2024 Abstracts

Authors: Leif Ravnsen. Mentors: Scott Abbott. Insitution: Utah Valley University. After years of drought and water mismanagement Great Salt Lake is facing a crisis that is and will continue to directly affect everyone that lives along the Wasatch Front. As the water levels recede and expose the lakebed, the toxic materials within are disturbed out of the parched ground to poison our air. This issue also impacts our famous snow, as the lake moisture which would help rejuvenate our water supply diminishes into a feedback loop of ever increasing scarcity. According to a scientific report published on BYU’s website, our best hope for averting this crisis is water conservation. This project aims to accomplish two broad goals to help educate people about the need for this conversation: examine the issues surrounding the crisis within an interdisciplinary framework and create more ways for people to connect personally with Great Salt Lake. This project leverages many different perspectives and methods toward these ends, with theological appeals, expert interviews, examinations of the ecological and cultural impacts, comparisons to contemporary conservation efforts, focus articles on the local flora and fauna, and creative works in various formats. The Lake of Salt website will be added to the network of conservationists working toward the positive resolution of this ecological crisis, to help shed the fog of apathy and bring more hands to this great, but not insurmountable, task.

Authors: William Martindale. Mentors: Diana Duan. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The 1574 attack of Limahong on Manila and the subsequent expulsion of his attempted Pangasinan colony left a profound impact in Philippine history. The threat once presented by Limahong cast a shadow over Spanish colonization and Philippines security, particularly regarding relations with China and Chinese. As a result, his name was continually evoked in the centuries after his attack. This paper examines how Limahong is remembered in the Philippines. Limahong is remembered as a generic sea-borne threat, a pirate whose name is evoked at any threat from the sea or from China. But, he is also remembered as a liberator who was the Philippines’ last chance to stop Spanish colonization. He is remembered as a stereotypical Chinese, driven to the Philippines through business interests and exoticized as a womanizing vengence-seeking corsair. The memory of this stereotypical Chinese icon is carved into the land via the Limahong Channel and implanted into native Pangasinan people via his descendents. But, due to recent efforts by historians, his memory is being converted into a representative of Hokkien nationalism whose Hokkienness was erased by Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino narratives unable to account for it. Ultimately, Limahong is a mirror, through which the diverse competing nationalisms of the Philippines remember their own history.

Authors: Morgan Watson. Mentors: Kristen Arnold. Insitution: Weber State University. In the United States, 1 child in every 26 seconds drops out of high school. Out of the 50 million children in America, that are school age, 15 million are unsupervised after school time. With children being at greatest risk between the hours of 3pm and 6pm, these statistics raise a huge red flag. This project’s purpose is to provide peace of mind to working parents, and success for children throughout their school experience and beyond. Research has proven that afterschool program environments are a successful tool used to positively shape and increase healthy behaviors and practices among children (Huang, 2013). School design can affect student behavior, development, and academic performance (Huang, 2013). A key factor in effective school environments is the appropriate use of color. Careful color application has proven to have positive effects on behavior and cognitive learning (Heliyon, 2022). In addition, children have a better school experience when given autonomy. Autonomy improves intrinsic motivation (Ford, 2016). Research suggests that wherever possible, design for autonomy be implemented as a way to support children’s growth and development (Sorensen, 2013). This can be applied through multi-purpose learning spaces and flexible classroom furnishings. Additional spaces for collaboration and creativity are needed to meet the needs of today’s students and hold their attention. Furthermore, autonomy in the classroom environment is supported by designated areas where children can express themselves and make the space their own. Potential areas for this include cubbies and classroom bulletin boards.

