Life Sciences Commons^™

Front Matter & Editorial, Editorial Board, Assaf Nativ

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Roadways On Seasonal Movement Strategies And Mate Location Success In An Imperiled Pit Viper (Crotalus Horridus), Dominic Desantis

Academic Affairs

A detailed understanding of animal movement behavior is fundamental to effective conservation and management. Within populations, a diversity of movement strategies can be displayed in search of critical resources, and these strategies are influenced by multiple interacting factors related to individuals and the environment. Mating partners are one critical resource that often serves as a prominent selective force shaping movement during mating seasons. For many large-bodied snakes, such as pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae), male mate-searching movements are the primary determinant of mate location success. During this time, males incur significant risks associated with elevated movement. In an increasingly human-modified world, …

American Letters: Loren Eiseley

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Except from: The Bird and the Machine, The Immense Journey (1957)

Below-Ground Carbon Gradients Surrounding Saskatchewan's Native Agricultural Copses, Andrea V. Cline, Colin P. Laroque

Aspen Bibliography

As carbon markets develop, understanding the carbon storage capabilities of agricultural land is imperative to maximizing carbon storage. Ecosystems store two-thirds of their carbon below ground. Shrubland and shelterbelt carbon storage have been well documented in agricultural settings, yet little is known about the carbon stored under the native woody vegetation scattered across the Prairies. This study aims to be the first to quantify the below-ground carbon under and around these native trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) copses in the Canadian Prairies. For this study, the leaf, fibric, humic layer (LFH) and soil samples up to 60cm were collected …

Floral Cues And Foraging Preferences In Various Species Of Wild Bumblebees, Olivia A. Dahl

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

There are costs and benefits for plants and their pollinators. Bumblebees play a crucial role in the dynamic plant-pollinator system. Flowers co-evolved with insects, birds, and mammals toward mechanisms that benefited, described from a human perspective, both host and forager. Characteristics such color, olfactory cues, and temperature attract pollinators, with bumblebees showing preferences for blue and yellow flowers, as well as flowers that are warmer. This study aims to answer three questions: 1) How does floral temperature at different times of day predict visit length in bumblebees? 2) Does bumblebee size affect visit length? 3) Is there an interaction between …

Quantifying The Decline In Avian Biodiversity: A Global Crisis And Its Implications For Environmental Education, Canaline Osaka

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

People care about what they love—and it’s easy to love--and fall in love, with birds. The

opportunities to promote bird diversity are legion, and applicable throughout K-12 education. For example, the Eastern Bluebird needs to nest in the cavities of dead trees, a habitat drastically denuded by large scale farming—or in specialized nesting boxes. A nationwide effort to build and install these boxes has brought the population back to healthy numbers since its 1970 low point. (Once one knows what they look like, one cannot miss these roadside homes—Western Bluebirds also benefit.) Students can also engineer bird houses and deters, …

American Letters: Albert H. Hochbaum

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Excerpt from: Travels and Traditions of Waterfowl (1955)

Improved Overall Survival In An Anti-Pd-L1 Treated Cohort Of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Patients Is Associated With Distinct Immune, Mutation, And Gut Microbiome Features: A Single Arm Prospective Phase I/Ii Trial, Shiao-Pei Weathers, Xiqi Li, Haifeng Zhu, Ashish V Damania, Mark Knafl, Brian Mckinley, Heather Lin, Rebecca A Harrison, Nazanin K Majd, Barbara J O'Brien, Marta Penas-Prado, Monica Loghin, Carlos Kamiya-Matsuoka, W K Alfred Yung, Luisa M Solis Soto, Dipen M Maru, Ignacio Wistuba, Edwin R Parra Cuentas, Sharia Hernandez, Andrew Futreal, Jennifer A Wargo, Katja Schulze, Walter C Darbonne, Nadim J Ajami, Scott E Woodman, John F De Groot

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This phase I/II trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of concurrent atezolizumab with radiation therapy and temozolomide (TMZ) followed by adjuvant atezolizumab and TMZ in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) patients and to identify pre-treatment correlates with outcome (N = 60). Trial number: NCT03174197. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) whereas secondary outcomes were retrospective global-omics analyses to identify pre-treatment immune and genetic tumor features that correlated with survival. Concurrent use of atezolizumab with radiation and TMZ demonstrated OS in line with published trials for newly diagnosed GBM. Tumor genomic (WES and/or targeted NGS panel), transcriptomic (RNAseq) and tissue microenvironment …

