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Student Success Of Online Vs. In-Person Biology Courses At Virginia Community Colleges, Jennifer Claire Scott
Student Success Of Online Vs. In-Person Biology Courses At Virginia Community Colleges, Jennifer Claire Scott
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Community colleges have a significant role in preparing students for STEM-related careers through certificates, degrees, and transfers to four-year institutions. In addition, online education is a growing mode of higher education, particularly for community college students. However, community college and online students are both at a high risk of attrition and show a lower success rate for degree completion. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in attrition and success between students in online and in-person biology courses at Virginia community colleges. Also, this study addressed downstream effects of online education by examining course completion of second-semester biology …
Alternative Treatments To Koalas With Chlamydia, Kelsey Thornton
Alternative Treatments To Koalas With Chlamydia, Kelsey Thornton
Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry
Koala populations have declined rapidly in the past 2 decades due to many reasons such as disease, vehicle collisions, dog attacks, urbanization and deforestation, and climate-related issues. Chlamydia is one of the leading causes for population declines in koalas. Koalas are difficult to treat for chlamydia because antibiotic treatment kills the specialized gut bacteria they have and need for degrading toxic compounds within eucalyptus leaves, their only source of food. I propose that doxycycline, a drug with a 97% cure rate and reduced dysbiosis, to be administered at higher concentrations less frequently. Additionally, I propose that koalas treated with antibiotics …
Population Dynamics Of Waterfowl Wintering In The Mid-Atlantic Region, Usa, Abigail Harris, Thomas Hoke
Population Dynamics Of Waterfowl Wintering In The Mid-Atlantic Region, Usa, Abigail Harris, Thomas Hoke
Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry
A recent study (Rosenberg et al. 2019) has shown that bird populations in North America are experiencing major declines except for a few groups including waterfowl. However, this study focused only on the summer breeding populations and did not focus on regional dynamics. We utilized data from 62 Christmas Bird Count (CBC) count circles to evaluate population dynamics of common wintering waterfowl in the coastal Mid-Atlantic region (Delaware=7, Maryland=16, Virginia=18, North Carolina=21) since 1950. We found a 36% decline of wintering waterfowl relative abundance compared to 1950s. American wigeon and Canada goose had major population decreases while Snow goose had …
Adios Adjuvant: Combination Immunotherapy For Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (All) Patients, Arleigh Wood
Adios Adjuvant: Combination Immunotherapy For Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (All) Patients, Arleigh Wood
Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry
Cancer treatments are shifting from heavy adjuvant therapies to immunological approaches, such as carT cell therapy. By simultaneously administering two known successful treatments for ALL, Blinatumomab and Kymriah, a high rate of remission can be accomplished in pediatric patients with relapsed ALL. Higher rates of remission, prolonged immunity, and less side effects are the projected results based on previously published studies. Combining these two therapies will likely produce more successful results compared to if the drugs were administered independently. This will hopefully translate into a faster return to daily living activities and less chronic effects during such an important developmental …
Combining Treatments For Opioid Addictions, Raquel Perez
Combining Treatments For Opioid Addictions, Raquel Perez
Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry
In 2018 the National Survey of Drug Use and Health reported that 9.9 million people misused prescription pain relievers out of 10.3 million who reported using opioids. Opioid abuse has grown from just being considered a medical dilemma, it has clearly become a social and economic issue (Eaton and Vettese, 2020). This proposal will be investigating the combination of pre-existing pharmacological treatments and support group therapy. This is not a new concept however because of the nature of opioid addictions having severe withdrawal symptoms most treatments are primarily medication base. Drug addictions have been known to carry a negative stigma …
Inheritability Of Ciprofloxacin-Induced Mitochondrial Mutations From Parental To Offspring Generation Using Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction, Rose Mccoy
Honors Theses
In all eukaryotes, mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell (Siekevitz, 1957). In plants, however, their mitochondrial genome is especially strange. Plant mitochondrial genomes are extremely large and contain both linear and circular subgenomic DNA fragments. Plant mitochondrial genomes undergo a significant amount of mutations in the form of rearrangements. However, it is not known how often these rearrangements are inherited by the next generation. It is thought that plant cells that are still dividing have higher rates of DNA repair, such as double-strand break repair, to ensure the quality of that plant lineage. As follows, it is …
