Digital Commons Network^™

Beer Consumption In The United Kingdom, Teilor Appleyard, Jordan Brickman, Kayla Chatwin, Dylan Orlando, Kimberly Nehls Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

It is said that alcohol is an important part of British culture and tradition. Britons seem to drink regardless of the time of day and/or the company they are with. We looked into the most popular beer categories in the United Kingdom to determine why some beers are far more popular than others. Our research suggests that there are various factors that play into WHY a particular beer is chosen for consumption. We collected data from interviews conducted by The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) to distinguish what their favorite type of beer is, why they choose to consume that …

Unsustainable Fast Fashion In The United States, Itzel Gutierrez, Kimberly Nehls Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

My research will be focused on how unsustainable fast fashion is killing the ecosystem, whether or not it is bad for the environment and what percentage of it ends up in landfills? Boohoo, Shein and PrettyLittleThing are popular fast fashion retail apps among U.S consumers, cheap fast fashion tends to encourage consumers to over buy. My research will start with where does fast fashion come from and where does it end up? Fast fashion is based on trends going on in the red carpet, fashion shows or influenced by social media. Throwing away clothes because it is out of style …

Surfactant Use In Boiling Heat Transfer Alludes To A Universal Concentration?, Mario Mata, Brandon Ortiz, Vesper Evereux, Dhruv Luhar, Jeremy Cho Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Surfactants—molecules that change the surface properties of liquids—can enhance the rate of heat transfer in boiling, which could improve power generation, heating/cooling/refrigeration, and other applications. Boiling involves cycles of bubble nucleation, growth, and departure. These behaviors are modified as surfactants adsorb to the bubble surface, lowering surface tension and changing the bubble contact angle. Unique to each type of surfactant, there is a critical micelle concentration (CMC) above which surfactant molecules aggregate into larger structures called micelles. From conventional wisdom, adding surfactants beyond the CMC increases liquid viscosity, resulting in an overall lowering of heat transfer. Thus, to optimize heat …

Disability And Impairment Of The Hand: Trauma Analysis Of The Erie County Poorhouse Cemetery, Sydney Layne, Katherine Gaddis, Jennifer Byrnes Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Hands are one of the most frequently used parts of the body and, as such, are historically and intrinsically linked to daily functioning and the ability to work. Thus, the bioarchaeological analysis of hand bones can prove to be a useful resource in evaluating the lived experiences of past peoples. The current study analyzes antemortem hand trauma observed in individuals exhumed from the Erie County Poorhouse Cemetery (1851-1913), located in Buffalo, New York. In doing so we investigate patterns of trauma distribution and subsequent severity of impairment of the hand. These impairments are then used as a window into the …

Synthesis Of Novel Fluorescent Probes For The Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Matthew Le, Haesook Han

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a detrimental, progressive neurodegenerative disease that is regarded as the most common and pervasive form of dementia, affecting an estimated 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 and 1 in every 6 people over the age of 80.1,2 Diagnosing AD at the proper time poses a great challenge in the current clinical setting. Traditional methods for the diagnosis of AD are expensive, provide poor resolution, and involve toxic radioactive materials. This study aims to synthesize a class of novel fluorescent molecular probes that can bind to the protein-plaques that are caused by the onset …

Resilience In The Bipoc Community: A Systematic Review, Lianelys Cabrera Martinez, Aldo Barrita B.A., Gloria Wong-Padoongpatt Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The present study is a systematic literature review on the psychology of resilience, or the ability to bounce back after a difficult situation. Although resilience is a timely and relevant variable in social psychology, little is known about its connection to the racism-related experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). This review explores how resilience manifests in the BIPOC community and its influence on the identity of minority groups. Previous research has shown that BIPOC reports higher resilience; however, there is still uncertainty around its connection to discrimination. Through the analysis of nine final research articles, we examined …

