Digital Commons Network^™

Chemically-Triggered Dopant Release From Surface Modified Polypyrrole Films, Grant A. Richter, Allen Knepper, Paul J. Molino, Timothy Hanks

Chemistry Department Faculty Citations

Polypyrrole (PPy) is cationic in its conducting form, requiring a charge-balancing counterion, or dopant. The release of bioactive dopants, driven by the reduction of PPy films, offers a route to controlled drug delivery. Thiol-terminated long chain poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) reacts with a dodecylbenzene sulfonate (DBSA)-doped PPy, forming a dense overlayer and partially liberating DBSA via the chemical reduction of the film. The resulting PEG brush acts as a barrier to dopant diffusion from the film, but proteins have been shown to disrupt this layer, releasing the DBSA. The mechanism by which this disruption occurs has not been thoroughly investigated. …

Antibacterial And Antioxidant Activities Of Cutibacterium Acnes On Jatropha Gossypifolia Leaves And Pommetia Pinata Bark, Ummi Zahra, Arfiani Nur, Nunung Kurniati, Yusril Yusril, Maswati Baharuddin

Chimica et Natura Acta

Cutibacterium acnes is a bacterium that can cause inflammation of the skin tissue and lead to acne. Inhibitory activity treatment can be carried out using natural compounds unique to Indonesia as a tropical country, namely Pometia pinnata stem bark and red Jatropha gossypifolia leaves. Pometia pinnata stem bark and red Jatropha gossypifolia leaves are known to have the potential for antibacterial activity. This study aims to combine the two plants as anti-bacterial agents against Cutibacterium acnes and as antioxidants. The method used in this study was maceration, employing ethanol and ethyl acetate solvents for antibacterial and antioxidant activity tests, specifically …

Formulation Of Nanoemulsion Based Sungkai Leaves Extract (Peronema Canescens Jack) And Cinnamon Oil (Cinnamomum Burmannii (Nees & Th Nees) Blume) As An Antioxidant And Skin Protection Factors (Spf) Agent, Putri Agustin, Mahya Ihsan, Ade Lestari, Indra Lasmana Tarigan

Chimica et Natura Acta

Sungkai (Peronema canescens Jack) and Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) are herbal plants which are known to have a high content of secondary metabolite compounds as a source of natural antioxidants which are able to inhibit free radical compounds in the body and convert these free radical compounds into non-radical compounds. The greater the free radical scavenger activity in the product, the better the SPF value will be. However, the use of the extract as an active substance in cosmetic dosage forms has a low pharmaceutical elegance, so the extract is formulated using the SNEDDS (Self Nano-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System) technique. Nanoemulsion …

Coating Of Ti-6al-4v Metal Alloys Nanotube With Hydroxyapatite-Gelatin-Polyvinyl Alcohol Composites Using The Dip-Coating Methods, Charlena Charlena, Setyanto Tri Wahyudi, Cucu Putri Nurmawan

Chimica et Natura Acta

The Ti-6Al-4V metal alloy is an implantable material because of its strength, lightweightness, and corrosion resistance properties. Metal alloy surfaces need to be modified to improve corrosion resistance. Therefore, the study aims to modify the surface of Ti-6Al-4V metal alloys to form nanotube structures and to coat the hydroxyapatite composite (HAp)-gelatin-PVA in Ti-6Al-4V metal alloys. Nanotubes were formed by anodizing methods in an ethylene glycol-H2O (9:1) solution containing 0.6% NH4F at 20V for 3 hours. The result of SEM showed that the diameter of the nanotube hole is about 30−40 nm and that it is formed homogeneously. The result of …

Phylogenetic Relationships And Species Delimitation Of Bunchgrass Lizards Of The Genus Sceloporus From Mexico With The Description Of A New Species, Tristan Charran, Jesús A. Loc-Barragan, Rafael Alejandro Calzada-Arciniega, Liz A. Alfaro-Juantorena, Raúl Cueva Del Castillo, Christopher Blair, Víctor H. Jiménez-Arcos

Publications and Research

Molecular data continue to serve as an invaluable tool to assess species limits and patterns of cryptic diversity, particularly in areas harboring high levels of biodiversity. The Sceloporus scalaris group, known as bunchgrass lizards, contains 13 described and one undescribed species distributed throughout high elevation biotas of Mexico. However, recent studies suggest that diversity in the group may be substantially underestimated. We collect new sequence data from four independent loci to determine the evolutionary distinctiveness and phylogenetic relationships of an isolated population of bunchgrass lizard in the Sierra San Juan (SSJ) in the Mexican state of Nayarit. Concatenation and coalescent-based …

