Life Sciences Commons^™

Mast Cells In Mammary Carcinoma, Alexandria M. Ashbaugh

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breast cancer (BC) is an aggressive disease that takes the lives of thousands of women every year. Although knowledge and treatment of this disease have improved over the years, much is still to be discovered about BC. One area of expertise that we are currently trying to learn more information about is the mast cell (MC) and its role in BC growth and development. The MC is an immune system component discovered in tumors' extracellular matrix (ECM). As a tumor grows within body tissues, the tumor recruits the MC from surrounding connective tissues to the tumor, using signaling cytokines such …

The Effect Of Yamanaka Factors On The Metastatic Potential Of Breast Cancer Cells, Riley Mendonca

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The mortality associated with cancer is most commonly a result of it spreading to other tissues and organs in a process known as metastasis. For carcinomas to do this they must first break through the basement membrane containing them to interact with the stroma. This is known as an epithelial-mesenchymal transition and occurs when carcinomas suppress their original epithelial qualities in order to adopt more mesenchymal ones. This involves cancers dedifferentiating from their original cell type to lose the specialized features that distinguished them and where they came from. As cancers become more invasive, this dedifferentiation becomes more pronounced. Recent …

Evaluating Environmental Enrichment As A Preventative Treatment In A Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Ainsley Craddock

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to several cognitive deficits, including impairments in spatial memory (Alzheimer’s Association, “What is Alzheimer’s Disease?,” 2024). This is thought to occur due to atrophy in the hippocampus and cholinergic system (Ferreira-Vieira et al., 2016). Acetylcholine receptor antagonists, such as scopolamine, can mimic the effects of AD by decreasing acetylcholine activity at muscarinic receptors in the hippocampus. Scopolamine is an antiemetic that is FDA approved to treat certain kinds of nausea, but it has become a popular pharmacological model for studying the cognitive impairments associated with AD (Bajo et al., 2015). …

Investigating The Modulation Of Metastasis By Dax-1 In Adrenal Carcinoma Cells, Aarya Mishra

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The nuclear hormone receptor (NHR), DAX-1 (dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia critical region, on chromosome X, gene 1), is important in adrenal and gonadal development as well as steroidogenesis. It is encoded by the NR0B1 gene and functions mainly as a transcriptional repressor. Classified as an orphan receptor within the NHR superfamily, DAX-1 has been shown to inhibit other NHRs including estrogen receptor, androgen receptor and steroidogenic factor 1. DAX-1 is found to be underexpressed in breast and prostate cancers and, specifically in prostate cancer, is believed to be a transcriptional repressor of genes that are involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition …

Investigating The Role Of Tryptophan In The Native Photo-Crosslinking Of A Cys-Containing Transmembrane Helix To A Membrane Lipid Double Bond, Michael Jay Telehany

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Our research group has previously discovered that a Cys residue within a transmembrane (TM) helix can directly photo-crosslink to a membrane lipid via an oxythiolation addition reaction to the double bond within the lipid, with a reaction yield of 10-20%. The pH-low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) serves as our model TM helix, while the POPC lipid bilayer is our model membrane. We had long believed that the Trp residues within the sequence of pHLIP served as the key chromophore for this reaction, and thus they were essential for the formation of the TM helix-lipid adduct. To test this hypothesis, I synthesized …

Ethanol-Induced Alterations To Astrocytic Glutamate Transporter Mrna Expression In The Mpfc Of Adult Mice, Zachary Evans

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is one of several brain structures that is contained in the mesolimbocortical pathway and controls many processes involved in alcohol use disorder (AUD). There is vast glutamatergic output from the mPFC to other mesolimbocortical regions; neuroplastic changes to this system are believed to be closely tied to the development and maintenance of AUD. Astrocytes are key regulators of glutamatergic transmission through their uptake of excess glutamate from the synapse and recycling back into neurons. Ethanol (EtOH) alters the expression of astrocytic genes that encode for transporters that control glutamate homeostasis; these include the glutamate transporter-1 …

Ecology And Conservation Of Diamondback Terrapins In Virginia, Cypress Ambrose

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is the only turtle species native to North America with specific morphological and physiological adaptations to estuarine environments. Along with many other pressures contributing to population declines, terrapins frequently become trapped and drown as bycatch in crab pots used in the commercial and recreational blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) fishery. A wealth of evidence supports the use of inexpensive bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) that can be attached to the entrances of these traps, which leads to a marked decrease in terrapin bycatch while not reducing crab catch dramatically. Virginia is the only …

Practical Solutions To The Invasion Of Lionfish In Utila, Honduras: Science, Education, Food, And Jewelry, Carolyn Corley

