2009 Proceedings - University of Colorado Denver

University of Colorado Denver 

12 th 

Annual 

Fri., April 24, 2009 

North Classroom Atrium

WELCOME TO THE 2009 

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER 

RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES SYMPOSIUM 

Friday, April 24, 2009 

DDC North Classroom Atrium 

10:00 – 12:00 GENERAL SESSION North Classroom 1130 

10:00 – 10:10 OPENING REMARKS: CU President Bruce Benson 

10:15 KEYNOTE ADDRESS 1: 

Introduction: Richard J. Traystman, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research 

“High Notes” 

Eleanor N. Caulkins 

Lifetime Honorary Chair of Opera Colorado 

11:00 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS 

Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award Winners 

11:00: Jamie Carpio: Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Determining Bone Utility and Effectiveness as Tools: Termite Extraction at Lake 

Manyara, Tanzania during the Dry Season in Tanzania 

11:15: Dustin Neel: Geography-Earth Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Isolation and Characterization of Cadmium-Resistant Bacteria 

11:30: David Sprunt: Landscape, Architecture & Urban Design, College of Architecture and 

Planning 

Hybridscape: A Proposal for Wynkoop Street and Denver Union Station 

11:45: Francie Hyndman: Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Development, AMC Graduate School 

Misregulation of Dlx5/6 in Hand2 Mutants Leads to Loss of Tongue 

12:00 – 2:00 STUDENT EXHIBITS – North Classroom Atrium 

Students will present their research and creative projects in an informal setting. 

Light refreshments will be served 

2:00 – 2:30 KEYNOTE ADDRESS 2 – North Classroom 1130 

Introduction: Robert Damrauer, PhD, Special Asst. to the Provost 

“Gene Machines and Opportunities in Science" 

Professor Marv Caruthers 

University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 

2:30 – 3:00 AWARDS CEREMONY 

Chancellor M. Roy Wilson 

John Lanning, PhD, Asst. Vice Chancellor Undergraduate Experiences, UROP Chair 

• Outstanding Research and Creative Activities Awards Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence 

• Faculty Award for Outstanding Student Mentoring 

• UROP Awards 

2 2009 Research and Creative Activities Symposium

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Section 

Page 

Welcome Letter 4 

Committee Members and Sponsors 5 

Judges 6 

Undergraduate Titles and Authors 7-8 

Graduate Titles and Authors 9-12 

Undergraduate Abstracts 13-34 

Graduate Abstracts 35-69 

Local Middle School Award Winners 70 

2009 Research and Creative Activities Symposium 

3

WELCOME 

RESEARCH and CREATIVE ACTIVIES SYMPOSIUM 

April 24, 2009 

I welcome you to the 12 th Annual Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS). This is the 

first joint RaCAS between the Downtown Denver and Anschutz Campuses, and we are here to celebrate our 

student’s accomplishments. Over 140 students are displaying 117 exhibits at this symposium. 

Discovery and creativity in learning is critical for the future of our students at the University of 

Colorado Denver (UCDenver). The discovery based and creative works on display today are representative 

examples of the kind of activity we want all UCDenver students to experience. We are also particularly 

pleased to welcome our speakers today – Ms. Ellie Caulkins, who will share with us her experience in our 

morning talk called “High Notes”, and Dr. Marv Caruthers, who this afternoon will share with us his insights in 

a talk entitled “Gene Machines and Opportunities in Science". 

Many other individuals have demonstrated strong support for this symposium and are with us today. 

These include the President of our university, Bruce Benson, the Chancellor Dr. M. Roy Wilson, and the 

Provost Dr. Rod Nairn. Their leadership and support recognizes the importance of learning by doing. 

Enjoy yourself as you recognize the efforts of our undergraduate and graduate students. Stop them 

and engage them in conversations about their topics. I assure you that they will be thrilled to speak with you 

about their work. 

Finally, I would like to thank all of those whose efforts were critical to bring about this celebration of 

student discovery and creativity. 

Best wishes and have a great time at our symposium. 

Richard J. Traystman, Ph.D. 

Professor 

Vice Chancellor for Research 

University of Colorado Denver 


PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS 

Richard J. Traystman 

Joy Berrenberg 

Candy Berryman 

Leo Bruederle 

Robert Damrauer 

John Freed 

Jim Hageman 

Richard Johnston 

Steve Krizman 

Sean McGowan 

Jeremy Nemeth 

David Port 

Chancellor's Office (Chair) 

Psychology 

RaCAS Coordinator 

Biology 

Office of the Provost 

Graduate School 

Research Administration 

Dean's Office, SOM 

Integrated University Communications 

College of Arts and Media 

Urban Design 

Cardiology & Pharmacology 

L. Rafael Sanchez Mechanical Engineering 

Deanna Iceman Sands 

Karen Sousa 

Clark Strickland 

Chris Weible 

Danielle M. Zieg 

School of Education & Human Development 

School of Nursing 


School of Public Affairs 

Integrated University Communications 

SPONSORS 

Division of Student Affairs 

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research 


Undergraduate Experiences 


5

JUDGES 

Larry Anderson 

Joy Berrenberg 

Roxanne Byrne 

Fred Chambers 

Laura Cuetara 

Micky Engel 

Jana Everett 

John Freed 

Mark Gelernter 

Michael Greene 

Jim Hageman 

Frank Jermance 

Joe Juhasz 

Jahangir Karimi 

Pam Laird 

Carl Pletsch 

Timberley Roane 

Stephanie A. Santorico 

Sheila Shannon 

Candice Shelby 

Renseng Su 

David Tracer 

Richard J. Traystman 

Chemistry, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Psychology, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Math, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Geography, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Theater, College of Arts and Media 

Biology, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Political Science, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences 

Graduate School Administration, Graduate School 

Dean, College of Architecture and Planning 

Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 


Music, College of Arts and Media 

College of Architecture and Planning 

Business School 

History, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

History, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Math & Statistical Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

School of Education 

Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Dean of Engineering, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Health & Behavioral Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Vice Chancellor for Research 


Undergraduate Students 

Page Exhibit Location 

Atcherley, Christopher 

Open Circuit Potential Measurements to Characterize Interfaces 13 93 

Bates, Ariel 

Natural Stream Flow Estimates for Colorado: Using the NHDPlus Unit 

Runoff Method 13 90 

Bates, Ryan 

Lipid Activation of Src Tyronsine Kinase during Xenopus Sperm Fertilization 

and the Acrosome Reaction of Sperm 14 84 

Blakley, Scott 

Comparing Biophysical Characteristics of Wild Type and Stiff Mutants of 

Phycomyces Blakesleeanus 14 86 

Blatner, Megan 

Characterizing and Ameliorating Cognitive Deficits of TS65Dn Mice – A 

Model of Down Syndrome – Using a Computerized Olfactometer 15 85 

Bollwerk, Luke 

Honesty Goal Priming: Effects on Socially Desirable Responding in Self 

Reports about Sexual Behavior 15 7 

Brady, Chris 

Image Acquisition of 3D Animation 16 42 

Carpio, Jamie 

Determining Bone Utility and Effectiveness as Tools: Termite Extraction at 

Lake Manyara, Tanzania during the Dry Season in Tanzania 16 9 

Davis, Briona 

Arts Bridge Digital Photography Project 17 117 

Davis-Nelson, Denise 

Gene Expression during Bioremediation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons by 

Pleurotus Ostreatus 17 79 

Deihimi , Sarah 

Determination of Doxycycline in Mouse Serum by High-Performance Liquid 

Chromatography: A Correlation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease to 

Concentration of Doxycycline in Serum 18 76 

Deitrick, Russell 

Active Galactic Nuclei Survey at Optical Frequencies 18 77 

Dunnet, Gareth 

Tuberculosis: The White Death 19 41 

Edens, Timmy 

Full Dome Content Creation 19 48 

Evans, Jerell 

Recreate 1908 20 113 

Fees, Colby 

Research into the Molecular Mechanism of Fertilization: Measuring the 

Affinity between Src and PA 20 75 

Heimbuch-Maybee, Tiffany 

Labor Supply Near Subsistence Income Levels 21 3 

Hickey, Molly 

Synthesis of GABA Analogues 21 71 

Jones, Brittany 

Political Subversion in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: The Welsh 

Social Imaginary and National Identity in the 14th Century 22 25 

Keller, Racheal 

Variations in Maternal and Child Nutrition Across Cultures in Mondaña, 

Ecuador 22 56 

Lathrop, Jason 

N-Amino Acid (Ester-Protected) Thiophosphoramidates, A Step in the 

Preparation of Pseudotripeptides: A research Prototype for Undergraduate 

Chemistry Labs 23 63 

Levy, Jonathan 

Binding of Alcohol to Odorant Binding Protein 23 62 


7



McAllister, Mary 

Intersimple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) Markers and Their Potential for 

Evolutionary Research on the Rare Colorado Endemic, Penstemon 

degeneri 24 38 

McKenzie, Alexander 

Image Processing Diagnostics: Emphysema 24 61 

Metzler, Jennifer 

Adult Attachment Styles and Coping Strategies in College Students 25 60 

Neel, Dustin 

Isolation and Characterization of Cadmium-Resistant Bacteria 25 59 

O’Leary, Katy 

Heat Sinking in a Helim-3 Cryostat for SQUID Susceptometry 26 18 

Pavelko, Christina 

Correlation between Responsibility and Stigma in Patients with Lung 

Cancer, Type II Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease 26 27 

Persichetti, Jason 

Bacterial Gene Expression in Response to Toxic Metal Exposure 27 94 

Prokopov, Sergei 

If I Could, I Would: Ethics and Intervening in the Lives of Addicts 27 95 

Rosenberg, Lee 

Comparison between Static and Dynamic Scheduling Strategies for 

Linear Algebra DAG Based Multicore Algorithms 28 97 

Ruff, Adam 

Social Network Surveys in Math and Science Education 28 99 

Schamberg, Jay 

The Effects of Alcohol on Voice 29 32 

Schultz, Angela 

Pollen-Ovule Ratios as an Indicator of Breeding System in 

Penstemon Degeneri, a Rare Colorado Endemic 29 100 

Sirivanchai, Sara 

Expression Patterns of Male Germline Specific Promoters in 

Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassiecaceae) 130 101 

Strasser, Derek 

Investigation of Peptide Derivatives of 1-carboxyl-4-amino-2-aza-3- 

ixi-bicyelo [2.2.2] octane, A Rigid Bicyclic Dipeptide Analog 30 103 

Taussig, Matthew 

Mutating TCRzeta to Study SLAP-Dependent Ubiquitination 31 104 

Teodosijev, Sasa 

Path of Valor 31 45 

Traktinksiy, Igor 

Varicella Zoster Virus DNA Persist in Saliva after Herpes Zoster and 

Post-Herpetic Neuralgia 32 105 

Truong, Jason 

Daily-Round of Activity in Western Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex 

occidentalis) Colonies 32 106 

Van Anderson, Bradley 

Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) seed harvesting behavior of the Clark’s 

Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon 33 108 

Valdez, Anisetta 

Copper Nickel 33 30 

Walker, Deandra 

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Mechanisms of Injury and Repair in an 

Experimental Model of BPD 34 110 

Wiltjer, Drew 

CAM Records 34 46 

Wood, Rebecca 

Change as an Innovation in the Denver Elder Community: A Cost/ 

Benefit Analysis 35 12 


Graduate Students 


Bannon, Nathanael 

The Relationship between Hydrocarbons and Aggression in 

T. Caespitum 35 92 

Barringer, Lauren 

The Relationship between Whitebark Pine Health, Cone Production, 

and Seed Dispersal by Clark’s Nutcrackers: What is the Potential for 

Natural Regeneration? 35 91 

Beemer, Brandon 

Dynamic Interaction: A Measurement Scale Development and 

Empirical Validation 36 88 

Bennetts, Nicholas 

Importance of the Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor 

Hand2 in Craniofacial Development 36 87 

Bird, Kathryn 

Physician’s Attitudes and Practices on Overweight/Obesity 37 35 

Bishop, Jonathan 

A Role for Hand2 in Cell Survival during Facial Development 37 22 

Brocker, Chad 

ALDH7A1 is a Novel Aldehyde Dehydrogenase with Multiple 

Functions Including Protection from Oxidative Stress 38 112 

Campbell, Chelsea 

Clogging Potential of Pervious Concrete 38 82 

Chang, Ya-Wen 

Developing a Problem Space for Exploring the Educational 

Experiences of Immigrant Children from China: Language, 

Culture, and Learning 39 115 

Checketts, Matt 

Induction of Cell Death by Receptor Expressed in Lymphoid 

Tissue, a Recently Identified Necrosis Factor Receptor 39 81 

Chiang, Simon 

Automation of Web Applications and Iterative Searching for 

Post-Translational Modifications 40 15 

Crites, Katherine 

Characterizing Forest Fragmentation in Relation to Coffee 

Plantations in Mexico 40 89 

Crunk, Amanda 

2-Bromoethanamine (BEA) Induces Papillary Necrosis by 

Impairing Function of TonEBP Under Hypertonic Stress in 

Kidney Cells 41 80 

Dunn, Jeffrey 

Familial Idiopathic Scoliosis in Males: Localization to 

Chromosome 22q 41 114 

Dundas, Lindsey 

The Roles of HIF1 and HIF2 in Head and Neck Cancer 42 14 

English, Carol 

Annual Variation for Effective Pollination in Penstemon 

Degeneri Crosswhite (Plantaginaceae), a Rare Colorado 

Endemic 42 50 

Foltz, Steven 

The Presence of a Mixed Use, Livable Development Embraces 

the Concept of Social Sustainability 43 74 

Frank, Nathan 

The Effect of Plasticity in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles on the collective 

Decision Making of Pavement Ant (Tetramorium caespitum) Colonies 43 73 

Garrison, Aris 

Affordable Green Housing 44 52 

Glazner, Gregory 

Characterizing Optical Properties of Photodynamic Therapy Sensitizers 44 72 


9



Greenebaum, Hilary 

Teacher’s Voices 45 8 

Hammerman, Susan 

Tracking Changes in miRNA Expression in Melanoma: A Path 

Towards Early Diagnosis and Targeted Therapies? 45 23 

Hines, Bruce 

Resonances in Superconducting Quantum Interference Device 

Series Array Amplifiers in Feedback Operation and at RF 

Frequencies 46 2 

Hockin, Matthew 

Nuclear Translocation of PKCl in Salivary Acinar Cells 47 9 

Hodges, Heather 

Lipid-Coated Nanoparticles as Mimics of Biological Membranes 

For C-Reactive Protein Detection 48 70 

Huang, Yun-Hsiang 

Electricity Generation and Treatment of High Strength Animal 

Liquid Waste Using Microbial Fuel Cells 48 39 

Huss, Sheila M. 

The Social Construction of the International Criminal Tribunal for 

The Former Yugoslavia 49 53 

Hyndman, Francie 

Misregulation of Dlx5/6 in Hand2 Leads to Loss of Tongue 49 69 

Ivashchenko, Anna 

Platelet Gene Expression in Acute Coronary Syndrome 50 4 

Johnson, Todd 

Detecting Mercury Fluorescence Signature through Two-Photon 

Mercury 51 19 

Juergens, Jeffery 

The Effects on the Modulation of Cav1.2 when AKAP79/150 is 

Covalently Linked to Calcineurin 51 68 

Kabadi, Sajit 

Ensuring Educational Continuity for First Generation College 

Students 52 36 

Kendrick, Aga 

Using Targeted Proteomics to Assess the Sirtuins on Liver 

Metabolism in Obesity 52 67 

Kester, Matthew 

Molecular Profiling of Bacterial Communities Associated with 

Mining Sediments 53 65 

Kim, Hyo-Jeong 

Technology Training of Internal Auditors: Impact of Advanced 

Feature Technology 53 66 

Kovacs, James 

Use of NMR to Define CR22:CRd Interactions in Solution Reveals 

Dual SCR1-2 Interface with C3d: Confirmation Using a Novel 

Ligand-Selective Inhibitory Peptide 54 64 

Kronoveter, Karen 

Quantitation of Energy Recovery Potential from Food Wastes 

Using Microbial Fuel Cells and Biochemical Methane Potential 

Assays 54 37 

Ling, Sarah 

Evaluating a Web-based Test Results System at an Urban 

STI Clinic 55 51 

Luce, Austine 

Children’s Worldviews from China, Singapore and the United States: 

Implications for Research, Teaching and Learning in Science and 

Science Education 55 116 

Lugliani, Matthew 

Motivational Interviewing in Skin Cancer Prevention 56 10 




Manderino, Laurie 

Voluntary Environmental and Policy Issues 56 82 

Mandt, Bruce 

Individual Differences in Cocaine Responsiveness Predict Motivation 

to Self-Administer Cocaine in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats 57 78 

McPartland, Susan 

Analyzing Accessibility to Forest Areas in Mexico 57 16 

Mendelsberg, Scott 

Bureaucratic Entrepreneurship in Education: Case Study 58 28 

Mullin, Katherin 

Re-Imaging Healing and Childbirth: Visual Narratives in Complementary 

and Alternative Medicine 58 43 

Nelson, Christian 

Neonatal Resuscitation Capacity in Nepal 59 47 

Ngo, Linda 

The Power of Words 59 24 

Nicosia, Francesca 

Dying Wish: A Documentary about Stopping Eating and 

Drinking at the End-of-Life 60 20 

Nielson, Nieve 

Revealing Landscapes: Using Fire as a Design Element in 

Landscape Architecture 60 33 

Onofrei, Ligia 

Long-Term DBS Effects on Parkinson’s Disease Motor Symptoms 

Support Neuromodulation as the Possible Mechanism of 

Action of DBS 61 17 

Oviatt, Kate 

Natural Disasters and Sustainable Livelihoods: Exploring Local 

Capacity in Tarjia, Bolivia 61 58 

Palisoc, Alma 

Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Differences in Five-Year Cancer 

Survival in Colorado, 1999-2002 62 57 

Reardon, Lindsay 

Divergence between CRT Non-responder Rates Based on the NYHA 

Class Assessment and 6-minute Hall Walk Distance Criteria: Results 

from the Response-HF Trial 63 96 

Reck, Jordan 

Challenging the Past: Transformation Through Problem Focused 

Field Schools 64 11 

Rosskamm, Shoshana 

A Probabalistic Neural Network using the Haralick Transform to 

Segment Ribs in Chest Digital Radiographs 64 98 

Schumacher, Kristin 

Social Construction and Policy Design Framework: Analysis of 

Current Applications 65 1 

Snyder, Joshua 

Phosphatidic Acid Induced Membrane Depolarization via Activation 

of Intracellular Calcium Dependent Chloride Channels in Xenopus 

leavis Oocytes 65 31 

Sousedik, Bedrich 

Adaptive-Multilevel BDDC 66 102 

Sprunt, David 

Hybridscape: A Proposal for Wynkoop Street & Denver Union Station 66 26 

Unhasuta, Krongdai 

Development of Core Competency for Trauma Nurses in Thailand 67 107 

Van Campen, Christy 

Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals by Mushrooms Growing Near 

Active and Abandoned Mines 67 109 


11



Wilson, Denise C. 

Pollination Biology of the Stream Orchid, Epipactis gigantean, 

(Dougl. Ex Hook) at Three Colorado Elevations 68 111 

Wilson, Nicholas 

Nanogel-Modified Dental Adhesives 69 5 



Open Circuit Potential 

Measurements to Characterize 

Interfaces 

Christopher Atcherley, Chemistry, DC - College of 

Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mark Anderson, DC - College 

of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Activity Type: Undergraduate Research 

The thermodynamics of a chemically reversible redox 

half-reaction will establish the potential of a 

heterogeneous interface in contact with a solution 

containing the oxidized and reduced forms of the 

redox reaction. This relationship is established by the 

well known Nernst equation: If the redox couple is 

composed of ions, chemical modification of the 

heterogeneous interface may potentially impact the 

local concentration of the oxidized and/or reduced 

form of the redox couple. The influence of the 

monolayer on the local concentrations of the redox 

couple may alter the potential of the interface. 

