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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Drosophila athabasca, a species complex native to North America, provides a unique opportunity to study nascent speciation arising from sexual isolation. Some have suggested that cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) influence the sexual selection process. Extensive analyses have resulted in complex understandings of CHC involvement in insect mate preference, with minimal work focusing on D. athabasca. The goal of this study is to identify, synthesize and measure biologically relevant quantities of CHCs present in this species complex. Gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) from several isofemale lines of D. athabasca allows for characterization of contributing compounds including saturated, unsaturated, and branched alkanes, fatty acids, acetates, and esters. Identification of these compounds using characteristic fragmentation patterns allowed for confirmation by synthetic standards. To date, over 100 CHCs have been characterized in D. athabasca using these analytical and organic methods. An overview of the analysis techniques and future direction will be presented.

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DigitalDocument

In Mohawk Watershed Symposium, Abstracts and program

Abstract

The 15th Mohawk Watershed Symposium offers an exciting and diverse set of presentations on water quality, fisheries and habitats, flooding and resilience, and recreation and stewardship. The 2021-2026 Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda, our critical guiding document, focuses on conserving, preserving, and restoring the Mohawk River Watershed while helping to manage the ecosystem services for a sustainable future. Much of the defining discussion by stakeholders occurs at the annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium, and given this watershed blueprint, ongoing environmental change, and political headwinds, we see that the challenge ahead is enormous. Educational institutions and federal agencies - and many of our key stakeholders - are under threat. We need to ensure that science, engineering, and sound policy decisions guide our path forward. Now more than ever we need to redouble our efforts to advocate for clean water, fight the spread of invasive species, implement resilient flood mitigation projects, and understand how climate change has affected and will continue to affect almost everything in the watershed. The support of the DEC in this effort, and the partnership between the DEC and the Symposium, has made an enormous difference in fostering a sense of community and providing direction for watershed investigations. Additional support from Riverkeeper and the Mohawk-Hudson Land Conservancy is greatly appreciated, along with your attendance at this year’s Mohawk Watershed Symposium.

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DigitalDocument

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Copyright Information: © 2025 Geosciences Department, Union College, Schenectady NY. All rights reserved. No part of the document can be copied and\/or redistributed, electronically or otherwise, without written permission from the Geosciences Department, Union College, Schenectady, NY, 12308, U.S.A.

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Geology Department, Union College

