Fine Arts

Authors: Eden Beazer, Aubree Bench, Ethan Jones, Jared Carter. Mentors: Jeffrey Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Incidence of diabetes worldwide has grown from 108 million people in 1980 to 422 million people in 2014, nearly tripling in just thirty-four years. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by the loss of pancreatic beta cell mass and the failure of the remaining beta cells to provide adequate insulin. Contributing to the development of T2D is glucolipotoxicity (GLT), a condition characterized by the harmful elevation of glucose and fatty acid levels within beta cells. While there are existing treatments for symptoms of diabetes, much remains to be understood about its underlying causes and effective preventative measures. Flavonoids are naturally occurring phenolic compounds found in many fruits and vegetables that have various anti-inflammatory health benefits. Previous studies suggest that epicatechin, a flavonoid present in cocoa, can reduce the effects of diabetes by diminishing insulin desensitization and increasing glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Interestingly, the bioavailability of epicatechin is poor, while its metabolites are more easily absorbed in the small intestine. Further studies demonstrated that under non-stressed conditions in beta-cells, hippuric acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-phenylvaleric acid, metabolites of epicatechin, stimulate insulin secretion at concentrations more realistically found in the body. However, the effects of these metabolites in glucolipotoxic conditions are unknown. Here, we present the effects of epicatechin and its metabolites hippuric acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-phenylvaleric acid on beta cell insulin secretion and mitochondrial respiration under GLT culture conditions. This study aimed to contribute to the limited body of knowledge on the bioactivity of flavonoid metabolites on beta cell function under damaging conditions observed with T2D, offering crucial insights for developing effective strategies to harness the health benefits associated with flavonoids.

Authors: Owen Damitz. Mentors: Jeffrey Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Type one and two diabetes affect the everyday lives of millions of people worldwide. These diseases are characterized by decreased functional beta cell mass. Functional beta cell mass is defined by the beta cell’s ability to proliferate, secrete insulin, and resist apoptosis. Wehave shown that the orphan nuclear receptor Nr4a3 is sufficient to induce beta cell proliferation. We have sought to define compounds that can interact with and modulate Nr4a3 activity. Using AutoDock Vina we have defined a number of compounds that interact with Nr4a3. Here wepresent data demonstrating the ability of these compounds to modulate Nr4a3 mediated proliferation, survival, and insulin secretion in the beta cell. Furthermore, we demonstrate the effect of these compounds to modulate Nr4a3 transcriptional control. These findings are the basis for developing interventions to increase functional beta cell mass as a treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

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: 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: Zach Fiore. Mentors: Jared Nielsen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Gait apraxia is a type of apraxia that affects lower limb use in walking. It is characterized by difficulty initiating gait, freezing of gait, and other gait disturbances that cannot be attributed to complications affecting sensory, motor, or cerebellar function, psychiatric disease, nor ataxia. Symptoms often present following brain trauma. Previous research has indicated that gait apraxia may be linked to lesions in the frontal lobes, basal ganglia and supplementary motor area. However, the specific cerebral location has been debated with minimal research done on the symptom’s implicated neural circuits. The purpose of this study is to determine the networks in the brain that are involved in the pathophysiology of gait apraxia. To determine this, we used the lesion network mapping method. A systematic literature review was performed, with specific inclusion criteria, to find case studies of patients presenting with gait apraxia stemming from acquired brain injury (n=15). Lesion network mapping analysis (Fox et al., 2018) was performed on 15 cases with a large cohort of healthy control resting-state scans (n=1000). The analysis showed that lesions exhibited functional connectivity to the bilateral medial dorsal and pulvinar nuclei of the thalami (n=15), which supports previous associations of basal ganglia damage contributing to gait apraxia. A novel region, the cingulate cortex (n=15), was also found to be functionally connected to the lesion networks. This region is a part of the cingulo-opercular network, responsible for many functions, including action. This network has recently been found to display strong functional connectivity with the somato-cognitive action network, responsible for coordinating movements with cognitive processes. Further research is necessary to determine the mechanism of how these networks interact in contributing to gait apraxia.

Authors: Joshua Hutchins, Kevin Wong. Mentors: Dario Mizrachi. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Tight junctions (TJ’s) are composed of mainly three types of cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs) that regulate paracellular permeability in epithelial and endothelial cells. These are claudins (CLDNs), occludin (OCLN), and junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs).There are, however, several (27) isoforms of the claudin molecule, all of which are suspected to have different strengths and other properties in cell adhesion. Currently, the comparative strength of the interactions between different CAMs are unknown and no easily replicable model of a TJ has been created. To address this question we resourced to bacterial expression of these mammalian proteins. MG1655 E. coli cells (with flagellum) were transformed to express claudins 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 as well as occludin and plated on 0.2% agar plates, allowing them to swim overnight. This allowed for a qualitative spectrum of strengths of the CAMs based on how far the cells were able to spread throughout the plate. Cells that interacted strongly swam less. This technique was applied to the case of the Atlantic Salmon. It swims both in fresh and ocean water. As it transitions, the TJs in its skin changes its composition of claudins. We were able to determine that the set of claudins employed during ocean water swimming are capable of stronger strength. This is consistent with the changes in osmolarity dictated by the amount of solute in the ocean water.

