15th Annual Research and Creative Activities Symposium

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RESEARCH and CREATIVE ACTIVITIES SYMPOSIUM

Friday, April 27, 2012

Anschutz Medical Campus

8:00am - 10:00am: Judging for Chancellor’s Awards

10:15am - 12:45pm: GENERAL SESSION – Hensel Phelps Auditorium West

10:15am - 10:25am OPENING REMARKS: Dr. Rod Nairn, Provost

10:25am - 10:30am Keynote Address Introduction: Richard J. Traystman, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research

10:30am - 11:00am KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Adam Lerner, Director & Chief Animator, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

Topic: “We Are All Artistics Now”

11:00am - 11:30am Panel Discussion “Innovation and Creativity” Panel: Adam Lerner, Craig Damrauer, Mark Ernest

11:45am - 12:45pm: STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

Outstanding Research & Creative Activity Award Winners

Introduction: Mary Coussons-Read, AVC for Research

11:45am - 12:00pm Lydia Hooper: Environmental Media / GIS, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences “Life at La Suerte: Visualizing Human Relationship with Rainforest Biodiversity” 12:00pm - 12:15pm Dayton Goodell: Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

“Effects of Adolescent Social Deprivation on Social Reward: Ethanol Preference and Social Abuse Escape Behavior”

12:15pm - 12:30pm Jennifer Chipman: Civil Engineering, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences “The Value of International Collaborations in Understanding How Climate Change Affects Water Supplies from Snow Dominated Catchments” 12:30pm - 12:45pm Rebecca Green: Reproductive Sciences, School of Dental Medicine

“Development of Cleft Lip / Palate – Establishing a Role for Shape”

1:00pm - 3:00pm:

STUDENT EXHIBITS – Trivisible Room

Students will present their research and creative projects in an informal setting - Lunch will be served

3:00pm - 4:00pm:

AWARDS CEREMONY – Hensel Phelps Auditorium West

• Don Ellim an, Chancellor, presenting the RaCAS Chancellor’s Awards

• Mary Coussons-Read, AVC for Research, presenting the Award for Outstanding Student Mentor and the Outstanding Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Awards

• Lilly Marks, Executive Vice Chancellor, presenting the Outstanding Graduate Research Awards • John Lanning, AVC for Undergraduate Experiences, UROP Chair, presenting the UROP Awards

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Section

Page

Schedule

1 Welcome Letter

3 Undergraduate Titles and Authors

4 Graduate Titles and Authors

7 Local Middle School Award Winners

9 Undergraduate Abstracts

10 Graduate Abstracts

40 Committee Members and Sponsors

62

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RESEARCH and CREATIVE ACTIVIES SYMPOSIUM

April 27, 2012

I welcome you to the 15

th

Annual Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS). This is the

fourth joint RaCAS between the Downtown Denver and Anschutz Medical Campuses, and we are here to

celebrate our student’s accomplishments. Over 140 students are displaying 100 exhibits at this symposium.

Discovery and creativity in learning is critical for the future of our students at the University of Colorado

Denver (CU Denver). The discovery based and creative works on display today are representative examples

of the kind of activity we want all CU Denver students to experience. We are also particularly pleased to

welcome our Keynote Speaker today – Adam Lerner, Director and Chief Animator, Museum of Contemporary

Art Denver, who will share with us his experience in our keynote speech, entitled “We Are All Artistics Now ".

Many other individuals have demonstrated strong support for this symposium and are with us today,

such as Provost Dr. Rod Nairn, and our Chancellor, Donald Elliman. Their leadership and support recognizes

the importance of learning by doing.

Enjoy yourself as you recognize the efforts of our undergraduate and graduate students. Stop them

and engage them in conversations about their topics. I assure you that they will be thrilled to speak with you

about their work.

Finally, I would like to thank all of those whose efforts were critical to bring about this celebration of

student discovery and creativity.

Best wishes and have a great time at our symposium.

Richard J. Traystman, Ph.D.

Distinguished University Professor

Vice Chancellor for Research

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Agunbiade, Samiat (LABCOATS) 10 The Role of the Myoepithelial Cell Layer in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Progression

Aikins, Eric 10

Design of Power Management IC for Small-Scale Energy Harvesting with Adaptive Impedance Matching

Barry, Lani (UROP) 11

Putting community Gardens on the Map: Assessing the Food Production Potential of Denver’s Community Gardens

Baud, Zachery (LABCOATS) 11

Involved Brain Activity in Human Decision Making

Bergkamp, David (LABCOATS) 12

Analysis of the Rat Brain for Dopamine D2 Receptor Concentrations Following Cocaine Self Administration

Blair, Sean 12

Vertebral Hemorrhages and Their Repair

Bourret, Tayvia (UROP) 13

Molecular Systematics of Carex Magellanica

Brandt, David (UROP) 13

E-Tec Land Speed Record

Callahan, Kyle 14

How Purifying Agents Really Work: A Boric Acid Titration and Lewis Acid-Base Reactions

Chon, Nara (UROP) 14

Interactions between the Human C-Reactive Protein and Lipid-Coated Nanoparticles

Cohlmia, C. Ross (UROP) 15

Upcyclatron: The ECoReP Machine

Colby, Alison (UROP) 15

Making Digital Work: Manifesto for Modern Creativity

Croyle, Caroline (UROP) 16

Diarrheal Disease in Children Under the Age of 5 in the Ngoro Ngoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania

Davis, Christal 16

Kaposi’s Sarcoma: Cutaneous Versus Oral Lesions

D’Epagnier, Cheryl 17

Trisomy X: Expanding the Phenotype

Dougherty, Andrew (UROP) 17

A Model of Image Segmentation Based on the Single-Particle Schrodinger Equation

Duca, Lindsey 18

VZV and the mTOR Pathway

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Gregory, Reese (UROP) 21 Memory Conversion: Connecting New Molecular Evidence with Models for Learning

Hartley, Lu (UROP) 22

Genotypic Identification of Eutrema Wasabi Cultivars Using Inter-Simple Sequence Markers (ISSR)

Hildebrand, Diane (UROP) 22

Solar Power Recharging of Campus Electric Utility Vehicles

Ho, Paulynna 23

CpG Methylation of Varicella Zoster Virus DNA

Hoffman, Cory 23

Using Carbon Nanotubes in Redox Catalysis

Hooper, Lydia (UROP) – RaCAS Award Winner 24

Life at La Suerte: Visualizing Human Relationship with Rainforest Biodiversity

Houser, Jordan (LABCOATS) 24

Adipose Tissue Hyperplasia May Facilitate Relapse to Obesity

Jacobs, Ryan (UROP) 25

Microwave-Induced Thermoacoustic Imaging Hybrid FDTD Modeling and Experimental Study

