Biology Commons^™

Exploring The Relationship Between Loneliness And Real-Time Measurements Of Gsr And Hrv During Concept Mapping, And Cortisol And Oxytocin Levels, Jangwon Seo

Masters Theses

This study attempts to explore loneliness among college students from a bio-physio-psycho-social perspective, and it utilizes real-time physiological measurements (GSR and HRV) and biomarkers (cortisol and oxytocin) in conjunction with psychosocial assessments. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, which involve concept mapping exercises, with the aim of comprehending the full nature of how loneliness interacts with physiological and psychological processes. At Time 1 (T1) we found significant positive correlations between loneliness and elevated GSR levels, which is indicative of increased sympathetic arousal (r = .35, p < .01). Additionally, there were significant negative correlations between loneliness and mean RR intervals in HRV that indicated autonomic dysregulation featured by increased sympathetic activities as well as reduced parasympathetic functions (r = -.28, p < .05). However, at Time 2 (T2), these correlations were not significant indicating possible temporal fluctuations due to adaptive responses or extraneous variables such social support systems or coping mechanisms. The qualitative data from concept mapping enriched the analysis by providing deeper insights into the cognitive and emotional processes underlying loneliness. Despite limitations like demographic skewness, funding constraints, logistical challenges, etc., this, therefore, highlights the need for multidimensional investigations of psychological phenomena. This has implications for future research as well as clinical practice, which could include using these integrative measures to develop holistic interventions for mental health disorders.

Emerging Tools In Plant Genome Editing, Shilpi Sharma, Naveen Kumar Saroha, Abhilasha Sehrawat, Guiliang Tang, Deepali Singh, Sachin Teotia

Michigan Tech Publications

Plant genome editing has undergone a transformative shift with the advent of advanced molecular tools, offering unprecedented levels of precision, flexibility and efficiency in modifying genetic material. While classical site-directed nucleases such as ZFNs, TALENs and CRISPR-Cas9 have revolutionized genome engineering by enabling targeted mutagenesis and gene knockouts, the landscape is now rapidly evolving with the emergence of novel systems that go beyond the conventional double strand break (DSB)-mediated approaches. Advanced and recent tools include LEAPER, SATI, RESTORE, RESCUE, ARCUT, SPARDA, helicase-based approaches like HACE and Type IV-A CRISPR system, and transposon-based techniques like TATSI and piggyBac. These tools unlock …

Exploring The Potential Of Martian Agriculture: Assessing Viability And Nutritional Composition Of Plants Cultivated In Martian Regolith, Abigail Ross

Honors Theses

In addition to sunlight and water, plants can utilize a small number of nutrients from the soil to biosynthesize all the materials that are needed for growth and development. However, plants require an environment where they are able to obtain those nutrients, such as iron, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and nitrogen. Environmental factors determine the types and accessibility of nutrients available to plants. Plants then take up these nutrients from the soil to aid in biological mechanisms and the synthesis of important molecules needed for growth and development. Ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C, is a vital molecule that is …

Hogfish (Lachnolaimus Maximus) Neurocranium, Nate B. Nutting-Hartman, Naya H. Mondrosch, David W. Kerstetter

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

No abstract provided.

Edna Surveys For The Critically Endangered Caribbean Staghorn Coral, Acropora Cervicornis (Lamarck, 1816), Pari Elaine Cribbins

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Historically, Acropora cervicornis was a dominant coral on Caribbean reef systems, but an outbreak of white band disease in the late 1970s marked the beginning of devastating, multi-decadal population declines that led to the coral being listed as “critically endangered” on the IUCN Red List in 2022. Today, after a record-setting marine heat wave in 2023 triggered a mass bleaching event on Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR), A. cervicornis is considered functionally extinct on the FCR. While individuals of A. cervicornis do remain on the FCR, the small population size of the coral makes in situ surveys difficult. However, surveys using …

Biocontrol Of Canada Thistle (Cirsium Arvense) With The Rust Fungus, Puccinia Punctiformis In The Intermountain West: Integrated Weed Management Compatibility And Characterization Of Microbiome Associations, Caitlin Henderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is an invasive weed of major concern in both agricultural and native areas. It competes against native plants, reduces crop production and quality, and causes significant costs in management and damages. Canada thistle can survive and spread through seeds, but primarily does so through its extensive root system, which causes the greatest management difficulties. There are several control methods for this invasive weed, herbicides are perhaps the most common and effective, however, they have limitations and negative consequences. Herbicide use near waterways is restricted and there are growing concerns of the development of herbicide …

