Digital Commons Network^™

Phenotypic Variations Between The European Paper Wasps, Senna V. Horak, Thomas Hagan, Sara Miller

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The European paper wasp (Polistes Dominula) is a widespread invasive Hymenoptera species in the US, commonly known for their black and yellow markings. Phenotypic variations, primarily in color patterns and size, play a significant role in understanding their interactions among other wasps and effects of environmental factors on the species. In this study, we examined phenotypic variation within and between populations by measuring head width, intertegular distance, and femur and tibia length.

Examining The Impact Of Decreased Snowpack On The Rare Frosted Elfin Butterfly’S Host Plant, Christopher Walsh

Biology Student Scholarship

In response to climate change, Earth’s increased global temperature has caused less snowfall and earlier snowmelt in spring. These changes can alter an organism’s phenology, or timing of life history events. Such shifts in phenology may lead to mismatches between interacting species, which are correlated with a decline in the populations of host plant specialists and at-risk species. The rare frosted elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus) is listed as impaired in 5 states, and critically imperiled in 14. These host plant specialists only lay eggs on small yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). If neither plant emerges …

The Influence Of Muskrats On The Biodiversity Of Wetlands, Emma Thornton

Biology Student Scholarship

Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and are home to various plant and animal species. The relationships between the species living in the wetlands keep the ecosystem functional as well as increasing biodiversity. Increased biodiversity of wetlands creates more resilient plant communities. Muskrats are ecosystem engineers, meaning that they alter their surroundings to change the quality and quantity of the available resources through behaviors related to their eating habits and their burrow construction. Muskrats are herbivores and consume large amounts of vegetation, which creates opportunities for more plant species by creating new ecological niches. In …

The Rs1611770 Snp Polymorphism And Expression Of Mucin One Gene In Infertile Females In Baghdad, Iman Hamed Diab Al-Janabi, Asmaa M. Salih Almohaidi, Ibrahim Jasim Hammadi Al-Janabi

Baghdad Science Journal

Infertility is the inability to become pregnant after six months or more of consistent, unprotected sexual activity. There are several causes of infertility, including hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors. The current investigation focuses on the polymorphism of SNP rs 1611770 in Mucin one gene and expression in infertility, considering a few demographic variables including age, body mass index and circumference of the abdomen. The current study included 30 infertile females and 30 fertile females. The mean BMI recorded Significant differences 28.76 ± 0.85 for infertile and 25.99 ± 0.65 for fertile, There are no significant differences in age and abdominal …

Isolation And Purification Of Phytosterols From Euphorbia Milii Plant Cultivated In Iraq By Phplc And Evaluation Of Anticancer Activity, Z. O. Salman, Bushra M.J. Alwash, E. J. Kadhim

Baghdad Science Journal

Combined, plant sterols and stanols, substances structurally similar to cholesterol, are referred to as phytosterols. In plants, phytosterols serve the same purposes as cholesterol does in animals and people. This study’s primary goal was to compare two different cell line types to the extracted steroid and nano-steroid. PHPLC was used to isolate the novel steroid molecule from the Euphorbia milii plant in its pure form, and FT.IR was used to confirm its identity. The chemical had a retention time of 13.87. By using the chitosan-maleic complex process, nano-steroids were created. To evaluate produced nanoparticles, the Philips PW1730 XRD instrument was …

Study The Effect Of Pseudomonas Trivialis, Isolated From Soils Subjected To High Anthropogenic Pressure, On Plant Resistance To Salt Stress, Lyudmila I. Zaynitdinova, Nikolay A. Lazutin, Rokhila N. Juraeva, Rustam B. Ergashev, Javlon J. Tashpulatov, Natal’Ya G. Akinshina, Shokhsanam A. Safarova

Baghdad Science Journal

From soils exposed to anthropogenic load, a bacterial strain resistant to pollutants was isolated and characterized. The strain was identified as Pseudomonas trivialis 381 based on morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as MALDI-TOF and 16S rRNA analysis. Its sequence was submitted to the NCBI GenBank (OR234684.1). Studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of the strain on seed germination and plant growth qualities. Laboratory studies have shown the stimulating effect of P. trvialis 381 on tomato seeds; seeds treated with the bacterial cultural liquid increased the energy of germination and seed germination to 100% (with the control …

