College of Arts and Sciences Poster Presentations Copyright (c) 2013 Boise State University All rights reserved. http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11 Recent documents in College of Arts and Sciences Poster Presentations en-us Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:48:36 PST 3600 Long-term Structural Change in Plasmid DNA http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/11 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/11 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:52:54 PDT Long-term stability of plasmid DNA (pDNA) conformations is critical in many research areas, especially those concerning future gene therapy. Despite its importance, the timeevolution of pDNA structures has rarely been studied at a molecular resolution. Here, the time-evolution of pDNA solutions spanning four years was observed with atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM data show that the pDNA molecules evolved from isolated supercoiled structures; to aggregated supercoiled structures; to thin, branched network structures; and finally to wider, branched network structures. Additional topographical analysis of the AFM data suggests the actions of residual proteins could be the main mechanism for the structural changes in our laboratory prepared pDNA.

]]> Reilly Clark et al. Synthetic Efforts Toward a C7-alkyl Substituted Aziridinomitosene http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/10 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/10 Tue, 10 May 2011 11:12:55 PDT Mitomycin C (MC) is a natural product that exhibits therapeutic cancer qualities by forming interstrand crosslinks with DNA in cancer cells, therefore inhibiting replication and cell growth. However, the clinical utility of MC is limited because of adverse side effects. It is hypothesized that MC toxicity arises from the reduction that is required before DNA adducts are formed. Aziridinomitosenes (AZMs), compounds structurally similar to MC, are able to alkylate DNA without reductive activation. Most notably, our synthetic AZMs have been shown to form DNA/protein crosslinks as well as DNA interstrand crosslinks in the absence of added reductant. In order to determine the mechanism by which these adducts form, several analogs with varying substitution at four separate electrophilic centers are being prepared. Synthetic efforts toward a C7-alkyl substituted AZM propagates testing that may potentially create more potent and less toxic anti-cancer agents. These and related studies will be presented.

]]> Lauren E. Davis Developing New Methods to Quantify Stress in Wildlife Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/9 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/9 Fri, 06 May 2011 06:24:16 PDT Stress levels in wildlife species are an accurate indicator of an animal’s well-being and can reflect decreases in habitat quality. Stress levels can be measured by the presence of the stress response hormones cortisol, cortisone, and corticosterone. Analysis of these stress hormones in fecal samples has been widely used because feces can be easily obtained and non-invasively collected in the field. Methods of detecting stress levels from fecal samples of wildlife species are currently limited to enzyme immunoassay testing. This method uses antibodies to bind to target stress hormones. However, immunoassay testing can be time consuming and very expensive2. We propose that Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) offers a new method to quantify levels of the stress hormones from fecal samples that is less expensive and time consuming than traditional immunoassays1. As part of the Idaho Science Talent Expansion Program (STEP), we are developing a simple, accurate, and relatively inexpensive method to detect stress hormones in fecal samples from free-ranging pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) and sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) using LC-MS/MS.

]]> Brandon Harper et al. Linear Feedback Shift Registers: Pseudo-Random Number Generators and Their Use In Cryptosystems http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/8 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/8 Thu, 05 May 2011 16:10:48 PDT Cryptology is the study and application of encrypting and decrypting data so that only the intended recipient and senders can view data. This is important in applications such as online banking and military operations. Linear Feedback Shift Registers, or LFSRs for short, create a pseudo-random number stream that is computationally efficient. LFSRs are used (in conjunction with other methods) to encrypt items such as DVD’s and many wireless signals, including digital TV and radio. Using random methods, a seed value can be created to create a strong random number stream.

]]> Michael Perez et al. Modeling Fire-Related Debris Flow Volumes in MATLAB Using Surveyed Data Collected from the Middle-Fork Salmon River, Idaho to Determine Contribution of Episodic Fire-Related Debris Flows on Long Term (10<sup>3</sup> – 10<sup>4</sup>) Sediment Yield http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/7 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/7 Thu, 05 May 2011 15:59:08 PDT Fire-related debris flows play a significant role on the long term sediment yield of the Salmon River Basin. Previous studies (Kirchner et al., 2001) quantified the total long term sediment yield of the Salmon Basin at 261  36 tkm/yr. This study aims to quantify the Middle Fork’s contribution of sediment from fire-related debris flows to the long term sediment yield. Multiple debris flow deposits were surveyed on the Middle Fork and the Kotch Creek deposit was analyzed using the program MATLAB to find the volume of deposition. Using charcoal found in stratigraphic profiles of the deposits and C14 dating, the timing and occurrence of periods of deposition were found. Volume calculations coupled with timing data from carbon dating allows for the reconstruction of the long term sediment yield contribution of fire-related debris flows on the Middle Fork Salmon River. Calculated volumes will be compared with estimated volumes from empirical formulas based on remotely sensed spatial data (burn severity and slope), measured geometric data (longitudinal profile, cross sectional area, flow banking angle), and precipitation records (Cannon et al.,2010)

