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- Description:
- Analysis, of model plant Arabidopsis thaliana root growth and guard cell aperture in stressful environment conditions is a beneficial way to understand overall plant growth and development. We examined the effects of scaffold protein RACK1 on small RNAs miR393 and its regulation of A. thaliana primary roots, lateral roots, and guard cells as the plant was exposed to sodium chloride (NaCl). Our results on individual mutant analysis support the hypothesis that genetic loss of RACK1A causes regulation of miR393 as A. thaliana primary root length, lateral root number, and guard cell aperture all point to the plant being more sensitive to NaCl stress. We propose a theoretical method of creating double and triple mutants, using a more efficient way to produce mutants in plants using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and bioinformatics. With double mutants, we seek to further confirm that RACK1s regulation of miR393 affects plant growth and development by modulating root growth and guard cell aperture.
- Keyword:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs), RACK1, Primary Roots, Lateral Roots, CRISPR/Cas9, and Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana)
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Rondon, Taylor
- Contributor:
- Dr. Denver Jn. Baptiste, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 06/14/2022
- Date Modified:
- 06/14/2022
- Date Created:
- Spring 2022
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- Caffeine is a stimulant often consumed in the form of coffee. Despite its widespread use the effects of caffeine and coffee, especially on early development, are poorly understood. The research aims to study the effects of 5 ug/ml and 10 ug/ml caffeine, 0.01% coffee, and 0.01% decaffeinated coffee on neurulation and brain development in Xenopus laevis (clawed frog). The goal is to determine if caffeine and coffee are teratogenic agents for Xenopus laevis. Furthermore, the research looks at the potential teratogenic effects of decaffeinated coffee as there are few studies done in this area. Xenopus laevis embryos were incubated in four experimental solutions and a control of aged tap water. Development was observed using a stereo microscope, and pictures were taken of the different stages. It was noted that 10 ug/ml caffeine and 0.01% coffee solutions induced the same malformations and mortality in the specimens, while the 0.01% decaffeinated coffee solution induced several malformations not observed in any other group.
- Keyword:
- xenopus laevis, development, coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and caffeine
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Chalakova, Maria
- Contributor:
- Dr. Laura Twersky, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 06/14/2022
- Date Modified:
- 06/14/2022
- Date Created:
- Spring 2022
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- Dementia is a clinical syndrome known for its progressive cognitive decline and its interference with daily functioning. Multiple investigations have been designed and conducted on Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, followed by research on vascular dementia. Statins, also known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, have been prescribed to individuals to lower LDL-cholesterol levels and to prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases. In the past decade, statins such as simvastatin and atorvastatin have exhibited pleiotropic effects in dementia treatment as these medications work to improve learning and memory abilities in mice models. Most studies designed to observe the effects of statins in reducing the risk of dementia have been performed on rodent organisms, yet, research indicates that the zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a successful model organism. The zebrafish can be utilized as a successful model to better understand the genetics, development, behavior, and reproduction of humans. Not only do zebrafish have a great ability for learning and memory functioning, but they also possess hippocampus-like structures and PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes strikingly similar to the ones found in humans with Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to this review, a suggested experiment has been designed to study two doses of simvastatin and two doses of atorvastatin in Aβ-induced zebrafish and observe how these statin types function in reducing the risk of learning and memory deficits.
- Keyword:
- Alzheimer's disease, cholesterol, atorvastatin, vascular dementia, Danio rerio, and simvastatin
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Chacho, Chantal
- Contributor:
- Dr. Laura Twersky, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 06/09/2021
- Date Modified:
- 06/09/2021
- Date Created:
- Spring 2021
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- The human gut microbiome is more important to health than most people realize. It is filled with trillions of microbes ranging from fungi to bacteria and viruses. This paper focuses on preservatives and emulsifiers and the effects they have on the gut microbiome. These two food additives affect different types of bacteria differently. Emulsifiers and preservatives increased bacteria that tend to have negative effects on the body, while decreasing beneficial bacteria. This can have many different effects on the body from Crohn's disease to dysbiosis and even increase antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. This review looks to explain why preservatives and emulsifiers have such negative effects, why it is such a relevant and important topic, and alternatives to preservatives or emulsifiers, or ways to mitigate the effects of these two food additives.
