2022 Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Invasive species are a growing issue throughout the United States. Non-native invasives directly compete with native species for resources, such as light, nutrients, and space. Invasives also can be detrimental to the ecosystem, agriculture, and infrastructure. To approach limiting the spread of invasive plants, a thorough examination must be made to examine how they spread from areas of introduction. This study will use herbarium records to identify historical routes of invasion and the abiotic/biotic conditions conducive for invasion; the ultimate goal of this research is to identify high-risk corridors/habitats for future invasions. Additionally, these historical records can be used to determine if different plant growth forms (i.e., woody, herbaceous, or vining) have differing modes of invasion. In the present study we document several invasive plants introduced to Pennsylvania through intentional cultivation, including the Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana), Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellate), English Ivy (Hedera helix), Kudzu (Pueraria montana), Orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva), and Periwinkle (Vinca minor). These species will be used as models to map historical invasions and predict high-risk habitat for future invasion. This research is timely and important as cultivation of exotic species still occurs, presenting continued potential for invasion.

A typical cell cycle is characterized by a growth phase followed by DNA replication and then finally cell division, which produces genetically identical cells. Alternatively, in the process known as endoreduplication, cells grow, and DNA replication occurs, but the cell does not divide. In plants, CDC20 and CCS52 proteins control when a cell undergoes either mitosis or endoreduplication, respectively, via activating the anaphase promoting complex (APC). The APC then targets specific proteins called cyclins for degradation. This research project focuses on a potential third type of APC activator in soybean (Glycine max), Glyma.10G117000.1 or GLYMA10. GLYMA10 shares sequence similarities with CDC20 and CCS52 proteins such as a conserved C- box, MAD2-binding motif, IR tail, RVL motif, and WD40 domain, which indicates that the protein is capable of interacting with the APC, but there are also distinct differences between the proteins. To confirm that GLYMA10 is expressed, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify GLYMA10 from flower cDNA. The PCR product was cloned into a sequencing vector, which was then transformed into E. coli. The plasmid was sequenced confirming that GLYMA10 is expressed in flowers. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was then used to analyze expression levels of GLYMA10 not only in flowers, but also in apical meristems, trifoliate leaves, unifoliate leaves, stems, roots, seeds, and new and old seed pods. Overall, GLYMA10 was not expressed in trifoliate leaves, unifoliate leaves, roots, or stem tissues and was only very weakly expressed in seeds, flowers and apical meristems. It was, however, very strongly expressed in new and old seed pods, with old seed pods showing the highest expression levels of GLYMA10. In the future, we will continue to study seed pods in an effort to understand the function of this protein.

Blood pressure (BP) is commonly measured to diagnose hypertension and inform safe exercise participation. In clinical settings, BP is generally measured in one arm, disregarding the opposite arm and potential inter-arm differences (IAD) in BP. A commonly cited best practice suggests measuring BP in both arms at rest, and then monitoring the higher measured arm moving forward (e.g., exercising BP). Aerobic exercise (AE), often utilized to reveal underlying cardiovascular risk undetectable at rest or improve health, is known to acutely change BP. Previous data from our lab also suggests that AE alters IAD, and that the higher arm BP may shift during an AE session. In this retrospective analysis, we examined data from a series of four AE studies in our lab that documented bilateral BP responses during 1) progressive, low-intensity AE, 2) steady-state, low-intensity AE, 3) steady-state moderate-intensity AE, and 4) progressive, vigorous-intensity AE. Briefly, the higher arm during each participant's resting bilateral BP measurements was determined, and participants with no IAD were excluded from analysis. Subsequently, the instance of missed higher systolic or diastolic BP measurements in the lower arm were determined during the participant's AE and recovery stages. Interestingly, there were many instances of higher BP measures in the lower arm. For example, during progressive, low-intensity exercise, participants with a higher right arm BP at rest (n=58) had a higher BP in the left arm 14-19% of the time during AE. Surprisingly, participants with a higher left arm BP at rest (n=17) had a higher right arm BP 35-53% of the time during AE. Similar instances will be reported from multiple studies. Based on our findings, true bilateral BP readings may have clinical relevance in the accurate management of AE testing and intervention.

