limited, recent studies suggest pravastatin may improve the angiogenic profile and reduce blood pressure in preeclampsia. We hypothesized pravastatin administration would increase VEGF and reduce arterial pressure (AP) in rats with reduced utero-placental perfusion pressure (RUPP)-induced hypertension. On day 14 of pregnancy (21-day term), silver clips were placed on the inferior abdominal aorta and ovarian arteries to generate RUPP-hypertension. Pravastatin (RUPP+P) was administered i.p. (1 mg/kg/day) through day 19. On day 19 AP was measured via catheter and conceptus data recorded. Blood pressure was increased (P<0.05) in RUPP compared to normal pregnant (NP) dams and pravastatin ameliorated this difference (118±3 vs 91±2 vs 109±2 mmHg). RUPP decreased plasma VEGF when compared to NP dams and this was attenuated by pravastatin (759.8±52.3 vs 924.1±43.6 vs 969.5±85.3 pg/mL; P<0.05). To identify the exact role of pravastatin in restoring angiogenic balance in placental ischemia we will perform further experiments in placental cell lines JAr, JEG-3, and BeWo. These cells will be treated with physiological hypoxic, normoxic, and supraoxic oxygen concentrations of 1.5%, 8%, and 20% respectively. Cells will be treated with pravastatin (0, 10, 20 μmol/L) and samples of conditioned media and cells will be taken at 0 hours, 6 hours, and 12 hours.

A Comparison of Hip Joint Extension, Thigh Segment Extension, and Pelvic Tilt Between Individu- als Who Exhibit Poor Hip Extension and Individuals With Good Hip Extension

Presenter : Richard Howey

Mentor : Li-Shan Chou

Major : Human Physiology

Poster 11

Full 3D kinematic analysis is often used for biomechanical assessment of running mechanics and corresponding injury risk. However, conclusions drawn from these analyses are highly dependent on data analysis methods. For example, poor hip joint extension (HJE) at toe-off is often interpreted clinically as resulting from weakness in extensor muscles. However, because joint angles are often calculated as movement of the distal segment relative to the proximal, two absolute orientations may result in the same calculated joint angle. Therefore, poor HJE could result in movements of the thigh or the pelvis. The purpose of this study is to compare hip joint, thigh seg- ment and pelvic tilt angles in runners with good and poor HJE. Data from this study were drawn from a database of 100 runners who had been analyzed in the motion analysis laboratory. Ten individuals with HJE 1.5 standard deviations above and below the database mean comprised the good and poor groups, respectively. While the two groups were different in HJE (good: M = -15.28° ± 1.34°; poor: M = 3.51° ± 4.94°; p < .001) the angle of the thigh segment relative to vertical was not different between groups (good: M = 3.52° ± 8.38°; poor: M = 3.41° ± 4.94°; p = .991). The pelvis angles also were significantly different between groups (good: M = -4.88° ± 8.76°; poor: 7.17° ± 8.03°; p = .005). These findings suggest that pelvic instability should be considered in addition to weakness in hip exten- sors when reduced HJE is observed.

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.

Designing and Implementing Drip-Irrigation System to Improve Water Use Efficiency at Berggren Demonstration Farm

Presenter: Madison Cheek

Co-Presenters: Emma Porricolo, Rena Nenot, Ashleigh Angel, Zoe Lavier, Will Dickerson, Brady Chiongbian, Wilson Hui, and Alex Burgdorfer

Mentors: Peg Boulay and Deion Jones, Environmental Science

Poster: 11

Major: Environmental Science

Our Environmental Leadership Program team is investigating the implementation of a drip irrigation system at Berggren Demonstration Farm. Through the installation of drip irrigation line from the main pump in the natural water source, a side channel off of the McKenzie River, we will work to improve the efficiencies of the electric and water usage currently employed at Berggren. Water will be saved by releasing small amounts through drip tape on the ground, which will prevent damage to crops from over-watering due to elevated sprinklers. We are analyzing the current methods used on this farm by collecting power and water usage data on-site. We will contrast past energy usage data with data collected from our improved system. Our results will be recorded and shared through Berggren and the University of Oregon in order to serve as a potential reference for other farms wishing to implement more efficient irrigation methods. We are creating a grant template that small farms could use to apply for funds to obtain a similar irrigation system. This will serve to further the goals of the Healthy Farms Clean Water Program, which aims to showcase the ability for small farms to coexist and even enhance the ecosystem it operates within. By providing insight into more efficient watering methods we hope our design will serve as a model to local farms wishing to minimize their negative impacts on our municipal water supply, which may prove useful in the coming years if we continue to experience drought conditions.

Analysis of Early Pottery in the Southern Thai-Malay Region: The Tham Din Cave Site, Thailand

Presenter: Sambath Eat

Faculty Mentor: William Ayres

Presentation Type: Poster 11

Primary Research Area: Social Science

Major: Asian Studies

The late Pleistocene-early Holocene transition in Southeast Asia saw shifts from hunting-gathering towards food management and systematic food production. Archaeological discovery of the Hoabinhian-type stone tools dated to 10,000 BP in northern Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Burma document this early transition. Rock shelters were important sites for these early hunter-gatherers that represent crucial sites for early archaeological evidence of prehistoric occupants. I examine pot sherds that were excavated from Tham Din limestone cave near Pattani, Southern Thailand. I assess the different sherd types for patterned change in size, color, texture, design, and other characteristics. The analysis demonstrates chronological patterns pointing to a long period of stability in pottery production followed by introduction of new ideas about pottery manufacture and decoration within the last 2000 to 3000 years. Present-day local pottery production reflects the persistence of traditional methods as well as the incorporation of new ideas. Which may related to the population incursions include the movement of the Austronesian speakers some 3000 to 3500 years ago and, following that, the introduction of Hinduism and Buddhism from South Asia. It is through this close examination of pottery remains that we can demonstrate the long-term importance of trade in this area and ultimately shed light on how early multi-ethnic communities in Southeast Asia were developed.

Can we Predict the Evolution of Protein Function

Presenter(s): Genevieve Dorrell − Biology, Computer Science

Co Presenter(s): Daria Wonderlick

Faculty Mentor(s): Mike Harms, Anneliese Morrison

Poster 11

Research Area: Evolutionary Biophyisics

Proteins evolve new functions by acquiring mutations. Understanding this process is critical to combating antibiotic and pesticide resistance. Studies have shown that the effects of mutations alone versus in combination are not always equal. This is called epistasis, and it impedes our ability to predict protein evolution. Our project aims to understand one biophysical source of epistasis. Previous theoretical work in the Harms lab revealed that epistasis could arise from the existence of multiple conformations of a protein. To probe this, we are manipulating the number of conformations available to the lac repressor protein. We are using drugs that shift the lac repressor into either its DNA-bound or DNA-unbound conformation. We perform a colorimetric assay to quantitatively detect which conformations are favored by lac repressor mutants, and then infer epistasis between mutations on these functional readouts. If we limit the number of conformations a protein can adopt and see a proportional change in epistasis, we will have evidence to support that epistasis arises from this intrinsic biophysical of property of proteins.