Jobe, Aleena (UROP) 25

Fluid Interface Instabilities with Electricity

Kelley, Judas 26

Burn Baby Burn: Determining the Percent Yield of Precipitate and Pyrolysis Reactions

Khat, Terry (UROP) 26

How Xenopus Laevis (Frog) Zygote Arrest protein 1 (Zar1) Regulates Developmental Maternal Messenger RNA

Lee, Kevin 27

Jim Hall – Master of Motivic Improvisation

Liakhova, Tatyana (LABCOATS) (UROP) 27

Molecular Interactions and Membrane Targeting of Granuphilin C2 Domains: A Preliminary Study

Macdonald, Deana (UROP) 28

The Golden Hour

Mahaffey, Gregory 28

Targeting Cytokine-Activated NF-kB and STAT-1 to Prevent Beta Cell Death in Diabetes Mellitus

Manatt-Schottleutner, Joanna 29

Molecular Synergy: Merging the Forefronts of Education and Neurochemistry

Moumen, Zakaria (LABCOATS) 29

Cigarette Smoke Impairs Expression of CD146 in Lung Vasculature Contributing to Vascular Dysfunction in COPD/Emphysema

Nega, Meheret (LABCOATS) 30

Serum Antibody Reactivity against Circulating Exosomes in Patients with High-Grade Gliomas

Olmstead, Michael 30

The Blockade of CD40 with a Small Therapeutic Peptide Prevents and Reverses Type 1 Diabetes

Orlowski, Jeffrey (UROP) 31

Creating Animations with Geographic Information Systems

Overton, Lindsey 31

Prevalence of VZV, HSV-1, and HSV-2 in Human Trigeminal Ganglia

Polanco, Daniel (LABCOATS) 32

Targeted Subsequencing of Human Genomes

Rafle, Hannah 32

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Replogle, Madeleine 33 Bone Surface Modification and Paleoecological Reconstruction of Pliocene Laetoli Fossil

Assemblage

Silva, Kevin 34

Zygote Arrest Protein 2 Binds mRNAs of Important Cell Cycle Regulators

Simms, Crystal 34

Ecosystem Reconstruction at Arene Candide; The Evolution of Gathering Behavior Under Different Eco-Climatic Conditions in the Pleistocene and Holocene

Smith, Meghan 35

Prevalence of VZV, HSV-1, and HSV-2 in Human Trigeminal Ganglia (HSV-2)

Spahic, Irma 35

Effects of the NMDA Receptor Antagonist MK-801 on Escalation of Cocaine Consumption

Stukova, Marina (LABCOATS) 36

Inhibition of PHF5A by miR-21 as a Potential Therapy for Brain Tumors in Children

Thoemmes, Stephen 36

Identifying Phosphorylation/Dephosphorylation Patterns of cTnI in Stages of Heart Failure

Tomlinson, Meg 37

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Interfaces Modified with Ionizable Compounds

Wiggins, Melissa (UROP) 37

Trends and Implications of Private Conservation in Jefferson County, Colorado

Winter, Craig (UROP) 38

Lowry: An Architect of Denver

Yuan, Emily (UROP) 38

Identification and Growth Monitoring of Mercury Resistant Bacteria in the Bacterial Removal of Mercury from Museum Artifacts

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Aydin, Ahmet 40 Performance Benchmarking of Sequential, Parallel and Hybrid Radix Sort Algorithms

Barry, Diana 40

Properties of Resin Based Lining Cements, Wet and Dry

Bates, Ryan 41

Chronic Central Administration of Modified and Unmodified Valproic Acid Increased Pro-Survival Phosphoproteins

Beebe, Chelsea 41

An Ecological Study of Perognathus Fasciatus: Examining Population Parameters Using Mark Recapture and Radio Telemetry

Blakeslee, Sarah 42

Investigating Whitebark Pine (Pinus Albicaulis) Functional Roles in Tree Island Recruitment Within the Alpine Subalpine Treeline Ecotone

Blythe, Caitlin 42

Architecture and Fashion: A Cultural Comparison through Digital Fabrication

Bucher, Michael 43

microCABIN

Burgett, Shawna 43

Latch Behavior of Smooth Muscle in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Carter, David 44

The Architecture of Action in the USDA’s National Organic Program

Chipman, Jennifer – RaCAS Award Winner 44

The Value of International Collaborations in Understanding How Climate Changes Affects Water Supplies from Snow Dominated Catchments

Cooper, Daphne 45

Methods to Detect and Identify RNA Fragments Produced by RNase L

D’Agostino, Adrienne 45

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Response to SunCor Energy Leak into Sand Creek

Doll, Andrew 46

Determining Individual Arrival Times of Migratory Birds Using Carbon Stable Isotopes

Elkasrawy, Moataz 46

Experimental Orthodontic Bracket Adhesives, BPA-Free or Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Containing

Erskine, Michael 47

Impacts of Geospatial Website Attributes on eImage: The Moderating Role of Geospatial Reasoning Ability

Fees, Colby 47

Possible Lipid Raft Involvement in Phosphatidic Acid Induced Calcium Release at Fertilization

Fulroth, Ben 48

Role of Lipids in Apoptosis in Xenopus Laevis Eggs

Gallaher, Samuel 48

Simulating Policy Change and Stasis

Gnabasik, David 49

Topological Analysis of Proteomic Data

Green, Rebecca – RaCAS Award Winner 49

Development of Cleft Lip/Palate – Establishing a Role for Shape

Hagen, Andrew 50

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Johnson, Michael 51 Curing Light Spectra Effects on Polymerizing Dual Photo-Initiator Composite

Krauss, Eva 51

Hydrocarbon Reservoir Damage Due to Filter Cake Formation – Explained Using Filter Clogging Model

Majack, Marika 52

A Floristic Checklist of the City and County of Denver, Colorado

Mann, Sarah 52

Biomechanical Basis for Resistance Exercise Prescription for a Person 40 Years after Traumatic Upper Extremity Limb Amputation – Case Report

Mason, Hillary 53

The Greening of Our Schools: Does it Matter?

McCann, Lisa 53

Peacebuilding as Global Public Policy

Mobbs, Robyn 54

Partners for Healthy Development: Linking Characteristics of Public Health Partnerships to Performance

Odell, Sara 54

Get the Whole Story – Implementing Story Theory at the Bedside

Patel, Vinita 55

Sleep Problems in Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy and Relationship with ASMT Expression

Pyatt, Jill 55

The Role of Pinus Albicaulis as a Tree Island Initiator in the Alpine-Treeline Ecotone: Comparing Microclimates among Microsites

Roth, Eric 56

Linking Colloid Deposit Morphology and Clogging in Porous Media

Schwab, Angela 56

Remaking my Grandmothers’ Quilts: Traditional Craft Using CAD/CAM Technology

Singh, Surendra 57

The Role of ALDH1B1 in Alcohol Metabolism and Colon Cancer

Smith, Anna 57

The miR-106b-25 miRNA Cluster is a Mediator of the Tumor Promotional Effects of TGFb Signaling Downstream of Six1 in Human Breast Cancer

Stefanski, Adrianne 58

Pregnancy Amelioration of Arthritis in SKG Mice Corresponds with Alterations in Serum Amyloid A3 Levels

Stone, Amy 58

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Hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Seven of the best and brightest local middle school students who placed in the top tier of the junior division categories at the Denver Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair are showcasing their posters at the symposium today. 450 middle and high school students from the Denver area competed at the fair in February. The College of Liberal Arts and

Sciences sponsored some of the first, second and third place junior division category awards. Prior to today’s proceedings, the students had lunch with Dean Daniel J. Howard and CLAS professors who talked with the students about their research interests.

