Digital Commons Network^™

Amyloid Β Peptides Modify The Expression Of Antioxidant Repair Enzymes And A Potassium Channel In The Septohippocampal System, Jorge Duran-Gonzalez, Edna D. Michi, Brisa Elorza, Miriam G. Perez-Cordova, Luis F. Pacheco Otalora, Ahmed Touhami, Pamela Paulson, George Perry, Ian V. Murray, Luis V. Colom

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative brain disorder characterized by extracellular accumulations of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides, intracellular accumulation of abnormal proteins, and early loss of basal forebrain neurons. Recent studies have indicated that the conformation of Aβ is crucial for neuronal toxicity, with intermediate misfolded forms such as oligomers being more toxic than the final fibrillar forms. Our previous work shows that Aβ blocks the potassium (K(+)) currents IM and IA in septal neurons, increasing firing rates, diminishing rhythmicity and firing coherence. Evidence also suggests that oxidative stress (OS) plays a role in AD pathogenesis. Thus we wished …

Role Of Msa In Immune Evasion, Persistence, And Protease Regulation In The Human Pathogenic Strains Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Maria Deepa Basco

Dissertations

Opportunistic pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus on entering the host can stay colonized at the foci of infection or evade the immune system to disseminate to other sites. In this study we investigated the regulatory influence of the modulator of sarA (msa) on immune evasion and host persistence, employing the hospital-acquired strain S. aureus UAMS-1 and community-acquired strain S. aureus USA300 LAC. In the murine sepsis model, mutation of the msa gene in LAC showed no change in dissemination of infection; however, in UAMS-1 a decrease in microbial load was observed in the lungs. Differential regulation by the msa gene was …

Effects Of Check In/Checkout With A Fading Procedure On The Academic Engagement And Problem Behavior Of Elementary School Students, Leila Mullooly Miller

Dissertations

Though preliminary research indicates Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) is an effective intervention for improving problematic behavior in a variety of populations, the literature is limited in several ways. Several studies have relied on indirect measures of behavior, such as office discipline referrals (ODRs) and teacher ratings, to determine the effectiveness of CICO. However, indirect measures are not always reliable indicators of student behavior change, whereas direct observation is known to be an accurate tool for behavioral measurement. Therefore, the current study evaluated the effects of CICO on levels of problem behavior and academic engagement for a group of four elementary school students …

“Unmistakably Clear” Coercion: Finding A Balance Between Judicial Review Of The Spending Power And Optimal Federalism, Dale B. Thompson

San Diego Law Review

This Article proposes a new tier of scrutiny, “unmistakably clear,” for conducting judicial review of congressional authority under the Spending Clause. Under this standard, a condition would be unconstitutional only if it is unmistakably clear that it is coercive. In order to develop this proposal, this Article traces the debate over the spending power from the Federalist Papers up through the decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, finding strong arguments for granting significant deference to Congress’s Spending Clause authority. Careful analysis of the opinions in the case yields not only the name for the new standard of …

From Fandom To Franchise: Generational Discourse Among Fans And Producers, Nicholas C. Benson

Communication & Theatre Arts Theses

Generational discourse surrounding fandom has been an understudied area of media studies. Using Disney's TRON franchise as a case study, this thesis looks at that discourse as it exists in two areas. The first chapter draws on interviews with several actual TRON fans and looks at how the concept of generation is imagined within the TRON fan community. The second chapter draws from promotional interviews done with TRON creator Steven Lisberger to analyze the way the concept of generation functions within the decision making practices and formation of career capital within Hollywood. Ultimately, this paper concludes that the concept of …

Riskvis: Supply Chain Visualization With Risk Management And Real-Time Monitoring, Rick S. M. Goh, Zhaoxia Wang, Xiaofeng Yin, Xiuju Fu, Loganathan Ponnanbalam, Sifei Lu, Xiaorong Li

