Biology Commons^™

Red Lionfish (Pterois Volitans) Neurocranium, Matthew B. Edwards, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium from a Lionfish (Pterois volitans) collected from whole foods supermarket on 11/9/2020

Effect Of Three Classroom Research Experiences On Science Attitudes, Lauren K. Lucas, Frances K. Hunter, Zachariah Gompert

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Here we evaluate undergraduate student attitudes about science after each of three authentic research experiences in a semester of an introductory biology laboratory course at Utah State University. The three course-based research experiences (CUREs) vary in length and student freedom, and they cover different areas of biology. Students responded to the science attitude items of the CURE Survey. When compared to national data, our students faired similarly, and all students struggled with certain epistemic assumptions about science knowledge. As also seen in the national database, change in science attitude was slight and nonlinear. Student self confidence in what a career …

Artificial Nightlight Alters The Predator–Prey Dynamics Of An Apex Carnivore, Mark A. Ditmer, David C. Stoner, Clinton D. Francis, Jesse R. Barber, James D. Forster, David M. Choate, Kirsten E. Ironside, Kathleen M. Longshore, Kent R. Hersey, Randy T. Larsen, Brock R. Mcmillan, Daniel D. Olson, Alyson M. Andreasen, Jon P. Beckmann, P. Brandon Holton, Terry A. Messmer, Neil H. Carter

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Artificial nightlight is increasingly recognized as an important environmental disturbance that influences the habitats and fitness of numerous species. However, its effects on wide‐ranging vertebrates and their interactions remain unclear. Light pollution has the potential to amplify land‐use change, and as such, answering the question of how this sensory stimulant affects behavior and habitat use of species valued for their ecological roles and economic impacts is critical for conservation and land‐use planning. Here, we combined satellite‐derived estimates of light pollution, with GPS‐data from cougars Puma concolor (n = 56), mule deer Odocoileus hemionus (n = 263) and locations of cougar‐killed …

Fine-Tuning Of Alanyl-Trna Synthetase Quality Control Alleviates Global Dysregulation Of The Proteome, Paul Kelly, Arundhati Kavoor, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

One integral step in the transition from a nucleic acid encoded-genome to functional proteins is the aminoacylation of tRNA molecules. To perform this activity, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) activate free amino acids in the cell forming an aminoacyl-adenylate before transferring the amino acid on to its cognate tRNA. These newly formed aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) can then be used by the ribosome during mRNA decoding. In Escherichia coli, there are twenty aaRSs encoded in the genome, each of which corresponds to one of the twenty proteinogenic amino acids used in translation. Given the shared chemicophysical properties of many amino acids, aaRSs have …

Role Of Ceramide-1 Phosphate In Regulation Of Sphingolipid And Eicosanoid Metabolism In Lung Epithelial Cells, Brittany A. Dudley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ceramide 1-Phosphate (C1P) is a sphingolipid metabolite which plays a large role in inflammation, cell survival and proliferation¹. C1P is known to have both pro- and anti-apoptotic roles in lung cancer cells, governed by ceramide kinase (CERK), upstream of precursor ceramide (Cer)². Previous work reveals C1P serves as the liaison between sphingolipid and eicosanoid synthesis, by decreasing the dissociation rate of group IVA cytosolic PLA₂ (cPLA_2α) from the Golgi membrane, C1P directly activates this phospholipase for downstream eicosanoid synthesis and subsequent inflammatory response³. CERK has been discovered to modulate eicosanoid synthesis, …

Field Evaluation Of Recombinant Antigen Elisa In Detecting Zoonotic Schistosome Infection Among Water Buffaloes In Endemic Municipalities In The Philippines, Jose Ma. M. Angeles, Yasuyuki Goto, Masahi Kirinoki, Elena A. Villacorte, Kharleezelle J. Moendeg, Pilarita T. Rivera, Yuichi Chigusa, Shin-Ichiro Kawazu