A Comparison Of Invasive And Native Plants In An Abandoned Limestone Quarry, Diana Borse, Sophia Atkinson, Dana Dudle
A Comparison Of Invasive And Native Plants In An Abandoned Limestone Quarry, Diana Borse, Sophia Atkinson, Dana Dudle
Annual Student Research Poster Session
The abandoned limestone quarry in the DePauw Nature Park is a site of interest for research into plant community establishment due to the harsh, heterogenous, and fluctuating environment. Because the limestone floor of the quarry is a novel anthropogenic environment, every plant species in the quarry had to be introduced somehow. Perhaps native species that are able to establish populations in the quarry are more likely to share traits with invasive species. Using information collected from scientific articles, I compared traits of three pairs of plants with similar forms to compare their life history traits to see if any patterns …
Antibiotic Resistance And Variability In The Physiological Profiles Of Streambed Bacterial Communities: Implication Of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents, Madeline Draper, Amerti Guta, Philips Akinwole
Antibiotic Resistance And Variability In The Physiological Profiles Of Streambed Bacterial Communities: Implication Of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents, Madeline Draper, Amerti Guta, Philips Akinwole
Annual Student Research Poster Session
The effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) include a complex mixture of nutrients and toxic substances, thus, the potential exists for the effluent to significantly impact the biochemical characteristics and bacterial communities of the receiving freshwater ecosystem. Our findings highlight the worrisome impacts of WWTPs on microbial biomass, coliform forming units, bacterial metabolic diversity, and antibiotic resistance patterns on the receiving water. In this study, microbial biomass and coliform forming units were significantly higher at the WWTP outfall compared to the reference site. Furthermore, this report revealed significant differences in the composition of bacterial communities in the context of WWTP …
Lifelines Fall 2020, Southern Adventist University
Lifelines Fall 2020, Southern Adventist University
Lifelines - Biology Department Newsletter
The Fall 2020 issue of Lifelines contains articles on Insights from the Professor, Alumni Highlight, and Department Happenings.
A Preliminary Look Into Regional Primary Succession In The Depauw University Nature Park Quarry, Sophia Atkinson, Diana Borse, Dana Dudle
A Preliminary Look Into Regional Primary Succession In The Depauw University Nature Park Quarry, Sophia Atkinson, Diana Borse, Dana Dudle
Annual Student Research Poster Session
Quarries are anthropogenic landscapes that when abandoned, leave a blank slate in the environment for species to come in and repopulate the area. This gives way to primary succession, a process that re-vegetates areas devoid of soil. The goal of this research is to investigate where the abandoned limestone quarry at the DePauw University Nature Park is in terms of its successional phase since extraction stopped in 1977. Throughout the summer of 2020, plant species were identified along with the specific region and sub-habitat, the main sub-habitats being the temporary ponds, quarry spoils, talus slopes, flat limestone areas, and damp …
Hsa-Mir-4520-2-3p: A Potential Modulator Of Covid-Related Ace2, Molly Ruggles, Nipun Chopra
Hsa-Mir-4520-2-3p: A Potential Modulator Of Covid-Related Ace2, Molly Ruggles, Nipun Chopra
Annual Student Research Poster Session
ACE2 is a transmembrane receptor located in cells in various tissues around the body. Its normal role is the conversion of Angiotensin II to Angiotensin 1-7 leading to vasodilation and a subsequent reduction in blood pressure via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. ACE2 also plays a pivotal role in the infection of COVID-19 as it determines entry of virus into human cells. SARS-CoV-2 uses one of its four structural proteins, the spike (S) glycoprotein, to bind to the ACE2 receptor. This entry into the cell begins the process of infection and spread of the disease; because of the abundance of ACE2 throughout …
Cardiac Neuroanatomy And Chronotropic Modulation Of The Adult Giant Danio Heart, Alyssa Koch, Emma Nelson, Pascal Lafontant
Cardiac Neuroanatomy And Chronotropic Modulation Of The Adult Giant Danio Heart, Alyssa Koch, Emma Nelson, Pascal Lafontant
Annual Student Research Poster Session
Studies in non-mammalian models species have contributed significantly to our understanding of the biology and the nature of innervation in the heart. The giant danio (D. malabaricus) is a teleost fish species closely related to zebrafish, that is also capable of heart regeneration. We previously described the development and maturation of the giant danio (GD) heart. However, little is known about its innervation. We hypothesized that the pattern of innervation in the GD heart is anatomically and physiologically complex, and that the heart is responsive to physiological modulation similar to that seen in cyprinid fish and mammals. Using various neuronal …
Fundamentals Of Biology Bio 110, Michael Cerbo
Fundamentals Of Biology Bio 110, Michael Cerbo
Library Impact Statements
No abstract provided.
