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Articles 271 - 300 of 740

Full-Text Articles in Chemistry

Thermodynamics Of Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles, Marcus Donaldson, Dr. Juliana Boerio-Goates Oct 2013

Thermodynamics Of Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles, Marcus Donaldson, Dr. Juliana Boerio-Goates

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I studied the thermodynamics of titanium oxide nanoparticles using adiabatic and semi-adiabatic calorimetry.

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Preferential Infection Of Germinal Center T Cells By X4 Tropic Hiv, Christopher M. Cherry, Dr. Gregory F. Burton Oct 2013

Preferential Infection Of Germinal Center T Cells By X4 Tropic Hiv, Christopher M. Cherry, Dr. Gregory F. Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

HIV infects CD4 T cells through binding to CD4 and an appropriate co-receptor. Two co-receptors of concern in HIV biology are CXCR4 and CCR5 because of their affect on disease progression. The majority of transmittable HIV strains use CCR5 as a co-receptor. However, during the latter stages of disease the virus may shift from using CCR5 to using CXCR4 as its co-receptor. This change is referred to as a shift in tropism, and it is of major concern because it leads to rapid disease progression (3). The site and mechanism by which this shift occurs still elude scientists. Recent findings …

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Understanding Isolated Systems Of Hard Spheres, Scott Burt, Dr. Randy Shirts Oct 2013

Understanding Isolated Systems Of Hard Spheres, Scott Burt, Dr. Randy Shirts

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Chemical modeling is an increasingly important tool in modern research. Despite vast improvements in computational speed, most systems of interest are so complex that simulations must be carried out on model systems that are much smaller and simpler than the system of interest. However, such simplified systems often contain constraints that do not apply to the larger system. This causes significant deviations from the true behavior of the corresponding macroscopic system. Such deviations are known as finite size effects. Understanding these effects are important for correctly extrapolating simulation results to the macroscopic system of interest. For example, chemical simulations are …

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Pressure Perturbation Calorimetry, Blair R. Brown, Dr. Earl M. Woolley Oct 2013

Pressure Perturbation Calorimetry, Blair R. Brown, Dr. Earl M. Woolley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In Dr. Woolley’s lab we have made extensive measurements of the Apparent Molar Heat Capacities of aqueous solutions using a Nano Differential Scanning Calorimeter, N-DSC (Calorimetry Science Corporation, Spanish Fork, UT). Through modifications to the N-DSC we are now able to do pressure perturbation calorimetry. That is to say we may now change the pressure of a solution and measure the change in the heat of that solution, (dq/dP)T ( as opposed to (dq/dT)p which is heat capacity). This property is related to entropy by the 2nd law of thermodynamics in the following way (dq/dP)T = T(dS/dP)T. From a Maxwell …

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Understanding The Secretion Of Histamine, Sean P. Brady, Dr. Paul B. Savage Oct 2013

Understanding The Secretion Of Histamine, Sean P. Brady, Dr. Paul B. Savage

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With help from fellow lab members, this project involved the synthesis of several antigen linkers in order to aid the understanding of histamine secretion of basophil cells. It is hypothesized that the bi-valent linkers (such as the ones outlined below) do not stimulate basophil cells, but that the tri-valent antigens (not shown in this report) do cause granulation of cells.

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Use Of Cationic Steroid Antibiotics To Fight Drug Resistance In Gram-Positive And Gram-Negative Bacteria, Thomas Orsak, Dr. Paul Savage Oct 2013

Use Of Cationic Steroid Antibiotics To Fight Drug Resistance In Gram-Positive And Gram-Negative Bacteria, Thomas Orsak, Dr. Paul Savage

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Drug resistance has become an increasing problem for clinical anti-bacterial needs and a major human health threat. Drug resistance emerges through structural or biochemical pathway changes that antibacterial drugs specifically target. Bacteria have the ability to rapidly mutate and gain resistance to antibacterial drugs because of their ability to reproduce rapidly. However some parts of bacterial cells need to stay consistent. The need for consistency for these parts arises from their complexity and their essential biological activities. One of these parts is the bacterial membrane.

