ABSTRACTS
2019 National McNair Scholars Conference at UCLA
Researcher: Miguel Aguilera
Presentation Title: Urban Food Systems in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City, Nevada
Research Focus: Local food production, sustainable practices, and urban farm viability
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Food cultivation and production happens within a global network, and most food eaten at the American dinner table has traveled long distances to reach its destination. Many people know little about where their food comes from or how it was produced. The abundance of food comes at the cost of losing valuable ecosystems to agriculture and contributes to an unsustainable use of stressed and limited resources. Consequently, food producers are seeking innovative methods to grow food in different ways and environments including cities. This research project explores the potential and challenges of urban agriculture in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City, Nevada and investigates some of the environmental, economic, and political influences on food systems in those cities. Community gardens, infill food plots, and facilities utilizing aquaponics techniques are some current forms of urban agriculture practiced locally. The amount and diversity of food production is not well understood in this region of Nevada. This project aims to address that knowledge gap to strengthen the viability of local food production and help meet the challenges of the producers. We will evaluate the challenges and successes facing urban farmers through individual interviews and field observations to better understand the urban agriculture system within these cities.
Researcher: Anjana Dissanayaka
Presentation Title: Pre-concentration of Francisella tularensis lipopolysaccharide by magnetic particles followed by lateral flow immunoassay for diagnosis of tularemia
Research Focus: Lateral Flow Immunoassays, Francisella tularensis, Magnetic particles
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Tularemia is a zoonotic bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Due to the wide range of symptoms, low infectious dose, and rapid disease onset, a point-of-care diagnostic test is crucial for outbreak/exposure scenarios. Although natural infections are somewhat sporadic, F. tularensis is considered a potential biothreat agent due to its lethality via the aerosol route. Standard methods of diagnosis of tularemia include serologic testing and culturing of F. tularensis; however, serological assays can often only detect a response around two weeks post-infection, and culturing of this fastidious bacterium is risky and unreliable. To combat these issues, a lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) for rapid detection of F. tularensis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is currently being developed. LPS has been detected in patient samples but a defined clinical range is yet unknown. Current testing with a prototype LFI shows limited sensitivity for LPS below 5 ng/ml when standard LFI sample volumes (<100 μl) are used.
Therefore, we would like to test larger sample volumes that contain more LPS. To accomplish this, we are currently optimizing a concentration protocol. Invitrogen Dynabead M-270 Epoxy magnetic particles have been conjugated to monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1Ft7 to concentrate the LPS in a smaller volume prior to testing on a prototype LFI. This allows for increased detection of LPS in larger patient sample volumes through manipulation of the sample itself. Further optimization of the LFI is important to provide a clinically effective and affordable point-of-care diagnostic tool for use in exposure or outbreak scenarios.
Researcher: Eric Duong
Presentation Title: Predict agents’ trajectories by estimating their motion planners
Research Focus: Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Predicting an agent’s (in this case human’s) trajectory is a challenging, yet crucial step in robotics research. Humans have “internal planners” that govern their paths, which allow them to dynamically plan their trajectories. Robots can safely navigate and interact with people by simulating their planners to predict their future trajectories. To allow robots to predict the agent’s future trajectory, many of the current approaches fit statistical models through a set of collected human trajectories and use that fitted model to predict future trajectories. These current approaches require a large variety of training data, and they break when the trajectory distribution changes due to the changes in the environment. Human solves this problem by simulating other agents’ path planning behavior to accurately predict their future trajectories. This technique is called the simulation theory of the mind. Implementing this technique allows the robot to perform robustly in dynamic, changing environments. The aim of this project is to investigate the performance of Rapidly Exploring Random Tree (RRT*) algorithm when used with Kernel Density Estimator (KDE) or with the combined algorithm of Long Short-Term Memory Network and Mixture Density Network (LSTM-MDN). The KDE and LSTM-MDN algorithms can learn the complex path planning behavior of the agents to predict their future trajectories more accurately. We evaluate the performance of our system in simulations.
Researcher: Jessny Joseph
Presentation Title: Strawberry Extract: A fight against chronic inflammations
Research Focus: Nutrition
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Presentation Type: Oral presentation
The expense and potential health risks involved when utilizing pharmaceutical drugs as a treatment for various diseases has led to the development of natural preventative supplements. Specifically, cardiovascular disease has gained notable recognition due to the increase in fatalities amongst individuals with heart disease within recent years. Atherosclerosis, a type of heart disease caused by the buildup of plaque within blood vessels, can be caused by a type of oxidative stress called lipid peroxidation (LPO). Studies have demonstrated that LPO can be treated with the use of antioxidants derived from natural food sources, including fruits and vegetables. Specifically, strawberries have shown to counteract oxidative stress, increase antioxidant activity, and decrease oxidized low-density lipoprotein, making it an excellent fruit model for the course of this study. In order to understand the efficacy of freeze-dried strawberry extract (FDS) as a dietary supplement against cardiovascular disease, varying concentrations of FDS were added to vitamin E stripped corn oil and evaluated utilizing the TBARS assay. The results were then compared to a tetraethoxypropane standard in order to evaluate the effectiveness of FDS. Due to the potential use of strawberry powder as a regulator for oxidative stress and as a protector against cardiovascular disease, this experiment will serve as a precursor for further studies amongst human subjects.
