Little is known about how male and female Pieris rapae behave during territorial behaviors, making this project particularly significant. Through our previous experiment, we have uncovered intriguing insights into the unique behaviors exhibited by male P. rapae when interacting with pseudo-females (males in disguise). Our observations suggest a complex interplay between competitive instincts and courtship behaviors. Specifically, male Pieris rapae display distinct responses when encountering pseudo-females, indicating a potential recognition of the sex of the interacting butterfly. This recognition may trigger competitive behaviors like a territorial move if perceived as a rival male or foster a display of courtship if perceived as a potential mate. Additionally, we aim to study how female P. rapae interact with other females to determine if there are any behavioral differences in these interactions. By studying the intricacies of both male and female courtship and/or territorial behaviors in P. rapae, this project seeks a deeper understanding of the factors shaping mating systems and reproductive success in this species and beyond.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common mental disorders in the world. People with PTSD often have difficulty managing time or have witnessed a traumatic event in the past. PTSD is also associated with memory issues which are characterized by intrusive memories that can cause re-experience aspect of the traumatic event. Through the use of computational models, we aim to investigate the differences in memory retention in spaced vs massed practice presentations. We hypothesize that mass practice will lead to less accuracy in recognition and less intrusive thoughts during retention. Through recruiting healthy adult participants with no history of PTSD or other stress-related psychiatric disorders we get a base data avoiding discrepancies. Participants view visual stimuli as images, either neutral or triggering which are presented in pseudo-order and are asked to rate them based on their valence ranging from neutral to extremely negative. The images are presented under two conditions: mass and space presentation. For spaced presentation, different versions of the triggering image category are presented in no particular order with neutral and filler images in between. For massed presentation, all versions of the triggering image category are presented one after the other with no neutral or filler images in between. 24 hours after the initial presentation of the images, participants are tested on memory retention in the form of image recognition. Participants are asked about the difficulty of recalling the image and how often they think about the image. Having collected data during AUT 24, we were able to understand there is a correlation present between memory retention in mass and spaced recognition in terms of traumatic and non-traumatic events. By collecting data through WIN 25, we will have greater accuracy in terms of significant data.

Prenatal lead exposure is associated with learning and behavior problems, reduced growth, and increased risk of miscarriages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend lead exposure screening for pregnant women due to the significant health risks lead poses to their developing fetus. However, there is no nationally recognized screening tool, leading to inconsistent practices and potential gaps in care across the country. This project aimed to address this gap by identifying state-specific screening resources for clinicians and creating a tool to help healthcare providers more easily access these resources. Through web searches, emails, and phone calls to 50 state health departments, 20 state-level screening resources were identified, along with county-level resources in three counties with childhood lead poisoning prevention programs. These resources were compiled into an interactive map directing clinicians to screening resources in their region. This tool is being reviewed for potential use by the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units, an organization that provides free pediatric and reproductive environmental health consultation services to clinicians. The tool addresses the barrier to accessing screening resources, ideally increasing lead screening rates and improving pediatric health outcomes. The findings highlight the need for a national screening tool and provide insights into regional differences in recommended screening practices.

Microbial odors are essential for attracting mosquitoes to their hosts, but their role in attraction to other nutrient sources remains unknown. Sugar sources provide nutrients that lengthen the lifespan of both male and female mosquitoes and increase the vectorial capacity in host-seeking female mosquitoes. Microbial odors have been shown to act as proxy signals for the availability and composition of certain nutrients, such as amino acids and mineral ions, found in nectar and fruit sap. As microbes are abundant in flowers and fruits, we hypothesize that Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (mVOCs) from these nutrient sources play an important role in the feeding behavior of mosquitos. To test this, we analyzed the microbial community of a known attractive fruit, Mangifera indica ‘Keitt.’ Microbial species were identified from our environmental samples through amplicon sequencing of the 16S and 26S regions. Isolates of the most abundant and relevant species were cultured for mVOC collection and chemical analysis via Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Behavioral assays were then performed with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to observe the effect of microbial odors on the attractiveness of nutrient sources. Through the identification of behaviorally-relevant microbial compounds, we can gain a stronger understanding of the ecological dynamics of mosquito chemoreception and microbial community signaling, which can help inform future mosquito-control measures.

Formalization is the process of translating human-written mathematical proofs into a form that can be verified by a computer. A popular tool for this is Lean, a proof assistant that represents proofs as code. However, the process of formalizing proofs in Lean can be slow and time-consuming. Our research explores so-called "autoformalization" strategies, which aim to automate the generation of Lean proofs. We propose a tree-based search framework to formalize mathematical theorems in Lean using Language Models. This approach explores potential proof steps as branches in a tree, using AI models to suggest "tactics" at each node. This has the benefit of avoiding hallucinations by rigorously checking that AI suggestion represent valid Lean code. We employ both Large Language Models such as Claude Sonnet 3.5 and specialized fine-tuned Small Language Models such as Lean-Dojo. We use Pantograph to interact with Lean, leveraging its native support of Monte Carlo tree search. We assemble a small set of simple and medium-difficulty mathematical theorems to benchmark against, called nanoF2F. Additionally, we benchmark our system on the well-established miniF2F benchmark created by OpenAI.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relatively common debilitating psychiatric disorder, marked by a preoccupation with one's physical appearance and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This preoccupation is due to one's perceived flaws that are not noticeable to others, causing extreme distress and functional impairment. Previous neuroimaging studies have shown how aberration in visual processing is central to BDD. BDD participants often exhibit an unusual focus on high-detail image information (high spatial frequency processing) versus broad image information (low spatial frequency processing), leading to perceptual disturbances. Other research has shown hypoactivation of early cortices, such as V1 and V2, can be found in BDD participants compared to healthy controls when viewing low spatial frequency information. Hypoactivation in visual cortices extends across multiple stimulus categories, indicating a fundamental deficit in integrating low-spatial frequency information. This study aims to isolate and examine low-level visual processing using fMRI and visual mapping techniques to precisely localize the stage of the visual hierarchy where visual processing is altered in BDD. We aim to recruit n=30 participants (n=15 with BDD, n=15 healthy controls), all of whom will undergo clinical diagnostic interviews and behavioral assessments characterizing spatial frequency processing, ending with a spatial frequency processing task involving both low-level and high-level spatial frequency processing. We hypothesize that the results of our research will show that those with BDD will display reduced sensitivity to low spatial frequency stimuli in early visual cortices. If our hypothesis is confirmed, these findings will reveal potential new biomarkers of perceptual dysfunction in BDD, informing intervention efforts to address more fundamental perceptual deficits and identify potential risk markers for early detection of this disorder.

Soil-transmitted helminths impact over 1.5 billion people worldwide, disproportionately affecting school-aged children and pregnant women. Hosts issue a “weep and sweep” Type II immune response to expel helminth parasites from the intestines. Ruptured epithelial cells secrete the cytokine interleukin (IL)-33, which recruits innate lymphoid type 2 cells (ILCs)2 and CD4+ T-helper type 2 (Th2) cells. ILC2s release IL-13, encouraging stem cell differentiation into tuft and goblet cells to facilitate tissue repair and worm expulsion. Anemia is prevalent in helminth-rich environments because of elevated rates of malaria and malnutrition. Despite correlations between anemia and helminth infection, the impact of anemia on the Type II immune response in the small intestines remains unknown. Using N. brasiliensis (Nb), a bloodsucking hookworm-like parasite, I observed that one week post infection, iron-deficient (ID) mice were less capable of expelling worms compared to iron-sufficient (IS) mice. Through tuft cell immunofluorescence staining in the small intestine, I observed comparable hyperplasia in IS and ID-Nb infected mice but noticed differences in cell localization: ID-Nb infected mice had decreased numbers of tuft cells in the crypts compared to IS-Nb mice. This suggests that ID Nb-infected mice could be experiencing decreased migration/proliferation of tuft cells, compared to their IS-infected counterparts. Using EdU, a synthetic nucleotide tag that labels newly synthesized DNA, we can understand cellular proliferation patterns in IS vs. ID Nb mice. Co-staining for tuft cells permits us to merge events and track unique vs. universal trends in cell behavior, including cells’ migration patterns. I hypothesize that ID-Nb mice will have decreased cellular proliferation and migration compared to IS-Nb mice, ultimately impacting worm burden. These findings offer insights into the mechanism behind negative outcomes in anemic hosts, and could contribute to dietary intervention or therapies targeting the epithelium to alleviate burdens of helminth infection.

4.5 million adults in the United States are diagnosed with chronic liver disease. Over time this can lead to cirrhosis, an end-stage condition in which scarring occurs in the liver. Reduced liver function from cirrhosis results in accumulations of neurotoxic substances that induce a spectrum of neurological impairments known as hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The critical flicker frequency (CFF) test is a well-established screening test for HE. Previously we developed Beacon, a novel and portable CFF measuring device that can be administered at home via smartphone app, as an accessible alternative to current CFF measurement devices that are large, expensive, and not intended for at-home use. We found that Beacon produced a CFF measurement that aligned with commercially available devices. While the current Beacon reflects current commercial devices, the efficiency of measurement is bottlenecked by the fact that pairs of flickering light stimuli can only be presented sequentially due to the singular light source. We therefore propose a dual headed version of Beacon that gives the option of flashing two frequencies simultaneously. I designed and developed a version of this dual-headed Beacon with sliding heads as well as an accompanying user interface before conducting a series of user studies, beginning with a pilot study on healthy individuals and progressing to a clinical trial on chronic liver disease patients, to evaluate the impact of the number of light sources and the distance between them on CFF measurement time and repeatability. I hypothesize that the two-headed Beacon will produce a CFF measurement more quickly than the original Beacon and that a closer distance between heads will also produce quicker and more consistent measurements. These findings will help inform the development of future iterations of the Beacon, leading to improved outcomes for chronic liver disease patients.

Soluble peptides from the HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) envelope heptad repeat-2 domain, known as HIV fusion inhibitors, can inhibit viral entry by blocking formation of the gp41 6-helix bundle required for membrane fusion and infection. However, this treatment is unfeasible because it requires twice-daily subcutaneous injections with high risk and cost. The Lieber Lab is working to engineer hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to express HIV fusion inhibitors in vivo, potentially offering sustained protection against HIV. In my work I used SIVmac239 (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus) challenged Rhesus Macaques sera and developed viremia (from another study by Lieber lab). My goal was to test whether anti-gp41 antibodies from these animals cross-reacted with synthetic gp41-derived fusion inhibitor peptides, specifically C46-v2o, C34-SFT, and Enfuvirtide(T20). If antibodies interfered with fusion inhibitors, their therapeutic effect would be severely compromised. In my project, I developed an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to measure antibody titers. These peptides were coated, then blocked with 3% bovine serum albumin, and incubated with diluted Macaque serum to allow antibody binding. I used anti-monkey immunoglobulin-G conjugated with Horseradish Peroxidase for detection of antibody binding. I optimized the serum dilution to 1:200 to reduce background signal and concluded SIV-challenged Macaques had detectable antibody levels against C46-v2o and C34-SFT, but not T20. Ongoing work will determine more detailed IC50 antibody titers in serum samples. Notably, animals with high viral loads exhibited higher levels of antibodies against HIV fusion inhibitors. T20 is a promising candidate for sustained HIV inhibition, as no detectable antibodies means it’s less susceptible to pre-existing immune responses. These findings provide valuable insights into how fusion inhibitors interact with the immune system and help refine strategies for HSPC-based HIV therapies, bringing us closer to a long-term, self-sustaining approach for HIV prevention. 
 

This project investigates the effects of Chile’s 2020-2021 pension withdrawals on household consumption across food, housing, transportation, healthcare, and education. I use existing socio-economic household survey data for my analysis. Chile’s Covid response allowed civilians to withdraw up to 30% of their pensions, impacting 11 million workers and reducing pension assets by an estimated 22% of GDP. This policy mirrors actions in 30 other countries globally, now facing similar challenges. This research aims to address the literature gap in consumption research, and provide a framework for policymakers in affected nations to understand how the pension funds were used in terms of consumption. My role encompasses everything, from design to analysis. First, I make sure the two groups being compared (Chilean households who withdrew funds and who did not) were on similar spending paths before the withdrawals happened, known as pre-trend analysis. I use statistical tools, such as t-tests, to check if those trends were similar—basically confirming that the two groups were spending similarly before the policy change. Second, I use a statistical model, called Difference-in-Differences (DiD), to isolate the specific effect of the withdrawals from other things that might have affected spending. Third, I look at how the pension withdrawals affected retirees and non-retirees as well as different income demographics, to see if the impact was the same or different for everyone, known as heterogeneity analysis. As this project is in-progress, I assume I would find a statistically significant, varied impact on household consumption. I anticipate increased spending on essential purchases since the Covid crisis led to many financial difficulties that affected households' spending. These findings can help inform younger generations around the world about their decisions regarding their own retirement planning decisions, as this global issue disrupted their retirement savings.

Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is a sudden inflammatory condition of the pancreas that can lead to significant mortality. Despite its rising prevalence and associated healthcare burden, treatment options remain limited to supportive care, with mortality rates in severe cases reaching 30%. Activin A is a key contributor to AP, interacting with the ACVR2A receptor to regulate various pathophysiological processes, including inflammation through immune cell recruitment. This study hypothesizes that activin A binds to ACVR2A to activate the ERK pathway, leading to increased NF-κB expression and elevated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-1β. Experiments were designed using the 266-6 immortalized pancreatic acinar cell line and RAW 264.7 macrophages. These cells will be cultured for western blot analysis, ELISA assays, and transwell migration assays following activin A stimulation. Lower ERK phosphorylation and reduced NF-κB expression are expected when cells are treated with ACVR2A inhibitors in combination with activin A, compared to activin A treatment alone. ELISA assays are anticipated to confirm increased TNF-α and IL-1β production in 266-6 cells following activin A treatment. Macrophage migratory capacity is expected to increase when exposed to conditioned media from activin A-treated 266-6 cells. These findings will provide insights into the role of activin A in AP pathophysiology, potentially identifying new therapeutic targets for mitigating pancreatic inflammation and immune cell recruitment.

Advancements in antiretroviral therapy research are leading to longer life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH). Aging is a process that happens with every individual, involving changes in the physical and mental state. However, age-associated symptoms typically occur earlier in these individuals as the disease’s chronic inflammation accelerates the aging process, decrementing PLWH’s lifestyles. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, slower walking speeds, and balance problems. Previous studies prove that exercise is a non-pharmacological method used to improve physical function and wellbeing. Exercise performed at a higher intensity is known to enhance the overall health state of PLWH and generate positive effects on cardiovascular health. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of different exercise intensities on the symptom experience of PLWH. The HEALTH Study is an exercise trial conducted by the University of Washington and the University of Colorado for 120 PLWH aged 50 years or older who reports symptoms of aging and have a sedentary lifestyle. After enrollment, HEALTH Study participants are randomized to either a High-Intensity Interval Training or Continuous Moderate Exercise program lasting for 16 weeks. Participants exercise three times a week in a research center while supervised by trainers. During the study, participants complete many assessments to monitor their physical function and fatigue. The outcome for this study utilizes the HIV symptom index score, collected at baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 16). This index score is a 20-question survey that assesses the severity of HIV symptoms, categorized by presence and severity ratings. The end goal of the research is to explore how exercise training can change the symptoms occurring in people living and aging with HIV, creating a strategy for more individuals with HIV to live longer and healthier lifestyles.

The tongue base is a key structure in respiration and swallowing and morphological and functional adaptations to its volumetric changes are largely unknown. Thus, addressing this gap could enhance the understanding of breathing and swallowing disorders in the enlarged and reduced tongue base. Twelve Yucatan minipigs 8-to-9-month-old (half each sex) were analyzed. Six minipigs received a high-caloric chow pellet to reach a BMI>50 (enlargement group), while the others underwent surgical partial tongue base ablation (reduction group). Five weeks after surgery all minipigs were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) synchronized with respiratory cycle gating. Mid-sagittal cross-sectional areas of the velopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways, and retroglossal space during inspiration and expiration were quantified using ITK-SNAP. The volumes were also calculated using segmentation techniques. These measurements were compared between the enlargement and reduction groups in the inspiratory and expiratory cross-sectional areas to determine differences. Extrapolating from one minipig from the enlarged group observed larger mid-sagittal cross-sectional areas of the interested regions compared to the reduction group. The enlarged minipig observed greater differences in range and larger averages and medians for each cross-sectional volume. The enlargement group also had slower inspiratory and expiratory rates than the reduced group. Observations from one minipig from the reduced group were observed to have smaller cross-sectional areas, medians, and averages for all interested regions. Additionally, the reduced minipig had more frequent respiratory rates. The current analysis of the sagittal views from the obese enlarged tongue base versus the reduced tongue base minipigs revealed larger volumes within the enlarged group. This pattern currently suggests enlarged tongue base minipigs with larger cross-sectional volumes, but less inspiratory and expiratory rates. However, the reduced tongue base minipigs are anticipated to have smaller cross-sectional volumes and more frequent respiratory rates compared to the enlarged group.

In healthy cells, NRF2 is an essential transcription factor for regulating oxidative stress. However, when constitutively activated in cancer cells, it can lead to tumor cell proliferation and metabolic rewiring. When NRF2 is activated, it increases cysteine consumption in the cells through increased expression of the SLC7A11 cystine/glutamate antiporter. We discovered a dose dependent decrease in proliferation when exposed to higher cystine concentrations, unique to cells with NRF2 activation. To understand the kinetics of this proliferation defect, I am developing a tool to visualize and track cell proliferation using a live-cell imager. I will first genetically encode Nuclear Red Fluorescent Protein (NucRFP) into our NRF2-activated cells, using single-cell cloning and flow cytometry to isolate and establish clonal populations that stably express NucRFP. Then, I will use the live-cell imager to incubate cells with NucRFP expression, titrating different concentrations of cystine. Stable NucRFP expression will allow me to quantify cell growth overtime in different concentrations of cystine media to better understand cell growth. This research will generate insights into the consequences of cystine stress that inform the development of targeted treatments for NRF2 activation in cancer cells.

Brain cells depend on the extracellular matrix (ECM) for structural and functional support as well as sequestration and transport of key ions and neurotransmitters. Structural and compositional changes to the ECM occur in development and in response to injury and disease. Probing ECM structure and composition in real-time in a dynamic living brain would enhance our understanding of the ECM changes that drive disease. In our work, we use organotypic whole-hemisphere (OWH) brain slices to study the interaction between brain parenchymal cells and the ECM. We have applied multiple-particle tracking (MPT), an imaging technique that tracks movement of nanoscale probes with sub-micron resolution, to OWH slices exposed to different stimuli, including oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and mitochondrial dysfunction by rotenone (ROT) exposure.  Our MPT data confirmed that ECM microstructure changes in a time and stimuli-dependent manner and this was associated with changes in cellular composition and morphology. In this study, we measured changes in expression of ECM transcripts using Reverse Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) of RNA isolated from OWH brain slices exposed to OGD and ROT. After exposure to 30 minutes of OGD or treated with 50 nM ROT, OWH slices were preserved at 2h and 24h in RNALater buffer for RNA isolation. The 2h time point aligns with the end of the MPT experimental window. Healthy unexposed OWH slices were controls. We measured expression of genes associated with ECM composition and remodeling including tenascin-R, aggrecan, neurocan, MMP9, and TIMP1; markers associated with cellular activation including Ki67, Cd45, Cd11B, and GFAP; inflammation markers including IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-9, and IL-10; and cell death markers including iNOS, nNOS, TNF-α, and Casp-3. Our results provide a quantitative measure of ECM composition that can be integrated with our MPT and imaging data to better define microstructural dynamics in the stimuli-exposed brain.

The stimulation of the genioglossus muscle may prevent upper airway collapse in breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Thus, the present study was to analyze the 3D-changes of the tongue base by electric stimulation of genioglossal muscle in relation to volumetric alterations of the tongue base in minipigs. Twenty 8-to-9-month-old Yucatan minipigs were used. Of them, 8 were controls, and 12 were experimental. Each experimental same-sex sibling pair was randomly assigned: 1. Normal-weight having surgical tongue base volumetric reduction. 2. Enlargement having significant obesity, BMI>50. All minipigs received surgical implantation of eight 2mm ultrasonic crystals in a cubic-shaped array in the tongue base. The distance change between each crystal pair indicated dimensional deformations for lengths, widths, and thicknesses responding to the stimulation. Increased distances indicated elongations while decreased indicated shortenings. Stimulations to the left genioglossal muscle were ramping up in range of 10-40V to reach the maximal amplitudes (tetany). Stimulation of the genioglossus muscle in controls induced left lengthening, anterior thickening and overall widening along with posterior thinning and right shortening. In contrast, the reduction group showed thickening and widening with left lengthening and minor right shortening. Elongations in the reduction group were larger than those in the control group (p<0.05). The enlargement group showed decreased dorso-ventral lengths compared to those of the control and reduction groups (p<0.05), along with antero-posterior thickening and widening. Stimulation of the genioglossus muscle induces distinctive deformational patterns between the normal and volumetric-altered tongue bases. For instance, shortening in length in the enlarged tongue due to obesity may suggest retraction of the tongue base inducing narrowing of the oropharyngeal airway. These results may contribute to understanding kinematic adaptations in the respiratory dynamics in relation to the volumetric alterations of the tongue base, a current approach to treat moderate and severe OSA. 

The aim of this study was to examine the respiratory 3D deformational changes in the tongue base with normal weight and obesity in a minipig model. This study included 6 same-sex sibling pairs (3 pairs each sex) of Yucatan minipigs 8-to-9 months old. Of each pair, one minipig was normal weight with a BMI<35 and the other was fed a special diet reaching a BMI>50 (obese,). While under sedation, eight 2mm ultrasonic piezoelectric crystals with an extended skin button attached to the back were surgically implanted at the base of the tongue in a cubic-shaped arrangement. These crystals represented dorsoventral lengths, anteroposterior widths, and thicknesses. The 3D deformational changes of the tongue base were recorded during respiration using a Sonometric system together with synchronized electromyography and airflow recordings to identify respiratory phases. The amplitudes and durations of each dimensional change within the crystal-defined region concerning inspiration were calculated for 5- consecutive respiratory cycles per minipig. The total respiratory cycle duration was 1.87±0.38s in the normal-weight group and 3.2±1.01s in the obese group (p<0.05).  Similarly, the durations of the inspiratory phase in the normal and obese groups were 0.62±0.36s and 1.19±0.77s respectively (p<0.05). Deformational changes in the normal-weighted group included dorsoventral lengthening, anteroposterior ventral widening with dorsal shortening, and thickening in all dimensions. In contrast, the obese group showed dorsal lengthening with ventral shortening, widening in all dimensions, and anterior thickening with posterior shortening. Overall, larger dynamics were observed in the normal-weighted group compared to the obese group (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that obesity affects tongue base respiratory kinematics, with longer respiratory cycles and decreased deformational changes mainly ventrally and posteriorly. These findings enhance understanding of obesity's impact on the oropharyngeal function, with implications for breathing disorders.

Advances in antiretroviral therapy have increased life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH), but aging exacerbates symptoms such as frailty, neurocognitive disorders, and bone loss. Pharmacological treatments often present limitations, including side effects and drug interactions. Non-pharmacological approaches like physical activity and diet may offer holistic symptom management, yet remain understudied in PLWH. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between physical activity levels, diet quality, and symptom experiences in older PLWH. We will analyze data from the PROSPER-HIV study, a prospective observational study of 850 participants (over 50% aged ≥50 years) from the Center for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) across four U.S. sites. Key measures include: (a) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, assessed via accelerometry; (b) diet quality, measured by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) from 24-hour dietary recall; (c) symptom burden, evaluated using the 20-item HIV Symptom Index; (d) muscle strength, assessed via handgrip strength; and (e) physical function, measured using the Short Physical Performance Battery (timed walk, chair stands, and balance tests). Descriptive analyses will identify patterns in physical activity, diet quality, symptom burden, muscle strength, and physical function collected at baseline. Linear regression models will examine relationships between symptom burden, physical activity, and diet, adjusting for age, sex, muscle strength, and function. Findings will clarify the impact of lifestyle factors on symptoms, supporting the integration of non-pharmacological strategies into nursing care. The results will inform nursing practice and public health by highlighting the role of physical activity and dietary improvements in symptom relief.

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell in the human immune system that can migrate through tissues to respond to sites of injuries and infections. In the laboratory, we can recapitulate neutrophil migration under controlled experimental conditions by using a cell line, called HL-60, that was originally derived from a person with leukemia. These cells can be cultured to imitate the behavior of neutrophils, and specifically they are able to migrate while we watch them on the microscope. First, I determined how HL-60 cell migration depends on the physical nature of the substrate they are crawling on. I compared cell migration under three different conditions: 1) uncoated plastic, 2) plastic treated to make the surface stickier for cells, and 3) plastic coated with a protein, BSA, to make the surface less sticky. I found that cells moved faster and with straighter paths on the uncoated plastic. Next, I used a drug, CK666, which is known to inhibit a protein that is important in the assembly of the cell’s actin cytoskeleton, the mechanical driver of cell migration. As expected, I found that the cells moved more slowly in the presence of the drug. Also, I found that the drug made the cells move in less straight paths. Finally, I explored how the HL-60 cells responded when I exposed them to an electric field. Electric fields are thought to arise naturally at sites of skin wounds. I observed that the cells moved toward the cathode of the electric field. I am currently analyzing whether the cells also move faster or straighter when there is an electric field present. In future experiments, I plan to determine whether mutating specific proteins thought to be involved in cell motility can change the behavior of the HL-60 cells on the microscope.

Dense-core vesicles are membrane-bound structures that carry neuromodulators such as insulin, dopamine, and serotonin. The peptides within dense-core vesicles are initially larger precursor proteins that undergo enzymatic processing to achieve their functional forms. During the defecation motor program in Caenorhabditis elegans, dense-core vesicles released from the intestine harbor neuropeptides that trigger neurons which activate enteric muscles, promoting the act of defecation. Failure of certain proneuropeptides to mature into neuropeptides results in decreased frequency of defecations. CPD-1, a conserved transmembrane carboxypeptidase, is a poorly understood processing enzyme that affects the defecation motor program. I built on our knowledge of EGL-21, another carboxypeptidase known to process neuropeptides and peptide hormones, to better understand CPD-1’s function. I show here that these two carboxypeptidases, EGL-21 and CPD-1, process neuropeptides necessary for successful defecation patterns. Mutants lacking egl-21 had decreased defecation frequency while worms lacking both egl-21 and cpd-1 had an even lower defecation frequency. Additionally, my results show that CPD-1 is expressed in intestinal cells and can compensate for EGL-21’s function. Finally, I am conducting experiments to determine whether one of CPD-1’s targets is NLP-40, an important neuro-like peptide released from the intestine that regulates defecation. These results contribute to our broader knowledge of peptide processing in dense-core vesicles.

Wildfires are capable of altering landscapes, devastating forests, and communities, and are increasing in frequency and intensity. However, the hazard extends well past the burn phase as burn scars are at high risk for the generation of debris flows and flooding in the days, weeks, and years after a fire. Conconully, WA, experienced severe post-fire debris flows and flooding in 2022 following the 2021 Muckamuck fire. Witnessing the effects of both the fire and the subsequent debris flow on my community motivated me to explore why these events occur, to investigate how they initiate, and help inform future warnings or mitigation strategies to increase resilience in the face of these hazards. Whether these floods and debris flows were initiated by shallow landslides, or storm runoff remains unknown, and could alter how post-fire hazard or evacuation warnings are issued. In this study, we employ geospatial analysis to identify areas affected by the fire and correlate these with the origins of the debris flows and flooding. Additionally, we use meteorological data and historical records of similar incidents over the past century, to identify thresholds for flooding initiation both before and after fires. By focusing on this topic, we hope to shed light on the long-term consequences of fires on communities and initiate a dialogue about the ongoing risks they face.

