Ocean acidification, the persistent lowering of pH in marine environments, is influenced by water chemistry, biological aspects, seasonal changes, and human activity. Low pH (acidic conditions) can contribute to hypoxia, coral bleaching, and other dangerous conditions for the environment. Estuarine environments contain all these influences. In this study, changes in pH in Possession Sound, WA were examined over a five-year period, with the context of changes in river discharge. This was accomplished using a YSI EXO Sonde periodically deployed nearshore in Mukilteo, Washington, USA used in partnership with Ocean Research College Academy. This site, being within the Snohomish River Estuary, is affected by both oceanic factors and the Snohomish River, including any runoff that comes through those waters. These measurements create a depiction of changes in pH mostly due to seasonal factors, like river discharge and upwelling. Early results from these data demonstrate a clear seasonal pattern without significant annual trends toward lower pH. As climate change progresses, consistent monitoring of ocean pH will be essential to understanding the effects of ocean acidification and the ways we might combat them in the future. While this study was limited by its short timeframe, these results provide an important baseline for continued collection and analysis of these data.

Combined sewer outflow (CSO) overflows are a threat to water quality, particularly in such urbanized areas as the Puget Sound. CSOs contribute to spills of untreated sewage mixed with stormwater that wash into water systems during heavy rain events. Possession Sound, fed by the Snohomish River, has 13 CSO outfalls in Everett, Washington, some of which experience CSO events fairly regularly. Contaminants in these CSO overflows can release pathogens, solids, nutrients, toxins, and oxygen-consuming pollutants into the water. These variables can in turn affect DO mg/L (dissolved oxygen) and turbidity NTU (measure of water clarity) – two important measures of water quality. Past research has found that wastewater spills cause major decreases in DO and increases in turbidity. DO and turbidity data were collected using a CTD in the Everett Marina throughout 2019. This data, in addition to the combined volume of water discharged from the CSOs during overflows, the duration of these spills, and the depth of precipitation in inches during the overflow, were analyzed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method to find which components were most effecting the change in DO and turbidity. Using the components that covered over 90% of the variability in the data from the PCA, a Principal Component Regression (PCR) was made to be the foundation for two predictive models, one for projected DO, the other for turbidity. It is expected that a regression based on these components will make a model that covers the majority of change in DO and turbidity with a statistically significant R2 value. These models may make analysis of the effects of CSO overflows on Possession Sound a much simpler process and provide important insights into the impacts of these overflows on water quality.

Ocean acidification is a global crisis that is mainly caused by too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere being absorbed by bodies of water, altering the water chemistry. Ocean acidification has large visual consequences, such as the bleaching of coral reefs, but less obvious, small scale influences are also found in the Salish Sea. A major indication of global warming’s effects on local water systems is pH, or the measure of how acidic or basic a solution is. Previous global studies have shown that pH has been decreasing (becoming more acidic) over the years, while the overall temperatures have been rising. The goal of this study is to observe how changes in lowernig pH are related to temperature changes in the watercolumn of Possession Sound, a salt wedge estuary, near Everett, Washington. We utilized pH and temperature vertical profiles collected from a YSI EXO Sonde, a deployment device that utilizes sensors and precise calibrations to monitor water quality, over six years to assess the degree of ocean acidification locally. Trends were analyzed according to depth and season. Preliminary studies of this particular site have shown minor changes compared to the extreme trends recorded in other ocean environments. Given the potential for negative impacts on the estuary, it is worth expanding the study by investigating a longer time frame. Local estuary data regarding depth and season will allow people to better understand how these variables change in our environment and gain a greater understanding of climate change’s influences on ocean acidification locally.

Possession Sound, located in Everett, Washington, includes the second largest source of freshwater in Puget Sound from the Snohomish River. This salt-wedge estuary serves as a home to a wide selection of phytoplankton, which provide energy to a variety of organisms farther up the food chain. Water chemistry often determines where phytoplankton accumulate prior to their recycling as nutrients. Ocean Research College Academy students utilize water chemistry data (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and chlorophyll concentration) from two sensors deployed in Possession Sound: One in the river and one two miles away at Mukilteo. While plankton samples are collected in the Sound, rarely are plankton collected in the river and compared to chlorophyll concentrations. This study will look at abundance and diversity of phytoplankton collected in the river at various tide stages and compare these to Mukilteo samples. I hypothesize that flood tide samples will be similar, while ebb tide phytoplankton and chlorophyll levels will decrease. The preliminary data revealed that chlorophyll and temperature levels did not vary significantly between the two sites despite the widely differing salinity levels. The next steps of the study are to determine the plankton density of phytoplankton species across the two most recent years of data. Results will enable us to explore further into plankton presence in relation to chemical variance in water systems. 