Introduction To Quantum Computing And Information, Rashad C. Hall, Bernard Zygelman Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The world is constantly challenged by complex scientific, economic, and medical problems, etc. In many cases, progress in finding solutions requires the application of modern computing machines. At the same time, the classical paradigm based on the Turing machine model has well-known limits. Some problems require computing resources that grow exponentially with the size of data, thus making solutions intractable for such applications. In the past 25 years, researchers have realized that computing machines based on the principles of quantum mechanics might offer a novel strategy for attacking these problems. In this report, we investigate how quantum and classical computers …

Evaluation Of The Efficiency Of Singapore's Waste Management Controls, Jialu Li, Yitong Huang, Kim Nehls

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

With the constant population growth in such a limited land, Singapore is faced with multiple challenges in waste management. Over the last decades, Singapore aimed to strive for a zero-waste environment for its nation by reducing the significant amount of waste disposed of through recycling and maximizing landfills. The scope of this poster is to present whether Singapore has had an efficient control over its waste management in the last two decades. The poster took approaches to analyze statistics that concludes the recycle rates categorized into different classifications of waste disposals from 2003 to 2020 and average of total saved …

The Bronze Head Of Thracian Ruler Seuthes Iii, Andrea Rangelova, Aya Louisa Mcdonald Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

In 2004 Bulgarian archeologists, Dr. Kitov and Dr. Dimitrova, discovered a unique Hellenistic era bronze head in a Royal Thracian burial, outside the Golyamata Kosmatka tomb. Research and visual analysis has shown that this head is most likely a portrait of Seuthes III, the ruler of Odrysian Thrace. This identification is indicated by its close resemblance to realistically sculpted profile images of Seuthes III found on Thracian coins. In both cases the heads are characterized by a thick beard and a crooked nose, which create a singular, individual identity. Traditional Greek bronze heads around 4 B.C. are beardless.

The head …

Compressive Strength For Geopolymer Mortar, Kers Ung-Watson, Moses Karakouzian Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Portland cement is a common building material used globally and has been around for over one hundred years. It is reliable, inexpensive, and its material properties have been thoroughly researched. However, in recent years, the development of new building materials that are more environmentally sustainable has begun to become increasingly important to combat global warming. Research has shown that geopolymers produce less carbon dioxide emission and could possibly be a substitute for portland cement. Thus the scope of this paper is to determine the compressive strength of geopolymer to portland cement using mortar samples. ASTM C 109/C 109M-02 was followed …

Effects Of Recycled Asphalt Binder On The Viscosity Of Recycled Binder And Mixtures, Abdulrahman Alahdal, Moses Karakouzian Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Asphalt pavement is a combination of materials that are typically used in the construction of roads, highways, airports, parking lots, etc. Asphalt pavement consists of asphalt binder, mineral filler, and a mixture of aggregates such as crushed rocks, sand, slags, and gravel. These components are produced with a great deal of energy which results in significant CO2 emissions. In this study, the viscosity of virgin and reclaimed asphalt binders, as well as reclaimed asphalt binders and virgin asphalt binders’ mixtures, are examined according to the testing protocol and specifications of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). …

Development Of Experimental Rocket For Component And Payload Acceleration Load Testing, Drew Nemeth, Jake Pettitt Ph.D., Brendan O'Toole Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

With a burgeoning commercial space industry in the United States, more reliable and cost effective methods for qualifying critical flight components are required in order to reduce the costs of spacecraft development programs. Electronic payloads designed to undergo high acceleration loading during military and civil rocket flight have proven especially difficult to properly flight test prior to operational use. This paper describes the design, construction, flight testing, and post-flight analysis of a single stage launch vehicle with an intended apogee of 50,000 feet and maximum velocity in excess of Mach 2 with a simulated electronic payload. Software suites including OpenRocket, …

Automating Unlv's Computer Science Mentorship System, Ivan Jasper Aquino, Spencer Lucci, Jorge Fonseca Cacho Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

