Fine Arts

Authors: Peg Bird, Maria Balaceanu, Grace Carsey, Tiffanee Suhaka, Hunter Mitchell, Ives Hong, Tara Caplin, Ed Wu, John T Jones, Dannelle Larsen-Rife. Mentors: John T Jones. Insitution: Utah Tech University. This study examines the relationship between perfectionism and self-compassion. Perfectionism may be beneficial, but often promotes unrealistically high self-imposed standards, a preoccupation with making mistakes, and a compulsivity toward order, leading to self-criticism and self-loathing. Perfectionism results in persistent feelings of failure, indecision, procrastination, and shame, which negatively impact relationships, work-life satisfaction, and overall well-being (Enns et al., 2001; Frost et al., 1993). Self-compassion is directing warmth and care toward oneself during times of suffering and comprises three core components: self-kindness (offering oneself warmth during adversity), common humanity (acknowledging shared suffering), and mindfulness (approaching the experience of pain with presence and curiosity) (Neff, 2003). Self-compassion is associated with mental health and well-being, including a stable sense of self-worth, increased resilience, life satisfaction, and perspective-taking. Furthermore, self-compassion negatively correlates with anxiety and depression, reduced fear of failure, perfectionism, and self-criticism (Barnard et al., 2011; Neff, 2003; Neff et al., 2006). This correlational study will recruit approximately 100 adult participants to evaluate associations between perfectionism and self-compassion. Participants will complete the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and the Self-Compassion Scale (Frost et al., 1990; Neff, 2003). We anticipate a negative correlation between self-compassion and perfectionism, with higher levels of self-compassion corresponding with lower levels of perfectionism. If this prediction is supported by the data, the study’s outcomes will extend existing research on the potentially deleterious effects of perfectionism and pave the way for the development of interventions aimed at improving mental health outcomes among individuals adversely impacted by this trait.

Authors: Natalia Rubio, Madison Farrer. Mentors: Christopher Anderson. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a neuroimaging technique used to monitor brain activity by measuring the changes in blood oxygenation levels, especially when presented with stimuli or given tasks. This is due to the principle that active brain regions require more oxygen, resulting in changes of blood flow and concentrations of hemoglobin. These observable results are achieved by diodes placed on the surface of the scalp that emit near-infrared (NIR) light into the skull. The absorption of this light by the hemoglobin in the brain’s blood vessels is then detected, localizing neural activity. Due to its portability and cost-efficient nature, fNIRS is being widely used across various fields of research and clinical applications whereas other neuroimaging methods might be less feasible or practical. Psychologists and neuroscientists are able to utilize fNIRS to understand how different regions of the brain are involved in various cognitive processes. It has been used in studying conditions like Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, autism, schizophrenia, mood disorders, and dementia. In the context of dementia research, fNIRS has emerged as a promising tool . While fNIRS has a low spatial resolution with measurements restricted to the outer cortex of the brain, it enables the study of the progression of dementia by providing real-time data and offering relative tolerance to subject motion. In fact, a neuro-clinic in Provo, Utah (Cognitive FX) has been studying the use of this fNIRS technique on patients with dementia while they perform language tasks. Although no patient data will be used in this study, the use of fNIRS as a technique to learn about the progression of dementia is noteworthy. Therefore, following IRB approval I will perform semi-structured qualitative interviews with two neuro-technicians using fNIRS in this clinic. Items will focus on the strengths and challenges of using fNIRS with dementia patients. Additionally, I will shadow these technicians to gain hands-on experience. Qualitative results will be analyzed and presented. It is anticipated that this research project will raise awareness of the use of fNIRS as a technique in neuroscience as well as its potential to benefit those with dementia.

Authors: Ana Paulina Medellin-Alvarez, Jared Almazan, Tursun Turapov, David A. Kircher, Karly A. Stanley, Gennie L. Parkman, MiKaela N. Field, Katie M. Culver, Silvia Coma, Jonathan A. Pachter, Howard Colman, Sheri L. Holmen. Mentors: Sheri Holmen. Insitution: University of Utah. Despite promising results from recent FDA-approved therapies, many advanced melanoma patients develop resistance to both immunotherapy and targeted therapy. A common resistance mechanism to targeted therapy is upregulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which has also been shown to promote the development of melanoma brain metastases. Historically, AKT inhibitors have failed in the clinic due to their limited efficacy or intolerable toxicity. Proteomic analysis comparing non-metastatic vs brain metastatic primary tumors in mice revealed focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as an AKT1 specific effector and a potential alternative therapeutic target. FAK is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that localizes primarily to focal adhesions to regulate cell migration. To determine whether targeting FAK alone or in combination with the RAF/MEK inhibitor avutometinib reduces brain metastases and prolongs survival, we utilized both autochthonous and syngeneic melanoma mouse models. Mice with either subcutaneous tumors or established brain metastases were treated with FAK inhibitor, RAF/MEK inhibitor, or the combination of FAK and RAF/MEK inhibitors. Each cohort was assessed for tumor onset, growth, metastasis, and survival. Our results show that combined RAF/MEK/FAK inhibition significantly delays tumor onset, causes regression of established tumors, prevents the development of brain metastases, promotes the regression of established brain metastases, and prolongs survival. In addition, patient-derived BRAF V600E melanoma xenograft mouse models resistant to the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib, were sensitive to combined RAF/MEK/FAK blockade. The addition of the BRAF inhibitor encorafenib to these models further enhanced the effect on tumor growth. These results support the initiation of a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of the RAF/MEK inhibitor avutometinib in combination with the FAK inhibitor defactinib in patients with brain metastases from cutaneous melanoma. Additionally, we are assessing non-canonical roles of FAK in modulating the tumor microenvironment to determine whether avutometinib and defactinib also enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition in this disease.

Authors: Corin Marsh, Acacia Overono. Mentors: Acacia Overono. Insitution: Utah Valley University. A variety of memorization techniques have been shown to enhance the ability to recall important information. While many of these techniques focus on repetition and retrieval of verbal information, the drawing superiority effect (DSE, Wammes et al., 2016) is a phenomenon where drawing leads to better recall compared to re-writing. The present study investigates the extent of these findings by combining the DSE with retrieval practice. This experiment utilized a within-subjects, single-blind design consisting of 32 undergraduate students ranging in age from 18 to 42. Participants were tasked with learning 20 vocabulary terms through a guided slideshow, then studied terms through; reading definitions (verbal restudy), viewing images of the definitions (visual restudy), writing definitions (verbal retrieval), and drawing definitions from memory (DSE with retrieval). After a brief distractor task, participants were tested on their recall of the definitions. Finally, subjects completed a shortened version of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) and a funnel debrief. Preliminary analyses using a repeated measures ANOVA revealed that re-reading was the study method that resulted in the highest recall scores (M = .57) compared to all other conditions (F (3, 93) = 14.9, p < .001, ηp2 = .324). Further — VVIQ ability showed no significant correlation with participant scores for any of the study methods. These results indicate that re-reading was a more effective study strategy for memorizing vocabulary terms with a short delay when compared to viewing images, writing definitions, and drawing definitions from memory. Future work will examine how longer delays and providing feedback influence may modulate the benefits of re-reading, drawing, and retrieval as study strategies. Keywords: drawing superiority effect, retrieval practice, memory, VVIQ

Authors: Broden Lund, John Jones. Mentors: John Jones. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Pursuing higher education credentials involves a significant investment of money, time, and energy. For many, this investment fails to pay off when students abandon their studies prior to graduation. Identifying factors that influence persistence to graduation has thus been the subject of a good deal of past research. The aim of this ongoing study is to explore the interaction between motivation type, responses to failure, and self-efficacy, on persistence among students at different stages of their academic careers. Participants will be 100 college students currently enrolled at a mid-sized university in the United States. Participants will complete measures of academic motivation, coping strategies in response to failure, and self-efficacy. We predict that the further a student progresses the more intrinsically motivated they will tend to be, and that this shift in motivation will be accompanied by increasing reliance on problem-focused coping and increased self-efficacy. Our results have the potential to provide a more nuanced understanding of the role intrinsic motivation plays in student success. Implications for students, parents, teachers, and administrators will also be considered.

