Biology Commons^™

Effects Of Round-Up On The Environment, Sandra J. Marcu

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Many people around the world have used and still currently use Roundup but are unaware of the effects it has on the environment. Roundup is a spray on application weedkiller that is widely used around the world today both residentially and commercially. It enables its user to grow a garden or a field of crops with a no-tilling approach to eliminate weeds. It is a well-known and popular choice for killing weeds that has been around since the mid 1970’s (Oca, 2017). John Franz, a Monsanto scientist discovered that glyphosate (main ingredient in Roundup) was an herbicide or weedkiller, and …

Schistosoma Mansoni Infection Causes Consistent Changes To The Fecal Bacterial Microbiota Of Mice Across And Within Sites, Mariam A. Mhanna, David T. Gauthier, Lisa M. Shollenberger

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni are produced by adult female worms in mesenteries of infected hosts. Eggs can cross the intestinal barrier and form granulomas in the tissue or breach and exit the host through fecal excretion. These interactions may affect the host microbiome assemblages. Given the potential for schistosomal alteration of host gut microbiome and subsequent effects on the fecal bacterial composition, it is important to conduct controlled microbiome studies on model animals. While pursuing these studies, it is important to take into account the different conditions in which microbiome studies are conducted and their consequent impacts on variability and …

Form And Function In Mobulids: A Comparative Analysis Of Filter Morphology With Bioinspiration Applications, J. B. Teeple, S. R. Kahane-Rapport, K. E. Cohen, L. Hamann, J. A. Strother, E. W. M. Paig-Tran

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mobulas (manta and devil rays) are large-scale ram filter feeders that separate planktonic food particles from large volumes of water with minimal clogging. This contrasts with most human-made filters that can suffer from problematic clogging requiring additional mechanisms for clearing blocked surfaces and maintaining performance. Prior studies have shown that mobulas employ a unique mechanism referred to as ricochet separation to filter feed, whereby captive vortices in filter pores cause particles to bounce off the filter surfaces and away from the filter pores. This mechanism enables the filtration of particles smaller than the pore size and reduced clogging. However, few …

Establishing A Microfiber Recovery Rate In Human Lung Tissue, Kylie Nicole Babin-Howard

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Microplastics (plastic particles smaller than 5mm) are of increasing concern to environmental and human health as they have persistently been found in all areas of study—becoming a ubiquitous part of the planet. Microplastics have been found in a variety of human tissues (lungs, blood, brain matter, etc.) yet their health effects are poorly understood, with experimental exposure model studies indicating adverse health effects. Microfibers have been found to be more toxic when compared to other microplastic shapes and are also shed from a majority of everyday items, with environmental reports showing that fibers are more than twice as prevalent than …

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

Funded Scholarship

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are heterogeneous diseases with 

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

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

also implicate additional biological pathways and may be used to stratify 

disease subtypes. Node and edge arrangements within gene networks impact 

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

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

discernment of disease network classification. Comparatively, the graph 

spectrum’s use of comprehensive information facilitates hypothesis testing 

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

By adding a connectivity-based …

The Role Of Floodplain Complexity In Wood Turtle Habitat Use, Laura S. Deming

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Wood turtles occupy cold, low-gradient riverine habitat throughout the northeastern United State and southeastern Canada. Stream alterations, such as dams, channel straightening, and floodplain development have diminished the natural hydrologic and sedimentation regimes that result in complex channel and floodplain geomorphology. Studies throughout the species’ range have quantified many aspects of their habitat, but none have quantified components of geomorphology of wood turtle sites. The goal of this study was to explore the role of stream channel and floodplain geomorphology in wood turtle habitat use, with specific objectives to (1) quantify components of stream channel and floodplain geomorphic complexity, (2) …

Impact Of Tetrahydrocannabinol (Thc) On Daphnia Magna Heart Rate, Ashley Cosgrave

