Life Sciences Commons^™

Martian Life Detection With Xylose Enantiomers, Arturo White, Gaosun Zhang, Henry J. Sun

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Ability of Martian soil to degrade carbohydrates, shown by the Viking mission, has two interpretations. One possibility is that the soil harbors living microorganisms. Alternatively, the soil is sterile but chemically oxidizing, i.e. it is laden with photochemical oxidants. It was shown by REU research last summer that these two possibilities can be distinguished by the use of glucose enantiomers. Life is selective: Earth organisms use D-glucose, but ignore Lglucose. This stereo selectivity is absent in chemical reactions. The goal of this project is to test if xylose, a five carbon sugar, is also suitable for chiral life detection. Mixed …

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, University Of Nevada Las Vegas, College Of Sciences

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

No abstract provided.

A Proposed Syntax For Minimotif Semantics, Version 1., Jay Vyas, Ronald J. Nowling, Mark W. Maciejewski, Sanguthevar Rajasekaran, Michael R. Gryk, Martin R. Schiller

Life Sciences Faculty Research

BACKGROUND:

One of the most important developments in bioinformatics over the past few decades has been the observation that short linear peptide sequences (minimotifs) mediate many classes of cellular functions such as protein-protein interactions, molecular trafficking and post-translational modifications. As both the creators and curators of a database which catalogues minimotifs, Minimotif Miner, the authors have a unique perspective on the commonalities of the many functional roles of minimotifs. There is an obvious usefulness in standardizing functional annotations both in allowing for the facile exchange of data between various bioinformatics resources, as well as the internal clustering of sets of …

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes Summer 2009, Kevin E. Oliver, Dianne N. Bangle, E. Cayenne Engel, Lindsay P. Chiquoine, Scott R. Abella

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes

BLM and wildfire protection in the Mojave, studies of the sticky ringstem flowering phenology in Lake Mead NRA, restoration work within gypsum soils, post-fire response synthesis for Mojave and Sonoran deserts

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Vegetation Monitoring And Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, April 1, 2009 To June 30, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Vegetation Monitoring

Executive Summary

• The Weed Sentry program surveyed over 187 miles (1,342 acres) of federal land by vehicle and foot in Clark County for incipient populations of exotic plants.
• Weed Sentry staff continue to survey never before surveyed sites, and trails and regions within Upper Las Vegas Wash CTA and Sloan Canyon NCA as requested by BLM managers
• In 2009 rare plant monitoring was completed. Data entry and analysis are in progress.

Limnological Assistance For The Lake Mead National Recreation Area In Meeting The Challenge Of The Water 2025 Initiative: Annual Report, Period Ending July 1, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Limnological Studies

Project 1: Eighteen advisory team meetings were attended this year; technical input was provided as appropriate; and summaries were prepared and delivered to Kent Turner. The SCOP Selenium Management Plan has been reviewed and a report is in preparation.

Project 2: A formal report titled, Surface Water Monitoring for Indicator Bacteria in High-use Sites of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, was delivered in the second quarter of this year. Subsequently, a poster presentation on this topic was delivered at the Lake Mead Science Symposium and a manuscript has been prepared for submission to the journal, Lake and Reservoir Management. …

Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program: Helping Hands Across Public Lands – Phase Ii: Annual Progress Report, Period Covering July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Get Outdoors Nevada

• From July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 the Volgistic database has increased the number of records by 20% containing a total 6,226 records at the end of this period.
• Website activity this year averaged 63,590 hits per month, with an average of 5,290 pages viewed per month.
• The IVP team presented a summary of their accomplishments to the SNAP board.
• The team attended 13 community outreach events resulting in 2,501 direct contacts and 394 new mailing list records.
• How to Succeed with Volunteers training was held for SNAP personnel.
• The IVP team met with four SNAP teams to develop …

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monitoring And Evaluation Of Sensitive Wildlife: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending June 30, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Wildlife Monitoring

Project 1. Relict Leopard Frog Monitoring, Management, and Research

• All milestones and deliverables associated with the MSHCP project are on schedule
• Translocation field season has been completed
• Spring monitoring surveys have been completed
• Dana Drake, UNLV Research Assistant, has left the project

Project 2. Bald Eagle Winter Monitoring and Evaluation

• All MSHCP milestones and deliverables are on schedule

Project 3. Peregrine Falcon Monitoring and Evaluation

• The MSHCP projects are on schedule for all milestones and deliverables
• Peregrine falcon monitoring of breeding activities are ongoing and are nearing completion
• Method testing of active survey methodology has been completed
• Stacy Crowe was …

Joint Fire Science Program – Lake Mead National Recreation Area: Revegetating Burned Arid Lands: Identifying Successful Native Species Using Trait And Competition Analysis, Quarterly Progress Report, April 1 — June 30, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Fire Science

• Initiated a competitive hierarchy study.
• Monitored and maintained outplanting at Goodsprings.
• Completed more seed granivory trials at Goodsprings.
• Mentored student to completion of undergraduate research project.
• Monitored and maintained nursery plots.
• Revising article submitted to Journal of Arid Environments.

