2014 Abstracts

David Baird, Utah Sate University Life Sciences We obtained from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 30 years of monthly waterfowl population surveys completed at Pariette Wetlands in the Uintah Basin, Utah between 1980 and 2010. The Pariette Wetlands are the largest wetlands managed by the BLM within the lower-48 states and are comprised of 4,033 acres of land. Pariette Wetlands is surrounded by about 6,000 square miles of land where oil and gas production is the major activity. This waterfowl refuge is a significant location for migrating waterfowl species within the Pacific Flyway and provides important summer habitat for resident waterfowl. Our objectives were to determine what the trends were for waterfowl population abundance, occupancy, and species richness.

Sharisa Nay, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Gene therapy is a growing field of science with the potential to improve thousands of lives. With an eye toward improving the effectiveness and longevity of gene therapies, my project examines the preferential binding tendencies of the histone protein variants Htz1 and Htas1. Htz1 is the Ceanorhabditis elegans homolog of H2AZ, an important variant of the H2A histone. This protein has been shown as necessary for survival and as playing a role in the prevention of ectopic heterochromatin spread. Htas1 is another variant of H2A that plays a role in the increased transcription of sperm-producing genes. The preferred positioning of these variants on naked DNA is not yet known. Through a DNA extraction, nucleosome reconstitution, and DNA digest and sequencing, we will take these variants and examine where they are prone to localize within the N2 Bristol strain of c. elegans. This will allow us to include DNA sequences on our gene insertions possessing a high binding-affinity for these transcription-promoting histones. Thus, if we can identify the locations at which these variants will localize within DNA, we will be able to insert these preferred constructs into the genes used for gene therapy and thereby increase the effectiveness of gene therapies.

Albert Pope, Utah Valley University Life Sciences Few animals are capable of using the creosote plant, Larrea tridentate, as food because of a high level of toxic secondary compounds. Some exceptions to this rule are Neotoma lepida and Dipsosaurus dorsalis which are both capable of sustaining themselves on this desert bush. In 2013, Magnanou et al helped identify heightened transcription of genes correlated with digestion of creosote in N. lepida. Building upon their findings, we explore whether the genes for digesting creosote are under an elevated evolutionary rate for D. dorsalis. We have obtained transcriptomes from whole blood of four Iguaninae species: Ctenosaura pectinata, D. dorsalis, Sauromalus ater, Cyclura lewisi yielding an average of 4 GB of DNA sequence data (~51,000,000 fragments) each. Using Velvet in Sequencher we assembled these data, recovering greater than 6000 unique RNA transcripts per transcriptome. We search through the contigs to identify genes in Iguaninae transcriptomes that are homologous to those showing differential expression in Lepida. Using BLAST, we retrieve homologous genes from the public NCBI database of Anolis carolinensis and other reptiles. Lastly we construct phylogenetic trees of each gene and investigate the rate of change along each reptile lineage.

Cameron Haas, Brigham Young University Life Sciences The influenza A virus contains a proton-selective ion channel, A/M2, through which acidification of the cell is induced. A/M2 is a homotetramer (consists of four identical helices) consisting of 97 residues and activated by low pH levels. Mutations in the amino acid sequences may induce resistance to channel inhibiting drugs. It is believed that residues 26, 27, 30, 31, and 34 are the major contributors of drug resistance, but other nearby residues may prove important as well. The A/California/04/2009 version of the influenza virus is sensitive to the drug AK-11, while its M2 channel is not. The A/Udorn/307/1972 with the S31N mutation M2 channel has been shown to have reduced sensitivity to amantadine compared to its wild type. While both contain a D (aspartic acid) at residue 21, A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 has a mutation from D to G (glycine). The A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 virus A/M2 contains mutations S31N and V27T and has shown sensitivity to the AK-11 drug, but the mechanism of inhibition of the A/M2 channel has not been verified. In these experiments we will be identifying sensitivity to AK11 of A/Udorn/307/1972 with the S31N mutation as well as inducing double mutations with S31N at residues 27 and 21 in the A/M2 from the virus and measure sensitivity by electrophysiological recordings in oocytes of Xenopus laevis. By doing so we may identify the role of these residues in drug resistance and the effects of these amino acid mutations, while verifying the A/M2 channel as the mechanism of acidification inhibition and drug sensitivity. We hypothesize that either D21G, V27T or both mutations causes drug sensitivity in M2 S31N, explaining the sensitivity of A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 to AK-11.

Whitney Badal, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Light therapy has been utilized to treat alcoholism and opiate-dependent rats as well as ameliorating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. As both addiction and Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are often associated with decreased dopamine transmission in the striatum, it is likely that light therapy is able to increase dopamine release. A similar technique called near-infrared light treatment has also been shown to be effective in mice in restoring the function of dopamine cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta (an area associated with PD). A possible explanation for this is that light catalyzes the formation of neuromelanin. It is likely that neuromelanin is a neuroprotective cellular agent that is able to reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Using UV-IR spectrophotometry, we show that in the presence of photostimulation, dopamine (0.3-30 uM) oxidizes and polymerizes into neuromelanin. Since hydrogen peroxide catalyzes this formation of neuromelanin, it is likely that this is a radical-polymerization reaction, suggesting that neuromelanin may be a radical scavenger. Additionally, the presence of the selective iron chelator desferrioxamine, the calcium chelator EGTA, or lack of calcium in the artificial cerebral spinal fluid markedly reduces the formation of neuromelanin. Using fast scan cyclic voltammetry in mouse horizontal and/or coronal brain slices, dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core was enhanced by light exposure, in particular UV and short-wavelength visible light. These findings indicate that both iron and calcium are necessary for melanization in neural tissues and that light-induced melanization enhances dopamine release, suggesting a physiological role for melanization in synaptic transmission.

Chase Barker, Utah Valley University Life Sciences Central Research Question: Phylogenetic relationships of mayflies are still not very well known, however molecular and morphological data have begun to shed light on the relationships of these insects (Ogden et al. 2009). Our central question is to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships within the mayfly family Baetidae.

