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A Redescription Of Leiurus Libycus (Birula, 1908), Stat. N. (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, František Kovařík, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

Buthus quinquestriatus libycus was described by Birula (1908) from the Libyan Desert, based on a subadult male specimen. This taxon was later synonymized with Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1828) by Vachon (1949). In this study, we re-evaluate this taxon and recognize it as Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908), stat. n., providing a redescription based on the holotype. The type locality of this species is clarified as western Egypt (between Alexandria and Fayum). We synonymize Leiurus aegyptiacus Lourenço & El-Hennawy, 2021 with L. libycus, stat. n., syn. n.

The Significance Of Symmetry: Exploring T-Numbers And Their Role In Virus Survival And Behavior, Jenna Franco, Taylor Ligozio

Mathematics & Computer Science Student Scholarship

Jenna Franco ’25, Biology major

Taylor Ligozio ’25, Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Su Jeong Kang, Mathematics and Computer Science

We studied the symmetry of different structures in common viruses and their T-numbers. We related these T-numbers with characteristics of the virus. Next we researched how the T-number of each virus was optimal for its survival and reproduction in its environment. We can use this information to infer or predict the behavior of viruses in the future based on their T-numbers.

Demography And Habitat Associations Of The Basalt Cactus Pediocactus Nigrispinus, Zarha S. Dillon-Zuppelli, Mary E. Poulson, Eric A. Graham

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Cacti are iconic members of arid ecosystems. Pediocactus nigrispinus is a species of cactus endemic to the Pacific Northwest and has been listed as a sensitive species due to its vulnerability to habitat loss. Best conservation methods for this species are poorly understood, due in part to a limited understanding of its demography and habitat associations that may help define its occurrence. A demographic study from four plots in Washington State was implemented in 2016 to provide a baseline of the population dynamics for P. nigrispinus and to enhance conservation efforts for this sensitive species. Five years of size, fecundity, …

Food & Drugs Unite: Targeting Leukemia With A [6]-Gingerol And 5-Fluorouracil Combination Chemotherapy, Alexa Mazzeo, Samantha Wechsler

Biology Presentations

Leukemia is a cancer found in the blood characterized by rapid growth of blood cells. This study examines the effect of [6]-Gingerol and 5- Fluorouracil (5-FU) on the proliferation of the Jurkat cell line, a cell line that is a model for T-cell leukemia due to similar mechanisms. MTT assay technique was used to measure cell proliferation and viability. We expected to see high cell fractional affect and reduced proliferation as the concentrations of the combinational therapy of [6]-Gingerol and 5-FU increased. These two cell compounds were selected because of their anti-carcinogenic effects: [6]-Gingerol is used aid in the inflammation …

Exploring The Role Of Azoreductase Enzymes In Drug Metabolism: Implications For Personalized Medicine, Najoude Claude, Robert Ghergurovich

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Najoude Claude ’26, Biology major

Robert Ghergurovich ’26, Biochemistry major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Tyler Stack, Chemistry and Biochemistry

The gut microbiome hosts trillions of microorganisms that metabolize xenobiotics such as drugs and food dyes. Individual differences lead to variable drug metabolism. We studied two azoreductases: E. coli’s P41407 and Alistipes sp. CHKCL003’s A0A143XFE8. Enzyme P41407 acted on methyl red and ethyl red, while A0A143XFE8 acted on these and also on phenol blue, HMND, and sunset yellow. We propose these enzymes function as quinone reductases, requiring a quinone-like intermediate. Three synthesized compounds confirmed similar kinetics. In conclusion, these insights significantly advance …

Development Of Edna Tools For Biomonitoring, Stella Grondin, Anthony Aldana – Mendez

Biology Student Scholarship

Stella Grondin ’27, Biology major

Anthony Aldana – Mendez ’27, Biology and Psychology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Markert, Biology

Effects Of Integrated Pest Management On Honey Bee Behavior And Colony Level Health, Kaitlyn Bresnahan

Biology Student Scholarship

Kaitlyn Bresnahan ’25, Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology

Honey bees face threats from many directions, but the most pressing is the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. One popular method of combatting Varroa is adding drone comb which forces the colony to raise larger, mite-preferred male bees. While this method reduces mite numbers, it may add unnecessary colony-level stress. My research investigates how forcing the hive to raise drones for mite management affects honey bee population growth and foraging behavior. This was accomplished by estimating adult bee population and area of drone brood, and by examining foraging behavior of …

Quantifying The Relationship Between Biomass And Edna​, Andrew K. Hogan

Biology Student Scholarship

Andrew K. Hogan ’27, Environmental Biology and English Literature major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Markert, Biology

In this project, we compared eDNA concentration in water to the biomass of present creatures and the time the eDNA in each sample took to decay. With this data, standard curves for both variables can be created and can be used for future experiments and field research. This data will give researchers a greater level of understanding about what animal populations might look like based on the eDNA obtained.