Blood pressure (BP) is a common marker of cardiac health, often used to diagnose hypertension and cardiovascular disease. In a clinical setting, BP is used as a clear measure for monitoring safe exercise participation. Despite 'best practices' currently outlined as measuring BP bilaterally to find the arm with the highest pressure for clinical decision making going forward, many clinicians continue to take a unilateral BP, and risk missing clinically relevant inter-arm differences (IAD; >10mmHg) in BP. Additionally, by only monitoring one arm during exercise, a hypertensive measurement may be missed in the lower resting arm. Recent research demonstrates that isometric handgrip exercise (IHE) training chronically reduces hypertension, and therefore, IHE training is becoming a more common clinical intervention. As IHE acutely alters BP, training sessions should be monitored in order to ensure that safe BP ranges are maintained. Recent bilateral BP data measured in the SRU Exercise Science Research Lab was retrospectively analyzed from two studies that utilized simultaneous, bilateral BP measurement during single-incidence, and repeated sets of IHE. In both studies, there were instances where there were higher BP measurements during IHE and recovery in the arm that was determined lower at rest (and would have been ignored using best practices unilateral measurement). For example, during a single-incidence IHE session in young, healthy individuals, when the resting arm (i.e., non-IHE arm) was determined higher at rest (n=24), a higher systolic BP was missed 39% of the time in the working arm. Likewise, when the working arm (i.e., IHE arm) was determined higher at rest (n=25), a higher systolic BP was missed in the resting arm 36% of the time. Similar instances will be reported from both studies. Upon evaluation of our data, utilizing true bilateral BP monitoring may be a best practices consideration during IHE testing and intervention.

It is a known scientific fact that indoor transmission of COVID-19 is very significant compared to the outdoor setting. Even so, the ease of transmission depends on several factors including the strain of the virus. Until we reach herd immunity, mask-wearing, social distancing, decreased indoor occupancy and vaccination will continue play significant roles in the effort to curb the transmission of COVID-19. Furthermore, with mutation and the presence of new viral strains, break through infection still occurs among the vaccinated. With this in mind, the role of indoor environment in the transmission of COVID-19 becomes imperative as the global effort towards vaccination continues. Social distancing can be challenging overall in the classroom setting, making indoor air quality one of the contributing factors in an effort to slow down the spread of the virus. Sick building syndrome (SBS) is one indicator of probable suboptimal indoor air quality that affects some individuals that spend substantial amount of time in a building including classrooms. In order to assess indoor air quality in the classroom, we will measure two parameters, carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matters (PM 2.5 and 10.0) in the classrooms.Furthermore, a questionnaire will be used to collect data on student and faculty experiences as it concerns COVID-19 precautions, knowledge, behavior, and air quality-related health effects in the classroom environment.In conclusion, we will use data collected from the questionnaire and measured parameters as pointers to the overall air quality and assess the potential roles in COVID-19 transmission in the classroom.

Although Cryogenics is not new, many of its uses have still yet to be found. Despite this, it is used in everyday life without many people knowing. For instance, one of the first breakthrough discoveries was that of the Bell Coleman Steam Driven Air Cycle Refrigerator in 1877. This allowed for meat to be transported frozen across many different regions by boat and resulted in increasing the longevity of healthy meat for customers. As time progressed, the concept continued to evolve, leading to the idea of the refrigerators being installed in homes. Cryogenics is the process of subjecting a material to below freezing temperatures to achieve new or various properties of the materials. Changes in mechanical properties of materials subjected to Cryogenics are significantly important. In project design, various materials are compared to ensure the properties of the materials comply with codes and specifications, such as tensile strength, compression strength, ductility, etc. Concurrently, the cost effectiveness of what is being designed is assessed. In this research, the material behavior in terms of ductility and brittleness has been studied through a literature review. Additionally, the impact of temperature on strength increase or strength reduction has been investigated. However, not all materials exposed to these temperatures act similarly. To understand what happens at these cold temperatures, the materials must be subjected to the effects of a coolant such as liquid nitrogen. Thus, an analysis of the materials under these harsh conditions is needed to see how it affects the materials' properties and behaviors. The results indicated that there are many distinct abilities of materials that are changed, ranging from radial compressive stress increasing by 132% to thermal conductivity decreasing by 30%.

