2013 Abstracts

Edie Kieu-Mi Nguyen and Cassandra Nguyen, University of Utah Nursing Home hospice care is a growing area within the health care system. However, because of the difficulty in gaining access to these patients and caregivers in the home, research findings have been slow to keep pace with this growth. While hospice has been at the forefront of family-centered care, explicitly stating that the unit of care is the family, there has been little empirical research to show who is actually involved in this care in the home on a regular basis. Hypothesis: Our goal of this project was to describe who is present at the nurse home visit with the patient. Research Method: This research, part of a larger intervention study, involved reviewing audio recordings of home hospice visits to set up a coding system for future communication coding. During this review, we also identified and documented those present during the visit. Results: In our sample of 115 home hospice visits, 12 nurses caring for 13 patients spent an average of XXX minutes each (SD=XXX) in the home. We have found that caregivers are present 80% of the time. Our data shows that a spouse is present in 28% of visits. In 58.3% of visits, a daughter is present, while sons are present in only 3.1% of visits. Implications: It is important to know who is present at the visit and how long they spent with the patient to increase our understanding of what goes on in home hospice care. This research has implications for improving patient care. For example, in order to promote a more family orientated home care; more family members should participate in nurse visits. This descriptive research can be used in practice for hospices to know who to expect during patient home visits, as well as to incorporate the family members better into the patient care plan.

Austin Stevens, University of Utah Pediatrics Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant genetic disorder. It affects 1/3500 individuals worldwide (Friedman, 2002). It is classically characterized as a neurocutaneous disorder, but osseous and spinal abnormalities are clearly associated with NF1. These complications are not well understood and rarely emphasized, even though as high as 38% have been reported to have osseous manifestations (Crawford and Schorry, 1999). In particular, the medical management of scoliosis in NF1 is problematic with no consensus on preferred treatment strategies. More information on the natural history and health-related quality of life are needed before effective therapies can be designed as assessment of treatment efficacy is complex and outcome measures difficult to define. Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Viskochil are part of an NF Consortium focused on developing clinical trials in NF1. However, specific outcome measures are needed for these clinical trials. In particular changes in quality of life are an essential part of clinical trials. Our objective is to determine if specific quality of life instruments can be utilized in the NF1 population for the skeletal manifestations. A battery of these instruments were used given that it was not known which instrument would be most appropriate for the various manifestations of NF1. A total of 129 patients were enrolled in this study, and the relevant questionnaires were administered and recorded. Categorical data of health status will be summarized as frequency distributions and differences among groups will be assessed using chi-square tests of proportions. Frequency distributions for interval-scale variables of health status (e.g., HUI single-attribute utility scores) and HRQL (e.g., HUI multi-attribute utility and PedsQL4.0 summary scores) will be summarized as mean, standard deviation, 95% confidence bounds, median, minimum and maximum. T-tests and analysis of variance techniques (including repeated-measures models) will be used to test differences in means between groups.

Jennifer Nhan, University of Utah College of Health, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes The overall goal of our laboratory is to elucidate mechanisms whereby endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) enzyme function and NO bioavailability are impaired in individuals with diet-induced obesity (DIO), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and insulin resistance. This is a clinically relevant issue because all of these conditions are associated with poor vascular function that might be precipitated by disrupted eNOS enzyme function and NO bioavailability. To study this issue we use model systems including cell culture, isolated arteries, and rodents. It is important to have an accurate, reproducible, and sensitive method to detect NO in each of these systems. The purpose of my work was to optimize the technique of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) to assess NO in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). NO contains an unpaired electron. This structural feature facilitates the measurement of NO via EPR. NO is detected with a spin trap of FeSO4 and diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate (DETC). In the presence of NO, the spin trap forms a NO-Fe(DETC) complex which is detected by EPR. BAECs were grown to 70-80% confluency in six-well plates, and treated with: (i) vehicle (buffer only), (ii) 600 uM of insulin (an NO agonist), (iii) 10 uM of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate salt [LNMMA, an NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor], and (iv) three doses (1, 10, 100 uM) of diethylammonium (DEA) NONOate (an NO donor) to serve as a positive control. All treatments contained L-arginine [the substrate for endothelial NOS (eNOS)] and FeSO4 (the spin trap). After a 60-min incubation with treatments (i) (iv), cells were dislodged from each plate, collected, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and NO was detected using EPR. Relative to vehicle treatment, 1uM, 10uM, and 100uM DEA NONOate increased NO production by 50±8%, 150±2%, and 700±26% (p<0.05) respectively. Insulin increased (p<0.05) NO production by 73±4% vs. vehicle, and this response was prevented in cells treated with insulin + LNMMA. These results indicate EPR is a suitable method to detect cellular NO production. My next project is to optimize this technique for use in isolated arteries from experimental animal models.

