Autism is a developmental disorder that involves differences in social communication skills and the presence of restricted or repetitive interests. One way children learn language is fast mapping: the process of forming associations between new words and their meanings. Growth in language production and comprehension is predictable by 2.5 years of age, and autistic children who learn more slowly during fast mapping tend to score lower in receptive language measures. However, there has not been extensive research on the differences in language learning during fast mapping between autistic and neurotypical children. Therefore, this study addresses fast mapping in one particular learning context and tests whether receptive language learning in a storybook-listening task differs between autistic and neurotypical children. There are 47 participants aged 2.7 to 11 years (mean age = 5.8 years, SD = 2.0), of which 17 are autistic (mean age = 7.8 years, SD = 1.6) and 30 are neurotypical (mean age = 4.7 years, SD = 1.2). I code videos of participants completing the storybook listening task for demonstrations of receptive language skills for novel vocabulary words — namely, the accuracy of participants' responses to prompts to look at named novel objects. I use t-tests to measure the statistical significance of the differences between the groups. Additionally, I conduct group matching based on participants' Growth Scale Value (GSV) scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5 (PPVT), a standardized measure of receptive vocabulary (autistic participants’ mean PPVT GSV score = 488.1, SD = 18.5; neurotypical participants’ mean PPVT GSV score = 479.2, SD = 12.2). I hypothesize that the autistic group of participants has lower receptive language learning scores. I hope the findings of this study can provide insights to help professionals in the field of communication sciences and disorders in their work with autistic children.

Over the past few years, patients have been identified with debilitating phenotypes due to mutations in MSTO1, a nuclear gene. These patients often have distal muscle loss and weakness leaving patients incapable of walking but to date there is no known treatment. One barrier to progress is that virtually nothing is known about MSTO1 function, making the development of therapeutics for these patients extremely challenging. The goal of this project is to use an unbiased approach to discover functions of MSTO1. To do this, I will find genetic interactors utilizing yeast to perform an unbiased screen. Yeast DML1 is the homolog to MSTO1 and is required to keep the yeast cells alive. This screen will identify genes in the yeast genome that support survival of cells lacking DML1 when the gene is overexpressed. We utilize an auxin-degron system that targets DML1 for degradation when the yeast are grown with auxin. To find genes from the yeast genome that keep the cells alive when DML1 is degraded, I express random fragments of genomic DNA. Those genes must, therefore, be linked to DML1 function in some way, thus providing insight into what MSTO1 does, how it works, and how to help MSTO1 defective patients. I have obtained hundreds of yeast colonies that survive without DML1 when other genes are overexpressed. Currently, I am extracting these overexpressed DNAs to determine the gene(s). This work is an essential step toward fully understanding MSTO1 function in cells and we plan to characterize these connections in yeast and human cells.

Vocabulary acquisition in children involves many cognitive processes, with semantic descriptions playing a potentially crucial role in word learning. Broader literature points to a positive impact of metacognitive strategies early in children’s learning. Additionally, studies have highlighted semantic descriptors in facilitating word acquisition. However, there is a lack of literature regarding the direct correlation between children's productions of semantic descriptions and success in word learning, which is the current focus. We examined the number of semantic descriptions produced by children alongside their corresponding word-learning performance to determine whether a relationship exists. We analyzed data from 33 participants ages 2.7 - 6.7 years (mean = 4.6 years, SD = 1.2) with an average Expressive Vocabulary Test-3 standard score of 120. Our team coded a total of 165 word-learning assessments from videos of participants engaging in a storybook listening activity where participants were exposed to novel words paired with objects, assessing their receptive and expressive word learning. Participants were asked to look at the objects, imitate the novel words in real-time, and both point to and label the associated objects after a delay. We recorded the number of times children made semantic descriptions (ex. “The gek is spiky”), total correct identifications (receptive performance), and total phonemes correctly imitated and labeled (expressive performance). For analysis, we tested the correlation between semantic descriptions and both receptive and expressive word learning scores. I hypothesize that a positive correlation between these scores will indicate that children who produce semantic descriptions find more success in word learning. I anticipate that our study will contribute to a better understanding of how semantic descriptions play a role in receptive and expressive word learning outcomes. Also, study findings could serve as a foundation for future research on how parents and educators might better support children’s vocabulary acquisition.

The potential for pathogenic disgust to augment bias is clear in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, existing research overlooks the specific link between the experience of disgust and expression of weight bias. In contrast to the typical research focus on overnutrition from the perspective of individual weight management, I examine how internalized weight stigma – among other factors – could moderate the relationship between types of disgust sensitivity and bias against people with a larger body size. My hypothesis is that increased disgust sensitivity will predict weight bias. Specifically, I expect this relationship between pathogenic disgust and weight bias to be moderated by cognitive rigidity, internalized weight stigma, and interoceptive accuracy. In my online study, undergraduate psychology student participants complete the 32-item Disgust Scale – a measure using a verbal paradigm for disgust. My other validated psychological instruments included the Detail and Flexibility Questionnaire, the Interoceptive Accuracy Scale, a modified version of the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, the Fat Scale from the Universal Measure of Bias, and the Daily Inventory of Stressful Events. My goal is to discover the nuanced relationships that govern the manifestation of weight bias. The outcome of my study has implications in predicting contributors to weight stigma and thus designing interventions to prevent weight bias in the healthcare profession, the general population, and the field of food psychology itself.

There is currently a lack of tractable data on what was published in England in the early 20th century. However, this information exists in printed volumes of The English Catalogue of Books, which have been digitized through the HathiTrust digital library. The English Catalogue of Books, released in the UK by the trade publication Publishers’ Circular, provides a yearly record of books published from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. Each catalog has been converted to plain text automatically through optical character recognition (OCR). Our aim was to parse this plain text into user-friendly data on books published each year in the UK. However, the OCR-generated text often contained errors and inconsistencies that prevented the effective extraction of data on books listed in the catalogs. Thus, we aimed to gauge the accuracy of existing methods for parsing the catalogs and to tailor processes for gathering data from catalogs published between 1908 to 1922. By writing regular expressions to capture, split, and match the patterns of bibliographic entries, we were able to improve the accuracy of processes for extracting data. Our solutions increased the number of publications for which information was accurately being captured by on average 28%, and we were able to record information on over 21,500 books that previously had not been captured. We also created a summary dataset from the catalogs with information on the overall output of the publishing industry during these years. By analyzing and visualizing this publishing data, we were able to show that fiction was the most frequently published genre during the period. We anticipate this project to be the foundation of more work towards efficiently parsing The English Catalogue of Books in order to offer insights into the British publishing industry in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Most research on health and food choice is conducted with samples of college students with low racial and socioeconomic (SES) diversity. The University of Washington, Tacoma (UWT) has a uniquely heterogeneous student body, composed of various ages, SES, and races, but the aspect of non-traditionality that interested us was our large population of commuting students. The economic hypothesis for overnutrition highlights the health disparity created by the inverse relationship between food price and diet quality. Yet, in this population, we do not see a significant difference in body composition across income (F (3, 315) = 1.137, p = 0.334). However, there is a significant negative correlation between perceived stress and household income (r = -0.119, p < 0.05). Typically, time scarcity drives convenient food choices and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), often associated with adverse health indicators. In this project, I asked if longer commute times (zip codes farther away from campus) contribute to economic choices (money spent on gas, less for food) and time scarcity. I hypothesize that individuals with zip codes farther from campus (longer commute time) will show greater implicit preferences for SSBs and be more likely to select SSBs in a laboratory study. An independent sample t-test showed no significant relationship between commute time and SSB selection, t (318) = 0.875, p = 0.382. Again, a chi-square test showed no significant association between SSB selection and SES category 𝝌² (4, n = 318) = 2.505, p = 0.644. There is a modest inverse correlation between SES and implicit wanting for SSBs, r = -0.099, n = 291, p < 0.10. Addressing SSB consumption from a unique perspective accounting for external and personal factors with diverse sample populations is crucial to addressing the personal responsibility narrative in the psychology of eating.

Individual eating behaviors, and the motivations behind food choices, impact a person’s overall health and wellbeing. While cognition plays a significant role in food decision-making, processes outside of conscious awareness like high levels of perfectionism (cognitive rigidity) can influence a person's eating habits. On the other hand, these choices are impacted by emotional processes, as a person’s interoception sensitivity levels and experience of interpersonal stress impact food intake. The notions of cognitive rigidity and interpersonal stress contributing to changes in eating habits are contrary to the current discourse of personal accountability surrounding food choice and diet. The personal accountability narrative emphasizes each person’s individual responsibility in deciding what to consume, the quantity, and quality of the food. In contrast to the idea that each person is responsible for their health, analysis of surrounding factors that contribute to the decision-making process yields a more accurate understanding of health and well-being. Therefore, I aim to explore the relationship between interoceptive processes, interpersonal stress, and cognitive rigidity to explain food decision-making and diet quality. To examine this relationship, I am recruiting a sample of college students from psychology courses at the University of Washington Tacoma campus. Participants will complete an online self-report questionnaire assessing interoception, perfectionism, mood, interpersonal stress levels, and eating habits. I hypothesize that interpersonal stress and cognitive rigidity adversely impact interoceptive sensitivity, ultimately worsening participants' diet quality. Understanding the relationship between interoceptive sensitivity, interpersonal stress, and cognitive rigidity and their impact on well-being can help inform future health interventions guiding improving dietary consumption.