De Novo Variants In Cdkl1 And Cdkl2 Are Associated With Neurodevelopmental Symptoms, Ali H Bereshneh, Jonathan C Andrews, Daniel F Eberl, Guney Bademci, Nicholas A Borja, Stephanie Bivona, Wendy K Chung, Shinya Yamamoto, Michael F Wangler, Shane Mckee, Mustafa Tekin, Hugo J Bellen, Oguz Kanca

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

The CDKL (cyclin-dependent kinase-like) family consists of five members in humans, CDKL1-5, that encode serine-threonine kinases. The only member that has been associated with a Mendelian disorder is CDKL5, and variants in CDKL5 cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathy type 2 (DEE2). Here, we study four de novo variants in CDKL2 identified in five individuals, including three unrelated probands and monozygotic twins. These individuals present with overlapping symptoms, including global developmental delay, intellectual disability, childhood-onset epilepsy, dyspraxia, and speech deficits. We also identified two individuals with de novo missense variants in CDKL1 in the published Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) and GeneDx …

The Effects Of Diluted Fungicide On Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma Mavortium) Health, Sage Veomett

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) is a species of salamander that is native to Nebraska. The Western Tiger Salamander population has been in decline, specifically in Southeast Nebraska (Ferraro, 2016). The purpose of this study was to determine whether low levels of Azoxystrobin fungicide deposited in the soil are harmful to the Western Tiger Salamander. In this study, soil in tanks containing pairs of Western Tiger Salamanders was treated with levels of Azoxystrobin 0.5x under the recommended label amount for usage. Fifteen salamanders in total were used. Four tanks of salamander pairs were treated with the Azoxystrobin …

Measures Of Verbal Comprehension Patterns In Autistic Females, Savanna Leigh Parady

Theses and Dissertations

Although a rapidly growing body of scientific literature is leading to more understanding of autistic traits in women and girls, their diagnosis continues to occur at later ages. Diagnosis received at later ages limits access to early intervention and related positive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to add data to the weight of evidence approach in differential diagnosis of autism in females and other underserved groups. Specifically, I set out to identify patterns between verbal comprehension tasks measuring vocabulary knowledge (crystallized knowledge) and analogous verbal comprehension (similarities) tasks drawing on additional cognitive abilities. Verbal analogy tasks measure knowledge …

Hif Regulates Multiple Translated Endogenous Retroviruses: Implications For Cancer Immunotherapy, Qinqin Jiang, David A Braun, Karl R Clauser, Vijyendra Ramesh, Nitin H Shirole, Joseph E Duke-Cohan, Nancy Nabilsi, Nicholas J Kramer, Cleo Forman, Isabelle E Lippincott, Susan Klaeger, Kshiti M Phulphagar, Vipheaviny Chea, Nawoo Kim, Allison P Vanasse, Eddy Saad, Teagan Parsons, Melissa Carr-Reynolds, Isabel Carulli, Katarina Pinjusic, Yijia Jiang, Rong Li, Sudeepa Syamala, Suzanna Rachimi, Eva K Verzani, Jonathan D Stevens, William J Lane, Sabrina Y Camp, Kevin Meli, Melissa B Pappalardi, Zachary T Herbert, Xintao Qiu, Paloma Cejas, Henry W Long, Sachet A Shukla, Eliezer M Van Allen, Toni K Choueiri, L Stirling Churchman, Jennifer G Abelin, Cagan Gurer, Gavin Macbeath, Richard W Childs, Steven A Carr, Derin B Keskin, Catherine J Wu, William G Kaelin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), despite having a low mutational burden, is considered immunogenic because it occasionally undergoes spontaneous regressions and often responds to immunotherapies. The signature lesion in ccRCC is inactivation of the VHL tumor suppressor gene and consequent upregulation of the HIF transcription factor. An earlier case report described a ccRCC patient who was cured by an allogeneic stem cell transplant and later found to have donor-derived T cells that recognized a ccRCC-specific peptide encoded by a HIF-responsive endogenous retrovirus (ERV), ERVE-4. We report that ERVE-4 is one of many ERVs that are induced by HIF, translated …

Kenyon Collegian - April 3, 2025

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Modeling The Cystic Fibrosis Intestinal Environment To Study Microbial Interactions, Kaitlyn Emma Barrack

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The microbiome of the cystic fibrosis (CF) intestine is altered significantly in structure and function beginning in early life. Key taxa associated with health, digestion and immune-training are reduced in abundance, including but not limited to Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia, Ruminococcus and other short-chain fatty acid producers. Conversely, there is an expansion of microbes with pathogenic potential, such as Escherichia, Veillonella, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. The shifts in microbiota composition direct community-wide changes with differences in beta diversity by genotype, whereby children with CF (cwCF) exhibit significantly different gut microbial compositions compared to nonCF children. Additionally, shifts in microbiota structure often …

