Poster Presentations: Four

With the anticipated IceCube Upgrade project installing over December, the need for optimized data collection and measurement procedures is paramount. In collaboration with the University of Utah's IceCube Calibration Team, I developed automated Python-based tools to evaluate and optimize camera operating parameters, ensuring that images capture the maximum usable data while avoiding information-loss through pixel saturation. Using scripts built from IceCube team templates, I designed custom modules to process raw data from our darkbench laboratory, generating human-readable images and visual diagnostics that quantify image quality across experimental conditions.

The analysis process involved creating pixel saturation distributions, displayed as spatial plots across each capture, and color intensity histograms for the red, green, and blue channels. I also developed a luminance-to-saturation ratio as a quantitative measure of image quality, allowing for consistent comparison across varying exposure times, gains, and filter densities. The ratio analysis is used for checking image saturation, and informs us of ideal parameters to be used for the IceCube Upgrade. Whereas color channel analysis is useful for determining margins of error in our laboratory setting, principally for calculating noise.

The insights we gain from these experiments will be validated in our laboratory before being directly installed as part of the Upgrade project. By improving the precision of optical imaging, this work directly supports IceCube's broader goal of refining data collection and reducing systematic uncertainties in neutrino detection. A sharper degree of calibration results in smaller error ranges in IceCube's optical measurements, which translates into higher confidence when reconstructing neutrino events from fascinating astronomical phenomena such as quasars, supermassive black holes, and active galactic nuclei.

By looking at life in the past we can better understand present ecosystems and make predictions for future environmental change. To study the past environment and life, fossils are the key. For this project, two panels were prepared, exposing the fossil fish within. This process of fossil preparation allows for species identification, giving way to the environment it lived in through the different rock layers surrounding it. Once both specimens were fully prepared, conclusions could then be made about their environment. Panel 1 is believed to be belonging to the species Phareodus testis and Panel 2, Phareodus encaustus; both of which resided in Fossil Lake of the Green River Formation. Through its history, Fossil Lake experienced dramatic environmental change. Rock layers from the site indicate that the lake expanded and contracted periodically until it dried up completely. The cause of this comes back to climate change as the normal sub-tropical climate became arid, resulting in water loss from the lake. From learning information like this, we can make more accurate predictions for how our present environment can change. Thus, we as a society can be better prepared for any drastic changes that come our way as well as come up with innovative solutions to solve them.

Sharks and rays are a diverse group of elasmobranchs that play key ecological roles in marine food webs. Many species function as mesopredators, helping regulate prey populations and contributing to balanced trophic dynamics, making them valuable indicators of marine ecosystem health. Understanding the habitat preferences and movement patterns of mesopredatory elasmobranchs is particularly important in coastal ecosystems, where environmental conditions and habitat quality can vary significantly over small spatial scales. In this study, we examined the effects of habitat type (sand flat, dead coral reef, and healthy coral reef) and tidal stage (high vs. low tide) on the abundance and distribution of mesopredatory elasmobranchs in Coral Bay, Western Australia's unique study site containing adjacent healthy and degraded coral reefs as a result of a recent deoxygenation event.

Visual transect surveys were conducted across the three habitat types during both tidal stages, and resulting abundance data were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA. Overall, 34 individuals representing 11 species were recorded. Habitat type had a statistically significant effect on elasmobranch abundance (p < 0.05), with the highest numbers observed in the healthy coral reef habitat. In contrast, tidal stage did not have a statistically significant effect (p > 0.05), although more individuals were observed during low tide than high tide. This pattern contradicts widely reported trends in the literature suggesting greater mesopredator activity in shallow habitats during high tide. Notably, sharks were observed exclusively in the healthy coral reef habitat, suggesting that habitat quality and structural complexity may play a critical role in shaping shark occurrence and distribution.

These results emphasize the importance of habitat condition in supporting elasmobranch communities and highlight the need for continued research into how environmental variability and human-driven disturbances influence mesopredator behavior. By identifying key habitat features associated with elasmobranch presence, this study contributes to broader conservation efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable coastal ecosystems and the species that depend on them.

The placenta plays a central role in supporting fetal growth through tightly regulated lipid metabolism. Proper activity of the transcription factor PPARγ is essential to this process. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) disrupts placental lipid handling, leading to excessive lipid accumulation and impaired fetal development. Our group previously identified the PPARγ target and epigenetic modifier KMT5A as a key driver of this lipid accumulation in rat IUGR placenta. PPARγ activity can also be modified through alternative splicing that produces a dominant-negative variant, PPARγΔ5, which represses certain metabolic targets in other tissues. The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is known to modulate PPARγ signaling and may influence these effects in placenta.

The mammalian activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) gene is expressed in neurons and is known to regulate different neuronal processes, such as learning and memory. In Drosophila melanogaster, the functions of the homologs dArc1 and dArc2 – which are also expressed in neurons of the fly brain – remain largely unknown. To begin investigating the role of dArc genes in flies, our lab generated a novel dArc mutant in which both dArc genes were deleted, referred to as the dArc1/2-/- mutant. In these flies, we observe dysregulation of reward learning. Previous work in our lab has shown that dArc1/2-/- mutants have an increased valuation sucrose rewards in appetitive conditioning assays. Expression of dArc1 in dArc1/2-/- mutant serotonergic neurons is sufficient to restore the wildtype behavior in appetitive conditioning. Here, we used a set of split-GAL4 lines to determine subset populations of serotonergic neurons that express Arc1, and we identified Arc1 in bitter responsive neurons in the subesophageal zone (SEZ), a taste processing center in the fly brain. Next, we show that a naturally occurring bitter compound, L-canavanine, is able to induce dArc gene expression, suggesting a role for dArc genes in the perception of bitter taste. To test this, we used a capillary feeding (CAFÉ) assay to assess bitter taste avoidance in WT and dArc mutant flies. We quantified taste preference by calculating a preference index between two liquid food sources: one containing sucrose only and the other containing sucrose and varying concentrations of L-canavanine. Our results show that dArc1/2-/- mutants exhibit a reduced avoidance for food containing L-canavanine, whereas wild-type flies consistently avoid high concentrations of l-canavanine. We hypothesize that dArc genes are required in the bitter responsive neurons for mediating l-canavanine avoidance. To test this, we plan to knockdown dArc1 using RNAi in the bitter projection neurons and test preference in the CAFÉ assay. Together these results highlight a novel function of Drosophila Arc genes.

There is convincing data on the potential relationship between predator-prey environments and cognitive abilities. There is often an increase in cognition found in species living among predators. Culum Brown and Victoria A. Braithwaite (2005) conducted an experiment to test this hypothesis on Brachyraphis episcopi. While they anticipated their results would support this hypothesis, the populations under non-predator conditions solved the cognitive tests more quickly. In this study, I replicate their experiment with a different species, named Brachyraphis rhabdophora, to determine if their results are repeatable. Populations of Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora are found in northwestern Costa Rica and are distinctly segregated into different river drainages. In each drainage, the populations are isolated into predator and non-predator populations. These populations experience a parallel separation of social environment to the populations used by Brown and Braithwaite. Using their same methodology, we measured cognition in Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora by presenting them with the task of locating a hidden food patch. I expected that that the predatory-prey population would complete this task more efficiently, although it’s possible that this species could produce the same contradictory results. Once the data are all collected, I will present the results and publish a paper on my findings.

The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene is expressed primarily in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus and is transcribed into a precursor polypeptide that is cleaved to produce several hormones used throughout the body. Among these are alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), which affects appetite and sexual behavior. When there is a mutation in the POMC gene that causes a deficiency, symptoms include early-onset obesity due to hyperphagia, as well as infertility. Rates of obesity and infertility are increasing in humans and we hope to understand these phenomena better by studying these traits in a mouse model. Our research studies the sexual behavior of POMC-deficient mice compared to heterozygous and wild-type mice to see if behavior might be a contributing factor to their infertility. Mice of both sexes exhibit specific behaviors leading to a successful ejaculation. These include anogenital sniffing, grasping, and attempted or successful mounting. For each of our trials, two mice are selected, one male and one female. They are placed together in a cage for 12 nighttime hours and their activity is recorded using a webcam and red light to minimize disturbance. After watching the 12-hour recording at 16x speed, one hour of high activity is chosen to watch in greater detail. Each time one of the above-mentioned sexual behaviors is observed, it is timed and logged to compare trials. “Snack breaks”, when a mouse eats the provided food, are also timed and logged to see if there is any difference between research subjects in the amount of time spent snacking instead of performing other sociosexual behaviors. We will analyze both the incidence and total duration of each behavior during the observed time period. We hypothesize that the POMC-deficient pairs will exhibit fewer sociosexual behaviors than the wild-type or heterozygous pairs. We also hypothesize that the POMC-deficient mice will spend more time eating than the control group. By studying infertility and obesity in a mouse model, we hope to understand this process better in humans.

Gilia yorkii and Gilia capitata are closely related members of the Phlox family that are interfertile yet have distinct differences in morphology. G. yorkii is endemic to the Sierra foothills east of Fresno, CA while G. capitata is broadly dispersed through California and Mexico. Previous work outlines the morphological differences between these species and demonstrates the ability to further develop G. yorkii and G. capitata as model organisms due to their morphological diversity, ecological diversity, and hybridization capabilities. To further develop G. yorkii and G. capitata as a genetic model, we are developing protocols for tissue culture and Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation to facilitate functional studies in these species. One challenge we faced developing the tissue culture protocols was promoting root formation and subsequent transfer to soil substrate. With the tissue culture protocol near completion, the transformation protocol is under development and shows great potential for success. Future work will focus on functional studies to examine genes critical to differences between these two species.

Cottonwoods (Populus fremontii, P. acuminata, and P. angustifolia) are native foundation species within Utah's riparian ecosystems. Cottonwoods support river-bank stabilization, provide essential habitat structure to animals, and serve as a primary food and building resource for native beavers (Castor canadensis). However, the spread of invasive species such as tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) across the American West threatens native vegetation. Invasives outcompeting for light, water, and nutrients disrupt established ecosystem dynamics and may alter the chemical composition and phenolic profiles of native plant species.

The purpose of our research is to investigate whether the presence of invasive species increases the susceptibility of native cottonwoods (Populus spp.) to beaver (Castor canadensis) activity. Through our research, we hypothesize that Populus species growing in proximity to invasives will exhibit higher rates of beaver herbivory, as a result of higher phenolic concentrations.

Our methodology involved conducting field surveys along two major riparian systems in Utah: the Provo River (Utah County) and the Jordan River (Salt Lake County). At each survey site, documentation included: (1) evidence of beaver activity (presence/absence), (2) the occurrence of native cottonwood species (Populus fremontii, P. acuminata, and P. angustifolia), and (3) the presence of invasive species, specifically Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) within a defined radius surrounding each recorded cottonwood (5m). This allowed for a geographical analysis of relationships between beaver foraging patterns and invasive species presence across two main Utah riparian ecosystems.

The significance of this project helps ecologists, botanists, and zoologists alike in understanding the plant-animal interactions that are occurring in Utah's established riparian ecosystems. Understanding the impact of invasive species on both the phenolics of native species and the resulting foraging behavior of native animals allows scientists to understand the current demographic of these riparian zones. Through deepening our knowledge of these plant-animal interactions and foundation species, we can better introduce conservation efforts, ecosystem management, and ecological restoration efforts moving forward.

Gene therapy is an exciting and innovative field focused on developing treatments for incurable diseases. For example, RNA trans-splicing is a promising gene therapy strategy that corrects disease-causing messenger RNA (mRNA) by delivering a repair mRNA containing a healthy gene sequence that combines with the target gene and replaces disease-causing variants. It can effectively treat patients without altering their DNA or introducing foreign proteins. However, a major challenge that limits the therapeutic potential of RNA trans-splicing is that the repair mRNA can sometimes be mistakenly made into proteins, which can interfere with normal cell function. Addressing this issue requires preventing repair mRNAs from producing proteins before they reach their intended targets.

Our approach to reduce incorrect protein expression is to tag the repair mRNA with RNA sequence that encodes for a protein destabilizing domain (DD), derived from E. coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). DHFR is a small, well-characterized enzyme that normally folds into a stable shape, but the DHFR-based destabilizing domain (DHFR-DD) contains mutations that prevent it from folding properly. In its unfolded form, the cell treats DHFR-DD, and anything attached to it, as defective and quickly degrades them. The destabilizing mutations in DHFR-DD allow it to fold normally when the small molecule trimethoprim (TMP) is added, creating reversible control over the expression proteins. However, protein folding models from Nakahara et al. (2022) suggest that the most destabilizing mutations in E. coli DHFR were not rescuable by TMP, implying potential for an even stronger, constitutively unstable DD. Our goal is to build the untested DHFR mutants that are the most destabilizing and use them to create a DD that consistently causes the strongest suppression of tagged proteins.

In this study, we will introduce amino acid substitutions in E. coli DHFR, attach them to a green fluorescent protein (GFP), and measure their ability to reduce protein expression by measuring fluorescence in human fibroblasts. We will also express the red fluorescent protein (mRuby2) under the same promoter but without a DHFR-DD tag to mark transfected cells. Our optimized DHFR-DD will be the first protein destabilization tag that is always active and strongly suppresses unwanted protein expression. This tool will allow scientists to deliver mRNA sequences into cells or patients for life-saving therapeutics without producing unintended proteins, which is huge for advancing RNA genes and expanding the development of safe and reliable gene therapies.

