Digital Commons Network^™

Ai×Life 2026: Advances In Computational Biology Across Scales For Life & Health Sciences, Suma Mohan S., Devika N. T., Pranavathiyani G.

Conference Proceedings

Book of Abstracts of the International Conference, AIxLife 2026: Advances in Computational Biology Across Scales for Life & Health Sciences, held on 17–18 April 2026, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, INDIA 

About the Conference

Conventional computational biology laid the foundation for biological data analysis through statistical models, algorithms, and curated databases, enabling insights into genes, proteins, and pathways. Today, the integration of artificial intelligence, spanning machine learning, deep learning, and large language models (LLMs) is driving a transformative shift across biological scales, from atomic and molecular interactions to pathways, cellular systems, organisms, and populations.

AI-powered approaches …

Linking Urban Forest Ecosystem Services With The Sustainable Development Goals: A Bibliometric And Thematic Synthesis (2008–2022), Whisnu Febry Afrianto, Muhammad Ilham

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Despite growing recognition of urban forests as vital providers of ecosystem services (ES) that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), existing scientific literature remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. This study addresses that gap through a systematic bibliometric analysis of global research on urban forestry ecosystem services published between 2008 and 2022, encompassing 229 articles. The analysis examined the three main classifications of ecosystem services and all 17 SDGs. Publications on urban forestry ecosystem services have shown a steady increase since 2008, peaking between 2018 and 2022, while citation counts reached their highest point in 2012 and gradually declined …

Species Distribution Modeling Of Parasitic Corpse Flower Rafflesia Arnoldii Var. Arnoldii R. Br Related To Host’S Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation In Tanggamus, Sumatra, Indonesia, Andriwibowo Andriwibowo, Suyud Utomo

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Corpse flower, or scientifically known as Rafflesia arnoldii var. arnoldii R.Br, is one of the species that is endemic to Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java Island. As a parasitic plant, this species depends on its tree host species. While the host species depends on environmental variables include Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR), forest covers, and elevation for its growth. Then those variables were important to develop the Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) of R. arnoldii using the MaxEnt technique. One of the important regions for R. arnoldii in Sumatra is Tanggamus in Lampung, and currently, information about suitable habitats for R. arnoldii …

The Status Of The Endangered Rafflesia And Conservation Efforts In Java Island, Indonesia, Bahana Aditya Adnan, Purnomo Purnomo, Suwarno Hadisusanto

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Rafflesia species (Rafflesiaceae) is a small endo-holoparasitic South-East Asian plant genus known for its exceptionally large flowers, rare species, and high island endemism. Three species of Rafflesia, i.e. R. patma, R. rochussenii, and R. zollingeriana, are known from Java, Indonesia. All three species are threatened with extinction due to human activities that cause habitat loss and fragmentation. Our literature review revealed that currently, factors influencing the existence of this genus, including its life cycle and environmental factors that support its life, are still not well understood. In particular, studies of the distribution and population of Rafflesia on the …

Influence Of Pruning And Organic Fertiliser On 9-Month-Old Ginger Productivity In An Acacia Auriculiformis Agroforestry, Yuda Vatra Erlangga, Arom Figyantika, Cintya Nurul Apsari, Rizki Bagus Indratmoko, Muhammad Syahru Ramadhan, Anastasya Clara Srinila Tampubolon, Fanny Elisabeth Panjaitan

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Acacia auriculiformis (formis) offers various advantages that can be integrated with agricultural crops like ginger (Zingiber officinale var. amarum) through agroforestry systems. Pruning and fertilisation are potential strategies to optimise this approach. However, existing research remains limited. Further quantification and analysis are required to elucidate the effects of pruning on the growth of 7-year-old formis trees 11 months after treatment. In addition, more comprehensive studies are needed to examine the combined effects of pruning and organic fertiliser on the growth, productivity, and gingerol content of 9-month-old ginger plants. This research employed a Split-Plot Randomised Complete Block Design, examining the …

Species Diversity And Estimation Of Aboveground Carbon Stocks In Sugar Palm Forest And Lowland Forest In Negeri Hatusua, Maluku, Irwanto Irwanto, Andjela Sahupala, Febian Tetelay, Yulianus Komul

