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Influences Of Sex, Morph, And Weather On Roosting Distributions In Overwintering White-Throated Sparrows (_Zonotrichia Albicollis_), Rebecca Stephens

Honors Theses

Habitat choice influences survival by affecting access to resources, shelter from predators, mating opportunities, and numerous other costs and benefits. As such, habitat conservation is crucial, especially for migratory songbirds which are declining primarily due to habitat destruction. White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) are a well-studied migratory songbird, but little is known about their roosting behaviors or how those behaviors are affected by sex, color morph, or weather. To determine this, we tracked White-throated Sparrows to their roosts, determined core home ranges, and analyzed the average distances of roost sites to the home range centroids according to these factors. …

The Thermodynamics And Structure Of Tumor Suppressor P53 And Helical Mutants Binding To Inhibitors Mdm2 And Mdmx At The Primary And Secondary Sites, Pirada Serena Higbee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

p53 is an intrinsically disordered protein that is a tumor suppressor. The transactivation domain is split into two parts (TAD1 and TAD2). These TADs bind to inhibitors MDM2, and a homolog, MDMX, but TAD1 binds with greater affinity. MDM2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that leads to the degradation of p53. MDMX is not an E3 ubiquitin ligase, but it does prevent p53 from binding to DNA, thus preventing its tumor suppressor role.

Previous research showed that increasing p53 helicity by mutating prolines to alanines increased p53's helicity but not the length of the helix. The increase in helicity increased …

Spiking Frequency Dependence On Input Current In Relation With The Leaky Integrate-And-Fire Neuron Model, Maria Chiara Cossio

Posters - 2024

Neurons are the most fundamental part of the nervous system and are diverse in structure and function containing a cell body, dendrites, and axons (Ludwig, et al., 2022). These electrically excitable cells receive and transmit electrical and chemical signals. These electrical impulses are known as action potentials in response to an input, and aids in the transmission of neurological information to neighboring neurons. An action potential (AP) is a rapid sequence of changes in the voltage across a membrane and it's an all-or-nothing event. It has three main stages: depolarization, repolarization, and hyperpolarization (Grider et al., 2023). Threshold depends on …

Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students, Ive N. Muse, Shraddha Patel, Linda Fuselier

Undergraduate Research Events

Undergraduate reproductive biology courses are traditionally taught in a reductive manner, prioritizing a binary understanding of sex which oversimplifies reproductive behaviors and reproductive system development across diverse taxa. Although this binary approach to lessons on reproduction is intended to benefit students in learning foundational human reproductive concepts, it does not teach the most recent research in reproductive biology, which identifies reproductive variation as the norm. We designed and implemented a lesson on reproductive biology informed by the most current and accurate research and compared it to a traditionally taught biology lecture for first year majors. Students who received the experimental …

A Hypothesis-Based Hop Microbiology Laboratory Module Testing The Plausibility Of The Mythical Origin Of The India Pale Ale, Julio Molina Pineda, Amanda N. Scholes, Jeffrey A. Lewis

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

As one of the most famous fermented drinks in the world, beer is an especially relatable topic for microbiology courses. Here, we describe a short and easily adaptable module based on the antibacterial properties of hops used in brewing. By the 15th century, beer recipes included hops (the flower of the Humulus lupulus plant) as a bittering agent and antimicrobial. By the 19th century, the highly hopped Indian Pale Ale (IPA) became popular, and a modern myth has emerged that IPAs were invented to survive long ocean voyages such as from Britain to India. With that myth in mind, we …

Cyclophilin A Supports Translation Of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins And Affects Haematopoietic Stem Cell Ageing, Laure Maneix, Polina Iakova, Charles G Lee, Shannon E Moree, Xuan Lu, Gandhar K Datar, Cedric T Hill, Eric Spooner, Jordon C K King, David B Sykes, Borja Saez, Bruno Di Stefano, Xi Chen, Daniela S Krause, Ergun Sahin, Francis T F Tsai, Margaret A Goodell, Bradford C Berk, David T Scadden, André Catic

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Loss of protein function is a driving force of ageing. We have identified peptidyl-prolyl isomerase A (PPIA or cyclophilin A) as a dominant chaperone in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Depletion of PPIA accelerates stem cell ageing. We found that proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are frequent PPIA substrates. IDRs facilitate interactions with other proteins or nucleic acids and can trigger liquid-liquid phase separation. Over 20% of PPIA substrates are involved in the formation of supramolecular membrane-less organelles. PPIA affects regulators of stress granules (PABPC1), P-bodies (DDX6) and nucleoli (NPM1) to promote phase separation and increase cellular stress resistance. …

