Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

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  Overcoming the Overgeneration of Renewables

  Joshua Kaze and Ryan Barnard

  2021

  Many states are addressing the issues of climate change, by changing how they produce their energy. The effects of these policies are causing many renewable sources to be underutilized. This paper analyzes how the diversification of energy generation is leading to inefficiencies in the California energy market and the western US market as a whole. The change in curtailment of non-dispatchable renewables is positively correlated with the growth of renewables. Summary statistics and regression analysis show that an increasing portion of renewables is being wasted as the quantity of renewables is increasing. The Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that California introduced is bringing about these problems. The paper considers some of the solutions the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is utilizing, while applying these challenges to Nevada’s similar RPS.

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  Huntington's Disease: A Timeline

  Brian Kerlin, Brandon Polimeni, and Michaelangelo Ortega

  2021

  The purpose of this investigation is to examine the discovery, treatment, social impact, and current research for Huntington’s disease (HD) to provide a foundation to analyze future research towards a cure. Huntington’s disease was first comprehensively described in 1872 by George Huntington. HD is an autosomal-dominant, neurodegenerative disorder that affects approximately 2.7 per 100,000. Individuals with HD present with involuntary muscle movement, cognitive decline, and personality alterations arising at a mean age of 35 years. Symptoms are subtle at first, but as the disease progresses over 15-20 years, the individual’s ability to talk diminishes and their mental abilities decline into dementia. The combination of these symptoms, typical mid-life onset, and dominant inheritance pattern has devastating social and personal impacts on the lives of patients and their families. The cause of the disorder is the inheritance of a mutation in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. The mutation is a trinucleotide repeat expansion resulting in more than 36 CAG repeats, encoding a mutant polyglutamine domain that creates the mutant huntingtin (mHTT). The length of the polyglutamine mutation inversely correlates with the age of onset. Evidence suggests that pathogenesis at the cellular level is due to many toxic gain-of-function effects of mHTT, notably the disruption of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. There is no cure for HD currently, with treatment limited to the alleviation of chorea, palliative care, and counseling. Scientists are targeting many pathways in the development of a cure, including striatal cell replacement, prevention of mHTT aggregation, and reduction of mHTT production.

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  Synthesis of Novel Fluorescent Molecular Probes for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

  David King and Pradip Bhowmik Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a pervasive form of dementia that accounts for 60% to 70% of progressive cognitive impairment within the elderly population.1 This neurodegenerative disease manifests itself through a progressive decline in motor function, memory, and cognition.2 AD is closely associated with the accumulation of amyloid- β (Aβ) proteins that form insoluble plaques.2 The formation of Aβ is a hallmark of AD and can serve as a means for diagnosis. Our objective is to synthesize potential candidates for a practical and safe means to detecting AD in its early stages. We synthesized the target fluorescent probes by Knoevenagel condensation to yield p-styryl pyridinium salts of different carbon chain lengths by reacting terephthalaldehyde and γ-picolinium methyl salts. Additionally, counterion exchanges to tosylate and triflimide were subsequently carried out for each salt series. The products were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescent properties found suggests that the synthesized probe are viable candidates to be tested in vivo for their binding to insoluble plaques. These findings will serve as a foundation for research into further carbon extensions, counter ion exchanges, and structural modifications of fluorescent probes.

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  Disability and Impairment of the Hand: Trauma Analysis of the Erie County Poorhouse Cemetery

  Sydney Layne, Katherine Gaddis, and Jennifer Byrnes Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Hands are one of the most frequently used parts of the body and, as such, are historically and intrinsically linked to daily functioning and the ability to work. Thus, the bioarchaeological analysis of hand bones can prove to be a useful resource in evaluating the lived experiences of past peoples. The current study analyzes antemortem hand trauma observed in individuals exhumed from the Erie County Poorhouse Cemetery (1851-1913), located in Buffalo, New York. In doing so we investigate patterns of trauma distribution and subsequent severity of impairment of the hand. These impairments are then used as a window into the occupational realities of the institutionalized poor in an Industrial Revolution era urban setting. Of the 271 individuals with observable hand bones, 42 (15.5%) displayed trauma in the form of a bone fracture, avulsion fracture, or joint dislocation. There were 55 females and 109 males, of which 5 (9%) and 24 (22%), respectively, displayed trauma. This was a statistically significant difference in trauma occurrences (X2 (1) = 4.197, p = .040). These findings likely reflect occupational differences between men and women. When comparing hand trauma by side (e.g., left and right hand), a significant difference was found with more trauma on the right (t = -1.972; p = 0.049). Impairment scoring of the injuries revealed that individuals suffered mild impairment and subsequent disability of their hand(s). These impairments may be indicative of the hazardous, often unregulated workplace conditions of the time as well as potential instances of interpersonal violence.

