Biology Commons^™

Investigating Soil Co2 Flux Among Varying Soil Types During Inundation Conditions, Jennifer Volk, Arya Patel

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Land use change has contributed to the increase of carbon dioxide (CO₂) release, exacerbating global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CO₂ is also naturally produced in the soil via microbial respiration which breaks down soil organic matter (SOM). Several studies have investigated factors affecting CO₂ flux from soils, but few have compared CO₂ flux from a range of soil types under controlled conditions with varying water levels. This study subjected intact soil cores from six different soil types to varied periods of inundation and dry events using the same water and timing. During each event, CO …

Cells Stably Expressing Shrna Against Myo10 Display Altered Cell Motility, Joanna A. Mas, Chase E. Cristella, Vu Hao M. N. Phan, Lillian S. Wendt, Charlotte A. Rose, Abigail Ali, David F. Carpio, Christine Cole, Paige Embley, Jack E. Hoskins-Harris, Delia Johnson, Noelle Ledoux, Hannah W. Lwin, Sarah Salah, Erin Weisbart, Stacey J. Criswell, Omar A. Quintero-Carmona

Biology Faculty Publications

Myosin-X (MYO10) is an actin-based motor protein involved in cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane interactions, and integrin-mediated adhesion. To investigate MYO10's cellular roles, we generated MYO10 knockdown (MYO10KD) HeLa and COS7 cell lines using lentiviral shRNA. Compared to wild-type cells, both MYO10KD lines showed reduced proliferation and impaired cell migration in wound assays. Additionally, there were fewer edge filopodia in HeLa cells. Furthermore, MYO10KD cells demonstrated increased spreading on laminin-coated substrates, suggesting altered integrin activation and cytoskeletal linkage. Our results reinforce MYO10’s importance in cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. These MYO10KD lines provide an accessible cell culture model for future study of …

Ground-Based Modeling Of Deep-Space Risks To The Spleen And Intestine In Mice, Edith Nathalie Pineda Sotomayor

Theses and Dissertations

Deep-space missions, such as those planned for the cis-lunar space and Mars, pose unique challenges to astronaut health due to prolonged microgravity (MG) exposure and low-dose chronic irradiation (CIR). Understanding the impact of these stressors on secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and intestine, is crucial for ensuring crewmembers' well-being, given the impracticality of conducting this research with human samples. Using a ground-based facility, we exposed C57BL/6 female and male mice to CIR (1.74 Gy at a dose rate of 0.0029 Gy/h) and/or simulated MG (SMG) via hind limb unloading (HLU) for one month. Spleen and intestinal tissues were …

Efficacy Of Pethidine And Tramadol In The Suppression Of Postoperative Shivering: A Comparative Study, Ahmed Jaber Ibrahim, Hussien Ibrahim Hayal, Ahmed R.Y. Al-Sawad, Shahab Abdulla, Ralela Makline

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Postoperative shivering is a common complication that can affect patient comfort and stability. Pethidine and tramadol are widely used to relieve this symptom, but their relative effectiveness and safety remain under investigation. In this randomized trial, 50 patients (aged 25–35 years) with postoperative shivering were divided into two groups: one group receiving intravenous tramadol (n = 25 patients) and one group receiving pethidine (n = 25 patients). Onset of drug action, vital signs, and side effects were systematically assessed. Pethidine had a significantly faster onset of action than tramadol (12.20 ± 0.35 min vs 7.16 ± 0.28 min, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding body temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, or blood pressure (P < 0.05). Side effects, such as dizziness (16% vs. 8%), nausea and vomiting (20% vs. 8%), and nausea alone (48% vs. 20%), were more common and showed a statistically significant increase in the tramadol group. Both drugs were effective in suppressing postoperative tremor, but pethidine demonstrated superior efficacy, a faster onset of action, and a better safety profile. These results confirm pethidine as the recommended choice at an intravenous dose of 0.5 mg/kg.

