2024 Abstracts

Authors: Sierra M Mellor, Madilyn Brandt, Nathaniel Eberhart, Samuel Flor, Julianne H Grose. Mentors: Julianne Grose. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Continued use of antibiotics has driven the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which cause infections that prove difficult to treat. Therefore, it is crucial that alternative treatments for bacterial infections are developed. One such promising method, known as phage therapy, utilizes viruses that infect bacteria. However, compared to the high abundance of bacteriophages, relatively few have been isolated and sequenced, with little known about their gene products. Here we have isolated two phages, SummitAcademy and AJGecko, against the host bacteria Gordonia rubripertincta. Gordonia belongs to the Actinobacteria class containing many pathogenic bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and so analysis of SummitAcademy and AJGecko can provide insight into the evolution of this family. Genomic comparison of conserved genes between SummitAcademy and other Gordonia phages identifies 14 hypothetical proteins as unique to SummitAcademy. Subsequent liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) of CsCl-purified SummitAcademy confirms expression of many predicted gene products, verifying the annotation. Several peptides generated through mass spectrometry also provide evidence for extending predicted start sites of gene products. Further characterization of virion proteins and gene products of SummitAcademy can add to the overall knowledge of this cluster of phages and potential phage therapies against Gordonia or related infections.

Authors: Nathan Vaughan. Mentors: Jeffery Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by a loss of functional beta cell mass, and impaired glucose homeostasis. Elevated glucose levels in the body are known to be the cause of a plethora of debilitating illnesses. Hyperglycemia negatively effects beta cell function, resulting in impaired insulin secretion and cell death. Two key transcription factors involved in beta cell development, function, and proliferation are Nkx6.1 and Pdx1. We have shown a binding interaction between these Nkx6.1 and Pdx1 and have shown that they co-regulate various genes necessary for beta cell maturity and function. Preliminary data indicate that elevated glucose concentrations downregulate Nkx6.1 mRNA and protein, as well as Pdx1 mRNA. However, the effect of elevated glucose concentrations on Pdx1 and Nkx6.1 binding interaction and subsequent function remains largely unexplored. Here we demonstrate the effect of hyperglycemia on the Pdx1-Nkx6.1 interaction, and the effect on expression of Pdx1 and Nkx6.1 downstream target genes. Understanding the effect of hyperglycemia on this interaction will allow us to better understand the stress that a beta cell is under during diabetic conditions, and to develop interventions to ameliorate these effects.

Authors: Michael Mann, David Bates, Steven Johnson. Mentors: Steven Johnson. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Nucleosome positioning, or the placement of nucleosomes along DNA, is known to be a significant factor in determining gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Further, post-translational modifications (or PTMs) help modulate gene expression by acting as an intermediate to other factors. The extent to which PTMs directly affect nucleosome positioning is poorly understood, however. Since gene expression is known to be affected by several coincident PTMs on each histone, the goal of this research is to evaluate the suitability of a Lys-->Gln mutation as a substitute for histone lysine acetylation. If successful, this research can be used to support future combinatorial studies on PTMs and nucleosome positioning without the difficulty of combining several forms of PTMs simultaneously.

Authors: Cooper Bell-Hunley, Ming Yu, Emily Heider. Mentors: Emily Heider. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Green chemistry involves the redesign of chemical processes and products to reduce hazards to the environment and human health. Reconsidering the teaching curriculum with a view to embrace green chemistry can reduce costs in waste disposal and has the potential to improve accessibility. This research involves the redesign of qualitative analysis general chemistry experiment to eliminate the use of teratogenic mercury (Hg) and neurotoxic lead (Pb). Making this change creates a more inclusive laboratory since expectant mothers should not be exposed to mercury and therefore some students did not feel safe completing the previous version of the experiment. With any change in curriculum, it is important to consider the impact on learning outcomes that students can achieve. This research details the assessment of learning outcomes with a quasi-experimental design. Instructors in multiple general chemistry labs selected the qualitative analysis experiment (with or without Hg and Pb) and learning outcomes achieved were assessed following the experiment.

Authors: Thomas Caldwell. Mentors: Dustin Shipp. Insitution: Utah Valley University. In this research project, we have transformed an existing Raman spectroscopy simulation, enhancing its performance and capabilities through the integration of parallel computing with GPU acceleration. This significant improvement in computation time allows us to break through previous computational limitations, enabling more sophisticated and complex applications of the simulation. The principal applications we will be assessing are the viability and potential of spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) for deeper tissue analysis, exploring the possibilities of topographical imaging using Raman techniques, and the advanced application of chemical imaging of microscopic tumors. This expanded scope demonstrates the simulation's potential in early cancer detection.

