Poster Session 1

*in order by board number

  1. Residency as a Moderator Between Historical Trauma and Substance Use in an American Indian/Alaska Native Sample

Aleksey Clark
Oklahoma State University

While research has delineated a strong link between historical trauma (HT) and substance use (SU) in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities, little research examines how place of residence (PoR) may moderate these variables. Proper interventions cannot be created without understanding the environmental context surrounding SU disparities in Indigenous populations. The results indicate that SU and HT vary significantly based on PoR. These findings highlight the need to move away from viewing AI/AN communities as a homogenous group— as AI/AN individuals experience vastly different environmental protective/risk factors based on their PoR. For example, the unique pressures faced by reservation communities appear to contribute to higher rates of HT and SU.

 

  1. Effects of Rhythmic Entrainment on Motor Reaction Time Under Attentional Disruption in College Students

Karen Damian
Lamar University

Motor reaction time is essential in tasks that require rapid responses to sensory information. Rhythmic entrainment may influence motor timing and coordination, but its effects on reaction time during conditions of increased cognitive demand remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to examine whether rhythmic auditory cues influence motor reaction time under different significant levels of cognitive load in healthy college students. Twenty undergraduate participants, ages 18-24 (M= 20.6) completed a computerized reaction time task under four experimental conditions: silence (control), 60 beats per minute (BPM), 100 BPM, and 100 BPM with a added distraction. During the last three of the four rhythmic conditions, participants synchronized finger tapping with a beat presented by a metronome while simultaneously completing the reaction time task. Each participant completes two trails in every condition, and average reaction times were recorded. Following the experiment, participants completed a questionnaire evaluating their perceived focus, confidence, and overall task difficulty. Preliminary results indicated differences in reaction time across the experimental conditions in several ways. Questionnaire responses significantly show that participants generally felt most comfortable in silent conditions while 100 BPM with distraction condition was perceived as most difficult. Participants also reported mixed perceptions regarding whether rhythmic cues improved their focus or response speed. These findings distribute a better understanding of how rhythmic auditory cues and cognitive load may influence motor reaction time and perceived task difficulty is healthy young adults. Further studies with larger and more diverse samples may further clarify these relationships.

 

  1. Temporal Analysis of Halide Segregation in Mixed-Halide Perovskites

Bianca Morales
Wesleyan University

Mixed-halide perovskites (MHPs) have emerged as a promising material to optimize the efficiency of solar energy, while being easily and cheaply produced. Their potential lies in their tunable bandgap property, which describes the amount of energy necessary to excite an electron in the material, impacting the output of voltage and current. The bandgap can be adjusted through the ratio of halides in the crystal, such as iodine and bromine. However, under illumination MHPs undergo halide segregation, a reversible process in which halides separate into distinct regions, nullifying their tunable bandgap property. Currently, two prominent theories predict different segregation mechanisms with opposite observables. Here we show a temporal survey of halide segregation using confocal microscopy, taking time-oriented data of both segregation and desegregation of the sample. We found that halide segregation extends farther out in the sample at the higher laser pump-power, which is the signature of the first theory that involves oxidation of iodine. At the center, the sample demonstrated a blueshift in emitted light at the higher pump-power relative to the lower pump-power, which is the signature of the second theory which involves formation of polarons. In the center, the sample recovers quicker at the lower pump-power, whereas there's a more obvious and prolonged exponential decay at the higher pump-power. Our data affirms both the oxidation model and polaron model. Further analysis will be conducted to further our understanding of oxidation. Understanding halide segregation mechanisms will allow researchers to develop mitigation strategies that lead to stable perovskite solar cells.

 

  1. Solvothermal Synthesis of Hybrid Nickel Oxide - Titanium Dioxide Clusters

Felix Lam
Wesleyan University

Water pollution is one of the largest threats to global health, with nearly one in four people worldwide lacking access to safe water. One of the largest contributors to water contamination is the textile industry, particularly with their synthetic dyes and persistent organic pollutants, which are resistant to conventional water treatment methods. In recent years, metal oxide nanoparticles have emerged as promising tools for the remediation of such contaminants. Nickel oxide has demonstrated the ability to adsorb industrial dyes, while titanium dioxide nanoparticles are established photocatalysts capable of degrading organic pollutants under sunlight. The combination of these two characteristics would allow for efficient water remediation in one type of nanomaterial. Here we describe the synthesis of clusters of NiO with TiO₂ nanoparticles via a solvothermal method where ethylene glycol is the solvent, and nickel chloride hexahydrate and titanium isopropoxide are the metal ion sources. Different polymers were used to control morphology and titanium incorporation. Systematic optimization of polymer ratios of polyacrylic acid and polyethylenimine promotes the formation of spherical clusters of nanoparticles with higher titanium dioxide incorporation. This blend ultimately produced hybrid nanoparticle clusters with a quasi-spherical morphology at an atomic ratio of 1:30 Ti:Ni. Future optimization will aim to improve titanium incorporation towards an atomic ratio of at least 1:10 Ti:Ni. Atomic absorption spectroscopy will also be used to confirm their atomic ratios and dye degradation studies will be carried out to gauge their efficacy.

