Fall Student Research Symposium 2022

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Latinx Culture Centers at Utah Universities: An Analysis of Services and Web Presence

Vanessa Garcia Vazquez

Many universities offer culture centers for their minority students to support them as they navigate school. The purpose of this research is to see what student services are being offered to minority students, specifically Latinx students, at public universities in Utah. The universities analyzed were Utah State University, Weber State Univeresity, University of Utah, and Utah Tech University. The argument is framed using an analysis of the websites of the centers at these 4 universities, and interviews of staff and faculty overseeing these centers in the state of Utah. The findings of this research should push for future discourse about what services are being most utilized and best support Latinx students at Predominantly White Institution's (PWI), as well as how they are advertised and recommendations about how they should be advertised.
Social Media's Effect on Youth

Joshua Gardner

This paper goes in depth about social media and the effect it has had on the mental health of youth in todays society. Compiling research from several peer reviewed journals and personal experiences, the conclusion reached seems to point that there is a correlation between social media and less emotional stability, toxic and harmful body image comparisons, as well as higher rates of depression depending on the amount of time spent on social media platforms. Although there are consistent studies demonstrating that social media has a negative impact, there are also studies showing that social media provides healthy outlets, more socialization with friends, as well as providing a platform for organizing social reforms and protests. The general consensus from the research in this paper points that longer screentime spent on social media drastically increases mental health problems, but short amounts of use and awareness is linked to more positive outcomes.
Tissue Engineered Representation of Human Blood Vessel Using Hagfish Protein

Parker Goldsberry, Hayden Johns, Jaden Storrer, and Jessop Oliver

Scaffolds used in in vitro cellular growth are a common method of more accurately representing the structure and extracellular matrix of the tissue being grown. Tissue engineers are constantly testing novel biomaterials as scaffolds to determine their representativity of native tissue. One of these such biomaterials is hagfish protein, which when bound together or cross-linked has properties similar to many tissues found in the body. Specifically, there are some properties that could make it a viable option for human blood vessels. Being a simpler organ than most, comparatively, it is also a prime selection for in vitro studies attempting to create a transplantable tissue. Therefore, this experiment tests the viability of hagfish protein as a scaffod for blood vessels. Two cell lines were used in this study: C2C12s, a murine muscle cell derivative, and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs). They were seeded on a 12-well plate that had four treatments: two variations of Hagfish membrane, collagen as a positive control, and the untreated well plate as a negative control.
Active Analysis in Secondary Education

Alisha Grant

My research project is about the use of Konstantin Stanislavski's acting method of active analysis in secondary education. I am a student teacher at a middle school this semester and I decided to utilize active analysis in my classroom. It is a method of acting that involves using movement as well as text analysis to learn more about the character an actor is embodying. Active analysis is newer to the United States and has only just in the past year had a full English translation be printed. I wanted to see if active analysis could be used just as effectively in a secondary education setting as I had seen it utilized at the collegiate level.
Women's Self-Harm in Shakespeare

Madison Harris

Throughout the works of Shakespeare there are examples of women, especially wives, physically harming themselves and threatening violence to others as a way of proving themselves. My research explores how and why Shakespearean wives seek to prove their worthiness by physical acts of violence and how an early modern audience might have understood this. While there has been research about violence committed against Shakespearean women, there is little research on women utilizing violence as a method of proving their trustworthiness, loyalty, and bravery to men. These questions are particularly poignant when considered within the context of marriage. I use secondary literature to discuss instances in Shakespeare's works where wives use violence against themselves to prove their masculinity and trustworthiness, as well as communicate with their husbands. I also use primary source documents to discuss how early modern audiences viewed the trustworthiness of women and their use of violence. Ultimately, my research found that Shakespeare reinforced stereotypes about women's inconsistency.
The Effects of Sleep on the Mental Health and Academic Performance of College Students

Emily Harrison

My research question was: what is the effect of the amount of sleep college students get on their mental health and academic performance. I was hoping to find out what the effects were and how college students can cope better with the amount of sleep they get. Research was conducted using library and internet resources to locate both primary and secondary research. For this study, I utilized both academic articles and popular internet sources. It was found that the sleep college students obtain affects their lives in many ways including in mental health and academic performance, and this knowledge can be applied to their lives in many ways to improve these aspects of their lives including increasing academic performance and improving mental health. Sleep can be the difference between a higher grade or not and good mental health or not. College students should all make sure that they get enough sleep.
Addressing the Dangers of the Online Alt-Right