This study examines how oxygen influences horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in biofilms of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA’s ability to acquire resistance to antibiotics is a growing issue in the medical world, which poses a serious health challenge. By testing a modified growth medium (a 1:1 mixture of Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) and whole milk, called MB media), this experiment aims to identify how low vs high-oxygen environments influence HGT.

A paper written by a lab in Japan inspired the outline of this experiment. This lab used an expensive synthetic media but provided a cheaper substitute (MB media). This experiment varies the oxygen content in the biofilm environments.

In this experiment, two different MRSA strains are used with complementary antibiotic resistance. This pairing must include one that is susceptible and one that is resistant to the same antibiotic. The donor (resistant) strain is heat-killed in order to kill the cell but preserve the DNA to allow for transfer. Both strains are then cultured in MB media in 6-well plates to grow biofilms over 48 hours. After the biofilm has formed, the different samples are plated on antibiotic agar to allow for growth. If the recipient strain combined with the donor strain (the experimental sample) shows growth, HGT has taken place. The heat-killed strain is also spread on a plain agar plate to make sure it is truly dead, and the recipient on an antibiotic agar plate to make sure it is truly susceptible.

To ensure that HGT is taking place, the experimental sample is plated on a double antibiotic plate. This plate includes an antibiotic to which the donor strain is susceptible, along with an antibiotic to which it is resistant. If growth appears on this plate as well, we can be confident that HGT took place. When HGT is shown, the resistant strain will be isolated for genome sequencing to pinpoint where the transferred genetic regions are.

This experiment will provide valuable insights into the conditions needed for HGT to take place in MRSA biofilms. Results from this study can be applied to other experiments and research to help learn more about antibiotic resistance and create a plan in order to combat the growing threat it poses.

Environmental stressors can influence the behaviors needed for mutualistic relationships. For individuals engaged in cooperative defense of mutualistic partners, stress could affect their ability to work together to defend their mutualistic partner and therefore the fitness of the groups involved. Thatch ants (Formica obscuripes) engage in a defensive mutualistic relationship with honeydew-producing aphids: ants aggressively defend aphids from predators in exchange for the sugary compounds produced by aphids. Previous studies show that simulated stress affects how aggressive ants are when defending their aphids, but whether stress affects how ants cooperate to defend their aphids is unclear. To investigate how simulated stress affects ant recruitment and group defense of aphids, we exposed thatch ants tending aphids (n=9 control, n=8 simulated stress) to a freeze-dried ladybeetle (an aphid predator) for one minute across two time points during the summer and recorded their behavioral responses. We scored when ants entered or exited the direct vicinity of the lady beetle, how many ants were present and engaged when others joined, and whether antennation occurred in conjunction with this behavior. Preliminary data suggests that the maximum number of ants attacking lady beetles during the first timepoint (control = 2.44 ± 0.73, stress = 2.44 ± 1.33) increased slightly during the second time point (control mean ± SD = 3.25 ± 0.71, stress mean ± SD = 3.44 ± 2.01). During the first time point, ants from stressed colonies (mean ± SD= 2.44 ± 3.39) and from control colonies (mean ± SD = 2.56 ± 2.19) made contact with other ants before they joined the attack. This behavior was also observed during the second time point (control mean ± SD = 3.38 ± 2.07, stress mean ± SD = 7.44 ± 8.40). Our study gives us insight into how stressors may impact crucial aspects of cooperative defensive behavior.

Conventional imaging methods used to diagnose cancer are unable to identify the disease in its earliest stages, prior to the formation of tumors. New modalities are being investigated for non-invasive early cancer detection at the cellular level. Among these, the use of coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) has been proposed as a potential diagnostic tool. This approach has often relied on the use of x-rays to achieve the resolution required at the cellular level. X-rays often damage biological samples, so we present a CDI technique using a visible (635 nm) laser beam. A diffraction pattern is formed vertically, and the resulting pattern is collected using a gimbal-mounted CDI apparatus. The beam profiler is mounted on an automated system including a 3D-printed gimbal, powered by an Arduino and stepper motors, mounted on an x-y stage. Lenses were attached to the profiler to magnify weak signals, especially at the edges of the diffraction pattern. As the stage rasters though the pattern, the gimbal adjusts the angle of the beam profiler to ensure the light enters orthogonally. An image is collected from each position and a complete diffraction image is stitched together. The amplitude and phase of the object can then be reconstructed from a single diffraction profile using the Gerchberg-Saxton and the hybrid input-output algorithms. Reconstructed results will be presented for an Air Force target card. Further experiments will include cancer cells. The resolution offered by this technique could allow for automated cell differentiation without the use of x-rays or other ionizing radiation that can damage biological samples.×

To maintain the health of animals housed in captivity, knowing their level of relatedness with each other is of the utmost importance. For a population to remain healthy, they need to maintain genetic diversity. The best way to keep the gene pool diverse is to avoid inbreeding, which can increase the chance of genetic health problems developing and getting passed on to future generations. Breeders use records of the animals' relatedness to determine which individuals should breed and which ones are too related.

Historically, the main way such records have been made is through visual observations. Breeders watch the population and take note of what individuals appear to be breeding with each other and which individuals seem to share parents. However, visual observations are not always reliable. Genetic testing is a better way to determine relatedness due to it being more accurate than visual observations.

The purpose of this study is to perform DNA testing to determine the relatedness of Gentoo penguins from multiple zoos and aquariums. This study focuses on Gentoo penguins because a local aquarium, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, reached out to see if we could perform genetic testing on their Gentoo penguins. The Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), who monitors the individuals at their accredited institutions, found out about the genetic testing and reached out to join the study. The AZA has the goal of creating a database for all Gentoo penguins in captivity, as of writing, 6 of their accredited facilities have joined the study. This database will allow the aquariums to breed birds within their own population and introduce birds from other aquariums without the fear of lessening the genetic diversity.

For this study, the aquariums are sending us blood samples that they collect when they perform health screening on their birds. Once we receive the samples, we will extract the DNA and select a section of the genome to focus on. Due to Utah Valley University not having the equipment needed to sequence DNA, we will send the samples to a company for sequencing. Once the samples have been sequenced, we will use computer programs to assess how similar the samples are to each other, which will tell us the relatedness of the penguins.

We plan to present our results to representatives from the aquariums who participated in the study and representatives from the AZA. We hope that other aquariums will learn about our study and participate in future collaborations.

Aquatic plant invasions can cause declines in biodiversity and loss of economic opportunities. In addition to these plant invasions, invertebrate herbivores such as crawfish have also been introduced. Through feeding these herbivores may contribute to the spread of these non native aquatic plants by creating easily distributed plant chunks from messy feeding. We tested the hypothesis that invertebrates help disperse non-native aquatic plants through their messy eating. Crayfish and aquatic plants, both native and non-native, were collected from the wild and placed in buckets. Then, we will measure the size of viable propagules to determine any differences between native and non-native plants. We predict that crayfish will shred non-native aquatic plants into smaller propagules, thereby increasing their dispersal and colonization of new water bodies. Understanding the ways non-native aquatic plants disperse may help local agencies implement control programs.

Mycoparasitism is the ability of fungi to parasitize other fungi. Obligate mycoparasites must parasitize fungi to complete their life cycle. Ascomycetes, primarily molds, and basidiomycetes, primarily mushrooms, compose the Dikarya subkingdom of fungi. The ascomycete genus Hypomyces contains a range of parasitic behaviors including specialist and generalist parasitism on many different, mostly basidiomycete, mushroom hosts. Parasites evolve specific adaptations that allow them to overcome host defenses, so events where a parasite is able to jump to a fundamentally different host successfully is a notable evolutionary step. This project will characterize the evolutionary history of host switches and host range size changes in the genus Hypomyces. Hypocreales, the order Hypomyces belongs to, contains many remarkable species like Tolypocladium inflatum, the source of cyclosporin, the edible lobster mushroom mold, and “Cordyceps” parasites of arthropods. The order Hypocreales also contains Trichoderma, a facultative mycoparasite genus which is used in biocontrol. Hypomyces is understudied and closely related to Trichoderma. Some species of Hypomyces are parasites of agricultural button mushrooms, increasing the economic importance of studying the evolution of parasitism in the genus. Ascomycetes contain a wide range of chemical compounds (secondary metabolites). While some of these like penicillin have proven vastly beneficial to society, many others can interfere with DNA extractions. This project uses a rigorous DNA extraction protocol to retrieve both the parasite and host DNA from a single specimen of Hypomyces growing on a macrofungal host, followed by PCR and Sanger sequencing of the ITS gene (internal transcribed spacer region) for both parasite and host. This gene is a common barcoding gene, which are genes that typically have a unique signature in each species.Our end goal is to produce a single gene barcode phylogeny of Hypomyces and increase knowledge of its host associations. This will allow for the mapping the host ranges onto a phylogeny of Hypomyces, providing insight into the frequency and driving force of host switching over the course of evolutionary time and constructing a framework for future study of this genus.

Welsh's Milkweed (Asclepias welshii) is a federally-listed threatened species found almost exclusively in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kane County, Utah. Perceived threats from off-road vehicle use, along with its highly restricted yet continuously shifting dune environment, have highlighted the need for studies that address population persistence. To this end, we designed a genetics-based pipeline to estimate the genetic diversity, population structure, and reproduction strategy (clonal vs sexual) of A. welshii. We began our analysis by extracting DNA from the leaves of previously collected plants. DNA samples that passed quality control tests and had comparatively high genetic distances were selected for whole-genome sequencing. Using modern bioinformatic tools and custom Python scripts, we created a draft genome of two plant individuals, annotated the genome with >12,000 identified genes, and performed a comparative analysis to design 187 polymorphic microsatellite sequences. Finally, we validated a subset of microsatellites using PCR. The microsatellites identified in this study are DNA sequences that are highly variable among individuals and can be used in future studies to differentiate between clonal populations and those that are sexually reproducing, as well as to estimate population diversity. The results of this study will ultimately inform management decisions for the species.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes recurrent seizures. The most severe seizure status is classified as status epilepticus (SE), which is a seizure with persistent ictal activity that lasts over 5 minutes. SE is often pharmacoresistent, meaning that typical frontline antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are not effective in stopping SE. SE is classified as a medical emergency that can cause brain damage and has a mortality rate reported to be as high as 38% in some studies. SE has been widely studied, however with limited spatial and temporal resolution to describe the progression of SE. To fully understand how SE progresses, we have utilized a high resolution micro-electrode array (MEA) recording system to interpret the spatial and temporal details of SE development in ex vivo rodent brain slices. Through analyzing the progression that the MEA records, we have discovered several features of SE activity that may explain its pharmacosensitivity. SE recruits tissues in a modular pattern, meaning that regions of the neocortex can be in SE while different parts of tissues are simultaneously experiencing self-limiting seizures. This also means that the newly recruited regions become ictogenises, where epileptiform discharges consistently propagate from. As SE spreads throughout different tissues, the number of ictogenic drivers increases, while the early cores remain stable within recordings. We aim to understand the properties that underlie progressive SE and explore novel ways to treat it, such as through a ketogenic diet and anti epileptic medication. Our preliminary data analysis suggests that exogenous ketone bodies can significantly reduce the ex vivo seizure-like activity. This indicates that it could be a powerful therapy option for pharmacoresistant seizures, or SE. In addition, we are exploring how anti epileptic medications impact the progression of SE. We are beginning research on simultaneously running two standard anti epileptic medications, phenytoin and diazepam, and recording their effects with improved spatial and temporal resolution. Together, these findings will advance our understanding of SE pathophysiology and may assist the development of more targeted and effective therapeutic interventions for this life-threatening condition.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, leading to muscle paralysis and ultimately respiratory failure, typically within 2 to 4 years of diagnosis. ALS is known to reduce the diversity of the microbiome in the gut. This research project aims to enhance the current understanding of ALS by focusing on its microbiological aspects using a Drosophila fly model of ALS. We hypothesize that there are differences in gut microbiota between flies with ALS and those without the condition. Previous research on this topic exists, but there has been limited focus on the specific SOD-1 variant used in our studies. Using the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio in the gut and 16S rRNA sequencing, we will test the hypothesis that microbiome disruption accelerates disease progression. This work is important for understanding how ALS mutations affect the gut microbiome and will give insight into how the SOD-1 variant specifically affects the gut microbiome.