 

  1. Granular Brain Mimetic Hydrogels for Macrophage Cell Therapy in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Esmeralda Casteneda
University of Oklahoma

Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) is the second most common type of stroke, accounting for 15-30% of all stroke cases, with nearly half resulting in death, making it a highly lethal neurological condition. Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH), is a subtype of stroke characterized by bleeding within the brain due to a ruptured blood vessel, mostly caused by injury or trauma. This injury creates a hemorrhage into the surrounding tissue, which damages neural cells, rapidly increases intracranial pressure, and induces inflammation. While inflammation is a natural immune response that promotes tissue repair, unresolved inflammation can become chronic, leading to neurodegeneration, cognitive decline, and motor impairment. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapeutics that specifically target this chronic inflammatory phase following an ICH. To address this gap, a class of injectable, porous biomaterials known as granular hydrogels will be introduced as a scaffold for adoptively transferred macrophages. These hydrogels will serve as a therapeutic platform for bone-marrow derived macrophages, where once combined they will play a critical role in regulating inflammation. Promoting an environment of macrophages with M2 phenotype, anti-inflammatory immune cells are expected to support tissue regeneration, enhance cell proliferation, and improve cell and drug retention at the site of injury. However, precise control over granular hydrogel properties, such as porosity and cell adhesion, remains a major challenge. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential of granular hydrogel microspheres to modulate cell proliferation and macrophage polarization toward therapeutic phenotypes for reducing inflammation following intracerebral hemorrhage.

 

  1. Patterns of Opioid Exposure and the Effects on Drug-Seeking Behavior

Makayla Hogan
University of Minnesota Duluth

Opioid addiction is a public health crisis characterized by drug-seeking behaviors, as well as lifelong vulnerability to relapse. Chronic use of opioids has been shown to alter neurochemical signaling pathways in the brain, leading to an emotional and physical drug dependence. The mesolimbic dopamine circuit is a major component to signaling reward and pleasure, and is assumed to drive opioid abuse and addiction through negative reinforcement. To develop effective therapeutic interventions for this epidemic, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying opioid addiction. Previous work establishes that pathological changes in behavior and brain function occur when continuous opioid exposure is interrupted by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. This study aims to investigate if intermittent morphine administration changes subsequent drug-seeking behaviors. Male and female C57BL/6J mice received osmotic minipumps that continuously delivered morphine or saline (63.2 mg/kg/day). To model continuous and intermittent opioid exposure, mice received twice-daily injections of saline or naloxone (10 mg/kg). This treatment paradigm ran for 7 days with locomotor activity assessed on day 1 and 7. Mice receiving continuous morphine (MOR-SAL) produced locomotor tolerance, and precipitated withdrawal mice (MOR-NLX) showed a reverse in locomotor tolerance (p=0.09). Following treatment, mice underwent jugular catheter implantation and multi-stage intravenous self administration (IVSA) training. During IVSA, mice significantly escalated active-lever pressing (p<0.01), but precipitated withdrawal mice shifted toward lower drug intake compared to controls (p=0.055). These results suggest that repeated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal suppresses subsequent drug-seeking.

 

  1. Reconstructing aqueous and sedimentary processes of a proglacial environment

Julio Melara
Trinity University

Understanding past Earth system change helps us better understand the present and prepare for future changes. Deglaciation is a feature of Earth's climate system, resulting from both natural and anthropogenic drivers. During deglaciation, ice retreats, exposing proglacial (in front of a glacier) environments. Glacial Lake Hitchcock occupied the modern Connecticut River valley as a proglacial environment of the retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet between 18.2-12.5 thousand years ago. We are analyzing data from Hitchcock sediments in order to take a look into the past and reconstruct the lake environment, its water chemistry, sediment composition, and climate conditions. Concretions formed around sediments, cementing grains together with carbonate minerals. We use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for elemental mapping of concretions to reconstruct their growth histories and the sedimentary environment they formed in. We also use a different approach, measuring the stable oxygen isotopes of ostracods' (small crustaceans) shells to infer isotopic compositions of lake water from which the shell formed. These data reflect the level of glacial runoff and weather-controlled changes in water chemistry. From our samples, we are developing a chemical spatial-temporal record of the proglacial lake environment. This record of an ancient lake that changed over time is an analog for modern proglacial environments that are developing as a consequence of modern warming.