Expression, Characterization, And Comparative Analysis Of Bacillus Bacteriophage Endolysins, Stephen D. Zdgiebloski

Research and Creativity Symposium

Bacteriophages present a promising alternative for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria without disrupting the normal microbiome or harming human cells. The antibacterial properties of lytic bacteriophages are largely attributed to endolysins, enzymes active in the lytic cycle. Endolysins recognize bacterial cell walls and cleave the peptidoglycan matrix, leading to cell wall disruption. Their specificity and effectiveness against bacterial hosts are determined by two functional domains, including the cell wall binding domain. Our research focuses on characterizing Bacillus phage endolysins. We analyzed the protein sequences of endolysins from six Bacillus phages isolated at the University of Mary Washington. Although these phages were isolated …

Metabolic And Microbial Crossroads: Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors And Urinary Tract Infections In (Asian) Diabetes Care, Rob E. Carpenter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

The global rise of type 2 diabetes, particularly in Asian populations, has led to widespread adoption of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for glycemic control. While effective, these agents elevate the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by inducing glycosuria, which creates a nutrient-rich environment that favors uropathogen growth. Asian individuals may be disproportionately vulnerable to SGLT2 inhibitor–associated UTIs due to a confluence of factors, including lower body mass index, increased visceral adiposity, congenital urinary tract anomalies, and genetic polymorphisms that impair uroepithelial integrity and immunity. This review integrates emerging evidence on the molecular, anatomical, and immunometabolic mechanisms that underlie infection …

Building A Pre-Surgical Multiparametric-Mri-Based Morphologic, Qualitative, Semiquantitative, First And High-Order Radiomic Predictive Treatment Response Model For Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma To Replace Recist, Raul F Valenzuela, Elvis Duran-Sierra, Mathew Antony, Behrang Amini, Sam Lo, Keila E Torres, Robert S Benjamin, Jingfei Ma, Ken-Pin Hwang, R Jason Stafford, Dejka Araujo, Andrew J Bishop, Ravin Ratan, Wei-Lien Wang, Jossue Espinoza, Pia V Valenzuela, Chengyue Wu, John E Madewell, William A Murphy, Colleen M Costelloe

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is the largest subgroup of soft-tissue sarcomas. It demonstrates post-therapeutic hemosiderin deposition, granulation tissue formation, fibrosis, and calcification. Our research aims to establish the multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) value for predicting UPS treatment response.

Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective study included 33 extremity UPS patients with pre-operative mp-MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), contrast-enhanced susceptibility-weighted imaging (CE-SWI), and perfusion-weighted imaging with dynamic contrast-enhancement (PWI/DCE), and surgical resection between February 2021 and May 2023. Lesions were visually classified on CE-SWI into one of 6 morphology patterns. On PWI/DCE, lesions were classified into one of 6 patterns, and time-intensity curves …

Ecology Of Beech Leaf Disease: Identifying The Forest Conditions Correlated With Infection In Northeast Ohio, Blake Logan

Research Symposium

Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) is a novel, poorly-understood threat to forests across North America. Since its discovery in northeast Ohio in 2012, the disease has affected staggering numbers of beech trees (Fagus grandifolia), resulting in increased sapling mortality. In the near future, mortality in symptomatic mature trees is expected to follow. The symptomatic striped leaves result from the activity of the nematode Litylenchus crenatae ssp. mccannii, but the precise role this organism plays in transmission and infection is currently unknown.

Oberlin College has been conducting forest demography research at Chance Creek, a nature preserve in Lorain county, since 1974. Every …

Global Health Concentration Journey, Leann Torrez

Research Symposium

The Oberlin College Global Health Concentration has played a crucial role in helping me strengthen my personal goals and professional vision, especially regarding the future I hope to shape for others. Before attending Oberlin, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in nursing, driven by both positive and negative experiences that my family, my communities, and I have encountered within the healthcare system. These experiences motivated me to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to create a more equitable, accessible, and intentional healthcare environment for underrepresented communities. Throughout my time at Oberlin, I’ve been learning to think critically about …

