Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

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  Investigating the Impact of Psychological Interventions on Autoimmune Disease Progression in Women

  Nicole Datastanyan

  11-22-2024

  Autoimmune disease arises when an individual's immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the body’s tissues. Autoimmune disease disproportionately affects women, with eighty percent of diagnosed patients being female. This research proposal aims to explore the relationship between psychological factors (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression) and the progression of autoimmune diseases. This poster will propose a detailed study to assess whether reducing psychological distress through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can slow disease progression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of talk therapy to relieve symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress, or grief. Two hundred female patients diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis) will participate in the study and be randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group will receive medical care for their autoimmune disease as well as psychological support through a twelve-week CBT program, consisting of two sessions a week for one hour. The control group will only receive medical care. Clinicians who are conducting CBT will track psychological progress through session notes. Physicians for all participants will monitor disease progression through medical tests including blood work, x-rays, and imaging. To track disease progression, initial tests ordered by physicians will be completed before the twelve-week CBT program begins and follow-up tests will be completed after completion of the CBT program. This study will evaluate if psychological improvements from CBT are associated with slower autoimmune progression in women.

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  Comparing Forgetting Rates Between Item and Relational Memories

  Lex de Asis, Rhiannon N. Soriano Smith, and Colleen M. Parks

  11-22-2024

  Forgetting is an everyday occurrence where an idea that could be recalled successfully is no longer able to be retrieved (Tulving, 1974). Multiple theories suggest how forgetting occurs, such as the decay theory, which suggests that memories are gradually forgotten over time, and the interference theory, in which forgetting occurs because of competing information. Additionally, there are two newer theories which both predict that item representations should be forgotten because of interference and mnemonic discrimination should be forgotten due to decay: the memory system-dependent forgetting hypothesis (Hardt, Nader, & Nadel, 2013), and the representation theory of forgetting (Sadeh et al., 2014). The present study examined these theories by comparing the rate of forgetting for mnemonic discrimination and item recognition over five days. Using the Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST) (Stark & Kirwan, 2019), participants completed memory tasks over a five-day period, allowing for an assessment of both decay and interference effects. Results show that mnemonic discrimination is more prone to decay, while item recognition is more prone to interference-based forgetting. These results supported the present hypothesis, supporting both the memory-system dependent forgetting hypothesis and the representation theory of forgetting. Furthermore, these findings supported Wickelgren’s (1975) model, a quantitative model of forgetting that has been overlooked for decades and predicts that interference and decay contribute to forgetting independently. Overall, this study contributes to the growing understanding of the distinct mechanisms underlying memory decay and interference in the forgetting process.

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  Characterizing the Mechanical and Visoelastic Properties of Sodium Alginate

  Vesper Evereux

  11-22-2024

  A crucial part of tissue engineering lies in understanding and characterizing the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of various types of biomaterials. Understanding these properties allows better biomaterials to be produced with characteristics more similar to those of the human body and with better biocompatability. In this study, sodium alginate was chemically crosslinked with calcium chloride and subsequently tested for it's instantaneous Elastic Modulus, instantaneous Shear Modulus, and equivalent viscosity using indentation testing methods consisting of a stress-relaxation test and nonlinear curve-fitting analysis. Two and three millimeter indentation tests were performed using a low-cost and portable device built in-lab that resulted in five viscoelastic parameters of G_Inf, G_1, G_2, Tau_1, and Tau_2. These values resulted in an average instantaneous Elastic Modulus of 5044 Pascals, an average instantaneous Shear Modulus of 1681 Pascals, and an equivalent viscosity of 4710 Pascal-seconds for an indentation depth of 2 millimeters. Moreover, these values also resulted in an average instantaneous Elastic Modulus of 8553 Pascals, an average instantaneous Shear Modulus of 2851 Pascals, and an equivalent viscosity of 7317 Pascal-seconds for an indentation depth of 3 millimeters. Overall, these findings suggest an increase in viscoelastic and mechanical properties relative to their displacement distance. Understanding the viscoelastic and mechanical behavior of these biomaterials holds clinical significance for designing better implantable prostheses, drug-deliverable medical devices, and wound healing scaffolds.