 

  1. One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others: Analyzing Type 2 Seyfert Galaxies in Search of True Type 2 Seyfert Candidates

Zesun Hossain
Wesleyan University

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are galaxies whose central supermassive black holes are actively accreting matter, producing emission across the electromagnetic spectrum. Seyfert galaxies are commonly divided into two subsets based on whether their optical spectra exhibit broad emission lines. The absence of these lines is generally attributed to obscuration by gas and dust surrounding the central black hole. However, True Type 2 Seyfert galaxies are a rare class of AGN that appear to lack broad emission lines despite showing little or no evidence of obscuration. In this project, archival observations from XMM-Newton, cross-matched with the Chandra X-ray Source Catalog, were processed using a revised X-ray analysis pipeline designed to identify potential True Type 2 Seyfert candidates. The pipeline automatically matches observations with their spectra and auxiliary files, compiles source information, and performs X-ray spectral fitting in Sherpa within CIAO. Sources with sufficient photon counts, available response files, and known redshifts were fitted with multiple spectral models to measure intrinsic absorption, photon index, flux, and luminosity. From an initial sample of 462 observations, the analysis identified nine preliminary True Type 2 Seyfert candidates. Future work will include detailed visual inspection of the X-ray fits and optical spectroscopic analysis to determine whether these sources truly lack broad emission lines. Confirming such objects would provide important constraints on AGN structure and challenge aspects of the standard AGN unification model.

 

  1. [DOCUMENT NOT PROVIDED]

Britney Castillo
University

 

  1. Effects of Cyanobacterial Microcystins on Cotton Growth & Physiology

Emma Doria
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Toxic cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) are an increasing environmental concern due to their production of cyanotoxins, which threaten aquatic ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and public health. The microcystins are perhaps the most studied cyanotoxins in agricultural systems due to their potential risks to crop production and agricultural farmers. While the adverse effects of microcystin contamination have been studied in food crops, there is limited evidence regarding their impact on non-food commodity crops, including cotton. This study investigates the effects of microcystin-irrigated water on cotton's morphophysiological traits. It is hypothesized that increased microcystin dosage will reduce photosynthetic efficiency, impair cellular structure, and decrease overall plant growth and development.

A six-week pot experiment will be conducted using nine cotton plants divided into three treatment groups: control (no microcystin), low dose (2%), and high dose (5%). Exposure treatments will be applied biweekly via top-down surface irrigation. Plant measurements will include chlorophyll content, leaf area index (LAI), plant height, internode length, number of leaves, number of fruit, and root mass. Baseline chlorophyll content measurements average 42.20, 39.13, and 39.52 for high dose, low dose, and control groups respectively. Baseline LAI values averaged 0.58, 0.60, and 0.90 for high dose, low dose, and control groups, respectively. These pre-treatment measurements establish initial plant conditions before toxin exposure. Findings from this study will address a critical gap in understanding how microcystin-contaminated irrigation water affects cotton systems, with implications for agricultural sustainability in regions prone to cHABs.

 

  1. Isolation and Cultivation of Ancestral and Modern Seed Endophytes of Schoenoplectus americanus from Marsh Seed Bank

Trinity Storr
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

Coastal marshes are highly productive ecosystems that support carbon storage, shoreline stabilization, and diverse biota. Along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, marshes are dominated by foundational species such as Schoenoplectus americanus. Marsh sediments can preserve S. americanus seeds for over a century, creating a natural seed bank that allows comparisons between modern and ancestral plant populations. Although previous studies show that plant traits and genetic variation can shift over time or sediment depth, little is known about whether seed endophyte diversity also changes. In this study, bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated from S. americanus seeds retrieved from soil cores at two Chesapeake Bay marsh sites, Sellman and Corn Island. Seed stratigraphy was reconstructed from soil cores dated with ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs. Representative seeds were sampled from 0-10cm (modern) and ~16-30cm (ancestral), surface-sterilized, then cut into four 1mm pieces. Each plated on nutrient agar or malt extract agar to isolate bacterial and fungal endophytes. Results show significant differences in isolation frequency of both bacteria and fungi, with a greater number of endophytes and higher diversity retrieved from Sellman than from Corn Island. Across all samples, differences were also observed by sediment depth and age cohort, with 26 bacterial and 12 fungal morphospecies isolated from modern seeds and 10 bacterial and 6 fungal morphospecies from ancestral seeds. Cultures are currently being genotyped to ascertain genetic identity. Understanding how seed endophytes vary across seed banks may reveal microbial-related factors that influence plant establishment, stress tolerance, and marsh resilience under changing environmental conditions.

