BIO

I am from my lovely hometown Jacksonville, Florida. In high school, I discovered my passion for all things Biology and fell in love with researching evolution. Now, I enjoy learning everything about how the Earth works in order to hopefully have the opportunity to do paleontology research.

Investigating Iron Concentration in Groundwater Following a Lake-Draining Sinkhole Event

Abstract

Sinkhole lakes are, as the name entails, lakes with a sinkhole in the lakebed. These lakes have occasional dry-down events, which means that the water previously occupying the lake relocates, leaving them significantly emptier than before. These lakes go through a dry-down with a sinkhole event most of the lake water drains into a sinkhole found on the lakebed. Some of these lakes are Lafayette, Miccosukee, Iamonia, and Jackson, all in Tallahassee. Lake Jackson has the most frequent sinkhole events. One of these occurred in February 2022. This was one of the major dry-downs and the one which we collected samples from. Though this is a significant event on the ecosystem, there has not been much research done surrounding these dry-downs, especially the chemical impacts of these events on the downgradient aquifer the water flows through. It is to be expected that there will be oxidative weathering reactions occurring between the draining O2-rich lake water and minerals in the subsurface, leading to changes in iron concentrations in the aquifer. In this project, we investigate the changes in iron concentration in the downgradient groundwater following the February 2022 Lake Jackson dry-down. By analyzing many different days’ worth of samples of water, we have created a chronological data set of shifting iron concentrations.

Keywords: Sinkhole, Hydrogeology, Water, Iron, Lake Jackson

BIO

My name is Nicolas Azzi and I'm from Miami. I'm currently pursuing a double major in computer science and applied mathematics. I'm Interested in doing research in machine learning, a.i., and software engineering.

Creating Software for a Scanning Probe Microscopy

Abstract

We created custom software for a scanning probe microscope (SPM) to support various FSU research projects and experiments. We will begin by giving a brief overview of SPM and its potential applications in scientific research. Following that, we'll talk about why we need specialized software and how it fits our needs. We will also discuss the time and effort required to create this type of machinery. Our presentation will primarily concentrate on the software development process and the key features of the software that we developed. In addition, we will go over the programming languages used for this project and why they were chosen over others

Keywords: Physics, Computer Science, and Computer engineering

BIO

Sydney is a senior at Florida State University studying Behavioral Neuroscience emphasizing mental health care. She has worked in FSUs March Lab since 2021 and is passionate about a wide variety of research topics. For the last year, she has been studying laughter and its intersections with social coping and pain management. After finishing her bachelor's degree Sydney is hoping to apply to graduate school while working in healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys painting, volunteering with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, and working with plants.

Pain-Induced Laughter: An Evolutionary Explanation & Proposed Mechanism

Abstract

Humans have the ability to reduce our discomfort when we are in physical or psychological pain. Some, for example, scream in release, grind their teeth, induce a new painful and distracting stimulus, or look to others for a social distraction. There is, however, a less intuitive method that works to reduce discomfort: some people laugh or smile. Anecdotally, this occurs in the context of others’ visible pain with examples like America’s Funniest Home Videos and slapstick-style media clearly demonstrating our penchant for laughing at another's pain. This method may also be turned inward to reduce discomfort when experiencing it ourselves. Recent research has indeed highlighted the possible healing nature of laughter, with data implying it can reduce stress, pain, and discomfort. However, it remains unclear why laughter has this effect. That is, how did laughter come to function as a means to reduce social and physical discomfort? And did such a process evolve to make ourselves feel better or is that merely an exaptation of an originally unrelated process? We are exploring one proposed mechanism for how the association between laughter and pain may have evolved. In highlighting this mechanism, we link research on the evolution of laughter with that on endogenous pain reduction to propose a model that argues that laughter became a conditioned response to pain.

Keywords: Laughter, Pain

BIO

Hi! I'm a freshman Editing, Writing, and Media major from Orlando. My research interests span across the humanities. I'm always looking to learn more about niche topics I'm not already familiar with, which is what led me to research on conlangs. I've gained a lot of new knowledge on linguistics through my project, which is something I hope to possibly expand upon in the future.

