Life Sciences Commons^™

Nkx6.1 And Stx1a As Binding Partners In Pancreatic Beta Cells, Jakob T. Lenker, Jeff S. Tessem, Connor C. Littlefield

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024

Diabetes is characterized by a loss in beta cell function within the pancreas and the subsequent inability to produce sufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose. While current diabetes treatments focus on delivering pharmaceutical insulin to diabetic individuals, such treatments are temporary solutions and do not address the root of the issue. Instead, our research focuses on potential mechanisms for inducing greater insulin secretion within the pancreas of the individual. NK6 Homeobox 1 (Nkx6.1) is a major transcription factor in beta cells and its overexpression in beta cells is associated with higher insulin secretion. Previous research indicates that Syntaxin 1A (Stx1A) …

Reducing Food Scarcity: The Benefits Of Urban Farming, S.A. Claudell, Emilio Mejia

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Urban farming can enhance the lives of communities and help reduce food scarcity. This paper presents a conceptual prototype of an efficient urban farming community that can be scaled for a single apartment building or an entire community across all global geoeconomics regions, including densely populated cities and rural, developing towns and communities. When deployed in coordination with smart crop choices, local farm support, and efficient transportation then the result isn’t just sustainability, but also increasing fresh produce accessibility, optimizing nutritional value, eliminating the use of ‘forever chemicals’, reducing transportation costs, and fostering global environmental benefits.

Imagine Doris, who is …

A Vision For A Food-Secure Future Through Permaculture, Jim Gale

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

In response to the pressing challenges of food security, sustainability, and resilience, Food Forest Abundance, led by visionary CEO Jim Gale, emerges as a beacon for permaculture-based agriculture and community development. This editorial explores the organization's pivotal role in advocating for a future where individuals, families, and communities thrive through sustainable practices and localized food systems. Central to Food Forest Abundance mission is the conviction that permaculture principles can revolutionize our approach to food security, health, and wellness by uniting agricultural and community leaders.

The catalyst for this movement was the World Farmers Market Coalition report, revealing the tangible economic, …

Micronutrient Fortified Soymilk Processing Supplemental Data Tables, Michael L. Dunn, Oscar A. Pike, Bradley J. Taylor, Dallin M. Hardy

ScholarsArchive Data

This data set contains Supplemental Tables (created using Microsoft Word) for the following manuscript submitted for publication:

Vitamin stability and sensory acceptability in micronutrient-fortified soymilk prepared by small-scale batch processing

Authors: Dallin M. Hardy, Oscar A. Pike, Bradley J. Taylor, Michael L. Dunn

The above manuscript was prepared with modifications from portions of the M.S. thesis of Dallin M. Hardy, which can be found at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/8284/

The data set includes five supplementary tables containing data values for vitamin retention during processing and sensory acceptance of micronutrient fortified soymilk. The data in these tables had no statistically significant differences between treatments.

Blend Uniformity And Vitamin Stability In Dairy-Based Foods Fortified With Lipid-Encapsulated Ferrous Sulfate, Garth Anthony Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Homogeneity of powder blends is an important metric for industrial applications in fortified dairy foods including commercial pediatric nutrition products. Product development practices evaluating physical properties and nutrient stability performance are reliant on blending parameters that deliver a uniform powder at both the pilot and commercial scale. Quantities of individual micronutrients in finished products are particularly critical for formulated infant foods. The two preliminary phases of this study focused on developing a simple, efficient method, specifically for a pilot scale ribbon blender, in which maximum homogeneity in fortified dairy-based powder blends could be reached. In phase one, a red iron …

Leaf Fiber Strength And Fruit Nutrient Content Of Yucca Species Native To The Navajo Nation, Anna Therese Bartlett

Theses and Dissertations

The strength of leaf fibers and the nutritional value of the edible fruit of several yucca species native to the U.S. southwest were studied to aid in the determination of species best suited for commercial cultivation by the Navajo Nation. The leaves were softened in an autoclave to facilitate the removal of the leaf matrix, conditioned in environmentally controlled chambers, and the fibers were broken using a texture analyzer. The fibers were frozen and cross sectioned and photographed to determine cross sectional area. Official methods were used to determine the nutritional content of the fruit. The mean tensile strength of …

The Role Of Nr4a1 In Β-Cell Growth And Onset Of Type 2 Diabetes, Adam Wynn, Jeffery Tessem, Ph.D.