Measuring the potential, therefore, provides a simple 

mechanism for characterizing the interface. In this 

research, we measure the potential of the Fe(CN)6- 

3/Fe(CN)6-4 redox couple using the following 

conditions: an unmodified gold electrode, a gold 

electrode modified with a monolayer of n-octanethiol, 

and an electrode modified with a monolayer of 3- 

mercaptopropanoic acid. The influence of the surface 

modification of the potential measured is evaluated. 

For the 3-mercaptopropanoic acid modified interface, 

the influence of the interfacial charge on the 

measured potential is determined as a function of 

solution pH. In this manner, the interfacial layer can 

be titrated and the interfacial pKa determined. 

Natural Stream Flow Estimates for 

Colorado: Using the NHDPlus Unit 

Runoff Method 

Ariel Bates, Geography, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rafael Moreno, DC - College 



This poster presents the methodology and results of 

the Nation Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus) Unit 

Runoff Method (UROM) calculations for modeling 

natural streamflow in Colorado. The intent of the 

poster is to show the characteristics of Colorado's 

drainage network and how the tributary system 

converges into larger and larger arteries to form the 

major rivers that drain the state. The poster does not 

represent actual streamflow, but rather modeled 

streamflow based on the UROM model. The USGS 

streamgages in the Hydro Climatic Data Network 

(HCDN) were selected for developing the unit runoff 

values because they represent relatively natural 

hydrologic conditions and are not influenced by 

controlled releases from reservoirs. Further, only 

gages with a drainage area less than the drainage 

area of the subbasin where the gage is located were 

selected so that the discharge data represents runoff 

for only that subbasin. This is important because 

Colorado has the headwaters of four major rivers 

contained within the state, by reviewing this drainage 

pattern it is possible to better understand Colorado's 

drainage network. This poster is also important 

because it shows how different tunings applied to 

rivers can effect the values and thus the suitability of 

the UROM algorithm. 

2009 Research and Creative Activities Symposium 13


Lipid Activation of Src Tyrosine 

Kinase during Xenopus Sperm 

Fertilization and the Acrosome 

Reaction of Sperm 

Ryan Bates, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Brad J. Stith, DC - College of 



The current model for Xenopus fertilization finds that 

sperm somehow activate Src tyrosine kinase which in 

turn activates PLCgamma (an enzyme central to 

fertilization). We suggest that sperm activate 

phospholipase D1b (PLD1b) to increase phosphatidic 

acid (PA). My work in Dr. Stith’s lab has shown that 

PA specifically binds Src (PIP Strips, Echelon Biosci 

Inc) and its addition activates Src and PLC gamma. A 

PLD1b inhibitor decreased phosphatidic acid at 

fertilization, fertilization events (using 

videomicroscopy) and Src activation (the inactive 

derivative had no effect). A second line of my 

research involves a study of the acrosome reaction 

(AR) in sperm- an event that is required for 

subsequent fertilization. As many recent reports 

suggest that activation of a tyrosine kinase (like Src) 

induces the AR, as our other work suggests that PA 

can activate Src and that there is an increase in PA 

during the AR, I note that an AR agonist or PA 

addition to Xenopus sperm increased tyrosine 

phosphorylation in similar proteins at 54 kDa, 33 kDa, 

25kDa, and at 47kDa (Western blotting detection; 

Anti-Phosphotyrosine antibody 2C8, Calbiochem 

525293). Currently, we are examining the protein 

bands and the proteins exocytosed with mass 

spectroscopy. 

Comparing Biophysical 

Characteristics of Wild Type and 

Stiff Mutants of Phycomyces 

blakesleeanus 

Scott Blakley, Mechanical Engineering, DC - 

College of Engineering and Applied Science 

Cindy Munoz, Mechanical Engineering, DC - College 

of Engineering and Applied Science 

Jason Truong, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Elena Ortega, Mathematics, DC - College of Liberal 

Arts and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Joseph K. E. Ortega, DC - 


Activity Type: Graduate Research 

The sporangiophores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus 

are large cylindrical single fungal cells that grow in 

length at the fast rate of 30-50 μm/min. Equations 

have been derived to describe the elongation growth 

rate in terms of biophysical variables, i.e. the 

Augmented Growth Equations. An important 

biophysical variable is the pressure inside the cell, 

i.e. the turgor pressure. Importantly, we have 

constructed a device to measure and control the 

turgor pressure inside the sporangiophore (pressure 

probe) which can be used to determine the 

biophysical variables within the Augmented Growth 

Equations. The sporangiophore responds to many 

sensory stimuli with changes in elongation growth 

rate, e.g. if the sporangiophore is placed in a 

horizontal position, it will grow to a vertical position in 

approximately 40 min (geotropic response). Mutants 

have been identified which do not exhibit a geotropic 

response (stiff mutants). We have conducted 

pressure-probe experiments to determine the 

magnitude of the relevant biophysical variables in the 

wild type sporangiophores and the stiff mutants. The 

biophysical variables of the wild type and stiff 

mutants are compared to determine what changes in 

the underlying biophysical variables accompany the 

absence of the geotropic response. 



Characterizing and Ameliorating 

Cognitive Deficits of TS65Dn Mice - 

A Model of Down Syndrome -Using 

A Computerized Olfactometer 

Megan Blatner, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Diego Restrepo, AMC - 

School of Medicine 


We tested the learning performance of trisomic 

TS65Dn mice and disomic littermates in a 

computerized go-no go task where mice learned to 

discriminate between the odors of citral (10% in 

mineral oil) and mineral oil. We concluded that at 

least some of the trisomics are able to perform the 

task, but the disomics require about half the number 

of trials to reach a learning criterion 

(disomic=343±249 trials, trisomic=716±342 trials, 

n=6, P=0.035, paired student t-test). When we 

presented a new odor pair (1% propionic acid versus 

a 1:1 mix of 1% propionic acid and benzaldehyde) 

the disomic mice performed significantly better than 

trisomics (F=8.39, P=0.0046, n=6, Anova Two-Way 

statistic). We also performed an additional odor 

search test were the animal has to dig to find a petri 

dish containing peanut butter, and we observe that 

the disomics find the peanut butter about two times 

faster than the trisomics (disomic delay=2.39±0.79 

min, trisomic delay=4.89±2.08 min, n=6, P=0.037, 

paired student t-Test). Our hypothesis is that learning 

deficits of trisomic TS65Dn mice are due to 

decreased cholinergic innervation of key brain areas. 

After finishing characterization of behavioral deficits 

of the trisomic mice we plan to alleviate the deficits 

by performing deep brain stimulation in the 

cholinergic basal forebrain, and i.p. injections of 

galantamine to improve performance of synaptic 

transmission by basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. 

Honesty Goal Priming: Effects on 

Socially Desirable Responding in 

Self Reports About Sexual 

Behavior 

Luke Bollwerk, Psychology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Elizabeth Allen, DC - College 



2008-2009 UROP Award Winner 

There is evidence that social desirability bias elicited 

by sensitive questions reduces the accuracy of self 

report data. Rasinski et al. (2005) found that the goal 

of honesty may be implicitly primed using a word 

search task containing words related to honesty, 

thereby eliciting reduced socially desirable 

responding in a subsequent measure containing 

sensitive questions about alcohol use. The purpose 

of this study is to reproduce these findings with 

sensitive items about sexual behavior under the 

condition of anonymity and increased privacy. In 

addition, the effect of computerized administration is 

explored. A 2x2 factorial design was used to 

determine the effect of honesty goal priming vs. 

neutral goal priming and audio computer assisted self 

interview (ACASI) vs. a pencil and paper self 

administered questionnaire (SAQ) on socially 

desirable responding. 230 participants were recruited 

from Auraria campus and were randomly divided into 

four groups. The hypothesis that there would be 

reduced socially desirable responding in the honesty 

primed ACASI group was unsupported by Kruskal- 

Wallis tests and there were no reliable and significant 

differences between groups. The results are 

discussed along with possible reasons for the 

unexpected outcome. 



Image Acquisition for 3D Animation 

Chris Brady, Digital Animation, DC - College of Arts 

and Media 

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Tripp Vroman, DC - College 

of Arts and Media 



The use of photography represents a large portion of 

the visual information that is seen in modern 

animation. Photographic processes have been 

developed primarily for print mediums. These 

processes are optimal for photographers but 

inefficient and problematic for animators. This 

research addresses the pitfalls of the Bayer Sensor 

method of capturing images, the implications of 

working with nonlinear image data, and the optimal 

method of storage for image information. With our 

research we have developed, and will demonstrate, 

methods of overcoming the pitfalls of image 

acquisition for animation. In compensating for Bayer 

Sensors, file sizes can be decreased by 75% and 

final renders maintain higher contrast. Compensating 

for nonlinear image information can prevent the 

“washed out” low contrast visuals often associated 

with animation. This is accomplished through and 

avoidance repeated anti aliasing and observation of 

gamma space. Finally the storage of images in a 

lossless format that is also compressed yields high 

efficiency and higher image quality. Given the high 

cost in time and equipment with 3D animation, these 

methods can save budgets thousands of dollars. In 

addition to cost and time savings, these methods 

increase image fidelity. Statistics and visuals will be 

provided in the presentation. 

Determining Bone Utility and 

Effectiveness as Tools: Termite 

Extraction at Lake Manyara, 

Tanzania during the Dry Season in 

Tanzania 

Jamie Carpio, Anthropology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Charles Musiba, DC - College 




2009 Outstanding Research and Creative 

Activities Award Winner 

Taphonomic evidence of bone surface modification 

for tool use by early hominins was recently 

recognized at Swartkrans in South Africa by Backwell 

and d’Errico; however, very little taphonomic 

research of this type has been conducted in East 

African Pliocene sites. During the 2008 UCD 

Tanzanian field school in anthropology at Laetoli, we 

conducted experiments to test whether bones 

recovered from recent death assemblages could be 

modified and used for termite fishing at mounds near 

Lake Manyara. Bone tools were modified and used to 

puncture termite mounds, thus creating a use wear 

pattern that would be indicative of tool use and 

compared with fragmented fossil bones found at 

Laetoli. A scan electron microscope (SEM) was used 

to examine bone surface modification associated with 

tool use (polishing and striations) that match those 

reported from Swartkrans as possible evidence of 

Australopithecines early bone modification and tool 

use for termite fishing. We report that to achieve the 

greatest number of termites, in terms of calorific 

intake, with the least amount of energy expended 

most likely occurred shortly after the rain season or at 

locations where mounds are in close proximity to 

water sources. 



Arts Bridge Digital Photography 

Project 

Briona Davis, Photography, DC - College of Arts and 

Media 

Lawrence Hass, Photography, DC - College of Arts 

and Media 

Magdalena Banuelos, Photography, DC - College of 

Arts and Media 

Joseph Garcia, Photography, DC - College of Arts 

and Media 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Joann Brennan, DC - College 


Activity Type: Undergraduate Creative Activity 

The ArtsBridge Digital Photography Project at The 

Children’s Hospital was created to inspire young 

individuals who are facing an illness and help them 

refocus their attention from their treatments and 

engage them with a hands on photographic 

exploration. Four photographers from the University 

of Colorado Denver, College of Arts and Media, 

including myself, facilitated this project and worked 

directly with the children to create their artwork. 

There were a total of 17 children who participated in 

the program who worked during a three-hour session 

to create their complete work of art. During each 

session, children learned how to operate a digital 

camera, compose photographs, make deliberate 

choices within the principals and elements of design, 

download the images onto a computer and then 

manipulate the photographs with Photoshop to form a 

one of a kind image. The children took pictures of the 

architecture inside and outside the hospital for 

privacy reasons and used their handprint to sign their 

artwork. The works created by the children were full 

of textures, patterns, designs, colors, and expression. 

Each work of art captured a unique personal story of 

their experience with their treatment and their own 

creativity. The final prints were 16x20 color 

photographs. 

Gene Exprssion During 

Bioremediation of Polyaromatic 

Hydrocarbons by Pleurotus 

ostreatus 

Denise Davis-Nelson, Biology, DC - College of 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michele Engel, DC - College of 



Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are 

prevalent environmental pollutants. Wood growing 

mushrooms are promising bioremediators of PAHs 

because many of the enzymes they secrete to 

degrade lignin are also capable of oxidizing PAHs. 

Biochemists have identified a number of enzymes 

used by oyster mushrooms to degrade PAHs but, 

little research has examined gene expression during 

PAH degradation. Two isolates of oyster mushrooms: 

a commercial strain and a strain found growing on a 

tree that had been killed by an oil spill will be 

examined in this study. The gene expression profiles 

of the isolates in the presence and absence of PAHs 

will be investigated. The project will initially focus on 

the gene expression of protein coding genes 

predicted in the literature to be involved in PAH 

degradation. Additionally, to identify other genes 

involved in biochemical pathways active in PAH 

degradation that have not been previously identified 

by biochemical methods, a cDNA- amplified fragment 

length polymorphism technique will be employed. 

cDNA-AFLP is a very versatile technique that does 

not require prior sequence knowledge of the genes 

and can be used to identify novel genes. Ultimately, 

this research will lead to a better understanding of 

PAH bioremediation and potentially identify genes 

responsible for the xenobiotic metabolism. 



Determination of Doxycycline in 

Mouse Serum by High-Performance 

Liquid Chromatography: A 

Correlation of Rheumatoid Arthritis 

Disease to Concentration of 

Doxycycline in Serum 

Sarah Deihimi, Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Douglas F. Dyckes and Dr. 

Lisa Lanning, DC - College of Liberal Arts and 

Sciences 


A simple reverse phase high performance liquid 

chromatography (HPLC) method for the separation of 

doxycycline from mouse serum was adapted and 

developed. The HPLC conditions were derived from a 

previous study by Skulason et al. The column used 

was a Partisil® 5μm C8 100mm x 4.6 mm and a 

mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile: water: 

perchloric acid (HClO4) (26: 74: 0.25) adjusted to a 

pH of 2.5 with 5 M sodium hydroxide. The drug 

doxycycline and internal standard oxytetracycline 

were detected with a UV Vis Spectrophotometer at 

350 nm. A calibration curve was constructed with a 

detection range of 0.5-100 ppm and correlation 

coefficient (R2) of 0.9974. Three sets of serum from 

rheumatoid-induced mice given 10 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg 

or 0 mg/kg (control) of doxycycline were analyzed for 

the concentration of the drug. Unexpectedly a 

significant concentration of doxycycline was seen in 

six samples from the control group, questioning the 

validity of the data. 

Active Galactic Nuclei Survey at 

Optical Frequencies 

Russell Deitrick, Physics, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Alberto Sadun, DC - College 




Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are distant objects 

which are integral to modern theories of galactic 

formation and the formation of the universe. AGN are 

not currently well understood. It is believed that they 

are caused by accretion of material into 

supermassive black holes which are essential to the 

formation of galaxies. AGN were much more 

common in the early universe than today, thus we 

must look into the distant universe, and thus the 

distant past, to observe them. AGN emit radiation 

across the frequency spectrum; the observations of 

several AGN at optical frequencies have been made 

by myself and my associates and contribute to 

international databases maintained by WEBT and 

VERITAS. Using CCD cameras and telescopes at 

different locations around the world, we have used 

optical filters to plot the lightcurve of various AGN, 

such as 3c66a and 1ES1959. We hope that with the 

continued observation of the brightnesses of these 

objects we may begin to understand how they form 

and evolve with time. 



Tuberculosis: The White Death 

Gareth Dunnet, Film, DC - College of Arts and 

Media 

Aaron Kopp, Film, DC - College of Arts and Media 

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Hans Rosenwinkel, DC - 




Tuberculosis: The White Death is a captivating 

documentary film that tracks the history and dark 

specter of this ongoing blight to public health. Once 

believed to be under control, tuberculosis is currently 

on a comeback route of epic proportions. TB: The 

White Death will aim to educate through innovative 

film techniques and storytelling. Its broad historical 

perspective will trace the disease’s dark path through 

antiquity and folklore. In addition to dramatic 

recreations of Koch performing experiments in his 

lab, the film will include visual reenactments of his 

prominent lectures as well as remarks upon receiving 

his Nobel Prize. will be portrayed. As seen from a 

microscope, sophisticated animations of his groundbreaking 

research will be depicted. Augmented by 

worldwide interviews with experts and victims, the 

narrative will bring TB’s dark shadow into the present. 

Drawing upon the technical and creative expertise of 

the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 

the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Arts 

and Media and Digital Animation Center, and the 

Anschutz Medical Campus, Tuberculosis: The White 

Death is a timely and informative investigation that 

dramatically explores the history and global portent of 

this resilient scourge of mankind. 

Full Dome Content Creation 

Timmy Edens, Digital Design, DC - College of Arts 

and Media 

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Bryan Leister, DC - College of 




Fulldome content is an art medium that requires high 

performance rendering technology to produce Dome 

master imaging for planetarium style projections. The 

Apple computer lab in Room NC1407 at the 

University of Colorado Denver has been optimized as 

a render farm to process and produce this large 

format video. The content that we created using the 

render farm was shown at the Gates Planetarium 

during the CAM 360 Dome event March 30, 2009 and 

proved that the College has the available resources 

to facilitate the production of this medium as an art 

form. The College of Arts and Media at The 

University of Colorado Denver is now one of the few 

places in the world that can offer fulldome content at 

a world-class professional level. To achieve the 

results that we have it has taken the cooperation of 

UCD along with Denver Museum of Nature and 

Science and the sponsorship of IMERSA (Immersive 

Media Entertainment, Research, Science, & Arts) 



Recreate 1908 

Jerell Evans, theatre/film, DC - College of Arts and 

Media 

Faculty Sponsor: Laura Cuetara, DC - College of 




Recreate 1908, was an extensive reach creative 

project that, took a lot of focus and dedication. The 

four of us researched all the important facts that took 

place during the first democratic convention, and 

created a preformace based on those events. The 

outcome was a sucess for us, we was awarded best 

historical performance by the west word news paper 

and by cbs news. Doing this research project has 

created many different doors for all of our feautures 

and we apprecated the opportunity and hope it can 

inspire others. 

Research into the Molecular 

Mechanism of Fertilization: 

Measuring the Affinity between Src 

and PA 

Colby Fees, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Pengsue Yang, Biology, DC - Graduate School 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Brad Stith, DC - College of 




The molecular mechanism of fertilization is still 

unknown, but our current model suggests that sperm 

elevate phosphatidic acid (PA) and that this lipid 

binds and activates Src. This would lead to the 

release of intracellular calcium stores in the egg and 

subsequent fertilization events. Using PIP strips, we 

were able to show that Xenopus Src bound with a 

relatively high specificity, but now we want to 

estimate the dissociation constant (Kd) of Src and PA 

along with a control anionic lipid. The preferred 

method is the vesicle sedimentation assay where Src 

protein binding to unilamellar vesicles with PC, PC 

plus PA or PC with a control anionic lipid is quantified 

at different protein concentrations. A paper (Sigal et 

al., 1994) did not examine PA binding but suggests 

that six basic residues within the amino-terminal 

sequence of Src is important. We make these lipid 

vesicles using the Avanti Extruder, and record protein 

with the CBQCA Protein Quantification Kit from 

Molecular Probes. The protein quantification kit 

utilizes the ATTO-TAG CBQCA reagent that, in the 

presence of cyanide, reacts with primary amines to 

form fluorescent derivatives, which are analyzed 

using a fluorometer. 



Labor Supply Near Subsistence 

Income Levels 

Tiffany Heimbuch-Maybee, Economics, DC - 

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Steven Beckman, DC - 



Building upon an argument for homo economicus 

(rational man) using dictator games and monopoly 

theory, we investigated monopsony in subsistence 

labor markets. The constraint of time and the 

universal necessity of purchasing shelter, clothing, 

food and medicine make a certain amount of income 

essential to survive. If wages fall near this 

subsistence level, it is necessary to devote all 

available time to paid labor, in order to simply 

survive. This simple logic implies perverse incentives 

- more work at lower pay - and offers a tool for the 

unscrupulous to exert control. Apart from explaining 

the logic and method of child labor or the global 

trafficking of women in sex trade, this simple idea 

explains why sometimes workers in poor countries 

are perceived as irrational. The poor may refuse to 

work more as wages rise, not because they are lazy 

or stupid, but because leisure is a prized commodity 

once it is affordable. The primary outcomes of this 

research are a simpler and more general theory of 

child labor, a theory of sweat-shops where workers 

are indeed exploited and a theory that explains why 

welfare recipients respond to the potential to earn 

more by working less. 