As our world progresses through technological advancements, much of our planet regresses as an effect of climate change, highlighting a need for underutilized resources to be brought to the forefront of industry. One avenue for transforming abundant resources into useful chemicals for generating sources like fuel is the catalytic upgrading of biomass derived molecules. However, catalysts traditionally used for these reactions are not stable to contaminants in biomass mixtures, such as water or organic acids. For biomass derived molecules to serve as precursors for biofuel and other related energy sources, more stable and efficient catalysts are needed. Our group has recently shown that a bifunctional acid–base MOF with co-localized acidic and basic sites outperforms a MOF with randomly dispersed acid–base sites for the aldol condensation reaction. To further demonstrate the importance of having the acid and base groups co-localized, I synthesized and tested three control frameworks for comparison: (1) a framework with no functionality, (2) a framework with only acidic sites, and (3) a framework with only basic sites. I then tested stability and recyclability of the bifunctional acid–base frameworks by conducting recycling experiments. I resubjected the same sample to reaction conditions for a total of 5 cycles. After each cycle, I used 1H NMR to quantify the conversion of starting material to ensure that there were no changes in catalytic activity. Lastly, I used powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) to ensure that the catalysts maintained their crystalline structure after 5 cycles. Here I show that metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous crystalline solids, can be used as efficient and recyclable catalysts for the aldol condensation, an important reaction for biomass conversion. Overall, this work illustrates the stability and reusability of metal organic frameworks as catalysts and thus their potential for utility in biomass upgrading reactions.

Despite Washington's status as the 10th richest state in the nation, it is ranked 34th in food security. In the South Puget Sound region, rural areas lack transportation and food access, and the need for food aid has increased significantly since 2020. The goal of the present project is to contrast models for food aid with attention to inclusivity and well-being. At the beginning of a year-long internship at GoodRoots Northwest, a food bank located in Bonney Lake, I applied my training as a psychology student to explore best practices for inclusive food access to promote the psychological well-being of its customers. In my mixed-methods study, I first employed a case study of the GoodRoots Northwest Market. In conjunction with a review of the research literature on food justice, I will illuminate the practices of inclusivity that promote psychological well-being in this context. For example, availability of culturally inclusive items like specialty meats, and the way visual presentation in the context communicates availability rather than a scarcity mindset. Furthermore, I plan to collect quantitative data from GoodRoots Northwest that identifies specific practices, such as an online food ordering system, to demonstrate the access created through innovative approaches. The goal of this project is to demonstrate the efficacy of innovative practices to promote food security. The findings from the project can exemplify the centrality of dignity and psychological well-being for food aid programs.

The goal of The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation, promote peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, and pursue global disarmament. Signatory countries meet every five years for the NPT Review Conference to assess the implementation of the treaty and strengthen its measures. The Preparatory Committees of the NPT are held three years prior to the Review Conference so signatories can discuss relevant topics. Studies on the NPTs effectiveness focus on non-proliferation compliance and overlook cooperation for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In this study I map how the distribution of topics discussed in the Preparatory Committees change over time, how levels of state participation change over time, and if change in state participation in the Preparatory Committee correlates to increased transfers of nuclear reactor technologies. I employ a three-part approach in this study. First, I use topic modeling for categorizing the Preparatory Committee documents in seven categories. I assign the following labels to the categories by reading the most relevant documents in each one: Safeguards and Verifications, Non-Proliferation Policy and Disarmament, Conflict Resolution, Peaceful Nuclear Energy Cooperation, Implementation Assessments, New Initiative Proposals, and Logistics. Second, I generate “relevancy scores” between the names of the countries and the Preparatory Committee documents by using an embeddings model to quantify country’s participation. I then compare participation levels to nuclear technology transfers. Collectively, this research has shown that discourse on peaceful nuclear energy cooperation in the NPT forums often centers around the advancement of safeguards against proliferation. I also find that changes in participation do not correlate with changes in numbers of nuclear technology transfers. Thus, the NPT forums are platforms for dialogue on strengthening security against nuclear threats unrelated to tangible growth of peaceful nuclear technology usage.

In response to acute genotoxic stress, such as chemoradiation therapy, stem cells undergo temporary cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase transition. This state, called quiescence, is reversible once stress-free conditions allow reentry into the cell cycle. We have previously identified the underlying mechanism behind quiescence in Drosophila Germline Stem Cells (GSCs) and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Mitophagy, or autophagy of the mitochondria, is required to enter quiescence. Surprisingly, we have observed a reserve of cyclin E (CycE) associated with the outer mitochondrial membrane that’s present in normal GSCs and hiPSCs but is reduced in quiescent stem cells. The role of CycE in quiescence remains unclear. Previously we have shown that reduced levels of CycE via inhibition of mTOR have driven cells toward mitophagy-dependent quiescence. This reveals that mitophagy serves as an alternative mechanism of CycE inhibition in contrast to the typical p21-mediated inhibition. Additionally, Parkin, a ubiquitin ligase activated by a serine/threonine kinase PINK1, is a key protein involved in mitophagy required for quiescence, and it has been found that CycE is a degradation target of this protein complex. Our hypothesis is that CycE degradation is necessary for entry into quiescence. To test this we upregulated CycE with a deleted portion of its PEST domain, which is a target for ubiquitination, under UAS-GAL4 control and used the GSC spectrosome morphology to observe quiescence. We observed a six-fold reduction of quiescent GSCs with overexpressed CycE, and hence concluded that CycE degradation is necessary for entry into quiescence. Determining the mechanism of CycE in stem cell quiescence is critical to understanding how cancer stem cells can avoid chemoradiation therapy. This project allows us to characterize the role of CycE within mitophagy and strengthen our understanding of the mechanisms that govern the cell cycle and quiescence.

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are neurological disorders that affect cognitive function, including impaired memory, thinking, and reasoning, primarily in older adults (OA). Cultural and linguistic differences can pose additional challenges. The experience of ADRD differs between patients from diverse backgrounds, and language barriers can create additional challenges when communicating with healthcare professionals. Our overall objective is to improve healthcare processes for persons with ADRD and limited English proficiency (LEP) in the United States. In this phase of a larger qualitative study, we are seeking to understand the experiences of older adults experiencing dementia whose primary language is Chinese and their family members. To understand the experiences of this population, we are conducting semi-structured interviews with OA with LEP and ADRD and their family members. I am performing qualitative data analysis along with three other team members. Data gathered from these interviews is transcribed and coded using a codebook developed using the inductive method. In this poster, I present key themes that are emerging in our preliminary analysis. There are significant barriers in patient-provider interactions between healthcare providers, OA with ADRD, and their family members, in the context of LEP. A complex dynamic is formed as providers seek to convey information to the OA and family members who play different roles in an OA’s life, including but not limited to acting as interpreters. OAs struggle to adjust to their progressive symptoms as they lose autonomy over time while navigating life with ADRD. Language barriers, lack of understanding of cognitive decline, and denial can also exacerbate problems. By identifying challenges experienced in patient-provider communication in the context of ADRD and LEP, we hope to work with healthcare providers to equip them with a better understanding of how to serve this demographic.

Kathak is a classical dance form which originated in Uttar Pradesh, North India. Kathak loosely translates to “story-teller,” and has become a symbol of Indian culture and national identity. Additionally, this dance form is very physically demanding, with skills that challenge the biomechanics of human anatomy. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to explore the cultural context of Kathak, as well as examine Kathak from a medical perspective. Specifically, I sought to examine the injuries which are common to Kathak dancers, particularly focusing on the risk factors, prevalence, and mechanisms of these injuries. The methods to investigate this research question were primarily through literature review. Kathak dancers experience injuries in the lower extremities due to high rates of twisting, jumping, and stomping in the dance form. These repetitive and compressive motions may lead to hyperpronated feet, flattened arches, and extreme dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. These foot injuries overall produce a lack of alignment in the dancer’s anatomy and can decrease proprioceptive orientation and neuromuscular function and control of the lower extremities. The outcome of this research has the potential to bridge the gap between dance and medicine. Education is powerful for dancers so that they can be aware of high-risk injuries and perform exercises as preventative efforts. Preventative efforts may include reducing static stretches and instead incorporating more dynamic stretches into their daily warm-up routine. Additionally, dancers should be empowered to take initiative of their health and seek professional guidance when necessary, and dance schools should play an active role in encouraging this.

Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation, and its potential to affect almost anyone as they age poses a significant threat. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayer membrane-enclosed structures that cancer cells produce and use for intercellular communication. EVs are typically loaded with a variety of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cargo that can be delivered to recipient cells. Tumor-derived EVs aid in the progression of various cancers by enhancing malignant cell survival, proliferation, and invasion. Working with our graduate mentor, we conducted an 866 chemical screen and found kinase inhibitors that altered EV production by cancer cells via luminescence assay. From the hits, we chose to study kinases from the JNK and p38 MAPK pathways, which both promote cancer progression. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage cells through oxidative stress, can activate both of these pathways. Based on this, we proposed the question: what role do ROS play in EV biogenesis and cancer development in living organisms? To answer this question, our research utilizes Drosophila melanogaster, an ideal in vivo model due to its vast genetic toolbox and brief generation times. We used Drosophila with the Ras^V12, scrib^-/- tumor model to study EV biogenesis, and crossed them with flies that have knocked down homologs of JNK and p38 MAPK. We then selected specific progenies and dissected the imaginal discs and placed them in media to allow for EV biogenesis, and quantification was done by live imaging EV production from tumor discs, fluorescence assays, and qPCR. Our preliminary results show that imaginal discs from Ras^V12, scrib^-/- flies produce a large amount of EVs. We anticipate that in organisms, both JNK and p38 MAPK knockdowns will lead to a decrease in EV production. Future work could be done to implement our findings in humans to potentially develop novel cancer therapeutics.

