Digital Commons Network^™

146 - Localization Of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) Protein In Zebrafish, Muwafuq Ibrahim, Jacqueline Maloney, Christopher Jung, Zee Ralph, Isabell Mathew

GREAT Day Posters

Zebrafish possess a unique ability to regenerate their retina when damaged; our objective is to gain a better understanding regarding retinal regeneration in zebrafish in hopes of eventually utilizing this information to promote retinal regeneration in humans. It has been shown that a protein, Sonic Hedgehog signaling protein (shh), plays a role in the differentiation of progenitor cells during eye development in zebrafish. Researchers have concluded that shh moves across the retina in a wave-like fashion during vertebrate development and regeneration. Studies have been conducted to see how the shh protein moves, but none have investigated the exact location that …

162 - The Importance Of Chaf-1b And P53 In Zebrafish Apoptosis, Noé Stephens, Dhavan Brahmbhatt, Isabel Reitano-Stayer, Hannah Haws

GREAT Day Posters

Chromatin assembly factor-1b (Caf-1b), one of the subunits of Chromatin assembly factor-1, is integral for retina differentiation in both humans and zebrafish. Fisher et. al found that apoptosis was stimulated in cells that lack Caf-1b at the S-phase check point by the tumor suppressor p53 as cells that lacked Caf-1b had a much higher expression of p53 then cells that contained Caf-1b. Fisher et. al proposed the model that Caf-1b is an inhibitor of p53 which stimulates apoptosis in the absence of Caf-1b (2007). However, it is not known what occurs when both Caf-1b and p53 are both removed. If …

204 - How Does Change In Land Use Impact The Water Chemistry Parameters In The Streams Of Oswego County, Ny, Madison Steates, Thomas Back

GREAT Day Posters

Land use within a watershed is closely tied to stream water chemistry. Anthropogenic chemical inputs eventually make their way into streams, affecting fluvial ecosystems. Sources of these anthropogenic inputs change over time, especially when rural landscapes become increasingly urbanized. We studied the relationship between land use and stream water chemistry for Oswego County, New York, because riparian zones in this county have shifted to residential from agricultural and forested land uses. We extracted data from the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) Department of Water (DOW) Monitoring Portal. Preliminary results show that Total Nitrogen (Kjeldahl) in mg/L fluctuates yearly …

237 - Seasonal And Historical Trends Of Cyanobacteria Dominance In Conesus Lake, Emma Belica, Isabella Imbo

GREAT Day Posters

The purpose of this research was three-fold. First, an analysis of long-term data was conducted to determine how the abundance of the cyanobacteria of the genus Dolichospermum changed historically since 1985 in Conesus Lake. Secondly, to look at the seasonality of the Dolichospermum blooms in the Summer of 2022. Third, to determine Dolichospermum's Nitrogen-fixing activity based on analysis of the frequency of Nitrogen-fixing cells in the population (heterocysts). Long-term data shows Dolichospermum has increased in representation in recent years and in 2022 reached a peak biomass that represented 75% of all the cyanobacteria biomass and 56% of all the phytoplankton …

245 - P27kip1 Is Upregulated In Umscv-4 Cells Corresponding To Entering A State Of Quiescence When Treated With Clobetasol., Gianna Minnuto, Luke North, Mack Ogden, Kia Haering

GREAT Day Posters

Quiescence, the temporary exit from the cell cycle, presents therapeutic challenges to cancer management since it allows evasion of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. Essential to the study of quiescence in carcinogenesis is an established model system. Our studies have found that clobetasol treatment of the vulvar cancer cell line, UMSCV-4 causes these cells to enter a state of dormancy. Subsequent removal of the cells from clobetasol show a return to normal cell proliferation, even after dormancy for 3 months. p27^Kip1 protein is elevated in quiescent cells and has been used as a marker for entry into quiescence. Using both …

352 - Quantifying Variation Of The Ostrich Wing (Aves: Paleognathae), Isabel Marzec

