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1 Temme, JackA closer look at aberrant muscle functionWhen a skeletal muscle is inhibited from operating at its full function it is called an aberrant muscle. Such inhibition tends to occur after joint trauma in order to protect the injured area from further aggravation. However, inhibition can linger after the injury is healed, which negatively impact...2021
2 Dhiman, GareemaA novel organelle of the synapseDuring neurotransmission, neurons constantly fuse and recycle synaptic vesicles from the presynaptic membrane. Like other organelles, synaptic vesicles and proteins must be removed when damaged or overused. Build-up of damaged proteins may underlie neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's Disease...2023
3 Calder, DallenAdipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 (AEBP1) as a potential therapeutic target to combat cardiac fibrosisFibrosis is one of the major hallmarks of heart failure (HF) progression and is characterized by fibroblast activation and excess extracellular matrix (EMC) deposition. RNA sequencing of myocardial tissue acquired from HF patients showed a significant upregulation of adipocyte enhancer binding prote...2022
4 Isom, AnikaAmniotic fluid treatment of vocal fold injury in an in vivo rabbit modelHyaluronic acid (HA) injectables are a standard treatment for vocal fold injuries in both clinical and research settings. Results from these treatments are not permanent, however, and may vary in effectiveness. Because of this, there is a significant clinical interest in finding an alternative for H...Vocal folds; rheology; wound healing of vocal folds; hyaluronic acid; amniotic fluid; regenerative medicine2022
5 Luong, KatieAn examination of the relationship between positive covid-19 infection and vaccine hesitancy within the Utah recover study populationVaccine hesitancy is defined by the World Health Organization as a "delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services," and is affected by a wide range of factors. Some of these factors identified in the literature include perceived safety and importance of vacc...COVID-19; health2023
6 Brown, AudreyAnalyzing response patterns of olfactory bulb glomeruli at low odorant concentration regimesSensory input to the olfactory system begins with the binding of an odorant molecule to an olfactory receptor (OR) contained on the surface of an olfactory sensory neuron (OSN). Olfactory bulb (OB) glomeruli receive information from OSNs containing the same OR type and are thought to help process se...2021
7 Kober, DerekAnthropogenic Climate Change and Pollen Trends: Analyzing genera-specific impacts and correlations with temperature and precipitation across the United States (1990-2018)Studies have shown that human-driven climate change is associated with both higher airborne pollen concentrations and extended allergy seasons. Research particularly indicates that the concentration of pollen is positively correlated to increasing temperatures. This study aims to analyze the pollen ...2023
8 Mallender, ZacharyAssay of the dreem device on sleep metrics and an exploration of sleep staging in chronic short sleepers during time in bed extensionDespite clear and plentiful research that sleeping less than seven hours per night has a wide array of health consequences, a large portion of American adults report sleeping less than seven hours per night and thus receive chronic insufficient sleep. Many studies exploring the consequences of insuf...2022
9 Ganesh, KajalBeyond the neural circuits: examining women's metal health in India alongside the complex manifestation of OCD and anxiety in miceMental health literacy (MHL) is a critical concept that refers to the recognition, mitigation, and prevention of mental health disorders. Increased MHL is achievable through funding research on the brain and mental health disorders, aiming to normalize patient struggles, provide clear explanations f...2024
10 Andersen, KaraCervical dorsal root ganglion imaging for studying neuronal nocicieptive ciruit changes in migranine modelsMigraine neuroscience is a field in its infancy, with migraine being a remarkably common yet poorly understood sensory circuit disorder. It is characterized by attacks of unilateral, throbbing craniofacial pain, with sensitivity to movement, visual, auditory, and other afferent inputs. Migraines can...2022
11 Larson, BrookeChacterization of signaling to the degradative pathways of the cellProtein degradation in cells is a complex network of pathways that are distinct from each other but highly interconnected. Understanding how proteins are degraded in cells is important for understanding and developing treatments for diseases such as lysosomal storage diseases and neurodegenerative d...2023
