Oral Presentations: Six

Public health interventions frequently require invasive methodologies to acquire information on a given area. A unique project across two different urban areas along northern Utah’s Wasatch Front aims to assess community exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by combining passive and dynamic air pollution monitoring with wastewater monitoring for metabolic markers from the target compounds. This approach has the potential to shift public health monitoring towards more targeted and less invasive interventions in local communities. The initial list of targeted atmospheric PAHs include pyrene, phenanthrene, naphthalene, fluorene, and the nitrogenated PAH 1-nitropyrene. The two targeted cities are Rose Park and Spanish Fork, two economically, demographically, and topographically different cities located near Salt Lake City, UT. Phase I of the project included the involvement of high school (Salt Lake Center for Science Education) and middle school (Spanish Fork Middle School) students with the collection of needles from random conifer trees within the targeted collection zones. Each city was divided into spatial polygons representing differing sewer sheds, in line with future planned wastewater collection locations. The students were trained in proper sample collection and tree identification techniques, and, with the help of their local instructors, obtained samples from 3-5 separate trees within each specified polygon. The laboratory analysis consists of measuring the wet and dry needle weight, determination of extractable lipid content, separation of target PAHs via Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE), and finally quantification via Gas Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). Initial lipid tests of the Spanish Fork samples have shown an average lipid content (wet weight) for Blue Spruce to be 1.5% with a variance ≤1% observed between samples and an average lipid content for the single Austrian Pine sample to be 2.75%. Past research suggests lipid fraction may be important in parameterizing the partitioning of the PAHs into the needles. The finalized data from these investigations will be compiled, mapped, and presented. As the project moves onto subsequent Phases, successful mapping of PAH “hotspots” across the communities will inform the investigators of likely locations for future dynamic atmospheric sampling campaigns (via pumped filter and sorbent collection methodologies).

The rate at which plastics are manufactured has sharply increased since 1950, and the high volume of all plastics produced is increasingly regarded as a major global contaminant and health crisis. The most commonly consumed plastics are around 80% petrochemical polymers, which includes polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Popular plastics are either classified as amorphous or semi-crystalline depending on the arrangement of their polymers, which can be packed more or less densely to elicit certain material properties such as rigidity or flexibility. None of the commonly used plastics biodegrade; however, they do break down, causing the build up of their fragments—known as secondary microplastics (MPs)–in natural environments. Sensitive environments, such as cryospheric and karst systems, are particularly affected by the anthropogenic pressure exerted by microplastic pollution. Particularly, the light-absorbing properties of deposited MPs may increase the surface albedos and, thus, the melt rates of snow and ice. MPs are classified based on size, shape, origin, and composition. Large MPs range between 1–5 mm; small MPs range between 1 µm−1 mm, and nanoplastics measure < 1 µm. However, the small size of microplastics makes their collection and identification notably difficult. Raman spectroscopy and FTIR are two of the most preferred methods for identifying environmental MPs. Raman spectroscopy’s main drawback, however, is distorted spectra from overwhelming fluorescence, which can originate from substrates as well as additives and colorants included during plastic production. Time-Gated Raman spectroscopy takes advantage of the time difference between Raman scattering and fluorescence to limit the presence of fluoresced photons originating from substrates and analytes in a final spectrum. Using a conventional Raman system already optimized for fluorescence suppression, we demonstrate that time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) utilizing a high temporal resolution Raman system can clarify bands and band ratios related to the crystallinity of environmental polyethylene (PE) MPs. In addition, we find density calculations using an iterative, approximative, Voigt peak-fitting model more consistent with time-gated spectra than with conventionally-acquired spectra. Thus, this work would allow for the differentiation between types of moderately to highly fluorescent environmental PE MPs. This differentiation is rarely studied but important because determining potential sources of origin of the most commonly produced MPs found within sensitive environments can inform conservation efforts.

We investigate the percentage of galaxies with strong emission lines at increasing redshift. From SDSS DR16 we selected 792,392 galaxies at varying redshifts, z. We grouped the total number of galaxies by their absolute magnitude, compared them with those that had strong Hα, OIII, and other relevant emission lines, and looked for the trend of shifting emission lines with z. We found a general trend of a drop in the percentage of galaxies with strong emission lines from both the z range 0.2 to 0.5, spanning from about 2.5 Gyr to 5 Gyr ago. We are not sure of whether there is a bias of the data set, with how galaxies are selected, how the data was observed, or whether this is a product of a real effect. We are planning on replicating this analysis with data from SDSS DR19 and DESI DR1 using SciServer and Astro Data Lab respectively. We are also finding how many galaxies happen to be AGN to see if this helps explain the trends we see.

