Digital Commons Network^™

The Multiverse Of Cd46 And Oncologic Interactions, M. Kathryn Liszewski, John P. Atkinson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Initially identified as a regulator of complement activation on host cells, the known roles of CD46 (membrane cofactor protein [MCP]) have expanded. We now know that this ancient molecule is expressed on almost all nucleated cells as a family of four predominant isoforms. It also is involved in human reproduction, modulation of T cell activation and immunoinflammatory effector functions, autophagy, and the newly identified intracellular complement system (complosome). CD46 is also known as a "pathogen" magnet, being a port of entry for at least seven bacteria and five viruses. Moreover, CD46 has recently emerged as a key player in cancer …

Exploring Host Range Of Klebsiella Pneumonia, Ashlyn Berra

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that target bacteria. Lytic phages cause the bacteria to lyse (cell death). Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacterium that is associated with severe urinary tract infections. Some K. pneumoniae are hypervirulent—causing difficult-to-treat infections. Lytic phages of K. pneumoniae can functionally limit bacteria populations. This project explores this dynamic. Strains of K. pneumoniae were mixed with soft agar and poured onto LB plates. The viruses were then spotted in the soft agar cultures. Lysis of bacteria causes clearings after virus introduction. Successful phages could be used in a clinical setting as infection treatment.

Assembly And Annotation Of The Shortnose Gar Mitogenome, Benjamin Moginot

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging technique that ascertains species presence by collecting DNA that is shed by organisms and deposited in the environment. eDNA methods rely on the availability of genomes for target species, and the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) is frequently used due to its abundance in the environment compared to nuclear DNA. One of the shortcomings of current eDNA work is the lack of mitogenomes against which to reference collected DNA samples. To help rectify this, I assembled and annotated the mitochondrial genome of the shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus), a fish extant in the Mississippi River …

Enhancing Personal Writing Using Artificial Intelligence: Does Creativity Influence The Usability Of Artificial Intelligence Interfaces?, Anna Buttell, August Decz

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Creativity, the ability to use imagination to solve complex problems (Kupers et al., 2018), is essential for prosperity. Many questions remain about how AI affects human creative capacity and control (O’Toole, 2024). In this study, we will evaluate whether human creativity impacts the creativity of AI generated text. Using performance-based measures of intelligence and creativity, we will assess human creativity and apply Semantic Distance methods to evaluate essays written with and without the assistance of a static AI model (Reilly, Jamie, et al., 2022). This will allow us to examine how human-AI collaboration impacts the output from AI.

A New Mitochondrial Genome For The Illinois Spring Cavefish, Forbesichthys Agassizii, Richa Patel

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The Spring Cavefish is a species of conservation concern in Illinois due to habitat degradation and limited survey data. Traditional methods for detecting this species are often hindered by the difficulty in accessing its habitat, leading to a limited understanding of its distribution and ecology. Advances in environmental DNA techniques offer a promising way to more precisely determine F. agassizii’s distribution, but the lack of a reference mitochondrial genome for F. agassizii impedes the development of effective detection assays. In this study, we assembled a complete mitochondrial genome for F. agassizii using existing SRA data.

Synthesis Of Ck-869 Derivatives As Potential Inhibitors Of The Arp2/3 Complex, Elisa A. Guerrero Regalado, Andrew W. Baggett

Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement

The Actin related protein 2 and 3 complex is (Arp2/3) is a key protein allowing for polymerization necessary to the actin cytoskeleton that aids in cytokinesis, endocytosis, and cellular motility. The Arp 2/3 complex is a seven-subunit protein that allows for the polymerization of actin within a cell by acting as a nucleation site for daughter actin filaments to branch from pre-existing filament strands. The inhibition of Arp 2/3 complex can prevent the motility of harmful pathogens by inhibiting actin comet tail formation. This research may provide further knowledge on the basic science of actin by allowing one specific part …

Providing Care For The Geriatric Population, Asma Nayyar Md

Marshall Journal of Medicine

No abstract provided.