Clinical Validation Of Rna Sequencing For Mendelian Disorder Diagnostics, Sen Zhao, Kristina Macakova, Jefferson C Sinson, Hongzheng Dai, Jill Rosenfeld, Gladys E Zapata, Shenglan Li, Patricia A Ward, Christiana Wang, Chunjing Qu, Becky Maywald, Brendan Lee, Christine Eng, Pengfei Liu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite rapid advancements in clinical sequencing, over half of diagnostic evaluations still lack definitive results. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has shown promise in research settings for bridging this gap by providing essential functional data for accurate interpretation of diagnostic sequencing results. However, despite advanced research pipelines, clinical translation of diagnostic RNA-seq has not yet been realized. We have developed and validated a clinical diagnostic RNA-seq test for individuals with suspected genetic disorders who have existing or concurrent comprehensive DNA diagnostic testing. This diagnostic RNA-seq test processes RNA samples from fibroblasts or blood and derives clinical interpretations based on the analytical detection …

Biochemical Profiling And Structural Basis Of Adar1-Mediated Rna Editing, Xiangyu Deng, Lina Sun, Min Zhang, Rashmi Basavaraj, Jin Wang, Yi-Lan Weng, Yang Gao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

ADAR1 regulates RNA-induced immune responses by converting adenosine to inosine in double-stranded RNA. Mutations in ADAR1 are associated with human autoimmune disease, and targeting ADAR1 has been proposed for cancer immunotherapy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ADAR1-mediated editing remain unclear. Here, we provide detailed biochemical and structural characterizations of human ADAR1. Our biochemical profiling reveals that ADAR1 editing is both sequence and RNA-duplex-length dependent but can well tolerate mismatches near the editing site. High-resolution ADAR1-RNA complex structures, combined with mutagenesis, elucidate RNA binding, substrate selection, dimerization, and the essential role of RNA-binding domain 3. The ADAR1 structures also help explain …

Monitoring Morphological Variability Of Gravel Barrier Typologies Using 2d Lidar, Robert Jones, Nieves Valiente, Chris Blenkinsopp, Mark Davidson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Open Access Dataset And Common Data Model For Pulse Oximeter Performance Data, Nicholas Fong, Michael S Lipnick, Ella Behnke, Yu Chou, Seif Elmankabadi, Lily Ortiz, Christopher S Almond, Isabella Auchus, Garrett W Burnett, Ronald Bisegerwa, Desireé R Conrad, Carolyn M Hendrickson, Shubhada Hooli, Robert Kopotic, Gregory Leeb, Daniel Martin, Eric D Mccollum, Ellis P Monk, Kelvin L Moore, Leonid Shmuylovich, J Brady Scott, An-Kwok Ian Wong, Tianyue Zhou, Romain Pirracchio, Philip E Bickler, John Feiner, Tyler J Law

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The OpenOximetry Dataset stores clinical and lab pulse oximetry data. It supports measurements of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) by arterial blood gas co-oximetry and pulse oximetry (SpO2), alongside processed and unprocessed photoplethysmography (PPG) data and other metadata. This includes skin color measurements, finger diameter, vital signs (e.g., arterial blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide), and arterial blood gas parameters (e.g., acid-base balance, hemoglobin concentration). All data, from desaturation studies to clinical trials, are collected prospectively to ensure accuracy. A common data model and standardized protocols for consistent archival and interpretation ensure consistent data archival and interpretation. The dataset aims to facilitate …

Breaking The Synaptic Vesicle Cycle: Mechanistic Insights Into Presynaptic Dysfunctions In Epilepsy, Kevin Jiang, Lu-Tang Yang, Mingshan Xue

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Synaptic dysfunction is a hallmark of many neurological disorders including epilepsy. An increasing number of epilepsy-causing pathogenic variants are being identified in genes encoding presynaptic proteins that affect every step of the synaptic vesicle cycle, from vesicle loading, tethering, docking, priming, calcium sensing, fusing, to recycling. These different molecular dysfunctions result in converging impairment of presynaptic neurotransmitter release, yet lead to diverse epileptic disorders. This review focuses on representative monogenic epileptic disorders caused by pathogenic variants of key presynaptic proteins involved in different stages of the synaptic vesicle cycle: SYN1 (vesicle pool regulation), STXBP1 (vesicle docking, priming, and fusion), and …

"Evolution, Science And Faith: Grandeur In An Evolutionary View Of Life", Kenneth R. Miller

Dr. Benjamin T. Chu Distinguished Lecture

In this lecture, St. Norbert College welcomed Brown University's Kenneth R. Miller to campus for the Spring 2025 Dr. Benjamin T. Chu Distinguished Lecture, “Evolution, Science and Faith: Grandeur in an Evolutionary View of Life".

