2025 Showcase Abstracts

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is sustainable and durable but remains vulnerable to biodegradation. Preservative treatment of assembled CLT is challenging, as post-manufacturing treatments may not protect freshly exposed surfaces. Pre-treating individual lamstock is a practical alternative, but while pressure methods ensure deeper penetration, they are costly. Non-pressure methods, being more affordable, risk surface borate buildup, which can interfere with bonding. An optimized, cost-effective treatment procedure is needed to enhance borate retention and improve CLT durability. However, achieving sufficient penetration using non-pressure methods requires a better understanding of borate transport mechanisms in wood. This research develops a thermally driven diffusion-based model to predict borate uptake in Douglas fir and grand fir laminates. The study investigates three treatment scenarios: (1) hot dipping at 60°C, (2) cold dipping at 20°C, and (3) cumulative uptake from sequential hot and cold quench treatments. The model is derived from Fick’s second law of diffusion, incorporating temperature-dependent diffusion coefficients. Experimental data were obtained by measuring the gross uptake after immersing specimens in a hot borate solution, followed by immediate immersion in a cold solution to create a vacuum effect. These data were used to determine diffusion coefficients and optimized to improve model accuracy. The model was validated using additional experimental data. Results show that model predictions closely matched observed uptake trends in experimental data and provide an understanding of how thermal cycling can be used to enhance borate penetration without compromising adhesive bond performance. This research offers a validated framework for optimizing preservative treatments in CLT.

This study evaluates the influence of soil contamination on the thermal and mechanical properties of post-consumer agricultural plastic mulch films, primarily composed of polyethylene, collected from strawberry farms in Washington, Nebraska, and Florida. Widely used to enhance crop yields, these non-biodegradable films contribute significantly to environmental waste, necessitating effective recycling strategies. The research focuses on understanding how soil contaminants affect the performance and recyclability of these materials. Mulch films were shredded, air-dried, and pelletized before undergoing mechanical testing, including tensile, flexural, and impact evaluations. Regional differences in soil contamination and moisture content were observed, with Washington samples exhibiting the highest contamination levels, while Florida samples had the lowest. FT-IR analysis identified silicon-oxygen bonds in the recycled films, confirming the presence of soil residues. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed consistent thermal stability across all samples, indicating that similar processing conditions can be applied to recycled mulch films without compromising material integrity. Mechanical testing showed that soil contamination significantly influenced the properties of the films, with Washington samples displaying the most notable increases in stiffness, Young’s Modulus, and Ultimate Tensile Strength. However, higher contamination also led to increased density, altering material composition and performance. This study highlights the transformative role of soil residues in enhancing the recyclability and performance of agricultural plastics. The findings underscore the importance of optimized recycling processes in turning agricultural waste into valuable resources for innovative and sustainable applications.

Despite the success recorded in the last five years in isolating and identifying the emerging toxic contaminant, tire wear-derived N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD-q), responsible for the mortality of aquatic lives in the Pacific Northwest, the prevention of 6PPD-q transport from its source, i.e., mostly road pavement surfaces, to water bodies remains elusive. In this study, we explored the use of engineered biochar for stormwater retention system applications to reduce the concentration of 6PPD-q in effluent discharge to water bodies. Firstly, we engineered biochar using oxidation techniques to increase it’s quinone and phenolic functional surface groups as our primary focus via the decomposition of its lignin content. Subsequently, we evaluated the physicochemical changes in our control and engineered biochar, evaluated its adsorption capacity of 6PPD-q in its modified form, and incorporated it in our fabricated laboratory prototype stormwater retention system (soil columns) for adsorption efficiency. Results from our experiments suggest that phenolic (-OH) and quinone surface functional groups are suitable candidates for the adsorption of 6PPD-q due to their ability to undergo redox reactions and form pi-pi (π-π) interactions with 6PPD-q. 6PPD-q concentration in our effluent solution was reduced to below the lethal dose concentration of 0.08 ug/L for juvenile coho salmon. The findings in this study have provided useful insights into re-engineering the design of stormwater retention systems for the adsorption of 6PPD-q and ultimately ensuring the survival of our aquatic lives.

Principal Topic: Adolescents’ growing engagement with social media platforms, particularly TikTok, raises concerns about exposure to harmful content such as violent imagery, harmful challenges, and misinformation. This study explores how active parental mediation—characterized by open communication, co-viewing, and fostering digital literacy—can mitigate these risks. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Parental Mediation Theory, the study addresses critical gaps in understanding the effectiveness of parental strategies in reducing adolescents’ exposure to risky content.

Method: This systematic review analyzed 24 peer-reviewed studies to identify patterns and themes, with nine studies included in a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis quantified the impact of active mediation strategies using a random-effects model to calculate pooled effect sizes and confidence intervals. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was employed to assess the quality of studies, and thematic analysis identified barriers and effective strategies.

Results/Implications: The meta-analysis revealed a small-to-moderate reduction in risky content exposure (d = -0.40, 95% CI [-0.46, -0.35]), with moderate heterogeneity (I² = 29.1%) reflecting consistency across diverse studies. Barriers to effective mediation included parental digital literacy gaps, adolescent resistance, and socioeconomic challenges. These findings emphasize the importance of equipping parents with tools to navigate the digital landscape alongside their children. This study provides actionable insights for parents, educators, policymakers, and social media developers and highlights the need for future research to address cultural and contextual variations in parental mediation strategies.

Urban individual tree data is essential for managing tree populations, evaluating tree health risks, and assessing ecosystem services. However, gathering such data requires professionals, time, and limited resources, and the data collected is often sparse, both spatially and temporally. In complex urban environments like Pullman, high-resolution aerial imagery combined with deep learning offers an automated and accurate method for detecting trees. This study focuses on developing a model to map individual trees in Pullman, a study that has not been previously conducted in this area.

We compared four deep learning object detection models—YOLOv3, RetinaNet, Mask R-CNN, and Faster R-CNN—to map individual trees. The best-performing model was then used to detect trees in Pullman. The evaluation process involved both accuracy assessment and visual validation. Height information for the detected trees was extracted from a lidar-derived digital surface model, which was then used to create a comprehensive tree inventory.

The analysis showed that YOLOv3 outperformed the other models with accuracy rates of 69%, 60%, 57%, and 52% for Mask R-CNN, RetinaNet, and Faster R-CNN, respectively. Based on these results, YOLOv3 was selected to develop the Pullman Tree Crown Network (PTCNet) model, achieving precision and recall values of 78% and 62%, respectively. The PTCNet model identified over 12,000 individual trees and contributed to a tree inventory dataset of approximately 20,000 tree crowns. This study provides the first large-scale individual tree data for Pullman City and offers a reusable framework for mapping urban trees with height information, supporting future tree monitoring efforts.

This study aims to evaluate the influence of sunlight patterns shaped by patterned shading devices as interior design elements on occupants' visual comfort and satisfaction in Daylit Study Spaces on college campuses. Understanding how natural light interacts with interior spaces is key to creating environments that enhance well-being, productivity, and aesthetic appeal. The methodology used in this study combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive analysis of how sunlight patterns, such as shape, intensity, angle, duration, and distribution, affect the visual comfort and overall satisfaction of occupants in various study spaces.

After reviewing precedent studies, I designed and developed a patterned window shading device. Using a CNC machine, I crafted the shading panel and installed it on the window frame in Daggy Room 126, chosen for its large window. The room was divided into three zones to facilitate evaluation and comparison. This study integrated quantitative measurements and qualitative feedback to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of natural light patterns. Quantitative data included metrics such as light intensity levels, glare indices, and daylight distribution, while qualitative data was collected from 47 participants taking the ARCH 215 course. Participants were invited to Daggy Room 126, where they selected their preferred zone upon entry and spent a minimum of 20 minutes completing an academic assignment before completing an online survey. The survey utilized a Likert scale and open-ended questions to gather insights into their perceptions of the patterned shading device, focusing on its effects on visual comfort and productivity.

Research Exchange is the institutional repository for Washington State University—a space designed to preserve and share university scholarship. We invite all members of the university community to share their research, including: articles, book chapters, working papers, technical reports, conference presentations, posters, images, media, datasets, and educational resources. This table will have information about Research Exchange and a new set of repository services provided via WSU Libraries.

This study examines pre-service teachers’ readiness, attitudes, and concerns regarding AI integration in education. Participants include 43 pre-service teachers from four Indonesian universities and one UK university. Using survey-based data collection and thematic analysis, the study highlights three key findings: pre-service teachers acknowledge AI’s potential to personalize learning but express concerns about ethical issues and overreliance. They exhibit moderate confidence in using AI tools, citing a strong need for hands-on training and institutional support. The findings underscore the importance of equipping future educators with technical and pedagogical AI training while maintaining the essential human aspects of teaching. This research provides actionable insights for educational policymakers and institutions aiming to foster effective AI integration in teaching and learning environments.

Champions are key individuals in implementing change across healthcare and public health settings. Their work often involves facilitation, outreach, promotion, and participant recruitment for studies. The current landscape of interventions to control cancer reveals a significant gap in harnessing the full potential of champions, who are often vital in bridging healthcare initiatives and the population they serve. Despite evidence demonstrating their role in enhancing engagement and outcomes, champions frequently lack structured support and opportunities for professional development. Our project aims to fill this gap in order to prepare for, identify, train, activate and evaluate champions effectively. Our research group recently conducted a scoping review (Astorino et al. 2024) that analyzed all literature on champions within cancer care in both clinical and community settings from 1971-2022. The findings from this review are currently being translated into activities for researchers to work through when planning for and evaluating the work of champions as an implementation strategy. The major thematic categories of activities are: 1) Weaving Your Intervention Together With Champions, 2) Building Supportive and Champion-Ready Environments, 3) Creating Opportunities for Champions to Thrive, 4) Recruiting The Perfect Champion, and 5) Evaluating Champion Impact. The end result will be a toolkit designed for researchers to host retreat-style events for their community and clinical partners in the lead up to and conclusion of their interventional studies.

With over 8.9 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide in 2023, these devices have transformed communication. However, concerns about a potential link between mobile phone use and brain tumors persist, particularly regarding the radiofrequency radiation they emit. In 2011, the World Health Organization classified mobile phones as "possibly carcinogenic," but conclusive evidence remains lacking. Understanding this link is important as phone usage grows, especially among children.

This review examines whether long-term mobile phone use increases the risk of brain tumors. It focuses on three main areas: 1) studies exploring the connection between phone use and tumors, 2) research on how mobile phone radiation may impact cells and tumor development, and 3) statistical analyses of brain cancer rates related to phone use.

The findings suggest that long-term mobile phone use (more than 10 years) could be linked to a higher risk of certain tumors, like low-grade gliomas and meningiomas, particularly on the side of the head where the phone is typically held. However, no clear connection to more aggressive tumors was found. Research also indicates that mobile phone radiation doesn’t directly damage DNA but may alter cell behavior in ways that could support tumor growth.

To better understand the relationship between mobile phone use and brain tumors, further research that standardizes exposure measurements and considers longer follow-up periods to detect delayed effects is needed.

Desert kangaroo rats (Dipodomys deserti) construct burrows that create protected micro-niches favorable to increased microbial activity. Our previous work demonstrated that kangaroo rat burrows exhibit higher tensile strength compared to the surrounding surface sand, attributed to cementation effect of biofilms. Additionally, in our earlier work, we characterized the microbial communities within kangaroo rat burrows using high-throughput sequencing and identified the most abundant organisms. To investigate the contribution of selected organisms to the tensile strength of the burrow structure, we measured biofilm tensile strength using a microcantilever technique on a microscope stage. The stage manipulator was moved at a constant speed and results are recorded using an inverted microscope. Tensile strength was calculated by multiplying the stiffness of the microcantilever by its deflection and normalized by the cross-sectional area. Among the tested biofilms, Bacillus tequilensis (bacterium) exhibited the highest tensile strength as a mono-species biofilm, with a tensile strength of 86.0 ± 30.5 kPa (n=4), followed by Aspergillus tamarii (fungus) at 67.3 ± 13.6 kPa (n=4). In contrast, Bacillus sp. (unclassified bacterium) and Neobacillus niacini (bacterium) showed lower tensile strengths of 18.3 ± 5.1 kPa (n=5) and 9.45 ± 4.84 kPa (n=6), respectively. The higher tensile strength observed in B. tequilensis biofilms may be attributed to the presence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and polyhydroxyalkanoates, while fungal biofilm strength is attributed to the presence of hyphae and mycelium. Our findings suggest that the tensile strength of biofilms likely contributes to the enhanced tensile strength of kangaroo rat burrow structures.

The secondhand apparel market, driven by sustainability and environmental awareness, is growing rapidly. Cultural differences shape secondhand clothing purchases: most U.S. consumers buy secondhand, while only 10% do so in China. In Bangladesh, the market is growing on platforms like Facebook, driven by cost-effectiveness and environmental concerns among younger consumers. This study investigates consumer purchasing behavior in the secondhand apparel market across the USA, China, and Bangladesh through the lens of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory. The findings inform sustainable fashion practices, guide policy, and support strategies for the sustainable apparel industry.

This study addresses two questions: (1) What cultural factors influence secondhand apparel purchases in the USA, China, and Bangladesh? (2) How do sustainability concerns affect consumer decisions in these markets? This qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews with 45 participants from the three countries. A total of 45 participants – 15 from each country – are interviewed, and the data is analyzed using MAXQDA software.

Results show that collectivist countries (China and Bangladesh) emphasize social norms, while individualistic countries (USA) prioritize uniqueness and self-expression. Long-term orientation influences Chinese consumers to think ahead, while US consumers prefer instant gratification. High uncertainty avoidance in China and Bangladesh heightens concerns about secondhand clothing quality and hygiene, while low uncertainty avoidance in the USA lowers these concerns and encourages experimentation. These findings highlight the diverse cultural and socio-economic drivers shaping the global secondhand apparel market, offering valuable insights for academia and industry.

Topic: The Vancouver outpatient clinic integrates primary and behavioral healthcare to meet rising demands through sustainable, nature-inspired design. Guided by evidence-based principles, it emphasizes efficient spatial zoning, intuitive circulation, and privacy in sensitive areas. Transforming traditional spaces into therapeutic environments, the clinic reduces stress, promotes healing, and supports holistic care. This innovative approach benefits patients, staff, and visitors while fostering improved health outcomes through environmentally conscious, user-focused solutions.

Method: This project employed a mixed-methods approach to address clinic challenges and integrate primary and behavioral healthcare through sustainable, therapeutic design. Methods included client interviews, site visits, precedent studies, and expert design analysis. Focus areas were spatial layouts, sustainable materials, and adaptable infrastructure. Nature-inspired and trauma-informed strategies were assessed for their impact on patient well-being and staff performance. Curvilinear layouts optimized efficiency, improved wayfinding, reduced anxiety, and enhanced harmony.

Results/Implications: The study demonstrates that combining primary and behavioral healthcare with sustainable, nature-inspired designs enhances outpatient care experiences. Key features include skylights for daylight, air-purifying green walls, sensory landscapes, and underground parking to preserve community spaces. Net-positive energy solutions, such as solar panels and energy-efficient windows, underscore the project's sustainability. Curvilinear layouts improve navigation and operational flow, highlighting adaptable, nature-inspired designs’ role in reducing health disparities and fostering restorative healthcare environments.

Fused silica, a widely used material in optics and photonics, with its wide bandgap (~9 eV), outstanding transparency across wavelength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance, can be a promising candidate for hosting defect-based emitters. In this study, we explore the potential of fused silica to host bright localized emitters when annealed with gallium in a reducing environment. Motivated by the bright UV emission centers observed in β-Ga₂O₃, we investigate here whether such defect-related emission can be induced in fused silica through controlled annealing.

Preliminary photoluminescence(PL) measurements indicate the creation of localized emission centers that may be related to gallium-induced defect states. Alternatively, a novel gallium-related compound may be formed during the annealing. Spatial PL mapping and PL spectroscopy are being conducted to probe these emission centers and their correlation with structural changes.

Future studies will be directed at optimizing the annealing process and better understanding the defect formation. This work may extend the range of applications of fused silica into the field of UV light-emitting applications and other photonic applications. If confirmed, this could lead to the development of robust and efficient UV light sources in a material already integral to modern optical systems.

Background: Antibiotics are often prescribed empirically or for concomitant infection during admission for KD or MIS-C. As these are inflammatory diseases not associated with bacterial infection, the risk/benefit of antibiotics for these patients remains unclear.

Methods: Patients meeting the criteria for either KD or MIS-C, admitted between 2020-2022, were enrolled in an international multicenter observational cohort study. The odds of IVIG resistance were compared between patients receiving post-admission antibiotics versus no-antibiotics. A multivariable logistic regression model for IVIG resistance was created using a stepwise variable selection algorithm.

Results: We compared 388 who received antibiotics to 306 patients who did not (365 KD; 329 MISC). The majority (61%) of patients receiving antibiotics received beta-lactams. Patients with antibiotics had shorter symptom duration prior to admission (5.2±3.4 vs. 6.1±4.0 days, p=0.001) and shorter time from admission to IVIG treatment (0.8±0.9 vs. 1.0±1.3 days, p=0.009). IVIG resistance in patients receiving antibiotics (27.5%) was significantly higher than in those not receiving antibiotics (19.9%) (p=0.009). In multivariable logistic regression models, treatment with multiple classes of antibiotics were associated with IVIG resistance including: clavulanic acid (OR:3.6, 95%CI:1.0-13.2, p=0.06), carboxypenems (OR:1.8, 95%CI:1.8-17.9) and lincomycins (OR:3.4, 95%CI:1.6-7.2). These associations held true when patients with KD and MIS-C were analyzed separately.

Conclusions: The administration of some classes of antibiotics concurrent to IVIG were associated with increased odds of IVIG resistance. These data support that empiric post-admission treatment with certain classes of antibiotics does not provide benefit and might confer increase risk of IVIG failure.

Epilepsy patients often experience seizure patterns linked to sleep/wake cycles, but the underlying mechanisms, including the role of astrocytes, remain unclear. Astrocytes, especially those expressing the fatty acid-binding protein Fabp7, modulate neuronal excitability and seizure thresholds. Research suggests Fabp7 knockout (KO) may raise the seizure threshold, indicating Fabp7’s role in seizure susceptibility. This study examines how Fabp7 influences seizure-related protein expression of wild-type (WT) and Fabp7 KO mice before and after maximal electroshock seizure induction. Proteomic analysis followed by Gene Ontology and Pathway analyses revealed upregulation of proteasomes in unseized Fabp7 KO mice. Since proteasomes are known to increase dendritic spine growth, proteasomal upregulation suggests a possible link between Fabp7 KO and decreased dendritic spine growth. This finding also complements a growing body of research surrounding fatty acids and NMDA receptor function, an important step towards novel therapeutics for epilepsy patients. Next, we plan to use qPCR to examine immediate early genes (IEGs) and their role in circadian regulation and epilepsy. The IEGs Npas4, Egr2, C-fos, and Arc are circadian rhythm targets, typically upregulated during wakefulness. However, results on their regulation after seizure induction are inconsistent, making qPCR a powerful tool to better elucidate their activity.

Principal Topic: Genome assembly is a critical process in genomics, enabling the reconstruction of genetic blueprints from fragmented sequence data. However, achieving both contiguity and accuracy remains challenging due to the limitations of sequencing technologies. Hybrid scaffolding offers a powerful solution by integrating contigs (assembled from short reads) with long reads, producing longer and more complete scaffolds. This research presents Maptcha, a novel parallel workflow designed to address challenges in hybrid scaffolding, such as scalability, speed, and accuracy, through a graph-theoretic approach.

Method: Maptcha combines a sketch-based alignment-free mapping tool (JEM-Mapper) with a unique graph-theoretic wiring heuristic to construct and optimize genomic scaffolds. The workflow is divided into three phases: contig expansion, long read island construction, and scaffold linking. To improve efficiency, Maptcha employs a parallel batching technique that enables distributed processing, reducing computational overhead. Comparative experiments were conducted on simulated and real-world datasets, measuring performance against state-of-the-art tools such as LRScaf and ntLink.

Results/Implications: Maptcha significantly outperformed competing tools, producing scaffolds up to 330× longer with fewer errors and faster runtimes. Notably, Maptcha demonstrated its utility in low sequencing coverage scenarios (1×–10×), achieving near-complete genome coverage. These results underline Maptcha's potential to advance genome assembly workflows, facilitating the reconstruction of complex genomes more efficiently. This innovation is poised to benefit genomics research by enabling more accurate and scalable genome assembly solutions.

Purpose: To expand access to gender-affirming care (GAC) resources for patients and providers, it is essential to create a platform of centralized and comprehensive options for GAC. It is important for its contents to be informed by community members and providers with experience in the field.

Methods: This is an IRB-approved qualitative study being conducted at Washington State University. The authors conducted 12 semi-structured qualitative interviews in 2023 with Washington state residents over the age of 18 who have either sought, received, provided, or connected someone to GAC. Inductive thematic analysis was used to categorize participant comments into codes and themes. Major themes were discussed and decided on. Resources from throughout Washington State were gathered based on participant feedback. A Web Developer then designed the website including these resources.

Results: Five themes were identified as essential to incorporate in a website for GAC. These themes encompass healthcare and non-healthcare-related affirming services, addressing misinformation, and including informative resources for providers of GAC.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that there are gaps in both patients’ and providers’ experiences with GAC. By building a website specifically aimed at addressing these gaps, our goal is to centralize safe, high quality, and affirming care for gender diverse patients and providers throughout Washington State.

The Great Basin region of North America offers an ideal diachronic case study of the impact of climate change on hunter-gatherer food systems. The region shifted from a mesic to arid climate change during the Holocene and has excellent preservation of food remains from archaeological sites spanning this period. This study applies multiproxy analyses of dietary remains recovered from preserved human feces at two Great Basin archaeological sites. The goal of this project is to assess how precontact hunter-gatherers in the Great Basin adapted their food system to Holocene climate change and assess how climate change impacted food systems, specifically the availability of nutritious food. This study finds that hunter-gatherers pursued a diverse range of foods from wetlands and drylands during periods of climate change suggesting that food practices did not significantly impact where people got food. However, this study also finds that hunter-gatherers relied on foods with lower caloric return during this period, suggesting that climate change impacted the availability of nutritious foods.

This poster examines the Lack of Sociopolitical Awareness (LOSA) in teacher education programs through the perspectives of teacher educators of color, using Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a lens. The testimonios of two educators of color reveal how LOSA, as manifest in curricular offerings, in admission policies, and in classroom interactions, perpetuates racial inequalities in teacher preparation programs (Kohli & Pizarro, 2022). The study emphasizes the need to recognize such institutional practices that marginalize voices of color and advocates for addressing these inadequacies by incorporating critical pedagogies and antiracist frameworks in teacher education. The research aims to disrupt normative narratives that perpetuate hegemonic ways of knowing and cultivate a more inclusive learning environment (Tevis, 2022). Ultimately, it calls for a paradigm shift in teacher education towards transformative admission policies, curricular development and praxis to confront LOSA and promote socially just teacher preparation practices.

Principal topic: Human milk has been the ideal and first food for human infants since time immemorial and the basis for the composition of all breast-milk substitutes. Yet surprisingly little is well understood about what composes human milk, especially in women of diverse populations and diets. This study seeks to discover what is “normal” in human milk composition relating to dietary intake, with data from mother-infant dyads from 11 distinct populations in 8 countries on 4 continents.

Method: We characterized variation in maternal dietary patterns and their relationships with the human milk microbiome (HMM) in ethnically diverse women. Milk microbiome was analyzed via sequencing of the V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene. Maternal diet was characterized using a qualitative food frequency questionnaire customized to each geographic setting. We hypothesized that variation in maternal diet would be associated with variation in the diversity and structure of the HMM; diet diversity would be positively associated with HMM diversity; and high food insecurity would be associated with lower diet diversity and HMM diversity.

Results/implications: Discrete dietary patterns were observable and relative abundances of several bacterial taxa (e.g., Staphylococcus and Bifidobacterium) were associated with variation in diet patterns. In contrast to our hypotheses, milk produced by women consuming the least diverse diets consistently had the highest bacterial diversity. A more complete understanding of how diet influences the HMM is key because children truly are the future and policy decisions regulating infant nutritional guidelines are based on improved understanding of human milk.

Family structures are changing worldwide, with more children living in stepfamilies due to increasing divorce and remarriage rates. While previous research shows that children in stepfamilies often face unique challenges, little is known about how disciplinary practices in these families affect children's learning. This study investigates how harsh punishment impacts academic performance in stepchildren, focusing on reading and mathematics skills. Understanding this relationship is crucial because early academic achievement strongly influences future educational and career opportunities. Our research fills an important gap by examining these effects across 19 countries, providing insights that can help improve educational outcomes for children in diverse family settings.

Method: We analyzed data from over 5000 children aged 5-14 years using the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). To measure harsh punishment, we created a score based on reported disciplinary practices like physical punishment and verbal aggression. Academic performance was assessed through standardized reading and mathematics tests. To establish a cause-and-effect relationship, we used instrumental variable approach. We use the culture of the family and the mean level child violence at village level that accounts for parents' pre-existing beliefs about punishment, helping us isolate the true impact of harsh discipline on learning outcomes.

Results/Implications: Our findings reveal that harsh punishment significantly reduces academic performance in stepchildren. Each additional form of harsh discipline decreases test scores by 2 percentage points, with effects being even stronger for physical punishment. Importantly, these negative impacts are nearly twice as large for stepchildren compared to biological children. These results suggest that supporting stepfamilies with positive parenting strategies could significantly improve children's educational outcomes. Our findings can inform policies and interventions aimed at helping stepfamilies create supportive learning environments, ultimately contributing to better academic achievement and future opportunities for children in these families.

Monoterpene synthases (MTS) are highly versatile enzymes that catalyze the first committed step in pathways toward terpenes, the most structurally diverse class of plant products. Even though MTSs have been identified and characterized, the mechanism controlling product selectivity is not fully understood. While some MTSs are remarkably specific, others release a larger number of products from the same substrate. The following research represents a site-directed mutagenesis study that expresses select Cannabis sativa terpene synthases in E. coli with and without targeted mutations and assess their catalytic properties by quantifying the diversity of terpenes produced. Recent studies have demonstrated that different MTSs appear to stabilize carbocation intermediates differentially, thus leading to the formation of different monocyclic or bicyclic products, supporting the theory that increased carbocation stability leads to increased structural complexity of products. To investigate the mechanism of MTSs that form acyclic products in C. sativa, we compared the acyclic MTSs, β-myrcene synthase (CsTPS15CT; Cs-BMCS) and (E)-β-ocimene synthase (CsTPS38FN; Cs-EBOS) to the monocyclic MTS (-)-limonene synthase (CsTPS14CT; Cs-LMNS) from C. sativa. To test the hypothesis that carbocation intermediates are not sufficiently stabilized by acyclic MTSs experimentally, we’ve converted Cs-LMNS to a variant enzyme that produces β-myrcene or (E)-β-ocimene as a primary product, through active site targeted point mutations. In parallel, to further support our hypothesis, we’ve also converted Cs-BMCS and Cs-EBOS to variant enzymes that form (–)-limonene as a primary product, through active site targeted point mutations. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were then be employed to evaluate carbocation stabilization among our MTS mutants. Our structure-function analysis has allowed for the identification of active site residues that confer product specificity in acyclic MTSs. Additionally, our research has the implication of enhancing desired terpene yield within cannabis cultivars.

Statement of Purpose: The average length of stay for a late preterm infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is over 20 days. One evidence-based intervention to decrease inpatient days is Skin-to-Skin Care (SSC). SSC is holding a baby in an upright position, skin-to-skin, on a parent’s bare chest. Encouraging early SSC is a safe and effective intervention that may lead to a decrease in length of hospital stay. The project aims are to increase unit staff knowledge of the benefits of SSC, increase parental self-efficacy, and to decrease length of stay for late preterm infants in the NICU.

Methods/Approach: Staff will review a PowerPoint presentation and an informational document on the benefits of SSC and initiating soon after admission. An informational document on the benefits of SSC will be provided to the families. Surveys of unit staff will assess knowledge of the benefits of SSC and identify barriers to facilitating SSC pre- and post-education. Family surveys will assess knowledge of SSC and confidence in caring for their infant upon admission and discharge. Surveys were developed specifically for the project with Likert-style and free-text questions. The length of stay data will be obtained from the electronic health record.

Results: Data collection is September through December 2024. Outcomes are pending at time of abstract submission.

Conclusions: Potential applications of the quality improvement project might include identifying next steps for organizational policy, implications for clinical practices, and recommendations for further projects.

Final outcomes and recommendations are anticipated January 2025.

Background: Transitioning from the academic setting to clinical practice is a period of anxiety, career adaptation, and reality shock (Alsalamah et al., 2022). Stress can negatively impact nurses physically and mentally, decrease energy and work efficiency, and decrease nursing care quality (Babapour et al., 2022). In 2021, staff at Kadlec Regional Medical Center reported higher levels of anxiety among novice nurses than in previous years, with an attrition rate of 17 percent. Kadlec recognizes that to align with their values of safety, compassion, and excellence, they must also address the increased anxiety, depression, and stress among new nurses.

Purpose: The Code Lavender program helps people make sense of their situation using evidence-based relaxation techniques (Stone, 2018). Also, this program is used when a person feels they are in a challenging situation threatening unit stability, personal well-being, or professional performance (Stone, 2018).

Methods: The intervention included a care package labeled "Code Lavender," filled with chocolate, a small card containing encouraging quotes, and a small lavender-colored sticker. This package was given to 15 newly graduated nurses. The new nurses filled out pre-and-post surveys via Qualtrics to assess their knowledge and measure changes in their behavior after distributing and using the Code Lavender Packages.

Results: This project is in progress and is expected to be completed by February 2025. The anticipated results include a decrease in the newly graduated nurses' anxiety, depression, and stress and an increase in self-care.

Introduction: Over half of inpatients hospitalized with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI; traumatic brain injury (TBI) or non-TBI, e.g., stroke) experience sleep/wake disturbances, namely delayed sleep onset and intermittent night-time awakenings. These sleep/wake disturbances relate to significantly poorer mental health, with sleep-disturbed inpatients averaging a 7.24-point increase on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale compared to non-sleep-disturbed inpatients. Moreover, sleep/wake disturbances and poor mental health can hinder engagement with daytime therapy and thus, delay recovery. Despite these established relationships and calls for more patient-centered clinical research, data regarding inpatients' perspectives on their sleep health, mental health, and recovery during hospitalization for ABI remains sparse.

Methods: As part of a larger qualitative study, 13 inpatients with ABI (66±17y; 10 males) were recruited from a large rehabilitation hospital in Washington, USA. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to examine inpatients’ perspectives on the nature, frequency, contributing factors, and current strategies for addressing sleep/wake disturbances.

Results: As part of the larger body of results, reflexive thematic analysis revealed that inpatients perceived a cyclical relationship between sleep health and mental health during hospitalization. Poor night-time sleep quality often resulted in low mood the following day, which, in turn, impacted engagement with daytime therapy.

Discussion: This early, novel work highlights the perceived impact of sleep health and mental health on recovery outcomes among inpatients with ABI. Understanding these first-hand perspectives is a core first step toward developing integrated, patient-centered care approaches for sleep health and mental health during hospitalization. Future research could explore how these comprehensive approaches impact long-term ABI recovery.

Principle Topic: The primary goal of diabetes management in primary care is to prevent and delay the onset of complications by providing patient-centered best-practice care for every individual. A crucial and increasingly recognized component in addressing complex diabetes management in primary care is the integration of clinical pharmacy programs to guide the primary clinician.

Method: A six-month program evaluation assessing the improvement in HbA1c levels of patients with diabetes referred to the pharmacotherapy program from Kadlec Kennewick Primary Care Clinic primary care providers for diabetes management and a benefit and satisfaction provider questionnaire.

Results/Implication: The provider questionnaire indicated 100% satisfaction and benefits in improved access to care, therapeutic inertia, and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as the need to improve interprofessional introduction to improve communication.

Conclusion: An executive summary of recommendations based on the findings and literature suggest improved access to care, prevention, and delay of long-term health complications, as well as improved health literacy in patients newly diagnosed and those with long-standing diabetes should have a referral to see a pharmacotherapy program (Orabone et al., 2022). The recommendation is to start building an evidence-based policy with a robust group of stakeholders to improve access to care.

Reference

• Orabone, A. W., Do, V., & Cohen, E. (2022). Pharmacist-Managed diabetes programs: Improving treatment adherence and patient outcomes. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, 15, 1911–1923. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S342936

Principal Topic: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, oncology nurses have experienced heightened work-related stress, among the most intense in nursing. While healthcare design prioritizes patient experiences, spaces for nurses, particularly workstations, tend to lack restorative qualities. Biophilic design, which connects people to nature through their surroundings (Gloede, 2015), has demonstrated stress-reduction potential in healthcare settings (Browning et al., 2014). Among the 14 patterns of biophilic design patterns, non-rhythmic sensory stimuli – such as movements of air, sunlight, or water – are underexplored in healthcare settings. Guided by Supportive Design Theory (Ulrich, 1997), this study explored two questions: (1) How do non-rhythmic sensory features (daylight, cloud, water) affect oncology nurses’ stress? (2) Which biophilic sensory features enhance restorative qualities like being away, fascination, coherence, and compatibility?

Method: This study used an online survey to assess oncology nurses’ stress levels and design preference for different workstation conditions, comparing 3D-rendered workstations with nature photos (daylight, cloud, water) to a baseline condition without stimuli. Stress and restorative responses were measured using shortened versions of the Nurse Stress Scale and the Perceived Restorativeness Scale, both rated on a 7-point Likert scale.

Results/Implications: Data from 24 oncology nurses showed water imagery as the most preferred condition (45%, N = 11 ), with 58% (N =14) reporting stress reduction at high and moderate levels. Water imagery also scored highest in restorative qualities of fascination (M=4.79) and escape (M=4/67). These findings demonstrate the potential of non-rhythmic sensory stimuli in workstations to reduce stress and enhance well-being among oncology nurses.

