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Transcription Factor Expression Landscape In Drosophila Embryonic Cell Lines, Robert A. Drewell, Daniel Klonaros, Jacqueline Dresch 2024 Clark University

Transcription Factor Expression Landscape In Drosophila Embryonic Cell Lines, Robert A. Drewell, Daniel Klonaros, Jacqueline Dresch

Biology

Background: Transcription factor (TF) proteins are a key component of the gene regulatory networks that control cellular fates and function. TFs bind DNA regulatory elements in a sequence-specific manner and modulate target gene expression through combinatorial interactions with each other, cofactors, and chromatin-modifying proteins. Large-scale studies over the last two decades have helped shed light on the complex network of TFs that regulate development in Drosophila melanogaster. Results: Here, we present a detailed characterization of expression of all known and predicted Drosophila TFs in two well-established embryonic cell lines, Kc167 and S2 cells. Using deep coverage RNA sequencing approaches we …


Effects Of Roadways On Seasonal Movement Strategies And Mate Location Success In An Imperiled Pit Viper (Crotalus Horridus), Elizabeth J. Noble 2024 Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA 31061

Effects Of Roadways On Seasonal Movement Strategies And Mate Location Success In An Imperiled Pit Viper (Crotalus Horridus), Elizabeth J. Noble

Graduate Research Showcase

A detailed understanding of animal movement behavior is fundamental to effective conservation and management. Within populations, a diversity of movement strategies can be displayed in search of critical resources, and these strategies are influenced by multiple interacting factors related to individuals and the environment. Mating partners are one critical resource that often serves as a prominent selective force shaping movement during mating seasons. For many large-bodied snakes, such as pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae), male mate- searching movements are the primary determinant of mate location success. During this time, males incur significant risks associated with elevated movement. In an increasingly human- …


Oil Identification Of Harp Seal And Other Select Marine Mammals, Meghan Pinedo, Deborah A. Duffield, Dalin N. D’Alessandro, Erin R. Price, Edgard O. Espinoza 2024 US Forest Service International Programs Wood Identification and Screening Center, Ashland

Oil Identification Of Harp Seal And Other Select Marine Mammals, Meghan Pinedo, Deborah A. Duffield, Dalin N. D’Alessandro, Erin R. Price, Edgard O. Espinoza

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Because of the rich omega-3 fatty acids content, harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) oil is a popular supplement that is packaged as pills in Canada and sold for medicinal purposes, although this practice is banned in the United States. Due to US regulations, it is important to be able to distinguish between fish oil and seal oil, but the taxonomic determination of oils provenance has been a difficult problem to solve. In this study, Direct Analysis in Real Time time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DART TOFMS) was used to analyze the chemotypes of blubber samples collected from seven species of …


Astrocyte Spatial Distribution Affects Growth Dynamics Of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: An Agent-Based Modeling Study, Rupleen Kaur 2024 Virginia Commonwealth University

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 2024 Virginia Commonwealth University

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 2024 Haverford College

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

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.


Patterns And Potential Mechanisms Of Phenotypic Changes In Urban Small Mammals, Leslie Lopez 2024 Kennesaw State University

Patterns And Potential Mechanisms Of Phenotypic Changes In Urban Small Mammals, Leslie Lopez

Master's Theses

Urbanization is an example of human induced rapid environmental change that can have wide-reaching ecological effects, including habitat destruction, fragmentation, and alteration of local climates. Effects of urbanization have been shown to impact wildlife, as disturbances resulting from urbanization can create novel environments and selective pressures that could lead to changes in morphology, physiology, or both. Small mammals such as rodents are an ecologically important set of wildlife species because they are a key prey item for several predators, hold strong influence over plants as a primary consumer, and some species carry and transmit major human and animal diseases. Previous …


Mutagenetic Analysis Of The Minor Capsid Protein Vp3 Of The Archaeal Fusellovirus Ssv1, Laura Costal Lagarde 2024 Portland State University

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 …


Exploring Factors That Contribute To Stem Transfer Student Sense Of Belonging, Brittney R. Gallant, Cate Pocitari 2024 Portland State University

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. …


Histone Changes As A Response To Lactic Acid Selection In Cells Of Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Lori Tran, Jason Podrabsky, Chelsea Hughes 2024 Portland State University

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 …


Qibc Analysis On Killifish Cells Under Anoxic Conditions, Jaina Canlas 2024 Portland State University

