Life Sciences Commons^™

Is Intermittent Fasting A Better Option Than Continuous Calorie Restriction?, Joseph J Cynamon

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Intermittent fasting has become an increasingly popular diet for weight loss in the United States in the past ten years. Proponents of intermittent fasting claim that restricting calories via a fasting period yields more significant weight loss and better improvements in biomarkers for longevity than restricting calories continuously. The goal of this paper is to determine whether intermittent fasting leads to weight loss and is more beneficial than continuous calorie restriction. The paper first details the physiological processes which can occur during fasting that are theorized to render fasting advantageous. It then reviews the limited available research that experimentally compares …

Potential Of Synthetic And Natural Compounds As Novel Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors For The Treatment Of Hematological Malignancies, Dilipkumar Pal, Khushboo Raj, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Surajit Sinha, Abhishek Mishra, Arijit Mondal, Ricardo Lagoa, Jack T. Burcher, Anupam Bishayee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are enzymes that remove or add acetyl groups to lysine residues of histones, respectively. Histone deacetylation causes DNA to more snugly encircle histones and decreases gene expression, whereas acetylation has the opposite effect. Through these small alterations in chemical structure, HATs and HDACs regulate DNA expression. Recent research indicates histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) may be used to treat malignancies, including leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, virus-associated tumors, and multiple myeloma. These data suggest that HDACis may boost the production of immune-related molecules, resulting in the growth of CD8-positive T-cells and the recognition of nonreactive tumor …

Salve Regina University Hydroponic Growing Guide: Dolores Chive, Hanna E. Lloyd

Hydroponic Center

This Salve Regina Hydroponic Growing Guide describes the process of hydroponically growing Dolores Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) in a tower system. This grow guide is based on the research project completed by third year student, Hanna Lloyd, through the Hydroponic Practicum, during the 2023 spring semester. Dolores chives are an aromatic herb which grow as tall, thin, green, leaves. Chives thrive under direct light with nutrient-rich water, and propagate under grow lights in approximately 15 days. When grown in a hydroponic tower, chives can reach up to 12-20 inches in length. The following guide provides information on optimal pH, optimal nutrient …

Quantitative Study Of Aphid Natural Enemies In Central Oklahoma Canola Fields, Norman C. Elliott, Kristopher L. Giles, Kristen A. Baum, Sarah Elzay

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Winter canola (Brassica napus L.) is planted in late September through October in central Oklahoma and harvested in June. Three aphid species typically infest canola fields in central Oklahoma: cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L.; green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer); and turnip aphid, Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Davis). Predatory insects and spiders and hymenopteran parasitoids that prey on aphids are present in canola fields in central Oklahoma. We used a D-vac suction device to sample aphids and natural enemies in a total of 23 canola fields in central Oklahoma in early November and mid-March of three growing seasons. During the three …

Analysis Of Ab Initio Protein Structure Prediction Methods, Maytha Alshammari, Jing He

College of Sciences Posters

Protein structure prediction produces atomic models of three-dimensional structure of a protein from its amino acid sequence. Understanding the function mechanism of proteins requires knowledge of three-dimensional structures. When developing new enzymes and drugs, it's essential to understand the structure of the target protein. In this study, we analyze models predicted using two ab initio protein structure prediction methods, trRosetta and Quark. A set of thirty protein chains was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the methods. The thirty chains were collected from Protein Data Bank (June – November, 2020). The length and the relative position of the predicted secondary …

Box Tree Moth (Cydalima Perspectalis), Kripa Dhakal, Karla M. Addesso

Extension Publications

The box tree moth (BTM), Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an invasive pest of boxwood (Buxus spp.) causing severe damage to these popular ornamental plants. These plants are popular for their low maintenance, deer resistance, and evergreen foliage. It is a shrub common to almost all landscape environments in the United States. The box tree moth is native to East Asia. It was discovered in Europe in 2007, and since then it has spread rapidly across the continent. In 2018, box tree moth was first detected in North America in Ontario, Canada and in July 2021, the U.S. Department …

