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Session Ia: Biology Presentation 3 - Beyond Weight Loss: The Effects Of The Glp-1 Agonist, Semaglutide, On Weight Care, Type Ii Diabetes Management, And Cardiac Function In Obese Patients, Amber Smith

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

Determining whether the drug Semaglutide, also known as Ozempic or Wegovy, is not only an effective treatment for weight loss, but also for management of type II diabetes and obesity-related heart failure, such as adverse cardiac remodeling and left atrial volume increase.

Session Ia: Biology Presentation 4 - Parkinson's Disease: Understanding Risk Factors, Causes, And Potential Treatments, Emma Hewitt

Life of the Scholar Multidisciplinary Conference

No abstract provided.

Regeneration In Planarians Modifies Behavioral Switching, N. S. Tellakula, Eva-Maria S. Collins, W. B. Kristan Jr.

Biology Faculty Works

The planarian Dugesia japonica responds differently to localized stimuli: anterior regions turn, middle regions elongate, and posterior regions contract. If cut into several pieces, each piece immediately produces the same three responses. Over several days, each piece regenerates all transected body parts. This study tested how the pieces coordinate behavioral responses during regeneration. We first determined the locations of the turning/elongation and elongation/contraction behavioral switches. Immediately, all transections moved both switching sites away from the cut sites so that the worm pieces produced the same three responses as intact worms. During regeneration, the sites of behavioral switching moved progressively closer …

Environmental Conditions Explain Variability In Concentrations Of Nutrients But Not Emerging Contaminants, Megan L. Fork, Jerker Fick, Alexander J. Reisinger, Peter M. Groffman, Emma J. Rosi

Biology Faculty Publications

Aquatic ecosystems are subjected to many chemical stressors, including nutrients and emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals. While pharmaceutical concentrations in streams and rivers are often below the thresholds for acute toxicity, they nonetheless disrupt ecology through changes to organisms’ physiology, metabolism, and behavior. However, analyzing samples for the wide range of manufactured pharmaceuticals is often prohibitively expensive for many monitoring efforts. As such, the ability to predict pharmaceutical concentrations over space and time using easier-to-monitor water quality parameters would expand our understanding of the scope and consequences of pharmaceutical contamination in aquatic ecosystems. We applied random forest models to data from …

Molecular Mechanisms And Role Of Camel Milk Derived Bioactive Peptides Towards Insulin And Glp-1 Receptor Activation, Irfa Anwar

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Camel milk (CM), renowned for its exceptional nutritional and medicinal properties, has been a crucial resource in arid regions for centuries. Its notable antidiabetic effects, supported by extensive research through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, have gained significant scientific attention. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear. Our previous research demonstrated that camel milk whey hydrolysates (CWHs) induce insulin receptor (IR) activation and downstream signaling, promoting glucose uptake in vitro using HEK293 and HepG2 cells. Building on this foundation, the current study focused on synthesizing nine of the most potent peptides (designated P1-9) derived from …

Variation In Response To Phosphorus Among Sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas L.) Cultivars, Jeffrey Cole Denis Gregorie

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and is often a major limiting nutrient in agriculture. In sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas), studies on the role of P on storage root yield have been limited because of the lack of response and inconsistent results across cultivars and years. Growing evidence shows that current phosphate (Pi) fertilizer rates can be reduced while maintaining productivity. Newly published molecular evidence shows differential expression of phosphate starvation response genes among sweetpotato cultivars, further supporting the hypothesis of cultivar-specific Pi sensitivity. The research herein sought to characterize root system architecture and yield response to Pi …

Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Jaw, Rileigh Gonzalez, David Kerstetter

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

No abstract provided.

First Record Of Nesting Ecology And Tumor-Forming Disease In Endangered Green Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) On Taiping Island, Taiwan, Tsung-Hsien Li, Po-Yu Wu, Ming-An Tsai

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Taiping Island is an important sea turtle nesting site in Taiwan. However, information on the nesting ecology on Taiping Island is still limited. The present study was conducted between 26 April and 3 June 2023 with the objective of collecting primary data on the sea turtle species that nest on the island. A total of 20 individual nesting green turtles were identified. No other sea turtle species were recorded nesting during this period. Five percent of nesting sea turtles had external tumors. The mean curved carapace length of all nesting female turtles was 98.2 cm. A total of 28 clutches …

Color Aberrations In Seven Bird Species In Costa Rica, Lucia Isabel Lopez, Jose Manuel Mora, Adrian Alvarado Rivera