Sound, Meaning and Music in Tolkien's Elvish Languages and in Le Guin's Invented language Kesh

Abstract

This project examines the connection between sound and meaning in three invented languages: Kesh, Quenya and Sindarin. Kesh was developed by Ursula Le Guin for her novel Always Coming Home and features in her musical composition Music and Poetry of the Kesh. Quenya and Sindarin are Elvish languages invented by J.R.R. Tolkien for his Middle Earth fictional world, featured in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarilion. These three artistic languages had different linguistic influences, but share the goals of being aesthetically pleasing and highly melodic and musical.

This project examines the euphony and musicality of both authors’ languages in the context of phono-semanticism, i.e., the concept that sounds carry meaning. Linguistic studies show that certain sounds carry meaning associations across several unrelated languages (Hinton et al. 1994; Blasi et al. 2016; Jao 2020, Mompean et al. 2020, inter al.). For example, ‘r’ sounds tend to be present in words conveying roughness across languages (Winter et al. 2021). Building on Farrugia’s (2014) preliminary study of phono-semanticism in Tolkien’s languages, we explore the phonetic similarities of Kesh to those of Elvish languages, and their relative distribution in words conveying musicality, beauty, good, evil, and roughness. This study will advance our understanding of how sound and meaning are connected and used in artistic creations.

Keywords: Linguistics, Conlang, Tolkien, Sound-Symbolism, Quenya, Kesh

BIO

Adam Nguyen is a 2nd year psychology major at FSU. His research interests include exploring feelings of isolation from one's culture, in addition to understanding the varying levels of childhood trauma. Aside from those topics, he tends to enjoy participating in activities surrounding theatre and singing. Currently he is a part of FSU’s Tenor-Bass Acapella Group, Reverb. All these passions have helped him understand the need for both creative and practical outlets when alleviating mental health issues. This is why he hopes to pursue a PHD in Clinical Psychology or a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling after completing his bachelors.

How Do Thinking Styles Relate To Our Trust In First Impressions?

Abstract

Do individuals have differing beliefs on the correctness of first impressions? Many studies have reviewed the behavioral and subconscious factors that contribute to the application of impressions in our daily lives. However, few studies have delved into people’s metacognitive thought processes regarding their first impressions. This study sought to answer the question: “Do our thinking processes influence our choice in trusting the validity of our first impressions?” We tested the relationship between the tendency to lean on analytical or intuitive thinking processes and the trust one has in their first impressions of others. Analytical thinking has been defined as a slow and conscious thinking process, whereas intuitive thinking is quicker and more habitual. We hypothesized that being more attuned to intuitive thinking would relate to a higher trust in first impressions, while the opposite should be true for analytical thinking. By using the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) measure, we examined 139 participants’ thinking processes –the extent to which they provided intuitive and analytical responses to math questions- in an online survey. We then tested the relationship between these responses and trust in first impressions as indicated by a self-reported scale we created. A positive correlation between trust and intuitive thinking, as well as a negative correlation between trust and analytical thinking supported our original hypotheses. In future research, we plan on investigating whether actively modifying one’s thinking processes can be effective in altering the trust in first impressions and its potential biasing impacts on decision-making.

Keywords: Metacognition, Dual Process Theories, and First Impressions

BIO

Hello, my name is Stacey Louima. I am a Haitian-American from Port Saint Lucie, FL currently majoring in Biology and Public health. I have had the chance to work with others to find ways to help those that are less fortunate through my work in research, something that I hope to continue. In the future, I hope to become a Doctor that specializes in OB/GYN or pediatrics.

Medication Pictograms in Honduras

Abstract

In the healthcare system, the implementation of pictograms has been used as a method of distributing an assortment of health information to patients in a manner that is effective and comprehensible. The use of pictograms in the medical setting has been proven to be extremely beneficial when it comes to understanding complex medical information. For this reason, our research project focuses on the administration of pictograms in Honduras. In Honduras, limited health literacy has been shown to have a negative influence on proper medication use. Often, individuals are prescribed medication with limited instruction, which makes it difficult to ensure that patients are aware of how to take any medicine prescribed safely and properly. The intention of this project is to investigate the potential outcomes of implementing culturally sensitive pictograms in a rural community in Honduras. With the collaboration of pharmacists, doctors, and native Hondurans, the Village Health Worker team will be able to analyze the validity of pictograms, in terms of cost and willingness of participants, as well as observe any possible improvements in health literacy.