Nutrient levels in marine environments can vary widely due to local geography, the placement of various manmade input sources, seasonal factors, and tidal patterns. They are important in understanding the overall health of an ecosystem, as they can be an indicator of potential pollution. They also have a significant impact on plankton populations and, as a result, primary production. Unnaturally high nutrient levels can affect other water chemistry variables, contributing to events such as harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and ocean acidification. In this study, I analyze 13 years of nutrient data from ten Possession Sound sampling sites, at varying distances from the mouth of the Snohomish River. Nitrate and phosphate levels were analyzed temporally, and tidal, weather, and river discharge data was overlaid to analyze the relationship between nutrients and other facets of the surrounding environment. My early analysis indicates that seasons play a large role in nutrient levels, likely due to the weather of the Pacific Northwest and runoff from the Snohomish River. Figures also support the relative similarity of values between sites, showing that nutrient levels in the Snohomish River estuary are collectively affected by nutrient flow rather than having site specific characteristics. Studies of this type can provide insight about specific characteristics of our local nutrient pathways and can provide context for changes in our ecosystem. For further research, oceanic parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH levels, and plankton densities should be analyzed in comparison to nutrients in order to gain a better understanding of the actual relative impact of nutrients in this local marine system.

Pugettia producta, native to the Salish Sea, alter their diet seasonally based on availability, shifting from algae in spring and summer to mussels in fall and winter. Our hypothesis was that when presented with both algae and mussels simultaneously, the kelp crabs would prioritize one food over another. Additionally, the environmental conditions of a tank may also have an effect on the amount of food consumed. We also hypothesized that by mimicking the seafloor, the consumption rate would be higher. Crabs were placed in two tanks, one with sediment and one without, and were accompanied by a measured amount of bull kelp and mussels. Tanks were covered nightly at sunset to mimic outdoor lighting conditions, and salinity, pH, water flow, and temperature were regulated evenly for both tanks. Measurements were taken daily of the remaining food supply, and each trial was run for 48 hours. We found that the tank with the sediment had less food remaining, and in both tanks, more algae was consumed than mussels. Algae may have been preferred because it takes less energy to consume, which may mean that kelp crabs spend more energy eating in the winter, and likely suffer a tradeoff with less energy to spend on other factors, such as growth and reproduction. Imitating the sea floor may have made a difference in alleviating stress levels in the crabs, which led to more consumption. Understanding dietary preferences is important when considering the potential future effects of anthropogenic climate change and ocean acidification on marine ecosystems.  Additionally, mimicking field conditions in a laboratory in conjunction with manipulating variables of interest for any experiment likely provides more accurate results than an empty tank, and may be a viable option wherever possible to obtain results representative of a natural environment when field experiments are not possible.  

In any marine ecosystem, water currents are an important factor in both the biological aspects and the physical movements of a body of water. The focus of this study, the Possession Sound estuary in the Salish Sea, lies in an interesting area that is affected both by discharge from the Snohomish River and surrounding streams, and incoming ocean currents from the Pacific Ocean. In Possession Sound the currents can affect everything from the regular boat traffic through the area to the transportation of debris and other natural or harmful substances in the water. I used an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), moored in the Everett marina at the mouth of the Snohomish River, to collect data on current velocity for 10–30-minute intervals over the period of seven months in 2020, and almost two months in 2021. The collated data I then used to analyze the current directions and speeds of the water to determine potential local trends in the currents. Preliminary analysis shows that the currents flowing near the moored ADCP tend to flow north and south with fewer currents going to the east or west. However, the currents going east and west are often faster than the north and south streams. These two trends are likely caused by the north moving ocean currents and the south moving river currents, but more research utilizing related data such as river discharge is necessary. Because of the estuary’s diverse current sources, the analysis of these data allows for a greater understanding of the movements of the water column, and insight into the transportation of important substances within it such as nutrients and heavy metals.

Harbor seals fill a critical role in the balance of the Salish Sea. Prey availability is known to be a strong indicator of seal presence; however, there are many more subtle environmental influences on harbor seal presence as well. This study hones in on the harbor seals of the Snohomish River Estuary and how their haul-out habits may be influenced by the unique water circulation of the area. This study analyzed data compiled by the Ocean Research College Academy at multiple log boom haul-out sites in the Snohomish River from 2015-2022. I analyzed seal data through the lens of the tide's movement of water in this estuary and compiled tide data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). I expected that there would be an increase in seals hauled-out at flood tide as well as in the beginning of the ebbing tide due to the colder temperatures experienced during high tide. Early results suggest no direct or strong correlations between tidal height and overall seal presence at sampling sites. This study seeks to better understand the presence and behavior of harbor seals at the mouth of the Snohomish River. 

