2020 Abstracts

Pehkonen, Eliza (Salt Lake Community College)
Faculty Advisor: Seaboch, Melissa (Salt Lake Community College, Anthropology)

Precipitation-associated behaviors have been observed in several species of primate including bonobos (e.g., building leafy shelters), chimpanzees (e.g., drinking, rain dancing displays), and mantled howler monkeys (e.g., licking rain from the air, altering typical behavior based on weather and season). The purpose of this study is to determine if mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) exhibit precipitation-associated vocalizations. A. palliata is well known for its vocalizations, which are the loudest sound made by any terrestrial mammal and are used for a wide variety of communicative purposes, such as attracting mates, defending territory, and deterring predation. Given the purpose with which A. palliata vocalizes and the existence of precipitation-associated behaviors within primate species, including A. palliata, it was hypothesized that A. palliata would vocalize in association with climatic events (precipitation and thunder). To test this hypothesis, 41.75 hours of data were collected on A. palliata over a two-week time period during the rainy season at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. All-occurrence sampling was used to record the timing and duration of all A. palliata vocalizations, precipitation, and thunder events. Events were considered accompanied if they occurred within five minutes of one another. Of the 59 observed vocalization events 53% were associated with climatic events. Of the 20 observed precipitation events 90% were accompanied by vocalizations and of the 37 observed thunder events 57% were accompanied by vocalization. Associated vocalizations occurred before, during and after climatic events, however, during or after were most common. The data indicate an association between A. palliata vocalization and precipitation, confirming the hypothesis. Further research is warranted to investigate a possible purpose of precipitation-associated vocalizations, an understanding of which could provide further insight into A. palliata's behavioral interaction with climatic events.

Smith, June; Mishra, Niharika (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Oberg, Craig (Weber State University, Microbiology); Culumber, Michele (Weber State University, Microbiology)

Non-dairy food options have become a growing cultural necessity, however, providing fermented or probiotic supplemented non-dairy alternatives is difficult. Little is known about the activity and survival of probiotic cultures in dairy alternatives. We evaluated the activities of several probiotics at various concentrations and in different combinations in oat, almond, and coconut beverages. Probiotic culture strains of Streptococcus thermophilus (YFLO1), Lactobacillus rhamnose (LGG), L. casei (Casei 431), and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB12), and commercial probiotic mixtures, YFLO2, and Fresh Q, were inoculated in MRS broth, transferred to MRS agar plates, and incubated anaerobically for 24 hours at 37_. BB12 was grown anaerobically in MRS + cystine broth and agar. Isolated colonies were assayed on API 50 CH panels, and a carbohydrate use panel was developed for each organism. Oat, almond, and coconut beverages were inoculated in duplicate with the isolated strains and incubated in a water bath at 40_. The pH was recorded at regular intervals for up to 41 hours. The oat beverage had the most rapid and significant pH change, when incubated with either YFLO1, casei431, and LGG, dropping between 1.5 to 3 pH units over 3 hours depending on the culture. The almond and coconut beverages did not show rapid pH change with the organisms tested. Due to the quick decrease in pH change, further tests on the oat beverage. It was inoculated with Lactobacillus casei 431, LGG, and YFLO1. Organisms were tested at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% concentrations in oat beverage in triplicate. These inoculations were again incubated at 40°C and pH monitored after 5 hours, then plated on MRS agar plates after 24 hours. Final ranged between 1.0 x 109 - 1.8 x 109 for the 1% inoculum. It appears that these organisms survive, and may even grow in the oat beverage. This research demonstrates that probiotic cultures can grow in non-dairy beverages and can ferment the available carbohydrates and decrease pH. These results provide insights that can be used for beverages, yogurt, ice cream, and other fermented food production.

Armitstead, Annie; Grether, Lara; Creech, Kealani (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Watt, Richard (Brigham Young University, Biochemistry)

Lateral Flow Immunoassays (LFI) are simple tests that detect specific levels of antigens or antibodies in patient samples. Requiring only a few minutes, small sample sizes and no read-out equipment, LFI�s are an invaluable and time efficient testing technique. Made up of multiple layers they facilitate the capillary flow of a sample through protein detection zones and can be developed to detect virtually any disease or condition.