Cv: Mallory Havens (Biology), Mallory Havens

Biology Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Clinical Applications Of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review Of Benefits And Challenges, Riyam Wissam Hassan

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that help balance microbes in intestines and promote growth beneficial bacteria, they vary between bacteria, yeasts, and fungi and they are helpful to human health when taken in adequate and suitable amounts. In addition to maintaining intestinal health and help with digestion and absorption, also inhibiting development and preventing spread of harmful microorganisms. It exists in different forms, in the intestines and in the foods, products fermented, and in the pharmaceutical supplements. Because human health depends largely on the interaction between humans and these microorganisms known as probiotics, it has found that these organisms have vital …

Influence Of Variable Climate On Mechanical Properties Of Composite Materials: An Experimental Study, Alexandra Tazhibaeva, Safaa M.R.H. Hussein, Mikhail Kuznetsov, Farid Shakirzyanov, Nikita Kharin, Igor Muravyev, Timur Agliullin, Gulshat Saleeva, Victor Mitryakin, Oleg Morozov, Oskar Sachenkov

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This study investigates the degradation of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic composites, fabricated via non-autoclave molding, under tropical climatic conditions across three regions over three years. Forty specimens (10 control, 30 exposed) with 2x2 twill weave and 0°/90° fiber orientation were subjected to tensile and compressive testing, microscopy, and X-ray computed tomography. Control specimens established baseline properties, while exposed specimens underwent three-year weathering. Statistical and principal component analyses revealed significant mechanical degradation, with tensile strength decreasing by up to 16.1% (p

Impact Of Plasma-Activated Water On Breast Cancer Cell Viability, Maryam G. Jasim, Hammad R. Humud

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Plasma-activated water (PAW) was generated using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma system operating with a 1:1 mixture of nitrogen and argon gases to evaluate its cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Water samples were divided into five groups: 0 minutes (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes of plasma exposure. The resulting PAW was applied to cultured cells, and cell viability was assessed 24- and 48-hour post-treatment. Viability was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results showed an apparent time-dependent increase in cytotoxicity. At 24 hours, cell mortality rates were 1.9%, 40.7%, 48.1%, 53.6%, …

Age-Dependent Changes In Reproductive Behaviour And Success In A Long-Lived Beetle (Bolitotherus Cornutus), C. A. Greene, L. D. Mitchem, Vitor Dos Anjos , '21, E. D. Brodie Iii, Vincent A. Formica

Biology Faculty Works

Age-related changes in behaviors often result in shifts in an individual’s competitive ability, reproductive success, and fitness. However, how mating behaviors, aggression, and mating success simultaneously change as individuals age in natural populations remains understudied. Investigating these age-dependent effects in wild populations could reveal how age-specific patterns shape social dynamics and influence natural selection. In this study, we ask how behaviors associated with mating and reproductive success vary across age in a wild metapopulation of a long-lived beetle, Bolitotherus cornutus. We used both cross-sectional and longitudinal data from a multi-year field study of individually marked beetles to investigate how …

Draft Genome Sequence Of Staphylococcus Aureus N208 Isolated From A Nasal Swab Of A Healthy Female, Sandra Jablonska, Lila Nelson, Grace Finger, Alex Kula, Catherine Putonti

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Staphylococcus aureus, a common member of the healthy human microbiota, is an opportunistic pathogen. To investigate the genomic features of this species in healthy individuals, we present the draft genome sequence of S. aureus N208, isolated from a nasal swab collected from a healthy female participant.

Systematics And Phylogeography Of Mundochthonius Chamberlin, 1929, In The Pacific Northwest (Chelicerata, Pseudoscorpiones), Amanda Rai Montoya-Cowan

Dissertations and Theses

Understanding the processes that drive genetic divergence and species formation is central to evolutionary biology. Invertebrates with low dispersal ability, such as pseudoscorpions, are especially prone to cryptic diversification due to their occupancy of niche microhabitats and sensitivity to landscape barriers. Despite their ecological roles as predators and bioindicators, pseudoscorpions remain one of the least studied arachnid groups, with limited taxonomic resolution and few integrative studies. This research focuses on the genus Mundochthonius in the Pacific Northwest, particularly M. pacificus, a morphologically conserved species whose true diversity and distribution remain poorly understood.