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The Localization Of Cationic Steroid Antibiotics In Escherichia Coli Through Transmission Electron Microscopy, Matthew Chadwell, Dr. Paul Savage Oct 2013

The Localization Of Cationic Steroid Antibiotics In Escherichia Coli Through Transmission Electron Microscopy, Matthew Chadwell, Dr. Paul Savage

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The growing numbers of antibiotic resistant bacteria has caused concern in the health community. To combat this enemy, our lab has developed an arsenal of new compounds called cationic steroid antibiotics (CSAs). To date, many of these compounds have successfully killed bacteria resistant to common antibiotics. Although we have successfully killed these bacteria, the question still remains as how this occurs. If we could identify the mode of action by which these compounds kill bacteria, then scientists would be able to develop more effective CSAs.

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Identification Of Binding Partners For Phosducin, Tiffany Sabin, Dr. Barry Willardson Oct 2013

Identification Of Binding Partners For Phosducin, Tiffany Sabin, Dr. Barry Willardson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cellular signaling is vital to the proper functioning of a cell. In the visual system, as light activates the transmembrane receptor rhodopsin, a series of signals is initiated throughout the cell. This response begins with the activation of G proteins which couple to the rhodopsin. One important player in G protein signaling is Phosducin (Pdc). The unphosphorylated form of Pdc binds to the βγ subunit of the G protein.1 We used a proteomics approach to investigate the possibility of other binding partners for Pdc.

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Cataracts And Na,K-Atpase, Ryan Earp, Dr. Steven Graves Oct 2013

Cataracts And Na,K-Atpase, Ryan Earp, Dr. Steven Graves

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Nearly 20.5 million Americans above the age of 40 suffer impaired vision caused by cataracts. By the age of 80, the percentage of Americans suffering from cataracts increases to 50%. According to the World Health Organization cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. The United States government spends an estimated $3.4 billion annually to treat cataracts surgically. The enormous cost of cataract treatment suggests a great need for non-invasive cataract treatment.

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Corrections To The Virial Expansion For Finite Hard Sphere Systems, Aaron M. Johnson, Dr. Randall B. Shirts Oct 2013

Corrections To The Virial Expansion For Finite Hard Sphere Systems, Aaron M. Johnson, Dr. Randall B. Shirts

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Computer modeling has become an important aspect of modern chemistry. As chemists try to better understand the how and why of chemical reactions, computer modeling and simulation is unparalleled in value. We are able to learn the conditions that best facilitate effective collisions, and therefore, the best way to design chemical synthesis. However, in order for these simulated results to be most accurate, chemists need to understand how the simulations relate to real systems. Limited by computation speed and programming complexity, simulated systems are always much smaller than real systems in both volume and number of particles. The purpose of …

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A2e-Dna Interaction: A Possible Mechanism For Dna Damage, Sierra Evelyn Dabell, Dr. Heidi R. Vollmer-Snarr Oct 2013

A2e-Dna Interaction: A Possible Mechanism For Dna Damage, Sierra Evelyn Dabell, Dr. Heidi R. Vollmer-Snarr

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A2E, a common fluorophore found in the retinal pigment epithelial cells of the eye has been shown to have phototoxic properties. For this reason A2E has been implicated in the progressive etiology of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). If the mechanism of cell death can be understood, a possible intervention can be produced. Moreover, the benefits of researching A2E are two-fold. An understanding of bisoxirane-DNA interactions holds the possibility of revealing information about the pathology of AMD and presents itself as a possible chemotherapy through photo-dynamic therapy.

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The Role Of A2e In Amd And Chemotherapy, D. Joshua Cameron, Dr. Heidi Vollmer-Snarr Oct 2013

The Role Of A2e In Amd And Chemotherapy, D. Joshua Cameron, Dr. Heidi Vollmer-Snarr

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A2E is implicated in the etiology of AMD. We have found significant concentrations of A2E present in both lipofuscin and melanolipofuscin of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, meaning that A2E is likely more involved in AMD than originally thought. Evidence shows that A2E, in small concentrations, is not cytotoxic alone, but becomes toxic when exposed to blue light. The light mechanism involved in A2E toxicity can be controlled and used to trigger cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines. The implications of A2E in AMD and the applications of A2E’s light triggered cytotoxicity as a possible chemotherapeutic treatment were further elucidated …

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Isolation Of A 55 Kd Protein That Specifically Binds The 3′ Au-Rich Element Of Interleukin-1b Messenger Rna, David Emergy Skarda, Dr. Roger L. Kaspar Oct 2013

Isolation Of A 55 Kd Protein That Specifically Binds The 3′ Au-Rich Element Of Interleukin-1b Messenger Rna, David Emergy Skarda, Dr. Roger L. Kaspar

