Progress 09/01/18 to 06/30/23
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for the grant was Alaskan Natives in or from rural communities, many of which were inaccessible by motor vehicle. Engagment in rural communities involved, educators, students that ranged from grade school through highschool, elders, parents, and community members. College age student from undergrad to graduate students from all backgrounds were also involved in research that support subsistence and Alaska specific resources, values, traditions, and health concerns. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The instructional YouTube videos and pamphlets have offered training too many students and teachers to account for. These resources continued to be used. While kits were initially mailed out, modifications were made so that all experiments could be accomplished with easily accessible materials. The sled dog camp and the PHHI workshop provided professional developement to around 30 students, ranging from 8th grade to graduate level over the past two years. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We use YouTube and social media to disseminate information and recruit for participation. We post on personal, university, and public pages, such as the Alaska Berry Picker facebook group and Planet Alaska. A write up of the PHHI workshop is featured on their website and has been shared with both institutions: https://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/2022/06/15/alaska-natives-explore-science-careers-during-kannapolis- visit/ Mari Høe Raitto is a teacher with the Alaska Gateway District and she has worked with us on all of the sled dog camps. She uses our materials in her classroom. She worked with us and students on a vitamin D and salmon project and she is a co- author on a manuscript in review. Josephine Wasky participated in the PHHI. She is from the St. Mary's. She is engaging with Yupik communities of St. Marys, Pitka Point, and Russian Mission on collecting blueberries to study their health propoerties. We were able to successfully collect 12 pounds of berries that have been used in the sled dog camp and student research. I was interviewd by Alaska Public Radio onAugust 29, 2022. We will have at least two manuscripts with student authors stemming from the sled dog camp results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1.Wedeveloped the precollege MobLab that was used in rural communitiesand as part of activities that engaged with Alaska Native rural high school students, elders, health care providers, and other educatorson the Yukon River. To continue this work after the pandemic when remote travel was prohibited, we developed mail out kits that accompanied instructional videos and pamphlets. These kits are still being used across the state in rural, indigenous communities, as well as part of the Rural Alaskan Highschool Initiative summer program for highschool students to earn college credit. The kits have been used as part of science curriculum in rural high schools in Alaska, as well as with the Crow people in Montana. These kits were presented at tworural teacher workshops and provided material for integrating traditional activities into science curricula. We organized a trip to the Plants for Human Health Institute to provide an opportunity for rural Alaskan Native student from middle school through to high school to help show students the importance and relevance of traditional ecological knowledge to health and industry. Our outreach materials have been used with community and students from the following rural Alaskan communities: Northway, Tok, Nulato,St. Marys, Wrangle, Nome, Kotzebue, Kodiak, Bethel, Nenana,Sitka, Unalakeleet, Huslia, Cooper Landing, Ketchikan, Rampart, Unalaska, and Fort Yukon. 2. Rural Student Ambassadar (RSA), Shannon Jimmie was supported throughout this project. She successfully graduated with a BS in biology in May 2022. She recruited 3 highschool students for a botanical workshop at the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI)-- all from the village of Northway. Research and outreach was supported by this grant for ndergraduates Laura Ekada, Abigail Jensen, Eric Weis, Josephine Wasky, and Cheyenna Schafer, as well asgraduate students, Kali Striker, Leilani Megliola, and Roman Baska, and post-doc, Scott Jerome. We have developed and successfully run two sled dog research camps that is now set up to continue indefinitely. We have 6 students already signed up for a camp in May 2024 and we haven't yet formally advertised. 3. Covid-19 limited our abilities group travel and group activities for much of the award period. However, sled dog mushing is the Alaska state sport and is an important part of the Alaska subsistence lifestyle. Races are held annually in remote villages as staple events during spring carnival. We successfully held 2 sled dog camps for rural highschool students on the Yukon River and recruited students for the PHHI workshop. For the last two years of the project,we held a more intense research experience with an undergraduate spring break research camp. Over two dozen students have participated. Students were able to earn research credits in both the biology and chemistry departments. Students developed hypothesis, sampled blood from sled dog pre and post exercise, measured pro-inflammatory cytokines via ELISA using our Mobile Laboratory, and analyzed the data. Two senior capstone projects were developed. We had published manuscripts, posters, public radio announcements, and student interviews through the university social media and newspaper as a result of this work. More manuscripts will be submitted as a result of student research funded by this project in the next year. An important part of this goal will be met in the future as we were able to purchasesupplies for students to participate in subsitence activities, including dog mushing, skiing, and river travel. These supplies were used in multiple educational camps and will be resources that can be used in the future for hte now established sled dog research camps.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
1. Falkenstein L, Jerome S, Jerome E, Reynolds A, Duffy L, Dunlap K A sled dog model for positive health effects of weight management and exercise. American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology. doi: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2023.47.54
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Striker K, Jerome S, Hoe-Raito M, Falkenstein L, Duffy LK, Dunlap KL. July 2022. Wild Salmon supplementation increases 25-OHD levels in sled dogs. GSCARR. In review
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Dunlap KL. Vitamin D and healthy aging: the sled dog sentinel for the circumpolar north. Seminar speaker at University of Kentucky. February 10, 2022.
