Fascia is a broad term referring to the connective tissue of the body. Fascia has multiple functions: it maintains the shape of different anatomical components, allows cells to convert external mechanical signals into internal biochemical reactions, and distributes the stress of movement and gravity across multiple muscles and joints. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the physiology of fascia, explore therapeutic practices involving fascial manipulation, apply this knowledge to dance movement and injury prevention, and educate dancers and teachers about the “why” behind these common therapy practices. More specifically, I wanted to understand the mechanistic science behind foam rolling and massage therapy in order to support the hypothesis that these therapies are fascial manipulation and enhance athletic ability by remodeling the fascia on a physiological level. To support this hypothesis, I reviewed literature and scientific studies relating to fascia and athletic ability, participated in an untreated cadaver dissection course that focused on connective tissue, and interviewed professionals in the field of therapeutics. My preliminary results indicate that foam rolling and massage temporarily enhance athletic ability and prevent injury; however, the mechanism behind these results is still unclear. There is some evidence to support that these therapeutic techniques involve fascia, but other mechanistic theories unrelated to fascia may also explain these results. More research on fascia and the “why” behind these therapies is needed to fully uncover the applications of fascia for dance movement and injury prevention. However, it can be concluded that the implementation of these therapies should be considered for dance warmup and cool down practices to help dancers reach their fullest movement potential, maintain their bodies, prevent injuries, and achieve longevity throughout their dancing careers.

Disordered eating, poor body image, and eating disorders are common and ongoing issues in the world of dance. These issues are caused by a complex web of factors, including dance training, perfectionistic tendencies, comments made by friends and family, and social media. This study looks specifically at how the dance classroom environment contributes to the dancer’s relationship with food, eating, and diet. I collected data from three different sources: a survey sent to dance majors and minors at the University of Washington, a survey sent out to one randomly selected dance studio from each U.S. state, and case study interviews. Anticipated results may suggest that the environment created by dance studios and teachers can have long term effects on a dancer’s relationship with nutrition. Dance instruction that places emphasis on dancers’ bodies, as opposed to their movement, can contribute to a more turbulent relationship with nutrition. These findings shed light on the need to analyze and reconsider dance pedagogy, teacher training, and dance studio policies (whether implicit or explicit) surrounding nutrition.

Color guard is a youth performing arts activity usually associated with marching band or drill team. Although the specific context of color guard performances may vary, the central components require performers to manipulate equipment such as flags, wooden rifles, and dull metal sabres, while maintaining a performative, dance-based foundation in relationship to musical accompaniment. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of dance in the world of color guard, and to investigate ways of implementing dance training to enhance color guard educational programs. Interviews were conducted with four seasoned color guard instructors from various geographic locations. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify how these veteran teachers view the role of dance in color guard, how they determine success in their programs, and how they have been able to utilize dance to their program’s benefit. Preliminary results indicate that focusing on dance training and body awareness significantly contributes to performers’ success in competition, as well as assists with the social/emotional challenges facing this population. These findings suggest a need for further investigation into teaching practices utilized by instructors in order to illuminate how pedagogical training impacts students.

Specifically addressing proprioception’s relationship to balance control, recent studies have noted how ankle proprioception may be one of the most important components to balance control because of its direct contact relationship with the ground. Dance training has been shown to improve a dancer’s proprioceptive abilities and is one of the fundamental reasons why dancers are able to flawlessly execute complex balance movements on a very small base of support with lights shining in their eyes and while under constant pressure from a judgmental audience. In this research, I aim to explore how proprioception may be improved through dance. My methods are grounded in a literature review from around the world and anecdotal evidence through interviews and video footage of three individuals focusing on improving their static balance. Results from the literature review indicate that dance can be used to improve one's proprioception and balance control in both the youth and elderly population. Video footage analysis and interviews partially support my initial claim that balance can be improved in all individuals. Understanding the kinesiology of balance may contribute to future alternative movement therapies that use targeted dance movements to alleviate symptoms of specific conditions, such as ankle proprioception movements for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease or neck proprioception movements for individuals with chronic neck pain.

The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of virtual reality meditation (VRM) for symptom management in outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The specific aims of this feasibility study include: 1) examining the feasibility of implementing VR meditation; 2) determining the acceptability of using VR-delivered meditation; and 3) exploring a patient’s experience of using VR-delivered meditation for symptom management. RA is a chronic disease that affects more than 1 million people in the U.S. While recent advances in medicine have shown promising results in managing physical symptoms, a large portion of outpatients with RA still suffer from fatigue. Recent studies have found that fatigue may be managed through meditation, but VR meditation has yet to be tested and deployed in this population. This feasibility study implements a mixed-methods design. Eight adults (18 years and older) with clinically-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled from a local rheumatology clinic. Participants used a VR headset incorporated with meditation software over the course of four consecutive weeks. Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures of fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety, physical activity, and mood were collected at baseline and weekly intervals for 4 weeks. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture the patient’s experience of RA, fatigue, as well as experience of the virtual environment. I was personally in charge of analyzing the interview transcriptions and adding coding measurement tags for the quantitative analysis. Results are currently pending. Expected results include that participants will find VRM both feasible and acceptable for fatigue management, and that participants will report reduced fatigue levels after using the VR device. Results of this study will inform future clinical trials using VRM, implementation of VRM into clinical use, and give a better understanding of the patient’s experience of utilizing VRM for fatigue management.