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

With increased complexity, supply chain networks (SCNs) of modern era face higher risks and lower efficiency due to limited visibility. Hence, there is an immediate need to provide end-to-end supply chain visibility for efficient management of complex supply chains. This paper proposes a visualization scheme based on multi-hierarchical modular design and develops a supply chain visualization platform with risk management and real-time monitoring, named RiskVis, for realizing better Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM). A Supply Chain Visualizer (SCV) with a graphical visualization platform is mounted as a part of a SCRM management decision-making dashboard and it provides senior management a …

Disease Ecology Of A Microsporidian Parasite And Its Effects On Mottled Sculpin, Jared Joseph Homola

Masters Theses

Infectious disease can influence organisms at all levels of ecological organization, from individuals to ecosystems. Likewise, the ecosystems where pathogens exist directly influence their success. Recent theoretical studies have tied disease prevalence to biotic factors such as genetic diversity, biodiversity, and host behavior, and abiotic factors that include temperature and increased nutrient concentrations. Parasites included in the phylum Microspora are increasingly recognized for being ubiquitous in nature, although their ecological roles are generally unknown. This study examined several environmental, community, and host-related metrics to compare the biotic and abiotic aspects of 16 small streams; 6 with mottled sculpin (Cottus …

Examining The Inner Experience Of Left-Handers Using Descriptive Experience Sampling, Aadee Mizrachi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Research suggests there are anatomical asymmetries of the human brain associated with right-hand or left-hand preference. In addition, left-handedness has been related to a wide range of psychological and physical problems. Despite these relationships, little is known about the inner experience of left-handers.

The present study, a replication of Mizrachi (2010) using a larger sample, used Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) with three objectives: 1) examine the inner experience of left-handers; 2) compare the results of the present study to the results of Mizrachi (2010); and 3) compare the inner experience of left-handers to that of the general population as reported …

Timeflies: Push-Pull Signal-Function Functional Reactive Programming, Edward Amsden

Theses

Functional Reactive Programming (FRP) is a promising class of abstractions for interactive programs. FRP systems provide values defined at all points in time (behaviors or signals) and values defined at countably many points in time (events) as abstractions. Signal-function FRP is a subclass of FRP which does not provide direct access to time-varying values to the programmer, but instead provides signal functions, which are reactive transformers of signals and events, as first-class objects in the program. All signal-function implementations of FRP to date have utilized demand-driven or "pull-based" evaluation for both events and signals, producing output from the FRP system …

Watering The St. Katherine Landscape: Exploring The Nexus Between Socio-Economic And Hydro-Cultural Change, Joshua D. Lohnes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The town of St. Katherine is located in the mountainous and most water rich region of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. This relative water abundance was a critical factor to the historical and cultural landscape that emerged there over the centuries. Past human settlements have left an intricate network of catchments, conduits and wells. Much of this infrastructure is still in use today across the hundreds of orchards that dot valley floors around this growing urban center. A pipeline has recently linked this community to the Nile River hundreds of miles away restructuring water consumption patterns throughout the area and reinforcing a …

Column Flotation Of Subbituminous Coal Using The Blend Of Trimethyl Pentanediol Derivatives And Pico-Nano Bubbles, Jinxiang Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Subbituminous coal, a low rank of coal, is difficult-to-float using the conventional flotation process by a single frother such as MIBC and a single collector such as kerosene or fuel oil. The froth flotation of the fine coal separation process is based on the differences of wettability between coal and mineral particles. The formation of oxygenated functional groups on coal surface can reduce its hydrophobicity. This result makes the coal more difficult to float by oily collector alone. Previous work shows that the surfactant can be used to activate the oxygenated surface, by selecting the group of such as fatty …

Effects Of A Gonadotropin Mixture On Reproductive Success In Progesterone- Treated Non-Lactating Anestrous Ewes, Kellie Nicole D'Souza

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Using exogenous gonadotropins as part of an estrous induction protocol can have beneficial effects on fertility in ewes bred out-of-season. Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of P.G. 600RTM, a mixture of gonadotropins with FSH-like and LH-like activity, to increase fertility in anestrous ewes and, in particular, following pre-treatment with progesterone delivered via controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) devices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of P.G. 600RTM on reproductive success in progesterone-treated non-lactating anestrous ewes. Ewes, which had been separated from rams for at least one month prior to the beginning of the experiment, received …