Keywords: Honduras, Pictograms, Health Literacy, Cultural Sensitivity

BIO

I am a first-year student here at Florida State University. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. When I'm not studying and doing assignments, I enjoy reading comic books, cooking, and watching k-dramas in my free time. In the future, I hope to become a lawyer and open my own practice.

Florida's Pocahontas: A Changing Perspective?

Abstract

How has the perspective of White settlers in Territorial Tallahassee affected the stories told about the Muskogee tribe?
Many of the perspectives regarding the interactions between Native Americans and White settlers have been told from the perspective of White settlers. Many of these perspectives describe the Native Americans as “savages” and depict them with a negative connotation. This is evident in the story Governor William Pope Duval told of Chief Neamathla and shown in the way many of the White settlers referred to Milly Francis’s father and the rest of their tribe as “savage” and “cruel”. Milly Francis is depicted in a very positive light because she saved the life of Duncan McCrimmon. However, research reveals that this act of kindness and bravery towards a White man displayed by someone of the Muskogee tribe was viewed by Whites as an anomaly in Native American behavior. Milly Francis herself, however, saw her intervention on behalf of McCrimmon as a normal human response. These contradicting perspectives illuminate why the Muskogee have had no choice but to fight hard for their lives and their homes when provoked by White settlers.

Keywords: Native American, Tallahassee Turns 200, Milly Francis

BIO

I am a hard-of-hearing individual from New Orleans, LA who found their passion for research in middle school. I knew that I wanted to conduct research in college the moment I participated in my first science fair. From then, things only progressed. I now work in the Biomedical Sciences Department at FSU's College of Medicine. Our lab specializes in keloid and skin cancer research.

Testing Novel Biopolymer Adhesives for Drug Delivery in the Treatment of Skin Disorders

Abstract

Keloids are non-cancerous fibroproliferative skin tumors that form due to aberrant wound healing. They are caused by excess collagen production and overproliferation of fibroblasts. Treatments include topical corticosteroids and a variety of other drugs used empirically to block keloid growth, although these show highly variable efficacy and high recurrence rates. Additionally, patient compliance with the long-term application of drugs remains a big challenge in the treatment of many skin conditions. In collaboration with the FSU College of Engineering, we are testing novel biopolymer adhesives for drug delivery through the skin. Here, we have tested the polymer neutral poly-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (neutral AMPS) for the topical application of drugs to treat keloids and other skin diseases. In my research, I studied the effect of the biopolymer with and without the drug sodium valproate on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) in culture to determine their effect on healthy skin cells. My preliminary results show that the polymer can release the drug but the polymer itself results in some cytotoxicity. However, since human skin has layers of dead cells protecting the underlying live cells, it is possible that this biopolymer maybe safe to use in low concentrations for drug delivery through human skin.

Keywords: biology, chemistry, cancer

BIO

My name is Angelique Kremer and I’m a second year here at Florida State University getting my degree in Biology with a focus in Marine Biology. I'm originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, and enjoy the beach and all oceanic life. Over this past year I have learned about phytoplanktonic species and am interested in learning more about other marine species and oceanic processes. I hope to get a job as a researcher working in the field collecting data and analyzing it back in the lab.

Morphological and Physiological Adaptations Over Growth Cycles of the Marine Diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii

Abstract

Thalassiosira weissflogii (TW) is a circular diatom that grows in marine environments that are yellow green in color at high densities. Triplicates of a TW culture were grown a media solution that contained necessary nutrients such as 40 µm NO3 , 2.5 µm PO4 , and 5 µm Si. Cultures were kept in incubators at a temperature of 23 ℃ and in light conditions creating a diurnal cycle. The TW triplicates were observed for a total of 19 days. Using flow cytometry, variable fluorescence instruments, and a multiplate reader, cell growth and nutrient uptake were recorded daily. The focus of this experiment was to observe morphological and physiological changes in the diatom species Thalassiosira weissflogii during an artificial bloom. They go through four life stages: lag phase, exponential phase, stationary phase, and death phase. We found that during the stationary phase, the diatoms changed morphology; they became much larger when looking at FSC data. TW also changed their chlorophyll rates, increasing in biovolume and Chl a per cell. Once NO3 was nearly drawn down, the cells stopped replicating but changed some of their cellular properties. Cells did not draw NO3 to completion, only to about 5 µm. This indicates that PO4 is the limiting agent. During cell death, all nutrients had been taken up and they could not grow more biomass.