 

  1. Evaluating Nutrient and Yield Efficiency in Traditional vs. Urban Agriculture

Karis Alcoser
Our Lady of the Lake University

As communities seek more sustainable ways to produce food, understanding how efficiently different agricultural systems use limited resources is vital. Exploring how these systems use resources can help inform future agricultural decision-making and sustainability efforts. This study examines resource efficiency by comparing nutrient retention and yield between urban hydroponic and traditional basil production systems.

Basil is currently being cultivated in both a university hydroponic system and an outdoor traditional growing system. Nutrient retention and yield data are being collected from each system to evaluate how efficiently available resources are converted into plant biomass. If sufficient data cannot be collected from the outdoor system due to environmental limitations, secondary data from comparable agricultural systems will be incorporated to support the analysis. Resource efficiency will be evaluated by comparing average nutrient retention and yield across the two production methods.

Data collection and analysis are ongoing, and results will be presented as they become available. This research is expected to provide insight into how different growing systems allocate and utilize resources, contributing to a broader understanding of sustainable food production. These findings may also help guide future research and inform agricultural decision-making regarding resource-efficient production systems.

 

  1. Migratory behavior modulates diversification dynamics in waterfowl (Anseriformes)

Alena Blankenbaker
University of Texas at Arlington

Migration is hypothesized to be a highly plastic, ancient adaptive response to seasonal resource availability and harsher, extreme climates. Rates of dispersal and diversification and may increase with the evolution of migratory behavior due to vagrancy and temporal segregation of breeding ranges between sub-populations. Research that explores migration as a eco-evolutionary mechanism is important to understand the causes and consequences of evolutionary transitions to migratory behavior. In this study, we examined the evolution of migratory behavior in the order Anseriformes, also known as waterfowl, which display differential migration between and within clades. Specifically, we investigated how differential migration strategies affect diversification and dispersal across 146 Anseriform lineages. We hypothesized that (H1) transitions to migratory behavior from sedentary behavior increase the rate of diversification, and that (H2) fully migratory lineages have the highest rates of diversification. We also hypothesized that within the context of historical biogeography, (H3) migratory waterfowl lineages are likely to have higher dispersal rates than sedentary lineages, and that migratory behavior increased the probability of dispersal. To test these hypotheses, we estimated state-dependent speciation and extinction rates in RevBayes' Using MuSSE and HiSSE models (H1 and H2) and inferred waterfowl historical biogeography using BioGeoBEARS implementations of DEC and DEC+j models in R (H3).

 

  1. Synergism between Tea Tree Oil, Tween 80, and Gentamicin

Madison McCormick
Eastern Kentucky University

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance is a concern in medicine. Researchers are investigating the use of natural antimicrobial compounds, like tea tree oil (TTO), to increase the effectiveness of antibiotics. A series of Kirby-Bauer Disc Diffusion tests were conducted to compare the effectiveness of individual and combined treatments of TTO, Tween 80, and gentamicin using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. It was hypothesized that adding TTO and Tween 80 to gentamicin would result in greater antimicrobial activity than gentamicin alone. For S. aureus, a Tukey test revealed that gentamicin, Tween 80, and TTO resulted in larger zones of inhibition than gentamicin alone. This occurred both in the presence and absence of Tween 20. No significant difference in the zone of inhibition was seen with P. aeruginosa. These results suggest a synergistic relationship between gentamicin, TTO, and Tween 80 for the inhibition of growth of S. aureus. S. aureus is Gram-positive, while P. aeruginosa is Gram-negative so synergism between gentamicin, Tween 80, and/or TTO may only occur for Gram-positive bacteria. Future research will need to evaluate synergism for more Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and compare treatment with and without Tween 80 to determine if the increase in the zone of inhibition is due to the presence of Tween 80 or TTO.