Possession Sound, a fjord-type estuary system in the Salish Sea, is home not only to incredible biodiversity but also to some unique clines. A cline, such as a thermocline or a halocline, is a portion of the water column where a physical property changes significantly with depth. The haloclines of the Possession Sound fjord system vary periodically in stratification, particularly at river mouths. One such area can be found at the mouth of the Snohomish River, where cold freshwater flows into warmer seawater, creating a stratified but unstable water column. This study aims to draw connections and seek out patterns between current speeds and temperatures. Temperature data was collected from the Ocean Research College Academy's Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) sensor mooring at the Everett Marina, and current speed data was collected from their Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) in the same location. Prior research suggests that during most parts of the tidal cycle, temperature readings at the surface correlate strongly with tidal stages: the surface becomes colder when river water flows out to sea at low tide and warmer as the seawater pushes the river water back at high tide. However, when the tide cycle becomes less intense and current speeds decrease, this correlation becomes muddied. It is hypothesized that this pattern represents a decrease in thermocline stratification during periods of slower current speeds. Prior research done on this correlation at the mouth of the Snohomish River lacked in scope and statistical support. By expanding the scope by several months and incorporating statistical support, this study has reinforced previous findings, supporting the hypothesis posed previously: a linear correlation between the variables was supported with a p-value of 2.89E-25, and the inverse linear correlation between temperature and tide height was stronger during periods of greater average current speed.

The goal of my project is twofold: firstly, to analyze the philosopher Iris Marion Young’s (1949-2006) application of a “social connection model” to the problem of responsibility for historical injustice in her book Responsibility for Justice (2011) and pose a critique to this model in addressing harms against Black Americans. I do this by putting her chapter on historical injustice in conversation with Roy Brooks’ Atonement and Forgiveness (2004), a work of legal scholarship on the similarly constructed “atonement model” of reparations in the case of anti-Black racial injustice in the United States. Secondly, I hope to explore new avenues of philosophical research that are conducted in partnership with reparations organizations and individuals with a clear connection to specific past injustices. I do this through analyzing three group interviews of 3-4 activists each (Black, white, and integrated) and making use of three reparationist conference recordings in collaboration with the African American Redress Network (AARN), a coalition of national, state, and local reparations organizations. Overall, I argue that neither Young’s social connection model nor Brooks’ atonement model offer a satisfying solution to the problem of conceptualizing the Black redress movement in light of testimonies by and interviews with reparations activists. Instead, I propose a relational approach based on the principles of relational egalitarianism and the concept of “moral repair” in Margaret Urban Walker’s 2006 book of the same name. In this way, I hope to not only bring more on-the-ground perspectives into the philosophical debate on Black redress (and historical redress more generally), but also reflect on ways that philosophy can be reconceptualized as a tool to achieve racial justice goals.

In biomimetics, nudibranch sea slugs serve as a model for suction technology suited for rough and uneven surfaces. This study quantified and compared the attachment strengths of several nudibranch species [Dirona pellucid (n=12), Janolus fuscus (n=23), Hermissenda crassicornis (n=20), Aeolidia papillosa (n=13)] from the rocky intertidal of the San Juan Islands (SJI), WA on 3 different substrates – rough rock, smooth rock, and a plank of bull kelp. In individual trials, the substrate and each sea slug were placed in a mini flume tank (0.02 m³ volume) with a rotor engine generating a known current velocity to simulate wave exposure. Water velocity was increased in a stepwise manner (increments of 0.025 m/s to a maximum of 0.25 m/s) until the nudibranch fell from the substrate (referred to as the Critical Point Force, CPF) or until the full trial period (10 mins) elapsed. The hydrodynamic force on the nudibranch was calculated assuming negligible body mass and used as a proxy for nudibranch attachment force, standardized according to nudibranch body length. Attachment strengths were cross compared to calculated average hydrodynamic force in the SJI according to ocean current velocities obtained from NOAA. D. pellucid was the only species to have significantly greater CPF than the other 3 species. Few H. crassicornis individuals fell (n=3), so their CPF could not be accurately quantified. Estimated average hydrodynamic force for SJI currents on a model nudibranch was 56.4 mN while average experimental nudibranch CPF was 5.06 mN. This difference may be due to higher water velocities in the SJI channel than at the dock where the nudibranchs were collected. Across all trials, 54% of nudibranchs fell, so further research should incorporate experimental water velocities exceeding 0.25 m/sec. No significant difference in each species’ CPF across the varied substrates was detected, highlighting nudibranchs’ potential versatility in biomimetics.

The Philippines is experiencing a new kind of era ever since the onset of Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency. Although the Philippines deems itself as a republic, the president exhibits an authoritarian nature. His tactics, rhetoric, and worldview have garnered attention and controversy, leading to a reevaluation of the country. Despite disagreement and condemnation from human rights groups and other entities, for many people Duterte stands as an effective leader in the Philippines. Even with his brutality, there is a strong presence of approval. In this project, I aim to explore and uncover what makes Duterte such a likable figure among Filipino citizens. A review of the literature reveals many plausible reasons. Duterte veils himself as a ‘common man.’ His efforts to combat the war on drugs are also admirable to many Filipinos; they feel much safer with some of his policies. Initially, my research was supposed to manifest in an academic paper. However, I found that one of my parents shared the same sentiments as other Filipinos. To highlight my findings, I chose to interview my dad and borrowing from the work of Ocean Vuong, I utilized the form of a letter to my father. With this project, I aimed to connect with my dad in hopes of understanding more about my people. Additionally, I was able to hear the genuine thoughts and background of my dad. This brought me closer to my roots, and my dad. This research contributes further to the broader question of what makes dictators and authoritative leaders, such as Duterte, ‘likable’ people to their citizens.  

