2020 Abstracts

Qian,Rui (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Salmon, John (BYU - Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering); Killpack, Marc (BYU - Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)

The cooperation between humans and robots may become more intuitive as technology develops. It is foreseeable that soon physical human-robot collaboration may be applied in the area of co-manipulation of objects, especially in search and rescue. It comes naturally for a human dyad to adapt and respond to changes with each other while moving objects. However, it still can be difficult for a robot to determine the motion it should take to best collaborate with a human. In order to optimize robots imitation of humans and improve their efficiency to assist humans, the research aims to design algorithms for robots to move objects in more human-like ways by first analyzing behavioral characteristics of human-to-human collaborations.

During our experiments, we will designate one person per group as a leader and one as a follower to carry a stretcher-like table as a simulated object with force-torque sensors through different obstacles. As the follower will not be explicitly told the intention of the leader, the forces and torques that the follower feels through the object become important for understanding the leader's intent. With standardized specific goals and qualifiers, data will be gathered on the force and torque people exert on the object and motion of table; we will then analyze the correlation and characteristics between the data and people's actual intentions. The data will later be implemented as an algorithm on the robot to help it identify human's intentions and to complete the cooperative task efficiently and smoothly.

Swomitra, Mohanty; Willis, Christina ; Larson, Shaylee (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Mohanty, Swomitra (Engineering, Chemical Engineering)

The World Health Organization has cited tuberculosis (TB) as a global health emergency. As this is a disease that mainly affects those in developing countries, it is important to provide a rapid and affordable means of diagnosis. Emerging work has shown breath biopsy to be a promising resource for diagnosing a variety of diseases, but is particularly promising for TB, as it negates the need for sputum collection that can cause many problems in young or ill patients and can provide results at point of care.

The breath of a patient diagnosed with TB contain volatile organic biomarkers (VOBs) that are given off by the bacteria that cause the disease. Detection of VOBs with via metal-functionalized titanium dioxide sensors has been successful in very sick patients, however it is limited in its ability to detect low analyte levels and has unknown specificity in a complex human breath matrix. Preliminary results indicate that the use of an engineered electroactive solution (EAS), a liquid-phase complex which utilizes a functional metal in solution, can improve the current sensing platform by simplifying the electrode configuration and allowing the use of more complex electrochemical techniques (in this case square wave voltammetry (SWV)). Because the margins of detection can be quite small, successful optimization of SWV parameters is vital. The proposed project will explore a means of optimizing these parameters by collecting a variety of sample data in order to determine how the electrochemical activity of the EAS is altered when biomarkers are introduced.

Gibbons, Andrew; Clingo, Kelly; Emmett, Darian; Fullwood, David; Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Fullwood, David (Brigham Young University, Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering; Engineering and Technology); Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University, Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering; Engineering and Technology)

Spine dysfunctions such as stenosis and herniated discs have traditionally been diagnosed using X-ray or MRI imaging techniques; but these methods capture a snapshot of the problem, without revealing the positional dependence of the causes and effects. In order to provide a richer dataset to physicians, an NIH-funded project has begun with the aim of tracking details of spinal motion for people with healthy and symptomatic backs. Novel nanocomposite strain gauges will be used to capture skin deformation during typical back motion, and correlate these data with back motions that are known to reveal chronic subcutaneous trauma. This paper focuses on the optimal placement of strain gauges for maximum resolution of the underlying biomechanics.

An array of reflective markers was placed on a healthy individual's lower back between the L5 and T10 vertebrae. A QUALISYS motion capture lab was then used to determine the coordinates of these markers during flexion, rotation, flexion with rotation, and side bending. These motions were repeated 3 times for 10 seconds. The distances between markers were calculated for each motion and the strain values between resting and flexed positions were determined. Initial validation was performed by comparing a maximum tensile strain of 0.54, between the L5 and L1 vertebrae in flexion, with a previously reported value of 0.5 in the literature.