Despite the attractive attributes of these tests, the assembly of an LFI strip requires expensive machines, trained personnel, and materials not easily accessible to low-resourced labs or clinics. Developing an innovative point-of-care platform designed to be streamlined, low-cost, and intelligible to the unskilled would open the door of medicine to even the most underprivileged clinics in the world.

We are currently developing a paper LFI that uses a single sheet of copy paper with the ability to filter whole blood as well as replacing high-priced machines with stencils and pens which can still deliver detection proteins to the designated test zones. This avenue of testing is supported by previous experiments we have done with protein pens and tagged antibodies. Using anti-mouse and anti-hCG antibodies as our control and test lines respectively, we spike our sample with hCG mouse antibodies tagged with nanoparticles, and we are able to see binding of both proteins with their respective antibodies. We have seen results in our new testing technique that is easily comparable with currently commercialized LFI's: visual results of binding within 1 min, successful transformation of printer paper into a functional binding platform, and consistent protein binding at a 1/10^5 concentration. Once this concept can be translated to different inks in order to diagnose a plethora of varying conditions, we'll be able to detect diseases and other important biomarkers no matter the limiting low-resource circumstances.

Larson, Rebecca; Jimenez, Misty (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Jensen, Francine (Utah Valley University, Nursing)

Stress is a known barrier to patient recovery. Patients experience increased emotions, such as stress, while hospitalized due to high stakes from risks to life, health and well-being. Patients' emotions can affect their perceptions, future intentions, and behaviors. In pediatrics, the way parents react to their child's illness may affect the children's compliance, emotional response to medical treatment, and even some development processes, demonstrating the premise that there are many possible stressors that can have significant impacts on patients. Hospitals have taken several measures to evaluate patient stress, such as encouraging hospital staff to discuss patient satisfaction surveys with their patient. However, not all patients recognize their own stressors, and some patients may not initially feel comfortable sharing them. For example, a study showed specific stressors that may experienced by patients of different demographics. These stressors may not always be apparent to nurses. Patients' stress can be reduced if the hospital environment fosters perceptions of control, social support and positive distraction. A change in patient environment can promote healing, as evidenced by a hospital, Navicent Health, that demonstrated in their neonatal intensive care unit that reducing stress and anxiety for both newborns and their parents facilitated healing growth and bonding. Nurses can improve the care they provide to patients by learning how to recognize and reduce stressors during the hospital stay.

Greenhalgh, Mitchell; Merrill, Alex; Lopez, David; Lefevre, Sam; Williams, Greg (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Abbott, Ben (Brigham Young University, Plant and Wildlife Sciences)

The presence of sand and gravel pits around Utah are usually accompanied by public complaints of increased negative health outcomes. The primary risk from these areas is crystalline silica (CS)—the molecule released into the air as a result of crushing rocks and sand. Literature has given mixed results of the potentially harmful effects of crystalline silica. To address the potential health risk of Utah residents from living near sand pits, we performed a meta-analysis on CS-related literature to estimate the true effects of CS on human health. We then used GIS software to estimate the total population in Utah that lives within a 5000-meter buffer of the sand pits in Utah. Using Utah cancer data, birth data, and hospital emergency department data, we created risk ratios for residents within the buffer. The meta-analysis concluded that CS is a weak lung carcinogen. Other research suggests that air pollution leads to low birth weight and preterm births. In our study, lung cancer rates were significantly lower in populations within the 5000-meter buffer. We found no evidence of significant adverse birth outcomes as a result of living in close proximity to sand and gravel pits. Non-malignant respiratory disease also had significantly lower rates within the buffer. These findings are important in determining the role of sand/gravel pit operations in disease incidence in surrounding communities. More research is needed to evaluate confounding factors such as smoking prevalence and socioeconomic status and to investigate crystalline silica in non-occupational settings.

