The purpose of this study is to measure the uptake of arsenic from isolated arsenic resistant bacteria and mixed cultures derived from periphyton that were collected from a local lake with high arsenic concentrations. Periphyton is a complex community of microorganisms, plants, algae, and debris that is found attached to sediments, plants and other surfaces of most aquatic environments. Our colleagues discovered that periphyton collected from Lake Killarney captures arsenic present in the contaminated lake waters. Studying arsenic resistant organisms can help researchers understand their interaction with arsenic and their possible uses for bioremediation, since arsenic contamination in aquatic environments is a worldwide problem. We hypothesized that bacterial members of the periphyton collected from Lake Killarney are responsible for arsenic uptake. Therefore, our study aimed to isolate arsenic resistant bacteria from the periphyton collected and test their arsenic uptake capacity from growth medium. After isolating and growing these arsenic resistant bacteria and mixed cultures with different nutrient conditions, growth periods, and arsenic concentrations, results showed low arsenic concentrations in all the samples. This might indicate that these microorganisms are not responsible for arsenic uptake, but may only be able to tolerate high levels of arsenic. These findings suggest that the isolated bacteria and mixed cultures we tested might not be the organisms that are responsible for arsenic uptake in contaminated water. Therefore, our future research will focus on expanding the taxonomic diversity of periphyton bacteria cultured and tested for arsenic uptake. For example, we can culture Cyanobacteria, a group of photosynthetic bacteria that are abundant in periphyton and were not included in our previous studies. We anticipate different results from Cyanobacteria because of their unique energy requirements and may ultimately be responsible for the heavy arsenic uptake discovered in periphyton.

Sindbis Virus (SINV) is an alphavirus that is transmitted between birds via mosquitos and causes disease in humans after spillover events. While many alphaviruses have potential to cause severe disease such as Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV), SINV is known to cause less life-threatening but still severe and debilitating chronic illness predominantly associated with fever, arthralgia, and myalgia. Given its lower morbidity, SINV often serves as a model system for infectivity and pathogenesis studies of alphavirus. Comparison of the genomes of virulent strains (AR86) and avirulent strains (Girdwood) of SINV help us to define elements in the viral genome of SINV that contribute to pathogenesis. Previous studies have identified key pathogenesis determinants within the E2 glycoprotein and 5’ noncoding regions. Additionally, SINV contains elements in the 3’ UTR that are capable of repressing deadenylation contributing to evasion of host cell mRNA decay machinery. Our recent work with VEEV has identified additional novel RNA structures in the E1 segment that contribute to replication in macrophages and serves as a basis for further exploration of the role of RNA structure in pathogenesis and immune evasion which has been largely unexplored. By exchanging a 4000bp nucleotide segment of the 3’ end in SINV strains Girdwood and AR86, we hope that important conclusions can be made about the importance of differing genomic code and underlying RNA structure between these two strains after observing virus production, replication, and pathogenesis of constructed chimeras. This in turn can be used to further discern the genomic mutations and RNA structure requirements to shift from avirulent to virulent strains and could play an important role in predicting the mutational requirements necessary for SINV and other alphaviruses to make the jump from endemic bird/mosquito hosts to the human population as well as any mutations that contribute to greater pathogenicity.

