Architecture

Authors: Amanda Pay, Kaylee Anderson, Amber English, Jie Mei Chong. Mentors: Mary Alvarez. Insitution: Salt Lake Community College. Feasibility Analysis of Mixed Solvent Waste Recycling: A Green Chemistry ProjectUndergraduate Research Session, Green Chemistry submission Amanda Pay, Jai Mai Chong ACS Student Affiliate Advisors; Mary Alvarez, Ron V Valcarce, Wesley Sanders, Peter J Iles, John Flood This research project explores the first of the 12 principals of green chemistry, waste reduction through solvent recycling. Solvents are widely recognized to be a considerable environmental concern. Many industrial chemical processes generate significant amounts of hazardous and toxic chemical waste due to solvents used to facilitate chemical reactions. The reduction of their use is one of the most important aims of green chemistry. In response to this, solvent recyclers have been created which attempt to clean and purify solvents for re-use, thus reducing the amount of solvent waste a chemical company generates. In this project we analyzed before and after samples of mixed solvent containing hexanes, ethyl acetate, and other solvents processed with a CBG biotech solvent recycler. The results were used to improve recycler settings for solvent resolution and assess the effectiveness of waste reduction using such methods. Amanda Pay, Kaylee Anderson, Jie Mei Chong, Amber EnglishACS Student Affiliate Advisors; Mary Alvarez, Ron V Valcarce, Wesley Sanders, Peter Iles, John Flood

Authors: Jordan Gertino, Bryan Wilson. Mentors: Bryan Wilson. Insitution: Salt Lake Community College. This study investigates inscribing a changing base tetrahedron within a unit circle, presenting a unique approach to generate a comprehensive array of all triangles with a specific scale and orientation. The ultimate objective is to establish a surjection between the creation angle and the resulting triangle. With this method all triangles are (theoretically, up to scaling) possible to construct using surjection. By creating a standard family of triangles this research may provide a different framework in geometric manipulation with potential applications in chemistry, biology, and other various fields. One example is that it could be a good model for the molecular structure of tetrahedrons under pressure.

Authors: Antonio Ruiz Ayala. Mentors: John Flood. Insitution: Salt Lake Community College. Aerogels are a fascinating material that function as great insulators. Nasa has partnered with Aspen Aerogels to produce a commercially viable product that aims to tackle a variety of problems such as space shuttle insulation, space particle collection, thermal safety, and cryogenic applications. The main objective of our project is to reproduce an aerogel blanket using standard lab conditions and chemicals. We will be producing the blanket using the silica gel process. We will compare properties of durability, cost, and thermal conductivity. We plan to pinpoint a procedure that provides the most cost effective, durable, and thermally conductive material under standard lab conditions.

Authors: Luis Valdez, Mary Alvarez, Jessica Berryman, Ron Valcarce. Mentors: Jessica Berryman. Insitution: Salt Lake Community College. Plants produce & emit a diverse and substantial amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. These compounds play important roles in the plant’s tri-trophic interactions, responses to environmental stress, and have been shown to participate in atmospheric chemistry. Although variation in VOC emissions in plants has been extensively studied, there are gaps in knowledge on how symbiotic interactions with soil microbiota shape the VOC profile of plants in the context of environmental stress. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are fungi that form symbiotic associations with plants by colonizing their roots & providing enhanced micronutrient & water retention in exchange for photosynthates. These associations have also been shown to enhance plant responses against biotic & abiotic stress. In this study, we will look at how the expression of heat stress- induced VOCs changes based on mycorrhizal availability in the soil. Populus b. trichocarpa saplings will be exposed to the respective temperatures of 25° C, 35° C, & 40° C for an extended period of time. Emitted volatiles will be collected and analyzed using GC-MS. For each type of temperature, emissions will be compared between saplings planted under different levels of AMF availability (low, medium, & high). We expect volatile emissions to change based on mycorrhizal availability in one of two scenarios; increased emissions due to increased phosphorus uptake from the fungus or decreased emissions due to carbon allocation to the fungus.