Miller—renowned biologist, author and advocate for the dialogue between science and religion—shared powerful insights on evolution, human purpose and the intersection of reason and belief.

Exit Strategy: How Methods Of Gaining Independence From European Colonial Powers Impact Development In Post-Colonial African Nations, Sophia Wehle

Undergraduate Student Symposium

How does the way a colony gains independence from its power impact that colony’s future development? It is well documented that being a former colony has an impact on how a nation develops once they are independent, however, what is not clear is if a nation’s development is impacted by the way they separate from their colonial power. This paper argues that there is a correlation between the way a colony gains their independence and how developed they are. For the sake of this research three main ways of gaining independence will be considered: though violent resistance, peaceful negotiations, or …

Comparative Genomics Across Streptomyces Murinus Strains To Identify Biosynthetic Gene Cluster For Antifungal Metabolite 'Pentamycin', Nitish Dundigalla, Ashley Bran Sampson, Smrithi Mukund, Melianni Terrero Terrero

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Streptomyces are filamentous, Gram-positive bacteria in the phylum Actinobacteria that are known to produce a diverse array of antimicrobial metabolites. A Streptomyces murinus strain SPC1, contains a 15- gene biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) that produces an antifungal metabolite ‘pentamycin’ (fungichromin), and is shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against fungal pathogens of palms¹. Using SPC1 strain as a reference, we analyzed the conservation of BGCs across 17 other S. murinus strains. A specialized bioinformatics analysis tool, antiSMASH² , was used to identify and annotate BGCs that produce pentamycin. Pairwise comparison of the 15 genes comprising the pentamycin cluster …

Empowering Gender Diverse Students: Developing A Resource Guide At Nova Southeastern University, Meghana Jagarlamudi, Kayla Sewell

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Between 2018 and 2022, faculty mentor and previous research partners conducted interviews and needbased assessments with transgender students at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) highlighting the need for greater awareness of university policies, procedures, and resources supporting the well-being of gender-diverse students. To address this, the research team collaborated to explore NSU's current policies on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), Title IX, protocols for names and pronouns, housing and bathroom accommodations, advocacy processes, and student organizations across these campus offices. These findings led to the creation of the NSU Resource Guide for Gender Diverse Students (work in progress), which offers …

Exploring The Effects Of Food Additives On Electroshock-Induced Seizures In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Sharvani Nune, Carina Pavlov, Japji G. Madan, Emma Hickey, Bhargav Potineni, Dillen-Preetesh Patel, Jeremy Ignatius, Mackenzie Mcgrogan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Many commercially available food products are laced with food additives, such as non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs, e.g. Equal and Splenda). Due to the minimal caloric content and increased palatability, these products are often preferred. Some research exists on the adverse effects of these food additives, but the neurotoxic effects of these compounds are not yet understood beyond anecdotes. In this study, we explore the effects of chemical sweeteners and food additives on seizure behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans are widely used in neuroscience research due to their simple and fully mapped nervous system. To study convulsant behavior of C. …

Investigation And Reclassification Of Gordonia Bacteriophage Protein Folding And Function With Google Deepmind's Alphafold Artificial Intellifence Software, Taylor Butler

Undergraduate Student Symposium

As the rapid evolution of multi-drug-resistant bacteria inflict public health and environmental crises, the need for alternatives to convention antibiotics is necessary. Bacteriophage (phage) interventions has resurfaced as a prospective avenue of study. However, these viruses that are capable of infecting and killing bacteria are widely undiscovered and lack genetic characterization. Current methods utilize bioinformatics and comparative tools to identify genes and protein functions. Unfortunately, functional classification of phage proteins is difficult with limited experimental data. As a result, functional assignments are often made on synteny using genetically similar bacteriophages. However, many proteins are assigned “hypothetical” functions as no comparative …

Paradise Lost And Character Motivation: Sinful Behavior Or Inferiority Complex?, Esperanza Barrios

