Physical Sciences
Fluoride Speciation Analysis of the Great Salt Lake Utah
Author(s): Danielle Kemmer, Dillon Reynolds, Alyssa Brown, Benjamin Judd, Dean V. Smith, Tyler Jenkins, Asha Ahmed, Amber Thornton Miller, Dylan Jenkins, Nashly Cruz-Guzman
Lensless High-Resolution Imaging with Laser Interference
Author(s): Ulises Thornock, Brian Weaver, Jackson Phippen
Insights into hydrogen storage utilizing cyclic amino-borane complexes
Author(s): Jordan Colmenero
Optimizing Continuous-wave Nd:YVO4 Laser Performance for Longwave Infrared Generation
Author(s): Benjamin Holt, Alex Gibb, MicahLaing
Student's perceptions on the use of Virtual Reality in organic and inorganic chemistry
Author(s): Isabelle Smith, Alexandra Routsis, Laryssa Larson, Josie Wright, Kaden Jensen
From Ancient Cyanobacteria to Future Tech: The Chemistry of Dipyrroles
Author(s): Jaren Meikle, Samuel Archer
Synthesis and Characterization of [(Ir(dmpmpy)2)2(dpm)]Cl2
Author(s): Joseph Clinger, Ethan Nielsen
Uncovering Mixture Interactions through Excess Heat Capacity
Author(s): Calvin Crawford
The Stability of Isolated Bovine Milk Derived Extracellular Vesicles
Author(s): Elley Colledge, McCoy Smith, Ian Cutler
Exploring Urban Wildlife Management Plans: A Case Study in Cedar City
Author(s): Jhen Allison Seguiwan
Tectonic History of the Rio Grande Rift Through a Study of Sediment Provenance
Author(s): Brian Angell
Quantitation of Trace Oxygen in Anoxic Water Implementing a Microfluidic Device
Author(s): Corban Kerr, Kason Stinson
A Pilot Study Investigating Virtual Reality for Chemical Education
Author(s): Kaden Jensen
Synthesis of Chiral ɑ-Amino Boronates via a 3-Component Coupling Reaction
Author(s): Anna Page
Stratigraphic Insights into the Tectonic Evolution of the Rio Grande Rift
Author(s): Levi Hawks
Photophysical and Photochemical Investigation of Dipyrrinone Bilin Subunits
Author(s): Cauy Williams, Danielle Newbold
Identification of Environmental Microplastics Using Raman Spectroscopy
Author(s): Courtney J. Ebert, Korryn Narvaez, Eliza Ballantyne, Stone Smith, Reece Anderson
Geochemical Analysis of Amphiboles at Mt Hillers, UT
Author(s): Zoe Fischer, Parker Tenney, Chloe FitzGerald Taylor, Logan Chappell, Spencer Hahnem
Differences between sexes in spatial visualization and memorization in organic chemistry
Author(s): Dagney Goodfellow, Lauren Jensen, Derek Baker, Seunghwan Shin
Brain-eating Amoeba: A Multi-drug Study to Combat Naegleria fowleri and Improve Survival Rates
Author(s): Victoria Green, Ethan Jensen, Ethan Stryker
Microplastics in Soil: Testing Detection Limits with FTIR and DSC
Author(s): Jenna Olivier
The study of urea on protein biomarker detection by quantum dots
Author(s): Daniel Jensen, Caitlin West
Strain-Driven Metal-to-Insulator Transition and Ferroelectricity in WTe₂
Author(s): Ross Richins
Encapsulation of Chemotherapeutic Temozolomide in Bovine-Milk Derived Extracellular Vesicles
Author(s): Charlee Cannon, Torrance Johnson, Caleb Weaver
Modifying the Light-Harvesting Capabilities of Phycocyanin using Rhodamine-B
Author(s): Brecken Shakespeare, Colton Koch
Optical Scattering for Rapid UTI Detection
Author(s): Feng Guo, Elise Bauer, Kimball Henstrom, Caroline Torgersen, Hannah Thrupp, Isaac Zabriskie, Alex Martinez, Keaton Fuller, Clint Flinders
A Worldwide Phylogenetic Study of the Family Baetidae
Backman, Natalia; Ogden, Heath (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Ogden, Heath (Utah Valley University, Biology)
The Family Baetidae, is in the order Ephemeroptera, also commonly known as Mayflies. The first baetids were described around 1815 by Leach, and since there are more than 900 species have been described. The family Baetidae is an important group of mayflies because of their position on the mayfly tree of life in that they are a key to understanding evolutionary trends, such as the origin of wings and flight. Taxon sampling for this study consisted of over 100 taxa, representing ??? genera, from lineages distributed geographically worldwide, except Antarctica. Two main datasets were constructed. The genes 12s, 16s, H3, 18s, 28s and CO1 were used as part of a traditional dataset. Targeted capture sequencing was used to generate a phylogenomic dataset, consisting of over 400 loci. Trees were reconstructed from the aligned datasets, and the results were compared. The phylogenomic data resulted in a much more resolved topology.