This paper will report the development of an optimal arrangement of sensors for resolving the relevant biomechanics of the spine, based upon a detailed analysis of the optical marker results. Future work will utilize these results to develop a skin mounted, wearable sensor array that can measure the real-time kinematics of the spine and compare them with a database of healthy and low back pain subjects using a machine-learning paradigm. We hope to use the system to identify mechanical sources of low-back pain.

Jacobs, Matt (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: George, Andy (Engineering, School of Technology); Miles, Mike (Engineering, School of Technology)

Composites are unique materials in many respects. When fabric woven from carbon fibers is joined with a thermoset resin in a controlled environment, it results in a very strong material. One aspect of this construction that provides great strength lies in the crosslinked chains of plastic polymers, which form strong bonds as the resin cures. It's a two-edged sword, though. Although the resin and the composite are quite strong together, they are very difficult to pull apart once they're formed, in order to be able to use again in the future. As such, composite structures formed with industry-standard thermoset resins have a single-use lifespan. The cheapest thing to do to dispose of them is to simply throw them away. However, by isolating the dry fibers by burning off the resin (a process called pyrolysis), the fibers are able to be processed again in useful ways — they are reclaimed. My research focuses on pyrolysis and ways to optimize its process. I aim to showcase its environmentally-friendly capabilities through making new composite structures with fibers reclaimed via pyrolysis to lessen landfill waste.

For the experimental phase of the research, a roll of unprocessed carbon fiber material will be selected for producing 4 test groups:
Virgin-sized carbon fibers
Fibers that have undergone pyrolysis
Fibers infused to part and reclaimed with pyrolysis, oxygen-free environment
Fibers infused to part and reclaimed with pyrolysis, ambient air environment

Fiber samples will then be processes into 3mm length fibers. Fibers will then be introduced to Matrix at TBD% Fiber volume content, following which, dog bones will be molded from samples for tensile testing. Dog bones will then be tensile tested and analyzed at fracture point.

Response variables involved include:
Oxygen vs deoxygenated atmosphere (during pyrolysis),
Bath vs spray vs no application (method of sizing).
Control variables include:
Fiber & Sizing,
Fiber resin ratio,
Fiber Length,
Pyrolysis Time & Temp.

Post-pyrolysis fibers will then be chopped, blended with plastic (polymer TBD) and extruded, cut into pellets, and injection molded into dog-bones for tensile testing. The resulting mechanical properties of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic compared with standard injection molding polymers as well as fully-cured composite.

Although uncertainties exist in the viability of sizing application and surface treatment for composites recycling, building upon previous work in pyrolysis and utilizing the unique resources available at BYU (composites lab, ready access to aerospace-grade fibers, industry standard processing equipment, scanning electron microscopes, etc.), the work's importance and potential for contributions to the field are clear.

Baker, Spencer; Charles, Steven (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Charles, Steven (Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)

Essential tremor is one of the most common movement disorders and affects millions nationwide. Its debilitating effects and lack of satisfactory treatments accentuates the need for new tremor-suppressing methods. Alternative treatments are possible but would be more effective if tremor propagation from neurological activity to joint movement was better understood. The purpose of this research was to further develop previous investigations and discover the effects deep upper limb muscles on tremor propagation.
A model of the upper limb was developed to simulate tremor propagation from neural drive to muscle force, joint torque, and degree of freedom movement. An analysis of the model revealed four tremor propagation principles. (1) Musculoskeletal dynamics spread neural drive to multiple outputs, act as a low-pass filter in the tremor bandwidth, and cause a phase shift between muscle activity and joint movement. (2) Tremor spreads primarily due to inertia and secondarily due to moment arm geometry. (3) Tremor spreads narrowly. (4) The degree of freedom most affected by the tremor is wrist flexion-extension.
These conclusions provide new information regarding the propagation of tremor from superficial and deep upper-limb muscles, lay the foundation for determining the muscular source of tremor, and will assist in future tremor treatments.

