Biology Commons^™

Biol 404- Dual Nature Of Phytoestrogens As Both Procancer And Anticancer Agents, Marcia Lanasa, Grace Freeman, Carrie Reaver, Natalie Wood, Amorette Barber

Virtual 2020 Spring Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Phytoestrogens are plant-derived, xenoestrogenic dietary compounds found in various fruits, vegetables, soy products, teas, grains, beans, and more. There are different classes of phytoestrogens, including flavonoids, isoflavonoids, lignans, and coumestans, all of which can affect estrogen-mediated responses in different ways (Bilal et al, 2014). The aim of this project is to investigate the potential duality of phytoestrogens as both estrogen receptor antagonists in cancer cells, but also as potential activators of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Understanding the complex role phytoestrogens play in cancer progression will prove valuable in the potential development of novel phytoestrogen-base cancer drug therapies.

Biol 404- Can A Soy Diet Mimic The Effects Of Estrogen?, Kelly Tarmon, Jonah Hottinger, Emily Humphries, Cody Gouyer, Amorette Barber

Virtual 2020 Spring Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Phytoestrogens are estrogen-mimicking substances that can be found in many of the vegetables, beans, and grains we consume. One of the main phytoestrogens consumed by millions of people can be found in soybeans and tofu and are called isoflavones. We will be examining the first category of isoflavones, the aglycones. The aglycones are made up of daidzein, genistein, and glycitein which are found in soy products. We will determine the function of aglycones using flow cytometry by comparing the effect of these three compounds, estradiol, and the media given. As aglycones are estrogen mimicking compounds, we believe these three phytoestrogens …

Asd Symptoms In Individuals: A Comparison Of Treatments, Ali Khan

BIO4960: Practicum in Biology I

Background: Research, as described in the different articles chosen for comparison, indicates that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly experience difficulties in displaying good memory, proper social communication, and doing physical activities.
Purpose: To determine and compare which treatment type—physical therapy, psychotherapy, or pharmacotherapy—is commonly used and effective for treating what specific symptom of ASD (primarily in children and adolescent diagnosed subjects that are experiencing difficulties).
Methods: 10 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2020 from different Databases, including CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE (ProQuest), and EMBASE.com, were retrieved.
Results: Thorough examination of the 10 selected studies indicate that all 4 …

Checklist Of The Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) Of Tennessee, John E. Copeland

Cumberland Mountain Naturalist

Of the ~8,500 sponge species that are known to exist, approximately 3% inhabit freshwater. Taxonomically, freshwater sponges are divided into 6 families with less than 250 identified species. Of these, 33 species of freshwater sponge can be found in the Nearctic Biogeographical realm with 13 species documented in Tennessee waters. Species of three families, Metanidae, Potamolepidae, and Spongillidae, are known to occur in the United States but only members of Potamolepidae and Spongillidae have been collected from Tennessee waters. This article presents a species checklist with currently known distribution information.

Introgression Zones And Boundary Lines Between Breeding Populations Of Two Subspecies Of Willow Flycatcher, Anna Tipton

Georgia College Student Research Events

The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Extimus traillii extimus) is an endangered subspecies of the Willow Flycatcher (Extimus traillii) and breeds exclusively in the dwindling riparian habitats in Southwestern US. The northern border between the southwestern subspecies and the subspecies to the north, E. t. adastus, isn’t clear because populations are not continuous along the border and environmental conditions like temperature and elevation differ. Introgression zones are areas where interbreeding between subspecies occurs when there is no physical barrier separating them. Our research objective was to see if subspecies breeding populations were consistent with the boundary lines and if there are zones …

Validation Of Antibodies For The Immunolocalization Of Germ Cells In Alligator Gonads., Benjamin Austin

Georgia College Student Research Events

Previous studies of alligators from pesticide-contaminated lakes have shown decreased fertility in comparison to less polluted reference populations. Our research is focused on elucidating potential mechanisms of decreased reproductive success in alligators exposed to environmental contaminants during critical developmental periods. The localization and identification of germ cells during development can provide critical information in assessing future reproductive capability. Germ cells are the unique precursors of gametes, more commonly referred to as eggs and sperm. Specific cell types can be localized through immunohistochemistry (IHC), which involves the use of labeled antibodies to identify specific molecules present in the cells of interest. …

