Using Cytoplasmic Biopsies to Determine Bovine Oocyte Quality

Embryos resulting from assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), develop with lower efficiencies than embryos resulting from their in vivo counterparts. The reasons behind the developmental discrepancies remain largely unknown. Because the egg is the primary determinant of embryo developmental success, it is reasonable to consider inherent egg quality as a possible cause. The hypothesis for this project is that there are distinct mRNA transcript patterns, or molecular “fingerprints,” that distinguish high- versus low-quality eggs developing within the same environment. In this study, a small cytoplasmic biopsy was removed from 40 eggs and stored for later use. The eggs were chemically activated to stimulate development in the absence of sperm and cultured in vitro. Following an eight-day development period, embryos that reached the blastocyst stage (success) and embryos that failed to develop were identified. This was repeated five times, for a total of six experimental replicates. The relative transcript levels of 48 genes were evaluated in the egg biopsies corresponding to successful and failed embryos using quantitative PCR. Analysis of the qPCR data revealed no significant differences in levels of transcripts for any of the 48 genes between the successful and failed development groups. Therefore, the evidence does not support differential expression between the cytoplasmic biopsies from oocytes of divergent developmental success. However, this study provides technical innovation for future research of oocyte quality

Theoretical investigation of anharmonic effects observed in the infrared spectra of the formaldehyde cation and its hydroxymethylene isomer

Formaldehyde is the smallest organic molecule and is a prime candidate for a thorough investigation regarding the anharmonic approximations made in computationally modeling its infrared spectrum. Mass-selected ion spectroscopy was used to detect mass 30 cations which include of HCOH$^+$ and CH$_2$O$^+$. In order to elucidate the differences between the structures of these isomers, infrared spectroscopy was performed on the mass 30 cations using Ar predissociation. Interestingly, several additional spectral features are observed that cannot be explained by the fundamental OH and CH stretch vibrations alone. By including anharmonic coupling between OH and CH stretching and various overtones and combination bands involving lower frequency vibrations, we are able to identify how specific modes couple and lead to the experimentally observed spectral features. We combine straight-forward, \textit{ab initio} calculations of the anharmonic frequencies of the mass 30 cations with higher order, adiabatic approximations and Fermi resonance models. By including anharmonic effects we are able to confirm that the isomers of the CH$_2$O$^+\cdot$Ar system have substantially different, and thus distinguishable, IR spectra and that many of the features can only be explained with anharmonic treatments

It\u27s All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt: An Analysis of Trampoline Injuries in the Pennsylvania Trauma System

Introduction: It is well known that trampolines can be a particular source of danger, especially in children. We sought to examine the profile of those patients with trampoline injuries. We hypothesized there would be certain injury patterns predicative of trampoline injuries. Methods: All patients submitted to Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study (PTOS) database from 2016-2018 were analyzed. Trampoline injury was determined by ICD10 activity code. Injury patterns in the form of abbreviated injury scale (AIS) body regions were examined in the trampoline injured patients. Patient demographics and clinical variables were compared between those with trampoline injury versus those without. Results: There were 107 patients from 2016-2018 in PTOS who had a trampoline injury. All of these patients were discharged alive and had a blunt mechanism of injury. Of the 107 patients, the most common injury type was injury to the extremities (90/107 patients [84.1%]) with 54 (50.5%) patients having upper extremity injury and 36 (33.6%) patients having lower extremity injury. 10 (9.35%) patients had injury to the spine and 5 (4.67%) had head injury. Those with trampoline injuries were significantly younger (mean age: 13.0 vs. 48.6) and more likely to be white or of Hispanic ethnicity. Almost half of the patients injured (49.5%) were under 10 years of age. Patients with trampoline injuries had significantly lower injury severity scores and significantly higher Shock Index (Table 1). Conclusions: The majority of patients with trampoline injuries had injury to an extremity and were pediatric patients. These results help better understand the demographic, physiologic and anatomic patterns surrounding trampoline injuries. Current government standards recommend that no child under age 6 should use a full-sized trampoline; however, based off of the study results, we advise that this age be increased to 10

Physiological Basis of No-go Decay with Sod1Δ Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Chromium VI (Cr (VI)), a common byproduct of industry, induces oxidative stress in cells, resulting in altered gene expression, increased apoptosis, and cell death. Previous work has shown showed that Cr (VI) exposure results in the formation of 8-oxoguanines (8- oxo(G) bases) in mRNA. These 8-oxo(G) bases lead to ribosome stalls during translation and the activation of no-go decay. Upon ribosome stalls, no-go decay is activated. During no-go decay, the Dom34p/Hbsp1p complex acts to remove stalled ribosomes and promote endonucleolytic cleavage of the damaged mRNA at the stall site. Although oxidative agents and other non-physiological substrates have been used to activate no-go decay, very little work exists to elucidate the true physiological role of this pathway. Sod1p (superoxide dismutase 1) scavenges free oxygen species by catalyzing the partitioning of superoxide (O2- ) into O2 and H2O2. Cells that lack functional Sod1p have been observed to have increased oxidative stress resulting in increased P-body assembly, while leading only to an attenuation of global translation. To determine whether no-go decay is being activated in strains lacking Sod1p, double mutant strains were created in which SOD1 was knocked out in conjunction with one of the effectors of no-go decay. Consistent with no-go decay being activated in response to oxidation, the hbs1Δsod1Δ strain resulted in a decrease in Pbody assembly, as compared to wild-type strain, even in the presence of Cr (VI). To assess how effective Sod1p is as a deterrent to 8-oxo(G) base formation in the presence of Cr (VI), the SOD1 gene was overexpressed in yeast cells. The presence of high levels of Sod1p was hypothesized to limit the number of 8-oxo(G) in response to the Cr (VI) and affect P-body assembly. However, overexpression of Sod1p does not seem to compensate for Cr (VI) mediated oxidation. Instead, we will look under milder oxidative conditions. Interestingly, Stm1p is thought to potentially to aid in the dissociation and recycling of the ribosomal subunits. In the stm1Δ and wild-type strain, P-body assembly was mildly decreased when treated with 17 Cr (VI), which is consistent with Stm1p functioning to recycle ribosomes downstream of no-go decay. Additionally, stm1Δ can suppress sod1Δ growth defects on Cr (VI) containing media.https://openriver.winona.edu/urc2019/1068/thumbnail.jp

