2014 Abstracts

Jonathan Welling, Brigham Young University Education The demographic shift of Mexican immigrants within the public school system in the US has created a great need for teachers to better understand the expectations that immigrant families bring with them from their education system in Mexico. This research provides contextual information to educational stakeholders in the US to better accommodate to the needs of immigrant students from Mexico. This study explores the norms, roles and expectations of teachers, parent and students in the education system in Irapuato, Mexico. Data was collected from observations and interviews with teacher, parents and students from three different public high schools in Irapuato, Mexico: CBTis- a technical school, The Official Preparatory School of Irapuato- a standard public school and SABES- a small rural school. Analysis was done using a systematic approach of open coding to identify emergent themes. Preliminary results provide contextual information explaining the expectations parents hold for the teachers in Irapuato, Mexico. The data is valuable in understanding the norms, expectations and perceived roles held immigrant Mexican families. Applications of this data may be used to facilitate both collaboration between teachers and Mexican immigrant parents and the adjustment of immigrant students to a new educational system.

Stone Samantha, Utah State University Education The present study investigated language growth over the course of 3 years for 50 Spanish-English Bilingual children who were learning English as their second language. Children were asked to retell a story in English and in Spanish at 6 time points (before and after Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades). The stories were transcribed and utterances were coded as to whether they contained mazing behaviors such as revisions, false starts and corrections and also coded for the level of syntactic complexity (simple or complex) they contained. Simple sentences contained one main verb, and complex sentences contained two or more main verbs. The presence of mazing is thought to indicate hesitation or difficulty in lexical retrieval and might be expected to occur more in complex than simple sentences. Further, we hypothesized that children would evidence more mazing behaviors in their non-native language (English) than their native language (Spanish). Ultimately, we theorized that children’s use of mazes in English would decrease over time, as they became more proficient in their second language (English). Some of the children were receiving instruction in schools classified as “English Immersion” models, and others were in schools that incorporated a “Transitional” approach to instruction. Results are discussed in terms of current theoretical models of bilingual language acquisition and variations in outcomes as a function of current instructional models.

Shawnie Cram, Dixie State University Education English Language Learners (ELL) are confronted with many challenges such as insufficient language proficiency, lack of content knowledge, and adjusting to a new culture. Classroom teachers make efforts to effectively work with these students so they can become a vital member of the classroom community. However, if there is only one teacher in a classroom, they often do not have the time to assist the ELL at an adequate level. Using the participatory action research approach, this paper examines the ways in which a pre-service teacher can assist the classroom teacher by clearly identifying the goal for the ELL student. The goal set by the classroom teacher for this *ELL student is to reach grade level reading competency by the end of the academic school year. Through comprehensive discussions between the classroom and pre-service teacher, the methods and strategies based on Second Language Acquisition theories were decided to be implemented as tools of instruction. The pedagogy of reading across curriculum in a kindergarten classroom is utilized as the basic mode of instruction as the pre-service teacher and the classroom teacher collaboratively use different methods and strategies. The current data of the action research indicates that in three months, the ELL will reach approaching grade level proficiency with the assistance of the pre-service teacher. By the end of the academic school year, the author anticipates the ELL will demonstrate his reading competency at grade level.

Shadlan Gale, Utah Valley University Education This paper presents ongoing research comparing the learning performance of students using online and electronic textbooks/course content (e-text) for business-related classes versus students using traditional, hard-copy textbooks. In fall 2013, the Woodbury School of Business (WSB) at Utah Valley University (UVU) converted over fifty courses to e-text only. The WSB made this transition in many of its classes for various financial reasons as well as to provide students with a more interactive way of learning course material through the application of the additional learning tools that can only be found within the e-text platforms. In a previously published paper, the authors showed that no statistical difference was found in test scores for students at UVU taking a class which implemented the use of e-text among three different delivery types: live, hybrid, and online. This paper focuses more on discovering if student performance and test scores change by using e-text versus hard-copy textbooks and not in relation to the delivery type of the course.

Shadlan Gale, Utah Valley University Education This paper presents ongoing research to examine faculty experience and attitudes toward the implementation of electronic textbooks/course content (e-text) for college courses. In fall 2013, the Woodbury School of Business (WSB) at Utah Valley University (UVU) converted over fifty courses to e-text only. The WSB made this transition in many of its classes to reduce costs and provide students with more interactive course materials through additional learning tools found within the e-text platforms.

Christopher Green, Utah State University Education Statics is a gateway engineering course. Many students use their performance in a statics course to evaluate and judge their desire to continue within an engineering field. Students’ performance can be adversely impacted by misconceptions they may have regarding class content and analysis techniques. Feedback from instructors can help students navigate through their misconceptions. It is critical that this feedback be concise and timely to prevent a slip in self-efficacy, or an increase in their frustration. Both factors can negatively impact a student’s desire to persist in engineering. Implementation of online learning logs allows students a timely communication avenue that can reveal to the instructor indications of such factors. This study is designed to explore common misconceptions exhibited through learning logs in a pre-professional engineering statics class. Ninety student logs were consensually evaluated in a fall 2013 statics course delivered at Utah State University. A “discourse analysis” technique was used to review learning log data to discover students’ trouble areas within the class. Results indicate typical stumbling areas that students encounter in a statics course and allow insight into specific instruction areas that need to be refined to better deliver content to the class as well as individuals.

Jessica Hill, Utah Valley University Education The transition to junior faculty member can be difficult for graduate students (Sorcinelli, 1992). Despite significant teaching requirements for most assistant professor positions, many graduate programs minimize teaching experiences. Due to this climate, the developmental process of novice graduate instructors is poorly understood (McKeachie & Svinicki, 2010). We investigated the utility of the Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC), a measurement tool developed by studying master teachers (Buskist et al., 2002), as a means to evaluate classroom performance of first-time and novice graduate instructors (GIs).

David Turner, Utah State University Education Problem based learning is an approach to education where students develop solutions to authentic problems (Hmelo-Silver, 2004) with support from scaffolding (Wood, Bruner, & Ross, 1976; Reiser, 2004). Computer based scaffolding helps students organize thoughts and arguments while solving problems (Belland, Glazewski & Richardson, 2008). We examined how students from one small group constructed order in their interactions and arguments as they solved an environmental issue using a stakeholder lens.

Skylar Larsen, Utah Valley University Education In science education, greater learning gains have been associated with engaged learning strategies over traditional lecture formats. This approach facilitates development of higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS; critical thinking and application of knowledge) which are not only imperative for all successful scientists but necessary for every citizen functioning in our society. Development of these HOCS, however, is not accomplished in some classrooms due to lack of alignment of learning objectives and evaluation, or lack of assessment of these skills entirely. Specifically, we asked how do learning goals and objectives align with assessments, and are learning gains on HOCS better achieved by students in more aligned classrooms tested with higher-cognitive level assessments?

