Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Human Trophoblast Cell Surface Antigen-2 (Trop-2) Specific Radiopharmaceutical Tracers, Arnav Vipulkumar Patel

ETDs from 2020-2029

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is closely related to the development and progression of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) and is also being investigated as a pan-cancer biomarker. Trop-2 tumorigenesis is mediated by the calcium ion signaling pathways. By accurately predicting and targeting Trop-2 for immunotherapy, precision therapy is crucial. Trop-2 is overexpressed in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues, which makes it a promising molecular target for cancer-targeted therapy. This thesis reports the development and preclinical evaluation of two novel Trop-2-specific radiopharmaceutical tracers derived from the clinically approved antibody-drug conjugate Sacituzumab Govitecan (SG): a full antibody drug conjugate-based tracer …

Coexisting Salps Exhibit Distinct Feeding Selectivity On Microorganisms In The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Anne W. Thompson, Kylee Lamberson, Kelly R. Sutherland

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mortality mechanisms play an important role in how oceanic microorganisms contribute to global biogeochemical cycles. Salps are widespread pelagic tunicates known to remove phytoplankton from coastal and high-latitude waters, but their interaction with microorganisms in the vast tropical and subtropical gyres is not well quantified. Using quantitative measurements of six major marine microorganisms in the guts of six distinct but co-occurring salp species from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, we examined the impact and dynamics of salp feeding on marine microorganisms in a vast open ocean region. All salps preferentially removed prey greater than 1 μm in diameter, including marine …

Weather Conditions Associated With Citrus Canker Incidence Caused By Aw Strain In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of South Texas, Amit Sharma, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo, George Yanev, Madhurababu Kunta

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Citrus canker, caused by bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), affects the citrus industry by making the fruit unmarketable due to unsightly lesions on the fruit. Citrus canker caused by a relatively new AWstrain of Xcc was reported on the citrus trees in the residential areas of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of South Texas. Xcc AW has a limited host range, predominantly affecting limes and a few other citrus species. Previous work has reported prevailing environmental conditions that influence the incidence and spread of the citrus canker caused by the Asiatic A strain. However, no information is available …

The Interactive Relationship Between Fusobacterium Necrophorum, Bacteroides Pyogenes, And Porphyromonas Levii In Driving Inflammatory Uterine Disease, Dianjun Cao, Mehwish Ammad, Bindu Subhadra, Mrunmaya Kumar Panda, Thomas J. Inzana, Federico Cunha, Segundo Casaro, Kristi L. Jones, Rosabel Ramirez-Hernandez, John J. Bromfield, Klibs N. A. Galvão, Soo Jin Jeon

Faculty Publications - Biological Sciences

Background

Bovine metritis is associated with uterine microbiota dysbiosis, characterized by the proliferation of Gram-negative anaerobes, including Fusobacterium necrophorum, Bacteroides pyogenes, and Porphyromonas levii. However, the mechanisms by which these opportunistic pathogens proliferate together and contribute to disease remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the interactions among these bacteria and to elucidate their role in the development of metritis.

Methods

F. necrophorum, B. pyogenes, and P. levii were isolated from the uteri of cows with metritis and cultured anaerobically in chopped meat carbohydrate broth. Bacterial growth, coaggregation, biofilm formation, endotoxin production, protease activity, adhesion to bovine endometrial epithelial (BEND) …

Longfin Mako (Isurus Paucus) Jaw, Nicholas D. Burchett, David W. Kerstetter

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

No abstract provided.

Male Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna Mokarran) Chondrocranium, Michelle W. Bassali, Nicholas D. Burchett, Samuel Escobar, Preston Rice, David W. Kerstetter

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

Male ~10ft Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) Chondrocranium

Advances In The Creation Of A Dna Barcoding Reference Library For Freshwater Fishes Of Western Ecuador With Emphasis On Metabarcoding Applications, Olivia Grace Schweikart

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This research provides a DNA reference library for the freshwater fish species of Western Ecuador, emphasizing endemic species of the Guayas River Basin and southwestern, lowland areas. Western Ecuador is currently grappling with severe overexploitation of its endemic freshwater fishes across many drainage basins, compounded by habitat destruction, pollution from commercial and agricultural activities, and the looming threat of climate change, notably in the form of coastal incursion events. Methods for rapid-surveying biodiversity at community levels is urgently needed. This reference library is particularly designed for metabarcoding applications, providing a non-invasive method for surveying aquatic biodiversity in vulnerable areas using …