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), caused by Naegleria fowleri, remains devastating despite combination care. We set out to discover organelle vulnerabilities that could be exploited for rapid, selective amoebicidal therapy. We created Montenegro’s Medium, a low-cost open culture formulation, and paired it with a reproducible 96-well screen that reads necrosis (LDH, 24 h), apoptosis (caspase-3, 48 h) and mitochondrial potential (JC-1, 72 h) in amoeba-only and HeLa + N. fowleri co-culture. Plates were normalized when the positive control and NoRx on that plate were separated; where they were close, we reported raw signal. Where normalization was used, NoRx was set to 0% and the positive control to 100%; preset blanks were excluded. At the doses tested, amoeba-only signals stayed near baseline, while co-culture injury fell with perturbations of the ER/secretory pathway, thapsigargin + brefeldin A (± metformin), and mitochondrial potential was preserved at 72 h. These data nominate ER/COPII traffic and ER–mitochondria Ca²⁺ coupling as tractable organelle targets to pursue for fast kill with human selectivity, and they provide an open pipeline (medium + raw plates + analysis) that any lab can reuse. We outline concrete next steps, dose–response matrices, combination indices, and delivery strategies (lipid carriers/prodrugs), to translate organelle hits into brain-deliverable candidates

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a retrovirus that infects CD4+ T cells. Without treatment, infection with HIV-1 usually leads to AIDS, which is characterized as severe immunosuppression (CD4+ count: <200cells/mm³ of blood), leaving a person susceptible to opportunistic infections. However, some individuals do not advance to AIDS and are known as long-term non-progressors (LTNP). Interestingly, a small viral protein of HIV-1, called viral protein R (Vpr), has been associated with HIV-1 progression. Of note, it has been previously reported that the R77Q variant of Vpr has been linked to LTNPs. Additionally, R77Q has been linked to increased levels of apoptosis; however, the mechanisms behind it are not yet understood. Our group previously found that Vpr was expressed at lower levels in R77Q compared to the wild-type (WT) virus by western blot [1]. One possible hypothesis to explain this result is that the R77Q mutation could alter the protein’s structure or stability.

To address this, we used several different software programs to perform in silico studies that predicted both the structure and stability of Vpr with and without the mutation. First, Alphafold was used to predict the structure of both proteins through their amino acid sequences. The best structures were exported into Chimera, which converted the files into PDB files. These structures were analyzed using Pythia, a protein stability prediction software known to be particularly high performing [2], which calculates the ΔΔ Gibbs free energy (ΔΔG), a measure that predicts the spontaneity of chemical reactions. In the context of protein stability, positive numbers indicate a decrease in stability and a negative number indicates an increase in stability.

Preliminary data suggests that R77Q had no significant change in its secondary structure compared to the WT Vpr. Moreover, Alphafold was confident, plDDT >70 (per atom confidence scale from 1-100), in the predictions of these structures. The predicted ΔΔG for the WT Vpr with a mutation from R to Q in the 77th position was 0.4653, suggesting that it is less stable with this point mutation. Furthermore, Pythia’s predicted ΔΔG for the reverse R77Q variant mutation (Q to R) was -1.5909. This result supports the prediction that R77Q Vpr is less stable than WT Vpr. This may explain the lower Vpr levels found in the previous western blots. Future in vitro experiments will be conducted to validate Pythia’s predictions and confirm the connection to the past western blot analyses.

Guatemala is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world, with a variety of ecosystems from pine and mixed forests in the highlands to tropical rainforests, situated between North and South America. However, the fungal communities of this region remain understudied. Our goal is to better understand the biodiversity of Lactarius (Basidiomycota) in Guatemala. The genus Lactarius is ecologically significant because it forms ectomycorrhizal associations with trees, facilitating nutrient exchange that supports forest health and ecosystem stability. Additionally, several Lactarius species hold cultural and culinary importance for Indigenous Guatemalan communities. In collaboration with Dr. Roberto Flores Arzú at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala and Dr. Kendra Autumn at the University of Utah, we conducted genetic analysis of Lactarius specimens collected in Guatemala. Genomic DNA was extracted using the Monarch gDNA extraction kit, followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with ITS gene primers 6R and 8F, and then single-gene sequencing. ITS sequences were used to identify the phylogenetic and taxonomic position of Lactarius specimens. This project will broaden knowledge of Lactarius biodiversity in Central America and highlight both the ecological and cultural importance of these fungi to Indigenous populations of Guatemala.

Uncertainty toward vaccination, long recognized as a public health concern in human medicine, is increasingly emerging within veterinary contexts, posing risks to both animal and community health. This literature review and survey-based study examine the development, causes, and implications of reduced vaccine confidence in veterinary medicine, with emphasis on small animal and some large animal practices. The review combines historical and current research to explore how vaccination perceptions have evolved among veterinarians and clients, and how factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic have shaped current attitudes.

The literature highlights recurring themes surrounding vaccine reluctance in veterinary settings. Client perceptions of safety, efficacy, and necessity are often influenced by misinformation, social media, and mistrust of professional recommendations. The overlap between human and veterinary vaccine discourse has contributed to skepticism toward both core and non-core vaccines in companion animals. Veterinarians increasingly report that these discussions require enhanced communication skills and empathy to address diverse client concerns. Differences in vaccination rates across regions and species further suggest that socioeconomic and cultural factors significantly influence vaccination behavior.

The ongoing survey component assesses vaccine awareness, confidence, and communication practices among veterinarians and animal owners in Cache Valley, Utah. It examines factors such as perceived risk, information sources, and trust in veterinary expertise, as well as the influence of human vaccine attitudes on animal health decisions. Although data collection is ongoing, anticipated findings aim to inform outreach strategies that strengthen education and rebuild client trust. Overall, this research emphasizes the importance of evidence-based messaging, transparency, and proactive communication in promoting vaccination as a foundation of preventive care, animal welfare, and One Health initiatives.

Understanding the drivers of biodiversification is a fundamental objective in evolutionary biology, yet much remains unknown regarding the underlying mechanisms that create biodiversity. The cessation of gene flow between populations plays a causal role in this process, therefore identifying barriers between lineages is a viable approach to discover some of these drivers. The riverine barrier hypothesis, which was originally suggested by Alfred Russell Wallace in 1854, posits that rivers act as agents of speciation for terrestrial animals. The primary drainages of Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA), a biodiversity hotspot with remarkably high in situ biodiversification, correspond with lineage boundaries in several groups. Here we perform a meta analysis of publications where the evolution of river-proximal taxa was examined and assess the degree at which lineage barriers correspond with river drainages.

Gilia, a genus of wildflower native to the western United States, is a promising new model for evolutionary developmental biology. Two closely related Gilia species, G. capitata and G. yorkii, are able to produce a fertile hybrid, though they differ in many morphological features, including inflorescence architecture. G. capitata has a tight capitate inflorescence with a high solitary flower number, while G. yorkii has a much more open inflorescence, with a solitary flower number of one. Analysis of shoot apical meristem (SAM) size in relationship with solitary flower number (SFN) will provide a deeper understanding of the evolution of this morphological divergence.

There is a potential connection between SAM size and differences of inflorescence morphology in Gilia. We do not know if phenotypic differences in inflorescence architecture between G. capitata and G. yorkii are causal. If the differences between the two species are causal, we would expect to see a correlation between SAM size and SFN, and specifically, a larger SAM that correlates with a higher SFN. Our aim is to provide data to support the correlation between SAM size and SFN. Further research is required to determine whether the genes controlling SAM size are responsible for differences of inflorescence morphology in Gilia.

We cultivated G. yorkii and G. capitata and collected them at multiple stages of development so that we could dissect them under a microscope to the SAM. SAM samples were fixed and washed in ethanol, then soaked in chloral hydrate to clear the tissue. Photographs of the cleared SAM samples were taken with a DM2500 microscope, and the width and height of each SAM were measured with image analysis, using LAS Core software. We counted the number of leaves on the collected samples, as we dissected them, to track the age of each mature plant, and we collected data for the SFN. Finally, after collecting data for SAM size and SFN, we graphed our results to identify any correlations between size and solitary flower number. We were able to show that SAM size does correlate with SFN, specifically that G. capitata with its higher solitary flower number has a consistently larger shoot apical meristem throughout its life cycle than G. yorkii.

Due to their post-mitotic nature, neurons cannot dilute damaged proteins and organelles through cell division and rely on autophagy to “take out” the molecular trash. Faulty autophagy pathways can lead to devastating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Having a robust understanding of cellular processes that are linked to neurodegeneration is crucial for us to be able to further our knowledge of neurodegenerative disease in humans and improve the technologies used to diagnose and treat them. One such family of proteins involved in autophagy are the Rab GTPases, which are considered the “master regulators of membrane trafficking”. Many Rab proteins are ubiquitously expressed, but a few, like Rab26, are nearly or completely neuron-specific. Rab26 has been shown to play a role in the fly and mammalian neuronal autophagy pathways by associating with proteins such as Atg16L to recruit old or damaged synaptic vesicles (SVs) to the phagophore for recycling. The closest ortholog to Rab26 in C. elegans is RAB-37b, but the specific function of this protein remains uncharacterized. This project aims to investigate the localization and function of RAB-37b by utilizing fluorescent protein tagging and fluorescence microscopy to determine where RAB-37b is predominantly localized in neurons, which proteins it colocalizes with, and how RAB-37b mutants affect neuronal structure and function. Thus far, we have observed that RAB-37b does not localize with synaptobrevin (a known SV marker), indicating that it may be primarily on synaptic vesicles that are far away from the active zone and/or may not be involved in exocytosis. Survival curves from aldicarb assays have demonstrated that array overexpression and constitutively active rab-37b mutants increase the rate of synaptic transmission. Further imaging experiments and phenotypic assays will help to provide further insight into why higher expression levels of RAB-37b increase the rate of synaptic transmission.

Christian Dior's historically significant "New Look" defined the post-World War II fashion landscape and, through its strategic dissemination and adaptation by popular American media and influential Hollywood figures, powerfully interacted with conservative, traditional perceptions of femininity to promote cultural conformity during the 1950s Cold War era, affecting women's self-perceptions. Dior's "New Look" touched every facet of 1950s popular women's fashion and influenced style for decades to come. These changes in fashion did not happen in a vacuum and represented and reinforced the cultural ideals of post-war America, specifically those that impacted women. I plan to uncover how fashion is used as a tool for social change and bring light to the impact that unassuming clothing can have on a population. This specific niche was decided, as there is a lack of in-depth synthesis of feminist theory and Dior's fashion in the research. To enter this conversation, I have chosen to focus on primary sources and theoretical works, methodically chosen from databases and WSU resources, to support my above thesis statement.

Current studies and cases have brought to the forefront the close relationship between AI and the personalization of social media and issues of privacy and legal liability. For instance, according to Brittain (2025), in cases such as that of Salesforce, the improperly used copyrighted or private information in AI training indicated a lack of ethical standards. Also, according to Harrington (2025) case analyses of the regulations put in place or not placed in place in both democratic and autocratic nations with regard to online services suggest that democracies such as the U.S. support users with transparency and due process. Zakir et al. (2025) have brought up the linkage between the right to free speech and the right to privacy as it relates to data collection technology driven by AI. Also, according to Al-Dmour et al. (2025), there is the "personalization-privacy paradox" depending on user trust with regard to transparent data.

Based on such antecedents, my thesis is that current trials in the United States have evolved beyond Disciplinary measures to form the basis of upcoming ethical standards for Artificial Intelligence and Personalization. This topic involves the role of legal actions and reforms in directing companies to innovate responsibly through increased product transparency and fairness without compromising technological growth. In examining legal discourses at large, my thesis thus highlights the alignment between law and ethical principles to serve as combined impetuses in the development of trustworthy AI technology.

I propose to discuss the relationship that the rise in social media and influencers whose content promotes restrictive eating habits and extreme fitness regimens has had on the heightened rates of disordered eating trends in young women within the new age of technology. After reviewing multiple sources, I have concluded that social media is greatly impacting children’s and specifically young women's mental health and self-esteem, which is creating a pathway for young women to develop disordered eating habits. In order to come to this conclusion, I searched for scholarly articles concerning relevant topics through Weber State University's library. Thinness has consistently been the idolized body type; social media reflects that. The rise of influencers has caused this ideal to be heightened. Seeing as it has become normalized for young women to have access to social media, anorexia rates in young women are rising; the average age of women suffering from eating disorders is currently sitting at age twelve (Nawaz, et. al, 2024). Content that pushes the thin ideal forward has been linked to body dissatisfaction; once this trait is developed, one is at a high risk of developing an eating disorder. When young women have access to content that promotes anorexia nervosa, a recipe for disaster is created, and eating disorders are born from the content consumed.

Thrifting is becoming rapidly popular in our society, especially among younger generations. The main motivations behind this are self-identity, low cost, and environmental awareness. Shopping secondhand is much more sustainable for the planet compared to buying clothing from fast fashion outlets. But while it remains true that buying secondhand and reusing/repairing used clothing is better for the environment. Data indicates that the recent boom in thrift shopping among younger generations is actually making things worse for the planet. There are a few factors that affect this, including the psychological effects of our purchasing decisions and the quick turnover time on the clothing that is purchased, rather than focusing on buying new clothes from thrift stores whenever we get bored or if they go out of style. We should instead learn to repair and repurpose the clothes that we do have. Secondhand shopping is not necessarily bad for the environment, but the practices we do alongside it and how we execute it are important for increasing sustainability and decreasing waste.