12 Garzella, ErinCoinfection of Malaria and gammaherpesvirus in B cells and macrophagesMalaria kills over 600,000 people a year. 67% of those deaths are children under five and pregnant women. Some children get malaria, but they do not die. The reasons for this are not completely understood. Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, and in sub-Saharan Africa Plasmodium falciparum ...2023
13 Do, TiffanyComparative transcriptomic assay of phellinus tremulae isolates to identify the genetic responses of environmental stressSaprotrophic fungi are a diverse ecological group that can breakdown organic matter to obtain carbon. Due to their metabolic processes, they play an essential role in nutrient cycling within the microbial soil community. Despite the importance of saprotrophic fungi, little is known about their respo...2023
14 Tennant, KarrinCompetitive nighttime stomatal response of Populus Trichocarpa during droughtStomata are critical valves responsible for gas exchange on the leaf level. They control rates of transpiration and as such play a crucial role in terrestrial water cycling. When stomata open, water molecules in the intracellular leaf space are subject to evaporation, especially in dry conditions. T...2021
15 Streeter, ForestDeficiency in regulator of G-Protein signaling, LOCO, protects D. Melanogaster from effects of a high Salt dietGerontology and studies of aging have been grappling with the effects of a westernized diet for decades now. Some of these effects include diseases related to overconsumption such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and many more. These pathologies are now contributor...2021
16 Wiese, ClaudiaDNA metabarcoding of trnL intron using the minion device to assess BEE foraging from PollenIn recent decades many bee species, including Apis mellifera (European honeybee), have experienced worldwide population declines. In this paper we tested a novel molecular approach to evaluate foraging of A. mellifera Specifically, we sequenced trnL (UAA) intron DNA barcodes from isolated pollen fro...2023
17 Young, ChelseaEffect of docosahexaenoic acid on female rat pups after controlled cortical impactPediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in children. After an initial mechanical impact, the injury continues to evolve and propagate in a secondary injury cascade. Previous research by the Schober lab has indicated that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a promi...2022
18 Azadpour, ElmeraThe effect of inorganic VS organic fertilizer on an urban lawn in Salt Lake City, Utah2019
19 Chong, AlishaEffects of increasing sleep duration on C-Reactive protein, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure in adults with habitual short sleepShort sleep, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes are all highly prevalent health issues in modern society. Previous findings demonstrate that obtaining short sleep is linked to an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, the mechanisms un...2023
20 Chong, AlishaEffects of increasing sleep duration on C-reactive protein, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure in adults with habitual short sleepEffective literature instruction is an essential part of building secondary students' analytical skills, cultural capital, empathy, and sense of belonging in school. In this paper, I hypothesize that English language learners may not receive the same opportunities as their English-proficient peers t...translanguaging; literary fluency; emergent bilinguals; language arts; English language learners; secondary education2023
21 Reimers, NoelleExploring the role of lipied metabolism in hepatocellular carcinomaHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer with poor survival rates and limited treatment options whose prevalence is expected to increase up to 137% by 2030. Existing therapies outside of liver resection or transplantation have poor efficacy, and few new treatment options have been deve...2021
22 Gardner, ShalyceFunctional test for possible genetic modifiers of piga defficiencyPIGA deficiency is a rare X-linked recessive disorder that lacks effective treatment options. A protein encoded by the PIGA gene catalyzed the first step in biosynthesis of Glycosylphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors. Partial loss of function mutations in PIGA can prevent a cell from being able to synthe...2023
23 Willis, HannahHabitat factors influencing carnivore site usage in Sarikamis, Kars TurkeyIn a world where natural areas are increasingly developed and fragmented, an understanding of spatial ecology is critical for proper land management that benefits both people and nature. Traditionally, policy makers have relied on the use of a single, charismatic species to serve as a protective umb...2020
24 Varghese, Alyssa A.Identification of virulence factors in invasive haemophilus influenzae isolates causing disease in Utah ChildrenHaemophilus influenzae can cause serious disease in children. After widespread use of the H. influenzae serotype b (Hib) vaccine, H. influenzae serotype a (Hia) became a significant cause of invasive infection in Utah. Although most Utah Hia isolates belong to a sequence type theorized to be less in...2021
