Biology Commons^™

Volume 14, Ireland Seagle, Dalton C. Whitby, Cassandra Poole, Rachel Cannon, Heidi Parker-Combes, Devon G. Shifflett, Antonio Harvey

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Table of Contents:

• Introduction: Dr. Amorette Barber
• From the Editor: Dr. Larissa "Kat" Tracy
• From the Designers: Rachel English, Rachel Hanson
• Hungry Like the Wolf: The Wolf as Metaphor in Paramount Network’s Yellowstone: Ireland Seagle
• “Floating Cities”: Illustrating the Commercial and Conservation Conflict of Alaskan Cruise Ship Tourism: Dalton C. Whitby
• What Can You Do When Your Genes are the Enemy? Current Applications of Gene Manipulation and the Associated Ethical Considerations: Cassandra Poole
• La doble cara: un tema romántico en las obras de Larra y Hawthorne: Rachel Cannon
• Resolving a Conflict: How to …

The Science Of Baking Bread, Admin Stem For Success

STEM for Success Showcase

Activity plan to teach biology and chemistry using a lesson on the baking of bread.

The Coastal Monitor: Vol. 10 No. 1, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

The Coastal Monitor

New Year’s Day has always been, for me, a time to reflect and project into the near future. Nature’s influence on us all certainly tops my listing with several environmental concerns. For example, the frequency and intensity of hurricanes to Long Island. A decade has passed since Superstorm Sandy re-opened the “Old Inlet” on Long Island which now has mostly naturally closed. So, the new year immediately prompts me to assess the previous year’s Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 system, with winds exceeding 150 mph, which had considerable impact in Florida, and then proceeded north resulting in over 2 inches …

Interdisciplinary Diffusion Lab, Sable Rosana Canales, Chloe Gaban

Andrews University Teaching and Learning Conference

Diffusion is a principle in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Students can model the rate of diffusion based on particle size by contrasting blue and yellow dyes. Two petri dishes containing agar-agar receive a drop of dye at the center. The radius of expansion is recorded over time and variance increases linearly with time. Diffusion constants vary by particle size, allowing for a size ratio comparison between blue and yellow dyes. Relating the data to cells, students predict that smaller molecules diffuse into living cells, whereas larger molecules need some assistance from protein channels as in facilitated diffusion.

Epistemological Obstacles Of Students In Accomplishing Hots Tests According To Field-Dependent Cognitive Style, Widi Candika Pakaya, Fattah Hanurawan

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The main goal of this study is to describe the epistemological obstacles faced by students with field-dependent cognitive styles when attempting to solve HOTS questions. This study uses a qualitative-descriptive methodology. The instruments used are cognitive style tests and HOTS questions. Data is collected through interviews and student work. The research subjects were two participants in third-semester PGSD students at Universitas Negeri Gorontalo. In this study, the data were analyzed by identifying the answers of two respondents to the indicators of epistemological barriers that had been done by the students and then interviewing the respondents. The results of this study …

Application Of The Recitation Method To Improve The Competence Of Medical Laboratory Technology Students In The Immunology Field, Patricia Gita Naully, Perdina Nursidika

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

An accredited mid-level MLT (Medical Laboratory Technology) must have the competence to perform medical laboratory examinations from pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic stages in several fields, one of which is immunology. Many D3 MLT students are facing obstacles to passed the immunology course. This obstacle is not only experienced by students of D3 MLT but also by medical students, pharmacy students, and similar majors. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of recitation method in the form of animation video making and immunology based device on the competence of Diploma 3 (D3) MLT students. This research is a …

Ecoliteracy Analysis And Science Teaching Materials: A Survey In Junior High Schools, Ghina Nisrina Ramadhanti, Indarini Dwi Pursitasari, Indriyani Rachman

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The study aims to analyze ecoliteracy and the teaching materials required for 21st century learning these days. The study employs the survey method by involving population of 104 junior high school students in grade VIII in Bogor City. The data are collected using ecoliteracy tests and interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques. The results showed that 48 students (46.15%) fall into the category of lacking ecoliteracy cognitive competence. The results of the questionnaire on the competence of attitudes, skills, and human relations with nature fall into the medium category. Therefore, in order to support the improvement of students’ ecoliteracy, …