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere, and it is experiencing historic low surface elevation due to climate change and water mismanagement. While the ecological and economic significance of the Great Salt Lake is well-documented, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the influence of the lake's microbial interactions during the carbon sequestration process. Current carbon sequestration models inadequately address the complexity and benefits of algal-bacterial mutualisms, particularly with microbialite systems. Microbialites are benthic sedimentary deposits composed of various microorganisms–such as algae and bacteria–that are abundantly present in the Great Salt Lake. It is estimated that the GSL stores tens of millions of metric tons of CO₂ due to the microbialites facilitating in the sequestration process. Recently, the lake is flipping from being a carbon sink to being a net carbon source. Despite this, most carbon sequestration models treat algae as an independent system, largely ignoring the interactions with bacteria and other microorganisms. Evidence suggests that algal-bacterial mutualisms can boost algal growth and CO₂ uptake efficiency. This mutualistic perspective is critical as microbial community dynamics have the potential to enhance biofuel production, wastewater treatment, and optimize various carbon sequestration technologies. We will cultivate isolated alga, Dunaliella viridis, cultures and compare them with microbialite samples collected from the Great Salt Lake under controlled lab conditions. Using a Picarro Gas Concentration Analyzer, we will measure real-time CO₂ flux and carbon isotope ratios to assess how algal–bacterial interactions influence carbon uptake and storage efficiency. By analyzing how CO₂ concentrations change over time in lone algal cultures compared to complex microbial communities, we aim to clarify the critical knowledge gap that has the potential to enhance strategies for ecological preservation, improve carbon sequestration technologies, and create an improved standard for biofuel efficiency. While this study also provides a foundation for sustainable environmental management practices in hypersaline ecosystems like the Great Salt Lake.

American Fork Canyon, Utah County Utah, is one of the most popular areas for recreation along the Wasatch Front. One of the large draws of people to this area is the plant communities, ranging from color changing aspens, to high alpine wildflowers, and spring blossoms. Due to this big draw from vegetation, we wanted to create a comprehensive flora of the plants in this area. We used a combination of previous collections as well as made numerous collecting trips to fill in any gaps. We expect to find high diversity in both plant species and communities within American Fork Canyon. This diversity is likely to be driven by the diversity in geology and geography of the area. In addition we hope to understand how this vegetation may be impacted by the high human use of the area. Our project represents an important tool for both exploring the area as well as understanding the care of this popular resource.

Utah is currently faced with drought brought on by climate change and declining meltwater deposits, threatening river flow across the state and into the Great Salt Lake. This decline has reached a critical point indicating that the Great Salt Lake may run dry within the next five years. This poses a threat to Utah's multibillion dollar agriculture industry.

In times of drought, plants can form symbiotic relationships with rhizosphere bacteria, which may provide advantageous traits, such as increased drought resistance. One such plant is Ceanothus velutinus, known colloquially as snowbrush. Native to the Intermountain West region of the U.S., C. velutinus inhabits poor soil in arid environments, meaning its productive rhizosphere microbiome has adapted to increase drought tolerance. A plant's microbiome is composed of a diverse community of bacteria, many of which have a symbiotic relationship with their host plant, promoting the survival of both. A more resilient microbiome may provide plants with mechanisms that aid in their survival, such as improved nutrient uptake, production of plant growth hormones, mitigation of environmental stress, and enhanced water efficiency for the plant. This functionally rich microbiome makes it an ideal candidate for the sourcing of beneficial microbes to mitigate environmental stresses. Although microbiome enrichment has shown some success in enhancing plant resistance to general stress conditions, its ability to improve drought resilience in a common, sensitive agricultural crop such as tomato remains largely unexplored. There has also been little testing of natural microbiomes to enrich the soil of agriculturally important and sensitive crops, such as tomatoes. This study will examine whether microbiome enrichment can improve tomatoes' response to drought stress. This will be done using successive enrichment cycles under drought conditions, to assess whether beneficial microbes might increase the resilience of the plant. If successful, this research would help to establish the foundation for a cost-effective alternative to artificial fertilizers, offering a scalable strategy that could be applied throughout Utah's agricultural industries.

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the impact of four pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) on soil microbial activity and plant physiological responses under controlled greenhouse conditions. The four PPCP compounds selected for this study are triclocarban, triclosan, gemfibrozil, and methyl paraben.

Fifteen intact soil-plant microcosms were constructed using six-inch PVC pipes driven into a field site to a depth of 20–25 cm. The columns were then extracted with the soil left intact. The bottoms of the columns were covered with landscaping fabric and aluminum mesh to allow drainage while preventing soil loss. The microcosms were then separated into five groups of three columns each: four treatment groups (one for each PPCP) and one untreated control group. Initial samples were collected at this time to establish baseline conditions. These samples included soil and plant material, fresh and dry plant weight, soil gas flux, soil microbial activity, and readings from chlorophyll and anthocyanin meters. Soil microbial activity samples were sent to researchers at the University of Utah to be analyzed there.

Wastewater biosolids were collected and spiked to 100 times the background PPCP concentrations. The biosolids were then applied to the surface of each soil column and watered daily for 30 days. Gas flux measurements, chlorophyll and anthocyanin readings, and transpiration rates were collected on day 21 to monitor soil microbial activity and plant health. At the end of the 30-day period, final soil, plant, fresh and dry plant weight, gas flux, soil microbial activity, chlorophyll, and anthocyanin samples were collected.

Plant and soil samples were extracted and analyzed following U.S. EPA Method 1694, which employs solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). All analyses included method blanks, matrix spikes, and duplicates for quality control. Gas flux measurements (e.g., COâ‚‚) were conducted using a static chamber setup to evaluate soil respiration as an indirect indicator of microbial activity and general soil function.

The data for the soil gas flux, chlorophyl and anthocyanin meters, fresh and dry plant weight, and transpiration rates have been generated. Results for the analysis of the soil and plant PPCP analysis are still on going. This PPCP data will be compared with the data that is already generated to evaluate the impact of these four PPCP compounds on soil microbial activity and plant physiological responses.

Air quality in Utah is increasingly threatened by urbanization, climate change, prolonged drought, and altered fire regimes. Local wildfires, smoke from neighboring states, dust storms from the drying Great Salt Lake, and frequent winter inversions contribute to elevated particulate matter (PM) levels. These conditions not only endanger human health but may also impact local lichen communities, which play essential ecological roles and serve as bioindicators of environmental health.

Lichens are symbiotic associations between fungi (mycobionts) and algae or cyanobacteria (photobionts). These organisms lack roots, protective cuticles, and filtration mechanisms, making them highly susceptible to airborne pollutants. Because they absorb water and nutrients across their entire thalli, lichens can also accumulate contaminants at levels exceeding their tolerance. This vulnerability raises concern for their persistence in PM-affected environments and for the organisms that depend on them for habitat and food. While lichens are widely used in biomonitoring studies, very few investigations have examined how their functional traits are directly altered by PM exposure.

To address this gap, I conducted a laboratory experiment testing how woodsmoke-derived PM affects the functional traits of Xanthomendoza montana, Melanohalea elegantula, and Peltigera rufescens. I exposed the lichens to smoke for varying durations under both hydrated and dry conditions to test whether moisture amplifies PM uptake and retention. Functional traits measured included water-holding capacity, photosynthetic rates, pigment concentrations, and photobiont-to-mycobiont ratios. These traits were selected because they are closely tied to lichen health and ecological function, making them strong indicators of stress responses to pollution. By focusing on functional traits, this research advances understanding of how lichens respond to environmental stressors and provides a framework for predicting their ecological resilience. Utah offers a unique setting for such work due to its severe short-term pollution episodes, shaped by topography and climate. Insights from this study contribute both to lichen conservation and to broader discussions of biodiversity protection in pollution-prone ecosystems.

I found that exposure to particulate matter does affect lichen functional traits. These findings highlight the vulnerability of lichens to increasing air pollution and changing fire regimes.

PURPOSE: To identify healthcare providers' and the general public's interests, motivations, and barriers for physical activity engagement, and investigate the alignment and misalignment between these populations in a Western urban center community.

METHODS: Two separate anonymous online surveys, for the public (PUB, n = 45) and healthcare providers (HP, n = 26), assessed perceptions related to physical activity (PA) and its role in disease management, barriers, and motivations for physical activity. The surveys also inquired about physical activity education provided in healthcare settings.

RESULTS: All respondents recognized the importance of PA for health. Health benefits were the main motivator for PUB (78%), especially among those who were already active. The social aspect of PA, valued among PUB, was less emphasized by HP. While patients' lack of motivation was cited by 84.6% of HP as the largest reason for not being physically active, PUB, particularly, the ones not meeting PA recommendations, expressed anxiety and lack of knowledge as a major barrier. HP reported that they regularly provide PA education as part of patient counseling; however, PUB felt that HP's engagement in PA education was not meeting their needs. Patterns regarding PA promotion varied by specialty and years of practice, with general medicine and mid to late career HP most consistently promoting PA.

CONCLUSION: The population recognized the importance of PA for health. However, the perceived barriers indicated a key mismatch. PUB emphasized emotional, informational, and logistical challenges and placed greater value on social support and incentives, which were underrecognized by HP. The key alignment was the need for improved education. These findings highlight the importance of implementing socially focused education strategies for HP and PUB populations to improve PA promotion and participation by addressing PUB-reported barriers: lack of resources and limited knowledge, while incorporating underemphasized motivators like incentives and social engagement.

Introduction: Shear wave elastography (SWE) offers a quantitative assessment of muscle stiffness and is increasingly used in rehabilitation and sports medicine research. However, the reliability of SWE measures in quadriceps muscles Vastus Lateralis (VL), Vastus Intermedius (VI), Vastus Medialis (VM), and Rectus Femoris (RF) may vary due to anatomical and procedural factors, including probe placement, muscle depth, and knee joint angle. Understanding which muscle and measurement zone yield the most consistent readings is critical for studies employing repeated or pre-post stiffness assessments.

Purpose:

(1) Identify which quadriceps muscle provides the most consistent day-to-day SWE measurements at different knee flexion angles, and

(2) Evaluate how measurement zone (upper, middle, lower) and joint angle influence SWE values.

Methods: Eleven males (24 ± 0.96 y; 183.4 ± 9.6 cm; 83.8 ± 14.2 kg) were assessed on three separate days using a GE Logiq S8 ultrasound unit (9L linear probe). Subjects were seated upright with the knee positioned at 30° and 90° using a goniometer. Five elastogram frames were collected for each of the four quadriceps muscles at three zones (upper, middle, lower). Mean stiffness values were calculated across frames, zones, and days. Test-retest consistency was evaluated using the coefficient of variation (CV%) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC [3,1]); zone and angle effects were analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA using SPSS ver. 29.

Results: No main effect of knee angle on measurement consistency was observed (p = 0.74). Among muscles, the VL demonstrated the greatest test-retest reliability (median CV = 14.4%; ICC[3,1] = 0.48–0.71), followed by the VI (median CV = 14.9%), while the vastus medialis (VM) was least consistent (median CV = 23%, p < 0.05 vs VL). SWE magnitudes were generally higher at 90° (p < 0.01), consistent with greater muscle stretch. Zone-based analyses revealed significant effects for VL at 30° (p = 0.005; UH > LH, p = 0.04) and borderline effects for VM at 90° (p = 0.056; UH > M, p = 0.048), while RF and VI showed no zone differences (p > 0.18).

Conclusion: SWE measurements are most consistent for VL at 30° across repeated testing. Angle strongly influences stiffness magnitude but not measurement reliability. Zone effects were muscle-specific, with the upper regions of VL and VM showing higher stiffness than lower regions. For longitudinal or intervention studies, VL at 30° appears optimal for repeatability, but zone standardization is essential to reduce variability and enhance measurement sensitivity.

Vaccine beliefs among young adults shape community health behaviors and policy attitudes. Utah has one of the highest vaccination exemption rates in the U.S. which may indicate a strong anti-vaccine presence. Therefore, we saw value in isolating the Utah population as participants in this study. Due to the seemingly increasing anti-vaccine movement across the U.S., we were motivated to understand the sources of vaccine beliefs (positive and negative) to better understand what is driving this movement. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of Utah young adults (N = 378; mean age = 22.01 years) to characterize vaccination beliefs, sources of information, and self-reported shifts in opinion. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were used to summarize responses; associations between demographics/information sources and opinion change were explored with χ² tests (where appropriate). Most respondents reported no change in vaccine views (67.3%), while 25.0% shifted more pro-vaccine and 7.7% more anti-vaccine. Among those who changed, leading influences were experiences during COVID-19 (23.4% of mentions), higher education (21.2%), and family conversations (11.7%); higher education was disproportionately cited by pro-shifters, whereas podcasts and friends skewed anti-shift. Although exposure to misinformation was common (e.g., "COVID-19 vaccine was not tested enough/properly" heard by 83.9%; "MMR causes autism" heard by 77.8%), endorsement was far lower (25.7% and 4.7%, respectively). Conversely, pro-vaccine statements showed both high exposure and belief (e.g., "vaccines reduce infection" heard 85.5%, believed 75.1%; "reduce severity" heard 82.3%, believed 79.4%). Intentions for future child vaccination were favorable (90.3% would follow a doctor's schedule; n = 372). Overall, young adults in this sample showed high acceptance of core vaccine benefits, selective uptake of misinformation, and identifiable leverage points (education and credible firsthand experiences) that can inform targeted communication to reduce hesitancy.

Background: The height ratio between intervertebral discs (IVD) and vertebral bodies (VB) is an indicator of spinal health. A higher ratio between the height of IVD to VB generally indicates a healthier spine. There is a known association between sleep quality and chronic lower back pain (CLBP); however, the direct correlation between lower IVD/VB height ratio and sleep quality remains unclear. We hypothesized that a smaller IVD/VB height ratio, indicating worse spinal health, was correlated with a higher PROMIS sleep score, indicating a lower quality of sleep.