In vivo genome editing of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) offers a promising approach for treating hemoglobinopathies and HIV/AIDS. The Lieber Lab has developed helper-dependent adenoviral (HDAd) vectors that preferentially transduce primitive HSCs in mobilized CD46-transgenic mice, humanized mice, and rhesus macaques following intravenous injection. However, off-target transduction (including other blood cell lineages and various organs) remains a critical challenge, potentially compromising safety. Moreover, the comparison of PGK and the relatively strong Ef1α promoters revealed that the editor expression level influences editing outcomes, especially in multiplex editing approaches. To address these limitations, the project’s goal is to engineer a highly active HSC-specific promoter that maximizes on-target gene editing while minimizing off-target effects, improving both the safety and efficacy of HDAd-based therapies. I first generated GFP reporter plasmids containing roughly 2 kb of proximal promoter sequence from five genes highly expressed in HSCs: CD164, cKit, DSG2, PROM1, and PROCR. These constructs were introduced into human CD34⁺ cells via nucleofection, and the cKit and PROCR promoters showed the strongest GFP expression in the HSC-enriched (CD34⁺/CD45RA⁻/CD90⁺) subset. To further enhance promoter activity, we linked the top-performing promoters to distal HSC enhancers that, according to ENCODE/Hi-C analyses from Dr. David Hawkin’s Lab, regulate cKit (2 enhancers), CD164 (4 enhancers), and PROM1 (2 enhancers). Engineered promoter-enhancer constructs yielded 3- to 4-fold higher GFP expression than Ef1α in CD34⁺/CD45RA⁻/CD90⁺ cells, with the cKit promoter + CD164-3 and PROM1 enhancers showing the highest activity. Building on these findings, we have incorporated these HSC-specific promoter–enhancers into helper-dependent adenoviral (HDAd) vectors driving an ABE8e-base editor for γ-globin reactivation. Ongoing work is focused on evaluating the specificity and efficacy of these HDAd vectors in humanized mice and CD46/βYAC-transgenic mice, with the ultimate goal of achieving safer, more effective in vivo genome editing in HSCs.

Acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter known for its roles in neuromuscular function and cognition, has recently been implicated in immune regulation, particularly in the context of Type-2 immunity. The Type-2 response combats parasites at mucosal and cutaneous sites and plays a role in allergic diseases like asthma and food allergy. In the intestine, Type-2 inflammation involves a dramatic remodeling of the intestinal epithelium via the activation of intestinal epithelial stem cells (ISCs), which results in the hyperplasia of specialized effector-like secretory cells such as goblet and tuft cells. These epithelial cells then produce factors that talk back to the epithelium, such as Ach, and factors that promote Type 2 immune responses, such as the cytokine interleukin-25. Tuft cells are the only intestinal epithelial cells that express choline acetyltransferase, the enzyme for ACh synthesis. Recent work suggests that during helminth infection, tuft cells release ACh in response to IL-13 signaling, implying a role for ACh in regulating epithelial responses. However, its specific function in epithelial remodeling and Type-2 immunity remains unclear.This project aims to investigate ACh’s epithelial intrinsic role in Type-2 immune responses using an in-vitro enteroid model of the intestinal epithelium. Enteroids, 3-D cultures derived from stem cells, model the epithelium without immune cells, allowing for a focused examination of epithelial-intrinsic factors in immune responses. By culturing and treating enteroids from wild-type and tuft cell-deficient mice with ACh, we will assess its effects on goblet cell proliferation, inflammation, and stem cell renewal during injury regeneration responses. I hypothesize that ACh enhances the pro-Type-2 inflammatory response in enteroid epithelial cells, leading to heightened immune activity. This research will advance our understanding of the neuro-immune axis in the gut and may have implications for parasitic infections and allergic inflammation.

As climate change increases temperature, Pieris rapae caterpillars' feeding habits may be affected. As their feeding habits are altered, P. rapae may begin to migrate to different plants; this can be detrimental for agriculture because these defoliating caterpillars are pests. P. rapae caterpillars are known to feed on Brassica species, including collards and kale. It is also shown that caterpillars increase their feeding rate at higher temperatures (Kingsolver 2000). However, little is known about how temperature influences their feeding preferences. In this experiment, we find the consumption rate of P. rapae 4th instar larvae eating kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) and collards (Brassica oleracea var. viridis) to find consumption preference between these two plants at 14°C, 23°C, and 35°C. Larvae were placed on a moist filter paper in petri dishes containing 2 collard and 2 kale leaf disks placed in an alternating fashion. Petri dishes were placed in three separate incubators set to the three temperatures. We predicted that P. rapae would have a preference for collards since they are reared on collards in the lab and they would increase their consumption of the preferred plant. We also examined the percentage per hour of each leaf eaten and compared this data between types of leaves and temperatures. The data showed that as temperatures increased, the consumption rate of P. rapae caterpillars also increased. Though, there was no change in preference as the P. rapae caterpillars consistently preferred collards over kale. This suggest that higher temperatures from climate change will increase the rate at which caterpillars eat, but will not affect preference. It is important to consider the change in consumption rate of caterpillars with temperature when aiming to prevent crop damage in the face of climate change.

The focus of this research was to test the effectiveness of a silicone-based paint in the marking of Pieris rapae in a manner that was non-invasive and durable. Previous studies have tested other marking methods but have faced challenges such as harm to the organism. By using a paint made from red cabbage (Brassica oleracea), I aim to minimize the harm to larvae in current marking methods while retaining durability under moist conditions. This experiment examined both the durability and health effects of cabbage-based paints on P. rapae caterpillars. Preliminary experiments tested a water-based version, which did not appear to affect survival but faded under moist conditions, and a silicone-based version, which withstood moisture but raised concerns about potential effects on health due to the additional ingredients required for the silicone base. My research continued testing the cabbage paint with a cosmetic-grade dimethicone base and aimed to determine the extent that the cabbage paint may have on caterpillar health and survival. Survival experiments were conducted on 4th and 5th instar caterpillars to determine larva mortality rates when exposed to the pigment. Weight change experiments were conducted from the 4th instar to pupation to be used as a metric of the overall health of the larvae. I conclude that the silicone-based cabbage pigment is a promising marking method for larger caterpillars, offering improved durability and minimal impact on overall health compared to many conventional methods. These findings contribute to the development of safe durable marking techniques suitable for ecological research on soft-bodied insects.

Essentialist beliefs about gender modality, which conceptualize being transgender as an inherent and unchanging aspect of an individual, stand in contrast to perspectives that emphasize the social construction and fluidity of gender identity. These contrasting beliefs about the transgender identity are meaningful, as they shape the attitudes and behaviors among and towards trans individuals, who historically and currently face discrimination. To understand how trans people make sense of both cisgender and transgender individuals’ beliefs about the trans identity, I am conducting 12 semi-structured interviews with University of Washington students ages 18-25 who identify as transgender and/or non-binary. I analyze how specific assumptions, expectations, and cognitive worldview perspectives impact experiences and identity formation through a double consciousness perspective, a concept that has adapted from the writings of W.E.B. Du Bois about the impacts of racism. Double consciousness is an instinctive social awareness to uphold two identities, one that is “true” to oneself, and one that is constructed to conform in accordance to societal expectations in an act of self-protection. This can lead to feelings of inauthenticity and loneliness in a society that has rigid expectations for how gender should be represented. Therefore, certain assumptions and essentialist explanations about the social category of transgender, may motivate trans people to hold an additional social awareness to anticipate how cis people will react to their identities under the cis gaze. My data provides insight into the forces behind trans prejudice and offers transphobia mitigation recommendations, while centering transgender and non-binary voices in the research. Additionally, this research provides theoretical contributions, important for understanding the processes motivating essentialism and double consciousness. I conclude with directions and suggestions for future research.

Substance use disorder disproportionately affects sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, a disparity which is driven by unique stressors and systemic inequities. This systematic review synthesizes 122 empirical studies to explore the factors contributing to elevated rates of substance use among SGM youth and to identify gaps in existing prevention and intervention efforts. Findings reveal significant disparities, with SGM youth experiencing heightened vulnerability due to stressors such as expectations of rejection, interpersonal and structural discrimination, familial rejection, and other challenges of navigating a heteronormative world. These challenges are compounded by individual-level covariates including race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, which are often overlooked in existing research. A key finding is the paradox of community. While SGM-affirming spaces provide essential support, they are often closely associated with substance use. Despite sparse availability of targeted interventions, existing studies underscore the necessity of culturally relevant affirming approaches that address the unique needs of this population. Recommendations for youth, schools, practitioners, and families are provided, emphasizing the importance of fostering inclusive environments, reducing stigma, and building pathways to resilience and mental health. This review highlights an urgent call to action to address these disparities through innovative and inclusive prevention and intervention strategies.  

In this project, we study the order polytopes of generalized snake posets, a particular family of polytopes (geometric shapes with flat sides) defined in recent work by von Bell and coauthors. We specifically investigate triangulations of these polytopes, which are subdivisions of the polytopes into simplicies (arbitrary-dimensional generalizations of the triangle). To do so we examine their secondary polytopes. The secondary polytope of a polytope is a related polytope in which each vertex corresponds to a triangulation of the original polytope and each edge corresponds to a bistellar flip (a specific type of transformation between triangulations), capturing the combinatorial relationships between different triangulations in a geometric object. Von Bell and coauthors conjecture that the secondary polytopes of order polytopes of snake posets have multiple unusually nice properties similar to those of the associahedra, a well-known family of polytopes that admit nice combinatorial descriptions and appear in many areas of mathematics. The overall goal of this project is to prove these conjectures. Collaborating with fellow undergraduates Molly Bradley (University of Pennsylvania), Mario Tomba (Dartmouth), and Katherine Tung (Harvard), I have written code to compute details of the smallest examples of these secondary polytopes, proved related theorems/results, proposed some new conjectures based on observed patterns in the examined examples, and made partial progress towards proving multiple of the von Bell conjectures. This project is ongoing, and we continue to explore multiple ways to approach the conjectures and more broadly understand the secondary polytopes.

How do we move beyond basic aid to truly support the mental well-being of displaced communities? Jordan, a growing nation in the Middle East, is globally recognized as a leading host for refugees. During my five-week Fall 2023 internship at the Institute for Family Health (IFH) in Jordan, I conducted a research project exploring how mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programs address the needs of refugees and vulnerable populations, to fulfill requirements of my program on Psychology, Mental Health, and Well-being in Conflict-Affected Contexts. I employed participatory observation, analysis of material culture, and formal interviews to gather data. At IFH, I worked in both clinical and administrative settings, gaining firsthand insight into a healthcare model that prioritizes accessibility by ensuring high-quality mental health services regardless of wealth or citizenship status. I examined IFH’s use of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) intervention pyramid, which balances specialized and community-based care to bridge gaps in mental health services. Through my research, I found that the most common mental health complaints are anxiety, depression, and PTSD. To address these complaints effectively, my research suggests that transformative care requires a holistic approach to MHPSS programs—integrating mental health practices, promoting illness prevention, building strong community bonds, and empowering future generations. This experience reshaped my understanding of global mental health challenges and led me to explore key questions, such as how organizations can expand MHPSS programs to meet growing demand and what role cultural and systemic factors play in shaping mental health interventions. My findings suggest that expanding MHPSS programs requires both increased resources and culturally responsive strategies. By sharing insights from Jordan, I aim to highlight scalable approaches and contribute to ongoing conversations about sustainable mental health interventions for displaced populations.

First-generation college students (FGCS), those first in their families to pursue or complete a college degree, are a widely studied demographic across psychological research. However, much of the literature on FGCS examines their mental health and life experiences through a deficit framework, focused on systemic obstacles to success and categorizing students as “at risk”. Additionally, some research fails to recognize the importance of intersectionality, viewing FGCS’s mental health as separate from its systemic, social, and institutional contexts. To better highlight the assets and intersecting identities of FGCS, this strengths-based presentation explores existing literature about their mental health experiences, describes their risk and protective factors in developing mental health symptoms and conditions, and proposes mental health initiatives for FGCS and, specifically for, Latine FGCS. I use insights from interviews with Latine FGCS as illustrative examples to further demonstrate the importance of considering context and intersectionality in this area of psychological research.

Neuronal and endocrine cells store and secrete molecular cargos like neurotransmitters and metabolic hormones through the regulated secretory pathway. Dense-core vesicles (DCVs) originate from the trans-Golgi network and undergo a maturation process involving peptide processing and cargo sorting before being stimulated to release their cargos outside the cell. Dysregulation of this process leads to a wide range of neurological and metabolic disorders; yet the molecular mechanisms underpinning it remain poorly understood. Vesicular traffic are largely coordinated by the Rab family of GTPase proteins.  Previous work identified the conserved proteins TBC8 and RUND1 as regulators of DCV maturation in Caenorhabditis elegans; and both proteins bind active GTP-bound RAB2. TBC8 is the putative RAB2 GTPase activating protein (GAP) which promotes conversion of GTP-RAB2 into GDP-RAB2, thereby inactivating the Rab. RUND1 interacts with both active GTP-RAB2 and TBC8, yet its precise function remains unknown. This study aims to characterize the biochemical function of TBC8 and RUND1 in regulating RAB2 activity. Using purified proteins, we demonstrate that TBC8 greatly promotes RAB2 GTP hydrolysis, indicating it is the bona fide RAB2 GAP. Additionally, we show that RUND1 strongly inhibits TBC8-stimulated RAB2 GTP hydrolysis, suggesting RUND1 may compete with TBC8 for RAB2 binding. Given this interplay between RUND1 and TBC8 in binding RAB2, we hypothesize that RAB2 exhibits exclusively pairwise interactions with its partners. To test this, we will use mass photometry to study whether RUND1 and TBC8 can bind RAB2 simultaneously or if one complex is preferentially formed. Based on our current findings, we propose a model where TBC8 promotes RAB2 inactivation by stimulating GTP hydrolysis and RUND1 blocks RAB2 inactivation by TBC8, prolonging the activate state of RAB2.

The small ubiquitin-like modifier protein, SUMO, regulates the activity of many cellular processes through covalent modification of proteins. These modified targets include the protein components of chromatin; histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Chemical modification of histones directly regulates gene expression, necessitating an understanding of the role of each type of modification. The identification and role of histone SUMOylation has been described for H4 in human cells; however, SUMOylation of H2B in human cells has been recently observed but not yet characterized. SUMO is shown to impose a predominantly repressive effect on many cellular processes and proteins that it targets. Therefore, I am working toward identifying the role of H2B SUMOylation to either add to this narrative or describe novel functions of SUMO. To accomplish this, I have purified wild-type histones and SUMO-histone fusions through bacterial expression followed by size-exclusion and affinity chromatography. The purification of several of these proteins has not been described yet; therefore, I designed the purification for these proteins using unique methods, like solubilizing tags, to obtain the product. I reconstituted the purified proteins into octamers, the protein complex that DNA wraps around, and purified the octamers away from other oligomeric forms of the histones via size-exclusion chromatography. I further reconstituted the octamers into mononucleosomes by condensing DNA around them to mimic SUMOylated nucleosomes in chromatin. I hope to then subject the mononucleosomes to in vitro biochemical assays to observe changes in the modifications that regulate other chromatin-associated proteins. A better understanding of the complex dynamics at play during gene expression and repression is needed to identify stronger, safer, and more sustainable therapeutics. Furthermore, SUMO is implicated in a wide array of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Therefore, the results of this study will increase our understanding of gene regulation and provide insight towards treating related diseases.

Older adults recovering after hospitalization in an intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk of functional decline. Older adult ICU survivors often report symptoms of cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, and pain, which can complicate functional recovery. In addition, certain social determinants of health (SDoH) are associated with worse cognitive and physical outcomes that lead to functional decline in older adult ICU survivors. Little is known about the relationships between patient-reported symptoms (e.g., cognitive function, sleep quality, and pain intensity), selected SDoH, and functional recovery for older ICU survivors during hospitalization. This project has two overall aims: 1) explore associations between patient-reported symptoms of cognitive function, sleep quality, pain, and SDoH; and 2) explore associations between these variables and successful participation in physical therapy and/or occupational therapy (PT/OT). We collected and utilized data from two ongoing randomized controlled trials. Older ICU survivors hospitalized at University of Washington Medical Center or Harborview Medical Center were recruited and enrolled. Participants answered the PROMIS Cognitive Function Abilities, Sleep Disturbances, Sleep Related Impairment, and Pain Intensity questionnaires to evaluate self-reported cognitive function, sleep quality, and pain intensity. We did chart review of electronic health records to gather relevant information regarding SDoH, and length of PT/OT participation in minutes. We examined the differences using t-tests, Chi-squared tests, and ANOVA for binary, categorical, and/or continuous variables, respectively. We used descriptive analysis to explore trends between self-reported pain, sleep quality, and selected SDoH on self-reported cognitive function and participation in PT/OT. Results from this project will inform the design of subsequent clinical trials, which could aid in the development of personalized interventions aimed at reducing functional decline in older ICU survivors. 

Understanding the ecology of vegetation systems in Earth’s past in response to past warming events helps contextualize how they might respond to current climate events. Ecological succession is an ecosystem dynamic in which plant species with different life strategies replace each other as plants colonize a disturbed habitat. Reconstructing which successional stage a fossil plant represents is an important step in reconstructing this process in the past. However, fossil plants preserve a limited number of traits. Leaf vein density (LVD) is a trait that relates to maximum photosynthetic rates and can be measured from fossil leaves, but there is limited empirical evidence for how it varies across succession in temperate deciduous forests. To address this knowledge gap, our study measures LVD of modern plant communities across a successional gradient in western North Carolina. We hypothesize that plants in younger forests have greater access to sunlight due to a less established canopy and will therefore have higher LVD to support a higher photosynthetic rate. As succession progresses and the canopy closes, we hypothesize that LVD will decrease with reduced light availability. Samples were taken from five sites in western North Carolina that vary in how long forest re-growth occurred following clear-cut timber harvesting, 4, 21, 44, 94, and roughly 200 years. At each site, leaves were collected and sampled at a community scale and were chemically treated to create images that highlight the veins. We then used ImageJ to measure LVD. The community mean and variance of LVD across succession will be analyzed, using both unweighted and weighted approaches, to test our proposed hypothesis of decreasing LVD through succession. Preliminary results suggest a potential LVD decrease as hypothesized but driven more by understory species rather than dominant tree species. Future work will refine interpretations and consider implications for the fossil record.

Extensive research has established that certain social determinants of health (SDoH) can significantly influence health outcomes for older adults. Older adults from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds often lack access to a tertiary or quaternary care hospital for complex care for severe chronic illness. Such healthcare disparities have the potential to negatively impact cognitive and mental health for older adults with chronic illnesses, particularly after intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization. There is limited research examining the associations between SDoH, cognitive function, and mental health in older adult ICU survivors during the early post-ICU inpatient transition period. We aim to gain insight on how to best tailor inpatient interventions to suit older adult ICU survivors from disadvantaged or vulnerable backgrounds. Our project has two overall goals: 1) explore associations between SDoH, self-reported depression and anxiety, and severity of illness; and 2) explore associations between SDoH, selected objective measures of cognitive function, and severity of illness. Data from two ongoing randomized controlled trials of older adult ICU survivors enrolled from the University of Washington Medical Center or Harborview Medical Center are utilized. Participants answer the PROMIS Depression and Anxiety questionnaires to evaluate self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms. Chart review of participants’ inpatient electronic health records provides relevant information regarding SDoH, including home addresses, which provide information on census tracts towards index calculations. Other relevant clinical variables documented by inpatient healthcare providers, particularly severity of critical illness, are used for descriptive analyses. Ultimately, we anticipate that the results from this study will guide the development of future clinical trials. Possible next steps involve creating personalized interventions that integrate insights on SDoH to promote cognitive and mental health in older adult ICU survivors at high risk for cognitive decline.

Neonatal tracheal intubation (TI) is a high-risk procedure requiring careful coordination to minimize complications and improve outcomes. The Personalized Intubation Neonate Safety (PINS) Bundle was developed to enhance team communication and optimize intubation practices for neonates at risk. The bundle incorporates five key domains: patient risk assessment, treatment threshold for intubation, premedication plan, equipment specification, and provider selection with escalation strategies. At the University of Washington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, eligibility criteria for the PINS bundle include neonates requiring non-invasive respiratory support with >30% FiO₂, those meeting surfactant administration criteria (≥30% FiO₂ and PEEP 6 on NCPAP), already intubated and mechanically ventilated infants, those with difficult airway diagnoses (e.g., craniofacial anomalies, large tongue, micro/retrognathia), and extremely preterm infants (<1000g or <4 weeks old). We will evaluate the impact of PINS implementation by comparing intubation attempts and adverse events before (January – June 2024) and after (July – December 2024) the bundle’s introduction. Data was adjusted to exclude ineligible patients, ensuring comparable cohorts. Primary outcomes include the number of intubation attempts before success and the incidence of tracheal intubation adverse events (TIAEs). We hypothesize that PINS implementation will be associated with a reduction in intubation attempts and TIAEs, reflecting improved preparation and procedural success by the healthcare team. By standardizing an individualized pre-intubation plan, the PINS bundle aims to enhance neonatal safety and streamline team response during intubation. Findings from this study will inform future clinical protocols and may support the broader adoption of personalized intubation strategies in the NICU. Further assessment of long-term outcomes for infants will strengthen the bundle’s clinical utility.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a powerful framework that enables the analysis of spatial data, or information connected to a location, that can be applied to a variety of fields, such as public health, policy, agriculture, and environmental management. With these frameworks, we can create maps to convey specific data or general information, make comparisons between data sets, and quantify spatial characteristics. In this study, I utilized a GIS framework together with Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS RTK) methods to collect spatial data regarding hiking trails throughout Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore, Washington. I hypothesize that the positional accuracy of data collected via GNSS RTK is significantly better than positions collected via methods that do not incorporate differential correction. To test this hypothesis, I will collect differentially corrected positional data along trails in the park and compare them to uncorrected data gathered between 2013 and 2015 from the same trails. Comparisons will be made using a t-test to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the mean differences of each data set. Furthermore, I will use this spatial data to visualize more accurate trail locations, indicate areas requiring maintenance, and decommission unofficial trails that are harmful to the ecology in the park.

The Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) (17-14 Ma) represents the most recent significant global warming event and provides valuable insights into the future of our planet with higher CO2 levels and warmer temperatures. The Mascall Formation in central Oregon contains a fossil plant assemblage that reflects the vegetation present during the height of the MCO. Despite over 50 years of research in this formation, there is still much to learn about the ancient plant community. For instance, a fossil specimen, consisting of several leaves, that was collected recently exhibits similar trait to bamboo, which represents a new fossil finding in this formation. This project seeks to confidently assign this specimen to the bamboo subfamily Bambusoideae. By analyzing morphological and vein architectural features of the leaves using various microscopic techniques and digital photography. In addition to studying the specimen itself we explore the fossil plant silica bodies (phytoliths) also present in the surrounding substrate to provide independent evidence that bamboo was present in the region. The phytoliths can then be compared to those of current Native American bamboo to find evidence for relatedness or if it was part of some other lineage of bamboo, whether extinct or still present in South America or Eastern Asia. If the specimen turns out to be bamboo, it would have implications for the climate and ecology of eastern Oregon during the MCO as bamboo was not assumed to have previously been present.  

With the recent onslaught of discriminatory executive orders that threaten the safety and rights of queer students, teachers, and their families across the country, cultivating inclusive sexual health education materials in schools that both inform and affirm queer identities has never been more dire. There is evidence that implementing comprehensive, queer-affirming sexual health education can lead to a reduction in homophobic bullying and adverse mental health outcomes for queer students (for review, Goldfarb & Lieberman, 2021). This project applies psychological research methodology to evaluate an intervention summit for inclusive sexual health education. Our three-day summit seeks to provide ten educators from a local Washington school district, including teachers, counselors, and nurses, with the opportunity to come together and develop inclusive, state standards-based sexual health education instructional materials. We hope that this collaboration generates increased educator confidence, leading to improved fidelity of implementation that translates into accurate and queer-affirming sexual health education. This will provide the space for queer-identified children and educators to feel safe in schools. To gauge the efficacy of the intervention, we will assess participant self-efficacy of teaching sexual health and sense of community before, during, and after the summit. To do so, we will collect mixed-methods data, including self-report surveys at baseline and throughout the summit, as well as observational data. The implications of these findings will illuminate key factors that contribute to the understanding of how community engagement can reinforce the importance of community-based learning initiatives, as well as inform the development of instructional materials and networking strategies that will improve the longevity of sexual health education programming. By centering educator development, we combat the fear and misinformation that feeds legislation against queer youth, cultivating safer environments for students and educators to thrive.

Overdose deaths in the United States have rapidly increased in the past few years accounting for over 107,000 deaths in 2022 with more than half being attributed to the co-usage of opioids and stimulants. Despite the prevalence of polysubstance use, research has predominantly focused on single substance use, leaving a gap in knowledge regarding its neurological effects. Addiction-associated behaviors such as drug-seeking, drug-taking, and relapse vulnerability has been attributed dysregulation of the striatum. We recently found that polysubstance exposure to methamphetamine and fentanyl leads to behavioral differences in methamphetamine-seeking but not fentanyl-seeking relative to single-substance rats, suggesting that polysubstance use causes distinct changes in striatal circuitry. Our overarching objective is to determine to what extent pursuit of methamphetamine and fentanyl involves shared neural pathways. How do distinct striatal neuron subpopulations responsive to either methamphetamine or fentanyl regulate drug-seeking in animals exposed to both substances? To investigate this, rats are placed into self-administration boxes and undergo two phases of daily intermittent access drug self-administration. In the first phase of self-administration, lasting 10 days, a novel targeted recombination in active population (TRAP) technology and recombinant viral vector is used to target inhibitory designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) to striatal cells that are activated during fentanyl- or methamphetamine-seeking. For the second phase of the experiment, lasting 28 days, rats are then divided into groups for either self-administration of methamphetamine, fentanyl or a polysubstance model. Using chemogenetic manipulations in polysubstance rats, we will test the hypothesis that inhibition of the striatal neuron subpopulations active during fentanyl-seeking will decrease methamphetamine-seeking whereas inhibition of methamphetamine activated neurons will have no impact on fentanyl-seeking. These experiments will provide important insights and lay the groundwork for future studies into how striatal circuits regulate behavior during single and polysubstance use of opioids and stimulants.

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) occurs when the brain receives insufficient oxygen and blood supply before or during childbirth. HIE is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity that may also affect later brain development, specifically gyrification - folding of the cerebral cortex creating gyri and sulci. The nonhuman primate (NHP) brain is gyrified, similar to humans, making NHPs a highly translatable model to examine brain development after injury, which has not been well-studied in HIE. In our nonhuman primate (NHP) model of neonatal HIE, we induced injury through in utero umbilical cord occlusion (UCO) for 20 minutes, mimicking the cause of HIE in humans. Twenty-two term-equivalent pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) underwent UCO and were randomized to no treatment (n = 11) or treatment with therapeutic hypothermia and erythropoietin (TH + Epo [5x1000 U/kg]; n = 11), while non-UCO animals served as controls (n = 7). All animals were delivered via cesarian section. Injury severity was determined by physiological parameters (Apgar score), lactate, and pH levels after resuscitation. To evaluate the impact of injury on gyrification, we will utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) taken 6-months post-injury to measure the gyrification index (GI). GI will be calculated by taking brain’s inner-to-outer hemispheric ratio; the inner trace following the contours of the gyri and sulci, and the outer trace following the circumference of the cerebral cortex. We hypothesize that global and regional GI will be altered in animals exposed to UCO, corresponding with decreased brain volume and greater injury. We also hypothesize that treatment will mitigate some of these changes, leading to a GI closer to control. These results will help determine whether hypoxia-ischemia alters the trajectory of cortical development, as well as the association between injury severity, brain volume, and gyrification.

Dynamics of activity across the cerebral cortex at the mesoscopic scale – coordinated fluctuations of local populations of neurons — are essential to perception and cognition and relevant to computations like sensorimotor integration and goal-directed task engagement. However, understanding direct causal links between population dynamics and behavior requires the ability to manipulate mesoscale activity and observe the effect of manipulation across multiple brain regions simultaneously. Here, we develop a novel system enabling simultaneous recording and manipulation of activity across the dorsal cortex of awake mice, compatible with large-scale electrophysiology from any region across the brain. Transgenic mice expressing the GCaMP calcium sensor are injected systemically with an adeno-associated virus driving expression of the ChrimsonR excitatory opsin. This strategy drives expression of the blue-excited calcium indicator, GCaMP, in excitatory neurons and red-excited Chrimson opsin in inhibitory neurons. The light channels of the imaging and the opsin do not interfere. We demonstrate widefield single-photon calcium imaging and simultaneous galvo-targeted laser stimulation over the entire dorsal cortical surface and find that the spatial and temporal resolution of the stimulus is suitable for targeting many specific cortical regions in short periods of time. The calcium indicator responded to the laser within 30 ms, and the activity returned to baseline within 100 ms after laser offset. The area of effect was as small as 3 mm² for the lowest laser power or as large as 10 mm² for the largest laser power. Moreover, the preparation is stable over many months and is thus well-suited for long-term behavioral experiments. The ability to stimulate and measure anywhere on the dorsal cortical surface of the brain will allow us to design computational models describing how causal manipulation impacts neural dynamics, especially in the context of designing closed-loop systems to control neural activity and behavior. 