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Marijuana (Cannabis) is currently federally illegal within the United States and classified as a Schedule I drug. This leaves a large research gap on the impacts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use. Daphnia magna are frequently used as a model organism for the human heart and toxicology screenings due to their myogenic heart, similarities in physiological pathways, and sensitivity to toxins. As such, in order to bridge the research gap and uncover potential use of Daphnia magna as a model organism for humans in regard to impact on heart rate, we hypothesized that if Daphnia magna possess CB1 receptors or an equivalent …

Assembly Of Ppsu-Oligomers, Mariam Nesterov

Student Theses and Dissertations

The development of nanostructures for delivering multiple proteins to targeted antibodies has become a promising avenue in biotechnology, driven by advancements in synthetic polymers like poly(propylene sulfone), PPSU. However, the PPSU polymer faces a major limitation - its high insolubility. To address this challenge, this study investigates whether PPSU oligomers can enhance both the solubility and stability of lysozyme, a model protein that is cost-effective and widely accessible. Using dimer, trimer, tetramer, and hexamer configurations, we analyzed the interactions between PPSU oligomer and lysozyme under varying conditions. Our results show that the dimer and trimer are water soluble (no aggregate …

Investigating The Expression Of C-Myc And Birc5 In Trail And Pbox-15 Treated Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells, Corinne Kai Leng Chew, Hannah O'Toole, Daniela M. Zisterer, Seema M. Nathwani, Jade K. Pollock

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Purpose Metastatic prostate cancer is associated with poor survival rate and limited treatment options. Overexpression of c-Myc and BIRC5 has been reported in prostate cancer cells which contribute to the development of the tumour environment. The specific tumour receptor mechanism of the death ligand TRAIL (tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand) has attracted remarkable therapeutic interest. However, many cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL monotherapy. A novel microtubule-targeting agent, PBOX-15 is known to exhibit anti-tumour activity in cancer cell lines including those with multi-drug resistance. Previous studies demonstrated that PBOX-15 is capable in sensitising cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated cell …

Comparing Multivalent Cross-Linked Sodium Alginate/ Montmorillonite Beads Containing Curcumin Or Cayenne Pepper As Drug Carriers And Their Antimicrobial Resistance, Shionainn Traynor, Shubham Sharma

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

The aim of the following work was to investigate and compare curcumin and cayenne pepper in microbeads composed of sodium alginate (SA) crosslinked with montmorillonite (MMT) to act as drug carriers and their antimicrobial resistance. The microbeads were prepared through ion-exchange in multivalent solutions of CaCl₂, MgCl₂ and AlCl₃. The microbeads were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and the time required for intercalation of curcumin and cayenne pepper with MMT. Simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.3) and gastric fluid (pH 1.2) at 37°C were used for comparison in swelling studies. …

Investigation Into The Effect Of Aspartame On The Expression Of P53 And Bax In Mouse Stomach Tissue, Angelique Cheryl, Aoife Mac Cooey

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Introduction: The recent reclassification of aspartame as a Group 2B hazard by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, along with studies suggesting links to cancer, has raised concerns and prompted further investigation. Evidence suggests that aspartame exposure may alter p53 and BAX gene expression, affecting apoptosis in cancer cells. This study aims to examine how aspartame exposure affects p53 and BAX gene expression in normal mouse stomach tissue, shedding light on cellular stress and apoptosis mechanisms.

