| Summary: | ^1^1 ^ r TM SPRING 2011 THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS VOLUME 11 A PUBLICATION OF THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (UROP) A D I I Q I ir»AT>r»^s « e T M E "One of the significant bonuses of studying at a research university is the opportunity to work one -on - one with internationally renowned faculty and advanced doctoral students on a real research project - one where the answers are not known in advance. This journal contains abstracts of papers written by U ofU undergraduates describing the exciting results they have obtained in such research projects. We are very pleased with the important contributions that our undergraduates make to our overall research mission and we hope that this experience has shown them how exciting it can be to study the unknown." David Pershing Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs "Undergraduate research puts students directly in the heart of the creative process. It changes how they think, feel, and solve problems. It takes a entire community to explore the mysteries and solve the problems of our world. That is what undergraduate research is all about." Cynthia Furse Associate Vice President for Research THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH I UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 VOLUME 11 Jill Baeder Charlotte Hansen Terry Editor Honors College Editor Steve Roens UROP Director John Francis Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs The University of Utah Undergraduate Research Abstracts A Publication of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Volume Eleven, Spring 2011 ©2011 by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, University of Utah. u I t u c www.urop.utah.edu Table of Contents A Message from President Young 2 A Message from John Francis 3 A Message from Steve Roens 4 Undergraduate Abstracts 5 A Message from Jill Baeder 104 Research Posters on the Hill 105 Charles H. Monson Prize Winner 131 Undergraduate Research Conferences 133 Undergraduate Research Scholars 134 Health Sciences LEAP Program 135 Undergraduate Student Experts On Teaching Program 157 Honors College 163 Alphabetical Index 211 1 PRESIDENT YOUNG'S MESSAGE As one of the world's preeminent research universities, the University of Utah has become renowned for its ability to not only generate innovative ideas and profound n e w discovery, but also deliver its practical application to those w h o need it most in the form of life-changing medical and scientific technologies. Indeed, it is the hallmark of the U to embrace the idea of limitless possibilities in its approach to ing and discovery. It is found in the mindset of our extraordinary faculty-world-class researchers and scientists w h o c o m e to our campus from all over the world representing a wide variety of disciplines. It also explains w h y undergraduate students at the U have the unique opportunity to engage directly with top faculty researchers and thereby b e c o m e a built-in, integral part of the invention process, examples of which you will see in the pages of this impressive journal. When a student works one-on-one with a faculty mentor on research or a creative project, an amazing dynamic occurs that exceeds the experience available at standard universities. This hands-on approach takes the learning born in our classrooms and allows the student to truly actualize true and vivid understanding, taking theory and putting it to practical test in very powerful and personal ways. The results of this engagement are truly transformative and result in an educational experience that is both unique and highly rewarding. The abstracts presented here represent the work of some of our most extraordinary students and range from groundbreaking research on the frontiers of science to studies that explore aspects of community service and performing arts. The quality is evident in the words of the students themselves, as each abstract describes the research, scholarship, or creative project undertaken, the goals set forth, and the way in which those goals were achieved. Whether from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, Bioscience Undergraduate Research Program, Honors College, or individual research in a faculty lab, students at the University of Utah are true partners in the creation of extraordinary innovation, and are likewise witness to the kind of expansive, intensive, transformative education that only the very best universities of the world can provide. Michael K.Young President THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH MESSAGE FROM JOHN FRANCIS An education at a research university is not simply the transfer of an unchanging body of knowledge from one generation to another rather it is the recognition that knowledge is constantly changing and h o w w e gather and understand that knowledge continues to change as well. The research done by our student that presented in this journal is compelling evidence not only of h o w knowledge changes but the important role that our students have in the creation of n e w knowledge. At a research university, education is best understood as a shared endeavor between the faculty and the students in learning more about ourselves and the world around us. W e build upon the foundations of past scholarship in preparing students to contribute to future knowledge. W e also believe that education takes place both inside and outside the classroom. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the achievements of our students, which take place in all disciplines and media, from the laboratory to the stage. We want our students to be active participants in their education. One way to achieve this goal is to invite our undergraduates to work on research endeavors with our faculty. Our faculty are committed scholars w h o are engaged in a wide range of creative research projects that offer our students countless ways in which they can actively contribute to our collective understanding of the world. In turn, students also initiate many projects which, through the benefit of faculty guidance, become valuable additions to h o w w e understand the world w e live in. These projects inspire not only our students, but also renew the University's commitment to our students and their education. It is an impressive tribute to our students and to our faculty to see the rigorous, thoughtful, and creative work described in this journal. Congratulations to all of the students and faculty mentors whose work is described in this journal. Your achievements are truly commendable. John G. Francis Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs MESSAGE FROM STEVE ROENS Greetings and welcome to the 2011 Undergraduate Research Abstracts. I want to congral ulate all of the students w h o have published their cutting edge research in this eleventh edition. As this journal will attest once again in 2011, undergraduate research continues to grow at the Un of Utah as it does across the nation. Again this year w e see an increase in the number of abstracts w e publish describing the research and creative projects accomplished under faculty supervision by our most talented undergraduates. This issue of the Abstracts contains contributions by many students who received assistantships fro the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). U R O P provides undergraduates with opportunities to work one-on-one with faculty sponsors on research and creative projects. This year w e welcomed a n e w staff m e m b e r to UROP, Cynthia Greaves, w h o began work with us in January 2011 and has already proved to be a wonderful addition to our office. To find out h o w to b e c o m e involved in UROP, please visit our w e b site at http://www.urop.utah.edu. I would also like to recognize the students in the Honors College, the Health Sciences LEAP Program the Undergraduate Student Experts on Teaching program (USET) whose abstracts appear in this journal as well as students w h o participated in the fifth annual Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research, hosted by Weber State University in February, and all other students across the campus