Synthesis of GABA Analogues 

Molly Hickey, Non-degree, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. J. Hoyt Meyer, DC - College 



Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers, serving 

as the primary activators and inhibitors of the signal 

pathways in the Central Nervous System (CNS). 

Gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters 

are primarily inhibitory in the CNS. GABA is a 

molecule of interest due to the ability of the GABA 

receptor to bind with not only the biological GABA 

molecule, but other molecules with similar structures. 

Thus, the purpose of this research is to synthesize 

the GABA analogue, 4-amino-2-oxa-3-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylic 

acid, with a 

bicyclic conformation. This molecule also provides 

the possibility of creating a glutamate analogue with 

cleavage of the lactone. The conformationally 

constrained structure is designed to enable the 

molecule will bind with specificity to the target 

receptor site. Principal findings show a bicyclic 

analogue can be generated with an iodide in the 

place where a carboxylic acid will be installed. 

Pending further elaboration of the synthetic 

intermediates in hand, the synthetic route appears to 

promise positive results. 



Political Subversion in Sir Gawain 

and the Green Knight: The Welsh 

Social Imaginary and National 

Identity in the 14th Century 

Brittany Jones, English/Philosophy, DC - College of 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nancy Ciccone, DC - College 




This article examines the latent presence of a 

medieval Welsh social imaginary in the late medieval 

poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Readings of 

this poem have consistently conflated the terms 

“British” and “English,” thus offering what appears to 

be an English rendition of French courtly romance. 

Recent criticism has suggested that during the 

fourteenth century, the relationship between England 

and Wales can be described as post-colonial, and 

this article explores the significance of the political 

situation and the geography of the narrative within 

this post-colonial context. Engaging the poem with 

the awareness of the Welsh social context and a 

phenomenological understanding of social imaginary, 

this article traces the emergence of a Welsh national 

identity, criticizing the English court. 

Variation in Maternal and Child 

Nutrition Across Cultures in 

Mondaña, Ecuador 

Racheal Keller, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sharry Erzinger, DC - College 



Variation in Maternal and Child Nutrition Across 

Cultures in Mondaña, Ecuador. Racheal Keller A. 

University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO A three 

and half week exploration of diet and nutrition among 

Ecuadorian mothers and their infants, revealed 

interesting variation among ethnically and 

linguistically different mothers who had just given 

birth in the community of Mondaña. In order to 

determine the components of their diets, we 

interviewed seven women. Using interpreters and a 

community informant, we asked open-ended 

questions regarding the foods they ate before 

becoming pregnant, during pregnancy, and directly 

following pregnancy. We transcribed the data to 

compare changes and analyze similarities. The 

women were from varied backgrounds including: age, 

size of family, social and financial capital, locality, 

and culture. In addition to this, a governmental 

program had recently been implemented to provide 

nutritional supplements to mothers during their 

pregnancy through breastfeeding and into the child’s 

first five years. We hypothesized that some mothers 

would be using the supplement but due to tradition 

and the fact that many women do not attend the clinic 

for prenatal care not all women would have access to 

the supplements. Analysis of the backgrounds of 

participating mothers established distinctive patterns 

of behavior between mothers who spoke Kichwa, a 

specific dialect of indigenous people in the Amazon 

basin, and mothers who spoke Spanish. Analysis of 

our field notes established some commonalities. 

Younger mothers of 17 to 20 years old showed a 

continuous use of supplements provided by the 

Ecuadorian government. They also did not participate 

in many of the traditions of the older mothers, such 

as the drinking chicha, a fermented drink made from 

yuca. In these two different groups, many more 

women participated in the governmental programs 

than we originally thought and there was an evident 

change in tradition noted through younger mothers in 

both groups. This poster presentation will provide 

additional findings from the Field Study experience in 

the Ecuadorian Amazon basin. 



N-Amino Acid (Ester- 

Protected) Thiophosphoramidates, 

A Step in the 

Preparation of Pseudotripeptides: 

A research Prototype for 

Undergraduate Chemistry Labs 

Jason Lathrop, Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal 


Jonathan Cook, Chemistry/ Biology, DC - College of 


Susan Schelble, Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Doug Dyckes, DC - College of 



Thiophosphoramidates are sulfur-containing 

phosphate derivatives and can easily be generated 

by reacting thiophosphates with amines. These 

compounds can be valuable intermediates in the 

formation of mixed imides. This study investigated 

the synthesis of thiophosphoryl carbonyl mixed 

imides with amino acid moieties, which upon 

rearrangement, form phosphothiocarbonyl mixed 

imides. This method of preparation does not requires 

excessively harsh reagents and the molecules can be 

fully characterized using IR, H-1 NMR, and P-31 

NMR spectroscopy. Phosphorylthiocarbonyl mixed 

imides have been historically important in agriculture 

as fertilizers and pesticides, but if the imides are 

amino acid derivatives, they may also have 

biomedical applications. These synthetic amino acids 

can be further reacted, and then selectively cleaved 

to afford an internally placed thioamide within a short 

pseudopeptide that may have antiviral properties. 

This study of the preparation of novel synthons for 

pseudotripeptides affords undergraduate research 

students the chance to make novel compounds, 

study the mechanism of their formation, and 

characterize them structurally while learning 

advanced synthetic techniques. 

Binding of Alcohol to Odorant 

Binding Protein 

Jonathan Levy, chemistry, DC - College of Liberal 


Lauren Ader, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Hai Lin, DC - College of 




The physiological effects of alcohol all begin with the 

binding of alcohols to a number of neuronal proteins. 

This research utilized quantum mechanical 

calculations to model the interaction between 

alcohols and a non-enzyme protein receptor LUSH. 

Our calculations were performed at the semiempirical 

level of theory employing a number of 

cluster models of more than 150 atoms. Both gasphase 

and continuum solvation model calculations 

were carried out. Our study confirmed that the 

hydrogen-bonding network at the binding site is 

important in anchoring the alcohol via its hydroxyl 

group, and that the hydrophobic pocket stabilizes the 

alkyl chain of the alcohol. However, the relative 

binding affinities of ethanol, propanol, and butanol 

predicted by the gas-phase model disagreed with the 

experimental data; adding solvation effects alleviated 

but did not solve the problem. More in-depth 

investigation using high-level of theory is highly 

desirable. 



Intersimple Sequence Repeat 

(ISSR) Markers and Their Potential 

for Evolutionary Research on the 

Rare Colorado Endemic, 

Penstemon degeneri 

Mary McAllister, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Tabitha Ting, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Leo Bruederle, DC - College 



Penstemon is the largest genus of plants restricted in 

distribution to North America, with 275 closely related 

species; this genus is particularly well-represented in 

the west, including Colorado. However, relatively little 

is known about evolutionary diversification in 

Penstemon. The purpose of this investigation was to 

determine the usefulness of Intersimple Sequence 

Repeats (ISSRs) as molecular markers for 

determining evolutionary relationships among 

species within this important genus. Specifically, we 

examined genetic differentiation between the rare 

Colorado endemic, Penstemon degeneri, and its 

more common sister species Penstemon griffinii. 

ISSR markers are genetically dominant molecular 

markers formed through single primer polymerase 

chain reactions (PCR) using di- or trinucleotide 

repeat sequences. ISSRs are present throughout the 

genome and, therefore, amplification probability is 

high between adjacent anchoring regions. This 

technique generates a large amount of genetic data 

that have proven useful previously for evolutionary 

research on Penstemon. Here, we present ISSR data 

for two primers that reveal no statistically significant 

difference between P. degeneri and P.griffinii. As 

such, our data suggest that the two morphological 

species have evolved recently. 

Image Processing Diagnostics: 

Emphysema 

Alexander McKenzie, Physics, Applied 

Mathematics, DC - College of Liberal Arts and 

Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Alberto Sadun, DC - College 



Computerized tomography (CT) scans are currently 

being used to determine if patients have emphysema, 

as well as the severity of the disease. Currently the 

CT scan can detect emphysema sooner than 

traditional x-rays, but other tests are required to 

measure more accurately the amount of affected 

lung. CT scan images show clearly if a patient has 

emphysema, but is unable, by visual scan alone, to 

quantify the degree of the disease, as it appears 

merely as dark spots on the lung. Our goal is to 

create a software plug-in that will interface with 

existing open source medical imaging software, to 

automate the process of accurately diagnosing and 

determining emphysema severity levels in patients. 

This will be accomplished by performing a number of 

statistical calculations on several of the CT scan 

images of several patients (representing a wide 

range of severity of the disease), including looking at 

the deviation from a normal distribution curve to 

determine skewness, a commonly used statistical 

parameter. 



Adult Attachment Styles and 

Coping Strategies in College 

Students 

Jennifer Metzler, Psychology, DC - College of 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Eric Benotsch, DC - College 



America has an alarmingly high divorce rate. 

Previous research has found associations between 

adult attachment styles and coping strategies. These 

may serve as important factors that lead to 

successful romantic relationships. Most previous 

studies examining the associations between adult 

attachment and coping have used a three-category 

model of attachment styles. More recent work 

suggests that a more complex four-category model of 

adult attachment has greater explanatory utility. In 

the present study, adult attachment styles and coping 

strategies were assessed in 270 undergraduate 

students. Participants were assigned to one of four 

distinct attachment styles (secure, fearful, 

preoccupied, and dismissive). Five types of coping 

were assessed: problem-focused methods, seeking 

social support, blaming self, wishful thinking, and 

avoidance. Secure attachment style was the most 

prominent with 45.6%, followed by 25.5% fearful, 

18.9% preoccupied, and 10% dismissive. Individuals 

with a secure attachment style used significantly 

more adaptive coping strategies such as problemfocused 

coping or seeking social support (ps


Heat Sinking in a Helium-3 Cryostat 

for SQUID Susceptometry 

Katy O'Leary, EE, DC - College of Engineering and 

Applied Science 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Martin Huber, DC - College of 



Heat Sinking in a Helium-3 Cryostat for SQUID 

Susceptometry We have instrumented a helium-3 

cryostat for ultra-low-temperature measurements of 

Superconducting Quantum Interference Device 

(SQUID) susceptometers. SQUID susceptometers 

are used to measure magnetic properties of nanoscle 

samples; their performance improves as temperature 

is reduced. The Helium-3 cryostat is operational 

between 4 K and 250 mK. A single low-temperature 

preamplifier (a SQUID Series Array Amplifier, of 

SSAA) is installed on the stage with temperature 

between 1.2K and 4K during system check-out. The 

SSAA presently operates at a higher temperature 

than expected, and the cause of this excess 

temperature is being investigated. Progress in 

improving thermal contact and heat sinking will be 

reported, as well as new low-temperature noise 

measurements, if available. 

Correlation between Responsibility 

and Stigma in Patients with Lung 

Cancer, Type II Diabetes, and 

Cardiovascular Disease 

Christina Pavelko, Psychology/Biology, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Joy Berrenberg, DC - College 



Pervious research has shown a correlation between 

responsibility and stigma in patients with HIV and 

lung cancer such that patients who are seen as 

responsible for their illness are more stigmatized by 

society. The present study examines the effects of 

responsibility on stigma in cancer as well as diabetes 

and cardiovascular disease. Using a 3x2 

experimental design in which illness type and 

responsibility were manipulated, college students 

(n=161) who participated were randomly assigned to 

read a short narrative of a hypothetical patient and 

then provide their reactions to that patient on four 

variables: responsibility for the illness, expected 

degree of social support, personality characteristics 

of the patient, and personal reactions to the patient. 

Significant effects and interactions reveal that higher 

responsibility illnesses are associated with more 

negative reactions and greater stigma. 



Bacterial Gene Expression in 

Response to Toxic Metal Exposure 

Jason Persichetti, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Lisa Johansen, DC - College 



Differential gene expression was studied in the 

bacterium Pseudomonas sp. S8A isolated from soil 

contaminated with heavy metals from mining. This 

bacterium is of interest due to its resistance to highly 

toxic levels of cadmium. The molecular technique of 

cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism 

(cDNA-AFLP) analysis was used to identify genes 

that were up and down regulated in response to 

cadmium exposure. S8A was grown in media 

amended with 0, 10, and 50 ppm of cadmium. 

Exposure to cadmium caused an initial loss of 

viability in the cultures, followed by exponential 

growth to a maximum concentration of 108 CFU/mL, 

matching the upper limit of S8A’s growth in the same 

medium when not exposed to cadmium. The growth 

of S8A resulted in cadmium precipitation from the 

growth medium. RNA isolated from samples collected 

during the early exponential growth phase was used 

with the cDNA-AFLP technique to identify 

differentially expressed genes. These genes were 

identified based on available genomic data. Two up 

regulated genes were highly similar to membrane 

transport genes. Based on differential gene 

expression, this study provides valuable metabolic 

data regarding cadmium resistance, useful in 

understanding microbial responses involved in 

chemical stress and detoxification. 

If I could, I would: Ethics and 

Intervening in the Lives of Addicts 

Sergei Prokopov, Econ/Phil, DC - College of Liberal 


Rachael Boice, Phil/Phyc, DC - College of Liberal 


David Ragsdale, English/Phil, DC - College of 


John Fox, Philosophy, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Candice Shelby, DC - College 




The classical ethical theories maintain that agents 

are free and, therefore, accountable for their actions. 

Those theories prescribe different techniques on how 

best to address the needs of addicts. Aristotle 

thought the passions were a subordinate domain of 

an agent, who, when operating well, was directed by 

reason. Kant assumed that it is possible to 

disconnect oneself from the passions, so that issues 

such as addiction could be addressed morally. 

Utilitarians continued to address such problems by 

presuming that an individual could make rational 

decisions about what was in the interest of the 

happiness of everybody involved. All of these 

theories were developed prior to the recent 

technological advances that have revolutionized 

neuroscience. The research on human brain reveals 

that not only addicts but average people are not as 

rational as previously thought. Hard sciences do not 

explain addicts’ behavior; however, valuable scientific 

information can be used in refining major ethical 

tenets. Malformations in the white matter, disruptive 

flow of dopamine from one neuron to another and 

other anomalies in the human brain pose intricate 

questions to ethicists. It turns out we can no longer 

rely on reason itself while adjudicating addicts’ 

behavior, not to mention our intervention into their 

predicaments. 



Comparison between Static and 

Dynamic Scheduling Strategies for 

Linear Algebra DAG Based 

Multicore Algorithms, Extension to 

Parallel Distributed Scheduling 

Lee Rosenberg, Mathematics, DC - College of 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Julien Langou, DC - College 



In order to provide fine granularity for linear algebra 

operations, a new generation of algorithms based on 

DAG has been created. Preliminary results are 

promising. The scheduling strategies used in these 

new algorithms impact the overall performance and 

therefore deserve to be studied. In this 

undergraduate research work, we have developed a 

simulator to study various dynamic and static 

strategies for DAG scheduling. 

Social Network Surveys in Math 

and Science Education 

Adam Ruff, Math education, DC - College of Liberal 


Mike Garkie, IPTE, DC - School of Education and 

Human Development 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Diana White, DC - College of 



Social network surveys are commonly used in 

educational research to study social networks of 

various types. In this talk, we discuss our use of 

social network surveys to study who teachers in a 

given school go to for advice on teaching math and 

science. Analyzing the data requires mathematical 

concepts from graph theory and statistics. We 

provide an overview of the basic concepts needed, 

assuming no prior knowledge of the area. 



The Effects of Alcohol on Voice 

Jay Schamberg, Music Industry Studies, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Rich Sanders, DC - College 



The voice fundamental and formants were 

researched when subjects consume a regimented 

amount of alcohol over a two hour period. The initial 

averages of the frequencies of voices from subjects 

were taken and analyzed versus their alcohol 

impaired vocal frequencies every 15 minutes. 

Additionally, the speech patterns were analyzed 

when a truth versus an inaccuracy was spoken, and 

data is gleaned about the possible difference or lack 

thereof. 

Pollen-ovule Ratios as an Indicator 

of Breeding System in Penstemon 

degeneri, a Rare Colorado Endemic 

Angela Schultz, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Carol English, Biology, DC – College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Leo P. Bruederle, DC - 




Pollen-ovule ratios are an important aspect of the 

pollination biology of a species, and can provide 

insight into breeding system. A relationship exists 

between the number of ovules that a flower produces 

relative to the amount of pollen production. For 

example, xenogamous (out-crossing) species have 

been shown to produce a large volume of pollen 

relative to the number of ovules – resulting in a high 

pollen-ovule ratio – that better ensures pollination 

and seed set. Prior evidence from research on the 

reproductive biology of Penstemon degeneri 

Crosswhite (Plantaginaceae), a rare Colorado 

endemic, suggests that this species has a mixed 

mating system involving out-crossing by a suite of 

megachilid bees, apid bees, and vespid wasps, as 

well as self-pollination. Herein, pollen-ovule ratios are 

used to further test the hypothesis of facultative 

xenogamy in this species. Pollen and ovule counts 

(or estimates) were obtained from 40 individuals 

representing three populations across the elevational 

range for this species. Ovule counts ranged from 

64.1 (± 17.1) – 102.9 (±19.8), while pollen-ovule 

ratios ranged from 963.3 (± 217.5) – 1291.5 (± 411.7) 

pollen grains/ovule. These data support our previous 

results that P. degeneri is facultatively xenogamous – 

predominately outcrossing, while still capable of selfpollination. 



Expression patterns of male 

germline specific promoters in 

Arabidopsis thaliana 

(Brassicaceae) 

Sara Sirivanchai, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michele Engel, DC - College 




Our lab is interested in understanding the male 

gametophyte contribution to fertilization. Recently a 

nine nucleotide regulatory motif was identified in 

several lily and Arabidopsis thaliana male 

gametophyte specific genes (Haerizadeh et al. 2006). 

We hypothesized that other male gametophyte 

specific genes would also contain this motif. We used 

bioinformatics and publicly available microarray data 

to identify a set of A. thaliana gene promoters, which 

contain the motif and that are not known to be 

expressed in vegetative tissues. To determine the 

expression patterns of these genes, we cloned the 

promoter regions into a plant transformation vector 

upstream of two reporter genes eGFP and GUS. The 

vector also allows selection of the transformed plants 

with an herbicide. The vectors were transformed into 

A. thaliana and microscopy was used to visualize the 

expression patterns of these two reporter genes in 

several tissue types. No consistent patterns of 

expression were seen in the male germline specific 

tissue; however, some interesting patterns of 

expression were observed including pollen vegetative 

cell expression, root expression, and meristems 

expression in leaves and cotyledons. 

Investigation of Peptide Derivatives 

of 1-carboxyl-4-amino-2-aza-3-oxo- 

Bicyclo [2.2.2] Octane A Rigid 

Bicyclic Dipeptide Analog 

Derek Strasser, chemistry, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Rentsenmyadag Dashzeveg 

Post Doctorial co-advisor 

Dr. Douglas Dyckes, DC - College of Liberal Arts and 

Sciences 


The purpose of this research is to investigate 

synthetic routes for dipeptide and tripeptide 

derivatives of 1-carboxyl-4-amino-2-aza-3-oxobicyclo 

[2.2.2] octane and to characterize the 

resulting peptides. Derivatives of 1-carboxyl-4-amino- 

2-aza-3-oxo-bicyclo [2.2.2] octane are interesting in 

pharmacology and drug design because this core is a 

rigid structure that can direct molecular conformation, 

an important property of biologically active 

compounds. The title molecule also has two polar 

groups on one of the bridges of the bicyclic core. The 

two polar groups will affect how the oligopeptide 

derivatives will interact with each other and other 

compounds. Our current synthetic strategy consists 

of three key steps. The first being the protection of 

the amine group with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate 

(Fmoc). This is an excellent protecting group in that it 

is acid stable and easily removed in a mildly basic 

environment. The second step is to activate the 

carboxyl group by converting it to a pentafluorophenyl 

ester. This type of ester is highly reactive, therefore 

the final step creating the peptide bond can be 

accomplished under mild conditions and is quick. 

