2024 Abstracts

Authors: Ken Dixon, Jack Davis, DeLayney Anderson, Mackenzie Burr, Peyton Worley, Isaac Packer, Bridger Kearns, Jeffrey Okojie. Mentors: Jared Barrott. Insitution: Brigham Young University. IntroductionPersonalized cancer care requires molecular characterization of neoplasms. While the research community accepts frozen tissues as the gold standard analyte for molecular assays, the source of tissue for all testing of tumor tissue in clinical cancer care comes almost universally from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE). Specific to genomics assays, numerous studies have shown significant discordance in genetic information obtained from FFPE samples and cryopreserved samples. To explain the discordance between FFPE samples and cryopreserved samples, a head-to-head comparison between FFPE and cryopreserved tissues was performed to analyze the DNA yield, DNA purity, and DNA quality in terms of DNA length.MethodsHuman (n = 48) and murine tissues (n = 10) were processed by traditional formalin fixation and paraffin embedding or placed in cryovials containing HypoThermosol solution. 19 human-matched samples were included. These cryovials were cooled to -80°C slowly and stored in liquid nitrogen until the time of the study. DNA was extracted using the same protocol for both tissue types except that tissues embedded in paraffin were first dewaxed using a xylene substitute followed by a multistep rehydration protocol using ethanol and water. Samples were weighed and calibrated to have the same starting mass. After the column purification, samples were eluted in 20 µL and concentration and purity were measured on a Nanodrop. Purity was determined by calculating the 260/280 ratio. DNA fragment length was measured on an Agilent Fragment Microelectrophoresis Analyzer.ResultsGraded amounts of tumor tissue (5- >50 mg) were used to determine the lowest starting material needed to extract 40 ng/mg of DNA. The average for both sample types reached the minimal threshold of 40 ng/mg. However, 74% of FFPE specimens failed to meet the minimum 40 ng/mg, whereas only 21% were below the threshold in the cryopreserved samples (Figure 1). In the cryopreserved group, the average DNA yield was 222.1 ng/mg, whereas 52.8 ng/mg was obtained from FFPE tissue. For DNA purity in cryopreserved tissues, the 260/280 ratio range was 1.09-2.13 with a mean of 1.79. The 260/280 ratio range in FFPE tissues was 0.85-2.76 with a mean of 1.65 (Figure 2). The DNA Quality Number(DQN) is a measurement of DNA fragment length and the percentage that exceeds the threshold of 300 bp. For FFPE, the DQN was 4.4 compared to a DQN of 9.8 for the cryopreserved samples (Figure 3). Setting a higher threshold of DNA length to 40,000 bp and measuring the area under the curve (AUC), it was observed that cryopreserved samples were 9-fold higher in fragments greater than 40,000 bp (Figure 4).ConclusionsCryopreserved cancer tissue provides superior quality assurance measurements of DNA over FFFPE. Treatment decisions based on molecular results demand accuracy and validity. The pathology community should support efforts to cryopreserve cancer biospecimens in the clinical setting to provide valid molecular testing results. The automatic pickling of tumor specimens in formalin is no longer an acceptable default.

Authors: Raechel Hunsaker, Matthew Madsen, Mallory Hinton, Derek Tilley, April Hulet. Mentors: April Hulet. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Many early successional plant species have been considered weeds because of their lack of forage value for livestock. However, early successional plant species have the potential to aid rangeland restoration by providing food sources for pollinators, modifying soil in preparation for climax plant communities, and competing against invasive species. To determine which early colonizing species have the greatest restoration potential, interspecific competitive interactions should be evaluated. Our research objective was to evaluate the competitive abilities of two native pioneer forb species, curlycup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) and prairie aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia), against three common rangeland grasses including 1) native early successional species, bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), 2) invasive colonizing species, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and 3) climax community species, bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata). Treatments included each of the three grass species seeded at high and low densities with curlycup gumweed or prairie aster in two soils (mine tailings and disturbed rangeland) in a greenhouse. After being cultivated for 54 days, above-ground biomass for both forbs were not significantly different when seeded alone, or with high and low densities of grasses in the mine tailings soil (p ≥ 0.05). However, in soil from the disturbed rangeland, forb biomass differed. When planted alone, curlycup gumweed and prairie aster biomass was on average 2.5- and 3-fold greater than when planted with high and low densities of squirreltail and cheatgrass (p ≤ 0.05). Both forbs had significantly lower biomass when planted with a high density of bluebunch (p ≤ 0.05), however, when planted with a low density of bluebunch, biomass was not significantly different than when planted alone (p ≥ 0.05). Results indicate that high densities of squirreltail, cheatgrass, and bluebunch inhibit curlycup gumweed and prairie aster growth on disturbed rangeland soil, and that interspecific competition may be a barrier to the successful establishment of early successional forbs.

