Note: Before the consolidation of North Georgia State College & University and Gainesville State College into the University of North Georgia in 2013, both institutions held their own conferences to showcase undergraduate research. The abstracts listed as works below are from North Georgia State College & University, and the abstracts from the Gainesville State College can be found in the PDF attachment. If you are interested in the <a href=” https://youtu.be/NPkVRb1Zntw”> History of the Annual Research Conference</a>, please click the link to watch the video created by Dr. Jennifer Mook and UNG’s CURCA office.

<h4>North Georgia College and State University</h4>
The mission of the North Georgia 17th Annual Research Conference is to promote undergraduate and graduate research scholarship and creative activity done in partnership with faculty or other mentors as a vital component of higher education.

<h4>Gainesville State College</h4>
In 2012, Gainesville State College held its Conference for Innovation, Research, and the Creative Arts (CIRCA) on March 21, 2012. This event was open to all disciplines and showcased the research and creative projects from undergraduate students. To view these abstracts, click the PDF titled “CIRCA 2012 Detailed Program”.

UNG Annual Research Conference 2012

Studies have shown symbiotic relationships between turtles and algae. The association of green alga, Basicladia, with freshwater turtles is well documented. However, the exact nature of this relationship is not fully understood. This experimental design is aimed to conduct an investigation that will elucidate the rate of colonization and spatial distribution of Basicladia on red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) under laboratory conditions. Twelve turtles obtained commercially are equally distributed in two aquaria placed an environmental chambers at ~75°C with 12 hour light and dark cycles. Cultured green alga will be used to inoculate in one of the aquaria with turtles. The other aquarium will only have turtles while another container will only have algae to serve as control. An outline of the carapace and plastron of each turtle will be drawn in acetate. Monitoring of the area colonized by the alga will be done by marking the acetate as examined under a dissecting scope and documented with a camera. To determine if algal growth is influenced by the association, length of algal filaments will be measured for both experimental and control tanks. Data obtained will be analyzed using analysis of variance with repeated measures (ANOVAR) in Systat software. [Poster]

Colonization and Distribution of Basicladia on Trachemys Scripta Elegans: Experimental Design [Poster]

As the source of genetic material, DNA is involved in a variety of biological process like transcription, cell replication, and more. In these processes, DNA is manipulated into different structures and is subject to different levels of physical force on a molecular scale. When tension is applied to one hierarchical structure of DNA called chromatin, it appears to behave like a Hookian spring. The base component of chromatin is a nucleosome, which is constructed when DNA coils around octamers of histone proteins. The histones can become acetylated—a chemical process in which an acetyl functional group attaches to amino acids of the histones, often lysines. Acetylation may loosen chromatin’s coils and therefore lower the amount of tension required to stretch the chromatin. Comparing the levels of tension required to stretch acetylated and unacetylated chromatin could reveal, directly, physical differences in the chromatin fiber that bear on the function of the DNA molecule. Current work regards the physical properties of unacetylated chromatin only. Future work will permit a comparison with the physical properties of acetylated chromatin. [Poster]

Physical Properties of Unacetylated Chromatin as Examined by Magnetic Tweezers [Poster]

In the 1950’s, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect, was introduced to the Eastern United States. Since then, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has devastated acres of Eastern and Carolina hemlock forests. In efforts to control this pest, predator beetles, that are host specific to HWA, have been reared and released. The research that is being conducted is a choice test of two of these beetles, Sasajiscymnus tsugae and Laricobius nigrinus, to see if they are attracted to HWA infested branches and, furthermore, to determine if there is a preferential life stage. Preliminary results suggest that HWA eggs are preferred over adults alone. [Poster]

Behavioral Habits of the Predator Beetle [Poster]

Phloem loading is the method by which carbohydrates are accumulated in source phloem tissue of vascular plants. In Verbascum phoeniceum L. a suppression of the phloem loading system by an RNA silencing mechanism results in unusual changes in physical appearance, with intermediary cells appearing to undergo programmed cell death. The presence of programmed cell death can be confirmed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, which detects DNA fragmentation, a hallmark characteristic of cells undergoing programmed cell death. [Poster]

Does Inhibiting Phloem Loading in Verbascum Phoenicium Induce Programmed Cell Death in Intermediary Cells? [Poster]

The drug court model combines judicial processes with substance abuse programs in order to offer an alternative to jail time for drug offences. However, the model has only been partially successful in dealing with the “revolving door” phenomenon. Facing continuous challenges in their work, some drug court programs (as well as academic scholars studying these issues) have begun to look at “social capital” (Bourdieu 1986, Putnam 1996, Coleman 1986) as a potential candidate to come up with a more holistic recovery and reintegration model (May 2008). Studies have suggested that drug users tend to have either impoverished social networks and/or are members of cohesive deviant groups that tend to resist “positive” change (Gilmore et al. 2005). Inspired by this assumption, this exploratory case study will look at a regional drug court program, using college students, who are abundant in social capital and do not use/ abuse drugs and/or alcohol, as a comparison group to better understand these phenomena. Social capital is defined by the sum of four types of network resources – economic, emotional, normative and cultural– the study aims to map out a slice of social orbits in which drug court participant move. We are especially interested how social capital dynamics affect the likelihood of an individual to “make progress” in the drug court program and to what degree demographic factors may come into play. To that end we are employing a mixed-method approach that aims to shed further light at dynamics, occurring at the network level (to study issues of resource availability) as well as at the individual level (to understand resource access/resource use). [Poster]