Davis, Morgan; Edvalson, Logan; Busath, David (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Busath, David (Life Science, Physiology and Developmental Biology)

Influenza infection, and subsequent pneumonias, are the cause of over fifty thousand deaths in the United States per year, and, according to the CDC, influenza is the 8th leading cause of death in this country. Research into the pathogenesis of influenza elucidates critical interactions that take place during different phases of infection which can be targeted by novel drug therapies. Our lab has focused on discovering the role of of PDGFR and VEGFR and other Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) in aiding viral infection. RTK activation is reported to be important for successful viral infection, and our project has focused on three different RTKs: VEGFR, PDGFR, and endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). In these experiments, Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells were bathed in growth medium containing a specific RTK inhibitor, and then infected with the influenza virus. The vitality of the cells was measured using crystal violet staining and spectrophotometer results. The data showed that using a drug called imatinib—a potent PDGFR inhibitor—resulted in the highest cellular vitality while VEGFR inhibitors developed here at BYU also showed anti-influenza activity. This suggests that the influenza virus is at least partially dependent on PDGFR and VEGFR activation to enhance its life cycle. Future experimentation will study which of the many branches of these receptor's phosphorylation cascades are being utilized by the virus.

Edwards, Taylor; Ram, Akila; McCarty, Ashley; Bobeck, Erin N (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Bobeck, Erin (College of Science, Biology Department)

First-line chemotherapies against solid tumors are highly efficacious in reducing the tumor burden, but have many adverse side-effects including nerve damage, leading to chronic pain. Non-addictive, efficacious pain relievers are an area of active interest, and we propose a novel target to address this pressing issue. GPR171 is a G-Protein Coupled Receptor that was recently deorphanized and was identified to be expressed in the brain in regions that regulate reward, anxiety, and pain. Within the pain circuit, it was shown previously that systemic administration of the GPR171 agonist enhances morphine antinociception in acute pain tests. Preliminary data from our lab has shown that GPR171 activation can also alleviate persistent inflammatory pain. However, the role of this receptor has not been investigated in other chronic pain models. Given these findings in acute and inflammatory pain, we hypothesize that GPR171 can reduce neuropathic pain. To test this hypothesis, we investigate the role of GPR171 in chronic neuropathic pain. We tested the efficacy of a GPR171 agonist in a chemotherapy-induced neuropathy mouse model. Neuropathic pain was induced by injecting paclitaxel (16 mg/kg) followed by assessment of the pain-relieving effects of activating GPR171 receptors. Mechanical pain thresholds were assessed using Von Frey filaments. We observed an increase in mechanical thresholds following GPR171 agonist treatment. Further, using immunofluorescence we observed that there is a decrease in GPR171 receptors in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) of these mice that have neuropathic pain, indicating that the agonist can bind to the available receptors to produce pain relief. Overall, this study proposes that GPR171 may be a novel target for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Bonnett, Kelsie; Golden, Kaitlyn; Johnson, Jerry (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Johnson, Jerald (Brigham Young University, Biology)

Understanding life-history strategies allows us to know how a changing environment affects species and communities. Livebearing Poeciliid fish are commonly used as models to gain a better understanding of these strategies, but some species like Alfaro cultratus have been neglected in this process. A. cultratus is a freshwater fish with a unique keel-shaped anal fin commonly found along the eastern coast of Central America. To understand the life-history strategies of this species and use it as a future model, I am performing an experiment to: 1) determine if there is sexual selection in Alfaro cultratus considering both body size and anal fin length; 2) determine whether A. cultratus displays sexual selection; and 3) understand how predation influences both dimorphism and selection. To do this I will be performing a two-part experiment in which I will first analyze previously collected samples for morphological differences, and second perform a live experiment to test Alfaro female preference. By doing so I will be able to not only advance our understanding of A. cultratus, but of life-history theory and conservation strategies.

Frandsen, Paul; Bursell, Madeline; Taylor, Adam; Wilson, Seth; Steeneck, Amy; Stewart, Russell (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Frandsen, Paul (Life Sciences, Plant and Wildlife Sciences)

Caddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) silk is unique from other insect's silk in that it retains its adhesive capabilities, strength and viscoelasticity when submerged in water. To understand how caddisfly silk is capable of possessing these characteristics, it is essential to understand the protein foundation of the silk proteins. Caddisfly silk is complex and made up of different structures generated by processes that are unique to caddisfly silk. H-Fibroin and L-Fibroin have been identified as two of the major protein components within caddisfly silk (Hatano & Nagashima, 2015). The caddisfly silk fibre experiences unique structures not typically seen in nature. An understanding of the primary structure of the silk fibre is essential in understanding the complexity of the silk's capabilities. In this study, we used proteomic techniques to analyze the complex H-Fibroin protein and the silk fibre in order to look at the underlying structural features of the protein. In doing so, we identified post-translational phosphorylation, metal cation incorporation, and other structural features which contributes to Caddisfly silk's adhesive capabilities, strength and viscoelasticity when submerged in water.