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this period: 1) rual Alaskan Native highschool students from rural communities, mostly inaccessible by motor vehicle and 2) undergraduate science majors.Again, this year COVID-19 hindered our outreach in rural villages for 2021, but we were able to organize several outreach efforts in 2022.We continued to work with the Rural Alaska Native Health Initiative (RAHI) creating hands on research experience testing local botanicals. We offered a sled dog research spring break camp for undergraduates. We did not limit participation to Alaska Native students. We had 12 student participants -- Alaska Native student. We organized a botanical reseach camp at the Plant for Human Health Institute. We flew to North Carolina with 6 rural Alaska Natives -- from 9th grade to graduating senior in college. Changes/Problems:We made a number of changes during the pandemicdue to Covid so that we could continue to engage with rural communities. We continued to rely on these modifications during this fiscal year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The instructional YouTube videos and pamphlets have offered training too many students and teachers to account for. These resources continued to be used. While kits were initially mailed out, modifications were made so that all experiments could be accomplished with easily accessible materials. The sled dog camp and the PHHI workshop provided professional developement to 17 students, ranging from 8th grade to graduate level. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We use YouTube and social media to disseminate information and recruit for participation. We post on personal, university, and public pages, such as the Alaska Berry Picker facebook group and Planet Alaska. A write up of the PHHI workshop is featured on their website and has been shared with both institutions:https://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/2022/06/15/alaska-natives-explore-science-careers-during-kannapolis-visit/ Mari Høe Raitto is a teacher with the Alaska Gateway District and she has worked with us on all of the sled dog camps. She uses our materials in her classroom. She worked with us and students on a vitamin D and salmon project and she is a co-author on a manuscript in review. Josephine Wasky participated in the PHHI. She is from the St. Mary's. She is engaging with Yupik communities of St. Marys, Pitka Point, and Russian Mission on collecting blueberries to study their health propoerties. If we get the no-cost exentsion fro this award, she will complete the blueberry collection. I have an interview to discuss this project and the results thus far on Alaska Public Radio scheduled for Monday August 29 2022. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?If we receive the no cost extension we will finish collecting and processing blueberries for future projects and the sled dog project. We will support Laura Ekada from Nulato to finish her BS in biology. We will finish purchasing equipment and supplies for the Rural Student Services for potluck, gatherings, and subsistence activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. The pandemic forced us to think outside the box and create mail out botanical kits so that we could continue outreach activites in rural communities. These kits have proven to be very valuable in reaching students throughout the state and even outside the state. Instuctional Youtube videos and pamphlets, along with supply lists have been provided to teachers through teaching workshops. A registered nurse, Paula Ciniero started using the kits in 2019 in the village of Fort Yukon and is now using them in botanical workshops in Montana with the Crow People.Rural Alaskan High School Initiative (RAHI) has been using them since 2019. These materials have now reached more rural students than I can keep track of. 2. Rural Student Ambassadar (RSA), Shannon Jimmie has been supported throughout this project. She successfully graduated with a BS in biology in May 2022. She recruited 3 highschool students for a botanical workshop at the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI)-- all from the village of Northway. Three undergraduates also participated from Northway, Nulato, and St. Marys. We applied for a no cost extension and if it is granted we will support another RSA, Laura Ekada. Laura Ekada, is a senior biology major and she participated in the PHHI workshop. 3. Sled dog mushing is the Alaska state sport and is an important part of the Alaska subsistence lifestyle. Races are held annually in remote villages as staple events during spring carnival. We successfully held 2 sled dog camps for rural highschool students on the Yukon River and recruited students for the PHHI workshop. This year we held a more intense research experience with an undergraduate spring break research camp. Twelve students participated in a week long research camp at a rural kennel. Students were able to earn research credits in both the biology and chemistry departments. Students developed hypothesis, sampled blood from sled dog pre and post exercise, measured pro-inflammatory cytokines via ELISA using our Mobile Laboratory, and analyzed the data. Two senior capstone projects were developed during this week and one was just funded through an undergraduate research award. Abigail Jensen will feed blueberries to sled dogs as a treatment for oxidative damage during a race. This camp garnered so much interest that it will held again next year. Supplies were purchased for students to participate in subsitence activities, including dog mushing, skiing, and river travel.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
