Biology Commons^™

Identification Of The Phosphatase Nudt5 As A Target For The Treatment Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Jing Qian

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Abstract

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer, characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression, as well as the lack of overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Unlike ER-positive and HER2-positive tumors that can be treated with hormone therapy or HER2-targeted treatment, respectively, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a challenge with limited treatment alternatives for affected women. The currently FDA-approved systemic regimens for TNBC patients remain as conventional chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors (only applicable for a subset of BRCA-mutated TNBC patients). Consequently, our …

Acute Pain Prediction In Oral Cavity And Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy, Vivian Salama

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Oral-Cavity and oropharyngeal cancers (OC/OPC) are types of head and neck cancers that are increasing in incidence domestically. Radiation therapy (RT) is crucial in OC/OPC management. Pain is a common and challenging symptom for most patients during therapy, as nearly all patients undergoing locoregional RT in OC/OPC require analgesia for acute iatrogenic pain. Moreover, about 45% of long-term survivors report chronic pain, with more than 10% exhibiting severe chronic pain. Pain control is challenging due to the multifactorial clinical, molecular, and cellular etiology of cancer/therapy pain, as well as variation in pain assessment and the non-uniform management of pain between …

Biophysical Model Of Retraction Motor Neurons And Their Modification By Operant Conditioning, Maria Rasheed

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Operant conditioning (OC) is a form of associative learning in which an animal modifies its behavior based on the consequences that follow that behavior. Despite its ubiquity, the underlying mechanisms of OC are poorly understood. Insights into the mechanisms of OC can be obtained by studying Aplysia feeding behavior as it can be modified by OC. This behavior is mediated by a central pattern generator (CPG) network in the buccal ganglia that contains a relatively small number of neurons. This CPG generates rhythmic motor patterns (BMPs) that move food into the gut by closing a tongue-like structure (i.e., radula) during …

Syntaxin-3 Mediates Baseline And Stimulated Mucin Secretion, Brianne Wharton

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

There are two rates at which airway epithelial cells secrete mucin. The low baseline rate accounts for ciliary clearance, and the high stimulated rate obstructs airways in protection from helminths or in obstructive pulmonary diseases. The exocytosis of mucins occurs via the four-helix SNARE complex. The SNARE proteins contributing helices are the vesicle-SNARE VAMP, and the target-SNAREs SNAP and Syntaxin. Coiling of the complex fuses the granule and plasma membranes to release mucins into the extracellular space. The VAMP and SNAP isoforms mediating baseline and stimulated secretion are known, but the Syntaxin (Stx) isoform remains unknown.

Three candidate exocytic Stx, …

Exploring Novel Nutrient Acquisition Mechanisms For Maintaining Energy Metabolism In Toxoplasma Gondii, Melanie Key

All Dissertations

Toxoplasma gondii is an infectious intracellular parasite that establishes infection within various mammalian hosts, including humans. Toxoplasma infects approximately one-third of the global population, making it an impactful pathogen of study. T. gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, an opportunistic infection that causes severe illness or fatality in immunocompromised individuals or pregnant women. The parasite possesses a very effective invasion strategy, allowing it to cross different tissue types to disseminate infection across the placental and blood-brain barrier. Although there are a few treatments for acute toxoplasmosis, these drugs can produce adverse side effects. These options are not effective against …

Bcl2 Mediated Targeted Drug Delivery For The Treatment Of Kidney Fibrosis And Stomach Cancer, Humayra Afrin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Apoptosis, the programmed death of cells, is primarily regulated by a delicate balance between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic signals. The Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) family of proteins acts as anti-apoptotic agents, promoting cell survival. Dysregulation of these proteins is a common occurrence in conditions such as cancer and fibrosis, where overexpression of anti-apoptotic members can foster tumor cell survival and fibroblast activation. In this study, our aim was to explore the therapeutic potential of Bcl-2 inhibitors, both as a small molecule (specifically Navitoclax (Navi)), inhibitor and as Bcl-2 siRNA, for targeted treatment. Intravenous administration of Navi often leads to thrombocytopenia, necessitating …

