Life Sciences Commons^™

Differentially Expressed Genes (Degs) Identified Under High Night Temperature (Hnt) And Control Conditions In 15 Rice Qtls For Grain Quality Traits, Navdeep Gill, Andy Pereira

Biology Faculty Datasets

This dataset contains a list of 149 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) that were identified in two rice genotypes (Cypress and LaGrue) under control and High Night Temperature (HNT) conditions. The 149 up/down regulated genes are housed in the 15 rice QTLs for grain quality traits such as grain length (GL), grain width (GW), and percent chalkiness (%chalk) under control and HNT stress conditions.

Unexpected Opportunities For Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) Education And Citizen Science, Yvanna M. Strait, Amy Hirons

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) mainly resides within the state's coastal waters, but sharing this habitat with thousands of watercrafts, either registered, unregistered, or visiting, has proven challenging for its survival. The future of manatee research among scientists and citizen scientists has strong potential. By taking advantage of venues of opportunity such as boat shows, not only is local population data gathered, but a stronger positive relationship with the public is forged. When people feel they have a stake in the conservation of a species or habitat, they will likely become and remain engaged.

Complete Genome Sequences Of Genamy16 And Novasharks, Two Gordonia Rubripertincta Bacteriophages Isolated From Soil In Southeastern Florida, Julie Torruellas Garcia, Sarah Ballarin, Neel Balusa, Melissa Bell, Samia Caballero, Joshua Chan, Maria Farez, Ashley J. Guillen-Tapia, Kristin Parent, Nashrah Pierre-Louis, Victoria Polishuk, Bhavya Soni, Sundharraman Subramanian, Katie E. Crump

Biology Faculty Articles

We report on two actinobacteriophages, Genamy16 and NovaSharks, that were isolated from soil in Florida using Gordonia rubripertincta NRRL B-16540. The genomes of both phages are ~65,000 bp, with similar GC contents, and, based on gene content similarity to phages in the Actinobacteriophage Database, were assigned to phage cluster DV.

Coral X-Radiograph Densitometry System, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Software

The Coral X-radiograph Densitometry System (CoralXDS) is a Windows-based program which provides a tool for measurement of linear extension, density, and calcification from coral X-radiographs. These quantities are determined for high-density, low-density, and annual bands. CoralXDS operates in two "modes": full mode and extension/luminance mode. Full mode measures linear extension, density, and calcification, while extension/luminance mode measures only linear extension. Extension/luminance mode requires only a coral image with scaling information. CoralXDS allows user specification of transect location and orientation on the coral image, and provides several options for automated and manual band selection. The output measurements …

Cpce Software, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Software

The CPCe (Coral Point Count with Excel extensions) program is a Windows-based software (PC use only) that provides a tool for the determination of coral cover using transect photographs. A specified number of spatially random points are distributed on a transect image and the features underlying the points are user-identified. Coverage statistics are then calculated and the results sent to Excel spreadsheets automatically.

Additionally, CPCe can be used for image calibration and area analysis of benthic features. Excel sheets are automatically generated to summarize the area calculations for each image.

Using CPCe

Using CPCe is simple and straightforward. The main …

Covid-19-Impacted Research And Education In Global Healthcare And Stem: Evaluation Of Case Studies, Yumna Indorewala, Santanu De

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The zoonotic novel coronavirus has posed major challenges to the world’s economy, social development, and public health. Effects in the education and research in the field of healthcare and STEM are accentuated in lower-developed countries or communities where the access to technology and a reliable internet connection are luxuries making it difficult to attain education virtually. The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has also disrupted research and training in STEM and healthcare. With significant increases in infection rates there is an urge to redirect projects towards virology research and vaccine development. This comprehensive literature review includes case studies highlighting the …

Global Research In Anatomy And Physiology During Covid-19: Lessons Learnt And Future Recommendations, Harsh Chheda, Jeet Patel, Santanu De

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The ongoing Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a significant disruption in several areas of research within the fields of Anatomy and Physiology. With the whole world coming to a standstill, research of any kind was difficult to pursue, especially in these disciplines requiring kinesthetic/tactile application of concepts or testing hypotheses through hands-on engagement, as the new social guidelines and risks to certain groups of people hindered up-to-date research-data collection. However, with new technology and protocols created or adopted, there has been an effort to better help students and scientists to conduct research remotely; such alternatives cannot effectively …

Summer 2022 Biology Internship: Medical University Of Graz, Austria, Sruthi Kundur, Maria Paula Farez

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

This internship was a 6 week internship program in Graz, Austria at the Medical University of Graz. This program allows for intercampus and institutional interaction in multiple scientific research disciplines whereby young scientists gain exposure, direction and guidance during their developing career paths. During the internship you will be to assist a transplant surgical team. Additionally, you can assist Dr. Philipp Siegler in their mini project.