Approximately 18% of older adult intensive care unit (ICU) survivors with delirium are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia (ADRD) within three years of hospitalization. The constant, 24-hour ICU care can cause disruptions to sleep quality and the biological circadian rhythm. These disturbances, which affect up to 80% of ICU patients, can decrease the efficacy and benefits of interventions to manage delirium and improve cognitive function. We aim to explore the roles of individual chronotypes (morning, afternoon, or evening preference) and self-reported cognitive function on acceptability and adherence to a computerized cognitive training (CCT) intervention for older adult ICU survivors.  Data from two ongoing randomized controlled trials (the SLEEP-COG Study and OPTIMIZE Study) are utilized for this project. Older adult ICU survivors hospitalized at University of Washington Medical Center or Harborview Medical Center are enrolled based on the following eligibility criteria: ages 60 and older, functionally independent prior to hospitalization, and within 48 hours after transfer from intensive care to acute care. Participants who are randomized to CCT complete 30-minute daily sessions for up to 7 days or until discharge. Participants answer the Composite Scale of Morningness questionnaire to determine their individual chronotype and complete the PROMIS Cognitive Function & Cognitive Function Abilities instruments to examine self-reported cognitive function. Upon completion of the CCT intervention, participants answer Likert-type surveys and open-ended questions about feasibility, acceptability, and usability.  Analyses will explore trends between chronotype, self-reported cognitive function, and acceptability.  Differences will be described using t-tests, Chi-squared tests, and ANOVA for binary, categorical, and/or continuous variables, respectively. Potential future directions may include the development of personalized interventions that integrate individual chronotype and perceived cognitive ability to minimize delirium and cognitive decline associated with ADRD in older adult ICU survivors. 

Previous research has determined that nanoparticle systems require a wide parameter space to effectively conduct synthesis and characterization. As a result, the development of high-throughput techniques is essential for efficiently analyzing the large datasets produced in colloidal particle experiments. These methods enable the rapid assessment of particle properties, such as size, shape, and charge, which are critical for modifying nanoparticles for specific applications. In order to do this, advancements in automated synthesis platforms, such as the Jubilee automated multi-tool system, offer the potential to streamline the fabrication of magic sized clusters. This approach has the potential to accelerate the discovery of novel nanoparticles but also allows for real-time adjustment of synthesis parameters to achieve desired properties with high precision, throughput, and reproducibility. As a result of the optimized synthesis process, characterization using techniques such as small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and UV-vis spectroscopy can be done at an accelerated rate. Efforts to enhance the durability and performance of the Jubilee automated multi-tool platform are focused on integrating advanced materials to improve system lifespan. This work will incorporate glass syringes and resin-printed components which offer improved chemical resistance and precision compared to traditional plastic components, extending the utility of the platform to be able to work with solvents and chemicals that are corrosive, volatile, or strong solvating agents for typical plastics. These improvements aim to reduce wear and tear, extend the lifespan of critical components, and ultimately ensure the platform's reliability for long-term use in high-throughput nanoparticle synthesis.

There is an existing ideology prevalent in our culture that radicalized, and gendered subjects are expected to endure copious amounts of pain when it pertains to their menstrual cycles. I call this into question and aim to explore alternative methods of alleviating dysmenorrhea beyond hormonal contraceptives and SSRIs. Focusing specifically on BIPOC menstruating populations, I have been the primary investigator of a study examining the effects of community dance and affinity spaces on menstrual pain management. Participants come into the dance studio weekly to engage in various open dance practices with others, in addition to journaling, guided massage, and discussion. The dance practices range from traditional Chinese practices like Qigong to local community dance practices like Dance Church. In addition to weekly sessions, I host quarterly BIPOC Jams open to the public, to share the knowledge with the wider community, cultivating a space for BIPOC to engage in freedom dreaming, community building, and collective healing. I will explore what a future of community healthcare would look like, moving away from Western models of healthcare that focuses solely on the individual. Drawing from practices like community acupuncture where the healing experience happens with others rather than in isolation, I am curious to investigate how having a shared dancing experience impacts and shifts the emotional and physical well-being of participants. I am exploring the care relationships that form in BIPOC affinity spaces and how dance as a language facilitates a different type of embodied healing. I will be presenting the structure that I have used for weekly sessions and the BIPOC Jams. I will also share excerpts of participant experiences and reflections from both spaces. I am drawing upon existing theories around care work, somatic abolition, and pain management to develop a practice of community care that builds upon existing discourse. 

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from a blow to the skull that causes shearing forces in the brain. Elevating intracranial pressure (ICP) at the moment of impact may protect the brain from TBI by stiffening the brain tissue and decreasing shearing. When they expect an impact, humans naturally brace and perform a Valsalva maneuver (exhaling against a closed airway), which momentarily elevates ICP. In a ferret TBI model, we conducted abdominal compression using a blood pressure cuff to induce a Valsalva-like response (VLR) and determine whether VLR resulted in neuroprotection. The ferret model was chosen for its gyrified brain structure and white to grey matter ratio that closely resembles the human. TBI was induced using a CHIMERA (Closed-Head Impact Model of Engineered Rotational Acceleration) device, which is designed to deliver high-energy, controlled skull impacts. Initial work showed that the abdominal compression procedures increased ICP. The TBI study involved a total of 36 adult ferrets of both sexes randomized into three groups: (1) a sham control group exposed to isoflurane with a cuff but no compression, (2) a TBI group with a cuff but no compression, and (3) a TBI group with a cuff and abdominal compression. Baseline behavioral assessments (CatWalk, Novel Object Recognition, Swim Test, and Open Field) were conducted one week prior to injury. Post-injury behavioral testing, using the same assessments, was performed at 24–48 hours and 8 days post-TBI to evaluate functional outcomes. On day 8, ferrets were euthanized, and their brain tissue was collected and assessed for neuropathological outcomes. We hypothesize that abdominal compression will mitigate deleterious TBI outcomes. If these findings are supported, this intervention could improve the lives of those at risk of TBI and contribute to ongoing research in the field.

Silica nanoparticles have diverse applications in catalysis, imaging, and drug delivery. Tailoring these nanoparticles for specific applications requires precise control over their size, surface chemistry, porosity, and polydispersity. These properties are controlled by a wide range of factors such as reactant type and concentration, pH, reaction temperature, and other synthesis parameters. Due to the large parameter space, determining the optimal reaction conditions for synthesizing silica nanoparticles with the desired size and morphology is time-consuming and challenging. An accelerated experimentation platform integrating automation and artificial intelligence can streamline the selection of reaction parameters for synthesizing silica nanoparticles with targeted size and morphology using machine learning-based iterative design of experiments to optimize material properties. This system uses the Science Jubilee flexible laboratory automation platform to carry out sol-gel synthesis. Small-angle X-ray scattering is used to characterize the sample. The data collected is used to optimize the reaction condition for synthesizing the targeted nanoparticle. We have successfully carried out sol-gel processes and synthesized silica nanoparticles with various sizes and polydispersity using the platform. Currently, we are working on optimizing the selection of sample synthesis conditions.

In Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT), a novel modality of cancer therapy, immune cells can be engineered with T cell receptors (TCRs) to aid in targeting specific antigens presented on the surface of cancer cells. However, TCR-T cells often have limited persistence after transfer into patients, which has hampered the effectiveness of this therapy for solid tumors. Last year, our lab identified LSD1 as a target for drug inhibition, which is an enzyme that alters the epigenome of cells via histone modifications. My project aims to understand the mechanism of LSD1 inhibitor drugs, as well as the effect of these drugs on two types of T cells: cytotoxic CD8+ cells and helper CD4+ cells. In addition to understanding how LSD1 drugs work, I also ask exactly how CD4+ cells enhance the function of CD8+ cells in tumor killing. Which receptors on CD8+ cells are activated by helper T cells, what is the signal phosphorylation pathway transducing the "helping" signal from receptors, and what downstream epigenetic regulators play a role in translating the "helping" signal into better function in CD8+ T cells? To assess these interactions, I will generate a diverse population of CD8+ T cells with targeted receptor knockouts, known as a receptor library. Similar libraries will be generated for epigenetic regulators as well as kinases/phosphatases. The performance of T cells will be assessed via coculture assays, where T cells can kill tumor cells but not fully eliminate the tumor because of periodic addition of new tumor cells. At the end of the coculture period, we will assess gRNAs enriched in dysfunctional populations, which will identify genes critical to CD8+ T cell function. This project aims to provide enhanced function of T cells that are better suited for applications in clinic.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used over-the-counter drug known for its analgesic and antipyretic properties. Several clinical factors can influence how APAP is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted from the body (i.e., its pharmacokinetics (PK)). APAP is metabolized into several metabolites, including APAP-glucuronide, APAP-sulfate, APAP-cysteine, and APAP-N-acetylcysteine. Therefore, accurately determining plasma concentrations of APAP and its metabolites is crucial for understanding how individuals metabolize APAP and environmental influences on APAP PK. To address this, I am reproducing a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay to determine concentrations of APAP and its metabolites in plasma. I analyzed plasma samples collected from seven healthy volunteers following oral administration of 500 mg of APAP. To prepare the samples, I added 70 μL of diluted internal standard mix into the tubes containing 30 μL of plasma. Samples were centrifuged and the supernatants were transferred clean tubes and dried down with nitrogen gas. Samples were reconstituted in mobile phase for analysis using LC-MS/MS. I analyzed the LC-MS/MS data to calculate the plasma concentration vs. time curves for each analyte. I used Phoenix WinNonlin to estimate key PK parameters, including peak concentration (Cmax), time of peak concentration (Tmax), clearance, half-life, volume of distribution, and area under the curve (AUC). This LC-MS/MS assay provides a platform for precise quantification of APAP and its metabolites, and will be essential for our lab’s future studies on the impact of the gut microbiome on APAP’s PK.

Recent research shows the lux operon utilized with in-vivo bioluminescence imaging to detect infectious diseases in animal models. Modifications to this operon led to the development of enhanced bioluminescence in Escherichia coli cells. However, expression of this operon has not been optimized for expression in other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. This study aims to optimize the lux reporter gene expression for Staphylococcus aureus, so luminescence is bright enough to register without specialized equipment. To date, the research has explored Gibson Assembly for cloning the gene sequences into a shuttle vector and efforts to modulate gene expression to reduce toxicity in E. coli.

Cyberbullying is repeated, intentional harm inflicted through digital platforms, including social media, messaging apps, and online forums. Most researchers focus on cyberbullying in adolescence, but it continues into adulthood. Young adults (ages 18–25) undergo major life changes and use social media frequently, which increases their risk of experiencing cyberbullying. LGBTQ+ individuals, especially transgender and non-binary people, face higher rates of online harassment. Cyberbullying can lead to severe mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and social isolation. While existing research focuses on cyberbullying among LGBTQ+ individuals as a broad group, few studies examine its specific impact on transgender and non-binary people. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate cyberbullying in transgender and/or non-binary emerging adults. A survey of transgender and/or non-binary participants aged 18–25 will be conducted using a modified Cyberbullying Victimization Scale to measure three types of victimization: Verbal/Written, Visual/Sexual, Social Exclusion/In-Person Bullying. Participants will report experiences in public online spaces and private online spaces. The study will collect demographic data such as gender identity, racial or ethnic background, level of outness, and social media usage to examine correlations between these factors and cyberbullying experiences. By integrating statistical trends and personal narratives, this research will provide a deeper understanding of cyberbullying in transgender and non-binary communities. The findings will inform social media policies, platform safety measures, and mental health support efforts for LGBTQ+ individuals navigating online harassment.

Grasses (family Poaceae) are highly diverse (~11,800 species), cover nearly 40% of Earth’s ice-free land surface, and play critical ecological and economic roles. Grasses have evolved a variety of unique traits, including an exceptionally high accumulation of silicon in the form of biological silica bodies (phytoliths) in some lineages. Silicon accumulation confers resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses, including drought and salinity resistance, herbivore defense, and structural support. Despite the role of silicon in the enormous success of grasses, a clear picture of the exact drivers of silicon accumulation in grasses across species and environments has not yet emerged. I hypothesize that elevated silicon concentrations are primarily driven by environmental stress, most notably high temperatures and low precipitation. To test this hypothesis, I used X-ray fluorescence to analyze the leaf silicon concentration of 482 grass leaf samples, encompassing approximately 200 species across all 12 grass subfamilies. Using occurrence records from online databases, I identified the realized climate niche and its environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation) for each sampled species. The next step is to collect geolocation data from each individual sample, which will be combined with the climate niche data of its species. By comparing the relationship between a plant’s climate niche, its individual growing conditions, and its silicon concentration, a better understanding of environmental drivers of silicon will begin to emerge. Preliminary results taking into account only climate niche and silicon concentration showed no relevant correlations, illustrating the need for individual growing condition data. Because many of the stresses that silicon helps to alleviate are also those that will worsen under climate change (high temperature, drought, insect herbivory), an improved understanding of the environmental drivers of silicon accumulation will allow us to better prepare for the impacts of climate change on our agricultural and ecological systems.

During embryonic development, gene expression is temporally and spatially coordinated to control organogenesis and fetal growth. We previously identified a subset of 140 genes that conferred lethal and sub-viable phenotypes in mice and are likely to be haploinsufficient in humans. These genes presumptively play essential roles in fetal development, but their function is unknown. I aim to uncover the role of these genes in mouse embryonic development using Weighted Gene Co-Expression Analysis (WGCNA). Co-expression analysis will be conducted on mouse embryonic stem cell RNA sequencing data obtained at three different stages of in vitro differentiation and across two different genetic backgrounds, creating a subset of nine samples encompassing 12555 genes. Choosing three different time points allows us to see how expression of our genes of interest changes over time, and choosing two different genotypes (wild type and knock-in) allows us to investigate if expression changes due to a single point mutation. We performed dynamic clustering on this RNA sequencing data to identify co-expressed gene clusters. I will map these gene clusters to biological pathways to make inferences about which cellular processes, metabolic functions, or structural components the genes of interest are involved in. This may indicate the role of these genes in fetal development and help reveal why fetal viability is compromised. In future studies, the functional characterization of these genes will generate new ideas and hypotheses about the basis of genetic disease.

Cervical traumatic spinal cord injury (TCSCI) is a devastating condition that leads to tetraplegia, severely impairing essential life functions and independence. Individuals with cervical TCSCI struggle with hand function, reaching, eating, grasping, and writing, significantly reducing their quality of life. In the U.S., cervical SCI is the most common type of spinal injury, affecting over 300,000 individuals, with approximately 17,900 new cases annually. The long-term disability resulting from TCSCI often necessitates continuous medical care, rehabilitation, and assistive technologies to enhance functional recovery. Our preclinical study evaluates upper extremity dysfunction in rats following cervical TCSCI using behavioral assessments, specifically the Forelimb Reaching Task (FRT) and the Irvine, Beatties, and Bresnahan (IBB) test. These tests provide valuable insights into motor impairments and recovery over time. FRT assesses shoulder movement and fine motor control by placing the rat in a transparent box with side slits, allowing it to extend its forelimb to grasp a chocolate pellet. The grasping behavior is scored on a standardized scale. This test primarily evaluates digit precision and reaching ability. IBB provides a broader analysis of forelimb function, including both proximal and distal limb recovery. In this test, the rat is placed in a cylinder with food, and its grasping and eating behavior are recorded. Forelimb function is later evaluated based on elbow position, paw support, forepaw placement, and digit movements. By comparing these tests, we aim to determine their efficacy in assessing functional deficits and recovery post-SCI. This analysis is critical for refining behavioral assessments and guiding the development of new therapies to enhance motor recovery and improve the quality of life for individuals with cervical SCI.

Plastic is a prevalent and useful material, experiencing a 230-fold increase in production from 1950 to 2019. However, problems revolving around plastic production and disposal are becoming increasingly clear. In 2015 virgin plastic production was responsible for 4.5% of global greenhouse emissions, with the United states collecting only 9% of plastic waste for recycling. For polystyrene, a common plastic in food storage containers, less than 1% was recycled. The decomposition of polystyrene can also release dangerous chemicals, such as additives Bisphenol A (BPA) and polystyrene oligomers, directly linked to human health hazards such as diabetes, breast cancer, reproductive harm, thyroid regulation issues, heart diseases, and liver problems. To prevent both the need for new plastic and decrease plastic decomposition products from harming both humans and the environment, it is critical to develop a circular plastic economy, where plastic waste is broken down back into the chemical building blocks, or monomers, which can be re-manufactured into new high-quality plastics. The use of basic heterogeneous catalysts, such as zinc oxide (ZnO) can improve the yields of polystyrene deconstruction back into monomers compared to other chemical recycling techniques such as pyrolysis and acid-catalysis. To further improve yields, it is critical to understand the impact of relative basicity of ZnO on styrene yield. To examine base strength effects, the relative basicity of ZnO will be systematically varied through alterations in pretreatment methods. Reactions were tested in a mini-batch reactor at 623K over three hours using a 10:1 substrate to catalyst ratio, with product distribution examined using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and a flame ionization detector (FID). 

Carpels are invaluable floral organs that have undergone myriad innovations in flowering plant evolution, providing fruits and seeds. Carpels consist of a pollination site (stigma), pollen growth area (style), and a region containing ovules (ovary) which become the fruit after fertilization. Understanding carpel development and evolution is fundamental for efforts to increase food production. A decreased abundance of insect pollinators due to anthropogenic climate change has made this pursuit all the more urgent. The plant genus Thalictrum comprises perennial herbs in temperate regions that have repeatedly transitioned from insect to wind-pollination in their evolutionary history. Hence, they are ideal to investigate the adaptations and genetics that decrease reliance on insects for reproduction. A key feature of wind pollination is a longer stigmatic surface that increases pollen capture. I am taking a candidate gene approach, examining homologs of the stigma development gene families STYLISH (STY) and NGATHA (NGA). I am characterizing the role of NGA and two STYLISH gene copies in our model species, Thalictrum thalictroides. Previous work has found that silencing one of the STY gene copies results in the loss of stigma development, while the function of the other copy remains unknown. In other genera, altered NGA expression has been shown to alter stigma development. To characterize the function of both NGA and STY, I am implementing Virus-Induced gene Overexpression (VOX) by infiltrating tubers with Agrobacterium transformed with Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) carrying an overexpression construct. STY genes will be overexpressed, and NGA will be both overexpressed and silenced using Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS). I will characterize the phenotypes resulting from these treatments to determine the functionalization of STY and NGA. By dissecting the genetic basis of floral adaptations to wind-pollination in this system, I hope to contribute solutions to enhance crop production in the face of pollinator decline. 

Flowering plants are important sources of agricultural crops and are diverse in flower and fruit structures. To study how this diversity has evolved, I am developing a new plant model system in the order Ranunculales, an underrepresented clade that will help bridge the knowledge gap within dicotyledonous plants, where most of the angiosperm diversity is found. A key tool in model system development is the ability to transform plants to study gene function, therefore, I aim to develop a method for genetic transformation. Specifically, I am implementing the tried and true  “floral dip” transformation method of Arabidopsis using Agrobacterium tumefaciens in Myosurus minimus, tiny mousetails. This is a small, fast-growing plant that produces many seeds, making it feasible to generate and propagate stable transformants. As proof of principle, I am expressing fluorescent proteins (GFP and YFP) and a visual reporter called RUBY, which causes transformed plants to produce red pigment. I found red color on the petals of treated plants, suggesting that transformation is working in Myosurus. I am currently validating this phenotype by planting the seeds on antibiotic selective media. I expect to see that certain individuals are resistant to antibiotics, while others die, which will allow me to identify the genetically transformed plants. By developing this transformation method, I will be able to test the function of candidate genes of interest in this new model plant species, which will further enable the investigation of gene network evolution in flowering plants. Increased understanding of gene function provides opportunities for engineering crop species to have beneficial traits for agricultural purposes. 

Variations in floral structures influence how plants are pollinated, showier flowers are more attractive to pollinators, while wind-pollinated plants benefit from having smaller, inconspicuous flowers that produce increased amounts of pollen, and have the appropriate morphology to receive pollen from the wind. The genus Thalictrum contains species that range from insect-pollinated to wind-pollinated. Certain transcription factors are known to affect the stigma, the area of pollen reception that consists of papillae, and to increase stigmatic papillae length. By better understanding the genes that influence stigma morphology, this gene could be used in economically important crops to increase their stigmatic surfaces and consequently the likelihood of pollination. In this study, we use in situ hybridization to analyze gene expression of candidate genes for stigma development in the genus Thalictrum, which has had multiple transitions from insect to wind pollination in its evolutionary history. We selected three species representing the range of stigma morphologies found in Thalictrum. I will test the hypothesis that expression of my candidate genes will correlate with stigma morphology, such that the short (capitate) stigmas characteristic of insect-pollinated species will exhibit restricted areas of gene expression just prior to stigma development, while the more elongated stigmas of the wind-pollinated species will show an extended temporal and spatial domain of expression, with mixed-pollinated species lying in between. Thus, this work will provide a connection between developmental genetics and morphology to improve understanding of the wind pollination syndrome.

The transcription factor LEAFY (LFY) controls the development of flowers in angiosperms, but it is found in all lineages of land plants, including those that do not flower. In the non-vascular plants like moss, LFY promotes the first cell division in the zygote, and in early vascular plant representatives like ferns, LFY controls stem cell activity. Ferns are the sister lineage of seed plants, making them an ideal model to study the evolution of LFY. The model fern Ceratopteris richardii has two copies of the LFY gene, while most angiosperms have one, and the two genes are expressed at different levels across development, suggesting the possibility of sub- or neo-functionalization. In this study, we use transgenic C. richardii plants overexpressing one or both LFY genes to determine their function across development. Since LFY is expressed in sperm cells, I set up assays to observe C. richardii sperm cells during fertilization and determine the role that LFY may be playing in fern sperm development and reproduction. To test whether the two fern LFY proteins interact with each other, I perform yeast two-hybrid assays, which will provide insight into whether the genes play independent roles or share overlapping functions. Determining the function(s) of LFY in ferns will help uncover the evolutionary history of this important plant transcription factor and how it came to control the crucial role of initiating flower development.

My research is focused on the question of "Why do first-generation Indian Sikh immigrants return back to their origin country?" I am researching about why some migrants return and others do not, specifically the factors that influence the decision-making. My initial research showcased economic motivations being parallel to initial migration as well as return to one's origin country, along with the the influences of the labor market. I hypothesize that return migration in India is driven by the same realities that drive emigration, namely opportunities to develop economically. I conducted qualitative interviews with Indian Sikh immigrants, both those who had returned back to India along with those currently living in a destination country. The subjects were identified through established social personal networks and participants were screened through questions about their migration journey and if they identified as Sikhs. My project is still in progress, however I have completed more than half of my intended goal for qualitative interviews. My preliminary findings suggest that the primary reasons for migration out of an origin country and returning back relates to economic motivations. However social factors, such as conflicts within the origin country and discrimination in the destination country also impact the decision-making processes and intentions of return. The findings of this research are impactful within migration studies, especially as return migration is a relatively new field that is constantly developing. The case study of Sikh Indian Immigrants has not been researched extensively in the past, showcasing why identifying the various factors influencing motivations and intentions is crucial when understanding the patterns of migration. 

Building on the literature of the importance of strategy, this paper explores the relationships between wealth, strategy, and battle related deaths to find out why we may see unexpected conflict outcomes like Ukraine being able to hold back Russian offensives. This paper argues that wealthy actors often use expensive strategies, like strategic air bombing, that are ultimately ineffective at helping win a war and only cause unnecessary casualties, and that less wealthy actors are forced to be more creative with their strategies and this leads to less casualties. To do this, I analyze the relationships between data on rebel contraband (proxy for non-state actor wealth), GDP, and strategies used in war and their effect on battle related deaths. The paper will also cover the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar and Ukraine as a theoretical supplement to this data. Examining these relationships is increasingly important because wars fought in the modern era often see different sides of varying wealth using different strategies. Implementing the discoveries of this paper may give us opportunities to minimize casualties in conflicts by looking at what strategies are the least lethal at what levels of wealth.

Plastics have transformed the modern materials landscape, as they have a large range of applications at low costs. With this widespread and consistent use it is seen that production will continue to increase, reaching over 1.1 billion tons per year. Of this, only around 16% of plastics are recycled, with complex polymer recycling rates even lower. Remaining plastics are primarily landfilled or incinerated, leading to associated environmental impacts. In response to this issue, chemical recycling methods such as hydrogenolysis have been developed. However, these methods are limited by their ability to separate or otherwise handle mixed plastic waste feedstocks. This work investigates ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of mixed polyolefin waste to determine the impact of mixed feedstocks on catalytic activity.  The system of pure polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) mixtures is studied as PE and PP are two of the most commonly produced plastics, together comprising nearly 50% of all plastics produced. Model compounds tetracosane and squalane are used as analogs of PE and PP, respectively. These compounds are simpler than their polymer counterparts while possessing similar structural elements, therefore making for an easier determination of mechanistic pathways and kinetic parameters. Reactions are performed in 10mL stainless steel reactor systems using a ruthenium on carbon (Ru/C) catalyst. Squalane and tetracosane are mixed at various ratios, maintaining 1g of substrate and 100 mg of Ru/C per reaction. Relatively mild conditions of 225°C, 20 bar of hydrogen are held for 1 hour. Preliminary results find the C-C bonds in tetracosane cleave to a greater extent than in squalane, with much of the squalane preserved. Likewise, reactions with a higher percent of tetracosane result in more bond cleavage compared to squalane-rich reactions. This indicates that branched polymer substrates may decrease overall catalytic activity compared to linear polymer substrates. 

Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectroscopy (DART+ MS) is a chemical identification tool that uses a superheated gas stream to ionize chemical samples, producing a distinct chemical signal that can be used to identify the composition of an unknown sample. DART+ MS is used reliably in fields like forensics, food safety, pharmaceuticals, and more recently, environmental protection. At the Wasser Research Lab, at the Center for Environmental Forensic Science, we work to protect endangered species such as African Elephants. Using Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectroscopy, we seek to find if elephant ivory from different regions in Africa has distinct chemical signatures, allowing us to geolocalize ivory samples based on their DART+ MS signatures. Current methods of elephant geolocation include genetic testing, but results can often be ambiguous; By using this completely different, complementary approach, we could improve our estimates of these inconclusive tests. If there is a chemical difference in the ivory of Elephants from the Savannah and Forest regions of Africa, then we can trace the origins of ivory obtained from illegal seizures, aiding in the conservation efforts of African elephants. Chemical distinctions aside, we also hope to answer questions about the effects of certain chemical preservatives on ivory samples and whether the DART+ MS signal varies along the length of the cut of the tusk, establishing best practices for sampling. Ultimately, our goal is to determine if DART+ MS proves to be a reliable and quick method of identifying elephant ivory for conservation efforts. By bridging cutting-edge technology with conservation science, we hope this research will make a significant impact on efforts to combat the illegal ivory trade and wildlife crime. 

In the Earth system, land-atmosphere interactions play a crucial role in the development of weather and climate. Rising buoyant air parcels in convective environments create thunderstorms and clouds and can be influenced by energy fluxes at the land surface. However, the role of soil moisture in convective development is still a topic of ongoing debate.  A recent study by Zhang et al. (2023) investigated how soil moisture drydown periods affect the convective available potential energy (CAPE) and precipitation patterns in different regions using satellite data and statistical modeling. Other studies have predicted that CAPE will increase in humid regions and decrease in arid regions due to anthropogenic warming (Diffenbaugh et al., 2013; Taszarek et al., 2021). In our study, we use time series from global climate model (GCM) simulations to compare interstorm CAPE in different regions across current and future warming scenarios. Our research will result in the enhanced understanding of land-atmosphere coupling and how severe weather will respond to a CO2-driven warming climate.