Effects Of Pfos On Zebrafish Dopaminergic Neurodevelopment, Allison G. Fletcher

Research and Creativity Symposium

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of environmental contaminants that cause disruptions to the nervous and endocrine systems. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is considered one of the most disruptive PFAS to the nervous system, and may disrupt neurodevelopment of the dopaminergic system, which has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in humans. I hypothesized that early life PFOS exposure disrupts the development of the dopaminergic system. To test this hypothesis, I exposed zebrafish to 0.05, 0.5, and 5.0 mg/L PFOS through 5 days of embryonic and larval development. To assess acute effects of PFOS on the …

The Biomedical Ethics Of Palliative Psychiatry In Anorexia Nervosa Patients, Mikayla Decesare

Fisher Showcase 2025

My presentation is going to be created from the extensive research paper that I am writing on the biomedical ethics of palliative psychiatry in patients specifically with Anorexia Nervosa. The paper as well as the presentation will explore ethical frameworks that can be applied to this medical practice by diving into case studies, looking at arguments of people currently in the field, analyzing what criteria needs to be taken into account, and more. This Keystone was added to the Biomedical Ethics course I am taking this semester so the audience is my classmates. However, this presentation is also tailored to …

Progression Of Electrophysiological Impairments In Diabetic Cardiomyopathy And Intervention Using Enicostemma Axillare, Victor Arokia Doss, Dharaniyambigai Kuberapandian

Turkish Journal of Biology

Earlier studies widely reported advanced ventricular impairments only at the later stages of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). The present study aimed to understand the duration-based early to late stages of cardiac electrophysiological impairments using electrocardiography (ECG) and intervention using Enicostema axillare subsp. littorale. The experimental rats were streptozotocin (SZ)-induced diabetic rats that were administered E. axillare formulations as follows: (1) normal; (2) SZ - 40 mg/kg, single, i.p.); (3) SZ + insulin (2 U/day) + losartan (10 mg/kg); (4) SZ + insulin + losartan + E. axillare decoction (2 mL/day); (5) SZ + E. axillare decoction; (6) SZ + E. axillare …

From Dysbiosis To Dysfunction: Investigating The Effects Of Chronic Cocaine Use On Oral Microbial Shifts And Neuropathogenesis, Douglas E. Johnson

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Cocaine use disorder remains a significant public health challenge. However, the mechanisms by which chronic cocaine use contributes to neuroinflammation and cognitive decline are still not fully understood. Chronic non-intravenous cocaine use is associated with oral microbial dysbiosis. Although the gut-brain axis has been widely studied, the impact of cocaine-mediated shifts on the oral microbiome on systemic and neuroinflammation remains a significant yet largely unexplored gap. This dissertation investigates the hypothesis that cocaine-specifically enriched oral Streptococcus parasanguinis triggers neuroinflammation, neuropathology, and cognitive deficits. In a human study, the saliva microbiomes from chronic cocaine users exhibited reduced α-diversity, enriched Streptococcus genus, …

A Tetracycline-Inducible Split Turboid System For Specific Biotinylation And Identification Of Nuclear Proteins From Hek293t Cells, Mehmet Sarihan, Fatma Zehra Özen, Murat Kasap, Gürler Akpinar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: To overcome the limitations of conventional organelle isolation methods including low purity, low yield, sample degradation, scalability and the need for multiple centrifugation steps, an improved nuclear protein enrichment approach was developed using the modified Split TurboID biotin ligase enzyme.

Materials and methods: A construct was created in which the N-terminal domain of TurboID, fused to the FK506-binding protein (FKBP) was targeted to the nucleus. This construct was incorporated into a tetracycline-inducible gene expression vector. Similarly, the C-terminal domain of TurboID was fused to the rapamycin-binding domain of mTOR (FRB) and directed to the nucleus. This construct …

All Stressed Out: An Investigation On The Effects Of Environmental Stressors On The Northern Leopard Frog (Rana Pipiens), Ella C. Wittmuss

Honors Thesis

Corticosterone (CORT) is the primary glucocorticoid in many vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. When an organism is exposed to external or internal stressors, CORT levels often increase (Rich & Romero, 2005; Titon et al., 2021). An increase in CORT can cause adverse physiological effects such as slower growth, malformations in different parts of the body, and specific blood sugar diseases such as diabetes (Glennemeier & Denver, 2002; Tarlow &Blumstein, 2007). CORT levels are indicators of survival, growth, and reproduction in larval amphibians. Many species, including our model organism, the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens), are often subjected to …

Studies To Understand The Stability And Liabilities Of Legumain-Cleavable Antibody-Drug Conjugates, Michele Yi