 

  1. The Interplay of Adolescent Relationships on the Development of Empathy and Social Responsibility: A Systematic Review of Family, Peer, and Identity Influences

Andre Fuller
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Adolescence is recognized as a critical period for growth. Social and emotional development are deeply influenced by relationships during adolescence and often shape behaviors and characteristics people display long-term. Consistently displayed in research are the influences on empathy as developed through relationships such as family, friends, and peers. And with that, we observe the development of prosocial behavior and empathy separately, not collectively. This is the gap in research as there is limited knowledge and understanding of how these variables work in accordance with each other. This study is intended to bridge the gap in literature by examining the influences of parent-child, sibling, and peer relationships collaboratively and observe how these factors collectively influence the development of empathy and social responsibility. This was conducted via literature synthesis as the research model was a systematic literature review. Investigating the family, friend, sibling, and peer relationships to ultimately determine which factors are most prominent in the development of such. Results are expected to display positive relationships and the correlation to positive senses of empathy, social responsibility, and prosocial behavior. Results are also expected to display the correlation between negative relationships and the negative developments of such. The research is intended to provide greater understanding and bridge the gap in research so that society can have a greater sense of prosocial behavior.

 

  1. The Impact on Sensorimotor Markers among COVID-19 Survivors

Alexandra Rodgriguez Vega
The University of Texas at San Antonio

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with persistent neurological symptoms, but its effects on sensorimotor function remain unclear. This study examined the associations between COVID-19 status, disease severity, and sensorimotor function among participants in the multicenter 7T NeuroCOVID Consortium, including The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Houston Methodist Research Institute, the University of Pittsburgh, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Nottingham University (UK). We evaluated right- and left-hand grip strength, gait speed, and the 12-item Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT). COVID-19 status was categorized as COVID-19, healthy control, or illness control, and disease severity followed World Health Organization clinical criteria. Multivariable linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, study site, and handedness (grip strength only) were used. The study included 131 COVID-19 survivors, 29 healthy controls, and 13 illness controls. Compared with healthy controls, COVID-19 survivors had lower right-hand grip strength (β±SE, p: −0.46±0.16, 0.005), while left-hand grip strength did not differ significantly (−0.20±0.16, 0.215). Illness controls also showed lower right-hand (−1.02±0.26, <0.001) and left-hand (−0.61±0.26, 0.021) grip strength. COVID-19 survivors demonstrated faster normal-paced gait (0.17±0.06, 0.006), whereas olfactory function was not associated with COVID-19 status. A significant COVID-19 status × sex interaction was observed for right-hand grip strength. Among women, COVID-19 survivors had lower right-hand grip strength (−0.65±0.18, 0.001). These findings suggest sensorimotor markers, particularly grip strength, may serve as accessible, non-invasive indicators of neurological function following COVID-19.

 

  1. Using Soil Chemistry to Understand Legacies of Hurricanes on Mangrove Ecosystems

Naya Vallecillo
Florida International University

Coastal ecosystems protect shorelines and communities, and their soils are understudied records of past disturbances and long-term recoveries. Mangroves of South Florida are phosphorus-limited and contain carbonate- and organic-rich soils. Hurricanes can deposit phosphorus-rich mineral sediments that fuel aboveground regrowth and development of organic and inorganic carbon soil accretion. We hypothesized that hurricanes would increase accretion of organic matter in mangrove soils and that less phosphorus-limited mangroves would have greater soil organic matter. We collected cores (0-100 cm depth) from n = 10 fringe mangrove sites in Biscayne National Park and Biscayne Bay (Florida, USA) and quantified soil bulk density and percent organic matter at regular depth intervals. Mangroves in more phosphorus-limited southern and central Biscayne Bay had distinct peaks in bulk density at 30-50 cm depth, likely associated with the 1926 Hurricane, and increasing organic matter in soil layers above, indicating mangrove recovery. Less phosphorus-limited, northern sites had soil profiles with increasing accretion of organic matter and declining bulk densities from the bottom to the top of cores. Our preliminary results indicate that sites varied in exposure to prior hurricanes and that phosphorus availability increased organic matter deposition in soils. Further analyses will quantify rates of accretion using radiometric dating and characterize chemical composition of soil profiles.