Authors: Angela Gomez. Mentors: Chizu Matsubara. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Once students know their letter names and sounds, educators have them begin to learn irregular words, commonly known as sight words. These words are irregular due to them not following common patterns that make up a word. Typically, teaching irregular words is done by having students learn a set number of words through flashcards or reading them off a list. However, students who learn irregular words with flashcards or lists struggle and need help when reading those same words in a text. Action research will be used to study the hypothesis: “Will direct phonics literacy instruction help students learn and retain irregular words?” The research is being conducted in a kindergarten classroom by a preservice teacher in her practicum placement. The focus students for the research will be working with the preservice teacher in a small group setting where they will be reading decodable texts that contain irregular words within the text. The students will be able to decode the regular words they come across using their knowledge of alphabet letters and sounds. Students will be learning the irregular words of the text through direct phonics instruction to help them learn and retain their knowledge of irregular words. By using direct phonics instruction within a text, students can learn how to successfully read the irregular word while simultaneously applying it to a text. The other approach to learning irregular words is reading them on flashcards or a list and then having students transfer their knowledge of these words from a list to reading them in a text, which can become problematic for students as they cannot do so. By having students learn irregular words through direct phonics instruction, the expected result is to have students know around 50 irregular words by the deadline required by the local school district.

Authors: Samuel Zenteno. Mentors: Brandon Ro. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Evolution of Elementary School Architecture:Elementary school architecture has evolved significantly, reflecting shifts in educational philosophies, technological advancements, and societal priorities. From humble one-room schoolhouses to technologically advanced, sustainable, and inclusive learning spaces, the architectural form mirrors broader changes in education and society. What architectural form best reflects the ideal elementary school learning environment? Studying the evolution of elementary school architecture offers society several advantages:• Informed Design: By understanding the historical context and design trends, architects and educators can create more effective, engaging, and sustainable learning spaces.• Educational Enhancement: Insights from past designs can lead to environments that support modern teaching methods and foster improved student outcomes.• Equity in Education: Recognizing disparities in school facilities informs efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality educational spaces.Research Methods:This research employs a comprehensive approach, combining historical analysis, architectural documentation, case studies, and conducting surveys with community members. Comparative studies of architectural styles, education methods, and pedagogical influences will shed light on ideal architectural forms for learning environments.Expected Results:Anticipated outcomes include a nuanced historical narrative of elementary school architecture, identification of pivotal design trends, insights into the societal forces that shaped these changes, and a repository of best practices. Ultimately, this research aims to empower architects, educators, policymakers, and communities to collaboratively shape the future of elementary school architecture, fostering equitable, innovative, and sustainable educational environments.An elementary school is the first public building that a child is called to regularly experience, be educated, find a playground, and socialize. In that sense, it is about to become a second home. By understanding the past, we can better prepare for the future of elementary school design.

Authors: Jessica Anderson. Mentors: Jennifer Kohler. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Social media, television, and Cinema all play key roles in shaping our perception of reality. This study examines stigmas and stereotypes of disabilities that are perpetuated through the media specifically through these three sources. It also examines the presence of inspiration porn and the proper representation of physical disabilities in these media sources.

Authors: Jens Watts. Mentors: Brian Harker. Insitution: Brigham Young University. What is a standard at its essence? Wren 2022 suggests that in jazz scholarship, undue emphasis has been placed on the analysis of the standard as a work. Instead, the standard should be understood as an archive: the sum of all relationships between different iterations of the work. I posit that further work in this mode will help to correct an antiquated philosophy of music existing on a page and direct further attention to the act of ‘musicking,’ as promoted by Christopher Small in his 1998 book.This article examines three jazz standards: “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” “Autumn Leaves,” and “On Green Dolphin Street.” These standards were chosen because of their varying interpretations in harmony and melody. My analysis of these standards is threefold: theoretical, historical, and ethnographic. I begin with an analysis of the published sheet music for each of these standards, examining unique features of their pitch content. From there, I depart to a historical analysis, examining changes in the performance of the tune over time.The bulk of my research reports on an ethnography of jazz musicians on the Utah scene. My interlocutors were asked to play the standards in question, which I recorded. I examine common features of their interpretations, as well as salient differences. Some of their thoughts on these standards in particular and the practice of learning standards in general are also presented. The resulting collection of information on my multidisciplinary approach to analyzing standards reveals important aspects of the epistemology of jazz music and the ontology of standards themselves.