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The polypeptide Interleukin- 1(IL-1) is one of the key mediators of the body’s response to microbial invasion, inflammation, immunological reactions, and tissue injury.1 IL- 1gene expression regulation occurs at many steps. One of the steps currently being researched is translation. Recent research indicates that the translational regulation mechanisms of IL- 1include an AU-rich element in the 3′ untranslated region (Fig. 1).2 In this mechanism, an induced protein binds to the AU-rich element (ARE) causing a decrease in translation efficiency. Isolation and subsequent identification of the ARE binding protein may lead to effective new drugs that induce the ARE binding protein …

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Photocycloaddition Of Silyl-Tethered Alkenes For Cyclobutanes, David Feller, Dr. Steven A. Fleming Sep 2013

Photocycloaddition Of Silyl-Tethered Alkenes For Cyclobutanes, David Feller, Dr. Steven A. Fleming

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cyclobutane rings occur in many natural products that show important medicinal properties (including sedatives, antiviral, and anti-tumor agents). The intrinsic physiological activities that cyclobutane rings display, draw the attention of synthetic chemists to elucidate total syntheses.1 Many natural products that incorporate chiral cyclobutane systems fascinate synthetic chemists as target molecules.

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Catalytic Reactions For The Production Of Biomarkers From The Biological Warfare Agent Anthrax (Dr.), Jason E. Hawkes, Dr. Milton L. Lee Sep 2013

Catalytic Reactions For The Production Of Biomarkers From The Biological Warfare Agent Anthrax (Dr.), Jason E. Hawkes, Dr. Milton L. Lee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bacillus anthracis, more commonly known as anthrax, poses a serious threat to the national security of the United States of America. In its weaponized form, anthrax spores are easily aerosolized, demonstrate long residence times in the atmosphere (typically variable for several days), and can be fatal if ingested or inhaled into the lungs. Following ingestion or inhalation, rapid growth and reproductive activity is triggered, releasing large amounts of deadly toxin. The lethal dose of anthrax spores is very small, approximately 10 nanograms of spores.1 As a result of its easy dispersal, long residence times, and high toxicity, anthrax is becoming …

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Observed Physiological Changes In Na+,K+-Atpase In Bovine Lens Epithelial Cells Upon Ouabain Exposure, Steven Jason Crellin, Dr. Steven Graves Sep 2013

Observed Physiological Changes In Na+,K+-Atpase In Bovine Lens Epithelial Cells Upon Ouabain Exposure, Steven Jason Crellin, Dr. Steven Graves

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Age-related cataractogenesis is a worldwide leading cause of blindness. The fact that the causes as well as the apparent symptoms of cataract are diverse has contributed to increased difficulty in the study of the ailment. However, a ubiquitous symptom in animal cataract is the presence of elevated sodium concentrations within the lens. Therefore, studies have emphasized the importance of the sodium pump, or Na+,K+-ATPase in the lens, particularly in the lens epithelial cells.1 The sodium pump is primarily responsible for extruding three Na+ ions from within the cell and taking in two K+ ions, thus establishing a net negative charge …

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Using The Byu Supercomputer To Simulate Analogs Of The Anti-Cancer Drug Geldanamycin, Joshua Proulx, Dr. Merritt Andrus Sep 2013

Using The Byu Supercomputer To Simulate Analogs Of The Anti-Cancer Drug Geldanamycin, Joshua Proulx, Dr. Merritt Andrus

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For my project I simulated the binding of geldanamycin in the ATP binding site of Heat shock protein-90 to assist Merritt Andrus’s research in designing a better anti-cancer drug. Hsp-90 is a protein found in the cells of many organisms including humans. It functions as a chaperone protein, helping other proteins assume their proper folded shape. When a ligand like geldanamycin binds to the active site on Hsp-90, the protein’s function is inhibited. In many cancer cells Hsp-90 is folded into a 3D shape that allows for easy binding with geldanamycin. A cancerous cell with inhibited Hsp-90 is far more …

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Optimization Of Kidney Cancer Cell Assay Conditions, Bryce Harbertson, Dr. Heidi Vollmer-Snarr Sep 2013

Optimization Of Kidney Cancer Cell Assay Conditions, Bryce Harbertson, Dr. Heidi Vollmer-Snarr