As a student of both Religion and International Relations, I am intrigued and perplexed by the presence – or absence – of sanctity within international systems. My senior capstone, which I conceived of and researched myself, studies the Tlingit potlatch and its use of the sacred in international relations between the Sitka Tlingit Nation and the Russian Empire (prior to 1867), as well as the United States government (after 1867). Using secondary sources, the anthropological and historical work of Dr. Sergei Kan, and definitions of the sacred as discussed in the works of Mircea Eliade, I ask several questions to evaluate international relations theory. Firstly, what is the sacred and how does it connect us? Secondly, how was the sacred used in the Tlingit potlatch, and how did the Russians and Americans differ in their interactions within this space? Finally, how might a closer look at the potlatch help me understand one form of Indigenous international relations and how can the use of the sacred challenge assumptions made by predominantly white western international relations theorists? The Tlingit potlatch served as the primary space for international relations through the prescribed roles of “host” and “guest.” My research has led me to conclude that the Russian Orthodox Church leaders accepted their role as guests, thereby maintaining their sovereignty and the sovereignty of the Tlingit, and by extension, preserving international relations between the two groups. American Presbyterians, however, sought to conquer and control Tlingit sanctity, effectively dissolving the potlatch, Tlingit sovereignty, and the possibility of maintaining international relations between the communities. With these discoveries in mind, I ask, “What might Tlingit Elders tell us about how to conduct international relations, and what do we do with that?” By asking this question, I attempt to elevate Indigenous voices in the field of international relations and revolutionize the ways in which international diplomacy is conducted by allowing space for empathy, sanctity, and trust.

The representation of genocide in the post-conflict period is paramount in shaping public opinion and, in turn, providing relief, aid, and justice for the victims. Two common forms of representation of violence in genocide are statistics and the memory of survivors. Data and statistics add a viewable representation in graphs, tables, and charts. However, data and statistics can be manipulated and changed to suit one's biases. One of the most prevalent forms of memory in post-genocide periods is testimony. It can be intensely personal and can provide narratives for oppressed people during the conflict. However, testimony can be altered by trauma and memory of the witness and can be influenced by an interviewer. This presentation explores the delicate balance of memory and statistical representation in a post-genocide period, primarily in the Guatemalan Genocide. It contains an analysis of data on victims that was collected by the Guatemalan police during the genocide, widely published testimonials, and personal stories about the genocide. A mix of testimony and data representation can provide additional and nuanced insight into violent conflicts and help to create a peaceful and just society. Considering testimony and data together instead of completely separate entities fits with established and proven genocide prevention efforts.

Teamwork, now widely recognized as a vital corporate, academic and social dynamic, requires each team member to share a similar individual understanding of the task at hand. In this research, we analyzed shifts in team members’ individual mental models to gain a deeper understanding of this process. We listened to and coded audio files granted by NASA’s Human Research Program, extracted from a few of NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) mission campaign teams as they were preparing for, executing, and debriefing various simulated missions. We developed a coding scheme to assess the statement’s process, purpose, and contribution to mental model shifts. A statement’s process refers to its topic in terms of planning, acting or evaluating (this idea is backed by literature). A statement’s purpose declares whether what was said was an agreement, disagreement, suggestion, or direction. In accordance with the purpose and process of the statement, we concluded whether each specific statement helped in moving the team towards a shared understanding (positive shift) or away from a shared understanding (negative shift). At the end of each task, based on the gathered data, we deduced whether the team had a shared mental model of the task. This coding scheme, as well as its application, will be instrumental in guiding future research that implements team communication in the understanding of mental model states. In addition, this coding system may reveal patterns that can predict future instances where teams experience a series of negative mental model shifts and instruct future interventions.

In the fields of physics and economics, the conceptualization of time is that it is constant, never changing. However, using a cognitive psychological approach, time is anything but constant. Some days seem incredibly long, while others fly by quickly. Some days we have all the time in the world, while other days we don’t have enough time. This is a result of our perception of time. There is much research in cognitive psychology about manipulation of our Temporal Perception, but there is no research on the application of this phenomenon to how we organize and prioritize our daily tasks. Additionally, there is no current information on whether the perceived Temporal Distance of a task’s due date changes when a person completes a task alone vs in a team. My project seeks to fill both these voids in literature. This project is based on perception, so there is commonly a difference between what participants say and what they do. To address this difference, I intend on conducting a survey about individual participants’ experiences with prioritizing tasks and experiences with teamwork, as well as conducting a task-prioritization activity. The survey will be disseminated over Amazon mTurk’s survey service, while the teamwork task prioritization activity will be conducted throughout courses here at the University of Washington. I am still in the construction phase of this study so I have no preliminary results yet, but one hypothesis is that there will be a positive correlation between team process gain (whether a group of people works better in a team than alone) and perceived temporal distance, with a negative correlation between stress level and these variables. A summary matrix of temporal distance perception and prioritization will be presented that can inform team leaders, as well as individual members about the management of time.

As dam removals become more frequent across the United States and globally, understanding kelp forest response to coastal dam removals, in particular, is critical for managing nearshore habitat. Dam removals impact flow and sediment regimes of rivers, both of which can influence coastal kelp forests. The removal of the Elwha River, WA dams released ~19 Mt of sediment into marine ecosystems. This sediment flux dramatically influenced the turbidity of the nearshore water column and permanently increased the amount of sediment released from the river. The objectives of this study were two-fold. First, I developed methods to remotely sense and quantify the abundance of canopy forming kelps from aerial images. Next, I determined how changes in suspended sediment concentration and light attenuation during and following a major dam removal event in the Elwha River impacted the growth of nearshore bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana. By incorporating remote sensing to quantify the relative abundance of bull kelp in the area, my study observed that following dam removal, bull kelp abundance declined in the study area. This was an unexpected finding because I calculated that suspended sediment concentration decreased following dam removal, thus improving conditions for kelp growth. Although suspended sediment concentration decreased after the dam removals, other factors, such as an increase in herbivorous predation, could have played a large role in suppressing bull kelp abundance. The supervised classification scheme that I developed for remotely monitoring kelp abundance will make analyzing larger areas feasible in future studies, which may help to better identify regional trends in kelp abundance. Marine aerial monitoring remains an important avenue to better predict and manage future kelp forest response to dramatic changes in the ecosystem.