The Binding Site Between The Adenoviral Protein E4 11k And The Cellular Protein Ddx6, O'Nekia Samuel

Georgia College Student Research Events

Adenovirus is a nonenveloped virus that consists of an icosahedral capsid that contains double-stranded DNA. Viruses of this type can cause the common cold, conjunctivitis, and diarrhea. An important gene of adenoviruses is an early viral gene called E4 ORF3, which encodes the protein, E4 11k. This gene is responsible for changing the cellular environment, which aids in viral replication and prevents the host cell’s synthesis of proteins. E4 11k binds to Ddx6, a cellular protein located in P-bodies, and disrupts its localization. P-bodies are granules in the cytoplasm that contain mRNAs that have been repressed and proteins that are …

Geographical Disparity Of Suicide, Masiel Perez-Balaguer

USF St. Petersburg campus Student Research Symposium

Suicide has been one of the leading causes of death in the United States for several years (Census, 2017). Multiple studies have looked at the disparity of suicide rates across geographical locations (Wilkinson, 1984; Saunderson,1998; Morrell, 1999). These studies have shown a correlation between rural areas and higher rates of suicide. For this study, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was taken and linked with population data acquired through the Census. This was done for the year 2017 to see any correlation between location and suicide rate could be observed. States were split into six categories …

Mentzelia Pectinata Var. Chrysopetala (Loasaceae), A Yellow-Petaled Race From West-Central California, David J. Keil, Joshua M. Brokaw

Biology

Mentzelia pectinata Kellogg var. chrysopetala Keil & Brokaw, var. nov., is a yellow-petaled race of the otherwise orange-petaled M. pectinata, a species endemic to central California. The yellow-and orange-petaled varieties are largely allopatric, with var. chrysopetala nearly restricted to San Luis Obispo County, whereas var. pectinata extends eastward into the dry hills and mountains around the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, including eastern portions of San Luis Obispo County. Petals of var. chrysopetala are golden yellow, usually with orange bases, unlike the petals of var. pectinata, which are coppery orange with red-orange bases. We designate a neotype for …

Predicting Seasonal And Spatial Onset Of Chabs In Polymictic Reservoirs, Aaron Krivchenia, Matthew Pierce, Benjamin Carone, Michael Grove, Courtney E. Richmond, Nathan Ruhl

Biology Student Symposium Posters

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (cHABS) are a naturally occurring but increasingly common phenomenon due to anthropogenic activities and climate change. cHABs reduce water quality by forming unsightly surface scums and sometimes producing algal matts on the surface of water bodies, reduce water quality, and in high densities can produce cyanotoxins that can harm humans, pets, and wildlife. Ecological forecasting of cHABs has proved elusive in part because the in-situ fluorometric methods currently employed for detecting cyanobacteria cells are subject to varied interference as water quality and the biotic community changes. In this study we seek to develop an ecological forecasting …

Environmental Predictors Of Zooplankton Biodiversity Across A Series Of Polymictic Reservoirs, Alyssa Koshy, Kingsley Ike-Anyanwu, Aaron Korbman, Michael Grove, Courtney E. Richmond, Nathan Ruhl

Biology Student Symposium Posters

Zooplankton are an important part of lentic food webs because they connect photoautotrophic plankton to higher trophic levels. Past studies in 2016 and 2017 determined that zooplankton biodiversity is different across a polymictic reservoir series in Salem County NJ. In the study presented here, we confirmed a similar zooplankton biodiversity pattern in 2018 and we determine which physicochemical variables were good predictors of zooplankton biodiversity. Our results indicate that there are many physicochemical variables that are reliable predictors of zooplankton biodiversity across this polymictic reservoir series. Additional predictor variables are being developed to help us understand which environmental variables are …

Teaching Scientific Process Using Phenotypic Abnormalities In Frogs: Updating A Case Study, Bailey Sanders, Nathan Ruhl