Md Anderson Cancer Center Summer Experience, Lijo Andrews, Sachita Guthula

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Given that there still exist cancers that are unresponsive to immunotherapy, high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation offers an alternative solution to bolstering anti-tumor immunity. Linear energy transfer is energy transferred per unit distance. Alpha particles have higher LET than other forms of radiotherapy and can create clustered DNA lesions. A possible component of these lesions is micronuclei, cytoplasmic DNA that can stimulate downstream immunostimulatory mechanisms. Because alpha particles cannot travel far, we utilized diffusing alpha-emitters radiation therapy (DaRT) to diffuse the alpha particles over a larger tumor volume. This occurs through the decay of the radium-224 seed, which forms …

Trick To The Treat Of Internships And Research: Health Literacy Project: Awareness Of Autism In Black And Brown Communities, Varun Kota, Mark Jaffe

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects a multitude of races and ethnicities as its impact varies from person to person. ASD is typically diagnosed around the age of two to three years old since signs and symptoms of Autism develop then. Increased reporting of Autism in local communities has surged because of better diagnostic tools and criteria as well as public awareness. However, even with these advancements, the African American community suffers a delayed diagnosis for ASD. This issue poses problems for both the parents and children with Autism; opportunities are limited for developmental services by a delayed diagnosis. A literature …

Sea-Phages Research Opportunity, Sarah Ballarin

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Research opportunity targeted for freshmen and sophomores through the SEA-PHAGES program. The goal of the research is to discover new bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) to help combat antibiotic resistance. Phage therapy is a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. Phages have also been widely used in the food industry to prevent microbial growth on certain foods and are currently being explored as a method for bioremediation of oil spills and wastewater treatment.

Last year, my research team discovered two new bacteriophages: Genamy16 and NovaSharks that were able to infect the bacteria Gordonia rubripertincta. These phages can possibly be used for …

Global Education In Anatomy And Physiology During Covid-19: Lessons Learnt And Future Recommendations, Sean Mahajan, Sneh Patel, Santanu De

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted several essential aspects of anatomy and physiology education worldwide. With this pandemic, dynamic instructional and technological interventions have been taking place rapidly in an effort to minimize the adverse repercussions of moving away from the traditional means of education in these critical scientific disciplines. COVID-19 has necessitated higher educational administrations, faculty, and students to pursue teaching, learning, and assessment of anatomy and physiology courses/curricula through innovative strategies without compromising on the quality or rigor of education. Our study encapsulates, for the first time, globally published reports on the key implications of …

Trick To The Treat: Penn Medicine Princeton Health Hospital, Divya Papaiya

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

I participated in the volunteering program of Penn Medicine Princeton Health over this summer from May to August. There are multiple departments you have the chance to volunteer in, but I was placed in the Peri-Operative Unit (pre and post-surgery unit). Volunteering allowed me to gain bedside manners by helping to serve and discharge patients while also letting me learn how day-to-day tasks in a hospital are run and how important it is to be dedicated in providing the best care possible to all people who walk through the hospital doors seeking aid.

Stem-Away: Mentor Chains Internships, Isha K. Pasumarthi

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Mission: Helping students discover the potential & beauty of STEM, the joy of problem-solving and a STEM career that resonates with them.

Practicum In Biology, Alina Poothurail

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The Practicum in Biology Course is a unique course which will help you develop essential skills for the advancement of your professional development. With various different assignments, you will learn how to conduct literature reviews, analyze research studies, and give excellent Journal Club Presentations. In addition, this course will prepare you for graduate school and the workforce as a result of conducting mock interviews, revising or creating your resume, and creating a personal statement or Cover Letter with the help of Nova Southeastern University’s Career Development Office. All components of this course were designed to provide you excel in your …

Research Internship At Marcus Neuroscience Institute, Abhinav Ankem

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

My internship experience at the Baptist Health Marcus Neuroscience Institute allowed me to pursue an opportunity in researching neuro inflammation with specific types of strokes and injuries resulting from impaired blood flow to the brain. I work with data from the lab, and with analyzing multiple pieces of literature for a greater understanding of the topics of interest in the lab. Lastly, I work with the staff and principal investigator to confirm my findings and work ahead on the data analysis.