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  Synthesis of Novel Fluorescent Probes for the Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

  Matthew Le and Haesook Han

  11-15-2021

  Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a detrimental, progressive neurodegenerative disease that is regarded as the most common and pervasive form of dementia, affecting an estimated 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 and 1 in every 6 people over the age of 80.1,2 Diagnosing AD at the proper time poses a great challenge in the current clinical setting. Traditional methods for the diagnosis of AD are expensive, provide poor resolution, and involve toxic radioactive materials. This study aims to synthesize a class of novel fluorescent molecular probes that can bind to the protein-plaques that are caused by the onset of AD to ultimately provide a safe and effective method to diagnose the early stages of AD through improved in vivo imaging, potentially becoming an indispensable tool for diagnosis. The final fluorescent molecular probe was synthesized from a simple Sn2 reaction involving a precursor and was characterized using 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and solubility properties. The resultant fluorescent molecular probe was successfully synthesized and emits white-light fluorescence in the solution-state when dissolved in water, making it suitable for aqueous systems. Further studies can be expanded upon for in vivo imaging studies, toxicity, and suitability for the clinical setting.

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  India: COVID-19

  Kelvin Leon, Tavis Perna, Neha Shah, Qianwen Zhou, and Kimberly Nehls Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  India is the second-most populated country in the world. Its imports and exports reach far across the globe and influence many countries. Last year, India was struck by COVID-19 and suffered greatly in several of the country's leading international aspects. We believe that in order to grasp the impact of COVID-19 on a large population, we need to take a deeper look into India as one of the most densely populated nations in the world. Specifically, we want to research India's population fluctuations, trade patterns, financial resources, and societal effects on the people. Our research came from peer-reviewed sources, credible media sources, and direct publications from the Indian government. With our research, we understood the impacts of COVID-19 on India and how the most heavily populated nation in the world changed after the global pandemic. This research significantly impacts recovering nations as we describe how a nation in the top 10% in the world suffered and how permanent changes can be drawn from this research to develop a strategy that minimizes further damages from COVID-19.

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  Evaluation of the Efficiency of Singapore's Waste Management Controls

  Jialu Li, Yitong Huang, and Kim Nehls

  11-15-2021

  With the constant population growth in such a limited land, Singapore is faced with multiple challenges in waste management. Over the last decades, Singapore aimed to strive for a zero-waste environment for its nation by reducing the significant amount of waste disposed of through recycling and maximizing landfills. The scope of this poster is to present whether Singapore has had an efficient control over its waste management in the last two decades. The poster took approaches to analyze statistics that concludes the recycle rates categorized into different classifications of waste disposals from 2003 to 2020 and average of total saved energy through the process of recycling. Overall, the findings suggest Singapore had an efficient waste management at the beginning with constant growth of recycle rate, but discrepancies are found starting from 2018 since the rate declined rapidly in three years. So coming to the conclusion that Singapore’s efficiency on waste management control still has the potential to develop sustainable improvement. Visualizing these data can help Singapore’s government to implement recycling policies that motivate people to improve their living environment.

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  Development of a Mobile App for Project Management and Presentation

  Jiaqi Li and Jorge Fonseca Cacho Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  There is lots of project information in Economic Development, and managing different size projects with different departments is not easy. To solve this issue, we are creating a “showcase” app which has a functional database and user friendly interface. It is very efficient and convenient. People can check the project's information at any time based on any requirements. We are using Unity platform to create the “showcase” app and SQL to manage the database. The authorized user could edit, add and delete project information in the app. The database is safe and protected and information could be shared with all of the users immediately. The app also has a rating system to make the improvements.