Nick Daly

Notre Dame Catholic School 7th Grade Project: Junior Physical Sciences, Hotline Teacher: Becky Mock

Johann Kailey-Steiner

Grant Beacon Middle School 7th grade

Project: (Junior Engineering) Rocket Design: Part 2 – Testing the Effects of Vortex Generators on Drag Coefficient Roger Nakagawa

Hill Middle School 6th grade

Project: (Junior Physical Sciences) The Effect of Dimple Size on How Golf Balls Roll Rahul Ramesh

Challenge Middle School 7th grade

Project: (Junior Biochemistry) Got Fuel? – Generating Electricity From A Cow Dung Based Microbial Fuel Natalie Rivera

Liberty Middle School 6th grade

Project: (Junior Chemistry) Oil Be Gone Grace Romer

Stanley British Primary 8th grade

Project: (Environmental Sciences) Searching for Clarity Drop by Drop Avi Swartz

Project: (Junior Computer Sciences and Mathematics) 1 Out of 400 Choose 100 Allison Weinberger

Project: (Junior Medicine and Health Sciences) Is Homeopathy More than the Placebo? The Effect of Homeopathic Arnica on Fruit Flies

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The Role of the Myoepithelial Cell

Layer in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Progression

Samiat Agunbiade, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Pepper Schedin, AMC - School of Medicine

Activity Type: Undergraduate Research

Introduction: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an early stage breast cancer in which the cancer is contained within the mammary duct. Surrounding mammary ducts is the myoepithelial cell layer which is important for normal mammary gland development and contracting mammary ducts to expel milk during lactation. In addition, the myoepithelium is also thought to have tumor suppressive functions. The breakdown of the myoepithelial layer and loss of certain tumor suppressive markers can be used to assess the transition from DCIS to invasive carcinoma. Methods: In our preclinical mammary intraductal model of DCIS progression, human tumor cells are directly injected into the mouse mammary duct. The tumors that develop utilize the host myoepithelial cell layer, thus providing a rigorous approach to analyze the breakdown of the

myoepithelium with respect to DCIS progression. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we assessed the progressive loss of smooth muscle actin, p63, and calponin, myoepithelial markers used clinically to assess early invasion. Results: Compared to nulliparous tumors, tumors formed during pregnancy had increased

maintenance of calponin and SMA positive myoepithelial cell layers. In contrast, less than half of the nulliparous and pregnant tumors maintained a p63 positive

myoepithelial layer. Conclusions: During pregnancy the myoepithelial cell layer is not significantly compromised, suggesting that pregnancy may stabilize the

myoepithelial cell layer. Understanding the role of the myoepithelial cell layer in early stage cancer may

Design of Power Management IC for

Small-Scale Energy Harvesting with

Adaptive Impedance Matching

Eric Aikins, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Fardi, Hamid Z, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Design of Power Management IC for Small-Scale Energy Harvesting with Adaptive Impedance Matching. The purpose of this research is to design a power management IC for small-scale energy harvesting with impedance matching. A non-inverting buck-boost converter is adopted to accommodate a wide input voltage range from different energy sources and varying environmental conditions. For instance, in the case of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology, which employs indigenous microorganism as biocatalyst and convert the biodegradable substrate into electricity. The output power of MFC fluctuates significantly according to the operational points which makes stable harvest of energy difficult. Hence the need for the power management IC whose circuit dynamically performs the resistive

matching to harvest the maximum power. To provide the best conversion efficiency at different levels of output voltage, the electronic circuitry has to adjust its switching topology and we will need to use on-chip capacitors. The goal is to design, implement, and fabricate a new fully integrated single chip that is capable of supporting low-power CMOS electronics for energy harvesting system. A prototype monolithic integrated circuit from standard CMOS process technology will be used. The key features of the design considered are accuracy

performance, simplicity, and improved power efficiency performance. Simulation and measurement results of the IC are provided to verify the operation of the power stage and the function of controller circuit.

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Putting Community Gardens on the

Map: Assessing the Food Production

Potential of Denver's Community

Gardens

Lani Barry, Political Science, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Peter Anthamatten, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Involved Brain Activity in Human

Decision Making

Zachery Baud, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Benzi Kluger, AMC - School of Medicine

Volition refers to internally driven decisions to perform or inhibit actions as opposed to decisions driven by

external or environmental constraints. Understanding volition is important for normal decision-making as well as better understanding neuropsychiatric diseases such as dementia, anxiety, and addiction. Prior studies show specific brain areas are involved in the inhibition of actions driven by external constraints but have not examined inhibition under volitional control. We hypothesize that volition and inhibition share common neural sources. The objectives are to determine the timing and location of brain activity during volitional and externally driven actions and inhibition of actions. Methods: Brain activity was recorded with magneto encephalography from 13 healthy individuals while performing a task responding to the following stimuli: Green light (environmentally controlled action: press the button); Red light (environmentally controlled inhibition: do not press the button); Yellow light (volitional action or inhibition: subjects chooses to press or not press button).

Preliminary Results: Motor areas were activated during all conditions. Lateral frontal areas were involved in volitional and environmentally controlled inhibition and are hypothesized to inhibit motor commands. Medial frontal areas of the brain were involved in both volitional and inhibitory conditions.

Discussion: These results suggest that medial and lateral frontal regions actively inhibit motor areas for both environmentally driven and volitional inhibition. While lateral areas appear unique to inhibition, medial areas are involved in both volitional action and inhibition. Further analyses are needed to determine whether differences in timing, sub regions or degree of activation may distinguish volitional from environmentally driven decisions.