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Although there are 935 species of birds in Costa Rica, scientific reports of pigmentation abnormalities in this group are limited. Nevertheless, several cases have been recently documented, including Leucism, Ino mutation, Progressive Graying, Dilution, and two unusual color aberrations in a toucan and a motmot. Here we describe seven cases of color aberrations observed over a period of five years in native birds of Costa Rica. An Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens and a White-collared Manakin manacus candei were Brown. A Scintillant Hummingbird Selasphorus scintilla and a Talamanca Hummingbird, Eugenes spectabilis, also showed a Brown mutation, however, these two cases may …

Removal Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using Commercially Available Sorbents, Zhiming Zhang, Sevda Joudiazar, Anshuman Satpathy, Eustace Fernando, Roxana Rahmati, Rupali Datta, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants of growing environmental and human health concern, widely detected across various environmental compartments. Effective remediation strategies are essential to mitigate their widespread impacts. This study compared the performance of two types of commercially available sorbent materials, granular activated carbon (GAC, Filtrasorb-400) and organoclays (OC-200, and modified organoclays Fluoro-sorb-100 and Fluoro-sorb-200) for the removal of three representative PFAS compounds: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) from water. Both organoclays and modified organoclays outperformed GAC, likely due to electrostatic interactions between the anionic PFAS compounds and the cationic …

A Checklist Of The Bees Of Utah, Joseph S. Wilson, Anthony Hunsaker, Terry L. Griswold, Olivia Messinger Carril

Biology Faculty Publications

Understanding bee distributions is essential to protecting these vital pollinators. Since conservation efforts and policies are often made at the state level, maintaining state-specific bee species lists can aid conservationists and policy makers. While several North American state- and province-level bee species lists have been published, few exist for the arid western states, where bee diversity tends to be higher. Here we provide a bee species list for Utah, compiled from online occurrence records from the Symbiota Collection of Arthropods Network (SCAN) and specimen records housed in the USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect Research Unit (BBSL). In total we document 1167 bee …

Juvenile And Adult Survival Estimates Of American Kestrels Throughout The Full Annual Cycle In Eastern North America, Mercy Melo, Joseph M. Kolowski, Rebecca A. Mccabe, John A. Smallwood, Allison Cornell, David King, Jean François Therrien

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Measuring survival in a declining species provides the foundation for continued research, demographic modeling, and informed conservation strategies. Although American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) populations have continued to decline since the 1970s, little is known about their survival throughout the full annual cycle, making it difficult to identify factors responsible for these declines. We used radio telemetry to provide the first known-fate estimates of adult kestrel survival, and we present data across breeding stages, and between resident and migratory wintering individuals, in addition to separately modeling fledgling survival. Temporal and spatial stratification of study sites allowed for the investigation of different …

Impact Of Changes In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Diagnostic Criteria During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jessica Neville, Kelly Foley, Seán Lacey, Antoinette Tuthill, Oratile Kgosidialwa, Mairead O’Riordan, Fiona O’Halloran, Seán J. Costelloe

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Background/Aims

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) recommended fasting and random plasma glucose (FPG/RPG) alongside glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) to replace the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diagnosing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).

Methods

The study compared testing patterns and diagnostic rates for GDM before and after implementing the RCOG guidelines (01/05/2020) in pregnancies beginning 01/11/2018 to 31/03/2021. Trends were inspected using Cochrane-Armitage tests. Differences between General Practice (GP) and Secondary Care (SCare) were assessed by chi-square analysis. A significance level of p <  0.05 was used for all analyses. Information on maternal and pregnancy characteristics was accessed where available.

Results

Data indicated a significant reduction in …

General Biology 2 Laboratory Manual: In Person Edition, Dmitry Y. Brogun, Azure N. Faucette, Farshad Tamari, Kristin Polizzotto

Open Educational Resources

The completed project is an in-person teaching version of the General Biology II OER (Open Educational Resource) lab manual. This lab manual was initially written by the four of us during the pandemic when all courses were online, but it is now has been adapted for in-person lab activities. We also ensured it aligns with UDL (Universal Design for Learning) and accessibility principles. This adaptation aims to make the lab manual suitable for traditional classroom settings while incorporating diverse teaching practices to accommodate diverse learners.

