THE 82^nd ANNUAL Meeting

of

The WEST VIRGINIA Academy of SCIENCE

 

Sponsored by

 

College of Science, Marshall University

March 30 & 31, 2007

 

Marshall University Host Committee:

Marcia Harrison, Biological Sciences

Dewey Sanderson, Geology

Thomas Pauley, Biological Sciences

 

 

West Virginia Academy of Scientific Executive Committee

Mark Flood, President

Jim Rentch, President Elect

John Warner, Editor

Roger Seeber, Treasurer

 

Special Thanks to:

 

Student helpers:

Scott Albaugh, Timothy Baldwin, Tristan Bond, Eric H. Diefenbacher

Ashley Fisher, Matthew R. Graham, Conor Keitzer, Noah McCoard

Kathryn Pawlik, Amy Schneider, Cassie Waters

* indicates undergraduate student researcher

** indicates graduate student researcher. 

 

Oral Presentations 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

session 1: undergraduate research (BBSC 102)

9:55 Welcome from Session Chair - Mark Flood

10:00 Andrew Barker*, Robert Kreisberg, Roger Seeber, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty State College. Extraction of Genomic DNA from Lycopersicon esculentum.

10:15 Ashley N. Hudimac*, Matt Menas, Donald E. Trisel, Biology, Chemistry and Geosciences, Fairmont State University. Comparison of mite control methods in Apis mellifera (honeybee) colonies.

10:30 Brandon Copple*¹, Clifford Starliper², ¹Biology, Shepherd College, ²USGS Leetown Science Center, Non-destructive sampling methods for recovery of a bacterium, Aeromonas salmonicida, from ebonyshell mussels (Fusconaia ebena).

10:45 Frederick Garland*¹, Kathleen Brundage², ¹Biology, West Liberty State College, ² Immunology, Microbiology, and Cell Biology, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University; ^1,2The West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence, West Liberty State College. Immunology, 3, 4 dichloropropionalide (DCPA) induced change to the S17 mouse stromal cell line

11:00 Heather Ellery*¹, Peter Vila¹, Luke Iwanowicz², ¹Environmental Studies, Shepherd University, ²Fish Biologist, USGS. The effect of selected nitrite levels on the haemoglobin of healthy and whirling disease Oncorhynchus mykiss.

11:15 Laura Kimpel*¹, Zachary Loughman², ¹Schrader Environmental Education Center, ²Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty State College. The crayfishes of Potomac Gorge National Park, Virginia.

11:30 Gina Marie Cottrill*¹, Rosana Schafer², Keith Salazar², ¹Biology/Chemistry, Glenville State College, ²WVU HSC Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology. Immune response to polysaccharide conjugates following exposure to an endocrine disruptor,  3,4-dichloropropionanalide (propanil).

11:45 Emily Messenger*, Clarissa Mathews, Institute for Environmental Studies, Shepherd University. The application of GT EntoVision microscopy technology to entomological assays in the laboratory and field. 

 

 West Virginia Conservation (BBSC 101)

9:55 Welcome from Session Chair – Tom Pauley

10:00 Frank Piccininni**¹, Susannah Lerman², Thomas Pauley¹, ¹Biological Sciences, Marshall University, ²Wildlife Conservation (Umass Amherst). Development, small mammals and ambystomid terrestrial habitat requirements.

10:15 Matthew R. Graham**¹, William D. Flint², A. Allison Hogsett¹, Thomas K. Pauley¹, ¹Biological Sciences, Marshall University, ²James Madison University. Phylogeogaphy, distribution, and conservation unit designation of the Cow Knob Salamander (Plethodon punctatus Highton).

10:30 Conor Keitzer**, T. K. PAULEY, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Habitat preferences of the Eastern Hellbender, Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis, in West Virginia.

10:45 Jennifer Hendricks**¹, Aislinn Creel¹, Roger Viadero¹, Ken Semmens², ¹Civil & Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, ²Aquaculture extension, West Virginia University. Polymer selection for Geotube® application of waste management in a small flow-through aquaculture system.