 

  1. Turf scrubbers toward cleaner water: screening diverse microalgae to remove contaminants from point-source pollution

Carlos Luzuriaga
Florida International University

Over 80% of wastewater released into the environment is untreated, leading to high levels of pollutants and biological contaminants that can significantly impact ecosystems, disrupt aquatic life, and threaten human health. Current pre-treatment methods use chemical precipitation and reverse osmosis; while effective at removing pollutants, these treatments are energy-intensive and often inaccessible, highlighting the need for more sustainable solutions. Algae are mostly photosynthetic prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, forming the foundation of aquatic food webs and global nutrient cycles. And research has shown certain microalgae can be utilized to remove pollutants from wastewater. Thus, algae-based bioremediation presents an innovative and eco-friendly solution to minimize the impacts of pollution from wastewaters as an alternative to current methods. The goal of this project is to screen diverse microalgae for use in algal turf scrubbers (ATS), sloped systems designed for the cleanup of waters from point-source pollution. An effective ATS system should be low maintenance, while providing rapid uptake of nutrients. Resulting biomass may also be utilized for downstream applications, e.g., biofertilizer. Initially, Synechococcus elongatus (UTEX 2973) and Chlorella vulgaris(UTEX 2714) were selected due to their high growth rates and rapid nutrient uptake. Cultures were grown in high- and low-nutrient media and measured by spectrophotometry (A680nm) over time with gentle shaking (120 rpm) at 20 °C (n=2). Thus far, S. elongatus has exhibited more consistent growth in both nutrient conditions. Continued screening aims to select robust, high-growth algal strains for the maximum removal of contaminants, aligning with general environmental sustainability goals for Florida.

 

  1. Collecting the Climate: Design and Evaluation of a Low-Cost Raspberry Pi-Based Environmental Monitoring System for a Pilot Study in Kingsville, Texas

Beau Hill
Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Environmental monitoring is important for understanding local conditions such as temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and precipitation, but many commercial monitoring systems are too expensive for student research and pilot-scale projects. The purpose of this study is to design, build, and evaluate a low-cost environmental monitoring system using a Raspberry Pi 4 at a single outdoor location in Kingsville, Texas. The system will collect time-stamped measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, precipitation, and image-based site observations. This study will use a quantitative pilot design in which the station will be tested for its ability to operate outdoors, collect data consistently, and store usable environmental measurements over time. The practical value of this study is that it may provide a lower-cost model for student-led environmental monitoring and serve as a foundation for future expansion to additional sites in the Coastal Bend region. This local focus is important because drought conditions in South Texas create a need for more site-specific environmental data that can support future monitoring, planning, and research.

 

  1. The ABCs of Academic Accessibility: Academic Accommodations, Belongingness, and Self Disclosure of Disability

Leona Stevenson
Oklahoma State University

This study employs logistic regression to analyze secondary cross-sectional survey data. The aim of this project is to use preexisting data to expand the knowledge about the effects of Universal Design of Learning, specifically the relationship between academic accommodations, student's feelings of belongingness, disclosure, and GPA. It is hypothesized that a) students who have more access to academic accommodation will have a higher GPA and a greater feeling of belonging, and b) self-disclosure will be associated with a sense of belonging and higher GPA. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using Stata 15 (52). Confidence intervals (CIs) of 95% and odds ratios (ORs) are presented. This research is important because disabled students represent a growing population on college campuses. Previous research has shown that, whether it be due to lack of knowledge of institutional support or hesitancy surrounding self-disclosure, almost half of students who receive academic accommodations in secondary school do not disclose their disability at their institution of higher learning, thus making the case for Universal Design. Data analysis is currently in progress, and the final analysis will determine the relationship between self-disclosure and a sense of belonging.

 

  1. Quantum Stores: Continuous Strategy Quantum Games & Duopoly

Jonathan Tamez
Texas A&M University-Kingsville

In classical economic models of duopoly, where two businesses share a market with the same product, businesses compete by choosing either their prices or their production quantities. These models can suffer from well known pathologies such as the Bertrand and Edgeworth paradoxes (Sekiguchi et al., 2010). Recent research has shown that letting companies use so-called "quantum entangled strategies" (Li et al., 2003) stabilizes the market. The current analysis of these quantum solution concepts often relies on the simple assumption of a straight-line demand curve (Shi et al. 2021). The aim of this project is to develop a contribution to this literature by exploring the effects of demand curves on quantum entangled strategies. The goal is to either chart exactly how quantum entanglement creates a new stable market equilibrium or find the precise mathematical roadblocks that prevent quantum mechanics from solving complex, non-linear economic problems.