Initial results have indicated that the N-protected 

active ester successfully coupled to phenylalanine 

ethyl ester, a bulky amino acid derivative. This 

success is being built upon with attempts to further 

extend the dipeptide. 



Mutating TCRzeta to Study SLAPdependent 

Ubiquitination 

Matthew Taussig, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Aimee Bernard, DC - College 



Mutant forms of TCRζ were generated in order to 

determine which residues of the zeta chain of the T- 

cell receptor (TCRζ) are ubiquitinated by Src-like 

adapter protein (SLAP) in combination with c-Cbl (an 

E3 ubiquitin ligase). The mutants will aid in the 

investigation of how SLAP-dependent ubiquitination 

of TCRζ affects internalization, intracellular 

trafficking, and degradation of the TCR complex. 

Using a plasmid containing the TCRζ gene and the 

technique of site directed mutagenesis, the 

intracellular lysines were mutated to arginines, a 

chemically similar amino acid to which ubiquitin 

cannot bind. There are nine total lysines in the 

intracellular domain of TCRζ, and nine mutant forms 

of TCRζ were generated. Cell lines that stably 

express our mutant forms of TCRζ could then be 

established enabling the study of TCR internalization 

and trafficking in the presence or absence of SLAP 

and c-Cbl. This project aims to increase our 

understanding T-cell signaling pathways and the 

mechanisms that control T cell development and 

function. 

Path of Valor 

Sasa Teodosijev, Film, DC - College of Arts and 

Media 

Benjamin Martinez, Film, DC - College of Arts and 

Media 

Tim Dixon, Music, DC - College of Arts and Media 

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Hans Rosenwinkel, DC - 




Path Of Valor: A real hero in celebrity obsessed 

culture Sasa Teodosijev, Film, College of Arts and 

Media Faculty mentor: Hans Rosenwinkel, Film, 

College of Arts And Media Activity Type: 

Undergraduate Research The purpose of this UROP 

project is to research and film a short documentary 

covering certain stories from the Korean War. 

Because this period in history was sandwiched 

between WWII and Vietnam, it is often referred to as 

“the Forgotten War.” We wish to show, through the 

camera, one story that needs to be told. In this day 

and age, there are many definitions of valor. 

Ambrosio Guillen was born, the son of migrant 

workers, in La Junta, Colorado. He enlisted into the 

armed services at the age of 17, and quickly rose to 

the rank of staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 

July of 1953, he led a platoon against two battalions 

of Red Chinese soldiers near the town of Songuchon, 

Korea. He succeeded in repelling the attacks, but 

was mortally wounded in the process. He was 

posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his 

courage under fire. Our research is designed, not just 

to tell Ambrosio’s story, but to examine the nature of 

heroism. In this day and age, we are a celebrityobsessed 

society. The names on the tips of our 

tongues are football stars and American Idol 

contestants. This project looks to explore why our 

modern society has become apathetic to individuals 

that have given their lives for country. 



Varicella Zoster Virus DNA Persist 

in Saliva after Herpes Zoster and 

Post-Herpetic Neuralgia 

Igor Traktinksiy, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Aimee Bernard, DC - College 



Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is a human neurotropic 

herpesvirus that typically causes childhood varicella 

(chickenpox), goes latent in neurons of multiple 

cranial, sensory and autonomic ganglia. Decades 

later, the virus can reactivate to cause zoster 

(shingles), a painful skin rash involving 1-3 

dermatomes innervated by ganglia that had harbored 

latent virus. VZV reactivation is associated with 

impaired cellular immunity especially in the elderly 

(age >60 yrs.), but can also be seen in individuals 

experiencing trauma, severe stress, or depression. 

Approximately 40% of elderly individuals with zoster 

will proceed to post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) defined 

as pain of zoster continuing >3 months following 

resolution of zoster rash. Our hypothesis is that PHN 

is associated with persistent VZV replication in the 

ganglia. To test this hypothesis we searched for VZV 

DNA in saliva via qPCR. Control subjects included 

elderly individuals with zoster and no PHN along with 

elderly individuals without zoster. Our results indicate 

that all elderly subjects who had zoster shed VZV 

DNA independent of PHN. Thus, we conclude that 

zoster, as well as PHN, is associated with persistent 

VZV replication in the ganglia. 

Daily-Round of Activity in Western 

Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex 

occidentalis) Colonies 

Jason Truong, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michael Greene, DC - College 



We conducted an observational experiment to 

quantify the daily round of worker activity in Western 

Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis) 

colonies. The daily round is the pattern of worker ant 

activity over time of day. Our aim was to measure 

relationships between different tasks performed on 

colony nest mounds. We measured the following 

tasks: patrolling, nest maintenance, midden work, 

foraging, and convening. The study was performed at 

8 colonies at a field site in central Denver, Colorado. 

We counted numbers of ants performing tasks at 30 

minute time intervals beginning about when colony 

activity began outside of the nest entrance. We 

counted ants using cell counters from the same 

observation point, about 1 meter from the nest 

entrance, at each colony. We also periodically 

measured nest mound surface temperature using an 

infrared temperature gun. We show here that the 

daily round of P. occidentalis is similar to the daily 

round of its congener P. barbatus and that patrolling 

precedes foraging in the daily round. 



Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) 

seed harvesting behavior of the 

Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga 

columbiana) in Crater Lake 

National Park, Oregon 

Bradley Van Anderson, Biology, DC - College of 


Taylor Turner, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Diana F. Tomback, DC - 



Clark’s Nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana) play a 

vital role in the seed dispersal of several pine 

species, including species that have either wingless 

or winged seeds. These birds harvest seeds directly 

from cones and transport the seeds within a 

sublingual pouch to cache sites, where the seeds are 

stored for consumption during the winter and spring. 

The birds fail to recover a portion of the cached 

seeds, and eventually some of remaining seeds 

germinate and produce seedlings. Prior to this study, 

it has not been clearly documented if and how Clark’s 

Nutcrackers collect seeds from sugar pines (PInus 

lambertiana). By directly observing nutcrackers in 

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, we have been 

able to confirm that nutcrackers do harvest sugar 

pine seeds. Nutcrackers were observed collecting 

seeds directly from cones and filling their sublingual 

pouches, suggesting that the sugar pine seeds are 

later cached in another location. We also gathered 

data on behavior of the birds while collecting seeds, 

harvest rates, number of seeds taken per visit, and 

cone opening phenology. Thus, we conclude that 

Clark’s Nutcrackers play some role in the dispersal of 

sugar pine seeds and those seeds are at least part of 

the diet of the nutcrackers. 

Copper Nickel 

Anisetta Valdez, English, DC - College of Liberal 


Julia Houk, English, DC - College of Liberal Arts and 

Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jake Adam York, DC - 



Copper Nickel is an innovative journal of art and 

literature, edited and produced through studentteacher 

collaboration, combining elements of national 

literary journals and traditional campus literary 

magazines. 



Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: 

Mechanisms of Injury and Repair in 

an Experimental Model of BPD 

Deandra Walker, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Steven Abman , AMC - School 

of Medicine 


Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung 

disease in premature infants. Despite marked 

improvements in survival of premature newborns, 

BPD remains a cause of long-lasting respiratory 

morbidity in those patients. BPD is characterized by 

decreased vascular development and alveolar 

simplification as a result of lung injury during critical 

periods of lung development. Mechanisms that cause 

abnormal lung development in BPD and interventions 

that aim to improve the outcome of BPD are poorly 

understood. Besides supportive care there is no 

effective remedy to preserve normal lung growth in 

premature infants with high risk of BPD. It has been 

demonstrated that intrauterine exposure to E. coli 

endotoxin in fetuses causes BPD-like lung structure 

in preterm sheep, including impaired development of 

pulmonary blood vessels and disruption of the 

airspace formation. Examining the mechanisms of 

impairment in alveolar and pulmonary vascular 

growth in chorioamnionitis induced BPD may provide 

insights into novel therapies for the preservation of 

normal lung growth in preterm infants. My research 

with Dr. Jen-Ruey Tang aims to determine the 

independent and combined effects of antenatal 

endotoxin and postnatal hyperoxia on lung structure 

in neonatal rats, specifically whether combined 

exposures to both stimuli worsen lung structure. 

CAM Records 

Drew Wiltjer, MEIS, DC - College of Arts and Media 

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Storm Gloor, DC - College of 



Our independent, student-run record label maintains 

its mission of highlighting great Colorado music with 

the release of From These Words, this time featuring 

three premier artists currently based in the Denver 

area. Since 1999, the students and professors of 

CAM Records, as part of the College of Arts and 

Media at the University of Colorado-Denver, have as 

a class created and released albums as a creative 

educational experience and in support of their 

community. As the music industry has transitioned, 

so has the course. But our goal of working together in 

a hands-on learning environment has remained the 

same. We’re very proud of our latest project, which 

represents the teamwork of many of our students. 

We're also proud of the Autumn Film, John Common, 

and the Dualistics, three uniquely talented artists 

whose music we know you’ll enjoy as you experience 

From These Words. 



Culture Change as an Innovation in 

the Denver Elder Housing 

Community: A Cost/Benefit 

Analysis 

Rebecca Wood, Sociology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Karl Flaming, DC - College of 



This project is a qualitative study of the Culture 

Change Movement in three senior housing facilities in 

the Denver area. The purpose of this study is to 

generate a cost/benefit analysis of the Culture 

Change Movement in order to determine the 

effectiveness of this approach. The results of this 

study will come from one-on- one field study 

interviews with administrative staff at each of the 

three sites. Each site will be representative of a 

different component found in the Dispersion of 

Innovation Theory, namely: early adopters, the early 

and/or late majority, and the laggards. In addition, I 

will be interviewing a state surveyor from the 

Colorado Department of Public Health and 

Environment about regulatory standards and culture 

change compliance. 



The Relationship between 

Hydrocarbons and Aggression in 

T. caespitum 

Nathanael Bannon, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michael Greene, DC - 



The Pavement Ant (Tetramorium caespitum) is a 

structural and an agricultural pest notorious for 

aggression towards conspecific non-nestmate and 

heterospecific ants. Nestmate and species 

recognition in T. caespitum is informed by cues 

present in cuticular hydrocarbons (Sano and 

Greene, unpublished data). Using multivariate linear 

regression, I found that molecule 7 (t-value 2.001, p- 

value 0.06265), molecule 8 (t-value -1.788, p-value 

0.09265), and molecule 16 (t-value -2.542, p-value 

0.02177) are the best predictors of aggression. The 

p-value for our model was 0.4182 and multiple R- 

squared was 0.5262. The same data was then 

analyzed using univariate linear regression. These 

results indicate that no single molecule is a good 

predictor of aggression. We then examined the 

relationship between whole structural classes and 

aggression. In order to determine the relative 

significance of each of the structural classes, data 

was analyzed using the Tukey-Kramer method. The 

results indicate that all structural classes are equally 

important in nestmate recognition. N-alkanes had a 

mean aggression index of 4.4375, methyl-branched 

alkanes had a mean aggression index of 4.5625, 

and n-alkenes had a mean aggression index of 

4.6250. 

The Relationship between 

Whitebark Pine Health, Cone 

Production, and Seed Dispersal by 

Clark’s Nutcrackers: What is the 

Potential for Natural 

Regeneration? 

Lauren Barringer, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Diana Tomback, DC - 



Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) in the northern 

Rocky Mountains is declining as a result of infection 

by Cronartium ribicola, the invasive pathogen 

causing white pine blister rust, and also from 

mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonas ponderosae). 

Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) is the 

primary seed disperser for whitebark pine. Previous 

work shows that Clark’s nutcrackers make fewer 

visits to damaged forests than to healthier forests 

when seeds are ripe. We tested predictions relating 

live stand basal area and cone production to the 

likelihood of nutcrackers making dispersal forays. In 

2008, we established 10 transects with two forest 

health subplots per transect in four national parks. 

Data from 2008 show whitebark pine in Glacier and 

Waterton Lakes National Parks to have higher blister 

rust infection (33% and 70%, respectively), whereas 

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks had 

lower blister rust infection levels (

Dynamic Interaction: A 

Measurement Scale Development 

and Empirical Validation. 

Brandon Beemer, PhD Computer Science and 

Information Systems, DC - Business School 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dawn G. Gregg, DC - 



In response to the need for knowledge-based 

support in unstructured domains, researchers and 

practitioners have begun developing systems that 

mesh the traditional attributes of knowledge based 

systems (KBS) and decision support system (DSS). 

One such attribute being applied to KBS is dynamic 

interaction. In an effort to provide a mechanism that 

will enable researchers to quantify this system 

attribute, and enable practitioners to prescribe the 

needed aspects of dynamic interaction in a specific 

application, a measurement scale was developed 

and empirically evaluated. Control theory was used 

to provide the theoretical underpinnings of dynamic 

interaction and to identify its conceptual substrata. A 

pretest and exploratory study was then conducted to 

refine scale items that were derived from IS 

literature. A confirmatory study was then conducted 

to evaluate the nomological validity of the 

measurement scale. 


Importance of the Basic Helix- 

Loop-Helix Transcription Factor 

Hand2 in Craniofacial 

Development 

Nicholas Bennetts, Dentistry, AMC - School of 

Dental Medicine 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Clouthier, AMC - 

School of Dental Medicine 


Proper development of craniofacial tissues depends 

largely upon the formation, migration, differentiation, 

and survival of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells 

during embryogenesis. Within the first mandibular 

pharyngeal arch, CNC cell communication with 

surrounding tissues set up hierarchical signaling 

cascades, mediated by transcription factors, that 

direct correct spatiotemporal formation of the adult 

facial skeleton. Objective: To understand the 

function of the transcription factor Hand2 that 

mediates these signaling cascades and that could 

someday lead to treatment options for facial defects. 

While loss of Hand2 in zebrafish leads to 

craniofacial defects, loss of Hand2 in mice leads to 

early embryonic lethality from vascular defects, 

precluding further analysis. To address this problem, 

we have used Cre-loxP technology to create 

Hand2fl/fl;Wnt1-Cre embryos in which the Hand2 

gene is only inactivated in CNC cells, permitting 

analysis of its function in skull development. 

Hypothesis: Hand2 is a central regulator of 

mandibular arch development. Results: We find that 

Hand2 mutants exhibit lower jaw defects including 

mandibular hypoplasia and submandibular gland 

absence. Conclusions: These findings suggest that 

Hand2 promotes lower jaw formation through 

maintenance of distal mandibular arch gene 

expression, with Hand2 loss resulting in upregulation 

of maxillary gene expression in the distal domain. 

Support: NIH/NIDCR DE14181. 



Physician’s Attitudes and 

Practices on Overweight/Obesity 

Kathryn Bird, Public Health, AMC - Colorado 

School of Public Health 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Carolyn DiGuiseppi, AMC - 

Colorado School of Public Health 


Background: Physicians play important roles in 

identifying and treating overweight/obesity. 

However, inconsistent physician management of this 

condition has been reported. Objective: 

Understanding physician attitudes and practices for 

overweight/obesity management can inform the 

health department about barriers and gaps that may 

require future intervention. Methods: We surveyed 

100 randomly selected primary care physicians in 

Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties, asking 

about diagnosis, treatment, and barriers to 

addressing overweight/obesity. Frequencies, and 

differences by specialty, gender, and years in 

practice, will be described. Preliminary Results: The 

54 respondents to date were 62% male, 49% family 

physicians, 74% group practice, and in practice 17 

years on average. 87% check for obesity, and 70% 

(80% females, 64% males) tell overweight patients 

they have a weight problem, most of the time. Most 

common treatments were counseling on physical 

activity (84%) and nutrition (75%). Lack of patient 

motivation was the most common barrier reported 

(59% of physicians). Most physicians felt their 

knowledge was sufficient for counseling on nutrition 

(85%) and physical activity (95%). Only 48% (39% of 

male and 60% of female physicians) base their 

management on existing clinical guidelines. 

Conclusion: Promoting evidence-based guidelines 

and improving physicians’ skills in motivating 

patients to lose weight may improve care. 

A Role for Hand2 in Cell Survival 

during Facial Development 

Jonathan Bishop, Dental Medicine, AMC - School 

of Dental Medicine 




Craniofacial structures are derived from cranial 

neural crest cells (NCCs). One factor directing NCC 

development in the first pharyngeal arch is the 

transcription factor Hand2. Complete inactivation of 

Hand2 in mice results in almost complete NCC 

apoptosis (cell death) within the pharyngeal arches 

by embryonic day (E)10.0, though this finding has 

resulted in a long-standing controversy, as cell death 

could either be due to a direct requirement for 

Hand2 in NCC survival or result from decreased 

embryo viability. Objective: To determine whether 

loss of Hand2 specifically in NCCs results in wide 

spread apoptosis and changes in proliferation within 

the pharyngeal arches of mouse embryos. Methods: 

To address the role of Hand2 in NCC survival, we 

inactivated Hand2 specifically in NCCs. Embryos 

were then collected at E10.5, E11.5 and E12.5. 

Sections were examined for apoptosis, cell 

proliferation, and general histology. Results and 

Conclusion: We find that loss of Hand2 does result 

in a moderate increase in arch apoptosis and 

suggests that absence of Hand2 leads to incorrect 

patterning and hence cell death. However, Hand2 is 

not an overall cell survival signal for all NCCs within 

the pharyngeal arches. In contrast, cell proliferation 

is less affected. 

38 

2009 Research and Creative Activities Symposium


Aldh7a1 Is a Novel Aldehyde 

Dehydrogenase with Multiple 

Functions Including Protection 

from Oxidative Stress 

Chad Brocker, Molecular Toxicology, AMC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Vasilis Vasiliou, AMC - 

School of Pharmacy 


ALDH7A1 is a novel aldehyde dehydrogenase 

(ALDH) that plays a major role in lysine catabolism 

through the NAD+ dependent conversion of α- 

aminoadipic semialdehyde (AAS) to α-aminoadipic 

acid (AAA). In humans, deleterious mutations in 

ALDH7A1 are responsible for Pyridoxine-Dependent 

Epilepsy (PDE). The aim of this study is to 

characterize the subcellular localization, tissue 

distribution, biochemical properties and functions of 

mammalian ALDH7A1. Purified human ALDH7A1 

protein is catalytically active with various aldehyde 

substrates. Western blot analyses revealed high 

expression of ALDH7A1 protein in mouse kidney, 

liver, pancreas and brain. Low expression was 

observed in stomach, testes and bladder. 

Subcellular fractionation studies, 

immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy 

revealed ALDH7A1 protein is found in the cytosol, 

nucleus and mitochondria. Sequence analysis and 

RT-PCR identified a second novel transcriptional 

variant, which contains a mitochondrial targeting 

sequence. Both ALDH7A1 transcript variants are 

expressed at different levels in a tissue specific 

manner. The mitochondrial variant is the 

predominant transcript found in the liver, kidney, 

stomach and brain. Finally, ALDH7A1 protects 

against osmotic stress-induced apoptosis. In 

conclusion, ALDH7A1 is a novel ALDH found in the 

cytosol, nucleus and mitochondria, which along with 

its substrate specificities suggest potentially tissueand 

cell-specific biological roles against oxidative 

damage. 

