This presentation seeks to compare three bacterial inhibitory concentration models – the MIC assay, CDC Biofilm reactor, and a new model developed in the Bone and Biofilm lab as well as explore the scope of the problem with biofilm. Understanding the importance of biofilm’s role in antibiotic treatment is vital because preventing antibiotic resistance requires overcoming the natural defenses of biofilm. For this reason, biofilm-related infections are a large burden on healthcare system.
Identifying cancer cell death during in vitro drug testing using machine learning
Presenter Name: Sara Morrison
In association with the Zangle Lab, this project aimed to develop a binary classification method to distinguish between dead and living tumor cells undergoing drug treatment. Several machine learning algorithms were trained on manually identified dead cell data, and were able to accurately identify dead cells.
Effects of Surfactants in Bio-Liquid-Based Slurries
Presenter Name: Ashton Phelps
Hydrogen is a promising energy source with many uses. However, many issues surround its production. Entrained Flow Gasification (EFG) can help this problem as it processes hydrocarbon-rich liquids and converts them into syngas, which is used for hydrogen production. One of the problems facing EFG is the mixture’s viscosities being too high for processing in gasifiers. Viscosity-decreasing additives may help solve this problem. The effects of these additives are the scope of my research.
Read Out Label Optimization for Lateral Flow Assay to Detect CMV
Presenter Name: Alex Altherr
Creating a cost-effective diagnostic test for congenital cytomegalovirus infections has been the goal, as an alternative to the time-consuming and labor-intensive PCR tests. A few factors must be considered to optimize a vertical or lateral flow device. Golden nanoparticle size, along with antibody selection are a couple examples of factors to be considered. By utilizing Raman spectroscopy and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy we can obtain a quantitative result of the assays, to optimize.
Electroaerodynamic Pumps for Silent, Solid-State, and Direct Electronics Cooling
Presenter Name: Quinna Nguyen
Electroaerodynamic (EAD) actuators utilizes a DC corona discharge to ionize the air locally around lithographically defined “emitter” tips and accelerates the ions towards a “collector”. This process generates an entrained airflow through momentum-transferring collisions between accelerated ions and neutral air molecules. The mechanism is attractive because it is silent, solid-state, and highly down scalable. We plan on using this wind for pinpoint thermal convection cooling.
Strategies for Downsampling Electromyographic Signals for Low-Power Wearables
Presenter Name: Josh Gubler
Electromyographic (EMG) signals are a measure of the electrical activity within muscles when they contract and are use in the control of prostheses, robotics, exoskeletons, and human-computer interfaces. Most of the power in an EMG signal is contained between 50 and 500 Hz, and most recording devices sample the muscle signals at 1 kHz to fully capture these frequencies. Here we explore which components of EMG signal are critical for control in order to minimize computational input on devices.
Angle Tilt Effect on Solar Panel Performance
Presenter Name: Judy Ojewia
Renewable energy sources such as solar energy are vital to meet power needs sustainably. This study aims to determine optimal angles for solar panel roof applications. DC voltage and current output measurements were performed while varying the angle tilt (0-90°) of a solar panel under a constant light source. To account for fluctuations in the sun’s angle the solar cells will be installed on various 3D houses. We aim to determine the optimal angles of the solar cells at various times of the day.
Depolymerization of epoxy polymers at ambient conditions for carbon fiber recycling
Presenter Name: Anna Huber
My project uses performic acid as a solvent to degrade carbon fiber reinforced polymers. The epoxy resin degrades in solution, leaving behind intact carbon fiber weave that can be reused in new carbon fiber parts. I have been focused on degradation and mechanical testing. I also am studying the chemistry behind the degradation in order to figure out if the epoxy or performic acid can be collected and reused.
Using OpenSim to Model, Simulate, and Improve Gait Symmetry in Stroke Survivors.
Presenter Name: Logan Lancaster
When someone has a stroke, there is a chance that they could lose symmetry in their gait because of hemiparesis. This asymmetry can cause a loss of balance which increases the risk of falling. Research shows that connecting a spring between the ankles of runners efficiently transfers energies between the legs and reduces metabolic cost. Our hypothesis is that applying this principle to people with asymmetrical gait could potentially transfer energy from the legs and improve gait symmetry.
Investigation of the Representative Volume Element in Fibrous Porous Systems
Presenter Name: Tyler Walker
To understand the relationship between the properties of fibers on the microscopic scale to the mechanical properties of fibrous materials on the macroscopic scale, I worked with a graduate student to develop a computer program that can generate a representative sample of a fibrous material with full control over fiber parameters. This is then passed to another script which applies mechanical loading to the system, after which the properties can be characterized.
