2013 Abstracts

Abbie Black, Brigham Young University History Wet-nursing, a common practice in early modern England, was looked upon as a respectable source of income for women until the latter half of the eighteenth century. Scholars and doctors criticized the practice in both moral and medical terms, which influences how scholars analyze the occupation today. Constant attacks on the occupation continued until the practice was associated with lower class, sinful women; the practice all but disappeared by the early twentieth century because of the negative rhetoric and the advances in safe synthetic feeding practices. Historical scholarship reflects the negative rhetoric that was prevalent for the past two centuries; they forget to mention that wet-nurses continued to be essential to Early Modern English culture and Victorian families. Both the employer family and wet-nurse relied on this labor; families with an at risk child needed the labor of the wet-nurse, and the wet-nurse needed the income for her own support. Recent trends in scholarship focus on the practice from the top down as an institution rather than an occupation for individuals. I intend to fill this gap in scholarship by focusing on the wet-nurse as an individual functioning independently from the increasingly negative rhetoric during the mid-nineteenth century.

Matt Cox, Brigham Young University History The role of the Magistrate or civil leader was a topic of debate in the time of John Locke and a focus of many of his political writings. Focusing on four of his main political pieces, his Essay on Toleration, a Letter Concerning Toleration, Two Treatises on Government, and Paraphrase and Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul, I examine how he developed his ideas on the role of the magistrate and the changes that take place. I show how Locke transitions from his youthful acceptance of the absolute rule of kings to his final views where he shows how even Paul leaves room open in his epistles for disobedience to rulers. Essential in this transition is Locke’s limitation on the powers of the magistrate. In his early writings Locke allows for the use of force in protecting the overall good of the society. Locke redefines this vague role of the magistrate by limiting the power of the magistrate to acting only in the protection of the rights, liberties and property of their citizens.

Laura Hatch, Brigham Young University Humanities, Classics, Comparative Literature Art historians and artists have long treated linear perspective solely as an artistic technique. As defined by the Italian Renaissance, linear perspective is a tool to recreate reality on a canvas. But linear perspective carries philosophical implications, as well. Albrecht Dürer, a German Renaissance artist, seems to have understood perspective’s limitations in truth-making. In reading this image with a knowledge of Heideggerian phenom- enology, I propose that while on the surface this woodcut may seem to be nothing more than an illustration of proper technique, Dürer is actually exposing linear perspective’s failure to capture and truly represent an image as reality.

Megan Barber, Brigham Young University History This project investigates the British view on the Civil War in the United States. Specifically, it explores the correspondence between Richard Lyons, the British envoy to the United States, and Lord Russell, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. It charts the changing perception of Lyons’ view of the Civil War as it progressed during the first crucial year of the conflict. The Confederacy actively sought British recognition and in fact sent two representatives to the United Kingdom who were subsequently seized by a Union ship. Lyons’ role in what came to be known as the Trent Affair is known, but has overshadowed his other perceptions of the conflict. This project draws on the original PRO manuscript correspondence held in the UK National Archives in London.

Nathan Gill, Brigham Young University Geography The Africanized honeybee first entered southern Utah within the last five years. This invasive species reduces pollination and honey production and is therefore costly to the farming industry and local apiaries. Additionally, Africanized honeybees are extremely aggressive and pose a threat to the health and well-being of Utah’s residents. The aim of my study is determine if Africanized honeybee habitat in Utah can be accurately modeled through remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems analysis. Locations of known Africanized honeybee presence and absence, acquired from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s ground reference data, were used to identify the characteristics of suitable habitat. Criteria that we considered include minimum temperature, precipitation, distance to water, elevation, slope, aspect, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, among others. I have identified the conditions for suitable habitat and I am in the process of designing a model to identify Africanized honeybee habitat across Utah. After the model has been refined, it will be tested against additional locations of presence and absence acquired from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. The modeled habitat will help the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and other organizations to focus efforts to educate the public about the dangers of Africanized honeybees in specific locations that are at high risk.

Melanie Cooke, University of Utah Geography Range Creek is a small deeply incised canyon located in south central Utah. It is a remote canyon that has experienced minimal impact to its rich archaeological heritage by European-American settlers during the last two hundred years. The canyon contains hundreds of important archaeological sites and thousands of artifacts from the Fremont culture that inhabited the area from around 800 A.D. to 1350 A.D. Though work has been done on the archeological sites in the canyon, a better understanding of the paleoclimate and environment are needed to help understand why the Fremont culture disappeared so abruptly around 1160 A.D.Dendrochronology has been shown to provide excellent data for reconstruction of climatic conditions. Conifer tree species, including Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga mensiezii), are well-suited for studying past climate through the analysis of their tree rings. In this study, I use increment cores from Douglas fir to build a local history of tree-ring growth rates through time and will compare these results to regionally available climate records. By comparing changes in ring widths with weather station data, including monthly and seasonal temperature and precipitation records, I hypothesize that Douglas fir will provide a sensitive indicator of past changes in winter precipitation. Twelve tree cores collected from climatically sensitive locations during the 2012 summer are being analyzed from Range Creek Canyon. Preliminary analyses of the tree ring series suggests this study will provide a climatic history spanning the past ~300 years. Although this analysis cannot provide direct observation on climate conditions during the period of the Freemont occupation and abandonment of Range Creek, it will provide insights into the natural climate variability occurring within the Range Creek Canyon. All tree cores are being analyzed with ARSTAN and COFECHA software, commonly used by dendrochronologists, and results will be made available at the time of presentation.

Kendra Williamson, Brigham Young University Linguistics and English Language Questions regarding language policy have persisted in Intensive English Programs nationwide. BYU’s English Language Center has revoked an English-only policy in favor of an English-mainly policy. In this environment, a two-month study has been initiated in which four experimental-group classes are provided tools for self-regulated learning to encourage English use during the lunch break. Students record goals and perceived actuals daily, reflect and respond to their individual progress, and receive weekly printed progress charts. As students use tools designed for self-regulated learning, it is expected that their daily efforts to speak English and their speaking proficiency test scores will improve.

Summer Mosgofian-Barry, Dixie State University English-Secondary Education Even avid readers of J. R. R. Tolkien’s work may not recognize how extensively his scholarly pursuits and deep knowledge of ancient languages and legends inform his fantasy writing. As a scholar who not only gave new insight into the art of Beowulf, but also as one who proved the existence of a remnant of Old and Middle English untouched by the Norman conquest, he used his mastery of Germanic languages “Old and Middle English, Old Norse, Old Finnish, Welsh” and even his familiarity of Proto-Indo-European vocabulary, to create linguistic and narrative elements in fictional works like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The connections between his scholarly pursuits and the characters and languages he invented, such as those between Anglo-Saxon syntax and mythology and Tolkien’s idealized Anglo-Saxons, the Rohirrim, as well as those connections between Snorri’s Edda and the Elvish language Quenya, clearly demonstrate his acumen as a philologist. In fact, some of Tolkien’s Middle Earth legends were clearly inspired by his extensive knowledge of, and are even modeled after, ancient writings and legends, including Beowulf, The Wanderer, “The Maid of the Moor” and Grendel, while he also utilized kennings like those seen in, again, Beowulf, “Caedmon’s Hymn”, and Snorri’s Edda. This paper looks at multiple, though certainly not all, of Tolkien’s use of early language forms and legends and in doing so, delivers the following conclusion: Tolkien’s extensive scholarly work and love of many languages, as well as his passion for the mythology of those languages, clearly plays an integral part in his fiction.

