Biology Commons^™

Environmental Light Controls The Daily Organization Of Breathing By Activating Brn3b-Expressing Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells In Mice, Aaron A. Jones, Allison R. Spears, Deanna M. Arble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Rhythmic, daily fluctuations in minute ventilation are controlled by the endogenous circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). While light serves as a potent synchronizer for the SCN, it also influences physiology and behavior by activating Brn3b-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). It is currently unclear the extent to which the external light environment shapes daily ventilatory patterns independent of the SCN. To determine the relative influence of environmental light versus circadian timing on the organization of daily rhythms in minute ventilation, we used whole-body plethysmography to measure the breathing of mice housed on a non-entraining T28 cycle …

Size Matters: The Characterization Of Telomere Function In Germ Cell Development In Danio Rerio, Jessica Macneil

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Infertility is a growing problem worldwide. According to the WHO, 48 million couples across the globe suffer from infertility and many couples turn to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to become pregnant. One readout of gamete quality and successful ART is telomere integrity because telomeres are necessary for chromosome movements during meiosis so that the segregation of chromosomes happens correctly. Telomeres are well known for their role in aging; however, they play an important and understudied role during meiosis. In meiosis, telomeres attach to the nuclear envelope (NE) via a protein chain spanning the NE that interacts with cytoplasmic motor proteins, …

Reducing Dna Extraction Costs Through Factorial Design For The Dnadvance Kit, Carson J. Neal, Zachery D. Zbinden, Michael E. Douglas, Marlis R. Douglas

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective

Extracting DNA is essential in wildlife genetic studies, and numerous methods are available. However, the process is costly and time-consuming for non-model organisms, including most wildlife species. Therefore, we optimized a cost-efficient protocol to extract DNA from the muscle tissue of White-tailed Deer using the DNAdvance kit (Beckman Coulter), a magnetic-bead-based approach. We devised a 3 × 3 factorial design using combinations of tissue mass (10 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg) and reaction volume (25%, 33%, and 50% of the manufacturer's recommended volumes). DNA was extracted for N = 81 tissue sub-samples (9 replicates/treatment).

Results

Our target yield …

Gc-Ms Analysis And Evaluation Of Antioxidant, Anticancer, Cytotoxicity, And Hypoglycemic Properties Of The Libyan Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract On Alloxan-Induced Diabetes In Mice, Osama Abdel-Hafeez Mohammed Al-Bedak, Ahlam Rashed, Seham T.M. Oskandali, Nouri Kushlaf, Amal Eishebani, Samira A. Alacrouk, Fadia T.M. Oshkandale, Manal Eisheli, Zahur R. Almesai, Ameerah Shaeroun, Steven L. Stephenson, Fuad Ameen

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Libyan Moringa oleifera leaves were extracted using methanol, and the bioactive components' antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer characteristics were assessed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Moringa oleifera exhibited antioxidant activity, with an IC50 of 11.53 µg/mL. Wi38 cell line's viability decreased with increasing M. oleifera extract concentration, while its cytotoxicity increased with an IC50 of 393.41±7.77 μg/mL. Alloxan-induced diabetes model in Swiss albino mice was implemented. Three different doses (100, 200, or 300 mg/kg of mice body weight) of M. oleifera’s extract were evaluated for their effects on blood sugar concentration and the histology of the pancreatic islets. …

Accumbal Plasticity And Associated Behavioral Adaptations In The Spared Nerve Injury Model Of Chronic Neuropathic Pain, Yu-Hsuan Chang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Chronic pain is a debilitating neurological disorder that affects hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. It is associated with cognitive symptoms such as cognitive inflexibility, which is defined as the inability to adaptively update behavior in response to changing environmental conditions. To date, there are no effective treatments for these symptoms, even though they substantially contribute to the decreased quality of life of chronic pain patients and are associated with reduced efficacy of pain management strategies. Therefore, understanding the neural circuit adaptations that drive cognitive symptoms of chronic pain, like cognitive inflexibility, is essential for improving existing treatments for this …

Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) Neurocranium, Michelle Bassali, Anthony D'Auria, David Kerstetter

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

No abstract provided.