Kyle Hansen, University of Utah Life Sciences Our brain processes physical stimuli from the world around us to shape how we perceive our environment. In the olfactory system, this processing begins with olfactory sensory neurons that relay information about distinct odorants to a region of the brain called the olfactory bulb. Olfactory sensory neurons express the same odorant receptors converge onto structures within the olfactory bulb called glomeruli. Here, we map lateral interactions between glomeruli to better understand how olfactory information from the environment is processed within the olfactory bulb. Using GCaMP6, a fluorescent calcium indicator, in awake mice we can observe optogenetically-evoked patterns of lateral connectivity between glomeruli in the olfactory bulb. The findings from this study will help clarify potential interglomerular connection schemes and provide understanding of how local circuitry in the olfactory bulb transforms the representations of sensory information before it is relayed to higher brain areas.

Brady Evans, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Nutrient-sensing kinases, such as AMPK and mTOR, play a key role in regulating cellular metabolism. They recognize nutrient levels within the cell and distribute nutrients accordingly. The failure to coordinate metabolic processes can lead to diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cancer. PAS kinase is another member of the nutrient-sensing kinase group that regulates glucose distribution in the cell. Despite its clear importance, little is known about the mechanisms regarding PAS kinase activation and its function. Studies have shown that mice without the PAS kinase gene are resistant to weight gain and maintain insulin sensitivity when placed on a high fat diet. Weight gain and insulin resistance are associated with increased rates of diabetes, cancer and other metabolic diseases. AMPK is currently the key target for the treatment of diabetes and has been found to be a cancer target as well. The yeast homologue, Snf1, is necessary for activation of yeast PAS kinase. Further studies have shown that PAS kinase is activated under the same respiratory conditions as Snf1. The aims of this project is to determine if Snf1 directly phosphorylates PAS kinase and to determine the effects of this phosphorylation. We have found that PAS kinase is activated quickly when cells are placed under Snf1-activating conditions. In addition, Snf1 is necessary and sufficient for this activation. Snf1 also copurifies with PAS kinase suggesting this activation is direct. PAS kinase purified from wild type verses Snf1-deficient cells shows phosphorylation on two key residues, S1020 and S1035. In addition, Snf1 directly phosphorylates PAS kinase in vitro. Together these findings suggest that Snf1 directly phosphorylates PAS kinase in order to regulate cellular glucose homeostasis

Joe Passman, University of Utah Life Sciences Neurodegenerative disorders and amyloidosis are thought to be a consequence of the misfolding of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). In non-pathogenic states, IDPs are thought to manipulate their configurational ensembles (CEs) – through partially folding and/or forming secondary structure – to create binding sites for the multiple interaction partners necessary for cell-signaling, recognition, and regulation. An obstacle to accurate in vivo understanding of non-pathogenic mechanisms is that little is known about the impact of the crowded cellular environment on the global (i.e. partial folding) and local structural characteristics (i.e. secondary structure) of IDPs. It is difficult to understand why an IDP may misfold if little atomistic structural understanding exists regarding IDP functional mechanisms in non-adherent physiological states.

Shwan Javdan, University of Utah Life Sciences Each year in the United States, over 22,000 new cases of ovarian carcinoma are diagnosed and 14,000 women die from its progressive cancer stages. Anthracyclines, a class of common chemotherapy drugs, have long been the primary treatment for this and many other cancers, but they often leave patients with cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and other adverse effects. Polymer-drug conjugates using poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (poly-HPMA) are nanosized, water-soluble constructs that accumulate passively in solid tumors by the enhanced permeability and retention effect as well as actively by cell surface targeting methods. As such, they have exhibited reduced toxicity in the body. The goal of this study was to develop a novel, targeted HPMA copolymer-drug conjugate for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. To accomplish this, an antibody fragment called Fab’, targeted to ovarian carcinoma cell surface antigen OA3, was bound to an HPMA copolymer-gemcitabine conjugate. Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog used in chemotherapy that has demonstrated considerable effectiveness in recent years. The copolymer-gemcitabine conjugate was successfully developed following the synthesis of all the requisite components, including Fab’, diblock chain-transfer agent (di-CTA), N-(2-(2-pyridyldithio)ethyl)methacrylamide (PDTEMA), and polymerizable backbone-degradable gemcitabine derivative. Syntheses of di-CTA and PDTEMA were optimized and then characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography, H-NMR, and mass spectrometry. Monomers were combined by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization, and then the Fab’ fragment was bound to the polymer backbone via a disulfide exchange reaction with PDTEMA. The targeted copolymer-drug conjugate was then verified by fast-protein liquid chromatography as well as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. A number of in vitro tests have demonstrated the properties of an efficient drug delivery system. Flow cytometry displayed active accumulation of the copolymer-gemcitabine conjugate to OVCAR3 cell surfaces. Furthermore, IC50 measurement found promising drug efficacy comparable to modern anthracyclines. Future work will involve in vivo evaluation of the conjugate’s therapeutic efficacy in nude mice bearing OVCAR3-xenografts.

Julia Hull, Weber State University Life Sciences Endophytes are fungi that live within aerial portions of plants for most or all of their life cycle without causing visible signs of disease. Gall forming aphids, Pemphigus betae, are highly competitive over gall site selection (Moran 1993), forming galls on the leaves of narrowleaf cottonwood and their hybrids. The favored gall location overlaps with areas of highest endophyte probability. I hypothesized that a negative correlation would exist between endophyte infection and aphid galling on leaves of backcross hybrid cottonwood trees.

Brianne Palmer, Utah State University Life Sciences Inversions have plagued the valleys in Utah resulting in built up pollution carpeting the cities and spreading into surrounding ecosystems. The ecological impact of these inversions is unknown. Inversion-based pollution events deposit nutrients and pollutants in the ecosystems. The purpose of this study is to determine if lichens, due to their unique physiology, preserve a record of inversion-based nitrogen deposition in order to assess the ecological impact of the inversions. In June and July of 2013 we collected 111 samples of lichens from sites exposed to the inversions, along Red Butte Creek and on an elevation gradient on Grandeur Peak in Salt Lake City. The collection focused on two species of lichens (Xanthomendoza montana and Xanthomendoza fallax) because they are easily identifiable and live in all the sampling sites. The samples were ground, run through a stable-isotope mass spectrometer and analyzed for the %N and δ15N. If lichens hold a record of inversion-based depositions there should be more nitrogen in lichens from the sampling sites closer to the pollution source (Salt Lake City). Once the data was complied, the resulting graphs showed no correlation between %N and distance from Salt Lake City between δ15N and the pollutant source. However, the isotopic variability within the samples was greater than expected and requires further research.