Herbivory is a concern for agriculture because it results in loss of crops. Plants have innate immune systems that allow them to defend against pests that once better understood, can be utilized to help mitigate this loss. In Steinbrenner et al.’s 2020 work, the authors identified an herbivore-specific immune receptor termed INR in Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) which induces plant defenses upon perception of the protein inceptin, found in the oral secretions of caterpillars. To further investigate the herbivory defense signaling pathway, we acquired EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate) mutagenized seeds, which contain mutations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These F1 parent seeds were allowed to self-propagate, producing M2 seeds. We did this because the F1 seeds likely have a SNP in only one allele of their chromosome, thus being heterozygous at a particular loci where the SNP occurred. When the F1 seeds self-propagate, we expect to get a ratio of 1:2:1 of homozygous for the wildtype allele (HH), heterozygous (H*H) and homozygous for the mutated allele (H*H*). This would give us a more varied phenotypic response when screened for sensitivity to inceptin. Individuals that exhibited a compromised inceptin response will be further investigated to determine causative mutations. We identified a number of families with abnormal immune responses, rescreened those families and verified specific families. Next we will self-propagate individuals from verified families, and expect phenotypes to segregate in a 3:1 ratio if a single dominant mutation is causative. Then bulked segregant resequencing will be used to determine which mutations are co-associated with phenotype. After knowing the genotype, we can begin to determine the molecular mechanisms behind the phenotype. This would further our understanding of plant immune responses, which we can harness to better develop more resilient crops, thus mitigating crop loss due to herbivory.
 

Within the ethnographies, memories, and archives produced throughout a capitalist empire, the ‘gaze’ has generally been used against the subject, creating narratives which entrench the hegemony in defining the subject to accord with the needs of the dominating culture. The term ‘oppositional gaze’ was developed in 1992 by bell hooks in conversation with Laura Mulvey’s Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema: the ‘gaze’ is a scopophilic act albeit with the potential to be a radical method for resistance; the oppositional gaze then refers to ‘looking’ as a defiant act to which the actors reclaim a sense of autonomy over the spectator and turn the gaze back upon their oppressors. What makes the act of ‘looking’ so defiant and how this looking translates to an oppositional gaze is the question this project attempts to answer through a close reading of various media and using an array of methods and theories from such disciplines as film studies, ethnography, and data ethics. I build upon the foundations of hooks and Mulvey while asserting that the definition of ‘looking’ goes beyond visual perception and into the act of understanding and perceiving. I apply these theories of the ‘gaze’ and my own explorations of ‘looking’ to juxtapose Rahul Jain’s Machines (2016) and Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland (2020) in analyzing its application and limitations. With this project, I hope to impel further discussion on the study of the gaze by compiling demonstrations of its application in various media and its disruption of prevailing narratives.

The ability of ecosystems’ organisms to adapt and thrive is dependent on the water chemistry. One key component of water chemistry is measured by the acidity of the water, or pH. The speed of change in pH affects the ability for microorganisms to adapt and thrive. Globally, the pH of the ocean is decreasing due to increasing anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. Possession Sound, a smaller portion of the Salish Sea located off the shores of Everett, Washington, hosts a variety of organisms, all of which are affected directly and indirectly by the pH of the water. The well-being of Possession Sound was explored by examining changes in pH seasonally and spatially. Data were collected with a YSI EXO Sonde from 2016-2022 at four sampling locations with varying distances from shore and the mouth of the Snohomish River that deposits into Possession Sound. A YSI EXO Sonde is a tool used to monitor water quality with sensors to detect depth, pH, dissolved oxygen, and more. Spatially, it was found that lower pH could be found at the sites located nearer to shore. Seasonally, pH increased in the fall and winter and decreased in the spring and summer. Overall, there was less variation in the data that came from the sites located further from shore and more variation in the nearshore site. This could be attributed to the natural mixing that occurs between the freshwater influence of the Snohomish River and the ocean, along with several other factors. Future research examining pH would benefit from the addition of more data sites. Long term monitoring of the water chemistry is important because, as anthropogenic emissions increase, estuaries like that of Possession Sound will feel the effects of climate change first.