Our night sky contains a multitude of variable stars. Variable stars change in luminosity over time. SIMBAD, an astronomical database, contains information on many stars. We have used data taken by Brigham Young University and determined the period of the brightness changes of these stars, and see if the period we determined matches what is reported in SIMBAD. The BYU telescope data were processed using AstroImageJ to construct light curves, which were subsequently analyzed with a Python script to model the full variability curves and calculate the stellar periods. We investigated three stars in the open cluster NGC 188 (V* ES Cep, V* EQ Cep, and V* V369 Cep) and two stars in M36 (NGC 1960 199 and NGC 1960 47). The three stars in NGC 188 are confirmed variable stars listed in SIMBAD. Our calculated period for V* ES Cep agrees with the published value in SIMBAD, while V* EQ Cep and V* V369 Cep show different periods from those previously reported. For the two stars in M36, new period determinations are presented. These results provide refined variability parameters for these cluster members and demonstrate the importance of ongoing photometric analysis in verifying and expanding existing stellar databases.

The common North American tree Prunus virginiana contains amygdalin and prunasin, compounds that release cyanide when the plant is damaged and that are potentially hazardous to animals, especially livestock. Most livestock deaths from P. virginiana ingestion occur in the spring, and it had been presumed that cyanogen levels are highest during that time; we tested the veracity of this common wisdom. Over the course of a year, we used a picric acid test to quantify the cyanogen levels of a population of P. virginiana throughout the growing season. Additionally, we tested which parts of the plant were highest in cyanogens during the spring. We expect to find that cyanogens peak early in the growing season, then gradually decline. We will discuss how cyanogen phenology can affect browsing animals.

The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene codes for several peptides that support a variety of functions in the body. There are 3 main peptides that are synthesized from the POMC gene: adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), and β-endorphin. ACTH causes cortisol release as part of the regulation of stress and metabolism. The role of alpha-MSH is to regulate food intake based on energy expenditure and calorie consumption. β-endorphin functions as a natural painkiller and is involved with reward and energy homeostasis. We are studying a mouse model with a hypothalamic-specific POMC mutation, which causes loss of alpha-MSH and results in early-onset obesity due to hyperphagia. This is because alpha-MSH acts as a satiety signal, so losing this peptide product leads to the mice over-eating. We suspect that POMC-deficient mice have abnormal glucose levels from their large size and excessive food consumption. To test this hypothesis, we will measure glucose levels of POMC-deficient male and female mice using 2 separate methods. First, urine will be collected using saran wrap and a cardboard divider to keep mice separated. When a mouse urinates, a pipette will be used to collect the sample and transfer it onto the urinalysis testing strip. For the second method, we will use a lancet to puncture the tail of the mouse. A blood sample will be collected and placed on a glucose strip & fed into an Accu-Chek glucometer. Glucose levels will be compared between all the mice. This will help us determine whether POMC-deficient mice have abnormal blood glucose levels compared to wildtype and heterozygous mice. We will be comparing the results between wildtype, heterozygous, and POMC deficient mice. We will also compare male and female mice. We would also like to compare the results obtained with urine sampling vs blood sampling to see if both methods give comparable results. In the future, urine sampling may be prioritized as it is less invasive, but this depends on how similar the data is compared to blood glucose measurements. With this data, we will determine whether these groups have differing glucose levels. These results will give us more information on the effects the POMC gene has on the regulation of blood & urine glucose levels. Because these mice are obese, we hope that by understanding the changes seen in this mouse model, we will also understand more about how obesity affects the human population as well.