Properties of Droplets Splitting Off a Spoked Superhydrophobic Surface
Presenter Name: Yang Yang
The research looks at the physical and thermodynamic properties of droplets splitting off a superhydrophobic surface. This project explores how droplets impacting a superhydrophobic surface takes some heat with the splitting that occurs when droplets land on a spoked surface. The experiment will be performed with aluminum pieces machined with 1-6 spokes to test the heat transfer between the surface and the droplets.
Randomized Testing of the WebAssembly System Interface
Presenter Name: Ethan Stanley
The WebAssembly System Interface (WASI) enables WebAssembly (Wasm) programs
to interact with the facilities of the computer on which the Wasm program runs. This greatly expands Wasm’s utility but also increases the risk of vulnerabilities. It is therefore necessary to thoroughly test implementations of WASI. We evaluate the effectiveness of randomized testing for this purpose. We create a system to perform differential testing on Wasm runtimes and evaluate its effectiveness.
xpanding Fuzzing Of Critical Program Configurations Via Coverage-Based Differential Testing
Presenter Name: David Clark
I am developing a tool to improve configurable software testing. The tool takes a description of the software’s configuration options (think, “on/off settings”), and it outputs a small set of “interesting” configurations, i.e., configurations that could be tested “deeper” than others. These interesting configurations can later be tested with state-of-the-art fuzz-testing techniques. I evaluate this tool by testing open-source libraries with publicly available fuzzing harnesses.
Examining Compositional Behavior in Large Language Models
Presenter Name: Jordan Tan
Transformer-based large language models (LLMs) have seen prolific usage in natural language processing (NLP) tasks, search engines, and code generation. Despite their ability to compose intricate responses, LLMs exhibit reasoning-based limitations in compositional tasks. These are tasks that are complex enough that they require multiple subtasks to complete them. We explore the idea of whether prompting an LLM with in-context subtask examples can improve compositionality.
Chain of Thought Analysis in AI: Large Language Models’ Reasoning Performance with Non-Causal Prompts
Presenter Name: Kishan Thambu
Previous research has shown increased large language model (LLM) accuracy with “Chain-of-Thought” (CoT) reasoning, using causality-based prompting for Q&A. By fine-tuning the T5 model emphasizing non-causal prompting using “This is what I know about this: {Explanation}. My answer would be {Answer},” and the reverse, the study aims to assess whether the noncausal prompt fine-tuning models maintains the model’s reasoning performance and explanation reliability in the same way CoT would.
RocketCalc: An Adaptive Algebra and Trig Remediation Platform for Calculus Students
Presenter Name: Emily Erickson
The largest barrier to student success in calculus is gaps in foundational algebra and trigonometry knowledge. RocketCalc is an online, adaptive tutoring system which diagnoses and effectively closes these gaps so that students can succeed. Students receive the individualized, targeted remediation they need while teachers are freed to focus on teaching new material in class. www.rocketcalculus.com
Investigating the Effects of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Behavioral Phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster
Presenter Name: Sage Acord
I used the Drosophila Activity Monitor to perform sleep assays on 80 isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster. Each line has largely similar genetic makeup besides the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms. After completing the assays, I performed statistical data analysis for notable sleep differences that can be further traced to their genome (sequenced by our Stanford collaborators) and analyzed for correlative and potentially causative relationships between genetic differences and altered sleep.
Inhibition of the DNA Protein MutT
Presenter Name: Bridget Raymundo
My project examines DNA proteins MutT and MutY in a rare transversion mutation pathway. MutT prevents an OG mutagen from binding to DNA. MutY exises specific nucleotides that contribute to the mutation pathway.This pathway is important since genetic information is lost from the replacement of nucleotides and the switched placement of pyridine and purine on opposite strands. My hypothesis is that when MutT is inhibited and MutY is included, the highest mutation frequencies should be observed.
Role of Perineuronal Nets in Androgen-Induced Masculinization of Female Vocal Pathways of African clawed frogs
Presenter Name: Anuhya Yalavarty
Male and female Xenopus laevis have distinct calls for reproduction. Testosterone masculinizes female calls, by modifying the vocal pathways. Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are known to regulate neural plasticity. Specifically, PNNs are known to reduce plasticity of fast-spiking parvalbumin (PV) positive neurons. My project aims to test if testosterone modifies calls by reducing PNNs surrounding PV-positive neurons in frogs.