Preston Manwill, Southern Utah University Life Sciences Plants produce compounds, secondary metabolites, which can be harnessed for medicinal uses. Caryophyllene, a secondary metabolite produced by a variety of higher plants, has shown promise as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Caryophyllene synthase is the final enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway that produces caryophyllene. The gene and enzyme responsible for caryophyllene production have been observed in crop plants and model organisms, but few studies have investigated caryophyllene production in indigenous plants. We investigated the production of caryophyllene in Ericameria linearifolia (Narrowleaf goldenbush) because it is a shrub native to southwest North America. The first portion of this research examined sequence similarities between caryophyllene synthase gene orthologs in E. linearifolia and other plant genera. Genomic DNA was isolated from E. linearifolia leaves collected from plants growing in southern Utah. Literature reviews and database inquiries have provided DNA sequences for similar synthases, from which primers will be designed to copy and sequence the E. linearifolia caryophyllene synthase gene, confirming the orthologs presence. Following confirmation of the gene, mRNA will be extracted from leaf material and oligo(dT) primers used to synthesize cDNA. Subsequent cDNA amplification and cloning of products into a vector will allow for transformation into a protein-producing bacterium. These final steps make the downstream procedures of protein production, structure determination, and functional characterization of the protein possible. Comparison with enzymes that produce similar organic compounds may result as well, and would provide insight that could improve the biosynthesis of medicinal compounds.

Preston Manwill, Sourthern Utah University Life Sciences Plants produce myriad secondary metabolites (essential oil) that play a role in ecological interactions. Species evolve unique mixtures of organic compounds due to strong selective pressures that act on metabolic pathways. Few studies have investigated the antimicrobial properties of secondary metabolites that evolved against soil microbes associated with native plants. The essential oil of Mojave goldenbush (Ericameria linearifolia), a shrub native to the Intermountain West, was characterized and its bacteriostatic abilities against root associated and non-root associated bacteria morphs were examined in this study. We hypothesized E. linearifolia oil would act as a greater growth inhibitor against native soil bacteria with which it has evolved than against bacteria from non-associated soils. Secondary metabolites were extracted using steam distillation and analyzed with gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. A Kirby-Bauer assay tested presence, size and retention of inhibition zones (IZ) produced against soil bacteria. The essential oil of E. linearifolia contained twenty secondary metabolites, two of which, limonene and sabinene, constituted greater than fifty percent of the oil. Presence and retention of IZ produced by E. linearifolia metabolites varied significantly by community association and bacteria morph. The hypothesis was supported by IZ that were largest against bacteria cultures isolated from soil that surrounded Mojave goldenbush roots and least effective against cultures isolated from non-root associated soil. Our findings suggest that secondary metabolites of E. linearifolia have evolved to specifically prevent negative interactions with bacteria most associated with the plant.

Cameron Sargent, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Although viruses present a potential solution for treating and studying many harmful diseases, they have yet to be utilized successfully, largely due to an overall lack of understanding of the interactions between viruses and their hosts. This study, however, demonstrates the efficacious usage of comparative genomics in further elucidating viral reproduction mechanisms, a step in overcoming this hurdle. Following the sequencing and annotation of genomes of the B4 subcluster of mycobacteriophage, a previously unstudied selection of viruses, comparative genomics analysis identified regions of proteins from these viruses that are highly conserved, or highly similar. One of these B4 phage proteins was then compared on the basis of its predicted folded structure and its amino acid composition to a protein with the same function from another phage, whose structure and DNA binding mechanism was determined via NMR spectrometry. Gene sequence alignments identified the region of highest conservation in the B4 phage. Protein folding then revealed that this region created a structure that was analogous to the functional region of the protein studied elsewhere, indicating that it too recognizes, binds to, and modifies DNA in the same manner. Furthermore, another DNA-binding motif with high conservation among B4 phage was observed in both the folded B4 proteins and the protein analyzed via NMR spectrometry. This comparison procedure not only further elucidated the function of an important gene in B4 phage but also displayed that comparative genomics, a resource-effective and computer-based approach, can successfully identify the critical functional regions of a protein. This study therefore provides a novel procedure for further understanding the mechanisms of virus-host interactions, which in turn facilitates the successful application of viruses in treating and studying diseases.

Eliza Warren, Brigham Young University Life Sciences We have previously demonstrated that ethanol inhibition of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons in other ethanol-sensitive brain areas, is mediated by GABA(B) receptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of GABA and glutamate (GLU), and in particular GABA(A), GABA(B) and NMDA receptors, in mediating ethanol inhibition of dopamine (DA) release in the NAc. Using fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), we evaluated the effects of ethanol on DA release in the NAc core of C57/BL6 and CD-1 mice. In the slice preparation, local stimulation evoked robust, frequency-dependent DA release in the NAc, with maximal release at 20 Hz. Ethanol decreased DA release with an IC50 of 60 mM in C57Bl6 mice. In anesthetized C57BL6 mice, ethanol decreased DA release with an IC50 of 2.0 g/kg. Superfusion of the GABA(B) receptor antagonist CGP55845 enhanced DA release 85%, while neither the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline, the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol, the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen, nor the NMDA GLU antagonist APV significantly affected DA release. CGP55845 blocked ethanol inhibition of DA release, while neither bicuculline nor APV altered ethanol’s effects. GABA inhibited DA release at 0.5-10 uM but not at 0.1-1 mM. Compared to ethanol effects on DA release in C57BL6 mice, CD-1 GAD GFP knock-in mice, which only express GAD at 50% levels, were significantly less sensitive to ethanol. As DA release was sensitive to low concentrations of GABA, CGP55845 may act as a GABA(A) rho receptor antagonist, and neither bicuculline nor baclofen had any effect on DA release, ethanol may be acting on extrasynaptic GABA(A) rho receptors on DA terminals to inhibit DA release in the NAc.

Ryan Watkins, Univeristy of Utah Life Sciences The lymphatic system is responsible for controlling systemic fluid buildup. Lymphangiogenesis is a dynamic process involving sprouting and maintaining new lymphatic vasculature. Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) is known as a key growth factor through VEGF receptor 2 and 3 (VEGFR2 and VEGFR3). Interestingly, the cornea expresses VEGF-C but is alymphatic. We found that the soluble isoform of VEGFR3, which lacks tyrosine kinase domains, is responsible for the alymphatic nature of the cornea by sequestering endogenous VEGF-C. Although soluble VEGFR3 or soluble VEGFR2 can be useful for inhibition of VEGF-C derived lymphangiogenesis, they also bind VEGF-A. Inhibition of VEGF-A suppresses blood vessel formation, damaging tissue and creating additional side effects. The development of a new anti-lymphangiogenic drug, that only blocks VEGF-C, has many implications: preventing tumor metastasis and reducing rejection rates of tissue and organ transplants. VEGF-C mainly binds to VEGFR3 domain 2 and VEGFR2 domain 3. To develop an anti-lymphangiogenic drug that specifically binds VEGF-C the binding domains were inserted into a vector that produces a recombinant protein (VEGF-C trap) that sequesters VEGF-C, suppressing lymphangiogenesis. Mice in a cornea transplantation model were treated with VEGF-C trap. After 8 weeks, 60% of the treated cornea survived (no rejection) compared to 10% in the empty vector control group. A 60% transplant survival rate is one of the highest rates compared to other single treatment methods. Blood and lymph vessel area was calculated and showed a decrease in lymph vasculature but not blood vessel. Suggesting only VEGF-C activity was affected. In a tumor metastasis model, nude mice will be injected subcutaneously with cultured MCF-7 cells which have been transfected with VEGF-C trap or an empty vector. We expect to see a decrease of lymphatic vasculature in the mice injected with MCF-7 cells containing the VEGF-C trap and ultimately less metastasis.