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  A Simple and Low-Cost Method for Generating Short Laser Pulses

  Daniel Fisher

  11-22-2024

  A simple, portable method is described and demonstrated for generating short optical pulses (~ 1 μsec) from a continuous wave (CW) source using a rotating pinhole. A CW 633nm HeNe beam was focused onto a 225 μm diameter stainless steel pinhole, which was rotated up to 1000 Hz using an optical chopper wheel. The pulsed light was then focused onto a silicon photodetector and read by an oscilloscope. This novel setup aims to bridge the gap between pulsed laser performance and price for wide application in spectroscopy methods, industrial laser peening, and medical treatments. This will be the first publication of the described pulsed laser method and its techniques and limits. The peak voltage, integral, and width of photodetector pulses of were compared to lend credence to the validity and utility of the experimental setup. The peak of gaussian fits ranging from 2.08 V to 3.67 V was higher than the previous study's basepoint value of 0.0743 V. The integral of pulses increased from the basepoint data of 0.1 V ⋅ μs to a range of 296.8 V ⋅ μs at 1000 Hz to 2698.3 V ⋅ μs at 50 Hz. The average pulse width was longer at a range of 47 μs to 326 μs, compared to the basepoint pulse width of 0.735 μs. Buckingham Pi theorem dimensionless approximations were developed as a versatile method for computing photovoltaic pulse parameters under similar experimental conditions. Finally, a Fisher-Pravica number was derived using non-dimensional analysis.

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  The Characterization of Cooperative String-pullung Behavior in Rats After Exposure to Space Flight Stressors

  Teresa L. Garcia, Nuhamine A. Moges, Sierra Ordonez, Nicole M. Attallah, D. H. Rodgers, A. Adhikari, K. D. Omengan, D. Lloyd, S. L. Gleed, and A. A. Blackwell

  11-22-2024

  Astronauts work cooperatively to complete tasks on missions through deep space where they will experience stressors, including radiation and sleep fragmentation, that may impair performance. Animals work together to achieve a common goal during cooperative tasks using string-pulling behaviors. While string-pulling behavior has revealed deficits in rat sensorimotor function after exposure to space flight stressors, it has yet to be determined if rats will engage in cooperative string-pulling or if these stressors will influence cooperation. Thus, to explore how space flight stressors impact cooperative behavior, female Wistar rats were exposed to either sham (n = 8) or 10 centi-grays of 250 MeV/n Helium (n = 8) and sleep fragmentation at ~6 months of age. During testing, rats were placed in two separate apparati sharing one string (0.2 cm diameter, 162 cm length, 100% cotton) and were required to pull in the string to retrieve Cheerio rewards simultaneously. Twelve trials/day were provided, and behavior was video recorded for offline analyses of cooperative performance, motivation, and sensorimotor function between groups. Irradiated rats took more days to reach criterion (cooperation on 8/12 trials) than sham rats. Criterion percentage was similar between groups once met; yet the amount of pulling between rat pairs during cooperative trials was greater for the sham group. These results suggest that a low dose exposure to Helium negatively impacts cooperation between female rats. If astronauts display similar disruptions after exposure to space flight stressors, then deleterious effects on team dynamics may arise and compromise mission success.

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  Latina Maternal Anxiety and Early Child Development: a Scoping Review

  Micaela Gigena

  11-22-2024

  Latina mothers' mental health struggles, particularly anxiety, can significantly impact their children's development. In Latino culture, stigma and shame surrounding mental health discussions often prevent individuals from seeking help, which can exacerbate effects. This scoping review aims to examine currently available research on the impact of maternal anxiety on early child development in Latina populations across North America, South America, and the Caribbean. A literature search was performed to find relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature through five electronic databases. Out of 469 results, 33 relevant studies were identified for full-text screening. Data will be extracted to explore the association between maternal anxiety and various aspects of early child development, including language, socioemotional, fine and gross motor, and cognitive development. We expect to find the extent of maternal anxiety’s impact on child development and the unique barriers faced by this population, such as limited access to mental health services, language barriers, and stigma. Identifying gaps in the literature could assist in developing targeted interventions tailored to the unique needs of Latina mothers, ultimately promoting both maternal well-being and optimal child development.

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  Utilizing a Hybrid Apprach to Link Maternal and Neonatal Records

  Vidhani S. Goel, Ana Reyes, Bertille Assoumou, Dodds P. Simangan, Farooq Abdulla, Megumi Akiyama, Deborah A. Kuhls, and Kavita Batra

  11-22-2024

  Linkage of independent datasets allows comprehensive and robust analysis. This study aims to utilize a hybrid strategy to link maternal records with neonatal data with an overarching goal of investigating correlates of adverse birth outcomes.

