Digital Commons Network^™

Quantifying The Relationship Between Biomass And Edna​, Andrew K. Hogan

Biology Student Scholarship

Andrew K. Hogan ’27, Environmental Biology and English Literature major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Markert, Biology

In this project, we compared eDNA concentration in water to the biomass of present creatures and the time the eDNA in each sample took to decay. With this data, standard curves for both variables can be created and can be used for future experiments and field research. This data will give researchers a greater level of understanding about what animal populations might look like based on the eDNA obtained.

Anxiety- And Compulsivity-Linked Differences In Reinforcement Learning In A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Game, Tessa Medeiros

Neuroscience Program Student Scholarship

Tessa Medeiros ’26, Biology & Psychology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Andra Geana, Psychology and Neuroscience

Reinforcement learning (RL) mathematically describes how agents learn to maximize the reward of their environment by understanding and comparing their choice options. This project investigates how anxiety and compulsivity impact the selection of these options and to what extent a text-based, narrative (rather than a game-like environment) changes RL processes in humans.

Using Enviromental Dna To Detect And Quantify Atlantic Silversides In Rhode Island, Owen Finnegan

Biology Student Scholarship

Owen Finnegan ’25, Environmental Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Markert, Biology

Here we test whether eDNA concentrations consistently reflect the abundance of fish in a given area. We compare physical catches to the levels of eDNA in the water using quantitative PCR (qPCR) at three sites in Rhode Island. A native and plentiful species like Atlantic Silversides is the perfect organism to for calibrating our methods as recorded catches of Atlantic Silversides from our collections range from 0-1500+ individuals.

The Effect Of Salinity On Mangrove Growth In The Florida Everglades, Olivia Macaluso

Biology Student Scholarship

Mangrove forests are highly productive ecosystems that provide benefits to humans, such as storm protection, in the intertidal regions of tropic and subtropic climates. Mangroves grow primarily in shallow brackish water where fresh and salty water sources meet, but frequent hurricanes mean that once stable brackish environments are vulnerable to fluctuations in salinity levels. A previous study on the effect of salinity on mangroves found a negative relationship between salinity increase and root biomass growth. However, little research has gone into the effects of salinity changes on mangrove growth and productivity. Here, I used data from the Wetland and Aquatic …

Environmental Racism In Ri: The Presence Of Toxic Waste Sites In Low Income And Minority Communities (19), Julienne Walsh

Biology Student Scholarship

Environmental racism refers to the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on communities of color and low-income populations. Across the U.S., studies have shown that polluting facilities are more likely to be in or around communities with higher percentages of non-white residents or lower socioeconomic status. Scholarship regarding these patterns in small states like Rhode Island is relatively limited. By analyzing how these sites are spatially distributed in relation to racial and economic demographics, this research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of local environmental inequities. I hypothesize that if you live in a low-income or more diverse town, national …

Microneedles Potentiate Skin Cell Rejuvenation Via Modulation Of Mitochondria And Epigenetic Activities, Alexandra Delano, Angelika Kartsagoulis

Biology Student Scholarship

Alexandra Delano ’25, Biology major

Angelika Kartsagoulis ’25, Biology major

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yinsheng Wan, Biology

Characterizing The Functional Diversity Of Southern Ocean Chordates, Lillian Stern

Biology Student Scholarship

Lillian Stern ’26, Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Roxanne Banker, Biology

Biological invasions are… Invasion events can alter ecosystem properties like species interactions, trophic rank, and abundance. Current scientific research struggles to quantify the effects of biotic invasions effect on ecosystem structure and function. Measuring functional diversity, or the diversity traits such as feeding and living habits, in an ecosystem can provide important information about how organisms and the environment respond to environmental change. Here, we investigate functional diversity of the Chordates in a marine Southern Ocean community that has already been affected by biological invasion. By characterizing how these …

Diversity And Habitat Use Of Bats In Modified Suburban Landscapes, Brittany Morgera

Biology Presentations

Bats occupy critical ecological niches and perform important ecosystem services like controlling insect populations. However, humans have altered bat habitat substantially, resulting in the reduction of bat populations. The goals of this research are to assess bat diversity and habitat use across different levels of suburban habitat modification. To accomplish this, we deployed passive acoustic recorders at twelve locations with varying human impact in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In accordance with The North American Bat Monitoring Program’s standards, acoustic analysis software was used to identify bat species. Manual identification methods from The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative were used to verify these …