Commodity Thermoplastic Elastomer-Enabled Templated Synthesis Of Large-Pore Ordered Mesoporous Materials, Anthony Griffin, Parker Frame, Yizhi Xiang, Zhe Qiang

Faculty Publications

Fabrication of ordered mesoporous materials (OMMs) has predominantly relied on templating-based methods. However, these methods are constrained by several limitations, especially the limited pore sizes attainable with commercially available surfactants used as structure-directing agents. To unlock the full potential of the OMMs, it is essential to develop synthetic strategies that facilitate the production of large-pore OMMs using scalable processes and cost-effective precursors. This work demonstrates the use of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)-derived carbon replicas for synthesizing ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) and metal oxides (OMMOs) via precursor infiltration and template removal. The nanostructural evolution of the resulting inorganic materials was systematically investigated. …

Energy-Aware Clustering Using Intelligent Scheme For Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks, Enaam A. Al-Hussain, Ghaida A. Al-Suhail

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) involve nodes with varying capabilities, such as different energy levels, sensing ranges, and computational abilities, which enable them to execute different tasks professionally. Clustering techniques play a crucial role in improving energy efficiency and reliability in WSNs. The evolution of cluster based WSNs from homogeneous into heterogeneous techniques allowed the deployment of smart devices capable of performing complex operations in in diverse environments. However, the heterogeneity of nodes necessitates more sophisticated and adaptive algorithms to fully exploit these capabilities. This paper proposes a new protocol, referred to as IT2F-HLEACH, which integrates Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic …

Comprehensive Review On The Application Of Bio-Immunoinformatics In The Development Of Highly Ef-Fective New Candidate Vaccines Against Tuberculosis, Ahyar Ahmad, Andriansjah Rukmana, Miski A. Khairinisa, Dian A. E. Pitaloka, Rosana Agus, Rusdina B. Ladju, Tarwadi Ahmad, Astutiati Nurhasanah, Carina C. D. Joe, Muhammad N. Massi, Harningsih Karim, Irda Handayani, Siti Roszilawati Binti Ramli

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge worldwide. Currently, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the only vaccine available for TB prophylaxis. However, the efficacy of the BCG vaccine against adult pulmonary TB is considered inconsistent. This condition encourages researchers to look for more effective options, such as subunit vaccines. This condition requires the development of a more effective subunit vaccine to protect active TB in productive and adult ages. There is an urgent need for more effective vaccines, as the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine currently available has inconsistent efficacy and is only partially effective in adults. Bio-immunoinformatics, an interdisciplinary field …

A Role For The Actin Cytoskeleton And Plastin-3 In Osteoblast Mineralization And Mechanosensation, Samantha Meagan Chin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The great diversity in actin network architectures and dynamics is exploited by cells to drive fundamental biological processes including cell migration, intracellular trafficking, and cell division. One such system that relies on the actin cytoskeleton to fulfill its physiological function are osteoblasts, which are mesenchymal lineage bone cells that promote bone formation through depositing a collagen scaffold and subsequently promoting mineralization of this matrix. A number of factors are known to drive osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblast cells including extracellular matrix cues such as substrate stiffness, which are primarily detected via mechanosensitive machinery linked to the actin cytoskeleton. Disruptions to β-actin, …

Screening For Penicillin G Acylase (Pga)-Producing Bacteria And Gene Cloning Using Degenerate Oligonucleotide Primed-Pcr, Masdalifah Masdalifah, Sri Rezeki Wulandari, Gabriela Christy Sabbathini, Maria Ulfah, Dini Achnafani, Ahmad Wibisana, Feronika Heppy Sriherfyna, Is Helianti, Niknik Nurhayati

Makara Journal of Science

The growing concern over antibiotic resistance has driven global efforts to explore innovative solutions, including the use of Penicillin G acylase (PGA) to produce semisynthetic β-lactam antibiotics. This study screened four potential in-tracellular PGA-producing bacteria: Alcaligenes faecalis InaCC B444 (AfPGA), Kluyvera cryocrescens InaCC B850 (KcPGA), Providencia rettgeri InaCC B25 (Pr25PGA), and P. rettgeri InaCC B466 (Pr466PGA). Penicillin G Acylase encoding genes (pgas) were isolated from them using a Degenerate Oligonucleotide Primed-PCR (DOP-PCR) approach and sequenced. Microbiological assays confirmed all tested crude extracts to exhibit inhibitory effects. Penicillin G was used for evaluating hydrolytic activity and 6-Amino Penicillanic Acid (6-APA) coupled …