  To link 126,757 records from Nevada Medicaid with 249,181 maternal records from Birth Registry, a hybrid linkage approach was utilized. Data normalization was first performed for the standardization of linkage keys. First, a deterministic approach was used to link these records using a unique identifier followed by a fuzzy or probabilistic algorithm using a set of block variables. These block variables included date of birth, gender, zip code of birth place, and first/last name of the neonates. For this matching, a minimum threshold of 40 out of 50 was deemed appropriate (10 points for each block variable). After the linkage, data were de-identified to adhere with the ethical guidelines. All linkage procedures were performed via PROC SQL functionality (left join) in SAS 9.4 software.

  In the first deterministic phase, 63% of the records (n= 80,107 of 126,757 records) were linked (true positives). From remaining 46,650 records, 26,095 were matched through the probabilistic linkage which sum up to 106,202 records in total. Further, 538 records were identified as false positives, which were removed from the dataset. This results in an 83.4% linkage efficiency with a total number of 105,664 linked records.

  The hybrid linkage offers a viable strategy to improve the linkage efficiency and numerous benefits to population-based research.

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  Potential Cell Preservation in Mars-relevant Clay Minerals

  Hanford Gerille Gonzales, Leena M. Cycil, and Elisabeth Hausrath

  11-22-2024

  This study investigates the potential of Fe-nontronite, a clay mineral found on Mars, to preserve biological cells and retain biosignatures such as trace metals. The research explores the preservation potential of nontronite by reacting it with cells under the following conditions: 1) reacting cells with nontronite precursors at low temperature and 2) reacting cells with the already synthesized nontronite made at high temperature. Microbial species Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter metallireducens, known for their relevance to iron-rich environments, were introduced in intact and lysed forms to assess their interactions with each condition of nontronite. Preliminary results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the synthesized nontronite samples exhibit crystallinity typical of nontronite clay minerals. In existing literature, enhanced crystallinity in clay minerals is associated with better preservation of trace metals as the structured mineral environment can protect cells from degradation. We hope to observe similar protective qualities in our nontronite samples. As the research continues, we are working on imaging the remaining samples and completing the setup of additional experimental conditions. Further mineralogical analysis and structural evaluation using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) will be conducted. This research aims to contribute to astrobiology by exploring how nontronite can preserve biosignatures, helping to identify materials and conditions on Mars that may protect evidence of past life. This study hopes to provide valuable insights into the role of Martian analog minerals in preserving biological materials.

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  Investigating a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern With White Potatoes on Cardiometabolic Health in Adults With Pre-diabetes From Diverse Racial and Ethnic Backgrounds

  Sedona Gronna, Neda S. Akhavan, Sara K. Rosenkranz, and Richard R. Rosenkranz

  11-22-2024

  In the United States, one in three adults has pre-diabetes, and 80% are unaware that they are at risk of developing type-2 diabetes (T2D). Elevated blood glucose levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. African-American and Hispanic individuals are disproportionately affected by pre-diabetes and its complications, such as arterial stiffness and obesity, compared to Caucasians. Approximately 70% of those with pre-diabetes may develop T2D, therefore it is crucial to find effective ways to manage and reverse these conditions. Potatoes, which contain a good source of resistant starch, potassium, and other beneficial nutrients, might help improve blood glucose control and heart health. Studies have shown that potatoes, especially with their skin, can improve insulin sensitivity, satiety, and cholesterol levels. However, minority groups in the U.S. tend to eat fewer potatoes compared to Caucasians. Combining potatoes with nutrition education focusing on the Mediterranean diet, could be a practical approach to improving blood glucose levels, heart health, and overall diet quality in people with pre-diabetes. This study aims to explore the effects of incorporating baked potatoes with skin, alongside nutrition education focusing on the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern, in diverse racial and ethnic groups with pre-diabetes.

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  Beyond the Waterfall: a Review of Project Management Methodologies in Stem

  Yessenia Henriquez

  11-22-2024

  Project management has been exercised from history's early stages to concurrent practices today. It has evolved from the early stages of the Gantt chart and five primary principles to well-renowned project management methodologies such as Waterfall and Agile. This literature review focuses on comprehending four project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, Kanban, and Scrum), learning their criteria and frameworks, and their application in a specific STEM environment when applicable. This work reviews the recent research literature about these four methods. An overview of project management certificates and guidelines is covered as well. Waterfall is known to be a traditional method, having linear and sequential phases to complete a project. Agile, on the other hand, focuses on an iterative cycle while prioritizing customer involvement. Kanban and Scrum, being derivatives of the Agile methodology, focus on visualization as a main communication platform and Sprint meetings, respectively. The results from this study show that the project’s environment is significant alongside the execution of the project management methodology. Further research hopes to focus more on differing STEM environments such as electrical engineering and biological sciences.