Marine Cold-Spells In The California Current System: Modeling Changes In Frequency And Impacts On Endangered Species Habitat, Kaila J. Frazer, Heather M. Welch, Michael G. Jacox, Nerea Lezama-Ochoa, Briana Abrahms, Mercedes Pozo Buil, Scott R. Benson, Daniel M. Palacios, L. David Smith, Thomas A. Clay, Steven J. Bograd, Elliott L. Hazen

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Marine cold-spells are an understudied phenomena which can both negatively impact marine wildlife and provide thermal refugia for species displaced by climate change. To develop forward-looking and climate-ready management schemes, it is critical to examine how marine species respond to cold-spells, how long-term warming will affect marine cold-spells over the next century, and how these future cold-spells will in turn affect species of conservation concern, particularly in marine protected areas. To this end, we detect marine cold-spells across the California Current System, a productive Eastern Boundary Upwelling System, relative to a fixed baseline (1980–2009) and to a detrended time series …

Evaluation Of Occupational Health And Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Of Workers At North Refineries Company, Wesam Awad Hassn, Zeena N. Abdulrahman

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Safety is crucial in the oil and gas refinery industry for production and distribution. Companies must ensure a workplace free from common injuries and protected against serious incidents. This paper evaluates employees’ knowledge, attitudes, practices, and workplace environment at North Refineries Company (Baiji). A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from September 10, 2024, to September 20, 2025, involving 480 employees (378 workers and 102 managers). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and analysed using SPSS version 24. North Refineries Company (Baiji). workers scored 72.49 % on general knowledge and 96.83% on attitudes, but only 53.97% on safe behaviour. Division managers …

Prevention Of Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting In Early Recovery: A Comparative Study Of Ondansetron And Metoclopramide In Adults Undergoing Elective Lower Abdominal Surgery, Majid Fakhir Al-Hamaidah, Ali Ihsan Abdul Mahdi, Maytham Alaa Shahid, Sajjad Salih Rasan, Lina M. Shaker, Shahab Abdulla, Ralela Makline

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remain common complications following surgery, despite the availability of various prophylactic antiemetic agents. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of ondansetron and metoclopramide in preventing PONV in patients undergoing elective lower abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 80 adult patients were equally allocated into two groups: one receiving 0.1 mg/kg of intravenous ondansetron and the other 0.2 mg/kg of intravenous metoclopramide at the end of surgery. The incidence, frequency, and need for rescue antiemetics were evaluated over 24 hours postoperatively. The overall incidence of nausea was higher in the …

Biology Department Publications: 2025, Sam Lindgren

Biology Department Bibliographies

This document is a non-comprehensive list of publications made by graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members in the Biology Department in 2024. It indexes those publications available through PubMed, and serves as an archival record of the Department's robust scholarly contributions.

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Magnesium Glycinate Vs. Magnesium Citrate On The Growth Of Lactobacillus Acidophilus In Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions, Inaya Siddique

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Macadamia Nut Oil Solution On The Growth Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Yashas Peddireddy

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

First Report Of The Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis (Chytridiomycota: Rhizophydiales) From Spring Peeper, Pseudacris Crucifer (Anura: Hylidae), In Western Arkansas, C. T. Mcallister, I. F. Standish, E. M. Leis, M. R. Rodriguez, G. Burrows, H. W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Seven adult spring peepers, Pseudacris crucifer, were collected by hand during April 2024 from Polk County, Arkansas, and examined for the pathogens, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), and frog virus 3-like Ranavirus (FV3). Swabs from three of seven (43%) individuals tested positive for Bd: all P. crucifer were negative for the other two pathogens. In addition, no hosts showed any obvious pathological signs of infection and, as such, may represent Bd vectors.  This is the first time P. crucifer from Arkansas has been reported with Bd and increases the number of amphibian species …

Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Genetic Perturbations Reveals A Genetic Cascade Driving Tribolium Gap Gene Initialization, Mahla Ahmadi, Heike Rudolf, Christine Mau, Jimena Garcia-Guillen, Ezzat El-Sherif