Haloperidol Paradoxical Behavior Induced Cell Proliferation Through Pkb/Akt And Abolished By Mir-Let-7c, Mounira Morgem

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Haloperidol is a typical antipsychotic drug; it is widely used for people with various psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and dementia. Despite its effectiveness in controlling delusions, hallucinations, agitation, and other disruptive behavioral symptoms in these psychiatric conditions, it has adverse side effects such as extrapyramidal manifestation and endocrinologic and metabolic changes. Initial evidence shows that haloperidol has antitumor properties in several cancer types by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. However, other reports indicate that haloperidol promotes cell proliferation in other cells, raising concerns about its association with an increased risk of cancer which …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Connecting Genotype And Phenotype: Investigating The Functional Morphology And Molecular Architecture That Influences Craniofacial Divergence Using Lake Malawi Cichlid Fishes, Leah Delorenzo

All Dissertations

Connecting genotype and phenotype to better understand how species evolve has been a goal of evolutionary developmental biologists over the last 50 years. This dissertation aims to connect genotype and phenotype of the craniofacial skeleton within the adaptive radiation of Lake Malawi cichlids to fortify our understanding of the functional, genetic, and epigenetic factors that contribute to craniofacial divergence. I start with a functional approach using 2D geometric morphometrics to assess craniofacial shape across the Lake Malawi cichlid radiation to bolster our knowledge of the bone phenotypes that are important to niche specialization and are functionally relevant. Next, I use …

The Role Of Abu Dhabi's Nearshore Marine Environments In The Ecology Of Elasmobranch Fishes, Stephan Bruns

Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the role of inshore habitats in the ecology of elasmobranch fishes, with a specific focus on the wider Khor Fardiah Region on the eastern site of Abu Dhabi City. Once the vulnerability of these environments to anthropogenic pressure and climate change is recognised, it is clear that nearshore environments are susceptible to adverse outcomes. Hence, this dissertation aims to provide informative data that can help in devising effective conservation strategies. The study used a multi-survey technique approach, including stereo-BRUVS, acoustic telemetry, and satellite tracking, in combination with local ecological knowledge to explore the species diversity and habitat …

Adipose Stem Cell Response To Borophosphate Bioactive Glass, Nada A. Abokefa, Bradley A. Bromet, Rebekah L. Blatt, Makenna S. Pickett, Richard K. Brow, Julie A. Semon

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Silicate and Borate Bioactive Glasses Have Been Reported to Create Alkaline Conditions by Rapidly Releasing Ions When Reacting in Aqueous Solution. at Certain Levels, This Alkaline Solution Can Negatively Affect Cell Viability. Adding Phosphate Ions to the Glass Composition Can Control the Degradation Rate of Bioactive Glasses and Create a Neutral PH Environment. This Study Evaluated a Series of Boro phosphate Bioactive Glasses (BPBGs) with Nominal Molar Compositions 16Na₂O_-24CaO-XB₂O₃-(60-X) P₂O₅, Where X = 0, 40, or 60. the Phosphate (X0) Glass (PBG) Produced an Acidic Solution When Dissolved …

Molecular And Immunological Analysis Of Avipoxvirus In Avian Samples And Comparison Of Local Potential Mosquito Vector Populations, Natalie Barrett Ms '24

All Student Scholarship

An outbreak of Avipoxvirus occurred on a small farm in Gorham, ME in spring of 2022. This led to an investigation of the molecular and immunological properties of the virus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to assess viral presence and antibody presence in domestic and wild turkeys and chickens. Viral presence was found in three visually pox-lesioned birds, and not found in two visually pox-lesioned birds. Viral presence was found in three visually healthy birds and not found in two visually healthy birds. Viral presence was not found in any pooled samples of mosquitoes (n=429 …

Mixed Methods Approach To Assess ‘Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor’ Activity Within ‘Alternative’ Health Contexts Of Human Maternal Placentophagy, Jacob C. White

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Rats with elevated opioid levels experience an even greater increase in pain threshold after placenta or amniotic fluid consumption via placental opioid-enhancing factor (POEF) in the afterbirth. POEF only enhances opioid hypoalgesia; it cannot produce hypoalgesia alone. Although the POEF molecule remains unidentified and its efficacy in humans is unknown, it could be a safe, novel pain treatment. People who consume placenta as an alternative postpartum health practice are ideal for testing POEF bioactivity. Though rat models show that bioactive POEF is highly sensitive, some forms of the practice in humans may conserve POEF.

