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Kinetics Of Atmospheric Reactions Of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds: Measurement Of The Rate Constant Ofthujone + Cl· At 296 K And Calculation Ofthe Equilibrium Constant For The Ho2ch2ch2o2· H2o Complex, Marie Coy Killian Apr 2013

Kinetics Of Atmospheric Reactions Of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds: Measurement Of The Rate Constant Ofthujone + Cl· At 296 K And Calculation Ofthe Equilibrium Constant For The Ho2ch2ch2o2· H2o Complex, Marie Coy Killian

Theses and Dissertations

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with Cl and OH radicals and the resulting radicals combine with oxygen to form peroxy radicals RO2. Organic peroxy radicals can then react with NO to form NO2, a precursor of tropospheric ozone. The work presented here explored the initial reaction between Cl and thujone, a VOC emitted by Great Basin sagebrush. The rate constant for the reaction of thujone + Cl at 296 K was measured with the method of relative rates with FTIR for detection of reactants. LEDs were used to photolyze Cl2 to generate Cl in the reaction cell. Thujone was …

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Oxytocin, Or “Cuddle Hormone” Genotype In Titi Monkeys, Hannah Page, Dr. Dee Higley Apr 2013

Oxytocin, Or “Cuddle Hormone” Genotype In Titi Monkeys, Hannah Page, Dr. Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I used my ORCA grant to attend ASP, go on an internship at the CNPRC, and pursue research involving the oxytocin, or “cuddle hormone” genotype in titi monkeys.

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Positional Segregation In Sport: How Rugby Introduces New Ethnicities To Research, Dylan Lubbe, Dr. Mikaela Dufur Apr 2013

Positional Segregation In Sport: How Rugby Introduces New Ethnicities To Research, Dylan Lubbe, Dr. Mikaela Dufur

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Modern scientists continue to argue over an issue that has existed since the first time a person realized that his or her skin was a slightly different shade or tint than someone else’s: Does skin color serve as an indicator for something deeper? The conversation about racial stereotypes has changed over time, shifting away from the possible truths behind them towards the social reality created by those who continue to believe in. Racial stereotypes have become an unconscious part of the metanarrative of modern society; almost anyone can list them. Those of African descent are considered to have a lower …

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New Capabilities In Large-Scale Models In Computational Biology, Casey Abbott, Dr. John Hedengren Apr 2013

New Capabilities In Large-Scale Models In Computational Biology, Casey Abbott, Dr. John Hedengren

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Advances in biomedical research have lead to an increase of experimental data to be interpreted in the context of reaction pathways, molecular transport, and population dynamics. Kinetic modeling is one way employed to interpret this data and is used in the pharmaceutical industry in developing clinical trials for new medications [1]. One collection of kinetic models is built on the System Biology Markup Language (SBML). Many of these models have detailed reaction metabolic pathways that describe biological systems, including cause and effect relationships in the human body. While simulations of these biological systems have been successfully applied for many years, …

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Radio-Frequency Microfluidic Interferometer In Printed Circuit Board Process, Shiul Khadka, Dr. Brian Mazzeo Apr 2013

Radio-Frequency Microfluidic Interferometer In Printed Circuit Board Process, Shiul Khadka, Dr. Brian Mazzeo

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In this project, we developed a process to integrate microfluidic channels on standard radio- frequency (RF) A 10.56 GHz RF microstrip interferometer was fabricated using the proposed technique and used to compare electrical responses for liquids with various dielectric properties and thereby demonstrate the capability of RF PCB-integrated microfluidic devices for biological sensing. Microchannels were milled into a substrate and prepreg outlines for microchannels were cut using a laser system. Substrates were adhered and bonded by clamping and baking. The RF interferometer responded to changes in liquid permittivity with high sensitivity relative to many other types of dielectric sensors.