w h o have worked on research/creative projects with faculty sponsors, and whose abstracts are included here. In order for undergraduate research/creative projects to take place, faculty sponsors are indispen I want to acknowledge these accomplished professionals who, with full teaching loads and extensive commitments to their o w n research, generously give of their time to mentor students in research and creative projects. I want to give a special thank you to the Lawrence T. & Janet T. Dee Foundation for their generous support of the Undergraduate Research Symposium sponsored by U R O P which provides undergraduates across campus with a venue in which to present their research. I would like to thank Charlotte Hansen Terry, Administrative Program Coordinator, for recruiting Ho students' abstracts for the journal. I would also like to acknowledge the 27 students w h o participated in this year's "Research Posters on the Hill" event at the Utah State Capitol, whose abstracts are published in a special section of the journal, as well as Associate Vice President for Research Cynthia Furse whose office sponsors the event and Jason Perry, Vice President of the University's Office of Government Relations w h o provided ample support for the event and m a d e possible a declaration of the day as the 10th Anniversary of Research Posters on the Hill by Utah Governor Gary Herbert. This tenth anniversary was also marked by a commendation for both Utah State University and the University of Utah by the Utah State Senate. I am most grateful to Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Pershing, Vice President for Research Thomas Parks, and Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, Dean of the School of Medicine and C E O of University Health Systems Lorris Betz for their generous support of UROP. Without their help w e would not be able to provide students with the rich experiences in research and creative work that they currently receive. Finally, I am especially grateful to UROP Administrative Assistant Andrea Haag for her excellent wo organizing both Research Posters on the Hill and the Undergraduate Research Symposium and to Associate Director Jill Baeder, w h o is unquestionably the face and spirit of U R O P and the organizational and editorial force behind the Undergraduate Research Abstracts, and finally to Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs John Francis for his support, encouragement, and unending flow of good ideas. Steve Roens UROP Director THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PAIN HYPERSENSITIVITY IN HOX B1 MICE Hannah Aizad (Alan Light) Department of Anesthesiology University of Utah The gene, Hox B1, could play a role in pain hypersensitivity. W e are testing this hypothesis using both heterogeneous and knockout mice. Behavioral experiments (including fatigue, Von Frey, and Hargreaves) demonstrate different responses between the Hox B1 +/- and Hox B1 -/-. Dorsal root ganglia sectioning allows us to observe the cells microscopically. W e also used calcium imaging to observe the neuron responses from both wild type and knockout mice. The neurons are treated with capsaicin, menthol, KCI, and other drugs. The mice with the knockout Hox B1 gene should have increased sensitivity to these experiments. The knockout mice should fatigue more quickly and experience a lower tolerance to the Von Frey, Hargreaves and other behavioral experiments. The calcium imaging experiments using knockout strains should have higher responses to the drugs. Hox B1's role in pain hypersensitivity has a clinical application. It can be linked to patients w h o suffer with certain pain symptoms. Hannah Aizad Alan Light Ron Hughen 5 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS J SPRla THE CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF BRYOSTA , A NATURAL ANTI-CANCER MOLECULE, Wl AN EMPHASIS ON CREATING THE ACID CHAIN CONNECTED TO THE C RING Kara Arnold Gary E. Keck Kara Arnold (Gary E. Keck, Tom Cummins) Department of Chemistry University of Utah Me0 2 C Bryostatin is a natural product found in the marine organism Bugula neritina. Biological studies of Bryostatin have revealed promising anti-cancer properties in numerous h u m a n cancer cell lines in-vitro. Bryostatin has also been studied in upwards of 80 clinical trials and shown to act synergistically w h e n administered with other known chemotherapeutic treatments. Recently, this noteworthy molecule has also been observed to stimulate the i m m u n e system, which most anticancer drugs have the opposite effect. However, the only way to produce Bryostatin in renewable quantities is through chemical synthesis, since harvesting it would require the destruction of a vast amount of Bugula neritina. A viable synthetic route could also provide the ability to produce structural analogues of Bryostatin which potentially have even better biological properties than the natural product. Br LDA OMe O THF, -78°C 60% CCI4 OMe Benzoyl Peroxide NBS ^ Br. OMe \ A 71% AgOTf, T B S O H TBSO 2,6-di-fert-butyl •4-methylpyridine DCM 67% ^^X^OMe NaOH TBSO >^<^X^OH EtOH/H20 0°C The C ring is the most complex fragment in the synthesis of Bryostatin. Preparation of the acid piece in connection with the C ring was prepared through a series of four reactions. First, an alkylation of methyl isobutyrate (1) was performed using LDA. And second, a free radical bromination of the previously synthesized olefin (2) produced an allylic bromide (3) in place of the olefin. A n experimental route replacing the second reaction was also explored in hope of finding a less expensive and more efficient synthesis. A Wacker oxidation was performed on the original olefin (2) in order to create an allylic acetate. The reaction was found to be unsuccessful. The allylic bromide (3) was displaced with TBSOH, giving the silyl ether (4). Finally, hydrolysis of the ester with N a O H gives the carboxylic acid (5), completing the acid piece of the C ring. After the acid piece is connected to the C ring, it can then be attached to the remaining portions of Bryostatin. This is currently the quickest, most efficient path to synthesize the acid piece of Brvo<;t^tin. THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS PREFERRED BODY TEMPERATURE IN ALLIGATORS EXPOSED TO DDE Dani Bain (Jennifer Araneo-Yowell, C.G. Farmer) Department of Biology University of Utah American alligators (Aligator mississippiensis) exposed to organochlorine contaminants, such as D D E (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), suffer a range of consequences including developmental changes, endocrine system abnormalities, and altered sex ratios. In addition to disrupting the health and function of body systems, these contaminants can also have an affect on the behavior of a variety of species. For this study, experimental animals were acquired from a lake known to be contaminated with DDE, while control animals were obtained from a relatively clean lake. The aim of this experiment is to identify any group differences in preferred body temperature between animals exposed to D D E and the control. The alligators were placed in a thermogradient ranging in temperature from 21.5°C to 35°C. Data loggers secured to the backs of the alligators recorded the temperature choices of each animal every two minutes for an eight-hour period. The temperature at which each alligator spent the most time was found by calculating the m o d e . Statistically significant results showed that the contaminated group had a higher preferred body temperature than the control group. This project is part of a larger study on the overall effects of D D E on alligator behavior, cognition and standard metabolic rate. C.G. Farmer 7 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS A CONTRIBUTION OF THE DIAPHRAGMATICUS MUSCLE TO VENTILIATION IN AMERICAN ALLIGATORS (ALLIGATOR MISSISSIPPIENSIS) DURING AN ACTIVE STATE Jessie Barlow Jessie Barlow, T.J. Uriona (C. G. Farmer) Department of Biology University of Utah Crocodilians have a complex way of breathing. Ventilatory mechanics of crocodilians consist of costal ventilation, in which the external intercostal muscles increase the volume