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The Role Of Machine Learning And Network Analyses In Understanding Microbial Composition In An Experimental Prairie, Ali Eastman Oku
The Role Of Machine Learning And Network Analyses In Understanding Microbial Composition In An Experimental Prairie, Ali Eastman Oku
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Machine learning and network analyses are powerful modern tools can process and map out connections between large amount of ecological data from complex environmental communities. Random forests, an ensemble machine learning algorithm, are particularly powerful as they can capture complex patterns in data while remaining easily interpretable. These tools are specifically useful in experimental settings where different types of data are collected. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the utility of machine learning models and network analyses at analyzing diverse ecological data from dynamic plant-soil microbial communities in a prairie ecosystem. Our experimental system is an experimental prairie …
The Effect Of Antibiotic Selective Pressure On Mdr1 And Asct2 Expression In Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Isabella G. Guizzetti, Barrie P. Bode, Paige Jay Bothwell
The Effect Of Antibiotic Selective Pressure On Mdr1 And Asct2 Expression In Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Isabella G. Guizzetti, Barrie P. Bode, Paige Jay Bothwell
Honors Capstones
Our laboratory has used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system to eliminate the expression of the SLC1A5 gene, which encodes the ASCT2 amino acid transporter, which is implicated in driving the glutamine-dependent growth of several cancers. At last year’s URAD event, the isolation of clones confirmed for knockout (KO) of ASCT2 in two human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines – Huh7 and SK-Hep1 - was described. As these ASCT2 knockout (ASCT2KO) cell lines are currently being deployed in studies assessing the role of this transporter in tumorigenesis, we asked two fundamental questions: 1) Does the removal of antibiotic selective pressure – …
Cultivating A Stem Investigation: Reading And Task Expectations For Introductory Biology Courses, Tina M. Ballard
Cultivating A Stem Investigation: Reading And Task Expectations For Introductory Biology Courses, Tina M. Ballard
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
College completion is an important discussion in today’s world with only about 30% of community college students completing their degrees within three years of starting their programs. Especially in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, students are changing their majors or not completing their degrees for a variety of reasons. Previous research has established that there are high attrition and failure rates for introductory biology courses which may be causing some students to change their majors or not complete their degrees. This multicase study investigated the reading and task demands for introductory biology courses designed for STEM majors …
Autophagy In Dna-Pkcs Knockout Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells, Samantha C. Diulus
Autophagy In Dna-Pkcs Knockout Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells, Samantha C. Diulus
Honors Capstones
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a deadly form of brain cancer, with an expected survival of only a few months after diagnosis without therapy. The current standard of care extends life expectancy by a couple of months due to almost universal recurrence of the tumor. Recurrence of GBM is highly dependent on a radiation-resistant subpopulation of GBM, the cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs possess an enhanced ability to repair therapy-induced DNA damage, especially DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). To study the role of DNA damage repair in GBM CSCs, our investigations used a knockout (KO) of an enzyme, DNA PKcs, which …
Morphological Comparisons Of Five Species Of Tamarins In Peru, Leila M. Porter, Tyler D. Kotowski
Morphological Comparisons Of Five Species Of Tamarins In Peru, Leila M. Porter, Tyler D. Kotowski
Honors Capstones
Tamarins of the genus Leontocebus (formerly Saguinus), subfamily Callitrichinae, represent one of the most diverse primate taxa but detailed information about their phylogeny is still lacking. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses have led to the reclassification of many taxa. In Peru, ten subspecies of tamarins were reclassified as eight new species and four new subspecies based on genetic differences among these taxa. However, no one has attempted to determine whether these new “genetic species” have distinguishable morphological traits. To do this, we examined twenty crania and skins representing five Peruvian “genetic species” housed in the Mammals Collection at the Field Museum …
The Role Of Nitric Oxide In Pancreatic Cell Secretion, Kaylee R. Walters
The Role Of Nitric Oxide In Pancreatic Cell Secretion, Kaylee R. Walters
Honors Capstones
The pancreas is a model tissue that has been extensively studied in the lab of my research supervisor. They have shown that nitric oxide is produced by the pancreas and is necessary for sectretion; however, the mechanism of action remained to be identified. The goal of my research over the past year was to investigate the signaling role of nitric oxide, the peroxynitrite producing enzyme NADPH oxidase NOX-4, and the nitrosylation oftarget proteins on the zymogen granule membrane as a potential mechanism to regulate cytoskeletal reorganization and migration of the secretory vesicles. In addition, I performed research to understand the …
The Role Of Nck In Pancreatic Secretion, Cole Lightfoot
The Role Of Nck In Pancreatic Secretion, Cole Lightfoot
Honors Capstones
In the body, secretion is a vital process providing the release of many different and important macromolecular compounds. Using the pancreas as a model secretory organ, research was conducted pertaining to pancreatic exocytosis and the signal transduction system that controls it. The specific focus of the research is to better understand the role of Nck, a ubiquitous adaptor protein, in cytoskeleton reorganization and pancreatic secretion. The goal of the experiments conducted is to prove that upon stimulation of pancreatic acinar cells, Nck recruits to the secretory vesicles. Nck facilitates protein-protein interactions and acts as a regulator of cytoskeletal activation-dependent processes. …
Gorwth And Developmental Plasticity Of Chaoborus Americanus Populations, Rachel Moran
Gorwth And Developmental Plasticity Of Chaoborus Americanus Populations, Rachel Moran
Honors Capstones
The larval stage of the phantom midge Chaoborus americanus (Chaoboridae) is an important predator on zooplankton in temperate, fish less ponds. Chaoborus have distinct development stages typical of holometabolous insects: egg, larva (four larval instars), pupa, and adult. Temperature and food levels can significantly affect development rates in insects. The purpose of this study was: (1) to compare developmental patterns of populations of C. americanus from different latitudes (northern Wisconsin, northern Illinois), which experience different annual temperature regimes; and (2) to construct a mathematical model to predict larval development patterns (Developmental Model) and another to predict abundance patterns for C. …
Isolation And Analysis Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Lines Bearing Drg Knock-Out Mutations And Overexpressing Gfp Protein Fusions: Are Wild-Type Drgs Necessary For Heat Stress Granule Formation?, Lindsey Mckinney
Honors Capstones
Purpose and Methodology: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of DRG and GFP in response to heat stress in Arabidopsis by examining whether any DRG mutant combination inhibits the formation of heat stress granules (HSGs) following exposure of plants to heat stress. Methods utilized in the experimentation include the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis to screen for plants containing the desired combination of genes, a root-growth assay to study the relationship between phenotype and genetic composition, and confocal microscopy to observe the formation of HSGs in root tips. Findings: The genetic composition of DRG …