The Pacific Northwest (PNW) saw an unprecedented heatwave between June 25 to July 3 of 2021, with temperatures reaching up to 15℃ above the climatological mean. Previous research has examined the impact of this event on plants in Western Washington and Oregon through observational studies, and has focused on the economic implications for poor crop turnout. We used remote sensing data to take a top-down approach and examined how all plants throughout the PNW fared during and after this historical heatwave. Solar induced fluorescence (SIF) and Near-Infrared Reflectance of vegetation (NIRv) are two remotely sensed products that have been used to estimate plant health and gross primary productivity (GPP). SIF is more closely connected to plant processes like photosynthesis but has a short record (2018-2021) compared to VIIRS NIRv (2012-2021). We compared the responses of SIF to NIRv and found that both vegetation indices increased in trees and woody savannas, but decreased in grasslands and crops. However, SIF showed more intense and geographically larger increases in areas covered by trees. We then compared these vegetation indices to in-situ flux tower measurements of carbon fluxes, which did not always agree with SIF during the heatwave in woody areas. This study shows how remote sensing can further our understanding of how extreme events impact plant health, which is increasingly important as heatwaves become more intense and frequent in the future.

Elementary school educators are primary influences on children’s development by helping shape their behavior with peers and in the classroom. Employees in education are deferred to by their newer coworkers regarding student interactions and set precedents for students’ school environment. New and seasoned educators’ disciplinary practices greatly vary when addressing students exhibiting problematic behaviors which may differently affect student-instructor relationships. I use an existing dataset from a larger study testing the impact of a novel implementation strategy on the implementation of a universal social, emotional, and behavioral program in nine elementary schools from one district. Educator participants in this study completed a survey battery when starting and ending the school year and the district provided quarterly discipline records via a universal prevention program. The findings identify trends in student disciplinary actions between new (<5 yrs) and experienced (>5 yrs) instructors. Understanding the relationship between teacher tenure and the treatment of student misbehavior is crucial to demystifying the manifestation of poor student enrichment and hostile student-instructor relationships. These findings could suggest how differential disciplinary practices by educators based on their years of experience influence student learning.

Influenza A virus causes highly prevalent and pathogenic respiratory infections that regularly rank among the top ten causes of death in the U.S. annually. It propagates by co-opting the host’s Raf/MEK/ERK signal transduction pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of the Raf/ MEK/ERK cascade leads to the retention of viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) in the nucleus. Impaired RNP export then results in reduced viral propagation. The protein kinase family MEK predominantly appears in animals as the isoforms MEK1 and MEK2. While it is known that MEK inhibitors interfere with influenza virus propagation, it is unknown whether this is due to the inhibition of MEK1, MEK2, or both isoforms. To investigate the dependency of influenza A virus disease and viral proliferation on MEK2, we infected MEK2-deficient mice and their wild-type controls with a mouse-adapted influenza A virus (H1N1, PR8). We then conducted clinical scoring of mice and monitored their weight daily for two weeks after infection. MEK2-deficient mice demonstrated improved weight loss recovery and higher fitness during the influenza A infection period compared to wild-type mice. Additional studies are currently being conducted to determine if reduced viral loads account for the improved recovery of MEK2-deficient mice compared to wild-type mice. This work has important implications for using MEK inhibitors to treat pneumonia caused by influenza A virus.

Angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels, is crucial for normal bodily function but is especially important in diseases that cause blood vessel breakdown such as diabetic vasculopathy. Angiogenesis is regulated by activation of the Tie2 receptors in endothelial cells, which have two main ligands: angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2). Ang1 binding has been shown to stabilize blood vessels and inhibit vascular leakage, while Ang2 antagonizes these effects. We have previously shown that a computationally designed Tie2 super-agonist which presents eight copies of the Ang1 F-domain strongly activates Ang1-like signaling in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this project, we hope to assess the Tie2 super-agonist’s ability to rescue diabetes induced blood vessel defects in a diabetic blood vessel organoid (BVO) model. To model diabetic conditions, a three-dimensional blood vessel organoid model has been cultured in a high glucose media along with inflammatory cytokines associated with the diabetic phenotype. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining will be used to assess the relative quantities and localization of proteins involved in vascular stability and inflammations upon treatment with the Tie2 super-agonist. Vascular degeneration is a very harmful condition associated with many prevalent diseases including diabetes, so the Tie2 super-agonist could potentially be a new therapeutic drug candidate for treating blood vessel dysfunction in patients with these conditions in the future.

Signaling of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) is critical for the development of vascular cell types. FGFR exists as two alternative splice variants: the b and c isoforms. Previous experiments have shown that activation of the c isoform leads to arterial endothelial cell development and inhibition of the c isoform is critical to perivascular development. These results were found using a c isoform-specific computationally designed protein. The goal of my project is to replicate these isoform specific results in an endogenous context. Our hypothesis is that induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) overexpressing the b isoform will develop into pericytes and IPSCs overexpressing the c isoform will develop into arterial endothelial cells. I used the Gibson assembly method to create b/c isoform overexpression plasmids that can be inserted into the AAVS safe harbor site and used bacterial transformation to increase the amount of DNA. I am using stable transfection to create IPSC overexpression cell lines and adapting a previously verified 14-day protocol for creating endothelial cells from IPSCs to monitor each cell line’s differentiation. I am performing assays such as qPCRs, Western Blots, and immunofluorescence to quantify perivascular and endothelial markers in the cell lineages. Our findings should agree with our isoform specific hypothesis. In future experiments, we plan to engraft the overexpression cell lines into immunodeficient mice and assay how varying ratios of the two cell types affect their regenerative potential in vivo.

The effects of the fungal pathogen Swiss needle cast (SNC) on its host species, Douglas-fir, and its timber harvest repercussions have been researched. However, more research is needed regarding the effects of SNC on understory species and, consequently, browsing ungulate species. This study analyzes the effects of various thinning methods on SNC and SNC’s influence on understory species richness, diversity, and cover. The goal is to articulate a clear dynamic of SNC in Sitka spruce and Douglas-fir - western hemlock zones to provide insights for guiding forest management. I will analyze the Olympic Natural Resource Center’s pre and post-treatment data from Siuslaw National Forest with statistical analyses to articulate patterns in SNC presence, thinning, and understory change. The early, mid, and late seral/thinned treatments vary in density and by species replanted. I expect that thinning will decrease SNC abundance and increase understory species richness. Additionally, I predict that the stands replanted with red alder and conifers will see a higher abundance of understory due to red alder’s nitrogen-fixing ability. The enhanced understanding of SNC and thinning’s interplay aims to educate current and future forest managers about ecologically responsible management.

 Forest edges impact a wide range of factors, including species composition, tree growth, and tree density. Understanding the nature of edge effects on forests is critical to guiding forest management practices and forest yield modeling. The Long-Term Ecosystem Productivity study (LTEP) was established to study the effects of silvicultural treatments on long-term forest productivity. In this project, I aim to understand the effects of forest stand edges in different forest management regimes in the Sappho LTEP site. I am using data collected in two treatment units : one that was planted with a 50/50 mix of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Alnus rubra, and one that was planted with only P. menziesii. Field data was collected on the edge of units within the buffer and within the mensuration plot, and included tree species composition, spatial position, and diameter at breast height (DBH). These ground data are paired with LiDAR remote sensing to verify tree locations and delineate the “edge” of experimental units. I used ArcGIS to calculate Euclidian distance to the edge (DTE). I am performing exploratory statistical analysis to determine relationships between DTE and tree species composition, DBH, trees per acre (TPA), and will also compare effects of DTE between experimental units. I predict that tree in-growth will demonstrate codominance between shade tolerant and intolerant species in edge plots, whereas shade tolerant species will be favored in mensuration plots. I expect that in both units, TPA will be higher, and as a result, DBH will be lower in the edge plots than in the mensuration plots. Results from this project will inform if and how forest managers should manage stand edges. The impacts of edge effects on tree species composition, DBH, and TPA will have direct implications for timber yield and carbon sequestration, which may not be accounted for in current models.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined as a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. The development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with altered brain development in infants with high familial likelihood for developing the disorder. Some of the same subcortical regions associated with altered brain development in ASD are also associated with sleep problems, including the hippocampus. Healthy sleep is an integral contributor to brain development during childhood and there is increasing evidence that chronic sleep loss can lead to neuronal loss and impaired functioning. Additionally, the multi-site, NIH-funded Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) has previously reported sleep problems are associated with hippocampal alterations in infants who developed ASD. However, the relationship between sleep problems and altered brain development in autistic school-age children is not well understood, even though clinically significant sleep problems affect 75-80% of this population. Based on prior findings from the IBIS network, this project will examine the relationship between hippocampal volume and sleep problems in 137 school-age children with high familial likelihood of ASD (HL-ASD), no diagnosis of ASD (HL- noASD) and low familial likelihood of developing ASD (LL). Our prior findings suggest there will be differences across the three school aged groups in hippocampal volume, sleep duration, and sleep quality. We also expect that hippocampal volume in the HL-ASD children is differentially affected by sleep quality and sleep duration compared to the HL-noASD and LL children. Understanding the connections between sleep patterns and autism will help steer future research endeavors examining a largely understudied but significant issue. Additionally, this project will provide new insights into the negative consequences associated with chronic sleep loss in autistic children, affecting both their daily functioning and their quality of life.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an antibiotic resistant pathogen that causes severe illness and thousands of deaths each year in the US. It spreads within the community through improper hand hygiene and is often found in hospitals and on public transport surfaces. This poses a danger to the public, specifically to vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised. This study in Seattle, Washington compares the prevalence of the antibiotic-resistant MRSA bacterium on public transport surfaces both proximate and distant to Harborview Hospital. Swabs from bus stops and pedestrian call buttons were collected outside of Harborview Hospital and urban areas of Capitol Hill, a Seattle neighborhood approximately one mile away from any major hospitals. The swabs were streaked onto Tryptic Soy Agar plates, gram stained, and streaked on Mannitol Salt agar plates;catalase and coagulase tests were run to help further confirm the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. The resulting colonies were then screened for antibiotic resistance using the Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion method. One instance of potential MRSA was isolated from a crosswalk button in Capitol Hill. A higher MRSA prevalence on surfaces close to hospitals could establish a link between the spread of pathogenic bacteria from hospitals to Seattle's city surfaces but was not found in this study. These results suggest that the spread of MRSA in Seattle may have more to do with foot traffic and public transportation usage. However, the presence of MRSA on urban surfaces puts sensitive populations at risk regardless of its source. Practicing good hand hygiene can help curb the spread of MRSA in the community.