Variation In Diet And Leafy Browse Offerings Amongcolobus Monkeys (Colobus Spp.) And Langurs(Trachypithecus Spp.) In Aza Facilities, Maura R. Plocek, Noah T. Dunham

Student Scholarship

Providing nutritionally balanced diets is a key aspect of successful husbandry and can help support sustainable ex situ populations. This study focuses on the diets of zoo‐housed colobus monkeys (Colobus angolensis and C. guereza) and langurs (Trachypithecus cristatus and T. francoisi) across AZA institutions. We utilized survey responses from 34 institutions to (1)document the extent of dietary variation with regard to food categories and macronutrients offered, (2) assess interspecific variation in diets offered, and (3) identify important aspects of browse provisioning among institutions. A total of 95 different food items and 229 common‐name browse types were …

An Integrative Approach Clarifies Species Delimitation And Biogeographic History Of Debregeasia (Urticaceae), Amos Kipkoech, Ke Li, Richard I. Milne, Oyetola Olesegun Oyebanji, Moses C. Wambulwa, Xiao-Gang Fu, Dennis A. Wakhungu, Zheng-Yuan Wu, Jie Liu

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Integrative data from plastid and nuclear loci are increasingly utilized to resolve species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships within major angiosperm clades. Debregeasia (Urticaceae), an economically important genus, presents challenges in species delimitation due to its overlapping morphological traits and unstable taxonomic assignments. Here, we analyzed 14 morphological traits and generated 12 data matrices from the plastomes and nrDNA using genome skimming from the nine recognized morphospecies to clarify species boundaries and assess barcode performance in Debregeasia. We also used a universal set of 353 nuclear genes to explore reticulate evolution and biogeographic history of Debregeasia. Plastomes of Debregeasia …

3d Reconstruction And Comparative Anatomical And Kinematic Analyses Of The Foot Of Archaeopteryx, Alexander M. Kirk

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research on the evolution of dinosaur flight has long been dominated by the wing, often overlooking the foot. The foot of Archaeopteryx, the “icon of evolution”, thus offers a unique opportunity to investigate this critical evolutionary stage. Chapter I of this dissertation integrates advanced 3D reconstruction techniques, combining photogrammetry with X-ray data, to create a high-resolution model of the foot of the Thermopolis specimen of Archaeopteryx for visualization and analysis. Driven by 3D coordinate axes derived from joint surface topology, the analyses in Chapter II reveal terrestrial adaptations -- such as a medially oriented hallux (81°), serially shorter phalanges on …

Assessing Fish Species Richness Using Edna And Seine Nets In A Restored Estuary In Tampa Bay, Florida, Us, Alex Seigel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coastal estuarine systems associated with the Tampa Bay region along the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, US, are critical to the region’s fishing industry, which contributes significantly to Florida’s economy. Restoring estuaries along the Gulf Coast of Florida is an investment in Florida’s environmental health and economic stability. Estuaries serve as nurseries for many marine species, including commercially important organisms like finfish. Restoring these areas can enhance fish stocks and, by extension, boost the economic returns from commercial and recreational fishing. In this study, differences in fish species richness were compared among a seven-month period in 2022, seine nets (once in …

Ecological Epidemiology Of The Fungal Pathogen Ophidiomyces Ophiodiicola In Southeastern U.S. Snake Populations: Distribution, Drivers, And Anthropogenic Risk Factors, Shivam Shukla

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Studying wildlife diseases is an important conservation measure, as many pathogens are a critical threat to biodiversity worldwide. Ophidiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the invasive fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola that affects a wide variety of snake species, often causing mortality. There has been limited surveillance for ophidiomycosis in the southeastern United States’ (US) snake populations and research into the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on disease spread is also lacking. Thus, this project aimed to quantify the distribution and drivers (taxonomic, anthropogenic, and morphological) of ophidiomycosis in Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi’s free ranging snakes as well as study …

