Digital Commons Network^™

Harnessing The Gut-Diet Axis To Enhance Chemotherapy And Immunotherapy, Jill Carline

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

The human microbiome, a complex ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, represents a critical "gut-diet axis" that significantly influences cancer progression and therapeutic efficacy. While a state of homeostasis supports systemic immunity, dysbiosis is linked to chronic inflammation and can actively promote resistance to standard cytotoxic chemotherapies and modern immune checkpoint inhibitors. Specifically, research indicates that Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) promotes resistance to 5-Fluorouracil and Oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer by activating Notch1 receptors to inhibit apoptosis and push cancer cells into a resilient, stem-cell-like state. Conversely, the introduction of fiber-rich and fermented foods can cultivate beneficial bacteria …

Does Volume Cycling Elicit A Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy Re-Sensitization Effect? A Comparison Of Constant Versus Cycled Resistance Training Protocols, Joshua C. Pelland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study examined whether volume cycling in resistance training can elicit a skeletal muscle hypertrophy re-sensitization effect without muscle atrophy. We hypothesized that muscle size would be maintained during lower volume phases, that re-sensitization would occur following these phases, and that overall hypertrophy would be similar between cycled and constant volume conditions.

Methods: Thirty-seven trained men and women had their lower limbs randomized to either a constant volume (12 sets/week throughout) or cycled volume (alternating 4-week phases of 12 and 4 sets/week) condition for unilateral calf press training over 20 weeks. Lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscle thickness (MT), calf …

Pleistocene Glacial Effects On North American Phylogeographic Patterns, Noah Garland, Ingrid Jordon-Thaden

Scholars Week

The biodiversity of alpine ecosystems are grossly underestimated, in turn threatening habitat loss. Much work is needed in this respect to better understand the process of speciation and extinction in these environments, given the threat of global climate change. We are testing hypothesis regarding rapid radiation of plant lineages both into and out of refugia in the context of dispersal during post-glacial and inter-glacial periods, focusing on the phylogeny of trans-Beringian alpine plant species by observing circumpolar lineages extending into southern portions of the North American Cordillera, the Rocky Mountains and the Intermountain Region.  Focal taxa include species of Draba …

Site-Directed Mutagenesis Of The He1Α Subunit Of Human Branched Chain Α-Ketoacid Dehydrogenase Complex, Riley B. Corcoran, Isabel Wilson, Bálint Csuka-Nagy, Stephen Baron

ASPIRE 2026

No abstract provided.

Development, Validation, And Comparative Evaluation Of A Rheotaxis-Based Microfluidic Device To Isolate A Subpopulation Of High-Performance Human Spermatozoa, Charlene S. Fournier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fertility has declined over the past decades, and male infertility is now recognized as contributing equally to the need for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Current clinical sperm processing methods rely on multiple centrifugation steps, which are time- and labor-intensive and may be detrimental to spermatozoa. Therefore, improved methodologies are needed to select functional, healthy spermatozoa while mimicking natural sperm selection. Microfluidics has expanded in reproductive biology and offers an efficient approach to selecting spermatozoa based on progressive motility and rheotaxis—their natural ability to swim against a constant flow. In this study, I developed a rheotaxis-based microfluidic device to isolate highly …

Characterizing The Diet, Movement, And Hooking Frequency Of Pier-Hooked Juvenile Green Turtles (Chelonia Mydas), Cody R. Mott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Green sea turtles are impacted by their interactions with recreational fishing piers, but how these interactions affect their diet, behavior, and hooking risk remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to characterize and quantify interactions between juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and a recreational fishing pier in southeast Florida. The goals were to evaluate how proximity to the pier influences turtle diet, behavior, and incidental hooking. We compared pier-hooked turtles with individuals captured on an adjacent reef and at a control site lacking a nearby pier. Dietary preferences were assessed using nitrogenous blood analytes and stable isotope analysis. …

Ratfish (Chimaera Monstrosa) Chondocranium, Riley B. Glogowski, David W. Kerstetter

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

No abstract provided.

Una To Put Names On 2 Buildings, Jennifer Edwards

Documents

the naming of the Academic Commons Building and the new Science and Technology Building at UNA

The Science And Technology Building University Of North Alabama, Barbie Hampel-University Advancement

Documents

Brochure and floor plans for the New Science and Technology Building at UNA

University Of North Alabama Science And Technology Building Grand Opening And Ribbon Cutting, University Of North Alabama

Documents

Invitation to the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the new Science and Technology Building at UNA

New Species Of Kronosvirus Bacteriophages That Infect Caulobacter Strain Cbr1, Tannaz Mohammadi, Austin Millwood, Maherah Shaik, Bert Ely