GREAT Day Posters

The common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) is a member of a large clade of flightless birds known as the ratites. The ratites are morphologically classified by their absence of a keeled sternum that, in flighted birds, provides a large surface area for flight muscle attachment. Although morphology in flighted birds is relatively constrained, the lack of selective pressures in ratites has led to increased variability in the wing. The skeleton of S. camelus exhibits numerous adaptations related to cursoriality, such as a double patella, shortened wing skeleton, and a lightweight pelvic girdle. Though their wings may not be capable …

An Investigation Of Second-Site Non-Complementation Among Motile Cilia Genes In Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Gervette M. Penny

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION An Investigation of Second-Site Non-Complementation among Motile Cilia Genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by Gervette M. Penny Doctor of Philosophy in Biology and Biomedical Sciences Molecular Genetics and Genomics Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 Professor Susan K. Dutcher, Chair Motile cilia are complex microtubule-based organelles used by eukaryotic cells for locomotion or directing fluid flow. In humans, motile cilia defects cause primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), characterized by neonatal respiratory distress, recurrent lung infections, bronchiectasis, and low nitric oxide. Situs inversus and/or male infertility are present in about 50% of cases. PCD inheritance is recessive; both copies …

Acoustic Sampling Of Arkansas Bat Species Richness Across Different Seasons And Habitats, Lark E. Sybrant

ATU Scholars Symposium

Arkansas is home to sixteen bat species belonging to the Vespertilionidae and Molossidae families. Bats are keystone species and provide numerous ecosystem services that also benefit people. This study explores factors that impact species richness between the spring and fall seasons in a wooded rural site (Washburn Park) and an urban field site (Arkansas Tech University campus), Russellville, AR. The non-invasive Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro, from Wildlife Acoustics, was used to record calls and identify bat species from these locations. Nearly 1,050 calls were recorded from 11 different species across the spring and fall between both sites. Results showed …

Tsh And Ctbp Interaction Coordinates Drosophila Eye Development, Harley Hines, Raven Newton

ATU Scholars Symposium

Transcription regulation controls the eye precursor cell division, followed by photoreceptor specification in the larval eye precursor tissue called the eye disc of Drosophila, the fruit flies. In the third instar larval eye disc, a morphogenetic furrow (MF), demarcates anterior dividing cells from the posterior differentiating cells. Teashirt (Tsh), a transcription factor induces cell division, and C-terminal Binding Protein (CtBP), a transcription coregulator, limits cell division in the eye disc. They have overlapping expression patterns in the eye disc. Our hypothesis is that Tsh and CtBP bind with each other and control eye development. We show that Tsh and CtBP …

Actualistic Testing Of The Influence Of Groundwater Chemistry On Degradation Of Collagen I In Bone, Paul Ullmann, Kristyn K. Voegele, Kenneth Lacovara

School of Earth & Environment Departmental Research

Recent experiments have heightened our understanding of reactions which can stabilize biomolecules during early diagenesis, yet little remains known about how groundwater chemistry can aid or hinder molecular preservation within a bone through geologic time. To elucidate this issue, we conducted actualistic experiments of bone decay employing varied fluid compositions to simulate a suite of groundwaters. Modern domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) femora were placed in a matrix of compositionally- and texturally-mature, fluvially-deposited sand. To simulate groundwater flow, deionized water or solutions enriched in calcium carbonate, phosphate, or iron were percolated through separate trials for a period of 90 days. After …

Chemical Inhibition Of Bromodomain Proteins In Insect-Stage African Trypanosomes Perturbs Silencing Of The Variant Surface Glycoprotein Repertoire And Results In Widespread Changes In The Transcriptome, Danae Schulz, Ethan C. Ashby, Jennifer L. Havens, Johanna S. Hardin, Lindsey M. Rollosson

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

The disease African trypanosomiasis imposes a severe human and economic burden for communities in sub-Saharan Africa. The parasite that causes the disease is transmitted to the bloodstream of a human or ungulate via the tsetse fly. The eukaryotic protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is transmitted by the tsetse fly to both humans and animals, where it causes a fatal disease called African trypanosomiasis. While the parasite lacks canonical DNA sequence-specific transcription factors, it does possess histones, histone modifications, and proteins that write, erase, and read histone marks. Chemical inhibition of chromatin-interacting bromodomain proteins has previously been shown to perturb bloodstream specific …