Biology Student Symposium Posters

A group of middle school children visited a pond in Minnesota during 1995 and discovered leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) with a high rate of phenotypic abnormality and sparked dozens of scientific studies seeking to attempting to explain the cause of the abnormalities. As of 2020, the mechanism for the elevated rates of phenotypic abnormality has remained elusive, making this case an excellent multi- dimensional pedagogical tool that engages students at cognitive, motivational, and social-emotional levels. In the study presented here we summarize the science surrounding this case study, provide a pedagogical framework for using this case study across instructional contexts …

Assessing The Binding Of Nectin-1 And Cd96 In Human Cells To Investigate How Herpes Simplex Virus Evades The Innate Immune System, Paige T. Richards, Neha Alaparthy, Siranjit Kaur, Claude Krummenacher

Biology Student Symposium Posters

Nectin-1 is an adhesion protein that also serves as a receptor for herpes simplex virus (HSV) to enter cells. In epithelial tissues nectin-1 proteins naturally bind to other nectin-1 molecules on adjacent cells to organize intercellular junctions. Recently, our lab showed that human nectin-1 also binds to the natural killer (NK) cell receptor CD96 (Holmes et al, PloS One, 2019). CD96 modulates the immune response of NK cells, which are part of the innate immune system of mammals. NK cells play an important role in eliminating virally infected cells and cancer cells. When HSV infection occurs, nectin-1 located at the …

Evolution Of Feeding Shapes Swimming Kinematics Of Barnacle Naupliar Larvae: A Comparison Between Trophic Modes, J. Y. Wong, B. K. K. Chan, Kit Yu Karen Chan

Biology Faculty Works

A central goal in evolutionary biology is connecting morphological features with ecological functions. For marine invertebrate larvae, appendage movement determines locomotion, feeding, and predator avoidance ability. Barnacle larvae are morphologically diverse, and the morphology of non-feeding lecithotrophic nauplii are distinct from those that are planktotrophic. Lecithotrophic larvae have a more globular body shape and simplified appendages when compared with planktotrophs. However, little is known about whether and how such morphological changes affect kinematics, hydrodynamics, and ecological functions. Here, we compared the nauplii kinematics and hydrodynamics of a lecithotrophic Rhizocephalan species, Polyascus planus, against that of the planktotrophic nauplii of an …

Zooplankton Biodiversity Patterns Across A Novel Water Storage Complex In The Nj Pinelands, Emily D. Wang, Kathryn Mickle, Courtney E. Richmond, Nathan Ruhl

Biology Student Symposium Posters

The study involves the collection of zooplankton samples from Whitesbog, which is an inactive cranberry bog complex that is used as water storage for cranberry harvest during the fall season. Whitesbog is novel because very little human activity occurs in the surrounding area that could degrade water quality, but the complex itself is not natural. The water found in the upstream parts of the bog is highly acidic, which likely creates a gradient of ecological dystrophy in the zooplankton community. In this study, we investigate patterns of density and biodiversity across the complex and question whether these patterns are driven …

Intermediate Lake Swimmer’S Itch Assessment And Evaluation Of A Novel Schistosome Species Found In Helisoma Sp. Snails, Daniel Clyde

19th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2020)

“Swimmer’s itch” is a dermatitis caused by a family of parasitic flatworms (schistosomes) that have a 2-host cycle: an aquatic snail intermediate host, and a bird or mammal vertebrate host. Our goal was to determine the different species of schistosomes cycling within the Intermediate Lake ecosystem to equip their lake association for beginning control. All stages of multiple schistosome species were assessed through water sampling and qPCR analysis, snail shedding and cercariae identification, and waterfowl fecal analysis to identify miracidia. Water sample analysis showed three species of schistosomes were present, one of which was a novel species not yet described. …

Ecological Thresholds And Environmental Indicators Of The Density Of Zooplankton Exports From A Polymictic Reservoir Series, Dominic A. Ruggiero, Michael Grove, Courtney E. Richmond, Nathan Ruhl

Biology Student Symposium Posters

Zooplankton export from a reservoir is an important indicator of resources in the lotic system below the reservoir and is quantified via count density (DZE), community composition (CCZE), and biomass (BZE). In the study presented here, we monitored DZE weekly between May and August over three years (2017-2019) at a series of four connected reservoirs in Southern New Jersey. Multiple regression indicated that year-to-year differences in DZE were not significant, but DZE did vary over the course of the season and between reservoirs. The best predictor of seasonal variation in DZE was conductivity (a persistent indicator of anthropogenic nutrient pollution). …