The Rowley Lab uses gene editing to understand the role that certain mutations and proteins in platelets and megakaryocytes play in the pathology of various blood conditions that impact human health. My role in the lab is to help initialize and further develop a new procedure for transducing, or inserting genetic material into through viral means, CD34 positive Hematopoietic Stem Cells. We use these types of cells as they will selectively differentiate into megakaryocytes. Our lab electroporates Cas9 and gRNA complexes into the cells, but the electroporation causes a lot of stress and damage to the cells. This heavily decreases cell counts through cell death and is expensive due to the cost of the Cas9 protein and the multitude of other supplies necessary to undergo the process. The method I am helping propose as an alternative is the use of engineered virus-like particles (eVLPs) to transduce Cas9 and gRNA complexes into our cells. This procedure has some major benefits in comparison to electroporation. Due to its basis in viral biology this method uses plasmids to make the complexes, instead of recombinant proteins or exogenous RNA. It uses these plasmids to produce and complex Cas9 and gRNA inside of Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells that are grown in laboratory conditions. These cells are used as they are robust and are very efficiently transfected. Since these cells are easily sustained, they can produce orders of magnitude more editing agents than are needed for the initial transduction, and require significantly less materials upfront, it is significantly cheaper to do this method than use electroporation. Transduction is also less lethal to cells, giving us increased cell counts. As of current, the biggest limitation of this method is that the gRNA plasmid being used isn’t transducing efficiently, and thus eVLPs aren’t being made efficiently. I am optimizing this production of eVLPs to facilitate the workflow previously done in the lab. This procedure has the potential to not only dramatically facilitate the workflow, but to also increase the efficacy and efficiency of both in vitro cellular genomic engineering and in vivo engineering in mouse studies. As for a future direction for this project, the current eVLPs are not designed to carry ssDNA into the cell, but there may be possibilities to develop it so that it can.

Autophagy is a cellular quality control process that (i) traffics damaged organelles (e.g., mitochondria) to lysosomes for degradation and recycling, (ii) generates ATP from recycled substrates, and (iii) contributes to cerebral artery vasodilation. It is known that aging worsens outcomes following acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in humans, findings we have recapitulated in old vs. adult mice. In addition, we reported earlier that endothelial cell (EC) autophagy is repressed in older humans and mice. If EC autophagy is blunted by aging, then AIS outcomes might be worsened by: (i) accrual of damaged organelles and (ii) limited ATP during ischemia; and (iii) impaired collateral and reperfusion blood flow following clot lysis/removal. Here we hypothesized that repressed aging-associated EC autophagy worsens AIS outcomes. First, we reasoned that if EC autophagy confers protection, then AIS outcomes would be worse in adult mice with inducible depletion of EC autophagy (i.e., Atg3EC-/- mice) vs. control (i.e., WT mice) animals. In support, infarct volume and neurobehavioral and motor performance was worse in adult Atg3EC-/- vs. WT mice that completed 60-min transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) + 23-h reperfusion to model AIS. Next, Atg3EC-/- and WT mice were treated for 21 days with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin, which causes whole-body autophagy upregulation. Here we hypothesized that benefits of global autophagy upregulation would not be observed in Atg3EC-/- vs. WT mice. Demonstrating proof of concept evidence that EC autophagy confers benefits, AIS -induced tissue injury and neurobehavioral and motor defects were less severe (p<0.05) in rapamycin-treated WT vs. Atg3EC-/- mice. Based on results from these two studies in adult male mice, we tested the hypothesis that rejuvenating autophagy in cerebral ECs from older mice would lessen the severity of AIS outcomes. Here we deployed a cerebral EC-specific adeno-associated virus (AAV-BR1-Atg3) or null virus (AAV-BR1-Null) to male 24-mo mice. Twenty-one days later, both groups completed 60-min tMCAO + 23-h reperfusion. Remarkably, reperfusion blood flow at 23-h was greater (laser speckle contrast imaging), neurobehavioral (Bederson score) and motor (grip test score) defects were less severe, infarct volume was smaller (TTC staining), and neuronal viability (NeuN staining) was greater (all p<0.05), in AAV-BR1-Atg3 vs. AAV-BR1-Null mice. Additional studies are ongoing, but these preliminary results strongly suggest cerebral EC autophagy confers protection in the context of AIS in mice.

We investigated the seasonal dynamics of microbial metabolisms in Great Salt Lake sediments, a system often described as a carbonate factory due to microbially mediated precipitation and dissolution processes. Using sediment samples collected across multiple seasons, sites, and depths, we analyzed the relative abundance of key metabolic groups to assess temporal patterns in the distribution of these groups. Our profiling revealed distinct seasonal trends in several metabolisms, supporting the hypothesis that microbial activity varies predictably over time. However, other metabolisms exhibited more complex or inconsistent patterns, likely influenced by environmental variability and the limited duration of our time series. These findings highlight both the potential and limitations of short-term seasonal studies in capturing microbial processes in hypersaline ecosystems.

