Kabu Khadka, Sabina Dahal, Anthony Agu, Siva Murru

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed and 2nd leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer cases. In 2023, there were an estimated 153,020 new cases of CRC in the USA. This disease is poorly chemo-sensitive toward the existing medical treatments so new and more effective therapeutic agents are urgently needed and intensely sought. We have recently developed pyrazole and pyrazolone based small molecule anticancer agents via Pd-catalyzed cross coupling reactions. Cross-coupling reactions have played a critical role enabling rapid expansion of structure–activity relationships (SAR) during drug discovery phase to identify a potent candidate and facilitate subsequent drug development processes. Despite these attractive synthetic properties, continuous development of these coupling reactions has been the focus of ongoing efforts to improve the selectivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Our focus has been on synthesizing diverse molecular hybrids of pyrazolones employing nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) for incorporation of aromatic rings and Pd-catalyzed Heck cross-coupling reactions for coupling of halo-aryl pyrazolones with sp2-hybridized vinyl substrates. Details of optimized reaction conditions, purification, characterization of the synthesized molecular hybrids will be presented. We will also discuss the antiproliferative activity of the synthesized compounds against colorectal cancer cells.

Sawyer Delatte, Tyler Fricker

The United States experiences more tornadoes than anywhere else in the world. While many tornadoes occur in isolated events, the majority happen within tornado outbreaks, where multiple tornadoes spawn within the same meteorological system. Historically, the two largest tornado outbreaks to impact the United States are the 2011 and 1974 Super Outbreaks. It is these events that exist at the front of mind for most Americans. Often overlooked, however, is the 1965 Palm Sunday Outbreak, which resulted in fewer recorded tornadoes than the most famous events, but actually included a higher relative percentage of violent tornadoes. With this in mind, here I present a detailed analysis of the 1965 Palm Sunday Outbreak across space and time. The goal is to provide an improved understanding of the spatial and temporal factors associated with the tornadic event, while also providing a template for analysis that can be applied to other historical data for a deeper understanding of the relationship between humans and tornadoes in the United States. 

James Garcia, Gerard Blanchard

Our payload, ROOMIE-8 (Remote Observations of Many Interesting Events-8), was launched to an altitude of 72 miles onboard the RockSat-C 2024 rocket.  The ACC (accelerometer) experiment on ROOMIE-8 used an array of accelerometers to measure the dynamics of the rocket, focusing particularly on the “high tumble” phase of re-entry, when the accelerometers measure an oscillation of +/- 15 g.  Our hypothesis was that the rocket body, which spins for stability during ascent, was precessing during re-entry.  Our post-flight analysis shows that this was not the case.  Instead, the rocket body is experiencing a linear deceleration of 12 g, which oscillates in the frame of the instrument due to the rocket’s spin.  This conclusion is supported by radar tracking of the rocket’s flight, which shows that the high-tumble phase corresponds with the deceleration of the rocket during re-entry.  We also present calculations of the drag forces on the rocket during re-entry.  Understanding the dynamics of objects as they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere is important for managing their safe recovery.

Krishna Prasad Sharma, Sean Roubion, Ganesh Dhakal, Guang-lin Zhao

Microwave absorption materials are critical in electromagnetic shielding, communication systems, and radar applications. This study investigates the microwave absorption characteristics of a composite material comprising Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO) and Bismuth Oxide (Bi₂O₃). YBCO, a cuprate for a high-temperature superconductor, is combined with Bi₂O₃, a ceramic, exhibiting dielectric and magnetic properties, to enhance microwave absorption efficiency.   The composite material influences the synergistic effect between YBCO's conducting properties and Bi₂O₃'s dielectric properties, potentially resulting in enhanced microwave shielding capabilities. By varying the YBCO to Bi₂O₃ ratio, the study aims to optimize the composite's microwave absorption efficiency. Initial findings indicate that the YBCO-Bi₂O₃ composite may  be a promising material for high-frequency electronics and electromagnetic wave protection applications.

Haeyeon Yang, Khaliq Brown, Tanatswa Mujumi, Kondwani Phiri

Quantum dots are nanocrystal semi-conductor particles just a few nanometers in size that have both unique optical and electrical properties. Hence, they have the potential to enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic (solar) cells when used as wavelength conversion materials. Photovoltaic cells make up what is known as solar panels. A photovoltaic cell is essentially a p-n junction that absorbs light, releases electrons and holes that therefore create output voltage. The current absorption spectrum of silicon-based PV cells ranges from 400nm-1100nm, not utilizing infrared or ultraviolet region of solar spectrum. Implementing a Quantum Dot wavelength conversion film could increase lower wavelength intensities to those that could be absorbed by the solar cell. Increasing the wavelength spectra that current is generated through creation of a quantum dot film would increase the efficiency of the overall cell. In this talk, we present simulation results that enhance the efficiency of solar cells by a few percent by converting blue colored region of solar spectrum into red colored region. 