 

  1. How Suicidal Adolescents Imagine Their Future Life: Tracking Future Life-Oriented (FLO) Processes via 42-Day Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) Study

Andy Sampedro
Wesleyan University

Future life-oriented (FLO) processes, defined as how people think and feel about the continuation of their future life, can help young people look past difficult present circumstances. Prior work shows that adolescents' stronger FLO processes predict less subsequent suicidal ideation over time. But less is known about how FLO processes present in suicidal adolescents when observed across extended periods of time. We examined FLO processes across a 42-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study. Participants were 20 adolescents aged 15–19 years (M_age = 16.9, SD = 1.2) with a history of suicidal ideation. They completed EMA surveys assessing FLO processes five times daily for six weeks, with average compliance of 71.8%. Participants identified as female (63.6%), male (22.7%), or another gender identity (4.5%). Descriptive analyses examined the temporal specificity and timing of future-oriented thoughts. Mean temporal specificity declined across the study: Week 1 (M = 5.6), Week 2 (M = 5.5), Week 3 (M = 5.3), Week 4 (M = 5.2), Week 5 (M = 5.0), and Week 6 (M = 5.2). Future-oriented thoughts most often concerned later the same day (51.6%) or the following week (26.8%). Less frequent timeframes included one week to one month (8.2%), one month to one year (6.1%), an unspecified future (5.5%), one to five years (1.4%), and more than 10 years (0.1%). These findings contribute to a growing field which examines future-oriented thinking in suicidal adolescents and may help clarify how young people at risk for suicide imagine and temporally organize their future experiences.

 

  1. The Influence of Masculine Gender Norms, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Sexual Assault Literacy on Self-Blame in Male Adult Sexual Assault Survivors

Emmanuel Oludayo
University of Minnesota Duluth

It is common for survivors to blame themselves in the aftermath of a traumatic event. This phenomenon is well known in the psychological community as self-blame. It is well established that self-blame is a risk factor for negative mental health symptomology (e.g., PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, and low self-esteem) and reduces help-seeking behaviors. There is currently sparse literature on self-blame when it comes to male adult sexual assault (ASA). The operational definition of sexual violence in research is not streamlined globally, leading to definitions of rape that insinuate that men cannot be victims of sexual violence, thus perpetuating rape myths. Moving forward, including men in the literature would increase our understanding and better serve male ASA survivors. This study aims to aid in closing the gap and exploring factors with self-blame in male ASA survivors. This literature review examines two questions related to male ASA: 1a) Do masculinity and gender norms relate to self-blame?, 1b) If so, is this relationship mediated by rape myth acceptance, and 2) Does sexual assault literacy (e.g., rape myths, bodily reactions, definitions of ASA) predict self-blame in male survivors? Studies reviewed include peer-reviewed journal articles discussing the role of self-blame in male ASA survivors. This review outlines theoretical constructs, including rape myth acceptance, self-blame, hegemonic masculinity, gender norms, and ASA literacy, along with theoretical and empirical findings. Findings from this review may enhance understanding of the factors contributing to self-blame in male ASA survivors and inform future research, outreach efforts, and trauma-informed interventions.

 

  1. NONE

 

  1. Maternal Language Input: Impacts of Environmental Factors

Clarissa Briones
Our Lady of the Lake University

This qualitative case study examines how the physical environment and object modalities shape maternal linguistic input during naturalistic play within bilingual Latina mother-child dyads. While early language development relies heavily on rich maternal input, less is known about how modern toys and physical settings shift interactional dynamics in culturally and linguistically diverse families. Specifically, this study compares bilingual Latina mothers' language input across five distinct conditions: outdoor environments, traditional toys, electronic toys, print books, and electronic books. Video-recorded play sessions will be transcribed and analyzed to assess variations in the mothers' language metrics, responsive behaviors, and communication styles.

It is anticipated that physical environments and object design will significantly alter the maternal input. Outdoor settings and print books are expected to encourage a greater frequency of open-ended questions and more consistent joint attention compared to electronic modalities. Conversely, electronic toys and digital books may prompt more directive, behavior-management language and brief utterances. These variations would suggest that the physical properties of play materials can either facilitate or constrain the rich, culturally influenced language of Latina maternal interactions. Data from this research will contribute to our understanding of how everyday environments and objects influence maternal communication patterns. These insights will be helpful for pediatric speech-language pathologists designing culturally responsive parent education strategies. By identifying optimal play conditions, practitioners and parents can better support home-based communication routines that maximize high-quality, naturalistic language input for young children.

