Microbial Ecology explores the way microbes interact with their environment, and the greater impact it has on their ecosystems both local & global. Aquatic ecosystems are dependent on primary production by algae to fix carbon, which contributes to over 50% of CO2 fixation globally. This is especially the case for microbial communities found within Antarctic […]
B32: MBI 475: Influence of Extreme Environmental Conditions on Antarctic Lake Algae
There are a multitude of factors which affect both the growth and distribution of marine microbial environments, such as nutrient availability, salinity levels, temperature, and light. In Antarctic marine environments, microbes are exposed to extreme conditions, which further affect the community composition. In this project, we have analyzed the effect that different salt concentrations have […]
B31: Visualizing Gene Expression to Understand Ocular Development and Regeneration
The embryonic eye is composed of a number of ectoderm-derived structures that ultimately give rise to a diverse array of cell types and complex tissues. Extensive cell-cell communication and precisely coordinated molecular events are necessary to differentiate the associated cell types, including within the retina. Embryonic days 4 and 5 of chicken development encompass a […]
B30: Long term trends in suspended sediments and nutrients in Four Mile Creek Watershed
Four Mile Creek watershed is the largest sub watershed that drains into Acton Lake. This is predominantly an agricultural watershed. Seeing recent changes in farming techniques, like the switch to conservation tillage, affects the soil and waterways nearby. The Vanni Lab here at Miami University monitors the effects of non-point source pollution from agriculture in […]
B25: Effects of Adolescent Lorazepam Exposure on Alcohol Drinking Behavior in Adulthood
My general research area is adolescent drug exposure and its long-term consequences. For this study, I investigated the effects of adolescent exposure to benzodiazepines (BZDs) on alcohol intake, preference, and neural response to alcohol in adulthood. This is important for the field because although adolescent alcohol exposure has been thoroughly researched, the long-term effects of […]
B24: The effect of acid treatment on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Al-rich Al0.85+xSi0.15Fe2B2
The magnetocaloric effect (MCE), or the tendency of some materials to change temperature upon exposure to an external magnetic field, is the cornerstone of many eco-friendly technologies such as magnetic refrigeration. The compound AlFe2B2 is known to exhibit a large MCE at room temperature, and previous studies have shown that varying the stoichiometry, synthesis method, […]
B23: Surficial Geologic Map of the Miami University Natural Areas near Oxford, Ohio
This project examined the surface geology of the primary floodplain in Harkers Run, located in Oxford, OH. The primary focus for this project was to determine and map the surface and subsurface geology of Harkers Run. For this study, a team of students in Geoenvironmental Field Methods (GLG 311VA) used topographic base maps and GPS […]
B22: Organic Carbon/Nitrogen Content in Age-Calibrated Soils At-Depth
Four Mile Creek is an important watershed in Southwestern Ohio, including floodplain deposits that have historically been used for agriculture. However, due to extensive anthropogenic use, it is difficult to determine pre-human geochemical norms. Organic carbon and nitrogen abundances are important for understanding the soil health overall, as well as providing important benchmarks for carbon […]
B21: Persistent Effects of Early Life Acute Versus Chronic Footshock Stress on Fear and Anxiety Behaviors in Adulthood.
Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States affecting nearly 1 out of 4 Americans and is a major cause of mortality. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the fifth most common psychiatric disorder diagnosis in the United States. Women are 2-3 times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety disorders. […]
B20: Role of Mu-Opioid Receptor expression on FoxP2 neurons in Aversion-Resistant Drinking
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is an issue facing many Americans, and many neural mechanisms can lead to the development of this disorder. The present study aimed to characterize the development of AUD behaviors using a new transgenic line of mice with their mu-opioid receptors (MORs) genetically deleted on intercalated (ITC) cells. MORs are the most […]