Methods: Mice were sacrificed, and stomach tissue was excised and divided into control and treatment groups. RNA extraction was carried out in the …

Editorial - Sure Journal Vol 6, Anne M. Friel, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

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A Mini Review Of Plant Tissue Culture: The Role Of Media Optimization, Growth Regulators In Modern Agriculture, Callus Induction And The Applications, Norrizah Jafaar Sidik, Hasan M. Agha, Abdulmutalib Alabeed Alkamil, Muneer Mohammed Saleh Alsayadi, Amjad Abdulhadi Mohammed

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Plant tissue culture is an innovative biotechnological approach developed to meet the escalating global demand for agricultural production with enhanced nutritional value. This aseptic, in vitro technique allows for the cultivation of plant cells, tissues, or entire plants under controlled environmental and nutritional conditions, facilitating the generation of genetically identical clones. The method is indispensable in preserving endangered plant species, boosting crop yield and quality, and enabling year-round production of disease-free plants. Central to plant tissue culture is the composition of the growth medium, which must include a precise balance of macronutrients, micronutrients, amino acids, vitamins, and plant growth regulators …

A Kid's Guide To Infectious Disease, Abby Carroll

Honors Theses

A Kid’s Guide to Infectious Disease is an educational illustrated book intended for young pediatric patients, ages three to five. This project was inspired by my personal interests, involvement at the University of Mississippi, and experience as a medical assistant. Over the past couple of years, I have had the opportunity to work as a medical assistant, interacting with many pediatric patients and their families at HealthPointe Primary Care. As a pre-physician assistant student studying biology, I was inspired to create a resource for these kids by both my classes at the University of Mississippi and my passion for pediatric …

Trend And Awareness Of E-Cigarettes Among Students In A Private College In Sabah Malaysia, Vitalis Ronald Eden, Hazrina Hamid, Sreemoy Das, Regidor Iii Dioso

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Objective: This study aims to investigate the trend and awareness of e-cigarette use among students in a private college located in Sabah, Malaysia. Research Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in a private college in Sabah. A self-administered questionnaire was adapted and distributed to 300 randomly selected students regardless of their e-cigarettes vaping status. IBM SPSS Statistic 27 was utilized to analysed accumulated data. Results: A-245 students participated in the study with a response rate of 81.6%. Majority of the respondent were female (69.8%), Bumiputera Sabah (72.2%), Diploma students (90%) aged 22-25 years’ old. The study revealed that almost all …

Elucidating The Mechanism Of Interleukin-17a Signaling In The Pathogenesis Of West Nile Virus, Farzana Nazneen

Dissertations

West Nile Virus (WNV), a neurotropic flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in the United States and remains a significant public health concern. Unfortunately, no vaccine or therapeutic intervention is available against WNV infection. Previous studies, including ours, demonstrated that interleukin-17A (IL-17A) signaling increases the cytotoxic potential of CD8⁺ T cells to facilitate WNV and parasite clearance; however, the molecular mechanism is not understood. IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC) is an obligatory co-receptor with IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) for signaling induced by IL-17A, IL-17A/F, and IL-17F. In this study, we found that IL-17RC deficient ( …

Effect Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (Hbot) On The Proportion Of Splenic Leukocytes During Skeletal Muscle Regeneration, Hetvi Patel

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can accelerate the regeneration of skeletal muscle after injury and improve overall recovery. Certain cells of the spleen are increased during muscle regeneration; however, the effect of HBOT on splenic cells during muscle regeneration is not well understood. In other experimental models, HBOT proliferates the proportion of splenic cells. In this study, eight male and nine female mice sustaining crush muscle injuries underwent HBOT at 1.5 atmospheres absolute for 60 min or normobaric hyperoxia (100% O₂) for 60 min within 2-6 hours of injury for 4 days. The mice were then euthanized at 4- …

An Extensive Exploration Of Generalist Microbotryum Species Through Host Interactions., Emilee Walters

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The Microbotryum species complex is a group of fungi, commonly known as anther smuts. Anther smuts are plant parasites that must invade a host plant in order to fulfill their life cycle. As the Microbotryum fungus grows, it sterilizes the host plant, such that infected plants produce fungal teliospores instead of pollen on the male reproductive organs and female reproductive structures do not mature. Microbotryum usually exists as a specialist species, however, there is evidence that several species of anther smuts can exist as generalist species. Comparisons of the infection process and the resulting response of both parasite and host …