Brevin, Brevin; Taylor, Aubrie; Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering)

The development of precise lumbar vertebral devices depends heavily on the varying dimensions of vertebrae themselves. Upon literature review it was found that while much data presents spinal measurements for curvature in kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis, as well as individual vertebral heights and diameters, little to no data has been published regarding the transverse curvature of the vertebrae. As this measurement is requisite for the designing of a lumbar vertebral clamp currently being developed in our laboratory, the purpose of this work was to measure a variety of lumbar vertebrae, specifically characterizing lateral length, sagittal width, vertebral height, and the transverse curvature at the minimum lateral length. Dimensions were measured manually from dissected human spine samples using dial calipers and a measuring tape. 13 lumbar vertebrae from 3 cadaveric spines were measured. The average lateral length was 1.63 in (+/- 0.20 in) and the average transverse radius of curvature was 1.01 in (+/- 0.12 in). In future work, these measurements will be incorporated into the device design process for the lumbar vertebral clamp.

Mortensen, Chase (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Truscott, Tadd (College of Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department)

The aim of this project is to analyze water entry based cavity formation of two projectiles and how it affects their motion. The study will be conducted by dropping two horizontally spaced similar-sized hydrophobic spheres from different heights into a quiescent water pool. The results will look at the position, acceleration and forces of the two sphere system and how they differ from a single sphere water entry. In addition, the horizontally spaced spheres show a change in the accompanying cavity formation and evolution when compared to past studies of a single sphere entry. Preliminary data suggests that the closer you drop projectiles to one another in water, the resulting of cavity-seal time, cavity shape, drag experienced by the bodies while in water could differ from single projectiles entering the water.

Kaneshiro, Alma; Jordan, Adam; Crompton, Rhees; Brailsford, Samantha; Spencer, Jonathan (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Clark, Daniel (Science, Microbiology Department and Neuroscience Center); Chaston, John (Life Sciences, Plant & Wildlife Sciences)

Antibiotic resistance is of great concern in the medical community, with bacterial resistance increasing proportional to their use. Staphylococcus aureus, such as methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), can cause fatal infections. Problems due to this resistance are compounded when the infecting bacteria form a biofilm, thick sticky layers of bacterial secretions, which are difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. Biofilm formation is common in hospital settings on stents, catheters, and IV lines. Biofilms make antibiotic treatment risky due to incomplete killing—the most resistant survive exposure. There is evidence that bacteriophage can break up biofilms, possibly making them more susceptible to antibiotics. We induced a S. aureus biofilm formation using chemicals that mimic a skin wound. Using bacteriophage K, we inoculated the biofilm and observed clearance. Samples of cell pellets and liquid supernatant were collected, and DNA was extracted. Real-time PCR was used to quantify the levels of bacteriophage K replication, representing clearance of the bacteria. This research can be used to find efficient ways to treat an infection caused by a S. aureus biofilm. Bacteriophage used in combination with antibiotics may be able to better clear a biofilm infection and reduce antibiotic resistance risk due to more complete infection clearance.

Townsend, Jessica; Freitas, Claudia; Weber, Scott; Cardon, Dallin (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Weber, Scott (Brigham Young University / Life Sciences, Microbiology and Molecular Biology)

The World Health Organization reported in 2016 that oral diseases affected half of the world's population. Oral diseases are due to poor oral hygiene and tobacco use which can develop into periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is caused by an immune response to microbial challenge, which initiates an invasion of lymphocytes and other single-nucleated cells to the site of inflammation in the mouth that can cause tooth loss and is a risk factor for heart and lung disease. Patients with severe periodontitis have increased auto-reactive B lymphocytes that express the CD5 co-receptor and these cells are influenced by T cells. We propose to investigate the relationship between oral inflammation, CD5, and the T helper immune response. This will be done by comparing oral inflammation in mice with and without CD5. CD5 is a T cell co-receptor that regulates T cell development and function and we hypothesize CD5 plays an important role in periodontal disease. We will test this hypothesis by co-culturing T cells expressing or lacking CD5 with oral mucosal or gingival epithelial cells that have been exposed to LPS (lipopolysaccharide, a major component of gram-negative bacteria's wall) and will exam differences in cell number, T cell subtype, and cell function.