Methods: MRI scans from 10 participants (8 males, 2 females; ages 37-55) were used to trace the IVD and VB using the OSIRIX software and the IVD/VB Ratio was calculated. To obtain the PROMIS sleep score, participants filled out the PROMIS-29 form from which we gleaned the sleep score. The Pearson test was used to calculate the correlation.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant, moderate negative association between sleep score and IVD/VB ratio on the L1-L2 level (r = −0.72, p = 0.018,). The other levels despite having negative correlations were not significantly significant. This association did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons. A multiple regression model including all five ratios (one ratio/spinal level) was nonsignificant, likely due to the small sample size and collinearity among predictors.

DISCUSSION: Overall, our preliminary results suggest that there is a correlation between the IVD/VB height ratio at the L1-L2 level and poorer sleep quality, as indicated by the PROMIS Sleep Score. However, the relationship did not withstand correction for multiple comparisons. This indicates that a larger sample size and study need to be conducted to confirm the findings. Based on this study and assuming future larger studies support these findings, there is potential to apply this finding to the clinical setting in when assessing one's lower back health questions about sleep may provide deeper insight into the overall health of the patient.

The Achilles tendon (AT) transmits force from the triceps surae to the heel, enabling running and jumping, important movements for collegiate basketball athletes. Seasonal training can alter tendon structure that is either beneficial or leads to overload injury. Early injury signs include increased cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickening with reduced echogenicity. PURPOSE: To investigate the changes in AT CSA, thickness, and echogenicity in collegiate basketball athletes across one season. METHODS: Ultrasound (US) was utilized to collect bilateral AT CSA, thickness, and echogenicity in 12 collegiate basketball athletes (Age: 22.7 yr ± 2.1; Height: 1.98 m ± 0.07; Weight: 95.7 kg ± 13.2) for a total of 24 ATs. US images were obtained with participants prone and ankles at 90°. Malleolar landmarks guided US probe placement for consistency across the season. Measurements were taken pre- and post-season; US was analyzed with OsiriX MD. RESULTS: Paired t-tests were conducted to compare pre- and post-season measurements. The AT CSA and thickness showed no significant change in mean value from pre- to post-season (CSA: 0.70mm² to 0.71 mm², p = 0.74; thickness: 0.51 cm to 0.51 cm, p = 0.93). In contrast, AT echogenicity showed a significant decrease from pre- to post-season (66.96 to 64.91, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: AT CSA and thickness showed no change from pre- to post-season, suggesting that these athletes maintained healthy tendons further supported by the observed parallel structure of the tendon. While the observed decrease in AT echogenicity was small, research indicates that reductions in echogenicity can precede tendon injury and rupture. A longitudinal study is needed to further explore these trends and their implications for tendon health, especially of players developing Achilles tendinopathy.

Hamstrings (HS), like other muscles, adapt to change and are often stronger and larger in athletes. With age, muscles atrophy due to factors related to age and increased sedentary behavior. Exercise can delay atrophy and improve overall health. The Nordic curl is an eccentric HS exercise often used in athlete training. The Nordboard is a device that measures this eccentric force while performing a Nordic curl. PURPOSE: To examine eccentric HS average (avg) and max force production across varying sports and age. METHODS: We compared eccentric strength of collegiate male athletes, elderly athletes, and active college students. Collegiate men were actively rostered on soccer (n= 23; age= 22.2 ± 1.0 yr; mass= 76.1 ± 8.9 kg) or football team (n= 379; age= 22 ± 1.9 yr ; mass=103.9 ± 19.9 kg). Senior athletes participated in the Huntsman World Senior Games (n= 202; age= 68.2 ± 8.1 yr; mass= 76.7 ± 20.6 kg). Active college students participated to provide a comparison population (n= 31; age= 25.6 ± 5.8 yr; mass= 74.2 ± 15.0 kg). The Nordboard was used to determine avg and max HS strength. Participants were instructed to perform a warmup that included 3 partial effort trials. Then they completed 3 full effort Nordic curls. A mixed model ANOVA was performed to determine differences in sport activity, age, and strength. RESULTS: HS strength differed significantly across sport groups (avg: p < 0.001; max: p < 0.001). The highest forces observed in football (avg: 426.7 ± 89.3 N, max: 447.8 ± 90.3), followed by soccer (avg: 418.1 ± 81.8 N, max: 434.6 ± 79.2), active college students (avg: 295 ± 81.3 N, max: 318.8 ± 96.7), and senior (avg: 178.1 ± 69.5 N, max: 447.8 ± 90.3). After adjusting for age and body mass, football and soccer athletes demonstrated significantly greater avg and maximum HS forces compared to non-athletes (avg and max: p < 0.001), whereas senior participants had significantly lower forces (avg and max: p < 0.001). Body mass was a strong positive predictor of HS strength (avg and max: p < 0.001), while age had no significant influence (avg: p = 0.67; max: p = 0.39). CONCLUSION: With our data we reinforce the idea that strength is influenced by sport participation and body mass. Surprisingly, age did not influence eccentric HS when accounting for mass, further supporting the importance of sport participation and body mass.

This study assesses how pre-health and health students define and associate the concepts of fitness, health, and normalcy when viewing diverse body types. Broadly, our research explores how the human body is represented in college-level anatomy and physiology curricula. Specifically, this project focuses on student learning and perception, examining how academic exposure and implicit bias intersect to shape early professional attitudes toward health and the body. The purpose of this project is to investigate how students’ perceptions of fitness and health correspond with ideas of what is “normal” or “typical.” By identifying these associations, we aim to uncover underlying cultural assumptions that may influence future clinical perspectives. Students enrolled in human anatomy courses completed a survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire and an Image Association Test (IAT) created by the research team. For the IAT, participants rated sixteen AI-generated silhouettes on four scales: fit vs. unfit, healthy vs. unhealthy, normal vs. abnormal, and typical vs. atypical. Each participant viewed one silhouette at a time and scored it from 1 to 10 based on their perception of each trait. Preliminary findings reveal positive relationships between the prescriptive terms health and fitness and the descriptive terms normalcy and typicalness. This suggests that students often equate the “average” physical form with perceived wellness. Early patterns also indicate that these judgments may occur automatically, even without contextual information or background cues. These patterns and trends point to the persistence of cultural ideals that may unconsciously shape clinical judgment. The project highlights the need for more inclusive pedagogical practices that raise awareness of bias and help future healthcare professionals develop culturally responsive, evidence-based perspectives on human diversity. Continued data collection will aim to expand these insights and support recommendations for curriculum improvement.

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is a devastating condition where substantial portions of skeletal muscle are removed due to trauma or surgery, resulting in permanent weakness and impaired function. While most experimental VML models create injuries in the middle of a muscle for consistency, real-world injuries vary in location and may affect recovery. PURPOSE: To examine whether the location of a VML injury within the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle influences the degree of strength recovery.

METHODS: Twelve male Lewis rats underwent surgery and received a VML injury in the TA muscle at one of three locations: proximal, distal, or disconnected. In-vivo contractile testing was performed at 1-, 3-, and 6-weeks post-surgery using specialized force measurement equipment to quantify recovery of maximal isometric torque relative to the uninjured limb. Statistical analyses compared recovery across locations and timepoints.

RESULTS: Normalized peak torque differed significantly among groups (p < 0.0001). Mean normalized torque values were Uninjured: 55.75 ± 3.17, Middle: 30.64 ± 4.25, Proximal: 23.48 ± 4.91, Distal: 43.79 ± 4.01, and Disconnected: 35.64 ± 4.01. Uninjured muscles produced greater torque than all injured regions (p < 0.05 for all), while proximal muscles exhibited the lowest force output. Among injured regions, a significant effect of location was detected (p = 0.0203), with distal regions generating higher torque than proximal (p = 0.0203). Torque recovery increased significantly over time (p = 0.0017), with proximal: 8.79 ± 1.2 → 23.48 ± 2.3, distal:11.17 ± 1.3 → 43.79 ± 3.5, and disconnected: 20.20 ± 2.6 → 35.64 ± 3.1 from 1 → 6 weeks. No regional differences in recovery rate were observed (p > 0.17).

CONCLUSION: VML injury location critically determines functional recovery. Damage near neuromuscular junctions (proximal region) results in greater and more persistent strength deficits than injuries in distal or disconnected regions. These findings demonstrate that the proximity of a VML defect to key physiological and innervation zones limits functional regeneration, highlighting the need to consider injury location when designing regenerative strategies and rehabilitation protocols for patients suffering traumatic muscle loss.

Background: Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) or large for gestational age (LGA) experience elevated risks of neonatal disease, with outcomes often worse in males. We previously showed that placenta supporting both SGA and LGA infants accumulate lipid at the expense of the infant. Placental lipid metabolism is regulated by PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), a transcription factor that activates genes involved in lipid storage. PPARγ also undergoes alternative splicing, producing isoforms that may alter transcriptional activity. Alterations in PPARγ expression in placenta supporting male and female SGA and LGA infants are unknown.

Hypothesis: We hypothesize that PPARγ expression and alternative splicing are sex-dependent and altered in placenta supporting SGA and LGA infants.

Methods: Placental tissue was obtained from planned cesarean deliveries of consenting participants and classified as SGA, LGA, or appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Protein expression of full-length PPARγ and its splice variants was measured by Western blot testing. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with Fisher's Least Significant Difference post hoc test.

Results: In male placenta, both SGA and LGA significantly increased expression of full-length PPARγ (133±21% and 121±7% respectively), without altering the expression of the splice variant. In female placenta, neither SGA nor LGA changed full-length PPARγ levels, but splice variants significantly increased (163±53% and 233±62% respectively).

Conclusion: Placental PPARγ expression and its splice variants in SGA and LGA pregnancies are sex dependent. Full-length PPARγ increases in male placenta, while splice variant expression increases in female placenta. These findings suggest distinct mechanisms by which male and female placenta adapt to altered fetal growth. We speculate that enhanced full-length PPARγ activity in male placenta may drive greater lipid accumulation, potentially contributing to pathologic lipid deposition and impaired nutrient transfer. Contrarily, increased splice variant expression in female placenta may represent a compensatory regulatory mechanism that preserves metabolic flexibility.

This study provides new evidence for sex-specific regulation of placental lipid metabolism, highlighting PPARγ splicing as a potential contributor to differential outcomes in growth-restricted and overgrown infants.

Background: Volumetric muscle loss (VML) results in permanent tissue loss and impaired regeneration due to disruption of muscle architecture and depletion of key cell populations, including satellite cells, the resident muscle stem cells responsible for repair and regeneration. Skeletal muscle transplantation offers a promising approach to restore structure and reintroduce regenerative cell populations into the injured area. However, the influence of donor age on transplant efficacy has not been examined and may impact regenerative outcomes. Methods: We first compared skeletal muscle from juvenile, adolescent, and adult rats for structural and cellular properties relevant to regeneration, including satellite cell density, myofiber morphology, and in-vitro myogenic behavior. We then transplanted muscle from juvenile or adult GFP⁺ donors into rats with VML injuries. After seven weeks, in-vivo muscle function was assessed, and histological analyses were performed to evaluate myofiber regeneration, satellite cell distribution, and donor-derived fiber integration. Results: Juvenile muscle intended for transplantation contained significantly higher number of myofibers per mass implanted than older tissue. In-vivo, both juvenile and adult transplants partially restored strength and increased myofiber number compared to untreated VML, though average fiber size remained reduced in all injured groups. Donor fibers (GFP⁺) remained small in both groups, indicating fiber immaturity at the time of analysis. Conclusions: Juvenile and adult skeletal muscle transplants support partial structural and functional regeneration following VML. While juvenile donor tissue exhibits greater satellite cell content and differentiation capacity, overall outcomes were similar to the adult transplant group after seven weeks. These findings highlight the role of muscle transplants in localized regeneration and support developmental age as a meaningful variable in the design of cell-based therapies for VML repair. Future applications of these findings will include additional therapies aimed at inducing hypertrophy and increasing overall strength and function. These future findings will create a better idea of the benefits of juvenile versus adult muscle tissue transplants for the treatment of volumetric muscle loss injuries.

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables are associated with reduced risk of various chronic diseases, in part due to carotenoids such as β-carotene. β-carotene functions as a potent antioxidant, helping to neutralize reactive oxygen species and reduce oxidative stress in the body. Interestingly, emerging research suggests that carotenoid levels can fluctuate not only with dietary intake but also in response to physiological and environmental factors such as stress, lifestyle, and exposure to pollutants. These variations highlight the potential of carotenoids to reflect both nutritional and overall health status.

Non-invasive reflective spectroscopy (RS) offers a convenient and reliable method for estimating skin carotenoid levels as a potential biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake. This ongoing cross-sectional study aims to examine the relationship between carotenoid levels and selected social determinants of health including income, education, occupation, marital status, and food security among adults residing in Southwest Utah. Participants in the study complete a brief survey regarding various social determinants of health, as well as other socioeconomic and medical factors. After completing the survey, participants receive an analysis of their skin carotenoid levels via finger scan.

The collected data will be analyzed to determine whether significant associations exist between social determinants of health and measured carotenoid levels. These findings may contribute to a broader understanding of nutritional disparities among Southwest Utahns and provide insight into biological and social determinants of health. Ultimately, this research may help inform community-based strategies to promote dietary equity and improve access to nutrient-rich foods through public health interventions.