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  The Experience of Postpartum Depression in African-American Fathers

  Darlyn Magaña, Brandon Eddy Ph.D., and Lawrence Jackson Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  There have been more studies that have been conducted to learn about postpartum not only in mothers, but there have also been studies on postpartum in fathers. While little is known about PPD in men, even less is known about how African American fathers experience PPD and other mental health issues. Therefore this area of study is crucial especially as there haven’t been any studies focused on this population in PPD. In order for the stigma of postpartum depression in fathers to be normalized, there needs to be necessary education, prevention, screenings, and treatment for fathers especially those in racial groups that are underrepresented. Under the direction of Dr. Brandon Eddy and Dr. Jackson Lawrence, we seek to learn about the experience of postpartum depression in African American fathers. Using semi-structured virtual interviews, we are currently in the process of collecting data from the experiences of fathers by using purposive sampling and snowball sampling. After transcribing the interviews from the participants, coding will occur to find themes within the interviews.

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  The Effects of Resilience, Mindfulness, and Experiential Avoidance on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms: Exploring the Mechanism of Action of a Mindfulness App for College Student Military Veterans with PTSD

  Ehdzky-Ray Manzano and Andrew Thomas Reyes Ph.D., RN

  11-15-2021

  Mediation/moderation models provides an expanded understanding of the underlying mechanism of action of a mindfulness-based interventions, particularly how targeted constructs produce their intended benefits. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating effect of resilience on the relationships mindfulness and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and the indirect effect of mindfulness on PTSD through experiential avoidance as a mediator. A cross-sectional study design was used. We employed a convenience sample of 133 college student military veterans through an online survey (Qualtrics) using measures of resilience, mindfulness, experiential avoidance, and PTSD symptoms. To examine the mediating effect of experiential avoidance and the moderating effect of resilience, we used the macro PROCESS (v. 3.5). We found a direct effect of mindfulness on PTSD and a significant mediating effect of experiential avoidance on the relationship between mindfulness and PTSD. Resilience was also found to have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between mindfulness and PTSD. The major implication of these findings is that higher levels of resilience would strengthen the positive relationship between mindfulness and PTSD and the negative relationship between experiential avoidance and PTSD. This study provides preliminary evidence on the usefulness of integrating resilience development of the mindfulness app we are refining for the next phase of our research study.

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  Coral Bleaching

  Anja Marcusiu, Noah Ly, and Kimberly Nehls Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Coral reefs are a fundamental part of the world's ecosystem; however, they are hidden in the ocean's depths, which makes it difficult to see how they are affected by climate change. When under certain pressures, such as warmer temperatures, coral undergoes a process called bleaching. This causes coral to expel their algae, resulting in the loss of their energy source and vibrant colors. As climate change continues to intensify, the frequency and severity of coral bleaching events threaten the recovery and adaptation of coral species. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system off the east coast of Australia, has undergone aerial surveys and underwater assessments to measure the corals' levels of heat stress and bleaching thresholds. Ultimately, the data reveals that increased heat stress leads to greater coral mortality. Similar to most species, some corals are more adaptive, while others are more vulnerable. Therefore, it is critical to understand the composition of each coral species and how they differ around regions of the world to determine what proactive measures should be taken to preserve the ocean's ecosystems.

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  “Our Languages Do Not Die, They are Being Killed”: Indigenismo and its Effects on Indigenous Language Revitalization

  Nathalie Martinez

  2021

  Language and identity are political acts that are inextricably linked to and rooted in socio-historical and socio-political events. Existing scholarship on identity-based social movements has yet to address language activism as a part of its theoretical framework. This paper seeks to consider the unique socio-historical context of indigenismo—an ideological wave coordinated by non-Indigenous groups seeking to define Indigenous identity—for the analysis of language activism within the field of social movement theory. Drawing from historical, ethnographic, and applied linguistic studies, this article examines indigenismo in Abiayala—the continental Western hemisphere commonly referred to as the Americas—to highlight the impact of the policies enacted by Indigenistas on existing linguistic ideologies. Given the significance of Mexico’s indigenismo in this transhemispheric region, having as a model for policies enacted in other regions, the Mexican nation-state is chosen as the thematic focus of the discussion presented here. The goals of this paper are to explore: 1) indigenismo in Mexico, 2) the link between language attitudes and indigenismo in Mexico, and 3) language activism in Mexico. The resulting analysis proposes a need for a new social movement theory that considers the impact of neoliberalism on Indigenous communities in Abiayala. Future research should also consider the impact of globalization on intergenerational linguistic ideologies and transnational language activism programs.