Preston Manwill, Southern Utah University Life Sciences Members of Anthoxanthum (sweetgrass) have a history of ceremonial and medicinal use. Coumarin, a secondary metabolite produced by the grass, is an anticoagulant and antimicrobial agent. Antimicrobial properties of commercially available European A. odoratum metabolites have been nominally investigated, but no North American species have been studied. Additionally, European sweetgrass is purported to be available in both diploid and polyploid strains. Our research objectives were to: 1) determine if ploidy level strains do exist, and 2) investigate secondary metabolite production and evolution in commercial strains and A. hirtum, a Great Basin native. Using epidermal casts and fuschin staining, differences in guard cells and nuclei were surveyed. Secondary metabolites from the A. odoratum strains and A. hirtum were obtained through steam distillation and a vacufugation protocol that concentrated hydrosols. GC/MS analyses characterized and quantified secondary metabolites. The secondary metabolites coumarin, dihydrobenzofuron, and dihydroactinidiolide were identified, with the first and latter greatest in A. hirtum. Significant guard cell differences between strains, as well as species, were observed. Two ploidy strains of A. odoratum were suggested. A Kirby-Bauer assay tested presence, size and retention of inhibition zones (IZ) produced against soil bacteria. Gram-staining initially characterized bacterial morphs. Secondary metabolites from the diploid strain were most effective against all bacterial morphs, but polyploid metabolites also generated and retained IZ against diploid root associated and non-root associated morphs. The native sweetgrass produced IZ only against root associated bacteria with which it had evolved. Future work will include similar studies of other North American Anthoxanthum species.

Justen Despain, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Mycobacterium ulcerans is an acid fast intracellular bacteria that is the causative agent of Buruli Ulcer, a disease endemic in tropical regions of Africa. The disease starts as a nodule that progresses into a necrotizing skin lesion. Treatment ranges from antibiotic therapy to surgical removal of surrounding skin to stop necrotization of the skin. Owing to the intracellular nature of M. ulcerans, antibiotic therapy can be an ineffective treatment option. It has been previously shown that mycobacteriophage can reduce extracellular bacterial load in mice infected with M. ulcerans. In this study, we propose a method of killing intracellular M. ulcerans by mycobacteriophage using avirulent Mycobacterium smegmaits as a vector.

Michael Gillespie, Brigham Young University Life Sciences It is vital to understand the anatomical microstructure of tendons and ligaments in order to ascertain their specific qualities and functions. Recent developments in micro-scribe 3D digitization are highly effective in revealing these intricacies. A necessary component to creating 3D fiber maps from this technology is the ability to distinguish between individual tissue fibers with the naked eye. However, this is a very difficult task with most tendons and ligaments. We developed a paste made of blue dye and powdered sugar that when applied, fits in-between these fibers and contrasts the specimen color. This exposes the fine architecture, making individual fibers much more visible and thus able to be 3D digitized. With these 3D fiber maps now available, tendon and ligament microstructure can be viewed in greater detail than previously possible. This technique was applied to human cadaveric calcaneal tendon and quadriceps tendon. It was discovered that the fibers of human calcaneal tendon have higher overlap relative to the rigidly parallel fibers of the quadriceps tendon. This further understanding carries implications regarding the advancement of biomechanical models, artificial reconstruction, and surgical repair of these tissues. It also highlights the need for further investigation into the microstructure differences among tendons and ligaments.

Michaelle Cadet, Utah Valley University Life Sciences Utah County, Utah has an estimated population of 540,000 residents and is considered to be a non-attainment area for criteria pollutants such as PM-10 and CO. High levels of these contaminants may increase the risk of respiratory diseases. Additional environmental issues exist including water contamination and eutrophication of Utah Lake. These environmental issues are frequently on the news and warnings are issued by the Department of Environmental Quality notifying citizens of the potential health concerns associated with environmental pollution. With these announcements, it is expected that Utahans are acutely aware of environmental issues, particularly, in the academic settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of environmental awareness among students at Utah Valley University and to correlate the results to socio-demographic categories. Utah Valley University, located in Utah County, is a public institution of higher education with approximately 30,000 registered students. Data for this study was collected through a survey using a multistage sampling technique with population stratified based on colleges and schools within the university. Sample size included approximately 1,000 students. The survey contained 12 environmental questions relating to recent local, national and international media exposure. Standards and protocol of the International Research Board were employed. We hypothesize that married, educated, religious males will positively correlate with higher levels of environmental awareness, but will be less than atheists. Additionally, those identifying with the Republican Party will have lower levels of awareness. No significant difference will be found between majors. Furthermore the young, poor and ethnic populations will be less aware than their more affluent counterparts. Results of this study will be used to inform residents of environmental issues and the associated health concerns. Additionally, this study will be used to inform legislators about the importance of environmental education in the community.

Ethel Tackie-Yarboi, Westminster College Life Sciences The brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana are an important source of nutrients for many of the over 15 million migratory birds that visit Great Salt Lake (GSL) in Utah each year. As well as being a source of food, the brine shrimp are an intermediate host to cestode parasites that infect many of the bird species. Although the effects of cestode infection in brine shrimp and the contribution of brine shrimp to cestode circulation in birds have been studied, little research has yet addressed the rate of cestode infection or molecular phylogeny of these cestodes. We collected brine shrimp from three sites in GSL and tested individuals for cestode infection using previously identified and newly designed cestode specific PCR primers that amplify the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. Our preliminary results showed that the Spiral Jetty site from the North arm of GSL had a 2% infection rate, the Antelope Island site from the South arm had a 45% infection rate, and the shrimp collected at the Black Rock site, also in the South arm, had a 32% infection rate using our cestode specific PCR assays. We also have preliminary DNA sequencing results that demonstrate that we are amplifying cestode DNA, which is most closely related to members of the genus Hymenolepis. Our data suggest that there may be a higher prevalence of cestode infection in the shrimp in the South arm than those from the North arm of the Great Salt Lake. Our goal is to extend our study in order to better identify the species of cestodes that infect brine shrimp using further DNA sequencing and to expand our infection rate samples to better estimate the percentage of the brine shrimp population that is infected by the cestode parasites, as well as test samples from several years.