A SLED DOG MODEL FOR POSITIVE HEALTH EFFECTS OF
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND EXERCISE
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this period was Alaska Nativehighschool junior and seniors in rural communities, mostly inaccessible by motor vehicle and Alaskan Native undergraduate student science majors. Again, this year COVID-19 hindered our outreach in rural villages so we worked with the Rural Alaska Native Health Initiative (RAHI) creating hands on research experience testing local botanicals. While travel to rural villages was not advised under the current pandemic, students were able to come to the university with increased COVID-19 protocols. Therefore, there was no need to mail out kits this year. We worked with students from the rural villages of Unalakeleet, Cooper Landing, Ketchikan, Nome, and Unalaska.We also worked with a highschool science class in Northway Alaska on a vitamin D project in sled dogs. Working on this project and with highschool students are a MS graduate student and and undergraduate researcher. Changes/Problems:All the changes to this project are COVID related. The original project relied on the traditional aspects of indigenous culture of sharing knowlege with gatherings. We have had to create alternative ways to engage with rural communities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The YouTube videos and instructions on plant extraction, anthocyanin, and antioxidant levels I have shared with rural teachers so that they can use them in the classroom. This was requested by local educators after I presented at two teaching workshops. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1) Personal communications with teachers, and 2) sharing links and documents with the teachers who requested from the Yukon Kuskakwim school district. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our major goal for this upcoming year is safely and successfully complete our outreach camps for undergraduate students. These camps will meld traditional knowledge with scientific exploration to help bridge that gap. We also want to end the year with supplies for students to continue to participate in traditional activities while at school for years to come. This year we hope to successful graduate one of our undergraduate fellowship awardees and help another start over again. The products from this project have started garnering publications and we still have more publications that need to be written. This will be another goal of this year.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Again for 2020-2021 we were unable to travel into remote villages. Therefore, we worked with the Rural Alaskan High School Initiative (RAHI) again this year, using our mobile laboratory kits. Students foraged for plants with traditional medicinal properties and made plant extracts and subsequently tested them for antioxidants and anthocyanins. We worked with nine rural students who came from villages that were mostly inaccessible by road: Unalakeleet, Cooper Landing, Ketchikan, Unalaska, and Nome. I also worked with a highschool science class in Northway, AK to test vitamin D levels in sled dogs supplemented with a vitamin D supplement. In a previous reporting year on this project we did a similar project withstudents in a nearby village with salmon as the vitamin D source. Research indicates that salmon is a more effective supplement for vitamin D than the actual over the counter supplement and student are comparing their results with our previous findings. A thesis from MS student, Kali Striker, was published using this as her MS project. A book chapter featuring some of our activity on the Yukon River with our Mobile Labs and rural students was also published this year with co-author and collaborator on this project, Mary Ann Lila. 2. Shannon Jimmie continues to work with Rural Student Services and is still supported under this award. She hopes to graduate in spring of 2022 and is completing her captone research project on mercury in salmon fed sled dogs. She is also helping to develop and recruit for two camps: 1) sled dog research camp for undergraduate credit offered in March 2021 and 2) a highschool and undergraduate summer camp at the Plants for Human Health Institute in North Caroline. We are recruiting to support undergraduate student, Josephine Wasky in 2022. 3. Group gatherings have been restricted still because of COVID-19. I applied for a one-year extension on this project in hopes that we can accomplish some group activities when restrictions are lifted or reduced. Two of the activities that are planned are mentioned above:1) sled dog research camp for undergraduate credit offered in March 2021 and 2) a highschool and undergraduate summer camp at the Plants for Human Health Institute in North Carolina. We are working with the Universities on limited participant size, requiring vaccines, and waivers. Because of increased restrictions these activites may be limited to students over 18. We are also going to be purchasing a lot of supplies that the Rural Student Services can use for their activities and for students to be able to check out for smaller group activities.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Sled Dogs as a Model for Studying Dietary Vitamin D
Author Kali Striker
Publisher University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2021
Length 52 pages
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Witkop J, Vertigan T, Reynolds A, Duffy L, Barati B, Jerome S, Dunlap K.