Kara Vickers, University of Utah Nursing Symptoms related to cancer and its treatments are a significant source of distress for children and adolescents with cancer. Although children and adolescents may receive interventions aimed at alleviating symptoms, the hospital care environment itself may be one that adds to the overall symptom burden. The purpose of this study is to investigate relationships between symptoms experienced by hospitalized children and adolescents with cancer and the care environment on an inpatient pediatric oncology unit. This prospective, descriptive study uses use a repeated measure, within-group design to identify relationships between symptoms and the nursing care environment that can be used to guide future interventions. Participants are 50 children and adolescents (7 to 18 years of age) with cancer. Data collection is occurring over a 3-day and 3-night period. Children and adolescents’ symptoms are measured each shift using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale for patients aged 7-12 years. Participants also answer two open-ended questions about what has bothered them about the hospital environment and what they perceive could improve the hospital environment. Sound and light levels are measured continuously using a sound pressure level meter and data logger placed approximately 48 inches from the child’s bedside. Nursing care activities are measured through counts of care activities occurring during room entries by nursing staff. Room entries are identified using an Axis pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) dome camera. A member of the research team reviews the child’s nursing flow sheet, medication administration record, acuity level, laboratory values, and medical orders each day. Data is presently being collected and will be analyzed using hierarchical mixed effects statistical models. Long-term goals of this project include improving symptom management in the inpatient setting, minimizing modifiable factors in the care environment that cause greater symptom burden, and lastly use the findings to inform hypotheses for a larger intervention studies. Hopefully these studies will target structuring the hospital care environment to minimize the symptom burden experienced by hospitalized children and adolescents with cancer and, ultimately, promote their quality of life.

Samantha Webber, Brigham Young University Nursing Background: In November of 2012, a small group from BYU’s College of Nursing returned to Guayaquil, Ecuador to measure anemia indicators post interventions in school age children. In May of 2012 a larger group, including students, from BYU’s College of Nursing had visited Guayaquil for the fourth consecutive year to assess malnutrition and anemia rates in school age children. This multi-phase research project which began in May of 2009 found that nearly 41% of the children in this area suffered from anemia (below 11g/dl as per WHO guidelines). The adverse effects of anemia for these children can include: weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and poor concentration. Anemia may result from deficiencies of iron, B12, folic acid, and may also be the result of intestinal parasites. A nutrition survey conducted among these same school children showed that daily intake of iron, B12, and folic acid were below recommended levels. Intervention: In May of 2009 Hogar de Cristo (HDC), a non-profit organization, began distributing 6 to 8 ounce bottles of soy milk as a school snack for each school-aged child at a few of the schools in the area. A local pharmaceutical company who supplied vitamin and iron supplements during the first year of the soy milk distribution, reassessed anemia rates in those children in November of 2009. The BYU College of Nursing continued to assess school- aged children for measures of anemia and growth and development in 2010 and 2011 as directed by Hogar de Cristo. After 2011 it was difficult to correlate anemia and soy milk because of changes in the sample from year to year. In May of 2012 the BYU College of Nursing shifted their focus to four interventions with the aim of determining which one would best lower anemia rates. The study focused on students at four schools in the perimetral area, each school received one of the interventions as an adjunct to soy milk: vitamin supplements, antiparasites, vitamins and antiparasites, and a control group (soy milk only). Growth and development measures along with rates of anemia were reassessed in November 2012. Results: In May of 2012 the BYU College of Nursing tested 1041 school-ages children for growth and development and anemia. growth and development rate results spanning the four years of testing, and a comparison of anemia rates between intervention groups and control groups.