Faculty Publications

Caulobacter segnis strain CBR1 enhances the germination rate and total biomass of Arabidopsis plants. Since bacteriophages are usually present in the rhizosphere, we isolated three additional bacteriophages, designated TMCBR2, TMCBR3, and W2, that can replicate using CBR1 as the host strain. The genome sizes and morphologies of the new phages were similar to those of the previously isolated Kronos phage, and when we compared the nucleotide sequence of these new phage genomes, we found only minor differences among the four phage genomes. Pairwise sequence comparisons indicated that the phage genomes should be grouped into three separate species within Kronosvirus genus. …

Snail Snacks: Introduced Seaweeds Facilitate Performance Of An Introduced Marine Snail, Alysha B. Putnam, Adeline Dwyer, Paulette Peckol

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Facilitative interactions among introduced species can accelerate invasion and community change, yet positive interactions are often overlooked compared to competition and predation. In marine systems, positive facilitation is more commonly demonstrated indirectly through habitat modification, with fewer studies examining direct performance impacts. While introduced herbivores in non-marine systems consume and even prefer introduced food sources, this pattern is less studied in marine environments. In this study, we tested grazing preferences and growth responses of the introduced periwinkle Littorina littorea and the native Littorina obtusata, when fed native and introduced seaweeds from southern New England. L. littorea grazed broadly across …

Dna Barcoding Of Eight Freshwater Fish Species (Order Siluriformes) From The River Ravi, Pakistan, Hafiz Muhammad Ashraf, Hafiz Abdullah Shakir, Muhammad Irfan, Shaukat Ali, Chaman Ara, Noor Khan, Muhammad Khan, Abdul Qadir, Muhammad Zafar Saleem

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Pakistan's freshwater bodies host significant fish species, but molecular identification is still in its infancy, necessitating the use of morphological and molecular DNA barcoding techniques. The study confirmed the species of the order Siluriformes found in the River Ravi, Pakistan, using DNA extracted from muscle tissue, sequenced for the COI gene, and obtained accession and Barcode Index Numbers from GenBank and BOLD databases. In the BLAST search, identities ranged from 99.23–100% and 99.52–100% in the GenBank and BOLD databases, respectively. The study revealed that the Kimura 2-Parameter genetic distance increased from lower to higher taxonomic levels: within species (0.00%) < within genus (15.17%) < within family (19.77%). The study estimated average nucleotide differences (104.964) and nucleotide diversity (0.16099) but found Tajima's neutrality test to be statistically insignificant. The neighbor-joining tree displayed closely linked species under a node, whereas divergent species were grouped under distinct nodes. The COI gene-based DNA barcoding aids in Pakistan's fish resource inventory, monitoring, and management, providing valuable input for traditional methods.

Eco-Assisted Ultrasonic Synthesis, Characterization, And Electrical Conductivity Study Of Polyaniline/ Silica@Fe3o4 Q1 Nanocomposites, Ali Salim Shaway, Kholoud Dham Khamkheem, Jawad Kadhim Abaies, Athra G. Sager

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

وفي هذه الدراسة الصوتية، أصبحت السيليكا المُنتجة بأكسيد الحديد (Fe₃O₄) ومركبات نانوية قائمة على البولي أنيلين مُطعّم بنسبة 5-15% من السيليكا المُعزز للحديد (Fe₃O₄). وأكملت نهائيا ماء أنيلين والمركبات العلمية المتنوعة الارتباط باستخدام تقنيات FT-IR وUV-Vis وXRD وSEM وTEM. وأحدثت نتائج XRD أن حجم جسيمات البولينج أنيلين الناي (PANI) يبلغ 55.5. مكثف هذا الحجم إلى 45.2 عند تطعيم بولي أنيلين بنسبة 15% وزناً من السيليكا المُغلفة بأكسيد الحديد (Fe₃O₄) مُحضّرة بطريقة جيدة بشكل جيد، مما يميل إلى التمدد بشكل ثابت في تشكيل المركب المتباين المنظم. ضاقت النطاق البصري من 3.2 إلى 2.5 إلكترون فولت مع زيادة نسبة المطعّم، مما يشير …

The Effects Of Sun Exposure On The Intensity And Distribution Of Salamander Biofluorescence, Julianne Chairez

Scholars Week

Salamanders have been used in a variety of different experiments to  determine the health of various ecosystems. Biofluorescence was recently studied in  amphibians in a study done in 2020. Not much is known about all its functions,  more studies are needed to fully understand how it works and how it can be affected  by environmental factors. Learning more about the functions of salamander  biofluorescence could lead to a greater understanding of how pollutants and human  impacts can affect salamanders and the health of their ecosystems. This project  aims to focus on tiger salamander biofluorescence and how its distribution and  intensity …

Behavioral Analyses Of Reproductive Behaviors Of The River Dolphin Tucuxi (Sotalia Fluviatilis), Jaden Wee