 Nitrogen (N) has an important role in aquatic ecosystems, both as an essential nutrient for plant growth and a limiting factor maintaining the overall health and balance of an ecosystem. N concentrations exceeding 0.3mg/L in streams and rivers and 0.1mg/L in lakes and resevoirs pose risk for eutrophication events and ecosystem destabilization. This study tracks the presence of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) throughout Puget Sound watersheds to determine if concentrations pose a threat to these ecosystems. Our team collected water samples along streams located in the greater Cedar-Sammamish watershed. Ion chromatography was then used to determine the concentrations of nitrate (NO₃^-), nitrite (NO₂^-), and ammonia (NH₄⁺) in the samples. The DIN concentrations varied throughout samples, allowing us to map N levels throughout the watershed and pinpoint regions that are at-risk of eutrophication, as well as identify trends in the fluctuations of N levels. The results of this study contribute to efforts to monitor stream health in the greater Seattle metropolitan area in order to prevent the ecological cascades caused by direct and indirect effects of nitrogen pollution. 

Fluoride is an important element for dental health as it helps to strengthen tooth enamel. Insufficient fluoride intake can lead to weakened teeth that are more susceptible to cavities, leading to further dental issues. On the other hand, dental fluorosis is a condition that causes white or brown speckling of the teeth due to overexposure to fluoride during the development of permanent teeth. For most people, a large portion of their fluoride intake is through water, but water from different sources is expected to contain different amounts of fluoride. Many Americans consume tap water, but bottled water is a popular choice. In fact, US consumers buy about 50 billion water bottles each year which equates to 13 bottles per person monthly. This mass consumption of bottled water raises important questions: 1) Is bottled water a sufficient source of fluoride? 2) How does it compare to tap water? To answer these questions, we collected tap water samples from six cities in the Puget Sound area, along with samples from six popular brands of bottled water. We then used ion chromatography to determine fluoride concentrations in each sample. We found the levels of fluoride in our six municipal sources averaged 0.702 +/- 0.031 mg/L as advertised, however, the levels within the different bottled water brands averaged +/- 0.282 0.307 mg/L, and none met the CDC recommended levels of 0.7 mg/L. The findings of our research are important for keeping consumers well informed about the possible risks or advantages associated with their preferred source of water and for upholding public trust.
 

During times of increased hospital capacity, unconventional areas (what we have termed “non-standard clinical spaces” such as converted conference rooms, hallways etc.) may be activated for inpatient activities. Studies regarding issues with Emergency Department boarding while awaiting an inpatient bed have been well documented, but the same practices in inpatient spaces have not been well studied. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted between February-April 2023 at a large urban, public hospital to understand how patients experience these spaces. Any adult English-speaking patient admitted to the hospital for at least two days who was physically located in a non-standard clinical space (hallway beds, PACU beds, former Emergency Department bays converted to inpatient spaces) upon approach for interview was eligible to participate. Eight participants ranging in age from 20-70, across diverse demographics were interviewed for the study. Three themes were identified from the interviews: overall experience, unspoken messaging, and impact to care. Poor patient experience was affected by noise related to crowding in their space and a lack of barriers from noise, lack of privacy from close quarters with others, lack of reliable bathroom access, loss of control over their environment, and inability to gain the attention of nursing staff (though, interestingly, this was not universal as some mentioned that they were in closer proximity to their nurses and able to receive more direct interaction). They described perceiving unspoken messaging about being selected for a nonstandard clinical space. Most commented on the kindness and understanding of the nursing staff and did not necessarily perceive a significant impact to their overall care. When these types of spaces are considered for use for inpatient boarding, patient privacy, control, and access should be prioritized. Transparency and communication about the situational context may help mitigate negative effects of these spaces.

 Fragranced products such as cleaners, air fresheners, and colognes are pervasive in the United States. The fragrance in these products release volatile organic compounds (VOC), some of which are hazardous and have been shown to cause environmental and health impacts including headaches, liver and kidney dysfunction, neurologic impairment, cancers, asthma and other respiratory diseases. In this study, I investigated the VOC levels of fragrance products in retail environments to determine if they exceed levels recommended by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. I measured concentrations of total VOCs (TVOC) in eight retail stores selling fragranced products. I conducted continuous sampling while moving within three feet of fragranced products. In department stores, I also collected a second sample in an adjacent department, at least 40 feet away from fragranced products. To establish a baseline, the final collection was taken outdoors away from other VOC sources (i.e. car exhaust) at each site. To measure TVOCs, I used a high-sensitivity, photoionization detector (PID). Because there is no U.S. standard for safe levels of VOCs in an indoor environment, I used the LEED guideline equivalent of 500μg/m^3 with a conversion factor of 3.767 to compare my ppb findings. My research showed the TVOC levels in fragranced areas of stores were at levels 10 times higher than that of outdoor environments, reaching levels of 1000 ppb. The VOC levels found in these retail environments are likely to impact the health of employees and possibly customers. More research is needed to determine the exact composition of VOCs emitted from these consumer products and the hazard they present to the health of customers and employees.

Elevated concentrations of CO2 in classrooms are a persistent issue facing colleges because of both its ability to reduce academic performance by impairing cognitive function and as an indicator of the increased risk of airborne disease transmission in the classroom. The COVID-19 pandemic applied pressure on most colleges to upgrade ventilation systems including North Seattle College (NSC). Preliminary data collected pre-pandemic found that NSC classrooms’ CO2 concentrations exceeded public health recommendations. We resumed our study post-pandemic now that classrooms have returned to regular occupancy levels. We created updated ventilation efficiency curves by placing Aranet4 carbon dioxide detectors in classrooms with multiple classes under varying occupancy levels. We collected daily attendance of classrooms during each of the courses and their corresponding carbon dioxide levels. We were then able to produce a ventilation efficiency curve to contrast our preliminary data and offer a basis for further study. Initial findings suggest that NSC classrooms exceeding an occupancy of 30 people will surpass 1000 ppm, thereby reaching CO2 levels that impair cognitive functions. This is a sufficient improvement from preliminary studies which found that under previous ventilation conditions, classrooms’ occupancy was limited to 22 people. Continued monitoring of CO2 levels in academic spaces is crucial. With the growing popularity of remote teaching, and online learning becoming more accessible for students, one must wonder if our homes can meet the same standards we hold our classrooms to.

Beavers are widely considered to be ecosystem engineers because of the way they construct, modify, and maintain their dams, which in turn, alters the surrounding ecological system. Beaver dams can act as a natural filter and help clean pollution from streams and rivers. The dams also slow down the water flow in a creek or river and form ponds, which means less erosion and, in some cases, less flooding. In spring of 2023, a family of beavers began constructing a new dam along Piper’s Creek, an urban stream in Carkeek Park, Seattle. This recent arrival of beavers provides an opportunity to investigate the impact of beaver dams on water quality in Piper’s Creek. This study investigates the levels of phosphate and nitrate above and below the beaver dams as both ions are commonly implicated in eutrophication events. We took three water samples at each of nine sites along the creek, six upstream from the dam, as a baseline, and three downstream. Ion chromatography was used to measure the concentrations of ions, including phosphates and nitrates. Initial results suggest that nitrate levels may vary seasonally, perhaps due to the presence of salmon carcasses and decaying vegetation in late fall. Longitudinal studies of water quality in Piper's Creek can help elucidate both seasonal variation as well as the impact of the beaver population in this important urban stream.

Snow is an essential resource, especially in the Pacific Northwest, where it provides clean drinking water, irrigation water, and helps prevent wildfires. Despite the importance of the snowpacks in the Pacific Northwest, the composition of snow is not well documented. The ion concentrations in snow can indicate where the snow came from. I have created a dataset of the concentrations of anions found in snow throughout Washington State. Snow samples were collected primarily throughout the Cascade Mountain Range by volunteers using sterilized plastic containers. Samples were melted and then analyzed using ion chromatography to quantify the anions in each sample. Samples were found to contain concentrations of fluoride, chloride, nitrate, bromide, phosphate, nitrite, and sulfate. These anions have previously been found to be present in glaciers, clouds, and freshly fallen snow. Cataloging these anions provides an important baseline from which to observe how human and natural impacts, including climate change, are affecting the snow in the Pacific Northwest.