Nishu Shrestha, Paul Wiedemeier

Internet Protocol (IP) subnetting is a foundational concept in computer networking, where large networks are broken into smaller subnetworks.  The subnetting process, however, is often difficult for students to understand.  Research suggests that Visual Novels (VN), with their interactive stories and decision-making elements, have great potential to engage students.  Our research uses a VN to teach IP subnetting.

Building on key principles of VN design for education, our research takes a fresh approach by using the Ren’Py VN engine to combine game-based interactions with story-based instruction.  The IP subnetting interactive story presented by our VN is written in Python programming language. 

With respect to our VN story, a player character initially appears in a vast, empty space, guided only by the distant voice of a mysterious unknown boss character, who presents three doors to the player character, where each door representing the historical subnetting classes A, B, and C.   Once the player selects a door, the VN randomly generates an class appropriate IP address/CIDR for a particular broadcast domain.  The player will then be asked IP subnetting questions related to the IP address presented. 

Preliminary anecdotal testing suggests that our interactive, narrative-driven VN approach will help students understand IP subnetting more effectively than standalone exercises available at the end of an assigned course text book.

Haeyeon Yang, Ka’Tra Winchester, Jovana Latinovic, Noble Agyeman-Bobie, Tatenda Kasirori, Khaliq Brown

Continuous wave (CW) laser was used to melt micrometer sized powders mixed with various nanoparticles (NPs) such as titanium NPs. To create “nano-liquid” during the laser melting of powders, NPs of high melting point are mixed with powders so that the NPs are kept in solid phase while the lower melting point powder elements become liquid. During this short period time, the laser melted liquid can be viewed as nanoliquids. Nanoliquids have been known as a medium of excellent heat transfer so commercial nanoliquids are available such as engine coolant and liquid for drilling oil wells. We discuss the laser melting of powders such as SmCo5 with titanium NPs including their crystalline structure and hardness.

Michael Chenier, Kylie Gaspard, William Dees

Within the last eight years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported viral and bacterial disease outbreaks in multiple countries. Disease outbreaks from the Old World were reviewed (less COVID-19), and the population density of select outbreaks was analyzed. We reviewed disease outbreaks occurring since 2017 using Disease Outbreak News (DON) by WHO. The disease outbreaks reported by DON include: measles, monkeypox, dengue, cholera, psittacosis, bird flu (H5N1), Nipah, Middle East respiratory syndrome, polio, and hepatitis E. Outbreaks were categorized by pathogen, country, and fatality. We created a timeline using the number of outbreaks for each disease. The three most reported outbreaks were polio, measles, and dengue. The average population density for the countries affected by polio (13 countries) and measles (24 countries) was 150/km2 and 155/km2, respectively. The average population density for dengue (15 countries) was 237/km2. Out of the three diseases observed by population density, 80% of the countries affected had a population density greater than 50/km2. Understanding how population density can promote the spread of disease provides further information on how outbreaks can be prevented.

Blaise Kliebert

Staphylococcus aureus, a potentially pathogenic gram-positive bacterium, causes infectious diseases and postoperative complications. S.aureus has virulence genes that promote its ability to establish itself and cause pathogenicity in its host. Resistance to β-lactams in methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) is acquired by the transmission of a mobile genetic element, the staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC mec), carrying a  methicillin resistance gene MecA which encodes for the penicillin-binding protein (PBP-2A). The Panton-Valentine leukocidin  (PVL) gene encodes a cytotoxin that causes leukocyte destruction and tissue necrosis. Alpha hemolysin (Hla) gene codes for a β-pore-forming α-toxin that perforates the plasma membrane. Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) is a superantigen that over-stimulates T-cells; activated lymphocytes produce a cytokine storm which leads to inflammation and tissue damage. Genomic DNA was extracted from clinical MRSA isolates collected from a tertiary care hospital in southern Louisiana, and used for PCR amplification of mecA, PVL, Hla, and TSST-1 genes. The presence of thermonuc was used for species identification. PCR confirmation of the presence of virulence genes is a useful tool for epidemiology and understanding the role that these genes play in clinical outcomes. 

Aesha Patel, William Dees

From 2017 to 2024, variations in the number of infectious diseases occurred in the region of the Americas. Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and affiliated sources, this study examines trends in disease occurrence across North, Central, and South America during this eight-year period. COVID-19 cases were not included in this research. Data were obtained from Disease Outbreak News (WHO) and supplemented with case reports from specific regions. This study focuses on diseases with large numbers of outbreaks and rising cases (e.g., measles, mpox, dengue, and Zika). South America, particularly Brazil, demonstrated the greatest number of rising cases of dengue [2017: 505,239; 2024: 10,232,872] and Zika [2017: 31,754; 2024: 42,333]. While diseases such as Oropouche and avian influenza were less common, the observed increases in their case numbers highlight a potential for these diseases to become a significant public health concern. Our findings emphasize the importance of monitoring disease dynamics to improve early warning systems that can strengthen public health preparedness and guide targeted interventions.