- Keyword:
- preservatives, emulsifiers, additives, bacteria, gut microbiome, and microbiome
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Kaufman, Angel
- Contributor:
- Dr. Jill Callahan, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 06/09/2021
- Date Modified:
- 06/09/2021
- Date Created:
- Spring 2021
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- This study focuses on scientific literacy and how we can extend our findings from our previous work on socioscientific engagement, where Meta-Epistemic Reasoning Practices (MERPs) are defined as a situated epistemic resource model that indicates that participants may be shifting between aims, ideals, and reliable processes (AIR model) as they work through a situation. Since MERPs could interact on the domain-general strategic knowledge for mechanistic reasoning, we decided to focus on epistemic heuristics for mechanistic reasoning, how these can be applied with the use of MERPs, and with the science ideas citizens used to construct a mechanism to evaluate contextual relevance of an authentic SSI. WE conducted interviews with 7 members of a town that had recently experienced hurricane-induced flooding. Participants included activists, policy makers, planners, scientists, and infrastructural managers, rather than students in order to explore diversity. We included "levels," like levels of description, to characterize a system, as well as the analysis of science-related ideas for mechanistic reasoning of each participant. WE found that participants used a combination of science and situational knowledge for evaluating causal propositions, that MERPs guide the use of a diverse set of aims and ideals, and that different individuals integrate different science ideas, where together the community rises to a more sophisticated evaluation of the SSI proposal. By studying the real world we aim to incorporate constructive civic engagement into the classrooms, and empower the next generation of citizens, not only future scientists.
- Keyword:
- mechanistic reasoning, socioscientific issues, levels thinking, complex systems, epistemic heuristics, and socioscientific reasoning
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Infante, Masiel Carolina
- Contributor:
- Dr. John Ruppert, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 06/09/2021
- Date Modified:
- 06/09/2021
- Date Created:
- Spring 2021
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- Hyperthyroidism is a pathological disorder caused by the excess production of thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in the thyroid gland, inducing oxidative stress. Bisphenol A (BPA), one of the most manufactured substances worldwide, is primarily used in the production of polycarbonate and epoxy resins found in plastics. It is widely studied because of its teratogenic and endocrine-disrupting potential. It causes thyroid hormones and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to increase by its inhibition mechanism, leading to thyroid toxicity. Studies show that some products can have protective effects against BPA exposure. Both melatonin and vitamin D are known for their antioxidant properties and homeostatic functioning of the mitochondria by reducing ROS production. This means that a possible synergistic relationship between melatonin and vitamin D could ameliorate the effects of BPA-induced thyroid toxicity. The purpose of this study is to review the effects of oxidative stress on the thyroid caused by BPA and the possible protective effects and antioxidant mechanisms of melatonin and vitamin D against BPA-induced thyroid toxicity.
- Keyword:
- melatonin, hyperthyroidism, thyroid hormones, Bisphenol A (BPA), oxidative stress, and vitamin D
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Lopez Jimenez, Yaidelis
- Contributor:
- Dr. Christina Mortellaro, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 06/09/2021
- Date Modified:
- 06/09/2021
- Date Created:
- Spring 2021
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- Since the early 1980s, intense coral bleaching events have yielded increasingly expansive coral reef ecosystems devoid of recovery. Commonly distinguished as the “rainforest of the sea,” the biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems is unparalleled by any other marine ecosystem. Recent global changes—primarily increased sea surface temperature (SST)—have threatened the continued prosperity of corals, thereby threatening the innumerable lives of organisms depending on reefs. Efforts to protect coral reefs have been initiated, yet questions still remain: exactly how much of the mutualistic dinoflagellate algae dwelling within coral tissue are expelled from the first encounter of environmental stress? This study focuses on imposing stress-inducing temperature change to candy cane corals, Caulastrea furcata, from an ideal water temperature of 27ºC to elevated levels of 29 ºC and 30 ºC, in the span of two days. After the corals experienced these higher temperatures, they were immediately reverted to ideal conditions. The corals were monitored over the course of several weeks to determine the degree to which recovery was made. The change in zooxanthellae density was determined from multiple extraction periods and coral color was categorized via the Siebeck et al. Color Reference Card. Results indicated that the corals experiencing 29 ºC had better recovery than 30 ºC, and that more than half of the algae were expelled in immediate response to this thermal stress.