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Sin is a concept mainly viewed from a religious perspective. But, through Paradise Lost, John Milton brought a further understanding of human nature and one’s sense of committing what’s perceived as sinful behavior without the veil of religion glazing over academic understanding. In religious terms, sinful behavior is the idea of defying God’s commandments. Still, for this research, sinful behavior may be described as abnormal behavior that damages our best interests and relationships for selfish gains. Sin is also synonymous with the term criminality, the act of committing immoral or deviant acts. Each of Milton’s main characters, Satan, Adam, …

The Fascinations And Downfalls Of Undergraduate Pre-Health Students, Alexis Salcedo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This project aims to research and discover the stress of Pre-health students and the effects that stress has on their passions for the field. The pre-health field is notorious for being difficult and requiring incredibly hard work, however, all pre-health students all have a common goal in mind and that is to become health professionals in their respective field. As a pre-health student myself, I came into college with a great passion for my field, however, I have certainly faced struggles along the way, but they have not deterred me from my goal. In order to get information, there will …

The Stability Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Salmon Following Gamma Irradiation, Saya Seraj

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly omega-3 and omega-6, are essential nutrients for human health, with salmon being a significant dietary source. However, fish spoilage during refrigeration remains a concern. Gamma irradiation has been approved as a method to reduce bacteria in various foods such as chicken, beef, and shellfish, but it has yet to be approved for fish. To gain FDA approval, it is crucial to demonstrate that this process preserves the nutritional components, particularly PUFAs, in irradiated fish.

In this study, we investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on the PUFA content of salmon at doses of 0.5 kGy …

Buzz And Bloom: Attractiveness Of Odor And Petal Color In South Florida Native Flowers, Maria Castellon, Claudette Artiles, Fabie Gelin, Nia Lewis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

South Florida is home to many species of flowers, such as Tradescantia ohiensis (also known as Spiderwort) and Bidens alba (also known as Spanish needle). Spanish Needle is a common weed that has a small flower with white petals and a yellow center while Spiderwort is a wildflower with bluish-purple petals and yellow anthers. Flowers have adapted their physical traits to attract pollinators through their colorful petals and the aromas they emit. Bees are known to use visual cues to identify flowers over long distances and use odor cues for short distances. The objective of this study was to evaluate …

How Do Gamified Interventions Influence Long-Term Health Outcomes In Managing And Reducing The Progression Of Chronic Illnesses Among Children Under 18?, Taruni Singanamala, Mohit Belur, Jeremy Ignatius

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Despite the advancements in medical care, children below the age of 18 years and their parents or guardians face significant challenges in managing chronic diseases, such as strict treatment regimens with lifestyle modifications for effective management. Nutrition, exercise, and adherence to medication all prevent children from acquiring or assist them in managing a chronic illness. Recent studies have shown that gamifying these aspects makes these goals more attainable and could be the answer to encouraging children and their families. Gamified interventions show promise in improving behavioral adherence and longer-term health outcomes by including features such as rewards, challenges, and progress …

Socioeconomic Drivers Of Crime In France: Analyzing The Relationship Between Immigration, Poverty, And Criminality, Imadeddine Zmarou

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This study examines the relationship between immigration and crime in France, using departmental data from 2021. Amid rising political tensions and far-right claims linking immigration to insecurity, the research investigates whether these assertions hold statistical merit. Regression analyses assess the impact of immigrant population percentages on homicide and sexual assault rates, controlling for factors such as poverty and population density. The analysis finds no significant link between immigration and homicide rates. Instead, poverty emerges as a major determinant, with departments experiencing higher poverty levels reporting significantly more homicides. Conversely, areas with higher immigrant populations report fewer sexual assaults, a trend …

Exploring Vibrational Energy Transfer Between Dna And Water Molecules, Jarlynn Ramirez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Studies have shown that when DNA absorbs ultraviolet light it can become structurally damaged leading to a mutation. Absorption of ultraviolet light causes molecular vibrations in DNA and these vibrations are what likely leads to structural changes in the DNA. However, exposing DNA to ultraviolet light rarely leads to structural damage. This indicates that the energy from the absorbed ultraviolet light is often dissipated in a way that does not damage the DNA. One way the structural changes could be avoided is by vibrational energy transfer from DNA to nearby water molecules. To investigate this potential biological mechanism, molecular dynamics …

Impacts Of Early Childhood Intervention On The Cognitive Development Of Individuals With Down Syndrome, Ella Riddle

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down Syndrome, is a chromosomal condition that causes intellectual and developmental delays. It is one of the several intellectual disabilities that is protected in the education system under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that provides free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities. Though there is no “cure” for the syndrome, there are several therapies and interventions that significantly improve the cognitive capabilities of individuals diagnosed with Down Syndrome. In recent years, early intervention strategies taking place as early as birth until the age of three have been implemented through services …