Mechanism Of Immunotherapeutic And Anticancer Effects Of Moringa Peregrina Seed Extract On Non-Small-Lung Cancer, Nci-H460, Cell Line, Shaymaa Fadhel Abbas Albaayit, Maryam Kamel Mohammed, Ali Muhsin Ali, Rukesh Maharjan, Lubna M. Rasoul, Rasedee Abdullah, Mohd Hezmee Mohd Noor

Baghdad Science Journal

The Moringa peregrina plant possesses various therapeutic properties. This study determined the immunomodulatory and cytotoxic activities of M. peregrina seed ethanol extract (MPSE). Based on using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis MPSE is rich in flavonoids, isothiocyanate, tocopherols, triterpenoids, and phenolics compounds. The immunomodulatory effect of MPSE was determined on whole blood and polymorphonuclear (PMNs) cells and macrophages. The in vitro antiproliferative effect was determined on the non-small-cell lung cancer, NCI-H460, cell line. Real-time quantitative PCR and flow cytometry were used to determine the expression of apoptotic genes in the MPSE-treated NCI-H460 cells. MPSE significantly (p < 0.001) suppressed whole blood, PMN cells and macrophage ROS production with IC50 values of 40.3 ± 0.3, 33.0 ± 0.6, and 26.1 ± 0.43 μg/mL, respectively. MPSE …

Pengembangan E-Module Biologi Berbasis Pbl Untuk Meningkatkan Keterampilan Berpikir Kreatif Siswa, Yolanda H. I. Pakereng, Abdul Gofur, Murni Saptasari

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Students' creative thinking can be improved through engaging teaching materials. PBL-based e-modules, which are interactive and student-centered, can address this need. However, teachers at Giovanni Kupang Catholic High School lack such resources. This study developed a PBL-based biology e-module using the Lee and Owens model to enhance creative thinking in Class XI students. Implemented in the 2022/2023 semester, the e-module showed significant improvement (N-gain score of 0.70) with the strongest impact on divergent thinking (0.82). These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of PBL-based e-modules in fostering creative thinking skills in biology education.

How Plants Defy Gravity, Olivia Y. Kim, Agatha Shaikhutdinova, Joshua Lee, Reece Sit, Daniel Yang, Aliyah Shams, Kathryn Choi, Esther Yoo

STEM for Success Showcase

This educational short book, written by students, uses creative descriptions to make biology and chemistry concepts engaging and easy to understand.

The Micro-Communities Of Trees, Nicholas Davis, Lily Boysworth, Westen Wilburn

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

This study investigated how tree species diversity influences the variety of organisms living on or around trees across different habitat types. Field data were collected through random tree selection, measurement of tree diameter, identification of species, and estimation of surrounding ground cover types such as grass, herbaceous plants, woody plants, and leaf litter. Biodiversity associated with each tree was analyzed using the Shannon Diversity Index across several ecosystems, including grassland, woodland, and pond environments. Results indicated that the pond ecosystem exhibited the highest species diversity, followed by woodlands and then forests. A range of organisms, including lichens, mites, fungi, and …

The Art Of Movement, Payton Hedderman

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

I wanted to do this project for my Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone to showcase some of my skills and to articulate what I want to do with my degree. I want to go into Medical Illustration, and I want to make science easier for people to learn. To do this I want to take complicated subjects and remake them into simpler terms. For my capstone, I decided to take anatomy of the arm, leg, and abdominal organs and draw them on professional women athletes. I thought that expressing this anatomy in less of a clinical way is one strategy to make …

Evaluation Of Interleukins 35 And 39 Levels In Women Infected With Cytomegalovirus, Maryam Adnan Juma, Zahra’A Abdulraheem Ahmed

Baghdad Science Journal

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common latent virus that can cause severe disease in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Interleukins (ILs) are crucial for cell-to-cell communication and facilitate precise regulation of the immune response. The current study aimed to evaluate serum IL-35 and IL-39 levels in Iraqi women with CMV, particularly in pregnant women, and investigate their potential involvement in CMV infection and pregnancy. Serum samples were obtained from 115 women (age range:15–29 years), including CMV-infected pregnant women, uninfected pregnant women, CMV-infected non-pregnant women, and healthy non-pregnant women. IL-35 and IL-39 levels were measured using ELISA kits. Statistical analyses were performed …

Seasonal Variation Of Phytoplankton And Zooplankton Biomass In Correlation With Physio-Chemical Variables Of Some Water Bodies In Dolly Smaquli, Erbil, Iraq, Sana Kayfi Najmadden, Luay Abdul-Qadir Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

The seasonal variation of phytoplankton and zooplankton groups in correlation with physio-chemical variables has been examined by monthly water samples from eight distinct locations in Smaquli Dam and Streams within Dolly Smaquli in Erbil city, Iraq. The sampling time spans from September 2021 to August 2022. Nineteen physical and chemical variables were examined including Air and water temperature, Electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Turbidity, pH, Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Nitrite (NO₂), Nitrate (NO₃), Reactive phosphate (PO₄), Ca⁺², Mg⁺², Na …

Cadmium Removal From Aqueous Solutions Facilitated By Biochar Derived From Active Sewage Sludge, Aya L. Khalil, Faris H. Al-Ani, Abdul Hameed M. J. Al-Obaidy

Baghdad Science Journal

Biochar was previously confined to agriculture applications, but its utilization has since expanded across various sectors. In this case, sludge acquired from a sewage treatment facility was employed in the production of biochar. The study investigates the adsorption of cadmium in aqueous solution by both untreated biochar and biochar treated with H₃PO₄, examining the influence of adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH, and initial concentration. Phosphorus compounds present on the biochar surface activate it, enhancing cadmium removal compared to untreated biochar. The experimental results showed that the optimal dosage (1000 mg/l) and adsorption rate were significantly affected …

Study The Effect Of Saponin And Terpene From Alcoholic Extract Of Bacopa Monnieri Plant Cultivated In Iraq On Some Biological Aspects Of Drosophila Melanogaster Meigen (1830) (Diptera:Drosophilidae), Ruwaida A. Abd Al-Hussien, Soolaf A. Kathiar

Baghdad Science Journal

Drosophila melanogaster is an agricultural insect pest. The female pierces crops and lays eggs. Then, the eggs hatch, after which the larvae begin to develop inside the tissue, feeding on it and destroying it. This study, conducted from 1/11/2023 to 15/12/2024, aims to ascertain the impact of secondary chemicals, in the wild Bacopa monnieri plant cultivated in Iraq on the development of insect life cycle stages using different concentrations (2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 ppm) under laboratory conditions. The data revealed that the eggs had the highest mortality rates at 8000 ppm for saponin and terpene 78.666% and 74% respectively. The …

Silver Nanoparticles As A Potential Control Measure For Some Potyviruses Infecting Faba Bean And Potato Plants, Rehab A. Dawoud, Noha K. El Dougdoug

Baghdad Science Journal

The research investigates the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a foliar spray at a concentration (50 mg/ml) on faba bean and potato plants to stimulate systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and suppress bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) and potato virus Y (PVY). The application of AgNPs reduced the percentage of virus reduction infection (RI) and disease severity (DS). AgNPs (50 mg/ml) was more effective on BYMV-infected faba bean (9.75 and 10.50) followed by PVY-infected potato (14.50 and 18.25) for the percentage of reduction infection and disease severity respectively. The mechanism of AgNPs involves binding to viral protein coats, aggregating virus …

A Critical Alteration In Enolase Is Identified In One Isolate Of Staphylococcus Aureus To Avoid Host Immunity, Ban M. Abdulhadi, Halah H Al-Haideri

Baghdad Science Journal

The ability of Staphylococcus aureus enolase to cleave plasminogen has been thought to be important for bacterial virulence. The genetic variants of Eno gene sequences were investigated in the present study to assess the pattern of biological diversity of one isolate of S. aureus isolated from patients with diabetic food from Iraqi hospitals. The observed variant’s possible impact in altering the enolase’s binding with its receptor was assessed by docking with plasminogen before and after mutation. Within the locus 791^st, two variations were identified with two different consequences since A>T791 (in S2, S3, S14, and S17) and …

Holy Cross Magazine, Vol. 59, No. 3, Fall 2025, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