Kev Nemelka, Brigham Young University Art History and Curatorial Studies Hungarian art has yet to break across the Atlantic with much influence on the art world, but perhaps the oeuvre of Béla Kondor (1931-1972), considered by many Hungarian art historians to be the starting point of Hungarian contemporary art, may have a shot at drawing the nation’s art out of obscurity and into the light of American contemporary “faux-naïve,” an art tradition with a growing momentum that could provide fertile terrain for Kondor’s comparable aesthetic. The faux-naïve tradition springs from “naïve art,” an art tradition whose name itself has been somewhat controversial in the past decade but has nevertheless influenced artists all over the globe. Particularly in Utah Valley, a number of artists and art professors—e.g. Andrew Ballstaedt, Fidalis Buehler, and Brian Krishisnik—are developing their own faux-naïve versions of contemporary folk art similar to that of Kondor with no knowledge of his existence, and although some contend that the sincerity of faux-naïve is factitious and premeditated, the secular and religious works of Kondor and these American artists show the positive side of contrivance, that faux-naïve can provoke feelings of nostalgia and insight into real emotions, focusing our attention on adolescent memories or spiritual innocence alluded to in the works rather than on the lack of complexity, precision, or realism often sought after by aficionados of conventional, believable art. I personally interviewed numerous Kondor experts and curators of Hungarian museums, recovered archived articles on the artist held in Hungarian collections, and conducted comparative analyses of Kondor and the aforementioned Utah artists, whom I also interviewed regarding the subject of faux-naïveté.

Shannon McLean, Southern Utah University English The classical Indian writers Amaru, Bhartrhari, and Kalidasa each used the srngara rasa, or erotic mood, in their works. The srngara rasa was considered to be one of the most important aesthetics in Indian literature, and the audience was encouraged to delight in the experience they received from the erotic depictions in the poetry or play. This is very different from the Western treatment of sexuality. Typically, the erotic was discouraged, and in some cases forbidden, to be discussed overtly in poetry, books, and plays, because it was believed to cause more harm than good. I investigated the portrayal of human sexuality in the works of these three authors in order to discover whether their use of the erotic mood encouraged their audience to pursue the benefits of physical love, or whether there existed a different interpretation for its use. Although the Indian writers mentioned above were more open and accepting of human sexuality in their writings than the Western tradition, they also depicted the negative consequences that can result from the indulgence of physical love.

Garrett Faylor, Dixie State University English Bob Dylan has been called just about every name in the book: voice of a generation, beatnik, icon, songwriter, protest singer, legend, even Judas. But there is one name that people cannot seem to agree upon-poet. In “I Shall Be Free No. 10,” Dylan jokingly says, I’m a poet, and I know it / Hope I don’t blow it.” Rather than take his word for it, one might suggest looking backward to discern the verity of Dylan’s claim. Wordsworth, Shelley, and T.S. Eliot all contributed greatly to the art and our understanding of poetry. Each supplied definitions for what constitutes poetry and better yet, what exactly a poet should be and do. In his Preface to Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth explains that “[the poet] is a man speaking to men.” This, and other definitions given by some of poetry’s most notorious innovators, decisively vindicates the claims of Dylan as poet. In this paper, I will argue that not only does Bob Dylan fit into almost all literary definitions of “poet,” he is the quintessential American poet: a transcendent, folk-rooted traverser and mouthpiece “for the searching ones, on their speechless, seeking trail.”

Jesse Cook, Dixie State University English Charles Chesnutt’s use of frame narrative in “Dave’s Neckliss” allows readers to gain a wider exposure to realistic African American storytelling. While African American literature was often intentionally watered down in the years following the Civil War to avoid hostility from Euro-Americans, Chesnutt published works depicting some of the true inequalities of African American life. His use of frame narrative-a local color narrative technique that employs a Euro-American narrator to frame a story told by an African American character-allowed Chesnutt to publish his work unbound by such restrictions. As William L. Andrews states, Chesnutt’s “understanding of literary tradition and his ability to use tradition as a means of approaching his readers with untraditional themes” allowed him to delve further into the “intensely human inner life of slavery.” While it could be argued that Chesnutt’s technique undermines the authority of the African American storyteller, requiring a Euro-American narrator as a catalyst for the African American character to tell his story, this technique allows Chesnutt to present a subversive narrative that imposes challenging questions to a reluctant audience. I argue that while Chesnutt’s use of frame narrative may appear to perpetuate existing racial stereotypes held by many, the frame narrative style actually allowed him to pose thought-provoking questions during a time of racial animosity.

Belinda Ramirez, Brigham Young University Anthropology The Hmong are a stateless hill tribe ethnic group originating in southern China. Due to persecution and discrimination from the Chinese, many Hmong migrated to the surrounding regions of the Southeast Asian massif in the eighteenth century. The mountainous homes of the Hmong now lay within the borders of countries such as Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Religiously, Hmong are traditionally a shamanistic people, believing in spirits and worshipping their ancestors through diverse practices, such as animal sacrifice and spirit calling. In addition to traditional Hmong belief (dab qhuas), many messianic religious groups have recently surfaced within the Hmong diaspora, often accompanied by a prophetic leader, criticisms of traditional Hmong practices, and a hopeful vision of the future in which there exists a Hmong country. My research on this subject is based on an ethnographic field study in Nan Province, Thailand among the Is Npis Mis Nus, a Hmong messianic religious group. Using traditional anthropological field methods, I acquired data on the practices and beliefs of the Is Npis Mis Nus, as well as investigated their conceptions of nationalism, ethnicity, and identity. In this paper, I posit that the rituals and beliefs of the Is Npis Mis Nus reveal the group’s desire for Hmong political, cultural, and economic legitimacy and national sovereignty. These beliefs and rituals also serve as boundaries that provide a clear distinction between messianic and non-messianic Hmong. Additionally, I explain how the characteristics of the Is Npis Mis Nus religion help the Hmong deal with the social and ethnic disruptions that globalization has presented.