Wilson, Nancy; Johnson, Steven (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Johnson, Steven (Life Sciences, Microbiology & Molecular Biology)

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States today. Between sixty and ninety percent of diabetics also have sleep apnea. Although both sleep apnea and diabetes engender weight gain, the comorbidity of the two conditions is higher than can be explained by obesity alone.
In this study we explore the advantages of and evidence for the coevolution of diabetes and sleep apnea.
There is a metabolic shift that takes place when the cells of the heart need repair. Normally, hypoxic events cause a shift in heart-cell metabolism toward a high-glucose energy use. This shift mechanism is still fully functional in a diabetic heart cell, but because the underlying diabetes shifts the cellular metabolism to a primarily fatty-acid-based energy use, even a normally functioning hypoxia-induced cascade does not lead to full glucose metabolism or normal cellular repair.
So sleep apnea might serve a useful function in instigating heart tissue repair in cells. This suggests that sleep apnea and diabetes are not just frequently found together, but one condition may be causing the other.
After discussing some of the possible evolutionary drivers for co-adaptation of sleep apnea and diabetes, we examine some of the epigenetic marks associated with the two conditions, laying the groundwork for a better understanding of the underlying etiology.

Boyce, Zach; Smith, Calvin; Martin, Ashlyn; Ketch, Yuko; Dugan, James; Wright, Cole (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Jeffrey, Edwards (Brigham Young University, Physiology and Developmental Biology)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex psychological disorder that affects about 1 of 4 individuals after a stressful/traumatic experience. One common model to induce PTSD in rats is social defeat (SD) combined with chronic light exposure. First, we screened rats for natural anxiety to use in the SD protocol. Next, elevated plus maze (EPM) and light-dark transition (LDT) tests were used to detect anxious behavior after SD. The SD protocol induced significant anxious behavior when compared to controls. Next, we performed long-term potentiation (LTP) field electrophysiology synaptic plasticity physiology experiments in brain slices of the ventral hippocampus (VH) and basolateral amygdala (BLA), regions known to have altered enhanced plasticity in PTSD. SD significantly increased LTP in the VH (~25% greater than control) and BLA (~35% greater than control). To determine whether a prophylactic treatment could prevent the physiological changes of PTSD, we simultaneously administered two drugs at 10 mg/kg doses by intraperitoneal injection one week prior to and for the duration of SD. The first, propranolol, is a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, and the second, mifepristone, is a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist; thus, treatment would target the action of stress hormones altered in PTSD. To determine whether a prophylactic treatment could prevent the physiological changes of PTSD, propranolol and mifepristone, antagonists of two stress receptors, were simultaneously administered at 10 mg/kg doses by intraperitoneal (IP) injection one week prior to and for the duration of SThese drugs significantly decreased LTP in the VH and BLA back to near-control levels while SD rats with vehicle injections still had elevated LTP. However, SD drug-treated rats did not show significant reductions in anxious behavior compared to non-injected SD rats and also exhibited significantly more anxious behavior than control rats, suggesting the IP injection induced added stress. Next, we used rtPCR to examine gene expression of drug targets and plasticity markers to determine potential mechanisms for observed LTP changes. In both the VH and BLA, SD was associated with a significant decrease in glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor expression, which was restored to control levels under drug treatment. Overall, our data suggest that propranolol and mifepristone together may be a potential prophylactic treatment for preventing PTSD through a mechanism likely mediated by glucocorticoid/mineralocorticoid receptors.