Dosage-Dependent, Carboplatin And Ng52 Show Synergistic Effect On Inhibiting Cell Proliferation In Breast Cancer Cell Line, Ben Couture, Ryan Zhuge

Biology Presentations

BT-549 (Breast Cancer), a highly invasive epithelial breast cancer cell line, was used to investigate the effects of two drugs: NG52, a selective kinase inhibitor and Carboplatin, a platinum-based DNA-alkylating agent. Using cell counting assays and calculating IC50 values, we examined their combined impact on cell proliferation. Results revealed both an antagonistic and synergistic effect dependent on concentration. Where the individual agents inhibited cell proliferation less effectively than expected. These findings show the complexity of drug interactions and provide insights into optimizing therapeutic strategies for highly invasive cancer types.

Fighting Modern Battles, Brawling A Breast Cancer From The Past: A New Combination Therapy Technique Combining A Platinum-Based Agent And Hdac Inhibition Agent, Matthew I. Hyder, Jackson D. Southern

Biology Presentations

Carboplatin and tucidinostat are two often-used chemotherapeutic drugs in combating cancers. After seeding BT-549 cells in vitro and single-drug treatments were completed, IC50 values and treatment curves were determined for both drugs with CompuSyn software. The Tucidinostat IC50 value of 0.28614 µM indicates effective 50% inhibitory activity at less than one micromolar. Carboplatin treatment revealed an IC50 value of 273.792 µM, indicating ineffective treatment. Combination therapy revealed an antagonistic effect with a CI50 value of 210.406. This may be due to experimental errors with pipetting or cell seeding, or drug-ailment mismatch.

Passive Integrated Transponders: An Effective Marking Technique For Individual Identification Of Anaxyrus Fowleri?, Emily Leprell

Honors College Theses

With the rise of fungal disease such as Chytridiomycosis, known as chytrid, causing massive population declines for many species of frogs and toads (order Anura), specific conservation strategies are needed now more than ever. In many cases, being able to mark and identify individuals is a necessary step in developing an effective conservation plan. Individual identification allows researchers to obtain accurate population estimates, which are needed to test the progress and validity of conservation management decisions. However, due to their unique life history, including cutaneous respiration and a dichotomous lifestyle, anurans are among the most difficult wildlife species to …

Dna And Bioinformatics Tools For Estimating Biodiversity In The Narragansett Bay, Emma Barry

Biology Student Scholarship

Emma Barry ’25, Environmental Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Markert, Biology

Exploring Ddr2’S Role In Caf Extracellular Matrix Production And Tumor Progression, Favour Ayomide Akinjiyan

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer has poor survival outcomes particularly for advanced stage, metastatic disease. Metastasis is promoted by interactions of stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), with tumor cells. CAFs play a key role in tumor progression by remodeling the TME and extracellular matrix (ECM) to result in a more permissive environment for tumor progression. It has been shown that fibroblasts, in particular myofibroblasts, utilize metabolism to support ECM remodeling. However, the intricate mechanisms by which CAFs support collagen production and tumor progression are poorly understood. In this study, we show that the fibrillar collagen receptor, …

Effects Of Hyperglycemia In Cognition And Sex, Erin E. Mcdonald

Senior Honors Theses

An empirical study tested the effects of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) on cognitive function in a hyperglycemic mouse model. Strong correlations between mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, neuropathologies like Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes suggest comorbid pathology. Considering the prevalence of both T1D and cognitive decline within the general population, the findings were relevant and aimed to identify early signs of cognitive decline in diabetic patients. Behavioral tests and immunohistochemical staining were utilized to determine the cognitive function of the mice, revealing decline or deterioration caused by hyperglycemia. Data gathered from the hyperglycemic or control mice were analyzed based …

Volume 16, Maggie Duncan, Madeline Little, Alicia Hoffman, Megan Livesay, Gabrielle Quaresma, Serenity Allen, Laina Pfountz, Ainslie Allred, Sabrina Robles, Nicholas J. Duellman, Trinity L. Deguzman, Melissa H. Savage, Margaret Dudley, Jocelyn Escobar, Olivia Hildreth, Olivia Hopkins, Benjamin Gettier, Lee Kassay, Jade Riddle, Ashley Seiders

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Lee Millar Bidwell

The Hujum Campaign in Uzbekistan and its Consequences by Madeline Little

Wet Cupping Compared to Dry Needling for Treatment of Patients with Low Back Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic by Alicia Hoffman and Megan Livesay