David Ridge, Brigham Young University Religion This paper examines 2 Samuel 11 in light of a broadened understanding of the betrothal type-scene first identified by Robert Alter. The definition of type-scene in this context is broadened by comparative study with another feature of traditional narrative, the “theme” identified by Albert Lord as a significant characteristic of oral narratives. Examining the theme and type- scene together allows for a better definition of type-scene which leads to the identification of previously overlooked type-scenes. It is argued that 2 Samuel 11 contains all the elements and key- words necessary to be a type-scene of the betrothal journey narrative type; creating a literary relationship between this passage and the betrothal narratives of the patriarchs including those of Isaac in Gen 24, Jacob in Gen 29 and Moses in Exodus 2. Utilizing this approach allows for a clearer understanding of the textual depiction of David and his actions in the Hebrew Bible, a new understanding of the intertextual relationship between 2 Samuel 11 and narratives in Genesis and Exodus, and a broader and more valuable understanding of narrative structures within the Hebrew Bible.

Katie Patterson Hulett, Dixie State University English, Literary Studies emphasis In the last pages of her memoir, The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts, Maxine Hong Kingston tells the story of the Chinese poetess Ts’ ai Yen, a woman captured by

Susie McGann, Brigham Young University Humanities As the American economy changes, jobs are becoming increasingly more focused on teamwork, collaboration, and analytical and social skills in addition to technical skills. My initial hypothesis is that such knowledge and skills can be located in the category of a capacity for leadership–leadership of a sort that is of value even among entry-level professionals. These skills can be acquired through study in the Humanities. With my research, I hope to prompt change in the existing culture among students majoring in these fields so that they will begin conversations about careers earlier and more frequently among fellow students and faculty. In order to reach these goals, I collaborated with other humanities students to compile a group of individual essays that explain to undergraduates in Humanities majors how their study is preparing them to be leaders. I reviewed and edited these papers, and researched and wrote a supplicant formal essay to address current or prospective students in Humanities disciplines. The collection of papers are accessible to Humanities students through the College of Humanities as a resource written by students in their fields that explains the value of a Humanities education for life after college. I also organized and hosted an event for undergraduate Humanities students to begin a college-wide conversation about their Humanities degrees in terms of leadership.

Joshua Klein, Brigham Young University History In the last half of the 20th Century, the history of the enigmatic British intelligence community has been increasingly exposed as multiple archives have allowed access to original documents. This project involves a study of the Joint Intelligence Community, an agency created a few years before the outbreak of World War 2. The committee had the task of combining reports from the various agencies within the British Intelligence community into one cohesive report for the Chiefs of Staff and the Prime Minister. As part of a research project at Cambridge University, I acquired the primary sources (the JIC reports throughout the war) in a trip to the Kew Archive of the British National Archives in London. Because the reports represent the various agencies’ combined reports, they consequently offer a remarkable insight into the thinking of British policy makers on a week by week basis; thus, they reveal British policy makers’ information, opinions, and perceptions within the context of the war. These extraordinary sources profoundly limit historical anachronism. My discoveries reveal a plethora of inconsistencies between our contemporary understanding of British perceptions during the war and actual British perceptions during the war. Following is a brief list of these preliminary discoveries, which I hope to present at UCUR. I will discuss how these insights helps shape our contemporary understanding of British perceptions during the war. Surprising hesitancy to believe that Germany would attack Russia Over-estimation of Britain’s role in the war and a under-estimation of Russia’s role Relatively late recognition of Germany’s doomed fate on the Eastern Front Failure to recognize German potential to continue fighting as the war nears the end Severe British anxiety regarding German attempts for a peace agreement Explicit failure to identify the Nazis’ ideological motivations throughout the entire war Anti-Soviet tendencies throughout the war

Melissa Lewis, Dixie State University English Both George Eliot and Thomas Hardy have been called determinists partly as a result of their novels The Return of the Native and The Mill on the Floss. The role of fate or destiny largely guides the plot of these works, regardless of the decisions and merit of the characters. A comparison of the style of determinism between the two authors reveals that George Eliot emphasizes a moral force while Thomas Hardy focuses on a force associated with nature. Eliot’s determinism suggests that the world is determined but that humans still remained morally responsible for their actions, as Maggie is responsible for not feeding Tom’s rabbits or for her lack of decision as she drifts down the river with Stephen Guest in The Mill on the Floss. Hardy tends to be more of a naturalist. The naturalist is a product of post-Darwinian theory that humanity is controlled entirely by nature. For example, the fate of Eustacia Vye in The Return of the Native seems to be controlled by the hand of Egdon Heath. Both novels depict extraordinary characters in a world bent to squash them. These novels reveal that the individual exists as a solitary entity, and the relationship that used to exist between God and individual is now between the individual and society. Both Eliot and Hardy create novels where the world seems determined and cruel and characters that don’t adhere or fit in this mold are eliminated or reduced.

Madison Mercer, Brigham Young University Anthropology Between 1964 and 1969, Spotten Cave near Goshen, Utah was excavated by Brigham Young University (BYU) archaeologists. In 1971, James M. Mock published the only official report dedicated to this site as his Master’s Thesis. This cave contained valuable artifacts that can allude to the diet and medicinal plants of the Fremont Indians and other Utah prehistoric groups. Such plant knowledge is scarce throughout the Eastern Great Basin, even among those cultural groups where much is known. Through a comparison study called ethnohistory between those living now, such as modern Gosiute, Ute, and Shoshone, with what plants have been found in human coprolites (fecal remains) from Spotten Cave, it is possible to recon- struct what plants prehistoric people may have used for food or medicine. This will provide greater insight into who lived before in the Eastern Great Basin and is helpful knowledge for those wishing to study how the Utah environment was utilized in the past.

April Jackson, Dixie State University English With the publication of Kate Chopin’s complete works in 1969, proponents fighting for a new paradigm regarding women’s choices in regard to sexuality, marriage, and motherhood found much to consider in her work. Often, critics will analyze Chopin’s works with a limited feminist lens, focusing on themes of marriage, sexuality and sexual independence, and the creation of self-identity through marriage and sexual awakenings. However, Chopin’s works do not focus on women and the world they face to the exclusion of men; in writing about women and their lives, she also draws attention to the effects the attitudes of men have on women. Focusing on Chopin’s male characters, who often serve as satellite figures, this paper will analyze the way men in her texts can create an atmosphere in which women can, without fear of societal rejection, shape their own lives. In her larger body of works, two men exemplify this ideal man: Gouvernail, who appears in “Athenais” and “A Respectable Woman”; and Offdean, who appears in “A No-Account Creole.” These two men represent a model of masculinity that is most conducive for women to fully assert and create their sexual and social independence and self-identity. With the study and analysis of these satellite male characters, rather than limiting the analysis to just the women’s experiences, deeper and newer readings of Chopin’s work will surface and allow for additional themes to come forward in the broader area of Chopin studies.