Ashlee Manwaring, Brigham Young University Nursing Purpose: To examine how the new policy of Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement being based on HCAHPS scores affects nursing care. Rationale: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandates that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement be based on hospital performance and patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction is measured nationally through the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. The HCAHPS survey was development in the early 2000’s to create a uniform measure for patient perspectives regarding their inpatient stay; however, with the HCAHPS scores being related to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, hospitals are required to reevaluate their quality of care from the patient, not medical, perspective. Van Empel et al. (2011) found that physicians and nurses primarily value medical outcomes of treatment. While, at the same time, patient’s value patient-centeredness, even if it means decreasing the desired outcome of treatment. Undertaking: A literature review was completed by searching in CINAHL and Medline. Preliminary research used HCAHPS and Medicare reimbursement as key words. Second, a search was completed using HCAHPS and nursing as key words. All results were published between 2008 and 2012. Outcomes: Kutney-Lee et al. (2009) reported that patient satisfaction was primarily linked with nurse-to-patient ratio, interdisciplinary collaboration and work environment. Research by Robinson and Watters (2010) found the main factor in patient dissatisfaction was feeling like the nurses were short staffed, task-oriented and rushed, leaving the patient lacking adequately communication to understand their situation. Van Empel et al. (2011) reported patients’ willingness to change providers and facilities to received patient-centered care. Conclusion: Nurses have the greatest potential to effect patient satisfaction. Therefore, with the new regulation of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement based on patient satisfaction surveys, nurses have a greater responsibility to ensure patient satisfaction. From the research presented, the main nursing implication is to help each patient feel like their care is centered on what is important to that individual. This can most easily be accomplished by the nurse opening a line of communication with the patient, and then advocating for the patient’s wishes.

Jordyn Whiting, Brigham Young University Nursing Purpose: To demonstrate use of a guide to help nursing students increase cultural competency gained during study abroad programs.Background/significance: In a world of increasing globalization, nurses are more likely to care for patients of a cultural background different from their own. To care for increasingly diverse patients, nurses need greater cultural competence to provide the safest and highest quality of care possible. Study abroad programs have been shown to be an excellent way to provide cultural education for students. The number of students choosing to participate in these programs has more than doubled in the last ten years. However, no research is available from a student perspective on how to plan for an optimum learning experience during study abroad. A research-based guide, from a student perspective, will help students take better advantage of experiences abroad to increase cultural competency. Methods: A literature review using online databases (including CINAHL and MEDLINE) was conducted using search terms such as nursing student, student, cultural competency, cultural sensitivity, cultural awareness, study abroad, international experience, and exchange program. Articles from the online search were used to compile a student guide. The guide includes competence-enhancing activities, formulated using brief anecdotal summaries and trending study abroad outcomes found in the articles. The guide’s framework came from Josepha Campinha-Bacote’s 2002 article, “The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services: A Model of Care,” and its subsequently updated versions (2007 and 2011). With the original version of the guide, there were 16 activities in four categories: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, and cultural desire. The guide also included 16 blank squares where students could create their own activities. The guide contains a small reflective writing portion where students can think about their experiences as a whole and how they can implement what they learned into practice. A total of 12 students, including the author, used the guide in two different study abroad programs, first while participating in a Global Health and Human Diversity program with the College of Nursing in Tonga in May 2012.

Laura Gilpin, Brigham Young University Nursing Purpose/Aims: The purpose of this pilot study was (1) to examine nursing students’ perceptions of their first experience with death in the clinical setting and (2) to determine if curricular changes are necessary to better prepare nursing students effectively cope with their first death experience as a nurse. Background: Death, particularly the unexpected death of a patient, is an emotionally charged, high-stress situation for any nurse. Nursing students encounter scenarios involving death and dying in simulation laboratories, as well as in the clinical setting. In simulation settings debriefing is routinely accomplished and is seen as a critical component of the learning experience. However, Leavy and colleagues (2011) found that even during formal simulation debriefing sessions nursing students were not able to fully process their emotions In real-life clinical settings, the stakes are even higher as nursing students must be able to effectively cope with the death of a patient. Unfortunately, research on students’ first experience with death is limited. Huang and colleagues (2010) found students may not receive adequate support from clinical nursing instructors during the dying process and after a patient’s death. Methods: This was a descriptive mixed methods pilot study. An online anonymous survey was sent to students in the Brigham Young University College of Nursing regarding their first experience with death in the clinical setting (N=306). Students were e-mailed a brief description of the research project and an invitation to participate in the study only if they had experienced the death of a patient. Completion of the online questionnaire implied consent. The participants answered 5 demographic questions and 11 survey questions with the estimated time commitment for each participant being 15 minutes. Results: The online questionnaire was sent to 306 BSN nursing students Approximately 10% initially responded (N=33). A smaller group (N=25) completed the entire survey. Qualitative comments from nursing students who experienced the death of their patient included feeling sad, shocked and uncomfortable. Fifty percent of the nursing students did not receive any debriefing from their clinical instructor following the event.

