Symposium E-Portfolio

Poster Presentation: The Effects of Varying Ethanol Concentrations on Yeast Cell Growth

Aadya Bhat, Bianca Lungu, Bailey Boehme, & Skylar Brown

Summary

Ethanol, colloquially called drinking alcohol, is well known for limiting the growth of microorganisms by damaging mitochondrial DNA and various key enzymes. Beer contains about 5% ethanol, wine 10-12% ethanol, and distilled spirits contain ~40% ethanol. It is common for most Americans over 18 to consume alcohol; therefore, we believe it is important to learn the impacts of this beverage on the cells in our bodies and overall health. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer’s yeast), a model organism due to similarities with human cells in processes like respiration and cell division, we sought to understand the impacts of varying ethanol concentrations (2,5,10,12, and 15 percent ethanol) on cell growth. Changes in the growth of yeast cells were determined using a spectrophotometer and measuring turbidity (absorbance), and cell viability was assessed using a methylene blue viability assay.

Poster Presentation: Mathematical Modeling and Simulations of Mobile Robots

Isaac Termure, Aastha Malhotra, Natalie Campau, Maryna Sivachenko, Sophia Susanto, & Han Ji

Summary

Simulations of hexapod (six-legged) and quadruped (four-legged) robots have important applications for mobile robot design for process automation, industrial applications, and deriving algorithms for walking styles. Legged mobile robots can traverse uneven terrain and use artificial intelligence to plan their safe foothold positions to navigate their environment. Their outstanding mobility makes the mobile robotic platforms perfect for space exploration and automated search and rescue deployment. Here, we have used the Webots robotic simulations to study six-legged hexapod mantises and four-legged robots that mimic dog-like movements. We have analyzed the simulated gaits and poses using rigid-body inverse kinematics and symmetry analysis. The hexapod mantis' insect-shaped robot motion in the simulations can be expressed as linear combinations of rigid translational and rotational motion. The hexapod robot moves using an alternating tripod-like gait where three of its legs move at a time while the other three remain stationary. The hexapod robot has great dynamic stability for uneven terrain and can move more legs than a quadruped robot. This research project serves as a sophisticated platform for the hands-on application of mathematical simulation methods in real-world solutions.

Poster Presentation: Creating the Ladyborg

Daniel Williams

Summary

The main purpose of this project was to design and code a functional toy robot. The robot would need to be programmed to have 4-way directional movement as well as having an interior to hold all of the necessary components and wiring. The exterior of the robot would need to cover all of the wiring and include a functional mechanism that moved alongside with the motors installed inside.

Poster Presentation: Microplastic Invasion May Be Taking Over Our Ecosystems

Briana Melendez, Diana Cadwell, & Melyna Nguyen

Summary

One of the most prominent classes of non-natural products made by humans which have pervaded the earth's environment are plastics. Microplastics (MPs) are <5mm in size and are commonly found in terrestrial and marine environments. MPs exposed to the natural environment experience UV aging, causing brittleness that can lead to the formation and release of even smaller particles. This UVaging process allows for easier migration, adsorption, and accumulation of plastic pollutants further affecting the biosphere. Our study examined whether the growth and the viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a model organism commonly known as baker's yeast, would be altered by exposure to MP and UV-aged MPs.

Poster Presentation: Mathematical Modeling for Digital Watermarking

Sophia Susanto, Aastha Malhotra, Isaac Termure, Maryna Sivachenko, & Han Ji

Summary

Summary Text. Automated digital watermarking is an excellent technique for prevention of online digital data from theft and piracy. With current advances in internet, network and social media technologies, protecting online data theft and piracy to preserve brand ownership remains a top priority. A watermark is a pattern inserted into a digital image, audio or video file which identifies a file’s copyright information. Common types of signals to watermark are text, digital images, audio music clips and videos. Digital images are stored as arrays/matrices on computers which allows matrix-algebra based methods for image processing. We have applied mathematical modeling techniques using singular value decomposition (SVD) for digital watermarking of visual data. We wrote Python-based codes to digitize images and embedded copyright information into visual images using SVD based methods. We find that the embedded watermark is tamper resistant and the watermark could be retrieved from manipulated greyscale images subject to rotation and compression distortions. Our preliminary studies using greyscale images suggest that SVD based digital watermarking methods are robust and can be used to verify and authenticate data ownership. Digital watermarking can be used to prevent copyright infringement and data theft online. This project integrates advanced application of linear algebra based mathematical methods with Python based programming to provide solutions to real-world problems of current interest.

