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A Survey Of Dance Flies (Diptera: Empididae) In Mongolia, Paul Frandsen, Dr. C. Riley Nelson Aug 2013

A Survey Of Dance Flies (Diptera: Empididae) In Mongolia, Paul Frandsen, Dr. C. Riley Nelson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Dance flies from the super family Empidoidea (Diptera:Empididae, Hybotidae) were collected from western Mongolia in June and July 2009. Historical published records of Empididae in Mongolia along with unpublished, more recently collected records from the Selenge River Basin were compared with the samples from western Mongolia. Thirteen genera were identified from western Mongolia in 2009, with eight of these new for the country. Although 23 genera are now know for Empedoidea in Mongolia, only five were found in both the Selenge River and the 2009 collection from western Mongolia, suggesting distinct differences in faunal composition between the two areas.

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The Influence Of The Irf 5 Risk Haplotype On Ebv Gene Expression In B Cells, Brandon Henrie, Dr. Brian Poole Aug 2013

The Influence Of The Irf 5 Risk Haplotype On Ebv Gene Expression In B Cells, Brandon Henrie, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

IRF5 (interferon regulatory factor 5) is an integral protein in the innate immune response to viruses in humans. Once activated, IRF5 acts as a transcription factor which facilitates the production of inflammatory cytokines, interferons, and a host of other anti-viral agents in humans. To date, there are twelve documented splice variants of IRF5 in the human population. These variants range from minor deletions to drastic changes in the protein makeup of IRF5. A risk IRF5 haplotype is a person possessing alleles coding for these radically altered IRF5 mRNA (Kozyrev). A protective IRF5 hapolotype is a person possessing alleles coding for …

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Orca Final Report, Matthew Wright Aug 2013

Orca Final Report, Matthew Wright

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cationic Steroid Antibiotics (CSAs) are potent innovative antimicrobial agents. In particular, CSA-13 has a very low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 2 µg/mL. When dissolved in a solvent and combined with a commercial polymer, CSA-13 can be used to coat endotracheal (ET) tubes. Biofilm formation on ET tubes can cause ventilator assisted pneumonia and is potentially fatal. CSA-13-coated ET tubes are extremely effective in preventing biofilm formation. Testing in standard Mueller-Hinton broth, we have been able to prevent P. aeruginosa growth on tubes for up to 28 days. This is compared to silver-coated endotracheal tubes (which are …

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Abundance Of Thymidine Kinase In Cancer Cells, Joshua Holm, Brady Bowen, Brady Samuel, Travis Lovell, Dr. Kim O'Neill Aug 2013

Abundance Of Thymidine Kinase In Cancer Cells, Joshua Holm, Brady Bowen, Brady Samuel, Travis Lovell, Dr. Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) is a protein that is produced in much greater quantities by cancer cells in general than by normal cells (Abbasciano et al., 1991, p. 29; Hallek et al., 1997, p. 155; He et al., 2000, p. 139; Kuwa et al., 1996, p. 15). Such molecules are commonly referred to as cancer “biomarkers.” Such markers are commonly used to screen for and diagnose various cancers. Many of these biomarkers are often significantly elevated in the blood of cancer patients—helping to first lead to the detection of cancer.

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Understanding The Phou Protein’S Part In Phosphate Import By Synthesis Of Double Mutations In Escherichia Coli., Geoffrey R. Johnston, Dr. William Mccleary Aug 2013

Understanding The Phou Protein’S Part In Phosphate Import By Synthesis Of Double Mutations In Escherichia Coli., Geoffrey R. Johnston, Dr. William Mccleary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of our research was to gain a better understanding of what function the phoU protein serves in phosphate import by completely knocking out it’s functionality at two highly conserved and nearly identical sites on almost identical domains at a genetic level.