This study evaluates the relationship between collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and average teachers’ wages with econometric analysis. The literature suggests that teachers’ pay impacts the quality of educational provision, teacher retention, and quality of educational staff. Hence, understanding the determinants of teachers’ salaries is of critical policy importance. Using Washington and Idaho state as the geographic frame for my research, I collected and compiled data from 143 school districts from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Washington State Report Card, the American Community Survey (ACS), the Washington State Department of Education, and the Idaho State Department of Education. I proposed several regression models and used a CBA dummy variable to explain the variation in teachers’ wages, controlling for other relevant factors including student teacher ratio, expenditure per pupil, etc. The estimation results show that the presence of a CBA predicts a 6.1 to 6.7% increase in average WA/ID teachers’ salaries. This result is consistent with the findings in the literature that a CBA predicts a minor increase in average teachers’ salaries. This study extends the literature by verifying the importance of CBAs in the Washington/Idaho geographic area. The findings could be useful to educational stakeholders in salary negotiations, budget forecasting, and educational administration.

Despite research supporting the efficacy of certain mental health practices, many mental health care providers in community mental health clinics are not utilizing evidence-based practices (EBPs) consistently when treating patients with mental health needs. Clinical supervisors play a critical role in EBP implementation given that they have regular oversight with clinicians and can gauge how often clinicians use EBPs and how effective they are at delivering them. The purpose of our project is to examine the feasibility and self-reported usefulness of case-based consultation for clinical supervisors at child-serving community mental health clinics to support the implementation of EBPs. In our pilot study, nine clinical supervisors and two supervisor consultants were recruited from community mental health clinics to participate in supervisor consultation calls. The purpose of these calls was to improve clinical supervision skills and perceived competencies for clinical supervisors. These calls consisted of: (1) a brief 15-minute didactic lead by the supervisor consultant that covered various content areas relevant to their roles as supervisors; and (2) 45 minutes of case-based consultation among the consultant and the clinical supervisors where they discussed real-life supervision scenarios, barriers and challenges that they faced, and proposed solutions or strategies. Pre and post surveys with clinical supervisor participants showed the consultation calls resulted in greater self-reported supervision competency. To build on the quantitative analyses, my mentors and I have been conducting a qualitative thematic analysis of eleven of the case-based consultation calls, which were recorded and transcribed. We will analyze the qualitative data to identify reoccurring themes discussed on the calls coded as barriers or solutions to supervision and clinical challenges to EBP implementation. This thematic analysis will help us gain insight into one potential support strategy to improve EBP implementation and sustainment to increase the quality of behavioral health care for youth.

SARS-CoV-2 spreads across the globe, infecting more than 128 million people and claiming over 2.7 million lives with an absence of definitive treatment up to date. Therefore, there is an immediate need to develop treatments fighting against the COVID-19 global pandemic. The goal of my project is to generate and assess an innovative treatment for the SARS-COV-2 virus infection. Our treatment formulates computationally designed proteins, and we want to evaluate its therapeutic effects using human induced pluripotent stem cell (h-iPSC) derived cell lines and organoids. The designed protein is a combinatorial cage (mosaic cage) containing spike binders previously shown to significantly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and F-domains that were shown to activate the Tie2 pathway. The Tie2 pathway is a key regulator of vascular stability, where active Tie2 can strengthen cell-cell junctions and enhances endothelial cell survival, thus enhancing blood vessel stability. We hypothesize that the designed protein would neutralize the spike protein to block viral entry and activate the Tie2 pathway to alleviate sepsis in COVID-19 infected patients. We will test spike-binding activity and determine the activation level of the Tie2 pathway of this mosaic cage in iPSC-derived spike-overexpressing endothelial cells. We expect to measure a strong spike-binding affinity of designed proteins and strong downstream pathway signals pAKT, pERK, pFAK in designed protein-treated iPSC-derived endothelial cells. We also plan to test the mosaic cage’s activities using Kidney Organoids. If our hypothesis is correct, we will apply the findings clinically for their potential intranasal administration as a COVID-19 therapeutic.

Over the past fifty years, survival rates for most cancers have risen as innovative treatments have been developed. However, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare pediatric brainstem tumor, has seen no such improvement and remains one of the deadliest cancers. DIPGs are genetically distinguished from adult gliomas by a lysine-to-methionine mutation in a variant of histone H3 called H3.3 (H3.3K27M), found in 80% of DIPG tumors. This mutation is absent in canonical H3.1 and H3.2, yet it triggers a global reduction in the levels of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) mediated H3K27me3 (tri-methylation) marks, which is traditionally considered a driving event in tumorigenesis. However, genome-wide studies of H3K27me3 marks in DIPG cells have revealed that this global loss of H3.3K27me3 is accompanied by a sharp increase in H3K27me3 repressive marks at certain genes. These trimethylation spikes represent regions with high transcriptional repression and may be key in understanding and treating DIPG. Our lab has previously described the inhibition of PRC2 using a computationally designed protein EBdCas9. Using a complementary guide-RNA tiled to the promoter region of a gene, I can target EBdCas9 to that specific region on the genome, remove existing H3K27me3 marks, and increase gene transcription. Identification of candidate genes which are repressed in DIPG cells under these H3K27me3 spikes remains an ongoing project that I am working on. Results of one target, tumor-suppressor gene p16, demonstrate that I can transfect primary DIPG cells with EBdCas9 plasmid and a p16-specific gRNA to trigger a 20-fold increase in p16 expression. I hypothesize that restoration of critical cell-cycle genes like p16 will reduce DIPG viability and offer potential therapeutic targets. I’m currently working to improve transfection efficiency in order to increase p16 expression, and future steps include in-vivo testing of this system, either via mouse model or a brainstem organoid.