Field surveys guided by a GIS-based habitat …

Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination: Implications For The Ecology, Evolution, And Conservation Of Sea Turtles, Forrest William Collins

All ETDs from UAB

For reptiles, their method of sex determination is temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). This is where the environmental temperature directly influences the sex ratio being produced within a clutch. For sea turtles, sex is determined within a thermosensitive period (TSP) in which incubation temperatures will result in either males (cooler), females (warmer), or 50:50 even sex ratio. For this dissertation, 2 species of sea turtles were evaluated for their TSD and its implications on their ecology, evolution, and conservation: the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). For the Hawksbill, a major rookery in the …

Roadkill Scavenging Behavior Of White-Throated Magpie-Jay (Cyanocorax Formosus) In Northwestern Costa Ricacomportamiento De Carroñeo En Carretera De La Urraca Copetona (Cyanocorax Formosus) En El Noroeste De Costa Rica, Juan De Dios Astorga-Acuña, José Manuel Mora

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Corvids are opportunistic omnivores and facultative scavengers, but there are no direct records of Cyanocorax species scavenging on carrion. We documented opportunistic feeding behavior of the White-throated Magpie-Jay (Cyanocorax formosus) on a road-killed Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) in northwestern Costa Rica. On 25 August 2023, we observed three White-throated Magpie-Jays feeding on the carcass of a Common Pauraque, likely killed by collision with a vehicle, along a gravel road near the Taboga Forestry Reserve. This provides de first documented evidence of the White-throated Magpie-Jay scavenging on roadkill, and of carrion consumption by a Central American corvid. Given the White-throated Magpie-Jay's …

Evaluating Gains In Student Self-Efficacy In Scientific Literacy Associated With A Brief Curricular Intervention, Radhika Reddy, Olivia M. Ainsworth, Mackenzie J. Gray, Andrea Hildebrand, Jazzmine Waugh, Jennifer Lindwall, Javier Huerta, Thomas E. Keller

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Undergraduate research experiences (UREs) are high-impact practices that enhance retention, motivation, and self-efficacy in science, particularly for students with limited prior exposure to scientific environments. However, many students-especially those from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds-enter these experiences with low research self-efficacy, stemming from limited familiarity with academic language, scientific literature, and research communication. The Research Induction Curriculum (RIC) was designed to address this challenge by providing early, structured training in scientific literacy through scaffolded journal club discussions. The RIC introduces students to progressively more complex scientific articles, supports peer discussion, and builds confidence in reading, interpreting, and presenting scientific information. This …

The Role Of Histone Deacetylase Complexes In Cardiomyocyes And Heart Diseases, Meimei Wang

All ETDs from UAB

Histone deacetylase complexes play pivotal roles in cardiac biology, however their specific functions in cell fate transitions and adult heart maintenance re-main unclear. We identified the role of HDAC complex in vitro during direct cardiac repro-gramming and in vivo through specific cardiomyocyte deletion of ELMSAN1, a core component of the MiDAC complex. We perform direct cardiac reprogram-ming using a polycistronic construct (hMGT133) expressing MEF2C, GATA4, TBX5, and miR-133. MEF2C expression peaked early, while cardiac markers such as cardiac troponin and α-actinin emerged by Day 9. HDAC1 levels and global histone acetylation (H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H3K27ac) declined over time. An RNAi screen …

The Hepatic Glucagon Receptor As A Novel Regulator Of Lifespan, Alexander Tate Lasher

All ETDs from UAB

In developed nations the average lifespan has nearly doubled over the last 200 years, and the proportion of humans living into old age is ever increasing. While this is certainly a testament to the effectiveness of modern medicine and infrastructure, it presents a unique challenge to public health. Gains to health have not necessarily kept pace with the gains in lifespan, and the expanding aged population positions age-associated diseases to reach unprecedented prevalence. In light of this challenge, a mechanistic understanding of the aging process is necessary to identify factors that control longevity and to ultimately develop strategies for healthy …

The Eco-Evolutionary Consequences Of Spatial Patterning Of Macroalgal Life Cycle Stages And Reproductive Mode Variation, Alexis Oetterer

All ETDs from UAB

Haploid-diploid life cycles offer valuable insight into the evolution of sex and ploidy cycling, but empirical research has largely focused on diploid-dominant taxa, such as angiosperms. Expanding empirical studies to include a broader range of eukaryotic diversity is critical to ultimately understand responses to climate change. This dissertation addresses gaps in our understanding of macroalgal reproductive modes by examining macroalgae Gracilaria vermiculophylla and Ulva spp. along the Delmarva Peninsula. To understand how hard and soft bottom habitats have structured genetic diversity and reproductive modes in Gracilaria vermiculophylla and how these habitats have shaped colonization of this area, we used nine …

Standardizing Sea Urchin Husbandry: Tank Effects, Gamete Production, And Co-Culture, Raven Amber Edwards