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: 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: Samuel Stearman, Benjamin Crapo, Antonio Trujillo. Mentors: Jeff Hill. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Our goal at BYU SMASH IT lab is to improve patient’s mobility in rehabilitative settings. For this purpose, we’re modeling the human arm to aid in our design of wearable rehabilitative sleeves. We are investigating methods for manipulating elbow flexion and extension using an assistive elbow brace, such as through cable-driven movement and the less used concept of tensegrity. The appeal of these methods is their flexibility, lightweight, and multiple degrees of freedom in movement. In the prototyping stage we’ve created a test stand resembling a human arm that we use to evaluate how our elbow brace would interact with the wearer and measure the forces between the arm and the brace. Measurements from these tests will aid in our design of a future elbow brace. Knowledge gained from this work has the potential to apply to other joints, each with their own rehabilitative and other uses.

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: Jessica Crook, Brooke Parker, Michael C Rotter. Mentors: Michael C Rotter. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Fremont cottonwoods are a foundation species throughout the Wasatch front. Cottonwoods face a competitive threat from the invasive tamarisk, which grows very easily in the same habitats. Tamarisk can have a negative impact on cottonwoods, displacing them. The loss of cottonwoods could have negative impacts on ecosystems. This study will examine phytochemical compounds in cottonwoods, and how they are affected by growing in competition with tamarisk. We hypothesize that cottonwoods growing in competition with non-native tamarisk will be stressed and produce higher levels of phytochemical compounds. To test our hypothesis, cottonwoods were grown in pots from cuttings either in competition with a tamarisk cutting, or alone. We then tested total phenolics using a ferric chloride solution, and tannin content using a radial diffusion method. It’s predicted that due to the stress of competition, cottonwoods that grew with tamarisk will have higher overall phenolics and tannins than cottonwoods that were grown on their own. The results of this trial could be important in influencing beaver foraging patterns. Since beavers prefer trees with elevated levels of phenolics and other phytochemicals, this could imply an important mechanism allowing tamarisk to invade an area by stressing cottonwoods and encouraging beaver foraging on these plants.

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: Porter Bischoff, Kody Garrett, Clayton Rawson. Mentors: Britt Wyatt, Josh Premo. Insitution: Utah Valley University. This research delves into the underexplored territory of medical experiences and their potential impact on undergraduate students' motivation in STEM courses. While prior studies have focused on factors like gender and ethnicity in STEM, little attention has been given to the influence of medical experiences and chronic conditions on STEM students, despite evidence suggesting that students with medical conditions face unique challenges in completing their degrees.Our study specifically investigates the effects of medical experiences and chronic conditions on students enrolled in science classes at an open enrollment institution. We hypothesize that increased academic interruptions due to medical experiences may lead to decreased science motivation, reduced sense of belonging, self-efficacy, and self-determination.Data was collected from 390 students across 14 biology courses, including non-majors, at a teaching-focused institution, both before and after the courses. Surprisingly, 57% of surveyed students reported having a medical experience, and 22% reported having a chronic condition, highlighting the significance of this identity within the student population.As anticipated, students experiencing more medical interruptions exhibited a notable decrease in their sense of belonging and self-efficacy, albeit with a small effect size. Intriguingly, students with medical experiences who engaged more with science demonstrated significantly higher levels of science immersion and motivation. This suggests that medical experiences can influence student engagement with science, both positively and negatively. The impact of these interruptions on a student's academics is closely linked to their sense of belonging and self-efficacy. However, if medical experiences drive increased engagement with science, students may find themselves more motivated to explore these experiences within the context of scientific inquiry.Understanding how medical experiences can shape students' motivation is essential as science instructors adapt their course content and pedagogy to be more inclusive, embracing the diverse identities within their student population.

Authors: Ethan Layne, Tareq Hassan. Mentors: Juhyeong Lee. Insitution: Utah State University. A key design criterion for aerospace structural applications is specific mechanical property (i.e., mechanical property divided by the density of a material). Honeycomb sandwich panels which are commonly used in aerospace/aviation structural applications provide lightweight performance, however they have several drawbacks. They include (1) limited alteration of core geometric parameters, (2) few core material selections, and (3) a closed-cell core network. These limitations may be bypassed with 3D-printed lattice-core sandwich panels to provide customizable structural performance. This study investigates impact resistance of architectured sandwich panels designed with various core designs and infill densities. A series of 5~20J low-velocity impact (LVI) tests will be performed on 3D-printed ABS sandwich panels with honeycomb, gyroid, and triangle cores; with infill density varying from 5% to 15%. In this work, the effects of core geometry and corresponding infill density on LVI resistances will be studied to optimize the structural performance of 3D-printed ABS sandwich panels. The primary objective of this study is to characterize these novel sandwich structures with highly customizable 3D-printed complex cores, offering tailorable structure performance.