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Tropical forests are essential for climate change mitigation, but limited data on species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in Indonesia constrain evidence-based forest management. This study aims to assess species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in sugar palm forests and lowland forests in Negeri Hatusua, Maluku Province, Indonesia. Vegetation analysis was employed to determine species structure and diversity, while carbon stock measurement and calculation followed the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 7724:2019) for land-based carbon assessment, with certain modifications. The results indicated that the species diversity index in the sugar palm forest was 2.21 for trees, 1.95 for poles, 2.26 for …

Sustainability Of Peatland Area Management With Peat Drainability Assessment At Various Depths, Aulia Bahadhori Mukti, Heru Bagus Pulunggono, Yuli Suharnoto

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

This study aims to analyze the distribution of drainability assessment components, including Peat Basal Contact (PBC) and Natural Drainage Limit (NDL) elevations, Drainage Limit Time (DLT), and volume loss, as well as their relationship with peat thickness, subsidence, and groundwater level (GWL) in peatlands. The assessment is conducted to estimate the potential productive lifespan of oil palm plantations by determining the natural drainage limit (NDL) and predicting the time required to reach the drainage threshold, considering subsidence rates across different peat thickness classes. The analysis and calculations were performed using the drainage assessment formulas and procedures outlined by the Roundtable …

Site Characterization And Integrated Irrigation-Forestry Solutions For Mangrove Restoration In The Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam, Manh Quy Do, Huy Quoc Nguyen, Minh Duc Nguyen, My Tra Ha, Tuan Anh Le, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Tu Ngoc Pham

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

The research was conducted in 2023 in a degraded mangrove forest area in Giao Hoa commune, Ninh Binh province, Vietnam. This area is part of the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve (RRDBR), which was recognised by UNESCO in 2004. The study employed methods such as surveying topographical features, assessing soil and water characteristics, and evaluating the status of the mangrove forest. It also used GIS and The Analytic Hierarchy Process method to analyse and evaluate the current condition of the forest and its site characteristics. The research results show that, regarding the topographical features of the degraded mangrove area, it …

Urban Bird Community Interaction With Ficus And Non-Ficus Tree, Eka Alifikri, Yeni Aryati Mulyani, Ani Mardiastuti

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Ficus trees are recognised as keystone species in forest ecosystems and are crucial for urban wildlife, especially birds. IPB Darmaga Campus, a biodiversity-rich urban area, hosts a variety of plant species, including Ficus and non-Ficus tree species, along with diverse bird species. This study aimed to compare the utilisation of Ficus and non-Ficus plants by birds in the area. Observations were conducted on 5 Ficus benjamina, 5 Ficus microcarpa, and 10 non-Ficus tree individuals. Ficus trees were used by 15 bird species from 12 families, with 1700 recorded interactions. In contrast, non-Ficus trees were …

Group B Streptococcus In Pregnant Women: Universal Guidelines And Protocols, Dania Presteguin

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of maternal sepsis and neonatal mortality globally. Variability in screening and treatment guidelines influences global disease burden.

Objective: This study uses a cross-national analysis to compare screening and treatment guidelines and their impact on prevalence, screening, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP), and maternal-neonatal clinical manifestations Methodology: A systematic review of secondary literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL (2010-2025). Inclusion criteria include maternal GBS colonization and one or more measures of interventions and neonatal infection rates. No geographic or demographic restrictions were applied. A total of 67 studies were screened, and …

Cyanine Dyes As Next-Generation Fluorophores: Applications In Cell Sorting And Fingerprinting Technologies, Super-Multiplexed Spectroscopy, Biomedical Imaging, And Beyond, Lucas Allen Davis

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

As biochemical, pharmaceutical, and medical sciences advance, the demand for technologies capable of probing multiple cellular targets simultaneously continues to increase. Super-multiplexed spectroscopic techniques offer a pathway toward comprehensive cellular fingerprinting by overcoming the spectral limitations of conventional fluorescence labeling. By circumventing the traditional “color barrier,” cyanine-based Raman tags enable the simultaneous discrimination of numerous cellular morphologies, allowing spectroscopy and imaging to be integrated for high-dimensional cellular analysis. Technologies developed in Goda Lab—including high-throughput flow cytometry, virtual freezing fluorescence imaging (VIFFI), Fourier-transform coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (FT-CARS), and MERdot nanoparticles—address longstanding trade-offs between throughput, resolution, sensitivity, and multiplexing capacity. Central …

Shark Immunology And Its Biomedical Potential: Evolution, Innovation, And The Imperative Of Conservation, Reesha Bhagat

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This review aims to shed light on a significant ecological deficit and its implications for the future of science and medicine. Sharks possess a uniquely adaptive, cancer-resistant, and evolutionarily refined immune system with transformative biomedical potential, making their conservation a scientific and medical imperative. We are losing something medically irreplaceable, and we don’t even fully understand it yet. Shark conservation is a pressing scientific imperative because sharks are ecologically essential and represent an irreplaceable biomedical resource.