Pulsed Electric Fields Sensitize Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus To Antibacterial Therapies And Stimulate Host Immune Responses, Alexandra E. Chittams-Miles

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

This research explores the impact of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) on two fronts: their immune stimulatory effects and their potential as a novel strategy to enhance the sensitivity of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to clinically relevant antibiotics. While pulsed electric fields have been reported to have an immune stimulatory effect, the mechanisms responsible for these effects have yet to be determined.

Our investigation addresses the rising concern of MRSA derived skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Consistent with other publications, we found that nsPEF alone cause modest inactivation of planktonic MRSA. We then investigated the effects of nsPEF in …

Varecia Rubra (Red Ruffed Lemur) Diel Activity And Calling At Andranobe, Masoala National Park, Madagascar, Hannah Elena Hilden-Reid

Dissertations and Theses

With respect to the natural variation in abiotic and biotic conditions present between daytime and nighttime periods, many animal species show evolutionary adaptations specialized for diurnality, nocturnality, or crepuscularity. Biologists have traditionally viewed categorizations of this kind as fixed within taxonomic groups, emphasizing how intricately species’ survival is contingent on the ability to adapt to low light, high light, or twilight conditions. However, movement away from such distinct temporal niche categories began within chronobiological studies following the discovery of more flexible patterns of activity in numerous taxa during the late 1970s. This shift generated increased interest in elucidating the complex …

Climate Change-Associated Declines In Water Clarity Impair Feeding By Common Loons, Walter H. Piper, Max R. Glines, Kevin C. Rose

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Climate change has myriad impacts on ecosystems, but the mechanisms by which it affects individual species can be difficult to pinpoint. One strategy to discover such mechanisms is to identify a specific ecological factor related to survival or reproduction and determine how that factor is affected by climate. Here we used Landsat imagery to calculate water clarity for 127 lakes in northern Wisconsin from 1995 to 2021 and thus investigate the effect of clarity on the body condition of an aquatic visual predator, the common loon (Gavia immer). In addition, we examined rainfall and temperature as potential predictors …

Genomic Analysis Of Seven Mycobacteriophages Identifies Three Novel Species With Differing Phenotypic Stabilities, Laura O'Connell, Aidan Coffey Prof., Jim O'Mahony

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Recently, case studies have been published regarding the application of mycobacteriophage (MP) therapy (MPT) in patients with multi-antibiotic-resistant infections. A major limitation in the development of MPT is the paucity of therapeutically useful MP. As there are approximately 10,000 MP that have yet to be sequenced, it is possible that characterization of this cohort would increase the repertoire of useful MP. This study aims to contribute to such a strategy, by characterizing a cohort of 7 mycobacteriophages. Sequencing analyses revealed that the MP have unique sequences, and subsequent gene annotation revealed differences in gene organization. Notably, MP LOCARD has the …

Can Argument-Driven Inquiry-Assisted Virtual Laboratory Improve Pre-Service Physics Teachers’ Mastery Concept Of Simple Harmonic Oscillation?, Yolanda Dwi Vivian Karawahenni, Sutopo Sutopo, Arif Hidayat, Maya Mustika

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study endeavors to ascertain the efficacy of the Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI)- assisted virtual laboratory learning model in enhancing the comprehension of simple harmonic oscillation concepts among pre-service physics teachers. Employing a mixed- method approach with an embedded experimental design, the investigation employs a reasoned multiple-choice instrument comprising 15 questions. Analysis of the results reveals a noteworthy 48.38% increase in the average mastery of concepts between the pre-test and post-test, yielding an N-gain value of 0.63. Statistical scrutiny through paired sample t-tests corroborates significant disparities between pre-test and post-test scores, evidenced by a tcount (16.28) exceeding the critical ttable value …

Error Analysis Of Learners’ Problem-Solving Abilities In Mathematics Courses: A Newman Error Analysis (Nea) Approach, Aprilita Ekasari, Don Jaya Putra

