Life Sciences Commons^™

Spectral Divergence Prioritizes Key Classes, Genes, And Pathways Shared Between Substance Use Disorders And Cardiovascular Disease, Everest Castaneda, Elissa Chesler, Erich J. Baker

Funded Scholarship

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are heterogeneous diseases with 

overlapping biological mechanisms and often present with co-occurring disease, 

such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Gene networks associated with SUDs 

also implicate additional biological pathways and may be used to stratify 

disease subtypes. Node and edge arrangements within gene networks impact 

comparisons between classes of disease, and connectivity metrics, such as 

those focused on degrees, betweenness, and centrality, do not yield sufficient 

discernment of disease network classification. Comparatively, the graph 

spectrum’s use of comprehensive information facilitates hypothesis testing 

and inter-disease clustering by using a larger range of graph characteristics. 

By adding a connectivity-based …

Technological Accessibility For Wildlife Telemetry Research, Andrew Danielson

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Over the course of two years, I conducted original research into improving accessibility for researchers in the field of wildlife telemetry. Wildlife telemetry is a technique used by biologists to track wildlife in the field, which requires the biologist to attach a small radio transmitter to an animal, usually using a specially designed collar, harness, or another means. These transmitters are battery powered and will emit or transmit a regularly timed radio signal that can be received by radio receivers carried by the researchers. Two issues faced by wildlife telemetry researchers are the cost of wildlife telemetry equipment and the …

Insects All Around Us: A Four-Session Bug Club Lesson Plan For Grades 3-5 Covering The Biology And Importance Of Insects In Nebraska, Carolyn Almonte

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Insects are often overlooked in science curricula when talking about conservation due to the surrounding fear and disgust regarding insects. This disgust not only permeates the mindsets of students, but also teachers, which leads to a hesitance to incorporate an insect-based curriculum or club into a lesson. In response to this, I have created a four-session club curriculum that can be used across four two hour long sessions spread out across four weeks. The goals of this club are: to explain the key traits of insects and arthropods, differentiating the two groups; to explain and define the basic stages of …

Latticed Stinkhorn, Emilee G. Seigworth

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Artist Statement

Latticed Stinkhorn is a watercolor piece originally created for the special gallery of the 2023 Scientific Illustration course at the University of North Florida. It was inspired by my enduring fascination with the world of fungi, particularly specimens of the family Phallaceae. This watercolor piece offers a simple perspective of Clathrus ruber, a species commonly referred to as Latticed Stinkhorn. Like many members of the family, the reproductive fruiting body first surfaces encased in a cream-colored soft shell with a texture comparable to a leathery reptile egg. As the body ages, the initial shell disintegrates to reveal a …

Biology Of Aproida Balyi Pascoe, 1863 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Aproidini) On Its Host Plant, Eustrephus Latifolius R. Br. Ex Ker-Gawl (Asparagaceae) In Australia, Caroline Simmrita Chaboo, Vivian E., Mariana Campos, Geoff B. Monteith

Insecta Mundi

Within the leaf-beetle subfamily Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Aproida Pascoe, 1863 (Aproidini) from Australia has been considered a transitional genus between mining cassidines (“hispines”) and exophagous cassidines (“tortoise beetles”). To illuminate this transition, a detailed study was conducted over one year of the biology of Aproida balyi Pascoe, 1863 on the host plant, Eustrephus latifolius R. Br. ex Ker-Gawl (Asparagaceae). Distribution maps of the host plant and three Aproida species are provided. The life cycle of A. balyi comprises single eggs in a foamy ootheca, three larval instars that feed openly, a pupa suspended from the larva III exuvia, and …

Application Of The Method Cell Biology, Terry Shackleford

San Jose - Lonergan Chair in Catholic Philosophy

Summer 2024, Application of the Method Cell Biology

Students in the Fall 2023 semester "Mechanisms of Disease Course" were given a practical assignment that in turn allowed for discussion on gathering data on orphan diseases and covering what the disease is, how the disease progresses, who is affected by the disease, and what is the effect of the disease on their life.

