2008 Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (MU)
Mizzou's Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forums showcase student research and scholarly and creative achievements to the Mizzou community. Undergraduates from any major and all academic levels are eligible to present their work. Students presenting at the forum are eligible to compete for the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements.
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Recent Submissions
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A 3-D in vitro neural stem cell niche derived from mouse embryonic stem cells [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Our laboratory works with cell therapies for injuries to the central nervous system and neurodegenerative disorders, including the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) or Batten's Disease. We are working toward a treatment ... -
The construction of neoliberalism and its effect on Mexican water policy [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)After the debt crisis of 1982, Mexico began implementing neoliberal policy, which culminated in the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The neoliberal reforms fundamentally changed environmental ... -
Characterizing the role of Glycine max NHL gene family members in plant-nematode interactions [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) is a microscopic parasitic roundworm of soybean that causes nearly $1 billion dollars in annual yield loss in the United States. SCN damages the plant by attaching itself ... -
Developing a nowcasting technique for splitting supercells by analyzing rapid update cycle model data [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)The goal of this research project was to develop a nowcasting technique, or to at least find out which parameters are changed to help supercells split. This was first completed by overlaying Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model ... -
Protecting biodiversity: Riparian buffers directly affect Appalachian headwater salamanders [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Salamanders are the most abundant invertebrate predator in the southern Appalachians; they have the highest biomass, and they are an important species for scientific investigators. Their permeable skin and eggs makes them ... -
An estrogen induced, estrogen responsive rat model of breast cancer [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Because women experience a bewildering array of chemicals, foods and lifestyles, only profound effects on preventing or promoting breast cancer are detectible in human studies. Subtle or delayed effects can be detected in ... -
Composing a biocomposite mesh for hernia repair [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Hernias are formed when the tough connective tissue that surrounds the abdominal musculature, known as fascia, breaks down, weakens, or actually rips [1]. As a result, there is a bulging of the intra-abdominal viscera ... -
Population trends of forest birds in Missouri, USA: Comparison of point count data with predictions from the BBS [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Long-term population size trends of Neotropical migrants and other forest birds are of primary concern for conservation biologists. The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) has become an important tool for biologists in estimating ... -
The role of the brassinosteroid associated kinase (BAK1) in plant cell defense [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Plants are able to resist bacterial and fungal infection by recognizing invading organisms outside the cell and then activating defense responses inside the cell. The first line of defense against invading organisms is ... -
The role of gender in the peer review process of formal writing [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Traditionally, the assessment of student work has been the primary responsibility of a teacher or professor. However, the process of peer-review has truly taken hold in recent times as a method for others objectively ... -
Electric arc production of nanoparticles for energetic materials [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Thermites are a class of energetic material (similar to explosives) which consists of a fuel and oxidizer which react chemically to release energy. These materials are of interest because they can contain over 2.5 times ... -
Role of Cyclooxygenase-1 during the immunological response in lyme arthritis [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Previously, pharmacological inhibition of COX-1 in wild-type C3H mice resulted in changes in antibody production in response to infection with the causative agent of Lyme Disease, the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). ... -
Photoacoustic detection of circulating melanoma cells in the plasma layer of the blood [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)When a melanoma patient is diagnosed, aggressive treatment is advised in an effort to contain the disease. Although the initial malignant cells are destroyed, it is impossible to determine whether or not the cancer has ... -
Roach colony optimization: a new approach to problem solving [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Computational intelligence, more specifically agent-based computing is a new way of thinking about computation that differs from the old methods of logical deconstruction and processing. We are developing a computational ... -
Impact of prior/concurrent exposure to infectious diseases on variability in the 1918-19 flu epidemic on Newfoundland [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Between 1918 and 1920 nearly 2000 people on the island of Newfoundland died from influenza, pneumonia, and related illnesses. Deaths were recorded from all parts of the island, but there is substantial regional variability ... -
Vegetation classification in urban nature areas in Columbia, Missouri [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Urban nature areas are often identified by local governments with no thought to their ecological characteristics or conservation value. We used a vegetation classification procedure, entitation, to classify vegetation types ... -
Rapid automated characterization of transposon insertion mutants in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough by srnPCR [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Tn5 transposon mutagenesis occurs by a mechanism in which a segment of DNA (transposon) encoded in a plasmid is inserted into genomic DNA (the target) by a conservative (cut-and-paste) mechanism (Fig. 2). When the insertion ... -
Development of a RF Class E amplifier to power a ferroelectric plasma thruster [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Class E amplifiers are a special class of electronic amplifiers which are highly efficient at delivering power at high frequencies. Class E amplifiers consist of a signal generator, switch, and two LC resonant circuits. ... -
Carbon nanotubes and their composites with nanodiamond for thermal packaging: Syntheses, characterization and modeling [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)In the family of carbon-based nanosystems, carbon nanotubes (both single- and multi-walled) are cylindrical carbon molecules with many extremely useful properties that make them ideal for use in multitude of technological ... -
Materials characterization of an explanted polypropylene-PTFE hernia mesh [abstract]
(University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2008)Long-term polymeric implants continuously activate the inflammatory response, bathing the implants with powerful oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid in an attempt to breakdown the material. Biomaterials ...