Authors: Evelyn Fuentes, Thomas Keate, Christian Riordan. Mentors: Aaron Davis. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Studies predict that extreme weather events, due to climate change, are expected to increase in frequency and magnitude. Specifically, the flooding impacts from a hurricane may lead to the loss of necessary infrastructure, such as water treatment plants, leading to the loss of drinkable water. In response we, as a multidisciplinary team, have developed a purification device that is able to effectively filter water to allow communities and families, without available infrastructure, to receive drinkable water. We are testing different processes of filtration to find the most efficient and cheapest method. This process of filtration would be possible due to a foldable solar array that would power a pump to push water through a filtration system. The solar array would supplement other disaster relief options due to its ability to be used without constant supervision, and it would be capable of continuous, reliable use. This device would allow for the production of drinkable water in the event that water purification infrastructure was down, but grey water was available. The solar array and water purification device would be portable for fast deployment, with options of building a larger device, as part of a disaster relief preparedness package. If successful, this device has the potential to increase disaster preparedness and save lives through providing clean water.

Authors: Rob Patterson, Nate Graham. Mentors: Sally Rocks. Insitution: Utah Valley University. The pervasive use of pesticides in agricultural practices has raised environmental concerns due to their potential to contaminate water bodies and affect aquatic ecosystems. This study focuses on the identification and quantification of three common pesticides—atrazine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in Utah Lake.. Utilizing advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, including Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), we aim to detect the presence and determine the concentration levels of these substances. Water samples were collected from multiple points around the lake to assess the spatial distribution of the pesticides. The method development involves optimization of sample preparation procedures, including solid-phase extraction (SPE) and cleanup, to increase the detection sensitivity and accuracy. This project enhances environmental monitoring and has implications for water quality management, regulatory compliance, and public health in the region. The anticipated results will contribute to a better understanding of pesticide pollution patterns and will aid in formulating strategies to mitigate the contamination of aquatic environments.

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: Aubrey Russell, Ben Paepke, Nathan Goldfarb. Mentors: Nathan Goldfarb. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Tuberculosis (TB) remains an insidious scourge of civilization. The causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is a global health crisis, and TB ranks as the second leading cause of death from an infectious disease worldwide after COVID-19. In 2021, there were approximately 1.6 million deaths reported from TB (including 187,000 people with HIV) and an estimated 10.6 million new infections. Additionally, multidrug resistant TB remains a public health crisis. An initiative of “The Global Plan to End TB” is the development of rapid, point-of-care diagnostic assays for the early diagnosis of TB.2 Here we present our initial efforts towards the goal of the development of a rapid, lateral flow assay (LFA) for the detection of Mtb.

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: Hannah Smith. Mentors: Jeff Parker. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The Arabic language uses a rich system of patterns called verb forms to create verbs with related meanings from roots made of consonants. For example, the root k-t-b, in form I, kataba, means ‘to write.’ When it appears in form II as kattaba, it means ‘to make someone write.’ In form III, kaataba, it means ‘to exchange letters,’ ‘to correspond’ (Wehr, 2019). There are ten commonly used verb forms, although not every root is used in every form. As Arabic has been exposed to English and speakers borrow verbs from English into their Arabic, they make choices about how and whether to integrate these foreign words into the verb forms. For example, the verb ‘to block (on social media),’ with the derived root b-l-k, is used in form II, ballaka, ‘to block.’ Other borrowed verbs, however, don’t get integrated in this way. Instead, they are used as a noun with a native Arabic verb, usually ‘amila, ‘to do.’ For example, English ‘to delete’ becomes ‘amila daliit, literally ‘to do a delete.’ This study aims to understand what factors influence when and how completely borrowings from English like these are integrated into the verb forms in Jordanian Arabic (JA) by interviewing university students in Amman, Jordan. The interviews are primarily focused on four forms in which borrowings in JA frequently appear (Salem, 2015). Initial data from a group of eight participants shows a general acceptance for the borrowings in their base forms, with much more variation in speakers’ intuitions regarding their usage in other forms. For example, all eight participants perceive ‘to block,’ ballaka, as a completely acceptable word used by most people. However, only two participants felt the same way about its counterpart form, taballaka, ‘to be blocked,’ whereas two other participants perceived it as something no one would ever use. Furthermore, some participants perceive verbs that rely on ‘to do,’ such as ‘to delete,’ to be in the beginning stages of integration, with three of eight interviewees stating that some of these verbs actually are acceptable in verb form II. Thus far, the perceptions of all the borrowings seem to indicate that speakers believe that integration of borrowed verbs is a gradual process. Furthermore, in addition to other factors, the extent to which the verbs are integrated in JA seems to be affected in large part by cultural perceptions of how foreign the verbs are, a factor that has not been noted in previous studies on the subject.

