Life Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Molecular Methods For Absolute Quantification Of Low-Abundant Bacterial Communities In Milk, Carmina Chavez, Janet E. Williams, Michelle K. Mcguire, Mark A. Mcguire

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Milk was historically thought to be generally sterile. However, use of culture-dependent and culture-independent methods has provided strong evidence that milk has a microbiome (Figure 1). Culture-independent methods (e.g., high-throughput sequencing) have demonstrated the diversity of microbes in milk but provide relative abundance data. Culture-dependent methods have indicated microbial communities in milk are of low abundance, but it is challenging to measure absolute quantities accurately. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has been used to quantify bacterial taxa in milk, However, concentrations often fall below the detection limit (Figure 2 & 3). Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) allows detection of low-abundant …

The Possible Neurobiological Mechanisms Influencing Ptsd According To Previous Research: A Review, Tiria Carr, Collen M. Parks

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a mental health condition that's triggered by either experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. According to the National Center for PTSD, approximately six out of one hundred people (six percent) in the United States report to have suffered PTSD either currently or. This experiment aimed to: Explore the different behavior and brain measures used to evaluate the extent of neurological change that brains with PTSD suffer; Review different experimental procedures; Aims to express a theoretical experiment from the data collected; Hypothesize an effective experimental procedure for measuring neurological change in subjects suffering from …

Pediatric Parosteal Osteosarcoma Of The Distal Radius Causing Extensive Erosive Mass Effect Of The Adjacent Ulna: A Case Report, Andrea Perloff, Sehoon Park, Robert Panganiban, John Devries

Department of Orthopaedics Faculty Research

Introduction: Parosteal osteosarcomas are low-grade bony malignancies that are treated primarily with surgical resection and reconstruction. This report discusses a unique case of a pediatric patient who presented with a parosteal osteosarcoma of the distal radius causing extensive erosive mass effect and growth disturbance of the adjacent ulna. Likely due to their slow-growing nonaggressive nature, parosteal osteosarcomas have not been previously described to abut adjacent bony structures through direct contact. The patient presented in a significantly delayed manner due to social circumstances, inadvertently revealing this novel behavior. This report reviews this rare case and describes the current understanding of this …

Complete Genome Sequences Of Cluster F1 And Cluster B1 Mycobacterium Smegmatis Phages Karhdo And Basato, Jireh Kim, Carlos Herrera, Wai Yan Aung, Gino Pablo Gonzales Boyles, Carmina Chavez, Mona Cibulka, Emma Foley, Jose Guerra, Disha Byadarahalli Mohan Kumar, Willow Levrant, Lewis Lim, Jose Llanes, Zachary Kamuela O'Brian, Art Pagaduan, Justin Aaron Richardson, Khristian Rosales, James Schrecengost, Tommy Shin, Gabriel Strong-Lundquist, Winnie Tat, Fritz Vanderford, Isabelle Vrinceanu, Vicky Wang, Stephanie Yang, Christy Strong, Philippos K. Tsourkas, Kurt Regner

Life Sciences Faculty Research

We present the complete genome sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis phages Karhdo and Basato, isolated in Clark County, Nevada. The phages were isolated and annotated by students enrolled in undergraduate research courses over two semesters at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Analysis Of Triton Cg 110 Foaming Characteristics For Use As A Potential Fire Suppressant, Addison Cobb, Jeremy Cho

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Background: Per-FluoroAlkyls (PFAs) are incredibly stable molecules which do not biodegrade. These chemicals have been linked with a series of health issues and environmental problems.

Problem: PFAs have been identified in most drinking water supplies in the United States. Large Amounts of this is due to Aqueous Fire-Fighting Foams (AFFF’s), which contain PFAs, seeping into the groundwater supply.

Solution: While little can be done about PFAs currently in groundwater supplies, replacing PFA-based AFFFs with newer Eco-AFFFs can halt AFFF contamination, and maintain firefighting suppression.

An Evaluation Of Lead Concentration In Commercially Available Tiles, Daidre N. Gamboa

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Workers in the manufacturing and construction industries are at risk of lead exposure in projects that involve removal or installation of tiles, and other individuals exposed to lead, including children may also be at risk. The concern with lead in tiles is thought to be related to the glazing process or the country where the tile was produced. Multiple regulations are in place in the U.S. to protect people from lead exposure, including through surface coatings or painted surfaces. But these regulations do not cover glazed tiles. This study examined whether there are differences in lead concentration in (1) tiles …

Comparison Of Male And Female Ultramarathon Runners, Kelsey Klug

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research study investigates how specific running variables and demographic characteristics impact performance, or speed, for ultramarathon runners. These variables and characteristics include biological sex, cadence, age range, total distance of the race, duration of the race, years of running experience, total number of ultramarathon races ever completed, and number of races completed in the last twelve months. An ultramarathon is any running distance over a standard marathon or 42.2 kilometers. Participation in ultramarathons has increased by 345% since 2010, with females making up 23% of participants. No in-person data collection was necessary for this study. Participants were asked to …

