2024 Abstracts

Authors: Abby Hoyal. Mentors: Kristen Arnold. Insitution: Weber State University. The United States is one of the most prominent locations involved in the exchange of children in human trafficking. There are very few outlets that take in recovered children help them receive the proper aftercare and help to gain an education to integrate them back into society. Research has shown that children learn most efficiently in spaces that are modular and flexible. In research conducted for habilitation centers for children, they discovered, “Planning flexibility and variability comfort children and parents, accessibility and emotionality for children visiting [these] centers.” (Kasper, Ilvitskaya, Petrova, Shulginova, 2019). It has also been found that learning levels are highest in spaces that allow the children to learn from their surroundings rather than by just the instruction alone. “An interior shall lead children to learn concepts from working with materials, rather than by direct instruction. [Interiors] should improve cognitive learning, promote independence, curiosity, decision-making, cooperation, persistence, creativity, and problem-solving.” (Manav, 2016). One of the key elements to properly educating children, as listed previously, is to promote independence. One of the ways that research has shown independence to be achieved through design is proper wayfinding elements should be implemented so that occupants do not have to rely on any other occupant to navigate the space. Researchers examined how different colors, light temperatures, and lighting brightness can provide a natural easiness to wayfinding for occupants. Results found, that “the use of cool colors and high brightness levels help people be spatially oriented.” (Hidayetoglu, Yildirim, Akalin, 2012). The Grove will be an Aftercare center that will provide refuge and educate child survivors of human trafficking in a modular environment that educates through the use of space and materials used, with an encouraging push for independence throughout the space due to proper wayfinding elements.

Authors: Anya Weglarz. Mentors: Melissa Watt. Insitution: University of Utah. AbstractBackgroundWomen living with HIV (WLHIV) commonly experience internalized HIV stigma, which refers to how they feel about themselves as a person living with HIV. Internalized stigma interferes with HIV care seeking behavior and may be particularly heightened during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. This thesis aimed to describe internalized HIV stigma among WLHIV giving birth, identify factors associated with internalized HIV stigma, and examine qualitatively the impacts of internalized HIV stigma on the childbirth experience.MethodsPostpartum WLHIV (n=103) were enrolled in the study between March and July 2022 at six clinics in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. Participants completed a survey within 48 hours after birth, prior to being discharged. The survey included a 13-item measure of HIV-related shame, which assessed levels of internalized HIV stigma (Range: 0-52). Univariable and multivariable regression models examined factors associated with internalized HIV stigma. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant WLHIV (n=12) and postpartum WLHIV (n=12). Thematic analysis, including memo writing, coding, and synthesis, was employed to analyze the qualitative data.ResultsThe survey sample had a mean age of 29.1 (SD = 5.7), and 52% were diagnosed with HIV during the current pregnancy. Nearly all participants (98%) endorsed at least one item reflecting internalized HIV stigma, with an average endorsement of 9 items (IQR = 6). The most commonly endorsed items were: “I hide my HIV status from others” (87%), “When others find out I have HIV, I expect them to reject me” (78%), and “When I tell others I have HIV, I expect them to think less of me” (75%). In the univariable model, internalized stigma was associated with two demographic characteristics: being Muslim vs. Christian (ß = 7.123; 95%CI: 1.435, 12.811), and being in the poorest/middle national wealth quintiles (ß = 5.266; 95%CI: -0.437, 10.969). Internalized stigma was associated with two birth characteristics: having first birth vs. having had previous births (ß = 4.742; 95%CI: -0.609, 10.093), and attending less than four antenatal care appointments (ß = 5.113; 95%CI: -0.573, 10.798). Internalized stigma was associated with two HIV experiences: being diagnosed with HIV during the current pregnancy vs. diagnosis in a prior pregnancy (ß = 5.969; 95%CI: -1.196, 10.742), and reporting experiences of HIV stigma in the health system (ß = 0.582; 95%CI: 0.134, 1.030). In the final multivariable model, internalized stigma was significantly associated with being Muslim vs. Christian (ß = 6.80; 95%CI: 1.51, 12.09), attending less than four antenatal care appointments (ß = 5.30; 95%CI: 0.04, 10.55), and reporting experiences of HIV stigma in the health system (ß = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.27, 1.12). Qualitative discussions revealed three key themes regarding the impact of internalized HIV stigma on the childbirth experience: reluctance to disclose HIV status, suboptimal adherence to care, and the influence on social support networks.ConclusionWLHIV giving birth in this sample experience high rates of internalized HIV stigma. This stigma was significantly associated with being Muslim, as opposed to being Christian, attending less than four ANC appointments, and reporting experiences of HIV stigma in the healthcare setting. Other factors that were correlated to higher levels of internalized stigma were socioeconomic status, parity, and timing of HIV diagnosis, all of which can impact access to and engagement in healthcare services during the intrapartum and postpartum periods. Internalized HIV stigma impacts the childbirth experience for WLHIV, making the labor and delivery setting an important site for intervention and support.

Authors: Asher Mitchell, Neil Chilson. Mentors: Neil Chilson. Insitution: Utah State University. With the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence marked by the release of OpenAI’s GPT model and a number of similar models, concerns are being raised about the potential for centralization of control over the technology, which could have implications like control of user data, increased political influence, lack of user choice, and several other potential issues.This paper focuses on an alternative to the currently proposed solutions to this threat; creating a separate regulatory agency for the technology, or legislating conformity to specific standards. We focus instead on different interoperability-based solutions that allow end users to tap into the source code, giving them the ability to ensure control of their data and allowing for competition in the AI market.

Authors: Britt Wyatt, Alyssa Habel, Jess Cusick, Heath Ogden, Josh Premo. Mentors: Dr.Britt Wyatt. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Vaccines are crucial to maintaining healthy communities as they provide immunological protection against a variety of infections (Geoghegan, S. et al. 2020). By providing immunity, vaccines prevent serious illnesses, reduce disease severity, and protect communities. However, in 2019 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared vaccine hesitancy (resistance to getting vaccinated) as one of the top 10 dangers to global health (Dubé, Ève, et al. 2021). Previous studies have shown that certain communities are more vaccine hesitant than others. For example, individuals who are religious, conservative, Black, and women have been found to be more vaccine hesitant than other individuals (Savoia, E. et al., 2021) (Gowda C. & Dempsey, A., 2013). Therefore, we wanted to investigate vaccine hesitancy at an open enrollment institution that serves a unique student population where ~70% of students are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and ~30% are non-traditional (over the age of 24) (UVU IR, 2023). Compared to the overall 1.6% of individuals in the United States who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Pew Research Center, 2023), the identities of the students attending the open enrollment institution are vastly underrepresented in education research that has been conducted at other institutions. To investigate vaccine hesitancy, a survey was given to 1,444 students in the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester asking questions around vaccine safety and support. Preliminary results indicate that 70% of non-religious students will choose to be vaccinated against known and new diseases compared to 37% of religious students. 53% of non-religious students think that vaccine mandates are appropriate compared to 25% of religious students. These results indicate more vaccine hesitancy with religious students compared to non-religious students. As religious students make up most of the student population, results can help inform instructors and/or other stakeholders on scientific literacy topics to support in the academic setting. Lastly, further investigation on the intersectionality of identities will be explored such as gender and religion as women make roughly 80% of health-related decisions in their family unit. If religious women are more likely to be vaccine hesitant, development of strategies to support those students in making evidence-based decisions could be a future aim.

Authors: Parker McKasson, Hannah Hornberger, Sydnee Bond, Olivia Heller, Josh Marchant. Mentors: Patrick Steffen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. BackgroundIntrinsic religiosity is a deeply rooted connection to one's faith. Individuals with high intrinsic religiosity find purpose and meaning through their spiritual connections. Extrinsic religiosity is primarily driven by social or other superficial factors. Individuals with high extrinsic religiosity may be more inclined to participate in religious activities and communities without having a deep connection to their faith. Intrinsic religiosity has demonstrated associations with lower self-reported stress, however, associations between intrinsic/extrinsic religiosity and baseline heart rate variability (HRV), a proxy measure of the parasympathetic nervous system, have not been studied. Such research has the ability to explain how the complex relationship between religiosity and stress affects overall well-being. We hypothesize that higher self-reported stress will be associated with lower baseline HRV, but intrinsic religiosity will serve as a buffer, such that stress will have a weaker influence on baseline HRV among individuals who are more intrinsically religious. We predict that extrinsic religiosity will have no influence on the relationship between stress and HRV. MethodsA survey and biofeedback study were conducted on a sample of 165 college students. We used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) and Intrinsic/Extrinsic Religiosity Scale (IE/R), as well as measured baseline heart rate variability (HRV) using a 3 lead ECG. We will analyze the impacts of stress on HRV across people with varying levels of intrinsic/extrinsic religiosity through a multivariate regression model.ConclusionsReligiosity is not often viewed as a direct contributor to health and wellness, however, when viewed as a protective barrier against stress, intrinsic religiosity could play an important role in an individual’s stress response and wellbeing. In the presence of stressors, we expect intrinsic religiosity to be related to healthier parasympathetic functioning as measured through HRV.

Authors: Vicente Fernández Lara, Reagan McKee, Randy Klabacka, Angelina Romero. Mentors: Randy Klabacka. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Aspidoscelis (family: Teiidae) is a genus of lizards with many parthenogenic species found in North America. The parthenogenic species reproduce asexually, meaning all individuals in these species are female. The native range of Aspidoscelis neomexicanus (the New Mexico whiptail) is within the Rio Grande basin in New Mexico and Trans Pecos Texas. It has been reported outside its foreign range in northern Utah (Salt Lake area) as an introduced/invasive species, but has never been reported in southern Utah. We captured three individuals in Washington County that have the superficial diagnostic characters of Aspidoscelis neomexicanus. Using molecular genetics, we will test the taxonomic identity of this species and use phylogenetic analysis to determine the source population from its native range.

Authors: Leila Moore, Marin Farnsworth. Mentors: Tyson Harmon. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Background:Facial expressions are crucial for understanding human emotions in communication. Coding and quantifying these expressions, however, have often been subjective, leading to issues with reliability and consistency (Kring and Sloan, 2007). To address this, we have modified the Facial Expression Coding System (FACES) protocol (Kring and Sloan, 2007), which traditionally relies on subjective interpretation. Our modified protocol employs a more objective approach by quantifying facial expressions based on the counting of facial units (e.g., eyes, corners of the mouth, eyebrows, and teeth). Each intensity rating corresponds to a certain number of facial units. For example, an expression involving one facial unit would receive an intensity rating of one whereas an expression involving two units would receive an intensity rating of two. Multiple studies have found that women are more emotionally expressive than men overall when considering gestures, body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice (Ashmore, 1990; Brody & Hall, 1993; Hall, 1984). Rather than focusing on overall emotional expressiveness, though, the present study aims to understand how gender impacts the production of emotional facial expressions specifically. Method:The proposed study aims to compare the frequency and intensity of facial expressions produced by men versus women when recounting personal narratives. Participants. Video footage from participants with and without aphasia producing personal narrative discourse will be obtained for equal numbers of male and female participants. Samples will include two personal narratives in response to prompts from the interviewer. The first prompt is to speak of an experience the participant has had with illness/injury/stroke, and the second prompt is to talk about an important event that has happened in their life. Procedure. A modified FACES protocol will be used to code facial expressions in videos obtained from AphasiaBank. The coding process is conducted with the audio muted to help eliminate distractions. The modified FACES protocol includes specific, operationalized criteria for what qualifies as a facial expression. This protocol does not include coding non-facial gestures or eye movements. However, we do take into account the narrowing and widening of eyes in addition to instances when the eyes are opened or closed with intention. A critical question we ask during coding is whether the facial expression conveys emotional content. We have established standards for intensity ratings and will outline how we arrived at these standards, as well as the distinctions between intensity ratings one, two, three, and four. The analysis process includes establishing a baseline expression for each participant and coding for 20 minutes before taking a break to maintain energy and productivity and to ensure accuracy in data collection. Additionally, secondary coding and a final pass for gestalt ratings are performed to ensure comprehensive analysis.Data Analysis. To address our research questions, we will conduct a comprehensive analysis, focusing on our participants' facial expressiveness during personal narrative storytelling. The analysis will involve quantifying the frequency of facial expressions exhibited by the participants. Additionally, we will consider the valence of these expressions, distinguishing between positive and negative emotional content. We will also assess the intensity of facial expressions by counting the number of facial units engaged during each expression. This examination of facial data will allow us to discern not only the prevalence of expressions but also emotional content and intensity, ultimately providing a more in-depth understanding of the gender differences in non-verbal communication during personal narratives.Anticipated Results:Our study aims to explore if there is a statistically significant difference in the quantity, valence, and intensity of facial expressions between men and women. By using a standardized approach for measuring emotional facial expression production, we hope to shed light on the nuances of non-verbal communication during personal narratives and contribute to a better understanding of gender differences in emotional expression. Consistent with previous research, we anticipate that females will produce more frequent and intense emotional facial expressions than males (Ashmore, 1990; Brody & Hall, 1993; Hall, 1984).References:Ashmore, R. D. (1990). Sex, gender, and the individual. In L. A. Pervin (Ed.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (pp. 486-526). New York: Guilford Press.Brody, L. R., & Hall, J. A. (1993). Gender and emotion. In M. Lewis & J. M. Haviland (Eds.), Handbook of emotions (pp. 447-460). New York: Guilford Press.Hall, J. A. (1984). Nonverbal sex differences: Communication accuracy and expressive style. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.Kring, A. M., & Sloan, D. M. (2007). The facial expression coding system (FACES): Development, validation, and utility. Psychological Assessment, 19(2), 210–224. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.19.2.210.

Authors: Josh Lythgoe. Mentors: Brandon Ro. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Is the average American content with their home? If not, why are they discontent? One study suggests that how one perceives their home has more impact on them than the actual physical makeup of their home. This research will be added to by determining how the average homeowner perceives their home, and whether or not they are content with their current home. This research will be executed via a survey with a target sample size of at least one-hundred individuals. Factors such as race, socioeconomics, gender, and education will be studied to see what correlations exist between these factors and contentment in each category. Participants will be gathered by posting the survey on various forms of social media, as well as distributing flyers in public locations and randomly selected neighborhoods. Homeowners will be directed to rate various aspects of their home in the following areas: aesthetics and beauty, layout and flow, spaciousness and comfort, timelessness and longevity, maintenance and upkeep, and neighborhood and location. An average will be taken from each category to assess homeowners contentment by topic. The expected results are that on average homeowners will be more discontent than content in each of the above mentioned categories. A statistical analysis will be conducted to look for correlations between who designed the home and contentment. There is an expected positive correlation between contentment with one's home if they were involved in the design process. Similarly, there is an anticipated positive correlation with contentment if an architect designed the home. This research will be used to help guide design professionals to know how they can improve owner contentment with homes being newly constructed and renovated. The findings will help raise awareness of whether or not the current method of designing and constructing houses is meeting the homeowner’s needs, and expectations.

Authors: Danielle Terry, Seth Helton, Michael Creer. Mentors: Austin M Green. Insitution: University of Utah. With anthropogenic influence increasing worldwide, it is important to understand how wildlife behavior changes in response to urbanized landscapes. Urban ecosystems represent relatively novel landscapes with unique threats and opportunities that can completely restructure species’ population composition and dynamics. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) have been shown to alter their temporal activity in response to urbanization across their range of the Intermountain West of the United States. In this study, we will investigate the effects of anthropogenic influence on mule deer temporal activity behavior across two distinct life stages: fawning and non-fawning. Data for this study will come from the citizen science camera trapping project, Wasatch Wildlife Watch. The full project area is separated into two study sites: “Rural” and “Urban”. This study will be based around the wild-to-urban interface of the Central Wasatch Mountain Range and the Bear River Mountain Range, which composes some of the most highly recreated portions of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, receiving approximately 9,000,000 visitors annually (U.S Forest Service). We will investigate the proposed differential effects of anthropogenic influence and urbanization on mule deer diel activity patterns in the fawning vs. non-fawning life stages. Also, we will inquire whether intraspecific responses in mule deer diel activity alter interspecific interactions, especially with fawning predators, and how these responses might interact with environmental factors. We predict that anthropogenic influence and urbanization alter the diel activity patterns of fawning mule deer more than non-fawning deer and that the presence and activity of fawn predators (e.g., coyote [Canis latrans]) would have a stronger effect on fawning deer activity than non-fawning deer activity.

Authors: Adam Call, Parker Myers. Mentors: Mark Hughes. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Petal projections are defined as a special class of knot projection with a single multi-crossing, which causes the formation of loops entering and exiting the crossing. The relative height of the strands as they pass through the multi-crossing is always an odd-length permutation. Recent research has described the complete set of moves which is sufficient to relate any two permutations that describe the same knot. In this talk, we will discuss potential novel knot invariants arising from isotopy of knots and their petal projections.

Authors: Dua Azhar, Alexander MacKenzie, Sophie Caron. Mentors: Sophie Caron. Insitution: University of Utah. The mushroom body of the Drosophila melanogaster is a structure in the brain that is necessary for learning, but much of how it functions remains unknown. In this model organism, D. melanogaster’s mushroom body neurons, known as Kenyon cells, and input projection neurons have connections that are random and biased—in which some projection neurons connect with Kenyon cells more than others—allowing the fly to potentially prioritize the learning of particular odors. I investigated the functional consequences and characterizations of these biases in order to understand the biological role they play for the fly using a theoretical and experimental approach. With a computational model of the D. melanogaster olfactory system, how biased connectivity to the mushroom body influences its ability to form associations with various odors and distinguish between similar odors was explored. Experimentally, the morphological features of olfactory circuits were characterized by low to high connectivity rates to the mushroom body, allowing us to see the unique features in these circuits that are beyond the different connectivity rates. Through a combination of immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, high-quality images were generated of these different neuronal olfactory circuits and their morphological qualities, such as the number and volume of boutons they project to the mushroom body. Altogether, these findings demonstrate how neural connectivities behind learning shape the representation space in D. melanogaster and impact its learning outcomes.

Authors: Madi Hancock. Mentors: Nathan Crane. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Binder Jetting (BJ), a type of additive manufacturing (3D printing), creates parts through a multi-layered process. Particles are bound together using tiny droplets of liquid binder. Binder jetting has advantages over other additive manufacturing methods including relatively low costs, fast build rates, and a variety of possible printable materials. However, porosity defects commonly seen in BJ printed parts limit the technology's usefulness in demanding industries. There are several proposed causes of these porosity defects, including poor powder compaction in printed areas, residual carbon from the binder, and powder rearrangement due to binder droplet impact. The relative importance of these factors is poorly understood. This study will compare observations of porosity in printed and unprinted regions of Stainless Steel 316 BJ samples to better understand the possible modes of porosity defects.

Authors: Ashley Swensen, Ruth Kerry. Mentors: Ruth Kerry. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The American West has been experiencing severe drought for over 20 years with changes in climate. Also, the population in certain states has greatly increased putting increasing pressure on the limited fresh water supply. While the agricultural sector is the biggest consumer of freshwater, much is also used to irrigate turfgrass lawns in urban residential areas. The EPA has estimated that about 50% of household irrigation water is wasted by temporal and spatial misapplications. Temporal misapplications can be reduced by using smart sprinkler controllers that take into account recent weather when scheduling irrigation timing. This research investigates people’s willingness to implement more efficient watering practices with and without incentives. It also investigates how an average water bill for a quarter acre lot varies between states and between cities within 5 states in the semi-arid west (AZ, CO, ID, NV, UT). Following comparison of average water bills between states and cities, the potential savings from taking advantage of water saving incentives offered by cities is investigated. The research found differences between the genders and aridity zones in terms of the types of incentive that are favored and likelihood of utilizing methods to improve irrigation efficiency. Water bills were the highest in AZ and lowest in ID and UT. The low water bills in ID are likely associated with the greater prevalence of agriculture in that state than the others studied. Most UT cities had incentives for Smart Sprinkler controllers or to xeriscape. However, in other states several cities did not have incentives for installing Smart Sprinkler controllers. We conclude by trying to assess whether incentives or disincentives are more effective at reducing water use by residential customers.

Authors: Aldo Chipana, Sarah G Sanderson, Joseph Moore, Jeffery R Hill, Christopher R Dillon. Mentors: Chris Dillon. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Nitinol shape memory alloys have shown immense promise in biomedical engineering, with their exceptional biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. Interestingly, most biomedical applications rely on Nitinol’s super elasticity rather than its hysteretic properties. Previous research in this lab has highlighted the challenges and potential of using focused ultrasound to effectively heat Nitinol wire without causing damage to adjacent tissue. Building upon these findings, our current study presents an extension of the initial experiments, incorporating more realistic in-body conditions. This includes simulating blood flow, which influences the heat transfer taking place in our control volume. Furthermore, we utilize artery mimicking materials to recreate the conditions of human arterial walls. Through comprehensive experimentation and accurate temperature measurements using embedded thermocouples, we aim to enhance our understanding of the interactions between Nitinol wires, surrounding tissues, and focused ultrasound heating. An integral part of our investigation is to discern whether the focused ultrasound directly heats the Nitinol wire or if actuation is achieved indirectly by heating the surrounding tissue. These results will offer insights into the applications of shape memory alloys in diverse biomedical settings, potentially paving the way for more effective and safer medical use.

Authors: Minh Nguyen, Eugene Leung. Mentors: Ming Yu. Insitution: Utah Valley University. A rapid, non-invasive method of disease detection method is vital for diagnosis or prevention. Many recent studies suggest that biomarker proteins that are associated with certain diseases were often found in urine samples of the patient. Quantum dots (QDs), a type of nanomaterial, have been investigated in previous studies, revealing their fast response in fluorescent properties when interacting with biomarker proteins. In this study, we examined the impact of QDs’ fluorescent properties in complex solutions by utilizing various concentrations of artificial urine samples. The results of this study provide insight into the possibility of using QDs as an alternative method of disease detection.

Authors: Kirsten Sanders. Mentors: Ruth Kerry. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The Great Salt Lake (GSL) found in the Salt Lake Valley is a remnant of Lake Bonneville. In the 1980s the GSL reached record high water levels. But by 2022, the lake has been drying up and reached record-low water levels. Previous research using seven years of Purple Air Network data has shown that particulate air pollution levels, PM 2.5 and PM 10, are worse within 10km of the Great Salt Lake. Other research investigating the distribution of toxic heavy metals (Copper, Arsenic, Lead, and Zinc) in topsoil samples from throughout the Salt Lake Valley showed that some of the highest levels of Copper and Arsenic pollution were found near Saltair among dried sediments on the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake. This study involved collecting numerous samples from the dried shoreline of the Great Salt Lake and analyzing them for their heavy metal contents using Xray Fluorescence. The heavy metals were then mapped and linked to sediment particle sizes and pH to indicate where the most toxic sediments are located, and where the sediments that are most easily picked up by the wind are located. The maps of heavy metals will be used with our analysis of the Purple Air Network and wind rose data from our previous study to show where toxic dust clouds are most likely to be an issue to the population. Links with 2016 Asthma ER visits and Hospitalizations will also be investigated.

Authors: Samantha Curnow, Carl Hjelmen. Mentors: Carl Hjelmen. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The genome sizes of insects vary immensely; some insects have only 100 million base pairs, while others reach nearly 18 billion base pairs. Many selective pressures can have an influence on genomes, but we still lack a clear understanding of which selective pressures cause such variation in genome size even within well-studied groups. To determine the influence of environmental factors on this variation, we investigate the relationship between genome size and the average natural environment of 152 Drosophila species. The nature of the relationship between genome size and environmental factors is investigated using phylogenetic models and linear analyses such as phylogenetic generalized least squares analysis. We collected data from peer-reviewed papers and publicly available datasets, such as karyotype.org and WorldClim, to compare the genome size of each species to the temperature, altitude, humidity, etc. of their natural environments using linear phylogenetic models. The distribution of these species was also visualized using geographic and biological analysis packages in R, such as geodata, to extract environmental data of specified regions, and phytools in combination with caper to run phylogenetic comparative analyses.

Authors: Lorelei Sole, Riley Elmer, Gennie Parkman, David Kircher, Katie Culver, Tursun Turapov, David Viskochil, Sheri Holmen. Mentors: Sheri Holmen. Insitution: University of Utah. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, largely due to its potential to metastasize. In the state of Utah, melanoma is the third-most diagnosed cancer, and alarmingly, Utah has the highest incidence per capita of melanoma in the entire United States. Metastatic melanoma often has a poor prognosis, with a five-year survival rate estimated at 32%. Genetic alterations are major drivers of melanoma, and 91% of melanomas contain mutations that lead to hyperactivated MAPK/AKT pathway signaling. NF1 is the third most commonly dysregulated gene, behind BRAF and RAS, that can hyperactivate MAPK/AKT signaling. NF1 mutations are present in just under 20% of melanomas, and more than half of these are predicted to be loss of function mutations (NF1 LoF). Although previous research has established that NF1 LoF frequently co-occurs with mutations in both the oncogene BRAF and tumor suppressors PTEN and CDKN2A, the cooperation of both NF1 LoF and mutant BRAF in the presence of altered PTEN and CDKN2A remains understudied. To address this, we used an established autochthonous in vivo mouse model of melanoma based on the RCAS/TVA avian retroviral system to assess the ability of loss of NF1 to cooperate with mutant BRAF in the presence of PTEN and CDKN2A loss to promote tumor progression and metastasis. These results demonstrated that mutant BRAF and NF1 LoF cooperate in the context of PTEN and CDKN2A loss to decrease survival from around 140 days (NF1 LoF alone) to 60 days (NF1 LoF and mutant BRAF), and more research will be completed to evaluate this cooperation further. With about 20% of melanomas exhibiting both BRAF and NF1 mutations, this research addresses a pressing clinical need and offers the potential to discover treatment options for a significant patient population.