Clogging Potential of Pervious 

Concrete 

Chelsea Campbell, Environmental Science, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Mays, DC - College of 

Engineering and Applied Science 


Clogging Potential of Pervious Concrete Chelsea 

Campbell1 J. Patrick Coughlin2,3 David C. Mays2 

April 2009 Pervious concrete is a resource for urban 

development due to its potential ability to reduce 

runoff and improve water quality. However, clogging 

may be a limiting factor. The purpose of this study is 

to quantify the possible clogging for a saturated 

pervious concrete system, designed to replicate 

real-world conditions. The pervious concrete sits on 

top of two fill layers of Colorado Department of 

Transportation (CDOT) sand and CDOT base 

course. Particle size analysis was performed on the 

CDOT materials to determine the characteristics of 

the underlying materials. By measuring the volume 

of displaced water, the porosity of the pervious 

concrete was found to be approximately 25-30%. In 

a modified permeameter test, results were 

inconclusive due to the high Reynolds number. With 

a Reynolds number higher than 10, Darcy’s Law 

cannot be applied to the system, so the hydraulic 

conductivity cannot be determined. Instead, by 

measuring differences in hydraulic head between 

the layers within the system, clogging can be 

quantified. The clogging agents used are sand and 

clay. This poster will present these clogging results 

in terms of design and application to real-world 

conditions. 



Developing a Problem Space for 

Exploring the Educational 

Experiences of Immigrant Children 

from China: Language, Culture, 

and Learning 

Ya-Wen Chang, EDLI, DC - School of Education 

and Human Development 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sheila M. Shannon, DC - 

School of Education and Human Development 


Language rights and the guarantee of equal 

educational access have been denied to certain 

minority immigrant children (Shannon, 1999). 

Included in this group are immigrant children from 

China who are at risk of school failure (Doan, 2006). 

For a variety of reasons, the educational needs of 

Chinese immigrant students have received very little 

attention (Wing, 2007). Without an appropriate 

education guiding them and helping them develop 

an attitude of respect toward their own culture and 

language, an immigrant child needs more strength to 

fight the hegemony of English and to be able to 

continue learning their own language. Therefore, I 

will develop a problem space to help me explore the 

issue of denied language rights and the subsequent 

loss of equal educational access to new immigrant 

children from China immersed in English in U.S. 

public schools. I will examine the factors that 

contribute to this problem, such as, the hegemony of 

English, the model minority myth, and the lack of 

bilingual education. From the data gathered, I will be 

able to examine these Chinese children’s learning 

experience in the U.S.; at the same time I will 

investigate if their language rights and access to 

education are honored. 

Induction of Cell Death By 

Receptor Expressed In Lymphoid 

Tissue, A Recently Identified 

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 

Matt Checketts, Dental Medicine, AMC - School of 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Cusick, AMC - School 

of Dental Medicine 


Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors (TNFR) induce 

multiple cellular responses. RELT (Receptor 

Expressed in Lymphoid Tissues) is A new TNFR 

whose function is largely unknown. Previous results 

suggest RELT induces cell death (CD) in human 

epithelial cells (HECs). Objectives: Define portion of 

RELT protein required to induce CD in HECs. 

Methods: Examined ability of RELT deletion mutants 

to induce CD in HECs. Performed mutagenesis of 

RELT gene using site-directed mutagenesis and 

transformation of mutated plasmids into E. coli cells. 

Plasmid DNA isolated and DNA sequencing verified 

mutant constructs creation. Transient transfection of 

HEK-293 cells used to examine the effect of 

expressing mutant RELT constructs. CD assayed by 

X-gal and TUNEL. Expression of wild-type RELT 

and Caspase-8 were positive controls, expression of 

empty plasmid vector was negative control. Western 

blots confirmed expression of mutants. Results: Four 

intracellular RELT deletion mutants created and 

used in combination with previous collection of 

RELT mutants. Verified expression of most proteins. 

Mutant constructs retained varying abilities to induce 

apoptosis morphology and DNA fragmentation in 

HEK cells. Conclusion: Expression of RELT in HEK- 

293 cells induces apoptotic morphology and DNA 

fragmentation. Results suggest there might not be 

one single death domain in RELT. Support: 

NIH/NIDCR U24 DE016502 

40 



Automation of Web Applications 

and Iterative Searching for Post- 

Translational Modifications 

Simon Chiang, Biomolecular Structure, AMC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kirk Hansen, AMC - 



Data intensive fields like proteomics require 

researchers to interact with a wide variety of 

software that is increasingly web-based. Web 

applications pose special challenges to 

programmers seeking to automate their execution. 

Although web applications provide a relatively 

standard interface to users, ie the web form, the 

programmatic interfaces span numerous protocols 

and frequently do not exist at all. We present Tap- 

Mechanize, a system to easily capture the output of 

web forms for resubmission using a standard 

programatic interface. By capturing web forms into a 

standard format, Tap-Mechanize enables many web 

applications to be used in automated workflows. 

Such workflows drastically reduce the time required 

to analyze large datasets, facilitate reproducibility, 

and enable more complicated techniques to be used 

during analysis. We have used Tap-Mechanize to 

implement iterative searching of MS/MS proteomics 

data. Iterative searching uses a quick, general 

search to filter spectra of unmodified peptides, and 

then performs more time-consuming searches on 

the remaining spectra. Using iterative searching we 

were able identify peptides with post-translational 

modifications (PTMs) that normally are missed. 

These peptides are of particular interest because 

PTMs frequently regulate the function of proteins, 

and are implicated in many disease states. 

Characterizing Forest 

Fragmentation in Relation to 

Coffee Plantations in Mexico 

Katherine Crites, Environmental Sciences, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rafael Moreno, DC - College 



This project aims to characterize forest 

fragmentation patterns in Mexico in relationship to 

coffee plantations throughout the country. By 

building upon research by Dr. Rafael Moreno – 

which has shown the relationship of deforestation in 

Mexico to populated areas – and by utilizing 

geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze 

spatial relationships, we hope to understand more 

fully the role of agriculture in forest fragmentation 

throughout Mexico. Parameters examined will 

include physical characterizations of coffee farms 

such as slope, elevation, aspect, as well as their 

relationship to both current forest fragments and the 

potential for further deforestation. The outcome of 

the research will lead to a better understanding of 

forest fragmentation in Mexico and the role in which 

coffee farms facilitate deforestation, allowing policymakers, 

stakeholders, scientists, and others to utilize 

the land in a more sustainable manner. 



2-Bromoethanamine (BEA) 

Induces Papillary Necrosis by 

Impairing the Function of TonEBP 

under Hypertonic Stress in Kidney 

Cells 

Amanda Crunk, molecular biology, AMC - Graduate 

School 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Uwe Christians, AMC - 



Renal papillary necrosis (RPN) may occur as a 

consequence of long-term abuse of nonsteroidal 

antiinflamatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, the 

molecular mechanisms whereby NSAIDs induce 

papillary necrosis are not well-understood.A major 

limitation to the study of RPN pathogenesis is the 

required chronic exposure before clinical detection 

of injury. In the present study, 2-bromoethanamine 

(BEA), a well-known papillotoxic drug, was 

employed to simulate rapid NSAID toxicity using 

inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD3) cells. Since 

TonEBP (Tonicity Enhacer Binding Protein) is a 

transcription factor that is critical to cell survival in 

hypertonic conditions, we undertook experiments to 

examine the effect of BEA on TonEBP expression. 

Exposure of cells to 10 μM BEA resulted in a 

substantial reduction in cell viability, TonEBP protein 

expression and nuclear translocation after 24 hours 

of hypertonic stress. Furthermore, hypertonicity 

induced expression of TonEBP target genes was 

markedly blunted in BEA treated cells. Finally, we 

found a substantial decrease in TonEBP expression 

in medullary kidney tissues from mice injected with a 

single IP dose of BEA.Our data therefore supports 

the notion that TonEBP is a potential target for BEA 

and possibly other nephrotoxins leading to the 

process of papillary necrosis. 

Familial Idiopathic Scoliosis in 

Males: Localization to 

Chromosome 22q 

Jeffrey Dunn, MD, AMC - School of Medicine 

Shane Cook, MD, AMC - School of Medicine 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nancy Hadley-Miller, AMC - 



Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a structural lateral curve of 

the spine of ≥10° that occurs in otherwise normal 

individuals, the most severe curves affecting 

females. Scoliosis is genetic in nature; however, 

many genes affect its expression and variability. The 

current study identifies a particular group of families 

with male affected individuals. Male individuals with 

scoliosis are known to be more rigid, have a higher 

prevalence of thoracic curves, and have curve 

progression that often persists beyond that of 

females. The goal of this study was to examine the 

genetic etiology of scoliosis in males with a 

curvature of ≥30°. Under IRB approval, families with 

IS were identified and blood samples with genomic 

DNA were obtained. All individuals underwent 

genomic screening. Linkage analyses identified a 

subgroup of males diagnosed with ≥30° idiopathic 

spinal curvature in adolescence. Analyses of this 

subgroup revealed very significant p-values for 

markers on chromosome 22q. This area of 

chromosome 22 is associated with several 

candidate genes. Most notable is the deletion at 

22q11.2, associated with the velo-cardio-facial 

syndrome and implicated in musculoskeletal 

disorders including scoliosis. Future goals include 

the finer mapping of this area of chromosome 22q. 

42 



The Roles of HIF1 and HIF2 in 

Head and Neck Cancer 

Lindsey Dundas, Dentistry, AMC - School of Dental 

Medicine 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Cheng-Jun Hu, AMC - 



Objectives: Hypoxia-inducible factors HIF1 and HIF2 

play important roles in the progression of several 

solid tumors including liver and kidney. However, the 

role of HIF1 and HIF2 in head and neck (HN) cancer 

progression is still not clear. This study is to 

determine if HIF1 and HIF2 are expressed, and the 

individual role of HIF1 and HIF2 in HN cancer 

growth. Results: Using quantitative PCR, we 

determined that both HIF1 and HIF2 mRNA are 

expressed in all HN cancer lines we analyzed. 

Interestingly, UMSCC22B and HN-31 cell lines 

exhibited hypoxic induction of HIF1 and HIF2 mRNA 

expression. Consistent with HIF mRNA data, HIF 

proteins were detected in all HN cells cultured under 

hypoxia. To study the individual role of HIF1 and 

HIF2, we knocked down HIF1 or HIF2 mRNA in HN- 

31 cells using siRNA technology. We found that 

HIF1 was required for hypoxic induction of PKG 

(glucose metabolism) while both HIF1 and HIF2 

likely activate ADM (angiogenesis). Conclusions: 1) 

HN cancer cells express both HIF1 and HIF2; 2) 

Some HN cancers exhibit hypoxia induction of HIF1 

and HIF2 mRNA; 3) Our preliminary data also 

supports a distinct role of HIF1 and HIF2 in gene 

regulation and HN cancer progression. 

Annual Variation for Effective 

Pollination in Penstemon degeneri 

Crosswhite (Plantaginaceae), a 

Rare Colorado Endemic 

Carol English, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

James Sommers Saunders, Biology, DC - College 


Rogan Adams, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Leo Bruederle, DC - College 



Field research addressing pollination biology in 

Penstemon degeneri Crosswhite (Plantaginaceae), 

a rare Colorado endemic, was conducted at three 

sites over two field seasons characterized by 

extreme variation for precipitation. Although overall 

species diversity was similar each year, the visitor 

guild differed dramatically over this period, as did 

effective pollination. Two bumblebee species 

(Apidae) were determined to be highly effective 

pollinators in 2007, yet few bumblebees were 

observed in 2008 and these carried little body pollen 

and no scopal pollen. Mason bees (Megachilidae) 

were also determined to be effective pollinators in 

2007, yet they occurred in relatively low numbers in 

2007 and only at the high elevation site. Mason bees 

were most abundant at all three sites in 2008 and 

were 80% faithful to P. degeneri pollen, carrying 

copious amounts of body pollen. Pseudomasaris 

vespoides, a pollen wasp that has been described 

as being oligolectic for Penstemon, was 

encountered infrequently in 2007, yet it was one of 

the most frequent visitors in 2008. Furthermore, nine 

of ten individuals captured in 2008 carried copious 

amounts of body pollen. These results suggest that 

seasonal precipitation can influence strongly the 

visitor guild, as well as effective pollination in P. 

degeneri. 



Livable Communities 

Steven Foltz, Architecture, DC - College of 

Architecture and Planning 

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Keith Loftin, DC - College of 



The presence of a mixed use, livable development 

embraces the concept of socially sustainability. 

Throughout the 2008-2009 school year, I researched 

the extents to which design impacts individuals of 

diverse social and economic circumstances, ages, 

and abilities. My search led me to work with the 

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and to 

participate in a Livable Communities design 

competition. During the fall semester of 2008, I 

joined the team of housing developers at the 

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to observe 

what action is being taken to extend the benefits of 

sustainable design to transitional housing 

developments for low and extremely low-income 

citizens. Despite the constraints that are associated 

with these buildings, I discovered that the benefits of 

sustainable design are being implemented with great 

success. The challenge for the spring semester of 

2009 was to implement what I learned in a 

completion focused on the design of a livable 

community. I sought to design a mixed use 

development that removes barriers from 

environments in which we work, live, and gather. By 

implementing universal design techniques, I 

designed the building and surrounding landscape to 

facilitate people of varying ages and abilities. 

The Effect of Plasticity in cuticular 

hydrocarbon profiles on the 

collective Decision Making of 

Pavement Ant (Tetramorium 

caespitum) Colonies 

Nathan Frank, biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michael Greene, DC - 



Chemical cues are used by social insects to 

differentiate between members of their own colony 

and individuals belonging to other colonies. Cues 

present in cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have been 

shown to be important in the regulation of social 

insect societies, particularly in ants. The objective of 

my research project is to further elucidate the 

specific factors which influence the composition and 

expression of pavement ant (Tetramorium 

caespitum) colonies’ CHC profile and determine how 

colonies’ CHC profiles can be manipulated to elicit 

aggression responses from former colony mates. 

Changes in CHC profiles will be measured using gas 

chromatography to quantify changes in overall CHC 

composition. In addition to objective measurements 

of CHCs, behavioral assays will be used to 

determine the effects of CHC manipulation on the 

colony itself. The presence of aggression behavior 

and the degree of aggression from former colony 

mates toward individuals in which CHCs have been 

manipulated will be used as a way to measure the 

effects of altered CHCs on the colony. 

44 



Affordable Green Housing 

Aris Garrison, architecture, DC - College of 


Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Rick Sommerfield, DC - 


Activity Type: Graduate Creative Activity 

Can housing be affordable, beautiful and 

sustainable? Greensburg Kansas, destroyed by a F5 

tornado two years ago has asked this question of 

the University of Colorado Denver and we have an 

answer. Using intelligent design and research a 

prototype house has been developed for the town of 

Greensburg. It has presented an elegant low cost 

housing solution for the climate and culture of 

Greensburg. This design embraces passive solar 

design and day lighting while using sustainable 

products and smart contemporary design. It is 

intended to be a starter home for the current and 

future residence of Greensburg. The first phase of 

the project is approximately 750 square feet with 

one bedroom that costs about $70,000. The house 

is design for expansion so it can grow with the 

tenant into a 3 bedroom or 2 bedroom live/work 

space. This gives residence the opportunity to move 

in now and not outgrow their investment while 

adding quality and value to the housing stock in this 

small community. 

Characterizing Optical Properties 

of Photodynamic Therapy 

Sensitizers 

Gregory Glazner, EE, DC - College of Engineering 

and Applied Science 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Zheng Huang, AMC - School 

of Medicine 


Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is the combination of 

light with a photosensitizing drug to selectively kill 

targeted cells. It has recently become much more 

important as a treatment for many types of cancers 

including skin, esophageal, lung and breast 

malignancies. It is also used in the treatment of age 

related macular degeneration (AMD) and several 

pre-cancerous conditions. Currently, continuouswave 

lasers (single photon technique) are used to 

perform PDT. Recently, researchers have started to 

use two-photon infrared excitation employing 

ultrafast pulsed lasers for PDT treatment. This has 

several advantages over single photon excitation 

including much better penetration of tissue and 

excellent three-dimensional resolution. Excitation 

volumes created by the ultrafast laser are in the 

range of femtoliters, which gives close to molecular 

level control in treatment. It is important to measure 

the one-photon and two-photon absorption crosssections 

of various photosensitizing drugs which 

describe how well the drug absorbs energy from the 

treatment light to determine treatment parameters. In 

this research we characterize optical properties of 

some known photosensitizers - Photofrin®, Tookad® 

and Foslip® to compare to published results. We 

then investigate a new compound (HMME) to 

determine its one and two photon cross-section and 

absorption and emission characteristics. 



Teachers Voices 

Hilary Greenebaum, EDLI, DC - School of 

Education and Human Development 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Dorothy Garrison Wade, DC - 



The purpose of this phenomenological research 

study is to describe the experiences of the youngest 

cohort of teachers to gain a deeper understanding of 

their work and thus potentially retain them in the 

profession. Currently, a large number of teachers 

leave the field within the first few years. Teacher 

turnover leads to unnecessary financial expenditure, 

organizational instability, low levels of organizational 

pedagogy, and a revolving door of adults in 

students’ lives. While there are a number of studies 

that report on teacher turnover, none found use the 

qualitative method of phenomenology or the 

generational theory of Strauss and Howe (1991, 

1997, 2000) to frame the work. This study describes 

the experiences of six metropolitan teachers who 

teach Reading, Writing, Math, Science to students in 

grades 3-10. The six participants are each described 

by a summary story, five major themes (Professional 

Identity, Affective Reactions, Technology and Social 

Networking, Cultural Implications, and 

Professional/Administrative Supports), and the 

essence: working in a school. Each teacher 

experiences a number of active internal and external 

processes in their work as a teacher; therefore, the 

essence of these particular teachers’ experiences is 

Seeking to Thrive. An abundance of teachers’ 

quotes lends credibility and authenticity to the study. 

Tracking Changes in miRNA 

Expression in Melanoma: A Path 

toward Earlier Diagnosis and 

Targeted Therapies? 

Susan Hammerman, Biology, DC - College of 


Faculty Sponers: Dr. Lynne T. Bemis, School of 

Medicine 

Dr. Aimee Bernard, DC - 



Melanoma is a cutaneous cancer for which early 

detection is critical. Patients in advanced stages 

have poor prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of 

15.5%. MicroRNAs (MiRs) are non-coding 

ribonucleic acid transcripts, between 16 and 29 

nucleotides long. MiR genes have been identified in 

genomic regions subject to chromosomal 

modification in cancer, suggesting MiRs function in 

pathogenesis. MiR gene expression patterns 

indicate trends in diagnosis, staging, and prognosis. 

They have potential as biological markers for 

diagnosis and targeted therapy development. MiR 

alterations in melanoma were the focus of this 

research. An analysis of microarray data to identify 

over-expression of MiRs in three melanoma cell 

lines compared with benign nevi is presented. Based 

upon this assessment, recent findings of the Division 

of Medical Oncology and current literature, we 

selected three MiRs (MiR-15b, MiR- 21 and MiR- 

183) for further evaluation of their role in melanoma 

pathogenesis. Initial results by quantitative real-time 

polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) show in 

additional melanoma cell lines, MiR-21 is highly 

expressed as predicted. We will report on 

expression of other selected MiRs in our final 

analysis. These assays ultimately will be expanded 

to include blood serum from patients with resected 

melanoma, to test for presence of selected MiRs. 

46 



Resonances in Superconducting 

Quantum Interference Device 

Series Array Amplifiers in 

Feedback Operation and at RF 

Frequencies 

Bruce Hines, Electrical Engineering, DC - College 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Martin E. Huber, DC - 



Superconducting Quantum Interference Device 

Series Array Amplifiers (SSAAs) are subject to 

resonances at many different frequencies due to 

coupling between various superconducting 

inductors, parasitic capacitances, and transmission 

line reflections. In one common application, the 

detection and amplification of very small signals by 

operation in feedback mode, resonant peaking 

occurs in the SSAA output. Investigation by use of a 

Vector Network Analyzer and Spice modeling has 

shown that inductive coupling within the SQUID is 

not the cause of this peaking in the transfer function 

and provided insight into the behavior of SSAAs at 

RF frequencies. 



Nuclear Translocation of PKCl in 

Salivary Acinar Cells 

plays a role in nuclear import of PKCδ and whether it 

constitutes a binding site for SH3 containing tyrosine 

kinase. 