Poster Presentation: New Era in Medicine or Dead End: Can Microbes Save Humanity?

Anastasia Ustinova

Summary

The search for a safe and effective cure for chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and mental disorders has long been a goal of scientists. Recent research has shown that the interaction between microbiota and the body's immune system is a significant factor in the development or prevention of these diseases. The gutbrain axis also plays a critical role. Microbiota can influence the brain by producing neurotransmitters, enzymes, and other chemically active elements. Altering the species composition of microbiota or implementing a strict diet could potentially lead to a radical cure for chronic diseases by regulating important body functions such as immunity and biochemical activity.

Poster Presentation: Plastic-Decomposing Bacteria

Deniz Tezcan

Summary

As plastic production is increasing, so is plastic pollution. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if there are any plastic-decomposing bacteria to help with reversing plastic pollution in bodies of water. Plastic samples from Lake Union were collected and swabbed bacteria samples were transferred to Luria broth and water media. Test tubes are prepared to observe different conditions of bacteria growth in LB and water media. In each of the media, algaecide, PET-1 and biodegradable plastic were introduced, as well as a control sample is prepared with only media and no algaecide. All conditions were incubated at room temperature. Overgrowth of bacteria was observed in LB media, while minor to no growth was observed in water media. LB samples were switched to a new tube with a no-carbon salt media to promote growth of bacteria that could break down hydrocarbon from the plastics. At this time, the plastic in the tubes were weighed every two weeks to monitor the change in weight. After two months, bacteria from each tube were plated on agar plates to isolate colonies. PCR was conducted to identify the potential bacteria that possess plastic decomposing qualities. These results will give us insight into types of bacteria that may breakdown various types of plastics by determining the mass change and detection of possible metabolites, such as enzymes.

Poster Presentation: Redesign of the King County Library System App

Mak Zuljevic

Summary

The purpose of this project was to improve the UI design of King County Library System's mobile app. KCLS patrons use the app to browse the library catalogue, place holds, check out digital materials and track their account. The app has several flaws that impede smooth navigation. These were discovered by analyzing it through the UI principles learned during the course, and by testing a novice user who didn't have experience using the app. I tasked the user with checking out an e-book relative to the topic of Abraham Lincoln's 1860 campaign for the US presidential election, opening it and returning it. I purposefully chose a specific topic and not a title, because a topic such as this requires more information-digging on the user's part. These observations stood out: the cards for each item on the search result page have too much information and take too much space, the individual item pages contain too much description and unnecessary content that can be tiring to navigate, the bottom menu bar has confusing labels and opening a checked out e-book takes too many unnecessary steps. During the project, and in addition to the analyzed task, I realized that the library did a poor job in promoting its numerous and lesser-known services, and that the app could offer up space for the promotion. For the redesign, I observed similar catalogue apps, including an IKEA catalogue app. My redesign was based on the building blocks of atoms and molecules, which combine to form organisms, templates and pages applied throughout the whole app. KCLS' logo colors are red, black and white, so for the palette I used white, black and burgundy to add visual interest, because red might be too bright and distracting. The interplay of burgundy and green, featured in some pages, follows the utilitarian implication of red and green lights. This is my first UI project, and the first time that I used the software Figma to design. I look forward to exploring it further with new features such as a visualization of search refinement, the barcode scanner, custom user lists, and pages for each library service.

Poster Presentation: Sugar: Life or Death?

