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Proceedings Of The 2021 Berry Summer Thesis Institute, University Of Dayton. University Honors Program

Proceedings of the Berry Summer Thesis Institute (2013-Present)

Thanks to a gift from the Berry Family Foundation and the Berry family, the University Honors Program launched the Berry Summer Thesis Institute in 2012. The institute introduces students in the University Honors Program to intensive research, scholarship opportunities and professional development. Each student pursues a 12-week summer thesis research project under the guidance of a UD faculty mentor. This contains the product of the students' research.

Comparative Analysis Of Longevity And Stress Resiliency Benefits Of Supplementation With High-Antioxidative Capacity Juices In Organisms That Are Representative Of Humans, Meghan Long

Honors Scholar Theses

Neurodegenerative disease presents itself in a complex array of illnesses that is increasingly affecting the geriatric population. There has not been research on a common cause since there are a culmination of reasons that are probable ranging from genetic to environmental factors. Antioxidants have been known to prevent and protect against the damage that is otherwise caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, high-capacity antioxidant juices supplemented into the diet of animal models such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, rats, and humans will allow for the study of the possible benefits.

Although a conclusion and common causation on the usage …

In Vitro Antioxidant And Antihypertensive Activity Of Edible Insects Flours (Mealworm And Grasshopper) Fermented With Lactococcus Lactis Strains, Adilene Mendoza-Salazar, Lourdes Santiago-Lopez, Maria J. Torres-Llanez, Adrian Hernandez-Mendoza, Belinda Vallejo-Cordoba, Andrea M. Liceaga, Aaron E. Gonzalez-Cordova

Department of Food Science Faculty Publications

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential antioxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (ACEI) activity of edible insect flours fermented with Lactococcus lactis strains. For the fermentation, mealworm and grasshoppers flours were dissolved (0.5% w/v) in buffer solution (pH 7.0) and individually inoculated (3%) with Lactococcus lactis strains (NRRL B-50571, NRRL B-50572). The samples were incubated for 72 h at 30 ◦C, and the pH was recorded. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) and protein content were determined. The total polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, ORAC, and FRAP), and ACEI of the <3 kDa fractions were ana- lyzed. The pH of the fermented samples decreased to 3.5–3.9 (p < 0.05). The fermented grasshopper flour showed an increased DH (0.42%) and overall higher total polyphenol content (8.23 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent/mL). In general, the highest antioxidant activity was for the grasshopper fractions fermented for 24 h by Lactococcus lactis NRRL B-50572, which also showed 23.47% ACEI inhibition with an IC50 of 0.97 mg/mL. The peptide profile obtained increased after fermentation, being higher for the mealworm flour fermented sample. This study presents, for the first time, the use of specific strains of Lactococus lactis for fermenting edible insect-derived products in the production of bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant and antihypertensive activity.

The Overlooked Victim Right: According Victim-Survivors A Right Of Access To Restorative Justice, Lynn S. Branham

Denver Law Review Forum

No abstract provided.

Sars-Cov-2 Tests: Bridging The Gap Between Laboratory Sensors And Clinical Applications, Nikita Toropov, Eleanor Osborne, Lovleen Tina Joshi, James Davidson, Caitlin Morgan, Joseph Page, Justin Pepperell, Frank Vollmer

Peninsula Dental School

No abstract provided.

Role Of Jordanian Universities E-Libraries In E-Publishing Process For Postgraduate Students, Mohammad Niqresh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

No abstract provided.

Towards Creating Smart Cities In Nepal, Ambika P. Adhikari, Keshav Bhattarai

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

Many urban centers in the world are seeking to become smart cities. Nepali city leaders are also aspiring to make their cities smart. A smart city basically has clever improvements made in three sectors of its operations: technological, human, and institutional. Globally, many cities have recently made impressive enhancements in at least one or more of these areas. Nepal’s National Planning Commission (NPC) in 2016 had released a concept paper on smart cities for Nepal, defining smart cities as sustainable, information and technology-based, with high quality services and replicable (NPC 2016). As most Nepali cities still operate with limited infrastructure, …

The “East Side” Of Las Vegas: A Latinx Historical Framework, Nathalie Martinez

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Spanish heritage speakers in the United States are a reflection of everchanging linguistic and sociolinguistic pressures that result in myriad varieties across generations. This paper provides a preliminary historical framework to fill this gap of linguistic knowledge in the Spanish-speaking community of Las Vegas, Nevada. The goals were two-fold: (1) highlight the largest Spanish-speaking communities in Las Vegas and (2) explore the significance of the East Side in the history of the Latinx population of Las Vegas. Through the analysis of oral histories and historical works, the investigation highlights the Mexican, Salvadoran, and Cuban populations of Las Vegas and their …

