Fine Arts

Authors: McKayla Ridenour. Mentors: Alex Giannell. Insitution: Utah Valley University. "DID" is a painting that delves into the concept of duality within myself. The painting explores my vulnerability as its subject matter. As someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), I am displaying myself and another personality in the artwork. I aim to shed light on those suffering from DID and other mental conditions. I used a lot of glazing and subtractive methods to achieve the desired effect during the painting process, such as complex darks and layering of paints.

Authors: Rebekah Victoria Still. Mentors: Alexandra Giannell. Insitution: Utah Valley University. We all experience panic. For many people it is a rare experience, while for those diagnosed with panic disorders, it can be a regular and debilitating occurrence. Oftentimes, it’s embarrassing and difficult for those living with such a disorder to explain to friends, family, coworkers, supervisors, and peers what they’re feeling and why it affects their lives so thoroughly. In this project, I approached various strangers to ask them about their experiences with panic in an effort to develop a unique and universal language, which would enable viewers to better understand panic and open an empathetic dialogue between those with such a disorder and their loved ones.Based on the answers I received, I was able to sort the data and create multiple visual recipes which I used to develop a series of preliminary works. With each rendition, I asked for feedback from those with and without panic disorders, so as to assess the effectiveness of my color palette, symbology, and mark making techniques. Through this process of creation and criticism, I arrived at a composition which successfully encapsulates the feelings, sounds, and appearance of panic.As someone who lives with PTSD, I believe that it’s important to foster empathy for those around us and earn how to effectively communicate our feelings. My objective is that through this work, people who previously didn’t have the words to discuss their mental health will be able to use this piece to start an open and honest conversation with their loved ones. Furthermore, by using a universal, visual language, those who don’t have panic disorders will be able to begin the process of opening their minds and hearts to understand the people who do. In this sense, my final painting is not an answer, but a question meant to inspire further research and exploration.

Authors: Rayne Beau Vanderpool. Mentors: Alexandra Giannell. Insitution: Utah Valley University. For this upcoming UCUR art presentation, I will be showcasing two paintings that I created during a previous painting class under the guidance of my mentor. Both artworks are landscape portraits inspired by the breathtaking Utah mountains. Through these paintings, I experimented with new techniques and aimed to express myself uniquely. I had a lot of fun experimenting with my color palette and visual mixing techniques while creating both of these paintings. Through this presentation, I aim to demonstrate how you can find purpose in your artwork while also enjoying the creative process.

Authors: Nawres Al Saud. Mentors: Alexandra Giannell. Insitution: Utah Valley University. My work beautifully embodies the concept of oneness in diversity by seamlessly blending various elements, perspectives, and voices into a harmonious whole. Like a symphony of colors, my art celebrates the rich tapestry of human experience and the interconnectedness of all things. It serves as a powerful reminder that despite our differences, we share a common humanity. My work is a testament to the idea that diversity is not a source of division but rather a source of strength, resilience, and creativity. It encourages us to embrace the uniqueness of each individual and culture while recognizing the threads that unite us, ultimately emphasizing that we are all part of a larger, interconnected whole.

Authors: Kessley Durrant. Mentors: Alexandra Giannell. Insitution: Utah Valley University. I am doing research on Our Lady of Guadalupe, her significance to Mexican culture, and the Aztec goddess she was transformed from. As a Mexican who grew up Catholic, Guadalupe is an important symbol to me, and such an integral part to Mexican culture. Before she was Guadalupe she was known as Tonantzin. She presented herself to Juan Diego when he was lost in the desert and hopeless. She told him that she would change to save her people. Tonantzin means Our Mother, Mother Earth. The giver of life and she changed in order to save her people. She became Guadalupe. She told Juan Diego that her robe would be the night sky and she would protect all her children from the misdeeds that were being forced on them. So, her symbol is a sign of safety, where people would go when they had nowhere else to turn. It was a way for the Aztec culture to live on in secret and for our culture to grow in the only way it could. I want to be able to represent her as a Goddess before she transformed into Our Lady Guadalupe. I want to open up the conversation with my fellow Mexicans and start getting closer to our roots and understanding our culture better before the conquistadors. I also want to be able to teach others of our culture and the changes that occurred.

Authors: Silvia Medina. Mentors: Alexandra Giannell. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Often times growing up we tend to go through different phases or versions of ourselves until we find one that we truly resonate with. We always retain the older versions, as they still tend to peek out from time to time in different aspects of ourselves. With this piece, I wanted to demonstrate my growth and progress, and how it takes all versions of myself and all my experiences when it comes to being who I am today.

Authors: Brittany Cowley. Mentors: Meaghan Gates. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Art, to me, is an experience, one in which an object, sound, or movement has the ability to evoke an emotion in the viewer, taking them from spectator to participant. Since the first time I laid hold of a ball of clay, I could feel its life and ability to be transformed. This organic material has the potential to become whatever someone can dream up. For the true meaning behind the art piece to come forth and pass to the viewers, a sculptor must fully understand what they are trying to convey and how to best accomplish that. Through sculpting and directing the clay, a form takes place. This is just the first step on the path of creating a sculpture that can evoke emotion in the onlooker. Gestures, textures, and glazes are all added to enhance the feelings of the creator.Franz Xaver Messerschmidt created a series of “Character Heads”. I first came across his work at the Getty Museum when I came face to face with The Vexed Man. Mesmerized by this face, I became fully aware that I had become a participant in his sculpture. The bust of this man is elegantly carved with great care yet reveals the most unusual expression. The nose is scrunched up, eyes tightly shut, and mouth drown into an almost pouty frown. On display at this museum of elite, prestigious sculptures, is a piece that at first glance seemed unsuited to occupy the space, yet through the dichotomy displayed it evoked lasting emotions within me. I have discovered a joy in portraying dichotomous relationships in my own work. This relationship is the marriage of two opposing concepts in one piece. A brightly colored, playful child in the process of self-harm or two decomposing hands embraced in a tender touch can speak emotional volumes to the viewer. The thought-provoking questions that run through their minds allow viewers to start participating in the sculptures. Working alongside my mentor, an expert in the field of emotional sculptures, Professor Gates, I seek to more fully explore the world of conflicting emotions in my sculptures. I will be looking into what dichotomies in different forms produce strong emotions when placed alongside one another. Additionally, I am exploring what glazes and textures can be added to enhance the emotional exchange between the creator and the participant. Within the world of ceramics, glazes are used to add texture, color, sheen, and durability to the fired clay. I believe they can also enhance emotions as well. Through creating sculptures that demand the viewer to stop, take a second look, and question, I hope to enable people to reflect on what they are viewing and see their reality more clearly.

Authors: Jacob Adams, Larry Catalasan. Mentors: Tianyi He. Insitution: Utah State University. Soft robotics is a field of robotics involving the controlled movement and manipulation of soft materials to fulfill tasks that standard robots cannot. In this project, we aim to create a soft robotic arm capable of movement by using a machine-learning algorithm to generate its subsequent moves. To fulfill this goal, the robotic arm is contained in a metal frame that has cameras monitoring its position. The camera feed is then processed through a machine-learning algorithm into instructions that can be used to pull various strings attached to the arm which will allow the arm to move. Currently, our team has finished building the frame/arm as well as software that can use cameras to map the position of the arm. The next steps in this project are to research and implement a machine-learning algorithm and write a program that can appropriately adjust stepper motors to pull the strings.

Authors: Melissa Wiggins, Aaron Bigelow, Porter Ellis. Mentors: Ronald Sims. Insitution: Utah State University. Ensuring that the hydrophilic coating of Merit Medical’s Prelude IDeal trans-radial catheter is necessary for its biocompatibility and patient safety. The current method for testing the coating involves a test using Congo Red Dye. The Congo Red Dye does work, but the dye is toxic and all tested catheters must be discarded after testing. The Conge Red Dye test results in wasted catheters. A new method for testing the coating uses fluorescent particles. First, fluorescent particles are added to the hydrophilic coating. These fluorescent particles can be easily visualized on the catheter using UV light. Thus, the uncoated portions of the catheter can be visualized as well. The coated catheters are placed into a black box that ensures only the catheter is being seen. A line scan camera is used to take pictures of every side of the catheter as the catheter spins. Photos of the scanned catheter are then linked together, showing the entire circumference in one picture. The catheter is ultimately tested by analyzing the full picture to find any uncoated regions. By using software to analyze the full picture, the size of uncoated regions is determined with greater accuracy. This new method allows for tested catheters to be used after testing and does not involve any toxic chemicals.

Authors: Chase Mortensen, Juhyeong Lee. Mentors: Juhyeong Lee. Insitution: Utah State University. Foldcore sandwich composites (FSCs) are constructed using multi-layered sheets folded in a desired pattern and placed between two thin face sheets. The choice of material geometric folding pattern provides a large design space to optimize the structural performance of FSCs. These composites are typically made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, offering lightweight and high-energy-absorbing properties. This work aims to characterize the size effects of unit-cell foldcores by analyzing the influence of subscale foldcore models subjected to periodic boundary conditions under quasi-static compression. Three Miura-based unit-cell foldcore models were considered: (1) 1×1, (2) 1×2 (two 1×1 unit-cell foldcores connected in parallel), and (3) 2×1 (two 1×1 unit-cell foldcores connected perpendicularly). Through finite element modeling, three key findings were derived: 1) the finite element model closely replicated experimental results; 2) the application of periodic boundary conditions had an insignificant impact on subscale foldcore models. Third, inconsiderable variations in stress and damage were observed primarily along the foldcore creases when unit-cells were placed in parallel.