To effectively study the developmental effects of ethanol on honeybee (Apis mellifera) larvae, ethanol must be administered without causing high rates of mortality. As larvae are bathed in the food they ingest, there is a risk that an ethanol-containing diet will cause drying effects, effectively killing the larvae. The aim of this study is to investigate the survival rate of honeybee larvae exposed to an ethanol-containing diet. To accomplish this goal, a rearing protocol and diet achieving a consistent survival rate of greater than 95% were selected from previous literature. This protocol involves the grafting and feeding of larvae over a 6-day period, increasing the amount of food and altering proportions of nutrients administered in accordance with the stage of development. The present study will investigate survivability while incorporating varying concentrations (0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%) of ethanol into the diet and maintaining the previously effective grafting and feeding procedures. Concentrations chosen are known to result in the presence of ethanol in the hemolymph of adult honeybees and impact behavioral outcomes. Concentrations will not exceed 7.5% as previous studies indicate serious impairment above this level. As future studies are intended to investigate the developmental effects of ethanol on chemosensory behavior, the present study will determine a viable diet containing concentrations of ethanol that will affect bee behavior without severe impairment. To determine the viability of our diets, the mortality of the honeybee larvae will be measured each day during grafting. The results of this study will inform future investigation of ethanol administration to honeybee larvae by providing critical information on concentrations that can or cannot be administered effectively without drying out these developing organisms.

HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) is a national non-profit organization that provides comfort (via highly trained and certified comfort dogs) to people affected by a crisis. This past October, four students from SRU attended an intensive training to become nationally-certified HOPE AACR Team Leaders. Since then, students have been responding to crisis calls in the Eastern US Region, including a hospital to support the staff affected by the stress of caring for Covid patients, a high school in response to two student suicides, and two other schools in response to accidental student deaths. A social worker's primary responsibility is to promote well-being. When disaster strikes, we have an ethical imperative to supply psychological first-aid to the survivors. AACR has been found to be an effective intervention for those needing assistance (Chandler, 2008). HOPE-AACR canine teams never respond to a call alone and the importance of the Certified Team Leaders to manage the logistics and needs of the teams cannot be overstated. The students involved are gaining valuable leadership skills as they use what they have learned in their Social Work and Animal-Assisted Intervention classes in the field. The certification process involved a three-day training which included experiential training in disaster response, crisis intervention, stress management, and AACR. To date, the students have assisted nearly a dozen canine/handler teams as they brought comfort to over 2300 individuals following a crisis. This ongoing endeavor has provided opportunities for students to provide a high-value community service as well as network with other professionals in the field. Most importantly, students are fulfilling their personal and professional objectives of providing assistance in a moment of great need. References Chandler, C.K. (2008, March). Animal assisted therapy with Hurricane Katrina survivors. Based on a program presented at the ACA Annual Conference Exhibition, Honolulu, HI. Retrieved from http://counselingoutfitters.com/vistas/vistas08/Chandler.htm

Children of incarcerated parents face a multitude of issues, and some can have a significant impact on their mental health. While existing research acknowledges that there is a link between parental incarceration and mental health issues, many children who have an incarcerated parent are often left without treatment or other resources that address their needs. One way to mitigate some of the mental health implications for children is consistent and healthy contact with the incarcerated parent. However, visitation procedures and guidelines vary depending on the facility, staff and resources available, and security levels. In order to gain insight into the different visitation procedures, we contacted 15 county facilities in Western Pennsylvania and asked about their visitation protocols in general, for families, and how these have changed due to COVID-19. This presentation also discusses possible solutions that could help mitigate the restrictions placed on family visits and assist children and their incarcerated parents to strengthen their family bond.

COVID-19 has placed an emphasis on social distancing, while also making it more difficult for individuals to keep up with a physical activity regimen. Due to gym closures and restrictions, more people are working out at home but have no equipment or proper guidance. In many cases, this leads to wavering motivation levels, which correlates to a lack of progress. Implementation of a proper strength training program can be accomplished online, and if effective, will provide positive fitness results. An eight-week, three workout per week, strength training program was administered over Zoom to 12 participants, who classify as beginners in strength training (age: 55.33 ± 7.8). Participants performed a traditional strength training program utilizing various dumbbell, resistance band, and bodyweight exercises. All instruction was delivered distantly through Zoom, where investigators delivered fitness instruction through microphone and camera. Various pre-test and post-test exercises were administered to test participant fitness levels before and after the program: timed chair squat, cadenced curl-ups, maximum repetition push-ups, and maximum repetition seated biceps curls (both left and right). Data was collected and recorded for all exercises pre-test and post-test. T-test was used to calculate differences between pre- and post-test scores. Four of the five tests saw significant improvements in repetition: the seated chair squat saw a 3.6 repetition (16.4%) improvement, push-ups improved by 9.2 (116.9%). Biceps curl (left) improved by 9.5 (50.0%), right side by 9.1 (42.2%) (all 0.05). The curl-up test did not show significant differences between pre- and post-test: while participants completed more repetitions, the 7.8 repetition improvement was not statistically significant. The beginner strength program proved to be effective, despite being entirely online. Participants saw improvements in terms of strength, as 80% of test exercises proved to be statistically significant.