Correlation Matrices Of Cyanobacterial Bloom Predictors Varies Between Lakes, Jessica E. Torrey, Shemaiah S. Sotrah, Michael Grove, Courtney E. Richmond, Nathan Ruhl

Biology Student Symposium Posters

Under anthropogenically-altered conditions, cyanobacteria may form harmful algal blooms (cHABs) that can be toxic and disrupt ecosystem function. Developing tools to predict cHABs is an increasingly important task, but such tools have been difficult to develop. In our study, we contribute to the development of a predictive model for cHAB formation in the waters of southern New Jersey by statistically screening water quality data from five polymictic reservoirs that were sampled weekly from June through September 2019. The correlation structure of water quality variables differed between the reservoirs in a way that suggests that the mean correlation coefficient is elevated …

Assembly Of The Photosystem Ii Reaction Center, Annaliesa Renee Fanguy

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Comment: Probably A Good News: Covid-19 Is Not Spreading Fast In Tropical Region Like In Temperate Region, Madeeha Manzoor

Journal of Bioresource Management

My understanding of Covid-19 is that, there are some climatic factors involved in seed spread of this virus. As it started from the area of China which falls under temperate zone, its second victim was Iran’s city Qom which also falls under temperate zone and third is Italy which is completely in temperate zone.

Data from two countries from Temperate zone and three countries from Tropical zone was compared. The days counted from the 100 cases each country reached as day one and further days studied on equal basis.

Nocturnal Copulation In Glaucous-Winged Gulls Larus Glaucescens, Floyd E. Hayes, James L. Hayward

Faculty Publications

Gulls (Laridae) are primarily diurnal, although many species forage opportunistically at night, and several species copulate at night. We used trail cameras to study time-of-day variation in the rate of copulation by Glaucous-winged Gulls Larus glaucescens in a breeding colony (1500+ pairs) at Protection Island, Washington, USA, from 31 May to 07 June 2018. Copulations (n = 353) occurred at a significantly higher rate during the day (0.82/camera-h) than at night (0.51/camera-h), with 76.3 % of copulations during the day and 23.7 % at night (daylight comprised 66.1 % and darkness comprised 33.9 % of the study period). The …

Dna Methylation Analysis Of Ecr3 Of Oxytocin Receptor Gene, Amanda Husein

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Focal Suppression Of Epileptiform Activity In The Hippocampus By A High-Frequency Magnetic Field, Hui Ye, Vincent Chiun-Fan Chen, Jessica Helon, Nicole Apostolopoulos

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Electric current has been used for epilepsy treatment by targeting specific neural circuitries. Despite its success, direct contact between the electrode and tissue could cause side effects including pain, inflammation, and adverse biological reactions. Magnetic stimulation overcomes these limitations by offering advantages over biocompatibility and operational feasibility. However, the underlying neurological mechanisms of its action are largely unknown. In this work, a magnetic generating system was assembled that included a miniature coil. The coil was positioned above the CA3 area of mouse hippocampal slices. Epileptiform activity (EFA) was induced with low Mg2+/high K+ perfusion or with 100 µM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). …

Do Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus Carolinensis) Use Human-Provided Cues To Increase Foraging Success In Urban Landscapes?, Aditya A. Mehta, Jeeva H. Rathnaweera

Undergraduate Arts and Research Showcase

The coexistence of humans with other animals in urban and suburban areas has given rise to a spectrum of agonistic and beneficial interactions. Animals thriving in urban settings are known to exhibit superior foraging and food extraction abilities compared to their wild conspecifics. This has raised the question regarding if non-human animals can form and maintain a similar “theory of mind” to humans based on the actions they observe in their environments (Schloegl et al., 2007). For this experiment, human-made click and gaze cues were used while placing food for eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) located on the …

Cov Genome Tracker: Tracing Genomic Footprints Of Covid-19 Pandemic, Saymon Akther, Edgaras Bezrucenkovas, Brian Sulkow, Christopher Panlasigui, Li Li, Wei-Gang Qiu, Lia Di