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Multicultural Counseling Issues: Ethnic Groups’ Attitudes Towards Mental Illness, Rose Hirt, Dr. Timothy B. Smith Aug 2013

Multicultural Counseling Issues: Ethnic Groups’ Attitudes Towards Mental Illness, Rose Hirt, Dr. Timothy B. Smith

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the world of counseling, there are many issues that arise due to differences between cultures. These differences are particularly apparent in how different cultural groups view mental illness. There have been studies done on this topic, but the literature must be compiled and compared in order for any overall effect to be measured. My research set out to begin compiling this literature.

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The Metastatic Role Of Macrophages, Ryley Enz, Dr. K. L. O'Neill Aug 2013

The Metastatic Role Of Macrophages, Ryley Enz, Dr. K. L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Macrophages perform a variety of functions from phagocytosis and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines to the repair and remodeling of damaged tissues. Two phenotypically different types of macrophages have been proposed to identify their diverse roles: types M1 and M2. (Mantovani et al., 2002) The M1 macrophage refers to the cell which aggressively destroys foreign invaders and tumor cells, and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines. Antigen presentation by the M1 links innate immunity to adaptive immunity. The M2 macrophage acts as a support cell by promoting the healing of damaged cells by angiogenesis and tissue remodeling. Macrophages have been observed to have …

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Trpv1 Modulation Of Synaptic Plasticity In The Hippocampus: The Hot Pepper Receptor Effect, Douglas Bennion, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards Aug 2013

Trpv1 Modulation Of Synaptic Plasticity In The Hippocampus: The Hot Pepper Receptor Effect, Douglas Bennion, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As a new and untried undergraduate researcher, I aspired to do something to impact the lives of others through a modest research contribution of my own. While I have not lost that aspiration, I have been \ surprised to discover that, in fact, others have been the ones making the greater impact in my life. I offer my deepest thanks to Dr. Edwards for his endless patience in explaining time after time things that I should have already known. His impromptu diagrams will always be the first pictures my mind calls up in moments of explanatory need. I also express …

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The Effects Of Cholesterol On Snare Induced Liposome Fusion, Brandon Forbes, Dr. Dixon Woodbury Aug 2013

The Effects Of Cholesterol On Snare Induced Liposome Fusion, Brandon Forbes, Dr. Dixon Woodbury

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Throughout our lives we often take our wonderful nervous system for granted. We simply accept that it will do its job and help us to organize our thoughts into plans for the day, or research reports such as this. At a cellular level, the SNARE proteins mediate fusion of neurotransmitter containing vesicles to the plasma membrane of a neuron to release neurotransmitter. This exocytotic process is part of the orchestra of events that enable us to think. There are three main proteins of the SNARE protein complex with many other proteins playing a role as well. VAMP is associated with …

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Antenna Diversity For Personal Communications Transceivers, Bruce M. Green, Dr. Michael A. Jensen Aug 2013

Antenna Diversity For Personal Communications Transceivers, Bruce M. Green, Dr. Michael A. Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The presence of human tissue near the antenna of a portable cellular phone reduces its range of reception and transmission. This research investigates the feasibility of antenna diversity (more than one antenna on a handset) as a means of combating the loss of received signal power to a cellular phone antenna due to the biological tissues of the operator. The Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method provides simulations of two antenna designs that accurately models both the antenna and tissue of the operator.

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The Effects Of Prenatal Stress On The Levels Of 5 Alpha Reductase And Aromatase Activity In Pregnant Rats And Their Male And Female Offspring, Steve Warren David, Dr. Reuben Ward Rhees Aug 2013

The Effects Of Prenatal Stress On The Levels Of 5 Alpha Reductase And Aromatase Activity In Pregnant Rats And Their Male And Female Offspring, Steve Warren David, Dr. Reuben Ward Rhees

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Sexual differentiation of the brain is dependent on the presence or absence of androgen (testosterone) during prenatal development. Exposure to testosterone is essential for masculinization and defeminization of sexual behavior, and brain structural development. Present evidence suggests that the action of testosterone during brain development involves the metabolic conversion of testosterone in one of two ways. Testosterone is either converted to estradiol by the enzyme aromatase or to dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. Testosterone and these two metabolites interact to regulate sexual differentiation of the brain. This project monitored the activity of both aromatase and 5 alpha reductase …