Microplastic Accumulation In The Marsh Periwinkle (Littoraria Irrorata), Sarah Keaton, Hannah Lukhard, Eli Windy, Manar Hasan

DePaul Discoveries

Contamination of oceans by microplastics (mm) currently poses a major threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Recent attention towards this issue has raised questions about the extent to which microplastics have accumulated in the environment, and has led to an increase in studies on the effects of microplastics in various organisms. However, levels of contamination in protected natural areas are still largely unexplored, yet can offer an important empirical perspective on the issue. In addition, little is known about the potential effects of microplastics on behavior in the field. This research was conducted within the protected ACE Basin National …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Scott L. Gardner, Sue Ann Gardner

Zea E-Books Collection

Note that this version of the textbook has been superceded by the one updated in 2026, available at the UNL Pressbooks site.

The hard copy version that is for sale at lulu.com is the old version.

"This is a textbook covering concepts in animal parasitology. It is meant to be used by students, teachers, professors, researchers, and members of the public who are interested in learning about animal parasite biology, systematics, taxonomy, zoogeography, and ecology. The primary intended audience is upper-level undergraduate or graduate university students who have knowledge of basic biology and, particularly, basic animal biology. (863 pages, …

Computational Analysis Of O6-Methylated Guanine And Thioguanine Complexes, Kirsten Stinson, Michael Bowman

Lux et Fides: A Journal for Undergraduate Christian Scholars

DNA methylation occurring on the O⁶ position of guanine has been linked to the formation of cancer. DNA complexes with O⁶-methylated guanine have been studied experimentally, yet questions remain concerning the carcinogenic properties of O⁶-methylguanine. This present research explored the interaction between O⁶-methylguanine and its potential nucleobase pairs of cytosine and adenine in hopes of elucidating the mutagenic characteristics of O⁶-methylguanine. A variety of computational methods including Density Functional Theory (DFT), Symmetry Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT), Noncovalent Interaction (NCI) analysis, and Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis were employed to comprehensively probe …

Describing Shen & Shen Ming Via A Hybrid Quantum Computational Model, Alex M. Cullen, Johnny Lemau

Student Research Symposium

Definitions for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) terminology within the context of quantum biology (QB) have recently been proposed. These definitions aim to elucidate concepts such as qi meridians in TCM. Our study presents a hypothesis that seeks to provide an operational definition for Spirit (Shen) and Bright Spirit (Shen Ming) in TCM via a scoping review. We propose that Shen represents physical, phenomenological proto-consciousness/consciousness in the forms of computation, such as singular particles/bits/qubits, computers, organisms, or computational strategies, whereas Shen Ming may refer to emergent, quasi-physical meta-proto-consciousness/consciousness formed by coherent relationships of multiple orchestrated/integrated units of computation; manifesting itself as …

Correction: Horne Et Al White Matter Correlates Of Domain-Specific Working Memory, Autumn Horne, Junhua Ding, Tatiana T Schnur, Randi C Martin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In the original publication [...].

Whale Harvest Through Time: Unveiling The Hemispheric Contrasts In Whaling, Laura Mooney '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Whales have been long known for their oils and rich blubber which has been a dish in many countries in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Some species were being hunted to near extinction. The earliest whaling began in 3000BC by Native American but commercial whaling began by the Basques in the 17th century with a huge increase in the 18th,19th and 20th centuries. This study examines how whale harvest has changed over time in years between 1900 and 1999 in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. I analyzed the data collected by Jr. Robert(2015) and looked to see if …

Sea Surface Temperature Influence On Tropical Storms And Hurricanes, Elise Leroux '26

Biology Student Scholarship

Hurricanes are both dangerous and difficult to predict because of the various factors that influence the size and intensity of storms, where sea surface temperature (SST) is one of the most relevant variables. As temperatures are increasingly rising due to climate change, the effect on storm size, intensity, and frequency is going to be greater. There have been many studies how individual storms are affected, but less so on the overall frequency of hurricanes. This study assesses the number of hurricanes each year in comparison to the SST and the average wind speed of each hurricane. I predict that years …