Biology Faculty Publications

In this study, we investigated the use of recombinant antigens thioredoxin peroxidase-1 (rSjTPx-1) and tandem repeat rSj1TR in evaluating the antibody positivity rates of Schistosoma japonicum infection among water buffaloes from four endemic areas in the Philippines, two municipalities with high endemicity (Calatrava, Negros Occidental and Catarman, Northern Samar) and two municipalities nearing elimination with no cases of human schistosomiasis (Talibon and Trinidad, Bohol). These recombinant antigen ELISA assays were compared with other diagnostic tests including SEA-ELISA, FECT, and fecal-based PCR. Results showed that rSj1TR-ELISA has the highest agreement with PCR in all study areas. Furthermore, significant positivity rates among …

Freshwater Sediment Microbial Communities Are Not Resilient To Disturbance From Agricultural Land Runoff, Rachelle E. Beattie, Aditya Bandla, Sanjay Swarup, Krassimira R. Hristova

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Microorganisms are critically important for the function of surface water ecosystems but are frequently subjected to anthropogenic disturbances at either acute (pulse) or long-term (press) scales. Response and recovery of microbial community composition and function following pulse disturbance is well-studied in controlled, laboratory scale experiments but is less well-understood in natural environments undergoing continual press disturbance. The objectives of this study were to determine the drivers of sediment microbial compositional and functional changes in freshwaters receiving continual press disturbance from agricultural land runoff and to evaluate the ability of the native microbial community to resist disturbance related changes as a …

Bioinformatic Analysis Of Venom Proteins From Dasymutilla Occidentalis, Eva Gunawan

Theses and Dissertations

Venom proteins have been found in a wide range of species in the animal kingdom. These venoms serve various functions such as defense against predators, hunting for food, and parasitism for reproduction. Because of their diverse functions, venom proteins are utilized in agrochemical treatments for protection from pests as well as treatments to control human diseases. Venoms, including those coming from a range of insect species, have been manipulated for these purposes, but many remain uncharacterized. Currently, one of the orders that venom-based research is focusing on are parasitoids from the order Hymenoptera. The purpose of some venom proteins in …

Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Cochlear Nucleus Innervation By Spiral Ganglion Neurons That Serve Distinct Regions Of The Cochlea, Jennifer L. Scheffel, Samiha S. Mohammed, Chloe K. Borcean, Annie J. Parng, Hyun Ju Yoon, Darwin A. Gutierrez, Wei-Ming Yu

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Cochlear neurons innervate the brainstem cochlear nucleus in a tonotopic fashion according to their sensitivity to different sound frequencies (known as the neuron’s characteristic frequency). It is unclear whether these neurons with distinct characteristic frequencies use different strategies to innervate the cochlear nucleus. Here, we use genetic approaches to differentially label spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and their auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) that relay different characteristic frequencies in mice. We found that SGN populations that supply distinct regions of the cochlea employ different cellular strategies to target and innervate neurons in the cochlear nucleus during tonotopic map formation. ANFs that will …

A Brain-Infecting Parasite Impacts Host Metabolism Both During Exposure And After Infection Is Established, Lauren E. Nadler, Erik Bengston, Erika J. Eliason, Cameron Hassibi, Siri H. Helland-Riise, Ida B. Johansen, Garfield T. Kwan, Martin Tresguerres, Andrew V. Turner, Kelly L. Weinersmith, Øyvind Øverli, Ryan F. Hechinger

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Datasets

1. Metabolic costs associated with parasites should not be limited to established infections. Even during initial exposure to questing and attacking parasites, hosts can enact behavioural and physiological responses that could also incur metabolic costs. However, few studies have measured these costs directly. Hence, little is known about metabolic costs arising from parasite exposure.
2. Further, no one has yet measured whether and how previous infection history modulates metabolic responses to parasite exposure.
3. Here, using the California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis) and its brain-infecting parasite (Euhaplorchis californiensis), we quantified how killifish metabolism, behaviour, and osmoregulatory phenotype changed upon acute …

Effects Of Low-Level Artificial Light At Night On Kentucky Bluegrass And Introduced Herbivore, Morgan Crump, Cassandra Brown, Robert J. Griffin-Nolan, Lisa Angeloni, Nathan P. Lemoine, Brett Seymoure