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High-Speed, Three-Dimensional Quantification Of Ladybug (Hippodamia Convergens) Flapping Wing Kinematics During Takeoff, Ryan B. George, Dr. Scott L. Thomson Aug 2013

High-Speed, Three-Dimensional Quantification Of Ladybug (Hippodamia Convergens) Flapping Wing Kinematics During Takeoff, Ryan B. George, Dr. Scott L. Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Ladybug wing and body kinematics during takeoff is explored using high-speed stereoscopic imaging. Recordings of the specimens during flight are acquired at a rate of 3000 frames per second. A direct linear transformation algorithm is performed using custom implementation in Matlab to quantify positions of selected locations on the body, forewings (elytra), and hindwings. Design and setup of instrumentation and analysis procedures are explained. Flapping frequency is reported. Significant motion of the elytra and other findings are presented and their applications are discussed.

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Optical Fiber To Integrated Waveguides: Bridging The Gap, Mallory Phillips, Dr. Aaron R. Hawkins Aug 2013

Optical Fiber To Integrated Waveguides: Bridging The Gap, Mallory Phillips, Dr. Aaron R. Hawkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Optoelectronics are made on the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material by attaching light-sensitive polymers to the surface, then removing patterns generated in the polymer. Waveguides can be made on the same substrate to interface directly with optoelectronics. They are made from raised channels running along the substrates surface and guide light through total internal reflection, much like optical fibers [1]. Optical fibers are used for internet and cable connections, in order for information to be successfully used, that information must make a transition from the optical fiber to integrated waveguides [2]. The engineering challenge associated with this …

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In Vivo Specific Degradation Of Selected Rna Substrates By Endogenous Trna 3’ Processing Endoribonuclease, Duane R. Wesemann Aug 2013

In Vivo Specific Degradation Of Selected Rna Substrates By Endogenous Trna 3’ Processing Endoribonuclease, Duane R. Wesemann

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The enzyme tRNA 3’ Processing Endoribonuclease (3’tRNase) is suspected to be an enzyme responsible for 3’ end processing of various pre-tRNAs. Our lab has demonstrated that RNAs containing a hairpin structure can be manipulated to appear as a “pre-tRNA” molecule and be recognized and cleaved by 3’tRNase. This is accomplished by the introduction of an RNA molecule that is complementary to an area of the target RNA that has a stable hairpin structure. The hairpin of a target RNA may mimic the T-stem loop of tRNA and the hybridizing RNA molecule may act as an acceptor-like stem, thereby fooling 3’tRNase …

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The Main Electron Source For Electron Transport In Malaria Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum, Amy Sorensen, Dr. James B. Jensen Aug 2013

The Main Electron Source For Electron Transport In Malaria Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum, Amy Sorensen, Dr. James B. Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The protozoa, Plasmodium falciparum, causes malaria, a disease that rivals tuberculosis in being the world’s largest killer. In order to combat malaria, new methods of chemotherapy, as well as better control of its causative agent are necessary. Knowing the main source from which P. falciparum gains its electrons may provide a new method for its control.

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The Ethnophysiologocial Janus: Changing Perceptions Of Illness And Curing In The Guatemalan Mayan Highlands, Steven Shem Rode, Dr. John P. Hawkins Aug 2013

The Ethnophysiologocial Janus: Changing Perceptions Of Illness And Curing In The Guatemalan Mayan Highlands, Steven Shem Rode, Dr. John P. Hawkins

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Ethnomedical literature rarely addresses the problem of how illness is recognized and understood among Nahualenos in southwest Guatemala. In that area of the world, mother/infant mortality rates remain high, and local perceptions of illness continue to bewilder western biomedical caregivers. This study investigates data collected from doctor-patient communication, linguistics, and traditional medicine to explain how ethnophysiological understandings of illness exemplify effective and ineffective teaching methods about bacteriology and prevention within the liminal Nahualeno society.

