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  Digital vs. In-Person Interaction: Preventing Suicide in Autistic and Socially Anxious Populations

  Jacob Griffin and Jared Nielson

  Introduction: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and the third leading cause of death for individuals from 15 to 29-year-olds world-wide (Suicide Data and Statistics, 2024; World Health Organization: WHO, 2024). As prevalent as suicide is among general populations, statistics have shown that the risk is even greater among certain groups such as autistic populations and socially anxious populations. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder which affects communication, behavior, and learning abilities (Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2024). One study reported that individuals with ASD were almost three times more likely to die by suicide when compared with non-ASD individuals (Santomauro et al., 2024), indicating that this population is considered high-risk for suicidal intensity and desire. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is generally classified as a fear or intense aversion to social situations and perceived social scrutiny (Social Anxiety Disorder, n.d.). Buckner et al. (2016) reported that social anxiety is related to greater suicidality in subjects even after controlling for other variables. Multiple studies have examined the impacts of social support as a preventative measure against suicide in neurotypical populations (Šedivy et al., 2017; Chioqueta & Stiles, 2007), but few studies have been performed which compare social interaction and suicide prevention measures between neuroatypical populations. To our knowledge, no studies have differentiated between in-person interaction and digital interaction as preventative measures against suicide for populations with ASD and SAD. This study hypothesizes that social interaction serves as a preventative measure against suicide for neurodiverse populations. We further hypothesize that in-person interaction will be more protective against suicide than digital interaction for both ASD and SAD populations. We predict that individuals with ASD will respond differently to different interaction mediums than individuals with SAD.

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  Population Monitoring of Packera castoreus

  Autumn Gudmundsen, Madison Huie, Steve Flinders, and Loreen Allphin

  Packera castoreus is a rare flowering plant, endemic to high elevations in the Belknap volcanic substrates of the Tushar Mountains of Utah (fig.1 & 2).

  • The species has been classified as high priority for monitoring and conservation by the Utah Native Plant Society.1

  There have been conservation concerns for rare alpine species recently due to increased threats, primarily:

  • Grazing from large ungulates (mountain goats, deer, & elk)2
  • Human impacts (especially hiking)1
  • Climate change1

  To better understand the impacts of these various threats on P. castoreus, we monitored populations from 2018-2022 and assessed plant morphology, community composition, and population data.
  This data is part of a larger project on rare plant communities in the Tushars and provides analysis of one of the plant species of the project’s focus.

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  Muscle Volume Analysis: The Relationship Between Muscle Volume and Sprint Performance in NCAA Football Athletes

  Isaiah Guymon, Malorie Wilwand, Steven P. Allen, B. Brett Mortensen, and A. Wayne Johnson

  • Considering the swing to stance phase, the hip flexors (HF) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles may impact football player's sprint speed.
  • Purpose: Determine the relationship between collegiate football athlete's speed and the muscle volume (MV) of HF and TA muscles.

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  Evaluating Osmotic Seed Priming and Scarification Treatments for Improving Germination In Native Shrubs

  Mallory Hinton, Matt Madsen, Megan Stevenson, and April Hulet

  Evaluate the effectiveness of osmotic priming, scarification, and cold-moist stratification techniques to improve germination and seedling establishment in antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) and Mexican cliffrose (Purshia mexicana) (Fig. 1). These species were selected for their ability to provide vegetative structure in both low-elevation (antelope bitterbrush) and mid-elevation (Mexican cliffrose) rangelands, where they support biodiversity and ecosystem function. While their dormancy is typically broken through winter conditions, we aim to identify effective methods to accelerate breaking seed dormancy.

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  Investigating the role of the liver-brain axis in addiction

  Camryn Holt, Isabella Roque, Shimran Sharma, Chris Galbraith, and Jordan T. Yorgason

  Ethanol (EtOH) increases dopamine (DA) release, leading to addictive behaviors.

  Ex vivo, EtOH only alters DA release at supraphysiological levels.

  The liver metabolizes EtOH, and metabolites can escape into systemic circulation and cross the blood-brain barrier.

  We hypothesize that these metabolites may induce changes in the mesolimbic circuitry and thus contribute to the reinforcing effects of EtOH.

  We examined the effects of bile acids (BAs) and other EtOH metabolites on accumbal DA release and CIN firing.