Within a marine ecosystem, eelgrass beds are critical for filtering runoff, protecting from shore erosion, and storing or absorbing excess nutrients and greenhouse gasses. Eelgrass similarly is a nursery or home for many aquatic species. Because of these connections, eelgrass has been the center of many studies as a result of its pinnacle role within the aquatic ecosystem. Within Possession Sound, located outside Everett in the southern half of the Salish Sea, eelgrass’s relationship to phytoplankton such as Pseudo-nitzschia, which is potentially toxic, is of particular interest to me. For my study, I hypothesized that the abundance of Pseudo-nitzschia will increase with increased eelgrass bed size. My study utilized data from 2015 to 2020 collected from six sites within Possession Sound. The presence of eelgrass beds and their relative size was determined through the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and plankton collection and identification were conducted by Ocean Research College Academy students. Two common species found within the eelgrass beds are Z. marina and Phyllospadix spp. Data were collected above or adjacent to eelgrass beds. I chose three plankton collection sites with differing sizes of eelgrass and three other sites with no eelgrass for comparison. I chose to monitor Pseudo-nitzschia due to its potentially harmful effects. Preliminary data indicate an association with eelgrass beds and higher Pseudo-nitzschia counts. Further research is warranted to investigate the strength of this correlation. Results will add another piece of understanding to the complex puzzle that lies within the aquatic ecosystem and another impact of eelgrass within the Possession Sound.

Plankton species tend to have a set of conditions that make certain environments ideal for that species to thrive to its highest capability. By focusing on factors such as salinity and temperature, the health of an environment can be tracked based on the consistency of those numbers and its overall impact on marine species’. Given the importance of plankton to the entire underwater food chain, understanding the ability of plankton to survive in certain circumstances is crucial to sustaining a healthy underwater ecosystem. This study analyzes data taken from various sites around Possession Sound from vertical profiles collected by students at the Ocean Research College Academy. This data was further filtered to focus only on those sample dates with abnormally high or low salinity and/or temperature levels. These numbers were compared to plankton counts to understand if the abnormalities were associated with plankton populations. The data showed a connection between days with greater salinity deviations and higher plankton counts. This may mean that salinity fluctuations have an impact on plankton density. Similar information regarding temperature is not as clear currently, meaning that there may not be as distinct of a trend.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the marine ecosystem is a factor that impacts not only the quality of the water but also the health of marine life. Low oxygen in the water can lead to hypoxic conditions, which are harmful and can result in the fatality of marine organisms. The levels of DO influence primary productivity and respiration. We use chlorophyll to help us reach an estimated amount of primary productivity that is in that specific area. This study took place in Possession Sound, WA, which has rich biodiversity and is a main freshwater source from the mouth of the Snohomish River. In this study, we collected profiles of DO and chlorophyll along a longitudinal transect from the field sites of Mount Baker Terminal to Buoy in Possession Sound. Looking at data like this we are able to observe what’s happening around the course of a specified tracked area, which we can then compare to areas with different parameters or in relation to other data that has been recorded. We also looked at their correlations with salinity and temperature. With this study, we are hoping to come across direct trends that circle around these parameters and that can also be relative to spatial comparisons of the sites where our data was collected. This analysis will cover comparisons from the years before and the year after 2021, to establish concrete conclusions supported from the data over time. Learning about the DO qualities impacting organisms will allow us a further understanding of the health and productivity occurring in the ecosystem of the Possession Sound.

During the 2019/2020 recreational crab season, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reported over 735,000 pounds of legal Dungeness crab harvested in Possession Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This enormous fishery relies on numerous variables to survive, including the essential factor, dissolved oxygen. Low levels of dissolved oxygen can lead to an increased risk of disease and suffocation for crabs during all stages of life. When dissolved oxygen levels drop below 2 mg/L, crustaceans, including crabs, do not have enough oxygen to survive. This is called hypoxia. While parts of Possession Sound have rarely had any recent experiences with hypoxia, research conducted by students at the Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) indicates that levels of dissolved oxygen in Possession Sound have recently decreased. My research indicates this trend has been observed, along with an increase in the average annual temperature of Possession Sound, which can contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels. The connection between well-established historical trends of increasing ocean temperatures could introduce more concerns for shellfish such as crabs. My study explores the presence and abundance of crab zoea in Possession Sound and compares these data to trends of dissolved oxygen and temperature in Possession Sound over a 7 year period (2015-17 and 2019-2022). Dissolved oxygen data was monitored with YSI and EXO sensors while crab zoea were counted by my colleagues and I at ORCA. My research seeks to establish a correlation between dissolved oxygen and the presence of crab zoea that could be a critical tool in the management and prediction of future crab populations in this critical crab habitat.