Matthew Hockin, DDS, AMC - School of Dental 

Medicine 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mary Reyland, School of 



According to the National Institute for Dental and 

Craniofacial Research, it is estimated that there are 

approximately 40,000 new cases of xerostomia each 

year as a result of irradiation induced damage of the 

salivary gland in head and neck cancer patients. 

Apoptosis contributes to this irradiation induced 

salivary gland damage. Our lab has identified PKCδ, 

a serine/threonine kinase, as a critical regulator of 

salivary epithelial cell apoptosis and mice in which 

the PKCδ gene has been disrupted are protected 

against irradiation induced damage to their salivary 

gland. Previously we have shown that nuclear 

accumulation of PKCδ is required for apoptosis, and 

we have identified a nuclear localization signal 

(NLS) that regulates nuclear import and in turn the 

pro-apoptotic function of PKCδ. Since under basal 

conditions PKCδ is primarily located in the 

cytoplasm, we predict that a second, apoptosis 

specific signal, is also required for nuclear import. 

Our studies show that PKCδ is rapidly 

phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in response to 

apoptotic signals and that phosphorylation on two 

specific tyrosine residues, Y64 and Y155, is required 

for nuclear localization of PKCδ. Thus the overall 

goal of the current studies is to understand how 

tyrosine phosphorylation on these residues 

regulates PKCδ nuclear import. Here we have 

specifically addressed the question of how tyrosine 

kinases interact with PKCδ in response to apoptotic 

signals. Tyrosine kinases interact with other proteins 

via src-homology (SH2 and SH3) domains. 

Sequence analysis has revealed a single putative 

SH3 domain ligand (PxxP) in PKCδ, which overlaps 

the NLS. We hypothesize that in response to 

apoptotic stimuli, a SH3 domain containing tyrosine 

kinase (TK) binds to the PxxP site and 

phosphorylates Y64 and Y155 in the δRD, allowing 

nuclear import of PKCδ. Using site directed 

mutagenesis, and Western blotting analysis we were 

able to show that mutation in the PxxP motif does 

not effect tyrosine phosphorylation of Y64, but 

instead abolished phosphorylation at other critical 

sites in PKCδ that are important for kinase activity. 

Further studies will address whether the PxxP motif 

48 



Lipid-coated Nanoparticles as 

Mimics of Biological Membranes 

for C -Reactive Protein Detection 

Heather Hodges, Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Scott Reed, DC - College of 



C-reactive protein (CRP), a cardiovascular disease 

biomarker, binds to oxidized lipoprotein particles and 

apoptotic cells via phosphocholine (PC) head groups 

within lipid membranes. The affinity of CRP for PC 

increases when the PC becomes oxidized (oxPC). It 

remains a challenge to understand how CRP 

distinguishes between PC and oxPC and how 

spatial distribution of oxPC influences binding. We 

have designed a model system that serves as a 

mimic of nanoscale lipoprotein particles. These 

biomimics consist of PC stabilized gold 

nanoparticles that utilize a rigid metal core to 

support a variable lipid bilayer. This system allows 

for control of shape, size, composition, and 

presentation of PC. In conjunction with a high affinity 

flurophore-labeled RNA sequence specific to CRP 

we are able to assess the chemical and structural 

requirements for the binding of CRP using 

fluorescence anisotropy. Strong CRP binding was 

observed when 10 nm particles were templated with 

PC or a mixture of PC-oxPC. Binding was not 

observed for 30 nm liposomes without nanoparticles 

even when oxPC was present. This indicates that 

CRP recognizes PC head groups at points of high 

curvature whether from PC or oxPC and the 

presence of oxPC alone is not enough to induce 

binding. 

Electricity Generation and 

Treatment of High Strength Animal 

Liquid Waste Using Microbial Fuel 

Cells 

Yun-Hsiang Huang, Civil Engineering, DC - College 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. ZhiYong (Jason) Ren, DC - 



Electricity Generation and Treatment of High 

Strength Animal Liquid Waste Using Microbial Fuel 

Cells Yun-Hsiang Huang, Civil Engineering, College 

of Engineering and Applied Science Faculty Mentor: 

Dr. ZhiYong (Jason) Ren, Civil Engineering, College 

of Engineering and Applied Science Activity Type: 

Graduate Research The treatment of high strength 

animal waste has been a great challenge for both 

industrial and agricultural operations. Microbial fuel 

cells (MFCs) have been shown to have the 

capability of recovering electricity from many organic 

waste streams with high treatment efficiency, but few 

studies focused on high strength animal wastes. 

Concentrated liquid wastes were collected from 

different locations in a local zoo and characterized 

and tested for electricity production in MFCs. High 

concentration of COD (78,000 mg/L), Nitrogen 

(2,860 mg/L), and Total Solids (53,185 mg/L) were 

found in initial samples. To test the potential of 

electricity production, samples were diluted serially, 

neutralized, and applied in single chamber aircathode 

MFCs. In fed-batch mode, electricity began 

to generate after two batches, with the highest 

power density of 3.02E-3 mW/m2. About 87% of 

COD has been removed during the first batch. 

Further studies are underway for improving power 

production and optimizing system performance. 



The Social Construction of the 

International Criminal Tribunal for 

the Former Yugoslavia 

Sheila M. Huss, Public Affairs, DC - School of 

Public Affairs 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Peter deLeon, DC - School of 



This poster presentation illuminates the policy 

design context of the United Nation’s establishment 

of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former 

Yugoslavia (ICTY). Specifically, it applies Schneider 

and Ingram’s (1997) social construction framework 

to the creation of this war crimes tribunal, focusing 

on the negative social construction of the target 

population (individuals responsible for war crimes 

committed during the Balkan War), as well as the 

positive social construction of the actors involved in 

the policy-making. Social construction theory offers 

insights on the background of how the policy 

problem, its influential factors, and the players 

involved came to be defined and consequently, how 

their social constructions affected the 

implementation of the ICTY. Importantly, it 

emphasizes that policies cannot be divorced from 

their instrumental and symbolic consequences, 

consequences that are shaped by how the relevant 

actors in the policy design context are 

conceptualized. 

Misregulation of Dlx5/6 in Hand2 

Mutants Leads to Loss of Tongue 

Francie Hyndman, Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and 

Development, AMC - Graduate School 






Lower jaw development is orchestrated by signaling 

cascades that are regulated temporspatially, and are 

refined through permissive and inhibitory signals. 

We have previously shown that endothelin-A 

receptor signaling is crucial for establishing the 

identity of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells in the 

mandibular arch through a mechanism that involves 

Dlx5 and Dlx6 (Dlx5/6). Dlx5/6 induce expression of 

Hand2, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor. 

Little is known about the function of Hand2 in 

mammalian facial development because Hand2-/- 

embryos die by embryonic day (E) 10.5 from 

vascular failure. To circumvent this lethality, we 

created a conditional targeted Hand2 mouse line 

using a Cre-loxP approach. Using the Wnt1-Cre 

mouse line, we deleted Hand2 within all CNC cells. 

We find that Hand2 conditional knockout mice 

exhibit facial defects that include mandibular 

hypoplasia and loss of tongue (aglossia). Aglossia is 

preceded by aberrant maintenance of Dlx5/6 

expression in the disto-oral mandibular arch 

mesenchyme. In vitro studies show that Hand2 

represses the Dlx5/6 pharyngeal arch-specific 

enhancer. Thus, Hand2 normally ensures normal 

tongue development by repressing Dlx5/6 

expression within the disto-oral mandibular arch. In 

the absence of Hand2, Dlx5/6 expression is 

maintained and ectopically activates an osteogenic 

program at the expense of a tongue development 

program. 

50 



Platelet Gene Expression in Acute 

Coronary Syndrome 

prognostic tool for a future ACS event in 

atherosclerosis risk factor-based subsets of CAD 

patients. 

Anna Ivashchenko, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Calverly, AMC - 



Background: Platelets play a major role in the 

pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome. 

Recent evidence reveals megakaryocyte-derived 

platelet pre-mRNA is spliced to mRNA and then 

translated into functional proteins in response to 

external stimulation through surface receptor 

activation and outside-in signaling. Prior studies 

have shown platelet transcriptome data correlates 

well with proteomic data. Hypothesis: We 

hypothesized that a subset of 

megakaryocyte/platelet genes will be found to be 

significantly over or underexpressed in ACS 

compared with stable CAD, and for this reason 

weâ€ll be able to characterize a gene expression 

profile for further study. Methods: A pilot study has 

been conducted incorporating microarray studies 

employing an Affymetrix exon array that provides 

genomic information beyond classical gene 

expression, namely the analysis of pre-mRNA 

alternative splicing. This tool is particularly useful in 

this setting since no transcription takes place in the 

anucleate platelet as compared with pre-mRNA 

splicing and translation that do take place. Clinical 

and laboratory-based atherosclerosis risk factors 

were tabulated in both patient groups. Results: Initial 

analysis reveals an expression profile that includes 

79 statistically over- or underexpressed genes that 

has been developed from five patients with ACS 

compared with four controls with stable CAD in a 

university hospital setting. Despite the small sample 

number currently available, unsupervised 

hierarchical clustering leads to a heat map in which 

complete separation of the two sets takes place 

based on respective expression profiles. 

Representative differentially expressed genes 

include those whose protein products play roles in 

platelet adhesion and activation, inflammation, 

fibrinolysis, and extracellular matrix remodeling 

among others. Conclusion: Though preliminary, our 

study reveals a distinct platelet-based gene 

expression signature that differentiates between 

those with ACS and stable CAD. Efforts are 

underway to increase the number of study subjects 

and thus validate a smaller set of high ranking genes 

that would carry the potential to be used as a 



Detecting Mercury Fluorescence 

Signature through Two-Photon 

Excitation 

Todd Johnson, MSEE, DC - College of Engineering 

and Applied Science 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Tim Lei, DC - College of 

Engineering and Applied Science 


Detecting Mercury Fluorescence Signature through 

Two-Photon Excitation Mercury has a wide 

occurrence in the environment. The toxicological 

effects of mercury and its compounds on biological 

organisms and the environment have been notably 

recognized. Thus, developing low cost methods to 

detect Mercury has great impact in environment 

protection. The current methods of mercury 

detection require expensive laser systems to 

generate optical photons in the UV range. In this 

project, a much simplified approach is taken in which 

low cost UV LEDs are used as our light sources for 

mercury detection. Distinct optical fluorescence of 

elemental Mercury in 546nm can be observed if the 

Mercury atom is first excited by 250nm and 

subsequently by 405nm photons. Since the 

excitation and fluorescence wavelengths are so 

distinctive and specific, Mercury concentration on 

surfaces can be unambiguously determined by 

measuring the fluorescence intensity. This research 

will show the experimentation involved, apparatus 

constructed, evidence collected, results formulated, 

and future work to be done in conjunction with this 

project. A method will be developed to quantify the 

amount of mercury in various substances in a 

nondestructive manner which is an improvement 

over existing methods by means of size, process, 

and cost. 

The Effects on the Modulation of 

Cav1.2 When AKAP79/150 is 

Covalently Linked to Calcineurin 

Jeffery Juergens, Pharmacology, AMC - Graduate 

School 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. William A. Sather, AMC - 



L-type voltage gated calcium channels (LTCCs) are 

pores in the plasma membrane of excitable cells that 

allow calcium ions to pass into the cell in response 

to an action potential. In neurons, the influx of 

calcium specifically through the LTCC Cav1.2 

causes the dephosphorylation of the transcription 

factor, NFATc4. The specificity of signaling in this 

system is maintained by direct association of A- 

kinase anchoring protein 79/150 (AKAP 79/150) with 

Cav1.2. AKAP79/150 anchors the calcium-sensitive 

phosphatase, calcineurin (CaN), near the channel 

where it is poised to respond to the calcium that is 

coming through the pore and subsequently 

dephosphorylate NFATc4. We have made 

constructs consisting of AKAP79/150 that is tethered 

to CaN by a glycine linker. This construct can be 

made so that the endogenous CaN is no longer 

anchored and is replaced by the tethered CaN. In 

this way, diffusion of activated CaN away from the 

channel is restricted and the location of NFATc4 

dephosporylation can be determined. Our goal is to 

establish that the tethered construct functions 

properly by measuring its direct affects on the 

channel. Proper CaN-dependent modulation of 

calcium current will indicate that the construct may 

be a useful tool to study NFATc4 dephosphorylation. 

52 



Ensuring Educational Continuity 

for First Generation College 

Students 

Sajit Kabadi, E.D.L.I, DC - School of Education and 

Human Development 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sheila Shannon, DC - School 

of Education and Human Development 


Abstract In accordance with the increasing number 

of first generation college students there is a need 

for more awareness, attention, and action to take 

place to further address the challenges facing many 

of these students in successfully acquiring a college 

degree. This must be perceived as an ongoing 

process that takes into serious consideration the 

quality of education these students receive at the 

elementary and secondary level leading up to 

college. By establishing collaborative opportunities, 

like the Regis University/Arrupe Jesuit High School 

Partnership, educational institutions can address the 

needs of first gen students most effectively and 

efficiently by maintaining the educational continuity 

so needed for many of these students in their 

educational journeys. Forming these types of 

educational partnerships can promote this 

educational continuity for first gen students is the 

conceptual framework from which first generation 

college student experiences will be explored at this 

symposium. 

Using Targeted Proteomics to 

Assess the Impact of Sirtuins on 

Liver Metabolism in Obesity 

Aga Kendrick, Chemistry, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Karen Jonscher, AMC - 



Using targeted proteomics to assess the impact of 

sirtuins on liver metabolism in obesity Agnieszka 

Kendrick, Mahua Choudhury, Mizanoor Rahman, 

Jed Friedman and Karen R. Jonscher Sirtuins (SirT) 

are NAD-dependent deacetylases that, in caloricrestricted 

models, have been linked to extended 

lifespan. SirT1 deacetylates transcription factors and 

increased activity is consistent with global effects on 

energy metabolism, especially gluconeogenesis and 

lipogenesis. Here we investigate the consequences 

of SirT activity in a model of obesity. Livers from 

mice fed either control or high fat diet were 

harvested and homogenized. SirT1 and 3 levels and 

activity were measured in cell lysates by Western 

blot and fluorescence assays. Proteins modified by 

lysine acetylation were immunoprecipitated with antiacetyllysine 

antibody; they were then separated by 

one dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified 

using tandem mass spectrometry. Changes in 

concentration and acetylation of identified proteins 

were further investigated using immunoaffinity 

techniques. Mice on the HF diet became obese, with 

fatty livers and increased protein acetylation. Most 

identified proteins were mitochondrial, with important 

roles in cellular metabolism. Others are involved in 

redox and stress responses. Acetylation of these 

proteins could impact their function, influencing the 

ability of obese mice to modulate oxidative stress, 

gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. 



Molecular Profiling of Bacterial 

Communities Associated with 

Mining Impacted Sediments 

Matthew Kester, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Timberley Roane, DC - 



Throughout Colorado’s history, mining activities 

have played a key role in the state’s development. 

We are only now understanding the impact that 

mining activities have on our environment. Our work 

employs a multi-tiered approach to assessing the 

functionality of microbial community structure as an 

indicator of significant metal toxicity. Due to the 

intimate relationship that microorganisms have with 

their environment, microbial community composition 

offers unique insight into the overall ecological 

impacts of metal contamination on aquatic 

sediments. This investigation uses molecular 

methodologies such as denaturing gradient gel 

electrophoresis (DGGE), cloning, and Phylochip 

bacterial microarrays to provide data suggesting 

distinct microbial communities are present in metal 

impacted versus un-impacted study sites. Analysis 

of the readily exchangeable metal content of the 

impacted sediments revealed ppm or ppb levels of 

many metals such as Cu, Pb, and Zn. Initial 

molecular identification has determined members of 

the bacterial families Acidobacteriaceae and 

Desulfovibrionaceae, and members of the class 

Cyanobacteria associated with the study sites. 

Moreover, the presence of Archaea bacteria has 

contributed to observed diversity differences among 

the metal-impacted sediments. Reliable microbial 

community profiles predictive of metal-contamination 

will provide greater use of microorganisms as 

indicators of metal toxicity in aquatic sediments. 

Technology Training of Internal 

Auditors: Impact of Advanced 

Feature Technology 

Hyo-Jeong Kim, CSIS, DC - Business School 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michael Mannino, DC - 



Although various information technologies have 

been studied with training research, the study of 

specific technology features for professional groups 

employing information technologies such as internal 

auditors (IA) has been limited. To address this gap, I 

extend IT training research with technology features 

among IA professionals and test the model using a 

sample of internal auditors provided by the Institute 

of Internal Auditors (IIA). This study tests the effect 

of advanced feature training on perceived 

usefulness, perceived of ease of use, system usage, 

computer self-efficacy, and performance at both 

feature and software level. I expect that the 

advanced feature training increases perceived 

usefulness, perceived ease of use, and computer 

self-efficacy at both feature and software level, and 

increases the performance of audit tasks. Advanced 

feature training is expected to have more influence 

on perceived ease of use than perceived usefulness 

and have more effect on feature acceptance and 

feature self-efficacy than software acceptance and 

software self-efficacy. I also expect that feature 

acceptance and feature self-efficacy is positively 

associated with software acceptance and software 

self-efficacy. 

54 



Use of NMR to Define CR2:C3d 

Interactions in Solution Reveals 

Dual SCR1-2 Interface with C3d: 

Confirmation Using a Novel 

Ligand-Selective Inhibitory Peptide 

James Kovacs, Biomolecular Structure, AMC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. V. Michael Holers, AMC - 



Complement receptor 2 (CR2) is a cell membrane 

protein, with 15 or 16 extracellular short consensus 

repeats (SCRs), that promotes B cell responses and 

bridges innate and acquired immunity. SCRs 1 and 

2 mediate the interaction of CR2 with its four known 

ligands (C3d, EBV gp350, IFN-alpha, CD23). 

Inhibitory mAbs against SCR1-2 block binding of all 

ligands. To develop ligand-specific inhibitors that 

would also assist in identifying residues unique to 

each receptor-ligand interaction, phage were 

selected from random libraries by panning with 

recombinant SCR1-2, followed by specific liganddriven 

elution. Derived peptides were tested by 

competition ELISA. One peptide, C3dp1, exhibited 

ligand specific inhibition at mid-micromolar IC50. 

C3d was titrated into 15N labeled SCR1-2, which 

revealed chemical shift changes indicative of 

specific inter-molecular interactions. Chemical shift 

changes were mapped onto the crystal structure of 

SCR1-2. With regard to C3d, the binding surface 

includes regions of SCR1, SCR2 and the inter-SCR 

linker. SCR1 and SCR2 demonstrated distinct 

binding modes. The CR2 binding surface 

incorporating SCR1 is inconsistent with a previous 

X-ray CR2-C3d co-crystal analysis, but consistent 

with other previous results. Titration with C3dp1 

yielded chemical shift overlapping with C3d, 

indicating that C3dp1 interacts at the same CR2 site 

as C3d. 

Quantitation of Energy Recovery 

Potential from Food Wastes Using 

Microbial Fuel Cells and 

Biochemical Methane Potential 

Assays 

Karen Kronoveter, Civil Engineering, DC - College 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Zhiyong (Jason) Ren , DC - 



Organic residential solid wastes represent an 

abundant domestic resource capable of being 

microbially converted to valuable energy products: 

electricity, methane (CH4), and/or hydrogen. To 

characterize the energy recovery potential from 

different residential solid food wastes, samples were 

collected from the Denver International Airport, 

Denver Botanical Gardens, and the Colorado 

Convention Center, characterized, and tested for 

electricity production in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) 

and methane production using biochemical methane 

potential (BMP) assays. Samples, as received (posthomogenization) 

reported COD concentrations 

ranging from 12,900 to 59,800 mg/L, total solids of 

9-36%, and energy content of 7418 – 9028 BTU/lb 

(dry mass basis). Single chamber air-cathode MFCs 

were operated in fed-batch mode and fed with 

adjusted substrate concentration of 2,000 mg/L. The 

same concentration of simulated food waste and 

acetate were used in control reactors. Initial results 

showed sustainable power density from food wastes 

varied from 145 and 170 mW/m2, coupled with a 

COD reduction between 69 and 74%. Energy 

conversion efficiencies obtained were between 2.57 

and 8.67% for the food waste substrates and 

18.20% for the acetate MFC. BMP assays are 

currently being conducted to quantify the potential 

CH4 recovery utilizing the same evolved microbial 

strain and food waste substrates. 