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Clinical And Molecular Models Of Glioblastoma Multiforme Survival, R. Piccolo Stephen, J. Frey Lewis Apr 2013

Clinical And Molecular Models Of Glioblastoma Multiforme Survival, R. Piccolo Stephen, J. Frey Lewis

Faculty Publications

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive form of brain cancer, results in a median survival of 12–15 months. For decades, researchers have explored the effects of clinical and molecular factors on this disease and have identified several candidate prognostic markers. In this study, we evaluated the use of multivariate classification models for differentiating between subsets of patients who survive a relatively long or short time. Data for this study came from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a public repository containing clinical, treatment, histological and biomolecular variables for hundreds of patients. We applied variable-selection and classification algorithms in a cross-validated design …

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The Villain Iago As The Pinnacle Of Badness, Lauren Remington Apr 2013

The Villain Iago As The Pinnacle Of Badness, Lauren Remington

Student Works

Shakespeare's Othello, one of Shakespeare's most popular tragedies, showcases the works and cunning of one well-known and even well-loved villains, Iago. Iago is a chameleon of a character easily capable of manipulating those around him to meet his ends. All the cleverness and cold calculation homaged, he lacks any definitive motive or driving purpose, merely revenge on the seemingly guiltless Othello. This determined denial of a motive and extremity of action reflects well Carl Jung, a well-celebrated personality psychologist, and his theory on personality, specifically the "shadow" archetype. The shadow is an amoral, metaphorical storage center of humankind's propensity to …

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Pretenders To Birthright, Heirs To Virtue: The Legitimacy Of The Tudors And Shakespeare's Characters, Elizabeth Cole Apr 2013

Pretenders To Birthright, Heirs To Virtue: The Legitimacy Of The Tudors And Shakespeare's Characters, Elizabeth Cole

Student Works

The struggles of the Tudor dynasty of sixteenth-century England were created by the need of the monarchs to secure individual and legal legitimacy. William Shakespeare examines the issue in several of his plays, including King Lear, Richard III, and King John. Through recreating the legitimacy battles of the Tudors in his plays, Shakespeare demonstrates that it is not bastardy which corrupts a person's character but the betrayal of family ties and falsifying legitimacy, and that legitimacy does not make a person good but virtue and loyalty to one's country does. Legitimacy is not merely a label associated with birth but …

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Food Label Literacy And Healthy Food And Exercise Promotion Among Pacific Islander Caregivers, Dr. Jane Lassetter Apr 2013

Food Label Literacy And Healthy Food And Exercise Promotion Among Pacific Islander Caregivers, Dr. Jane Lassetter

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Originally, I planned to collect the data in Tonga and Utah. The Tongan Ministry of Health never replied to the proposal I submitted for their review. Therefore, spring and summer 2011, I modified the study, and students and I collected data from 364 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) participants in two islands of Hawaii at a preschool and grocery stores and in Utah at NHPI events. Our research questions were the following:

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The School Based Family: Coaches And Teachers As Parental Figures For Orphans And Vulnerable Children In Ugandan Schools, Dr. Stacy Taniguchi Apr 2013

The School Based Family: Coaches And Teachers As Parental Figures For Orphans And Vulnerable Children In Ugandan Schools, Dr. Stacy Taniguchi

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the possible formation of surrogate families within Ugandan schools to potentially provide a context for positive development experiences, especially for orphans who lack positive development opportunities provided by parents. The sample for this study consisted of 66 Ugandan Secondary School students from eight schools the Mukono district of Uganda. In 1994, the United Nations declared families are the basic unit of society and require special attention (Bowen & McKechnie, 2001). However, the failure of the biological family is seen on a mass scale in Uganda due in large part to the …

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Identify Novel Mutants Defective In Bract Suppression, Dr. Clinton Whipple Apr 2013

Identify Novel Mutants Defective In Bract Suppression, Dr. Clinton Whipple

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Progress has been achieved in most of the five research objectives. In some cases we have modified our original aims in the light of what can be reasonably expected of inexperienced undergraduates. Details of each aim follow:

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Molecular Mechanisms Of Lupus Risk Conferred By Allele In The Gene For Interferon Response Factor 5, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2013

