2024 Abstracts

Authors: Jared Hanks, Kevan LaFrance, Julie Pynn. Mentors: Kevan LaFrance. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Implicit Bias is a form of bias that occurs subconsciously but influences conscious actions. It often occurs as racial bias and in apolitical environments (Gassner, 2014). Research shows those who are more conservative leaning are prone to racial bias (Brown, 2019). This research will broaden our understanding of implicit biases with political preferences taken into account. Using an Implicit Association Test, participants will sort "good" and "bad" words as they sort African-American or European-American faces. Research shows there is a correlation between thought compatibility and speed as connections we subconsciously hold are made faster (West, 2021). We predict those with conservative views will have a higher rate of association between black and bad words than those with progressive views, and those who lean progressive will feel they have more implicit bias when asked. this research will enhance our understanding of political bias and more importantly those who take the test will be given a chance to assess their own biases and be provided some tools to live with bias or seek to combat it. Results are forthcoming.

Authors: Annabelle Crawford. Mentors: Celeste Beesley. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Women who run for office do not fit societal leadership expectations, which hurts their chances of being elected (Bauer 2020; Eagly and Karau 2002). Women who serve in male-coded positions face backlash for confronting issues that are incongruent with stereotypically feminine attributes (Davidson-Schmich, Jalalzai, and Och 2023). I theorize that social role incongruence is exacerbated for women who serve on male-coded legislative committees. Therefore, I predict that women who serve on male-coded committees are reelected less frequently than women who do not serve on male-coded committees. However, I propose that women with leadership roles on male-coded committees are members of the political elite and therefore will be reelected at rates similar to other legislators. This research will employ a census of female legislators from both houses of the U.S. Congress who began their tenure between 1993 and 2022, using data compiled by the Congressional Research Service. Whether a committee is male-coded or female-coded (or gender-neutral) will be determined based on whether men or women dominate the industry associated with the committee. Social role incongruence will be measured by analyzing public perceptions of female legislators during the time they served on a male-coded committee. I will use regression analysis to determine the effect of serving on a male-coded committee on a woman’s gender role incongruence. I will then compare the proportion of reelection races won by women who served on a male-coded committee to the proportion of races won by women who served on a female-coded or gender-neutral committee using difference in proportions tests. I will also compare the electoral success of women who held leadership roles on male-coded committees to the electoral success of other legislators.

Authors: Derek Wolfgramm. Mentors: Kaicee Postler. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Since 2008, Utah Valley University has taught community classes through the Family Life Education curriculum called the "Stronger Families Project". Previous research has demonstrated the importance of evidence-based family life education (FLE) programs in strengthening families (e.g., Myers-Walls et al, 2011). This study investigates the efficacy of the Stronger Families Project (SFP) by employing a pre- and post-test analysis of change for participants enrolled in the program in Spring 2023 and analyzing qualitative satisfaction data.

Authors: Braden Bringhurst, Michael Ray, Megan Barbier, Ellie Smith. Mentors: Peter Ward. Insitution: Brigham Young University. In travel, the interplay of social connection and novelty profoundly shapes the impact of peoples' experiences. This study examines novelty, positive emotions, social connection, and the impact of the experience on participants through the lens of the Self-Expansion Theory. Novelty is defined as the process of experiencing or encountering something different to the objects regularly encountered in everyday life. Social connection is defined as the affective and cognitive perception of interrelatedness within social groups, encompassing emotional responses like feeling understood and valued. Positive emotion is defined as pleasant multicomponent response tendencies, including joy, interest, contentment, pride, and love. Experience impact is defined using the experience typology. This typology starts with prosaic experiences or ordinary parts of life. The next progression is memorable experiences which introduce felt emotions into the experience. The next stage is meaningful which introduces discovery as well as emotions into the experience. The final stage is transformational which introduces a desire, or actual personal change happening to the experiencer as well as emotions and discovery. To measure the various stages of the experience typology framework, we use the Experience Impact Scale to identify the personal impact of a tourist experience. These various constructs are explored through the perspective of the Self-Expansion Theory which states that people seek to expand their potential efficacy, perspectives, and sense of self through the development of relationships. This study utilizes this theory by looking into novelty’s effect on the impact of an experience through the lens of Self-Expansion Theory with respect to social connection and positive emotions as mediating factors. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in AMOS v 28. Models were gradually expanded on, starting with the initial relationship between subjective novelty and experience impact. Later, a mediating model was considered that incorporated subjective connection and positive emotions as mediating effects on experience impact. The model examining the relationship between subjective novelty and experience impact as mediated by subjective connection and positive emotions had an acceptable model fit. The significant factors that contributed to the model were subjective novelty which had a standardized regression weight of .264, subjective connection which had a standardized regression weight of .222, and positive emotions which had a standardized regression weight of .256. The model explained 16% of the variance within experience impact. This study demonstrates that novelty influences social connection which influences positive emotion which positively impacts the tourist experience. People designing experiences should create a novel experience for the experiencer that evokes positive emotions and facilitates social connection. Future research could explore the relationship between the novelty of location and activities associated with tourist participation and the impact on the experience.