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Analysis of the Rat Brain for

Dopamine D2 Receptor

Concentrations Following Cocaine

Self-Administration

David Bergkamp, Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Richard Allen, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Drug addiction remains a serious public health concern and at present there are few effective treatments. One reason for this may be the large degree of variability in individuals’ drug taking histories. Route of administration is a particularly important factor in cocaine addiction, with routes that produce greater and more rapid brain cocaine levels leading to a more rapid onset of addiction. However, the underlying relationship between the behavioral and neurochemical changes associated with addiction remains an area of active investigation. Various studies have shown that exposure to cocaine alters the brain dopaminergic system, including various receptor concentrations. Additionally, research by the Allen laboratory and others has found that rats trained to self-administer a higher dose of cocaine will work harder for cocaine than rats trained to self-administer a lower dose. Thus, to determine the neurochemical

consequences of such drug-taking behavior, samples of tissue from the dopamine rich dorsal striatum brain region of rats were collected after self-administration of cocaine (either 0.29 or 0.77 mg/kg/infusion) and analyzed using a western blot technique. Rats trained with the higher cocaine dose exhibited greater

“motivation” to work for cocaine than rats trained with the lower dose. Preliminary western blot analysis revealed that rats consuming the higher cocaine dose also had greater relative concentrations of dopamine D2

receptors compared with rats consuming the lower dose. These findings suggest that cocaine dose alone may

Vertebral Hemorrhages and Their

Repair

Sean Blair, Digital Animation, DC - College of Arts and Media

Stephen Wike, Digital Animation, DC - College of Arts and Media

Keton Luster, Digital Animation, DC - College of Arts and Media

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Travis Vermilye, DC - College of Arts and Media

Activity Type: Undergraduate Creative Activity

This video will be aimed at the education of students and individuals interested in vertebral hemorrhages and the processes by which they are repaired. The video itself will be a narrative piece following one individual. The individual goes through four stages; accident, diagnosis of injury, surgery, and recovery. The illustrated injury will show the herniation and hemorrhage of a cervical intervertebral disc. Special issues to be addressed will include the physically debilitating effects of the injury, such as pain and the limitation of limb strength. To supplement the possibility of using the animation to educate individuals with varying degrees of anatomical and physiological understandings, several versions of the video will be available with different explanations of the material. Each version will be tailored to the

educational familiarity that can be expected from audiences that will vary from graduate to high school students.

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Molecular Systematics of Carex

Magellanica

Tayvia Bourret, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Leo P. Bruederle, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Carex magellanica Lam. (Cyperaceae) is one of thirty flowering plant species that exhibit a bipolar distribution, occurring in the extremes of the northern and southern hemispheres. Carex magellanica subsp. irrigua (Wahlenb.) Hiitonen, occurs in sphagnum wetlands of alpine regions in the northern hemisphere and is circumboreal, with the southernmost limit reaching Colorado. Carex magellanica subsp. magellanica, occurs in sphagnum wetlands of alpine regions in the southern hemisphere in southern Argentina and Chile. Here, we use molecular systematic data to test the hypothesis that the two subspecies are systematically distinct, differentiated by only subtle morphological characters. By extracting DNA from dried field and herbarium samples collected from across the range of the bog sedge and amplifying different nuclear and chloroplast regions (e.g., ITS and matK), maximum parsimony was used to construct a phylogeny for the species. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal genetic differentiation among the taxa supporting our original hypothesis. Furthermore, our data suggest that the two taxa should be recognized at the species level, although additional systematic research addressing the

morphology of the group is warranted. Phylogenetic analyses also reveal that Carex magellanica subsp. irrigua is paraphyletic and suggest the possibility of cryptic variation within it.

E-Tec Land Speed Record

David Brandt, Mechanical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Eric Paquette, Mechanical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Sean Caldwell, Mechanical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

Nate Dieringer, Mechanical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

Ryan Haun, Mechanical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

Carolyn Lieu, Mechanical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

David Sanger, Mechanical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Peter Jenkins, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

As our nation migrates away from a fossil fuel based economy, the re-emergence of electric powered transportation and clean technology will become increasingly important. Colorado, in particular, has positioned itself as a leader not only in the nation, but in the world as a renewable energy technology hub with the establishment of multiple renewable energy research organizations, strong clean air legislation, and a desire to protect its natural beauty. In the spirit of clean technology, the E-Tec Land Speed Record Project purpose is to investigate and find the maximum capabilities of existing materials and technologies and apply them to an electric racing vehicle. Using advanced aerodynamics and power sources, E-Tec hopes to show that an electric vehicle can match or even exceed the performance of a gas powered vehicle of the same size while still maintaining environmental benefits. The testing grounds to prove this hypothesis will be at the Bonneville Salt Flats during Speed Week in September, 2012, where the prototype vehicle will attempt to set a class land speed record of at least 70 mph.

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How Purifying Agents Really Work: A

Boric Acid Titration & Lewis

Acid-Base Reactions

Kyle Callahan, International Studies/Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Bethany Jo Hinzman, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Margaret Bruehl, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

An assignment that is given in the honors section of the General Chemistry II laboratory includes designing a lab experiment that would be suitable for a general

chemistry student to complete. The experiment in question first aimed to further the study and

understanding of volumetric titration. The purifying agent boric acid was chosen as a possible variable for the titration. This agent is available in a homeopathic remedy and over the counter eyewash solutions. Boric acid is a Lewis acid which is an advanced topic that is covered in General Chemistry II. Thus the topic is relevant to general chemistry and can be demonstrated through the volumetric titration technique. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the calculated

concentration of the homeopathic boric acid solution with and boric acid eyewash solution from a local pharmacy which did not have an approximate boric acid

concentration on the label. The results showed that there was a significantly higher concentration of boric acid within the homeopathic solution, with a 0.978% mass, than the concentration of the commercial eyewash that contained a 0.0359% mass. This experiment illustrates the practicality of the volumetric acid base titration process and shows relevance to chemistry in everyday life. It also gave us the opportunity to possibly refine the curriculum in a general chemistry teaching laboratory.

Interactions Between the Human

C-Reactive Protein and Lipid-Coated

Nanoparticles

Nara Chon, Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Hai Lin, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker used to predict risk for cardiovascular disease. Experiments by Dr. Scott Reed and coworkers revealed that CRP binds to lipid-coated nanoparticles of small radii (<30Å) but not of larger radii, and the binding process is associated with quaternary conformational changes of the protein. On the basis of the observation, they proposed that pentamer breaks apart due to the interactions between CRP and the curved membrane. On the other hand, Pepys et al. noticed that the CRP crystal structure is similar to the SAP crystal structure if the CRP protomers are rotated by 22° inward toward the central axis. Thus, they suggested that the

conformational change is caused by protomers rotation upon membrane binding, which modifies the protomer-protomer contacts. The goal of our project is to verify which hypothesis is correct by doing computer

simulations. Here we report our preliminary results from the tests on the second hypothesis. By rotating the protomers inward in a small step size of 5° followed by constrained energy minimization and molecular

dynamics simulations, we were able to generate energy profiles associated with the rotation. Interpolation of the energy profiles suggested that the conformation of the CRP crystal structure is unlikely the lowest-energy one and that the rotation may be feasible. More calculations are needed to refine the energy profiles.