Optimization of eDNA Air Sampling Via 3D Printed Fan by Gabrielle Quaresma

Beyond the Classroom: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Attrition and Retention by Serenity Allen and Laina Pfountz

The Treatment of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome with Platelet-Rich plasma Injections Verses …

A Natural Short Sleep Mutation Promotes Longevity Through Mitochondrial Respiration In Drosophila, Pritika Pandey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Aging is an irreversible process characterized by progressive physiological decline and an increased risk of metabolic disorders, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration. Disruptions to the circadian clock—whether due to genetic mutations or behavioral factors—accelerate aging and age-related pathologies, highlighting a strong link between circadian regulation and longevity. However, certain individuals harbor a dec2^P384R mutation, which enables natural short sleep without the detrimental effects of chronic sleep deprivation. This suggests that these individuals have evolved adaptations that activate pro-health pathways, allowing them to function optimally with reduced sleep. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying these changes, we developed a …

Examining The Effects Of Symbiotic State And Environmental Pollution On Wound Healing In Coral, Jonathan De Montagnac

College Honors Program

Understanding coral reef health requires comprehension of the biological processes that support live coral cover. Corals are frequently exposed to physical abrasion from various sources, thereby necessitating vital resources be directed towards wound recovery. For corals and other organisms that harbor photosynthetic symbionts, the balance between autotrophic versus heterotrophic energy contributions influences their fitness. Experimentally disentangling the individual effects of environmental stress and symbiotic state on coral health is difficult in most tropical corals due to the obligate nature of their symbiosis. However, determining how nutritional dynamics, environmental stressors, and health interact is crucial to understanding coral resilience. To examine …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Cannibalism And Disease Transmission In The Fall Armyworm, Kale Rougeau

LSU Master's Theses

Climate change may alter host-pathogen dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems due to rising global temperatures and carbon dioxide levels. Here, we examined cannibalism and disease transmission using the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), an invasive agricultural pest, and its species-specific lethal baculovirus, Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV), under various potential challenges of climate change. We used three temperature treatments (cooler, optimal, warmer) based on the fall armyworm’s thermal performance curve to simulate a changing climate and four artificial diets with various protein-to-carbohydrate ratios (low, equal, high, standard) to manipulate resource quality from altered carbon dioxide levels. We found that higher …

A Geospatial Livestock-Carrying Capacity Model (Glcc) In The Akmola Oblast, Kazakhstan, Jiaguo Qi, Zihan Lin, Mark A. Weltz, Kenneth Spaeth, Gulnaz Iskakova

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Spatial disparities in rangeland conditions across Kazakhstan complicate field-based assessments of livestock-carrying capacity (LCC), a critical metric for the country's food security and economic planning. This study developed a geospatial livestock-carrying capacity (GLCC) modeling framework to quantify LCC spatio-temporal dynamics at the Oblast level, by integrating satellite-derived data on vegetation, water resources, and terrain with in situ measurements. By providing ground-truth observations and contextual detail, field-based measurements complement remote sensing data and help to validate estimates and improve the reliability of the GLCC model. The modeling framework was successfully applied and validated in a case study in the Akmola Oblast, …

Yellow Stingray (Urobatis Jamaicensis) Jaw, Marissa Rosas, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Cooking Oil And Bitter Gourd On Obesity Development In C57bl/6j Mice, Justin Talmadge Mcguire

Honors Theses

This study examined the use of different oils in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with bitter gourd incorporated into unhealthy diets to assess its effects. A total of 72 mice were divided into six groups. Two of these groups were gavaged with an aqueous solution of bitter gourd, with one group additionally receiving corn oil and the other receiving lard. The four groups that did not receive bitter gourd were each fed a different diet containing either corn oil, lard, canola oil, or olive oil. Measurements of weight, food intake, water consumption, blood glucose levels, …

Roles Of Cpsa And Slamf1 In The Innate Immune Response To Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Steven Grigsby

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), possesses an arsenal of virulence factors to evade host immunity. Not only is Mtb able to evade innate immunity, but adaptive immunity also often fails to adequately control Mtb infection. A mechanistic understanding of how Mtb establishes infection and evades immunity is critical to the development of a protective vaccine and novel therapeutics. The Mtb protein CpsA protects Mtb against the host NADPH oxidase and LC3-asociated phagocytosis of the innate immune system. Consequently, a ΔcpsA mutant is initially attenuated in vivo but eventually reaches the same bacterial burden in the lungs …

Effects Of Pharmacologic And Genetic Manipulation Of Gaba-A Receptors On Network Activity, Peter Michael Lambert

