Life Sciences Commons^™

Determining The Structure And Function Of A Bacteriophage Called Leozinho, Leonardo Rodrigues Venturotti

Biology Student Work

A research team, having discovered a bacteriophage named Leozinho a couple of years ago, embarked on a mission to unravel the structure of an unidentified gene, gp_61. They utilized ESMatlas, Foldseek, and ChimeraX to predict the structure of gp_61 and afterwards various laboratory procedures were employed to facilitate the growth of the gene. Ultimately, the experiment was concluded with the successful cloning of gp_61 into a plasmid vector for protein expression.

Tolle Lege Works Published In 2023, Mcquade Library

Bibliographies

Compiled Tolle Lege bibliography of works published by members of the Merrimack College Community in 2023. Works include journal articles, books, book chapters, conference presentations and posters, and more.

Confidence And Anxiety When Returning To Play Post-Injury, Gianna Sciarappa

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Tolle Lege Works Published In 2022, Mcquade Library

Bibliographies

Compiled Tolle Lege bibliography of works published by members of the Merrimack College Community in 2022. Works include journal articles, books, book chapters, conference presentations and posters, and more.

Streptococcus Mutans And The Oral Microbiome, Danielle Pintone

Honors Program Contracts

No abstract provided.

Finding Rhythm Through Auditory Imagery: An Approach To Parkinson’S Disease Treatment, Jacqueline Larivee

Psychology Student Work

The following research article explores music therapy in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The general interaction between the rhythmic properties of music and motor associated brain areas is discussed at length. These interactions provide a basis for understanding how music therapy can address the rhythmic impairments of the disease. Dance therapy, Musical Sonification, Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) are three types of music-based therapies that have been found to be effective in treating the motor symptoms of PD. These therapies may be particularly effective for the PD population because they draw upon musical rhythm as an external pacing cue.While external …

Music And The Brain: A Review Of Neuroscientific And Clinical Applications, Jacqueline Larivee

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

My research examines the relationship between neuroscience and music, exploring its clinical applications. I extensively review the specific neuroanatomic structures implicated in musical perception. Knowing the function of each brain structure as it relates to musical perception provides insight as to how music is able to elicit certain physical and emotional responses. As music interacts with the human brain, it is also able to provide social, cognitive, and emotional benefits. Given these benefits, my research argues that music is an effective therapeutic intervention for vulnerable populations. I examine the impact of music therapy on preterm infants, hearing impaired individuals, intellectually …

Tolle Lege Works Published In 2021, Mcquade Library

Bibliographies

Compiled Tolle Lege bibliography of works published by members of the Merrimack College Community in 2021. Works include journal articles, books, book chapters, conference presentations and posters, and more.

Effects Of Seated Load Carriage On Mobility, Jamilia Almonte

Health Sciences Student Work

Research has determined significant health detriments associated with sitting for extended periods of time, including chronic disease risk, pain, and mobility. Additionally, although it is not researched commonly, sitting is an essential component of job related tasks for tactical professionals such as military, police and firefighters. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between seated load carriage and dynamic mobility. METHODS: Eighteen recreationally active Merrimack College Students (age: 23.33 +/- 1.45 yr) participated in the randomized, within groups, crossover study. All subjects completed a total of three study visits which consisted of a …

The Effects Of Hip-Dominant Post-Activation Potentiation On Broad Jump Performance In Varsity Collegiate Football Players, Trevor Bradley-Dade

Health Sciences Student Work

(1) Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of hipdominant eccentric post-activation potentiation (PAP) on broad jump distance, through the usage of dynamic (concentric) tempo and eccentric tempo conventional straight bar switch grip deadlifts. This study hypothesized that the experimental eccentric tempo deadlift protocol would result in greater improvements to broad jump performance than the experimental dynamic or control protocols. (2) Methods: Twenty-four varsity football players from Tufts University aged 18-22 years were recruited. Participants were assigned into three groups and cycled through one control protocol and two experimental protocols, over the course of three …

Looking For Brpf1 Presence In Differentiating Osteoclast Cells, Nicholas Khoury, Mark J. Birnbaum

Honors Program Contracts

Through this semester-long experiment, professor Birnbaum and I attempted to identify the presence of BRPF1 (Bromodomain And PHD Finger Containing 1) in harvested RAW osteoclast cells. This was done through a series of steps, beginning with growing RAW osteoclasts, differentiating them, harvesting them and finally running a Western Blot test to look for our target protein. Unfortunately, no major discoveries were made with this project, but there is still reason to be optimistic about the presence of other members of the BRPF family (BRPF3, BRPF4). With some knowledge on our procedure, future researchers should be able to note specific points …

Individualized Hydration Plans Improve Performance Outcomes For Collegiate Athletes Engaging In In-Season Training, David Ayotte Jr, Michael P. Corcoran