Species Distribution Modeling With Environmental Time Series Data And Deep Learning, Austin M. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Species distribution models (SDM) are frequently used to gain ecological understanding and guide conservation decisions. These models are developed with a wide variety of procedures - from regression-based approaches to more modern machine learning algorithms - but a requirement almost all share is the use of predictor variables that strongly simplify the temporal variability of driving factors. These static features are chosen by the user, which can incorporate unnecessary bias into a study. Additionally, current data preparation techniques often remove variables from the process entirely, which inherently removes information that may still be of importance. Conversely, novel architectures of deep …

Study On The Seasonal Endobacterial Profile Of Avicennia Officinalis, Focusing On Core Bacterial Consortia Within Mangrove Pneumatophores, Devi R R, Vinod Prabhakar

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Microhabitats are smaller pockets of ecosystems with unique conditions and they serve as major contributors of species richness. Mangrove plants offer a diverse array of such microhabitats (rhizosphere, phyllosphere, endosphereetc), and the inhabitant bacteria benefit the host by providing better salinity tolerance, faster and better nutrient mobilization, protection from phytopathogens and assistance in seed germination. Identification of such beneficial bacteria,their growth requirementsandmetabolism, willhave direct application in the field of agriculture and ecosystem restoration. Hence in this study, effort has been made to elucidate the seasonal numerical and compositional profile of pneumatophore bacterial consortia of Avicennia officinalis, from the mangrove …

Isolation And Characterization Of Lignin From Oil Palm Shells Using A Precipitation Method With Sulfuric Acid And Polyaluminum Chloride As Coagulant, Eny Kusrini, Ria Yolanda Arundina, Anwar Usman, Resti Marlina, Bambang Subiyanto, Volkan Degirmenci, Nofrijon Sofyan, Yudan Whulanza

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Lignin has useful and significant properties such as stiffness, resistance to UV radiation, antioxidant, antimicrobial, high thermal stability, and high carbon content. Due to these properties, lignin can be used for several applications including wood adhesive, carbon-based material, and can be developed as a functional material composite. Isolation and utilization of lignin from lignocellulosic biomass offers significant opportunities in various now and future industrial applications mainly for development advanced materials. In this study, isolation and characterization of lignin from oil palm shells (OPS) was conducted. Lignin was isolated from OPS using the precipitation method with sulfuric acid and coagulation using …

Greenspace Variation And Its Effect On Telomere Length In The American Robin Dna, Valentina Rodriguez-Munoz, Elise Mittlestat, Mikus Abolins-Abols

The Cardinal Edge

Green spaces is a crucial component of our environment, and a contributor to relieving stress in human and wildlife health. Stress is one of the causing factors for a shorter lifespan in humans and other animals by directly accelerating the shortening length of the telomeres in our DNA. In this study we investigated to what extent urban vegetation explain telomere length in the American Robins Turdus migratorius living in the Louisville area. Specifically, we predicted that lower amount of vegetation will be associated with shorter telomeres. We caught the birds using mist nets, we collected blood samples, extracted DNA, and …

The Impact Of Air Pollution On The Cardiovascular System In American Robins: No2 Levels' And Ultrafine Particulate Levels' Correlation To The Ratio Of Immature To Mature Erythrocytes, Lauren A. Stine, Mikus Abolins-Abols

The Cardinal Edge

Abstract

Humans and animals, especially in an urban environment, are constantly ingesting air pollution. Since the industrial lifestyle is preferred or simply mandatory for many, the exact impacts of concentrated air pollution ingestion, especially on the cardiovascular system, needs to be unambiguous. It has already been seen that high levels of exposure to air pollution are correlated with increased rates of anemia in humans (Honda et al., 2017), (Morales-Ancajima et al., 2019), (Elbarbary et al., 2020), (Mehta et al., 2021). Further data indicates that air pollution ingestion may even directly cause some detrimental pro-inflammatory and oxidant-inducing effects on the cardiovascular …

Effects Of Sex, Cadmium, And High-Fat Diet On Accumulation Of Essential Metals In Mouse Kidneys., Justin Y. Xu, Adam Gaweda, Michelle Barati, Micheal Merchant, Jun Cai, Lu Cai, Madhavi J. Rane