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. …


Annual Killifish: Eye Development And Retinal Cell Regeneration, Carmen Z. Rodriguez 2024 Portland State University

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 …


Dragon Pseudoscorpions Shed Light On Ancient Climate History In The Pacific Northwest, Joshua W. Hootman 2024 Portland State University

Dragon Pseudoscorpions Shed Light On Ancient Climate History In The Pacific Northwest, Joshua W. Hootman

Student Research Symposium

Pseudoscorpions are an ancient and diverse group of understudied arachnids, and there is much to be learned about their relationships to each other. Pseudoscorpions are one of many leaf-litter dwelling and low dispersing invertebrates that inhabit the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Previous phylogeographic studies of Pacific Northwest taxa have shed light on some of the climatic and geologic events that have shaped the area's flora and fauna. One purpose of this study is to determine if there is similar genetic structuring within the pseudoscorpion populations present in the study area, or if there is even more structure likely influenced …


Examining The Role Of Rgs2 In The Maintenance Of Diapause After Anoxic Stress In Embryos Of The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Patrick Clouser 2024 Portland State University

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 Ga-proteins and can inhibit protein synthesis. I hypothesis that …


Locating Vitamin D Receptors (Vdrs) In Annual Killifish, Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Rosy Tanori 2024 Portland State University

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 …


Describing Shen & Shen Ming Via A Hybrid Quantum Computational Model, Alex M. Cullen, Johnny Lemau 2024 National University of Natural Medicine

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 …


Measuring The Effects Of Selenium Exposure On Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis (Bd) Growth In Vivo In Larval American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana)., Taylor Morrison 2024 University of South Dakota

Measuring The Effects Of Selenium Exposure On Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis (Bd) Growth In Vivo In Larval American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana)., Taylor Morrison

Honors Thesis

Most amphibians in today’s world are exposed to a variety of environmental stressors. This project’s main objective was to determine any effects of selenium on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and infection levels in South Dakota amphibians. I selected American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) as they are susceptible to Bd and are found throughout eastern South Dakota. The secondary objective of this project was to measure any impact of Bd and selenium, combined, on growth measures of the frogs. The third objective was to see if survival rates were reduced when amphibians were exposed to Bd and selenium. Tadpoles were collected (n=225) from …


Common Use Herbicides Increase Wetland Greenhouse Gas Flux Rates, Christopher Walsh '25 2024 Providence College

Common Use Herbicides Increase Wetland Greenhouse Gas Flux Rates, Christopher Walsh '25

Biology Student Scholarship

Herbicides have been found to affect greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic systems, attributed to changes in vegetation or microbial metabolic processes. Two of the most commonly used herbicides worldwide are glyphosate and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Due to both the increased use of mixed herbicides and global intensification of agriculture, wetlands are receiving increasing amounts of glyphosate and 2,4-D. Both glyphosate and 2,4-D are primarily degraded by 46 microorganisms, where certain species use them for nutrients and other species are inhibited by their toxicity. Even minor herbicide-induced shifts in wetland microbial communities can potentially alter ecosystem function and GHG emissions. This …


The Effect Of Temperature On The Invasive Asian Needle Ant, Kaylee Mulligan '25 2024 Providence College

The Effect Of Temperature On The Invasive Asian Needle Ant, Kaylee Mulligan '25

Biology Student Scholarship

The Asian Needle Ant (Brachyponera chinensis) is an invasive species currently spreading on the Eastern Coast of the United States. They were first reported around the 1930s in Florida and have since migrated to Massachusetts. As an invasive species, this pest originating from Asia has a negative impact on environment ecosystems and other species of ants. Asian Needle Ants displace resident ant colonies, taking over nesting sites by consuming food sources and decreasing the amount of space other ant colonies can use. They are also known to have a sting that contains venom more likely to result in …


Sea Surface Temperature Influence On Tropical Storms And Hurricanes, Elise LeRoux '26 2024 Providence College

Sea Surface Temperature Influence On Tropical Storms And Hurricanes, Elise Leroux '26

Biology Student Scholarship

Hurricanes are both dangerous and difficult to predict because of the various factors that influence the size and intensity of storms, where sea surface temperature (SST) is one of the most relevant variables. As temperatures are increasingly rising due to climate change, the effect on storm size, intensity, and frequency is going to be greater. There have been many studies how individual storms are affected, but less so on the overall frequency of hurricanes. This study assesses the number of hurricanes each year in comparison to the SST and the average wind speed of each hurricane. I predict that years …


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