Further Characterization Of The Fungal Effector Mvlg-01732 In Planta And Heterologous Expression Of Fungal Effectors In Different Smut Fungi., Joseph Paul Ham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Host-pathogen interactions in smut fungi are characterized by effector proteins and their role in infection. The goal of this work is to better understand these interactions by further characterizing an effector from Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae and heterologously expressing this and other effectors in heterologous species to see if the range of these effectors can play a role in pathogenicity when expressed in distantly and closely related fungal species. These effectors have been attuned over time to their host plant but have homologous interactors in other plant species. In this study, Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae, Sporisorium reilianum, and Ustilago maydis, were all used …

Wacsaw: An Adaptive, Statistical Method To Classify Movement Into Sleep And Wakefulness States, Austin Vandegriffe, V. A. Samaranayake, Matthew S. Thimgan

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Wearable actimeters can improve our understanding of sleep in the natural environments. Current algorithms may produce inaccuracies in specific individuals and circumstances, such as quiet wakefulness. New hardware allows data collection at higher frequencies enabling sophisticated analytical methods. We have developed a novel statistical algorithm, the Wasserstein Algorithm for Classifying Sleep and Wakefulness (WACSAW), to identify behavioral states from recordings of everyday movement. WACSAW employs optimal transport techniques to identify segments with differing activity variability. Functions characterizing the segments' movement distributions were clustered into two groups using a k-nearest neighbors and labeled as sleep or wake based on their proximity …

Advancing Trypanosoma Cruzi N-Myristoyltransferase As A Drug Target For Chagas Disease Through In Silico Discovery And Biochemical Evaluation, Diana Citlali González García

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chagas disease remains one of the most persistent and neglected parasitic infections in the Americas, advancing silently through the intracellular replication of Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes and the invasive spread of trypomastigotes. The survival of the parasite is critically reliant on protein N-myristoylation, a lipid modification catalyzed by N-myristoyltransferase (NMT). This dissertation aims to advance beyond prior studies by systematically investigating NMT inhibition across multiple biological levels, spanning from the characterization of the purified enzyme, through cellular infection models, to the global proteomic remodeling induced within the parasite, thereby evaluating TcNMT as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in T.cruzi.Recombinant TcNMT was expressed, …

Expression And Purification Of Prohibitin Proteins And Investigation Of Their Interaction With Mycobacterium Tuberculosis’S Virulence Factors, Zeina Rhaim

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Prohibitin (PHB) is a highly conserved mitochondrial protein involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, mitochondrial integrity, macrophage activation, cytokine production and many other critical cell functions. The prohibitin complex, formed by Prohibitin-1 (PHB1) and Prohibitin-2 (PHB2), functions as a mitochondrial membrane-associated receptor. Cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and renal conditions were found to be linked to an irregular PHB expression. Emerging evidence has also highlighted a significant role for PHB in tuberculosis (TB), particularly through its interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) virulence determinants. The molecular mechanisms by which PHB influences TB pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Our preliminary studies showed that PHB1 was …

Requirement Of Prepiilin Peptidase Activity For Variovorax Paradoxus Eps Flp/Fap Pilus Assembly, Jenny L. Lanthripp

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Variovorax paradoxus is a Gram-negative aerobic bacterium present in both soil and the human oral microbiome. This species contributes to biotransformation of xenobiotics and promotes plant growth. Interestingly, although the genome of strain EPS lacks the flagellum operon annotated in strain S110, the microbe remains motile, and flagella can be observed microscopically. To investigate this unexpected phenotype, motility mutants were enriched from a Tn5 mutant library using a liquid culture settling strategy. A total of 122 isolates were screened for motility defects, and 57 exhibited significantly reduced motility compared to the wild type. Rescue cloning revealed that over 60% of …

Behavioral Strategies And Neural Mechanisms Underlying Short-Range Navigation In Teleost Fish, Adelaide Sibeaux, Theresa Burt De Perera, Thomas Mueller, Ronen Segev