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The ‘French flag’ model has long served as the prevailing framework for explaining how morphogen gradients generate spatial domains during embryonic development. However, recent evidence indicates that many tissues establish patterns by translating the sequential activation of genes into spatial domains. While the sequential nature of this process is becoming clear, the mechanisms that mediate these temporal dynamics and translate them into stable spatial boundaries remain debated. Using the gap gene network in the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum [which mediates the regionalization of the anterior-posterior (AP) axis into different axial fates through the regulation of downstream Hox genes] as a …

Modulation Of Hypothalamic–Limbic Circuits Regulating Appetite In Response To Health Lifestyle In Obese Adults, Nour Shakir Rezaieg, Muthanna M. Awad

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Background: Overeating leads to obesity a low-grade inflammatory disease. In this context, aguati-related neuropeptide (AgRP) and ghrelin are pivotal players in appetite regulation, while chemerin is an adipose tissue-secreted adipokine that contributes to low-grade inflammation associated with obesity. Objective: This study used a healthy lifestyle program designed for each obese participant to identify diet-related neuro-hormonal changes in appetite regulation. Design, Setting, and Participants: This a longitudinal quasi-experimental controlled study was conducted from 1^st December 2024, to 30^th July 2025, at University of Anbar. The sample included 100 participants, 50 obese (weight between 100–140 kg) and 50 healthy participants …

Evaluation Of Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cell Cytotoxic And Antioxidant Activities Of Peptide Fractions From Symbiotic Bacteria Of Jellyfish Catostylus Sp., Eka Sry Wahyuni, Ahyar Ahmad, Muhammad Nasrum Massi, Sofa Fajriah, Randi Rimpung, Muh. Akbar Ardiputra, Harningsih Karim, Irda Handayani

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Marine-derived symbiotic microorganisms are recognized as a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications, yet research on jellyfish-associated bacteria remains limited. This study examines the bioactivity of peptide fractions derived from symbiotic bacteria isolated from the jellyfish Catostylus sp., collected from the coastal waters of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, with a focus on their anticancer and antioxidant properties. Following sample collection, the symbiont bacteria were isolated, enzymatically hydrolyzed, and purified before their biological activity was evaluated. Preliminary cytotoxicity screening using the brine shrimp lethality assay revealed that the extracellular peptide fraction (5–10 kDa) and intracellular peptide fraction (3–5 kDa) …

Host-Derived Interleukin-1Α Drives Tumor Immunosuppression By Reprogramming Tumor-Associated Myeloid Cells, Manikanda Raja Keerthi Raja, Gourab Gupta, Grace Atkinson, Katie Kathrein, Alissa R. Armstrong, R. Michael Gower, Igor Roninson Ph.D., Eugenia Broude, Mengqian Chen Ph.D., Hao Ji, Chang-Uk Lim, Hongjun Wang, Daping Fan, Peisheng Xu Ph.D., Hexin Chen

Faculty Publications

Myeloid cells are highly heterogeneous and play key roles in establishing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), but the mechanisms controlling their differentiation remain unclear. Using orthotopic murine breast cancer models, we investigated how interleukin-1α (IL-1α) influences this process. Deletion of host Il1α resulted in rejection of transplanted tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified CX3CR1⁺ macrophages as the main source of IL-1α in the TME. Il1α deficiency disrupted monocyte–macrophage differentiation, reducing CX3CR1⁺ macrophages and increasing iNOS⁺ macrophages. Myeloid cells from Il1α⁻/⁻ hosts induced lower PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression in co-cultured CD8⁺ T cells than those from wild-type hosts. CellChat analysis showed …

First Arkansas Records Of The True Bugs Lasiochilus Hirtellus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lasiochilidae) And Physopleurella Mundula (Anthocoridae)., S. W. Chordas Iii, R. Tumlison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We report 2 uncommon species of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), Lasiochilus hirtellus (Lasiochilidae) and Physopleurella mundula (Anthocoridae), for the first time from Arkansas. This includes the first report of the family Lasiochilidae for Arkansas. Both species were captured in UV light traps set in Clark County. We discuss identification, provide digital images of the voucher specimens and include updated distribution maps (north of Mexico) for both species. With the addition of these 2 species, there are now a total of 7 anthocorid species, among the 3 bug families Lasiochilidae, Anthocoridae and Lytocoridae, known for Arkansas.