The Role of NCP as an Assembly Factor of the Plastid-Encoded RNA Polymerase (PEP) Complex in Plants
Presenter Name: Lexie Bingman
Light initiates chloroplast (green plastid) biogenesis by facilitating the assembly of the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) complex. Previous genetic study identified NUCLEAR CONTROL OF PEP ACTIVITY (NCP) that is required for the assembly of the PEP complex, although the mechanism is still unknown. I hypothesize that NCP directly interact with components of the PEP complex. We discover that NCP functions as an assembly factor through direct interaction with the core components.
Uncovering the molecular foundations behind the local and systemic immunity of Brassica napus, as well as its parent species, Brassica oleracea, and Brassica rapa.
Presenter Name: Haley Welker
Pathogenic threats to global food security provoke concerns about decreased crop production which could have dire effects. Understanding the plant immune response is essential to develop sustainable defense against pathogenic risks. Our study investigates the regulation of salicylic acid (SA), a vital hormone in the plant immune response, in response to bacterial infection. Higher levels of SA in infected tissues than non-infected tissues suggest the activation of the plant’s immune response.
Determining the Kinetics of Sulfonate Dopants in Organic Mixed Conductors
Presenter Name: Kierra Forthman
Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors are soft, semi-conducting materials
that transport both ions and electrons. The
integrated movement of ions and electrons in OMIECs provides a means to connect the present
gap between digital and biological interfaces. However, the relationship between ion chemical
structure and performance metrics of OMIECs remains unclear, especially for
molecular ions. This research is aimed at determining how novel ions impact the structure and performance metrics.
Synthesis of [2.2]-paracylophane and Derivatives
Presenter Name: Topher Frederick
Cyclophanes are a general group of molecules defined by an aromatic ring, bridged with alkyl chains, to
form a more expansive ring system. In partcular, [2,2]-paracyclophane is a highly rigid, geometrically
strained cyclophane which is valuable as a parent molecule towards useful derivatves. Using chemistry developed by the Roberts Group, our build, cyclize, and contract strategy, we propose a synthetic route to the parent molecule and derivatives.
Variability in Time Release Melatonin Tablets
Presenter Name: Ella Bleak. Georgia Brach, Samantha Johnson
Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Supplements for melatonin are commonly used to aid people with trouble sleeping but are not FDA regulated. Studies have shown that there is a large difference between the dosage on packaging and the concentration of melatonin in individual tablets. The purpose of our experiment was to investigate if time-release capsules release a gradual dosage or if the capsules release their dosages more quickly than company claims.
The Great Decaffeination: A Comparative Study on Removing and Quantifying Caffeine from Coffee Beans
Presenter Name: Alexandra Glatz
This study compares two methods of coffee bean decaffeination, Swiss Water Extraction and ASE Ethyl Acetate Extraction, to determine their relative and absolute effectiveness. Analysis of each method is done via HPLC to determine mg of caffeine extracted per gram of coffee beans. ASE achieved concentrations close to that of the literature value whereas Swiss Water did not extract any detectable caffeine. Data informs efficacy-based recommendations for industry applications.
Other Group Members: Jennifer Kim & CJ Reid
Symbiotic Star Systems
Presenter Name: Samantha Ball
This project aims to explore the elusive and exotic nature of symbiotic stars, shedding light on fundamental cosmological events and binary system evolution. With new releases from the Gaia catalog, this project seeks to identify potential or confirmed symbiotic stars using machine learning techniques applied to GaiaDR3 astrometric parameters and spectra. The expansion of the roster of known symbiotic stars will help in our understanding of these intriguing celestial objects.
Using a Clustering Algorithm to Check Quasars in The DESI Catalog to Identify Objects in Need of further Verification of Redshift.
Presenter Name: Russell Moore
The goal of this project is to group quasar spectra together using a clustering algorithm that will determine how closely related each spectrum is to every other spectrum and whether they belong to the same category or not. There will also be outliers that are different enough to be in smaller clusters or to not cluster with other spectra at all. These will be the objects that we are most concerned about, as they likely have been identified with the wrong redshift.
Evaluating the Prediction of Orographic Precipitation Gradients From a Convolutional Neural Network
Presenter Name: Annabelle Warner
Weather forecasts often decrease in precision over complex terrain due to predictions generalizing for large areas. A convolutional neural network trained to predict orographic precipitation gradients to increase resolution of precipitation forecasting over complex terrain was evaluated for this project. Evaluation of the spatial correlation between facets and their OPG values in the Western US was performed to be applied as a loss function in the training of the model to improve its accuracy.