Raising Cultural Awareness in Undergraduate Students through an Online Pen Pal Program

International written communication networks, such as pen pal programs, help spread cultural awareness by connecting people from around the world. Competent intercultural communication is the foundation for strong global partnerships. It encourages diversity, increases academic achievement, and gives individuals a competitive edge in the global workforce. This study examines changes in the cultural awareness of 50 U.S. undergraduate participants enrolled in an intercultural communication course at a northwestern university after they exchange private, online pen pal letters with 50 international partners from across the globe. The U.S. participants were divided into Group A (test-group) and Group B (control-group) and then a pretest was administered to both groups to assess their cultural awareness before the letter exchange began. The Group A exchange was conducted over a two-week period, after which the U.S. participants were re-tested. The Group B began their exchange after the second test. The results of the tests were analyzed to determine whether the pen pal program increased cultural awareness in the U.S. undergraduate participants. Although no statistical increase was found, a lot of information and data was collected that future researchers and educators can use to develop their own programs

Kestrel Aeronautics: KA-Ranger

As combat environments continue to evolve, there is a growing need for dedicated aircraft to provide close air support to ground forces. In response to the 2021 AIAA Undergraduate Team Aircraft Design Competition RFP, Kestrel Aeronautics developed the KA-Ranger, an affordable, light attack aircraft to operate from austere fields and replace current helicopters in close air support missions. The design must accomplish an attack mission with full weapons payload, cruise for 200 nmi at an altitude ≥10,000 ft, and loiter 4 hours. It must also complete a long-range ferry mission of at least 900 nmi range at 60% payload, cruising at an altitude ≥18,000 ft. Both missions require reserves for an additional 3,000 ft climb and 45 minute loiter. A survey of current attack aircraft yielded the initial design including a turboprop engine, low mounted rectangular wings, conventional tail, and retractable tricycle landing gear. The aircraft weighs approximately 12,000 lbf with two crew members, an integrated gun, and 3,000 lbf of externally mounted armament. Current design activities include material selection, detailed structural design, weapon and fuel placement with stability analysis, drag assessment, and power analysis to confirm the KA Ranger’s flight performance

The Grizzly, November 21, 2019

UC\u27s Fourth Annual Celebration of Lights • Berman Museum\u27s Fall Exhibitions • Missy Bryant Named New Dean of Students • 2020 Commencement Speaker Announced • Students Explore Philly in Philly Word • GSA Reflects on Semester\u27s Exciting Events • Opinions: NY Fare Evasion Laws Harm Marginalized Groups; Harriet is a Triumph of a Biopic • Opening Tourney is a Slam Dunk for Men\u27s Basketball • Freshman Wrestlers Headline Fall Brawlhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1596/thumbnail.jp

Global Kidney Exchange: Analysis and Background Papers from the Perspective of Medical Anthropology

Global Kidney Exchange (GKE) is a program aimed at facilitating trans-national kidney donation. Although its proponents aim at reducing the unmet demand of kidneys in the United States through the trans-nationalization of kidney exchange programs, the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Transplantation Society (TTS) have expressed concerns about its potential effect on black markets of organs and transnational organ trafficking, as well as on low- or middle-income countries health systems. For GKE to be implemented, it would need to be permitted to operate in at least some low- or middle-income countries. Should a low- or middle-income country allow GKE’s implementation? With the aim of answering this question, the eighteen University of Denver students in the Medical Anthropology course I [Alejandro Cerón] taught in autumn 2017, identified and researched the different aspects that would affect this issue, and delved in a holistic analysis we present in this report. Based on our analysis, health authorities in low- or middle-income countries faced with decisions about GKE need to consider the following aspects: the country’s current and projected needs related to kidney transplant, as well as the capacity for addressing those needs; the country’s current situation related to organ trafficking, transplant tourism and black markets of organs; the current and projected legislation related to both organ donation and human trafficking; the prevailing ethical considerations that inform the practice of all professionals related to organ transplant in the country; analyze end-stage renal failure as a preventable disease needing public health measures; and the sociocultural aspects that surround organ donation in the country. We consider that the concrete configuration of these aspects would influence the effects of implementing GKE. Additionally, we identified some issues of concern that are beyond the level of influence of local authorities: the unmet demand of kidneys in high-income countries is a reality that incentivizes organ trade and transplant tourism, and this is a problem in need of solutions; transnational organ trafficking as well as human trafficking with the purpose of organ donation are problems that need more visibility; for a global exchange of organs to be implemented, it would need to rely on supranational or transnational regulation and oversight; and the global epidemic of chronic kidney disease needs to be addressed through a public health perspective that emphasizes prevention

The ZERO: Zip-Tie Revolver

The Boise State University Microgravity Team has been challenged with designing a mechanical Zip-tie tool to be used during EVA missions on the ISS. NASA is looking for a new tool that will allow astronauts to fasten zip-ties to secure wires and hoses. This tool would need to have a number of zip-ties stored internally, be quickly reusable, and would need to be easily and safely operated by an astronaut in a single handed operation