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation seeks to further knowledge of sea urchin husbandry in three major areas that have so far not been investigated substantially: optimal conditions for housing sea urchins in a lab-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), impacts of repetitive spawning regimens on reproductive output, and co-culture utilizing juvenile oysters. All studies utilize a commercial recirculating aquaculture system that is relatively novel for culturing sea urchins. The first chapter investigated the influence of housing conditions on sea urchin growth outcomes. Under the conditions of this study, the size of the tank showed limited influence on growth; however, stocking density was found to …

Optimizing Plant Nutrient Uptake: Cost Function Sensitivity Analysis Of The Fun Model, Gabriel Alpay, Joshua B. Fisher, Renato K. Braghiere, Edward R. Brzostek, Gabriella R. Dauber, Kara Allen, Rosemary A. Fisher

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

This study explores the cost functions of the Fixation & Uptake of Nutrients (FUN) model, which aims to optimize the amount of carbon used when plants acquire their necessary nutrients from the soil to maximize nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake while minimizing the carbon cost. Specifically, we aimed to quantify the sensitivity of FUN outputs to the parameters belonging to the cost of nitrogen and phosphorus uptake functions by arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi. We present three dimensions of sensitivity analysis: (1) adjusting all parameters at the same time; (2) keeping one parameter constant while varying the other; and, …

Data From: Nek4 Suppresses Cell Proliferation In Bt20 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells By Diminishing Expression Of Cell Cycle Genes, While Its Depletion Mitigates Proliferation In Other Cell Lines, Amanda Ashley

Chemistry & Biochemistry: Datasets

No abstract provided.

Life-History Stage-Dependent Effects Of Food Supplementation On Gut Microbiome Diversity In Sialia Sialis (Eastern Bluebird), Marcella D. Baiz, Allison Cornell

Biology Faculty Publications

Diet can be an important health factor that links fitness to an individual’s ecology. The gut microbiome responds to diet changes and plays an important role in host physiology. Dietary interventions are known to impact gut microbiome composition, but long-term effects and to what extent these impacts vary among individuals at different life-history stages are unclear. To address this question, we performed a supplemental feeding experiment by providing live mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) to Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird) during the chick-rearing period. We produced 16S metabarcoding data to quantify gut microbiome diversity from fecal samples of adults and nestlings …

Editorial: Community Series In Bark-Water Interactions, John T. Van Stan Ii, Salli F. Dymond, Anna Klamerus-Iwan, Julieta A. Rosell

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Physiological Impacts Of Nano-Ceramic Window Films In Hot-Climate Architecture: Theoretical Biological Study, Lina M. Shaker, Shahab Abdulla, Ralela Makline

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This research explores the integration of nano-ceramic window films as a passive architectural strategy to improve both energy performance and occupant biological well-being in commercial buildings. The biological objective centers on enhancing health, comfort, and physiological stability by regulating thermal, optical, and radiative indoor conditions. Simulations on a three-story, 2,000 m² building demonstrated that high-performance films reduced indoor temperatures by up to 3.5°C, lowering thermal stress and core body heat load. Ultraviolet (UV) transmission was curtailed to as low as 1%, significantly decreasing skin damage doses below 0.2 MED/day. Select films maintained optimal Equivalent Melanopic Lux (EML) levels (up to …

The Best Cut: Evaluating Block, Sliced, And Diced Cartilage In Dorsal Augmentation Rhinoplasty, Trimartani Koento, Mirta Hediyati Reksodiputro, Mikhael Yosia

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at improving the nasal shape and function, with dorsal augmentation playing a crucial role in nasal reconstruction. Autologous cartilage grafts, particularly from the rib, are widely used due to their structural integrity but pose challenges such as postoperative warping, graft shifting, and resorption. The evolution of cartilage grafting techniques has progressed from block to sliced and diced cartilage to enhance long-term stability and aesthetic outcomes. Block cartilage provides excellent structural support but is prone to warping due to intrinsic stress. Sliced cartilage reduces warping risk while offering greater flexibility, whereas diced cartilage allows for …

Effect Of Ipomoeassin F On The Synthesis Of Membrane And Secretory Proteins In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Brihget Sicairos, Jianhong Zhou, Zhijian Hu, Qingyang Zhang, Wei Q. Shi, Yuchun Du