Assessing The Conservation Needs Of Native Texas Crayfish Species Through Distribution Analysis And Species Distribution Modeling, Elizabeth J. Croft

Biology Theses

Crayfish have essential roles in ecosystems because they are ecosystem engineers and keystone species. However, crayfish species are threatened by degradation and loss of habitats, introduction of invasive species, and high levels of endemism. Texas provides no legal protections for crayfish, despite its large number of species and endemics in the state. The overall goal of this study is to clarify the distributions of native Texas crayfish species using literature records, citizens science, and field sampling data, and highlight species in need of more conservation research. Occurrence records from all collected data were combined to visualize the distributions of species …

Prevalence Of Disordered Eating Behaviors In Junior And Senior Human Nutrition And Dietetics Students At The University Of Arkansas, Grace P. Carroum, Mallori Roberts

General Human Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Disordered eating (DE) is a prevalent concern among college students and may be particularly relevant among nutrition and dietetics students due to their academic focus on food, weight, and health. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and frequency of disordered eating behaviors among junior and senior Human Nutrition and Dietetics students at the University of Arkansas using item-level responses from the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form (EDE-QS). A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected via an anonymous online survey (n = 11). Descriptive statistics were used to examine the frequency of specific behaviors. Overall, most …

The Effects Of Heat Stress On White Blood Cell Profiles And Antibody Concentrations In Broilers Genetically Selected For Low Water Conversion Ratio Compared To The Modern Random Bred Broiler, Luke B. Janski

Poultry Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Heat stress (HS) is one of the most significant environmental stressors impacting poultry production worldwide, reducing growth, feed efficiency, welfare, and immune competence. With global temperatures rising, understanding physiological and immunological adaptations to HS is essential for sustainable production. Broiler chickens selectively bred for low water conversion ratio (LWCR) have shown potential for reduced water consumption under environmental challenges; however, their immune resilience under HS conditions compared with modern random-bred (MRB) broilers remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of cyclic HS on red- (RBC) and white- (WBC) blood cells and humoral immunity in LWCR and MRB broilers. Birds were …

Descriptive Comparative Analysis Of Bacteriophage And Auxiliary Metabolic Gene Diversity In Marine And Wastewater Environments, Andrew Crawford

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and play a role in bacterial evolution. Through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), phages integrate parts of their genomes into their bacterial hosts. While the molecular mechanisms of this process are well understood, the evolutionary impacts remain less certain. One evolutionary explanation is that auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) modulate host gene expression to favor phage reproduction or improve the host’s survival. AMG can persist in hosts' or phages' genomes across future generations, altering their contributions to the ecosystem and posing a concern for human and environmental health. The objective of this project is to …

Sequence Determinants Of Rna G-Quadruplex Unfolding By Arg-Rich Regions, Naiduwadura Ivon Upekala De Silva, Puspa Kunwar, Md Ibnul Rifat Rahman, Joanna Koryo Kwao, Nathan Lehman, Zihan Zhang, Trenton Paul, Claire Cheng, Nicholas Truex, Hui-Ting Lee, Jun Zhang

Faculty Publications

RNA sequences with the potential to form G-quadruplexes (rGQs) are widespread but largely unfolded in cells by unknown mechanisms. rGQ folding status is a critical regulator of RNA splicing and translation. We show that rGQs can be unfolded by SR proteins, SR-related proteins, and other Arg-rich proteins, including SRSF1, SRSF3, SRSF9, U1-70K, and U2AF1. The length and composition of Arg-rich regions are key determinants of this activity: Arg residues are the primary drivers, while acidic residues attenuate the unfolding activity. To unfold ARPC2 rGQ, at least 13 Arg residues are required. Our findings identify Arg-rich proteins as previously unrecognized, helicase-independent …

Maternal Toxicity: A Meta-Narrative Review Of Pfas And Epigenetic Regulation In Embryonic Development, Catherine Duong, Hayden J. Fisher, Shannon Mccauley, Danny M. Nguyen

Research Methods Poster Session 2026

No abstract provided.

