Life Sciences Commons^™

Role Of Recreational Fisher Information In Fisheries Management, Rebecca M. Krogman, Stephen M. Taylor, Aaron J. Adams, Ross E. Boucek, Steven M. Lombardo, Chelsey A. Crandall, Susan F. Steffen, Alejandro Acosta, Eduardo Bone Moron, Sepp Haukebo, Kieran Hyder, Zachary M. Radford, Warren M. Potts

Books & book chapters

Fisheries managers work with the three components of fisheries—biota, environment, and people - to achieve recreational, stewardship, and socioeconomic goals. Although manipulation of biota and the aquatic environment remains popular (e.g. harvest regulation, protecting or enhancing habitats, and guarding water quality), the human dimension of fisheries must also be considered throughout the fisheries management process. Managers can and should engage fishers in a myriad of ways, from identification of problems to guidance on alternatives, and from measurement of change to evaluation of success. In this chapter, we review common fisheries management goals and objectives; detail information needs stemming from those …

Evaluating The Sna1 Gene Using Crispr Mediated Knockdown In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Rosanna Jees, Sonia Cerrillo, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric cancer with limited therapeutic options and poor long-term survival. CRISPR–Cas9–mediated gene editing provides a powerful tool for investigating tumor molecular behavior and identifying potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we worked with CRISPR–Cas9 in Ewing sarcoma ES8 cells to evaluate the roles of the transcription factors SNAI1 and SNAI2, both implicated in epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cancer progression. Using guide RNAs targeting each gene, we assessed proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and long-term survival through Incucyte live-cell imaging and colony-formation assays. Knockout of SNAI1 resulted in decreased cell proliferation and reduced migratory capacity compared with controls, suggesting a …

Effects Of Ptk2 Knockdown On Key Cellular Processes In Es8 Cells, Adrian Cruz, Emiliano Rueda, Dylan Andrews, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive form of pediatric cancer characterized by rapid growth and metastatic potential, with limited treatment options available. PTK2 is a key regulator of many pathways involved in tumor behavior, including integrin-mediated adhesion, survival, and migration. This research lab investigated how CRISPR-Cas9 knockdown of PTK2 can affect cellular processes in ES8 Ewing sarcoma cells. To assess the effectiveness of reducing PTK2 expression, we utilized live-cell imaging, wound-healing assays, measurements of caspase activity, colony formation, and qRT-PCR. Our results showed that incomplete knockdown decreased cell proliferation and colony formation, while also increasing apoptotic activity. Additionally, migratory ability was …

How Cxcr4 Knockdown Affects Tumorigenic Properties In Es8 Cells, Gabriella Galdeano, Damon James, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is a seven-transmembrane G-protein–coupled receptor (GPCR). When activated by its ligand SDF-1 (CXCL12), CXCR4 triggers signaling pathways that promote cell survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, and chemotaxis. Many cancers exploit the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis to support tumor growth and metastasis. Ewing sarcoma (ES8) is an aggressive pediatric bone and soft-tissue cancer, and elevated CXCR4 signaling has been linked to increased migration and metastatic behavior. ES8 cells, a well-established ES8 cell line, provided a model to study how CXCR4contributes to tumor progression. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing was used to knock down CXCR4 in ES8 cells, delivered through lipid-based transfection. …

Investigating The Role Of Twist1 In Cancer Progression Using Crispr Knockdown, Abby Guerrero, Sofia Perez, Terry J. Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

TWIST1 is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that promotes cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. This study investigates the functional role of TWIST1 in cancer progression by using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown to examine its effects on apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion. TWIST1 was knocked down in cancer cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9 assay. Knockdown efficiency and changes in genes were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Functional assays included caspase assays for apoptosis, MTT assays for proliferation, wound-healing assays for migration, Matrigel invasion assays, and colony formation assays to assess long-term growth and invasive potential. Across …

