Digital Commons Network^™

Neurological Phenotypes Of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 In Drosophila Melanogaster, Carleigh M. Wood

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This research investigated Drosophila melanogaster’s ability to serve as a model organism for the neurological phenotypes of Myotonic Dystrophy Type I (DM1). DM1 is caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. DM1 leads to symptoms of muscle weakness and wasting, as well as decreased cerebral volume. This study aimed to determine whether DM1-affected Drosophila exhibit neurological changes, as has been observed in humans. Healthy control (CUG20) and DM1-affected Drosophila (CUG250) were generated using classical genetics. Both groups were aged three weeks prior to dissection and imaged through fluorescent microscopy. It was predicted that Drosophila melanogaster affected by …

Microarray Analysis Of Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Emphasis On Cardiovascular Genes Revealed Differentially Expressed Genes, Song Lu, Li Ping Li, John V. White, Xiaoying Zhang, Ifeyinwa Nwaneshiudu, Adaobi Nwaneshiudu, Nectaria Ntaoula, John Gaughan, Dimitri S. Monos, Wan-Lu Lin, Charalambos C. Solomides, Emilia L. Oleszak, Chris D. Platsoucas

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND/AIM: We examined gene expression profiles in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) lesions vs. normal aortas by cDNA microarray and real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phosphorus (³²P)-labeled cDNA from AAA specimens (mean AAA size 6.65 cm) and normal aortas were hybridized with a 588-gene microarray primarily of the cardiovascular system. The results were validated by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS: A total of 35 out of the 588 genes were differentially expressed, with either log₂ ratio of AAAs/controls ≥1 (upregulated; 20 genes) or ≤-1 (downregulated; 15 genes) in AAA lesions vs. normal aorta, and …

The Spatial Distribution Of Coccidia In Arkansas Freshwater Snails, Julia R. Pye, Taylor M. Fiedor, Jason M. Post, Kyle D. Gustafson

Create@State

Coccidia are obligate, intracellular parasites that infect the digestive tracts of many animals and cause coccidosis, which can result in vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, death. At broader scales, the disease contributes to substantial economic losses in agriculture. Our study examined the distribution of Pfeifferinella ellipsoides, a coccidian parasite in freshwater snails. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that (1) there will be statistically significant spatial clustering in northern Arkansas and (2) the parasite will be found exclusively in two snail genera, Physa and Planorbella. We sampled 17 snail species and surveyed feces for oocysts from 1,920 snails and …

Isolation, Identification And Antibiotic-Resistance Profiling Of Bacteria Isolated From Mobile Phone Surfaces In Karbala., Kawkab Abdullah Alsaadi, Zahraa Raheem Murshidy, Dhuha Ali Hussein, Sura Abd Ali Kadhim, Kawakib Aboudi Hanoon

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Due to the diverse environments that mobile phones are exposed to via human handling they become reservoirs of microorganisms. The objective of the current study was to determine the level and character of bacterial contamination on mobile phones by identifying bacterial strains, and the degree of antimicrobial susceptibility. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2025 where phones belonging to 115 individuals were randomly chosen from various departments and units at Kerbala University and swabbed. The VITEK 2 automated system was used to identify bacterial taxa and test for antimicrobial susceptibility, and 50 of the swabs exhibited bacterial …

Environmental Counseling As A Proposed Discipline And Its Associated Implications And Uses, Alexandria Rion

Honors Projects

Individuals interact with their environment daily, and whether they realize it or not, these interactions can impact their health. Understanding the health impacts associated with the environment is important to human health at both an individual and population level. I am proposing a new field of environmental counseling that would incorporate principles from a variety of practices into one comprehensive discipline that can be used to promote public health. By studying populations that have had negative environmental exposures and looking at their outcomes, I was able to apply principles of environmental counseling to help determine if it would in fact …

Autoantibody Reactivity In Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Characterizing Keratinocyte And Apocrine Gland Targets Across Disease Progression And Anti-Tnf-Α Treatment, Talla Hamouche

Student Theses and Dissertations

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with impaired quality of life, representing one of the highest burdens among dermatological conditions. This debilitating disorder primarily affects apocrine-gland-bearing and flexural skin areas, most commonly the axillae, breast, buttocks, and groin. As lesions recur and new sites emerge, surgical excision does not guarantee prevention of disease reestablishment. Despite its substantial burden, HS remains among the least understood and most treatment-resistant inflammatory diseases. The mechanisms underlying this chronicity and the frequent failure of conventional anti-inflammatory therapies remain unresolved. An underappreciated autoimmune dimension may contribute to HS pathogenesis: the clonal …