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  Maltreatment and Resilience: Examining the Unique Roles of Threat and Deprivation

  Priscilla Herrera

  4-26-2024

  Background and objectives: This study aimed to investigate the involvement that maltreatment type, specifically threat and deprivation, play in a child’s life. We examine how threat uniquely contributes to resilience and how deprivation impacts resilience. Literature has highlighted differences in the effects of deprivation and threat in recent research that shows the impact on various neurological systems.

  Methods and approach: Participants included youth aged 11-17 years in the Department of Family Services (DFS) custody following removal from their home after substantiated child maltreatment and were assessed. 90 of the youth in the sample reported that they have experienced threat-based maltreatment, and 62 reported that they had experienced deprivation based maltreatment. Maltreatment history was gathered using the DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (PTSD-RI)4. Interpersonal functioning was measured using the Sense of Relatedness subscale of the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents (RSCA)5.

  Results: In the sample of maltreated youth, those who had experienced neglect compared to those who had not experienced neglect demonstrated no differences across variables of the resiliency scales. This suggests that despite differences in neurological effects, among multiple scales of the RSCA assessment, nothing significant was found in the maltreatment type of neglect, however, significance was found among maltreated youth. For youth with a history of abuse, there are lower relatedness scores compared to youth without a history of abuse but had experienced some form of maltreatment. This suggests that threat-based maltreatment has a greater impact on relatedness factors than deprivation-based maltreatment.

  Conclusion & broader implications: Deprivation-based maltreatment has an impact on relatedness factors that goes above and beyond the effects observed in maltreated youth as a whole whereas threat-based maltreatment has a direct impact on resiliency scales as a whole. The neurological effects of maltreatment have been found to mediate the relationship between maltreatment and resilience factors. However, limited research has investigated the unique impacts of threat and deprivation based treatment on resilience. Understanding these differences is crucial for tailoring interventions and support services to address the unique needs of children who have experienced different forms of adversity.

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  Examining the Effects of Food Insecurity and Socioeconomic Status on Breastfeeding Duration Among Latina Mothers in Las Vegas

  Nika Jenabi

  11-22-2024

  Background: This study aims to investigate breastfeeding duration among Latina mothers in Clark County. We hypothesize that Latina mothers who experience significant health disparities, including low food security and limited economic resources, are likely to have shorter breastfeeding durations.

  Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design. The preliminary sample included 54 mothers who met the following inclusion criteria: aged 18 or older, self-identifying as Latina, having at least one child under 5 years old, and residing within Clark County. The survey included questions related to experiencing food insecurity, socioeconomic factors, and breastfeeding duration. Data analysis was performed using STATA 17 and applying Fisher's exact test to studied variables.

  Results: This preliminary analysis found no statistically significant correlation between social inequality factors, such as concerns regarding food shortages, enrollment in food assistance programs, and income level, and breastfeeding duration. However, specific trends were observed. Notably, mothers who participated in food assistance programs, experienced food shortages within the last year, or had an annual income under $30,000 demonstrated a higher likelihood of breastfeeding for less than 24 weeks.

  Conclusions: Initiative needs to be taken to increase funding and accessibility for food assistance programs. Efforts should be made to integrate culturally sensitive breastfeeding education and accessible lactation support within community clinics, along with offering subsidized breastfeeding supplies.

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  Evaluating Human Plasma Biomakers for Alzheimer's Disease; Phosphorylated-tau 217, Phosphorylated-tau 181, and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein

  Mason Jonah, MayaRae N. Mugosa, Bella Hou, Emma-Nikole Krilchev, Zhengshi Yang, Dietmar Cordes, Aaron Ritter, and Jefferson W. Kinney

