Developing a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device to assess the correlation between the ratio of H and L ferritin in maternal serum and preterm birth

by

Kaitlyn Brower and Faculty Mentor: Adam Woolley, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 51 and is defined by the Centers for Disease Control as birth before 37 weeks gestation.2 It is estimated that 15 million babies are born premature annually and that […]

AB Blood Type and Its Genetic Relationship to Alzheimer’s Disease

by

Mark Wadsworth and John S. K. Kauwe, Biology Introduction Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a debilitating disease that has increased the hardship of many lives. Many people above the age of 65 have been diagnosed with this genetically complex disease, which financially and emotionally burdens those diagnosed and their families. Earlier this year a study was […]

The role of CDK5R1 in β-­cell survival from apoptosis

by

Amanda Hobson and Jeffrey Tessem, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Introduction Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are classified as a decrease in functional ß-cell mass, which results in impaired blood glucose regulation. Functional ß-cell mass is defined as the glucose stimulated insulin secretion rate multiplied by the total cellular mass which is determined by […]

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Quadriceps Activation and Walking Mechanics in Patients with Anterior Knee Pain

by

Brian Wiseman and J. Ty Hopkins, Exercise Sciences Introduction More than ten million people in the U.S. suffer from knee pain, and one in every two people may develop chronic knee pain by age 85.3 Knee pain is also 1 of 5 leading causes of disability among adults, and alters muscle function and walking mechanics, […]

Determining if c-Fos protects β-cells from Apoptosis

by

Kyle Kener and Jeffery Tessem, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Diabetes, a disease characterized by the inability of the body to maintain a normal blood glucose level, continues to affect the lives of many. In both Type I and Type II diabetes, eventual β-cell destruction results in decreased β-cell mass. Regeneration of functional β-cells and […]

Alzheimer’s Disease and the p.V236E Variant in the ApoE Gene

by

Alton Chad Sorensen and John Kauwe, Physiology and Developmental Biology I was interested in trying to validate the findings of the publication by Medway et al. concerning the SNP rs199768005 using data from the Cache Country data set. Unfortunately, of the 4703 people from our data set, only 10 were carriers. Using R statistical analysis, […]

The Role of PAS Kinase and the Gut Microbiome In Metabolism and Diabetes Onset in Mice

by

Andrew Rees and Laura Bridgewater, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Diabetes and obesity are among the most prevalent health concerns in the modern world. However, prevention of their onset and control of their symptoms are still largely limited by our understanding of how these diseases arise. Recent research has indicated that the composition of the gut […]

Morphology of Human Myoblasts in Cultured Muscle Cells by the Novel Small Molecule SGI

by

Ryan Matekel and Robert Hyldahl, Exercise Science Introduction Muscle wasting is a symptom of cancer, AIDS, renal failure, heart failure, aging, prolonged bed rest, and has been seen in rodent models for burn, and kidney disease (Han, 2013). Muscle wasting negatively impacts quality of life by decreasing functional independence and increasing morbidity and mortality (Anker, […]

Examination and Classification of Secondary Metabolites from Endophytes of Cornus Sericea

by

Madsen Sullivan and Brad Geary, Plant and Wildlife Sciences Introduction All civilizations have used plants and their byproducts to effectively grow and cultivate crops, as well as manage and treat many ailments. Even today, approximately 25% of prescribed medications are constituted by plants. Many of the active metabolites are produced in such small quantities that […]

Impact of Pregnancy Factors on the Health of Infants in Cambodia

by

Grace Mitton and Randy Page, Health Science Introduction The Liahona Children’s Foundation reaches out to over 800 children in seven different areas of Cambodia, from Battambang to Kampong Cham to Sen Sok. With such a widespread reach and breadth of effect it is imperative that these children are helped with the most effective efforts. During […]