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Increasing evidence suggests that artificial light at night (ALAN) can negatively impact organisms. However, most studies examine the impacts of ALAN on a single species or under high levels of artificial light that are infrequent or unrealistic in urban environments. We currently have little information on how low levels of artificial light emanating from urban skyglow affect plants and their interactions with herbivores. We examined how low levels of ALAN affect grass and insects, including growth rate, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance in grass, and foraging behavior and survival in crickets. We compared growth and leaf-level gas exchange of Kentucky Bluegrass …

The Best Predictions In Experimental Biology Are Critical And Persuasive, Douglas S. Fudge, Andy J. Turko

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

A powerful way to evaluate scientific explanations (hypotheses) is to test the predictions that they make. In this way, predictions serve as an important bridge between abstract hypotheses and concrete experiments. Experimental biologists, however, generally receive little guidance on how to generate quality predictions. Here, we identify two important components of good predictions – criticality and persuasiveness – which relate to the ability of a prediction (and the experiment it implies) to disprove a hypothesis or to convince a skeptic that the hypothesis has merit. Using a detailed example, we demonstrate how striving for predictions that are both critical and …

Escolar (Lepidocybium Flavobrunneum) Neurocranium, Meredith M. Pratt, Katerina D. Sawickij, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium prep of escolar Lepidocybium flavobrunneum obtained from longlining vessel.

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome Of A Gray Reef Shark, Carcharhinus Amblyrhynchos (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae), From The Western Indian Ocean, Ela Patel, Andrea Bernard, Marissa Mehlrose, Sydney Harned, Kimberly A. Finnegan, Cristin K. Fitzpatrick, James S. Lea, Mahmood S. Shivji

Biology Faculty Articles

We present the mitochondrial genome sequence of a gray reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Bleeker 1856), a coral reef associated species. This is the first mitogenome for this species from the western Indian Ocean. The mitogenome is 16,705 bp in length, has 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and a non-coding control region, and demonstrates a gene arrangement congruent with other shark and most vertebrate species. This mitogenome provides a genomic resource for assisting with population, evolutionary and conservation studies for the gray reef shark, which is increasingly under threat from fisheries.

Influence Of Characteristics Of Marine Macroalgae On Feeding Preferences Of The Milkfish (Chanos Chanos) In Peninsular Malaysia, Lim Wai Yin

Student Works (2020-2029)

Herbivores can alter several ecological mechanisms including interactions between native and non-native autotrophs that may determine invasion success of the non-native autotrophs. This study looked into the autotroph-herbivore interactions in coastal marine ecosystems of Peninsular Malaysia, mainly to determine if autotroph nutritional components and geographical differences significantly influence herbivore feeding behaviours. The relative consumption rate (RCR) of milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskål), a generalist herbivore obtained from the Straits of Malacca was documented through feeding trials using 12 macroalgal species collected from different coastal areas of the Straits of Malacca, the Straits of Johor, and the South China Sea. The herbivore …

A Fuzzy Assessment Model For Hospitals Services Quality Based On Patient Experience, Mohamed Khodyer Alkafaji, Eman Salih Al-Shamery

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The patient's experience is a lens for services assessment that provide from healthcare institutions because the patient is the first and the last recipient for the service. The patient's experience carries a lot of uncertainty and an ultimate decision cannot be taken from the patient about the services, but it carries the partial truth. Many artificial intelligence technologies deal with the concept of partial truth, such as genetic algorithms and neural networks, but the fuzzy logic remains pioneering to deal with uncertainty. This paper aims to develop an assessment model by using fuzzy inference that is able to assess the …

A Systematic Mapping Study On The Risk Factors Leading To Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Karar N. J Musafer, Fahrul Zaman Huyop, Mufeed J Ewadh, Eko Supriyanto, Mohammad Rava

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases that has had devastating effects on the general population. It is also among the most popular research trends in modern medicine. Thus, due to the complexity and desirability of this particular affliction, there is a lot of demand towards understanding this disease better, so that it can pave the way towards better solutions in combating diabetes. The aim of this review is to provide a categorization of the risk factors leading to Type II Diabetes. In order to provide a justification for the type of diabetes, an explanation is provided which covers …