  11-22-2024

  Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is primarily identifiable by amyloid-beta (Aβ) neuronal plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) that form as aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau (ptau) proteins clump together, and the presence of neuroinflammation; all of which are otherwise known as the hallmarks of AD pathology. Recent emerging research has discovered striking similarities between AD and diabetes mellitus pathology, illustrating how insulin deficiency and insulin resistance–both of which result in the chronic hyperglycemic state seen in the diabetic–are involved in an increase in the phosphorylation of tau. This leads to and intensifies the formation of intracellular NFTs serving to disrupt microtubule assembly and the intracellular trafficking of proteins. The focus of this study surrounds the analysis of ptau-217, a blood biomarker that has been found in our previous research to be indicative of progressing cognitive decline. The data has been collected using diagnostic tools such as the Lumipulse G1200, positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ptau-217 protein concentrations were monitored between disease states of AD in order to gain insight into the causality of brain amyloid status and were then compared to levels observed in diabetic subjects. The trends analyzed through this methodology were obtained with the intention of bridging the gap between what is known of AD and diabetes mellitus pathology as well as to further strengthen our understanding in the role the promising blood biomarker ptau-217 has in these varying disease states.

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  Association Between Polygenic Scores for Brain Structure and Alzheimer's Disease

  Eunjae Lee, Faria Tavacoli, Tingwei Liu, Brittany Diaz Ruiz, Hayley Ho, Alice Lee, and Jingchun Chen

  11-22-2024

  Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition and the most common type of dementia. Research has shown that volumetric changes in subcortical brain structures, which make up roughly 25% of the brain's total volume and affect many physiological functions. This research project aims to investigate the genetic association between brain structures and AD. GWAS data of eight different brain structures (ICV, accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, and thalamus) were used to create polygenic scores (PGSs) in a discovery (cases/controls = 2,651/2,768) and replication dataset (cases/controls = 553/644). We utilized PRSice-2 software to generate PGSs and assess genetic correlations using two models: one adjusted for principal components (PC1 and PC2), and another incorporating sex, age, and APOE e4 allele count. Meta-analyses were conducted for discovery and replication samples using random and fixed-effect models with p<0.05 being significant. Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses were conducted between brain structures and AD. The PGSs of three brain structures–amygdala, hippocampus, and pallidum–were significantly associated (p<0.0133) with AD in the fixed effects model, showing that a higher volume of these structures is inversely correlated with AD. However, the association did not remain significant for the hippocampus after being adjusted for covariates, suggesting that the association between the hippocampus and AD may depend on these covariates. MR analysis indicated hippocampal volume had an inverse causal effect on the development of AD, underscoring the critical role of the hippocampus in the disease's progression.

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  Effects of Fire Temperatures on Mojave Desert Native and Nonnative Seeds

  Sophia Lorenzana and Lindsay Chiquoine

  11-22-2024

  Large-scale wildfires have been historically rare in hot deserts like the Mojave, largely due to the scarcity or uneven distribution of native plant biomass as fuel. Thus, native plants in these regions are ill-adapted to withstand spreading wildfire, resulting in slow post-fire recovery. Here, I test the hypothesis that nonnative grasses respond better to heat cues than native plant species. Seeds from 3 invasive and 13 native plant species were collected from research sites located in the eastern Mojave Desert, near surrounding Clark County Flood Control District weather stations. Seeds were buried in an artificial substrate mimicking field soil conditions and subjected to five different heat treatments. Seeds were grown in a greenhouse and germination rates were measured. Germination rates were not significantly different under treatments compared to controls, with some exceptions. Species with the greatest increase in germination compared to controls were Ambrosia dumosa, Salvia dorrii, and Xylorhiza tortifolia, all of which exhibited increased germination rates under a low extended heat treatment (thirty minutes at 100°C). Brassica tournefortii, an invasive winter annual displayed a 53% germination rate in response to the low extended heat treatment. Physaria tenella, a native annual species, did not germinate under any treatments. Temperatures mimicking fire conditions have a significant impact on the germination rates of some native and invasive plant species of the Mojave Desert. Invasive grasses had lower germination under heat treatments compared to native species. Future directions include testing seeds at different temperatures and durations and implementing these findings in field studies.

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  Inter-rater Reliablility of Sharp Wave Ripple Detection in Recently Trained Experts

  Orlando Montiel, Gage Pompa, Yader Gomez, and Talha Soluoko

  11-22-2024

  Sharp wave ripples (SWR) are a brain phenomenon that originate in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory and learning. These events occur during periods of rest or slow-wave sleep and are characterized by fast oscillatory bursts (150-250Hz) and are thought to be important for the brain to consolidate memory. SWR are believed to facilitate the transfer of information from the hippocampus to the cortex, strengthening synaptic connections & enabling long-term memory storage. Accurate detection & assessment of SWRs is essential for advancing how the brain processes and stores information.