The Influence Of The 5e Learning Cycle Strategy With A Link Map On Students' Mastery Of Physics Concepts And Science Process Skills, Dian Farida Rosanti, Markus Diantoro, Sentot Kusairi, Erni Yulianti

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Link maps help students correlate interconcepts in order to facilitate students mastery of the concept learned. The researcher accompanied the link map in learning to find out its effect on concept mastery and students science process skills. This study used a quasi-experimental research design by providing a posttest only for the control group. The sample consisted of two classes, divided into an experimental class and a control class. The experimental class was taught using the 5E learning cycle strategy accompanied by a link map, and the control class was taught using the 5E learning cycle strategy only. The results of …

Using Augmented Reality For Geometry Learning: Indonesian Elementary School Teachers' Experiences, Asep Nuryadin, Karlimah Karlimah, Dindin Abdul Muiz Lidinillah, Ika Fitri Apriani, Ikairn Rachmawati Putri, Lilis Susilawati, Ginna Islamiati, Dede Nurhidayah

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to discover Indonesian elementary school teachers' experiences (n = 257) of using Augmented Reality (AR) for learning, especially related to one of the topics in mathematics learning, namely, geometry. AR is considered to be an alternative instructional media that can be utilized for teaching geometry, including the topic of three-dimensional shapes. A questionnaire consisting of both close-ended and open-ended questions was used to collect data in this study. This study has successfully revealed teachers' use of digital instructional media during the COVID-19 pandemic, their familiarity with AR, frequency of AR use for geometry learning, and challenges in …

College Of Natural Sciences Newsletter, February 2023, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Volume 4, Issue 1

Page 1 Dean's Message
Page 2 Awards and Recognition
Page 3-4 Nobel Recipient Visits Campus
Page 4 Adopting the Pantry
Page 5 Growing a Recruitment Mindset
Page 6 February Outreach Events
Page 7 Media Coverage of CNS
Page 8 Open PRAIRIE Data
Page 9 54th Geography Convention, and Tom Loveland EROS Geography Scholarship
Page 10 Photos of Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi's Visit

College Of Natural Sciences Newsletter, November 2022 - January 2023, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Volme 3, Issue 7

Page 1 Dean's Message
Page 2 Awards & Recognition
Page 3 Sioux Falls Middle School Visit
Page 4 Bio-Micro Day of Scholars
Page 5 GIS Day at USGS EROS
Page 6 Indigenous People's Festival, & Visiting Jack's Imagination Lab
Page 7 Media Coverage of CNS, & Research Highlights from Geography & Geospatial Sciences
Page 8 Media Coverage of CNS. cont.
Page 9 Open PRAIRIE Data
Page 10 Recent Publications from CNS
Page 11 Recent Publications from CNS. cont.
Page 12 CNS Holiday Snapshots
Page 13 & 14 Fall 2022 Dean's List
Page 12-14 Fall 2022 Outreach …

The Effects Of Salinity And Acetaminophen On The Aquatic Snail Physa Acuta, Michelle Sackey-Ansah, Megan Mackey, Daniel Elias, Jason Doll, Alyssa Brookhart

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Pharmaceuticals are increasingly detected in water bodies, and their presence can negatively impact aquatic organisms. This effect can be amplified when combined with increasing salinity in freshwater ecosystems. Acetaminophen is a widely used analgesic that is commonly found in river, streams, and waters where it is discharged directly. Therefore, organisms present in these locations (e.g., insects, snails, amphibians, and fish) are likely to be affected by acetaminophen. In this study, we determined the effects of elevated salinity (0.68 g/L), acetaminophen (500 µg/L) and combined elevated salinity (0.68 g/L) and acetaminophen (500 µg/L), on the growth, reproduction, and movement of the …

How Akron Affects The Water Quality Of The Cuyahoga River, Allyson Darst

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the city of Akron had negative effects on the Cuyahoga river, and determine if the Cuyahoga River was naturally able to remediate these effects downstream. The pollutants measured in this study include hardness, bromine, residual chlorine, iron, copper, lead, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium chloride, total chlorine, fluoride, carbonate, pH, total alkalinity and cyanuric acid. This study was done using water testing strips (JNW Direct) to test the water at four different locations along the Cuyahoga River downstream (North) of Akron. This study found that the city of Akron does have a negative …

College Of Natural Sciences 2022 Year-End Publication, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

This is the 2022 issue of the annual College of Natural Sciences year-end publication.