Support For Science-Related Educational Training And Trauma-Informed Work In Somaliland, David Varner
Support For Science-Related Educational Training And Trauma-Informed Work In Somaliland, David Varner
Summer Scholarship, Creative Arts and Research Projects (SCARP)
No abstract provided.
A Review Of Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Their Importance For Palouse Prairie Restoration And Management, Rachael Sv Pentico
A Review Of Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Their Importance For Palouse Prairie Restoration And Management, Rachael Sv Pentico
2020 Symposium Posters
A plant-soil feedback (PSF) is the process in which plants alter both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the soil they grow in. These changes in the soil composition alter which plants can grow and survive there in the future. Negative PSFs occur when plants struggle to grow in soil that was previously inhabited, due to a buildup of soil pathogens. Positive PSFs, however, provide benefits to the plants due to an abundance of soil microbes, such as AMF. Understanding the effects that PSFs have on plant communities and dynamics could be vital for restoring damaged ecosystems, like the Palouse …
Seminar In Biological Sciences Bio 228, Michael Cerbo
Seminar In Biological Sciences Bio 228, Michael Cerbo
Library Impact Statements
No abstract provided.
In Vitro Assessment Of Acute Neuro-Inflammation In A Model Of The Blood Brain Barrier, Cassandra Phillips, Dak Ojuka, Ramon G. Ortega-Alvarez, Anne-Deyssa Victor, Kathryn Fama
In Vitro Assessment Of Acute Neuro-Inflammation In A Model Of The Blood Brain Barrier, Cassandra Phillips, Dak Ojuka, Ramon G. Ortega-Alvarez, Anne-Deyssa Victor, Kathryn Fama
Biology Student Scholarship
Cassandra Phillips ’20
Major: Biology and Psychology
Dak Ojuka '20
Major: Biology Minor: Business and Innovation
Anne-Deyssa Victor '21
Major: Biology
Ramon G. Ortega-Alvarez ’20
Major: Biology
Kathryn Fama ’21
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Charles Toth, Biology
The purpose of this experiment was to develop an in vitro model of the blood brain barrier that incorporated brain endothelial microvascular cells (BMEC) and co-cultures composed of neurons, astrocytes, and macrophages. All cell types were derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. A transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate barrier function. In addition, the model was …
Investigating Metabolic Reprogramming In Neurodegenerative Disease, Sidney Mackinnon, Samantha Nicodemus
Investigating Metabolic Reprogramming In Neurodegenerative Disease, Sidney Mackinnon, Samantha Nicodemus
Biology Student Scholarship
Sidney MacKinnon ’21
Major: Biology
Samantha Nicodemus ’20
Major: Biology and Psychology, Neuroscience Certificate
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marla Tipping, Biology
There’S A New Species Of Thief Ant Hiding In The Pine Barrens Of Rhode Island, Justin Andries
There’S A New Species Of Thief Ant Hiding In The Pine Barrens Of Rhode Island, Justin Andries
Biology Student Scholarship
Major: Biology and Sociology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. James Waters, Biology
Ants are often missed underfoot and overlooked, but they are among the most ecologically dominant groups of animals on the planet. There are more than 200 species of ants which have been scientifically recorded in New England but samples from Rhode Island represent less than a percent of the overall survey of our regional taxa. To discover the species that are found in Rhode Island, we are engaged in a multi-year and multi-location effort to systematically trap and accurately identify the ant species found in diverse rural and urban habitats …
Distribution Of The Cold Water Coral Astrangia In The Waters Of Narrangansett Bay, Jared Getgano, Sarah Ramsaran, Victoria Hartley, Noah Mina
Distribution Of The Cold Water Coral Astrangia In The Waters Of Narrangansett Bay, Jared Getgano, Sarah Ramsaran, Victoria Hartley, Noah Mina
Biology Student Scholarship
No abstract provided.