Molecular Mechanisms Of Lupus Risk Conferred By Allele In The Gene For Interferon Response Factor 5, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this proposal were met. Using the funding provided by the MEG, we generated data that was used to publish four peer-reviewed journal articles and one peer-reviewed book chapter. These are:

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Mentored Research In Geochemistry Of Ancient Maya And Fremont Archaeological Sites, Dr. Richard Terry Apr 2013

Mentored Research In Geochemistry Of Ancient Maya And Fremont Archaeological Sites, Dr. Richard Terry

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many of the activities of the ancient Maya did not leave artifactual or architectural remains for us to study, since many activities involved organic materials that were biodegraded over time. Furthermore, the warm and humid climate accelerated the decomposition of most organic materials (Dahlin et al., 2007). However, minerals like phosphate contained in food and other organic materials are fixed on the soil surface, imprinting a chemical trace which is possible to analyze (Barba and Ortiz 1992; Terry et al. 2000; Parnell et al. 2001). Geochemical techniques can be used to determine ancient human activity and their correlation to minerals …

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Rural School Employees' Awareness And Perceptions Of Adult Vaccinations: A District-Wide Study, Eli Gary Thornton Apr 2013

Rural School Employees' Awareness And Perceptions Of Adult Vaccinations: A District-Wide Study, Eli Gary Thornton

Theses and Dissertations

As key members of the school environment, it is important for school employees to be vaccinated. Employees are in direct contact with children in close quarters for long periods of time and such an environment can easily serve as an outbreak center for vaccine-preventable communicable diseases such as measles. Despite the fact that most school employees believe vaccines are safe and effective and many school employees report they are up-to-date with their vaccines, a closer examination reveals discrepancy between belief and behavior. As a vaccine advocate, the school nurse can be influential in providing adult vaccination education for school employees, …

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Transcriptional Activity Of The Novel Nuclear Protein Nbmp-2, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Apr 2013

Transcriptional Activity Of The Novel Nuclear Protein Nbmp-2, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The goal of this project was to follow up on preliminary data suggesting that nBmp2 directly activated transcription. A few months of follow-up experiments, however, showed that the original transcription data was not reproducible. At that point we turned our attention to two different questions about nBmp2 function: 1) Does nBMP-2 affect the cell cycle? 2) Is nBMP-2 involved in the immune response? These questions have each yielded interesting and important results that are leading toward publications and grant proposals.

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The Role Of Pas-Kinase In Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy And Endurance Adaptation, Dr. David Thomson Apr 2013

The Role Of Pas-Kinase In Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy And Endurance Adaptation, Dr. David Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this mentoring environment grant was to determine whether the presence of the protein PAS-kinase (PASK) affects muscle growth and/or endurance performance. Our primary model system was the PASK knockout mouse (PASK-KO) and findings from this mouse were compared with wild-type (WT) mice. The project is now completed. The primary research objectives and findings are listed below:

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Secretory Phospholipase A2, Dr. John Bell Apr 2013

Secretory Phospholipase A2, Dr. John Bell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) binds to and hydrolyzes cell membranes. It is important in inflammatory responses and diseases including septic shock, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Normally, cells resist the enzyme’s action, but they become susceptible early during the process of either biochemically-programmed or of traumatic cell death. A recent discovery demonstrated that the activity of different isozymes of sPLA2 depends on the type of cell death involved. Understanding the relationship between this specificity and physiological roles of these isozymes requires elucidation of the relevant molecular mechanisms. This project will test the hypothesis that the relative levels of four membrane biophysical parameters …

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Co-Amplification Of Mitochondrial Pseudogenes, Dr. Michael Whiting Apr 2013

Co-Amplification Of Mitochondrial Pseudogenes, Dr. Michael Whiting

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Funding was received from the BYU ORCA mentorship program during 2011 to support undergraduates performing research in my lab, under the mentorship of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and myself. During 2011, this funding provided direct support for 6 undergraduates who are in various stages of completing research projects. The following report focuses on undergraduate achievements, but also provides summary data for graduate students and other lab participants.