Danielle Holliday, University of Utah Life Sciences Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) induces visceral obesity in adulthood, specifically among males. In male rat offspring, IUGR increases visceral adipose tissue (VAT) over subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). VAT and SAT functions are regulated by estrogen signaling, and suppressed estrogen signaling contributes to obesity development. Estrogen signaling is composed of estradiol and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ). Estrogen receptors regulate the expression of several obesity related genes, such as lipoprotein lipase (LPL). However, the effects of IUGR on estrogen serum levels and signaling in the adipose tissue are unknown.

Ashley Calder, Utah Valley University Life Sciences An estimated 50-80% of dementia patients suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Currently there is no test to diagnose AD except post mortem. Recent papers indicate that AD affects the cytoskeleton and cellular structure through mutations that alter structural proteins, and that dysfunction of the cytoskeleton may play a pivotal role in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, specific genetic components of AD affect microtubule and actin filaments that control endocytosis, exocytosis, the shape and size of the neuron, vesicular transport along neurites (dendrites and axons), and fibril formation. The goal of our research is to determine if breast cancer molecular subtypes can be used as a model for AD. Breast cancer is comprised of five molecular subtypes that contain different molecular structures depending on mutations specific to each subtype and the proteins being synthesized. These mutations and their expressed proteins change the characteristics of the cytoskeleton and resulting properties of the cell such as size, shape and stiffness. Both computer simulation and experiment have demonstrated that high-frequency ultrasound in the 10-100 MHz range is sensitive to these properties. For this study, ultrasonic tests were conducted on monolayer cell cultures of breast cancer cell lines of different subtypes. Ultrasonic waveforms were analyzed by transforming them into their corresponding spectra. The positions, widths, and shapes of the spectral peaks were compared and correlated to model results using a pattern recognition algorithm. Preliminary results indicate that cell stiffness and size can be determined from the measurements. Further analyses of these and additional data will determine if ultrasound is sufficiently sensitive to differentiate between the molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Results from these analyses, future studies with neuron cell cultures, and application of the results to the development of a minimally invasive, in vivo method for accurately diagnosing AD will be discussed.

Brett Gardiner, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Normal human anatomy used in the classroom is not reflective of variations confronted in pathology subjects. Current commercialized models are not products of real data, rather representations of it. While learning complicated medical anatomy, students take an enormous stride from the anatomy lab to situational surgical settings. 3D models can bridge this gap in medical education without patient risk, particularly for the brain where surface regions have strong associations to specific physiological activity. Subject specific models are especially advantageous for comprehending real surface morphology of neurologic diseases. Using rapid prototype technology, we have developed an accessible process to produce physical 3D models from specific MRI data of stroke and Alzheimer’s subjects. The neuroanatomical abnormalities modeled from real data by our 3D printouts will educate students on the anatomical variations encountered in an authentic clinical scenario of neuropathology. Our project consists of three phases: (1) image acquisition, (2) post-processing imaging data with segmentation, and (3) 3D printing. By delineating cortical regions we are providing a unique multidimensional facet of clinically accurate data not before available to the classroom. This powerful and versatile technique can allow students and professionals to visualize the inherently complicated structures as seen in clinical neuropathology. From students in the classroom, lawyers in the courtroom or preoperative surgical explanations, these customizable models will resemble real anatomical information. Through rapid prototyping of specific subject data, unique variations in pathology can be reviewed outside of the clinical setting. Beyond its potential use by teachers, lawyers and doctors can benefit from a 3D production to enhance their explanations of anatomical variations from specific pathological subject data.

Tamara Fox, Weber State University Life Sciences Clostridium botulinum has been implicated in cases of infant botulism across the United States. It is recommended that infants under the age of one year not be fed honey because of the presence of C.botulinum spores. The goal of this project is to determine whether honey produced in small and large apiaries in Utah contain varying amounts of toxin producing C. botulinum. Honey samples will be collected from hives maintained in Utah and tested for the presence of toxin producing strains of C. botulinum. Samples will be dissolved and centrifuged to isolate the spores and then superheated to release the DNA. Testing will then be done through a multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCR) using primers specific for 16s rRNA, Clostridia species, and toxins A, B, E, and F. The presence and type of toxin producing Clostridia species will be compared with a Chi-Squared Test of Independence. Research will be completed by February of 2014 and we expect small apiaries will have a lower frequency of toxin producing C. botulinum strains than large apiaries and that toxin phenotype will vary between the two groups. The results will increase understanding on the variance of C. botulinum in Utah honey and will contribute to further research on this topic.

Kevin Nay, Southern Utah University Life Sciences Leech taxonomy has traditionally been based on morphological characters, but with new developments in DNA technology many taxonomists are starting to use genetic information in descriptions of new species. Leeches in southern Utah are poorly inventoried with respect to many other aquatic animals. There have been few morphological inventories of leeches and even fewer descriptions of the genetic diversity within leeches. Landscape genetics is a powerful tool used to understand geographic patterns of genetic diversity. Southern Utah has many naturally isolated bodies of water due to the climate and the dramatic changes in elevation in this part of the country. The landscape genetic study of leeches in southern Utah will provide us with a better understanding of genetic differentiation within southern Utah leeches. The mitochondrial DNA (CO I region) will be used to estimate genetic diversity and examine the relationships among individuals in two populations of leeches. I hypothesize that leeches in southern Utah will have greater genetic diversity then historically recognized from morphological studies suggesting a new species of leech. The study will lead to better understanding of the taxonomy and identification of southern Utah leeches.

