Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons^™

Nutrition Derived Advanced Glycation End Products Are Bio-Social Determinants Of Health That Inform On Cancer Disparities, David P. Turner, Victoria J. Findlay, Bradley A. Krisanits

Surgery Presentations

Objectives

Through their ability to perpetuate a reactive stroma, the objective was to define the increased nutritional bioavailability of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) as a pro-tumorigenic consequence of interrelated health inequity risk factors that can influence ancestry specific tumor biology.

Methods

In vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro models were used to define the molecular effects of nutrition associated AGEs on the ancestry specific tumor microenvironment and tumor growth.

Results

The PI’s work provides the first in vivo evidence supporting an oncogenic role for AGEs. In mouse allograft models, both the chronic consumption of AGEs and pre-treatment …

It Turned Into A Bioblitz: Urban Data Collection For Building Scientific Literacy And Environmental Connection, Kelly O'Donnell, Lisa Brundage

Publications and Research

In 2013, Macaulay Honors College redesigned its required science curriculum to focus on scientific literacy skills rather than content. Central to this shift was inclusion of a data collection event, a BioBlitz, to provide students with the basis for their own semester-long research projects. Students are teamed with naturalists in an urban green space to find as many species as they can in 24 h and to contribute to a global biodiversity database via the app iNaturalist. We have learned two important lessons: (1) developing an interdisciplinary curriculum with a high degree of experiential learning is more successful when both …

Effect Of Initial Infestation Of Zebra Mussels On Freshwater Drum Diets In Red Lake, Mn, Marissa M. Pribyl

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha veligers were first found in the Red Lake system in Beltrami County in 2017, however no adult zebra mussels have been documented. When zebra mussels first invade a system, fish often switch their prey use to this new abundant resource. Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens is one of these fish species known to consume physidae and bivalves, including zebra mussels, using pharyngeal teeth, the molar-like grinders in the back of their throats. This research aims to identify any presence of adult zebra mussels in the system and determine freshwater drum diet composition and feeding patterns by analyzing …

Have Rusty Crayfish Affected The Diets Of Yellow Perch?, Matthew D. Kvam

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most susceptible to invasive species. It is one of the reasons they face the highest levels of species endangerment. Rusty crayfish Faxonius rusticus are one such invasive species, they fragment food webs and negatively affect native species. However, it seems as though native species are beginning to rely on them as a source of food. Yellow perch Perca flavescens, an important forage and game species, is one such species that is highly affected by these invasions. At smaller sizes yellow perch primarily feed on invertebrates whose populations are degraded by rusty crayfish. Therefore, the …

Why Ask That? Low Stakes Questions Build Engagement, Van Whaley

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

A few low-stakes questions during the term build engagement, encourage persistence, and can improve learning outcomes.

During labs, students work together to learn Anatomy & Physiology… plus answer these Engagement Booster Questions.

The Need
/="/">Students need to meet classmates. After two years of online-only education, returning to in-person labs is a new experience many students find uncomfortable and challenging.

The Existing Resources
/="/">Students in the same lab have several similarities that include enrolling in the same lecture section, similar schedules, the same completed prerequisites, similar majors, and career aspirations.

The Goal
/="/">Building engagement between students should help …

Major Biochemical Constituents Of Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) Extract: A Review Of Chemical Analysis, Ekram Hany Mohamed, Mahmoud Tareq Abdelwahed,, Maha A. Hegazy

Pharmacy

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a very popular medicinal herb originated mainly in India and found in the Middle East and parts of Africa. Ashwagandha has gained recognition as the most revered plant in Ayurvedic medicine. Studies indicated that it is used as anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, adaptogen, memory enhancer, and possess an effect on neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, it was revealed that the plant exerts antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, aphrodisiac, and cardiovascular protection activities. Due to the biological and nutritional importance of nutraceuticals, particularly ashwagandha, and as part of the ongoing research of the natural products and its bioactive phytochemicals, this review aims …

Examining The Oxidative Stress Effects In Rats Exposed To 2-Aminoanthracene In Utero And High Fat Diet Three Months After, Brianna A. Lanoix

Honors College Theses

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are organic compounds that are created synthetically or found in partially burned oil, gasoline, and coal. 2-aminoanthracene (2AA) is a common example of a PAH and can affect lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and resulting in inflammatory problems and oxidative stress. The objective of the research project is to investigate oxidative stress in relation to diabetes in rats exposed to 2AA in utero and a high fat diet later in life. Pregnant dams were separated into treatment groups based on their dosages of 2AA; 0 mg/kg (control), 50 mg/kg (low), 100 mg/kg (high). During the gestation -postpartum period, …