Stoneham, Lisa; Brasso, Dr. Rebecka (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Brasso, Rebecka (Weber State University, Zoology)

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that poses significant health threats to people and wildlife. The organic form of mercury, methylmercury, is converted from its inorganic form via microbial methylation. Methylmercury is dangerous because it attaches to proteins in the blood, muscle, and other tissues and can cross the blood-brain and placental barriers. Microbial methylation is enhanced in anoxic environments such as wetlands, which are increasingly being classified as mercury hotspots where animals accumulate elevated concentrations relative to those in terrestrial systems. This is concerning for the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake due to its history of anthropogenic inputs of pollutants and its importance as a breeding ground and rest stop for migrating avian species. Previous research has shown significant mercury methylation occurring within the Deep Brine Layer of the GSL. The purpose of this project was to investigate potential spatial variation in mercury concentration in different portions of the GSL. With a focus on invertebrates, we collected insects including brine flies, midges, damselflies, and crane flies from three sites of varying salinity around Antelope Island State Park: Farmington Bay, White Rock Bay, and the Antelope Island Marina. Mercury concentrations in insects were determined using a Nippon MA-3000 Direct Mercury Analyzer. Our results will provide a preliminary assessment of mercury concentrations in flying insects from different habitats around the island. This will help in determining differential risk to insectivorous songbirds, waterfowl, and shorebirds foraging on these common prey species in the GSL.

Spruance, Lori; Augustine, Madi (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Spruance, Lori (Life Sciences, Public Health)

Youth sport programs are an opportunity to increase physical activity, but the food environment may be detrimental to improving and maintaining health. From a previous study, parents indicated that they would like guidance and direction in a top-down approach from coaches and administrators; yet, understanding the administrator experience relative to the youth sports food environment remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to understand that experience. Semi-structured qualitative interviews will take place with administrators across the state of Utah. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis will be conducted to identify salient themes. A peer-reviewed publication and multiple presentations will result from the study conducted.

Haynie, Christopher; Freitas, Claudia M. Tellez; Whitley, Kiara V.; Weber, K. Scott (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Weber, K. Scott (Life Sciences, Microbiology and Molecular Biology)

T cells play a critical role in the adaptive immune response and undergo significant metabolic changes upon activation. T cell co-receptors influence T cell activation and function, yet their influence on T cell metabolism remains unclear. CD5, an inhibitory co-receptor expressed on the surface of T cells, is known to regulate thymocyte selection and T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. We previously observed that CD5 plays a critical role in calcium signaling in naïve helper T cells. As calcium signaling influences metabolic changes in cells, our current work focuses on understanding the role of CD5 in T cell metabolism. To understand how CD5 regulates metabolism in T cells, we used CD5 deficient T cells and compared them to wildtype CD5 sufficient T cells. We have characterized their metabolic activity using glycolytic and mitochondrial respiration assays. Interestingly, CD5 deficient naïve T cells have increased glycolysis, mitochondrial respiration, and spare respiratory capacity in comparison to wildtype T cells. We hypothesize that this is due to CD5 altering mitochondrial membrane potential and mass, gene regulation, and the influence of different cellular fuels. Understanding how CD5 regulates T cell metabolism will provide critical insights for improved immunotherapeutic strategies.

Lidgard, Audrey; French, Susannah; Hudson, Spencer (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Lidgard, Susannah (College of Science, Biology Department)

Ectothermic organisms, such as reptiles, rely on the external environment for regulating internal temperatures necessary for vital physiological processes. When faced with environmental challenges, temperature may differentially affect how allostatic mediators (e.g., glucocorticoid hormones) are released to mediate energy allocation for handling stressors. Subsequent differences in energy mobilization and circulating metabolites during a stress response may ultimately influence self-maintenance processes such as immunity. The aims of this research were to determine how stress sensitivity varies with diurnal temperatures in the Plateau Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana uniformis) and to assess the potential implications for immune function. Both baseline and stress-induced levels of glucocorticoids (corticosterone) and energy metabolites (glucose) were compared to body temperature and the thermal environment. Variation in innate immune function (bactericidal ability) was then compared to both temperature and physiological parameters at baseline and stress-induced levels. Stress reactivity via glucocorticoid release positively corresponded with body and environmental temperatures, although glucose release did not. Bactericidal ability subsequent to a stressor negatively corresponded with body temperature and glucocorticoid release. Such findings provide further insight on how stress sensitivity and self-maintenance can vary across the thermal environment, posing potential fitness consequences for an ectothermic organism.

