Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of Rpm-1 In A C. Elegans Apoe4 Alzheimer’S Disease Model, Lucille Mcdonald

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Student Publications

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is characterized by the aggregation of β-amyloid plaques. The ε4 allele of APOE (APOE4) is linked to increased plaque formation in AD. Therefore, identifying genetic modifiers of APOE4 could present novel drug targets for AD treatment.

Assessment Of Goose-Beaked Whale Responsesto Mid-Frequency Active Sonar Usinga Hierarchical Hidden Markov Model, Stacy L. De Ruiter, Erin A. Falcone, Shannon N. Coates, Brenda K. Rone, David A. Sweeney, Karin A. Dolan, Susan M. Jarvis, Russel D. Andrews, Stephanie L. Watwood, Gregory S. Schorr

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Background

Acoustic disturbance is increasingly recognized as an ecological concern, particularly at sea. In light of marine mammal stranding events associated with use of naval mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS), which often involve goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), research has sought to detect and characterize Ziphius behavioral responses to MFAS.

Methods

We deployed Sound and Motion Recording and Telemetry (SMRT) tags on 13 Ziphius in the Southern California Bight. The study area includes the United States Navy’s Southern California Anti-submarine Warfare Range (SOAR), and deployments overlapped temporally with training exercises including MFAS use. We used hierarchical hidden Markov models (HHMMs), which provided …

High Performance Ae-Cnn Model Enhanced Via Gaussian Augmentation For Rssi-Dependent Indoor Positioning In Wireless Sensor Networks, Kahlaa K. Al-Nassrawy, Ghaidaa A Al-Sultany

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Precise indoor positioning system remains a significant challenge within Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) due to the instability and noise sensitivity of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data. This paper proposes an advanced hybrid deep learning framework designed for 2D indoor localization, utilizing RSSI measurements to predict human or object position. Furthermore, to enhance the robustness of the model against signal variance and promote its generalization capability under this uncertainty, a data augmentation strategy is applied using three methods: Gaussian Noise Injection (GNI), Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), and Bayesian Gaussian Mixture Model (BGMM). The purpose of data augmentation is to simulate …

Characterization Of Bacteria In Cattle Specimens, Jacob D. Hanson, Josie M. Tieskoetter

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Cattle nasal cavities provide a favorable environment for microbial colonization and can habit a wide population of bacteria, including opportunistic and pathogenic species. The objective of this research was to isolate, characterize, and identify bacteria present is nasal swap specimen collected from multiple calves. Samples were cultured and analyzed using selective and differential media, Gram staining, spore staining, and a range of biochemical assays. Several bacterial species were identified including the genus Corynebacterium and Streptococcus while some isolates could not be identified using classical biochemical methods alone. These results demonstrate that calf nasal specimens commonly contain diverse bacterial populations, some …

The Effects Of Oleuropein In Olive Leaf Extract Alone Or Combined With Calcitriol On The Viability And Migration Of Human Endometrial Cells In Vitro, Katelyn Devereaux

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women worldwide and is commonly associated with pelvic pain, infertility, and reduced quality of life. Current management strategies, including hormonal therapies and surgical intervention, often provide only temporary relief and are associated with recurrence and adverse effects. These limitations highlight the need for alternative, non-hormonal therapeutic approaches that target underlying inflammatory and cellular mechanisms of disease progression.

This study evaluated the effects of oleuropein, contained within an olive leaf extract, and calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, on cellular viability and migration in immortalized human endometriotic epithelial (12Z) …

Cognition In Pair-Living Owl Monkeys: The Role Of Partner Affiliation In The Willingness To Cooperate To Solve A Cognitive Task, Aaron J. Mencia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Cooperative problem-solving tasks, including the loose-string paradigm, require individuals to coordinate their actions simultaneously to obtain a shared reward. These paradigms have been used extensively to assess social cognition, behavioral coordination, and partner preferences across taxa. Although the loose-string paradigm has been widely tested, it has not been applied to pair-bonded, monogamous primates such as owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae), which exhibit affiliative behaviors including food sharing and bi-parental care. Investigating cooperation in this species may offer some clarification on whether more stable social bonds are associated with cooperative and cognitive task success as compared to those observed in …

How Does The Concentration Of Gibberellic Acid (Ga3) Impact The Growth Of Different Setaria Viridis Mutants?, Liz Ritenhour, Gracey Horn, Lawson Veit, Grant Juris, Rodrigo Suarez Almajano

2026 Student Academic Showcase

We tested the relationship between gibberlin and plant growth through the use of gibberellic acid and different dwarf millet variants. Subjects were split into two groups: group one with no gibberellic acid application, and group two with periodic gibberellic application. Each group consisted of 17 pots. Each row held one mutant variant, while the bottom left pot was removed to store water. The objective was to have significant data by the end of the semester to prove the relevant relationship of gibberellin and plant growth.