Qualitative Review Of Educational Interventions For Improving Physical Activity Behaviors In Older Asian Americans In The United States, Raisa Kabir, Manoj Sharma, Sayeda Tazim Zaidi, Chia-Liang Dai

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Physical activity (PA) provides numerous health benefits and minimizes chronic diseases and mental health issues, especially in older adults. The national survey data indicated that only 27.3% to 44.3% of older adults meet the recommended PA guidelines of 150 to 300 minutes/ week. There is limited data on PA behavior among older Asian American (AA) adults as very few to no local/national surveys have targeted these marginalized subgroups. This comprehensive review aims to identify existing PA intervention strategies and to update current knowledge on the effectiveness of these interventions to improve PA behavior among aging AA in the US. The …

The Future Of The Live Entertainment Tax In Southern Nevada, Katie M. Gilbertson

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

The Live Entertainment Tax (LET) in Nevada generated nearly one billion dollars during the 2019-2020 fiscal year. LET revenue all goes to the State General Fund, even though 97 percent of LET revenue is generated in Clark County. Nevada is experiencing an economic crisis, particularly in the tourism industry. Solutions from various fields suggest the best way to boost the local economy is to reinvest revenue in its original county. One policy solution Nevada policymakers should consider is to carve out a percentage of revenue generated by the LET to return directly back to Clark County to revitalize tourism.

Diabetes Mellitus Affects Working Memory, Dylone C. Braganza, Emmanuel Flores, Lauren A. Crew, Ryan A. Wirt, Andrew A. Ortiz, Adam M. Mcneela, Jefferson W. Kinney, James M. Hyman

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) degrades the brain’s ability to remember, think, and carry out tasks. The exact cause is not known, but several risk factors have been identified, including diabetes mellitus (DM). DM causes elevated blood sugar levels due to reduced insulin production in the pancreas. The linkage between elevated glucose levels and the behavioral impairments are not fully understood, which was the focus of this study. Rats were trained to alternate directions in a maze to receive a reward on consecutive trials. After training, five rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ), which induces hyperglycemia by injuring pancreatic beta cells. Three …

A Timeline Of Discovery And Current Research On Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma And Emergence Of Potentially Permanent Treatment Solutions, Yonosuke Dejesus, Guadalupe Moreno Ceballos

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

This research examines the timeline of the discovery and research of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG). By reviewing the literature on genetic and molecular mechanisms, we aim to emphasize a long-term treatment solution (iSTENT) to mitigate intraocular pressure (IOP) related to POAG etiology and disease progression. POAG is a multifactorial, autosomal dominant, adult-onset eye disease wherein the optic nerve cells become damaged due to a buildup of excess aqueous humor, resulting in increased IOP. Consequently, POAG leads to progressive loss of peripheral vision and is the leading cause of blindness in the US. Due to the multifactorial nature of glaucoma’s inheritance …

Racial Profiling: Understanding The Practice Of Stop-And-Frisk In New York City, Lisa Ly

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Racial profiling has become a prominent issue in modern policing today. Instead of being based on individual suspicion, racial profiling embodies a belief that people of color are continuously singled out by the police for scrutiny and harassment. Policies and procedures make the Black community vulnerable to police discrimination and racial profiling. Floyd et al. v. City of New York et al. (2013) declared that the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) practice of stop-and-frisk was racially profiling Black civilians. This study sought (1) to determine if the NYPD post-Floyd is still engaging in racial profiling towards Black civilians; and (2) …

Grass‐Planting And Sheep‐Raising Skills Development In Rocky Desertification Mountain Area, Jiahai Wu, Qiong Mou, Chengbing Tang, Xiangyong Zhao, Daquan Zhang, Guonian Xie

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Master Grazer: Educating Kentucky Livestock Producers, S. Ray Smith, Garry D. Lacefield

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Ay, Caramba!, Teri Rizvi

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop Blog

Nancy Cartwright, best known as the voice of Bart Simpson, and Mike Reiss, writer for The Simpsons for three decades, will select two humor writers for a fun, unconventional writing residency that promises winners the gift of time to hole up in a hotel, write — and order free room service.

J. K. Rowling: 14 Ways Of Looking At Genius, Toby Widdicombe

Books

No abstract provided.