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Upcyclatron: The ECoReP Machine

C. Ross Cohlmia, Mechanical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Devin Eldridge, Mechanical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Warren Linn, Mechanical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Brian Lopez, Mechanical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Thomas Serra, Mechanical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

Carl Simonsen, Mechanical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Joseph Cullen, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Activity Type: Undergraduate Research The purpose of this project was to design and

manufacture an efficient semi-automated manufacturing process to create a multi-use material from used plastic bags. The manufacturing machine, called The

Upcyclatron, consists of a hopper and feed system, conveyor system, heating and compression system, and material collection system. The Upcyclatron compresses and melts polyethylene bags creating a material called ECoReP (Extruded Compressed Recycled Plastic), with possible uses of thermal or acoustic insulation, padding, water/weather proofing and many additional

applications. The process eliminates the energy-intensive intermediate processing required by

conventional recycling. The process works as follows: a pneumatic press forces bags fed from two hoppers onto two high-temperature parallel conveyor belts. The belts then draw the material over a set of heated platens with a working surface temperature of 450°F melting a tough shell around the material approximately 4 mm thick. A heated wire slicer is used to sever and seal the ECoReP as it is extruded from the machine. Digital and analog controls as well as adjustability in the machine allow the Upcyclatron to create a material with variable,

repeatable properties. The Upcyclatron project seeks to prove the concept of recycling plastic bags in a single, semi-automated process capable of creating a finished product with minimal energy. The process is fully scalable and economically viable, capable of full integration into the existing recycling infrastructure.

Making Digital Work: Manifesto for

Modern Creativity

Alison Colby, Digital Design, DC - College of Arts and Media

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Bryan Leister, DC - College of Arts and Media

My research is based on information gleaned from Boulder Digital Works' 2011 event "Making Digital Work." The 2-day workshop brought together a small group of key activists, technologists, and creatives from around the world to discuss the present and future of digital design. The participants and speakers included an elite group of thinkers from trend-setting creative

powerhouses, including Ogilvy & Mather, Arnold, Google Creative Lab, Mullen, and Crispin Porter & Bogusky. My presentation crystallizes the biggest themes from the workshops into a manifesto designed for students and educators. Themes include: trends in digital creative; how digital transforms the traditional agency model; what constitutes great digital work; contemporary approaches to the creative process; hurdles to embracing digital creative; and new ideas for collaboration in a digital landscape.

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Diarrheal Disease in Children under

the Age of 5 in the Ngorongoro

Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania

Caroline Croyle, International Studies and Geography, DC - College of Arts and Media

Hannah Boggs, Geography, DC - College of Arts and Media

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Deborah Thomas, DC - College of Arts and Media

In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), human health outcomes are inextricably interlinked with environmental and wildlife interactions. The burden, although faced by all inhabitants, is heaviest on the most vulnerable population - children and infants under the age of 5. One of the most deadly but underfunded and under researched global health issue, diarrhea, causes nearly 1.5 million deaths annually, worldwide. Ironically, diarrhea is also easily diagnosed and treated. In the NCA, a single healthcare facility, Endulen Hospital, serves the population which exceeds 70,000. With limited resources, Endulen Hospital lacks the necessary tools to promote monitoring and reporting of the spatial distribution of disease in order to facilitate effective and efficient planning by health officials in determining the locations of intervention and prevention programs, attaining economic resources, assessing need for outreach programs, and other disease prevention and treatment efforts. This research has 2 primary

objectives: 1) to examine the spatial and temporal trends of diarrheal disease in children under 5 in the

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, using in-patient hospital records from Endulen Hospital, and 2) to evaluate the usefulness of the results to healthcare workers for evidence based decision-making through surveys.

Kaposi's Sarcoma: Cutaneous

Versus Oral Lesions

Christal Davis, Chemistry, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Thomas Campbell, AMC - School of Medicine

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate Kaposi's sarcoma using molecular biological techniques. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a cancer caused by human herpes virus 8 (HHV8), which manifests itself as purple/brown blotches on the skin, in the mouth, and on the internal organs. About 7 new people in 1 million are diagnosed with this cancer each year in the United States, and being infected with HIV increases one's risk of developing KS by about 20,000 times. Therefore, KS is of major concern to the 34 million HIV infected people around the world. Furthermore, it has been observed that individuals with oral KS lesions have poorer outcomes than those with only cutaneous lesions. The aim of this research was to investigate the underlying causes of this observation. Biopsies from oral and cutaneous KS lesions were obtained and the human and viral DNA was extracted. The DNA was analyzed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), which is a technique used to detect and quantify the presence of a particular sequence of DNA. This method was utilized to determine the amount of HHV8 DNA present in the lesions and compare the levels of HHV8 DNA in the cutaneous and oral lesions. A future direction will be to compare these data to serum levels of HIV, T-cells, and HHV8.

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Trisomy X: Expanding the Phenotype

Cheryl D'Epagnier, IPHY/ NURS, AMC - College of Nursing

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nicole Tartaglia, AMC - School of Medicine

This study’s objective is to characterize the phenotype of physical features, medical and developmental problems in a large cohort of females with trisomy X, a condition of variable phenotype occurring in 1:1000 births. Forty-one females age 1-24 (M= 8.33 years) with trisomy X were assessed by interview and physical examination. The majority of participants were diagnosed prenatally (63%). Those with a postnatal diagnosis were young. (M=5.6 years). Neurodevelopmental features were the most common postnatal indication for genetic testing (67%). Physical features including hypertelorism, epicanthal folds, clinodactyly, flat feet, and hypotonia were common across all age groups. Tall stature was present in adolescents and adults, with a (M=171.7cm, SD 10.5). Common medical problems include kidney

abnormalities, constipation, poor coordination, seizures, strabismus, and tremor. Of the entire cohort, 72% had speech delays and 51% had motor delays. Of the 24 school aged girls, 66% received SPED, 46% met criteria for ADHD, and 40% had an emotional disorder

diagnosis. The prenatally diagnosed subgroup had lower rates of speech delays (60% vs. 93%), motor delays (39% vs. 75%), and SPED services (64% vs. 100%), though not statistically significant (all p>.05) .There were no differences in the rate of ADHD between those with a prenatal vs. postnatal diagnosis (46% vs. 45%). These findings expand the knowledge of the trisomy X

phenotype. Those with a prenatal diagnosis have lower rates of neurodevelopmental problems, however many still have developmental delays and ADHD. Increased awareness of trisomy X is needed to increase rates of diagnosis and treatment.