The purpose of this study evaluates the impact of nature-based camps on youth development and education competences in Utah. Each year, 26 million youth and adults participate in camp experiences across the United States. The campers were surveyed at the end of the camp week using the American Camp Association’s Youth Outcomes Battery. In this study we used the retrospective 14-item Camper Learning Scale for 3rd-5th graders and Basic version for grades 6th-8th. These three areas of the Basic version (e.g., interest in exploration, problem solving competence, and perceived competence increase) were specifically chosen as they most closely align with competencies defined in Utah Portrait of a Graduate. Qualitative data were collected using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Fifty-eight out of the 129 campers in grades 3rd-5th completed the questionnaire (32% response rate). The average age of participants was 9 years old, 51% identified as male. Campers ranked camp 9 out of 10 (highest) on average how much fun was had. Sixty-six (66%) of campers learned a little or a lot about the seven ACA CLS outcomes. Thirty-seven out of the 68 campers in grades 6th-8th completed the questionnaire (54% response rate) with the average age being 12 years old. Fifty-one percent of campers were male. On average, campers ranked Swanson’s Discovery Camp 8.6 out of 10 (being the highest) on how much fun was had. The top three favorite camper activities were: art, field games, and hiking. Twenty-five percent of campers made five or more friends. When asked how the outcomes changed since camp, responses were as follows. Sixty-five percent (69%) of campers felt "problem solving competence" increased, 66% felt “interest in exploration” increased, and 65% felt “perceived competence increase” since the beginning of camp. Through qualitative data analysis, three themes emerged: Growth through challenges & skills-building, confidence & independence, and social connection & school readiness This mixed method approach gave us both measurable outcomes and deeper insights into camper growth.

This oral presentation includes my work done on composing a comprehensive taxonomic summary and identification key for the Senecio species (Groundsels and Ragworts) based on A Utah Flora by Stanley Welsh. This summary is focused on the occurrences found close to and in Iron County, Utah. The Senecio species represent an ecological importance as well as a chemically diverse group within the Asteraceae family. However, the regional distribution and distinguishing compounds have remained extremely under-researched. To address this gap in knowledge my work has complied verified species records, and summarized distribution to provide an accessible dichotomous key to aid students, botanists, farmers, community members, and all people in accurately identifying this species. In addition to the taxonomic key, this study has integrated a niche model component to help visualize the environmental space and area in which the species has previously been collected or identified. The model contains many ecological components such as elevation, climate and habitat associations to help us visualize potential areas of growth. Creating this model not only identifies the growth possible but it highlights previously made collections and/or identification regarding GBIF data. This model will also help in offering insight into future field studies. Lastly, concluding the presentation will be a discussion on the chemical composition and potential medicinal values the species might have. These compounds will mostly be pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Because of their toxicity the use of them in any therapeutics processes is rendered. By using an intense interdisciplinary approach from taxonomy, ecology, chemistry, biology, and tribal studies this project fuses all areas together. My work will continue to expand and change as I discover new research and will hopefully help any peers wanting to know or study as well.

Analysis of hormonal contraceptives and their symptomatic effect on chronic disease has largely been left unexplored due to complexity of EHR definition and lack of awareness (1). With 82% of the US female population having ever used hormonal contraceptives in their lifetime, exploring secondary effects and burden on disease is crucial for advancing women’s health and decisions (2). Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune inflammatory disorder, provides an optimal disease model to investigate these hormonal contraceptive effects due to its complex and varying symptomology and given that prior research results have found adverse symptomology from hormonal contraceptive use in lupus (SLE) another autoimmune disorder, it merits that similar studies should be performed in multiple sclerosis (3). This study seeks to identify differing symptom patterns of MS individuals from non-MS case individuals with intrauterine contraceptive device use. Association of differential symptomology will be identified using an EHR-based dataset, All of Us, to perform a phenome wide association study (PheWAS). The larger impact of these results will create a model for future hormonal contraceptive studies to further explore hormonal therapy influences on life stages such as pre and post menopause