The Past, Present And Future Of The Dietary Guidelines Of America And The Impact On Community Nutrition, Jordyn Dearth

2026 Student Academic Showcase

The most recent addition of the Dietary Guidelines of America have been released to the public, and has caused many questions to the community. The guidelines serve not only as a resource for the general public and a resource for local and national policy regarding nutrition. Because community nutrition is directly shaped by these recommendations, exploring its past implementations, present implications and possible future actions can help in understanding how these guidelines influence public health at local and national levels. This project aims to explain the impact of the past Dietary Guidelines, show the newest Dietary Guidelines, and predict how …

Aggression And Fish Welfare: Challenges And Opportunities, Christine M. Soper, Peter D. Dijkstra

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano’s (2024) [O&B] target article discusses the wellbeing and sociality of bony fishes. Many fish species, such as cichlids, are not only social but territorial. Aggression is normal, but territorial aggression in a captive environment can have a negative impact on welfare. Aggression-related injuries and deaths are prevalent in pet stores as well as research settings. We discuss the need to develop effective methods to minimize the negative consequences of aggression.

Tree Resin Effects On Environmental Microbial Growth In Tetramorium Ant Colonies, Abigail Peralta, Emma Crisman

Biology Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Wheel-Running As A Window Into The Pten-Ko Neurological Clock, Jake Antosca, Campbell Bridges, Elizabeth Burke, Chris Sama

Biology Student Scholarship

The phosphatase and tensin homolog protein (PTEN) is a critical regulator of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which governs cellular growth and metabolic balance. Mutations in the PTEN gene are strongly linked to macrocephaly and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in humans. While PTEN deficiency is known to cause neuronal hypertrophy and metabolic stress, its impact on the< endogenous circadian clock, the internal timing system that regulates daily physiological cycles, remains poorly understood. Proper circadian function is vital for metabolic homeostasis, which may be dysregulated in PTEN-deficient models.

In this poster, we compare PTEN conditional knockout mice with CRE controls to test whether PTEN-related cerebellar dysfunction alters entrainment to a light-dark cycle, free-running period in constant conditions, and food-anticipatory activity in age-matched animals between approximately 130 and …

Medial Prefrontal Cortical Ensembles Direct Behavior In Response To Competing Needs, Francesca H. Schaub, Kaelin S. Mccaffrey, Madison A. Rohr, Olivia L. Belt, Emma N. Morley, Claire Kelly, Noah A. Ashby, Alonie L. Ashley

Neuroscience Program Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Role Of The Microbiome In Gynecological Cancers: Implications For Diagnosis And Treatment, Precious Adeoye Oyedokun, Bobola Timothy Oyeleke, Onigbinde Oluwanisola Akanji, Abraham Ololade Oyelaran, Kehinde Philip O, Grace Bosede Akanbi, Philip Olagbede Oyedokun, Marvelous Dasola Oyedokun, Chikezie Chinelo Naomi, Oyeniran Oluwatosin Imoleayo, Roland Eghoghosoa Akhigbe

Michigan Tech Publications

Gynecological malignancies such as cancer of the cervix, ovary, endometrium, vulva, and vagina pose a severe global health burden. Although conventionally attributed to genetic mutation, hormonal imbalance, and chronic viral infection, including high-risk human papillomavirus, recent evidence suggests that the human microbiome plays a central role in their pathogenesis and development. This review summarizes existing evidence that microbial dysbiosis, specifically the depletion of beneficial Lactobacillus species and overrepresentation of anaerobic organisms such as Fusobacterium, Atopobium, and Sneathia, is implicated in carcinogenesis pathways. These include chronic inflammation, immune modulation, loss of epithelial barrier integrity, microbial metabolite toxicity, and estrogen metabolism by …