Evolution And Natural Selection Of Olfactory Receptor Genes In Hawaiian Drosophila, Ngoc H. Ly

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The olfactory system is a powerful tool for sensing countless odorants. In Drosophila, the olfactory system is critical for detecting food, finding mates, laying eggs, avoiding predators, and adapting to new environments. Understanding the olfactory system in Drosophila will advance our knowledge of sensory biology in various insects and vertebrates, including humans. Drosophila has been a valuable model for biology since the early 1900s, and the Drosophila melanogaster olfactory system is well-studied. The Hawaiian Drosophila represent approximately 1/3 of the world’s Drosophila, however, there is limited research on Hawaiian Drosophila olfactory genes. We conducted a comparative analysis of …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic Response On Food Safety Violations Observed In Southern Nevada Food Establishments, Samantha Morales

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Food poisoning is a common term used to describe what is actually foodborne illness. Despite the fact these illnesses can become deadly, foodborne illnesses are endemic and common in the United States. Nonetheless, they are completely preventable simply by following proper food safety procedures. The Food and Drug Administration identified the most common foodborne pathogens responsible for most foodborne infections, as well as the five risk factor categories to target in order to decrease the risk of cases and outbreaks.

To ensure foodborne outbreaks and cases are prevented, health authorities are tasked with conducting routine inspections on permitted food establishments. …

Physiological And Biomechanical Response To Indoor Cycling With And Without The Ability To Sway, Alina P. Swafford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Bicycles have been around since the early 19th century. Since the invention of the bicycle, it has taken on several purposes. People have used bicycles as a means of transportation, leisure, exercise, and sport. The number of individuals who participate in a cycling event per year has increased. With the increase in popularity, research related to cycling has also increased. Research related to the physiology and biomechanics of cycling are of particular areas of interest. Balance is a crucial component of understanding why we cycle a certain way. Some research has labeled balancing on a bicycle as cycling sway. …

Standardized Total Fitness Scores And Phase Angle In Cancer Survivors, Paulette Yamada, Trevor Short

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 20, 2023. Cancer treatment can lead to decrement in all components of fitness. Exercise can attenuate these effects and build fitness. Exercise program design for this population continues to evolve with high-intensity interval training at the forefront. Phase angle (PhA) is an indirect measure of cellular health and function and is associated with fitness, health, and reduced disease severity. Continued exploration spurs an emerging question: What type of training should be used to maximize improvements in PhA? We provide a visualization of a cancer rehabilitation fitness profile and present …

Adding Context To Monitoring Neuromuscular Status In High-Performance Sport, Trevor Short, Trevor Sackmann, Paulette Yamada

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 19, 2023. Utilizing performance tests alone without the contextualization of other information may mislead practitioners in the decision-making process. Thus, the purpose of this Topic Brief is to provide practitioners a decision tree and systematic triangulation approach for adding context to assessing neuromuscular status, which provides a clear picture of how to prepare an athlete for competition.

Monitoring Readiness Using The Hooper Index In American Football Players: Defining Flagging Thresholds, Trevor Short, Kody Cooke, Paulette Yamada

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 18, 2023. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how the Hooper Index, which to our knowledge has not been utilized in American Football, can notify the practitioner when to modify training or apply recovery interventions throughout the season.

Encouraging Exercise In Pregnancy Through A Video Education Tool: A Pilot Study, Danielle Lewis, Sahana Kukan, Sabrina Kolker

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 17, 2023. Evidence-based guidelines recommend physical activity during pregnancy, however, most pregnant individuals fail to achieve the minimum recommended amount of physical activity. Uncertainty about the safety of physical activity is a common reason why pregnant individuals do not participate in regular physical activity. The purpose of this study was to develop an evidence-based educational video and evaluate its effectiveness at improving pregnant individuals’ attitudes regarding the safety of physical activity during pregnancy. Pregnant individuals attending their first prenatal appointment from an urban academic interprofessional teaching unit in Toronto, …

Understanding Physical Activity Preferences And Motives In U.S. Adults, Christopher R. Hill, Malasher Johnson, Victoria Mazaras, Stephen Samendinger

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 16, 2023. This study examined U.S. adult physical activity preferences and explored how a sample of Americans conceptualize these preferences, as previous attempts have primarily focused on non-U.S. or special populations. A sample of adults (n=402) was surveyed and stratified into 'Alone' or 'Group' physical activity preference conditions, with additional items exploring preference characteristics and social-psychological motives. Most adults preferred to exercise Alone (n=126), with a Partner (n=88), or with the use of a Virtual/Video environment (n=122) compared to those who preferred Group exercise (n=66). While there were no …

