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Spatial Heterogeneity Of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Associated With Sediment Types In Great Salt Lake, Matthew Johnson, Dr. Donald P. Breakwell Sep 2013

Spatial Heterogeneity Of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Associated With Sediment Types In Great Salt Lake, Matthew Johnson, Dr. Donald P. Breakwell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Great Salt Lake supports a vast quantity of halophiles in the domains of Bacteria and Archaea that have not been studied extensively. Rozel Point, located on the north arm of Great Salt Lake, is a prime hyper saline environment for halophiles to exploit for its natural source of carbon in the form of oil. Little has been done to quantify the biotic activity in such an environment to understand the spatial variability of these halophiles. A viable method for quantifying their activity is alkaline phosphatase.

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Phylogeny Of The Tribe Psoraleae In North America, Rebecca Schaeffer, Dr. Keith Crandall Sep 2013

Phylogeny Of The Tribe Psoraleae In North America, Rebecca Schaeffer, Dr. Keith Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many species of plants in the Leguminosae family are important economically, but many of these plants are now considered rare, threatened, or endangered. Seventy percent of the species in the genus Pediomelum are highly limited in geographic distribution, which influences conservation status. In addition to this, very little work with phylogenetic studies has been done on this group. Learning about evolutionary relationships within these species is a first step to understanding more about their conservation status.

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Radiological Analysis Of Osteoarthritis In The Mouse Knee Joint, Mark Newcomer, Dr. Robert Seegmiller Sep 2013

Radiological Analysis Of Osteoarthritis In The Mouse Knee Joint, Mark Newcomer, Dr. Robert Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cites that nearly 21 million Americans currently suffer from osteoarthritis (OA) and has recently issued a news release which states that, “Today, 35 million people, 13 percent of the U.S. population, are 65 and older, and more than half of them have radiological evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint. By 2030, an estimated 20% of Americans – about 70 million people – will have passed their 65th birthday and will be at increased risk of OA.” Arthritis can present itself in many ways and degrees of severity. Osteoarthritis is by …

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Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints In The Middle Missouri River Valley (1846-1853) Recreating A Legacy Of Faith, Tiffany Taylor, Dr. Shauna C. Anderson Sep 2013

Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints In The Middle Missouri River Valley (1846-1853) Recreating A Legacy Of Faith, Tiffany Taylor, Dr. Shauna C. Anderson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 1846, after escaping mob persecution in Nauvoo, Illinois, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established communities along the Missouri River in both Iowa and Nebraska. Approximately 90 settlements were created within seven years, with the most well-known being Winter Quarters.

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The Use Of 13c/12c And 15n/14n Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis To Determine Carnivory Level In Gender Identified Free-Ranging Utah American Black Bears (Ursus Americanus), Eric Olsen, Beverly Roeder Sep 2013

The Use Of 13c/12c And 15n/14n Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis To Determine Carnivory Level In Gender Identified Free-Ranging Utah American Black Bears (Ursus Americanus), Eric Olsen, Beverly Roeder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stable isotope analysis of carbon (13C/12C or d13C) and nitrogen (15N/14N or d15N) has been shown to provide a more accurate estimate of overall diet in various mammalian species (Sponheimer et al. 2003). This technique was used to determine the amount of vegetation and animal protein in the nutritional uptake of free ranging Utah black bears (Ursus americanus). Samples were obtained from harvested bears taken during the fall 2005 and spring 2006 hunt from various regions of Utah via the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). Gender was reported by the hunters at time of harvest. Age was determined by …

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Meeting The Needs Of Diabetic Patients: An Examination Of Type 2 Diabetes Treatments In Ghana, Ashley Valdivieso, Dr. Melinda Ostraff Sep 2013

Meeting The Needs Of Diabetic Patients: An Examination Of Type 2 Diabetes Treatments In Ghana, Ashley Valdivieso, Dr. Melinda Ostraff

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Diabetes is an escalating health risk in Ghana, and it is estimated that approximately 22% of Ghanaians who develop the disease will die of it.1 While government programs intended to provide treatment for diabetes patients have focused on traditional western medicine, Dr. Kwabena Beecham, President of the Ghana Diabetes Association reports that “over 50% of people with diabetes do not experience full health and quality of life despite the availability of medicine.” 3 Studies have also shown that some diabetics have chosen not to treat the disease at all.4 This apparent failure to meet the needs of diabetes patients indicates …