  We also investigated downstream effects of EtOH metabolism, such as macrophage migration and TGR5-mediated release of glucagon- like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

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  End Epilepsy: Human and Rodent Seizures Demonstrate a Dynamic Interplay with Spreading Depolarizations

  Daniel Hummel, Jacob H. Norby, Noah Ricks, John D. Rolston, Shervin Rahimpour, Juha Voipio, Andrew J. Trevelyan, Elliot H. Smith, and Ryley Parrish

  Affecting more than 50 million people worldwide, Epilepsy is a condition of repeated seizures. Seizures (Sz) occur when brain cells transmit uncontrolled electrical signals, and most often terminate on their own, but how this happens is unknown. A proposed mechanism of Sz termination is a spreading depolarization (SD). A SD is a wave that travels through the brain, suppressing brain activity. Currently, the relationship between SDs and seizures is not well understood. The goal of this study was to understand how the two phenomena interact in both rodent brains, and humans. Better understanding of SDs may lead to the development of novel treatments for Epilepsy.

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  Frog Barcodes: Scanning the Secret Species of Pelodryadinae

  Kennedy Hunter, Taylor Probst, and Alison Whiting

  Tree frogs (Hylidae) have unique adaptations such as toe pads for life in the trees (figure 1).

  The subfamily Pelodryadinae is poorly known and primarily found in the Australopapuan region.

  Papua New Guinea is the island with the greatest frog diversity but many species remain undescribed.

  DNA barcoding has been shown to be an effective tool in species delimitation and for examining species diversity in poorly understood groups.

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  Synthesis of gold nanorods as payloads for antibody drug conjugates for synovial sarcoma

  Melanie I'anson-Holton, Andralyn AnMcKell, John Hanosek, Jeffrey Okojie, Bridger Kearns, and Jared Barrott

  Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) are burgeoning class of anti-cancer therapies. They rely on the specificity of antibodies to selectively deliver a cytotoxic payload to cancer cells expressing unique antigens. To minimize the toxicity of these ADCs, we designed a multipronged application with two separate components that by themselves are harmless, but when combined result in thermal toxicity to the tumor cells. Gold nanoparticles as the payload was one component and a near IR laser was the other. Gold nanoparticles are innocuous and exhibit localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The LSPR of gold nanoparticles allows them to absorb photons at certain wavelengths, causing excitation and the release of heat. This feature allows gold nanoparticles to be used as a therapeutic tool. In this project the gold nanorods were conjugated to an anti-Oncostatin M Receptor (OSMR) antibody to target OSMR-expressing cancer cells. Thermotoxicity is induced in the cells where the conjugate resides by near IR laser activation of gold nanoparticles.

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  Effects of Predation on Cognition in Brachyrhaphis Rhabdophora

  Elizabeth F. Jenkins and Jerald B. Johnson

  Does predation environment affect the cognitive abilities of the tropical fish Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora?

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  The Effects of a High-Carbohydrate Versus a High-Fat Shake on Heart Rate Variability When Used to Interrupt a 38-Hour Fast

  Dane Jensen, Cameron Jacobsen, Landon Deru Ph.D., Elizabeth Z. Gipson, Katelynn E. Hales, and Bruce W. Bailey Ph.D.

  (HRV) is a biological phenomenon that refers to the variations in the time intervals between heartbeats and is commonly used to assess vascular health. Heart rate variability (HRV) indicates the heart’s capacity to respond to stimuli from the autonomic nervous system. High HRV has been known to be correlated with a healthy heart and autonomic nervous system, while low HRV has been known to be correlated with adverse physiological conditions [6]. While previous research has explored the cardiovascular effects of fasting and food intake, the impact of the post-fast meal on cardiovascular health remains understudied. This study aims to investigate how the macronutrient composition of a post-fast meal affects the autonomic nervous system, as measured by HRV.

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  Under Stress: Maternal Effects on Offspring Development in Live-bearing Fish

  Ruby Jensen, Emily Mead, and Jerald B. Johnson

  Research has shown that the stress response in adult fish can lower sex hormone levels, disrupt mating behavior, and reduce overall reproductive success (1). While stress is known to impact an individual's ability to reproduce, its effects on offspring after birth remain unclear. Specifically, the influence of maternal stress during gestation on offspring growth and maturation is still unknown.

  To better understand how maternal stress affects offspring development, we will study the live-bearing fish Alfaro cultratus from birth to reproductive maturity. We will observe the timeline of developmental milestones in offspring whose mothers experience stress during gestation to assess potential long-term effects on growth and future reproduction. This study will provide insights into how maternal stress impacts fish offspring and may have broader implications for other live-bearing species.

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  Comparing Management Strategies for Gray Wolves, Dingoes, and African Wild Dogs: Insights for U.S. Wolf Conservation

  Joshua Jewell and Tom Smith

  Europe, Africa, and Australia can provide insights into USA Gray Wolf Management.