39 And Me: The Evolution Of Dogs Through The Study Of Genomics, Lauren Flynn, Kathleen Kuhl, Jordan Pagliuca, Megan Russel
39 And Me: The Evolution Of Dogs Through The Study Of Genomics, Lauren Flynn, Kathleen Kuhl, Jordan Pagliuca, Megan Russel
Biology Student Scholarship
Lauren Flynn ’21
Major: Biology and Mathematics
Jordan Pagliuca ’21
Major: Biology
Kathleen Kuhl ’22
Major: Biology
Megan Russell ’20
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elisabeth Arévalo, Biology
Our lab is interested in utilizing the dog model to explore the relationship between genes, evolution, and physical traits. The human selection and manipulation of different desirable traits in dogs has led to mutations that create the unique traits and diversity of breeds. Our lab uses different molecular methods to assess genetic mutations and different inheritable traits ranging from physical characteristics to disease in a variety of dog breeds. Statistical analysis and …
Studying Cardiovascular Disease Using Human Stem Cell-Derived 3d Cardiomyocytes, Nicholas Dash, Veronica Bohl
Studying Cardiovascular Disease Using Human Stem Cell-Derived 3d Cardiomyocytes, Nicholas Dash, Veronica Bohl
Biology Student Scholarship
Veronica Bohl ’20
Major: Biology and Psychology, Neuroscience Certificate Program
Nicholas Dash ’20
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Charles Toth, Biology
This experiment provides insight on how using metabolites derived naturally from the microbiome can influence cardiac inflammation.3D cardiomyocytes were derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells through the utilization of small molecules and growth factors. Quantitative PCR was performed to verify that the organoids expressed genes associated with cardiomyocyte cells. Primers for the genes FOXa2, TNNT2, MYH7, AHR, CACNA1, and KCNH2 were used for the qPCR, as these genes are expressed more prominently in cardiomyocyte cells than the undifferentiated …
Yeast Bxi1p/Ybh3p Is A Ph-Sensitive Calcium Channel In Escherichia Coli., Amanda Raffa, John Kalhorn
Yeast Bxi1p/Ybh3p Is A Ph-Sensitive Calcium Channel In Escherichia Coli., Amanda Raffa, John Kalhorn
Biology Student Scholarship
Amanda Raffa ’21
Major: Biology
John Kalhorn ’21
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, Biology
Autophagy And Lipid Metabolism In C.Elegans, Cristina De Corral, Samantha Otalvaro
Autophagy And Lipid Metabolism In C.Elegans, Cristina De Corral, Samantha Otalvaro
Biology Student Scholarship
Cristina de Corral ’22
Major: Biology
Samantha Otalvaro ’22
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Melissa Silvestrini, Biology
The synthesis, storage, delivery and breakdown of lipids in the cell is crucial for organismal homeostasis. Dysfunction in lipid metabolism can lead to a variety of pathologies including diabetes, heart disease, and even neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s. One common link between these metabolic diseases is the cellular recycling process of autophagy. Autophagy plays a complex role in lipid metabolism as it is required for both lipid storage and breakdown. In C. elegans, loss of autophagy during development impairs production of neutral lipids. …
Pmsf And Sfn Reduce Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation In A Yeast Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Noah Kozub, Taylor Brysgel, Christopher Yerxa
Pmsf And Sfn Reduce Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation In A Yeast Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Noah Kozub, Taylor Brysgel, Christopher Yerxa
Biology Student Scholarship
Noah Kozub ’22
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Fr. Nicanor Austriaco O.P, Biology
Drosophila Models Of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ella Clifford, Jackson Diltz, Emily Teixeira
Drosophila Models Of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ella Clifford, Jackson Diltz, Emily Teixeira
Biology Student Scholarship
Ella Clifford ’20
Major: Biology and Psychology
Jackson Diltz ’22
Major: Biology
Emily Teixeira ’22
Major: Biology