Ashley Nelson, Brigham Young University Life Sciences The motivational effects of opiates and ethanol switch from a dopamine (DA)-independent to a DA-dependent pathway when the animal is in a drug-dependent state. A corresponding change occurs in ventral tegmental area (VTA) GABA(A) receptors in opiate-dependent animals, which switch from a GABA-induced hyperpolarization of VTA GABA neurons to a GABA-induced depolarization. The aim of this study was to evaluate VTA GABA neuron excitability, GABA synaptic transmission to VTA GABA neurons and GABA-mediated DA release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) under ethanol-naïve and dependent conditions. To accomplish these studies, we used standard whole-cell and attached-cell mode electrophysiological techniques to evaluate acute and chronic ethanol effects on VTA GABA neurons in GAD GFP mice, which enabled the visual identification of GABA neurons in slice preparation. In naïve animals, superfusion of ethanol (IC50 = 30 mM) and GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol (IC50 = 100 nM) decreased VTA GABA neuron firing rate in a dose-dependent manner. Compared to saline-injected controls, in animals made dependent on ethanol by twice daily injections of 2.0 g/kg ethanol, neither ethanol nor muscimol significantly affected VTA GABA neuron firing rate on average. We and others have found that ethanol decreases DA release at terminals, as measured by fast scan cyclic voltammetry. We have recently reported that ethanol inhibition of DA release at terminals in the NAc of ethanol-naïve animals is mediated by GABA, possibly from VTA GABA neurons that project to the NAc. We evaluated the effects of ethanol on DA release in the same ethanol-dependent animals. Compared to controls, superfusion of ethanol did not significantly affect DA release. Together, these findings suggest that VTA GABA neurons undergo a switch in GABA(A) receptor function with chronic ethanol, which results in a corresponding switch in DA release, perhaps resulting from adaptations in VTA GABA neuron input to the NAc.

Adam Jorgensen, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Arrhythmia is a serious heart defect that effects 14 million people in the United States. It is characterized by irregular rhythm in the electrical impulses of the heart. Arrhythmia can cause sudden cardiac arrest and stroke. Recent developments in cardiac ablation have helped in the treatment of arrhythmia. Cardiac ablation works by scarring tissue in the heart, thus preventing abnormal electrical signals to travel through the myocardium. The three-dimensional map created in this project will improve the accuracy of cardiac ablation by offering a more dynamic view of the human heart and associated nerve branches. By properly articulating the intricate nerve branching of the heart, surgeons will be able to better target the nerves themselves when scarring heart tissue, thus allowing a less invasive procedure.

Bradley Prince, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Learning and memory occur due to adaptive brain changes in response to our environment. These changes are mediated by synaptic plasticity, particularly within the hippocampus, where spatial and declarative memories occur. Plasticity can either strengthen or weaken synapses, known as long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term depression respectively. While many forms of synaptic plasticity are N-methyl-D-Aspartate receptor-dependent, recently endocannabinoids were identified to mediate several new forms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Endocannabinoids bind to receptors such as cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), and mediate several forms of plasticity, including in the hippocampus. However, new research has demonstrated a non-CB1/TRPV1-dependent endocannabinoid synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. While the receptor(s) involved is currently unknown, several potential candidate receptors that bind the endocannabinoid anandamide have been identified. These are orphan G-protein coupled receptors (GPRs) whose distribution in the brain and/or function is unknown. GPR55 is of particular interest as it activates second message systems, including increasing intracellular calcium. Using quantitative RT-PCR, electrophysiological and memory behavioral tasks we examined hippocampal GPR55 expression and function. GPR55 is indeed expressed in hippocampus of both rats and mice. Cellular expression is currently being examined and appears to be rare in interneurons and more likely expressed by pyramidal cells. Interestingly, application of the GPR55 agonist LPI (2 µM) to wild-type mice demonstrates a decrease of LTD in brain slices. This LPI effect was not noted in GPR55 knock-out mice in the presence of LPI. This data suggest GPR55 is physiologically relevant in the hippocampus. This is the first direct evidence we are aware of that a novel endocannabinoid receptor directly effects hippocampal LTD. Because neurodegeneration that affects memory is typically associated with an increase in LTD, this provides a potential target to slow the advance of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Audrey Butler, Utah Valley University Life Sciences High-frequency (HF) ultrasound has been shown to be sensitive to a range of breast pathologies, and is being explored for the intra-operative assessment of lumpectomy margins. This sensitivity is believed to arise from microstructure-dependent interactions of ultrasound in the tissue. The objectives of this study were to develop breast tissue phantoms with microstructures that accurately mimic the histology of normal and malignant tissue, and to determine the effects of these microstructures on HF ultrasonic spectra (10-100 MHz). Phantoms were created from a mixture of water, gelatin, and soluble fiber. To simulate various breast tissue histologies, polyethylene beads, polyethylene fibers, and nylon fibers with a range of diameters were embedded into phantoms. Microstructures ranging from randomly dispersed beads to bead-fiber constructs resembling terminal ductal lobular units (TDLUs) were modeled and tested. Pitch-catch and pulse-echo measurements were acquired using 50-MHz transducers, a HF pulser-receiver, and a 1-GHz digital oscilloscope. Spectra were derived from the data and peak densities were determined from the spectra. Peak density, which is the number of peaks and valleys in a specified spectral range, has been shown to correlate with tissue complexity. Preliminary results from dispersed beads (58-925 µm diameter) of constant volume concentration (0.8%) indicated that the smaller beads produced higher peak densities than the larger beads with a consistent and statistically significant trend. These results substantially improve upon previous phantom studies and upon results from original breast cancer studies, demonstrating the strength of the HF ultrasound response to tissue microstructure. The higher peak densities can be attributed to either the higher number of scatterers for small beads or the size of scatterer in relation to the ultrasonic wavelength. These and other results from more advanced histologically accurate microstructures modeling TDLUs will be discussed.

Chance Christensen, Utah State University Life Sciences Affective disorders such as depression, phobias, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder impair the ability to time in the seconds-to-minutes range, i.e., interval timing. According to the Relative Time-Sharing (RTS) model, presentation of task-irrelevant distracters during a timing task results in a delay in responding suggesting a failure to maintain subjective time in working memory, possibly due to attentional and working memory resources being diverted away from timing. Given that some anxiolytic medications have beneficial effects on attention and working memory, e.g., decreasing emotional response to negative events, we hypothesized that they would result in a decreased effect of distracters on the timekeeping abilities. We investigated the effect of acute administration of anxiolytic medication when anxiety-inducing task-irrelevant distracters were presented during an interval timing task, using methods similar to Matthews et. al. (2012) Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 6(111): 1-12. Results are discussed in relation to the brain circuits involved in RTS of resources, and the pharmacological management of affective disorders.