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study endeavors to systematically discern the spectrum of learner errors manifesting in problem-solving processes within the domain of mathematics, specifically focusing on the intricacies of integration, utilizing Newman Error Analysis (NEA) as the guiding framework. The cohort under investigation comprises 14 first-year students hailing from the Department of Physics Education at Musamus University, Merauke. Employing a descriptive methodology underscored by a qualitative orientation, this research incorporates tests and interviews as primary instruments for data collection. The tests are designed to meticulously evaluate the array of errors committed by learners, as per the tenets of Newman’s model. Additionally, a subset …

Fostering Engagement And Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis Of Ethnochemical And Stem-Based Pedagogies For Chemistry Learning In Vocational High Schools, Maulidya Husnul Khatimah, Lismi Animatul Chisbiyah

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

In contemporary education, the perceived difficulty of learning chemistry, attributed to its abstract nature, remains a challenge for many students. This difficulty is compounded by a notable lack of alignment between chemistry concepts and students’ daily experiences, despite the inherent relevance of chemistry to their everyday phenomena. Building on previous research affirming the efficacy of ethnochemical modules in enhancing student learning and achievement, this study investigates the suitability of a STEM-based approach for chemistry education, particularly in vocational high school. The research methodology employs a literature study method, utilizing the PICO(T) framework for keyword selection. A rigorous review and analysis …

Differences In Biology Students’ Self-Regulation During Online And Offline Learning And Its Relationship To Learning Outcomes, Adi Kus Rochman Jk, Dwi Listyorini, Fatchur Rohman, Yessi Affriyenni

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The cultivation of self-regulatory skills holds paramount importance for individuals’ future success, particularly in the context of evolving educational modalities prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As learning transitions between online during the pandemic and offline post-pandemic, understanding the nuances of self-regulation becomes imperative. Thus, this study sought to achieve three objectives: (1) analyzing disparities in student self-regulation between online and offline settings, (2) examining the interplay between online and offline self-regulation, and (3) scrutinizing the relationship between self-regulation and learning outcomes. Employing a methodological approach involving questionnaire administration, interviews, and collecting academic scores data, data analysis was conducted utilizing the …

An Exploration Of Secondary School Science Teacher’S Epistemological Belief In Malang, Anindyta Nur Rizkyana Safitri, Endang Purwaningsih, Nuril Munfaridah, Alif Darmawan

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The objective of this study is to delve into the epistemological convictions of secondary school science teachers in Malang across various tenures, namely senior teachers, junior teachers, and pre-service teachers. Employing an explanatory sequential design model, the research employs a mixed-method approach. Quantitative data, gathered through the administration of the Scientific Epistemology Beliefs Questionnaire (n = 30), are complemented by qualitative insights drawn from interviews with teachers (n = 6) concerning their epistemological orientations. Descriptive statistics and qualitative analyses, utilizing an a priori coding technique aligned with the study’s conceptual framework, were conducted on the interview data. Quantitative analysis reveals …

Undergraduate Biology Lecture Courses Predominantly Test Facts About Science Rather Than Scientific Practices, Crystal Uminski, Sara M. Burbach, Brian A. Couch

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Scientific practices are the skills used to develop scientific knowledge and are essential for careers in science. Despite calls from education and government agencies to cultivate scientific practices, there remains little evidence of how often students are asked to apply them in undergraduate courses. We analyzed exams from biology courses at 100 institutions across the United States and found that only 7% of exam questions addressed a scientific practice and that 32% of biology exams did not test any scientific practices. The low occurrence of scientific practices on exams signals that undergraduate courses may not be integrating foundational scientific skills …

Thermal Ecology And Swimming Performance Of Native Tadpoles Dryophytes Femoralis In Central Florida, Jessalyn Aretz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization and climate warming have contributed to global amphibian declines in recent decades. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to climate and urban-induced warming because their physiological processes are dependent on temperature across all life stages, but few studies have been done on tadpole responses to warming in comparison to adult responses. The study objective was to determine how the thermal ecology and swimming performance of a native Florida tadpole varied with rearing temperature and urban level, and whether these traits are plastic or adaptive. We collected eggs from wild populations of pine woods treefrog (Dryophytes femoralis) tadpoles at an urban and …

Generating Crispr Mutations In The Asymmetric Leaves1 Gene Of Arabidopsis, Gabriella J. Rueschhoff, Tara Phelps-Durr