Chemical Composition And Antibacterial Activity Of The Essential Oil Of Myrtus Communis Leaves, Hajar El Hartiti, Amine El Mostaphi, Mariam Barrahi, Aouatif Ben Ali, Nabila Chahboun, Rajaa Amiyare, Abdelkader Zarrouk, Brahim Bourkhiss, Mohammed Ouhssine

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The aim of this work is to determine the yield of the essential oil of the Myrtus communis leaves, to identify its chemical composition and to evaluate its antibacterial properties. The plant is harvested from Sidi Ahmed Chrif, a region in Ouazzane, Morocco. The extraction of the essential oil was carried out by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus type. The average yield was 0.7%. The analysis of this oil by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrum (GC/MS) allows the identification of 32 compounds. Eucalyptol was the main compound with 42.43%, followed by myrtenyl acetate (21.25%) and α-pinene (19.39%). Myrtle essential …

Hormones Of Maize Crop As Affected By Potassium Fertilization , Water Quality And Ascobin Foliar Application ., Qais Hussain Al-Samak Prof., Fatima Karim Khudair Alasadi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

A pot assay on the plastic container of the wire sunshade in the University of Kerbala's Agricultural Division was conducted to research the impact of potassium treatment, the salinity of irrigation water and ascobin sprinkling, just as their connections, on the some plant hormones activities (auxin, gibberellin and abscisic acid) in developing Zea mays crops in a soil with sandy texture during the farming fall period of 2017–2018. The trial was planned as a factorial one with three factors, Potassium adding are 0, 100 and 200 Kg K.ha^–1 . the irrigation water salinity are 1, 3 and 6 ds.m …

Editorial Board

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

No abstract provided.

Testing The Allelic Strength Of Drosophila Melanogaster Mus109 Alleles, Erica V. Nestore

S.U.R.E Posters

Drosophila melanogaster, commonly referred to as fruit flies, possess a group of genes that when mutated can cause sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. These mutagen sensitive (mus) genes are likely involved in DNA repair, and one of these genes, mus109, was the focus of this study. To perform the experiment, complementation crosses were set up between the three mus109 alleles: mus109^lS, mus109^D1 and mus109^D2. The wild-type DGRP-59 was used as the control. For each cross, twenty vials were scored. Brood one contained ten vials that were mock treated with distilled water, and …

Investigating Cytotoxicity And Defense Functions Of Bacteriophage Larva Genes In Host Mycobacterium Smegmatis, Dallas K. Nivens, Laela A. Walker

S.U.R.E Posters

It is estimated that approximately 75% of gene functions within any given phage cluster remain unknown. Two phage traits that can be measured phenotypically were investigated: cytotoxicity, which causes host cell lysis, and superimmunity, which results in protection of the host from infection by similar phages. Five genes (35, 42, 46, 49, and 59), from a subcluster K5 bacteriophage named Larva, were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and assembled into a cloning plasmid (pExTra) using isothermal assembly. Initially, chemical transformation of Escherichia coli with the pExTra + gene insert, enabled amplification of the plasmids. Clonal PCR …

Recellularization Of Porcine Internal Thoracic Arteries As A Tissue Engineered Small-Diameter Vascular Graft Alternative, Carlos E. Escoto-Diaz, Jesse B. Kooistra, Nicholle E. Lewis, Holdyn C. Ferguson

S.U.R.E Posters

Small-diameter vascular grafts are the leading treatment for myocardial infarctions resulting from atherosclerosed coronary vasculature. A potential alternative to using patient-derived grafts is the use of tissue engineered vessels. The removal of native cells from xenogenic vessels allows for recellularization with human cells types; however, the decellularization process depends on the use of cytotoxic reagents that must be removed prior to recellularization. The recellularization process must produce a functional graft that contains the multiple cell types found within arteries. We hypothesized that porcine internal thoracic arteries decellularized using a combination of detergents could be processed to support human endothelial and …