Paul Harrison

This presentation aims to establish how the online alt-right phenomenon is a problem for the United States and propose multiple potential solutions to that problem.Evidence was gathered through online academic databases and media organizations' publications of personal accounts of people who have had encounters with the alt-right or experienced the problems it causes.The online far right is built on violence and extremism, far from mainstream American politics. In appealing to young American men through the alt-right pipeline, far right online communities are harmful to American society because of their spreading hateful messages against minorities and their promotion of violence, which has seen real world consequences. These problems can be addressed in the home, in public schools, and through government legislation.Through the limitations of this research being conducted online, testing proposed measures to combat the online alt-right phenomenon has not been possible, although experts attest to their potential effectiveness.
Born or Lived: Forming Personal Identity

Nicholas Hatch

Identity is one of the most significant aspects of an individual's life. Your identity affects how you see yourself and how others see you. An individual's identity is very complex and many factors contribute to the formation of their identity. Considering this, this prompted the question; What are some of the biggest factors of identity formation and why are they important? Looking through various scientific papers as well as the experiences of individuals, I have come to the conclusion that sexual orientation, gender identity, personal circumstance, and lived experience are among the more significant factors of identity formation. They are significant because they affect the way that you perceive and interact with the world around you, as well as your position within society. While I have come to the conclusion that these factors are important, identity is certainly not defined by or limited to these aspects of an individual. Identity formation is a process that is not completed until adulthood, and these are all important considerations when considering another individual and thinking about your own identity formation.
The Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation and a Western-Type Diet on Gut Health

Marcus Hayden

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide and has increased incidence in more developed countries (Parkin et al., 2005). Diets in more developed and Westernized countries, where CRC is more prevalent, tend to be energy-dense and nutrient deficient. Discovering which food patterns inhibit inflammation matters because the duration of colitis is a risk factor for CRC. Deficiencies in an American diet led to decreased gut microbiota diversity and increased prevalence of colitis. A key component of colon health is the microbiome. Dietary bioactive compounds change the composition of the microbiome. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a promising bioactive in reducing colitis. We hypothesize supplementation of DHA to a Western-type diet will suppress colitis, reduce mucosa damage in the colon, and diversify the microbiome. To test the hypothesis, we used a 2x2 factorial design with basal diet and supplement type as the variables. Then, we measured three different endpoints: microbiome profiling, colitis disease activity, and histopathology gene expression. We measured these endpoints before, during, and after colitis. To profile the microbiome, we will use 16S rRNA sequencing. Once the microbiome is processed, we will then analyze measures of diversity through the Microbiome Analyst. We anticipate seeing DHA improving multiple aspects of gut health. We also hope to learn more about the role of the diet and the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer.
The Effect of the Plant-Based Diet on Athletes and its Limitations

Dylan Hill

In this study, I was hoping to learn more about the differences between the omnivore diet and plant-based diet in relation to the effects on an athlete. Research was conducted using library and internet resources to locate both primary and secondary research. For this study, personal accounts and experiences of athletes who had experimented with a plant based diet were examined. Research showed that although a very enticing option for a healthy diet for athletes, the plant-based diet is just as effective as a balanced omnivore diet but much more difficult to do properly and is much less accessible to those in third world and other situations of struggle. This was shown through the performance and muscle levels of plant-based diets, and through the inability to convert a plant-based diet for those in low income areas. Moving forward, it should be recognized in the athletics world that there are alternative diets that are just as effective as the mainstream omnivore diet, however it must be cautioned that it may take a place of privilege to accesse these alternate diet options.
Mechanical Properties of Hagfish Protein Hydrogels