of the thorax during inspiration and the internal intercostal muscles decrease the volume of the thorax during exhalation. In addition to costal ventilation inspiration can be supplemented in two other ways. Inspiration is facilitated w h e n ischiopubis muscles rotate the pubes and the gastralia to increase the volume of the thoracoabdominal cavity to help fill the lungs while the diaphragmaticus muscle pulls the liver-lung complex to the tail, which also increases the volume of the lungs. C. G. Farmer We previously found that maximal volumes of breaths (vital capacity), which were induced in fasting juvenile alligators in a terrestrial setting by having the animals inspire C 0 2 gas, were not different between animals with an intact M. diaphragmaticus and animals in which the muscle had been transected (Uriona and Farmer, 2006). It is unclear w h y crocodilians have need of diaphragmatic and pelvic aspiration to supplement inspiration given these recent results. Although there was no difference was found in the resting state, we hypothesized that because more of the thoraco-abdominal muscles are being used while in an active state, there would be a greater difference between the animals with the severed diaphragmaticus. W e tested this by running the gators on a treadmill while measuring ventilation. T w o groups of alligators were used in the experiment, an experimental group, which had the transected diaphragmaticus and a group of control alligators that had received a placebo surgery. THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH FEMININE GENDER ROLE CONSTRUCTS AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING BEHAVIORS Sarah Bell (David Strayer) Department of Psychology University of Utah Sarah Bell Recent research indicates that there is a startling disparity between m e n and w o m e n in terms of aggressive driving behavior. While s o m e of this research has focused on the relationship between sex and aggressive propensities while driving, almost none has actually taken into account gender role constructs as opposed to sex (Deffenbacher, Lynch, Filetti, Dahlen, & Oetting, 2003). The current study examined the relationship of gender role constructs and aggressive driving behavior in a driving simulator. As expected, participants with higher levels of feminine gender role expressed less physical, verbal and vehicular aggression than participants w h o adopted a more masculine gender role construct. Unanticipated results also showed a significant relationship between feminine gender role construct and adaptive driving behaviors. David Strayer 9 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ACADEMIC WRITING INSTRUCTION Bethany Bibb (Randall Eggert) Department of English University of Utah Bethany Bibb The question of h o w to teach grammar, style, and content has long generated debates within the field of academic writing instruction. Based on research from the 1960s, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) called for abandoning grammar instruction (Braddock et. al, 1963; NCTE, 1985; 2006). While s o m e scholars have advocated a focus on style and content (Vassallo, 2003), others favor more emphasis on grammar because college freshmen lack basic writing skills (Jablon, 2004). Given the scholarly divide on this issue, m a n y writing classes do not offer comprehensive coverage of all three elements. Randall Eggert This study compares current perspectives on this issue between university and community college writing instructors and between the instructors and their schools'writing centers. T w o sets of questionnaires, one version for instructors and one for writing center personnel, were distributed at the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). After completing questionnaires, some participants opted to answer follow-up questions, and s o m e instructors submitted grading rubrics. The collected information was combined and analyzed for pedagogical patterns and suggested approaches to the current instructional trend. Results indicate that instructors and tutors would support comprehensive methods which balance content, stylistic, and grammar instruction. Patterns indicate that University and SLCC instructors do emphasize content and style over grammar. In contrast, several writing center personnel from both institutions reported grammar as most important to students based on requests for help and teachers' comments on papers. Of the instructors, few w h o favored an equal overview approach offered specific ways to incorporate all three elements, but several indicated a preference for context-based grammar instruction. Others w h o leaned toward a comprehensive approach suggested a hierarchy with content first and grammar last. In general, instructors and writing tutors would rather see s o m e form of comprehensive class instruction than equal overview. Drawn from local perspectives, this study encourages college instructors and writing centers to reevaluate existing pedagogies and to consider designing courses to include balanced, comprehensive writing instruction. Such instruction will help students gain the foundation they need for success in academic writing and in future professional writing. References: Jablon, R. (2004). Undergraduate Writing Skills: Or Whatever Happened to Basic Grammar? Phi Kappa Phi Forum, 84 (4), 57-58. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). (1985). NCTE position statement: On grammar exercises to speaking and writing. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). (2006, October 24). NCTE's position unchanged: Isolated grammar drills do not produce good writers. Retrieved November 15, 2006, from http://www.ncte.org/about/press/rel/125932.htm 10 Vassallo, P. (2003). Writing Correctly is Not Necessarily Writing Well. ETC: A Review of General Se 60(2), 185-189. THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON MAXIMUM JUMPING POWER Jacqueline A. Bonn, Steven J. Elmer (James C. Martin) Department of Exercise and Sport Science University of Utah Jacqueline A. Bohn Separate authors have reported that passive and active warming of skeletal muscle increases m a x i m u m power during a counter-movement jump. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of passive warming, active warming, as well as passive cooling on m a x i m u m jumping power. Seven college-aged participants (mass 67 ± 15 kg, height 1.73 ± 0.07 m, age 27 ± 7 yrs) performed a maximal counter-movement jump on a force platform before and after three different experimental conditions: passive warm-up, active warm-up, and passive cooling. For the passive warm-up and cooling conditions, participants were immersed up to their iliac crest in 40° C and 18° C water, respectively for 30 minutes. For the active warm-up, participants rested at room temperature for 25 minutes and subsequently performed a five minute warm-up consisting of hopping, jumping, and running at moderate intensity. Ground reaction forces were measured with a force platform and velocity of the center of mass was determined by finite integration of the force-time data. M a x i m u m jumping power produced over the propulsive phase of the jump was calculated as the product of the average vertical ground reaction force and the velocity of the center of mass. M a x i m u m jumping power increased by 7 ± 3 % (1,886 ± 368 vs. 2,009 ± 352 W P < 0.001) after passive warming and decreased by 18 ± 7 % (1,926 ± 357 vs. 1,572 ± 405 W P < 0.001) following passive cooling. There were no significant changes in m a x i m u m jumping power following the active warm-up (1,893 ± 393 vs. 1,997 ± 411 W P = 0.29). Our results support previous work by authors w h o have reported increased and decreased power during maximal effort jumping and cycling tasks following passive warming and cooling, respectively. These data suggest that muscle temperature is easily altered during passive warming, however, the active warm-up may need to be of sufficient intensity and duration to increase muscle temperature. Although there were no significant changes in m a x i m u m jumping power following the active warm-up, five participants increased their power by 10%, and two decreased