Cachexia is a debilitating syndrome that accelerates muscle and fat wasting, affecting up to 80% of cancer patients with no current effective treatment. This condition is associated with weakness, fatigue, and poor tolerance to chemotherapy. Recently proposed as a therapeutic option due to its anabolic effects on preserving muscle and adipose tissue, ghrelin has been reported to attenuate Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC)-induced weight loss and lipolysis, also partially regulated by its only known receptor growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR-1a). Tumor-induced lipolysis is associated with an alteration of substrate utilization. However, the extent to which these effects of ghrelin relate to substrate utilization (lipid oxidation and carbohydrate oxidation, LO and COX) remains unclear. This project seeks to determine if ghrelin’s effect on LO and COX in the LLC-induced cachexia model is dependent on GHSR-1a. Adult male C57BL/6J GHSR-1a knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with or without LLC tumor, then injected with vehicle or ghrelin (0.8 mg/kg). Metabolic parameters were evaluated by the Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System, in which I analyzed LO and COX (calculated mean values and performed statistics). Tumor implantation led to an increase in LO and a decrease in COX in tumor-bearing mice. GHSR-1a KO mice had a greater increase in LO compared to WT, highlighting the receptor’s essential role in maintaining normal levels of LO during cachexia, with no genotype effect for COX. Ghrelin did not prevent the LLC-induced response regardless of GHSR-1a expression, hence its mitigating effects for lipolysis in cachexia are not dependent on the regulation of LO or COX. In conclusion, GHSR-1a plays a role in modulating LO in tumor-induced cachexia, and these effects are independent of ghrelin. More studies are needed to further characterize the pathways involved, including alternative receptors of ghrelin or its adjacent mechanisms.

This narrative web experience invites readers to rethink their own relationships with the material world. The piece frames materials within Western monumental structures — the marble pedestal, the bronze figure, and the “living” rock carving — not as inanimate instruments in colonial systems, but as living victims and actors within those very systems. I examine how these materials are treated within the Western monument-making process through alternate frameworks—namely Neolithic, Queer and Indigenous material theories—in order to expose the violences inherent in Western material theory and practice. This piece, structured in a series of web pages, leads the reader through a research narrative strung together from conceptual images, academic text, and instructions for a tactile activity. By highlighting these non-Western and anti-colonial material lenses, I explore how the critical lenses we choose to apply to examine monumental materials can act to liberate them from the inanimacies inflicted upon them and highlight the resistances they mount against monumentalization, prompting a further “dematerialization” of the Western monument. This liberation will allow us rethink the physical and ideological standards that have been established for monumentality and to ideate alternate material forms for future monuments that do not contain, impose, and idolize such colonial violences.

Stereotypes around femininity, as presented to young Women, have historically not been inclusive. Often consisting of single-story one-dimensional white male ideals of femininity. Young Women could either lean into the stereotype or turn away, the dismissal often created new stereotypes due to a lack of strong feminist representation like the “I’m not like other girls” trope. The exposure to these white feminine stereotypes created cracks in a young Woman’s relationship with femininity and what it means to be girl. Causing a shift to anti-feminist and sexist thought while developing internalized misogyny. This presented externally as Women hating behavior that supported the learned mindsets of white men on the sexualization, degradation, and general treatment of other Women. The patriarchal system influenced this young Woman and others across the country in their homes, in their classrooms, each night on television, reinforced on the covers of teen magazines, through the eyes of their fathers and actions of their mothers. This young Woman functioned as a monument to the Patriarchy. Acting for the best interest of the heteronormative white male experience. I was the monument. With a lack of strong feminist representation, I instead turned into a living, breathing, and sometimes ‘preaching’ monument to the patriarchy. Through autoethnography and research of pop culture from the 1990s and 2000s, friends, family, members, and television shows. I will analyze my own experience to identify and understand my journey from anti-feminist to feminist. Answer how I was manipulated by the heteropatriarchy and colonialism to be antifeminist, to hate other Women, and actively cause harm to others based on their expression of femininity. Understanding the way in which I was once an image fighting for feminine oppression to help others unlearn too.

This paper and counter-tour will examine the relationship between tourism, the silencing of Martinican activism in international media, and the legacy of colonialism. Martinique is located in the southeastern Caribbean, and has been colonized by France since the mid-1600s. Victor Schoelcher was a French abolitionist who has received much more credit than he is owed for emancipation in the French Caribbean. The project explores the tourism industry and international media’s role in upholding dominant narratives around Schoelcher that are rooted in white saviorism. The questions this research seeks to answer are: What is the relationship between tourism and schoelcherisme, which is the glorification and mythologism of Victor Schoelcher? How does activism on Martinique that challenges white supremacy and colonialism bring to light truths that the tourism industry attempts to conceal in its messaging? The approach to answer these questions involves critical analysis of tourist websites and brochures. This project will also incorporate social media and publications of Martinican writers and activists. The counter-tour will illustrate how the tourism industry invisibilizes the work of activists to challenge Schoelcher’s material legacy, keeping their work from receiving international attention. This research project will challenge depictions of the island that are interwoven into the tourist industry’s advertisements and Western perceptions of Martinique, and highlight means of resistance to white supremacy and colonialism.