An Evaluation Of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Survival On Five Environmental Surfaces Under Two Different Humidities, With And Without The Addition Of Bovine Serum Albumin, Courtney Ann Coughenour

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a major public health concern, as they result in greater healthcare costs and increased morbidity and mortality rates. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one organism of particular concern, with the number of infections increasing in epidemic proportion. Bacterial surface contamination with MRSA is significant, as it may serve as a reservoir for transmission and have negative health implications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival of MRSA on five environmental surface materials; glass, wood, vinyl, plastic, and cloth. The effect of relative humidity (RH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were …

Identifying Biomarkers For Resistance To Novel Cisplatin Analogues In Human Lung, Breast And Prostate Cancers, Becky Michelle Hess

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Cisplatin is a common therapeutic agent used in cancer treatment. Unfortunately, resistance to cisplatin in addition to severe side effects limits its use in cancer treatment. Two novel cisplatin analogues, 4DB and 4TB were shown to have varying cytotoxicity in lung, breast and prostate cancer cells. The hypothesis for this study states that the differences in 4DB and 4TB cytotoxicity among different tissue types is due to the type and efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms involved in response to these drugs.

To test the hypothesis, proteins involved in the rate limiting step of nucleotide excision repair (NER) and mismatch repair …

Mercury Concentrations In Muscle Tissue From Sportfish In Lake Mead, Nevada, Joanna L. Kramer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir by volume in the United States and provides fishing opportunities for numerous anglers. Considerable attention has been given to the bioaccumulation of methylmercury in fish tissues, however, no formal study utilizing approved USEPA methodology has been conducted to quantify the amount of mercury present in fish tissue from Lake Mead. The purpose of this study is to determine the concentrations of mercury present in the most commonly consumed fish from Lake Mead and to identify if any of the 4 major basins contain fish with elevated concentrations of mercury. Largemouth bass (n=49), striped bass …

Water Quality Changes In A Constructed Wetland At The Springs Preserve In Las Vegas, Nevada, Aaron Mathis Miller

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Springs Preserve near downtown Las Vegas, Nevada contains a seven-acre constructed wetland. Springs Preserve managers are planning to use water from the constructed wetland to irrigate creeks immediately north of the wetland. These creeks will be used by a variety ofaquatic wildlife, including endangered amphibians sensitive to harmful metalloids, such as selenium, lead, and arsenic.

In an attempt to answer toxicological questions about contaminant concentrations in the constructed wetland, three metals and metalloids (selenium, arsenic, and lead), two nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and the major ionic species were analyzed at four sampling locations for aqueous concentrations, in two separate …

Distribution And Site Selection Of Le Conte's And Crissal Thrashers In The Mojave Desert: A Multi-Model Approach, Dawn Marie Fletcher

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Information on the distribution and habitat requirements of a species are critical components to the development of meaningful conservation plans. Such knowledge, however, is particularly difficult to obtain for species that are elusive and occur at low densities, such as the Le Conte's ( Toxostoma lecontei ) and Crissal (Toxostoma crissale ) thrashers. In association with a regional conservation plan, I evaluated the distribution and habitat selection of these thrashers within Clark County, Nevada in the eastern Mojave Desert. I used a call-broadcast approach to sample 432 stratified random locations, detecting Le Conte's thrashers at 45 locations and Crissal …

The Role Of Larval Fat Cells In Starvation Resistance And Reproduction In Adult Drosophila Melanogaster, Jerell Roland Aguila

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The intricate life cycle of holometabolous insects includes well-defined larval and adult stages associated with feeding and non-feeding periods. The larval stage is distinguished by prevalent feeding and is necessary for supporting the animal as it quickly grows. The larval stage also serves as the period for the animal to obtain adequate energy stores, primarily in the larval fat body, to fuel the animal through the non-feeding pupal and immature adult stages. Acquiring sufficient energy stores is paramount for the success of the adult animal. In fact, certain insects, such as silkworms and mayflies, do not feed as adults and …