Sled dogs as a model for PM2.5 exposure from wildfires in Alaska
Environment International
Volume 156, November 2021
doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106767
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Kromrey L, Jerome S, Olnes S, Duffy L, Reynolds A and Dunlap K
Sled dogs as a model for brown fat research
Advances in Clinical Toxicology
Volume 5 Issue 3
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Lila, MA and Dunlap K. 2021. Chapter 3. Answering the call of the wild: Polyphenols in traditional therapeutic practice. p. 49- 68 In: (Jess Reed, Victor de Freitas and Stephane Quideau, editors). Recent Advances in Polyphenol Research Volume 7. Wiley Blackwell. 305 pp.
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target group for this reporting period was Alaskan Natives highschool junior and seniorsin rural communities, mostly inaccessible by motor vehicle and Alaskan Native undegraduate student science majors. Due to COVID-19 outreach efforts to rural highschool students were conducted in coordination with the Rural Alaska Native Health Initiative (RAHI) using mail out botanical kits. High school students that participated in this reporting period were from the remote villages of Unalaska, Wrangle, Nome, Kotzebue, Kodiak, Bethel, Nenana, and Sitka. An undergraduate Junior biology majorfrom the remote village of Northway is working withstudents through Rural Student Services on campus on this project. Changes/Problems:Covid-19. We are making adjustments to continue to fulfill the proposals main goals. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We developed mailout kits with inexpensive disposable supplies that can be easily used by high school students in their curricula. Last year I reported that we went to several rural educator's camps and conferences. Many educators expressed an interest in adopting our traditional plant kits but were not sure about ordering pipets and chemicals. This year we developed the labs so that the supplies could be ordered by anyone, and without the need for expensive equipment, therefore our kits can reach more students through their local educators learning about their indigenous plants. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1) Mail out kits and 2) Presentations on "science curricula using local botanicals" to a workshop with rural Alaska teachers in the Yukon Kuskakwim school district What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We continue to make the biggest accomplishment in Goal 1. Next year we will continue our outreach efforts. If the pandemic situation is under control we will hold the PHHI botanical workshop at North Carolina Research Campus in the summer of 2021. If this is not possible we will consider virtual alternatives. This year we have made progress on Goal 2 and are working with two rural undergraduate studentson research involving Alaska subsistence health and Arctic resilence. These students are from the remote villages of Ruby and Northway and both students are Biology majors. Throughout this year, they will both complete a AK subsistence health research project. Shannon Jimmie from Northway is working on a project looking at mercury in sled dogs supplemented with Yukon River salmon. Cheyenna Schafer just started working with us this past week. She is going through lab safety training and will start working with two of our graduate students on projects involving 1) vitamin D levels in sled dogs, and 2) brown fat activation with cold exposure. She will choose her projects within these larger projects and run experiments on archived plasma samples. For Goal 3, Shannon Jimmie is acting as a Rural Student Ambassadar and is working with Rural Student Services on campus to purchase supplies for subsistence activities, including outdoor gear, and food storage/preservation equipment. Over the next year we will make these available to rural students. Large in person gatherings are not permitted on campus.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Due to Covid-19 we were not able to travel into remote villages. Most villages have little or no health care and therefore current travel restriction in and out of villages are in place. To overcome this obstacle, I worked with Rural Alaskan High School Initiative (RAHI) this summer. RAHI provides summer college level courses to rural high school students for college credit. I created mail out botanical labs for students who live in Wrangle, Nome, Kotzebue, Kodiak, Bethel, Nenana, and Sitka. The kits supplied materials for students to collect indigenous plants, make plant extracts, and test for anthocyanin and antioxidant activity. Written intructions were provided in the kit and YouTube tutorials were made for each step: 1) kit contents and safety 2) making plant extracts, 3) anthocyanin assay and 4) antioxidant assay. These were accompanied by weekly zoom lectures and labs. 2. Shannon Jimmie from the remote village of Northway joined us as a Rural Student Ambassador this year. She is a junior biology major. She has been working with Rural Student Services (RSS) this summer to purchase supplies for cultural gatherings and activities, as well as planning cultural activities. Shannon is also working with the Brooks Lab in Washington to measure mercury levels in the hair of salmon fed rural sled dogs as her capstone project for her BS in biology. 