Academic burnout as a phenomenon is a salient issue among the university population, however, the majority of burnout research is related to the physical and mental health of field workers. Of the studies that have been conducted in academic settings, none have compared burnout between multiple universities in order to identify risk and protective factors related to burnout. Utah Valley University (UVU), Brigham Young University (BYU), and the University of Utah (UofU) make up the largest universities by population with roughly 40,000 students at UVU, and 25,000 students at UofU and BYU. Exploring burnout with each university's unique culture, focus, and resources both offers broad insight into the situational and personal conditions contributing to burnout among students and stands to improve understanding of burnout as a phenomenon. Presenting this project as a Rapid-Fire Podium Presentation serves as a platform for our proposed methods, aimed towards collaboration with other junior researchers interested in the subject. Participants across the three universities will be targeted through flyers, email announcements, and word of mouth. The sampling methods may differ between institutions, but all efforts to receive the same sample size from each school as well as have the data collection time period be the same will be attempted. Participants will access the survey through Qualtrics and will be directed to provide demographic information including all baseline questions, and additionally self-reported percent of classes that are online, hours worked per week, the year in school (1-4+), degree type (STEM vs. non-STEM), and traditional vs. non-traditional student (straight from high school to college or different journey). Afterward, the Maslach Burnout Inventory- Student (MBI-S), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI; measuring somatization, depression, and anxiety), the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS), the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), the Scale of Existential Thinking (SET), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) will be administered. Statistical analyses will examine differences in burnout between and within schools. The results should provide relevant data to understanding differences in burnout between schools and demographic groups in Utah’s largest universities and point toward evidence-based action that can be taken to reduce burnout and increase student resilience.

Many studies have examined the effects of gratitude letter writing on various aspects of wellbeing, including happiness, life-satisfaction, depression, motivation, and positive and negative affect. Previous research by our lab found a single letter-writing intervention to have significant impacts on mood and anxiety, but if those effects are only short term or have lasting effects on emotional processing is unknown. This study replicates our previous letter-writing intervention with the addition of an emotional-processing task while electroencephalography (EEG) data is recorded to assess event-related potentials (ERPs) to emotional stimuli. Participants were randomly assigned to write either a gratitude, compassion, venting, or neural letter. After writing their letter, participants then completed an emotional rating task in which they were presented with unpleasant, pleasant or neutral images. Preliminary analyses (n = 34) replicate our previous results that gratitude letters have the largest impact on positive and negative affect, while all letters reduce state anxiety. ERP analyses are on-going, but we hypothesize that participants who write letters of gratitude will have reduced neural indices of early attentional capture by emotional images (measured by the P100 ERP component) and reduced indices of attentional dwelling on emotional images (measured by the LPP ERP component). These data indicate that a brief, simple letter-writing manipulation can influence an individual’s responses to emotional content as they go about their day.

In July 2023, devastating floods due to heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in the state of Vermont. This flooding was a catastrophic event for many people whose everyday lives were turned upside down. Because the negative effects of natural disasters can be so diverse, many life-altering effects are often overlooked. The 2023 Vermont floods caused many people to be displaced from their homes, with many still not able to return in the months that followed. The impact of displacement, especially long-term displacement, is still not well understood. This relocation, along with the effects of vehicle damage, can often make it more difficult for people to get around in their daily lives. In the U.S. especially, many people depend on personal vehicles to complete necessary everyday tasks, while individuals without cars tend to choose where they live strategically so that they can use public transportation to get around. Little research has been done to understand how mobility and transportation access are affected by natural disasters and how these changes affect the wellbeing of individuals. This research focuses on these often-overlooked effects of natural disasters, examining the relationships between displacement, mobility, and wellbeing in both the short-term and long-term recovery periods. Between December 2023 and April 2024, 221 surveys were administered to Vermont residents that were affected by the flooding, including questions about wellbeing, housing quality, and flood effects in different time periods. Then partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationships between many different variables, both in the same time period and across time periods, and a simulated bootstrap distribution was used to assess the statistical significance of the effects. Using this strategy, we found that mobility has a significant positive effect on wellbeing in all three time periods, or in other words, that the ability to get around easily greatly improves one's wellbeing. We also found that living in high population areas with high transportation access has a significant positive effect on long-term mobility. Another important finding is that renters and mobile home owners were more likely to be displaced in the short term than both homeowners and people with unstable housing conditions (living outdoors, in a vehicle, etc.). Overall, these findings bring to light some of the overlooked effects of natural disasters and help to identify certain groups of people that should be high priorities for organizations looking to give aid after natural disasters.