Authors: Brynlyn Hastings, Dante Cervantes, Jaime Analuisa. Mentors: Lindsay Chaney. Insitution: Snow College. Ants are a diverse and ecologically significant group of insects, yet their species identification in the field can be challenging due to their small size and morphological variation. In this study conducted at Snow College, we employed DNA barcoding techniques to unravel the ant species diversity within the local ecosystem of Snow College's Campus. Our research aimed to shed light on the ant species biodiversity concerning areas that had more human interference compared to those with little human interference contributing to a better understanding of local biodiversity.

Authors: Joshua Thlaman, Brynlei Luke, Emily Pattee. Mentors: Lindsay Chaney. Insitution: Snow College. We tested if grasshopper species varied based on locations with constant human interaction vs. locations with little to no human interaction within Sanpete county. Due to how close, (a 6 mile radius), the collection locations are, it was logically reasoned that there will be no differences in grasshopper species between Ephraim and Manti Utah.​This study was performed with grasshoppers collected in Sanpete County: specifically, the town of Ephraim, Ephraim canyon, the town of Manti, and Manti canyon. To do this, we collected grasshoppers from each of the mentioned locations, extracted the DNA samples by humanely freezing the grasshoppers and collected small amounts of the grasshoppers, amplified the DNA samples using PCR, and sequenced the PCR products to help identify the grasshopper species collected using BLAST. ​Our experiment results showed that there was a large variation of species collected, as well as many similar species were present in all collection locations. Ephraim housing and Ephraim canyon only had one type of species present (Melanoplus sanguinipes), while Manti housing showed three other species (Melanoplus differentialis, Dissosteira carolina, Trimerotropis pallidipennis), and Manti canyon showed another species type (Trimerotropis cincta). This suggests that there is more variation within Manti housing and Manti canyon, no variation within Ephraim housing and Ephraim canyon, and only some variation between Manti and Ephraim.

Authors: Michal Hansen, Nathan Werner. Mentors: Nathan Werner. Insitution: Southern Utah University. The preparation of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals requires chemical reactions that make carbon-carbon bonds. Carbon atoms of three different hybridazations are known: sp3, sp2 and sp. Most reactions are specific to the hybridization of the carbon atom. We will study a reaction to bond an sp2-hybridized carbon to an sp3-hybridized carbon. This reaction could then be used to make interesting molecules that contain similar bonds. Specifically, the synthesis of 1,3-diphenylpropene will begin with a hydroboration reaction of phenylacetylene with pinacolborane. These two starting materials are combined with a 9-BBN-catalyst and heated to reflux in tetrahydrofuran at 65 degrees Celsius for 1 hour. The hydroboration product is then purified by aqueous extraction and silica gel flash chromatography. The product from the hydroboration reaction contains an sp2-hydridized carbon-boron bond and is then combined with benzyl bromide that contains a sp3-carbon-bromine bond. This is the reaction that we are studying. They are heated in DMF solvent with a palladium catalyst, ligand and base at 90 degrees Celsius for 1.5 hours. Once the reaction is complete, the cross-coupling product is purified by aqueous extraction and silica gel flash chromatography.

Authors: Cate Bateman, Jose Aurelio De La Rocha Tapia, Ethan Fulwood, Arianna Harrington. Mentors: Arianna Harrington. Insitution: Southern Utah University. The Eocene-Oligocene boundary in North America was marked by climatic cooling and drying. This transition is a key time in mammalian evolution, and studying fossils spanning this boundary could yield important information about how fauna responded to the climatic change. McCarty’s Mountain, a fossil rich geological feature located in Madison County, Montana, has long intrigued scientists due to the many insights it holds into the terrestrial fauna of the region. The sites from McCarty’s Mountain date from the Chadronian North American Land Mammal Age, which corresponds to the late Eocene epoch. The geological strata to produce these fossils were thought to have been deposited in a floodplain, yielding remarkably preserved fossils which have been collected and studied since the early 1900’s. However, the microfossils from this locality have been understudied despite the insights it could provide to the terrestrial Eocene-Oligocene transition in North America. In this study, we aim to close this gap by analyzing microfossils picked from matrix collected from McCarty’s Mountain localities in summer 2023. Preliminarily, we have processed about ⅛ of the collected sediments, and have found several identifiable elements including mammalian teeth, vertebrae, and long bones. We will continue this work by washing and soaking the remaining matrix and quantifying the microfossils retrieved. The fossils recovered may provide future insight to changes in microfauna across the Eocene-Oligocene boundary.

Authors: Ashley Hartwig, Dr. Weeg. Mentors: Matthew Weeg. Insitution: Southern Utah University. The physiological benefits of petting pet cats, dogs, and horses have been thoroughly investigated for decades. Studies suggest that the act of handling and being around pets can offer direct cardiovascular benefits, such as lower blood pressure and heart rate as well as indirect benefits such as lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels. However, the ability of pet reptiles to offer similar benefits has not been explored. In this work, we investigated the effects of reptile handling on the handler, expressed by cardiovascular variables. An automated blood pressure device was used to obtain the blood pressure and heart rate of participants every five minutes over a 20-minute time period. Three different conditions were tested for each participant: one where they handled a snake (Python regius), one where they handled a lizard (Pogona vitticeps), and one where they handled a stuffed animal , which served as the control. Overall, we saw a significant decrease in the systolic blood pressure in subjects during both reptile conditions compared to the control , though there was no change in diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), or heart rate. A decrease in systolic blood pressure has also been documented in studies involving mammalian companion animals. Therefore, our results provide evidence that handling snakes and lizards might provide some of the same cardiovascular benefits as handling cats, dogs, or horses. If so, this lends support to the argument that lizards and snakes can also be considered companion animals. These conclusions can be used to advocate for proper reptile husbandry and conservation efforts to protect native species in the fight against stigmas surrounding reptiles.

Authors: Clista Galecki. Mentors: William Anderegg. Insitution: University of Utah. This project will determine whether exposure to wildfire impacts a plant's ability to acclimate to summer drought. This is important because with rising temperatures and droughts there is an increase of wildfires (Diffenbaugh et al., 2015). This question will be address by comparing drought physiological traits of a native tree species, Utah juniper, in burned versus unburned sites in central Utah. The goal of the project is to determine whether plants that survive wildfires are more or less drought resilient. This research may provide insight into whether various tree species are better adapted to survive droughts and wildfires which will help in future ecology predictions of the future landscapes.There are multiple factors in why forests respond differently to drought. The factors include elevation, prior exposure to fire, prior exposure to drought, clade, and species (Anderegg et al., 2020). Severe drought or heat from a fire can result in hydraulic failure (McDowell et al., 2008). This means that the plant has loses its ability to sufficiently move water from the roots to the leaves. Which could indicate that trees burned in wildfires will not be better adapted to summer drought. Whereas there is a possibility that if the tree has had sufficient amount of time to recover from a stressing event that it could be better adapted for future droughts (Anderegg et al, 2020). My project will focus specifically on the effects of prior exposure to fire on Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) drought acclimation ability.