  This study examines the accuracy/consistency of SWR image selection and assessment among three recently trained technicians, using a combination of open-source tools to assist in SWR identification, reducing novice technicians' learning curve. These tools included automated detection algorithms and interactive interfaces, provided immediate feedback and improved technician proficiency. In this study, technicians identified SWRs from neural recordings, utilizing both manual inspection & software-assisted techniques.

  Results demonstrate that using open-source software enhances accuracy in ripple detection and also standardizes the identification process across users, decreasing inter-rater variability. By integrating these open-source resources, laboratories can train novice technicians more efficiently, ensuring consistency in SWR detection. Reducing the learning curve for ripple detection

  This study highlights the increasing demand for accurate, rapid, & reproducible SWR analysis and the growing potential of open-source tools to democratize neurophysiological research, as a tool that can be deployed to train undergraduate volunteers and research assistants, and making advanced neural analysis accessible to more researchers and institutions.

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  Impact of Young Biocrust on Dryland Surface Albedo

  Rhynhardt Mudde, Rebekah Magness, Raul Roman, and Nicole Pietrasiak

  11-22-2024

  More than 40% of the Earth’s surface is covered by drylands. Due to limited availability of water, less surface area is covered by vascular plants. Instead, this space is occupied by microbial communities that exist in close contact with mineral soil, creating a living aggregate on the upper soil layer and are known collectively as biological soil crusts or “biocrusts”. Biocrusts play a vital role in ecosystem functioning in drylands specifically through their influence on hydrological processes (e.g., water retention, infiltration). However, the impact of biocrusts on evaporation is not well understood. Biocrusts have been reported to either increase or decrease evaporation. One mechanism by which biocrusts can affect evaporation is through changes in surface albedo. Mature biocrusts are known to decrease the surface albedo via microbial sunscreen pigments, leading to higher surface temperatures and evaporation rates. To further explore this under-researched topic, we measured albedo at two lysimeter facilities: Landscape Evolution Observatory at Biosphere 2 in Oracle, AZ, operated by the University of Arizona, and SEPHAS weighing lysimeters in Boulder City, NV, operated by the Desert Research Institute. At both locations, the soil surface is partially covered by young (order of 10 years) biocrust. We measured the albedo of the lysimeter soil surfaces at locations with and without biocrust. Preliminary analysis of data from both facilities indicates higher surface albedo in the presence of young biocrust compared to soil surfaces without biocrusts, which contrasts with the expected lower albedo found for mature biocrusts compared to soil surfaces without biocrust.

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  Biochar/hydrochar Applications in Disinfection Byproduct Removal for Drinking Water

  Ashleu Mussio Marquez, Donna Rouhani, Ismail Abdulraheem, Kers Ung-Watson, Ahmadreza Khatamgooya, Scarlet Nelson, Dr. Jaeyun Moon, and Dr. Erica Marti

  11-22-2024

  This project aims to investigate the process of disinfection byproduct (DBP) removal in drinking water, looking into the applications of biochar and hydrochar, which are low cost and environmentally sustainable adsorbents. These carbon-based adsorbents are derived from agricultural waste biomass, such as walnut shells. These adsorbents will be used to capture and remove contaminants in water, such as DBPs. DBPs are formed when chemical disinfectants react with organic and inorganic substances naturally present in water. The targeted DBPs for adsorption include trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, haloacetonitriles, and nitrosamines. An example of high concentration DBP formation is during emergency chlorination, where excess chlorine is added to drinking water to remove pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Exposure to DBPs can occur through ingestion, inhalation of contaminated air, or absorption through skin during bathing or swimming. Their ties to cancer, central nervous system complications, and liver damage emphasizes the importance of mitigating exposure. The methodology involves batch adsorption experiments, which are used to determine the mass ratio of contaminant to adsorbent (i.e., adsorption capacity). The research has been built on utilizing drinking water rather than DI water, to show its efficacy on what it’s intended for. The parameters within this experiment include adsorbent dose and type of adsorbent. After reaching the designated contact times for each sample, the solutions are filtered to remove the adsorbent and quantify the removal of DBPs. The objective of this project is to pose an eco-friendly and more cost effective solution for removing DBPs in drinking water.