A Model of Image Segmentation

Based on the Single-Particle

Schrödinger Equation

Andrew Dougherty, Mathematics and Computer Science, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Andrew Knyazev, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Image segmentation is the process of separating a digital image into significant parts. The ultimate goal in doing so is to reveal the essential qualities and

underlying structure of the image. The process is similar in many regards to how humans process the world visually. We do not consciously apprehend every visual datum in our field of vision, but isolate essential or useful characteristics of what we see in order to comprehend it. For this reason, image segmentation is ideal for

applications involving automated visual processing and machine vision. It also finds applications in medical imaging, where it can be used to automate X-ray and MRI scanning, or aid in the study of anatomical

structure, among other things. Our research involves the development of a model of image segmentation based on Schrödinger’s Equation, which is an equation describing the states of a quantum system. In this model, a 2D or 3D image is thought of as a portion of 2D or 3D space in which quantum phenomena take place according to a single particle Schrödinger’s Equation derived from the image’s pixel values. Our preliminary results, reported here, are encouraging. One possible avenue for further research to efficiently improve the quality of the image segmentation could be to employ density functional theory and the Kohn-Sham equations.

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VZV and The mTOR Pathway

Lindsey Duca, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Chau Ta, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Kelly Hughes, Psychology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Randall Cohrs, AMC - Graduate School

We have been conducting research involving the mTOR pathway and Varicella zoster virus (VZV) replication. We have a current hypothesis that one or more VZV

encoded proteins block mTOR activation in times of cellular stress thereby permitting virus reactivation. The two things that we are looking at in this study are (1) does rapamycin inhibit VZV replication in productively infected cells, and (2) does DMOG chemically induce hypoxia in cells infected with VZV. Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is a human alpha herpes virus that causes childhood chickenpox (varicella), then becomes latent in dorsal root ganglia, and frequently reactivates decades later to produce shingles (zoster).

Kinecting Technology

Kyle Dunn, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Jeff Wiencrot, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dan Connors, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

The advent of the Kinect as an inexpensive 3D imaging device has unveiled incredible opportunities. Certain 3D applications require increased data confidence to be practical. Our research has extended the Kinect's capabilities beyond a single camera to allow enhanced tracking of gestures and pose estimations, drastically improving the performance and spatial coverage compared to a single camera.

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Experimental Study to Address the

Forming and Shaping Challenges of

New Advanced High Strength Steels

(AHSS)

Justin Eusoof, Mechanical, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Carl Simonsen, Mechanical, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. L. Rafael Sanchez, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Experimental testing was conducted in several new advanced high strength sheet materials. Futuristic usage of these materials is envisioned for weight reduction and fuel economy in transportation design and for improving safety standards through higher shock absorption capabilities. Using a Pure bending moment test device and modern interferometry techniques, important forming parameters such as moment, strain and springback were successfully measured. This

information is paramount to the designing of the proper techniques to form these materials. Some of the results were presented at the North American Deep Drawing Research group at Oakland University at Rochester, Michigan. Carl Simonsen presented a paper titled “An interferometer based experimental technique to evaluate large strains and springback” and Justin Eusoof

presented “Experimental uncertainties in formed sheet metal geometry due to 3-D roughness effects”. Both publications were commended by the audience, and are the bases for Journal publications currently under preparation. Latest tests give insight to the behavior of sheet metal upon reverse bending under large

deformations. These results are unique and will certainly have an impact on the research community.

An Investigation of the Quasi-linear

Viscoelastic Properties of Vascular

Tissues

William Fitzhugh, Physics, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Randall Tagg, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

In order to further understand the mechanics associated with vascular disease, we are developing a method by which a membrane, specifically arterial tissue, can be observed under a pressure that varies with time. Obtaining data representing the change in curvature of the membrane and readings for the applied pressure allows us to introduce models for viscoelastic mediums. Once these models are applied we can determine various coefficients that that are indicative of the micro composition of the membrane. For example, if a strong increase in the rigidity was identified in one small region of the material, it would indicate that there is an increase in the density of non-elastic, or less elastic, particles in that region of interest (ROI). Ideally this method could lead to a way to detect health concerns, such as lipid or cholesterol buildup, that could eventually lead to aneurysm formation and rupture. Additionally, because this new method expands on the previous tests for viscoelastic properties, it adds to the collection of tools that both scientists and engineers have to determine properties of many materials that were previously investigated using axial or biaxial loading. If successfully coupled with medical imagining techniques that provide real time images, this method could aid in the

progression of treatments for vascular diseases by giving patients knowledge of arterial wall weaknesses prior to the development of a full scale aneurysm.

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Phage Display Using Neuromyelitis

Optica to Model Multiple Sclerosis

Lacy Franks, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Xiaoli Yu, AMC - Graduate School Activity Type: Undergraduate Research

My undergraduate research is focused on multiple sclerosis (MS). Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). In my research I used neuromyelitis optica (NMO) recombinant antibodies. Like MS, neuromyelitis optica is also a demyelinating disease of the CNS, but in NMO we know the antigen (aquaporin-4) that is

responsible for causing the disease. However, in MS there is still no antigen identified. My project consisted of using phage display techniques to identify specific amino acid sequences that bind to the NMO recombinant antibodies. The goal of identifying these specific amino acid sequences was to see if they in any way indicated aquaporin-4 (the known antigen in NMO). Then, if there was in fact any indication of the antigen we could look at the specific amino acid sequences that were selected when using MS recombinant antibodies and see if there was a possible indication for the antigen in MS.

Resistant Starch Promotes Increased

Fat Oxidation in Healthy Adults

Tory Garling, Nutrition, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Janine Higgins, AMC - School of Medicine

Resistant starch is any starch that is not completely digested in the upper digestive tract and passes to the bowel where it is a good substrate for fermentation into short-chain fatty acids. In prior research, a high resistant starch diet was shown to reduce fat absorption in rats and increase fat oxidation in healthy adults. However, this human data was collected using serial

measurements with a hood calorimeter. The purpose of this study was to determine how a diet high in resistant starch (RS) effects substrate oxidation in humans compared to a standard US diet containing digestible starch (DS). Human subjects (N=18) spent 24hrs inside a whole room calorimeter. VO2, VCO2, energy balance and nitrogen excretion were measured continuously. Respiratory quotient and non-protein respiratory quotient were calculated in order to determine fat, carbohydrate, and protein oxidation. The RS diet caused greater fat oxidation and lower carbohydrate oxidation than DS. Protein oxidation was not significantly different between the groups. Based on these results, RS could be a useful tool in prevention of adiposity and successful weight maintenance.