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Combining Demographic And Life History Data To Test The Reproductive Value Hypothesis In Livebearing Fishes, Dr. Mark Belk Apr 2013

Combining Demographic And Life History Data To Test The Reproductive Value Hypothesis In Livebearing Fishes, Dr. Mark Belk

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The proposal was to conduct a large-scale mark-recapture project on a livebearing fish in Utah lake to evaluate size and sex-specific mortality rates of this population. The experiment was begun in mid- summer by marking over 1000 individual mosquitofish. All fish were returned to the lake alive after marking. In the original design we would recapture fish at two later intervals – late summer and early spring. At the late summer recapture time we recaptured individuals over a four day period with an intensive effort involving several undergraduates and graduate students. We recaptured only one marked individual out of the …

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Byu Students Identify Genetic Factors That Modulate Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Levels And Influence Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Dr. John Kauwe Apr 2013

Byu Students Identify Genetic Factors That Modulate Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Levels And Influence Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Dr. John Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Successful enrollment in and completion of graduate programs requires a constellation of skills. Students must be prepared to plan and execute experiments, present their findings both verbally and in manuscript form and interact effectively with senior scientists in the field of their choice. In this Mentoring Environment Grant (MEG) I will mentor four undergraduate students, (David Patty, Matthew Bailey, *Iulianna Sambur and Mo Lee) as they develop skills in study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, presentation and networking while identifying genetic factors that modulate protein levels and influence Alzheimer’s disease.

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Development Of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Q-Pcr) Assays For The Specific Detection And Characterization Of Select Bacterial Pathogens, Dr. Richard Robison Apr 2013

Development Of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Q-Pcr) Assays For The Specific Detection And Characterization Of Select Bacterial Pathogens, Dr. Richard Robison

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Primer generation software will be used to design primer and probe sequences that will theoretically perform optimally in PCR reactions. All sequences will be subjected to BLAST searches to confirm their specificity for a particular organism. Once primer sequences have been obtained, they will be synthesized by Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. (IDT). These primers will be evaluated in q-PCR reactions using target DNA from multiple isolates and SyberGreen to detect nucleic acid amplification. Parameters for each reaction will be optimized using these same tools. Once a reaction has been optimized, a specific labeled probe will be synthesized which contains both …

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Cytokine Signaling In The Microenvironment May Aid In Tumor Development And Progression, Dr. Kim O'Neill Apr 2013

Cytokine Signaling In The Microenvironment May Aid In Tumor Development And Progression, Dr. Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Studies have indicated that in breast tumors a high number of tumor associated macrophages (TAM’s) is indicative of a poor prognosis. TAM’s in the breast tumor microenvironment generally have a compromised immune response and focus their energy toward tissue repair which leads to angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. These macrophages have been termed M2 macrophages. Conversely, studies also indicate that in the microenvironment of some colon cancers, M1 phenotypic macrophages are present and that a high number of TAM’s is associated with a good prognosis.

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Using Cooperative Learning Groups To Research Speciation In Central American Fishes: Integrating Field Work, Molecular Phylogeography, And Video-Playback Behavior Assays, Dr. Jerry Johnson Apr 2013

Using Cooperative Learning Groups To Research Speciation In Central American Fishes: Integrating Field Work, Molecular Phylogeography, And Video-Playback Behavior Assays, Dr. Jerry Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This mentoring environment grant was awarded in 2010 and was intended to spent over a two year period. The purpose of the project was to provide up to six students with an opportunity to participate in three different research aspects of a single research problem related to understanding speciation. Here I report on the outcomes of this project, specifically addressing the five points requested by the ORCA for MEG final reports.