Preparing pre-clerkship medical students for simulation assessments requires incremental training through deliberate practice and low-stakes experiences. Students transition through structured opportunities to develop skills and receive feedback from diverse audiences in preparation for summative simulation experiences. To understand how students are prepared for the summative experience, foundational course documents that orient students to this instructional design were reviewed. This project describes the methods and preliminary outcomes. Manual coding with over 600+ unique in-vivo codes, twelve syllabi and assessment packages spanning year 1 and year 2 were evaluated for information and alignment on how students are prepared for practice and simulation in their respective terms. While three different courses are offered each term, only the course teaching clinical skills (Foundations of Medical Science) was utilized in this study. Given that these are the guiding documents for the course, it is believed they will contain information on the course design and philosophy, including references to the intentional course design transition from practice to simulation.

Findings: these course documents do not provide information to students, faculty, or staff about the function of practice within the course and very little is communicated about simulation. Cursory descriptions do not provide details on the purpose of the formative and summative experiences. Training criteria and elements are absent from syllabi, and the assessment packages reference the assessments associated with the clinical skills training without deeper exploration of the process.

Principal Topic: The Hagberg-Perten falling number (FN) method has been used since the 1960s as a principal quality metric for wheat. Wheat with FN below the market threshold of 300 seconds is subjected to discounts which cost farmers millions. Limitations including high costs, slow outputs, and the requirement of special training have led many involved in the wheat industry to ask for a cheaper and more mobile test for FN. Problems with low FN are generally caused by issues involving the enzyme alpha-amylase, which breaks down starch in wheat and leads to a lower gelling capacity and poor end-use quality for consumption. As part of a highly collaborative effort, a rapid immunoassay (“rapid test”) was developed which measures the enzyme activity in a wheat sample and provides an estimated FN.

Method: Pilot testing to validate the rapid test was conducted using 2024 field season samples at the plot, elevator, and composite level. Each sample was tested using both the traditional falling number method and the rapid test. We determined accuracy by comparing FN and rapid test results using deviation thresholds provided by the rapid test’s creators.

Results/Implications: The accuracy of the new test on soft white wheat with optimum-for-market protein levels is high, with drift in accuracy associated with high or low protein. Future adjustments for protein correction are recommended. High accuracy in the rapid test has promising implications for the future, principally by providing a way to predict FN earlier in the grain chain.

Gender affirming care is life saving for transgender individuals and may include hormone replacement, surgery, speech therapy, and more. However, many factors limit access to care, which is the inspiration for these artistic works. Provider availability may require patients to travel long distances, with one nationwide study of gender affirming surgery showing a median of 391.5 miles traveled. In Washington state, rural areas tend to lack adequate gender affirming care resources, mirroring broader healthcare disparities. Even in states where this care is legal, insurance restrictions, including prior authorizations, often delay care. Discrimination, including by gender affirming care providers, further contributes to delaying or avoiding care. Combined, these challenges create physical and mental exhaustion for patients throughout their gender affirmation journey. After completing a literature review to explore patient experiences with this care, I sketched depictions of common challenges. Struck by the deep impacts of this care, I used vibrant acrylic on canvas, bringing the images to life. This series depicts some of the challenges transgender patients face. In “The Labyrinth," figures navigate a complex maze towards prescriptions, "Covered by Insurance" depicts a patient's journey traveling across Washington state to have surgery, and "The Chart" shows a patient being deadnamed (referred to by the name given at birth) and the disrespectful comments made in the aftermath. Inspired by the resilience of the transgender community, these works highlight patient experiences, the need for systemic healthcare changes, and the importance of comprehensive medical education regarding care for transgender patients.

Access to mental health care and resources is an increasing problem for patients who need specialized mental health care. An estimated 57.8 million adults in the U.S. (22.8% of the adult population) have a mental illness. Based on the national prevalence rates for mental illness, 12,056 adults in the Tri-Cities are estimated to be experiencing mental illness. Treatment of these patients falls predominantly on primary care providers. Although many mental health patients are referred to behavioral health services, primary care practitioners often manage their care in the interim or long-term, despite limited resources or expertise.

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) candidate from the College of Nursing identified a need for improved care of mental health patients in a primary care clinic in Kennewick, WA, and resources to better support healthcare providers. This led to the innovative development of an evidenced-based algorithm to assist providers with appropriate care for mental health patients. A resource guide was also created to connect practitioners and patients with community and regional mental health services, including telehealth services, to promote best practices.

Training on the algorithm was implemented in the clinic with a pre-post confidence assessment given. Results will show that having access to an evidenced-based algorithm and resource guide will increase practitioners’ confidence in caring for mental health patients and positively impact patient care.

Wearable sweat biosensors have shown great progress in noninvasive, in situ, and continuous health monitoring to demonstrate individuals’ physiological states. Advances in novel nanomaterials and fabrication methods promise to usher in a new era of wearable biosensors. Here, we introduce a three-dimensional (3D)-printed flexible wearable health monitor fabricated through a unique one-step continuous manufacturing process with self-supporting microfluidic channels and novel single-atom catalyst-based bioassays for measuring the sweat rate and concentration of three biomarkers. Direct ink writing is adapted to print the microfluidic device with self-supporting structures to harvest human sweat, which eliminates the need for removing sacrificial supporting materials and addresses the contamination and sweat evaporation issues associated with traditional sampling methods. Additionally, the pick-and-place strategy is employed during the printing process to accurately integrate the bioassays, improving manufacturing efficiency. A single-atom catalyst is developed and utilized in colorimetric bioassays to improve sensitivity and accuracy. A feasibility study on human skin successfully demonstrates the functionality and reliability of our health monitor, generating reliable and quantitative in situ results of sweat rate, glucose, lactate, and uric acid concentrations during physical exercise. In combination, our proof-of-concept work overcomes the inherent limitations in sensing sensitivity and simplifies fabrication complexity for in situ sweat monitoring using microfluidic channels while ensuring excellent wearability and comfort. Furthermore, this integrated system demonstrates the potential for expansion and customization to monitor multiple sweat biomarkers, providing valuable physiological insights for health monitoring.

Rumination syndrome (RS) is a challenging disorder of gut-brain interaction. This study evaluated potential predictors of treatment response in 148 children with RS.

We reviewed medical records, noting demographics, medical history, and symptoms at baseline and follow-up (median 4 months). Treatment response was defined as the complete cessation of vomiting. Potential predictors were analyzed, including demographics, co-occurring conditions, and treatment history.

Most children were female (60%) with a median age of 13 years. Many had additional diagnoses like anxiety/depression (42%) and other gut-brain interaction disorders (35%). Various treatments were employed, including behavioral therapy (29%) and medication (5%).

While most children improved with treatment, some were reluctant to accept their diagnosis. Interestingly, reluctance to accept the diagnosis of RS trended towards being associated with a lower likelihood of treatment response (39% vs. 58%, p=0.07). Other factors, such as co-occurring conditions and prior treatments, were not significantly associated with treatment response.

This study suggests that accepting the diagnosis may be important for successfully treating RS in children. This highlights the need for thorough education and support during the diagnostic process.

Most crops produce oil with long-chain fatty acids (≥18 carbons), while medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are better suited for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Bioengineering efforts targeting MCFA biosynthesis in Camelina sativa have yielded transgenic lines that produce capric acid (10:0) or lauric acid (12:0), valuable for aviation fuel and oleochemical applications. These engineered lines, however, had ~10–20% reduction in total seed oil. Lipid analysis across seed development indicated reduced lipid content particularly during the middle and late stages, suggesting oil (e.g. triacylglycerol, TAG) turnover during seed development leading to the reduced total seed oil. The TAG lipase SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 (SDP1) has been identified as a major lipase in TAG turnover during seed maturation in various oilseed plants. We hypothesized that SDP1 suppression in MCFA-engineered Camelina could mitigate TAG turnover and thus rescue the reduced seed oil phenotype. Therefore, we employed a seed-specific RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown strategy to suppress SDP1 expression and evaluate the effect on seed oil accumulation. Homozygous T4 seeds from MCFA accumulating lines exhibited a significant recovery in total oil content. Suppressing SDP1 increased 10:0 fatty acid levels and reduced polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with minimal effects on seed size and weight. In contrast, SDP1 suppression in 12:0 accumulating lines reduced 12:0 fatty acid levels, elevated PUFA levels, and increased seed size and weight. These results suggest that engineering 10:0 and 12:0 fatty acids into Camelina seed oil, combined with SDP1 modulation, induce distinct metabolic adaptations, highlighting the complexity of oilseed engineering.

This study delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by international graduate students in the U.S., focusing on a sample of 30 or fewer participants from Pacific Northwest University. Through qualitative semi-structured interviews, this research aims to uncover the unique obstacles these students encounter and their impact on their well-being and academics.

The study is grounded in three theoretical frameworks: Ecological Systems Theory, Sense of Belonging Theory, and Transformative Justice Theory. These frameworks will guide this study's analysis by emphasizing the possible institutional policies and practices that influence these challenges and barriers. Throughout the analysis of these challenges using the framework, this investigation seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of the systemic issues at play.

Thus, potential key findings from this study intend to highlight the specific issues, including emotional and academic barriers that international graduate students experience. The research will also explore how these challenges affect students' sense of belonging and overall well-being at their campus. This research aims to point actionable strategies that may foster an inclusive and supportive educational environment.

This study essentially aims to enhance the holistic academic experiences and success of international graduate students by addressing their unique challenges and needs to promote equity. Potential findings should aim to contribute policies and practices that better support international graduate students and ensure necessary resources to help them thrive academically and personally. This poster presentation intends to present the research's methodology and potential key findings and further discuss an inclusive and supportive environment for these students at Pacific Northwest University.

Background: We will discuss a case of a functioning gonadotroph pituitary macroadenoma with a rare presentation of no new clinical symptoms, in a premenopausal patient. Review of this case will aid in correctly diagnosing unusual pituitary macroadenomas.

Case: A 37-year-old woman presented to the OBGYN clinic for concerns of infertility. She had lifelong irregular menses and no new clinical symptoms. She was found on exam to have large uterine fibroids, enlarged multicystic ovaries, slightly elevated Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (18.82 mIU/ml; normal 1.09-9.2), and elevated Estradiol (E2) (7,801 pg/mL; normal: 30-400 pg/mL). After referral to a Gynecologic Oncologist and specialist in fibroid removal, the patient was then referred to a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist, who ordered a cranial MRI which showed a macroadenoma in the pituitary/sella of 2.2 x 1.7 x 1.6 cm. The patient was not experiencing any new symptoms including no vision changes nor headache. After removal of the macroadenoma, the patient's E2 levels returned to normal and she experienced heavy menstrual bleeding which was treated successfully with an oral contraceptive pill. She underwent Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Myomectomy with removal of her largest fibroids. She is now undergoing ovulation induction, as would have occurred at her baseline reproductive situation.

Conclusion: There are very few cases of functioning gonadotroph pituitary macroadenomas in the literature. Of the documented cases, we found no reports of patients that presented without new clinical symptoms. This case reinforces the notion that, in rare instances, patients with gonadotroph pituitary macroadenomas can present atypically.

Purpose/Aims: The project aimed to evaluate and grade the WSU College of Nursing BSN program on its integration of planetary health concepts.

Rationale/Background: Nursing is at the forefront of healthcare, and it must be equipped to meet the demands of the changing climate in relation to human health. More focus on planetary health education would allow nursing students to apply their knowledge to lead future planetary health initiatives and fill the gaps in our educational curriculum. The Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC) is an international student-led initiative developed to evaluate and improve planetary health content in health professional schools. By integrating planetary health principles into nursing curricula and using a report card to determine their effectiveness, we can ensure that nursing graduates are ready to meet the demands of a changing climate.

Methods: Using the PHRC framework, this study analyzed the College of Nursing BSN Program. The report card assessed five domains: curriculum, interdisciplinary research, community outreach and advocacy, support for student-led initiatives, and campus sustainability. Analysis and scoring were completed by nursing faculty and students as of March 2024.

Assessment of Findings/Outcomes achieved: Each PHRC section received a letter grade, translating into an overall institution grade. The overall letter grade was a B. We will share our progress with faculty leadership now that grading has been completed.

Conclusion: The findings of the PHRC will provide the next steps for organizational policy and educational practices at the College of Nursing, as well as recommendations for further research.

As global agricultural production expands, improper crop waste disposal has become an environmental issue. Natural fiber polymer composites (NFPCs) emerge as a sustainable solution by repurposing agrarian residues into valuable materials. However, the heterogeneous properties of fiber residues limit composite production, affecting quality and performance. This study examines the influence of particulate morphology on NFPC manufacturing by comparing two agricultural residues: hazelnut shells (hard, nonporous) and hemp hurd (soft, porous). The research focused on determining the physical properties of each particulate, analyzing their wettability, and correlating their influence on particulate packing arrangement for panel fabrication and resin infusion. Additionally, the mechanical properties of composite panels produced through resin injection of particulates when vacuum is applied are analyzed. Results revealed an inverse relationship between wettability, resin content, and infusion time. Hazelnut shells exhibited low wettability, requiring less resin and shorter infusion times, whereas hemp hurd’s high wettability doubled resin consumption and increased infusion time tenfold. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the NFPCs showed that panels with higher resin content presented greater resistance, undermining the trade-off between production time and composite strength. The research findings enhance the importance of particulate morphological analysis in producing composite panels and bring a new perspective into the balance between production efficiency and composite quality. This study contributes to the advancement of the biocomposites field by analyzing composite production step by step, from particulate selection to manufacturing, offering insights into material optimization and process efficiency.

Seed-cutting is a common practice utilized by potato growers that can increase the availability of seed pieces for optimized plant coverage and improve potato field performance management. Inadequate wound healing of cut seed pieces in potato cultivars can lead to desiccation and microbial infections, adversely impacting commercial yields and tuber size. This study aims to investigate the genetic basis of wound healing and response in russet varieties critical to the French fry industry, including Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Dakota Russet, Ivory Russet, Shepody, Alturas, Clearwater Russet, Caribou Russet, Mountain Gem Russet, Rainier Russet, and Norkotah Russet. Preliminary findings indicate significant cultivar differences in the upregulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and suberization, two key responses to wounding. Our research will involve a three-year field performance screening across varying wound-healing intervals (0-8 days) for selected cultivars. We will measure emergence, yield, size, and desiccation rates through fresh weight loss assessments of cut potato discs. SOD activity will be quantified using Bradford assays to correlate protein concentration with wound response. Following these protocols, we plan to characterize biochemical and molecular differences linked to wound healing, aiming to identify genomic differences and allelic variations. Our initial studies suggest significant varietal differences in the rate of wounding healing and desiccation susceptibility. The outcomes of this project will facilitate the development of breeding markers and cultivar-specific recommendations for growers to improve productivity and economic value. Furthermore, enhanced wound healing ability will increase the value of the Northwest Potato Variety Development program and associated germplasm.

The healing of bone fractures and defects poses significant clinical challenges. This study investigates the potential of Carvacrol, a monoterpenoid phenol from oregano, in promoting bone healing and regeneration. Carvacrol's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties suggest its suitability for bone tissue engineering. We incorporate Carvacrol into calcium phosphate substrates and assess its effects on osteoblast and osteoclast activities, angiogenesis, and bone healing in vitro and in vivo. In vitro assays reveal that Carvacrol enhances osteoblast viability and differentiation, with MTT and ALP assays showing 1.2-fold increases. Carvacrol inhibits osteoclast activity, evidenced by a 2.7-fold decrease in TRAP activity and disrupted actin ring formation. Angiogenesis assays indicate a 1.5-fold increase in tubular structures and a 2-fold increase in their length. Through gene expression studies, we observe the downregulation of RANKL and upregulation of BGLAP, RUNX2, and ALP. In vivo, Carvacrol-treated implants in a rat distal femur model exhibit a 1.3-fold increase in new bone formation and a 1.2-fold increase in mineralized bone compared to controls. By promoting osteoblast activity, reducing osteoclast-mediated resorption, and enhancing angiogenesis, Carvacrol shows promise for advanced bone regeneration therapies. These findings suggest that Carvacrol-incorporated biomaterials could significantly improve bone healing and integration in orthopedic application.

Wound healing remains a major medical challenge, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches for faster and more effective tissue regeneration. Prolonged chronic wounds, often stemming from complications related to infections, diabetes, aging, or other factors, significantly diminish patients' quality of life.1 The fundamental cause has been identified as uncontrolled inflammation at the wound site, which renders recovery difficult for years. From ages, the cannabinoids have been used for managing the wounds due to their unprecedented anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and tissue-regenerative effects. However, increased use of cannabinoids have long-term side effects. Here, we develop a cannabinoid-dendrimer conjugate (CDC) for increasing the targetability and sustained release of the cannabinoid for rapid and improved wound healing. We present that CDC controls the localized inflammation at the wound site which helps in proliferation of cells and thereby causing wound closure. The results further suggested that the developed CDCs alleviate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation at the late wound healing stages which further decrease inflammation and aid in the process of healing. The overall results suggest that the cannabinoid-dendrimer may promote rapid and efficient wound healing by regulating the overall inflammatory response. This new nano-approach has the potential to improve the current treatment strategies for wound healing and skin repair.

References:

1. Dar, A. I., Randhawa, S., Verma, M., & Acharya, A. (2023). Erythrocyte membrane cloaked cytokine functionalized gold nanoparticles create localized controlled inflammation for rapid in vitro wound healing. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 15(39), 45585-45600.

In a post-9/11 United States, President George W Bush lead the country through uncertainty. Bush pulled from religious euphemisms and war rhetoric to target the terrorists responsible. Through a linguistic analysis, I use a philosophy-based deconstruction to interpret Bush's post 9/11 rhetoric as a pivotal moment for the mobilization of white nationalism. Bush, through the lens of Pierre Bourdieu's distinction of taste, leads through his habitus and the audience's collective habitus that define America's immediate course. Bush pulled from George Lakoff's strict father morality to seek reformation of the terrorist through punishment. Concurrently, Bush fed off of Edward Said's orientalist "Us vs them" rhetoric to both define American and the terrorists at hand. The sum of Bush's action and rhetoric are not unique to him. Bush's rhetoric was indicative of Republican politics since Reagan employment of the Southern Strategy. It was 9/11 as a unique moment, in conjunction with an external "them" allowed America to unite. The collectivized audience interpreted the Bush's linguist approach to leadership to define America and the American. It was through the audience’s own habitus; the collective audience transformed their vision of an American; as Christian and Patriotic. It is through the artistic interpterion of Christian and Patriotic identities that the audience conflated the pair. Whiteness with Christianity and patriotism with nationalism. Through the mobilization and the audience's collective habitus a formation of nationalistic groups such as tradwives and active clubs became prevalent. Tradwives and active clubs exist through dog whistles rooted in us vs them rhetoric. and define their values based upon a distorted Christian, Pro-American vision, as interpreted from Bush's post 9/11 rhetoric.

In a post-9/11 United States, President George W Bush lead the country through uncertainty. Bush pulled from religious euphemisms and war rhetoric to target the terrorists responsible. Through a linguistic analysis, I use a philosophy-based deconstruction to interpret Bush's post 9/11 rhetoric as a pivotal moment for the mobilization of white nationalism. Bush, through the lens of Pierre Bourdieu's distinction of taste, leads through his habitus and the audience's collective habitus that define America's immediate course. Bush pulled from George Lakoff's strict father morality to seek reformation of the terrorist through punishment. Concurrently, Bush fed off of Edward Said's orientalist "Us vs them" rhetoric to both define American and the terrorists at hand. The sum of Bush's action and rhetoric are not unique to him. Bush's rhetoric was indicative of Republican politics since Reagan employment of the Southern Strategy. It was 9/11 as a unique moment, in conjunction with an external "them" allowed America to unite. The collectivized audience interpreted the Bush's linguist approach to leadership to define America and the American. It was through the audience’s own habitus; the collective audience transformed their vision of an American; as Christian and Patriotic. It is through the artistic interpterion of Christian and Patriotic identities that the audience conflated the pair. Whiteness with Christianity and patriotism with nationalism. Through the mobilization and the audience's collective habitus a formation of nationalistic groups such as tradwives and active clubs became prevalent. Tradwives and active clubs exist through dog whistles rooted in us vs them rhetoric. and define their values based upon a distorted Christian, Pro-American vision, as interpreted from Bush's post 9/11 rhetoric.

The electric power system is monitored through an extensive network of measuring devices. The remote terminal unit (RTU) devices can measure power flows and injections, and the Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) measures both bus voltages and branch currents in phasor form with high precision. State Estimation (SE) determines the nodal voltage using the measurements from these devices to ensure reliable and secure power system operation. False Data Injection (FDI) attacks are one major cyberattack against the power system state estimation, in which the measurements are replaced with counterfeits to disrupt economic power dispatch and grid operations. Traditional FDI attacks against the PMU state estimation can bypass the bad data detectors (BDD). However, these attacks can be easily detected by a low-rank-based detection method. From the attacker’s perspective, this work proposes a novel convex tensor-completion-based FDI attack against PMU state estimation. This approach manipulates measurements in alignment with historical data, aiming to remain stealthy to the low-rank-based detection method. In addition, the proposed attack maximizes the voltage changes to ensure a sufficient negative impact on system operations and utilizes the power flow model as a constraint to maintain the stealthiness against traditional Chi-2 BDD. The stealthiness of this attack will be evaluated by the low-rank detector, statistical detectors and machine learning-based approaches in the IEEE 14-bus system.

Background: Pediatric obesity is a significant public health issue in the U.S., influenced by social determinants of health (SDoH). It leads to poor long-term outcomes, but effective weight loss interventions could improve these outcomes. Barriers, such as limited healthcare access, affect underserved populations. Despite FDA approval for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in adolescents aged 12 and older, research on their efficacy in pediatric populations is limited.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of GLP-1RAs in treating obesity in children and adolescents under 21 years of age.

Design/Methods: We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving participants under 21, with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m², using GLP-1RAs and measuring BMI. Studies involving secondary obesity, type 1 or 2 diabetes, or crossover designs were excluded. Effect sizes for BMI, BMI-SDS, and weight change were calculated using Hedges’ g. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO.

Results: Eight RCTs (N = 711, ages 6-19) were included. Combined Hedges' g values were: -0.32 (BMI), -0.34 (BMI-SDS), and -0.35 (weight change), indicating small to moderate reductions in the treatment groups.

Conclusions: GLP-1RAs effectively manage pediatric obesity, though bariatric surgery is another option for some. SDoH, such as race, socioeconomic status, and neighborhood, worsen obesity outcomes, especially in certain populations. Despite FDA approval of Wegovy and Saxenda, public insurance like Medicaid does not cover them. Addressing these barriers is crucial for equitable treatment, and more research is needed to improve guidelines for pediatric obesity management.

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, making it a significant public health and economic burden. C. jejuni infection is characterized by invasion and colonization of the intestine, which is primarily facilitated by Cia proteins that are delivered to host cells via a bacterial flagellar type III secretion system, thus triggering a robust inflammatory response. Central to this response is secretion of Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a cytokine that plays a role in recruiting immune cells to the site of infection, amplifying inflammation and contributing to tissue damage. While the production of IL-8 cytokine from intestinal cells is a C. jejuni-induced event, the mechanism for introduction is currently unknown. This paper aims to investigate the role that CiaD plays in stimulating the expression of IL-8. Several assays were conducted to evaluate the relationship between CiaD and IL-8 expression including ELISAs, Binding and Internalization Assays, and Motility Assays. The C. jejuni isolates used consisted of WT, ∆ciaC, CiaC-complement, ∆ciaD, CiaD-complement, ∆flgL, and flgL-complement, all from the 81-176 C. jejuni strain. Despite having similar motility and host cell invasion to ∆ciaC, the ∆ciaD isolate was found to illicit IL-8 expression in host cells that was half of that caused by the ∆ciaC isolate. This data indicates that CiaD plays a role in IL-8 secretion that goes beyond affecting bacterial invasion like CiaC. Gaining a better understanding of the mechanistic components of this dynamic that impact the pro-inflammatory response will help us identify potential molecular targets for treatment of C. jejuni infection.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective, non-invasive treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), particularly for individuals who have not responded to standard treatments. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), a common first-line class of antidepressants, are widely used in managing depression. Despite their widespread use, little is known about how SNRIs might enhance or modify the effects of TMS. This study investigated whether combining SNRIs with TMS improves depression outcomes in adults with TRD and explored how this synergy might optimize treatment strategies. A retrospective review of medical records was conducted for 80 patients treated at several clinic branches across Southwest Washington state in 2022. All participants were diagnosed with TRD and completed at least 30 TMS sessions. Patients were categorized into two groups: those using SNRIs concurrently with TMS and those not using SNRIs during treatment. Depression severity was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at baseline and after treatment. Patients using SNRIs demonstrated significantly greater improvements in PHQ-9 scores compared to those not on SNRIs (mean change: 9.90 vs. 4.60; p=0.02). These results suggest a potential synergy between TMS and SNRI therapy. Notably, the magnitude of improvement in the SNRI group was statistically and clinically significant, suggesting that SNRI use could enhance the antidepressant effects of TMS. This highlights the importance of considering pharmacological interactions when designing treatment plans for TRD. Future research is necessary to confirm these findings and evaluate the long-term impact of combining TMS with SNRIs in treating TRD.

The Stevens County Mentorship Program, launched in 2017 at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine (ESFCOM), connects ESFCOM with public schools in rural Stevens County, Washington. Aligned with WSU’s land-grant mission, the program offers career-focused learning to 7th-11th grade students, with a goal of increasing awareness of health careers. A key component is the 10th-grade Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) course, designed by ESFCOM professor Dr. David Conley, supported by mentorship and cadaver lab visits led by medical students. The 10th grade students have four opportunities per year to visit the lab.

Given the limited lab visits, maximizing their impact is crucial. One growing educational strategy is gamification, which integrates game elements (like badges and points) into learning to boost motivation, engagement, and academic performance. To gamify the anatomy lab, a game called “Anatomy Quest” was introduced. After rotating through five learning stations, students play the game in groups, with a medical student mentor guiding the activity. Each time a student lands on a “question” space, they answer a question related to that day’s content. After each session, students complete a modified “Intrinsic Motivation Inventory” survey to assess their interest, enjoyment, and the perceived value of the game.

This gamified approach aims to enhance the impact of the outreach program, with expected positive responses from students in rural high schools.

Principal Topic: Healthcare facilities often lack integrated support systems, despite the evident link between mental and physical health. Behavioral health disorders can elevate the risk of physical ailments, while effective mental health treatments reduce such risks. This project addresses these challenges by employing evidence-based design strategies to enhance patients’ experiences, improve access to care, and support staff well-being. It also responds to the rapid urbanization of Ridgefield, WA, marked by a dramatic reduction in green spaces and strict preservation of remaining landscapes.

Method: A mixed-methods approach was employed, including precedent studies, client interviews, site and product showroom tours, energy simulations, and feedback from healthcare design practitioners. Patient-centered and trauma-informed principles guided the development of FORESTREAT, an integrated outpatient primary care and behavioral health clinic in Ridgefield, WA. Inspired by “Forest bathing” (Shinrin-yoku), a Japanese practice that promotes relaxation and well-being through immersion in nature, the design incorporates biophilic strategies. These include curvilinear circulation paths, sustainable materials, and landscaping that evoke natural forms. Trees are central to the design, fostering relaxation, promoting community, and reducing stigma in healthcare environments. Biophilic principles are expressed in fluid massing, façade treatments, and interior furnishings, blending the therapeutic qualities of nature with functional healthcare spaces.

Results/Implications: The design reflects the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, demonstrating a successful integration of utility and biophilic aesthetics. Biophilic interiors enhance user experiences, foster emotional well-being, and improve staff productivity. The curvilinear forms create diverse spatial experiences, supporting holistic healing and promoting community within the clinical environment.

The Self-Determination Theory of Motivation posits that providing choice amongst a set of options promotes positive outcomes within intrinsic motivation. Past research investigating motivation in education has shown that providing students with choices in different aspects of their learning, as opposed to being confined to teachers’ decisions, helps to foster and enhance their learning and motivation. When learners are presented with choices that are meaningful and relevant to their learning, they are more likely to experience a sense of empowerment, autonomy, and competency, which are key aspects of intrinsic motivation. Building upon the last published meta-analysis from 2008, the present meta-analysis seeks to examine the effect of choice on intrinsic motivation using recent studies, offering updated insights in the field. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, 28 studies involving 2,722 participants examined the effect of choice on intrinsic motivation in various settings. Presently, results indicate that providing choice continues to moderately enhance intrinsic motivation within students. Moderator analyses indicated that the effect of choice decreases with the presence of some type of reward, whether as compensation or a reward inherent to the study’s design. The effect of choice was also higher for student populations outside of the United States. The previous meta-analysis chose not to consider studies outside of the US. Most of the studies included in the analyses were conducted within ecologically valid learning environments, such as legitimate classroom settings, more so than laboratory settings. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as future directions, will also be discussed.

Digital literacy, including computer and information literacy (CIL) and computational thinking (CT), is vital for thriving in today's digitalized educational and career environments. To enhance digital literacy among K–12 students, it is crucial to explore factors influencing their ICT learning, including their perceptions of ICT and self-efficacy. This study examines the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between students' perceptions of societal values and risks associated with ICT and their achievement in CIL and CT. Using the ICILS 2018 U.S. sample dataset, we conducted a multilevel path analysis with ten plausible values to explore these relationships. The findings reveal that positive perceptions of ICT strongly predict higher CIL and CT achievement scores through the mediation of ICT self-efficacy. Self-efficacy related to the use of general applications explained 42% of the variation in CIL scores and 33% of the variation in CT scores. However, self-efficacy associated with specialist applications negatively predicted both outcomes. These results suggest that while general ICT self-efficacy facilitates academic achievement in digital literacy, overconfidence or challenges related to specialist applications may hinder performance. This study contributes to the growing body of research on digital literacy by highlighting the complex interplay between students' perceptions of ICT, their self-efficacy, and their academic outcomes. The findings provide actionable insights for designing educational practices, tools, and curricula that foster positive ICT perceptions and strengthen self-efficacy, thereby improving students' preparedness for the digital demands of the 21st century.

Understanding the complex relationships between biodiversity, land use patterns, and pathogen transmission is critical for predicting and controlling zoonotic spillover. A key distinction is the difference between zoonotic hazard (potential sources of harm) and zoonotic disease risk, which includes human exposure and susceptibility. Agroecosystems, such as those in eastern Washington (WA), exemplify human-modified landscapes where these dynamics unfold. This study characterizes the zoonotic spillover interface in the Palouse region by focusing on rodent populations, key reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens, including Sin Nombre virus (SNV), which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). From May to August in 2022 and 2023, we conducted capture-recapture trapping across 14 sites, including croplands, cattle farms, and natural landscapes. Tissue and serum samples were collected from 282 rodents and tested for SNV and Rickettsia Spotted Fever Group (RSFG). Results showed that 26.7% of serum samples tested positive for SNV-specific antibodies, with lung tissue showing the highest prevalence of nucleic acids (8.9%), while fecal and bladder samples had lower prevalence (0.4% and 0.7%, respectively). No RSFG antibodies were detected. Spatial analyses revealed that impervious surfaces and connectivity of natural and cultivated landscapes were positively associated with rodent abundance, suggesting these landscapes provide critical resources that amplify zoonotic hazards. Predator presence, including coyotes, showed no significant influence on rodent populations. These findings highlights the role of human-modified landscapes in shaping zoonotic hazards. By integrating ecological, spatial, and pathogen prevalence data, this study provides new insights into the structure of zoonotic hazards in rural communities.

Career readiness is imperative to preparing students for their future careers. Today's college students are focused on what is next after graduation and how they can be better prepared to successfully transition into the workplace and secure meaningful employment. This poster will cover initiatives from the WSU Department of Human Development (HD) that align with the educational need to prepare students for future employment opportunities in alignment with skills employers are looking for. Details about the HD 497 Professional Preparation Seminar and HD 498 Internship in Human Development on the WSU Global, Pullman, and Vancouver campuses will be presented to help viewers understand the influences these classes have on undergraduate student professional development. Student and internship mentor evaluation data will be presented to demonstrate the efficacy of this internship experience for student career readiness. National Association of Colleges and Employers “Career Readiness Competencies” and scholarship on student career development will contextualize our findings. By learning more about this work, our WSU colleagues may be inspired to implement similar courses and initiatives in their departments, thereby benefiting more WSU students.

In late 2022 I received a grant to oversee the production of several digital assets for the National Park Service (NPS) Manhattan Project National Historical (MAPR) website and smartphone app focusing on the racial history of Hanford and east Pasco. In 2023 Phil Gruen (SDC) and I received a TCI IDEA grant in summer of 2023 to plan a community-engaged scholarship class that became Architecture 542: Issues in Architecture. This class, offered in Spring 2024, explored infrastructural racism by studying how the built environment shapes communities in relationship with discrimination. Students spent several weeks learning in the classroom and then spent a full day in the Tri-Cities meeting with community members and seeing firsthand the racial history of east Pasco.

These concepts learned in the classroom and on the trip were applied to semester-long projects intended to bring east Pasco’s lesser-known histories to light and additional resources into a community that has historically suffered from disinvestment, neglect, and discrimination. Students worked collaboratively on one of four different projects: a digital walking tour of east Pasco, historical essays, an ArcGIS StoryMaps, and conceptual design proposals for new buildings and landscape that addressed community needs in east Pasco. The first three projects are grant deliverables for MAPR and are all in draft status of completion, to be submitted by the end of fiscal year 2025. We are excited to share the work of the students which will soon be on the MAPR website and smartphone app.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality project is to improve a local hospital’s special pathogen preparedness by implementing an evidence-based staff development program.

Background: Local and regional special pathogen preparedness is crucial for the prevention of large-scale outbreaks of high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID). Only 37% of responding facilities across Region 10 reported established training for special pathogens. Gap analysis identified a need for a standardized intervention to assist frontline hospitals in developing special pathogen response plans.

Approach: The project was implemented at a 330-bed hospital from August 2024 to December 2024. The evidence-based intervention consists of three phases including a 4-hour didactic and simulation training session with emergency room and critical care staff, presentation of an evidence-based toolkit to the hospital stakeholders, and a mystery patient drill. Preparedness was measured using a valid preparedness checklist before and after implementation. Anonymous Likert-type survey measured staff self-efficacy at each phase and was analyzed using t-tests.

Results: Preparedness at the frontline hospital increased from 65% to 90% during the project period. Staff’s self-efficacy significantly increased regarding the identification of a patient with a HCID (t score=2.29, p=0.03). After the training session, there was a significant increase in staff’s self-efficacy donning (t score=3.05, p=0.008) and doffing (t score=2.89, p=0.01).