Data To Accompany: How Does Rapid Body Color Change Affect The Conspicuity Of Lizards To Their Predators And Conspecifics?, Lindsey Swierk, Andrés Rojo

Biological Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Predator-prey interactions drive the evolution of prey visual camouflage, but prey species also often require salience to their conspecifics for social signaling purposes. Whether rapid body color change can help to dynamically balance conspecific visibility and predator concealment, in the eyes of each group’s respective visual systems, remains poorly understood. We tested this question using water anoles (Anolis aquaticus), a small lizard that uses rapid dark-to-light body color change to visually camouflage itself from its avian predators across diverse microhabitats. We used digital image analysis and visual modeling to assess the effectiveness of color-matching camouflage in A. aquaticus …

Data To Accompany "Altered Heat-Avoidance Behavior Following Damage To The Extended Architecture Of Mexican Jumping Bean Moth Larvae (Cydia Saltitans)", Anna Purtell, Lindsey Swierk

Biological Sciences Faculty Scholarship

In response to physical damage, organisms must balance physical recovery with adaptive responses to other environmental stressors. Understanding how damage and repair influence adaptive responses to high environmental temperatures is of particular interest in light of global climate change. We investigate the impact of damage and subsequent repair on heat-avoidance behaviors in Cydia saltitans larvae inhabiting host seeds (Sebastiana pavoniana) as protective structures (together colloquially known as “Mexican jumping beans”). These larvae perform temperature-dependent “jumping” or “rolling” behaviors to escape extreme heat, which are crucial for larval survival in their native arid and hot subtropical dry forests. Due …

Transforming Entomology To Adapt To Global Concerns: 2021 Student Debates, Patricia Prade, Ramandeep Kaur Sandhi, Sarah Elzay, Katherine Arnold, Victoria Pickens, Andrew Freedman, Dashae Dillard, Sean Gresham, Ashley Morris, Daniela Pezzini, Seum O. Oladipupo, Elijah P. Carroll, Richard O. Murphy, Festus K. Ajibefun, Luis M. Mendez, Katherine Carroll, Jasleen Kaur, Lillie M. Rooney, Kendall Stacey, Yasmin Tavares, Jared E. Dyer, Na Xie, Jason Bielski, John Schepis, Kayleigh C. Hauri, John J. Ternest, Jacob Pecenka, Scott W. Gula, Natalie Constancio, Emily Rampone, Mario Luppino, Dowen Jocson, Stephen Onayemi, Emily Rendleman

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The 2021 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were held at the Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. The event was organized by the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC). The theme of the 2021 Student Debates was “Transforming Entomology to Adapt to Global Concerns”, with 3 topics. Each topic had an unbiased introduction and 2 teams. The debate topics were (i) Nonnative insect introduction is an ethical approach for counteracting proliferation and overpopulation of consumers, (ii) What is the best technology to control undesirable insect pests in urban and agricultural settings? and (iii) …

How Can We Eliminate Peanut Allergies?, Ari Weingarten

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

For a long time, people with peanut allergies have had to carefully read labels, carry around emergency epinephrine injections, and live in fear of accidentally consuming an otherwise benign food that could potentially kill them. Thankfully, researchers have been working on ways to alleviate the harmful effects of these allergies and perhaps even find a cure. In the Learning Early About Peanut allergy (LEAP) study performed in 2015, researchers examined whether the early introduction of peanut consumption could be used to prevent peanut allergies. According to the study, peanuts can be introduced orally to high-risk infants who are sensitized, as …

Singer’S Voice Quality - Genetic Or Environmental Influences?, Dobra Baum

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

This paper explores the singing voice in terms of the vocal mechanism’s key anatomical features and the physiology of the vocal function. It focuses on phonation and resonation and examines the anatomy and physiology of the vocal tract and the respiratory system. The aim is to determine whether the singer’s voice is only the product of genetics or due to environmental influences. It conducts a procedure to evaluate how singers use their voices to modify breathing, pitch, volume, and timbre through resonance shaping. It also investigates the hereditary transmission of a good singing voice, on chromosome 12q, between relatives, and …