Effects Of Hyperglycemia In Cognition And Sex, Erin E. Mcdonald

Senior Honors Theses

An empirical study tested the effects of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) on cognitive function in a hyperglycemic mouse model. Strong correlations between mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, neuropathologies like Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes suggest comorbid pathology. Considering the prevalence of both T1D and cognitive decline within the general population, the findings were relevant and aimed to identify early signs of cognitive decline in diabetic patients. Behavioral tests and immunohistochemical staining were utilized to determine the cognitive function of the mice, revealing decline or deterioration caused by hyperglycemia. Data gathered from the hyperglycemic or control mice were analyzed based …

The Employment Of Apoptosis In Embryonic Development, Hannah R. Fioramonti

Senior Honors Theses

Programmed cell death is necessary for the elimination of excess or damaged cells in all stages of life, but this is especially true during embryonic and fetal development of mammals. Beginning before implantation and continuing until birth, both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis are employed within mammalian embryos to ensure the viability of the organism, proper organ morphogenesis, integrity of the genetic material, and the high quality of the germ line. The formation of both transient and permanent ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal structures often involves apoptosis. In this review, a selection of apoptotic events within each germ layer and occurrences of …

Volume 16, Maggie Duncan, Madeline Little, Alicia Hoffman, Megan Livesay, Gabrielle Quaresma, Serenity Allen, Laina Pfountz, Ainslie Allred, Sabrina Robles, Nicholas J. Duellman, Trinity L. Deguzman, Melissa H. Savage, Margaret Dudley, Jocelyn Escobar, Olivia Hildreth, Olivia Hopkins, Benjamin Gettier, Lee Kassay, Jade Riddle, Ashley Seiders

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Lee Millar Bidwell

The Hujum Campaign in Uzbekistan and its Consequences by Madeline Little

Wet Cupping Compared to Dry Needling for Treatment of Patients with Low Back Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic by Alicia Hoffman and Megan Livesay

Optimization of eDNA Air Sampling Via 3D Printed Fan by Gabrielle Quaresma

Beyond the Classroom: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Attrition and Retention by Serenity Allen and Laina Pfountz

The Treatment of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome with Platelet-Rich plasma Injections Verses …

Discovery, Purification And Annotation Of Four Novel Mycobacteriophages In New England, Mason Krawczynski

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Mason Krawczynski ’26, Biology and Psychology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria of the Mycobacterium genus. Several thousand mycobacteriophages have been discovered, isolated, and characterized to advance the current understanding of their genomic diversity. The mycobacterium phage selection proves valuable, as they have a broad host range and potential for therapeutic application to treat pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis infection. Kraw was isolated from a soil sample collected in Oaks Bluff, Massachusetts, on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in July 2023. FairyPath, Calvinny, …

Tools For Harnessing Atropisomerism In 1-Aryl-Β-Carbolines, Cristina Díaz, Malaquias Loiza, Josef Crenshaw, Brian Ladino, Elizabeth Perda, Alma Martinez, Joseph Mazzucca, John Stathoulopoulos

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Cristina Díaz ’25, Chemistry major

Malaquias Loiza ’26, Biochemistry major

Josef Crenshaw ’28, Biochemistry major

Brian Ladino ’28, Biochemistry major

Elizabeth Perda ’26, Biochemistry major

Alma Martinez ’26, Biochemistry major

Joseph Mazzucca ’25, Biochemistry major

John Stathoulopoulos ’26, Chemistry major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Seann Mulcahy, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Axially chiral molecules with high barriers to rotation are becoming increasingly more prominent in drug discovery, chemical biology, and materials science. We have shown that 1-aryl-β-carbolines exhibit high configurationally stability, with barriers to rotation greater than 30 kcal/mol and have recently disclosed an asymmetric synthesis of these molecules. In this presentation, we …

Discovery, Purification And Annotation Of A Novel Mycobacteriophage Discovered On The Providence College Campus, Jenna Greene

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Jenna Greene ’26, Biochemistry major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—offer a promising alternative to antibiotics in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. In this project, I isolated a novel phage from a soil sample collected in front of Raymond Dining Hall at Providence College. Using Mycobacterium smegmatis as the host, the sample underwent multiple rounds of purification until a single phage, named GMonster (a nod to my family nickname, “Greene Monster”), was isolated. GMonster was submitted to the PhagesDB database and confirmed through sequencing to belong to the A1 cluster—the first of its …

Exploring An Electron-Rich Iron Tricarbonyl Complex Containing An Α-Diimine Ligand, Joseph Maher

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Joseph Maher ’25, Chemistry major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Maria Carroll, Chemistry and Biochemistry