Conclusion: COVID-19 illustrated that providers and nursing staff were ill-prepared to deal with HCID and required documentation of special pathogen readiness for re-accreditation. The timeliness and value of the toolkit, training, and drill addressed a critical healthcare issue and increased local special pathogen staff preparedness.

Wearable electrochemical sensors have aroused tremendous attention due to their potential for in situ and continuous glucose monitoring. Glucose is a critical risk indicator of diabetes, and continuous glucose monitoring has been proven remarkable to reduce the deterioration of diabetes and prevent secondary complications. Herein, we present a novel biocompatible wearable electrochemical sensor for glucose monitoring in ISF. Compared with previous glucose sensors, our study introduces an innovative combination of 3D-printed HMNs and SANs to address the key limitations in existing technologies. HMNs are fabricated by biocompatible resin, allowing minimally invasive sampling for ISF and ensuring safe interaction with the skin without irritation and toxicity concerns. The incorporation of SANs significantly boosts the sensitivity and selectivity of electrochemical sensing, offering a wide linear range of 0.1 μM to 40 mM for glucose. The integration of 3D-printed HMNs and a finger-activated pump demonstrates the ISF extraction capability in a biocompatible and minimally invasive approach, which is validated through the sampling of artificial ISF from skin-mimicking phantom gel “in vivo”. Furthermore, the sensor is coupled with a potentiostat, enabling real-time and wireless data transmission to a smartphone app to provide immediate results of the glucose levels. Beyond glucose detection, this versatile platform holds great potential for expanding the detection of a wide range of biomarkers in ISF. This research aims to develop and validate the wireless sensor, showcasing its sensitivity and selectivity using a skin-mimicking phantom gel, thereby laying the foundation for future advancements in wearable biosensors.

Background: Previous studies using a 2-hour protocol found that female patients have slower gastric emptying than males. With a 4-hour protocol now standard for measuring emptying at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours post-meal ingestion, this study investigated whether sex-based differences in gastric emptying persist using this protocol.

Methods: Patients (n=145; 36 males, 109 females) who underwent solid-meal gastric emptying studies were retrospectively analyzed. A standardized sulfur colloid radiolabeled egg meal (255 kcal; 2% fat, 72% carbohydrate, 24% protein) was administered, with an oatmeal substitution for egg-intolerant patients. Images were obtained at 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes (min) post-ingestion. Correlations between sex and gastric emptying were assessed using SPSS (version 21), with p<0.05 considered significant.

Results: No significant differences in age (females: 47 years; males: 43 years) or body mass index (females: 26.4 kg/m²; males: 24.9 kg/m²) were observed. Meal retention showed no differences between sexes at any time point (30 min: p=0.55; 60 min: p=0.67; 120 min: p=1.00; 180 min: p=0.78; 240 min: p=1.00). No significant differences in gastric emptying were observed in the subgroup with normal studies (n=91), despite females being significantly older (49 years versus 38 years, p=0.03). Age-adjusted analysis confirmed no significant differences in gastric emptying in this subgroup.

Conclusion: Using a 4-hour protocol, no significant differences in gastric emptying times were observed between males and females. These findings suggest that sex-based adjustments may not be necessary when interpreting gastric emptying results, though larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Over half of inpatients with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) (Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or non-TBI, e.g., stroke) experience disturbed sleep while hospitalized. These sleep disturbances can delay neurorehabilitation and lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, presenting a significant barrier to therapy engagement and recovery. Despite this, research regarding effective, evidence-based sleep interventions in inpatient ABI is limited. A crucial first step in addressing this gap is understanding the specific needs of the population before developing targeted interventions. As such, the current study aimed to explore inpatient perspectives of sleep quality during hospitalization for ABI.

As part of a larger ongoing qualitative study, N=13 inpatients with ABI (66±17y; 10 males) were recruited from a large rehabilitation hospital in Washington, USA. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to examine inpatients’ perspectives on the nature, frequency, contributing factors, and current strategies for addressing sleep/wake disturbances.

Reflexive thematic analysis revealed five key themes: Insomnia Symptoms; Nighttime Care Provision; Pain, Mental Health, and Other Comorbidities; The Hospital Environment; and Daytime Therapy Engagement.

These findings provide valuable insights for the development of targeted sleep interventions for inpatients with ABI. Interventions may include clustering nighttime care (e.g., conducting observations and administering medication simultaneously) to reduce disruptions and alleviate insomnia. Interventions addressing pain, mental health, and other influential comorbidities would be beneficial. Concerns regarding the hospital environment, particularly excessive light and noise, highlighted an inpatient-specific issue. A cyclical relationship between sleep quality and therapy engagement was reported. Ongoing data collection will support theme development and highlight directions for future research.

Women are at a significantly higher risk of developing opioid use disorder (OUD) compared to men, for a number of reasons. For one, women face more interpersonal and domestic violence which can trigger initial substance use. Women are also prescribed opioids for pain management more frequently, which can also initiate or maintain substance use. Even when seeking treatment (e.g., methadone) women face more stigma and barriers than men. Additionally, only women experience acute fluctuations in methadone dosage during pregnancy/postpartum. Despite these unique challenges, women remain underrepresented in OUD research. This study aimed to give voice to women with OUD and begin addressing the gender-disparities in the field.

As part of a broader qualitative project, twelve adult women with OUD (48.50±9.68y) were recruited from methadone-based treatment programs in Washington, USA. Via semi-structured interviews, participants discussed early substance use, initial OUD treatment, OUD recovery, and treatment goals.

All participants were single/unmarried. Nine identified as mothers and/or family caregivers. Six reported a mental health condition. Five reported chronic pain. Using reflexive thematic analysis, five key themes were revealed: Prescription Painkillers versus “Street Drugs”, Domestic Violence & Abusive Relationships, Mental Health & Comorbidities, Motherhood & Caregiving, and Methadone Clinic Support & Counselling.

Findings highlight the unique experiences of women with OUD. Prescription opioids and domestic violence contributed to most women’s early substance use. Many discussed their recovery through the lens of being a mother and/or caregiver. Future research should consider the benefit of incorporating mental health and family-based wrap-around services to OUD treatment programs.

The Department of Psychology at WSU is the largest in the College of Arts and Science with respect to undergraduate students, engaged in research across every WSU campus (physical and virtual). These opportunities are closely linked with the scholarship of psychology faculty and graduate students, which spans diverse areas including Substance Use/Abuse, Healthy Aging and Cognitive Decline, Healthy and Equitable Workplaces, Developmental Psychopathology/Childhood Risk and Protective Factors, Student Teaching and Learning, Culture and Diversity/Inclusion, to name a few. WSU Psychology faculty are prolific in terms of publications in the field and are frequently in the news, with media providing access to scholarship beyond academic outlets. Graduate and undergraduate students involved in this research also publish and have regular opportunities to present at scientific meetings. Faculty and students in Psychology also attract considerable grant funding, including large external awards. Perhaps most importantly, the Department of Psychology represents a community of science, with scholarship emphasized in teaching and extra-curricular opportunities. For example, the Undergraduate Research Symposium is a showcase dedicated to projects completed by undergraduate students in collaboration with faculty and graduate students in the department and features a guest speaker – typically a renowned expert from another institution speaking on topics relevant to our program of research. Research opportunities for undergraduate students are available on every campus, including the Global Campus, with students presenting at the Undergraduate Research Symposium and SURCA. Department funding is provided for undergraduate students to develop their projects and to travel to Pullman to present.

Principal topic: Simulation studies are essential for planning and operating electric power systems, as they predict system behavior under various conditions. The reliability of these simulations depends on accurate models of system components, including conventional generators and inverter-based resources (IBRs) like solar and wind generators. However, manufacturers may not provide all parameters for IBRs due to proprietary concerns, also the provided parameters may change over time. To ensure reliable simulation results, it is crucial to periodically validate component models and accurately identify their parameters. In this work, we develop and demonstrate an open-source model validation tool which uses measurements for validation and calibration of dynamic models of IBRs.

Method: This work presents a method for generator validation that does not require taking it offline, unlike other methods in the literature. Measurements from routine test procedures or common disturbances are used for this purpose. Voltage and phase angle signals serve as simulation inputs, while power signals are treated as outputs. The model parameters are then optimized to minimize the error between simulated results and field measurements, ensuring accurate validation.

Results/implications: The tool was tested for validation and calibration of real models using measured filed data. The obtained calibrated model provides a significantly better match with the field measurement, demonstrating the effectiveness of the tool. Further, the open-source and user-friendly nature of this tool allows the power engineering community to use it for model validation and calibration needs and avoid the need for commercial tools.

Aims: This study investigates socio-demographic and clinical sex differences among individuals seeking substance use disorder treatment in therapeutic communities in Brazil.

Methods: Data were collected from 2014 to 2016 during treatment intake at 48 therapeutic communities across Brazil.

Results: Among 12,117 participants, 86.2% were male, and 13.8% were female. Males were older (mean age 37 vs. 35.5), more likely to be divorced (13.8% vs. 9%), employed (61% vs. 39.4%), and homeless (33% vs. 25.1%). Females were more likely to have completed higher education, to be married (22.2% vs. 19.2%) or widowed (2% vs. 1%; p<0.05 for all).

Substance use patterns revealed higher past-year tobacco (84.3% vs. 73.2%) and crack use (60.2% vs. 53.7%) among females, while males reported higher alcohol (87% vs. 81.2%) and cocaine use (63.5% vs. 58.2%; p<0.01 for all).

Mental health findings showed females had higher rates of suicide attempts (20.4% vs. 11.4%), self-harm (13.1% vs. 5.9%), and use of mental health medications (16% vs. 7.9%). They also scored higher for anxiety (9.2 vs. 7.1) and depression (7.7 vs. 6.5; p<0.05 for all).

Females reported more trauma histories and risky behaviors, while males had greater involvement in legal issues (p<0.01 for all).

Conclusions: Significant sex differences were identified, highlighting females’ mental health challenges and trauma prevalence, contrasted with males’ homelessness and legal issues. These findings stress the need for gender-sensitive approaches in therapeutic communities

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a vision-threatening medical condition currently managed only through surgeries at the mature stage of the disease, although it is commonly triggered by eye surgeries. Globally, the PVR affects approximately 13.7% of the human population annually, with around 4,000 patients per year in the USA alone. The limited medical treatments for PVR highlights the urgent need for therapies to address visual impairment. Nanomedicines have shown promising solutions for various diseases and have emerged in clinical products. In this study, we have rationally designed a nano-drug delivery system (NDDS) that can target diseased retinal tissues through systemic administration(injections), eliminating the need for eye surgery. The NDDS was synthesized using highly efficient click chemistry approach. PVR is characterized by inflammation and abnormal cell growth in retinal regions, which are key pathological events to the disease progression. Our fluorescently labeled NDDS has demonstrated its ability to target damaged region of retina in a mouse PVR model. Furthermore, PVR involves the activation of specific receptors called CB2, which become elevated after retinal trauma. Medicines targeting these receptors can effectively reduce cell growth and inflammation but often face issues like poor water solubility and side effects, necessitating efficient delivery mechanism. To address this clinical challenge, we have developed a high water soluble novel NDDS system that precisely delivers the drug to the damaged retina, achieving controlled drug release of 80%-90%. Preliminary cell studies that mimic PVR conditions indicate that NDDS system is a promising potent candidate for the treatment of PVR.

The purpose of this case study is to explore the perceptions of middle school inclusion teachers and their ability to recognize social skill needs of their students with ASD and how they address these observations in their classrooms. Inclusion teachers’ level of knowledge and skill can be explored through research questions about their perceptions of the representation of autistic traits in their classrooms and what they do when faced with these specific student needs. There is an extant amount of research on ASD and inclusion but a limitation on models for inclusion practices for ASD. The gap this researcher intends to fill is between this current extensive research on ASD and inclusion, and the perception and knowledge of ASD and inclusion by middle school teachers that have students with ASD in their inclusion classrooms. What are the strengths and deficits in teachers’ skill of recognizing social skill needs of students with ASD? Is there a potential limitation of known social skill EBPs for supporting these needs within the construct of academic settings? Is there a difficulty in maintaining an equitable classroom where students with unique needs feel supported and included even with their limitations?

This case study is intended to illustrate strengths or deficiencies in these three categories of inclusion practices specifically for students with ASD: what inclusion teachers identify as social skill needs in their classrooms, what strategies and EBPs they utilize to address these social skill needs, and how they construct equitable classrooms that support developing and trying new skills creating a shared experience of learning. Students with ASD deserve to access learning the same as their peers without disabilities, but teachers need to create learning at their social skill level to bring them into these engaging learning opportunities. Teachers in inclusion setting are tasked with the demand to teach all students at every level. As social engagement is a construct of most learning, how are teachers bridging this gap?

Principal topic: This research examines the impact of anthropomorphism (AP) on pharmaceutical branding, focusing on hero versus villain characterizations. The current landscape of medicinal advertising emphasizes the use of threatening figures. This is supported by prior research suggesting that using friendly imagery leads to a decrease in perceived effectiveness. This work explores how perceived warmth and competence influence consumer evaluations. By challenging assumptions that villainous branding is superior, this study reveals how certain AP depictions (i.e., heroes) can achieve high levels of warmth and competence, addressing a gap in marketing literature and offering insights into narrative archetypes in health-related contexts.

Method: A multi-phase experimental design investigated AP’s effects on medicinal branding. A pilot study with 427 participants compared AP’s influence on medicinal and non-medicinal products, revealing competence reductions in medicines. Study 1, with 209 participants, evaluated vitamin C products branded as heroes, villains, or non-AP, showing hero branding significantly enhanced competence and purchase intent. Study 2, involving 280 participants, used a 2x2 design to assess hero and villain narratives across various AP combinations. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and mediation analyses.

Results/implications: Contrary to prevailing marketing strategies, these findings reveal that hero AP fosters trust, emotional engagement, and confidence in product efficacy, outperforming villain and non-AP branding. These findings highlight the strategic value of aligning narratives with product contexts in pharmaceutical marketing. The study offers actionable recommendations for campaigns enhancing consumer trust and adherence, driving healthier outcomes. Future research should examine these effects across diverse demographics and product categories.

Language classrooms rely heavily on diverse teaching and learning activities, yet a robust and universally applicable definition of "language pedagogy activity" (LPA) has been lacking. This study introduces a novel sociomaterialist framework to redefine LPA as a "(semi)bounded language teaching/learning assemblage of happening(s)" that involves human and non-human participants. Through qualitative data from Spanish-as-a-foreign-language classrooms, we explore how social and material dynamics—such as classroom arrangements, pedagogical materials, and student-teacher interactions—shape real-time classroom practices.

Drawing on Sørenson’s minimal methodology and sociomaterialist concepts like "assemblage" and "happening," this study departs from the traditional reliance on Vygotskian sociocultural theory (SCT), offering a more dynamic and inclusive lens. Findings suggest that LPAs are not linear or goal-driven but emerge unpredictably, shaped by distributed agency across participants and materials. Classroom examples, including a Taboo gameplay task and a thematic activity sequence, illustrate the utility of this redefinition for both research and practice.

This redefinition has implications for applied linguistics, encouraging a closer examination of the entangled human and material dynamics in classrooms. It equips educators with insights to enhance classroom practice and provides researchers with a robust conceptual tool for analyzing language pedagogy.

CO₂ is a major contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs), currently reaching 422 ppm in atmosphere, mainly due to fossil fuel combustion. Converting CO₂ into valuable products like ethanol is crucial for reducing GHG emissions. Syngas, derived from non-fossil fuel sources such as biomass and CO₂, offers an eco-friendly platform for carbon resource conversion. Therefore, the conversion of COx (CO and CO₂) into ethanol is essential for sustainable carbon utilization. However, selective COx conversion to ethanol is challenging due to difficulties of controlling CO* and CHx* intermediates and their selective C–C coupling (Liu, 2022). This study demonstrates the enhanced ethanol selectivity in direct COx hydrogenation using Rh-based catalysts promoted by Fe. It is hypothesized that co-loading Rh and Fe enhances metal-metal interactions, increasing Rh-Fe coordination number and electron density on Rh. The strong Rh-Fe bonds and enhanced electron transfer between them facilitate the vicinal arrangement of Rh, helping selective C-C coupling for ethanol production. When Fe is loaded first, the acidic Rh nitrate solution protonates FeOx, making it positively charged. This causes repulsion with Rh3+ because the pH is below the point of zero charge (PZC) of FeOx. In contrast, RhOx has a much lower PZC. Therefore, when Rh is loaded first, the repulsion between RhOx and Fe3+ is reduced, and the Rh-Fe interaction is enhanced. Therefore, by enhancing Rh-Fe interactions on an inert silica support and co-loading method, this work demonstrates significantly improved ethanol selectivity under mild reaction conditions, illustrating the importance of the active site structure.

The Washington State University School of Music promoted the first week-long multinational Brazilian Jazz Festival on the Palouse in 2024. Spearheaded by Dr. César Haas, the festival featured internationally acclaimed Brazilian and American jazz artists, Três Mais and Nelson Faria.

The festival focused on performances, clinics, rehearsals, and talks that promoted dissemination, teaching, and learning of Brazilian music at WSU and local schools free of charge to the community. The internationally acclaimed guest artists worked closely with WSU students and faculty on performances and clinics that involved several areas and ensembles from the School of Music, including the Jazz Big Band and the Symphony Orchestra.

Along with the concerts and clinics, WSU faculty recorded a live session with the artists in the WSU Recording Studios, and Dr. César Haas was featured on Nelson Faria’s renowned podcast on YouTube Um Café Lá em Casa, where guests talk about their musical careers in an informal setting and jam with the host. The show is a success in Brazil and internationally and has videos with more than 700k views, featuring artists of high caliber such as Mike Stern and Yamandú Costa.

In my presentation, I will outline the goals and objectives of the festival; and share our academic, creative activity, and community engagement results, including videos of the abovementioned recordings.

This is event was grant supported by the Office of Research and the Office of the Provost through the New Faculty Seed Grant Program that helps faculty develop research, scholarly, or creative programs.

Principle Topic: Real-time monitoring of manufacturing processes allows early intervention and correction opportunities to improve the manufactured part quality. For real-time monitoring, sensors play a crucial role in collecting data from the manufacturing system.

Method: However, measurements from the sensors, such as temperature data, intensity data, acoustic data, etc., are often noisy and imbalanced which can obstruct reliable analyses and decision-making. Scientific machine learning offers a promising approach by integrating physical laws and equations with the sensor that can reduce the noise of the manufacturing data. A key technique in this domain is the Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN), which incorporates physics-based loss functions to analyze noisy data more effectively.

Implications: This study demonstrates the application of PINN to denoise thermal field data obtained from photodiode sensors during single and multi-track scanning in the laser powder bed fusion process. By leveraging residual connections, PINNs address the vanishing gradient problem commonly encountered in traditional machine learning models. The proposed framework facilitates more accurate process analyses under noisy conditions, providing deeper insights into the manufacturing process. These advancements have the potential to optimize process parameters in additive manufacturing, ultimately enhancing part quality and production efficiency.

Principal topic: This poster describes the observation of self-trapping in a spin-orbit coupled gas of ultracold atoms. Self-trapping is when there is an imbalance of atom-to-atom repulsive interactions with attractive nonlinear forces, causing the atoms to remain in a non-equilibrium state. This is a fundamental phenomenon associated with nonlinear quantum systems of great modern research interest.

Method: By trapping room-temperature Rubidium 87 gas and then cooling it to ultracold temperatures using laser cooling techniques, the atoms reach their lowest possible energy and behave as a macroscopic quantum object. With another set of lasers, we put them in a system which causes an atomic current to flow between two quantum states. By taking several images over time, we measure the internal mixed state of the atoms, and calculate the atomic current.

Results/implications: Using these methods, we were able to observe that the atomic current slowed down, or in some cases, stopped, which is an underlying trademark of self-trapping. This unprecedented result will provide a foundation for future experiments and a benchmark for ongoing nonlinear quantum theories as well as quantum chaos theory.

Principal topic: This research explores the marketing impact of vertical farming cues in physical restaurants, with two primary objectives: 1) assessing consumer perceptions of these cues, and 2) understanding their influence on consumer behavioral intentions. Drawing on the cue diagnosticity framework, the study aims to enhance the discourse on farm-to-table and hyper-local sourcing, with a particular focus on the role of vertical farming practices in the hospitality sector.

Method: This research employs a single-factor, between-subjects design, where participants are presented with scenarios of restaurants either featuring or lacking vertical farming cues in an online experiment. A total of 312 responses were collected via CloudResearch using a self-administered survey. Participants were asked to provide responses regarding their perceptions (e.g., nature, restoration, healthiness, sustainability) as well as their intentions to visit the restaurant or share information about the restaurant.

Results/implications: This research reveals that participants exposed to vertical farming cues demonstrated a greater intention to visit the restaurant, share their experiences, and revisit in the future. They also expressed higher perceptions of nature, restoration, healthiness, and sustainability, with these factors serving as significant mediators in predicting their behavioral intentions.

The study sheds light on the potential of vertical farming in restaurants as an innovative method of direct sourcing, exploring its ability to enhance the dining experience and promote sustainability. Insights into consumer perceptions and preferences regarding sustainable food sourcing through vertical farming may provide valuable guidelines and best practices for restaurant owners and other stakeholders looking to adopt innovative direct sourcing initiatives.

Principal topic: The objective of the study is to explore consumer perceptions and underlying mechanisms of the positive effects of sustainable infographic menus using Augmented Reality (AR), specifically focusing on plant-based food. We aim to identify the positive impact of AR infographics in enhancing the perception related to environmental and health benefits, and behavioral intentions of plant-based food. The theoretical framework is based on the cognitive absorption theory.

Method: To analyze the impact of AR infographics, this study was designed as a lab-based experiment, a single factor between-subjects factorial design (type of pro-environmental infographics: AR vs. non-AR vs written). MANOVA and Hayes’ PROCESS macro with SPSS were conducted to analyze the data. 154 participants were recruited to answer a self-administered survey after exposure to a scenario and stimuli.

Results/implications: There was a highly significant difference among the groups for sharing (p < 0.001), and marginal significance for learning (p=.051) and restaurant visit intention (p=.056). Although not showing significant differences across the groups, knowledge, and perceived environmental and health benefits showed a positive impact of infographics. AR group showed the highest cognitive absorption, compared to the other two groups without AR (p<0.001). Our serial mediation, the indirect path from cognitive absorption, learning gains, to behavioral intentions indicated that individuals being cognitively absorbed through innovative technology like AR increases their learning gains, also leading to their behavioral intentions.

This research identifies an effective communication tool (e.g., AR) to promote the benefits of sustainable but unfavorable products within the food industry.

Statement of Purpose: Providence Sacred Heart Medical (SHMC) introduced the 2023 HAPI Bundle, which outlined interventions to prevent pressure injuries. In 2023, SHMC’s General Surgery unit recorded 11 pressure injuries 2023 following the introduction of the 2023 HAPI Bundle. Will a Quality improvement project involving a bedside two-nurse skin risk assessment review and education improve adherence to the established 2023 HAPI bundle, resulting in a 10% decrease in pressure injury rates and increased staff knowledge in the general surgery unit at SHMC?

Methods/Approach: Three two-week educational cycles were held, covering pressure injury awareness, risk assessment, and two-nurse bedside pressure injury risk assessments. Data was collected from tests given before and after the education for nurses and nursing assistants, along with case studies on risk assessment.

The rates of the two-nurse bedside shift pressure injury risk assessment reports are the next step and will be extracted from nurse documentation. Pressure injury rates from Providence’s safety database will be compiled in early March.

Results: Nurse mean pressure injury knowledge scores improved from 46.89/72 (n=9) to 55.75/72 (n=4). The mean nursing assistant pressure injury knowledge score increased from 13/27 (n=3) to 17.5/27 (n=2). The standard deviation of the three pre-education pressure case studies was 1.34, 0.89, and 2.45 (n=5) compared to post-education 0.58, 0.58, and 1 (n=3).

Conclusion: Current findings suggest that educational cycles increase nurses' and nursing assistants' knowledge of pressure injuries, which is positively correlated with a reduction in pressure injury rates in hospital settings.

The purpose of this study was to assess the MDR1 genotype in cats that experienced central nervous system (CNS) toxicity after treatment with macrocyclic lactone (ML) containing parasiticides.

In 2015 we identified a 2-bp deletion in the feline ABCB1 (MDR1) gene, 1930_1931del TC, which encodes the drug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein, an essential component of the blood brain barrier. Its frequency in the feline population is 4% (1). Shortly after the introduction of a new feline parasiticide product we received numerous reports of severe CNS toxicity associated with it. MDR1 genotyping suggested a strong relationship between CNS toxicity and homozygosity for 1930_1931del TC (2).

Cat owners and veterinarians were recruited to complete a survey, provide medical records, and submit DNA for felines that experienced CNS toxicity after treatment with parasiticide products. Cats meeting established criteria were included as cases and were categorized based on parasiticide involved, outcome (survived or died) and presence of ABCB11930_1931del TC genotype.

Out of 50 responses, 27 met inclusion criteria, being highly consistent with ML-induced neurological toxicosis. For those 27 cases, the ML involved was eprinomectin in 26 cases (18 homozygous for ABCB11930_1931del TC; 3 homozygous wildtype and 5 unknown) and selamectin in 1 (unknown genotype). Eprinomectin-induced neurological toxicosis resulted in death or euthanasia in 11/26 (41%) cases (9 homozygous for ABCB11930_1931del TC, 1 homozygous wildtype and 1 unknown genotype). Results suggest the eprinomectin product poses a serious threat for cats with the MDR1 mutation. Increased awareness will prevent deaths and costly life support treatment.

Vaccines have been highly effective in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the widespread availability of efficacious vaccines, two of the biggest challenges in disease control include vaccine hesitancy and waning immunity. Vaccine hesitancy is the reluctance of individuals in being inoculated against a disease. Immunity to an infection can be acquired in two main ways, through vaccination or previous infection. Both vaccine-induced immunity and infection-acquired immunity can wear off over time due to various reasons.

Thus, the current study investigated how the vaccine hesitancy as well as the decline in vaccine-induced immunity and infection-acquired immunity impact the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19. For this purpose, we extended a Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model framework with vaccination, differential morbidity, and waning immunity to formulate a novel compartmental model based on ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We further developed a time-varying functional form for the vaccine coverage rate in consideration of vaccine hesitancy among individuals.

We first established some preliminary mathematical results on the qualitative nature of the model. We then computed two key epidemiological metrics, vaccinated reproduction number (R_v) and herd immunity threshold (H). A global sensitivity analysis and computer simulations on R_v, H, and infections helped determine the most influential parameters in the model. One important finding of the study was that the peaks of infections can be mitigated and delayed substantially with lower levels of vaccine hesitancy and waning immunity. Overall, our study provided some valuable insights into the interplay between vaccine hesitancy and waning immunity on the between-host dynamics of COVID-19 infections.

Principal Topic: Compensatory memory strategies (CMS), such as a calendar to track future appointments, can assist individuals in remembering to complete everyday prospective memory (PM) tasks. This study examined the number of distinct strategies utilized for two real-world PM tasks, determined how often participants used the endorsed CMS in their everyday life, and identified most commonly used strategies.

Method: Participants completed two real-world PM tasks, which required that they remember to complete activities in the future at a specified time or when cued by an event. Derived measures included (a) count of the number of distinct CMS used to support PM task completion; (b) self-reported frequency of use of the endorsed CMS strategies in everyday life; and (c) PM task accuracy. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment assessed global cognition. Hierarchical regression was used to determine whether CMS in-task count and everyday frequency predicted PM task accuracy after controlling for age and global cognition. We hypothesized that both variables would predict PM task accuracy.

Results/Implications: CMS in-task count, but not frequency of use in daily life, significantly predicted PM performance. This highlights the importance of implementing a variety of different strategies to support novel PM task performance. Interestingly, environmental cues (e.g., placing questionnaires on a desk to remember to complete them) were implemented most often, and older adults used both technology-based and paper-based strategies. This work has limitations, including most participants were White and female. Future research should examine different types of CMS and everyday activities they may be most useful for.

Introduction: This research examines how sommelier type (human vs. AI robot) influences the memorability of dining experiences in VR-enhanced fine dining environments. As VR technology is increasingly adopted in the hospitality industry to enhance customer engagement, understanding its role in creating memorable experiences is essential. This study identifies sommelier type as a primary predictor and investigates how perceived trust and enjoyment mediate its effects on experience memorability. Additionally, it explores the moderating roles of immersion level and wine engagement, offering insights into how these factors interact to create emotionally engaging and unforgettable dining experiences.

Method: The study employs a 2x2x2 between-subjects factorial design. Participants are randomly assigned to one of eight VR-based scenarios, combining sommelier type (human vs. AI robot), immersion level (high vs. low), and wine engagement (active vs. passive). In each scenario, participants interact with a sommelier to receive wine recommendations. High-immersion scenarios feature realistic visuals and sounds, while low-immersion scenarios provide simplified stimuli. Active engagement allows participants to select their wine, while passive engagement involves pre-selected recommendations. Participants complete validated scales measuring trust, enjoyment, and experience memorability to assess the mediating and moderating effects of these variables.

Results/Discussion/Implication: The study predicts that human sommeliers and high-immersion environments will enhance trust, enjoyment, and memorability. Active wine engagement is expected to amplify these effects. Findings will guide hospitality managers in leveraging VR to create immersive, emotionally resonant wine experiences, enriching customer engagement and satisfaction. By aligning technological innovation with emotional engagement, this research provides actionable strategies for designing memorable customer experiences that drive loyalty and long-term business success.

Principal Topic: Hydrogen is considered a promising next-generation clean energy source; however, its transportation and storage present significant challenges. Formic acid is an attractive hydrogen carrier due to its high hydrogen content. Palladium (Pd) is currently the most effective catalyst for formic acid dehydrogenation, enabling hydrogen release. However, the high cost of Pd necessitates efforts to reduce Pd loading in catalysts to promote a more sustainable hydrogen economy.

Method: We hypothesize that depositing Pd on ceria nanoislands supported on silica, rather than using bulk ceria, will enhance the interaction between Pd and ceria, improving formic acid dehydrogenation. By tuning the size of the ceria nanoparticles on the silica support, we can control this interaction. Additionally, adjusting the Pd loading allows us to optimize Pd cluster size for enhanced catalytic performance.

Results: Compared to conventional Pd catalysts supported on bulk ceria, Pd supported on ceria nanoislands on silica exhibits a fivefold increase in formic acid dehydrogenation activity. The ceria nanoparticle size should be controlled at approximately 5 nm to achieve optimal interaction with Pd. Moreover, the Pd loading can be reduced by a factor of five while maintaining comparable catalytic activity. These results demonstrate that Pd supported on ceria nanoislands significantly enhances the dehydrogenation rate of formic acid. Furthermore, tuning the interaction between Pd and ceria offers a promising strategy to reduce the use of precious metals in a wide range of catalytic reactions.

Diabetes is believed to be one of the most significant public health concerns of the coming decades, with substantial efforts being devoted towards the development of new and advanced glucose monitoring systems. This paper describes the exploitation of magnetic field-assisted deposition of Cu for the fabrication of a flexible, nonenzymatic amperometric sensor for the determination of glucose levels in human sweat. Using a specially designed 3D printed electrochemical cell, Cu was deposited onto a flexible indium-tin-oxide (ITO) coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate in the presence of magnetic fields ranging from 0-4195 G. The amperometric responses of the Cu-ITO sensor fabricated in the presence of 4195 G (Mag-Cu-ITO) demonstrated a significantly higher sensitivity of 1052 A mM-1 compared to the Cu-ITO sensor fabricated in the absence (i.e., 0 mT) of a magnetic field, which yielded a sensitivity of 688 A mM-1. The Mag-Cu-ITO sensor demonstrated a linear relationship with glucose concentrations between 5 and 390 M, which covers the physiologically relevant glucose levels in human sweat and showed no response to interferants also found in sweat (i.e. caffeine, thiocyanate, uric acid, urea, ascorbic acid). Characterization of the Mag-Cu-ITO with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed a 25% decrease in charge transfer resistance when compared to Cu-ITO. Energy-dispersive spectroscopic analysis showed an increased deposition of Cu on the Mag-Cu-ITO over 70% in comparison to the Cu-ITO. The Mag-Cu-ITO sensor maintained its performance while flexed with a curvature of 18.1o and was successfully applied towards determining glucose levels in human sweat.

Principal Topic: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) develop toolkits with evidence-based, culturally tailored messages addressing public health issues. Despite the robust research underlying these resources, challenges remain in disseminating messages to priority populations. This is particularly true for divisive topics such as vaccines, where political polarization and widespread misinformation on social media create significant barriers. Vaccine-related communication demands strategies to share accurate information, counter misinformation, and promote science media literacy, which are key for fostering credibility judgments among educators and the public. This research examines how health educators navigate barriers and leverage facilitators to effectively engage communities with CDC vaccine messages.

Method: A mixed-methods approach was employed to analyze the experiences of Cooperative Extension health educators. A nationwide Qualtrics survey of educators (N = 464) examined factors such as social media use, science media literacy, and confidence and willingness to share vaccine messages. Follow-up in-depth interviews (N=20) explored barriers and facilitators, focusing on adapting CDC materials to community needs. Data triangulation integrates survey and interview findings to inform best practices.

Results/Implications: Survey participants emphasized the need for trusted sources, visual tools, and credibility strategies to navigate misinformation and political challenges. Open-ended responses and interviews provided insights into key barriers and desired resources. Barriers included low social media engagement, fragmented communication efforts, and fear of backlash. Facilitators included visually appealing designs, emotional appeals, and community-based approaches. Findings provide actionable strategies for adapting public health campaigns to effectively engage diverse audiences and improve educator training for vaccine promotion.