In Mohawk Watershed Symposium, Abstracts and program

Abstract

The 12th Mohawk Watershed Symposium was cancelled due to Covid-19. This abstract volume, which was essentially complete at the time of cancellation, is the record of the meeting that did not happen. Over the years this Symposium has taken on an important role in unifying and galvanizing stakeholders in the watershed. A coalition of invested stakeholders allows us as a group to tackle important issues that affect water quality, recreation opportunities, flood mitigation, and other basin-wide issues. By all measures, 2019 was a big year in the watershed. The historic 2019 Halloween Storm caused significant damage in the upper part of the watershed, especially in the West Canada Creek, East Canada Creek, and a number of smaller tributaries. Aid from FEMA for individual assistance was denied and this has caused considerable distress for those with damaged homes. A major effort this year was the work of the Reimagine the Canal task force. This task force took on a number of issues related to the entire Erie Canal, which was divided into Western, Central, and Mohawk sections. Issues included water for irrigation, invasive species, flooding, and ice jamming. The Mohawk was perhaps the most complicated because the Canal and the main stem of the Mohawk need to co-exist despite change in the watershed. The task force effort included the Mohawk Flood Assessment aimed at evaluating benefits from a number of flood mitigation strategies along the length of the River. It also acted on a separate report on ice jamming in the Schenectady Pool in front of the Vischer Ferry Dam, at Lock E7. The Vischer Ferry Dam (VFD) on the lower Mohawk has been under the spotlight for years - in part for its suspected role in causing ice jams that then can flood the Stockade of Schenectady. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license is coming up, so NYPA, the dam owner, started the renewal process last year for both the VFD and the Crescent Dam, just downstream. The FERC review process can force significant environmental review of the ways in which dams integrate into the local ecosystem and relate to river hydrology. Meanwhile, the City of Schenectady continues formulating its ambitious plan to use FEMA funds to mitigate flooding in Stockade. The plan moving forward may involve elevating or perhaps moving homes in a managed retreat. This plan is intertwined with mitigation efforts for ice jamming at the VFD because jamming causes back-up flooding that can affect the Stockade. Water quality remains a central issue in the watershed and a growing number of stakeholders are involved in this effort. For a healthy and vibrant ecosystem we need clean water. The health of our waters can only be assessed from hundreds of measurements taken across the watershed by students, educators, and dedicated professionals from SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Polytechnic in Utica, Union College, Cornell, Schoharie River Center, Riverkeeper, DEC, USGS, and others who have been addressing water quality through research. These critical measurements include quantifying the distribution, source, and fate of environmental contaminants including fecal bacterial, microplastics, nitrogen, phosphorus, and others. Stewardship and education are a critical piece of effective watershed management. Stakeholder meetings such as the Mohawk Watershed Symposium, and local water advocates (including West Canada Creek Alliance, Riverkeeper, and Dam Concerned Citizens) play a key role in identifying problems, educating the public, and effecting change where it is most needed. Youth education programs centered on water quality and ecosystem health, such as the Environmental Study Teams at both the Schoharie River Center and Fort Plain High School, insure that all our waterways pass into the hands of the next generation of active, engaged, and knowledgeable stewards. The meeting this year would have featured approximately 30 presentations covering a wide range of topics. We were delighted to see so many familiar names and we welcome those new to the Mohawk Watershed Symposium. We will be back as soon as possible. Abstracts include: Reimagining the Erie Canal / Mohawk River as flood risk mitigation resource K. Avery, B. Juza . S. 6893 Flood Buyout Bill M. Buttenschon, J. Griffo Detection, quantification and identification of enteric bacteria in the upper Hudson River - a pilot study J. Cohen, N. Geier, K. Songao, O. Spencer, A. LoBue, W. Quidort Algal community dynamics in the lower Mohawk River A. Conine, M. Schnore Relating microbial diversity to nitrogen cycling in the Mohawk River and diverse freshwater ecosystems J. Damashek, A. Dautovic, C. Garrett Stockade resilience: adaptive preservation on the Mohawk River, Schenectady, New York K. Diotte Increasing fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) counts in the Mohawk River and elsewhere in the Hudson watershed since 2015 J. Epstein, B. Brabetz, A. Juhl, C. Knudsen, N. Law, J. Lipscomb, G. O'Mullan, S. Pillitteri, C. Rodak, D. Shapley Notes from a Watershed - The Mohawk River J. Garver The Halloween flood of 2019 in the Mohawk River watershed C. Gazoorian Streamflow capture along the Mohawk River: determining transit time to municipal well-field J. Gehring, M. Stahl, D. Gillikin, A. Verheyden-Gillikin Eastward expansion of invasive Round Goby towards the Hudson River S. George, B. Baldigo, C. Rees, M. Bartron Pervious concrete offers a prospective solution to contaminated runoff threatening water quality A. Ghaly The swinging environmental pendulum: how policies and attitudes shift with changes in US administration A. Ghaly eDNA methods help reveal barriers to American Eel (Anguilla rostrate) migration into the Mohawk River, New York H. Green, M. Wilder, H. Miraly, C. Nack, K. Limburg Naturalizing the Mohawk River: navigating the political challenges of change S. Gruskin Plastic Pollution: Nurdles and the Coleco Connection" Utilizing digital storytelling by youth to educate the public about emergent environmental concerns in their community K. Hensley F. Staley C. Cherizard A. Francisco L. English D. Carlson P. Munson J. McKeeby S. Hadam E. McHale Numerical modeling of breakup ice dynamics in the lower Mohawk River F. Huang H. Shen J. Garver A five-year series of snap-shots: Data and observations of Enterococci and Escherichia coli levels from a Mohawk River water quality project as it enters Year Six of a longitudinal study N. Law B. Brabetz K. Boulet A. Giacinto C. Rodak J. Epstein J. Lipscomb D. Shapley A flood insurance analysis of Schenectady's Stockade district W. Nechamen Potential opportunities for tributary reconnections within the Erie Canal and Mohawk River A. Peck K. France R. Shirer Exploring baseline water quality conditions in the Mohawk River: Observations of fecal indicator bacteria during the Fall of 2018 and Summer of 2019 C. Rodak E. Haddad Mohawk River watershed modeling in SWAT M. Schnore A. Conine Microplastic pollution in Mohawk River tributaries: likely sources and potential implications for the Mohawk Watershed J. Smith E. Caruso N. Wright Is there a Corps of Engineer/State Flood Control role in the Mohawk Basin? R. Wege Climate related discoveries 62 years of daily CO2 measurements and the Keeling Curve F. Wicks Enterococci levels in the Hans Groot Kill and Mohawk River Schenectady NY E. Willard-Bauer J. Smith J. Garver D. Goldman B. Newcomer Incorporating ice jam flooding into regulatory base flood elevations at the historic Schenectady Stockade J. Woidt J. Rocks"

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DigitalDocument

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In ARL Publications

Abstract

The Adirondack Chronology is intended to be a useful resource for researchers and others interested in the Adirondacks and Adirondack history.