Authors: James Walker. Mentors: Pania Newell. Insitution: University of Utah. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion of using fibrous porous materials in the context of face masks has gained significant relevance. These materials consist of networks of fibers that are intertwined through weaving, knitting, or bonding, creating a structure with interconnected pores that facilitate the transport of gasses and liquids. When a face mask is used, it is under tensile stresses that can greatly affect its longevity and behavior, and simulating the behavior of the fibers within the mask under this loading is essential in enhancing its robustness. Numerical analysis involving fibrous porous materials is challenging due to their inherent randomness and anisotropy, however. The models we use need to accurately represent the entire mask, which we achieve using a small cubic cell known as a representative volume element (RVE). In this study, we systematically investigate the role of fiber diameter, fiber cross sectional shape, and RVE size on the mechanical properties of various RVEs using a computational framework built on the finite element method. The RVEs themselves are idealistic, but useful networks of polypropylene fibers that are orthogonally intersected within cubic boundaries. Our results show that once an appropriate RVE size was determined with constant porosity between systems, the stiffness of the samples increases as the cross-sectional shape progresses from a triangle to a square, to a pentagon, etc., largely due to the increases in intersection volume between fibers. We also found that increasing the diameter serves to increase material stiffness. This project not only offers insights into designing more robust face masks but also provides novel tools that can be used for designing other fibrous porous materials.

Authors: Sophia Hessami. Mentors: Elizabeth Vargis. Insitution: Utah State University. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. During later stages of AMD, immature blood vessels penetrate Bruch’s membrane and release fluid into the subretinal space. This process is referred to as choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Current in vitro models of retinal tissue are limited, so we propose a three-layered microfluidic model of the subretinal tissue, consisting of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch’s membrane (BrM), and choroid. We have produced models of BrM using hagfish proteins that are more mimetic to the nonporous, proteinaceous BrM that is seen in vivo. Then, we fabricated a three-layered microfluidic device using the BrM models and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Once the devices were assembled, porcine primary RPE were isolated, cultured, and characterized in the upper channel of the microfluidic device. Going forward, HUVECs will be cultured and characterized in the lower channel of the device. Then, primary RPE and HUVECs will be co-cultured and characterized within the device. The result will be a multilayered microfluidic device containing primary porcine RPE, hagfish protein BrM models, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) choroid. It is expected that RPE protein secretions will diffuse through the BrM models and initiate interconnected vascular network formation in the endothelial cells. In the future, we will induce chemical hypoxia to turn this model into a diseased model of the subretina. We hypothesize that this in vitro model of the subretinal tissue will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of CNV initiation and progression in AMD.

Authors: Alisa Dabb, David Britt, Elizabeth Vargis. Mentors: David Britt. Insitution: Utah State University. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading infectious cause of birth defects in the United States. CMV is typically treated with ganciclovir, an antiviral medicine that inhibits the virus. However, ganciclovir also inhibits the growth of neutrophils, a type of immune cell, which leaves the patient vulnerable to other viruses and diseases. To combat the toxic effects of ganciclovir, a subtherapeutic dose of ganciclovir can be used with the combinatorial treatment of quercetin and poloxamer 188 (P188) while maintaining the same level of antiviral activity. Quercetin is a hydrophobic natural flavonoid with antiviral properties that is found in many fruits and vegetables. P188 acts as the delivery vehicle for quercetin and is an FDA-approved polymer that targets the mitochondria in a cell. This study examines two delivery vehicles—P188 and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) to optimize the combinatorial treatment of quercetin and ganciclovir.DMSO is a solvent for both polar and nonpolar compounds. DMSO is beneficial for cell growth at low concentrations. Additionally, DMSO successfully delivers hydrophobic quercetin to infected cells, although it does not target quercetin delivery like P188. Targeting the mitochondria, like P188, could be valuable because one mechanism of CMV infection occurs when the virus attacks the mitochondria in an infected cell. This study aims to understand if mitochondrial targeted delivery of quercetin better protects cells against CMV infection compared to non-targeted quercetin delivery.

Authors: Taylor Forbes, Rachel Harris, Benjamin Jackson, Nicole Peterson, Sydney Tanner, Chloe Nelson. Mentors: Christopher Dillon. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Focused ultrasound (FUS) therapy is a non-invasive therapy for breast cancer. Treatment plans for this therapy are created on a patient-to-patient basis, which requires a significant amount of time from medical professionals. An important and time-consuming part of developing treatment plans is the precise segmentation of the breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and subsequent treatment simulation to ensure that the treatment is effective and safe. Segmentation involves dividing the MRI dataset into segments by assigning distinct tissue types that are then assigned properties and used in simulations to help clinicians plan FUS treatments. However, imprecise interfaces between different tissue types in MRI images lead to discrepancies between individual segmentations, thereby introducing variability into the segmentation process. This variability—which is found even among expertly performed segmentations—can lead to differences in treatment plans. Here, analysis was performed in order to quantify interobserver variability in breast MRI segmentation. This study was conducted by providing basic segmentation training to undergraduate research assistants with no prior segmentation experience. Each participant segmented the same breast MRI dataset into different tissue types using the software Seg3D. The different segmentations were then compared using contour similarity metrics (such as the Dice Similarity Coefficient and Jaccard Index) as well as tissue volume differences. The interobserver variability was quantified using the results from these analyses, which will be helpful in determining the level of precision required for the use of a given segmentation in FUS treatment planning.

Authors: Alberto Miranda, Samannoy Ghosh, Yong Lin Kong. Mentors: Yong Lin Kong. Insitution: University of Utah. Microscale robots can impart a broad range of functionalities in the biomedical domain that can be leveraged to address unmet clinical needs, including noninvasive surgery and targeted therapies. Conventional robot navigation methods typically involve specific gaits suited for certain environmental conditions. However, implementing the same conventional methods inside a human body is highly challenging. As the human body is a complex and dynamic environment, a microrobot must adapt to these complex and challenging environments to perform targeted studies. Previous research demonstrated an integration of an untethered, 3D-printed three-linked-sphere crawler with a model-free reinforcement algorithm. The work done with the theoretical Najafi–Golestanian three-linked-sphere mechanism was its first experimental integration with a reinforcement learning algorithm as a relatively simple and highly scalable self-learning robot that can navigate in unconfined and confined spaces. The progress presented in the current research is a direct continuation of the previous work on the 3-linked-sphere crawler. While the previous work focused on developing a proof of concept for adaptive gait learning for the crawler, the current work focuses more on the challenges of implementing the robot in a low Reynolds number fluid medium. Our current research hypothesizes that a self-learning autonomous system could demonstrate successful gait adaptation in a low Reynold’s flow environment. The design of our robot has been significantly improved to make it sustainable for extended use under viscous fluids. The research presented outlines the work that has been done to transition the robot from a crawler into a swimmer, the challenges that have been faced, and how they have been addressed. Successful implementation of this 3-sphere-swimmer will be a step forward in integrating machine learning tools into microswimmers for autonomous gait adaptation inside the human body.

Authors: Josh D Gubler, Connor D Olsen, Fredi R Mino, Mingchuan Cheng, Jacob A George. Mentors: Connor Olsen. Insitution: University of Utah. The long-term goal of this research is to investigate how lower sampling rates of electromyographic (EMG) signals affect the performance of classification and regression algorithms. EMG signals measure the electrical activity of muscle contractions. Myoelectric interfaces can classify or regress features generated from the EMG signal to control devices like prostheses, exoskeletons, robotic systems, or human-computer interfaces. Most of the power of the EMG signal is contained between 50 and 500 Hz, and most recording devices sample EMG at 1 kHz with a 5-15 Hz high-pass filter and a 375-500 Hz low-pass filter. As myoelectric devices become wireless and integrated with wearable technology, reducing the sampling rate can substantially reduce battery consumption and processing power. We sampled EMG data at 30 kHz from the forearms of three participants while they performed six gestures. We then downsampled to rates ranging between 50-1000 Hz and calculated various EMG features from the downsampled data. We found significant effects for both EMG feature and sampling rate on regression performance of a modified Kalman Filter (p < 0.05, two-way ANOVA). The mean-absolute-value and waveform-length EMG features performed significantly better at low frequencies (<250 Hz) in contrast to zero-crossing, slope-sign-change, and mean-frequency EMG features (p < .05, multiple pairwise comparisons). Sampling rate also had a significant impact on the classification accuracy of a k-nearest neighbors algorithm (p < 0.05, two-way ANOVA). However, sampling rate had no impact on classification accuracy for a continuous Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) (p > 0.05, two-way ANOVA). Future work will validate the effectiveness of this CNN as a control modality when using downsampled EMG from wearable sensors. If proficient control can be achieved from down sampled EMG, this could substantially improve battery life and make EMG a more practical biosensor for wearable devices.