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Lionfish (Pterois sp.) are invasive species capable of devastating coral reef ecosystems due to their lack of predators, large appetites, generalist diet, high fecundity, and rapid spawning rates. As lionfish have expanded their distribution across the Caribbean, many conservation groups have taken it upon themselves to systematically remove these predators from environments where they are threatening native species. However, few have involved the community the way I observed while interning with the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center in Utila, Honduras. Protecting coral reefs is extremely important, especially in small communities like Utila, where the majority of people’s …

Demystifying The Mind-Body Connection: The Neuroscience Behind How Thoughts Impact Physical Health, Sofia Pantis

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The beliefs, emotions, and experiences that constitute a mindset shape numerous aspects of one’s reality, but in particular, health. Health is defined by not only the physical state of one’s body, but also the content of one’s mind. The integration of the mind and body is often associated with naturopathic medicines or pseudoscience, and thus is usually left out of Western medicinal practices. This review aims to demystify the mind-body connection in health and wellness by introducing it within an empirical, neuroscientific landscape. This research supports the hypothesis that mind over matter rings true even at the biochemical level. Activation …

Investigating The Role Of Tgf-Beta Signaling In Acoel Regeneration & Fission, Franchesca A. Aziz

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Whole-body regeneration and asexual reproduction are widespread in the Metazoa, yet little is known about the genetic systems that drive the regeneration process outside of a few model organisms. While many animals utilize fission followed by regeneration to accomplish asexual reproduction, Convolutriloba longifissura is unusual in performing a double fission, requiring significant anterior-posterior and medial-lateral regeneration that alters the orthogonal body axes in adult tissues. To better understand the process of axial re-specification during postembryonic development, we studied the genetic mechanisms used by C. longifissura to modify and respecify axial polarity during asexual reproduction and subsequent regeneration. Because conserved signaling …

Variation In Sign-Tracking And Goal-Tracking Behaviors In A Genetically Diverse Inbred Panel Of Mice, Emily A. Schoenblum

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Acute And Repeated Alcohol Exposure On Expression Of Synaptic-Associated Genes In The Male And Female Mouse Mpfc, Dhruba Podder

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious chronic brain disease; in 2021 there were ~29.5 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with AUD. Individuals with AUD often show cognitive impairment such as risky decision-making, difficulties with impulse control, and working memory deficits. This impairment is associated with structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), an extensively interconnected region of the frontal lobe involved in executive control of goal-directed behaviors. Chronic alcohol exposure in rodents has been seen to cause deficits in performance in behavioral tasks which assess mPFC function such as working memory and behavioral flexibility. It is …

Nicotinamide Riboside And Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Activate Parallel Pathways For C. Elegans Lifespan Extension, Mckenzie Peters

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Supplementation with nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3 and a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) extends lifespan in the nematode C. elegans and delays aging-related pathologies in mammals. During aging, levels of NAD⁺ decline causing metabolic dysfunction and oxidative damage. Studies in C. elegans found that when NR was administered during larval development it induced the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt), which is frequently associated with lifespan extension. Both calorie restriction (CR) and ketogenic diets (KD) have been shown to extend lifespan, in part through increasing NAD⁺ and through increasing levels …

Sexual Dimorphism Of Glomerular Capillary Morphology In Rats, Zackarias Coker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progresses faster in males than females; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Sex differences in glomerular capillary morphology has been hypothesized to contribute, in part, to the increased susceptibility to hypertension-induced renal injury and CKD progression in males, but this has not been investigated. The goal of the present study was to assess glomerular capillary morphology in male vs. female rats with intact kidneys and after uninephrectomy (UNX). We hypothesized that glomerular capillary radii (R_CAP) and length (L_CAP) would be greater in male rats.

Male (n=4) and female (n=4) with intact …

Implications Of Toll-Like Receptor 10 Mutants In Cell Signaling, Sonali Joshi

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Our innate immune system serves the important purpose of quickly recognizing microbial pathogens and providing the first line of defense against infection. Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) are one class of receptors responsible for enacting our bodies’ innate immune responses. Specifically, TLR10 is an extremely under-researched receptor. Some naturally occurring mutations in TLR10 have been linked with a worsening prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis, with previous research uncovering a mutant form of TLR10 that impairs innate immune system-controlled inflammatory responses. However, other research has found that wild-type forms of TLR10 also contribute to pro-inflammatory pathways in healthy cells. To better understand the wild-type …

Investigation Of The Role Of Dax-1 In The Hpa Axis In Human Adrenal Cells, Katerina N. Fargas