Authors: Logan Whitney, Jaren Wilson, Elley Colledge, Jamie Thygerson. Mentors: Jessica Pullan. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Exosomes are nanosized (40-150 nm) extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from cells that play a vital role in the human body's intracellular communication.1 The use of bovine-derived exosomes as a drug delivery vehicle provides an innovative approach to targeted drug delivery4 due to their stability, nontoxicity, non-immunogenic properties, and cost efficiency.5,6,7,8,9 The purpose of our research is to establish and refine a raw bovine milk exosome isolation protocol to determine the quality of exosomes. Current standards for small EV identification are currently being established and regulated by the International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) but center around three main categories: proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.2 To refer to EVs as exosomes, they must be of endosome origin, otherwise they are referred to as ectosomes, and must be appropriately referred to by their size.13 Upon isolation, we verified the morphology of the small EV’s using Scanning Electron Microscopy, allowing visualization of the size and shape of the small EVs. Our research methods for the quantification of surface proteins include Rose Bengal Assay12 and Bradford Assay. Examination using exosome-specific cell surface markers, such as CD63, demonstrates protein functionality of the small EVs. Quantification of lipids allows for comparison of lipid concentration to surface protein concentration for further evidence of exosome identification. Lastly, RNA quantification ensured the small EVs met the concentration threshold to be defined as exosomes. The combination of these methods will further the work in bovine milk extracellular vesicles by yielding a low-cost, high-yield protocol for the isolation and characterization of EVs that can be further used as biomarkers, drug carriers, and a variety of platforms of delivery to physiological targets. [1] Rayamajhi, S., Nguyen T., Marasini R., Aryal S. Macrophage-derived exosome-mimetic hybrid [2] Théry, C., Witwer, K.W., Aikawa, E., Alcaraz, M.J., Anderson, J.D., Andriantsitohaina, R., et al. Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018): a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines.  Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 2018; 7:1. [3] Pullan, J. E., Confeld, M. I., Osborn, J. K., Kim, J., Sarkar, K., and Mallik, S. Exosomes as drug carriers for cancer therapy. Molecular Pharmaceutics 2019; 16:1789–1798. vesicles for tumor targeted drug delivery. Acta Biomaterialia 2019; 94:482-494.  [4] He J, Ren W, Wang W, et al. Exosomal targeting and its potential clinical application. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2022;12(10):2385-2402. [5] Munagala R, Aqil F, Jeyabalan J, Gupta RC. Bovine milk-derived exosomes for drug delivery. Cancer Lett. 2016; 371(1):48-61. [6] Rashidi M, Bijari S, Khazaei AH, Shojaei-Ghahrizjani F, Rezakhani L. The role of milk-derived exosomes in the treatment of diseases. Front Genet 2022;13:1009338.  [7]García-Martínez J, Pérez-Castillo ÍM, Salto R, López-Pedrosa JM, Rueda R, Girón MD. Beneficial Effects of Bovine Milk Exosomes in Metabolic Interorgan Cross-Talk. Nutrients 2022;14(7):1442.  [8] Mashouri, L., Yousefi, H., Aref, A.R. et al. Exosomes: composition, biogenesis, and mechanisms in cancer metastasis and drug resistance. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:75.  [9] Radha Munagala, Hina Kausar, Charu Munjal, Ramesh C. Gupta, Withaferin A induces p53-dependent apoptosis by repression of HPV oncogenes and upregulation of tumor suppressor proteins in human cervical cancer cells, Carcinogenesis 2011; 11:1697–1705. [10] Wijenayake S., Eisha S., Tawhidi Z., Pitino M.A., Steele M.A., Fleming A.S., et al. Comparison of methods for pre-processing, exosome isolation, and RNA extraction in unpasteurized bovine and human milk. PLoS ONE 2021;16:e0257633. [11] Osteikoetxea X., Balogh A., Szabó-Taylor K., Németh A., Szabó T.G., Pálóczi K., et al. Improved Characterization of EV Preparations Based on Protein to Lipid Ratio and Lipid Properties. PLOS ONE 2015;10:e0121184. [12] Kishore, S.; Maruthamuthu, M. Binding of Rose Bengal onto Bovine Serum Albumin. Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences 1993, 105 (4–5), 279–285. DOI:10.1007/bf02866917. [13] Théry, C., Witwer, K. W., Aikawa, E. et al. (2018). Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018): A position statement of the International Society for extracellular vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20013078.2018.1535750z

Authors: Mackay B Steffensen, AustinRyan A Kirkby, Kieran L Richards. Mentors: Mackay B Steffensen. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Cyanuric chloride, a 1,3,5-trichlorotriazine, serves as a valuable platform for constructing innovative molecules. This project explores the unique reactivity of triazines to synthesize triazine crown ethers—a class of cyclic polyethers with a central cavity capable of selectively binding metal ions and polar molecules. Temperature-controlled nucleophilic aromatic substitution is employed to selectively substitute the triazine ring, providing precise control over the reaction. The first substitution with a primary amine nucleophile occurs rapidly at 0 °C, while subsequent substitutions at room temperature or 70 °C necessitate longer reaction times. This controlled approach enables the incorporation of three different amines.The project aims to synthesize triazine crown ethers through temperature-dependent substitution using two different methods. The first approach employs a diamine with an ether linkage in the presence of a base, facilitating consecutive substitutions to produce the target molecule. Intramolecular reactions are favored, but intermolecular reactions may lead to unexpected yet valuable products. The second method utilizes templated synthesis, taking advantage of the affinity of crown ethers for metal cations to promote cyclization reactions. A traditional route involving post-synthetic cyclization with ethylene glycol is also considered.The successful synthesis of these molecules opens up opportunities for further research, including characterizing their affinity for metals and exploring other unique properties. The acquired knowledge can be applied to construct more complex molecular structures, making this work valuable in materials science, analytical chemistry, and pharmaceuticals.

Authors: Lonnie Ernst. Mentors: Lane Law. Insitution: Salt Lake Community College. Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria commonly found in water. Microcystis aeruginosa is one such cyanobacteria that is found within the waters of Utah Lake. M. aeruginosa produces the microcystin toxin which is harmful to the aquatic life and contributes to the ongoing problem of eutrophication and, if ingested, is also harmful to humans. Alongside this toxin producing cyanobacteria, Utah Lake is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which are highly carcinogenic chemical compounds. This study aims to offer a method of bioremediation by engineering M. aeruginosa to carry a BPH gene pathway that breaks down PCBs. Using CRISPR, this gene would remove the microcystin producing gene and replace it with the BPH gene resulting in the engineered M. aeruginosa to breakdown the PCB contaminants and halt further production of the microcystin toxin.

Authors: Sydney Pruett. Mentors: Roger Gold. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) presents an innovative avenue for sustainable construction and environmental remediation. This biogenic process leverages the enzymatic hydrolysis of urea by microorganisms to generate calcium carbonate crystals, offering a green alternative with carbon sequestration potential, enhanced structural durability, and self-healing capabilities. Sporosarcina pasteurii is currently the predominant microorganism employed in biobrick production due to its notable urease activity. This study endeavors to assess the MICP potential of less explored bacterial strains with comparable urease activity levels. The strains under investigation include Sporosarcina ureae, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus stearothermophilus. Additionally, we aim to shed light on the viability of these alternative microorganisms for MICP applications, contributing to a broader understanding of this promising technology's adaptability and potential implications for sustainable construction practices.

Authors: Alix Elliston. Mentors: Lane Law. Insitution: Salt Lake Community College. Cyanobacteria (colloquially known as blue-green algae) are photosynthetic prokaryotes commonly found in water. Several genera of freshwater cyanobacteria, including Microcystis, Planktothrix (Oscillatoria), and Anabaena, produce potent hepatotoxins known as microcystins. Eutrophication and increasing temperatures facilitate an overgrowth of toxin-producing cyanobacteria, referred to as cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs). There are several known cyanophages which infect these genera and there has been some research into the role phages play in regulating cyanoHABs. This study aims to isolate microcystin-producing cyanobacteria from Utah Lake, as well as known or novel freshwater cyanophages which can infect the isolates. Any isolated phage will be propagated, have its DNA extracted and sequenced, and studied for use as a CRISPR delivery vehicle to target toxin-producing cyanobacteria, with the aim of knocking out microcystin biosynthesis.