This project is the first attempt …

Cellular Mechanisms Of Embryonic Eye Regrowth In Xenopus Laevis, Randolph L. Grell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis, has been an indispensable model organism for over 100 years in the study of embryogenesis and development. In recent years, this vertebrate model has emerged as a robust tool for deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying various modes of tissue, limb, and organ regeneration. In the context of eye repair, Xenopus offers a unique model, where the adult frog eye has limited regenerative capacity compared to its pre-metamorphic embryonic and tadpole forms, which exhibit a robust capacity for regrowth. Understanding the intricate molecular mechanisms that underlie this developmental shift in regrowth ability …

Reactive Oxygen Species Production In Head Regeneration Of Planaria From Cadmium Exposure, Natalie Gonzalez

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Exposure to cadmium, a pervasive neurotoxic chemical found in our environment, poses significant health risks, disrupting various physiological systems and fostering carcinogenesis. Commonly found in everyday items like cigarettes, batteries, and plastics, cadmium disrupts the equilibrium between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular repair mechanisms, culminating in oxidative stress and potential cell damage. In toxicological and pharmaceutical research, planarians offer valuable insight for understanding how exposure to chemicals akin to human scenarios can alter biological systems. This experiment addresses the effect cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) has on planarian regeneration and whether antioxidants can mitigate those adverse outcomes. Our …

The Optimal Timing Of Abscisic Acid Treatment In Arabidopsis Under Drought And Salt Stress, Khelia Gihozo

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

As climate change intensifies, harsh environmental conditions, such as increased drought and salt levels, will pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity globally. It is important to develop strategies for plants to tolerate these adverse conditions. This study aims to investigate how well the timing of abscisic acid (ABA) treatment can promote resistance to salt and drought in Arabidopsis thaliana grown on Murashige and Skoog agar medium. The study evaluates both wild-type and transgenic lines overexpressing the DREB2A gene, a transcriptional activator involved in the stress response of plants. Plants were exposed to drought and salt stress as they matured. Followed …

Characterization Of Fibronectin Adhesion Isolated Dental Pulp Progenitor Cell Populations, Heoijin Kim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: The DPSC constitutes a significantly small population, comprising approximately 1% of the total cells in the pulp tissue. Therefore, it is imperative to successfully culture and populate DPSCs in vitro before utilizing them for therapeutic purposes. Understanding DPSC heterogeneity is crucial for innovative regenerative therapies, prompting the investigation of mixed populations using fibronectin as a biological marker. It is reported that cellular phenotype and biological function may undergo alterations as cells replicate in a cultured environment or the substrate to which the cells adhere.

Objectives: In this study, we compared and analyzed the impact of various isolation methods on …

Regulation Of Embryonic Eye Regrowth In Xenopus Laevis, Dylan Guerin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Regrowth of lost organs and tissues is an amazing ability that some animals possess. For regrowth to be considered full, the organism must regrow the organ or tissue to a state that is structurally and functionally similar to that which was lost. The ability of an organism to regrow lost or damaged tissue varies among animals, both in the mechanisms utilized to achieve regrowth, and in what body parts can be regrown. Potentially even closely related species can vary wildly in regenerative ability. Therefore, regenerative research can look to other tissues and organisms for direction in elucidating the mechanisms through …

Revealing Nitrate Uptake And Dispersion Dynamics Using High-Frequency Sensors And Two-Dimensional Modeling In A Large River System, Amirreza Zarnaghsh, Michelle Kelly, Amy Burgin, Admin Husic