Preliminary Identification of Terrestrial Rock Samples (i.e., Meteor-Wrongs) Recovered by the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANMET) at the Dominion Range Icefields, Antarctica
Presenter Name: Melanie Gomez
This study focuses on the preliminary identification of five terrestrial Antarctic rocks that were initially misidentified as meteorites by the ANSMET team
Determining the stratigraphic provenance of ex-situ fossils using portable X-Ray Fluorescence technology: a case study from the middle Cambrian of western Utah, U.S.A.
Presenter Name: Emma Boeman
Recently, the Natural History Museum of Utah curated over 2,250 Cambrian fossils from the House Range in western Utah with unknown provenance information. Portable X-Ray Fluorescence technology was utilized to non-destructively analyze the elemental composition and abundances of these rock matrix samples, as well as those from fossil specimens collected in the field. Then, multivariate statistical analyses were implemented to infer the provenance of fossils with limited stratigraphic data.
Identifying Important Sound Features Used by the Brain when Listening in Noisy Backgrounds
Presenter Name: Mia Brown
The human auditory processing system is known to have difficulty understanding speech in noise. The study addresses this knowledge gap by using decision variable correlation, an extension of signal detection theory, to understand the cues utilized by the brain in detecting tones in noise. Results showed that cues associated with sound energy (energy cues) and the slow variations in amplitude across time (envelope cues) are both utilized, and envelope cues are utilized more for longer stimuli.
Comparison of Manual Wrist-Actigraphy Quantified Sleep Duration versus Auto-Scored Quantified Sleep Duration
Presenter Name: Sophia Loose
Although sleep research has become an increasingly important field in medicine, there is no standard for sleep data scoring. This has become one of the major barriers to progress in the field, as there is no continuity in methodology between labs, in addition to contradicting beliefs about auto-scored data sets. It is believed that the auto-scored data sets are invalid, however, there are no data analyses directly testing this hypothesis. Therefore, the relative importance of the sleep duration
Post-traumatic stress disorder and alterations in ambulatory blood pressure, daily stress load, and acute pressor response to mental stress.
Presenter Name: Charles Caine
Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The physiological underpinnings of this increased risk are poorly understood but may involve alterations in blood pressure regulation related to aberrant cardiovascular responses to stress and increased stress-load. This study is investigating indices of daily stress-load, ambulatory blood pressure, and acute pressor responses to mental stress in patients with PTSD and control subjects.
Veteran’s Preoperative Lower Limb Strength Predicts Postoperative Function Following Total Knee or Hip Arthroplasty
Presenter Name: Chelsey Wilbur
The purpose of this study was to assess if preoperative (PREOP) knee extensor (KE) and flexor (KF) peak torque is associated with self-reported function or pain, and performance-based measures of physical function in Veterans 6-month postoperative (POSTOP) TKA or THA.
How patient reported outcomes (PROMIS metrics) differ by gender/ race and ethnicity in bariatric surgery
Presenter Name: Lusia Tamala
Presentation description
Research of ethnicity differences in bariatric surgery
Ceramides & Metabolic Dysfunction; Exploring a New Molecular Culprit
Presenter Name: Amaya Pfannenstiel
Type 2 diabetes is distinguished by insulin resistance. partial insulinopenia, & lipotoxicity, which yields way to high blood sugar and excess fat accumulation. As a consequence, several lipid metabolites including sphingolipids are increased and most importantly, long-chain ceramides, which are causal agents for insulin resistance and steatosis. A diversity outbred panel of mice were screened to find transcripts that were quantitative trait loci for type 2 diabetes. It is suspected that lipid-metabolizing genes could be related to ceramide metabolism or lipid accumulation in the cells. A subset of these genes were overexpressed in an in-vitro model to discern which ones influenced ceramide levels, and to further characterize this relatively unknown subset.
Exploring Impaired Heart Rate Response to Exercise in Adults with Parkinson’s Disease
Presenter Name: Jake Garfield
Exercise is a beneficial therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). However, PwPD experience varying degrees of cardiac impairment related to their PD pathology. This can contribute to chronotropic incompetence and exercise intolerance, and limit PwPD from taking advantage of exercise interventions. The goal of this research is to identify differences between the altered cardiac responses to exercise in PwPD and the cardiac response of age matched controls
The BASIC Trial: An ESKAPE from Transmission
Presenter Name: Alayna Stoddard
The BASIC Study is an investigation into implementation strategies of evidence-based practices that can overcome the barriers that prevent the adoption of practices that decrease the transmission of the ESKAPE pathogens. These practices, often referred to as “The 4 Pillars,” include hand hygiene, intravascular catheter handling, environmental cleaning, and patient decolonization. Each one is designed to decrease pathogen transmission in the operating room to protect the patient from infection.