We are working to determine if there are structural differences in the brains of flies modeling neurodegenerative diseases such as Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease in comparison to wild type flies. Our project is a complement to another study our lab is conducting on the metabolic activity of fruit fly models of neurodegenerative diseases. By analyzing cell size, cell pattern, and number of cells, we want to determine if the functional differences found in the metabolic study are mirrored in the structure of …
Modeling Parkinson’S Disease In The Budding Yeast, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Yuri Takenaka
Modeling Parkinson’S Disease In The Budding Yeast, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Yuri Takenaka
Biology Student Scholarship
Major: Biology and Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Fr. Nicanor Austriaco O.P., Biology
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common, incurable neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. PD patients have accumulations of abnormal proteins called Lewy Bodies (LBs) within their neurons that trigger cell death. Damaged and dead neurons lead to decline in dopamine levels, triggering the symptoms of Parkinson’s such as muscle stiffness, tremors, and slowed movement. Numerous studies have shown that the human protein, alpha-synuclein and Tau, are two major components of Lewy Bodies. To study the relationship between protein aggregation and cell death, I have created a system to co-overexpress human …
Cancer: The Role Of Bax Inhibitor In C. Elegans, Ibrahim Abaherah, Michael Bittner, Kevin Ly
Cancer: The Role Of Bax Inhibitor In C. Elegans, Ibrahim Abaherah, Michael Bittner, Kevin Ly
Biology Student Scholarship
Ibrahim Abaherah ’20
Major: Biology
Michael Bittner '21
Major: Biology
Kevin Ly '23
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Melissa Silvestrini, Biology
Bax inhibitor-1 is an evolutionarily conserved regulator of apoptosis and ER stress in cells. Bax inhibitor-1 is regulated by IRE-1, a transmembrane protein in the ER that is responsible for detection of ER-induced stress and activation of downstream targets involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR) to maintain homeostasis. Our goal is to determine whether the C. elegans Bax inhibitor-1 homolog tmbi-4 is dependent on the IRE1 pathway in C. elegans. Our preliminary data in the lab suggest that …
Detecting Aggregated Superoxide-Dismutase Protein Using Aggregate Specific Antibodies, Helen Magana
Detecting Aggregated Superoxide-Dismutase Protein Using Aggregate Specific Antibodies, Helen Magana
Honors Projects
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is neurodegenerative disease characterized by late-onset, loss of motor neurons, paralysis, and eventual death. SOD1 is a free radical scavenger that normally resides in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and intermembrane space of the mitochondria. Mutations in SOD1, a ubiquitously expressed free-radical scavenger, are one cause of ALS. Degeneration of motor neurons is thought to be triggered by aggregation of mutant SOD1 followed by propagation to adjacent cells though cell-cell contacts. Here, we present immunohistochemical findings on tissues of a Drosophila melanogaster expressing mutant dsod1 alleles at the endogenous locus. Aggregate-specific antibodies were used to assess the presence of …
Comparison Of Branching Allometry Between Ginkgo Biloba And Several Native Michigan Trees, Collin Fox, Noah Holkeboer
Comparison Of Branching Allometry Between Ginkgo Biloba And Several Native Michigan Trees, Collin Fox, Noah Holkeboer
Student Scholars Day Posters
Ginkgo biloba is the only extant species of the gymnospermous order Ginkgoales. Like angiosperms, ginkgo is deciduous with broad leaves and vessel tubes. However, unlike angiosperms, ginkgo possesses a long-shoot x short-shoot branching system, the latter producing most of the leaves, and open-dichotomous leaf venation. Given that branching reflects optimization of photosynthetic capture through structural support and hydraulic efficiency, we compared the degree to which these functions were optimized for ginkgo relative to three native species. DBH, neighbor density and size were measured in field and branch dimensions were measured from photographs and analyzed per Murray’s Law for hydraulic optimization …