Honors Theses

This research project investigates the reproductive behavior of the tucuxi river dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis), whose mating strategies are poorly documented. In 2022, over Lake Amanã, Brazil, Dr. Gonzalez-Socoloske captured drone footage of a natural mating event involving multiple tucuxi individuals, which provided us a rare opportunity to study their behavior. Using Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS), behavioral states and point events, such as intromission, proximity, synchrony, and periods of non-visibility, were coded and quantified, enabling statistical and graphical analyses that characterize the tucuxi’s social and reproductive interaction patterns. The results indicate that 30 intromission events occurred within the 13-minute …

Characterization Of Srsf1’S Functions In Transcription And Alternative Splicing, Elena Bisotto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Serine/Arginine splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) is an RNA-binding protein (RBP) that serves as a central regulator of RNA biogenesis. SRSF1 has been implicated in cell replication, motility, ageing, immune function, and other physiological processes, while its dysregulation is associated with multiple cancers and autoimmune diseases. In this study, we characterized the global impact and structural requirements of SRSF1-mediated gene regulation to elucidate its proto-oncogenic functions.

Utilizing a time-course RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) approach in HEK293 cells, we identified 28 primary transcriptional targets of SRSF1, 18 of which were consistently upregulated in the established cancer cell models PC-3 and MCF-7. These targets …

Anti-Inflammatory And Insulin-Modulating Effects Of Tithonia-Curcuma-Moringa (Tcm) Formulation In Type 2 Diabetes: An Experimental Study In Mice, Rif’Atul Hawani Burhan, Nabila Shafa Yumna Salsabila, Devita Zulfa Pratama, La Tazkia Aulia Wibowo, Yulian Ervin Maulana, Moh Dliyauddin, Noviana Dwi Lestari, Agung Pramana Warih Marhendra, Aris Soewondo, Hideo Tsuboi, Muhaimin Rifa’I

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and chronic inflammation. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and insulin-modulating effects of Tithonia-Curcuma-Moringa (TCM) formulation in type 2 diabetes model. Male BALB/c mice were divided into six groups: normal control, type 2 diabetes control, metformin treatment, and three TCM formulation treatment groups with three different dose combinations. Type 2 diabetes was induced using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection, supported by sucrose administration. After 21 days of treatment, the spleen and pancreas were isolated for flow cytometry analysis. The results showed that the expression levels of …

Literature Review Of Local Culture-Based Mathematics E-Module With Islamic Values In Probability, Maya Puspita Sari, Surya Sari Faradiba

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study is grounded in the need to address the limitations of probability learning that is often procedural, decontextualized, and disconnected from students’ cultural and religious values. It aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of how local cultural contexts and Islamic values can be systematically integrated into mathematics e-modules, particularly for probability learning, and to formulate structured design principles and quality indicators for their development. This paper adopts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach by analyzing empirical studies published between 2020 and 2025, using a structured selection process involving identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion stages. A total of 11 high-quality …

The Effect Of Virtual Laboratories On Students Interest And Learning Outcomes In Spermatophyta At Sma Negeri 1 Sojol, Ismawati Ismawati, Sutrisnawati Sutrisnawati, Manap Trianto, Masrianih Masrianih, Abd Rauf, Musdalifah Nurdin

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Limited access to physical laboratory facilities and the abstract nature of Spermatophyta material reduce students’ learning interest and outcomes, necessitating the use of innovative digital learning media such as virtual laboratories. This study aims to analyze the effect of Virtual Laboratory (V-Lab) implementation on students’ learning interest and cognitive learning outcomes in Spermatophyta material at the senior high school level. A quantitative quasi-experimental design with a posttest-only control group was employed involving 66 eleventh-grade students divided into experimental and control classes; data were collected using a learning interest questionnaire and a multiple-choice test, and analyzed using independent samples t-test after …

Reading Literacy Research Trends In Science Learning (2015–2025), Siwi Handayani, Siswanto Siswanto, Rina Rahayu

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to analyze research trends in reading literacy within science learning from 2015 to 2025 through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework. The initial screening of 150 articles from the WoS Core Collection and SINTA databases yielded 29 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The analysis focused on publication dynamics, contributing countries, participant characteristics, research variables, and the science subjects investigated. The findings indicate that research on reading literacy in science learning remains limited and shows fluctuating development. Most publications originate from national journals indexed by SINTA, …

Florence State Prepares For Jet Age Needs With New, Expanded Facilities, Tommy Hill

Documents

News article from The Birmingham News about the expanded facilities at Florence State College

Scientist Floyd Retires At Florence State, Jack Bridges

Documents

Dr. Homer H. Floyd's retirement from Florence State College

Designing Life Science Assessments In The Era Of Generative Artificial Intelligence, Andrew C. Kwong, Christopher Magnano, Christine Goglia, Joseph J. Loparo, John J. Peters