Highly Oxidation-Resistant Imidazolium-Modified Catechol For Stable Wet Adhesion Under Alkaline Conditions, Kan Wang, Yue Xu, Fatemeh Razaviamri, Chunling Zhang, Zhihui Zhang, Bo Liu, Bruce P Lee

Michigan Tech Publications

Premature oxidation of catechol drastically reduces its adhesion strength and utility. This study chemically linked catechol to an imidazolium group, which functioned as an intrinsic protecting group that retarded catechol oxidation and enabled stable wet adhesion under basic conditions. Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) contact mechanical testing was performed to determine the work of adhesion (Wadh) of imidazolium-modified catechol (VIMCAT), which remained unchanged for up to 48 hours when incubated at pH 7.4. Contrastingly, Wadh values of unprotected catechol were quickly reduced by over 25% within 30 minutes. VIMCAT still retained its initial adhesion strength even after incubation at pH …

Impacts Of Supplemental Fat In Finishing Diets On Digestibility, Performance, Carcass Outcomes, Meat Quality And Methane Production Of Feedlot Cattle, Anna Marie Kobza

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Rising costs and fluctuating availability of supplemental fats has led to increased interest in alternative fat sources or feed additives that might improve utilization of supplemental fat in feedlot diets. Two separate experiments were conducted to evaluate alternative strategies to overcome high fat prices. The first experiment was a metabolism study, conducted to evaluate digestion parameters of supplemental fat sources with or without LYSOFORTE Extend. The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate LYSOFORTE Extend in beef finishing diets containing a saturated fat source (tallow) and unsaturated fat source (corn oil). Duodenally and ruminally fistulated steers were fed diets containing …

Garlic Breath And Beads Of Sweat: The Effects Of Garlic And Chili Peppers On The Growth And Ph Of Streptococcus Mutans., Lena Pitzer

Honors Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a quantifiable and repeatable measurement of how the presence of garlic and chili pepper during the growth of a carious dentine strain of Streptococcus mutans affects the growth of the strain and surrounding pH level.This research project examines two possible alternative agents, garlic and chili peppers, due to the known antimicrobial effects of their active components, allicin and capsaicin. Prepared garlic and chili extracts were used during disk diffusion to assess and measure the zones of inhibition. The anticipated results are that there will be inhibition present with both the garlic and …

Beyond Attachment: Endolysosomal Determinants Of New World Arenavirus Entry And Fusion, Cassandra E. Thompson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Arenaviruses are enveloped, negative-sense RNA viruses maintained in rodent reservoirs and transmitted to humans through exposure to aerosolized rodent excreta, where they can cause severe and sometimes fatal disease. The geographic distribution of arenaviruses reflects the range of their rodent reservoirs, resulting in the classification into Old World and New World groups, with New World arenaviruses further subdivided into clades A–D. Viral entry is the first step of infection and a major determinant of host range, tissue tropism, and zoonotic potential. Further, viral entry is a tightly regulated, multistep process that couple’s receptor engagement with intracellular trafficking and pH-dependent membrane …

Evaluation Of Sirna-Mediated Knockdown Of Heat Shock Protein 16.2 In Adult Acropora Cervicornis, Edward P. Gniffke, Benjamin D. Young, Keir J. Macartney, Michael S. Studivan, Ian C. Enochs, Erin E. Easton

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Acropora cervicornis is a critically endangered Caribbean coral species facing a precipitous decline due to disease and thermal bleaching. To combat the loss of ecologically important reef-building corals, novel molecular approaches can be used to understand mechanisms of resilience and ultimately provide a means to modulate coral performance. In this study, we tested a recently developed method for gene knockdown in adult corals that utilizes short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and the RNA interference pathway. The Heat Shock Protein 16.2 (HSP16.2) gene in fragments of adult A. cervicornis was targeted for knockdown using a single siRNA construct. RT-qPCR analysis of HSP16.2 …

Cross-Sectional Associations Of Metabolically Healthy Obesity, Lifestyle Factors, And Steatotic Liver Disease In Adults From The Fels Longitudinal Study, Ariana L. Garza, Audrey C. Choh, John Blangero, Cici X. Bauer, Stefan A. Czerwinski, Miryoung Lee