Contents:
[Page] 2 Dean's message
[Page] 3 Department highlights
[Page] 4 Overview of Bold & Blue Campaign
[Page] 5 Dr. Edward Hogan recognition & endowment
[Page] 6 Career milestones
[Page] 7 Student travel and research
[Page] 8 $11 million COBRE grant
[Page] 9 Professional Science Masters & Research highlights
[Page]10 Outreach highlights throughout the state
[Page] 11 2022 events recap – join us in 2023!
[Page] 12 Updates on our VR initiative
[Page] 14 Overview of awards and recognitions from 2022

Analysis Of ‘Touch’ Dna Recovered From Metal Substrates: An Investigation Into Cfdna-Metal Interactions And The Efficacy Of Different Collection Techniques On Dna Yield, Jessica E. Thornton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While several improvements have been made in recent years to optimize the recovery of ‘touch’ DNA, relatively little research has been conducted to understand the relationship between ‘touch’ DNA and the binding affinity of that DNA to metal surfaces, specifically those with a significant copper presence. Furthermore, characterization of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and its contribution to ‘touch’ samples and those cfDNA-metal interactions from objects commonly identified at crime scenes (cartridge casings, knives, doorknobs) have been lacking. Research has identified the tendency of copper ions to intercalate with DNA helices, resulting in sample degradation among other damaging conformational changes; however, while …

Room-Temperature Crystallography Reveals Altered Binding Of Small-Molecule Fragments To Ptp1b, Tamar Skaist Mehlman, Justin T. Biel, Syeda Maryam Azeem, Elliot R. Nelson, Sakib Hossain, Louise Dunnett, Neil G. Paterson, Alice Douangamath, Romain Talon, Danny Axford, Helen Orins, Frank Von Delft, Daniel A. Keedy

Advanced Science Research Center

Much of our current understanding of how small-molecule ligands interact with proteins stems from X-ray crystal structures determined at cryogenic (cryo) temperature. For proteins alone, room-temperature (RT) crystallography can reveal previously hidden, biologically relevant alternate conformations. However, less is understood about how RT crystallography may impact the conformational landscapes of protein-ligand complexes. Previously, we showed that small-molecule fragments cluster in putative allosteric sites using a cryo crystallographic screen of the therapeutic target PTP1B (Keedy et al., 2018). Here, we have performed two RT crystallographic screens of PTP1B using many of the same fragments, representing the largest RT crystallographic screens of …

Cup Is Essential For Oskar Mrna Translational Repression During Early Drosophila Oogenesis, Livia V. Bayer, Samantha Milano, Stephen K. Formel, Harpreet Kaur, Rishi Ravichandran, Juan A. Cambeiro, Lizaveta Slinko, Irina E. Catrina, Diana P. Bratu

Publications and Research

Study of the timing and location for mRNA translation across model systems has begun to shed light on molecular events fundamental to such processes as intercellular communication, morphogenesis, and body pattern formation. In D. melanogaster, the posterior mRNA determinant, oskar, is transcribed maternally but translated only when properly localized at the oocyte’s posterior cortex. Two effector proteins, Bruno1 and Cup, mediate steps of oskar mRNA regulation. The current model in the field identifies Bruno1 as necessary for Cup’s recruitment to oskar mRNA and indispensable for oskar’s translational repression. We now report that this Bruno1-Cup interaction leads …

Microplastics And Genetic Vectors Promoting The Dissemination Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Municipal Wastewater Treatment Processes, Ngoc Dung Pham