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Athletes commonly consume insufficient fluid and electrolytes just prior to, or during training and competition. Unlike non-athletes or athletes who do not engage in frequent rigorous and prolonged training sessions, “hard trainers” may require additional sodium and better benefit from a hydration plan tailored to their individual physiology. The purpose of this randomized cross-over study was to determine whether a hydration plan based off of an athlete’s sweat rate and sodium loss improves anaerobic and neurocognitive performance during a moderate to hard training session as well as heart rate recovery from this session. Methods: Collegiate athletes who were injury …

The Effects Of Physical Stress On Performance, Hannah Magerman

Health Sciences Student Work

Physical stress affects an athlete’s performance and can also lead to potential injuries. To avoid that, identifying physical stress levels can help determine if their training needs alterations to avoid injuries and improve overall performance. The purpose of this study was to compare physical stress on high school athletes overall performance measured by vertical jump height. Methods: In this study, physical stress was measured by vertical jump as well as a questionnaire. The participants were 8 female high school athletes aged 15-17 who were training to play a spring sport at their high school. The participants completed a baseline vertical …

Comparison Of Isokinetic Testing To Upper Extremity Closed Kinetic Chain Testing In Recreational College Athletes, Joe Bernardo

Health Sciences Student Work

Background: Clinicians utilize various techniques during the rehabilitation process to ensure that patients can successfully recover from injury. Isokinetic testing and Closed Kinetic Chain testing have both been utilized during this process by various health care practitioners. Through the utilization of data gathered from these tests, clinicians can develop strengthening programs to target specific areas of weakness on the patient. However, there has not been extensive information in the literature regarding if the results from these two modalities correlate and share commonality with each other. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to discern whether data gathered from Isokinetic testing …

Can A Unilateral Lower Body-Training Program Increase Lower Body Power Output More Than A Bilateral Lower Body Training Program?, Michael Vaughan

Health Sciences Student Work

(1) Introduction The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a unilateral or bilateral lower body training program on off ice power production. (2) Methodology Twenty NCAA Division 1 female hockey players were randomly assigned to either a unilateral (UNI) or bilateral (BI) group. The UNI training group performed all lower body exercises over a 6-week period using 1 leg at a time, while the BI performed all lower body exercises with both legs simultaneously. Both groups trained at the same rating of perceived exertion (RPE) two times per week throughout the training cycle. Subjects within the …

Effectiveness Of Student Led Hunger Relief Project Towards Food Waste Recovery And Nutritional Impact In Low Income Communities, Victoria Holland

Health Sciences Student Work

Introduction: According to the USDA, 12.3% (15.6 million) of U.S. households were food insecure in 2016 due to contributing factors such as lack of food accessibility and the prevalent food waste in the U.S. An estimated 40% of food is thrown away each year and contributions to this food waste include an estimated 22 million pounds of unconsumed foods discarded in college campuses around the U.S. Programs have been developed to target this food waste epidemic while combatting Americans malnutrition. Campus Kitchens Project (CKP) is an innovative student led hunger relief program which recovers food from college campus kitchens and …

Assessment Of Needs For Dementia Care Partners Related To Wellness/Fitness Respite Programs, Mary Mckeown

Health Sciences Student Work

When an individual becomes ill or disabled, it is common for family members to fill the role of caregiver. The same is true in cases where an individual is diagnosed with dementia. Care partners, or care givers, of individuals with dementia are under a great deal of both mental and physical strain due to the debilitating nature of the disease as well as the demands of providing care. As a result, the mental and physical health of care partners often suffers. There are programs, such as respite, that aim to alleviate some of the strain, however there are few existing …

Nutrition And Physical Activity Recall To Assess The Health Status Of Commuters And Residents On A College Campus, Holly Scott

Health Sciences Student Work

Introduction: Behavioral patterns acquired in college may contribute to overweight and obesity later in life. Food found in college dormitories and dining halls are those of convenience. Physical activity and a healthy diet are important components to maintaining a healthy weight. Research Questions: The purpose of this study is to investigate if residency during college and access to kitchen appliances impacts students’ dietary composition and physical activity levels and other health behaviors. Methodology: 38 students (27 residents and 11 commuters) from Merrimack College participated in the study. These participants were recruited through convenience sampling on campus. All participants completed a …

Direct And Indirect Effects Of Parent Stress On Child Obesity Risk And Added Sugar Intake In A Sample Of Southern California Adolescents, Eleanor Tate Shonkoff, Genevieve F. Dunton, Chih-Ping Chou, Adam M. Leventhal, Ricky Bluthenthal, Mary Ann Pentz

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective Research indicates that children are at higher risk for obesity if their parents have been exposed to a larger number of stressors, yet little is known about effects of parents’ subjective, perceived experience of stress on children’s eating behaviours and adiposity and whether weight-related parenting practices (i.e. parent rules and positive family meal practices) mediate this relationship. The present study evaluated the direct and mediated relationship between parent perceived stress and child waist circumference and parent stress and child consumption of added sugars one year later.