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: To examine the associations of metabolic health and obesity phenotypes with liver fat accumulation and hepatic steatosis in adults. Methods: We analyzed 676 non-Hispanic white adults (18–95 years; 55.8% female) from the Fels Longitudinal Study using a cross-sectional design. Participants were classified into metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotypes. Metabolically unhealthy status was defined as the presence of ≥1 metabolic dysfunction, consistent with prior epidemiological definitions; secondary analyses using ≥2 were also performed. Obesity was defined using DXA-derived body fat percentage. Liver fat (%) was …

Tlr2 Activation Enhances Inflammatory Signaling And Accelerates Cyst Growth And Renal Fibrosis In Polycystic Kidney Disease Mice, Aiping Wei, Yang Zhang, Yu Xu, Jaden Schneider, Nicholas Detterman, Xiaoyun Shu, Tyler Gregersen, Maximo Nahas Folch, Yong Li, Shibiao Chen, Yan Zhang

Michigan Tech Publications

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), the most common inherited kidney disorder, is characterized by progressive cyst growth and eventual organ failure. Although aberrant innate immune activation is a recognized contributor to PKD progression, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely defined. Here, we showed that Pkd1 deletion increased TLR2 and MyD88 mRNA expression in renal epithelial cells, indicating enhanced innate immune priming. In vivo, administration of Pam3CSK4 (PAM), a synthetic TLR2 agonist, preferentially amplified pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses in Pkd1^RC/RC mice compared with wild-type controls, despite inducing similar signaling responses in vitro. Acute PAM treatment for one week rapidly enhanced NF-κB …

Impact Of Human Disturbance On Moth Populations In Ecuador, Gianna Jones, Abbie Miller, Esther Frederickson, Grace Glerum

Science Seminar

Habitat disturbance in the temperate zone has been shown to negatively impact moth biodiversity and population size through a reduction in moth food resources and light pollution. Our study sought to understand how human activity impacts moth population numbers and diversity (# unique taxa) in the tropics. Specifically, we sampled moth population and diversity using light traps on two different nights in a disturbed habitat (Mera township, Ecuador) and on two nights at a nearby ecolodge situated in dense tropical forest. Significantly fewer moths were observed during trapping sessions in the township, and many fewer distinct taxa were noted when …

Patterns Of Moth Diversity In Relationship To Human Disturbance And Forest Type, Gianna Jones, Abbie Miller, Esther Frederickson, Grace Glerum

Science Seminar

Moths play a vital role in the health of tropical ecosystems, acting as important pollinators and food resources for a variety of species. Unfortunately, human habitat disturbance has been associated with declines in moth populations and diversity. To explore the impacts of habitat disturbance on taxonomic diversity in the tropics, we sampled moth populations at two different locations in the Pastaza Province (Mera township and an undisturbed forest at Tamandua Ecolodge). Though small in population (

The Impacts Of Wing-Flashing By Northern Mockingbirds On Foraging, Parental Care, And Reproductive Success, Anna Starman, Hayley Ponn

Science Seminar

Foraging efficiency may be enhanced by flashing patches of white wing and tail feathers and has been documented in several avian species. Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos, NOMO) exhibit this "wing-flashing" (WF) behavior while foraging, during displays, and in response to predators. In NOMOs, WF has been hypothesized to increase foraging success, but previous findings are inconclusive. To further investigate the biological role(s) of WF behavior in NOMOs, the ventral surface of white primary feathers of male NOMOs were artificially darkened and the foraging and provisioning rates of undarkened (control) males and their mates were compared. While foraging, undarkened males performed …

Foraging Load Size And Activity In Leaf-Cutter Ants In Rural And Urban Ecuador, Natalie Tollison, Anna Starman

Science Seminar

Leaf cutter ants are important ecosystem engineers in Neotropical forests, moving a significant amount of nutrients from the forest canopy to the soil. We were interested in understanding how time (day vs. night), weather, and level of human disturbance would impact foraging activity in leaf-cutter ants (Atta spp.). To investigate, we sampled activity levels and leaf size along leaf-cutter ant trails in Mera (urban, N=17) and Tamandua (forest, N=27). During the daytime, ants in Mera carried significantly more leaves that were larger in size as well as more total items than did ants in Tamandua. Factors such as the level …