Authors: Isaac Wilson, Bree Wilson. Mentors: Arianna Harrington. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Understanding the body size of an organism is crucial for discussing its ecological role, potential trophic impact on its environment, and life history. The sauropod dinosaurs represent the largest land animals known, reaching masses many times that of modern elephants and rivaling the most massive cetaceans in some cases. This study attempts to quantify the body size variation between average and maximum sauropod dinosaurs by using Camarasaurus as a focal genus and comparing appendicular elements from the same quarries. Intraquarry rather than intraspecific variation is chosen due to the difficulty of diagnosing limb elements to the species level, and limb elements are known to scale isometrically in Camarasaurus. In addition to Camarasaurus-centric measurements, extant and extinct ecological analogues with recorded body size ranges are also used to estimate body size variation. While their life histories are not well-known, histological analysis indicates that sauropods were likely tachymetabolic endotherms, and their growth curves were most similar to birds and large herbivorous mammals in terms of extant taxa. This is in contrast to basal sauropodomorphs like Plateosaurus, which is demonstrated to exhibit high developmental plasticity. Minimum intraspecific size variation, collected from the literature and based on birds, nonavian dinosaurs, and large herbivorous mammals suggest that the largest representatives of any given sauropod species could have been between 139% and well over 200% larger than the average. Applying preliminary ratios from the data collected so far to the largest well-preserved sauropod, Argentinosaurus huinculensis, results in a plausible maximal mass of 137-177 tonnes for the genus.

Authors: Mikaela Cowles, Joseph Jensen. Mentors: Joseph Jensen. Insitution: Utah Valley University. We are developing a newly calibrated distance ladder based on surface brightness fluctuations (SBF) to decrease systematic uncertainties in the current measurement of the Hubble Constant. James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations of 14 nearby elliptical galaxies are now being observed to measure a new zero point for SBF distances independent of Cepheids. We have recently acquired 69 images of massive early-type galaxies using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). These HST distances have doubled the number of galaxy distances measured using SBF and will be combined with past SBF surveys to calculate the Hubble Constant to help resolve the Hubble tension. These distances will be added to the Cosmicflows-4 database to help map the mass distribution in the local universe. This project will continue with the allocation of an additional 123 HST orbits, from which we expect to add ~40 galaxies in 2024.

Authors: Dante Celani, Laisha Noyes, Candice Johnson, Seun Onileowo, Randy Klabacka. Mentors: Randy Klabacka. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Increased accessibility to next generation sequencing technology (NGS) has facilitated genomic research in diverse biological disciplines studying non-model organisms (which constitute 99.99% of all organisms on Earth). However, most techniques in NGS require mapping of raw-sequencing reads to a refence genome, this presents a challenge for studies involving non-model organisms since no con-specific reference genome is available for the vast majority of these species. Researchers facing this challenge frequently use the reference genome of a related taxon. While it is understood that read mapping efficiency is inversely related to evolutionary distance between read and reference taxa, the exact nature of the relationship is unknown. To examen this we mapped whole genome sequence data from four Aspidoscelis lizard species (“whiptails”) to twenty-eight genomes of varying relatedness across the vertebrate tree of life. We examined the relationship of mapping success to phylogenetic distance and assessed the relationship between these variables.

Authors: Tara Caplin, Tiffanee Suhaka, Maria Balaceanu, Peg Bird, Dannelle Larsen-Rife. Mentors: Dannelle Larsen-Rife. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Early parent-child interactions have a profound impact on the developing brain, influencing lifelong emotional and social well-being. This review evaluates the Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO), a relationship-based neurobehavioral approach for families and infants three months old and younger. The NBO supports newborns, caregiver’s, and families by providing individualized information on their infants' behavior and competencies. It facilitates communication and intersubjectivity between infants and caregivers during a critical developmental period, while reducing maternal postpartum depression (PPD). Research on the association between the NBO, PPD, and infant neurodevelopment is reviewed and evaluated in high-risk populations. Although evidence supports approaches like the NBO, they are not yet standard in early intervention due to clinicians' lack of training in infant mental health. The NBO is a foundational tool for cultivating positive early relationships with beneficial implications for clinician standard care of newborns and families. Keywords: Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO), early relationships, postpartum depression (PPD), infant development, relationship-based, early intervention.

