http://hdl.handle.net/2092/231 Poster sessions and presentation from the Drake University Conference on Undergraduate Research in the Sciences held each April at Olmsted Center on the Drake campus. Sun, 12 May 2013 16:15:43 GMT 2013-05-12T16:15:43Z http://hdl.handle.net/2092/1991 Mitigation Of Primate Crop Raiding In Gishwati Forest Reserve, Rwanda Hess, Breanna; Hefferan, Danielle; Rupiper, Andrew Conservation efforts are sometimes undermined by human-animal conflicts near protected areas, such as wildlife raiding crops from local farms. Since 2007, crop raiding conflict has been observed between humans and non-human primates, including a small population of chimpanzees, near the Gishwati reserve in the Kivu region of western Rwanda. The purpose of this study is to address the problem crop raiding poses to protected areas and human-utilized space along forest boundaries so that a healthy relationship can be maintained with local farmers. Our hypothesis is that crop raiding will only occur as far out from the forest edge as the animals can see. Primary data was collected every 10m along an approximately 1 km stretch of the boundary of the forest where crop raiding had been observed. A sightline map was created using three coordinated sighting methods with GPS point mapping, integrated through the use of GIS. We have predicted that chimpanzees will not raid crops growing in areas where they cannot see back to the forest boundary. Data collection is ongoing and will be complete at the end of the current growing season in late March, and will be presented. Keith Summerville (Mentor) ; Michael Renner (Mentor) Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2092/1991 2013-04-25T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2092/1989 Characterization Of Multi-Drug Resistant Enterobacter SPP. In Camp Creek, IA Wyker, David Antibiotics are vital in fighting bacterial infections and are necessary in effectively raising livestock in close quarters and high numbers. They are widely used and relatively little restrictions are placed on their use. Misdiagnosis and overuse has led to bacteria evolving resistance mechanisms to avoid the effects of the antibiotics. These bacteria propagate easily and transfer their resistance genes to other, antibiotic sensitive bacterial strains in certain aquatic systems. Such inter- and intraspecies transfer of antibiotic resistance is a major environmental and health risk. Therefore, we investigated the Camp Creek in Iowa to determine (i) the extent of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacter spp. and (ii) beef cattle ranching as a potential source contributing to the antibiotic resistant bacteria at this site. Greater bacterial loads were identified in samples from upstream of the cattle ranch suggesting they are not contributing bacteria or selective pressures for antibiotic resistance to the creek. We tested Enterobacter spp. for resistance against tetracycline, penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, and streptomycin and found resistance to all except the last two drugs. All isolates tested also exhibited multidrug resistance. Further research is needed to determine specific mechanisms of the multidrug resistant phenotype. Samples stored in liquid broth in the absence of any antibiotic lost resistance to tetracycline after 12 weeks, suggesting an extrachromosomal location for this trait. We conclude that reducing effluent levels of antibiotics would be necessary and sufficient to control such plasmid borne tetracycline resistance in Enterobacter spp. Pramod Mahajan (Mentor) Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2092/1989 2013-04-17T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2092/1988 Ionization Of The Hydrogen Molecular Ion By Ultrashort Intense Elliptically Polarized Laser Radiation DuToit, Ryan We report results for the single- and multi-photon ionization of the H2 + ion irradiated by ultrashort elliptically polarized laser pulses with central photon energies from the ionization threshold up to 300 eV. Using the fixed-nuclei approximation, the electronic response of the system is calculated through an ab initio time-dependent grid-based approach implemented in two-center prolate spheroidal coordinates. Cross sections for single-photon absorption are analyzed by means of a time-independent picture. We show that a concise decomposition of the cross-section pattern exists in terms of the linear and circular portions of the generally elliptical polarization. An asymmetric rotational effect in the angular distribution of the ejected electron is predicted and discussed according to the above decomposition. Furthermore, the dependence of the angular distributions on the pulse length is analyzed in detail. Xiaoxu Guan (Mentor) ; Klaus Bartschat (Mentor) Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2092/1988 2013-04-17T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2092/1986 Biotherapeutics Usage By Iowa Pharmacists: A Survey Wooley, Sierra; Yousif, Masoud Biotherapeutics, drugs that are produced using biological means such as recombinant DNA technology, are becoming extremely important in the treatment of a number of disorders such as cancer, immunological diseases and certain gastrointestinal diseases. Paucity of basic information health care professionals possess regarding specific biotherapeutics is a significant challenge associated with successful applications of biotherapeutics. The objective of our study was to evaluate the knowledge pharmacists in Iowa have about the usage of biotherapeutics. A short survey was designed to gather demographic data as well as data on specific knowledge about biotherapeutics. This survey was approved by Drake University’s IRB. Using iPads, sixty-eight pharmacists were surveyed and responses were recorded into Qualtrics online survey software. Fifty-seven percent females and 43% males ranging in age from 26-72 with various pharmacy degrees from eight different institutions completed the survey. Approximately 30% of participants surveyed stated they have worked with some form of biotherapeutic drug. Of these, 79% have worked with up to 5 different biotherapeutics and 16% worked with 5 to 10 different biotherapeutics. Nearly 12% of participants stated they were not sure if they had worked with a biotherapeutic. Finally, 48% of the pharmacists surveyed stated they were not well informed regarding the usage of biotherapeutic drugs. Our preliminary results indicate a need to expand this research on a national level with possible implications for developing continuing education programs on biotherapeutics production and applications, specifically designed for pharmacists and other health care professionals. Cross Beemer (Mentor) ; Pramod B. Mahajan (Mentor) Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2092/1986 2013-04-17T00:00:00Z