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Progression to type 2 diabetes (T2D) includes a loss of functional pancreatic beta cells (β-cells), which are responsible for secreting insulin and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Nr4a1 is a gene that has been shown to be involved in fuel utilization in the liver, muscles, and adipose tissues,1, 2, 3, 4 but not much is known about its role in the β-cell and T2D progression. We therefore set out to further define Nr4a1’s role in the β- cell during T2D progression. We hypothesized that the loss of Nr4a1 in the pancreata of mice would result in decreased β-cell maintenance and …

Nf Κb As A Mediator In Iron Regulation, Erik D. Marchant, Chad Hancock

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used chemotherapy drug. Although it is very effective in treating many different types of cancer, it has also been shown to induce oxidative stress in multiple tissues, partially due to severe iron-dysregulation. The effects of DOX have mostly been studied in heart tissue, because DOX has been shown to increase the risk of cardiomyopathy and other heart diseases. Besides causing damage to the heart, DOX has also been shown to contribute to muscle wasting. For this purpose, we decided to investigate how DOX causes iron-dysregulation in C2C12 myotubes, which are immortalized cells from mouse skeletal …

The Effects Of Hyperlipidemia On Β-Cells, Andrew Barlow, Trevor Lloyd, Mason Poffenbarger, Austin Ricks, Dr. Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Diabetes’ prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Normally, insulin-secreting β-cells in the pancreas regulate proper glucose absorption and storage. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are characterized by decreased functional β-cell mass and insulin production (1). Diabetes also results in increased circulating glucose and fatty acid levels, which damage and destroy β-cells over time (2). Our study sheds further light on the palmitate and oleate-induced effects of gradually worsening hyperlipidemia and the mechanisms behind those effects; ultimately, promoting investigation into methods by which existing β-cells could be protected from harmful hyperlipidemia.

Iron Dysregulation Induced By Oxidative Stress Is Prevented By Curcumin In C2c12 Skeletal Muscle Cells, Jacob Anderson, Dr. Chad Hancock

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent studies indicate a correlation between iron dysregulation and insulin sensitivity, suggesting that iron dysregulation may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus [1]. However, the connection between iron regulation and insulin sensitivity is not fully understood. Iron is normally tightly regulated, and most iron within cells is bound to prevent aberrant production of free radicals. Non-bound iron is highly reactive via Fenton Reaction chemistry to produce hydroxyl radicals, contributing to oxidative stress and possibly to the development of insulin resistance. Not only does mismanagement of iron contribute to oxidative stress, but evidence suggests that oxidative …

Sensory Acceptability And Nutrient Stability In Micronutrient-Fortified Soymilk Prepared In Small-Scale Batch Processes, Dallin Max Hardy

Theses and Dissertations

Fortified and unfortified soymilk were produced from the same production batches for comparative evaluation. Fortification included a comprehensive array of micronutrients of interest to community and humanitarian nutrition programs. The effects of time after fortification prior to cooling, cooling method, and light or dark refrigerated storage on the stability of 5 vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and folate) were investigated for both fortified and unfortified soymilk. Significant vitamin C loss (6%) and mild vitamin A isomerization occurred while soymilk was hot immediately following fortification. Cooling bottled soymilk in an ambient water bath or ice water bath made no …

An Observational Study Of Physicochemical Changes In Cheddar Enzyme-Modified Cheese During Incubation, David Gary Doxey

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an observation of the various physicochemical changes that occur in enzyme-modified cheese (EMC) during the incubation step of production. The purpose of this study was an attempt to gain a better understanding of the changes that occur due to enzymatic reactions during EMC production. A standard EMC batch was prepared with the addition of two exogenous enzymes, a lipase and a protease (LP). Two additional treatment batches had either only a lipase (L) or a protease (P) added individually. Batches were prepared in duplicate with each replicate performed on different days. Each batch was incubated at 42±0.5°C …