Authors: Ezra Bradley, Sam Wald, Steve Francis, Derek Hansen, Jason McDonald, Jon Balzotti. Insitution: Brigham Young University. This presentation discusses the frameworks used to create an extended reality (XR) technical training for use in a nuclear handling context. Many of these insights can be applied to technical equipment training in various applications. In addition to describing the process for the creation of the training, design considerations are also expounded. These include approaches for colocation within the training, content presentation and navigation, and instructional design.

Authors: Keenan Faulkner. Mentors: Jeff Goeders. Insitution: Brigham Young University. FPGAs are a type of reconfigurable computing chip that are often used in mission critical systems in various applications including aerospace, defense, and telecommunications. Hardware netlists are generally converted into a bitstream and loaded onto an FPGA board through vendor-provided tools. Due to the proprietary nature of these tools, it is up to the designer to trust the validity of the design's conversion to bitstream. However, motivated attackers may alter the CAD tools' integrity or manipulate the stored bitstream with the intent to disrupt the functionality of a design.We have put forward a novel approach to verify functional equivalence between a synthesized netlist and the produced FPGA bitstream using a structural comparison algorithm. This presentation aims to demonstrate the fault-injection testing algorithms designed to prove the veracity of our approach. The fault-injection testing algorithms involve making manipulations to wire connections and initialization values in LUTs (lookup tables) from a bitstream reversed netlist, then running our comparison algorithms on the corrupted netlist and the original synthesized netlist to show that the algorithms will catch the errors.

Authors: Braxton Fjeldsted, Joseph Carter, Grant Ogilvie, Josh Hoffman. Mentors: Douglas Cook. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Finding ways to improve crop durability through 3D modeling has tremendous potential to help save plants, time, and resources. Currently, there are many important material properties of maize stalks that have not yet been measured, which presents challenges in creating accurate 3D models. Through sensitivity analysis, it was determined that one of the most critical unknown material properties of maize stalks for creating accurate models is the transverse shear modulus. In this research, we created a testing procedure to determine the shear modulus as accurately as possible. Each sample was put in a torsion test to determine the relationship between the torsion torque and the torsion angle. Both fresh and dry samples were tested in addition to samples with and without the pith. Our team implemented methods to minimize inaccuracies from slipping, cracking, and other imperfections in all elements of the stalks. The transverse shear modulus that we have determined will help to more accurately model maize stalks, thereby making future tests by modeling more efficient and working to provide a path towards improved global maize harvests.

Authors: Payton Jones. Mentors: Jamie Spinney. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Virtual Reality: The Next Step in Technology-Based Education Virtual Reality (VR) technology offers numerous educational opportunities that can enhance high school curriculum. The use of technology in the classroom has been rapidly evolving since the development of the accessible internet. Laptops, tablets, online learning platforms, and interactive projections are several of the technological developments, and now VR appears to be one of the next steps in that evolution. As VR continues to become more affordable and more advanced, there is a commensurate increase in opportunities to enhance curriculum, instructional techniques, and student engagement. For example, VR enables students and teachers to go on virtual field trips to places that are relevant to class material without the challenges and costs of leaving the classroom. The purpose of this study was twofold; (a) to investigate the different applications of VR technology that can be used to enhance high school social science curriculum, and (b) to summarize some of the main benefits and challenges associated with implementing VR in the classroom. The results of this study indicate that VR technology has considerable potential to enhance both the learning experience and student engagement by providing immersive learning opportunities, but these opportunities are unlikely to be widely utilized in the near future.

Authors: Allison Dahl. Mentors: Dallin Bailey. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Using members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a case study, this research explores text reformatting that may address the unmet needs of religious people with aphasia. Aphasia is a language disability that sometimes occurs after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. It can affect both expressive and receptive language, including reading ability. Several studies have already explored what text adaptations are generally preferred by or aid comprehension in this group. However, the unique regard of sacred text may elicit different needs and preferences for those experiencing aphasia. For example, although text adaptation for people with aphasia often includes text simplification, some may find inherent spiritual value in the original wording of scriptural text. Therefore, in this study, other adaptation options are explored, such as font changes and verse spacing. Passages from texts considered holy in the Church of Jesus Christ, such as the King James Bible and the Book of Mormon, have been reformatted in potentially helpful ways. Latter-day Saints with aphasia are being recruited to give feedback on these samples. They will indicate their formatting preferences on a visual scale, and their comments and feedback will also be coded qualitatively. This research will provide guidelines on what text adaptations are most appropriate and helpful for religious texts. Although the samples are specifically geared towards members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the design principles may prove useful for texts used in other faiths as well.

Authors: Josie Allred. Mentors: John Salmon. Insitution: Brigham Young University. From the weekly grocery run to the daily commute to work or school, transportation plays a central role in meeting the basic needs of nearly every American family. Unfortunately, not everyone has equal access to safe, convenient, and efficient transportation. When not carefully planned and implemented, the advancement of transportation infrastructure and technology often favors high income communities. For example, in many areas, shared electric scooters and bicycles have been made more widely available in higher income neighborhoods, leaving lower-income communities with limited access to these micro-mobility options. The result of these and other similar developments is increased economic disparity and barriers to opportunity. One such transportation advancement for which careful implementation is vital is Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technology for electric vehicles (EVs). WPT technology offers the potential for EVs to charge while in motion on the roads, thereby accelerating the adoption of EVs, and building a cleaner tomorrow. Through this research, we seek to contribute to a future of equitable integration of WPT technology into roadways across America. Because the demographics of Indianapolis closely resemble the US overall, a simulation was run with drivers in the city, using sample data from the US and Indianapolis. The simulation was then used to determine potential locations in which WPT technology could be effectively implemented. Informed by this and other research, WPT technology can be integrated in an intentional manner ensuring equitable access for people of any socioeconomic status.