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A Higher Resolution Multiplexed Microsatellite Marker Set For Reliable, Cost Effective Genotyping, Robert J. Kolts, Elliott G. Richards, Sam Ashby, Will D. Brubaker, Aaron C. Ferguson, Paul Fjeldsted, Derek Hatch, Dr. Edward R. Wilcox Sep 2013

A Higher Resolution Multiplexed Microsatellite Marker Set For Reliable, Cost Effective Genotyping, Robert J. Kolts, Elliott G. Richards, Sam Ashby, Will D. Brubaker, Aaron C. Ferguson, Paul Fjeldsted, Derek Hatch, Dr. Edward R. Wilcox

Journal of Undergraduate Research

We are creating a new microsatellite marker set for public use. Because many projects involving genetic disorders in humans depend on microsatellite markers, there is an existing need for a reliable and cost-effective marker set that provides higher-quality statistical data while still being affordable. Our proposed set will consist of approximately 800 markers and currently has a rough spacing of one marker every 4.1 cM. The average heterozygosity is currently 0.85. To further reduce costs to users, we are arranging markers and corresponding PCR primers into ~178 multiplexed groups consisting of 4-5 markers each. These multiplexed groups will allow research …

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Effects Of Predator Presence On Reproductive Effort In Livebearing Fishes Of The Genus Brachyrhaphis, Jason Kiene, Dr. Jerry Johnson Sep 2013

Effects Of Predator Presence On Reproductive Effort In Livebearing Fishes Of The Genus Brachyrhaphis, Jason Kiene, Dr. Jerry Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My research experience has been quite different than anything I foresaw or expected. I will start this report by first reminding you what the experiment was supposed to be, then discuss the setbacks I had during the last two years to try to do the experiment and finally what has happened most recently that led to the failure of the experiment.

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Determination And Analysis Of The Functionality And Required Amino Acid Residues Of Phou In Escherichia Coli, Michael Schurdell, Dr. William Mccleary Sep 2013

Determination And Analysis Of The Functionality And Required Amino Acid Residues Of Phou In Escherichia Coli, Michael Schurdell, Dr. William Mccleary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

While researching the required amino acid residues of PhoU, we discovered a small intergenic region located between pstA and pstB on the pstSCAB-phoU operon. Defining the role of this small intergenic region took precedence over my previously proposed research project. All of my research on this project was performed in conjunction with Garrett Woodbury and William McCleary. We presented our findings in a poster presentation at the Intermountain Branch of the American Society of Microbiology Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 18, 2006. A peer reviewed article containing the full details of our work was accepted for publication on December 1, …

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The Role Of Rpl41 In Genetic Regulation Of Col11a2, David William Timme Sep 2013

The Role Of Rpl41 In Genetic Regulation Of Col11a2, David William Timme

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my research was to investigate what role ribosomal protein L41 (RPL41) has in regulating transcriptional activities of the Collagen 11a2 (Col11a2) gene. Prior to the ORCA grant, I had researched identifying possible transcription factors which bound to the B/C enhancer region of the Col11a2 gene, possibly regulating transcription. This work revealed that RPL41 could bind to the B/C enhancer in a eukaryotic (yeast) system. Since a protein binding to DNA could be relevant to transcriptional activity, unrelated to transcriptional regulation, or merely an artifact from the investigational method, it was important to examine the specific role RPL41 …

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Representations Of The Braid Group In The Symmetric Group, Holly Freedman, Dr. Stephen Humpries Sep 2013

Representations Of The Braid Group In The Symmetric Group, Holly Freedman, Dr. Stephen Humpries

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My project was to determine which elements of the symmetric group, or permutations on a finite set of objects, generate group representations for the braid group. I started out by finding group representations for the three-strand braid group. A three-strand braid is a set of three disjoint strings in three-dimensional space, whose height functions increase monotonically and which end at points vertically above where they start. The set of braids can be made into a group by letting one braid “multiply,” or perform an operation on, another braid by being placed above it, with their two sets of ends joined. …

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Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Strategies For Identification And Control, Wendy Chao, Dr. Richard Robison Sep 2013

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Strategies For Identification And Control, Wendy Chao, Dr. Richard Robison

Journal of Undergraduate Research

After over a century of decline, tuberculosis (TB) has re-emerged as the leading killer among infectious diseases. In addition, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, has developed strains resistant to multiple antibiotics, making the disease increasingly difficult to treat.