Micro-IP Rapid Isolation of Protein Complexes from Cellular Lysates
Presenter Name: Anna Gilstrap
One of the most important requirements in many protein biochemistry experiments is the ability to isolate and purify proteins of interest. Traditional methods typically aim to generate large quantities of proteins; however, such methods typically rely on long, multi-day experiments and are only effective for well-behaved proteins. I have refined a novel approach termed “micro-IP” that enables micro-scale purifications of proteins from cell lysates that require less than one hour of time.
The Utah Pacific Islander Study
Presenter Name: Emma Taylor
Recruiting and consenting Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islanders to our research study regarding Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease within the population.
How Social Isolation Impacts Behavior Across Different Tests
Presenter Name: Rene Valles
Chronic Social isolation has detrimental effects on the brain, health, and behavior. It is especially relevant in times of extended social isolation due to the Coronavirus pandemic. One study conducted by the Harvard Graduate School of Education showed that following the pandemic, roughly 36 percent of Americans report feelings of “serious loneliness”. Our past work has shown that isolation during adolescence causes social anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Comparing data from different behavioral
Thalamic Bullseye: Treatment Of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Presenter Name: Ahmed Al Dulaimi
This is a systematic review to prepare for a clinical trial to treat neuropathic Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Studying Mechanisms that Contribute to Genomic Integrity
Presenter Name: Cameron Davis
Cancer develops when DNA damage goes unrepaired and mutations accumulate. Nup50 and its binding partners, Nup153 and RCC1, are all individually required for 53BP1 to initiate repair at DNA damage sites. I tested mutant versions of Nup50 that are deficient in binding either Nup153 or RCC1 to determine whether those interactions play a role in 53BP1 regulation.
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Alters the Resting Orientation of the Scapula
Presenter Name: Peyton King
This research investigates altered scapulothoracic orientation in patients post-reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). Compared to healthy controls, rTSA patients exhibit significantly reduced scapular protraction. Although variations exist in scapulothoracic angles pre- to post-operatively, the study highlights the lack of a consistent directional pattern in joint recovery.
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Alters the Resting Orientation of the Scapula
Presenter Name: Peyton King
This research investigates altered scapulothoracic orientation in patients post-reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). Compared to healthy controls, rTSA patients exhibit significantly reduced scapular protraction. Although variations exist in scapulothoracic angles pre- to post-operatively, the study highlights the lack of a consistent directional pattern in joint recovery.
Impaired Muscle Moment Arms of the Glenohumeral Joint Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Presenter Name: Breydon Hardy
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) replaces the humeral ball with a cup and the glenoid socket with a hemisphere in patients who experience degenerative changes, acute injuries, and shoulder instability. The aim of this study was to model patient specific shoulder anatomy and compare muscle moment arms between healthy controls and post-operative rTSA patients. Changes in the post-operative muscle moment arms may be useful in quantifying post-operative functional advantages or limitations
Fetal Macrophages Produce Interleukin 7 in the Fetal Hematopoietic Niche
Presenter Name: Danny Barrera
Tissue-resident macrophages play critical roles in tissue homeostasis and have a distinct fetal origin and developmental trajectory as compared to their adult bone marrow-derived counterparts. However, the specific mechanisms underlying their developmental signaling pathways have not been as thoroughly examined as in the adult. This project investigated fetal macrophage cells as a primary source of IL-7 production, a cell signal not associated with adult macrophage development
AAV9 Gene Therapy Targets in Vanishing White Matter Disease
Presenter Name: Pallavi Prasad
Vanishing White Matter (VWM) Disease, a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the eIF2B complex, critical for protein synthesis regulation. Our research employs a mouse model mimicking human mutations to understand and treat VWM. By uncovering the disease’s molecular pathways, we aim to develop safe and effective gene therapy treatments, offering solutions for those affected by VWM worldwide. This endeavor marks a significant step forward in addressing the challenges posed by VWM, bringing hope to patients and their families.
Alterations in Alzheimer’s disease phenotypic pathology after biodegradable paclitaxel-conjugate treatment
Presenter Name: Lana Hua
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is one of the most common causes of dementia, yet there are limited options for treatment. Microtubule-stabilizing drugs may have the potential for treating AD and altering its pathology by maintaining cytoskeleton structure and stability and preserving functions of neurons, such as axonal transport. This research aims to evaluate changes in hallmark pathophysiological features of AD, namely amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, after treatment with PTX-conjugate.