Program Coordinators’ Experiences With Introducing Parent-Focused Health Lessons To A Child-Centered Micronutrient Supplementation Program: An Exploration Of Recent Programmatic Changes In Liahona Children’S Foundation, Shannon Barham

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper utilizes survey responses from local coordinators of LCF, an international micronutrient supplementation humanitarian organization, to provide insight into the challenges and personal rewards of providing nutrition education to parents of malnourished children. LCF is based in Utah and operates in 19 countries throughout the world. LCF recently introduced a series of health lessons geared toward parents of malnourished children. A survey was sent to LCF workers in 12 countries in order to gather feedback about the health lessons. Qualitative survey responses are explored, and potential suggestions for future changes to the health lessons are proposed. Additionally, data gathered …

The Effect Of Nr4a3 On Functional Beta Cell Mass, Jeffery S. Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this Mentoring Environment Grant (MEG) were to 1) train undergraduate students in the scientific process to prepare them in careers as physicians and scientists, and 2) to determine if the in vitro phenotypes observed in Nr4a3 deficient beta cell lines are translatable to the Nr4a3 KO mouse. . We were successful in accomplishing these objectives, as evidenced by the training of four undergraduate students, presentation of research and local and national meetings, and initial preparation of a manuscript reporting our findings. While we did have difficulty breeding these mice, this study gives us the basis of …

Is Mafb Essential To Β-Cell Growth And Proliferation?, Aaron Leifer, Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Project Purpose: Our goal is to determine if MafB is necessary for β Cell proliferation and glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Project Importance: Approximately 29.1 million people are affected by type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the United States, according to 2014 National Diabetes Statistic Report. In addition, these 29.1 spent or lost 245 billion dollars combined. A cure for diabetes would result in not only a better life style but would also save billions of dollars. Project Profile Body: Both forms of diabetes are ultimately caused by decreased functional β-cell mass. β-cell transplantation is a possible treatment for …

Decreasing Nutrient Deficiencies In Malawi Through Nixtamalization: A Sustainable Maize Fortification Method, Brooke Carroll, Frost Steele

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this study was to address several nutritional deficiencies in a typical Malawian diet through an ancient Mesoamerican process known as nixtamalization. Calcium and niacin, both crucial micronutrients, are both increased through this maize treatment process. It requires an alkaline solution, which we created from wood ash, to process maize and incorporate these nutrients into a new product. Since the taste, texture, flavor, and appearance of the maize changes with nixtamalization, a panel of native Malawians were invited to taste several variants of the nixtamal product in contrast to one made with traditional maize and relay their opinions …

Accumulation And Retention In Brain Of Supplemental Selenium Is Determined By Dietary Composition, Robert Fender, Merrill Christensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It is estimated that over 6 million Americans suffer from the neurodegenerative diseases of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s combined, with 1 in 4 Americans suffering from some type of mental illness (1). Oxidative damage and inflammation, which is a recognized hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, can be prevented by antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase whose key component is selenium and which relies on a selenium delivering protein called selenoprotein P (2). Since neurodegeneration that affects so many people can potentially be avoided by understanding how selenium is accumulated in and delivered to body tissue, understanding how and where selenium is accumulated …

Comparison Of Functional, Nutritional, And Sensory Properties Of Spray-Dried And Oven-Dried Cricket (Acheta Domesticus) Powder, Fred Stephen Bassett

Theses and Dissertations

Three dried cricket products – Oven-roasted Cricket Meal (ORCM), Oven-roasted Cricket Powder (ORCP), and Spray-dried Cricket Powder (SDCP) – were prepared and compared to assess their relative nutritional, functional, and sensory properties. The range of particle sizes in SDCP was wider than that of ORCP; while SDCP had more particles in the 7.78-22.0 µm range, it also had more particles in the 176-498 µm range, which contributed to differences in functional and sensory properties. ORCM and SDCP meet the FDA definition of an "excellent source" of vitamin B₂, ORCP is a "good source" of vitamin B₂, …

Effects Of Acid Whey Marination On Tenderness, Sensory And Other Quality Parameters Of Beef Eye Of Round, Jason Kim