An Examination Of Body Composition Measurement Methods In Children, Robert Kaplan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction . Body-composition methods include underwater weighing (UWW), skinfold thickness (SKF), bioelectrical impedance (BIA), and the BOD POD. Although these techniques are used routinely, each has its inherent limitations, especially in children. Purpose . The purpose of this study was to examine the various methods of body composition in children. Methods . The body composition of 7 boys between the ages of 12-14 (13.1 +/- 1.1 years) was determined using the BOD POD, UWW, SKF, and BIA. Results . Percent body fat estimated from the BOD POD (21.9 +/- 7.8%BF) was not significantly different than the estimated percent fat from …

Molecular Epidemiology Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa), Ilene Bautista

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of a myriad of infections in hospitals, healthcare facilities and community settings. It is often related to skin and soft tissue infection, but it can also cause other diseases varying from food poisoning to endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome. According to a study by Kuehnert et al. (2006) there has been a strong association between Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) carriage and risk factors for subsequent infections. Subsequent infection from S. aureus , including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection, can be projected by looking at the presence of S. aureus nasal colonization. The purpose of …

The Effect Of Concurrent Cell Phone Use And Walking On Gait Characteristics, Jennifer Marie Aldridge

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined the effects that cell phone use has on gait and situation awareness. Subjects (n=18; 24.67±3.60 yrs) completed three five-minute treadmill walking conditions (self-selected speed): (1) CONTROL (walking only), (2) TALK (walking and talking), and (3) TEXT (walking and texting). The number of detected lights presented in the visual field was recorded, as were kinematic data of the feet. Using a one-way repeated measure ANOVA it was determined light detection (F _(2,17) =39.777, p<0.001) and TC_min (F_(2,17) =8.574, p=0.001) were different between conditions. Specifically, light detection decreased during TEXT (2.6±2.2 lights) versus TALK (5.8±0.05 lights, p<0.001) or CONTROL (5.9±0.05 lights, p<0.001); TC_min decreased …

Arid Climate Decomposition And Decay: A Taphonomic Study Using Swine, James William Munkres

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The present project analyzes the taphonomic processes and variables involved in the decomposition and desiccation of animal remains in an arid/hyper-arid environment. The study and the derived data will assist in determining postmortem intervals for remains in modern contexts, inform judgments made regarding mortuary habits and techniques in archaeological contexts, and will improve our knowledge regarding taphonomic processes. Manner of deposition, the depositional surface/medium and arid-climate specific variables (temperature, water, insect activity, weathering, pH levels, and soil characteristics) were examined in this study. Reported observations are limited to the first ten months following death from early December through early October …

The Influence Of Carbon Source Types And Nitrate On The Performance Of The Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Systems, Shamim Ara Begum

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research focuses on two issues in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). The first issue encompasses the effect of the type of carbon sources (i.e. volatile fatty acids and non volatile fatty acids) on the microbiology of EBPR. The second issue deals with the influence of denitrification on EBPR. Few studies have been performed to investigate these two issues. The recent findings on these areas are summarized below to establish the knowledge gaps this dissertation attempted to address. Details on the specific findings can be found in the literature review portion of this proposal.

Investigation Of Plant Water Use In The Great Basin, Nv, Benjamin Conrad

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Global climate change in addition to a growing population can have a strong impact on our natural resources. In particular, cities in the semi-arid and arid southwestern US are currently faced with the challenge of providing sustainable fresh water to a growing population. In Las Vegas, dwindling water levels in Lake Mead have forced water managers to seek water resources from Spring Valley and Snake Valley, NV, which are located 402 km north of the city. The goals of this research were to investigate the water use of shrubs located in these valleys by using a large aperture scintillometer (LAS) …

Identification Of Arid Soil Inducible Genes In Pseudomonas Fluorescens Strain Pf0-1, Katila Pipitone

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis contains three major sections: introduction, literature review and the project entitled: 'Identification of Arid Soil Inducible Genes in Pseudomonas fluorescens Strain Pf0-1'. The introduction section describes a general background, the current and potential applications of P. fluorescens and the main goal of this dissertation. The literature review chapter discusses two main areas. The first area offers insights about different types of in vivo expression technology (IVET) as a tool in gene identification. This section also describes the limitations of IVET, as well as the benefits over other methods for gene identification. The second part of the literature review …

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes Spring 2009, Russell Scofield, Michele Slaton Ph.D, Alexis Suazo, Donovan J. Craig

Mojave Applied Ecology Notes

California desert managers group, vegetation monitoring in Death Valley, undergraduate research symposium at UNLV, response of Sahara mustard to water and disturbance, JFS update

Limnological Assistance For The Lake Mead National Recreation Area In Meeting The Challenge Of The Water 2025 Initiative: Quarterly Report, Period Ending April 1, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Limnological Studies

Project 1: Technical input has been provided at two advisory team meetings attended this quarter.