Undergraduate Honors Theses

DAX-1 is a nuclear hormone orphan receptor that plays a key role in the development of reproductive tissues and steroid hormone production. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is the pathway for steroid hormone production, primarily glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and adrenal androgens, in the human body. The mechanisms of DAX-1 in hormone production in the adrenal cortex of the HPA axis are not completely understood and, therefore, were the focus of this honors thesis research project. Due to the high level of DAX-1 expression, SW13 adrenal carcinoma cells were conducted for these experiments. We investigated whether glucocorticoids, specifically the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone, had any …

Life History Of Two Goatfishes In Hawaii And Alternative Methodologies In Life History Research, Duncan Campbell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Data-driven management of fisheries requires information on the life history of the species being managed. I provide new information on the life histories of two goatfish species in Hawaiʻi, Parupeneus insularis and Parupeneus cyclostomus. Fish were collected using spearfishing from the reefs of Oʻahu between 2020 and 2023. Macroscopic and microscopic methods of assigning maturity and reproductive stage were used to estimate size at maturity and seasonality. Parapeneus insularis females are estimated to reach 50% maturity at 188 mm fork length (95% CI: 177mm, 197mm), and 95% maturity at 245 mm FL (95% CI: 226mm, 287mm). P. cyclostomus females reach …

Determining The Effects Of Maternal Adiposity On Preterm Neonatal Microbiome And Short Chain Fatty Acid Profiles, Dalton James, William A. Clark Phd, Kristy L. Thomas

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The gut microbiota and its metabolites have vast impacts on the human digestive system, immune system, and health outcomes. Short chain volatile fatty acids (SCVFAs) present in feces can be representative of the interactions of the microbiota present in the gut. Low microbiota diversity in the human gut is highly associated with obesity and adverse health outcomes. Furthermore, the maternal microbiome has a direct impact on neonatal microbiota through various pathways such as environment, skin flora, breast milk composition, and vaginal secretions. This study is aimed to further understand the associations between various factors (maternal adiposity, gestational time, length of …

East Tennessee Spatial And Temporal Species-Specific Bat Activity Patterns, Seth Morelock

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Determining the activity among species-specific bat populations within specific habitat selections can help contribute to the conservation of Appalachian bat species. This study examines the differences in species-specific bat activity patterns between three ponds of variable sizes and a southeast-facing open field with a wooded edge. Four Song Meter SM4BAT FS bioacoustics detectors were used on a 15-acre property in Fall Branch, TN, with a wildlife acoustics detector being placed at three ponds and one field. There were three stages of data collection for this study which all took place during 2023. The first stage was during the spring (March …

Fecal Pellet Production By North Atlantic Zooplankton, Michael Gibson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Fecal pellet carbon (FPC) production by zooplankton is a significant component of the ocean’s biological carbon pump: the suite of biological processes that mediate export of carbon to the deep ocean, ultimately leading to the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the ocean. In this study, mesozooplankton (zooplankton 0.2 mm to ~2 cm) were collected from the epipelagic zone in the temperate North Atlantic Ocean during day and night in May 2021. Zooplankton were live separated into five size fractions and incubated on board ship in natural surface seawater to measure fecal pellet production rate of the mixed mesozooplankton community. …

The Effects Of Loss Of Orexin Neurons On Attention, Alejandra Eceizabarrena Sainz

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Attention is the ability to process stimuli in the environment and select relevant cues amongst distractors. It is a crucial aspect of the nervous system that engages multiple brain circuits. Neurons that release the neuropeptide orexin are implicated in attention. These neurons originate in the lateral hypothalamus and send projections widely throughout the brain. Evidence suggests orexins modulate attentional mechanisms through interactions with ascending neuromodulatory systems such as the basal forebrain. Experiments manipulating orexin receptors have found a subsequent effect on attention-demanding tasks, with infusions of orexin A enhancing attention in the presence of distractors. In contrast, the blockade of …

Patterns And Sources Of Variation In Heterospecific Pollen Deposition In Flowers Of The Native Blue Cardinal Flower (Lobelia Siphilitica), Allie Drinnon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Plants species interactions via pollinators are a model system to understand the mechanisms that generate plant diversity in nature. However, most studies have focused on plant-plant interactions via pollinator attraction while ignoring the role of plant-plant interactions via pollen transfer. Heterospecific pollen transfer (henceforth HP) can be common and have negative fitness effects. Negative HP fitness effects may prompt the evolution of adaptive strategies to minimize them. However, the extent of spatial variation in HP load size within and among populations, a tenet for natural selection, remains unexplored. Such knowledge would hence constitute a first step in advancing our understanding …

