Life Sciences Commons^™

A Conformation Variant Of P53 Combined With Machine Learning Identifies Alzheimer Disease In Preclinical And Prodromal Stages, Giulia Abate, Marika Vezzoli, Letizia Polito, Antonio Guaita, Diego Albani, Moira Marizzoni, Emirena Garrafa, Alessandra Marengoni, Gianluigi Forloni, Giovanni B. Frisoni, Jeffrey L. Cummings, Maurizio Memo, Daniela Uberti

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

© 2020 by the authors. Li-censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a crucial starting point in disease man-agement. Blood-based biomarkers could represent a considerable advantage in providing AD-risk information in primary care settings. Here, we report new data for a relatively unknown blood-based biomarker that holds promise for AD diagnosis. We evaluate a p53-misfolding conformation rec-ognized by the antibody 2D3A8, also named Unfolded p53 (U-p532D3A8+), in 375 plasma samples derived from InveCe.Ab and PharmaCog/E-ADNI longitudinal studies. A machine learning approach is used to combine U-p532D3A8+ plasma levels with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and apolipoprotein E …

Association Between White Matter Hyperintensities, Cortical Thinning, And Clinical Outcomes In Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Thomas Helmut Knoblauch

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a global health challenge, with over 4.6 million confirmed cases annually in North America alone. Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are the most common and make up approximately 81% of all TBI diagnoses worldwide [1]. Studies indicate that 10–15% of patients suffer from trauma induced symptoms (i.e. headache, loss of balance, cognitive impairments, fatigue, and mental health/affective disorders) as far as 1 year post injury [2]. Prediction and management of these post-traumatic sequalae is complicated by a lack of symptom associated neuroimaging findings. In spite of a “prominent distribution” of frontotemporal WMHs in pediatric subjects …

Validity And Reliability Of Physiological Data In Applied Settings Measured By Wearable Technology: A Rapid Systematic Review, Bryson Carrier, Brenna Barrios, Brayden D. Jolley, James W. Navalta

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the current state of the literature and to identify the types of study designs, wearable devices, statistical tests, and exercise modes used in validation and reliability studies conducted in applied settings/outdoor environments. This was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We identified nine articles that fit our inclusion criteria, eight of which tested for validity and one tested for reliability. The studies tested 28 different devices with exercise modalities of running, walking, cycling, and hiking. While there were no universally common analytical techniques used …

Flame Retardants And Neurodevelopment: An Updated Review Of Epidemiological Literature, Ann M. Vuong, Kimberly Yolton, Kim M. Cecil, Joseph M. Braun, Bruce P. Lanphear, Aimin Chen

Public Health Faculty Publications

Purpose of Review: Flame retardant (FR) compounds can adversely impact neurodevelopment. This updated literature review summarizes epidemiological studies of FRs and neurotoxicity published since 2015, covering historical (polybrominated biphenyls [PBBs], polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]), contemporary (polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs], hexabromocyclododecane [HBCD], and tetrabromobisphenol A [TBBPA]), and current-use organophosphate FRs (OPFRs) and brominated FRs (2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobezoate [EH-TBB] TBB), bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate [BEH-TEBP]), focusing on prenatal and postnatal periods of exposure. Recent Findings: Continuing studies on PCBs still reveal adverse associations with child cognition and behavior. Recent studies indicate PBDEs are neurotoxic, particularly for gestational exposures with decreased cognition and increased externalizing behaviors. Findings …

Understanding Orthostatic Intolerance And Exercise Programming For The Health And Fitness Practitioner, Deni Roller, Carley A. Shannon, Andrew T. Del Pozzi

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• The purpose of this manuscript is to briefly review Orthostatic Intolerance (OI) and discuss proper exercise programming and progression guidelines for working with those affected by OI; a disorder associated with autonomic nervous system dysfunction, characterized by a difficulty standing upright.
• In order to do this, we performed a review of the published literature using google scholar and PubMed search engines.
• Evidence indicated that a light to moderate intensity aerobic exercise program would aid in improving orthostatic tolerance.
• Previous studies have indicated that progressive resistance training aids in mechanisms that are dysfunctional in OI such as blood volume increases and …

