David M. Thomson, Physiology and Developmental Biology Evaluation of academic objectives and project findings The purpose of this mentoring environment grant was to determine the role of LKB1 on the activation of p53 by exercise, muscle development, and pharmacological means. The primary research objectives and findings are listed below: Aim #1: Determine whether caffeine administration […]
Archives for April 2015
Mentored student research in the Study of Ancient Maize Agriculture in Mesoamerica
Richard E. Terry, Plant and Wildlife Sciences Mentored undergraduate students: Jacob Horlacher David Kotasek Benjamin Hawkins Tayte Campbell Austin Ulmer Adam Parker Bryce Brown Michael Barker Nic Goches Brynna Nelson Andrew Jenson Jared Barksdale Braden Harter Kevin Ricks Kalob Williams Josiah Johns Ian Blackwelder Todd McComber Michael Moore David Shurtz Austin Pearce Justin Babbel Paul […]
Cultivating an undergraduate mentoring research environment by characterizing the population genetics, reproduction biology, and native distribution of a putative keystone species, Agave utahensis (Utah agave), in the Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau
J. Ryan Stewart, Plant and Wildlife Sciences Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met Evaluation of the mentoring environment List of students who participated and what academic deliverables they have produced or it is anticipated they will produce Description of the results/findings of the project Description of how the budget […]
Alcohol and Nicotine Co-Dependence
Scott C. Steffensen, Neuroscience, Jeff Edwards and Sterling N. Sudweeks, Physiology & Developmental Biology Proposal Abstract Alcoholism and nicotine (NIC) addiction are chronic relapsing disorders that have enormous impact on society. Alcohol and NIC are the most commonly abused drugs, and a large body of evidence indicates that there is a positive correlation between their […]
Consequences of invasive grass-fire cycles on plant-pollinator relationships in Utah deserts
Sam St.Clair, Plant and Wildlife Sciences Project objectives We successfully completed the studies as outlined in the proposal and the data collected has been written up a in a successfully defended MS thesis with two chapters. Mentored Graduate student Andrew Lybbert successfully defended his M.S. thesis on the project topic and is in the final […]
High-speed Artifact Processing, Cataloging, and Classification System: Protocol Development and Testing
Paul Stavast, Anthropology Evaluation of Academic Objectives This report summarizes results of the high-speed artifact processor development project from January 2013 to December 2014. The high-speed artifact processor is a conveyor-belt based system, developed at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, that automates the processes of labeling, measuring, photographing, and classifying artifacts. The focus for […]
Gaussian Process Modeling of Modern Mass Spectrometry Computer Experimental Data
Mickey Warner and C. Shane Reese, Statistics Introduction A new mass spectrometry technique (VENDAMS) has been developed to allow the quantification of rate constants for complicated chemical reactions. Due to the expensive nature of the method, computer experiments designed to solve a set of equations provide supplemental information to the process. The computer simulator takes […]
Tempestites of the Entrada Sandstone: Mapping and Reservoir Characterization
Jeffery Valenza and Dr. Tom Morris, Geological Sciences Tempestites are sedimentary deposits traditionally thought to be formed by high-energy storm events. Typically, water depth for tempestites has been interpreted to be between fair weather and storm wave base. Tempestites are primarily identified in the rock record by hummocky cross-stratification (HCS). HCS is a typical indicator […]
Validation of Quantitative Regional Atrophy Dementia Classification in a Large Clinical MRI Sample
Samantha Sanders and Christophe Giraud-Carrier, Computer Science Introduction Psychiatrists at the University of Utah developed a regional quantitative brain atrophy map that they hoped to be able to use to find biomarkers for diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD) versus frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This brain atrophy map divides the brain into 20 regions and when […]
Transiting Exo-Planets Indirect Detection of Planets Orbiting Other Stars
Brian Shaw and Denise Stephens, Department of Physics and Astronomy Introduction Over the past year I have been looking at pictures filled with dots and running them through computers. On the surface that doesn’t seem quite exciting but once one understands what is happening between the pixels, the humdrum atmosphere disappears. Each of those dots […]