Science Alive, Trisha Sudhakar, Rajin Persaud

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The goal of Science Alive is to provide a “sense of wonder” not only for the grade-school children but for the college students and their faculty as well. Science Alive serves to reinforce the scientific knowledge of local grade-school students and community members, while enhancing the education and career development opportunities for college students. Our group does this by providing opportunities for youth to explore science beyond the textbooks through hands-on, interactive discovery, which stimulates interest and fosters confidence for college and grade-school students alike. Our groups lead on-campus and in-class workshops, weekend clubs, after-school programs, and other community events. …

Pfizer Summer Growth Experience, Arman Kakkar

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

From May 9, 2022 till July 29, 2022, I served as a Research Intern at Pfizer. Specifically, I worked in the Vaccine Research and Development Sector in the High Throughput Clinical Immunoassays and Diagnostics Group (HCID). In this group, I was responsible for Phase 3 testing of clinical trial material for the Covid-19 Vaccine. Over this time, I learned a great deal about the process of vaccine production from start to finish. Additionally, I was able to make numerous connections. This is definitely an experience I would recommend to others.

Independent Study (Biol 4990): Global Implications Of Covid-19 On Education And Research In Stem And Healthcare: Analysis Of Case Studies, Yumna Indorewala

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The zoonotic novel coronavirus presents as a major challenge to the world’s economy, social development, and public health. Effects in the education and research in the field of healthcare and STEM are accentuated in lower-developed countries or communities where the access to technology and a reliable internet connection are luxuries making it difficult to attain education virtually. COVID-19 has also disrupted research and training in STEM and healthcare. With significant increases in infection rates there is an urge to redirect projects towards virology research and vaccine development. This comprehensive literature review includes case studies highlighting the consequences of COVID-19 on …

Trick To The Treat: Protein Modeling, Pujita Julakanti

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Protein Modeling is a unique way of understanding a protein and its interactions. In this specific experience, students can find a protein that is interesting to them. Then, they can use protein visualization software such as Jmol and PyMOL to be able to see the structure better. They could write scripts in which they change parts of the protein for enhancement or simply to visualize the protein interactions. Overall, it is a great way to get involved in research. Luckily for NSU students, there is an Honors Intro to Protein Modeling course they can take with Dr. Schmitt and Dr. …

Bacteria Unearthed, Varsha Chigurupati, Mark Sourial, Katrina Maktaz, Alana Bertrand

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Bacteria Unearthed is an NSU initiative to bring together high school and college students to participate in Tiny Earth: an international consortium of researchers searching for novel microorganisms and antibiotics to combat antibiotic drug resistance.

Poststroke Seizure And Epilepsy: A Review Of Incidence, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, And Pharmacological Therapies, Joseph Phan, Mario Ramos, Theodore Soares, Mayur S. Parmar

HPD Articles

Stroke is the most common cause of epilepsy and ultimately leads to a decrease in the quality of life of those affected. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes can both lead to poststroke epilepsy (PSE). Significant risk factors for PSE include age less than 65 years, stroke severity measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), cortical involvement, and genetic factors such as TRPM6 polymorphism. The diagnosis of PSE is made by using imaging modalities, blood biomarkers, and prognostic criteria. Electroencephalography (EEG) is currently the gold standard to diagnose PSE, while new combinations of modalities are being tested to increase …

Three-Month Recovery From Common Negative Physical, Functional, And Psychosocial Effects Among Individuals Infected With Covid-19: A Single Observational Group Repeated Measure Study, Hussain I. Aslan, Scotty J. Butcher Phd, Darcy D. Marciniuk Md, Corey R. Tomczak Phd

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Purpose: We examined three-month recovery from common negative effects of COVID-19 infection on select physical, functional, and psychosocial parameters among infected individuals and their implications for rehabilitation programs. Methods: Twenty-one subjects participated in this study. Four standardized questionnaires were used to assess dyspnea, physical, and psychosocial variables in this study. The post-test survey was conducted 90 days following the pre-test survey. Wilcoxon-Signed Rank test and paired t-test were used to compare the variables data between pre- and post-testing time points. Results: Dyspnea scores decreased from (pre: 2 vs post:1, Z=-3.276, p=0.001, r=.50). Work performance scores increased from …

Population Trajectory And Stressors Of Acropora Palmata Sites In The Florida Keys, Karen L. Neely, Kevin A. Macaulay, Kate S. Lunz