Authors: Cooper Johnson. Mentors: John Chaston. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The main goal of this project is to determine the relationships between microbes in the microbiota of Drosophila and the activity rate of Drosophila at low temperatures. Previous research has already determined that the microbiota leads to changes in fly activity levels at normal temperatures (Schretter, 2019). Studying the relationship at low temperatures with the method I will outline below will help us to have a more holistic view of how the bacteria affect fly locomotion and behavior. This holistic understanding can open doors for other projects that study if manipulation of the microbiota could have a specific desired effect on the fly’s behavior, and it can help us understand how the microbiota’s impacts are affected by drastic changes in temperature. In this experiment we seek to determine how each of 41 different strains of bacteria affects fly activity at temperatures of approximately 17 degrees celsius using several different metrics to measure both locomotion and social behaviors. These metrics would be collected simultaneously by placing flies in a chamber for Drosophila Video Tracking (DVT), which would use a camera and tracking software to record the above-mentioned metrics on fly activity. Using so many different metrics allows us to have a more holistic view of the flies’ activity and to be able to better determine exactly how the bacteria are affecting the flies. In order to connect the data with the microbiota, the flies would be separated into 41 different experimental groups and each group would be “mono-associated” with one of the 41 different above-mentioned bacterial strains. Mono-association means that each of the fly eggs would be bleached, and then divided in groups, with each group being grown in an environment containing a specific type of bacteria. This means that each fly experimental group would have one species of bacteria in their microbiota, and therefore we can associate changes in fly behavior to the differences in the Drosophila microbiota. Having determined which bacteria affect the fly activity at low temperatures, we would use Metagenome-wide association to determine which bacterial genes are causing this change. Metagenome-wide association involves comparing the genomes of bacteria shown to cause changes in Drosophila activity in order to identify the similar protein-coding sequences that may be the causes of these changes in activity. To confirm the findings at that stage, the genes are expressed in a bacteria that doesn’t express them normally, and flies are analyzed to see if the changes in activity persist. If they do, we can safely say that the changes are due to that specific gene sequence. We expect that the mono-associated flies will show differences in activity level, because it has already been established in a previous study that the microbiota in the flies has a statistically significant effect on the activity level of the flies, meaning that the presence of certain bacterial cultures in the flies lead to a difference in activity. Therefore, if there is no difference in activity level, it is most likely due to the low temperatures, and it may then be necessary to perform the experiment again at different temperatures to determine at what point the temperature negates the effect caused by the bacteria present in the fly microbiota. We aim to study the relationship between the microbes present in the fly microbiota and their activity level at low temperatures and identify the mechanisms by which the microbes affect the fly activity level.

Authors: Lauren Howell. Mentors: Joshua Price. Insitution: Southern Utah University. This paper empirically assesses the relationship between state abortion policies and birth control consumption per state in the United States. The intention is not to advocate for or against abortion, but to explore how abortion policy influences the usage of contraceptives per state. The surveillance of contraceptive use holds paramount importance in preventing unintended pregnancies, with 95% of these occurrences attributed to inconsistent or incorrect contraceptive use or the absence of any method. Understanding how behaviors and contraceptive practices change over time in response to state policy alterations is crucial for evaluating the health implications of healthcare access regulations. Contraception stands among the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, significantly reducing maternal mortality, benefiting pregnancy spacing for both maternal and child health, enhancing female participation in the workforce, and fostering women’s self-sufficiency. Utilizing data from sources such as the American Community Survey (ACS), the Abortion Patient Survey (APS), the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), and the Natality Detail File, this study delves into a comprehensive analysis of contraceptive use in relation to state abortion policy. Through statistical analysis using Stata 18 and ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression, this research aims to build on prior studies and ascertain the relationship between strict state abortion laws and birth control consumption. It hypothesizes that restrictive policies, such as increasing the cost and difficulty of accessing abortion, might incentivize women to adopt more effective contraceptive methods to avert the consequences of unintended pregnancies. The study also references prior research that suggests changes in contraceptive use, notably an increased reliance on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), and how it has contributed to a decline in abortion rates, particularly among adolescents. The results of this study hold the potential to advocate for an increased educational focus on safe sex practices and to increase the accessibility of family planning resources based on state policies. It aims to shed light on the potential impact of restrictive abortion laws on birth control consumption and encourages informed policy decisions for public health and family planning.