The body’s immune system utilizes T cells to identify and kill tumor cells of growing cancers. However, hematological and solid tumors inhibit T cells by producing a tumor microenvironment (TME) that presents inhibitory and death signals that hinder the T cells cancer fighting potential. At Dr. Oda’s lab we work to overcome this TME obstacle by engineering exogenous proteins that can be expressed in T cells. These immunomodulatory fusion proteins (IFPs) combine an inhibitory ectodomain with a costimulatory endodomain. Therefore, when these novel T cells receive deadly messages from tumors, they instead interpret and rewire the signal in ways that increase their cancer combatting abilities. We have had success in engineering Fas-4-1BB and CD28/CD200R IFPs data supports the IFP’s ability to increase proliferation, metabolism, and antitumor properties along with decreasing exhaustion in T cells. This presentation will focus on our recent investigations into an IFP that modulates the relationship between SIRPa and CD47. It is known that tumor cells express CD47 which binds to SIRPa on macrophages and gives an anti-phagocytic “don’t eat me” signal. CD47 also binds to SIRPa on dendritic cells and shuts them down, effectively inhibiting an antigen presenting cell that is key in communicating cancer antigens to T cells for identification. By combining the SIRPa ectodomain with the costimulatory CD28 endodomain, we can manipulate this inhibition by CD47 which is overexpressed in TMEs. I use gateway cloning to prepare vectors for transfection. I transfect SIRPa/CD28 constructs into PlatE viral producing cells and transduce the virus into T cells for expression. From here, I set up serial killing over time assays to collect and analyze in vitro data. This research on IFPs can lead to improved clinical treatment for cancer patients, resulting in increased survival rates across a range of different cancers and patients of all ages.

Our immune system naturally fights cancer by using T cells to locate and infiltrate cancer cells. However, hematological and solid tumors counter this by presenting inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing ligands on their surfaces, effectively suppressing T cell activity. We address this barrier in cancer treatment with studies on genetically engineering T cells. Specifically, we are engineering T cells with a Fas-4-1-BB immunomodulatory fusion protein to overcome inhibitory signals and instead utilize them to enhance the T cells’ cancer-combatting abilities. Inhibitory signaling from Fas ligand (FasL) plays a major role in the proliferation and persistence of tumors in the body by protecting tumor cells from being attacked by lymphocytes. We are engineering T cells with an immunomodulatory fusion protein (IFP) that combines the Fas ectodomain on T cells with the pro-survival 4-1-BB signaling domain. This allows T cells to convert the inhibitory Fas signal from binding FasL that diminishes T cell activity to costimulatory 4-1-BB signal which upregulates T cell activation and survival. What we found is T cells transduced with the Fas-4-1BB IFP exhibit enhanced ability to proliferate and function in vitro. Fas-4-1BB T cells also exhibit metabolic changes that lead to increased spare respiratory capacity (SRC) and mitochondrial biogenesis. KPC pancreatic cancer and FBL leukemia models in mice show improved persistence and survival in T cells expressing the Fas-4-1BB IFP. In conclusion, our approach in T cell engineering with IFP allows for T cells to overcome deadly signals from tumors and interpret them as a pro-survival message, thus increasing T cell function in murine models. Our results suggest that such engineered T cells improves efficacy towards fighting both solid and hematological tumors.

The Serrasalmidae are a family of Neotropical freshwater fishes that includes carnivorous piranhas as well as their herbivorous relatives, the pacus. Pacu diets consist of leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, and algae, as well as insects, benthic invertebrates, plankton. Likewise, some piranha species are actually more omnivorous than carnivorous, feeding on fruits and seeds in particular and only to a lesser degree the fins and scales of other fishes. These diverse prey materials appear concomitant with diverse jaws and dentitions in both pacus and piranhas, suggesting that some species are ecomorphologically specialized for feeding on certain prey. We investigated how the pattern and tempo of feeding morphological specialization in herbivorous serrasalmids reflects the ecological diversity of their food resources. Pacu and piranha species were first categorized as either algivores, frugivores, folivores, phytophages, planktivores, or omnivores based on a meta-analysis of published gut content data. We used computed tomography (CT) scanning and morphometrics to describe the primary morphological axes of jaw and dental variation and any correlates these phenotypes may have with each species’ primary prey. We found significant differences in the occlusional offset, mechanical advantage, size and shape of the lower jaw among different diet guilds. Phytophages tended to have scissor-like dental occlusion, resembling piranhas more than other pacus. We also found significant differences in the rate of morphological evolution among different diet guilds, notably folivores had morphological rates over 40 times faster than that of planktivores, suggesting different selective regimes acting on each dietary guild.

It is commonly known that climate has shaped the photosynthesis type, height, and leaves of plants. However, it’s less commonly considered how plants affect climate. Major forest loss events have occurred due to deforestation and tree die off over the past decade. Prior research has shown that which types of plants grow where, and how those plants function, can impact climate both nearby and across larger spatial scales. Because this prior research has focused on theoretical simulations, it remains an open question if the impact of changes in plants can be seen in the real and very noisy climate system. We have compiled maps of actual forest loss as observed by satellites, to create initial conditions for simulation experiments in order to test if the impact of plants can be identified in observations of the atmosphere during the satellite era. We are assessing differences between simulations with and without forest loss to identify how that forest loss impacted the atmosphere. Using these identified impacts we will analyze if these same patterns are found in observed environmental conditions. This project aims to advance our understanding of the effect of forest loss on global climate, atmospheric circulation, and energy balances. Better understanding of this will help us to coordinate efforts to mitigate climate change by planting forests, while minimizing unwanted impacts. Additionally, this allows us to further predict and understand the impact of forest loss.