- Keyword:
- symbiosis, marine ecology, coral reefs, and algae
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Staiger, Nathalie Danielle
- Contributor:
- Dr. Frances Raleigh, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 10/14/2020
- Date Modified:
- 10/14/2020
- Date Created:
- May 11, 2015
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- Staphylococcus aureus is the cause of a variety of infections that range from mild to severe. It is a bacterium that can interfere with the proper functions of the respiratory muscles and be fatal. It is the cause of various diseases ranging from abscesses to toxic shock syndrome. Many strains of S. aureus have exhibited antibiotic resistance and the antibiotics that are currently in the market have severe side effects. Hence we sought to understand natural treatments, as opposed to artificial treatments, to inhibit S. aureus biofilm formation. This may lead to the rescuing of lives, as S. aureus biofilm formation is a key virulence factor of this pathogen. By examining effective dosage levels of olive and coconut oil-based soaps to inhibit biofilm formation, this investigation seeks to find natural remedies for S. aureus infections. A standard crystal violet assay was used to test the antibacterial activities of the agents, extra virgin olive & coconut oil-based soaps. Even though there was skewing of results due to contamination of the wells, the overall trend supports our hypothesis that the agents possess antimicrobial properties that inhibit S. aureus biofilm formation. We have also found that the threshold value of agents for inhibition of S.aureus biofilm formation lies between 0.1% and 0.01%. More diluted concentrations of those agents are not as effective against S. aureus biofilms.
- Keyword:
- bacteria, Antimicrobial agents, oils, and fats
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Elkattawy, Sherif
- Contributor:
- Dr. Jill Calahan, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 10/14/2020
- Date Modified:
- 10/14/2020
- Date Created:
- May 4, 2015
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- Stroke is the second leading cause of death throughout the world, and the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer. The incidence of stroke has been gradually increasing with the aging population, and the outcome is often detrimental. It has been shown that the greatest impact on this disease comes from early prevention and intervention. The purpose of this study was to establish an area in patients showing no symptoms with moderate carotid stenosis (50-79%) to help identify the individuals and risk factors that lead a patient to a higher risk for stroke. The severity of carotid artery stenosis and plaque composition determine the treatment options. The two imaging modalities utilized in assessing plaque intensity are the Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA). However, there remained an unknown correlation between components of plaque composition defined by ultrasound versus MRA. My objective was to find the correlation between the two components. With this objective, a hypothesis for the trial was formulated: Ultrasound is equally able to measure plaque volume and heterogeneity when compared with MRA. Twenty subjects who underwent a carotid artery ultrasound and were found to have moderate stenosis, were referred for carotid artery MRA. These imaging modalities assessed percent stenosis severity and plaque heterogeneity index. From the obtained data, the hypothesis was validated as there was no statistical significant difference between plaque volume and heterogeneity of the carotid plaque estimated by either Ultrasound or MRA.
- Keyword:
- carotid artery stenosis, ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiogram, and stroke
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Mendez, Nicole
- Contributor:
- Dr. E. Regina Giuliani, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 10/14/2020
- Date Modified:
- 10/14/2020
- Date Created:
- Spring 2013
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper
-
- Description:
- The experiment was performed to determine the effects of microwave and cell phone radiation on ocular development and lens opacity in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Our model system for these studies is the amphibian developing retina, a derivative of the diencephalon of the forebrain. In order to examine the tadpoles, MS-222 was used as an anesthetic. To induce amplexus, we injected 500 IU of chorionic gonadotropin into the dorsal lymph sacs of both male and female Xenopus laevis. Embryos were exposed to microwave and cell phone radiation during all stages of embryonic development. Morphological changes in the developing eye were monitored photographically and a qualitative assay was used to assess lens opacity. Results from the experiments have been inconclusive. Deaths of tadpoles were experienced but were tied to outside circumstances.
- Keyword:
- tadpoles, amphibians, Xenopus laevis, embryonic development, and radiation -- effects of
- Subject:
- Biology
- Creator:
- Watson, Aubrey
- Contributor:
- Dr. E. Regina Giuliani, Thesis Advisor
- Owner:
- lsquillante@saintpeters.edu
- Publisher:
- Saint Peter's University
- Date Uploaded:
- 10/14/2020
- Date Modified:
- 10/14/2020
- Date Created:
- Spring 2013
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- Resource Type:
- Research Paper