Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Meta-Topolin And Kinetin At Various Concentrations On Shoot Multiplication In White Turmeric (Curcuma Zedoaria Rosc.), Murgayanti, Annisa Nanda Nur Azizah, Anne Nuraini, Erni Suminar, Syariful Mubarok

Jurnal Kultivasi

White turmeric is a medicinal plant widely used to treat various diseases. The limited availability of white turmeric seedlings is influenced by the scarcity of quality seeds due to the long dormancy of the rhizomes and the high incidence of pathogen attacks. Tissue culture techniques are one alternative to address the problem of white turmeric seedling availability. This study aims to determine the best concentrations of meta-topolin and kinetin for in vitro shoot multiplication of white turmeric. The research was conducted from January to June 2022 at the tissue culture laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. This study used a …

The Interaction Of Nitrogen And Potassium Nutrients In Increasing Growth, Yield, And Quality Of Sweet Corn Products, Risqa Naila Khusna Syarifah, Purwanto, Agus Sarjito, Hana Hanifa, Lafi Na'imatul Bayyinah

Jurnal Kultivasi

Fertilizer application is a strategy that can be used to increase sweet corn production and maintain environmental balance. This research aims (i) to determine the optimal dose of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers for sweet corn production; (ii) to study the agronomic and physiological responses of sweet corn plants at different nitrogen and potassium dose; and (iii) to determine the nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) nutrient uptake and efficiency by sweet corn at different fertilizer doses and their interactions on yield and yield quality. The research was conducted from March to November 2022 in the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman. …

Registration Of R19-42848 As A Drought-Tolerant, High-Yielding Soybean Germplasm Line, Chengjun Wu, Derrick Harrison, Liliana Florez-Palacios, Andrea Acuna, Daniel Rogers, Rafael Marmo, John Carlin, Ben Fallen, Leandro Mozzoni, Caio Cenella Vieira

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

R19-42848 (Reg. no. GP-532, PI 706865) is a high-yielding soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm with drought tolerance released by the University of Arkansas System - Division of Agriculture Research & Extension Center in 2024. It is an F4-derived selection from the cross R12-2237 (drought-tolerant) x R12-519 (high-yielding). R19-42848 is a conventional (non-genetically modified) soybean with a relative maturity of 5.2. Plants have determinate growth habit with purple flower color, gray pubescence, and tan pod wall at maturity. Seed of R19-42848 has buff hilum color, 100-seed weight of 13.8 g, and contains on average 404.5 and 211.5 g kg-1 of …

Tobacco Smoke Exposure Is A Driver Of Altered Oxidative Stress Response And Immunity In Head And Neck Cancer, Yang Li, Pedram Yadollahi, Fonma N Essien, Vasanta Putluri, Chandra Shekar R Ambati, Karthik Reddy Kami Reddy, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Nagireddy Putluri, Lama M Abdurrahman, Maria E Ruiz Echartea, Keenan J Ernste, Akshar J Trivedi, Jonathan Vazquez-Perez, William H Hudson, William K Decker, Rutulkumar Patel, Abdullah A Osman, Farrah Kheradmand, Stephen Y Lai, Jeffrey N Myers, Heath D Skinner, Cristian Coarfa, Kwangwon Lee, Antrix Jain, Anna Malovannaya, Mitchell J Frederick, Vlad C Sandulache

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Exposomes are critical drivers of carcinogenesis. However, how they modulate tumor behavior remains unclear. Extensive clinical data show cigarette smoke to be a key exposome that promotes aggressive tumors, higher rates of metastasis, reduced response to chemoradiotherapy, and suppressed anti-tumor immunity. We sought to determine whether smoke itself can modulate aggressive tumor behavior in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) through reprogramming of the cellular reductive state.