Female mammals possess two X chromosomes in every cell, but one is silenced by condensing into a barr body, making its genetic information largely inaccessible. While X inactivation is stable in somatic cells, it is reversible in germ cells, raising the intriguing question of what proteins maintain this silenced state. My project aims to identify the protein composition of both active and inactive X chromosomes in mice. To achieve this, I will use in situ hybridization to target proximal labeling with biotin of X chromosome-associated proteins. This is accomplished by targeting a biotinylation enzyme, such as HRP, to the X chromosomal region, where it will selectively biotinylate neighboring proteins. After affinity purification, these proteins can be identified using mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics. To direct the enzyme to the correct location, a two-probe system is employed. The primary oligonucleotide probe complements a specific X chromosome region which also contains landing sites for a secondary probe. Hybridization of the secondary probe which is tagged with HRP enables precise labeling of chromosome-associated proteins. This approach enables in situ biotinylation, preserving proteins in their native context for accurate identification. Since the two X chromosomes are homologous, distinguishing between the active and inactive X requires careful probe design. By utilizing Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) that exist in the X chromosomes, the maternal and paternal X chromosomes can be differentially targeted by primary probes, allowing for homolog specific protein labeling and analysis of their distinct regulatory environments. 

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the most significant year-to-year climate variation, affecting weather and climate systems worldwide. However, current prediction models, both dynamic and statistical, struggle with accuracy due to the complex mechanism of ENSO. This study introduces a regional temperature and salinity prediction method using a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) deep learning model, which is well-suited for identifying long-term patterns in sequential data. The model is applied to three specific regions using in-situ data from Argo floats: the central-eastern Pacific, the central tropical Pacific Niño 3.4 region, and the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP). These regions are chosen because they play key roles in ENSO dynamics. Results show that the LSTM model performs best in the WPWP, where the average mean squared error (MSE) is low (0.03), indicating high accuracy and stability. This is likely due to lower noise in the original data. In contrast, the model performs poorly in the central-eastern Pacific, where the average MSE is much higher (7.03), suggesting instability due to high noise in original data. These findings highlight the potential of deep learning for regional climate predictions and suggest that LSTM models could improve local weather forecasting and fisheries management.

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a foundation species in the Salish Sea, providing essential habitat for several species of waterfowl, finfish and invertebrates, stabilizing sediment, cleaning water, and sequestering carbon. These ecosystem services are under threat in the San Juan Islands, as Washington State’s Submerged Vegetation Monitoring Program reports that “sites with decline outnumber sites with an increase” from 2000 to 2020. One stressor that impacts eelgrass is epiphyte load (species richness and abundance of algae on an eelgrass leaf). The presence of epiphytes can be influenced by leaf age, but associations with depth have not been reported. This case study investigates these relationships between plant depth, leaf age, and epiphyte load for one subtidal eelgrass meadow at Friday Harbor Laboratories, San Juan Island, Washington in April and May 2024. This site featured uniformly sparse eelgrass, allowing for consistent comparisons of plants across depth. I collected eelgrass leaves (n = 29) across a 50 m belt transect directed southeast of shore, including leaves at shallow (-1.1 to -1.2 m MLLW) and deep (-1.5 to -1.8 m MLLW) patches via a snorkel survey at low tide. I identified old leaves as the outermost ranking leaf, and young leaves as the second ranked inner leaf. I identified epiphyte taxa on each leaf via microscope, while visually estimating a ranked relative abundance for each species on both sides of a leaf. Epiphyte species richness and abundance were consistent across depth (p > 0.05). Young leaves exhibited lower species richness (p < 0.001) and abundance (p < 0.001) of epiphytes than old leaves, suggesting that leaves may experience asymmetrical levels of stress from epiphytes. Further developments of this study can be replicated at nearby systems to clarify these relationships between epiphyte load, plant depth, and leaf age to aid subtidal eelgrass conservation and restoration efforts.

The tumor microenvironment (TME)—the ecosystem surrounding a tumor—is an important factor that influences the growth of a tumor. Specifically, features of TME may be associated with patients’ survival time, which suggests that further study of TME structures is warranted. This study used the existing METABRIC breast cancer dataset which contains spatial data of cells from tissue samples. Using cox regression, a statistical method, we aimed to analyze general patterns in TME structures to model the relationship between TME and patient survival time. Log cell type proportion and Ripley’s K function, which quantifies cell clustering, were compared in cox regression. We found that log immune cell proportion was associated with decreased patient survival time. These findings suggest that further research to determine the exact relationship between TME structures in breast cancer and patient survival outcomes is important.

The ongoing opioid epidemic has made the need for alternative pain management strategies more urgent than ever. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffer from chronic pain, which has traditionally been treated with opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, both classes of drugs come with significant drawbacks. NSAIDs are often ineffective for managing chronic pain and can cause kidney and liver damage with prolonged use. Meanwhile, opioids lose their effectiveness over time, contributing to misuse, substance use disorders, and an increased risk of overdose. With few alternatives available that don't carry these risks, researchers are exploring new pain management options. One promising avenue is the use of cannabinoids, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. In this study, I employ machine learning to create an unbiased kinematic and behavioral profile of mice experiencing chronic neuropathic pain using a custom-built linear track. Chronic pain and limb impairment are induced through partial sciatic nerve ligation, and a deep learning system analyzes videos of the mice to assess their movement patterns before and after treatment. I then compare these profiles to those of mice treated with NSAIDs, opioids, and cannabinoids, evaluating the effects of each treatment on behavioral measures like body position, which serves as a proxy for pain state and stress. We expect the mice treated with analgesics to show increased rearing and grooming behaviors. This research not only compares the analgesic effectiveness of cannabinoids to traditional pain-relief drugs but also helps reduce the stigma surrounding cannabinoid-based treatments.

Q: And Babies? A: And Babies. was one of the most prominent antiwar posters produced by the Art Workers Coalition (AWC) in 1969. The combination of the shocking image of the My Lai massacre with text excerpted from an interview of Paul Meadlo elicited a strong reaction from its viewers. Shown first in the hands of protestors and now stored in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) collection, my paper examines how the changing location of the poster affects the function of the work. Building on scholarship surrounding the complex relationship between AWC and the MoMA, I examine the power relations imbued in institutions, alongside the portrayal of truth that the photograph provides. The photograph’s “truth,” as argued by John Tagg, can be multiple. When in the hands of a protestor, And Babies holds singular truth and at MoMA, it shifts to amplify the hegemonic forces behind an institution which dictate what's true or false. When And Babies is placed inside the white cube with multiple truths and is surrounded by works that lack the truth of a photograph, the viewer becomes more drawn to it and the multitude of its truth creates more empathy. Research has been done into the historical context of And Babies, as well as its complex and political relationship with the MoMA. However, my research differs by building on John Tagg’s The Burden of Representation: Essays on Photographies and Histories. I do this by expanding the ideas of photography being used by police as a signifier of guilt and how power structures relate to the nature of truth through resistance and a regime. This work demonstrates And Babies shifting meaning between the protestor and the museum.  

In times of conflict, art becomes a beacon of resistance and hope. During the military dictatorships in Latin America from 1960s and 1980s, defiance was fundamental in working against such oppressive regimes. First emerging as a way to communicate between artistic centers as a conceptual art practice and later transforming into a form of resistance as it bypassed censorship, mail art operated as a covert artform that spread ideas and pushback both internally and externally. This research explores how the medium of mail art, specifically in Argentina and Chile, was employed by artists to disseminate messages and oppose dictatorship. Mail art has existed more peripherally in the art historical scholarship and my paper resolves how intrinsically tied to resistance this medium is, specifically as it provides anonymity to artists, counters widespread censorship, and later serves as a testament to atrocities that occurred. Thus, looking at Argentine artists such as León Ferrari and Edgardo-Antonio Vigo, alongside the Chilean Arpillera movement, my paper situates what might be defined under the rubric of 'mail art' and moreover, the 'success' of the medium during repressive regimes. Such characteristics I consider are mail art's effective communication, its establishment within the larger scholarly field, and artistic engagement in political oppressive political arenas, to demonstrate a variety of cause and effects upon which mail art relies.

Recorded as horrific and savage by European colonizers in Brazil, ceremonial cannibalism was practiced by Indigenous groups, such as the Tupinambá, as way to pay respect and empathize with their enemies. The idea of cannibalism would later resurface in Oswald de Andrade’s Cannibalist Manifesto (1928) and was compared to the act of consumption as a symbolic and ritualistic act important to the establishment of a unique Brazilian identity. Throughout the twentieth century, the concept of antropofagia [cannibalism] has been interrogated more fully by artists and art historians in Brazil to understand a cultural syncretism. For example, contemporary artist Adriana Varejão’s Proposal for a Catechesis, Part I Diptych: Death and Dismemberment (1993) illustrates two powerful scenes connected to the colonial history of Brazil: the Catholic rite of transubstantiation and the engagement of Indigenous ritualistic consumption. Thus, this paper analyzes how Varejão’s comparisons between Catholicism and Indigenous religions demonstrate that cannibalism can be further troubled as it continues to be utilized as a stand-in for Brazilian culture. Her work demonstrates that beyond cannibalism’s reclamation and revitalization, a deeper reflection surrounding Christian religious rites might be examined.

Huincha sin fin (endless band) is an artwork which poses the question “where are they” in reference to missing persons during Chile’s Pinochet dictatorship of the 1970s and 80s; understanding where the work itself is illuminates the concerns of an artist living in a politically tumultuous era of Chile’s history and provides important context for Latin American conceptualism. Using political, feminist, and archival frameworks to analyze not only this work but the artist Luz Donoso herself, this paper will reveal art as action and provide a deeper understanding of the socio-political backdrop. This artwork is rarely expanded upon in the analysis of Chilean art or Latin American conceptualism, even though it acts as an ideal example of art during this time. Analyzing Huincha sin fin in greater detail exposes its exemplary nature and offers an important alternative viewpoint of a time when art, thought, and people were being silenced.

The Ardashrinama, known as the Book of Ardashir in English, is a 14th century Judeo-Persian epic poem which combines the life of the Sassanid emperor Ardashir with the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible, equating Ardashir with the biblical Persian king Achashverosh. This paper focuses on an illuminated version of this poem, which was created between the years 1650 and 1680, during or immediately after a period of intensified persecution of Jews under Shah Abbas II, marked by forced conversions to Islam and expulsions from metropolitan areas. The illuminations of the Ardashirnama are similar stylistically to well-known Islamic Safavid miniature paintings of the time, but they reflect rabbinic commentary on the book of Esther alongside Islamic mystical ideas, showcasing a partial assimilation of Persian Jewish art, literature and culture into the wider Islamic Persian community while maintaining a distinctly Jewish identity.

Bernini's David (1623) attempted and—in some capacities—succeeded in breaking the barrier between the viewer and the art. David's narrative is only completed through audience participation and then furthered through dialog with the other works displayed in the same space. Bernini's motivation for creating is key to understanding his incessant cultivation of technical skill and his drive to push the boundaries of possibility in Baroque sculpture. The work functions both alone and as a key sculpture in the oeuvre of Bernini. Framing the work with analysis from Wittkower, Wallace, and Lavin, I dissect what made David different from Bernini's earlier sculpture and how David became the precursor for his later work.

Does Universal Basic Income impact educational attainment? Theorists and prior researchers have drawn mixed conclusions on the effectiveness of UBI. While some argue that unconditional cash transfers increase personal goal seeking and human capital investment behavior, increasing educational attainment, others find that UBI negatively impacts educational attainment because it encourages individuals to neglect any investment in their human capital. Despite these arguments, prior research on this topic is extremely limited, which is why it is so important for this paper to investigate these claims. I expect UBI is associated with increased educational attainment because people could use the finances from UBI to support the additional financial and time commitment costs of education. To investigate this puzzle and test my theory, this paper uses Alaska as a case study, as it provides an opportunity to study the effects of UBI through the Permanent Fund Dividend. The Permanent Fund Dividend is a recurring annual payment given to nearly every Alaskan citizen, sourced from the State’s mineral revenue, thus presenting the best large-scale proxy of UBI available to study. This paper will estimate a counterfactual, or synthetic, Alaska without the PFD, which will allow us to infer the impact of PFD on education by comparing real educational attainments with the estimated levels.

This paper explores the significance of U.S. financial assistance to weak democracies and its impact on their political processes, particularly protest movements. In recent history, almost every nation has seen anti-state demonstrations, driven by factors such as war, elections, inflation, or social issues. Domestically, these international conflicts have sparked debate among politicians, scholars, and voters about how U.S. aid should be allocated. While U.S. aid is generally regarded as a stabilizing force that fosters economic growth and democratization, little is known about its influence on political mobilization. Protest as a concept remains underutilized as a mechanism for understanding political dynamics, especially in the context of ongoing global regime changes. This paper examines how U.S. aid shapes protest in weak and transitional democracies. It investigates two competing theories: increased aid either promotes economic stability, discouraging protests, or fosters democratization, which empowers civil society and encourages protests. Using data from transitioning democracies from 1990 to 2020, this research analyzes the frequency of anti-state protests in relation to U.S. economic and military aid allocations.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have unique optical and physical properties that have a range of applications in photovoltaics and medicine. The properties of AuNPs can be adjusted depending on their intended use, which is accomplished by synthesizing AuNPs of a specific size, shape, and surface chemistry. Optimizing AuNP structure is currently performed through a time-consuming approach. In experimental synthesis a multitude of parameters can affect the AuNP structure, including temperature, reagent concentrations, time delays of component addition, and the use of selective passivation molecules during synthesis. In order to achieve robotic control over the large design space, a computational method called phase-mapping can be utilized. These algorithms correlate the different synthesis design variables to the AuNP structure measured using characterization, and from that information the algorithm can provide synthesis parameters to create a desired AuNP structure. In this poster, an experimental case study of creating phasemaps of peptide-based AuNP synthesis by varying temperatures and the ratio of peptides in the growth solution will be presented. To produce enough experimental data to create an accurate phase-mapping algorithm, the synthesis process will be automated using an Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot, with an attached thermal module to control the synthesis temperature. After synthesizing the AuNPs, their structure will be characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The structure, alongside the design parameters, will be used to update the phase-mapping algorithm, from which new design parameters will be obtained and synthesized in order to validate if the produced structure matches the algorithm’s prediction. The phasemaps generated will be used to understand the design rules for controlling the colloidal AuNP growth and further guide the bio-inspired synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles.

Future technological developments in fields including alternative energy and medicine require next-generation materials. Synthesizing each new material requires exploring a multi-dimensional parameter space. Developing laboratory automation tools for automating lab procedures and data analysis will be key to efficient discovery of optimal, novel materials. Some automation tools utilized in this work include automated sample loading and analysis for both Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and a custom sonication robot. The goals of this project are to apply these lab automation tools to construct and characterize crystalline structures of nanoparticles encapsulated in lipid membranes and connected with DNA linkers. With high throughput methods, the impact of design parameters on the crystal structure can also be determined. Parameters of interest in the self-assembly of particles include the molar ratio of lipid membrane components and the nanoparticle surface area to membrane surface area ratio. The first assembly step is embedding the nanoparticles in a lipid membrane of optimal composition. Next, the cholesterol end of synthesized DNA-cholesterol fragments embeds in the membrane and complementary DNA fragments are added to connect the nanoparticles when combined with a complementary DNA bridge. The aggregates formed are analyzed with Zeta potential, SAXS, and DLS to determine if crystals are formed. Preliminary results from this project are presented here.

Multiple Particle Tracking (MPT) is a powerful technique for studying microscopic particles, such as viruses and nanoparticles, by tracking individual displacement and movement. One application of MPT is to measure microstructural changes in the brain extracellular environment (ECM) in development, aging, and disease progression. MPT of nanoparticle probes generates thousands of trajectories, from which geometric features, diffusion coefficients, and viscosities can be extracted. The vast array of trajectories presents an opportunity for deep learning models to uncover meaningful insights. However, to enable MPT data to be trainable and predictable by deep learning models, we need to curate the data to be useable by these models. To enable this, I have created a database and developed a data architecture that would allow MPT data to be useable within deep learning models. Building upon this foundation, I am currently working on creating a Self-supervised deep learning model utilizing equivariant graph neural network, equivariant transformer, and Explainable AI methods. The current iteration of this model can predict a masked point of a trajectory with a 34% error rate. The goal is to reduce this error to 10% and, more importantly, to differentiate between healthy and pathological trajectories. To achieve this, we will use Saliency Maps, an Explainable AI method, to understand how the model distinguishes between these two datasets. This approach will provide insights into which part of the trajectory the model finds most relevant. My hypothesis is that the model can effectively learn to distinguish between healthy and pathological trajectories based on the trajectory properties with an error rate of 10%. I will verify my model by modifying the trained model’s output layer to explicitly classify trajectories as healthy or pathological. By fine-tuning this model, we will evaluate performance using error metric, which I will further validate using Saliency Map visualizations.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that damages motor neurons, leading to severe disability within 1-3 years of diagnosis. Though its precise mechanism is unknown, chronic microglial activation has emerged as a hallmark of ALS pathophysiology. This results in persistent neuroinflammation and a positive feedback loop of cell death. Anti-inflammatory drugs could help restore microglia to a neuroprotective state. However, delivering these therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier and into disease-mediating cells presents a major challenge. Our prior work demonstrated that poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles can overcome barriers to the brain in models of neurodegeneration such as Huntington’s disease. PLGA-PEG nanoparticles further exhibit localization and uptake in microglial cell populations. In this study, we aimed to develop PLGA-PEG nanoparticles for targeted delivery of danirixin (DNX), an anti-inflammatory agent, in ALS. We formulated DNX-loaded PLGA-PEG nanoparticles (PLGA-PEG/DNX) with different mixed organic solvents via sequential nanoprecipitation. Nanoparticle characterizations included dynamic light scattering for size, dispersity, and surface charge determination. We quantified drug loading and release using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. PLGA-PEG/DNX achieved physical properties for effective brain delivery, including a small hydrodynamic diameter (<100 nm) with narrow dispersity (<0.20) and near-neutral surface charge (-10-0 mV). We identified an optimal mixed organic solvent system for synthesizing PLGA-PEG/DNX with high drug loading (>30%) and encapsulation efficiency (>70%). We further show that DNX retains activity following PLGA-PEG encapsulation with suitable lyophilization stability for in vivo administration. Future work will evaluate dose response, therapeutic efficacy, and pharmacokinetic properties for PLGA-PEG/DNX in pre-clinical ALS models. Successful completion of this study could help advance nanoparticle-based therapies into ALS clinical trials.

Nanoparticles are drug delivery carriers on the nanometer-length scale, and are promising targeted drug delivery solutions due to their small size and tailorability. However, current materials used to produce nanoparticles are synthetic and typically lead to large amounts of chemical waste and high costs. To explore more sustainable technologies, the Nance and Roumeli labs established a novel bacterial cellulose nanoparticle (BCNP) platform. BCNPs are formulated with a bacteria that produces cellulose and no byproducts when cultured, allowing for less reagents required and non-toxic biodegradable wastes. To be comparable to synthetic nanoparticles as a drug delivery platform, BCNPs must load and release drugs and be biocompatible with mammalian cells. In this project, I explored the tunability of BCNPs through size modification, performed cytotoxicity studies on a microglial cell line, and carried out drug loading studies. I found that higher mixing speeds during BC culturing led to a smaller BCNP size and variable particle concentration. Through cytotoxicity analysis in cell culture, I showed BCNPs were not toxic. Ongoing studies are assessing BCNP cytotoxicity as a function of BCNP dose. To demonstrate drug loading, I am incorporating catalase, an enzyme with the ability to mitigate oxidative stress markers, into BCNPs to analyze their efficacy in an in vitro model of oxidative injury. These results show BCNPs have the potential to become a sustainable nanomedicine platform and provide an important step towards reducing the environmental impact of synthetic nanoparticles.

Therapeutic delivery to the brain is challenging due to restrictive barriers such as the blood-brain barrier and the brain-parenchymal barrier. Although nanoparticles help overcome these barriers and improve therapeutic uptake, many nanoparticles are developed from synthetic materials and generate significant harmful waste. Bacterial cellulose nanoparticles (BCNPs) offer a sustainable alternative to current synthetic carriers. As a new platform, evaluating cytotoxicity and localization is essential to determine BCNP biocompatibility and potential for targeted drug delivery. To produce BCNPs, a BC pellicle was grown with gram-negative bacteria in the presence of yeast and washed with sodium hydroxide and deionized water. The BC was chemically and mechanically dissolved via sonication with dimethylacetamide and lithium chloride. Then, the BC dissolution media was added dropwise into a Pluronic F127 surfactant solution at room temperature and incubated for 2 h under stirring conditions to produce BCNPs. After washing and filtration, BCNPs were ~100 nm in size, had a slight negative zeta-potential, and demonstrated a polydispersity index <0.3, all parameters necessary for brain-targeting drug delivery. BCNPs were labeled with varying concentrations of carbotrace 680, a fluorescent dye used to specifically label cellulose materials. Cytotoxicity of BCNPs was assessed using healthy 10-day-old postnatal rat brain slices cultured for 4 days in vitro. BCNPs were topically applied to the brain slices (n=3 per experimental condition) at doses of 97 µg/mL – 290 µg/mL and incubated for 24 h. Slices were stained with propidium iodide (PI) before fixation and 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole after fixation and imaged on a confocal microscope to quantify PI+ cells and determine BCNP localization. BCNPs resulted in <20% cytotoxicity at the applied doses confirming BCNPs do not cause cell death. These results demonstrate BCNPs are biocompatible and a promising alternative to synthetic carriers for drug delivery to the brain.

Deuterium is the naturally occurring, heavier stable isotope of hydrogen, which comprises a known proportion of the hydrogen in seawater. As evaporated water travels inland, heavier molecules containing deuterium are rained out preferentially. The deuterium/hydrogen ratio (δ2H) in precipitation is controlled by climatic and geographic factors such as temperature, elevation, and latitude. Terrestrial plants use rainwater as their primary source of hydrogen, so this climatic and topographic marker is recorded in their compounds, which allows for their use in the sedimentary record as paleoclimate proxies. In this study I examine δ2H in n-alkanes, the hydrocarbon chains that make up leaf waxes, extracted from plants, leaf litter (duff), and soils across Washington state. Due to rainout effects influenced by the Cascade Mountains’ rain shadow, δ2H is expected to show a trend of depletion across the state. Samples were collected from sites along an east-west transect across the Cascades. I have processed these samples for isotope analysis and am now conducting literature review to compare our results with a global dataset. Preliminary results show the expected depletion of deuterium across the transect and correlation with rainwater δ2H, modeled using the Online Isotopes in Precipitation Calculator (OIPC). My goal is to assess the local trend of δ2H depletion across this gradient through comparison with existing literature, and to examine the poorly-studied pathway of isotopic signature from plant tissue into soils. I am to provide new insight into the pattern of isotopic signals preserved from live plants into soils and sedimentary rocks, and to further explore and refine the use of hydrogen isotopes in sedimentary n-alkanes as paleoclimate indicators. This research is part of a larger study on the persistence of the isotopic signal of the Cascade Mountains’ rain shadow into the rock record to potentially constrain the timing of their uplift. 

Historically, prosecutors have been elected into office based on their “tough on crime” policies. More recently, there has been a rise in the election of “progressive” prosecutors who run on commitments to criminal justice reform. As these prosecutors have been elected, they have faced extensive opposition due to the surmise that progressive prosecutors lead to higher crime rates. While contemporary research has aimed to investigate whether “progressive” prosecutors lead to rising crime, this literature does not address a vital sociological principle: crime is a social construct. Crime, like other social constructs, are recognized and made meaningful through peoples’ shared beliefs, behaviors, and interactions. Previous research explores the media’s role in constructing crime, but does not address its influence on perceptions of prosecutors and their role in fluctuating crime rates. Our research aims to fill this gap. We do so by analyzing media narratives about a sample of “progressive” and non-progressive prosecutors (our categorization is based on Fair and Just Prosecution, a “progressive” prosecutor membership organization). We did two rounds of flexible, inductive qualitative coding to code the ten “most relevant” articles about each prosecutor based on Google News searches. We found that whether jurisdictions with “progressive” prosecutors truly have higher crime rates is less meaningful to the political implications of prosecutors than the public perception of higher levels of crime. The findings from our study hold implications towards the importance of understanding how media-based perceptions influence political consequences for prosecutors or other actors seeking to advance criminal justice reform. Such points to needed shifts towards more accurate, unbiased portrayals of prosecutors and crime within the U.S., ensuring prosecutors who are desired to represent districts are able to do so.

Surveys leading up to and following the 2024 Presidential election have indicated a substantial proportion of Americans have experienced tremendous anxiety about democracy and the future of the nation. Among minority groups, moreover, anxiety is exacerbated by fears of discrimination, threats of deportation, and feelings of alienation in the U.S. Yet, the limited culturally responsive spaces across our educational institutions that empower students from minority backgrounds to share vulnerable experiences and meaningfully engage in discourse about public policy issues have not grown proportionately to remedy these intensified needs. As such, the University of Washington (UW) Brotherhood (B.I.) and Sisterhood (S.I.) Initiatives are researching the extent to which students of color are empowered to be engaged in civil discourse spaces at the UW, as well as how our institutions can best create community discourse spaces that recognize diverse student needs and perspectives. Thus far, we have developed a focus group protocol and administered two focus groups (one for the B.I. and one for the S.I.), with 4 participants in each group. In examining themes of student civil discourse experiences in our emergent findings, we see that the environments, tools, and practices of campus civil discourse spaces can be better structured to challenge harmful stereotypes and further support authentic exchanges of ideas and experiences across differences in positionality. This work helps situate gaps in the provision of civil discourse spaces at the UW relative to demonstrated student needs and contributes to actionable, culturally responsive approaches for students from all backgrounds to find empowerment in and through civil discourse spaces and ultimately become critically informed agents of social change.

While some species cannot persist in urban areas, coyotes (Canis latrans) thrive in cities in part thanks to their varied diet and creative scavenging. Urban coyotes consume more anthropogenic foods and have more diverse diets than wild populations, and the quality of the anthropogenic foods they consume varies with the landscape of the city. In addition, consumption of particular anthropogenic foods can bring coyotes into conflict with resident human populations. What are coyotes eating in Seattle, and what does their diet composition say about the specific urban environments they inhabit? DNA metabarcoding, a technique used to genetically identify the species present in a sample, provided an initial idea of coyote diet composition. However, the metabarcoding data lacks resolution for plants, invertebrates, and some anthropogenic foods. This study investigates the diet composition of Seattle’s coyotes through traditional scat analysis, building on previous metabarcoding work to identify key diet items. Traditional analysis allows for better identification of plant and invertebrate species via the identification of hard-items such as bones, exoskeletons and seeds, and can provide additional resolution where metabarcoding primers lack specificity. In particular, traditional analysis contextualizes the dietary role of chicken— the presence or absence of physical items such as feathers clarifies if coyotes are eating domestic chickens or anthropogenic foods. I estimate the percent composition of each item in a given sample and compare these results to the metabarcoding data in order to compare the strengths of traditional and genetic techniques for diet analysis. My anticipated results provide valuable information regarding the dietary role of invertebrates, the plants coyotes consume and disperse, and if coyotes are consuming domestic chickens— highlighting the advantages of traditional analysis used in conjunction with metabarcoding. These results will help refine the methods of omnivore diet research and inform action to prevent human-wildlife conflict.