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Amphibians And Reptiles As Model Systems: Phylogenetic Research For Undergraduates, Dr. Jack Sites Apr 2013

Amphibians And Reptiles As Model Systems: Phylogenetic Research For Undergraduates, Dr. Jack Sites

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This award provided $20,000 to support of molecular phylogenetic work on a number of projects, including those related to my long-term focus on the “deep history” relationships of squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes), and the second more recent emphasis on phylogeographic (“shallow history”) studies of frogs and lizards. This second focus is in large measure a direct consequence of the NSF-PIRE project housed here at BYU (“Speciation in Patagonia: Establishing Sustainable International Collaborations in Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation Biology”; www.patagonia.byu.edu). In this project we focus on comparative phylogeography of selected co-distributed species in Patagonia. My lab is in charge of …

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A Novel Nuclear Variant Of Nbmp-2: Role In Ca2+ Transport, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Apr 2013

A Novel Nuclear Variant Of Nbmp-2: Role In Ca2+ Transport, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The goal of this project was to elucidate the role that nBMP-2 plays in Ca2+ transport. In the previous year, we demonstrated that mice that have no nBMP-2 in the nuclei of their cells exhibit delays in the transport of Ca2+ back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum after each muscle contraction. During the period of this award we have extended our focus on nBMP-2 and Ca2+ transport to its effects on neurological function, since learning and memory are also dependent on intracellular Ca2+ transport. To do so, we collaborated with Dr. Jeff Edwards, a neuroscientist in the Department of Physiology and …

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Changes In Membrane Physical Properties During Chemotherapy, Dr. John Bell Apr 2013

Changes In Membrane Physical Properties During Chemotherapy, Dr. John Bell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many chemotherapeutic agents treat cancer by inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the tumor. One of the consequences of apoptosis is changes in the physical properties of the cell membrane. Some of these changes are important for other phagocytic cells to recognize and remove the dying cells thereby preventing an inflammatory response. However, other physical changes convert the membrane from its normal state of resistance to hydrolytic attack by enzymes present in the blood to a state of susceptibility. If this susceptibility precedes removal of the apoptotic cells by phagocytes, a harmful inflammatory response could potentially occur. Whether cells become …

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Endocannabinoid Enzyme Expression In The Hippocampus, Dr. Jeff Edwards Apr 2013

Endocannabinoid Enzyme Expression In The Hippocampus, Dr. Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objectives of this award were met, especially in regard to the mentoring focus of the award. The students have been mentored and trained in an effective manner as outlined below. Using this mentoring environment and the experiences gained by it has allowed all but one of the students graduating in the last two years from my lab to this point, to be accepted into the professional school of their choice (see students listed below). Research, especially where the students are actually involved in all aspects of it and publishing can play a major role in their acceptance to professional …

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Down Syndrome Pathway Analysis, Dr. Mark Clement Apr 2013

Down Syndrome Pathway Analysis, Dr. Mark Clement

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many of the most serious medical problems that plague humanity are caused by problems in the genetic regulatory network. Heart disease, cancer and many other maladies could be cured if we understood how genes interact with each other in order to produce different symptoms. Many of these problems are hard to deal with because all of the 20,000 or so genes in the human genome may be responsible for part of the problem. Down Syndrome is caused by three copies of chromosome 21 and results in heart defects, decreased brain function and abnormal jaw and finger proportions. Because the problem …

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Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Is Down-Regulated In The Brains Of Female Hs Rats Compared To Ns Rats, Dr. James Porter Apr 2013

Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Is Down-Regulated In The Brains Of Female Hs Rats Compared To Ns Rats, Dr. James Porter

Journal of Undergraduate Research

We were able to use RT-PCR to confirm that mRNA expression for brain soluble epoxide hydrolase was significantly down-regulated. The magnitude of relative down-regulation was on the same order as that found using microarray analysis. This was an important finding since microarray data cannot be published unless corroborating evidence is found using a separate technology (these data were presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting in April, 2010).

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Beetle Tree Of Life Project, Dr. Michael Whiting Apr 2013

Beetle Tree Of Life Project, Dr. Michael Whiting

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Funding was received from the BYU ORCA mentorship program during 2010 to support undergraduates performing research in my lab, under the mentorship of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and myself. During 2010, this funding provided direct support for 8 undergraduates who are in various stages of completing research projects. The following report focuses on undergraduate achievements, but also provides summary data for graduate students and other lab participants.

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