The Cardinal Edge

Effects of cadmium and obesity on accumulation of essential metals in mouse kidney were evaluated. Starting in utero and continuing until 24 weeks postweaning, male/female mice were exposed to cadmium (0, 0.5, or 5 ppm) and were fed on Normal Diet (ND)/High-Fat Diet (HFD) post weaning. ICP-MS analysis was performed to evaluate cadmium and essential metals absorbed in the kidneys of aforementioned mice. Metals data obtained was analyzed using MANOVA with multiple comparisons (Bonferroni correction with p

Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students, Ive N. Muse, Shraddha Patel, Linda Fuselier

The Cardinal Edge

Old vs. New: An Experiment on the Efficacy of Complexity-focused Reproductive Biology Lectures for Undergraduate Biology Students

Muse, Ive N.; Patel, Shraddha; Fuselier, Linda

Abstract

Undergraduate reproductive biology courses are traditionally taught in a reductive manner, prioritizing a binary understanding of sex which oversimplifies reproductive behaviors and reproductive system development across diverse taxa. Although this binary approach to lessons on reproduction is intended to benefit students in learning foundational human reproductive concepts, it does not teach the most recent research in reproductive biology, which identifies reproductive variation as the norm. The current study designed and implemented a lesson on reproductive …

North American Sucker Fish Diets In The Face Of Ecological Challenges (Catostomidae), Anesa Hozdic, Matthew Kolmann

The Cardinal Edge

Basic biological information, like fecundity, age at maturity, habitat occupation and range size, are critically important for conserving species under threat. However, funding for this sort of research is limited, especially for aquatic vertebrates like fishes, which have restricted ranges and are under threat from changes in land-use and watershed alteration. The suckers (Family Catostomidae) are freshwater fishes native to North America (and one species from China). Most species are presumed to be detritivorous, that is, feed on decaying plant and animal matter; however, the diet diversity of this family has never been analyzed at an evolutionary scale. Suckers are …

The Anti-Diabetic Drug Metformin Disrupts Feeding And Sleeping Behaviors In Drosophila Melanogaster, Lucas Fitzgerald

The Cardinal Edge

Dimethylbiguanide, also known as metformin, is the single most prescribed oral treatment for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, in western countries. The primary mechanism of action that metformin acts through is the activation of AMP kinase, an important regulator of energy homeostasis. While the anti-diabetic effects of metformin are well documented, its effects on feeding and sleeping behaviors are not well characterized. Using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, the mean daily quantity of food consumed was measured and compared between groups treated with several dosages of metformin. Feeding interactions such as meal frequency and length were …

Restoring History: Evaluating The Rehydration Potential Of Fish Specimens From A Forgotten Ichthyology Collection, Joseph Donohue, Matthew Kolmann, Emmy Delekta

The Cardinal Edge

Natural history collections are invaluable resources that document the record of Earth’s biodiversity. Such collections house physical specimens that can often be used in research and education (e.g., teaching tools for classes and public outreach events). The William Clay Ichthyology Collection at the University of Louisville contains thousands of fish specimens collected over the past century from locations in and around Kentucky, North America, Central and South America, and even Lake Malawi in Africa. Despite the incredible assortment of specimens present, this collection fell into disarray as departmental interests shifted over the last twenty-five years. This led to the desiccation …

How Medical Students Address Mental Health During Standardized Patient Interactions, Bhoomi S. Shah, Laura Weingartner, Emily J. Noonan

The Cardinal Edge

How Medical Students Address Mental Health during Standardized Patient Interactions

Bhoomi Shah B.S. Candidate; Emily J Noonan, PhD, MA; Laura A. Weingartner, PhD, MS

BACKGROUND:

As mental health needs are increasingly recognized around the world, it has become an increasingly important topic within medical education to ensure that medical professionals are well-prepared to address these concerns and provide adequate mental health care to patients. Our research examines the language that medical students used to assess and address mental health concerns during clinical skills training.