Nationwide, many states are starting to provide training in evidence-based treatments for psychological disorders to clinicians from mental health organizations. In Washington state, many clinicians participate in a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training (CBT+) each year, which employs a common elements approach to address multiple psychological disorders common in children. However, there has been limited research on clinicians’ underlying reasons for participating in these trainings. Thus, this study examines main motivations behind why clinicians participate in CBT+, along with whether or not differences in motivation exist amongst clinicians with varying levels of familiarities with CBT prior to training. In this study, surveys were distributed to CBT+ participants (N = 197) to self-report on a 5-point Likert scale their levels of agreement with each reason for participating in CBT+: organizational requirement, interest in learning/refreshing CBT skills, helping clients, and professional development.The participants also self-reported on their frequencies of using CBT prior to training, with answers ranging from “almost always” to “never”. For understanding clinicians’ motivations in general, I employed descriptive statistics. For evaluating potential differences in motivation amongst clinicians, I used four two-way ANOVAs, a statistical test employed to analyze differences amongst means, with post-hoc Tukey tests to compare the level of agreement for each reason for participation amongst clinicians with high frequency (n = 62), moderate frequency (n = 78) , and low frequency (n = 57) of using CBT. Ultimately, understanding clinicians’ motivations for participating in the CBT+ can help researchers tailor advertisements and refine features of training programs.These adaptations may engage clinicians in more effective ways by indicating how trainings can help them attain their specific goals. Future directions of research can investigate whether specific adaptations in response to clinicians’ motivations can enhance learning outcomes and feelings of satisfaction of clinicians.

The theory of quantum mechanics has been well-developed over the last hundred years. However, its application is limited by the computational power of modern computers. With the rise of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, a new door is opening to us to untangle the fascinating world of quantum mechanics. In our lab, we use Diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC), a statistical simulation to solve molecular vibration and rotation problems. It is remarkably accurate and versatile, making it suited for notoriously difficult systems, like protonated methane (CH₅⁺). Yet, it requires millions of potential energy evaluations before quality results can be acquired, which often takes unrealistic amounts of time. In this work, we use TensorFlow, a neural network training framework developed by Google, with full Graphics processing unit (GPU)-acceleration support, to considerably speed up the evaluation of the potential energies needed for the DMC calculations. We started by running a small-scale conventional DMC simulation to collect a set of molecular configurations and their corresponding potential energies, which are then fed into a 3-layer deep neural network on Tensorflow with carefully-selected parameters. Once finished training, the neural network can replace the conventional potential energy evaluation method used in DMC to greatly expedite the process. We tested this model on water(H₂O), protonated methane(CH₅⁺) and water dimer((H₂O)₂), and was able to achieve a 15-fold acceleration, with less than 0.01% error compared to conventional methods. Our future goal is to further optimize the neural network to make it even faster and more accurate, then apply it to larger systems which were unsolvable before due to their computationally intractable time.

Water clusters play a significant role in a variety of processes such as those pertaining to the atmosphere and biological systems, and studies of water clusters have suggested that they could help us learn more about hydrogen bonding. We first must understand the energetics and trends of isolated water molecules in order to better comprehend the spectroscopic properties of water clusters. Afterwards, we can look at water clusters and observe how the energetics and patterns change due to the interactions with other water molecules. We are studying the coupling among vibrations in water molecules and how they are reflected in the spectra. The discrete variable representation (DVR), a method used to solve the Schrödinger equation, was implemented to generate the water spectrum as well as energies and wave functions. The DVR results show that the theoretical intensities are consistent with the experimental results. These results contribute to our goal of analyzing the spectra of more complicated water cluster systems. Diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) is a different method that allows us to explore larger systems and is used in the analysis of the coupling in assemblies that contain multiple water molecules.

Long duration space missions pose a challenge on crew members’ mental well-being and, subsequently, their work together. Since the trip to Mars is expected to last 3 years, researchers need to help prepare teams to be successful throughout this time period. The crew spends not only working time together, but also a majority of their downtime. As such, we can consider how this fluid suite of interactions can be used to maintain morale and team relationships for the long haul. In this study, I explore the use of humor in downtime engagements by crews in the HERA station - an analogue space station situated at Johnson Space Center in Houston. I listen to the audio data from crews completing a 45 day mission to explore how humor influences their task success. I use a qualitative case based approach to assess humor and its effect on teamwork and validate these assessments with NASA subject matter experts in behavioral health performance. Preliminary research shows that activities, such as watching sitcoms and joking while watching the news help crew members form and maintain strong relationships that later influence task success. My findings can instruct the set up of humor opportunities for long duration space mission crews. In addition, real-world team leaders can utilize these findings to improve their team cohesion and performance.

Thirteen months after the first confirmed case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the United States (U.S.), over 500,000 people have died. However, the pandemic in the U.S. has not affected all populations equally; there are vast differences in morbidity and mortality in areas of differing population densities. We hypothesized that the number of SARS-CoV-2 mutations would be higher in densely populated areas due to closer proximity among inhabitants, which would lead to increased viral spread from person to person, and thus a greater number of mutations. These mutations can impact and reduce vaccine efficacy, as well as morbidity and mortality, depending on where they occur in the virus’s genome. The complete genomes of SARS-CoV-2 cases from March 1^st, 2020 to March 1^st, 2021 were collected from the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) for counties of varying population density. These genomes were analyzed to identify geographic areas where problematic mutations had the potential to occur. Demographic data was collected at the county level from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) for additional analysis. Mapping the incidence of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome and the correlation of these mutations with population density and other demographic indicators may help decrease disease spread and ensure the vaccines will remain effective.