Biodiversity And Diet Patterns: Environmental Impacts On Ecuadorian Birds, Holly Hylton, Fin Bolt, Gracyn Herbst

Science Seminar

The current biodiversity crisis is of great concern, particularly to bird species in temperate and tropical areas. We examined avian biodiversity patterns in Ecuador, one of the most bird-biodiverse countries in the world (1650+ species). In January 2026, birds were surveyed (visual and auditory) for 30 minutes on consecutive days in 4 different locations that differed in the degree of human development. As expected, species richness was much higher in undisturbed locations than disturbed locations. In addition, our comparison of dietary patterns between sites showed a much higher proportion of frugivorous and insectivorous species in areas with less human disturbance …

Spin-Label Probing Of Gp28 Elucidates Interactions With Lipid Vesicles Using Cw-Epr, Maxwell Sutherland, Binaya Baral, Gary Lorigan

ONU Student Research Colloquium

The phage protein gp28 is a bacterial membrane lysis protein that functions outside of currently understood canonical pathways for bacterial lysis. Primarily, lysis is done in conjunction with proteins called spanins, however about 15% of gram negative bacteria infecting phages have coding for spanins. This led to the discovery of the disruptins, a class of non-spanin outer membrane disrupting proteins which includes gp28 from the φKT phage. To understand the mechanism in which gp28 disrupts the outer membrane, we employ spin labeling of the protein in its synthesis and create samples of artificial membranes. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), we …

Effects Of Limb Dominance On Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration In A 6-Ohda Rat Model Of Parkinson’S Disease Assessed By Immunoblotting, Jasin Aziz Porshia, Deanna Chaialee, Dipesh Pokharel, Kala Venkiteswaran, Thyagarajan Subramanian, Dilshan Beligala

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Effects of Limb Dominance on Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in a 6-OHDA Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease Assessed by Immunoblotting

Jasin Porshia^a , Deanna Chaialee^a , Dipesh Pokharel^b,c , Kala Venkiteswaran^{b, c, d} , Thyagarajan Subramanian^{b, c, d}, Dilshan Beligala^a

^aDepartment of Biological Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH, USA

^bDepartment of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA

^cDepartment of Neurology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA

^dDepartment of Neurology, Howard University, Washington, DC, …

A Single Administration Of Psilocybin Is Ineffective In Reversing Ptsd-Like Sequelae In A Rat Model Of Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning, Kylie M. King, Marisa J. Savini, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics produce rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. Psychedelics may also exert anxiolytic effects and be useful in treating more complex psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD. However, less is known about the impact of these agents on PTSD-related symptoms. Thus, we aimed to determine whether a single administration of psilocybin could reverse PTSD-like sequelae induced by stress-enhanced fear learning in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in Context A (circular, white conditioning box) and exposed to several uncontrollable footshocks (Stress) or no footshocks (No Stress). The next day, the rats were placed in Context B (square conditioning box with clear …

Psilocybin And The Related Tryptamine, Norbaeocystin, Exert Acute Anxiogenic Effects That Depend On Sex, Marisa J. Savini, Kylie M. King, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Andrew Jones, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics have demonstrated rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. However, psychedelics often produce unfavorable psychoactive effects that could worsen existing psychological distress. Thus, we compared the effects of psilocybin and the related tryptamine, norbaeocystin, on anxiety-like behavior in male and female rats. In Experiment 1, rats were treated with 1 mg/kg psilocybin (PSIL), 1 mg/kg norbaeocystin (NOR), or vehicle 30 min before a 5-min trial on an elevated plus maze (EPM) or in an open field test (OFT). On the EPM, PSIL led to decreased open arm time and fewer arm entries in males and females. NOR led to …

Impact Of Caffeine On Participant Memory For A Stressful Experience And The Development Of Intrusive Memories, Jaycee L. Kirkland, Kaylina R. Mcclenen, Natalina E. Porter, Sarah M. Wood, Julia Gross, Madilyn E. Paphanchith, Kelsey M. Siereveld, Jasmine Ic Ifeakanwa, Caeden M. Gurganus, Koen N. Suzelis, Aiden J. Farrell, Boyd R. Rorabaugh, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Most individuals consume caffeine on a daily basis. Research has shown that caffeine stimulates the release of glucocorticoids and catecholamines and can enhance cognition. Caffeine also amplifies stress-induced increases in arousal and aggravates PTSD-like symptoms. Thus, we examined the impact of caffeine on memory for a stressful experience and intrusive memories related to that experience. Undergraduate students ingested caffeine or a placebo. Thirty minutes later, they were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST; stress condition) or friendly-TSST (f-TSST; control condition), both of which were designed to enable participant memory for the experiences to be quantified. In each condition, …