Payge Roberts, Anna Shuff, Caroline Hennigan

Due to a rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria, antimicrobial resistance research has increased. One mechanism that contributes to the spread of resistance is the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) between bacteria. Therefore, ARG surveillance is an important tool that can be used to understand the potential for bacteria within a region to transfer and develop antibiotic resistance. Currently, there is limited research concerning ARGs in Louisiana.  This study aims to determine the presence of three ARGs at six sample sites located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. Water samples were collected from each site and molecular analysis used to assess the presence of ARGs. 

Kinsey Vidrine, Christopher Struchtemeyer

Herbs have been used to combat bacterial infections in medical settings for centuries due to the fact that they often contain novel antimicrobial compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of seven herbal oils including oregano, garlic, peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, olive, and dandelion.  The antimicrobial activity of these oils was assessed using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assays.  During these assays, 20 microliters of oil was applied to sterile paper disks, which were placed onto Mueller Hinton agar plates inoculated with either Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus.  The resulting data revealed significant variation in efficacy among the oils that were tested.  Tea tree oil produced the largest zones of inhibition against both E. coli and S. aureus.  Oregano and peppermint oils also inhibited the growth of both bacteria, whereas eucalyptus only appeared to inhibit the growth of S. aureus.   In contrast, olive oil demonstrated no inhibitory effects against either E. coli or S. aureus.  The results of this work indicate that tea tree, oregano, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils possess antimicrobial compounds that are effective against E. coli and/or S. aureus.  These findings are potentially important since numerous strains of these bacteria cause disease and are becoming notorious for displaying increased resistance to traditional antimicrobials.

Shelby Wright, Christopher Struchtemeyer

Benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) are broad-spectrum antimicrobials, which are added to a variety of household and commercial products, including soaps, detergents, and cleaners.  A variety of pure culture studies have produced results, which show that bacteria repeatedly exposed to BACs develop both BAC and antibiotic resistance.  To date, environmental studies have not been conducted in sufficient quantities to determine if repeated exposure to BACs causes bacteria to become resistant to BACs and antibiotics in situ.  In this study, environmental bacteria were isolated from locations where BAC products were either routinely used or not routinely used for disinfection purposes. The BAC resistance patterns of bacterial isolates from environments that either were/were not routinely exposed to BAC were compared using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion assays.  These assays were performed on Mueller Hinton agar plates that contained sterile disks amended with 20 microliters of cleaning products that contained BACs.  The cleaning products tested in the Kirby Bauer assays included 409, Lysol, and Scrubbing Bubbles.  The results of our work indicated that nearly all the bacterial isolates (both from locations that were and were not routinely disinfected with BAC) were susceptible to 409, Lysol, and Scrubbing Bubbles.  Thus, it appeared that repeated BAC exposure did not lead to the development of BAC resistance in situ. 

Hayden Baldwin, Brayden Kilgore, Trenton O’Neal

The utilization of microbes to produce cost effective products has gained significant attention due to their nature and renewable properties. Among these studied organisms are yeasts whose diverse metabolic capabilities make them useful in the production of biofuel, food fermentation, pharmaceuticals and more. The primary objective of this project was to isolate and characterize alcohol-tolerant yeast found in or on plants located on the NSU campus. Samples were collected aseptically into 50mL conical vials then enriched using a broth containing maltose-peptone-yeast extract supplemented with 5% ethanol and 50mg/mL of both kanamycin and chloramphenicol before a 48 hours incubation at 30oC at 200rpm. 100mL of the enrichments were then plated onto Lin’s Cupric Sulfate Media (non-saccharomyces type yeast) and Schwartz Differential Medium (saccharomyces type yeast). Based on growth patterns, i.e. colony morphology, individual colonies were selected and grid plated onto YPD agar containing kanamycin and chloramphenicol yielding 21 yeast isolates, 6 groups based on colony morphology. PCR of the D1/D2 region of the 26S rRNA has identified 15 of the isolates. Two isolates, N12 and N18, have been characterized using a modified 96 well plate method to identify Carbohydrate usage along with Salt, Ethanol, and Osmotic Tolerance.  Isolate N18 has shown the most growth in the presence of galactose, sorbitol,1.25% NaCl and high resistance to ethanol at 1.5% and osmotic tolerance at 30%.

Bryce Fonseca, Lexie Amond, Owen Kern, Victoria Cope, Trenton O’Neal

Acetaminophen (ACE), one of the most used over the counter medications, is a “Contaminant of Emerging Concern” according to the EPA. Usage studies have shown that ~9% is left non-metabolized and released from the body into water treatment systems. A report in Environmental Science and Pollution Research found acetaminophen elimination in wastewater varies from 53%-98%, with an average of 86% removed from wastewater before its release in effluent. The remaining acetaminophen is either sequestered in sludge or released into surface waters. This project seeks to identify the degradation of acetaminophen in groundwater and elucidate a microbial biodegradation pathway. Seed culture was obtained from Bayou Pierre, in Natchitoches LA. To test for degradation, using a MSM into five triplicate groups which included inoculated, amended, unamended, sterile, and positive. Each was sampled for fourteen days before further analysis. HPLC was conducted to measure ACE reduction and showed a drop from 1.2 mM to 0.067 mM in the inoculated cultures. Cultures were sacrificed on day 14 and extracted using ethyl acetate, concentrated, and derivatized by BSFTA before GCMS analysis. GCMS supports the presence of hydroquinone, a common metabolite in acetaminophen biodegradation studies, along with additional metabolites of interest.  Data is further being compiled to elucidate the degradation pathway and we plan to repeat the process to identify specific acetaminophen-degrading bacteria.