Theses and Dissertations

The growth of the Greek-style yogurt market is causing many problems for dairy companies who are trying to handle the voluminous whey by-product. Acid whey, unlike sweet whey, has a low amount of protein and high amounts of lactic acid, calcium, and other minerals. Therefore, it has limited commercial value to the food industry and often requires additional processing for disposal. Lactic acid and calcium solutions have shown efficacy in increasing the tenderness of beef and other types of meat. The purpose of this project is to investigate the use of acid whey, with its high amounts of lactic acid …

The Effect Of Cocoa Flavanols On Β-Cell Mass And Function, Thomas John Rowley

Theses and Dissertations

A hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is β-cell dysfunction and the eventual loss of functional β-cell mass. Therefore, mechanisms that improve or preserve β-cell function could be used to improve the quality of life of individuals with T2D. Studies have shown that monomeric, oligomeric and polymeric cocoa flavanols have different effects on obesity, insulin resistance and glucose tolerance. We hypothesized that these cocoa flavanols may have beneficial effects on β-cell function. INS-1 832/13 derived β-cells and primary rat islets cultured with a monomeric catechin-rich cocoa flavanol fraction demonstrated enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, while cells cultured with total cocoa extract, …

Teacher Perceptions Of School Breakfast Programs In Utah, Emily Breanne Krueger

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to identify differences in teacher perceptions of benefits, challenges, and preferences to different School Breakfast Program (SBP) service models. A survey instrument was developed, pilot tested, and then distributed electronically to K-12 teachers throughout the state of Utah, who were part of the Utah Education Association. Demographics and factors influencing SBP models in Utah were gathered. Frequencies and ANOVA tests were performed and a significance level of <0.01 was chosen to protect for multiple comparisons. Results indicated that traditional breakfast was the most preferred model with a mean score of 2.80 and breakfast in the classroom was the least preferred model by teachers with a mean of -1.32. Children not going hungry was identified as the greatest benefit (95.4%, n=352) to SBP and food waste was identified as the greatest challenge (45.8%, n=168). This study concluded that increased awareness and education amongst teachers regarding different models of SBP service could lead to increased efficiency, increased participation in SBP, decreased costs, decreased food waste, and increased academic performance and health benefits for students.

The Role Of Nr4a1 In Maternal Obesity Induced Beta Cell Expansion, Jeffery S. Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this Mentoring Environment Grant (MEG) were to 1) train undergraduate students in the scientific process to prepare them in careers as physicians and scientists, and 2) to examine the relationship between in utero Nr4a1 beta cell specific deletion during maternal overnutrition and obesity on beta cell mass at birth and diabetic onset. We were successful in accomplishing these objectives, as evidenced by the training of four undergraduate students, presentation of research and local and national meetings, and initial preparation of a manuscript reporting our findings.

Effects Of Curcumin And Ursolic Acid On The Mitochondrial Coupling Efficiency And Hydrogen Peroxide Emission Of Intact Skeletal Myoblasts, Daniel J. Tueller

Theses and Dissertations

Curcumin is a natural compound that improves blood glucose management. While some evidence from isolated mitochondria indicates that curcumin uncouples electron transport from oxidative phosphorylation, the effects of curcumin on mitochondrial respiration and hydrogen peroxide emission in intact skeletal muscle cells are not known. By assessing rates of oxygen consumption, we demonstrated for the first time that curcumin (40 µM) reduced the mitochondrial coupling efficiency (percentage of oxygen consumption that supports ATP synthesis) of intact skeletal muscle cells. A 30-minute incubation with curcumin decreased mitochondrial coupling efficiency by 17.0 ± 0.4% relative to vehicle (p < 0.008). Curcumin also decreased the rate of hydrogen peroxide emission by 43 ± 13% compared to vehicle (p < 0.05). Analysis of cell respiration in the presence of curcumin revealed a 40 ± 4% increase in the rate of oxygen consumption upon curcumin administration (p < 0.05 compared to vehicle). In additional experiments, no difference in mitochondrial coupling efficiency was observed between vehicle- and curcumin-pretreated cells after permeabilization of cell membranes (p > 0.7). The possibility of synergistic …