Methods: Using established human and murine HNSCC cell lines and syngeneic mouse models, we utilized conventional western blotting, steady state and flux metabolomics, RNA sequencing, quantitative proteomics and flow cytometry to …

Anticancer Activity Of Allium Cepa Through The Inactivation Of Nf-Κb Pathway: A Literature-Based Study, Sharmita Ghosh Situ, Md. Sakib Al Hasan, Emon Mia, Md. Nasimul Haque Shipon, Md. Faisal Amin, Asmaul Husna Bristy, Yasin Emon

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Allium cepa (onion) is a bulbous herb renowned for its diverse health benefits. This study aims to summarize the anticancer potential of A. cepa through the inactivation of the Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway by reviewing experimental findings across various cancer models. A thorough examination of the literature was carried out using databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. The findings revealed that phytochemicals such as stigmasterol, fisetin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, morin, kaempferol, luteolin, β-carotene, and β-sitosterol exhibit strong anticancer properties against various cancers, including breast, bladder, colon, colorectal, cervical, lung, liver, oral, pancreatic, …

17 - Mapping The Spatial Distribution Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Using Commercial Satellite Imagery, Brandon Watson

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Seagrass in the Chesapeake Bay has seen an increase due to restoration efforts since the 90s, but with the extreme change of climate, we are unsure if the seagrass will thrive or perish, and where it will occur in the bay. Seagrass stabilizes coastal sediments, reducing erosion and protecting shorelines. It provides crucial habitats and nursery grounds for a diverse range of marine species, supporting both biodiversity and fisheries. Additionally, they play a significant role in carbon sequestration, which mitigates the effects of climate change. This study specifically looked at the area from the mouth of the Rappahannock River up …

05 - Freeze Severity And Black Mangrove Growth: Influence Of Plant Origin On Side Shoot Development, Kathryn Bourlier, Katelyn Overstreet, Erik Yando

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Despite a reduction in freeze events and subsequent expansion in the southeastern US, freeze impacts still play a critical role in mangrove morphology and local range limits. Freeze events can impair growth, limit survival, and commonly prompts side shoot development. This study examines the relationship between plant origin, freeze severity, and side shoot development in black mangroves. Our findings show that plants from each location exhibited distinct morphological responses, with similarities more closely linked to environmental conditions rather than geographic proximity. Our work offers insights into thermal tolerance thresholds and implications for mangrove stature in coastal wetlands.

02 - Habitat Preference Of Ambrosia Beetles (Curculionidae) Using Bottle Traps In Southeastern Virginia, Sajrim Chowdhury, Morgan Harrison, Deborah A. Waller, Umme Akter

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Ambrosia beetles attack host trees by boring into the stem and infecting the tree with a symbiotic fungus. Infected trees suffer damage to the vascular system which often results in tree mortality. We examined whether different species of native and invasive ambrosia beetles prefer different habitats by placing bottle traps in riparian areas near streams and in forested habitats in several locations in southeastern Virginia. Numerous ambrosia beetles were collected in the traps, and we related ambrosia beetle species to the habitat in which it was collected.

Highly Regenerable Magnetic Sulfonated Chitosan Crosslinked With Glutaraldehyde Composite Beads (Iron Sand/Naso3-Chi-G) For Aqueous Mercury Removal, Fathurrahmi Fathurrahmi, Rahmi Rahmi, Lelifajri Lelifajri, Anggun Sixthia Wulan Ayu, Muhammad Iqhrammullah

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

We developed a novel adsorbent from sulfonated, glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan embedded with magnetic iron sand. The adsorbent was synthesized through a two-step process: (1) sulfonation with N(SO₃Na)₃ to introduce sulfonate groups, and (2) crosslinking with glutaraldehyde to enhance structural stability. The optimal formulation, containing 43.5% iron sand and crosslinked with 0.17 M glutaraldehyde, exhibited the highest Hg²⁺ adsorption capacity (30.74 mg/g) at pH 3. The adsorbents were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopic (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 60 minutes, and isotherm modeling showed that the process followed the Freundlich model …

Resistant & Persistent Bacterial Cells, Jean-Louis Bru

Open Educational Resources

An activity on the difference between resistant & persistent bacterial cells. This activity aims to build on the pre-lecture materials about resistant bacterial cells, so that students can make a connection toward persistent cells. In both cases, they make antibiotics less effective.

Learning Objectives

Recognize the importance of antibiotics in fighting bacterial infections. Understand how bacterial species become antibiotic resistant. Determine the difference between resistant and persistent bacterial cells.

Social and Collaborative

Students work together on this in-class activity in groups of 2-4 (3, ideally). Each student will have one of the following roles: encourager, recorded, investigator, and time keeper. …

The Lingering Effects Of The Asian Longhorned Beetle: Impact On The Changing Composition Of A New England Campus Arboretum, Elizabeth J. Silver, Russell M. Cleary, Kelly Wolfe-Bellin

Biology Department Student Scholarship

First presented at:

Ecological Society of America (ESA), Mid-Atlantic Chapter, 2025 Annual Conference April 4-6, 2025

Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Jaw, Nicholas Burchett, David Kerstetter, Derek Burkholder

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

No abstract provided.