J David Symons, University of Utah Life Sciences Cardiovascular complications (e.g., arterial dysfunction) are more prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Patients with T2DM have elevated levels of circulating free fatty acids (FFAs). We have shown that when bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) are treated with the physiologically relevant FFA palmitate, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity increases, phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) to total eNOS (p-eNOS:eNOS) decreases, and metabolites of NO production decrease. NO is an important endothelial-derived relaxing factor that is vasculoprotective. As such, FFA-induced, PP2A-mediated reductions in p-eNOS:eNOS and NO production might explain why vascular complications are more common in pathologies associated with lipotoxicity e.g., T2DM and diet-induced obesity. Recently we showed in BAECs that if PP2A is inhibited using okadaic acid (OA), palmitate-induced increases in PP2A activity, and reductions in p-eNOS:eNOS and indices of NO production are negated. We sought to translate these finding from BAECs to the intact organism. However, OA cannot be used in vivo. Lixte Biotechnology 1 (LB1) is a PP2A inhibitor that has been used in vivo in the context of cancer research. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of LB1 under our experimental conditions, with the long-range goal of using LB1 in mice. Further, we used this opportunity to optimize the measurement of NO directly using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). BAECs were treated for 3 h with vehicle (V), 500 µM palmitate (P), 4 µM LB1, or P + LB1 (n=10 per treatment). P increased (p<0.05) PP2A activity (50±12%), and decreased (p<0.05) p-tyr307:PP2A (29±9%; redundant indicator of increased PP2A activity), p-eNOS:eNOS (30±3%), and NO production (27±9%). All P-induced effects were prevented by concurrent treatment with LB1. Future experiments will determine whether chronic treatment of mice with LB1 is capable of suppressing PP2A activity in intact arteries.

Cynthiann Heckelsmiller, Weber State University Life Sciences Heavy foot traffic compacts soil, leading to decreased gas exchange, water permeability, and reduced nutrient cycling. Plant communities are defined by the availability of nutrients, water, and other resources.

Jordan Fenlon, University of Utah Life Sciences Tsr, the serine chemoreceptor for E. coli, is a transmembrane protein with a periplasmic sensing domain and cytoplasmic adaptation and kinase control domains. The focus of my research project is Tsr residue A413, located in the cytoplasmic tip of the receptor’s kinase control domain. The project involves characterization of mutant Tsr proteins containing amino acid replacements at residue 413. Based on previous work in the Parkinson lab, this residue is thought to play a key role in Tsr signaling by regulating the dynamic motion of the tip.

Evan Campbell, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Asthma is a chronic allergic disorder manifest by airway restriction due to inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and increased respiratory mucous secretion. As many as 300 million people worldwide are affected by asthma and its prevalence is increasing primarily in countries experiencing urbanization and Westernization. Asthma is currently the most common chronic illness among children in the U.S., and the third leading cause of hospitalization for children aged 0 – 15 yrs. Reservoir dust collection and area air sampling are the two primary methods of measuring allergen levels in house dust. Allergen sensitization leading to asthma is thought to occur prior to age six while the immune system is still naïve. In the case of the dust mite allergen Der p1, the exposure window may be as early as age two. However, little evidence is available to establish a dose–response relationship between inhalation exposure and early immunological sensitization to allergens. Temperature and relative humidity play a major role in dust mite survival and proliferation and indoor humidity above 50-60% in arid environments has been shown to support dust mite populations. Evaporative “swamp” coolers cool air by adding humidity to it and can create favorable environments for dust mite survival. We are working to determine how much swamp coolers contribute to dust mite levels in Utah by quantitating dust mite allergen levels in homes with and without swamp coolers. In order to do this we are developing sensitive ELISA and quantitative PCR methods to allow us to determine levels of exposure even when low levels of dust are collected.

Logan Warner, Utah Valley University Life Sciences High-frequency ultrasound (20-80 MHz) has been found to be sensitive to a range of pathologies in excised breast tissue before fixation in formalin or other formaldehyde analogues. Formalin fixation, however, may alter the structure and rigidity of a sample so that data gathered using high-frequency ultrasound after fixation may no longer be viable for research purposes. This limits the amount of time researchers may conduct tests, so preservation via simple sugars is being considered. Numerous studies have been conducted using sucrose, trehalose, or glucose as cryoprotectants for cells and simple tissues. The objective of this study was to test the sensitivity of high-frequency ultrasound to changes in the microstructure, stiffness, and cellular integrity of tissue samples due to cryopreservation with these sugars. Domestic pig heart tissue was placed in aqueous solutions of sucrose, trehalose, and D-(+)-glucose. The specimens were refrigerated and observed over time using high-frequency ultrasound to detect tissue damage. The results of this study suggest that cryopreservation with sugars will not only allow more time for researchers to conduct ultrasonic tests on surgical specimens, but also that high-frequency ultrasound could potentially be used as an assay to measure tissue degradation in preserved living tissues such as transplant organs.

John Hancock, Brigham Young University Life Sciences LLO56 and LLO118 are CD4+ T cells specific for the same Listeria monocytogenes epitope. Despite their TCRs differing by only 15 amino acids, LLO118 and LLO56 have dramatically different primary and secondary responses to Listeria monocytogenes infection. We reasoned that LLO56, the single chain TCR (Vβ2-linker-Vα2) could be subjected to directed evolution to generate mutants that are more stable and bind to peptide-MHC with higher affinity. Single chain LLO56 was fused to the yeast surface protein Aga-2 and error prone PCR was used to generate mutagenic libraries. A first generation stabilized single chain TCR (scTCR) was selected using biotinylated Vβ2 and Vα2 antibodies and anti-biotin beads. The first generation LLO56 mutant expressed LLO56 on the surface of yeast at higher levels than wild type by flow cytometry. To produce mutants with additional stability, a second-generation mutant was generated by combining multiple stability mutations isolated in a number of first generation clones.