Reegan West, Christopher Vassilev, & Annie Petris

Summary

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a fungus commonly known as Brewer’s Yeast, which has been used for basic research pertaining to cell division and numerous biological processes. S. cerevisiae cells are a good model organism because they are eukaryotic (contain a nucleus), have linear chromosomes, divide by mitosis and meiosis, respond to signaling molecules, and respire. This makes yeast cells biologically similar to human cells, meaning our experiment can be directly tied to human cell division. Our study asked whether the concentration of glucose in the Yeast, Peptone, and Dextrose (YPD) media would affect the cell growth and proliferation of yeast cells.

Poster Presentation: User-Friendly Wearable Technology for Monitoring Sleep & Circadian Rhythm

Natalia Vechkutova

Summary

One of the most promising research areas for user-friendly wearable technology for monitoring sleep and circadian rhythms is the development of non-invasive, comfortable, and accurate sensors that can be seamlessly integrated into everyday life. One approach that has shown great potential is the use of optical sensors that can measure changes in skin blood flow and oxygenation levels to monitor sleep and circadian rhythms. These sensors can be embedded into wearable devices such as smartwatches, wristbands, or even clothing, and can provide continuous and real-time monitoring of sleep patterns, including the timing and quality of sleep, as well as the duration of different sleep stages. Another promising area of research is the use of machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence to analyze the data collected by wearable devices and provide personalized insights and recommendations to improve sleep quality and promote healthy circadian rhythms. For example, these algorithms could use data from sensors to identify patterns in sleep behavior, such as changes in heart rate or breathing rate, and use this information to predict when a person is likely to feel tired or experience difficulties sleeping. Overall, the development of user-friendly wearable technology for monitoring sleep and circadian rhythms has the potential to revolutionize the way we understand and manage our sleep and wake cycles, leading to improved health and wellbeing for millions of people around the world.

Poster Presentation: Discovering Rydalcat

Ryan Phan, Dalton Blackwell, & Catherine Anderer

Summary

The need to discover new antibiotic producers and their capabilities becomes more evident day by day as antibiotic resistance becomes more prevalent in the medical field. Though the original goal of our research was to find new antibiotic producers to aid in this area, the lack of strong results led us to further investigate a non-antibiotic producer that showed unique characteristics. By using various methods to analyze our chosen red bacteria, we discovered a strain of Serratia from soil that not only contradicts attributes of common Serratia but possibly contains anti-fungal properties. The process of the experiment also highlighted the need to recognize that the smallest of mistakes can lead to false results, emphasizing why repeating experiments is a crucial component of scientific research.

Poster Presentation: Soil Bacteria Protecting People and The Earth

Yana Volozin & Angela Krider-Beeby

Summary

In spring 2022, two soil bacterium isolates were identified. The Gram + isolate was found to be an antibiotic producer. The Gram-isolate was found to be an environmental specimen that produced enzymes to break down waste. The isolation of these strains was done using microbiology techniques. Isolates were genetically tested using PCR, imaged using gel electrophoresis, and genome analysis were completed. The findings were compared to a database called BLAST and further information was gathered. Both discoveries support the hypothesis of the more diverse our garden soil is the better opportunities to discover beneficial microbial life. These discoveries can be used in all facets of life such as medicine and bioremediation.

Poster Presentation: #ChangeTheEnding: A Public Health Campaign Promoting Fentanyl Overdose Prevention

Rachael Walters

Summary

Fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. Its effects include extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, tolerance, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, unconsciousness, coma, and death. Fentanyl is often added to heroin and/or cocaine as a combination product by drug dealers as a cheap alternative with or without the user's knowledge. Fentanyl has been found in cocaine, methamphetamine, molly/MDMA, counterfeit prescription pills, and powder sold as heroin. Experts consider 2mg of fentanyl to be lethal, but many counterfeit pills contain up to 5mg (more than twice the lethal dose). This amount is incredibly small. Any pill or drug not purchased directly from a pharmacy could contain fentanyl. This includes illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, meth, etc.) as well as counterfeit prescription medications (Xanax, adderall, etc.)