Global Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Deposit Metagenomes And Metagenome-Assembled Genomes Over Time And Space, Emily St John, Anna-Louise Reysenbach

Center for Life in Extreme Environments Publications

Actively venting high temperature deep-sea hydrothermal vent deposits along tectonic spreading centers and in backarc basins harbor a rich diversity of thermophilic Bacteria and Archaea, many of which have no representatives in cultivation nor any genomic representation in databases. Here, in order to produce a global-scale time series metagenomic resource for studying the microbial functional and genomic diversity in these high temperature ecosystems, we obtained 70 metagenomes from collections across spatial and temporal gradients from 21 different vent fields spanning 16 years (1993-2009). The dataset (Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent dataset (DSV70)) includes 3.56 Tbp of raw DNA sequence reads, that have …

The Ethical Limits Of Physician Autonomy In Reproductive Medicine, Isabel Martens

Honors Theses

In vitro fertilization is a relatively new medical practice that helps people who face infertility be able to reproduce. Reproductive medicine providers face ethical dilemmas often in their field, only some of which have standards of care. There are questions in the medical landscape pertaining to physician autonomy versus patient autonomy, which heavily apply to reproductive medicine providers. Patient autonomy is highly valued in medical ethics; however, physician autonomy should also be considered. When a physician decides who can and cannot reproduce, ethical considerations must be followed to maintain the practice of reproductive autonomy. Limited policies exist that manage reproductive …

Regeneration Of Swimming Antennae After Partial Amputation In Long- And Short-Lived Daphnia, Charles Schumpert, Rekha C. Patel, Jeffry L. Dudycha

Faculty Publications

Regeneration, the ability of an animal to restart a developmental process and thus rebuild itself following injury or loss, is generally thought to be inversely related to aging, the progressive decline of organismal functions and fitness that occurs as adults get older. We sought to test whether recently evolved differences of aging in the crustacean Daphnia were accompanied by evolutionary divergence of regenerative ability. Using the short-lived D. pulex and the long-lived D. pulicaria, we conducted an assessment of regenerative ability in which we amputated part of the swimming antenna and observed subsequent regeneration. In four clones isolated from …

Insights On Global Rangeland Ecosystem Services Shaped By Grazing And Fertilization, Laura Yahdjian, Sofía Campana, Pedro M. Tognetti, Juan Alberti, Pamela Graff, Cecilia Molina, Elizabeth T. Borer, Eric W. Seabloom, Suzanne M. Prober, Andrew S. Macdougall, Anita C. Risch, Jodi N. Price, Sally A. Power, Isabel C. Barrio, Erika Hersch-Green, Philip A. Fay, Sumanta Bagchi, Jonathan D. Bakker, Dana Blumenthal, Elizabeth H. Boughton, Cynthia S. Brown, Miguel N. Bugalho, Marc Cadotte, Maria C. Caldeira, Jane A. Catford, Clinton Carbutt, Qingqing Chen, Scott L. Collins, Thomas W. Crowther, Carla D’Antonio, Christopher R. Dickman

Michigan Tech Publications

Rangelands are crucial to human well-being, but their ability to provide ecosystem services is threatened. We (1) quantified key ecosystem services provided by rangelands, (2) assessed short- and long-term impacts of fertilization (nutrient addition) and the exclusion of large grazing herbivores with fences (herbivore exclusion) on services, and (3) identified synergies and trade-offs among services. We measured indicators of ecosystem services and plant diversity at 79 sites across six continents in the global Nutrient Network. Short-term herbivore exclusion increased forage quantity and soil fertility, but longer-term herbivore exclusion decreased both along with plant richness and pollination. Nutrient addition improved forage …

Contribution To The Chemotherapy Of Human Trypanosomiasis: Design, Synthesis, And Biological Evaluation Of Dimeric 2-Nitroimidazoles Against Trypanosoma Cruzi Amastigotes And Bloodstream Trypanosoma Brucei, Afonso Santine M.M. Velez, Otavio Augusto Chaves, Carlos Serpa, Fatma M. Salem, Bibo Li Ph.D., Bin Su Ph.D., Celio Geraldo Freire-De-Lima, Debra Decote-Ricardo, Marco Edilson Freire De Lima