Authors: Joshua Cook Wright. Mentors: Jordan Jones. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Fifty years ago, Brazilian scholar José de Nascimento Morais Filho rediscovered Maria Firmina dos Reis (1825–1917), Brazil’s first female—and first black female—novelist. Morais published a biography about Reis, including in it as many of her works as he could find. During her lifetime, Reis published the novel, Úrusula, musical compositions, short stories, and poems, though it was only through Morais’ biography that some of these works were reintroduced to the general public. Reis used writing to challenge the flaws she saw in society. The most glaring of these was slavery, with which she had first-hand experience, her Afro-Brazilian mother and African grandmother having been enslaved. Because of this, she has gained notoriety as not only the first female novelist in Brazil, but as an ardent abolitionist. However, the people living in her hometown of Guimarães, Maranhão, knew her—and continue to remember her—quite differently. To them, she was a teacher, whose life’s work was to educate and elevate as many lives as she could. She founded a school that taught both boys and girls and refused to use corporal punishment. Using information gathered on a summer research trip to Maranhão, Brazil, including a visit to the archive where Reis’ works were rediscovered and a visit to Guimarães, I will compare the prevailing understanding of Maria Firmina dos Reis as an abolitionist writer with the powerful and living legacy that I experienced first hand in Guimarães. I conclude by discussing the impact of viewing Maria Firmina dos Reis as both an abolitionist and a teacher, how these views complement each other, and how seeing both sides of her story can help us better understand how activism can manifest in many different ways.

Authors: Brooklyn Clark. Mentors: Larry Howell. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The application of origami principles in mechanical design has led to novel approaches for dealing with the unique challenges of space applications by improving packing efficiency and increasing customizability. An innovative origami pattern within this context is the "flasher pattern," characterized by its geometric panels and circular deployment. The objective of this research is to develop a robust methodology for optimizing the placement of circular optical wafers within the polygonal flasher panels. These panels have varying polygonal sizes and shapes, and the wafers must be placed precisely in each panel to maximize optical properties for a LIDAR space telescope application based on the flasher pattern. This optimization utilizes existing optimization functions in MATLAB and original code. To achieve this optimization, a process is employed in which a series of random points is generated within the overlapping area defined by the flasher panel's vertices and the optical wafer's radius. Each point is then iteratively tested to determine if it lies within the polygon, the circle, neither, or both. The centroid of the points that were within both shapes is subsequently calculated. This process is repeated with new sets of random points centered on the previously found centroid until an optimal wafer placement is determined. Optimal wafer placement will maximize the usable optical area and performance in a panel. This process can then be applied for each unique panel in a flasher pattern to determine the best placement of each wafer. This process can then be utilized in other origami-based optical applications, leading to a broader impact in the field.

Authors: Austin Martel, Bethany Parkinson, Spencer Magleby. Mentors: Spencer Magleby. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Compliant mechanisms are gaining popularity for use in engineering systems due to their low cost, manufacturability, and predictability. These monolithic structures can accomplish the same function as rigid multi-body mechanisms and can improve the motion and performance of the mechanism. Because they are monolithic, 3D printing has proven to be a simple and favorable method of bringing compliant mechanisms from design to reality. However, fabricating these mechanisms using conventional approaches of 3D printing can negatively affect their mechanical properties. To combat these adverse effects, we need to identify printing parameters that affect the mechanism’s material properties. Then, by adjusting the values of these parameters in the 3D printer’s slicer software we can minimize these adverse effects and create a better-suited set of guidelines to print compliant mechanisms.In this study, multiple compliant mechanisms were designed and tested with different printer settings. The testing started with creating mechanisms and their force-deflection curves. The standard designs of each mechanism were then updated and printed using different parameters from the slicer software. Parameters such as orientation, infill, wall thickness, nozzle path, and ironing were considered and quantified. After printing, the mechanisms were tested on an INSTRON machine to get the experimental force-deflection curves. We iterated upon each design until there was less than a 5% error between the experimental and theoretical data. With more knowledge of the effects of 3D-printing parameters, we can develop a set of guidelines for manufacturing more predictable compliant mechanisms. These guidelines can be applied to any compliant mechanism design for industrial or personal 3D printing.