Long-term air pollution exposure can have detrimental effects on respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular health, increasing mortality risk. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are nanoscale air pollution particles with aerodynamic diameters under 100 nm. Growing evidence suggests that UFPs can deteriorate brain health by crossing the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from toxins and pathogens. Historically, people of color and low income communities have been more likely to be exposed to higher concentrations of air pollution, but disparities in UFP exposure specifically have not been studied. This study used linear regression modeling to estimate the association of UFP exposure with race-ethnicity and income in the greater Seattle area. We observed that 83% of the census block groups in the study area were predominantly non-Hispanic white, and household incomes ranged from $9,000 to $250,000 with a median income of $71,000. Estimates of annual average UFP concentrations were modeled from mobile monitoring measurements during the year 2019. UFP concentrations ranged from 2,000 to 14,000 pt/cm3 with a mean of 6,000 pt/cm3. We found that UFP concentration decreased by 177 pt/cm3 (95%CI: 160, 194) for every 10% increase in household income. For every 10 percentage point increase in non-Hispanic white population, UFP concentration decreased by 449 pt/cm3 (95%CI: 410, 488). These results indicate disparities in UFP exposure due to both race-ethnicity and income in the Seattle area. Further analyses investigated this relationship in detail, by specific income and racial-ethnic groups, and compared the relative effects of race-ethnicity and income on UFP exposure. This study can help inform future studies on UFPs and public policies that promote healthier, more equitable communities.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic emerged in the United States in January 2020, altering how most individuals interact in public spaces. Many familiar indoor spaces such as restaurants, planes, and classrooms suddenly posed a significant risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Most transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is airborne through contagious aerosols exhaled with carbon dioxide (CO₂) by infected individuals in indoor and outdoor spaces. Indoor CO₂ levels are impacted by factors including: size of the space, air changes per hour, number of individuals present, the activities of the individuals, humidity, and temperature. Vigorous activities — such as speaking or exercising — increase CO₂ levels just as they increase aerosol production. Thus, CO₂ levels provided a good approximation of the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 in a specific location. We investigated how available ventilation impacts the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 in different indoor settings. An indoor air quality monitoring system that utilized CO₂ levels was developed to evaluate risk of transmission. CO₂ levels were measured using CO₂ sensors in Seattle, WA from March 2021 to April 2021. This data was collected in a variety of public indoor spaces including public transit, educational buildings, restaurants, gyms, and grocery stores. CO₂ levels were analyzed with a COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission Estimator based on the Wells-Riley equation. This information is critical to understanding the comparative risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 in various indoor public spaces and highlighting where improvements can be made to mitigate such risk.

Over the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in wildfires and their severity. Wildfire is a natural phenomenon that needs to happen to regenerate life within ecosystems. It kills off the old growth, allowing new growth to flourish in its place. Previously, scientists and political officials understood wildfire as an enemy of the forest, partly because forests were valued as commodities. Wildfire has its benefits but has devastating affects on communities. This study examines wildfire in the wilderness urban interface (WUI) within the Cascades Mountain Range, Washington. This study has three parts. First, I mapped the WUI over two decades in the Cascades Mountain Range, Washington. Second, I created a spatial index to depict risk levels across the study area. Last, I met with stakeholders to understand the current practices of wildfire fighting and the needs of the community. This research found significant growth in the WUI, interesting variation in wildfire risk across the Cascades, and conflicting interests among the stakeholders, ranging from privileging forest ecology to valuing the economy. These insights were gained by using geospatial techniques. Wildfires aren’t going away, and we need to understand how communities will be impacted and can prepare for the future.

 The Cascades mountains of the Pacific Northwest are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and increases in temperature have led to decreased snow and an uncertain future. A reduced snowpack has significant ramifications for the evolving ski and backcountry Winter recreation industry in Washington state. My research considers a changing natural landscape and its hydrological processes in the face of global climate change, from the lens of backcountry recreation. I use geospatial analysis to quantify the extent to which the snowpack of the Cascades has been impacted by temperature increases using data from snowpack telemetry sites and remotely sensed hydrologic data, and models its future state given predicted climate scenarios. I discuss the dynamics of winter backcountry recreation including increased usage, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, avalanche awareness and risk, and the existential threat to Pacific Northwest Winter recreation when mountain snowfall becomes rain.

Against the backdrop of Coronavirus spreading on a worldwide scale, public health policy became a priority among universities worldwide. Statistical modeling emerged as a solid tool to visualize the role of mask-wearing and social gathering in the spread of this global pandemic. This research aims to simulate the social network of college students living on-campus and how that will impact the spread of Coronavirus within the college campus. We design a simple network model that approximates the type of social interactions occurring on a college campus, which relies on assumptions about people’s living situations (e.g., how many roommates they have, how many people have in-person work). We simulate the disease spreading through the network model by allowing individuals to move between Susceptible, Exposed, Infected, and Recovered states. The transition probabilities between states are determined by an individual’s social interactions and mask-wearing habits. We created an interactive data visualization tool where the users will be able to adjust the parameters to explore the impact of each parameter on the dynamics of the disease. The visualization tool indicates that even if a large percentage of people wear masks, a social gathering such as a party can lead to increased transmission of the disease. The result of this research will be able to approximate the pandemic trend within the campus to inform individual students and policymakers at the university and shape further decisions (e.g., Whether or not to attend social gatherings or initiate university re-opening).