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DigitalDocument

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Among life-history trade-offs, the cost of reproduction has been well-studied. An increase in body mass due to gravidity has been shown to negatively affect survival in vertebrates, but it has not been widely studied in invertebrates. Insects, especially American locusts (Schistocerca americana), are good models to study how life-history changes affect locomotion. For our research, we collected non-gravid and gravid female grasshoppers and conducted a five minute endurance jumping test. Non-gravid females (n=20, mean weight= 2.25 g) had an average maximum jump distance of 189 cm over the first minute. Over the five minute trial, non-gravid female jump frequency decreased by 7% and mean distance per jump decreased by 46%. In contrast, gravid females (n=12, mean weight= 2.7 g) in the first minute had an average maximum jump distance of 169 cm. Over the five minute trial, gravid female jump frequency decreased by 8% and the mean distance per jump decreased by 52%. Next, we added weights to additional groups of non-gravid and gravid females to determine how additional mass affected jump performance. The weights were either 20% or 40% of the average group body mass (n=12 for weighted non-gravid, n=8-10 for weighted gravid). During the five minute trial, jump frequency significantly decreased in weighted grasshoppers regardless of whether they were gravid or not. In addition, the mean distance per jump significantly decreased with weights in both non-gravid (p

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that a specific regimen of leg adductor muscle exercises targeting "at risk" National Hockey League players can significantly reduce in-season injuries. The overall adductor muscle strain injury incidence in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 regular seasons was 17 players per 1000 players, which declined to 13.6 per 1000 players in the seasons following the strength exercise intervention (Tyler, 2002, p. 682). However, little is known about how these exercises actually target, activate, and strengthen these adductor muscles for use during a skating stride. In this sophomore Scholars research, I am using biomechanical kinematics data to compare activation and performance of the leg adductor muscles during stationary training exercises and a roller blading skating stride. To collect the kinematic data, individual reflective markers are placed on specific lower limb joints and body landmarks. The analysis software Tracker determines the angular acceleration of the leg during the exercises, which is used to model the moment of inertia of the legs during the exercises. This research will expand on the effectiveness of Tracker as a tool in biomechanical kinematics research through a comparison to the forces exerted in studies of similar exercises. The data will provide a physiological and biomechanical comparison between stationary training exercises and the actual muscle use during the skating stride. The research has implications in the injury prevention of adductor muscles in the leg by potentially editing and shortening the current training program while still producing similar or greater success rates. Tyler, Timothy F., et al. "The Effectiveness of a Preseason Exercise Program to Prevent Adductor Muscle Strains in Professional Ice Hockey Players." The American Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 30, no. 5, 2002, pp. 680-683., doi:10.1177/03635465020300050801.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Osteoporosis is an age-related chronic disease in which osteoclasts degrade minerals of the bone faster than osteoblasts can replace them. In addition to increased risk of fracture, osteoporosis patients experience oral, dental and prosthodontic complications due to degradation of the alveolar and jaw bone. Elderly women are disproportionately impacted by this disease. One potential culprit for the gender-based disparity is the increased levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) during menopause. An isoform of the FSH receptor can be found on osteoclasts; when FSH binds to this receptor, osteoclast activity and differentiation are increased. Murine monocytes were differentiated into osteoclasts using RANK ligand, and FSH dependent signaling was measured through Western Blotting. Proteins specific to the FSH-receptor pathway were detected in osteoclasts. A better understanding of the osteoclast FSH receptor could allow for pharmaceutical intervention to interrupt the pathway. Negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) that inhibit FSH signaling on granulosa cells could be used for inhibiting FSH signaling on osteoclasts.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