Authors: Jakob Lenker, Trevor Kendrick. Mentors: Jeff Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Diabetes is characterized by a loss in beta cell function within the pancreas and the subsequent inability to produce sufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose. While current diabetes treatments focus on delivering pharmaceutical insulin to diabetic individuals, such treatments are temporary solutions and do not address the root of the issue. Instead, our research focuses on potential mechanisms for inducing greater insulin secretion within the pancreas of the individual. NK6 Homeobox 1 (Nkx6.1) is a major transcription factor in beta cells and its overexpression in beta cells is associated with higher insulin secretion. We have shown that Syntaxin 1A (Stx1A) interacts with Nkx6.1; Stx1A is of particular interest due to its role in mediating insulin granule fusion at the beta cell plasma membrane, directly impacting insulin secretion. We hypothesize that the interaction between Nkx6.1 and Stx1A may play an important yet understudied role in insulin secretion. Here, we present the results of Stx1A overexpression on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion within pancreatic beta cells, as well as the effect on the Nkx6.1 interaction. Understanding more about the role of Stx1A in beta cells could provide therapeutic targets to induce greater insulin secretion, which could aid in the effort toward finding a cure to diabetes.

Authors: Sadie Stutz. Mentors: Ben Felix. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The Pagoda is a World War I memorial located in Memory Grove Park in Salt Lake City Utah. This structure was designed by Slack Winburn who was a WWI veteran and local architect in Salt Lake City. It was built in 1925 and is placed to the right after the entry gates of this park. The structure is built out of marble and has simple but intricate detail around the top of the entablature. The pedestal and urn placed in the middle of the structure was added in later years. As you walk around this pedestal you are able to read the names of those in Utah who have passed on and have fought for our country. This memorial is a very elegant and peaceful structure to pay tribute to those who have passed on. The purpose of this project was to study and research this structure. I went to the structure and measured the different details, I composed this analytique to show the beauty in this structure. This composition is done with pencil and watercolor. I have shown an enlarged Doric column, entablature, and pedestal. There is a flower motif of a forget-me-not flower that is repeated through the ornamentation on the entablature and on the pedestal. I have shown the floor plan and floor details with the broken pieces of colored marble which focuses your attention on the pedestal in the middle to remember these men who fought. In the center of the composition is an elevation of the entire structure, surrounded by rose bushes. file:///C:/Users/sadst/Downloads/Sadie%20Stutz%20-%20Pagoda%20Analytique.pdf

Authors: Abigail Williams, Kelsie Minga, Abby Baker, Ella Sieg, Olivia Harris. Mentors: Wendy Birmingham. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Background: Research has found positive health benefits in the communication of positive events (capitalization) with others who respond with curiosity and enthusiasm. An expectation is that one’s spouse would respond in such a way. And indeed, if one has a highly supportive spouse this is likely the case. However, not all individuals have a highly supportive spouse and may have a spouse whose behavior is more ambivalent. Such ambivalent, or unpredictable behavior may lead to worse physiological outcomes when sharing good news including increased risk for cardiovascular events. Blood pressure should dip 10-15% overnight (“dipping”). A less than 10% dip is associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk. We looked at capitalization and dipping in ambivalent and supportive couples. Interpersonal Theory asserts that positive or negative behaviors from one spouse can elicit similar responses from the other spouse. Thus we looked at capitalization and dipping for spousal ambivalent behavior, and one’s own ambivalent behavior. Ambivalent behavior, whether one own’s or one’s spouse’s can also impact the quality of the relationship.  Methods: 90 couples were recruited from a local university, social media, and the community. Participants completed measures of marital quality. They were fitted with an ambulatory blood pressure monitor for 24 hours. The monitor took a reading every 30 minutes during the daytime and once an hour overnight. Participants completed a daily diary entry each time the monitor took a reading during the daytime which included questions regarding their present activities (e.g., posture, current emotions, food consumption). Participants returned the equipment the following morning and were compensated.  Results:  Ambivalent behavior was associated with worse relationship quality measured as responsiveness, both in terms of one’s own behavior, and one’s spouse’s behavior. We found no association for systolic blood pressure (SBP) dipping for individuals whose spouse’s behavior was viewed as ambivalent, however diastolic blood (DBP) dipping was in the opposite direction showing ambivalent spousal behavior was associated with healthier dipping. Of interest, when one reported their own behavior as ambivalent when their spouse was sharing good news, their SBP dipping was unhealthy.   Conclusions: Spousal ambivalent behavior seems to be less important than one’s own behavior on SBP dipping. This may be because one is generally aware of their own behavior and understands that such behavior is problematic for the relationship. This awareness, however,  may come with a cost for their health as well as their relationship.