The Role Of Nr4a1 In Β-Cell Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion And Cellular Survival, Kevin Garland, Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 2010, diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in America, and as of 2014, 9% of the world’s adult population was affected by it. In both Type I (T1D) and Type II diabetes (T2D), a loss of β-cell mass and overall function is observed. β-cells essentially stop proliferating after adolescence, therefore developing mechanisms to increase function and/or induce proliferation in β-cells could serve as a powerful treatment and even a cure for both T1D and T2D. Overexpression of the β-cell transcription factor Nkx6.1 induces β-cell proliferation (1) and up-regulates expression of the nuclear receptor Nr4a1 (2). Nr4a1 has …

Defining Nkx6.1 Binding Partners In Young And Aged Pancreatic Islet, Sean Kang, Dr. Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Diabetes is an increasing epidemic that deserves more attention. Those affected by diabetes are restricted to either strict diets or remedial insulin supplementation. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are directly related to a decrease in functional β-cell mass. Exciting research has revealed Nkx6.1 to be an influential transcription factor which induces β-cell proliferation, protects against apoptosis and enhances insulin secretion when overexpressed 1 . Our recent findings indicate significant β-cell proliferation is limited to β-cells from adolescent rats, with a severe decrease in proliferation as the animal ages. 2 Nkx6.1 expression is present in every stage of development, …

Cebp/Α Increases Functional Β-Cell Mass, Jason Ray, Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are major global health concerns. Diabetes is characterized by impaired management of glucose in the bloodstream, which is due to decreased pancreatic functional β-cell mass. Functional β-cell mass is determined from the insulin secretion rate and the number of β-cells, which is determined from cellular proliferation and death rates. Increasing functional β-cell mass could cure diabetes either by enhancing pancreatic islets prior to transplantation, or by strengthening endogenous cells. Although β-cells stop proliferating around adolescence, β-cell proliferation resumes during conditions such as pregnancy and obesity (1), demonstrating that the molecular pathways necessary for replication …

Tear Analysis: High-Speed Video Capture Of The Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear, Devon Smith, Steven Cook

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The tearing of the ACL is among one of the most common sports injuries seen during this era. Research shows that annually there are more than 80,000 documented cases of ACL tears occurring with a 15x greater possibility of re-tearing after reconstruction.1 Currently, there is no digitally filmed data on how the fiber bundles unravel during an induced ACL tear. Published studies utilize a Porcine ACL as the highest anatomically comparative model to Human ACL. We are looking to create a grade 3 ACL tear in both human and porcine ACL’s, and film them at high-speed while it unravels. We …

Effects Of Nixtamalization On Maize Processing In Malawi, Annica Cooper, Frost Steele

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Malawi is a small country in southeastern Africa. The main crops that rural Malawians grow for food are maize, legumes, and dark, leafy greens. Due to this restrictive diet, many Malawians are at risk for several nutritional deficiencies. In a survey conducted of Malawian families at the School of Agriculture for Family Independence (SAFI), families reached an average of only 18.3% of their calcium needs. A calcium deficiency, especially early in life, can lead to low bone mass and low vitamin D levels, which leads to rickets or osteomalacia. An ancient Mesoamerican tradition called nixtamalization turns maize into a great …

Is Hdac1 Mediated Β-Cell Proliferation Dependent On Decreased P15 Expression?, Kyle Kener, Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The body maintains normoglycemia through pancreatic β-cells which sense elevation in circulating glucose levels and secrete insulin to maintain the correct blood glucose concentration. A decrease in functional pancreatic β-cell mass leads to Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Each form has different initial causes, but both forms ultimately result in decreased functional β-cell mass. Functional β-cell mass is defined as the rate of glucose stimulated insulin secretion multiplied by the total β-cell mass. The total β-cell mass is a function of cellular proliferation and death rates. β-cells have a very low proliferation rate, therefore determining the mechanisms that induce …

Determining The Mechanism Of Cocoa-Derived Epicatechin Enhancement Of Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion, Benjamin Bitner, Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Due to recent increases in incidence, diabetes is now classified as a global epidemic. Diabetes results from the eventual destruction of β-cell mass, which causes decreased insulin secretion. Increasing functional β-cell mass may provide a cure for diabetes. A previous study has shown that oligomeric procyanidins were effective in preventing weight gain, fat mass, impaired glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance in a mouse obesity model¹. This was the first long-term feeding study to examine the activities of cocoa constituents on diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.