Evaluating a Web-based Test 

Results System at an Urban STI 

Clinic 

Sarah Ling, MPH, epidemiology, AMC - Colorado 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Cornelis Rietmeijer, AMC - 



Providing efficient STI results improves disease 

prognosis and decreases transmission. Several STI 

clinics have suggested that notifying patients of test 

results using online services may increase test result 

receipt and improve efficiency of clinic operations. 

This study evaluates an online test results system at 

an urban STI clinic using information from the STI 

clinic’s electronic medical record system and results 

of a regularly administered survey regarding reasons 

for patients accepting or declining the offer to utilize 

online results. Online results were offered starting on 

June 11th, 2008. Of the 6144 new patients visiting 

the clinic between December 2007 and December 

2008 who were not presumptively treated for 

chlamydia or gonorrhea on the day of the visit, the 

proportion of patients receiving results did not 

increase significantly after the implementation of 

online results. However, the proportion of patients 

calling the clinic for results decreased significantly. 

Though offering online results is not associated with 

improved results receipt, the new system appears to 

increase efficiency of clinic operations by reducing 

staff time spent answering phone calls pertaining to 

test results. 

Children’s Worldviews from China, 

Singapore and the United States: 

Implications for Research, 

Teaching and Learning in Science 

and Science Education 

Austine Luce, Environmental Education, DC - 


Yawen Chang, Chinese equity, DC - School of 

Education and Human Development 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Bryan Shao-Chang Wee, DC 

- School of Education and Human Development 


U.S. classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse 

with unprecedented demographic swings across 

ethnic groups in particular. The elicitation and 

application of students' everyday ideas in the 

curriculum can lead toward equity in the classroom 

by being inclusive of multiple viewpoints while 

concurrently enhancing conceptual scaffolding and 

learning. This paper, therefore, is intended to a) 

explore students’ everyday ideas about the 

environment across different countries (U.S., 

Singapore and China), b) compare and contrast 

these ideas to highlight what students know and 

think about the environment, and c) initiate 

conversations regarding the implications of students’ 

everyday ideas for teaching and learning in 

environmental education. Three main themes, built 

environments, poetry and harmony emerged from 

data analysis. In addition, students in this study 

conceptualized humans and human activities as part 

of the environment. The students’ views of the 

environment support the idea that socio-cultural 

settings play a critical role in learning. 

56 



Motivational Interviewing in Skin 

Cancer Prevention 

Matthew Lugliani, MPH, AMC - Colorado School of 

Public Health 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Robert Dellavalle, AMC - 



A 39 year old female, who presents with a benign 

skin lesion, reveals her concern about skin cancer, 

but is resistant to using sunscreen. We illustrate in 

the accompanying video two behavioral 

interventions the physician can use. The first 

demonstrates traditional direct advice, which may 

not always have the desired behavioral outcome. 

The second technique utilizes Motivational 

Interviewing (MI), which is a patient centered 

counseling style that works by creating ambivalence 

about a specific behavior. In our example, instead of 

telling the patient that she should start using 

sunscreen, which occurs with traditional direct 

advice, the physician works with the patient to 

understand why not using sunscreen is important to 

the patient, the reasons behind the behavior, and 

what the patient knows or does not know about skin 

cancer. The primary goal of MI is to inspire patients 

to elicit their own reasons to change. In practicing 

motivational interviewing, the physician attempts to 

develop a supportive relationship with the patient, to 

avoid lecturing or argument, and to generate 

ambivalence through the use of open-ended 

questions, reflective listening, and summarizations. 

The challenge for the physician is formulating 

questions that tip the ambivalence toward positive 

change. 

Voluntary Environmental 

Programs and Policy Issues 

Laurie Manderino, Public Affairs, DC - School of 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Peter deLeon , DC - School 

of Public Affairs 


Environmental improvements on the part of industry 

often result from government regulations that 

“command” certain action on the part of industry and 

then “control” how well they perform. An alternative 

approach is Voluntary Environmental Agreements 

(VEP), where firms voluntarily commit to make 

certain environmental improvements individually, as 

part of an industry association, or under the 

guidance of a government entity. For example, many 

new initiatives targeted towards climate change 

originate from companies that voluntarily commit to 

reduce their carbon output or “footprint.” This 

presentation will provide an overview of current 

research on VEPS, looking at issues such as: what 

motivates firms to participate, how a VEP structure 

impacts its efficiency and credibility with 

stakeholders (regulators, consumers, suppliers, 

etc.), who monitors compliance of participants, how 

firm environmental performance over time compares 

with VEP commitments, how individual firms may 

benefit from VEP participation and labeling 

themselves “green,” and whether this sends an 

accurate message to the public in all cases. Also 

discussed are the particular considerations for VEPs 

in developing countries, where information flows and 

regulatory oversight capacities may differ from the 

US. 



Individual Differences in Cocaine 

Responsiveness Predict 

Motivation to Self-Administer 

Cocaine in Male Sprague-Dawley 

Rats 

Bruce Mandt, Pharmacology, AMC - Graduate 

School 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nancy Zahniser, AMC - 



Rational: Factors that increase an individual's 

susceptibility to cocaine dependence remain largely 

unknown. We have previously shown that male 

Sprague-Dawley rats can be classified as either low 

or high cocaine responders (LCRs or HCRs, 

respectively) based on their locomotor response to a 

single dose of cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). Further, 

LCR/HCR classification predicts dopamine 

transporter function/inhibition, cocaine-induced 

locomotor sensitization, and cocaine conditioned 

place preference. Objectives: The present study 

assessed LCR/HCR classification and the 

development of locomotor sensitization on 

acquisition of and motivation to self-administer 

cocaine. Results: LCRs/HCRs did not differ in 

acquisition of cocaine self-administration. In a followup 

experiment, repeated intermittent injections of 

cocaine resulted in locomotor sensitization for LCRs, 

but not HCRs; nonetheless, all rats more readily 

acquired cocaine self-administration compared to 

the first experiment. Repeated cocaine pre-exposure 

and LCR/HCR classification predicted break point 

when rats responded for cocaine under a 

progressive ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement, 

but there was no interaction between these 

variables. Conclusions: Although LCR/HCR 

classification did not predict acquisition of cocaine 

self-administration under present conditions, LCR 

rats demonstrated greater responding for cocaine 

after acquisition (PR). Thus, these findings 

demonstrate the relevance of using the LCR/HCR 

distinction as a model when studying susceptibility to 

cocaine dependence. 

Analyzing Accessibility to Forest 

Areas in Mexico 

Susan McPartland, Society and the Environment, 

DC - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rafael Moreno-Sanchez, DC 

- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 


Anthropogenic events such as logging, agriculture 

and the expanding human population influence 

forest fragmentation which severely hinders a forest 

ecosystem’s ability to thrive. Previous studies have 

determined the level and extent of forest 

fragmentation in Mexico. This project aims to test 

how accessibility to forest areas relates to changes 

in extent and fragmentation. Changes will be found 

through a comparison between forest areas in the 

1980s and the early 2000s. Accessibility will be 

considered with the factors of slope, roads 

anthropogenic uses. These factors will be used to 

create a friction surface from which the influences of 

accessibility will be evaluated. Understanding the 

spatial patterns of forests in Mexico is vital for 

effective decision making. The results of this project 

have the potential to facilitate biologists, foresters 

and other stakeholders in the identification and thus 

effective conservation of fragmented forests. 

58 



Bureaucratic Entrepreneurship in 

Education: Case Study 

Scott Mendelsberg, DC - School of Public Affairs 

Rrobin Phelps, DC - School of Public Affairs 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Paul Teske, DC - School of 



Public sector entrepreneurship has become a more 

frequent topic of research and focus of practice. 

Within education it is a sought after, needed, but 

often missing solution to the numerous challenges 

within all aspects of the education system. Yet, as a 

strategy and tactic, bureaucratic entrepreneurship in 

education (BEE) seems lost on policy makers, 

legislators, the numerous blue ribbon committees, 

principals and teachers empowered to improve 

educational effectiveness. In his landmark book “The 

Forging of Bureaucratic Autonomy”, Daniel P. 

Carpenter uses historical case study analysis to 

highlight bureaucratic entrepreneurship in executive 

agencies as varied as the Post Office to Department 

of Interior. In this study we analyze the development 

of the College Now program at Abraham Lincoln 

High School in Denver, Colorado using Carpenter’s 

theory of bureaucratic autonomy. Colorado has the 

unique problem of having the highest educated 

workforce in the country, yet it sends the lowest 

percentage of its own high school students to 

college. College Now was a solution to address this 

“Colorado Paradox”. By applying Carpenter’s theory 

to a state educational institution this research 

contributes to the bureaucratic autonomy theory in 

addition to providing an actionable model to inform 

education policymakers. 

Re-Imagining Healing and 

Childbirth: Visual Narratives in 

Complementary and Alternative 

Medicine 

Katherin Mullin, Medical Anthropology, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Marty Otanez, DC - College 



This study examines the visual narrative of a twentyfour 

year old woman reflecting on teen-pregnancy 

and self-transformation through natural birth. Visual 

narrative is a critical methodological device in the 

anthropology of complementary and alternative 

medicine. Narrative is a scheme that makes 

meaning of one’s experiences and reveals an 

individual’s healing work. Visual narrative, imagery 

such as video or photographs, illuminates individuals 

and voices that are marginalized in the dominant 

discourse of health. The project, Healing Through 

Natural Birth, employs visual narrative analysis to 

assess the components of a natural child birth story 

and promoting complementary and alternative 

medicine. Complementary and alternative modalities 

create a transformation in an individual’s 

understanding of health and wellness. Narrative 

facilitates and reveals the transformation that 

centrally occurs in integrative healing. This study 

shows Allie∗, the birth mother, reflecting on her 

conflicted adolescence, unexpected pregnancy, and 

natural birth, narrating a healing plot that culminates 

in a “realization” of Self. Her digital story re-imagines 

birth as both a biomedical and metaphysical journey 

of transformation, existing simultaneously within and 

outside of Western biomedicine. Digital stories are 

critical methodology in communicating silenced 

situated knowledges, sharing with the public ways to 

modify health care. This study explored digital 

media’s capability for co-collaboration between 

researcher and narrator, using play-back to coanalyze 

selected narrative excerpts. 



Neonatal Resuscitation Capacity in 

Nepal 

Christina Nelson, Epidemiology, AMC - Colorado 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Carolyn DiGuiseppi, AMC - 



Perinatal asphyxia is a major contributor to the 

nearly 4 million neonatal deaths occurring worldwide 

each year in resource-limited settings. Neonatal 

resuscitation is a proven method for preventing 

newborn deaths. There are few published data 

describing neonatal resuscitation capacity in Nepal, 

where neonatal mortality rates are high. We 

evaluated neonatal resuscitation capacity at 

seventeen birth centers in urban and rural Nepal. 

Assessments included standardized interviews of 

healthcare workers and evaluation of newborn 

resuscitation areas. The availability of essential 

resuscitation tools was also recorded. Eleven of the 

17 health centers conducted deliveries on-site. Of 

those, 45% had posted resuscitation algorithms, 

72% had infant warmers, 36% had bulb suctions, 

91% had mechanical suction machines, and 82% 

had BMV devices available. Tertiary hospitals were 

much better equipped compared with smaller health 

centers. None of the healthcare workers who 

attended home deliveries had algorithms, warming 

devices, suction, or BMV devices available. 

Neonatal resuscitation cannot be adequately 

performed without essential equipment. Availability 

of appropriate resuscitation supplies was variable in 

health centers providing delivery services on-site 

and was severely deficient among health staff 

attending to home deliveries. In addition to training 

programs, distribution of neonatal resuscitation 

equipment is a critical priority in this region of Nepal. 

The Power of Words 

Linda Ngo, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts and 

Sciences 

Rubina Pradha, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Brittany Chessman, Environmental Science, DC - 


Craig Dreiling, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rakissa Cribari, DC - College 



Pradha R, Chessman B, Dreiling C, Ngo L What is 

the power of words? Words can bring on emotions 

and stir feelings in humans, but do they have any 

affect on other living organisms such as 

houseplants? This research study was designed to 

determine if words would affect the number and 

length of roots of plant stems/leaves that were rerooted 

in water. Plant leaves were cut off an ordinary 

houseplant and placed in vases of water. Various 

group members tested the effects of positive and 

negative written words that were attached to the 

plant vases versus vases with no words; while 

another group member tested the power of spoken 

words on root growth. In one case some plants that 

received the word “love” did not have root growth 

while the plants receiving the treatment of “hate” 

have roots. In another case the love treatment plants 

grew roots and the ones with no words grew roots 

but they were shorter. The plants tested with spoken 

words had root growth only with positive spoken 

words. The plant leaves treated with hate words 

versus no words have no growth at all. The 

experiment is ongoing but the hypothesis test will be 

conducted on the root growth in time for the 

presentation. 

60 



Dying Wish: A Documentary about 

Stopping Eating and Drinking at 

the End-of-Life 

Francesca Nicosia, Medical Anthropology, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Steven Koester, DC - College 



Dying Wish is a documentary that follows a retired 

surgeon with end-stage cancer who chose to stop 

eating and drinking at the end of his life in order to 

hasten his natural dying process. Given the lack of 

medical or anthropological research on “Voluntary 

Refusal of Food and Fluids,” this film raises 

important clinical, ethical and social issues for 

medicine and palliative care and provides an entry 

point for anthropological explorations of embodied 

subjectivities and sociality of pain and suffering and 

conceptions of “natural” death. As a case study, Dr. 

Miller’s death exposes structural possibilities and 

constraints surrounding issues of “choice” at the end 

of life. Dying Wish is situated at the intersection of 

medicine, bioethics and culture and is being used as 

an educational tool by numerous hospices and 

palliative care organizations, universities and 

medical schools. 

Revealing Landscapes: Using Fire 

as a Design Element in Landscape 

Architecture 

Nieve Nielson, Landscape Architecture, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Austin Allen, DC - College of 



Fire, as a natural element, can be embraced as a 

modern cultural means to shape a landscape and 

give it form, function, familiarity and flux. This 

concept was explored after an intimate study of an 

abandoned feral piece of land near the former 

Stapleton Airport in Denver, CO. A prescribed burn 

partnered with a mowed green break to contain the 

fire was proposed to reveal the inherent, embedded 

qualities of the land. It was predicted that a site 

implementation of rotating seasonal burns would 

unveil a variety of reactions, both ecological as well 

as cultural. Ecologically, the site would regenerate 

new plant growth lending a food source for grazing 

animals, nesting areas for a variety of birds, and 

cover for predatory species. Because the burns 

would take place during alternating times of the 

year, a mosaic motif of warm season grasses next to 

cool season grasses would also emerge. Culturally, 

this colorful planned patchwork pattern would invite 

human curiosity, captivation and recognition. The 

fire itself would attract people allowing for 

unorganized and regulated events alike. The spaces 

left after and before the burns would be inviting for 

educational outings, recreational purposes, as well 

as social gatherings. 



Long-term DBS Effects on 

Parkinson’s Disease Motor 

Symptoms Support 

Neuromodulation as the Possible 

Mechanism of Action of DBS 

Ligia Onofrei, MD, AMC - School of Medicine 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Olga Klepitskaya, AMC - 



Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an 

effective treatment for motor symptoms associated 

with Parkinson disease (PD). The mechanism 

through which DBS works is largely unknown, but 

most likely includes chronic stimulation of inhibition 

of downstream signaling that is normally produced 

by STN. Although a largely symptomatic treatment, 

chronic DBS stimulation may produce long term 

adaptation in the basal ganglia- thalamo-cortical 

pathways, also known as neuromodulation. This 

effect can potentially change the natural course of 

PD by slowing down its progression. Several 

anecdotal observations and case reports illustrate 

this concept. Objective: To review the literature for 

DBS outcomes in order to examine the long-term 

effect of DBS on the progression of PD as measured 

through UPDRS scores. Methods: PubMed was the 

primary search engine. UPDRS scores of subjects 

before treatment and either after treatment without 

stimulation for any length of time or after treatment 

and on stimulation after at least 3-5 years post 

surgery were analyzed. Conclusion: The data 

obtained indicates that the UPDRS scores have 

remained stable which is remarkable in this 

otherwise progressive neurodegenerative disorder. 

The stability of the UPDRS scores supports slow 

disease progression and the hypothesis of 

neuromodulation or long-term adaptation produced 

by chronic STN DBS. 

Natural Disasters and Sustainable 

Livelihoods: Exploring Local 

Capacity in Tarija, Bolivia 

Kate Oviatt, Anthropology, DC - College of Liberal 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Brett, DC - College of 



The incorporation of natural hazards research into 

sustainable livelihood development approaches is 

essential if such development is to be effective. 

Rural populations with livelihoods based on 

agriculture are extremely vulnerable to the effects of 

natural hazards. The effects from a single hazardous 

event can last years, significantly impacting 

livelihood strategies and security. The aim of this 

research is to integrate the fields of natural hazards 

research and sustainable livelihoods development 

frameworks to provide a more comprehensive 

understanding of challenges facing rural 

populations. Research was conducted in five rural 

communities in Tarija, Bolivia from June-August 

2008 in partnership with a Bolivian NGO and local 

governments. Qualitative methods allowed 

exploration of local experiences and perceptions of 

natural hazards, and identified issues of 

vulnerability, those factors that increase a 

population’s exposure to disaster risk, and capacity, 

the strengths and resources that increase a 

population’s ability to withstand the effects of 

disaster. Participants discussed their strategies for 

coping with natural hazard events and the social, 

economic, and geographic factors that influenced 

and often limited their ability to cope. Discussions 

revealed an intimate relationship between 

hazardous events and livelihood security, and 

identified a number of points of articulation between 

exposure to hazards and sustainable development. 

62 



Racial/ethnic and Socioeconomic 

Differences in Five-Year Cancer 

Survival in Colorado, 1999-2002 

Alma Palisoc, Public Health, AMC - Colorado 


Faculty Sponsor: Sara Miller, Public Affairs, DC - 

School of Public Affairs 

Dr. Tim Byers, AMC - Colorado 



Both race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) 

are important factors leading to later stage cancer 

diagnosis and poorer outcomes. The purpose of this 

study is to describe differences in cancer survival in 

Colorado by both race/ethnicity and SES during the 

years 1999 to 2002. We examined data from the 

Colorado Central Cancer Registry in the Colorado 

Department of Public Health and Environment to 

compare five-year cancer survival among 

Coloradans diagnosed with all cancers combined 

and cancers of the breast, colon/rectum, lung, or 

prostate across different racial/ethnic groups and 

SES. Five-year cancer survival for all cancers 

combined was lower among Hispanics (58%) and 

blacks (58%) than among non-Hispanic whites 

(65%). Lower survival was observed among those 

from the lowest SES groups than among the higher 

SES groups (54% vs. 68%). Within each 

racial/ethnic group, those from the lowest SES 

groups were less likely to survive five years after 

diagnosis than were those from the higher SES 

groups. Similar findings were seen for specific 

cancer sites. Surveillance should concentrate on 

both race/ethnicity and SES as factors defining 

cancer disparities. 