The global wellness economy has grown dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching an unprecedented $6.3 trillion in 2023 and is expected to reach $9 trillion by 2028 (Global Wellness Institute, 2024). Multiple studies have found that mental health-related terms and concepts have been displayed to the public through social media sites in ways that are misinforming viewers regarding psychological sciences and wellness (Starvaggi et al., 2024; Karasavva et al., 2025). In addition, we know that terms long used in psychological science have colloquially broadened in scope, a phenomenon known as 'concept creep' that is documented to contribute to negative outcomes for disempowered populations (Haslam et al., 2021; Isern-Mas et al., 2025). The present study aims to evaluate the quality of information shared under popular therapy-speak concepts on TikTok, including attachment theory, boundaries, gaslighting, narcissism and trauma. Such information can give a starting point to the likelihood that therapy-speak content is related to national crises like the loneliness epidemic and the estrangement norms current in today's culture (Foulkes & Andrews, 2023).  Using newly created TikTok accounts, each concept was searched and a total of 500 videos (n=500; 100 per subtopic) were sampled. Twelve trained undergraduate coders independently assessed the videos for creator credentials, marketing appeals, nuance, topic relevance, and falsifiability, with three coders assigned to each video. Videos containing falsifiable claims were subsequently reviewed by psychological experts to evaluate claim accuracy and evidence based therapeutic alignment (EBTA). Each video received a composite score of accuracy, EBTA, and nuance to categorize overall harm level and accuracy level. It is hypothesized that the majority of videos will be coded as misinformation and that more videos will be rated harmful than helpful. No statistical difference (p=.05) in accuracy or EBTA is expected between creators who explicitly present themselves as credentialed and those who do not. There will be an exploratory analysis will examine patterns of misinformation and harm across therapy-speak subtopics. 

Understanding how exposure to foreign healthcare systems shapes individual attitudes toward health policy is crucial for explaining variation in public support for healthcare reform. This study investigates the causal impact of international volunteer experience on healthcare-related attitudes among participants of long-term service programs, primarily returned missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The analysis exploits the quasi-random assignment of volunteers to missions around the world to identify how exposure to distinct healthcare environments influences attitudes toward immigrant healthcare access, trust in the U.S. healthcare system, and support for government-funded healthcare. Participants typically serve for 1.5-2 years in their location assignments, which are made administratively and not chosen by applicants. After controlling for demographics and pre-assignment characteristics, this creates as-good-as-random variation in exposure to countries with differing healthcare structures—from highly socialized systems in Northern Europe to low-resource systems in developing regions. This natural experiment enables causal inference about the effect of exposure to contrasting healthcare contexts on long-term beliefs and policy preferences. The study employs an original survey instrument to measure post-assignment healthcare attitudes and combines these responses with external data describing healthcare system characteristics of each host region, including physician density, healthcare expenditure per capita, and out-of-pocket payment rates. The primary econometric framework estimates the effect of exposure to low-resource versus high-resource healthcare systems on policy preferences. Robustness checks will test for assignment balance, heterogeneity by socioeconomic background, and persistence of effects across mission cohorts. This project contributes to the literature on experiential learning, empathy formation, and global health attitudes by identifying a causal mechanism linking firsthand exposure to healthcare inequality with subsequent policy views. Beyond its theoretical implications, the study provides practical insight into how structured volunteer programs can promote civic understanding and empathy across social and national boundaries. Currently, the project is in the proposal phase, with Institutional Review Board approval pending. The survey instrument has been developed and pretested for reliability and validity. Upon approval, data collection will commence, enabling a novel empirical test of whether involuntary international service assignments can causally shape healthcare attitudes through experiential exposure.

Turbulent flows with suspended particles are central to many engineering and environmental processes, from dusty storms, to industrial spray atomization, to the aerospace industry. Despite their importance, particle-laden turbulence remains a challenging area of study due to the multiscale nature and complex inter-phase interactions of these flows. To predict the dynamics of particles in cloudy particle-laden flows, one can approximately determine the settling velocity of a single individual particle in the cloud. However, recent investigations show that particles in clusters experience different drag and fluid forces than those of individual isolated particles. The so-called neighboring effect of adjacent particles results in significantly different dynamics and fluid-particle interactions. In this work, attempts were made to develop an experimental technique to measure the settling velocity of particles in a cluster (cloud) for a wide range of flow parameters. A transparent PVC cylinder was used that allowed clear observation and video documentation of particle cluster settling. Different particle sizes, particle densities, liquid viscosities and particle clusters were evaluated for the reliability of the data. Using MATLAB software, an image processing program was developed to extract the settling velocity of particle clusters from the recorded videos. Results were obtained for various input parameters and for different volume fractions of particles. As the next step, physics-based, data-driven models will be developed to derive empirical equations for the settling velocity of a particle cluster as a function of various input parameters. The development of this project will advance the general understanding of particle-laden flows and, more specifically, could improve knowledge of environmentally concerning flows such as dust storms and their incipient motion in the state of Utah, while also providing potential pathways for future mitigation efforts.