Influence Of The Step Number Of The Approach Run On The Jumping Kinematics In Volleyball Spike Jumps, Saburo Nishimura, Yoshinori Kinomura, Yuji Oshima, Haruhi Kataoka, Shuhei Iida, Shohei Yokozawa

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 15, 2023. In volleyball, the approach run serves as a strategy to execute a spike from an elevated striking position. Nevertheless, the influence of the step number of the approach run on the jumping kinematics in spike jumps is unclear. Therefore, this investigation aims to clarify the impact of varying step numbers within the approach run on jumping kinematics. Seven female volleyball athletes were tasked with executing spike jumps, employing 2 and 3-step approach runs. These trials were recorded using high-speed cameras and digitized, and then the kinematics of …

Opportunities For Maximizing The Dietary Quality Of Fad Diets, Jessica M. Phelan, Jillian M. Joyce, Katherine Bode, Sara K. Rosenkranz

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

The quality of American diets, measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), has remained stable and low since 2005. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 call for research analyzing dietary patterns to determine how guidelines might be altered to increase healthy eating. The present paper seeks to determine the dietary quality of popular fad dietary patterns among Americans. A definition of “fad diet” was created, and Google Trends© was searched for popular diets to determine popular dietary patterns based on the fad diet definition. Finally, eight dietary patterns were identified for inclusion. One-week sample menus were created for each dietary …

Ischemic Preconditioning On Swimming Performance: An Exploration Into Practical Application, Samantha Erickson, Zachary Pandorf, Shane D. Scholten

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 14, 2023. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC), in exercise science, is the practice of repeatedly creating an ischemic event within a limb before exercise in an effort to improve athletic ability. The athletic aid, currently under review for its applicability to aerobic sports, has garnered conflicting results in the last decade of study. This research investigated the effects of IPC over distances of 250 and 500 yards while imposing commonly suggested methodologies. Sixteen college-aged swimmers, either recreational or competitive, were given IPC treatment with individualized limb occlusion pressure (ILOP) accompanied by …

An Exploratory Survey Of Self-Reported Joint Pain Among College Students, Stephen B. Podsen, Sabrina R. Fordham, Andrew J. Jakiel, G Ryan Hipp

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 13, 2023. Prior research has shown that college students are a unique subset of our global population that commonly experience stresses and strains to their musculoskeletal system as they complete their traditional coursework. Most of this population is viewed as healthy since their joints and skeletal systems have yet to be subjected to the levels of wear and tear of their elder constituents. However, there are still individuals within this population that often report experiencing some level of joint pain or discomfort that would not fall underneath the classic …

The Effects Of Different Training Types On Phase Angle In Men - An Exploratory Study, Trevor Short, Paulette Yamada

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 12, 2023. Phase Angle (PhA) has emerged as a valuable measure in clinical and sports settings due to its predictive relationship with health and sports performance. Fitness is related to PhA, but the type of exercise training that is most influential over PhA has yet to be determined. The purpose was to explore the effects of endurance training (ET), strength-based resistance training (RT), and sprint-interval training (SIT) on PhA, resistance (R), and reactance (Xc) in men. Thirty-five recreationally-trained healthy young adult males (24±4 years) were randomly assigned to one …

Effects Of A Mobile Fueling Station On Performance In Division Iii Soccer Players, Victoria F. Maybruck, Emily Wargo, Alexander Krupka, Carrie E. Ellis

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 11, 2023. This study aimed to determine if there was an ergogenic effect of utilizing a mobile fueling station in Division III soccer teams. Mobile fueling stations have been shown to be a feasible and sustainable option to support nutrition periodization in college-aged athletes. To date, no studies have analyzed the effect of these stations on athletic performance. We analyzed the effects of this fueling strategy on sprint speed, sprint count, and athlete acceptance during soccer practices and competitions. Athletes from the DeSales University Men’s and Women’s soccer teams …

Survey Of How Irregularities In The Electrical System Of The Human Heart Link To Different Heart Arrhythmias, Jazmine Boloor

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis explores the circuital pathway that a signal takes within the heart throughout a full heartbeat and provides a timing analysis. It then surveys the different pathways that could arise in the electrical system of the heart, and the associated heart diseases linked to the location of each pathway. Common heart arrhythmias such as atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, atrial flutter, and atrial fibrillation are surveyed, and their pathways are analyzed. Electrocardiograms are presented to aid in understanding of the timing analysis associated with irregularity in heart function. Finally, this thesis explores an avenue of the heartbeat …

Depression, Anxiety, And Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness In College Students, Christian Ison

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Depression and anxiety disorders are two common mental health conditions worldwide. College students are considered a high-risk population for the development of these conditions. Improved cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been shown to decrease depression and anxiety risk, symptoms, and severity but this relationship and the extent to which improved CRF can reduce these risks has yet to be examined in the college student population. Validated and reliable non-exercise estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) algorithms could be used to identify relationships and associations with depression and anxiety severity levels among college students. The purpose of this study was to assess eCRF and …