Josh Harvey, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Soil CO2 flux represents an important pathway of carbon transfer from ecosystems to the atmosphere. Soil CO2 flux can be altered by global warming-driven changes in seasonal temperature and water availability. Subalpine ecosystems have high levels of carbon in their soils that are stabilized by low temperatures and low microbial activity during long and snowy winter seasons. Subalpine ecosystems can be important sinks for carbon, storing carbon that otherwise would be in the atmosphere contributing to global warming. In our study we show how changes in temperature and water availability during springtime increase the levels of subalpine carbon output. So long as the carbon outputs outweigh carbon inputs, increases in soil flux would amplify global warming. The amplification of global warming would loop back to affect soil fluxes again (by raising temperatures, melting snow earlier, and changing precipitation patterns) thus creating a positive feedback system. Understanding what feedbacks are present in a climate system and their underlying mechanisms will improve our forecasts of changes in atmosphere chemistry and temperature.

Hillary Hansen, University of Utah Life Sciences Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where pancreatic β-cells are destroyed, resulting in insulin deficiency. Generating new β-cells from stem cells for treating diabetes will benefit from understanding their development in vivo. Pancreatic β-cells, along with all other pancreatic lineages arise from multipotent pancreatic progenitor cells (MPCs). Previous studies demonstrate that the structural and signaling protein β-catenin is required for the development of the exocrine acinar lineage. β-cells still differentiate in the absence of β-catenin, however, β-cell mass is dependent upon β-catenin. We determined that this dependency reflects a role for β-catenin in the maintenance of MPC patterning as well as for expansion of the progenitor pool. Whether our observed effects are due to the signaling or structural function of β-catenin remains unknown, and is the focus of this research. Using mouse genetics we are able to separate the structural and signaling functions of β-catenin. Eliminating both functions in PBKO (full knockout) mice produces decreased β-cell mass and irregular patterning. Decreased β-cell mass is also observed in PBsKO (signaling deficient) mice, though patterning remains unaffected. This suggests that pancreas growth is dependent upon canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and that maintaining progenitor identity requires the structural role of β-catenin. Elucidating distinct roles for β-catenin could be used to drive stem cell-derived MPCs to expand and differentiate to the desired pancreatic cell fate.

Michael Naegle, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Dermaptera is a comparatively small order of insects with approximately 1800 species placed in three suborders. While the majority of earwig species are placed within the suborder Forficulina and are free-living with forceps-like appendages, two dermapteran lineages have a very unusual morphologies and life histories. The viviparous Hemimerina live epizoically on giant rats in tropical Africa where they feed on fungi growing on the rats’ skin. Hemimerina lack eyes and wings and the cerci are filiform. The viviparous Arixenina are associated with bats in Malaysia and the Phillippines, and they feed on bat skin gland secretions. They have reduced eyes, are wingless, and possess straight cerci. The phylogenetic position of the suborders Arixenina and Hemimerina relative to Forficulina have previously been unclear; however preliminary analysis suggest the phylogenetic position of the suborders Arixenina and Hemimerina are nested within Forficulina, with ectoparasitism evolving multiple times within this order. We generated DNA sequence data from three nuclear (18S, 28S and H3) and two mitochondrial (COI and TUBA) genes for representatives of all three suborders and outgroups. A phylogeny was reconstructed to address the following questions: (1) Does Hemimerina + Arixenina form a monophyletic group and support a single origin of parasitism or are there multiple origins of parasitism? (2) Is Forficulina monophyletic with respect to these parasitic lineages? (3) Are morphological similarities shared by the ectoparasitic forms synapomorphic or homoplasious characters?

Ashtyn Smith, Westminster College Life Sciences Methylmercury (CH3Hg) is a neurotoxin that accumulates in lakes and streams due to the action of microorganisms, which can produce this biologically relevant organic form from elemental mercury (Hg). Therefore, the activities of microorganisms become key to understanding the balance of Hg and CH3Hg in the movement through the food chain in any ecosystem. Many species of microorganisms are resistant to Hg and can thrive in polluted waters. Recent studies have shown that Hg resistance in microbes can stem from one of two gene pairs, merAB or hgcAB. The merAB system allows the organism to covert CH3Hg into elemental Hg. Conversely, the hgcAB system coverts Hg into CH3Hg. Thus, it is important to determine how the microbial community of Great Salt Lake, Utah is affecting the CH3Hg concentrations in the lake. In order to determine the genotype of the lake’s halophiles, “salt-loving” organisms, microorganisms were collected from the deep brine layer in eight areas of the lake. The microorganisms were then isolated and cultivated on increasing concentrations of HgCl2. Halophiles from these samples have been isolated on 25 ppm HgCl2 at various salinities, demonstrating a robust resistance to Hg. PCR amplification and genetic sequencing will be used to determine the gene mechanism of mercury resistance (merAB or hgcAB) as well as the 16S rRNA gene, which will aid in identification of the species. Should this study identify GSL microorganisms that exhibit the merAB genotype, these organisms could potentially be utilized as bioremediators of the CH3Hg pollution in the lake.

J Andrew Chappell, Utah Valley University Life Sciences In a joint effort with Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, students from Utah Valley University are using high-frequency (HF) ultrasound to test the pathology of surgical margins from breast cancer conservation surgery. The method, developed by Dr. Timothy E. Doyle, provided significant results in a NIH-funded 2010 feasibility study. The results of the study indicated that peak density, the number of peaks and valleys in the HF ultrasonic spectrum, correlates to breast tissue pathology. This technology would allow surgeons to test – in the operating room – whether a surgical margin was clean or if cancer still remained in the margin. This advancement would decrease the amount of return surgical visits a patient must undergo, reduce costs for patients and hospitals, reduce breast cancer recurrence rates, and ultimately increase the survival rate of patients with breast cancer. During the ultrasonic testing, the students work in a team of four in a room outside of the surgical suite. Specimens are brought in by the surgeons’ team and tested immediately following resection. The margins are approximately 3x20x20 mm in size, and are oriented using a small staple inserted by the surgeon in one corner and a stitch on one side. The margin is tested at specific locations depending on the size of the margin and then sent to pathology for analyses. Pathological results and HF ultrasound results will be compared for correlation at the end of the study, which is expected to last about one year. The study will include approximately 80 patients, 360 tissue samples, 1400 tested locations, and 4,300 data points. The goal of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of the method in determining margin pathology. If successful, the method will be moved into clinical trial.