Scarcity of data associated with the thermophysical properties of molten salts remains a significant obstacle in the optimization and commercialization of molten salt reactors. Thermal conductivity in particular has high margins of uncertainty (18% on average) and the current theoretical predictive models do not predict consistently across a variety of salt types. Use of pair distribution functions (PDF) to improve estimates of energy carrier’s mean free path have yielded some success, but due to scarcity in PDF data for the variety of salts in the MSTDB, this model is limited in the predictions it can make. Using machine learning to identify patterns in the PDF of salt compositions, then extrapolating these results to salts of similar compositions, should result in more accurate predictions across a broader band of salts than is currently possible with the Structural Coherence Model. The work will explore the potential for using machine learning to predict thermal conductivity of salts without published PDF data.

This study presents the design and evaluation of a harvesting cart developed to enhance the efficiency and ergonomics of manual crop harvesting. The cart was engineered to optimize harvesting speed while minimizing physical strain and improving user comfort during field operations. Key design features include adjustable working platforms, modular components to accommodate varying crop heights and operator preferences. The cart’s ergonomic handles and cushioned seating reduce musculoskeletal load and fatigue, allowing longer harvesting sessions with reduced discomfort. To assess performance, comparative trials were conducted with using human subjects. Harvesting time, heart rate, and perceived exertion were measured using standardized methods, alongside user feedback on comfort and maneuverability. Results indicated a significant reduction in total harvesting time—35% - 60% faster than traditional manual collection methods—while physiological data showed a marked decrease in operator effort. User surveys reported enhanced comfort and reduced back and shoulder strain, particularly during repetitive bending tasks. The findings demonstrate that the harvesting cart offers an effective solution for improving labor efficiency and operator well-being in agricultural settings. Its adaptable design and focus on user ergonomics make it suitable for a range of crop types and field conditions. Further development will explore material optimization and integration of sensor-based feedback for real-time workload assessment to continue enhancing operator comfort and performance.

In response to the growing need for research that crosses disciplinary boundaries, this project explores how a research initiative can be designed from the ground up at the intersection of sustainability, biology, engineering, and mathematics. Central to this exploration is the question: How can a research project integrate multiple fields to have a unique and long-term impact? The team’s work with mycelium composites (sustainable materials derived from fungal cultures) served as a living example of interdisciplinary design. The research process evolved as a decentralized and adaptive system, where curiosity, tolerance of ambiguity, and iterative collaboration replaced rigid structure. The project built networks of support that strengthened its viability and resilience over time, which mirrors the natural systems of mycelium. The outcomes of this outreach and project integration reveal that interdisciplinary research grows most effectively when structured as a branching and flexible network rather than a linear process. Collaborating across scientific and creative disciplines expanded both the scope of inquiry and the longevity of the project, leading to new conceptual and practical insights. Rather than following a single disciplinary trajectory, the team navigated multiple protocols, standards, and vocabularies to co-create shared frameworks for experimentation and reflection. This approach not only enhances the potential impact of research but also cultivates in researchers the adaptive capacities needed to address complex and evolving global challenges.

In this presentation I intend to illustrate the failures of AI chatbot psychotherapy in the framing of the four principles of bioethics. More specifically, the following presentation aims to exemplify the use of AI psychotherapy and how it can cause re-entrenchment of historically vulnerable and marginalized populations when these ethical principles are not upheld. This re-entrenchment ultimately causes harm to populations through sub-optimal care. Through the lens of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, I will demonstrate how AI fails to meet the aforementioned criteria in a real world example, by providing framing for the case of re-entrenchment. I will use a case study of the company WYSA; a software application with FDA breakthrough designation that promotes AI therapy to large companies, employers, CEOs, and executives as a cheaper alternative to traditional therapy. This example shows how already vulnerable populations are at a higher risk of receiving sub-optimal care and continue to be harmed by the promotion and marketing of non-ethical tools. Expanding on the specific cases of each of the four principles of biomedical ethics, I will further prove why the use of AI chatbot psychotherapy is detrimental to all demographics. Concerns include: data storage and privacy breeches, choice allowance in personal healthcare, receiving the best services possible from a moral agent, and the overall justice of patients from all backgrounds. It is essential that significant, mega tech companies entering the healthcare space be held accountable not only as profit motivators, but as healthcare providers. I suggest that tech companies entering the healthcare space should treat the four principles of biomedical ethics as obligations rather than guidelines, to minimize the harm of re-entrenchment.