Assessing A Possible Effect Of Males' Pheromones In The Phonotaxis Of Female Acheta Domesticus, Addy Rodriguez Velasco

Honors Theses

Acoustic communication in crickets is crucial for reproduction. Females respond phonotactically to the male's call. Prior research evaluating the selectivity of phonotaxis in these females, has focused on females that have been isolated from males from day 1 after metamorphosis. However, assessing phonotaxis in females raised in the presence of males, remains to be done. This study aims to investigate the phonotactic response of female Acheta domesticus that were housed with males prior to testing.

Results indicate that on average, male-exposed females respond phonotactically to a wider range of calls that those females in the control group. These results rule …

Antioxidant Activity Of Pamam Dendrimer Stabilized Ascorbic Acid, Gabriella Srikureja

Honors Theses

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an essential micronutrient for human health. It acts as an enzymatic cofactor in anabolic biochemical pathways such as the synthesis of collagen, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Unfortunately, this versatility comes at the cost of a high degradation rate both in and outside of the food matrix. Previous research exploring stabilizing aqueous ascorbic acid through Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers found success in reducing the rate of degradation.

To confirm the antioxidant activity of ascorbic acid in its stabilized dendrimer complex, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays examined via Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer found that performing the DPPH assay under aqueous conditions …

Understanding Strain-Level Dynamics In Gut Commensal-Pathogen-Host Interactions, Anna Louise Deveaux

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The human gut microbiome is a consortium of trillions of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract and promotes health under homeostatic conditions. This microbial community trains the immune system, modulates inflammation and anticancer immunity, promotes cardiometabolic health, enables nutrient extraction, and prevents pathogen overgrowth. The latter function manifests through colonization resistance, in which microbes occupy spatial and nutritional niches thereby excluding pathogens from the community entirely, and through limiting pathogen population growth if colonization occurs. These roles are facilitated by complex host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions that underlie differences in susceptibility to microbiome-mediated infectious diseases. The strain-level …

Genetic Screen To Understand Phage Gene Function​, Laura F. Nelsen, Olivia E. Anderson, Ryan C. Dodds, Lauren N. Fisk, Taylor Rentschler-Lorenzen, Ainslie K. Robinson, Sydney Rehmke, Shayler O. Van Gelder, Julia S. Vandenberg, Jacie Vander Waal, Elizabeth Y. Heeg, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

For years, healthcare providers have raised concerns regarding the use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are a promising alternative to the use of antibiotics. Phages target specific bacteria and kill them. Using phages to treat bacterial infections is phage therapy. To use phages in phage therapy we need to understand phage biology fully. To advance this objective we are using a genetic screen to identify genes in phages Island3, Sbash, and EagleEye that interfere with host cell growth (cytotoxicity) and genes that protect the host from infection by another phage (defense). So far, we …

Phinding Phages, Mary Britten, Peyton Abraham, Gabriel Andres, Princess Bola-Lawal, Randi Childress, Abby Flanagan, Mallory Gramstad, Tark Griebel, Hayden Groos, Sharon Huffman, Korver Hupke, Corbin Kleis, Jenna Kluxdal, Ayda Maassen, Caden Meyer, Elsa Meyer, Logan Miller, Emma Steinhardt, Travis Sweeney, Alexa Trover, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem. Understanding the genetics of individual phages is important in discovering viable candidates for phage therapy. Research reveals their complexity. There is much to learn. We used bioinformatics to better understand four phages discovered by Northwestern College students: Exploradora, IndiRoo, Red Raider, and Frizzle. We published our results in GenBank. In this poster, we will discuss notable features of each phage. Our work contributes to the future of medicine by forming a more complete understanding of phage genomes.