Researcher: Helen Kidane
Presentation Title: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction to Reduce Health Disparities Among Minority Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
Research Focus: MBSR, Type 1 Diabetes, therapy outcomes, minority populations
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease that requires intensive daily medical management, which often results in high levels of disease-related distress. Significant health disparities exist among adolescents with T1D who are from underrepresented backgrounds when compared to their majority counterparts. The goal of this study was to explore whether a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) workbook intervention would decrease distress and improve metabolic control among low-SES and minority racial/ethnic adolescents with T1D. Early adolescents with T1D (goal n=65) are participating in a 10-week MBSR Workbook intervention. Participants are randomized to begin the workbook at baseline or 10 weeks later. Surveys of stress and indices of metabolic control will be completed at baseline and 10-weeks and 20-weeks post-baseline.
Targeted recruitment will be utilized to recruit minority racial/ethnic and low-SES individuals through community health clinics serving these underrepresented groups. Recruitment is ongoing through early 2020 and preliminary findings/sample will be presented where possible. We enrolled six adolescents with T1D (40% Female, 60% Length of diagnosis > 2 years, 60% HbA1c > 8.6, 80% White, Non-Hispanic; M SES = 6.2). We will utilize t-scores to compare changes and outcomes in stress and metabolic control for low-SES and minority racial/ethnic adolescents with T1D in the workbook group compared to majority participants in the workbook group from baseline to 10-week follow-up. MBSR interventions may be useful in reducing health disparities in adolescents with T1D by improving health outcomes in racial/ethnic minority and low-SES individuals.
Researcher: Giselle Marquez
Presentation Title: Comparing Maximum Anterior and Posterior Tongue Pressures and Tongue Endurance in Normal and Non-Dysphagic Post-Stroke Participants
Research Focus: Speech Pathology
School: University of Nevada, Reno
The purpose of this study is to examine and compare age and gender matched maximum tongue and lip pressures along with tongue endurance measures during isometric exercises in normal and post-stroke individuals that are non-dysphagic (do not have difficulty swallowing). There is robust normative tongue and pressure data for both normal and dysphagic individuals, however there is limited tongue pressure data specific to non-dysphagic post-stroke individuals. Eighteen of thirty-six total participants (7 males and 11 females; median age for females 67; range 47-91 years, median age for males 67; range 46-95 years) reported a stroke that occurred a minimum of three months prior to the study. Eighteen age and gender matched participants with no history of stroke were studied for control purposes and underwent the same tests as the participants that reported a stroke. The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI Medical, Redmond, WA) was used to measure tongue and lip pressures measured in kilopascals (kPa) across various tasks. The tasks include right lip press, left lip press, anterior isometric tongue press, posterior isometric tongue press, anterior tongue press during a saliva swallow and anterior tongue press for endurance. A logistic regression will be used to compare tongue and lip pressure data between the two groups. The data will subsequently be employed to analyze the effect of stroke on tongue and lip pressures via propensity score matching.
Researcher: Anthony Martinez
Presentation Title: QTPOC in the U.S.: An Analysis of Queer & Trans People of Color Organizations
Research Focus: Queer and trans people of color and their community development
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) have unique experiences in and outside of the LGBTQ+ community. They continue to face discrimination, homophobia, and xenophobia, to name a few examples. This study examines social issues that influence QTPOC and organizations that are designed to serve their needs. Nationally representative data and smaller studies tell us that rates for lesbian, gay, indiscriminate, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) people are similar, or altogether, higher to be victimized or feel prohibited in their networks. Students, for example, can experience absenteeism and academic challenges. They also have an increased risk of alcohol and drug use and abuse and associated physical symptoms. These individuals frequently experience psychological issues, including depression, anxiety disorders, increased fear, withdrawal from family and peers, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2017, found that one-fifth of all reported incidents of harassment and violence directed against LGBTQ people in the United States occurred on college and university campuses (NGLTF, 1992). Despite this, there remains minimal auxiliary help for LGBTQ + people. Additionally, even when community groups are formed to help LGBTQ+ people, QTPOC often avoid these groups or form their own. This study focuses on queer and trans people of color to address why QTPOC groups are formed and if they are beneficial and necessary.; it demonstrates the need to move past culturally insensitive individuals by proactively captivating QTPOC communities in education, networking, resource sharing, and anti-discrimination outreach.