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  Increasing Analysis Efficiency through Automation of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) Data Reduction Process using Python

  Grace Abigail Martin

  2021

  The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) provides elemental analysis through ionization of samples. Numerous geochemistry laboratories utilize the ICP-MS and has become a community standard. The ICP-MS data reduction process is time intensive and involves correction for blank contribution and sensitivity drift during measurement, as well as construction of standard calibration lines based on measurements of standard solutions. We look to decrease turnaround time and increase efficiency through automation of the data reduction process using Python. The ICP-MS data reduction process was 3 hours or more, in our observations. Python packages such as Openpyxl and Pandas, allow us to carry out data reduction functions. Inputting the file location of the original ICP-MS data, the code will extract data from the file, follow data reduction functions, create graphs of calibration curves for various elements, and save reduced data as a new excel file without making changes to the original file. Automated files will be checked for correct values using non-automated data reduction as reference. The code operated universally, using various unreduced ICP-MS excel data files from previous analyses, and followed data reduction functions correctly. When compared to non-automated data reduction, automated data reduction was able to output the same values and calibration curve graphs. The processing time using automated data reduction was less than 1 second. Using python to automate the data reduction process significantly decreased the duration from 3 hours to less than 1 second. Additionally, efficiency increased by factoring out potential human error in the process.

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  Surfactant Use in Boiling Heat Transfer Alludes to a Universal Concentration?

  Mario Mata, Brandon Ortiz, Vesper Evereux, Dhruv Luhar, and Jeremy Cho Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Surfactants—molecules that change the surface properties of liquids—can enhance the rate of heat transfer in boiling, which could improve power generation, heating/cooling/refrigeration, and other applications. Boiling involves cycles of bubble nucleation, growth, and departure. These behaviors are modified as surfactants adsorb to the bubble surface, lowering surface tension and changing the bubble contact angle. Unique to each type of surfactant, there is a critical micelle concentration (CMC) above which surfactant molecules aggregate into larger structures called micelles. From conventional wisdom, adding surfactants beyond the CMC increases liquid viscosity, resulting in an overall lowering of heat transfer. Thus, to optimize heat transfer, the optimal concentration should be near the CMC. This is because the Reynolds and Rayleigh numbers of the liquid decrease—reducing the ability of the liquid to convect heat. However, our testing has found that different surfactants experience a marked “bump” in heat transfer performance occurring at the 6–7 mM range. Our results suggest the existence of a universal optimized concentration for surfactants. We hypothesize that this concentration is due to the rate surfactants enter the bubbly region via liquid motion (advection) matching the rate at which surfactants exit the region via bubble surfaces. We are continuing experiments with nonionic (TWEEN families) and ionic (sodium sulfate families) surfactants with vastly different CMCs to see if they all experience a similar “bump” around 6–7 mM. The implications could have great practical impact as engineers could consult a universal concentration to achieve optimal heat transfer efficiency with any surfactant.

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  Waste in China

  Katie McCaslin, D'Nasia Thompson, Sofia Jimenez, and Kimberly Nehls Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  With a world full of inescapable garbage, how much is the emerging country of China producing and should the globe be concerned? As the most populous country in the world, China accounted for over 15% of the earth’s waste volume in 2020. China has the biggest share of waste in the world, but is it enough for other countries to intervene? Higher levels of greenhouse gas in the earth’s atmosphere change its climate and some of these gases are linked to solid waste. These changes can result in more frequent, dangerous natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, mass species extinction, disease, etc.) and could damage communities all over.