Absorption Of Marine Vs Non-Marine Sources Of Epa And Dha, John S. Ketz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from algae oil has been incorporated into tissues at a lower level and has been less effective than fish oil (FO) at reducing body fat. Our objective was to determine fecal excretion of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA from different dietary sources. Male mice (n=100) were fed a 12% lipid diet containing soy oil (SO), FO, yeast oil (YO) algae oil (AO), or AO+YO. The AO diet was fed to contain amounts of DHA equal to the FO diet, and the YO diet was fed to contain amounts of EPA equal to the FO diet. To measure …

The Effect Of Surgical Guides On Heat Generation During Guided Implant Surgery: An In Vitro Study, Safa Tahmasebi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the heat generated in bone by one implant drill system with and without using surgical drill guides. Temperature elevation during guided surgery was compared to that of conventional drilling in bovine femur specimens. Significant differences in temperature elevation between conventional osteotomy and guided surgical osteotomy were examined.;Materials and Methods: Conventional and Surgically guided osteotomies were performed in 117 randomized measurements with K type thermocouples in an in-vitro study using bovine cortical bone. Using an internally and externally irrigated implant system, intermittent drilling at 2- second intervals at a constant …

Thrombospondin: An Emerging Keystone In Skeletal Muscle Structure And Function, Gerald Nelson Audet

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Our objective was to elucidate the effects of TSP-1 on skeletal muscle structure and function, and its potential role in the progression of skeletal muscle dysfunction. The central hypothesis was that TSP-1 is a critical negative regulator of skeletal muscle angiogenesis. In chapter 3, we used a TSP-1 mimetic delivered by mini osmotic pumps to show that TSP-1 can reduce capillarity across three distinct muscle types. We found that those given the mimetic had a 35% decrease in soleus capillarity, a 20% decrease in the gastrocnemius, and an 11% decrease in the plantaris. This confirmed the critical role that TSP-1 …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Practice Change Incorporating A Weight Loss Strategy For Adolescent Patients With A Bmi Percentile In The Overweight And/Or Obese Category, Anita C. Fouch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Adolescent obesity has become an epidemic nationwide and globally. In Ohio, rates of obesity among African American, Hispanic and other minority students continues to rise. Adolescent obesity increases the risk of developing co-morbid health issues, such as Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HTN) and fatty liver disease.;Objective: To implement and evaluate a practice change incorporating a weight loss strategy in a large pediatric gastroenterology clinic for adolescent patients with a body mass index percentile (BMI) in the overweight and/or obese category.;Method: The capstone project practice change involved the use of a nosugaradded beverages weight loss strategy used by …

Examining Ohv User Displacement At The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area: A Ten Year Trend Study, Candice J. Riley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use has become an increasingly popular form of recreation among users in national forest land in recent years. This increased use of OHVs on National Forest land has led to numerous environmental and social impacts, leading land managers to resort to restrictive management policies to contend with the impacts. The purpose of this research is to combine data from three cross-sectional surveys (2002, 2006, and 2011) to examine OHV user displacement and other trends at ODNRA/Sand Lake. This paper uses Descriptive statistics, Chi Square, Analysis of Variance, and Structural Equation Modeling to determine relationships between the following …

The Benefits Of Using Building Information Modeling In Structural Engineering, Cesar Augusto Hunt

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This paper explores how the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be a beneficial platform for structural engineers. The current state of BIM is analyzed, giving a general overview on how architectural; engineering and construction firms are applying it on their projects. The applicability of BIM to structural engineering is discussed, and how it impacts the structural design and its workflow. The benefits of using BIM in structural engineering are then analyzed, in the areas of productivity, coordination, and visualization, and a case study is developed to test the interoperability between BIM software and structural analysis software. The findings …

A Simulation-Based Decision Model For Computing Architectures In Healthcare Organizations, Charles S. Brust

