Life Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of Long Non-Coding Rna (Lncrna) In The Organization Of Nuclear Bodies, Soobin An

Symposium of Student Scholars

Nuclear bodies (NBs) (e.g., the nucleolus, nuclear speckles, and others) are membraneless compartments within the eukaryotic cell nucleus that selectively accumulate and retain specific nuclear proteins. NBs have become a new interest in recent discoveries because of their potential involvement in cancer and neurological disorders. However, the regulation and function of NBs are still enigmatic. Our laboratory studies a specific type of NBs, called B-bodies, to understand how NBs are formed and regulated in the nucleus. We hypothesized that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) functions as a structural scaffold of NBs.

The B-body is a recently discovered NB expressed in the …

Guano Among Bat Species From Two Regions Shows Influence Of Geography And Diet On Bacterial Community, Rahma Ahmed, Thomas Mcelroy, Shannon Whitney, Lydia Moore

Symposium of Student Scholars

Studies of bat guano have shown that the diversity and structure of associated microbial communities can be related to factors such as host phylogeny, life history and reproductive stage, geography, and diet. Many insectivorous bat species in the southeastern U.S. have generalist diets that may shift seasonally to take advantage of abundant prey species or maximize caloric intake. Seasonal shifts in prey availability or consumption should be reflected in a guano microbiome change. We also expected to detect distinct guano microbiomes within species. Within species, distinct microbial communities related to geography, and finally life history and reproductive stage. We compared …

Reducing Skin Injury And Breakdown In Neonatal Patients, Emily Herring

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

The integumentary system is known for being the body’s largest organ, comprised of water, fats, protein, and minerals, for which composition plays a significant role in protecting the body against thermal, chemical, and microbial agents. However, the skin’s functionality is reduced in neonates as the stratum corneum is thin at birth due to diminished water-holding capacity (Oranges et al., 2015). The skin’s fragility is further stressed among preterm neonates and newborns in neonatal intensive-care units (NICU) due to medical status, procedures, and exposure to skin irritants (Visscher et al., 2009). Reduction in skin injury and breakdown in NICU patients …

Alternative Precautionary Measures Yielding Lower C. Diff Infection Rates In Healthcare Facilities, Matthew Kramer

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: An international healthcare concern is the persistent spread of Clostridium difficile, a Gram-positive spore forming bacterium that is responsible for the most common hospital-acquired infection, amongst patients.

Objective: A systematic review was performed to summarize evidence that the interventions utilized in healthcare facilities which indicate a patient’s precautionary status are insufficient, outdated, and commonly lead to infection in neighboring patient rooms. Databases such as PubMed, NCBI, Google Scholar, and APHA’s Medical Care were searched, covering the period from 2017-2022. Studies were included if their focus concentrated on C. diff and the precautionary measures taken by employees at healthcare …

Insect Availability And Parental Care Behavior In A Common Bird, Cole Bourque

Symposium of Student Scholars

Populations of aerially insectivorous birds are declining throughout North America. Urbanization may indirectly contribute to this decline through its negative effects on populations of insects, an important food source in insectivores' diets, where low insect availability may be especially challenging for birds during breeding. How fluctuations in insect populations impact various species at higher trophic levels is an important area of current study for future conservation biology. Here, we examine whether nestling provisioning, brooding and guarding behaviors in a breeding bird—the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)—may be altered depending on the relative insect availability in the environment. We found …

Detecting Bacterial Species From Ancient Human Skeletal Samples, Ariel Owens, Daisy Mcgrath, Tsai-Tien Tseng

Symposium of Student Scholars

Diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) via morphological analysis is difficult and often inconsistent. With next-generation sequencing (NGS), ancient host microbiomes can be subjected to metagenomic analyses for the detection of TB in silico. Suitable bioinformatic workflows are needed for reliable ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of causative agents. This study aims to enhance available bioinformatic screening methods to create more suitable bioinformatic processes and generate insights in relation to TB.

