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Synaptic Plasticity In Gabaergic Inhibition Of Vta Neurons, Jennifer Kei Mabey May 2014

Synaptic Plasticity In Gabaergic Inhibition Of Vta Neurons, Jennifer Kei Mabey

Theses and Dissertations

Past research has demonstrated that the motivational effects of opiates causes a change in ventral tegmental area (VTA) γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) subtype A receptor [GABA(A)R] complexes in opiate-dependent animals, which switch from a GABA-induced hyperpolarization of VTA GABA neurons to a GABA-induced depolarization. Previously shown in naïve animals, superfusion of ethanol (IC50 = 30 mM) and the GABA(A)R agonist muscimol (IC50 = 100 nM) decreased VTA GABA neuron firing rate in a dose-dependent manner. The aim of this study was to evaluate VTA GABA neuron excitability, GABA synaptic transmission to VTA GABA neurons, and a potential switch in GABA(A)R …

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An Experimental Study Of Bio-Inspired Force Generation By Unsteady Flow Features, Wesley N. Fassmann May 2014

An Experimental Study Of Bio-Inspired Force Generation By Unsteady Flow Features, Wesley N. Fassmann

Theses and Dissertations

As the understanding of the workings of the biological world expands, biomimetic designs increasingly move into the focus of engineering research studies. For this thesis, two studiesinvolving leading edge vortex generation for lift production as observed in nature were explored intheir respective flow regimes. The first study focused on the steady state analysis of streamwise vortices generated byleading edge tubercles of an adult humpback whale flipper. A realistic scaled model of a humpbackflipper was fabricated based on the 3D reconstruction from a sequence of 18 images taken whilecircumscribing an excised flipper of a beached humpback whale. Two complementary modelswith smooth …

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Text Panels For The Museum Of Archeology, Palmyra Syria: The Temple Bel / Palmyra’S Coinage, David Amott, Dr. Cynthia Finlayson Apr 2014

Text Panels For The Museum Of Archeology, Palmyra Syria: The Temple Bel / Palmyra’S Coinage, David Amott, Dr. Cynthia Finlayson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project helps to fulfill a crucial need for research on a highly important collection of ancient artifacts housed in the Archeology Museum of Tadmor-Palmyra, Syria. The collection is significant in that it documents the history and culture of a major center of the ancient Mediterranean world. This research has been used to create several museum text panels and exhibition layouts that, once assembled, will be shipped to Palmyra, Syria and installed as part of a permanent exhibition in Palmyra’s Museum of Archeology. Below is text that will be featured on panels concerning Palmyra’s Temple Bel, Palmyra’s principle god Bel, …

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Gpr55: A Potential Enhancer Of Learning And Memory In The Hippocampus, Rachel Schneider, Dr. Jeff Edwards Apr 2014

Gpr55: A Potential Enhancer Of Learning And Memory In The Hippocampus, Rachel Schneider, Dr. Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My project goal was to understand how G-protein coupled receptor 55, (GPR55), a novel cellular pathway in the hippocampus, contributes to learning and memory. Recent research of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s, has primarily focused on understanding how learning occurs and how memories are encoded within the brain. Understanding the process in a normal brain and then how it is disrupted in a diseased brain is essential to making headway on treatments for neurodegeneration. Some studies have shown that to encode memories, the brain changes neural synapses to either strengthen or weaken the electrical pathways, which is a process known as …

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Following The Flows Of Money To Supply Chain Sustainability, Loonie Ikaika Bullock, Dr. Kristie Seawright Apr 2014

Following The Flows Of Money To Supply Chain Sustainability, Loonie Ikaika Bullock, Dr. Kristie Seawright

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was (1) to conduct exploratory research on the flows of money within supply chains, including aid chains that exist in poverty environments, and (2) to identify the potential of money flows to mask inefficiencies in the supply chain that can threaten enterprise viability.