Comparison Of Physical Fitness Between Sport And Non-Sport Groups Among Elementary School Children, Junjiro Kubo, Saburo Nishimura, Takayuki Ogiwara

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• We compared physical fitness factors between sport and non-sport groups of elementary school children in all grades. The subjects of this study were 1,079 1st- to 6th-grade male elementary school children. Their parents completed a questionnaire examining whether the child attended sports lessons as a regular after-school activity. Physical fitness was evaluated by a new physical fitness test recommended by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (4). The test consists of the following items: 1) Grip strength (kg); 2) Sit-ups (number completed in 30 sec); 4) Sitting front stretches (cm); 5) Side steps (number completed in …

A Lung Cancer Screening Personalized Decision-Aid Improves Knowledge And Reduces Decisional Conflict Among A Diverse Population Of Smokers At An Urban Academic Medical Center, Madeline Kaufman, Nilan Schnure, Andrea Nicholson, Frank Leone, Carmen Guerra

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Introduction: Few lung cancer screening decision aids have been tested in diverse populations. The study objective was to determine whether the online decision aid www.shouldiscreen.com impacts knowledge of and decisional conflict around lung cancer screening in a diverse population.

Methods: Eligible patients had significant smoking histories, were at increased risk for lung cancer (ages 45-80, >20 pack-years, smoking within last 15 years) and had no history of prior lung cancer or screening. Data was collected and analyzed in 2017.

Results: 40 patients were enrolled: 80% were female, 62.5% black, 33% white, and 48% had a high school …

Effects Of Caffeinated And Non-Caffeinated Gum On Premotor, Motor, And Overall Reaction Time, Ashton E. Holliday, Maelee A. Wells, Rebecca R. Rogers, Joseph A. Pederson, Tyler Williams, Christopher G. Ballmann

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• Chewing gum and caffeine when used independently and concurrently increase neural activity ultimately improving reaction time but less is known about how caffeinated gum influences distinct phases of the reaction time response.
• Physically active college females (n=14) completed a 60-second reaction time test on a visuomotor board under the following counterbalanced conditions: 1) Baseline, 2) Non-caffeinated gum, 3) Caffeinated gum (300 mg caffeine).
• Point of application #1: Chewing gum improved premotor reaction time compared to baseline, but caffeine did not provide additional benefit.
• Point of application #2: Neither non-caffeinated nor caffeinated gum improved motor reaction times from baseline.
• Point of …

The Influence Of Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation On Motor Function In Parkinson’S Disease, Lidio Lima De Albuquerque

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder and the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. PD is characterized by dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which leads to a reduction in dopamine in the striatum. These physiological mechanisms lead to a number of motor impairments such as bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and postural instability that severely limit the ability of individuals with PD to perform many essential daily living activities. Although current pharmacological, surgical, and physical exercise treatment approaches are valuable they are either only mildly effective, expensive, or associated with a variety of side effects. Therefore, …

Machine Learning Approaches For Fracture Risk Assessment: A Comparative Analysis Of Genomic And Phenotypic Data In 5130 Older Men, Qing Wu, Fatma Nasoz, Jongyun Jung, Bibek Bhattarai, Mira V. Han

Public Health Faculty Publications

The study aims were to develop fracture prediction models by using machine learning approaches and genomic data, as well as to identify the best modeling approach for fracture prediction. The genomic data of Osteoporotic Fractures in Men, cohort Study (n = 5130), were analyzed. After a comprehensive genotype imputation, genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated from 1103 associated Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms for each participant. Data were normalized and split into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) for analysis. Random forest, gradient boosting, neural network, and logistic regression were used to develop prediction models for major osteoporotic fractures …