This research utilizes publicly available NGS data accessed through the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Initial quality control steps included adapter trimming with Trim …

Designing And Synthesizing A Warhead-Fragment Inhibitory Ligand For Ivyp1 Through Fragment-Based Drug Discovery, Samuel Moore

Symposium of Student Scholars

Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a powerful tool for developing anticancer and antimicrobial agents. Within this, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) provides a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative approach to screening and validating weak and robust binders with targeted proteins, making NMR among the most attractive strategies in FBDD. Inhibitor of vertebrate lysozyme (Ivyp1) of P. aeruginosa serves as an excellent target because of its active cellular location and implications in clinical prognosis for cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. This study uses current NMR and biophysical techniques to develop a covalent, fragment-linked warhead inhibitor for Ivyp1 through synthetic methods, warhead linking, and …

Characterization Of Caenorhabditis Elegans F07a5.4, Human Ortholog Of Olfactomedin 1, Sade K. Thomas, Karunambigai Kalichamy, Martin Hudson

Symposium of Student Scholars

Accurate control of nervous system development is critical for normal brain patterning, and defects in this process can lead to neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder. The transcription factor neurogenin is necessary for the development of neural subtypes and is deeply conserved across species. However, the transcriptional targets of neurogenin are poorly understood, creating an imperative for further study. We have used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to better understand ngn-1/neurogenin function. Previous work from our lab revealed that ngn-1 plays a role in nerve ring architecture, and neural cell fate specification. In addition, …

The Role Of Akirin/Nurd Interactions During Heart Development, Mia Jones

Symposium of Student Scholars

Congenital heart defects are often identified during pregnancy or infancy and are the most common birth defect presented in humans, affecting blood circulation resultant from small holes in a blood chamber to deformity-inducing missing structures. Recent advancements in medicine have allowed those affected to live healthier, longer lives. Gene combinations and chromosomal changes play pivotal roles in congenital heart defects, but the specific genes involved remain unknown. The Nowak Lab has discovered several novel regulatory proteins that are critical for embryonic heart development and is studying them for a potential link to congenital heart defects.

During embryogenesis, the heart of …

Evaluation Of Differences In Testosterone Concentration Among Species, Sexes, And Reproductive Tactics In Two-Lined Salamanders, Zaynab Massenburg

Symposium of Student Scholars

Fall 2022 symposium abstract:

Evaluation of differences in testosterone concentration among species, sexes, and reproductive tactics in two-lined salamanders

Zaynab Massenburg(1), Michelle Ross(1)

[zmassenb@students.kennesaw.edu, mross105@students.kennesaw.edu]

(1) Kennesaw State University

Inhabiting streams in the Appalachian Mountains in northern Georgia are two sympatric and closely related species of plethodontid salamanders—Brown-backed Salamanders (Eurycea aquatica) and Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamanders (Eurycea cf. wilderae). Male Eurycea cf. wilderae exhibit a morphological polymorphism corresponding to alternative reproductive tactics. “Searching” males display brighter coloration, the presence of cirri and a mental glad, and mate-searching behavior, while “guarding” males display hypertrophied jaw musculature, lack cirri and a mental …

Analyzing The Past Five Years Of Equinox Week* Programs Focused On Sustainable Development Goals Within A Collection Of Local And Global Initiatives To Support A Proposal For The Publication Of A Comprehensive Book, Abdoulaye Idrissa

Symposium of Student Scholars

Many undergraduate students are not familiar with the research process involved in a book publication proposal. Through this multidisciplinary collaborative research, the faculty intends to minimize this gap by engaging the students in such a process from the early phase of proposal preparation. The student will research and review the past five years of EQUINOX Week* programs focused on Sustainable Development Goals within a collection of local and global initiatives to support a proposal for the EQUINOX proceeding publication.

With an extensive set of qualitative and quantitative data gathered over a span of 5 years. The student will be …

Pollution And Littering: Land And Water Pollution Control In The Wright State Woods, Alyssa Vanwinkle, Heidi Orloff, Madelynn Mitchell, Samuel Jackson, Josh Hivner

Runkle Woods Symposia

Students present proposals and options to combat the effect of sodium chloride pollution in ground water and waterways.