Authors: Ann Day, Shawn Coon. Mentors: Shawn Coon. Insitution: Westminster College. The decades long movement to discredit, defund, and de-professionalize public education has taken many forms. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers have increasingly attempted to undermine public education through state specific programs (Bacher-Hicks et tal., 2023; Peele & Riser-Kositsky, 2020; Friedman & Young, 2022; Perera, 2023; Vasallo, 2023; Walker, 2022). These policies have taken many forms and attempted to address multiple perceived problems. However, the one commonality between all of these policies is that they perpetuate a trend of educational policymaking that tacitly or actively attempts to de-professionalize teachers and teaching (Apple, 2004; Milner, 2013). The state of Utah, and it’s 2023 legislative session, offers a compelling case study into why this legislation continues to emerge, the rationale behind this movement, and the impact these policies have on educators.

Authors: Isaac Wilson, Bree Wilson. Mentors: Arianna Harrington. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Understanding the body size of an organism is crucial for discussing its ecological role, potential trophic impact on its environment, and life history. The sauropod dinosaurs represent the largest land animals known, reaching masses many times that of modern elephants and rivaling the most massive cetaceans in some cases. This study attempts to quantify the body size variation between average and maximum sauropod dinosaurs by using Camarasaurus as a focal genus and comparing appendicular elements from the same quarries. Intraquarry rather than intraspecific variation is chosen due to the difficulty of diagnosing limb elements to the species level, and limb elements are known to scale isometrically in Camarasaurus. In addition to Camarasaurus-centric measurements, extant and extinct ecological analogues with recorded body size ranges are also used to estimate body size variation. While their life histories are not well-known, histological analysis indicates that sauropods were likely tachymetabolic endotherms, and their growth curves were most similar to birds and large herbivorous mammals in terms of extant taxa. This is in contrast to basal sauropodomorphs like Plateosaurus, which is demonstrated to exhibit high developmental plasticity. Minimum intraspecific size variation, collected from the literature and based on birds, nonavian dinosaurs, and large herbivorous mammals suggest that the largest representatives of any given sauropod species could have been between 139% and well over 200% larger than the average. Applying preliminary ratios from the data collected so far to the largest well-preserved sauropod, Argentinosaurus huinculensis, results in a plausible maximal mass of 137-177 tonnes for the genus.

Authors: Seunghwan Shin, Sydney Coates. Mentors: Guizella Rocabado. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Organic chemistry is one of the most feared and failed courses in the undergraduate curriculum. Consequently, studying what makes this course “too difficult” as perceived by students is worthwhile because these perceptions result in many students not considering STEM majors because they require chemistry courses. Our research group has investigated perceived costs in general chemistry, and this study expands our understanding of these constructs in organic chemistry. Students’ perceived costs of a chemistry class can be many, such as task effort, loss of valued alternatives, emotional, and others. These costs might be overcome by students’ interests and goals, yet the level of perceived costs might have a lasting impact on the students’ overall perception of chemistry and their desire to pursue chemistry and other STEM careers in the future. In this study we investigated the mentioned subclasses of perceived costs, other salient perceived costs, and mastery or performance goal orientations and the impact these constructs may have on students’ experiences in organic chemistry classrooms. Expanding on a previous study in general chemistry, we present the results of interviews we conducted with students in this class. Our results reveal that students struggle with the content, pace, and overall difficulty of the material. These results are not surprising; however, we also uncovered the students’ deep desire to learn and understand the material, the motivating effect of having a good relationship with their professor, and many other themes that emerged from our conversations.

Authors: Gabriella Proctor, Luke Alder. Mentors: Marcos Corchando Sonera. Insitution: Southern Utah University. The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is known to cause the disease chytridiomycosis and is notorious for its role in decimating anuran populations worldwide. A highly prevalent invasive species, the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), is understood to play an important role in the transmission of this disease in invaded regions. Notably, American bullfrogs are often largely immune to the effects of Bd, making them important reservoirs of the pathogen. Within southern Utah, this species has successfully invaded the Virgin River watershed, yet this population has not been the subject of prior study regarding its potential as a reservoir for Bd. We hypothesize that the Utah population has also been infected with Bd, potentially endangering native amphibian species. We sampled 46 bullfrog specimens from eight distinct aquatic habitats within the Virgin River basin in southwest Utah. Skin swabs will undergo purification and quantification, followed by PCR and gel electrophoresis to visualize and confirm results. We hope that our findings will be valuable in comprehending the impact of invasive American bullfrogs on amphibians within the Colorado River basin, particularly in relation to the spread and effects of chytridiomycosis.

Authors: Braden Nelson. Mentors: Nathan S Werner. Insitution: Southern Utah University. The stereocontrolled palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of (E)-2-phenylethenylboronic acid pinacol ester with aryl chlorides to produce (E)-stilbene derivatives was studied. (E)-2-Phenylethenylboronic acid pinacol ester was synthesized by 9-borobicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) catalyzed hydroboration reaction of phenylacetylene with pinacolborane. The reaction conditions of the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of this reagent with aryl chlorides were then evaluated to maximize the yield of the cross-coupled product. The maximum yield of (E)-stilbene, 74%, was obtained when the amount of (E)-2-phenylethenylboronic acid pinacol ester was increased from 1.2 to 1.5 equivalents, RuPhos was used as the ligand, K2CO3 was used as the base, and DMF was used as the reaction solvent at 90 °C. Four other aryl chlorides bearing electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents in the ortho- and para-positions were found to undergo facile coupling in 91-100% isolated yield.

Authors: Derek Baker, Lauren Jensen, Dagney Goodfellow, Seunghwan Shin. Mentors: Guizella Rocabado. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Differences in sexes have long been speculated, yet their application in chemistry learning environments has not been well researched. Literature shows that males have larger cerebral volumes for visual capacities more often associated with hands-on projects and courses than female brains. And female brains have larger cerebral volumes for areas associated with memorization and socialization which more highly correlate with lecture-based learning. Given the high attrition of women in chemistry courses, we investigated this phenomenon in organic chemistry topics that are highly visual (e.g. chirality, Newman projections, chair conformations, bond rotations, etc.) and topics that require more memorization (e.g., functional groups, energy values associated with sterics, nomenclature, definitions, etc.). We conducted an anonymous survey with students who are currently enrolled in organic chemistry or have taken organic chemistry in the past. The questions varied in difficulty as well as levels of visualization or memorization required. The results show correlation with the literature that males score better in the visual-based questions, and females score better in the memorization-based questions. In addition, we conducted interviews with male and female students in organic chemistry, and found that the female students self-generated various techniques to visualize 3D rotations (e.g., use their hands, draw arrows, etc). While most male students didn’t adopt these techniques because they were able to do the 3D rotations in their head. With these results, we plan to design course interventions to bridge the gaps between the extremes of visualization vs. memorization-based concepts for the students.