Informing Management Strategy For The Relict Leopard Frog (Rana Onca): Insights Into Breeding Biology And An Attempt To Improve Augmentation Success Through Pre-Exposure And Clearance Of An Emerging Amphibian Pathogen, Rebeca Rivera

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Relict Leopard Frog, Rana onca, is a species of conservation concern that suffered a decline sometime during the 20th century. Even after two decades of intensive management, the species currently only occupies 20 spring sites in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. The causes for the historical decline are mostly speculative, but relate to habitat loss, introduced predators, and emergent disease. Since 2001, R. onca has been under an intensive conservationprogram managed by a multiagency conservation team. There are several objectives specified in the program including the need to investigate the biology of the species and incorporate findings into …

Sequestered Sequences: A Bioinformatic Approach To The Forgotten Genome, Dylan Barth

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As high throughput sequencing generates ever increasing amounts of genetic and epigenetic data new lines of inquiry open up in the field of genomic research. In this thesis, we discuss three ways in which we can utilize public databases of next generation genomic data in order to study areas of the genome previously ignored by traditional approaches. These include the study of linker regions between domains of proteins, indirect enhancers that do not strongly contact promoters of genes they regulate, and transposon-derived enhancer elements. The work uncovers many exceptions to known biological principles, and adds nuance to our understanding of …

The Genetic Relationship Between Peripheral Inflammation And Alzheimer’S Disease, Davis Cammann

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, and has become an ever-present problem in aging populations. An increasing body of evidence suggests that neuroinflammation is one of the key drivers of AD pathology. One overlooked contributor to this burden is peripheral inflammation throughout the body. Due to increased permeability of the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) in older age, inflammatory plasma proteins and immune cells infiltrate the CNS and drive neuroinflammation through interactions with neurons and glia. In addition, age-related changes in the composition of gut microbiome taxa lead to increased gut permeability and inflammatory burden. Because inflammatory factors are …

The Influence Of Concussion History And Head Acceleration On Lower Extremity Function, Warren Forbes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sport-related concussions (SRCs) play a very debilitative role in athletics with between 1.7 – 3 million SRCs occurring annually (Clay et al., 2013; Zuckerman et al., 2015). This equates to upwards of 21.5 SRCs per 1000 athletic exposures. Research pertaining to SRC has received intense focus because of the substantial financial impact on the US healthcare system as well as the negative impact that SRCs have on the quality of life of athletes. Much of the research concerning SRC has been centered around management and ensuring adequate recovery from SRC-related symptoms. The current return to play (RTP) criteria from an …

Cellular Heat Responses Of Desert Mammals Promote Survival In Extreme Conditions, Janessa Montenegro

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Increasing temperatures with the potential for heat stress is among the future threats facing many mammals. Cellular mechanisms to maintain homeostasis in the face of heat stress likely differ across species based on naturally tolerated intracellular variability. In some mammals, the homeostatic set point in cells has a narrow range. Other species tolerate more varied intracellular conditions, including in temperature. Heat stress responses of cultured dermal fibroblasts from several mammals were compared to detect cell proliferation and cellular death (chapter 2). Cells from heat- tolerant species (13-lined ground squirrel, dromedary camel, round-tailed ground squirrel, and white-tailed antelope squirrel) were compared …

Mob Family Proteins And Tricornered Kinase Are Required To Form Dorsal Appendages Of The Drosophila Eggshell, Keala H. D. Watson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

To understand how complex tissues are formed, we need to understand how cells communicate with other cells to build structures. In Drosophila melanogaster, epithelial cells form tubular structures to shape the dorsal appendages on the eggshells. One signaling pathway needed for this event is the Hippo-like kinase intracellular pathway. I focus on two key components in this pathway: the NDR kinase Tricornered (Trc) and Mob proteins. In eukaryotes, Mob proteins are known to interact with NDR kinases to promote their activation. The Hippo- like pathway involves the NDR kinase Trc; however, the specific Mob protein(s) that interact with Trc …

Effects Of Circadian Rhythm Disruption And Social Jetlag On The Cardiometabolic Adaptations To Exercise, Michael Bevan Dial

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Circadian rhythms lie within every tissue and cell and regulate cellular and tissue processes and functions based upon the time of day. Disrupting the circadian clock results in impaired tissue and organ activity and higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases. A common form of circadian rhythm disruption is social jetlag (SJL), which represents the misalignment of sleep and wake times on free days and work days (i.e. weekend). The time of day of exercise affects the adaptations that are derived from exercise. Within the heart muscle, disparate levels of exercise-induced hypertrophy, circadian clock gene expression, and mitochondrial content were all dependent …