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Effects of Adolescent Social

Deprivation on Social Reward:

Ethanol Preference and Social Abuse

Escape Behavior

Dayton Goodell, Psychology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sondra Bland, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Experiences of early life adversity can result in abnormal social behaviors and symptoms of psychological

disorders such as differential susceptibility to substance abuse, anxiety and aggression. Adolescent social deprivation (ASD) provides a good model of early life adversity, as it produces changes in the effects of drugs of abuse and social behavior including an increase in the rewarding properties of social interaction. Using

conditioned place preference we have determined that male rats show greater preference for a novel social cue than do their female counterparts. In addition, for male ASD rats the social reward is sufficient to reverse their aversion to low-dose ethanol. We believe that this increase in social reward may also contribute to an understanding of the development of abusive

relationships in individuals that have experienced early adversity and neglect. To examine this, the current study pairs an experimental rat that is either group housed or ASD with a social cue that is either abusive or non-abusive. The experimental rat has the ability to escape the social situation through a small doorway that the stimulus rat does not have access to. The number of times the escape chamber was entered and the total time spent escaping were quantified. The results of these studies contribute to our understanding of how social reward may increase drug use and willingness to remain in a socially dysfunctional situation. The models also allow for future study of the underlying neurological mechanisms that may be at work in these problematic behaviors.

Memory Conversion: Connecting

New Molecular Evidence with Models

for Learning

Reese Gregory, Premed/Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Joanna Manatt-Schottleutner, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Karen Knaus, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Memory Conversion: Connecting new molecular evidence with models for learning Reese Gregory, Joanna Manatt-Schottleutner, Karen Knaus. In recent years, researchers’ increased understanding of neurochemical mechanisms have allowed for more elaborate proposals of the conversion pathways for memory formation and retention. Regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins have been well-described as accelerators of Ga-mediated GTP hydrolysis (“GTPase-accelerating proteins” or GAPs) (1). Recent studies of the visual cortex found that layer 6 neurons of area V2 are crucial for the processing of object-recognition memory (ORM) and that the expression of the protein regulator of G protein signaling-14 (RGS-14) into this specific region promoted the conversion of a normal short-term ORM into long term memory (2). We propose that further exploration of the role of RGS-14 in this conversion may aid in studying the “feedback loop” between perception and long-term memory – the key feature of Alex Johnstone’s information processing model for learning (3, 4). 1. Willard FS, Willard MD, Kimple AJ, Soundararajan M, Oestreich EA, et al. (2009) Regulator of G- Protein Signaling 14 (RGS14) Is a Selective H-Ras Effector. PLoS ONE 4(3): e4884. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004884. 2. López-Aranda, Manuel F., et al. Science. 2009, 325, 87-89. 3.

Johnstone, A. H. J. Chem. Educ. 1983, 60, 968-971. 4. Johnstone, A. H. J. Chem. Educ. 1997, 74, 262-268.

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Genotypic Identification of Eutrema

Wasabi Cultivars using Inter-Simple

Sequence Markers (ISSR)

Lu Hartley, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Leo P. Bruederle, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Plant breeding programs often involve the development of cultivars that are ranked based on DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability) in order to facilitate varietal registration, allow for the selection of morphological traits desired in commercial applications, provide the basis for intellectual property protection, and assess germplasm diversity within a variety. However, identification based on phenotypic expression can be problematic due to environmental conditions that affect morphological traits, as well as the need for plants to be grown to maturity. DNA fingerprinting using an Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) protocol, a PCR-based technique, is a highly efficient method for determining the presence of dominant genetic markers that can assist in identifying specific cultivars without regard to morphological traits or growth habit. The ISSR-PCR method involves

amplification of the genomic regions adjacent to SSR sequences using a single anchored primer, followed by separation of the PCR products using gel

electrophoresis to determine genetic differences between individuals, which are manifested by the presence/absence of DNA fragments. Using 18 single oligonucleotide primers, an ISSR protocol was

developed to determine genotypic differences between six Eutrema wasabi specimens. After visualizing the PCR products via gel electrophoresis, preliminary results indicate that a potential genotypic difference can be found using a single ISSR primer (i.e., (CT)8-TG), suggesting that this protocol can be applied to differentiate between two common wasabi cultivars,

Solar Power Recharging of Campus

Electric Utility Vehicles

Diane Hildebrand, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Scott Austin, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Anthony Roper, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Emad Alharthi, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Ibrahim Almohaisin, Electrical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

Rawan Sawaked, Electrical Engineering, DC – College of Engineering and Applied Science

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jae Do Park, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Our senior project team designed and built a complete solar-powered system to provide a renewable source of electricity for the recharging of campus electric utility vehicles. Solar panels generate electrical power during the day, which is stored in the storage battery bank. At the end of the work day, an electric utility vehicle is plugged into the vehicle-recharging unit, and power from the storage battery bank recharges the vehicle batteries during the night. Our design utilizes three solar panels each rated at 250 W and a battery bank with capacity in excess of 5 kWh. In the event that the battery bank is discharged, the solar panels might take more than one day to fully charge the storage battery bank. We do not expect this to impact the charging of the electric

vehicles, except when overcast skies persist for multiple days. The renewable power system is a stand-alone

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CpG Methylation of Varicella Zoster

Virus DNA

Paulynna Ho, Biology/Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Ms. Aimee Bernard, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a double-stranded DNA containing human neurotropic herpes virus causing childhood varicella (chickenpox), vesicular rash

concurrent with a slight fever. It is potentially hazardous for adults as VZV becomes latent, primarily in the neurons from where the virus can reactivate at a later time to cause zoster (shingles). The exact mechanism(s) initiating virus reactivation is currently unknown, but is the target of extensive investigation. Since VZV is exclusively a human pathogen and animal models of VZV latency have not yet been developed, analysis of the latent state of the virus is best done on human ganglia removed at autopsy. Our hypothesis is that epigenetic silencing of VZV gene transcription during latency is accomplished by cytosine methylation within CpG island on the VZV genome. The experimental method proposed to test our hypothesis was based on polymerase chain reactions (PCR) amplification of VZV DNA modified by bisulfate. My results indicate that PCR amplification of regions within the VZV genome

containing a high proportion of purines was experimentally difficult. I will present the technical challenge of amplifying CpG islands.

Using Carbon Nanotubes in Redox

Catalysis

Cory Hoffman, Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mark Anderson, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The oxidation of dopamine is studied using a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs are a recently discovered allotrope of carbon. CNTs have unusual physical and chemical properties, including a very high tensile strength (approximately 100 times that of steel), and very high conductivity along the length of the CNT. Because of the high conductivity, CNTs have been shown to catalyze heterogeneous redox reactions. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that, in low concentrations, has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. It is also a catecholamine that can be oxidized, although with poor heterogeneous kinetics making it difficult to study by normal electrochemical methods. Use of CNTs as the electrode material may help to overcome the kinetic limitations for the oxidation of dopamine. The influence of varying amounts of CNTs in a CPE on the kinetics of oxidation is studied. In addition, the influence of

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Life at La Suerte: Visualizing Human

Relationship with Rainforest

Biodiversity

Lydia Hooper, Individually Structured: Environmental Media & GIS, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Travis Vermilye, DC - College of Arts and Media

Activity Type: Undergraduate Creative Activity

Biodiversity remains one of the most critical of current global issues, and related conversations span several disciplines including biology, ecology, geography, anthropology, policy, sustainability, and environmental communication. Therefore, a creative project can serve the unique purposes of exploring the synergy between these dialogues, and more importantly influencing public audiences to take individual and collective action to address this complex yet urgent crisis. Using various digital techniques employed through the web, such as photography, animation, cartography, user interaction, graphic design, and interactive tools, the artist seeks to inspire, motivate and educate participants about our human relationship to rainforest biodiversity. In recounting the history and expressing the spirit of a particular rainforest in Costa Rica, abstract concepts become fully realized, encouraging those who are witness to assist with endeavors to protect its future.

