Effects of TLR-4 Blockers on the Severity of OA in RAGE Knockout Mice

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Jeffrey Kartchner and Dr. David Kooyman, Physiology and Developmental Biology INTRODUCTION As the population in the US continues to age, osteoarthritis (OA) is becoming a larger issue, currently effecting over 27 million people1. Presently, pharmaceutical options aim to lessen the effects of the disease, while no preventative treatment is currently available. Much of the current […]

The Role of Wnt Ligands in the Development of Limb Musculature

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Jordan Huber and Dr. Jeffery Barrow, Physiology and Developmental Biology Introduction The Wnt family of secreted proteins consists of 19 family members (in the mouse) and is known to signal through multiple pathways that regulate crucial processes in the development of almost all tissues. Dissecting the roles of individual Wnts has been hampered due to […]

Inhibition of Nek2 and Proteasome Activity

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Jessica Flory and Professor David Bearss, Physiology and Developmental Biology Introduction Nek2 is a kinase that promotes centrosome separation during the cell cycle. Our lab has shown that Nek2 over-­‐expression is the best predictor of a poor outcome in multiple myeloma therapy, but the mechanism is unknown. The standard therapy for treating multiple myeloma is use […]

Isolation of a Novel Francisella sp. in Environmental Samples using a Modified Selective Medium

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David Drake and Dr. Richard Robison, Molecular and Microbiology Introduction Our initial goal was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a new selective medium for isolating Francisella species from environmental samples, including those from soil, feces, and ponds. We successfully developed the medium, CHAB-PACCVI, and used it to isolate a novel Francisella species from […]

Cellular Mechanisms Underlying the Operations of the Brain’s Memory Center

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Spencer Bella and Dr. Jeffrey Edwards, Physiology and Developmental Biology Participating in mentored research funded by ORCA has again provided me with valuable research experience and taught me valuable lessons about the research process. Although due to certain setbacks my project was not able to progress to the point of conclusive results, the results we […]

Estimating Greater Sage-­‐Grouse Chick Survival Using Lukacs’ Young Survival from Marked Adults in Program MARK

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Jared Baxter and Dr. Randy Larsen, Plant and Wildlife Science Greater Sage-­‐Grouse are a sagebrush-­‐obligate species of national concern. In 2010, US Fish and Wildlife Service determined Greater Sage-­‐Grouse warranted protection under the Endangered Species Act (1973) but were precluded due to higher priority species. Low chick and juvenile recruitment have been suggested as factors […]

Ongoing Development of an Anti-sporulation Media and the Methodology to Efficiently Quantify Spores

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Jared Balaich and Dr. Richard Robison, MMBIO Spore forming bacteria are of great medical importance because of their ability to infect, and sustain infection in the human host. A spore consists of the bacterium’s DNA surrounded by thick membranes and is resistant to desiccation, disinfectants, radiation. The spore can then form a living bacterium after […]

English-Mainly Language Policy: Improving Language Proficiency through Self-Regulated Learning

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Kendra Williamson and Professor Norman Evans, Department of Linguistics and English Language Introduction The purpose of the English-mainly project is to explore how an English-mainly (EM) language policy, as opposed to an English-only (EO) policy encourages self-regulated learning and fosters improved language proficiency among English as a Second Language students at BYU’s English Language Center (ELC). […]

Study Abroad, Gender, and the Speaking Experience How Gender Mediates Speaking Opportunities for Students Studying Abroad in the Middle East

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Andrew Smith and Dr. Jennifer Bown, Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages Introduction The study abroad experience as an opportunity to increase learning about a foreign language and culture is becoming more popular in the United States (Gore, 2005; Kinginger, 2009). As a part of this expansion in education, study abroad to the Middle […]

Depictions of Poverty in Chinese Cinema: Before and After 1949

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Anna Moore and Dr. Steven Riep, Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages Introduction After thirty-two years of Communist leadership, Chinese poverty levels reached an unprecedented high when in 1981, 85% of the People’s Republic of China lived in poverty1. In 2009, however, a report from the World Bank indicated that a mere 11.9% of […]