Authors: Andy Sefcik. Mentors: Jamie Johnson. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Utah Valley University's Repertory Ballet Ensemble (RBE) has made it a priority to expose students to contemporary ballet techniques. In the Summer and Fall of 2023, Complexions Contemporary Ballet (CCB) Former Ballet Master, Christina Johnson, and Répétiteur, Jourdan Epstein visited the university to teach NIQUE classes and set repertoire on RBE for the February 2024 concerts. CCB was founded in 1994 by Master Choreographer Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson with the intent of reinventing dance by fusing a variety of styles and techniques. Based on phenomenological field research, gathered during the CCB Winter Intensive, I intend to illuminate the hallmarks of the CCB generated “NIQUE” technique in comparison to Vaganova approaches to ballet technique. In this presentation, I will present phrasework in the style of classical Vaganova ballet technique in comparison to NIQUE technique to create a clear visual difference between the two movement styles. This research shares the fundamentals of NIQUE technique to highlight how it is connected to and how it has developed beyond classical ballet technique.

Authors: Harmony Newbrough. Insitution: Utah Valley University. During the time of Ancient Rome, there were many sarcophagi that were created that had faceless portraits, and it could have been for a number of reasons, whether it be financial or personal. These unfinished portrait faces have puzzled archaeologists and historians alike in trying to find a concrete answer as to why there are so many of them,

Authors: Ty Wilson. Mentors: Amita Kaundal. Insitution: Utah State University. Climate-induced environmental stresses and the increased use of fertilizers to meet the increasing demand for food significantly threaten food production and soil health. In natural environments, microbes are vital to the growth and development of plants. Their presence in the soil allows for enormous flexibility and nutritional availability for plants, particularly those living in harsh conditions. A plant’s microbiome, especially the underground, plays a significant role in its growth and development and mitigates environmental stresses. Idaho and Utah are particularly challenging environments due to extreme temperatures and arid soil. However, despite these difficult environmental factors, the native plants of Utah and Idaho can thrive. Here, we are exploring the rhizosphere microbiome of Shepherdia x utahensis ‘Torrey,’ a hybrid of two highly drought-tolerant buffaloberry species, S. argentea and S. rotundifolia native to the Intermountain West region of the US to isolate plant growth promoting bacteria. In this study, we isolated drought-resistant plant growth-promoting microbes from the rhizosphere of hybrid buffaloberry. Root samples of hybrid buffaloberry were collected from three locations in Utah: the USU campus, Greenville Farm USU, and the USU botanical garden, Kaysville. The rhizosphere was removed from these root samples and pooled together. The bacteria were isolated on five different bacterial growth media twice. The isolated microbes were then purified using the streak plate method. Forty-six unique isolates were selected based on morphological characteristics and tested for four plant growth-promoting traits. Fourteen bacteria could show the ability to fix nitrogen fix, 18 produced a siderophore, 17 could solubilize phosphate, and 11 produced catalases. IAA production, ACC deaminase, and protease activity assays are in progress. All isolates will be identified by 16S rRNA Sanger sequencing.

Authors: Alexander Everett, David Bean, Jeremy W Bakelar, Randy L Klabacka. Mentors: Randy L Klabacka. Insitution: Utah Tech University. β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) is a protein complex vital to cell survival in gram-negative bacteria that functions to insert proteins into the cell’s outer membrane. BamA, a protein composed of a membrane-bound beta barrel and several POTRA domains that protrude into the cytosol, is the primary subunit within BAM. It is suggested that BamA is conserved due to its widespread presence across the bacterial tree of life. Here we quantify the conservancy of BamA in 142 species of gram-negative bacteria from across the bacterial tree of life, with a focus on 120 species belonging to the order Enterobacterales. In addition, we compared the conservancy of BamA with other proteins with high and moderate levels of conservation in Enterobacterales. Lastly, we discuss regions of BamA that are of high conservation in the context of their potential as antibiotic targets.

Authors: Kylie Hansen. Mentors: Janis Boettinger. Insitution: Utah State University. Cache Valley, Utah, has unique soils due to environmental events such as Pleistocene pluvial Lake Bonneville. This lake extended about 20,000 square miles in Northern Utah, and its depletion left numerous shorelines, the most relevant being the Bonneville and Provo shorelines. These various water levels influence the geological formations in Cache Valley and the different characteristics of soil formation. An important soil-forming factor used to characterize varying soils is the parent material. Parent material is the original sediments the soil formed on and can be various things such as sediments deposited by gravity, streams, lake sediments, or wind. These different materials depend on the location and alter the soil properties. A dominant soil parent material in the Lake Bonneville area is sediment deposited by this lake. This type of parent material is identifiable by coarser-sized sediments, such as cobbles, gravel, and sand. This pattern is evident on terraces in Cache Valley’s lower soil layers, but the near-surface layers have fewer rock fragments and more fine sand, silt, and clay. This distinct difference in particle size leads to the question of what is the parent material source in the surface horizons of soil formed in Lake Bonneville deposits in Cache Valley. There is not much literature on this question and little documentation compares the soil profiles for different Lake Bonneville terrace levels (Bonneville shoreline compared to Provo shoreline). We hypothesize that the different particle sizes of parent material in the surface of soils formed dominantly in Lake Bonneville deposits is eolian sediment transported and deposited by wind. To determine this, we will sample soils across Cache Valley and analyze the fine and very fine sand sediments in plane-polarized and cross-polarized light. This process will identify various minerals within each soil horizon, showing possible differences in the upper and lower horizons. The minerals present in each soil will indicate the parent materials, allowing us to understand what is causing the different textured horizons in these soils and where the sediment originated from.

Authors: Reagan McKee, Vicente Fernández Lara, Jeremy Bakelar, Randy Klabacka, Dustin Kolste. Mentors: Randy Klabacka. Insitution: Utah Tech University. The capability to survive freezing temperatures is of crucial importance to ectothermic organisms inhabiting cold climates. The mechanisms that have evolved to minimalize the cellular damage incurred by freezing are of interest due to their applications in agriculture and medicine. fr10 is a gene identified in the wood frog (Rana sylvatica)that has been shown to reduce the cellular damage sustained in freezing temperatures. To date, fr10 has not been identified in any taxa beyond R. sylvatica and as such, the evolution of this novel gene remains ambiguous. Furthermore, the exact mechanism by which fr10 reduces freezing related damage has yet to be determined. We use bioinformatics scripts to scan 38 frog genomes to identify orthologs in divergent frog lineages across varying elevational and latitudinal gradients and examine the evolution of this novel gene. Understanding the evolutionary and ecological context of this gene can elucidate its function and may inform commercial and medical applications.

Authors: Justin Hawkins, Charley Beck. Mentors: Alex Tye. Insitution: Utah Tech University. This study aims to address a critical gap in our understanding of the geological history and tectonic evolution of the Andes mountain range in Argentina. The Andes were formed due to a convergent boundary between the Nazca and South American plates. We are interested in the history of this boundary and how these mountains were formed. To better constrain the history of crustal deformation in NW Argentina, we collected samples from the Sierra de Chango Real, located south and along-strike of the Eastern Cordillera, and conducted new apatite (U-Th)/He dating on these samples. We combined new apatite (U-Th)/He data with the existing apatite fission-track data to gain a more comprehensive perspective on the geological evolution of the region.Apatite (U-Th)/He ages for new samples from the Sierra de Chango Real are between 6.3 and 17.6 Ma. These ages indicate Miocene exhumation of the Sierra de Chango Real due to tectonic deformation. Also, the distribution of these ages within the samples offers valuable information regarding variations in uplift rates and thermal events, which contribute to a better understanding of the geological processes that have shaped the Andes mountains. Published apatite fission track ages from the same locations have ages of 38 Ma to 30 Ma. Together, the thermochronometric ages suggest a history of tectonic exhumation from 38 Ma until ca. 6 Ma. In conclusion, our current study and analysis of samples taken from Sierra de Chango Real, Argentina, in conjunction with published apatite fission-track data, contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the region's geological history.