25 Berman, AlexysN-Glycanase 1 deficiency modeled in drosophila melanogasterNGLY1 deficiency is a rare genetic metabolic disorder with ~ 100 reported individuals. The disorder is the only known disorder of deglycosylation and causes an inability to deglycoslate a variety of proteins. Much about NGLY1 deficiency remains unknown. This paper elucidates disease pathology of NGL...Individuals; exacerbates2021
26 Lawrence, Derek JohnPorous fluorapatite and hydroxyapatite scaffolding with human osteoblast cells bone graft: a pilot studyThe incidence of bone injuries and defects in the United States has continued to increase in recent years, prompting the need for surgical interventions to repair them [1]. Currently in use are several interventions, autografts, allografts, and manufactured apatites, each with their own benefits and...United States; fluorapatite; temperatures2022
27 Lindley, ClaraPre-surgery inflammatory and angiogenesis biomarkers as predictors of 12-month cancer-related distress: results from the colocare studyBackground Patients with colorectal cancer commonly suffer from complex psychological distress. Elevated distress may be linked to systemic biomarkers. We investigated associations of biomarkers of inflammation and angiogenesis with cancer-related distress (CTXD) score. Methods N = 315 patients (sta...2023
28 Orton, CodyPresynaptic bouton and postsynaptic Kenyon cell claw morphology with synaptic plasticity in drosophilaMy thesis aims at determining whether or not neural activity affects connectivity in the Drosophila melanogaster olfactory circuit. Specifically, I am testing whether sensory activity is required for Projection neurons and Kenyon cell morphology. Therefore, my primary and central question is: does s...2021
29 Peterson, MikalSomatic chromosome pairing in interspecific drosophila hybrid and hybried rescue crossesHomologous chromosomes of somatic tissue pair together in Drosophila. One current model proposes that somatic pairing starts in an undirected manner; when sites on the chromosome, called "buttons", come into contact and pair. Then, after this initial pairing, the rest of the chromosome then synapses...2022
30 Olivia HansonSpinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain & the gut microbiome: a reviewMost spinal cord injuries (SCI) result in spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain (SCINP). SCI-NP is a major healthcare concern given the extensive burden it places on both patients and the healthcare system. This, coupled with the lack of effective and available treatments for those suffering f...2022
31 Scamfer, SierraStudying pancreatic acinar cell differentiation through transcription factor reprogrammingPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a highly lethal human cancer that originates from acinar cells in the pancreas. Ptf1a is a transcription factor that plays an important role in the development of the pancreas and in the differentiation and maintenance of acinar cells. Ptf1a expression is lost dur...2021
32 Enriquez, Trisha Pauline DiazSubstrate use within the drosophila melanogaster species subgroupEffective sensory perception is a vital aspect of survival for living organisms such as Drosophila. More specifically, olfaction, or the sense of smell, is essential because the detection of odors allows it to find potential food, danger, or specifically, where to lay eggs. This review will examine ...2021
33 Rowe, Ana BrunsThe suppression of signal-switching defects in the Escherichia coli serine chemoreceptorThe model bacterium Escherichia coli contains a chemotaxis system that allows the cell to change its swimming behavior in response to its environment. As the cell swims, transmembrane chemoreceptors detect concentration changes in attractant and repellent compounds and transmit signals across the in...2023
34 Amaechi, AyanaUnderstanding sex differences in early predictors of pathological aggression with a mouse modelAntisocial behavior (ASB) is characterized by aggression, violence, drug use, thrillseeking behavior, and delinquent behavior. While childhood and adolescent maltreatment contribute to the ontogeny of this condition, converging evidence suggests that genetic factors play an equally important role. T...MAOA; pathological aggression; sex differences; stress; early development; animal models2021
35 Som, SaritaVirus-like weapons used for competition in wild plant populationsPlant diseases caused by bacterial pathogens pose significant economic challenges globally, necessitating the exploration of alternative methods for controlling bacterial infections in plants. Tailocins, virus-like weapons produced by bacteria, have emerged as potent antibacterial agents and hold po...2023
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