The Joint Commission, overseeing U.S. healthcare organizations, advocates screening for suicide risk among medical populations with comorbid suicide risk factors, including behavioral health conditions. Universal screening programs reduce disparities in accessing healthcare services by offering a standardized protocol for all patients. This study takes place at an urban level 1 trauma center and safety net hospital, serving a patient population known to be at greater risk of suicide than the general population. Therefore, all patients receiving acute medical care (emergency or inpatient) at the hospital undergo standardized screening by bedside nurses. For high-risk patients, nurses ensure a safe environment, notify the medical team to request in-house psychiatry consultations, and provide suicide prevention and mental health resources upon patient discharge. Low or moderate risk patients may request to see a hospital social worker to be provided with information about resources. This study harnesses data collected through 1-hour focus groups with acute and intensive care nurses who screen patients hospitalized for medical, surgical, or traumatic injury reasons. These focus groups, conducted between January and March of 2023, included 22 nurses (90% female, 73% White). Transcript summaries of these sessions were coded by our interdisciplinary team. Through this data, we aim to identify barriers to implementing the screening protocol that could impede access to screening and subsequent psychiatric consultation or other services for patients at risk of suicide. These barriers could reduce the effectiveness of universal screening initiatives in reducing health disparities. We utilized the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation Behavior (COM-B) model of behavior to thematically code the data, assessing barriers as they pertain to capabilities (e.g., knowledge, skills) and motivations (e.g., attitudes, expectations) of nurses, patients, and other healthcare workers, as well as opportunity constraints in the hospital environment. We will summarize findings from the qualitative coding and highlight health equity implications of observed themes.

Exclusionary zoning laws — which limit population densities and land uses in specific neighborhoods — are a typical feature of American municipal land use regulation. An extensive body of evidence links traffic-related air pollutant (TRAP) exposure to adverse health effects. Using zoning data and a model of TRAP levels in cities across the Seattle metropolitan area, I hypothesize that TRAP exposure will be greater on average in zones where higher-density housing is an allowed use, and lower on average in zones reserved for lower-density housing. I used the software package QGIS to spatially join zoning and air pollution data and used the software package R to perform correlation analyses between zone types (classified by maximum population density) and three common TRAPs (NO₂, black carbon, and ultra-fine particles.) This research highlights the public health implications of normative policy regimes like exclusionary zoning. These results can assist elected officials and planners in pursuing a more geographically distributive approach to increasing housing supply in the Seattle area, in order to minimize the TRAP exposure burden – and associated adverse health effects – faced by residents.

The synthesis of key organic molecules often requires toxic, expensive, non-reusable reduction agents and extreme conditions. In recent years, electrochemistry has emerged as a sustainable alternative to standard methods, but this approach is often hindered by high energy barriers for electron transfer to the substrate. Electrocatalysts address this challenge by shuttling charge between the electrode and dissolved substrates, accessing lower transfer barriers, and reducing the overall energy needed. Current electrocatalysts, however, cannot stabilize reactive intermediates, which often leads to harmful side reactions and degradation of the electrode. We hypothesize that redox-active supramolecular cages can address this limitation by both shuttling charge and providing unique microenvironments capable of stabilizing intermediates. Previously, we synthesized two tetrahedral supramolecular cages that incorporate redox-active perylene diimide (PDI) and pyromellitic diimide (PMDI) motifs. Using cyclic voltammetry, we then showed that both cages can lower the voltages required for the electroreduction of vicinal dihalides to alkenes, indicating electrocatalysis. To better understand these results, I used density-functional theory (DFT) calculations to obtain computer models of the PDI and PMDI cages. These DFT-optimized structures revealed significant differences in charge density between redox centers due to electron-donating functional groups, which may explain why the PMDI cage lowered the substrate reduction voltages more than the PDI cage. With these models, I have also studied the shape and volume of the cages’ internal cavities, thereby providing information about substrate compatibility. I am conducting additional DFT analysis to understand how modifications to the ligand motifs may alter the electrocatalytic behavior. By continuing to investigate supramolecular cages for reductive electrocatalysis, I aim to contribute to the development of low-waste synthetic strategies for the production of alkenes and other commercially significant organic compounds.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibits several obstacles to immunotherapies including suppressive signals and a lack of costimulatory ligands. The TME causes T cell exhaustion and reprogramming of immune cells (e.g. macrophages) from an anti- to pro-tumor phenotype. Therapeutic approaches such as agonist CD40 monoclonal antibodies stimulate macrophages to induce anti-tumor programming. However, enthusiasm for monoclonal antibodies has been dampened by dose-limiting toxicities and inadequate pharmacokinetics. We are developing novel adoptive cell therapies by armoring tumor-targeted T cells with fusion proteins that provide costimulatory signals that are absent in the TME. Dual Costimulatory Receptors (DCR) are composed of the CD40L ectodomain combined with a costimulatory receptor endodomain. CD40L-DCRs are engineered into CD8 T cells to provide positive signals: CD40L interacts with TME macrophages, while simultaneously stimulating CD8 T cells via the costimulatory endodomain. I hypothesize that CD40L-DCR T cells are reprogramming macrophages from pro- to anti-tumor programming, providing greater therapeutic efficacy against tumors. Our in vivo studies showed improved survival using different CD40L-DCR candidates in a murine model of acute myeloid leukemia. In the CD40L DCR-T cell-treated mice, macrophages exhibited elevated levels of costimulatory molecules, suggesting an anti-tumor phenotype. To understand how CD40L-DCR T cells induce macrophage reprogramming, I am conducting in vitro experiments, co-culturing bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM), tumor cells, and CD40L-DCR T cells. I predict that CD40L-DCR T cells will induce BMDM to reprogram into an antitumor phenotype and increase phagocytosis of tumor cells. I will use IncuCyte and flow cytometry technologies to determine how BMDM programming is altered and how BMDM phagocytosis of tumor cells changes over time. These studies will support the translational potential of CD40L DCR-T cell therapy, opening doors to novel therapeutic interventions against a range of cancers.

Large language models (LMs) are prone to generate diverse factually incorrect statements, which are widely called hallucinations. Current approaches predominantly focus on coarse-grained automatic hallucination detection or editing, overlooking nuanced error levels. In this project, we propose a novel task—automatic fine-grained hallucination detection—and present a comprehensive taxonomy encompassing six hierarchically defined types of hallucination. To facilitate evaluation, we introduce a new benchmark that includes fine-grained human judgments on two LM outputs across various domains. To run this evaluation, I directly managed the collection of around 400 total human annotations which were analyzed to better understand the hallucinations present in LM outputs. My analysis using this benchmark reveals that ChatGPT and Llama2-Chat exhibit hallucinations in 60% and 75% of their outputs, respectively. A majority of these hallucinations fall into categories that have been underexplored in previous work. As an initial step to address this, I trained FAVA, a retrieval-augmented LM by carefully designing synthetic data generations to detect and correct fine-grained hallucinations. I set up the synthetic data generation pipeline to train FAVA which consists of prompting ChatGPT to noise a passage and insert errors one by one. The noisy passage is then post processed into our training erroneous input and edited output pairs. On our benchmark, our automatic and human evaluations show that FAVA significantly outperforms ChatGPT on fine-grained hallucination detection by a large margin though a large room for future improvement still exists. FAVA’s suggested edits also improve the factuality of LM-generated text, resulting in 5-10% FActScore improvements. These results further demonstrate the strong capabilities of FAVA in detecting factual errors in LM outputs.

Recent advancements in the ability to measure and manipulate large-scale brain activity with high resolution have significantly enhanced our understanding of the coordination of brain-wide activity, a crucial aspect of brain computation. My project develops a novel system for simultaneously recording and inducing brain activity in mice, using calcium imaging and optogenetics to measure and manipulate brain activity, respectively. This system creates a more streamlined approach to measure activity across the entire cortex against stimuli and behavior, enabling comprehensive study into the mechanisms of inter-area brain activity. The experiments are done with conscious mice in a setup that includes custom software and hardware control using MATLAB, and data is analyzed using Python. One challenge is that the red optogenetic laser can cause aberrant visual responses. When the laser is near the retina, some of the light can travel through neural tissue and hit retinal neurons, ultimately starting a neuronal signaling cascade. An aberrant visual response can interfere with optogenetic effects. I have determined that laser powers greater than 1 mW can elicit this off-target visual response and that we can diminish the response to the laser using a noisy, flickering visual stimulus. When the flickering stimulus is present, the laser power needed to cause a visual response is increased by 100%. In the future, we will use the combination of techniques to understand what brain-wide mechanisms underlie goal-directed behaviors. By measuring and manipulating cortex-wide activity while a mouse completes a task, we can investigate communication between different parts of the brain and identify the mechanisms that impact learning. This technique has implications in more advanced studies of synaptic plasticity, computational modeling, and brain-wide cognition, offering promising new avenues for neuroscience research in the future.