Keywords: Angelique Kremer, Sven Kranz, Marine Diatom, Thalassiosira weissflogii

BIO

My name is Isabela and I am a transfer student from Panama City, Panama. I am a senior majoring in psychology. I enjoy playing volleyball with my friends, watching TV shows, cooking, and attempting to make ceramics.

Loneliness, Commitment, Well-being, and the Role of Shared Time in Close Relationships

Abstract

In married heterosexual couples we can expect to see the following trends:
Wives who experience more stress spend less time with their husbands. However, the amount of stress experienced by husbands seems to be less correlated with the amount of time they share with their wives.
Wives who feel more satisfied with their marriage will likely spend more time with their husbands. On the other hand, husband’s satisfaction with the marriage has a lesser correlation with increased shared time.
Spending more time with their spouse can lead to lesser feelings of depression for women. Shared time seems to have the same effect for men, although the correlation is weaker.
In general, wives who experience depression will be less satisfied with their marriage. Husbands expressed a weaker correlation of the same trend.
Surprisingly, husbands who are more satisfied with their marriage tend to experience less anxiety. This also applies to wives, but to a lesser extent.

Keywords: loneliness, shared time, relationships, commitment, well-being

BIO

Amari Sims is a second-year Biological Sciences major and FSU USSTRIDE member. She is an aspiring medical physician pursuing a career in dermatological healthcare for underserved populations, with a focus on minority skincare. Conducting research on the science supporting minority skincare through the UROP program provided an immense amount of resources, knowledge, and experience that has fostered and cultivated an even greater love of science and medicine. Amari has been quite resourceful on her journey to acquire the requisite knowledge while seeking to take full advantage of every available resource and experience to develop the necessary skill set and academic prowess to be admitted into medical school. To this end, her research that was conducted under Madison Leonard, Alexzandra Mattia, Charles Fleischer, M.D., and S. Anand Narayanan, Ph.D. and alongside Isabella Adia, has provided her with a firsthand insight into the challenges and rigor required to fulfill her dreams of performing research and practicing as a dermatologist. This research was a focused investigation of the prevalence of dermatological conditions in rural Honduras which directly aligned with Amari’s future aspirations of providing dermatological healthcare to underserved populations, solidifying and reaffirming her purpose and career goals.

An Investigation of the Prevalence of Dermatological Conditions in Rural Honduras

Abstract

Honduras, located in tropical Central America, faces notable health challenges. One example includes skin diseases, which are prevalent due to the warm and humid environment which facilitates the growth and spread of microorganisms causing infections and other skin conditions. Researching the prevalence of dermatological diseases in Honduras, specifically the rural communities such as Gracias a Dios, is beneficial for the prevention and progression of improving the quality of life of the individuals from those communities. Our research study examined the prevalence of skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic skin condition distinguished by dry, itchy, and scaly skin, psoriasis, and fungal infections that can be caused by a wide range of environmental and lifestyle factors.
From our literature review and the administration of IRB-approved surveys, we were able to discover the prevalence of AD among the villagers in the rural community of Gracias a Dios. Based on our preliminary observations, it showed that Honduras has a notably high rate of pediatric prevalence and associated symptoms of AD when compared to other regions across the globe. Our future projects will allocate resources, enhance efforts to identify risk factors, target prevention strategies aimed at minimizing the spread among certain populations, and reveal distribution patterns in disparities in access to healthcare services. Not only does understanding the prevalence and severity of dermatological diseases act as a catalyst for the implementation of early diagnosis and treatment, but it also improves knowledge of and access to prevention strategies and practices.

Keywords: Dermatology, Honduras, Underserved

BIO

I am a sophmore here at FSU on the pre-med track. Aside from my academics and research, I enjoy working out, spending time with my friends and family, and going to the beach. In the future, I plan on attending medical school and exploring research in genetics.