Faculty Advisor: Ogden, Heath (Utah Valley University, Biology)
The Family Baetidae, is in the order Ephemeroptera, also commonly known as Mayflies. The first baetids were described around 1815 by Leach, and since there are more than 900 species have been described. The family Baetidae is an important group of mayflies because of their position on the mayfly tree of life in that they are a key to understanding evolutionary trends, such as the origin of wings and flight. Taxon sampling for this study consisted of over 100 taxa, representing ??? genera, from lineages distributed geographically worldwide, except Antarctica. Two main datasets were constructed. The genes 12s, 16s, H3, 18s, 28s and CO1 were used as part of a traditional dataset. Targeted capture sequencing was used to generate a phylogenomic dataset, consisting of over 400 loci. Trees were reconstructed from the aligned datasets, and the results were compared. The phylogenomic data resulted in a much more resolved topology.
Building a Classifier to Discriminate Bacteria with Raman Spectroscopy
Durrant, Bianca; Bennion, Sean; Shipp, Dustin (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Shipp, Dustin (Utah Valley University, Physics)
determine bacteria is growing the bacteria on agar and then identify the bacteria via the API system (analytical profile index). In some medical cases, 24 hours is too long to wait, especially if a patient needs antibiotics. Raman spectroscopy uses laser light to excite a spectrum specific to each molecule. This molecular specificity enables Raman spectroscopy to identify the species of bacteria without a lengthy growth period. Raman spectroscopy is non invasive and only needs one bacterium for detection. It is therefore faster than growing bacteria and identifying via the API system.
From other research groups we know that Raman spectroscopy is able to classify bacteria, albeit with limited breadth of bacterial types. The next step is to implement imaging techniques to make the identification even faster, so that those techniques can be used in hospitals to determine pathological bacteria, so that the treatment can be given faster. Furthermore, when a hospital is unsure whether the patient has a disease caused by bacteria usually they start treating the patient with antibiotics in case they are infected. If identification only take a few hours instead of two to three days, doctors would only prescribe antibiotics when necessary, thus decrease the risk of multiresistant bacteria.
Faculty Advisor: Shipp, Dustin (Utah Valley University, Physics)
determine bacteria is growing the bacteria on agar and then identify the bacteria via the API system (analytical profile index). In some medical cases, 24 hours is too long to wait, especially if a patient needs antibiotics. Raman spectroscopy uses laser light to excite a spectrum specific to each molecule. This molecular specificity enables Raman spectroscopy to identify the species of bacteria without a lengthy growth period. Raman spectroscopy is non invasive and only needs one bacterium for detection. It is therefore faster than growing bacteria and identifying via the API system.
From other research groups we know that Raman spectroscopy is able to classify bacteria, albeit with limited breadth of bacterial types. The next step is to implement imaging techniques to make the identification even faster, so that those techniques can be used in hospitals to determine pathological bacteria, so that the treatment can be given faster. Furthermore, when a hospital is unsure whether the patient has a disease caused by bacteria usually they start treating the patient with antibiotics in case they are infected. If identification only take a few hours instead of two to three days, doctors would only prescribe antibiotics when necessary, thus decrease the risk of multiresistant bacteria.
Detection of Protein Biomarkers by Quantum Dot Adsorption
Gomez, Nathaniel; Blumel, Daniel; Dueñas, Davis; Hazel, Matt; Yu, Ming* (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Yu, Ming (Utah Valley University, Chemistry)
Kidney cancer in both men and women is among the top ten most common cancers, where the risk in men is estimated at 1:48, and women at 1:83. The issue with kidney disease is that it is difficult to accurately diagnose early-on. Methods of diagnosis that are currently established are expensive and highly invasive if at all accurate. Our research is focused on developing a fast, reliable and cost-effective method of diagnosing kidney disease by the use of fluorescent quantum dots (QDs). When mixed in a solution that contains protein biomarkers, QDs can act as biosensors because the protein alters their fluorescent properties. With QD biosensing, optimal conditions were discovered for the size of QDs and buffers used for detecting different protein biomarkers. The study provides empirical evidence that the alteration is distinguishable between healthy and cancerous levels of protein.
Faculty Advisor: Yu, Ming (Utah Valley University, Chemistry)
Kidney cancer in both men and women is among the top ten most common cancers, where the risk in men is estimated at 1:48, and women at 1:83. The issue with kidney disease is that it is difficult to accurately diagnose early-on. Methods of diagnosis that are currently established are expensive and highly invasive if at all accurate. Our research is focused on developing a fast, reliable and cost-effective method of diagnosing kidney disease by the use of fluorescent quantum dots (QDs). When mixed in a solution that contains protein biomarkers, QDs can act as biosensors because the protein alters their fluorescent properties. With QD biosensing, optimal conditions were discovered for the size of QDs and buffers used for detecting different protein biomarkers. The study provides empirical evidence that the alteration is distinguishable between healthy and cancerous levels of protein.