Hayden Johns

Hagfish are ancient animals that eject a strong slime when attacked by predators. This slime is composed of intermediate filaments that contribute to its incredible strength.To defend against foes, the Navy launches plastic ropes into the propellors of enemy warships in order to decrease the thrust of motors. In an effort to find a more biodegradable solution, the utilization of hagfish slime has shown great promise in stopping propellors.We hope to understand how the slime withstands the impact of a quickly rotating propellor, while simultaneously reducing the propellor's thrust. What specific mechanical properties allow for this phenomena? From this research we can maximize the capabilities of this novel and versatile biomaterial.
What's With the Web? A Cross-Culture Web Design Analysis

Dylan Johnson

The internet has flourished into a global marketplace of goods, services, and ideas. With this surge in cross-culture interactions, we must turn our attention to the commonalities and differences in our web-based world. Despite potential language barriers, users want to interact with overseas markets. But how do westerners try to find tourism destinations? How do they shop online through overseas websites? Are there any frustrations or design differences that can create gaps? By conducting interviews with two native Japanese people who have extensively interacted with US and Japanese internet, this study hopes to hear of their perceptions and experiences with both. By hosting surveys with average western users, this study aims to find any commonalities and differences between US and Japanese website design.
An Explanation of Self Harm and Giving Help

Jessica Johnson

Self harm is a highly misunderstood coping mechanism that often results in stigma. Self harm is the action of hurting one's self with the intent of doing so. There are multiple factors and forms of self injury. Teenagers are the most likely to self harm due to the fact that they are not developed enough to handle emotions. Members of minorities are also more likely to self harm. People self harm for their individual reasons, but a common reason is to manage negative emotions.
Expressing and Purifying Type IV CRISPR Accessory Proteins

Alivia Jolley

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) adaptive immune systems defend bacteria and archaea against phages, plasmids, and other mobile genetic elements. Each Type IV CRISPR system contains a subtype-specific gene and is hypothesized to be essential for function. The Type IV-A system encodes ATP-dependent 5'-3' DNA helicase called CasDinG, while the Type IV-B systems encode a putative pyrophosphatase named CasCysH. Here we investigate the function of the type IV CRISPR systems by expressing, purifying, and characterizing the accessory proteins from the type IV systems. This project is a first step towards understanding the structure and mechanism of type IV systems and the possibility of repurposing type IV systems in future applications.
The Reality of Therapeutic Fictional Power: Students' Use of Fiction as a Coping Mechanism

Miranda Judson

This research explores the benefits of leisure and assigned reading as a coping mechanism. In this research I discovered that fiction is a powerful coping mechanism. While research has been done on Bibliotherapy, the guided use of literature for patients, clients, or students, and similar fields, no research has been done specifically on fiction or the self-guided use of fiction as a coping mechanism. I surveyed and interviewed university English students who responded that they find fiction to be soothing and that they find insight to problems they're facing when they read. I discovered that students find more insight and find reading to be more beneficial as a coping mechanism when they are reading for pleasure as opposed to assigned reading in school. The books these students choose as a coping mechanism are varied and include books and short stories from classics to general fiction. Perhaps this is because students also choose the books they read for pleasure with their emotional and psychological benefit in mind.
How Poetry Saved Nostradamus From the Pope

Alexis Julander

I came across the work of Nostradamus as part of a curatorial team working with books housed in special collections. Instantly, I was intrigued by the background of the man who's most enduring work is an attempt to calculate the events of the future based off the mathematics of astrology. Nostradamus was a doctor and astrologist living in France from 1503 to 1566. He wrote his first prophesies in 1550 after a visit to Italy sparked his interest in the occult. In order to keep his predictions from seeming to close to biblical prophecies, they were written using poetic forms.
Wild/Feral Horses: the Great Debate Between Freedom and Capturing

Jolee Lamoreaux

Wild Horses have been around for as long as anyone can remember. However, there has been a great debate that these horses are harmful to the environment and they need to be taken care of either by rehoming or slaughtering. This study aims to determine why people think these horses are harmful and what has been done to try and solve the issue. I conducted my research mostly by researching keywords and evaluating my search results to examine credible sources. The three major claims that I wanted to make sure I addressed in my paper were the history and background of these horses, how they affect the environment, and what the public's opinions were on these horses and on this current issue. I was also focused on reviewing biological and ecological studies. Overall, what I was able to find was that this issue is complex and complicated based on both facts and opinions. I have come to the conclusion that there will always be horse advocates finding reasons why wild horses are in fact beneficial to the public and the environment and there will always be non-horse advocates conducting research that these horses are harmful and need to be taken care of. After I have conducted all of this research I was able to come to the conclusion that this debate is likely to be unresolved because there will always be two sides to the debate that are not able to come to a conclusion together.
The Stigma Against Elderly Drivers and an Analysis of the Effects of Age on Driving Ability