Analyzing Behavior In Flies Modeling Frontotemporal Dementia, Colin Mcnulty, Julia Bonavolonta, Connor Barber

Biology Student Scholarship

Colin McNulty ’24, Major: Biology

Julia Bonavolonta ’24, Majors: Biology and Spanish

Connor Barber ’24, Major: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marla Tipping, Biology

In this project, the goal is to be able to study the behavioral differences in Drosophila melanogaster who model the neurological disease frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Flies modeling FTD are placed into multiple different tubes and loaded into an activity monitor; the same is done with control flies who do not model FTD. Over time, this machine tracks sleep cycles, movement, eating habits, and other behaviors. These results are filed into a computer where they then are then …

Be Happy, But Not Too Happy: Taiwanese And American Childrearing Differences In Regulation Of Ideal Affect., Samantha Dietel

Biology Student Scholarship

Samantha Dietel ’23
Majors: Psychology and Elementary/Special Education
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Smaranda Lawrie, Psychology

Pyrus Calleryana Extracts Reduce Germination Of Native Grassland Species, Suggesting The Potential For Allelopathic Effects During Ecological Invasion, Michaela J. Woods, Jonathan T. Bauer, Dena Schaeffer, Ryan W. Mcewan

Biology Faculty Publications

Invasive plant species’ success may be a result of allelopathy, or the release of secondary metabolites that are harmful for surrounding plant species. Allelopathy can be mediated through the abiotic environment by chemical sorption or transformation, so the substrate on which interactions occur can lead to differential outcomes in allelopathic potential. One aggressive invader, Pyrus calleryana, has become dominant in many ecosystems throughout Eastern US, and has reduced the abundance of native species where it invades. Thus, our goal was to identify if P. calleryana had allelopathic potential by testing the impact of leaf and flower leachate on gemination …

Impact Of Nutrient Resorption On The Fitness And Growth In Iva Frutescens, Salt Marsh Elder, Juliane Bravo-Perez, Devon Gravel, Ryan Tainsh

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

Nutrient resorption, a nutrient conservation mechanism used by deciduous plants, was investigated in Iva frutescens, a woody salt marsh perennial. To address the impact of nutrient resorption on the fitness and growth in the model organism, a field and laboratory study was undertaken. During the Fall of 2022, seed material and growth measurements were collected from ten replicate Iva frutescens plants at four salt marsh habitats along the coast of Narragansett Bay, RI. Collected seed material was dried to constant mass, manually sorted to purify seed sample, and weighed. In addition, a subsample of 100 seeds from five individuals from …

Multi-Modal, Assistive, And Augmentive Neurological Based Therapy And Rehabilitation Device, Abigail Medeiros, Jonah Mcgowan

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

This project focuses on the design of a prototype, with the objective to create an assistive and augmentative game-based physical therapy device. This prototype was designed to aid in the physical therapy process by providing a specialized mode of assessment for clients with conditions that impact range of motion in the shoulder, such as a rotator cuff injury, traumatic brain injury, or a stroke. The device incorporates touch capacity textiles, washable microprocessors, and conductive thread to accurately assess range-of-motion through lateral shoulder abduction and other upper extremity movements that are severely diminished with these injuries. Angle measurements were calculated for …

Notes On Lung Development In South African Ghost Frogs (Anura: Heleophrynidae), Jackson R. Phillips, Jens Reissig, Gary Kyle Nicolau

Biology Student Research

Lungs are a prototypical trait of most tetrapods, but some amphibians have become secondarily lungless over evolutionary time. Anuran (frog) tadpoles offer an opportunity to examine lung loss from an evolutionary perspective, because there are many independent instances where lungs are not inflated until adulthood, and so are functionally lost. Lung loss is typically associated with living in fast-flowing streams, and so we examined larval lung development in the stream specialist family Heleophrynidae. We find that one genus, Hadromophryne Van Dijk, 2008, has large lungs as tadpole, while the other genus, Heleophryne Sclater, 1898, has much smaller, stunted lung buds. …