Since their introduction to clean energy applications, organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites have received great attention for their potential to create highly efficient, manufacturable and cheap solar cell devices. To make effective perovskite solar cells, charge transport layers are used to remove electrons and holes from the bulk perovskite semiconductor, increasing current, voltage and power conversion efficiency. Phosphonic acid self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are a common hole transport layer. The phosphonic acid binds to the transparent conductive oxide electrode while an organic head group forms the SAM/perovskite interface. This head group is key for charge transfer and voltage characteristics, but the structure-function relationship is still poorly understood. My project investigates the role that deposition techniques and electronic structure play in the optimization of this SAM/perovskite interface. Expanding from the standard two step spincoating SAM/perovskite deposition method, I explored whether the codeposition of the two layers or the addition of a SAM solvent wash step produced an improved interface. I also fabricated films using several different SAM compositions to test for performance trends and improvements compared to the current field standard SAM, Me-4PACz. I collected photoluminescence lifetimes, quantum yields and solar simulation measurements to evaluate film performance. Preliminary data shows that neither the washing step nor codeposition add any performance benefit, but the single step codeposition achieves a more streamlined manufacturing method. Two of the new experimental SAMs performed comparably to Me-4PACz. These results encourage codeposition of the SAM/perovskite interface as the most efficient method to create high quality devices and show promising alternatives to the industry standard Me-4PACz SAM.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior or interests. ASD is associated with features beyond its core characteristics, including alexithymia and anxiety. Alexithymia is characterized by difficulty recognizing and describing one’s own emotions, it influences physical and mental health, and it is associated with symptoms of anxiety. Despite current research demonstrating the correlation between alexithymia and anxiety in both ASD and the general population, there remains a significant research gap in how alexithymia and autism traits individually and collectively influence anxiety levels among the participants. This study has two aims: 1) To explore the relationship between alexithymia and anxiety in participants with ASD and TD. 2) To analyze the role of alexithymia as a mediator of the relationship between autism traits and anxiety in adolescents and young adults. This sample includes 149 participants (93 ASD) ages 15-34, from the NIH funded study on sex differences in autism. Measures included alexithymia via the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), anxiety via the Screen for Adult Anxiety Related Disorders (SCAARED), and autism traits via the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2). We will first conduct regression analyses to examine the relationships between alexithymia, anxiety, and autism traits. Then, we will employ Preacher and Hayes’ INDIRECT Method to investigate the mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between autism traits and anxiety. We expect to see a significant relationship between alexithymia and anxiety in both groups and the relationship between alexithymia and anxiety in the ASD group to be significantly different than TD group. Understanding the relationship between anxiety and alexithymia could aid in the development or improvement of interventions for anxiety in people with ASD.

This research delves into the impact of economic conditions on the macroeconomic health of Israel, specifically focusing on low-income individuals. The study defines the economic conditions of these individuals based on their income levels, employment status, access to education, and availability of social services. The economic health of Israel is measured using a data-driven and multi-faceted approach, which considers various macroeconomic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates, unemployment rates, inflation rates, and income inequality indices. Additionally, other factors such as investment levels, productivity rates, and fiscal balance are taken into account to assess Israel's economic health. By analyzing patterns and trends in these indicators, a more comprehensive understanding of the state of the economy can be formed, which goes beyond basic income measures. This approach forms the foundation for assessing the impact of taxation policies on the overall economic performance of the nation, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of the economy. The research methodology involves collecting and analyzing economic data from Israel, including income distribution, unemployment rates, education access data, and social services availability. The study aims to determine how these specific factors contribute to the economic conditions of low-income individuals and how they interact with each other and the broader economic environment. Preliminary findings suggest that enhancing the economic conditions of low-income individuals could have a positive impact on Israel’s overall economic growth. The research aims to deepen the understanding of these dynamics and identify potential strategies for improving the economic conditions of low-income individuals, thereby enhancing Israel's economic growth. The implications of this research could inform policy decisions and contribute to economic development strategies in Israel. Furthermore, the study will make relevant comparisons with policies from other countries to identify potential solutions or factors that could influence Israel's economic performance.

Ferrate is an effective technology for water treatment applications because of its capabilities as an oxidant, coagulant, and disinfectant. Furthermore, ferrate is an environmentally benign chemical derived from a ubiquitous mineral on the Earth’s surface. However, ferrate rapid reduction to ferric species reduces its oxidation capacity. Ferrate-coated sand has been proposed as a better deployable method for ferrate in water treatment applications. Sand has a high composition (>80%) of silica (SiO₂) which has been demonstrated to stabilize ferrate reactivity and increase its oxidation capacity. A previous study on the treatment of phenol, a common surface water contaminant, showed that ferrate-coated sand was better at degrading phenol than ferrate only (in the absence of sand). However, the study was conducted in pure water matrices. Here, we are evaluating the oxidation of phenol by ferrate-coated sand in the presence of effluent organic matter and trace metals (i.e. copper). Organic matter is ubiquitous in the environment and can impact contaminant remediation efficiency. Studies have detected trace metals in surface waters which can pose environmental and health risks. Through batch tests, we observed that effluent organic matter hinders the stability of the ferrate-coated media and reduces its oxidation capacity. The results of this study will provide information about the ferrate-coated sand reactivity and capacity for the treatment of complex water matrices.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by distinct social-communication differences and restricted and repetitive behaviors. There is heterogeneity in the presentation of social functioning in autistic individuals, which may be attributed to sleep quality, alexithymia, and anxiety. Insomnia, prevalent in autistic children, was linked to higher levels of autistic traits, specifically, difficulties in social skills and relationship formation. Alexithymia, difficulty in describing and identifying emotions, has been reported in 55% of autistic youth. Anxiety severity, specifically social anxiety, is also negatively correlated with social functioning for autistic youth. This study aims to investigate the relation between sleep quality, alexithymia, and anxiety to social functioning in autistic adults. In a sample of 131 adults (ages 18-26, 51% female), we conducted a multiple regression analysis, with social skills as the dependent variable and sleep quality, alexithymia, and anxiety as the independent predictor variables. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, alexithymia with the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), anxiety with the Adult Behavior Checklist - Self Report (ASR), and social functioning with the Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Edition (SRS-2). We hypothesize that sleep quality, alexithymia, and anxiety will each independently impact social functioning. This study contributes to the understanding of factors that influence heterogeneity in social functioning amongst autistic adults. Findings on predictors of social impairment may inform targeted interventions for and benefit the lives of autistic adults.

Individuals released with a felony conviction are almost always required to serve a period of Department of Corrections (DOC) mandated supervision that can range anywhere from 12-36 months. This period of DOC supervision is often referred to as "parole," "community corrections," "community custody" or "community supervision." For the purposes of this study, I utilize the term "community corrections" in direct comparison to parole. At its inception, community corrections was offered as a rehabilitative back-end alternative to incarceration. Today, rehabilitation has been replaced by control and surveillance. As of December 2023, 24,804 individuals were under the control of community corrections in Washington State (DOC publication). This population accounts for almost 65% of the total number of individuals currently controlled by Washington State's Department of Corrections (DOC publication). Despite the far-reaching consequences of community corrections, the experiences of the individuals under its control have long gone underreported. In this study, I explore how individuals navigate the challenges of community corrections. I will collect data from a series of 10-12 qualitative interviews with individuals who have experienced community corrections following a felony conviction. While I am currently in the process of finishing my interviews and conducting my full analysis, one initial finding reveals that individuals navigate the challenges of community corrections by building tools of resilience. Existing research explores the various challenges present in the lives of individuals on community corrections. Few, however, demonstrate the resiliency of these individuals. This research has the potential to amplify the voices and experiences of individuals who are surviving, and in most cases thriving, in spite of an institution whose primary purpose is to send individuals back to prison.

This digital humanities capstone project builds upon my senior thesis “An Analysis of Western Perspectives on the Khmer Republic, 1970-2023”. The thesis examined Western scholarly works related to the escalating events that enabled the Khmer Rouge’s rise in Cambodia, revealing biases in how the events leading up to the Cambodian Genocide were portrayed. This research demonstrated that the roots of the Cambodian genocide stretched back years before the Khmer Rouge came to power, fueled by political instability and civil war. Through an interactive digital timeline, this project synthesizes primary and secondary sources across media reports, government records, and academic analysis, to name a few, to visually display the narratives and divergences in Western scholar’s perspectives. My main research question has changed from the start of this project, today resulting in: How can a digital timeline effectively showcase the divergences in Western scholars’ portrayal of events during the Lon Nol Era, that preceded the Cambodian Genocide? Over the past two semesters, I have been building a website to illustrate the history leading up to the Khmer Rouge regime. The website features an interactive timeline and globe, based on latitude and longitude points. It features three interlinking sections tracking: 1) Scholarly Works, 2) Surrounding World Events, and 3) The Lon Nol Era and Cambodian Genocide. By revealing biases and gaps through a visual model, it can reveal blind spots or skewed narratives. It can also track interconnections, and observe how scholarly interpretations evolved to provide context for the escalating political instability to demonstrate the Khmer Rouge’s rise in power. By uniquely challenging oversimplified narratives, this project can provide a more contextual understanding of how Western perspectives shaped understanding of the Cambodian Genocide.

