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Article Excerpt
EASTERN REGION
SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY
COLLEGEDALE, TENNESSEE
GROUP-STRUCTURED GENETICS IN A SOLITARY CARNIVORE. Popoh Atairu, Amjad Nasir, John Hisey, Jacqueline Famuyide, Chechi Nwosu-Abanum, and Michael Kennedy, Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee and University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee. Both group-living and solitary mammalian species often violate the assumptions of the generally used island model of population genetics by displaying non-random mating and sexual differences in dispersal. Variations in these two factors are accommodated by recent models that incorporate clusters of kin and have been applied to the group-living, but not the solitary mammalian species, which are more abundant. Raccoon data support the hypothesis that solitary mammals may commonly display kin-clustered genetics. The degree of genetic differentiation among female kin clusters and the departure from random breeding of individuals within a kin cluster appear to be substantial and to vary with measures not incorporated into the island model. These outcomes are similar in magnitude to those for more social species and are greater than the equivalent measures for larger groups of raccoons. Genetic structure of groups should be analyzed at the smallest scale at which nonrandom dispersion is detected.
IMPROVING BEAM QUALITY AND POWER OUTPUT IN OPTICAL TWEEZERS. Matthew L. Knecht and Chris Hansen, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tennessee. Our group recently demonstrated the ability to trap bacteria using optical tweezers, but low laser power limited trapping ability. I report improvements made to both laser power and beam quality, which led to improved trapping ability. Initial results provided an increase in laser intensity at the sample, but the beam quality was severely degraded. The solution was to better shape the laser beam using an anamorphic prism pair. This process was repeated for a higher power laser diode. We were able to maintain a high quality beam while more than doubling laser power at the sample. Finally, work is being done to add a newly designed flow-cell to the apparatus.
PRESENCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOUCCUS AUREUS CARRIAGE OF FIRST YEAR NURSING STUDENTS OF SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY UPON ENTRANCE INTO CLINICAL ENVIRONMENTS. Chad Kurzynske ande L. Ann Foster, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tennessee. Nasal swabs were taken from first year nursing students and plated on microbial media selective for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Positive samples for S. aureus were tested for antibiotic resistance. Three different samples were collected to determine increase in S. aureus and MRSA carriage in the students. Results showed a noticeable increase in S. aureus and MRSA carriage after students started their clinical laboratories. The findings suggest there is a correlation to clinical environment exposure and carriage of S. aureus and MRSA in the external nares of nursing students. Currently, work is being done to calculate the statistical correlation of the results found in this study.
VENEZUELAN RATTLESNAKE PHYLOGENY. Carl Person, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tennessee. The taxonomy of the South American Rattlesnakes, Crotalus durissus, has been a frequent subject of debate, especially concerning the various supposed subspecific designations. Within Venezuela (not including the island population of Aruba), there have been claims of up to four different subspecies. Since Venezuela is the main gateway for the southern dispersion of the durissus clade, the proper resolution of their phylogenetic relationships is necessary for an understanding of their route of invasion. We compare the mtDNA sequences from four separate populations, representing much of the country. The sequences examined were ATPase 6 and 8 and a--750 bp region of Cytochrome b. The phylogenetic tree seems to indicate there are indeed at least three different evolutionary trajectories present within Venezuela.
MIDDLE REGION
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
ETHANOL EFFECT ON PROTEIN KINASE C EXPRESSION IN HYPERTENSIVE VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE. Crisanto Torres, Ashiya Johnson, Brittany Washington, Jassica Jardan, Charlie Myshali, and Benny Washington, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee. Protin kinase C (PKC) has been shown to regulate ethanol sensitivity. There are three classes of PKC: conventional, novel, and atypical PKCs. Protein kinase C activity is altered in a variety of cell systems by acute or chronic ethanol exposure. The goal of the present study was to ascertain whether chronic ethanol treatment could affect PKC isoforms in hypertensive vascular smooth muscle cells. We measured the level of PKC isoforms following chronic ethanol treatment using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in both hypertensive and normotensive vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The results showed that conventional and novel PKCs are altered with 24 and 48 h ethanol treatment in hypertensive VSMCs. The expression levels of PKC-[alpha]/[beta]II and PKC-[delta] isoforms increased significantly, whereas PKC-[euro] decreased. Also we observed no significant changes in the atypical PKCs. These findings suggest that both conventional and novel PKCs may play a substantial role in the mediated effects of ethanol in hypertension.