Study Budgets In Human Anatomy And Physiology Students: Assessments Of Time On Tasks As Affected By Student Motivation And Assessment Weighting, Mattie C. Derivaux

Honors Theses

The extent to which a student is motivated, along with the root of that motivation, can significantly influence the nature of a student’s experience in a course, especially in a rigorous science course such as Human Anatomy and Physiology (HAP). Students’ perceptions of specific course elements, coupled with how they perceive their purposes, can alter their motivation to succeed, which in turn can affect their performance. This study sought to analyze student motivation in an undergraduate HAP course at the University of Mississippi by focusing on students’ attitudes towards the weight distribution of course assessments, effort exertions, and time allotted …

Analysis Of Adsorbed Polyphosphate Changes On Milled Titanium Dioxide, Using Low-Field Relaxation Nmr And Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Laura N Elliott, David Austin, Richard A Bourne, Ali Hassanpour, John Robb, John L Edwards, Stephen Sutcliffe, Timothy N Hunter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In this study, changes in the adsorbed amount and surface structure of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) were investigated for aluminum-doped TiO2 pigment undergoing milling. Relaxation NMR was utilized as a potential at-line technique to monitor the effect of milling on surface area and surface chemistry, while XPS was used primarily to consider the dispersant structure. Results showed that considerable amounts of weakly adsorbed SHMP could be removed with washing, and the level of dispersant removal increased with time, highlighting destructive effects of sustained high-energy milling. Nonetheless, there were no significant chemical changes to the dispersant, although increases to the bridging oxygen …

Comparison Of Globalfiler Pcr Amplification Inhibition Due To Humic Acid And Canine Dna, Mckinzie Bundy

Honors Projects

To obtain a DNA profile from a crime scene sample, the DNA must undergo amplification through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The PCR process can be inhibited by factors that increase DNase I activity or by factors that interfere with Taq polymerase binding to the DNA. This study compares inhibition to the PCR process caused by dog DNA with inhibition caused by humic acid. The GlobalFiler PCR Amplification Kit was tested using mixtures of dog DNA and human control DNA and mixtures of humic acid and human control DNA. The profiles obtained from these mixtures were then analyzed for instances …

Evidence Of Continuing Downward Trends In American Kestrel Populations And Recommendations For Research Into Causal Factors, David M. Bird, John A. Smallwood

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

We analyzed long-term datasets from nest box programs, Breeding Bird Surveys run by the US Geological Survey, Christmas Bird Counts run by the National Audubon Society, and counts from two key fall migration watch sites, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Cape May Hawkwatch. We found that populations of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) in North America are generally still declining, albeit with some caveats. Some populations are actually increasing, while others are remaining stable. Overall, the magnitude of annual change appears to be decreasing slightly during recent years. To understand potential causes of the decline, we recommend the following courses of action …

From Deep Mutational Mapping Of Allosteric Protein Landscapes To Deep Learning Of Allostery And Hidden Allosteric Sites: Zooming In On “Allosteric Intersection” Of Biochemical And Big Data Approaches, Gennady M. Verkhivker, Mohammed Alshahrani, Grace Gupta, Sian Xiao, Peng Tao

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have driven the design of new expert systems and automated workflows that are able to model complex chemical and biological phenomena. In recent years, machine learning approaches have been developed and actively deployed to facilitate computational and experimental studies of protein dynamics and allosteric mechanisms. In this review, we discuss in detail new developments along two major directions of allosteric research through the lens of data-intensive biochemical approaches and AI-based computational methods. Despite considerable progress in applications of AI methods for protein structure and dynamics studies, the intersection between allosteric …

Soil Microbial Community Composition Of White Oak Mountain, Tennessee, Matthew Gano, Timothy D. Trott

Research in Biology

Abstract - Soil microbial communities are responsible for nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and have symbiotic and parasitic relationships with the plant community. However, little is known about the factors that determine the soil microbial community composition. In this study we examined how spring wildflower diversity and geographical factors influence the soil microbial community composition of the second growth oak hickory forests of White Oak Mountain in Southeast Tennessee. The characterization of the soil microbial community was completed with 16S/18S/ITS rDNA amplicon sequencing of total DNA extracted from soil samples that were normalized for each sample plot. Here we characterize …