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

Information Technology in healthcare is an ever-growing enterprise, with medical providers becoming more and more reliant on data to make care decisions. Medical institutions today are faced with increasing costs and declining reimbursement for services provided. This squeeze in revenue is placing additional emphasis on ensuring that IT projects in this space are architected correctly, to ensure the best results at the lowest cost. Similarly, the increasing scale of applications and data to be supported has created an imbalance in the number of servers vs. the IT administrators. Further, with the increased reliance on these applications for care, questions arise …

Thorns Of Native Lower Rio Grande Valley Plants Are Colonized By Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria, Felicia A. Charles

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Epiphytic pathogenic bacteria on the thorns of native LRGV plants may provide a defense mechanism for the plants. To test this, plant thorns were collected from LRGV plant species and aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated in thioglycollate medium. Tests were performed to characterize the bacterial cultures. The 16S rRNA gene was sequenced to allow for species identification. Sixty-nine bacterial cultures were isolated, including gram-positive and gram-negative cell types. All utilized a variety of carbon sources for nutrients and 23% of isolates displayed hemolysis. Bacterial identification included members of the genus Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Serratia, and others. Most were opportunistic pathogens. …

The Origin And Molecular Evolution Of Two Multigene Families: G-Protein Coupled Receptors And Glycoside Hydrolase Families, Seong-Il Eyun

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Multigene family is a group of genes that arose from a common ancestor by gene duplication. Gene duplications are a major driving force of new function acquisition. Multigene family thus has a fundamental role in adaptation. To elucidate their molecular evolutionary mechanisms, I chose two multigene families: chemosensory receptors and glycoside hydrolases. I have identified complete repertoires of trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), a member of chemosensory receptors, from 38 metazoan genomes. An ancestral-type TAAR emerged before the divergence between gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) and sea lamprey (jawless fish). Primary amine detecting TAARs (TAAR1-4) are found to be older and have evolved …

Ammonia And Nitrous Oxide Loss From Sprinkler Applied Beef Feedlot Effluent, Blythe P. Mcafee

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A range of flux chambers are available and have been used to measure fluxes of atmospheric gases, including NH₃, with the addition of acid traps. Previous studies show acid traps can be very effective but there is a need to understand how chambers affect acid trap efficiency so measurements can be adjusted for more accurate results. In this lab study, chamber tightness, pump flow variation, and NH₃ trapping efficiency of a flux chamber system were examined. Chamber leakage varied with time from 1-7%. Pumping rate between pumps was significantly different and when included in the closed chamber …

Mimicry Epitope From Ehrlichia Canis For Interphotoreceptor Retinoid-Binding Protein 201–216 Prevents Autoimmune Uveoretinitis By Acting As Altered Peptide Ligand, Arunakumar Gangaplara, Chandirasegaran Massilamany, David Steffen, Jay Reddy

Jay Reddy Publications

We report here identification of novel mimicry epitopes for interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) 201–216, a candidate ocular antigen that causes experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in A/J mice. One mimicry epitope from Ehrlichia canis (EHC), designated EHC 44–59, induced cross-reactive T cells for IRBP 201–216 capable of producing T helper (Th)1 and Th17 cytokines, but failed to induce EAU in A/J mice. In addition, animals first primed with suboptimal doses of IRBP 201–216 and subsequently immunized with EHC 44–59 did not develop EAU; rather, the mimicry epitope prevented the disease induced by IRBP 201–216. However, alteration in the composition of EHC …

Osmotic Stress, Not Aldose Reductase Activity, Directly Induces Growth Factors And Mapk Signaling Changes During Sugar Cataract Formation, Peng Zhang, Kuiyi Xing, James Randazzo, Karen Blessing, Marjorie F. Lou, Peter Kador

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

In sugar cataract formation in rats, aldose reductase (AR) actitvity is not only linked to lenticular sorbitol (diabetic) or galactitol (galactosemic) formation but also to signal transduction changes, cytotoxic signals and activation of apoptosis. Using both in vitro and in vivo techniques, the interrelationship between AR activity, polyol (sorbitol and galactitol) formation, osmotic stress, growth factor induction, and cell signaling changes have been investigated. For in vitro studies, lenses from Sprague Dawley rats were cultured for up to 48 hrs in TC-199-bicarbonate media containing either 30 mM fructose (control), or 30 mM glucose or galctose with/without the aldose reductase inhibitors …

Alternations Of Nmda And Gabab Receptor Function In Development: A Potential Animal Model Of Schizophrenia, Monica Bolton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder that affects up to 3% of the world population. The behavioral symptoms are categorized into positive and negative symptoms, which appear during late adolescence/early adulthood. Unfortunately, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease are poorly understood. Several hypotheses exist to explain mechanisms contributing to these behavioral alterations. One model proposes that a reduced function of the NMDA glutamate receptor on specific GABAergic interneurons may be responsible for deficits in schizophrenia. Post-mortem investigations provide evidence of reductions in both glutamate and GABA-related proteins in patients with schizophrenia. Further, GABAergic interneurons that are activated …

Paleoecology Of Late Pleistocene Megaherbivores: Stable Isotope Reconstruction Of Environment, Climate, And Response, Aubrey Mae Bonde

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Late Pleistocene megaherbivore communities of the Pacific and Mountain West states of California and Nevada are under-analyzed in regard to ecological function (diet, mobility, niche partitioning, and range of ecological tolerance). Stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool that is known to recover primary paleodiet and paleoenvironmental information from biogenic materials, such as enamel and dentin. This dissertation explores the use of carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in Late Pleistocene (40-10 Ka) megaherbivore teeth to gain a better understanding of inter- and intra-specific behavior and reconstruct Late Pleistocene ecosystems of California and Nevada. Radiocarbon dates exist for most of the …

A History And Analysis Of The Works Of Lynn Ahrens And Stephen Flaherty, Matthew Paul Fisher

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the history of musical theatre there have been several celebrated composer-lyricist teams. For over thirty years in the modern era the talents of librettist-lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty have been heard on stage, in movies, and on television, both in collaboration with others and together. When they formed their professional partnership in 1983 they made a team that would give modern musical theatre its most unique pairing. Their work is not easy to identify. Their source materials vary greatly from show to show and the musical style is never the same. With their level of output, talents, …

Relationship Of Global Dna Methylation With Cardiovascular Fitness And Body Composition, Michael Steele Jarrett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Global DNA Methylation (GDM), an epigenomic modification has been linked to the development of Cardiovascular Disease and its risk factors. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a significant correlation between GDM and cardiovascular fitness, as well as, measures of body composition. Methodology: 26 apparently healthy, adults (11 males) completed a physical activity and diet questionnaire, as well as, had a small blood sample (600μL) collected via finger prick for the determination of GDM. Body composition was assessed by means of a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, while cardiovascular fitness was evaluated by the …

The Effect Of Temperature Extremes On Cardiorespiratory Function In The Grass Shrimp Palaemonetes Pugio: Oxygen Limited Thermal Tolerance, Teresa Mika

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aquatic poikilothermic animals must either cope with or compensate for the mismatch in oxygen supply and demand present at high temperatures. Oxygen limited thermal tolerance explains how aerobic scope is limited by insufficient oxygen supply and sets the performance window in animals. This work explores the effects of temperature on the different components of the oxygen delivery system, in both normoxic and hyperoxic conditions to determine if supplying more oxygen to the system mitigates the effects of temperature effects on the cardiorespiratory system and extends oxygen limited thermal tolerance to higher temperatures. The effect of temperature and oxygen condition was …

Understanding Basin Specific Life History Characteristics Of Lake Mead Quagga Mussels (Dreissena Bugensis) And A Potential Treatment Using Uv Radiation In Laboratory Studies, Melissa Thaw

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) is an aquatic invasive species that is spreading throughout Lake Mead and other western waterways. Unlike their native waters in Eurasia, Lake Mead exhibits year round warm temperatures, high calcium levels and a lack of natural predators, all of which are very favorable conditions for their growth and spread. Dreissena bugensis reproduce and colonize hard surfaces rapidly, where they filter large amounts of water. They disrupt the aquatic food chain and interfere with infrastructure that is exposed to lake water. There is an urgent need to understand Dreissena bugensis life history characteristics within this new …