Authors: Dylan Snook, Anthony Cornwall, Travis Ficklin. Mentors: Travis Ficklin. Insitution: Utah Tech University. The purposes of this study were to (a) experimentally measure the moment of inertia of a regulation baseball and (b) use the same method to measure the new moment of inertia of a modified baseball about orthogonal axes. The moment of inertia (I) of a rolling sphere follows the form I = k*m*r2, where m = ball mass, r = ball radius, and k represents a constant specific to the ball. Because baseballs are multi-layered of varying densities, they were not treated as a solid spheres. The balls were rolled multiple times down a plane inclined at 4.55 degrees and acceleration was derived by video tracking the ball using a camera with optical axis perpendicular to the plane of the ball’s motion. Position and velocity were derived during the rolling acceleration, and the slope of velocity was taken to be the rolling acceleration (acc). This was then used in the equation: k = (g sin(theta)/acc) – 1, where g is the acceleration due to gravity and theta is the angle of inclination of the plane. The variable k was calculated based upon average acceleration over many rolling trials and then used to finally calculate I for each ball. Results for the regulation ball and for the modified balls will be presented for multiple axes.

Authors: Harrison Denning, Spencer Thompson. Mentors: Jeff Hill. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Traditionally, tensegrity structures have been a subject of interest for their architectural beauty and high strength-to-weight advantage. The field of tensegrity research has since grown to include robots and more complex latticed structures. More recently, tensegrity has been used to accurately model many biological systems, such as joints and spines. Part of this modeling has involved trying to better estimate these biological systems utilizing bi-stable and multi-stiffness tensegrity structures. Our research takes a closer look at how to build and optimize bi-stable tensegrity structures with multiple stiffness modes. By optimizing tensegrity geometry or spring-cable connections between rigid members it is possible to significantly change the models’ overall equivalent stiffness between stable modes. Our research delves into how changes in the shape of rigid members create differences in overall structure geometry between stable modes and a change in stiffness between the two modes. We also discuss optimal spring cable connections and optimal individual spring constants to further increase stiffness differences between stable positions. Furtherance of this work will involve building larger and more robust models to be used on the body as wearable structures. The application of this research heads towards the development of wearable tensegrity braces with the ability to switch between higher or lower stiffnesses to cater to the needs of the wearer.

Authors: Ben Martinez, Virginia Merrill. Mentors: Muhammed Yildiz. Insitution: Utah Tech University. This study investigates the multifaceted dimensions of food insecurity among students at Utah Tech University, drawing from the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment survey conducted in Spring 2021, comprising a sample size of 347 students. Shockingly, 46.7% experienced food insecurity in the past 30 days, with certain demographics disproportionately affected—specifically, male, nonwhite, non-heterosexual, disabled, athlete, and single students. We also found associations between food insecurity and deteriorating health and well-being. Those affected reported significantly lower overall health and well-being levels, alongside heightened instances of suicidality, stress, and psychological distress. This research underlines the urgency to address food insecurity, particularly among at-risk demographic groups, and emphasizes the critical need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms. It highlights the concerning link between food access and mental health and advocates for inclusive strategies to address disparities among students. Implementing support systems to mitigate food insecurity's adverse impacts is crucial in fostering an environment conducive to the academic success and overall well-being of all students at Utah Tech University.