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  Development of Seed Coating Technologies & Seeding Techniques to Improve Wildlife Habitat in the Sagebrush Steppe

  Sage Johansen, Curtis Garlick, Corban Gibson, John Stromberg, Ryan Glover, Nathaniel Adams, April Hulet, and Matthew Madsen

  The sagebrush steppe biome is disappearing at a rate exceeding 500,000 hectares per year. Restoring these degraded areas through the reseeding of native vegetation is essential for preserving wildlife habitat and maintaining critical ecosystem services. However, seeding efforts often end in failure, especially in hotter and drier parts of the sagebrush steppe.

  Rangeland seeds typically are sown near the soil surface, where the seed and unemerged seedlings experience high mortality due to factors such as seed predation, drought, freeze-thaw cycles, and pathogens. Seedlings also struggle to emerge from the soil due to soil crusting.

  However, if it were possible to sow seeds at deeper depths while still ensuring seedling emergence, many of the aforementioned limitations might be mitigated, thereby improving rangeland seeding.

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  Evolutionary stasis in life history traits between Xenophallus clades isolated during Pliocene marine incursions

  Elias Johnson and Jerald B. Johnson

  Why do some species fail to evolve? The chiral livebearer, Xenophallus umbratilis, is found in Central America. Populations within this species have been isolated from each other for millions of years due to marine incursions, big rivers, and ecological filters downstream, leading to divergent clades (figure below). However, these isolated populations persist under similar ecological conditions, including the absence of predators and in similar headwater habitat types.

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  Parthenogenetic Pathways: Investigating the Expansion of a Clonal Whiptail

  Jordan Kirk, Vicente Fernandez Lara, Angelina Romero, Dallin Matthews, Reagan McKee, and Randy Klabacka

  Non-native species are defined as species who live in any area outside of their native range, and they often have unique adaptational strategies to be able to populate various areas, even those different from their native habitat

  The New Mexico Whiptail (Aspidoscelis neomexicanus) is a parthenogenetic (asexual) species of lizard of family Teiidae. It’s native range extends from central to south-central New Mexico [1]

  Parthenogenetic species can colonize/invade new territories easily due to their ability to reproduce asexually [4]

  Established populations of this species of lizard in multiple localities outside of their native range have been identified in Arizona and northern Utah [6]

  We investigate how these non-native populations have dispersed from their native area into non-native areas using sequence data and comparative analysis

  Because whiptail lizards are challenging to identify at the species level using morphological characters, we tested the phylogenetic placement of two new populations: southern Utah and northwest New Mexico.

  We predict that these populations come from the same source population, and we will use molecular genetics to identify this and detect movement patterns

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  I’m Just Like You: Do Sympatric Lizard Species Exhibit Convergent Morphology? (Genus Sceloporus)

  Abigail Lamartine and Alison Whiting

  The spiny lizards, genus Sceloporus, are the most speciose genus of reptiles endemic to North America. These lizards are commonly seen doing “push-ups” and head bobs, showing off their bright blue belly and throat patches (figure 5).Sceloporus use these displays to attract mates and defend their territory, and the size and color of patches is the most commonly used character to identify species(see figure 3). Within southwestern Utah, there is a small region where two species, S.occidentalis and S. tristichus, overlap in range (figure 1), and lizards can be found that appear to have patches intermediate between the two species. It has been assumed that these two species are interbreeding to produce these “intermediates”, but this hypothesis has not been tested. We used molecular and morphological data to investigate the following objectives:

  1. Determine if hybridization is occurring between S. tristichus and S.occidentalis.
  2. Test for morphological convergence between these two species.
  3. Determine if currently used morphological characters are sufficient for species diagnosis.

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  Enhancing rangeland restoration with native, early-seral Asteraceae species

  Samuel Leigh, Matthew Madsen, and April Hulet

  Native early seral forbs play a critical role in rangeland restoration efforts, facilitating site preparation for late seral species while coexisting with invasive annuals.

  • However, early seral forbs often exhibit dormancy traits which can complicate their effective use in restoration efforts.
  • Seed treatments that circumvent dormancy adaptations may enhance the utility of these species in restoration practices.
  • Breaking seed dormancy may improve seed establishment rates and allow restoration practitioners to time germination to coincide with ideal environmental conditions, increasing survival rate.