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  It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No, It’s a Feminist! Analyzing the Representation of Women in Comic Book Media

  Angelica McGee and Lynn Comella Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Superhero media is a 27 billion dollar industry. Superhero media has played a significant role in contemporary pop culture and society. So, where does feminist thought - or the lack of feminist thought - belong in the conversation of comics? My research aims to pinpoint and define sexist tropes within comic book media, how they can be detrimental to the representation of women, and what viewers and creators alike can do to diminish this unsatisfactory treatment. My research uses textual analysis to examine the representations of female comic book characters across various mediums. The pathway to improvement is within the promise that audiences and comic book media creators continue to educate themselves on the inherent sexist themes of female comic book media characters; new media is created that shields itself from the typical misogynistic tropes that these characters have been subject to in the past, and comic book worlds fans do the work that it takes to show that these changes are not only appreciated but that they are in high enough demand to make them the new normal. The sexist injustices in comic book media need first to be acknowledged and then removed. Female comic book characters are free to be just as heroic and empowering or as daunting and frightening as their male counterparts.

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  Elastic Plastic Self-Consistency (EPSC) Modeling on Quartz Deformation Experiments

  Denali Medina and Pamela Burnley Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Our understanding of the rheology of Earth’s interior can be advanced by investigating the results of high-pressure deformation experiments on polycrystalline samples using elastic-plastic self-consistency (EPSC) modeling. Our experiment investigates quartz, which dominates Earth’s crustal composition and is least resistant to flow during deformation thus its bulk strength is thought to control the strength of the crust. During deformation experiments, a polycrystalline sample is enveloped in a cube-shaped sample assembly which is pressurized by a surrounding multi-anvil press known as a D-DIA apparatus. The D-DIA consists of six tungsten carbide anvils, driven by a hydraulic press that moves the top and bottom anvils independently. The sample is monitored by a high-powered x-ray beam at the Argonne National Lab. X-rays record changes in the distances between crystal lattice planes (d-spacing). Our results and those produced by other investigators show local stress is not homogeneous throughout a polycrystalline sample but varies greatly throughout grain populations. EPSC modeling simulates the anisotropic response of individual grains under load with respect to orientation, boundary conditions, and grain populations to best fit our diffraction data. Our samples reached temperatures ranging from 400 to 840 ℃ and pressures of 1.4 to 2.7 GPa. Lattice reflection spectra on the (101), (110), (200), (201), and (112) were gathered incrementally at sample stains nearing 7%. The lattice strain on these reflections is used along with the EPSC models to derive the bulk strength of the material and which slip systems are operating.

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  Comparison of Flights Climbed Between Garmin and Fitbit Devices

  Javen Miguel, Alan V. Garcia, Melissa G. Strehlow, Dustin W. Davis, Jeff Montes, and James Navalta Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  With exercise device technology and consumer interest in the field growing, it is important for users to be confident that their wearable fitness devices accurately track their flights climbed. Two manufacturers of devices that track flights climbed are Garmin and Fitbit. Comparing the measurements of flights climbed between devices from these two manufacturers is important to inform consumers as they decide which device to purchase for flight-related activities. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the measurements of flights climbed between the Garmin fēnix 5 and Fitbit Versa 2. METHODS: Eight participants were tested individually, and the two devices were assigned randomly to be worn on separate wrists. The participants climbed one, two, and three flights of stairs at a pace of 50, 75, and 100 steps per minute. Each device’s display of flights climbed was recorded at the beginning and end of each trial. A 2x9 repeated-measures ANOVA determined whether measurements of flights climbed per trial were significantly different. The α-level was 0.05 for the ANOVA and 0.006 for the post-hoc t-tests. RESULTS: Before adjusting the α-level, flights significantly differed between the devices in 4/9 trials. In every significant comparison, the fēnix 5 reported a lower mean number of flights climbed. However, after adjusting the α-level, flights climbed did not significantly differ between the devices for any trials. CONCLUSION: Depending on the speed of ascent and number of flights climbed, the fēnix 5 and Versa 2 may not provide the same number of flights.

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  Hook3 Mutations and Their Contributions to Different Types of Cancers

  Brittny Mikhaiel and Van Vo Ph.D.