Authors: Benjamin D Kearsley, Jacob H Norby, Micah R Shepherd, R Ryley Parrish. Mentors: Micah R Shepherd. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Status epilepticus (SE) is a seizure which lasts more than five minutes and requires time sensitive treatment to prevent brain damage and even death. Thus, it is crucial to understand and predict the brain signal patterns preempting SE. Previous research into seizure monitoring techniques in humans suggests that seizure occurrence follows non-random patterns, and that big data and machine learning may be key in discovering detection and prediction models for SE events. This provides a promising foundation for our investigation into a prediction algorithm for SE using data-driven methods.Using a state-of-the-art Multiple Electrode Array (MEA) recording device, high-resolution signals have been recorded that demonstrate the voltage that occurs within mice brain cells during SE. In this study, voltage traces from these brain cells are being examined to identify predictors and indicators of SE events in the brain. Signal processing techniques, such as digital filtering, spectral analysis via spectrograms, and wavelet transforms, are being investigated to analyze these signals and compare them to brain signals exhibiting normal activity. Statistical methods surrounding the first through fourth moments, as well as clustering algorithms may also be used to classify and study the signals.

Authors: Tyler Hamm, Jake Numbers, Ryan Ruth, Hunter Pitchford, David Allred, Troy Munro. Mentors: David Allred. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Molten salt reactors (MSRs) are being investigated for use in clean energy to replace the common pressurized-water nuclear reactors currently in the United States. MSRs use high-temperature, low-pressure molten salt coolant to provide safer and more efficient energy production. However, many MSRs salt compounds lack tested thermophysical properties, including thermal conductivity. Our research focuses on experimentally measuring MSR salt thermal conductivities using a modified transient hot-wire technique. We use a needle probe, equipped with a thermocouple and heating wires, immersed in molten salt compounds at temperatures running from 400–700℃. Thus far, we have tested the thermal conductivity of LiCl-NaCl (eutectic and 91%LiCl composition), NaCl-KCl (eutectic), LiCl-KCl (eutectic), LiF-NaF (eutectic), and FLiNaK. These test results indicate higher than predicted thermal conductivities and consequential further investigation into the physical properties of our probe to improve the experimental design and data evaluation. This research and improved experimental method will provide accurate and precise experimental results of MSRs molten salt thermophysical properties to populate the national database used by MSR developers which will help further the possibilities and practicalities of MSR technology.

Authors: Cassandra Nelson, Braden Richards, Grace Van Buren, Fernando Gonzalez, Ian Kirkpatrick, Paul Dunn. Mentors: Paul Dunn. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Many organisms experience a life history pattern called ontogenescence, a high but declining mortality risk during early life. Ontogenescence can have a large effect on a population’s growth by limiting the number of new recruits to the population. Clearly, and yet paradoxically, death before reproductive maturity should be selected against, yet ontogenescence persists across many otherwise dissimilar organisms. Some intriguing hypotheses to explain this pattern have been proposed but have not been thoroughly tested. One of these hypotheses, acquisition of robustness as a function of age, is perhaps the most intuitive. The goal of our current research is to examine the validity of this hypothesis by using brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) as a model organism.Tracking life-history traits like ontogenescence often requires the researcher to be able to follow an individual throughout its lifespan. In aquatic invertebrates, this means culturing animals individually, which can be quite difficult. Here we report on progress we are making with these culturing methods by testing how food availability and variety affect the early life mortality and development rate of brine shrimp in small-volume culture. Our null hypotheses are that neither of these variables will affect mortality or age to maturity in the animals. Our alternative hypotheses are that increased food availability and variety should lower mortality risk and age to maturity. To test our hypotheses, we hatched brine shrimp cysts in artificial seawater and placed individual artemia into wells of 6-well cell-culture plates filled with artificial seawater. We fed the shrimp one of several food treatments to see how diet affects development and mortality. In our first round of trials, we provided our animals with two different food concentrations (high food vs. low food) of the three food types we evaluated: a unicellular alga (Nannochloropsis), a cyanobacterium (Spirulina), and brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). In our second set of trials, we provided the shrimp with less variety in their diet (only two of the three food types). As the artemia developed, we conducted regular water changes and monitored development and mortality. We tracked the fate of the artemia until all individuals had either died during development or reached adulthood. Our food availability trials resulted in no significant difference in either mortality risk during development or age at maturity based on food concentrations. Trials examining the effects of limiting the variety of food types are ongoing.

