Architecture

Authors: Minh Nguyen, Eugene Leung. Mentors: Ming Yu. Insitution: Utah Valley University. A rapid, non-invasive method of disease detection method is vital for diagnosis or prevention. Many recent studies suggest that biomarker proteins that are associated with certain diseases were often found in urine samples of the patient. Quantum dots (QDs), a type of nanomaterial, have been investigated in previous studies, revealing their fast response in fluorescent properties when interacting with biomarker proteins. In this study, we examined the impact of QDs’ fluorescent properties in complex solutions by utilizing various concentrations of artificial urine samples. The results of this study provide insight into the possibility of using QDs as an alternative method of disease detection.

Authors: Vince Rossi, Spencer Brown. Mentors: Vince Rossi. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Current systems of generating 3D fluorescent images of samples require scanning of a sample or multiple exposures to acquire a series of images. Collecting a 3D fluorescent image in these fashions is timely, ranging from minutes to tens of minutes. This is not ideal for imaging live, dynamic samples that change as time progresses. The use of holographic techniques allows for the collection of a 3D image on the scale of milliseconds, therefore negating motion artifacts. Combining the speed of digital holography with fluorescent imaging will allow for identification of labeled biological components within a sample as well as the ability to view the sample in a 3D space thus offering greater detail and information on the sample. This process is called Holographically Informed Fluorescence Imaging (HIFI). Simulations have been run using MatLab in which a sample is imaged using Phase Shifting Digital Holography. The 3D reconstruction of the image is propagated using Huygens Convolution Method, and then all of the pixels of the image are brought into focus numerically. This image is then overlayed with the fluorescence image obtained. Each pixel of the fluorescent image is propagated to the depth of focus for each pixel within the 3D holographic image and a 3D fluorescent image is obtained. Simulations of this process have proved successful. A proof of principle experiment is currently underway as to prove the effectiveness of this fluorescent imaging method.

Authors: Sadie Jensen, Nellie Bowman, Nick Jeffery, Heather Wilson Ashworth. Mentors: Heather Ashworth. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The STEM career field has been found to be particularly unwelcoming to women and minorities resulting in attrition of these demographics in STEM degrees and careers.2 To address this problem, the National Science Foundation awarded Utah Valley University a grant to fund undergraduate research opportunities with faculty. This preliminary research project explores the effect of mentored undergraduate research opportunities on student retention and success in the UVU Biology Department. Each year for the last 4 years, 10 students were accepted each year into a research cohort. The following factors are known indicators of student success and retention in the STEM fields: self-efficacy1, effort control4, and teacher immediacy3. These factors were qualitatively measured with reflection questions. Students were surveyed at the end of each academic semester. There are two completed cohorts and data is still being collected on the remaining two cohorts. A coding scheme was developed, and reflection questions were coded to consensus. The Pearson's coefficient was greater than 0.76. The preliminary coding results show themes of positive or very positive effects of the research experience on self-efficacy, effort control, and teacher immediacy. The greatest gains were observed in self-efficacy and teacher immediacy. This preliminary data supports the role of undergraduate research in retaining women and minorities in STEM majors. Sources: Kalender, Z. Y., Marshman, E., Schunn, C. D., Nokes-Malach, T. J., & Singh, C. (2020). Damage caused by women’s lower self-efficacy on physics learning. Physical Review Physics Education Research, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevphyseducres.16.010118 White, J. L., & Massiha, G. H. (2016). The retention of women in Science, Technology, engineering, and Mathematics: A framework for persistence. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 5(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v5i1.4515 Micari, M., & Pazos, P. (2012). Connecting to the professor: Impact of the student–faculty relationship in a highly challenging course. College Teaching, 60(2), 41-47. Pintrich, P. R., & De Groot, E. V. (1990). Motivational and self-regulated learning components of classroom academic performance. Journal of educational psychology, 82(1), 33.

Authors: Rachel Krupnek. Mentors: Jie Liu, Sazib Hasan, Vinodh Chellamuthu. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Many groups are interested in potential market indicators because more than 60% of adults in the United States have investments in the stock market. Extreme stock trading volumes can be an important indicator of unusual market events, including those that precede market crashes. Several studies utilized Extreme Value Theory (EVT) and the Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD) to examine and model the behavior of these extreme volumes. In particular, various estimation techniques are explored within the GPD framework to best fit the stock trading volume data. The goal of this study is to utilize mathematical approaches in economics. Our results have implications in both mathematical and economic fields, providing benefits by enhancing our ability to analyze and prepare for extreme market occurrences.