Authors: Emma Manley. Mentors: Johnathan Chidester. Insitution: Southern Utah University. This presentation will be about the indescribable magical Studio Ghibli movies. Specifically, I will be analyzing how these movies are great at representing life. From the weird, outstanding world of Chihiro’s ghost town from Spirited Away, all the way down to the simple little Iron town of Princess Mononoke. These movies are amazing, not just for their remarkable art work and lovable characters, but for the relatability and symbolism of these stories. These stories are weird and strange, but so is everyone. We are human. A complex being that is evolving every single day. We have creative minds in all sorts of differing ways, and these movies are great at explaining this; they are complex, imaginative, and life-like. I will not be defining every single Studio Ghibli movie, but I have chosen a few movies I wish to expand on. My first one is The Wind Rises. This movie is based on a true story about Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of the A5M fighter aircraft. This story goes into detail about his life: his failures, his trials, and the hardships he endured. The second one is Spirited Away: this story is Studio Ghibli's most famous work. This is a story of a little girl who gets trapped in a spirit world all alone. Along her journey she makes new friends, discovers new ideas, and is able to discover who she is. The final movie is Princess Mononoke: Princess Mononoke is Studio Ghibli's masterpiece. The young warrior Ashitaka is strucken with a curse and will soon die. This story is about him getting rid of his curse, discovering how to make peace and stop hate.We should know and understand these movies, not because they are just films and that I like them, but because they are innovative and original. With these movies we jump into a creative world that we can make our own. These movies are relatable in every sense because they are just like us: weird, quirky, and just so compelling. We feel a connection to the trials that each character has because in a sense we all have been through something of the same. These movies represent life in a silly way that I wish to know more about. I will expand on the way these movies are made, the theme and writing, and the characters that we relate to.

Authors: Iris Cepeda, Tabitha Weir, Jonathan Cook, Honey Ordonez. Mentors: Olga Kopp. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoes), are beloved herbaceous crops well known for their red bearing fruits. They are best grown in well-draining soils with access to full sun and are endemic to South America but grow all across the world where the conditions allow. Tomato fruits provide a quality source of phytochemicals and antioxidants such as lycopene, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and phenolic compounds which can substantially improve one’s healthy diet. S. lycopersicum are members of the nightshade family, which are known for their production of often toxic glycoalkaloids. The presence of these compounds usually deters herbivores by increasing their concentration as a defense response. There are, however, herbivores like Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworms) that feed on members of the nightshade family by dealkylating these glycoalkaloids. It is hypothesized that plants have the ability to modulate their defensive response based on queues from the environment and from their herbivore pests. Our research objective is to determine whether a S. lycopersicum plant undergoing defoliation from M. sexta will have the same molecular response as a plant undergoing simulated herbivory. Four treatment groups will be used with each treatment group having 8 replicates. Before treatment begins, the groups will be isolated by a non-permeable surface so air-borne defense signals from one group do not elicit a response in another. In the herbivory treatment group, M. sexta will be allowed to feed for a 24-hour period to account for diurnal and nocturnal herbivory, as well as high plant enzymatic response. Damage treatment 1 will simulate herbivory using a hole-punch, avoiding the midvein. Damage treatment 2 will simulate herbivory using a single transverse cut across the leaf blade and midvein. The undamaged control will have no herbaceous or mechanical damage done. After the treatment period, half of the leaf matter from all groups will be collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen to preserve all metabolic processes and GCMS will be used to analysis metabolite differences. The other half of the leaf matter will be analyzed using UV-spectrophotometer analysis with bromocresol green to compare the glycoalkaloid expression between the treatments. It’s expected that there will be a reduced expression of the defense glycoalkaloids in the herbivory group of S. lycopersium when compared to the two defoliation groups. While the three treatments could respond similarly to their treatments by primary metabolite expression, the type of defoliation could have a greater effect on this than the herbivory group.