11:00 Nikki Panter**, James T. Anderson, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University. Do clearcuts benefit neighboring avian communities?

11:15 Bruce Edinger, Natural Science, West Liberty State College. Importance of ant tenders for survivorship and growth of larvae of the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabokov.

11:30 Clifford E. Starliper, Barnaby J. Watten, Philip L. Sibrell, Kelsey L. Ritenour, USGS Leetown Science Center. A novel approach to prevent introductions of aquatic invasive fauna.

11:45 James T. Anderson, James S. Rentch, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University. Wetland identification in West Virginia.

Session 3: Biology/Botany (S277) Chair - John Landolt

1:00 Albert Magro, Biology, Fairmont State University. Emphasis in derived anatomical traits as the Wodaabe dance the geerewol.

1:15 James Rentch¹, Kathleen S. Shields², ¹Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, ²USDA Forest Service, Dendrochronological analyses of host plant susceptibility to hemlock woolly adelgid:  a logistic model.

1:30 John C. Landolt¹, Adam W. Rollins², Steven L. Stephenson², ¹Biology, Shepherd University, ²Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas. Cellular slime molds from North American grasslands.

1:45 Sushma Shrestha**, Dan K. Evans, Herbarium, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Marketplace plants used in ceremonial cleansing among Andean Qechuans of Ecuador.

 

Session 4: undergraduate Research/Biochemistry/Health (BBSC 101) Chair - Roger Seeber

1:00 Melinda L. Asbury**, Mariela Tassone, Kinsley K, Kiningham, Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology, Marshall University. Dopamine stimulated neuroepithelioma cells results in iNOS upregulation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis: A novel model for studying methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity.

1:15 Bonnie Freeman, Sarah Dodson, Mark Flood, Biology, Chemistry, and Geoscience, Fairmont State University. Assessing the correlation of homocysteine levels with apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

1:30 Albert Magro¹, Alice Magro¹, Cynthia Cunningham², Biology, Fairmont State University, Biology, ²WVU Flow Cytometric Core Facility. Metalloproteinase dependent down regulation of integrin and growth factor determinants upon the induction of apoptosis.

1:45 Matt Smithbauer*, Rachel Mitchell, Roger Seeber, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty State College. The use of high pressure liquid chromatography for isolation and quantification of hypericin and hyperforin produced by St. Johns wort.

 

Session 5: WV conservation/Zoology (S374) Chair - Jennifer Adams

1:00 Jennifer P. Adams, Thomas K. Pauley, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Home range and behavior of Crotalus horridus in high elevation production forests, Randolph County, West Virginia.

1:15 Timothy Baldwin**, Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Ecology and distribution of Rough Greensnakes and Eastern Smooth Greensnakes (Opheodrys aestivus and Opheodrys vernalis) in West Virginia.

1:30 Tristan Bond**, Thomas K. Pauley, Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Biological Sciences, A Study of Desmognathus welteri, the Black Mountain Salamander, in West Virginia.

1:45 Zachary Loughman, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty State College, Conservation and natural history of West Virginias Ohio River floodplain burrowing crayfishes.

 

Session 6: undergraduate Research/Geology/Engineering (BBSC 102) Chair - Dewey Sanderson

1:00 David Smith*, Clarissa Mathew, Institute for Environmental Studies, Shepherd University. Determining the suitability of Shepherd University waste vegetable oil for conversion to biodiesel.

1:15 Brandon Silver*, Clarissa Mathews, Edward Snyder, Institute for Environmental Studies, Shepherd University. Preliminary analysis of wind resources at Shepherd University renewable energy demonstration site.

1:30 Egemen Ogretim, Donald D. Gray, Civil & Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University. Computer simulation of carbon-dioxide leakage from geologic sequestration sites.

1:45 Don Gaspar, DNR-retired. Forest nutrient pools and fluxes through today's aquatic continuum.