Exercise As A Non-Pharmacological Intervention For The Prevention And Delay Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Dementia, Eden Culver

Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias are rapidly increasing public health concerns due to aging populations and rising life expectancy. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration associated with amyloid-β plaques, tau neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal loss, leading to impairments in memory, cognition, and daily functioning. Because there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, identifying effective non-pharmacological prevention strategies is essential. This paper examines the role of physical exercise as a preventive and protective intervention for delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Current research demonstrates that exercise supports brain health through several …

Scientific Research In Cuba: A General Analysis With A Special Focus On Energy, Agriculture And Technology, Henri Dou, Pierre Fournie

International Journal of Islands Research

An analysis of science in Cuba is carried out using data from the OpenAlex database. Examples are developed: agriculture, rice, technology in relation to the current situation: national food supply, energy and medicine. The predominance of research in biology and medicine and the low commitment in the fields of agriculture, energy, medicinal plants and technology are highlighted. Various development schemes are proposed. The conclusion is that research must be directed towards strategic areas: food and energy, must be less dispersed and that technology must be better taken into account. Three proposals are made: the development of a chemical analysis platform …

​Functional Characterization Of Stmtpsl Terpene Synthase-Like Genes And Their Role In Pathogen Resistance In Selaginella Tamariscina, Zhijie He, Bo Bi

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The biological activity and function of microbial terpene synthase-like genes from Selaginella tamariscina (StMTPSL) were investigated using molecular and biochemical approaches. After isolating and amplifying StMTPSL genes (StMTPSL1-StMTPSL6), both native and site-directed mutant forms were expressed in tobacco via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The resulting transgenic plants had increased expression of StMTPSL genes, enhanced monoterpene production (as confirmed by GC-MS), and significantly improved resistance to Pseudomonas syringae infection compared to nontransgenic controls. These results show that StMTPSL genes are functionally active in plants and contribute to pathogen resistance through elevated terpene biosynthesis. This study provides new insights into the role of MTPSL …

Combinatorial Effect Of Epirubicin And 5-Fluorouracil In The Treatment Of Temozolomide-Resistant Glioblastoma Cells, Mehrsa Bayat, Muhli̇s Akman, Türker Kiliç, Ti̇muçi̇n Avşar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive form of brain tumor characterized by rapid proliferation and invasiveness. It is associated with a poor prognosis due to acquired resistance to temozolomide (TMZ). In this study, we investigated whether a combination of epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and TMZ could improve TMZ sensitivity in resistant GBM cells and help overcome resistance.Materials and methods: TMZ resistance was established in the U87MG cell line. The MTT assay was used to measure cell viability. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. RNA-seq was used to evaluate genomic changes based on treatment with drugs …

Comparative Evaluation Of Curd Enriched With Essential Oils Derived From Dill, Caraway, And Cumin, Hafize Fidan, Toncho Kolev, Denis Dervish, Ivayla Dincheva, Ira Taneva, Serkan Yilmaz, Yusuf Şavşatli, Albena Stoyanova

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Curd cheese is a traditional dairy product that, in recent years, has increasingly been supplemented with various functional additives aimed at enhancing its aroma and flavor profile, improving overall quality, and extending shelf-life. The objective of the present study was to conduct a comparative evaluation of changes in selected physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory parameters of curd cheese enriched with 0.01% essential oils derived from dill (Anethum graveolens L.), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), and caraway (Carum carvi L.) fruits. Fatty acid profiling revealed a reduction in saturated fatty acids and an increase in oleic and linoleic acids in essential oil-enriched curds …

Silicon-Mediated Enhancement Of Wheat Tolerance To Drought Stress: A Comparative Study Of Antioxidant Activity, Photosynthesis, Secondary Metabolites, And Yield, Abida Kausar, Rida Yasmeen, Shahid Iqbal, Muhammad Bilal Hafeez, Asif Mukhtiar, Sadia Azeem, Ali Raza, Samreen Nazeer, Muhammad Zubair Akram, Muhammad Kamran, Fahd Rasul, Noreen Zahra

