Life Sciences Commons^™

Astrocyte Spatial Distribution Affects Growth Dynamics Of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: An Agent-Based Modeling Study, Rupleen Kaur

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Multiscale Modeling Of Microtubule Polarity Mechanisms Following Neuronal Axotomy, Hannah Scanlon

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Tracking Food Quality In Algae-Daphnia Ecosystems Through Stage Structured Models And Colimitation, Tomas Ascoli

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Histone Changes As A Response To Lactic Acid Selection In Cells Of Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Lori Tran, Jason Podrabsky, Chelsea Hughes

Student Research Symposium

The killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus is an extremophile native to small temporary ponds of Venezuela. Normal embryonic development of A. limnaeus is segmented into up to three stages of metabolic depression (diapause), and both developing and diapausing embryos can survive long bouts of the complete absence of oxygen (anoxia) by using anaerobic metabolic pathways. While there has been much focus on how mutations in DNA drive evolution, environmental stress can cause heritable changes to histone post-translational modifications (hPTMs) in multiple species. However, this evolutionary role of hPTMs has never been studied in A. limnaeus. Additionally, the possible evolutionary role of extracellular …

Mutagenetic Analysis Of The Minor Capsid Protein Vp3 Of The Archaeal Fusellovirus Ssv1, Laura Costal Lagarde

Student Research Symposium

Viruses, while often associated with disease, are integral to life and play an important role in the microbiome. Despite their importance in medical research, archaeal viruses, particularly those found in extreme environments, are not widely understood. The Sulfolobus Spindle-Shaped Viruses (SSVs) of the Fuselloviridae family are unique among viruses in that they do not kill their host, the archaeon Sulfolobus Solfataricus in volcanic hot springs, but rather slow its growth, allowing for halo assay assessments.The study focuses on the type virus SSV1, which is predominantly composed of the Major and Minor capsid proteins vp1 and vp3, respectively. Previous study has …

Describing Shen & Shen Ming Via A Hybrid Quantum Computational Model, Alex M. Cullen, Johnny Lemau

Student Research Symposium

Definitions for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) terminology within the context of quantum biology (QB) have recently been proposed. These definitions aim to elucidate concepts such as qi meridians in TCM. Our study presents a hypothesis that seeks to provide an operational definition for Spirit (Shen) and Bright Spirit (Shen Ming) in TCM via a scoping review. We propose that Shen represents physical, phenomenological proto-consciousness/consciousness in the forms of computation, such as singular particles/bits/qubits, computers, organisms, or computational strategies, whereas Shen Ming may refer to emergent, quasi-physical meta-proto-consciousness/consciousness formed by coherent relationships of multiple orchestrated/integrated units of computation; manifesting itself as …

Qibc Analysis On Killifish Cells Under Anoxic Conditions, Jaina Canlas

Student Research Symposium

Faithful DNA replication is vital for all living organisms. Environmental stressors can cause a multitude of mutations and DNA lesions during replication leading to cell death if not accurately repaired. The annual killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus, has a heightened tolerance to many known genotoxic stressors, including anoxia. Embryos of the annual killifish can survive months of anoxia during the dry season when the ephemeral ponds they inhabit, completely dry. During these exposures, they have shown they are capable of repairing substantial amounts of damaged DNA. This resilience has led us to hypothesize that A. limnaeus have enhanced DNA repair capabilities. …

Examining The Role Of Rgs2 In The Maintenance Of Diapause After Anoxic Stress In Embryos Of The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Patrick Clouser

Student Research Symposium

Austrofundulus limnaeus live in ephemeral ponds of Venezuela. They have evolved a unique life history that includes embryonic diapause, a period of developmental dormancy, metabolic arrest, and reduced protein synthesis. Diapausing embryos are resistant to environmental stress and survive months without oxygen (anoxia). A. limnaeus’ anoxia tolerance is an important survival mechanism as they can be buried in anoxic soil during development. Analysis of RNAseq data from diapausing A. limnaeus embryos show significant down-regulation of RGS2 transcripts in anoxic embryos. RGS2 regulates G-protein receptor signaling by inhibiting associated G_a-proteins and can inhibit protein synthesis. I hypothesis that …

Annual Killifish: Eye Development And Retinal Cell Regeneration, Carmen Z. Rodriguez

Student Research Symposium

Vertebrate eye development is highly conserved. Current models have allowed the understanding of gene expression patterns that support eye development, but lack the context of extreme environmental conditions that challenge these fundamental programs. Typical vertebrate life spans can be years, but annual killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus, are able to complete their entire adult lifespan in only weeks. Thus, A. limnaeus is a strong model for age-related macular degeneration. A. limnaeus also experiences embryonic diapause; a period of developmental dormancy. Developing/diapausing embryos of A. limnaeus are resistant to environmental stresses such as hypoxia/anoxia that would cause irreparable damage to vital organs, such …