Curcumin Attenuates Smoking And Drinking Activated Nf-Κb/Il-6 Inflammatory Signaling Axis In Cervical Cancer, Vivek K. Kashyap, Prashanth Kb Nagesh, Ajay K. Singh, Andrew Massey, Godwin P. Darkwah, Aaron George, Sheema Khan, Nadeem Zafar, Santosh Kumar, Namita Sinha, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: High-risk strains of HPV are known to cause cervical cancer. Multiple clinical studies have emphasized that smoking and drinking are critical risk factors for cervical cancer and its high-grade precursors. In this study, we investigated if smoking and/or drinking augment the molecular mechanisms of the cervical carcinogenesis and defined a potential therapeutic approach for their attenuation.

Methods: The impact of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and/or ethanol (EtOH) exposure on cervical cancer cells was assessed by measuring changes in their cell migration and invasion characteristics. Expression of HPV16 E6/E7, NF-κB, cytokines, and inflammation mediators was determined using qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, ELISA, luciferase reporter …

Comparative Evaluation Of Bacterial Adhesion And Biofilm Formation On Contact Lenses, Lina M. Shaker, Wan Nor Roslam Wan Isahak

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This study evaluates bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (ATCC 25923) colonization on medical and cosmetic contact lenses made from Hilafilcon B and Omafilcon B under simulated ocular conditions. Non-incubated lenses served as controls, and experiments were repeated three times with a variability margin of ±5%, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Results revealed that biofilm growth and bacterial adhesion were influenced by lens material, type, and incubation duration. Cosmetic lenses made from Hilafilcon B exhibited the highest biofilm growth (1.95%) after one day, highlighting their susceptibility to microbial colonization. Conversely, medical lenses made from Hilafilcon B …

Removal Of Cr(Vi) From Aqueous Solution Using Magnetic Activated Carbon Prepared From Waste Shell Of Marigold Flower Straw: Kinetics, Isotherm And Mechanism Studies, Shanmukha Rao Metta, Uttam Kumar Sahu

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

When Cr(VI) was released from industrial waste into water bodies harms aquatic ecosystems and poses risks to human well-being. To reduce risks, it's crucial to lower Cr(VI) levels through the sustainable process. In order to extract Cr(VI) from a liquid, the magnetic activated carbon adsorbent was created for the current investigation. H₃PO₄ was utilised as an activating agent in the thermal procedure to prepare activated carbon from marigold flower straw for the first time. The marigold flower straw activated carbon (MFSAC) was further decorated with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄/MFSAC) in the …

Novel Nanoformulation Of Piperlongumine Attenuates Pancreatic Tumor Desmoplasia And Modulates Tumor Immune Responses, Vivek K. Kashyap, Reinaldo Mandes, Neeraj Chauhan, Daniel Zubieta, Mohammed Sikander, Eswara N.H.K Ghali, Bilal B. Hafeez, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan

Research Symposium

Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is characterized by a lack of early diagnosis, poor response to available therapeutic modalities, and chemoresistance. Gemcitabine (GEM) is currently considered the most effective therapy for PanCa; however, it shows only a marginal survival benefit of 6 months. This poor drug response has been attributed to desmoplasia, causes suboptimal drug delivery, alters tumor microenvironment (TME), which includes tumor surrounding blood vessels, fibroblasts, immune cells, extracellular matrix, and other signaling molecules and induces chemo-resistance in tumors. To overcome these existing issues associated with chemotherapy, the identification and development of novel therapeutic modalities are a pressing need. Piperlongumine (PL) …

Ormeloxifene-Mediated Attenuation Of Β-Catenin Signaling In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, Daniel Zubieta, Anyssa Rodriguez, Molly Vela, Sheema Khan, Fathi T. Halaweish, Murali M. Yallapu, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer, with approximately 41,000 new cases and 29,000 deaths annually in the U.S. The management of HCC poses significant challenges due to severe toxicity and inadequate responses to existing chemotherapeutic agents. Aberrant β-catenin signaling is recognized as a crucial factor influencing the differentiation grades of HCC patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify more effective and non-toxic β-catenin inhibitors for cancer treatment. Notably, ormeloxifene (ORM), a clinically approved selective estrogen receptor modulator with a favorable therapeutic index, has demonstrated remarkable anticancer activity, making it a promising …

Biochemical, Structural, And Conformational Characterization Of A Fungal Ethylene-Forming Enzyme, Shramana Chatterjee, Joel A. Rankin, Mark A. Farrugia, Simahudeen Bathir J S Rifayee, Christo Z. Christov, Jian Hu, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

The ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) from the fungus Penicillium digitatum strain Pd1 was heterologously produced in Escherichia coli and its properties were compared to the extensively characterized bacterial enzyme from Pseudomonas savastanoi strain PK2. Both enzymes catalyze four reactions: the conversion of 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) to ethylene and CO₂, oxidative decarboxylation of 2OG coupled to _L-arginine (_L-Arg) hydroxylation, uncoupled oxidative decarboxylation of 2OG, and the production of 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP) from 2OG. The strain Pd1 enzyme exhibited a greater ratio of ethylene production over _L-Arg hydroxylation than the PK2 strain EFE. The uncoupled decarboxylation of 2OG and …

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide And Its Receptor As Novel Therapeutic Targets For Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia, Elizaveta Mangutov

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Opioids are commonly prescribed for the treatment of pain and headache disorders. However, chronic opioid use can result in a paradoxical increased sensitivity to pain as well as an extension of pain area known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). One field OIH has been clearly identified is migraine, known as medication overuse headache (MOH). While opioids may provide acute relief, chronic use results in increased migraine pain severity and progression of migraine from an episodic to chronic state. The primary treatment is opioid cessation, which is difficult to implement as patients are reluctant to stop treatment they believe is helping them, …

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide And Its Receptor As Novel Therapeutic Targets For Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia, Elizaveta Mangutov

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Opioids are commonly prescribed for the treatment of pain and headache disorders. However, chronic opioid use can result in a paradoxical increased sensitivity to pain as well as an extension of pain area known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). One field OIH has been clearly identified is migraine, known as medication overuse headache (MOH). While opioids may provide acute relief, chronic use results in increased migraine pain severity and progression of migraine from an episodic to chronic state. The primary treatment is opioid cessation, which is difficult to implement as patients are reluctant to stop treatment they believe is helping them, …

Assessment Of Physiological & Biochemical Changes In Tomato Plants Treated With Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (Pgpr) Under Salinity Stress Conditions, Mohammed Sharif Alhosani

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) can effectively mitigate the negative impacts of salt stress on plants. The present study reports the isolation of PGPRs from a high-saline mangrove ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, with isolates exhibiting ACC deaminase (ACCD) activity to reduce stress-induced ethylene, along with additional plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics, including phosphate solubilization (P+). A total of 57 salt-tolerant bacterial isolates from the mangrove rhizosphere were initially screened for ACCD and P+ activities. Of these, 24 isolates tested positive for PGP characteristics and were further evaluated for their ability to enhance salt stress tolerance in tomato seedlings. In addition, seedlings inoculated …

Thermal Carbonization Of Biomass Wood Dust And Algae Wastes Via Microwave-Assisted H3Po4: Desirability Function And Statistical Optimization For Methylene Blue Dye Removal, Raja Razuan Raja Derisa, Hazierul F. Awang, Muhammad Hakim Azman, Intan Nur Hidayah Abdul Rashid, Ahmad Hapiz, Ruihong Wu, Abdallah Reghioua, Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Lee D. Wilson

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This research utilized a carbonization procedure via microwave irradiation assisted by H₃PO₄ to generate a cost-effective adsorbent (CWDAG) from wood dust (WD) and algal (AG) biomass. The resulting CWDAG adsorbent was characterized for its methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption properties. The activation process employs 800 W microwave radiation for 15 min under a nitrogen gas (99.99%) atmosphere. Multiple techniques were employed to study the physicochemical properties of CWDAG, such as FTIR, XRD, FSEM-EDX, pH_pzc, and BET. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the three important parameters of adsorption, as follows: A: CWDAG dosage …

A Role For The Actin Cytoskeleton And Plastin-3 In Osteoblast Mineralization And Mechanosensation, Samantha Meagan Chin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The great diversity in actin network architectures and dynamics is exploited by cells to drive fundamental biological processes including cell migration, intracellular trafficking, and cell division. One such system that relies on the actin cytoskeleton to fulfill its physiological function are osteoblasts, which are mesenchymal lineage bone cells that promote bone formation through depositing a collagen scaffold and subsequently promoting mineralization of this matrix. A number of factors are known to drive osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblast cells including extracellular matrix cues such as substrate stiffness, which are primarily detected via mechanosensitive machinery linked to the actin cytoskeleton. Disruptions to β-actin, …