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Determining Gene Expression Levels In Healthy And Degraded Alpaca Spinal Discs, Loyd Christensen, Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater Apr 2014

Determining Gene Expression Levels In Healthy And Degraded Alpaca Spinal Discs, Loyd Christensen, Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (IDD) is a disease estimated to affect between 60 and 90 percent of the total population at some point in life. Evidence of spinal disc degeneration has been shown in 30 percent of individuals under 40 years old, with earliest symptoms visible at 21 years of age; its prevalence only increases with age. Symptoms of spinal disc degeneration account for more than 13 million doctor visits each year and result in costs of more than $200 billion in lost productivity and health-care related expenses in the US alone. Unfortunately, despite these staggering costs, no widely effective treatment …

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Expression Of Htra1 And Tgfb1 In Osteoarthritis, Karl Andersen, Dr. David Kooyman Apr 2014

Expression Of Htra1 And Tgfb1 In Osteoarthritis, Karl Andersen, Dr. David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Osteoarthritis increasingly debilitates and causes discomfiture to millions of people worldwide. Most people over 65 years of age suffer from symptoms of osteoarthritis. There has, up to this point, been effectively no clear understanding of the processes of the body that contribute genetically or mechanically to this severe condition. The result of this lack of knowledge is a general absence of prevention and treatment measures. As of today, treatments consist only of joint replacement and pain reduction measures.

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Consequences Of Browsing On Quaking Aspen’S Ability To Cope With Drought, Ivy Chatwin, Dr. Sam St. Clair Apr 2014

Consequences Of Browsing On Quaking Aspen’S Ability To Cope With Drought, Ivy Chatwin, Dr. Sam St. Clair

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, is a keystone species in forest ecosystems and is the most widely distributed tree in North America (St. Clair, Guyon, and Donaldson, 2010). Although it covers less than 10% of the forested landscape, aspen contributes disproportionately to water yield and plant and animal diversity (Kaye, Binkley, and Stohlgren, 2005). Severe drought and increased temperature in recent decades have contributed to largescale aspen die‐offs, (Worrall et al. 2007, Anderegg et al. 2012) likely through a process called hydraulic failure. Hydraulic failure occurs under drought conditions when the pressure required to draw water up a tree’s vascular tissue …

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Do Gaba(A) Receptors Switch For All Drug Dependence?: Examining The Dopamine-Dependent Pathways Of Alcohol Addiction, Catie Nielson, Dr. Scott Steffensen Apr 2014

Do Gaba(A) Receptors Switch For All Drug Dependence?: Examining The Dopamine-Dependent Pathways Of Alcohol Addiction, Catie Nielson, Dr. Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The prevailing model for addiction proposes that neurotransmission of dopamine (DA) in the brain reward system is dysregulated, with enhanced levels during acute drug exposure and reduced levels during drug dependence and withdrawal. One emerging view is that during drug addiction, GABA(A) receptors switch the effect of GABA neurons on DA neurons from inhibitory to excitatory. This has been demonstrated for opiate addiction (Vargas-Perez et al., 2009). Our lab has previously demonstrated that GABA neurons become tolerant to acute ethanol and hyperexcitable during chronic ethanol (Gallegos et al., 1999), which may explain why dopamine neurotransmission is reduced during withdrawal. The …

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Temperament In Social Dominance, Jason Lefrandt, Dr. James Higley Apr 2014

Temperament In Social Dominance, Jason Lefrandt, Dr. James Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the internship at the University of California, Davis Primate Center this summer 2013, I have had the privilege of learning in various capacities as a research assistant. My main project that I was involved with was under Erna Tarara, a trained primatologist that did her field studies in Africa working on baboons. Together, we collect behavioral data that would help John Capitatio’s BioBehavioral Assessment (BBA) research on rhesus macaques.

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Agentive Hmong Memory Making: “We Stood Up To Them”, April Reber Apr 2014

Agentive Hmong Memory Making: “We Stood Up To Them”, April Reber

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Racialized environmentalism and politicized economics converged in July and August, 2000, when a coalition of Thai farmers, Royal Forestry Department (RFD) and other government officials blocked off roads leading to Hmong farms in the mountains in Thailand. This coalition collaboratively targeted Hmong lychee orchards that had almost reached maturation (it takes lychee trees 10 years to fully mature). According to my respondents, the Thais who cut down the trees came from three mountain villages that overlook the mountain valley where the fields are. Similarly, the RFD office is in the mountains near one village and overlooking the fields. According to …

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Buffalo Bill’S Wild West And Cultural Ambassadorship, Robert Polo, Dr. Frank Christianson Apr 2014

Buffalo Bill’S Wild West And Cultural Ambassadorship, Robert Polo, Dr. Frank Christianson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

On Thursday, March 31, 1887, William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody left New York aboard “The State of Nebraska.” He headed for England along with the Wild West, a band of “more than two hundred men and animals, consisting of Indians, cowboys…Mexican wild riders, celebrated rifle shots,” and various forms of livestock (Cody 18). This voyage to the motherland represented a new chapter in the showman’s life. His alleged triumphs as Colonel William Frederick Cody, guide and scout, did not compare to the potential victories on the new frontier of his career: England.