Itgb1 Knockdown Alters Apoptosis And Proliferation In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Aditi Kumar, Magdalena Saad, Terry J. Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Integrin beta 1 (ITGB1) is an adhesion receptor that link cells to the extracellular matrix and regulates pathways involved in survival, proliferation, and migration. In order to understand its role in Ewing Sarcoma, we applied CRISPR-Cas9 with two guide RNAs to knock down ITGB1 in ES8 cells. We then assessed changes in cell growth, death, movement, and gene expression using Incucyte live-cell imaging, colony formation assays, wound healing assays, and qRT-PCR. qRT-PCR showed partial ITGB1 reduction, with ITGB1_gRNA2 producing the strongest decrease. ITGB1_gRNA2 also led to a small increase in caspase activity and a 20-30% increase in proliferation at the …

Book Of Abstracts, Seton Hall University

2025 Augustine Undergraduate Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

A Molecular Mechanism Of Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition (Emt): An Evidence Based Lesson Applying Molecular Biology Through The Lens Of Cancer, Sophie Hasson, Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith

Open Educational Resources

This lesson aims to strengthen students’ critical thinking and molecular biology data analysis skills as well as their understanding of concepts related to the hallmark of cancer: tissue invasion and metastasis. Students begin by learning about the invasion of cancer cells, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), and an important protein involved in EMT: E-cadherin. They then apply molecular biology knowledge to analyze data from multiple papers to infer the relationship between Snail and E-cadherin in different types of cancers. Next, they continue to interpret data from many papers to determine that a repressor transcription factor is present during EMT in cancer cells …

2025 - The Sixth Annual Fall Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Fall 2025 Symposium of Student Scholars, held in November 2025. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

The Fitness Cost Of Rifampicin-Resistant Rpob Mutations On Mfd-Mediated Processes In Stationary Phase Bacillus Subtilis, Amber Callaway, Jessica Grifaldo

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Rifampicin is a potent antibiotic that tightly binds to the ꞵ-subunit of RNA polymerase and blocks initiation of transcription. Bacillus subtilis cells that acquire rpoB mutations that confer resistance to rifampicin also exhibit decreases in transcription and fitness. Mutation frequency decline (Mfd) is a global transcription regulator that interacts with the ꞵ-subunit of RNA polymerase, and our RNA-seq showed that it had profound effects on the expression of motility genes. We hypothesize that the rifampicin-resistant rpoB: I681T mutation alters Mfd-mediated gene regulation of motility in Bacillus subtilis. Therefore, we will construct mfd- rpoB: I681T double mutants via natural competence and …

Dorsal/Ventral Orientation Of Dentate Granule Cells And Its Impact On Electrophysiology In Mice, Jacob Prince, Savannah Sampson, Alyssa Marron

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The hippocampus has known roles in memory formation, learning, and spatial mapping. There are defined physiological differences between CA1 neurons based on their dorsal to ventral position within the 3D hippocampus (Malik et al., 2015). Given the varying functions of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in cognitive processing and the role of the dentate gyrus as the entry point for information into the hippocampus, it will be interesting to determine if there are differences in the properties of granule cells across the dorsal and ventral axis. We explore the potential topographic specialization of dentate granule cells. This study examines the …

Synthesis Of Disulfide Triazole Phosphorus Fire Retardant Via Photochemical Conditions, Jason Liu

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

The development of fire retardants is critical to enhancing fire safety and advancing fire science. The novel synthesis of a disulfide triazole phosphorus thiolacid fire retardant under photochemical conditions, along with relevant testing on plume generation performance, aims to answer our research goals.The proposed specific synthesis and conditions provide for a more efficient and environmentally greener route compared to conventional methods, utilizing photochemical click reactions. Furthermore, the addition of sulfur element to conventionally sole phosphorus-based FR reduces the chance of leaching by increasing the molecular weight of the compound and overcoming the obstacle of low molecular weight problems while also …

Design And Validation Of A Bilateral, Multi-Site 3d-Printed Neuronal Implant For Rodent Electrophysiology, Homero Phelps, Jonathan V. Trinidad, Talha Soluoku