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Characterizing A Novel Splicing Mechanism Associated With Intron 1 Of Chicken Prostaglandin G/H Synthase 2, Matthew J. Cornish, Dr. Matthew L. Madsen, Dr. Daniel L. Simmons Aug 2013

Characterizing A Novel Splicing Mechanism Associated With Intron 1 Of Chicken Prostaglandin G/H Synthase 2, Matthew J. Cornish, Dr. Matthew L. Madsen, Dr. Daniel L. Simmons

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Organisms are equipped with an amazing ability to deal with situations which its environment may present. There are biochemical pathways responsible for monitoring and responding to environmental changes. Two examples are protein induction and inhibition. In the last few years, however, signaling through pre-mRNA splicing has been extensively explored.

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Dna Fingerprinting Of Twelve Bordetella Avium Strains, Friederike Roloff, Dr. Ron W. Leavitt Aug 2013

Dna Fingerprinting Of Twelve Bordetella Avium Strains, Friederike Roloff, Dr. Ron W. Leavitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bordetella avium causes a respiratory disease in poultry which especially young turkeys are susceptible to. We are working with the Moroni Feed Company, who supplied us with 12 strains of Bordetella avium. Eleven of the strains are from outbreaks of the disease in the Southern Utah turkey farms. The twelfth strain is the vaccine strain V87. This vaccine was produced by chemically mutating B. avium and selecting a non-virulent temperature sensitive strain. Dr. Jensen, a former professor of Microbiology, BYU, produced this vaccine by chemically mutating B. avium and selecting a non-virulent temperature sensitive strain.

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Isolation Of An Escherichia Coli High-Adherence Plasmid For Use In A Bacterial Interfering Agent, Christopher M. Runyan, Dr. Ronald Leavitt Aug 2013

Isolation Of An Escherichia Coli High-Adherence Plasmid For Use In A Bacterial Interfering Agent, Christopher M. Runyan, Dr. Ronald Leavitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Colibacillosis is a disease found in poultry that results in various levels of morbidity and mortality. It is primarily caused by pathogenic strains of E. coli that inhabit the poults’ intestinal tracts. Antibiotics have frequently been used to protect the turkeys but with less and less effectiveness as the bacteria have begun to develop antibiotic resistance. Hence alternate ways are needed to combat pathogenic bacteria.

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Synthesis Of Mdr-Homodimers Used To Explore The Structure Of P-Glycoprotein, Emily Parker Updegraff, Dr. Merritt B. Andrus Aug 2013

Synthesis Of Mdr-Homodimers Used To Explore The Structure Of P-Glycoprotein, Emily Parker Updegraff, Dr. Merritt B. Andrus

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Chemotherapy is one of the primary methods of combating cancer, and if it fails, the patient may be left with few options for treatment. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) is a clinical condition manifested by the failure of chemotherapy. It is primarily due to the expression of Pglycoprotein (Pgp), a membrane-bound small molecule transport protein which is found normally in some cells but is greatly over-expressed in drug resistant cancer cells1. After chemotherapy drugs diffuse into the cell, Pgp effluxes them out against their concentration gradient, thus imparting drug resistance. The general belief is that the most direct and practical way of …

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Fractionation And Isolation Of The Anti-Tumoral Activity Of An Indigenous Tongan Medicinal Extract, Steven D. Christenson, Dr. Gary M. Booth, Dr. Steven G. Wood Aug 2013

Fractionation And Isolation Of The Anti-Tumoral Activity Of An Indigenous Tongan Medicinal Extract, Steven D. Christenson, Dr. Gary M. Booth, Dr. Steven G. Wood