A Rare Case Of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Of The Breast, Emiliya Apinova, Grace Markley, Jonathan Sedeyn, Jordon March, Alex Somerville

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is an extremely rare subtype of triple-negative breast cancer, comprising less than 0.1% of all invasive breast cancers, yet it exhibits a favorable prognosis. This case details a 53-year-old female with a significant family history of breast cancer who presented with a left breast mass. The patient reported that the mass had been present for over 30 years but had only recently become tender. She also began to have brown-green discharge from the left nipple. Imaging revealed a breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS) category 4 lesion, leading to a mastectomy and sentinel …

Webmd: Diagnosing Ascot Hills Park’S Biodiversity Using Environmental Dna (Edna) From Spiderwebs, Sabriya Ann Seid

Undergraduate Library Research Awards

No abstract provided.

Transient Neutrophilic Leukocytosis Following Clozapine Initiation: A Case Study, Riley Alvaro, Jonas Hyacinthe, Tope Oloniyo

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Clozapine is widely known for its life-threatening, albeit rare, adverse effect, agranulocytosis. However, a paradoxical and underreported finding, neutrophilic leukocytosis, defined as an increase in ANC above 7700 neutrophils/µL and white blood cell (WBC) count above 11,000 cells/µL may occur. We report the case of one individual with asymptomatic transient neutrophilic leukocytosis following Clozapine initiation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this case study is to provide supporting literature about the benign nature of clozapine-induced neutrophilic leukocytosis. This information may assist physicians’ decision-making, as this finding does not necessarily warrant cessation of the medication.

METHODS: This case report was compiled using …

Superoxide Release In Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Are Attenuated By Naltrindole By A Novel Mechanism Devoid Of Opioid Receptors, Alexandra Barrera, Mai An Le, Jennifer Dang, Cameron Stinson, Devani Johnson, Logan Clair, James Ramsarran, Desmond Boakye Tanoh, Annam Humayun, Juliet Melnik, Tameka Dean, Qian Chen, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

Introduction:

Previously, naltrindole (NTI), known as a delta opioid receptor antagonist, produced robust cardioprotective effects (e.g ~ 80% reduction of infarct size) in both ex-vivo (2.5-5 µM) and in-vivo (3.75-7.5 mg/kg; ~ 100-200 µM serum concentration) rat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MIR) models compared to control hearts that received H2O-vehicle or naloxone (NX), a broad-spectrum opioid receptor antagonist. Therefore, we planned to test if NTI elicits cardioprotective effects via a novel mechanism of action (MOA) devoid of opioid receptors. To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted experiments using KB-R7943 (KB) as a positive control, known to minimize intracellular calcium (Ca2+) via inhibition of …

Morphological Variation And Change In The Lateral Ventricles And Caudate Nucleus Across Schizophrenia Types: A Metric Analysis, Devin J. Venezia, Richard Gonzalez

Research Day

Schizophrenia is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects cognitive function, perception, and behavior. The disease affects one percent of the global population and is characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech. Other symptoms include a reduction in cognitive function and emotional expression (Hany et al., 2024). Although previous studies focus on three-dimensional (3D) rendering that demonstrate schizophrenic-specific morphology, the variation expressed by different schizophrenia types requires greater focus. This study explores the structural variations in the lateral ventricles and the caudate nucleus across different schizophrenia subtypes, with a focus on potential sex/gender-based differences. We hypothesize that a …

A Scoping Review Of Trauma-Informed Care In Reproductive Healthcare Settings: Implications For Healthcare Education, Training, And Practice, Samantha Stolker, Alexa Neiderer, Vittoria Tarquini, Alex Finkel, Alexa Bonacquisti

Research Day

The experience of trauma is highly prevalent and results in physiological and psychological consequences. Trauma-informed care (TIC) has emerged in recent years as a patient-centered culture of care delivery that emphasizes physical and psychological safety for all in the healthcare setting. Even though the research on TIC shows positive outcomes for patients, and healthcare professionals desire more education on TIC, there are few standard curriculums at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and residency levels of healthcare education. Utilizing a TIC framework could be especially impactful in reproductive healthcare settings due to the invasiveness of certain examinations and the way trauma presents itself …