The Truth About the Drug Court Program [Poster]

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly exploited, psycho-stimulant drug that leads to neurotoxicity from oxidative damage in the dopaminergic regions of the brain. Recent data indicates increases in adolescent METH abuse. This key developmental window is characterized by changes in the striatum and pre-frontal cortices where normal alterations are already occurring. We hypothesize that METH exposure during adolescence will cause differences in adult executive functions for both male and female mice. To test executive functioning of adult mice exposed to METH during adolescence, C57Bl6J mice were injected with either 5 mg/kg of METH or saline for ten days starting on post-natal day (PND) 22. Following the injection period, the mice underwent a two month wash-out period. On PND 90, mice began assessment in a 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task Operant Chamber (5CSRTT). This chamber uses both positive punishment and positive reinforcement to shape discriminate responses. We found trending differences between METH-exposed males and saline males for correct responses, omissions, and correct latency. These are associated with changes in attention, hyperactivity, and decision-making abilities. Our results suggest that gender-specific effects may occur. Overall, the trending differences show that following adolescent exposure to METH, long-term cognitive deficits may persist into adulthood. [Poster]

The Effects of Adolescent Methamphetamine Exposure on Executive Functions in Adult Mice [Poster]

Abuse of the psychostimulant and dopamine (DA) agonist, methamphetamine (METH), leads to neurodegeneration of DAergic neurons in the striatum and prefrontal cortex. Previous data in our lab indicates DA neurons in the hypothalamus are not susceptible to METH-induced neurodegeneration. This studies focus is on the antioxidant mechanisms available to deal with the toxic free radicals created by METH induced oxidative stress. One such antioxidant, peroxiredoxin (PRX), represents a family of six antioxidant isoforms that reduces hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, and organic hydroperoxides. We hypothesized that PRX expression would be increased and localized to the hypothalamus as a protective mechanism to METH exposure. Male C57B1/J6 mice were exposed to an abuse dosing paradigm of METH (n=5) or saline (n=5). Prefrontal cortex, striatum, and hypothalamus regions were collected and processed for PCR PRX mRNA expression analysis using isoform specific primers. There were no significant PRX mRNA expression changes in the prefrontal cortex or striatum. However, in the hypothalamus, there were significant METH-induced increases in PRX II, III, V, and VI. This study provides incite into the role PRX proteins in response to the dopaminergic damage associated with METH abuse, and has opened the door to further understanding into the protective mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. [Poster]

The Effects of Methamphetamine on PRX Antioxidant Proteins in a Cultured Microglia Cell Line and a Mouse Model [Poster]

We have developed a novel cross-disciplinary laboratory experience for introductory biology/psychology students using a sequential hypothesis driven design focused on behavioral neuroscience. The sample participants for this study were taken from a small public university in the Southeast enrolled in a Psychology/Biology learning community (n=122). Control (n=66, 2 laboratory sections) and experimental groups (n=56, two laboratory sections) received the same lecture materials and participated in the same laboratory exercises. However, the experimental group also participated in a novel behavioral neuroscience lab exercise. In sequential laboratory periods, the students in the experimental group developed and defended a formal hypothesis, executed their study using a murine behavioral chamber of their design, analyzed the primary data, and presented their results. Behavioral neuroscience was the primary emphasis as students gained an appreciation of correlating observed, measurable behaviors and data with higher brain functions. Both groups were administered a pre/post test to evaluate the effectiveness of this novel experience using the Experimental Design Ability Test (EDAT) and the Student Assessments of Learning Gains (SALG) instruments The students in the experimental group had an increased EDAT and SALG scores at posttest, which is indicative of a greater self-reported and demonstrated knowledge of the scientific process. [Poster]

An Assessment of a Novel Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory Exercise [Poster]

The current study is designed to test the effect of a female’s appearance on chivalry. For purposes of this study chivalry will be defined in terms of a male holding the door open for a female target whose attire will either be comfortable, causal, or semi-formal. For the study the female confederates will approach ninety undergraduate males during class hours. The confederates will approach the males as they near the door of a university building and walk beside them toward the door. Observers will note whether or not the male opens the door for the female. The female confederates will be dressed in three different outfits. It is hypothesized that males will be more likely to open the door for a well dressed female than for a comfortably dressed female. Increased attentiveness to well dressed females will be tested via structured observation with intervention. Previous research has been conducted on behavior toward females based on appearance. These studies involved factors of dress as well as facial attractiveness. [Poster]

Is Chivalry Affected by a Woman’s Attire? [Poster]

Pressure ulcers (PU, also known as bedsores) are breakdowns of the skin resulting from undue pressure, particularly over bony prominences. There are various assessment tools to determine patient risk for developing skin breakdown; the Braden Scale (BS) is one. The population we researched was hospitalized patients, and our intervention was using the BS for pressure ulcer prevention versus not using the BS. The outcomes we predict are that BS implementation in a hospital setting will minimize the prevalence of PU in hospitalized patients, and the time varies, depending on length of stay. We searched through PubMed, CINAHL, NCBI at NCM, OVID, and Medline databases with the keywords Braden Scale, accuracy, pressure ulcer prevention, accuracy, hospital setting, and validation to find studies to use in this evidence-based presentation. These studies showed that without the involvement of clinical judgment, the BS alone might not be an effective means of PU prevention. [Poster]

UNG Annual Research Conference 2012

North Georgia College and State University

Gainesville State College

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