Authors: Matthew Williams. Mentors: Elena Laricheva. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Protein-ligand docking is a computational method widely used in drug discovery to predict binding affinities of small molecules to target receptors. However, despite its widespread utility, the method has inherent limitations that can lead to false negative and false positive results, affecting its reliability. False positives occur when docking predicts strong binding affinities that experimental evidence does not confirm, while false negatives arise when the method fails to identify potent binders validated in experiments.Various factors contribute to these inaccuracies, including limitations in scoring functions and search algorithms, but a significant issue lies in the neglect of protein dynamics, i.e., receptor flexibility. To address this limitation, flexible docking methods, which partially account for receptor flexibility, have been developed, but they come at a considerable computational cost. In this project, we incorporated molecular dynamics simulations and k-means clustering to improve prediction of binding energies of a series of small molecules to the human dopamine 2 receptor, a crucial therapeutic target for neuropsychiatric disorders.Our findings demonstrate that sampling conformational states through molecular dynamics and clustering, followed by docking to representative clusters, offers a more accurate assessment of binding energies. Remarkably, this enhanced predictive capability is achieved with minimal additional computational expense.

Authors: Heather Smith. Mentors: Vinodh Chellamuthu, Jie Liu, MD Sazib Hasan. Insitution: Utah Tech University. The invasive species Japanese Beetle (Popillia Japonica) poses significant ecological and economic challenges in the United States, with an annual expenditure exceeding $300 million on damage repair and control efforts. The beetle's life cycle predominates as grubs in turf from late August to April, suggesting a strategic window for control interventions. We developed an individual based model of the Japanese Beetle life cycle, utilizing predator-prey models, to demonstrate the effectiveness of various control methods. Our findings would suggest that ideal timing of grub treatments within the diapause stage markedly reduces beetle populations and is a cost-effective control method. The results of this model can inform land management decisions in controlling Japanese Beetles.

Authors: Ben Martinez, Virginia Merrill. Mentors: Muhammed Yildiz. Insitution: Utah Tech University. This study investigates the multifaceted dimensions of food insecurity among students at Utah Tech University, drawing from the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment survey conducted in Spring 2021, comprising a sample size of 347 students. Shockingly, 46.7% experienced food insecurity in the past 30 days, with certain demographics disproportionately affected—specifically, male, nonwhite, non-heterosexual, disabled, athlete, and single students. We also found associations between food insecurity and deteriorating health and well-being. Those affected reported significantly lower overall health and well-being levels, alongside heightened instances of suicidality, stress, and psychological distress. This research underlines the urgency to address food insecurity, particularly among at-risk demographic groups, and emphasizes the critical need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms. It highlights the concerning link between food access and mental health and advocates for inclusive strategies to address disparities among students. Implementing support systems to mitigate food insecurity's adverse impacts is crucial in fostering an environment conducive to the academic success and overall well-being of all students at Utah Tech University.

Authors: G. Colton Gardner, J David Symons, Sohom Mookherjee, Michael Judge, Lynasi Gapelu, Sihem Boudina. Mentors: J. David Symons. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in residents of rural vs. urban communities, and in older vs. younger individuals. Precise mechanisms responsible for CVD are elusive, and the need for new and novel therapeutic interventions is urgent. Autophagy is a conserved process whereby damaged and dysregulated intracellular proteins are identified, tethered, and escorted to the lysosome for degradation and recycling. Emerging evidence indicates that autophagy is important in maintaining endothelial cell (EC) proteostasis and function. For example, my laboratory showed that: (i) autophagy repression specifically in ECs of adult mice produces arterial dysfunction; and (ii) indexes of autophagy are repressed in ECs of older vs. adult mice and humans that display concurrent EC dysfunction. Sequestosome 1 (p62) tethers proteins targeted for degradation and enables their entry into the autophagic pathway. The contribution from EC p62 to arterial function is unknown. To address this, p62 was depleted from ECs of adult male and female mice (KO) using genetic procedures, and results were compared to animals wherein EC p62 is intact (CON). It was hypothesized that depleted p62 would induce arterial dysfunction. The efficacy and specificity of EC p62 depletion was evaluated in both groups by measuring p62 mRNA (qPCR) and protein (immunoblotting) expression in ECs and vascular smooth muscle. At tissue collection: (i) contraction to non-receptor (potassium chloride) and α-1 receptor (phenylephrine) mediated agonists, and relaxation to endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine) and independent (sodium nitroprusside) stimuli, were measured using isometric (mesenteric arteries) and isobaric (cerebral arteries) approaches; and (ii) intravascular signaling pathways (immunoblotting) important to vasorelaxation were assessed in both groups. Our preliminary findings found no significant differences in arterial function between groups. However, our data suggests that another cohort of mice may lead to statistical significance, and this is actively being conducted. While our results indicate EC specific p62 depletion does not impact arterial responsiveness, hypoxia or ischemia might unmask differences. Additionally, even though EC specific p62 depletion was inducible, other proteins with similar roles (e.g., NBR1) might have upregulated in a compensatory manner. All of these are topics for future study and projects are being designed to investigate them. While this study did not provide enough evidence to confirm the original hypothesis, it did provide several new questions that need answers, and this will direct the future research ambitions of this ongoing project.