Hales, Emily; Lundgren, Jane; Carter, John; Kempton, Colton; Johnson, Steven (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Johnson, Steven (Brigham Young University, Molecular and Microbiology)

The mechanisms of transgene silencing in C. elegans are poorly understood, despite the importance of the nematode as a model for genetic research. Insertion of a transgene led to the expression of GFP in both the body wall and pharyngeal muscle cells of C. elegans as expected. However, subsequent generations stopped expressing body wall GFP. To reverse silencing, we have flanked the enhancers responsible for GFP expression with 601 sequences. The 601 sequence strongly positions nucleosomes. We hypothesize that this positioning will eliminate transgenerational gene silencing of body wall GFP.

Ashley McCarty, Akila Ram, Max V. McDermott, Erin N. Bobeck (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Bobeck, Erin (College of Science, Biology Department)

Morphine is a potent opioid analgesic, but its long term use can lead to negative side effects, including tolerance, which is a decrease in the effectiveness of the opioid. An area of active interest is looking into the molecular effects of chronic morphine treatment in the Periaqueductal gray (PAG), a brain region that controls descending pain modulation. One such molecular target within the PAG is extracellular-signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK). Previous studies have shown that pharmacological inhibition of ERK enhanced morphine tolerance, indicating that ERK activity is associated with better responsiveness to morphine. The PAG is known to contain a heterogenous population of neurons including GABA and glutamate subtypes. However, which neurons ERK is activated in within the PAG following morphine tolerance is unknown. Further, there are known differences in PAG activity between male and female mice. However, these sex-differences have not been well studied after morphine tolerance using acute pain tests. The purpose of this research is to investigate differences in ERK activation following morphine tolerance in male and female mice. We treated wild-type male and female mice with morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline for 5 days to induce morphine tolerance, following which both behavior and protein immunofluorescence were assessed. We observe sex-specific differences in ERK activation levels and morphine antinociceptive tolerance in mice. We also assessed co-localization of ERK with GABA and glutamate neurons after morphine tolerance. The study will help us understand the cell-type specificity of kinase activation following morphine tolerance. Further this will give us more information about the nature of neurons that are contributing to sex-differences in opioid functions within the PAG

Berlin, Ian; Kenealey, Jason. (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Kenealey, Jason (Life Science; Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science)

Prostate cancer accounts for 9.9% of all new cancer cases in the United States annually, and thought it has high 5-year survival rate of 98%, but its prognosis changes if the cancer becomes drug resistant or metastases. Natural compounds are often used and studied for their potential chemotherapeutic effects or their sensitizing effects which increases the cancer cells susceptibility to treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine is a common source for finding bioactive small molecules which may have chemotherapeutic effects. This study focused on 9 putative natural compounds and their effectiveness of treating PC-3 prostate cancer cells. First their IC50s were calculated and then used in Mixture Design Response Surface Methodology (MDRSM) to determine the optimal mixture ratio and used in Chou Talalay statistical analysis to determine if combination effects were synergistic, antagonistic or additive. The compounds used in ascending order starting at the most potent or lowest IC50 to highest; Triptolide, .01819uM (Ttd), Shikonin, .6002uM (Shk), Curcumin 20.83uM (Cur), Emodin, 57.38uM (Em), Wogonin, 97.87uM (Wo) Berberine, 101.4uM (BB), Silibinin, 106.2uM (or Silybin) (Sy), Epigallocatechin gallate, 272.6uM (EGCG), and beta Elemene, 304.3uM (beta-E). Emodin, Silibinin and EGCG all appeared to act primarily via cell cycle inhibition and their effectiveness was found to increase in combination with other small molecules. The ideal combination was provided a multi-faced approach reduce cell viability which suggests it may help treat prostate cancer cells in vivo either in tandem or alone.

Holden, Maliea; Richardson, Spencer; Chilom, Gabriela (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Chilom, Gabriela (Dixie State University, Physical Sciences)

Humic acids are a key component of the terrestrial ecosystem as they are responsible for many physical and chemical properties of soils; buffering capacity, metal-binding capacity, transport and fate of contaminants, stability of aggregates of soil particles and water-holding capacity all depend on the amount and nature of humic substances in a soil.