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The soils of the Albany Pine Bush are affected by a legacy of invasion by the nitrogen-fixing black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). The invasion disrupted the Pine Bush's natural fire regime and has caused abnormally high levels of nitrogen in the soil, which presents issues to land managers. Because invasive species that alter their environments often have an impact on a system even after their removal, we set out to investigate the regeneration of post-invasion communities in the Pine Bush, quantifying three key woody stems, scrub oaks (Quercus ilicifolia, Q. prinoides), pitch pines (Pinus rigida), and blueberries (V. angustifolium, V. pallidum). In our experiment, we established 38 transects in management plots and counted the number of juvenile oaks, pines, and blueberries to track the progress of the recovery of restored plots. We define recovery in terms of the similarity of the community composition of restored plots to native plots, i.e. in a "recovered" restored plot, we would find that the abundance of each woody species is statistically similar to that of species found in native plots. Factoring for whether or not a plot has burned (and when that last was), how long it has been since the plot was restored, distance to seed source in meters, percent total cover, and percent grass cover, we generated several models to investigate which factors affect woody regeneration in restored Pine Bush plots. The models suggest the following: 1) Pitch pine abundances in restored plots were statistically similar to native abundances, 2) Scrub oak abundances in restored plots were statistically lower than in native plots, although there are indications that current management tactics were positively influencing the abundance of oaks, and 3) Blueberries were statistically lower in restored plots than in native plots by a large margin, with no indication that management tactics had any effect on their abundance. We conclude that pitch pine communities in the Pine Bush have recovered, that scrub oak communities are not recovered but that current management techniques are having a positive effect to that end, and that blueberries in the Pine Bush are not recovering, and as such new management techniques and strategies may need to be adopted to increase their abundance in restored plots.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Depression is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, afflicting approximately 17 million adults in the US in 2019. A prominent causal factor of depression is dysregulation of our body's response to stress when exposed to continuous stressors over long periods of time. Stress is regulated by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, with cortisol as its effector hormone. The effects of cortisol are exerted through the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors (GR and MR, respectively) in the body and the brain, respectively. The HPA axis is regulated by a negative feedback loop where activation of the GR by circulating cortisol inhibits the production of additional cortisol. Our lab investigated the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or mutations, in the genes of the MR, GR, and associated regulatory proteins that are hypothesized to be involved in the dysregulation of function leading to hypersensitivity or resistance to cortisol in the HPA axis. Previous literature has demonstrated that prominent GR and MR SNPs correlate with higher incidence of depression and/or depressive symptoms. Our study continued this investigation into the relationship between mutations and depression in a clinical sample of psychiatric patients from Albany Medical College. We were especially interested in the interplay between mutations of the GR and MR influencing cortisol levels and response in our bodies. DNA from patients was collected with buccal swabs and genotypes were analyzed through allele specific and quantitative polymerase chain reactions. We compared genotypes to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score of patients, as well as other scales measuring anxiety and mood. No significant two-tailed correlation between individual SNPs or GR/MR SNP combinations and BDI scores was found. One SNP in the GR gene (rs33389) one one SNP on the 11?ü-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (rs12086634), an enzyme that regulates peripheral cortisol levels, demonstrated significant one-tailed correlations with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and State Trait Anxiety scale, respectively. Obtaining a greater sample size would yield more representation of mutant alleles and potentially allow for more significance correlating genetic mutations to the incidence of depression.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is an effective surgical option for treating severe obesity resistant to dieting and exercise. Bariatric surgeries have been shown to adjust the metabolic profile and structure of the patient, typically addressing the underlying issue contributing to the patient's obesity. However, some patients do not experience this efficacy, suggesting another, non-metabolic,etiology for their obesity. In order to provide adequate treatment for obesity, the non-metabolic mechanisms of feeding behavior, and their dysfunction, must be understood. The current study investigates single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the dopamine and endocannabinoid brain pathways, responsible for reward and regulatory functions, respectively. These SNPs had been previously associated with drug addiction. It was predicted that the allelic frequency of the mutant genotypes for each SNP, rs324420 (endocannabinoid-related) and rs1076560 (dopamine-related), would be elevated in the bariatric population compared to the general population. SNP analysis was conducted using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. For both polymorphisms, the allelic frequency of the mutant allele was elevated in the bariatric population compared to the general population. The observed increase in mutant allelic frequency was much greater for rs324420 than for rs1076560. These results suggest that similar neuropathology may be at play in the manifestation of disordered eating as is in the etiology of substance use disorders. Future research should compare SNP analyses of populations with binge-eating disorder and populations with food addiction.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

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From a young age, we are taught about the wonders of magic. We believe in it as children and learn of its falsity as adults. But what if some magic is actually real? This is the case for a multitude of communities in South America that engage in the Kambo ritual, an intricate practice of applying secretions from the skin of the frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor, to open wounds in order to better one's hunting abilities and repel bad spirits from the body. Participants in the ritual experience an intense period of violent sickness followed by elation and analgesia, resulting in the "effective" use of Kambo for the treatment of an abundance of ailments, such as arthritis, diabetes, depression, PTSD, cancer, AIDS, and addiction.Although a multitude of studies have been previously conducted on the Kambo ritual, the peptides secreted by P. bicolor, and the connection between these two, no paper exists that discusses the majority of the peptides in depth and places each one within the context of the ritual. This current analysis seeks to accomplish such an extensive review of the biological and cultural aspects of the Kambo ritual in an attempt to explain its association with magic. I go into depth regarding the history and function of the ritual, the physiology and behavior of P. bicolor, and the effects and mechanisms of action of each bioactive peptide on the human body.I suggest connections between the effects of the peptides and the healing benefits of the ritual and pull upon anthropological theories regarding magic to theorize how this ritual originated and became associated with P. bicolor. Through this analysis, I find that the magic and healing abilities associated with the Kambo ritual can be directly attributed to the unique concoction of bioactive peptides contained within the skin secretions of Phyllomedusa bicolor.By acting on the GI tract, cardiovascular system, and central nervous system, as well as by fighting off microbes, the peptides secreted by P. bicolor cause an intense physical experience that has been associated with hunting magic and special healing on account of the uncertainty involved in the hunting process and the actual healing actions of the peptides. Further research into the functions of these unique peptides may result in the discovery of novel medications and treatments that could be of great use in various medical fields.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Belostomatids, commonly known as toe biters, are ambush predatory insects that reside in stagnant waters across the globe. Toe biters go through several nymphal stages of life and gradually increase in body size until reaching a sexually mature adult stage. Nymphs and adults are both predatory and employ similar ambush predation strategies to secure prey, but sexual selection and mating behaviors are only performed by fully matured adults. Additionally, these insects present an uncommon case of reverse sex roles, in which females seek out and compete for male mates, while males are the sole contributors of parental investment in care and protection of the fertilized eggs. Many insects with traditional sex rolespresent males with a specific region of increased visual acuity for identifying and pursuing potential female mates. This ledus to question ifthe reverse sex roles of toe biters gives rise to differences in the visual systems, and thus visual ecologies, of adult males and females. We hypothesized that vision plays a primary role in mate selection and, therefore, that there is variation in visual acuity morphology between adult and nymph eyes. Considering this main hypothesis that vision and mate selection are linked, we predicted that female toe biters possess eyes with regions ofgreater visual acuity than males, which would be evident if females possess larger eyes, a greater number of corneal facets in each eye, and/or larger diameters of the individual corneal facets whencompared to male eyes. To test our hypothesis, we performed corneal dissections from toe biters in each of these three groups (adult males, adult females, and last-stage nymphs) and compiled a dataset of transmission microscopy images of each cornea. With these data, we were able to count the number of ommatidia in each eye, measure the surface area of each cornea, as well as measure the diameter of individual facets within each cornea. We found no significant differences in ommatidial counts or individual facet diameters between nymphs and adults, indicating that visual acuity is very similar between these two groups. Similarly, we found no significant differences in ommatidial counts, total eye area, or individual facet diameters between females and males. These findings led us to reject our hypothesis that vision plays a major role in the sexually dimorphic mating behaviors of adult toe biters. Rather, these findings suggest that vision is more likely involved in the similar ambush predatory behaviors performed by all three groups -- nymphs, adult males, and adult females -- and provide a foundation for future studies of the visual function and evolution of Belostoma flumineum.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