Athletes who participate in high-endurance sports are at an elevated risk of developing magnesium (Mg) deficiency due to its crucial role in regulating muscle contraction and breakdown by blocking calcium in muscle fibers. Calcium (Ca) triggers muscle contractions by its release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in striated muscle and triggers a conformational change, which eventually allows contraction via a cross-bridge. There is the potential for an excess amount of calcium to trigger muscle breakdown in the event of mitochondrial calcium overload and release reactive oxygen into the tissue. This study aims to determine the relationship between Mg and Ca levels in collegiate endurance runners undergoing a high magnesium supplementation regime.

This study is part of a larger one on the impact of Mg on kidney function, performance, and stress on a total of 23 collegiate endurance runners (12 men;11 women). Participants each ingested one 500mg supplement of Mg daily for 6 weeks. Blood draws were performed before supplementation and after in order to analyze their Mg and Ca levels.

Pre-supplementation blood draws were taken in September 2025 and the post draws were taken in November 2025. Two tubes were drawn from each participant and spun down to plasma. The samples have been frozen at -80 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve them until testing. This will be done using standard clinical laboratory methods to test for Mg and Ca levels. Funds have been granted and the testing and control kits have been ordered.

The pre- and post-supplemental Mg and Ca values will be compared using a paired T-test. Due to supplementation the blood levels of Mg are expected to increase. Levels of Ca are not anticipated to be affected but the interdependent relationship of Mg and Ca may minorly influence the value of the latter.

Purpose/Hypothesis: This study examined how marathon running affects circulating adiponectin and insulin, two hormones involved in lipid metabolism and glucose regulation. Adiponectin promotes fatty acid oxidation and increases insulin sensitivity, while insulin regulates glucose uptake and storage. Understanding how these hormones respond to prolonged endurance exercise can provide insight into post-exercise metabolic recovery. We hypothesize that insulin will show an immediate reduction after the marathon, while adiponectin will increase during the recovery period.

Methodology: Thirty adults participating in the 2024 Ogden Marathon were recruited. Blood samples were collected at three time points: (1) before the race baseline, (2) immediately after finishing the race, and (3) 48 hours post-race. Plasma was analyzed using a Luminex® MAGPIX® immunoassay to quantify adiponectin (ng/mL) and insulin (pmol/L). A repeated measures ANOVA with least significant difference pairwise comparisons evaluated changes over time.

Results: Insulin levels decreased significantly from pre-race (M = 81.14 pmol/L) to immediately post-race (M = 25.93 pmol/L, p < .001) and remained lower at 48 hours (M = 33.70 pmol/L, p < .001 vs. pre-race), with no significant difference between post-race and 48-hour insulin (p = .178). Adiponectin did not significantly change immediately post-race (M = 2368.48 to 2847.77 ng/mL, p = .093), but increased significantly at 48 hours (M = 4583.96 ng/mL, p < .001).

Conclusion: Insulin decreased sharply after the marathon and remained low during recovery, while adiponectin increased later at 48 hours. This pattern suggests that marathon running induces a prolonged shift toward greater insulin sensitivity and enhanced lipid utilization during the post-exercise recovery period.

The Great Salt Lake is a vital component in a complex web of relationships between the environment, ecosystems, and society. It impacts Utah's weather through lake-effect snow and remains a source of food, water, and habitat for various wildlife. Its contribution to Utah’s economy is most significant, where it provides over 7,000 jobs. However, due to climate change and human involvement, the Great Salt Lake poses a threat as its decrease in volume is releasing arsenic dust. This dust, if inhaled, can lead to neurological and respiratory ailments such as asthma or lung cancer. One natural, cost-effective way to decrease this arsenic concentration is by using microalgae in bioremediation, specifically taking advantage of the arsenic reduction process of the microalgae species Dunaliella Salina. This study focuses on the ability and efficiency of D. Salina to uptake and reduce arsenic, where we analyze the alga's growth response to the arsenic, as well as analyze the arsenic abundance to observe the reduction. It's hoped that with the results of this study, we can find natural, cost-effective techniques to reduce the arsenic concentration within the Great Salt Lake, and in turn, decrease the threats to human health and the ecosystem.

Introduction: The plantar fascia (PF) is a dense connective tissue supporting the foot’s arch and managing load during gait. Inactive individuals often show pathological PF thickening related to plantar fasciitis, whereas in active older adults, increased PF thickness may reflect adaptive strengthening. Intrinsic foot muscles' abductor hallucis (ABDH), flexor digitorum brevis (FDB), and abductor digiti minimi (ADM)—provide dynamic support to the PF and may adapt differently depending on prior injury. This study investigated whether senior athletes exhibit greater PF thickness than published standard values, and examined how intrinsic foot muscle stiffness and size relate to PF thickness, demographic variables, and history of plantar fasciitis.

Methods: Fifty-five senior athletes (12 men, 43 women; mean age 66.8 ± 6.9 yrs; height 169.1 ± 9.0 cm; weight 73.7 ± 15.6 kg) competing at the Huntsman World Senior Games participated. Ultrasound imaging examined PF thickness and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of ABDH, FDB, and ADM. Shear wave elastography measured muscle stiffness. Group differences were analyzed between participants with (n = 43) and without (n = 10) prior plantar fasciitis using independent t-tests. Correlations and multiple regression models tested relationships between PF thickness, muscle stiffness, CSA, and demographics (age, sex, height, weight, leg dominance).

Results: Mean PF thickness (0.43 ± 0.07 cm) was significantly greater than the published norm of 0.38 cm (p < 0.05). Only the ABDH muscle demonstrated significantly higher stiffness in those with plantar fasciitis history (32.9 ± 22.0 kPa) compared with those without (17.0 ± 8.5 kPa; p = 0.03, Cohen's d = 0.78). FDB and ADM stiffness did not differ (p > 0.25). PF thickness was not correlated with muscle stiffness (r < 0.10, p > 0.5), and relaxed CSA and demographic covariates did not significantly predict stiffness for any muscle (R² < 0.12, p > 0.3).

Conclusion: Senior athletes demonstrated thicker plantar fascia than normative data, suggesting adaptive remodeling rather than pathology. A history of plantar fasciitis was associated with increased ABDH stiffness, indicating potential medial foot adaptation following repetitive or chronic loading. However, muscle size, fascia thickness, and demographic factors were largely independent, emphasizing that mechanical adaptations in aging athletes may be localized rather than systemic.

Astronomers have sought to determine the value of the Hubble constant, H0​, since Edwin Hubble's discovery of the expanding universe in 1929. Today, two primary methods dominate these efforts: measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), which probe the early universe, and the cosmic distance ladder, which relies on local distance indicators. However, these approaches yield significantly different results, giving rise to what is known as the "Hubble tension," a persistent and unresolved discrepancy in cosmology. Resolving this tension is one of the most pressing challenges in modern astrophysics. In this project, we use data from the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) to patch gaps for 25 southern galaxies with missing or incomplete Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS) coverage for galaxies that we have already observed using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The data samples will be used to estimate extragalactic distances through the method of surface brightness fluctuations (SBF). The SBF technique is a well-established method to measure galaxy distances based on variations in surface brightness due to the discrete stars within a galaxy. To calibrate this method, we rely on color indices, obtained by taking the difference between magnitudes in two filters. These indices provide critical information about stellar temperature, stellar population ages and metallicities. Observations obtained on April 5, 2025, will supply the necessary data for calibration. Ultimately, our aim is to combine these measurements with distances derived from the tip of the red giant branch, anchoring elliptical galaxies to a common scale. This creates a direct bridge between new JWST results and decades of HST observations, helping unify extragalactic distance measurements.

Microplastic pollution is an increasing concern due to both the ubiquitous nature of plastic pollution and the potential harmful effects. While many studies focus on microplastics in water sources, there are limited studies on the presence of microplastics found in snow. The deposition of microplastics in snow is a source of microplastic pollution downstream in lakes and rivers as the snow melts in the spring. In Utah, snowmelt is the primary water source for the state’s population. This study aims to determine the extent of microplastic pollution in snow derived from outdoor recreation activities such as skiing and snowboarding. By differentiating microplastic deposition of atmospheric sources from winter recreational activities, the dominant sources of microplastic pollution in snow and, thus, the water supply, are better understood. Some snow samples were collected from a remote, untraveled mountain location. Additional snow samples will be collected before and after snowboarding, using a variety of ski waxes. Other snow samples will be collected from high and low ski traffic areas in partnership with Sundance Ski Resort. Our preliminary results indicate that skiing and snowboarding activities increase the microplastic content of snow, and outdoor recreation is a possible contributor to microplastic pollution in the environment.

A stroboscope uses rapid, periodic illumination to visually freeze repeating motion. Strobe illumination enables the study of dynamic systems that move too fast to be resolved by the human eye or standard cameras. Conventional stroboscopes are widely available commercially and are typically handheld devices designed for macroscopic mechanical systems. The purpose of this project was to design, construct, and characterize a low-cost, microcontroller-driven stroboscope capable of integration with a standard binocular microscope, enabling micro-scale stroboscopic imaging. This research asks whether a low-cost, compact stroboscopic lighting system can provide the timing accuracy, brightness, and control needed for microfluidic imaging experiments.

To address this question, we developed an instrument based on an Arduino UNO R4 microcontroller paired with a high-power (10 Watt) LED serving as the illumination source. The optical assembly replaces the standard microscope backlight to allow direct stroboscopic imaging without modifying the microscope body. User-interfacing is achieved through an LCD display and physical input controls, enabling real-time frequency adjustment, frequency doubling, variable duty-cycle, and synchronization via external trigger input and output ports.

The methodology consisted of two design stages and one characterization stage: (1) firmware development for real-time signal generation, frequency and duty cycle manipulation, and user interface; (2) hardware development, including LED drive circuitry and optical mounting; and (3) electrical and optical characterization. Instrument characterization with a photodiode and oscilloscope included measurement of timing stability, rise/fall times, and maximum usable flash frequency. Device operation was verified by imaging high-speed electric motors in motion as well as acoustically triggered water droplets.

The development of cost-effective, simple, and reliable biosensing platforms for Fructose monitoring in food and beverages is critical for analyzing biotechnology. In this study, we present a cast-film fructose biosensor constructed on a carbon substrate coated with a biocomposite layer of fructose dehydrogenase, carbon powder, and chitosan. The bottom carbon layer provides the conductive base, while the carbon powder is diffused within the chitosan matrix, which ultimately provides a high surface area channel allowing for efficient electron transfer between the enzyme's active sites and the electrode surface. Chitosan, a natural biopolymer, functions as a biocompatible binder that enhances enzyme immobilization and stability, while ultimately maintaining the biological activity of the fructose dehydrogenase. The sensor film is fabricated by a simple casting technique, which allows for uniform deposition without the need for complex instrumentation or high-cost materials.

Surface characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows a uniformly distributed nanostructured film with appropriate interfacial contact between the composite layer and the carbon substrate. Electrochemical studies provide a rapid and reproducible amperometric response to fructose, with the current increasing linearly in the analytical concentration range applicable for food and beverage measurements. The optimized sensor is designed to show high sensitivity, a low detection limit, and a rapid response time within seconds, confirming that the carbon chitosan enzyme composite is effectively facilitating rapid electrochemical electron transfer.

The complete fabrication procedure uses inexpensive, commercially available materials (carbon, chitosan, and an enzyme), making the device feasible for both laboratory and potential field applications. Overall, this film-based design is a low-cost and scalable approach to meet the need for microfabricated electrodes to provide a promising analytical platform for fructose detection in commercially available food and beverage samples. In addition, this simple casting approach can be applied to other oxidoreductase enzymes for the detection of different sugars or substances.

The properties of dark matter are still being explored, and we can use the density of galaxies in cosmic voids to better understand it. Specifically, by searching for emission line galaxies in the void FN2 our group will aid further research into dark matter by improving the existing database of galaxies within cosmic voids. Initially, we conducted a by-eye search using images taken in three redshifted narrow-band filters. We have added all three images together to form a composite image while also subtracting the higher and lower filter images against the middle filter image in order to identify objects that might be within the void. If a galaxy has strong emission lines and is far enough away, the galaxy will be brighter in one or two of the filters. By comparing the galaxy’s brightness in all three filters we have found galaxies which are possibly in the center of the void. To aid this search, our group developed software to divide the large comparison images into many smaller images, then display those small images for careful analysis. To conclude our by-eye search, all of the small images with candidates in them were compiled into a comprehensive list for further examination. Meanwhile, in our preliminary study we created a catalog of interesting objects that appear in the brightness comparison images using SourceExtractor on the master summed images. Using this catalog, we are filtering the found possible galaxies against brightness uncertainties, count ratios, and models of line strength through all three filters to further narrow our search.