Madison Peterson, Utah Valley University Life Sciences High-frequency (HF) ultrasound in the 20-80 MHz range has recently been found to be sensitive to pathology in tissue margins from breast cancer surgery. In order to improve the resolution and sensitivity of this method, however, transducers need to be employed that have piezoelectric elements that are smaller than those currently in use. The purpose of this study was to determine if small element transducers (Blatek pachyometer, 50 MHz, element diameter < 2 mm) produce similar results as those obtained from large element immersion transducers (Olympus NDT, V358-SU, 50 MHz, 6.35-mm diameter active element). Ultrasonic tests were performed on 10 phantom breast samples made of Knox gelatin base and soluble fiber (Metamucil), five of which contained chopped nylon fibers and five which contained polyethylene microspheres. Pulse-echo and through transmission measurements using a HF square-wave pulser/receiver (UTEX, UT340) and a digital storage oscilloscope (Agilent, DSOX3104A, 1 GHz, 4 analog channels) were acquired from a total of 3 sites per phantom in triplicate, first testing all specimens with the large transducers then again with the small transducers. Specimens were marked with India ink for location and accuracy of testing. The density of peaks in the ultrasonic spectra of the small transducers paralleled those of large transducers. Results from HF ultrasonic measurements of phantom breast tissue obtained from small transducers compared to the large transducers indicate that they produce statistically comparable peak densities. In breast conservations surgery it is crucial to excise all cancerous tissue to prevent recurrence. This method could provide in vivo cancer detections in margins and allow for more precise excision of tumors and cancerous tissue preventing the need for subsequent surgeries and thus, less risk, reduced pain and suffering, lower costs and better outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Brian Ballard, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Antigen presenting cells digest and display proteins from foreign and infected cells on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) which can then be recognized by T-cells through their T cell receptor (TCR). LLO56 and LLO118 are CD4+ T cells specific for the same Listeria monocytogenes epitope but show dramatically different primary and secondary responses to infection. Because TCRs have very low affinity for MHC we would like to create a high affinity T cell. We reasoned that the single chain LLO118 TCR (Vβ2-linker-Vα2) could be subjected to directed evolution to generate mutants that are more stable and then used as a template for engineering high affinity T cell receptors. Single chain LLO118 was fused to the yeast surface protein Aga-2 and error prone PCR was used to generate mutagenic libraries. The first generation stabilized LLO118 single chain TCR (scTCR) was selected using biotinylated Vβ2 and Vα2 antibodies and anti-biotin beads and it expressed LLO118 at higher levels than wild type by flow cytometry. To produce mutants with additional stability, a second mutagenic library using the first generation mutants as templates has been produced and the most stable clones will be selected after temperature denaturation, permitting isolation of clones with increased stability for generating high affinity pathogen specific scTCRs. After engineering a high affinity T cell our research will further understanding on TCRs and the MHC and could also serve as a resource for creating a therapeutic drug.

Lance Deeter, University of Utah Life Sciences Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used in advanced heart failure patients either to bridge them to transplantation or as a permanent-destination therapy. We determined whether chronic exposure to non-pulsatile blood flow and acute increases in coronary perfusion pressure associated with LVAD implantation would influence arterial function. Arteries from a transmural biopsy of the left-ventricle were obtained from ten male patients (54±4 years old) at the time of LVAD implant (n=17, 184±25 µm i.d.) and 239±51 days later upon LVAD explant (n=21, 281±22 µm i.d.). Lmax tension was determined and dose-response curves to potassium chloride (KCl, 10-100 mM) were performed using isometric tension techniques. Next, bradykinin (BK, 10-6 to 10-10 M) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10-4 to 10-9 M) concentration-response curves were completed on vessels precontracted to ~65% of maximal tension development. Maximal BK-induced vasorelaxation was greater (p<0.05) at explant (85±5%) vs. implant (59±9%), while SNP evoked responses (~90%) were similar between time-points. These findings suggest coronary endothelial function is improved by LVAD implantation. Heart failure was precipitated by a myocardial infarction in six of the ten patients. These are referred to as “ischemic” patients whereas the remaining four are “non-ischemic” patients. We hypothesized that coronary vascular responses would be improved by LVAD implantation to a greater extent in ischemic vs. non-ischemic patients. In ischemic patients maximal BK-induced vasorelaxation was greater (p<0.05) in coronary arteries obtained at explant (87±6%, n=14, 305±30 μm i.d.) vs. implant (53±11%, n=12, 204±33 μm i.d.). In non-ischemic patients maximal BK-induced vasorelaxation was similar in arteries obtained at explant (79±9%, n=7, 232±21 μm) and implant (72±17%, n=5, 135±13 μm). SNP responses were similar (~90%) between groups at implant and explant. Collectively, our data suggest that LVAD implantation improves endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in ischemic but not in non-ischemic patients.

Mena Davidson, Westminster College Life Sciences Urban stream syndrome is the phenomenon of stream degradation as streams run from their sources through urban areas, which is exhibited by nutrient loading, decreased dissolved oxygen, changes in channel structure, and increased turbidity and rapid flow events. This can have a direct negative effect on our recreation, drinking water, and the ecosystems surrounding the streams. To discover if urban stream syndrome occurs in the Salt Lake Valley, we monitored pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, dissolved nitrates, and collected macroinvertebrates in three streams monthly. We analyzed total abundance, species diversity, and percent pollution sensitive species to assess the macroinvertebrate communities, as known indicators of water quality. Preliminary data shows a significant decrease in percent sensitive species in the urban areas as compared to the nonurban areas over 10 sampling periods. We found decreased biodiversity and fewer sensitive species in urban areas, although we found no difference in total abundance. These findings indicate that urbanization in the Salt Lake Valley leads to degradation in riparian ecosystems and suggest that further investigation is needed to identify the mechanisms leading to this degradation.

Colby Pearson, Utah Valley University Life Sciences Many lichens synthesize unique secondary metabolites, such as atranorin (AT), which may serve as photo-protection against harmful UV radiation. Our study investigates changes in metabolism and internal levels of atranorin in lichens under various light conditions and atranorin supplementation. We will expose 60 Physcia adscendens (Fr.) H. Olivier lichen thalli to one of three different light levels (UV +PAR; PAR only; and neither UV nor PAR). Half of our experimental thalli will be supplemented with AT. Lichen biomass, AT concentration via HPLC, and photosynthetic and respiration rates will be measured before and after the experiment to measure metabolic responses of both supplemented and non-AT-supplemented thalli under each light level.

Robert Erickson, Utah Valley University Life Sciences Although the insect fauna of the Colorado Plateau region are somewhat well known, our specific understanding of the arthropod biodiversity in Capitol Reef National Park is sparse.

David Vogelsang, Brigham Young University Life Sciences More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese (CDC, 2013a), and since 1980, obesity among adolescents has risen from 5% to 18% (CDC, 2013b). Unless we do something to combat the growing obesity epidemic, we are consigning ourselves and future generations to a lifetime of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and psychological distress (CDC, 2013a). Cooking Anatomy Academy (CAA) promotes healthy eating and cooking among parents and students in the Polynesian community to raise awareness about the growing obesity epidemic. Our primary focus is introducing parents and students to healthy, great tasting foods and easy to prepare meals (Brown, 2011). Our secondary focus is to teach the simple anatomy and physiology important to understanding healthy nutrition. CAA is composed of seven, one hour lessons that are being offered as an afterschool program at Mana Academy Charter School. We’ve developed the CAA curriculum to incorporate many of the nutrition guidelines on MyPlate.gov, and focus on moderation, variety and raw/unrefined foods. To study the impact of Cooking Anatomy Academy, we will take a qualitative approach and use journal entries to collect data. Participant journal entries will answer prompts like, “based on what you learned today, what will you have for a snack tomorrow,” or, “how many fruit servings should you have each day?” CAA mentors will record any positive or negative feedback they receive during each lesson. From the data we collect, we hope to see that CAA is helping participants make healthy food choices and increasing their obesity awareness.