2:00 Dewey D. Sanderson, Geology, Marshall University, Hydrology of a proposed mitigated wetland, Wayne County, West Virginia.

2:15 Donald D. Gray, Civil & Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, The remarkable contributions of Leonhard Euler to fluid mechanics.

 

 Poster Sessions, Memorial Student Center 2^nd Floor, Alumni Lounge

#1 Ashley Hotsinpiller*¹, Bonnie Freeman¹, Mark Flood¹, Jean Chappell², Bowie Kahle², Gary Wright², Todd Green², Paulette Wehner², Mark Studney², Elizabeth Murray², Biology, ¹Chemistry, and Geoscience, Fairmont State University, ²Marshall University. Assessing the correlation of homocysteine levels with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) mutations.

#2 Ian Wilhelm*, Mark Flood, Biology, Chemistry, and Geoscience, Fairmont State University. Determining the effect of benzapyrene on frog embryonic survival and development.

#3 Monica Lee*¹, Zach Hartman¹, Eric Danhart¹, Peter Gannett², Jarrett Aguliar¹, ¹Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty State College, ²Basic Pharmaceutical Science, West Virginia University. Molecular dynamics study of dapsone analogs bound to Cytochrome P450 2C9.

#4 Stephanie Boblett*, Sarah Dodson, Biology, Chemistry, and Geoscience, Fairmont State University. Effect of in vitro homocysteine exposure to bone marrow stromal cells.

#5 Stephanie Boblett*¹, Christopher Garton², Clayton Casswell³, Ewa Lukomska³, Slawomir Lukomski³, ¹Biology, Chemistry, and Geoscience, Fairmont State University, ²Biology and Environmental Science, West Virginia Wesleyan College, ³Microbiology and Immunology, West Virginia University. Cloning of collagen-like proteins BclD and BclE of Bacillus anthracis.

#6 CHRIS SEDLACEK*¹, Alice Magro¹, Cynthia Cunningham², Albert Magro¹, ¹Biology, Fairmont State University, ²Flow Cytometric Core Facility, West Virginia University. Pharmacologically induced apoptosis reduces cell surface determinants.

#7 Chris Taylor*, Amanda Francis, Robert Kreisberg, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty State College. Detection of genomic markers for cardiovascular disease: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the LIPA gene.

#8 Mia L. Brown*, Marcia A. Harrison, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Ethylene regulation of gravitropic curvature in Arabidopsis stems.

#9 Michael Cunningham*, Science and Mathematics, Glenville State College. Heat energy potential of an invasive tree as compared to high energy firewood.

#10 Shauna Ogle*, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Marshall University Herbarium.

 

#11 Rachel Mitchell*, Matt Smithbauer, Roger Seeber, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty State College. The use of high pressure liquid chromatography for isolation and quantification of hypericin and hyperforin produced by St. Johns wort.

#12 Wesley  Caldwell*, Carl Wellstead, Biology, WVU Institute of Technology. Additions to the  middle Pennsylvanian ash branch  fossil vertebrate fauna.

#13 Amy Schneider**, Amy Hamilton, Tom Pauley, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. A continued study of the use of man-made ponds for amphibian breeding in fragmented forested areas.

#14 Christopher Guerriero**, Kelly Weixel, Lauren Kester, John Johnson, Ora Weisz, Cell Biology and Physiology University of Pittsburgh. Multiple roles for PI5-kinase in regulating membrane trafficking.

#15 Elizabeth V. Fet**, Jon Scott, Dan Evans, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Biological activity and ethnomedicinal uses of the family Cyperaceae (sedge).

#16 Emmy Johnson**, Amy Scneider, Thomas K. Pauley, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Response of forest salamanders to Diflubenzuron treatments as a method to control Gypsy Moths.

#17 Eric H. Diefenbacher**, Kathryn R. Pawlik, Thomas K. Pauley, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Morphological examination of Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) toe discs.