Authors: Jordan Penfold, Cera Gowans, David T Fullwood, Anton E Bowden. Mentors: David T Fullwood. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Wearable nano-composite strain sensors created at Brigham Young University are used for biomechanical studies of human motion, due to their ability to follow and sense skin deformation. The manufacturing process for these sensors involves combining the raw materials that make up the sensors – silicone, nickel nanoparticles and nickel-coated chopped carbon fibers – in a planetary mixer, followed by extrusion of the uncured slurry through a syringe with a specialized tip. After extrusion, the sensor material strips are cut to length and subsequently casted and cured. However, undesirable variability in the final piezoresistive properties of the sensors was discovered. This variability was hypothesized to be attributable to sensor positioning during extrusion process. For example, fiber alignment may change as the extrusion process develops, or internal voids may be more evident in sensors cut from different parts of the extruded slurry. To test this hypothesis, several batches of sensors were created with precise records of each sensor position after extrusion. Some sensors were also set aside for CT scans to analyze their void content and nickel concentrations. The results suggested that the sensors located on the initial and terminal ends of the extruded slurry strips had statistically significant differences in piezoresistive properties when compared to the sensors from the central portion of the material strips. Sensors cut from the ends of extruded strips were more likely to have a lower standard deviation of average resistances while strained and relaxed, and were more likely to pass quality control inspection. As a result of this research, we learned that sensors with more consistent physical properties could be obtained by intentionally shortening the strips of slurry produced during the extrusion process (e.g., creating sensor batches with exclusively “end” sensors). After applying this change in methodology, sensor batches usually had more consistent physical properties when compared to sensors made with previous methods.

Authors: Parker Graves, Landon Deru, Bruce Bailey. Mentors: Bruce Bailey. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Chronic illness such as strokes, heart disease and diabetes all rank among the leading causes of death in the United States. Recently, fasting has gained popularity as a means of preventing and treating chronic illness. PURPOSE: Fasting produces multiple beneficial physiological responses that have been shown to aid in chronic disease prevention, one of which is observed in relation to incretin hormones such as glucose-dependent insulin tropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). These incretin hormones are released by the gut to augment the secretion of insulin to regulate postprandial glucose levels. During a fast, the decrease in incretin hormones, and resultant insulin levels can aid the body to regain insulin sensitivity. This can lead to more effective blood glucose management and chronic illness prevention. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of an acute 24-hour fast started with either a high fat (HF) or high carbohydrate (HC) meal on plasma GIP and GLP-1. METHODS: Subjects were over the age of 55, had a BMI equal to or greater than 27, and had no diagnosed metabolic disorders or some other disqualifying medical issues. Using a randomized crossover design, each participant performed two 24-hour fasts. One fast beginning with a high carbohydrate meal and the other a high fat meal, both of equal calories. Venous blood draws were taken at 0, 1, 24, and 48 hours. RESULTS: GIP and GLP-1 (P < 0.001) were both elevated 1 hour after consuming the pre-fast meal in both conditions. In addition, both GIP (P = 0.0122) and GLP-1 (P = 0.0068) were higher in the high fat condition compared to the high carbohydrate condition at 1 hour. There were no significant differences between conditions for either GIP or GLP-1 at any other time point. CONCLUSION: As expected, both incretin hormones spiked postprandially. We did find that GIP and GLP-1 levels were significantly higher at 1-hour postprandial for the HF meal compared to the HC meal. This could give evidence to show how macronutrient levels can affect incretin secretion and alter sensitivity to insulin. However, the impact of the pre-fast meal on GLP-1 and GIP did not persist throughout the fast.

