Dr. Scott Steffensen, Department of Psychology Objectives The main objective of this study was to characterize the role of GABA neurons in the ventral tegmental area in cocaine addiction. Research in my lab is dedicated to the elucidation of brain substrates underlying drug addiction. Elder Boyd K. Packer has stated, “It is my conviction, and […]
Biophysical Mechanism of Anesthetics
Professor David Busath, Physiology and Biophysics I was awarded a MEG in 2008 (with support continuing through 2009) for the project entitled “Biophysical Mechanism of Anesthetics.” The goals of the project were to measure the impact of volatile general anesthetics (isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane) on: The axial rotation of fluorescent dyes that insert in different […]
An Undergraduate Mentoring Environment for Empirical Software Engineering Research
Dr. Charles Knutson, Department of Computer Science Summary In 2008 I was awarded a MEG entitled “An Undergraduate Mentoring Environment for Empirical Software Engineering Research.” In the several years that followed that award I was able to provide financial support to six undergraduate students. The results have been incredibly successful and gratifying. Of those students […]
Programming Literacy Needs to be a Core Content Standard: A Case Study of Teaching 7th and 8th Grade Students Computer Programming
Dr. Geoffrey Wright, School of Technology Just as typing has replaced calligraphy and hand-writing as the most common form of written language, programming is ready to replace many domains of the English language. Regardless of whether you perceive this, as negative or positive, programming is how many students are communicating. In a recent study (paper) […]
Beetle Tree of Life project
Dr. Michael Whiting, Department of Biology Funding was received from the BYU ORCA mentorship program during 2010 to support undergraduates performing research in my lab, under the mentorship of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and myself. During 2010, this funding provided direct support for 8 undergraduates who are in various stages of completing research projects. The […]
The Video Club
Drs. Peter Rich and Geoffrey Wright, School of Technology Overall Evaluation The goals of this project was to bring students together to research the use of video analysis in varied contexts. Through two different projects, we were able to successfully carry out research in four different contexts: seminary, a private school for autistic children, the […]
Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-Products (RAGE) Mediates Particulate Matter-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation
Dr. Paul Reynolds, Department of Physiology & Developmental Biology Academic Objectives Met and Results Observed Funding available through this MEG award has provided an opportunity for me to meet many academic objectives I’ve determined to be important in the early stages of my faculty appointment at BYU. First of all, I have been able to […]
Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase is Down-Regulated in the Brains of Female HS Rats compared to NS Rats
Dr. James Porter, Department of Physiology & Developmental Biology Specific Question 1. Can the down-regulation of epoxide hydrolase expression determined by microarray analysis be confirmed using RT-PCR? We were able to use RT-PCR to confirm that mRNA expression for brain soluble epoxide hydrolase was significantly down-regulated. The magnitude of relative down-regulation was on the same […]
Interferon Alpha in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Dr. Brian Poole, Department of Microbiology & Molecular Biology Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met We presented data from this project at two meetings, 2 presentations at the American society for Microbiology Branch Meeting, Provo UT 2010 and one at the Intermountain Research Symposium, Logan Utah 2010. At the […]
International Public Health and Adolescent Health in Thailand
Dr. Randy Page, Department of Health Sciences Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met Outcome 1: Students will gain a deep understanding of international public health through the opportunity to study in-depth the public health experience of a specific country undergoing rapid social and economic transition (Thailand). This outcome was […]