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The decline of elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, has been ongoing for decades, but the causes of decline and the resulting population status continue to be topics of study. Past efforts to categorize stressors have ranged from spatially and/or temporally focused efforts that detect local stressors but may miss broader patterns to meta-analyses that identify large-scale trends but may not account for finer-scale variability. We here conduct an analysis of sites surveyed across five years (2010-2015) and much of the Florida Reef Tract in order to look at large-scale patterns while also accounting for site, habitat, seasonal, and annual variability. …

Zoonosis At The Huanan Seafood Market: A Critique, Daoyu Zhang, Gilles Demaneuf, Adrian Jones, Steven Massey, Steven Quay, Yuri Deigin, Louis R. Nemzer

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Since the Hunan Seafood Market (HSM) in Wuhan, China was first suggested as the source of the COVID-19 pandemic in late January 2020, debate has continued over the evidence supporting this claim. Here, we assess the evidence provided in support of zoonotic spillover at the HSM as the origin of human infection of SARS-CoV-2. We find that the datasets and analyses put forward in support of zoonosis are biased, and lack sufficient verifiable data to support this hypothesis. The earliest COVID-19 case at the HSM was not at or near a wildlife stall, the distribution of cases at the HSM …

Effects Of Covid-19 On Pregnant Women And Newborns: A Review, Bhavesh M. Patel, Deepesh Khanna, Siya Khanna, Vera Hapshy, Pragya Khanna, Payal Kahar, Mayur S. Parmar

HPD Articles

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and spread all over the world, causing the worst pandemic of the century. The disease has a broad continuum of clinical presentations, from mild to life-threatening. The virus is highly contagious and transmittable to humans. Emerging evidence of its effects on pregnant women and newborns is inconsistent and ever-evolving. Therefore, the objective of this review is to compile the scientific literature on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus on pregnancy, pregnant women, and newborns. Data were obtained by several authors using PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Web …

Spatial Variation In Hard Bottom Coral Communities Of The Coastal West Florida Shelf, Nicole Blank, Sandra D. Brooke, Brian K. Walker

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Hard bottom coral and sponge communities differ along portions of the West Florida Shelf (WFS) in species occurrence, diversity, and/or size. However, the composition and spatial distribution of these communities are not well understood. Community transitions have been proposed in the central portion of the WFS around Tampa Bay, Cedar Key, and as far south as Charlotte Harbor, but supporting data are sparse. Fifteen sites in three regions of Florida were surveyed for species distribution, density, and demographics. Distinct communities were found between St Teresa, Hudson, and Tarpon Springs. Coral and sponge densities were highest off Tarpon Springs followed by …

[Tilapia (Oreochromis)] Neurocranium, Kaylee J. Czachorowski, Mackenzie S. Magyar, Haley Minne, David William Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium [Oreochromis] by Kaylee Czachorowski, Haley Minne, Mackenzie Magyar

Memory And Attention While Scuba Diving At Shallow And Deep Depths: An Open Water Study, Leanne Boucher, Joshua Feingold, Kelly Concannon, Stephanie Talavera, Jaime Tartar, W. Matthew Collins

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

SCUBA diving requires a high level of cognitive functioning, however, many divers anecdotally report poor memory and attentional skills while underwater. Few studies have documented cognitive deficits resulting from an open-water dive. Here, 23 divers completed both shallow (8 m) and deep (28 m) dives over two days in the open-water. The order of the dives was counterbalanced across participants. While at depth, they completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to assess anxiety levels, learned and were tested on a list of 36 words, and completed the trail making task (TMT) to assess executive functioning. They also gave saliva samples to …

The Pioneer Advantage: Filling The Blank Spots On The Map Of Genome Diversity In Europe, Taras K. Oleksyk, Walter Wolfsberger, Khrystyna Schubelka, Serghei Mangul, Stephen James O'Brien

Biology Faculty Articles

Documenting genome diversity is important for the local biomedical communities and instrumental in developing precision and personalized medicine. Currently, tens of thousands of whole-genome sequences from Europe are publicly available, but most of these represent populations of developed countries of Europe. The uneven distribution of the available data is further impaired by the lack of data sharing. Recent whole-genome studies in Eastern Europe, one in Ukraine and one in Russia, demonstrated that local genome diversity and population structure from Eastern Europe historically had not been fully represented. An unexpected wealth of genomic variation uncovered in these studies was not so …