Cul3 Negatively Regulates Nlrp12-Mediated Inhibition Of The Canonical Nf-Κb Signaling Pathway, Inyeong Lee

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 12 (NLRP12) is mainly known for its inhibitory function on NF-κB signaling in innate immune cells, and more recently, for its ability to regulate chemokine signaling and ubiquitination of the immune receptor RIG-I. Through a yeast 2-hybrid screen, the Lupfer lab previously discovered that NLRP12 interacts with other ubiquitin-associated proteins including Cullin 3 (CUL3) and RING finger protein 2 (RNF2). This research was conducted to mainly investigate the interaction between NLRP12 and CUL3 in human cells and examine the role in regulating NF-κB signaling. Previously, co-immunoprecipitation, followed by western blot analysis, and confocal microscopy …

Sex-Dependent Effects Of Induced Acute Inflammation On Glucose Homeostasis And Rna Editing Enzymes, Christian A. Rivas

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The first line of defense against bodily insults, like pathogen invasion, is the innate immune system. Innate immunity sets in motion countless cascades that result in inflammation. Inflammation simultaneously affects multiple biological processes like metabolism and gene expression. Males and females react differently to inflammation. To understand both molecular and physiological sex differences in inflammation, we examined how inflammation affects gene expression and glucose metabolism. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1) is upregulated by inflammation and catalyzes RNA editing, a process where nucleotides encoded by the genome are modified. ADAR1 also controls the innate immune reaction by decreasing activity of …

Functional Residues Of Cjpata, Robert Lamont

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria continues to challenge clinicians and threaten the lives of infected individuals. For this reason, new classes of antibiotics or new targets for antibiotic therapy are needed to circumvent this global health crisis. In Gram-negative bacteria, the enzymes peptidoglycan O-acetyltransferase A and B (PatA and PatB), are responsible for adding acetyl groups to the C-6 hydroxyl group of N-acetyl muramic acid (MurNAc) in peptidoglycan (PG). These acetyl groups are responsible for inhibiting the activity of lysozyme from host organisms that hydrolyze the β1-4 glycosidic linkage between MurNAc and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). The acetyl groups …

Examining Adjacent Disc Disease: A Novel In-Vitro Tissue Approach, Noah Chow, Noah Chow

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

When a patient experiences extreme degeneration of an intervertebral disc, a spinal fusion may be considered as a viable treatment plan. However, any implementation of hardware will change the biomechanics of the spine. This premise has led to the debate around adjacent disc disease (ADD) which is defined as the disc adjacent to a fused functional spine unit experiencing an accelerated rate of degeneration. There is a large controversy regarding ADD as a relevant pathology; however, it is largely unknown how spinal fusions effect the mechanical properties of the adjacent annulus fibrosus. Therefore, this thesis aims to examine the effect …

Artificial Light At Night Disrupts Pain Behavior And Cerebrovascular Structure In Mice, Jacob Raymond Bumgarner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Artificial Light at Night Disrupts Pain Behavior and Cerebrovascular Structure in Mice

Jacob R. Bumgarner

Circadian rhythms are intrinsic biological processes that fluctuate in function with a period of approximately 24 hours. These rhythms are precisely synchronized to the 24- hour day of the Earth by external rhythmic signaling cues. Solar light-dark cycles are the most potent environmental signaling cue for terrestrial organisms to align internal rhythms with the external day. Proper alignment and synchrony of internal circadian rhythms with external environmental rhythms are essential for health and optimal biological function.

The modern human environment on Earth is no longer …

A Diet Comparison Of Bluegill And Bluegill X Pumpkinseed Hybrids, Russell D. Zwiers

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus commonly prey upon macroinvertebrates but have been found to show different preferences to what type of macroinvertebrates. Hybrids of the two species have been found to display physical characteristics of both parents but prey selection of the hybrids compared to the parents is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the diets of bluegill and bluegill x pumpkinseed hybrids to understand what each species’ preference is when it comes to food as well as finding how a hybrid’s diet compares to the pure breed of one of the two crossed …

Effects Of Velocity And Substrate Size On The Formation Of Zebra Mussel Druses, Ian Mott