Science Information Literacy Lesson Plan, Barbara C. Harvey

Lesson Plans

Students need to find “primary research” articles (also known as “scholarly,” “peer-reviewed,” or “refereed” articles), but how can they tell them apart from other types of articles, and where can they find them? This lesson is designed for a 50-minute session with student access to internet-accessible devices (laptops, tablets, etc.).

Differences In Anaerobic Power And Fatigue Index In Different Phases Of The Menstrual Cycle, Ellie Steinle, Makenna Brown

Applied Health Sciences Student Works

PURPOSE: The menstrual cycle has only recently become a more popular area to explore by researchers, and, because of this, there is a lack of research done on the menstrual cycle and the effects it has on females. The purpose of this research was to examine the effects that the phases of the menstrual cycle, in accordance with the surges and lulls of estrogen, have on performance outcomes.

METHODS: Twenty-six college-aged subjects who were moderately active based on ACSM guidelines and who have a menstrual cycle were included in two sessions of testing. For the first session, subjects completed the …

Acute Effects Of Mental Health On Concussion Testing, Annika Thompson, Carin Gutzwiller

Applied Health Sciences Student Works

The process of diagnosing a concussion starts long before any hit on the field. At the beginning of each season, athletes are baseline tested using the same Sports Concussion Assessment Test 5 (SCAT5) that is used on the field when injury occurs. How they perform on this baseline test plays a major role in future diagnosis. Thirty-Five male and female subjects (mean years of age 20.8 years ± 1.6) free of concussion diagnosis came in for a total of three separate appointments. At each appointment, a mental health survey, reaction time test, and the cognitive portion of the SCAT 5 …

Using Nspefs To Sensitize Mrsa To Vancomycin Treatment, Areej Malik, Alexandra E. Chittams-Miles, Claudia Muratori, Erin B. Purcell

The Graduate School Posters

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a biofilm-forming pathogen. S. aureus treatment is marked by the development of antibiotic resistance. The public health impact has increased since the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), which has started to show intermediate resistance to vancomycin in MRSA. Nano-second pulse electric fields (nsPEFs) are low-energy and high-power electric pulses, which have been suggested to sensitize pathogens to antibiotics by creating transient pores in the cell membrane. Our combinatorial treatment includes nsPEF pre-treatment and vancomycin post-treatment of MRSA cells. Our results show that MRSA log phase cells had the highest susceptibility to vancomycin. …

A Review Of The Genus Colacus Ohaus, 1910 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Agaocephalini) With Description Of A New Species From Peru, Luis Figueroa, Brett Ratcliffe, Jhon César Neita-Moreno

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

Colacus cuchimilco Figueroa and Ratcliffe is described as a new species from the Puerto Viejo wetland in the Lima Department of Peru. A description, a diagnosis separating it from similar species, illustrations, and a distribution map are provided.

Investigating Plant Physiological Responses To Global Phylogenetic Diversity Of Glomeromycotina, David Z. Mowbray

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous symbionts of terrestrial plant species with associations predominantly characterized as mutualistic. In addition to well-documented enhancement of host growth response, more recent analyses have demonstrated the conferral of host benefits under numerous biotic and abiotic stressors. However, much of the established evidence originates from studies involving limited AM fungal diversity. Accordingly, this study sought to evaluate the potential effects of inoculation on plant host physiological traits within a growth chamber environment, investigate potential correlations between host trait responses, & assess the degree of phylogenetic signal observed in trait responses due to the presence of …

A Computational Analysis Of Hybrid Genome Assembly Strategies, Joseph Walewski

Computer Science Honors Papers

The central dogma of molecular biology states that DNA is transcribed to RNA and then translated into proteins. Since DNA is the starting material for many of biology’s macromolecules, it has been referred to as “nature’s instruction book.” The sum of all DNA in a cell is referred to as the genome, and genome sequencing is how we interpret the DNA.