Identifying Pleiotropic Snps Associated With Femoral Neck And Heel Bone Mineral Density, Pei He, Xinag-He Ming, Xiao Zhang, Xu Lin, Qiang Zhang, Ri-Li Jiang, Martin R. Schiller, Fei-Yan Deng, Hong-Wen Deng

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) routinely identify loci associated with risk factors for osteoporosis. However, GWASs with relatively small sample sizes still lack sufficient power to ascertain the majority of genetic variants with small to modest effect size, which may together truly influence the phenotype. The loci identified only account for a small percentage of the heritability of osteoporosis. This study aims to identify novel genetic loci associated with DXA-derived femoral neck (FNK) bone mineral density (BMD) and quantitative ultrasound of the heel calcaneus estimated BMD (eBMD), and to detect shared/causal variants for the two traits, to assess whether the …

Effect Of Botulinum Toxin Injection On Asymmetric Lower Face And Chin Deviation, Dongwook Kim, Ju-Hyun Park, Vittorio Favero, James Mah, Young-Soo Jung, Seong Taek Kim

Dental Medicine Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of botulinum toxin (BoNT) in masseter muscle reduction depending on the amount of chin deviation. Exploring distinctive effects of BoNT relative to the characteristics of facial asymmetry will aid in planning and predicting treatment outcomes. Sixteen adult volunteers were classified into two groups according to the degree of menton deviation observed in posteroanterior cephalograms. Eight had a menton deviation of 3 mm or more and the other eight had less than 3 mm. A total of 25 Units of BoNT was injected into the unilateral masseter muscle of the prominent …

Rowing Ergometer Kinematics Of Collegiate Female Rowers, Christina Lemunyon, Kevin Carlson

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• The purpose was to quantify rowing kinematics of female rowers and compare how rowing mechanics concurred with the rowing style taught by the coaching staff.
• Rowing kinematics at various paces were captured using Xsens motion capture hardware and processing software.
• Point of application 1: Lack of knee extension at the end of the drive phase limited the knee range of motion and time for force development.
• Point of application 2: Elbow flexion and hip extension occurred too early in the stroke leading to poor skeletal segmental interactions.
• Point of application 3: It was determined that the rowers examined in this …

Efficient Method Of Delivery For Powdered Supplement Or Placebo For An Outdoor Exercise Investigation, R W. Salatto, Dustin W. Davis, Bryson Carrier, Brenna Barrios, Jacquelyn Sertic, Peyton Cater, James W. Navalta

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• Researchers often encounter issues while attempting to deliver complete doses of a desired supplement/placebo when conducting research in outdoor environments. The problem faced by our research team was how to efficiently deliver 6.4 grams of Beta Alanine (BA) powder to subjects while conducting a hiking study on a windy trail in Southern Utah. To minimize the potential impact of the weather, and to maximize the efficiency of delivery, we determined a premixed bolus of BA contained in individual commercially available 8oz water bottles was the most efficient delivery method. The purpose of this article is to detail the development and …

Long-Term Impact Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries On Multiple Functional Outcomes And Epigenetics: A Pilot Study With College Students, Hyunhwa Lee, Sungchul Lee, Ipuna Black, Laura Salado, Jonica Estrada, Katrina Isla

Nursing Faculty Publications

People who suffer a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have heterogeneous symptoms and disease trajectories, which make it difficult to precisely assess long-term complications. This pilot study assessed and compared deficits in cognitive, psychosocial, visual functions, and balance performance between college students with and without histories of mTBI. Global DNA methylation ratio (5-mC%) in blood was also compared as a peripheral epigenetic marker. Twenty-five volunteers participated, including 14 healthy controls (64.3% females; mean age of 22.0) and 11 mTBI cases (27.3% females; mean age of 28.7 years) who self-reported mTBI history (63.6% multiple; 2.5 ± 1.29 injuries) with 7.1 years …