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Neuronal electrophysiology implants are essential tools in neuroscience for recording brain activity and investigating neurological disorders. Our lab’s previous 3D-printed implant designs centered around a single-site, recording platform that was limited in adaptability, precision, and lacked in vivo validation due to lingering engineering malfunctions. To combat limitations and expand recording capabilities, this project aimed to design and validate a new implant capable of multi-site, bilateral recordings across both brain hemispheres, specifically targeting the hippocampus (CA1 and CA3) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), regions critical for learning and memory. Building on the Open Ephys ShuttleDrive model, the implant was redesigned using …

The Impact Of Food Insecurity On The Physical And Mental Health Of Food Service Workers And Their Households, Pedro Andrade

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Food insecurity in the United States continues to be a persistent problem, as this household stressor has worsened in the past decade. The prevalence of food insecurity varies by demographic; however, income is a key factor when discussing food security status. One group experiencing food insecurity, but often overlooked when talking about solutions, is food service workers. This research sought to understand the impact of food insecurity on food service workers and their households. A literature review was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the associations between food insecurity and physical health, mental health, household health, and occupational and …

Associations Between Gad-7 And Phq-9 Scores And Willingness To Seek Treatment, Josephine Shaw

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

In recent years, mental health concerns among college students have increased significantly. This study aims to analyze data on student willingness and frequency to seek counseling services, such as UNLV CAPS (Student Counseling and Psychological Services), and the appeal of utilizing alternative interventions such as exercise and meditation. This study collected data from UNLV students, faculty, and staff through distribution of a scannable QR code. It included whether they were in therapy, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, their respective functional impairment questions, and willingness to consider therapy alternatives. Based on respondents’ answers to the PHQ-9, the highest proportion peaked at 36% …

Hawaiian Drosophila Host Plant Preferences, Kyrus Huang, Rodomir Stark

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Understanding how host plant availability influences behavior in Drosophila species provides valuable insight into ecological specialization and speciation. This study examines the effects of different host plants on the reproductive and oviposition behavior of Drosophila silvestris and Drosophila grimshawi. The primary objective of this project is to determine whether females exhibit host-plant preferences during egg-laying. A secondary aim is to assess whether sex and mating status influence host plant preference, specifically comparing male, unmated female, and mated female behavior with two host plants. To test these hypotheses, newly emerged flies were divided into three treatment groups: male-only, female-only, and mixed …

Effect Of Neuroinflammation On Exploratory Behavior In Mice, Gage Pompa, Ariana Mitic, Yader Gomez, Lilian Hagos, Orlando Montiel

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Introduction: Mice have been observed in both laboratory and field settings to exhibit a tendency to remain near corners and walls. This trait is known as positive thigmotaxis. Thigmotaxis has been recognized as a fundamental aspect of rodent behavior and used extensively as an anxiety index in mice. Although this characteristic has been recognized as a fundamental aspect of rodent behavior, thigmotaxis has been extensively studied in rectangular and circular environments. However, there is a notable lack of understanding of how alternative geometric configurations can influence this behavior.

Methods and Approach: Using a grid overlaid on the environment the mice …

Assessing How Early Vs. Late Exercise Influences Whole Body Glucose Tolerance And Insulin Signaling Pathways In Quadriceps During Social Jetlag, Ariana Khzarjyan, Austin Cooper, Paula Martinez, Joshua Corpuz, Srushti Wagh, Elias Malek, Todd Schrubb

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythms regulate our physiological and metabolic processes throughout a 24-hour cycle. Disruptions to this rhythm with modern lifestyles creates irregular patterns. One of the most common forms of circadian rhythm disruptions amongst humans happens during the weekends, when people tend to stay up later and sleep in later compared to weekdays. This phenomenon is referred to as social jetlag (SJL).