Due to limitations on currently available technology, it is not possible to retrieve the entire genome in one contiguous set of data. Therefore, genome sequencing is a computer science problem as sequencing “reads” must be stitched together to obtain …

Wa Avocado Life Cycle Analysis (Lca), Christophe D'Abbadie, Saloomeh Akbari

Horticulture research reports

The Western Australian (WA) avocado industry is an important contributor to the state's economy, with a market value of 201 million Australian dollars and a production of 32,239 tonnes in 2019-20. The Shire of Manjimup is a particularly significant contributor to the state's avocado production, accounting for 67% of the total. The Busselton shire accounts for an additional 16%. The remaining 17% is produced in other shires throughout the state (Radhakrishnan et al, 2022).

This report aims to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a generic avocado producer based in Manjimup, WA, in order to evaluate the environmental impacts …

Exogenous Application Of Trehalose Minimizes Cadmium Toxicity And Alleviates Oxidative Stress In Wheat Under Cadmium Stress, Hesham F. Alharby, Hassan S. Al-Zahrani, Khalid Rehman Hakeem, Shafaqat Ali

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Practical and cost-effective food safety and production methods are essential, as huge areas of arable land are contaminated through heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd) pollution worldwide. This study was performed to assess impacts of dissimilar doses of trehalose (Tre) (0, 25, 50 mM) as foliar spray on wheat plants grown under different Cd stress levels (0, 2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg), considering different growth, photosynthetic attributes and antioxidative defense mechanism in relation with the uptake of Cd to different plant parts. A considerable reduction was detected in growth, biomass, and chlorophyll contents under Cd stress linked with boosted lipid peroxidation, electrolyte …

Cover Crop Composition In Long-Term No-Till Soils In Semi-Arid Environments Do Not Influence Soil Health Measurements After One Year, Hunter Bielenberg, Jason D. Clark, Debankur Sanyal, Johnathon Wolthuizen, David Karki, Amin Rahhal, Anthony Bly

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Evaluating the influence of grass or broadleaf cover crops on soil health measurements is common in the northern US Midwest. However, the comparison among different cover crop mixtures, including blends of both grass and broadleaf species is limited. In 2018–2020, cover crop experiments were conducted in South Dakota at 11 site-years. Cover crops were planted in the summer after small grains harvest as mixtures of dominantly grasses or broadleaves, a 50/50 grass/broadleaf mixture, and a no cover crop control. Soil and above-ground plant residue samples were collected in the fall before winter termination and in the spring before corn planting. …

The Effects Of Short-Term Removal Of Exercise On Flow Mediated Dilation In Older Adults: Preliminary Data, Joel E. Harden, Leryn Reynolds Ph.D.

College of Education & Professional Studies (Darden) Posters

Endothelial function is negatively associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies demonstrate that endothelial function is improved through exercise, and that young, active adults experience impaired endothelial function following short-term physical inactivity interventions. Whether this occurs in older, active adults who may be more prone to bouts of inactivity is unknown. This study determined if endothelial function, as measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), was impaired in active, older adults following removal of exercise for 5 days compared to active, young adults. To examine this, popliteal and brachial artery FMD were measured at baseline and during days 3 and …

Par-4: An Attractive Target For Cancer Therapy, Krishna K. Raut, Antoine Baudin, David S. Libich, Lijun Liu, Scott Lovell, Steven M. Pascal

College of Sciences Posters

Lack of early diagnosis, cancer recurrence, metastasis, and adverse side effects are some of the major problems in the treatment of cancers. Par-4, a tumor suppressor protein, is an attractive target for cancer therapy as it selectively kills cancer cells. Cl-Par-4 is the active fragment of Par-4 that enters the nucleus and selectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells. It has also been reported that Par-4 increases the susceptibility of cancer cells to chemotherapy and reverses cancer recurrence. Further, Par-4 has been shown to play a dual role: inhibition of EMT (Epithelial-mesenchymal transition) as well as assistance in the reverse process, …