Authors: Addison Smartt, Timothy Smartt. Mentors: Jeff Edwards. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Since the 1990's, the United States has experienced a crisis of opioid addiction and overdose. The effects of this are found close to home – with Utah being one of 22 states with an overdose rate higher than the national average. The effects of opioids on the ventral tegmental area (VTA), also known as the reward center of the brain, are a major contributor to opioid dependence. Drug dependence is created by molecular and cellular changes in this region of the brain. Therefore, we will examine changes in gene expression in the reward center in response to chronic morphine exposure. To do this, we will employ quantitative PCR on the VTA by first isolating mRNA, then reverse transcribing it into a cDNA library. Next, we created primer pairs for 26 different gene targets that were selected for their participation in the reward pathway. These targets include opioid receptors, glutamate receptors, cannabinoid receptors, and transcriptional regulators. Early results have identified mu and kappa opiate receptor expression downregulation after morphine exposure. Collectively, our data will provide understanding into how morphine exposure changes the expression of important gene targets in the VTA, providing insight into the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for opioid use disorder.

Authors: Jaren Wilson. Mentors: Joshua Price. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Rural health has been an area of study for population for years as over 46 million Americans live in rural communities as of 2021. Access to healthcare has been suggested as a major disparity of this population. This study examines how the access of healthcare of varying degrees of urbanization impact mortality outcomes, using the number of physicians per 100,000 people as a proxy for the access to health care. Using a dataset over 3,000 counties in the United States over the span of four years we assess the disparities in healthcare access between different geographic locations.The study implores the use of a multivariable regression model controls for time, level of urbanization, physicians per 100,000 people, time, county fixed effects, and other factors regresses the number of mortalities. The goals of this study are to demonstrate the disparities in healthcare access in different geographic locations across the United States.

Authors: Milo E Light, Sohom Mookherjee, J. David Symons, Megan Tandar, Nathan Hill. Mentors: John David Symons. Insitution: University of Utah. Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) deprives cerebral artery endothelial cells (ECs) of nutrients which decreases mTORC1 activity to initiate autophagic flux. We hypothesized that depletion of EC autophagy worsens outcomes of AIS. Methods and results. First, adult male C57Bl6 mice consumed a standard diet (control) or chow supplemented with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. After 3-weeks, phosphorylated ribosomal S6 / total S6 was greater (p<0.05) in liver segments of rapamycin vs. control-fed mice, indicating mTORC1 repression. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO, 60-min;) followed by reperfusion (R, 23 h) increased infarct volume, neurobehavioral deficits, and motor dysfunction, to a greater extent (p<0.05) in control vs. rapamycin-supplemented mice. Second, adult male C57Bl6 mice with intact EC autophagy-related protein 3 (Atg3WT) or inducible depletion of EC ATG3 (Atg3EC-/-) completed tMCAO+R. ATG3 colocalization with VE-Cdh5 increased (p<0.05) after tMCAO+R in ipsilesional vs. contralesional hemispheres of Atg3WT but not Atg3EC-/- mice. Neutrophil infiltration, cell death, microglia and astrocyte activation, and neurodegeneration, were greater (p<0.05) in ipsilesional hemispheres of Atg3EC-/- vs. Atg3WT mice. Further, infarct volume was greater (p<0.05), and motor and neurobehavioral performance were worse (p<0.05), in Atg3EC-/- vs. Atg3WT mice. Third, tMCAO+R evoked infarct volume was less severe after rapamycin feeding in Atg3WT but not Atg3EC-/- mice, underscoring the importance of EC autophagy. Conclusions. Intact EC autophagy is protective concerning AIS, potentially via enabling: (i) recycling of damaged proteins; (ii) nutrient generation from degraded substrates; and / or (iii) arterial vasodilation for nutrient delivery.

Authors: Mitch McEntire. Mentors: Marc Killpack, John Salmon. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Title: Rotational Robotic TriggerPresenter: Mitch McEntire, College of Engineering, Mechanical EngineeringAuthors: Mitch McEntireFaculty Advisor: Marc Killpack and John SalmonInstitution: Brigham Young UniversityRobotic manipulation is commonplace on the factory floor but there are often safeguards that prevent direct human-robot interaction. This study aimed to move human-robot interaction into the next phase from separate tasks, to cooperative ones. We started by trying to understand how multiple human teammates communicate during co-manipulation tasks in order to enable humans and robots to eventually work together effectively. This study analyzed the communication forces sent through an object that was being co-manipulated by a triad and dyad of humans. For this presentation, we focused entirely on the task of rotation along the sagittal axis shared between the individuals. In this case, we are able to notice a torque that was transmitted through the object indicating the desired change in orientation of that object. Each trial consisted of carrying a 55 lb table between two individuals and placing the table in different orientations and positions. Data was collected with force-torque sensors at each handle of the table and position data of the table was being tracked by HTC Vive trackers designed for use in virtual reality systems and that were strategically placed around the table. We analyzed 23 of these trials and we were able to identify specific force trends that indicate the table is about to rotate. Once data was collected and analyzed, potential force triggers were extracted from the data. This data is one small step to understanding how humans manipulation teams work together successfully and enabling a robot to be able to cooperate with humans in applications such as carrying a stretcher or moving furniture.