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Vai Haka is the Tongan name given to a medicinal extract prepared and prescribed by indigenous healers on the island kingdom of Tonga. Used as a treatment for morning sickness (hyper-emesis), the mixture is prepared by boiling the barks of four different rainforest tree species. These species are Tarrena sambucina, Syzigium malaccense, Alphitonia zizyphoides, and Macaranga harveyana. Studies by Cox (et al) demonstrated biological activity in each of these species from a Guinea Pig Ileum assay.1 Further work by Cox documented that each species is used individually by Samoan healers to treat internal distress.2 Thus bioactivity is well documented through …

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Hormonal Regulation Of Brain Calcium-Binding Proteins During The Rat Estrous Cycle, Joseph M. Thompson, Dr. Edwin D. Lephart Aug 2013

Hormonal Regulation Of Brain Calcium-Binding Proteins During The Rat Estrous Cycle, Joseph M. Thompson, Dr. Edwin D. Lephart

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Calcium plays a major role in the body; it’s involved in bone growth, muscle contraction, and especially in the central nervous system (CNS) development and function. However, an overabundance of calcium leads to cell degeneration and eventually cell death, disrupting the formation of synapses. The body regulates excess calcium in the brain through calcium-binding proteins.

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New Techniques For Studying Whirling Disease, Nathan Bay, Dr. Richard A. Heckmann Aug 2013

New Techniques For Studying Whirling Disease, Nathan Bay, Dr. Richard A. Heckmann

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Despite drastic control and containment measures, the incidence of whirling disease is on the rise in the West. Whirling disease occurs when the trophozoite stage of Myxobolus cerebralis invades the cartilage and organ of equilibrium of salmonids. Pathological symptoms include tail chasing behavior, blackened tafls, and vertebral abnormalities. Pan of the reason for the spread of the disease is the high occurrence of subclinical infections in fish that are transported into areas formerly free of the disease.

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Short-Term Effects Of Dietary Phytoestrogens On Calbindin, Calretinin, And Cox-2 In Specific Brain Sites Of Male Rats, Melanie A. Watson, Dr. Edwin D. Lephart Aug 2013

Short-Term Effects Of Dietary Phytoestrogens On Calbindin, Calretinin, And Cox-2 In Specific Brain Sites Of Male Rats, Melanie A. Watson, Dr. Edwin D. Lephart

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cyclooxygenase, a bifunctional enzyme, converts arachadonic acid to prostaglandins that are important for maintaining critical physiological functions such as nervous system regulation, pain response, and specifically inflammation of tissues. The enzyme exists in two isoforms: COX-1 is constitutionally produced, playing important maintenance roles throughout the body. COX-2 is constitutionally produced in the brain, but is inducible and thus, highly regulated (2). Non-specific inhibition of COX reduces inflammation, but increases gastrointestinal ulcers due to a failure of mucus production by COX-1. Specific COX-2 inhibition controls the inflammatory response, but is not ulcergenic (1,3). At this time the effect of COX-2 regulation …

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A Fine Structure Comparison Of Three Species Of Argulus (Crustacea: Branchiura) Ectoparasites Of Farmed And Wild Fish, Adam Bowen, Richard A. Heckmann Aug 2013

A Fine Structure Comparison Of Three Species Of Argulus (Crustacea: Branchiura) Ectoparasites Of Farmed And Wild Fish, Adam Bowen, Richard A. Heckmann

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Argulus, commonly called fish-lice, are crustacean ectoparasites of fish. This study compared three members of the genus Argulus: A. pugetensis from Nanaimo, British Columbia; A. coregoni from Curitiba, Brazil; and A. siamensis from Bangalore, India. It was hypothesized that argulids of different taxons must have morphological variations of commonly held structures. For example, two species of Argulus possess marginal membranes on their suckers, but the membranes should have different quantities and qualities of substructures. To test this hypothesis, all specimens were photographed with the JEOL 6100 scanning electron microscope; the micrographs of A. pugetensis and A. siamensis are the first …