their power by 6%. These results may illustrate the dichotomous effects of active warm-up, which increases muscle temperature but may also induce fatigue. This information could be useful for coaches and athletes w h e n implementing warm-up strategies during training and competition. W1 Steve J. Elmer James C. Martin D 1 if" -' P 11 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 RECEPTION OF THE IDEOLOGY OF THE TEUTONIC KNIGHTS IN 19TH CENTURY GERMANY Jamison Brogdon Jamison Brogdon (Maria Dobozy) Department of Languages and Literature University of Utah M y research with Dr. Dobozy focuses on the political ideology of the Teutonic Order in the 13th and 14th centuries, and h o w that ideology was received and adapted for use by the 19th century German historian, Heinrich von Treitschke, in his writings from the 1870's - 90's. Treitschke relied heavily on the ideology of the Teutonic Knights w h e n crafting his o w n texts. Using the culturally accepted history of the Teutonic Order, Treitschke was able to apply the crusader message to his current goals of promoting German colonialism. The Teutonic Knights, as a monastic order, were instrumental in expanding the territory of the Germa people and the Christian faith in the 13th and 14th centuries. Texts such as the Livlandische Reimchronik and the Chronik des PreuRenlandes provided the Teutonic Order's perspective on their world and activities. The vocabulary used in these works demonstrates that the knights clearly glorified themselves and demonized their enemies. For example, the Order described itself as pure, honorable and wise while the people of the Baltic were grim, treacherous and arrogant. This word choice helped to justify the expansion of the German crusaders into lands of Northeastern Europe. The Teutonic Knights presented themselves as bringing the Baltic peoples civilization and salvation. Treitschke learned to use selective vocabulary from this period of German history. The words used by Treitschke were chosen to validate the colonial endeavors of imperial Germany. H e described Europe as the 'heart of the world,' with Germany possessing the 'greatest capacity' for colonization. H e even demonized potential colonial peoples calling them 'old peculiar forms of civilization,' whose people would be 'forced into freedom' if need be. In his political writings, Treitschke states that, 'Germany at last sets herself to take her proper the great work of expansive civilization.' Treitschke adopted the policies and ideological structure of the Teutonic Order, but instead of bringing Christian salvation to the heathens, Treitschke sought to bring German civilization to what he termed the barbarians. T h E : L\ . • M • •I i\ , BIODISTRIBUTION OF POLY(AMIDO AMINE) DENDRIMERS AS A FUNCTION OF SIZE A N D SURFACE CHARGE Alexander Burckle (Hamid Ghandehari) Department of Bioengineering University of Utah Alexander Burckle Separate authors have reported that passive and active warming of skeletal muscle increases m a x i m u m power during a counter-movement jump. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of passive warming, active warming, as well as passive cooling on m a x i m u m jumping power. Seven college-aged participants (mass 67 ± 15 kg, height 1.73 ± 0.07 m, age 27 ± 7 yrs) performed a maximal counter-movement jump on a force platform before and after three different experimental conditions: passive warm-up, active warm-up, and passive cooling. For the passive warm-up and cooling conditions, participants were immersed up to their iliac crest in 40° C and 18° C water, respectively for 30 minutes. For the active warm-up, participants rested at room temperature for 25 minutes and subsequently performed a five minute warm-up consisting of hopping, jumping, and running at moderate intensity. Ground reaction forces were measured with a force platform and velocity of the center of mass was determined by finite integration of the force-time data. M a x i m u m jumping power produced over the propulsive phase of the jump was calculated as the product of the average vertical ground reaction force and the velocity of the center of mass. M a x i m u m jumping power increased by 7 ± 3 % (1,886 ± 368 vs. 2,009 ± 352 W P < 0.001) after passive warming and decreased by 18 ± 7 % (1,926 ± 357 vs. 1,572 ± 405 W P < 0.001) following passive cooling. There were no significant changes in m a x i m u m jumping power following the active warm-up (1,893 ± 393 vs. 1,997 ±411 W P = 0.29). Our results support previous work by authors w h o have reported increased and decreased power during maximal effort jumping and cycling tasks following passive warming and cooling, respectively. These data suggest that muscle temperature is easily altered during passive warming, however, the active warm-up m a y need to be of sufficient intensity and duration to increase muscle temperature. Although there were no significant changes in m a x i m u m jumping power following the active warm-up, five participants increased their power by 10%, and two decreased their power by 6%. These results m a y illustrate the dichotomous effects of active warm-up, which increases muscle temperature but m a y also induce fatigue. This information could be useful for coaches and athletes w h e n implementing warm-up strategies during training and competition. Figure 1. Biodistribution of PAMAM dendrimers at 8 hours post sub-toxic i.v. injection in CD-1 mice. G7-OH 70 " G6.5-COOH • G7-NH2 DG4-NH2 60 41 4» > o * 50 40 30 " 1*1 20 10 0 i .1 i_i^ Blood Urine Liver Kidney GI Stool Hamid Ghandehari UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 CHRONIC EXERTIONAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME OF THE LOWER LEG IN A COLLEGIATE RUGBY PLAYER: A CASE REPORT Behle Burns Charlie Hicks-Little 14 Behle Burns (Charlie Hicks-Little) Department of Exercise and Sport Science University of Utah Background: Compartment syndrome (C5) can be either acute or chronic, and can occur in any fascially enclosed compartment in the body. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CEC5) is far more common in athletics than any other form. In CEC5, increased pressure compresses the neurovascular components within the affected compartment, causing numbness, tingling, and extreme pain. A 19 year-old, male collegiate rugby player, presented with severe, bilateral, anterior, lower leg pain after five minutes of running. Preventative taping to increase arch support were used and were unsuccessful. The athlete was referred to a physician for further testing. Differential Diagnosis: Medial tibial stress syndrome, stress fractures, or nerve entrapment syndromes. Treatment: Conservative treatment has been shown to be unsuccessful. Activity modification and fasciotomy are the only proven methods to reduce any signs and symptoms. Measurements of all four left, lower leg compartments were taken by the physician. Bilateral facsiotomy was performed on the anterior and lateral compartments the following week by the athlete's family physician . Five months post-surgery, the athlete returned to the athletic training room with similar anterior shin pain in his left lower leg. Diagnostic measurements remained high within the anterior and lateral compartments, and a re-release was performed. The athlete is six weeks post-surgery and is fully participating in practice and games. Uniqueness: Intercompartmental pressure measurements have a normal pre-exercise reading of 0-15 mmHg. Post-exercise readings between 30-40 mmHg warrant a surgical release of the affected compartment. Measurements as high as the numbers found in this case report are rare (79 mmHg). Re-release of a compartment is uncommon, with Conclusion: CEC5 can be a common occurrence within the athletic population . A delayed diagnosis of C5 can be detrimental to the athlete and result in loss of the affected extremity. Understanding the differences amongst the possible diagnoses of lower leg injuries can decrease the dangers to an athlete with any form of compartment syndrome. TH E UN IVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS INERT GASES AND ZEOLITES Kelly Buskirk (Edward M. Eyring) Department of Chemistry