  2021

  Hook3 (Hook Microtubule Tethering Protein 3) is a gene that encodes a protein that is localized in the Golgi complex and is linked to cellular trafficking of cargos and the binding of microtubules to organelles. Although there is some literature discussing the known functions of the gene, the phenotypes in mice or humans have not been thoroughly researched and literature on these phenotypes is limited. The literature that is available suggests Hook3 is implicated in diverse phenotypes ranging from bone development to neural development in mice. Since Hook3 is associated with prostate cancer, it is likely that it is involved in other types of cancers as well. To investigate this, an online database called cBioPortal was used to determine if there are changes in Hook3 expression or mutations in different kinds of cancers including breast, lung, prostate, brain/CNS, and cervical. Two main pieces of data gathered were mutation types and protein changes relevant to Hook3.

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  Augmented Reality (AR) on the Physical Environment and mobile platforms

  Vanessa Nava-Camal and Jorge Fonseca Cacho Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Augmented Reality (AR) technology can be used with indirect mediums to allow virtual interaction to have a greater impact on society. This research is significant because it contributes to giving users a better experience interacting with their surroundings. The purpose of this study was to test if items can be overlayed on an environment using a phone camera. Additionally, we investigated the type of software required for mobile phone platforms. Researchers used Unity Engine software equipped with a Vuforia mod to overlay a digital world onto a physical environment utilizing fiducial markers. For pathfinding, we used traditional algorithms such as A* and Dijkstra’s shortest path. Thus far, results indicate that when development is complete it will be feasible to develop cloud anchor-based navigation in ULABS navigation application as long as the device used is compatible with AR Core. The application will achieve AR navigation by overlaying on top of the physical environment with a fiducial tracker outline to pull virtual objects into reality using a phone’s camera. Further research into this subject will continue after the project moves into production.

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  Water Flow Through Hydrogels

  Bianca Navarro, Jeremy Cho Ph.D., and Yiwei Gao

  11-15-2021

  Hydrogels are materials made up of three-dimensional, crosslinked networks composed of hydrophilic polymer chains that are serviceable due to their ability to absorb and retain a significant amount of water. The rate of water absorption can be determined by testing the hydrogels’ permeability to improve the absorption efficiency. This study aims to determine the water permeability of hydrogels of varying crosslinker ratios to facilitate fast water absorption. Here, an aluminum apparatus was designed and manufactured to apply a pressure distribution to hydrogel samples using a water reservoir and pressure regulator. A LabView simulation was programed to utilize Darcy’s Law to compute water permeability over a time interval. We anticipate that permeability will decrease as crosslinker ratio increases due to the microstructure of the gel becoming denser. Additionally, we hypothesize that increasing the pressure distribution will compress the gel, also making it denser and decreasing the permeability. The findings will be implemented into an atmospheric water harvester to contend as a possible solution to water scarcity. They will also serve as a base for further research into altering water permeability of hydrogels using freeze/thaw cycles.

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  Solitary Confinement and Criminogenic Attitudes: Is Isolation Reinforcing Pro-Criminal Thoughts, Feelings, and Beliefs?

  Michal Newhouse-Van Vlerin, Stephen Benning Ph.D., and Demi Kourtesi

  11-15-2021

  Documented increases of problematic symptomatology following exposure to social exclusion contexts may be suggestive of increases in antisocial cognition and pro-criminal attitudes among prisoners. An exacerbation in behavioral indicators of criminality in correctional populations including aggressive behavior, reduced cooperation, and deficits in impulse control may suggest that restrictive and exclusionary correctional practices can aggravate criminogenic thoughts, feelings, or beliefs. Existing literature indicates that an endorsement of pro-criminal attitudes is one of the greatest predictors of future criminal behavior.

  The study will recruit 400 randomly selected female adult inmates from Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Facility of Las Vegas, Nevada. A hard copy of self-report survey will be given to the participants and is expected to take 1 hour to complete. After informed consent, participants will be asked to complete a survey regarding their demographics, confinement, and pro-criminal attitudes. Participants will be surveyed at the beginning of the study, and approximately 1 week after they are released from segregation. At least one participant from the initial sample who approximately matches the demographics of the participant who is exiting segregation will also be surveyed at the same time as part of a control group.

  The primary goal of this study is to demonstrate the negative effects of solitary confinement. The secondary goal is to impact policy in correctional institutions. This study aims to understand whether being placed in solitary confinement can affect pro-criminal attitudes. This research will become a strong premise to the argument of abolishing solitary confinement.