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  Rehydration of Cadaveric Tissue: A Comparative Analysis

  Zach Leonard, Emma Anderson, and Jason Adams PhD

  Rehydration solutions contain a variety of different chemicals which help keep cadaveric tissue moist and well preserved. Previously, we have identified that ethylene glycol, glycerol, and propylene glycol are all effective humectants that allow cadaveric specimens to retain moisture. Additionally, a mixture of sodium carbonate, ethanol, and formalin, had favorable results in limited study. With this knowledge, we tested and compared the effectiveness of these solutions at rehydrating dried human tissues. In doing this, we have created a tissue library, providing an evidence-based standard for rehydrating solutions to allow for the rehydration of dried specimens in anatomy labs.

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  Shorter Semitendinosus and Biceps Femoris Tendon Lengths Linked to Greater Eccentric Strength in College Football Players

  Garett Lesa, Malorie Wiland, and A. Wayne Johnson

  All American football players depend on hamstring muscle strength and tendon resilience to perform. If we can better understand the relationship between hamstring strength and tendon length, we would be able to tailor training strategies such as stretching to enhance performance and/or reduce injuries. This study investigates the relationship between semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris in accordance to eccentric hamstring strength (EHS).

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  Competitive Bacteria Inhibiting Yersinia ruckeri growth – a strategy to prevent Enteric Redmouth Disease (ERM) in Freshwater Fish

  Kyler Linton and David Erickson

  Pacific freshwater fish are less likely than Atlantic freshwater fish to exhibit Enteric Redmouth Disease (ERM), or Yersiniosis as caused by Yersinia ruckeri. Based on the hypothesis that these fish may harbor commensal bacteria that inhibit Y. ruckeri growth, we isolated many kinds of commensal bacteria from fish intestines that we have collected from Alaska and local streams. Using co-culture experiments, we have conducted competitive assays to determine if the bacteria found in the gut biomes of these fish inhibit the growth of Y. ruckeri. These may be potential probiotic organisms that could provide resistance to ERM disease.

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  Different Phase, Same Results: No Metabolic Variation Across Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

  Grace Loveless, Hadley Peay, Jessica Linde, Kiese Mpongo, Joran Quirante, Arianna Young, Devon Wardell, Audrey Newman, Mohadesah Ahmadi, Gary Mack, and Jayson Gifford

  BACKGROUND: Even with gender parity being achieved in the 2024 Paris Olympic games with 50% male and female athletes(Forbes 2024), female subjects are often excluded from exercise performance research studies. Cowley et al.(2021) found that there was a significant difference between female (34%) and male (66%) participants in sport and exercise research. One reason for exclusion of females in physiology research is uncertainty regarding the impact of the menstrual cycle (MC) on exercise performance and metabolic measures.

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  Methamphetamine and ROS effects on dopamine and ATP release

  Tyler Love, Jordan T. Yorgason, Taylor Rose, Hillary Wadsworth, Lydia Hawley, Lauren Ford, Sara Linderman, and Nathan Sheets

  The Nucleus Accumbens is a reward center of the brain that receives dopamine projections from the Ventral Tegmental Area

  Methamphetamine (Meth) is a psychostimulant drug that decreases dopamine clearance and increases Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

  Meth is known to increase dopamine release in-vivo through ROS

  Glucose Oxidase increases ROS

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  Barks vs Bears: A Ruff Reality

  Fern Luttrell, Tom Smith, Stephen Herrero, Lana Ciamiello, Hank Hristienko, Erin Jacoway, and Linda Wiggins

  • Will your dog protect you from a bear?
  • Do dogs provoke bear attacks?
  • Is it safe for your dog to be in bear country?

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  Developement of a Rodent Virtual Reality System for Measuring Reward

  Aman Malhotra, Joe Davis, Jacob Cecil, Lauren Ford, Daniel-Luke Isemonger, Noah Moffat, Ryan Powers, Cody Siciliano, Ryan West, and Jordan T. Yorgason

  Rodent VR is a tool for drug impact studies involving VR and optical imaging on motivation-related circuits using customizable maze creation and a comprehensive analysis program. We are using this combined with a GRINS lens surgical implant to gather real time data.

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  Pedestrian Safety South of Brigham Young University Campus

  Emma Mayo and Alisha H. Redelfs

  8,500 crossings happen on 800 North every day. In Provo last year, 57 car crashes involved pedestrians. A pedestrian’s view of the road is obstructed by cars parked on the right hand side of the road causing them to walk in the crosswalk to see if there is a car coming. Sidewalks on connecting streets are uneven and cracked. Multiple blocks on 800 North without a stop sign to slow drivers down. Currently no posted speed limit signs on 800 North. Drivers can’t see pedestrians crossing on 200, 300, 400, or 500 East because of inadequate lighting. Cars obstruct areas beneath pedestrian signs, making it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians in those “blind areas” and unsafe for pedestrians who have to venture into the crosswalk to be able to see oncoming vehicles.