2024 Abstracts

Authors: Hannah Smith. Mentors: Jeff Parker. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The Arabic language uses a rich system of patterns called verb forms to create verbs with related meanings from roots made of consonants. For example, the root k-t-b, in form I, kataba, means ‘to write.’ When it appears in form II as kattaba, it means ‘to make someone write.’ In form III, kaataba, it means ‘to exchange letters,’ ‘to correspond’ (Wehr, 2019). There are ten commonly used verb forms, although not every root is used in every form. As Arabic has been exposed to English and speakers borrow verbs from English into their Arabic, they make choices about how and whether to integrate these foreign words into the verb forms. For example, the verb ‘to block (on social media),’ with the derived root b-l-k, is used in form II, ballaka, ‘to block.’ Other borrowed verbs, however, don’t get integrated in this way. Instead, they are used as a noun with a native Arabic verb, usually ‘amila, ‘to do.’ For example, English ‘to delete’ becomes ‘amila daliit, literally ‘to do a delete.’ This study aims to understand what factors influence when and how completely borrowings from English like these are integrated into the verb forms in Jordanian Arabic (JA) by interviewing university students in Amman, Jordan. The interviews are primarily focused on four forms in which borrowings in JA frequently appear (Salem, 2015). Initial data from a group of eight participants shows a general acceptance for the borrowings in their base forms, with much more variation in speakers’ intuitions regarding their usage in other forms. For example, all eight participants perceive ‘to block,’ ballaka, as a completely acceptable word used by most people. However, only two participants felt the same way about its counterpart form, taballaka, ‘to be blocked,’ whereas two other participants perceived it as something no one would ever use. Furthermore, some participants perceive verbs that rely on ‘to do,’ such as ‘to delete,’ to be in the beginning stages of integration, with three of eight interviewees stating that some of these verbs actually are acceptable in verb form II. Thus far, the perceptions of all the borrowings seem to indicate that speakers believe that integration of borrowed verbs is a gradual process. Furthermore, in addition to other factors, the extent to which the verbs are integrated in JA seems to be affected in large part by cultural perceptions of how foreign the verbs are, a factor that has not been noted in previous studies on the subject.

Authors: Emily Cherrington, Sam S Ingram, Chloe E Loveland, Ryanne Welch. Mentors: Olga Kopp. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Ocimum basilicum, commonly known as Genovese basil, is a frequently grown herb in the Lamiaceae family. It is used in food cuisines around the globe and is easily grown as a fresh-market herb for restaurants, farmer’s markets, and grocery stores. Basil has many antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties, but it is most commonly used as a culinary ingredient to add flavor to various dishes. Basil is very sensitive to cold, requiring well-draining soil with temperatures of 18°C to 27°C for germination. Consistent soil moisture is also necessary for optimum growth, and it prefers to stay moist to keep from drying out. In the face of global climate change, it becomes imperative to determine the adaptability of crucial agricultural crops -like basil- to varying nutrient levels in different substrate types across diverse environmental conditions. A plant's capacity to thrive in distinct substrates is intrinsically linked to the unique requirements of its seeds. The choice of substrate serves as the foundational element for cultivating healthy plants. This study centers on examining three pivotal aspects related to substrates: moisture retention, nutrient accessibility, and fungal growth. This led us to question whether the germination success of Ocimum basilicum differs depending on the substrate type. To test this question, we will plant Genovese basil seeds in four distinct substrate types: standard germination mix, 80/20 peat-perlite blend, compost-enriched soil, and an agar medium. Following their placement in the respective substrates, all seeds will be grown in a controlled growth chamber, subject to identical lighting conditions and a consistent temperature of 22°C to ensure uniformity across all treatments. At intervals of 1-2 days, diligent observations will be made to detect signs of germination. Once germination becomes apparent, we will meticulously document the results. Subsequently, this collected data will undergo analysis using the R Language. We anticipate that substrates rich in nutrients (specifically agar and standard germination mix) will exhibit heightened germination success. Investigating how substrate type affects the germination success of Genovese basil offers valuable insights with broad applications in horticulture and agriculture. It can enhance agricultural practices by pinpointing optimal soil choices for specific crops, increasing substrate efficiency to minimize resource wastage, and promoting sustainable and economical cultivation methods. Furthermore, this research contributes to a deeper comprehension of the environmental ramifications of crops and the diversity of crops in both controlled laboratory settings and natural environments.

Authors: Kacey Rowe, Rachel Arocho, Allison Ensign. Mentors: Rachel Arocho, Allison Ensign. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Mental health amongst IBD patients is often overlooked and forgotten when they are dealing with their personal physical symptoms. There is little research on the benefits of social support for IBD patients. In online forums, it appears some IBD patients report feeling depressed and having negative thoughts about living life on a day-to-day basis. Indeed, prior research has found associations between IBD and mental health; for example, one study found that 17.3% of IBD patients had lifetime suicidal ideation, which is much higher than the general population at a 4.0% rate (Xiong et al., 2022). Another study did physical and mental exams and found on average, people with higher depression symptoms were six times more likely to have their disease be more active (Marrie et al., 2021, para. 16). Due to the high rate of depression, it would be beneficial to design a website to track symptoms and create online forums giving people the opportunity to connect with peers who have IBD. IBD can drastically affect a person’s life, even in a mild case. According to the CDC, IBD is estimated to affect 3 million US adults, a little over 1% of all Americans (Xu et al, 2018). Few people in the 1% category who struggle with IBD have connected online with others who are experiencing the same autoimmune disease. Although prior research has identified the association between physical IBD symptoms and mental health, little has been proposed to help these patients. Our goal is to create a form of social support for people who have been diagnosed with IBD. For 30 days, we will take 20 participants and have them record their symptoms and thoughts through quantitative and qualitative data. To do this, the participants will be asked to use a website which we have created from scratch. They will be using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). The PHQ-9 will be used to check in on mental health, while the SIBDQ will focus on the physical symptoms of IBD. Each week, they will participate in forums on the website, which will allow them to connect online and anonymously with others who share their experiences. At the start of the month, daily throughout the study, and at the end of the month, participants will report on their health symptoms through a combination of the measures named above and short tracker questions. (Note: Project is still under IRB approval, we aim to start participants by the end of the year.)

Authors: Megan Frisby, Alma Laney, Geoff Zahn. Mentors: Alma Laney. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The oil-bearing species, Hyssopus officinalis (hyssop) and Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) are important ecological, ornamental, and agriculturally cultivated plants in the state of Utah, playing a central role in the state’s major essential oils industry, and thus economic climate. However, little is known about the virological agents infecting Utah plant species. A project was initiated to identify the viruses infecting symptomatic H. officinalis and L. angustifolia specimens obtained from Utah. Tissues collected from plants of both species exhibited viral associated symptoms of stunting and chlorosis, while collected hyssop specimens displayed additional leaf curling and mottling. Initial MinION sequencing was conducted on cDNA libraries synthesized from lavender and hyssop samples which were multiplexed with that of other species using the cDNA PCR barcoding kit and chip v 9.4.1. The primary run yielded contigs for a novel single-stranded negative-sense RNA nucleorhabdovirus in both specimens, a sequence closest to tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) in hyssop, and an ilarvirus related to tobacco streak virus in lavender. However, additional, exclusive MinION runs consistently failed to yield quality results in attempts to obtain the complete the genomes of these viruses. DNA and RNA extractions were once again performed on hyssop and lavender samples, and RNA from 2020 and 2023 were sent out of lab for RNAseq using the Illumina Novaseq. Once complete genomes are achieved further research will be conducted to characterize these novel viral agents, determine the identity of their associated vectors and calculate host ranges. The results of this project will help to advance the limited virological knowledge of Utah plants as well as that of the nation and world, and aid in developing future scientifically-sound pathogen management strategies.