The combustion of fossil fuels increases atmospheric CO2, making hydrogen a promising cleaner energy alternative. Pt has been able to facilitate this reaction efficiently, however, it is expensive and scarce. Fe has shown promise in facilitating 2-electron transfers when bound to redox-active ligands. Reacting the redox-active CyDABMe with benzylidene acetone iron tricarbonyl (bdaFe(CO)3) forms Fe[CyDABMe](CO)3, with vCO values ~10 cm-1 lower than FeArDABMe(CO)3, indicating increased electron density. The reduction potential of CyDABMe was probed using Zn[CyDABMe]Cl2, showing a reduction at 200 mV more negative than Zn[ArDABMe]Cl2. X-ray …

Anxiety- And Compulsivity-Linked Differences In Reinforcement Learning In A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Game, Tessa Medeiros

Neuroscience Program Student Scholarship

Tessa Medeiros ’26, Biology & Psychology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Andra Geana, Psychology and Neuroscience

Reinforcement learning (RL) mathematically describes how agents learn to maximize the reward of their environment by understanding and comparing their choice options. This project investigates how anxiety and compulsivity impact the selection of these options and to what extent a text-based, narrative (rather than a game-like environment) changes RL processes in humans.

Using Enviromental Dna To Detect And Quantify Atlantic Silversides In Rhode Island, Owen Finnegan

Biology Student Scholarship

Owen Finnegan ’25, Environmental Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Markert, Biology

Here we test whether eDNA concentrations consistently reflect the abundance of fish in a given area. We compare physical catches to the levels of eDNA in the water using quantitative PCR (qPCR) at three sites in Rhode Island. A native and plentiful species like Atlantic Silversides is the perfect organism to for calibrating our methods as recorded catches of Atlantic Silversides from our collections range from 0-1500+ individuals.

The Effect Of Salinity On Mangrove Growth In The Florida Everglades, Olivia Macaluso

Biology Student Scholarship

Mangrove forests are highly productive ecosystems that provide benefits to humans, such as storm protection, in the intertidal regions of tropic and subtropic climates. Mangroves grow primarily in shallow brackish water where fresh and salty water sources meet, but frequent hurricanes mean that once stable brackish environments are vulnerable to fluctuations in salinity levels. A previous study on the effect of salinity on mangroves found a negative relationship between salinity increase and root biomass growth. However, little research has gone into the effects of salinity changes on mangrove growth and productivity. Here, I used data from the Wetland and Aquatic …

Environmental Racism In Ri: The Presence Of Toxic Waste Sites In Low Income And Minority Communities (19), Julienne Walsh

Biology Student Scholarship

Environmental racism refers to the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on communities of color and low-income populations. Across the U.S., studies have shown that polluting facilities are more likely to be in or around communities with higher percentages of non-white residents or lower socioeconomic status. Scholarship regarding these patterns in small states like Rhode Island is relatively limited. By analyzing how these sites are spatially distributed in relation to racial and economic demographics, this research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of local environmental inequities. I hypothesize that if you live in a low-income or more diverse town, national …

Microneedles Potentiate Skin Cell Rejuvenation Via Modulation Of Mitochondria And Epigenetic Activities, Alexandra Delano, Angelika Kartsagoulis

Biology Student Scholarship

Alexandra Delano ’25, Biology major

Angelika Kartsagoulis ’25, Biology major

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yinsheng Wan, Biology

Characterizing The Functional Diversity Of Southern Ocean Chordates, Lillian Stern

Biology Student Scholarship

Lillian Stern ’26, Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Roxanne Banker, Biology

Biological invasions are… Invasion events can alter ecosystem properties like species interactions, trophic rank, and abundance. Current scientific research struggles to quantify the effects of biotic invasions effect on ecosystem structure and function. Measuring functional diversity, or the diversity traits such as feeding and living habits, in an ecosystem can provide important information about how organisms and the environment respond to environmental change. Here, we investigate functional diversity of the Chordates in a marine Southern Ocean community that has already been affected by biological invasion. By characterizing how these …

Diversity And Habitat Use Of Bats In Modified Suburban Landscapes, Brittany Morgera

Biology Presentations

Bats occupy critical ecological niches and perform important ecosystem services like controlling insect populations. However, humans have altered bat habitat substantially, resulting in the reduction of bat populations. The goals of this research are to assess bat diversity and habitat use across different levels of suburban habitat modification. To accomplish this, we deployed passive acoustic recorders at twelve locations with varying human impact in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In accordance with The North American Bat Monitoring Program’s standards, acoustic analysis software was used to identify bat species. Manual identification methods from The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative were used to verify these …

Dosage-Dependent, Carboplatin And Ng52 Show Synergistic Effect On Inhibiting Cell Proliferation In Breast Cancer Cell Line, Ben Couture, Ryan Zhuge

Biology Presentations

BT-549 (Breast Cancer), a highly invasive epithelial breast cancer cell line, was used to investigate the effects of two drugs: NG52, a selective kinase inhibitor and Carboplatin, a platinum-based DNA-alkylating agent. Using cell counting assays and calculating IC50 values, we examined their combined impact on cell proliferation. Results revealed both an antagonistic and synergistic effect dependent on concentration. Where the individual agents inhibited cell proliferation less effectively than expected. These findings show the complexity of drug interactions and provide insights into optimizing therapeutic strategies for highly invasive cancer types.