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  Apolipoprotein E and Development of Alzheimer’s Disease in Hispanic Populations: A Scoping Review

  Amy Nguyen and Stacey Moeller

  2021

  Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects Hispanic individuals, who face about 1.5- fold more risk for AD than non-Hispanic whites (NHW). Few studies examine AD biomarkers by ethnoracial group, even for the well-established susceptibility locus of apolipoprotein E (APOE). This study reviews current literature on the association between APOE and incidence of AD in Hispanic populations. A scoping review was conducted to identify publications with Hispanic study samples that examined prevalence of APOE’s three alleles (e2, e3, e4) and the risk of disease conferred by each. Two researchers combined search results from PubMed, Scopus, and APA PsycInfo databases, deleted duplicates, and independently reviewed publication abstracts to determine study inclusion. A search of APOE initially yielded 201 publications. After review, only 10 articles included Hispanic study samples as well as analyses evaluating APOE’s relationship to AD. Within these studies, most found a lower allele frequency of e4, comparable levels of e2, and higher frequency of e3 in Hispanic groups, relative to African Americans and NHW. The relative risk (RR) for AD increased for e4 homozygosity and heterozygosity in both Hispanic and NHW, but more so for NHW. The e2 allele did not confer protection against AD among Hispanics, whereas e3 alleles displayed no significant effect. The increased risk of AD among Hispanic groups remains largely unknown. Differences in e4 frequency and RR implicate additional unmeasured elements, including interactions among inherited, cultural, and environmental factors. Understanding APOE’s role in AD development requires further investigation to improve diagnostic inequalities.

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  Methodological Approaches to Measuring Amyloid PET: A Scoping Review in Ethnoracial Minorities

  Amy Nguyen, Stacey Moeller M.Sc, and Samantha John

  11-15-2021

  Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latinx (H/Lx) and Black/African American (B/AA) individuals, who face about 1.5-fold and 2-fold more risk of disease development, respectively, than non-Hispanic whites. Few studies examine AD biomarkers within ethnoracial minorities, especially for newer research techniques, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET). This study reviews current literature on amyloid PET within H/Lx and B/AA populations, exploring methodological approaches.

  A scoping review of AD literature was conducted to identify publications with H/Lx and B/AA study samples and amyloid PET data. Two researchers combined search results from three databases, deleted duplicates, and independently reviewed publication abstracts to determine study inclusion. Descriptive trends in the literature were examined.

  Within amyloid PET literature, 26 articles utilizing H/Lx populations and 33 articles including B/AA populations were reviewed. Of those, 7 H/Lx articles and 8 B/AA articles met criteria for inclusion, from which methodological differences and sample effects were evaluated. Identified studies utilized one of three possible imaging markers, Florbetaben, PiB, and Florbetapir. Some studies utilized a cut-off value to determine amyloid status, although different values were used across publications, and other studies utilized a visual read. Within the B/AA literature, 6 of 8 publications described the same study cohort.

  Differences in methodology for determining biomarker status makes comparison between studies challenging. Limited diversity within study samples decreases the representativeness and generalizability of findings. Further investigation and greater use of amyloid PET within diverse AD samples may improve diagnostic inequalities; however, greater standardization in methodology is needed.

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  Synthesis and Characterization of Modified Walnut Shell Biochar

  Maaike Parajes, Suraj Pochampally, and Jaeyun Moon Ph.D.

  11-15-2021

  Biochar (BC) is a porous carbon material synthesized from different biomasses that are subjected to pyrolysis. This product is an efficient and eco-friendly alternative to conventional absorbents used for contaminant removal in groundwater systems. In this study, we aimed to develop efficient methods of preparing walnut shell-based biochar through acid, base, and steam modification and compare these modified biochars with the unmodified version. The preparation of biochar involved pyrolysis using an argon gas-filled chamber at a temperature of 900 °C. These BCs were then crushed and sieved to separate the microporous particles. To further evaluate the biochars’ characteristics, it was characterized using SEM, FTIR, EDS, BET, and contact angle measurements. The modification results showed that the modified biochars have different functional groups and are more hydrophilic than the unmodified biochar. Upon further investigation, the results can vastly improve the usage of biochar in the remediation process of contaminants to make the process economically feasible and environmentally friendly.