Publications and Research

Genome sequences constitute the primary evidence on the origin and spread of the 2019-2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Rapid comparative analysis of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 genomes is critical for disease control, outbreak forecasting, and developing clinical interventions. CoV Genome Tracker is a web portal dedicated to trace Covid-19 outbreaks in real time using a haplotype network, an accurate and scalable representation of genomic changes in a rapidly evolving population. We resolve the direction of mutations by using a bat-associated genome as outgroup. At a broader evolutionary time scale, a companion browser provides gene-by-gene and codon-by-codon evolutionary rates to facilitate the search for molecular …

Unexpected Predicted Length Variation For The Coding Sequence Of The Sleep Related Gene, Bhlhe41 In Gorilla Amidst Strong Purifying Selection Across Mammals, Krishna Unadkat, Justen B. Whittall

Biology

There is a molecular basis for many sleep patterns and disorders involving circadian clock genes. In humans, “short-sleeper” behavior has been linked to specific amino acid substitutions in BHLHE41 (DEC2), yet little is known about variation at these sites and across this gene in mammals. We compare BHLHE41 coding sequences for 27 mammals. Approximately half of the coding sequence was invariable at the nucleotide level and close to three-quarters of the amino acid alignment was identical. No other mammals had the same “short-sleeper” amino acid substitutions previously described from humans. Phylogenetic analyses based on the nucleotides of the coding sequence …

Understanding Stem Instructors’ Experiences With And Perceptions Of Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Students: The First Step Towards Increasing Access And Inclusivity, Makayla Long

Honors Theses

Through an anonymous survey we analyzed Western Michigan University (WMU) STEM instructors’ experience with and understanding of teaching and interacting with Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) students. The goal of this study was to capture the experiences of WMU STEM instructors and the resources available to them given their direct impact on Deaf/HoH students’ ability to succeed and receive a post-secondary education. The findings of this study support the claim that instructors are not well supported or aware of the needs of Deaf/HoH students, and do not have access to adequate resources to resolve the issue.

The first steps …

Mechanisms Of Silencing Suppression By A Polerovirus P0 Protein, Natalie Holste, Hernan Garcia-Ruiz

School of Biological Sciences: Presentations

Maize lethal necrosis is an intense viral disease spreading across sub-Saharan Africa. Maize is the staple crop grown in sub-Saharan Africa, but most crops infected with maize lethal necrosis will not survive to harvest. This causes immense economic hardship and starvation within the population. Maize lethal necrosis consists of a combination of two viruses, Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and a virus from the genus potyvirus. In a recent study, a Maize yellow dwarf virus-RMV (MYDV-RMV)-like polerovirus, was repeatedly detected in plants with maize lethal necrosis. Poleroviruses have a silencing suppressor, P0 protein, and the mechanism of suppression is poorly …

Glut5 And Fructose Metabolism Inhibition In A Simulated Small Intestine Environment, Isabella Trainor

Honors Theses

This thesis describes an experiment that was designed in order to obtain information that could be useful for treating individuals with HFI. The author hypothesized that MSNBA would inhibit GLUT5 and fructose metabolism in the small intestine. The final experimental design involves exposing a small intestine cell line to fructose and MSNBA. The cell line would be exposed to MSNBA over the course of three different periods, and data was intended to be obtained using western blotting and a fructose assay kit. Although the final experimental design project was not fully carried out due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19, a plausible …

Gender And Socioeconomic Disparities In Iatrogenic In-Hospital Torsades De Points, Bradley Reinoehl

Honors Theses

It has been well established for decades that women are at increased risk for torsades de pointes (TdP). Additionally, it has been well documented that patients of lower socioeconomic status (SES) tend to have inferior health outcomes compared to other patient populations. In this study we investigate the incidence of iatrogenic in-hospital TdP among these two demographic groups. Iatrogenic in-hospital TdP is a complex combination of medical issues and including danger from QT prolonging medications. In theory, a combination of identifiable, demographic risk factors coupled with specific clinical settings could be used to identify patients at high risk for iatrogenic …