Digital Commons Network^™

Supporting Stem In Early Childhood Education, Jennifer Buchter, Maryssa Kucskar, Conrad Oh-Young, Jenna Welgarz-Ward, Jeff Gelfer

Policy Issues in Nevada Education: Policy Papers

No abstract provided.

Career Handbook, Unlv Career Services

Career Handbook

The job search, no matter what step you are on, can be a daunting and intimidating process. We want you to know that you are not alone in this journey. Since the day you arrived on campus, you have been surrounded by the support of family, friends, professors, staff, and peers. As you move into the next stage of your professional journey, we want you to know that you have the support of Career Services, the Alumni Association, and all of the employers who are part of the Hire a Rebel family to mentor, guide, and walk with you through …

A First Look Into The Influence Of Triathlon Wetsuit On Resting Blood Pressure And Heart Rate Variability, A. Prado, Janet S. Dufek, James W. Navalta, Nancy Lough, John A. Mercer

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing a wetsuit on resting cardiovascular measures (blood pressure (BP), heart rate variability (HRV)). The influence of position (upright, prone) and wetsuit size were also explored. Participants (n=12 males, 33.3±12.1 years) had BP and HRV measured during six resting conditions: standing or prone while not wearing a wetsuit (NWS), wearing the smallest (SWS), or largest (LWS) wetsuit (based upon manufacturer guidelines). Heart rate was recorded continuously over 5-mins; BP was measured three times per condition. HRV was represented by the ratio of low (LF) and high (HF) frequency (LF/HF …

Collaborating With Teaching Faculty On Transparent Assignment Design, Melissa Bowles-Terry, John C. Watts, Pat Hawthorne, Patricia Iannuzzi

Library Faculty Research

In light of a campus-wide curricular change at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the University Libraries created Faculty Institutes to build capacity for effective teaching and assessment practices campus-wide. The UNLV Libraries Faculty Institutes are multi-day workshops designed and delivered by librarians to help teaching faculty create courses and assignments that are research-rich and closely aligned with the newly launched General Education learning outcomes. This chapter provides the situational factors leading to the overhaul of General Education at UNLV and how librarians leveraged this opportunity to maximize their role as experts in information literacy and instructional design. This …

Anthropometric Measures Of Hadza Forager Children And Juveniles: Implications For Anthropology And Human Biology, Elle Ford, Alyssa N. Crittenden

McNair Poster Presentations

Understanding growth trajectories during child development is important for the fields of human biology, public health, medicine, and evolutionary medicine. To date, the majority of current references for childhood development and health are primarily derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To ensure a child is developing properly, is equipped with proper nutrition, and will sustain a healthy life through adolescence and adulthood, these measurements and standards are necessary. The current study aims to test whether or not these standards are applicable in non-industrial small-scale societies where differences from western populations …

Computational Fluid Dynamics Applied To Transport Systems In Trees, Katie E. Randolph, Paul J. Schulte Ph.D

McNair Poster Presentations

Our ecosystem is dependent upon the ability of photosynthetic plants to convert solar energy into a form of energy useable to biological organisms. Even so, much remains to become understood about how plants function. With such expansive bodies,how do trees cyclewaterand nutrients throughouttheir bodies?

Insula Activation And What It May Tell Us About Food Motivation In Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Literature Review, Roxana K. Vazquez, Kristen Culbert

McNair Poster Presentations

• Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent refusal of caloric intake, resulting in emaciation. • Identifying whether neural networks that process food-related stimuli are affected in AN is important for understanding the biological basis of this illness, particularly severe food restriction. • The insular cortex is a key area that has been implicated; this brain region is associated with interoceptive awareness and gustation.

