X-ray Fluorescence/X-ray Diffraction for Forensic Analysis

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Brent Kimball and Dr. Larry V Knight, Physics My proposition was to determine the feasibility of using a combination x-ray fluorescence/x-ray diffraction technology (initially designed to identify strictly inorganic compounds) for the analysis of organic molecules. By modifying a mineralogical device created for NASA it is feasible to identify solid organic compounds such as drugs, […]

Mechanistic Study of Cholic Acid-Derived Antibiotics Synthesis and Electron Microscopic Analysis

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Katie L Jensen and Dr. Paul B Savage, Chemistry and Biochemistry Pathogenic bacterial resistance to antibiotics has risen sharply over the past two decades.1 This problem is compounded with Gram-negative bacteria, which, in addition to developing specific resistant mechanisms, also display membrane structures that are impermeable to many hydrophobic antibiotics. Thus, new antibiotics are needed […]

A Statistical Analysis of Rater Consensus In the BYU Premedical Committee

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Alane Izu and Dr. David G Whiting, Statistics Introduction The premedical committee at Brigham Young University exists to assist students in successfully applying to medical school. The committee consists of professors from various departments across campus as well as senior premedical students. Two different committee members interview each eligible student in March and April of […]

Reconnaissance Evaluation of the Groundwater Systems of Skull Valley, Utah

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Rachel Henderson and Dr. Alan Mayo, Geology The proposal, by Private Fuel Storage, a Limited Liability Company representing several utilities, to store solid, spent nuclear fuel in Skull Valley requires that many variables be taken into consideration, one of which is groundwater. Groundwater contamination is not anticipated in the proposed short term storage of the […]

Agent Decompositions in Reinforcement Learning Architectures

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Nancy Owens Fulda and Professor Todd Peterson, Computer Science Reinforcement learning is a sub-discipline of machine learning in which an autonomous program, called an agent, learns to behave appropriately in its environment. Appropriate behavior is described in terms of numerical reinforcements which the agent receives for appropriate or inappropriate actions. By storing a running average […]

Effects of Ammine and Hydroxyl Groups on the Fluorescence of Chemosensors

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Scott H Fredrickson and Dr. Paul Savage, Chemistry Introduction Diaza-crown ethers have the ability to bind many metal cations. When certain side arms are attached, a fluorescence increase can be observed when the metal binds to the crown.1,2,3,4 Via this increase in fluorescence, presence of metal cations can be detected. For industrial purposes, these molecules […]

Interactive, Three-Dimensional Web Presentation of Object-Oriented Java Concepts

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Robert Franklin and Dr. Robert Burton, Computer Science The advent and subsequent widespread use of the Internet have facilitated and motivated hypermedia distance learning. Unfortunately, graphic images used in support of Internet-based distance learning usually are non-interactive and two-dimensional because computers have traditionally not been fast enough to perform the myriad of calculations needed to […]

Optical Modulation of Semiconductor Nanocrystal Transport

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Brigham Russell Frandsen and Dr. Bret C Hess, Physics and Astronomy The area of nanoelectronic devices is a rapidly growing field as new devices and techniques are continually developed. This is an important field because it is hoped that devices of this scale will replace the current larger counterparts on computer microprocessors and other components, […]

Image Compression Using Triangular Meshes

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G Thomas Finnigan and Dr. Thomas W Sederberg, Computer Science Motivation Image Compression is a way of decreasing the amount of space needed to store or transmit an image by removing redundant information. In many ways, compression it like folding clothing – the result takes up less space, but it not immediately usable. Compressing an […]

Establishing a Mammalian Expression System for Cyclooxygenase-2

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Nathan K Evanson and Dr. Daniel L Simmons, Chemistry and Biochemistry Cyclooxygenases are proteins that make small molecules called prostaglandins, which relay signals from one cell to another, or from one cell to itself. Prostaglandins are involved in many different physiological processes such as inflammation, contraction of smooth muscle, and regulation of water balance in […]