Daily Energy Expenditure Through The Human Life Course, Herman Pontzer, Yosuke Yamada, Hiroyuki Sagayama, Philip N. Ainslie, Lene F. Andersen, Liam J. Anderson, Lenore Arab, Issaad Baddou, Kweku Bedu-Addo, Ellen E. Blaak, Stephane Blanc, Alberto G. Bonomi, Carlijn V.C. Bouten, Pascal Bovet, Maciej S. Buchowski, Nancy F. Butte, Stefan G. Camps, Graeme L. Close, Jamie A. Cooper, Richard Cooper, Sai Krupa Das, Lara R. Dugas, Ulf Ekelund, Sonja Entringer, Terrence Forrester, Barry W. Fudge, Annelies H. Goris, Michael Gurven, Catherine Hambly, Asmaa El Hamdouchi, Marjije B. Hoos, Sumei Hu, Noorjehan Joonas

Faculty Publications

Total daily energy expenditure (“total expenditure”) reflects daily energy needs and is a critical variable in human health and physiology, but its trajectory over the life course is poorly studied. We analyzed a large, diverse database of total expenditure measured by the doubly labeled water method for males and females aged 8 days to 95 years. Total expenditure increased with fat-free mass in a power-law manner, with four distinct life stages. Fat-free mass-adjusted expenditure accelerates rapidly in neonates to ~50% above adult values at ~1 year; declines slowly to adult levels by ~20 years; remains stable in adulthood (20 to …

How To Avoid The Use Of Chemicals To Control Parasites In Salmon Farming?, Cintya Gajardo Vejar

International Programs

The development of salmon farming in the world has been accompanied by a number of conditions like parasitism by Sea Lice (Caligus rogercresseyi), this problem occurs in the fattening stage of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in the sea, increasing mortality and generating economic losses. The salmon industry efforts have focused on resolving the Sea Lice parasitism (C. rogercresseyi) through the use of antibiotics to control the infestation and the use of vaccines to prevent it, but it presents biological implications for salmon, the marine environment and human health.

Insights Into Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Pathogenesis And Metastasis Using A Bedside-To-Bench Approach, Marissa Lobl

Theses & Dissertations

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common skin cancer, affecting 1,000,000 people in the United States annually and causing approximately 9,000 deaths. SCC and basal cell carcinoma are the most common types of skin cancer arising in the superficial squamous cells or deeper basal cells of the epidermis, respectively. SCC is more likely to invade and metastasize, while basal cell cancer tends to grow locally. While the majority of cases of SCC are cured by surgery alone, approximately 2-5% of SCCs metastasize, at which point outcomes may be poor. Specific patient groups, particularly immunosuppressed patients, have a …

Utilizing Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras To Target The Transcriptional Cyclin-Dependent Kinases 9 And 12, Hannah King

Theses & Dissertations

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are a family of serine-threonine kinases involved in various cellular functions, such as regulating the cell cycle and gene transcription. CDK9, a transcriptional CDK, regulates highly expressed enhancer-associated oncogenic transcription factors, including the oncogene Myc. CDK9 is responsible for the transcription and stabilization of Myc; consequently, it was a validated target for pancreatic cancer treatment.

As such, we developed a panel of aminopyrazole based proteolysis targeting chimera where we identified PROTAC 2 as a selective degrader of CDK9 (DC₅₀ = 158 ± 6 nM). PROTAC 2 was capable of cereblon mediated proteasomal degradation of CDK9 while …

Cardio-Renal Syndrome Type 2: The Role Of Cardiac Spinal Afferent Reflex, Zhiqiu Xia

Theses & Dissertations

Cardio-renal syndrome type 2 (CRS type 2) is defined as a chronic cardiovascular disease, usually chronic heart failure (CHF), resulting in chronic kidney disease. We hypothesized that the cardiac spinal afferent reflex (CSAR), a cardiogenic sympatho-excitatory reflex mediated by cardiac spinal afferents plays a critical role in the development of CRS type 2. We examined the effects of acute activation and chronic ablation of the CSAR on renal blood flow (RBF), renal vascular resistance (RVR), central venous pressure (CVP), renal function and renal histology in sham and myocardial infarction (MI)-induced CHF rats. RNA sequencing analysis (RNA-Seq) and validation by real-time …

Proof Of Concept: The Use Of Renal Biomarkers In Critically Ill Pediatric Patients For Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Christopher Lee Shaffer

Theses & Dissertations

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious and common complication in critically ill pediatric patients. The incidence of pediatric AKI continues to increase, especially in patients who undergo surgical correction of congenital heart defects. Serum creatinine and urine output are the most commonly used tools to assess renal function, with international guidelines standardizing AKI-definitions based upon these parameters. However, changes in serum creatinine can occur 24 hours or later after a renal insult event, delaying the diagnosis and potential interventions to reverse injury. It is critical to identify endogenous renal biomarkers within the pediatric population that are both timely and …

The Staphylococcus Aureus Lrgab Operon Encodes A Holin-Like Protein Involved In Pyruvate Transport, Jennifer L. Endres