Generation Of Fluorescent Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells For Lineage Tracing Within Composite 3d Culture Models, Madeline G. Linker

S.U.R.E Posters

While relatively rare, the aggressive nature and poor prognosis associated with esophageal carcinoma make it a particularly dangerous form of cancer. One approach to discovering esophageal cancer treatment options includes the development of composite 3D culture models. This method of research allows cellular interactions and responses toward interventions to be evaluated within a more complex system than 2D cultures. Additionally, a composite 3D model provides a higher throughput and is more cost-effective than in vivo animal studies. To analyze the interactions between the model’s cell types, fluorescent labeling allows each cell type to be distinguished from the others, facilitating independent …

Nutrient Limitation In Freshwater Streams In The South Carolina Piedmont, Rachael Rowe

S.U.R.E Posters

Availability of nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), is a key driver of microbial growth and metabolism in freshwater ecosystems. Microbial biofilms composed of both autotrophs and heterotrophs play crucial roles in freshwater food webs. These stream communities may be limited by N, P, or both N and P. This project examined nutrient limitation of biofilm communities in two small, freshwater streams in the Catawba river basin within the Catawba Nation in South Carolina. Stream conditions were monitored and nutrient concentrations for ambient ammonium and phosphate were monitored. We quantified nutrient limitation, community respiration, gross primary production, and ash-free …

The Effect Of Semaphorin 3a On Chick Embryo Retinal Growth Cones, Allison T. Reed

S.U.R.E Posters

During embryonic development, axons grow from the retina of the eye to the tectum of the brain which allows for visual information transfer. Axons travel to the tectum via axon pathfinding, which is influenced by axon guidance cues. Axon guidance molecules interact with the growing tips of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon, which are motile structures known as growth cones. Some inhibitory axon guidance molecules are known to cause a growth cone to collapse, where they cease growth and then retract, or turn away. One such inhibitory axon guidance molecule is Semaphorin 3A (Sema 3A). While Sema 3A’s importance is …

Diet Analysis Of Gastrotricha, Mikhail Anfinson

S.U.R.E Posters

The phylum Gastrotricha is comprised of small aquatic organisms that live in between sand grains. It has been shown that meiofauna communities can play valuable roles in ecosystems and serve as a food source for animals higher up the trophic levels. However, little is known about their own feeding behavior which this study is concerned about. Over the summer developments were made in the methodical sections for diet diagnostic PCR for marine bacterial strains, unicellular marine eukaryotes, and investigating different types of immunofluorescence for marine bacteria. We also plan at looking at the number of sarcomeres within the pharynx of …

Exploring The Mechanisms Regulating Toroid Formation By Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Cultured On 3d Collagen Hydrogels, Mary-Catherine Cobb

S.U.R.E Posters

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a huge topic of interest to many researchers due to their therapeutic potential. MSCs can be harvested from various body tissues, including bone marrow, blood, and adipose tissue. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) are of particular therapeutic interest due to their great abundance and ease of accessibility relative to other types of MSCs. We have observed that ADSCs will migrate and self-organize into a toroid when applied to the top of a 3D type I collagen hydrogel. ADSCs fail to form toroids when embedded within collagen hydrogels, which raises the question of what specific environmental …

Herb-Layer Dynamics In An Old-Growth Forest: Vegetation–Environment Relationships And Response To Invasion-Related Perturbations, Taylor M. Buskey, Margaret E. Maloney, Julia I. Chapman, Ryan W. Mcewan

Biology Faculty Publications

Temperate forests of eastern North America are subject to multiple invasions from non-native species that have the potential to drive long-term dynamics in biodiversity. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara and Grande) is an invasive plant in many deciduous forests, and management efforts often focus on removing this species to initiate native species restoration. Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (emerald ash borer; Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a non-native insect pest that has caused substantial loss of ash trees (Fraxinus spp. L.) in North America. Our goal was to understand how the herbaceous layer in an old-growth forest responded to the removal of …

Overview Of Plaster Creek Stewards Transpiration Rate Across Different Species Over 3 Years, Ana Singh, David P. Warners

Faculty and Professional Research

No abstract provided.