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Motivational anhedonia is a debilitating feature of many neurological and psychiatric disorders. Motivational anhedonia, lack of motivation for reward, can occur to varying degrees in the general population (Ang et al. 2017, PLoS One). To understand underlying biological mechanisms and facilitate treatment development, the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT) was developed to objectively assess motivational anhedonia. However, the EEfRT presents several confounds - specifically delayed discounting, probabilistic discounting, constrained decision time, and fatigue. To address these issues, the PEDM task was developed. Computational models were applied to characterize subjective devaluation of reward by physical effort. The PEDM was administered to 49 individuals, compromised of 21 young adults, 15 older adults, and 10 from a mental health outpatient clinic. It was administered with three questionnaires, the Apathy Motivation Index (AMI), Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), and the Quality of Life and Enjoyment Scale Short Form (Q-LES-Q-LES). It was predicted that there would be significantly higher levels of anhedonia in the mental health population, a significant relationship of the PEDM and the behavioral activation component of the AMI, the ability to self initiate goal-directed behavior (Ang, Lockwood, Apps, Muhammed, Husain 2017, Plos One), no significant relationship to the SHAPS, since it is a measure of consummatory pleasure rather than the ability to expend effort for rewards, and that the mental health group would have greater self-reported anhedonia and apathy levels. Analysis of relationships between "k" value and dimensions of apathy and anhedonia revealed a strong correlation with behavioral motivation in healthy students, while findings were not significant for older adults and the mental health group. There were no significant correlations between consummatory anhedonia and the PEDM. The mental health group had significantly higher scores for anhedonia but not apathy. Lastly, anhedonia levels from the PEDM were similar in the young adult and mental health group. These findings suggest that the PEDM is a promising measure of motivational anhedonia in healthy populations and clinical populations, but needs future testing to truly elucidate and support the findings.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

The digestive systems of animals have evolved to optimize the efficiency of nutrient absorption, and adapt to different diets and habitats. While most vertebrates contain long, coiling intestines, the Leucoraja erinacea (little skate), like all basal fishes, has a short intestine with many internal spirals similar to the thread of a screw. This unique intestinal morphology allows cartilaginous fish to fit an intestine with a high surface area for absorption into a narrow body cavity. How the spiral intestine develops still remains a mystery. Research has found that smooth muscle differentiation is a key player in intestinal villi formation, leading us to hypothesize that smooth muscle may play a role in spiral intestine formation. To examine the role of smooth muscle differentiation during spiral formation, skate embryos were injected with muscle inhibitors AG1295 and FK506 prior to and after initiation of the spiral fold during development. Treated spiral intestines were visualized on a microCT, and 3D renderings of the lumens were generated on Amira. Preliminary results indicate that in the absence of muscle differentiation, the spiral intestine has a decreased number of expected turns, as well as changes in pitch length and perimeter to circumference ratios. These results indicate that smooth muscle differentiation likely plays a role in later spiraling of the intestinal fold, but not initiation of the spiral. As the spiral intestine is a precursor to the winding intestines of vertebrates, understanding how the spiral intestine forms may help us to uncover the evolutionary origins of our long coiled intestines.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

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The Witch of Thessaly is a young adult fantasy novel. Erin Mercer and her best friend, Perry Robbins, take a road trip to New Orleans the summer before their senior year of high school in order to help Perry's Aunt Sharon declutter and fix up her home. It's smooth sailing except for their apparent stalker, the mystery of Erin's missing SAT tutor haunting the back of her mind, and her weirdly specific and intense flashes of d?©j?† vu. When Erin stumbles across one of New Orleans's many voodoo shops and befriends the owner's daughter, Alana, she discovers that what she always thought was d?©j?† vu was actually a type of psychic power called psychometry that lets her catch glimpses into people's minds and pasts. Luckily, Alana's empathic mother takes her on as one of her students alongside a boy who can move objects with his mind. While Erin thinks her summer is as crazy as it could be, a mysterious cousin from Greece crashes her vacation with the news that her biological mother belonged to one of the oldest covens of psychics in the world, and that they've been looking for Erin for a long, long time. The novel is an exploration of friendship and trust and how the family we choose is just as important as the family we're born with.