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  Transferred-learning Intrusion Detection System for Internet of Vehicles

  Tan Nguyen

  11-22-2024

  The growing connectivity of modern vehicles, particularly within the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), has significantly increased the need for robust cybersecurity solutions. Building upon the work of Yang and Shami (2022), who proposed a transfer learning and optimized convolutional neural network (CNN)-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) for IoV, this research seeks to validate their results and explore potential enhancements. The original IDS demonstrated exceptional performance, with detection rates surpassing 99.25% on benchmark datasets. In this study, we first replicate their experiments using the Car-Hacking dataset to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed model and then evaluate its ability to detect a new type of attack. Furthermore, we introduce several improvements, including the synthesis of balanced training data and the integration of new state-of-the-art CNN models, aiming to further enhance the IDS's detection capabilities.

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  Pathway-based Polygenic Risk Score Analysis of Brain Glial Indicates Cell-type-specific Roles in Alzheimer's Disease

  Tyrell Pratt, Alice Lee, Jennifer Zheng, Faria Tavacoli, Hayley Ho, Tingwei Liu, and Jingchun Chen

  11-22-2024

  Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline and extensive brain pathology, including amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation. This study aims to identify any glial cell type-specific pathways associated with AD.

  Methods: We first investigated the correlation between AD and the genetic risk of glia-specific pathways using pathway-based polygenic risk score (PRS) with PRSet software in the discovery data (ADc1234ADA) adjusted by the top two principal components (PC1, PC2) (Model 1), followed by additional adjustment with sex, age, and APOE ε4 count in Model 2. Further PRSet analyses were replicated in independent data (ADNI) if a nominal association (p < 0.05) was found in the discovery data. Tentative associations were determined via meta-analyses of both discovery and replication datasets with Bonferroni correction. Finally, a competitive p-value test was used to determine the significance of each pathway within each glial cell type.

  Results: In model 1, we identified six pathways significantly associated with astrocytes with the immune system on the top, six pathways associated with microglia with antigen processing on the top, and five pathways associated with oligodendrocytes with transport & trafficking on the top. In model 2, five pathways in astrocytes and four pathways in oligodendrocytes were found to be significant. However, none of the pathways in microglia remained significant.

  Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate a glia-specific polygenic contribution to AD risk, especially in the immune system, highlighting the significance of PRSet analysis in uncovering cell-type specific and pathway-specific biological mechanisms for diseases.

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  Investigation of the Influence of Body Weight Support and Listening to Different Beats of Music

  Natalia Pravica, Kenji Masumoto, Alina Swafford, Kate Afanasyeva, and John Mercer

  11-22-2024

  Music has been an important part of human expression throughout history. With recent technological advancements, it has never been easier for individuals to listen to music while they train. Previous studies have indicated there is a relationship between music and physical activity. The goal of our research project is to examine the relationship between the physiological effects of listening to music while running at different body weight support (BWS). A lower body positive pressure treadmill (Boost) was used to provide BWS. Phase one measured preferred stride frequency and self selected speed. Phase two measured VO2, heart rate, stride frequency, and EMG. In phase two, participants ran three music conditions (fast music, slow music, no music) at each of three BWS (0% BWS, 20% BWS, 50% BWS). Data were collected from a single subject (F, 42, 5’06.0”, 84.6 kg). SF displayed a negative linear relationship with BWS for each music condition. Qualitatively, at 50% BWS, SF was higher for Fast Music (FM) (1.35 strides/min) and No Music (NM) (1.35 strides/min) compared to Slow Music (SM) (1.31 strides/min). These results could imply that lower tempos can influence the rhythm we run at. In regards to Fast Music, the data may indicate some individuals naturally run faster.

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  Development and Migration: A Case Study of Agricultural Households in Northern Ghana

  Otoniel Ramos

  11-22-2024

  This study explores the intricate relationship between economic development and migration patterns in Northern Ghana's agricultural communities. Utilizing data from the EGC-ISSER Ghana Socioeconomic Panel Survey, the analysis focuses on the economic motivations driving migration, considering factors such as urbanization and economic growth. The findings reveal that while urbanization and economic prosperity individually decrease migration, in line with the assumptions of the human capital models of migration, their interaction significantly increases it, suggesting that growing wealthy urban centers; the emergence of new; or the growth of smaller urban centers (made possible due to economic growth) offer enhanced opportunities that attract migrants despite potential saturation. These findings shed light on the complex dynamics between economic development and migration and help make sense of economic development's short-term effects (namely, increased migrations). The results provide a mechanism for understanding the changing levels of migrations (primarily domestic) over the course of economic development. The study offers valuable insights for policymakers seeking to align development strategies with migration management in low-income countries.