Caitlin Carter, Utah Valley University Life Sciences High-frequency (HF) ultrasound (20-80 MHz) has been previously used to detect differences in microstructures and cell materials of different breast tissues types. These differences were used to distinguish between benign and malignant pathologies in different breast tissues. This same technology is predicted to be able to improve methods of detecting changes in cellular activity before changes in pathology take place. The purpose of this study was to use HF ultrasound to detect changes in the actin cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix (ECM), and integrin signaling, therefore differentiating the molecular subtypes associated with these changes in cell biomechanical properties. It is predicted that these cellular changes will also be associated with changes in the ultrasonic properties of breast cancer cells. The ability to rapidly and inexpensively detect the genetic changes or molecular subtypes of breast cancer would greatly impact and personalize patient treatment as well as provide more precise surgical removal of malignant and premalignant tissue. In order to test this hypothesis, four different breast cancer molecular subtypes including luminal A, luminal B, Her2+, and basal (triple negative) were grown as monolayer cell cultures. These subtypes were chosen because of their range of aggressiveness (luminal A as least aggressive and basal as most). After growth at different seeding levels, cell cultures were tested with a HF ultrasound system using a 50 MHz, 6.35-mm diameter immersion transducer and pulse-echo transmission. The data was compared to simulations using multipole expansions which predicted ultrasonic scattering based on possible variations in the biomechanical properties of malignant cells. The analyzed data showed differences in the spectra of waveform signals between each tested breast cancer molecular subtype. It is anticipated that this technique would provide an efficient and cost-effective method for differentiating between different molecular subtypes of breast cancer.

Kurt Williams, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Macrophages play an important role in innate and adaptive immune responses, inflammation, and tissue repair and are characterized by two distinct phenotypes: classically-activated (M1) and alternatively-activated (M2) macrophages. M1 macrophages are characterized by a pro-inflammatory phenotype and are involved in production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and aggressive engulfment, whereas M2 macrophages are characterized by an anti-inflammatory phenotype and are involved in production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-10) and tissue repair. Macrophage engulfment of apoptotic cells leads to polarization toward the M2 phenotype and is thus “immunologically silent”. Additionally, there is evidence that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) tend toward an M2 phenotype and as a result offer protection from an immune response in the tumor microenvironment. To further investigate the role of necrotic and apoptotic cells in regulating macrophage polarization, we cultured human macrophages with necrotic, apoptotic, or standard viable Raji cells and fluorescent beads and performed an engulfment assay. In a preliminary study we found that macrophages cultured with apoptotic cells showed a decrease in engulfment levels compared to macrophages cultured with necrotic cells. Macrophages cultured with standard viable Raji cells had the lowest levels of engulfment compared to macrophages cultured with apoptotic cells or necrotic cells. Thus, in our initial experiments macrophages cultured with necrotic cells appear to have a more “M1” phenotype, whereas macrophages cultured with apoptotic cells appear to have a more “M2” phenotype. Further experiments are necessary to validate this preliminary data and further characterize the capabilities of necrotic and apoptotic cells to differentially polarize macrophages. If these observations are replicated, it has potential applications in cancer biology and therapeutics, atherosclerosis, diabetes, autoimmunity, and other diseases with an inflammatory component.

Clair Bidez, Westminster College Life Sciences Changes to stream ecosystems due to urbanization are known to degrade riparian ecosystems through multiple stressors including increased erosion and sedimentation, expansion of impervious surface leading to altered flow regimes, degradation of riparian vegetation and habitat, and nutrient contamination. Ultimately, such degradation can inhibit ecosystem services such as contaminant filtration and nutrient cycling. This study examined the effects of urbanization on the function of riparian communities in three streams in the Salt Lake Valley watershed. We attempted to characterize these changes through monthly monitoring in urban and non-urban reaches of the same streams. Specifically, we measured periphyton biomass (as measured by chlorophyll-a) as a known indicator of nutrient pollution and a proxy of riparian health. In addition, we monitored water quality parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen, and dissolved nitrate concentration. The urban reaches of the streams contained 3.6 to 9.3 times the dissolved nitrate concentration as their non-urban counterparts. Mean stream periphyton biomass was positively correlated with mean stream nitrate concentration for each reach. These findings point to urbanization as a potential source of ecosystem degradation in the Salt Lake Valley. They suggest that long-term monitoring is warranted, along with an in-depth investigation into the ultimate mechanisms responsible for the degradation.

Eric Middleton, University of Utah Life Sciences One of the most impressive examples of homing among birds is demonstrated by Columba livia, or the rock pigeon. In racing or carrier breeds, birds can routinely travel over 100 miles and reliably find their way back to their home loft (Pratt, 1954). Bred from feral rock pigeons, these racers and carriers have been selected for their increased ability to home. While much research has been conducted on the mechanisms of homing, the heritability of homing is not very well understood. Furthermore, it is unclear if homing is predominantly learned or innate (Melhorn, Haastert, Rehkamper, 2010). The existence of homing breeds demonstrates that homing is heritable, but the degree to which this is the case or what traits in particular are improved with selective breeding are more uncertain. To attempt to better understand the heritability of homing, we will compare the homing ability of pigeons who are siblings to each other, and to unrelated pigeons. We first captured 90 wild pigeons from areas around Salt Lake City and allowed them to breed freely. We tracked the ancestry of all of the pigeons born from the feral birds and banded each of the birds in order to reliably distinguish which birds were related. We are now in the process of teaching the captive bred birds to home. Once this is completed, we will release the birds at varying distances from the loft. To quantify homing ability, we will measure angle of displacement from the loft when the birds first orient themselves and being homing, the time it takes to home, and which birds successfully make it home to the loft. This data will then be used to compare the homing ability of siblings to unrelated pigeons.

Lee Leavitt, University of Utah Life Sciences The ventral respiratory column (VRC) is a region in the brainstem shown to control breathing patterns in mammals. Using activation and inhibition of neurons in this region, classes have been assigned based on response-combinations. Using a mouse model, cells from this region are dissociated, plated and incubated with a dye that indicates changes in cytoplasmic calcium levels. Hundreds of cells are measured while varieties of pharmacological agents are applied. Response-combinations provide a profile of the receptors found on these neurons. Previously, varieties of cell classes were shown to contain NMDA receptors (receptors linked to learning and memory). However, specific compositions of subunits within these receptors are not known. These receptors are ligand gated ion channels composed of four non-covalently bound proteins. Each subunit has a different activation profile determined by interactions of agonist and antagonists. Conantokins (peptides isolated from snail venom) and other compounds further afford understanding of the architecture the assigned cell-classes. This project has continued to classify the subunit compositions of NMDA receptors with the ultimate goal of understanding which NMDA receptor subunits are present in each class. This will provide valuable information on the VRC’s function, and will allow for pharmacological innervations to change behavior in this region.