Michigan Tech Publications

Nitrate pollution of water bodies is a critical issue in many parts of the world because of its negative effects on aquatic ecosystem and human health. Effective management of pollution, such as the continuous or instantaneous release from point-sources, requires an understanding – with high spatial and temporal resolution – of how nitrate is dispersed and cycled within rivers. Nitrate sensing data show promise for this purpose, but their integration into numerical models is scarce; thus, questions remain regarding the necessary spatial grid size and temporal resolution required to resolve sensor readings. In this study, we developed an unsteady two-dimensional …

The Combined Effects Of Nacl And Beet Juice On Germination And Early Seedling Growth Among Raphanus Sativus L., Justin Howell

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Salt pollution and soil salinization via secondary pathways is a global problem. One practice which contributes to increased salinity in soils and other natural systems is the application of road deicers in colder regions. Increased salinity in soils negatively affects plant growth and microbial activity. In an effort to decrease the amount of salt applied to roads, salts are applied as brine. Liquid organic additives are incorporated into these brines to foster better adherence of the salt to impermeable surfaces. One common additive is beet juice, a byproduct of sugar extraction. Beet juice contains high levels of phosphorus and organic …

The Causes And Consequences Of Behavioral Plasticity In Anti-Predatory Defense And Mate Choice In Tropical Butterflies, Sushant Potdar

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavioral plasticity, where individuals change their behaviors in response to varying environmental and social conditions, affects major evolutionary trajectories. But how individuals change these behaviors under certain social situations, and what the genetic causes and consequences of such behavioral changes are in response to social environments are yet to be fully understood. I address these questions in the context of anti-predatory behaviors (chapter 1), and mate choice (chapters 2, 3, 4) in tropical butterflies. In the context of anti-predatory behaviors, I found predator-specific behavioral changes in toxic Heliconius butterflies, suggesting variance in predation pressures and butterfly recognition of bird calls. …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of A Commercial Lippia Origanoides Essential Oil Extract On Salmonella Serovar Enteritidis As A Natural Alternative To Antibiotics In The Poultry Industry, Abdiel Atencio

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the bactericidal activity of a microencapsulated Lippia origanoides essential oils (LOEOs) against Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in an in vitro crop assay and in a prophylactic broiler chicken model using three low doses of the product: 75 ppm, 150 ppm and 300 ppm. Two trials of each assay were conducted. Day-of-hatch male Cobb-Vantress broiler chickens were randomly allotted to one of four groups: 1) positive control group; 2) 75 ppm LOEOs group; 3) 150 ppm LOEOs group; 4) 300 LOEOs group. Chicks were fed and watered ad libitum in heated brooder batteries …

Exploring The Impact Of Subject Placement On Exam Questions​, Briana M. Craig, Jeremy L. Hsu

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Quizzes and exams are crucial elements of undergraduate biology courses; however, little research has been done exploring the importance of the phrasing used in the questions on these assessments. Question framing has the potential to impact student performance and sense of belonging greatly. In this study, we conducted an experiment where we created three versions of the exact same question except for the framing for the experimental scenarios. One version was written with self-referential framing using the term “you,” simulating the student conducting the experiment; another version used classmate-referential framing, placing one of their peers in the experiment; the third …

Spatiotemporal Gait Parameter Consistency Across Two Days Of Treadmill Walking In Stroke Survivors, Alejandro Aguirre Ramirez, Samantha N. Jeffcoat, Natalia Sanchez, Andrian Kuch

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Retraining impaired gait is essential in post-stroke recovery. This project aims to determine between day variability of spatiotemporal gait measures in treadmill walking post-stroke to differentiate between changes due to the intervention and measurement errors due to between day test-retest variability. Six individuals post-stroke performed a two-minute walk test at a self-selected speed (SSS) for two consecutive days. SSS was assessed through the six-minute walk test. Reflective markers were placed on anatomical landmarks (van den Bogert et al. 2013). The heel markers were used for step detection. We calculated spatiotemporal parameters: stride length, stride time, step length, stance time, and …

Optimization Of Coral Restoration Along The Florida Reef Tract, Raymond Barry Banister