Authors: Ethan Reese. Mentors: Russ Bailey. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Many individuals struggle with oppressively high standards for their character, behavior and environment, know commonly as perfectionism. Perfectionism also carries significant attention in the fields of psychology, at least partially because of its association with higher rates of OCD, depression and anxiety, but also higher performance and goal-achieving (Lunn et al., 2023). The presentation will be synthesized from available literature, and focus on how perfectionism can be positive or negative, and how to effectively adopt beneficial perfectionism. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of perfectionism in academic and workplace settings.There are moderating factors that distinguish adaptive perfectionism from maladaptive perfectionism and various sources of perfectionism, including self-prescribed, socially-prescribed, and other-oriented perfectionism (Benson, 2003). There are diverse explanations of the many ways individuals strive for perfection, or how they impose expectations of it on others, and many of those will be elaborated on. Therapists have both the ability and the professional responsibility to assist in those efforts. The therapeutic modalities specifically suited for working with perfectionism and the consequences of complex relationships between it and certain mental illnesses will be presented for analysis. This discussion will benefit individuals inside and outside of mental health professions alike through exploreing the process of turning perfectionism adaptive, as well as provide direction for future research in on the topic.References:Lunn, J., Greene, D., Callaghan, T., & Egan, S. J. (2023). Associations between perfectionism and symptoms of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression in young people: A meta-analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 52(5), 460–487. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2023.2211736Benson, E. S. (2003, November 1). The many faces of perfectionism. Monitor on Psychology, 34(10). https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov03/manyfaces

Authors: Mallory Hinton, Matthew Madsen, Raechel Hunsaker, April Hulet. Mentors: April Hulet. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Seeding plants post disturbance on rangelands is a challenge due to unique ecological and environmental conditions such as limited water availability, invasive species, soil health, and native seed supply. One of the key factors to address these challenges and have a successful seedings is understanding the relationships between soil characteristics and the plants that grow within them. Our research evaluated plant growth for seventeen grass species in two degraded rangeland soils (a mine tailings impoundment and Santaquin Wildlife Management Area) in Utah. Grasses (10 PLS/5cm 2 pot) were grown in self-watering growth trays in a complete, randomized block design with four replicates per soil type. After 21 days in the greenhouse, plant densities and aboveground biomass were collected and analyzed. Soils differed in mineral content. Iron and nitrogen were 5- and 4-fold greater in Tailings than Santaquin soil; phosphorus, magnesium, and organic matter were 5.5-, 4-, and 18-folds lower in Tailings than Santaquin soil. The average density of plants was significantly different (p < 0.0001) between the two soil types; in the Santaquin soil plant density was 5.73 plants/pot, in Tailings soil plant density was 2.20 plants/pot. No individual grass species were significantly different from each other in the Tailings soil (p = 0.51). However, individual grass species were significantly different from one another in the Santaquin soil (p = 0.05). Both Tailings and Santaquin soil types had the highest densities of slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus; 4.75 plants/pot and 8.25 plants/pot, respectively) and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum; 4.75 plants/pot and 10.25 plants/pot, respectively). Sandbergs bluegrass (Poa secunda) had the lowest density in both soil types (zero plants in Tailings soil and 2.50 plants/pot in Santaquin soil). To make informed decisions when selecting plant species for seed mixes, soil characteristics should be considered.