Microorganisms have important roles in the health of Pacific salmon, and their role in salmon stream ecology is poorly understood. Although they are often not considered in management decisions, microorganisms can influence mortality events, such as pre-spawn mortality, and hatchery die-offs. Microorganisms also have key roles in salmon and ecosystem health, providing symbiotic relationships to salmon in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Our research focused on characterizing changes in bacterial community structure throughout the spawning migration in Pacific salmon. We collected non-lethal mucus samples from returning coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and analyzed 16S rRNA sequences of the microbial communities to explore the microbial community structure dynamics during the transition from saltwater (Puget Sound) to freshwater (Nooksack River) environments. Additionally, we examine how the long migration through the Columbia River, with its exposure to multiple dams, varied thermal regimes, and shifting environmental conditions, influences the mucus microbiome in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), and Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Our findings suggest that microbial communities may be established prior to adult freshwater migration but are influenced at low levels by environmental factors encountered during the journey. Notably, pathogen levels vary across environments, highlighting the potential risks posed by changing ecosystems to salmon survival. These insights underscore the importance of considering microorganisms in salmon conservation and management practices, particularly in the face of environmental change.

42% of American women of childbearing age are obese, impacting offspring muscle and metabolism. The IGF2 pathway is vital for muscle growth, but its regulation by maternal obesity (MO) remains unclear. H19 is a long noncoding RNA reciprocally impacted with IGF2. We found that H19 expression is up-regulated in fetuses due to MO. IGF2 has multiple promoters (P1-P3), and we hypothesized that H19 inhibits IGF2 by inducing H3K27me3 at its promoters, impacting long-term IGF2 expression in offspring muscle.

Method: C57BL/6J female mice were fed a control (10% fat) or high-fat diet (45% fat) for two months to induce maternal obesity (MO) before mating. Diets continued through pregnancy and lactation. Neonates were utilized for biochemical analysis, while 3-month-old offspring were assessed for metabolic function, muscle strength, and structure. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) examined H19-EZH2 interaction, with EZH2 acting as the catalytic subunit of polycomb repressive complex depositing H3K27me3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) measured H3K27me3 at IGF2 promoters, and MeDIP-qPCR assessed IGF2 promoter methylation.

Results/Implications: MO increases H19 expression in the offspring muscle, enhancing the interaction between H19 and EZH2. This elevated H19-EZH2 interaction reduced IGF2 expression from the P3 promoter by promoting H3K27 methylation. Consistently, the DNA methylation of the P3 was also higher in MO than CON offspring. Along with these changes, MO altered the metabolic function of offspring, exhibiting reduced muscle strength and impaired muscle structure. These results reveal an epigenetic mechanism through which MO impairs offspring muscle development, identifying H19-EZH2 interaction as a target to prevent muscle dysfunction.

The Washington Tracking Network (WTN), part of the Washington State Department of Health, hosts the Environmental Health Disparities (EHD) Map, a powerful tool designed to advance environmental justice and health equity in Washington State. The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act requires the Department of Health to maintain and update the EHD Map, which integrates social and physical environmental hazards (e.g., air and water quality, food environments) with population vulnerability indicators (e.g., disease rates and sociodemographics). This map identifies areas where vulnerable populations are at the highest risk, providing a comprehensive view of environmental health disparities across the state.

In collaboration with the WTN, Washington State University researchers and students have developed new spatial variables that help to enhance the EHD map. This project focuses on the retail food environment and its role in shaping health outcomes, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Our work explores the use of spatial analyses to map food access and how these factors may impact public health. Additionally, we have highlighted how retail food environments vary across different populations, including low-income and rural communities, and how these variations have contributed to health inequities.

The EHD Map serves as an essential resource for policymakers, state agency staff, public health officials, and stakeholders, offering data-driven insights to inform targeted interventions and advance health equity across Washington State.

Statement of Purpose: In the United States, unintentional falls are a leading cause of injury-related mortality and other health complications among adults aged 65 and older. Annual expenditures by Medicare for fall-related injuries are estimated at $31 billion, comparable to annual expenditures for cancer treatment. Additionally, the personal costs for rehabilitation, home modifications, or moving to an assistive facility are significant.

More than half of patients who experienced a fall resulting in injury report seeing a primary care provider in the prior 30 days, but only one-third report being asked about their prior fall history. This project aimed to improve the screening of patients at risk for falls in a primary care setting by utilizing the evidence-based STEADI toolkit (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Methods/Approach: Data sampling was collected from patients during annual Medicare Wellness Exams (MWE) in a rural family medicine clinic. Patients who indicated experiencing a fall in the past 12 months were asked additional screening questions from the CDC STEADI toolkit.

Results/Implications: 86 MWE visits were conducted, 37 patients completed the STEADI screen toolkit, and 22 received referrals for ancillary services, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, and DEXA bone density scans. The final results are in progress.

Conclusions: The greatest predictor of a future unintentional fall is having experienced a previous fall. Integration of the STEADI toolkit during MWE is useful for identifying patients at high risk for an injury-sustaining fall and initiating preventative measures.

Improving wheat yield is crucial for global food security, and yield-enhancing QTLs provide a promising approach. This study investigates a 4AL QTL from the spring wheat population “Kelse” x “Scarlet,” known to increase kernel weight and number. The QTL was introgressed into five high-biomass CIMMYT lines to assess yield benefits. A total of 24 BC₂F₃ lines, with and without the QTL, were evaluated in Obregon, Mexico, over four planting seasons (two normal, two late) and in Washington across multiple locations in 2022 and 2023. A randomized block design and orthogonal contrasts tested QTL status, background, environment, and their interactions. Separate analyses were performed for “Scarlet” and “Kelse” vs. “Scarlet,” followed by location-specific ANOVAs.

In Obregon, the 4AL QTL influenced grain number, spike morphology, and developmental timing across both comparisons. Grain weight was more significant when “Kelse” served as the donor parent, suggesting that genetic background can modulate QTL effects. The high-biomass background also impacted yield, grain number, spike morphology, and grain filling in both comparisons. In Washington, the QTL’s impacts varied with environment and location. Initially, QTL significance was detected for heading date in Pullman 2022, but it later affected yield and test weight at different sites and times. Genetic backgrounds displayed similarly variable patterns, consistently influencing some traits while shifting significance elsewhere. Overall, these results indicate that the 4AL QTL’s effects depend on both genetic background and environment, and that breeders can optimize yield by matching QTLs with compatible genetics and conditions. Future work will further refine this approach

Using Augmented Reality to provide situational awareness and realistic training for effective use of bear spray to increase safety in bear country.This poster/interaction demonstrates the effectiveness in utilizing Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance situational awareness and teach the safe and effective use of bear spray. This program emerges participants in a bear encounter simulation that “feels” real. This is the only Augmented Reality Bear Spray Training system. The poster also celebrates the public/private partnership of WSU Extension, local Washington Fish and Wildlife partners and a national AR Development (female-led) company AVARIO. Additional impacts of this program include live and virtual (national) training for Bear Awareness, and the development of "Suggested First Aid Protocols for Accidental Encounters with Bear Spray".

Principal Topic: Role models significantly shape health-related attitudes and behaviors by offering relatable examples of success, motivation, and guidance in physical and mental health domains. Previous research highlights the influence of personal (e.g., family, friends) and public (e.g., celebrities) role models on health aspirations. However, the nuances of this impact, particularly the interaction of gender and specific role model traits like positive norm deviance, remain underexplored. Our study investigates how gendered perceptions, role model types, and traits influence health behaviors, providing insights critical for advancing health communication strategies.

Method: We conducted a survey with 404 adults in the US a week before the new year when individuals frequently establish health goals. Key variables included the type of role model, gender, and role model traits including positive norm deviance, desirability, and levels of success. Participants were asked to identify role models and assess their influence on physical and mental health aspirations. Data were analyzed using quantitative methods to explore associations between these variables.

Results/Implications: Findings reveal that men and women were equally likely to identify role models for health inspiration. Personal role models were more influential for mental health, while celebrity role models affected physical health aspirations. Positive norm deviance emerged as a critical trait driving physical health behaviors. These insights underscore the importance of tailoring health promotion strategies. Personal role models may offer relatable guidance for mental health, while celebrity endorsements could amplify physical health goals. Understanding these dynamics enhances targeted interventions and improves health outcomes in diverse populations.

Principal Topic: A systematic interpretation of teacher stress and related factors remains unprovided, regardless of the persistently worsening trend of teacher stress for decades. Drawing on the transactional theory of stress (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), this study investigated the relationships among four components (teacher self-efficacy, teaching stressors, job satisfaction, and adverse health outcomes) in a hypothetical stress-process model. The model addresses how stressors (i.e., workload, student behavior, and expectation stressor) are influenced by self-efficacy, and what effect they impose on health outcomes, mediated by job satisfaction and in consideration of teacher background variables.

Method and Result: The sample comprised 2,560 American secondary teachers from 176 schools from the most recent Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS). Path analysis results indicated that the model significantly explained the stress process triggered by student behavior. Teacher self-efficacy most strongly alleviated the student behavior stressor. The student behavior stressor also prominently predicted teachers’ job satisfaction and adverse health outcomes. Teacher self-efficacy showed a significant effect on job satisfaction and health outcomes, as mediated by the student behavior stressor. Student behavior also had the strongest impact, among the three stressors, on teachers’ adverse health outcomes via job satisfaction. Furthermore, multigroup and multilevel path analysis revealed that the identified relationships are meaningful for female and novice teachers and at individual level.

Implication: Overall, this study contributes to comprehensive understanding of teacher stress and related factors, and provides key cues to design stress assessment and intervention for different teacher groups.

Principal Topic: Concept maps are visual tools that illustrate the relationships between concepts, with nodes representing concepts and links indicating their relationships. A key advantage of concept maps is their effectiveness in promoting meaningful learning, according to Multimedia Learning Theory. However, limited research examines the impact of different types of concept map activities (e.g., map correction or fill-in-the-blank) and how students’ performance (i.e., completeness and accuracy) in these activities influences learning.

Methods: This study employed a two-group randomized experimental design to examine the effects of two types of concept map activities: (a) self-constructed concept maps and (b) map correction, on undergraduate chemistry students’ learning outcomes. Additionally, it explored the relationship between students’ performance in these activities and their learning outcomes. A total of 563 undergraduates from an introductory chemistry class at a public university in the Pacific Northwestern United States participated in the study as an in-class activity.

Results: The results revealed no significant differences between the two groups in knowledge retention or transfer. However, students’ performance in the two concept map activities differed significantly, despite similar levels of prior knowledge. Notably, students’ performance in concept map activities significantly predicted knowledge retention and transfer, but only within the map correction group.

Implications: This study highlights the potential differential effects of various concept map types on learning outcomes, particularly as technological advancements enable diverse concept map designs. It underscores the importance of students’ performance in concept map activities, expanding on previous research that primarily treated concept maps as static interventions.

Principal Topic: This research examines the implementation of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) in Korean elementary schools through an EcoJustice Education (EJE) framework. The researcher explores how elementary school teachers in Seoul perceive the effectiveness of GCE, identify challenges, and understand the alignment or divergence from EJE principles. This study addresses the gap in a comprehensive evaluation of GCE's effectiveness in fostering ecological awareness and social justice. It highlights its potential as a strategic entry point for deeper EcoJustice engagement in education.

Method: The researcher employs a qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews and phenomenological analysis to explore teacher perceptions. The study focuses on nine elementary school teachers in Seoul with extensive experience teaching GCE. Through purposive and convenience sampling, participants were selected to represent a range of experiences and viewpoints. Data analysis involved coding transcripts to identify themes related to the potentials and challenges of GCE and its relevance to EcoJustice principles.

Results/Implications: The findings reveal significant challenges in the continuity and depth of GCE materials, impacting teachers' ability to coherently integrate ecological and social justice. This fragmentation leads to a curriculum that may emphasize cultural competencies at the expense of exploring justice-related issues more deeply. The findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced curricular support and the incorporation of EcoJustice principles in GCE. Such integration would enable students to critically examine global inequalities underlying ecological and social crises. Therefore, implementing structured support for teachers is essential to elevate GCE's effectiveness in fostering ecological consciousness and social responsibility among students.

Oscillations in power systems pose significant challenges to grid stability and reliability. An unstable oscillatory mode can cause large amplitude oscillations, resulting in system failure and large-scale blackouts. Given the threat that oscillation leads to power system operation, early detection of oscillation is critical. The wide area monitoring system (WAMS) and phasor measurement units (PMU) make it possible to measure the real-time status of the power system synchronously, making data-driven methods increasingly popular. Throughout the years, spectral and correlation methods, ringdown methods, and parametric mode estimation from ambient data have been studied and used for oscillation events. Among these, Prony, matrix pencils, etc., are used for ringdown events, frequency domain decomposition, stochastic subspace identification, etc., for ambient oscillation modal parameter estimation. These measurement-based methods involve complex mathematical formulation and large matrix computation. In recent times, there has been rapid development of machine learning (ML) techniques in power systems, particularly for forecasting and optimization purposes. In this work, we explore the realm of oscillation detection within power systems, utilizing sophisticated ML techniques. Specifically, we classify the identified oscillation events according to their distinct types, which encompass well-damped, poorly damped, sustained oscillations, or negatively damped. A supervised ML algorithm was formulated based on the image recognition problem for classifying the oscillation event. In our research, we utilize positive voltage magnitude signals as the primary oscillation feature. The time series signal was then converted into the pixelated. The oscillation images were trained in the multi-layer neural network.

The objective of this study is to develop datasets for training deep neural networks (DNNs) to analyze ocular ultrasound images. The goals include predicting the correct diagnostic planes for ocular biometric values, structural orientation, and anatomical features. A convolutional neural network following the Network-in-Network architecture was trained to predict optic nerve sheath diameter, using the absolute error loss function.

100 normal human eye scans were used as test subjects and 30 known abnormal phantom scans as training sets.

The resulting training loss is 0.049, and the resulting testing loss is 0.15, indicating the model is overfit to the training set of phantom images. We also considered cases where the optic nerve sheath lies outside the normal range of 0.3 – 0.6 cm. On this, the trained model obtains a precision of 0.34, a recall of 0.83, and an F1 score of 0.49. This indicates that even the overfit model provides significant predictive skill in terms of detecting abnormal optic nerve sheath diameters and may have potential for the assessment of optic nerve head abnormalities in conditions like optic neuropathy.

The results show that even an overfit DNN has significant predictive skill and potential for the assessment of optic nerve abnormalities.

Globally, the adoption of AI-assisted POCUS will lead to better health outcomes by timely and precise medical interventions where traditional resources are limited. These findings suggest that AI-driven analysis of ocular ultrasound can significantly improve diagnostic processes.

Plants transport water from roots to leaves through xylem vessels. Drought generates air-bubbles inside of plant xylem vessels, which severely limits plant growth by preventing water movement. These air-bubbles can spread between vessels through specialized structures called “pits”. Pits connect adjacent xylem vessels and have porous membranes which play a crucial role in sustaining water transport and preventing spreading of air-bubbles. Plants have adapted to drought conditions by adjusting structural properties of pits including pit membrane thickness. For example, thicker pit membranes reduce the possibility of air-bubbles being pulled into adjacent vessels. Therefore, understanding how plants resist air-bubbles by using pit structure will be critical for developing drought-resistance crops. However, the mechanism by which genetic network govern pit membrane development is mostly unknown.

MAP20 is a protein which is known for controlling pit morphology by stabilizing microtubules. My hypothesis is that there are additional proteins which regulate pit morphology. I will identify these proteins by identifying genes showing similar expression patterns to MAP20 during successive stages of pit differentiation in stems of model grass species B. distachyon. Abundance of each RNA species was measured using RNA-seq approach. This data was used to construct the co-expression gene networks.

I identified several genes in the MAP20 co-expression network that could function in pit development. Next, I conducted functional characterization of candidate proteins using transient transfection assays in tobacco. Proteins showed a strong impact on microtubule depolymerization and polymerization. This is strong evidence that proteins regulating microtubule stabilization affect pit morphology.

Metal-centered mononuclear and dinuclear phenoxy phthalocyanines were prepared through a mixed cyclotetramerisation of a 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene derivative (Pyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-1,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetraimine) and 4,5-diphenoxyphthalonitrile. Notably, a pi-electron-conjugated phenoxy binuclear phthalocyanine was synthesized with phthalocyanine units connected by common annulated benzene rings. The Q bands of the binuclear compound in solution occurs at λ=835 and 699 nm, whereas those of the mononuclear compound occur at λ=675 and 611 nm, respectively. Mono and binuclear phthalocyanines stand out for their distinctive electronic structures and suitability for surface studies.

Micronutrients are an important constituent of the human diet and are vital for growth and development. Approximately two billion people in the world face micronutrient deficiency. Agronomic biofortification is an approach to enhance nutrient concentration in crops using agronomic practices. The objective of this research trial was to increase wheat grain micronutrient concentration by altering the timing of micronutrient fertilizer application. The trial was in Pullman, WA in 2022-2023 and 2023-24. The study design was a split plot design with four replicates and comprised four fertility treatments and three winter wheat varieties (LCS Shine, Purl, and Norwest Duet). The four fertility treatments were no micronutrient fertilizer application, micronutrient fertilizer soil applied at planting, topdressing of micronutrient fertilizer, and foliar application of micronutrient fertilizer at heading stage. Grain micronutrient concentration was analyzed using Agilent MP-AES 4200 (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). The results indicated the micronutrient fertilizer application treatment had no significant impact on wheat yield and the wheat yield was impacted by varietal differences (p=0.0034 in 2023, p<0.0001 in 2024). Soil application at planting and topdressing of micronutrient fertilizer did not translate into enhanced grain micronutrient concentration in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. Contrarily, micronutrient fertilizer application at heading stage resulted in higher grain micronutrient concentration. The grain zinc concentration was significantly impacted by micronutrient fertilizer application treatment (p=0.0359 in 2023, p<0.0001 in 2024) and variety (p=0.0066 in 2023, p=0.0005 in 2024). In conclusion, foliar application of micronutrient fertilizer at heading stage can enhance wheat grain micronutrient concentration.

Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and Tall Fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) are widely used cool season turfgrass species for sports fields worldwide due to their superior traffic resistance. However, the impact of different Gibberellic Acid (GA) based plant growth regulators (PGRs) on their traffic tolerance and recovery is not well understood. This study evaluated pure Kentucky Bluegrass (KBG), a blend of KBG and Perennial Ryegrass (KBG-PR), and pure Tall Fescue (TF) under single applications of three PGRs—RyzUp Smartgrass, Trinexapac-ethyl, and Paclobutrazol—applied before and after traffic events. Plots were subjected to simulated wear equivalent to 15 National Football League (NFL) games over five weeks, 3 games each week, in fall 2024 using the Cady Traffic Simulator (CTS). Data collected included surface hardness (SH), shear strength (SS), turf quality (TQ) ratings, turf greenness (TG), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from drone imagery. Measurements were taken weekly or bi-weekly throughout the study. The single application of PGRs did not significantly affect traffic tolerance across species. SS, TQ, TG, and NDVI declined significantly after wear treatments, with pure KBG showing greater reductions compared to the blend and TF. SH increased significantly on wear plots. TF and the KBG-PR blend demonstrated better resilience under traffic stress compared to pure KBG. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate turfgrass species for sports fields to minimize reliance on artificial turf and reduce maintenance costs while maintaining playability.

Streamflow augmentation is critical for supporting endangered fish during low flow periods. Given that irrigated agriculture is the largest out-of-stream consumptive use of water, there is a potential to augment streamflow by temporarily leasing water from agriculture. This potential has not been fully realized, perhaps in part due to a focus on leasing at the extensive-margin where a given land area is either irrigated or not. Leasing at the intensive-margin—applying less water on the full land extent—has received limited attention but could be promising, especially in the context of short-term pulse flows needed for endangered fish. We address this with the following questions: Can a coordinated short-term cessation of irrigation withdrawals meaningfully increase streamflow for fish during critical periods? What is the associated foregone crop production and revenue loss? We used the CropSyst model to simulate irrigation demands, yield impacts from a 15-day shutoff, and resulting revenue reductions for three focal watersheds in eastern Washington State, and generated water supply curves that provide the marginal cost of augmentation. Results indicate that short-term irrigation shutoff is an economically feasible approach to meet pulse-flow requirements for fish for at least two consecutive days if conducive conditions related to upstream crop mix, crop acreage, and augmentation need are met. The mean cost from lost revenue across years ranged from $8 to $99/acre in scenarios where the targeted streamflow was achieved. This water leasing strategy has potential to represent a win-win situation for agricultural and environmental stakeholders and warrants further exploration.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of chatbots in health communication as a source of sexual health information from the user perspective, particularly for HPV vaccination among young adults aged 18-30. By using the DeLone and McLean Information System Success Model, this study will measure the performance impact of chatbots based on the key constructs of the model, which are system quality, information quality, service quality, user satisfaction, use, along with the precursor variable ‘Compatibility.’ This study is significant in assessing the effectiveness of chatbots as communication technology in health literacy, health information dissemination, and health decision-making.

The data will be collected through an online survey of the undergraduate students (approx. 1000) of Washington State University, Pullman campus. This study will employ Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the data and offer insights into the relationships between chatbot performance dimensions and the overall performance impact. Moreover, the aim is to establish the model's predictive power in determining chatbots' performance impact on health communication.

Findings will contribute to understanding how effective chatbots are in disseminating sexual health information and HPV vaccination, influencing vaccination knowledge, and changing health decisions to improve health literacy and technological accessibility, providing valuable implications for designing AI-driven public health campaigns. The emerging significance of chatbots in effective, personalized, and easily accessible ways of communication for sensitive health information will be highlighted by this study. The IRB is exempted, and researchers are getting ready to collect data.

The similarity between jazz and concepts of twentieth century classical music of the 1960s links musicians such as Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor with Debussy, Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Cage, though there are many similarities but not direct influences. The appearance of Cecil Taylor’s collective composition at the time that aleatoric techniques were on the rise in European New Music is surely a correlation. A few of the pioneers in free jazz studied or have a knowledgeable background in twentieth century classical music; Cecil Taylor studied for three years at the New England Conservatory where he came into contact with the works of Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern (Viennese circle) and was especially interested in Bartok and Stravinsky (neo-classicism and nationalism); Anthony Braxton had made detailed studies of John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen, as twelve tone serialism in United States which was the dominant musical style for new classical music at that time.

The similarities of harmonic progressions, rhythmic parameter, and other musical aspects between jazz from late 50s through early 80s and a similar time span of twentieth century classical music from nationalims, neo-classicism and early atonality will be compared and analyzed.

Principal Topic: Soil plays a crucial role in nutrient cycles, including carbon and nitrogen, particularly where it interfaces with plant roots. Microbial biofilms in this zone metabolize organic compounds and then transfer electrons via mediate or direct electron transfer. Mediated electron transfer happens using oxidation or reduction of redox mediators. Electrochemical measurements of redox potential can reveal microbial activity, indicating nutrient cycle status. A novel method of using custom-made needle type microelectrodes can nondestructively approximate the distribution profile of redox potential throughout the depth of the soil.

Methods: Two soil reactors composed of agricultural wheat soil saturated with deionized water filled up to 1 cm above the top of the soil surface were utilized. A custom-made platinum bulb (20 µm diameter) tipped microelectrode was used to measure the redox potential. Measurements were made in 1 mm increments by using a custom-built micromanipulator system to move the microelectrode through the soil.

Results/ Implications: This measurement indicated both reactors showed a similar redox potential gradient. Oxidizing conditions were observed in the top layer of the soil until 7mm below the surface when the redox potential reached zero and reducing conditions were observed from the 10mm mark to the bottom of the reactor. These results demonstrate it is possible to nondestructively measure the chemical conditions of soil in a novel manner. Different types of microelectrodes that measure other chemical conditions (i.e., pH, O2, NO3-, NH4+, or CO2) will be used in future research to further understand the localized electron transfer processes in soil.

English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers should be able to self-reflect on their own practice and recognize the beliefs that affect its construction and change. This study reports experiences of guiding ESL student teachers to develop self-reflection and become aware of the influence of beliefs. This investigation is a multiple case study (Ellet, 2018; Yin, 2018) involving ESL student teachers attending graduate programs at public higher education institutions. The participants come from culturally diverse backgrounds, including Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and China, representing a significant demographic of non-native ESL teachers. Our objective is to report experiences of using life story narratives with ESL student teachers in continuing education, allowing participants to develop self-reflection and beliefs awareness. Our theoretical foundations include studies on narratives (Andrade, 2013; Askin, 2016; Bell, 2019), beliefs (Kinoshita, 2018; Majchrzak, 2018), and self-reflection (Farrell, 2023; Loan, 2019; Noormohammadi, 2014) in language teacher education. During data collection, ESL student teachers from four different countries wrote, self-reflected, and shared life story narratives about their learning experiences in their teacher education programs. Results indicate that self-reflecting and sharing stories help ESL student teachers better understand their challenges during the continuing teacher education process and how to address them. In conclusion, narratives and storytelling appear beneficial for demystifying beliefs, myths, and unrealistic expectations of teacher learning, which not only leads to improving their learning and increasing higher education success but also supports them across their learning journeys.

Principal Topic: Osteoporosis, the most prevalent bone disorder, causes more than 8.9 million bone fractures worldwide – one every three seconds. The adverse side effects of synthetic osteoporosis treatments have prompted the need for safer and more natural alternatives. Natural medicines, like Quercetin from grapes, are known to induce bone growth but are hindered by poor bioavailability. To address this, we developed an innovative approach that encapsulates quercetin in nanoparticles (QNPs) and incorporates them into bone-like porous calcium phosphate (CaP) grafts. This novel solution offers a safer, patient-specific method to enhance bone repair and accelerate healing.

Method: The grafts were fabricated using a binder jet 3D printer. QNPs were prepared using the melt emulsion method and loaded into the grafts. In vitro studies involved release study and osteoblast (bone cell) culture, while animal studies evaluated bone regeneration and blood vessel formation using a rat model. We hypothesize that QNP release at the fracture site would induce faster bone growth, which is necessary for fracture repair.

Results: The QNPs showed an average particle size of 240 nm and a sustained release profile, with 50% quercetin released in 20 days. The QNPs-loaded grafts enhanced osteoblast growth by 29% and alkaline phosphatase activity by 33%. qPCR study showed upregulation of bone growth and vascularization genes. In rats, they improved bone formation by 1.5 times and blood vessel growth, necessary for nutrients transfer to the bone, by 2 times, compared to untreated grafts, demonstrating their potential in repairing bone fractures caused by osteoporosis.

The WSU Department of Entomology has 20 faculty members, 30 staff, and 30 graduate students located state-wide at WSU Pullman, the four research and extension centers, and WSU Tri-Cities. We have adjunct faculty at the USDA ARS Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The department provides instruction through the University Core Curriculum and required courses for the Integrated Plant Sciences, Organic and Sustainable Agriculture, and Agriculture Food Security majors. Research expenditures average $4 M annually over a five-year period. The WSU Bee program is internationally recognized for its integrated research and extension impacts for honeybee and pollinator health and a safe and sustainable food supply. The M.T. James Entomological Collection houses over 1.25 million specimens of insects and arthropods. Two impactful and award-winning extension programs - the WSU Decision Aid System and WSU Pesticide Resource Education Program- provide economically important information to growers and provide pesticide safety education for human health in the environment.

Sustainability is a concept that has become of increased concern within the agricultural literature. While perceptions toward sustainability may vary, there are tenants of sustainability that are largely understood. In this qualitative study we conducted in-depth 28 interviews with growers/merchants as hop producers, and beer brewers presenting part of hops consumer market. The overall goal of the project was to enhance supply chain sustainability and global competitiveness for Pacific Northwest hops. Several major themes emerged as the results of an axial coding analysis process such as perceptions of sustainability, barriers to the adoption of sustainable practices, social networks, and impacts of policy, regulation. When it pertained to the adopting of sustainable practices in producing hops, growers mentioned investment cost, government regulations, and other factors such as land stewardship. While hops are an important ingredient, it comprises only a small proportion in the brewing process compared to other resources such as water, small grains. Thus, the concerns about sustainability in growing hops among brewers were not as dominant as their concerns about agricultural products. Regarding sources to information about growing practices, hop growers were more of a tight-knit community as they relied heavily on other growers or university connections. Brewers were more likely to branch out to old co-workers, friends, or other brewers to obtain information. Growers were directly impacted by policy such as the EU Farm to Fork, whereas brewers were more concerned about policies impacting the market or brewing operation.

Principal Topic: Digital storytelling (DST) is a combination of narrative stories and digital tools, which could help English Language Learners (ELLs) learn English. This systematic review examines research published between 2020 and 2024 on the application of DST in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) education for K-12 students.

Method: A total of 207 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved from APA PsychInfo, ERIC, and Google Scholar using the same term “Digital Storytelling AND Technology AND English”. A total of 18 peer-reviewed studies were selected following PRISMA guidelines, using criteria focused on empirical studies that explore DST in K-12 EFL/ESL classrooms from 2020 to 2024. A standardized form using Excel was created for the coding process to catch details of each selected study. Therefore, four themes were concluded: technological integration and accessibility, language skill development, learner autonomy and creativity, and pedagogical challenges and solutions.

Results: Findings suggest that DST enhances language skills, particularly speaking and writing, and fosters higher levels of motivation and creativity among students. However, challenges such as teacher training, access to technology, and varied levels of digital competence remain prevalent. This review highlights the potential of DST as an effective pedagogical tool in EFL/ESL settings, offering insights into best practices and areas for future research to optimize its implementation in K-12 education.

This systematic review examines research published between 2020 and 2024 on the application of digital storytelling (DST) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) education for K-12 students. A total of 18 peer-reviewed studies were selected following PRISMA guidelines, using criteria focused on empirical studies that explore DST in K-12 EFL/ESL classrooms. Findings suggest that DST enhances language skills, particularly speaking and writing, and fosters higher levels of motivation and creativity among students. However, challenges such as teacher training, access to technology, and varied levels of digital competence remain prevalent. This review highlights the potential of DST as an effective pedagogical tool in EFL/ESL settings, offering insights into best practices and areas for future research to optimize its implementation in K-12 education.

According to the CDC, it is estimated that 1 in 36 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Timely diagnosis and early intervention are important, although accessing care can be challenging in rural communities. Through interviews with primary care providers (PCPs), this project seeks to explore barriers to timely diagnosis and care faced by patients with ASD in rural communities.

PCPs practicing family medicine or pediatrics located in counties identified as rural or having rural census tracts, per HRSA, in central and eastern Washington were eligible. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. An informed grounded theory approach was utilized. The transcripts will undergo three phases of analysis: initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding. Currently, data collection is complete, and reflective memo writing and initial coding, line-by-line analysis creating identified labels from the data, has been completed for five of the 13 interviews.

Thus far, barriers to care identified include long wait times for ASD evaluations, impacts of socioeconomic status, access to reliable transportation, needs to take time off from work for appointments, and difficulties navigating the healthcare system. Facilitators have also been identified, including growing community awareness and support. Next steps are to complete memo writing and initial coding of the remaining eight transcripts which will be reported in our presentation.

PCPs are the frontline of the healthcare system, especially in rural communities where resources can be limited. By examining their perspectives, a broader understanding of the complexities impacting patients with ASD can be explored.

Objective: Describe the spectrum of indices utilized to assess socioeconomic disparities in patients undergoing surgery.

Background Information: Socioeconomic disparities have an effect on the treatment outcomes of surgical care. Several indices have been applied to assess socioeconomic factors as surrogates of overall socioeconomic status. This study aims to provide a systematic review of tools and indices to understand how socioeconomic disparities have been evaluated and assess if some form of standardization can be achieved.

Methods: The authors performed a systematic literature search of the PubMed and Embase databases using search terms related to surgery and socioeconomic disparity tools and indices. Two independent reviewers screened the article titles and abstracts. Studies that utilized socioeconomic tools or indices for measuring socioeconomic disparities in patients undergoing a surgical procedure were included.

Results: Seventy-five articles published between 2016 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly applied indices are the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), Distressed Communities Index (DCI), Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), and Social Deprivation Index (SDI) at 24 (32%), 17 (22.7%), 9 (12%), and 8 (10.7%) publications, respectively.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate a preference for the ADI and DCI across multiple surgical specialties. These two indices both measure 3 out of 5 social determinants of health (SDoH) domains including economic stability, education access and quality, and neighborhood and built environment yet fail to measure healthcare access and quality along with social and community context. These findings highlight the need to establish a consensus on the most appropriate index across different surgical specialties to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Every heartbeat depends on the proper functioning of the sarcomere, the smallest repeating contractile unit of striated muscle tissue. Striated muscle contraction is the result of interaction between myosin thick filaments and actin thin filaments (TFs), and is driven by Ca2+. The length of the cardiac TFs is crucial for heart function and is regulated by actin-binding proteins tropomodulin-1 and leiomodin-2 . These proteins have similar domain organization except for a C-terminal extension on leiomodin-2 . Aside from a well-known actin-binding motif, a WH2 domain, little is known about the function of the C-terminal extension. Mutations in leiomodin-2’s C-terminal extension are associated with severe cardiac dysfunction, suggesting it plays an important role in leiomodin-2’s function.

To test our hypothesis that an additional actin-binding region is located in leiomodin-2’s extension, we used full-length leiomodin-2 and 2 truncated versions, one missing the WH2 domain and the other missing the entire C-terminal extension, in co-sedimentation experiments with cardiac TFs . Changes in Ca2+ levels drive muscle contraction, so leiomodin-2 ’s binding to TFs was studied under physiologically high and low Ca2+ conditions.

Cosedimentation and native gel-electrophoresis assays demonstrated that in addition to the WH2 domain there are two actin-binding regions in the C-terminal extension responsible for leiomodin-2’s Ca2+-dependent binding to the sides of TFs. This conclusion was confirmed using cryo-EM data that showed three distinct densities corresponding to leiomodin-2. Discovery of these side-binding regions suggests that it in addition to maintaining TF length, leiomodin-2 is also important in regulating muscle contraction.

Principal Topic: We aim to detect subtle structural vibrations in buildings using cellphone cameras, enabling quick and convenient evaluations of a structure’s condition and ongoing monitoring of its “health.” Our approach leverages kernel-based image representation, where the image is represented as a combination of kernel functions rather than individual pixels. This innovation allows for tracking the motion of multiple pixels simultaneously and achieving state-of-the-art accuracy. This research has the potential to enable low-cost and efficient structural status monitoring, providing actionable insights for resilience enhancement.

Method: Our central hypothesis is that sub-pixel-level motion of a target object can be accurately estimated using motion kernel functions.

To achieve this, we developed an optimization framework that automatically adjusts the kernel function parameters to represent the image and simultaneously capture the motion of the target object. Specifically, we designed a robust kernel parameter adjustment algorithm and customized target functions to optimize motion estimation accuracy.