Evaluating Drug Use Through Examination Of Local Water Sources: Drug Concentrations Within Biota Systems, Madeleine Freyhof

Honors Projects

Understanding drug usage based on drug concentrations found within biota samples grown in different concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine. Drug policy then can be potentially based on how drug concentrations display drug usage for a specific community.

Pepper Spray Exposure And The Effect On Dna Profiling Of Blood, Brandon Schmakel

Honors Projects

Pepper spray is a common self defense tool used in both law enforcement and civilian settings, with the goal of incapacitating the sprayed individual. In real casework where pepper spray was used, a red-brown stain which tested positive presumptively for blood provided no DNA profile after further testing six months later. A previous graduate student, Emma Crawn, attempted to emulate these casework conditions and instead achieved a DNA profile with slight indications of inhibition or degradation. Further analysis of active pepper spray ingredients such as Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) and Chloroacetophenone (CN) reveals that there are observed reactions, such as oxidation, …

A Continuous Viral Vaccine Biomanufacturing Platform Utilizing Multiple Bioreactor Configurations, Justin Sargunas, Bradley Priem, Dylan Carman, Taravat Sarvari, Natalie Nold, Vaishali Sharma, Andrew Pekosz, Caryn Heldt, Michael Betenbaugh

Michigan Tech Publications

Scalable, continuous biomanufacturing processes have grown in importance to meet demand for smaller bioreactor sizes, lowered production costs, and improved quality attribute consistency. The Sf9/recombinant baculovirus (rBV) expression system demonstrates promise for virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine and gene therapy production. Here, we present a continuous rBV platform integrating an infection plug flow reactor (PFR) between stirred tank growth (gCSTR) and production (pCSTR) bioreactors. Cell expansion in the gCSTR included a ramp-up stage followed by continuous growth, reaching a steady state of 5×10 cells/mL and >90% viability. Péclet number-fit tracer studies confirmed near-ideal plug flow in the PFR, yielding a 10 …

Cultivating Curiosity Across Academic Audiences: Biology And Evidence-Based Science Communication, Nathan D. Forbes

Whittier Scholars Program

Effective Science Communicators must speak to a variety of audiences, with varying quantities of prior interest and qualities of background knowledge. The purpose of this paper was to engage differing audiences in scientific learning. This was done through a hypothetical newsletter made up for four different segments exploring a variety of topics in biology. Each segment intends to speak to a different audience with a different level of interest and/or educational level. Simplifying or analogizing without sacrificing the statistical basis of this project was of paramount importance. In the two segments targeted towards younger audiences, the primary focus was on …

Development Of A Preclinical Model That Can Be Used To Test Novel Therapeutics For The Treatment Of Mild And Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury, Hayden Anderson

Honors Theses

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a foreign object induces damage to the skull and brain through a forceful blow or whiplash. It is one of the most frequent injuries in the United States, with approximately 250,000 cases of different levels occurring annually. It is well known that severe TBIs can result in persistent physical, cognitive, and socioeconomic consequences and the timing of treatment following this injury can play a critical role in the ultimate outcome. It would be beneficial to develop a safe therapeutic that could be administered rapidly after impact and improve the recovery of the patient. However, …

The Pam-1 Aminopeptidase Does Not Protect Against Ptl-1 Mediated Neurodegeneration In C. Elegans., Ethan E. Schuff

Honors College Theses

Debilitating neurodegenerative conditions are increasingly prevalent in our aging population, yet treatment options remain limited. Though neurodegenerative diseases vary in pathophysiology and clinical manifestations, these diseases are related to one another in that many involve misfolded proteins. Tau is a member of the microtubule-stabilizing MAPT/MAP2/MAP4 family, and misfolded tau proteins form the neurotoxic aggregates called neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Designing a study to elucidate the neurotoxic role of tau is difficult because other MAPs may have compensatory mechanisms which confound study data. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) …

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.