Life Sciences Commons^™

Ghosts In Glass: Ghost Crabs As Judges Of Glass Sand For Coastal Restoration, Emily Parrish

Honors Theses

Over 60% of the Gulf of Mexico coastline is actively eroding, which has resulted in thousands of miles of lost coastline over the last 100 years. This drastic loss of coastal land highlights the dire need for coastal restoration across the entirety of the Gulf Coast. A vital aspect of restoring these eroded areas is replenishing eroded substrate, traditionally conducted through offshore dredging of substrates which comes with high economic and ecological costs. Recycled glass sand may be able to fill this role and reduce our reliance on dredging while lowering the amount of glass waste entering landfills each year. …

Impact Of Temperature And Microbial Infection On The Honey Bee Hemocytes, Michael E. Oeth

Master's Theses

Introduction

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) rely on hemocytes for immunity, wound healing, and hemolymph homeostasis. While 32°C reflects optimal hive conditions, suboptimal temperatures (22°C) and stressors like pathogens (Varroa destructor, bacteria) or pesticides impair hemocyte function. Using clodronate liposomes (CLD) to deplete hemocytes, we assessed how immune suppression interacts with these stressors.

Methods

Newly emerged (5-day-old) and older (15-day-old) bees were assigned to: CLD, control liposomes (LP), PBS, injection wound, or no treatment. Cohorts were exposed to 32°C (optimal) or 22°C (stressful for non-immunosuppressed bees). Fifteen-day-old bees were challenged with Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus. Survival, hemolymph volume, and hemocyte …

Population Estimates, Demography, And Habitat Assessment Of The Pearl River Map Turtle (Graptemys Pearlensis) In The Pearl River Drainage Of Mississippi, Noah Devros

Master's Theses

The Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis) is a highly riverine Emydid endemic to the Pearl River drainage of central and southern Mississippi and southern Louisiana. First described in 2010, G. pearlensis was listed as federally Threatened in 2024. . Due to its relative novelty as a species, no rigorous site-specific population estimates of G. pearlensis in Mississippi have been conducted. The primary goal of this study was to implement a replicable method of assessing the population of G. pearlensis throughout the Pearl River drainage system of Mississippi. A secondary goal was to describe habitat associated with G. …

Movement Ecology And Trophic Dynamics In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: Implications For Fisheries Management, Calvin Chee

Master's Theses

The northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) is a diverse and productive region for living marine resources. The region supports lucrative commercial and recreational fisheries ranging from low-trophic-level species, such as penaeid shrimps and forage fishes, to high-trophic-level predators (e.g. Yellowfin Tuna). This thesis contributes to the region’s ecological knowledge, with the primary aim of enhancing management efforts and providing direct management advice to two important fisheries. In Chapter 1, we develop a traditional per-recruit model for Southern Flounder, as well as a spatiotemporally integrated per-recruit model that incorporates the spatial distribution of fishing effort and the stock’s movement ecology. Fish …

Crispy Not Risky: Effects Of Environmental Conditions On Low-Moisture Food Persistent Bacterial Pathogens, Manita Adhikari

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Low-moisture foods (LMFs) were not historically seen as safety risks due to their ability to inhibit pathogen growth, but evidence shows pathogens can survive in LMFs long-term, causing outbreaks and recalls. Previous studies have lacked the ability to replicate real-world contamination scenarios in LMF processing environments. This research aimed to develop inoculation methods to form LMF persistent bacterial populations (LMF PBPs) and assess pathogen responses to environmental factors, culturing methods (broth vs. lawn), and matrix type and ratio. Inoculation methods tested were “direct” (combining bacterial culture and powder on a stainless-steel coupon) and “slurry” (premixing culture and powder). Matrices included …

The Efficacy Of Foam-Based Hand Sanitizers For The Control Of Enveloped And Non-Enveloped Virus Transmission, Francis Torko

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Infectious disease transmission due to viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus, human noroviruses (HuNoV), and hepatitis A, can occur via person-to-person contact or contaminated surfaces. Effective hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of hand sanitizers, is considered a critical tool for the control of infectious disease transmission, as recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. However, while research on hand washing efficacy is well-documented, research on hand sanitizer efficacy, particularly for foam-based products, remains limited. This research addressed critical gaps in the area of …