Locating Vitamin D Receptors (Vdrs) In Annual Killifish, Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Rosy Tanori

Student Research Symposium

Austrofundulus limnaeus, a species of annual killifish found in unpredictable temporary habitats in South America, has a profound ability to survive long periods without water and oxygen. This tolerance is associated with the ability to enter metabolic dormancy associated with diapause. Entrance into diapause and tolerance of environmental stress is governed by an interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is among these factors and plays a crucial role in determining if an embryo will enter diapause or actively develop. My work aims to identify the genomic locations of VDR proteins in the A. limnaeus genome …

Exploring Factors That Contribute To Stem Transfer Student Sense Of Belonging, Brittney R. Gallant, Cate Pocitari

Student Research Symposium

There is an ongoing disconnect between the number of students who enter college intending to earn a STEM degree and the number of students who persist to degree, this is particularly true for transfer students. Sense of belonging has been named as a STEM persistence factor, yet how that belonging develops for transfer students is largely unknown. Here we used a mixed-methods design to explore the experiences of STEM transfer students at PSU (n=38). Participants completed a survey prior to participating in an interview. The survey and interviews explored their science identity, sense of belonging, and involvement in STEM-related activities. …

Developing Zntpp-4ab As A Potential Photodynamic Therapy Agent, Kennedy Johnson

Scholars Day Conference

Photodynamic therapy is a fairly new technique used in cancer treatment involving the use of a photosensitizer and light exposure to kill malignant cells. In this research, the use of ZnTPP-4AB as a photosensitizer and red light as a source of radiant light energy was explored in terms of cytotoxicity in the A549 lung cancer cell line. ZnTPP-4AB was synthesized by replacing the carbonyl functional groups on the ZnTPPC porphyrin with 4-amino-1-butanol. Following synthesis, the new porphyrin was purified through the use of Sephadex LH-20 and G-50 in column chromatography in order to remove impurities. To confirm the identity and …

The Effects Of Light And Hypo-Gravity On The Development And Movement Of Dictyostelium Discoideum, Will Ross, Lawrence Davis

Scholars Day Conference

Dictyostelium discoideum is a prevalent eukaryotic slime mold that has been utilized in many experiments because of its distinct development as an organism. Dictyostelium d.’s life cycle (figure 2) starts as spores which develop into amoebae, which feed on bacteria and when conditions are right, they will develop into multicellular structures referred to as slugs. The focal point of this experiment is to observe the movement and development of the slugs in response to light and the influence of gravity using a clinostat. To conduct the experiment, ten slugs were placed in the center of each lactose peptone plate and …

Estimating Changing Marshland Habitat And Conservation Potential For Diamondback Terrapins In New Jersey Under Climate Change And Development Pressures, Jacqueline Ganter

STEM Student Research Symposium Posters

The diamondback terrapin, a brackish water turtle native to the eastern US, is listed as a species of ‘special concern’ in the state of New Jersey, due to decreasing habitat from development and changing climatic conditions. Diamondback terrapins reside in saline marshes and wetlands and nest in sandy substrate, primarily beaches and dunes, in June and July. The state of New Jersey is vulnerable to both sea level rise, leaving diamondback terrapin habitats and nesting areas at risk of inundation under future climate scenarios, and, as the most densely populated state, subject to continual development pressures on potentially conservable land. …

Monotypic: Evolution And Adaptations Of The World's Most Distinctive Species, Emerson Harman, Amanda Almon

STEM Student Research Symposium Posters

"Monotypic: Evolution and Adaptations of the World’s Most Distinctive Species" is a BFA and Honors Capstone exhibition focused on introducing the public to the unique qualities of plants and animals that are the sole extant representative of their taxonomic family or higher classification. The exhibition is centered around the use of illustrative infographics to effectively deliver scientific information in an engaging manner to a wide audience. "Monotypic" explores the individual evolutionary adaptations that make each of these lineages so distinct from any of their living relatives while also touching on the interactions with their environments, relationships with other species, and …

Bat Survey Of Winona, Hailey B. Christensen, Morgan L. Winter

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Two bat detectors were placed at Garvin Heights and West Lake Winona to test bat activity in Winona, Minnesota. It was hypothesized that there would be a higher activity of bats at West Lake Winona than there would be at Garvin Heights. It was also hypothesized that high moonlight illumination would impact bat activity in a negative way. After data analyses were performed, it was found that bats were more active at West Lake Winona than at Garvin Heights. Based on the data analyses for moon light illumination and bat activity, there is no pattern common to all species, but …

Alleviating Environmental Stresses In Native Arkansas Plants By Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation, Rebecca C. Morse