A great deal of research has focused on developing and testing evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for children’s mental health. Correspondingly, there has been a focus on improving the implementation of EBTs in community settings; however, current delivery rates of EBTs is largely unknown. Mental health providers across Washington are required to document EBT delivery with Service Encounter Reporting Instructions (SERI) codes, which are reported to the state Department of Behavioral Health and Recording. SERI codes may provide an avenue to understand delivery rates of EBTs across Washington, but existing data suggests SERI codes may be utilized infrequently or incorrectly. Data for this study come from an evaluation of the CBT Plus (CBT+) Initiative—a statewide, state-funded training in EBTs for childhood mental health problems. CBT+ provides training and expert consultation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Parent Management Training (PMT). This study uses data from the 2019-2020 cycle of CBT+ trainings, and we will use descriptive statistics to characterize the frequency with which clinicians report using SERI codes. We will also examine clinician’s reports of if supervisors/senior leaders within their organization discussed the use of SERI codes. We predict the outcomes for clinicians EBP SERI code use will trend correspondingly to state reporting, although these findings are limited by the narrow dataset. We predict that SERI code use is positively correlated with discussion of SERI code use. Another limitation is the predominant use of self-report questionnaires after receiving CBT+ training. This research will give insight to support needed for more effective implementation of policies and reporting of EBP SERI codes. Billing code use is necessary to determine EBT penetration rates at a state level. By understanding the rates at which children in Washington receive EBTs, we can improve these treatments and outcomes.

The push for social change seen in modern sociopolitical movements is rooted in the social divide between majority and minority populations. Liberation psychology is a field that seeks to address these disparities through reconciliatory and transgressive practices that incorporate and amplify the voices of those affected. In its support for the values, histories and concerns of oppressed groups, liberation psychology offers tools for examining broad sociopolitical struggles and challenging contemporary systems of oppression that perpetuate social inequalities. This perspective also provides a framework for understanding the motivation and actions of individuals who are engaged in processes of political resistance and dismantling existing power structures.

This theoretical review of the current literature uses the lens of liberation psychology (also referred to as critical or radical psychology) to deconstruct the factors that lead up to transformative collective action by marginalized communities. Specifically, we compare core social movements in history with modern protests by examining the interplay between societal structures, cultural assumptions, and psychological responses in which they occur, grounding this analysis within critical theory.

While the reasons for protests vary across geographic region, time, and population, our research on the dynamics of oppression has revealed five motivating factors of social movements: grievances, emotions, identity, efficacy, and social embeddedness. Understanding the psychological forces behind revolutionary action is imperative to understanding and bolstering the foundational impact and social change that such future movements can bring about.

 As international students make up an unignorable part of the public university population in the U.S., there is a need to better understand their inclusion and involvement on campus. Inclusion in the university community and local society is not only important for international students' success in their college education, but also critical for the benefits of U.S. colleges in terms of economic revenue, diversity, and knowledge & cultural exchange (Bevis, 2002; Harrison, 2002). In this study, we are interested to learn more about the relationship between international students’ perceived community inclusion and their participation in university services and support programs. In a pilot study, 69 students (36 International, 45 Asian, 18 White, 6 Other racial groups) completed an online survey on the Psychology Online Research Pool Program at the University of Washington. Preliminary analyses show that international students show significantly less sense of inclusion in the U.S. compared to domestic students. Additionally, the sense of inclusion in the university is correlated with students’ usage of university services for international students but not for domestic students. The study has provided insights into the differences between international and domestic students’ perceived inclusion in the public university community and their opinions around university programs that aim to foster student success. It also has the potential to help public universities better understand and serve their student body.

Electrons bound to donors (impurities in a crystal) in the semiconductor zinc oxide (ZnO) are promising candidates for solid-state spin qubits. These qubits may be useful for building quantum memories, which are necessary for establishing long range quantum communication. To actually use these electrons as qubits, we have to understand transitions from the donor-bound exciton state (where there are 2 electrons and a hole bound to the impurity) to the neutral donor state (with just a single bound electron). The width of the distribution of photon wavelengths emitted by this transition (where an electron and hole recombine) is the excitonic linewidth. This linewidth will determine our ability to store quantum information, since entanglement requires close to identical photons. The linewidth can be affected by isotopic randomness in the crystal, an effect which may be pronounced in ZnO due to wide distribution of isotopes in zinc. Studying this effect can tell us if isotopically pure ZnO is required for building quantum memories. This work will present results from theoretical models created in Python and Mathematica simulating the influence of isotopic randomness on the observed linewidths, and will compare these estimates with experimental data. These models simulate particles bound to impurities in isotopically varied crystal environments, determine their wavefunctions and the effect of isotope on their energies, and estimate the resulting linewidth. This theoretical estimate will be compared to experimental data obtained by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy. The current experimental linewidth, measured by the full width at half maximum (FWHM) is 46 μeV operating at a temperature of 1.53 K. Initial models predict relatively high values, from 25 – 45 μeV FWHM. Results from this model and a more refined model focused on the neutral donor state’s wavefunction will be discussed.