To verify our hypothesis, we conducted numeric validation on two types of targets: one with simple textures and another with rich textures. Controlled motion of 0.01 pixels was introduced in the videos to test the framework’s ability to capture these subtle movements.

Results/Implications: Our results demonstrate that the method achieved an error level of less than 0.001 pixels. Additionally, the framework requires minimal tuning to deliver high accuracy, making it highly adaptable to various scenarios. This flexibility positions it as a valuable tool for structural health monitoring, risk assessment, and resilience enhancement.

As healthcare professionals, proficiency in multiple languages can reduce miscommunication, enhance trust, and improve patient care. The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s Medical Chinese Registered Student Organization (RSO) was established in September 2022 by three first-year medical students to provide a space for language and medical vocabulary practice in Mandarin and Cantonese. It held regular events within the WSU health sciences community, including terminology teaching sessions, cultural competency panels with physicians who interact with immigrant populations, Chinese-language movie viewings, and Lunar New Year socials. Monthly “lunch tables” also allowed members to practice conversations in Chinese informally. The Medical Chinese RSO has now grown to 42 members with varying language levels.

In October 2023, the first Tri-Cities Chinese Community Health Fair was held in Richland, Washington, supported by the CIPHERS seed grant. The fair aimed to provide health services to the Tri-Cities Chinese-speaking community and help students and healthcare providers develop their medical Chinese skills. 17 students conducted patient interviews, performed abbreviated physical exams, and measured blood glucose. 34 community members attended, including 3 physicians. In an event survey, community members rated students __ out of 10 for “overall communication,” praising students’ communication and professionalism and encouraging further practice. Students reported appreciating building rapport with the community during a focus group. A second community health fair in May 2024 with 32 participants ended with similar positive feedback. From student-led events to health fairs, the Medical Chinese RSO is an example of successful, student-driven integration of language learning into medical education.

Principal Topic: Gas-fired generators face significant challenges during extreme winter weather events, largely due to the interdependency between gas and electric grids in the United States. However, research on generator performance under extreme cold weather remains limited. Most prior studies focused on other hazards like hurricanes or wildfires. Our study aims to bridge this gap by presenting a novel, data-driven model that quantifies the impact of temperature on the net available capacity of gas-fired generators during winter storms and contributes to understanding the risks to grid reliability posed by severe cold weather.

Method: This study employs a two-step approach to estimate generator’s output during freezing temperatures. First, historical data on power plant performance during winter storms is analyzed. The model first computes the probability that generators experience outages or operate at reduced capacity. The second step predicts how much power generators can produce when operating under reduced capacities. These analyses use data from the Generating Availability Data System and temperature records from weather monitoring systems. By combining these data sources, the study creates a predictive framework that links temperature drops to power generation challenges. Advanced statistical methods, including cross-validation techniques, are used to ensure the model’s reliability despite the limited dataset.

Results/Implications: Findings reveal a significant temperature-dependence of gas-fired generator performance, with lower temperatures correlating to increased outages and capacity reductions. This foundational model underscores the need for improved datasets to enhance predictive accuracy. The results inform grid resilience strategies, guiding planners to better prepare for climate-induced risks.

The Memory of What is Not May Be Better Than the Amnesia of What is is a book-length meditation on unfinished artwork. Tracing back through history several notable artworks that, for whatever reason, were left unfinished by the artist, this book attempts to tap into the energy and potential of having access to an artist's incomplete work. The presentation itself, the poster, will contain a number of images of the works being discussed, and a discussion of my process of writing about them, as well as the books that have influenced this project, and the area within art criticism I’m working.

The increasing linguistic diversity in educational settings requires a nuanced understanding of how multilingual learners (MLs) experience stress and engage in language tasks. While existing research highlights the impact of psychological states on task engagement, there is a lack of comprehensive models addressing perceived stress in language learning. To bridge this gap, this study conducts systematic reviews to examine how eustress and distress influence MLs' engagement and performance in language tasks. The review synthesizes empirical findings on stress, engagement, and language learning, identifying key factors that contribute to optimal or diminished engagement outcomes. 45 peer-reviewed articles that provided direct evidence in learning engagement from 2014-2024 were identified from various databases (e.g., ERIC, LLBA).

Building on this synthesis, the study proposes the Model of Perceived Stress in Language Tasks, which integrates components of existing theories (e.g., Flow Theory, Model of Transactional Stress) used in stress and engagement research. This model conceptualizes how the balance between challenge and skill, along with individual stress appraisals, shapes MLs' engagement in language tasks. The model emphasizes the roles of eustress in enhancing engagement and those of distress in hindering performance, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding these dynamics.

The proposed model provides a theoretical foundation for designing targeted interventions that address both positive and negative stressors in language learning environments. By attempting to understand the complex relationship between stress and engagement, the present review will inform instructional practices and support systems that foster more effective and inclusive language learning experiences for MLs.

Background: Idiopathic in-toeing and out-toeing are common gait deviations sometimes treated via orthopedic surgery. Instrumented gait analysis can be an important tool for determining rotation of the lower limb when walking and running. The purpose of this study is to quantify rotational changes occurring in children and adolescents with idiopathic in-toeing and out-toeing when walking versus running.

Methods: A retrospective study of children and adolescents with idiopathic in-toeing or out-toeing was conducted on walking and running kinematic data obtained from instrumented gait analysis. A change in rotation of over ten degrees in the transverse plane was considered significant based on control data.

Results: 328 participants completed a gait analysis study. 145/328 (44.2%) displayed a meaningful rotational change in gait (in at least one level of foot, hip or pelvis) when running. For foot progression and hip rotation, participants with an in-toeing diagnosis displayed an outward change when running. The opposite held true for out-toeing participants with a more inward change when running. When measuring pelvic rotation, participants with a change in gait showed a more pronounced external change, regardless of diagnosis.

Conclusion: Children and adolescents with idiopathic in-toeing and out-toeing altered their transverse plane gait angles 44% of the time, tending to change more often in the opposite direction of their diagnosis. Due to common rotational changes, the collection of running kinematics, in addition to walking, are important for treatment decision making for idiopathic in-toeing and out-toeing.

Late-maturity alpha-amylase (LMA) is a source of high post-harvest alpha-amylase in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) associated with temperature stress. Considered a wheat quality defect, LMA occurs in the mid-late stages of grain fill in the absence of preharvest sprouting (PHS). Growers are vulnerable to financial discounts until genetic sources of LMA tolerance can be identified and deployed by wheat breeders. A nested association mapping (NAM) population of ten individual F5:6 soft white spring (SWS) subpopulations was used to map LMA tolerance under both discrete and continuous cold temperature stress. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) methods generated 82,247 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers used to perform quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping. At least one major QTL associated with alpha-amylase expression was mapped to each chromosome. Potentially novel QTL were identified across 18 different chromosomes and clustered according to growing environment, which suggests shared pathways of alpha-amylase synthesis with independent mechanisms of regulation. Putative gene searches within QTL regions revealed annotated genes related to regulation of biotic and abiotic stress, plant hormone synthesis and signaling pathways, and osmotic homeostasis. GA-insensitive reduced height (Rht) semi-dwarfing alleles Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b had environmentally specific effects and failed to suppress LMA under cold temperatures. This study suggests that LMA is a growth stage and tissue specific cold stress tolerance response. LMA appears to involve an alpha-amylase biosynthesis pathway that is regulated by mechanisms that are distinct between type and duration of temperature stress. Wheat breeders should prioritize utilizing QTL that offer resistance across a broad range of growing conditions.

Washington State University is tackling the challenge of modernizing its energy systems to meet increasing energy demands and updated Washington State code requirements. The Building Systems Infrastructure Upgrades Project, being carried out by MacDonald Miller and WSU Facilities, spans 20+ buildings across four campuses, making it one of the largest retrofit efforts in the Inland Northwest. In tandem with these infrastructure upgrades, the Integrated Design and Construction Lab (IDCL) is playing a critical role in implementing targeted occupant engagement strategies to maximize energy efficiency. Together, these efforts aim to integrate energy solutions into aging infrastructure while preserving the unique character of WSU’s historically significant buildings, some of which date back to 1913.

To contribute, IDCL has implemented strategies to reduce energy waste through phantom plug-loads. In a hands-on approach, we collaborated with faculty and staff to install and optimize the use of smart surge protectors, devices designed to minimize energy consumption by automatically shutting off power when outside working hours. To ensure these energy-saving measures are successfully adopted, IDCL provides personalized installations, cooperating with occupant’s schedule and office layout. We help ensure a smooth transition to energy-saving practices while fostering a campus-wide culture of sustainability.

Thanks to grant funding from WSU Facilities Services, 475 Smart Power Strips have been purchased and installed in offices and workstations across 10 buildings on the Pullman campus. Combined with broader efficiency overhauls during the last fiscal year, these efforts are projected to save the university 5.8 million kWH and $675,000 since 2021.

As of January 2025, cannabis possession laws in the United States vary widely, with 15 states permitting medical use, 24 states allowing adult-use, and 11 states prohibiting possession altogether. This evolving legal landscape has coincided with shifts in adolescent cannabis consumption patterns. While overall adolescent cannabis use has remained stable post-legalization, use of edibles and vaping has increased, and perceived availability has declined. This study examines adolescent cannabis use across states with differing legal contexts ( medical-only, adult-use) and consumption techniques (edible, smoking, vaping), utilizing data from over 90,000 12th-grade respondents in the Monitoring the Future survey (2015–2022), aggregated into 267 state-years. The analysis incorporates key contextual variables: perceived availability, operational sales (medical, adult-use, local), years since legalization, and demographic factors (sex, race/ethnicity). Preliminary findings suggest that medical-only states are associated with higher edible and multi-technique use, while adult-use states show no significant differences. Medical sales are linked to higher vape use, whereas adult-use sales are associated with higher edible and multi-technique use. County-level dispensary presence correlates with increased edible and smoking use. Additionally, as ease of access increases, vaping decreases, but smoking rises. This study contributes to public health and policy discussions by highlighting nuanced associations between cannabis legalization and adolescent consumption behaviors.

The Haber-Bosch process requires reactors to combine N2 gas and H2 gas under high heat and pressure with a catalyst to form ammonia; unfortunately, this technique is responsible for close to 1% of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. As a solution to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with nitrogen fixation through the Haber-Bosch process, many have pointed to electrochemistry as an alternative to reduce nitrogen to ammonia. As humans become more reliant upon ammonia-based fertilizers to feed a growing global population, it is necessary to close the anthropogenic nitrogen cycle by reducing nitrate via sustainable denitrification. Although the most popular catalysts for nitrate reduction are made of transition metals or biocatalysts, an emerging area of research is on p-block elements, which have a low affinity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Indium-tin oxide on PET serves as an alternative to transition metals for studying the electrochemical reduction of nitrate due to its commercial availability and low cost. In this work, it was found that by partially reducing the surface of ITO electrodes, the indium particles increase in size by aggregating into Volmer-Weber growths. This modification makes ITO more electrochemically active toward nitrate reduction in than its pristine form, as seen through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and other electrochemical analysis techniques. The use of a transition-metal free, p-block oxide electrode inhibits the hydrogen evolution reaction at negative potentials, further justifying the continued study of these elements for use in studies of the reduction behavior of electrolytes of interest.

Stress exposure can dysregulate motivation, a major factor in disorders like substance use disorder, eating disorders, and depression. Psychosocial stress can uniquely increase and decrease motivation via models of social defeat stress. These models, however, historically don’t incorporate sex as a biological variable due to difficulties inducing aggressive behaviors towards female rodents. This inhibits our understanding of how psychosocial stress, a translationally relevant type of stress, can affect behavioral and physiological responses in women, despite women having a higher prevalence of disorders like binge eating and depression. Recently, we demonstrated that the novel chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress (CNSDS) model can induce social stress in both sexes while increasing male motivated behaviors during stress and decreasing female motivated behaviors during and after stress. The underlying neural mechanisms of this difference remain unknown, however, the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the lateral hypothalamus (LH) both influence motivated behaviors and behavioral and physiological stress responses, making their direct excitatory connection (BLAGlut->LH) a potential pathway by which stress dysregulates motivation. We hypothesize that CNSDS increases the activity of BLAGlut->LH neurons during stress, inducing sex-specific changes in motivation. Using fiber photometry and cFos labeling to observe circuit-relevant activity, we have confirmed that BLAGlut->LH neuronal activity is increased by CNSDS with subtle differences in cFos and calcium activity between sexes. Investigation of this circuit’s direct role in driving stress-induced motivation may provide key insights into the development and exacerbation of motivation-relevant disorders that are necessary for improved treatment and patient outcomes.

The Paleoproterozoic is a pivotal time in Earth’s evolution marked by supercontinent assembly, globally recorded zircon age peaks, and the likely transition to modern-plate tectonics. Orogenic belts formed between ~2.1 and 1.8 Ga, found in most continents, are described as hot to ultra-hot orogens linked to the formation of Nuna/Columbia, Earth’s first supercontinent [1]. The Itabuna-Salvador-Curaçá Orogeny (ISCO), with recorded peak temperatures over 900-950˚C [2], is considered the most significant tectonic event responsible for an extensive 2.1–2.0 Ga magmato-thermal record in the São Francisco Craton (SFC) in South America. This study integrates garnet geochronology (Lu/Hf and Sm/Nd) with apatite in-situ Sm/Nd isotope data to investigate the timing and duration of the ISCO. Samples include five garnet-bearing paragneisses collected across the northern half of the orogen. Garnet ages range from 2.12 to 2.04 Ga and from 2.05 to 2.02 Ga for Lu/Hf and Sm/Nd systems, respectively. Apatite Sm/Nd ages range from 1.99 to 1.95 Ga. Isotope compositions of garnet range from εNd(i) -2.0 to -13.2 and εHf(i) -0.8 to -18.5 at ~2.1–2.0 Ga. Apatite Nd isotopes are between εNd(i) -2.9 and -5.9 at ~2.0 Ga. These data indicate thermal perturbations occurring over ~100 Ma with peak temperatures at 2.12-2.08 Ga, as defined by garnet Lu-Hf ages. Final thermal perturbations lasted until at least ~1.95 Ga, as suggested by apatite Sm/Nd ages. This long-lived thermal perturbation is consistent with ultra-hot orogens of the Precambrian and coincides with the assembly of Nuna/Columbia. This study enhances our understanding of Proterozoic orogenesis.

[1] Cawood et al., 2022
[2] Leite et al., 2009
[3] Martins de Sousa et al., 2020

A critical process during plant development is the accumulation of oil in seeds. Outside of their developmental role in plants, seed oils are vital to humans and provide a diverse array of products—from cooking oil to biofuels. In 2020, 800 million people were undernourished and vegetable oil production was valued at >$220 billion. In turn, the yield of ‘tailored’ plant oils must increase to address food security challenges and maintain its economic role. Two enzymes acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) and phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (PDAT1) produce seed oils and the specificity of each determines the oil composition of the seed from different plants. However, the mechanisms regulating these proteins remain poorly understood.

Here, we describe the promoter and first intron as DNA regulatory elements that control the abundance of DGAT1. To validate this, we utilized these units from Arabidopsis and coupled them to express DGAT1s from the plants Camelina sativa, Physaria fendleri, and Ricinus communis. By having exogenous DGAT1s expressed in the correct tissues this enabled us to mutate the native Arabidopsis oil synthesizing DGAT1 and PDAT1, thus completely replacing the native oil synthetic pathway with exogenous enzymes. The bioengineered plants exhibited oil composition differences (due to unique selectivity of DGAT1s from different species) and demonstrated that functional replacement of DGAT1 is possible.

We conclude that we discovered a strong candidate for developing crop systems that produce ‘designer’ oils. Current research is exploring how these plants can accumulate non-native oils which can be used as a diesel alternative.

How can a nation be truly sovereign if it cannot feed it’s own people?

The Colville Indian Reservation, like many Native American Reservations, has been designated as a Food Dessert by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA). This means that in rural settings, reservation residents must travel over ten miles to access safe, healthy, affordable food. In an urban setting the distance residents must travel is one mile or more.

Food access, food sovereignty, heart disease, diabetes, and a depressed economy are significant issues on the Colville Reservation. Native Americans rely on less healthy foods and culturally inappropriate patterns of consumption. Traditional activities such as gardening and gathering cultural foods may have been reduced by the availability of commodity foods and processed foods.

To help combat food insecurity, WSU Colville Reservation provides Food Sovereignty/Food Security outreach workshops. These workshops are designed to help teach reservation residents how to grow their own safe and healthy food.

Food Sovereignty workshops include basic gardening, reintroduction of Inchelium Red Garlic, incentivizing traditional food gathering, and the creation of an annual nutrition calendar.

A recent survey of workshop participants (N=99) indicated that 56% had some gardening experience, while 27% had a great deal of gardening experience, and 16% had no gardening experience. A key concern is that 78% indicated no access to land to grow a garden.

Expectations of outreach: anticipate household dietary intake of healthy foods will increase; anticipate food access for reservation residents will increase; anticipate increased access to traditional/cultural foods.

Reference electrodes are ubiquitous in electrochemistry, essential for many passive and active techniques. While many different types of reference electrodes based on different redox chemistries are commercially available, lack of versatility in the design remains a barrier for many applications at the point-of-use. Most commercial reference electrodes are bulky, expensive, fragile, and contain aqueous solutions which require routine maintenance to remain functional. In this work, we present a low-cost, fully 3D printed reference electrode based on junction potentials generated by controlled ion leaching across the reference membrane interface. The reference electrode consists of a membrane composed of a photocurable resin (doped with hydrophobic ions), which is then attached to an ion-to-electron transducer printed from a carbon-infused conductive filament. We use the ferri/ferrocyanide redox couple to demonstrate the electrode’s ability to maintain a stable potential in a range of active electrochemical applications and demonstrate performance superior to common commercial silver/silver chloride reference electrodes. This work constitutes the first example of a fully 3D printable reference electrode.

Organic-inorganic hybrid semiconductors have applications in photovoltaic and light-emission technologies. ZnTe(en)0.5, which consists of alternating layers of zinc telluride (ZnTe) and ethylenediamine (en), exhibits high stability and tunable optical properties. This material has been a subject of recent interest because of its structural order and longer stability than most hybrid semiconductors.

Using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, this study investigated the structural response of ZnTe(en)0.5 to applied pressure. Two pressure-induced phase transitions were observed at 2.1 GPa and 3.3 GPa. XRD data revealed splitting of the (020) and (130) peaks at these pressures, aligning with a substantial compression of the layers. Both phase transitions are characterized by substantial decreases in the b lattice parameter, which is linked to the organic layer. FTIR spectra showed shifts in C-H stretching vibrational modes corresponding to the observed phase changes.

These findings indicate that the organic layer is highly compressible and most responsive to pressure changes. The ability to utilize multiple phases of ZnTe(en)0.5 opens exciting possibilities for applications in memory devices.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Washington, with rural, non-White, and underserved populations experiencing disproportionately higher rates. This study utilizes data from the Washington State Cancer Registry, U.S. Census, and the American Medical Association to perform geospatial analyses on cancer risk factors (e.g., race, access to care, area deprivation) and outcomes (e.g., stage at diagnosis, survival length). Generated maps highlight “hot” (negative) and “cold” (positive) spots for cancer outcomes. In collaboration with the Northwest Health Education Research Outcomes Network (NW HERON), comprising over 200 primary care practices (70% rural), the study has identified 10 rural practices located in cancer hot and cold spots. At each site, interviews are being conducted with administrators, healthcare providers, and cancer patients to explore barriers and facilitators to cancer screening and treatment outcomes, particularly for preventable cancers such as lung, colorectal, breast, and cervical. Current findings show limited healthcare access, lower knowledge regarding the importance of screenings and availability, limited resources of treatment in rural areas. The project aims to inform public health programs and will integrate with Washington State University’s Community Centered Health Home Initiative, which seeks to enhance healthcare delivery in rural communities. Findings from this study will support tailored interventions to reduce cancer disparities and improve outcomes across underserved populations.

At WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, students have demonstrated successful collaboration with faculty and staff to make immense changes. There have been multiple examples of students' voices being heard and change being brought forth in the curriculum and assessment. This collaborative environment has fostered a culture of mutual respect and continuous improvement. Students are actively involved in decision-making processes, contributing to the development of innovative educational strategies and ensuring that the curriculum remains relevant and responsive to their needs. Additionally, student feedback has led to the implementation of new assessment methods that better evaluate their competencies and preparedness for real-world medical practice. This ongoing dialogue between students, faculty, and staff highlights the college's commitment to fostering an inclusive and adaptive learning environment.

As we age our health worsens, and we become more susceptible to diseases. The aging process is influenced by telomeres. Telomeres are protective caps at the end of chromosomes which continually shorten after each cell division. Once telomeres become too short, cells enter senescence or undergo apoptosis which contributes to tissue decline and ageing. Preclinical research using mice to model human aging and disease suffers in translatability from the standpoint that mice have 10x longer telomeres than humans. Wildtype mice (WT) have ~50 kb long telomeres, so to address this ontogenetic anomaly our team developed HuT mice which have humanized telomeres, comparable to that of humans (7-9 kb). Sufficient sleep is integral for development, prevention/recovery of illness and healthy aging. Sleep quality and duration have been correlated with telomere length in humans. Elucidating the influence of telomere length on vigilance states will increase the generalizability of preclinical research on sleep across the lifespan to inform healthy aging practices. We hypothesized that telomere length in mice would affect sleep architecture and cortical biopotentials. We surgically instrumented adult male and female WT and HuT mice with cortical electrodes and recorded polysomnography before, during and after six hours of sleep deprivation. Records were autoscored in four second epochs for wake, non-rapid eye movement sleep and rapid eye movement sleep stages during each condition. We analyzed vigilance states and spectral content of stage-specific fast-Fourier transformed signals across strain, condition, and sex and describe the observed differences.

Principal Topic: Effective disaster response requires rapid and efficient strategies to locate and assist victims. This research presents a novel model leveraging drones for search and rescue operations in major disasters. Using data from San Fernando, Los Angeles—a 52-square-mile area highly susceptible to earthquakes—the model is validated to enhance disaster preparedness. By addressing uncertainties and potential disruptions to hub operations, the study provides innovative tools and insights for decision-makers in disaster management.

Method: This research employs a two-phase methodology. In the first phase, k-means clustering is used to identify optimal hub locations for drone dispatch. A heuristic algorithm then optimizes hub selection and drone allocation to ensure maximum area coverage. The second phase focuses on efficient routing, incorporating the Team Orienteering Problem to prioritize locations for search and rescue operations. This approach answers the critical question: Which places should be visited first? The model is tested in three scenarios—no threshold coverage, equitable coverage thresholds, and maximal covering hub selection—offering a comprehensive analysis of trade-offs in disaster response planning.

Results/Implications: The model identifies optimal hubs and also provides contingency plans for hub disruptions, addressing the inherent uncertainties of disaster scenarios. The findings highlight the significance of strategic hub planning and adaptive routing in enhancing disaster response efficiency. By balancing equity and efficiency, this research offers a practical, data-driven tool for disaster managers, potentially saving countless lives through effective drone-assisted search and rescue operations.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a significant global concern, disproportionately impacting disadvantaged populations. This study investigates racial disparities in the demographics and clinical profiles of individuals undergoing inpatient SUD treatment in Brazilian therapeutic communities (TCs).

Data were collected from 7,052 participants admitted to 48 TCs between 2014 and 2016. Participants identified as white (55.4%) or black (44.6%). Black individuals were younger (mean age: 35.8 vs. 37.3 years) and reported higher rates of past-year tobacco, cocaine, crack, and solvent use (p<0.05). They also had higher rates of homelessness at intake (36.3% vs. 30.4%) and histories of drug trafficking, arrests, or juvenile detention (p<0.01). Black participants were more likely to have incomplete middle school education (45.3% vs. 40.5%), greater exposure to open drug scenes, drug-for-sex exchanges, and childhood physical abuse (p<0.05).

White participants were more likely to complete high school (25.3% vs. 22.6%) or higher education (2.3% vs. 0.8%), be employed at intake (57.7% vs. 54.6%), and have family involvement in treatment (79.4% vs. 76.3%). They also showed higher prevalence of cirrhosis and mental illness medication prescriptions (p<0.01).

This study highlights that black individuals face greater socioeconomic vulnerabilities and barriers to effective SUD treatment than their white counterparts. Addressing these inequities requires targeted interventions and policies to ensure equitable access to resources and improve treatment outcomes for marginalized populations.

Sustainable access to improved water sources remains a critical challenge in many developing countries, where billions of hours are spent each year collecting water. This burden disproportionately affects women and girls, limiting their ability to engage in income-generating activities. Despite this, prior studies have found weak evidence linking improved water access to women’s economic participation, often due to small sample sizes and limited data.

This study examines whether access to reliable water infrastructure, such as piped water, increases women’s labor force participation in urban Kenya by reducing time spent collecting water. Using a 2023 baseline dataset from 13 Kenyan cities, including unique time diary data, we explore whether time savings from improved water supply translate into greater participation in income-generating activities.

Following the framework of Koolwal and van de Walle (2013), we analyze how increased hours of water supply affect women’s time allocation across market, non-market, and leisure activities. Armed with cross-sectional data, we control numerous geographic factors to ensure unobservable regional differences do not bias our results.

Preliminary findings show a weak relationship between weekly hours of water supply and women’s participation in market activities, with significant effects in only one town. However, increased water supply reduces women’s involvement in non-market activities in some towns (e.g., Kiambu, Changamwe) while increasing it in others (e.g., Gatundu, Kwale). These findings highlight the importance of sustainable water infrastructure for gender equity and economic development in developing countries.

Principal: Disorders of the pancreas, such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, affect millions of people and animals, but their complexity has made them difficult to study. This project explores the potential of canine pancreatic organoids—miniaturized, three-dimensional models of pancreatic tissue grown in the lab—to advance our understanding of these diseases.

Method: Residual pancreatic tissue was obtained from four dogs euthanized for non-pancreatic disorders. The tissue was transported on ice (4°C) from Michigan State University to Washington State University, where it was used for organoid generation. Cells were embedded in three-dimensional matrices and cultured in optimized media. Differentiation was validated through qPCR and immunocytochemistry, using donor tissues as the reference standard.

Results/implications: Pancreatic stem cells remained viable during transport on ice for up to three days, highlighting the potential for inter-institutional collaboration. The pancreatic organoids exhibited key features such as apical-in polarity (proper cellular orientation) and intact tight junctions, both critical for tissue integrity and function. This study demonstrates the feasibility and value of organoids as a tool for research and veterinary medicine. As a next step, we aim to explore how these organoids respond to disease conditions and experimental therapies. Our work represents an important step toward improving pancreatic health and developing better treatments for pancreatic disorders in both humans and animals.

Metritis, a uterine disease, affects 25% of lactating dairy cows in the U.S., significantly impacts cow welfare and dairy economics. ~20% of treated cows experience clinical cure failure (CCF). This study characterized the uterine and serum metabolomic profiles of 24 Holstein cows diagnosed with metritis to determine differences associated with CCF. Metritis was diagnosed by fetid, watery, reddish-brown vaginal discharge within 12 days postpartum. On diagnosis day (day 0), cows with metritis received antimicrobials. Continued discharge on day 5 (n = 16) was defined as CCF; clinical cure was defined by its absence (n = 8). Cows without metritis were included in the study as a control group. Metabolome analyses of uterine lavage (days 0 and 5) and serum samples (day 0) were conducted with untargeted gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses included PLS-DA, permutational MANOVA, and pathway enrichment analysis. On day 0, significant differences were observed in the uterine metabolome of cows that eventually achieved cure and those that did not. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism associations. No significant differences were found in the uterine metabolomes on day 5. In the serum metabolome, differences associated with metritis were found between the groups on day 0. This study indicates CCF is associated with a uterine inflammatory process that ended prior to day 5. A complex interplay exists between inflammatory and metabolic pathways and possible immunological responses. Overall, metabolomic studies could be used for biomarker identification to develop early diagnostic tools for CCF of metritis.

Being a doctoral student requires a big leap in endurance and agility to survive in a new learning environment. Many studies have shown that doctoral students grappled with adapting practitioner skills rooted in practice as educators to synthesize and analyze skills that a doctoral student should possess. Yet, a little study investigates what changing identities doctoral students experience. Therefore, this study aims to investigate international students’ identities to examine how their beliefs and experiences grow during transitioning.

Anchored in Community of Practice (CoP) by Etienne Wenger and Transformative Learning Theory by Jack Mezirow in a narrative inquiry study, this researcher recruits two freshman international students of a large university in the Pacific Northwest by using interviews and artifacts to collect the data. In addition, this study uses thematic analysis to analyze the data.

This study results in an in-depth understanding of how international doctoral students navigate identity shifts while transitioning from educators to researchers, uncovering challenges, adaptations, and growth in their professional and personal identities. This study calls for inclusivity and also made high adaptability as international students.

Keywords: International students, narrative inquiry, transitional identity

Principal Topic: Old growth temperate forests in the northwestern United States are rare and fragmented, but exhibit high productivity and offer critical functions. The performance of these forests is supported by associations with mycorrhizal fungi, which enhance soil nutrient and water acquisition, positively influencing host tree growth and survival. The Wind River Forest Dynamics Plot (WFDP) in SW Washington, an old growth forest undergoing long-term monitoring, is experiencing increasingly harsh summer droughts. While long-lived organisms like trees are slow to adjust their traits to environmental changes, fast-growing symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi can respond more rapidly. Thus, evaluating patterns of trait variation in tree-fungal associations can reveal how growth and survival of Washington native tree species may be impacted by future climatic change.

Method: We hypothesized that: 1). Increasing summer droughts at WFDP are shifting the traits/functions of host trees and mycorrhizal fungi, and 2) Tree-fungal partner traits interact to significantly affect host tree growth. To test H1, fungal communities sampled in WFDP (summer 2023) were assigned functions related to water and nutrient acquisition. Tree leaves and roots were collected (summer 2024) to characterize host traits. To test H2, long-term monitoring data from WFDP will be used to evaluate effects of partner trait variation on tree growth.

Results/Implications: We observed significant variation in water and nutrient-related functions and traits for fungi and host tree species, supporting H1. The relationships between this trait variation and tree growth are currently being evaluated. These results will improve predictions of forest functioning under future climate.

Lignin biosynthesis and polymerization exhibit significant plasticity, enabling engineering strategies to reduce recalcitrance without compromising cell wall integrity. One approach involves introducing weak, alkali-labile ester bonds, or “zips,” into the lignin polymer using feruloyl monolignol transferase (FMT) to generate monolignol ferulate esters (ML-FAs) as precursors. Our lab identified OsAT5, a rice BAHD acyltransferase, as an FMT that increases ML-FAs in rice lignin. Expression of C4Hpro:OsAT5 in Arabidopsis, which naturally lacks ML-FAs, enhanced enzymatic glucose yields by 20–40% with alkaline pretreatment. However, overexpression of OsAT5 in rice did not improve biomass degradation. Analysis of diferulates in these plants suggests that the high rate of FA dimerization in rice, relative to Arabidopsis, offsets the benefits of added “zip” ester bonds. To further investigate, we generated CRISPR/Cas9 OsAT5 knockout (OsAT5-KO) lines. Derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC), a diagnostic method preserving the ester linkages of incorporated ML-FAs, confirmed reduced ML-FAs in root tissues and their absence in stem tissues in T0 lines. These findings indicate that OsAT5 mediates ferulate ester incorporation and significantly influences lignin composition. Understanding the roles of BAHD acyltransferases in lignin modification provides a foundation for optimizing lignin composition, enhancing biomass conversion efficiency, and advancing lignin valorization for biofuel production.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a plant native to Southeast Asia, has been traditionally used for its stimulant, analgesic, and antidepressant properties. Its active alkaloid, mitragynine, primarily acts as a weak agonist at mu-opioid receptors and an agonist at alpha-2 adrenergic receptors.3 Kratom can be purchased widely in the United States, and an estimated 10–16 million individuals in the U.S. use kratom products.1 However, the true prevalence may be underreported due to limited epidemiological data. Despite its growing popularity as an alternative therapy for opioid withdrawal and other conditions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved kratom for medical use and has issued multiple warnings about its health risks, including neurologic, cardiopulmonary, and psychiatric effects, hepatotoxicity, fatalities, and more.2

Kratom's effects are complex and vary with dosage; low doses (1–4 grams) induce stimulant-like effects such as increased alertness and energy, while higher doses (>5 grams) produce analgesia and mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms.4 Acute management of kratom-related complications typically involves supportive care, with naloxone indicated for sedation or respiratory depression. Chronic use and withdrawal are treated with medications such as buprenorphine, with maintenance doses ranging from 4–16 mg depending on the severity of kratom dependence.4

This case presentation examines a patient experiencing kratom addiction and withdrawal, highlighting the complexities of presentation and managing this emerging public health issue. The lack of robust clinical evidence, coupled with the increasing availability of kratom, underscores the urgency for enhanced regulation, public education, and evidence-based approaches to treatment.

The physiological age of potato seed tubers significantly influences plant emergence, apical dominance, tuber set, and tuber size, all of which play a critical role in determining the overall value of the crop. While existing research explores the effects of storage conditions and planting practices on seed tuber performance, research specifically targeting the optimization of physiological aging treatments to enhance tuber size distribution and set under specific environmental conditions remains limited.

To address these gaps, cvs. Caribou Russet, Dakota Russet, and Laona were subjected to varying storage durations and temperatures to increase the physiological age before planting. They were aged (80, 450, & 900-degree days at the Washington State University Research Facilities and then stored until planting the following spring (April) in Othello, Washington, for two years (2023 & 2024). Field trials assessed plant emergence, stem number, and row closure/final stands, while post-harvest analyses evaluated yield (total and marketable) and average tuber size distribution.

General findings show that 450DD treatments enhanced yield and promoted relative crop value for processing by as much as 32% (2023, Caribou Russet, 450DD). Extending tuber aging to 900DD often leads to reductions in total yield and marketable size categories, though this was cultivar-dependent, indicating that prolonged aging could detrimentally affect productivity. Additionally, identifying practical methods and metrics for growers to apply aging treatments in bulk storage environments remains a priority for ensuring consistent and scalable adoption.

