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Poster Presentations
The Relationship Between Hip Extensor Strength, Jump Height, and External Hip Flexion Moments During Jumping
Author(s): Colleen R. Mulrey, Kevin R. Ford, Anh-Dung Nguyen, Eric J. Hegedus, Jeffrey B. Taylor
The purpose of this research was to determine the extent of the relationship between hip extensor strength, hip extensor torque produced during a jump and MJH during a one-step countermovement jump.
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The Impacts of Cellulosic Biomass Production on Bee Body Size and Allometric Shape Variation
Author(s): Gabrielle Hayes, Patrick Vigueira, Josh Campbell, Cindy Vigueira, Charles Graham
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandated a 666% increase in the consumption of renewable fuels by 2022. This and other initiatives have contributed to a surge in the production of alternative fuels, generating tremendous demand for cellulosic biomass, the raw materials used in biofuel production. Grasses are a preferred source of cellulosic biomass due to their ease of cultivation and rapid growth. The recent increase in grass cultivation has raised concerns about the potential impact of large-scale cellulosic biomass cultivation on native ecosystems. We investigated the impact of cultivation management strategies on the native, solitary bee, Mellisodes bimaculata. Insects were sampled from monocultures of switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, and loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, as well as plots managed as switchgrass/pine intercrops.
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Arthropod Communities in Various Successional Loblolly Pine Forests
Author(s): Calla Telzrow & Joshua W. Campbell
This project examined the effects of various logging management schemes on insect abundance and variety. Sweep net samples of arthropods were collected from loblolly pine forests in Mississippi. Four different forest treatments were studied: (1) 1-3 years since re-planting, (2) 3-5 years since re-planting,(3) 5-10 years since re-planting,(4) > years since thinning. Collected arthropods were counted and classified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Samples from the early successional forests had greater insect abundance than those collected from the later successional forests. Beneficial and pest species of arthropods can be affected by the type of logging and the age of the logged area, which can have a cascade of effects on vertebrate organisms that utilize them for food.
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Loss of ATM Activates Rac1 and Alters Cell Migration
Author: Aaron J. Smith
Mentor: Melissa C. Srougi, Department of Chemistry
This research sought to determine the consequences of activated Rac1 in cells lacking ATM. Using human cell lines proficient and deficient in ATM, we monitored the effects on cellular migration using single cell bioimaging techniques. Interestingly, cells that lacked functional ATM not only displayed activated Rac1 but also increases in cell migration in contrast to ATM wild type cells. Understanding the mechanisms of ATM mediated Rac1 activity may clarify why patients with A-T have a predisposition to metastatic cancer.
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