Authors: Addison McClure, Marshall Christensen, Braxton Fjeldsted, Luke Howell, Cole Dunn, Kirsten Steele, Andrew Tagg, Douglas Cook. Mentors: Douglas Cook. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Stalk lodging is the event of failure just below the ear or node of a maize stalk. Brazier buckling is the most common mode of failure and consistently occurs near the node. Maize stalk lodging has been studied for several years; however, relatively little is known about the process and progression of stalk failure. The purpose of this study was to characterize tissue-level failure patterns of maize stalks. A better understanding of failure patterns could provide further insight into developing maize stalks that are less susceptible to failure. The failure region was studied using several techniques including various imaging techniques(Scanning Electron Microscopy, x-ray computed tomography, and digital image correlation), experimentation (bend tests with recordings of acoustic emissions), and quantification of cross-sectional ovalization. We found that ovalization occurs prior to stalk failure and is strongly correlated with the onset of buckling. Despite this correlation, neither ovalization nor acoustic emissions were predictive of failure. Tissue-level analysis revealed that buckling occurs at many different scales, including at the organ, tissue, cellular, and cell wall level. Based on these observations, we propose a new conceptual model for understanding stalk failure. This model states that the probability of tissue failure and the probability of buckling failure increase in a highly correlated fashion. When one mode of failure occurs, it immediately initiates the other failure mode as well. This model suggests that efforts to improve stalk strength need to address both tissue strength and buckling resistance.

Authors: Jacob Winters. Mentors: Nathan Crane. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics are useful because of their high stiffness and high strength. Compliant mechanisms, or mechanisms that can bend and flex, can lower production costs, assembly time, and weight. When carbon fiber-reinforced plastics and compliant mechanisms are combined, the result is a part that is strong, lightweight, and adaptable to many geometric configurations or shapes. However, it is challenging to manufacture compliant mechanisms from carbon fiber because the matrix is usually infiltrated uniformly. The purpose of this investigation was to determine how to produce compliant carbon fiber plastic components using selective, patterned powder infiltration to achieve the desired component properties. The investigation involved determining the correct method of curing the resin, designing specific carbon fiber parts to achieve various geometries, and producing demonstrations that prove the feasibility of the manufacturing process. The result is a proven process for creating compliant mechanisms out of carbon fiber composites.

Authors: Caleb Fears. Mentors: Troy Munro. Insitution: Brigham Young University. To further the development of medicine and understand the structural stability of both pathogenic and therapeutic proteins, knowledge of the thermodynamics of biomolecules is necessary. An example is amyloid fibrils seen in Alzheimer’s patients, where their unfolding and polymerization is dictated by a poorly understood interplay between enthalpy, entropy, and other thermodynamic properties. Devices such as isothermal titration calorimeters (ITC) and differential scanning calorimeters (DSC) are commonly used to measure these values, but the devices often are insufficiently sensitive to detect small heat changes or require large amounts of sample. Thus, the development of microfluidic thermodynamic measurement devices using small, highly sensitive Peltier elements for biosensing is needed. Through the use of a 3D printer, we are able to design and print chips that have the vacancies needed to miniaturize Peltier elements. This is possible because you can print and fill channels (thermoelectric legs) with dimensions as small as 70 microns by 70 microns, which will at least quadruple the number of thermoelectric legs compared to commercial PE devices with the same footprint. We have managed to insert and cure electrically conductive materials needed for Peltier Elements into channels of 100 microns by 100 microns. And through the use of micro-casting techniques, we have also produced chips that contain the electrical connections, with the same channel size (100 microns by 100 microns), needed to connect each thermoelectric leg. The further development of these PE devices will help us develop the calorimeters necessary to accurately and efficiently study protein thermodynamics.

Authors: Chris Paul, Alex Edwards. Mentors: Christopher Dillon. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Focused ultrasound thalamotomy is a novel treatment that uses sound waves to ablate problematic neurons in the thalamus, treating conditions such as essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease. However, this treatment can result in high temperatures at the skull-brain interface which can inadvertently damage adjacent brain tissue. Currently, this risk is reduced by keeping stationary chilled water around the skull during treatments. However, many patients are still unable to receive treatment due to unfavorable subject-specific characteristics (i.e. large amounts of cancellous skull tissue). This study hypothesizes that convective water flow will remove heat from the skull more quickly than stationary chilled water, allowing more patients to receive treatment. To quantify convection effects, we designed an experiment to imitate a patient undergoing focused ultrasound thalamotomy. The experimental setup consists of a hemispherical 3D-printed mock skull containing a brain surrogate, placed into a mock ultrasound transducer. Heating is achieved by pumping hot water at a constant temperature across the inside of the brain surrogate. Temperature will be recorded throughout the setup as we run cold water around the skull in varying amounts. Temperature data from the convection setup will be compared to conduction data to determine which is more effective. The apparatus has been constructed, and experimental data will be recorded shortly. Determining the extent to which convection heat transfer can be increased is an important step in developing more effective treatment plans and improving the lives of additional patients.