Heather Peatross, Southern Utah University Agriculture and Nutrition Sciences Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is defined as any ingestible herb, supplement, or other substance used to increase one’s health or well-being both physically and mentally. National studies have examined the usage of CAM. In 2007, the latest year surveyed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), approximately 38% of adults in the U.S. were using some form of CAM with the greatest usage among women and persons with higher education and income levels. Non-vitamin/mineral natural products are the most commonly used CAM therapies. Americans spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on CAM over the previous 12 months. Little information regarding CAM use and knowledge in a rural college-age population is available. The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge Southern Utah University (SUU) students have of CAM, usage by this population, and the reasons for using these products. Do SUU students typically use CAM therapies in their daily lives? Do SUU students use CAM primarily when ill? Are SUU students using CAM as a replacement for traditional (western) medicine? What types of CAM are being used (particularly herbal or dietary supplements)? It is hypothesized that the majority (>50%) of CAM users do not discuss their alternative therapies with a health care physician. Additionally it is hypothesized that students that have been diagnosed, or have a family member that has been diagnosed, with cancer are more knowledgeable/more likely to have used CAM therapies. Four hundred and eighty students were surveyed in a convenience sample of fourteen general education classes at SUU. The survey asked about usage of CAM therapies (including for health or sport performance), overall experience with CAM products used, sources of health advice, and any discussion with their medical physician regarding CAM use. Study results and conclusions are pending.

Connor George, Utah State University Electrical and Computer Engineering The SABER instrument, aboard the TIMED satellite, measures optical data regarding parameters of the Earth’s atmosphere with respect to altitude. Approximately once per minute, SABER performs a limb-scan measurement on the Earth’s atmosphere from which altitude emission profiles of key atmospheric gasses, including hydroxyl at wavelengths of 1.6 μm and 2.0 μm, are derived. Most hydroxyl profiles within the SABER dataset contain a single peak in the airglow altitude profile centered near an altitude of 87 km, but a significant portion of the profiles display two or more local maxima. MATLAB code was written to analyze the geophysical and temporal global distribution of the multiple-peak profiles. Graphs have been created which display relationships between the percentage of multiple-peak profiles and the local time, the cardinal orientation of the SABER device, and the latitude and longitude at which the atmospheric profile was measured. Patterns have been observed in multiple-peak profile distribution with respect to these variables. Possible causes of the multiple-peak occurrences in the hydroxyl altitude profiles include waves, geometrical effects of the SABER instrument, and/or chemistry of the atmosphere. In addition to graphing software, analysis software was written which counts the number of peaks present in any given altitude profile, and which ascertained the percentage of profiles displaying multiple-peak characteristics. A small (<1%) portion of hydroxyl altitude profiles were found to have abnormal distributions due to erroneous or noisy data collected by SABER. Software has also been written to remove such exceptions from the dataset. Additional investigation into the relationship between multiple-peak occurrences and cardinal direction orientation of the SABER device is required in order to further identify the causes for multiple peak profiles. An investigation into seasonal patterns for multiple-peak profiles is to be conducted. As the dataset grows, exception software will be updated to identify invalid altitude profiles. Also, ozone has been found to have multiple-peak altitude profiles similar to those of hydroxyl, and studies complementary to those performed on hydroxyl altitude profiles will be performed on ozone.