Authors: Elizabeth M J Allen, Steven P Allen, Henrik C A Odeen. Mentors: Steven P Allen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. BackgroundThe focus of this project was creating phantoms with customizable attenuation and stiffness for visualizing histotripsy lesions created with magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS). Having phantoms with varying mechanical and acoustic properties is important because they affect cavitation and allow for testing of different histotripsy mechanisms. Creating a tunable phantom with red blood cells (RBCs) spread throughout it is valuable because it allows us to visualize High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) lesions from MRgFUS in three dimensions throughout the gel.Materials and MethodsWe produced gels with tunable acoustic and mechanical properties by mixing 5 different ratios of evaporated milk and deionized water with 5 different ratios of agarose powder to create 25 different gels.Gel attenuation was measured using a through transmission setup and Young’s Modulus was obtained using a tensile tester in compression. The MR properties, including T1, T2, and T2* of each gel were also measured prior to creating histotripsy lesions.ResultsIn general, the agarose gels had an increase in attenuation as the amount of evaporated milk increased, and an increase in mechanical stiffness as the amount of agarose powder increased. They also provided excellent lesioning contrast for visualizing MRgFUS lesions.ConclusionsWe successfully created a series of tunable gels for visualizing MRgFUS lesions. These gels are also useful for characterizing ultrasound transducers and can be used to test emerging MRgFUS technology as it becomes more widely used and is further developed.

Authors: Cassandra DuBose Corry. Mentors: Elizabeth Vargis. Insitution: Utah State University. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is characterized by a blurring of the central vision and is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States. As a branch of the disease, exudative AMD is distinguished by retinal angiogenesis, when new blood vessels grow into the retina. Understanding retinal conditions that promote or discourage angiogenesis by using mathematical models can lead to improved understanding of disease progression and treatments. This discrete mathematical model presented here uses the theory of reinforced random walks to simulate the biological behavior of endothelial cells (ECs) as they leave a parent blood vessel and travel through the choroid and Bruch’s membrane towards the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) layer. Cell behavior such as number of divisions and blood vessel coverage are analyzed for comparison to experimental observations. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is included and examined for its effect on the behavior of the ECs and its ability to prevent angiogenesis. This computational model provides novel insights into exudative AMD with parameters that can be adjusted to meet different needs.

Authors: Cassandra L Burdick, Caleb J Thomson, Troy N Tully, Jacob A George. Mentors: Caleb Thomson. Insitution: University of Utah. The long-term goal of this research is to decode fine motor intent from electromyography (EMG) of hemiparetic muscles. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States, with 800,000 individuals experiencing a stroke each year. Eighty percent of stroke survivors experience hemiparesis. Severe hemiparesis immobilizes the arm, making it difficult to assess EMG control and motor function on traditional tasks. Here, we introduce a variant of the clinical Box and Blocks Test (BBT) of hand dexterity in virtual reality (VR) to assess fine motor function of EMG control in hemiparetic stroke patients with immobile arms. Our VR variant of the BBT allows individuals to control a VR hand to transfer VR blocks back and forth between two locations separated by a barrier. The VR hand can grasp, rotate, and translate based on EMG commands or other control signals received at 30 Hz via UDP communication. The forces exerted on the blocks and the location of the blocks and hand are logged to assess grasping precision, force regulation, and transfer rate. Multiple block sizes can also be used to assess dexterity with various grip apertures. The ability to assess EMG control in patients with hemiparesis can support the development of myoelectric orthoses. Practicing dexterous myoelectric control in VR may also help alleviate hemiparesis and expedite qualification for myoelectric orthoses.

Authors: Rui Jin, Lindsay C Rupp, Anna Busatto, Rob S MacLeod. Mentors: Rob S. MacLeod. Insitution: University of Utah. Introduction: The electrocardiogram is the most common tool to diagnose and assess cardiac conditions, such as rhythm abnormalities, myocardial ischemia, and heart failure. However, clinical diagnosis and management of heart disease are challenging due to the remote nature of body-surface electrocardiogram measurements, with a median accuracy of 67% among physicians. One approach to improve the accuracy of electrocardiography is to conduct mapping studies in which 10-100 catheter-based electrodes are inserted within the heart. The recorded signals provide more proximity and thus accuracy, but they also require specialized software to analyze, quantify, and visualize. We developed the Signal Processor for Electrogram and Electroanatomic Data (SPEED), a new, open-source, unified pipeline to facilitate effective signal processing and visualization of such cardiac-mapping signals.Materials and Methods: Our pipeline is based on two existing toolboxes, the Preprocessing Framework for Electrograms Intermittently Fiducialized from Experimental Recordings (PFEIFER) and OpenEP. PFEIFER is a toolset for sophisticated signal-processing of cardiac electrograms that allows the user to select semi-automatically fiducial markers, which are time points and intervals of interest within a heartbeat. OpenEP primarily accepts as input complete electroanatomic data, including both processed cardiac electrograms and spatial geometry; OpenEP also provides built-in functions for analyzing and visualizing cardiac electrograms, such as displaying potentials on the cardiac geometry. Since both software packages provide complementary workflows for managing electrograms, our goal was to integrate the two software packages and present it to the user as a new Graphic User Interface utilizing both applications simultaneously.Results: It was natural to develop SPEED in MATLAB as this is also the language used for both PFEIFER and OpenEP. The primary interface to SPEED incorporates a data-centric design such that the user can provide the electrogram and geometry files to be processed, and the algorithm automatically determines the applicable functions based on the input type. Since both PFEIFER and OpenEP can parse data into more interpretable open-source formats, the user can also export the processed data for further analysis in addition to visualizing and quantifying the data features. Through integrating both software packages, SPEED can support the following main functionalities: (1) in-depth filtering and processing of electrogram signals, (2) visualizing anatomic geometry and electrode locations, and (3) mapping three-dimensional potential and activation of cardiac electrophysiology.Discussion: SPEED offers the user a more thorough and unified workflow in the analysis of cardiac-mapping signals than either of its components. The user can utilize the functionalities of both PFEIFER and OpenEP simultaneously, allowing for a versatile and powerful processing pipeline. For instance, the user can extract key features from the recorded electrograms and visualize the location of the corresponding electrodes, a feature that was previously not possible. In addition, the open-source nature of the software packages allows the user to modify or expand the functions to better suit their individual needs. The software design of SPEED is still in the early stages; thus, as with most software, further development and user testing will follow to make the algorithms compatible with more data types and implement additional features. Conclusion: SPEED processes and displays the complex information in a clear and accessible way, allowing the user to perform subsequent interpretations and analyses more easily. SPEED can be used by research cardiologists to facilitate a more efficient workflow, as well as to improve the efficiency and accuracy of clinical diagnosis of heart diseases.

Authors: Lukas Keller, Jixun Zhan, Zhen Zhang. Mentors: Jixun Zhan. Insitution: Utah State University. Curcumin is a common dietary supplement found naturally in the plant turmeric (Curcuma longa). Native to South Asia, the turmeric plant has been an important component in Indian and Chinese folk medicine. Curcumin has long been known to be an effective antioxidant and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. In today’s world, curcumin is a common nutraceutical and plays a part in the billion-dollar supplement industry. However, production and extraction of this compound is difficult and uses vast amounts of resources to cultivate. One solution to produce natural products like curcumin is the use of metabolic engineering to synthesize the product in another organism. The USU Metabolic Engineering Lab has developed a synthetic metabolic pathway to produce curcumin from an amino acid inside genetically transformed E. coli. The use of metabolic engineering techniques can produce larger quantities of the desired compound in greater quantities and purities while using a fraction of the land, water, and energy. To inform the use of these techniques, a predictive computational pathway was developed and is being validated with experimental results. An effective model can help researchers and businesses by allowing them to accurately predict curcumin yield and concentration during production.

Authors: Hunter Morrill, Ryley Parrish. Mentors: Ryley Parrish. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Spreading depolarizations (SDs) are slow propagating waves of depolarization that move through the brain and have been associated with a wide variety of neuropathologies including the termination of seizures, the cellular correlate of aura in migraines, traumatic brain injury, and ischemic stroke. Though first characterized by Aristides Leão in the 1940s, only a very limited understanding of the mechanisms of SD induction has been achieved. SDs have been induced in mouse models using a variety of techniques, however regardless of the method of induction, high extracellular potassium and/or a strong cellular depolarization have been largely hypothesized as necessary conditions for SD induction. Interestingly, we have recently demonstrated that using a light-induced chloride pump (Halorhodopsin) to drive chloride ions into the neurons can reliably induce SDs even in the absence of high extracellular potassium levels (Parrish, 2023). It was also demonstrated that the triggering of archaerhodopsin, which removes protons from the cell and therefore hyperpolarizes the neuronal membrane without affecting chloride levels, did not induce SDs, suggesting the implication of chloride loading as a primary mechanism in SD induction. This challenges the prevalent hypothesis regarding the induction of SDs and results in a novel method of induction that allows for more characterization of the mechanisms involved. The use of genetically expressed light-gated ion channels or pumps is referred to as optogenetics. Using zebrafish, a common model for electrophysiology recordings that is also cost-effective to genetically manipulate, we have established an optogenetically induced model of SD induction. We are currently characterizing mechanisms that result in optogenetically induced SDs with pharmacology to further our understanding of SD initiation and propagation.Parrish, R. R.-G.-T. (2023). Indirect Effects of Halorhodopsin Activation: Potassium Redistribution, Nonspecific Inhibition, and Spreading Depolarization. The Journal of neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 43(5), 685-692.