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Studies of spatial cognition in teleosts have uncovered a remarkable array of behavioral strategies and neural mechanisms. While there is compelling evidence that short-range navigation in teleost fish is connected to the telencephalon, the rostral part of the forebrain, little is known about the telencephalic regions mediating this behavior. On the cellular level, several neuron types have been identified in specific regions of the telencephalon that respond to different aspects of the fish’s individual position within a given space. To comprehensively understand spatial representation in fish, we must bridge behavioral and neurophysiological studies. Here, we review the behavioral strategies used …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Donna Giberson

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

Synthesis Of Antibody Functionalized Polyaniline/Polystyrene/N-Gqds Composite Fibermats For Sweat Based Cortisol Biosensing Applications, Ashwin James

Honors Theses

Noninvasive, wearable biosensors capable of detecting stress biomarkers in sweat require electrodes that are flexible, conductive, insoluble in water, and highly sensitive at low concentrations of analyte. In this work, bovine serum albumin blocked and anti-cmab immobilized nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots integrated polyaniline/polystyrene composite fibermat electrodes (BSA/Anti-Cmab/N-GQDs/PANI/PS electrodes) were synthesized and evaluated as a potential platform for an electrochemical cortisol biosensor in sweat based systems. Polyaniline was utilized in order to provide electrical conductivity, while polystyrene served as a carrying polymer for mechanical support and its hydrophobicity. Composite fibermats were manufactured through Forcespinning™, followed by a secondary polyaniline graft …

Investigating Pyrethroid Insecticide Resistance In The Alfalfa Pest Insects Hypera Postica (Alfalfa Weevil) And Lygus Spp. (Lygus Bugs) In Utah Alfalfa Fields, Rosalie Sepesy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Chemical insecticides are commonly used to manage the damage to crops caused by agricultural pest insects. Reliance on insecticides for pest management has resulted in insecticide resistance in many insect species worldwide. Alfalfa weevils (Hypera postica) and lygus bugs (species within the genus, Lygus), are major pests to alfalfa hay and seed respectively and cause significant economic damage. The goal of this dissertation was screen Utah alfalfa fields for resistant alfalfa weevil and lygus bug populations, investigate genetic mutations that can influence resistance in alfalfa weevils, and establish which species of lygus bugs are present in Utah …

Age, Growth, Diet And Reproduction Of African Pompano (Alectis Ciliaris), Clinton J. Moran, Jonathan Tucker, Callie H. Crawford

Biology

Understanding the life history traits of ecologically and economically important fish species is critical for effective management. This study provides the first detailed analysis of age, growth, diet and reproductive characteristics of African pompano (Alectis ciliaris) from the southeastern United States, expanding upon prior work from the Western Arabian Gulf. A total of 54 specimens were collected off the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina when they were available during the 2024 fishing season (May–October). Age was determined via otolith sectioning, and growth was modelled using the von Bertalanffy growth function (L∞ = 96.61 cm, K = 0.689, t0 = …

Forage Preference In Two Geographically Co-Occurring Fungus Gardening Ants: A Dietary Dna Approach, Matthew Richards-Perhatch V, Elizabeth Boshers, Matthew Greenwold, Jon N. Seal

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Traditional methods of forage identification are impractical with non-leafcutting fungus gardening ants, making diet-related ecological and life history questions difficult to study. To address this limitation, we utilized dietary DNA metabarcoding on excavated ant fungus gardens to generate forage diversity metrics for the two co-occurring species Trachymyrmex septentrionalis and Mycetomoellerius turrifex. Ten fungus garden samples from each species were collected from a 60x70 m plot in East Texas. Each of the colonies we sampled was paired with a colony from the other species within 3 m of it. Plant forage diversity was assessed with chloroplast trnL primers, and insect frass …

Pfos And Lung Injury: A Review Of Human And Experimental Evidence, Farzana Hakim

Theses and Dissertations

Human epidemiological research has shown the adverse health consequences of long-term accumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human tissue. Specifically, this review will examine the relationship between PFAS exposure, impaired immune system functioning, and an elevated risk of respiratory disease using both human and experimental data. Research on human populations indicates that children exposed to PFAS have lower levels of antibodies to vaccines; those children prenatally exposed to PFAS are more susceptible to upper respiratory infections; and that adult humans have a higher incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additionally, experimental studies demonstrate that PFOS and PFOA …