Authors: Eden Beazer, Aubree Bench, Ethan Jones, Jared Carter. Mentors: Jeffrey Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Incidence of diabetes worldwide has grown from 108 million people in 1980 to 422 million people in 2014, nearly tripling in just thirty-four years. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by the loss of pancreatic beta cell mass and the failure of the remaining beta cells to provide adequate insulin. Contributing to the development of T2D is glucolipotoxicity (GLT), a condition characterized by the harmful elevation of glucose and fatty acid levels within beta cells. While there are existing treatments for symptoms of diabetes, much remains to be understood about its underlying causes and effective preventative measures. Flavonoids are naturally occurring phenolic compounds found in many fruits and vegetables that have various anti-inflammatory health benefits. Previous studies suggest that epicatechin, a flavonoid present in cocoa, can reduce the effects of diabetes by diminishing insulin desensitization and increasing glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Interestingly, the bioavailability of epicatechin is poor, while its metabolites are more easily absorbed in the small intestine. Further studies demonstrated that under non-stressed conditions in beta-cells, hippuric acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-phenylvaleric acid, metabolites of epicatechin, stimulate insulin secretion at concentrations more realistically found in the body. However, the effects of these metabolites in glucolipotoxic conditions are unknown. Here, we present the effects of epicatechin and its metabolites hippuric acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-phenylvaleric acid on beta cell insulin secretion and mitochondrial respiration under GLT culture conditions. This study aimed to contribute to the limited body of knowledge on the bioactivity of flavonoid metabolites on beta cell function under damaging conditions observed with T2D, offering crucial insights for developing effective strategies to harness the health benefits associated with flavonoids.

Authors: Megan Ritter Martin, Alley Fausett, Kristin Davenport, Malisa Brooks, Kent Hinkson. Mentors: Malisa Brooks, Kent Hinkson. Insitution: Utah Valley University. AbstractBackground: Present-day college students confront record-high levels of anxiety. In 2022, 36.9% of college students reported that anxiety affected their academic performance compared to 21.9% in 2015. This surge in anxiety presents a pressing concern. Prolonged anxiety poses a significant risk, potentially triggering various mental health challenges, including substance abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation and behaviors. Moreover, the adverse impact of anxiety on concentration and learning can result in academic difficulties that can persist throughout one’s life. Despite ongoing research, the correlation between anxiety and its influence on students’ academic performance remains inconclusive, primarily due to conflicting findings in prior studies within this domain.Methods: This study was designed to investigate the connection between academic achievement and anxiety, specifically in college students. A total of 1,359 University students from various US universities participated in this study from 2021 to 2022. Anxiety was measured by the General Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scale, and academic performance was measured by Grade Point Average (GPA) and other markers of academic performance. To investigate potential mediating pathways, zero-order correlations were used to analyze the relationship between variables of interest. Further, t-tests were used to examine differences in key variables among demographic groups (e.g., veteran status, gender, race, ethnicity, etc.).Results: There was no statistically significant relationship found between students' academic achievement and their degree of anxiety. However, several academic performance variables besides GPA had inverse associations with anxiety. Further, several deleterious academic activities (for instance, “turning in a paper or assignment late”) were shown to be moderately associated with anxiety. Considered together, these findings suggest that anxiety has a complicated relationship with the GPA of the student, but multiple pathways connect it to academic performance.Conclusion: The present study contributes to the current literature surrounding the relationship between anxiety and academic performance. While traditionally, research into academic performance often focuses solely on GPA, additional academic performance variables were explored, providing insight into other relationships of potential significance. This creates an opportunity wherein the field may be able to better understand and support students by recognizing the impacts that anxiety has on their academic performance. These results highlight how crucial it is to treat mental health issues to improve university students' academic performance.

Authors: Rebekah Hakala, Moroni Black. Mentors: Todd Spencer. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Over the years countless studies have delved into the theory of attachment due to its influence in the field of child development. Attachment theory is the idea that the sensitivity of parents or caregivers to a child’s bids for attention affect how the child will bond in relationships (Bretherton, 1992; Wilson-Ali et al., 2019). The style of attachment that a child has can affect them long-term and may influence other relational and developmental characteristics (Kurth, 2013). Due to the influence of attachment, our study investigates the relationship it has with cognitive reappraisal. Cognitive reappraisal is the ability to regulate one’s emotional states and the idea that a change in these thoughts is necessary to change negative emotions (Troy et al., 2017; Clark, 2022). With its ability to process and regulate emotion, cognitive reappraisal is another influential characteristic to the human psyche. Our results and analysis of the relationship between attachment theory and cognitive reappraisal come from a quantitative survey.The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship among attachment styles and Cognitive Reappraisal. Our sample consists of 411 married individuals. Participants completed The Relationship Questionnaire (RQ; Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ; Gross & John, 2003). Results of the one way Anova were significant F (3,407) = 3.36, p=<.01. There was a significant difference in levels of cognitive reappraisal among attachment styles. Secure attachment (M=29.95, SD = 6.41), fearful attachment (M=27.27, SD = 5.92), preoccupied (M=27.99, SD = 7.27), and dismissing (M = 28.78, SD = 7.54). Results of the Bonferroni Post-hoc analysis indicated a significantly higher levels of cognitive reappraisal than attachment styles (p.<.001). Results provide empirical support that secure attachment styles tend to be beneficial for cognitive reappraisal.

Authors: Chase Mortensen, Juhyeong Lee. Mentors: Juhyeong Lee. Insitution: Utah State University. Foldcore sandwich composites (FSCs) are constructed using multi-layered sheets folded in a desired pattern and placed between two thin face sheets. The choice of material geometric folding pattern provides a large design space to optimize the structural performance of FSCs. These composites are typically made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, offering lightweight and high-energy-absorbing properties. This work aims to characterize the size effects of unit-cell foldcores by analyzing the influence of subscale foldcore models subjected to periodic boundary conditions under quasi-static compression. Three Miura-based unit-cell foldcore models were considered: (1) 1×1, (2) 1×2 (two 1×1 unit-cell foldcores connected in parallel), and (3) 2×1 (two 1×1 unit-cell foldcores connected perpendicularly). Through finite element modeling, three key findings were derived: 1) the finite element model closely replicated experimental results; 2) the application of periodic boundary conditions had an insignificant impact on subscale foldcore models. Third, inconsiderable variations in stress and damage were observed primarily along the foldcore creases when unit-cells were placed in parallel.

Authors: Hunter Gordon. Mentors: Geoff Smith. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Precipitation and temperature represent two of the most critical and extensively studied abiotic factors that impact ectotherms. With climate change, regions already under stress are experiencing heightened heat and aridity, which is forcing populations to adapt or face extinction. Scalation patterns, which may vary in response to these abiotic factors, could hold valuable insights for predicting the future. This study focuses on Side-blotched lizards, specifically Uta stansburiana, sampled from various populations to assess the influence of local climatic factors on their scalation. Additionally, museum specimens are integrated into the analysis to discern how these patterns have evolved over time, possibly in response to shifting climatic conditions. Through the examination of multiple locations spanning different time periods, we aim to enhance our ability to forecast the adaptive responses of organisms in the face of the hotter and drier future predicted by climate models for the American Southwest.

Authors: Christopher Galbraith, Derek Langford, Hillary Wadsworth, Eliza White, Erin Taylor, Lauren Ford. Mentors: Jordan Yorgason. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Microglia are monocyte derived immune cells and exhibit complex signaling behavior that include phagocytic activity to threats and prolonged neuronal activity. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a known chemoattractant for microglia, but how chemoattraction is modulated by other transmitters is not well understood. ATP is co-packaged and released with dopamine, thus the present work examines microglia morphology and motility in the context of these two transmitters. Microelectroiontophoresis and multiphoton microscopy were used in brain slices from transgenic mice to examine effects of dopamine and ATP signaling on microglia. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) transitioned the microglia from ramified to amoeboid morphology over a period of 4 hours. LPS also increased both dopamine and ATP release, as measured by fast scan cyclic voltammetry on a similar time course. Surprisingly, dopamine itself did not act as a chemoattractant to microglia, despite increasing after LPS treatment. By examining this relationship between neuronal and microglial activation we can better understand the complex circuitry of the reward pathway and immune system activation.