Edwards, Jeffrey; Friend, Lindsey; Weed, Jared; Sandova, Philipl; Nufer, Teresa; Ostlund, Isaac Ostlund (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Edwards, Jeffrey (Life Sciences, Physiology and Developmental Biology)

Substance abuse is a widespread problem in the United States. Although there are some existing treatments for addiction, the neural mechanisms of addiction are not deeply understood. This study quantifies the expression of GAD65 and GAD67 in GABAergic cells in the VTA of adolescent mice to shed light on the subtypes of cells involved in learning and addiction pathways.

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain, a critical part of the dopamine reward system, has many dopamine cells that are inhibited by nearby GABAergic neurons. Formation of memories and addiction involve long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) of these inhibitory GABA cells. We studied potential pathways of learning and addiction by measuring levels of expression of GAD 65/67 proteins and quantifying the cells that express one or both of these proteins.

Our results will provide insight about which GABAergic neurons are involved in the addiction pathway, furthering our understanding of the cellular mechanism of addiction. This will pave the way for more educated, effective treatment of drug addicts in clinical settings.

Pehkonen, Eliza (Salt Lake Community College)
Faculty Advisor: Seaboch, Melissa (Salt Lake Community College, Anthropology)

Precipitation-associated behaviors have been observed in several species of primate including bonobos (e.g., building leafy shelters), chimpanzees (e.g., drinking, rain dancing displays), and mantled howler monkeys (e.g., licking rain from the air, altering typical behavior based on weather and season). The purpose of this study is to determine if mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) exhibit precipitation-associated vocalizations. A. palliata is well known for its vocalizations, which are the loudest sound made by any terrestrial mammal and are used for a wide variety of communicative purposes, such as attracting mates, defending territory, and deterring predation. Given the purpose with which A. palliata vocalizes and the existence of precipitation-associated behaviors within primate species, including A. palliata, it was hypothesized that A. palliata would vocalize in association with climatic events (precipitation and thunder). To test this hypothesis, 41.75 hours of data were collected on A. palliata over a two-week time period during the rainy season at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. All-occurrence sampling was used to record the timing and duration of all A. palliata vocalizations, precipitation, and thunder events. Events were considered accompanied if they occurred within five minutes of one another. Of the 59 observed vocalization events 53% were associated with climatic events. Of the 20 observed precipitation events 90% were accompanied by vocalizations and of the 37 observed thunder events 57% were accompanied by vocalization. Associated vocalizations occurred before, during and after climatic events, however, during or after were most common. The data indicate an association between A. palliata vocalization and precipitation, confirming the hypothesis. Further research is warranted to investigate a possible purpose of precipitation-associated vocalizations, an understanding of which could provide further insight into A. palliata's behavioral interaction with climatic events.

Smith, June; Mishra, Niharika (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Oberg, Craig (Weber State University, Microbiology); Culumber, Michele (Weber State University, Microbiology)