Gram-negative bacteria are known to secrete outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) which serve as important virulence factors that modulate biofilm formation. In Porphyromonas gingivalis, an oral anaerobic bacteria that is a leading contributor to periodontal disease produces OMVs which play a crucial role in evading host immune responses and the destruction of host tissues. Although their importance in pathogenesis is well characterized, OMV biogenesis is not yet fully understood. Through OMV quantification of various lipid A mutant strains we have shown that lipid A structure is important for OMV biogenesis. We have identified the phosphorylation of C4’ as crucial to inhibiting OMV biogenesis. Our double mutant, PG1587/PG1773 which has C1’ and C4’ phosphatases deleted, showed similar OMV biomass as our WT strain. This led us to hypothesize that OMV cargo composition can be modulated by the structure of lipid A. To test this hypothesis, we added equal amounts of OMVs isolated from either WT or PG1587/PG1773 double mutant cultures to S. gordonii biofilms and measured biofilm dispersal. We also observed dispersal of a fully formed S. gordonii biofilm after the addition of either WT OMVs or WT whole cell cultures. We found that the PG1587/PG1773 double mutant OMVs were significantly diminished in their ability to disperse S. gordonii biofilms, suggesting that gingipain activity per unit of OMV biomass was reduced when lipid A is bis-phosphorylated. We are currently working on quantifying relative amounts of gingipains for each lipid A mutant strain to determine if OMV levels correlate with relative levels of gingipains. Our findings highlight the capacity of P. gingivalis OMVs to shape bacterial communities and suggest that lipid A structure effects the packaging of OMV cargo, a novel finding related to OMV biogenesis.

Preferred methods to engage with music vary among d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing people (d/DHH), depending on a number of social, environmental, and technological factors. Previous research on music for the d/DHH population has pursued specific methods such as dance, sound vibrations, and captioning. Other literature has focused on applying a hearing standard of music engagement and fluency to the d/DHH community and is outdated with regards to technological advances that improve music access. In this generative research, our goals are to understand how various social and technical environments affect music experiences and discover design opportunities to improve music accessibility for d/DHH people. We are conducting semi-structured interviews with d/DHH adults ages 18-49. These interviews undergo design research activities consisting of word exercise, image exercise, and cognitive mapping to uncover the background, current, and ideal music experiences of participants. We are developing a design prototype based on research findings that addresses the accessibility shortcomings of music experiences and adapts to numerous music scenarios and environments. This prototype can be used as a tool to inform future design solutions for existing music platforms to accommodate the needs and wants of the d/DHH community.

Scripps’s murrelets (Synthliboramphus scrippsi; hereafter murrelets) are an endangered seabird with one of the largest breeding colonies in the U.S. at Anacapa Island within Channel Islands National Park. Recent monitoring on Anacapa Island has revealed predation of adult murrelets by common ravens (Corvus corax) that target incubating individuals at their nests. Murrelets are long-lived seabirds, which suggests that adult survival is an important demographic parameter for the viability of this population. Our study will determine the efficacy of remote monitoring tools to detect predation events, predator visitation, and murrelet activity. We deployed camera traps and autonomous recording units (ARUs) at five known nesting caves during the 2021 breeding season. We will compare predator visitation and predation events captured on camera traps with acoustic data from the ARUs to determine the extent of predator vocalization; the same will be done to capture murrelet activity. ARU and camera trap detections will be compared to traditional monitoring methods where humans perform tri-weekly nest checks for predation evidence such as murrelet carcasses or feather piles. We anticipate camera traps will perform better than ARUs at detecting predator visitation and predation events, but groups of two or greater ravens will have higher vocalization rates. In contrast, we anticipate that ARUs will perform better than camera traps at detecting murrelet activity due to their small stature making them less likely to trigger the cameras. We hypothesize the combined power of both remote monitoring tools may be comparable to traditional monitoring methods. Our comparative analysis of monitoring methods will allow park management to make informed decisions for future monitoring protocols for murrelets. In addition, our results will provide the park with a better understanding of the impact of raven predation on murrelets as well as management options to mitigate this impact.