Presentation Slides: Mathematical Modeling for Computer Vision

Christian Tarta, Nicholas Develle, Han Ji, Kwan JieLee & Alex Gale

Summary

In this study, hand written character images were digitized into arrays and applied transformations to vectorize data for dimensional reduction. We applied vector and scalar projections of these vectors for optical character recognition. We applied linear-algebra-based algorithms and wrote codes using python scientific libraries for optical character recognition and image compression. We characterized color and grayscale images as arrays and used singular value decompositions and principal component analysis for grayscale and color image compression studies. We carried out singular value decompositions and principal component analysis using Python Spyder and Jupyterbook for optical character recognition and image compression. These studies illustrate how mathematical transformations and data reduction methods can be used for optical character recognition, image compression, identification and encryption. This project elucidates the key role of mathematical modeling for computer vision applications.

Poster Presentation: Possible Antibiotic Producer Bacteria Found in Soil Sample

Morgan Perry

Summary

Over the last few decades scientists have observed a reduction in the effectiveness of antibiotics due to bacteria becoming increasingly more resistant. This study uses procedures from The Tiny Earth project to explore microorganisms in the world around us that may have new undiscovered antibiotic properties to aid in the development of new medicine. We were able to identify two soil isolates that have antibiotic producing properties, named 2.1, 2.3. We identified these antibiotic producers using PCR, gel electrophoresis, differential staining, differential and selective media and biochemical tests performed in Fall 2021 microbiology class. From this project we learned valuable information on the characteristics of two different genus, Lysinibacillus sp. and Chitinophaga sp. that may help in future development of new antimicrobial medications.

Presentation Slides: Stucture and Bonding of Diamond, Graphite, and Fullerene

Brianna Bonds, AroheeKumar, Alex Gale, Tucker Wilson & Kwan JieLee

Summary

The design of quantum computers using Nitrogen vacancies in diamond has renewed interest in providing a microscopic understanding of the structure, bonding, and properties of the allotropes of carbon. Here we visualized the crystal structure and electron densities of diamond, graphite, and fullerene to understand the novel structures and bonding in these materials. Using vector calculus-based methods, we computed the bond lengths and bond angles of diamond, graphite, and fullerene. While diamond exhibited sp3 bonding, both graphite and fullerene revealed sp2 bonding. These key changes in structure and bonding gave rise to important differences in their brightness, hardness, electrical conductivity, etc. We computed the adjacency matrix of fullerene and used that to understand the network connectivity. These studies provided a microscopic atomic level understanding of the structure, bonding, adjacency matrix, and network connectivity in these materials.

Poster Presentation: Breaking the Silence Campaign

Sage Abplanalp

Summary

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a topic that often eludes the deeper understanding of the public. This is despite the wealth of research suggesting the importance of preventative care and the risks of allowing it to progress unchecked. This study aims to uncover methods of effectively educating and destigmatizing the topic of PPD. More specifically, it analyzes how best to relay existing research on warning signs and care in a way that evokes empathy in mothers and their support systems of family and friends.

Poster Presentation: Antibiotic Producers Discovered in Spoil Microbes

Hadiya Amjad, Hanah Nguyen & Lidiia Gagarina

Summary

Antibiotics are medicines that inhibit the growth of or simply kill of the microorganism. The discovery and production of new antibiotics has greatly decreased in the past 30 years while the number of antibiotic resistance microorganisms has only increased. Antibiotics can naturally be found in soil microbes. The goal of our study was to identify soil microbes and isolate antibiotic producers. A soil sample was diluted and plated into complex media. Of the 300-400 colonies that grew, 26 soil microbes were screened for the ability to produce antibiotics. The 26 soil microbes were tested against the 5 ESKAPE safe relatives (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and several species of Enterobacter) in order to determine if they were antibiotic producers. From soil isolates that were screened 7.7% produced antibiotics and have the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria. The identity of the soil isolates was found by PCR of the 16S rRNA gene and sequence analysis. One of the identified isolates was found to be the genus of Flavobacterium pectinovorum, and the other is Streptomyces spororaveus. We plan to do future biochemical characteristics of the antibiotic producers.