Impacts Of Toxic Fescue Seed Consumed By Pregnant Heifers On Maternal Blood Flow And Offspring Growth Parameters: Potential For Melatonin As A Therapeutic To Improve Offspring Growth, Rachel Scott

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The southeastern United States is home to endophyte-infected (E+), toxic, tall fescue grass. Consumption of E+ fescue by livestock has been linked to fescue toxicosis, a disease reported to cost the United States beef industry around $1 billion in annual losses. The primary objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the influence of pregnant cattle consuming E+ seed during gestation on uterine artery blood flow and growth performance of female offspring. The secondary objective was to investigate melatonin supplementation as a mitigation strategy for expected fescue-associated decreases in uterine artery blood flow and offspring growth performance. The study reported in …

Evaluation Of Fluridone In Rice, Maria Carolina De Carvalho Rocha Souza

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increasing pressure of Palmer amaranth [Amaranthus palmeri (S.) Watson] in rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields demands new chemical control options to manage this weed. The recent labeling of fluridone on this crop from the three-leaf rice stage offers an additional residual herbicide for battling Palmer amaranth; however, research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness and rice tolerance. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate Palmer amaranth control and rice tolerance to fluridone across different locations in Arkansas in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Preemergence (PRE) applications of fluridone at 168 g ai ha^⁻1; (1× label rate) and 336 …

Polyphenol-Protein Interactions In Pigmented Cereals – A Clean-Label Approach To Tailor Starch Viscosity, Annegret Jannasch

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Viscosity plays an important role in the food industry as it affects the quality, processing stability, and shelf-life of food and impacts physiological responses such as satiation and satiety. Greater viscosity reduces food intake by increasing the perception of satiety, primarily by delaying gastric emptying and increasing tactile stimulation. Starch is commonly added to food products as a viscosifying ingredient, which often involves chemically modifying the starch via cross-linking, to enhance its resistance to high shear, temperature and acidity. However, chemically modified starches are not “clean-label” ingredients due to the use of toxic chemicals. Therefore, further exploration is needed to …

Fouling-Resistant Voltammetric Xylazine Sensors For Detection Of The Street Drug “Tranq”, Ann Holland Wemple

Honors Theses

As the opioid crisis continues to wreak havoc on a national and global scale, it is increasingly critical to develop methodologies to detect the most dangerous of these drugs as fentanyl and its derivatives have orders of magnitude higher potency than morphine. Recently, the scientific challenge for chemical detection of fentanyl and its derivatives has been complicated by both the constantly increasing synthetic variations of the drug as well as the expanded use of adulterants. One tragically consequential example is the nocuous street drug known as “Tranq” which combines fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative with the veterinary sedative Rompun®, chemically …

Consultation Summary For Proposed Declared Pest Rates 2025/2026, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) the State raises a Declared Pest Rate (DPR) from land or leaseholders (hereafter landholders) in prescribed areas (DPR Areas) and matches the funds raised from the rate dollar-for-dollar.

The combined funds are made available to Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBGs) who provide support to landholders to fulfil their obligations under the BAM Act to manage widespread and established declared pests on their land. A community-led and coordinated approach is considered the most effective way to support landholders to manage these types of pests.

Each year, the Minister for Agriculture and Food …

Sheep And Goat Industry Funding Scheme 2023-24 Annual Report, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

I am pleased to present the 2023-24 annual report for the Sheep and Goat Industry Funding Scheme (Sheep and Goat IFS) to our participants, key stakeholders in the Western Australian (WA) sheep and goat industry, and the Minister for Agriculture and Food.