Investigating Stormwater Parameters From Runoff On East Tennessee State University Campus, Abby Mciver, Dr. Joseph R. Bidwell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Climate change has caused an increase in extreme rain events and flooding in certain regions across the globe. During rain events, water flows over impervious surfaces structures such as roads and sidewalks, picking up contaminants such as metals, fertilizers and other nutrients, and various organics that which may impact organisms in such as streams, river, and lakes. Previous work has found significant differences in survival of organisms that were exposed to contaminated stormwater runoff. This study investigated stormwater chemistry parameters at collection sites on the East Tennessee State University campus. Sites were selected based on the extent of human interaction …

Aggression In And Out Of The Surrounding Space, Marissa Incer

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social isolation is a type of punishment used to address misbehavior in individuals, such as children with time-outs and prisoners in solitary confinement. It was thought to be an effective method for teaching good behavior or alleviating tense situations. However, this type of punishment may worsen the punished individual’s aggression depending on the environment of isolation. The current study was divided into two experiments. In the first experiment, participants were isolated in a small (2x2 feet) or large (6x6 feet) space to observe if the space alone affected their aggression. In the second experiment, a frustration-inducing task was given to …

In Vitro Characterization Of Fluorogenic Chemical Tools To Study Human Carboxylesterases (Cess), Taylor Parish Spidle

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Human carboxylesterases (CESs) are enzymes that are responsible for the metabolism of many important pharmaceuticals. Although CESs are key players in the hydrolysis of many ester-containing drugs, they remain understudied. Our group hypothesizes that this is primarily because there are few methods capable of reporting activity in live cells. Here, I report a new series of fluorogenic chemical tools to study the CES activity of one of the two major CESs in humans, CES1, in live cells. MCP-Me, MCP-Et, and MCP-iPr utilize the same carbonate group of a previously developed chemical tool in our group, FCP-1, and work to mimic …

Nsaids And Oral Drug Absorption: Ibuprofen Through A Pharmacokinetic Lens, Courtney Gant

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Human pharmacokinetics is the study of how administered medications move throughout and behave within the body. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion are four integral parts of this field of study and are commonly known as the ADME principles of pharmacokinetics, but other processes are studied within the field. For orally administered drugs, the absorption process lies within the small intestine and colon, two components of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; this bodily system is associated with many variables––many of which must be considered in the study of oral drug absorption. Often administered orally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) make up a group …

The Covid-19 Pandemic And Its Influence On The Human Immune System, Nicole L. Riha

Undergraduate Honors Theses

COVID-19 rapidly infected the world, and scientists continue to research how the disease spread and killed as many as it did by analyzing how it affects the human immune system and referring to past pandemics. Since the pandemic is ongoing, scientists do not fully understand how the virus works and if lockdowns were effective. Nevertheless, a discussion on what is known about COVID-19's influence on the human immune system is needed. With an understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists can make more effective treatments for COVID-19 and learn how to manage future pandemics.

Porifera: Biology And Medicinal Properties, Emma L. Rayfield

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The focus of this thesis is the possibility of oceanic medicine through understanding the general biology of poriferans, their symbionts, medicinal properties, and how we could harvest sponges conservatively. It was necessary to understand the basic biology of poriferans regarding their structures, differences in their classes, and how they obtain nutrition, develop, and reproduce. The ecology of the poriferans was also researched including their larval and sessile stages and how their environment determines where they settle. Additionally, ecology was examined including how poriferans interact with symbionts and other organisms. This then was utilized to seek whether poriferans had useful medical …

Parental Instincts: The Neurological And Biological Factors Associated With Parenthood, Jared Reeder

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The following project involves a systematic review of the scientific literature on neural and biological changes of mothers and fathers in parenthood. Until very recently, little scientific research was devoted to studying how bearing children affects a man or woman’s long-term biology. Over the last twenty years, studies of neuroplastic changes in new mothers show specific neural mechanisms responsible for altering the behaviors of mothers during and after pregnancy. These changes in neuroplasticity alter behavior in such a way that led to mothers requiring less sleep and being more prone to hearing the cries of their children. In addition to …

American Sign Language (Asl): Linguistically And Cognitively - Why Deaf People Should Learn Asl & Learn It Early, Helena Isabel Berczes

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis presents data supporting the value of including American Sign Language (ASL) in the education of Deaf people. Historically, Deaf education has not fully included or has excluded ASL in an effort to focus on English due to a belief that ASL hinders learning English. ASL must fit within the definition of language with unique linguistic features for its inclusion in language education. Plasticity of the brain lends itself to the ability for language processing networks to form based on language experience. Deaf people can fully access visual language versus auditory language. Therefore, acquiring ASL early in life, during …