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

Authors: Allie Baumgartner. Mentors: Chizu Matsubara. Insitution: Utah Tech University. • ABSTRACT: A student’s understanding and comprehension of content specific vocabulary is essential for their learning. However, Multilingual Learners (MLs) can struggle to understand what they are learning when they do not have knowledge of content specific vocabulary. This research focuses on the implementation of strategies into a small group reading lesson. These strategies will work towards increasing students’ understanding of content specific vocabulary words, in the areas of social studies and science. By using the methodology of action research, the research will implement research-based strategies for strengthening vocabulary for students learning English as a target language. This research will be conducted over a six-week time frame, with two focus students that are multilingual learners. The research-based word-learning strategies will be incorporated into the small group consisting of four students, to support their learning. Word-learning strategies are strategies that assist students to ascertain the meanings of words that are unfamiliar to them. Students can then apply these strategies to learning of unfamiliar words that are included in the content reading that they do in another small group. The word-learning strategies will support the students in learning, and understanding the meaning of content specific vocabulary words.

Authors: Beckham Trigo. Mentors: Johnathan Chidester. Insitution: Southern Utah University. The lack of resources, funding, and federal recognition is leading to the deficit in K-12 Education around the United States compared to other first world countries with developed education systems. For years the United States has been hammered on the fact that the country doesn't provide every child with bilingual study opportunities. European countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, and France all offer bilingual studies and are making them required for students to take. These are key elements in a successful education system and offer so many more opportunities and benefits than the standard single language system we have placed in our K-12 Schools. Statistically the change to a new bilingual research would greatly benefit our country and would help decrease political divisiveness and bring an extent of unity among several ethnic groups in the country. The country continues to grow through immigration where the United States is projected to become the top Spanish speaking country in the world with 140 million speakers. However, the United States is not preparing for this and investing in its future students and citizens. Research has proven time and time again that there are so many benefits to a bilingual education, some of these including an increase in brain activity, and power in children, an academic advantage, and competition in the job market. The United States has deeply oppressed this system due to systematic racism, and political motivation. However, the United States has no established language in which it defines itself even though the majority speak English. The United States is also a world power with a lot of interaction with foreign countries. This in itself is going to be very problematic for the future of the United States as the world climate changes. It needs leaders to represent itself in many other languages, not just in the English language. The contrary to this research is that the language is ineffective to learning, makes it harder for students to assimilate into the United States culture, and spend too much time learning the second language. However, none of these statements can be statistically backed and solely based on a few percent of people's personal experience. Overall the research time and time again directs the United States to the bilingual education system, but when will it be adopted?

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: Kira Swann, Cody Dirks. Mentors: Joshua Price. Insitution: Southern Utah University. As students, we have personally noticed that when we had a long-term substitute in the classroom, we didn't learn as much compared to our peers in other classrooms. It has been found in California as well as other states that a teacher’s absence, leaving a substitute in place, leads to worse off standardized scores for students. This paper tests the impact of long-term substitutes on the STAR/CAASPP scores of students. The purpose of this study is to see if there is a detrimental effect on student scores and if long-term subs should be something addressed by the state. Using testing and demographic data from the California Department of Education, we use a fixed effects regression to test the true impact of the impact of long-term substitute teachers. Our results show that there is a small, but statistically significant impact on student performance.

Authors: Lauren Ford, Joel Woolley, Ryan Powers, Paulina Medellin, Hillary Wadsworth, Jordan Yorgason. Mentors: Jordan Yorgason. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Women prescribed psychostimulants have self-reported changes in drug efficacy that coincide with menstrual cycling. Furthermore, cocaine and amphetamine effects on dopamine (DA) transmission are more potent in female rodents, an effect that has been linked to cycling hormone levels. However, it is unknown if changes to DA transmission vary by specific psychostimulant, and striatal DA transmission has not yet been well characterized across the estrous cycle. The present study considers dopamine release and reuptake kinetics across various stages of the estrous cycle in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key region for dopamine-mediated learning. The effects of cocaine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate on female dopamine transmission are examined using slice voltammetry. Our data shows that compared to a male control group, baseline (pre-drug) dopamine release in the NAc was lower in females overall, but not at all estrous stages. Applying increasing concentrations of cocaine or methylphenidate revealed similar patterns of enhanced, then diminished release in all mice. Methamphetamine decreased NAc dopamine release similarly in both males and females, but females in estrus were more affected than males, and those in met/diestrus less. Methamphetamine also slowed dopamine uptake in all mice, and at lower concentrations than cocaine or methylphenidate. We find minimal sex differences between cocaine and methylphenidate effects in the NAc, suggesting that the underlying cause of their observed behavioral sex differences may be specific to other striatal regions. On the other hand, methamphetamine-induced DA release fluctuates distinctly with the estrous cycle and peaks when estrogen levels are at their highest, indicating that estrogen and methamphetamine mechanisms share a target in NAc DA terminals that cocaine and methylphenidate do not. This work refines our understanding of DA transmission in females and indicates potential future directions for understanding female psychostimulant abuse.

