King County’s population growth over the past two decades has significantly shifted area demographics. The influx of a large volume of highly-paid residents has led to a housing shortage, driven up housing costs and area median income, and displaced long-time residents and businesses — a process known as gentrification. Residential gentrification often coincides with commercial gentrification, where local, minority-owned businesses are replaced by high-priced specialty stores or chains. Commercial gentrification impacts residents of the surrounding neighborhood and people countywide who rely on local businesses for socialization and community building. Despite its impacts, business displacement is understudied compared to the residential effects of gentrification. The 2024 Population Health Initative’s Applied Research Fellowship project sought to close this gap and examine the scope of commercial gentrification in King County with an analysis of business-level data from Data Axle, a data analytics firm, to quantify business openings and closures by size and industry from 1997 to 2023. This research examines which of King County’s communities and industries appear to be most impacted by recent commercial gentrification. To better understand spatial trends in businesses, we used King County’s 61 Health Reporting Areas (HRAs) and also focused on unincorporated King County as a whole. For our industry-level analysis, we identified three essential services: grocery stores, pharmacies, child care providers, and four categories of third places: retail, entertainment, eating and drinking, and services establishments. Our research showed the limitations to using this data to calculate King County’s top employers by business size. Moreover, despite significant population growth in King County since 1997, grocery store and child care provider numbers remained relatively stable, with the number of pharmacies increasing; despite 8 of 61 HRAs having two or fewer pharmacies. Third place services, eating and drinking, and entertainment establishments increased since 1997, while retail establishments decreased

Microglia are innate immune cells in the brain that play an important role in maintaining homeostasis, carrying out immune surveillance, and modulating synaptic plasticity. Through the secretion of cytokines, along with physical functions like synaptic pruning and network refinement via phagocytosis, microglia support the health of neurons and help establish a functional neuronal network. In previous experiments, our lab demonstrated that when cultured with microglia, neurons exhibit more robust morphology and greater synaptic activity. However, it remained unclear whether the beneficial effects of microglia on neurons occur during physical contact between the two cell types, or if the supportive factors secreted by microglia are sufficient to drive this change. To investigate this, I compared the morphology and function of neurons directly co-cultured with microglia, to neurons treated with media conditioned by microglia. In the microglia-conditioned media treatment, I conditioned the microglia media for 24, 48, and 72 hours prior to treating the neurons to determine the optimal conditions for establishing a healthy neuronal environment. To evaluate these results, I conducted immunofluorescence staining for microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), both of which are indicators of neuronal health. I analyzed fluorescence intensity and neurite length to quantify morphological differences in neurons between conditions. To investigate differences in synaptic activity, I carried out micro-electrode array recordings of neurons in each condition. Using data from these recordings, I analyzed the coordinated and overall electrical activity to measure the functionality of the synaptic network in each condition. Given that microglia perform both secretory and physical functions, I expected that neurons directly co-cultured with microglia would exhibit more robust phenotypic and functional characteristics. These experiments provide insight into healthy neuron-microglia interactions and reveal possible avenues towards their dysregulation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), potentially guiding the development of therapeutics targeting such interactions.

I am currently assisting PhD student Jessica Luo in her research of the Sanmen Wu sound system, a language of the Wu family found in Southeast China. As Jessica writes an article that summarizes the sound structure of Sanmen Wu, I analyze utterances produced by speakers of the language. In my self-guided research, I focus on the sound quality of the consonants and their variations to determine underlying pronunciation. I also connect these variations to historical sound changes from Middle Chinese, its ancestor, into Sanmen Wu. I observe that Sanmen Wu speakers tend to freely alter pronunciations of certain consonants. For example, a speaker may say 部 [pu] or [bu] meaning ‘part,’ the latter only appearing after another spoken word. These two syllables contrast only in voicing, where [p] is voiceless and [b] is voiced. I use Praat, an industry-standard speech-analysis program, to read diagrams that depict the acoustics of these consonants to verify my findings. I am also creating a set of rules that predicts this alternation. One of the conditions is as follows: words with alternating voicing in their consonants change when pronounced within a sentence (‘medially’). Eventually, I will explain these rules, and I predict my explanation is related to the evolution of Sanmen Wu into its current stage. I reason that because the Wu language family stems from Middle Chinese, both of which require contrastive voicing to create distinct words, Sanmen Wu also contains the original underlying variation that exists in Middle Chinese. As such, I attribute this variation to an inherent part of the language rather than random circumstance. Ultimately, I intend to foster a thorough understanding of Sanmen Wu phonology and provide a foundation for further exploration of this topic.

The project examines how geopolitical competition affects the security of global subsea cable infrastructure, which carries 99% of intercontinental internet traffic. We investigate two key questions: how have patterns of cable disruptions changed since 2005, and how do different regions face distinct security challenges? Through analysis of cable incident reports, government documents, and industry data from 2005-2025, combined with detailed case studies of three maritime regions, we examine evolving threat patterns and protection strategies. For instance, our analysis of cable incidents demonstrates a significant shift in both frequency and attribution patterns, there are distinct regional vulnerability patterns, and the private sector companies responsible for this infrastructure are going through a major transformation. Technological competition between major powers has also shaped this infrastructure—with Western nations increasingly restricting Chinese companies' participation in cable projects. Our findings contribute to understanding critical infrastructure protection by demonstrating how geopolitical competition shapes global communications security. We suggest the need for enhanced international cooperation mechanisms, standardized incident response protocols, and balanced approaches.