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A Study Of Analytical Reasoning Skills: What Are The Cognitive Dimensions? What Byu Courses Successfully Promote Them?, Jennifer Nelson, Dr. William Bradshaw Sep 2013

A Study Of Analytical Reasoning Skills: What Are The Cognitive Dimensions? What Byu Courses Successfully Promote Them?, Jennifer Nelson, Dr. William Bradshaw

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It is crucial that science education place more emphasis on helping students learn to think rather than requiring them to memorize endless lists of facts. A vital tool in ascertaining student learning is assessment. Teachers typically assess either student performance (by measuring understanding of facts, concepts, theories, etc.) or affect (student attitudes, self-efficacy, interests, etc.). In my work with Drs. Bradshaw and Bell over the last year, I have helped to develop and test a novel assessment, the Student Mobility Profile (SMP), that addresses the question of epistemology. It allows a teacher to tell if participation in the course enabled …

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The Effect Of Isoflavone And Selenium Diets On Body Composition (Biochemical Responses To Phytoestrogen And Selenium Diets In Noble Rats Relating To Reduced Prostate Cancer Risk), Jessica Tolman, Dr. Merrill J. Christensen Sep 2013

The Effect Of Isoflavone And Selenium Diets On Body Composition (Biochemical Responses To Phytoestrogen And Selenium Diets In Noble Rats Relating To Reduced Prostate Cancer Risk), Jessica Tolman, Dr. Merrill J. Christensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The intent of the following research was to fulfill the thesis requirements for the BYU Honors Program, the following report is complied from excerpts from my Honors Thesis. The results were presented at the 8th International Symposium on Selenium in Biology and Medicine. At the beginning of this project I focused my interests on the effect of isoflavone and selenium on body composition. I later used these findings and the effect of isoflavone and selenium on hormone serum levels to determine the effect of isoflavone and selenium on prostate cancer risk.

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Up-Regulation Of Ddr2 And Mmp13 As A Mechanism Of Osteoarthritis, Allyson Merrell, Kenneth Merrell Sep 2013

Up-Regulation Of Ddr2 And Mmp13 As A Mechanism Of Osteoarthritis, Allyson Merrell, Kenneth Merrell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Arthritis is a painful, debilitating disease that affects sixty-six million Americans (The Arthritis Foundation 2005). Osteoarthritis (OA) results in joint degeneration caused by cartilage erosion and synovial inflammation. While the causes of OA remain unclear, current evidence suggests that both mechanical and biochemical factors can initiate OA. Since ethical and practical issues limit the availability of human tissue in OA research it is necessary to use animal models. Mice with the disproportionate micromelia mutation (Dmm) exhibit histological characteristics similar to those of humans with OA. Current research suggests the heterozygous Dmm mouse (D/+) is a valid model for early-onset OA …

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Interfering Rna Activity In Adrenal Cortical Cells, Brian Powell, Dr. Allan Judd Sep 2013

Interfering Rna Activity In Adrenal Cortical Cells, Brian Powell, Dr. Allan Judd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Before the turn of the century, biological research was taken by storm with the discovery of inhibitory RNA (RNAi). In 1995, Guo and Kemphues (Mello & Conte, 2004) stumbled into this discovery and were later awarded the Nobel Prize in science for their discovery. The discovery turned into a technique that is used to knock out genes with laser-like precision, and although the precision of RNAi has come into question recently, it is still a valued technique (Couzin, 2004). However, still in its infancy, the extent to which RNAi is used naturally in different tissues is unclear. To the extent …

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Classification Of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In Rat Hippocampal Ca1 Interneuron Subpopulations Defined By Neuropeptide Y, Somatostatin, And Calcium-Binding Proteins Mrna Expression, Matt Peterson, Dr. Sterling Sudweeks Sep 2013

Classification Of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In Rat Hippocampal Ca1 Interneuron Subpopulations Defined By Neuropeptide Y, Somatostatin, And Calcium-Binding Proteins Mrna Expression, Matt Peterson, Dr. Sterling Sudweeks

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Hippocampal interneurons are a particularly diverse population of cells. Classifying these interneurons has historically been difficult using traditional schemes such as anatomical morphology, action potential spiking pattern, and receptor pharmacology. More recently however, classification of interneurons by examining expression of neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, and calcium-binding proteins (Ca-BPs: parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin) has been promoted as an effective means for identifying subpopulations within the hippocampus. Categorization of the expression of neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, and Ca-BPs with the various types of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) could provide information valuable for characterizing how various interneuron subpopulations function to modulate the overall activity of …