Differential Effects Of Child Maltreatment Type And Chronicity Variables On Ptsd Symptoms, Valerie Velasco, Amanda Howard, Christopher Kearney Ph.D

McNair Poster Presentations

Our interests:The current investigation studied the effect of maltreatment type and chronicity of trauma on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of school-aged children aged 6-18 years old. Why we’re interested:PTSD has been associated with serious developmental deficits in children that can lead to struggles with mental health and other adverse outcomes in adulthood (Dunn et al., 2017; Milot et al., 2010; Giaconia R. M. et al., 1995; Gwadz, Nish, Leonard, & Strauss, 2007). The current literature: • Children with exposure to child maltreatment traumas are at a significantly higher risk of developing PTSD than those with other trauma …

Prescribing Change For Minority Students: Diagnosing Inequalities In Science Education In The Clark County School District, Brianna K. Cotter

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

Promoting entry of underrepresented minority groups into the allied health professions is paramount to developing a balanced workforce that reflects the needs of an evolving populace. Currently, significant underrepresentation of racial minority groups in health and science related fields correlates with data showing an overrepresentation of black and Latino students in Title 1 (at-risk and low-income) schools. Data suggest that students who are exposed to “higher quality” science education, such as “hands on” experiences, have increased interest in pursuing a health or science related career. These findings prompt the hypothesis that Title 1 schools face inequalities in their science education …

Fda And The Practice Of Medicine: Looking At Off–Label Drugs, Wendy Teo

Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

No abstract provided.

Secretogranin Iii As A Disease-Associated Ligand For Antiangiogenic Therapy Of Diabetic Retinopathy, M E. Leblanc, W Wang, X Chen, N B. Caberoy, F Guo, C Shen, Y Ji, H Tian, H Wang, R Chen, W Li

Geoscience Faculty Research

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss with retinal vascular leakage and/or neovascularization. Current antiangiogenic therapy against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has limited efficacy. In this study, we applied a new technology of comparative ligandomics to diabetic and control mice for the differential mapping of disease-related endothelial ligands. Secretogranin III (Scg3) was discovered as a novel disease-associated ligand with selective binding and angiogenic activity in diabetic but not healthy vessels. In contrast, VEGF bound to and induced angiogenesis in both diabetic and normal vasculature. Scg3 and VEGF signal through distinct receptor pathways. Importantly, Scg3-neutralizing antibodies alleviated …

Secretogranin Iii As A Disease-Associated Ligand For Antiangiogenic Therapy Of Diabetic Retinopathy, M E. Leblanc, W Wang, X Chen, N B. Caberoy, F Guo, C Shen, Y Ji, H Tian, H Wang, R Chen, W Li

Geoscience Faculty Research

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss with retinal vascular leakage and/or neovascularization. Current antiangiogenic therapy against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has limited efficacy. In this study, we applied a new technology of comparative ligandomics to diabetic and control mice for the differential mapping of disease-related endothelial ligands. Secretogranin III (Scg3) was discovered as a novel disease-associated ligand with selective binding and angiogenic activity in diabetic but not healthy vessels. In contrast, VEGF bound to and induced angiogenesis in both diabetic and normal vasculature. Scg3 and VEGF signal through distinct receptor pathways. Importantly, Scg3-neutralizing antibodies alleviated …

Biosignature Preservation And Detection In Mars Analog Environments, L E. Hays, H V. Graham, D J. Des Marais, E M. Hausrath, B Horgan, T M. Mccollom, M N. Parenteau, S L. Potter Mcintyre, A J. Williams, K L. Lynch

Geoscience Faculty Research

This review of material relevant to the Conference on Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments summarizes the meeting materials and discussions and is further expanded upon by detailed references to the published literature. From this diverse source material, there is a detailed discussion on the habitability and biosignature preservation potential of five primary analog environments: hydrothermal spring systems, subaqueous environments, subaerial environments, subsurface environments, and iron-rich systems. Within the context of exploring past habitable environments on Mars, challenges common to all of these key environments are laid out, followed by a focused discussion for each environment regarding challenges …

Minimum Information About A Single Amplified Genome (Misag) And A Metagenome-Assembled Genome (Mimag) Of Bacteria And Archaea, R M. Bowers, N C. Kyrpides, R Stepanauskas, M Harmon Smith, D Doud, T B.K. Reddy, F Schulz, J Jarett, A R. Rivers, E A. Eloe Fanrosh, S G. Tringe, N N. Ivanova, A Copeland, A Clum, E D. Becraft, R R. Malmstrom, B Birren, M Podar, P Bork, G M. Weinstock, G M. Garrity, J A. Dodsworth, S Yooseph, G Sutton, F O. Glockner, J A. Gilbert, W C. Nelson, S J. Hallam, S P. Jungbluth, T J.G. Ettema, S Tighe, Konstantinidis