The Pacific sand lance, Ammodytes personatus, is an ecologically important forage fish in the Salish Sea. Adult sand lance bury themselves head first into sandy substrates to avoid predation and hibernate in colder winter waters, whereas juveniles remain pelagic and do not burrow until their first winter. Many head-first burrowing species exhibit cranial skeletal adaptations that facilitate substrate penetration, yet the specific skeletal modifications that enable A. personatus to burrow efficiently remain poorly understood. This study investigates how vertebral mineralization patterns change over development and how these changes may contribute to burrowing efficiency. We analyzed over 345 vertebrae of preserved A. personatus from 20-80 mm SL using a Bruker SKYSCAN 1273 micro-CT scanner. Using hydroxyapatite reference phantoms (25% and 75%) to calibrate grayscale intensity values, we quantified vertebral mineral density. We compared mineralization across three vertebral regions (cranial, mid-body, and caudal) and over ontogeny. We hypothesized that cranial vertebrae would be the most mineralized and vertebral mineralization over ontogeny would increase linearly. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, caudal vertebrae were 1.5x more mineralized than those in the mid-body or cranium, but cranial vertebrae were still more mineralized than those in the middle of the body. This suggests that the tail may play a more significant role in burrowing mechanics than we previously assumed. We identified a significant negative correlation between mineralization and body length in both mid-body and caudal vertebrae. Our data show that as these fish grow, their vertebral regions become less mineralized. This pattern challenges our expectation that adults would exhibit greater skeletal reinforcement for burrowing and instead suggests that juvenile sand lance may experience stronger selective pressures for vertebral mineralization or that adults employ alternative physiological or behavioral adaptations for substrate penetration.

HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) is disproportionately high in East and Southern Africa, highlighting the urgent need for effective HIV prevention counseling for this population. Our study addresses critical gaps in HIV prevention for AGYW in Kenya, particularly regarding HIV education and engagement in prevention services, by leveraging the trusted role of nurses to support AGYW and overcome barriers related to stigma, misinformation, and interpersonal dynamics. Nurse navigators are a promising intervention within family planning clinics, though accessing contraception via pharmacies is common among AGYW in Kenya. Prior pilot studies show the feasibility and acceptability of delivering HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) within a pharmacy with PrEP-trained nurses. The purpose of this current study is to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating nurse navigators and long-acting PrEP agents on PrEP uptake and continuation among AGYW seeking contraception at pharmacies in Kisumu, Kenya. A 2-armed non-blinded cluster randomized control trial is being conducted in Kisumu among AGYW (n=1900) seeking contraception at pharmacies. The study randomized 20 pharmacies to receive (n=10) or not receive (n=10) nurse navigators to support PrEP delivery. We anticipate that the implementation of nurse navigators and long-acting PrEP agents in pharmacy settings will significantly improve access to and engagement with HIV PrEP among HIV-negative AGYW in Kenya. Additionally, the study will qualitatively evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and client satisfaction of delivering long-acting PrEP agents within pharmacies with nurse navigators to support PrEP use. While the study is ongoing, our preliminary data illustrates positive experiences among AGYW with nurse navigators, including feelings of safety, trust, and educational improvement. This study can confirm the efficacy of nurse navigators in improving engagement in health management and education for AGYW in Kenya. Further exploration of the effectiveness of nurse navigators in service to other populations should be conducted. 

Linear electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is widely used in the characterization of electrochemical systems, such as batteries, although the results of EIS are only as good as the scientist's model of their data, as it’s possible to fit multiple models to the same data. Nonlinear EIS (NLEIS) can also be helpful when characterizing batteries - as they are nonlinear devices - and reveal additional information, such as the asymmetry of the charge transfer between charge and discharge. Combining EIS and NLEIS results in multiple, interrelated data sets, which when fit together drastically reduces the set of models that fit the same data, providing a better understanding of battery physics. However, NLEIS is not as widely developed or used as traditional EIS methods. The goal of this research project is to further develop the use of NLEIS for battery characterization in order to combine EIS and NLEIS to ultimately provide a more accurate picture of battery health. To reach this goal, I plan to test fresh and aged lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) pouch cell batteries with my group’s EIS/NLEIS model. Using materials and equipment from the Washington Clean Energy Testbeds, I will then deconstruct these batteries and fabricate coin cell batteries from the harvested electrode materials and run EIS/NLEIS experiments on these coin cells, comparing the results of the coin cells to the results of their parent pouch cells to assess the accuracy and usefulness of the NLEIS model. Advancing battery health testing is critical for the future development and use of batteries, as understanding battery health allows consumers and scientists to make sustainable decisions regarding battery use, recycling, and disposal.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the aging population and is characterized pathologically by the presence of amyloid plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. However, other co-pathologies are often present along with AD, such as TDP-43 pathology. TDP-43 pathology, which was first described in other forms of neurodegenerative disease, has more recently been observed as a common co-pathology in AD, particularly in older individuals. The pathology is characterized by aggregates of hyperphosphorylated TDP-43 in the same brain regions as the tau pathology of AD, including the hippocampus. The combination of AD and TDP-43 pathology is associated with accelerated cognitive decline, greater brain atrophy, and increased AD pathological burden, particularly tau. In past studies, it has been suggested that there may be a potential synergistic relationship between tau and TDP-43 co-pathology in model systems. However, there is limited data on the relationship between quantitative tau and TDP-43 in human post-mortem tissues. This project explores the correlation between tau protein and TDP-43 in the aged brain using a quantitative neuropathological approach. We identified brain donors from the University of Washington BioRepository and Integrated Neuropathology (BRaIN) lab with pathology-confirmed high levels of AD pathology and varying degrees of TDP-43 co-pathology, along with a matched group of donors with high AD pathology and no TDP-43 co-pathology (n=8 per group). We use immunohistochemistry to stain the frontal cortex and hippocampus of each donor for hyperphosphorylated TDP-43 and different forms of pathologic tau. We quantify pathologic protein burden on digitized slides using the image analysis platform HALO and assess the relationship between tau and TDP-43 burden and cognitive function. This work will expand our understanding of the relationship between tau and TDP-43 pathology and ultimately provide new avenues for potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Preterm birth is a leading cause of under-5 morbidity and mortality. No treatments exist to address the neurological complications of premature birth, which include loss of oligodendrocytes and activation of microglia, leading to white matter injury and inflammation, respectively. Our study explored repurposing azithromycin, an FDA-approved antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties, to mitigate preterm brain injury caused by hypoxia-ischemia. We used a postnatal day (P)14 neonatal ferret model, equivalent to extremely preterm infants. We induced brain injury through a combination of inflammatory stimulus, bilateral carotid artery ligation, and oxygen fluctuations (hypoxia/hyperoxia). Ferrets were randomized into control, vehicle (saline)-treated, and azithromycin-treated groups. Littermate controls were not exposed to injury. Body weights and ex-vivo brain measurements (sulci and gyri widths) were recorded at P21, seven days after injury. Quantitative immunohistochemistry (qIHC) was performed to analyze microglia (Iba-1) and oligodendrocyte (Olig-2) density, and data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests. In our preliminary findings, post-surgical weights from the azithromycin-treated ferrets were similar to those of vehicle-treated animals. Azithromycin-treated ferrets also showed similar global microglia and oligodendrocyte staining compared to the vehicle group. The vehicle group had lower summed gyri measurements than controls (p=0.04), while azithromycin-treated ferrets had more similar gyri widths to controls (p=0.21). We will continue investigating microglial and oligodendrocyte density using qIHC across additional brain regions using pathology software (VisioPharm), including subregions of each gyrus (cortex, subcortical white matter, and coronal radiata), corpus callosum, hippocampus, and upper and lower thalamus. This will allow us to identify the brain regions most impacted by the injury and investigate if there are regional neuroprotective responses to azithromycin. By deepening our understanding of preterm brain injury and azithromycin-mediated neuroprotection, these findings could lay the groundwork for advancing azithromycin toward clinical trials, offering new hope for saving the lives of the tiniest neonates.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), characterized by a physical impact to the skull, is a significant health concern among veterans, athletes, and the elderly, with over 200,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020. TBI causes shearing forces and physical damage to the brain, resulting in increased risk of neurodegeneration and mental health problems. When they expect an impact, humans brace, exhaling against a closed airway in what is known as a Valsalva maneuver. This prevents venous return from the head, pressurizes the vascular network in the brain, and increases intracranial pressure (ICP) in a way that may protect the brain from TBI. We aim to mimic a Valsalva-like response (VLR) through external abdominal stimulation and measure corresponding ICP changes. First, we performed a 3mm-wide craniotomy in anesthetized ferrets and implanted a pressure transducer inside the brain to collect baseline pressure readings. After skull closure, VLR was performed both supine and upright (body at 45°), either physically (pVLR, 80-120mmHg by abdominal compression using a blood pressure cuff, n=4) or electrically (eVLR, bilateral 25-30mA stimulus of the rectus muscles, n=4). pVLR resulted in a 2-4mmHg increase in ICP over 2-5 sec. By comparison eVLR resulted in a larger and faster ICP increase - 3-7mmHg with an onset of 250-750ms. Consequently, we will utilize eVLR to modulate ICP in a TBI model to determine whether it is neuroprotective. Ferrets will be assigned to control or randomized to receive a TBI impact with either sham eVLR or eVLR. Animals will be subjected to baseline (pre-TBI), acute, and long-term behavioral testing. Additionally, we will perform brain cell specific histological staining. Results from behavioral testing and histology will inform us of the potential neuroprotective effects of eVLR against TBI and provide future direction towards translating the findings into a wearable device for at-risk individuals.

Gynogenesis is an asexual reproduction strategy where sperm is necessary for fertilization, but the resultant offspring have no paternal DNA and two maternal sets of chromosomes. This strange reproductive strategy has never been observed before in nematodes (round worms), until a few years ago when a previous student at Ailion Lab observed the phenomenon when investigating the hybrid offspring of two species of Caenorhabditis roundworms; C.Becei and C. Nouraguensis. On their own, neither of these species exhibit asexual reproduction. Furthermore, C. Nouraguensis females normally produce haploid eggs, but when cross bred with C. Becei, they began to produce almost only diploid eggs. It is known that asexuality has arisen from previously sexually reproducing species, but the exact mechanisms of this evolution are unknown. This research project uses CRISPR techniques to attach fluorescent proteins to key structures involved in meiosis, which can then be imaged to reveal any irregularities which could explain the production of diploid eggs instead of haploid. The main goal is to understand the cellular mechanisms which facilitate such a dramatic change in reproductive strategy. 

Most eukaryotes use histones to package the genome. However, many animals package their sperm genomes using specialized DNA-binding proteins called protamines, which package DNA in sperm more tightly to fit inside the sperm head. Based on the transcriptional silencing role of protamines, we hypothesize that protamines can suppress meiotic drivers, which kill other sperm to bias their own transmission. Previously, we discovered that one protamine gene, Mst77F, is required to suppress meiotic drivers on the Y-chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster. Since drive is generally deleterious for transmitting autosomal alleles due to lower male fertility, theories predict that multiple drive suppressors will arise within populations; Mst77F may represent just one such suppressor. We hypothesized that natural variants in distinct genetic loci interact with as well as impact meiotic drive in Drosophila melanogaster. To identify these natural variants, I crossed wild-type flies to Mst77F knockout flies to generate hemizygous Mst77F flies carrying genetic backgrounds from four different populations. I measured the fertility and drive strength by crossing individual hemizygous males from each genetic background to five wild-type females. Using a genetic crossing scheme, I will test for variation in X-linked targets and Y-linked drive in 5 additional populations. This will reveal insights into the mechanism of Y-linked drive and the basis of X-chromosome susceptibility to drive. My study contributes to a better understanding of the pervasive effects of meiotic drive in natural populations and the unexpected function of protamines.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Improper cleavage of amyloid precursor protein by a complex containing presenilin 1 or presenilin 2 (PSEN2) can result in pathological amyloid beta plaques. Recent work from the Valdmanis group found novel PSEN2 RNA isoform variants in AD. Specifically, we identified two PSEN2 3'UTR isoforms - a short (507bp) and a long (3976bp) 3'UTR. The 3'UTR harbors essential regulatory elements such as microRNA binding sites and Alu elements that control transcript maturation, stability, and abundance. Here, we sought to elucidate the functional significance of the PSEN2 3'UTR isoforms. To accomplish this, we completed small RNA sequencing to identify microRNA levels in human AD and control frontal cortex brains and used TargetScan7 to map these reads to the PSEN2 3'UTR isoforms. Our analysis identified 53 miRNAs with significant differential regulation in AD frontal cortex bulk homogenate and 76 miRNAs in purified synaptosomes. One miRNA, miR-34c, was significantly downregulated in both fractions. We identified five different miRNAs with significant regulation changes in AD, including miR-326, miR-346, miR-548p, miR-890, and miR-217. Of note, the long PSEN2 3'UTR had nine miRNA binding sites and two Alu elements, while the short PSEN2 3'UTR only contained one miRNA binding site. We next tested PSEN2 3'UTR isoform localization in human AD and control frontal cortex brain tissue using BaseScope in-situ hybridization. We found a marked decrease in PSEN2 expression in AD samples. To develop in vitro PSEN2 3'UTR isoform models, we designed constructs containing the PSEN2 3'UTR isoforms to overexpress in either HMC3 human microglial or SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell lines. In vitro validation results indicated increased long PSEN2 3'UTR isoform abundance to the short isoform. Determining the functional relevance of the short and long 3'UTR of the PSEN2 transcript will further our understanding of AD pathology.

Superatoms are (often inorganic) clusters of several to several hundred atoms in size, that mimic the chemistry of elemental atoms by exhibiting a high degree of valence electron delocalization, effectively creating a unified valence shell over the entire superatom. Our lab works with M₃(solv)_xCo₆Se₈L₆ (M = Cr, Mn, Co, Zn; solv = thf, py; L = PPh₂NTol)  clusters, leveraging the molecular nature of the Co₆Se₈ core to attach three metal “edge sites” held in place by phosphine ligands, arranged such that they serve as an interface between the exterior chemical environment and the inner superatomic core. By swapping the edge metal, we are able to modify properties of the overall metalated cluster, imparting a degree of chemical and electronic tuneability. While investigations into these compounds have shed light on their electronic structure and reactivity, applying these properties in a practical sense has been an elusive and ongoing area of study. In 2021, however, the Nuckolls lab demonstrated a mixture of Co₆Se₈(PEt₃)₆, Cr₆Te₈(PEt₃)₆, and C₆₀ that formed an isotropic crystal structure capable of up to 100-fold increased conductivity compared to crystals of Cr₆Te₈(PEt₃)₆ or Co₆Se₈(PEt₃)₆ mixed with C₆₀ alone. In this work, I am investigating the conductivity of mixtures of various M₃(solv)_xCo₆Se₈L₆ clusters via a 2-probe method. In previous work, our lab has demonstrated the occurrence of charge transfer in the solution phase between clusters metalated with Co and Cu; building off of this, I intend to determine whether such a phenomenon can be observed in the solid state, and to a degree of reversibility that facilitates improved conductivity through the mixture. The observation or lack thereof of such behavior could hold implications for the applicability of metalated clusters in future semiconductor or materials technologies.

This research project is my English Honors thesis. I am researching Asian American history and feminism, taking stock of current Asian American depictions in media, drawing off existing Asian American literature, and theorizing and practicing comedy as a way forward. I want to push past the Model Minority stereotype and the current sad, intergenerational conflict heavy tone of Asian American literature. To do so, I’ll draw off sources like the UW Press published Asian American Feminism and Women of Color Politics book and employ Asian American feminism and comedy to bring a lighter tone to Asian American Literature. Asian American Feminism is characterized by an “invisible” yet active praxis of mobilizing the diverse, heterogenous Asian American community and constantly occupying and pushing to improve conflicting perceptions such as the submissive, assimilated female caretaker and the threatening yet sexualized foreign agent. I am textually analyzing books like Interior Chinatown (Charles Yu) and Minor Feelings (Cathy Park Hong). I am analyzing how raunchy and unconventional comedians like Ali Wong layer their jokes into a stand-up comedy special form. All of this will come together in a scrapbook. Drawing together book arts and the resilience of Asian American identity against fragmentation driven by oppressive laws, I will dive into prejudiced legislature and significant Asian American novels. My scrapbook will chronicle uncovering Asian America together and look towards the future. The scrapbook will serve as a meeting place to first condense historical context, then honor existing Asian American works, and put them in conversation with each other across time and medium. After my scrapbook facilitates these scraps becoming something new together as a whole, I will shift to comedy. I will theorize what makes Asian American comedians like Ali Wong so effective at reaching wide audiences, and I will write comedic bits myself.

Discrimination is a long-studied aspect of the minority social experience. For minoritized individuals, it influences mental and physical health, access to resources, economic opportunities, and the internal process of creating and understanding identity. Government anti-discrimination laws provide protections and pathways for minorities to seek justice when they face discrimination. However, current literature critiques the effectiveness of anti-discrimination laws because the burden to prosecute is on the marginalized person, who is more likely to face barriers in doing so. Since anti-discrimination laws are not fully protective, minoritized individuals turn to their community for support. The availability of a supportive community is a vital part of collectively fighting discrimination and providing marginalized groups with resources. This study addresses the influence anti-discrimination laws have on transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals in their community engagement. I will compare the impact of anti-discrimination laws in Washington and Idaho on TNB adults’ engagement in their community, measuring the type, frequency, and knowledge of local community events. I will conduct a survey of TNB adults in Washington and Idaho asking about knowledge of state and local anti-discrimination laws. I will combine this with data from the Movement Advancement Project which provides state-by-state anti-discrimination law documentation. I predict that the influence of anti-discrimination laws on varying types of TNB community involvement will depend on the state context. In Washington, with well-rounded protections, there will be a decrease in political advocacy and an increase in community-focused activities. In contrast, in Idaho, with limited protections, I predict an increase in political advocacy and a decrease in community-focused activities. Understanding the influence of anti-discrimination laws on community engagement and how TNB individuals seek support will illuminate potential flaws in anti-discrimination policy, improve policy, and insight into how to better support TNB individuals broadly.

Even among the most progressive liberation groups, hierarchies persist. Since transgender identities were long seen as the "more sexually deviant" margin of gay collective identity, sociological transgender studies are relatively new compared to research on gay identities and cultures which had already reached maturity. This results in a disparity in cultural recognition, public image, and scholarly knowledge between LGB and TQ+ communities. Additionally, research on sexualities and gender identities typically runs parallel in past scholarly work, instead of showing the intersections of sexuality and transness. While there's a significant discourse around trans lesbian women in lesbian communities, trans gay men among gay communities remain neglected. The invisibility experienced by gay trans men could offer us a new perspective on understanding the more subtle, underlying tension within queer communities. Trans gay men's experiences of going through gender transition significantly influence how well they can fit into gay spaces, which are primarily populated by cis gay men. My project focuses on the experiences of trans men engaging in predominantly cis gay men's spaces, such as gay bars and social clubs. The study specifically asks: How does the transition status of trans men who identify as same gender loving affect their inclusion among gay spaces and communities? To address this question, I employ a qualitative methodology using in-depth interviews of 7 participants who are adult same gender loving trans men, out for more than 1 year, and have experience engaging in gay communities and spaces. The results indicate that although blatant transphobia is rare in most gay spaces, it's common for cis gay men to draw an invisible line between trans men and themselves. Alienation and microaggression from cis gay men toward trans men happen often in both public spaces and interpersonal romantic relationships.

The formation of the neural tube is a critical event in embryonic development. Morphogenic signals guide a layer of embryonic cells to fold and create the neural tube, which serves as the precursor to the brain and spinal cord. When the neural tube fails to close properly, neural tube defects arise. Spina bifida is the most common neural tube defect, affecting 1 in 1,000 births. Although surgical procedures can be used to treat it, they often result in complications involving serious disabilities and infections. While neural tube defects are believed to have a multifactorial etiology, which includes a genetic component, proposed causative mutations that lead to the development of spina bifida in humans have yet to be thoroughly examined. Recently, mutations in the gene for a G-protein coupled receptor known as GPR161 were identified in infants with spina bifida. However, the role of GPR161 variants in the development of spina bifida is not fully understood. Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 technology in human induced pluripotent stem cells, I have generated GPR161 knockout and point mutation lines and differentiated them into neural progenitors in a 2D model while also developing a 3D organoid system. Using these models, I will investigate the downstream pathways involved in the formation and patterning of the neural tube that could be influenced by the mutations. This includes the sonic hedgehog pathway, Wnt pathway, and assessing neural differentiation markers. I will evaluate these markers through various assays, including immunofluorescence and real-time quantitative PCR. Through these efforts, we will enhance our understanding of a genetic component in the etiology of spina bifida while demonstrating the value that induced pluripotent stem cells can have in studying human development and treating human diseases by recapitulating them in human models in vitro.

A subset of voltage-gated potassium channels, Kv2s, are responsible for the majority of the perisomatic delayed rectifier current in pyramidal neurons of the neocortex. Mutations in these ion channels and their associated proteins cause developmental epilepsy, but the cellular mechanisms underlying this remain less clear. Previously, we have shown that the two members of the Kv2 family of voltage-gated potassium channel α-subunits, Kv2.1 and Kv2.2, are expressed differently depending upon the type of neuron in rodent primary sensory and motor neocortex. There are two major subclasses of layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons in the neocortex, extratelencephalic (ET) and intratelencephalic (IT) neurons, that are distinguished by their projection targets and laminar distribution. ET neurons, enriched in L5b of the neocortex, send projections to subcortical structures, whereas IT neurons, primarily located in L5a, project within the telencephalon. In rodents, ET neurons are enriched in Kv2.1, but not Kv2.2. Here, we tested whether these features extend to the association cortices of primates, particularly the prefrontal cortex and temporal cortex, which are essential for various higher-order cognitive functions, including recognition, attention, and planning. Using immunohistochemistry against Kv2.1 and Kv2.2, we showed that these subunits have distinct laminar distributions in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and temporal cortex (TCx). Kv2.1 was predominantly expressed in L5b, whereas Kv2.2 was more concentrated in layer 2 (L2) and L5a. Using a tarantula toxin, Guanxitoxin (GxTx), to block the Kv2-mediated current, we found that, similar to what we observed previously in rodents, the role of Kv2 channels differs depending on the L5 neuron type. GxTx makes L5 ET neurons fire repetitive bursts, whereas GxTx makes L5 IT neurons less excitable. Together, these results support distinct roles for Kv2.1 and Kv2.2 in regulating excitability across ET and IT neurons in the association cortex of the macaque. 

Recent technological breakthroughs have allowed important advances in the description of deep reefs (below 30 m). However most research has been restricted to the upper section of deep reefs (down to 80 m) and has primarily focused on fish and coral communities. By contrast, the composition of the lower portion of deep reefs, and of non-coral habitat-forming communities remains limited. This work focuses on how the composition and structure of habitat-forming communities change across the entire depth range of a tropical reef-dominated ecosystem, from 5 to 300 m. Using a combination of SCUBA and manned submersible diving, benthic transects were performed in  Curaçao , an island in the Southern Caribbean Sea. Using a combination of morphology, taxonomy, and trait ecology, I will evaluate the faunal breaks of habitat-forming communities with depth. In addition to providing one of the first descriptions of the diversity and community structure of habitat-forming communities across the entire range of a reef’s slope, this work will contextualize over a decade of deep-reef fish observations conducted at this study site. This study will also provide insights into the vertical reef connectivity and resilience, informing future management efforts of deep Caribbean reefs. 

With the growth of immigrant communities in the state of Washington, there has been a noticeable increase in the implementation of one-way dual language programs designed to immerse students from non-English speaking backgrounds into the English language. Although the problem here is that there is a lack of extensive research into the effectiveness of these programs. The key abilities that should be fostered through one-way dual language programs include academic performance, cognitive development, and social-emotional outcomes. These programs typically begin by offering elementary education in the student’s native language, covering core subjects such as basic arithmetic, history, grammar and science in that language. The primary objective of this approach is to develop fluency in the student's native language while gradually transferring this knowledge into English, slowly immersing the student into a full English education. This research aims to assess the effectiveness of one-way dual language programs across school districts in the state of Washington. The study will analyze data from school districts that have substantial immigrant populations, with a particular focus on the quality of the program design and its impact on the academic performance of students. This study will address this gap by analyzing standardized test scores, aggregate data on high school graduation rates, and exploring biliteracy rates. Specifically, in Washington state, the study will examine the number of Seals of Biliteracy attained by high school graduates in districts that have implemented one-way dual language programs and evaluate the correlation between program participation and these outcomes.

Understanding the structure and habitat preferences of deep-reef fishes is crucial for effective conservation management. Mesophotic ecosystems, occurring between 40 and 150 m, are understudied ecosystems with limited biodiversity assessments, although their importance in supporting species of commercial interest is established.  In particular, very few studies have described mesophotic fish assemblages in the Mediterranean, where essential fish ecosystems face increasing pressures from human activities. This study investigates fish species composition, abundance, and depth distribution at two sites in the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean).  Fish observations were collected by technical rebreather divers from the surface to 90 meters depth, along with information on habitat and fishing pressure. I will complement this dataset with information collected from the IUCN to identify patterns in species distribution, vulnerability, and habitat associations. This study will provide valuable insights into the community structure and habitat associations of mesophotic fish assemblages, ultimately contributing to conservation strategies that protect vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa commonly colonizes cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs, causing persistent infections even under novel CFTR modulator therapies such as elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ETI). While antibiotic resistance and patient-specific factors partly explain this persistence, bacterial adaptation to post-ETI conditions likely plays a critical role. Previous findings of functional shifts in bacterial variants point to underlying genotypic changes, yet the genomic basis for P. aeruginosa’s persistence remains insufficiently defined. This work aims to identify the genetic adaptations enabling P. aeruginosa to persist in CF lungs despite the improved airway environment afforded by ETI. We developed a method combining temporal allele frequency shifts and cross-patient recurrence to identify selection. My preliminary analysis revealed algG, a gene involved in alginate biosynthesis, as a promising candidate showing multiple signatures of positive selection. First, algG mutations increased in frequency across two-thirds of sampled individuals. Second, the phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the parallel evolution of algG mutations within individual hosts. Third, statistical testing showed significant enrichment for non-synonymous mutations in algG, indicating protein-altering changes are favored. I am extending this work by developing null models to quantify the significance of observed parallel evolution both within and between hosts, and using protein structural prediction to evaluate the functional impact of identified mutations. This research provides novel insights into bacterial adaptation mechanisms during CF treatment and may guide the development of more effective therapies targeting P. aeruginosa persistence. The findings will enhance our understanding of pathogen evolution within human hosts and have implications for improving treatment outcomes for CF patients. 

Age-related macular degeneration arises from irreversible photoreceptor loss. Photoreceptors, rods and cones, are specialized cells in the retina that allow light and color detection. My project investigates the role of retinoic acid (RA) on cone and cone-opsin development to understand the timeline of cone specification and development. RA, an endogenously synthesized vitamin A derivative present in the retina during development, drives rod photoreceptor differentiation, but its effect on cone development is still unknown. To understand RA’s role in opsin development, I use a retinosphere (RS) model, an in vitro system to culture human fetal retina. More specifically, I used RS from 70 to 90 days old (D70-D90) and cultured the RS until D100, when the cone-opsin onset occurs. I then fixed, cryosectioned, and immunostained the two conditions for S-opsin, M/L opsin, and NR2E3 (rod marker) and investigated changes in the density of cone opsin-positive cells between the two conditions using confocal microscopy. My findings showed that the condition containing exogenous RA had a decreased density of opsin-positive cells. To confirm that the observed effect is due to RA, I mimic the experiment by instead using WIN18446, an RA inhibitor. I then determined if RA's effects are dose-dependent. My results showed that increasing the concentration of exogenous RA amplified my previous findings. The next step is to understand the timeline of cone specification and development by using RS of a younger age, before cone-opsin onset. These results will allow my mentors and me to use our knowledge about RA to determine if inhibiting endogenous RA synthesis in the retina will play a role in developing therapeutics involving cone regeneration to aid in cone-related macular diseases and injuries.

Previous research has suggested that Dynorphin, the endogenous opioid peptide, signals through KOR (Kappa Opioid Receptor) binding and causes negative affective states like anxiety and stress. Dyn-KOR signal activation has been found to instigate drug reinstatement. Based on previous research, questions about why Dyn-KOR signaling leads to drug reinstatement and what level of Dyn-KOR antagonism will mediate this behavior arose. The current project focused on characterizing Dyn-KOR signaling during Cocaine Self-Administration using in-vivo Fiber Photometry recording. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent cranial surgery where I injected a kLight sensor in the Prelimbic Cortex and the Nucleus Accumbens and implanted a fiber optic into each injection site. Chronic IV (intravenous) catheters were inserted into the right jugular vein and then threaded through the right shoulder into a pedestal implanted between the shoulder blades. Rats were attached to IV lines threaded through an operant chamber that was attached to a syringe of 5mg/mL cocaine. Following training, rats would undergo five days of Short Access in the operant chamber for an hour. Following Short Access, rats would go through two weeks of Long Access where they are run in the operant chambers for six hours each day. Fiber Photometry recordings were taken on the last two days of the Short Access week and Long Access weeks. Animals were put through a thirty-day Incubation period where, once over, were injected with KOR agonist U-50 (10mg/kg) and recorded. The day after were injected with KOR antagonist norBNI (nor-Binaltorphimine dihydrochloride, 15mg/kg) and injected with U-50 thirty minutes following and recorded. I collected brain samples from perfusion and fixed samples in 4% PFA (Paraformaldehyde).