A Series Of Investigations On The L. Cornutus Host System And Bivesiculid Sp. Cercariae, Briana K. Zaffiro

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Rising global temperatures are likely modulating parasite-host interactions, yet the direction and magnitude of these changes remain uncertain. Rarely are these interactions viewed from both a host and parasite perspective. Using both CT_max, or Critical Thermal Maximum, and Clark-type polarographic oxygen microelectrodes, the physiological metabolic effects are investigated. CT_max is examined in Common Shiners, Luxilis cornutus, and is shown to be modulated by parasitism: uninfected fish had the highest CT_max average of 37.0°C, whereas heavily infected fish had decreased CT_max averaging 35°C. Prior to the parasite metabolic investigation, a suitable medium was determined, as …

Environmental Enrichment Preferences And Play Behavior In Commercial Turkey Hens, Paul Dang

Poultry Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Commercial turkey production contributes significantly to the U.S. agricultural industry, yet studies on positive welfare indicators, especially play behavior, are limited. This study evaluated turkey hen interactions with two environmental enrichments (straw bales and pecking stones hung from the ceiling) and the expression of play behavior in turkey barns. Three commercial turkey hen barns were equipped with environmental enrichments and time-lapse video cameras. Play behaviors were recorded during transect walks in two barns using 30-second scans of disturbed and undisturbed patches. Regional use of space around enrichments was quantified through region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of time-lapse images collected from days 16-31 …

Exploring Google Trends In Assessing Personal Finance Needs For Cooperative Extension Service Programming, Megan Wells

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) relies on systematic needs assessments to guide program development; yet, traditional approaches often depend heavily on stakeholder input and professional judgment, offering limited insight into consumer level needs. This mixed methods study explored Google Trends as a complementary, consumer driven data source for assessing Family Resource Management (FRM) needs within the Arkansas CES. Grounded in Witkin and Altschuld’s three level needs assessment framework and Uses and Gratifications Theory, the study integrated three data sources representing stakeholders, service providers, and consumers: (1) Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) advisory committee reports, (2) survey of Family Consumer Science …

Transcriptomic Responses Of Teleost Fishes To Thermal And Environmental Stress: A Synthesis Of Rna-Seq Studies, Aleen Ammar

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Climate change is driving rapid shifts in aquatic ecosystems, increasing the frequency and intensity of environmental stressors that affect survival, species distributions, and productivity. Alongside increases in temperature, stressors, such as hypoxia and acidification, are also intensifying with climate change. Teleost fishes exhibit substantial variation in tolerance to such environmental stressors. These range from specialists with narrow limits to generalists capable of persisting across fluctuating conditions, complicating predictions of vulnerability under ongoing environmental change. Transcriptomic approaches, particularly RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), provide a powerful approach for linking environmental stressors to physiological responses by quantifying genome-wide changes in gene expression. To assess …

Phenological Shifts In Reproductive Timing Of Bay Scallops (Argopecten Irradians) In New Jersey Following Subspecies Replacement, Ross John Choate Jr.

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) are commercially, ecologically, and recreationally important bivalves that have undergone major shifts in New Jersey over the past 25 years, including the extirpation of the southern subspecies from New Jersey in 2001 and its replacement by the northern subspecies from Long Island by 2004. This transition altered reproductive timing, reflected in changes to the Gonadal–Somatic Index (GSI) as well as the timing of visual gonadal conditions exhibited during specific months. Early post-reestablishment data showed peak GSI in June and July, consistent with Long Island populations, but recent observations indicate a shift toward August and September peaks, …

Assessing Decadal Changes In Eelgrass Communities From Barnegat Bay, Nj, Janelle Marie Delcastillo

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Zostera marina (eelgrass) is a widely distributed marine angiosperm across northern hemisphere coastlines, yet many regions have experienced substantial declines due to disease, coastal development, and other anthropogenic stressors. Barnegat Bay is the only estuary in New Jersey that still supports extensive eelgrass beds, although it has undergone notable losses over the past five decades. To evaluate decadal-scale ecological change, we collected sediment cores in 2025 from a site with historical data spanning 2001–2010. Overall faunal densities remained relatively consistent, but several taxa exhibited clear shifts in abundance. Amphipods in the Phoxocephalidae and the isopod Erichsonella increased, whereas the cold-affinity …