Anti-Proliferative Potential Of Plant Extracts: A Study Of Guarana, Apple Peel, Milk Thistle, Elderberry, And Barberry, Randi Childress, Lauren Fisk, Andrew Fleury, Khole Hester, Ty Hulshof, Laura Nelsen, Dane Schoenborn, Gershom Srinivasulu, Alexa Trover, Julia Vandenberg, Brianna Winford, Sara S. Tolsma

Celebration of Research

Plant-based compounds have garnered interest as alternative and adjunct cancer therapies due to their anti-proliferative properties. This study examines the effects of guarana (Paullinia cupana), apple peel (Malus domestica), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), and berberis (Berberis vulgaris) on HeLa cell proliferation. Using in vitro CyQuant assays, we assessed their impact at varying concentrations. Results indicate that guarana and apple peel extracts may exhibit anti-proliferative activity, with guarana acting synergistically with paclitaxel. We believe the extracts are likely acting through oxidative stress modulation, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle disruption (Cavalcanti et al., 2020; Hertz, 2015; Khan et al., …

Macroinvertebrate Colonization Of Leaf Packs In The Floyd River, Abby Flanagan, Sharon Huffman, Olivia Lott, Victoria Pavik, Maelee Rodenburg, Travis Sweeney, Laurie Furlong

Celebration of Research

Watershed characteristics impact the habitat and water quality of stream and river ecosystems. In Northwest Iowa, lotic environments are negatively impacted by agricultural practices that result in the removal of riparian vegetation, bank erosion, sedimentation, and eutrophication. Because lotic macroinvertebrates vary in their sensitivity to these types of impacts, they can be used as indicators of habitat integrity. We explored the relative importance of habitat characteristics and allochthonous inputs by examining how macroinvertebrate colonization of leaf packs varied with leaf species, water quality, and stream bank characteristics. Leaf packs were submerged in a reach of the Floyd River at four …

Assessment Of Bumblebee Populations Using Bee-Bowls And Mark-Recapture Methods, Kleyton Degroot, Gideon Fynaardt, Sharon Huffman, J.T. Klinghagen, Yuki Kobayashi, Olivia Lott, Laura Nelsen, Victoria Pavik, Garrett Snyder, Laura Furlong, Todd Tracy

Celebration of Research

The ecological services of insect pollinators are well established; therefore, the documented decline in pollinator biodiversity is of great global and local concern. Using two survey methods, our study provides baseline pollinator community data at two conservation sites in Northwest Iowa. In September of 2023, we used three colors (blue, yellow, and white) and two depths (shallow and deep) of bowl traps to investigate pollinator communities at a small prairie restoration site (Buena Vista County Park) and a nearby native prairie (The Nature Conservancy Glacial Hills Preserve). Employing modifications of the protocol suggested by the Bumble bee Atlas to collect …

Video Tracking As An Effective High Throughput Method For Mtbi Detection, Julie Mcintyre, Julie A. Semon

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Chromatin Accessibility Changes In Endothelial Cells Exposed To Plastic Contaminants, Mikhail Y. Salnikov, Carly Boye, David B. Witonsky, Gabrielle Garlicki, Adnan Alazizi, Francesca Luca, Roger Pique-Regi

Medical Student Research Symposium

Degradation products from everyday plastic products are known to bioaccumulate and have also been shown to contaminate drinking water and food sources. BPA and phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals and plastic components that have previously been associated with endothelial cell dysfunction, atherosclerotic and other adverse cardiovascular events. However, there is a limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying these associations, such as genome-wide chromatin accessibility changes in endothelial cells exposed to these compounds. The purpose of this study is to explore genome-wide changes in chromatin accessibility associated with plastic exposure, as well as the discovery of transcription factor binding motifs dysregulated …

Characterizing Kmt2d In Endometrial Cancer, Katherine R. Davanzo

Medical Student Research Symposium

Endometrial cancer is rising in incidence in the United States, notably among premenopausal women. This increase and the trend of delayed childbearing warrant the need for further advancement in fertility-sparing treatment for endometrial cancer. A gene left widely unexplored in its possible clinical utility as a target for fertility-sparing treatment is KMT2D, a lysine-specific methyltransferase and tumor suppressor. Preliminary gene set enrichment analysis on a 12Z endometriotic epithelial cell line identified TIMP3 as a gene that is possibly regulated by KMT2D expression. TIMP3 encodes an irreversible inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a well-recognized class of proteins as contributing to the …

Androgen Hormones Regulate The Production On The Pain-Inducing Inflammatory Molecule Il-1Β In A Mouse Model Of Inflammatory Pain, Hariharan Ramakrishnan, Geoffroy Laumet, Jaewon Sim

Medical Student Research Symposium

Chronic pain prevalence varies between sexes with a higher incidence and duration reported in women compared to men. This disparity suggests that biological factors, such as sexual hormones, may influence pain perception and development. Among the key players in pain mechanisms, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), an inflammatory molecule, has been identified to activate neurons involved in pain sensation. This study explores the hypothesis that sexual hormones, particularly androgens, regulate IL-1β production in inflamed tissues, thereby influencing pain responses. To investigate this, we induced inflammatory pain in male and female mice using Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA), injected into the hind paw. To …

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Neurocranium, Michelle Bassali, David Kerstetter, Ema Nagel

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

No abstract provided.