Authors: Mallory Hinton, Matthew Madsen, Raechel Hunsaker, April Hulet. Mentors: April Hulet. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Seeding plants post disturbance on rangelands is a challenge due to unique ecological and environmental conditions such as limited water availability, invasive species, soil health, and native seed supply. One of the key factors to address these challenges and have a successful seedings is understanding the relationships between soil characteristics and the plants that grow within them. Our research evaluated plant growth for seventeen grass species in two degraded rangeland soils (a mine tailings impoundment and Santaquin Wildlife Management Area) in Utah. Grasses (10 PLS/5cm 2 pot) were grown in self-watering growth trays in a complete, randomized block design with four replicates per soil type. After 21 days in the greenhouse, plant densities and aboveground biomass were collected and analyzed. Soils differed in mineral content. Iron and nitrogen were 5- and 4-fold greater in Tailings than Santaquin soil; phosphorus, magnesium, and organic matter were 5.5-, 4-, and 18-folds lower in Tailings than Santaquin soil. The average density of plants was significantly different (p < 0.0001) between the two soil types; in the Santaquin soil plant density was 5.73 plants/pot, in Tailings soil plant density was 2.20 plants/pot. No individual grass species were significantly different from each other in the Tailings soil (p = 0.51). However, individual grass species were significantly different from one another in the Santaquin soil (p = 0.05). Both Tailings and Santaquin soil types had the highest densities of slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus; 4.75 plants/pot and 8.25 plants/pot, respectively) and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum; 4.75 plants/pot and 10.25 plants/pot, respectively). Sandbergs bluegrass (Poa secunda) had the lowest density in both soil types (zero plants in Tailings soil and 2.50 plants/pot in Santaquin soil). To make informed decisions when selecting plant species for seed mixes, soil characteristics should be considered.

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

Authors: Allison Gabbitas, Kaitlyn Allen, Gene Ahlborn, Shintaro Pang. Mentors: Shintaro Pang. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Mycotoxin contamination on food and feed can have deleterious effect on human and animal health. Agricultural crops may contain one or more mycotoxin compounds; therefore, a good multiplex detection method is desirable to ensure food safety. In this study, we developed a rapid method using label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to simultaneously detect three common types of mycotoxins found on corn, namely aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A (OTA). The intrinsic chemical fingerprint from each mycotoxin was characterized by their unique Raman spectra, enabling clear discrimination between them. The limit of detection (LOD) of AFB1, ZEN, and OTA on corn were 10 ppb (32 nM), 20 ppb (64 nM), and 100 ppb (248 nM), respectively. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to predict concentrations of AFB1, ZEN, and OTA up to 1.5 ppm (4.8 µM) based on the SERS spectra of known concentrations, resulting in a correlation coefficient of 0.74, 0.89, and 0.72, respectively. The sampling time was less than 30 min per sample. The application of label-free SERS and multivariate analysis is a promising method for rapid and simultaneous detection of mycotoxins in corn and may be extended to other types of mycotoxins and crops.

Authors: Reganne Leigh Hales, Laura Sutherland, Melissa Sanchez Herrera, Samantha Standring. Mentors: Seth Bybee. Insitution: Brigham Young University. We explore the phylogeny of Hetaeriinae using a targeted enrichment approach (AHE) on gDNA gathered largely from museums. AHE resulted in 20KB (18.5KB of nuclear and 1.5 of mitochondrial DNA) for each taxon. Previous research, based on sanger data generated from three genes, demonstrated that Hetaerina Hagen in Selys, 1853 is not monophyletic but no taxonomic changes were proposed due to the hope of one day having more data. Our goal for this research was to have a larger dataset to test the monophyly of Hetaerina and update the classification. Our results confirm those of the most recent phylogeny of Hetaerina: the genus is non-monophyletic. We recover Mnesarete Cowley 1934 and Ormenophlebia Garrison 2006 within Hetaerina. We have preliminary data (results not shown) demonstrating that both Iridictyon Needham & Fisher 1940 and Bryoplathanon Garrison 2006 are also within Hetaerina. However, due the placement of these genera there is not a clear way to retain these genera and it is likely they will need to be placed within Hetearina due to priority. We further explore the evolution of some characters associated with habitat preference.