We live in an era where technology is advancing at a fast rate; these technologies often replace menial tasks such as organizing data in general. As data grows, it can become unmanageable for a normal person to maintain. The purpose of this research is to automate the UNLV Computer Science faculty mentor system so that students can sign up and choose their mentor quickly without the need of human intervention. While doing this practical project we intend to learn key concepts of web design and development along with server management, cybersecurity practices, and practicing the research process of learning and …

Zeolite/Zvi System Tof The Treatment Of Nutrients In Urban Runoff, Tremyia Campbell, Jasminn Gray, Joe C. Costa Rodriguez, Jacimaria Ramos Batista Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Algal blooms have taken place in Lake Mead, Nevada, and a major bloom occurred in 2001. One reason for algal blooms at Lake Mead is excess of nutrients from runoff water discharge during rainy seasons. Algal blooms in lakes and rivers are a sign of eutrophication - an excessive growth of plant life that leads to death of animal life from lack of oxygen. In addition, algal blooms impact the use of water as a drinking source because of the presence of algal toxins. Nutrients that cause algae bloom include ammonia, nitrate, and phosphorus. The objective of this research is …

The Effects Of Resilience, Mindfulness, And Experiential Avoidance On Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) Symptoms: Exploring The Mechanism Of Action Of A Mindfulness App For College Student Military Veterans With Ptsd, Ehdzky-Ray Manzano, Andrew Thomas Reyes Ph.D., Rn

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Mediation/moderation models provides an expanded understanding of the underlying mechanism of action of a mindfulness-based interventions, particularly how targeted constructs produce their intended benefits. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating effect of resilience on the relationships mindfulness and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and the indirect effect of mindfulness on PTSD through experiential avoidance as a mediator. A cross-sectional study design was used. We employed a convenience sample of 133 college student military veterans through an online survey (Qualtrics) using measures of resilience, mindfulness, experiential avoidance, and PTSD symptoms. To examine the mediating effect …

Visualizing The Southern Nevada Homelessness Crisis, Vanessa Marie Booth, William Brown Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Presented in this policy study, is an in-depth analysis of the growing Homelessness Crisis occurring across the state of Nevada while focusing on the state of play scenario that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area presents. The data synthesized in this study primarily focuses on predicted homelessness rates, the current scope of the homelessness crisis, housing affordability, accessibility to poverty alleviation services, alongside notable policy recommendations. The scope of the study calls into question the funding formula and allocations of federal funds to solve the current homelessness crisis. Research methodologies in this study include but are not limited to, several mixed-methods …

A Study On Improvement Of Mobile App For Unlv: Campus Safety Protocol In User Experience, Mayra Carrera, Mustafa Diallo, Cecilia Garcia-Leon, Khristine Le, Kristine Monsada, Sang-Duck Seo Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

According to The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), an average of 28,000 crimes were reported on college campuses across the United States in 2019. However, while many universities offer services to help students stay safe while on campus, students continue to feel unsafe.

The University of Nevada Las Vegas’s (UNLV) proximity to the Las Vegas Strip causes campus to be vulnerable to crime. While UNLV offers students safety resources through their campus safety app, ‘RebelSafe,’ we found that only a small percentage of UNLV students actually use the app and wanted to pinpoint why. Thus, we focused our research …

Utilizing Muscovite To Create High Mobility Molybdenum Disulfide Transistors, Jessica Farnsworth, Joshua Island Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Molybdenum disulfide transistor devices were fabricated utilizing muscovite mica as dielectrics in order to test the hydrophilic behavior of mica. This was done by probing the device for its transconductance plot to show hysteretic patterns. Devices were fabricated using a clean van der Waals technique to stack two-dimensional materials into heterostructures. The devices showed a hysteretic trend in the transconductance curve. We compared the hysteretic behavior from mica with that of another well-known dielectric, silicon dioxide. The devices with mica dielectrics showed larger hysteresis in the gate sweeps than silicon dioxide. Devices utilizing mica as dielectrics are expected to have …