Dusting Day, Brigham Young University Life Science Atherosclerotic vascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and death in the United States. Approximately 1.4 million surgical procedures are required every year for treatment of vascular disease and its subsequent issues. While saphenous vein and internal mammary artery grafts are most commonly chosen by physicians, many patients who are in need of arterial grafts have vessels that are not ideal for grafting because of damage to the vessels or disease. This introduces the necessity for synthetic blood vessel grafts that function precisely as natural vessels in vivo. Our blood vessel research team has entered the tissue engineering field in its most exciting effort: the scalable rendering of cell-seeded vascular constructs with rapid prototyping machines or 3D printers. We have built and are modifying a 3D printer to deposit living endothelial and smooth muscle cells into vascular structures. Using agar, alginate, or collagen gels as placement media, cells can be arranged in shapes resembling multilayered artery tubules and proliferate to form functional arteries. The endothelial layer and smooth muscle layer of cells interact to secrete a natural extracellular matrix (ECM) between them. We have successfully cultured endothelial cells and are perfecting our technique of harvesting aortic smooth muscle cells for culture. These cells will be encapsulated in a gel we have optimized for cell adhesion and proliferation and will then be printed with our rapid prototyping machine into the shape of a blood vessel. After proper cell growth and secretion of the ECM we will subject our synthetic graft to tensile strength testing, thrombosis tests, and eventually implantation into an animal for observation of any immunogenic effects. Our project’s success would bring an array of new treatment options through biomedical engineering that would save many lives of those who suffer from cardiovascular disease.

David Money, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Interest in animal personalities, and particularly the effect that different environments have on personality, has increased dramatically over the past decade. Understanding how individuals vary in their behavior, and if there are consistent differences among populations from divergent selective environments, lays the foundation for studies focusing on the contribution of divergent behavior in species formation. To date, studies that have focused on how personalities differ across ontogenetic stages have failed to compare populations that occur in dramatically different environments. Our study attempts to fill this void by studying the ontogeny of personality in populations that have evolved in environments with different levels of risk (i.e., predation vs. no-predation). We tested the expression of different personality traits evolution across ontogeny (i.e., from juveniles to full grown adults) in two sister species of live-bearing tropical fish, Brachyraphis roseni and B. terrabensis. These species have evolved in different selective environments, with B. roseni having evolved in an environment where predators were present, while B. terrabensis evolved in an environment lacking predators. We assessed the boldness expression of individuals from several groups in populations, namely juveniles, small adults, and large adults. To measure boldness, we used an emergence test, and also an exploration and activity test (i.e., ratio of movement to idleness during an allotted time period). Our study provides evidence for an important relationship between predation environment and the evolution of personality traits across ontogeny.

Aimee Newsham, Dixie State University Life Sciences Millions of people are infected yearly with resistant pathogens, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a biofilm-forming pathogen that is often transferred to patients from contaminated surfaces. Therefore, improved methods to destroy biofilm-encapsulated pathogens or to prevent their initial formation are required. This research is focused on the development of a safe treatment against biofilms by integrating organic salts, or ionic liquids (ILs), into different surfaces. Textiles were integrated with ILs to prevent formation of biofilms/bacterial growth, and were also treated post-exposure to determine if the biofilms could be destroyed post-contamination. Effectiveness of newly designed ILs were tested via inhibition zone studies on LB agar plates, and post-treatment samples were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy for presence of bacteria. The bacteria tested included Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli. These microbes are similar to MRSA in that they form biofilms comprised of extracellular proteins, DNA and polysaccharides. Bacterial colonies encapsulate themselves with biofilms to provide protection from threats, including antibacterial drugs. By integrating ionic liquids into textiles, formation can be prevented by IL solvation and sequestering of the extracellular biofilm components, including the proteins and DNA. This research could have tremendous implications regarding defeating bacteria that are resistant to existing treatments due to biofilm encapsulation. Additionally, the results could lead to new antimicrobial textiles and new approaches to prevent adherence and growth resistant biofilm-encapsulated pathogens.

Derek Harris, Dixie State University Life Sciences The presence of extracellular DNA (eDNA) in various environmental and biological media has become the subject of growing interest in the field of research. In media such as bacterial biofilms, it has been shown to play a vital role in their structure and antimicrobial properties. Existing methods for extraction of pure eDNA from these media are complex and problematic; particularly from biological media where cells containing genomic DNA are also present. Novel surfactants have been developed, whose miscibility and polarity are easily tuned to suit a variety of conditions necessary for eDNA extractions. They can accomplish extraction of pure eDNA through concurrent hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions in a single step, while remaining unreactive with the surrounding media or lysing cells and exposing genomic DNA. We have shown by spectrophotometric quantification that these surfactants extract measurable amounts of DNA into a water-immiscible solvent layer, which can then be removed from the media. The DNA can then be further amplified and purified for analysis. Further refinement of extraction methods utilizing these surfactants could prove a tremendous asset to research attempting to elucidate the possible genetic content of eDNA and the mechanisms behind its often crucial role in environmental and biological media.

