Wastewater contamination poses a serious threat to global public health. An emerging way that wastewater is treated is through poplar tree evapotranspiration galleries. In this system, microbiomes in the soil can extract pollution out of wastewater. We are conducting controlled studies to evaluate the ability of microbiomes to extract pollutants from secondary wastewater effluent at high water application rates. Our aim is to understand the microbiomes' pollution extraction capacity by studying their composition at varying soil depths with a focus on nitrogen species removal. I collected soil samples from 9 reactors, at two different depths each, and extracted DNA using a Qiagen DNA extraction kit. 16S gene of the DNA will then be sequenced using MinION, MinION is a third-generation sequencing technology with emerging applications for long-read 16S microbiome composition. In parallel, microbiome nitrogen cycling activity will be measured in the lab. The level of nitrogen processing will be compared from the different depths and with comparison to the community composition. We predict that as the depth of the soil increases, the composition of the microbiome will change, and the ability of the microbiome to extract nitrogen pollutants from wastewater decreases. This study will guide the formation of soil around wastewater facilities to optimize pollutant removal from wastewater.

Research, and evolutionary theory, demonstrates that romantic relationships and platonic friendships fulfill different needs and are necessary for survival and critical for reproductive success. These relationships can be highly gendered with different dynamics. Usually, women’s same and cross-sex friendships are more fulfilling and richer. However, there is limited research looking at romantic relationships and platonic friendships and the individual differences and characteristics within these relationships. The current research explores how gender, sexuality, and heteronormativity impact the assessment, comparison, and characteristics between platonic and romantic relationships. We explore which individuals break out of traditional gendered friendship norms and seek similar interactions within their platonic friendships and romantic relationships. 194 Participants answered a questionnaire measuring the different characteristics desired in platonic friendships and romantic relationships. This survey was answered twice, once while thinking about a platonic friend and again for a romantic partner. Relationship characteristics were measured by scales, created by the researchers, that looked at emotional intimacy, physical intimacy, quality time, action affection, verbal assurance, and relationship perception. Romantic relationships had no difference between genders or sexualities for any of the scales. However, there were significant differences between genders and sexualities found in platonic relationships. Non-heterosexual women and non-binary individuals had higher engagement and support and had the highest overall assessment ratings within their platonic relationships. Heterosexual men and non-heterosexual women differed the most in their ratings for all platonic relationship characteristics, heterosexual men having lower scores on average. This supports previous research that men have less fulfilling relationships than women.