Investigating Potential Side Effects of Corticosteroid Use for Asthma Treatment
Presenter Name: Kim Lanaghen
Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICs), such as Advair, are among the most common treatments for asthma. Use of ICs in patients can be correlated with voice disorders and vocal fold inflammation in 5-58% of patients. Using experimental and control groups of rabbits, we dosed twice daily with Advair or saline and monitored progression of inflammation of the vocal fold tissue with scoping. Upon harvesting vocal fold tissue we found elevated levels of inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in rabbits receiving Advair.
Characterization of Phenotypes Resulting from Altered BWA Expression in Drosophila to Develop a Cancer Treatment Screen
Presenter Name: Collin Clark
This project examined the phenotypes resulting from altered BWA expression in Drosophila to develop a cancer treatment screen based upon phenotypic comparison. BWA is an alkaline ceramidase in Drosophila that converts ceramide to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Increased amounts of S1P have been linked to tumor formation, indicating that BWA over-expression may contribute to tumorigenesis. As such, a method to determine BWA-inhibiting treatments is desired.
Impact of Concurrent Administration of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl on Dopaminergic Neuronal Function
Presenter Name: Carter Martin
Co-abuse of methamphetamine (METH) and the opioid, fentanyl (FEN), is a major public health problem. Prior data indicate that individuals that abuse METH are more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease, particularly individuals with a history of opioid exposure. Thus, we posited that if METH and FEN are co-administered, a METH-induced dopaminergic deficit would occur. Results revealed concurrent exposure did not exacerbate METH-induced dopaminergic deficits as assessed ex vivo in treated rats.
Using film to address reproductive health among Central African immigrants/ refugees resettled in Utah
Presenter Name: Emma Norris
This study investigated the knowledge and values surrounding reproductive and preconception health in a community of Central African refugees resettled in Utah and how the use of community representing film impacted their perspectives. We aimed to highlight main themes expressed by community members. Transcripts from discussion groups after the film showing were coded and organized into themes analysis and discussion.
Understanding Sex Education for Women with Disabilities
Presenter Name: Aidan Cheney
This research was conducted using a survey of 224 women: 135 with physical disability, 49 with a cognitive disability, and 40 with both types of disability. Study questions looked at rates of sex education types received from parents as well as from formal education and compares these rates with the national averages. The study also includes comparison of sex education rates between different disability types.
The Parent Caregiving Experience of School-Aged Children Diagnosed With Cancer
Presenter Name: Sofia Flowers
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their parents take on a role as both their parent and their cancer caregiver. My project is a secondary analysis of Dr. Linder’s content validity study that was focused on symptom management. Through interview transcripts, we found 9 main categories that professional staff can learn new aspects of health and enhance their clinical practice, opening new research opportunities.
American Native and Alaska Native Women in menopause
Presenter Name: Lorna Khemchand
Brief summary of research: The purpose of this research is to use community-engaged methods to understand the needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women regarding the menopausal transition. Few studies have focused on the menopausal transition in AI/AN women. We describe AI/AN women’s experiences and healthcare needs related to menopause.
Mental health in the workplace with consideration of identity and stigma.
Presenter Name: Emily Hernandez Alzamora
Ethics Beyond the Training Process
Presenter Name: Britta Bolander
Provides an overview of the dominant approach to understanding the ethical implications of implementing machine learning applications in specific contexts, which primarily concerns itself with translating abstract principles into technical measures of compliance. While this approach can often seem very pragmatic, it is also limited in the scope of ethical dilemmas that it can address. I offer an alternative which places less emphasis on the development, or ‘training, process iteslf.
Uncovering the Red Face Palm – A Decolonial Lens into MMIW
Presenter Name: Leslie Rodriguez
The purpose of this study is to raise awareness surrounding the MMIW movement and the impacts it holds on Native American/ American Indian women in the state of Utah. The MMIW phenomenon has held a catastrophic impact across the North American continent spanning from the United States and Canada (Amnesty, 2007). Sexual, physical violence, disappearances, and homicides involving these women and girls are examples of the crimes that committed against them.
The Student-Parent Dilemma
Presenter Name: Xochitl Juarez
I am working on student-parent research trying to find out how much support student-parents receive from the University of Utah. This project is intended for student-parents, staff, faculty, and professors who work at the University of Utah. The intention is to shed light on issues that student-parents experience when navigating college. This will lay the groundwork for further research as it relates to this population which could create solutions to issues stated by student-parents.
Examining Potential Micro-Residue Contamination on Ground Stone Tools in Buried Contexts Using Starch Granule Analysis.