Historic Patterns Of Growth And Destruction In Nj Seagrass Meadows, Masen Eck

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Seagrass meadows are one of the many habitats worldwide under threat from human disturbance and worsening climate conditions. This habitat provides many critical ecosystem services to coastal environments, which is why conserving and restoring seagrass meadows is critical. This study investigates the long-term success and failures from several eelgrass restoration sites in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. Aerial imagery from multiple years were digitized in ArcGIS to assess restoration trajectories over time. Three of the sites were assessed over a period of twelve years (2012-2023), and one site was assessed twice (2021 and 2023). Results from these time series analyses showed …

Shape Variation In The Mandible Of The Borophagine Canids And Implications For Predatory Behavior, Benjamin Neavear

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The borophagines are an extinct lineage of canids that inhabited North America for more than 20 million years. This group included genera such as Aelurodon, Borophagus, and Epicyon. Borophagines are commonly referred to as “bone-crushing dogs” because their skull morphology converged with that of extant hyenas, predators capable of consuming bone. The purpose of this study was to determine whether convergence was present in the mandible, an anatomical structure strongly correlated with feeding behavior, particularly in the genera Aelurodon and Borophagus. It was hypothesized that most borophagine taxa possessed mandibular shapes similar to those of hyenas. Numerous mandibular characters were …

At The Intersection Of Science And Sustainability: A Qualitative Study Of Food Scientists' Personal And Professional Perspectives, Srushti Parikh

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Sustainable food systems require not only technological innovation but a more profound understanding of the professionals involved in the field. Even though the topic of sustainability is currently gaining importance throughout the food industry, the real expertise of food scientists is under-researched. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore food scientists' perspectives on sustainability, how these perceptions influence the way they pursue their careers, and how they view their impact in the larger sustainability agenda of the food industry. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study captured detailed insights of 22 food scientists’ perspectives through qualitative methods. Food scientists in …

Evaluation Of Flt3 Inhibition With Quizartinib During Busulfan Conditioning For Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Catherine Jankovic

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is one of the only curative therapy options for many hematologic malignancies. HSCT relies on effective conditioning regimens to deplete host hematopoietic cells and enable donor engraftment. The alkylating agent Busulfan is widely used in myeloablative conditioning strategies due to its potent cytotoxic effects on hematopoietic cells and ability to clear the bone marrow. However, optimization of conditioning strategies remains an important area of investigation to improve transplant outcomes and reduce toxicity. Preliminary studies have shown that the FLT3 inhibitor Quizartinib synergizes with some chemotherapeutic agents, suggesting that targeted inhibitors may enhance conventional conditioning regimens. …

Beat Behind The Bark: Investigating The Effects Of Music Tempo On Canine Physiological And Psychological States, Marley Lanier

Honors Theses

This study explores how the tempo of music, measured in beats per minute (BPM), affects dogs' heart rate and oxytocin levels, adding to past research that shows that music affects physiological and behavioral states in dogs. Being able to understand these effects holds practical implications for improving overall well-being in canines in environments such as homes, shelters, and clinical environments. Using a within-subjects design, the dogs were exposed to slow and fast versions of one instrumental track, along with a white noise baseline condition before each randomized condition. Heart rate was recorded continuously throughout the session, and oxytocin saliva samples …

Bottles, Butterflies, And Biomass: Recycled Glass Sand, Microbial Additions, And Herbivory Effects On Milkweed Growth, Kealey Skinner

Honors Theses

Plant-soil-microbe interactions are integral components of ecological networks and drive ecosystem function from the bottom-up. Whereas herbivores regulate ecosystem function from the top-down, having opposing and potentially complementary effects on ecosystem function. My thesis sought to understand how below-ground microbial communities contribute to herbivore preference and plant biomass across varied soil substrates. My thesis asked: how do substrate and soil microbial communities influence herbivore preference and plant biomass accumulation on swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)? To address this question, seedlings of A. incarnata were sown in 2.5 cm wide × 10 cm deep pots filled with either natural beach sand or …