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Analyzing The Power Of Individual Genes: Maternal Gene Influence On The Serotonin Transporter Gene, Patrick O'Connell, Dr. James Dee Higley Apr 2014

Analyzing The Power Of Individual Genes: Maternal Gene Influence On The Serotonin Transporter Gene, Patrick O'Connell, Dr. James Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The present analysis considers a mother gene-by-infant gene interaction of the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (hereafter 5-HTTLPR). This is to our knowledge the first study to analyze this type of interaction. Two principle variants of this gene, a short allele (related to decreased 5-HTT expression), and a long allele, have been identified in both human and nonhuman primates. This provides 3 distinct genotypes: the homozygous short allele (ss), the heterozygotes (Ls), and the homozygous long allele genotype (LL); which have been shown to influence a variety of behaviors, principally those related to impulsive aggression (Higley & Barr, 2008) and anxiety …

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Adaptation Of Dopamine Release With Chronic Ethanol Exposure And Withdrawal, Ronald Lopez, Dr. Scott Steffensen Apr 2014

Adaptation Of Dopamine Release With Chronic Ethanol Exposure And Withdrawal, Ronald Lopez, Dr. Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder that has enormous impact on society. Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs. Advancement in the understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying the abuse of alcohol will pave the way for more effective treatment strategies that could reverse dependence on this drug and save lives and resources throughout the world.

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Inheritance Of Social Dominance In Rhesus Macaques, Mason Bennett, Dr. James Dee Higley Apr 2014

Inheritance Of Social Dominance In Rhesus Macaques, Mason Bennett, Dr. James Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many species of primates have complex social systems and hierarchies. These social structures help in forming an identity and establishing a place in the world. Depending on one’s ranking in the social hierarchy there may be physiological, psychological, and emotional consequences. A primate with low rank may suffer greater stress, have less access to resources or social support, and have a higher chance of mortality (Sapolsky, 2004).

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Sculpting Bombay Under The British Raj: Decorative Sculpture And The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Nicole Ashley Vance, Dr. Heather Belnap Jensen Apr 2014

Sculpting Bombay Under The British Raj: Decorative Sculpture And The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Nicole Ashley Vance, Dr. Heather Belnap Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The seaport of Bombay is often referred to India’s “Gothic City.” Reminders of the British Raj are seen throughout South Bombay, embodied in Victorian architecture and sculpture. In the heart of the Bombay lies the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a massive, towering railway station blending neo-gothic and vernacular architectures of the nineteenth-century (fig. 1). The terminus is evidence of the unique relationship between the British, Parsees, and indigenous peoples during the rule of the British Raj, as European architects worked with Indian craftsmen to create a symbol of ‘progress’ in Colonial India. In keeping with the traditions of gothic revival architecture, …

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Children’S Expressions: Using The Creative Process Of Theatre To Instruct And Inspire Children In The Community, Danielle Peterson, Dr. Megan Sanborn Jones Apr 2014

Children’S Expressions: Using The Creative Process Of Theatre To Instruct And Inspire Children In The Community, Danielle Peterson, Dr. Megan Sanborn Jones

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Most children’s theatre involves adults putting on plays for kids. Rarely are the children given the opportunity to sit in the creative seat. With this particular project, I attempted to shift the paradigm of “children’s theatre.” Working with the local Boys and Girls Club, I had the opportunity to allow children to design, plan and produce a brand new play. Children have vivid imaginations and are a vibrant sources of creativity. It is rare that they get this kind of opportunity but it is experiences like these that will always be cherished.

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Use Of Humanized Mice To Study The Production Of Human B Cell Lineage, German Cuadra, Dr. Bradford Berges Apr 2014

Use Of Humanized Mice To Study The Production Of Human B Cell Lineage, German Cuadra, Dr. Bradford Berges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our study focuses on the development of an animal model capable of reproduce cellular responses as in humans. For years humanized mice have been used in the study of infectious diseases. The goal of this research was to document, characterize and record the existence of human B cell lineage and penetration into different tissues of humanized mice.