Theses & Dissertations

The Staphylococcus aureus cidABC and lrgAB operons encode a well-conserved family of proteins involved in programmed cell death (PCD) during biofilm development. Based on the structural similarities that CidA and LrgA share with bacteriophage holins, we have hypothesized that these proteins function by forming pores within the cytoplasmic membrane. To test this, we utilized a “lysis cassette” system that demonstrated the abilities of the cidA and lrgA genes to support bacteriophage endolysin-induced cell lysis. In addition, the CidA and LrgA proteins were shown to localize to the surface of membrane vesicles and cause leakage of small molecules, providing direct evidence …

The Effect Of Simvastatin On Periodontonal Inflammation In Periodontal Maintenance Patients, Devin L. Christiansen

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this analysis of inflammation markers from a double blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial was to determine if local application of simvastatin, combined with minimally invasive papilla reflection/root preparation (PR/RP) is effective in reducing markers of inflammation: 1) bleeding upon probing (BOP), 2) tissue inflammatory / anti-inflammatory gene activation (rt-PCR) and 3) corresponding gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) protein production in non-resolving 6-9 mm periodontal pockets in patients on periodontal maintenance therapy (PMT). Fifty periodontal maintenance patients diagnosed with advanced chronic adult periodontitis presenting with a 6-9 mm interproximal PD were included in study. Experimental (PR/RP+SIM; n=27) and control …

Urinary Bile Acid Indices As Prognostic Biomarkers For The Complications Of Liver Diseases, Wenkuan Li

Theses & Dissertations

Hepatobilary diseases cause the accumulation of toxic bile acids (BA) in the liver, blood, and other tissues, which may lead to an unfavorable prognosis. In this study, we compared the urinary BA profile in 257 patients with hepatobilary diseases during a 7-year follow-up period. We investigated the use of the urinary BA profile to develop logistic regression models to predict the prognosis of hepatobiliary diseases in terms of developing disease-related complications, especially for ascites. The urinary BA profile was characterized by calculating BA indices, which quantify the composition, metabolism, hydrophilicity, and toxicity of the BA profile. All patients had high …

Mechanism Of The Superoxide Dismutase Mimic Mntnbuoe-2-Pyp5+ And Its Nanoformulation On Blood Pressure Regulation, Sarah L. Schlichte

Theses & Dissertations

It is well-established that reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly superoxide (O₂^·-), produced in the vasculature and brain contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. We, and others, have previously reported that in vivo scavenging of O₂^·- via overexpression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) protein or SOD mimics decreases blood pressure in hypertensive animals. While few SOD mimics have transitioned to clinical trials, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP⁵⁺ (BuOE), a manganese porphyrin SOD mimic, is currently in clinical trials for normal tissue protection in cancer patients exposed to radiation therapy. Furthermore, our collaborators developed a nanoformulated BuOE (nanoBuOE) in which BuOE …

The Effect Of Locally Applied Simvastatin On Clinical Attachment Level And Alveolar Bone In Periodontal Maintenance Patients, Lauren Krell

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial was to determine if the local application of simvastatin (SIM), combined with minimally invasive papilla reflection and root preparation (PR/RP), is effective in improving clinical attachment level (CAL), primary outcome measure; probing depth (PD) reduction; increasing interproximal bone height (IBH); and reducing bleeding on probing (BOP) in persistent 6-9 mm periodontal pockets in patients receiving periodontal maintenance therapy (PMT). Fifty patients with Stage III, Grade B periodontitis (AAP, 2018) presenting with a 6-9 mm interproximal PD with a history of bleeding on probing (BOP) were included in the study. Experimental 2.2 mg …

Delineation Of New Mechanisms Of Dna Damage Responses And Repair, Yanqiu Li

Theses & Dissertations

Upon DNA damage,cells promptly activate the cellular DNA damage response (DDR), a surveillance mechanism that leads to DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. DDR deficiencies cause genomic instability, and are tightly associated with cancer predisposition, immunodeficiency, neurological diseases, and aging. On the other hand, radiation and many chemotherapeutics eliminate cancer cells by inducing DNA damage. Therefore, understanding the DDR and its involvement in cancer is a crucial step toward improving anti-cancer therapeutics. The overarching goal of this project is to delineate how cells respond to, and repair, DNA damage, thus to develop new strategies to overcome cancer resistance.Microtubule associated …

Assessment And Deployment Of Genetic Tools For North American River Otters (Lontra Canadensis), Kelsey Lawton

Theses

North American River Otters (Lontra canadensis) once thrived in large numbers in most wetlands of North America. However, due to human pressures such as trapping, habitat loss and pollution, these carnivorous mammals have decreased in numbers significantly in the last 100+ years, becoming extirpated in many traditionally inhabited areas. The use of genetic data from molecular techniques (PCR, DNA sequencing) can guide the identification and management of populations used for relocations to better maintain genetic diversity in both wild and captive otter populations and help inform the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) breeding programs. Management organizations are concerned with …