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Drought stress (DS) is a major constraint on optimal plant growth and yield. Agricultural researchers have been actively exploring fertilizers that can enhance crop production under DS conditions. Silicon (Si) application has emerged as a promising strategy for managing DS in various crops. This study investigated the potential of Si soil drenching to mitigate the adverse effects of varying levels of DS (at 100%, 70%, and 40% field capacity) in wheat. Two varieties (Ujala-2016 and FSD-2008) were used to evaluate the influence of Si (2.5 mM) on antioxidant activity, oxidative burst, secondary metabolites, growth, and yield. The results indicated that …

Investigating The Intra-Host Relationships Of The Microbiota At Multiple Sites, Ariel Jose Hernandez-Leyva

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The human body hosts an abundance of microbial communities that, through complex and multi-faceted interactions, interface with host physiology and help govern health and disease. Many of these interactions are beneficial and help maintain host homeostasis or contribute to the metabolic capacity of the host. Some are detrimental, potentially inducing or further exacerbating disease. All are complicated by the vast diversity of microbes that comprise the microbiota at any given site. Identifying microbes or microbial functions that influence health and disease for study and potential use as biomarkers is tantalizing, though difficult. The vast diversity of potential community compositions, redundancy …

Modulating Microtubule Stability Via Α-Tubulin Acetylation Partially Restores Golgi Fragmentation In Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Peli̇n Zobaroğlu Özer, Memet Gözüböyük, Özge Çeti̇n, Niko Hensel, Güzi̇n Emecen, Adam Malik, Melissa Bowerman, Peter Claus, Hayat Erdem Yurter, Gamze Bora Akoğlu

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein. SMN deficiency leads to perturbations of the cytoskeleton, including microtubules, which are mainly involved in motilityrelated cellular processes. However, the molecular mechanisms of microtubule dysregulation in SMA remain elusive. Alpha (α)-tubulin is a structural component of microtubules, and its posttranslational modifications affect microtubule dynamics. Here, we aimed to investigate α-tubulin acetylation and related molecular mechanisms in SMA. Materials and methods: Two different SMA mouse models, the Drosophila melanogaster model and patient-derived fibroblasts, were used in the study. Western blot and …

Ankrd2 May Alleviate Denervation-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy By Inhibiting Inflammation, Yalin Zhang, Lin Zhang, Li Li, Liqin Zhang, Li Zeng, Jiaying Qiu, Zhengrong Xi, Wenwen Wang

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Sciatic nerve injury causes a loss of skeletal muscle innervation, reduced motor function, and eventual muscle atrophy. Inflammation and increased protein degradation are key factors contributing to muscle atrophy. Inflammation is activated early during muscle atrophy and can be modulated by various factors. However, the precise role of inflammation in denervation-induced muscle atrophy remains unclear. Materials and methods: Transcriptome sequencing was used to determine that the inflammatory response occurs early during denervation-induced muscle atrophy. RT-qPCR validation of several inflammatory factors showed rapid upregulation at early stages, followed by gradual downregulation. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis of differentially expressed genes …

Unusual Rna Polymerase Ii Patterns In Meiotic Prophase I In Nannospalax Xanthodon: Insights Into Chromatin, Telomeres, And Sex Chromosomes, Sergey N. Matveevsky, Ferhat Matur, Faruk Çolak, Andrei Kandaurov, Mustafa Sözen, Svetlana V. Pavlova, Oxana Kolomiets

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background: Meiotic transcription is a highly regulated process involving stage-specific chromatin remodeling and dynamic RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) activity. Nevertheless, our current understanding is largely based on classical model organisms, while many nonmodel mammals remain unexplored. This study investigates the transcriptional dynamics and chromatin features during meiotic prophase I in Nannospalax xanthodon, a subterranean blind mole rat species with extensive intraspecific karyotype variation.Materials and methods: Using immunofluorescence, we analyzed synapsis and transcriptional activity in spermatocyte nuclei of two geographically distant N. xanthodon males, detecting SYCP3, CREST, γH2AFX, and phosphorylated RNAPII (Ser5, Ser2). Telomereassociated proteins RAP1 and TERT were also examined …

Protective Effect Of Pinocembrin On Zearalenone-Induced Hepatotoxicity Via Pi3k/Akt And Nrf2 Signaling In Albino Mice, Sujatha Tejavat