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light-sensitive compounds that, upon irradiation, become lethal to cells. These light-sensitive compounds are referred to as photosensitizers. A class of compounds known as pyridinium bis-retinoids are being investigated as potential photosensitizers, and therefore, chemotherapeutic drugs (Figure 1). One of the primary concerns in these investigations is determining the optimal conditions under which to evaluate these drugs. The optimization of these parameters will allow us to compare the effectiveness of our drugs with others already in existence, and will also serve as a basis for further investigations in animal trials and later on in clinical …

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Synthesizing Racemic And Optical Active 6-Methylsulfinylhexyl Isothiocyanate, Bo Duan, Dr. Merritt Andrus Sep 2013

Synthesizing Racemic And Optical Active 6-Methylsulfinylhexyl Isothiocyanate, Bo Duan, Dr. Merritt Andrus

Journal of Undergraduate Research

6–methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate (MS-ITC) is the active component of wasabi, Japanese horseradish. Wasabi plant (Wasabia Japonica), a member of the Cruciferae family, is native to Japan and is traditionally found growing in or by cold mountain streams. The root and stem of this plant has a fiery hot flavor that quickly dissipates in the mouth, leaving a lingering sweet taste.

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Chemical Isolation From Plant Endophytes, David Dahl, Dr. Steven Wood Sep 2013

Chemical Isolation From Plant Endophytes, David Dahl, Dr. Steven Wood

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The major research that I have worked with is on the extraction of biologically active compounds from plant endophytes native to the west desert of Utah and high altitude Paramo of Ecuador. For a year I have been working the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s Natural Product Research Group under Dr. Noel Owen and Dr. Steven Wood. I planned and am executing a project that combines several different disciplines; anthropology, botany, and chemistry.

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A Study Of Collisional Energy Transfer As A Function Of Vibrational Frequency Using Isotopically Substituted Benzene Molecules, Andrew Duffin, Dr. Eric Sevy Sep 2013

A Study Of Collisional Energy Transfer As A Function Of Vibrational Frequency Using Isotopically Substituted Benzene Molecules, Andrew Duffin, Dr. Eric Sevy

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Gas phase atoms and molecules constantly exchange energy in collisions. These energy transfer events are the rate limiting processes in reactions that are important for understanding atmospheric and combustion chemistry. While a great deal is known about collisional energy transfer, there is no good theory for predicting the outcome of energy transfer collisions. A study of energy transfer as a function of vibrational frequency would aid in formulating a model that would accurately describe energy transfer events.

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Total Synthesis Of The Natural Product Hasubanonine, Spencer Jones, Dr. Steven Castle Sep 2013

Total Synthesis Of The Natural Product Hasubanonine, Spencer Jones, Dr. Steven Castle

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Hasubanonine is a tetracyclic alkaloid with potential analgesic activity. The total synthesis of this alkaloid has been undertaken in order to demonstrate the applicability of the methodology developed for the synthesis of acutumine and to assay the potential medicinal activity of the compound. The key steps in the synthesis include the ruthenium catalyzed ring closing metathesis, anionic oxy-Cope rearrangement, and intramolecular Michael addition. Future work includes the completion of the racemic synthesis of hasubanonine as well as the investigation into the asymmetric allylation required for the enantioselective synthesis of hasubanonine.

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Engineering Small Molecule-Dependent Tools For The Study Of Protein Function In Vivo, Jonathan Dewey, Dr. Allen R. Buskirk Sep 2013

Engineering Small Molecule-Dependent Tools For The Study Of Protein Function In Vivo, Jonathan Dewey, Dr. Allen R. Buskirk

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Analyzing the function of newly discovered genes and the proteins that they encode is crucial to the advancement of genetics, cell and molecular biology, and medicine. Scientists have implemented various methods to study individual proteins within a cell, including genetic and small-molecule dependent approaches. Our goal is to combine the generality of genetic manipulation with the time-sensitivity of small-molecule dependence to create tools to study the function of Hedgehog pathway proteins and validate them as drug targets.