Poster Presentation: Flatpack Dollhouse 

Asha Thomas

Summary

Poster Presentation: Isolating Antibiotic Producing Bacteria from Soil Isolates

Tucker Wilson

Summary

Antibiotics have been used for decades to fight off harmful bacteria in clinical and non-clinical settings alike. However, over the past thirty years, antibiotic discovery and research has slowed as antibiotic resistant bacteria have begun to become even more prevalent. The goal of this experiment was to discover new antibiotic producers from collected soil samples. Soil samples were collected from varying sites, diluted, cultured, and screened. Of the hundreds of colonies produced, twelve bacterial colonies were isolated and screened for antibiotic production using the ESKAPE safe relatives (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and several species of Enterobacter). Of the twelve samples screened, two bacteria, or 16.67%, produced antibiotics affective against the ESKAPE safe relatives. One sample produced antibiotics effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, meaning the bacteria can attack both the cell wall and DNA of other bacteria effectively. Classifying bacterial samples was done through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the 16s ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and sequence analysis. BLAST analysis concluded that one bacterium was of the genus Bacillus, and the other Lysinibacillus. Further biochemical characterization of the antibiotic producer Bacillus is planned.

Presentation Slides: Laser Therapy as an Adjunct to SRP Compared to SRP Alone for Patients with Periodontitis

Jennifer Yamaura & Elizabeth Bratulin

Summary

The current gold standard for the treatment of chronic periodontitis is scaling and root planing (SRP) at regular intervals. This is because subgingival deposits contain pathogenic organisms, such as A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis (Cheng et al., pp. 8, 2015) which causes damage to the periodontium and contributes to the progression of periodontal disease. The presence of pathogenic bacteria also stimulates the host to release pro-inflammatory mediators which contribute to the destruction of host tissues. SRP mechanically removes soft- and hard-tissue deposits and disrupts bacterial colonization of the periodontal pocket, but it may result in incomplete removal of pathogenic bacteria in deep periodontal pockets or difficult to reach areas (Gandhi et al., pp. 3, 2019). In addition, the patient’s hard tissue may become damaged by the repeated instrumentation (Lin et al., pp. 1, 2021). Laser therapy is being researched as an adjunct therapy to SRP for the treatment of chronic periodontitis because it has been shown to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties, which aligns with the treatment goals in the management of chronic periodontitis. The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate if laser therapy as an adjunct to SRP results in improved clinical outcomes for patients with chronic periodontitis compared to SRP alone.

Poster Presentation: Robot Arm Prototype

Kevin Ung

Summary

The goal of this study is to create a robot arm prototype by designing and printing most of the parts using a 3D printer. The parts used in this study were modeled using a computer-aided design tool called Fusion 360 and then translated into printable files using Ultimaker Cura, a 3D model slicing program. The robot arm prototype is designed to allow users to operate the arm manually, increasing the performance and result of specific tasks by minimizing the risk of human error. The robot arm is
designed in such a way that each component, including the key hardware body parts and the software on the robot's device, is accessible to users for modification. Several issues emerged during the construction, such as damaged pieces during 3D printing and dimensions converting. Overall, the robot arm prototype can be operated manually and execute selected tasks, and it is open to changes.

Poster Presentation: Quarantine & Chill? How COVID-19 Impacts the Mental Health & Wellbeing of LWTech Students

Andesha Birch

Summary

Amidst the pandemic, numerous health-related perplexities emerged. One of the lesser discussed perplexities includes trends among different age groups. For college students, these perplexities mostly consist of their inability to meet expectations in academic pursuits, and the ensuing social and emotional challenges. At LWTech, it has yet to be determined the enormity of COVID-19 on the overall wellbeing and mental health of students. The current study seeks to discover whether LWTech students experienced an increase in mental health challenges due to the impacts of COVID-19. The study will employ the “Healthy Minds Study” which is an annual study conducted via online survey of randomly selected samples of LWTech students. The current study will compare the results from the 2016-17 survey to the recent 2020 survey results. The comparison of the mental health conditions of LWTech students before and after the pandemic will provide insight on the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health conditions of the students. The data from the Health Mind Study will be compared to a similar study conducted by the University of Vermont (Copeland et al., 2021) to highlight the possible impacts of COVID-19 on college students and to suggest areas in which measures can be implemented to reduce COVID’s negative impact.