Hanna Winzenried, Brigham Young University History Red hair is one of the most rare hair colors. In fact, only two percent of the world’s population has naturally red hair. My research attempts to show how Western perception of red hair has undergone transformations over time. I seek to show how red hair has been associated with a variety of perceptions from the Middle Ages onward. This is not a comprehensive study, but one that takes a variety of primary sources to show how changing societal perceptions of red hair imbued females (and males) with a variety of traits contributing to a kind of physiognomy of hair whereby a person’s character could be read through hair color.

Jennifer Mitchell, Brigham Young University History The science fiction television show, Star Trek, deals heavily with political issues ranging from the complexities of war to changing gender roles in American culture. My paper will discuss how the show accomplishes this successfully, particularly through the representation of historical events. The Holocaust is one example of a reoccurring theme throughout the show, an issue that is addressed appropriately when many representations of the Holocaust are so heavily criticized. This paper will examine the themes and structures of different episodes through out Star Trek: The Original Series. One episode to clearly address the anti-Semitic attitudes of the Nazi Regime, “Patterns of Force,” aired on February 16, 1968, a relatively short time after the Regime had fallen. Many of the adult viewers at this time had experienced the Holocaust in their lifetimes, directly or indirectly. An episode entitled “Space Seed” deals with eugenics and the idea of creating a super race. The episode attempts to demonstrate how those in the 23rd century may react to such practices. In “Consciousness of the King” Captain Kirk reveals that he had personally witnessed and been victim to genocide. Not only does genocide clearly connect to the Holocaust, William Shatner (the actor who portrays the Captain) is in fact Jewish. His costar Leonard Nimoy (Spock) also comes from Jewish heritage. Having two Jewish actors in leading roles adds yet another level of complexity when portraying such sensitive material. The paper will take this into account as well as other complications of representing the Holocaust in popular culture.

Charles Wilson, Brigham Young University Anthropology The purpose of this project has been to recreate a poorly understood Fremont (A.D. 300-A.D. 1300) ware known as corrugated pottery. Little is known about corrugation other than it seems to have made its appearance late in the Fremont world around A.D. 1100. Exactly how Fremont potters made corrugated pottery is a sparsely visited subject in publications. Attempting to recreate corrugated pottery, an exercise in experimental archaeology, has already suggested that corrugation was not only decorative, but played a role in the construction of corrugated vessels. Obscure practices of bygone Fremont potters will come to light as experiments progress.

Danielle Leavitt, Brigham Young University English/Russian While the former Soviet Union touted economy and a single social class, the socioeconomic differences that have emerged within Ukrainian families in the twenty years since the fall of the Soviet Union are widely unexplored. Our research comes in the form of creative nonfiction essays, which examine and contrast the everyday experience of Ukrainian families–specifically Ukrainian women–within three disparate socioeconomic classes. Based on a summer-long field study in Kiev, Ukraine living with three families in contrasting socioeconomic circumstances, our essays observe and explain facets of Ukrainian culture that are commonly misunderstood, yet deeply spiritual and culturally significant to Ukrainians. Our project explores the day to day workings of three Ukrainian families in suburban low class, urban middle class, and upper-oligarchical class, searching for stories describing quotidian life within their varying circumstances. There will be particular emphasis on the experiences of women. The project is presented in creative non- fiction essays stemming from observations, historical research, and the experience of the Ukrainians with whom I interacted. Ukraine (specifically its capital, Kiev) has a rich cultural and political history and a flowering modern culture heavily influenced by deep-rooted traditions, superstitions, and beliefs. Little creative nonfiction writing contributes to the exploration of both sophisticated and unsophisticated Ukraine. Our goal is to do just that; to delve into the human, commonplace intricacies of varied Ukrainian life through observation and writing.

Jeffrey Green, University of Utah Linguistics Although learning a second language can be difficult, especially for adults, many people believe that once an individual has acquired a second language, it will be easier to learn a third. Individuals may utilize strategies learned from studying a second language (L2) to their study of a third, but this does not necessarily mean that learning a third language (L3) will be easier. As individuals study an L3, their knowledge of both their native language (L1) and their L2 will compete with their developing knowledge of the L3. Previous research has shown that during early stages of L3 acquisition, both L1 and L2 phonology (that is, the underlying sound system of a language) influence the phonology of their L3. This is evident, for example, in learners’ production of some word-initial consonants, such as d, p, and k. Languages differ in the timing between the articulation of the consonant and the beginning of vibration of the vocal folds (voicing) associated with a following vowel sound. This timing is known as Voice Onset Time (VOT). Studies suggest a stronger influence from L2 than from L1 in L3 VOT production. However, learners in these studies had some (if limited) knowledge of the L3, and the influence of this knowledge is unclear. In addition, previous studies have addressed L3 production, but not L3 perception. Research has yet to investigate (i) the influence of L1 and L2 phonology in the very initial stages of L3 acquisition (when the language is totally unfamiliar), and (ii) the influence of L1 and L2 phonology on the perception of VOT boundaries. This study investigates (i) and (ii) by presenting English and Spanish bilinguals with stimuli representing a range of VOT in their L1 and L2, as well as from a third, unfamiliar language in a series of tasks designed to elicit evidence of VOT boundaries in each language. The results of these tasks will be examined to determine whether learners rely more on their L1 or their L2 for processing a third, unfamiliar language. Preliminary results and analyses will be available by February 2013. This research will give important insights into the process of acquisition of a third language.

Bryce Anderson, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology Antigen presenting cells digest and display peptides from foreign and infected cells on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) that are recognized by T-cells through their T cell receptor (TCR). The affinity of TCR:peptide-MHC interactions has been shown to be low however, and in order to effectively use a soluble TCR for therapeutics we need to engineer TCRs with increased affinity. To do this, we have designed a single chain TCR (ValphaVbeta) called LLO118 that is specific for a naturally occurring Listeria monocytogenes epitope. Using yeast display, stable mutants that expressed the LLO118 scTCR at higher levels than the wild type on the surface of yeast were isolated and sequenced. In order to improve affinity of LLO118 we are mutating amino acid residues in the complementarity determining regions, sites important for the TCR to bind with the peptide-MHC. We are generating unique libraries of yeast cells with TCRs that have potential affinity mutations and using fluorescently labeled peptide-MHC tetramers to select cells that have TCRs with higher affinity. By repeating this process with the cells that have higher affinity we are working to get a TCR that binds with much higher affinity than the wild type TCR. These high affinity TCRs are promising for further research in connecting them to a cytokine, greatly reducing systemic damage and other complications caused by administration of this cytokine throughout the body. Thus, our goal is to design a high affinity TCR fused to a cytokine that can be tested for therapeutic use in targeting specific cells in the immune response and improving T cell memory.