Phase Transfer Of Plasmonic Nanoparticles: A Gateway To Biomedical Innovations, Siddharth A. Patel, Vrunda A. Patel, Riddhiman Medhi

Research Day

The use of nanoparticles has emerged as a promising approach to overcoming clinical challenges faced by physicians and scientists striving to enhance drug bioavailability, improve diagnostics, and promote tissue regeneration. Among these, phase-transferred plasmonic nanoparticles—known for their highly tunable optical properties—have shown significant potential in various biomedical applications. These include surface functionalization for enhanced biocompatibility, antimicrobial treatments, advanced sensing and diagnostic tools, drug delivery systems, photothermal therapy, and imaging technologies.

This systematic review explores recent applications of phase-transferred plasmonic nanoparticles in improving therapeutic outcomes in human subjects. A comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed studies from major literature databases was conducted, focusing …

Plaque-Like Cd34+ Dermal Fibroma On The Toe: A Case Report And Literature Review, Shaina S. Gagadam, Michael Shragher, Carmen Campanelli

Research Day

Plaque-like CD34+ dermal fibroma (PDF), also referred to as medallion-like dermal dendrocyte hamartoma (MLDDH), is a rare, benign dermal neoplasm that typically presents as a slow-growing, asymptomatic plaque. PDF is most commonly seen on the neck or trunk of young women. The pathogenesis of PDF remains poorly understood. Histologically, these lesions are characterized by the proliferation of spindle-shaped fibroblasts in the dermis, which are strongly positive for CD34 and negative for markers such as S100, Melan-A, and Factor XIIIa.

We present a case of a 57-year-old female with a one-year history of a plaque-like CD34+ dermal fibroma on the dorsal …

The Different Effects Between Trimethylamine And Trimethylamine N-Oxide On H9c2 Myoblast Cells, Jessica Tiedeken, Ann Le, Juliet Melnik, Lindon H. Young, Robert J. Barsotti, Qian Chen

Research Day

Background: Trimethylamine (TMA) is a gut-derived metabolite of choline and L-carnitine that is converted to trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in the liver. Elevated plasma TMAO levels are strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies suggest that TMA and TMAO promote inflammation, oxidative stress, and dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism, contributing to pro-atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels. We hypothesize that high levels of TMA and TMAO induce cardiac cell damage through oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Goals/Methods: This study utilizes H9c2 myoblast cells to investigate the effects of TMA and TMAO on cardiac cell function. Cells were treated with …

A Mesocosm Experiment On The Impact Of Competition With Native Pickerelweed (Pontederia Cordata) And Invasive Cattail (Typha X Glauca) On The Growth Of Northern Wild Rice (Zizania Palustris), Megan Wenner

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Northern wild rice (Zizania palustris; manoomin/Mnomen in Anishinaabemowin; ZP) is an annual emergent macrophyte of cultural and economic significance to many North American indigenous tribal nations. Its present extent throughout its native Great Lakes region is much reduced. Competition with other wetland plants may significantly reduce ZP growth and survival. Most ZP competitors are perennial plants, whose established rhizomes persist in the sediment, granting a head-start on growth each year. This mesocosm experiment investigated how competition with hybrid cattail (Typha x glauca) and pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) – dominant invasive and native rhizomatous species, respectively – impacted ZP growth.

Analysis Of Β-Glucosidase Mutant T352v, John Ratz, Sufia Khan

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This study looks at mutant T352V Β-glucosidase B (BglB). The mutant product was hypothesized to show reduced kinetic activity and thermostability compared to the wild-type. This was determined through modeling of the mutation using the FoldIt software. The protein was then purified and expressed through SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting. The results indicate that there was no production of a soluble protein. However, the Western Blot indicates the production of an insoluble protein. FoldIt modeling helps to explain the insoluble protein, as it indicates that the proximity of molecules without binding could cause aggregates to form inclusion bodies.