Overall, the findings suggest the importance of tailoring aging practices to maximize yield potential, economic returns, and crop performance.

This study examines the effect of refundable earned income tax credits (EITCs) on high-cost rollover credit card debt owed by EITC recipients. We employ data from the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Household Economics and Decision Making (SHED) to consider the effect of Washington State’s new Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC). on rollover credit card debt owed by low-to-moderate income residents. Responses to this survey indicate self-reported rollover credit card debt, which we compare with similarly situated residents in other states that do not have changes in their EITC programs. Our analysis finds a decrease in unpaid credit card debt owed by Washington’s working low-income residents with the introduction of the WFTC. Thus, over the longer term, the on-average reduction in consumer finance costs suggests a magnifying effect of WTTC payments on wealth available to recipients for saving and consumer spending. These findings have important implications for policymakers considering state-level EITC programs as tools for improving household financial health. Our results contribute to the growing literature on how targeted tax policies can break cycles of high-cost debt and promote long-term wealth-building among working families.

Background: Alcohol and Cannabis use present significant public health challenges, with distinct patterns observed among African American and Hispanic/Latino populations. Media literacy, the ability to critically evaluate media content and sources, is pivotal in shaping health behaviors. However, it remains underexplored regarding its impact on substance use in these populations. The Health Belief Model is the framework for this research. It is important to me because I am a Health Communication Researcher.

Objective: This secondary analysis of a national survey answers these RQs.

1. How does media literacy (content and source evaluation) predict substance use behaviors among African Americans and Hispanics/Latinx
2. What are the comparative differences in these predictions among African American and Hispanic/Latino populations?

Method: A cross-sectional survey collected data from a nationally representative sample of African American and Hispanic/Latino adults. Substance use behaviors were assessed alongside media literacy and emotional support, and key predictors were identified through regression analyses.

Results/Implication: Distinct predictors of substance use emerged across demographics. For African Americans, emotional support and media literacy were not significant, but gender-influenced alcohol use. Among Hispanic/Latino participants, education increased alcohol use, while media literacy for content reduced it. Emotional support and media literacy for sources were positively associated with cannabis use, but media literacy for content was negatively linked. These findings highlight media literacy’s potential to reduce substance use, though its effects vary by demographic and substance. Emotional support and media literacy showed limited predictive strength overall, warranting further research into their long-term impacts across diverse populations.

To successfully support our ever growing culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) student populations in K-12 settings, educators and leaders need experiences with varied classroom and school scenarios. Yet, exposure to CLD students, families, and settings for many prospective educators is limited, while school leaders and staff predominantly come from non-diverse backgrounds, both currently and projected to the future (Hansen & Quintero, 2019). This imbalance emphasizes the need to engage school leaders and teachers with culturally responsive, sustaining pedagogy and leadership (CRSPL). In our work as college of education faculty, we examine the efficacy of Case-Based Instruction (CBI) as a means to do so.

To lay the groundwork for this research, we developed interactive CBI Modules on such topics as language policies and cultural identity. We implemented these Modules in two teacher preparation courses and found strong effects on candidates’ CRSPL learning, self-efficacy, and attitudes (Authors, in press). We now extend this work to educational leaders (EDLs), whose learning may differ from that of preservice teachers (Kalyuga, 2007; Chernikova et al., 2020),

comparing CBI effectiveness for supporting prospective EDLs’ CRSPL learning under two discussion formats: instructor-facilitated versus instructor-supported.

These questions guided our study:

1. Will the learning from the school and classroom cases enhance EDLs’ performance and self-efficacy in identifying and solving diversity-related challenges of practice?
Will the discussion format—instructor-facilitated vs. instructor-supported—while learning from the school and classroom cases make a difference in EDLs’ learning, transfer, and attitude towards learning about diversity?

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) plays diverse roles in innate immunity. It functions intracellularly through ISGylation, a process in which ISG15 attaches covalently to target proteins, modulating their activity. In its unconjugated form, free ISG15 is also released from immune cells to confer its cytokine-like activity for pro-inflammatory response, and immune cell activation. Despite its significance, the mechanisms underlying free ISG15 release is yet to be characterized. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major factor involved in septicemia due to exaggerated systemic inflammation. In that regard, whether extracellular LPS triggers ISGylation in immune cells is unknown. Additionally, ISG15 release from LPS-primed immune cells has yet to be reported. Our study with human THP-1 macrophages demonstrated extracellular LPS promoting robust ISGylation and ISG15 release in immune cells. Further study revealed type-I interferon (IFN) mediated activation of non-canonical inflammasome pathway triggering ISG15 release from macrophages. Specifically, IFN released from LPS-primed THP-1 macrophages acted via its autocrine/paracrine action to promote ISG15 release via caspase-4 mediated cleavage of pore-forming protein Gasdermin D (GSDMD), which then translocates to the plasma membrane to facilitate extracellular release of ISG15. Thus, our studies have identified the IFN/Caspase4/GSDMD pathway as a critical regulator of ISG15 release from immune cells.

Soil health is essential for supporting plant growth and ecological functions, assessed through factors such as nutrient availability, crop productivity, and the diversity of soil microbial communities. Soil microorganisms interact to form complex biofilms, which play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling. However, investigating microbial activity in soil remains challenging due to its inherent complexity, heterogeneity, and the limitations of current technologies for real-time monitoring. Notably, soil microbes generate electrochemical currents during metabolic processes via electron transfer mechanisms. This current can be monitored in real time using inert electrodes, providing a novel and effective approach to studying microbial metabolism. We conducted a soil reactor experiment to investigate the impact of nutrient amendments, including primary plant root exudates (glucose, sodium acetate, and malic acid), on microbial community structure under varying polarization potentials (cathodic and anodic). The study revealed that unique microbial communities were selectively enriched within the reactor system depending on the specific carbon source amendments and polarization potentials applied. This research aims to correlate soil microbes enriched by each carbon source to overall soil health and microbiome function with measured electrochemical signals. Further experiments are aimed at determining how varying electrical potentials impact the structure and function of microbial communities in the presence of plants under different treatments, such as manipulating source microbes and adding nitrogen. In addition, the study seeks to determine whether set electrical potentials can drive microbial communities to beneficial states for plant growth.

Introduction: Lower back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. An underappreciated cause of this pain is due to dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint, which may arise from injury, aging, or structural issues. When conservative treatment fails to alleviate pain, a sacroiliac joint fusion (SIJF) may be warranted. The two main approaches to this surgery are the older open approach, and the newer, minimally invasive surgery (MIS). This study aims to compare surgical variables between these approaches. We hypothesized that MIS is associated with shorter length of stay (LOS), lower costs and mortality.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020. Procedure codes were used to identify patients who underwent open and MIS SIJFs. Outcomes assessed were LOS, mortality, and associated costs. Student t-test was done for comparison and a p < 0.05 was considered significant for all comparisons.

Results: A total of 38,660 SIJF procedures (34,590 open, 3,890 MIS) were included in this study. MIS procedures were associated with shorter hospital stays, 2.5 vs. 4.2 days (p < 0.001) and lower costs, $97,639 vs. $182,884 (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was seen between mortality rates (p=0.786).

Conclusion: Our study found that MIS SIJF was associated with shorter hospital stays, lower cost, and similar mortality rates. These findings align with previous findings that show an increase favor towards MIS. Future research will focus on understanding the difference in complications between both procedures.

Introduction: Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) is a well-known cause of lower back pain (LBP), accounting for 15-30% of chronic LBP cases. When conservative treatments such as physical therapy and medications fail, sacroiliac joint fusion (SIJF) is performed through either open or minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Following the 2015 introduction of unique ICD-PCS codes, this study analyzes temporal trends and outcomes of inpatient SIJF procedures from 2016-2020, we hypothesize that inpatient MIS SIJF procedure volumes have increased over time and are more common among female patients.

Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample database, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 38,660 SIJF procedures (34,590 open, 3,890 MIS). Demographic and procedural data were analyzed using Mann-Kendall tests, t-tests for temporal trends, and chi-square analyses to evaluate trends, patient characteristics, and regional variations.

Results: Of 38,660 inpatient SIJF procedures, 34,590 (89.5%) were open and 3,890 (10.5%) were MIS. Procedures were predominantly performed on female patients who identified as white, had Medicare coverage, and were treated at urban teaching hospitals (p<0.001). Temporal analysis showed no significant change in procedural volumes for open (p = 0.807) or MIS (p = 0.462) techniques. Regional analysis revealed a majority of procedures in the Southern U.S. (41.6%, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Inpatient SIJF procedural volumes remained stable from 2016-2020, despite the increasing adoption of MIS techniques. Regional disparities, with a concentration in the South, highlight geographic variability in procedure usage. These findings suggest a potential shift toward outpatient MIS SIJF, necessitating further research on outpatient trends and outcomes.

The U.S. secondhand fashion industry is projected to grow three times faster than traditional fashion, urging retailers to adapt or risk falling behind. Brand-Owned Recommerce Platforms (BORPs), like Patagonia’s Worn Wear, expand brands into the secondhand market, fostering accountability for garment quality, boosting revenue, and strengthening customer loyalty, and supporting sustainability. This study explores customer motivations to purchase from and trade in clothing to BORPs. While previous research focuses on thrift stores or third-party platforms like Depop or Poshmark, this study explores consumer engagement with BORPs, addressing a key gap.

This research deploys a two-part approach to holistically investigate both purchase and trade-in intentions, utilizing foundational theories such as the Theory of Planned Behavior, Perceived Value Theory, and Social Exchange Theory. Data for both stages is collected through Prolific, an online research platform, using survey questionnaires. The data is analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Each stage involves 400 participants.

The findings reveal that consumers consider price, green value, quality, and platform credibility when deciding to purchase from BORPs. They also seek advice from others (e.g., friends, family, and society) to shape their purchasing attitudes and decisions. Regarding trade-ins, consumers prioritize perceived convenience, flexibity, green value, and financial incentives. The findings demonstrate how BORPs can benefit customers, brands, and the environment, positioning sustainability as an advantage rather than a compromise. This research offers critical implications for the future of fashion, as brands continually face pressure to innovate and adopt circular practices.

Primary Topic: There has been a significant rise in solo dining worldwide as working hours, education, and single-person households have increased, in tandem with a cultural shift. Yet solo dining has been found to be an uncomfortable social experience for many due to environmental press, which is the physical and social stimuli in an environment. Additionally, Western society has a cultural and systematic bias towards extroversion, which has resulted in hospitality design that skews towards groups. The purpose of this exploratory study is to determine how environmental boundaries in restaurant design impact the environmental press on a solo diner based on the introvert/extrovert personality dimension.

Methods: Four types of environmental boundaries (visual barriers, distance, location, and lighting) from Altman’s privacy regulation theory will be manipulated at different levels of sensory intervention through digital renderings of restaurant design. A quantitative survey will be used to record the participant’s responses in terms of comfort, satisfaction, and social impact, measured using Latane’s social impact theory. We are seeking to determine which environmental boundary is most influential and which level of sensory intervention is most influential, based on the participants’ personality type.

Implications: This study is still in progress. The study aims to explore how restaurant interiors can be designed to reduce environmental press on solo diners, informed by the influence of personality type. Previous research has not determined which design strategies are most effective in improving the solo dining experience, thus this research could impact standard restaurant typologies as solo dining increases.

Principal topic: This design project addresses the critical shortage of resources for those dealing with mental health challenges by exploring the potential of fully integrated primary care (PC) and behavioral health (BH) clinics as a successful design typology. The goal was to create a clinic environment that fosters comfort and support for staff, patients, and care partners. Using trauma-informed design (TID) and biophilic principles, the design promotes self-regulation and reduces sensory stress in healthcare environments.

Methods: This project used a mixed-methods approach (interviews, precedent studies, energy simulations) to identify and address the needs of patients and staff. The design was guided by data highlighting families with young children as the primary demographic, emphasizing comfort across diverse age groups while reducing the stigma surrounding mental healthcare. Given the prevalence of stress and burnout among healthcare professionals, the project also prioritized staff well-being to enhance satisfaction, retention, and care quality.

Results: Biophilic design strategies in the project include expansive views of nature, natural daylight, interior plantings, and subtle biophilic forms. These forms were inspired by bird flight, feathered textures, cool and neutral color palettes, nest and wing shapes, and the Golden Ratio, creating a sense of harmony and connection to nature. TID strategies, such as the integration of prospect and refuge, were implemented to balance safety and comfort while maintaining psychological safety for all users. This holistic approach underscores the potential of integrated PC and BH clinics, enhancing the well-being of all users and offering an innovative model for future healthcare environments.

Principal topic: This research explores the roles of inclusive and experiential imagery in higher education advertisements targeting Gen-Z students. Inclusive advertising has been shown to foster favorable brand attitudes and positive social effects. Social identity theory suggests individuals derive a sense of self from group memberships, making inclusive imagery especially impactful when it resonates with students’ identities and values. Depictions of experiential learning, highly valued by Gen-Z for its connection to real-world readiness, may further enhance engagement. This study examines how these factors influence emotional resonance, perceived authenticity, e-word of mouth, and the likelihood of application.

Method: The study employs a randomized 2 (diversity: low, high) x 2 (experiential focus: low, high) factorial survey experiment with a sample of 300 college students to investigate the impact of inclusive and experiential imagery in higher education advertisements. Image conditions vary in levels of diversity representation and fieldwork emphasis. High-diversity images incorporate considerations of race, sex, gender identity, religious affiliation, and ability. High-experiential images depict students engaged in hands-on activities, such as working in a campus television studio.

Results/implications: Preliminary findings highlight the dual importance of inclusive and experience-driven ads. This study is significant for aligning marketing strategies with Gen-Z's values, offering practical solutions to increase student interest and enrollment. However, authenticity is crucial, performative or surface-level inclusivity risks being perceived as virtue signaling, undermining engagement. Institutions should focus on genuine representation and meaningful experiential depictions to resonate with this discerning audience. Implications for social identity theory are discussed.

Principal Topic: Fish is rich in nutrients important for cognitive function and development in children. Thus, the objective of this study was to further understand acceptance of trout in children aged 3-6 years old, and its relationship to at-home feeding experiences.

Methods: Three strains of Rainbow Trout were obtained. Children (n=50, aged 3-6 years old) from Pullman WA/Moscow ID were recruited to assess sensory acceptance of trout strains. Prior to tasting trout, children indicated their hunger level. Children then indicated their overall liking of each trout sample on a 3-point scale (Yucky, Just-Okay, Yummy). Additionally, behaviors (Ex: licking trout, touching trout) of children while eating trout samples were recorded by trained coders. Parents/caregivers of each participant completed a survey regarding at-home feeding experiences. Ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the effect of at-home feeding experiences on trout liking scores.

Results/implications: Children who struggled with lumpy food textures (ex: cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, and oatmeal) at home were more likely to give trout samples lower overall liking scores (p = 0.041). Additionally, children who regularly consumed fish at home were more likely to give trout samples higher overall liking scores (p<0.0001). However, children who performed exploratory behaviors including licking trout (p=0.006) and examining trout with eating utensils (p=0.017) prior to eating were more likely to give lower overall liking scores. Children who struggle with lumpy food textures may experience more difficulties in accepting trout. Increasing a child’s exposure to fish and seafood may help to increase acceptance of trout.

A combination of social norms and narratives has been shown to be a particularly effective way of conducting interventions. However, social norms often call for audience segmentation. Alcohol- and sex-related interventions often segment their interventions based on gender. However, with the fluidity of gender identity among GenZ, this segmentation might not be necessary. In this study, we conducted a 2x1 online experiment with open-ended questions where the conditions were a gender-specific social norms narrative-based intervention or a gender non-specific social norms narrative-based intervention. The intervention intended to reduce intentions to engage in unprotected and unintended sex after consuming alcohol. A total of 271 participants (ages 20-29) participated in the experiment and responded to the open-ended questions. We analyzed the open-ended questions using thematic analysis and we found that participants were either not noticing the gender of the character in the intervention or that they were attributing a gender to the character in the gender non-specific condition. Our quantitative results suggested something similar: we found that there was significant difference between the conditions in terms of identification, perceived message effectiveness, and lower intentions to engage in unprotected and unintended sex after consuming alcohol intentions. Based on these findings, future social norms narrative-based interventions should consider if it is necessary to segment the audience based on gender, as a gender non-specific intervention can be more affordable and more inclusive.

Keywords: social norms, health interventions, message development, narrative interventions

Principal Topic: Technology has potential to improve health management and literacy, but older adults face unique barriers to navigating the internet. We examined the relationship between cognitive status and performance on a health search task (HST) involving internet navigation and printed materials. We predicted those experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) would be disproportionately challenged by the internet-based section of the task, compared to healthy older adults (HOA).

Methods: Participants included 87 community-dwelling midlife and older adults (age: M = 69.39; 73.56% female). The HST assesses one’s ability to navigate internet and print resources to find and evaluate health information. Performance on the HST is quantified by accuracy and completion time. HOA (n = 58) were matched with participants who met criteria for MCI (n = 29) on age and education in a 2:1 ratio.

Results & Implications: Two (HOA/MCI) by two (internet/print HST version) mixed factorial ANOVAs revealed significant main effects of HST version, indicating that participants were both less accurate, F(1, 85) = 21.01, p < .001, ƞp2 = .20, and took longer to complete, F(1, 85) = 17.77, p < .001, ƞp2 = .17, the internet compared to the print version. Participants with MCI also had lower accuracy, F(1, 85) = 6.62, p = .01, ƞp2 = .07, but not completion time, on the HST tasks compared to HOA. There were no significant interactions. As health communications transition away from printed materials, it is important to understand the psychological factors impacting older adults’ navigation of online health-related sources.

Interior lighting significantly impacts human development, function, and behavior. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have become the most common lighting fixture due to their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and low maintenance (Filardo, 2021). However, their influence on children's behavior, learning, and academic success—particularly for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)—remains unclear. Children with ASD process and respond to stimuli faster than adults and may react differently to visual light (American Psychiatric Association, 2023). Few studies have examined lighting in real classroom environments or focused on ASD children.

This study aims to determine the optimal correlated color temperature (CCT) of LED lighting for classrooms, as CCT level is not specified in architectural codes. CCT measures the color of light, ranging from warm to cool, and is known to influence human behavior (IES, 2018). As schools increasingly adopt LED lighting, understanding its impact on ASD students' behavior, learning, and academic success is critical for fostering inclusive classrooms.

Using a within-subjects design, this study observed ASD students in a public elementary school classroom under warm and cool CCT LED lighting. Non-participant observations measured interactions with teachers, peers, and tasks using the Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring System (inCLASS) and analyzed with SPSS. A paired t-test compared average scores of each student across three domains: teacher interaction, peer interaction, and task engagement.

Results revealed significantly improved teacher interactions under higher CCT levels, while peer interaction and task engagement showed no significant changes. Findings offer insights for designing inclusive learning environments that support all students.

Microalgae possess tremendous potential to be a one-stop solution for simultaneous wastewater treatment and production of biomass rich in proteins and lipids. This study utilized a unique strain, Chlorella vulgaris CA1, isolated from a dairy wastewater lagoon having mixotrophic growth capability in wastewater. First, algae were grown in anaerobic digestion (AD) wastewater with glucose as the most readily available organic carbon source and its single-step macro-dosing (2.4 g C/L) in the wastewater. Three cultures, BG-11, raw effluent, and sterilized effluent, produced algal biomass of 0.99 g/L, 0.76 g/L, and 1.28 g/L, respectively, after 8 days of growth. The growth of algae was further optimized in the second part of the study, where Chlorella vulgaris CA1 showed higher growth capability using multiple organic carbon sources. Here, algae were cultured in raw effluents supplanted with glucose, sodium acetate, and acetic acid. Carbon sources were supplied in micro-doses (0.58 g C/L) at light phase on day 0 and day 4 during the 8-day growth period. This produced 1.07 g/L, 1.18 g/L, and 1.26 g/L for glucose, sodium acetate, and acetic acid cultures respectively. Microscopic analysis revealed lower bacterial contamination in acetate culture than glucose while maintaining higher algal biomass growth without requiring additional sterilization. Moreover, using acetic acid as a carbon source showed higher algal growth than sodium acetate, primarily due to its ability to regulate pH in cultures trending towards alkalinity. Algal treatment of AD effluent resulted in a reduction in ammonium-nitrogen and phosphate, odor removal, and reduced turbidity.

Over recent decades, dendrimers have revolutionized targeted drug delivery. While a few dendrimer-based therapeutics have entered clinical trials, scaling up production remains challenging due to difficulties in ensuring consistency, purity, and batch uniformity. The development of innovative and reliable synthetic methods capable of producing flawless dendrimers in minimal steps is crucial for their successful clinical translation. Copper-catalyzed-click-chemistry (CuAAC) has proven to be a powerful tool since its introduction, facilitating the creation of extensive libraries of small molecules and macromolecules. It has also demonstrated great potential in the realms of polymers and dendrimers. A significant issue in macromolecular synthesis employing CuAAC is the challenge of removing copper residues during purification, primarily because of its tendency to chelate with the triazole rings within the structure. Due to this issue, the purification process is prolonged, resulting in the loss of yield. The entrapped copper within the macromolecules limits their utilization for biomedical applications.

To address the problem of copper contamination, we have investigated the potential of alternative metal free chemical transformations that fall within the scope of the click chemistry concept. We have used a combination of strain-promoted-cycloaddition reaction (SPAAC), inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder (IDEEA) and thiol-ene click reactions for the creation of mixed layered dendrimer. These metal-free click reactions have garnered increased attention from the scientific community for their high reaction kinetics, milder reaction conditions, producing stable products, and maintaining orthogonality. The resulting dendrimer features multiple clickable surface groups for ligand attachment facilitating a range of applications including drug delivery, imaging, and diagnosis.

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC), located on Terrell Library’s ground floor, acquires and preserves rare and unique items related to Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest. This poster and table will provide general information about the MASC and feature an interactive letterpress demonstration by Linnea Rash, the conservator at MASC. Letterpress printing is a printing technique that was the primary method for printing books, newspapers, posters, and other materials from the 15th century to the early 20th century. Most of the printed material in MASC was made on a letterpress, and seeing one in action can give a fuller context for the time period in which these materials were created. MASC’s letterpress is a small tabletop press used by hobbyists and print shops from the 1870s to the 1970s. Visitors will be invited to pull their own print to take home.

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are the most widely used agricultural pollinator but are far from perfect. The long distances covered by foraging honey bees increases the risk of pollen movement between fields of the same crop. While this is not generally a concern for crops intended for consumption, it is a significant issue for producers of carrot (Daucus carota) seed and other insect-pollinated seed crops. Inter-field movement of pollen during seed production decreases the genetic purity of the seed, also decreasing its value. To protect their crops, producers in the Columbia Basin region of Washington State already collaborate to maintain 3.2 kilometers between fields, however this is distance is not sufficient to completely isolate fields from each other as honey bees can travel over twice this distance when foraging. This long-range foraging is largely the result of poor forage availability at the time of pollination, creating a need for honey bees to fly greater distances to meet the nutritional needs of the colony. This study tested the impact of supplemental in-hive feeding on the foraging behavior of honey bees in a hybrid carrot seed field. Entrance activity monitors, and pollen samples were used to track foraging activity and the composition of collected pollen respectively. The results of this study showed that supplemental feeding did not significantly impact foraging behavior in this system. While this did not solve the intended challenge, these findings demonstrate that beekeepers can feed colonies during this nutritionally poor period without negatively impacting pollination.

Principal topic: Traditional Mozzarella cheesemaking utilizes only Lactobacillus bulgaricus and/or Streptococcus thermophilus starter bacteria, but literature suggests a different adjunct culture could influence sensory and functional properties. As Mozzarella is generally used in baked applications, this study evaluated the impact of Lactobacillus casei on sensory and functional attributes of baked and melted part-skim pasta filata Mozzarella.

Method: Two treatments of Mozzarella were produced: a control with S. thermophilus, and a modified with S. thermophilus and L. casei, stored at 3.3ºC. Samples were analyzed at 5, 25, 50, and 75 days. A trained sensory panel (n=10) assessed melted Mozzarella, while a smaller panel (n=4) evaluated functional properties on pizza. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate treatment, storage time, and their interaction.

Results/implications: Storage time interacted with cheesemaking treatment to influence functional properties of baked Mozzarella. Both treatments had similar melting areas at day 5 (~11 cm²). However, control Mozzarella peaked at 24.12 cm² at day 25, while modified Mozzarella peaked at 22.44 cm² at day 75 (p<0.01). On pizza, modified Mozzarella had greater blister coverage on a 15-cm line scale (4.98 cm vs. 3.24) at day 75 (p<0.01). Control Mozzarella had darker blistering (11.57 cm vs. 8.78) at day 25 (p<0.01); excessively dark blister color may be a defect. The addition of L. casei adjunct delayed the appearance of several defects in Mozzarella melting properties. These results suggest the inclusion of L. casei in Mozzarella cheesemaking may offer opportunities for baked Mozzarella products.

Hypersomatotropism (HST) is an excess production of growth hormone (GH) frequently caused by a functional pituitary adenoma. HST is a differential for persistent insulin resistance in diabetic cats. Serum IGF-1 >1000 ng/mL have previously been shown to have a high positive predictive value (95%) for the diagnosis of HST in cats. The prevalence of HST in diabetic cats has been previously described in cohorts outside of North America (14.9-24.8%).The goal of this pilot study was to determine the prevalence of HST in a cohort of North American diabetic cats. This was a multicenter prospective observational study and the sample size calculation was performed based on European prevalence data and assumptions included an overall prevalence of HST of approximately 25% ± 5% (SD). Fifty diabetic cats were screened using fructosamine and IGF-1 levels and sorted into well-controlled (GC, ≤500 umol/Ll) or poor-controlled (PC, >500 umol/L) groups. Study cats with IGF-1 ≥ 1000 ng/mL were screened for pituitary disease using advanced imaging (CT, MRI). Seventy-eight percent of the study cats diagnosed with HST were castrated male domestic shorthair. The positive predictive value of IGF-1 for a pituitary mass in our cohort was 56%. Overall prevalence for HST in the diabetic cohort was 10% (5/50). Acromegalic features were observed in 60% of cats diagnosed with a pituitary mass. The prevalence of HST in a cohort of North American diabetic cats was determined to be 10%.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), atherosclerosis in the extremities, impairs blood flow and tissue repair, increasing the risk of ulcers, infections, and fractures. While PAD is known to affect wound healing, limited research examines its impact on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing ORIF of ankle fractures. This study investigates the association between PAD, as assessed on angiograms, and outcomes including wound and fracture healing, and surgical complications in a cohort of US adults.

Following IRB approval, we retrospectively analyzed data from patients aged ≥55 who underwent ORIF for rotational ankle fractures at Sacred Heart Medical Center from January 11, 2020, to January 11, 2023. Exclusion criteria included pilon fractures, active infections, pathologic or open fractures, multi-level injuries, and follow-up <3 months. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 status, substance use, weight-bearing plans, and surgical complications such as wound breakdown or infection.

Preoperative radiographs graded atherosclerosis severity by arterial calcifications, excluding gravity stress radiographs. Descriptive statistics summarized clinical characteristics. Chi-square tests will assess associations between atherosclerosis severity and postoperative outcomes with p < 0.05 considered significant.

The principal investigator is currently reviewing preoperative imaging which will be used to analyze correlations between preoperative atherosclerosis severity and postoperative outcomes. Preliminary analysis indicates significant associations between comorbidities—such as myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, dementia, peptic ulcer disease, solid tumor, and smoking/nicotine use—and surgical complications.

This study aims to improve understanding of the role of preoperative atherosclerosis in ORIF outcomes, guiding perioperative management and enhancing patient care strategies for those with rotational ankle fractures.

Wildfire threats to water supply have steadily increased over recent decades, particularly in water-stressed regions like the western U.S. Wildfires significantly alter landscapes, vegetation, and soil properties, impacting water yield over extended periods. Understanding these effects is critical for water managers and disaster authorities to mitigate potential risks. Physically-based models help by providing a platform to replicate and evaluate fire impacts. The models can predict hydrologic changes during forest regrowth but often overlook post-fire dynamics like altered soil properties, forest succession, and landscape changes. We are applying the Regional Hydro-Ecological Simulation System (RHESSys), a physically-based eco-hydrological model, to estimate the impact of post-fire soil dynamics on water yield. RHESSys offers multi-scale modeling (i.e., patch to basin spatial scale and daily to yearly temporal scale) and captures the redistribution of soil moisture downslope, which can be a critical process controlling hydrologic response to fire. In this numerical study, we developed literature-based scenarios to replicate post-fire soil conditions, evaluate soil hydraulic conductivity sensitivity on water yield, and predict recovery times. As a case study, we selected the Big Thompson watershed above Moraine Park, Colorado, located in the western foothills of Rocky Mountain National Park. The watershed, partially affected by the 2012 Fern Lake Fire, has daily discharge data since 1995, providing ample pre- and post-fire observations. We expect the results to promote the inclusion of post-fire soil dynamics and offer insights into soil hydraulic recovery. The findings should assist water and ecosystem managers in decision-making under varying soil conditions.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition where effective blood glucose management is critical. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), a less invasive and more effective alternative, enhances glycemic control. Research has predominantly focused on insulin-dependent patients, leaving a knowledge gap regarding use amongst non-insulin-dependent T2DM patients.

Aims were to evaluate the impact of CGM use on disease burden in non-insulin-dependent T2DM an Alaskan Native and Native Indian (AN/AI) patients.

Methods for this retrospective study utilized deidentified data from the Electronic Health Record at an Indian Health Service clinic. The study included non-insulin-dependent T2DM patients who used CGMs between 2019 and 2024. Health metrics analyzed included vitals, A1C levels, glucose readings, cholesterol levels, and kidney function. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, were conducted to evaluate trends and changes.

Results included 93 patients (37 males, 55 females) with a mean age of 55 years (29-83 years). Paired t-test results indicated a significant difference between baseline HbA1C (9.5 ± 2.4, Mean ± SD) and HbA1C one-year post-CGM use (7.6 ± 2.2), t(92) = 7.5, p < .001. These findings suggest that CGM use significantly reduces HbA1C in non-insulin-dependent T2DM patients.

In conclusion, use of CGMs in non-insulin-dependent T2DM patients within an AN/AI population significantly improves glycemic control. These preliminary findings indicate that CGMs could play a pivotal role in managing T2DM beyond insulin-dependent populations. Further research is warranted to support broader CGM use among non-insulin-dependent diabetes patients. This study underscores the importance of expanding CGM accessibility.

Principal Topic: Autonomous vehicles (AVs) hold promise for revolutionizing transportation and reducing accidents. However, public opinions of AVs remain ambivalent and negative, potentially related to risks people perceive with the technology. To better understand people’s perceptions, and therefore their adoption intentions, it is important to consider concepts like knowledge of autonomous vehicles, trust, and other individual factors that might influence people’s decision-making around a new technology.

Method: This cross-sectional survey sampled a total of 323 U.S. adults from an online panel. The present study considers the complex dynamics shaping public risk perceptions of AVs, emphasizing the mediating role of trust in the relationship between AV-related knowledge and risk perceptions. The study also considers desire for experience, perceived safety, and deference toward scientific authority as moderators in this relationship.

Results/Implications: Findings reveal that trust significantly mediates the connection between knowledge and risk perceptions. Desire for experience intensifies the positive association between knowledge and trust. Perceived safety strengthens the negative association between trust and risk perceptions. While deference toward scientific authority did not influence the knowledge-trust relationship, it moderated the impact of trust on risk perceptions. The findings highlighted the need for a nuanced approach to public engagement, emphasizing trust-building initiatives alongside knowledge dissemination. Overall, the research contributed valuable insights for stakeholders navigating the future of AVs built on public acceptance and risk perception.

Recent studies have used surveys to better understand the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on kids of all ages. While the literature asserts children and adolescents with existing behavioral disorders were particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of COVID-19 related restrictions, only a few studies have shown support for this claim. We report on the results of a 2023 mixed-mode survey that asked youth (ages 13-21), and their caregivers, to assess their mental health status following the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey asked how their, or their kid’s, emotional or mental health has been compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak: (1) better than before; (2) about the same; or (3) worse than before. Fifty percent of youth felt better now compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak while 36% of caregivers said so about their youth. A significantly higher proportion of female (28%) than male youth (18%) felt their emotional or mental health is worse now than before the COVID-19 outbreak. For this study, we were able to link the responses of youth and caregivers in 209 pairs. Forty-two percent of the 209 pairs completing the survey agree on ratings of emotional or mental health. The strength of agreement between female youth and their caregiver, although weak, is significant compared to almost no agreement between male youth and their caregiver. The findings help to clarify our understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth with existing behavioral health challenges and can inform policies to improve treatment services.

Identifying Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) has been proposed as one significant way to meet future conservation targets. These future conservation targets include having 30% of the planet conserved by 2030, with the prospect of having 50% conserved by 2050. To meet the 2030 target, signatory nations have committed to conserving at least 30% of land and ocean by 2030. This includes nations that could not meet previous targets, thereby necessitating the need to assess the feasibility of such nations in meeting future targets.

This study examines the feasibility of one of the signatory nations (Nigeria) in meeting future targets. We modeled biodiversity and ecosystem services across Nigeria and its geopolitical zones using the CostingNature tool and performed geospatial analysis to identify potential OECMs (pOECMs). Using the identified pOECMs, we determined if Nigeria could meet up with the future conservation targets.

Our analysis revealed distinct regional patterns for pOECMs in Nigeria based on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. In terms of biodiversity conservation, Northcentral emerged with the highest proportion of small (34.4%), medium (33.1%), and large (28.5%) pOECMs. For ecosystem services, our findings showed that Northcentral had the highest proportion of small pOECMs (31.9%), while the Southwest region had the highest proportions of medium (26.8%) and large (26.6%) pOECMs. Our spatial prioritization analysis indicated that Nigeria could meet the 2030 conservation target but is unlikely to meet the 2050 target. We propose strategic recommendations for recognizing and establishing candidate OECMs across identified regions, ultimately supporting Nigeria’s future conservation goals.

Principal topic: Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death characterized by a toxic buildup of lipid peroxides. Ferroptosis is linked to several disorders including neurodegenerative and hepatic diseases. It is an endogenous tumor suppressing mechanism that may serve as a target for new anticancer therapies. The Watts lab discovered that the fatty acid, DGLA causes germ cell death and sterility via ferroptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Since the C. elegans germline is highly metabolically active and contains a vast number of mitochondria, which are a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), it makes a good model for investigating mitochondrial involvement in ferroptosis.