Brad Ackerson, Brigham Young University Neuroscience The highjacking by alcohol and drugs of abuse of the mesocortico-limbic system in the brain is responsible for addiction, specifically the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its projecting dopaminergic neurons to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Over the course of addiction, a hedonic response is developed from lower than normal levels of dopamine (DA) in which the individual pursues drug-seeking behavior. The current accepted treatment methods for addiction are replacement drug therapies, group therapy, or individual counseling – the prior being associated with additional side-effects and an inability to overcome the hedonic response of the addiction. The aim of this study was to evaluate alternative and natural therapeutics that produce long-term potentiation (LTP) of the neuronal systems involved in order to overcome addiction with minimal to no side-effects. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), the effects of baicalein, a flavonoid isolated from the root of Sculletaria Baicalensis, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on DA release in the NAc core were evaluated in vitro and in vivo in Wistar rats. Local stimulation evoked in vitro demonstrated that baicalein administration (10, 50, 100 uM) 30 minutes prior to 80 mM ethanol attenuated the DA inhibition of ethanol. DA signals were evoked in vivo in the core of the NAc by electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) at the level of the lateral hypothalamus (60 Hz, 60 pulses) in isoflurane anesthetized rats. Both the intraperitoneal (IP) administration of baicalein (1.0 mg/kg) and the administration of LLLT (25 Hz, 630 nm) 30 minutes prior to ethanol (2.0 g/kg) administration IP attenuated the DA inhibition of ethanol. These findings suggest that baicalein and LLLT may prove as effective clinical therapies for addiction.

Adam Olson, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences Forests systems of the Central Rocky Mountains rely on an intricate balance of natural disturbance cycles in order to develop properly. Forest fires are one such disturbance, however, certain fire characteristics, particularly fire severity, can vary widely across forest landscapes. In our study, we examined the influence of fire severity on aspen regeneration as well as aspen defense against wildlife and livestock browsing. Our results indicate that high or moderate burn severity is more favorable to aspen regeneration and survival. These areas of severe burn result in a higher density of aspen suckers, more vertical and lateral growth, greater chemical defense concentrations, and less browse damage than the neighboring plots of low or no burn. This data suggests that fire severity should be taken into account when considering plant regeneration and susceptibility to browse damage in burned landscapes.

Michael McEntire, Brigham Young University Biology Female mate choice (intersexual selection) and male dominance interactions (intrasexual selection) can each play important roles in sexual selection. These two mechanisms tend to be discussed in isolation. The goal of this study is to explore the interaction between these two forms of sexual selection. To test this idea, we focused on the livebearing tropical fish system Poecilia gillii. We grouped males into similarly sized pairs and observed them for a week to determine which male was dominant. These pairs were then presented to females in mate choice trials to ascertain female preference. We also photo- graphed the males to determine coloration. We found that females were unable to detect dominant males without viewing the physical contest and that carotenoid coloration bore no effect on female preference. Females tended to choose the male to their left, suggesting the preferential use of their right eyes in making decisions on mate choice.

Ji Su Park, Brigham Young University Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Selenium (Se) and soy have each been shown to reduce risk for prostate cancer when consumed at high levels. The purpose of this project was to define the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer chemoprevention by Se and soy, and to describe how timing of dietary treatment modifies those effects. [C57BL/6 X FVB] F1 TRAMP (TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate) male mice were fed stock diets high or low in soy, with or without a supplement of Se (4.0 mg Se/kg BW as Se-meth- ylselenocysteine) by gavage 5 d/wk in a 2 X 2 factorial design. Mice were exposed to different diets starting from conception, 6 weeks, or 12 weeks of age and were sacrificed at 18 weeks. Three-way ANOVA showed that supplemental Se increased serum and liver Se, with significant interactions with both time and soy intake. Selenium dosing decreased BW independent of soy intake and time of dietary intervention. Both Se and soy decreased epididymal fat pad weights, with Se’s effects being more pronounced in mice exposed to diets from conception than from 6 wk. Urogenital tract weights, a measure of prostate proliferation and tumor volume, were significantly reduced by Se supplementation (P<0.001) and soy (p=0.044), independent of time of dietary intervention. Histological examination of mouse prostates is in progress to determine dietary effects on disease progression. These data suggest that, in this model, chemopreventive efficacy of Se and soy does not differ between prenatal and early post-natal introduction.

Whitney Hoopes, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology HspB2 is one of eleven known small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSP) that is expressed in human heart and skeletal muscle. In response to cellular stress, heat shock proteins play a vital role to help misfolded proteins and proteins susceptible to denaturation maintain their structure. Two members of the sHSP family, CryAB and HspB2, are both required for normal heart function and cardiac muscle integrity. CryAB-deficient mice have defects in cardiac muscle structure whereas HspB2-deficient mice display energy deficits (Rajasekaran et al. 2007). The contrasting phenotypes of CryAB and HspB2 suggest differential roles for these molecular chaperones in the heart. HspB2 has been found to localize with the mitochondria in several different cell lines and overexpression of this sHSP has been shown to support survival of cells against heat stress (Nakagawa, 2001). To understand the role and mechanism of HspB2 in cardiac muscle energy regulation, we have used a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system to uncover the novel protein binding partners specific to HspB2. From screening a human heart cDNA library, HspB2 interacted with approximately 10,000 out of 20 million plasmids. We have sequenced more than 1000 of these putative interactors and have identified over 100 unique proteins. Over 40% of these protein partners are involved in mitochondrial energy production and another 25% in cardiac muscle structure maintenance. In addition, we have identified an interaction between HspB2 and the related sHSP CryAB. We then compared this data with mitochondrial HspB2 binding partners identified by mass spectroscopy (MS) through a large-scale bioinformatics analysis and constructed a protein-protein network. Y2H dependency tests were conducted to verify interactions identified by both Y2H and MS. Following yeast verification, a subset of the interactions were confirmed in C9H2 cardiac cells through coimmunopurification. Our research describes the first protein-protein interaction network for any sHSP, supports a role for HspB2 in mitochondrial energy production and suggests a link between mitochondrial energy production/redox stasis and stressed cardiac muscle maintenance.

Christian Boekweg, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences It has been shown that the population densities of deer and elk in the Rocky Mountains are at an unprecedented high. The heavy browsing of said species (ungulates) on regenerating aspen suckers can be devastating, leading to homogenously aged aspen stands that now have reduced resilience to drought, fire or logging disturbance, and an increased susceptibility to pathogens. Lastly, the extensive, highly selective herbivory of the aspen suckers may cause a shift in forest composition away from the aspen tree to an increase in other, less palatable species. We selected 186 sites across the 3 national forests of Central and Southern Utah, and characterized stand composition using the point quarter method. Stands were defined by successional stages from early to late; aspen, mixed or conifer. We then used pellet counts to estimate animal density and evaluated the effect of animal density and stand type on the regeneration success of aspen suckers. The key result of our study is that high ungulate density is highly correlated with reduced sucker heights (p<0.001). This indicates that high ungulate density impedes aspen regeneration by preventing aspen from recruiting into the overstory. Our study suggests that closer monitoring of the long term effects of herbivory on aspen development and regeneration is necessary to ensure vigorous aspen forests.