Authors: Jessica DeWeese. Mentors: Alexandra Giannell. Insitution: Utah Valley University. I have made it my goal to try as many mediums as I can, both because it's exciting, and to improve and find my artistic passion. As I have started this journey with the few mediums I have tried, I have learned some things about failing. You always fail in the beginning, but the faster you fail, the faster you learn a better way. I will be sharing failures and successes in various mediums.

Authors: Brandie Statham, Rebekah Hakala. Mentors: Todd Spencer. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The link between attachment style and sexual intercourse frequency is critical in determining an individual's sexual satisfaction in a romantic relationship. Secure, anxious, avoidant, and disordered attachment types all have a substantial impact on how people approach sexual intimacy (Mark, Vowels, & Murray, 2018). Individuals who are securely attached tend to have better levels of sexual satisfaction because they can openly communicate their desires and needs, creating a positive and supportive sexual environment. Anxiously connected people, on the other hand, may experience swings in sexual satisfaction as a result of their reliance on sexual connection for reassurance. Individuals who prioritize physical proximity over emotional intimacy may have difficulty forming deep emotional relationships, affecting their overall sexual satisfaction. Disorganized attachment patterns can result in complex and occasionally contradictory experiences (Mark, Vowels, & Murray, 2018).. They may want both closeness and distance, which can create confusion. This attachment style's unpredictability can have an impact on both frequency and satisfaction.The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship among attachment styles and sexual satisfaction, and sexual frequency. Our sample consists of 411 married individuals. Participants completed The Relationship Questionnaire (RQ; Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991), Sexual Frequency, and Sexual Satisfaction Index (CSI-4; Funk & Rogge, 2000). Results of the one way Anova were significant F (3,407) = 8.21, p=<.001. There was a significant difference in levels of sexual satisfaction among attachment styles. Secure attachment (M=32.95, SD = 8.23), fearful attachment (M=29.40, SD = 9.80), preoccupied (M=29.54, SD = 9.82), and dismissing (M = 30.77, SD = 9.97). Results of the Bonferroni Post-hoc analysis indicated a significantly higher levels of couple satisfaction than fearful and dismissing attachment styles (p.<.001). There was no significant difference in the amount of frequency of sex and attachment style. Results provide empirical support that secure attachment styles tend to be beneficial for sexual satisfaction despite having no statistical difference in sexual frequency.

Authors: Noah James, Rebekah Hakala, Todd Spencer. Mentors: Todd Spencer. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The Relationship Among Attachment Styles, Couple Satisfaction, and Perceived StressNoah James, Rebekah Hakala, Todd SpencerIntroductionAttachment styles play a pivotal role in romantic relationships. According to existing research, individuals with fearful, dismissive, or preoccupied attachment styles tend to experience elevated stress levels (Candel & Turliuc, 2021; Waring et al., 2019). Conversely, those with secure or preoccupied attachment styles report greater relationship satisfaction (Candel & Turliuc, 2021). By exploring the relationship between attachment styles, stress, and relationship satisfaction we hope to foster healthier relationships and deepen our understanding of the interaction between attachment orientations and emotional well-being (Candel & Turliuc, 2021; Waring et al., 2019).AnalysisThe purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship among attachment styles and couple satisfaction and stress. Our sample consists of 411 married individuals. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale - short form (PSS-4; Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983), The Relationship Questionnaire (RQ; Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991), and Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI-4; Funk & Rogge, 2000). Results of the one way Anova were significant F (3,407) = 10.48, p=<.001. There was a significant difference in levels of relationship satisfaction among attachment styles. Secure attachment (M=15.66, SD = 2.44), fearful attachment (M=14.09, SD = 3.30), preoccupied (M=15.75, SD = 2.35), and dismissing (M=14.05, SD = 3.54). Results of the Bonferroni Post-hoc analysis indicated a significantly higher levels of couple satisfaction than fearful and dismissing attachment styles (p.<.001). There was no significant difference in level of relationship satisfaction between Secure and preoccupied attachment styles. Additionally, there was a significant difference in levels of perceived stress among attachment styles. Secure attachment (M=11.79, SD = 2.47), fearful attachment (M=13.91, SD = 2.55), preoccupied (M=13.20, SD = 3.35), and dismissing (M=11.81, SD = 3.54). Results of the Bonferroni Post-hoc analysis indicated a significantly lower levels of stress among securely attached compared to fearful and pre-occupied attachment styles (p.<.001). There was no significant difference in level of stress between Secure and dismissing attachment styles. Results provide empirical support that secure attachment styles tend to be beficial for both relationship satisfaction and perceptions of stress. Further, dismissive attachment styles reported similar levels of stress as securely attached participants but had the lowest level of relationship satisfaction.