Authors: Veronica Gunyan, Minh Nguyen. Mentors: Kevin Shurtleff. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Our team’s project green hydrogen production from plastic waste by high temperature plasma pyrolysis aims to help aid in reducing waste by taking UVU’s recycled plastic waste, decomposing it using plasma pyrolysis, and turning it into clean hydrogen and carbon in a cost-effective manner. Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of organic materials in an oxygen-free zone. Green hydrogen comes from renewable energy and releases no CO2 by products into the air. The purity of the hydrogen can be improved by adjusting components such as temperature in the reactor, range, the gas used, the time frame, catalysts and other operational elements. Energy prospects can be determined by considering the energy consumed subtracted by that produced to determine the net output.

Authors: Feyan Hoffman, Roshan Abraham, Christine Fowles, Abi Conger, Scott Jenson. Mentors: Daren Nelson. Insitution: Utah Valley University. One of the least understood part of our local water budget is the interaction of groundwater into our lakes and streams. Groundwater models completed by the United States Geological Survey in 2005 for the Utah Lake Watershed suggest zones where groundwater interactions should be either discharging or recharging into our local streams, wetlands, and other water bodies. However, more recent data has suggested that many of these water interaction maps created by the model are inaccurate, and we need a better understanding of how groundwater interacts with these water bodies. Using a water budget analysis, groundwater and surface water interactions are measured by collecting discharge measurements using flow meters at different cross sections along the Provo River and its tributaries. A gaining or losing stream may swap depending on seasonal changes, such as a particular water year being dry or wet–a stream that is typically gaining may be recharging the aquifer during a dry year. The USGS model is a good basic representation of interactions between groundwater and surface water. Our data suggests that due to highly variable water levels of Utah Lake and local groundwater levels, some discharge and recharge zones in the Provo River subbasin are likely to change over time. In addition, some sections of the river may be perched and not interact with the groundwater system at all. In order for us to better manage these important resources, further analysis of flow behaviors in the Provo River and its tributaries need to be completed. This study is part of a larger study that includes adding two new permanent flow gauging stations to provide a long term record that will enable water managers to better decipher why the groundwater and surface interactions are not fitting the USGS model.

Authors: Roshan Abraham, Parker Jorgenson. Mentors: Daren Nelson. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Hobble Creek is an essential and valuable stream that the City of Springville and other local entities utilize for their water supply. However, the stream is also vital to the local environment and ecosystem since it one of the main streams that the June Sucker (an endangered endemic fish) spawn in each year. Numerous environmental projects and studies have been done in the lower section of Hobble Creek due to this importance. There are many springs in the region that provide water to the stream but there is a lack of consistent monitoring of the flow throughout the stream to determine how the stream is interacting with groundwater sources. Groundwater models completed by the United States Geological Survey in 2005 for the Utah Lake Watershed suggest locations where groundwater interactions should be either discharging or recharging the local aquifer. However, more recent data has suggested that many of these water interaction maps created by the USGS model are inaccurate. Using a water budget analysis, streamflow in the creek is being measured at 10 sites throughout the Hobble Creek Watershed to determine how the flow in the creek changes as it flows towards Utah Lake. Data gathered from this and previous studies show the zones of discharge and recharge shift seasonally and are not as consistent as the USGS model suggests. Recent data does confirm that Hobble Creek is gaining flow upstream and losing flow downstream, but there are portions of the river that also may be perched (do not interact with the groundwater). Further measurements and continued site investigation will be necessary to help us better manage this vital water resource.

Authors: Jonas P Knochelmann. Mentors: Rogelio E. Cardona-Rivera. Insitution: University of Utah. Despite the highly technical nature of Procedural Content Generation (PCG), the holistic study of the discipline is minimal and qualitative. We argue that this gap exists because there is no formal framework to talk about PCG artifacts and algorithms and propose the mathematical field of group theory to serve as such a framework. Group theory is a well-established discipline that has been embraced in chemistry, physics, and art, with tools for analyzing, combining, and generating objects based on their structure. We outline a specific method for applying group theory to PCG and explore a number of case studies in the hopes of developing a more unified formal framework for future study.

Authors: Austin Martel, Bethany Parkinson, Spencer Magleby. Mentors: Spencer Magleby. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Compliant mechanisms are gaining popularity for use in engineering systems due to their low cost, manufacturability, and predictability. These monolithic structures can accomplish the same function as rigid multi-body mechanisms and can improve the motion and performance of the mechanism. Because they are monolithic, 3D printing has proven to be a simple and favorable method of bringing compliant mechanisms from design to reality. However, fabricating these mechanisms using conventional approaches of 3D printing can negatively affect their mechanical properties. To combat these adverse effects, we need to identify printing parameters that affect the mechanism’s material properties. Then, by adjusting the values of these parameters in the 3D printer’s slicer software we can minimize these adverse effects and create a better-suited set of guidelines to print compliant mechanisms.In this study, multiple compliant mechanisms were designed and tested with different printer settings. The testing started with creating mechanisms and their force-deflection curves. The standard designs of each mechanism were then updated and printed using different parameters from the slicer software. Parameters such as orientation, infill, wall thickness, nozzle path, and ironing were considered and quantified. After printing, the mechanisms were tested on an INSTRON machine to get the experimental force-deflection curves. We iterated upon each design until there was less than a 5% error between the experimental and theoretical data. With more knowledge of the effects of 3D-printing parameters, we can develop a set of guidelines for manufacturing more predictable compliant mechanisms. These guidelines can be applied to any compliant mechanism design for industrial or personal 3D printing.

Authors: Seth Cannon. Mentors: Joe Price. Insitution: Brigham Young University. We use the occupation strings in the full-count US census files from 1880-1940 to create a new dataset of everyone during this time period that listed their occupation as a clergy (or related term). We use this data to identify the number of clergy located in each town in the United States in each census year. We find that towns with at least one person that identifies as clergy in the census record experience 5.4% greater population growth by the next census compared to towns without any clergy. This result is robust to various ways to control for the population and other characteristics of the town. We also focus on just the set of towns that had only one person in the census who identified as clergy. When we restrict the dataset to these towns, we find that the towns for whom that single clergy member died before the next census experienced an average population loss of 2.8%, while towns that didn’t have their clergy die experienced a population growth of 12.5%. These results highlight the ways in which access to local religious resources can help promote economic growth in small communities.

Authors: Emmalie Parker. Mentors: Heather Thiesset. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Changes in health insurance due to the Affordable Care act created a bridge for college students to remain on their parent or guardian’s health insurance for a longer period of time. However, little is done to close the gap of education deficiency in the area of health insurance literacy during this time. While most students in a universal health system have relatively few options to choose from, students in the US are faced with many different plans through employment or the open marketplace. Therefore, in order to ensure adequate access to care, it is imperative that students understand the fundamentals of this system in the US. This quantitative cross-sectional survey sampled 500 currently registered UVU students to assess their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and healthcare utilization. This data was stratified by age and sex. Descriptive statistics and chi2 analyses were performed. This study showed that disparities in healthcare literacy affect healthcare utilization and can be a catalyst for long-term healthcare access issues for students and their families.

Authors: Brantson Yeaman. Mentors: Machiel van Frankenhuijsen. Insitution: Utah Valley University. There has been considerable curiosity at the graduate and postgraduate level in regards to heights, that is, heights in their relation to Diophantine geometry. One application of heights is in the $abc$ conjecture, which remains highly mysterious. Often, the only height undergraduates encounter is the traditional absolute value. This talk seeks to define the height for use in investigating the $abc$ conjecture and connect it at a level that undergraduates with little experience with number theory may approach. It will introduce the idea of a $p$-adic norm of a number, a projective point, and a view that lends itself to both a simple idea of distance, and yet has an analogue in the Hamiltonian numbers.

Authors: Leif Ravnsen

Authors: Taylor Millett, Wendy Schatzberg, Samuel Tobler. Mentors: Wendy Schatzberg. Insitution: Utah Tech University. This study delves into the intriguing world of hollow hair strands in animals, focusing on their role in thermoregulation, and the ability to maintain a stable body temperature in the face of fluctuating external conditions. While the Pronghorn antelope is widely known for having hollow hair strands among hunters and conservationists, little is known about their internal structure. Employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we explored the inner composition of these hollow hair strands and their contribution to thermoregulation. Our investigation centered on several notable North American big game animals, including Mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, and Pronghorn antelope, all of which exhibit a unique adaptation: the transition between summer and winter coats. Through SEM analysis, we measured and compared the winter and summer coats of these animals to gain insights into how they effectively regulate their body temperatures during the extremes of hot summers and cold winters. These seasonal changes manifest in alterations in fur and hair thickness and length. Under the microscope, we unveiled the distinct topography of the inner structure of individual hair strands. Notably, our findings revealed that the inner hair structure contains larger hollow pockets in the winter coats of these animals. Our research thus sheds light on the role of these hollow structures in heat transfer and their pivotal contribution to the thermoregulation abilities of these remarkable creatures, expanding our understanding of their unique adaptations.

Authors: Kayla Knaperek, Megan Frisby, Geoffery Zahn, Alma Laney. Mentors: Alma Laney. Insitution: Utah Valley University. In February 2021, mycelial growth was found on blueberries, leading to the obtention of a fungal isolate using potato dextrose agar (PDA) after surface sterilization of the blueberries. The rapid growth of white mycelium and sclerotia was observed on the medium. Inoculation of basil plants with spores from surface-sterilized sclerotia in potato-dextrose broth resulted in necrosis and spreading in terminal buds, ultimately leading to plant death. Further isolation of the identical fungus from the diseased basil tissue confirmed its pathogenicity. Analysis of the isolate's ITS region sequencing revealed a 90% nucleotide identity to the closest relative, Botrytis cinerea. A project was initiated to further characterize the fungus, pathogenicity, life cycle, and morphological traits. The growth and development of the fungus were observed on V8, cornmeal, blueberry, and potato dextrose agars to characterize its nutritional requirements and growth patterns. Host range testing involved the systematic inoculation of various plant species (which were used as growth media), followed by careful symptom monitoring and photographed documentation. Additionally, Koch’s Postulates will be conducted to establish the causal relationship between fungal infection and the observed disease symptoms in the host plants. Seven days after inoculation, necrosis, wilting, and leaf discoloration were observed on select leaves of Lavender var. Oregano, suggesting possible infection by the blueberry fungus. Considering potential host plant immaturity during the initial inoculation, a re-inoculation is planned to ensure successful infection and to obtain conclusive results. Further investigation is warranted to confirm the pathogenic impact of the fungus on host plants.

Authors: Nadia Mando, Josh Shaeffer, Jared Nielsen. Mentors: Jared Nielsen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Background: “Feeling the Spirit” is an important experience for many active Latter-Day Saints. Feeling the Spirit is often defined by the presence of positive, even if minor, feelings which are perceived to be interactions with deity. However, some Latter-Day Saints struggle to feel the Spirit which can be distressing to them. Recently, LDS leaders have focused on understanding how depressed individuals might experience “feeling the Spirit” differently.Objective: Our pilot study sought to understand the relationship between depression and the frequency and strength of spiritual experiences.Methods: We used the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS21) to measure depression. We created two separate measures to inquire how frequently and strongly participants felt the Spirit in the last six months. We also created a task asking participants to read multiple scripture passages and report how strongly they felt the Spirit while reading each passage. Responses to each passage were averaged to create a state measure of feeling the Spirit. We hypothesized that higher scores of depression would predict lower scores on feeling the Spirit for all three measures.Results: We found that scores on depression (M=11.388, SD=7.844) significantly correlated to frequency (M=3.683, SD=0.760, r= -0.352, p<.001) and strength (M=4.004,SD=0.628, r=-0.453, p<.001) of the Spirit. However, depression scores were not significantly correlated with our state measure (M=2.384, SD=0.903, r=-0.192, p=0.078). In our regression models we found that depression is a significant predictor of both frequency (R2= 0.091, F(1,83)=8.347, p=.005, =-0.029, p=.005) and strength (R2=0.158, F(1,83)=15.523, p<.001, = -0.032) of feeling the Spirit but, not of feeling the Spirit during the scripture task (R2=0.003, F(1,83)=0.236, p=0.628, = -0.463).Conclusion: These findings suggest that depression may affect how LDS persons experience their relationship with God. Our findings take a step toward explaining why some individuals may experience difficulty in “feeling the Spirit”. Future studies are necessary to elucidate these preliminary findings.

Authors: Sophia Kramer, Violeta Vasilevska. Mentors: Violeta Vasilevska. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Preliminary literature review showed that studies have been conducted following either elementary or middle/high school students’ after-school math programs. However, this preliminary lit review did not provide any relevant comparison of the data collected from these students’ groups. In this study, we will conduct two after-school meetings with elementary and high school students in the spring semester. During the meetings, students will be working collaboratively on hands-on, discovery math activities. This hands-on learning experience will be adjusted for different grade levels. Both student groups will be given a pre-survey consisting of attitude questions. They will assess perceptions about learning that occurs in after-school (out-of-classroom) learning environments that encourage mathematical thinking and collaboration. At the end of each after-school meeting, students will be given a post-survey (that will contain some questions matching the pre-survey ones). The collected survey data will be compared to examine the different responses resulting from the two different age groups, maturity levels, gender, etc. Survey results will be used to obtain observations about the effect of such after-school programs on student attitude toward math.In this presentation, we present the preliminary data collected during the first after school meeting held at the beginning of the spring semester and provide a comparison of the collected data. Additional meetings and surveys will be conducted later in the semester.