]]> Austin Hopkins et al. Idaho Snowmelt Changes and the Impact on Non-Irrigated Crop Yields http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/6 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/6 Thu, 05 May 2011 15:48:05 PDT Non-irrigated agriculture is very susceptible to the changing climate conditions impacting crop yield results. The data in this study finds consistent results with respect to a changing climate altering crop yields. A multivariable regression analysis will later be used in order to determine the total impact of the changing climate upon non-irrigated agriculture. The first variable analyzed was the final snowmelt date. The results find that counties that reside in either the lower or panhandle portion of the state show consistent correlations, implying that the snowmelt date and crop yields mutually increase or decrease. The counties within the top of the state reveal more negative correlations, leading to earlier snow melts and resulting in increasing crop yields. Counties within the lower parts of the state show more positive correlations, illustrating that earlier snowmelts lead to declines in crop yields. Building upon the findings of Kunkel and Pierce (2009), this study suggests that non-irrigated crop lands in lower regions are susceptible to lower yields while cropland in higher regions will continue to see improved yields.

]]> Matthew Wiggs et al. Elliptic Pairs of Primes in Cryptography and Their Effects on RSA Security http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/5 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/5 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:08:38 PDT Cryptography is a constantly evolving field – elliptic curve groups have been a major part of this field since 1987 when Koblitz and Miller separately proposed their use in cryptosystems such as RSA.
  • Elliptic Curve: A curve defined by the equation: where A and B are less than a prime p, and where the discriminant is not equal to zero. We are concerned with the curves where A = 0.
  • Elliptic Curve Group (ECG): A group whose elements are defined by the elliptic curve and the operation in question. Elliptic curves naturally qualify as groups due simply to their nature.
  • Elliptic Pair of Primes: Two primes (p,q) such that an ECG defined by the following equation has an order q, and the ECG defined by a different equation mod q has the order p. These pairs are the main topic of our study, and learning more about them and their effects on RSA security is our primary goal.
  • Discrete Log Problem (DLP): Solving for x in the equation:

NOTE: Operations such as addition and multiplication are defined differently when used in terms of an ECG operation. An example can be found below.

]]> Suzanne Craig et al. To Eat or Not to Eat? Developing Biomarkers for Diet Selection by Herbivores http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/3 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/3 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:41:22 PDT A major goal in conservation biology is to explain habitat use by animals. Remote sensing has been used for landscape-scale analysis of habitat features. However, studies that directly link specific parameters of habitat quality to selection by wildlife are needed at the microsite-scale before landscape-scale mapping can be validated. We used the sagebrush-pygmy rabbit system to develop spectral biomarkers that can predict how the quality of food influences habitat use.

]]> Kristina Gehlken et al. Optimization of Multiplex PCR for Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis for <em>Salmonella typhimurium</em> http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/2 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/2 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:08:47 PDT Salmonella typhimurium infects an estimated 1.4 million in the United States and kills over five hundred annually. The current way of categorization, Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and antibiotic sensitivity testing, lack the ability to distinguish between some closely related strains. We are attempting to optimize a new technique of categorization, Multiple Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA). We made changes to temperature and concentration variables within the multiplex PCR procedure to streamline the identification process. By optimizing the multiplex PCR procedure we intend to create more consistent amplification of the loci used in MLVA analysis, which will improve efficiency in differentiating S. typhimurium isolates.

]]> George Hafez et al. All Leaves Are Not Created Equal: Variation Among Leaves in Chemical Defenses and Nutritional Quality http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/1 http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/as_11/1 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:43:37 PDT Coevolution among plants and herbivores has led to variation in plant defenses and herbivore foraging. Plants must defend against herbivores, whereas herbivores must find ways to overcome plant defenses and meet nutritional needs. Variation in plant quality is important because it can influence selection of plants by herbivores for food. Few studies have investigated the variation occurring within a single plant. Sagebrush offers an excellent system for studying the variation in dietary and chemical quality within a plant. First, variation in nutrition and chemical content exists between subspecies (Kelsey 1982) and between plants of a single subspecies of sagebrush from different geographic locations (Welch 1981). Second, sagebrush has two types of leaves, ephemeral and persistent, and our preliminary data demonstrates that pygmy rabbits prefer ephemeral over persistent leaves leaf types indicating leaf types differ in quality.

]]> Xochi Campos et al.