INVESTIGATIONS OF ANTI-CANCER COMPOUNDS FROM ESSIAC EXTRACT. Cherylann Lyons, Jeralyn Powell, Todd Gary, and E. Lewis Myles, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee. Many compounds found in plants have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer activities. Over 25% of our common medicines contain at least some compounds obtained from plants. In the United States approximately 10% of our major drugs have plant extracts as their active ingredient. In less developed countries the World Health Organization estimates that 75-80% of the people rely on plant-based medicines for primary health care. Essiac is composed of 4 different herbs: burdock root (Arctium lappa), Indian rhubarb (Rheum palmatum), and slippery elm (Ulmus fulva or Ulmus rubra). Preliminary results show that the aqueous extract has no effect on cancerous metabolic activity while the crude extract reduces metabolic activity.
TOTAL ANTIOXIDANTS IN CHOCOLATE BY THE CUPRICION REDUCING POWER ASSAY. Ben Kendrick, Elena Lopez, Crystal Snyder, Megan Sprinkle, Autumn Marshall, and Kent Clinger, Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging cells. These damaged cells are believed to be the cause of heart disease and cancer, which are the top two killers in America. Chocolate contains high levels of antioxidants. We tested the antioxidant levels in different cocoas using the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method. Cocoa (10 g) was mixed with 70% methanol (150 mL) and the solution was vacuum filtered. The cocoa extract (60 [mu]L), copper (II) chloride (1 mL), neocuproine alcohol (1 mL), ammonium acetate buffer at pH 7 (1 mL), and deionized water (1 mL) were combined in a test tube. After one h, the absorbance was measured in a spectrophotometer at 450 nm. Ideally, the readings should be between 0.2-0.4 absorbance units. After several trials, the CUPRAC results revealed that the antioxidant concentration in the cocoa extract was too high so the amount of cocoa in the initial extraction was lowered to 1.0 g. The absorbance proves higher concentrations of antioxidants in cocoa than white cocoa.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, MARRIAGE AND FATHERLESSNESS. Deidra Middleton, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee. Aims were to determine a correlation between fatherlessness and psychological abuse, and marriage and psychological abuse. Forty-six African American women from a historically Black university in the mid-south participated. Psychological abuse was measured using the Abuse Risk Inventory. There were no significant differences between women reared in intact homes and women reared in fatherless homes. There also were no significant differences between married and single women.
KNEE INJURIES AND ESTROGEN LEVELS IN FEMALE ATHLETES. M. M. Engberg and J. T. Thomas, Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee. Studies suggest that women who participate in sports are 4 to 6 times more likely than their male counterparts to sustain some type of knee injury. Injuries such as ACL tears, torn menisci, and patellar tendon problems are extremely common in female athletes. Because hormonal differences are thought to contribute to the discrepancy of injury incidence between men and women, we examined the estrogen levels of female athletes at Belmont to identify a possible correlation. A survey was distributed to female athletes at Belmont to collect a history of knee injuries and other estrogen related background information, such as regularity of periods and use of birth control medication. A saliva sample was collected on the first or second day of the athlete's menstrual cycle. The sample was analyzed using an EIA assay to determine the basal estrogen level. Of the 64 female athletes surveyed, 22 sustained at least one knee injury that required surgery. Preliminary analysis of injured versus non-injured athletes indicates no correlation between basal estrogen levels and risk for knee injury. However, the role hormones play in knee injuries of female athletes should be investigated.
POTENTIAL INHIBITION OF CANCER CELL GROWTH INDUCED BY GREEN TEA EXTRACTS. Eve Niles, Yvonne Myles, Todd Gary, and E. Lewis Myles, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee. The goal was determine if various concentrations of tea extracts inhibit cancer cell growth. Due to the growing wave of breast cancer and its prevalence in women, there is a need for a safe, reliable, and effective drug. Green tea was our toxin, both an aqueous extraction and an alcohol (crude) extraction. The goal was to determine if this tea had a medicinal effect on breast cancer cells and would...
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