#18 Jasjeet Bhullar**, Vincent Sollars, Biochemistry and Microbiology, Marshall University. Epigenetic regulation of Wnt pathway in hematopoietic stem cells via Hsp 90.

#19 Jennifer M. Napper**, Vincent E. Sollars, Harsh Pratap, Biochemistry and Microbiology, Marshall University. EML Cells as a model to determine if Hsp90 is an epigenetic enabler in leukemia.

#20 Melinda Varney**, Vincent Sollars, Harsh Pratap, Biochemistry and Microbiology, Marshall University. Comparing the myeloid progenitor cell compartment among inbred strains of mice to identify possible leukemia susceptibility genes.

 

#21 Michael Brewer**¹, Matthew Graham¹, Victor Fet¹, Michael Soleglad², ¹Biological Sciences, Marshall University, ²Borrego Springs CA. Scorpion serrula: an enigmatic structure under SEM.

#22 Noah McCoard**, Kerie Corley, Thomas Pauley, Biological Sciences, Marshall University. Effects of water pH and ultraviolet radiation on the reproductive success of Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) in high elevations of West Virginia.

#23 Amanda B. Stewart, Jeremy Connolly, Beth Gregory, Elizabeth Randolph, Dustin Wagoner, Science and Mathematics, Glenville State College. Use of polymorphic markers developed in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) for genetic analysis of Green Sunfish (Lepomis Cyanellus).

#24 James Rentch, James Anderson, Division of Forestry, West Virginia University. A floristic quality index for West Virginia wetland and riparian plant communities.

#25 Lisa M. Castle, Biology 305 Botany Students, Science and Mathematics, Glenville State College. How much to harvest?  Students assess plants for population vulnerability.

#26 Paul J. Harmon¹, Donna Ford-Werntz², Bill Grafton³, ¹WV DNR Natural Heritage Program, ²Biology Dept, West Virginia University, ³WVU Cooperative Extension Service. Checklist and Atlas of the Vascular Flora of West Virginia.

#27 Brenton Drake*, Sarah Ramezan, Kevin L. Evans, Science and Mathematics, Glenville State College. Synthesis of Alkenyl Bromides and Alkyl Dibromides.

#28 Matt Hiener*¹, Bonnie Freeman¹, Mark Flood¹, Jean Chappell², Bowie Kahle², Gary Wright², Todd Green², Paulette Wehner², Mark Studney², Elizabeth Murray², Biology, ¹Chemistry, and Geoscience, Fairmont State University, ²Marshall University. Determining the effect of cystathionase (CYS) gene mutations on plasma homocysteine levels.

#29 Jonathan P. OKeefe*, Weidong Liao, Osman Guzide, Computer Science, Mathematics and Engineering, Shepherd University. Providing GCD computation service over the internet/web using Grid Computing.

#30 Andrew J. Lino*, Geology, Marshall University. Precipitation trends in the state of West Virginia.

 

#31 Zina-Ann Cardozo**, Anne Silvis, Kelley K. Kiningham, Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology, Marshall University. All-trans retenoic acid (ATRA) induces resistance to cisplatin (CDDP) in the SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cell line: A potential mechanism through modulation of BclXL and Bax.

#32 David Bowden*, Debra Hull, Jerry Nolan, Kate Garlick, Psychology, Wheeling Jesuit University. The impact of professors gender roles on student evaluations.

#33 John H. Hull, Suzanne Martiss, Lauren Lacey, Psychology, Bethany College. Body images in men's magazines.

#34 John H. Hull,Suzanne M. Martiss, Psychology, Bethany College. The first 50 years: Body images in Sports Illustrated from 1954-2004.

#35 Mark Affeltranger, Tyler Kowcheck, Stephanie Riker, Andrew Lance, Psychology, Bethany College. Behavioral changes evident three weeks after immunization in the rat.

#36 Mark Affeltranger, Brendan Cypher, Tyler Kowcheck, Psychology, Bethany College. Adaptation and sensitization to pulsed presentations of oral piperine or zingerone:  Analysis with a mathematical model.