Tau protein is highly expressed in neurons and other neural cells, including astrocytes. The accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates, known as neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While tau aggregation is thought to advance AD through toxic gain of function, the loss of tau physiological function may also contribute to the adverse progression of the disease. However, how the lack of tau physiological functions in neurons contributes to AD progression remains understudied.  Studies have shown that tau depletion results in minimal phenotypic differences and may even mitigate cognitive decline in AD mouse models. Here, we investigate the molecular consequences of tau loss in both neurons and astrocytes. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, we generated tau knockout (Tau KO) human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines, which were subsequently differentiated into neurons and astrocytes. We first focused on assessing how Tau depletion affects the hiPSC-derived neurons. Our findings indicate that tau depletion does not impair neuronal differentiation or increase cytotoxicity and cellular stress. However, preliminary data suggest that Tau KO neuronal cultures—composed of 95% neurons and 5% other neural cells—exhibit reduced synaptic firing activity and network burst frequency. These results suggest that tau loss in neurons and glial cells negatively impacts neuronal activity, providing new insights into the functional consequences of tau depletion in AD pathology. To gain deeper insight into how tau depletion negatively impacts neuronal activity, we performed transcriptomic analysis on Tau KO hiPSC-derived neurons using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We are currently analyzing and validating the results, which may further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying tau loss-of-function in neuronal regulation and AD pathology. In the second phase of this investigation, we will also differentiate the Tau KO hiPSC into astrocytes and assess how tau depletion impacts astrocytic viability and functions.

Understanding how temperature varies across space and through time is fundamental to hydrologic and ecological study. Modeling within these fields requires realistic near-surface temperature reconstructions to accurately represent site-specific processes. In complex terrain, these representations rely on understanding how temperature varies with elevation and topography. On average globally, temperature decreases with elevation at about 6.5°C per km, termed the lapse rate. However, numerous studies have shown that commonly used models of lapse rate perform poorly in complex terrain, and spatial patterns of temperature vary in response to diurnal and seasonal patterns, topography, and synoptic conditions. Notably, cold air pooling (CAP; the accumulation of sinking cold air in poorly drained topographic features) is a dominant influence on night-time temperatures in mountain terrain, resulting in valley bottoms cooling significantly more than mid-slope elevations. However, the literature has yet to explore whether CAP significantly impacts snowpack development and subsequent spring melt patterns. By leveraging a dense network of temperature sensors and terrain analysis, this study aims to (1) implement and optimize an automated algorithm for mapping CAP in the well-studied East River watershed (Colorado), (2) develop a regional temperature model that accurately captures local variability and spatial patterns of CAP, and (3) integrate these temperatures into a hydrologic model to assess their impacts on snow distributions and melt. Findings will provide insight into local temperature structures relevant to ongoing ecological and hydrologic research in the region, and ultimately inform hydrologic modeling practices in mountain environments worldwide where CAP remains largely overlooked. 

Transgender and nonbinary individuals (TNB) face significant discrimination in healthcare settings, which is strongly associated with disparities in alcohol use and treatment access. These barriers often result in delayed or avoided care, exacerbating both physical and mental health issues. The literature reflects a lack of comprehensive understanding and research regarding the specific systemic barriers contributing to avoidance of alcohol healthcare among TNB individuals. This study aims to assess how healthcare experiences influence decisions to engage with alcohol healthcare within the TNB community and discusses future considerations for improvement. TNB adults (N = 26) completed an individual qualitative interview either in-person or online. As part of a larger semi-structured interview about alcohol use, participants were asked about their experiences discussing alcohol use and/or receiving alcohol interventions from medical providers. Participants identified as 30.8% transfeminine, 26.9% transmasculine, and 57.7% nonbinary and were between the ages of 18 and 57. The interview was audio recorded and transcribed by HIPAA-compliant Zoom and transcripts were then cross-checked and edited to ensure their accuracy. Ongoing qualitative analysis is conducted in Dedoose to identify emerging themes. Interactive coding procedures included two coders completing deductive codes identified with prior literature and two coders independently using inductive coding to identify new themes. Discrepancies are identified and discussions support reaching consensus. Understanding the intersection of healthcare mistreatment and substance use disorders in this demographic will inform future policies and interventions designed to create more inclusive and supportive healthcare environments for TNB individuals.