Hollie Devoltz, Blaise Kliebert, Myra Berthiaume, Josh Bergeron, Raj Nathaniel

Escherichia coli is a gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacterium that is commonly found in the intestines and digestive tracts. Although a typically harmless organism, E.coli is known to cause urinary tract infections. E.coli possesses several virulence genes that enable its pathogenicity within a host. The fimH gene encodes for type 1 fimbriae, a factor that allows for adhesion and invasion into the uroepithelium. iucC is another common gene that encodes for aerobactin, an agent responsible for the sequestration of iron to promote proliferation of the bacteria within infected cells. Other virulence genes include hly, a hemolysin gene and cnf, implicated in cell necrosis. Urinary tract infections involving E.coli are a severe public health issue with high rates of recurrence and increasing antimicrobial resistance. The goal of our study was detection of various virulence genes from clinical isolates of E.coli that caused recurrent nosocomial and community acquired infections. Clinical E. coli cultures were obtained from a tertiary care hospital in south Louisiana for the purpose of isolating DNA and conducting PCR amplification. Presence of these virulence genes are an important indicator of pathogenicity, and these findings can be used in epidemiological predictions involving these bacteria.

Laurie Earls, Lorielle Adams, Paola Barred

The micropeptide Pants has been shown to be important for hippocampal functional changes in early adult maturation in mice.  Because early adulthood is both a time of vulnerability to schizophrenia and a period that sets the stage for later cognitive decline, we wish to determine the molecular interactions that govern Pants activity in the hippocampus.  Two targets of Pants are the Nogo-A protein, which is concentrated at CA3 synapses and the NCam-1 protein, which is localized to CA2.  In order to study the effects of Pants at synapses in these different hippocampal subregions, we have generated mutants of the peptide using site-directed mutagenesis.  We will test mutant peptides in a proximity-labeling assay of Pants binding to Nogo-A and NCam-1.  This will allow us to determine residues that are important for the differential interaction with these targets in the hippocampus.

Grayson Headrick, Christof Stumpf

One of the undergraduate research focuses at LSUA is DNA sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). The Rapid Sequencing 16S Barcoding Kit 24 V14 (https://community.nanoporetech.com/docs/prepare/library_prep_protocols/rapid-sequencing-gdna-barcoding-sqk-rbk114/v/rbk_9176_v114_revm_27nov2022/overview-of-the-protocol?devices=minion) provided by ONT was modified in order to conform to a classroom setting where students were working in small groups. The bacterial DNA was extracted and isolated using a modified protocol taken from A step-by-step beginner’s protocol for whole genome sequencing of human bacterial pathogens  (https://doi.org/10.14440/jbm.2019.276.‌). About 40 mL of bacterial DNA were pelleted from a nutrient broth medium resulting in more than enough DNA to use for nanopore sequencing. With the 16S Barcoding Kit, multiple bacterial DNA strains were loaded onto one Flongle flow cell and later detected using the app Epi2Me. The research was performed during a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) internship at LSUA. 

K. Hope Hutson, Guoting Qin, Chengzhi Cai, Gergana Nestorova

Cellular communication within the brain plays a crucial role in maintaining physiological equilibrium as well as triggering the onset of diseases. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by donor cells and encapsulate RNA, DNA, and proteins that influence gene and protein expression upon uptake by recipient cells. Transcriptomic and proteomic cell alterations have been associated with the development and progression of glioblastomas. In this study, EVs were extracted from the conditioned media of LN-229, human neurons, astrocytes, and endothelial brain cell lines (HEBC) via polymer precipitation. The samples were processed into peptides and injected for mass spectrometry analysis on the timsTOF Pro 2 instrument. Data analysis was performed using Spectronaut software (version 18.3, Biognosys). Comparative analysis of astrocytes and LN-229 EVs showed that 48 proteins showed statistically significant increased levels in glioblastoma EVs compared to human astrocytes. A subset of 13 proteins are associated with glioblastoma tumorigenesis and metastasis. Analysis of EVs derived from both glioblastoma and healthy human astrocytes, neurons, and HEBC was performed to identify prospective biomarkers. A subset of 20 proteins were identified as potential biomarkers of glioblastoma. This study provides additional information about the role of EVs in glioblastoma progression and metastasis and their potential for early detection and liquid-biopsy-based noninvasive diagnostic approaches. 

Samantha Jones

Obesity is a major public health issue in the United States, affecting over 40% of adults and contributing to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and joint disorders. Adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) play a crucial role in adipogenesis, the process of fat cell formation, which is influenced by environmental and molecular cues. This study examines the impact of three-dimensional (3D) spheroid culture on hASC self-renewal and adipogenic differentiation compared to traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures.