3.For now, all group gatherings have been on hold because of COVID-19. Gatherings and sharing is very integral to the Alaska Native lifestyle. Limiting gatherings on campus will make it even more difficult for rural students to assimilate in campus life. Shannon and RSS are trying to come up with creative alternatives, such as outings that allow students to check out supplies for their own cultural activities that can besanitized when returned.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target group for this reporting period was Alaskan Native in rural communities, most inaccessible by motor vehicle. Several science outreach efforts were conducted in group settings with elders, teachers, and community members, therefore, many age ranges were included.The main target audience, however was Alaska Native Middle School and High School students in the rural Alaskan communities of Tok, Fort Yukon, Rampart, Minto, Huslia, Ruby, and Nulato. Two outreach efforts were done in Anchorage, AK and Salcha, AK at workshops for rural Alaskan teachers. While significantly less effort went towards rural undergraduate students on campus, organization of future activies and outreach has been initiated. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Mary Ann Lila from the plants for human health instituteis working with me one-on-one to develope screenings for wild plants that can be incorporated into science curricula in rural areas. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?I have been working with the director director, teachers, and prinicples of Alaska Gateway Schools to establish science and outreach opportunities for rural high school students. Most communication has been initiated by mevia email or at the teacher's conferences. I worked with the Alaska Gateway Schools in developing a flyer to disceminate to rural schools for the Yukon River Culture and Sled Dog Camp. The Alaska Care and Husbandry Instruction for Lifelong Living program has been especially helpful at establishing rural connections. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We hope to recruit students through theYukon River Culture and Sled Dog Camp to participate in school science research projects for the Alaska State High School Science Symposium and/or as part of their science curricula. We also hope to recruit students for a workshop next summer at the Plants for Human Health Institutes. Students will be informed about scholarship opportunities, including throught his project, to continue research and their post-secondary education in science. As previously mentioned we are working on developing a website, organizing subsistence activities on campus, and prioritizing purchasing and storage of supplies to aid in these endeavors. Several meetings and correspondences have already been initiated and we will continue to to move forward with these efforts.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. Most of the accomplishments to date have been achieved on Goal 1. We have developed the precollege MobLab, tested it in tworural communities (Tok and Fort Yukon), and organized two weeks of camps for Alaska Native rural high school students on the Yukon River. We have also attended and presented at two rural teacher workshops and provided material for integrating traditional activities into science curricula. This includes protocols and ordering information. 2. The award and funds were not distributed in time to award a scholarship in year 1, but an Alaska Native student and biology major, Shannon Jimmie, from Northway, AK will be the first recipient of a scholarship. Classes start August 26, 2019. She is working on research with weight gain and brown fat using sled dogs. Shannon is also part of the Yukon River Culture and Sled Dog Camp as a mentor. 3. I am working with Rural Student Services and the campus housing director in prioritizing purchases for supplies for subsistence activities and food storage, as well as where supplies can be stored and how to check out of materials. There are still many details that need to be worked out but we have had several meetings and correspondences. Rural Student Services also have several planned workshops and potlucks that we will be a part of. We are in the process of organizing a low bush cranberry picking trip for students in October.I am also working with web designer, Jenn Moss, in developing a websight to advertisegroup activities, get information for supply check out, helpful links, and make connection with other students for subsistence activities.
Publications
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