The WA sheep and goat industry has faced a challenging year. After a period of relative stability between 2010 and 2019, the WA flock has continued to decline since 2020, reaching its lowest point since 1952. This downward trend is expected to continue due to local factors such as increased turn-off and seasonal conditions, further compounded by political …

Supplementation Of Magnesium Glycinate: Testing The Acute Effects Of Magnesium Glycinate On The Stress Levels Of College Students, Meagan Bubeck

Honors Theses

he usage of supplements and vitamins to increase health has become a common practice in the United States. However, the true effects are not always well-known and can differ across brands, population, and other factors. In college, many students are functioning in high stress conditions, and some may result to going on anti-anxiety or depression medications. To see if Magnesium supplementation could be a potential first step in improving the stress levels present in the student population, the effects of Mg were studied in a population of 10 participants. Participant data was studied in both an Mg and placebo condition …

Sliding Window Method For Simulating Action Potentials In Axons, Hayden Reed

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT Hodgkin and Huxley’s nonlinear partial differential equations model the excitation and propagation of action potentials in neurons, and there have been numerous attempts at finding the best numerical solution method. This thesis proposes a novel approach to solving these equations: the Sliding Window method, in which a fixed sub-interval is found through capturing the signal’s head and tail. The system is then solved on the sub-interval instead of the entire interval. Using the Sliding Window technique also involves implementing the backward and forward Euler methods and the finite difference method. It will be demonstrated that, in utilizing the Sliding …

Determining The Influence Of A Low-Head Dam On Macroinvertebrate Communities In The Bouie River, Natalie Santiago

Honors Theses

The Bouie River is a tributary of the Leaf River and belongs to the Pascagoula River watershed, the latter of which has no flow impediments in the form of sills or dams. The Bouie River has been heavily altered in the lower 10 river kilometers (rkm) from aggregate mining (creating a series of deep gravel pits) and the presence of an earthen and concrete low-head dam (sill) located 6 rkm from the mouth of the river. However, despite these alterations, the immediate stretch of river below the low-head dam is a known spawning habitat for diadromous fish species, including the …

Sibship Analysis Of Fall And Spring Spawn Gulf Sturgeon Eggs In The Choctawhatchee River, Florida, Lyric Mccullouch

Honors Theses

The Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) is an anadromous species that inhabits rivers along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Facing challenges from overfishing and habitat alteration, the Gulf sturgeon is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This study investigated the genetic distinctiveness of fall and spring spawning groups of Gulf sturgeon in the Choctawhatchee River, a critical habitat for the species. In this study, I used microsatellite loci to analyze Gulf sturgeon eggs previously collected in the fall and spring of 2019 and 2020. The goals of this study were to verify the genetic identity of …

Transcriptional Analysis Of Inflammatory Responses Of Mouse Trophoblast Stem Cells To Interferon Gamma, Arnaz Maryam Tariq

Honors Theses

The blastocyst faces significant immunological challenges during implantation, including heightened inflammation, which can contribute to implantation failure. Trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) and their differentiated forms (TSC-TBs), derived from the trophectoderm (TE) of the blastocyst, play a crucial role in immune modulation. Previous studies suggest that interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) derived from TSC and TSC-TB provide antiviral protection to embryonic stem cells (ESCs). These findings show indication of a potential antiviral role for placental progenitors in shielding the blastocyst. Additionally, TSCs and TSC-TBs exhibit selectively attenuated immune responses to the proinflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) compared to mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The attenuated …

Negotiating Food Security, Maria Cudowska

Journal of Food Law & Policy

In the United States and worldwide, nutrition and food emerge as both high-profile public policy targets and as fundamental aspects of the right to self-determination. This Article examines how national security impacts food security in the United States. It explores conflicts and synergies between municipal, state, and federal law developments related to the right to food and investigates recent developments in how those commitments have been negotiated. The challenge and nebulous justiciability of the right to food can be in part attributed to existing global and national systems, which include supply chains, welfare programs, and foreign investment in the U.S. …

Which Costimulatory Domains In Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Induce Cytokine Responses That Are Linked To A More Toxic Car T Cell Therapy In Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia?, Elisabeth Cohen

Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal

No abstract provided.