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) offer targeted drug delivery of potent cytotoxic payloads, minimizing systemic toxicity. However, the stability of the linker is integral to ensure that there is minimal off-target payload release and little systemic toxicity. This study analyzes the physical and biological stability of our new legumain-cleavable vs traditional cathepsin-cleavable antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), with a focus on hydrophobicity, thermal stability, aggregation, and biological payload release. Our findings indicate that decreased hydrophobicity of the legumain-cleavable ADCs compared to cathepsin-cleavable ADCs is correlated with decreased aggregation (predicting lower uptake by liver macrophages and therefore slower clearance and less systemic toxicity) and lower …

Apigenin Attenuates Ischemia–Reperfusion-Induced Pulmonary Ferroptosis And Fibrosis By Activating The Nrf2/Ho-1/Gpx4 Axis In Mice, Liang Zhang, Haojie Li, Shichen Xu, Hao Wen, Chaoxiao Yu

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI). In recent years, pulmonary ferroptosis and its associated fibrosis have been recognized as important causes of LIRI. The purpose of this study is to investigate apigenin (APG) as a potential therapeutic target for treating LIRI-induced pulmonary ferroptosis and fibrosis.

Materials and methods: A rat model of LIRI was established and the rats were randomly divided into three groups, a sham group, a LIRI group, and an APG group. The pathological changes of the lung tissue were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining and …

Prooxidant Effect Of Uric Acid On Human Leukocytic Dna: An In Vitro And Ex Vivo Study, Yim Tong Savio Szeto, Vincy Sze Wing Li, Yuen Lam Pon

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Uric acid is a major contributor to the total antioxidant capacity of human plasma. However, this endogenous substance’s antioxidant and prooxidant properties have not yet been reported.

Conclusion: In this study, the comet assay was employed in vitro to determine the effect of uric acid on DNA damage in human lymphocytes and leukocytic DNA damage in hyperuricemia patients with and without renal failure.

Results: DNA damage in lymphocytes occurred at uric acid concentrations of ≥600 μM. Adding catalase to the uric acid solution diminished the damaging effect, indicating that hydrogen peroxide mediated the prooxidant activity. Moreover, …

Intrinsic Apoptotic Effect Of Anatolian Honeybee (Apis Mellifera Anatoliaca) Venom Promoted With Mesoporous Silica Nanocarriers, Batuhan Orman, Ayli̇n Koç, Di̇dem Şen Karaman, Ayşe Nalbantsoy

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: The use of bee products or treatment with bees, as a complement to conventional medicine is attracting considerable attention in cancer research. Although discoveries related to the potential anticancer effects of bee venom are increasing, the unstable nature of venom biomolecules remains a limiting factor for their usage. In this study, we employed mesoporous silica nanocarriers (MSNs) to provide precise dosing and prevent carriers from biomolecule degradation thanks to the outstanding loading capacity provided by the pores, excellent chemical and biological robustness, and ability to improve bioavailability.

Materials and methods: MSNs were synthesized and physicochemical characterizations were …

Resveratrol Modulates Triosephosphate Isomerase And Mineralization In Osteosarcoma Cells: Potential Target For Novel Therapeutic Strategies, Gonca Tuna, Si̇bel Çinar Asa, Eli̇f Ertürk, Yaren Yildiz, Ferda Ari

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Osteosarcoma, a primary malignant bone tumor, is challenging to treat due to its aggressive nature and limited therapies. Resveratrol (RES), a natural polyphenol, has potential anticancer properties. Hence, we investigated RES’s impact on osteosarcoma cells, focusing on triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) and related mechanisms.

Materials and methods: RES was applied to osteosarcoma (SaOS-2) and healthy fetal osteoblast (hFOB 1.19) cells for 48 h, and cell viability was measured by SRB assay. The mode of cell death was examined using Hoechst 33342/annexin V/propidium iodide. TPI and methylglyoxal (MG) enzyme levels were determined by ELISA. The effect of RES on …

N-Cadherin Mimetic Hydrogels Drive Superior Regenerative And Paracrine Responses In 3d Cultures Of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Demet Kaçaroğlu, Alper Murat Ulaşli, Aybüke Di̇denur Sak, Seher Yaylaci