University of Utah Zeolites are microporous minerals that occur naturally and can be produced synthetically. They possess sorbancy properties and are composed primarily of aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. Zeolites have "sponge-like" characteristics and behave as a molecular sieve. The demand for zeolite's porous sorbancy is evident in the increasing number of patents granted towards gas separation and purification via sorbance. Zeolites are found across regions of the United States such as Oregon and Yellowstone as well as countries abroad such as New Zealand, Nova Scotia, and Iceland. They are particularly unique for their ability to separate bulk gas mixtures. By injecting a gas into a zeolite, a specific pore size will allow certain gas molecules to pass through the zeolite, while causing other large ions and molecules to "stick" to the surface, thereby becoming trapped. Gas retention in zeolites is possible by perfecting the zeolite parameters. This can be done by optimizing pore size and controlling channel size. Chabazite and mordenite, two naturally occurring zeolites, are the main focus of this research. Differing gas retention was found after experimentation with the inert gases xenon, krypton, and argon. Gases were injected into a gas chromatograph and cycled over the zeolites. A thermal conductivity detector (TCD) measured the retention. By heating the zeolite to different temperatures, we found the rate at which the gas interacted with the zeolite changed noticeably. Temperatures were recorded between 24-45 degrees Celsius, and retention was analyzed for 1 mL Xenon injected on about 0.737 grams of chabazite. Peak analysis was done by gas chromatography using helium as the carrier gas. The peaks analyzed showed first a blow-by peak, which accounted for gas molecules that had no specific interaction. However, gas molecules that were trapped came off later and were indicated by a retention peak. This showed that these molecules were indeed interacting with the zeolite. Kelly Buskirk Edward M. Eyring Henry's law states that at a particular temperature, the amount of a given gas dissolved in a given type and mass of solid is directly proportional to the partial pressure of that gas in equilibrium with that solid, or otherwise stated Pc=KhXc where Pc is the partial pressure of injected gas, KH is Henry's law constant, and Xc is the concentration of the injected gas in the zeolite. Hence the TCD is measuring the vapor pressure at the controlled temperature. As temperature was increased, the amount of time between the initial and retention time decreased, meaning gas retention happened faster as the temperature was increased at a steady interval. By plotting the natural log of this time, ~t in minutes versus 1IT in Kelvin, the slope gives us ~H, or the energy of interaction. By applying the Clausius-Clapeyron equation to solve for Henry's constant, HI Ink H =R- 1 - In where ~ is a constant and R is the gas constant, a linear relationship is formed. Since mass (O.737g chabazite) and volume flow (30 mL/min) were kept constant throughout the experiment, the amount of xenon injected does not affect the time difference between initial and retention peaks. He nry'. LI W Plot O . OO~ 18 OOlXl2 0_0032.2 0.00324 0.00328 0.00028 0.0033 0.00332 11T ('eml> In "'1Il101 15 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS ASSESSING EARLY ESL LITERACY Robert Capps (Rachel Hayes-Harb) Department of Linguistics University of Utah RobertCapps In teaching English as a second language (ESL) to adults, it is sometimes necessary to teach literacy students for the first time. A variety of assessment tools exist for tracking student progress through the intermediate and advanced stages; however, there is no test designed specifically to track early ESL literacy development. Currently, the BEST (http://www.cal.org/aea/) and CASAS (http://www.casas.org/) tests are the most widely used assessment tools for beginning ESL. However, neither test is sensitive to the earliest stages of literacy development. C A S A S targets the beginning ESL level, but the literacy component is very short, and is exclusively multiple-choice. In lacking a production component, it is unable to assess the full range of skills that students m a y be developing for the first time as they learn English. BEST assesses students' functional literacy and speaking skills, but the level is too advanced for the purpose of assessing early learners. The writing component includes tasks such as filling in forms, writing a check and writing a short letter to a teacher. For adult students w h o c o m e from countries where literacy education is not widely available, or w h o s e native languages are normally unwritten, it m a y take years of study before reaching a level advanced enough to be able to d o these tasks comfortably. As a result, nonprofit organizations that provide English language instruction to ESL students lackin basic literacy skills, like the English Skills Learning Center in Salt Lake City, often d o not have an adequate way to track student progress at the earliest developmental stages. This m e a n s that these organizations can show neither their preliterate students, nor their funders, that these students have indeed been making progress, which can be discouraging, and ultimately detrimental, to the students w h o end up labeled by BEST as a level zero or level one for years. In the present work, a new test was designed to better assess early ESL literacy. In order to learn w this would entail, I observed classes of preliterate ESL students and sat in on the administration of the BEST and C A S A S tests. I interviewed ESL teachers and test administers closely involved with preliterate ESL students to find out the areas that they thought a test of early ESL literacy should target, in particular what these students could do and in what ways their skills improve at the earliest stages. Interviews included gathering information about informal strategies already used for assessing a student's reading level, as well as professional opinions about what literacy skills the current tests were missing. The criteria collected were considered in terms of practicality, testability, and relevance to the student population. It was found that an adequate test of early ESL literacy would have to test a variety of skills not necessarily included in the existing assessments. These include the knowledge of the directionality of writing, handwriting skills, recognition of letters and knowledge of their sounds, whole-word recognition, and the pronunciation of progressively more complex words. The test was developed to capture the range of skills that can be accomplished by a student w h o is assessed by BEST as a level zero. It was concluded that the test would require several sections, including speaking, writing, and match components, and that these would capture an appropriate range of skills to assess the level of a student whose literacy skills fall below the level captured by other assessment tools. The findings suggest that the range of literacy skills traditionally tested m a y have to be revised and expanded in an effective early ESL literacy assessment. 