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Ipomoeassin F (Ipom-F) is a natural compound that exhibits a potent cytotoxic effect on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The mechanism underlying this selective potency remains unclear. To elucidate this mechanism, we analyzed the proteome profiles of the TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells after exposure to Ipom-F at different time points and increasing doses using a quantitative proteomic method. Our proteomic data demonstrate that the major effect of Ipom-F on MDA-MB-231 cells is the inhibition of membrane and secreted protein expression. These findings align with the recently uncovered molecular mechanism of action of Ipom-F, which binds to Sec61-alpha and inhibits the cotranslational …

A Complicated History Of Mitogenome Introgression Among Luxilus Species (Teleostei, Family Leuciscidae) In The Ozark Highlands, David D. Duvernell, Carson Arnold, Shila Koju, Abby J. Wicks, Thomas E. Dowling

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hybridization is common among minnows and shiners in the family Leuciscidae, and mitonuclear discordance can reveal evidence of historical hybridization and introgression events that have shaped extant species and populations. We have identified a notable case of serial mitogenome replacement in populations of two shiner species, Luxilus zonatus and L. chrysocephalus, which are syntopic in drainages throughout the northern and eastern Ozark Interior Highlands of North America. These mitogenome replacement events involved L. zonatus acquiring the mitogenome of L. chrysocephalus, and populations of L. chrysocephalus acquiring the mitogenome of an allopatric congeneric species, L. cornutus. The latter species has a …

Tapping The Urban Forest: Integrating Tree Canopy Runoff (Stemflow) Into Blue-Green Infrastructure, Jalayna Antoine, Meimei Lin, Alia M. El-Kulak, John T. Van Stan Ii

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

As urbanization accelerates and climate change intensifies, cities increasingly turn to green infrastructure to manage stormwater and enhance resilience. Urban trees not only sequester carbon and reduce heat island effects but also partition rainfall into interception, throughfall, and stemflow. Stemflow (the water channeled down tree trunks) is often voluminous and nutrient-rich in urban settings, yet remains largely overlooked in conventional stormwater management. In this paper, we propose that repurposing stemflow can complement blue-green infrastructure by reducing runoff and providing supplemental irrigation for urban agriculture. We offer a brief review of stemflow's contribution to the city surface, its nutrient composition (which …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 149 - Economic Contribution Of Wild-Catch Fishing In Western Australia, 2024: Beyond Gross Value Of Production, Dipesh Maharjan, Vilaphonh Xayavong, Ben Fraser, Rebecca Thomas

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The wild-catch fishing industry plays a significant role in Western Australia’s economy, particularly in regional communities. This report summarises the economic contribution of the commercial wild-catch fishing sector in 2024, based on REMPLAN’s input-output (I-O) modelling methodology and DPIRD data and analysis. This report focuses on key economic indicators including total economic output, gross value added (GVA), and employment (FTEs).

Key findings:

• Total Economic Output of the wild-catch fishing industry is $1.22 billion (total value of goods and services produced, including intermediate inputs)
• Gross Value Added (GVA) of the wild-catch fishing industry is $487 million (value of profit, wages, salaries …

Dissecting The Function Of The Dnmt2-Homolog (Dnma) In Dictyostelium Discoideum, Zaza Gelashvili, Denis Larochelle, Jacqueline Dresch, Maddison A. Hincher, Javier F. Tabima, Robert A. Drewell

Biology

Methylation of cytosine residues in nucleic acids plays a critical role in a range of biological activities in eukaryotes, including regulation of transcription, organization of chromatin structure, modulation of translation, cellular differentiation, and development. While much of the scientific focus in this field was centered on DNA methylation over the past few decades, it has also become clear that methylation of RNA is a crucial modification. A group of homologous DNMT2 methyltransferase enzymes in different model organisms are now known to catalyze the transfer of a methyl group to the cytosine at position 38 in tRNAAspGUC molecules. The important biological …

Single Nuclei Transcriptomics Reveals Cellular Diversity In Tsc Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytomas, Jennie C. Holmberg, Vijay Shankar, Rachel A. Lyman, Trudy F.C. Mackay, David M. Feliciano

Publications

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder characterized by benign growths called hamartomas that are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Hamartomas are found along the neurocutaneous axis including along the brain’s ventricles near the boundaries of the striatum. They can be categorized by size and include small subependymal nodules (SENs) or larger subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs). Here, we describe a quantitative analysis of SEGA cell identities based on single nuclei RNA sequencing. SEGAs contain several cell types. In contrast to unaffected samples, SEGAs have pronounced vasculature, more endothelial cells, increased perivascular macrophages, less myelination, and altered …