Presentation Slides: Velocity & Acceleration Profiles of Space Shuttles

Kwan-Jie Lee, Alex Gale, Lucas Minet, & Angela Lee

Summary

STS-121 is a NASA space shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a habitable satellite (Space station) in a low Earth orbit. We employ calculus-based methods to analyze and study the flightpaths, altitude, velocity, and acceleration profiles of the STS121 data reported by NASA as it travelled through outer space.  Our studies unravel information about the critical points, local maxima and minima, concavity, and inflection points in the altitude data. The velocity profiles were fitted to polynomial functions using least square data fitting using linear algebra-based methods.  The acceleration data involve piecewise functions which is related to the time scales involving burning of the propellent and separation of the external propellant tank as the space shuttle gets ready to move into orbit. We estimated the work done in transferring a load from Earth to the International Space station.  We used optimization methods to design an optimal solar panel geometry for a satellite by minimizing the surface area.  This research provides novel applications of the fundamental theorems of calculus to study motion in outer space and involves mathematical modeling, optimization, curve fitting, data analysis and data visualization. 

Presentation Slides: Postpartum Depression Disorder

Olga Okhapkina

Summary

In recent times more often the joy of motherhood is increasingly darkened by postpartum depression disorder (PPD). PPD is similar to depression. It occurs when women who gave birth feel emotionally and physically exhausted with or without any definite reason, and in this state, they can be driven to an emotional breakdown. The condition usually develops several weeks after pregnancy and can last up to 1.5-2 years. Many women conceal the fact that they have PPD, due to social phenomena like misconception, ignorance, and prejudice. Since childbirth is generally perceived by society as a happy occasion, many find it hard to understand that it may cause traumatic experiences as well. The main purpose of the study to increase awareness of postpartum depression disorder.
The hypothesis of the study is based on a recent meta-analysis which claims that 20% of mothers experience clinical depression after childbirth. This study has a cross-sectional design, and in order to test the hypothesis, an electronic questionnaire was created. The participants were recruited through a convenience sample from Facebook social media in October 2020. The results showed that the number of women who struggled with PPD was higher than the hypothesis states (41.8%). Moreover, the concealing of PPD symptoms can be seen by some of the given answers as well. Only 10.7% of women were officially diagnosed with PDD, yet 41.8% of women stated that they concealed the fact that they had depression after childbirth. Society has many various stereotypes and social stigma which may force new mothers to hide their depression. My research shows that the social stigma due to PDD is having a real impact on mothers in our community. Community efforts to combat this stigma are needed.

Poster Presentation: Measuring Action Potentials via Suction Electrode in Animal Ganglia

Sofia Rios & Caleb Maytum

Summary

Considerable research has been done examining the method of nerve signal initiation and propagation in model organisms. However, few to no experiments have encompassed a hybrid technique using both electrical signal collection and laser signal analysis. The focus of this research is to determine the efficacy of a hybrid experimental technique and applications for this type of research. Several animal models have large nerve fiber axons that can be studied using a microscope and an electrode probe including crayfish, earthworms, squid, crickets, and cockroaches. In this study, we stimulate sensory receptors and collect nerve transmission data using a student-fabricated electrode probe and a photonics setup to correlate data tissue dynamics.  This research should lead to interesting undergraduate research applications in the future.

Poster Presentation: Material Identification using Electronic Sensors

Steven Robertson

Summary

In a previous project I developed a circuit that I used to sort objects into two categories, metallic and nonmetallic. This was accomplished using an infrared phototransistor circuit to detect the presence of an object, and an inductive proximity sensor to identify which objects are metallic. A process like this could be useful in an industrial automation system such as material handling or sorting of recyclable materials. I found that the proximity sensor could detect ferrous metals from a greater distance than nonferrous metals, and that the phototransistor had different results depending on how translucent the material is. Using this information, I developed a system that can correctly identify a variety of metals and plastics. The metals are identified based on the sensing distance of the proximity
sensor, and the plastics are identified by using a microcontroller to determine the amount of light received by the phototransistor.