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VideoObject

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In Steinmetz Symposium

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Small dielectric particles in the Rayleigh size regime have the potential to be trapped by the properties of focused laser light. This is the principle that governs optical tweezers and is what I explored this past summer. Over the course of seven weeks, I fabricated an optical tweezers setup from an empty optical bench and successfully incorporated an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). An IR laser at 810 nm was used with a 40x objective and a piezoelectric stage. The results of this research were: consistent trapping of 1.06 Ôø?Ôø?m latex beads and an AOM that produced a second, moveable beam within the objective and was able to pull beads into focus. Besides applications in quantum science, optical tweezers can also be applied to biological samples and the further development of this novel project will allow it to become an accessible and viable tool for Union physics or biology labs studying quantum science or organic trapping that was developed in-house.

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DigitalDocument

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The vertebrate gut is a specialized structure responsible for the intake and digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and expulsion of waste products. The organs of the digestive tract have been conserved over time, but modifications to the size and shape of individual structures exist within the different vertebrate lineages. The skate's spiral intestine has evolved to maximize nutrient absorption within a compact structure to create space in the body cavity for the organs needed for buoyancy. Studying the unique intestinal morphology of Leucoraja erinacea, or the little skate, provides an opportunity to understand the role of differential gene expression in development. The vertebrate digestive system develops from the embryonic gut tube through the expression of specific genes that direct the development of different tissue types and organs at specified locations. The genes Shh, Wnt5a, Hoxd12, and Cdx2 are necessary to pattern the intestines in other animals including, mice, chick and human. We have cloned these genes from the skate and are characterizing their expression by RNA whole mount in situ hybridization in the developing spiral intestine. The results will allow us to generate a profile of the conserved genes involved in intestinal differentiation. By comparing gene expression profiles among different vertebrates, we can link information at the molecular level with the structural and functional adaptations that have evolved in the digestive tracts across lineages. Therefore, the study of differential gene expression in embryonic development can provide an opportunity to understand events of vertebrate evolution dating back 400 million years.

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DigitalDocument

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In Steinmetz Symposium

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Pollution from urbanization and industrial activity are increasingly disrupting ecosystem nutrient cycles. Artificial fertilization of nitrogen (N) is transforming nutrient balances), with negative implications for ecosystem and human health in ecosystems adapted to low nutrient soils. Stable isotope analysis is one method of identifying anthropogenic influence on nutrient cycles as the isotopic signature left behind by nutrients gives an indication of possible disruptions to natural cycling and the related sources. We aimed to investigate whether or not the New York State (NYS) Thruway, constructed in the 1950s, is affecting the nearby Albany Pine Bush Preserve. We analysed plant (oak and pine) and soil samples collected in July 2019 in order to determine whether automobile-sourced N is altering the stable isotopes, and therefore the N cycle, at the preserve. We tested two alternatives-whether stable N isotopes values and N content change with distance. The δ15N in pine needles decreased with increasing distance from the thruway-a trend indicative of automobile N deposition. This was not seen in the oak samples, though an analysis of C:N ratios indicated that oak leaf C:N ratios decreased with distance from the thruway - also in the direction expected if automobiles were depositing N. The %N in deep soil samples also decreased with increasing distance from the thruway. This analysis of nitrogen and carbon suggests that there is increased N deposition at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve and that it can be attributed to the proximity of the New York State Thruway. It is not known what the consequences of the altered N cycle in this globally-rare ecosystem may be, but we plan to follow up with further sampling to better understand the scale of the Thruway's effect on the Pine Bush ecosystem.