ATU Research Symposium

The rapid human-driven changes in the environment during the Anthropocene have placed extreme stress on many native plants and animals. Beneficial interactions with microorganisms may be crucial for ameliorating these stressors and facilitating the ecosystem services host organisms provide. The role of an important mutualistic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the competitive ability and successful adaptation of Arkansas native species by enhancing nutrient uptake has not been previously considered. Analysis of field root and soil samples from the native species in their native range as well as a controlled green-house experiment will be conducted to determine the level …

Post Rehabilitation Analysis Of Stream Habitat And Brown Trout In Cedar Valley Creek, Ashlynn D. Leonard, Emma C. Ehlers

Research & Creative Achievement Day

A section of Cedar Valley Creek went through a rehabilitation process that was intended to improve the trout habitat as well as to reinforce banks, deepen the stream, and narrow the channel. We took brown trout (Salmo trutta) counts and did habitat analyses at five locations (each 50 m long), in the restored stream section of Cedar Valley Creek during fall 2023 to compare to pre-rehabilitation data collected in 2022. A backpack electrofisher and nets were used to collect brown trout via a single-pass removal sampling process. All trout were measured for total length (mm) before being released back into …

Changes In Animal Vocalizations In Response To A Total Solar Eclipse, Colton W. Morris

ATU Research Symposium

My proposed research project will study the changes in animal vocalizations in response to the total solar eclipse that will take place in Russellville, Arkansas, on April 8, 2024. I will use audio recordings before, during, and after the eclipse to quantify changes in animal vocalizations. Most recordings will be in the range of normal hearing, and will primarily detect birds, frogs, and insects. Additionally, I will deploy one ultrasonic recorder capable of detecting bats. From these recordings I will be able to quantify overall and species-specific call rates. Audio recordings will be paired with continuous measurements of light intensity …

Molecular Methods Used To Identify A New Species Of Dictyocaulus (Family Dictyocaulidae) In White-Tailed Deer, Garit T. Wollan, Elisa M. Quevedo

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Lungworms (Dictyocaulus) are a type of parasitic nematode found in the lungs of vertebrates and can cause life threatening diseases to their host(s). Dictyocaulus is a type of lungworm found in cattle (Bos taurus), deer (Cervidae), goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), sheep (Ovis aries), and horses (Equus caballus). The purpose of this study was to use DNA analysis to distinguish between different species of Dictyocaulus among cattle, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and red deer (Cervus elaphus). Adult lungworms were collected from the lungs of cattle from research farms in Missouri, Wisconsin, and Mississippi, from the lungs of red deer from a …

Genetic Association In Entylia Carinata Using Random Forest Classification, Caden J. Harper

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The goal of this research was to identify locations in the genome of the Entylia carinata, known as the treehopper, that are associated with anomalous behavior exhibited by the species. Treehoppers are phytophagous insects and are shown to feed, reproduce, and rear their young on specific aster species. Observation has shown that the insects will disregard potential mates in close proximity in favor of those that originate from the same plant species as themselves. This behavior suggests genetic separation in the species based on plant nativity and warrants genetic analysis. Machine learning offers an effective genetic association technique due to …

Detection Of Lyme's Disease Caused By Borrelia Burgdorferi In Ixodes Scapularis Using A Pcr Multiplex And Real-Time Pcr, Emily T. Dittman, Bethany G. Basile

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Ixodes scapularis (deer ticks) are a vector for the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that is known to cause Lyme's Disease in animals and humans (Homo sapiens). In the past few years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of Lyme's Disease cases throughout the midwestern United States indicating that many ticks have been infected with B. burgdorferi. Using I. scapularis DNA samples collected from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the spring of 2006 from Buffalo County, WI and Winona County, MN, both traditional and real-time PCR methods were used to test for the presence of the B. burgdorferi organism in …

Carbon Sequestration And Its Role In Mitigating Climate Change, Mallory Woodward

ATU Research Symposium

Carbon sequestration is when carbon dioxide is stored in ecosystems like grasslands forests, soils and oceans. Wetlands are one of the many important ecosystems that sequester carbon and act as a carbon sink. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that in 2019 33,621.5 million metric tons of carbon were released into the atmosphere globally, due to human emissions. Anthropogenic carbon emissions have rapidly increased over the past 150 years. Since 1982, The global rate of warming is more than three times as fast, currently rising 0.36 degrees Fahrenheit each decade, and the rate will continue to increase. How do wetlands …