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Effective and safe treatments for neglected tropical diseases caused by parasites, such as Chagas disease and sleeping sickness, remain lacking, posing a significant challenge for researchers worldwide. The rational design of dimeric compounds inspired solely by the pharmacophoric core of benznidazole (2-nitroimidazole) has proven to be a promising strategy for antiparasitic development. Thus, in the present work, it was increased the linker between the active units (2-nitroimidazole) to improve the interaction with TcNTR, facilitating the bioactivation of the longest dimers. Biological assays confirmed this, demonstrating that all compounds were active against replicative intracellular amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen C2C4-LacZ). Notably, …

Antibacterial Peptides From Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merr.) With In Silico Study Against Escherichia Coli Bacteria, Dian Riana Ningsih, Ely Setiawan, Purwati Purwati, Zusfahair Zusfahair, Anita Hindayanti Rukmana

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Bioactive peptides are produced from soy milk protein hydrolysis using trypsin. The research began with the preparation and separation of soy milk protein, followed by fractionation using ammonium sulphate, protein hydrolysis, and SDS-PAGE analysis of protein hydrolysates. Fractions exhibiting the highest degree of hydrolysis were further fractionated by SPE and tested to determine the antibacterial activity Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The peptide sequence of the active peptide as an antibacterial was identified, employing LC-HRMS. The mode of action between active peptides and bacterial membran was analysed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The findings displayed that F15 contained the highest …

Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus Itajara) Neurocranium, Sierra Rafacz, Rileigh Gonzalez, Ema Nagel, Nicholas Burchett, David W. Kerstetter

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

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Lake Toba Ecoliteracy In High School Students, Jesika Aurelia Sianipar, B Manurung, Martina Asiati Napitupulu, Abdul Hakim Daulae

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The Lake Toba ecosystem is currently experiencing increasingly worsening quality degradation, so that instilling environmental awareness through ecoliteracy has become urgent in the world of education. This study aims to measure the ecoliteracy abilities of students at High School 1 Ajibata and High School 2 Balige by reviewing three main aspects: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Additionally, it will analyze the differences in ecoliteracy levels between the two schools. The type of research used is ex post facto with a quantitative approach. Data were collected through test instruments for the cognitive aspect and questionnaires for the affective and behavioral aspects. The …

Sperm-Associated Antigen 6 (Spag6) As A Potential Marker Of Sperm Function In Diagnosing Male Infertility, Ibtisam A. Al-Ali,, Kawkab A. Alsaadi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Background: While male infertility has become a significant global health concern, conventional analysis of semen has not made progress in the detection of contraindicated molecular biomarkers, such as sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6), which is a protein involved in axonemal structure and flagellar motility.

Hypothesis: Expression of SPAG6 correlates with sperm motility and structural integrity. This means that its dysregulation may serve as a molecular indicator of impaired sperm performance.

Methods: A comprehensive review of recent studies was conducted with a focus on SPAG6’s molecular characteristics, expression patterns in normal versus abnormal spermatozoa, and the role it plays in motility-related …

Optimized Co2 Gas Sensing With Sns:Sm2o3/N-Si Nanocomposites Fabricated Via Spray Pyrolysis, Wasan A. Khalaf, Mays A. Hammadi, Mohammed J. Alsultani, Yahya R. Hathal, Mohammed O. Salman

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this work, tin sulfide:samarium oxide (SnS:Sm₂O₃) composite films were deposited using a spray pyrolysis technique for room-temperature CO₂ gas sensing. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a polycrystalline SnS nature of orthorhombic-phase crystallinity at 10 at.% Sm ions, while 20 at.% Sm induced Sm₂O₃ as a separate phase. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) induced uniform grains and increased the surface roughness, enhancing gas adsorption. UV-visible absorbance revealed band-gap narrowing. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed vibrational band shifts, confirming the structural modifications. Gas-sensing measurements demonstrated 5.72%, 19.65%, and 9.65% for pure SnS, …