Authors: Zach Moore, Owen Benzley, Austin Flitton, Frederic Schaper, Jared Nielsen. Mentors: Jared Nielsen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Objective: Identify neural networks that are associated with panic disorder symptoms through lesion network mapping.Background: Panic Disorder is a neurological disorder in which one experiences unexpected and reoccurring panic attacks. Panic attacks can be characterized by the following symptoms: trembling, racing heart, excessive fear and worry, weakness, tingly hands, chest pain, or a feeling of unreality. A proposed circuit for panic disorder includes the amygdalofugal pathway, which deals primarily with the amygdala. The lesion network mapping method uses functional connectivity to identify neural networks associated with symptoms arising from brain lesions. This is a benefit compared to previous studies done on panic disorder because it relates brain circuits to symptoms rather than individual regions.Methods: 21 lesions causing Panic Disorder were found in the literature, traced on a standard template, and analyzed using lesion network mapping. Specifically, lesion networks for each lesion were calculated using a large cohort of healthy control resting state scans (N = 1000). In our sensitivity analysis, overlap between lesion networks was observed. Results: Of the 21 lesion networks, 14 (67%) positively overlap on the parahippocampal gyrus in the sensitivity map; 13 (62%) positively overlap at the ventral tegmental area in the sensitivity map.Discussion: Symptoms of panic disorder may be associated with the parahippocampal gyrus and ventral tegmental area of the brain. These results found are unique compared to previous studies, but do have general connections.

Authors: Joshua Evans, Allison Voyles, McKenzie Bellon, Julianne Grose. Mentors: Julianne Grose. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Alpha-crystallin B (CryAB) is a small heat shock protein that acts as a molecular chaperone and plays an essential role in cytoskeletal organization and myofibril function. Human mutations in CryAB have been associated with various diseases, such as cardiomyopathy and cataracts. However, the precise molecular pathways and protein substrates of CryAB are not yet fully understood and require further investigation. This project aims to increase understanding of CryAB by determining proteins that bind wild-type versus disease-causing variants using yeast two-hybrid screens. It also involves testing for binding specificity of variant-binding partners. A series of these Y2H screens gives valuable information regarding the binding patterns of CryAB, showing distinct binding partners for different alleles of CryAB. Overall, the project provides greater insight into the molecular functions of CryAB as well as a better understanding of the dysfunctional pathways of its disease-causing variants—a factor which may, in the future, have potential applications to the treatment of related diseases in a clinical setting

Authors: Noah Bezzant, Mikayla Kimball, Ashley Allan. Mentors: Brent Feland. Insitution: Brigham Young University. BACKGROUND: General knee pain is a common complaint among both athletes and older adults. Osteoarthritis is a common etiology for knee pain that can interfere with function during aging and can be assessed by validated questionnaires. It remains unclear whether there exists a dose–response relationship between cartilage loss and pain worsening. Articular cartilage thickness of the femoral condyles can be measured by ultrasound imaging and few studies utilizing this form of measurement exist. It is currently unknown if articular cartilage thickness measured ultrasonographically correlates with pain related ratings in aging athletes. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess whether articular cartilage thickness at the femoral condyles as measured by ultrasound imaging has any relationship to knee pain as rated by the modified KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) survey in senior athletes over the age of 50.METHODS: Data was collected from 35 volunteers (participants in the Huntsman World Senior Games) in St. George, Utah, 2023. All subjects (22 females: mean age = 64.9 ± 6.6 yrs, Ht = 158.7 ± 35.6 cm, Wt= 66.3 ± 10.0 kg; 13 males: mean age = 67.3 ± 8.3 yrs, Ht = 179.3 ± 10.7 cm, Wt= 84.3 ± 13.4 kg) signed an approved consent and completed a modified KOOS survey before being seated on a table, with their back flattened against the wall directly behind them. They were then asked to bring either knee as deeply into flexion against their torso as possible; approximating 120°-140° of knee flexion, depending on the range of motion the subject was capable of. In flexion, the patella was shifted inferiorly enough to expose the femoral condyles so that a short axis image of the articular cartilage was obtained and the thickness of the cartilage was assessed at 3 points.ANALYSIS: All data were analyzed using JMP ver16.2 with a Pearson product pairwise correlations to determine if a relationship between average cartilage thickness correlates with pain subscale scoring from the KOOS in males and females. Correlation between age and thickness was also examined.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were no significant correlations between the pain subscale score and cartilage thickness in males (p=.6998, r=0.1316), females (p=.8733, r=0.0392), or combined (p=.7308, r=0.0655) in this group of senior athletes. Age and thickness was not significantly correlated (p=.1232, r= -0.2877), but did show a trend of decreasing cartilage thickness with age. The addition of more subjects should show age and thickness to be negatively correlated with each other.

Authors: Dean Peterson. Mentors: John Chaston. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The microbiota of Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies can be observed to study their effects on fly phenotypes. This paper will focus on the microbiota’s effects on fruit fly dietary preference for yeast (DPY), to determine if specific nutritional molecules produced by the microbiota control DPY. Previous studies have unsuccessfully sought to identify such small molecules by testing for roles of essential amino acids (Leitao-Goncalves 2017). A study completed in our lab suggested that bacterial thiamine biosynthesis/metabolism genes influence fly DPY because mutations shifted the preference from a diet with less yeast to a diet with more yeast (Call 2022). In our first efforts we found that raising flies on thiamine supplemented diet influenced their DPY. I want to determine if supplementing thiamine specifically causes this shift, and if the shift observed in the mutants is seen due to a lack of dietary thiamine. Here, I will perform the same tests with flies given diet supplemented with other B vitamins to test specificity. I will then confirm the role of bacterial thiamine on these phenotypes by rearing flies colonized with bacterial thiamine biosynthesis/metabolism mutants on thiamine supplemented diets. If these flies raised with increased dietary thiamine prefer a diet with less yeast, and the experiment with other B vitamins does not show a similar shift as thiamine, then the specificity of thiamine as the small molecule involved in yeast preference is confirmed.

Authors: Jared Wieland, Jacob Herring. Mentors: Jeffery Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. A central attribute of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is beta cell damage. This damage commonly affects beta cell’s ability to secrete insulin and regulate blood glucose levels. Nkx6.1 is a beta cell transcription factor essential for proliferation, differentiation, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Hyperglycemia is detrimental to beta cell function and function. We hypothesize that hyperglycemia may negatively affect the expression and activity of beta cell transcription factors, including Nkx6.1. To provide an understanding of the effects of hyperglycemic conditions on Nkx6.1 expression, INS-1 832/13 beta cells were cultured in hyperglycemic conditions, then primary rat islets were treated for the same durations of time. Here, we present transcriptional, translational, cellular localization, and degradation of states of Nkx6.1 over 48 hours of hyperglycemic culture conditions both in vitro and ex vivo models. Comprehension of the mechanisms involved in hyperglycemic downregulation of Nkx6.1 is imperative to the development of treatments for diabetes.

Authors: Sofia Denise Flowers. Mentors: Lauri Linder. Insitution: University of Utah. Background and Purpose: In the year 2023, roughly 9,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. Dealing with a potentially fatal diagnosis is already difficult for many grown adults, let alone a young child. The aim of this project is to describe caregiving experiences of parents and children with cancer as related through feedback comments within written and oral feedback to proposed items to measure self-efficacy for managing their child’s symptoms and behaviors used to manage their child’s symptoms.Methods: This project involved a secondary analysis of qualitative data from 21 parents (19 mothers; mean age 38 years) of school-age children with cancer who participated in a study to establish the content validity of instruments to measure aspects of symptom management. Data consisted of interview transcripts and free responses to the content review surveys. The data were then uploaded to Dedoose. My mentor and I worked independently to identify statements pertaining to parents’ experiences in managing their child’s symptoms and responding to the child’s cancer diagnosis. We then met together to reconcile content and then organize parents’ statements into categories and subcategories. Results: 101 excerpts were extracted from the transcripts and included for the secondary analysis. Excerpts were grouped into four main categories: informational resources, social support, emotional support, and medication management Within these four main categories, subthemes of professional staff support, managing child attitude and mood changes, and balancing between being a parent and their child’s medical advocate were present. Conclusion: The insights gained from this project can guide the information healthcare providers need to provide better care to the child and additional support to parents. This can allow professional staff to get a stronger understanding of not just the family’s medical needs but their informational, social, and emotional needs as well.