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The goal of this study is to create new mutations in the ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 1 (AS1) gene of Arabidopsis using CRISPR technology. AS1 is a myb domain transcription factor that represses the KNOX genes, a group of genes involved in maintaining an undifferentiated cell state. AS1 binds to the chromatin remodeling protein Histone Repressor A (HIRA). In animals, HIRA is involved in the permanent suppression of proliferation genes required for early development. The interaction between AS1 and HIRA provides clues to how AS1 maintains suppression at the KNOX genes; however, we must be careful applying what …

Biological Significances Of Environmental Pollution In The New Calabar River, Southern Nigeria: A Case Study In Zooplankton Composition, Ibienebo Davies Imachrist, Francis David Sikoki, Philomina Kika, Davies Ibienebo Chris

Journal of Bioresource Management

The study was conducted for three months (May to July 2020), focusing on the physicochemical parameters and zooplankton composition in the Ogbogoro region of the New Calabar River in Nigeria. This investigation was carried out at three distinct monitoring stations. The physicochemical parameters were determined using standard ecological analytic procedures. PAST and SPSS were used for the statistical analysis. The temperature ranged between 26.5 to 33 ºC, salinity (1.23 to 1.86 %), pH (7.4 to 9.62), Total Dissolved Solids (2419 to 5,817 mg/L), conductivity (223.83 to 7,328 μS/cm), turbidity (3.415 to 15.05 NTU) and Dissolved Oxygen (3.8 to 6.8 mg/L). …

An Analysis Of Florida Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) Rescues (1993-2022) With Recommendations For Future Rehabilitation Program Needs, Katherine Frisch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are threatened marine mammals that inhabit the coastal and near shore waters along the southeastern United States, primarily Florida. Manatee conservation is multi-faceted. One component of the manatee recovery program is the rescue and rehabilitation program that provides care for sick, injured and orphaned manatees. The science of conservation biology, whose goal is to maintain biodiversity using a multidisciplinary approach, can be applied to aspects of the manatee rescue and rehabilitation program.

A federally authorized, state implemented, rescue system has been in place for many years to rescue and treat injured and orphaned animals. Rescued …

Trip13’S Crucial Role In Pancreatic Cancer Progression, Swati Dhasmana, Anupam Dhasmana, Stella Rios, Iris A. Enriquez-Perez, Sheema Khan, Farrukh Afaq, Upender Manne, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: Pancreatic cancer, characterized by its high mortality rate, stands as one of the most aggressive cancer forms. The projected surge in pancreatic cancer-related deaths, making it the second leading cause in the United States by 2030, underscores the urgency for effective early screening tools. This study employs data mining methods to scrutinize bioinformatic data surrounding TRIP13. Examining differential expression across various cancers, correlating TRIP13 expression with pancreatic cancer stages, exploring associations with common cancer genes, and analyzing overall survival rates constitute the core investigations. Integrated with molecular biology techniques, the study further quantifies TRIP13 expression in progressive pancreatic cancer …

Ongoing Study Of The Association Of Apoe Gene Polymorphisms With Cognitive Impairment In The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Population, Jaime Miguel L. Saveron, Daniela Gamez, Chun Xu

Research Symposium

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, exhibits a significant genetic component. In addition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a key risk factor for AD. While certain demographic factors and genetic variants associated with AD and cognitive impairment have been identified in non-Hispanic populations, limited research exists on this subject within the Hispanic population, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the APOE gene, specifically its ε4 allele, and cognitive impairment in the Hispanic population of the Rio Grande Valley.

Methods: A total of 269 Hispanic subjects, aged 60 and above, with …

Deep Learning Can Be Used To Classify And Segment Plant Cell Types In Xylem Tissue, Reem Al Dabagh, Benjamin Shin, Sean Wu, Fabien Scalzo, Helen Holmlund, Jessica Lee, Chris Ghim, Samuel Fitzgerald, Marinna Grijalva

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Studies of plant anatomical traits are essential for understanding plant physiological adaptations to stressful environments. For example, shrubs in the chaparral ecosystem of southern California have adapted various xylem anatomical traits that help them survive drought and freezing. Previous studies have shown that xylem conduits with a narrow diameter allows certain chaparral shrub species to survive temperatures as low as -12 C. Other studies have shown that increased cell wall thickness of fibers surrounding xylem vessels improves resistance to water stress-induced embolism formation. Historically, these studies on xylem anatomical traits have relied on hand measurements of cells in light micrographs, …

Effectiveness Of Frog Skin Secretions Against Uv-B Radiation, Connor Mcgaha, Kinkade Mcmurray, Lee B. Kats