Adipose Tissue Hyperplasia May

Facilitate Relapse to Obesity

Jordan Houser, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Paul MacLean, AMC - School of Medicine

Given the attention of the obesity epidemic, more research than ever is being conducted to understand, treat, and prevent obesity and its co-morbidities. Unfortunately, while weight loss therapeutics are abundant, the number of people who are able to maintain their weight reduction is abysmally small. And for all the research taking place, the physiological mechanisms that occur after weight loss are relatively unknown. In an effort to determine which factors might be permissive to weight regain, we used obesity-prone (OB) rats to model what is happening in adipose tissue during weight reduction and relapse. OB rats were matured with unlimited access to a high fat diet and limited physical activity. Once mature, the OB rats were switched to either a medium fat diet (ad lib) or a

calorically restricted portion for 10 weeks. Deuterium was provided in the drinking water to assess formation and growth of new adipocytes, and in vivo radioactive fat tracers were used to assess fat trafficking during the first day of relapse. We observed that one day of over eating resulted in a marked increase of the presence of small adipocytes. Incorporation of the radio- labeled fatty acids in these presumably new small adipocytes indicate that these small fat cells are primed to take up and store fat during relapse. Deuterium incorporation into both pre-adipocyte as well as pre-adipocyte DNA confirm these findings. The rapid appearance and characteristics of these newly formed adipocytes may contribute to the reason why sustained weight loss is difficult to maintain.

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Microwave-Induced Thermoacoustic

Imaging Hybrid FDTD Modeling and

Experimental Study

Ryan Jacobs, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Sultan Allabbas, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Linh Vu, Electrical Engineering, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Yiming Deng, DC - College of Engineering and Applied Science

Ultrasonography is widely used in medical practice as a low-cost alternative and supplement to magnetic

resonance imaging (MRI). Although ultrasonography has relatively high image resolution (depending on the ultrasonic wavelength at diagnostic frequencies), it suffers from low image contrast of soft tissues.

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging (MI-TAI) is a noninvasive modality, which can improve tissue contrast using thermoelastic wave generation induced by microwave absorption. In MI-TAI tissue is irradiated with sub-microsecond electromagnetic pulses yielding the generation of acoustic waves in the tissue that can be received with an ultrasound receiver. The advantage of this technique lies in combining the high contrast of microwave absorption coefficients for different biological tissues and the superior spatial resolution of ultrasonic waves. Such technology is important in providing a low-cost alternative to MRI. We utilize a microwave power supply with 2 kW peak power and 1 microsecond pulse length that radiates at 2.4 GHz. The pulse repetition rate is up to 20 kHz. The sample is contained in an RF shielded safflower oil tank. Acoustic signals are observed using an Olympus 5800PR pulse receiver system. The experimental setup is used on samples ranging from tissue phantoms to concrete samples.

Fluid Interface Instabilities with

Electricity

Aleena Jobe, Physics, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Randall Tagg, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Many engineering and medical applications require the manipulation of fluids. One application is creating liposomes, a particle that is composed of molecules that can mix with oil and water environments, called

phospholipids. These liposomes function as a capsule that can travel through fluids in the human body. There are techniques for creating these for use in medicine. We are investigating a technique called

Electrohydrodynamics (EHD), which, to our knowledge, has not been used on its own to create liposomes. EHD uses strong electric fields to move and mix fluids as needed, we are using it to manipulate the interface between two immiscible fluids, mineral oil and water. By deforming the interface between them, we hope to generate an instability that will cause streams of one fluid to flow into the other. With the addition of

phospholipid layer at the interface, the particles could be captured and liposomes formed. This is a complex topic and involves several fundamental concepts in physics. We hope to show proof of this concept on the macro scale and present the mathematical framework behind it. Experimental trials are currently underway.

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Burn Baby Burn: Determining the

Percent Yield of Precipitate and

Pyrolysis Reactions

Judas Kelley, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Margaret Bruehl, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Burn Baby Burn: Determining the Percent Yield of Precipitate and Pyrolysis Reactions JUDAS KELLEY, Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Mentor: Dr. Margaret Bruehl, Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Activity Type: Undergraduate Research This experiment compares the theoretical and experimental amounts of products produced by two types of chemical reactions. One of the chemical reactions analyzed is a precipitation reaction producing an insoluble bluish-green pigment known as malachite. In the pyrolysis reaction a metal oxalate is heated up to react with oxygen gas and produce a metal oxide. The products produced by both chemical reactions have important real world applications as the use of the copper based pigment malachite dates back to 3000 B.C.E. during the Egyptian fourth dynasty. Metal oxalates are involved in human health conditions like kidney stones, and oxalate crystals are suspected to play a role in joint inflammation and autism. The inspiration for this experiment stems from a “Design Your Own General Chemistry Lab” project. Therefore, the ultimate goal of the experiment is to create a lab experience, with sound scientific procedures, that explores scientific concepts of the General Chemistry curriculum. This experiment helps develop knowledge and practical use of such General Chemistry topics as stoichiometry, aqueous reactions, precipitation reactions, and percent yield. Another primary goal of the

experiment is to develop lab techniques and safety precautions for the uses of General Chemistry lab

How Xenopus Laevis (Frog) Zygote

Arrest Protein 1 (Zar1) Regulates

Developmental Maternal Messenger

RNA

Terry Khat, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Amanda Charlesworth, DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Zygote arrest protein 1 (Zar1) has been discovered to be a key protein in early embryo development. The

mechanism of the Zar1 protein, however, remains unknown. Maternal messenger RNA (mRNA) such as wee1 requires regulation before becoming translated into a functional protein, which is sub sequentially required for continuing embryo development. In wee1 mRNA, there are translational control sequences (TCS) that bind to unknown developmental factors. In Zar1, there is a suspicious set of cysteine amino acids which are conserved in many species from amphibians to mammals like humans which helps make this an important protein to study. In my research, I go into depth characterizing the protein structural motifs within Zar1 from Xenopus laevis. The motif within the second half of Zar1 was found to interact with the TCS in wee1 mRNA by using a gel electrophoresis technique called Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA). I then used a Tethered Dual Luciferase Reporter assay (DLR) to show how the protein motif within the first half of Zar1 functions to regulate mRNA translation, through microinjecting reagents in frog oocytes. I conclude that the Zar1 protein binds mRNA and plays a role in