Divergence between CRT Non- 

Responder Rates Based on the 

NYHA Class Assessment and 6- 

Minute Hall Walk Distance Criteria: 

Results from the Response-HF 

Trial 

Lindsay Reardon, MD Program, AMC - School of 

Medicine 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michelle Khoo, UCH Cardiac 

and Vascular Center - Electrophysiology Lab 

either no change in NYHA class or < 10% increase 

in 6-MHWD, the NR rate was consistent with 

previous clinical trials. However, there was 

discordance of agreement between responder status 

determined by NYHA class and 6-MHWD in 105 

(27%) patients. Conclusion: The NR rate based on 

the combined end point was lower than that reported 

in previous CRT trials. The disagreement between 

the responder statuses based on subjective and 

objective criterion was high. The response to CRT at 

early follow-up should include combined assessment 

of changes in NYHA class and 6-MHWD to 

determine functional status that may be important for 

CRT trials. 


Divergence between CRT non-responder rates 

based on the NYHA class assessment and 6-minute 

hall walk distance criteria: Results from the 

Response-HF trial 1Lindsay Reardon, 1Royce 

Bargas, DO, 1Elizabeth Coogan, 2Raul Weiss, MD, 

3Rajesh Malik, MD, 4Marc Wish, MD, 5Abdul 

Alawwa, MD, 6Jay Dinerman, MD, 7Kevin Hsu, MD, 

8Alan Waggoner, MHS, 9Ashish Oza, MS, 1Michelle 

Khoo, MD. 1Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 

2University of Colorado, Denver, CO, 3PeeDee 

Cardiology Associates, Florence, SC, 4Inova Fairfax 

Hospital, Falls Church, VA, 5Cardiology Consultants 

of East Michigan, Lapeer, MI, 6The Heart Center, 

Huntsville, AL, 7Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, 

NC, 8Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 9St. 

Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA. Introduction: Previous 

clinical trials have reported a CRT non-responder 

(NR) rate of 25-30%. However, most studies used 

only one criterion to classify a NR (either 

improvement in NYHA class or exercise capacity). In 

Response-HF trial, the NR rate to CRT is based on 

the combined criteria of NYHA class and 6-minute 

hall walk distance (6-MHWD). The goal of this 

analysis was to determine the CRT NR rate using 

these combined criteria. Methods: 403 pts (72% 

male, age 67 ± 11.3 years, LVEF 24 ± 7.6%) 

enrolled in the Response-HF trial underwent NYHA 

class assessment and 6-MHW test. After device 

implant, the AV delay was optimized and all pts were 

programmed to simultaneous CRT pacing. At the 3 

month follow-up, NYHA class and 6-MHWD were 

reassessed. A non-responder to CRT was defined 

as no improvement or worsening NYHA class and 


Challenging the Past: 

Transformation Through Problem 

Focused Field Schools 

Jordan Reck, Anthropology, DC - College of Liberal 


Teresa Cochran, Anthropology, DC - College of 


David Schutz, Anthropology, DC - College of Liberal 


Drew Zackary, Anthropology, DC - College of 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Brett, DC - College of 



A new paradigm of collaboration, participation and 

action is emerging in anthropological research. Field 

work and participation are bedrocks of 

anthropological research but new approaches to 

research methods training challenge standard 

models of the solitary researcher through field 

schools. A new emphasis on group experiential 

learning is at the heart of the UCD Anthropology 

program in Ecuador. Field school models include 

instructor-driven, applied anthropology, study-tour, 

and problem-focused. The UCD anthropology field 

school conducts original ethnographic research in 

collaboration with students and faculty at the 

Yachana Technical High School in the Amazonian 

community of Mondaña, Ecuador. As student 

participants in the 2008/2009 field school we 

advocate for the strength of the problem-focused 

collaborative model. Its superiority is evidenced in 

the transformation of student knowledge and 

awareness through the integration of theory and 

methods in field-based research as well as the 

application of broad skill sets not available through 

classroom experience. The motto at Yachana is 

“Living Your Education” where academic and 

technical skills are combined through the curriculum 

to produce the best educational experience possible. 

We argue based on our experience that this same 

goal of academic excellence can be met through the 

use of problem-focused field schools. 

A Probabilistic Neural Network 

using the Haralick Transform to 

Segment Ribs in Chest Digital 

Radiographs 

Shoshana Rosskamm, Applied Mathematics, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Francis Newman, AMC - 



We use a probabilistic neural network (PNN) and 

selected components of the Haralick transform as a 

feature vector to train our neural network in this 

segmentation task. A Haralick transform composed 

of statistical components is employed as a feature 

vector where the relevance of each component to 

the particular task is determined using a simple 

scatter plot analysis. Training sets for rib and non-rib 

regions are generated by randomly selecting pixels 

around which a 16 by 16 pixel region of interest 

(ROI) is constructed. The Haralick transform is 

applied to this ROI as a feature vector characterizing 

the region. Once the components from the scatter 

plot analysis are selected, the Haralick transform is 

applied. The method is automated in that each pixel 

in the image is interrogated and classified by the 

PNN. The PNN performs well with 50 training 

vectors each from rib and non-rib areas. There are 

typically 7 relevant Haralick components after scatter 

plot analysis. We demonstrate the effectiveness of 

the method with images that show rib segmentation 

on two different patients using the same Haralick 

components and PNN. Consequently, the same 

features and PNN appear to be applicable to 

different patients’ images. 



Social Construction and Policy 

Design Framework: Analysis of 

Current Applications 

Kristin Schumacher, DC - School of Public Affairs 

Jonathan Pierce, DC - School of Public Affairs 

Saba Siddiki, DC - School of Public Affairs 

Andrew Pattison, DC - School of Public Affairs 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Chris Weible, DC - School of 



One of the leading lenses for understanding the 

policy process is the social construction framework 

as developed by Schneider and Ingram (1993, 1997, 

2005, 2007). The social construction framework 

incorporates the social construction of knowledge 

and/or of target populations in conjunction with 

classical notions of political power to understand the 

creation and implications of policy design. The 

purpose of this paper is to explore existing 

applications of the social construction framework. In 

order to do so, this paper summarizes the results of 

a systematic review of articles that have used the 

framework in an empirical inquiry from 1993 through 

2008. Coded items include substantive policy 

domain addressed, method of data collection, cited 

strengths and weaknesses of the framework, and 

how key elements of the theory were conceptualized 

and operationalized. The results indicate that (i) a 

majority of applications have used qualitative 

research methods; (ii) authors conceptualize and 

operationalize central concepts in the theory 

differently; (iii) the framework is applied mostly to 

agenda setting and policy design and rarely to other 

stages of the policy process; and, (iv) to date, the 

research has yet to generate a series of testable 

hypotheses. The paper concludes with 

recommendations for future research. 

Phosphatidic Acid Induced 

Membrane Depolarization Via 

Activation of Intracellular Calcium 

Dependant Chloride Channels in 

Xenopus leavis oocytes 

Joshua Snyder, Biology, DC - College of Liberal 


Shilo Smith, Biology, DC - College of Liberal Arts 

and Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Bradley Stith, DC - College of 



We studied the events of fertilization in Xenopus 

laevis, specifically, the activation of chloride 

channels that cause Xenopus oocytes to depolarize 

after sperm-egg fusion. Chloride ions are at 

relatively low concentrations inside the cell when 

compared to the extracellular space. This causes a 

steep inward concentration gradient of Cl- into the 

cell. However, at resting membrane potential, the 

sum of the concentration and electrical force results 

in an outward electrochemical gradient. During 

fertilization in Xenopus, a calcium release causes 

chloride channels open allowing chloride ions to 

move out of the cell, thus depolarizing the 

membrane resulting in the fast block to polyspermy. 

Our method involves insertion of intracellular 

microelectrode into an oocyte to detect changes in 

chloride channel activity. We have a two electrode 

voltage clamp to directly record the amount of 

current flowing through channels while sustaining a 

constant membrane potential. Phosphatidic acid’s 

ability to increase calcium and open chloride 

channels is inhibited by different tyrosine kinase 

inhibitors, or IP3 receptor blockers. These results 

suggest that phosphatidic acid stimulates Src 

tyrosine kinases which activate phospholipase Cï§, 

which releases IP3 and calcium. Decreased function 

of chloride channels causes the disease Cystic 

Fibrosis, our research may shed light upon this 

disease. 

66 



Adaptive-Multilevel BDDC 

Bedrich Sousedik, Applied Mathematics, DC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jan Mandel, DC - College of 



The BDDC method proposed in 2003 by Clark R. 

Dohrmann is the most advanced method from the 

Balancing family of iterative substructuring methods 

for the solution of large systems of linear algebraic 

equations arising from discretization of elliptic 

boundary value problems. In the case of many 

substructures, solving the coarse problem exactly 

becomes a bottleneck. Since the coarse problem in 

BDDC has the same structure as the original 

problem, it is straightforward to apply the BDDC 

method recursively to solve the coarse problem only 

approximately. We have formulated a new family of 

abstract Multispace BDDC methods and gave 

condition number bounds from the abstract additive 

Schwarz preconditioning theory. The Multilevel 

BDDC is then treated as a special case of the 

Multispace BDDC. However, the condition number 

bounds reveal deteriorating convergence of the 

method with increasing number of levels that cannot 

be improved. In another research direction we have 

developed a method for the adaptive selection of the 

coarse space for the original, two-level, BDDC 

method. The method work by adding coarse 

degrees of freedom constructed from eigenvectors 

associated with intersections of selected pairs of 

adjacent substructures. In this contribution we 

combine the advantages of both approaches to 

propose a method that preserves both, parallel 

scalability with increasing number of unknowns and 

excellent convergence properties. The performance 

of the method is illustrated by several numerical 

examples. 

Hybridscape: A Proposal for 

Wynkoop Street & Denver Union 

Station 

David Sprunt, Landscape Arch & Urban Design 

(dual degree), DC - College of Architecture and 

Planning 

Christine Shine, Landscape Architecture & Urban 

Design, DC - College of Architecture and Planning 

Carrie Kronberg, Architecture & Urban Design, DC 

- College of Architecture and Planning 

Gary Taipalus, M-Arch/MUD 2008, College of 

Architecture & Planning 

Faculty Sponsor: Mr. Fred Andreas, DC - College 

of Architecture and Planning 




Denver Union Station was once the gateway to the 

city and remains one of the finest examples of a 

major 19th century transportation hub. Our objective 

in this studio project is to provide sustainable urban 

design guidance for the renaissance of Union 

Station and the Wynkoop Street corridor between 

Cherry Creek and Coors Field, creating a major 

public space in the heart of the city. HYBRIDscape 

is a vision that bridges the gap between the street’s 

historic past and a sustainable future. Our project 

envisions a sustainable, walkable, and transit-served 

urban neighborhood that serves as a gateway to 

Lower Downtown. As the station once again 

becomes the region’s major transportation hub, the 

project transforms parking lots and the historic street 

in front of the station into a pedestrian-friendly plaza. 

The design creates a flexible space that handles 

thousands of daily commuters, special events and 

sports crowds, and also provides more intimate 

spaces, manages storm water, generates power for 

the neighborhood, and highlights native plants, 

natural processes and local history. The project 

integrates urbanism with high-performance buildings 

and high-performance infrastructure as a means to 

create potential: for architecture, for humanity, and 

for a sustainable future. 



Development of Core Competency 

for Trauma Nurses in Thailand 

Krongdai Unhasuta, Nursing, AMC - College of 

Nursing 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Marylou Robinson, AMC - 

College of Nursing 


There are no programs to prepare trauma nurses in 

Thailand. A research plan for identification and 

development of core competencies was undertaken 

in three phases. Phase I: A national survey of the 

critical dimensions of care; Phase II: Development of 

a 64 item tool; and Phase III: A three year pilot study 

in hospitals representing Level I, Regional, 

Community and Rural facilities. Six dimensions of 

competency include: cooperation, decision-making, 

leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and 

technical knowledge with the content validity index 

(CVI) of 1.00 and Cronbach’s α of 0.98 ( N= 485 in 

29 hospitals). In the first year analysis of pilot study 

data using a 5 point likert scale ( N = 285 RNs in 16 

hospitals); nurses rated themselves as 4.18 (SD = 

0.69), their peers at 4.00 (SD = 0.68); while Head 

Nurse evaluations averaged 3.98 (SD = 0.55). 

ANOVA demonstrated no statistical significance (p = 

0.09) between groups. This demonstrates tool 

usefulness, but refinement is required prior to 

national distribution to include a factor analysis. 

Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals 

by Mushrooms Growing Near 

Active and Abandoned Mines 

Christy Van Campen, Chemistry, DC - College of 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Marc A. Donsky, DC - 

Chemistry 


Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals by Mushrooms 

Growing Near Active and Abandoned Mines Dr. 

Marc A. Donsky and Ms. Christy Van Campen 

Department of Chemistry. University of Colorado 

Denver History, Introduction and Abstract The ability 

of mushrooms to accumulate metals was brought to 

public attention by the Chernobyl disaster in April 

1986. Radioactive fallout contaminated miles of 

forest around the plant. Testing of mushrooms 

growing in the area after the accident showed high 

levels of Cs 134 and 137 as well as other fallout 

metals. One mushroom, Gomphidius subroseus had 

accumulations of 10,000x the soil levels of 

radioactive Cesium. The popular edible, Boletus 

edulis, had levels 10x the ambient of Cadmium. In 

Colorado, collecting wild mushrooms for the kitchen 

is becoming increasingly popular. Mushrooms are 

often found growing near mines and mine runoff. 

Our project involves collecting mushrooms from 

these sites and testing the soil and mushrooms for 

metal contamination using ICP-MS as our analytical 

tool. This project will tell us if it is safe or wise to eat 

mushrooms collected from these sites. Preliminary 

results indicate that the mushrooms growing near 

mines are heavily contaminated and are not safe to 

eat. 

68 



Pollination Biology of the Stream 

Orchid, Epipactis gigantea, (Dougl. 

Ex Hook) at Three Colorado 

Elevations 

Denise C Wilson, DC - College of Liberal Arts and 

Sciences 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Leo P Bruederle, DC - 



An understanding of a species’ breeding system is 

essential to the conservation of rare plants. This 

research characterized the breeding system, visitor 

guild, and effective pollinators for Epipactis gigantea 

Dougl. ex Hook (Orchidaceae) at three Colorado 

sites differing in elevation. Results from a breeding 

system experiment revealed statistically significant 

differences in success as measured by fruit set 

across treatment groups. Epipactis gigantea was 

observed to be protandrous and self-compatible, 

with 59% of all self-pollinations setting fruit. Outcrossing 

was most successful (72%) and differed 

from hand-pollinations involving donor pollen from 

another flower on the same plant or geitonogamy 

(63%) and the control (62%). The visitor guild 

comprised a variety of ants, flies, beetles, bees, and 

spiders. Although E. gigantea was visited most often 

by ants, specifically, Formica neogagates, six 

species of syrphid flies were found to be effective 

pollinators, the most frequent being Sphaerophoria 

philanthus. Time lapse photography further 

documented pollination by syrphid flies, which 

deposit pollen (not entire pollinium) on the stigmas 

of several flowers along the same raceme. 



Nanogel-Modified Dental 

Adhesives 

Nicholas Wilson, Doctor of Dental Surgery, AMC - 


Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jeffrey Stansbury, AMC - 


prospect of a stronger, more reliable dentinrestorative 

interface has important clinical 

implications, especially considering the nanogel 

technology can be incorporated into existing 

adhesive materials in a relatively generic manner. 

Supported by: NIH/NIDCR DE5R21DE018354 and 

Septodont/Confi-Dental 


Reactive nano-scale polymeric particles (nanogels) 

have been demonstrated to reduce polymerization 

shrinkage and stress in dental resins. Objective: 

Determine potential benefits associated with the use 

of relatively hydrophobic nanogels as additives in a 

model dental adhesive material. Methods: Nanogels 

were prepared by solution photopolymerization of 

isobornyl methacrylate (IBMA)/urethane 

dimethacrylate (UDMA) or IBMA/ethoxylated 

bisphenol A dimethacrylate (EBDMA) (70:30 mole 

ratio) with mercaptoethanol (15mol%). The inert 

nanogels were converted to reactive macromers by 

a subsequent reaction with isocyanatoethyl 

methacrylate. The model bonding agent was 

composed of BisGMA/HEMA (60:40 mass ratio) and 

included 12 wt% of ethanol to mimic the residual 

solvent content of an air-thinned solvated adhesive. 

A bisacylphosphine oxide initiator (Irgacure 819; 0.2 

wt%) was introduced to promote visible light 

photopolymerization. The reactive nanogels were 

incorporated in the adhesive formulation at 25 wt% 

and degree of conversion, water sorption/solubility 

as well as wet/dry mechanical properties of the 

photopolymers were determined. Results: Addition 

of the either of the reactive nanogels significantly 

reduced the solubility of the adhesive polymer. For 

the more hydrophobic IBMA/EBDMA-based nanogel 

additive, the equilibrium water sorption was 18 % 

lower than the unmodified control. Both the initial 

flexural modulus and ultimate strength of the dry 

polymers were improved significantly with the 

nanogel additives. Most notably, the wet mechanical 

properties of the nanogel-containing polymers 

remained equivalent to their dry strength values 

whereas the control polymer suffered a dramatic 

reduction of approximately 50 % in wet strength 

compared with the dry control. Conclusions: The 

introduction of reactive, hydrophobic nano-scale 

polymeric particles in dental does not affect the 

degree of conversion achieved during 

polymerization but it does favorably reduce solubility 

and potential water uptake. While the nanogel 

additives raise the mechanical strength of the 

polymeric adhesive, the critical advantage is the lack 

of any deterioration in these excellent strength 

values under aqueous storage conditions. The 

70 


MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARD WINNERS 

HOSTED BY THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES 

Seven of the best and brightest local high school students who placed in the top tier of the junior 

division categories at the Denver Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair are showcasing 

their posters at the Symposium today. More than 270 middle and high school students from the 

Denver area competed at the fair in February. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) 

sponsored the first, second, and third place junior division category awards. The student 

winners were invited by Dean Daniel J. Howard to have lunch with a few CLAS professors prior 

to today's proceedings for the opportunity to learn more about what they hope to study in 

college, as well as discover more about the University of Colorado Denver. 

Keely Bachrodt BOOTH # 29 

7 th Grade, West Jefferson Middle School 

Project: (Microbiology) “Are You Sure You Want to Use that Sponge?” 

Hailey Davis BOOTH # 34 

6 th Grade, Stanley British Primary School 

Project: (Microbiology) “What is Left in Your Mouth After Swishing?” 

Mali Garrett-Mills BOOTH # 6 

7 th Grade, Smiley Middle School 

Project (Medicine and Health Sciences) “The Effects of Various Liquids on Hydroxyapatite 

Calcium Tablets: An Inadequate Model of Human Tooth Enamel” 

Henry Camp BOOTH # 21 

7 th Grade, Denver School of the Arts 

Project: (Engineering) “How a Checkered Chroma Key Background Makes Light Distortion 

Visible and Measurable” 

Luke Summar BOOTH # 13 

7 th Grade, West Jefferson Middle School 

Project: (Plant Sciences) “Let-Us Farm” 

Diego Ulibarri BOOTH # 40 

8 th Grade, Holy Trinity Catholic School 

Project: (Biochemistry) “Scrap to Fuel” 

Sophie Wright BOOTH # 55 

8 th Grade, Stanley British Primary School 

Project: (Chemistry) “C What Happens to Your Vitamin C?” 


Undergraduate 

Research 

Opportunities 

Program 

www.cudenver.edu/UROP 

UROP 

WHAT IS UROP? 

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) 

enhances undergraduate education by funding students 

engaged in research, creative, and entrepreneurial activities 

in collaboration with faculty at UCDHSC, downtown Denver 

campus. 

WHY PARTICIPATE? 

Students engaged in undergraduate research: 

• Integrate academic knowledge with 

hands-on experience 

• Enhance their creativity, confidence, and 

communication 

• Develop professional skills sought by 

graduates schools and employers 

• Sharpen analytical and critical skills 

Undergraduate Research 

Increases Confidence 

Conducting research through UROP can be a great way to get to know 

faculty, researchers, graduate students, and other undergraduates who 

share similar academic and career interests.

2009 Proceedings - University of Colorado Denver

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