Hitting The Sweet Spot: Optimizing Camera Trapping Effort For Estimating Biodiversity In Coastal Environments, Ella Dipetto, Oleksii Dubovyk, Chi Wei, Angela Brierly, Eric Walters, Alex Teodorescu, Jillian Murphy

College of Sciences Posters

Wildlife trail cameras, or “camera traps”, have become an effective tool in ecological research and conservation management across a variety of ecosystems to monitor a wide range of taxa. Camera trapping allows for extended survey time in traditionally hard-to-survey environments and has greatly increased our ability to detect cryptic species. One question ecologists commonly face is how much sampling effort is required to accurately estimate community composition. Despite the abundant literature that uses camera trapping techniques, few studies have occurred in coastal saltmarsh ecosystems. These ecosystems are being lost at a rapid rate from land conversion, pollution, and other anthropogenic …

Dendrochronology In The Blackwater Ecological Preserve, Sarah Durham, Arvind Bhuta

College of Sciences Posters

The Blackwater Ecological Preserve (BEP), located in southeastern Virginia, holds significant ecological importance as it contains the northernmost intact community of Pinus palustris, longleaf pine. At the BEP, we cored longleaf pine and recorded sample data including tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH). Two sites on the BEP, the 20’s series and 40’s series, were found to correlate within, but not between, sites. Statistical and qualitative analyses were conducted to find differences between the sites significant enough to affect correlation within a chronology. This data is being incorporated into a larger dendrochronology and climate analysis study on …

Can The Food Preparation Hypothesis Account For Anting Behavior In Birds?, Ella Brady

2023 REYES Proceedings

This report discusses the food preparation hypothesis, one of several proposed hypotheses to explain anting behavior in birds. A brief review of the theory’s history and development, as well as an assessment of evidence for and against such a function of anting, is provided. Although there are indeed experimental data supporting food preparation as the purpose of anting behavior, there is also conflicting evidence which complicates the theory. Ultimately, it is suggested that food preparation is a secondary function of anting – a pleasant but latent “side effect” achieved alongside the behavior’s primary purpose, which is still unknown.

Hypotheses Related To Anting By Birds, Helena Flores

2023 REYES Proceedings

“Anting” is a widespread behavior among bird species and mammals. Due to the various characteristics of this behavior, numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain it. This behavior can be classified as “active”, in which birds take a bill full of ants and rub them into their feathers, or “passive” when birds let ants wander through their plumage. The hypotheses state that anting may be performed as an (1) antiparasitic behavior, for (2) feather grooming, as a way of (3) food preparation or to (4) decrease skin irritation during molt, even as a (5) sensory stimulation tool. This review compiles …

Alwan: Reef Monitoring With Citizen Science Methods Trainer's Manual, Denise Garcia, Reine Cabreira, Alexis Principe, Wilfredo Licuanan

De La Salle University Publishing House Publications (DLSU PH)

No abstract provided.

Development Of Whole-Cell Biosensors For Early Detection Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Sharona Adina Priyev

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial in preventing progression to advanced disease stages and in improving survival rates of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Using synthetic biology tools, we aim to integrate synthetic biological circuits into the construction of a novel, whole-cell biosensor (WCB) that will detect salivary biomarkers of OSCC. In treating biological parts and genetic circuits as modular pieces, we can intentionally rearrange selected domains of interest to create new transcription factors that will enable the detection of molecules of interest. Our end-goal is the creation of portable devices carrying living cells that express our synthetic genetic circuits …

Ambrosia Beetles Important To Tennessee Nurseries, Anju Poudel, Asmita Gautam, Karla Addesso, Jason Oliver, Garrett Roper

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.