Method: We predict that mitochondria influence DGLA-induced ferroptosis in C. elegans’ germ cells. To investigate this, we obtained mutant strains with reduced mitochondrial electron transport chain function. Surprisingly, both complex I and complex II mutants were protective against DGLA-induced sterility. We tested whether this is due to the mitochondrial transcription factor ATFS-1, which is responsible for maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis during times of stress.

Results: We found that constitutively active ATFS-1 mutants were highly resistant against DGLA-induced ferroptosis. To determine the mechanism of resistance, we are performing various lipidomic analyses, bulk RNA sequencing, and confocal microscopy to visualize ROS. Together, these studies aim to provide us with a better insight into the influences of mitochondrial stress responses on DGLA-induced ferroptosis to shed light on potential therapeutics for diseases associated with ferroptosis.

Background: Asians and Asian Americans (A/AA) are the fastest growing minority population in the United States (U.S). Despite the growing prevalence of A/AA populations nationally, the A/AA community in Spokane remains a minority, making up only 2.5% of the Spokane population in 2022. This report summarizes findings from the Community Health Assessment (CHA) conducted by Asians for Collective Liberation of Spokane (ACLS), compares them with trends observed in A/AA access to healthcare in the U.S, and discusses necessary next steps to improve A/AA wellness.

Methods: A literature review was conducted to identified general trends in A/AA access to healthcare. The CHA occurred in two-parts. In part one, existing data about A/AA in Spokane were evaluated. In part two, a mixed-methods approach gathered input from community members via surveys and interest groups.

Results: 238 responses were received. Respondents listed cost, time, lack of insurance, and culturally insensitive providers as barriers to healthcare access. 85% of respondents speak a non-English language at home and 55% expressed interpretation/translations would improve quality of life. Factors most negatively influencing quality of life included home ownership (rent vs. own), poor health (physical, mental, spiritual), and low levels of social support.

Conclusion: Similar barriers were observed in A/AA communities within Spokane to barriers noted in literature regarding other A/AA communities in the U.S. We must continue to assess the unique needs of each community, spread awareness to address such needs, and develop long-lasting relationships of trust to achieve equitable healthcare and increased wellness across all A/AA communities.

Transmission towers, essential to the power grid, are vulnerable to extreme wind events, leading to widespread power outages. To enhance the resilience of transmission towers, it is essential to develop accurate models that predict wind-induced damage to transmission towers. While physics-based models offer greater accuracy than purely data-driven models, they present several challenges: they are computationally intensive and highly specific to the modeled tower, making system-level damage assessments difficult for grids with diverse tower designs. These limitations hinder practitioners from applying physics-based models for comprehensive system-level assessments. Thus, we develop a surrogate wind fragility model that can be applied to a wide range of transmission tower designs across different locations in the United States.

Our proposed methodology offers three main contributions. First, the model accounts for the combined effects of wind speed, direction, and rainfall intensity, recognizing that extreme wind events often accompany heavy rainfall. Second, we integrate a tower design phase that ensures the model reflects location-specific factors, improving its generalization capabilities. Finally, to reduce the computational burden of creating large training datasets, we leverage parallel computing techniques and introduce a novel approach using generalized additive models for more efficient processing and model development.

Results show the computational efficiency in generating the training data, and the high accuracy of the surrogate model across several towers with varying configurations. This suggests the viability of this model for practical use. Moreover, the methodology can be expanded to account for the cascading effects of damage throughout the grid.

The transition to university life is marked by significant personal, academic and logistical challenges when first-year students at Washington State University (WSU) Pullman are required to reside in dormitories. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this transitional period, introducing additional stressors and potentially altering patterns of mental health and substance use.

In 2023, a survey was conducted among 98 WSU students who had lived in dorms before, during, or after the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants rated their mental and physical well-being, focusing on self-assessments aligned with DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Additionally, they reported their perceived use of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine while living in the dorms. The initial hypothesis posited higher rates of depression and anxiety among students living in dorms during the pandemic compared to those in the post-pandemic period.

Contrary to expectations, no significant differences were found in self-reported rates of depression or anxiety between pre- and post-pandemic cohorts. However, notable differences emerged in substance use patterns. Students who lived in dorms during COVID-19 were more likely to perceive their alcohol and nicotine consumption as unhealthy compared to post-pandemic residents. These findings suggest that while the pandemic did not exacerbate mental health issues among WSU dorm students, it may have influenced their self-perception and attitudes toward substance use.

This study underscores the need for policies and practices that prioritize the importance of financial support and access to substance use education and mental health resources for university students, particularly during periods of global disruption.

Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are preventable complications that can lead to serious health outcomes and financial burdens. At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (PSHMC) in Spokane, Washington, HAPI rates have risen, with the 9N cardiac medical unit recording one of the highest incidences outside critical care. This prompted a hospital-wide clinical practice alert and a revision of the HAPI Prevention Bundle Protocol in July 2023, aimed at reducing HAPI rates through standardized application and documentation.

Purpose: This project aims to evaluate the impact of the revised HAPI protocol on nurse adherence, hospital quality metrics, and nurses' perceptions in PSHMC 9N.

Methods/ Approach: This evaluation employed a mixed-methods approach, collecting retrospective and prospective data over 24 months (January 2023 to December 2024) to assess the revised protocol’s impact on nurse adherence and hospital quality metrics, with descriptive statistics utilized for data analysis. Nurses' experiences were assessed through an anonymous survey, identifying significant patterns and themes relevant to the evaluation’s objectives.

Results: Evaluation is ongoing and expected to finish by February 2025, with anticipated results including improved nurse adherence to key HAPI bundle components, improved hospital quality metrics including reduced HAPI incidence rates, and increased protocol familiarity and satisfaction among nurses.

Conclusions: The final conclusions are pending, with data analysis ongoing to assess the short- and long-term impact of the revised protocol.

Implications for practice: The project highlights the importance of standardized protocols in reducing HAPIs and presents opportunities to address gaps in consistently applying best practices across nursing units.

Accurate partitioning of precipitation into rain and snow is crucial for estimating snow accumulation and streamflow in hydrology models. However, these models often use a simplistic, temperature-based static approach to precipitation partitioning. Recent research suggests that adopting a dynamic partitioning approach, which considers additional environmental factors beyond surface air temperature, can enhance model performance related to snow magnitude, streamflow and some phenology metrics. This dynamic approach also impacts the proportion of streamflow driven by snowmelt, a key factor for snowmelt-dominant watersheds in the context of climate change. Our objectives are to quantify how transitioning from a static to dynamic partitioning affects (a) estimates of the snowmelt contribution to runoff in a climate change context and (b) projections of our ability to meet ecosystem services (e.g., irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, flood control, environmental flows). We apply the VIC-CropSyst coupled crop-hydrology model, and a reservoir operations model to the Columbia River Basin in the Northwest US as a case study. Our findings show that, historically, on average, dynamic partitioning results in a higher snowmelt (about 45%) contribution to streamflow compared to static partitioning (about 27%), with variability observed across sub-watersheds. We also observe less extreme transitions of watersheds from snow-dominant to transitional or rain-dominant states with dynamic partitioning. Thus, by relying on static precipitation phase partitioning in hydrology models, we may have overestimated the magnitude of negative climate change impacts on snowmelt and streamflow. Addressing this is critical for effective water resource management planning in a changing climate.

Metals in real-life applications are constantly under a combination of a corrosive environment and imposed mechanical stress. Their performance is affected by the influence of a combination of mechanical stresses and a corrosive environment. When a material under mechanical stress is exposed to a corrosive environment, localized corrosion speeds up the degradation process. It is important to assess the behavior to provide insights into the progressive weakening mechanisms that impact their structural integrity. This investigation was designed to study the corrosion behavior of pure aluminum under an applied strain. The potentiodynamic behavior of aluminum was studied by holding the material at a constant strain in a corrosive environment. A multimodal setup capable of applying mechanical stress, carrying out electrochemical reactions and imaging was designed to investigate this study. Experiments were carried out at strain values below the yield point, at the yield point, and after the yield point. Polarization behavior, variation of stress during polarization, and roughness of the corroded surface were analyzed. The corrosion resistance of the material was observed to decrease with increasing strain values. Corrosion rate was also observed to be higher at higher strain values.

Principal Topic: Identifying experimental wheat genotypes with a high flour milling yield, the fraction of flour obtained from milling kernels, can improve food security by increasing the amount of consumable calories from a harvested crop. However, phenotyping for milling yields is a destructive measurement. Non-destructive estimates of milling yields through Near Infrared Spectroscopy could enable early generation selections with limited seed amounts. Breeders could increase the amount of training data for creating calibrations by pooling data from multiple end use market classes.

Method: 2,808 club wheat, 3,998 hard wheat, and 8,092 common soft wheat samples from 165 location-years were available for analysis. Evaluated prediction models include Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). Spectral data was collected on grain samples using a Perkin Elmer DA7250 with spectral data collected from 950 to 1650 nm. Models were trained using individual wheat market classes, pairs of classes, or all market classes with validation accuracy determined within individual market classes.

Results/Implications: Hard wheat validation accuracy was highest from calibrations trained only with hard wheat data. Inclusion of soft or club wheat data into calibrations substantially increased hard wheat validation error. Common soft and club wheat validation accuracies were comparable when using only matching class or both soft and club classes for model training. This suggests that breeding programs should create market class specific milling yield calibrations. MLP consistently outperformed PLSR regardless of market class combinations. Class specific validation accuracy averaged 0.82 from MLP, a reasonable accuracy for non-destructively screening large populations.

Principal Topic: Extreme temperatures often hinder photosynthesis, translating to reduced growth and yield. Most crops are not adapted to extreme temperatures, necessitating exploration of new model species to understand the boundaries of photosynthetic organisms living at environmental thresholds. To address this, we study the extremophile Tidestromia oblongifolia, which has one of the highest photosynthetic temperature optimum for terrestrial plants and utilizes the C4 photosynthetic pathway, similar to key crops like maize and Sorghum. C4 photosynthesis is initiated by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) using substrates PEP and bicarbonate (HCO3-). Due to PEPC’s often rate-limiting role in this pathway, its activity and kinetic properties are key to determining rates of C4 photosynthesis. Prior research has characterized the thermal kinetic response of PEPCs native to temperate environments, however the extremes of PEPC thermal tolerance have not been investigated. I hypothesize that the thermal kinetic properties of PEPC will differ between hot and temperate adapted C4 plants, and that these differences are due to specific changes in amino acid composition.

Method: To test this hypothesis PEPC kinetics were measured from 15-50°C in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic PEPCs from T. oblongifolia and the photosynthetic PEPC from the temperate C4 plant Setaria viridis.

Results/implications: The thermal response between PEP and HCO3- affinity differed significantly between T. oblongifolia and S. viridis PEPC, particularly at high temperatures. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations suggest global structural differences between PEPCs. These data provide the foundation for future work to engineer thermal tolerance in C4 crops.

Accurately priced financial options are critical to risk management and strategically made decisions in financial markets. The Black-Scholes model has been the historical standard. However, its assumption of constant volatility often results in pricing errors. This research explores how stochastic volatility models, such as the Heston model, improve option pricing accuracy.

Defining the Black-Scholes and Heston models has highlighted their differences in assumptions and resulting dynamics. Our Python-based Monte Carlo simulation models asset price paths and stochastic volatility using discretization techniques such as Euler-Maruyama. Additionally, it estimates option prices by averaging discounted payoff. Using historical option price data collected from datasets such as Yahoo or Quandl, we will apply the model and compare predictions to market prices. The performance will be evaluated using mean squared error (MSE) metrics.

Our research aims to show how stochastic volatility models reduce pricing errors, especially for options with long maturity or high implied volatilities. This study evaluates when the additional complexity of stochastic models is justified. Extensions would include the addition of features such as price jumps or testing the model on exotic options. Deliverables include a clear explanation of the Heston model and its derivatives, Python code for simulating path and pricing options, and graphs comparing theoretical prices to market prices. As well as, insight into model strengths, limitations, and potential extensions.

Quantum mechanics provides a powerful framework for understanding the behavior of particles at microscopic scales, accurately predicting experimental observations. Yet, a fundamental question remains: at what scales do quantum effects dominate over classical effects? Quantum behavior is non-local and coherent, with correlations spanning entire systems, whereas classical noise is local and incoherent, disrupting such correlations. Studying this interplay in out-of-equilibrium many-body systems, where thousands of particles interact, is particularly challenging.

In this project, we investigate such dynamics through the scattering of two Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs)—states of matter formed by ultracold atoms behaving as a single quantum entity. Laboratory observations captured scattering patterns, which we simulated using two approaches: a mean-field model neglecting quantum effects and a stochastic method incorporating quantum fluctuations. We also developed an analytical model using Bogoliubov analysis to describe quantum excitations. The stochastic simulations and the analytical model showed strong agreement at short time scales, providing a consistent framework for examining quantum signatures.

Our results indicate that, at short time scales, the scattering pattern is dominated by highly non-local quantum excitations, reflecting the coherence of the system. Over time, coherence diminishes, and classical effects become more prominent. The system operates in a regime where quantum and classical effects coexist, revealing a rich interplay of physical phenomena. These findings offer valuable insights into the transition from quantum to classical behavior in many-body systems.

This study investigates the integration of biochar as a sustainable cement replacement in high-strength engineered cementitious composites (ECC). Biochar, derived from organic waste, enhances cementitious materials through its pozzolanic activity and internal curing effects, addressing the challenges of reducing environmental impact while maintaining high mechanical performance. This research evaluates biochar’s effects on ECC durability, microstructural properties, and sustainability, aiming to advance the development of sustainable construction materials.

Biochar was incorporated at 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by weight, and its effects were assessed through compressive strength tests, tensile performance analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and life cycle assessment (LCA). Variables included biochar content, curing conditions, and metrics such as tensile strength, strain capacity, water sorptivity, and gas permeability. Microstructural analysis focused on fiber-matrix bonding and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) density.

The results demonstrated that biochar enhanced ECC compressive strength (up to 99.6 MPa) and tensile strength (8.58 MPa at 20% content). SEM analysis revealed a denser ITZ at 5-10% biochar levels, improving fiber-matrix bonding. While higher biochar levels increased permeability, they reduced drying shrinkage by 24%. The LCA highlighted an 80% reduction in carbon emissions, with biochar sequestering 2.0 kg CO₂-eq per kg. These findings underscore biochar-ECC’s potential as a sustainable, high-performance material, offering an optimal balance between mechanical excellence and environmental responsibility.

Prostate cancer (PC) remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. The treatment options for PC in its metastatic castration-resistant stage (mCRPC) are limited due to systemic toxicity and drug resistance. To address these challenges, we developed a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted nanoplatform, PSMA-2DG-Dendrimer (PSMA-2DG-D), for precise delivery of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib (Cabo) to PSMA-positive PC cells.

This platform features CTT-1298, an irreversible PSMA ligand, conjugated to a 2-deoxyglucose-based dendrimer, enhancing specificity, biocompatibility, and efficacy. PSMA-2DG-D demonstrated strong PSMA binding (IC50: 15.3 nM) and excellent water solubility. Fluorescently labeled PSMA-2DG-D-Cy5 showed selective uptake in PSMA-positive PC3-PIP cells, confirmed via flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. In vivo imaging revealed tumor-specific accumulation in PSMA-positive xenografts with sustained retention (>48 hours) and minimal off-target effects. The platform’s small hydrodynamic size (~4.5 nm) allowed renal clearance, minimizing systemic toxicity. Hemocompatibility tests confirmed safety, with hemolysis rates below 5%.

Cabo was conjugated to PSMA-2DG-D using enzyme- and pH-sensitive linkages, achieving controlled, tumor-specific drug release (~85% over 12 days under intracellular conditions) while maintaining plasma stability. In vitro, PSMA-2DG-D-Cabo exhibited fourfold enhanced cytotoxicity in PSMA-positive PC cells compared to free cabo (EC50: 17.7 µg/mL vs. 68.03 µg/mL).

This scalable, biocompatible nanoplatform offers a promising therapeutic strategy for mCRPC, reducing systemic toxicity and overcoming drug resistance while improving precision and efficacy in targeted drug delivery.

Lactate, a glycolysis byproduct, was shown to promote cancer cell survival and proliferation. Lactate oxidase (LOX) and lactate monooxygenase (LMO), two prokaryotic enzymes devoid in mammalian cells, can oxidize lactate to produce either pyruvate and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or acetate, carbon dioxide and water. We previously showed that LOX inhibited cancer cell proliferation and animal tumor growth. The mechanism of this inhibition was thought to be the lactate removal and H2O2 production functions of LOX because lactate is the major energy source of cancer cells and H2O2 is an oxidative stressor. Yet, this mechanism remains unproven.

We will utilize the chemical feature that both LOX and LMO react with lactate, and LMO does not induce H2O2 production to address the key question of whether lactate depletion and H2O2 production are the crucial factors affecting cancer cell survival via three key experiments: 1) Produce active LMO and define its optimal concentration and reaction conditions for depleting lactate in chemical reactions; 2) Examine the efficacy of LMO depletion of cancer cell-produced lactate in tissue cultures and assess its effect on cell proliferation; 3) Investigate if LMO removal of lactate and H2O2 addition in cancer cell cultures synergistically impair cell survival and proliferation.

Eyespot, caused by the closely related species Oculimacula yallundae and O. acuformis, and Cephalosporium stripe, caused by Hymenula cerealis, are important winter wheat diseases in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Both diseases are caused by soilborne fungal pathogens. The genomic sequences and RNA-seq reads of O. yallundae OY90-45-7 and OY90-49-1, O. acuformis OA99-36-3 and OA99-4-3, and C. gramineum Cg84-30 and Cg95-1 were obtained using the PacBio Sequel system and Illumina NextSeq 2000, respectively. Genome structural and functional annotation were conducted using the GenSASv6.0 platform. The assembled genomes of the four eyespot isolates ranged from 43.9 to 47.5 Mb with 27 to 91 contigs. The genomes of Cg84-30 and Cg95-1 were 38.6 and 38.7 Mb with 22 and 30 contigs, respectively. The GC contents of all six genomes ranged from 45.9 to 47.8%. Each genome contained more than 97% BUSCO genes using the fungal lineage dataset. The numbers of protein-coding genes predicted from the genomes of OY90-45-7, OY90-49-1, OA99-36-3, OA99-4-3, Cg84-30, and Cg95-1 were 14,114, 14,348, 13,521, 13,568, 12,322, and 12,423, respectively, of which more than 90% were classified by functional annotation. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values were greater than 99% within species, about 87% between O. yallundae and O. acuformis, and 77% between C. gramineum and either of the Oculimacula species. This is the first study to conduct gene predication for the whole genomes of the eyespot and Cephalosporium stripe pathogens. We expect this data will provide new insights into our understanding of these important pathogens of winter wheat.

Bone and muscle interact through biochemical signals, including osteokines and myokines, which regulate endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine activities, stimulating local and distant tissues. We previously demonstrated that maternal exercise (ME) enhances fetal muscle development via the apelin signaling pathway. This study identified fetal muscle-bone crosstalk activated by the ME-induced apelin-ATF4 axis, which prevents impaired osteogenesis caused by maternal obesity (MO) and mitochondrial polymerase γ (PolG) mutation. To investigate, heterozygote PolG-mutated (PolgAmut/+) female mice were fed a control diet (CD) or high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy and mated with heterozygote males, creating four fetal groups: M-CD+WT, M-CD+PolgAmut/mut, M-HFD+WT, and M-HFD+PolgAmut/mut. To assess the therapeutic potential of apelin, pregnant PolG-mutated females were treated daily with [Pyr1]apelin-13 or PBS from e1.5 to e16.5. Fetal samples collected at e18.5 underwent biochemical and histochemical analyses. RNA-seq revealed that maternal HFD increased osteoclast differentiation and impaired skeletal and joint development in fetal limbs, further exacerbating muscle-bone deterioration in homozygote PolgA mice. Apelin treatment restored muscle-bone development disrupted by PolG mutation, mimicking ME’s effects. It increased ATF4 expression and co-regulated with RUNX2, a key osteoblast differentiation factor. These findings suggest that a maternal western diet adversely affects fetal muscle-bone development, particularly in PolG-mutated offspring, while the ME-induced apelin pathway holds therapeutic potential for preserving fetal muscle-bone interactions and promoting development.

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, is India’s most comprehensive initiative to combat air pollution. With industrial activity contributing significantly to emissions, NCAP was introduced in 101 cities to improve air quality and address environmental degradation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of NCAP in reducing industrial emissions, focusing on PM10 levels as a key indicator of pollution.

Ambient pollution policies, like NCAP, operate differently from source-specific regulations, targeting overall air quality rather than individual emitters. This design introduces a potential free-riding problem, where firms reduce compliance efforts if penalties are lower than the costs of abatement. However, evidence from similar policies globally suggests that ambient regulations can drive firms toward cleaner technologies and more efficient production processes.

Using data from 2011 to 2022, this study compares the 101 NCAP cities with a control group of 31 cities to estimate the program’s impact. Employing a robust methodology that accounts for differences in city characteristics, findings show a statistically significant reduction in PM10 levels in NCAP cities, suggesting that ambient regulation can effectively reduce industrial emissions while allowing flexibility for firms to innovate and adapt.

These results highlight the relevance of NCAP for cost-effective pollution mitigation and its broader implications for environmental policy design in developing countries. Based on these findings, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the economics of environment degradation by offering important insights on balancing environmental protection and economic productivity.

Principal topic: This study investigates optimal carbonization conditions for biochar production, focusing on pressure and acid pretreatments to maximize carbon yield and enhance biochar functionality.

Method: Over thirty combinations of pressure and acid type were tested, including organic acids (CH3COOH and HCOOH) and inorganic acids (H3PO4 and H2SO4), using hybrid poplar wood as feedstock. The results show that carbon conversion efficiencies up to 70 wt. % were achieved with organic acids under pressures ≥ 20 bar. Inorganic acids produced biochar doped with phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S), demonstrating the potential for customizing biochar properties to specific applications. To understand biochar transformations at the molecular level, we employed a range of advanced characterization techniques, such as solid-state 13C NMR, ICP-OES, XPS, BPCA, LDI FT-ICRMS and ESR, as well as 3D atomistic modeling of up to 13,000 atoms.

Results and implications: These methods revealed how pressure and acid pretreatments influence the chemical composition, porosity, and atomistic structure of the resulting biochar. The study provides valuable insights into the relationship between processing conditions and biochar properties, demonstrating that optimized carbonization processes can improve production efficiency and reduce biomass requirements. This scalable approach offers significant potential for reducing carbon emissions, and makes biochar a promising material for carbon storage, soil amendment, and other environmental applications.

While the importance of dynamic precipitation phase partitioning to get accurate estimates of rain versus snow amounts has been established, hydrology models rely on simplistic static temperature-based partitioning. We evaluate changes in model bias for a suite of snow and streamflow metrics between static and dynamic partitioning. We used the VIC-CropSyst coupled crop hydrology model and performed a comprehensive evaluation using 164 snow telemetry observations across the Pacific Northwest (1997-2015). We found that transition to the dynamic method resulted in a better match between modeled and observed (a) peak snow water equivalent (SWE) magnitude and timing (~50% mean bias reduction), (b) daily SWE in winter months (reduction of relative bias from -30% to -4%), and (c) snow-start dates (mean reduction in bias from 7 days to 0 days) for a majority of the observational snow telemetry stations considered (depending on the metric, 75% to 88% of stations showed improvements). We also find improvements in estimates of basin-level streamflow and peak SWE over streamflow. However, there was a degradation in bias for snow-off dates, likely because errors in modeled snowmelt dynamics—which cannot be resolved by changing the precipitation partitioning—become important at the end of the cold season. These results emphasize that the hydrological modeling community should transition to incorporating dynamic precipitation partitioning so we can better understand model behavior, improve model accuracies, and better support management decision support for water resources, and prioritize improvements in melt dynamics to improve timing simulations.

The increasing demand for fast and reliable energy storage in applications such as electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid-scale systems necessitates high-performance batteries operating at elevated charge/discharge rates (C-rates). Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) emerge as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their safety, environmental compatibility, affordability, and high theoretical capacity. Quinone-based cathodes (poly (2-chloro-3,5,6-trisulfide-1,4-benzoquinone) (PCTBQ) exhibit fast redox kinetics and high theoretical capacities, making them ideal for high-rate applications. However, their practical use in AZIBs is hindered by significant capacity fading and poor cycling stability due to active material dissolution in aqueous electrolytes.

This study strategically addresses these limitations by employing Nafion membranes as ion-selective barriers to enhance cathode stability and performance. Nafion-treated PCTBQ cathodes, conditioned in 1M ZnSO₄ electrolyte for 24 hours (TCN 24h), demonstrated remarkable initial capacities of 322 mAh/g and 257 mAh/g at specific currents of 192.31 mA/g (3.2 C-rate, cycled for 1500 cycles) and 1153.85 mA/g (35 C-rate, cycled for 10,000 cycles), with retention rates of 52.17% and 69.8%, respectively. The integration of internal magnets further improved cycle stability and durability, achieving superior performance even without conditioned Nafion. By systematically studying the influence of magnetic fields and optimizing cathode mass loading, this work highlights the synergistic effects of Nafion conditioning, magnetic field assistance, and material optimization in stabilizing PCTBQ cathodes. These advancements promote efficient Zn²⁺ transport, extended cycling life, and improved high-rate performance, offering a pathway to durable and efficient AZIBs for rapid energy storage applications.

Introduction: Bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) is an osteoinductive growth factor cytokine. Current FDA-approved uses of BMP-2 include interbody spinal fusion and open tibial shaft repairs. However, there are limited studies regarding its efficacy in difficult-to-heal, closed nonunion tibia fractures.

Methods: We present the case of a 32-year-old male who sustained a left grade one open tibia and fibula fracture initially repaired through open reduction and internal fixation utilizing an interlocked intramedullary nail. Four months later, the proximal interlocking screws were removed to allow for dynamization. Six months after this, exchange intramedullary nailing with interlocking was performed. Despite these procedures, serial radiographs indicated sustained pseudarthrosis of the tibia. DEXA scans were obtained, showing a lumbar T score of -2.5, total hip T score of -1.9, and femoral neck T-score of -1.5. Finally, the patient underwent open reduction and treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the tibia with application of BMP-2 (Medtronic Small Kit InfuseTM (4.2mg total)) to promote osteogenesis. There is limited information about the efficacy of BMP-2 for closed tibial pseudarthrosis, especially in a young male with osteoporosis and hypogonadism.

Results: Eleven months following the final surgery, the patient has shown appropriate fracture healing. He is taking testosterone supplementation and was started on subcutaneous teriparatide (Forteo) that is to be continued for 18 months.

Conclusion: Existing literature shows that BMP-2 has been effective for FDA-approved uses, and some off-label usage has been reported. This case demonstrates that BMP-2 can also be effective for difficult-to-heal, closed nonunion tibia fractures.

Principle topic: Quantum entanglement helps reconcile our description of reality at small and large scales and is crucial for explaining the emergence of thermodynamics. Entanglement in quantum systems with many particles is increasingly relevant to the development of novel computing technologies. Our work attempts to analyze the growth of entanglement in a many-particle quantum system comprising two interacting parts that exhibit chaos. The objective is to calculate the growth of entropy for increasing interaction strength, compare it to a suitable model and check for novel behaviors that are absent in single-particle systems.

Method: We simulate two circular rings of particles with integer spin (Bosons) moving in response to standing electromagnetic waves created by counter-propagating lasers. We then construct a random matrix model of this quantum system using matrices populated with randomized numbers. Comparing the entanglement production in the simulated system with that of the model will reveal if the model accurately describes the system and whether it behaves like single-particle systems.

Results: The entanglement growth rate is faster compared to single-particle systems for weak coupling, but it saturates and begins to match the rate predicted for single-particle systems after the coupling has sufficiently increased. It turns out that an internal symmetry of the subsystems is gradually broken as the coupling increases, speeding up the entanglement growth until it has caught up with the single-particle prediction.

Lactate oxidase (LOX) from the bacteria Aerococcus viridans is an enzyme that converts lactate and oxygen into pyruvate and hydrogen peroxide. It is thought to reduce breast cancer (BC) cell growth by limiting lactate, a key energy source for BC cells, and causing oxidative stress by producing hydrogen peroxide. These effects alone, however, could not reduce BC tumor growth, and LOX was shown to associate with BC tumors over normal tissue, suggesting other mechanisms are involved. Uncovering these mechanisms could help in developing a new BC treatment.

Our studies revealed that LOX selectively binds PAFAH1B2, the beta subunit of an enzymatic complex involved in tumor progression, found in high levels in BC cells but low levels in normal cells. Solving the structure of the complex could take years. To speed up the process, we used crystal structures of LOX and PAFAH1B2 to generate 10 models of the most probable orientations of the proteins for an interaction to occur. We then confirmed their stability by placing the models in a simulated natural environment and used molecular dynamic simulations to determine whether long-lasting stable complexes were formed.

Long-lasting stable complexes were formed in two similarly oriented models, suggesting that these models represent the actual PAFAH1B2 and LOX protein interaction. The amino acid residues critical for binding stability during the simulations were identified from the most stable models and will be used in further studies confirming the binding mode and uncovering how the LOX-PAFAH1B2 interaction suppresses BC tumor growth.

This study investigates the impact of women’s empowerment on individual well-being in livestock-dependent households, with a specific focus on East Coast Fever (ECF) management among women in Kenya. Women play a critical role in livestock management in many rural communities, yet their decision-making autonomy and control over resources often remain constrained due to cultural and systemic barriers. This research examines how these constraints affect economic outcomes and well-being, emphasizing the importance of empowerment in improving livestock management practices.

Utilizing a lab-in-field experiment based on the Women’s Empowerment Livestock Index (WELI), the study evaluates how women’s decision-making autonomy and control over livestock-related income influence vaccination decisions for ECF and associated economic outcomes. Participants in the study are randomized into groups that reflect varying levels of empowerment. They then engage in a multi-stage game designed to simulate real-life decision-making processes, offering valuable insights into how empowerment impacts choices and results. Findings reveal that women who hold ownership rights to livestock, as well as control over milk income, vaccinate more cows and achieve higher economic payoffs compared to those who only manage milk income. This underscores the critical role of resource ownership and control in enhancing decision-making efficacy. The results suggest that empowering women through joint ownership of livestock and equitable income rights can significantly improve livestock management practices, household well-being, and economic stability.

Principal topic: Although many young adults 18-29 identify social media as their primary information source for various topics, sources can present substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis as beneficial while downplaying potential risks. Substance use misinformation may be viewed as accurate if a person finds the social media content valuable or useful.

Method: A national survey using Qualtrics (N=1210, ages 18-29) evaluated the association between the perceived usefulness of misleading content about substance use and participants' beliefs about the misleading claims about substances. Participants viewed three social media posts mimicking either X or Instagram and one TikTok, presenting typical misinformation about substance use. After viewing the substance misinformation, participants then evaluated the perceived usefulness of misinformation.

Results/implications: Results from a hierarchical regression analysis found that the perceived usefulness of the social media post was significantly associated with misinformation belief (R2= 0.2, F(6, 976)= 40.784, p<.001). Participants’ perceived usefulness of alcohol (β=.122, p=.001), tobacco (β=.194, p<.001), and TikTok (β=.181, p<.001) misinformation posts were positively associated with the acceptance of misinformation belief statements. Indicating a positive relationship between social media post’s perceived usefulness and participants' belief in misinformation about tobacco and alcohol, suggesting an affinity for the message predicts acceptance of misinformation. However, the relationship between the perceived usefulness of the cannabis messages and acceptance of misinformation belief statements was nonsignificant (β=.064, p=.091). The study offers insight into understanding the perceived usefulness of content can play a role in spreading misinformation that can affect decisions to use substances.

This study explores the innovative use of wet spinning technology to produce composite fibers by integrating dual polymer solutions through a side-by-side nozzle design. Wet spinning, a versatile technique for fiber fabrication, allows for precise control over fiber morphology, enabling the development of advanced materials with tailored properties. The dual-solution approach introduces two polymers simultaneously, maintaining their individual properties, while forming a unified fiber. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was employed to model the flow behavior of the dual solutions within the nozzle and the coagulation bath. The simulation provided insights into the velocity profiles, mixing patterns, and interface stability of the two solutions under various flow rates and viscosity ratios. Experimental trials were conducted using sodium alginate and polyethylene oxide (PEO) solutions to validate the simulation results. Fiber morphology, tensile strength, and interface continuity were evaluated using imaging and mechanical testing. The results demonstrate that the side-by-side nozzle configuration effectively maintains distinct polymer streams, ensuring well-defined interfaces within the fiber. Simulation data revealed critical parameters, such as flow rate ratios and nozzle geometry, influencing the final fiber structure. This combined experimental-simulation approach paves the way for future innovations in wet spinning and composite material development for advanced functional fibers.

Principal topic: Scripted Entertainment media offers an intriguing setting for uncivil discourse as it builds upon existing media theories from entertainment media and reflects scriptwriters' perceptions of uncivil political discourse. For example, Tim Allen’s 2011-2021 sitcom, ‘Last Man Standing,’ was designed with politics in mind, with Allen expressing, with uncivil intent, that he “likes pissing people off” with his approach to humor. This study seeks to contribute to the literature by testing the premise that uncivil political discourse increased in the mid to late 2010s. By analyzing political incivility within ‘Last Man Standing,’ the following study evaluates if an increase can be attributed to the political environment.

Method: A content analysis was applied to ‘Last Man Standing’ seasons that aired during three presidential election years: 2012, 2016, and 2020, where 61 episodes were analyzed. The codebook was developed using prior literature on online uncivil behaviors. Uncivil political discourse concepts were measured by the frequency they appeared in the episode.

Results/implications: Results found that the themes of mockery and uncivil tones across all seasons were the most frequent, uncivil political discourse reduced from 2012 to later elections, with 2012 being the most frequent (M = 66.4) compared to the 2016 season (M = 19.9) and the 2020 season (M = 16). The fact that the frequency of uncivil rhetoric went down, even as the show was marketed as politically insensitive, might be based on how uncivil discourse is not mutually exclusive with political situations.