This paper seeks to find and explain the intersection between the Irish War for Independence (1919-1921) and Irish Rebel Music recorded between 1960 and 2017. Ireland gained independence from the British Empire in 1921, but the bitterness between the two nations remained. That tension became more prevalent in the 1960s and continued for the decades to come. Those decades became a time for Irish musicians to flourish. For the Irish, using music in a political sense is nothing new. Music has always played a large part in Irish society. Throughout the eight hundred years of oppression from the British Empire, the Irish always continued to play on. This paper examines the lyrics of Irish rebel music recorded between 1960 and 2017 that reflect the events of the Irish War for Independence and the lasting effects the war had on Irish society. The question driving this research is how Irish rebel music, between 1960 and 2017 memorializes the Irish War for Independence. By comparing the literature surrounding the War for Independence and Irish Music, this paper argues that the intersection between the events of the Irish War for Independence (1919-1921) and Irish rebel music (recorded between 1960 and 2017) reveals the major influence of music within Irish society in the late twentieth century. Irish musicians used music and lyrics not only to fight the British Empire but to also build a proud and strong nation.

6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), a transformation product of an anti-oxidant used in tire manufacturing, was recently identified as the causal agent of acute mortality in coho salmon. Abrasion on tires by road surfaces create tire wear particles (TWPs). Both TWPs and the accumulation of waste tires pose risks of leaching 6PPDQ into stormwater runoff. Crumb rubbers, which are manufactured to reduce landfill tire waste and applied in turf infills, may also leach 6PPDQ. My research aims to determine the conditions at which crumb rubber can be pyrolyzed to prevent 6PPDQ leaching from tire recycling options. If pyrolysis successfully removes 6PPDQ from crumb rubber, then the resulting material can be applied as an absorbent tire char to remove contaminants from water. Waste tire crumb rubber samples were pyrolyzed in a tube furnace under nitrogen flow for 90 minutes at a range of different temperatures. Methanol-based solvent extraction was used to extract the remaining 6PPDQ from the pyrolyzed samples and diluted until suitable for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. It is observed that as the pyrolysis temperature increases, the mass of 6PPDQ leached from pyrolyzed crumb rubber decreases. The results of this study allow us to understand the limitations of pyrolyzing tire rubber to develop activated carbon. To further investigate the feasibility of waste tire activated carbon, a chemical activation step will be added in pyrolysis to better replicate the creation of activated carbon.

When creating video games, developers incorporate auditory components like music and sound effects which influence users’ gameplay experience. A game’s music is often designed with respect to the game’s context or plot, containing melodic and harmonic ideas that are continually developed. Existing research in ludomusicology and human-computer interaction have explored the role of music in these games, but few have considered what musical factors are the most easily perceived or most effective for conveying information. My work investigates specific elements of a game’s music, how they are perceived by a user, and how they impact the user’s decision-making. Participants complete a digital maze in which the music progressively adapts in response to their selected path but the adaptation method is not explicitly revealed to the user. Actions that bring a user closer or further to finishing the maze have opposing adaptations, though it is left to the user to observe and interpret these adaptations correctly. The adaptation methods include tempo, dynamic, pitch, and layering or texture. Through analyzing quantitative data tracked during gameplay as well as interviewing with participants about their experience, I seek out which of the aforementioned auditory changes are most easily perceived by and influential to players. I also discuss emotional responses associated with changes in certain auditory factors. Findings from this work may inform the development of software with effective and meaningful auditory elements for users.

Burnout is high among community mental health providers (CMHPs) and is important to remediate due to its associations with poor provider well-being and worse quality care. CMHPs’ clinical supervisors are well-positioned to address burnout, though little is known about whether supervisors implement burnout strategies that are perceived to be helpful by CMHPs. Thus, the purpose of this project is to investigate at what rates strategies identified as helpful by CMHPs are currently used by supervisors. Given the exploratory nature of this project, there were no a priori hypotheses. This mixed-methods study was conducted as part of an ongoing Washington state-funded evidence-based treatment (EBT) initiative called CBT+ which trains CMHPs serving youths in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression, anxiety, trauma and behavior disorders (Dorsey et al., 2016). Participants (N=197) were CMHPs that participated in the 2022-2023 CBT+ training cohort and were predominantly masters-level, White, and identified as women. CMHPs were asked in a survey “How could your supervisor or agency help reduce your burnout?” and indicated whether or not (yes/no) each strategy was currently used by their supervisor/agency. Burnout solutions were coded inductively using thematic analysis by two independent coders who met weekly to resolve discrepancies. Chi-square goodness of fit tests and confidence intervals were used to examine and compare the rates of use for the solutions endorsed by at least 10% of CMHPs: Time off (endorsed by 26.9%), General self-care (16.2%), Supervision sessions (12.7%), Flexible work arrangement (12.2%), Check-ins (12.2%), Manageable caseload (11.2%), Morale/team building (11.2%), and Engaged supervisor (10.7%). Study findings can help mental health agencies and supervisors focus efforts on ways to implement strategies that are less often used to reduce CMHP burnout, and ultimately increase the quality of mental health care for youths.

Burnout presents a significant challenge for mental health clinicians, affecting not only their well-being and turnover rate but also the quality of care provided to clients. Moreover, studies have shown that clinicians working in community settings face more burnout compared to those in private practice. Among the factors that have been implicated in clinicians’ burnout are the level of education, limited experience and training opportunities, individual variables, and demographic factors. In this study, I examined how clinicians’ reported competencies in core cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills for treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral concerns are associated with their experiences of burnout. I further evaluated whether the relationship between competencies in core CBT+ skills and experiences of burnout is moderated by CBT+ training. The study draws on a diverse sample of 200+ community mental health clinicians who took part in Washington State’s CBT+ training initiative. I employed t-test and multiple regression models to analyze the data. Based on these analyses, there are anticipated insights of uncovering clinician experiences in how clinicians’ level of CBT skills and professional training experiences intersect with burnout. Findings are expected to inform targeted interventions aimed at reducing burnout and enhancing clinician retention across the workforce.

 Thousand and one amino acid kinase 1 (TAOK1) is a serine/threonine kinase expressed abundantly in neurons in the mammalian brain. Mutations in TAOK1 are closely associated with both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). Studies have shown that TAOK1 is a component of the Hippo pathway, which modulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Loss of TAOK1 in mice causes decreased neuronal migration and defects in dendritic development, however, mechanisms that lead to neuropathology in patients with TAOK1 mutations are not known. We focused our investigation on a patient mutation in TAOK1, S111F, which clinically manifests as intellectual disability, developmental delay, and macrocephaly. We used induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived 3D cortical brain organoids with heterozygous and homozygous S111F mutation as a model system in order to examine phenotypical changes in early brain development. We also grew 2D cultures of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), and I used Fiji image analyses to track proliferation rates, which were significantly increased in the mutant cells compared to isogenic control. Western blots were used to observe the phosphorylation states of proteins in the Hippo pathway between wild-type and mutation-carrying cell lines. These experiments show that TAOK1 kinase-dead mutation led to shut down of the Hippo pathway, as evidenced by nuclear accumulation of Yap-Taz proteins. In a parallel research direction, the Yadav lab is interested in solving the structure of TAOK1 membrane binding region. To this end, I am using E. coli bacteria to purify TAOK1 protein using a bacterial expression vector, and after protein purification, the purified protein will be used in biochemical and structural studies. These studies will provide mechanistic insight into TAOK1 biology and how patient mutations in TAOK1 contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Plant root signaling is a complex process. An important growth hormone that is hypothesized to regulate this complexity is Auxin; this hormone is known to oscillate in a region of the root that initiates lateral root development. Auxin oscillations are established by auxin exporters called PIN proteins. However, the regulatory mechanism that determines PIN expression and distribution is unknown. In this project, we built an agent-based model in order to characterize expected auxin dynamics and investigate hypothesized PIN regulatory signaling cascades. In the model, each cell is an individual agent that follows a given rule set. Cells independently calculate their growth and the amount their circulatory components change as the root develops. I analyzed previous models and extracted parameters to determine the necessary spatial and circulatory conditions that initiate our model. I constructed the circulation module to calculate the concentration of circulating components and updates information stored in circulation data structures to track how the values have changed after each round simulation. I also implemented the input and output modules for initialization and results export respectively. The model is implemented in Python and was built following test-driven development to ensure all class functions and modules are tested using pre-defined conditions. Preliminary simulation results revealed an oscillatory change in auxin concentration. This agent-based model provides a means to explore the auxin circulation dynamics and interrogate the viability of hypothesized mechanisms that regulate the lateral root development by applying different rule sets.

There is a growing emphasis on providing "equitable" mental health care, and yet ‘equity’ is seldom defined clearly. Publicly-funded community mental health clinics’ (CMHCs) clinicians often serve clients from minoritized and underrepresented backgrounds, and thus may regularly observe and address equity issues, making their perspectives invaluable. This qualitative study explores CMHC clinicians’ perspectives of equity in their clinical practice. Our data was obtained from an online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) training initiative in Washington State targeting CMHC clinicians serving youth. Participating clinicians (N = 245) received nine consultation sessions from CBT experts over a six-month period and completed pre-training and post-consultation surveys. In the pre-training survey, we asked clinicians to define equity and list resources they would want access to that can improve their consideration of equity in their practice. Descriptive statistics summarized clinician demographics. Using thematic analysis, clinicians’ open-ended responses were coded to identify emerging themes. Clinicians were predominantly female (74.7%), White (58.8%), had a master’s level training (90.2%), and a mean age of 34.2 years (SD = 9.3). After coding clinicians’ definitions of equity, ‘accommodation’ (i.e., tailoring services to clients) was the most endorsed theme (38.8%, n = 95), followed by ‘equality’ (i.e., treating clients the same; 19.6%, n = 48) and ‘fairness’ (i.e., treating clients with justness, 17.6%, n = 43). When asked about resources that could improve their considerations of equity, clinicians’ responses most frequently included diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trainings, expanding reach to more diverse populations, equity-focused supervision, and financial aid (e.g., gas cards, food pantry). While CMHC clinicians’ perceptions of equity included common themes, their understanding may at times conflate equity and equality. These findings highlight the importance of increasing access to DEI-focused trainings and supervision along with other resources to assist CMHC clinicians in delivering equitable care.