A New Way to Communicate Visual Field Morphology: A Crocodilian Case Study

Abstract

Visual fields encompass the area over which the eyes of an organism can gather light and therefore near instantaneous information about their environment. Visual fields can be divided into three primary regions: the binocular field (light detected by both eyes), monocular field (one eye), and blind zone. The shape of these regions has been shown to vary substantially across species and correlate with feeding modes and behavior in birds and mammals. My Advisor, Tyler Hunt, measured the in vivo visual fields of 10 crocodilian species of differing head shapes and ecologies to understand how visual fields vary with snout types. However, the unique visual fields he found among crocodilians made depicting these morphologies difficult using standard 2D depictions. Visual field data are inherently 3D, yet have historically been depicted primarily in 2D, limiting our ability to illustrate a full representation of the morphologies. The advent of user-friendly animation software such as Maya has now made it possible to represent these data in 3D. For this project, I developed a pipeline using Illustrator and Maya that enabled me to project the visual field data on a 3D sphere with a model of the crocodilian’s head placed at the center of the sphere. These models improve considerably on prior representations by depicting all three aspects (binocular, monocular, and blind zones) of the visual field simultaneously. Furthermore, the incorporation of the animal’s skull provides a more intuitive and biologically informative view of the visual fields and enables clearer communication to a broader audience.

Keywords: Animation, Crocodilian , Visual Fields

BIO

Shovik Saha is a freshman at Florida State University from Greenacres, Florida, majoring in Environment and Society. At Florida State, Shovik is involved with the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, the Freshman Leadership Institute, the Environmental Service Program, and the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals. Shovik is passionate about environmental conservation and justice, hoping to attend law school after graduation to become an environmental attorney.

Using Interactive Climate-Change Based Storybooks In Elementary Schools To Teach About Place-Based Climate Change

Abstract

In the context of climate change, it is crucial to impart knowledge about the changing climate and its impact on our ecosystems and societies to the present generation of young learners. The objective of this study is to augment the self-efficacy of elementary school teachers in imparting climate literacy. The research emphasizes the development of pertinent storybooks focused on climate change in Leon County and Wakulla County. These storybooks are tailored to capture the imagination of a youthful audience, with familiar scenes and characters, fostering critical and reflective engagement. The climate change education field must present information in an easily comprehensible and interactive format. We seek to evaluate the potential of these storybooks in elementary school classrooms to foster climate change awareness through community-based ways with an eventual goal of generating qualitative outcomes in the upcoming academic years. Ultimately, we hope the outcome of these storybooks advances the empowerment of climate change literacy amongst educational professionals and students through a call to action to create their climate action project.

Keywords: environmental education

BIO

My name is Connor Bauch. I am from Alpharetta, Georgia. I am currently a sophomore and I plan to pursue further education in medical school.

NOX and Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation Impact Microvascular Blood Flow

Abstract

High-carbohydrate (HC) or high-fat (HF) meals are known to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), which underlie the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). NADPH oxidase (NOX) is a primary source of ROS in the vasculature, but the effects of NOX-generated ROS on in vivo microvascular blood flow following a HC or HF meal are unclear. Recent studies indicate creatine monohydrate (CM) may reduce ROS levels and improve blood flow. The primary aim of this study was to determine if NOX-derived ROS impairs microvascular blood flow in response to a HC or HF meal and to establish whether 5 days of CM could reduce ROS concentrations and improve microvascular blood flow in response to a HC or HF meal. Young, healthy males and females were studied. Microdialysis was utilized to measure local skeletal muscle ROS concentrations and microvascular blood flow at rest and for 4 hours after consumption of either a HC (150 g of glucose) or HF (66 g of fat) meal. Microvascular blood flow was assessed by the ethanol outflow-to-inflow ratio. Microdialysis procedures were repeated after 5 days of CM supplementation. Microvascular blood flow was significantly higher in APO post HC/HF consumption. Following 5 days of CM supplementation, ROS concentrations, and microvascular blood flow were significantly increased at 180 mins post HC/HF consumption. NOX plays a large role in microvascular blood flow changes following the administration of a HC/HF meal. Further, CM supplementation improves microvascular blood flow which may indicate CM may be effective for the prevention of CVD.

Keywords: creatine, cardiovascular, exercise

BIO

Hello, my name is Kyarelise Colon and I am a second year double majoring Psychology and Criminology major. I am Puerto Rican, raised in Tampa, Florida but was born in Brooklyn, New York. My research interests include understanding the use of growth mindset interventions and their effectiveness on college students. Beyond that I enjoy spending time outdoors (specifically sitting on Landis), spending time with my sorority sisters, and taking pictures of things that are pretty! These are some of the things that help me decompress after the school day. In the future, I hope to get my Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology after completing my Bachelor's.