Mapping The Voices: Spanish Boat Owners And Marina Operators On Non-Indigenous Marine Species—Knowledge And Key Informants, Gemma Martínez-Laiz, Kaeden Leonard, Chi Thai Uyen Le, Chad Roy Le Hewitt, José Manuel Guerra-García, Carlos Navarro-Barranco, Sara García-Garrido, Marnie L. Campbell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The public need to be aware of non-indigenous species (NIS) and how they spread to effectively manage this marine biosecurity risk. In most countries, the management of biosecurity risks associated with recreational boating relies exclusively on vessel owners and marina managers engaging in pro-environmental behaviours. To understand if this management approach is feasible, stakeholders’ perceptions first need to be identified. Surveys assessed people’s knowledge, awareness about NIS and channels involved in risk communication in three countries with different management scenarios and marine biosecurity histories: Spain, Australia and New Zealand. There was a mismatch between perceived and actual knowledge of NIS …

Activity Of Novel Ceftibuten-Avibactam, Ceftazidime-Avibactam, And Comparators Against A Challenge Set Of Enterobacterales From Outpatient Centers And Nursing Homes Across The United States (2022–2024), Aliaa Fouad, April M. Bobenchik, Robin Chamberland, Andrew E. Clark, Holly K. Huse, Isabella W. Martin, A. Brian Mochon, Erik Munson, Maroun M. Sfeir, Monica Srodon, Kimberly Taylor, Yungchou Wang, Lars F. Westblade, David P. Nicolau, Tomefa E. Asempa

Clinical Lab Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Ceftibuten is being developed in combination with the oral prodrug of avibactam. Outpatient isolates (n = 500) from 11 US states underwent susceptibility testing with manual broth microdilution. Ceftibuten had susceptibility rates of 64% (CLSI) and 23% (EUCAST). Ceftibuten-avibactam achieved 96.4% inhibition at MIC ≤ 1 µg/mL. Susceptibility rates were as follows: cefpodoxime (2.6%), ceftriaxone (1%), ceftazidime-avibactam (99.6%), tebipenem (89%), ertapenem (94.4%), levofloxacin (26.6%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (40.2%), and fosfomycin (96.8%). Ceftibuten-avibactam demonstrates potent in vitro activity against cephalosporin non-susceptible isolates.

Synthetic Modification Of Agrobacterium To Inhibit Plant Pathogenesis, Rosemala Agarwala

Honors Theses

Crown Gall disease caused by Agrobacterium is a leading cause of plant damage and current solutions used to prevent the disease are not as effective. This research aims to use a synthetic biology approach to design a plasmid that upregulates Curdlan, a molecule that activates plant defenses, when the bacteria senses a wounded plant. Thus this research uses a synthetic biology approach to develop a biocontrol agent for Crown Gall disease. This research also looks at the transferability of the sugar phenol sensing mechanism in Agrobacterium, which is needed for plant pathogenesis.

Substrate Complexity Is Not Correlated With Skin Pattern Complexity In Callistoctopus Furvus, Emily Lekas

Honors Theses

Callistoctopus furvus is an understudied, nocturnal octopus that inhabits shallow, subtropical waters in the western Atlantic. This species relies on camouflage to blend in to diverse environments to escape predators. To understand the relationship between substrate and skin patterning in this species, we used second-by-second analysis of video data recorded in the field. We compared frequencies of four substrate types (sand, rock, algae, and seagrass) ranked by contrast across ten skin patterns displayed by C. furvus. Chi-squared analyses showed significant results that the four substrates were unevenly represented in every skin pattern. However, the data did not support our hypothesis …

Simulating Chill: Exploring The Cognitive And Therapeutic Potential Of Cold Vr Environments, Jessica Turner, Piper Hutson, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This study investigates the cognitive and therapeutic potential of immersive virtual reality (VR) environments designed to simulate cold conditions. Through the engagement of participants through multisensory stimuli—including vivid visual representations of the Athabasca Glacier, auditory effects of icy winds, and corresponding haptic feedback—the research evaluates neurological and physiological responses associated with attention, emotional regulation, and stress modulation. Participants experienced virtual scenarios featuring icy winds and snow, activating specific neurological pathways involving the occipital lobe, primary visual cortex, superior colliculus, and insula, thus reinforcing sensory integration. Through predictive coding, the anterior insula and hypothalamus were engaged, prompting thermoregulatory simulations and subconscious …

The Distribution Of Spinal Cord Injury Severity Across Age And Injury Location In Frontal Impact Automobile Collisions, Alyssa Teixeira