Evolutionary Analysis Of Nlr Genes In Metrosideros Through Comparative Genomics, Sarem Khilji, Elizabeth Stacy Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Plants rely heavily on innate immunity toward pathogens due to the fact that many of them do not contain specialized adaptive immune system cells. In order to mount proper immune responses, plants must come up with several broad defense mechanisms. One such mechanism in these plants, nucleotide-binding domain & leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins, are key players when it comes to intracellular immune-related functions. While the biological functions and protein structure of NLR genes are similar across species, variation in NLR gene numbers and sequences among closely related plant taxa can play a key role in diversification and the evolution of …

Out Of Anger And Deception: A Feminist Rhetorical Criticism Of Toxic Relationships In Steven Universe, Julianna Jovillar, Emma Bloomfield Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Although American children’s animated series, Steven Universe, is often praised for its diverse and queer representation, people often overlook that the show also portrays toxic relationships. This portrayal moves the narrative along and frames the characters as learning and growing from their traumas. In this study, I have evaluated the portrayal of the toxic and abusive relationship of Lapis Lazuli (Lapis) and Jasper in Steven Universe using feminist rhetorical criticism. Informed by rhetorical theories of gender, hierarchies, and power dynamics, my analysis shows there is an issue of consent displayed between the characters, as well as blatant physical and verbal …

Van Der Waals Heterostructure Engineered Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect, Justin Alvarez, Kayla Cerminara, Joshua Island Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

The quantum anomalous hall effect (QAHE) is a phase of matter in which a dissipationless current is made to flow around the edge of a two dimensional (2D) material. Making use of this effect for next generation electronics could lead to faster processors and low power devices. There are very few materials that exist in nature that intrinsically possess the QAHE, however by sandwiching target 2D materials together we can establish this highly sought after phase. By using three 2D materials: graphene, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and chromium tri-iodide (CrI3) forming a van der Waals heterostructure we can create a proximity …

Perceptions Of Race Relations, Black Lives Matter, And The Shaping Of 2020'S Politics: How Race Influenced Political Participation In The Year Of George Floyd, Olivia Cheche, Elizabeth Maltby Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of Black Lives Matter protests and perceptions of racial discrimination on political participation in 2020. Survey responses from the 2020 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey are matched with data on protest locations across the United States. From here, linear regressions are ran to determine the effects of the aforementioned two independent variables on political engagement. A third hypothesis tests if Black Lives Matter protests and perceptions of racial discrimination had an interacting effect on individual-level participation. The results of this study show statistically significant results for Black respondents - Black Lives Matter protests and …

Do All Fast Radio Bursts Repeat?, Emily Huerta, Bing Zhang Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are bursts of radio waves detected at great distances from space. Some FRBs are observed to repeat while some others not. One important question concerning astrophysicists today is whether all FRBs repeat. Recently, the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) published a master catalog of FRB detections for both repeating and non-repeating FRBs. This is the largest FRB database published to date. With the data in this catalog, we investigate whether repeaters and non-repeaters may show up as statistically different categories in certain parameter space. We focus on the FRB arrival time and fluence and study …

A Review On The Usage Of Machine Learning Methods In Gait Analysis And Possibility Of A Portable Gait Analysis Device, Hassan Adam, Venkatesan Muthukumar Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Gait analysis is a valuable tool for evaluating and monitoring an individual's walking pattern, which is used to recognize movement-related irregularities. Lately, machine learning methods have been introduced in the processing of the gait analysis data to help monitor and analyze the data. Given the increased interest in the area, this paper will focus on two parts: one is analyzing and reviewing the latest Machine learning Methods and sensors used, and the second is the possibility of a portable device capable of measuring and processing an individual's gait. The analysis of the Machine learning models and sensors papers illustrated that …