Life Sciences Faculty Research

We present two standards developed by the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) for reporting bacterial and archaeal genome sequences. Both are extensions of the Minimum Information about Any (x) Sequence (MIxS). The standards are the Minimum Information about a Single Amplified Genome (MISAG) and the Minimum Information about a Metagenome-Assembled Genome (MIMAG), including, but not limited to, assembly quality, and estimates of genome completeness and contamination. These standards can be used in combination with other GSC checklists, including the Minimum Information about a Genome Sequence (MIGS), Minimum Information about a Metagenomic Sequence (MIMS), and Minimum Information about a Marker Gene Sequence …

Implementation Of A Loss-Of-Function System To Determine Growth And Stress-Associated Mutagenesis In Bacillus Subtilis, N Villegas Negrete, E A. Robleto, A Obregon Herrera, R E. Yasbin, M Pedraza Reyes

Life Sciences Faculty Research

A forward mutagenesis system based on the acquisition of mutations that inactivate the thymidylate synthase gene (TMS) and confer a trimethoprim resistant (Tmpr) phenotype was developed and utilized to study transcription-mediated mutagenesis (TMM). In addition to thyA, Bacillus subtilis possesses thyB, whose expression occurs under conditions of cell stress; therefore, we generated a thyB- thyA+ mutant strain. Tmpr colonies of this strain were produced with a spontaneous mutation frequency of ∼1.4 × 10-9. Genetic disruption of the canonical mismatch (MMR) and guanine oxidized (GO) repair pathways increased the Tmpr frequency of mutation by ∼2-3 orders of magnitude. A wide spectrum …

Dual Recognition Of Chromatin And Microtubules By Inc Enp Is Important For Mitotic Progression, M S. Wheelock, D J. Wynne, B S. Tseng, H Funabiki

Life Sciences Faculty Research

The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), composed of inner centromere protein (INC ENP), Survivin, Borealin, and the kinase Aurora B, contributes to the activation of the mitotic checkpoint. The regulation of CPC function remains unclear. Here, we reveal that in addition to Survivin and Borealin, the single α-helix (SAH) domain of INC ENP supports CPC localization to chromatin and the mitotic checkpoint. The INC ENP SAH domain also mediates INC ENP's microtubule binding, which is negatively regulated by Cyclin-dependent kinase-mediated phosphorylation of segments flanking the SAH domain. The microtubule-binding capacity of the SAH domain is important for mitotic arrest in conditions …

Unlv Title Iii Aanapisi & Mcnair Scholars Institute Research Journal, Nir Herscovici, Joyce Hsu, Matthew Khumnark, Joy Lamug, Jeong Lim Lee, Kendall Lyons, Andrea Mandril, Niroshini Moodley, Eric Ng, Timothy Ogburn, Andrew A. Ortiz, Emily Khanh Pham, Nha Trang Vivian Sam, Devlynn Scarpati, Olivia Tsang, Termaine Antonio Turner Ii, Pang Kou Vang, Kanisha Wilson, Shannon Zayas, Claudia Chiang-Lopez, Victoria Copeland, Andrea Darby, Bridgett Giordmaina, Briceida Hernandez-Toledo, Mark Larubio, Ana Lesquives, Yessenia Madrigal, Summer Millwood, Angel Mims, Blaine Pennock, Katie Randolph, Amber K. Stephens, Sarah Werman, Eben-Ezer Arias-Garcia, Ernesto H. Bedoy, Royale Cannon, Irma De Santiago, Lorraine Louise K. Francisco, Imani A. Gayden, Jeffrey Gonzalez, Isaiah Shornell Henry, Ashley C. Lee, Marielle Leo, Elizabeth Ochoa, Bernajane Palisoc, Sean Tanzey, Howard Yanxon

McNair Journal

Journal articles based on research conducted by undergraduate students in the AANAPISI and McNair Scholars Programs

Table of Contents

About AANAPISI

Biography of Dr. Ronald E. McNair

Statements

Dr. Len Jessup, UNLV President

Dr. Juanita P. Fain, Vice President for Student Affairs

Dr. William W. Sullivan, Associate Vice President for Retention and Outreach

Mr. Keith Rogers, Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach

Title III AANAPISI and McNair Scholars Institute Staff

Ms. Terri Bernstein, Director for College Programs

Dr. Matthew Della Sala, Assistant Director for Undergraduate Research

Characterization Of Phytocystatin-Like Cysteine Protease Inhibitors Of Trichomonas Vaginalis, Ryan Michael John Faucher