Physiology And Genomics At The Bottom Of The World: Genome To Phenome, Amy Christine Klink

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Mammals are exposed to a suite of physiological challenges based on the environment in which they inhabit. Animal individuals can overcome challenges associated with the dynamic nature of their habitat through variation in phenotypic traits. The plasticity of a phenotype relies on an individual’s genome and the transcription factors that act on regulatory elements. Species living in Antarctica display physiological specializations to withstand harsh conditions, such as severe cold temperatures, shifts in available ice habitat, and annual fluctuations in daylight. To explore the connections between an individual’s genome and its phenotype, we investigated two physiologies of the Antarctic Weddell seal …

Implementing The Methodology To Generate Diagnostic And Therapeutic Antibodies, Andrea Mariana Carlin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research aimed to establish the methodology for developing monoclonal antibodies at The University of Texas at El Paso. Monoclonal antibodies are indispensable across multiple fields, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and biotechnology, yet there is a shortage of commercially available antibodies targeting specific proteins or possessing specialized characteristics. To address this gap, three models were selected: a peptide derived from the intracellular protein Schlafen 8 and two cell surface protein receptors: mouse vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and human melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R). These proteins present unique challenges in antibody generation, including issues of accessibility, expression, and specificity.

Throughout …

3d Reconstruction And Comparative Anatomical And Kinematic Analyses Of The Foot Of Archaeopteryx, Alexander M. Kirk

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research on the evolution of dinosaur flight has long been dominated by the wing, often overlooking the foot. The foot of Archaeopteryx, the “icon of evolution”, thus offers a unique opportunity to investigate this critical evolutionary stage. Chapter I of this dissertation integrates advanced 3D reconstruction techniques, combining photogrammetry with X-ray data, to create a high-resolution model of the foot of the Thermopolis specimen of Archaeopteryx for visualization and analysis. Driven by 3D coordinate axes derived from joint surface topology, the analyses in Chapter II reveal terrestrial adaptations -- such as a medially oriented hallux (81°), serially shorter phalanges on …

Ecological Epidemiology Of The Fungal Pathogen Ophidiomyces Ophiodiicola In Southeastern U.S. Snake Populations: Distribution, Drivers, And Anthropogenic Risk Factors, Shivam Shukla

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Studying wildlife diseases is an important conservation measure, as many pathogens are a critical threat to biodiversity worldwide. Ophidiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the invasive fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola that affects a wide variety of snake species, often causing mortality. There has been limited surveillance for ophidiomycosis in the southeastern United States’ (US) snake populations and research into the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on disease spread is also lacking. Thus, this project aimed to quantify the distribution and drivers (taxonomic, anthropogenic, and morphological) of ophidiomycosis in Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi’s free ranging snakes as well as study …

Isolation And Characterization Of Lignin From Oil Palm Shells Using A Precipitation Method With Sulfuric Acid And Polyaluminum Chloride As Coagulant, Eny Kusrini, Ria Yolanda Arundina, Anwar Usman, Resti Marlina, Bambang Subiyanto, Volkan Degirmenci, Nofrijon Sofyan, Yudan Whulanza

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Lignin has useful and significant properties such as stiffness, resistance to UV radiation, antioxidant, antimicrobial, high thermal stability, and high carbon content. Due to these properties, lignin can be used for several applications including wood adhesive, carbon-based material, and can be developed as a functional material composite. Isolation and utilization of lignin from lignocellulosic biomass offers significant opportunities in various now and future industrial applications mainly for development advanced materials. In this study, isolation and characterization of lignin from oil palm shells (OPS) was conducted. Lignin was isolated from OPS using the precipitation method with sulfuric acid and coagulation using …

A Hopeful Overview On Aging, Rafael Demarco

The Cardinal Edge

N/A

Dog Sniffing Biomechanic Responses In An Odor Detection Test Of Odorants With Differing Physical Properties, Lydia Burnett, Nicholas Hebdon, Pete A. Stevens, Monica Moljo, Lindsay D. Waldrop, Lauryn Degreeff