Austin Pearce, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Agave utahensis acts as a keystone species across its native range in the Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau (Gentry, 1982). As a keystone species, Utah agave contributes to soil formation along barren mountain ridges, and has provided starch-rich sustenance to Native American tribes. Furthermore, taxonomists consider each of the two subspecies, kaibabensis and utahensis, to have considerable morphological variation (Gentry, 1982) within their own unique ecological niches. Given the importance of Utah agave, the high degree of variation, and its unique ecological niches, there is surprisingly little information published regarding its physiological ecology. In fact, no effort has been made to determine the population densities of Utah agave due to the remoteness of the region and its difficult terrain (e.g., the Grand Canyon). Therefore, geospatial analysis tools specific to environmental niche modeling provide a powerful means through which these issues and knowledge gaps can be effectively addressed. My goal is to develop a species distribution model by joining known locations of Utah agave with climatic and environmental data in MaxEnt and ArcGIS software. Such a model can be used by others for further ecological field studies of Utah agave and its subspecies. Additionally, the approach I employ can be used as a pattern for mapping distributions of other important plant species in remote and difficult-to-access regions of the world.

Alysa Fratto, Westminster College Life Sciences Although the idea of life on other planets is mused over by many, the scientific study of the potential for extraterrestrial life did not begin until the mid-1950s (SETI, 2013). Since then, many technological advancements have been made that make the study of life on other planets simpler, however it is inherently difficult to study the potential for life in an environment that one cannot access. To address this issue, scientists look on Earth for extreme environments that mimic those found elsewhere in the universe.

Joseph Linzey, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Dopamine (DA) D2 receptor expression parallels DA levels in the brain and these autoreceptors on DA neurons been shown to be modulated by long-term ethanol exposure. We have previously demonstrated that VTA GABA neurons also express D2 receptors, and that DA and D2 receptor agonists markedly enhance the excitability of VTA GABA neurons, opposite to their well-known inhibition of DA neurons. Most importantly, D2 receptor antagonists block ethanol inhibition of VTA GABA neurons and D2 receptor expression in VTA GABA neurons down-regulates with chronic ethanol. This study evaluates short-term D2 receptor adaptation in VTA GABA neurons and in DA release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) by acute ethanol. In electrophysiology studies in anesthetized rats, periodic iontophoretic application of DA, or the D2 agonist quinpirole, markedly enhanced VTA GABA neuron firing rate, which was initially inhibited by ethanol, but resulted in latent and marked rebound excitation 30-60 min following injection. Using fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), we evoked DA signals in the core of the NAc by electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle at the level of the lateral hypothalamus (60 Hz, 24 pulses). Intraperitoneal (IP) administration of ethanol (1.0-3.0 g/kg) dose-dependently decreased the amplitude of the MFB-evoked NAc DA signal. IP administration of the D2 antagonist eticlopride (1 mg/kg) markedly increased (250%) the amplitude of the evoked DA signal. When ethanol was administered after eticlopride it increased the amplitude of the DA signal an additional 42%. These findings suggest that ethanol induced decreases in evoked DA release may be due to autoreceptor feedback. Work is in progress to evaluate the short-term expression of D2 receptors in VTA GABA neurons following acute ethanol and to evaluate the effects of ethanol-induced short and long-term adaptations in VTA GABA neuron D2 expression in mediating ethanol effects on DA release in the NAc.

April Moorer, Weber State University Life Sciences Corexit is a dispersant used in the gulf of Mexico as a reactive measure to counteract the oil spill of April of 2010. Studies reveal that toxicity is produced and has impacted marine life. Research shows that reproductivity is diminished as a consequence. Paralysis, tumor development, and fatalities are also proven to occur. The purpose of this experiment is to study effects on the physiological structure of brine shrimp at various life stages resulting from the exposure to toxicity induced by corexit.

Daniel Loveland, Brigham Young University Life Sciences The monoamine oxidase A (MAOa) gene has been shown to be associated with various social behaviors and disorders such as: aggression, depression, and anxiety (Meyer et al., 2006; Kinnally et al., 2010; Newman et al., 2005); and the MAOa gene interacts with environmental influences to produce its phenotypic effects (Newman et al., 2005; Kinnally et al., 2010). The MAOa gene encodes the enzyme monoamine oxidase A, which is the main enzyme to break down the monoamines into their respective metabolites. An orthologous repeat variant of the MAOa genotype seen in humans has been found in the rhesus macaque: a 5 repeat (R), a 6R and a 7R. This study investigates the influence MAOa genotypes have on central monoamine functioning as measured by cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolites associated with behavioral dysfunction (dopamine metabolite: homovanillic acid-HVA, norepinephrine metabolite: 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylgycol-MHPG, and serotonin metabolite: 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid-5-HIAA). Cisternal CSF was obtained from 136 30-day old infant male rhesus macaques with varying genotypes and rearing backgrounds. We expected to find a rearing by genotype (GxE) effect on the monoamine systems with differences between mother-reared subjects when compared to subjects reared without mothers in peer-only groups. We found significant variability between genotypes; results also showed early rearing modulated this genotypic effect on brain chemistry. This supports our hypothesis that GxE interactions influence monoamine metabolite concentrations, suggesting a possible relationship of GxE interactions on social disorders such as aggression, depression and anxiety.

Brittany Hammontree, Dixie State University Life Sciences Depending on metabolic conditions or dietary preferences, people can often become deficient in critical vitamins and minerals. For example, a number of people are deciding to become vegetarians, and vitamin B12 deficiencies could become a huge epidemic, as this essential vitamin is only obtained through meat products. This issue was the driving force to look deeper into new ionic liquid materials and how they could be used as a transport agent for vitamin B12, along with other vitamins. Ionic liquids are organic salts that are currently being explored in many scientific fields due to their unique properties. However, using ionic liquids as a transporter in transdermal applications has yet to be explored Developing new mechanisms of administering nutrients via transdermal processes can increase the bioavailability and effectiveness of vitamins and minerals that often cannot survive oral administering due to the acidity and molecular absorption via the stomach. This research focused on finding the right ionic liquid with high solubility of the individual vitamins. Several ionic liquids were developed, and the different vitamins were tested for solubility levels. This greater solubility allows for maximum exposure of the vitamin during transdermal delivery. In particular, two different vitamins were tested – vitamin K and Protoporphyrin, a chemical analog to vitamin B12. Additionally, the effect of these ionic liquids on the physiology of the blood and plasma as it enters the body past the skin layers is critical to understand. In addition to transdermal applications of vitamins, transport of these vitamins to other countries and remote locations could have tremendous implications. Ionic liquids tend to increase shelf life of solutes, and the availability to provide these materials during medical missions or service trips would be increased substantially, particularly in more remote settings.