Presentation Slides: Mathematical Modeling and Kinematics of a Glider

Alex Gale, Kwan-Jie Lee, Lucas Minet, & Angela Lee

Summary

Under water gliders are free-swimming robotic vehicles that gather conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) data from the ocean for months at a time and transmits the data in real time via satellite telemetry. Studies using gliders have important applications in oceanography, engineering, and remote sensing. Here we employ mathematical models for studying the flightpath of a glider using vector valued functions. We use these models to calculate the osculating plane of the glider. The model parameters are optimized to minimize turbulence. We studied the kinematics of a glider using reported real time GPS data. We analyzed the reported glider velocity data and used vector-calculus based methods to derive the instantaneous and average velocities and acceleration vectors. We apply matrix-algebra based methods to translate and rotate the glider to position it at appropriate coordinates underwater for gathering data. This research involves mathematical modeling of real-world data, applied optimization, and data visualization. These studies provide novel avenues for hands on exploration and application of key mathematical concepts.

Presentation Slides: Flu Vaccine Analysis

Sabrina Do & Binnay Pirot

Summary

The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to see whether the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the decision by healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers to get a flu vaccine. From November 9th through the 21st of 2020, participants were invited to complete an online survey on how likely they were to get the flu vaccine in the year 2020, the start of the pandemic, versus pre-COVID 19, year of 2019. A total of 305 participants 18 years and older in Washington State participated in this study. Healthcare professionals were found to be more likely to get a flu vaccine compared to non-healthcare workers in 2020. Among participants 55 and older, flu vaccination did not vary from 2019 to 2020. Little mention of the COVID-19 pandemic was brought up in the completed questionnaires where participants were asked to state their reason for getting or not getting the flu vaccine. Out of the 305 participants, only 3 mentioned COVID-19 (less than 1% of all responses) as one of their reasons. It is recommended to get a flu vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic as these two viruses share similar symptoms. In times of uncertainty, any prevention method can help decrease the risk of flu and COVID-19 infections. Through public health surveillance, results of this study can be updated as the pandemic continues. With the rise of COVID-19 vaccinations and flu season set to come around yet another year, administered flu vaccines may very well rise from the initial study.

Presentation Slides: Increase in Antibiotic Resistance of Soil Microbes Found Near Hospital Sites

Christopher Horga, Soniyah Boun, Caleb Maytum, & Sofia Rios

Summary

Human activities such as industrialized animal farming, hospital usage, and improper antibiotic disposal by individuals are all potential sources of environmental antibiotic pollution. This pollution directly impacts the biodiversity of our soil by causing selective pressure for antibiotic resistant soil microbes. Our study asked whether the percentage of antibiotic resistant soil microbes would differ between two soil environments: schools and hospitals. We hypothesized the use and disposal of antibiotics in hospitals would significantly increase the percentage of antibiotic resistant microbes compared to schools.

Presentation Slides: The Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers in Washington State

Samantha Coy & Tigist Kinde

Summary

The pandemic has rapidly increased the demand for frontline healthcare workers. In December 2020, we surveyed healthcare workers to identify, assess and summarize research on the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers. Psychological problems were assessed using a generalized anxiety disorder scale, the Healthcare Worker Survey, and Anxiety Depression Test. Our results revealed a significant psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers. 

Poster Presentation: Carbon Emission Reduction in Steel Recycling

Thomas Chois

Summary

Steel is essential to build and maintain the modern world. However, producing steel involves burning large sums of coal or oil. Fossil fuels like these releases carbon into the atmosphere that was not part of the biosphere; which leads to climate change. Burning wood releases carbon that was already part of the biosphere which means no additional climate change. This project will explore the possibility of using wood as an energy source to melt steel.