PURPOSE: To determine whether timed exercise (early vs. late) can reduce the negative effects of social jetlag in mice. More specifically, determining whether exercise conducted in the early or late active phase of mice will impact the effects …

11.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Qualtrics training sessions
• Alcorn State University, Dr. Edmund Buckner

Turfgrass Weed Control For Professionals, 2024, Aaron J. Patton, Matthew T. Elmore

Purdue University Press Books

Turfgrass is used on everything from athletic fields, golf courses, and parks, to lawns, sod farms, and roadsides. Unfortunately, information on weed management for professionals maintaining these areas has often been inaccurate or out of date, and applicators are frequently unaware of the most effective methods for controlling weeds in turf. Written by experts in the field and featuring insights from contributors from sixteen states across the US, the 2024 edition of Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals was developed to provide science-based information for those working in the field. It contains information about turfgrass management, weed biology and management, more …

Applied Research In Field Crop Pathology For Indiana, 2024, Darcy E. P. Telenko, Sujoung Shim

Purdue University Press Books

Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology for Indiana, 2024 serves as a summary of the applied field crop pathology research trials conducted in 2024 under the direction of the Purdue Field Crop Pathology program in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University. In Indiana, there are more than 57,600 farms, 16,000 crop producers, and 900 certified crop advisers, Extension educators, and crop-protection industry representatives who manage more than 11.4 million crop-production acres with a total value of $6.3 billion annually. There are more than twenty diseases affecting corn, soybeans, and wheat that may decrease crop production and …

11.10.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Sherilyn Hulugalla winds Biosafety and Biosecurity Month Challenge

How Plants Defy Gravity, Olivia Y. Kim, Agatha Shaikhutdinova, Joshua Lee, Reece Sit, Daniel Yang, Aliyah Shams, Kathryn Choi, Esther Yoo

STEM for Success Showcase

This educational short book, written by students, uses creative descriptions to make biology and chemistry concepts engaging and easy to understand.

2026 Western Australian Crop Sowing Guide, Brenda Shackley, Stacey Power, Blakely Paynter, Harmohinder Dhammu, Bronte Wackett, Dion Nicol, Mark Seymour, Greg Shea

Bulletins 4000 -

The 2026 Western Australian Crop Sowing Guide has been compiled by officers in the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. It provides information to support variety decisions for each of the major crops for the upcoming season.

Dairy And Food Science News, Nov 2025, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy & Food Science News

Message from the Department Head
Holiday Cheese Boxes
We are Hiring
Dairy and Food Science Department in the Media
Education abroad program to India - Food and Agriculture Processing: India SDSU Fall 2026
Faculty Updates
Surveys and Studies
Recruitment Updates and Opportunities
SDSU Company Student Recruitment
Student Updates
Alumni Spotlight
Events and Calendar

10.27.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

ORED Field Fest

OTC Director Candidates

2025 Celebration Of Scholarship, Creativity, And Engagement, Todd Bruns, Jaime Pedigo, Jennifer Smith, Patty Watson, Heather Wohltman, Amanda Wolf

Programs

Each year, Eastern Illinois University proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of our faculty in research, creativity, and engagement. This collection of accomplishments reflects the dedication of an engaged faculty committed to excellence and the continual pursuit of knowledge. Many of these successes were made possible through meaningful collaboration with our students, who contribute as co-authors, research assistants, and partners in bringing ideas to life. Some of these professional milestones represent years of effort, demonstrating remarkable persistence and determination. We offer our heartfelt congratulations on this wide range of achievements, which bring distinction to our departments, colleges, and the University as …

10.20.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• OTC Director Candidate Forum
• ORED Small Grants Program RFP

The Isolation And Dna Extraction Of Phytophthora From Four Wildland Soil Types In Northern California, Humboldt County, Angelina Lasko, Christopher Lee, David S. Baston, Susan E. Marshall

Creative Publications and Manuals

Phytophthora species are of global importance (Sinclair and Lyon, 2005). For most Phytophthora species, the natural mechanism of how these pathogens travel and spread long distances is not fully understood. They are have been shown to travel by air, water, nursery stock, and via inadvertent human transport. The purpose of this study was to identify the presence of Phytophthora species in four different Northern California forest/wildland soil types. Soils from Franciscan complex parent material (riparian, mixed conifer, and oak woodland), and serpentine parent material (mixed conifer) were sampled in Humboldt County (Fig 1). Phytophthora and other pathogens were baited from …

10.13.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• ORED Small Grants Program RFP
• Mississippi Impact Grants RFP
• Contest to Promote Lab Practices
• Field Fest
• AAAS Membership for Faculty, Staff, and Students