Xylazine is a veterinary sedative that has become a common adulterant in fentanyl products due to its ability to prolong the euphoric effects of fentanyl. Adulterated drug mixtures containing xylazine have been linked to an increased risk for respiratory depression and fatal overdose. Existing treatments for overdose such as naloxone do not work against xylazine and there is currently no FDA approved reversal agent for xylazine toxicity. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a promising therapeutic option to reverse drug overdose and can be used to target small molecules by sequestering them in the bloodstream and preventing their passage into the brain. Previously, we made a series of xylazine haptens and formulated them into vaccines where they were found to induce strong antibody responses, reduce brain to serum ratio of xylazine, and mitigate respiratory depression in Sprague-Dawley rats. Based on the protective effects of our xylazine conjugate vaccines, we hypothesized that we can create an effective reversal agent by isolating xylazine specific mAbs. In this study, we immunized mice with xylazine conjugate vaccines to generate antibodies specific against xylazine. We then used the secondary lymphoid organs of the vaccinated mice to establish stable mAb producing cell lines using hybridoma technology. Hybridomas were screened with ELISA and lead candidates were selected and sequenced for further characterization. We will conduct in-vitro characterization assays to quantify binding affinity, functional activity, and thermostability of our lead mAbs. Furthermore, in-vivo studies will assess the efficacy of our mAb lead candidates in rodent models.

A child's self-identity, social identity, and group identity are crucial to their emotional and cognitive development. One's self-identity is shaped through familial relationships, cultural background, and social identity. However, stereotype threat (ST)--when individuals fear confirming negative stereotypes about their social or cultural group--can create significant obstacles and hindrances to child identity development. The concept of ST was first introduced by Claude Steele and Joshua Aronson (1995), who found that Black students underperformed on exams when reminded of racial stereotypes. Research links to ST lower self-esteem, reduced academic performance, and impaired emotional resilience in children. This presentation reviews research regarding the impact of social identity and gender stereotype threats on children, specifically young girls' self-perception, academic achievement, and social development. Gender ST operates as a mechanism to reinforce gender roles within our society. Our review of the research suggests that through cyclical reinforcement of gender ST, women's motivation and success are negatively impacted, leading to systemic gender-based oppression. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the impact of gender ST and how to mitigate the consequences. This is crucial in creating inclusive and supportive learning environments that promote positive identity development and emotional resilience in children. 

Current at-home, minimal cost viral test kits are often limited to human-visible (colorimetric) readout methods which lack the same sensitivity achievable in laboratory settings that use complex equipment. We aim to develop a more accessible alternative by leveraging smartphone touchscreens to detect viral presence. Touchscreens emit an electrical field that changes when conductive materials interact with them. DNA has been shown in prior work to exhibit conductive properties based on its negative charge. Our approach utilizes a DNA replication reaction involving a thermostable polymerase, primers, dNTPs, and viral RNA as a template. If the template is present, amplification occurs, altering the capacitive response compared to a negative control. To validate this, we are testing the reaction on a vector network analyzer (VNA), measuring capacitive output changes directly on the sensor. We are also building and testing low-cost temperature controls to enable isothermal amplification. With the use of a Peltier heater, a temperature control sensor, we aim to speed up the reaction times and the use of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) power control system to ensure consistent reaction temperature. We are currently comparing active polymerase reactions to controls and plan to eventually transition these tests onto phone screens, creating a cost-effective, widely available diagnostic tool.