This paper explores previous critical perspectives on the poetry of Mary Oliver, particularly that of ecocriticism and praise poetry. While on the surface, the poet Mary Oliver is known simply as an observer of the natural world or a poet attempting to speak to the current ecological crisis, my aim is to emphasize Mary Oliver’s focus on the divine in her poetry. Rather than a passive observation, her active attention to nature and her subsequent creative work represents a deliberate construction of an individualized spirituality in which the holiness of the natural world is expressed through its anthropomorphic elements. These anthropomorphic elements allow Oliver to engage in empathetic conversation with the nonhuman as human, inspiring a deep love expressed in anthropocentric terms, and a merging between nature and the self. In order to come to these conclusions, I also compare Mary Oliver’s work to that of other spiritual writers: Marilyn Robinson—specifically in her novel Gilead—and the 14th century English-Catholic Anchoress Julian of Norwich.

In the Brazil of Maria Firmina dos Reis, nature is more than just a frame for a story. Instead, it helps tell one. Since gaining momentum in the world of academia, Maria Firmina dos Reis (1825-1917) and her debut novel, Úrsula, have enjoyed significant scholarly attention in the last few years. As the first recognized Black female novelist in Brazil, Reis pioneered the occupation of a unique space within Brazilian literary spheres, conveying voices and perspectives that had been historically repressed. However, despite the value they hold in better understanding and contextualizing the genre of Brazilian Romanticism, Maria Firmina dos Reis’ lesser-known works of “Gupeva,” “A escrava,” and “Elvira” have not been as widely analyzed. “Gupeva” follows the fateful romance between Gastão, a young Frenchman, and Épica, an indigenous Brazilian; “A escrava” tells the story of a formerly enslaved woman, Joana, and her son, Gabriel; “Elvira” describes the tragic relationship between the young Elvira and Afonso, a soldier who is similarly youthful. Considering the prominence of nature and the environment within Romantic literature, including that of Brazil, this paper will address ways in which natural elements function in these three narratives: as challenges to readers’ biases about racial identity and systemic injustice, as protectors of the marginalized and distressed, and as reflections of emotions and thoughts felt by oppressed characters. Through a close reading of these three works, along with the integration of the historical framework of 19th-century Brazil, this analysis allows us to more clearly comprehend Maria Firmina dos Reis’ ability to expand and amplify silenced voices in her works—including that of the natural world.

Following the American Revolution, national identity was uncertain and undefined. J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur's Letters From an American Farmer offered an early attempt to define “American” as a new and unique identity that was rooted in opportunity, individualism, and hard work. Written in epistolary, Letters From an American Farmer, takes the perspective of a fictional settler in South Carolina, James, whose twelve letters depict a unique perspective on early American life. My presentation will examine how Crevecoeur’s work attracted European immigrants while also providing a foundation text for American identity that early settlers could look to for guidance. However, I will also argue that it presented a more complex and unsettling aspect to American identity in his ninth letter, titled “Description of Charles-Town; Thoughts on Slavery; On Physical Evil; A Melancholy Scene,” in which Crevecoeur’s persona “James” begins the letter with a description of the Charlestown, which he described as the “Capital of the richest province” (p. 1), that paralleled the success of Lima, Peru. But, James then begins to criticize Charlestown due to societal rationalization of slavery and the cruelties inflicted upon enslaved Africans. Crevecoeur’s writing in the ninth letter is an introspective examination of American identity and its ironic foundation upon the suffering and forced labor of enslaved Africans, particularly how slavery has had profound influence on the moral character of emerging Americans and early American identity.This paper argues that Crevecoeur’s writing in the ninth letter of Letters from an American Farmer reveals the contradictions of early American identity and its foundation of cruelty.