Frank Kartheiser ’72 is Comfortable With Your Discomfort
The community organizer and co-founder of the Mustard Seed soup kitchen and food pantry has been feeding the poor and clothing the hungry of Worcester for more than 50 years. His greatest dream is that it closes, yet the need continues to grow.
Story by Marybeth Reilly-McGreen ’89
Photography by Caroline Axvig

The Catholic Church’s Best Kept Secret
Rooted in Scripture and the Church's understanding of human dignity, Catholic Social Teaching helps people live out their faith in the world.
Story by Marybeth Reilly-McGreen ’89
Photography by Michael Ivins

Working to Get …

The Effect Of Moringa Oleifera Leaves Powder Increasing The Productive Characteristics Of Common Carp (Cyprinus Carpio L.) Exposed To Chlorpyrifos, Hamid Hilal Farhan, Abid Ali Thaker, Hazem Sabri Abedalhammed

Baghdad Science Journal

Pesticides are a major global problem because of their effects on living organisms and their bodily functions. This study was conducted from August 25, 2022, to October 25, 2022. It aimed to know the toxic effects of Chlorpyrifos on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), and the potential of Moringa oleifera leaves to reduce this toxicity by evaluating their effect on growth performance in fish exposed to the pesticide. The LC50 for Chlorpyrifos has been estimated at 0.60 mg/L over 96 hours. Use 1/10 of the LC50 in the pesticide toxicity test treatment; Moringa leaf powder (MOL) was also added …

Study Of Serum Interleukin-33 And Soluble St2 Levels, And Hla-B27 Typing In Iraqi Patients Of Ankylosing Spondylitis, Faris Ali Khdur, Hanaa N. Abdullah, Mayada Noori Iqbal

Baghdad Science Journal

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine. The current study aimed to determine the level of serum interleukin-33 (IL-33), soluble stromelysin-2 (sST2) interleukin, and HLA-B27 typing among Iraqi AS patients. The whole blood samples of the patients were collected from medical hospitals in Baghdad city. The ELISA technique was used to measure the serum levels of IL-33 and sST2, and the HLA-B27 typing was performed by sequence-specific primer PCR (SSP-PCR). The patients were divided into patients newly diagnosed with the disease and patients receiving biological treatment (etanercept) in …

Sources, Distribution And Ecological Risk Assessment Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon In Sediment Of Tigris River, Iraq, Shahad R. Zaki, Maysoon Hassan Meshjel, Abdul Hameed M.J. Al-Obaidy

Baghdad Science Journal

Sediment samples were collected from five sites at Tigris River from Baghdad to Wasit Governorates River from December 2021 to November 2022. Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in these sediment samples were analyzed. The results show that the total PAH concentrations ranged from 957.37 to 1805.05 μg/kg dry weight (dw) with mean values of 1368.034 μg/kg. Furthermore, the high molecular weight compounds (four, five, and six rings) of PAH in the analyzed sediment samples suggest that combustion sources such as fuel, gasoline, and vehicle emissions are the primary sources of PAHs in the environment. The sediment quality guidelines …

Impacts Of Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Aqueous Extract On Some Physiological Parameters And Fertility In Male Albino Mice, Zainab K. Altmimi

Baghdad Science Journal

The objective of the work is to examine the impacts of Stevia leaf aqueous extract, after chronic administration (60 days), on some physiological aspects and fertility in male albino mice. .twenty-four adult e mice were categorized into four groups, each involving six animals. Three treatment groups were separately exposed to three respective concentrations of the extract (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), he remainder is a control group. The animals were given daily oral doses of 0.1 ml/ 10 gm body weight of the group-respective extract concentration for 60 consecutive days. Several physiological and fertility-related parameters were tested based on the …

Biol 200-H01, H03: Concepts In Biology - Honors, Caroline Devan

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 202-001, 003, 005, 101: Foundations Of Biology: Cell & Molecular Lab, Mary Konsolaki

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 205-001: Foundations Of Biology: Ecology & Evolution Lecture, Caroline Devan

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 206-001, 003, 005, 101: Foundations Of Biology: Ecology & Evolution Lab, Caroline Devan

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 352-001: Genetics, Michael Nelson

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 441-Hm1: Neurophysiology - Honors, Dirk Bucher

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 423-001: Physiological Mechanisms, John Yarotsky

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 441-001: Neurophysiology, Dirk Bucher

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.