Design Longitudinal panel data.

Setting Eleven communities in Southern California, USA.

Subjects Data …

Does A Higher Motivation Score Predict A Bigger Increase In 2km Ergometer Times In Female Collegiate Rowers?, Kaitlyn Mchugh

Health Sciences Student Work

Introduction. A collegiate athlete’s schedule is typically busier than a college student, requiring time for practice, competition, training, as well as normal college student responsibilities. Because their schedules are so busy, athlete motivation is a key determinant for sustained and improved performance. Methods. This study was a pre and post correlation study. In fall 2016, participants completed a pre and post SMS-28 questionnaire and a 2km ergometer aerobic capacity test. Collegiate Female Rowing team was recruited with 13 participants (ages 18-22). 4 weeks later, 7 participants filled out the SMS-28 questionnaire, based on a Likert Scale, and performed the 2km …

Investigating The Effects Of Pre-Laboratory Videos With Associated Questions On The Performance And Overall Laboratory Experience Of Organic Chemistry Students, Shareef Gamal Mohamed Kotb

Health Sciences Student Work

Background: Teachers struggle communicating ideas to students (Moreno et al, 2001). One of the aspects of teaching that’s most concerning is when students experience cognitive overload: the total effort exerted by working memory to grasp new information (Mayer, et al, 2002). The educational community found that introducing multimedia in learning minimizes cognitive overload (Mayer, et al, 2002). Little research has related to undergraduate chemistry classes, specifically the relationship between organic chemistry pre-laboratory multimedia and student learning. Purpose: The purpose of this capstone is to investigate the subjective efficacy of integrating pre-laboratory videos for lab preparation in an undergraduate organic chemistry …

Nutritional Impact On Performance In Student-Athletes: Reality And Perception, Sarah Sceery

Health Sciences Student Work

Context: The sports nutrition field is experiencing incredible growth and development. Athletes are often epitomized for optimal health yet are susceptible to many nutrition related risks that can have a profound impact on both positive and negative performance gains. The student-athlete population is of particular interest based on their nutrition knowledge and where information is obtained. Little is known about their perception on nutrition overall. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine student-athlete perceptions of nutrition and their attitudes about how nutrition impacts performance. Design: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were facilitated with the study population. Participants: A total of …

Cancer As A Metabolic Disease, Javaria Haseeb

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

Despite decades of intensive scientific and medical efforts to develop efficient and effective treatments for cancer, it remains one of the prime causes of death today. For example, in 2016, there will be an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer and 595,690 deaths due to cancer in the United States alone (National Cancer Institute). Worldwide in 2012, there were an estimated 14 million new cases of cancer and 8.2 million deaths due to cancer. In order to come up with better methods of detection and more successful modes of treatment, it is crucial that scientists understand the depth of not …

A Pilot And Feasibility Study To Assess Children’S Consumption In Quick-Service Restaurants Using Plate Waste Methodology, Juliana F.W. Cohen, Susan B. Roberts, Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, Madeleine Mg. Gamache, Vanessa M. Lynskey, Emilia Matthews, Megan P. Mueller, Shanti Sharma, Christina D. Economos

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Children regularly consume foods from quick-service restaurants (QSR), but little is known about the foods that children order, the calories and nutrients consumed, the accuracy of stated calorie information, or the ability to assess food orders and consumption in QSRs. This study evaluated the feasibility of plate waste collection in QSRs and examined children’s orders and consumption of meals from the standard and children’s menus. Additional aims were to examine if the meals ordered met healthier standards for children’s menu items and determine the accuracy of the QSR-stated energy content of foods. Methods: Fifteen QSRs, two malls, and 116 …

Complete Genome Sequences Of Cluster A Mycobacteriophages Bobswaget, Fred313, Kady, Lokk, Myradee, Stagni, And Stepmih, Kristen A. Butela, Susan M. R. Gurney, Heather L. Hendrickson, Janine M. Leblanc-Straceski, Anastasia M. Zimmerman, Stephanie B. Conant, Nikki E. Freed, Olin K. Silander, Joshua J. Thomson, Charlotte A. Berkes, Cristina Bertolez, Courtney G. Davies, Amber Elinsky, Alison J. Hanlon, Juliette Nersesyan, Payal Patel, John Sherwood, Tiffany Tieu Ngo, Kathryn A. Wisniewski, Kathrine Yacoo, Paul M. Arendse, Nathan W. Bowlen, Jasmina Cunmulaj, Julie L. Downs, Charlee A. Ferrenberg, Alexandra E. Gassman, Cody E. R. Gilligan, Emily Gorkiewicz, Christopher Harness, Anthony Huffman, Christina Jones, Anna Julien, Alexis E. Kupic, Sayonara F. Latu, Thomas J. Manning, Danielle Maxwell, Merrimack College Sea-Phages Annotators 2016, Catherine E. Meyer, Madeleine Reardon, Matthew Slaughter, Royce Swasey, Rebecca I. Tennent, Victoria Torres, Tamia Waller, Rachel M. Worcester, Brooke L. Yost, Steven G. Cresawn, Rebecca A. Garlena, Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Welkin H. Pope, Daniel A. Russell, Graham F. Hatfull, Jacob D. Kagey