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Jaw, Michelle Bassali, David Kerstetter, Ema Nagel

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

No abstract provided.

Intraspecific Variation In Morphological And Biochemical Responses To Salinity And Flooding In Phragmites Australis, Olivia Hurley

LSU Master's Theses

Phragmites australis is a widespread wetland plant species with numerous haplotypes, several of which are highly invasive. In low-lying coastal marshes of Louisiana, the Delta-type (haplotype M1) dominates across a wide range of salinity and flooding environments. This suggests that Phragmites may be highly adaptable to diverse environmental conditions and that there may be a genetic component, as seen in other coastal wetland plant species. While non-native Phragmites haplotypes are targeted for control and removal in many areas, they are considered beneficial for marsh stabilization and contributing to elevation gain in coastal Louisiana, where several areas experience rapid land loss. …

The Effects Of Diluted Fungicide On Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma Mavortium) Health, Sage Veomett

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) is a species of salamander that is native to Nebraska. The Western Tiger Salamander population has been in decline, specifically in Southeast Nebraska (Ferraro, 2016). The purpose of this study was to determine whether low levels of Azoxystrobin fungicide deposited in the soil are harmful to the Western Tiger Salamander. In this study, soil in tanks containing pairs of Western Tiger Salamanders was treated with levels of Azoxystrobin 0.5x under the recommended label amount for usage. Fifteen salamanders in total were used. Four tanks of salamander pairs were treated with the Azoxystrobin …

Hif Regulates Multiple Translated Endogenous Retroviruses: Implications For Cancer Immunotherapy, Qinqin Jiang, David A Braun, Karl R Clauser, Vijyendra Ramesh, Nitin H Shirole, Joseph E Duke-Cohan, Nancy Nabilsi, Nicholas J Kramer, Cleo Forman, Isabelle E Lippincott, Susan Klaeger, Kshiti M Phulphagar, Vipheaviny Chea, Nawoo Kim, Allison P Vanasse, Eddy Saad, Teagan Parsons, Melissa Carr-Reynolds, Isabel Carulli, Katarina Pinjusic, Yijia Jiang, Rong Li, Sudeepa Syamala, Suzanna Rachimi, Eva K Verzani, Jonathan D Stevens, William J Lane, Sabrina Y Camp, Kevin Meli, Melissa B Pappalardi, Zachary T Herbert, Xintao Qiu, Paloma Cejas, Henry W Long, Sachet A Shukla, Eliezer M Van Allen, Toni K Choueiri, L Stirling Churchman, Jennifer G Abelin, Cagan Gurer, Gavin Macbeath, Richard W Childs, Steven A Carr, Derin B Keskin, Catherine J Wu, William G Kaelin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), despite having a low mutational burden, is considered immunogenic because it occasionally undergoes spontaneous regressions and often responds to immunotherapies. The signature lesion in ccRCC is inactivation of the VHL tumor suppressor gene and consequent upregulation of the HIF transcription factor. An earlier case report described a ccRCC patient who was cured by an allogeneic stem cell transplant and later found to have donor-derived T cells that recognized a ccRCC-specific peptide encoded by a HIF-responsive endogenous retrovirus (ERV), ERVE-4. We report that ERVE-4 is one of many ERVs that are induced by HIF, translated …

Modeling The Cystic Fibrosis Intestinal Environment To Study Microbial Interactions, Kaitlyn Emma Barrack

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The microbiome of the cystic fibrosis (CF) intestine is altered significantly in structure and function beginning in early life. Key taxa associated with health, digestion and immune-training are reduced in abundance, including but not limited to Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia, Ruminococcus and other short-chain fatty acid producers. Conversely, there is an expansion of microbes with pathogenic potential, such as Escherichia, Veillonella, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. The shifts in microbiota composition direct community-wide changes with differences in beta diversity by genotype, whereby children with CF (cwCF) exhibit significantly different gut microbial compositions compared to nonCF children. Additionally, shifts in microbiota structure often …