The island of Sifnos hosts a unique outcrop of rocks displaying a transition from blueschists to eclogites that form deep within subduction zones from metamorphic reactions in the subducting oceanic crust. Subduction zones have the potential to produce megathrust earthquakes. Studying the metamorphism and deformation preserved in these exhumed subduction rocks can inform hazard assessments. The blueschist and eclogite facies samples in my study are thought to represent peak metamorphic conditions where the slab is at its highest pressure (P)-temperature (T) conditions. A previous study of Sifnos found bulk compositional differences between the eclogites and blueschist and concluded they metamorphosed from different proliths at the same P-T conditions during subduction. Re-examining the Sifnos blueschist-eclogite unit with modern petrological tools reveals blueschist samples with a similar bulk composition to the eclogites, challenging previous interpretations of the formation of Sifnos blueschist-eclogite unit. I will be investigating chemical zoning in the minerals glaucophane, mica, garnet, omphacite, and epidote within four samples from the blueschist-eclogite unit using electron probe microanalysis. Variations in chemistry within the samples, for example, from core to rim within individual grains or between the matrix and inclusions within other mineral grains reveal the metamorphic history of a sample by comparing variance across the samples. Based on preliminary results, I hypothesize the blueschists of Sifnos were instead produced by retrograde metamorphism of eclogite by fluid interactions during exhumation. This hypothesis is supported by preserved high-pressure (omphacite) grain inclusions within garnets in blueschist samples, and compositional shifts between glaucophane in the matrix and found as garnet inclusions. The blueschists also display stronger deformation fabrics than the eclogites, implying a link between the fluid-driven retrogression and deformation on Sifnos. This highlights the potential for feedback between metamorphism and deformation that may play a role in the dynamics of subduction zones and their related hazards.

Eelgrass is a foundational biome that provides critical habitat for numerous species, making its conservation vital. Specifically, sunflower stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides) use eelgrass as a nursery. In 2013, the sunflower star population crashed due to an unprecedented disease event creating a need to determine where the stars were historically to inform efforts in both eelgrass and sunflower star recovery. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) monitors eelgrass trends in the Salish Sea through the Submerged Vegetation Monitoring Project (SVMP). The SVMP video archive is roughly 6000 hours of footage spanning the Salish Sea in Washington state and dates back to 2000, providing a resource to observe the correlations between the stars and eelgrass. I created this research project centered around this connection to gain insight into the abundance of sunflower stars before and after the disease outbreak. To identify stars within the video archive, I sorted the footage into high-quality clips for sunflower star detection and discarded lower-quality ones due to the difficulty of confirming sightings. A computer vision model using hierarchical criteria was developed to assist in my annotations of video clips based on quality. In the high-quality clips, I also identified and annotated various organisms to understand if there are any further correlations with the sunflower star abundance. When sunflower stars were detected, I recorded their location and timestamp, creating a historical dataset. Once the annotations were completed, I made a comprehensive map of the detected sunflower star abundance and location over the SVMP video archive's time span. This project showcases the value of cross-year pattern analysis and camera quality normalization techniques. My annotations will eventually support the development of an automated video-cleaning system and a sunflower star detection model, enhancing the SVMP archive’s effectiveness in future conservation efforts.

Sunflower stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides) are the world’s largest sea stars and critical predators for habitat health. Sunflower stars historically dominated west coast benthic ecosystems, but in the last decade lost over 90% of its global population due to an epidemic of wasting disease. The complete extirpation of Sunflower Stars in many regions of the west – notably Northern California – has exposed kelp forests to overgrazing by urchins, leading to a loss in critical habitats for many marine organisms, increased coastline erosion due to wave action, and decreased atmospheric carbon sequestration. The beginning of restoration efforts are underway to restore populations of these endangered stars, including the first-ever sunflower star captive breeding program at Friday Harbor Labs, where our work was conducted. Despite their clear ecological importance, the surprisingly complex behaviors of sunflower stars has very little documentation in literature. In this experiment, we used an emerging technique called Motion Sequencing to measure juvenile stars’ responses to basic abiotic factors of light and temperature. We found that Sunflower Stars exhibit the most movement during periods of changing light, supporting the dominant theory. We also found they move more in higher temperatures, potentially hinting at resilience to climate change. In doing so, we hope to expand our understanding of sunflower star behaviors – such as their diurnal activity levels, and how they respond to shifts in temperature and other stressors, thus informing both ongoing and future conservation efforts.