Flavonol Esters: Synthesis, Characterization, and CO Release Activity
Lake, Alexander; Soboleva, Tatiana; Berreau, Lisa (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Berreau, Lisa (College of Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Carbon Monoxide (CO) has been found to have a wide range of potential therapeutic effects. For example, low concentrations of CO have been shown to produce anti-inflammatory, anti-hypoxia, anti-proliferative, and anti-apoptotic effects, as well as vasodilation. CO-releasing molecules (CORMs), particularly those which release CO upon triggering with light in the visible range (photoCORMs), are of significant current interest for targeted CO delivery. Our laboratory is developing extended flavonols as highly tunable tunable photoCORMs. In this presentation, the synthesis, characterization, and CO release reactivity studies exploring the use of flavonol esters as CO delivery molecules will be presented.
Faculty Advisor: Berreau, Lisa (College of Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Carbon Monoxide (CO) has been found to have a wide range of potential therapeutic effects. For example, low concentrations of CO have been shown to produce anti-inflammatory, anti-hypoxia, anti-proliferative, and anti-apoptotic effects, as well as vasodilation. CO-releasing molecules (CORMs), particularly those which release CO upon triggering with light in the visible range (photoCORMs), are of significant current interest for targeted CO delivery. Our laboratory is developing extended flavonols as highly tunable tunable photoCORMs. In this presentation, the synthesis, characterization, and CO release reactivity studies exploring the use of flavonol esters as CO delivery molecules will be presented.
Isotope Paleothermometry of Belemnites from the Jurassic Sundance Sea of Western North America
Perdue, Perdue; Burke, Joshua; Bylund, Kevin; Stephen, Daniel (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Stephen, Daniel (Utah Valley University, Earth Science)
The Sundance Sea covered much of western North America during the Middle to Late Jurassic Period. Deposits from this vast epeiric sea are now widely exposed across the region, including the Stump Formation in northeastern Utah, which consists of sandstones and shales reflecting shallow marine deposition. Well-preserved belemnites (Pachyteuthis densus, Oxfordian Stage, ~156 Ma) collected from this unit preserve stable isotope data (_18O and _13C ) that can be used to better understand the paleoceanography and paleoclimatology of the area, as well as possibly some paleobiologic characteristics such as migration patterns through the life cycle and age at sexual maturity and death. Incremental growth of belemnites created growth bands that record isotopic values through various life stages, thus potentially providing information about the life history traits of these organisms, in addition to seasonal temperature variations. Preliminary results suggest our material is consistent with previous reports from other locations in the region, with paleotemperatures in the 17 to 20° C range. In addition, there is some indication of seasonal variations. However, analyses of more samples and further evaluation of potential diagenetic alteration is necessary before more robust conclusions can be drawn.
Faculty Advisor: Stephen, Daniel (Utah Valley University, Earth Science)
The Sundance Sea covered much of western North America during the Middle to Late Jurassic Period. Deposits from this vast epeiric sea are now widely exposed across the region, including the Stump Formation in northeastern Utah, which consists of sandstones and shales reflecting shallow marine deposition. Well-preserved belemnites (Pachyteuthis densus, Oxfordian Stage, ~156 Ma) collected from this unit preserve stable isotope data (_18O and _13C ) that can be used to better understand the paleoceanography and paleoclimatology of the area, as well as possibly some paleobiologic characteristics such as migration patterns through the life cycle and age at sexual maturity and death. Incremental growth of belemnites created growth bands that record isotopic values through various life stages, thus potentially providing information about the life history traits of these organisms, in addition to seasonal temperature variations. Preliminary results suggest our material is consistent with previous reports from other locations in the region, with paleotemperatures in the 17 to 20° C range. In addition, there is some indication of seasonal variations. However, analyses of more samples and further evaluation of potential diagenetic alteration is necessary before more robust conclusions can be drawn.
Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distances to Galaxies Using Elliptical and Circular Masks
Phan, Anh; Jensen, Joseph (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Jensen, Joseph (Utah Valley University, Physics)
We have measured the Surface Brightness Fluctuation (SBF) distances to 12 galaxies. SBF is usually used to measure distances to giant elliptical galaxies that have uniform ages and composition. On the other hand, galaxies that are more disk-shaped potentially have a range of ages, they may have an SBF and color gradient. Elliptical masks that match the shapes of disk galaxies can give a more accurate SBF and color gradient than circular masks. The purpose of this study is to measure the discrepancies between the SBF distances using the two types of masks. For giant elliptical galaxies, the two methods give similar results ($\leq$ 2\%). For disk galaxies, the discrepancies are bigger (up to 6\% difference).
Faculty Advisor: Jensen, Joseph (Utah Valley University, Physics)
We have measured the Surface Brightness Fluctuation (SBF) distances to 12 galaxies. SBF is usually used to measure distances to giant elliptical galaxies that have uniform ages and composition. On the other hand, galaxies that are more disk-shaped potentially have a range of ages, they may have an SBF and color gradient. Elliptical masks that match the shapes of disk galaxies can give a more accurate SBF and color gradient than circular masks. The purpose of this study is to measure the discrepancies between the SBF distances using the two types of masks. For giant elliptical galaxies, the two methods give similar results ($\leq$ 2\%). For disk galaxies, the discrepancies are bigger (up to 6\% difference).