Reliability Analysis Of In-Person And Virtual Goniometric Measurements For Select Shoulder And Forearm Motions, Autumn Whitson, Tracy Cook, Lisa Middleton, Casey E. Humphrey, Aaron D. Sciascia

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background Previous research on upper extremity range of motion has compared in-person to virtual measures for sagittal plane motions (flexion/extension) showing good-excellent reliability. Since upper extremity evaluation includes motion in all planes, it is important to assess whether transverse plane motion (rotation, supination, pronation) can be reliably measured during a virtual assessment. Purpose To evaluate the reliability (test/re-test inter-rater and intra-rater) of goniometric measurements of shoulder internal rotation and forearm pronation/supination obtained in-person and virtually. Study Design Observational cohort, Reliability study Methods Subjects 18-60 years of age with no upper extremity injuries were recruited for range of motion (ROM) testing …

(R2135) System Dynamical Analysis For Ann-Based Numerical Solutions Of A Compartmental Model: A Bio-Mathematical Model Of Drug Diffusion Through The Compartments Of Blood And Tissue, Rakesh Kumar, Sudarshan Dhua

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper provides a considerably efficient numerical approach to acquire the solutions of a biomathematical model administrating oral and intravenous distribution of pharmaceuticals in the human body. The proposed numerical approach based on an artificial neural network is employed to extract numerical solutions for a detailed set of ordinary differential equations and analyze the change in concentration of drug diffusion via the compartments of blood and tissue medium. We primarily focus on analyzing three different models established on the diffusion process, exercising laws of mass action and Fick’s principle. In this work, the existing model is reformulated as an optimization …

(R2107) Analysis Of A Bivalent Vaccine Model With Peer Influence Effect On Testing, Manoj Kumar Singh, Anjali .

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The coronavirus caused havoc around the world. There was a terrible situation in villages and cities, and no one knew how to deal with it. Although the governments of each country tried their best to save the common people, vaccination programs and testing centers were built everywhere. However, people were not utilizing it due to fear. Because of this, the infection spread rapidly. The qualitative study of the mathematical model here is in context with the situation when bivalent vaccination and testing are available for an epidemic. The mathematical model combines the exposed period and influenza model with vaccination included …

Life History And Distribution Of Two Species Of Cownose Ray, Rhinoptera Bonasus And Rhinoptera Brasiliensis, In Mississippi Coastal Waters, Anna Millender

Master's Theses

Historically, the American Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) was considered the only rhinopterid residing in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM); however, recent studies have confirmed the presence of the Brazilian Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera brasiliensis) throughout this region. The current study investigated the life history and distribution of both species within Mississippi waters, an area that previously represented a data gap for both species. From April 2016 – July 2025, 193 R. bonasus and 94 R. brasiliensis were analyzed to describe the reproductive biology. Reproductive timing, mating, gestation length, and parturition were similar among species. Although more …

Draft Genome Sequences Of Four Phosphate-Solubilizing Microbes Of The Family Burkholderiaceae Isolated From Tailings From The Former Pea Ridge Mine In Washington County, Mo, Usa, Prince Oppong Amoh, Abiodun E. Idowu, Elizabeth R. Grube, Melanie R. Mormile, Hunter W. Schroer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

We present draft genome sequences of four Gram-negative phosphate-solubilizing microbes isolated from Pea Ridge Mine tailings in Missouri, USA. Belonging to the family Burkholderiaceae, these isolates exhibit a phosphate-mineral-dissolving phenotype in liquid and solid cultures. Genome sizes span 5.6–9.7 Mb, with GC contents of 61.6%–67.0%.

Host-Intrinsic Factors Determine Anti-Tumor Efficacy Of Exercise In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Sumedha Pareek

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths with a low 5-year relative survival rate of approximately 13.3% for all stages combined. We have previously shown that exercise can improve quality of life and enhance functional capacity among patients with PDAC. Exercise induces a variety of changes in the tumor microenvironment with beneficial effects in several tumor types. However, our understanding of the clinical effects of exercise and the mechanisms that mediate anti-tumor effects are limited in pancreatic cancer.