Alexander Lee

Elderly drivers are not as big of a danger on the road as the general population believes. This was preliminary research into the significance of elderly drivers on the road and the statistical data on whether they are a hazard on the road. They are among the minority of people that are in car accidents and most elderly people still on the road are more experienced and drive safer to compensate for ailments they may experience from their age. Elderly that can not drive safely or can pose a hazard on the road usually remove themselves from driving or are restricted by the law long before they can become a hazard on the road. Overall elderly people are a minor portion of the dangerous drivers on the road and their reputations as bad drivers are exaggerated to the point of falsehood.
Multimodel Courtship Signaling in The Family Hylidae

Addie Lloyd

It is becoming increasingly obvious that species' courtship is more complex than originally thought. Hundreds of studies have described courtship systems focusing on a single trait, but we know many species have multiple signaling methods (Hebets, 2005). Multimodal courtship describes a composition of signals covering different sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, and tactile. Is having multiple courtship methods better than just one? This study focused on two types of signaling- sexual dichromatism and the presence of vocal sacs- in the family Hylidae. The goal was to determine the preferred signaling methods and their evolutionary relationship. We predicted that most species use multimodal courtship systems. It will be more likely that species evolve a secondary courtship signaling method to increase the range of sensory stimulation. Data on sexual dimorphism and vocal sacs was collected for 203 species in the Hylidae family from peer-reviewed literature. We analyzed each character trait using ancestral state reconstruction methods in Rstudio. To test whether the evolution of vocal sacs and dichromatism is correlated, we used Pagel's Method and BayesTraits (Revel 2012, Pagel 1994, Pagel et al 2004). The results revealed that the use of unimodal signaling in the form of vocal sacs was the preferred system. When given a multimodal system, there was a higher likelihood of losing a method to preserve a unimodal system than gaining an additional method. Certain combinations of multimodal signaling must be too costly evolutionary-wise to be found in nature. Elaborate courtship displays such as bright colors have the potential to attract predators. The role of each signaling component is still unclear, as are the influences that promote uni and multimodal courtship signaling systems (Mitoyen, 2019).
Appropriation VS Appreciation of Latinix Culture: Where Do We Draw the Line?

Aleja Longoria

In a modern society, Latinx culture is widely appreciated, respected, and celebrated. Though the line between appropriation and appreciation is constantly blurred by the growing commercialization, popularization, and expansion of the culture. Alongside the rapid spread of this beautiful culture, is the onset evolution of cultural appropriation. This can be seen in the celebration of Latinx holidays such as Dia de los Muertos, Cinco De Mayo, and even Beauty trends. The mass popularization of these holidays and practices has often taken away the meaning of each, leaving a feeling of our own culture being preempted before our own eyes. When an aspect of our culture is no longer a reflection of the community it represents, the concept itself has lost its meaning. Appreciation begins with understanding, especially the values our traditions hold. If it is not a benefit to the community it is not a benefit to the appreciation of a culture, therefore one must understand the significance of that event or aspect in order to understand the difference between appropriation and appreciation.
Effects of Exposure to Atmospheric Humidity on Breakdown Field Strength Measurements of Polymers

Megan Loveland DeWaal

This study investigates the effects of absorbed water introduced via exposure to atmospheric humidity on electrostatic breakdown field strength measurements of polymers. Conducting breakdown tests under sample conditions appropriate for different applications is essential. If the breakdown field strength is overestimated for an application, an insulator may be used inappropriately in high electric fields where they are more likely to break down. Comparisons are made between: sets of pristine samples, samples that underwent a thorough vacuum bake out to evaporate absorbed water, and samples subject to subsequent incremental prolonged atmospheric exposure. These investigated the effects of absorbed water and determined how quickly samples reverted to an unbaked state. Specifically, we compared: changes in measured electrostatic breakdown field strength, pre-breakdown arcing (DC partial discharge) rate, rates of flashover signatures, and images of the arc damage sites. The polymeric dielectric materials chosen were hydrophobic low density polyethylene (LDPE), intermediate polyether-etherketone (PEEK), and more hydrophilic Nylon 66.
Teacher and the Machine: Perceptions of Computer-Generated Writing Feedback