Michael Peterson, Brigham Young University Biology A person’s predisposition to Alzheimer’s Disease is known to be influenced by both genetic factors as well as environmental factors. One know environmental factor is that known to affect risk for disease is early parental death. The purpose of this research is to better understand the complex factors that influence the disease by analyzing the relationship between the environmental factor of early parental death with genetic variants known to influence the disease. We used extant data from the CCSMHA, an ongoing aging study including 89.7% (5092 of 5677) of all of the eligible residents of Cache County, Utah. This data includes information about environmental and psychosocial stressor of the subjects as well as information about physical examinations, metal screenings, and individuals’ genotypes at many loci that are known to be related to Alzheimers Disease. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine the effect of early parental death by SNP interactions on risk for AD. For the analysis we cleaned the data by removing SNPs less than a minor allele frequency of 0.01, a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium value of 110-6, and a maximum missing snp call of 0.2. Individuals were also removed if genotyping rate was less than 0.2. After filtering we had 262 cases, 239 controls and 0 missing Final Results will be presented at the Conference.

Jesse Cobell, Brigham Young University Biology Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the sixth major cause of death in the U.S. However, at present, no diagnostically useful serum markers for AD have been identified. Hence, we used a novel serum proteomic approach to interrogate the low molecular weight proteome for serum biomarkers. This allowed for survey of around 5000 low MW species. To reduce ion suppression, an acetonitrile precipitation step was used to remove high abundance serum proteins. Protein-depleted sera from 58 cases and 55 controls were analyzed by cLC-ESI-QTOFMS/MS using reverse phase chromatography. Data were reviewed using Applied Biosystem’s Analyst-QS software to compile spectra. Differentially expressed peptides (cases vs. controls) were analyzed statistically using the Student’s t-test. This led to discovery of 36 candidate biomarkers. Additionally, we compared AD subjects with more severe disease (Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) =3) with non-demented individuals (CDR=0) and found 23 biomarkers. Furthermore, on comparison of mild and moderate stage AD individuals (CDR = 0.5, 1, 2) with those with severe disease (CDR = 3), we found 24 biomarkers. Some of these biomarkers appeared more prominent in one gender. We then fragmented several of these biomarkers on an LTQ-Orbitrap XL hybrid mass spectrometer and cLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/ MS system using collision-induced dissociation to determine amino acid sequence analysis. We have identified 5 biomarkers and are in the process of identifying the remaining biomarker species. This serum proteomics approach found statistically different peptide abundances in subjects with AD. Additional biostatistical evaluations are underway to determine sensitivity and specificity of individual biomarkers and their combinations. Future studies will assess biomarkers according to disease stage and validate current biomarkers in blinded comparisons of other AD sera. This serum proteomics approach appears promising in locating and identifying clinically useful serum biomarkers of AD.

Rachel Perry, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Previous studies have indicated that Visinin-like protein (VILIP) may be a powerful tool in predicting disease progression and guiding prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was collected from hundreds of individuals with varying levels of AD. The CSF was then analyzed for levels of VILIP protein using Luminex technology. SNPs were genotyped using the Illumina OmniExpress chip. SNPs found to have a Hardy-Weinberg frequency less than 1×10-4 were not included, assuming that this variance was due to a genotyping error. SNPs and samples missing more than five percent of the data were also not included. Following the cleanup of the data, an association test using linear regression was performed. Covariates used in the analysis included age, gender, and covariates that accounted for population stratification (PC1 and PC2). Over one hundred SNPs were found with a p-value less than 1×10-5. The genomic inflation factor for the generated data was 1. One marker showed significance at the genome-wide level. We have identified a genetic marker that shows significant association with CSF VILIP levels. This finding may provide insight into genetic control of VILIP levels, which may be a useful in understanding the pathological processes involved in AD.

Matthew Schneider, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects millions of people per year. Research has shown that Alzheimer’s affects the hippocampus brain region, which is involved in learning and memory. Understanding learning and memory functions is imperative to comprehending both healthy brain functions and Alzheimer’s disease. Many researchers seek to understand both the causes and treatments of the disease, but tangible information remains elusive. Studies thus far have shown that to encode memories, the brain must change neural synapses to either strengthen or weaken those pathways, a process known as synaptic plasticity. Using electrophysiology techniques on mouse hippocampal slices, this project will provide further insight on memory formation and regulation by imitating synaptic plasticity mechanisms. I will look at a specific cellular pathway involving the protein receptor GPR55, which has recently been shown to induce synaptic plasticity. By understanding how the GPR55 pathway functions, this research will contribute to the understanding and treatments of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

David Marriott, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology Acute stress has been shown to decrease Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampus. Additionally, stressed animals show signs of anxiety and suffer decreases in spatial memory tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation. Conversely, exercise has been shown to increase spatial memory task performance in mice, attenuate anxiety-like behaviors and enhance neurogenesis and LTP in the dentate gyrus. While the effects of stress and exercise have been examined independently, there is currently a lack of experimental evidence that connects how stress and exercise, when experienced by the same animal, might modulate LTP in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. In our ongoing study, mice have been separated into a control group, a stress group (restraint and tail-shock), and an exercise + stress group where mice have voluntary access to a running wheel (for 30 days) before undergoing the stress protocol. We hypothesize that exercised animals will experience a protective effect against the reductions in CA1 LTP. In the stress only group, preliminary data shows a modest stress effect on LTP, yet we are learning that factors such as controllability of the stressor or the ability to develop coping mechanisms might potentially attenuate

Tara Hammond, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology Genetic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis, and many cancers, can be detrimental to individuals and their families. Gene therapy can possibly cure these diseases by inserting a correct copy of the gene into the chromosome, upregulating good genes, or downregulating the harmful gene. When DNA is packaged into a cell, it wraps around histones-an octamer made up of two tetramers, each containing four different subunits to create nucleosomes. Where the nucleosome sits on the DNA sequence determines whether or not a gene can be transcribed. In heterochromatin, nucleosomes are denser and DNA is tightly packed, thus causing genes to not be transcribed. Euchromatin contains looser packed nucleosomes and therefore has higher transcription levels. This project seeks to determine if modified nucleosomes have DNA sequence preferences. We are working with histone H3 to tri-methylate lysine 4, which has been shown to correlate with euchromatin. The modified histone will be used to create octamers. C. elegans DNA will be added to modified histones and to unmodified histones and allowed to create nucleosomes. The wrapped DNA will be sequenced, allowing us to compare the modified and unmodified nucleosome DNA preference. The difference in preference will enhance our ability to know how to move nucleosomes, thus aiding in gene therapy.