16 THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS BETA-CATENIN GIVES "TIPS" TO THE DEVELOPING PANCREAS Gabriela M. Cash (Brett K. Baumgartner, L. Charles Murtaugh) Department of H u m a n Genetics University of Utah Beta (B)-cells in the pancreas regulate blood sugar via secretion of insulin, and their destruction leads to type-1 diabetes. Although generating n e w B-cells could provide a treatment for this disease, the precise molecular mechanisms of B-cell development remain unknown. W e are interested in the role of W n t signaling in pancreatic multipotent progenitor cells (MPCs), from which B-cells and other mature pancreatic cells arise. Previous research has shown that development of exocrine acinar cells in the m o u s e pancreas requires B-catenin, a W n t signaling component. Deletion of B-catenin also reduces endocrine islet cell numbers, including B-cells. Our recent studies indicate that both of these phenotypes m a y be caused by defective M P C self-renewal in the absence of B-catenin, and our current research specifically aims to investigate whether B-catenin has a unique function in MPCs, or if it is required at other stages of endocrine and exocrine development. Answering this question will in turn provide valuable information regarding the development of B-cells. Using conditional gene deletion and activation in the mouse pancreas, we can manipulate B-catenin activity at specific developmental timepoints, and in particular pancreatic sublineages, to determine w h e n and where B-catenin is required during development. W e have utilized the Cre/loxP system and a pancreas-specific Cre driver, Pdx1 -Cre, to delete the B-catenin gene (Ctnnbl) in the early pancreatic epithelium. At embryonic age 12.5 days (El 2.5), B-catenin knockout (PBKO) pancreata possess fewer MPCs, marked by expression of the enzyme Cpa1 and localization to distal "tips" of the developing epithelium. This suggests that maintenance of Cpa1-positive tip cells requires B-catenin. At E12.5, P B K O pancreata also exhibit a reciprocal increase in the number of endocrine precursors, marked by expression of the transcription factor Ngn3. However, this increase is not sustained into later stages of development: in E17.5 P B K O pancreata, w e found a 10-fold decrease of overall pancreas size accompanied by a 2-fold decrease in B-cell mass. In attempt to explain this decrease, w e used Ngn3-Cre to delete B-catenin in endocrine precursors and this revealed no significant difference between the amount of B-cells in P B K O pancreata and littermate controls. Therefore, deletion of B-catenin leads to loss of progenitors rather than B-cells, suggesting that only early M P C s require B-catenin while islet precursors do not. Gabriela M. Cash Brett K. Baumgartner L. Charles Murtaugh In order to determine the ultimate fate of B-catenin-deficient cells, we used a tamoxifen catalyzed Cre driver, Pdx1-CreERT, to induce recombination in subsets of cells at specific timepoints while simultaneously marking them with GFP expression. Comparing the resulting mosaic B-catenin knock out (mPBKO) pancreata to littermate controls, w e found that loss of B-catenin at El 0.5 resulted in reduced contribution to Cpa1-positive M P C s at El 3.5 as well as acinar cells at E17.5. Surprisingly, labeling of S-cells remained similar between m P B K O and control at E17.5, suggesting that the loss of M P C s was partially balanced by a shift of mutant cells from multipotency to an endocrine fate. To determine the w i n d o w of B-catenin activity in expansion of M P C s and pinpoint the ultimate fate of m P B K O cells, further experiments will be done at additional timepoints with additional CreERT lines. 17 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 FATE OF SECOND HEART FIELD SUBDOMAIN IN FGF8 MOUSE MUTANTS Chansong Choi (Anne Moon) Department of Pediatrics, Neurobiology, Anatomy, and H u m a n Genetics University of Utah Chansong Choi Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) consist of a large family of genes that encode polypeptide signaling with numerous significant functions. Fgf proteins interact with a class of trans-membrane receptor tyrosine kinases called Fgf receptors 2. The Fgf pathway is k n o w n to play a critical role in cell growth, differentiation, migration, and patterning during organogenesis. It has been discovered that Fgfs are key players in pharyngeal, limb, and cardiovascular development. Specifically, Fgf8 is a central player in this family of fibroblast growth factors and operates extensively in cardiovascular development signaling pathway. Nearly 4% of all human infants are born with a congenital malformation and approximately 1 % of those composed of cardiovascular defects. Malformations of the outflow tract constitute nearly 4 0 % of these defects. It has been realized that Fgf8 signaling pathway regulates the activity of the Second Heart Field (SHF), a cell population which contribute cells to the myocardium at the arterial pole of the heart in the outflow tract and right ventricle. Fgf8 regulates SHF behavior and the development of its identity in giving rise to outflow tract myocardial cells. The M o o n lab has already shown that in Fgf8 conditional m o u s e mutants, myocardial cell identity seems to be "mistaken"; that is, mutant myocardium does not fulfill its normal signaling or secretory functions necessary for downstream cell behaviors. Normally, the myocardial cells have "nonworking" identity with particular signaling, secretory, and cell biologic roles that are vital for outflow tract morphogenesis. For example, if Fgf8 is completely ablated in heart precursor cells before the construction of the early heart tube, loss of Fgf8 in this domain specifically produce small heart tubes and outflow tracts. O n the other hand, if Fgf8 is ablated in mesodermal tissue, these mutants have defects in the outflow tract configuration such as doublet outlet right ventricle and transposition of the great arteries. Finally, ablation of Fgf8 function in the early pharyngeal pouch endoderm simultaneously with the mesoderm, mutants are born with outflow tract that failed to undergo correct sepatation. Such results demonstrate various outflow tract phenotypes and confirm spatially and temporally distinct properties of Fgf8 signaling in cardiovascular development 3. Despite its critical role in heart formation, not much is known about the molecular and cellular pathw that are dependent on Fgf8. The overall objective of this research project is to find the role of Fibroblast Growth Factor (Fgf8) signaling in the development and differentiation of heart cells. More specifically, we wish to define the exact requirements for Fgf8 in SHF sub-domains labeled by different "cardiosensor"transgenic lines. Each "cardiosensor" transgene is transcribed in different subdomains of the SHF and are detectable by staining for beta-galactosidase activity. For instance, y96-Myf5-nlacZ-16 transgene expression is indicated in the inferior wall of the early outflow tract and cells caudal to the O F T in the pharyngeal SHF 1. Expression of Mef2cAHF-LacZ transgene in caudal crescent defines A H F precursors and their progeny in OFT and RV 1, whereas the A17-Myf5-nlacZ-T55 transgene tags progenitors are"fated"to superior portion of the O F T 1. Since these cells are marked with these different cardiosensor lines, they can be identified and studied in Fgf mutants. It is highly plausible that these subdomains require and are being exposed to differential signals to achieve their identity. We are currently carrying out the following steps to gather experimental data: (1) breed mice for desi mutant genotypes containing conditional alleles bearing desired Cre switch and control for the timing of ablation of Fgf8 (2) breed mice for non-mutants (wild types) bearing Cre switch (3) collect D N A samples from mice to amplify and analyze D N A using PCR techniques (4) harvest embryos at e9.5 and 12.5 (5) embed and section samples for data analysis. Preliminary data confirms our hypothesis that specific phenotypes of different categories of Fgf8 mutants reflect variable dependence of these subdomains on Fg8 signaling. 18 Works Cited 1 Bajolle, F., Zaffran, S., Meilhac, S.M., Dandonneau, M., Chang, T, Kelly, R.G., Buckingham, M.E. (2008). Myocardium at the base of the aorta and pulmonary trunk is prefigured in the outflow tract of the heart and in subdomains of the second heart field. Developmental Biology, 313 (1), 25-34. 2 M o o n , A. M. (2006, June). M o u s e Models for Investigating the Developmental Basis of H u m a n Birth Defects. Pediatric Research, 59 (6), 749-755. 