Methane is one of the most attractive targets for controlling near-term climate change due to its short lifespan and high potency (34 times that of CO₂). Methanotrophs are bacteria that can consume methane and convert it into CO₂ and biomass. There is growing interest in using these bacteria to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from sources such as landfills, agricultural feedlots, and abandoned coal mines. However, a key challenge is that to achieve large scale methane sequestration, as well as economic viability of deploying these in the field, we have to significantly improve the growth of methanotrophs at low concentrations of methane. Regulatory genes play an important role in determining how bacteria allocate energy. By deleting specific regulatory genes and measuring the growth rate of these mutants under low methane conditions, we can assess their importance in helping the bacteria survive and thrive in nutrient-limited environments. Using this approach, we can also replicate mutations that have naturally emerged in strains cultivated for over a year under low methane conditions. This allows us to confirm whether these mutations provide a growth advantage. By identifying and testing key genes involved in low-methane growth, we are guiding efforts to engineer a more efficient and resilient strain for real-world applications.

Lepidosauria is a clade of reptiles including Rhyncocephalia and Squamata, constituting much of the diversity of living reptiles. Squamates include lizards and snakes, and are the most species-rich group of lepidosaurs. Rhyncocephalians were more diverse and widespread in the Mesozoic Era, but today are represented by a single living species, the tuatara of New Zealand. Lepidosaurs first evolve in the Triassic Period, making their fossil record from this interval critical to understanding the evolutionary origins this group. New lepidosaur fossil material from Petrified Forest National Park has been recovered from screenwashing sediment from the Kaye Quarry, a fossil bearing locality within the Sonsela Member of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation. Three mandibles of unknown taxonomic affinity from the Kaye Quarry have been selected for anatomical description and phylogenetic analysis. All three mandibles display labiolingually compressed, recurved teeth, along the majority of the dentary. Two dentaries display a larger conical tooth, protruding dorsally from the anterior end of the mandible. Other mandibles recovered from the Chinle Formation display similar dental anatomy, indicating these specimens belong to the clade Rhynchocephalia. There are currently no lepidosaur fossils known from the Sonsela Member of the Chinle Formation. Sectioning and computed tomography (CT) scanning will be used to create detailed three-dimensional images of the mandibles for the basis of anatomical description and phylogenetic analysis. CT scanning hosts the potential for internal morphology including tooth implantation and neurovasculature.

Landslides are one of the main agents of erosion in wet and mountainous regions and can have a long-lasting impact on the landscape. In the Puget Lowland of Washington, landslides are prevalent, especially along steep coastal bluffs. Despite their common occurrence, their triggers are often unknown. In particular, their connection to strong shaking from seismically active faults versus precipitation events is an outstanding problem. The Southern Whidbey Island Fault (SWIF) stretches from Victoria B.C. across Puget Sound into the mainland near Woodinville. The SWIF has produced at least four earthquakes since the last ice age, with the most recent occurring less than 2,700 years ago, evidencing its capability of generating an earthquake up to M7.5. This work quantifies the area, extent, landslide type, roughness of the surface (as a proxy for age), and location distribution of landslides along the coastal bluffs of Whidbey Island. Our ultimate goal is to understand possible links between the landslide inventories in the coastal Whidbey Island area and the activity of the SWIF. Using high-resolution LIDAR elevation data (3 m) we perform a series of topographic analyses using GIS and Python tools to establish a landslide chronology. We use the Ledgewood-Bonair Landslide triggered by a rainstorm in 2013, as a spatial and temporal reference to calibrate our analysis. Our results will shed light on the dynamics of coastal landslides, the feedback between landslide preservation, wave and tidal erosion, and hillslope processes. This study advances our knowledge of cascading hazards from the SWIF and informs risk assessment for the region.

Optimizing cell culture methods for marine invertebrates has proven to be challenging, with only a few immortal cell lines available compared to the thousands that exist for vertebrates. Botryllus schlosseri, a colonial tunicate, is native to the Mediterranean Sea and found within marinas along U.S. coasts and other temperate locations worldwide. In addition to being a sister taxa to vertebrates, B. schlosseri undergoes whole-body regeneration regularly, making it a suitable candidate for cell culture development.The Gardell lab investigates the effects of media formulation on epithelial cell proliferation and longevity. Previously, our lab established a media formulation made of DMEM, FBS, Pen Strep, Gentamicin, Amphotericin B, and Sea Salt as resources for cell growth. Wild colonies of B. schlosseri were collected from local marinas followed by microdissection of their zooid and buds for seeding in vitro. Results from utilizing this formulation showed consistently low cell growth; ranging from an average of ~10 to ~50 cells per seeded tissue within a 5 day period. To promote cell proliferation, we explored modifying the media formulation using various ratios of complete media to seawater with similar total osmolality. By diluting the media with seawater, this simulates a similar environment that B. schlosseri regularly reproduces and replicates in. The results indicated that dilutions of 75% Media with 25% Seawater, and 50% Media with 50% Seawater yielded the most consistent growth and highest cell production within a 5 day period. Given this outcome, continued replication of cell culture with this media formulation is required to ensure consistency of results across B. schlosseri genotypes.  Once medium conditions are optimized I will determine a total estimated cell count, which is necessary to perform a time course experiment that aims to characterize the gene and protein regulation of cells in vitro.

Technology is an integral part of modern life, extending into elementary classrooms where one-to-one device programs have become the norm. While technology can increase accessibility to education, its widespread integration in early learning environments raises concerns about its long-term impact on students and teachers. This research critically examines the role of gamified learning applications in elementary education, questioning whether they enhance or hinder cognitive development, attention span, and problem-solving skills. Using a mixed-methods approach, I conducted surveys and interviews with educators and students in Seattle Public Schools to assess the effects of technology-driven instruction. Preliminary findings suggest that while applications like Khan Academy focus on educational enrichment, others, such as Prodigy, prioritize engagement through addictive, game-like mechanics. This distinction highlights a growing concern: when profit-driven applications shape learning experiences, students may develop a dependence on digital stimuli. Additionally, teachers face challenges balancing digital instruction with traditional instructional methods. This study contributes to ongoing discussions about the ethics and effectiveness of digital learning tools, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that preserves curiosity, critical thinking, and human connection in education.

Submarine channels represent the offshore continuation of onshore rivers. The shape of submarine channels captures valuable information about changes on the seafloor caused by fault movement during earthquakes. Many submarine channel systems are observed at the Cascadia subduction zone off the coast of Washington and Oregon. The Cascadia subduction zone is a tectonically dynamic system that exhibits many faults which appear to interact with these channels. These interactions are analyzed by quantifying the shape, or morphology, of the Astoria submarine channel, the offshore continuation of the Columbia River. We quantify channel morphology in ArcGIS Pro and Python in order to answer the hypotheses that 1) channels incise deeper where they cross active faults and 2) channel width is not affected by faulting. Some of these measurements include channel width, depth, width-depth ratios, bank slope, bank angle, cross swath profiles, and longitudinal profile analysis. This will offer insight into the behavior and evolution of faulting at the Cascadia subduction zone and how this affects people living along the Pacific Northwest coast who are at risk of earthquakes and tsunamis.

Multiepoch scintillation studies of pulsars shed light on the structure of the interstellar medium (ISM) by finding scattering screens that affect pulsar radio signals. PSR J0332+5434 has previously shown multiple scintillation arcs, indicating multiple scattering screens. My research analyzed new observations of PSR J0332+5434 to improve our understanding of its scintillation properties and determine the number and locations of its scattering screens along the line of sight (LOS). I analyzed over 30 high-cadence observations using the Green Bank Observatory’s 20m telescope using scintillation, secondary spectra with Scintools, and time-series Jupyter notebooks to generate dynamic spectra, secondary spectra, and time-series. My analysis revealed two scintillation arcs, indicating at least two scattering screens. When I combined these arcs with transverse velocity measurements, I detected a third scattering screen. Comparing my results to previous studies showed that two of the screens had been previously identified, but the third screen had not been identified. This means that PSR J0332+5434 may have at least five scattering screens: four previously identified and one new screen from this study. Furthermore, one of the arcs I observed is spread out and shows significant asymmetry. Only one arm is usually visible at a time, which shifts from left to right throughout my observations. This asymmetry could be caused by the variation in electron density in a region of the ISM along the LOS, causing the radio waves to refract. I plan to conduct more accurate observations using the Green Bank Telescope to investigate the refractive wedge causing this asymmetry and to identify any new scattering screens. Finding new scattering screens in the ISM—the interstellar gas clouds causing radio wave scintillation—allows us to develop better electron density models to improve pulsar distance measurements and improve our understanding of the Milky Way Galaxy’s structure.

Bacteria can shuttle pieces of DNA between unrelated cells via a process called horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Genes that undergo HGT (i.e. mobile genes) evolve in different host bacteria with different genomic backgrounds, which can influence the types of mutations the mobile gene acquires. Studying the effect of HGT on mobile gene evolution is important as many clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes are mobile. In a prior study, we used a simple model to simulate mobile gene evolution as they engage in HGT. Under the simple model, the mobile gene evolves in only one species at a time. With this model, we found that fitness landscape similarity between two host species engaging in HGT is highly indicative of the effect HGT has on mobile gene fitness outcomes (i.e. whether performing HGT has a positive, negative, or neutral effect on fitness). We expanded the simple model into a more ecologically realistic consumer-resource model (CRM), in which the mobile gene continuously transfers between species. We observed similar outcomes between the two models; however, in the CRM there was an increase in cases in which performing HGT had a positive fitness effect. We hypothesize that the CRM highlights features like the continuous existence of host species, resulting in constant gene flow between the two species. To further probe how gene flow influences the effect HGT has on mobile gene evolution, I tested how varying the HGT rate with the CRM (effectively allowing us to control the amount of gene flow) affects mobile gene fitness outcomes. I used the same host landscape pairs used in our pilot study while varying the HGT rate along a biologically relevant range. I expect to find a positive correlation between HGT rate and the magnitude of positive fitness effects conferred by a mobile gene that has undergone HGT.

Children of immigrants are uniquely situated in the United States. They share parts of both their American identity and upbringing, along with that of their parents’ and relatives’ homeland(s). Previous research has shown that because of these identities, children of immigrants are more civically engaged than any other group of young people. However, more research is needed to understand what is most effective for this population along with broader implications for these individuals. Utilizing the Youth-Parent Socialization Panel Study of 1965-1997 from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, I examine different civic engagement methods including civic education and community involvement and the effect on children of minority groups as opposed to their majority group counterparts. Furthermore I predict that these methods have a positive long term impact on measures of civic engagement, while also having a stronger effect on minority groups.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The ferret provides a highly translational model to investigate HIE; the gyrified ferret brain has a similar grey-to-white matter ratio to humans, allowing for better assessment of white matter injury and impairment of cortical development compared to rodents. Our previous work has suggested that ferret brains also show greater resilience to hypoxia-ischemia (HI) than rats. Ferrets tolerate exposure to much longer and more significant HI, and 100-fold larger doses of inflammatory stimuli, than rats do. We seek to identify signatures of the ferret's protective mechanisms by comparing differentially regulated genetic pathways in the ferret versus the rat when exposed to identical insults. Whole-hemisphere organotypic brain slices were obtained from term-equivalent ferrets and rats and cultured for 72 hours. Slices were randomly assigned to control or oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), an in-vitro model of HIE. Cytotoxicity was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, while global transcriptomics were analyzed via a 770-gene digital transcriptomics panel. Preliminary results show significantly lower LDH release in ferrets compared to rats, reaffirming the ferrets' resilience to OGD. We identified 90 differentially expressed genes in ferrets following OGD, and 11 genes in the rat. Ferrets upregulated CCL2 and LGALS, genes associated with inflammatory responses, and downregulated ADRB1 and NOS2, suggesting reduced oxidative stress. Rats downregulated KIR3DL1/2 and TGM1, which suppress natural killer cells and form the cell envelope, respectively. The experiment will be repeated with double the sample size and region-specific analysis of gene regulation. We hypothesize the ferret will display lower injury markers globally, which will be associated with regional differences in gene expression compared to the rat. We hope this will enable us to identify potential treatment targets for infants with HIE that can increase resilience and repair after injury. 

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow in the peripartum period. Cardiac dysfunction occurs in up to 80% of infants with HIE and is associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The current standard of care for HIE is whole body therapeutic hypothermia (TH). The expected physiologic response to TH is a decrease in cardiac output by 10%, and heartrate (HR) by 10bpm, per 1-degree Celsius decrease in body temperature. However, neonates with cardiac dysfunction tend to have normal or elevated HR to compensate for decreased cardiac output. Therefore, normal or elevated HR during TH may indicate compromised cardiac function. We hypothesize that in neonates with HIE, HR trends during TH reflect cardiac function, and a sustained HR above 100bpm is indicative of cardiac dysfunction. Using echocardiograms performed within the first 2 days after birth in babies with HIE treated with TH at the Seattle Children's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU; n=19), we categorized neonates by cardiac function: normal, right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, and RV plus left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. We then extracted continuous HR data and compared median HR during TH across groups using linear regression during specific periods: 12-24h, 24-36h, and 36-48h after birth. Results showed that infants with RV+LV dysfunction had a higher HR than those with RV dysfunction only or normal function. Across all time periods, infants with any kind of cardiac dysfunction had an average HR above 100bpm, while those without dysfunction had average HRs less than 100bpm. Therefore, it appears that HR can be utilized as a proxy for cardiac dysfunction in neonates with HIE. Utilizing HR as screening biomarker for cardiac dysfunction may allow improve optimal resource utilization of echocardiograms as well as real-time, cost-effective monitoring and targeted treatment initiation. 

The glymphatic system is a brain-wide network of perivascular spaces that facilitates waste clearance by exchanging cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid, promoting the clearance of solutes like amyloid β and tau from the brain. Impairment of the glymphatic system has been demonstrated in models of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which has emerged as a risk factor for neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. These findings suggest that glymphatic impairment may contribute to the development of post-traumatic neurodegenerative conditions, highlighting the potential for therapeutic intervention. Post-TBI sleep disruption, headaches, cognitive deficits, and the brain's subsequent vulnerability to downstream neurodegeneration is a particular concern among veteran and athlete populations. Prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, has been used clinically in these groups to treat trauma-induced nightmares, where it has been shown to alleviate sleep disruption. However, little is known about its impact on the glymphatic system which is most active during sleep. Here, we hypothesized that glymphatic function is enhanced by blockade of central adrenergic tone, and that this modulation would improve deficits observed in mild blast and impact TBI models. To evaluate the effect of prazosin on glymphatic function in a murine model, we assessed glymphatic function in sham, blast TBI, and impact TBI mice following a 28-day treatment with prazosin. Post-injury behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate cognitive impairments across treatment groups. Using an intracisternal co-injection of infrared and conventional fixable fluorescent tracer, CSF distribution was evaluated through a validated in vivo dynamic imaging technique and paired with whole-slice fluorescent imaging. Our findings so far suggest enhancement of glymphatic function in sham-TBI prazosin treated groups compared to the control. Continued study may better elucidate the mechanisms that underlie post-TBI neurodegeneration, and provide insight into potential targets for treating neuropathological conditions linked to glymphatic system impairment.

Restoration practices are crucial to the sustainable management of city parks, constructed wetlands, and natural ecosystems that have been disturbed or invaded. Oftentimes, restoration sites have some level of disturbance, such as soil contaminants in urban parks. Therefore, selecting plants for restoration comes with a list of considerations based on the goal and scale of the restoration project. Commonly, plants transplanted into these disturbed or polluted environments experience shock from transplanting stress, making finding solutions that increase restoration planting success invaluable to these practices. Soil fungi and bacteria have potential to boost the success of these efforts through their synergistic interactions with each other and plants. These microorganisms have high potential for use as biofertilizers in place of conventional nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers, which both have negative environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination. We hypothesize that by enriching plants by encasing these beneficial bacteria and fungi in alginate-based hydrogel beads, both plant biomass and overall fitness would improve. Further, this improved fitness has the potential to increase post-transplantation survival rates for plants used in restoration and/or phytoremediation regimes. To determine the effect of hydrogel biofertilizers on early stage development and transplant success in a contaminated restoration site, we are examining the response of blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) to our novel biofertilizer. This plant is rapid-growing, used in restoration, and is drought-tolerant. Therefore, we are pursuing two questions: 1) How does our mixed-consortium hydrogel impact early development of these plants in greenhouse conditions; and 2) Does transplant survivability increase when planted in contaminated soils? Based on previous studies showing the strong efficacy of hydrogel-encapsulated biofertilizers, we predict that plants treated with biofertilizers will have better outcomes (improved early-stage growth and higher survival rates post-transplant) due to their supplemented nutrient accessibility and accelerated growth and development in early adolescence.

The horizontal plane of sound localization is dictated by interaural time difference and interaural level difference, vital for localizing low frequencies (<1.5kHz) and high frequencies (>1.5kHz), respectively. This function is compromised in individuals with unilateral and bilateral hearing loss; however, identical etiologies and severities of hearing loss can have profound differences in sound localization deficits. Head movements improve sound localization in individuals with normal hearing (NH) and hearing loss (HL), but current literature has yet to characterize the nature of these movements. For our experiment, we used virtual reality (VR) to evaluate head movement kinetics during sound localization tasks in individuals with NH and HL. Three 360^o VR environments were developed using MetaQuest and Unity to test an individual’s ability to identify 1) 8 visual targets, 2) 16 sound targets without visual targets, and 3) 32 sound targets with simultaneous visual targets in the horizontal plane. NH individuals (n=10) were administered the VR environments in the order listed above within an audio booth. We used MATLAB to conduct statistical analyses, head movement kinematic analyses and calculate root mean squared error (RMSE). Euler Y head movements in Environment 3 had mean standardized path distance=44.89, peak velocity=164.94^o/second, latency=6.89 second, number of head adjustments=1.78, head movement complexity (polynomial fit order with error <35)=1.95 (std = 20.93, 85.08^o/second, 3.19 seconds, 1.26, 1.14, respectively). The average RMSE of 11.5^o is comparable to similar studies and corroborates our findings. Our additional metrics on head movement establish VR as a viable tool to detect variations in movement patterns. This method quantifies head movements, identifies their potential role in sound localization, and develops accessible VR training for individuals with reduced localization ability.

Sleep disruption is a key factor that contributes to cycles of relapse in opioid addiction, a pressing public health concern. However, the underlying mechanisms of this sleep disruption are yet to be well-understood. Gaining a better understanding of the neural circuits involved in opioid-mediated sleep disruption may help to develop new treatment to mitigate the risk of opioid dependence. We previously found in a mouse model of escalating morphine administration and withdrawal that the locus coeruleus (LC), the brain’s primary source of cortical noradrenergic projections, is hyperactive during opioid withdrawal and is accompanied by a shift in sleep pattern during the first withdrawal day. However, its precise role in affecting opioid-mediated sleep disruption remains unclear. We are now investigating the role of LC noradrenergic projection to the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) in opioid-induced sleep disturbances, as the PVT is known to promote wakefulness. As PVT manipulation has previously been shown to reduce opioid-induced sleep disruption, I am examining the contribution of the LC-PVT circuit in this disruption in sleep pattern. To address this question, I am quantifying LC projections to the PVT by clearing brain tissue in mice expressing a fluorescently tagged synaptic marker in LC neurons, and counting the number of LC synapses in the PVT. Additionally, we  quantified norepinephrine release in the PVT using a genetically encoded fluorescent sensor and fiber photometry, and measured cortical activity using electroencephalogram (EEG). Our preliminary data show a potential decrease in NE activity during the first withdrawal day, but more mice are needed for this experiment. Additionally, given the elevated LC activity on the first withdrawal day, we plan to inhibit LC-PVT circuit on that day to determine if sleep disruption can be prevented. Together, these studies will help better define how changes in the noradrenergic circuits contribute to sleep disruption from opioid use.

Neuropsychiatric disorders lead to devastating impacts on a patient’s life, affecting physical movement, cognition, and behavior. A pattern observed in patients with neurodegenerative disease includes neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, which may be caused by the abnormal accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT). Tau is encoded for in the MAPT gene locus on chromosome 17, where the locus commonly interacts with an enhancer to boost transcription. However, some patients have one copy of chromosome 17 with an inversion that breaks this interaction, which is associated with lower risk of disease. This raises the question of whether the MAPT locus interacts with other enhancers that increases tau production. Thus, the goal of this project is to identify genetic variants that influence the 3D interactions between the MAPT locus and potential enhancers in patients heterozygous for the MAPT inversion associated with a lower risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. To accomplish this objective, neuronal nuclei extracted from patients are analyzed using fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) to identify interactions in the MAPT gene locus. We will map a 2 Mb region of chromosome 17 centered on the inversion using FISH probes. This region is broken up into ten 200 kb spots to be individually visualized using fluorescent oligonucleotides through a fluidics system, to create a composite image of all spots. Interactions involving the MAPT locus may be identified by comparing distances between spots, in which gene segments that interact would have a shorter distance compared to segments that do not interact. This would allow us to find genetic variants associated with the chromosome 17 inversion that potentially influence MAPT gene regulation.

Global plastic production has already surpassed 300 million tons annually, which poses serious environmental challenges due to the limited recycling and effective management of plastic waste. Current mechanical recycling methods are not efficient, since only a small fraction of plastic waste goes through recycling processes, resulting in severe environmental degradation and pollution. In view of this, the use of bimetallic nanoparticles as catalysts is critically evaluated in the case of plastic recycling. In this Literature Review, I look into different metal combinations, such as ruthenium-platinum, ruthenium-nickel, and ruthenium-cobalt bimetallic catalysts. These catalysts are known to have great potential for enhancing the selectivity and efficiency of the hydrogenolysis process, hence increasing the conversion of plastic into more valuable hydrocarbons like fuels and chemicals. It intends to draw attention to various advances in chemical recycling methods that may offer sustainable solutions to the global plastic waste crisis through a critical review of the synthesis methods, catalytic mechanisms, and practical applications of these bimetallic catalysts. Further work on the unique properties of the bimetallic nanoparticles provides insight into their catalytic role in enhancing efficient C-C bond cleavage in plastic, ultimately providing higher yields of desirable products and reduced formation of unwanted byproducts.

People experiencing homelessness are disproportionately affected by alcohol-related morbidity and mortality, with a 7 times higher prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) than the general population. Past research shows that in-person harm reduction treatment for alcohol (HaRT-A) within Housing First facilities is preferred because it focuses on client-centered goals and improving quality of life. This study is a pilot study which is part of an ongoing project adapting HaRT-A into a digital platform (eHaRT-A), to assess the feasibility, usability & acceptability of the electronic harm reduction treatment for alcohol (eHaRT-A). Participants were recruited from low-barrier, permanent supportive housing.  Residents (N = 34) were interested in participating in the study. Participants (n=19), who were interested and eligible, first completed a 45-minute assessment questionnaire asking them about their substance use, quality of life, and pain. Then, they completed one eHaRT-A session, followed by a feedback interview. Recruitment and completion rates were used to assess eHaRT-A feasibility (i.e., percentage screened who expressed interest, qualified, and completed eHaRT-A). My teammates and I utilized self-report measures, including the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM) and the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate participants’ perceptions of eHaRT-A. A priori thresholds for high acceptability (AIM≥3/5) and usability (SUS≥ 70/100) were established. Among those eligible, 86.4% completed the full study, demonstrating high feasibility. The data we analyzed showed a mean AIM score of 4.45 and a mean SUS score of 81.2, indicating strong acceptability and usability.  eHaRT-A’s feasibility, acceptability, and usability, demonstrate its potential as a scalable, harm reduction intervention. These findings support the integration of telehealth interventions into supportive house programs, offering a promising approach to addressing health disparities and improving access to care for this vulnerable population.

Tame knots, which are equivalent to a polygonal knot with a finite number of sides, have well-studied invariants; conversely, wild knots that exhibit infinite and pathological behavior are difficult to study and classify. Knot mosaics, introduced by Lomanoco and Kauffman, are an example of a complete invariant for tame knots. Our project aims to expand the existing formal system of knot mosaics to develop an invariant for wild knots. We define n-singular mosaic tangles, the mosaic analog of tangle insertions in pseudoknots and singular knots, and we formalize a system of infinite insertion that generates a wild mosaic to represent certain wild knots. We also intend to define wild mosaic equivalence moves to capture the notion of wild knot equivalence in the mosaic setting. This gives insight to many wild knots explored in existing literature and provides methods to generate and classify new examples.

Introduction: Evidence-based treatments (EBT), such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) remain underused in community mental health (CMH) settings in part due to financial, time, and geographical barriers associated with training clinicians in-person. Virtual EBT training offers a potentially cost-effective and feasible alternative; however, limited research has examined its effectiveness in improving clinicians' perceived knowledge and skills for treating youth with various mental health conditions. The current study uses benchmarking analyses to compare change in perceived knowledge and skill levels for treating youth with depression, anxiety, trauma and behavior problems among clinicians trained in-person versus those trained online. Method: Participants included 1,250 Washington State CMH clinicians (Mage=35.58 years, SD=12.12, 92% Master’s level) involved in the CBT+ initiative, a Washington statewide EBT training program. Of these clinicians, 658 attended training in-person (years 2016–2019), while 592 participated virtually (years 2020–2023). Clinicians self-reported their perceived knowledge and skill levels for treating youth with depression, anxiety, trauma, and behavior problems before training and after completing a six-month consultation period. Results: Preliminary analyses using paired samples t-tests revealed that across all disorders, perceived knowledge and skill scores significantly increased from pre-training to post consultation for in-person training clinicians (all p’s < .001, Cohen's d ranged from .93 to 1.61), as well as virtual training clinicians (all p’s < .001, Cohen's d ranged from 0.75 to 1.73). Benchmarking analyses will be conducted to compare effect sizes for changes in perceived knowledge and skill levels between clinicians trained in-person and those trained virtually. Discussion: As the need for youth mental health services continues to grow, it is vital to evaluate alternative training methods to expand access to high-quality mental healthcare.

The Tait graph, an undirected graph with signed edges derived from a knot diagram, is fundamental to knot theory and algebraic topology, enabling the study of knot invariants and topological properties. Despite its importance, widely-used software packages like SageMath and SnapPy lack native functionality for Tait graph construction and manipulation. Our research addresses this gap by presenting an efficient algorithm to construct the signed Tait graph and its associated dual graph from a knot's Planar Diagram Code (PD-Code). We validated our algorithm by comparing the reduced weighted Laplacian matrices of our constructed graphs with those of nearly 3,000 classified knots up to 12 crossings. Future work will extend our implementation to support additional functionalities such as Reidemeister moves, Jones polynomial calculations, and directed edge representations. By deploying our code on SageMath, we aim to provide a valuable tool for researchers in knot theory and related fields.

CdCr₂X₄ and ZnCr₂X₄ (X = S, Se) spinels are ferromagnetic semiconductors, with reported bandgaps between 1.3-2.5 eV. With the advent of spintronic devices, a renewed technological interest in materials with coupled magnetic and optical properties has caused a resurgence in the study of these magneto-optically active spinels. Despite prevailing interest in their magnetic structure, the semiconductor luminescence of these materials is not well studied. We have prepared these materials in-house to study the magneto-optical coupling of this bandgap transition. We are also beginning to prepare these materials as nanocrystals for the first time as a way of accessing alloyed and shelled varieties. We started by synthesizing the non-magnetic In³⁺-based analogous sulfide and selenide spinels as nanocrystals, establishing a starting point to prepare the Cr³⁺-based spinels. We then introduced Cr³⁺ ions, which occupy the In³⁺ sites, into the lattice during the solution-phase synthesis. We aim to make the pure chromium-based nanocrystal spinels, along with a concentration range of Cr³⁺ ions in the In³⁺-based lattice. Our goal is to explore the relationship between the Cr³⁺ concentration gradient and the magneto-optical properties of these materials. We have characterized the composition and optical bandgap energies of these spinels with X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. We have begun tuning the bandgap energy of the nanocrystals by preparing mixed anion alloys with different ratios of Se and S ions (i.e. CdCr₂(Se_1-xS_x)₄; ZnCr₂(Se_1-xS_x)₄) and examining the bandgap shift with photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy. Future work includes utilizing magnetic circularly polarized luminescence (MCPL) to probe the magnetization of the lattice emission, letting us conclude how the optical properties of the semiconductor are coupled to its magnetism.