Symbolic Significance Of Pachuco And Teddy Boy Fashion, Mya Abuzir

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

This poster examines how self-presentation among Pachucos and Teddy Boys subcultures served as a claim for recognition and a form of protest. By analyzing both subgroups’ formation and key elements to the style itself, I argue how their self-presentation represents the making of a claim to their historical and socioeconomic contexts. My hypothesis suggests that these distinct sartorial choices reflect collective discontent and critiques of social and political injustices. This supports the argument that making a political or moral claim is beyond discursive articulation and that one can express said claims outwardly through clothing choices, hairstyles, and makeup.

Assessing The Molecular Conservation Of The Gene Mipp2 Across Drosophila Species, Mya Abuzir

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The primary objective of this project is to assess the molecular and structural conservation of Mipp2 within the insulin signaling pathway, across various Drosophila species. We mapped the location of Mipp2 in D. arizonae and annotated its coding sequences. The annotation displayed poor conservation of Mipp2 between D. melanogaster and D. arizonae, showing divergence in all coding exons. We have since annotated Mipp2 across additional Drosophila species and have found that more closely related species exhibit higher conservation of the gene region and the protein coding sequence.

The Role Of Shot In Spermatogenesis, Maya Petryszak

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

The biological process known as spermatogenesis is how sperm cells develop. Our study looks at the role of the short stop (shot) protein, which encodes a spectraplakin protein involved in regulating microtubules and actin. Shot’s function in Drosophila ovaries is well-known, but its role in spermatogenesis remains unexplored. Given the importance of microtubules and actin in sperm maturation, we believe that Shot coordinates their activity in the testes. To research this, we reduced Shot protein levels in testes somatic cells using RNA interference (RNAi) and GAL4/UAS system. By crossing tj-Gal4 flies with UAS-shot-RNAi flies, we can examine the effects of …

Shared Responsibility In Medical Aid In Dying (Maid): An Exploration Of The Ethical Implications Of Patient, Physician, And Familial Roles, Aseel Taha, Bre Mccoy, Mariam Sohail, Sanjitha Boobalan

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

Contrary to common perceptions surrounding death, the act of dying is often a social process. This poster explores the ethical implications of decision-making in Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), specifically looking at the role that family members and loved ones play when a patient decides to undergo MAID processes. The following research questions will be explored in this poster: What impact does participation in MAID processes have on familial networks? What internal turmoil do family members experience in their active involvement in MAID, and what motivates them to overlook such turmoil and choose to help? What makes end-of-life processes go …

Pyrazole-Based Inhibitors Of The Bacterial Enzyme Dape As Potential Antibiotics, Alayna Bland, Emma H. Kelley, Thomas Dipuma, Teerana Thabthimthong, Daniel P. Becker

Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium

As bacteria become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, there is a need for new antibiotics using alternative pathways. To answer this need, our research investigates inhibitors of the bacterial enzyme N-succinyl-L,L-2,6-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE). Based on previous work, we focused on pyrazole-based inhibitors, which were tested using a ninhydrin-based assay. The most potent pyrazole analog, 7d, has an IC₅₀ of 17.9 ± 8.0 µM, and analog (R)-7q is a competitive inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of 18.8 µM. A thermal shift assay demonstrated stabilization of the enzyme after binding with inhibitor (R)-7q …

Pollinator And Pollinator Plant Communities Within Restored Montane Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, Hanen Van Rossem, Matthew Weand

Symposium of Student Scholars

Historically the fire-dependent and biodiverse longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem was the dominant ecosystem of the Southeastern US. This ecosystem’s range was massively reduced due to land conversion and fire exclusion, causing the decline of many native species. Efforts to restore and protect longleaf pine stands are now ongoing with the goal of expanding habitat and refuge for threatened species. Differences in restoration practices and prior land use may influence the extent to which restored habitat patches can support pollinators and their plants. This study compared pollinator plant biodiversity between restored neighboring montane longleaf pine stands that differed in …

Enhancing Patient Safety: Exploring Virtual Sitters' Role In Fall Prevention Through Remote Virtual Monitoring, Adama Diallo, Awatef Ergai Dr., Leeanna Spiva Dr., Meriel Mccollum Dr.