Solitary Confinement And Criminogenic Attitudes: Is Isolation Reinforcing Pro-Criminal Thoughts, Feelings, And Beliefs?, Michal Newhouse-Van Vlerin, Stephen Benning Ph.D., Demi Kourtesi

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Documented increases of problematic symptomatology following exposure to social exclusion contexts may be suggestive of increases in antisocial cognition and pro-criminal attitudes among prisoners. An exacerbation in behavioral indicators of criminality in correctional populations including aggressive behavior, reduced cooperation, and deficits in impulse control may suggest that restrictive and exclusionary correctional practices can aggravate criminogenic thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. Existing literature indicates that an endorsement of pro-criminal attitudes is one of the greatest predictors of future criminal behavior.

The study will recruit 400 randomly selected female adult inmates from Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Facility of Las Vegas, Nevada. A hard …

The Analysis Of Vr/Ar Cost And Immersion, Yessenia Henriquez, Si Jung Kim Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) habitually seek to construct new environments to produce virtual experiences. Virtual experiences are unimaginable to establish in real life, but not in a digital context. These virtual experiences could range from medical procedures in a virtual hospital setting to bizarre worlds in entertainment environments. Nonetheless, the rudimentary necessity to fabricate genuine virtual experiences is immersion. This literature review centers around discovering various aspects that formulate both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). This study attempts to comprehend the possibilities and objectives that AR and VR are most compatible with. The upcoming results …

Carnivore Use Of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Willaine Mae Kahano, Sean A. Neiswenter Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are one of the most well-known carnivorous species on the planet. Despite our familiarity with them, their effects on native fauna in protected areas is still unclear; however, many studies warn that dogs are a potential threat to wildlife. To understand the relationships between domestic dogs and native species, we conducted a preliminary carnivore survey at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Camera traps were placed in 14 different locations for an average of 28 trap nights. They were affixed to approximately 50 cm above the ground and were adjusted …

Methodological Approaches To Measuring Amyloid Pet: A Scoping Review In Ethnoracial Minorities, Amy Nguyen, Stacey Moeller M.Sc, Samantha John

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latinx (H/Lx) and Black/African American (B/AA) individuals, who face about 1.5-fold and 2-fold more risk of disease development, respectively, than non-Hispanic whites. Few studies examine AD biomarkers within ethnoracial minorities, especially for newer research techniques, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET). This study reviews current literature on amyloid PET within H/Lx and B/AA populations, exploring methodological approaches.

A scoping review of AD literature was conducted to identify publications with H/Lx and B/AA study samples and amyloid PET data. Two researchers combined search results from three databases, deleted duplicates, and independently reviewed publication abstracts to determine …

Frequency Of Each Sex Affected By Sudden Unexplained Deaths Due To Developmental Epilepsy, Betsua Garcia-Trujillo, Dustin Hines Ph.D., Jeffrey Barker, Rochelle Hines Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Developmental epilepsy is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that is mainly characterized by the onset of different types of seizures, developmental delays, and electroencephalogram (EEG) changes at a young age. Because it can describe a variety of syndromes, symptoms and specific causes may vary between affected individuals. Previous research has examined sex differences within affected adult populations but research examining sex differences for developmental epilepsy is lacking.

The objective of this research is to determine the frequency of each sex within a population of mice that died prematurely from developmental epilepsy due to mutations of the GABAA receptor α2 subunit. …

Photovoltaic Panel Inspection And Maintenance, Diego Rodriguez, Paul Oh Ph.D.

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Frequent inspection of photovoltaic panels is essential for keeping them energy efficient as well as increasing the panels longevity by ensuring they have little to no issues so they can keep running for as long as possible. The current process for inspection is very time consuming since solar panel fields are very big and current inspections are done manually. A much more time efficient as well as cheaper alternative to this problem is inspection with robots. The main focus for this project is the use of a motorized vehicle with a thermal camera attached to it to be able detect …