In Vivo Biosynthesis Of Inorganic Nanomaterials Using Eukaryotes - A Review, Ashiqur Rahman, Julia Lin, Francisco E. Jaramillo, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Clayton Jeffryes, Si Amar Dahoumane

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Bionanotechnology, the use of biological resources to produce novel, valuable nanomaterials, has witnessed tremendous developments over the past two decades. This eco-friendly and sustainable approach enables the synthesis of numerous, diverse types of useful nanomaterials for many medical, commercial, and scientific applications. Countless reviews describing the biosynthesis of nanomaterials have been published. However, to the best of our knowledge, no review has been exclusively focused on the in vivo biosynthesis of inorganic nanomaterials. Therefore, the present review is dedicated to filling this gap by describing the many different facets of the in vivo biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using living eukaryotic …

Scald Injury-Induced T Cell Dysfunction Can Be Mitigated By Gr1+ Cell Depletion And Blockage Of Cd47/Cd172a Signaling, Nadine Beckmann, Franziska Huber, Marc Hanschen, Barbara St. Pierre Schneider, Vanessa Nomelli, Charles C. Caldwell

Nursing Faculty Publications

Infection is a common and severe complication of burn injury: Sepsis accounts for 47% of postburn mortality. Burn-induced T cell suppression likely contributes to the increased infection susceptibility in burn patients. However, little is known about the kinetics of T cell dysfunction after burn and its underlying mechanisms. In this study, we show in a murine scald injury model that T cell activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as T cell cytokine production is suppressed acutely and persistently for at least 11 days after burn injury. Purified T cells from scald-injured mice exhibit normal T cell …

The Relationship Between Tree Canopy And Social Capital On Physical Activity In Unlv Students, Melissa Bartshe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite the numerous health benefits, rates of physical activity are low, especially among the college student population. Neighborhood tree canopy is one aspect of the built environment that has been shown to positively impact physical activity. Social capital has also been correlated with higher rates of physical activity. The sprawling urban design and arid desert climate of Las Vegas pose unique challenges to both tree canopy and social capital. Additionally, the relationship between tree canopy, social capital, and physical activity is understudied in the college student population. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of tree canopy …

Oral Localization Of Scardovia Wiggsiae, Graydon Ramos Carr

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Early childhood caries is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States among children. The formation of caries is a complex, multifactorial process that is still being studied. Researchers have thought for years that Streptococcus mutans was the primary causative agent of early childhood caries. The recent discovery of a novel cariogenic pathogen, Scardovia wiggsiae and its significant contribution to the etiology of early childhood caries has led oral health researchers to re-evaluate this microorganism and its link to this disease. While there have been several projects undertaken within the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental …

Utilizing Breathing Techniques To Maximize Training Performance, Peyton Cater

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Anaerobic exercise causes metabolic acidosis to occur in the muscle, which is unfavorable for sustaining high intensity activity, as fatigue starts to set in. In order to compensate for the onset of fatigue produced by an acidic environment, respiratory alkalosis, induced by hyperventilation, can be performed to mitigate these effects. In contrast, research has shown that slowing down the breath rate, such as a two second inhale and three second exhale, has led to an increase in performance outcomes. Purpose: To investigate power output and the physiological responses after implementation of different breathing techniques during the recovery periods of intermittent …

Rapid Evolution Of Starvation Resistance In Drosophila: Physiological And Molecular Mechanisms, Austin Joseph Mckenna

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Gibbs lab has maintained starvation-selected Drosophila melanogaster for >130 generations. These starvation-selected flies evolved an obese phenotype with a suite of physiological differences compared to control-fed flies. Previous studies have shown that long-term starvation-selected Drosophila contain more lipids, have lower metabolic rates and develop more slowly than controls. This dissertation encompasses 1) Examining the molecular mechanisms contributing to starvation resistance, 2) Functional validation of the candidate plin1 allele, and 3) Rapid physiological and genomic evolution in starvation-selected Drosophila.