Authors: Isaac Stubbs, Skyler Russell, Melissa Blotter, Maxwell Holmes. Mentors: Ryley Parrish. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Status Epilepticus (SE) is a severe medical condition marked by continuous seizures lasting over 5 minutes. When SE becomes resistant to anticonvulsant drugs, the condition is known as Refractory Status Epilepticus (RSE), which lacks effective treatments and has a mortality rate of 38%. RSE lacks effective treatments partially due to our limited understanding of the mechanisms that lead to patient drug resistance to commonly used anticonvulsants. This study aims to address this knowledge gap in two pivotal ways.First, we have employed a high-density multi-electrode array (HD-MEA) with acute mouse brain slices to better understand RSE propagation patterns and various seizure states with unparalleled spatial precision. The HD-MEA allows us to record from the entire brain slice with 4096 electrodes sampling electrophysiological activity at every 60 micrometers for many hours at a time. Our data demonstrates that different seizure states, such as phasic seizure-like events, short duration epileptic discharges, or RSE itself, occur within both the same brain region and in different brain regions simultaneously. With our novel data visualization software, we can visualize the unique propagation of this phenomenon. These findings indicate that RSE might be a progressive event, challenging conventional understanding of RSE. Second, we are currently exploring a potential pharmacoresistance mechanism that may contribute to the patient entering RSE, which suggests that changes in the chloride reversal potential may lead to a phenomenon known as depolarizing GABA. Depolarizing GABA may negate the effectiveness of the currently used antiepileptic drugs that rely on standard physiological chloride conductance to effectively limit seizure activity. We are studying this drug resistant mechanism with the HD-MEA by introducing anticonvulsant drugs to acute mouse brain slices during the evolution of RSE to locate a critical point at which the slice becomes resistant to these compounds.We hope this study will illuminate the complexities of RSE by revealing its progressive nature and drug resistant properties.

Authors: Mikayla Kimball, Noah Bezzant, Ashley Allan, Josh Sponbeck. Mentors: Brent Feland. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Ultrasonic analysis of patellar tendon thickness in active older athletesBACKGROUND: Recent research has suggested that patellar tendon loading through exercise and resistance training can help maintain and increase patellar tendon thickness in older adults. Limited research exists that identifies the average thickness of patellar tendons in younger athletes, however, it is unknown if this thickness remains or is maintained in older adult athletes who have maintained a very active lifestyle.PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine how gender correlates to patellar tendon thickness in the proximal and middle patellar tendon of active older athletes participating in sporting events at the Huntsman World Senior Games.METHODS: Data was collected from 59 volunteers (participants in the Huntsman WorldSenior Games) in St. George, Utah, 2022. All subjects (34 females: mean age = 61.09 ± 7.00 yrs, Ht = 162.41 ± 25.73 cm, Wt= 66.29 ±11.38 kg; 25 males: mean age = 68.68 ± 7.03 yrs, Ht = 178.21 ± 8.63 cm, Wt= 84.42±10.90 kg) signed an approved consent form and then sat on a treatment table with their legs relaxed and dangling off. The probe was placed vertically below the kneecap and an ultrasonic image was taken. Each image showed a small section of the patellar for reference. Each ultrasonic measurement showed the middle and proximal thickness of the patellar tendon. ANALYSIS: All data were analyzed using JMP ver16.2 with a stepwise multiple regression analysis to determine the effect of age, height, wt and gender on patellar tendon thickness. A sex*location mixed model was used to determine differences in middle and proximal thickness between gender. Data were normally distributed, not requiring transformation.RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: Proximal tendon measurements were thicker than middle tendon measurements on both sides (p=0.0001). There was no significant difference either proximal tendon thickness (p=0.9323) or middle tendon thickness (p= 0.3993) between left and right sides. No significant difference between male and female tendon thickness at either location (p=0.7700). Proximal tendon thickness was greater and this has been found to be greater in younger athletes with a history of patellar tendinopathy. Aging athletes may also have a history of knee pain episodes that could have contributed to this finding. The lack of gender differences in thickness measures was surprising, but may be a result of the level of activity of senior athletes. In the future studies should look to compare active vs non-active aging athletes, more specific age range differences, and how knee replacements and other injuries affect patellar tendon thickness.

Authors: Caroline Cowley, Megan Jewell, Brenda Mendoza, Aubrey Cluff, Ryan Summerhays, Jason Hansen. Mentors: Jason Hansen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Approximately 8 million newborns manifest a birth defect every year worldwide. One of the most common birth defects involve disruptions in musculoskeletal development. Oxidative stress has been found to propagate teratogenesis. Thioredoxin-1 (Trx1), an oxidoreductase, is an important antioxidant regulator required for proper embryonic development. Trx1 knockouts have been found to be embryolethal prior to implantation. A preliminary study to assess osteogenesis was conducted using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) originating from transgenic conditional Trx1 knockout embryos. Upon confluence, MEFs were stimulated to undergo osteogenesis via commercially available media. A subset of cells were treated with doxycycline (DOX) prior to and throughout the culture period. MEFs were maintained over a 21 day period in a reduced oxygen environment. MEFs were then fixed in formalin and stained with Alizarin red to determine the degree of osteogenesis. MEFs treated with DOX were unable to undergo proper osteogenesis. While this would suggest that osteogenesis is regulated through proper functions of Trx1, it is unknown how Trx1 regulates osteogenesis in utero. Because Trx1 deletion is lethal prior to implantation it has been historically difficult to study the role of Trx1 during organogenesis. With the development of the DOX-inducible Trx1 conditional knockout mouse, we can now target specific developmental periods and evaluate post-implantation processes like osteogenesis. Using proper transgenic mice and breeding schemes, DOX-inducible Trx1 conditional knockout embryos were treated in utero with DOX through the dam’s drinking water, starting on gestational day (GD) 8.5. The embryos were collected on GD 16.5, fixed in 95% ethanol, and then skinned. To visualize bone and cartilage, the embryos were placed in ethanol and subsequently stained with Alizarin red and Alcian blue. The staining showed that embryos lacking Trx1 were significantly stunted in their skeletal maturation. With this data, we are the first to show that during organogenesis, the musculoskeletal system is affected by deletions of Trx1 at specific periods of development. Under oxidizing conditions which exceed the capacity of the oxidoreductase pathway of Trx1, Trx1 exists primarily in its oxidized form and can no longer reduce proteins that have been turned off by oxidation. Our Trx1 deletions model a highly oxidized state in which Trx1 is dysfunctional. Because regulatory redox control of protein activity is required for proper embryonic development, exposure to oxidizing environmental conditions specifically affecting Trx1 redox state may target the disruption of the musculoskeletal system.

Authors: Michael Mann, David Bates, Steven Johnson. Mentors: Steven Johnson. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Nucleosome positioning, or the placement of nucleosomes along DNA, is known to be a significant factor in determining gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Further, post-translational modifications (or PTMs) help modulate gene expression by acting as an intermediate to other factors. The extent to which PTMs directly affect nucleosome positioning is poorly understood, however. Since gene expression is known to be affected by several coincident PTMs on each histone, the goal of this research is to evaluate the suitability of a Lys-->Gln mutation as a substitute for histone lysine acetylation. If successful, this research can be used to support future combinatorial studies on PTMs and nucleosome positioning without the difficulty of combining several forms of PTMs simultaneously.

Authors: Grant Rousseau, Kenneth Harrington, Jamie Jensen. Mentors: Jamie Jensen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. We know that evolution acceptance is low in the United States, and a perceived conflict between evolution and religion is a big predictor of whether someone accepts or rejects evolution. Helping undergraduates accept evolution involves multiple teaching strategies, including teaching evolution with a reconciliatory approach, increasing their knowledge of evolution, and introducing role models (scientists who maintain religious beliefs) to the students. However, because some students have higher scientific reasoning abilities than others, they may find certain evolution teaching strategies more beneficial than others. In our study, we assessed scientific reasoning ability, change in evolution acceptance, and teaching strategy rankings with surveys before and after evolution instruction. We predicted that students who possessed more scientific reasoning skills would rank evolution knowledge above role models when asked which strategy was most influential in helping them accept evolution. However, we saw that scientific reasoning did not appear to moderate the effect of evolution knowledge. Role models were more important in increasing evolution acceptance, regardless of scientific reasoning skills. This reinforces the importance of having a role model present when teaching evolution to religious audiences.

Authors: Drew Allred, Vern Hart. Mentors: Vern Hart. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Surgery remains one of the most common and effective treatments for a variety of cancers, especially those that form solid, localized tumors such as breast and colorectal cancers. During these treatments, the palpable lesion is surgically resected with the assumption that cancerous cells have metastasized to nearby tissues. As such, surgeons will excise a tissue margin surrounding the tumor in hopes of removing any additional cancer, thus preventing further spread of the disease. However, this process is time-consuming and requires specialized expertise from a trained pathologist to verify that all cancer has been removed. Furthermore, if the pathology report indicates that not all cancerous cells have been extracted, additional follow-up visits and surgeries are typically required. In recent years a number of non-invasive technologies have been developed which seek to map cancerous cells in whole tissues. Training and validating these methods still requires a reliable ground truth, typically provided by an annotated pathology report. We propose a simpler model in which two cell species were co-cultured to provide a heterogeneous training sample. One of these species (PANC-1) was transfected with a vector coding for a fluorescent marker to represent healthy tissue, while the other species (COS-7) remained untreated, representing cancerous cells. An experiment was then conducted using a coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) system, in which laser light incident on the cells was used to quantify phase shifts produced by each cell type. Fluorescent microscopy was then used to create a map of transfected and non-transfected cells for comparison. Results will be presented demonstrating a correlation between the phase shifts produced by the two cell types and the corresponding fluorescent images, potentially facilitating optical cell identification without the need for pathology.