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Constructing An Ideal Metal Ion Chemosensor For Cadmium, David Michaelis, Dr. Paul B. Savage Sep 2013

Constructing An Ideal Metal Ion Chemosensor For Cadmium, David Michaelis, Dr. Paul B. Savage

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As society today continues to evolve technologically at a rapid rate, problems dealing with contamination of our natural resources become increasingly complex. Not only are new toxins introduced into the environment, but selective detection and removal of these contaminants proves ever more difficult. Heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, mercury, and radioactive nucleotides pose special problems to human health because of their tendency to accumulate in the body. Metal ions are specifically difficult to detect because of the large amount of benign ions (calcium, zinc, copper, sodium, etc.) that are naturally present in any water source. Fluorescence spectroscopy has made …

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Toward Electrical Characterization Of Dna-Templated Copper Nanowires Subtitle (If Applicable), Randall Stoltenberg, Dr. Adam T. Woolley Sep 2013

Toward Electrical Characterization Of Dna-Templated Copper Nanowires Subtitle (If Applicable), Randall Stoltenberg, Dr. Adam T. Woolley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

DNA-templated nanofabrication is a promising route toward miniaturization of electronic devices below the 100 nm range. We have developed methods for fabricating micrometer-length copper nanostructures with nanometer heights from DNA templates on silicon surfaces. These structures have been integrated into simple circuits for electrical characterization. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy suggest that these constructs are composed of copper metal. However, copper metal was not detected by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The present structures have resistances in the TΩ range or higher, and approaches for achieving improved conductivity are presented.

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Three-Dimensional Modeling Of Poliovirus Structure And Activity, Roane Noel, Dr. David Belnap Sep 2013

Three-Dimensional Modeling Of Poliovirus Structure And Activity, Roane Noel, Dr. David Belnap

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Poliovirus image to the left is from a collection of three-dimensionally reconstructed images of virus particles found at the website: http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/Research/virus/capsids/viruses.html October 10, 2005. This image is identical to the type of Poliovirus image I reconstructed with the help of mentor Dr. David Belnap.

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Metallic Nanostructures Of Substituted Cavitands, Martin Conda-Sheridan, Dr. John D. Lamb Sep 2013

Metallic Nanostructures Of Substituted Cavitands, Martin Conda-Sheridan, Dr. John D. Lamb

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The aim of the project was to prepare monomers, dimmers and trimmers of pyridine substituted resorcinarenes. This work was the continuation of a previous project in which we studied the interactions of a dipicolilamine cavitand with anions. We decided to go a step further by investigating the reactions of our compound with metals. In addition to that we intend to see how the mentioned metal will bind or coordinate with organic and inorganic anions. Furthermore we tried to achieve host guest interactions between the mentioned anions and our compounds. The knowledge of such interactions has potential applications in medicine, the …

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A Study Of Collisional Energy Transfer As A Function Of Donor Molecule Energy, Jeremy Johnson, Dr. Eric Sevy Sep 2013

A Study Of Collisional Energy Transfer As A Function Of Donor Molecule Energy, Jeremy Johnson, Dr. Eric Sevy

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When chemical reactions take place, energy is transferred between the different atoms and molecules as they collide. The energy transfer in these collisions is the rate-limiting step of reactions. Therefore, to be able to accurately model reactions we need a good understanding of how energy is transferred. The probability distribution function, P(E,E’), is fundamental to predicting the efficiency of specific energy transfer events. It has not been possible, until recently, to measure this function experimentally because energy transfer studies only obtained measurements of the average energy transfer. Using an ultra high-resolution IR diode (~0.0003 cm-1), we can measure energy transfer …

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Effects Of Follicular Dentritic Cells On Recombination Rates Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, Ericf Burgon, Dr. Greg Burton Sep 2013

Effects Of Follicular Dentritic Cells On Recombination Rates Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, Ericf Burgon, Dr. Greg Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recombination is a major mechanism that generates variation in populations of human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1). Mutations often confer replication advantages, such as drug resistance, which can lead to increased pathogenicity. This project is the first phase of a larger projected intended to study the effects of follicular dentritic cells (FDCs) on recombination rates.

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Size-Based Separation Of Bioparticles Using Planar Nanofluidic Devices, Jie Xuan Sep 2013

Size-Based Separation Of Bioparticles Using Planar Nanofluidic Devices, Jie Xuan

Theses and Dissertations

Nanofluidic devices are structures having at least one dimension in the submicron range, which is of the same order of magnitude as the sizes of biomolecules and bioparticles such as proteins and viruses. As a result, size-selective separations are important applications for nanofluidics. Well-defined micro or nano device structures fabricated via micromachining have greatly reduced sample consumption and enabled separations in a parallel fashion, promising significant speed and resolution advantages over conventional size separation techniques, such as gel electrophoresis and size exclusion chromatography. In collaboration with others, I have developed a size separation method using nanofluidic devices consisting of an …

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