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Trichomoniasis is a common STD caused by the parasitic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. The parasite is estimated to have infected roughly 3.7 million Americans. Complications from trichomoniasis can lead to cervical cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. One of the mechanisms of the parasite employs is using cysteine proteases to break down the cellular matrix of its host. However, three endogenous phytocystatin-like protease inhibitors have been found within the parasite’s genome. By recombinantly expressing these cystatins we have been able to test their ability to inhibit cysteine proteases such as papain and those found in T. vaginalis to find …

Isolating The Targets Of Six Transcription Factor In Ephydatia Muelleri And Identifying The Role Of The Superoxide Dismutase 6 In Host Immune Response To Trichomonas Vaginalis, Gurbir Kaur Gudial

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Sponges are the descendants of the oldest members of the metazoan phylogenetic lineage and their genome contains animal specific genes but lack true tissues, organ systems, and neurons. Thus, the sponge model system can be used to elucidate origin of developmental processes. The PSED (RDGN) network (Pax/Six/Eya/Dac) is important in development of eyes, muscles, and other structures in Bilaterians. Similarly, sponges contain a precursor Pax-Six gene network. The Ephydatia muelleri (Em) PaxB protein binds to a

Pax2/5/8 consensus sequence site and two cis-regulatory elements upstream and one intron sequence of EmSix1/2 (Rivera et al., 2013).

This study aimed to determine …

Using The Medication Cabinet To Predict Fall Risk In Elderly Adults, Jessica Lopez

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Background: In the United States, 30-60% of older adults fall each year; 10-20% of these falls result in injury, hospitalization, or even death. Better prevention of falls in this population may be facilitated by broader identification of risk factors. The use of statins has emerged as a potential risk factor, but the data provide conflicted results.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between statin use and falls among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: We evaluated the patient registry of a Level 1 trauma center. All patients aged > 50 years who were admitted for falls in 2015 were included (n=615). Many of these …

Exploring The Racial And Gender Identity Formation Of Men Of Color In Student Leader Roles Who Have White Women Supervisors And Advisors In Higher Education, Alejandro Frank Covarrubias

Doctoral Dissertations

Daily experiences of isolation and invalidation create adverse campus climates that often lead to men of color dropping out of higher education. Student leadership positions can increase feelings of belonging, provide greater access to campus resources and increase retention for men of color, particularly when they centralize identity exploration. White women are overrepresented in student affairs direct student contact positions in higher education and are likely to supervise and/or advise men of color student leaders, but many student affairs professional are not properly trained to supervise or advise through an identity-based framework. This study explored: how do men of color …

Epistemology, Wisdom, And Social Transformation: Strategies At The Forefront Of The Contemplative Movement In Higher Education, Nicola Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

American society is currently experiencing a surging interest in contemplative practices. The secularization and professionalization of contemplative practices can be seen in the adoption of mindfulness-based approaches in sectors as wide-ranging as technology, nonprofit, and higher education. Amongst all these fields, institutions of higher education play a unique role within the contemplative movement in that the academy lays claim to the powerful social roles of producing and disseminating knowledge and, subsequently, of shaping societal values and behaviors.

In conducting this qualitative study, the researcher analyzed 1) what the academics in the contemplative movement expressed through their speech regarding the activities …

Bioimpedance Spectroscopy - Can It Be Used As A Tool For Monitoring Fluid Shifts In Burns?, Pippa Kenworthy

Theses

Large fluid shifts and oedema are features of burn injuries. Oedema hampers burn wound healing and is directly related to the size and depth of the burn. The degree of oedema in burns covers a broad spectrum: Minor burns cause localised or peripheral oedema, whilst major burns may result in a systemic inflammatory response which can be life threatening and necessitates formal fluid resuscitation. Acute burn fluid resuscitation is paramount in decreasing patient morbidity and mortality but can contribute to already large amounts of oedema. There is currently no single clinically applicable, non-invasive and accurate outcome measure to titrate fluid …

Assessment Of The Neuroprotective Potential Of Poly-Arginine Peptides In Stroke Models, Diego Milani

Theses

Currently, there is no available neuroprotective treatment for reducing acute brain injury following stroke. Recent studies have demonstrated that poly-arginine and arginine-rich peptides (e.g. R18; R = arginine residues) exhibit potent neuroprotective properties in both in vitro and in vivo stroke models, and therefore have the potential to be developed into a neuroprotective treatment for stroke.