Authors: Maddy Howard, Brooke Dension, Shanna Groesbeck. Mentors: Sandy Wilson. Insitution: Utah Valley University. AbstractThere are many systemic diseases that are linked to oral health. This literature review specifically examines different studies and academic journals that have studied the relationship between oral health, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Obesity is linked to the patient's oral health in many ways. When patients are consuming large quantities of food more often than normal, this results in a more acidic environment along with energy for bacteria to grow. One study found a correlation between obesity and risk factors such as “frequency of brushing teeth, smoking, tooth loss, gingivitis, and dental caries (Yilmax & Somay, 2021). This article discusses the strong correlation between oral health and heart disease. Several studies emphasize the importance of dental hygienists educating their patients about the link between their oral and cardiovascular health. The articles conclude that treating periodontal disease more effectively and aggressively could lead to a marked reduction in coronary heart disease rates and vice versa.Diabetes and periodontal disease is also examined at length in this literature review. Diabetes and periodontitis is described as a ‘two-way relationship’. Evidence shows that individuals with diabetes, type 1 or type 2, are 34% more likely to develop periodontal disease. On the other hand, individuals experiencing periodontal disease are 53% more likely to develop diabetes (Wu, et al., 2020). This literature review will explore the importance of oral health in keeping your entire body healthy.ReferencesArora, A., Rana, K., Manohar, N., Li, L., Bhole, S., & Chimoriya, R. (2022). Perceptions and practices of oral health care professionals in preventing and managing childhood obesity. Nutrients, 14(9), 1809. 10.3390/nu14091809.Batty, G. D., Jung, K. J., Mok, Y., Lee, S. J., Back, J. H., Lee, S., & Jee, S. H. (2018). Oral health and later coronary heart disease: Cohort study of one million people. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 25(6), 598-605. 10.1177/2047487318759112Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Defining adult overweight & obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deraz, O., Rangé, H., Boutouyrie, P., Chatzopoulou, E., Asselin, A., Guibout, C., Van Sloten, T., Bougouin, W., Andrieu, M., Vedie, B., Thomas, F., Danchin, N., Jouven, X., Bouchard, P., & Empana, J. P. (2022). Oral condition and incident coronary heart disease: A clustering analysis. Journal of Dental Research, 101(5), 526-533. 10.1177/00220345211052507Sanchez, P., Everett, B., Salamonson, Y., Ajwani, S., Bhole, S., Bishop, J., Lintern, K., Nolan, S., Rajaratnam, R., Redfern, J., Sheehan, M., Skarligos, F., Spencer, L., Srinivas, R., & George, A. (2017). Perceptions of cardiac care providers towards oral health promotion in Australia. Collegian, 25(5), 471-478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2017.11.006Preshaw, P. M., Alba, A. L., Herrera, D., Jepsen, S., Konstantinidis, A., Makrilakis, K., & Taylor, R. (2012). Periodontitis and diabetes: A two-way relationship. Diabetologia, 55(1), 21-31. 10.1007/s00125-011-2342-yWu, C.-Z., Yuan, Y.-H., Liu, H.-H., Li, S.-S., Zhang, B.-W., Chen, W., An, Z.-J., Chen, S.-Y., Wu, Y.-Z., Han, B., Li, C.-J., & Li, L.-J. (2020). Epidemiologic relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. BMC oral health, 20, 204. 10.1186/s12903-020-01180-wYilmax, Busra. & Somay, Efsun. (2021). Is obesity a problem that threatens oral health in adults? Cukurova Medical Journal, 46(3), 1215-1221. DOI: 10.17826/cumj.950243

Authors: Danielle Terry, Seth Helton, Michael Creer. Mentors: Austin M Green. Insitution: University of Utah. With anthropogenic influence increasing worldwide, it is important to understand how wildlife behavior changes in response to urbanized landscapes. Urban ecosystems represent relatively novel landscapes with unique threats and opportunities that can completely restructure species’ population composition and dynamics. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) have been shown to alter their temporal activity in response to urbanization across their range of the Intermountain West of the United States. In this study, we will investigate the effects of anthropogenic influence on mule deer temporal activity behavior across two distinct life stages: fawning and non-fawning. Data for this study will come from the citizen science camera trapping project, Wasatch Wildlife Watch. The full project area is separated into two study sites: “Rural” and “Urban”. This study will be based around the wild-to-urban interface of the Central Wasatch Mountain Range and the Bear River Mountain Range, which composes some of the most highly recreated portions of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, receiving approximately 9,000,000 visitors annually (U.S Forest Service). We will investigate the proposed differential effects of anthropogenic influence and urbanization on mule deer diel activity patterns in the fawning vs. non-fawning life stages. Also, we will inquire whether intraspecific responses in mule deer diel activity alter interspecific interactions, especially with fawning predators, and how these responses might interact with environmental factors. We predict that anthropogenic influence and urbanization alter the diel activity patterns of fawning mule deer more than non-fawning deer and that the presence and activity of fawn predators (e.g., coyote [Canis latrans]) would have a stronger effect on fawning deer activity than non-fawning deer activity.

Authors: Barry Gyman. Mentors: Cody Reeves. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The purpose of this paper is to qualify and analyze the leading driving forces in determining the success of healthcare innovations in a variety of subspaces in the healthcare industry. Health is one of the largest markets in America and is almost universally relied upon. As the systems and technologies of healthcare are innovated and improved upon, the quality and efficiency of this care stands to increase, potentially benefiting both those who provide care, those who receive care, or both. The healthcare industry offers a plethora of niches needing innovating and the potential of high economic return for the producers, and yet only a small portion of innovations are adopted and successfully integrated with some areas having a failure rate approaching or exceeding 90% (Sun et al., 2022)(Jacobs et. al, 2015). What propels these few successful innovations towards adoption that so many other innovations fail to achieve? Through the analysis of dozens of papers researching success robustness in various healthcare fields, such as pharmacology and technological innovation, we will summarize the data in search of shared commonalities among successful innovations. Sun, D., Gao, W., Hu, H., & Zhou, S. (2022). Why 90% of clinical drug development fails and how to improve it?. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B, 12(7), 3049–3062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2022.02.002Jacobs, S.R., Weiner, B.J., Reeve, B.B. et al. Determining the predictors of innovation implementation in healthcare: a quantitative analysis of implementation effectiveness. BMC Health Serv Res 15, 6 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-014-0657-3

Authors: Marie Gibb. Mentors: Francine Jensen. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Maternal mortality, also known as maternal death, is defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. (MacDorman et al., 2021; Spelke & Werner, 2018). The United States is the only developed nation where the rates of maternal mortality are rising, and they have been rising for twenty years (Simpson, 2019; Spelke & Werner, 2018). This incidence represents a maternal health crisis in the United States. On average, 700 women in the United States die each year from pregnancy-related complications. This equates to 17.2 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births (Simpson, 2019). Currently, the maternal mortality rate for Utah is higher than the national average at 21.5 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (Utah Department of Health and Human Services, 2023). According to More than 60% of these deaths are preventable (MacDorman et al., 2021; Simpson, 2019).The leading causes of maternal death in the United States are hemorrhage, preeclampsia, eclampsia, hypertension, embolisms, and cardiomyopathy, which often lead to cardiovascular disorders (MacDorman et al., 2021; Simpson, 2019). The Utah Health and Human Services (2023) reported that increases in heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, mental health disorders, and other chronic conditions complicate pregnancies and are contributing to maternal mortality in Utah. The American Heart Association has cautioned that pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery are linked to maternal heart disease later in life (Parikh et al., 2021). Research suggests that each episode has a cumulative effect (Marill, 2021), meaning, the more pregnancies women have, and the more complications women have during pregnancy, the more elevated their risks are in general for cardiovascular disorders as they age. A qualitative survey was sent out using snowball sampling to women over the age of 18 in Utah asking about their understanding of cardiovascular risk factors and current health conditions. Findings showed that women were unaware of their potential cardiovascular risks associated with pregnancy. Raising awareness regarding these cardiovascular risks may be the number one preventative strategy, as women are the ones who bear the personal and physical risks. If pregnant women are aware of their cardiovascular risk factors, they can be empowered to raise concerns when necessary. Future interventions may include educating all women of childbearing years about cardiovascular risks prior to pregnancy, as well as more frequent screening of women during and after delivery (Marill, 2021). ReferencesMacDorman, M. F., Thoma, M., Declcerq, E., & Howell, E. A. (2021). Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality in the United States using enhanced vital records, 2016‒2017. American Journal of Public Health, 111(9), 1673–1681. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2021.306375Marill, M. C. (2021). Getting to the heart of America's maternal mortality crisis. Health Affairs, 40(12), 1824-1829. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01702Parikh, N. I., Gonzalez, J. M., Anderson, C. A. M., Judd, S. E., Rexrode, K. M., Hlatky, M. A., Gunderson, E. P., Stuart, J. J., & Vaidya, D. (2021, May 4). Adverse pregnancy outcomes and cardiovascular disease risk: Unique opportunities for cardiovascular disease prevention in women: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 143(18), e902-e916. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000961Simpson, K. (2019). Maternal mortality in the United States. MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 44 (5), 249-249. doi: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000000560.Spelke, B., & Werner, E. (2018). The fourth trimester of pregnancy: Committing to maternal health and well-being postpartum. Rhode Island Medical Journal (2013), 101(8), 30–33.Utah Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, March 16). Complete health indicator report of maternal mortality. Retrieved Sat, 09 September 2023 from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health website: http://ibis.health.utah.gov. https://ibis.health.utah.gov/ibisph-view/indicator/complete_profile/MatMort.html