Authors: Amy Richards, Caleb Shelton, Jordan Colmenero, Mason Warenski. Mentors: Diana Reese. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Hydrogen gas has potential to be an excellent form of clean energy; unfortunately, hydrogen gas is difficult to store safely in its elemental form. Consequently, this research project investigated cyclic aminoborane complexes in which hydrogen (H2) can be safely stored. Utilizing computational methods, molecular dynamics simulations of four cyclic aminoborane compounds were performed using Q-CHEM 6.0, with a t-HCTHh density functional and cc-pVDZ basis set. Results were visualized using Molden 6.7 and VMD 1.9.3 then plotted using Gnuplot 5.2.8. Molecules selected for the investigation involve two constitutional isomers for both the 3- and 4- membered ring cyclic aminoborane complexes. The four molecules studied were (CH2)2NHBH3, (CH2)2BHNH3, (CH2)3NHBH3, and (CH2)3BHNH3, (hereafter 3N-B, 3B-N, 4N-B, 4B-N). Motions inherent in these molecules exhibited surprising differences. Specifically, in the 3-membered rings, the terminal borane (3N-B) exhibited more motion than the terminal amine (3B-N); however in the 4-membered rings (4N-B and 4B-N) the opposite occurred. Differences in these and other motions were quantified and qualified with respect to each molecule to gather data relevant to hydrogen storage potential.

Authors: Alyssa Muller, Russ Ross. Mentors: Russ Ross. Insitution: Utah Tech University. University course timetabling assigns rooms and times to courses, considering instructor availability, curriculum conflicts, and quality of life considerations. Computing an optimal solution is computationally intractable. Researchers have refined approximation algorithms that yield far better results than the conventional pencil-and-paper approach used at many universities, including our own. Transitioning to an automated system can be disruptive and poses both real and perceived risks to an institution. The implicit knowledge that humans bring to the problem is hard to fully capture within formal rules that a computer can understand. Our research addresses the impedance mismatch between abstract solutions and the messy real world.In this project we build on prior research to fit the specific needs of our university. We will pilot our system with a set of departments in parallel with the traditional by hand process. We will analyze outcome quality through subjective assessment and quantitative comparison between human and machine generated timetables.

Authors: Ashley Staten. Mentors: Jennifer Meyer. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Pterostilbene, a natural product found in blueberries and nuts, has been shown to be multifunctional. In low doses, it has been shown to be a potent antioxidant, while in higher doses, it has been shown to reduce cell proliferation, induce autophagy, and increase apoptosis. Recent literature has indicated that derivatives of pterostilbene can improve the functionality of pterostilbene in both cancer cell viability (reduction) and antioxidant capacity (increase). Previously, our group has synthesized and characterized the antioxidant capacity of a select group of pterostilbene derivatives, which have been functionalized to contain an additional alcohol and amine group. Most recently, we have synthesized a derivative containing benzylamine as the amine. This amine was chosen as benzylamine and drugs functionalized with benzylamine groups have been shown to have antiapoptotic properties. Currently, we aim to further characterize this novel pterostilbene derivative as we believe it has the potential to be utilized as a therapeutic in various disease states such as cancer and type 2 diabetes.

Authors: Michael Orr. Mentors: Md Sazib Hasan, Alex Tye. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Every year Landslides claim lives and cause billions in property damage. Zion National Park in Southwestern Utah has been monitoring a precarious rock column contained within the parks borders since 2019. The results of this rockfall will be damage to the land and historical structures located in the fall area. The data are collected by two instruments called vibrating-wire crackmeters that are connected from the cliff face to the pillar—these are electronic and provide a continuous feed of distance measurements. The project will be focused on analyzing a 4-year record of displacement of a precarious rock pillar from the adjacent cliff face from which it will eventually separate and topple onto a slope below. We will also be analyzing the environmental factors causing the movement of the rock column. Results of this modeling will help us better understand the driving forces behind rockfalls, possibly helping to mitigate future damage.

Authors: Vicente Fernández Lara, Reagan McKee, Randy Klabacka, Angelina Romero. Mentors: Randy Klabacka. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Aspidoscelis (family: Teiidae) is a genus of lizards with many parthenogenic species found in North America. The parthenogenic species reproduce asexually, meaning all individuals in these species are female. The native range of Aspidoscelis neomexicanus (the New Mexico whiptail) is within the Rio Grande basin in New Mexico and Trans Pecos Texas. It has been reported outside its foreign range in northern Utah (Salt Lake area) as an introduced/invasive species, but has never been reported in southern Utah. We captured three individuals in Washington County that have the superficial diagnostic characters of Aspidoscelis neomexicanus. Using molecular genetics, we will test the taxonomic identity of this species and use phylogenetic analysis to determine the source population from its native range.

Authors: Taylor Millett, Wendy Schatzberg, Samuel Tobler. Mentors: Wendy Schatzberg. Insitution: Utah Tech University. This study delves into the intriguing world of hollow hair strands in animals, focusing on their role in thermoregulation, and the ability to maintain a stable body temperature in the face of fluctuating external conditions. While the Pronghorn antelope is widely known for having hollow hair strands among hunters and conservationists, little is known about their internal structure. Employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we explored the inner composition of these hollow hair strands and their contribution to thermoregulation. Our investigation centered on several notable North American big game animals, including Mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, and Pronghorn antelope, all of which exhibit a unique adaptation: the transition between summer and winter coats. Through SEM analysis, we measured and compared the winter and summer coats of these animals to gain insights into how they effectively regulate their body temperatures during the extremes of hot summers and cold winters. These seasonal changes manifest in alterations in fur and hair thickness and length. Under the microscope, we unveiled the distinct topography of the inner structure of individual hair strands. Notably, our findings revealed that the inner hair structure contains larger hollow pockets in the winter coats of these animals. Our research thus sheds light on the role of these hollow structures in heat transfer and their pivotal contribution to the thermoregulation abilities of these remarkable creatures, expanding our understanding of their unique adaptations.

Authors: Grace Harang, Avery Hansgen. Mentors: Zhenyu Jin. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Title: Utah Tech Capus Temperature Mapping with GISAuthors: Grace Harang and Avery Hansgen, Advisor: Zhenyu JinAbstract: Across America, college campuses are re-evaluating their landscaping decisions to better support the environment. Utah Tech University, in the Mojave Desert, has a large amount of grass across the campus which is extremely water-consuming, non-native, and expensive to upkeep. However, removal of grass would result in lower humidity and even higher temperatures on campus. Our research will quantify how the temperature may be affected based on land-cover. This will be essential to any future decisions by the school board. Our method will be to map out 45 evenly spaced points across Utah Tech campus, 15 grass land-cover, 15 xero-scape cover, and 15 bare concrete (parking lots). At both 10am and 9pm. At each point, we will record the humidity and air temperature. To ensure that the sun rays and wind-chill are not also being read, we will use an umbrella to shade the measuring device. The purpose of this project is to determine the temperature difference between the three different surfaces, and to use GIS spatial interpolation to make campus temperature maps.

Authors: Austin Meyer, Gavin Grimmett, Martina Gaspari. Mentors: Martina Gaspari. Insitution: Utah Tech University. DNA can form non-canonical base pairings, resulting in structures distinct from the conventional double helix. One such example is the Hoogsteen base pairing, which can give rise to triple helix DNA. Triple helix DNA plays essential roles in regulating DNA metabolism and gene function, but its unusual nature is inherently mutagenic, sometimes leading to conditions like cancer. Recent research has uncovered that colorectal tumors exhibit significantly higher activity of triplex DNA binding proteins compared to their normal tissue. To explore this correlation, this study aims to employ cell and molecular biology techniques to investigate the relationship between the rise in triple helix DNA binding proteins and the presence of DNA triple helices. We initiated our study by extracting total RNA from HeLa cells, followed by the design and synthesis of specific primers for cloning ORC2 and ORC4 by RT-PCR. The experiment is further designed to analyze the potential consequences of ORC2 and ORC4 overexpression in human cell lines. Expression vectors containing ORC2 and ORC4 will be transfected into WI-38 cell lines comparing them to untransfected ones with hope of observing an increase of the proteins of interest and of triple helix DNA. The cell lines will be lysed, the total protein will be extracted, and Western blot will be conducted for comparison. Triple helix DNA will also be measured by calorimetric melting and high-speed centrifugation.