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, the reefs of Florida were dominated by two framework-building corals, Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata. However, these two populations have declined by 95% since the 1970s. The predominant contributors to the coral decline have been ocean warming and disease. In response to the decline, restoration organizations were established to improve survival, growth, and reproduction. Yet, there are gaps in current restoration practices and our knowledge of effective restoration techniques. This study uses large datasets to develop models that predict the most optimal locations for coral restoration in Florida and examines the relationships between the occurrence of wild acroporids …

Conserving One Of Hawai'i'S Last Endemic Ducks: Genetics And Habitat Associations Of Koloa, Feral Mallards, And Their Hybrids, Kristi Fukunaga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Increases in anthropogenic hybridization through introduced species have accelerated the loss of genetic diversity and reductions in population size of native species that are already threatened by population and genetic diversity decline. Fertile hybrids that are common among waterfowl (order Anseriformes) are especially worrisome. A prime example is the endangered Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana; “koloa maoli”), which is the remaining endemic duck species on the main Hawaiian Islands and is threatened by genetic extinction through ongoing hybridization with feral mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Of note, koloa populations are known to be strongly male-biased (3:1), and this sex bias is known to …

Prelimbic Cortex Neuronal Assemblies In Behaviors Predictive Of Drug-Seeking Before And After Cocaine Self-Administration, Karla J. Galvan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Literature has established that there are certain behaviors that are predictive of drug seeking and relapse such as impulsivity, distress tolerance (DT), Pavlovian conditioned approach (PCA), anxiety, and sensation-seeking. However, few studies have examined the behavioral interactions among these tasks and drug-seeking, and none have examined the neural interactions in the prelimbic cortex, which has an essential role in drug-seeking and is implicated in each of the aforementioned behaviors of interest.We therefore hypothesized that certain behaviors including high impulsivity, low distress tolerance, high anxiety, and high locomotor activity would predict high cocaine-seeking. We further hypothesized that the neuronal activity in …

Synthesis Of Neoglycoproteins As Potential Biomarkers For Chagas Disease And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused By Leishmania (Viannia) Braziliensis, Eileni Rodriguez Gil

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Protozoan parasites are responsible for causing numerous diseases in humans and mammals worldwide. Among them are Chagas disease (CD), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), and tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL), caused by the parasite Leishmania (Viannia). Both diseases coexist in many regions of Latin America, and current hurdles to differentially diagnose them and determine chemotherapy success need to be overcome. CD can be diagnosed by traditional serological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but disadvantages of these methods are that they may produce false negatives because the antigens used in commercial CD kits are not conserved across all T.cruzi …

Characterizing The Mentoring Landscape In An Online Biology Cure: An Examination Of Student And Graduate Teaching Assistant Perspectives And Outcomes, Karen Alejandra Santillan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Both undergraduate research experiences (UREs) and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) provide students with benefits and opportunities such as improving technical skills and making connections that provide resources. Where these two experiences differ is accessibility. Similar to their URE counterpart, CUREs entail mentorship on the part of the faculty/graduate teaching assistant (GTA) instructor (Dolan, 2016). There is general agreement that mentoring has many benefits for undergraduate STEM students, such as an improvement in retention rates, increased confidence and self-efficacy, and a more established sense of belonging and science identity (Dolan, 2016). CURE instructors often adopt the role of “mentor” in …

Atlas-Based Analysis Of The Neural Projections From The Lateral Hypothalamic Area To The Lower Brainstem In The Adult Male Rat, Jessica Valeria Salcido Padilla

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Within the last decade, the number of diseases associated with dysregulation of the neural circuits responsible for energy balance, glucosensing, and feeding control has increased. One brain region containing these circuits is the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), which plays an important role in the sleep/wake cycle, energy balance, and motivated behavior. Although the LHA has been termed a â??feeding centerâ??, other regions within the hindbrain are known for the regulation of similar functions including energy balance, glucosensing, and feeding control. While many studies have explored and reported projections from the LHA to the hindbrain, few have further investigated the interconnections …