Authors: Sierra M Mellor, Madilyn Brandt, Nathaniel Eberhart, Samuel Flor, Julianne H Grose. Mentors: Julianne Grose. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Continued use of antibiotics has driven the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which cause infections that prove difficult to treat. Therefore, it is crucial that alternative treatments for bacterial infections are developed. One such promising method, known as phage therapy, utilizes viruses that infect bacteria. However, compared to the high abundance of bacteriophages, relatively few have been isolated and sequenced, with little known about their gene products. Here we have isolated two phages, SummitAcademy and AJGecko, against the host bacteria Gordonia rubripertincta. Gordonia belongs to the Actinobacteria class containing many pathogenic bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and so analysis of SummitAcademy and AJGecko can provide insight into the evolution of this family. Genomic comparison of conserved genes between SummitAcademy and other Gordonia phages identifies 14 hypothetical proteins as unique to SummitAcademy. Subsequent liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) of CsCl-purified SummitAcademy confirms expression of many predicted gene products, verifying the annotation. Several peptides generated through mass spectrometry also provide evidence for extending predicted start sites of gene products. Further characterization of virion proteins and gene products of SummitAcademy can add to the overall knowledge of this cluster of phages and potential phage therapies against Gordonia or related infections.

Authors: Isaac Gillins, Zoe Thompson. Mentors: . Insitution: Utah Valley University. The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene is expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary and is cleaved into several peptide hormones. One of these is melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), which is involved in food intake and energy expenditure. A mutation in the POMC gene can result in a rare condition in which the subject displays early-onset obesity characterized by severe hyperphagia (i.e. excess hunger). Affected subjects may also show a lack of pubertal development. In this experiment, we will study mice with a mutation in the POMC gene. They show some of the same symptoms as humans with a POMC mutation, including hyperphagia, obesity & infertility. Specifically, we will investigate the estrous cycle in female mice to determine if they are cycling normally. The estrous cycle, similar to the menstrual cycle in humans, is characterized by changes in reproductive hormones, and can be divided into four stages: proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus. Cells lining the surface of the vagina have been previously collected using a pipette smear technique. Each stage can be characterized by the proportion of three cell types: epithelial cells, cornified cells, and leukocytes. These cells correspond to the fluctuating hormone levels during the estrous cycle. Images of these samples will be assessed for the composition of cells to determine the stage of the estrus cycle, and whether or not the cycle displays normal patterning. Because POMC-deficient mice are infertile, we hypothesize their estrous cycles may be atypical. For example, the estrous cycle of the POMC-deficient mice may appear in irregular order or with one stage being predominant over the rest. If the estrous cycle is atypical, then we will measure the hormones directly to confirm that the infertility is caused by changes in hormonal regulation. This will help us to understand more about how the POMC gene affects reproductive function.

Authors: Ishmael Elliott Molina-Zepeda, Brandt Jones, Myke Madsen, Douglas Sborov, Brian Avery, Nicola J. Camp . Mentors: Nicola J. Camp. Insitution: University of Utah. Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of plasma cells and one of the more common hematological malignancies (6.3/100,000 new cases/year). Although treatments have improved, most patients fail their first line of treatment and ultimately do not survive beyond 5 years. Identifying patients at high risk of failing treatment early is a critical need. SPECTRA is a statistical technique developed by the Camp Lab to characterize global gene expression (the transcriptome) by representing it as multiple quantitative tumor variables. Spectra variables allow gene expression to be incorporated into predictive modeling to identify high-risk groups.Transcriptome data for myeloma cells was available from 768 patients in the international CoMMpass study where 39 spectra variables were derived. Each patient has a value for each of the 39 variables (their spectra “barcode”); patients can be compared for each bar in the barcode. Predictive modeling using spectra variables was successful in identifying risk groups for time to treatment failure, such that a patient’s tumor transcriptome can be used to predict whether they are at high risk of having their treatment fail earlier.To replicate the CoMMpass data findings, we collect and process local biological samples from MM patients at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI). We collect bone marrow samples, which are then cell-sorted to identify tumor (CD138+) cells. RNA is extracted from these cells and sequenced to generate transcriptome data. Then the spectra barcode is calculated.Utilizing the SPECTRA technique provides a more complete understanding of MM by better characterizing the tumor. Each spectra is a tumor characteristic. Our future research includes an investigation of whether inherited variations (in normal DNA from saliva or whole blood) are associated with the transcriptome risk score. We are also pursuing the SPECTRA technique in several other cancers.

Authors: Zach Hendry, Carson Cunningham. Mentors: Micah Shepherd, Kent Gee. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The number of rocket launches per year has been increasing dramatically since 2015, with more rockets launched in the year 2022 than had ever been launched. With the increase in the number of launches per year, it has become increasingly important to understand the impact of rocket launches on the greater environment and community. One important aspect of a rocket launch is the level of acoustical energy that is produced during liftoff. Instantaneous pressure values have been regularly recorded up to 180 dB. Due to these high levels, it’s become important to be able to accurately predict the noise produced by a rocket. One powerful tool used in predicting this sound is the crest factor. The crest factor is an acoustical measurement that shows the difference between the maximum sound pressure (i.e. the crest) compared against the averaged value of the sound pressure. Additionally, this information is vital for planning acoustical equipment in order to avoid measurement clipping. This presentation will be about crest factor analyses performed on the Antares NG-19 rocket launch from August 2023.

Authors: Thomas Caldwell. Mentors: Dustin Shipp. Insitution: Utah Valley University. In this research project, we have transformed an existing Raman spectroscopy simulation, enhancing its performance and capabilities through the integration of parallel computing with GPU acceleration. This significant improvement in computation time allows us to break through previous computational limitations, enabling more sophisticated and complex applications of the simulation. The principal applications we will be assessing are the viability and potential of spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) for deeper tissue analysis, exploring the possibilities of topographical imaging using Raman techniques, and the advanced application of chemical imaging of microscopic tumors. This expanded scope demonstrates the simulation's potential in early cancer detection.

Authors: Nathan Vaughan. Mentors: Jeffery Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by a loss of functional beta cell mass, and impaired glucose homeostasis. Elevated glucose levels in the body are known to be the cause of a plethora of debilitating illnesses. Hyperglycemia negatively effects beta cell function, resulting in impaired insulin secretion and cell death. Two key transcription factors involved in beta cell development, function, and proliferation are Nkx6.1 and Pdx1. We have shown a binding interaction between these Nkx6.1 and Pdx1 and have shown that they co-regulate various genes necessary for beta cell maturity and function. Preliminary data indicate that elevated glucose concentrations downregulate Nkx6.1 mRNA and protein, as well as Pdx1 mRNA. However, the effect of elevated glucose concentrations on Pdx1 and Nkx6.1 binding interaction and subsequent function remains largely unexplored. Here we demonstrate the effect of hyperglycemia on the Pdx1-Nkx6.1 interaction, and the effect on expression of Pdx1 and Nkx6.1 downstream target genes. Understanding the effect of hyperglycemia on this interaction will allow us to better understand the stress that a beta cell is under during diabetic conditions, and to develop interventions to ameliorate these effects.

Authors: Emmalie Parker. Mentors: Heather Thiesset. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Changes in health insurance due to the Affordable Care act created a bridge for college students to remain on their parent or guardian’s health insurance for a longer period of time. However, little is done to close the gap of education deficiency in the area of health insurance literacy during this time. While most students in a universal health system have relatively few options to choose from, students in the US are faced with many different plans through employment or the open marketplace. Therefore, in order to ensure adequate access to care, it is imperative that students understand the fundamentals of this system in the US. This quantitative cross-sectional survey sampled 500 currently registered UVU students to assess their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and healthcare utilization. This data was stratified by age and sex. Descriptive statistics and chi2 analyses were performed. This study showed that disparities in healthcare literacy affect healthcare utilization and can be a catalyst for long-term healthcare access issues for students and their families.