The Effect Of Population Density On Harmful Algal Blooms In Southwest Florida, Emma Barry '25

Biology Student Scholarship

Karenia brevis is a species of algae native to the Gulf of Mexico. Times when its growth becomes uncontrollable are called harmful algal blooms (formerly called “red tide events”), and they are often caused by increased nutrients in the water. These excessive nutrients come from watersheds and runoff that contain anthropogenic materials like fertilizer, and the phosphate and nitrogen in fertilizers catalyze the growth of algae. As population density in Florida increases, fertilizer runoff increases as well. Harmful algal bloom events are dangerous to both humans and the environment. Thick layers of algal growth on the water’s surface create “dead …

The Effect Sea Temperature Has On Coral Reef Health In The Great Barrier Reef, Elizabeth Glasspool '26

Biology Student Scholarship

Coral reef bleaching can happen for many different reasons including storms, disease, sediment and salinity changes, and of change in climate. Mass bleaching is typically a cause of increasing sea temperature in a certain area. Mass bleaching typically kills off many different species of coral. This is detrimental to a large portion of biodiversity, especially in a marine atmosphere. In 2016, records show that it is a record high ocean temperature which led to widespread coral bleaching on Australian reefs. This was part of the third global bleaching event declared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At the …

The Effect Of Temperature On The Invasive Asian Needle Ant, Kaylee Mulligan '25

Biology Student Scholarship

The Asian Needle Ant (Brachyponera chinensis) is an invasive species currently spreading on the Eastern Coast of the United States. They were first reported around the 1930s in Florida and have since migrated to Massachusetts. As an invasive species, this pest originating from Asia has a negative impact on environment ecosystems and other species of ants. Asian Needle Ants displace resident ant colonies, taking over nesting sites by consuming food sources and decreasing the amount of space other ant colonies can use. They are also known to have a sting that contains venom more likely to result in …

Gdp Effects On Bottlenose Dolphins Within The Gulf Of Mexico, Kathleen Kelly '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are highly sensitive to environmental changes and anthropogenic stressors. Making them important indicators of marine ecosystem health. The Gulf of Mexico sustains diverse marine ecosystems and coastal communities. However, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and coastal development have altered marine habitats and increased anthropogenic pressures on marine wildlife. While various factors contribute to these strandings, the potential influence of socio-economic factors, particularly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) disparities among Gulf Coast counties, remains underexplored. This number (GDP) is influenced by human activities such as fisheries, shipping, and tourism, all of which directly or indirectly could affect marine …

Michigan Water Supply: Analysis Of Health Violations, Gabriela Guzman Reyes '24

Biology Student Scholarship

The presence of toxins in water sources poses a significant public health challenge. In Michigan, this issue has garnered widespread attention due to its adverse effects on human health and well-being. The contaminants found in water, including but not limited to lead, industrial pollutants, and agricultural runoff, stem from a variety of sources such as aging infrastructure, industrial activities, and agricultural practices. News articles and Government officials have reported the adverse affects and impact toxin exposure has on Michigan residents. However, there is little research examining the relationship between water quality violations and socioeconomic factors like poverty levels. I predict …

The Effect Of Integrated Pest Management On Nutrition Of Bee Collected Pollen, Kaitlyn Bresnahan '25

Biology Student Scholarship

Honey bees are the world’s most commercially valuable pollinators, and they face many threats. The greatest challenge facing honey bees is Varroa mites, parasitic mites that feed on bees’ fat bodies, killing bees and spreading diseases. While chemical treatments are available to stop the spread of mites, these treatments are insecticides, which are not ideal to put in a hive of insects. A popular organic method of mite management is using drone comb. Drone brood is preferentially chosen by mites for ovipositing and development because of its larger size and longer development time, so removing drone brood can drastically reduce …