Literature Replication: Insect Gut Cell Isolation Protocols, Sophie Pickelner

Honors Theses

A large problem in science is the lack of literature replication, especially for subjects in which there is little published research. Literature replication is an integral part of the scientific method and is important for validating methods and results of published studies. A study from Nature found that out of 1,500 scientists interviewed, over 70% have been unable to reproduce literature studies and over half of them have been unable to reproduce even their own studies (Baker, 2016). This problem is even more pronounced in the field of biology, with 80% of scientists reporting that they are unable to replicate …

Developmental Exposure To Corn Grown On Lake Erie Dredged Material: A Preliminary Analysis, Kaylyn A. S. Flanigan, Madelyn I. Czuba, Victoria R. Riesgo, Megan A. Rúa, Louise M. Stevenson, Jari Willing

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

While corn is considered to be a healthy food option, common agricultural practices, such as the application of soil amendments, might be introducing contaminants of concern (COC) into corn plants. The use of dredged material, which contain contaminants such as heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as a soil amendment is increasing. Contaminants from these amendments can accumulate in corn kernels harvested from plants grown on these sediments and potentially biomagnify in organisms that consume them. The extent to which secondary exposure to such contaminants in corn affect the mammalian central nervous system has been virtually …

The Bellarmine Bee Bed: Organizing A Native Plant Garden Using Feedback From The Local Community, Kate Moran

Undergraduate Theses

Animal pollinators are the cornerstone of healthy ecosystems. Their survival is essential for the persistence of entire food chains: from the flowers they cross-pollinate directly, to the animals who depend on those plants for nutrition. The establishment of pollinator gardens—particularly ones that consist of native plants—is an effective way to enhance their biodiversity, abundance, and well-being.

The main goal of this thesis is to construct a pollinator garden that maximizes the benefits for animal pollinators using feedback from local gardeners. A survey was used to gather information about the popularity and preferences of 40 flowering plants, and after analyzing the …

Wastewater Surveillance Of Sars-Cov-2 Genomic Populations On A Country-Wide Scale Through Targeted Sequencing, Florencia Cancela, Natalia Ramos, Davida S. Smyth, Et Al.

All Faculty Scholarship (Archived)

SARS-CoV-2 surveillance of viral populations in wastewater samples is recognized as a useful tool for monitoring epidemic waves and boosting health preparedness. Next generation sequencing of viral RNA isolated from wastewater is a convenient and cost-effective strategy to understand the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and provide insights on the population dynamics of viral variants at the community level. However, in low- and middle-income countries, isolated groups have performed wastewater monitoring and data has not been extensively shared in the scientific community. Here we report the results of monitoring the co-circulation and abundance of variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 in …

Anti-Microbial Peptide Screen For Crop Protection, Sydney Chen

Honors Theses

Vestaron currently uses an established and reliable peptide discovery and development research platform, particularly for the development of insecticidal peptides. The platform centers around a proprietary yeast expression system for peptide production (“Vestaron’s yeast expression system"). Vestaron aims to expand their portfolio and provide clean solutions in crop protection using peptide technologies to protect plants not only from insect pests but also microbial pests including phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been studied extensively. However, it is questionable whether Vestaron’s yeast expression system can express AMPs heterologously. In this study, thirteen promising antimicrobial peptides were selected from literature …

A Tool For Selecting Ecological Survey Locations In The Southeastern United States Using A Matched-Paired Design, David R. Nelsen, Aaron G. Corbit, Harvey Alférez

Campus Research Month

Site selection is a critical step for conducting an ecological survey. Inappropriate site selection may lead to confounding variables being included in your data and result in incorrect or inconclusive conclusions ^1,2. The Jorō spider, Trichonephila clavata, is an invasive species ³ that is currently expanding through the Southeaster United States⁴. However, it remains unclear how far the spider will spread and what impact the spider will have on local ecosystems. Early results do suggest that Jorōs are having a negative impact on native orb-weaving spiders⁴, but more systematic research is needed to verify …

Crispr: The Double-Edged Sword Of Genetic Engineering, Grace Spade

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Three Minute Thesis