Non-dairy food options have become a growing cultural necessity, however, providing fermented or probiotic supplemented non-dairy alternatives is difficult. Little is known about the activity and survival of probiotic cultures in dairy alternatives. We evaluated the activities of several probiotics at various concentrations and in different combinations in oat, almond, and coconut beverages. Probiotic culture strains of Streptococcus thermophilus (YFLO1), Lactobacillus rhamnose (LGG), L. casei (Casei 431), and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB12), and commercial probiotic mixtures, YFLO2, and Fresh Q, were inoculated in MRS broth, transferred to MRS agar plates, and incubated anaerobically for 24 hours at 37_. BB12 was grown anaerobically in MRS + cystine broth and agar. Isolated colonies were assayed on API 50 CH panels, and a carbohydrate use panel was developed for each organism. Oat, almond, and coconut beverages were inoculated in duplicate with the isolated strains and incubated in a water bath at 40_. The pH was recorded at regular intervals for up to 41 hours. The oat beverage had the most rapid and significant pH change, when incubated with either YFLO1, casei431, and LGG, dropping between 1.5 to 3 pH units over 3 hours depending on the culture. The almond and coconut beverages did not show rapid pH change with the organisms tested. Due to the quick decrease in pH change, further tests on the oat beverage. It was inoculated with Lactobacillus casei 431, LGG, and YFLO1. Organisms were tested at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% concentrations in oat beverage in triplicate. These inoculations were again incubated at 40°C and pH monitored after 5 hours, then plated on MRS agar plates after 24 hours. Final ranged between 1.0 x 109 - 1.8 x 109 for the 1% inoculum. It appears that these organisms survive, and may even grow in the oat beverage. This research demonstrates that probiotic cultures can grow in non-dairy beverages and can ferment the available carbohydrates and decrease pH. These results provide insights that can be used for beverages, yogurt, ice cream, and other fermented food production.

Armitstead, Annie; Grether, Lara; Creech, Kealani (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Watt, Richard (Brigham Young University, Biochemistry)

Lateral Flow Immunoassays (LFI) are simple tests that detect specific levels of antigens or antibodies in patient samples. Requiring only a few minutes, small sample sizes and no read-out equipment, LFI�s are an invaluable and time efficient testing technique. Made up of multiple layers they facilitate the capillary flow of a sample through protein detection zones and can be developed to detect virtually any disease or condition.

Despite the attractive attributes of these tests, the assembly of an LFI strip requires expensive machines, trained personnel, and materials not easily accessible to low-resourced labs or clinics. Developing an innovative point-of-care platform designed to be streamlined, low-cost, and intelligible to the unskilled would open the door of medicine to even the most underprivileged clinics in the world.

We are currently developing a paper LFI that uses a single sheet of copy paper with the ability to filter whole blood as well as replacing high-priced machines with stencils and pens which can still deliver detection proteins to the designated test zones. This avenue of testing is supported by previous experiments we have done with protein pens and tagged antibodies. Using anti-mouse and anti-hCG antibodies as our control and test lines respectively, we spike our sample with hCG mouse antibodies tagged with nanoparticles, and we are able to see binding of both proteins with their respective antibodies. We have seen results in our new testing technique that is easily comparable with currently commercialized LFI's: visual results of binding within 1 min, successful transformation of printer paper into a functional binding platform, and consistent protein binding at a 1/10^5 concentration. Once this concept can be translated to different inks in order to diagnose a plethora of varying conditions, we'll be able to detect diseases and other important biomarkers no matter the limiting low-resource circumstances.

Larson, Rebecca; Jimenez, Misty (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Jensen, Francine (Utah Valley University, Nursing)

Stress is a known barrier to patient recovery. Patients experience increased emotions, such as stress, while hospitalized due to high stakes from risks to life, health and well-being. Patients' emotions can affect their perceptions, future intentions, and behaviors. In pediatrics, the way parents react to their child's illness may affect the children's compliance, emotional response to medical treatment, and even some development processes, demonstrating the premise that there are many possible stressors that can have significant impacts on patients. Hospitals have taken several measures to evaluate patient stress, such as encouraging hospital staff to discuss patient satisfaction surveys with their patient. However, not all patients recognize their own stressors, and some patients may not initially feel comfortable sharing them. For example, a study showed specific stressors that may experienced by patients of different demographics. These stressors may not always be apparent to nurses. Patients' stress can be reduced if the hospital environment fosters perceptions of control, social support and positive distraction. A change in patient environment can promote healing, as evidenced by a hospital, Navicent Health, that demonstrated in their neonatal intensive care unit that reducing stress and anxiety for both newborns and their parents facilitated healing growth and bonding. Nurses can improve the care they provide to patients by learning how to recognize and reduce stressors during the hospital stay.