Nitrocellulose, or cellulose nitrate, is an organic compound whose applications depend heavily on its nitrogen content. Nitrocellulose is made by nitrating some or all the hydroxyl (-OH) groups on cellulose with HNO3 or mixed acid systems. The resulting percentage of nitrogen can vary widely. Nitrogen content below 12.5% yields less reactive forms used in common products such as inks, films, lacquers, and ping pong balls, while nitrocellulose with >12.5% N is used for high explosives, propellants, and fireworks. Since this chemical reactivity ultimately determines its application, knowing the exact nitrogen content of nitrocellulose is essential. We have investigated elemental analysis (EA) as a potential rapid analytical method for measuring %N in nitrocellulose. We discovered that the results from traditional EA erroneously inflate nitrogen content due to unusually rapid combustion of samples in excess oxygen, causing sensor over-pressurization. Moreover, current literature methods are instrument-specific, limiting broad EA compatibility. We have overcome these problems by incorporating combustion modifiers, tuning oxygen amounts, and leveraging carbon data. Unlike other analytical methods for nitrocellulose, our method incorporates %C analysis to give a novel reporting parameter for %N determination based on nitrogen-to-carbon ratios. This improves EA compatibility across instruments, enabling more laboratories to perform nitrocellulose analyses.×

Spatial visualization is an important skill in STEM fields such as anatomy, physics, chemistry, and engineering, yet many students struggle to mentally manipulate 3D structures. This is especially the case in Organic Chemistry courses. Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising way to address this challenge by providing immersive, hands-on interaction with 3D models.

A VR application was developed to help students better visualize and understand molecular geometry, stereochemistry and chirality in organic chemistry. To evaluate its impact, students enrolled in these courses were introduced to the application and then interviewed about their experiences using the VR to determine how it influenced their spatial reasoning skills.

Students reported that being able to manipulate molecules in a 3D environment enhanced their engagement and comprehension of complex topics. Many described the VR experience as more interactive and enjoyable than traditional learning methods and noted a clearer understanding of stereochemical concepts. Overall highlighting the potential of VR technology to strengthen spatial visualization abilities and deepen conceptual understanding in STEM education.

In this research work, the light-scattering properties of atmospheric particles in the Southern Utah region will be analyzed using a non-spherical scattering numerical model for polydisperse and randomly oriented particles. This numerical method, the T-matrix, is one of the most powerful and widely used tools for rigorously computing light scattering and extinction by nonspherical particles with various shapes and sizes in random orientation for both single and aggregated particles. In this method, both the incident and scattered electric fields are expanded in vector spherical waves, and the transformation of the expansion coefficients of the incident field into those of the scattered field is given by the so-called T-matrix. The scattered fields calculated by the T-matrix model will give information about the characteristics of the particles, like size and chemical composition, among other important features of the local atmosphere.

Data for the light scattering model will be obtained from the CALIOP Lidar which was on board of the CALIPSO satellite. The Calipso satellite ended its mission on August 2023, and its products are still under refinement and available at the mission website (https://asdc.larc.nasa.gov/project/CALIPSO) . The Lidar measured the vertical structure of the Earth's atmosphere at resolutions of 30 m vertical and 335 m horizontal, with a revisiting time of 16 days. The lidar was also able to discriminate aerosols from clouds within the profile data and provides aerosol type. The aerosol type is a mixture of aerosol components that is characteristic of a region or an air mass. The T-matrix model will use this information to estimate the type of aerosols exist in Southern Utah, especially in Cedar City. To do this, the model will produce total columns of aerosol optical attenuation or aerosol optical depth for column of air and compared with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) which is a key instrument onboard of the Terra and Aqua spacecraft. The instrument has a viewing swath width of 2,330 km and views the entire surface of the Earth every one to two days. Its detectors measure 36 spectral bands between 0.405 and 14.385 µm, and it acquires data at three spatial resolutions -- 250m, 500m, and 1,000m.

Climate change is an issue that continues to devastate historically marginalized communities and create socioeconomic as well as physical and mental health challenges through frequent exposure (Baird, 2008; Feng et al., 2024; Green & Healy, 2022). These effects may worsen as climate change is known to have links to a combination of interacting complex stressors known as multiple stressors (Räsänen et al., 2016). Despite these potential effects, a limited understanding exists of what multiple stressors Utah’s West Side residents experience. Thus, the aim of the study was to conduct a literature review to investigate how climate change may interact with everyday stressors. Articles were selected based on their theoretical relevance to Utahns and categorized according to their key stressors. From the literature, four main climate-related stressors (heat, air pollution, drought, and wildfires) were chosen based on their relevance to Utahns, alongside six types of daily stressors (physical health, mental health, cognition, violence, financial strain, and sociocultural strain). From these themes, a framework was created that shows the complex ways these stressors connect and interact. The findings suggest that an increase in exposure to climate-related stressors is linked to adverse effects across multiple daily stressors. At the same time, there is extremely limited research directly examining these complex interactions between multiple stressors, specifically for marginalized individuals living around the Great Salt Lake in Utah. In order to effectively manage the complex stressors at play, a community-integrated approach is needed to spread awareness and mitigate climate change challenges faced by West Side Utahns.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a pervasive and serious mental health condition that develops following exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs). PTSD significantly impacts quality of life and has broad relevance across multiple domains of life. Certain demographic groups have been found to have higher PTSD symptom levels as rated on psychometric assessments such as the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (known as the PCL-5; a self-report measure for the latent construct of PTSD). Two populations of particular interest are military veterans and undergraduate civilian college students, both of which exhibit higher lifetime and recent prevalence rates of PTSD compared to the general civilian population.

At the intersection of these two groups are student veterans, a demographic shown to experience even higher lifetime and recent PTSD prevalence rates compared to either parent group (mediated by the predictor of a potentially traumatic event). Although the PCL-5 has been validated for use in both veterans and civilian student populations, limited research exists regarding its psychometric validity among student veterans specifically.

The present study sought to evaluate the validity of the PCL-5 in this population examining construct validity (including structural, convergent, and discriminant validity indicators) alongside comparisons of a 1-factor PTSD model and an alternative 4-factor model of PTSD (the dysphoria model). Data was collected through a cross-sectional approach from two independent national student veteran samples (2017 and 2022) using consistent procedures and instruments.

Findings on the central scale and compared measures indicate that the PCL-5 is a valid instrument for assessing PTSD symptoms in student veterans. The results suggest that the measure intent of the PCL-5 is more often aligned with a unidimensional (one-factor) model rather than the best-fit four-factor DSM-5 model. The study also emphasizes support of segmented data validation (to the data-set itself) as opposed to tool-type validation against the data-set. Certain variations were found in the assessment between the two groups, one of the prominent differences regarding avoidance subscales, potentially attributed to reduced socio-environmental behavioral factors associated with COVID-19.

This poster focuses on changes in behavior related to activity and risk assessment related behavior in Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (MHC). MHCs are inexpensive, resilient, and easy to maintain, making them an ideal invertebrate model for undergraduate research. Despite their functionality, there remains a knowledge gap regarding MHC behavior, specifically in regard to typical behaviors in traditional behavioral assays. Previous research in our lab has investigated MHC behavior in a single-day open-field assessment, where we observed large individual differences, as well as typical behavior in the open field apparatus. Building on this, the current study analyzes changes in MHC behavior during an open-field assessment over three consecutive days using a repeated-measures design. Activity levels and risk-assessment behavior were analyzed through a variety of metrics found via behavioral tracking software. This poster will continue to investigate MHC behavior in an open field environment, specifically in regard to behavioral changes across the repeated trials. These findings may serve as a framework for future repeated measure experiments and assist in analyzing the efficacy of using an open-field assessment to measure risk assessment in MHCs.

Lateralization of the various brain networks - especially the language network - within the brain is not a new concept within the field of neuroscience and psychology. Plenty of research suggests that this lateralization can be differentiated by handedness in some cases. However, the methodology and populations used in previous studies tend not to include larger sample sizes of left handers. Johnstone et al. (2021) intended to fill this gap by purposefully matching left and right handers for hemispheric dominance in verbal fluency, face perception, body perception, and scene perception. Their results suggest that relative to right handers, those who are left handed show reduced lateralization during language processing tasks. Therefore the purpose of this current study is to replicate these findings in order to identify the reliability of these results and continue to interrogate the relationship between lateralization and handedness. Does handedness predict task and surface area lateralization in the language network? We hypothesize that left handers will show reduced lateralization in the language network across both data types. Data collection was conducted previously and extracted from the Human Connectome Project-Development (HCP-DISC) data set. This dataset was then subsetted by matching participants on age, sex, session, and mean framewise displacement resulting in 52 participants. Differences within handedness groups will be analyzed using a multiple regression model. Contrary to our hypothesis, handedness appeared to not be a significant predictor of both task and surface area lateralization, even when controlling for age, motion, and sex (task lateralization: (t(47) = 0.71, p = 0.48), surface area lateralization: (t(47) = -1.38, p = 0.17)). In this study contrary to Johnstone et al.(2021) we did not find a difference in language lateralization between left and right handers. This null result could have been due to the difference in methodology between studies, with our study including matching between left and right handers. Additionally, in our multiple regression model we controlled for the variables of age motion and sex which were not originally controlled for in the Johnstone et al. (2021) study. In the future, research should focus on including a larger and more diverse sample in order to improve statistical power. Despite the results from Johnstone et al. (2021), this replication attempt resulted in a null finding suggesting that the language networks of left handers with more typical lateralized language dominance may not differ much from right handers.

Note: The terms service dogs (SD) and emotional support animal are used interchangeably in this study. Rate of diagnoses in mental health disorders increased from 2018 through 2021. With increased needs for therapeutic interventions across the nation, resources for traditional therapies have been taxed. Along with significant difficulties with initiation and dropout rates from evidence-based treatments for mental health, there has been increased interest in new and innovative programs and therapies. A number of complimentary and alternative medicines (e.g., yoga, meditation, adventure therapy, etc) have shown promise in assisting those who for one reason or another are not being helped by traditional therapies. One of the most popular alternatives that has received recent attention is that of psychiatric service dogs (PSD) and emotional support animals (ESA). The National Service Animal registry noted a significant change in their registry from 2011 to 2019, with the number of registered animals growing from 2,400 to over 200,000.

There are significant differences in the terminology used among researchers in this area, without a consensus for vocabulary. Terms such as "service animal" or "skilled companion animal" being left to public discretion. However, some things are known in the field. For instance, while many argue that they are exceptionally helpful with mental health treatment , ESAs aren't recognized as service animals under the American Disability Association (ADA). Another area is that there is a scientific consensus that more qualitative and quantitative data is needed regarding the efficacy of ESAs, as well as more solid definitions and requirements for an animal to have an ESA certification. This study aims to investigate motivations, rationales, and justifications for the acquisition of a PSD or ESA.

This study used a semi-structured qualitative interviews with 26 participants to better understand the experiences of acquiring and living with PSDs or ESAs. The interviews focus on understanding why people choose to add PSD or ESA to their lives, as well as what their daily lives and functioning are like with these animals.

In these interviews, participants described tasks their PSDs and ESAs performed. They also discussed challenges they faced when encountering other PSDs or ESAs in public, including disagreements about how these animals should behave or what qualifies a dog as a service or support animal. These conversations, which will be discussed in this presentation, highlight the importance of continuing research in this area to gain a deeper understanding of these experiences.

Veterans of the United States military face a severe mental health crisis, with approximately 22 Veteran suicides per day (Carney, 2014). Rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among former military are often two to three times higher than their civilian counterparts, and substance use disorders occur at twice the civilian rate, with an estimated 900,000 Veterans struggling with alcohol abuse. Over 30% of Veterans visiting primary care clinics screen positive for depression (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2021) and report anxiety symptoms (Gagnon et al., 2024), highlighting the urgent need for research into interventions that address their complex mental health challenges.

Current treatments, while effective in many cases, suffer from significant barriers. For instance, gold-standard PTSD treatments such as PE and CPT show strong empirical support but have high dropout rates and low initiation. Approximately 72% of Veterans with mental health concerns choose not to begin therapy, with 60% citing perceptions of weakness as the primary reason (Sharp et al., 2015) and 42% dropping out of programs like PE and CPT (Mojtabai et al., 2011).

Alternative and complementary therapies, including outdoor and adventure-based interventions, have shown promise in improving psychological well-being (Marchand et al., 2018). Acupuncture, yoga, and deep breathing exercises have shown to help reduce PTSD symptoms (Song et al., 2020). Recreational and adventure therapies, such as fly fishing, rock climbing, and sailing, improve psychosocial outcomes, promote positive change, and enhance social connection (Bettmann et al., 2021; Zabag et al., 2019). Sailing, in particular, has emerged as a viable adventure therapy with potential for reduced attrition when paired with or used independently of psychotherapy.