Kelsey Spaulding, Weber State University Interior Design Research states that the youth in almost any setting, will always need attention and assistance in navigating life. Pre-teen and teen years can be a time when children need attention, guidance, and direction while developing into mature citizens of their community and world (Larson, Positive Development in a Disorderly World, 2011). Within schools, adolescents are taught only a few of the fundamental ideas and practices that would help them to better navigate in an ambiguous world. In a study done by the New York State Afterschool Network, learning opportunities outside of the classroom help to increase the application of lessons and give adolescents a higher probability for achievement (Network, 2012). Outside of school, adolescent youth need to be able to interact with each other and gain an understanding of themselves and others in relation to the world. Without an interaction with other youth and different aspects of society, adolescents may become apathetic and lack an understanding of the effect they may have on others and their community (Balsano, 2005). In Ogden, Utah, there are a variety of cultures and backgrounds from which adolescent youth come (Bureau, 2012). It is important during the age of adolescence to interact in a personal, societal, and healthy environment during the time when their brains and personalities develop most (Larson, Adolescents’ Development of Skills for Agency in Youth Programs: Learning to Think Strategically, 2011). When given the proper tools, guidance, and opportunities to work with others and their community, adolescents become better leaders of the future. In turn they benefit society as a whole by creating a culture of understanding and willingness to work for an improved future (Network, 2012).In downtown Ogden a building has been proposed as a gathering place for youth between the ages of 14 and 18. The name of the building would be The Northern Utah Youth Center. The proposed design of the building has been created to accommodate a unique style of learning. It will provide a creative environment where youth are allowed to explore and experiment through the application of hands on learning. Utilizing the use of appropriate lighting, color and architectural design will allow for the youth to feel more at ease, creative, and constructive (Saxton, 2012). Within the two floors of the building, multipurpose rooms may be divided with partitions to maximize the use of space.

Krista Brown, Weber State University Interior Design Research has shown that through January 2007, the wounded-to-fatality counts of Operation Iraqi Freedom is higher (about 7.6) than during earlier U.S. military conflicts, such as the ratio of 5.2 for Vietnam (Goldberg, 2010). This means that more soldiers are dying more from hostile combat rather than sickness or non-battle injuries. The Salt Lake area is not currently set up to accommodate the needs of these returning military personnel who have been inflicted with a war injury. Rooms are not adequate and not all necessary areas such as burn rehabilitation are addressed. The government has allowed for a veteran support home to be put into an existing building in Salt Lake City, UT. The objective of the veteran’s support home, “Hope Against Hope,” is to create a facility approximately 15,000 square feet that creates an area for veterans to heal and adapt to their new life style. Currently there is a lack of facilities in Utah that can fulfill all of the needs the “Hope Against Hope Veteran Support Home,” plans to accommodate. This support home will be located in Salt Lake City near the University of Utah hospital. This area was chosen because of the close proximity to the airport, the local medical support and emergency services, as well as the beauty of the surrounding area. Among the needs for the “Hope Against Hope,” center include future expansion, comfort, and should reflect universal design principles. In addition day lighting principles will be a focus. Research has shown that people in institutional areas don’t receive adequate exposure to natural light needed to synchronize sleeping patterns (Brawley, 2009). An advantage of the current location of the center is the close proximity to the Wasatch Mountain Range which provides spectacular views. This advantage will be used to promote healing as well as giving patients a sense of night and day in a home like setting. Color, common rooms, and a flowing floor plan will also provide a new life and hope for injured veterans as they recover from injuries sustained in military service.

Kyra Marie Bell, Weber State University Interior Design The negative impacts that tourists can have on the environment is a major reason that so many pristine natural habitats are off limits to travelers. With so many tourists around the world, the effects of carbon emissions from transportation, excessive waste, and harm to delicate ecosystems, these restricted areas seem to be growing (Center for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD), 2009) As a result, ecotourism has started to gain popularity, as it focuses on minimizing ecological and socio-cultural impacts (TIES, 2012). With the emergence of LEED certification, builders and designers are now provided with a way to implement green building design throughout the entire building process (USGBC, 2011). This makes it possible to not only construct a hotel built in sustainable ways, but to continually have a lower impact on the environment and educate people on ways they can lessen their own footprint. However, less than 100 hotels world-wide have achieved LEED certification, and as of 2010 there is only one such hotel in Utah (HKS, 2011). In Southern Utah, where many of the states national parks are located, lodging that meets the needs of ecotourism by limiting its impact on the environment is nearly non-existent. In order to visit the beautiful, undisturbed environments available in these regions, tourists need a place where they can stay that they know focuses on sustainability and limited impact on the environment as much as the tourists do. Having an ecotourism hotel in Southern Utah would encourage “tourism that seeks to minimize ecological and socio-cultural impacts while providing economic benefits to local communities” (TIES, 2012).In order to meet these needs, The Hotel Viridi will be built as a 15,000 square foot eco-tourism hotel in Southern Utah that meets all the LEED certification requirements as well as the 12 Aims of Sustainable Tourism (Center for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD), 2009). These needs will be met through the use of an adaptive re-use building, in which the hotel will incorporate four different aspects of design; hospitality design as found in all public areas of the hotel, a residential area for hotel guests to stay, healthcare design in the form of an onsite gym, and commercial design where the offices and lecture hall are located.