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Phospholipase A2 Activity In Cell Signaling Apoptotic Pathway, Vu Mai Phuong, Dr. John Bell Sep 2013

Phospholipase A2 Activity In Cell Signaling Apoptotic Pathway, Vu Mai Phuong, Dr. John Bell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) is a secretory enzyme thought to mainly function in hydrolyzing membrane phospholipids in certain conditions of signaling induced by the immune system or hormone activity. sPLA2 is known to be implicated in inflammatory diseases, sepsis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, ischemia, cancer, atherosclerosis, pre-eclampsia, and gall stones; therefore, understanding its mechanism of action is an important step in helping other researchers determine therapeutic means for these diseases.

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Characterization Of A Cdna Encoding Β-Amyrin Synthase Involved In Saponin Biosyntheses In Chenopodium Quinoa, Derrick J. Reynolds, Dr. P. Jeff Maughan Sep 2013

Characterization Of A Cdna Encoding Β-Amyrin Synthase Involved In Saponin Biosyntheses In Chenopodium Quinoa, Derrick J. Reynolds, Dr. P. Jeff Maughan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is an important crop for subsistence farmers in the Altiplano (high plains) of Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. Quinoa has the potential to be an effective crop for many temperate and highland-tropical regions due to its ability to thrive in drought, saline and high-altitude conditions. The nutritional value of quinoa has been well documented. Several analyses have confirmed that quinoa grain has an excellent balance of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins and provides an ideal balance of essential amino acids for human nutrition.1 Quinoa grain also has a seed coating consisting of various saponins. Saponins are waxy, soap-like …

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Enantioselective Synthesis Of Biologically Important Compounds, David G. Evans, Dr. Matt A. Peterson Sep 2013

Enantioselective Synthesis Of Biologically Important Compounds, David G. Evans, Dr. Matt A. Peterson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Until only very recently it has been the common practice of most pharmaceutical manufacturers and manufacturers of agrochemicals such as herbicides and insecticides to market chiral compounds as mixtures of enantiomers. This practice has been driven by market forces due to the fact that it is much more cost efficient to market chiral compounds as mixtures rather than invest the resources needed to separate them. Tragic cases have shown that there is indeed a need for complete separation of enantiomers and their separate pre-clinical and clinical evaluation.

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Molecular Modeling Dynamics Simulations Of Botox And, Richard Swenson, David Busath Sep 2013

Molecular Modeling Dynamics Simulations Of Botox And, Richard Swenson, David Busath

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In general, research of the function of proteins involved in harmful diseases helps researchers who are investigating these diseases better understand part of their puzzle to be able to find solutions to these problems and often opens doors for new treatments of other disorders. For example, to reduce wrinkles, doctors inject patients with Botulinum Neurotoxin(BoTox). I would like to add to the world’s understanding of BoTox so that new procedures can be developed and the harmful effects of botulism can be reduced. My research of Phospholipase A-2 (sPLA2) will likewise add to knowledge of the function of this and other …

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A Comparison Of Two Assays For Measuring Serum Levels Of Thymidine Kinase In Breast Cancer Patients, Dedra A. Cutler, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill Sep 2013

A Comparison Of Two Assays For Measuring Serum Levels Of Thymidine Kinase In Breast Cancer Patients, Dedra A. Cutler, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) is an enzyme involved in DNA repair and cell proliferation. Increased cell proliferation results in higher than normal levels of TK1. Because of this relationship, TK1 has recently been identified as a useful marker in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

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Tilapia Fish: Feast Or Famine?, Laura Scott, Dr. Jerald B. Johnson Sep 2013

Tilapia Fish: Feast Or Famine?, Laura Scott, Dr. Jerald B. Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Tilapia is a commonly farmed fish throughout the world because of its nutritional value, reproductive efficiency, high resistance to disease, and the low-cost of production. However, despite such commercial benefits, there are some characteristics of this fish that are being overlooked. Previous field research in Costa Rica suggests that when tilapia escape from local farms into nearby streams, they negatively impact native fishes, both in terms of abundance and diversity (unpubl. data). The native fish most notably affected are small, livebearing poecealiids.