One of the current challenges with evidence based practices (EBP) is addressing social risk factors (SRF) in conjunction with mental health therapies. SRFs are adverse social conditions which impact the physical and mental health of an individual, group, or community. Addressing SRFs in low-resource settings increases access to and engagement in EBPs by reducing immediate threats presented by SRFs. Training in EBPs does not typically include how to address SRFs. To understand possible ways to address SRFs in EBPs, we examine whether counselors delivering EBPs in a low-to-middle income country are addressing SRFs and how the strategies impact the implementation and delivery of an EBP. This study builds on the parent study, “The Building and Sustaining Interventions for Children (BASIC)”, which examines the implementation and sustainment of an adapted version of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, called Pamoja Tunaweza (PT) implemented by lay counselors in Kenya.To examine strategies used to address SRFs in PT, twelve PT counselors from the BASIC study participated in semi-structured interviews with trained interviewers. We conducted an inductive thematic analysis to identify codes and themes derived directly from the interview data. We identified and organized segments of the interviews into codes which were further categorized into themes. Themes include types of strategies counselors used to address SRFs as well as their impact within the context of PT. We report the frequencies of the codes and themes as they relate to their impact. Preliminary results indicate that when counselors reported using strategies to address SRFs, such as referring guardians to resources and collaborating with school administration, counselors saw increases in child self-esteem and PT attendance. Understanding how addressing SRFs impact mental health and implementation outcomes can help inform training of counselors to effectively improve use and engagement of PT and other EBPs.

TBC1(Tre2/Bub2/Cdc16) Domain-Containing Kinase (TBCK) is a pseudokinase with proposed involvement in the endocytic pathway. Kinases are proteins that can post-translationally modify other proteins through the addition of inorganic phosphate from ATP to serine/threonine/tyrosine residues. TBCK, being a pseudokinase, lacks critical residues that allow ATP binding and, therefore, cannot catabolize ATP. Pseudokinases, while catalytically inactive, have been shown to have protein scaffolding properties as well as modulate the activity of other kinases. Whether pseudokinase TBCK plays a role in any of those functions has yet to be discovered. Via the TBC1 domain, TBCK interacts with Rab proteins, a class of membrane-binding proteins involved in multiple cellular pathways that coordinate intracellular vesicle transport with GTP active and GDP inactive states. TBCK functions as a Rab GAP(GTP-hydrolysis activating protein), hydrolyzing Rab bound GTP and leaving an inactive GDP-bound Rab. Mutations in TBCK have been found to be clinically associated with a rare neurological disorder, TBCK syndrome, characterized by delayed development, intellectual disorder, and hypotonia. The interactors and Rab substrates of TBCK are under researched and still poorly understood; we aim to illuminate those interactions through immunoprecipitation (IP) and mass spectrometry. Early attempts at this goal involved co-transfection of various Rab protein targets with TBCK WT and TBCK R511H (a TBC1 inactive mutant) in HEK 293T cells and subsequent co-IP, enriching for TBCK and interacting Rab proteins. These preliminary results, in combination with live imaging and immunofluorescence of TBCK and its mutants with Rab proteins and other membrane markers, proved inconclusive. Therefore, we are now performing crosslinking immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry to allow the identification weakly interacting protein complexes through mass spectrometry. These experiments will provide insight into the fundamental biology underlying TBCK’s role in neurodevelopment and how its dysfunction contributes to disease states.

African immigrants are highly disproportionately affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) compared to US-born individuals in the U.S.. In King County, HIV stigma is a significant barrier to HIV testing among African immigrant communities. Our study aims to partner with communities to confront the HIV epidemic among the African immigrant population in King County by decreasing HIV stigma that prevents individuals from utilizing HIV testing. In this formative study, we have partnered with three African community organizations, Ethiopian Health Board, Eritrean Health Board, and the Congolese United Foundation, to deliver community-based HIV testing via health fairs at faith-based organizations and adapt and pilot an existing HIV stigma reduction intervention (Project FAITHH). We are working with faith-based organizations to address religious/moral beliefs that may foster negative social labels towards and further stigmatize people living with HIV. Data collected at health fairs hosted in churches serving each of these communities include HIV stigma scales, perceived barriers faced by individuals and community members that impact HIV testing, and demographics including country of origin, gender, religious affiliation, and primary language(s). Additionally, we have adapted an 8-module, faith-based stigma reduction intervention for these communities, aimed to address inequities in HIV testing perpetuated through HIV stigma, misinformation, and lack of awareness among intersecting, religious identities. The intervention includes activities to explore and address the sources of stigma around HIV in African immigrant communities, as well as information about HIV, including HIV epidemiology in King County. Anticipated findings regarding HIV stigma of participants before and after the intervention will inform our implementation of Project FAITHH among a more diverse group of African immigrant communities in King County. This work furthers the impact of community-based interventions designed to address the disparities in HIV in King County.

Geoparsing, the task of assigning coordinates to locations extracted from text, enables us to better understand how places change over time through historical documents. The task has seen many advancements with the growth of neural machine learning methods, but these models require large amounts of training data. In the history domain, many geoparsing corpora are from newspaper collections because of the availability of labeled data. However, not all historical research benefits from rich data availability, so we seek to understand and improve existing geoparsing methods for small corpora. In this project, I focus on the Svoboda Diaries, a collection of personal diaries written by British steamship purser Joseph Svoboda during the late 19th century in Ottoman Iraq. How do geoparsing methods perform in the Svoboda Diaries, a small historical text corpus written primarily in English, but also including text in Arabic, Italian, and French? We develop a map-based generate-and-rank approach with clustering of context words surrounding each location in the text. The location data is retrieved from two knowledge bases: GeoNames, a gazetteer with over 25 million geographical names, and Wikidata, a free and collaboratively edited database. We first extract the locations from the text using a natural language processing method called named entity recognition. Since modern location names may differ from historical spellings, we then generate alternate names for each identified location through translation and hand-crafted Romanization rules, such as “Basra” for “Basreh”, and query knowledge bases to retrieve coordinate data associated with these names. We find that our method to augment transliterated Arabic names with alternate names helps with gazetteer lookups, suggesting potential for augmenting data in other small corpora tasks. Our research with the Svoboda Diaries expands on existing geoparsing methods and can apply to other digital humanities projects facing the small corpora challenge.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is characterized by the improper cleavage of amyloid precursor protein by a complex containing presenilin 1 (PSEN1) or presenilin 2 (PSEN2). Notably, PSEN1 and PSEN2 are strong genetic risk factors for heritable AD. However, 95% of AD cases currently have no known genetic cause. Recent work from the Valdmanis lab found PSEN2 isoform variations at the RNA level in sporadic AD. One such variation was the detection of differential 3'UTR lengths on the PSEN2 transcript. The 3'UTR is an important regulatory region that controls transcript maturation, stability, and abundance and is subject to environmental regulation. The length of this regulatory region is determined by RNA processing machinery during polyadenylation, and differences in this post-transcriptional process lead to differences in the 3'UTR length known as alternative polyadenylation (APA). APA may represent a functional mechanism by which PSEN2 regulation differs in AD. The goal of these studies is to understand the impact of PSEN2 APA on neuronal function. We hypothesize that the length of the 3'UTR on PSEN2 transcript aligns with phenotypic changes associated with AD. To test this hypothesis, we are cloning PSEN2 with short and long 3'UTRs to test the functional differences of PSEN2 APA in vitro. Our goal is to introduce the short and long PSEN2 3'UTR constructs in the cells, specifically, microglia, the brain's immune cells, which are heavily implicated in AD pathology. Then, we will visualize the subcellular location of these transcripts and test for altered amyloid beta processing, which is a pathological hallmark of AD. We anticipate detecting differences in regulation and subcellular localization between the short and long PSEN2 3'UTR transcripts. Elucidating the functional relevance of the short and long 3'UTR of the PSEN2 transcript will further our understanding of APA in AD.

Eutrophication fuels toxic algal blooms that can harm biodiversity and human health. Phosphate is often the limiting nutrient in freshwater ecosystems and, when in excess, causes eutrophication. Our study compares urban lakes prone to algal blooms to rural lakes with fewer anthropogenic sources of pollution to better correlate nutrient dynamics of pacific northwest lakes to population density. We collected sediment and water samples from two lakes in the Seattle area and two lakes in a more remote setting, then measured phosphate uptake and release over time using ion chromatography. To determine the potential for the sediments to uptake phosphate, we placed air-dried sediment samples into a phosphate solution and measured the concentration over time. We also put the sediment in distilled water and measured the phosphate released from the sediment over a 24 hour time period. These two data sets allow us to quantify the capacity of sediment to store and release phosphate into the surrounding environment. Our research shows sediments from urban lakes release more phosphate and have a reduced ability to uptake nutrients from the water. This suggests that the lake will continue to eutrophy whereas the lakes more removed from human activity have a better ability to mitigate excess phosphates. This model for assessing the ability of sediment to store phosphate allows prediction of future eutrophication events.