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The Role Of Timing Of Dietary Selenium And Isoflavone Supplementation In The Reduction Of Prostate Cancer Risk Factors In Tramp Mice, Ji Su Park, Dr. Merrill Christensen Apr 2014

The Role Of Timing Of Dietary Selenium And Isoflavone Supplementation In The Reduction Of Prostate Cancer Risk Factors In Tramp Mice, Ji Su Park, Dr. Merrill Christensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men, with a predicted 29,720 deaths in 2013. (1) Previous studies have shown that both selenium (Se) and soy isoflavones reduce risk for prostate cancer when consumed at high levels. (2-3) However, little is known about the effect of Se and isoflavones combined on cancer progression or whether it matters when these supplements are introduced into the diet to decrease cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the individual and combinational effects of Se and soy and the role of timing of …

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Three Animated Stories That Will Change The World, William Day, Dr. Justin Kunz Apr 2014

Three Animated Stories That Will Change The World, William Day, Dr. Justin Kunz

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project sought to teach basic life, moral, and gospel lessons in a direct and compelling manner. Working closely with my mentor, other faculty, and artistically minded peers, the project succeeded in reaching a new world audience and sharing life changing content.

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Synthesis And Purification Of The Glycosphingolipid Csa-13, Tyler Olsen, Dr. Paul Savage Apr 2014

Synthesis And Purification Of The Glycosphingolipid Csa-13, Tyler Olsen, Dr. Paul Savage

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The need for novel antibiotic mechanisms is prevalent. Common antimicrobial medicines such as penicillin, ampicillin and vancomycin have started becoming obsolete as resistant strains of bacteria become more widespread. The main problem with antibiotics is the rapid mutations that bacteria undergo. Eventually one cell will develop resistance, and then have that mutation selected for as patients undergo antibiotic therapy. Bacteria are rapidly changing to combat the many new antibiotic variants that have come out.

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Preserving Byu’S Ancient Papyri, Parchments, And Ostraca, Joseph Trevor Antley, Dr. Lincoln Blumell Apr 2014

Preserving Byu’S Ancient Papyri, Parchments, And Ostraca, Joseph Trevor Antley, Dr. Lincoln Blumell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Currently approximately 80% of the hundreds of ancient papyrus, parchment, and ostracon fragments contained in the L. Tom Perry Special Collections of BYU’s Harold B. Lee Library have been successfully preserved by myself and the others who worked on this project with me, ensuring that these valuable pieces will survive in-tact for many more years in BYU’s collection. The remaining 20%, mostly consisting of very small fragments, will be preserved by us over the coming year.

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Genetic Rescue Of The Irk 2 Knockout Phenotype By Ectopic Expression Of Irk 2 Wt, Brandon Gassaway, Dr. Emily Bates Apr 2014

Genetic Rescue Of The Irk 2 Knockout Phenotype By Ectopic Expression Of Irk 2 Wt, Brandon Gassaway, Dr. Emily Bates

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Anderson-Tawil Syndrome (ATS) is characterized by morphological defects including clinodactyly (abnormal curvature of digits), syndactyly (fused digits), micrognathia (small jaw), cleft palate, and hypertelorism (wide-set eyes) as well as periodic paralysis and heart arrhythmia. Mutations in inwardly rectifying potassium (Irk) channels are found in patients with ATS. Expression of mutant Irk channels causes similar physiological and morphological defects in mice.1

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Mucosal Vaccines And The Ability To Produce Immune Responses In Select Mucosal Tissues, Kaitlyn Vance, Dr. Eric Wilson Apr 2014

Mucosal Vaccines And The Ability To Produce Immune Responses In Select Mucosal Tissues, Kaitlyn Vance, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mucosal surfaces are the main portals through which pathogens enter the body of an organism. Previous research has shown that mucosal immunity effectively prevents the entry of pathogens at these surfaces, thus disrupting an infection before it begins; this immunity can be achieved by mucosal vaccination (1). The homing mechanisms of lymphocytes in the mucosal immune system, however, are not yet fully understood. This mentored research project was designed to deepen the understanding of how the mucosal immune system operates. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of mucosal vaccination in producing localized immune responses by attempting to reproducibly create a …