Several age-related neurodegenerative diseases include abnormal protein deposition of tau, amyloid-β (Aβ), and TDP-43. The most common dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), is tauopathic, meaning it is mainly characterized by tau deposition. In neurons, tau normally functions to bind and stabilize microtubules (MTs), proteins made of tubulin dimers that provide neuronal structure and assist in molecular transport along axons. However, in AD, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, resulting in disassociation from MTs and aggregation in the cell. Previous genetic screening identified several new mutations in genes encoding tubulin proteins that ameliorate the effects of tau toxicity in tauopathy models of Caenorhabditis elegans; however, the various genes confer suppression to varying levels. Given that tubulin genes are expressed differentially in neurons, I hypothesized that the level of gene expression may correlate with the level of tau toxicity suppression for a given gene. To test this, we constructed transgenic C. elegans strains overexpressing mutant tubulin at differing levels. I characterized age-matched worms for tau-induced motility defects and assessed tubulin transgene expression by qPCR, observing that higher levels of mutant tubulin gene expression correlated with higher levels of toxicity suppression. Additionally, since previous work showed that tubulin mutations could confer suppression in a tau-Aβ copathology model, I sought to elucidate whether this result is generalizable to a copathology model with tau and TDP-43. To test this, I generated strains of worms expressing human tau and TDP-43 as well as mutant tubulin, and assessed them for motility defects. I expect that suppression will be conferred in these animals, although not to the same extent as in a model without copathology. These experiments will help increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying mutant tubulin mediated tau suppression. Additionally, we will gain knowledge about the mechanisms behind tauopathic disease progression in models of pure tauopathy and copathology.

In the past few decades, the colonial roots of Egyptology and the effects of European influence over the development of archaeology in Egypt have become an increasingly popular topic within the field. The works of authors such as Donald M. Reid, Stephen Quirke, and Christian Langer highlight the problematic origins of Egyptology as a discipline, examining the ways in which European states exploited and suppressed native Egyptian archaeologists. Utilizing the frameworks that these authors have created, my research aims to provide a more comprehensive context to the politics and drama within Egyptology and its colonial motivations. In my presentation, I highlight the interpersonal relationships among Egyptologists, archaeologists, and politicians in 19th-20th century Egypt by analyzing first-hand accounts of notable figures in Egyptology. In particular, I look at four individuals whose reputations have been characterized by their racist and colonialist approaches to Egyptology: Victor Loret, Jacques de Morgan, Auguste Mariette, and Flinders Petrie. The main sources I use in my research include the diaries of Emma B. Andrews, mistress of millionaire lawyer-turned-excavator Theodore M. Davis, and a collection of correspondence letters by Arthur Weigall, a British Egyptologist. I also rely on other direct accounts from Egyptologists Archibald Sayce and Heinrich Brugsch to provide additional insights into the relationships of the above figures in Egyptology. My research showcases the often-contradictory perceptions of these individuals in public and private settings and how their reputations influenced their standing in Egyptology. Although the individuals I highlight in my presentation were highly respected in their academic fields and wielded considerable influence and power in Egypt, by compiling reports that inform how these controversial figures were perceived by their colleagues, I attempt to add another dimension to the growing conversation of problematic histories in Egyptology.

Towards Universal Newborn and Early Childhood Hearing Screening in Kenya (TUNE) is a project designed to introduce low-cost phone applications, akin to a standard tool, to screen for middle ear fluid in children. The device, which can be used by non-specialists, has the potential to provide low- and middle-income countries the opportunity to address problems in ear and hearing health that could otherwise impair childhood development. Kenya does not have a universal newborn and early childhood audiology screening program due to a lack of trained screeners and the high cost of assessment tools. The TUNE team met twice weekly via Zoom since colleagues lived in both Seattle and Nairobi, Kenya. My early responsibilities included documentation of stakeholder input. In September 2021, we sponsored a healthcare worker training program in Nairobi. In support of this work, I generated the training videos, created a website, and developed slide decks. These tools were used to provided healthcare workers with a background on hearing health and the importance of early identification of hearing loss, general information about the phone application, and trained them to use the device with a detailed instructional video. Healthcare workers were then given time to practice using the application. Finally, they were asked to complete a survey about the application. Most respondents reacted positively to the tool, with 100% of participants reporting they “would be comfortable using the device ‘as is’ in their work.” Most indicated that they would recommend using the application but noted that there were updates that could make the application more user friendly. We used the resulting qualitative data to inform future iterations of the application, a stakeholder workshop and policy recommendations. Ultimately this technology may help ensure that children’s growth, development, and educational needs are met in low- and middle-income countries.