Authors: Erick Gutierrez, Sazib Hasan, Vinodh Chellamuthu, Jie Liu. Mentors: Sazib Hasan. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Breast Cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States.In 2023, the American Cancer Society anticipates the diagnosis of 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer, with approximately 43,700 women expected to lose their lives to this disease. It is crucial to undertake research endeavors aimed at discerning genetic sequence patterns to facilitate the classification and treatment of breast cancer. Recent work has shown that Machine Learning techniques are effective at classifying breast cancer using genetic sequences. Our research employs the METABRIC Breast Cancer Gene Expression Profiles dataset and machine learning techniques like Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLP) and Random Forest to explore the link between survivability, treatment, and specific genes in breast cancer patients. Predicting survival based on gene sequences and treatments can inform effective countermeasures and research priorities.

Authors: Dante Celani, Erin Bunch, Randy Klabacka. Mentors: Randy Klabacka. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Hybrid parthenogenic whiptail species have lower endurance capacity and mitochondrial respiration than their sexual parental species. These differences in aerobic performance may be due to reduced compatibility of variable gene products between the divergent parental genomes that are present in the hybrids. If this is the case, we expect to see genetic variation in mitochondrial-targetting genes. We performed whole-genome sequencing for four sexual whiptail species that are parental species to hybrid parthenogenetic species, and we mapped those samples to an annotated whiptail genome. We call gene variants and classify them as coding, non-coding, synonymous, and non-synonymous to understand which variants might contribute to phenotypic variation, and we discuss approaches to further elucidate the genetic mechanism behind the lower aerobic performance in hybrid parthenogens.

Authors: Charley Beck, Justin Hawkins. Mentors: Alex Tye. Insitution: Utah Tech University. Thermochronometry dating of apatite (U-Th/He) of Andes Plate Tectonics from the Sierra de Altohuasi Charley Beck, Justin Hawkins, Alex TyeDuring the Cenozoic time period plate tectonics caused uplift in the Eastern Cordillera. We constrain the geologic evolution of the southernmost Eastern Cordillera through (U-Th/He) dating. Our results advance our understanding of the convergent plate boundary of the South American Plate and the Nazca Plate. The exhumation event caused the formation of the mountain range found in the Sierra de Altohuasi. Four samples were collected in the Sierra de Altohuasi near the town of Corral Quemado, Catamarca Province, Argentina. The samples were then analyzed using an apatite (U-Th)/He) system. The results indicated exhumation of the Sierra de Altohuasi from 28.6-13.3 Ma. This suggests an episode of exhumation during the Miocene and Oligocene, due to subduction of the Nazca Plate under the South American Plate. These apatite (U-Th/He) ages better constrain the exhumation history of the Eastern Cordillera. Further studies will show correlation of uplift events of the surrounding areas of Corral Quemado. Due to the compressed South American Plate, our data suggests the large mountain range formed under movement of the Nazca Plate.

Authors: Sebastian Partida. Mentors: Jamie Spinney. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Lighting levels have an important role in influencing the ambiance and functionality of various land uses. To achieve specified goals while optimizing energy efficiency and sustainability, lighting intensity must be balanced. The purpose of this study was to compare light intensity for different land uses (e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational). This study measured light intensity (i.e., brightness) for a random sample of different land uses using a digital light meter within Cedar City, UT. GPS coordinates were also acquired in order to map the brightness data. As expected, the results revealed that residential land uses were the darkest, whereas commercial and industrial land uses were the brightest. The findings indicate communities have to maintain a balance between creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere and ensuring appropriate illumination for safety and security purposes. Energy-efficient LED fixtures and smart lighting systems, for example, can provide adjustable and programmable illumination settings that meet both aesthetic and safety requirements.

Authors: Daniel Davis, Paul B Frandsen. Mentors: Paul B. Frandsen. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The nut and acorn weevils of the genus Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are a diverse group of beetles with a unique life history. A female weevil uses her rostrum (snout) that is about the length of her body to dig into the flesh of a developing hard-shelled seed and lay her eggs inside where they can safely develop into larvae. After the grown larvae exit their seeds, they spend one or more years burrowed in the soil near host trees. During this time they enter diapause, a state of suspended development to minimize the energy that they expend. Studies indicate that a major purpose of this behavior is to align their adult emergence with masting events (large scale seed production every 2-5 years) of their host trees. Between, and even within, Curculio species, there is significant variation in diapause lengths and behaviors (Higaki, 2016). This wide array of adaptive behaviors is a result of the coevolution between these insects and their various hosts. Here, we present a high quality genome of a Curculio species. With this genome, we discuss the genetic and evolutionary factors that have given rise to this unique life history of Curculio and future plans to compare the genomes of multiple Curculio to further unravel this mystery.

Authors: Erika Frandsen. Mentors: C. Riley Nelson. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The Timpanogos Cave System consists of three caves in American Fork, Utah. In 2003, the National Park Service (NPS) commissioned Dr. Riley Nelson and laboratory students to conduct a survey of the diversity and abundance of terrestrial arthropod species found within the caves. Over the two years they sampled in Timpanogos Caves, they identified 55 species of macroinvertebrates in an unpublished report.In the 20 years since the last sampling, many environmental factors could’ve changed in these caves, contributing to an overall decrease in both abundance and biodiversity of fauna. Therefore, we repeated the sampling done by the Nelson lab in 2003-2004 for the duration of May 2023-October 2023 to compare the two time periods’ macroinvertebrate communities.The six taxonomic families found most abundantly in 2003-2004 continue to be the most abundant families found in 2023. Additionally, a new taxon of cave beetle Rhadine sp. not found 20 years ago was discovered early in our sampling of 2023. Despite the increase in visitation over the past 20 years, at this stage in the analysis, the macroinvertebrate community within the caves seems to have almost no loss of diversity. Additionally, the appearance of new taxa indicates that there is still more life and diversity within the caves left to discover.

Authors: Nathaniel Call. Mentors: Chelsea Romney. Insitution: Brigham Young University. New college students may experience stressors like difficult academic work, new social environments, and living on their own for the first time. Students of color may experience additional stressors due to minority stress, experiences of racism, and unfamiliar social contexts. We collected self-reported depression, anxiety, and academic self-efficacy measures from 742 first-year college students. We found that students of color reported higher levels of depression, F(1, 733) = 11.04, p < .001, and anxiety F(1, 734) = 14.91, p < .001, compared to white students. Further, we found that white students reported higher academic self-efficacy, F(1, 742) = 9.97, p = .002, compared to students of color. This suggests that lower confidence in academic work is related to higher depression and anxiety in nonwhite students, r(661) = -.32, p < .001. Our study builds on previous research by providing a possible pathway through which students of color develop more depression and anxiety through lower academic self-efficacy compared to white students.