Characterizing The Effect Of Field-Relevant Levels Of Imidacloprid On Respiration In The Common Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga Bullata Parker (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), During Low- And High-Energy Activities., Morgan Regnier Ms ' 24

All Student Scholarship

Neonicotinoid pesticides are used worldwide due to their effectiveness in protecting crops from pests like aphids, thrips, moths, flies, and beetles. These insecticides are applied on surfaces or absorbed systemically by plants, where insects encounter them through contact or ingestion. While beneficial for agriculture, they also negatively impact nontarget species. Numerous studies have reported the inhibitory effects of sublethal exposure to neonicotinoid-based insecticides on nontarget insects, especially pollinators such as bees, flies, and beetles. While research has demonstrated the toxicity of neonicotinoids, most studies have focused on low-energy activities such as walking or resting. In this research, I examined the …

Molecular And Immunological Analysis Of Avipoxvirus In Avian Samples And Comparison Of Local Potential Mosquito Vector Populations, Natalie Barrett Ms '24

All Student Scholarship

An outbreak of Avipoxvirus occurred on a small farm in Gorham, ME in spring of 2022. This led to an investigation of the molecular and immunological properties of the virus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to assess viral presence and antibody presence in domestic and wild turkeys and chickens. Viral presence was found in three visually pox-lesioned birds, and not found in two visually pox-lesioned birds. Viral presence was found in three visually healthy birds and not found in two visually healthy birds. Viral presence was not found in any pooled samples of mosquitoes (n=429 …

Metabolic Dysfunction In Frontotemporal Dementia, Angelina Freeman '24, Nicole D'Almeida '24, Madeline Salamone '24, Kendall Eby '26, Corinna Gilmore '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Angelina Freeman ’24, Biology major
Nicole d’Almeida ’24, Biology major
Madeline Salamone ’24, Biology major
Kendall Eby ’26, Biology major
Corinna Gilmore ’24, Biology major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marla Tipping, Biology

Too Hot To Handle: Climate Change's Effect On Protein Membranes In Metabolism, Jazmine Diaz '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Jazmine Diaz ’24, Biology major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elisabeth Arévalo, Biology

Transitive Inference In Rats, Jose Pena '25, Laura Betances '25, Yamilet Nieves Vega '26, Tess Cody '25, Conor Ollendike '26, Ashley Sawtelle '26, Margaret Low '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Jose Pena ’25 Neuroscience major
Laura Betances ’25 Biology major, community health minor
Yamilet Nieves ’26, Neuroscience and Health Policy and Management major
Tess Cody ’25, Neuroscience major
Conor Ollendike ’26, Psychology and Biology major
Ashley Sawtelle ’26, Psychology major
Margaret Low ’24, Psychology and Health Policy and Management major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Victoria Templer, Neuroscience

Mycobacteriophage Lberry, An A3 Cluster Phage Infecting Mycobacterium Smegmatis, Nathan Berry '25

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Nathan Berry ’25, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Synthesis Of 2-Substituted Beta-Carbolines From N-Oxides, Alma Martinez '26

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Alma Martinez ’26, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Seann Mulcahy, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mycobacteriophage Maravista, An F1 Cluster Phage Infecting Mycobacterium Smegmatis, Charles Pelagalli '25

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Charles Pelagalli ’25, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mycobacteriophage Rita, Anna Fakhri '24

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Anna Fakhri ’24, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mycobacteriophage Pembroke, An A3 Cluster Phage Infecting Mycobacterium Smegmatis, Marly Cassford '25

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Marly Cassford ’25, Biochemistry major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Cornely, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Investigating Pathways Regulating Size-Dependent Accumulation Of Mitotic Activator Cdc25, Paige Duggan '26, Logan Anglemyer '26, Kayleigh Goebelbecker '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Paige Duggan ’26, Biology major, Neuroscience and Math minor
Logan Anglemyer ’26, Neuroscience major, Spanish minor
Kayleigh Goebelbecker ’24, Biology major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kristi Miller, Biology