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  The Utilization of String Pulling to Determine Female Rats' Dual Cognitive Motor Task Performance Following Space Flight Stressor Exposure

  Doc-Haden Rodgers, Nicole M. Atttallah, Teresa L. Garcia, Nuhamine A. Moges, N. A. Moges, K. D. Omengan, J. F. Cortez, K. S. Dhede, and A. A. Blackwell

  11-22-2024

  During deep space exploration, astronauts depend on mission-essential performance in Dual Cognitive Motor Tasks (DCMT), such as receiving information from ground control to assemble and configure wires during a spacewalk. DCMT relies upon processing cognitive and motor information simultaneously. Previous research on rodent models has shown various impairments in cognition and motor function in separate tasks after exposure to deep space radiation and sleep fragmentation (SF). However, an assessment of DCMT performance in rodents has not been established. Rats and humans use similar hand-over-hand movements to pull a string, and task demands may be varied to assess cognition and motor function simultaneously using this behavior. Therefore, string-pulling behavior was used to develop DCMT to assess performance in female outbred Wistar, retired breeder, rats exposed to 10 centi-grays of 250 MeV/n Helium (n=9) and sham (n=8) with pre-/post-SF conditions. During DCMT, rats had to discriminate between string pairings that varied in cues and order presentations. Rats were given up to 30 trials/day to fulfill criterion (four consecutive correct string pairing selections) before undergoing one 12h session of SF in a chamber containing a bar that swept horizontally every two minutes. Results thus far show that rats engaged in increased test and trial quantities following SF regardless of irradiation status. Additional analyses are ongoing, and the results will be delivered at the poster presentation. DCMT in SF irradiated rats may provide translational insights into how spaceflight stressors impact mission-critical performance.

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  Detection of Methane Leaks by the Use of Mid-range Infrared Camera

  Jared Rosario and Oscar Salcido

  11-22-2024

  Timely detection of methane leaks from natural gas infrastructure, like pipelines and valves, is essential for mitigating environmental and safety risks. This research focuses on using mid-wave infrared (MwIR) cameras on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to detect leaks. By leveraging machine learning, the study aims to develop an efficient, real-time methane inspection system that operates directly on embedded processors on UAS platforms.

  This project employs the FLIR G300a OGI camera for remote gas inspection, utilizing video preprocessing and optical flow to mask gas plumes in footage. The YOLOv8 deep learning model is used to detect gas pixels and segment the plume area, with the analytics deployed onboard an NVIDIA Jetson Nano.

  Indoor experiments demonstrated that the FLIR G300a camera can effectively detect low methane flow rates (3-5 SCFH) at a 30 ft distance, highlighting its strong performance under controlled conditions. In outdoor settings, detection proved more challenging due to factors like wind, temperature, and complex backgrounds. However, preprocessing videos and applying optical flow significantly improved gas pixel identification, enhancing labeling and training for the YOLOv8 model, and demonstrating the system’s adaptability to real-world environments.

  The developed methodology automates the previously labor-intensive and hazardous task of detecting methane leaks with handheld sensors, which require close proximity to the leak source. This remote, automated approach enhances efficiency, enabling fast response and timely mitigation of environmental, safety, and property risks. Additionally, the technology can be adapted to detect other gasses around chemical and industrial facilities.

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  The Effect of Encoding Strategies on Recognition Memory

  Camila Schettini, Cole Kaneshiro, Kevin Mohawk, and Colleen Parks

  11-22-2024

  Successful memory decisions require distinguishing between true and false memories. VariouS strategies can be used to avoid false memories such as the Recall-To-Reject (R-R) strategy and the Distinctiveness Heuristic (DH). R-R involves rejecting false information by recalling correct information (I know this person is not Bob, because Bob has brown hair); while DH involves the rejection of false information due to failure to recollect expected information (I know I never met this person because I would remember if I had). The purpose of this study is to examine how these strategies affect recognition memory. In the present study participants were presented with a series of unrelated words at study, which were paired with either the word spoken out loud (word+spoken condition) or a colored image of the word (word+picture condition). The study task was completed under either Full-Attention (FA) or Divided-Attention (DA), the latter included completing an n-back task during encoding. At test participants completed a recognition memory test which required participants to determine if a word was old (studied) or new (unstudied). New items were either unrelated to the studied words or were very similar to previously studied items but differ in plurality. We expect the R-R strategy will be used more in the word+spoken condition under FA, and that DH will be used more in the words+pictures condition under DA. This study contributes to the understanding of how DH and R-R affect memory, and can provide more insight on which strategies aid in avoiding false memories.