Authors: Nicholas Poll. Mentors: Moriel Zelikowsky. Insitution: University of Utah. Social interaction is one of the chief drivers of evolution and natural selection. Animal interactions shape the ecological world and have shaped the world’s evolutionary timeline. Of the many types of animal interactions, one of the most influential to behavior and development is aggression. Many animals' aggressive behaviors and mechanisms are so distinct that their origins can be traced back to specific selective pressures. These pressures range from reproductive competition to predator-prey interactions and have apparent effects on many species’ developments. There are many stressors that can increase aggressive tendencies found in mammals, yet it’s clear that the neural bases that connect these stressors and their behavioral responses are understudied. The targeted brain region in this project is the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). The BNST is a neurochemically diverse node of the extended amygdala that has been implicated in mediating stress and sensory information. It anatomically acts as a relay station between a number of different structures including the hypothalamus and amygdala. The BNST has been implicated to have a role in stressor-induced aggressive behaviors; however, the neural mechanisms that connect this region and these behaviors are relatively understudied. Corticotropin-releasing Hormone (CRH) in mammals displays upregulation following the introduction of a stressor and has been found to mediate aggression and anxiety. Similarly, tachykinin-expressing neurons have been shown to have a role in mediating aggression in mammals. While CRH and tachykinin’s link to anxiety and aggression is well supported, it is not clear to what extent it has on BNST. This project aims to provide data to support the role that CRH and Tachykinin 2 (Tac2) in the BNST have in mediating aggression in mice through optogenetic stimulation.

Authors: Jared Carter. Mentors: Jeff Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a chronic condition affecting nearly half a billion people worldwide. Symptoms of T2D include impaired glucose tolerance, decreased insulin secretion and significant weight gain. While the symptoms of T2D are well-documented, the underlying pathology remains unclear. Recent research has indicated the critical role of the nuclear receptor Nr4a3 in the development of glucose intolerance and weight gain. In individuals with T2D, the Nr4a3 promoter is hypermethylated, leading to decreased Nr4a3 expression. Elucidating the role of Nr4a3 in mitochondrial respiration in adipose will help define the mechanism of T2D onset and treatment. I studied mice with full body knockout (KO) for Nr4a3. These mice exhibited T2D-like symptoms, including impaired glucose tolerance, reduced insulin secretion and increased adiposity. I measured mitochondrial respiration in muscle, liver, kidney, and adipose tissue, with impaired respiration only observed in adipose tissue. This impairment in adipose tissue respiration correlated with an increase in the size of all adipose deposits, larger adipocytes, and expanded lipid droplets. Intriguingly, the analysis of electron transport chain and tricarboxylic acid complex proteins revealed no significant differences compared to control samples. Instead, the change in respiration was attributed to a reduction in active DRP1 protein, responsible for mitochondrial fission and maintenance. These findings have important implications for our understanding of T2D and its potential treatment strategies, which will be discussed in more detail.

Authors: Dallin Oyler, Ana Alfaro, Kailee Myxter, Ben Brooks, Amanda Brooks. Mentors: Jessica Pullan. Insitution: Southern Utah University. Nausea and vomiting are common complications that occur in 70% of pregnancies. Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is the most severe form of these symptoms and is estimated to be prevalent in 0.3-2% of pregnancies. Due to the fetal and maternal morbidity associated with HG, identifying the cause and treatment options for these women is a critical task in obstetrics. Research regarding the etiology of HG has been fairly recent and is still ongoing, however, evidence had directed to a positive correlation between increased levels of the serum protein GDF15 and HG symptoms. We hypothesize that polymorphisms in both maternal and fetal DNA plays a role in the upregulated GDF-15 seen in mothers experiencing symptoms of HG during pregnancy. The DNA of 2 mothers and their corresponding children were sequenced and analyzed. The DNA was obtained through buccal swabs from the epithelial cells of the inner cheek, and then purified and ran through PCR. We employed 3 distinct primers that correspond to mutations in the genome that account for the elevated levels of circulating GDF-15 in the mother. As of current, the mother-daughter DNA is still under analysis for single-nucleotide polymorphisms, however recently published literature has suggested results similar to our hypothesis. M. Fejzo et al. shows that upregulated serum GDF-15 is primarily of fetal origin, and that maternal sensitivity to GDF15 increases the risk for developing HG. Additionally, the DNA coding variant GDF15 C211G was shown to elevate the risk of HG

Authors: Auriana Dunn. Mentors: Kathryn Sokolowski. Insitution: University of Utah. Reconstructing the diet of extinct animals can help us understand how living species are suited to their environments, which can inform paleoecological and zooarchaeological research as well as modern species conservation. Seasonal variation in animals’ diets can further be used to reconstruct seasonality patterns in the past and understand how animals may vary their diet under future climate change. However, determining the diet of extinct species is challenging, and detecting seasonal changes in diet is even more so. Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) can be a tool to solve this problem. DMTA analyzes dental microwear by measuring the pits and scratches on teeth to determine what an animal consumed in the days and weeks before it died. This project examines the DMTA of modern African Bovidae species to determine if seasonal dietary changes can be observed. If a difference can be found in the dental microwear of specimens that died during different seasons, seasonal changes in diet can be inferred. Here, I gathered dental microwear data from 407 specimens across five modern studies and matched the data to the museum specimens’ date of death to determine whether it died in a wet or dry season. The analysis found that four of the Bovidae species examined in our study showed evidence of seasonal diet shifts in their DMTA data. Dental microwear can be useful in determining seasonal diets and season of death for specimens. This method can be applied to extinct Bovidae species to understand ancient ecosystems and the evolution of Bovidae dietary strategies.

Authors: Justin Webb. Mentors: Jeffrey Edwards. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Understanding the mechanisms underlying depotentiation in the context of previously induced long-term potentiation (LTP) is crucial for unraveling the processes of memory consolidation and forgetting. Our research is focused on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, the primary brain region responsible for mediating learning and memory. Using electrophysiology and neuropharmacological techniques, our goal is to elucidate the cellular mechanisms behind depotentiation, a reversal of the increase in postsynaptic response and overall synaptic strength characteristic of LTP. By doing this research, we hope to both fill existing gaps and resolve conflicting views about the processes and receptors involved in depotentiation. Experiments were performed on hippocampal brain slices of young mice. We induced LTP in hippocampal CA1 neurons using high-frequency electrical stimulation, and then elicited depotentiation in the same neurons via low-frequency electrical stimulation. This creates a cellular event analogous to learning and subsequently forgetting a new memory trace. Our preliminary findings show that depotentiation still occurs in the presence of MPEP, a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR5) antagonist, suggesting that the depotentiation mechanism is independent of mGluR5. Additionally, because female rodent models have largely been ignored in prior electrophysiology experiments involving LTP and depotentiation, we investigated and observed gender-related differences, which show female mice exhibiting more pronounced depotentiation than their male counterparts. Building on these findings, our research will continue to identify gender-related differences in both juvenile and adolescent mice, as well as explore the role of NMDA receptors on depotentiation. We will also extend the temporal gap between LTP induction and depotentiation to explore the impact of early-phase versus late-phase LTP on subsequent depotentiation. This research aims to shed light on the intricate mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and its implications for learning, memory, and potential therapeutic modulation of these processes in the context of conditions like Alzheimer's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other disorders of learning and memory.

Authors: Zachary Flynn, Britton Davis, Josh Nicholls, Bryson Mumford. Mentors: Joseph Price. Insitution: Brigham Young University. The United States has massive amounts of public data and land ownership stretching back to the early homesteading period of the American West. This data has been of limited use for economic research because it only includes the name of the ownership, thus making it impossible to study racial and gender differences in land on ownership. We develop an innovative method for linking individual land records to US census records. Our key innovation is that we start by linking individuals with unique names that we can make from land record to census record based on name and town. We then use the geo-coordinates in the land records and the proximity of households on the census sheets to link other individuals that have more common names. This two-step process allows us to link 36% of a sample of people in the land records in Colorado to a census record between 1880 and 1940. This new linked data will be a valuable resource for individuals doing research on the development of the American economy, and also people doing genealogical research.