Amanda Mackay

As technology has gradually been integrated more and more into classrooms, one technological tool has emerged: automated writing evaluators (AWE). These evaluators offer nearly-instant, computer-generated feedback for students' writing. Many teachers and school districts have required students to use these writing evaluators for their academic writing; they are often used to save teachers time and energy. However, in retrospect, do students feel that they have become better writers through using AWE? Do experts in the field of teaching English recommend the use of AWE? What may be the future of these evaluators in the classroom? In this study, we looked that the perceptions that English teaching students at Utah State University have regarding automated writing evaluation and whether they plan to use it in their classrooms someday. English Professors at USU also shared their views on AWE and how best to give students feedback on their writing. The results showed that most English teaching students do not find these AWE to be sufficiently effective. From their experiences, their writing has improved much more from teacher feedback and peer support. Similarly, the professors shared that other modes of feedback, especially teacher feedback, should be prioritized in the classroom; however, they also shared that AWE could be a useful tool to help students think critically about writing and the role of technology. This study offers one perspective on how automated writing evaluation has been used in the recent past and what the future of it may hold.
Who Are We When What We Are Changes: The Transhumanism Movement

Logan Mattson

The concept of humanity is changing and will continue to change as we develop technologically. Improvements in artificial limbs, the ability to print organs using stem cells, and direct neural interfaces will progress the option to improve on what people are capable of technologically and biologically to the point of raising the question 'what is human?' We must consider this question and its possible answers to know how we as a society may meet these coming changes to many of our base conceptions of identity. This paper addresses the concepts behind some of these changes and how they may impact society.
Examining Cultural and Chemical Treatments to Fusarium Bulb Rot in Onions

Tim Miller

Onions are grown in 1,500 acres in northern Utah and are a large part of growers' income. In the fall of 2021, 30% of a grower's onion yield was affected by Fusarium bulb rot (caused by a fungus known as Fusarium proliferatum) and the onions were unmarketable. The literature surrounding this pathogen is sparse and losses of this magnitude could cause growers to lose between six and seven thousand dollars per acre. Samples of the fungus were plated onto potato dextrose agar at half strength and maintained fresh throughout the winter. In vitro experiments were performed with various fungicides at different rates to determine which would most effectively inhibit the growth of F. proliferatum. The study also performed inoculation tests with onions in a greenhouse to discover proper inoculation methods for a field trial. The field trial was conducted to examine the effects of fungicides and different cultural practices in conditions similar to the growers of northern Utah. The field trial was the culmination of the entire study and it showed that two different treatments had a lower incidence of Fusarium bulb rot. This project was a big first step in filling in gaps on the literature surrounding F. proliferatum. These results will help refine future research when testing cultural and chemical treatments.
Light Scattering From Periodic Conducting Nanostructures

Wesley Mills

Carbon nanotube (CNT) forests are roughly vertically aligned carbon tubes with a diameter of a few nanometers, and a height of hundreds of micrometers. CNT forests of proper densities and heights can be excellent absorbers of visible light, so a lot of interest has been generated in their application in optical calibration, energy conversion, antireflection, and radiometry. Unfortunately, reflectance from CNTs rises quickly above the mid-infrared range, limiting their present use. Improving a CNT-based broadband absorber requires understanding why the forests have almost zero visible-light reflectance, as well as a strategy to extend that low reflectance into longer wavelengths. Since CNTs are a conducting material, the focus of my research thus far is in developing an analytic model for light scattering from periodic conducting structures. Here I'll present a 1-dimensional (1D) model and examine numerical calculations obtained from it to determine how various parameters affect reflectance. I'll also discuss our efforts to extend that model to the 2D case and some of the issues we've encountered in that.