This program evaluation examines an adventure therapy program that takes military veterans and first responders (e.g., law enforcement, firefighters, parademics, etc) on the waters as they learn to pilot and navigate a sailboat. Pre-intervention and post-intervention measures include the CAPS-5, LEC-5, PCL-5, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSS, PACES, and more. Weekly measures evaluate changes in PTSD, depression, anxiety, stress, and enjoyment. Data collection is ongoing. While past sailing-based adventure therapy has demonstrated positive impacts for their participants, and early results from this study are promising, his poster will focus on the design and logistical aspects of the study, including student inclusion factors and responsibilities. Students' roles for this study include conducting intake/pre/post assessment (including the CAPS-5 interviews), participating in regular instrument fidelity meetings, dock-side veteran interaction and data collection, and coordination of participants and research assistants.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that a child experiences from birth to 17 years old, such as neglect, child maltreatment, incarcerated parent, and violence in the home. Previous research shows exposure to high numbers of ACEs are associated with many detrimental health conditions, insecure attachment, and poor mental health outcomes. There is a strong connection and interconnected relationship between ACEs, attachment style, and mental health. The first hypothesis is that a higher number of ACEs is associated with greater likelihood of for poor mental health outcomes (specifically, depression, anxiety, and PTSD) and an insecure attachment style in adulthood. The second hypothesis is that those who have experienced neglect specifically in childhood have an increased risk of developing a depressive disorder and an anxious attachment style in adulthood. Aim: This systematic review aims to better understand the predictive nature that exists between the relationship of ACEs and attachment in adult mental health outcomes. Specifically, this study will focus on 3 main mental health outcomes: depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: A search strategy was created to identify studies that examined ACEs, mental health outcomes, and attachment quality. The following databases were searched using keyword-based strategies: Academic Search Ultimate, APA PsychInfo, ProQuest Central, PubMed, and Web of Science. This study is based on an existing data set, the data set included 637 studied that were screened for title and abstract, 95 studies that were screened for full-text, and the data that was extracted from 55 studies which met the inclusion criteria. The current study will be a more in-depth examination on ACEs and will include developing a screening and extraction tool to extract more detailed information pertaining to ACEs and establishing inter-rater reliability on both of these. Future steps include extracting additional data, such as specific traumatic events, and certain attachment styles, to be analyzed quantitatively. Preliminary Results: From the previous study, data from 55 peer-reviewed articles were extracted. Preliminary results indicate there is a strong association between ACE exposure with insecure adult attachment and depression and PTSD. This has prompted the current study to take a more nuanced look at specific ACEs and number of ACEs have in predicting attachment quality and adult mental health outcomes. Conclusions: The results will either support or reject the null hypothesis. After the review is completed, the major findings and implications will be addressed.

This project addresses the adaptive reuse and renovation of The Forest Building, a 1930s Art Deco structure located in Ogden's Nine Rails Creative District. In need of modernization across all five floors, the building must remain compliant with historical preservation easements while supporting new mixed-use functions such as residential work-live units, public gathering spaces, educational resources, and business start-ups that incorporate inclusive design methods. The research guiding this design draws from key peer-reviewed case studies and research. A case study by Alhazza (2023), presented through the EFFESUS Project, reveals that upgrading historic buildings for energy efficiency is often more sustainable than constructing new buildings, despite the challenges of integrating modern systems into protected structures. Techniques such as high-performance glazing, aerogel insulation, and passive heating strategies have proven effective in preserving historical exteriors while significantly reducing energy consumption. Additionally, research into human-centered design influences overall lighting design. Hsieh (2025) conducted a case study on lighting in creative environments, demonstrating that layered combinations of natural and artificial light sources can enhance mood, increase motivation, and improve creative performance among artists. Furthermore, Jamshidi (2020) found that integrating multiple wayfinding strategies, such as combining textual and symbolic signage, is more effective than using isolated methods, particularly in multi-level buildings. This research will be directly applied in this project through thoughtful spatial reconfigurations, layered lighting systems, transitional construction methods, and sustainable upgrades. The basement will be reconfigured to accommodate Weber State University's Welding Department and include an accessible ramp entrance with textual and symbolic signage for easy wayfinding throughout the building. The main floor is envisioned as a flexible, community-centered gathering space, business start-ups, offices, information hub, and a cafe. the design will be unified through a modern interpretation of the Art Deco style, featuring bold colors, geometric patterns, layered lighting, skylights, and preserved architectural elements in areas protected by historical easements. The upper floors will feature a modern aesthetic and accommodate mixed-income residential units with dedicated workspaces, aging-in-place design strategies, and ADA Type 1 accessibility in select units to encourage and support integrated live-work lifestyles. On the second floor, two rooms with original built-ins will be preserved to maintain the architectural integrity of the space, while repainting will be used to refresh the rooms and repurpose them as a conference area and library. In conclusion, the final design aims to bridge historical integrity with contemporary function, resulting in an inclusive, energy-conscious, and community-driven environment rooted in the building's Art Deco legacy. By integrating research-driven strategies--such as sustainable technologies, layered lighting solutions, accessible wayfinding methods, and flexible functionality, the Forest Building will become a model of a successful adaptive reuse structure.

Food insecurity is a growing, yet often overlooked issue among college students, with consequences that extend beyond nutrition to emotional and social well-being. National data suggest that approximately one in three college students experience some degree of food insecurity, which has been linked to higher stress, anxiety, and poorer academic performance. However, limited research has examined how food insecurity relates to students' sense of identification with their university community: factors that are known to influence persistence, resilience, and mental health.

This study examines whether food insecurity among rural university students is associated with higher levels of trait anxiety and lower levels of group identification with their campus community. By investigating these relationships, we seek to better understand how unmet basic needs can affect students' psychological adjustment and campus connectedness, and use this data to inform institutional efforts that support student well-being, as well as promoting resources that students can utilize.

Approximately 300 college students are being recruited through flyers, social media, and QR codes at the campus food bank. Participants will complete a 10 minute anonymous Qualtrics survey that includes the USDA Adult Food Security Scale (10-item version), the Trait Anxiety Inventory (Ree et al., 2008), and the Group Identification Scale (Hohman & Hogg, 2011), along with demographic and contextual questions about living situation, transportation, eating habits, and use of campus resources related to student well-being. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses will be conducted to assess relationships among food insecurity, anxiety, and group identification.

We anticipate that students experiencing greater food insecurity will report higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of campus identification. These findings will contribute to understanding how food insecurity shapes students' emotional and social experiences and can guide future campus efforts to promote inclusion and support student well-being.

Although investigations of handedness often focus on directional (left versus right) differences, a growing body of research shows that one’s degree of handedness (consistent versus inconsistent) meaningfully associates with a number of neurological and behavioral differences (Prichard et al., 2023). Accordingly, this research classifies consistent handers as people who use the same hand for most tasks, and inconsistent handers as those who are more likely to switch between hands. Prior studies have associated inconsistent handedness with increased interhemispheric processing, larger corpus callosum volume and a number of behavioral differences such as increased belief updating (2023).

In light of these differences, the current study explored potential associations between degree of handedness and several theoretically interesting individual difference variables including, styles of humor and phenomenological perspectives. Although humor is not a fully lateralized cognitive process, prior literature indicates that the cognitions that instantiate one’s sense of humor are preferentially supported by the right hemisphere (Marinkovic et al., 2011). Furthermore, Papousek et al., 2017 found that the processing of specific types of humor—such as negative humor—were associated with differences in right hemisphere connectivity. Relatedly, popular theoretical works (McGilchrist, 2009) indicate that reduced interhemispheric processing may contribute to different perspectives on value and ways of being. Thus, the present study aimed to assess associations between degree of handedness and humor and then, in more exploratory fashion, to gauge if degree of handedness correlates with different perspectives about value.

Our results found that inconsistent handers provided higher ratings to both negative and positive humor but did not show significant differences in their perspectives on value. These results, along with prior literature, will be used to inform a new study designed to elucidate relationships of humor with moral decision-making and existential judgments. Moral dumbfounding refers to the phenomenon wherein people make moral judgements, and, when asked to justify them, are unable to explain their reasoning. This is often distressing to people who realize that they do not have evidence for those moral judgements. Based on the concept of moral dumbfounding, we propose that a similar effect would occur when people make affirmative existential judgments in certain contexts where nihilism is plausible. Because inconsistent handers show a greater predisposition to belief updating, a cognitive process in which inconsistent handers update their beliefs more easily and often (Jasper et al., 2014), we predict that they will have lower rates of existential dumbfounding than consistent handers.

Once the dominant pine species of the southeastern U.S., the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and its ecosystem have declined to only 3% of their original extent due to logging, fire suppression, and encroachment from loblolly pine plantations. We partnered with the Texas Longleaf Team, Texan by Nature and Texas A&M Forest Service to map the current and historical distribution of longleaf pine in eastern Texas using NASA Earth observation data and remote sensing tools. A Random Forest supervised classification model was trained to differentiate longleaf and loblolly pines based on reflectance from Landsat 9 bands and derived indices. The model was then applied to historical data from Landsat 8 and 5 to create decadal distribution maps dating back to 1985. The resulting maps highlight the success of longleaf ecosystem restoration efforts and provide actionable insight for conservation planning across eastern Texas.

This project intends to illustrate the connections between American gun culture, first person-shooter videogames, and how products are marketed to men; ultimately inflaming male aggression and bigotry. This will be accomplished by examining scholarly articles, a book about the gamification of warfare, an UNESCO report, a firearm blog post, and a novel about artistic symbology. The topics will span from the Game publisher Activision having a secret agreement with Firearm manufacturer Remington to make their rifle the ACR appealing to a younger demographic. Greek Yogurt brands like Oikos changing the color of their packaging as part of a sponsorship deal with the National Football League (NFL). Additionally, how men, specifically white men and boys who identify as gamers have been made to feel victimized through the inclusion of women or people of color in their favorite videogames. This form of art reflects how a patriarchal society harms males, as older male gamers influence younger males and reinforce the worst anti-social behaviors that are then carried into the real world as shouting, outburst of anger, and racist actions.

I propose to discuss how those who are from Mexican-American cultures express their shared identity through fashion online and do this as a way to show how proud of their culture and stand for the people of their culture. This concept is not new due to the history of Mexican-Americans using fashion as a political stance throughout the culture's history. I’m planning on focusing on Gen-Z, because Gen-Z uses their online platforms to share their own culture and have others learn about politics through this. The big question that I will answer through my research is: How has fashion in Mexican-American culture been used as a political stance throughout history influenced self expression throughout Gen-Z? Gen-Z is using their fashion to be self-expressive, and it's not just in person, like going to a protest or walking around wearing specific clothing or accessories, but also online and because of this, social media has helped to teach people to stand up for their own culture and not be afraid to be loud about what they believe is right.

In my poster, I will argue that beauty standards contribute to the discriminatory perceptions of transgender women under the presidencies of Donald Trump. The Trump Administration specifically has reinforced strict beauty and gender standards through legislation surrounding gender and sex, and actively seeks to remove rights and protections for transgender people due to those same societal standards in one huge positive feedback loop. The perceived divide between genders has become increasingly evident, and women are now expected to strive towards unattainable levels of femininity. This is bad for all women, but it is especially dangerous for transgender women because deviating from gender and beauty standards can have severe consequences that affect their lives due to discrimination.

For the purpose of my argument, I have gathered a variety of scholarly sources. Some speak on beauty standards and how they affect women, others provide information on the legislation of the Trump Administration, and others use data to track how public opinion on transgender people has shifted negatively over time. I also have two books on how the presidencies of the Trump Administration have affected transgender people specifically, one a memoir from a transgender woman, and the other an objective analysis of transgender rights during the Obama and Trump Administrations respectively.

I aim to utilize all of my sources to find solutions, which may include fighting against current beauty standards, fighting against anti-trans sentiments and legislation, and fighting for women's rights and trans rights.

Experiment 3 in the CHEM 2315 class used sulfuryl chloride which was recently determined as a particularly hazardous substance. We wanted to be able to replicate this experiment with the use of N-chlorosuccinamide in replacement so this lab can continue. Alkane halogenation via the free radical chain mechanism is covered in the chem 2310 textbook. In this experiment, any one of the nine 1-chlorobutane hydrogen atoms is to be replaced by a second chlorine atom yielding dichlorobutane products.

The nine hydrogen atoms in 1-chlorobutane can be classified into four groups towards chlorine substitution according to the different isomeric dichlorobutane product that they each yield. The four isomeric dichlorobutane products will be separated by gas chromatography (GC). Relative product amounts will be determined. Product ratios will be used to calculate each hydrogen type (class) relative substitution rate in 1-chlorobutane. We were able to prove that this works by using the gas chromatography. The peaks are similar in both our experiment and the older experiment, and thus we can successfully do this experiment without hazardous substances. We also analyzed the reaction progress by 1H NMR spectroscopy. We were able observe the N-chlorosuccinamide peak disappear and succinimide peaks appear, so that we know how long to heat the reaction for as they reaction continues.

As societal access and norms have shifted, screen usage has become more widespread. Screen exposure in American youth increased by about 60% between 2019 and 2023. This increase is important due to a higher likeliness of suicidal behaviors in adolescents who report four or more hours of daily screen time; this likeliness increases substantially with each additional hour. This field of research has an abundance of correlational data but lacks causal models. Achieving these causal models is more viable in animal models due to ethical reasons.

Screens have been used in mouse cognition research but not to model content consumption. Aforementioned cognitive research often involves overstimulation models using flashing lights as opposed to media on screens similar to what is utilized by humans on a daily basis. This being said, there is a limit to what might be considered a standard model in mouse screen research.

In our study, we aim to conclude whether mice can discriminate between socially relevant media and neutral video stimulus. We also hope to identify whether the mice can meaningfully engage with the relevant stimulus. To do this, we have designed apparatus that allow us to expose the mouse to both the relevant stimulus, which is a video we recorded of two of our mice on loop, and the neutral stimulus, which is a video we recorded of a hike which has been rotated to fit a landscape screen. For our testing period of 5 days, each of the mice will experience a 30 minute exposure period to the stimuli. To score our data, we plan to set boundaries and measure each mouse’s preference of spot and stance. We will be measuring how much they face each screen and whether they explicitly seek our either screen at any points. Extra points will be tacked to the score for any point in which the mouse physically interacts with either screen. We will then compare the points of the relevant stimulus to those of the neutral stimulus.

We expect to see a higher average score for the relevant stimulus. If our results have any statistical significance, we predict opportunities for further research to identify causal relationships between chronic screen usage and behavioral differences.