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background: Cadherin-based biomaterials play a pivotal role in influencing the fate of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Enhancing the adhesion of adipose tissue-derived MSCs has been shown to augment their paracrine effects while N-cadherin biomaterials have been suggested to regulate the paracrine effects of MSCs via specific growth factors although the precise mechanisms underlying this regulation remain insufficiently understood. This study aims to compare the effects of a 3D N-cadherin mimetic environment on cell viability, apoptosis, extracellular matrix regulation, and growth factor expression with those observed in traditional 2D and 3D spheroid cultures. Additionally, the study seeks to evaluate the …

Knockdown Of Plexin C1 Induces Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition And Confers Resistance To Multikinase Inhibitors In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells, Gamze Güngör Topcu, Arzu Aysan, Şevval Di̇k, Mai̇de Şeker, Meli̇ke Bi̇nnur Bahçekapili, Sude Topkaraoğlu, Di̇lek Yavuzer, Tamer Yağci

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: HCC is a common and lethal malignancy and multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) are among the therapeutic options for unresectable cases. However, response rates to MKIs remained variable, necessitating the identification of predictive biomarkers. Plexin C1 (PLXNC1), a receptor involved in cell signaling, has emerged as a potential candidate to regulate tumor responses. This study aims to evaluate the impact of PLXNC1 expression on the sensitivity of HCC cells to MKI therapy.

Materials and methods: shRNA-mediated PLXNC1 knock-down and control clones of HCC cell lines PLC/PRF/5 and Hep3B were generated, and downregulation of PLXNC1 was confirmed using Western blotting. …

Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Huda Abu-Suwa, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Stem cell research is a controversial issue that has received considerable attention over the last three decades. Stem cell research began in the early 1980’s, when stem cells were obtained from mice embryos and utilized to understand the functioning of stem cells (Grivennikov, 2008). In 1998, researchers discovered techniques for obtaining embryonic stem cells from human and growing them in laboratories. Since them, substantial research has been conducted on stem cells and their potential uses, which includes increasing our understanding of diseases and how they occur, treating various diseases, and testing new medications for safety and efficacy (Taylor, 2005).

Diapause And Anoxia-Induced Quiescence Are Unique States In Embryos Of The Annual Killifish, Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Patrick R. Clouser, Claire L. Riggs, Amie L. T. Romney, Jason E. Podrabsky

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Diapause is a state of developmental and metabolic dormancy that precedes exposure to environmental stresses. Yet, diapausing embryos are typically stress-tolerant. Evidence suggests that diapausing embryos “prepare” for stress as part of a gene expression program as they enter dormancy. Here, we investigate if diapause II embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus, which can survive for hundreds of days of anoxia, can mount a transcriptomic response to anoxic insult. Bulk RNAseq was used to characterize the transcriptomes of diapause II embryos exposed to normoxia, 4 h and 24 h anoxia, and 2 h and 24 h normoxic recovery …

Effects Of Soluble Electron Shuttles On Microbial Iron Reduction And Methanogenesis, Bhim Sen Thapa, Theodore M. Flynn, Zena D. Jensvold, Kenneth M. Kemner, Margaret F. Sladek, Edward J. O'Loughlin, Christopher W. Marshall

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

In many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, iron (Fe) reduction by microorganisms is a key part of biogeochemical cycling and energy flux. The presence of redox-active electron shuttles in the environment potentially enables a phylogenetically diverse group of microbes to use insoluble iron as a terminal electron acceptor. We investigated the impact that different electron shuttles had on respiration, microbial physiology, and microbial ecology. We tested eight different electron shuttles, seven quinones and riboflavin, with redox potentials between 0.217 and −0.340 V. Fe(III) reduction coupled with acetate oxidation was observed with all shuttles. Once Fe(III) reduction began to plateau, a rapid …

Frequent Failure Of Nutrients To Increase Plant Biomass Supports The Need For Precision Fertilization In Agriculture, Oliver H. Carroll, Eric W. Seabloom, Elizabeth T. Borer, W. Stanley Harpole, Peter Wilfahrt, Carlos A. Arnillas, Erika Hersh-Green, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Implementing precision fertilization to maximize crop yield while minimizing economic and environmental impacts has become critical for agriculture. Variability in biomass response to fertilization within fields, among regions, and over time creates simultaneous risks of under-yielding and overfertilization. We quantify factors determining fertilization responsiveness (i.e., biomass increases with fertilization) up to 15 years in 61 unfertilized rangelands on six continents. We demonstrate widespread multi-year variability in responsiveness, with fertilization increasing average yield by 43% but failing to improve biomass 26% of the time. All sites were responsive at least once, but only four of 61 responded in all plots and …