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the central nervous system. A rich diversity of receptor subtypes are produced by the combination of various GABA receptor subunits into a heteropentameric chloride channel. Inhibitory signaling through GABAARs occurs on timescales ranging from fast synaptic events lasting milliseconds to tonically active receptors providing standing inhibitory tone. GABAARs are modulated by many clinically important drugs including anesthetic, hypnotic, anxiolytic, and antidepressant agents. Of note, GABAARs are modulated by neurosteroids, which have recently been developed as novel therapeutic agents for psychiatric disease. The synchronized activation of GABAARs through coordinated activity of …

The Effect Of Lithium On Intracellular Myo-Inositol Levels In Human Lymphoblasts Of Bipolar Disorder Patients, Ntakirutimana Francine

Honors Theses

Bipolar disorder is a chronic disorder characterized by mood swings of mania and depression. Bipolar I is characterized by intense mania, while bipolar II is characterized by hypomania and depression. Currently, there is no cure for bipolar disorder; however, one mainstay of treatment is lithium, which is hypothesized to alleviate symptoms by reducing myo-inositol.

In this study, the effect of lithium on intracellular myo-inositol was determined in lymphoblasts derived from bipolar disorder patients and compared to that of lymphoblasts from a neurotypical individual. At 1mM lithium, the data showed increased myo-inositol levels across cell lines; however, the results were not …

Image Analysis Of Pupal Sex Ratio In Honey Bee Hives, Anna Tattelman, Grace O’Brien

Biology Student Scholarship

Anna Tattelman ’27, Environmental Biology major

Grace O’Brien ’26, Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology

Our project analyzes honey bee hive development over time. We are specifically looking at drone comb production over a four-week period with varying hive conditions and treatments. It has become more difficult to manage bee hives due to parasitic mites, such as Varroa Destructor. A common method beekeepers use to protect honey bees against these threats is adding drone comb to attract then remove mites. Through drone comb analysis we can determine how honey bees are responding to the treatments by evaluating their …

Intervention Strategies To Overcome Hpv Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanic Immigrants In The Usa: A Video-Based Ap-Proach, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

These data come from a nationwide survey administered by Qualtrics testing a video intervention to help Hispanic Immigrants overcome barriers to HPV vaccination.

Associations Between Linguistic Factors And Vaccine Attitudes In A Hispanic Immigrant Population In The United States, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

Data are results of a nationwide survey administered by Qualtrics to Hispanic Immigrants concerning HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy factors.

Characterizing The Host-Microbe Interactions Of Citrullus Colocynthis, Miranda Procter

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Desert ecosystems impose substantial plant growth and survival limitations, including high radiation, temperatures, and drought. To endure these extreme conditions, plants have developed a range of physiological and biochemical adaptations and established symbiotic partnerships with microbes that significantly enhance their resilience. Citrullus colocynthis, the wild relative of domesticated watermelon, has multiple applications in pharmacology and the biomedical field. Although many studies have examined this plant, few have investigated its microbiome, and those that did often focused on limited aspects. Understanding the microbes associated with this plant and their contributions to its survival can yield important insights into developing C. colocynthis …

Designing An Optimal Thermal Preference Arena For Southern Cricket Frog (Acris Gryllus) Juveniles, Eleanor E. Briggs, David M. Phillips Jr.

Honors Theses

Climate change has been altering ecosystems across the world at a substantial rate, disrupting the delicate ecophysiological relationships between ecosystems and the organisms that live in them. Ectotherms, such as amphibians, rely on external temperatures to behaviorally thermoregulate, making it especially imperative to study their thermal biology. Thermal preference, which assesses the environmental temperature an organism would seek out in the absence of external stimuli, provides valuable information about an amphibian’s thermal biology and can be used to predict the effects of climate change on a species or population. A commonly used method to measure thermal preference is an arena …

Novel Therapeutics For Myeloid Malignancies, Tim Kong

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Myeloid malignancies are a group of heterogenous and clonal disorders that include myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These blood cancers are driven by characteristic oncogenes and propagated by pro-inflammatory niches; MPNs demonstrate hyperactive JAK-STAT signaling and upregulate cytokines including TNF, IL-6, and IL-8. Current therapeutics such as ruxolitinib targeting JAK2 providing symptomatic benefit to MPN patients but are not curative and do not prevent disease transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As such, greater understanding of the underlying disease biology is still required with means of uncover cancer dependencies. Here, we utilize a series of multi-omic approaches …