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DigitalDocument

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Thermal microclimates are vital within ecosystems because they contribute to forming appropriate niche space for many species. Variation in microclimates may impact animal thermoregulation and be especially important in the face of climate change. The goal of this study is to determine how the size and structure of Quercus ilicifolia (Scrub Oak) individuals influences temperature gradients in their vicinity. We hypothesized that differences in leaf density and leaf area index (LAI) would cause variation in the thermal regimes within and around shrubs (temperature gradients), and that shrubs with higher LAI would form steeper temperature gradients. Five Q. ilicifolia shrubs that differed in size (1-3 m tall) were selected within the Albany Pine Bush Preserve (Albany, NY). At each shrub, five temperature logging devices (iButtons) were placed 8 cm above the ground surface in a transect from the shrub center to the surrounding vegetation. At each point, hemispherical canopy photos were obtained to estimate canopy cover, and leaf area was measured by collecting leaves from each shrub; leaf area index (LAI) was calculated by dividing leaf area by ground area. Additionally, terrestrial laser scanning was performed by scanning shrubs to obtain a 3D reconstruction and to calculate shrub ground area and volume. Characteristics of shrub structure (height, canopy cover, LAI, canopy volume) were compared to each other and to measurements of thermal regime (average, maximum and minimum daily temperatures). Leaf area and shrub volume were positively correlated (r2 =0.96) and LAI ranged between 1.0-1.9 (m2/m2), but was not associated with canopy cover. Daily maximum temperatures formed a gradient from shrub edges to the openings, whose magnitude was independent of shrub size or leaf area. Likewise, temperature environments within shrubs were fairly constant, but there was a linear gradient from the shrub edge to the surrounding vegetation. On average, shrubs caused a 5.2°C temperature depression in the daily maximum temperatures. These results suggest that temperature gradients form independently of shrub size and structure, but are nonetheless present underneath and directly adjacent to shrubs. Overall, we have shown that TLS is a useful way to support field measurements of shrub structure.

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DigitalDocument

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

The interplay of structure and function is a key concept in biology. My research applies this principle to the spiral intestine found in the skate Leucoraja erinacea, as organ morphology intimately affects organ functionality and organism viability. I am investigating two postulated sources of biological spiraling, mechanical forces and asymmetrical growth, to better understand how the skate intestine gets its distinctive shape. To visualize these factors, I determined the optimal fixation and embedding compounds for two immunofluorescent protocols, 1A4 and Anti-Phospho-Histone-H3. 1A4 is an antibody that detects smooth muscle actin, and can be used to visualize the muscle fibers that may exert constrictive forces during development. Anti-Phospho-Histone-H3 is a cell proliferation marker, which can be used to identify sites of asymmetrical growth within the gut. Both protocols worked best on methanol-fixed, OCT-embedded tissue, showing bright, specific staining. Together, these tools can expand on current understandings of biological spirals and intestinal development. Ultimately, I am interested in this research because of its potential impact on the veterinary and medical fields, as intestinal conditions like volvulus and gastroschisis occur across the animal kingdom. Once we understand the factors that form a healthy gut, we can understand how the process can go wrong and develop therapies to prevent or correct defects.

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DigitalDocument

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Insects are the most evolutionarily successful animals in part due to their air-filled tracheal respiratory system. The tracheal system plays a key role in oxygen consumption and consists of an intricate network of tubes that exchange gases between the atmosphere and tissues (Greenlee et. al, 2009). Some insects, including grasshoppers, also have air sacs that allow for enhanced conductive airflow (Greenlee et. al, 2009). During the intermolt periods, the American locust (Schistocerca americana) does not increase muscle mass but doubles their body mass, which compresses the tracheae. In a recent study, late-stage grasshoppers had a reduced air sac ventilation frequency, decreased convective capabilities, and had less of their body dedicated to their respiratory system (Kirkton et. al 2012). All of these factors hinder both their oxygen delivery capacity and jump performance. We forced force early-stage (day 2) and late-stage (day 8) 6th instar grasshoppers to jump in artificial oxygen atmospheres (5%, 10%, 21%, 35% oxygen) and predicted that if oxygen delivery is compromised then late-stage grasshopper jumping performance would correlate with oxygen level. We used a minimum of n=10 early and late-stage 6th instar grasshoppers per oxygen treatment (total of 80-100 grasshoppers). Grasshoppers were individually placed in a previously constructed chamber and aggressively stimulated by paintbrushes to jump for five minutes. Jumps per minute were recorded and immediately following the five-minute jump period, grasshoppers were frozen in liquid nitrogen to later analyze lactate production and HIF protein expression. Our initial results show that oxygen levels affect late-stage grasshoppers more than early-stage grasshoppers during repeated jumping. At 5% oxygen, late-stage grasshoppers jumped significantly less than the early-stage grasshoppers over the five-minute jump period. At 10% oxygen, similar trends were observed. At 21% oxygen, there were no consistent differences in jump performance. At 40% oxygen, early-stage grasshoppers jumped significantly less over the five-minute jump period than late-stage grasshoppers. Our initial results suggest that jump performance is impacted by age and oxygen levels. We are in the process of relating jump performance of the grasshoppers in different oxygen concentrations to resulting biochemical and molecular processes in the jumping muscles. We are currently measuring HIF protein expression and lactate production using the same animals that we jumped. If late-stage grasshoppers show reduced jumping performance and increased lactateproduction at lower oxygen levels, we predict increased HIF protein expression as well.