The Effectiveness of Growth Mindset Interventions with College Students

Abstract

College students vary in the types of mindsets they hold. The Mindset Theory developed by Stanford professor Dr. Carol Dweck (2006), defines mindset as one’s perception of their own intelligence and abilities to develop new skills and knowledge. A growth mindset is a belief that someone can grow their intelligence and gain knowledge as long as they apply effort over time. In contrast, a fixed mindset is the belief that intelligence and talent is innate with little room for change. Because a growth or fixed mindset can influence one’s perception of their intelligence, the focus of this literature review is to examine if intervention methods positively affected students’ academic achievement, social belonging, and cognition. The literature review investigates the use of different intervention methods with college students and how these interventions affect their overall success in college. The literature review parameters were limited to peer-reviewed publications from 2002 to 2022 and included specific key terms (e.g., academic, belongingness, growth mindset, interventions) used to search for studies in research repositories/databases (e.g., APA PsychInfo). We identified several studies with various intervention methodologies (e.g., pen-pal conditions, reflective writing, targeted readings, video) that yielded positive growth mindset outcomes for college students. In particular, numerous studies identified positive outcomes for students’ academic success. Because studies have identified growth mindset interventions as effective for college students in general, we hope to continue researching interventions with first-generation and other historically under-represented college student populations to positively influence their academic and social success.

Keywords: Growth Mindset, College Students, Intervention

BIO

I am a dual degree in Economics and Finance with a minor in Computer Science. I am a first year here at Florida State. I live in Sarasota, Florida but originally grew up in Ohio.

Type Ia Supernovae Flame Explosion Model

Abstract

The focus of the study is to analyze the structure of the Type Ia supernova explosion model. The Type Ia supernovae focuses on the stellar flame model of this white dwarf structure. The estimations of these flame properties have the potential to be improved, specifically the predictions of the flame speed. Although there is current data on the Supernovae model, further statistics with an approximate flame speed formula will solidify the pre-existing data. In order to compute the data, the MESA code is utilized. By basing the inputs off of fuel density and composition in reference to the explosion problem, flame properties can be analyzed. With these results, a flame speed model can be produced. There is no data currently as the flame models are in progress of being retrieved accurately and checked for marginal error. However, data can be compared to the relevant to Timmes and Woosley’s results. Nevertheless, final results are on the verge of being produced. Regardless, the conclusions will be based on the output of the composition of the flame model’s parameters, given the density input. With the higher density of 6d9 to 1d10, the densities will converge to similar trends. In future studies to build off of this knowledge, this nuclear network with the MESA code is considered simple compared to the actual complexity of the Supernovae model. Efforts to refine and improve the models is always encouraged.

Keywords: Supernovae Computer Programming Research

BIO

Hi everyone, I’m Rafael de la Cova from sunny Miramar in South Florida. I am currently a freshman pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology. I am generally interested in most things weather and climate, especially Florida’s mesoscale and tropical weather (that I grew up around). In terms or research, I am just as interested in tropical plant conservation as well as the weather, so this current project really does lie at the crux of these fields and of my interests (weather and plants). In the future I plan to work as a forecaster for the government or private entity.

Examining the influence of climate change on Hawaiian wet tropical forest species using carbon-12 to carbon-13 stable isotope ratios

Abstract

Climate change affects all aspects of the global environment including the amount of water available to plants in tropical forests, particularly those located in the dry and wet tropical forests of Hawai’i. Captured and examined over time, the stable carbon isotopes in plant litter, carbon-12 and carbon-13, can act as tracers for the unique water-use efficiency of plants in given climate conditions. Water-use efficiency of plants relates to entire ecosystem processes such as net carbon accumulation through photosynthesis. These observations may provide a clearer look into the response of tropical forests to climate change. From 7-10 years of leaf litter collections from the wet forest at Laupahoehoe, we sorted the species Acacia Koa (“Koa”) and Metrosideros polymorpha (“Ohi’a lehua”). After sorting by species, we ground the samples into a homogenous fine-grained powder and dried them to ensure all extra water weight was dissipated. A mass spectrometer was used to measure the carbon stable isotope concentrations. The records of these isotopic ratios allow us to track the plant's water-use efficiency over time and how water-use efficiency fluctuates with various climate conditions that the plants were experiencing seasonally, including temperature and precipitation. In time, we expect species to adapt to warmer and drier conditions and therefore have less C13 and higher water use efficiency because of decreased stomatal conductance plants exhibit when under water or temperature stress.]