HASCs will be cultured using the hanging drop method to form 3D spheroids and maintained under adipogenic conditions for 5-7 days. RNA will be analyzed for ki-67 (proliferation), pparγ (adipogenesis), and gapdh (housekeeping) expression using qRT-PCR. Morphological changes will be assessed through DAPI and phalloidin staining, while Oil Red O staining will evaluate lipid accumulation. Image analysis will be conducted using ImageJ. All experiments will be performed in biological and technical triplicates.

We expect 3D spheroids to exhibit decreased ki-67 expression, indicating reduced proliferation and increased differentiation potential, while pparγ expression and lipid accumulation should be elevated, suggesting enhanced adipogenesis. By mimicking the in vivo adipose environment, this research provides insights into obesity-related metabolic changes and potential therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine. Understanding the cellular mechanisms regulating adipogenesis in 3D culture models may help develop targeted interventions for obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Erin Knight, Md Ashiq Mahmud, Sarah Voth, Rebekah Morrow, Khalid El Sayed, Adam Morrow

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for ventilator-associated pneumonia with a mortality rate of 38%. Patients who recover from pneumonia present later with effects of end-organ damage, including the brain, heart, and kidney. A potential cause is the release of the type-three secretion system effector ExoY-induced amyloidogenic proteins from host cells. S-(-)-Oleocanthal (OC), a monophenolic compound exclusively found in extra-virgin olive oil, protects the brain from damage in models of neurodegenerative disease, likely caused by amyloidogenic proteins. Our hypothesis is that pre-treatment of lung endothelial cells with OC will impair ExoY activity, decreasing cyclic nucleotides (cGMP and cAMP) generated, levels of amyloidogenic proteins, and supernatant cytotoxicity.

Rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were pre-treated with OC, after which cells were inoculated with ExoY, with or without OC. Cell lysates and supernatants were collected and subjected to ELISA and Western blotting. Densitometry revealed that OC treatment did not impact the level of ExoY following inoculation, yet resulted in a decrease in intracellular amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Tau species. OC treatments also appeared to protect against supernatant cytotoxicity. Our data suggest that oleocanthal hinders ExoY’s ability to induce protein aggregation and its downstream cytotoxic effect without impacting the amount of ExoY injected into the host cells. 

Krishna Patel, Sarah Voth, Adam Morrow, Rebekah Morrow

Context: Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors that act as part of the innate immune response. Amyloidogenic proteins can act as a defense mechanism and may function with TLR pathways to protect host cells. The role of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in host pathogen interactions in the pulmonary endothelium is unclear.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine whether amyloid precursor protein knock out (APPKO) enhanced sensitivity of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) to bacterial infection.

Methods: Whole cell lysates were collected, and RNA was isolated from wild type (MVR1D), CRISPR control (gRNA), and two separate APPKO cell lines (APPKO3/APPKO12). All cell lines were infected with P. aeruginosa strains ΔPcrV and ExoY to determine whether APP impacted bacterial growth and endothelial monolayer damage after infection. Bacterial plating assays assessed growth, and images assessed monolayer integrity.

Results: Western blots show decreased levels of APP in APPKO cells, while PCR revealed varying levels of message in APPKO cells. The lack of APP enhanced bacterial growth of both Pseudomonas strains. APPKO cells show increased gap formation in response to both bacterial strains compared to control cells.

Conclusions: We concluded that the absence of amyloid precursor protein enhanced sensitivity of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells to P. aeruginosa, potentially by allowing greater bacterial proliferation or survival

Aliyah Soileau

Saccharomyces cerevisiae uses internal and external signals that interact with nuclear machinery, such as transcription factors and associated complexes like RNA polymerase II and the Mediator complex to direct gene expression changes which alter cell behavior and in turn determines cell fate. Here, we explore the Mediator transcriptional regulation complex known as SRB8 which is a subunit of the CDK8 kinase module in S. cerevisiae cells. SRB8 is the ortholog of the human MED12 subunit. The purpose of our research is to observe the Mediator kinase module during gene expression and transcription regulation. For detecting transcription factors at the transcript level, a series of procedures were completed and observed through our specimen, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methods for analysis of transcript in S. cerevisiae cells included RNA extraction, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), endpoint PCR, and gradient PCR to optimize our primers. Through observation of endpoint PCR, we noticed TDH3 being the best fit promotor showing a high level of expression in the gel doc sample, along with gradient PCR showing 56.1 Celsius as the optimal annealing temperature for our S. cerevisiae DNA strand. In terms of eukaryotic cells such as our yeast cells, the expression of these cell type-specific transcription factors are critical for maintaining the stem cell properties and their ability to differentiate.