Authors: Jordan Penfold, Cera Gowans, David T Fullwood, Anton E Bowden. Mentors: David T Fullwood. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Wearable nano-composite strain sensors created at Brigham Young University are used for biomechanical studies of human motion, due to their ability to follow and sense skin deformation. The manufacturing process for these sensors involves combining the raw materials that make up the sensors – silicone, nickel nanoparticles and nickel-coated chopped carbon fibers – in a planetary mixer, followed by extrusion of the uncured slurry through a syringe with a specialized tip. After extrusion, the sensor material strips are cut to length and subsequently casted and cured. However, undesirable variability in the final piezoresistive properties of the sensors was discovered. This variability was hypothesized to be attributable to sensor positioning during extrusion process. For example, fiber alignment may change as the extrusion process develops, or internal voids may be more evident in sensors cut from different parts of the extruded slurry. To test this hypothesis, several batches of sensors were created with precise records of each sensor position after extrusion. Some sensors were also set aside for CT scans to analyze their void content and nickel concentrations. The results suggested that the sensors located on the initial and terminal ends of the extruded slurry strips had statistically significant differences in piezoresistive properties when compared to the sensors from the central portion of the material strips. Sensors cut from the ends of extruded strips were more likely to have a lower standard deviation of average resistances while strained and relaxed, and were more likely to pass quality control inspection. As a result of this research, we learned that sensors with more consistent physical properties could be obtained by intentionally shortening the strips of slurry produced during the extrusion process (e.g., creating sensor batches with exclusively “end” sensors). After applying this change in methodology, sensor batches usually had more consistent physical properties when compared to sensors made with previous methods.

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: Isaac Sudweeks, Bradley Adams. Mentors: Bradley Adams. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Isopleths are graphical representation of atmospheric data used to analyze the response of an atmospheric chemical such as Ozone to the change in other chemicals in the atmosphere such as oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds. Isopleths then can be used by researchers and other to decide the best way to reduce pollutants in the atmosphere. I set out to use data processing and statistical models to better understand and interpret large experimental chemistry data through the creation of 3 dimensional isopleths. I started by splitting up the data into 2 figures that were functions of 1 variable to make simpler 2d plots. After exploring several techniques to create models such as smoothing splines, b-splines and least squares to fit a quadratic, and through using tools such as generalized cross validation, analysis of covariance, and general visual inspection, I concluded that the best model to create an isopleth is, in the case of the data I was given, a least squares fit-b spline (LSQ spline) using a small number of knots spread evenly over the range of data.

Authors: Caleb McDougal. Mentors: Nathan Usevitch. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Managing difficult terrain poses a major obstacle for current robotics. Everything from search and rescue to extraterrestrial exploration involves complex controls in unpredictable environments. One potential solution to handling such terrain is a robot that can jump. This could bypass the complex terrain handling and increase the speed at which long distances could be covered. While current robots can jump far, their jump distances decreases quickly with added payload massIn this project we propose a design that stores energy by accelerating a flywheel and converting its rotational energy into linear energy through a string system. Our proposed string system concept is similar to the string systems found in twisted string actuators. The strings slow the flywheel down while accelerating it upwards providing the energy for the jump. The primary energy storage mechanism of the robot is storing energy in the spinning mass of the flywheel. This means if we add payload mass to the flywheel we increase total energy stored. This allows us to increase payload mass without significantly affecting the total energy density of the robot. This would enable robots with heavy payloads to jump large distances.We are developing the system through building both a theoretical model as well as physical prototypes. Through analysis of the system we have determined an optimal rate of transmission as well as an optimal geometry for peak transmission. The models relate the geometry of the string system to the rate of transmission from angular to linear speed. We have created and tested prototypes as proof of concept on a small scale. Prototypes have been created using 3D printing and rapid manufacturing techniques. These have allowed us to explore the effects of different parameters.Jumping robots could traverse complex terrain and help explore rugged environments. The flywheel string system could allow the robot to effectively carry large payloads while maintaining large jump heights. The proposed jumping robot design could lead to important innovations in the fields of robotics and dynamics.

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: Joey McConkie, Jackson Wilcox, Eli Smith, David Phair. Mentors: Christopher Dillon, Matthew S Allen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Elevated strain in the Achilles tendon places ballet dancers at high risk for tendinopathy, which in severe cases can terminate a dancer’s career. Typical methods of measuring in vivo tendon stresses—which could be used to predict and prevent tendinopathy—are invasive, making them impractical for professional dancers. We use a portable, non-invasive, externally mounted system of one transducer and two accelerometers to generate and record vibrational motion within the tendon. The speed of sound waves propagating through the tendon is used to calculate the stresses present. The portability of the system allows it to be worn by a dancer during an actual dance routine instead of requiring measurement to be taken at a fixed location where mobility is limited. This system results in data that can noninvasively quantify tendon stresses regularly experienced by ballet dancers. The improved understanding of in situ stresses measured by this device will have great potential for improving the prediction and prevention of debilitating tendinopathy.