Schools are an accessible setting in which to embed youth mental health care; however, anecdotal evidence indicates that caregivers may be less involved in treatment when it is school based. Previous literature examines the relationship between clinician embeddedness across different settings and the involvement of youths’ caregivers. However, it does not evaluate the quality of clinician’s contact with caregivers. This retrospective study aims to compare the frequency of clinician contact with youths’ caregivers across school versus non-school-based mental health care settings. I will extend the previous literature by evaluating the quality of clinician’s contact with caregivers (phone versus in-person). Data for this study came from a Washington State-funded cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT+) training initiative in 2019-2020. All participants were clinicians (N=215) who attended an in-person training followed by six months of expert consultation, completed pre-training and post-consultation surveys, and received CBT+ certificates upon completion. In the surveys, participants reported demographic information, amount of school-based practice, and frequency of caregiver contact. I will conduct chi-squared tests to assess the associations between degree of school-based practice and frequency of interaction between clinicians and youths’ caregivers. I hypothesize that there will be less caregiver contact with school-based clinicians compared to non-school-based clinicians, and less caregiver contact with full-time school-based clinicians compared to part-time school-based clinicians. Next, I will use descriptive statistics to summarize the frequencies of phone versus in-person contacts between clinicians and caregivers. Findings from this study can better inform our understanding of clinician involvement with youths’ caregivers across different service settings, which could aid in efforts to improve the quality of mental health care delivered in schools.

Violence exposure during childhood has been associated with increased post-traumatic stress symptoms, negative physical health outcomes, and risk of future violence perpetration and victimization. Psychotherapy may help buffer against the negative consequences of violence exposure: however, little is known about how community-based clinicians address violence exposure in psychotherapy. Data for the present study came from CBT+ — a statewide, state-funded training initiative for child-focused community mental health clinicians in Washington State. As part of the training evaluation, CBT+ training participants completed a survey that assessed their comfort with addressing violence and aggression and the frequency with which they address these topics in therapy. Using data collected from this survey, we aimed to describe 1) clinicians’ comfort level in addressing issues of violence and aggression during therapy; and 2) the frequency with which clinicians address violence and aggression during therapy. Our results included descriptive data (mean, standard deviation, and range) on clinician’s comfort and frequency addressing violence and aggression, which indicated clinicians did not frequently address violence and aggression in therapy settings and did not have a high level of comfort addressing the topics . Understanding clinician’s comfort and frequency in addressing violence and aggression is an important step toward ensuring the CBT+ training is best meeting the needs of clinicians in preparing them to address these topics during therapy. Clinicians who are willing to openly discuss violence in therapy may benefit clients by helping to reduce the negative mental health effects associated with violence exposure. Findings can help inform future CBT+ trainings on addressing violence and aggression to improve clinician comfort and increase the frequency with which clinicians address violence and aggression.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines social determinants of health (SDH) as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age”, all of which shape the conditions of daily life. There is significant evidence that those who have lower socioeconomic status’ and lower education are more likely to experience various mental health disorders (GAD, depression, etc.), and often do not have adequate services available to combat those disorders. Consequently, there has been increased attention to the importance of social determinants of health (socioeconomic status, living with racism, unstable housing) in relation to providing psychotherapies. We are looking to understand if prior to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)+ training, clinicians had received any training in social determinants of health, and if clinicians incorporate SDH into their delivery of CBT. Our descriptive analysis examines 195 licensed clinicians, and their answers to a variety of questions on their past training on social determinants. Based on past research, it is predicted that the majority of clinicians will have received some type of prior training on social determinants in relation to their delivery of CBT. Due to the importance of considering a variety of social determinants when conducting CBT, it is also predicted that clinicians often tailor their CBT to account for different SDH that their patients might be experiencing. This analysis will give organizations knowledge of what areas of training are being utilized by clinicians, therefore, giving them insight on what further trainings may be appropriate. This study may also help guide researchers when further studies surrounding CBT, and implementation are conducted.

Delivering psychotherapy via telehealth has become a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure individuals with mental health problems continue to get access to evidence-based treatments (ESTs). Many clinical settings were unprepared for the transitioning from delivering therapy in-person into via telehealth, introducing many barriers for clinicians and patients. Several studies have found that telehealth can increase the accessibility of therapy and reduce costs associated with travel. Although telehealth has provided significant benefits, making it a potential long-term medium for delivering therapy, it has also posed several barriers that must be addressed for its use after the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we explored the barriers that clinicians experienced when transitioning from in-person therapy to telehealth. Data came from a Washington state-funded cognitive-behavioral therapy training initiative. Clinicians completed pre-training and post-consultation surveys. Survey questions covered a list of barriers that clinicians had to rank from a scale of 0 (not a barrier at all) to 10 (a very significant barrier). Barriers included technological problems to issues conducting clinical assessments. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize clinicians’ responses. Clinicians may continue to use telehealth even beyond the pandemic and this may become the possible standard of care. In order to improve the delivery of ESTs via telehealth, we must understand clinicians’ barriers to using telehealth, and then identify ways to ensure using telehealth to deliver ESTs is feasible, acceptable, sustainable, and effective.

The coronavirus pandemic has had significant global effects since the beginning of 2020. To slow the progression of a pandemic it is critical that the public cooperates with and follows health guidelines. In the United States, public health officials’ recommendations have been heavily politicized and disputed, resulting in confusion and uncertainty. Furthermore, the United States has had varied policies and messaging both over time and in different jurisdictions, augmenting contention. Twitter has emerged as a viable resource to explore public sentiment related to the pandemic, such as anxiety and fear. Tweets can also be leveraged to gauge the general understanding of the population, and to assess the effectiveness of public policy and communication from public health officials. In our work, we seek to understand how the public discourse varies in different areas of the United States over time. We first collect tweets about Covid-19 over a four-month period from March through July, 2020 from users in the United States. Next, we use Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), an unsupervised algorithm that automatically constructs topics that appear in documents based on word co-occurrences. Using LDA, we present a topic-model of ten themes around Covid-19 that encapsulate various types of discourse throughout the pandemic. Furthermore, we examine trends in topic frequencies over time in each state, identify common patterns shared by states, and discuss these implications. Themes of anxiety are common, although their prevalence increases in some states over time, and decrease in others. Finally, topics of social distancing and wearing masks vary widely in sentiment and in accordance with local policy.