Authors: Anthony Cornwall, Dylan Snook, Travis Ficklin. Mentors: Travis Ficklin. Insitution: Utah Tech University. The purpose of this study was to discover any relationships between individual finger force capabilities of collegiate pitchers and the spin rates and axes of their four-seam fastballs. NCAA Division-I pitchers participated in the study. Using a hand-held dynamometer, multiple trials of a squeezing task were performed by each pitcher. Five trials were made using both index and middle fingers at maximum isometric effort. Then, in counterbalanced order, pitchers also duplicated the isometric squeeze isolating the index and middle fingers in one-fingered squeezes. Pitchers were constrained to make the maximum effort squeezes in a time frame similar to that of delivering a pitch.Spin axis and rate for their four-seam fastballs were taken from previously collected ball flight tracking using a field Trackman system. Analysis was performed for any relationships among axis tilt and relative finger contribution to total force, as well as spin rates with total isometric force. Additional relationships based upon anthropometric measures of the hand and fingers were also explored and the results are to be presented.

Authors: Kelsey Grimshaw. Mentors: Joshua Price. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Job satisfaction is a multidimensional state resulting from one’s job and their responses to it. Job satisfaction contains eight facets: recognition, working conditions, management, pay, promotions, coworkers, supervision, and the job itself. The concept of economic sectors was first introduced by economist Colin Clark. He suggested industries could be separated into categories. These categories would be determined based on significantly different characteristics of industries. There are currently five economic sectors: primary (raw materials), secondary (manufacturing), tertiary (service), quaternary (information services), and quinary (public service). Data on occupation and job satisfaction from the General Social Survey were used to build a multivariate linear regression. Results are forthcoming.

Authors: Kendra Johnson. Mentors: Dannelle Larsen-Rife. Insitution: Utah Tech University. This study's objective is to examine how sleep quality is related to attachment and any moderating effect from social support. Sleep quality affects multiple aspects of life including physical and mental health. About 40% of the population is affected by sleep complaints (Palagini et al., 2018). Over time, disturbed sleep can become a risk factor for mental illness and substance use disorders (Adams et al., 2014). According to Gur-Yaish et al., (2020), negative interactions related to attachment disturbances negatively affected sleep quality. Individuals with insecure attachment may be more prone to insomnia and sleep disturbances (Palagini et al., 2018). People with anxious attachment have difficulty trusting that others will be there for them when they are in need. Insecure attachment is measured on two scales: anxious and avoidant. Because of this fear, people with insecure attachment may engage in behaviors intended to reassure them of the other person’s trustworthiness. An individual with avoidant attachment tends to resist close relationships, fearing that others are not reliable (Bowlby 1982). Adults in romantic relationships tend to behave similarly to children and mothers when it comes to attachment pairing (Fraley & Shaver, 1998). When people have insecure attachment, they may be highly activated by relationship ruptures, leaving them anxious and vulnerable to poor sleep quality. The resulting poor sleep quality may be moderated by high levels of outside social support, though with high attachment avoidance, the benefits of social support are less influential. Participants (N = 94) completed the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-RS) scale to measure attachment, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Social Support Questionnaire-Short Form (SSQ6). Findings reveal that though the correlation between insecure attachment and sleep was small, the addition of social support revealed some interesting patterns that give insight to the relationship between attachment, sleep, and the effects of social support.