Biology Faculty Publications

Seven mycobacteriophages from distinct geographical locations were isolated, using Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 as the host, and then purified and sequenced. All of the genomes are related to cluster A mycobacteriophages, BobSwaget and Lokk in subcluster A2; Fred313, KADY, Stagni, and StepMih in subcluster A3; and MyraDee in subcluster A18, the first phage to be assigned to that subcluster.

Active Science® Pilot Study: Promoting Physical Activity And Science Learning Among Children, Kevin E. Finn, Zi Yan, Edward Martin, Kyle Mcinnis

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Afterschool programs (ASPs) have been identified as ideal settings where children can accumulate a significant portion of their total daily physical activity (PA). The purpose of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of the Active Science program in promoting PA and science learning in different site locations across the U.S. Methods: Participants were 72 children (35 females, mean age = 9.2 years, standard deviation [SD] = 0.9) from five YMCA afterschool childcare sites located in five states. The 6-week Active Science program was implemented twice/week for 60 min at a site. The participants completed 30 min of …

Amount Of Time To Eat Lunch Is Associated With Children’S Selection And Consumption Of School Meal Entrée, Fruits, Vegetables, And Milk, Juliana F.W. Cohen, Jaquelyn L. Jahn, Scott Richardson, Sarah A. Cluggish, Ellen Parker, Eric B. Rimm

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

There are currently no national standards for school lunch period length and little is known about the association between the amount of time students have to eat and school food selection and consumption.

Objective

Our aim was to examine plate-waste measurements from students in the control arm of the Modifying Eating and Lifestyles at School study (2011 to 2012 school year) to determine the association between amount of time to eat and school meal selection and consumption.

Design

We used a prospective study design using up to six repeated measures among students during the school year.

Participants/setting

One thousand …

Relationships Of Physical Performance Tests To Military-Relevant Tasks In Women, Tunde K. Szivak, William J. Kraemer, Bradley C. Nindl, Lincoln A. Gotshalk, Jeff S. Volek, Ana L. Gomez, Courtenay Dunn-Lewis, David P. Looney, Brett A. Comstock, David R. Hooper, Shawn D. Flanagan, Carl M. Maresh

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Purpose: This investigation sought to determine the most predictive measures of performance on a repetitive box lifting task (RBLT) and load bearing task (LBT) among 123 women (aged 23±4 years, height 165±7 cm, body mass 64±10 kg).

Methods: To determine the relationship of various predictors to performance on the RBLT and LBT, multiple regression analysis was conducted on body mass, height, leg cross-sectional area, upper and lower body muscular strength, lower body explosive power, upper and lower body local muscular endurance, and aerobic capacity.

Results: The mean±SD (range) number of repetitions for the RBLT was 86±23 (20-159). The mean±SD (range) …

Use Of Image Cytometry For Quantification Of Pathogenic Fungi In Association With Host Cells, Charlotte A. Berkes, Leo Li-Ying Chan, Alisha Wilkinson, Benjamin Paradis

Biology Faculty Publications

Studies of the cellular pathogenesis mechanisms of pathogenic yeasts such as Candida albicans, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Cryptococcus neoformans commonly employ infection of mammalian hosts or host cells (i.e. macrophages) followed by yeast quantification using colony forming unit analysis or flow cytometry. While colony forming unit enumeration has been the most commonly used method in the field, this technique has disadvantages and limitations, including slow growth of some fungal species on solid media and low and/or variable plating efficiencies, which is of particular concern when comparing growth of wild-type and mutant strains. Flow cytometry can provide rapid quantitative information regarding yeast …

Integrating Movement And Science To Promote Physical Activity And Academic Performance In Middle School Children, Kevin E. Finn, Kyle Mcinnis

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Recommendations from leading U.S. health agencies concerned with reducing childhood obesity call for increased physical activity during school and afterschool environments. Methods: We developed the Active Science curriculum, which is a variety of activity-based lessons (e.g., nature hike, dance class, walk at local park, treadmill at local YMCA) and incorporated them into traditional science classes and after school programs for middle school children in a low-income, ethnically diverse community. Following the activity experiments, students and teachers uploaded data from devices to an interactive website that provided inquiry-based exploratory learning of science content. Results: Physical activity results showed that the …