Madisyn Southern, Emma Purifoy, Jeanne Dugas, Jamie Newman

In the United Stated alone, over 100 million people are diagnosed with obesity each year. Obesity increases the risk for other life-threatening diseases and complications, including but not limited to type two diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Multiple factors are thought to contribute to obesity, including the regulation of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). Using human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs), we will test how GHRH affects self-renewal and adipogenesis by treating hASCs with a GHRH antagonist. We expect to see a decrease in adipocyte differentiation and metabolism following this treatment based on data analyzed from western blots, phalloidin staining, DAPI staining, and PCR. The results of this study will help us to better understand the role of GHRH in adipogenesis to offer potential therapeutic targets to treat obesity. 

Hunter Santogrossi, Dinesh Aryal, Ryan Christopher Vergara, Keith Jackson

Heme oxygenase (HO-1) produced in kidney is implicated in pathophysiology of several metabolic disorders. Chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA) is one of these disorders whose consequence has been linked with hypertension. But there lacks study on renal HO-1 mediated effect of CMA on pressure natriuresis and renal vasculature. We examined the renal HO-1 expression during CMA and its effects in tubular sodium transport & renal vasculature. Male SD rats were grouped into 4 groups (n=5). [I. Control, II. CMA, III. CMA+DALA, IV. CMA+ZnPP]. 0.28M ammonium chloride induced CMA model was implemented for the latter 3 groups with respective HO-1: inducer/inhibitor treatments in Groups III & IV, for 8 weeks. HO-1 levels in microdialysis samples of interstitial fluid, serum & urine Na+ were analyzed & renal arterial blood flow (RBF) measured. Renal HO-1 levels and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were increased in CMA group vs control. HO-1 induction in kidneys were independent to that of circulating HO-1, as depicted by no changes in renal HO-1 in III & IV groups. Serum Na+ rose but urine Na+ fell significantly in CMA group vs control suggesting reduced pressure natriuresis. But there was no sign of changes in the RBF in all groups, suggesting no renovascular hypertension contributed by renal HO-1. Also, the serum eNOS levels in CMA group were reduced significantly vs control. The elevated renal HO-1 in CMA group might have reduced the NO release in the vessels which may led to the rise in MAP.

Makenzie Mulberry

Drosophila willistoni, like other Drosophila species, serves as a widely used model organism in genomic and biological research due to its cost efficiency, short generation time, and well-characterized genetics. It is especially valuable for genomic studies because of the unique fusion of the Muller E and Muller F elements, which together form chromosome III in this species. This project aims to produce high-quality annotations of the D. melanogaster Muller F and Muller E element genes on chromosome three of D. willistoni. A comparative analysis of a 56,000 base pair region of chromosome III was conducted using multiple datasets of assembled genomic DNA sequences to examine overlapping DNA fragments at the base pair level. This analysis utilized bioinformatic tools, including FlyBase, NCBI BLAST, and the GEP genome browser. Using this data, we have identified several putative genes, their orthologs, and the coding regions of each gene. Our findings characterize the evolutionary conservation and dynamics of the chromosome III genomic region across two Drosophila species, thus contributing to future investigations of gene function, evolutionary biology, and comparative genomics using the Drosophila species. 

Landon Ossman, Carter Murphy, Melissa Barkemeyer, Jamie Newman

Today, approximately two-thirds of the United States population is obese or overweight. Obesity is intricately linked to a myriad of diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and respiratory disorders. The multifaceted influence of obesity on health underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to address and mitigate its associated comorbidities. Sugar is one of many established contributors to the progression of adipogenesis; therefore, we aim to investigate the effects of natural and artificial sugar on morphological characteristics and gene expression throughout adipogenesis in human adipose derived stem cells. We will examine the natural sugar fructose and the artificial sugar sucralose. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR will be used to monitor changes in the transcription of select genes related to self-renewal and adipogenesis, including ki-67, a gene expressed during DNA replication, and pparγ, a regulator of adipogenesis. Cells will be stained using phalloidin and dapi, which stain actin filaments and nuclei, respectively, along with Oil Red O to visualize intracellular lipid content. We expect elevated sugar concentrations to contribute to the upregulation of adipogenesis-promoting genes and thus greater lipid accumulation. With this data, we aim to contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms utilized by natural and artificial sugars, ultimately leading to recommendations promoting their healthy dietary levels.

William Dees

Summer undergraduate research (UR) opportunities abound across the United States, North America, and around the world.  Students who participate in UR gain real-world experiences and learn if they want to go to graduate or professional schools and/or if they want a job in a specific scientific field.  A variety of acronyms are used to search the internet when pursuing UR programs (e.g., research experiences for undergraduates [REU], summer internship program [SIP], summer UR experience [SURE] and UR Experience [URE]).  Various types of UR programs are available (e.g., short-term or long-term, and paid or volunteer).  Louisiana offers several summer UR programs through the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (LBRN).  Many of these LBRN programs are located at Louisiana State University Health in New Orleans and Shreveport as well as at other educational/research institutions throughout the State.  Other UR opportunities include Louisiana Department of Health, Ochsner Health, and Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium.  Resources for a plethora of UR opportunities are provided and include state, regional, national/Federal and international-based programs as well as museums, private companies, and scientific societies.  This presentation is part of an ongoing effort to introduce, encourage, and promote UR programs to STEM students.