Influenza remains a global health concern, needing a deeper understanding of host-pathogen interactions and immune responses. Human challenge clinical studies provide a controlled environment to investigate influenza infection dynamics. As such, we employed mathematical models to analyze data from such studies, focusing on individuals who controlled the infection versus the non-controlled volunteers in the challenge study.

Using previously developed three-compartment mathematical model (Baccam et al., 2006) to extend into a six-compartment mathematical model, we incorporate viral kinetics, immune response dynamics, and host factors influencing infection outcomes to fit to data. We estimate the parameters of our model by fitting to experimental data from volunteers inoculated with influenza virus using population nonlinear mixed effects modeling to characterize the heterogeneity in viral shedding profiles between individuals compared to the overall population trend.

Key findings reveal distinct immunological signatures between the groups. Individuals who controlled infection exhibited rapid activation and expansion of specific immune effectors, facilitating viral clearance shorter than non-controllers. In contrast, non-controlling individuals showed delayed or insufficient immune responses, correlating with prolonged viral shedding over time. Comparative analyses explained critical immune correlates of protection, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic interventions and vaccine strategies.

This analysis underscores the utility of mathematical modelling in dissecting influenza infection dynamics and immunological mechanisms governing disease outcomes. Insights gained provide a framework for predicting individual susceptibility and informing personalized healthcare approaches in managing influenza virus infections. Future directions include extending this framework to diverse viral strains and populations and antiviral treatment effects.

Crack use is prevalent and a public health concern in Brazil. This study explores the impact of crack use on the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of individuals initiating inpatient treatment in community therapies. Data were collected between 2014 and 2016 during the treatment intake of 48 Community Therapies in Brazil. The sample comprised 11,097 individuals with an average age of 36.8 years, of whom 54.6% were crack users. Compared to non-crack users, crack users were more likely to be male (53.7% versus 46.3%), Black/Brown (45.7% versus 42.3%), less likely to be White (53.9% versus 57.1%), less likely to be employed (56% versus 60.3%), and more likely to be homeless (43.2% versus 25%; p<0.01 for all). Crack users reported higher rates of past-year tobacco (81.4% versus 66.4%), marijuana (65.1% versus 37%), and solvent use (17.6% versus 9.7%) compared to non-crack users (p<0.001 for all). Additionally, they experienced neglect (14.7% versus 11.3%), physical abuse (12.7% versus 9.5%), and sexual abuse (5.3% versus 2.9%) during childhood (p<0.001 for all). In terms of health, crack users had higher diagnoses of tuberculosis (1.2% versus 0.8%), HIV (3.5% versus 2.1%), syphilis (3.4% versus 2%), and hepatitis C (2% versus 1.1%; p<0.05 for all). They also exhibited elevated anxiety (mean score 7.6 versus 7.2) and depression scores (6.8 versus 6.6) compared to non-crack users. Risky behaviors and legal problems were also more prevalent among crack users and are detailed in this poster. Crack users show greater socio-vulnerability and a more severe clinical profile compared to non-crack users.

Principal Topic: Much of Vietnamese American literature discusses the concept of gratitude. Refugees are expected to be grateful to their savior nation. To demonstrate their gratefulness, they must be successful in their new nation, or they will be perceived as unworthy of the opportunities that escape has afforded them. These expectations are doubled for the second generation since they are perceived as more fortunate because they did not have to live through the Vietnam War. The Vietnamese American memoirs, Sigh, Gone and House of Sticks demonstrate the concept of compulsory gratitude and its relation to harm the second generation experiences.

Method: I utilize literary analysis and Critical Refugee Studies to show the contradiction of success/gratitude and harm. I close read the narrators descriptions of the domestic harm they experience within the refugee family and situate these behaviors/actions in the field of Critical Refugee Studies to answer, “What are the repercussions of gratitude and success for second generation Vietnamese Americans?”

Results/Implications: Both narrators are unable to succeed based on unrealistic parental and societal expectations which renders them as “ungrateful.” Their perceived failure justifies the harm that their parents inflict to mold them as success stories while they are expected to be grateful for this harm. They detail their parents’ cruel acts, expressing anger and sadness for this treatment, but they also thank their parents for harming them, which is later attributed to their success. This project calls out the lifetime of harm that many experience and attends to these invisible wounds.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project is to enhance wound healing and self-efficacy in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients with pressure injuries (PIs) through educational interventions aligned with national nutritional guidelines.

Background: Approximately 2.5 million Americans suffer from PIs annually. SCI individuals are at high-risk due to immobility and sensory perception loss. PIs impact patients, families and communities alike, and diminishes quality of life. This project takes place in a wound care clinic for SCI patients, where nutritional assessments and RD referrals are seldom offered.

Approach: Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy model and PDSA framework, clinic staff were educated on project goals. Participants received nutrition education, with referrals to RD. PDSA cycle effectiveness was evaluated at four- and eight-weeks post-intervention using a mixed-method approach. Baseline surveys, including the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) and knowledge tests, were conducted in Fall 2024. Data collection included surveys, MST results, referrals, and changes in knowledge and wound size.

Assessment of Findings: Currently, of 42 SCI participants completing baseline surveys, 23 and 14 completed the 4- and 8-week follow-up surveys, respectively. All clinic staff received the educational program. Data analysis will conclude by March 2025, and will assess changes in nutritional knowledge, RD referrals, and wound measurements.

Conclusion: The aim was to empower participants through education and promote ownership of their health, aligning practice with nutrition and wound-healing guidelines for SCI patients with PIs. Ongoing analysis seeks to document changes in wound measurements, self-efficacy, and RD referrals among this at-risk group.

The Pilbara craton is one of our planet’s most well-preserved blocks of Archean (2.5 – 4.0 Ga) crust. These rocks were formed in a period of Earth history that preceded modern plate tectonics and cannot be described with the recognizable models of a geoscience course. The goal of this research is to better constrain the age of rocks from the Pilbara that represent the mobile regime between brittle pieces of crust. The minerals contained in these rocks are ideal targets because they are commonly used minerals for geochronological analysis and solidify during periods of tectonic activity so can be used as a marker of the movement of rocks. By measuring the isotopic ratios of Lu- Hf and Sm-Nd in garnet, coupled with data from zircon and the host rocks, the age and chemical composition of these crustal rocks can be interpreted. Since the presence of garnets in the Pilbara is uncommon, this data will add a new set of precise geochemical temporal constraints for the region, and greater insight into the composition of our early crust. The collection of this data will be completed in 1.5 months and attendees of this showcase will be some of the first to see what exciting implications these rocks have for our Earth, and beyond. Understanding where the rocks of the Pilbara come from and their tectonic processes will contribute to future interpretations of this active research area, as well as provide a potential analog for tectonic processes on other rocky planetary bodies.

This study explores how a rural school district in Eastern Washington addressed teacher resistance to a Mastery-Based Learning (MBL) initiative. Unlike traditional grading systems, MBL focuses on measuring student learning or “mastery” of identified skills and knowledge associated with clearly defined learning standards. Assessing learning in a mastery-based system is absent of homework completion, participation, and behavioral assessments typical in traditional grading systems. Many teachers in the district were hesitant to embrace this change, often citing concerns about increased workload and doubts about the non-traditional system’s effectiveness.

To address these challenges, the district implemented a strategy called Improvement Science. Improvement Science includes methodologies for testing small changes, gathering feedback, and making adjustments to improve results. The study included targeted professional training for teachers, interviews to understand their concerns, and frequent updates showing the progress students were making. These steps aimed at increasing understanding and acceptance of the non-traditional system. Teacher surveys and interviews showed increases in teacher buy-in; however, some challenges, like lack of time and attachment to traditional grading, remained.

This research highlights how schools can use small, carefully planned steps to make big changes. It shows that listening to teachers’ concerns and using data to guide decisions can make it easier to improve learning systems. The Improvement Science approach could help other schools facing similar challenges create more accurate and equitable ways to measure student learning.

Keywords: mastery, teacher support, improving education, school change

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons and voluntary control. Neck strength and head movement coordination are important for well-being of People with ALS (PALS), to maintain mobility and ability to use assistive technology. Neck muscle weakness is a predictor of respiratory impairment and survival in PALS. However, neck strength is usually only qualitatively measured, on a Medical Research Council (MRC) score of 0-5, and it is not known how that score relates to quantitative force measurements. The purpose of this study was to quantify neck strength in PALS using a hand-held dynamometer; to explore the relation between force and clinical measures; and to examine how neck strength is affected by use of a cervical collar or flexed neck position. To date, we have tested 2 PALS (1 M, 1 F; ages 59-71) and 4 control participants (2 M, 2 F; ages 56-72). Neck flexion strength in 2 PALS was 45 N and 98 N, compared to average 87 N (S.D. 21 N) in controls. Neck extension strength in 2 PALS was 78 N and 40 N, compared with 145 N (S.D. 25 N) in controls. Despite considerable variation in the PALS participants, we found that PALS neck strength was usually much lower than age- and sex-matched controls. Improved knowledge about neck strength is important to evaluate disease progression and implement improved rehabilitation interventions such as physical therapy, cervical collars and assistive devices that require neck functional capacity.

Narrative Theory starts from the assumption that narrative is a basic human strategy for coming to terms with fundamental elements of our experience, such as time, process, and change, and it proceeds from this assumption to study the distinctive nature of narrative and its various structures, elements, uses, and effects.” [1] Visitors in museum galleries naturally seek out and construct narratives – it’s essential in the meaning-making, understanding, and remembering of museum material. Capitalizing on this viewer behavior, many contemporary exhibition designers create varying degrees of controlled, immersive narratives and participatory experiences designed to influence visitor understanding and experience.

The value of the application of narrative in exhibition design is a widely debated, multi-dimensional topic: is immersive storytelling controlled by exhibit designers truly beneficial to comprehensive understanding, or does a more discursive, free exploration of exhibition material and its resulting visitor-constructed narrative a more successful outcome? While this research will not definitively answer that question, it will focus on defining design strategies employed to establish an immersive or discursive experience. The analyses and comparisons of a variety of exhibitions will propose that a balance of immersive and discursive narrative approaches within a single exhibition design can potentially accommodate the benefits of both types of narrative construction. The key exhibition used to support this conclusion will be the international traveling exhibition “Pompei: The Immortal City.

References:
[1] https://projectnarrative.osu.edu/about/what-is-narrative-theory

Principal topic: The increasing reports of tick-borne disease cases highlight the need to develop new intervention strategies. Ixodes scapularis, the North American deer tick, can transmit seven pathogens including Anaplasma phagocytophilum (causative agent of Anaplasmosis). How tick-borne pathogens interact with their hosts has been primarily studied in mammals. Comparatively less is known about tick-pathogen interactions.

Method: Prior work shows Anaplasma activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) which influences pathogen colonization within ticks. Therefore, we asked if the UPR-related transcription factor, ATF6, is activated during infection and how it might impact the pathogen's ability to persist within ticks. To address this, we examined ATF6 activation during pathogen infection in tick cells through fluorescent reporter assays. To identify ATF6-regulated genes, we scanned the I. scapularis genome for ATF6 binding sites. We validated findings by quantifying gene expression in various conditions of ATF6 activation and measured ATF6 binding to identified promoter regions. To examine the influence on pathogen colonization we decreased transcripts of target genes in Anaplasma infected-ticks and tick cells and measured Anaplasma and cholesterol levels.

Results: We show that ATF6 is activated during infection and supports Anaplasma colonization of ticks. We identified stomatin as ATF6-regulated. Furthermore, we found that stomatin expression supports Anaplasma growth in ticks. We have linked stomatin expression to cholesterol levels in Anaplasma and in tick cells suggesting stomatin aids Anaplasma growth through promoting cholesterol incorporation into Anaplasma. Overall, our findings uncovered a previously unknown host mechanism that supports Anaplasma pathogenesis in ticks.

Undergraduate music education programs often exceed standard credit hour limits, which increases time-to-degree and student stress. In response, some institutions reduced reported credit hours by under-crediting coursework, integrating unlisted elements into courses, or replacing requirements with proficiency tests. This practice created "credit imbalances," particularly in ensembles, applied lessons, and recital attendance, where effort and time were disproportionate to the credits awarded.

This study investigated the prevalence and impacts of credit imbalances in music education programs, focusing on hidden credit (credit hours not listed in the degree plan) and under-credited courses. We analyzed survey data from music education coordinators to examine the effects on students’ academic success, mental health, and program completion rates. We explored responses on credit discrepancies, student workload, and faculty contact hours.

Preliminary results indicated that credit imbalances exacerbated student anxiety, reduced transparency in degree requirements, and contributed to overscheduled semesters. These findings underscore the importance of addressing credit imbalances to support student well-being and equitable academic practices.

Building on our previous research into sustainable credit allocation in music education programs, we concluded that reforms are necessary to recalibrate credit allocations and improve communication about degree expectations. Practical strategies include clarifying degree requirements, adjusting credit assignments to foster transparency and sustainability, and revising degree requirements to meet the current needs of music educators. This work promotes equitable practices by encouraging collaboration among educators, administrators, and policymakers, prioritizing student success, learner-centered curricula, and institutional integrity.

Principal Topic: The fast pace of globalization has accelerated consumption and disrupted traditional values, fostering interest in slow tourism, which prioritizes meaningful and immersive experiences (Serdane et al., 2020), particularly in the post-pandemic era (Wen et al., 2021). Generation Z, shaped by digital media and valuing interest-driven tourism, aligns well with slow tourism principles. However, there is limited research on how social media influences Gen Z’s decisions regarding slow tourism from a value-driven perspective. This study, grounded in the Means-End Chain model (Gutman, 1982) and Affordance Theory (Gibson, 1977), investigates how message appeal (rational vs. emotional) and media richness (high vs. low) in social media posts impact Gen Z’s perceived value and visit intentions.

Method: A mixed-methods approach was used for this study. First, 31 interviews were conducted to identify the key values Gen Z seeks in slow tourism. These insights were then incorporated into a quantitative model, where data was gathered through scenario-based experiments featuring varying message appeals and media richness. SPSS and PROCESS were used for data analysis to examine the effects on visit intentions.

Results/Implications: Emotional posts significantly increased visit intention, particularly when paired with high-richness media. Values like interactive connection and sense of belonging mediated these effects. Practically, these findings offer valuable insights for marketing to Gen Z, highlighting strategies to promote slow tourism and support a more resilient, adaptive tourism industry. Theoretically, the study contributes to understanding the impact of social media on generational tourist behavior, particularly in the context of slow tourism.

The Medical Chinese Interest Group (MCIG) at Washington State University College of Medicine is a student-led organization established by medical students, many of whom are second-generation Chinese or immigrants. These students aim to become bilingual physicians, proficient in both English and Chinese, to better serve diverse patient populations. In pursuit of this goal, two “Health Fairs” were organized to provide students with opportunities to practice Medical Chinese by interacting with native Chinese-speaking patients. To assess the impact of these events, a Focus Group study was conducted to gather medical students' perceptions and experiences related to the health fairs and the group's language practice meetings. Based on these findings, a proposal for a new Medical Chinese course is being developed to enhance students' language skills and cultural competency. This course aims to equip future bilingual physicians with the tools necessary to address healthcare disparities in minority communities. By improving communication between healthcare providers and Chinese-speaking patients, the initiative strives to reduce barriers to healthcare access and improve patient outcomes. The project demonstrates the importance of professional language proficiency in medical practice and its potential to contribute to more equitable healthcare for underserved populations.

Topic: Synergy represents the harmonious blending of diverse elements into a unified whole. In healthcare, physical and mental health are deeply interconnected. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding behavioral health often disrupts this balance. This project challenges such stigmas through fluid, organic design forms that foster a healing relationship between primary care and behavioral health services.

Method: This project employed an exploratory mixed-methods approach including client interview, observations, and precedent studies to identify challenges within the existing Vancouver clinic in Ridgefield, WA. Key issues included inadequate staff accommodations, isolated pod-style layouts that hindered collaboration, and insufficient natural daylight, which reduced productivity and workplace satisfaction. These findings informed a design strategy focused on integration, staff well-being, and functionality.

Results: The resulting design integrates behavioral health and primary care while addressing staff support and well-being. A dedicated staff entrance leads to a healing garden, enhancing well-being and providing private, restorative spaces in staff-only zones. The workspace, located at the clinic’s core, incorporates an integrated collaboration area for behavioral health and primary care teams. This space features a central lightwell that brings nature indoors while maintaining privacy. Clerestory windows throughout the workspace and exam rooms bring in daylight without compromising confidentiality. the concept of synergy is embodied by the weaving façade, which symbolizes integration and provides visual fluidity, ventilation, and adaptability. This project demonstrates how thoughtful, evidence-based design can dissolve silos in healthcare, address user needs, and create an environment that supports healing, collaboration, and well-being.

Since the Common Reading Program began at WSU Pullman in 2007, it has developed in a direction somewhat unusual for common reading programs nationwide, namely in using the "common ground" of each year's book and topic to introduce WSU's undergraduates to the rich array of research and scholarship being conducted at WSU. In the program's 18 years, the Common Reading Program has expanded to reach across the university system and has hosted talks by 280 faculty presenters as part of the more than 750 total events that it has sponsored or co-sponsored--events that have been attended by well over 25,000 students. Faculty presenters in the yearly Common Reading lecture series have presented research from 62 different departments and units across nine of WSU's colleges. This poster presents data about the range and scope of WSU research that the program has highlighted for undergraduates for nearly two decades, along with assessment data that speaks to the positive impact faculty presentations have had for student attendees' awareness of and interest in WSU research. The poster also foregrounds the program's highly collaborative nature, the many partnerships that have become foundational for its multidisciplinary approach, and examples of the other exhibits, interactive events, and national speakers that the WSU Common Reading Program has inspired and brought to campus.

Soil microbial activity can be an indicator of soil fertility due to the interconnected relationship between soil nutrient composition, microbiome, and plant productivity. Electrochemical signals produced during microbial metabolism through electron transfer processes can be monitored in real-time using inert electrodes. In a previous study, we demonstrated the differences in electrical current produced by microbes enriched on polarized electrodes could be used as a proxy to distinguish healthy and unhealthy soil. Electrochemical techniques such as chronoamperometry (CA) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to investigate electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) in soil. This study aims to determine how electrochemical signals in soil are affected by increasing electrode surface area. From this the electrochemical limitations in utilizing EAB as a biological indicator for soil health can be determined. Soil nutrient analysis and biological lab tests were combined to identify healthy and unhealthy soil. Electrodes were placed horizontally in a soil mesocosm at 8cm (working), 7cm (Ag/AgCl reference), and 6cm (counter) below the soil surface. A water bath and wick system was implemented to maintain soil moisture at 25˚C. Three carbon fabric electrode sizes (64cm2, 16cm2, and 4cm2) were tested in 4 biological replicates. Current was measured at 0.3VAg/AgCl of applied potential for 16 days and CV was conducted before polarization on day 7 and day 15 to compare redox activity of the healthy and unhealthy soil. Data indicates electrodes of all tested sizes identified healthy and unhealthy soils with similar current density measurements.

Two studies demonstrate an unexpected backfiring effect of a growth mindset. Believing other's academic skills can improve leads to increased blame when students consistently fail to improve. In study 1 (N = 557), we replicate previous research in non-academic contexts and show that when a hypothetical student consistently turns in poor assignments, participants with more growth beliefs blame the student more than participants with more fixed beliefs. In Study 2 (N = 193) we explore this phenomenon in the laboratory by asking participants to teach a confederate who either improves or constantly performs poorly. Results indicate that when the confederate consistently fails to improve, participants induced to hold a growth (vs. fixed) mindset tend to blame them more. Exploratory analyses suggest this relationship is mediated by perceptions of the confederate's effort.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a diverse family of cell surface receptors that play a crucial role in cellular signaling, mediating the effects of various external signals such as hormones, neurotransmitters, and sensory stimuli. Because of their involvement in cellular communication, GPCRs are key targets for drugs used to treat a wide range of diseases, including those related to immune responses and inflammation. The GPCR FRPR-4 has been shown to be activated by neuropeptides, regulating behavioral quiescence and locomotive posture in C. elegans. To investigate the role of FRPR-4 in host defense, we exposed wild-type (WT) and frpr-4(ok2376) mutant animals to the gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We found that frpr-4 mutant animals succumbed to infection significantly faster than WT animals, suggesting a vital role of FRPR-4 in survival against pathogens. Further analysis revealed that while WT and frpr-4(ok2376) mutant animals showed similar pumping and defecation rates during infection, the mutant animals had a significantly higher accumulation of P. aeruginosa in their intestines. This indicates a reduced ability to clear the infection. To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms, we performed RNA sequencing (RNAseq) on WT and frpr-4(ok2376) animals with and without pathogen exposure. Upon receiving the RNAseq data, we will conduct thorough data analysis, validate the results, and investigate the most upregulated and downregulated genes for their role in host defense against pathogen infections. This research will provide insights into FRPR-4's new role in immune defense and may reveal novel therapeutic targets for enhancing host immune responses and combating infections.

Background: Uterine fibroids, or leiomyomas, are non-cancerous, benign growths of the uterus that range significantly in size. These growths are associated with a wide range of pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, miscarriage, and adverse events during delivery. Mitigating these risks requires careful management by the obstetrical team. There are many different approaches to managing fibroids during pregnancy, and it is extremely important to consider both maternal and fetal health when deciding treatment options. Additionally, uterine fibroids can affect fertility depending on their size and location. This may make pregnancy challenging to establish and maintain. Further research is needed to develop a better understanding of how to manage fibroids in pregnant patients and address the risks these growths create.

Case: A 37-year-old G2P1 woman with a large uterine fibroid was seen for high-risk pregnancy management and delivery. Growth of the uterine fibroid was monitored throughout the pregnancy, and the patient was admitted for medically indicated induction of labor at 38 + 3 weeks gestation, at which time the fibroid was 22 cm in size. Induction of labor took place over a period of 72 hours, ultimately resulting in failure of labor progression. The patient required an urgent, cesarean delivery secondary to arrest of dilation and fetal intolerance of labor.

Conclusion: Increased uterine blood supply and hormonal changes related to pregnancy can stimulate uterine fibroids to rapidly increase in size. This can cause complications during delivery, such as failure of progress (due to lack of fetal descent), ultimately resulting in unplanned cesarean delivery.

Objectives: A growing number of U.S. states have legalized cannabis for individuals aged 21 and older, but cannabis use and misuse continue to pose significant risks to the health and academic performance of college students. This study developed and evaluated a technology-delivered intervention aimed at reducing cannabis misuse and improving students' understanding of cannabis-related information.

Participants: College students ages 21-29 from WSU participated (N = 56 and counting, as recruitment is ongoing).

Methods: Participants completed a pretest in a laboratory and were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention group watched an educational program featuring a voiceover by an expert from the cannabis marketing industry that covered relevant state laws, cannabis product knowledge, packaging literacy, serving sizes, potency, harm reduction strategies, and health risks. The control group viewed a neutral video of the same length and style about weather events. A posttest survey was conducted online four weeks later, with approximately 80% of participants participating in the follow-up survey.

Results: Participants in the intervention group found the intervention highly credible, relevant, and engaging. Preliminary results show that, compared to the control group, intervention participants demonstrated increased confidence in cannabis product knowledge, responsible use, and awareness of health risks. Four-week follow-up results showed sustained improvements among intervention participants who completed the post-test.

Conclusions: This intervention demonstrates promise as an effective tool to educate college students about responsible cannabis use and reduce misuse. Incorporating participant feedback in future iterations will further refine the program and maximize its impact.

The unprecedented multi-messenger observation of two neutron stars colliding in 2017 has afforded us the chance to understanding how dense matter can get before it collapses to a black hole. Being able to see this transient event “GW170817” both due to its electromagnetic radiation and the ripples it caused in the spacetime fabric of the Universe, namely, gravitational waves, allowed us to unravel many facets of the Universe, such as how fast it is expanding and how nuclei interact at the very high densities that exist in these dead stars. One facet that it did not shed much light on yet is the nature of most of the matter that the Universe is made of, namely, “dark matter”. Dark matter has remained elusive since it does not seem to interact with known forms of matter (such as atoms) in any way other than their gravitational attraction. Our research shows how future neutron star collisions can probe dark matter by studying their effect on these dense stars. The presence of dark matter in the core of neutron stars can change their mass and size that, in turn, can change the gravitational waves their collisions produce. We use Einstein’s theory of gravity to model this change and show how it can be detected in observations of LIGO and future detectors like Cosmic Explorer.

Principal topic: Hurricane tracks are influenced by various factors, such as environmental flow and sea surface temperature, in a nonlinear manner. Conventional hurricane track models, based on linear regression, cannot effectively capture these nonlinear effects. To address this limitation, we developed a non-linear regression model using a hyper neural network called the Conditional Neural Network (CondNN). This approach improves simulation accuracy and provides valuable insights for improving risk models, guiding the design of resilient infrastructure, enhancing disaster preparedness and community safety.

Method: This study tests the hypothesis that a Conditional Neural Network (CondNN) model, designed with a novel two-level structure to account for the location dependency of hurricane tracks, provides more accurate simulations compared to conventional linear regression and standard neural network models. The first level of the CondNN uses the current location of the hurricane to generate parameters that guide the second level, which performs non-linear regression. The output of the CondNN is the next step's location, which is subsequently used as an input for the following step. Through this iterative process, the model generates a complete hurricane track. The model was trained and verified using data from the National Hurricane Center’s North Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT).

Results: The Conditional Neural Network (CondNN) successfully simulates hurricane tracks, achieving R-squared values exceeding 0.95 for both mean translation speeds and heading directions. These results highlight the CondNN’s ability to capture nonlinear relationships and location-dependency for hurricane tracks, outperforming conventional models in simulating historical data.

This dissertation explores the use of AI technology, specifically a customized ChatGPT, to teach students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) the work readiness skill of using Microsoft Teams. It examines whether AI tools can effectively support skill acquisition for students with IDD. Universal Design for Learning principles will guide the AI’s language output, while Self-Determination and Expectancy-Value theories will shape the pre-interview and social validity interview protocols. Vygotsky’s scaffolding theory and Zone of Proximal Development will inform the intervention strategies.

Method: A single-subject experimental design with multiple baselines across participants will assess ChatGPT’s effectiveness during baseline, intervention, post-intervention, and maintenance phases. Five WSU ROAR students with IDD will participate. Pre-interviews will gather demographic data and AI experience, while social validity interviews will evaluate confidence and autonomy in using AI tools. The independent variable is ChatGPT; the dependent variable is Microsoft Teams.

Results: The intervention is expected to be effective with minimal overlap between baseline and intervention phases (under 20%). Social validity interviews are expected to reveal that students feel more confident and self-determined in using AI tools.

Implications: This cutting-edge research explores ChatGPT and Microsoft Teams which have not been examined in special education at an evidence-based level. AI tools offer inclusive solutions for skill development in students with IDD. Educators and researchers will gain insights into AI-driven learning, and workforce practitioners will recognize the importance of fostering confidence and self-determination in technology use. This study aims to bridge the gap between education and employment for students with IDD.

Principal topic: LGTBQ+ adolescent social media use is critically understudied. LGBTQ+ adolescents are at greater risk of mental health problems due to stigma, discrimination, and stress associated with minority status. Online victimization and other negative experiences with social media may compound this stress and negatively impact mental health for LGBTQ+ youth. Alternatively, the minority strengths model posits that social support, pride in identity, and self-esteem can foster resilience and improve mental health among LGBTQ+ individuals. Social media may allow LGBTQ+ adolescents to develop personal and collective identity while creating connections with similar peers.

Method: This study explored how positive and negative aspects of social media engagement relate to mental health, well-being, and other psychological factors for LGBTQ+ adolescents. Participants were 180 LGBTQ+ adolescents ages 13 to 19, recruited through outreach to nationwide organizations. Data were collected online through self-report questionnaires.

Results/implications: Negative and victimization experiences with social media were positively related to anxiety and depression, and negatively related to well-being. Thus, social media is a context in which these youth encounter greater discrimination, isolation, and associated distress, consistent with minority stress theory. Perceived benefits of social media use were positively associated with collective self-esteem, consistent with the minority strengths framework. LGBTQ+ youth have both positive and negative experiences with social media that relate to their mental health and well-being. Findings have implications for the development of digital literacy interventions for LGBTQ+ youth, with focus on how adolescents are utilizing platforms to maximize positive experiences and reduce exposure to negative experiences.

Verticillium wilt of potatoes is caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae, which leads to significant economic losses in potato production. The fungus is soil-borne and can remain at least 14 years in the soil or previous crop residue as microsclerotia, which is hard to suppress. Compost Teas (CTs) have been shown to suppress a variety of pathogenic fungi in food crops and are a sustainable option for both pathogen suppression and crop nutrient provision. CTs are prepared by extracting compost in water and allowing it to brew for a period of time. In this study, we used a factorial experiment of two composts and four combinations of additives and aerations to prepare 8 CTs. Each CT was subsampled after 3, 6, and 10 days of brewing to assess the effects of brewing time. We tested the direct and volatile (Indirect) effects of unsterilized and filter-sterilized CTs on the mycelial growth of V. dahliae in vitro. Unsterilized CTs inhibited V. dahliae growth by 90.1% via direct suppression and 71.66% via volatile suppression. Sterilized CTs inhibited V. dahliae growth by 79.29% via direct suppression and 26.56% via volatile suppression. CT efficacy was lowest within 3 days of brewing time and greatest in 6 days. Scanning electron microscopy revealed mycoparasitism by several fungal species on V. dahliae, indicating that mycoparasitism may be a source of CT efficacy as a biocontrol agent. This study demonstrates that, with further development, CTs have the potential to be a sustainable solution for suppressing verticillium wilt in potatoes.

Nuclear energy will remain a critical source of power in the foreseeable future; however, it presents significant challenges related to waste disposal and the potential for releasing untreated radioactive materials. Among these, iodine, a byproduct of uranium fission, is particularly concerning due to its solubility and volatility. The isotope I-129, with a half-life of 1.57 × 107 years, poses a persistent environmental threat through bioaccumulation, while I-131, with a half-life of 8.02 days, presents acute risks to human health. Addressing these challenges necessitates the development of secure, efficient, and cost-effective methods for capturing and sequestering iodine compounds. Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs), a novel class of solid sorbents, show promise for their potential in gas adsorption and substrate binding. Recent studies have explored their efficacy in the selective adsorption of iodine. In this context, our project investigated a series of functionalized hierarchically porous UiO-66 MOFs to study the impact of various organic substituents (-H, -CH3, (CH3)2, -Cl, -Cl2, Cl4, -Br, -Br2, -Br4, -F, -F2, -F4, -OH, -(OH)2, -COOH, -(COOH)2 -NO2, -NH2, -(NH2)2, -SH2) on the adsorption of iodine vapor. The study highlights the significant role of amino groups on the ligands' aromatic rings, linking to the {Zr6O4(OH)4} cluster, in enhancing iodine adsorption. Experimental observations calculations confirm the superior iodine removal efficiency of electro-donating amino groups. Notably, HP-UiO-66-(NH2)2 demonstrated an unprecedented iodine vapor capture capacity of 2580 mg•g-1, surpassing the performances of HP-UiO-66-NH2 and pristine HP-UiO-66, with capacities of 2114 mg•g-1 and 1418 mg•g-1, respectively. This marks the highest reported capacity for Zr-based MOFs in capturing gaseous iodine to date.

With the disinstitutionalization of mental health care in the U.S. and other countries, caregiving for mentally ill family members brings significant physical and emotional distress to caregivers, besides, they are also experiencing being blamed or developing self-blame during the caregiving practices. For example, research has shown that family caregivers are usually facing blames from the patients for their illnesses and they often feel guilty and afraid of being criticized for their caregiving outcome or practices (Pejlert, 2001). Following an hermeneutic phenomenological framework, the current study looks at how caregivers of mentally ill family members narrate their stories on the social networking sites, Reddit, about their experiences of facing both external blames, and the internal struggles which often present as the self-blames and guilty. The hermeneutic phenomenological framework enables the researcher to view caregiving of mental illness and the “blame” component and amplify its importance in caregivers’ everyday life. Using a set of linguistic devices, the study discovered that caregivers utilized different linguistic strategies to reveal the blames that they face from other family members when doing the caregiving works; the guilty and self-blame elements in the narratives are apparent and significant in their construction of caregiver identity. Overall, this study attempts to call for attention of the importance of looking at caregivers of mental illnesses' situation and amplify the component of "blame" in their daily caregiving tasks.

This study examines the influence of international accounting professionals on financial reporting quality. Using H-1B visa applications from the U.S. Department of Labor, we find that companies employing accounting professionals on H-1B visas are less likely to engage in earnings management and financial fraud. The improved financial reporting quality is more pronounced when companies have cross-border operations and acquisition activities. We also find that an increase in senior H-1B accountants reduces the likelihood of egregious financial misreporting, such as restatements and internal control weaknesses. Furthermore, we observe that higher salaries for H-1B accounting professionals are associated with better financial reporting quality. In summary, our findings suggest that cultivating a diverse pool of accounting talent can foster ethical financial practices.

Multispectral imaging has become an important tool in agricultural research, enabling precise assessments of crop health and stress through vegetation indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Red-Edge (NDRE). However, differences in multispectral analysis pipelines, including preprocessing methods, plot identification, and vegetation index calculations, can affect data consistency and accuracy. This study investigates the variability in vegetation indices generated by two pipelines: one from Texas A&M University (TAMU) and another from Washington State University (WSU). Using data from Pullman, WA and Walla Walla, WA locations, Welch’s two-sample t-tests revealed statistically significant differences between pipelines for all treatments and indices, with t-values ranging from 10 to 56. Despite these differences, Pearson correlation coefficients between pipelines ranged from 0.95 to 0.98, demonstrating strong positive relationships. Notably, the TAMU pipeline exhibited stronger correlations with yield for both NDVI and NDRE at both locations. Rank change analysis further confirmed the reliability of both pipelines in identifying top-performing varieties, with correlation coefficients for selected varieties ranging from 0.96 to 0.57 across indices and locations. These findings indicate that while statistical differences exist between pipelines, their outputs are highly correlated and consistent in reflecting yield trends, suggesting that multispectral pipelines are largely interchangeable for yield prediction and variety selection, provided that specific value differences are accounted for.