The current project is looking into the properties and ability of humic acids extracted from leaves, to improve the stability and fertility of a mineral soil. The humic acid was extracted from fresh and aerobically incubated leaves by traditional alkali extraction. Three species of trees commonly grown in St George, Utah were selected: Prunus x Cistena, Pyrus Calleryana Bradford, and Chilopsis Linearis. The extracts were characterized by the amount and nature of their carbon content as determined by IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Their properties showed similarities and differences with humic acid extracted from mineral soil and leonardite.

White, Michelle; Koury, Spencer; Phadnis, Nitin (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Phadnis, Nitin (University of Utah, School of Biological Sciences)

Sex-ratio chromosomes in Drosophila pseudoobscura are of particular interest because they violate not one, but all three of Mendel's laws of genetics. These special X chromosomes distort the ratio of X and Y-bearing sperm, which leads to biased sex-ratios within the offspring. Although such transmission ratio distortions have been observed from as early as 1928, very little is known about the systems of genes responsible for sex-ratio chromosomal drive due to several complications with traditional methods. Here, we perform one part of a three-part experimental series that attempt to dissect and identify not only the genes involved but also its mechanism. Specifically, this approach will use saturation chemical mutagenesis to knock out every gene on sex-ratio (SR) chromosomes. In order to accomplish this task as efficiently and timely as possible, several preliminary experiments were conducted. We provide the natural variability in SR chromosomal drive and the best statistical framework to analyze the actual mutagenesis experiment. Our results further provide an EMS dosage response curve for the D. pseudoobscura species which has only previously existed for D. melanogaster. These findings propose a reconsideration of the traditional methods used for studying SR chromosomal drive and suggest the mechanism behind the genes or systems of genes involved in this process.
With its rich biological history, the field of genetics has truly grown and expanded into all that we know today. With special regard to our very own Nobel Laureate, Dr. Mario Capecchi, The University of Utah has a dynamic relationship with the field of genetics. The Phadnis Lab plays an active role in this remarkable community and has answered several ideas in evolutionary conflict and speciation. Thus, as a student from the University of Utah studying genetics, it would be greatly interesting to be able to present my work at UCUR.

Cutler, Alynne; Hagan, Maura; Yuan, Titus (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Hagan, Maura (College of Science, Physics Department); Yuan, Titus (College of Science, Physics Department)

Analyses of sodium resonance lidar temperature measurements made during a three-day period in August 2009 in the mesopause region (ca. 70-120km) above Fort Collins CO, along with analyses of correlative temperature predictions from the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIME-GCM) reveal diurnal and semidiurnal temperature variations characteristic of solar atmospheric tides. Harmonic analyses via Fourier decomposition of the lidar data reveal a dominant semidiurnal oscillation with amplitudes that are well-represented in TIME-GCM at altitudes below about 92 km. A comparatively weaker diurnal tide was detected in the lidar data. This variation is negligible in the TIME-GCM results below 95km. Downward phase progression associated with upward propagating tides characterizes both tidal model and measurement results. Comparisons between August 2009 mean temperature profiles reveal a cold bias of ~17K in the TIME-GCM mesopause region. Equivalent analyses of temperature during a second three-day period in January 2009 remain in progress.

Dustin, Malia; Holden, Maliea; Peterson, Rob; Chilom, Gabriela (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Chilon, Gabriela (Dixie State University, Chemistry)

Particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets suspended in air. Particles vary in terms of origin, chemical composition and size. Particles with diameter of 10 µm and smaller carry an increased risk for human health as they can penetrate deeper into the lungs, even to the alveolar regions. Recent studies suggest that trees can remove particles from the atmosphere through their leaves and their removal capacity depends on the chemistry and morphology of the leaves.

The goal of this project is to analyze the composition of PM for three species of trees commonly grown in St George, Utah: Pyrus Calleryana Bradford, Prunus x Cistena, and Chilopsis Linearis. The amount of PM accumulated on the surface of leaves was determined gravimetrically for two size fractions (2.5-10µm and 10-100µm). Both fractions were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP MS) after acid digestion of filters that collected PM. The average concentrations of the following metals: Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ti, V, Cr, As, Zr, Mo, Se, Cd, Sn, Sb, Pt, and Pb is reported.

The accumulation of heavy metals on leaf surfaces can prevent the metals from being airborne, therefore reducing the exposure of residents to PM pollution.