Impacts of climate change, such as warming ocean temperatures and increased prevalence of disease, greatly affect intertidal marine environments within the Puget Sound. These impacts can alter behaviors of marine invertebrates, resulting in ecological cascade effects within rocky intertidal zones. The goal of this study was to observe variation in growth and feeding behaviors of organisms within a trophic cascade including plankton, pacific blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus), and sea stars (Crossaster papposus and Pisaster ochraceus) as a representation of the rocky intertidal zone in the Puget Sound. Experiments were conducted under two temperatures, 11.8°C and 20.7°C, to simulate a control similar to current water conditions and an increased temperature similar to recent heat wave conditions. Plankton growth rate was measured by counting the change in number of individuals per 1 mL sample over a four day period. Mussel feeding behavior was measured by recording change in fluorescence over a four day period, both with and without the presence of a predator (sea star). Sea star feeding behavior was measured by counting the number of mussels consumed over a 24 hour period. The results showed decreased plankton growth in the increased temperature treatment (t-test, p=0.065). Mussel feeding rate decreased as a result of both increased temperature and presence of a predator (two-way ANOVAp=0.040). Sea star feeding rate additionally decreased under increased temperature (t-test p=0.090). Because these organisms are integral to rocky intertidal zones, we can use their behaviors as bioindicators and conclude that these ecosystems are impacted by climate change. Variation in behavior could result in significant changes in species abundance and ecosystem structure; it is essential to research how ecosystems within the Puget Sound will adapt to future environmental conditions.

Plants recognize insect herbivore attack by detecting molecular patterns in their oral secretions. Steinbrenner et al. have recently identified a host plant receptor for one such pattern, termed the Inceptin Receptor (INR). INR binds herbivore-derived inceptin peptide and confers signaling and defense responses in response to inceptin, including a measurable burst of reactive oxidative species and the gaseous hormone ethylene. INR is present only in species of the legume subtribe Phaseolinae (e.g., common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris). INR was previously studied using heterologous expression in tobacco, but the role of INR in beans themselves has not been studied due to difficulty of genetic transformation and knockout approaches. I have created a backcrossed line of common bean introgressing a naturally occurring inr- mutation into a genome sequenced variety. Inceptin response is compromised in inr- near isogenic lines. I plan to use the inr- near isogenic line to measure the contribution of INR to caterpillar feeding relative to wild type plants. To quantify the feeding habit of caterpillar species when fed these two lines, I optimized a high throughput herbivory assay and imaging pipeline to quantify feeding behavior and tissue consumption. We hypothesize that plants lacking INR will show reduced deterrence, increased tissue consumption, and increased larval weight gain upon caterpillar feeding. Understanding how plants sense attack will help us to develop varieties that are resistant to pests and pathogens.

The brain maintains body weight homeostasis via a tightly regulated neuronal circuitry. Microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain, elicit an inflammatory response that triggers increased food intake and weight gain on a high fat diet. We are curious how microglia regulate the neuronal circuitry to affect food intake and body weight. We have developed a chemogenetic mouse model that expresses a modified Gs-protein-coupled DREADD (Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs) selectively on microglia. Administration of the ligand Clozapine-N-Oxide (CNO) activates the cyclic AMP signaling cascade in microglia. We have found that CNO administration for three days increases the cytokine IL-1𝞫, and reduces chemotactic signals (P2RY12 and CCL3) and Agouti-Related Peptide (AgRP). AgRP is produced from neurons in the hypothalamus and is responsible for feelings of hunger. I hypothesize that microglial Gs-DREADD activation suppresses AgRP signaling and reduces food intake and body weight. To test this hypothesis, mice expressing the microglial Gs-DREADD (MG Gs-DREADD+) and control littermates (MG Gs-DREADD-) will receive daily intraperitoneal administration of CNO (1 mg/kg), and will be monitored for food intake and body weight for a week. Mice will then be placed on a high fat diet (60% kcal obtained from fat) under daily CNO administration, and will be monitored for food intake and body weight gain for 4 weeks. I hypothesize that MG Gs-DREADD+ mice will show reduced food intake and weight gain on a HFD when compared to MG Gs-DREADD- mice. At the end of the study, I will examine changes in inflammatory mediators and neuropeptides in the hypothalamus of the mice. Overall, this study will help elucidate how microglia alter hunger and satiety signals in the brain to regulate appetite and body weight. Moreover, the ability to modify these signals can help individuals manage their weight and prevent obesity.
 