Erik Roy, William Dees

The Louisiana Academy of Sciences (LAS) holds annual meetings to share studies conducted by Louisiana scientists and student researchers.  Since 2011, the Louisiana Scientist: Bulletin of the Louisiana Academy of Sciences has provided a record of these studies presented from 2007 until the present at each annual meeting.  In observance of the Centennial Decade of the Academy, we organized data on research presented from 2007 to 2024 to determine trends in presentations over the 18 years.  We reviewed abstract submissions from each of the 17 sections of the LAS discipline-specific divisions.  The number of presentations each year varied in most LAS sections.  Since 2021, no research has been presented in the Earth Sciences Section.  The number of presentations in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Wildlife Division decreased from 29 in 2023 to 14 in 2024.  The Higher Education Section had a fourfold increase in abstract submissions from two in 2023 to eight in 2024.  The number of presentations in the Zoology Section nearly doubled from 12 in 2023 to 22 in 2024.  Overall, the number of presentations is returning to pre-COVID pandemic levels, reflecting a shift toward increased participation in many LAS sections.

Richard Condrey

Undaunted by the winds of winter, war, and treason, Louis de Mun completed the first leg of his congressionally mandated survey of the Louisiana coast on March 8, 1807, and set sail for the embryonic, predominately creole New Orleans. He was confident that Albert Gallatin, President Jefferson’s Secretary of the Treasury, would authorize the second leg of his survey. Why not? The first leg had been remarkably successful. In less than five months, de Mun had explored and mapped the eastern end of the Great Barrier Reef of the Americas and the western reaches of the Mississippi’s delta. Moreover, he had discovered the military threat posed by Europe’s use of the western delta as an unprotected ‘backdoor’ to the new U.S. Territories of Orleans and Louisiana. However, Gallatin’s authorization never came, thanks to the treasonous General James Wilkinson, Spain’s well-placed spy.

Having exhausted his limited resources, de Mun returned to Washington D.C. and submitted his report and maps to Gallatin on July 20, 1807, who sounded the alarm to Jefferson and Congress, thus allowing the U.S. to successfully defend its new territories against Spanish, British, and French aggression.  De Mun’s success was not an accident. He benefited from his French military training, his apprenticeship with Benjamin Henry Latrobe, and Gallatin’s delta hypothesis. In this talk, we explore the currently known threads of de Mun’s survey, with emphasis on Louisiana’s fatally flawed Coastal Master Plan.

Bliss Broussard, John Doucet, Breanna Gros, Ethan Ordoyne

In its role as the genetic material of all cellular organisms, DNA has four primary functions: storage, replication, transcription, and repair. Beyond these well-established roles, a novel function has been identified in which certain immune cells in the bloodstream, such as neutrophils, extrude DNA into the extracellular environment through a process called netosis. This extruded material, composed of DNA organized as web-like chromatin complexed with antimicrobial proteins, forms structures known as NETs (Neutrophil Extracellular Traps), which capture and neutralize pathogenic microbes. Interestingly, the extrusion of NETs to ensnare microbial prey draws a vivid analogy to traditional fishing practices along the Louisiana coast, where villagers and fishermen in places like Barataria Bay and Golden Meadow use string nets for trawling, cast netting, seining, and paupière fishing, exemplifying both subsistence and commercial methods for catching shrimp, fish, and other seafood. The striking parallels between the intricate netting strategies employed by neutrophils and fisherman to trap their prey are explored.

Natalie Burkholder

Early adolescence is a critical time in development and also the time that several psychological disorders might become evident. Inadequate screening and diagnostic testing can hinder a student’s personal and academic growth. Despite the numerous children with, for example, ADHD and anxiety, many school systems have not put in place policies for routinely testing students for these disorders. Several previous studies have found that parental attitudes towards testing are critical in providing affected students with the services they need, whether these services are therapy, medication, or both. However, findings have indicated that parents are skeptical of the potential benefits of available interventions, and concerns exist regarding stigma and labeling. Parental attitudes towards routine testing in schools will be assessed in this study, with parents contacted via parenting groups on social media. Parents opting to participate will complete a demographic survey, the Parental Attitudes Towards Psychological Services Inventory, and several questions to assess attitudes towards testing in schools, rated on a 5-point Likert scale. All questions and surveys will be administered online via Qualtrics. It is hypothesized that the prevailing attitudes of parents will be favorable towards routine testing.

NICHOLAS GAUDET

Previous psychological studies have indicated a relationship between the presence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between an individual’s traumatic exposure/PTSD characteristics and their OCD characteristics. A minimum of eighty Loyola students will be given both the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) and the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) to complete via Loyola’s SONA system. Participants will not be required to be diagnosed with either PTSD or OCD, nor will they be excluded with said diagnoses. The study is intended to determine whether features of PTSD and OCD share a significant relationship in the general undergraduate and graduate population. It is hypothesized that higher levels of traumatic exposure/PTSD characteristics will share a positive relationship with OCD characteristics. 