Alphaviruses such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV) pose a significant threat to global health, yet specific antiviral therapies remain unavailable. In this study, we evaluated combinations of three approved oral directly acting antiviral (DAA) drugs (sofosbuvir (SOF), molnupiravir (MPV) and favipiravir (FAV)) against CHIKV, Semliki Forest virus (SFV), Sindbis virus (SINV), and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus (VEEV) in vitro and in vivo . In human skin fibroblasts, synergistic antiviral effects were observed for the drug combinations MPV + SOF and FAV + SOF against CHIKV, and for FAV + SOF against SFV. In human liver Huh7 cells, the combinations of FAV + MPV conferred additive to synergistic activity against VEEV and SINV strains, while SOF synergized with FAV against SINV strains. In a mouse model of CHIKV arthritis, MPV improved CHIKV-induced foot swelling and reduced systemic infectious virus titers. Combination treatment with suboptimal doses of MPV and SOF significantly reduced foot swelling and decreased infectious virus titers in serum as compared to single doses of each drug. Sequencing of CHIKV RNA from mouse joint tissue revealed that MPV caused dose-dependent increases in mutations in the CHIKV genome. Upon combination therapy of MPV with SOF, the number of mutations was significantly lower compared to single treatment with several higher doses of MPV. In summary, combining approved oral nucleoside analogs confers potent suppression of multiple alphaviruses in vitro and in vivo with enhanced control of viral genetic evolution in the face of antiviral drug pressure. These drug combinations may ultimately lead to the development of potent combinations of pan-family alphavirus inhibitors.

Spurred by hegemonic competition, the Department of Defense (DoD) has poured investments into military AI and courted the commercial tech sector. This raises critical questions on the tech industry’s approach to ethics and its role in military AI development. Silicon Valley’s past collaboration with the DoD has led to significant ethical controversies, prompting the industry to invest in AI ethics initiatives such as regulatory boards, ethics officers, and ethical guidelines. Existing scholarship conveys that while ethics is often in tension with innovation in the tech industry, key stakeholders drive its prioritization. Still, the tech-military complex and military AI development have dramatically accelerated despite ethics frameworks that should slow their progress; this forms the study’s basis of investigation. Scholarship observes military cultural attitudes influencing the organizational behavior of DoD partners, but not its connection to the Silicon Valley-DoD nexus, military AI, and ethics. This study addresses these gaps, hypothesizing that the tech-military complex enables a transference of military cultural attitudes towards ethics in the tech industry, resulting in a weaponization of ethics to justify accelerated AI development. I utilize a dataset of outward-facing documents from Big Tech companies that have received DoD contracts and semi-structured interviews with developers. I employ qualitative discourse analysis to assess the prevalence of these cultural dimensions, and I expect to find a notable presence based on preliminary analysis. Discerning if and how sociocultural influences shape corporate objectives provides insight into the underlying determinants of imminent AI governance frameworks, which becomes essential to understand as technological development outpaces regulation.

This project critically examines online narratives about human and more-than-human cloning, with a focus on the spread of misinformation, radicalization, conspiracies, and their dangerous impact. At first glance, discussions about human vs. more-than-human cloning differ significantly. Human cloning is commonly considered morally objectionable, with supporters often forming part of controversial communities. In contrast, more-than-human cloning frequently sparks curiosity and, in some contexts, is encouraged. It is viewed not as an "act against God" but as a testament to human intelligence and dominance. This difference in responses raises many questions: Why are responses so dissimilar? How does online discourse drive these reactions? And can these distinctions--these different understandings of personhood and "life"--reinforce or perpetuate ideologies that cause harm? To answer these questions, I examine academic explorations of cloning and compare them with ones found all across the digital sphere-from social sites such as Reddit, X (formerly known as Twitter), and 4chan, to YouTube comment sections. Using a digital, “websplorer” approach, I analyze different perspectives on cloning, ranging from the "manosphere"-- interconnected misogynist online communities, scientism, and how they relate to the more-than-human. After a critical interrogation of these perspectives, I invite the user to consider an alternative, perhaps more ethical, approach to discussing cloning, one that does not reinforce heteronormativity, human exceptionalism, or pro-eugenic views. This alternative approach includes an exploration and critique of the Western concept of “personhood” and its limitations regarding cloned life, human and more-than-human.

The circumgalactic medium (CGM) consists of diffuse gas surrounding galaxies out to distances of roughly 300 kpc, forming an interface between a galaxy's interstellar medium (ISM) and the intergalactic medium. Researching the CGM's properties, including its metallicity and dynamics, provides crucial information about galaxy evolution and the fuel available for star formation. In this work, we study Complex C, a well-studied high-velocity cloud in the Milky Way's halo, to understand how its metal content varies on small spatial scales. Using 21-cm HI emission data in an Aitoff projection of the all-sky survey H14PI, we identify the spatial extent of Complex C. Assuming a distance of 3 kpc to the cloud, we then identify blue horizontal branch (BHB) stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) that lie behind it. These stars serve as bright background sources, allowing us to probe absorption from ionized calcium in Complex C along different sightlines. The cloud's distinct velocity offset from the Milky Way's ISM allows us to separate absorption features associated with Complex C from those arising in the ISM. By stacking spectra of multiple BHB stars, we can better isolate the absorption signature of Complex C in Ca-II and study how its calcium content varies across different regions of the cloud.