Authors: Alex Jarvis, Brooklyn Flowers, June Oaks, Sadie North. Mentors: Tyson Harmon. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Background: Dual tasks have been found to negatively affect language production for people with and without aphasia (Harmon et al., 2023). For people with aphasia (PWA) specifically, previous research suggests that limited working memory or attentional capacity contributes to their difficulty with language tasks (Harmon et al., 2019; Pompon et al., 2015; King & Karen 1996; Obermeyer et al., 2020). One common situation in which communication occurs within a dual task environment is talking while driving. Investigating how talking while driving impacts spoken language could help us better understand how to facilitate both safer driving behaviors and improved communication among friends and family while driving. Longer-term, this understanding can springboard further research addressing assessment and intervention practices in aphasia, which better reflect communication in daily life. Original findings related to speech acoustics revealed that talking while driving led to increased speech intensity and decreased speech time ratios (Glenn, 2017; Simmons, 2016). The potential impact of these driving tasks on spoken language, however, has not been investigated. For the present study, we will conduct a secondary analysis of language samples produced across the aforementioned conditions to understand how they impact spoken language production. Method: Data for the present study was collected for a larger project with initial aims of investigating the impact of driving on speech acoustics (e.g., frequency, intensity). This project also investigated bidirectional interference between speech acoustics and driving as well as the effects of different conversational modalities (e.g., talking on the phone, in person, or through Bluetooth). Forty healthy adults who reported no speech, language, or hearing impairment participated in the study. Participants completed seven tasks, which were presented in a random order: driving without speaking, speaking on a hand-held cell phone, speaking on a hands-free phone, talking to a person next to them speaking on a hand-held cell phone while driving, speaking on a hands-free phone while driving, and talking to a person next to them while driving. Within each of these conditions, participants discussed a topic they selected from a list while completing these tasks. To analyze spoken language, we will first transcribe samples orthographically. These transcriptions will then be coded for lexical-phonological, morphosyntactic, and macro-linguistic errors. Parametric statistical analysis will be used to compare across different age groups. Anticipated Results: We hypothesize that participants will demonstrate increased errors in conditions that involve talking while driving (i.e., dual task conditions) than in conditions that involve talking alone (i.e., single task conditions). Previous research suggests dual-tasking has a negative effect on language including lexical and phonological errors even in non-aphasic participants (Harmon et al., 2023). In this study, we would expect more lexical-phonological (e.g., fillers, revisions, repetitions) and macro-linguistic (e.g., aposiopesis) errors during dual task conditions. For future studies involving PWA’s, we would expect more impaired language in dual-task activities than those without aphasia.

Authors: Connor Hough. Mentors: Johnny Chaston. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Many variables can have an effect on the microbiota (microbial community associated with an organism) which can, in turn, affect the health and lifestyle of the microbiota's host organism. One such variable is geographic latitude (distance away from the earth's equator) which was the subject of a portion of a study performed by Walters et al. in 2020 and a similar study performed by Henry et al. in 2022. Walters et al. determined that latitude had a significant effect on the composition of the gut microbiota in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) while Henry et al. determined that latitude did not have a significant effect. To better understand what variables may have caused a difference in the results of these two studies I plan to perform data analysis on the data provided from both Walters et al. and Henry et al. Particularly, Henry et al. provided data about the microbiota of other sample types associated with D. melanogaster across the latitudinal cline such as the fruit fly excrement, the leaves in their environment, and their diet which consisted of apples and grapes. While this data was mentioned in Henry et al.’s paper I feel that a more in depth analysis of these sample types could bring insight about how these microbiota affect one another and how latitude affects each of them separately. I will use QIIME (a bioinformatics data analysis software) data analysis methods, such as alpha and beta diversity metrics, and R to analyze the data provided and create graphs. Because each sample type in the data was recorded with unequal sample sizes I will also need to make a new taxonomic graph of the sample types when measured proportionally to each other. To do this I will use QIIME to group the original feature table metadata from Henry et al. by sample type and return a new table with an equal number of samples for each sample type. With this done I will then be able to make a new bar plot using QIIME. I will then use this new set of adjusted data to analyze the relationships between latitude and each sample type as well as the relationship between each sample type to one another. I will also perform these data analytics methods on the data provided on fruit fly gut microbiota by Walters et al. and compare the results with the fruit fly gut microbiota provided by Henry et al.. I hypothesize that further analyzing the data from these sample types will reveal new correlations between the microbiota of these sample types and with latitude. If no new information is learned through this analysis then it will solidify Henry et al.’s claim that latitude does not significantly affect the microbiota. Alternative outcomes may show that there is not a correlation between the microbiota of sample types which would indicate that the microbiota exhibits a neutral behavior and is not selective. However, if my hypothesis is correct then these correlations would show that the microbiota of separate sample types are related to the microbiota of other sample types and that latitude does have a significant effect on the microbiota of each sample type. The results of this analysis will open up more pathways for study about the reason behind these correlations or the lack thereof.