Stormwater Bioretention Through The Establishment Of Native Wetland Flora, Spencer Thomas, Davis Taylor, Elise Berry

Runkle Woods Symposia

Students Elise Berry and Spencer Thomas presents a proposed conservation plan through the establishment of wetlands.

The Ecosystem Value Of The Dominant Native And Invasive Shrubs In The Wsu Woods, Jaedynn Duell, John O. Stireman Iii

Runkle Woods Symposia

Jaedynn Duell presents her research in how invasive honeysuckle impacts the ecology of the Wright State University Woods, focusing on spicebush, a comparative counterpart to honeysuckle, and native a local caterpillar species.

The Parasitic Relationship Between The Woods And Wright State, Aubrey Garman

Runkle Woods Symposia

English Literature student Aubrey Garman discusses the recent history and relationship between Wright State University and the Woods the institution stewards.

The Threat Of Plant Invaders And The Plan To Reduce Their Impact In The Wright State Woods, Brandon Thompson, Elizabeth Dunn, Tomee Norris

Runkle Woods Symposia

A presentation by students from the Conservation Biology class presenting on their proposals for reducing the impact of invasive plants species in the Wright state University Woods.

Bat Conservation In The Wright State Woods, Heather Wilson, Morgan Hill, Riley Patrick, Rebecca Sanders

Runkle Woods Symposia

A presentation by students from the Conservation Biology class presenting on their variety of proposals for the conservation of bat species int the Wright State University Woods.

Biodiversity Done The Right Way, Brad Kerry

Runkle Woods Symposia

Economics graduate student Brad Kerry discusses biodiversity through the lens of resource allocation.

Venerable Trees Of The Wright State Woods, Don Cipollini

Runkle Woods Symposia

Dr. Don Cipollini highlights and discusses major tree species in the Wright State University Woods.

Assessing The Risk Of Road Salt To Trees In The Wsu Woods, Shamal Chetty, Mark Crockett, Courtney Crone, Adebayo Djanman, Christopher Griesmeyer, Benjamin Kressbach, Brandon Noel, Israel Odoh, Jennifer Sally, Audrey E. Mcgowin

Runkle Woods Symposia

Students discuss the risk of high amounts of road salt in the ground water in and around the Wright State Woods. Using chlorides as a target anolyte, the students discuss findings, how the abnormally high chloride content in the ground water is effecting the trees in the Wright State Woods, and what they propose for further investigation and action.

Discussion About Conserving The Woods, Volker Bahn

Runkle Woods Symposia

Dr. Volker Bahn discusses the work being done at Wright State to help conserve the Wright State Woods. His discussion introduces subjects later student presentations will cover including Bat Conservation in the Wright State Woods, The Threat of Plant Invaders and the Plan to Reduce Their Impact in the Wright State Woods, Stormwater Bioretention through the Establishment of Native Wetland Flora, and Pollution and Littering: Land and Water Pollution Control in the Wright State Woods.

Woods Symposium 2022 Program, Wright State University

Runkle Woods Symposia

The program for the 5th annual Wright State University Runkle Woods Symposium that took place on November 18, 2022

An Integral Projection Modeling Approach To Understanding Demographic Effects Of Multispecies Mutualisms, Alexandra Campbell

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Assessment And Teaching Modalities For A Quantitative Biology Course, Dmitry Kondrashov

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Structural Equation Modeling To Evaluate College Students’ Burnout With Optimism And Stress As Predictors, Luis Miguel Grilo

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Modularity And Boolean Network Decomposition, Matthew Wheeler

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Canalization And Other Design Principles Of Gene Regulatory Networks, Claus Kadelka

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Stochastic Models Of Zoonotic Avian Influenza With Multiple Hosts, Environmental Transmission, And Migration In The Natural Reservoir, Kaia Smith

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Modeling The Role Of Land Conversion On The Spread Of An Epizootic Disease, Dustin Padilla

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Model-Free Identification Of Relevant Variables From Response Data, Alan Veliz-Cuba, David Murrugarra

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.