3Park EJ, O g d e n LA, Talbot A, Evans S, Cai C, Black BL, Frank DU, M o o n A M (2006) Required, tissue-specific roles forFgf8 in outflow tract formation and remodeling. Development 133:2419-2433. THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTIVATION & ENGAGEMENT IN ONLINE LESSONS: THE ROLE OF PERFORMANCE GOALS Domino Taylor Ells, Miranda Maxwell, Andrew Choi (Carol Sansone) Department of Psychology University of Utah The initial results from the Regulating Motivation and Performance Online (RMAPO) project found that w h e n students were provided reasons to value learning basic H T M L skills in an online lesson, they modeled the effects of sample H T M L codes in examples and exercises (Modeled) to a greater degree. Greater modeling, in turn, was related to greater performance (Quiz Scores). Because greater modeling was associated with higher performance outcomes, the purpose of the present study was to examine whether spontaneously cited Performance Goals (participant's will to perform to a certain standard) predicted the degree to which students modeled the sample codes. Undergraduate volunteer participants (n=108) were asked to list goals in regards to what they hoped to gain from the online H T M L lesson ("What are your personal goals for working on this lesson?"). The participants'goals were subsequently coded into the following categories: "performance,""finishing,""affect,""usefulness,""learning," and "credit." Within the lesson, participants were able to engage in examples and exercises at varying degrees. The findings revealed that participants, w h o expressed Performance Goals, were more likely to model the effects of sample H T M L codes in examples and exercises to a greater degree. Although the initial study revealed that enhancing value was shown to lead to a greater degree of modeling, and in turn, higher quiz scores, the findings also reveal that Performance Goals lead to greater degree modeling and subsequently indirectly increase performance outcomes. Findings suggest that both external and internal motivators are factors that lead to increased engagement within an online lesson, which in turn leads to greater performances outcomes (Quiz Scores). Andrew Choi Carol Sansone 19 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 Overstimulation of TRPV4, a pressure-sensitive calcium channel, can cause death of retinal ganglion cells and m a y contribute to degeneration in glaucoma. ShiwaniChauhan David Krizaj 20 Shiwani Chauhan (Peter Barabas, Daniel Aaron Ryskamp, Wei Xing, David Krizaj) Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine Excessive calcium levels in retinal ganglion cells are thought to contribute to neuronal degeneration in glaucoma, a prevalent blinding disease, TRPV4, a calcium permeable mechanosensitive ion channel, m a y contribute to the calcium overload in retinal ganglion cells in response to increase intraocular pressure, which is a major risk factor for glaucoma. To examine this possibility w e tested whether overstimulation of TRPV4 is sufficient to cause the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. The T U N E L assay was used to quantify cell death in TRPV4 stimulated cells. In the control experiments, 1 hour incubation with AMPA/KA receptor agonist kainate (10 u M ) increased the number ofTUNEL-positive cells by 68±7%, whereas retinal ganglion cells exposed only to control saline supplemented with L-15 Leibowitz mediu m showed little TUNEL signal. Exposure to the TRPV4 channel, the agonist GSK1016790A increased cell death significantly, which was confined to cells with large somata (>6 urn). 25 n M GSK 1016790A induced TUNEL-positive signals in 3 3 ± 7 % whereas 100 n M GSK induced T U N E L labeling in 67±13%of the presumed retinal ganglion cells. GSK1016790A and kainate had very little effect on signals in the presumed photoreceptor perikarya cells (cell diameter 3-5 urn). In conclusion, excessive stimulation of TRPV4 with GSK1016790A has an excitotoxic effect leading to the death of retinal ganglion cells. The action of TRPV4 mechanism in retinal ganglion cells represents a prime molecular target for severe blinding diseases such as glaucoma. THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS HOST GENETIC DIVERSITY IMPEDES PATHOGEN ADAPTATION AND VIRULENCE Douglas H. Cornwall, Jason Kubinak (Wayne Potts) Department of Biology University of Utah Douglas H. Cornwall Pathogens are potent agents of natural selection acting on their host populations, and understanding the processes that limit virulence (i.e. harm to host) associated with infection has b e c o m e a major focus in biology. It has been suggested that host genetic diversity can limit the spread and virulence associated with infectious agents, but this is based on fundamental assumptions of the co-evolutionary relationship between hosts and their pathogens. Specifically, it predicts that host genetic diversity is an impediment to pathogen adaptation, and that this places an upper limit on virulence evolution. To test these predictions w e serially passaged Friend virus complex (a mouse-specific pathogen) through mice for three serial 12-day infections via intraperitoneal injection. O n e line of passage was created by serially passaging virus through genetically identical individuals (the pure-passage line). Three other lines were created by alternating a different host genotype in the second round but keeping the genotypes in the first and third round the same as the pure-passage line. This was done in order to test whether one round of host alternation is sufficient to impede pathogen adaptation and associated virulence evolution. W e found that the alternating lines had significantly lower pathogen fitness than the pure-passage line. Additionally, virulence associated with infection by alternated virus stocks was also significantly lower. These results suggest that host populations with low genetic diversity might be particularly susceptible to rapid pathogen adaptation and consequently more severe disease. This has practical implications for m a n a g e m e n t of endangered species and domestic livestock, where use of prophylactic antibiotics contributes to the global antibiotic resistance problem. Wayne Potts 21 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 PENETRATION OF DEICING SALTS THROUGH BRIDGE DECK OVERLAY PROTECTION SYSTEM Yiran Cui (Chris P. Pantelides, Erika Weber) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Utah Yiran Cui The corrosion of rebars in reinforced concrete bridges is a serious problem for the construction industry. The chloride ions from using deicing salts are responsible for this corrosion. Various types of overlays and sealers are used to prevent water and chlorides from penetrating the concrete through the top surface of the deck to rebar. However, their effects under the Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) method are still unclear. Chris P. Pantelides This Bridge Overlay Study is researching on the performance of various overlay systems under ABC conditions, based on the bond strength of the overlay to concrete deck and the resistance of the overlay to chloride intrusion after fatigue loading. Four types of specimens are designed to simulate different situations that occur in A B C methods. Type I simulates the effects of the application of the bridge deck sealant after m o v e m e n t of the deck panel. Type II simulates the effects of the application of the overlay prior to moving the deck panel. Type III or the small sample chemical test is used as a comparison for the penetration of chlorides through the overlay after the ponding test. Test Type IV simulates the freeze/thaw conditions of smaller specimens and compares the bond strength between cycles. A 90-day ponding test with sodium chloride solution and a potentiometric titration test are used to exam the penetration of chloride ions through the overlay systems of these specimens. At this time, ponding tests are being performed for each test type and method, to determine the resist ance of the overlay to chloride intrusion after loading. Plastic walls with 3 % weight sodium chloride will be installed around the specimens for 90 days. After the completion of the ponding period, the specim e n s will be taken out of the solution and checked for the a m o u n t of chloride in concrete using potentiometric titration according to A S T M C114. Figure 1 Using deicing salts on road 22 Figure 2 Ponding test with sodium chloride solution THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS PREDICTING THE KINETIC RELEASE PROFILES OF POLYMER-CONTROLLED ANTIBIOTIC RELEASE FROM ALLOGRAFT BONE TO LOCALLY ADDRESS ORTHOPEDIC INFECTIONS Sherry