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Zearalenone (ZEA) is a Fusarium-derived mycotoxin that frequently contaminates food and feed and induces hepatotoxicity in humans and animals through oxidative stress and inflammation. Pinocembrin (PCM), a naturally occurring flavonoid, has potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of PCM against ZEAinduced liver injury in albino mice, with a focus on the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathways. Materials and methods: Twenty-four albino male mice were allocated into four groups: (1) control (vehicle 0.05% dimethyl sulfoxide), (2) ZEA-treated (40 mg/kg body weight), (3) PCM-treated (50 mg/kg …

Development Of A Grease Resistant Barrier For Food Industry Applications, Mira Marino

Honors Theses

The objective of this project is to develop a grease-resistant barrier coating for paper-based food packaging and to evaluate the economic feasibility of implementing this coating system at an industrial scale. As demand increases, this project focuses on identifying an optimal pigment and binder combination that enhances barrier performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness. The primary goal was to maximize grease and moisture resistance of coated paper while ensuring the process is economically viable and compatible with existing paper mill operations.

The final plant design consists of one continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and three centrifugal pumps integrated into an existing paper …

New Ways To Address The Plastic Problem, Andrew J. Hanna

The Penguin Review

Since 1950, the world has produced some 9.2 billion metric tonnes of plastic.1 Other sources place the total closer to ten billion metric tonnes Furthermore, nearly 500 million tonnes of new plastic are manufactured each year– a figure that's projected to increase to 1.2 billion tonnes by 2060.2 The environmental effects of all this plastic production and pollution are disturbing. Because most plastics are synthetic–meaning they contain "no molecules found in nature"– they can't decompose. Instead, they just break down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming microplastics (less than five millimeters (5 million nanometers) across) and then nanoplastics (less than …

Skin Pattern As A Potential Monitoring Tool For Frog Populations, Lídize Sagarnaga Rivera, Virginie Rolland Dr., Lorin Neuman-Lee Dr.

Create@State

Skin pattern as a potential monitoring tool for frog populations

Population monitoring, which requires identifying individuals, is crucial for species conservation. Common techniques involve marking, which can harm animals and alter their behaviors. Natural markings are an alternative not yet explored for amphibians. Yet, the traditional method with elastomers (fluorescent implants) is invasive and not completely reliable—the tag may become lost or hard to see. The American green tree frog (Dryophytes cinereus) possesses naturally occurring and distinct golden dots on their dorsal side.  Therefore, we aim to assess whether patterns of golden dots on the skin of green …

Amyloid Beta-42 Neurotoxicity In Drosophila Retinal Development, Shay O. Sims, Pierce Duncan, Malachi Abon, Jacob G. Smith

Create@State

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders globally. Thus far, the underlying mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of AD are innately elusive. Two hallmarks associated with the progression of AD exist, including Amyloid-Beta 42 (Aβ42) protein plaque formation and hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in neurons. Amyloid-beta is known to concentrate with other neuronal proteins as complexes form, including the cytoskeletal protein actin. However, whether actin contributes to neuronal decline in AD is unknown. To further understand the cellular cascades associated with AD, we investigated the role of cytoskeleton dynamics in modulating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation within …

Inc3vits Model: A Hybrid Architecture To Accelerate And Reduce Complexity For The Deepvariant Model For Variant Calling, Mustafa Al-Saffar, Sura Z. Al Rashid

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Deep learning has revolutionized genomic variant calling, yet the computational cost of current systems continues to limit scalability. We present a controlled efficiency study of DeepVariant-style pileup architectures under identical training and inference conditions, comparing architectural downsizing with a hybrid CNN–local attention design. Inc3ViTs pairs a streamlined InceptionV3 stem with a lightweight local attention head based on patch tokenization and windowed self-attention, enabling a direct comparison with a CNN-only reduced Inception baseline. Across whole-genome and whole-exome short-read datasets, Inc3ViTs reduces training time by ~40–50% and reduces inference runtime relative to the original DeepVariant. The CNN-only baseline indicates that most speedups …

Swosu Research And Scholarly Activity Fair 2026, Swosu Office Of Sponsored Programs

SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair Programs

On behalf of the University Research and Scholarly Activity Committee (URSAC) and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, we are pleased to welcome you to the Thirty-Fourth SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair.