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Modified Ysk12-Mend-Sirna In Dendritic Cells For Cancer Immunotherapy, Syed S. Alam

Undergraduate Research Posters

Tumors may induce tolerogenesis through signaling dendritic cells to produce tolerogenic molecules, such as indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). Tumor-associated immunosuppression is associated with higher mortality in patients. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been shown to silence specific target genes in the target cell. The siRNA associated with these genes could support a gene knockdown of these immunosuppressors and reduce mortality. Delivery of these therapeutic nucleic acids is difficult in vivo because siRNA is easily broken down inside the cell and the bloodstream through present nucleases. Use of liposome polymers has been reviewed extensively in literature. YSK12-C4, a lipid nanoparticle …

Urban Insect Biodiversity - Effects Of Native Landscaping, Caedmon Morgret, Dave Warners

Student Papers and Reports

Urban development comes with the cost of destroyed natural habitats. Urban infrastructure flattens entire ecosystems, replacing them with impervious, life-inhibiting constructions.

Alleviating the impacts of urbanization is possible. Green infrastructure mitigates habitat loss by restoring native habitats within urbanized areas. One benefit of green infrastructure is the reestablishment of biodiversity, benefitting plants, animals, and insects alike. Biodiversity creates a healthier habitat and location than urban infrastructure –and lack of biodiversity –does.

To investigate this benefit we performed a pilot study, sampling lawns and curb-cut rain gardens (CCRGs). We compared biodiversity between restored and unrestored urban habitats.

Quantification, Isolation, Characterization, And Biogeography Of Thermoacidophilic Bacteria From Mesophilic Soils, Margaux Karp

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Many thermoacidophilic bacterial species thrive in hot springs, fumaroles, and geothermally heated soils. These habitats are globally distributed but often small in size and located distantly from similar habitats, and therefore the biogeography of thermoacidophiles may be similar to island biogeography of plants and animals. Little is known about dispersal of thermoacidophiles. In this study I aimed to quantify, isolate, and characterize thermoacidophilic bacteria from non-permissive habitats. I also used genetic approaches to compare these isolates to thermoacidophilic bacteria from permissive habitats to provide insight to their biogeography.

To determine if I could enrich thermoacidophiles from non-permissive habitats, and if …

How Do They Do It? Using Omics Approaches To Explore Metabolic Responses Associated With Hypoxia And Exercise Tolerance In The Deepest Diving Pinniped, Elizabeth R. Piotrowski

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Marine mammals such as northern elephant seals (NES) routinely experience hypoxemia and ischemia-reperfusion events to many tissues during deep dives with no apparent adverse effects. Adaptations to diving include increased antioxidants and elevated oxygen storage capacity associated with high hemoprotein content in blood and muscle. Despite experiencing decreased oxygen tensions during diving, NES likely rely on the mobilization of large lipids stores and catabolism of fatty acids to provide energy to exercising muscle while diving. To identify potential regulatory mechanisms that may underly hypoxia and exercise tolerance in diving mammals, this study used system-wide approaches to characterize changes in genes …

Beyond Cortisol: Indicators Of Stress And Negative Feedback In Plasma And Blubber Of Marine Mammals, Jessica Avalos

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Marine mammals play an important role in ecosystem stability. However, anthropogenic activity is compounding pressure on many already vulnerable populations. A potential consequence of anthropogenic disturbance is physiological stress, which can impact metabolism, immunity, and reproduction, especially if it occurs repeatedly. Previous studies on marine mammals have focused on acute stress, but the impacts of repeated stress are poorly understood. Due to its accessibility on land during haul-outs, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is a good system in which to study the effects of stress in marine mammals. Stress stimulates the release of glucocorticoid hormones, primarily cortisol. Elevated cortisol …

Can Gdp Be Predictive Of Fertility Rates In Sweden?, Hannah Coleman

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Fertility rates in a country vary and can be influenced by numerous different aspects of an individual’s life and the society in which they live. One aspect that may influence fertility rates at the national level is the gross domestic product (GDP). GDP is an indicator of a country’s economic productivity. Because fertility is linked to both economic development and individual resources, GDP may be a useful indicator of fertility rates. If so, knowing or predicting GDP could be used to project the fertility rates of a population years into the future. To determine if a reasonable connection between GDP …

Effect Of Fenugreek Seeds In Maternal Diet On Some Features Of Newborn Pups In Albino Mice, Karim R. Hamad

Polytechnic Journal

Introduction: Fenugreek seeds have got interest of researchers for their positive effects on laboratory animals and human being, including their effects on reproductive system. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 5% raw fenugreek seed and its boiled aqueous extract containing diet on adult female mice, for 2 weeks before mating, to evaluate fertility, and some features of newborn pups. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 adult female mice randomly and equally were divided into three groups. Group I: Control, Group II: Female mice treated with 5% raw fenugreek seed containing diet, and Group III: Female mice …

Molecular Characterization Of Proteus Spp. From Patients Admitted To Hospitals In Erbil City, Treska Dh. Kamil, Sanaria F. Jarjes

Polytechnic Journal

The study was carried out to detect the identity of Proteus spp. isolated from various clinical specimens in Erbil City by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Specimens were of urine, wounds swabs, burn swabs, vaginal swabs, ear swabs, eye swabs, and sputum. Fifty-one Proteus isolates, (47) Proteus mirabilis, and (4) Proteus vulgaris, were undergone PCR assay using specific primers, targeting the genes ureR and Urease C (ureC), that encode for urease enzyme as a virulence factor of Proteus species. It was found that all isolates of Proteus mirabilis yielded positive result for ureR gene with an amplicon length of 225 …

Effect Of Fenugreek Seeds In Maternal Diet On Some Features Of Newborn Pups In Albino Mice, Karim R. Hamad

Polytechnic Journal

Introduction: Fenugreek seeds have got interest of researchers for their positive effects on laboratory animals and human being, including their effects on reproductive system. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 5% raw fenugreek seed and its boiled aqueous extract containing diet on adult female mice, for 2 weeks before mating, to evaluate fertility, and some features of newborn pups. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 adult female mice randomly and equally were divided into three groups. Group I: Control, Group II: Female mice treated with 5% raw fenugreek seed containing diet, and Group III: Female mice …

Molecular Characterization Of Proteus Spp. From Patients Admitted To Hospitals In Erbil City, Treska Dh. Kamil, Sanaria F. Jarjes

Polytechnic Journal

The study was carried out to detect the identity of Proteus spp. isolated from various clinical specimens in Erbil City by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Specimens were of urine, wounds swabs, burn swabs, vaginal swabs, ear swabs, eye swabs, and sputum. Fifty-one Proteus isolates, (47) Proteus mirabilis, and (4) Proteus vulgaris, were undergone PCR assay using specific primers, targeting the genes ureR and Urease C (ureC), that encode for urease enzyme as a virulence factor of Proteus species. It was found that all isolates of Proteus mirabilis yielded positive result for ureR gene with an amplicon length of 225 …

Effect Of Fenugreek Seeds In Maternal Diet On Some Features Of Newborn Pups In Albino Mice, Karim R. Hamad

Polytechnic Journal

Introduction: Fenugreek seeds have got interest of researchers for their positive effects on laboratory animals and human being, including their effects on reproductive system. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 5% raw fenugreek seed and its boiled aqueous extract containing diet on adult female mice, for 2 weeks before mating, to evaluate fertility, and some features of newborn pups. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 adult female mice randomly and equally were divided into three groups. Group I: Control, Group II: Female mice treated with 5% raw fenugreek seed containing diet, and Group III: Female mice …

Molecular Characterization Of Proteus Spp. From Patients Admitted To Hospitals In Erbil City, Treska Dh. Kamil, Sanaria F. Jarjes

Polytechnic Journal

The study was carried out to detect the identity of Proteus spp. isolated from various clinical specimens in Erbil City by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Specimens were of urine, wounds swabs, burn swabs, vaginal swabs, ear swabs, eye swabs, and sputum. Fifty-one Proteus isolates, (47) Proteus mirabilis, and (4) Proteus vulgaris, were undergone PCR assay using specific primers, targeting the genes ureR and Urease C (ureC), that encode for urease enzyme as a virulence factor of Proteus species. It was found that all isolates of Proteus mirabilis yielded positive result for ureR gene with an amplicon length of 225 …

Effect Of Fenugreek Seeds In Maternal Diet On Some Features Of Newborn Pups In Albino Mice, Karim R. Hamad

Polytechnic Journal

Introduction: Fenugreek seeds have got interest of researchers for their positive effects on laboratory animals and human being, including their effects on reproductive system. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 5% raw fenugreek seed and its boiled aqueous extract containing diet on adult female mice, for 2 weeks before mating, to evaluate fertility, and some features of newborn pups. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 adult female mice randomly and equally were divided into three groups. Group I: Control, Group II: Female mice treated with 5% raw fenugreek seed containing diet, and Group III: Female mice …

Molecular Characterization Of Proteus Spp. From Patients Admitted To Hospitals In Erbil City, Treska Dh. Kamil, Sanaria F. Jarjes

Polytechnic Journal

The study was carried out to detect the identity of Proteus spp. isolated from various clinical specimens in Erbil City by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Specimens were of urine, wounds swabs, burn swabs, vaginal swabs, ear swabs, eye swabs, and sputum. Fifty-one Proteus isolates, (47) Proteus mirabilis, and (4) Proteus vulgaris, were undergone PCR assay using specific primers, targeting the genes ureR and Urease C (ureC), that encode for urease enzyme as a virulence factor of Proteus species. It was found that all isolates of Proteus mirabilis yielded positive result for ureR gene with an amplicon length of 225 …

Molecular Characterization Of Proteus Spp. From Patients Admitted To Hospitals In Erbil City, Treska Dh. Kamil, Sanaria F. Jarjes

Polytechnic Journal

The study was carried out to detect the identity of Proteus spp. isolated from various clinical specimens in Erbil City by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Specimens were of urine, wounds swabs, burn swabs, vaginal swabs, ear swabs, eye swabs, and sputum. Fifty-one Proteus isolates, (47) Proteus mirabilis, and (4) Proteus vulgaris, were undergone PCR assay using specific primers, targeting the genes ureR and Urease C (ureC), that encode for urease enzyme as a virulence factor of Proteus species. It was found that all isolates of Proteus mirabilis yielded positive result for ureR gene with an amplicon length of 225 …

Effect Of Fenugreek Seeds In Maternal Diet On Some Features Of Newborn Pups In Albino Mice, Karim R. Hamad

Polytechnic Journal

Introduction: Fenugreek seeds have got interest of researchers for their positive effects on laboratory animals and human being, including their effects on reproductive system. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 5% raw fenugreek seed and its boiled aqueous extract containing diet on adult female mice, for 2 weeks before mating, to evaluate fertility, and some features of newborn pups. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 adult female mice randomly and equally were divided into three groups. Group I: Control, Group II: Female mice treated with 5% raw fenugreek seed containing diet, and Group III: Female mice …

Student Engagement In The Honors Biology Flipped Learning Environment, Hillary M. Wilson

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate four constructs of engagement (affective, behavioral, cognitive, and social) within an Honors Biology flipped learning environment. Social constructivism, the Bioecological Model of Influences on Student Engagement, and Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) served as the theoretical foundation for the study. A mixed methods convergent parallel design was used to answer the following research questions: What are student perceptions of engagement in a flipped learning environment based on the dimensions of engagement (e.g., affective, behavioral, cognitive, and social)? How do high school Honors biology students affectively, behaviorally, cognitively, and socially engage during the …

Biol 1411- Botany Laboratory Manual, Yolander R. Youngblood

Open Education Resources

Botany Laboratory Manual By – Yolander R.Youngblood, PhD.

This manual was reviewed by student editors, Ayanna Montegut and Ineceia Carter.

Table of Contents

1. The Plant Cell Lab

2. Mitosis Lab

3. Plant Growth and Development Lab

4. Simple Tissue Lab

5. Leaf Lab

6. Stem Lab

7. Root Lab

8. Evolution of Land Plants Lab

9. Bryophyte Lab

10. Fern Lab

11. Gymnosperm Lab

12. Angiosperm Lab

13. Appendix

a. Writing in the Scientific Notebook

b. How to use the Microscope

c. Plants and Their Structure

d. Additional Video, Lecture, and Lab Resources

Host Range, Biology, And Species Specificity Of Seven-Segmented Influenza Viruses—A Comparative Review On Influenza C And D, Chithra Sreenivasan, Zizhang Sheng, Dan Wang, Feng Li

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Other than genome structure, influenza C (ICV), and D (IDV) viruses with seven-segmented genomes are biologically different from the eight-segmented influenza A (IAV), and B (IBV) viruses concerning the presence of hemagglutinin–esterase fusion protein, which combines the function of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase responsible for receptor-binding, fusion, and receptor-destroying enzymatic activities, respectively. Whereas ICV with humans as primary hosts emerged nearly 74 years ago, IDV, a distant relative of ICV, was isolated in 2011, with bovines as the primary host. Despite its initial emergence in swine, IDV has turned out to be a transboundary bovine pathogen and a broader host range, …

Light Pollution Levels On Beaches: How Window Tinting Effects Disorientation Of Sea Turtles On Hilton Head Island, Kathryn (Kate) Hettiger

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Loggerhead sea turtles, an endangered species, are decreasing at alarming rates worldwide. Artificial light from beachfront hotels on Hilton Head Island are causing disorientation in Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings affecting their ability to successfully find the ocean. To mitigate this, exterior windows facing the ocean will be tinted using either tinting spray, which will be implemented at the Marriott Grande Ocean, or using tinting film, which will be implemented at the Marriott Westin. During the typical nesting and hatching season (May-October), sea turtle hatchling tracks will be recorded using drones to compare the effects of various levels of light pollution …

Vaccine Hesitancy - When Emotions Trump Reason, Lawrence C. Scharmann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Isn’t getting a vaccine a decision of choice or personal liberty? Yes, but only if personal choices don’t create health risks for other citizens. We no longer permit individuals to smoke in public spaces in which second-hand smoke can harm the health of others. In the case of COVID-19, at best, individuals whose choice it is not to be vaccinated slow progress toward herd immunity. At worst, if enough individuals choose not to vaccinate, this pandemic continues unabated, enabling variants of the original virus to emerge – variants that are often of increasing virulence. Fear of ingredients, however, is but …

Local Weather Explains Annual Variation In Northern Goshawk Reproduction In The Northern Great Basin, Usa, Allyson B. Bangerter, Eliana R. Heiser, Jay D. Carlisle, Robert A. Miller

Intermountain Bird Observatory Publications and Presentations

Weather is thought to influence raptor reproduction through effects on prey availability, condition of adults, and survival of nests and young; however, there are few long-term studies of the effects of weather on raptor reproduction. We investigated the effects of weather on Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis; henceforth goshawk) breeding rate, productivity, and fledging date in south-central Idaho and northern Utah, USA. Using data from 42 territories where we found evidence of breeding attempts in ≥1 yr from 2011–2019, we analyzed breeding rates using 315 territory–season combinations, analyzed productivity for 134 breeding attempts, and analyzed fledging date for 118 …

An Assessment Of The Neurovascular Structures Of The Trigeminal Nerve And Their Relationship To Diet In Primates, Caitlin Yoakum

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) enters the mandible via the mental foramen, supplies nervous sensation to the mandibular teeth as it travels through the mandibular canal, and exits the mandibular foramen to send information to the brain to maintain chewing cycles and protect the teeth from damage. Although bony canals and foramina have been shown to form around soft-tissue structures, there are some examples (e.g., the hypoglossal nerve/canal) where the nervous structures do not comprise most of the canal/foramina space. It is important to know the size of nerves because it has been established that larger nerves convey more information …

Nuclear Envelope Mechanobiology: Linking The Nuclear Structure And Function, Matthew Goelzer, Julianna Goelzer, Matthew L. Ferguson, Corey P. Neu, Gunes Uzer

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The nucleus, central to cellular activity, relies on both direct mechanical input as well as its molecular transducers to sense external stimuli and respond by regulating intra-nuclear chromatin organization that determines cell function and fate. In mesenchymal stem cells of musculoskeletal tissues, changes in nuclear structures are emerging as a key modulator of their differentiation and proliferation programs. In this review we will first introduce the structural elements of the nucleoskeleton and discuss the current literature on how nuclear structure and signaling are altered in relation to environmental and tissue level mechanical cues. We will focus on state-of-the-art techniques to …

Preparing For Class: Actions And Resources Of Introductory Biology Students, Tina M. Ballard, Sabah Sattar, Kendra D. Wright, Jaime L. Sabel, Heather E. Bergan-Roller

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Instructors want students to be prepared for class. There are several different resources and activities available to help students prepare for class, but very little is known about how students choose to prepare for class in the context of undergraduate biology. In this study, we used content analysis to investigate what students do to prepare for an introductory biology course, and if and how that preparation differed under two different conditions. Students were either directed to search out and choose their resources to prepare for class (choice treatment) or assigned specific pages from a textbook (text treatment). Students in the …

Fall/Winter 2021: Treasure/Unidentified Specimen At 10x Magnification, Cate Nelson

St. Norbert College Magazine 2019-2023

Every issue, we invite one member of the college community to share their delight in an object found on campus. Here Cate Nelson ’24, one of the 2021 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows, speaks to a specimen from an unidentified tree sapling that she discovered in the college's collection of microscope slides.

The Ionic Selectivity Of Lysenin Channels In Open And Sub-Conducting States, Andrew Bogard, Pangaea W. Finn, Fulton Mckinney, Ilinca M. Flacau, Aviana R. Smith, Rosey Whiting, Daniel Fologea

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The electrochemical gradients established across cell membranes are paramount for the execution of biological functions. Besides ion channels, other transporters, such as exogenous pore-forming toxins, may present ionic selectivity upon reconstitution in natural and artificial lipid membranes and contribute to the electrochemical gradients. In this context, we utilized electrophysiology approaches to assess the ionic selectivity of the pore-forming toxin lysenin reconstituted in planar bilayer lipid membranes. The membrane voltages were determined from the reversal potentials recorded upon channel exposure to asymmetrical ionic conditions, and the permeability ratios were calculated from the fit with the Goldman–Hodgkin–Katz equation. Our work shows that …

Stakeholders’ Perception On The Use Of Computer-Based Test To Assess Biology Lessons During Covid-19 Lockdown In Nigeria: Implications For Library Practice, William Onu, Blessing C. Asogwa, Ifeyinwa A. Nzekwe, Stanley I. Ugwu, Samuel C. Asogwa

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The acceptance of CBT before COVID-19 varied significantly among stakeholders. Considering the closure of schools, governments resorting to radio lessons to keep students educated, and the need to safely assess learning, the study seeks to ascertain the status of stakeholders’ perception on CBT for assessing radio Biology lessons. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study, which adopted descriptive research design. 321 stakeholders’ views were collated using an online survey, with a face/content-validated questionnaire titled "questionnaire on stakeholders’ perception of CBT”, having Cronbach Alpha reliability estimate of 0.83. Mean/standard deviation were used to answer research questions. T-test was used …

Lifelines Fall 2021, Southern Adventist University

Lifelines - Biology Department Newsletter

The Fall 2021 issue of Lifelines contains articles on a former biology student, information on student research, the Palau Adventist Wellness Center, and Department Happenings.

Biology (Nucleo)Tidings- Fall 2021, Biology Department Staff

Biology (Nucleo)tidings

News from the Biology Department at Northeastern Illinois University