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DigitalDocument

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Follicle stimulating hormone is produced by the pituitary gland, regulating the function of both the ovaries and the testes. The inability of this hormone to bind to its receptor can cause infertility in both men and women. Human follicle stimulating hormone receptor (hFSHR) is a GPCR (g protein-coupled receptor) that plays a crucial role in the development of sperm and egg cells in the gonads. The successful interaction of FSH with its receptor results in activation of several downstream intracellular pathways including the production of cAMP. Currently, hFSHR signaling is thought to rely on the protein caveolin. Caveolin is a protein found in the caveolae of the cell membrane. Caveolae, a type of lipid raft, support a diverse group of receptors that are needed at the cell membrane. The ability of hFSHR to bind to the lipid raft is believed to be accomplished through an interaction with the transmembrane domain IV of the hFSHR with the caveolin protein. An interruption in the caveolin binding motif of the hFSHR could have a large effect on the development of sperm and egg cells and subsequently cause infertility. In this study, we introduced wild type and mutant peptides corresponding to the 4th transmembrane domain of the hFSHR into cells expressing the receptor. We expect the wild type peptide to interfere with the interaction between caveolin and its binding motif. Additionally, we expect the mutant peptide to not interfere with this interaction. Currently, we are using a quantitative fluorescent assay to measure cAMP production in order to determine if the peptide is interfering with the activation of the hFSHR. I hypothesize that if caveolin is prevented from binding to hFSHR, the receptor will become less active. I anticipate a decrease in levels of cAMP in the cells that are treated with the wild-type (interfering) peptide. There should be no difference in the level of cAMP in cells treated with the mutant peptide and the cells with no peptide. Preliminary trials have suggested that there is a difference in levels of cAMP produced between the two peptides. In the future, we plan on using scrambled peptides to validate our current observations.

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DigitalDocument

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

The Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and its receptor are critical in regulating fertility in humans. FSH is a gonadotropin that is produced in the anterior pituitary gland, and the FSHR is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) found primarily on granulosa cells of the ovaries and Sertoli cells of the testes. When FSH binds to this receptor, it sets off intracellular signaling cascades that regulate gonadal functions and the maturation of gametes. Abnormalities in FSH levels and problems with the FSHR can lead to reproductive issues like delayed puberty, oligospermia, azoospermia, and other such problems. Because FSH and its receptor are so important in reproductive functions, scientists have looked to regulate this receptor in order to address issues of birth control and infertility. Controlling this receptor would essentially allow scientists to turn "on" and "off" reproductive functions in humans. According to prior research in our lab, the human FSH receptor has a high affinity to regions in the membrane called lipid rafts. Lipid rafts are specialized locations in the cell membrane that are critical in cell signaling. These regions are believed to be more rigid than the rest of the surrounding membrane, and this rigidity is critically important for signal transduction. Certain complexes can be kept together by a raft, which allows them to assemble and causes signals to be transmitted more quickly. My research focuses on confirming that the FSHR is located in the lipid rafts on the cell membrane using fluorescent imaging and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). I have been working to tag proteins in the lipid raft and the receptor itself with different fluorescent colors so that I can see if the locations of the fluorescences align. From there, I will be able to use the AFM to image the cell surface and determine if the region containing the receptor is stiffer than the surrounding membrane. If it is stiffer, this would confirm that it is a lipid raft. This information will be crucial in understanding how this receptor functions and subsequently being able to control it.

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DigitalDocument

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In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

Soft tissue often changes stiffness when it has a pathological change, and this change is an implication of diseases. Elastography is an imaging technology that shows the mechanical properties of tissue. In our lab, we are developing an optical coherence elastography (OCE) system for high-resolution imaging of small animal models for developmental biology. In this poster, we describe our OCE setup and preliminary experiments on gelatin tissue phantoms.

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DigitalDocument

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

In Steinmetz Symposium

Abstract

The stress hormone cortisol is responsible for aspects of metabolism and visceral fat formation that are hypothesized to be linked to obesity. Cortisol directly and indirectly influences metabolism by stimulating lipolysis as well as gluconeogenesis, the breakdown of fat and creation of glucose respectively. By interacting with abdominal organs such as the liver and pancreas, cortisol also increases metabolism through downstream hormones, such as glucagon and epinephrine. Cortisol intersects a variety of pathways that influence the breakdown of sugar, making it an important target for metabolic studies. This study investigates the correlation of mutations in proteins responsible for cortisol action in target tissues, individually and collectively, to clinical measurements of patients with obesity who are seeking or have already sought out bariatric surgery. DNA samples and clinical information were collected from patients of the Ellis Hospital Bariatric Care who were recruited for the study under the supervision of the Ellis Hospital Institutional Review Board. Genotyping of patient samples was done by performing allele specific-polymerase chain reactions (AS_PCR) which were then analyzed through agarose gel electrophoresis to look for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). It was found that the mutations throughout the glucocorticoid pathway are present at comparable rates in both the bariatric population and general population. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that there is an increase of mutations in the study population compared to the values for the general public found in literature. There are strong correlations between a mutation in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and excess body weight. This mutation causes conversion of an aspartic acid to a serine (N363S) in the protein sequence which has previously been shown to cause increased sensitivity to cortisol. As more SNPs are analyzed in combination with each other, more conclusions may be drawn between SNPs and physiological parameters of the patients. High correlations may provide evidence that select bariatric surgeries may be more effective in patients with specific genotypes. If this is the case, bariatric surgery can adopt precision medicine that caters treatment to the patient.

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DigitalDocument

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted