2024 Abstracts

Authors: Heather Smith. Mentors: Vinodh Chellamuthu, Jie Liu, MD Sazib Hasan. Insitution: Utah Tech University. The invasive species Japanese Beetle (Popillia Japonica) poses significant ecological and economic challenges in the United States, with an annual expenditure exceeding $300 million on damage repair and control efforts. The beetle's life cycle predominates as grubs in turf from late August to April, suggesting a strategic window for control interventions. We developed an individual based model of the Japanese Beetle life cycle, utilizing predator-prey models, to demonstrate the effectiveness of various control methods. Our findings would suggest that ideal timing of grub treatments within the diapause stage markedly reduces beetle populations and is a cost-effective control method. The results of this model can inform land management decisions in controlling Japanese Beetles.

Authors: Sophia Hessami. Mentors: Elizabeth Vargis. Insitution: Utah State University. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. During later stages of AMD, immature blood vessels penetrate Bruch’s membrane and release fluid into the subretinal space. This process is referred to as choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Current in vitro models of retinal tissue are limited, so we propose a three-layered microfluidic model of the subretinal tissue, consisting of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch’s membrane (BrM), and choroid. We have produced models of BrM using hagfish proteins that are more mimetic to the nonporous, proteinaceous BrM that is seen in vivo. Then, we fabricated a three-layered microfluidic device using the BrM models and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Once the devices were assembled, porcine primary RPE were isolated, cultured, and characterized in the upper channel of the microfluidic device. Going forward, HUVECs will be cultured and characterized in the lower channel of the device. Then, primary RPE and HUVECs will be co-cultured and characterized within the device. The result will be a multilayered microfluidic device containing primary porcine RPE, hagfish protein BrM models, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) choroid. It is expected that RPE protein secretions will diffuse through the BrM models and initiate interconnected vascular network formation in the endothelial cells. In the future, we will induce chemical hypoxia to turn this model into a diseased model of the subretina. We hypothesize that this in vitro model of the subretinal tissue will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of CNV initiation and progression in AMD.

Authors: Michaela Lovejoy, Rylee Udom, Lindsey Fry, Hailey Roubidoux, Makayla Dunbar, Kali Hunt, Mandy Gibbs, Lisa Welch. Mentors: Lisa Welch. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Traditional dental radiography education necessitates the exposure of both clinician and patients to radiation to build clinician skill. Virtual reality (VR) may enable practitioners to learn valuable hands on skills without the use of expensive equipment and without patient or operator exposure to radiation. The purpose of the research is to determine if access to practice in virtual reality (VR) using a specifically designed application, builds skill competency in dental radiology compared with traditional practice methods. A convenience sample of 24 first year dental hygiene students at Utah Tech University were recruited and randomly assigned to the test and control groups. Test group participants were given access to a VR headset with a dental radiology skill practice application installed. Control group participants were given access to traditional dental radiography skill practice methods. To encourage participation, an incentive of a $10 Amazon gift card upon completion of the study was offered. Data will be collected via skill competency evaluation at two-months, mid-term grade scores and final grade scores from the participants’ dental radiology laboratory course. To increase internal validity and reliability, investigators responsible for skill competency evaluation will be blinded and undergo both intra and inter-rater reliability testing to 95% agreement. Upon completion of the Fall semester 2023, data will be analyzed using ANOVA repeated measures between factors accounting for the two independent variables of traditional practice and practice in VR and the dependent variables of competency assessment scores, mid-term and final clinical course grades. Alpha will be set at 0.05. Should it be determined that practice in VR contributes to student learning, VR may enable students to practice additional health science skills in a safe, low stakes environment; thus, increasing student experiential learning and contributing to increased student and patient safety.

Authors: Isaac Gillins, Zoe Thompson. Mentors: . Insitution: Utah Valley University. The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene is expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary and is cleaved into several peptide hormones. One of these is melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), which is involved in food intake and energy expenditure. A mutation in the POMC gene can result in a rare condition in which the subject displays early-onset obesity characterized by severe hyperphagia (i.e. excess hunger). Affected subjects may also show a lack of pubertal development. In this experiment, we will study mice with a mutation in the POMC gene. They show some of the same symptoms as humans with a POMC mutation, including hyperphagia, obesity & infertility. Specifically, we will investigate the estrous cycle in female mice to determine if they are cycling normally. The estrous cycle, similar to the menstrual cycle in humans, is characterized by changes in reproductive hormones, and can be divided into four stages: proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus. Cells lining the surface of the vagina have been previously collected using a pipette smear technique. Each stage can be characterized by the proportion of three cell types: epithelial cells, cornified cells, and leukocytes. These cells correspond to the fluctuating hormone levels during the estrous cycle. Images of these samples will be assessed for the composition of cells to determine the stage of the estrus cycle, and whether or not the cycle displays normal patterning. Because POMC-deficient mice are infertile, we hypothesize their estrous cycles may be atypical. For example, the estrous cycle of the POMC-deficient mice may appear in irregular order or with one stage being predominant over the rest. If the estrous cycle is atypical, then we will measure the hormones directly to confirm that the infertility is caused by changes in hormonal regulation. This will help us to understand more about how the POMC gene affects reproductive function.

Authors: Seth Stringham, Audrey Elison, Kevin Shurtleff, Dustin Shipp. Mentors: Dustin Shipp. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Graphene, a single atom thick layer of carbon, has become a focal point of research in various fields due to its unique and diverse properties. As many researchers apply new methods to develop this material, it is crucial to have tools and practices in place to determine if the newly created sample is indeed graphene. This study focuses on using a 785nm Raman Spectrometer for analyzing graphene samples. The key analysis methods used in this study are Raman spectral analysis and the construction of a Carbon Spectral Library. The Raman spectroscopy, leveraging the G and 2D bands, helps identify the structural and vibrational properties of graphene. The Carbon Spectral Library provides a comprehensive collection of Raman spectra from diverse carbon-based materials, aiding in accurate comparison and identification. The study's findings emphasize the significance of the 785nm Raman Spectrometer as an effective tool for characterizing graphene samples.

Authors: Tate Thomas. Mentors: Alexander M Panin. Insitution: Utah Valley University. We mathematically derived equations describing the gravitational field in a symmetric cavity located asymmetrically inside 1-D, 2-D, 3-D spheres for a gravitation which itself may have 1, 2 or 3 degrees of freedom (thus may diminish with distance not necessarily as inverse square). We found that if the number of dimensions and the number of degrees of freedom of gravitation match, then the gravitational field inside the cavity must be constant and uniform throughout all space inside the cavity. Discussing the details of our calculations for matching and non-matching cases, along with their implications, is the goal of this presentation.

Authors: Grant Barron, Collin Tuttle, Daniel Scott. Mentors: Daniel Scott. Insitution: Utah Valley University. It has been observed that Myoglobin has the ability to catalyze a reduction of peroxides. Because of this capacity for peroxide reduction in the absence of a qualitative aspects that are attributed to conventional peroxidases it has been classified as a "pseudo" peroxidase. However a theory surrounding the kinetics of macromolecules (known as macromolecular rate theory) has been proposed which would make a quantitative analysis of the origin of Myoglobin's catalytic effect possible by examining reaction rates across a variety of temperatures and concentrations. This data would then be fit to an equation which would allow the derivation of a term that is the heat capacity change of the catalyst-substrate complex and the transition state complex, which would indicate a change in the rigidity of the protein's structure corresponding with enzymatic involvement in the catalysis of the reaction. This change in heat capacity would then be compared to a variety of other catalysts, including a "true" peroxidase, an inorganic catalyst, and another pseudo peroxidase (the data for which would be collected with the same procedure as the data for Myoglobin).

Authors: Tyler O'Loughlin, Tyler Daynes, Erik Prazak. Mentors: Dustin Shipp. Insitution: Utah Valley University. In the realm of photon interactions with surfaces, the reflection and refraction of light depend significantly on the micro and macrostructures of the surfaces. Despite the use of various methods to attenuate light, their effectiveness remains a subject of interest. In this study, we delve into the properties that render super-black coatings, such as Vantablack, exceptionally dark compared to coatings with distinct surface characteristics but significantly altered amplitudes of reflected intensity. Our research focuses on understanding the optical properties of Vantablack; in particular, we investigate the role of the carbon nanotube microstructure in achieving its unique light-absorbing properties. Through a comprehensive analysis of our samples, we have uncovered that the carbon nanotube microstructure of Vantablack contributes to its remarkably low reflective intensity and exceptional absorption across all wavelengths of light. Notably, Vantablack displays such a high optical density that even at Brewster's angle, a reflection is virtually undetectable. This research sheds light on the intriguing properties of Vantablack and has implications for a wide range of applications where light absorption and reflection play a critical role.

Authors: Rob Patterson, Nate Graham. Mentors: Sally Rocks. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The pervasive use of pesticides in agricultural practices has raised environmental concerns due to their potential to contaminate water bodies and affect aquatic ecosystems. This study focuses on the identification and quantification of three common pesticides—atrazine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in Utah Lake.. Utilizing advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, including Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), we aim to detect the presence and determine the concentration levels of these substances. Water samples were collected from multiple points around the lake to assess the spatial distribution of the pesticides. The method development involves optimization of sample preparation procedures, including solid-phase extraction (SPE) and cleanup, to increase the detection sensitivity and accuracy. This project enhances environmental monitoring and has implications for water quality management, regulatory compliance, and public health in the region. The anticipated results will contribute to a better understanding of pesticide pollution patterns and will aid in formulating strategies to mitigate the contamination of aquatic environments.

Authors: Cassandra L Burdick, Caleb J Thomson, Troy N Tully, Jacob A George. Mentors: Caleb Thomson. Insitution: University of Utah. The long-term goal of this research is to decode fine motor intent from electromyography (EMG) of hemiparetic muscles. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States, with 800,000 individuals experiencing a stroke each year. Eighty percent of stroke survivors experience hemiparesis. Severe hemiparesis immobilizes the arm, making it difficult to assess EMG control and motor function on traditional tasks. Here, we introduce a variant of the clinical Box and Blocks Test (BBT) of hand dexterity in virtual reality (VR) to assess fine motor function of EMG control in hemiparetic stroke patients with immobile arms. Our VR variant of the BBT allows individuals to control a VR hand to transfer VR blocks back and forth between two locations separated by a barrier. The VR hand can grasp, rotate, and translate based on EMG commands or other control signals received at 30 Hz via UDP communication. The forces exerted on the blocks and the location of the blocks and hand are logged to assess grasping precision, force regulation, and transfer rate. Multiple block sizes can also be used to assess dexterity with various grip apertures. The ability to assess EMG control in patients with hemiparesis can support the development of myoelectric orthoses. Practicing dexterous myoelectric control in VR may also help alleviate hemiparesis and expedite qualification for myoelectric orthoses.

Authors: Erick Gutierrez, Sazib Hasan, Vinodh Chellamuthu, Jie Liu. Mentors: Sazib Hasan. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Breast Cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States.In 2023, the American Cancer Society anticipates the diagnosis of 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer, with approximately 43,700 women expected to lose their lives to this disease. It is crucial to undertake research endeavors aimed at discerning genetic sequence patterns to facilitate the classification and treatment of breast cancer. Recent work has shown that Machine Learning techniques are effective at classifying breast cancer using genetic sequences. Our research employs the METABRIC Breast Cancer Gene Expression Profiles dataset and machine learning techniques like Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLP) and Random Forest to explore the link between survivability, treatment, and specific genes in breast cancer patients. Predicting survival based on gene sequences and treatments can inform effective countermeasures and research priorities.

Authors: Carolina Corrales. Mentors: James R. Allison. Insitution: Brigham Young University. This research analyzes ceramics found at the Alkali Ridge Site 13 in southeast Utah. The information generated with this research will allow us to know more about the technological choices of the Early Pueblo I people who lived at this location in the late A.D. 700s. The methodology will examine rim sherds through refiring and porosity tests. Refiring small sections of the sherds will provide initial information about the chemical composition of the clay used to create the vessels. The porosity tests should help determine the pieces' physical properties linked to different technologies. The combination of all these data will show differences in raw materials and their impact on the constitution of the vessels. The database obtained will allow us to statistically compare information from red, grey, and white wares, identifying patterns in size, shape, kind of material, and the technology used for each type.

Authors: Benjamin Furniss, Britton Borget, John Sanders. Mentors: Patrick Ling. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Mortality model is the underlying model used by life actuaries to price life policies, set reserve amounts, and compute policy values. A mortality model investigates how mortality rates evolve over time. Current insurance law in many states (including Utah) suggest the use of Scale AA (or a similar model) in projecting future mortality rates, which is a special case of autoregression time series model. This model is flawed because it is built on the assumption that (1) there is no ARCH effect in the central death rates data, and (2) there is no unit root in the time series of mortality index. These assumptions are questionable. No wonder why state insurance laws (including Utah state insurance law) are recently revised in recognition of discrepancy between model predicted mortality rates and actual mortality rates. Recent published literatures indicate that the second assumption is questionable, as some statistical tests suggest that there is some near unit root in the mortality model. In this talk we want to argue that ARCH effect is present in the mortality data, so there is need to adopt a time series model that incorporates heteroskedasticity in the mortality data. We will later propose a GARCH model for better predicting future mortality rates – a key task life actuaries conduct, for it is important for life actuaries to predict what will happen over the next few decades of policy term.

Authors: Dustin Edmonds, Devin Needs, Riley Fisher. Mentors: Brent Feland. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Research questionHow does localized vibration increase blood flow? We know that localized vibrations increase blood flow. We wanted to know if this is done through the release of hormones, specifically histamines. Relevant research contextResearch on blood flow has been done using whole-body vibration but research on the effects of localized vibration on arterial blood flow is scant. To date, there are only a couple of research articles on massage guns despite their prolific use in the sports industry. No research to date has attempted to assess the mechanism behind the increased blood flow that results from localized vibration.MethodsTwenty-one participants completed this study, 11 males and 10 females, mean age of 22.1 +/- 2.0 years. The mean male height 181.3 +/- 9.6 cm and weight 80.7 +/- 19.0 kg. The mean female height is 169.2 +/- 7.5 cm, and the mean weight is 64.5 +/- 9.3 kg. All subjects were “recreationally active” and exercised at least three times a week for thirty minutes a day. Excessive activity or high-level athletes were not allowed to participate. Each subject received localized vibration to the gastrocnemius (vibration of 47 Hz for 10 minutes) with and without an antihistamine drug by reporting to the lab on 2 separate days. The non-antihistamine trial was performed first, followed at least 24 hours later by ingesting an antihistamine (180 mg of fexofenadine) 1 hour before the trial. Blood flow in the popliteal artery was measured using an ultrasound. Measurements (mean and peak blood velocity, volume flow, popliteal diameter, and heart rate) were taken before localized vibration treatment and then taken at intervals for 19 minutes after the treatment.AnalysisWe used a cell-means mixed model to statistically compare the effect of vibration on blood flow with and without antihistamines. This was done by evaluating the blood flow response immediately post vibration and comparing that to baseline values for both control and antihistamine conditions. Results and ConclusionThere was a significant increase in blood flow without antihistamine while administration of antihistamine blunted the blood flow response and resulted in an insignificant increase in blood flow. In the tests with the antihistamine, we saw an insignificant change in blood flow immediately post vibration, resulting from the localized vibration. From this experiment, we hypothesize that increased blood flow from localized vibration is due to activation of mast cells which release histamines and that this cellular activation is force dependent.

Authors: Lillian Gee, Makaylie Moore. Mentors: Lauren Brooks. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Cetaphil is a daily facial cleanser that claims to remove dirt, excess oils, and makeup. The human skin is home to a diverse community of bacteria, including beneficial bacteria that play a role in the skin's natural barrier function and immune defense, and pathogenic bacteria that may cause disease and infection. There is little research on the effectiveness of Cetaphil removing harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, and commensal bacteria, like Staphylococcus epidermis. To compare the antimicrobial activity of Cetaphil on these two species, serial dilutions of both bacteria strains were made and then exposed to Cetaphil. Positive controls and the dilutions exposed to Cetaphil were plated on Tryptic Soy Agar plates and after incubation, bacterial growth was observed by counting the number of colony-forming units. Testing is beginning to show that Cetaphil is not only effective against S. aureus but is also effective against S. epidermis. This research is important for understanding how skincare affects harmful bacteria strains and the bacteria strains that are natural to the skin.

Authors: Kade Robison, David Britt, Elizabeth Vargis. Mentors: David Britt. Insitution: Utah State University. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss, the most prevalent form of permanent hearing loss, worldwide. CMV treatment requires long term administration of nucleoside analog antivirals such as ganciclovir (GCV). Although ganciclovir effectively inhibits CMV, it also inhibits neutrophils, an essential component of the immune system, reducing optimal treatment duration. Previous studies have demonstrated that ganciclovir toxicity can be reduced while maintaining effective CMV inhibition by combining subtherapeutic doses of ganciclovir with quercetin, an FDA approved hydrophobic flavonoid with antiviral properties, solubilized with a mitochondria-targeting drug delivery vehicle, Poloxamer 188 (P188). Further efforts have been made to optimize the combinatorial ganciclovir with quercetin encapsulated in P188 (GCV-QP188) treatment by exploring the potential benefits of adding antioxidant vitamins to the GCV-QP188 treatment. One of the pathways by which CMV induces hearing loss is the generation of excess reactive oxygen species, specifically in the mitochondria. Current literature suggests that the toxic effects of the reactive oxygen species produced by CMV in the could be reduced via natural vitamin antioxidant treatments. Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, was the first antioxidant vitamin investigated due to its synergistic antiviral properties when paired with quercetin to treat SARS-CoV-2. Yet, the addition of ascorbic acid into the combinatorial treatment was more toxic than the existing GCV-QP188 treatment. Current efforts are concentrated on assessing the effect of selectively delivering hydrophobic antioxidants to the mitochondria of CMV infected mouse fibroblast cells as targeted antioxidant delivery will require lower antioxidant concentrations, reducing associated toxicity. The addition of hydrophobic antioxidants retinol and alpha-tocopherol, vitamins A and E respectively, delivered via mitochondria-targeting P188 to the existing GCV-QP188 treatment is being investigated to determine if it will significantly improve GCV-QP188 treatment efficacy.

Authors: Justin Hawkins, Charley Beck. Mentors: Alex Tye. Insitution: Utah Tech University. This study aims to address a critical gap in our understanding of the geological history and tectonic evolution of the Andes mountain range in Argentina. The Andes were formed due to a convergent boundary between the Nazca and South American plates. We are interested in the history of this boundary and how these mountains were formed. To better constrain the history of crustal deformation in NW Argentina, we collected samples from the Sierra de Chango Real, located south and along-strike of the Eastern Cordillera, and conducted new apatite (U-Th)/He dating on these samples. We combined new apatite (U-Th)/He data with the existing apatite fission-track data to gain a more comprehensive perspective on the geological evolution of the region.Apatite (U-Th)/He ages for new samples from the Sierra de Chango Real are between 6.3 and 17.6 Ma. These ages indicate Miocene exhumation of the Sierra de Chango Real due to tectonic deformation. Also, the distribution of these ages within the samples offers valuable information regarding variations in uplift rates and thermal events, which contribute to a better understanding of the geological processes that have shaped the Andes mountains. Published apatite fission track ages from the same locations have ages of 38 Ma to 30 Ma. Together, the thermochronometric ages suggest a history of tectonic exhumation from 38 Ma until ca. 6 Ma. In conclusion, our current study and analysis of samples taken from Sierra de Chango Real, Argentina, in conjunction with published apatite fission-track data, contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the region's geological history.

Authors: Davis Wing. Mentors: Matt Allen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. When thin structures vibrate under large forces, can exhibit geometric nonlinearity, which makes it very hard to compute their motion and the stresses they undergo. This work builds on prior efforts, which used a small number of computations derived from detailed models, together with machine learning techniques, to train a reduced order model (ROM). This ROM could then be simulated efficiently to estimate the dynamic, nonlinear response of the structure in a fraction of the time it takes to compute the full-order model.This reduced order modeling technique is called Gaussian Process ROM or GPR ROM, and was developed by Park et al. [MSSP, vol. 184, p. 109720, 2023]. The GPR-ROM approach works by applying a number of static loads to the detailed model of the thin structure, and then by integrating those loads over time, it produces an understanding of the dynamics. In addition to its speed, this approach also provides confidence bounds on its findings, meaning that researchers can gauge a number of plausible values for the nonlinear responses of the system being measured.This research further develops this approach to computing the dynamics of structures by applying the GRP-ROM to a more complicated structure than previously studied, namely, a gong. The gong as a test structure is significant, as the signature sound of a gong is produced through geometric nonlinearities. In order to capture the behavior of the gong, and thereby its sound, several modes need to be studied simultaneously, and thus more degrees of freedom are required to capture its behavior in a ROM. This work evaluates the GPR-ROM process for the gong by computing various ROMs for different load states, thereby capturing the geometric variability of the gong’s responses. Then, the non-linear normal modes (NNMs) of the system are calculated within 95% confidence, which allows for a reasonable understanding of the dynamics of the system. These will be compared to the NNMs computed, at great expense, from the full-order model to validate the method.