Robyn Kira Omer, Utah Valley University Life Sciences Peak density, which is the number of peaks and valleys in a specified spectral range of high-frequency (HF) ultrasound, correlates to breast pathology in lumpectomy specimens. It has been a question in both previous and current studies, however, whether the thickness of a sample has an independent effect on the peak density. The objective of this study was to discover any correlation, if any, between specimen thickness and peak density in HF ultrasound measurements (10-100 MHz). Phantoms were fabricated from a mixture of water, gelatin, and soluble fiber. Polyethylene microspheres (180-212 micrometer diameter) were embedded into half of the phantom specimens at 0.0003% concentration to simulate tissue heterogeneity. The other phantoms were devoid of microspheres to provide control measurements. Seventy two pitch-catch measurements were acquired in triplicate using 50-MHz transducers, a HF pulser-receiver, and a 1-GHz digital oscilloscope. The waveforms were analyzed to provide spectra and the resulting peak densities were determined. The results indicate that no significant correlation exists between specimen thickness and peak density. The coefficients of correlation for the microsphere and control specimens were 0.366 and 0.652, respectively. The peak density values were most consistent within the control specimens, ranging from 1 to 4. The peak densities for the microsphere phantoms had a greater range of values, varying from 1 to 8. It is believed that the wide variation in peak density for the microsphere phantoms was due to clustering of the microspheres. Future studies will include looking at previous phantom and tissue studies to further investigate the apparent lack of thickness-peak density correlation.

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.

Xin Wan, University of Utah Life Sciences Endothelial dysfunction exists in individuals with diet-induced obesity (DIO) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Markers of endothelial dysfunction include reduced phosphorylation (p) of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) to total eNOS (p-eNOS:eNOS), and attenuated endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Free fatty acids (FFAs) are elevated in individuals with DIO and T2DM. Our laboratory has shown that when: (i) endothelial cells are incubated with saturated FFA palmitate; (ii) mice are infused with lard-oil; and/or (iii) when mice are fed with high-fat diet, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) binds directly with eNOS. When this occurs, the association among Akt-Hsp90-eNOS is disrupted, p-eNOS:eNOS is impaired, and endothelium-dependent dysfunction occurs. This is prevented using pharmacological and genetic approaches that limit production of FFA metabolite ceramide. It is unknown whether PP2A inhibition per se is protective. We hypothesized that arterial dysfunction in obese vs. lean mice is prevented by PP2A inhibition. Seven-week-old, male, C57B16 mice consumed standard (CON, n=20) or high-fat (HF, n=20) chow for 12-weeks. Subgroups (n=10) of CON and HF mice received IP injections of saline (vehicle; V) or Lixte Biotechnology 100 (LB1, 1 mg/kg/day) for the last 14-days. Preliminary experiments verified that LB1-treatment for 3 and 21 days decreases (p<0.05) arterial PP2A activity. HF mice gained weight and developed peripheral glucose intolerance vs. CON mice regardless of LB1 treatment. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was impaired (p<0.05) in HF-V vs. CON-V mice, but dysfunction was less severe (p<0.05) in HF-LB1 mice. p-eNOS:eNOS was reduced (p<0.05) in arteries from HF-V vs. CON-V mice, but p-eNOS:eNOS was similar in arteries from HF-LB1 and CON-LB1 mice. Akt and Hsp90 co-immunoprecipitation with eNOS was impaired (p<0.05) in HF-V vs. HF-CON mice, but this was not observed in arteries from HF-LB1 and CON-LB1 mice. These findings suggest that PP2A activity suppression in vivo is sufficient to preserve endothelial function in obese mice.

Teresa St. Pierre Nufer, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Acute stress has been shown to decrease Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampus. Stressed animals also 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 with stress group where mice have voluntary access to a running wheel (for 30 days) before undergoing the stress protocol.

Janweb Lagazo, Brigham Young University Life Sciences The scientific community and the general public have long been interested in the effects of water pollution. Most studies on water pollution have focused solely on industrial pollution, but have failed to consider the potential impact of pharmaceuticals that unintentionally accumulate in aquatic ecosystems via wastewater treatment effluents. The purpose of this study is to advance our understanding on how these wastewater effluents affect aquatic ecosystems in Utah. We quantified the concentration of select pharmaceuticals in Hobble Creek using mass spectrometry. Then we sampled above the treatment plant, at the effluent outlet, and downstream of the effluent to determine pre-effluent and post-effluent drug concentrations. We are currently using this preliminary data to investigate how common endocrine disrupting, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-anxiety drugs may potentially affect the aquatic ecosystem of the endangered Chasmistes liorus, commonly known as June sucker.

Dani Peterson, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Due to its long and complicated trajectory through the cranium, facial nerve VII (CN VII) can be damaged in surgeries, sometimes resulting in facial muscle paralysis. Surgical removal of acoustic neuromas and parotid tumors, in addition to surgical repair of the temporomandibular joint disorder are associated with a risk of damage to CN VII. In addition, insertion of auditory implants can damage the nerve, as can improper stimulation to the nerve after the implantation has occurred. We will create a three-dimensional (3D) model based off of data from dissection of the nerve in a human cadaver in order to give physicians a greater in vivo knowledge of the pathway of CN VII. We have dissected the lateral side of the right half of the head to the level of the parotid gland, identified the parotid plexus of CN VII, and followed its five branches. In addition, we are currently following the nerve through the internal auditory meatus on its pathway through the temporal bone. In preparation for the modeling MicroScribe technique described below, we have imaged the head using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at BYU. These images will be used as a template for the nerve reconstruction model. After completing the dissection, we will track the nerve trajectory using a MicroScribe 3D Digitizer. The MicroScribe technique is used to create 3D computer models of any physical object. The user sets reference points and uses the stylus to trace data points of the object’s contours. Our final product will be a 3D spatial computer mapping of CNVII, as well as a mapping of the skull, parotid gland, and other landmarks to put the nerve model into context. We hypothesize that with our approach and MicroScribe technique, we will be successful in creating an accurate model of CN VII in the head.