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

As an increasing number of their species face possible extinction, amphibian populations have been steadily declining over the past decades (IUCN). While various factors have been suggested or proven to be partially responsible for this reduction, increased ultraviolet B radiation (UVBR) appears to be one of the more prominent explanations, especially when considering the continual thinning of the Earth’s ozone layer due to anthropogenic climate change. However, it has also been discovered that skin secretions, which are reported to function as a component of amphibians’ innate immune systems, may have an effect on UVBR (Cramp and Franklin). With this in …

A Tick's Quest: The Effects Of Climatic Stress On Host-Seeking Behavior Of Wild Ticks, Lawson Trimmell, Peter Briggs, Javier Monzón

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) is one of the most epidemiologically relevant tick species in the United States and is experiencing a range expansion. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of climatic stress on the behavior and physiology of the Lone Star Tick at the expansion front. We hypothesized that there are differences in survivorship, questing (host-seeking) behavior, and dehydration tolerance based on sex or geographic origin. We also predicted that ticks increase their host-seeking behavior as they approach death due to dehydration stress. We collected adult ticks from six sites across Oklahoma and New York/New Jersey. We …

A New Marine Vertebrate Assemblage From The Upper Cretaceous Dakota Formation In Nebraska, Usa, And Potential New Insights Into The Cenomanian–Turonian Vertebrate Communities Of The Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, John K. Juranek

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The upper part of the Dakota Formation (lower middle Cenomanian) is a marine sedimentary rock unit formed at the dawn of the major transgression of the Western Interior Seaway, an epicontinental sea that flooded the middle of North America in the north-south direction during the Late Cretaceous. This study examines marine vertebrate fossils from the stratigraphic horizon in southeastern Nebraska. Fossiliferous rock samples that were subjected to acid treatment resulted in over 7,292 taxonomically identifiable specimens, consisting minimally of 51 distinct vertebrate taxa. They include at least 26 chondrichthyans, 20 osteichthyan fishes, and five tetrapod taxa. Whereas many of these …

Assay Optimization To Capture Herpesvirus Entry Protein Interactions, Angelina Consalvo

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

A sequence of protein-protein interactions between four glycoproteins (gB, gD, gH, and gL) are sufficient and necessary for entry of herpes simplex virus (HSV) into a host cell. The mechanism for entry is conserved across all herpesviruses, specifically gH/gL and gB (Connolly et al., 2011), therefore studying HSV-1 entry can give insight into other herpesviruses. Co-immunoprecipitation (coIP) is an appealing technique for studying protein interactions required for entry in HSV-1. coIP is a promising method because wild-type protein complexes remain intact, and cells can be transfected with multiple combinations of proteins for isolation. coIP can be challenging because the interactions …

Understanding The Impact Of Post-Translational Modifications On Nucleosome Positioning, Bronwyn Kennington-Nitz, Steven Johnson, Sophie Lo, Michael Mann, David Bates

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024

The placement of histones along DNA is known to be a significant factor in determining gene expression in eukaryotic cells, with post-translational modifications (or PTMs) helping modulate gene expression by acting as an intermediate to other factors. Using the Lys>Gln and Acetyl-Lys mutations of H3, our working hypothesis is that acetylation will decrease the overall strength of positioning, and that mutations will have an identical or nearly identical effect on nucleosome positioning.

Fish Tattoos: The Evolutionary Cost Of Black Spot Disease, Eric J. Morris, Jerry B. Johnson

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024

QUESTION

Does Black Spot Disease increase the fitness of male fishes?

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesize that Black Spot Disease will increase the fitness of male fishes. We predict that female fishes will exhibit an association preference for infected males over healthy males when given the choice between the two. This observed preference would suggest that BSD is advantageous for male fishes

Role Models V. Knowledge: Should We Use Different Evolution Teaching Strategies For Students With Varying Levels Of Scientific Reasoning Skills?, Kenny Harrington, Jamie Jensen

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024

What We KNOW:

Learning the mechanisms of evolution (sometimes), i.e., Knowledge…

and having a Role Model present both serve to increase evolution acceptance.

Some have suggested that scientific reasoning ability predicts evolution acceptance, while others refute this.

We HYPOTHESIZE that students’ scientific reasoning ability moderates the effect of Knowledge on evolution acceptance. We PREDICT that those with higher reasoning skills will find Knowledge more compelling than Role Models.