Poster Presentation: How Inquiry Can Be Used To Connect Curriculum Content Areas In ECE

Abra Zink

Summary

We are living in an age where an answer to any question is available with a click of a mouse or a simple “Alexa!”
But are these answers always correct? What is a child learning about the inquiry process with such quick solutions? Children used to be taught to research questions because, as Margret Mead said, “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” Unfortunately, the advance of technology has caused a step backward in practicing inquiry education. This is a detriment to children who will continue to move on into formal education without knowing the art of finding information on their own. This project will focus on an inquiry based approach and how it can be used to integrate curriculum content areas. The hope, however, is that this is just the starting point to anchor all curriculum content areas to each other, allowing children to connect in a way that feels right to them while learning to answer questions in a factual way.

Summary

Art therapy is an application of visual arts in a therapeutic context. It supports self-discovery, self-esteem, and emotional release (Cohen, 2018). The Healthy Minds Study conducted at LWTech found that "53% of people would think less of someone who has received mental health treatment" (Eisenberg, 2017). The creation of the Lion’s Pride Healing Art Club was intended to help students that are familiar with mental illness and/or addiction develop healthy coping skills. The goal of this study is to better understand the benefits of participation in creating art to aide participants’ mental health condition. Baylor University has conducted similar studies and practices (Baylor University, 2011). Participation in such clubs has been positively regarded by students and campus communities. Creating safe spaces for people in need is an important extension of the support that can be found on campus.

Poster Presentation: Simulated Lunar Rover Project

Colin Williamson

Summary

Recently, the growth of commercial space projects and public interest has reignited the motivation for manned missions out of low-Earth orbit, where previously remotely operated probes and rovers were utilized exclusively. Prominently, substantial plans are now in motion to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon. Our hypothesis is that rovers will continue to play a vital role in the success of such missions, because it will be imperative that astronauts take on only as much risk as necessary, and that they do not waste their time on tasks that could be done by a robot. In this project, a conceptual prototype lunar rover is proposed under the design motivation of supplementing and enhancing tasks of lunar construction, exploration, and science. 

Presentation Slides: The Calculus of Clovers

Dave Edward Diaz

Summary

Here, we will discuss the calculus of the clover-leaf shape. Using double integration with polar coordinates, we find the areas of these shapes.  We use multivariable calculus-based methods to estimate the average height of water in a clover-shaped swimming pool. The methods we use are very generic that elucidate the calculus of clovers. Such studies have many real-world applications as the clover-leaf is a fundamental shape that manifests often in nature. Its shape is seen in leaves, flowers, tRNA, etc. T-RNA (transfer ribonucleic acid) is a type of RNA molecule that helps decode a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence into a protein. Cloverleaf shapes are used in engineering design elements. The electronic d-orbitals have a three-dimensional cloverleaf shape. The Chandra observatory discovered exciting findings of clover-leaf quasars that provide evidence of large-scale star formation in the early universe. We have a  cloverleaf interchange at the 85th street at Kirkland.  The calculus of clovers thus has many applications in fundamental sciences, engineering, and transportation.

Poster Presentation: Scratch Fabrication of Apparatus For Local Aluminum Recycling 

Thomas Chois

Summary

Currently, aluminum metal is derived from bauxite ore which is mined from locations outside North America. The mining of this ore releases toxic elements while the shipping of aluminum immensely consumes fossil fuels. The objective of my project is to create a process for converting scrap aluminum into 1mm thick sheets which is the type of material needed for practical aluminum manufacturing. It was imperative to research and follow safety procedures through this process, such as avoiding aluminum fumes and safely handling hot objects. First, it was necessary to create charcoal (from scratch) to be used as the fuel source by a furnace to melt the aluminum scrap. Once the furnace and fuel source were built, the aluminum melted into consistently sized ingots. These ingots will be flattened incrementally using heated steel rollers (fabricated for this project). The resulting sheets should be strong enough to use in a variety of applications including machinery and building construction. In a future project, I plan to develop a process for extracting aluminum from common clay removing the need for mining/shipping of bauxite and resulting in less pollution.