The United States immigration system was created upon the ideas of white supremacy. There have been many instances of xenophobia and racism throughout history used as a ploy to justify anti-immigration policies. The US-Mexico border, Latin America, and the Caribbean play a significant role in the conversations around immigration due to the intersection of various racial identities; white supremacy plays a part in justifying discrimination and violence towards people of color. This research asks how racial differences influence US immigration incarceration and deportation. This is conducted by comparing the historical and contemporary contexts of border patrol and immigration policy to analyze the modern-day landscape of immigration and how it has or has not transformed over time. This was achieved through a literature review of historical sources around immigration policy and secondary research on the history of the US immigration system. Desired and achieved recruitment consisted of two academic professors who had extensive research and knowledge on the historical and contemporary framework of the US immigration system as well as two US community organizations focused on advocating for Black and Indigenous immigrant rights. They were identified through their research and activism, centered around the intersections of race and immigration. Drawing upon interviews and secondary research sources, our research group presents an in-depth series of podcast episodes, which feature candid discussions with professors and organizations heavily involved with the immigrant community. These interviews allow the listener to gain a deep understanding of how racial differences impact and shape immigrant incarceration and deportation. Overall, our research group hopes to demonstrate how immigration policy has disproportionate impacts depending on a person's race, leading to varying experiences and statistical differences in incarceration and detention rates. ​​Through this podcast, our research group hopes to inspire conversation around the intersection between race and today's immigration policy.

This project explores the history and power of language in relation to graffiti writer Rammellzee’s philosophy of Ikonoklast Panzerism as well as to his art. Using informal interviews, ethnographic engagement, and close readings relating to Rammellzee and the alphabet’s history, I investigate how the individual can claim the power of language back from colonizers and oppressors through subversive art. I question how Rammellzee’s work can be used to reimagine the alphabet as a tool to deconstruct monuments of oppression and imperialism that are pervasive to society. Rammellzee founded Ikonoklast Panzerism on the idea that each individual letter of the alphabet can be armored and weaponized in order to free themselves from the institutions which wield the power of language over the rest of society. He bases his beliefs in the medieval history of monastic illuminated calligraphy and uses his theories to create art which subverts structures of power. I argue that Rammellzee’s work reveals the potential of individualized power by reclaiming the almighty power of language and challenging the limitations of legibility and standardization. Drawing from concepts such as ethnographic refusal, and from the writing of scholars like Michel-Rolph Trouillot to inform my creative work, this project emphasizes the power of the written word in today’s world and investigates how language can be reimagined and repurposed by each individual. I synthesize my research findings into a creative form that touches on my own relationship to language in academia, and how I can apply Rammellzee’s ideas to my own life.

Photosynthesis and organic matter production by photoautotrophs in the upper ocean are fueled by sunlight. In previous research, environmental metabolite concentrations in the sunlit ocean have been found to display significant 24-hour periodicity. Prochlorococcus is a marine cyanobacteria that is the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic organism on Earth and is a key primary producer in the ocean’s vast oligotrophic gyres. Past studies employing transcriptomics and flow cytometry-based approaches revealed that cell division, metabolism, and gene expression of Prochlorococcus are synchronized with the daily light-dark cycle, but the impacts of these diel changes on the Prochlorococcus metabolome remain poorly understood. Here we investigate how levels of particulate metabolites in Prochlorococcus vary over simulated light-dark cycles in a non-axenic culture. We grew Prochlorococcus MED4 and its associated consortium of heterotrophic bacteria over daily light-dark cycles in culture and sampled for particulate and dissolved metabolites every 6 hours for a total of 48 hours. We extracted metabolites using a modified Bligh and Dyer extraction and quantified metabolites using liquid chromatography paired with mass spectrometry. To detect diel patterns in metabolite concentrations, we used Rhythmicity Analysis Incorporating Nonparametric methods to identify significant changes in Prochlorococcus’ metabolome over the light-dark cycle. Sucrose, a disaccharide sugar, varied over the diel cycle and peaked at the end of the light cycle, highlighting the use of this compound for energy storage in Prochlorococcus. Glutamine, a metabolite associated with nitrogen assimilation, displayed diel variation and peaked at midnight, lagging the peak in sucrose by 6 hours. These results indicate diel partitioning of Prochlorococcus’ metabolic functions related to energy storage and nitrogen assimilation. This diel partitioning mirrors prior results observed in environmental metabolomes and transcriptomes.

China’s rapid economic growth and urbanization in the recent two decades marked one of the most incredible speeds since human civilization, but the deeper social and environmental issues keep being exposed as relentless urban sprawl sweeps across the country. In 2012, under the nationwide “land-creation” movement, Yan’an, a major city in central China with a population of 2 million situated on the Loess Plateau, started implementing its 10-year plan to bulldoze mountains and build a “New District” on the hilltops to accommodate the exploding population. Despite mainstream narratives that feature it as a pioneer work of urbanization, I argue that the scarred land and the exploitative system in the “New District” cannot support the Plateau residents culturally and psychologically. This research draws on various theories and studies on anthropology, sociology, and urban planning to analyze the social, cultural, symbolic, and psychological impacts of the Yan’an “New District” project. The novel perspective proposed by this paper reconsiders urbanization as an exploitive and deceptive process and reexamines the future of rural-to-urban migration and urban growth.