Master's Theses

Automobile collisions are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) worldwide, accounting for about 42% of SCIs in the United States alone (McDonald & Sadowsky, 2002; Roberts et al., 2017). The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death for individuals aged 5-29 years, emphasizing the urgent need for effective prevention strategies (World Health Organization, 2023). The primary aim of this study was to identify differences in spinal column injury severity and location (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar) across multiple age groups to identify any discrepancies or similarities. A total of 302 traffic accidents …

A Bishnoi Woman’S Odhani: Gendered Labor, Environmental Ethics, And Textile Traditions In Rajasthan, Nidhi Patel

Department of Anthropology

This report examines an embroidered odhani (woman’s shawl) attributed to a Bishnoi artisan from Rajasthan, India. The odhani is housed in the May Weber Ethnographic Study Collection at Loyola University Chicago. Close analysis of technique and contextual evidence is used to reattribute the textile, which was originally mislabeled and situates it within the contexts of gendered labor and environmental ethics within the Bishnoi community. Utilizing the frameworks of materialist and eco-spiritual feminism, the report argues that the odhani functions as a site of ecological resistance, cultural transmission, and women’s embodied knowledge, as well as a garment.

Revised Phylogeography Of The Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus Vulpecula) Reveals New Insights Into Genetic Structure Across Australia, Shelby C. Middleton, Robert A. Davis, Kenny J. Travouillon, Anna J.M. Hopkins, Harriet R. Mills, Linette S. Umbrello

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Understanding genetic relationships within species is essential for identifying distinct genetic lineages and informing conservation strategies, particularly for species with fragmented or widespread geographic distributions. One such widespread species that has suffered declines across Australia, despite remaining common in some areas, is the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), a nocturnal and arboreal marsupial. Previous genetic studies on brushtail possums had limited sampling, which has precluded a comprehensive assessment of the relationships within the species and genus. Using both single nucleotide polymorphism markers and the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, this study employed phylogenetics, ancestry coefficients, and tested genetic differentiation, to examine …

Ecological Specialisation Of Reef Fishes Peaks In Global Biodiversity Hotspots, Zoé Delecambre, Renato A. Morais, Alexandre C. Siqueira, Emma Paul Costesec, Caroline E. Dubé, Sergio R. Floeter, Alan M. Friedlander, Fabien Leprieur, Yves Letourneur, Lucas T. Nunes, Jordan M. Casey, Valeriano Parravicini

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: The role of ecological specialisation in shaping biogeographic and evolutionary patterns remains unresolved. To date, few studies have quantitatively examined consumer niche breadth at a global scale. We describe global biogeographic and diversification patterns of specialisation, measured using trophic and thermal niches, for a highly diverse assemblage of consumers: reef fishes. First, we investigated the confluence of specialisation with global biogeographic patterns in species richness and reef area. Then, we tested whether these patterns could be explained by differences in diversification rates and geographic ranges. Location: Tropical reefs across the globe. Time Period: Present. Major Taxa Studied: Reef fishes. …

Clostridioides Difficile In Feral Horse Populations In Australia, Natasza M.R. Hain-Saunders, Daniel R. Knight, Andrea Harvey, Mieghan Bruce, Brian A. Hampson, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Clostridioides difficile is a known cause of diarrhea and colitis in human and non-human animals. While C. difficile is regularly isolated from domesticated horses, little is known about its prevalence in wild or feral populations. In Australia, the horse population encompasses a mix of both domesticated and feral animals, with the feral population of 400,000 estimated to be the largest in the world. This study investigated the presence and characteristics of C. difficile in Australian feral horses and evaluated their potential as a source or reservoir of C. difficile in the wider community. Fecal samples (n = 380) were collected …

Investigating The Role Of Ilv1 On Stress Response In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Luke H. Beachboard

Honors Theses

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a model organism within molecular genetics, is also known for its broad role within baking, brewing, biofuel, and pharmaceutical industries. An unpublished study at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga observed decreased cell viability in an ILV1 Knockout strain of S. cerevisiae when exposed to environmental stressors. A subsequent study at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga found expression levels of the candidate genes to be significantly altered within the ILV1 Knockout strain relative to the BY4743 Wildtype strain, demonstrating the reality of a pleiotropic role within ILV1. Now, this study aims to further investigate this peculiar characteristic …