Azur Mohammadpour, Evan Zucker

Conscientiousness has been associated with self-discipline, organization, and responsibility, as well as fostering reliable study habits, effective time management, and a focus on long-term academic goals by students, It is also positively correlated with higher levels of academic achievement, meaning this personality trait could be vital in understanding academic success.  Recent studies have explored associations between music preferences and personality traits, suggesting certain genres might associate with conscientiousness and further contribute to understanding academic performance. In this study, we hypothesize a positive correlation between conscientiousness and levels of academic achievement, and differences in conscientiousness based on music genre preferences. Participants will be one hundred undergraduate students 18 years of age and older currently enrolled at Loyola University of New Orleans who will complete a modified Short Test of Music Preferences (STOMP), a Big Five Personality Inventory, and an Academic Performance Questionnaire. All data will be obtained via an online Qualtrics survey. Correlations between conscientiousness scores and academic performance will be assessed using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, while differences in conscientiousness scores as a function of musical genre preferences will be assessed with a one- way analysis of variance.

Graham Van Pelt

Mobile phones' (MP) relationship with anxiety reduction is relevant regarding research on nomophobia, the fear of not having a working MP. Prior research suggests that immediate access to a source of anxiety relief can significantly affect individuals' anxiety levels in anxiety-provoking situations. This study aims to investigate whether individuals’ anxiety levels are affected by the presence, or absence, of a MP in an anxiety-inducing situation. Individually, volunteering Loyola undergraduates (N = 100) will complete the Mobile Phone Use questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Measure (STAI) after being randomly assigned to the multiple-group design (personal MP present during the procedure, personal MP absent, and stranger’s MP present). To induce anxiety, all participants will be led to believe, albeit briefly, that they will be reading a speech, on stage, in front of a crowd. Then, participants will complete the STAI again. An analysis of variance will be used to statistically test the following hypotheses: (1) Participants’ second STAI score will be lower if placed in the “personal MP present” group than the second STAI scores of participants in the other two groups, and (2) Participants’ second STAI score will be lower if placed in the “stranger’s MP present” group than the second STAI scores of participants in the “personal MP absent” group.

Giuliana Sanguineti, Madison Silverstein

While many studies focus on DV and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), few examine its effects across genders in college. Past research failed to determine how resilience levels vary across genders regarding DV and PTSD. This study aims to examine differences in DV levels of exposure between genders and in PTSD symptom severity across college students. It will explore how resilience levels influence PTSD symptom severity related to DV across genders. College students will complete the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire (ACEs; Felitti et al., 1998), which assesses trauma exposure throughout childhood, and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2013), which evaluates current symptoms of PTSD. Participants will also complete the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003) to measure resilience. I hypothesize that exposure to familial DV will be similar for both genders. Women may experience repeated exposure to DV and higher levels of PTSD symptom severity overall, while men may exhibit higher avoidance and anger levels. High resilience levels may correlate with low levels of PTSD symptoms. These results will grant college students a deeper understanding of DV and PTSD. Measuring resilience may allow for personalized gender-based PTSD treatment, resulting in intentional care for survivors of abuse.

Majed Zeibo, Susan Bowers

Cell culture is a fundamental technique in biological research, allowing scientists to study cellular behavior under controlled conditions. This study examines how cell density influences HeLa cell growth and viability by assessing key parameters such as confluency rates, morphology, and proliferation. Using trypan blue exclusion, we will evaluate cell viability at different confluency levels to determine the effects of crowding on cellular health. Growth curves will be generated to analyze proliferation dynamics and establish trends in density-dependent behavior. In addition, the Cell Counting Kit–8 (CCK-8) proliferation assays will be performed which measures metabolic activity. By systematically monitoring these factors, we aim to enhance our understanding of how cell density impacts HeLa cell physiology, which has implications for optimizing culture conditions in research and therapeutic applications. Data collection is ongoing, and preliminary results suggest notable variations in growth rates and viability at different confluency levels. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of in vitro cell behavior, informing best practices for cell culture studies.

Kaya Floyd, Hector Douglas

Ocean heat content was anomalously high in the Caribbean Sea during much of 2024, driven up in part by the 2023-2024 El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). We anticipated that this could affect the availability of prey species for tropical seabirds. We characterized diets of three species  of seabirds: sooty terns (Onychoprionis fuscatus), brown noddies (Anous stolidus), and white-tailed tropicbirds (Phaethon lepturus), at Culebra National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico. During June 2024, we collected blood and feather samples as well as samples of prey fish. We analyzed these for stable isotopes (δ13C, δ 15N). We extended our analysis for a sample of sooty terns to include feathers grown during early Fall 2023. These samples reflected diets prior to the onset of the ENSO. Using paired t-tests, we found evidence for dietary shifts between early Fall 2023 and Winter 2023-24 (t(8)=-4.9, p=0.001) and between Fall 2023 and June 2024 (t(8)=2.58, p=0.03). Some tropical seabirds like the sooty tern benefit from the foraging activity of predatory fish, but high ocean temperatures could exclude these predatory fish from the surface layer, making the prey fish less available.