METHODS:

We observed standardized patient interactions with 85 medical students from the University of Louisville School …

The Effect Of Prenatal Vape Exposure On Liver Gene Expression In Weanling Mice, Mindy Yin, Selma Podbicanin, Bella Fieger, Nina Pauig, Katelyn Chism, Lucas Georges, Isaiah Burciaga, Cynthia Corbitt, Rachel Neal

The Cardinal Edge

The use of E-cigarettes is a fairly recent phenomenon. Vaping is thought of as the “healthier” alternative to smoking cigarettes, yet we know little about the developmental toxicity of commercially available vaping products. The Barker Hypothesis (or the Developmental Basis of Adult Disease Hypothesis) proposes that developmental nutrient restriction or toxicant exposure increases the risk of diseases later in life such as cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, and metabolic diseases. In this study, adult female C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to Vuse™ Alto Golden Tobacco pods (5% nicotine) 4 days before mating and throughout gestation (GD19) for 1 hour/day each day. Offspring …

The Role Of Adhd As A Risk Factor In Alzheimer's Disease, Evelyn Fulmer

The Cardinal Edge

In recent years, the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has increased significantly. While these disorders initially seem unrelated, ADHD and AD pose similarities that indicate a more involved relationship between them. To understand this relationship, this review delves into the current research proposing ADHD as a potential risk factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease, examining genetic predispositions, shared risk factors, and affected mechanistic pathways that influence the aging process.

A Hopeful Overview On Aging, Rafael Demarco

The Cardinal Edge

N/A

Sdf-1Α Mediates Primary Tumor Escape In Glioblastoma Through Activation Of Mesenchymal Transitions, Charles T. Froman-Glover

The Cardinal Edge

Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive primary brain tumor originating in glial cells, poses a significant challenge due to its rapid growth and invasive nature within healthy brain tissue.

Current treatments involve surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation. These treatments alone are not enough to cure this disease, and a better understanding of the mechanics of the tumor's micro-environment is imperative to furthering the field of cancer research. This research focuses on understanding the tumor microenvironment's impact, specifically investigating the role of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) mechanics on GBM aggressiveness. SDF-1 is known to facilitate disease progression by facilitating chemotaxis toward …

Largemouth Bass Neurocranium, Owen Duerbeck, Ian Thelwell, Oliva Weeks

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

No abstract provided.

Black Grouper Neurocranium, Angelina Trapani-Banyra, Victoria Bruno, Mason Schleicher

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

No abstract provided.

Tissue Proteomics Of Feline Mammary Carcinoma: Identification Of Potential Biomarkers Based On Metastatic Status And Histopathological Characteristics, Weejarin Paphussaro, Sittiruk Roytrakul, Narumon Phaonakrop, Sawanya Charoenlappanit, Anudep Rungsipipat, Theerawat Tharasanit, Gunnaporn Suriyaphol Assoc. Prof.

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) is a prevalent and aggressive cancer with high metastatic potential. Few tissue biomarkers have been reported to help evaluate disease progression in FMC. This study aimed to analyze the tissue proteomic profiles of metastatic feline mammary carcinoma (mFMC) and non-metastatic FMC (NmFMC) across various histological grades (HGs) and histological types (HTs) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Tissue samples were collected from 13 NmFMC, 26 mFMC and 13 healthy controls (CTRL). Samples were trypsinized and subjected to LC-MS/MS. Proteome results were analyzed based on the metastatic status, HGs and HTs of the samples. The findings revealed …

Phagolysosomes Break Down The Membrane Of A Non-Apoptotic Corpse Independent Of Macroautophagy, Shruti Kolli, Cassidy J. Kline, Kimya M. Rad, Ann M. Wehman

Biological Sciences: Faculty Scholarship

Cell corpses must be cleared in an efficient manner to maintain tissue homeostasis and regulate immune responses. Ubiquitin-like Atg8/LC3 family proteins promote the degradation of membranes and internal cargo during both macroautophagy and corpse clearance, raising the question how macroautophagy contributes to corpse clearance. Studying the clearance of non-apoptotic dying polar bodies in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, we show that the LC3 ortholog LGG-2 is enriched inside the polar body phagolysosome independent of autophagosome formation. We demonstrate that ATG-16.1 and ATG-16.2, which promote membrane association of lipidated Atg8/LC3 proteins, redundantly promote polar body membrane breakdown in phagolysosomes independent of their role …