Authors: Quinn Gerber, Lucas Carpenter, Jacob Clemons, Cindy Kin. Mentors: Cindy Kin. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Introduction: It is vital that patients are adequately prepared for surgical intervention. To meet this need, many medical centers have adopted prehabilitation protocols. The aim of this study was to establish an in-depth comprehension of the attitudes towards surgery and barriersand preferences to prehabilitation for patients identifying as Latino, in order to develop a preliminary framework for adapting prehab programs to best meet the needs of this specific patient population.Methods: We conducted qualitative semi-structured in-person one-on-one interviews with Latino patients who had recently undergone major abdominal surgery. The interviews, conducted at an academic medical center, were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English (as needed), iteratively coded, and discussed by four researchers to reach consensus. We used thematic analysis to identify shared attitudes held by patients and common barriers to the adoption of prehabilitation programs. Analysis of these attitudes and barriers, along with stated patient preferences, led to the development of several ideas that physicians can implement to increase prehab adoption among Latino patients.Results: We interviewed 16 patients, at which point we reached thematic saturation. The patients were on average 52 years old (range 20 to 79) and 50% were women. Our pooled kappa score was .92, indicating a very high degree of concordance among the coding researchers. We identified five common attitudes held by Latino patients regarding surgery: anxiety associated with hospitalizations and surgical procedures, deep trust in physicians, reliance on positivity, tight-knit families/communities, and prominent religious and cultural beliefs. A lack of understanding, physical limitations, a reactive/delayed approach to healthcare, dietary barriers, and mental barriers emerged as obstacles to prehabilitation adoption. These attitudes and barriers, along with direct patient feedback, led us to identify several programmatic priorities that may increase adherence to prehab. These components consist of face-to-face interaction, increased communication, patient and physician collaboration in program development, and family/support group engagement in surgical preparation.Conclusion: Our study provides physicians preliminary insight into customizing prehabilitation programs to best meet the needs and customs of the Latino community, including anxiety associated with hospitalizations, strong social support, and a dominant role of religious faith in coping with illness. We identified several critical components that may make prehab more culturally competent and thus more likely to be adopted by patients. These include in-person coaching, increased information about the upcoming operation and recovery, and engagement of family members. We recommend that healthcare teams committed to prehabilitation consider these needs to make their programs more attractive and accessible to their Latino patients.

Authors: Brock Sheehan, Bryson Edwards, Ivanna Soto, Justice Vance, Tyler Haywood, Jefferey Goddard, Logan Seegmiller, Mohammed A. El Saidi, Wissam R Zaidan , Asmahan El-Ezzi , Dr. Ruhul Kuddus. Mentors: Dr. Ruhul Kuddus. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Association of Cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) rs4648298 and Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) rs20417 Polymorphisms and Prostatic diseases Among Lebanese MalesBrock J Sheehan1*, Bryson Edwards1, Ivanna Soto Medrano1, Justin Vance1, Tyler Haywood1, Jeffrey Goddard1, Logan Seegmiller1, Mohammed A. El Saidi2, Wissam R. Zaidan3, Asmahan A. El-Ezzi3, 4, Ruhul Kuddus11Department of Biology, 2Department of Strategic Management and Operations, Utah Valley University, Orem UT; 3Radioimmunoassay Laboratory, Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission, Beirut Lebanon; 4Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon. *- presenting author.Background: COX-1 and COX-2 genes encode prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthases (PTGS) isoenzymes, involved in inflammation and possibly neoplasms. The genes are expressed in the prostate gland. Both genes have several polymorphisms. Here we examine the association of rs4648298 (A-G transition) and rs20417 (G-C transversion) polymorphisms and prostatic diseases. This research was approved by the Utah Valley University IRB.Materials and Methods: DNA was extracted from a blood sample of 56 healthy volunteers, 51 volunteers with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), and 61 volunteers with clinical prostate cancer (PCa). Genotyping was conducted through PCR-RFLP analyses. The restriction enzymes used were BaeGI (for rs4648298) and AciI (rs20417), respectively. Alleles with the restriction site were considered recessive. The association was inferred through statistical analyses of the distribution of the genotypes (BB, Bb, and bb or AA, Aa and aa), and allele frequencies among the controls and the affected groups. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant.Results: The distribution of the genotypes is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for all three groups. The b allele of the COX-1 gene is extremely rare (less than 3%), and no significant association between the B or b allele or BB, Bb, and bb genotypes and prostatic disease was observed. The a allele of the COX-2 gene is more common in the BPH group (p=0.011), but not the PCa group (p= 0.472) or the combined affected group (p=0.068) compared to the control group.Conclusions: There is no association between the rs4648298 polymorphisms of the COX-1 gene and prostatic diseases. The a allele of the rs20417 polymorphisms of the COX-2 gene is associated with higher risks of BPH and possibly PCa. The small sample size, sampling from one ethnic group, and the low distribution of the b allele in the Lebanese population are limitations of this study.

Authors: Tayler Fearn, Caroline Torgensen, Vern Hart. Mentors: Vern Hart. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is a newly developed modality used to measure phase shifts introduced by fine-scale structures in cells. These phase shifts can be used to distinguish healthy and malignant cells, providing a diagnostic marker for early cancer detection. However, this process, in which diffracted light interferes with incident light, requires collecting scattered photons at large angles, representing high spatial frequencies and short wavelengths. The highest frequencies, needed to reconstruct small details in cells for improved image quality, occur at distances of several centimeters from the central bright fringe. As such, these signals are faint and difficult to collect experimentally. We propose the use of deep learning to synthetically extrapolate diffraction patterns at large distances, where measurements are difficult. In prototyping this method, we will present results produced by a generative adversarial network (GAN), trained using existing data of watercolor paintings to preform style transfer and image extrapolation. This will be an essential step in working towards the larger goal of developing GAN’s that can accurately extrapolate diffraction images.

Authors: Austin Green, Gaby Karakcheyeva. Insitution: University of Utah. As the world’s human population continues to concentrate within urban areas and these landscapes continue to expand worldwide, wildlife is under pressure to adapt to novel environmental disturbances. Along urban-wildlife gradients, and especially within less developed areas, human recreation can affect wildlife behavior. These effects may be most apparent during peaks in human recreational activity. In addition, climatic conditions such as aridity and precipitation can also alter wildlife behavior. Understanding the interactions between these two pressures, human activity and climate, can help us understand how wildlife behavior will be affected as human populations grow and climate warms. In this study, we will use data from a large-scale citizen science camera trapping project to assess whether periodic increases in human recreational activity paired with arid climates will elicit behavioral responses across multiple mammal species in northern Utah, U.S.A. Specifically, we will assess whether increases in human recreational activity during the weekend affected mammalian temporal activity patterns at the community-wide and species-specific level, taking into consideration if these trends are amplified in areas that are arid and low in precipitation. I hypothesize that increased human recreational activity will alter wildlife behavior, in general, however this change in behavior will be amplified in drier, hotter areas. I predict that during the weekends human activity will increase, leading to general decreases in activity, mobility, and breeding behavior across species, and this will be amplified in hotter and less vegetated areas. However, I predict that naturally diurnal species will be more affected than nocturnal species as they attempt to avoid overlap with humans, leading to changes in species-species interactions.

Authors: Aljexi Olsen, Hali Lukacs. Mentors: Eddy Cadet. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Utah Lake is the third-largest freshwater body west of the Mississippi River and serves as a vital resource for just over 600,000 Utah Valley residents through agriculture, residential and recreational purposes. In addition to its utility, Utah Lake provides a haven for biodiversity for numerous species within its wetlands. Despite its utility and importance, the lake faces two significant challenges in the form of Trace Metal (TM) pollution and the encroachment of invasive plant species known as Phragmites australis (P. australis). Despite considerable investments of time, money, and resources by various state agencies to address these concerns, their success has been limited due to the agency’s isolated efforts for these large multifaceted issues. TM, though naturally occurring in the environment, has been found to be toxic to both people and the ecosystem when at elevated levels. P. australis, is a robust and fast-growing macrophyte, possessing remarkable adaptability to and tolerance for poor soils, enabling it to rapidly outcompete native species. Due to P. australis resilience and aggressive nature, many colonies have grown around the lake regardless of soil conditions. Studies have shown that P. australis has been utilized for remediation purposes around water bodies by extracting TMs from sediment. While P. australis must be addressed, can it be used as part of the solution by identifying TM polluted areas? This study aims to discern the variety in TM absorption by P. australis in both unpolluted and polluted sites in the wetlands surrounding the hyper-eutrophic Utah Lake. We selected nine sites around Utah Lake, considering their land use and proximity to pollution sources. At each site, three replicate samples encompassing P. australis, soil, and water were collected. These samples underwent a meticulous process, including washing, weighing, grounding, sieving, acid digesting using a CEM MARS 6, and analysis for TM content within an ICP-MS. Our preliminary findings reveal that in both unpolluted and polluted sites, soil concentrations of As and Cd exceeded background levels (11.73, 1.53 in unpolluted sites, and 27.47, 6.63 in polluted sites, respectively). Notably, in select polluted sites, such as UVU, P. australis displayed a remarkable capacity to hyper-accumulate As, with a transfer factor of 167.14% compared to the lowest unpolluted sites, like Lindon, which showed a rate of about 10%. Across all sites, the accumulation of Cr was relatively consistent (ranging from 17.13 to 19.7 ppm), irrespective of biomass. The examination of TM concentrations, transfer factor rates, and TM accumulation based on biomass suggests that P. australis may serve as a valuable biomarker for identifying TM-polluted sites. This research holds significant relevance, as it could offer state agencies a swift and effective means to pinpoint TM-polluted areas. Moreover, the areas where P. australis is thriving may be leveraged for phytoremediation efforts in TM-contaminated sites, providing an environmentally friendly solution to address this pressing concern.