Consequently, the aim of this thesis was to further assess the neuroprotective efficacy of several poly-arginine and arginine-rich peptides in permanent and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) stroke models in the rat.

The poly-arginine peptides R12, R15, R18 and the arginine-rich peptide protamine …

Sedimentation Dynamics Of The Cagayan De Oro River Catchment And The Implications For Its Coastal Marine Environments, Mars P. Tan

Theses

Declines in coastal environment condition can often be attributed to land-based activities in the uplands. This may be the case in some parts of Macajalar Bay, where river plume is observed almost daily. This present study aims to demonstrate the erosion-sedimentation process along the Cagayan de Oro River Catchment to its river mouth, and its implication for the marine coastal habitats. Highlighted in the study are the various natural factors that have influenced the erosion-sedimentation process: its volume; direction; and effects on the coastal habitats.

In the uplands, to account for the influence of catchment spatial heterogeneity and local rainfall …

The Last Best Hope: Are Voluntary Conservation Agreements Effective Tools For Protecting Imperiled Species?, Sophie B. Tsairis

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances, or CCAAs, are little known, voluntary conservation agreements that protect imperiled wildlife on private lands. These agreements have emerged over the past decade and have had mixed results in providing adequate protections for candidate species.

Landowners, private industries, state and federal agencies, and environmental nonprofits, are using CCAAs as tools to eliminate the need for an endangered species listing. An Endangered Species Act listing can lead to land-use uncertainty for private landowners and this threat is the main incentive to enroll in a CCAA. When landowners enroll in CCAAs they are agreeing to provide specific …

Epistemically Detrimental Dissent In Climate Science, Iheanyi Amadi

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Dissent, criticism and controversy are integral to scientific practice, especially when we consider science as a communal enterprise. However, not every form of dissent is acceptable in science. The aim of this paper is to characterize what constitutes the kind of dissent that impedes the growth of knowledge, in other words epistemically detrimental dissent (EDD), and apply that analysis to climate science. I argue that the intrusion of non-epistemic considerations is inescapable in climate science and other policy-relevant sciences. As such there is the need to look beyond the presence of non-epistemic factors (such as non-epistemic risks and economic interests) …

An Investigation Into The Relative Importance Of Civil Institutions On Subjective Well-Being, Samuel Fleming

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Poverty is not a material problem; in fact, it is a much greater problem, the problem of social, natural, and economic disconnect from the institutions of stability, wealth, justice, and well-being. When considering human flourishing, we must look beyond the material at “lives that are not necessarily morally good, but good for us” (Tiberius, 2006, p. 493). In the vein of Sen’s Capabilities Theory, this paper uses subjective well-being as a comprehensive measure of an individual’s life and circumstances examines how civil institutions impact an individual’s non-monetary welfare function. This paper conducts a series of regression models in an attempt …

Are Maximum Ground Forces And Leg Compression In Phase? A Test Of The Classical Spring Mass Model Of Running Gaits, Seth Donahue

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The mechanical understanding of human running has classically been described as a spring-mass system, with subsequent models predicting the movements of the body’s center of mass and the forces applied by the leg against the ground. A central requirement of any spring system is the phasic relationship between the length of the elastic elements and the forces applied to these structures. Specifically, elastic elements compress under load and extend as the load is released. We tested whether this model applies to individuals with specialization for extreme performance in human gait. Recent work from elite level sprint runners suggest that their …

Chickens And Eggs: Does Custody Move Support, Or Vise-Versa?, Margaret F. Brinig

Journal Articles

Most, if not all, of the theoretical work on child support presupposes that it becomes an issue only when couples separate, that is, that the flow moves between custody and child support and that the duty to make monetary payments is typically owed by the noncustodial parent. (I realize, of course, that there can be issues regarding the identity of the payor and that there are criminal and civil actions possible when parents refuse or neglect to provide support to dependent children.) Some empirical work confirms the relationship between the two. For example, Judith Seltzer, Weiss and Willis, and Brinig …