Project 2: Surface Water Monitoring for Indicator Bacteria in High-use Sites of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (poster) was presented at the Lake Mead Science Symposium; a journal article is in preparation.

Project 3: A draft document titled “Interagency Monitoring Action Plan (I-MAP): Quagga Mussels in Lakes Mead and Mohave” has been subdivided into four major sections and corresponding sub-groups have been formed to provide review and input. Six oral presentations related to quagga mussels were presented at the Lake Mead Science Symposium. Two …

Interagency Science And Research: Final Project Report, Jennell M. Miller, Craig J. Palmer, Margaret N. Rees

Interagency Science and Research Strategy

The major accomplishment of this project was the development of the SNAP Science and Research Strategy: an 11-chapter document designed to integrate and coordinate scientific research programs in Southern Nevada and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these programs. The Strategy is intended to inform and guide SNAP agencies in identifying and articulating highest priority science and research needs, sharing resources and funds from other sources, and eliminating redundancy between research programs within their focus areas. The major focus areas of the Strategy are Fire, Invasive Species, Watersheds and Landscapes, Biodiversity, Cultural Resources, Historic Content, Recreation, Land Use, and Education. …

Unlv Magazine, Michelle Mouton, Tony Allen, Afsha Bawany, Shane Bevell, Phil Hagen, Greg Lacour, Erin O'Donnell, Karyn S. Hollingsworth

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

System Architecture For An Intelligent Implantable Bio-Telemetry Device, Karthik Kumar Nattamai Kumaresan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Biotelemetry has long been used for environmental and life science research to study animal populations and behavior. The use of implantable bio-telemetric techniques makes it possible to record and study physiological variables during long-term experiments with a minimum disturbance to the animal. Fully implantable telemetric techniques greatly reduce the risk of infection associated with leads and catheters protruding from the skin. In this research the design and implementation of a completely programmable bio-implantable digital system which can measure two physiological signals extended over a period of time is considered. The proposed system consists of a standalone implantable transmitter unit and …

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Monitoring And Evaluation Of Sensitive Wildlife: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending March 31, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Wildlife Monitoring

Project 1. Relict Leopard Frog Monitoring, Management, and Research

• Translocation field season has begun; eggs have been collected, tadpoles are being reared and some tadpoles have been released to an existing translocation site
• Egg mass surveys for the season have been completed
• Nocturnal surveys have begun
• Sampling for the amphibian chytrid fungus conducted at multiple sites
• Data transferal to County conducted this quarter
• A modified annual work plan and timeline was provided for delivery to the County
• All milestones and deliverables associated with the MSHCP project are on schedule

Project 2. Bald Eagle Winter Monitoring and Evaluation

• Winter bald eagle …

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Vegetation Monitoring And Analysis: Quarterly Progress Report, January 1, 2009 To March 31, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Vegetation Monitoring

Executive Summary

• The Weed Sentry program surveyed over 126 miles (981 acres) of federal land by vehicle and foot in Clark County for incipient populations of exotic plants.
• Weed Sentry staff continue to survey never before surveyed sites, and trails and regions within Red Rock and Sloan Canyon NCAs requested by BLM managers.
• The 2009 rare plant monitoring was initiated and in progress.
• Northshore Road reconstruction monitoring was initiated and active monitoring and care of salvaged plants was performed by UNLV staff.
• Rana onca vegetation monitoring and reporting was completed.

Joint Fire Science Program – Lake Mead National Recreation Area: Revegetating Burned Arid Lands: Identifying Successful Native Species Using Trait And Competition Analysis, Quarterly Progress Report, January 1— March 31, 2009, Margaret N. Rees

Fire Science

• Monitored and watered native plants in nursery plots.

• Exotic grasses seeded into nursery plots.

• Nitrogen treatment applied to nursery plots.

• Granivory study trials performed each month and corresponding abstract submitted to ESA.

• Competitive hierarchy study germination trials are underway.

• Monitored seeding and outplanting experiments at Goodsprings.

• Submitted article to Mojave Applied Ecology Notes newsletter updating on JFS work.

• Mentoring UNLV undergraduate student in research project for ENV 492.

• Prepared presentation materials for two scientific meetings.