Dissertations

The spread of antimicrobial resistance in the environment and especially its transfer into human pathogens have emerged as global issues. Activated sludge units at municipal wastewater treatment plants are "hotspots" converging a multitude of contaminants, including antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), human pathogens, and microplastics. The prevalence of antibiotics can induce stress response of sludge microbial communities and promote the development of new resistance mechanisms and transmission venues, through which the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) arises as mediated by mobile genetic elements (MGEs). In this doctoral dissertation, the impacts of microplastics and genetic vectors (i.e., MGEs and bacterial hosts) …

Standardization Of A Latent Blood Visualizer Based Upon Dna Degradation, Kailey M. Van 'T Hoff

Honors Projects

Latent blood visualizers have been used in forensic science since 1937 beginning with Luminol. These visualizers through different types of reactions react with trace amounts of blood that cannot be seen with the naked human eye. These different reactions produce color that can then be seen by examiners. The four types of latent blood visualizers that were compared is luminol, leuco crystal violet, fluorescein, and bluestar. Luminol and bluestar use chemiluminescence, fluorescein uses florescent, and leuco crystal violet uses oxidation to react with iron in hemoglobin. At crime scenes when blood is detected which includes with the blood visualizers the …

A Molecular Chemodosimeter To Probe “Closed Shell” Ions In Kidney Cells, Rashid Mia

Faculty Publications

Two quinidine-functionalized coumarin molecular probes have been synthesized and have been found to bind metal cations (Cd2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+) with high affinity in organic–aqueous media (DMSO–HEPES). The chemodosimeters coordinate with the Zn2+ ions in a two-to-one ratio (molecular probe : Zn2+) with a log β of 10.0 M−2. Upon the addition of the closed-shell metal ions studied, a fluorescence turn-on via an excimer formation is seen at 542 nm due to the quinaldine moiety adopting a syn arrangement when coordinated to the metal Zn2+ ions. Confocal microscopy monitored free Zn2+ ions in the Human Embryonic …

Tau Kinetics In Alzheimer's Disease, Daniel B. Hier, Sima Azizi, Matthew S. Thimgan, Donald C. Wunsch

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Cytoskeletal Protein Tau is Implicated in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease Which is Characterized by Intra-Neuronal Neurofibrillary Tangles Containing Abnormally Phosphorylated Insoluble Tau. Levels of Soluble Tau Are Elevated in the Brain, the CSF, and the Plasma of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease. to Better Understand the Causes of These Elevated Levels of Tau, We Propose a Three-Compartment Kinetic Model (Brain, CSF, and Plasma). the Model Assumes that the Synthesis of Tau Follows Zero-Order Kinetics (Uncorrelated with Compartmental Tau Levels) and that the Release, Absorption, and Clearance of Tau is Governed by First-Order Kinetics (Linearly Related to Compartmental Tau Levels). …

College Of Natural Sciences Newsletter, September & October 2022, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Volume 3, Issue 6

Page 1 Dean's Message
Page 2 Awards & Recognition
Page 3 Midwest Regional ACS Meeting
Page 4 North Central ASM Meeting
Page 5 Geography Department Travel
Page 6-7 Media Coverage of CNS
Page 7 REMAST Program at SDState receives national spotlight
Page 8 Celebrating the lives of those who touched the College
Page 9 Innovative Learning Spaces
Page 10 Open PRAIRIE Data
Page 11 2022 CNS Scholarship Brunch
Page 12-14 Fall 2022 Outreach Events

2022 Scas Annual Meeting Program And Bulletin

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Environmental Bacteriophage Detection On Coastal Carolina University Campus, Madison Gentilo, Hailey Oldfield, Gavin Ockert, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses are found ubiquitously in the environment and are more abundant than any living organism on Earth, including bacteria. Eleven sites are designated for weekly sample collection on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Water samples are filtered and amplified using strains of E. coli B and E. coli K12 to allow potential coliphages in the sample to proliferate to detectable levels. Plaque assays are used as a microbial screen for the presence of bacteriophage. Samples that test positively using the microbial test are analyzed through a molecular test using PCR to identify …