Lauren Archibald, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Increased intake of selenium (Se) and soy have both been shown to reduce risk for prostate cancer, especially if these dietary treatments are combined. The purpose of this project is to determine how the timing of Se supplementation of either a low- or high-soy diet affects prostate cancer risk. [C57BL/6 X FVB] F1 TRAMP (TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate) male mice were fed stock diets low or high in soy. Half of the mice received Se supplementation (4.0 mg Se/kg BW as Se-methylselenocysteine) by gavage 5 d/wk in a 2 X 2 factorial design. Se supplementation began at conception, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, or 18 weeks of age. The mice were then sacrificed at different stages of maturation (4, 12, 18, and 24 weeks). Our results showed that, at 12 weeks of age, urogenital tract weights, a measure of prostate proliferation and tumor volume, were significantly reduced by Se supplementation (p<0.001) and by soy (p=0.044), independent of time of dietary intervention. Histological scores of prostate cancer progression also showed a protective effect of Se supplementation (p=0.030). At this writing, statistical analysis of data from mice sacrificed at 18 weeks is in process. Data derived from 18-week mice, combined with our previous findings from 12-week animals, will allow us to chart the progress of prostate cancer in this model. In addition, results will show how dietary Se and soy may alter disease progression and how the timing of dietary intervention may determine its effects.

Claudia Gonzalez, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Cortisol has been shown to be a potential bio-marker as it discriminates between individuals with and without depression (Rush et al., 1996 and Ising et al., 2007). However, cortisol has not been used to predict variation in temperament extremes that lead to pathological behaviors in adulthood. In order to examine the relationship between cortisol and temperament extremes, data from the bio-behavioral assessment (BBA) was used. The BBA data base includes data collected from over 2,700 infant rhesus macaques located in California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC). During the BBA four blood samples per subject are obtained and later assayed for plasma cortisol levels. In this study, the plasma cortisol response levels were looked at in a holistic form encompassing all individual cortisol samples. The four points of plasma cortisol concentrations were used to extract patterns of response per subject which provided classifications for each of the monkeys. The pathological patterns of cortisol response were characterized by abnormal plasma cortisol levels in response to Dexamethasone suppression testing and adrenocorticotropin ACTH injections. The variability in plasma cortisol patterns was then compared to BBA temperament ratings of vigilance, gentle, nervousness and confidence. These results showed that 12 of the 26 possible patterns of response were significantly (p<.05) related to each of the temperament ratings of vigilance, gentleness and confidence. Thus cortisol response patterns can be used both as biomarkers for vigilance, gentleness and confidence, and as potential predictors for pathological behaviors in adulthood.

April McMurray, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (DMT2) is a lifestyle-related disease where the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells are unreceptive to it, and it is now the most common form of diabetes. Individuals who do not control the disease can suffer serious complications such as limb amputation, damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and it can be very costly. This problem is particularly serious in Tonga; the prevalence is almost twice as high as that in the United States. The purpose of this research project was to determine to what extent the cultural, economic, and educational factors contribute to such high prevalence. In May I traveled to Tonga with the nursing students from Brigham Young University to conduct my research. I distributed surveys to patients and medical staff in the diabetes clinic in the Vaiola hospital in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. The surveys had questions related to their socioeconomic status, understanding and attitudes of diabetes, as well as patient management practices. While I was there, I also kept extensive field notes on observations related to my research, which provided supplemental information regarding the Tongan lifestyle that was difficult to gather from the surveys. Preliminary analysis indicates that there has been a very small, positive shift in understanding and attitudes towards DMT2, but economic- and culture-based habits still impede Tongans from managing the disease effectively. There were several limitations to this study: small sample numbers, lack of resources, some resistance from Tongan medical personnel, and particularly cultural barriers made it difficult to gather enough information to come to significant conclusions. However, the research does give insight concerning potential future studies and interventions to help the people of Tonga treat this disease.

Benjamin Gann, Utah Valley University Life Sciences (E)-2,4-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butenal (2-Butenal) was shown to inhibit various inflammatory responses by inhibiting NF-kB pathway. A pull-down assay proved 2-butenal to bind to IKKb and was proposed as an active site kinase inhibitor through molecular docking experiment. However, 2-butanal has a highly conjugated aldehyde group that makes it very unstable. Therefore, we have designed more stable 2-butenal analogues and prepared them using Heck reaction. Molecular docking experiment shows that many of them have a greater affinity to IKKb.

Sara Fauver, University of Utah Life Sciences We know that novel genetic variants have driven evolution for millions of years and that natural selection favors phenotypes most suited for survival, leading to the enormous diversity of life we see today. However, what remains unclear, are the patterns of mutations that lead to large phenotypic changes. For example, do mutations in a single gene of large effect lead to morphological changes more often than numerous mutations in genes of smaller effect? Also, do these mutations occur more often in protein coding regions or regulatory regions of DNA? Finally, are the same genes or gene pathways used repeatedly across lineages when parallel phenotypes evolve?

Jeffrey Leavitt, Utah Valley University Life Sciences Central Research Question: Heptageniidae is a large family within the order Ephemeroptera (mayflies). This family consists of over 500 described species. Recently a study was done across 200 of the species to break them up into subfamilies, and genera. The studied concluded that there are 29 genera and three subfamilies Ecdyonurinae, Heptageniinae, and Rhithrogeninae (Wang, 2004). Furthermore, Ogden et al. (2009) proposed that the families Arthropleidae and Pseudironidae were derived heptageniid lineages. The phylogenetic relationships of Heptageniidae, Arthropleidae, Pseudironidae, to other closely related families are inconclusive. We propose to study these three families and the three subfamilies of Heptageniidae in detail via molecular systematics.