Presenter Name: Caston Draper
The distinctive characteristics of starch granules found on ground stone tools in buried contexts can provide key insights into past human lifeways including food processed and eaten, migration patterns, and land investment. Little is known however of the potential for the soils surrounding these tools to contaminate the deeper interstitial matrix of the artifact. This research compares starches from the surface of the artifact to those in the deeper interstitial matrix to assess this question.
Utilizing 3D Scanning and Printing to Create Teaching Tool Kits for Greater Scientific Outreach
Presenter Name: Jessica Parsons
I am learning how to use 3D technology to create models of various animal skeletons. The purpose of this research is creating realistic teaching aids that can be used in elementary classrooms, without risking the safety or integrity of the actual specimen. The overall goal of my project is to create tools that are widely acessible for students of all ages and abilities, and increase scientific awareness and outreach in my community.
Prevalence in Housing in Relation to Changes in Climate Over Time
Presenter Name: Ana Chavez
I study the relationship that exists between climate changes and density of housing structures in south-central Utah. The goal is to better understand population patterns caused by climate change to further understand what it could mean in the future where extreme weather will be more likely especially in areas where extreme climate will be strongest.
On Account of Sex: Applying the Attitudinal Model to Sex Discrimination Cases in the Supreme Court
Presenter Name: Meredith Jenkins
To contribute to the debates between the attitudinal and strategic models of judicial decision-making, this project seeks to examine ideology’s influence on Supreme Court decisions in sex discrimination cases. It also considers the impact of a justice’s background and strategic concerns, like case salience and public opinion.
Utah Radon Lab Community Drive
Presenter Name: Gavin Ballard, Molly Ballard, Andrew Clothier, Kaitlyn Ricks, Chiana Rossiter
During winter 2023-2024 the Utah Radon Lab conducted a community drive to raise awareness about radon and spread resources to university community members. The primary function of the radon drive was to distribute free test kits so that we could gather more information about radon in our community. Through tabling events and informational sessions, our team distributed over two hundred test kits to students. Our research is ongoing, but we will present our most recent findings from the drive.
Post-intervention Assessments in the Couple-Based Diabetes Prevention Pilot Trial
Presenter Name: Terry Kim
The PreventT2 Together pilot trial began in January 2023 to examine whether delivering the adapted National DPP curriculum to couples will lead to greater engagement with lifestyle change and maintenance, compared to delivering to only the high-risk partner. Upon completion of the pilot trial in January 2024, our team conducted post-intervention assessments with all 12 participating couples (24 partners). This study implies the potential of a couple-based approach to implement the National DPP.
Effect of Connectedness to Nature and Living Environment on Cognition and Affect after Exposure to Nature
Presenter Name: Hailey Sherman
This analysis project explores how participants’ performance on the Attention Network Task, their ratings of their mood on the PANAS, and their EEG measures before and after a nature or urban walk are related to their score on the Connectedness to Nature Scale and their reported living environment. The results of this analysis provide useful information about how generalizable the beneficial effects of nature are to the population.
Self-control of Adults with Type 1 Diabetes and Their Perceptions of Partner Support.
Presenter Name: Ben Creer
This project is looking at the ways in which self-control has an effect on perceived partner support in patients with type 1 diabetes. The data comes from a study in which patients were in a romantic partnership in which at least one partner had type 1 diabetes.
Building a Data Processing Pipeline for Tissue and Pathway Activation Modeling in Amygdala-Mediated Memory Modulation
Presenter Name: Griffin Light
Stimulation of the human amygdala has been shown to enhance memory in humans. However, results are inconsistent. Several factors have been examined to determine what leads to successful memory enhancement and a currently promising avenue of research leverages tools present in Lead-DBS, a MATLAB-based software toolbox, to visualize volume of tissue and neural pathway activation. This project constructs a viable and reusable pipeline for future analyses in Lead-DBS, paving the way for future work.
Aging and Prospective Memory Across a Lifespan: Differences in Reliance on Familiarity
Presenter Name: Yanet Matos Roig
Prospective Memory refers to remembering to do something in the future, this type of memory seems to decay as we age. Familiarity is a cognitive aid we use when in need to recall something. However, it leads to incorrect judgments. This study hypothesizes that when older adults are asked to complete a Prospective Memory task, they will not perform as well as younger adults due to their increased reliance on familiarity.