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Choose Your Daddy: Genetic Genealogy To Prevent Dairy Cow Production-Related Diseases, Nalani Yamada, Beverly Roeder Apr 2014

Choose Your Daddy: Genetic Genealogy To Prevent Dairy Cow Production-Related Diseases, Nalani Yamada, Beverly Roeder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Dairy cows are bred and utilized to produce large quantities of milk daily and are held to high production standards. Greater production or manipulated production activity can affect the homeostasis state of an animal and lead to production-related metabolic diseases (PRMDs). In a previous study focused on predicting PMRDs in dairy cows utilizing carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios performed at Brigham Young University, the results suggested that there is a correlation between carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in hair, freeze-dried feces, erythrocytes, plasma, and PRMDs. In collaboration with this study previously and based on the results, it was …

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Development, Characterization And Linkage Mapping Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphsim In The Grain Amaranths (Amaranthus Spp.), Scott Smith, Dr. Jeff Maughan Apr 2014

Development, Characterization And Linkage Mapping Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphsim In The Grain Amaranths (Amaranthus Spp.), Scott Smith, Dr. Jeff Maughan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The grain amaranths (Amaranthus sp.) are important pseudo-cereals native to the New World. During the last decade they have garnered increased international attention for their nutritional quality, tolerance to abiotic stress and importance as a symbol of indigenous cultures. Notwithstanding their renewed potential as an emerging alternative crop species, few molecular tools needed for accelerated breeding programs, have been developed. Our research describes the development and characterization of the first 411 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker assays for the species as well as the first complete genetic linkage map of the species.

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Stability Of Added Folic Acid In Micronutrient-Fortified Rice Using Different Cooking Techniques And Storage Conditions, Shintaro Pang, Dr. Michael Dunn Apr 2014

Stability Of Added Folic Acid In Micronutrient-Fortified Rice Using Different Cooking Techniques And Storage Conditions, Shintaro Pang, Dr. Michael Dunn

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Rice is the main staple in many people’s diet, accounting for 80% of the daily caloric intake of 3 billion people. Studies also show that folate intake is insufficient worldwide (Schoenlechner et al 2010). This is of much concern because folate deficiency is linked to many serious disorders, such as megaloblastic anemia and neural tube defects in newborns (Steur et al 2010). In order to remedy this problem, folate concentrations in many foods, including rice has been well analyzed. However, the stability of folic acid in rice is less known. This information is of interest because folic acid is very …

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Selenium Toxicity In C57bl/6 Mice, Lauren Nielson, Dr. Merrill Christensen Apr 2014

Selenium Toxicity In C57bl/6 Mice, Lauren Nielson, Dr. Merrill Christensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my ORCA project was to determine the highest intake of selenomethylcysteine mice could consume without it being toxic to them. Selenium has been shown to have preventative effects on the progression of prostate cancer, so determining the optimum dosage of selenomethylcysteine (the most absorabable form of selenium) is essential for future research on this topic.

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Phenotypic Divergence Of Boldness In Brachyrhaphis Fishes, Joseph Nelson, Jerald B. Johnson Apr 2014

Phenotypic Divergence Of Boldness In Brachyrhaphis Fishes, Joseph Nelson, Jerald B. Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The general public has a fairly good understanding of evolution and how physical characteristics of a species can change to adapt to environmental inconsistencies. In times of drought, flood, or other natural stress that commonly occur in nature, animals must adapt to their surroundings, or die. The example of the Galapagos finches is one of the most popular used illustrations of this concept. The size, shape and usefulness of a finch’s beak were some few of the things that the great scientist Charles Darwin first noticed on his trip to the Galapagos Islands over 170 years ago. As Darwin determined …

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Osteoarthritis And Cartilage, David Holt, Dr. L. C. Bridgewater, Dr. R. E. Seegmiller Apr 2014

Osteoarthritis And Cartilage, David Holt, Dr. L. C. Bridgewater, Dr. R. E. Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the spondyloepiphesial dysplasia congenita (sedc) heterozygous (sedc/þ) mouse, a COL2A1 mutant, is a model for the study of osteoarthritis (OA) in the absence of dwarfism and to investigate the presence of HtrA1, Ddr2, and Mmp-13 and their possible involvement in a universal mechanism leading to OA.

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