Madison Landreth, Weber State University Life Sciences Enterococcus, a bacterial genus that normally inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of animals, can be pathogenic to humans, causing urinary tract infections, sepsis and other serious diseases. It is also one of the major causes of hospital acquired infections. One important complication of those infected with Enterococcus is the fact that these bacteria often have a high level of antibiotic resistance, making effective treatment of patients more difficult. While Enterococcus is a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract, it can survive outside its host in the environment, even in adverse conditions, such as the Great Salt Lake (GSL). In this experiment, hundreds of isolates of Enterococcus were collected from the Great Salt Lake, from various sites along the Weber River which flows into the GSL and from clinical sources. Isolates were tested for different phenotypic characteristics and for their resistant patterns against certain antibiotics. Preliminary results of the Kirby Bauer disk-diffusion assay demonstrated that 47% of enterococcal isolates from the Great Salt Lake were resistant to one or more of the five antibiotics compared to 98% of the clinical isolates. In contrast, in a previous study, as few as 15% of Enterococcus isolated from the fresh water sources were resistant to one or more of the five antibiotics. These data may have implications concerning the importance of anthropological impact on rates of antibiotic resistance in this genus.

Jeremy Rehm, Brigham Young University Life Science The recent surge of interest in personality differences between individuals of a single population or members of differing populations has generated numerous new hypotheses that may aid in elucidating patterns of ecology and evolution that were previously considered improbable. Two hypotheses relevant to fish biology relate the size of an organism from a certain predation environment to the level of boldness it exhibits. The first of these (predation hypothesis) predicts small individuals living with predators should not express boldness comparable to their larger counterparts, whereas the other (metabolic hypothesis) predicts the exact opposite. Our study investigated these hypotheses using two sister-taxa fish species in Panama (Brachyrhaphis roseni and B. terrabensis) that exhibit two size classes (large and small) and live in differing predation environments. Additionally, because males are smaller than females in both species, we could look at size-boldness relations within each species. The study, as in others, defined boldness as the amount of time for an individual to emerge from a shelter and into an unfamiliar territory. When the species are analyzed collectively, our results support previous findings that fish from high-predation environments tend to be bolder than those without predators; males tend to be bolder than females; and both mass and standard length positively correlate with boldness. However, within species analyses find that mass and standard length have no significant relation to boldness, and gender was only significant in the predation-exposed B.roseni, where males were bolder. These interesting findings contrast with previous studies, and lead us to question the value of these size-related hypotheses in the process of speciation and, ultimately, evolution.

Charlee Byers, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Agave utahensis (Utah agave) plays a critical role as a keystone species in its native habitat. A rise in frequent, intense fires across the range of these habitats threatens to eliminate Utah agave populations, and consequently limit its genetic diversity. Characterizing the genetic diversity of Utah agave and its subspecies will help in restoration efforts to protect the species. We constructed primers to amplify microsatellite markers of two subspecies of Utah agave, ssp. kaibabensis and ssp. utahensis. Using these markers, we determined the level of polymorphism within four populations of each of the two subspecies.

Sean Studstill, Weber State University Life Sciences Imidacloprid is a popular systemic insecticide that has been applied to our staple crops for two decades. According to the EPA, it is persistent in the environment and at risk of effecting non-targeted organisms. Imidacloprid is an insect neurotoxin; however it is also known to be toxic to various aquatic species in concentrations as low as 37 ppb. Ingestion of imidacloprid causes paralysis in organisms through the blockage of postsynaptic nicotinic cholinergic receptors. We sought to find out how toxic imidacloprid is to brine shrimp and what kinds of physiological reactions occur upon exposure.

Jake Gamboa, Brigham Young University Life Sciences It is estimated that approximately 350,000 people in the United Stated die annually from post-myocardial infarction arrhythmias. A majority of these people will undergo a surgery that results in partial or complete removal of the stellate ganglion and other nerve fibers of the pharyngeal space in an attempt to prevent over stimulation from the neurons to the area of dead heart tissue and, therefore, future arrhythmias. However, without a somatomototopy, it is unclear what physiological effects partial or full sympathectomies may have. We will create a three-dimensional map of the pharyngeal space nerve plexus which will, in turn, allow for a more accurate and precise surgery.

Josh Hall, Weber State University Life Sciences Reproduction in birds is extremely conservative with the vast majority of the birds adopting bird-egg contact incubation to maintain an appropriate microclimate for embryonic development (Deeming, 2004). The Great Salt Lake is a vital nesting site for American Avocets (Recurvirostra Americana) that shows extreme temperatures and hostile environments where nest success can be as low as 1 -14% (Cavitt, 2008). Constancy of incubation, i.e. the time that the eggs are in contact with an adult, is a major indicator of nest success and environmental conditions. Our goals were to examine some of the costs natural selection places on embryos and parents to maintain a constant embryo temperature. We hypothesized that incubation attentiveness would increase across the nesting cycle. Over 200 AMAV nests were surveyed. Thermal probes were used to record various nest microclimates at every minute. A pseudonest with painted chicken eggs was also created and a thermal probe was placed to measure the ambient temperature without any adult incubation. A motion sensitive camera was placed over nests to examine differences in parental care. Nests will be divided into three phases: early, mid, and late incubation. Thermal data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and mean variance values to calculate how incubation constancy varied throughout these phases. We expect this data to tell us more on how natural selection is working on these populations and some possible theories of how this developed.

Goyeun Tun, University of Utah Life Sciences Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) are disorders which their symptoms and treatments are not clearly known. CFS and FMS are not life threatening diseases; however, they can affect patients’ quality of life because they experience symptoms including exercise intolerance, need for bedrest, and debilitating chronic pain and fatigue with these disorders. The research from Dr. Light’s lab has shown that moderate exercise for 25 minutes causes changes in mRNA levels in CFS and FMS patients but not healthy controls. The objective of our study was to examine changes in white blood cell gene expression of CFS and FMS patients both on Lyrica and on placebo in a double-blinded, cross-over design (where each study subject was his or her own control) by using quantitative PCR gene expression analysis. The lab routinely analyzes blood samples for 48 different genes from study subjects and healthy controls collected before (baseline) and then 8, 24, 48 hours after exercise moderate exercise. My focus was on changes in expression of two ATP-responsive purinergic receptors, P2X7 and P2Y1, which have not been studied after exercise in CFS and FMS but have been associated with chronic inflammation and pain in animal models. White blood cell layers (buffy coat) were collected from samples, RNA was extracted and converted to cDNA. 384 well PCR plates were robotically loaded from 96 well source plates, then the PCR reaction was run in an ABI 7900 thermal cycler that tracks fluorescence in “real time” (real time qPCR). Analysis of results is in progress and will be reported on the poster.