Julius Adebayo and Dr. Sean Warnick, Department of Computer Science Networks of controlled dynamical systems exhibit a variety of interconnection patterns that can be interpreted as the structure of a system. One such interpretation of system structure is a system’s signal structure, characterized as the open-loop causal dependencies among manifest variables and represented by its dynamical structure function […]
Search Results for: mechanisms
Endocannabinoid Biosynthetic Enzymes in Hippocampal Interneurons
Ryan Williamson and Dr. Jeff Edwards, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology The hippocampus is a region of the brain that mediates learning and memory formation by changing the properties of synapses within its circuitry [2]. The plastic nature of these synapses allows the brain to alter how sensitive one neuron is to stimulation from […]
The Effect of Male Dominance on Female Mate Choice in Poecilia gillii
Michael McEntire and Dr. Jerald Johnson, Department of Biology Research Summary Female mate choice (intersexual selection) and male dominance interactions (intrasexual selection) can each play important roles in sexual selection. These two mechanisms tend to be discussed in isolation. The goal of this study is to explore the interaction between these two forms of sexual […]
Identifying Proteins that Interact with Human PAS kinase
Tacie Hall and Dr. Julianne Grose, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology When PAS kinase is knocked out in mice placed on high-fat diets, these mice show such symptoms as decreased weight gain, hypermetabolic phenotype, decreased liver triglyceride accumulation, and retained insulin sensitivity when compared with their wild type littermates.1 These symptoms are highly associated […]
Premature Osteoarthritis in the Temporomandibular Joint of Heterozygous Disporportionate Micromelia Mice
Jason Farrell and Dr. Robert Seegmiller, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study, as also summarized in the proposal for this research grant, was to analyze the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of mice with a specific collagen defect, Disproportionate Micromelia. Examining these joints was done to provide an […]
A Novel Role for AMP-activated Protein Kinase as a Selective Inhibitor of de novo Ceramide Biosynthesis
Kate Erickson and Dr. Benjamin Bikman, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology The purpose of this project was to determine the cellular mechanisms that mediate AMPK-induced reductions in lipotoxicity. We predicted that AMPK activation inhibits lipotoxic ceramide biosynthesis via targeted reduction in transcription of a critical, rate-limiting enzyme involved in de novo ceramide synthesis. This […]
MDCK Gene Expression During EMT
Jason Burton and Professor Marc Hansen, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. This is mostly due to a lack of understanding into the function of cancer and the different mechanisms it uses to spread. The process by which cancer cells detach from the […]
Understanding the Nature of Anxiety in Autism
Sarah White and Dr. Mickle South, Department of Psychology Anxiety is extremely prevalent in autism, with estimates of the co-occurrence ranging up to 84%. Surprisingly, even though anxiety in autism is implicated in behavioral symptoms ranging from avoiding eye contact with others to always insisting on the same menu for lunch, the majority of research […]
Effects of Nicotine on Plasticity in Glutamate Neurotransmission to Midbrain GABA Neurons
Peter Nielson and Dr. Scott Steffensen, Department of Psychology Purpose In order to further the knowledge of physiological contributions to addiction, this project’s purpose was to elucidate the neuronal processes involved in nicotine (NIC) addiction. We studied its effects on critical neuronal substrates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), an area of the midbrain implicated […]
Religious Influence on Adolescents and Their Parents Faculty Mentor: Sam Hardy, Psychological Sciences
Carrolyn McMurdie and Dr. Sam Hardy, Department of Psychology For decades, research has shown religious involvement and religious belief to predict positive outcomes for adolescents and adults, including better physical and mental health, fewer risk-taking behaviors, and greater involvement in moral or pro-social and helping behaviors (Hood, Hill, & Spilka, 2009). However, the current body […]