Researcher: Mekail Negash
Title: Testing Endocrine Flexibility Under Different Environmental Stressors
Research Focus: Stress response on house sparrows
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Poster Presentation: Oral Presentation
Understanding animal physiology in the context of environmental change is important, as environmental stressors are increasing in intensity and frequency. For example, inclement weather conditions can be especially strenuous when it is unpredictable, as animals have less time to adapt and respond. It is currently unclear if the same individual responds to different stressors with the same flexibility in their physiology. Glucocorticoid hormones (birds: corticosterone) allow animals to rapidly respond to noxious stimuli by mobilizing resources, and elevation of this hormone is part of the stress response. We tested if different environmental stressors cause the same endocrine stress response in house sparrows, Passer domesticus. We exposed the same individual to three environmental stressors: increased temperature, increased wind, and unpredictable food resources. We repeated each stressor twice within the same individual to get reaction norms on changes in corticosterone levels and body conditions to assess physiological flexibility. We will discuss whether different stressors cause a similar response.
Researcher: Kaylie Pinto
Presentation Title: Galectin-1 Treatment of LAMA2-related Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
Research Focus: Neuromuscular Development and Disease
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
LAMA2-related congenital muscular dystrophy (LAMA2-CMD) is a fatal muscle disease which currently lacks any effective treatment or cure. LAMA2-CMD is caused by mutations in the LAMA2 gene which encodes the laminin-?2 protein. Laminin-?2 is present in the basement membrane of the extracellular matrix as Laminin-211 and Laminin-221 heterotrimers and provides critical connections between the basal lamina and muscle cell receptors. Galectin-1 is a small protein known to interact with numerous proteins found at the basal lamina and muscle sarcolemma. Past research indicates that treatment with Galectin-1 protein improves the repair capacity of damaged muscle and increases levels of ?7?1 integrin and utrophin, leading to improved muscle function in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. LAMA2- CMD patients exhibit defective muscle repair and reduced levels of ?7?1 integrin. Since Galectin-1 as a protein therapy improves muscle regeneration and stability, the hypothesis is that treatment with Galectin-1 will inhibit disease progression in the LAMA2-CMD mouse model.
Results from this study will pave the way for developing a novel therapeutic for the treatment of LAMA2-CMD.
Researcher: Celeste Rodriguez
Presentation Title: GSK3-like kinases modulate cortical microtubule stability following abiotic stress through interaction with Companion of Cellulose synthase 1 (CC1)
Research Focus: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Plant cell walls are complex extracellular matrices that surround all plant cells and are composed of nearly 40% cellulose. This paracrystalline polysaccharide is synthesized at the plasma membrane by Cellulose Synthase Complexes (CSCs), which are essential for plant growth and development. Multiple protein subunits of the CSC are post-translationally phosphorylated, conceivably to rapidly mediate changes in cellulose deposition under adverse growth conditions. A family of proteins known as COMPANION OF CELLULOSE SYNTHASE 1 (CC1) interact with plant cell microtubules and appear to play a role in microtubule stability and cellulose deposition during salt stress. Additionally, Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones that are essential to growth and development, and these steroid hormones have been shown to modulate CSC activity via post-translational phosphorylation. Our lab has shown that CC1 is phosphorylated by the BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2) protein kinase, a negative regulator of BR signaling and a GSK3-like kinase. This post-translational modification abolishes CC1’s ability to combine monomers of microtubules into functional polymers in vitro. My research focuses on analyzing how the mutant cc1;cc2 responds to Brassinolide (an active form of brassinosteroid), Bikinin (a BIN2 inhibitor) and Brassinazole (an inhibitor of BR biosynthesis). My preliminary results show that cc1;cc2 mutants are hypersensitive to these drugs in comparison to the wildtype and CC1 complemented lines. These results suggest that BR steroid signaling may have a role in the mediation of multiple parts of CSC function in abiotic stress.
Researcher: Anutr Sivakoses
Presentation Title: Cell Morphology and Differentiation in a 3D Human Uterine Myometrial Tissue Model
Research Focus: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Spanish (Literature and Culture)
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality which can lead to lifelong debilitations and lower quality of life for newborns. Tocolytics are often used to attempt to stop contractions of the uterus and prevent labor from continuing, but the usefulness of these drugs is limited. The myometrium is the middle-most muscular layer of the uterus and has been observed to cause contractions during labor. Our lab is working to create a 3D human myometrial tissue model to advance our understanding of the molecular pathways that lead to the onset of uterine contraction and identify novel targets to promote quiescence. We tested the hypothesis that our synthetic tissue model would express uterine smooth muscle markers similar to native uterine tissue. Human uterine myometrial tissue was obtained with informed consent and IRB approval from patients at Renown Hospital in Reno, NV who were at least 40 weeks into their pregnancy (full term). Myometrial cells were isolated and allowed to proliferate in 2D cell culture. A microfluidic bioprinter was used to dispense myometrial cells into 15 mm rings. Cells in the ring were allowed to proliferate and then transferred to differentiation media for to promote expression of smooth muscle markers. After confirming cell viability, specific protein expression was determined by confocal microscopy. We detected smooth muscle actin, smooth muscle myosin, and oxytocin receptor expression in synthetic tissues. These results indicate cells within synthetic tissue rings are viable and appropriately express uterine smooth muscle proteins.