Spencer Foutz, Brigham Young University Biology CSF AB42 levels are a biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease. The APOE e4 allele associates with CSF AB42. Little is known about SNPs in the region independent of apoe e2/e3/e4 isoforms. By adjusting for the effect of these isoforms, statistical analysis uncovered new SNPS associated with CSF AB42. Information was used from 1338 individuals from four datasets, specifically: The WU-ADRC, ADNI, University of Washington, and UPENN. Samples included individuals with and without AD. The 169 SNPs used were extracted from the APOE region and surrounding 50 kb using 1000 Genome Software. Linear regression analysis was performed, adjusting for specific covariates. Adjustments were made for the APOE e2 and e4 alleles before repeating the analysis. Significant SNPs were tested in e3 homozygous individuals. Each series was separately analyzed and combined in a meta-analysis for confirmation. P-values, sample sizes, and effect sizes were used in the meta-analysis. Results from these analyses allowed us to conclude rs769449 is associated with lower levels of CSF AB42 and acts independent of the APOE e4 allele.

Jason Bartholomew, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences After disturbances in plant communities (i.e. wildfire), there is a natural succession of plants in which plants colonize the empty area and are gradually replaced by more competitive species. In subalpine forests, the principle colonizers after wildfire are quaking aspen (Populous tremuloides) which are later replaced by subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). It has been shown that aspen facilitate, or enable, the establishment of subalpine fir at their base. This study examines the aspen-subalpine fir interaction in order to better understand the dynamics of the shift from aspen to fir dominance. It is hypothesized that the fir in a facilitated pair eventually exerts a competitive influence on the aspen resulting in a decrease in aspen fitness. The growth rates of the two species were examined in different stand types (aspen, mixed and subalpine fir), as independent trees or in facilitated pairs, and in three separate size classes. Samples were collected by taking a core sample or cross-section from trees within the categories listed above. The age and annual growth rings were measured with a measuring stage. The annual growth rings were used to calculate basal area increase (BAI) which was used to determine growth rates. The results suggest the growth rate of aspen in facilitated pairs decreases as firs mature thereby decreasing fitness within the aspen population due to competitive influences from facilitated firs. This may explain the mechanism for the successional shift that can significantly impact indigenous animal populations and local fire cycles.

Rachel Schneider, Brigham Young University Neuroscience The ability to create distinct memories for very similar stimuli and events is called pattern separation. Pattern separation is thought to be dependent on neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) in the dentate gyrus, a subregion of the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is reduced in depression, as is overall memory performance. It has been proposed that depression negatively impacts pattern separation abilities, however a link between depression and performance in pattern separation memory tasks has yet to be identified. Accordingly, we designed a study to investigate the relationship between pattern separation performance and level of depression. Eighty-two participants completed a pattern separation memory test and a set of questionnaires to gauge their level of depression. During the task, participants were presented with 600 images one at a time on a computer screen in a continuous recognition paradigm. Participants were asked to determine whether each image was new, old, or similar. Images seen for the first time during the task qualified as “new”, images that were repeated following a variable delay qualified as “old”, and images that were similar to previously presented stimuli, but not exactly the same, qualified as “similar”. A pattern separation score was calculated based on the proportion of correctly identified similar stimuli. We found a negative correlation between depression scores and pattern separation scores (r(82) = – 0.301, p < 0.01). This relationship held constant even when we controlled for other factors known to affect neurogenesis, such as exercise and anxiety levels. These results provide support for the theory that depression is negatively related to pattern separation performance, possibly due to a decrease in neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Kevin Boehme, Brigham Young University Biology Late Onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) is caused by a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. While multiple loci have been found associated with an increased risk of LOAD much of the heritability of the disease has yet to be accounted for. The prevailing thought now is that of rare variants playing an important role in LOAD. In this study we will use linkage analysis to identify novel regions of the genome that may harbor rare disease causing variants. Data for these analysis comes from 748 people (503 with LOAD) from the Cache County study on Memory and Aging. This unique population based sample provides great power for linkage as relatedness differs from siblings to distant relatives and complete pedigree information is available for all of the individuals. We will use LD-pruned SNP data from the Illumina Omniexpress BeadChip and pedigree data from the Cache County samples to perform linkage analysis. Quality control and LD-pruning will be con- ducted in PLINK while the Linkage analyses will be conducted using the MERLIN software. Our findings will be reported in the final poster presentation.

Spencer Bell, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology The hippocampus functions as the memory formation center of the brain. As memories are formed, brain cells in this area undergo changes by which connections between them are either strengthened or weakened, processes known as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), respectively. Receptors located on these cells modulate these processes as they are activated by chemical signals known as neurotransmitters. We sought to examine the effects of a receptor known as G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) on LTP and LTD in the rodent hippocampus by applying agonists of the receptor, or chemicals that artificially activate it, to brain slices preserved in artificial cerebrospinal fluid. O-1602 is a purported synthetic agonist of GPR55. When we applied O-1602 to rat hippocampal slices during electrical induction of LTP, the magnitude of LTP was decreased when compared to controls. When LTD was induced in the rat hippocampus in the presence of O-1602, no significant difference was observed when compared to controls. Further experimentation involved the application of lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), a naturally occurring GPR55 agonist, to genetically-engineered knock-out mice which lacked expression of GPR55. LPI is generally considered a more reliable agonist of GPR55, but caused enhanced LTP in wild-type mice which expressed GPR55 when compared with knock-out mice. This inconsistency and other inconsistencies in our data while using O-1602, while perhaps due to other physiological differences between rats and mice, may suggest the possibility that O-1602 activates a receptor other than GPR55. Our further research will seek to investigate this possibility.

Kayla Bevard, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology Metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, are endemic in American society. Mutations in PAS kinase, a recently discovered sensory protein kinase, have been shown to cause Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) in humans (Semplici et al., 2011). In addition, PAS kinase deficient mice, when placed on a high fat diet, display phenotypes related to diabetes including resistance to weight gain, insulin insensitivity and triglyceride accumulation (Hao et al., 2007). PAS kinase consists of a sensory PAS domain that binds to and inhibits the kinase domain (Amezcua et al., 2002). Our model for PAS kinase activation involves the generation of a small molecule ligand that binds to the PAS domain and relieves this inhibition. We are currently engaged in several yeast genetic screens which will identify regions in the full length PAS kinase protein that are essential for either PAS kinase activation or for binding of its substrates. The first screen is based on the ability of PAS kinase, when overexpressed, to rescue a temperature-sensitive mutation in Tor2, the tor2(ts). We have isolated both point mutations and truncations in PAS kinase which alleviate the tor2(ts). These mutations solidify our model for PAS domain inhibition and will identify novel regions involved in PAS kinase regulation. Our second screen uses the yeast 2-hybrid to select for both point mutations and truncations that increase the affinity of PAS kinase for its substrate, Pbp1. These mutations will help identify key regions of PAS kinase utilized in substrate recognition. Finally, we will compare the regions affected by our mutations with the regions of PAS kinase that we have found to be well-conserved throughout evolution. Analysis of these specific genetic regions will help elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation and function of PAS kinase, a key player in the development of metabolic disease.