Symposium of Student Scholars

Remote Virtual Monitoring (RVM) technology enhances safety for both patients and care teams by reducing falls, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of continuous patient observation, and lowering costs associated with falls and staff support. The success of fall reduction efforts largely depends on the role of virtual sitters, individuals who remotely monitor high-risk patients to prevent falls. This study aims to explore the experiences of virtual sitters, identifying key themes, challenges, and opportunities to improve the intervention. Specifically, the research investigates how technology, work shifts, and institutional support impact the effectiveness and job satisfaction of virtual sitters.

Structure Disorder And Magnetic Behavior Of An Olivine-Type Cathode Material, Hamida Hassan, Madalynn Marshall

Symposium of Student Scholars

Our research investigates the structure disorder and magnetic behavior of Li(Mn,Fe)PO₄, an olivine-type material relevant for lithium-ion battery applications. Using single-crystal neutron diffraction at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we precisely determined Mn and Fe occupancy, revealing a 56% Fe and 44% Mn distribution at the atomic 4c site within the Pnma space group. Additionally, we observed significant lithium site vacancies (78% occupied), influencing the material's electrochemical and magnetic properties. The varying Mn/Fe ratio affected spin reorientation transitions, shifting from antiferromagnetic alignment along the a-axis to the b-axis. Our findings provide crucial insights for optimizing olivine-based cathodes, enhancing energy …

Computational Study Of The Proton Transfer In The H7o3+ Cluster, Anna James, Martina Kaledin

Symposium of Student Scholars

Proton transfer (PT) from one molecule to another is among the most studied phenomena in chemistry. PT requires the bond cleavage and the formation of a new one, AH⁺ + B -> A+ BH⁺. In protonated water clusters, such a process consists of the interconversion of hydrogen bonds. Experimentally, such a process can be observed as a significant increase of a dipole moment. However, other vibrational transitions often occur with small changes in the dipole moment while large changes in polarizability. In this work, we study the PT process in a protonated water cluster, H₇O …

Assessing The Osmoregulatory Capabilities Of American Alligator Lingual Glands, Benjamin Angalet, Nicholas S. Green

Symposium of Student Scholars

Crocodilians inhabit a wide variety of aquatic, marine, and estuarine habitats on 4 continents. Saltwater-adapted species and populations face considerable osmoregulatory challenges in maintaining homeostasis with respect to plasma salt [NaCl] concentration. In addition to the kidneys and cloaca found in all crocodilians, crocodiles possess a salt-secreting lingual gland whose presence and function is less understood in other crocodilians. This study investigates the lingual gland anatomy, physiology, and potential function of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) populations exposed to varying salinity levels. At each of four sites (Jekyll Island, Sapelo Island, Okefenokee NWR, and Banks Lake NWR), we will capture 12 …

Investigating The Impact Of Waterhead, Time And Temperature On Dam Displacement: Application Of Computer Aided Models, Maaz Abdullah

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Dam displacement is a crucial indicator for assessing the safety of a concrete dam through structural health monitoring. Since the displacement data exhibits a non-linear and complex relationship with influencing factors like waterhead, time and temperature, machine learning models are deployed to accurately predict dam displacement. Furthermore, the limited availability of monitored data in the majority of the dams renders the studies conducted with a large number of observations valueless. In order to address the aforementioned issues, this study proposes a feature selection approach to predict dam displacement by examining the ability of four ensemble machine learning models on different …

Surface Urban Heat Island Effects Analysis In The Most Populated City In Thailand: Towards Sustainable Urban Development, Abdul Maulud Khairul Nizam, Muhammad Noor, Zafar Iqbal

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

The fast and unprecedented urban growth process may violate cities' responsibilities by causing an urban heat island (UHI) and increasing the public's risk of heat-related illnesses due to vegetative area reduction and urban area inclination. The Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA)'s variations in Land Use Land Cover (LULC), Land Surface Temperature (LST), UHI, and several geospatial indicators, as well as the daytime and nighttime LST, are the main subjects of the study. Between 2015 and 2021, the highest Daytime LST (DLST) rose consistently from 36.77°C to 38.14°C, then slightly decreased to 37.22°C in 2023. There is a general increase in the …