Biology Faculty Publications

Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) algorithms have the potential to reshape education. Though GAI may help democratize access to education, it also presents many challenges for educators. Already, the ease of use of GAI has made it easier for students to bypass learning gains by prompting GAI for answers to assignments. Here, we assessed how ChatGPT performed on take-home assignments in a doctoral-level molecular biology course designed to train students in experimental design. Using Bloom’s taxonomy as a framework, we hypothesized that ChatGPT would perform similarly to doctoral students on lower cognitive levels involving memorization and underperform at higher levels that …

The Stability Study Of Dna-Polymer Hybrids For Nanotechnology Applications, Ethan Kuehn, Milan Jebaraj

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

DNA nanostructures have garnered increasing interest in their application as drug delivery vehicles. However, DNA is susceptible to degradation under physiological conditions. To remedy this, we have devised a novel method to coat DNA nanostructures with the polysaccharide chitosan (a natural derivative of chitin). Chitosan binds to DNA electrostatically and inhibits nuclease activity that would normally degrade DNA in a physiological environment. We used both agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine the stability of DNA before and after immersion in a simulated biological environment. Physiological conditions were mimicked by incubating the DNA in cell culture …

Biosensors For Biomedicine, Drake O'Leary

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

This project investigated the use of engineered bacterial reporter systems to detect cellular stress responses associated with antibiotic activity. While constructs were successfully introduced and tested against known antibiotics, the reporter consistently produced a blue signal across conditions, limiting the ability to distinguish specific stress responses. This suggests issues such as leaky expression, insufficient regulatory control, or lack of specificity in the reporter design. Although results were inconclusive, this work highlights key challenges in developing reliable biosensors and provides a foundation for future optimization. Improving signal specificity and reducing background expression will be critical for enabling accurate characterization of antibiotic …

Optimizing Duckweeds Harvesting Strategies To Maximize Nutrient Recovery And Its Role As A Phytosensor In Different Water Sources While Maximizing Sustainable Biomass Growth, Basma Ghannam

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis is concerned with determining the optimal water treatment and harvesting strategy for Lemna minor duckweed plants. The main objective of this thesis is to examine how duckweed plants grow in terms of biomass, photosynthetic activity, leaf morphology, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and their efficiency in nutrient removal from different water sources. The methodology of the study included assessing duckweed in three water samples including tap water, saline water, and greywater and three harvesting strategies, including low, medium, and high harvesting intensities to determine their growth and nutrient removal efficiency. The results of the study showed that L.minor grown …

Community Dynamics In Urban Ponds Could Be Influenced By Artificial Habitats, Keagan Miller, Uma Adrianna Misra

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Urban ponds are subject to nutrient influxes from stormwater runoff, and blooms of harmful algae can develop in response. One management strategy includes deployment of Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) or floating mats of aquatic plants designed to maximize uptake of nutrients to plant biomass. An understudied component of these artificial systems is their potential to provide microhabitat for aquatic biota. This study focused on the intersection of aquatic insect communities and fish presence between natural and artificial habitat types. Insect communities were found to be weakly dissimilar between habitat types (ANOSIM: R=0.254, p=0.048). Specifically, Anisoptera and Zygoptera were absent or …

An Overview Of Herpetofauna Surveys At Fort Leavenworth Military Reserve., Zane Smith, Sandra Guzman-Duran

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Herpetofauna surveys focused on Crayfish Frog, Spring Peeper, Eastern Tiger Salamander, Red-Bellied Snake, and Smooth Earth Snake were conducted concurrently with Bush Honeysuckle removal projects on the Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation.  Survey techniques included coverboard arrays, adaptive hunt drift fences, traditional pit fall traps and visual encounter surveys and were conducted between May and August in 2024 and 2025. The survey effort resulted in the detection of one of the target species, the Smooth Earth Snake. Based on our survey results we are confident that the Crayfish frog and Spring Peeper do not occur on Fort Leavenworth Military Reserve, but …

Investigating The Role Of Sk-3 Interval I401 In Gene Drive By Neurospora Spore Killer-3, Alexandra Spriggs

Senior Theses – Biological Sciences

Neurospora crassa is a fungus that has been used to study genetics, more specifically, meiotic gene drive through its spore killing abilities. Meiotic drive describes a process in which selfish genetic elements bias Mendelian genetics to increase transmission to their offspring, eliminating any alleles that are sensitive. The spore killing mechanism of Neurospora’s Spore killer-3 (Sk-3) is an example of how meiotic drive works through a poison-antidote model. The Sk-3 genetic element consists of both a killing (poison) gene and a resistance (antidote) gene. The location of the resistance gene has been identified while the killing gene has not. To …