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Enantioselective Synthesis Of Biologically Important Compounds, David G. Evans, Dr. Matt A. Peterson Sep 2013

Enantioselective Synthesis Of Biologically Important Compounds, David G. Evans, Dr. Matt A. Peterson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Until only very recently it has been the common practice of most pharmaceutical manufacturers and manufacturers of agrochemicals such as herbicides and insecticides to market chiral compounds as mixtures of enantiomers. This practice has been driven by market forces due to the fact that it is much more cost efficient to market chiral compounds as mixtures rather than invest the resources needed to separate them. Tragic cases have shown that there is indeed a need for complete separation of enantiomers and their separate pre-clinical and clinical evaluation.

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The P17 Protein As An Activator Of The Coll11a2 Gene, William Wittwer, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Sep 2013

The P17 Protein As An Activator Of The Coll11a2 Gene, William Wittwer, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

One of the main things that I have learned over the course of this project is that things work better in theory than in practice. I spent two semesters attempting to builda plasmid containing the the p17 cDNA sequence in order to test the ability of p17 as an activator of the Coll11a2 gene. Unfortunately, I was not able to produce the plasmid given to me.

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Thymidine Kinase-1 Activity Of Uv Induced B Lymphocytes, Geoffrey G. Wood, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill Sep 2013

Thymidine Kinase-1 Activity Of Uv Induced B Lymphocytes, Geoffrey G. Wood, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The normal life of a eukaryotic cell involves a dynamic struggle between survival and death. When a cell is no longer capable of living, certain pathways are initiated for natural cell death. These “programmed cell deaths” transpire in predictable patterns, and are regulated by many proteins and signals that either activate or inactivate the cell death pathways. Changes in the various homeostatic molecules initiate the apoptotic pathway. However, there are other agents within the cell that regulate these apoptotic triggers. Tumors can arise when these regulatory proteins are mutated, inactivated, or ignored, resulting in the aggressive replicating nature of tumor …

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Mononuclear Leukocyte And Breast Cancer Cell Interaction Affects Angiogenic Activity, Philip Maximilian Scherer, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill Sep 2013

Mononuclear Leukocyte And Breast Cancer Cell Interaction Affects Angiogenic Activity, Philip Maximilian Scherer, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 2005, the National Cancer Society estimated that about 211,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the United States will be diagnosed. Overall, an estimated 1,372,910 new cases of cancer and 570,280 cancer deaths in the United States are predicted for 2005. The National Institutes of Health estimated that the overall costs for cancer in 2004 were $189.9 billion. Cancer is thus a growing health concern. While past research has investigated genes in order to find a cure to cancer, current research now emphasizes a study of the microenvironment surrounding the cancer. The purpose of this research was to …

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Structural Identification Of The Bioactive Components Of The Samoan Fish Poison Plant Barringtonia Asiatica, Robert A. Burton, Dr. Noel L. Owen Sep 2013

Structural Identification Of The Bioactive Components Of The Samoan Fish Poison Plant Barringtonia Asiatica, Robert A. Burton, Dr. Noel L. Owen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The seed of the Futu tree, Barringtonia asiatica, has been used by inhabitants of the Pacific islands for many years as a highly toxic fish poison.1 These ethnobotanical studies were responsible for the initiation of this investigation.

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Merocyanine 540 Fluorescence In Apoptotic Lymphocytes, Kristen H. Parker, Dr. John D. Bell Sep 2013

Merocyanine 540 Fluorescence In Apoptotic Lymphocytes, Kristen H. Parker, Dr. John D. Bell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our research team in Dr. Bell’s laboratory has focused primarily on studying interactions between cell membranes and the enzyme secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). This enzyme is able to distinguish between healthy cells and foreign or damaged cells, which it hydrolyzes. The purpose of my individual project was to use a specific fluorescent probe to study the mechanism for the selective susceptibility and degradation of cell membranes by sPLA2.

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Title, Scott A. Davis, Dr. Bruce Roundy Sep 2013

Title, Scott A. Davis, Dr. Bruce Roundy

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The invasion of non-native species, mainly cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), into our rangelands, especially following the destruction caused by wildfires, has made it necessary to find viable options for the restoration of native plant species to these areas. The aim of this project was to determine whether or not it is possible to create models for the germination and seminal root growth of a suite of species using heat accumulation models. By creating these models, we hope to be able to discover other native species that not only compete with cheatgrass through early establishment, but provide a quality food source for …

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