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Fractionation And Isolation Of The Anti-Tumoral Activity Of An Indigenous Tongan Medicinal Extract, Steven D. Christenson, Dr. Gary M. Booth, Dr. Steven G. Wood Aug 2013

Fractionation And Isolation Of The Anti-Tumoral Activity Of An Indigenous Tongan Medicinal Extract, Steven D. Christenson, Dr. Gary M. Booth, Dr. Steven G. Wood

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Vai Haka is the Tongan name given to a medicinal extract prepared and prescribed by indigenous healers on the island kingdom of Tonga. Used as a treatment for morning sickness (hyper-emesis), the mixture is prepared by boiling the barks of four different rainforest tree species. These species are Tarrena sambucina, Syzigium malaccense, Alphitonia zizyphoides, and Macaranga harveyana. Studies by Cox (et al) demonstrated biological activity in each of these species from a Guinea Pig Ileum assay.1 Further work by Cox documented that each species is used individually by Samoan healers to treat internal distress.2 Thus bioactivity is well documented through …

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Dotpopulation Genetic Analysis Of Puma Concolor Using Microsatellites, Eric Swenson, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Aug 2013

Dotpopulation Genetic Analysis Of Puma Concolor Using Microsatellites, Eric Swenson, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The mountain lion, Puma concolor, is the last widespread species of top predator remaining in the United States (2). Despite this, P. concolor is the subject of annual hunts, except in Florida and South Dakota, where they are threatened, and California (4). The impact of hunting on these populations is not well understood, but sport hunting constitutes the highest source of mortality in Utah (5). Indications are that increased hunting activity over the past few years may be causing a decline in the P. concolor population in Utah (1). The impact of hunting practices on the genetic variation of mountain …

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Scanning Electron Microscopy Of Early Infection Of Dyers Woad, Isatis Tinctoria By Germlings Of Puccinia Thlaspeos, Michael T. Binns, Dr. Gary R. Hooper Aug 2013

Scanning Electron Microscopy Of Early Infection Of Dyers Woad, Isatis Tinctoria By Germlings Of Puccinia Thlaspeos, Michael T. Binns, Dr. Gary R. Hooper

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Dyers Woad (Isatis tinctoria) is an introduced noxious weed of crop and rangeland in northern Utah. A native rust fungus (tentatively identified as Puccinia thlaspeos) is being investigated as a possible biological control agent of the weed. In order to effectively use the rust in a biocontrol program, it is necessary to understand its epidemiology and characteristics.

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Histological And Ultrastructural Evidence Of Osteoarthritis In Mice Carrying A Semi-Dominant Mutation Of Col2a1, Victoria Ryder, Dr. Robert Seegmiller Aug 2013

Histological And Ultrastructural Evidence Of Osteoarthritis In Mice Carrying A Semi-Dominant Mutation Of Col2a1, Victoria Ryder, Dr. Robert Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mice heterozygous for the semi-dominant mutation disproportionate micromelia (Dmm) express mild chondrodysplasia by three weeks postnatally. This phenotype is attributed to a deletion of three contiguous nucleotides within the Col2A1 gene on mouse chromosome 15. The phenotype of Dmm/+ mice resembles that of human Stickler syndrome, which can be caused by mutations in the human COL2A1 gene.

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Plasmodiumfalciparum. Continuous Cultivation In Defined Culture Medium, Yury M. Colton, Dr. James B. Jensen Aug 2013

Plasmodiumfalciparum. Continuous Cultivation In Defined Culture Medium, Yury M. Colton, Dr. James B. Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Continuous cultivation of the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodiumfalciparum has greatly increased the possibilities of malaria research (Trager and Jensen 1976). However, the need for human serum in the culture medium has proved to be limiting in some situations and the necessary serum is becoming very difficult and costly to acquire. This paper describes the development of culture media in which the serum requirement is reduced by ten-fold and Plasmodiumfalciparum can be maintained indefinitely using standard culture techniques.

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