This paper investigates the impact of the benefits of the INDYC Program on the social determinants of health of immigrant children. Using the data extracted from the IPUMS CPS, I applied an event study - a dynamic difference-in-differences model with the combination of propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting to study the effects of IDNYC on immigrant children's access to public insurance coverages and affordable housing options. The analysis suggests that the benefits offered by the program could support immigrant children in gaining short-term coverage on the Medicaid and extended Medicaid Program, yet only positively associated with gaining long-term access to Medicare. The analysis also suggests a short-term increase in immigrant families' access to public housing and no cause-and-effect relationship with their access to government subsidies on rent. Lastly, similar to findings from previous papers, the effect of the program on health status remains ambiguous. Overall, the findings of this paper are consistent with previous research in the related field, contributing to the big picture of how municipal ID programs improve the social inclusion of immigrants in the North American region.

Malaria, caused by the Plasmodium parasite, remains a relentless and destructive infectious disease, disproportionately affecting children in Sub-Saharan Africa, due in part to the absence of a highly effective, widely deployable malaria vaccine. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines are a promising approach for vaccine development, especially against pathogens such as Plasmodium, which have proven historically difficult to vaccinate against. When coupled with the glycolipid adjuvant 7DW8-5 at a 5ug LNP to 0.5ug adjuvant ratio, malaria-targeting LNP formulations confer protection in mouse models. However, the optimal vaccine-to-adjuvant ratio and the mechanisms underlying 7DW8-5-mediated protection remain unclear. Here, we present a study that aims to refine dosing strategies and elucidate the role of CD8+ T and NKT cells in adjuvant-induced protection in a human-translatable mouse model. Different groups of mice will be vaccinated with varying LNP-to-adjuvant ratios, and immune response will be assessed via ELISPOT 28 and 56 days post-vaccination. Furthermore, we will use ELISA to reveal variations in innate immune response between groups 3 hours after vaccine administration. In parallel, we will investigate the necessity of CD8+ T cells and/or NKT cells in protecting from malaria challenge. Mice will be vaccinated using the standardized LNP-to-adjuvant ratio and treated with depletion antibodies targeting CD8+T or NKT cells 24 hours before challenge with Plasmodium sporozoites. Protection will be assessed via blood smear analysis. Our findings will reveal optimal dosing strategies for malaria-specific LNP vaccines and provide insight into the immunological mechanisms behind 7DW8-5-driven protection. This research will contribute to the development of effective nanoparticle-based malaria vaccines — a necessary innovation to help relieve the global malaria burden.

Decision-making is important for quality of life. Adaptive decision-making can improve one’s quality of life, while maladaptive decision-making may be detrimental. Here, we investigate the effect of Cannabidiol (CBD) on neuroeconomic decision-making in rats, specifically cognitive flexibility, and inflexibility. Rats were trained in a concurrent choice task, where a set number of lever presses resulted in a high reward (HR, 4 food pellets) and a low reward (LR, 1 food pellet). The first treatment level consisted of two behavioral treatment groups, where one group had the HR lever alternating between the left and right side of the operant chamber (flexible group), and the other group (inflexible group) had the HR lever stay on the same side for 20 sessions, where each session had forced trials (one lever accessible) and choice trials (both levers accessible). The metric used for assessing flexible and inflexible choice behavior was the number of choice trials needed to reach the criterion, criterion defined as 10 choice trials within a 12-choice trial sliding window being assigned to the HR lever, which is considered significant bias according to the binomial statistics. The next treatment level is the vehicle vs CBD, where the flexible or inflexible groups receive 20 vapes of vehicle or CBD. As a control experiment, we tested for any effect of vehicle (vegetable-glycerin/propylene-glycol, 20/80) between or within flexible and inflexible groups by administering vehicle vape or no vape in the vape chambers. Preliminarily, we found no statistical effect of vehicle exposure to either behavioral group no main effect in a three-way ANOVA (F1, 20 = 1.753, p=0.2005), however more subjects need to be added as there is a small trend towards vehicle affecting the development of inflexibility. After the control experiment, we will compare the effects of CBD in this behavioral paradigm.

Neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 (NELL1) is a protein that plays a significant role in bone and tissue development. Recent research has shown that NELL1 may also be involved in cancer progression, making it an important target for cancer research. In neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), the role of NELL1 remains largely unexplored, particularly in relation to the neuroendocrine features that make the cancer very aggressive. I investigated how NELL1 affects the transcription of principal genes associated with neuroendocrine differentiation, a process in which prostate cancer cells become similar to nerve and hormone-releasing cells, making the cancer more aggressive. Through quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), I measured how the transcription of various genes changed when NELL1 levels were altered in prostate cancer cells. This technique quantifies mRNA levels, revealing genes' transcriptional activity. I found that changing NELL1 levels leads to changes in the transcription of certain genes that control neuroendocrine features of the cells. This suggests that NELL1 may crucially control prostate cancer aggressiveness. By understanding its relationship with key NEPC genes, this could lead to new treatment approaches and improved therapeutic drugs for patients.

G proteins play a vital role in regulating neuronal activity by acting as key intermediaries that relay extracellular signals inside the cell, triggering a cascade of further signaling events that impact cellular function. This signaling can modulate the activity of ion channels in the neuronal membrane, which control membrane excitability by opening or closing in response to signals, thereby affecting the cell's electrical potential. We are studying the signal transduction pathway that acts downstream of the heterotrimeric G protein Gq to regulate the NCA cation channel in Caenorhabditis elegans. My project focuses on characterizing an unidentified mutant yak133, which has a distinct phenotype defined by deep body bends, also referred to as "loopy." This phenotype suggests that yak133 could be connected to Gq signaling, as activating the Gq pathway leads to a loopy phenotype. The goal of my project is to identify the gene affected by yak133 and understand how it functions to modulate the NCA channel. I narrowed down a list of candidate genes from whole genome sequencing of yak133 by performing a genetic cross to deficiency strains that lack a specific segment of DNA. I then carried out a forward genetic screen and identified a new recessive mutant, yak193, which appears to affect the same gene. I am currently preparing this strain for genome sequencing, and by analyzing both mutants, I expect to identify the gene affected by yak133 and yak193, as they should share mutations in one gene in common. This work will provide relevant insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating neuronal activity and how disruptions in this pathway affect motor and behavioral function. Since many of the genes in C. elegans are conserved in humans, these findings could have broader implications, potentially advancing our understanding of human neuronal function and related disorders. 

Clear auditory communication is essential for effective learning in university classrooms, and poor acoustics can hinder comprehension and engagement. This study explores the relationship between subjective listening experiences and objective acoustic parameters in classrooms at Seattle Pacific University. Previous studies have established that poor acoustic conditions – such as long reverberation times, high levels of background noise, and poor room isolation – are associated with negative learning outcomes like lower comprehension and increased stress, anxiety and fatigue. A small, liberal arts school like SPU is likely to face unique acoustic challenges, i.e. classrooms are more often multi-use, and class and classroom sizes are significantly smaller than large universities, where much of the existing research has been conducted. In this study, I examine student and faculty responses to a survey designed to assess auditory experiences in classrooms. I compare responses with acoustical measurements of background noise level and reverberation time in the same classrooms. By analyzing the correlation between perceived and measured acoustic conditions, this research identifies acoustical factors that impact learning and teaching experiences. My findings contribute to the understanding of university classroom acoustics and may inform future architectural and instructional strategies to improve learning environments.

Public discourse on prison labor often centers on its ethical implications, yet little research has been conducted on its impact on local labor markets. The Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP), a federal initiative that allows private companies to employ incarcerated individuals at prevailing industry wages, offers a unique opportunity to assess these impacts. Currently, there are 45 correctional facilities which use the program, and they partner with 222 businesses. This empirical study examines how participation in PIECP influences local labor markets by analyzing changes in wages across sectors and metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) to inform public policy discussions on the role of prison labor in the U.S. economy. Using a difference-in-differences research design, I compare regions where prisons implement PIECP employment with those where certified facilities do not engage in the program. Data from the National Correctional Industries Association and the Bureau of Labor Statistics will be used to quantify these effects. This research aims to provide insights into how prison labor through this program affects local labor markets.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in attention, focus, and emotional regulation. ADHD has high heritability rates, meaning children commonly inherit ADHD from their parents. Despite this, there is little research on parental ADHD symptoms and how they affect parenting. We hope to bridge this knowledge gap by investigating the relationship between temperament and emotional socialization in ADHD parent-child dyads (parents and their children with ADHD). Temperament refers to innate behavioral traits shaping one's personality. Individuals with ADHD are known to experience higher rates of negative affect, a temperamental factor including significant aversion from feelings like sadness. Emotional socialization is the process through which individuals recognize, understand, and manage their emotions in a social context. This process is especially complex with ADHD parenting, as parents with ADHD symptoms may have differences in emotional regulation and temperament that could influence parenting behaviors and emotional socialization in their children. We hypothesize that negative affect in parents is positively correlated with (1) negative talk towards children and (2) perceived anxiety and lack of anger control in their children. To test these hypotheses, parents complete the self-report Adult Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ), which assesses negative affect, and the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC), which assesses their child's perceived anxiety and anger control. We evaluate negative talk via behavioral coding of video-recorded standardized parent-child interactions. Using these laboratory-based interactions, we use the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System (DPICS) to analyze the frequency of parents' verbal disapproval of child behavior and/or attributes. I then use bivariate correlation analysis to determine the relationship between the proposed variables of interest. Through our anticipated findings, we hope to better inform care for children with ADHD by identifying individualized support strategies to use in parental interventions to better facilitate emotional socialization in ADHD families. 

The Lidstrom Lab aims to better understand methane-consuming microbes (also called methanotrophs) so that we can develop technologies to remove anthropogenic methane emissions, which will reduce the severity of global warming. Our research explores how the methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C can be bioengineered to grow well at the low methane concentrations found in human-made emission sites, while providing value-added products like biomass from dead bacteria that can be used as animal feed. Understanding bacterial methane utilization will allow us to create effective biocatalysts at a far lower monetary and environmental cost. My research project involves deleting cytochrome genes that may be important for the 5GB1C strain to grow in low methane conditions. Manipulating these genes may allow for further improvement of growth at low methane. My targets are three genes that encode cytochromes, which are electron carriers that take electrons from particular reactions and supply them to other reactions that are otherwise energetically unfavorable. My hypothesis is that these cytochromes are involved directly in supplying 5GB1C with electrons needed for the oxidation of methane into methanol. If these cytochromes supply electrons required for methane consumption at low methane, then deleting them would generate a mutant that would grow poorly on methane because it lacks the electron carrier(s). I have generated two possible cytochrome deletion mutants and continue to work on a third cytochrome. Once the mutants that can be generated are sequenced to verify the deletions, cultures will be grown under low methane and methanol conditions to determine how their ability to grow has been affected by the knockout mutations. In this manner, our lab is building a valuable knowledgebase of genes that are suitable for manipulation to improve growth in low methane for the technologies that one day will help curtail the worsening of global warming.

Developments in data-driven technology have been targeted at large-scale produce farms in Washington state, leaving out small farms from what is being called “Agriculture 4.0”. This agri-tech revolution seeks to leverage data technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) for efficiency and profitability, but small farmers are largely excluded. This pattern echoes the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, where technological advancements primarily benefited large farms, increasing output while forcing small farmers out of business and into consolidation. Consequently, advancements in data-driven technology may create similar agricultural monopolies and decrease food resilience through longer supply chains. Alternatively supporting small farmers, with annual sales of less than $250,000, can be integral to regulating agricultural monopolies and increasing food resilience. To promote the inclusion of these farms, this study investigates how small produce farmers perceive data-driven technologies in the context of “good” farming practices. I will conduct semi-structured interviews with small produce farmers in Western Washington, a region with a diverse farming population, employing an inductive analytical approach to understand how farmers’ values and morality shape their openness to technological adoption. This research is critical because findings will contribute to more inclusive AI development accounting for the needs and perspectives of small-scale farmers in Washington, mitigating agricultural monopolies and increasing food resilience.

This research explores the effects of water deficit treatments on the leaf structure and efficiency of photosynthesis of Miscanthus sinensis 'Bandwidth,' a grass popular in landscaping and known for its variegated leaves, an alternating green and yellow banding pattern found along each leaf blade. Previous research on Miscanthus suggests that leaf variegation can influence the efficiency of photosynthesis, however, the impacts of variegation in Miscanthus under water stress remains underexplored. By measuring chlorophyll concentrations, leaf areas, and photosynthetic efficiency in both the green and yellow regions of the leaves, this research evaluates how water stress affects the plant’s overall performance. Measurements are compared between the green and yellow portions of the leaves across high and low water treatment groups to better understand the impact of water deficit on the plant's overall performance. The preliminary results indicate that water availability affects total leaf area, the ratio of green to yellow area, chlorophyll content in both yellow and green sections, and photosynthetic performance, as measured by stomatal conductance of gas exchange and the performance of photosynthetic components in the leaves under both high and low water treatments. This research is part of the University of Washington’s Climate Ready Landscape Plants project, which aims to promote sustainable landscaping practices and urban resilience strategies in response to climate change. The results from Miscanthus can continue to encourage sustainable landscaping, urban resilience, and maintaining biodiversity by examining plant adaptability under drought-like conditions.

Genetic mutations in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worms can be studied to understand disruptions in pathways relevant to those in humans, due to ortholog between worm genes and human counterparts. These mutations can manifest as an unmotivated phenotype where the worm displays decreased motivation to move. To explore this phenotype, we performed a series of crosses on a strain of mutated worms to map and identify which gene the mutation is on and to gain a better understanding of the underlying reasons behind the unmotivated phenotype. Our work thus far has led to the potential uncovering of a new gene correlating with this phenotype that has never been associated together before. The worm mutation named yak187 was first generated through random mutagenesis. I performed crosses between yak187 worms and various other strains that each contained a fluorescent marker on a different chromosome. Results yielded little correlations between yak187 and any of the chromosomes we tried. We continued crossing with more strains that contained markers near the ends of chromosomes of suspect and eventually narrowed our highest probable linkage to the right arm of the X chromosome. There are no mutants with this phenotype known in this region yet so our next steps are to sequence the whole genome to pinpoint the location. Furthermore, we have reason to believe that this mutation impacts the dense core vesicle (DCV) pathway impacting neuropeptide release. This pathway is important for regulating body functions, development, and emotions. Disruptions to DCV processes can result in diminished abilities for organisms to operate correctly, resulting in similar consequences as those seen in the mutated worms. The overall pathway involving the production and maturation of DCVs and the secretion of neuropeptides is similar to that in humans, making the study of this system in C. elegans further more exciting.

Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, with a warming potential 86 times greater than that of CO2 on a 20-year timescale, and is therefore a top priority for mitigation efforts to combat climate change. Methanotrophic bacteria, such as M. buryatense 5GB1C, metabolize methane as their main source of carbon and chemical energy, a trait that could help slow climate change by reducing emissions. A major obstacle is the rate at which methane consumption occurs at low methane concentrations, which tends to be too low to be appreciable. This project seeks to answer whether currently unknown genes involved in the growth of M. buryatense 5GB1C on low methane could be discovered by comparing its genome with that of a closely related methanotroph, M. alcaliphilum 20Z. While the two have very similar genomes and metabolisms, M. alcaliphilum is not able to grow at low methane concentrations (500 parts per million), while M. buryatense is. I analyzed the two genomes and isolated all genes present in M. buryatense without homologs in M. alcaliphilum. Because they are unique to M. buryatense, they may be involved in the observed growth difference. I systematically performed targeted deletion mutations on many of these candidate genes, and then tested them for growth on low methane compared to the wild type strain, looking for any defect that would suggest a gene directly essential to growth at 500ppm. I confirmed several genes to have no impact on growth at low methane, as well as one that appears to be essential to growth in any conditions, and anticipate reaching conclusions on several more mutants. These findings will help to develop microbial methane mitigation technologies that can be utilized in a great range situations and at a larger scale, essential characteristics for a global impact.

Innate immunity is the body’s first line of defense against pathogens, with macrophages and microglia playing key roles in combating infections in the olfactory epithelium (OE) and olfactory bulb (OB)/brain, respectively. Previous experiments in our lab showed that Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is limited to olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the OE. However, how the virus interacts with the immune system in the OB—the region responsible for processing smells—and the rest of the brain remains unclear. Since the OE connects directly to the OB, which leads to deeper brain regions, this suggests a protective mechanism along this pathway that prevents the virus from spreading from the OE to the OB and further into the brain. In this project, we investigated the roles of microglia and macrophages in IAV infection using three mouse models: wild-type (C57), microglia-depleted (PLX5622-treated), and RAG1KO mice, which lack T and B cells and therefore adaptive immunity, the secondary defense of the immune system. We found that viral infection in the OE triggered significant macrophage activation, particularly when microglia were depleted. When microglia were absent in the brain, macrophages in the OE became overactive to prevent viral spread into the OB and brain, suggesting that microglia are crucial for immune activation in the brain. Analysis of Iba1+ cells (a marker for both microglia and macrophages) showed increased activation in response to IAV, with the PLX5622 and RAG1KO groups showing the strongest macrophage response. These findings highlight the role of macrophages in defending against IAV in the OE and suggest a complex interaction between immune cells in preventing viral spread along the OE-OB-brain pathway. Future analyses will explore responses of specific immune cells in the OB and brain, particularly in immunodeficient models, to better understand how the immune system combats viral infections.

Dissociation is an altered brain state caused by trauma, epilepsy, and drugs in which critical mental functions such as sensory processing and consciousness are disconnected. While its brain circuit mechanisms remain underexplored, their improved understanding would not only help treat dissociative psychiatric disorders but also help develop more precise dissociative anesthetics. Here, we used immunohistochemistry, in vivo fiber photometry, high-density electrode recordings, and machine learning behavioral analysis in a ketamine-induced dissociation model in mice to address how affective processing is disrupted in dissociation. We hypothesized that ketamine-induced dissociation alters the signaling of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system, a brain region responsible for regulating stress and aversive responses. Previous studies have found that suspending a mouse by its tail induces escape-related behaviors, which are lost when treated with a dissociative dose of ketamine (50-100 mg/kg). We performed tail suspension experiments to further characterize these behavioral differences using a machine learning approach. Using DeepLabCut, a deep learning algorithm to track animal body parts, and Keypoint Moseq, an unsupervised machine learning algorithm for decomposing behavior into behavioral modules, we characterized differences in these behavioral modules between awake and dissociated states. We then compared changes in LC activity between ketamine- and saline-treated mice, using cFOS immunostaining as a marker for neuronal activation. We also used fiber photometry to examine downstream norepinephrine (NE) release in the medial thalamus during tail suspension, using a genetically encoded fluorescent NE sensor to measure NE activity in real-time. Our data shows increased NE activity during tail suspension, suggesting that the LC remains responsive in the dissociative state. This responsiveness may suggest that the disruption of the aversive response in dissociation is downstream of the LC-NE system. We plan to examine the medial prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala as possible loci of disruption using fiber photometry, Neuropixel recordings, and optogenetics.

Since 1950, there has been an exponential increase in the production of plastic from 2 million to 460 million metric tons produced per year. With this production also comes the exacerbated effects on climate change and health: 2.24 billion metric tons of carbon emitted annually, pollution of ecosystems, and degradation of plastics to microplastics that enter living organisms. There is a clear need to develop eco-friendly plastic alternatives. The Roumeli Research Group has previously observed the ability to form biodegradable plastics (bioplastics) from unprocessed biological matter (biomatter). More specifically, use of whole cells of microalgae spirulina can be processed using conventional plastic manufacturing techniques like hot pressing. My project focuses on understanding the changes in chemical and molecular properties of spirulina that occur during the biomatter to bioplastic transition as a function of processing conditions. I fabricated hundreds of dime-sized samples by hot pressing spirulina powder in customized molds under various temperatures, pressures, and periods of time. I also characterized these samples using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to inspect the relationship between chemical bonds and spirulina morphology. I analyze these FTIR results in conjunction with creating and pressing samples of biomatter analogues to better understand spirulina’s complex structure. My efforts, along with other characterization techniques like hardness testing and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), will inform modifications of the processing design to obtain desired mechanical properties of the resulting spirulina bioplastic. These findings can be integrated into a machine learning model that concurrently analyzes multiple characterization results to identify trends in the data and further contribute to our understanding of structure as it relates to pressing conditions. 

Bacterial cellulose (BC) nanoparticles (BCNPs) are a promising sustainable nanomedicine platform for drug delivery and provides a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic counterparts. We aim to develop a small library of BCNPs with different chemical moieties to incorporate a broad range of active agents for drug delivery use. To produce BCNPs, a BC pellicle is grown in a kombucha media of tea, sugar, vinegar, and bacterial co-cultures. The pellicle is isolated and chemically and manually broken down using dimethylacetamide, lithium chloride, and an ultrasonicator probe to produce an organic BC dissolution. The BC dissolution is precipitated into an aqueous Pluronic F-127 (F127) surfactant solution under 650 rpm stirring conditions and incubated for 2 h to form nanoparticles ~100 nm, near neutral charge, and low polydispersity index (<0.3). In this study, we optimize the dissolution and nanoprecipitation processes using acetylated and methylated BC pellicles to form acetyl- and methyl-functionalized BCNPs. The functionalized BCNPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, electron microscopy, and light scattering to assess physicochemical properties. Our results demonstrate that functionalized BCNPs can be formulated using similar formulation parameters to unmodified BCNPs. Ongoing work evaluates drug loading and encapsulation efficiencies in the functionalized BCNPs using curcumin as a model drug. Engineering BCNPs with different chemical moieties enables incorporation of a wider array of drugs, which can improve the utility of BCNPs as a sustainable alternative to current synthetic nanomedicines.

Adenomyosis is a painful gynecological condition with a prevalence ranging from 20-35% in symptomatic patients. Current detection methods, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging, are suboptimal and definitive diagnosis frequently relies on hysterectomy, prompting more research for less invasive diagnostic tests, which is the aim of this study. We enrolled 108 women undergoing hysterectomies, after post-operative histopathology diagnosed women with adenomyosis (n=46) and other benign conditions (n=62). Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) and vaginal swab samples were collected. CVLs were used for global metabolomic data, as well as immunoproteomic profiling. We conducted 16s rRNA microbiome profiling on vaginal swabs. The integration of datasets was performed using MetaboAnalyst and MetOrigin. No significant differences were found in body mass index, menopausal status, co-occurring conditions, and parity between patient groups. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed co-metabolic pathways pyrimidine metabolism, D-amino acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and histidine metabolism as the most enriched in the adenomyosis group. Using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) for biomarker selection, multivariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that a model based on metabolomics dataset has an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.852, predictive accuracy (PA) of 77%, and Youden's Index (J) of 0.607. Compared to immunoproteomics and microbiome models, which had a PA of 68.8% and 66.5%, respectively, combining metabolomics with immunoproteomics resulted in an improved PA of 74.8%, while combining metabolomics with microbiome led to a PA of 74.3%, both outperforming their individual counterparts. Three-omics integration in a multivariate model resulted in an AUC of 0.859, PA of 77.4%, and J of 0.624, with metabolites being the top predictive features in the model. Our study identified that global metabolomics is the best single omics predictor of adenomyosis. Multi-omics integration increases performance metrics. Overall, this study identified key metabolic biomarkers for diagnostic development and assessment in future studies. 

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and in 2023 caused an estimated 597,000 deaths. Although two currently approved malaria vaccines are available, they offer insufficient protection in endemic populations, which prompts the need for new vaccines. Here we tested several lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines and quantified the number of surviving parasites in vaccinated mice challenged with Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites. To quantify surviving parasites, we utilized the Plasmodium 18S rRNA reverse transcription PCR assay, which is a highly sensitive assay that can quantify the amount of Plasmodium parasites in liver or blood samples. The assay works by amplifying and detecting parasite 18S rRNA in a sample through specific primers, probes and quenchers for mouse GAPDH mRNA and pan-Plasmodium 18S rRNA and can be used to quantify the burden of Plasmodium in a sample. Through the 18S assay, we identified LNP formulations that most effectively protected against rodent malaria. Notably, these LNPs required the adjuvant 7DW85 to be protective.  In the absence of the adjuvant, fewer mice vaccinated with LNPs were protected against rodent malaria. Together, we identified our leading LNP vaccines, which we continue to optimize with the goal of attaining sterile protection against rodent malaria. 

Cryptic diversity, the existence of genetically distinct but morphologically similar taxa that thus were previously classified as a single entity, is a fascinating subject in evolutionary biology and alpha taxonomy, but can be challenging to assess in practice. Genetic analyses have proven successful in identifying cryptic taxa, but are often impractical to employ as a starting point. Morphology thus can play an important role in cases of possible cryptic diversity, especially in determining if further study is warranted. Here, we use statistical analyses on morphological data to assess a possible case of cryptic diversity within Allium acuminatum, a species of wild onion native to western North America. Specimens collected primarily from several counties in Washington State (Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat) have been noted to differ morphologically from formal descriptions of the species. Morphological data was recorded for 165 specimens from the University of Washington Herbarium, Burke Museum collection. The data was then analyzed using a Factor Analysis with Mixed Data (FAMD) algorithm, and the results of the FAMD were then analyzed with a k-means clustering algorithm. The k-means clustering results were then plotted on a geospatial map using the original locality data from the herbarium specimens, and geospatial patterns for the clusters were assessed visually. Finally, t-tests and chi-squared tests were performed for the continuous and categorical traits, respectively, between the k-means cluster groups. The k-means clustering algorithm generated 3 clusters from the FAMD data, one of which was strongly centered around the area of interest (Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat counties), according to the geospatial map. Further, the statistical tests showed that, for 10 of the 14 traits analyzed, there were notable differences between the k-means cluster groups with a high level of statistical significance (p ≤ 0.0001).  Most of these differences were reflected in the cluster centered around the area of interest. These results indicate there is detectable morphological variation within A. acuminatum, and this variation is centered around the geographical area of interest. Additionally, we believe these results indicate further study is warranted to determine if the morphologically different populations are worthy of taxonomic recognition using more sophisticated methods, such as molecular techniques.

The growing demand for sustainable materials has driven research into biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Global plastic production has surged to 367 million metric tons as of 2018, with projections indicating a threefold increase by 2050. The persistence of petroleum-based plastics has led to the accumulation of nearly 5 billion metric tons of plastic waste in oceans and ecosystems since the 1950s, presenting significant environmental challenges. This highlights the need for sustainable alternatives, such as algae-based bioplastics. Photosynthetic algae, such as spirulina, can be processed through hot pressing to produce bioplastics with mechanical properties comparable to conventional plastics. Moreover, algal bioplastics are biodegradable, and algae’s ability to capture atmospheric carbon positions this material as a promising eco-friendly alternative. The chemical composition of algae includes protein, carbohydrates, lipids, as well as vitamins, minerals, and pigments. My research aims to analyze the role of lipids on the formation and performance of the resulting bioplastic. Algae cells were disrupted using mechanical force, followed by lipid extraction using a chloroform-based solvent. The extracted lipids were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, revealing consistent peaks associated with lipids. The lipid free algae was then hot pressed to evaluate the mechanical strength of the bioplastic in the absence of lipids. Future work will aim to further analyze the microscopic structure of lipid-free bioplastics to determine the role of lipids in their formation and cohesion. Additionally, this research is expanding to extract other macromolecules, such as proteins and carbohydrates, to investigate their contributions to bioplastic performance. Gaining insight into the roles of lipids and other macromolecules will enable the precise design and optimization of bioplastic materials.