Keywords: Carbon isotopes, plant phenology, tropical forests

BIO

Tiena Mahoney is currently a sophomore studying Environmental Science. After graduation, they hope to pursue higher education studying Physical Oceanography. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, rowing, and spending time with their cat, Suki.

Effect of habitat configuration on the persistence of macroalgae in the Moorea coral reef system

Abstract

Coral reefs have been struggling for many years due to many factors, but a pertinent reason is phase shifts, which are when a coral bommie or habitable coral structure, shift from a healthy state to a macroalgae-dominated state. These phase shifts have been relatively well studied by ecologists, however, macroalgal species with low dispersal rates are not well studied. As more coral reef structures are affected by these phase shifts, it is becoming increasingly crucial to study the patterns of macroalgae growth. We focused on 10 sites around the island of Moorea, French Polynesia, each spanning 15x15 meters. We aimed to study the spread of Turbinaria Ornata across a variety of bommie sizes and distances. First, we created orthomosaics of each site and IDed the patches of Turbinaria, then we ran those annotations through GIS software to map the location and percent cover of each patch across the coral bommies. Next, we used R to analyze the distances between the bommies and their correlation with macroalgae growth between 2019 and 2021. We hypothesized that larger bommies and those in closer proximity to other bommies would experience less change in Turbinaria cover over time, while smaller bommies would have higher rates of change. This study can inform how habitat configuration can affect the spread and persistence of macroalgae in coral reef systems which then can provide a better understanding of how ecologists can better protect and prevent these phase shifts from occurring.

Keywords: Coral Reef, Marine Biology, Algae

BIO

I am a 2nd-year student from Tampa, Florida. Some of my hobbies are horseback riding, hiking, and reading. I have been interested in psychology since I took AP Psychology in high school and fell in love with the field. In hopes of becoming a psychologist, I have been gaining experience through volunteering, working, and participating in organizations such as Women in Math, Science, and Engineering (WIMSE) and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP).

An Analysis of the Relationship Between Webcam Preference and Seating Preference

Abstract

● While the concept of online learning has been around since the 90s, for most students it became something familiar due to the worldwide emergency school closures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic (Aguilera-Hermida, et al., 2021)
● Despite the lifting of restrictions, online learning is still commonly used through platforms such as Zoom, BlackBoard, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Skype
● Given the pandemic’s abrupt altering of learning environments, it is worthwhile to investigate how student behaviors in in-person classrooms translate to online classrooms and vice versa (Dennen, et al., 2022)
● Our research explores the relationship between webcam preferences for online classes and seating preferences for in-person classes
○ Are participants who prefer to keep their webcam on more likely to prefer sitting in the front than those who prefer to keep their webcam off?
○ Are participants who prefer to keep their webcam off more likely to prefer sitting in the back than those who prefer to keep their webcam on?

Keywords: Psychology, Webcams, Behavior, Social, Education

BIO

I am interested in holistic interventions for treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other cognitive disorders.

Exploring the relationship between mindfulness and episodic memory performance

Abstract

The practice of mindfulness and meditation has influenced numerous Eastern cultures for centuries. In recent years, the West has adopted the practice as a holistic approach to promote well-being and quality of life. Consequently, there is need for empirical evidence that speaks to the link between mindfulness and quality of life. In this study, I ask whether and how mindfulness and meditation relate to episodic memory performance. To test this, I first quantify mindfulness by using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), which captures five different dimensions of mindfulness. Then, I quantify episodic memory performance using two lab-based episodic memory tasks. In the first, participants are asked to discriminate between novel and experimentally familiar stimuli based on awareness of differences in time of encoding. In the second, participants are required to remember a brief narrative with two different delay intervals, i.e., immediately after encoding and again after a 20-minute delay. It is expected that individuals who score highly on the FFMQ will perform more accurately in the episodic memory measurements. To the extent that the lab-based episodic memory tasks used here approximate the mechanisms that support memory for everyday experiences, these results would reveal a potential target for interventions for individuals experiencing memory decline and corresponding compromises in well-being and quality of life.

Keywords: mindfulness, psychology, neuroscience, holistic, science