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Dogs are utilized in forensic science for their extensive scent detection capabilities. They are often considered the “gold standard” in field detection for targets such as illicit drugs and explosives. Despite their prevalence in the field, relatively little is known about how dogs interact with and transport volatile organic compounds through their olfactory system. In this study, two groups of dogs were utilized – Sport detection dogs (n=19) that participate in the National Association of Canine Scent Work and have achieved advanced standing through training and successful search competitions and law enforcement explosive detection dogs (n=8) which were included for …

Exploring Pcat3 Expression In Arthritis: Proinflammatory Marker Patterns And P53 Involvement, Aida H. Alobaidi, Entkhab M. A. Alanisi, Khalid A. Alyodawi

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This study investigated the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) PCAT3 in arthritis, focusing on its impact on proinflammatory markers. Researchers analyzed both mRNA and protein levels of various proinflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-13) in arthritis patients and compared them to healthy controls. Additionally, PCAT3 expression was assessed in both patient groups and further investigated using siRNA knockdown in the human synovial cell line SW982. Results revealed distinct expression patterns of proinflammatory markers in arthritis patients, with TNF-α and IL-6 showing the highest levels. PCAT3 expression was significantly elevated in arthritis patients compared to controls. …

Clinical Outcomes Of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Amongst Persons Living With Hiv Attending A Referral Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mwaka Dick Odong, Wafula Bossa, Muhwezi Loyce, Nangobi Christine Faith, Mbusa Chrispus, Bontu Aschale Abebe, Daniel Chans Mwandah, Silas Ojuka, Tadele Mekuriya Yadesa

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common opportunistic infection amongst persons living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) (PLWHIV). World Health Organisation recommends tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) to avert the effects of TB/HIV co-infection. This study aimed at determining the incidence of active tuberculosis infection, assessing the burden of adverse drug events (ADEs) and identifying the associated factors. In this study, records of 379 patients who started isoniazid preventive therapy at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) between 1^st July, 2017 and 30^th June, 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Data was analyzed using a statistical software (SPSS version 20.0) and presented using …

Simulating Interventions To Improve Reproducibility In Scientific Publications, Ben G. Fitzpatrick

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Apoptotic Extracellular Vesicles Carrying Mif Regulate Macrophage Recruitment And Compensatory Proliferation In Neighboring Epithelial Stem Cells During Tissue Maintenance, Safia A Essien, Ivanshi Ahuja, George T Eisenhoffer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Apoptotic cells can signal to neighboring cells to stimulate proliferation and compensate for cell loss to maintain tissue homeostasis. While apoptotic cell-derived extracellular vesicles (AEVs) can transmit instructional cues to mediate communication with neighboring cells, the molecular mechanisms that induce cell division are not well understood. Here, we show that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (Mif)-containing AEVs regulate compensatory proliferation via ERK signaling in epithelial stem cells of larval zebrafish. Time-lapse imaging showed efferocytosis of AEVs from dying epithelial stem cells by healthy neighboring stem cells. Proteomic and ultrastructure analysis of purified AEVs identified Mif localization on the AEV surface. Pharmacological …

Evaluating Uv-Protective Low-Emissivity Window Films: Implications For Thermal And Visual Comfort In Luminous Office Buildings, Lina M. Shaker

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This review article explores the integration of thin window films and solar energy systems to enhance thermal comfort in luminous office buildings. Luminous office buildings, which prioritize natural lighting, often face challenges in maintaining thermal comfort for occupants. By integrating solar energy systems, such as photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems, with thin window films, it is possible to optimize thermal comfort while harnessing sustainable energy sources. Thin window films act as a barrier against solar radiation, reducing heat gain while allowing therapeutic blue light (400-520nm) transmission. The advantages of thin window films include improved thermal insulation, glare reduction, and …