Starvation-selected Drosophila survive starvation conditions much longer than control-fed flies. This study took a simple approach to identify possible differences in …

Integrating The Functional Movement Screen ® Into Strength And Conditioning Programs, Quincy Johnson, Chantel C. Coleman, Timothy Baghurst

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS®) and how it can be integrated into strength and conditioning programs of all levels.
• We utilized current literature and previous FMS ® field experience to develop and recommend approaches for implementing FMS® protocols into strength and conditioning programs.
• Description of FMS® Movements: The FMS® is a comprehensive biomechanical efficiency screen which is comprised of seven movements that have been deemed fundamental to athletic performance (7). Those movements include the; deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight-leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and …

Mob Family Proteins: Regulatory Partners In Hippo And Hippo-Like Intracellular Signaling Pathways, Juan Carlos Duhart, Laurel A. Raftery

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Studies in yeast first delineated the function of Mob proteins in kinase pathways that regulate cell division and shape; in multicellular eukaryotes Mobs regulate tissue growth and morphogenesis. In animals, Mobs are adaptors in Hippo signaling, an intracellular signal-transduction pathway that restricts growth, impacting the development and homeostasis of animal organs. Central to Hippo signaling are the Nuclear Dbf2-Related (NDR) kinases, Warts and LATS1 and LATS2, in flies and mammals, respectively. A second Hippo-like signaling pathway has been uncovered in animals, which regulates cell and tissue morphogenesis. Central to this emergent pathway are the NDR kinases, Tricornered, STK38, and STK38L. …

Biogeographic Study Of Human Gut-Associated Crassphage Suggests Impacts From Industrialization And Recent Expansion, Tanvi P/ Honap, Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan, Stephanie L. Schnorr, Andrew T. Ozga, Christina Warinner, Cecil M. Lewis Jr.

Anthropology Faculty Research

CrAssphage (cross-assembly phage) is a bacteriophage that was first discovered in human gut metagenomic data. CrAssphage belongs to a diverse family of crAss-like bacteriophages thought to infect gut commensal bacteria belonging to Bacteroides species. However, not much is known about the biogeography of crAssphage and whether certain strains are associated with specific human populations. In this study, we screened publicly available human gut metagenomic data from 3,341 samples for the presence of crAssphage sensu stricto (NC_024711.1). We found that crAssphage prevalence is low in traditional, hunter-gatherer populations, such as the Hadza from Tanzania and Matses from Peru, as compared to …

Early-Morning And Late-Night Maximal Runs: Metabolic And Perceived Exertion Outcomes, Jenna L. Carducci, Matthew J. Garver, Whitley J. Stone, Meera Penumetcha, Dustin W. Davis, Nicolas M. Philipp, Josie N. Hair

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• People may exercise at the ends of their day to fit activity into their schedule; the purpose of this investigation was to determine if metabolic or perceived exertion outcomes differed between maximal runs early in the morning and late at night.
• After consuming a standardized, glucose drink, thirteen recreationally active individuals completed an early-morning and a late-night run on the treadmill while researchers measured metabolic (aerobic capacity and substrate usage) and perceived exertion outcomes.
• Point of application #1: Aerobic capacity (maximal consumption of oxygen) and the usage of fat as a fuel to support energy production during exercise were …

Guidelines For Reviewers: Topics In Exercise Science And Kinesiology, James W. Navalta, Donald L. Hoover, Robert Salatto, Whitley J. Stone, Scott Lyons Phd

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• The purpose of this document is to serve as a guide for evaluators who agree to review work submitted to Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology.
• To assist evaluators, a Reviewer Rubric has been created with the following sections: Title Page and Abstract, Introduction and Methods Page, Point of Application Page(s), Other Considerations, and Reviewer Decisions.
• Point of application: Reviewing the Title and Abstract page – rubric shared for title, author list, affiliations, the abstract, and key words.
• Point of application: Reviewing the Introduction and Methods page – evaluation of introductory paragraph, paragraph for methodology and/or results.
• Point of …