Joseph Roring, Utah Valley University Physics Removal of all cancerous tissue in breast conservation surgery (BCS) is critical to prevent local recurrence. Unfortunately, 30-50% of patients require additional surgery due to failure to resect all the necessary tissue. A real-time method for detecting infected tissue is therefore desirable. Previous studies have shown that the complexity of high-frequency (50 MHz) ultrasonic spectra can be correlated to a range of breast pathologies in BCS. However, the mechanism behind this correlation is still not very well understood. The purpose of this research is to explore the connection between tissue micro-heterogeneity and ultrasonic spectral complexity using breast tissue phantoms, i.e. materials that mimic breast tissue properties and microstructure. A physical basis can then be determined that links ultrasonic measurements to breast tissue pathology. Phantoms were made from a Knox® gelatin base and soluble fiber (Metamucil®). Heterogeneities simulating lobular and ductal components of mammary glands were created through the addition of polyethylene microspheres and nylon fibers. Pitch-catch and pulse-echo waveforms were acquired from the samples using high-frequency ultrasound. The data were analyzed by measuring the number of peaks (the peak density) in the first-order spectrum (Fourier transform of the time-domain waveform) and the slope of the second-order spectrum (two consecutive Fourier transforms of the time-domain waveform). The phantom specimens displayed first-order peak densities that were significantly greater and second-order spectral slopes that were significantly lower than homogeneous control samples. Phantoms with large fibers (250 micrometer diameter) showed the highest peak densities with values greater than 3x those of the controls. The peak density trend of the phantom samples with increased microscopic heterogeneity was consistent with data of breast tissue specimens. These results provide a physical mechanism for the use of these parameters in the imaging of breast tissues with atypical and malignant pathologies.

Justin Nybo, Weber State University Chemistry Finding a source of energy to supply the demands of energy consumption globally is one of the biggest problems facing society today. With fuel for transportation, heating, and manufacturing representing 70% of energy demands, an efficient fuel source must be used to supply the world’s energy needs (Gouveia and Oliveira, 2009). Algae represent an abundant source of biomass that could be used as a source to make biodiesel. Over the past several years, microalgae have become a logical potential candidate for producing biofuel in large masses. This is mainly due to the fact that they are more efficient at photosynthetic processes than traditional crops grown on the land (Vasudevan, 2008). Another feature of algae that make it suitable as a source for biodiesel is the fact that it can survive in harsh environments, such as salty water or compromised water where crops would not be able to grow (Mata et al., 2010). For my project, I researched and tested the effect of varying light frequency and intensity on the lipid production of Chlorella vulgaris algae. I along with Dr. Herzog and Abram Bernard, set up an array involving 40 flasks that were split into 8 rows and 5 columns. Each row had a unique frequency of light that came from a combination of red, green or blue LEDs. Each column varied the light intensity by changing the distance of the flask from the light source. The goal of our research was to show that algae of the species Chlorella vulgaris could be grown in this system and that algae growth rates were dependent on light frequency and intensity. This was accomplished by converting the lipids produced by the algae into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and then analyzing the FAMEs using a gas chromatograph (GC). In order for this analysis to be effective in terms of accuracy and precision, a quantitative method was developed and verified to quantify the lipid production of the algae under different light conditions. The light intensity and the number of photons of light emitted in each column were monitored by Chandler Greenwell, a fellow Chemistry student. The correlation between light intensity and the quantity of algae was noted during this project.