Fighting Modern Battles, Brawling A Breast Cancer From The Past: A New Combination Therapy Technique Combining A Platinum-Based Agent And Hdac Inhibition Agent, Matthew I. Hyder, Jackson D. Southern

Biology Presentations

Carboplatin and tucidinostat are two often-used chemotherapeutic drugs in combating cancers. After seeding BT-549 cells in vitro and single-drug treatments were completed, IC50 values and treatment curves were determined for both drugs with CompuSyn software. The Tucidinostat IC50 value of 0.28614 µM indicates effective 50% inhibitory activity at less than one micromolar. Carboplatin treatment revealed an IC50 value of 273.792 µM, indicating ineffective treatment. Combination therapy revealed an antagonistic effect with a CI50 value of 210.406. This may be due to experimental errors with pipetting or cell seeding, or drug-ailment mismatch.

Passive Integrated Transponders: An Effective Marking Technique For Individual Identification Of Anaxyrus Fowleri?, Emily Leprell

Honors College Theses

With the rise of fungal disease such as Chytridiomycosis, known as chytrid, causing massive population declines for many species of frogs and toads (order Anura), specific conservation strategies are needed now more than ever. In many cases, being able to mark and identify individuals is a necessary step in developing an effective conservation plan. Individual identification allows researchers to obtain accurate population estimates, which are needed to test the progress and validity of conservation management decisions. However, due to their unique life history, including cutaneous respiration and a dichotomous lifestyle, anurans are among the most difficult wildlife species to …

Assessing Innovations In Wildlife Monitoring: Estimating Abundance And Inferring Parturition Of Ungulates With Technology, Elicia Cotcher

Theses and Dissertations

Enhancements in technology are creating opportunities for novel methods of wildlife monitoring. Traditional methods of wildlife monitoring are often costly or time-consuming, and new technological advancements such as remote cameras and GPS collars are creating opportunities for exploration as these technologies become more accessible and reliable. We sought to assess the efficacy of two novel methods of ungulate monitoring. The first is an abundance estimation method using remote cameras termed Instantaneous Sampling (IS). IS seeks to estimate abundance using time lapsed remote cameras on a population of unmarked individuals. Our goal was to compare IS estimations against the true observed …

Dna And Bioinformatics Tools For Estimating Biodiversity In The Narragansett Bay, Emma Barry

Biology Student Scholarship

Emma Barry ’25, Environmental Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Markert, Biology

Efficiency’S Role In Irrigation And Nitrogen Use, Matt Stockton, Shannon Sand

Cornhusker Economics

Summary

The WNIPI is a purely physical measure of I and N efficiency and was developed to determine efficiency winners in several TAPS contests. DRIN is a powerful tool in measuring the effectiveness of the dollars spent on I and N. It is a ratio of dollars returned as revenue in terms of dollars spent. The third measure, NRIN, is an overall measure of economic gain. It is the difference in money spent on I and N versus the revenue taken in and measures the volume of net returns. Both DRIN and the NRIN measure dollar effectiveness dependent on the …

Effects Of Novel Fire Regimes On Plant And Animal Communities, Ryan Pienaar

Theses and Dissertations

Human actions are threatening global biodiversity through changes to ecosystems to which species are not well adapted. One of the main pathways by which humans affect change is through altered disturbance regimes. This includes changes in the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires. The impact of wildfires on native plant and animal communities varies across ecosystems as species in a community have adapted relatively predictable fire patterns over time. Changing fire patterns alters successional dynamics that can favor certain species over others and thus have a negative impact on biodiversity. This dissertation evaluates responses of different plant and animal species …

Examining The Effects Of Symbiotic State And Environmental Pollution On Wound Healing In Coral, Jonathan De Montagnac

College Honors Program

Understanding coral reef health requires comprehension of the biological processes that support live coral cover. Corals are frequently exposed to physical abrasion from various sources, thereby necessitating vital resources be directed towards wound recovery. For corals and other organisms that harbor photosynthetic symbionts, the balance between autotrophic versus heterotrophic energy contributions influences their fitness. Experimentally disentangling the individual effects of environmental stress and symbiotic state on coral health is difficult in most tropical corals due to the obligate nature of their symbiosis. However, determining how nutritional dynamics, environmental stressors, and health interact is crucial to understanding coral resilience. To examine …