Rachel Nettles, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences Background/Questions/Methods

Caitlin Munger, Brigham Young University Biology Alzheimer’s is a fatal, non-treatable neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. While no one gene has been found to determine the development of Alzheimer’s, past studies have established a strong hereditary influence on Alzheimer’s. So far, only 5 genes have been found which replicably contribute to the genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s. However, the gene for Chlolesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) has been identified as a possible new contributor to the genetic risk factor. In order to test this association we obtained data on over 4000 subjects studied in the Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging over a 15-year period. This data included DNA samples, cognitive decline rates and incidence of dementia–particularly Alzheimer’s Disease. DNA samples were SNP genotyped using quantitative PCR. The SNP genotypes and corresponding phenotypes for each subject were then analyzed for association usingmixed linear models and for survival, or the amount of time until the disease appeared, using Cox proportional hazard models. We found a correlation between the V405I SNP and a decreased rate of cognitive decline. We found that for each additional G the rate of decline decreased by 0.6 points per year on the MMSE test. The identification of CETP as a player in the genetic risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia will provide much needed information on the genetic factors involved in dementia and allow for possible future therapeutic targets.

Joseph Moulton, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology With the advent of recent mutations in the influenza A viral genome, drugs that previously blocked the proton flux responsible for disassembly of the viral envelope and exposure of viral RNA to the transcriptional machinery of the host cell have become ineffective. Our study of the M2 hydrogen ion channel responsible for this flux has led to a vastly-increased under- standing of the mechanisms behind the conductance activity and potential blockage of these transmembrane tetramers. By embedding M2 proton channel subunits of the S31N mutant strain into liposomal bilayers and suspending these bilayers in the buffers and ionic gradients characteristic of the intracellular environment, we have been able to simulate and observe nor- mal functioning of the influenza A virus. Using these liposomal bilayers, we have developed a series of experimental protocols to test a variety of amantadine- and rimantadine-related drugs for successful blockage of M2 S31N proton conductance. Our research presentation will be centered around the mechanisms of this channel and the favorable results that we have obtained from many of these drugs.

Anindita Ravindran, University of Utah Exercise and Sport Science Obesity predisposes individuals with Type II Diabetes to cardiovascular complications such as impaired blood vessel function. Due to the elevation of free fatty acids (FFAs) in obese individuals, ceramide, a lipid metabolite, accumulates and might contribute to the inability of a blood vessel to constrict or relax appropriately. Vessel dysfunction is partly caused by the inability of the endothelium, the innermost protective lining of blood vessels, to synthesize and release nitric oxide (NO). Our data indicate that ceramide impairs endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), the enzyme that synthesizes NO. In order to study mechanisms by which ceramide might impair eNOS, it is important to measure cellular ceramide production in response to pharmacological and genetic manipulations. Previously we used P-32 radioactive assays to measure ceramide accumulation. However, the use of radioactivity is expensive, potentially hazardous, and waste disposal is an environmental concern. Therefore, I sought to import a less harmful, more cost effective, yet accurate technique of measuring ceramide production by immunofluorescence (IF). IF allows ceramide to be tagged with a primary antibody which can be detected by a secondary antibody conjugated with a fluorescent dye. I have observed that 250, 500, and 750 uM palmitate (pal) incubation for 3 h increases (p<0.05) endothelial cell ceramide accrual in a dose-dependent manner. Further, a FFA-independent method to alter ceramide accrual i.e., 3 h incubation of cells with N-oleoylethanolamine, also elevates (p<0.05) ceramide production. Importantly, I have shown that 500 uM palmitate-induced ceramide accrual can be prevented (p<0.05) by two structurally dissimilar inhibitors (10 uM myriocin, 1mM L-cycloserine) of the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for ceramide biosynthesis i.e., serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT). None of these inhibitors impairs cell viability. These data indicate that IF is an accurate and reproducible method whereby ceramide accrual can be quantified in endothelial cell systems.

Makda Gebre, Utah State University Biology The first pandemic of the 21st century was the influenza A (H1N1pdm09) virus that originated in Mexico and killed 12,000 people within the United States. It now circulates as a seasonal influenza virus causing mild symptoms in most but still killing some susceptible individuals. Influenza A (H1N1pdm09) virus leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in high risk patients and has a mortality rate of 40-50% in those patients. ARDS patients usually die before any intervention since there is no clinical evidence that can be used to detect it. To detect ARDS early in disease progression, we need to search and develop biomarkers that can be tested in the patient’s blood or fluids. The three biomarkers tested as potential early disease indicators in this project included: C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and Transferrin. To test these biomarkers, mice were infected with the influenza A H1N1pdm09 virus and serum was collected from the mice at different time points. Serum collected was tested for amounts of CRP, SAA and Transferrin using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and spectrophotometer. Control mice were mock infected and also tested for the biomarkers for comparison.

Thomas Anderson, Utah State University Biology Pradimicin, a small molecule produced by the soil bacterium Actinomadura hibisica, is a promising candidate as a combined antifungal/antiviral therapeutic. It is active against a broad-spectrum of opportunistic, pathogenic fungi, interferes with the replication of influenza virus, and inhibits the reproduction of HIV-1. Toxicity and solubility problems have hindered past efforts to develop pradimicin as a therapeutic. Our research focuses on elucidating the bio-synthetic pathway of pradimicin in order to design and chemoenzymatically create pradimicin structural analogs with improved solubility and activity, and less toxicity. Several enzymes in pradimicin biosynthesis have been identified. We intend to characterize one of the key enzymes, PdmS, a putative glycosyltransferase, and to manipulate its gene to create novel, more efficacious pradimicin analogs. This project is funded for three years by the NIH NIAID (3 years). Methods: A gene knockout experiment was used to determine the role of PdmS in pradimicin production. Bio-synthetic precursors of pradimicin were subjected to bio-transformations in E. coli with recombinant genes for PdmS and another glycosyltransferase, OleD, to generate analogs with new sugar attachments. Analogs of pradimicin will be screened for bio-activity using standard microbroth dilution assay techniques. Confirmed results: The enzyme PdmS was identified and characterized as a glycosyltransferase. Expected results: newly created analogs of pradimicin exhibited minimal inhibitory concentrations of 10μg/mL against Candida albicans. Conclusion: Knockout of pdmS yielded the pradimicin aglycon, which confirmed the function of this glycosyltransferase and provides a start molecule for further structural modification to yield new analogs for bioactivity studies.