A Positive Outlook on Dependency
Presenter Name: William Leary
In the past, dependency has been almost exclusively discussed as a harmful phenomenon. Recently, more research has started to mention the existence of positive interdependency. However, the characteristics of beneficial dependency have not yet been identified. This project aims to begin this work. It is proposed that beneficial dependency will be highly correlated with Social Safety while detrimental dependency will be correlated with Perceived Burdensomeness.
The effect concussions have on sensory integration and spatial updating
Presenter Name: Gabriel Holm
Individuals with concussions report dizziness and imbalance, possibly due to impaired central sensory integration. The goal of this project is to demonstrate how concussions affect sensory integration and spatial updating for complex navigation. We hypothesize that concussions interfere with the central integration of these senses. Results from this study aren’t conclusive yet as data is still being collected this semester, spring 2024.
Safe Zone Training for Professional Health Students
Presenter Name: Brekke Pattison
The purpose of this study is to determine how to best provide education on patient care of LGBTQIA+ and gender diverse patients to help minimize the biases and barriers that these groups face while obtaining medical care. Working alongside medical students and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, a series of workshops designed to help work through different aspects of identity, diversity and intersectionality.
The Reproductive Beliefs and Habits of Former Believers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Ex-Mormons” and “PIMOs”)
Presenter Name: Lauren Rives
Previous research has theorized why those of the Latter-day Saint (LDS, Mormon) tradition have distinct pronatalist behaviors. Additional research has found that early life religious exposures can help internalize pronatalist schemas. This study applies such research to the ex-Mormon and PIMO (physically in, mentally out) populations in the US to gather a baseline of their reproductive beliefs and habits to see if former believers of the faith still maintain distinct pronatalist behaviors.
Characterizing the Influence of Industrial Fluxes on Aluminosilicate Glass Systems using Spectroscopic Analysis Techniques
Presenter Name: Colin Poly
The glass formation boundary delineates a chemical range in which glaze compositions tend to maintain their amorphous structure when cooled from a molten state. Complex glaze compositions with multiple fluxes present challenges that burdens glaze development. This project explores how varying compositions of fluxes in an aluminosilicate system affects glass formation. Data collection is conducted through spectroscopic analysis techniques including Infrared, X-Ray Fluorescence, and Raman.
Exploring the Radicalization of Youth in Alt-Right Spaces through Screenwriting.
Presenter Name: Michael Palmer
I researched how young people are trapped in alt-right spaces by fearmongering, then sought to create a screenplay empathizing with a young neo-Nazi who has never known any other support. When he’s given a chance to escape, can he take it?
Hyperosmolarity-mediated activation of NFAT5 plays a dual role in the kidney
Presenter Name: Xander Kraus-McLean
Looked at the role of NFAT5 in renal epithelial cells and macrophages. Using a Crispr NFAT5 knockout line of IMCD cells, I did experiments looking at the survival of IMCD NFAT5 knockout cells and Wt IMCD cells and qPCR looking at transporter expression in varying osmolarities and osmolites. Then performed qPCR of RAW cells, using si-rna to knock down NFAT5 expression.
Cargo Sorting at the Synapse
Presenter Name: Hetvi Patel
Adaptor protein complexes 1,2,&3 are localized to the endosome in a neuron. Each is responsible for some sort of cargo sorting and vesicle recycling. The research is meant to show the importance and possible function of the protein complexes.
An Examination of the Barriers Restricting Adolescents’ Equal Participation in Physical Activity across the United States
Presenter Name: Sydnee Barton
Despite well researched and known benefits of physical activity (PA) participation, a large disparity in adolescent participation exists in the U.S. The inequity of PA participation among genders, races, and socioeconomic status is extremely visible in data collected across high schools in the U.S. In this thesis, the possible contributing factors, including geographic location, socioeconomic status, accessibility to organized sports, psychological factors, societal norms, etc. are examined.
Patient-Specific Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Embolic Strokes
Presenter Name: Nathan Sudbury
Approximately one-third of all ischemic strokes are interpreted as embolic strokes of undetermined sources (ESUS), which means that there is no conclusive cause of the stroke. The purpose of this study is to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to identify critical biomechanical parameters that relate to ESUS and will improve physicians ability to identify stroke sources.
East Idaho Ethnic Minorities Oral History Project
Presenter Name: Sujata Gandhi
The East Idaho Ethnic Minorities Oral History Project is a collection of 100 oral history interviews conducted with ethnic minorities in the east Idaho area from October 2023 to February 2024 by myself and archived by the Museum of Idaho. The project serves to diversify the collective narrative and bridge historic and contemporary experiences of ethnic minority communities. The poster will be providing an analysis of methodologies and themes seen in the interviews.