In this project, using C57BL/6 mice from Taconic Biosciences (Tac) and Jackson Laboratories (Jax), we established a …

Decomposition Processes And Insect Indicators In Forensic Investigations, Eli Taylor

University Honors Theses

Insects play an essential biological and ecological role in human life, and their predictable relationship with decomposing remains has positioned them as a cornerstone of modern forensic science. Since the early 20th century, forensic entomology has provided critical evidence for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI), relying on patterns of colonization, species succession, and insect developmental timelines. Accurate PMI estimations are vital to medicolegal investigations, influencing the interpretation of biological evidence, guiding resource allocation, and informing determinations of cause and manner of death. However, insect activity is profoundly shaped by environmental and ecological variables, including temperature, humidity, seasonal shifts, and geographic …

Prevalence Of Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia Coli In Illinois Bison Herds, Adam M. Baldocchi

Honors Capstones

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) represents an important group of zoonotic pathogens that pose ongoing risks to public health through foodborne outbreaks and environmental transmission. This project evaluated the prevalence and genetic distribution of stx1 and stx2 toxin genes in fecal samples collected from Illinois bison Bison bison) managed under either commercial or preservation conditions. A total of 320 fecal samples were screened for STEC presence by performing enrichment culturing and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for stx1, stx2, and uidA, which confirmed E. coli identity. Of all tested samples, 28.4% were STEC-positive, with stx2 (21.3%) …

Exploring Life History Trade-Offs In The Facultative Eusocial Bee Megalopta Genalis, Ana Gutiérrez Zuluaga

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Organisms face many trade-offs in how to invest in these traits. One example is the trade-off between reproduction and longevity. Queens of social insects seem to escape this trade-off, producing thousands of eggs daily, despite having a longer lifespan than their workers. Some hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, such as an evolutionary change in the molecular pathways that regulate queen investment in maintenance, growth, and reproduction. An alternative hypothesis suggests that the tradeoffs are rarely observed in queens due to the extensive resources provided by the help of workers. While these hypotheses have supporting evidence, they have …

Dendrimer Gel Nanoparticles With Dual-Targeting Of Upar And Ribonucleotide Reductase R2 Influence Necrosis, Apoptosis, And Cell Cycle Arrest In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Hsin Yin Chuang, Yue-Wern Huang, Hu Yang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with limited treatment options due to the absence of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptors. We previously developed highly adaptable polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer-based gel nanoparticles (GDP-uPA/GTI) with dual-targeting capabilities against urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and ribonucleotide reductase R2 (R2) to achieve selective antitumor effects. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of GDP-uPA/GTI-induced tumor inhibition. In vivo, GDP-uPA/GTI significantly downregulated R2 expression and activated caspase 8 and caspase 3, indicating caspase-dependent apoptosis. Histological evaluation of major organs revealed no observable toxicity. …

Live And Let Fly: Assessing Threats To California Condors, Molly Astell

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) are a critically endangered species that face threats, both anthropogenic and natural, that slow recovery of their population. The leading causes of death of condors are lead toxicosis, predation, trauma, fire, and collision and electrocution at power lines. As a long-lived and slow-maturing species, each death is consequential and understanding when and where threats occur can greatly benefit management and mitigation. Although the focus of extensive mitigation efforts, lead toxicosis remains the leading cause of death for condors. There has been less effort dedicated to addressing the second-leading anthropogenic threat, interactions with power lines. Such efforts …

Modeling The Deleterious Effects Of An Endogenously Generated Apolipoprotein-E4 Fragment In Transgenic Zebrafish, Emily Egan

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Harboring the apolipoprotein E4 allele (APOE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, yet the mechanisms by which the expressed protein contributes to neurodegeneration remain unknown. Previous studies suggest that proteolytic cleavage of ApoE4 generates amino-terminal fragments that are neurotoxic and may drive cellular dysfunction. To investigate the deleterious effects of one such fragment, nApo_E1-151, in a living vertebrate model, we developed a transgenic zebrafish line using Tol2-mediated transgenesis to endogenously express nApo_E1-151 under the neuron-specific HuC/D promoter. This model utilizes the zebrafish’s genetic accessibility, embryo and larva transparency, and rapid development ex utero to study the …