3,6-Dimethoxyxanthone From 2,2’,4,4’- Tetrahydroxy-Benzophenone Via Microwave-Assisted Annulation, Sarah E. Knisely, Faith R. Rosario, Salem F. Gebeyehu, Paige E. Heiple, Robert E. Lee Sr

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Xanthones are tricyclic aromatic compounds that have multiple pharmacological uses due to their anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and potentially chemopreventive properties. The target of this research was to optimize a two-step synthesis of 3,6-dimethoxyxanthone (3) from 2,2’,4,4’-tetrahydroxy-benzophenone (1) via microwave-assisted (200 °C, 30-40 min., 150 W) sodium acetate-catalyzed annulation. The product, 3,6-dihydroxyxanthone (2), was then methylated to (3) using dimethyl sulfate (DMS) and sodium carbonate in acetone at reflux. The product yields were 93% (>99% purity) for (2) and 94% (>99% purity) for (3). Characterization was accomplished using ¹H NMR, FTIR, melting point, TLC, HPLC, and GCMS. …

The Effects Of Human Behavioral Changes Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Reservoir Of Lytic Escherichia Coli And Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteriophage On Humans At A South Carolina University, Korinne M. Swanson, Owen R. Smith, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Bacteriophages are viruses, whose unique ability to infect and lyse bacterial cells may provide valuable insight for evading the repercussions of a post-antibiotic era in medicine. This study isolated and characterized Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage on students and faculty at Coastal Carolina University as a means to understand the viability of human bacteriophage reservoirs for bacteriophage therapy. From September 2021 to March 2022, nasal and postauricular swab samples and a behavioral survey were collected from ninety-three randomly selected participants. Additionally, sixteen participants contributed nasal and postauricular swab samples and a behavioral survey on a monthly basis in a …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Coastal Monitor: Vol. 9 No. 5, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

The Coastal Monitor

There are a multitude of lessons learned from the last 3 years of the Covid-19 pandemic. But one truly stands out ...the total lack of understanding of the basic chemistry associated with the nitrogen cycle, which in Suffolk County, NY, continues to be declared as the “evil-nitrogen”. The major source of nitrogen into the water body comes from the atmosphere which is the predominate constituent of the air we breathe79% nitrogen. Nitrogen compounds contribution to eutrophication in freshwater (ponds & lakes) systems is legendary and, the concentration of nitrogen in marine waters has always been known as a limiting agent …

Evaluation Of Natural Antifungal Compounds From Artemisia Afra And Its Effectiveness On Prevention Of Aflatoxins, Noela G. Kilenga, Daniel Maeda, Oscar Kibazohi, Lilian D. Kaale

Tanzania Journal of Science

Artemisia afra is a medicinal plant with antimicrobial activities, known to treat tuberculosis, measles, cough, and influenza. In consequence, its applications have increasingly become pivotal to control various microbes which cause different diseases. This study therefore, evaluated the chemical composition and the antifungal activity of A. afra essential oil. The extraction of essential oil was done using steam distillation. The essential oil chemical composition was analysed by GC-MS. The analysis revealed 19 compounds from A. afra. The main compounds were borneol (71.529%), terpinen-4-ol (8.582%), β-thujone (3.283%), β-terpineol (2.590%), α-terpineol (1.791%), chrysanthenone (1.507%), myrtenal (1.393%), eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) (1.263%), cis-sabinene hydrate (1.172%) …

Generation Of Geochemical Exploration Targets From Regional Stream Sediment Data Using Principal Component And Factor Analysis: A Case Study Of Kibaya-Kiteto, Manyara-Tanzania, Yusto J. Shine, Charles D. Moye, Godfrey J. Mallya, Ambaliche L. Tamambele

Tanzania Journal of Science

A regional-scale stream sediment geochemical sampling was carried out with an average sampling density of one sample per nine square-kilometre in Kiteto District, Manyara Region. A total of 358 stream sediment samples were collected and analysed for major and trace elements by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and fire assay with atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) finish methods. In this study, Factor and Principal Component Multivariate (FPCM) analyses have been used to the stream geochemical data to delineate potential mineralization zones by plotting correlated factors as geochemical anomaly maps. Four factors that account for 73.7% of the total variance of the stream sediment …