Digital Commons Network^™

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome For Ischemic Stroke: Cd31 And Vegf Expression, Sisca Silvana, Iskandar Japardi, Muhammad Rusda, Rini Savitri Daulay, Agung Putra, Irawan Mangunatmadja, Dewi Masyithah Darlan, Sri Sofyani, Yana Andreas

Baghdad Science Journal

Standard treatments for ischemic stroke are intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular recanalization. In the acute phase (

Detection Of Mthfr C677t Genotyping For Spina Bifida Defects Using Arms-Pcr Technique, Halah Kamal Al-Qazzaz, Zahraa F. Al-Khero, Hameed Husham Hameed

Baghdad Science Journal

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are complex structural deformities in newborn infants. These defects are caused by a blend of genetic and environmental factors in the abnormal phenotype. The current study aims to determine the genetic variation polymorphism for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T rs180133 genotyping and to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a DNA sample of Spinal Bifida (SB) and compare it with control newborn children. Blood samples were collected from newborns (50 children under one year old) (25 cases of spinal bifida (SB) and 25 controls). The DNA was extracted and amplified by the tetra ARMS-PCR technique (Amplification Refractory …

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.

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.

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 …

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

Assessing The Efficacy Of Soil Amendments On Water Use Efficiency And Wheat Productivity For Different Soil Textures, Saadi Sattar Shahadha, Ammar Al-Zubade, Mahmood Raam Sh., Mohamed Ahmed Youssef

Baghdad Science Journal

Irrigation practices on agricultural fields use more water than any other human activity. As a result, the sustainability of water use and food output is intimately tied to how fields are managed. This research was conducted to enhance the long-term viability of water and agricultural production. Soil amendments of compost and perlite were applied in an experiment to investigate the possibility of enhancing soil textures (sandy clay and silty clay) and, consequently, improving the production of crops and water sustainably. The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) was utilized to simulate the water dynamics and water requirement for wheat production …

Jadriyah And Umm Al-Khanazeer Island Sites, Baghdad, Iraq: Status And Eligibility As An Important Bird Area, Aya Yaqoob Jasim, Nadheer Abod Fazaa

Baghdad Science Journal

In Baghdad, the site of Jadriyah and Umm Al-Khanazeer Island (JUKI) was the only IBA nominated by the Birdlife International in 1994 (based on data from 1984). Unfortunately, the JUKI site was deleted from the IBA list in 2017 without proper investigation. We compared our 2022 data with two previous surveys and successfully calculated the trend of the site for the first time. JUKI, as compared to 1984 as baseline data, has currently a medium level of threats (land use change and climate change). Status assessment shows that the site in 2022 has 58.9 % of its 1984 potential habitat …

Serological Detection Of Toxoplasma Gondii In Local Duck Birds, And Gallus Gallus In Basrah Province, Iraq, Ameer Ibrahim Abdulzahra, Alaa Ismail Saood, Afaq Talib Farhood

Baghdad Science Journal

Toxoplasma gondii was widely spread in humans and other animals, including domestic poultry, worldwide and depends on a unique collection of secretory and cytoskeletal organelles for host cell invasion. The meat of T. gondii infected poultry which includes chickens and ducks was widely consumed in most countries and was known as a primary source of human infection. In Iraq generally and in Basrah province especially, the prevalence of T. gondii in local ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) and domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) was scarcely known. In the current study, the Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) and (TOX) Toxoplasma IgM/IgG Antibody Rapid Test …

Interference With Quorum Sensing Of Klebsiella Pneumoniae By Some Plant Extracts Can Affect The Biofilm Formation And Antibiotic Resistance, Zahraa Eisaa Sadeq, Inam Jasim Lafta, Samah Ali Lamburne

Baghdad Science Journal

Quorum sensing (QS) is a perfectly orchestrated molecular communication system. It is a boon for Klebsiella pneumoniae, and bane for the host. This system is believed to make K. pneumoniae a leading cause of multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial infections. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential of medicinal plant extracts through interfering with QS of K. pneumoniae. The effect of different concentrations of ethanolic extracts of cinnamon and clove on K. pneumoniae was determined by analyzing the growth curve, survival assay (MTT), Qualitative and quantitative biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, along with studying gene expression of the …

Image Analysis Of Pupal Sex Ratio In Honey Bee Hives, Anna Tattelman, Grace O’Brien

Biology Student Scholarship

Anna Tattelman ’27, Environmental Biology major

Grace O’Brien ’26, Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology

Our project analyzes honey bee hive development over time. We are specifically looking at drone comb production over a four-week period with varying hive conditions and treatments. It has become more difficult to manage bee hives due to parasitic mites, such as Varroa Destructor. A common method beekeepers use to protect honey bees against these threats is adding drone comb to attract then remove mites. Through drone comb analysis we can determine how honey bees are responding to the treatments by evaluating their …

Biology 2025 Apr Self-Study & Documents, Unm Academic Program Review

UNM Academic Program Review

UNM Biology APR self-study report, review team report, response report, and initial action plan for Spring 2025, fulfilling requirements of the Higher Learning Commission.

Life Line Spring 2025, Otterbein Biology And Earth Science Department

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In this issue:

Greetings and Farewell!; COSI 2024; Ketchup, Culture, and an Unforgettable Conference; Alumna Earns PhD; Tortoises, Butterflies, and Cockroaches, Oh My!; Licking River Roundup 2024; Aquarium Students Explore Coral Restoration in Fiji; The Galapagos Islands: Geology, Ecology, Conservation, and Culture; Dr. Svitana Presents on Otterbein Lake Well Field; Cell Bio Pilots Unique Approach to Learning; Hoggarth to Retire, June 2025; AED is BACK on Campus!; The Greenhouse Gets a Lifeline; Acoustic Rabies Identification (ARID): A Sound-Based Approach to Rabies Testing

Conservación Biológica Harakbut: Estudio De Caso Ori’Numba, Anya Held

Peru: Indigenous Peoples and Globalization

Through interviews, observations, and bibliographic research, this project investigates the Indigenous-based conservation project of Ori’Numba Garden. In 2018, the Tayori family moved to Ori’Numba and began transforming it from a former livestock farm into a holistic conservation project. The paper details the history of Ori’Numba and the process of its creation, the modern and traditional agricultural techniques used in the garden, a register of the pineapple and native bee species, and some of the relevant Harakbut mythology. Ori’Numba clearly demonstrates that there is Indigenous conservation biology, not just “indigenized” Western conservation biology.

The Isolation And Characterization Of Acidovorax And Brevundimonas Bacteriophages With Preliminary Biocontrol Study On Arabidopsis Thaliana, Minh Quynh N. Vu

Senior Theses

As antibiotic-resistance becomes an increasing global concern, researchers are looking for alternatives to combat phytopathogenic rhizobacteria – one of which is through the application of phage biocontrol. To elucidate the complex tripartite relationships between phage, bacteria and plant interactions, nine novel phages were isolated from potential phytopathogenic strains of Acidovorax (RBW13) and Brevundimonas (RBW18). These phages were isolated from root samples obtained from the Rocky Branch Creek and the Broad River located in Columbia, SC. Using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), we identified seven “medium sized” phages (~40 kbp), one “large-sized” phage (~200 kbp), and one “small-sized” phage ( < 25 kbp). Three phages were determined to be lambda-like due to their “ladder-building” patterns on PFGE. Although spot-tests revealed that all phages seemed to have broad host ranges that spanned over multiple genera, plaque-formations must be observed in future experiments to determine if these phages can infect their hosts productively. Preliminary in planta experiments were performed on Arabidopsis thaliana …