All organisms develop from a single, symmetrical cell. That symmetry must be broken at several points during embryogenesis to develop into a complex, intricate form of life. The earliest symmetry breaking event in vertebrates is the formation of the dorsal organizer, a signaling center that establishes dorsal-ventral and anterior-posterior axes. β-catenin signaling is highly conserved in the dorsal organizer and utilized during cancer proliferation. However, the mechanisms employed in selective β-catenin stabilization are still not fully understood, due in part to limited vertebrate embryological models. Established model organisms for development, like fish and frogs, pre-pattern their dorsal organizer through maternal determinants, which is lacking in mammalian model organisms who break symmetry with self-organization. Remarkably, the African Turquoise Killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri, lack a pre-pattern. This presents a strong model organism, N. furzeri, to investigate mechanisms of self-organization. In this work, I explore the metabolic shifts and mechanical forces as two potential drivers of selective β-catenin stabilization. To investigate whether fluctuations in intracellular pH (pHi) stabilize β-catenin, I created a Tol-2 mediated transgenic pHi reporter line. Using light sheet microscopy, I observed that pHi fluctuations occur after β-catenin is stabilized in the incipient dorsal organizer. This ruled out pHi as the initializing factor of β-catenin stabilization. Next, I will explore whether mechanical forces drive embryonic symmetry breaking. This model posits that local microtubules-generated forces are transduced by focal adhesions into biochemical signals, enabling selective β-catenin stabilization. To evaluate this model, I will develop a transgenic toolkit to visualize microtubules polymerization and focal adhesion signaling with pharmacological and dominant negative approaches. These experiments will elucidate the mechanism responsible for symmetry breaking in N. furzeri and potentially conserved regulators of Β-catenin signaling, foundational to our understanding of development and cancer research.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Among the many contributing factors, mishandling of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) dynamics plays a crucial role in the etiology of cardiac diseases including heart failure, and arrhythmogenic disorders. Cardiac ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) channels play a central role in excitation-contraction coupling by regulating Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Abnormal activity of the RyR2 by impairing Ca2+ release from the SR results in sudden death in many cardiac disorders. Thus, regulators of RyR2 could provide a novel therapeutic target in several heart diseases. Our initial studies implicate the role of the chloride intracellular channel, CLIC4 in modulating the activity of RyR2. We identified CLIC4 as a mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein. The absence of CLIC4 induced faster Ca2+ release from SR, indicating abnormal RyR2 activity. Further, co-immunoprecipitation studies indicated an interaction between RyR2 and CLIC4. Moreover, we found that the absence of CLIC4 increased myocardial infarction upon ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in mice. Thus, based on our findings we hypothesize that CLIC4 by either stabilizing RyR2 in a closed state or by regulating the anionic gradient across SR modulates the  RyR2 activity. In this study, we will map the domain in CLIC4 specific to interaction with RyR2 and modulate its activity. We will systematically clone and express various N- and C-terminal truncated CLIC4 constructs to investigate their interaction with RyR2. Further, we will determine the effects of these constructs in modulating calcium release from RyR2. Our studies could aid in the development of a peptide-based therapeutic approach to modulate RyR2 activity in cardiac diseases.

Mutations, which arise spontaneously, are the foundation of genetic variation and play a key role in evolution. Understanding mutation dynamics has relevance for public health, as antibiotic resistance in bacteria often results from genetic mutations that allow them to thrive in the presence of drugs that would typically inhibit their growth. Our research builds on the Luria-Delbrück method, originally designed to estimate mutation rates phenotypically, by using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to measure base-level mutation rates in Escherichia coli that confer resistance to rifampicin. Rifampicin targets the β-subunit of RNA polymerase, and resistance arises from single nucleotide mutations in the rpoB gene. My team and I conducted experiments by inoculating E. coli populations, exposing them to rifampicin at specific times, and sequencing resistant mutants to calculate mutation rates for each base change. Interestingly, our data revealed that identical base changes at different genomic positions can have significantly different mutation rates. However, our mutation rate estimation does assume that every mutant cell has the same probability of establishing a lineage in the presence of rifampicin. If a certain mutant has a lower probability of lineage survival, its mutation rate will be underestimated. Thus, to determine whether the mutation rate variability we found is due to actual differences and not survival differences, I developed an assay to measure the probability that a mutant fails to establish a lineage. To date, I have isolated nine distinct rifampicin-resistant mutants and tested the extinction rates of two, finding no observable extinction, supporting the accuracy of our mutation rate estimates for these mutants. This research refines mutation rate calculations and enhances our understanding of bacterial adaptation, with implications for developing strategies to predict and mitigate antibiotic resistance. Additionally, it contributes to evolutionary biology by revealing the complexities of mutation and survival in microbial populations

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling. One key feature of airway remodeling is the thickening of the subepithelial basement membrane zone (BMZ) beneath the airway epithelium, which has been identified in severe asthma relative to milder severity asthma and other airway diseases. We aim to characterize the relationship between BMZ thickness, airway physiology, and airway immune cell populations. I am utilizing design-based stereology to precisely measure BMZ thickness in endobronchial biopsies obtained from 30 individuals with asthma and 10 healthy individuals. These individuals underwent extensive characterization for asthma airway physiology, profiling of airway immune cell populations, and airway inflammatory gene expression. Stereology provides unbiased thickness estimates that have greater reproducibility and overcome the limitations of two-dimensional measurements. I am measuring BMZ thickness using the orthogonal intercept method, which involves averaging the lengths of lines extended perpendicularly from the epithelial surface across the thickness of the BMZ at systematically sampled points. I am correlating BMZ thickness with clinical characteristics (allergic sensitization), airway physiology (baseline lung function, measurements of airway hyperresponsiveness), densities of both mast cells and eosinophils in the airway wall, and gene expression profiles obtained from airway epithelial brushings. I hypothesize that individuals with asthma patients will have more BMZ thickening in comparison to healthy controls. I also anticipate that there will be a positive correlation between the thickness of the BMZ and the expression of type-2 (T2) inflammatory genes (IL4, IL5, IL13). Finally, I hypothesize that there will be a positive correlation between BMZ thickness and the density of mast cells in the airway epithelial compartment. This research study provides new insights into the potential mechanisms responsible for airway remodeling in individuals with asthma and how they connect with airway inflammatory endotypes, which may guide further development of targeted therapeutics. 

Approximately 320 million years ago, teleost fish experienced a whole-genome duplication event, which is theorized to have contributed to developmental and morphological innovations that enhanced the reproductive success of their modern descendants. However, the role of duplicated genes in the genesis of novel cell types remains unknown. Here we show that the African Turquoise Killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) possesses a novel immune lineage specified prior to gastrulation—a far earlier stage than observed in other teleosts. Surprisingly, through single-cell RNA sequencing, we found that this lineage unexpectedly expresses nanos1b, a duplicated paralog of nanos1, a gene well known for its role in germline development across vertebrates. To verify this novel expression of nanos1b in immune cells before gastrulation, I performed RNA in situ hybridization to visualize the expression of nanos1b, eomes (a mesodermal marker), and lcp1 (a marker of mature immune cells). The results revealed co-expression of nanos1b with both eomes and lcp1, supporting the hypothesis that nanos1b expression links the myeloid lineage to the developing mesoderm. These investigations will help elucidate the pathway through which the killifish embryo fast-tracks the production of immune cells during early development.

Rapid-growth wildfires disproportionately contribute to loss of life and destruction of property. Further improving our understanding of longer-term signals of impending fire-associated weather is crucial if we are to mitigate future destruction. Recent work compared local conditions, including surface wind and 100-hour dead fuel moisture (FM100) to fire growth (Murphy and Mass 2025). We investigate the evolution of larger scale weather patterns prior to rapid wildfire growth. Using two individual-fire-growth datasets, Fire Events Data Suite (FEDS) and Fire Events Delineation (FIRED), we separate fires by season, growth rate, and region. We conduct analyses of several meteorological variables for periods preceding maximum growth in rapid-growth wildfires. Using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) dataset, we compare weather patterns at different heights in the atmosphere prior to maximum growth for fires of different growth rates and in different seasons, to identify any signals comporting to eventual fire extremity. We also consider how the patterns affect FM100 and near fire winds and the impacts of region of wildfire within California.

This study investigates the physical mechanisms driving spatiotemporal variability of

barrier layers in the Western Tropical Pacific (WTP) along 149°E, with a specific focus on the

La Niña phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Barrier layers, which separate the

surface mixed layer from the thermocline, regulate ocean-atmosphere interactions and influence

climate dynamics. This research assesses the relative contributions of freshwater input from

precipitation, and wind stress on barrier layer formation and thickness. Data were collected

during a research cruise in January 2025 aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson from an

Underway Conductivity Temperature and Density (UCTD) sensor for temperature profiles, and

public-source meteorological data for atmospheric conditions (ERA5). Seven stations, spaced

two degrees apart in latitude, were sampled along a transect from 4°N to 15°N. Each station

provided data to analyze barrier layer thickness, with spatiotemporal variability determined by

comparing different formation mechanisms across stations. Spearman Correlation analyses were

used to determine dominant factors influencing barrier layer thickness and variability. We found

that barrier layer thickness in the WTP shows a general positive but statistically insignificant

relationship with freshwater (ρ 0.32 and p-value 0.48), and a general negative but statistically

insignificant relationship with wind stress (ρ 0.18 and p-value 0.70). During La Niña conditions,

these effects are expected to drive variability, with thicker layers forming in regions of high

precipitation and weak wind stress. Increased freshwater input enhances stratification, while

strong wind stress likely promotes surface and subsurface mixing, leading to barrier layer

thinning. Understanding these dynamics has implications for improving ocean-atmospheric

interaction climate models in the tropical Pacific.

Common drug delivery materials, like poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid, are sourced from non-renewable resources and involve multi-step processing with harsh organic solvents that require proper waste disposal. A more sustainable material derived from biological sources and abundant in nature is bacterial cellulose (BC). BC requires mild growth conditions, is commercially scalable, and has current drug delivery applications in antimicrobial wound dressings. The aim of this project is to establish a sustainable approach to targeted drug delivery using bacterial cellulose nanoparticles (BCNPs). BCNPs are nano- scale, allowing for sufficient tissue penetration, and have easily modifiable hydroxyl end groups that make them susceptible to incorporation of different drugs among other beneficial interactions. The BCNP modifications to the end group are achieved through substitution with methyl-, acetyl-, or amino- functional groups because these groups allow the use of more hydrophobic or hydrophilic materials due to their molecular interactions. To formulate the modified BCNPs, a BC pellicle was grown in black tea media, isolated and washed. The pellicle undergoes methylation, acetylation, and amination reactions and is characterized through Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. The unmodified and modified pellicles were chemically and mechanically dissolved, and then nanoprecipitated into surfactant solution to form the BCNPs. After dialysis and size filtering the BCNPs were applied in vitro to BV-2 cells, a microglial cell model, to assess cell death through a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tetrazolium reduction assay. These preliminary cytotoxicity results support the translation of unmodified and modified BCNPs into ex vivo models to certify a wider range of biocompatibility for BCNPs in targeted drug delivery. 

The purpose of this research is to examine myoregeneration and tissue effects on the tongue base following surgical injury and adipose tissue accumulation in minipigs. Twenty, 8-9 months old Yucatan minipigs were studied. Eight minipigs were assigned as the control group, and other 6 same-sex pairs were used as intervention groups. In each pair, one was intentionally fed to obesity (BMI>50) and the other one with normal weight (BMI < 35) received surgical ablation of the tongue base. BrdU was administered intravenously to track muscular cell proliferation and myofiber formation, with injections given 15 days and 2 days before the termination, respectively. Tongue base samples were paraffin-embedded and cut into 7µ sections for routine H&E, Trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining. Quantitative cell counts and semi-quantitative analysis of labeled cell density and differentiation were performed using the grid system and coding approach to examine muscular responses to the injury and adipose tissue infiltration. The anticipated result will be: 1) fewer muscle satellite cells in the control group; 2) increased adipose cells occupying the spaces between myofiber; 3) significantly more active myoregeneration, with a higher presence of satellite cells in the surgical group. The outcome of this study will elucidate the potential capacity of the tongue base to respond to wound injury and adipose tissue infiltration.

Climate change and anthropogenic pollution have led to a rise in coral bleaching events. These bleaching events cause the loss of corals’ symbiotic algae cells, depleting coral colonies’ energy and leaving them vulnerable to starvation and death. This study aimed to understand whether the sex of gonochoric corals (in which colonies are either male or female) has any correlation to corals’ growth and development, with implications for corals’ response to bleaching events. For the gonochoric species Porites compressa, preliminary results indicate that female colonies develop their gametes earlier in the year compared to males. Energy conserved to produce these lipid-rich eggs may limit the overall growth of female colonies. However, unlike male colonies, females might be able to resorb their eggs to better recover from bleaching events. In summer 2023, twenty-four P. compressa colonies from Kāne‘ohe Bay, HI were stained with an alizarin dye, sexed as male or female based on sperm/egg histology, and returned to the reef to measure one year of skeletal growth. Following their collection in the summer of 2024, eighteen surviving colonies were scanned using an Artec Spyder to produce 3D models revealing colony surface areas and volumes. We then cut cross-sections of each colony to reveal their alizarin growth bands from 2023, allowing us to determine the amount of growth from 2023-24. We anticipate that differences in growth rates will show that female colonies are saving energy by limiting their growth, leaving them less susceptible to bleaching compared to male colonies. 

Stone wool, with its exceptional insulation and fire resistance properties, is an effective material for reducing the energy consumption and environmental impact of buildings. Adhesives such as phenol-formaldehyde resins are used in conventional stone wool systems to provide mechanical strength to the system but require high temperatures and energetic costs during their curing process while also emitting harmful emissions during their uncured and curing phases. Our research aims to develop a non-toxic and fully degradable binder system utilizing algal biomatter, xanthan gum, and bacterial nanocellulose. We investigate the rheological properties of biobinders at different concentrations and evaluate the effects of thermal processing on the mechanical properties of the biobinder. Additionally, we use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the distribution and microstructure of biobinder in the composite systems and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to analyze the bonding interactions between each component at different temperatures. In this work, we obtain a better understanding of the interacting mechanisms between each biopolymer and their effects on biobinder mechanical performance, which shows great potential for reducing the environmental impacts of mineral fiber insulation materials.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is an emerging global human health concern and a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. While the pathogenesis of MAFLD is complex and multifactorial, scientific evidence suggests environmental factors play a role in the development of the disease. Prior studies indicate exposure to particulate matter (PM) leads to MAFLD. A major constituent of ambient PM is diesel exhaust particles (DEPs). This study aims to explore the association between exposure to DEPs and the development of MAFLD using a murine model vulnerable to MAFLD development. DEPs cause oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species within the body. Male and female low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice were exposed to filtered air or freshly generated DE for 18 weeks while fed a high-fat or Chow diet. Plasma and liver tissue were harvested for biochemical measurements. The levels of a panel of lipid markers (triglycerides, cholesterol, free fatty acids) and glucose were measured in plasma and liver via colorimetric assay kits. Liver oxidative stress (8-isoprostane; nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, and 3-nitrotyrosine) was quantified via ELISA and Western blot (WB), respectively. Levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) were assessed via WB. We found statistically significant increases in plasma glucose and plasma and liver cholesterol in DE HFD male mice, and plasma triglycerides in DE HFD female mice. We expect to find increased liver oxidative stress and decreased liver PPARα protein, providing insight into the metabolic pathways associated with MAFLD that are disrupted by DE. Our findings will lead to a better understanding of air pollution as a risk factor for MAFLD and inform targeted interventions for affected populations.

The School Breakfast Program (SBP) has been widely recognized for its positive effects on student health, academic performance, and school attendance, particularly for low-income students. However, there is limited research on the long-term economic impacts of SBPs, such as their influence on family income, employment, juvenile delinquency rates, and overall educational attainment. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the broader economic implications of SBPs through a state-by-state comparison. Using a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) model, this research will compare educational and economic outcomes between schools in Minnesota (control) and Wisconsin (intervention), where recent SBP expansions have been implemented. Key variables will include graduation rates, family income, employment levels, and juvenile delinquency rates. Data will be sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Census Bureau. By exploring the long-term effects of school breakfast programs, this study will provide insights into their role in shaping economic mobility and community well-being.

In the past decades, there has been a noticeable and disproportionate decline in the native eelgrass populations at sites in the San Juan Islands, reaching as high as a 75% decline. Despite knowing that there is decline, the prominent factors are not well known. One of those factors however, may be recreational boating which is known to harm seagrasses in other parts of the world. Beginning from 2018, we conducted a preliminary analysis utilizing the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and aerial views across bays in the San Juan Islands which revealed a significant increase in boating activity during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the given data, we will construct heatmaps at selected spots such as Echo Bay, Sucia Islands and Blind Bay, Shaw Island to identify spots of high density recreational boat presence. These analyses will then be compared to maps of eelgrass populations at these sites, which are monitored by the Submerged Vegetation Monitoring Program administered by Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Our heatmaps will make it possible to direct research towards possible impacts from attributes associated with boating presence such as shading, anchor scarring, gray and black water discharge, and fuel and oil leakage.

Retinal cell degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness and vision loss caused by retinal diseases and is irreversible in humans. However, regeneration of retinal cells occurs after injury in some non-mammalian vertebrates and mimicking these strategies in humans could evolve treatment options for the visually impaired. Previous research in the Reh lab discovered a way to generate new neurons by reprogramming Müller glia (MG), a support cell of the retina, through overexpression of the proneural Ascl1 transcription factor in the mouse retina. To stimulate reprogramming, we used a lentiviral construct with a glial specific promoter (HES1) to drive the expression of ASCL1. However, HES1 represses its own expression by binding specific DNA sequences called N boxes which regulate gene transcription and expression, thus creating a negative feedback loop. In order to limit the negative feedback loop, we designed two new constructs using the HES1 promoter with modifications to the N box sequences. While the current construct has a reprogramming efficiency of approximately 25 percent, the aim of my project is to use constructs with modified N boxes to increase the ratio of MG reprogramming into neurons and verify specificity of the new constructs to MG cells. My research with mouse MG has shown that constructs with N box modifications significantly increase Ascl1 expression as compared to the construct with no modifications. These results seem promising and if reproducible, I will proceed with applying this strategy to human MG by using an in vitro culture system of retinal organoids.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a destructive neurological and pathological state that causes major motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions with an estimated global rate between 250,000 and 500,000 individuals every year. Many therapeutic strategies have been proposed to overcome neurodegenerative events and reduce secondary neuronal damage. Available treatments are limited and only provide supportive relief to patients with lifetime disability. The severity of impairment is related to the function of the remaining viable neural resources since the central neurons cannot yet be repaired or replaced, only reorganized.   Use-dependent movement therapies have been proven to increase neuronal plasticity. In addition, electrical stimulation can directly induce neuronal plasticity, enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Using a well-known rat model of Acute Spinal Cord Injury (ASCI) available in our laboratory, we hypothesized that targeted, activity-dependent spinal stimulation (TADSS) with physical retraining enhances motor recovery after SCI by facilitating and directing intrinsic synaptic plasticity in specific spared motor circuits below SCI. Long-Evans rats will undergo training and testing for pellet reaching four-legged assessment test, and CatWalkXL test for 4 weeks followed by a moderate to severe unilateral dorsal spinal contusion at the C4/C5 border ipsilateral to the dominant forelimb, resulting in a marked and persistent inability to extend the elbow, wrist, and digits for injured group. Following injury, a neurochip is implanted which delivers closed-loop electrical stimulation below the lesion point throughout the weekdays of training (for 6-8 hours per day). All groups will resume training for another 40 weeks and data will be collected and analyzed. Based on our initial data, we expect to prove that electrical stimulation combined with physical training improves the functional recovery of limb use after acute unilateral spinal cord injury.  

Mast cells are key contributors to allergic disease including asthma, food allergies, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Therefore, understanding mast cell biology more deeply is critical for the discovery of new targets to modulate mast cell function in health and disease. The research question being addressed in the Piliponsky Lab is what proteins play a role in mast cell activation and release of mediators that contribute to allergic disease. DOCK8 deficiency is a rare, combined immunodeficiency (CID) associated with allergic diseases which led our lab to investigate the impact of DOCK8 on mast cell function. We took microscopic images of mast cells and enumerated mast cell numbers in mucosal and connective tissues using mice with mast cells deficient in DOCK8, DOCK8 mutant mice, and littermate controls. We used western blots to confirm the absence of DOCK8 protein in the mutant mice and genotyped mice with DOCK8 deficiencies. Our findings suggest that mast cell intrinsic DOCK8 deficiency can cause increased mast cell degranulation in skin and mast cell mediator release at baseline. Learning more about mast cells can help increase understanding of the mechanisms of allergic disease and inflammation, leading to more treatment options. 

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a neurological condition resulting from reduced blood and oxygen flow to the brain and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. Limited treatment options necessitate accessible and scalable interventions to improve outcomes in newborns impacted by HIE. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been previously shown to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain. Further research suggests that EVs secreted by astrocytes, a brain cell type involved with the inflammatory and injury response, may elicit neurotrophic or neuroprotective properties. In this study, I isolated, characterized, and evaluated the therapeutic potential of astrocyte-derived EVs (AEVs) in an ex vivo model of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury. AEV characterization via protein assays and nanoparticle tracking analysis showed that we were able to produce AEV particles about 100 nm in size at concentrations up to 10^11 particles/mL. To assess their therapeutic efficacy, I administered AEVs at varying doses (5, 12.5, 25, and 50 µg) to neonatal rat brain slices exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), an ex vivo model for HI injury. Following 24h of exposure, I evaluated cell viability. Our results indicate that AEVs decrease cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. To further elucidate AEVs’ mechanisms of action, we conjugate AEVs with quantum dots to track AEV localization and cell-type specific uptake in brain tissues. Understanding AEV interactions with neural cells provides insight into both the roles of AEVs and different brain cells in modulating inflammatory responses and promoting neuroprotection. By characterizing AEVs and their therapeutic potential, these findings contribute to the growing body of research on EV-based therapeutics and lay a foundation for developing reliable and scalable therapies with the potential to advance treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders and aid brain injury recovery. 

Using temperature reconstruction to understand how the Earth’s climate responded to external forcing from factors such as CO2 in the past can inform predictions about future climate change due to global warming. This project aims to examine a recent paleoclimate data assimilation study of the past 24,000 years from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the present day. Paleoclimate data assimilation combines both proxy data and climate model simulations to address the discrepancies in climate reconstructions produced by each. For the LGM to present, discrepancies between model simulations and proxy data include the timing and characteristics of climate events like deglaciation. While data assimilation helps to resolve some of these discrepancies, it also makes assumptions about the uncertainty of the proxy data used. Processes that introduce proxy uncertainty such as bioturbation–sediment mixing by marine organisms–and calibration errors are often not characterized as time scale-dependent which could potentially introduce bias and affect the accuracy of these data assimilation studies. We examine the proxy uncertainty within this data assimilation to identify timescale-dependent errors and measure their impact on the accuracy of the temperature reconstruction. We do this by producing a set of pseudoproxies, which are synthetic datasets of different sediment proxies such as δ¹⁸O, to create hypothetical systems of past climate. By isolating and controlling different uncertainty characteristics, we are able to measure their overall impact on the climate reconstructions.

In the Puget Sound region, some lowland lake ecosystems have been contaminated with metals from the former ASARCO copper smelter located in Ruston, WA. Arsenic, a toxic metalloid, has accumulated in various parts of lake environments from this contamination. Chinese Mystery Snails (CMS) are a ubiquitous freshwater snail species that feed on periphyton, an environmental compartment found to hyperaccumulate arsenic (Hull et al., 2023). This feeding could be a key entry point of arsenic into our food chain. Our research has utilized CMS to test the hypothesis that trophic transfer of arsenic occurs through consuming periphyton and their gut microbiome is altered as a result. To test this hypothesis, our lab conducted a feeding-based arsenic exposure with lab acclimated reference lake CMS. These CMS were either fed algae wafers (control) or periphyton obtained from a high arsenic concentration lake. Trophic transfer of arsenic and gut microbiome alterations were not observed in the food-based arsenic exposure. This led us to hypothesize that waterborne arsenic exposure is an important route for bioaccumulation in CMS, with arsenic concentration correlating to gut microbiome changes. To test this, we conducted a comparative waterborne experiment, exposing CMS to arsenic concentrations of 0, 20ppb and 200ppb. At the end of the exposure, 16S amplicon sequencing was performed on CMS gut contents to assess how the varying arsenic concentrations affect microbiome composition. Whole-body arsenic quantification was conducted using ICP-MS to determine the degree of arsenic bioaccumulation that occurs at different concentrations. 

Cellulose nanofibres (CNFs), produced from sustainable plant resources, are an emerging class of renewable structural biopolymers. Through surface modification via carboxylation and control of fiber length and aspect ratio, CNFs are open to wider usage through further modification of the carboxylated site. However, an understanding of the foundational specific thermodynamics and kinetics of cellulose defibrillation and surface charge modification has not been developed and generalized, hindering widespread adoption of this biopolymer in applications. Additionally, the current fabrication methods for carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (C-CNFs) require harsh solvents and limit reusability. Thus, this study utilizes a deep eutectic solvent treatment (DES) containing citric acid, oxalic acid, and iron(III) chloride to guide the defibrillation of bacterial cellulose (BC) fibers and their carboxylation. We controlled the ratio of the DES components, normalized by the weight of the BC, and determined the reaction rate of bacterial cellulose carboxylation. Through electron microscopy (EM) and zeta potential analysis of titration results, we determined the morphology and composition of the carboxylated BC and surface charge. This work provides insights into the kinetic and thermodynamic interplay that governs the surface charge modification and defibrillation of bacterial cellulose, offering a foundation for further application.

Young adult cannabis use has become increasingly prevalent in the US, particularly among individuals attending four-year colleges. The perceived social acceptability of cannabis use plays a crucial role in shaping attitudes and behaviors towards substance consumption. While societal attitudes towards cannabis have evolved over the last two decades, there is a gap in understanding how these perceptions differ between college students and their non-college peers. My research aims to compare perceptions about the social acceptability of cannabis with the actual frequency of use among young adults who attend four-year colleges, versus same aged individuals that are not attending school. I am using a subsample of young adults using baseline data from a larger longitudinal study on health behaviors, the Washington Young Adult Health Survey (WYAHS), for the analysis. I am conducting the data preparation and analysis using SPSS. I believe that there will be a significant difference in perceived social acceptability of cannabis use between college students and those not attending school, but I also anticipate that actual consumption will not be significantly different. The results of this research could be important for improving substance use education and addressing preconceived notions of cannabis use acceptability among young adults. Previous research on the WYAHS data has shown significant changes in substance use behaviors over the last six years, especially throughout the pandemic. Future research is needed, which focuses on how my findings may change when based on data from before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding how blood flow can be influenced by the use of drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) is crucial for addressing secondary injury mechanisms in spinal cord injuries (SCI). SCI disrupts spinal blood flow due to increased intraspinal pressure, altered vascular topology and increased resistance, exacerbating hypoperfusion resulting in hypoxia additional cell death. Thus, mitigating the impact of these secondary mechanisms is critical for better outcomes. We hypothesize that DRPs may reduce vascular resistance by reducing turbulent flow in injured spinal cords; specifically, by reducing the effect of flow separation in larger vessels. The major experiments of this study are to (1) test multiple DRP concentrations to find optimal restoration of hemodynamics after injury and (2) to design 3D models of in-vivo vasculature structures based on ultrasound scans. We have currently tested 2 different DRP concentrations and determined an ideal injection volume in a non-injured rat to increase blood flow—we hope to further these experiments via an injury model and analyzing effects of DRP. Hemodynamic analyses will be conducted from contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) scans at baseline, post-DRP injection at 30, 60, 90 minutes where a microbubble bolus injection will be delivered. Specifically, we will examine arrival time delay (ATD) which represents relative vascular resistance and area under the curve (AUC) which represents total blood flow volume. Preliminary results showed improvement of flow attributed to the DRP injection (~ 15-20% decrease and increase in ATD and AUC respectively). I will also design 3D models of intraspinal vessels informed by imaging and bioinks to explore blood flow behavior in controlled in vitro settings. Combined, these studies will serve to understand how DRPs can be effective as mitigating secondary injury mechanisms of SCI and improve recovery