Davidoff, Brent Call (Benjamin Brooks, David Grainger, Amanda Brooks) Department of Bioengineering Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of Utah Systemic antibiotics have a very poor penetration into bone and the surrounding avascular dead spaces often present following trauma or orthopedic surgery. In order to address this issue, the next generation of void-filling bone-graft materials takes advantage of local antibiotic drug delivery to combat peri-operatively introduced infections. In vitro polymer-controlled long-term antibiotic release studies were performed and assessed using a colorimetric assay to determine the amounts of antibiotic released from coated cancellous allograft bone, thereby evaluating the drug release kinetics as a function of the polymer coating composition. However, the current colorimetric assay is limited not only in its ability to accurately quantify released drug but also as a predictive tool for future antibiotic-containing polymer formulations. Furthermore, bioactivity of the released antibiotic must be determined in an independent bioactivity assay. Therefore, to confirm the bioactivity of antibiotic released from this polymer-coated allograft bone system, various microbiology techniques have been employed. Standard minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and zone of inhibition (ZOI) techniques were adapted for use with our specific antibiotic-releasing system. Integrating the bioactivity assay results with the drug release kinetics as determined colorimetrically, a release kinetics model was developed as a critical predictive tool to allow targeted modifications of the allograft polymer coating to alter the antibiotic release profiles and achieve long-term antibiotic efficacy in a surgical scenario. Sherry Davidoff Brent Call Benjamin Brooks Amanda Brooks David Grainger 23 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 CERAMIDE BIOSYNTHESIS IMPAIRS ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE PHOSPHORYLATION SECONDARY TO PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A ACTIVATION IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS. Nicholas B. Deeter J. David Symons 24 Nicholas B. Deeter, Alexandrea Nichols, Quan-Jiang Zhang, Christopher Kowalski (E. Dale Abel, J. David Symons) College of Health, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Department of Physics, Division of Cardiology University of Utah The fat-derived metabolite ceramide impairs arterial vasorelaxation potentially by disrupting endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS). Appropriate e N O S enzyme function is required for the synthesis of N O which diffuses from the endothelium to vascular smooth muscle to produce vasorelaxation. W h e n e N O S is phosphorylated (e.g., by insulin) at serine 1177 (p-eNOS S1177) it becomes activated and N O is released. Alternatively, cytosolic phosphatases (e.g., protein phosphatase 2A; PP2A) can dephosphorylate e N O S and lower N O release. W e hypothesized that ceramide lowers insulin stimulated pe N O S S1177 secondary to PP2A activation in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). To test this, BAECs incubated in control media or media containing 500 u M palmitate for 3 h. For the last 10-min of the incubation BAECs were stimulated with saline or 100 n M insulin. In control cells ceramide levels did not increase and insulin-stimulated p-eNOS S1177 was robust. In palmitate-treated cells, ceramide levels accumulate and insulin-stimulated p-eNOS was absent. W h e n palmitate-treated cells co-incubated with the ceramide synthesis inhibitor myriocin (10 uM), ceramide levels did not increase and insulin-stimulated p-eNOS was restored (n=6-50 experiments). Thus, palmitate decreases insulin-stimulated p-eNOS S1177 in a ceramide-dependent manner. Next, BAECs incubated with palmitate in the absence and presence of the PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid (OA, 4 nM). Palmitate-induced reductions in insulin-stimulated p-eNOS S1177 did not occur in the presence of O A (n=6-33). Thus, PP2A activation might be required for ceramide to prevent insulin-stimulated e N O S phosphorylation. To explore this further, BAECs were transfected with either scrambled (control) or PP2A specific short interference R N A (siRNA PP2A) that silenced PP2A expression by - 7 0 % . As expected, palmitate treatment inhibited insulin-stimulated p-eNOS S1177 in control cells. However, the response was prevented in siRNA PP2A cells (n=6 experiments). Thus, ceramide might impair e N O S enzyme function secondary to PP2A activation. NIH R15HL091493, A D A 7-08-RA-164 THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS THE COMPLETE WORKS FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO BY VINCENT PERSICHETTI Dexter Drysdale (Hasse Borup) School of Music University of Utah Dexter Drysdale Composer Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987) was one of the most prolific and important American artists of the twentieth century. His vast body of works covers virtually every genre of classical music, from solo pieces to large-scale symphonic works. The Fantasy Op. 15 for Violin and Piano (1941, un-published) showcases the important early period of Persichetti's development as a composer. The composition-style is atonal with strong influences from Stravinsky, Hindemith, Bartok and Copland. Dr. Borup and I have acquired a copy of the hand written manuscript for this piece. The goal is to have a performance-ready copy of the score completed so Dr. Hasse Borup (violin) and pianist Mary Kathleen Ernst can premiere and record the piece with a collection of the complete works for violin and piano by Vincent Persichetti. S o m e of the obstacles that w e have been working to overcome in the hand-written manuscript include compositional decisions as w e study an American composer's original score, and try to decipher his intentions. W e are working on a piece through all phases of its creation and completion, as w e will pull a work out of obscurity, put it into print, and have it performed, and recorded by professional musicians. 25 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS SPRING 2011 NEURAL DIFFERENTIATION IN COGNITIVE CONTROL: AN ENCEPHALOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES William Dunn William Dunn (David Strayer, Jason Watson) Department of Psychology University of Utah The anterior cingulate cortex has been found to activate w h e n conflict arises within the brain. Will the brain accommodate and return to a somewhat passive form of processing if the conflict appears more frequently than normal? Electroencephalographs have been used in the past to measure the electrical impulses of the brain at times of less than a second. The study used the between-subjects method in contrasting the results of the individual types: high span and low span. These span scores were deter mined by first administering an Ospan test to the individual. The Ospan tests participants on their ability to multitask. In this between-subjects study, electrodes were used dynamically in correlation with a Simon Task to determine whether or not participants grew familiar, on a neurological level, with the conflict stimuli presented to them. The Simon Task asked participants to view an arrow on a computer screen and determine what direction the arrow was pointing in. Participants were to respond, using a controller, to correlate with the direction of the arrow rather than its location in space. A congruent trial consisted of an arrow that was pointing in the same direction as its location in space. A n incongruent trial was present w h e n the arrow's direction and its placement in space differed. Our predictions were that of accommodation; if exposed to more incongruent than congruent trials over a period of time, the participant would answer incongruent trials with similar response time and accuracy as though they were habitual. It is our hypothesis that the brain has the ability to compensate for the mitigated amount of incongruent vs. congruent trials and will compensate for its errors. Jason Watson THE UNIVERS
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