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Zebra Mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an invasive bivalve species that are highly successful at dominating new environments. These invaders have been known to colonize substrate so thoroughly that all they have to attach to are members of their own species. When large mats of interconnected mussels completely cover a riverbed, it can have a drastic effect on the surrounding environment. This study serves to create a better understanding of the hydrologic parameters needed for Zebra Mussels to create these ecosystem-transforming colonies known as druses. Data was collected on a small stretch of the Upper Mississippi River in Northern Minnesota, previously …

Estimate Of Long-Term Phytoplankton Biomass In Lake Bemidji, William J. Peterson

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Phytoplankton are photosynthetic organisms that are the base of aquatic food webs. In a dimictic temperate lake such as Lake Bemidji, the environment adjusts with the changing water temperatures and sunlight levels. The phytoplankton in a dimictic lake are adapted to subsist in long term seasonal changes but the exact change to the number of phytoplankton in unknown. The focus of this study was to estimate the biomass of phytoplankton in a long term period including winter stratification and summer peak. From a period between March 2023 and October 2023 water samples were collected from the lake in the south …

Characterizing Cellular Injury And Inflammation With Aldob-/-Mouse Model Of Mafld, Andy Rashid

All Master's Theses

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects 1 in 3 people in the US and is a healthcare burden on the order of billions of dollars. MAFLD is characterized by pathological lipid accumulation in the liver, excess production of triglycerides and cholesterol, and export of LDL particles that raise serum lipid levels. These metabolic perturbations can lead to the development of liver fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Diagnosing MAFLD prior to fibrosis is crucial for successful intervention and prevention of advanced liver disease and other metabolic complications. Fructose-1Phospahte (F1P) accumulation from fructose overconsumption can drive hepatic lipogenesis and MAFLD progression. …

Cell Signaling And Stress Response In The Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: A Study Of Snf1, Scott E. Arbet Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Saccharomyces cerevisiae are yeast that are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that are well studied as a model organism for understanding fundamental cellular processes. The ability of yeast to sense nutrient availability is crucial for their survival, growth, and reproduction. Yeast cells use various mechanisms to sense and respond to nutrient availability, including transporter-mediated uptake, receptor-mediated signaling, and sensing of metabolites. The subcellular localization of nutrient-sensing components is crucial for yeast function in nutrient sensing and signaling. Protein complexes, such as the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, in nutrient sensing and response, as well as the downstream effects of these pathways …

The Effect Of Alpha Lipoic Acid On Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy In Danio Rerio, Sophia Scott

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Even though poor glycemic control puts diabetics at risk for a variety of disease complications, there are many barriers to achieving adequate blood glucose regulation. Diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a progressive autonomic denervation of the cardiovascular system resulting from chronic hyperglycemia and characterized by orthostatic hypertension, sinus tachycardia, low heart rate variability, and fatal arrhythmias. Available CAN therapeutics are limited to symptom alleviation, and do not prevent or reverse cardiac nerve damage. Limited evidence from clinical trials suggests the antioxidant Alpha Lipoid Acid (ALA) prevents CAN progression (Lee et al., 2017; Serhiyenko et al., 2020; Tankova, Koev & …

The Accuracy Of Recreational Athletes In Self Detecting Ventilation Threshold During A Maximal Exercise Test, Andrew Biegner

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

INTRODUCTION: Ventilatory threshold (VT) is where minute ventilation (VE) increases nonlinearly with increasing exercise intensity. Prior studies have shown that subjects can recognize VT by changes in breathing during exercise. Teaching recreational athletes to use VT as a training method could result in better quality training. PURPOSE: Determine if recreational athletes can accurately perceive changes in ventilation associated with VT during maximal exercise testing. METHODS: Subjects were recruited (n=20, age= 20.5 ± 1.7 yrs.) to participate in the study. Subjects performed a modified maximal treadmill protocol with gas analysis. Subjects indicated when they noticed a considerable change …

Food Waste Storage Gaseous Emissions Detection And Quantification Using Infrared Spectroscopy, Ryley A. Burton-Tauzer

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

A growing interest in sustainable waste management and the implementation of new policies have prompted a shift towards alternative resource recovery methods for organic waste, including food waste. To effectively assess alternative food waste treatment scenarios, it is important to evaluate the life cycle impacts associated with each scenario. The storage phase of food waste, encompassing its accumulation in kitchens, and storage in bins for collection and transportation, has been overlooked as a source of greenhouse gases in previous studies. This investigation aimed to identify the greenhouse gases emitted during the initial five-day period of low-oxygen storage. An open dynamic …