Characterization Of Bacteria And Fungi In Hotel Bathroom Products, Madie Clarke, Regan L. Feit, Rebecca A. Nachreiner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Refilling hotel products and storing open products in bathrooms are excellent conditions for bacterial growth. Bacteria accumulate in frequently touched surfaces and thrive in warm, moist, nutrient-rich environments. Bathrooms are also the perfect breeding ground for microbes to flourish. Not all bacteria are bad for our health, but it would be beneficial to know what microorganisms can be found in cosmetic or cream products that are used on a daily basis. This is especially important when bacteria or fungi are known pathogens. This study evaluated and classified bacteria and fungi in shampoos and body lotions using Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA) …

Microbiological Study Of Used Cosmetic Products, Macy S. Priest, Rachel L. Przybilla

Research & Creative Achievement Day

The bacterial and fungal load in commercial creams and cosmetic products -was examined. This research aimed to identify pathogenic microbes, their toxin production, and their potential impact on product integrity. Our tests showed bacterial growth in the beauty products Cetaphil Facial Cleanser, CereVe moisturizing lotion, and Maybelline facial powder. Several microbes were characterized: a gram-positive bacteria identified as Bacillus cereus as well as an unknown gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the fungus Fusarium was observed. These microbes might be commonly observed in beauty products, but theoretically many different species of bacteria could grow in this type of environment.

Morphology Of Trematodes In Gadwall Ducks (Mareca Strepera) Found In The Mississippi Valley: Parasitology Class Project, Annika N. Lensch, Ethan B. Gjervik, Mckenna A. Baker, Elizabeth K. Haumont, Mivang Xiong

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Gadwall ducks (Mareca strepera) are commonly found in lakes, ponds, and marshes west of the Mississippi River in summer months. A Gadwall duck is considered a dabbler duck which feeds on aquatic plants floating on the water's surface occasionally feeding on insects, crustaceans (crayfish, crabs), and small fish. Trematodes are a commonly found parasite in the gastrointestinal tract of many species of ducks. The ducks used in this study were legally collected and donated by hunters from Buffalo City, Wisconsin along the Mississippi River. This study will focus on identifying trematodes found within Gadwall ducks such as Echinostoma, Zygocotyle, and …

Annotation Of Hypothetical Genes In Lactococcus Lactis Ssp. Il403, Jennifer A. Tangires

Student Scholar Showcase

The human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) harnesses various microbial organisms involved in almost all processes of physiological homeostasis, among these are lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These bacteria, almost all of which belong to the order Lactobacillales, are able to produce lactic acid, and play an important role in food preservation because they produce bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial proteins that are used to fight off related bacteria in their environment that are competing for the same resources. This study focuses on a specific LAB strain, Lactococcus lactis ssp. IL1403 where 21.9% of its predicted genes have not yet been assigned a function. …

Comparative Genomics Of Selected Lactobacillus Helveticus Strains, Cain Petty

Undergraduate Research Conference

My research is to compare two strains (D76 and H10) of Lactobacillus helveticus and a shared gene between them. I would want to experiment with overexpression to test for any difference in the regulatory function of genes associated with CggR - the central glycolytic genes regulator. The poster I am presenting would outline this and provide a clearer understanding of genes and potential overexpression.

Bec-1 Survey Of Parasites In Ictalurus Punctatus (Channel Catfish) Of The Savannah River Basin At Little River In Mccormick, South Carolina, Savannah Cade, Jason Lee

SC Upstate Research Symposium

Ictalurus punctatus, more commonly known as the Channel Catfish, is common throughout the Savannah River Basin. Fifteen specimens were captured by hook and line from the Little River in McCormick County, South Carolina. The gills and viscera were examined for metazoan parasites and prevalence and mean intensity were computed. The monogenean Ligictaluridus pricei and the copepod Ergasilus arthrosis were recovered from the gills. Two digenetic trematodes (Megalonia ictaluri and Alloglossidium corti), one tapeworm (Corallobothrium fimbriatum), two nematodes (Camallanus oxycephalus and Spinitectus carolini) and one acanthocephalan (Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus) were recovered from the …

Hgs-3 The Influence Of A Tandem Cycling Program In The Community On Physical And Functional Health, Therapeutic Bonds, And Quality Of Life For Individuals And Care Partners Coping With Parkinson’S Disease, Leila Djerdjour, Jennifer L. Trilk

SC Upstate Research Symposium

Purpose Statement: Several studies have shown that aerobic exercise can have a positive impact on alleviating symptoms experienced by individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite this evidence, the potential benefits of exercise for both PD patients and their care partners (PD dyad) remain unexplored. This research project investigates the effectiveness, therapeutic collaborations, and physical outcomes of a virtual reality (VR) tandem cycling program specifically designed for PD dyads.

Methods: Following approval from the Prisma Health Institutional Review Board, individuals with PD were identified and screened by clinical neurologists. The pre-testing measures for PD dyads (N=9) included emotional and cognitive status …