 

  1. Parental Perceptions of Social Media Engagement and Mental Health in Adolescents Ages 12-15

Larisa Ortega
Our Lady of the Lake University

The widespread use of social media among adolescents has raised concerns regarding its influence on emotional well-being. While previous research has primarily focused on adolescents' self-reported experiences, fewer studies have examined parents' perspectives. This study investigates how parents perceive the relationship between social media use and the emotional well-being of adolescents ages 12–15. The study hypothesizes that higher levels of parent-reported adolescent social media use will be associated with increased emotional distress, including anxiety, mood changes, and social withdrawal, and that parental monitoring may serve as a protective factor for the adolescents. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design will be used to analyze data. Parents were asked to first complete a structured questionnaire assessing adolescent social media use, perceived emotional and behavioral changes, and parental monitoring practices. A subset of participants has then completed semi-structured interviews to further explore their experiences and perceptions. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlational analyses, while qualitative interview data will undergo thematic analysis. Because data collection is ongoing, results are pending. Expected findings will provide insight into how parents interpret the effects of social media on adolescent emotional well-being and the role of parental monitoring. This research may inform future interventions, family education initiatives, and mental health practices while contributing to the growing literature on adolescent social media use and well-being.

 

  1. When Technology Remembers For You, What Happens When It Fails?

Emerald Garcia
University of Texas at Arlington

With information a click away, we can simply look something up rather than remember it. But what happens when access to external sources is unexpectedly removed? This study investigates how the expected availability of reminders may influence encoding and memory recall, using eye-tracking to monitor cognitive effort through pupil dilation. Participants studied (e.g., "dog–table") and recalled (e.g., "dog–???") across two separate blocks. Participants in the reminder condition had full access to reminders displayed at the top of their screen in Block 1. Before Block 2, participants were instructed into one of three conditions: Expecting (told reminders are available), Not Expecting (told reminders are not available), and No Reminder (never received reminders in either block). Critically, access to reminders was not available in any condition during Block 2. Results indicated reduced task-evoked pupillary responses during encoding, and worse recall performance was observed for the Expecting condition relative to the No Reminder condition in Block 2. This encoding effort and rehearsal decreased with anticipated access to external storage, thereby causing recall to plummet when unexpectedly removed, indicative of substitutive offloading. In contrast, when no support was expected, encoding effort and recall were comparable to the No Reminder condition, consistent with patterns of duplicative offloading. In understanding when and how often offloading occurs, we can design methods to sustain memory across age progression.

 

  1. Community Birth Roundtables: A Kirkpatrick Evaluation of Participant Experiences

Valeria Sarinana
The University of Texas at Arlington

Community Birth Roundtables were created to bring together community birth leaders to discuss obstetric complications, identify system gaps, and strengthen maternal health collaboration. This evaluation examined participants' experiences using the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model. Nineteen anonymous post-session evaluation surveys were completed by community birth leaders, including midwives, lactation professionals, and doulas. Participants also completed a demographic registration form. Surveys assessed participant satisfaction (Level 1: Reaction), learning (Level 2: Learning), and behavioral intent (Level 3: Behavior). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel.

Overall, 63.2% of respondents rated the sessions as excellent, 26.3% as very good, and 10.5% as good. Additionally, 73.7% strongly agreed that the sessions provided a respectful and supportive environment, while 63.2% strongly agreed that the facilitation surfaced meaningful insights, the session objectives were met, and the sessions connected individual experiences to a broader understanding of maternal health challenges. Participants also reported intentions to strengthen collaboration among community birth providers, hospitals, and EMS to support implementation of the Community Birth Action Agenda. In conclusion, Community Birth Roundtables promoted participant satisfaction, learning, and intentions to strengthen cross-sector collaboration. These findings support multi-stakeholder roundtables as a promising strategy for advancing maternal health collaboration and informing future quality improvement initiatives.

 

  1. Long-Term Impacts of Childhood Emotional Maltreatment on Male Emotional Intelligence in Adulthood

Bryson Clarson
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater

This research will examine how childhood emotional maltreatment affects the emotional intelligence of males in adulthood through the use of a quantitative survey design. Childhood emotional maltreatment refers to behaviors from parents or others that harm a child's emotional well-being, making them feel unloved, unwanted, or emotionally unsupported. Childhood emotional maltreatment is broken into two categories: childhood emotional abuse and childhood emotional neglect. Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, control, and regulate one's own emotions as well as the emotions of others. Because emotional intelligence impacts relationships, communication, coping, and overall functioning, lower emotional intelligence may create significant challenges throughout adulthood. The male population faces significant barriers in emotional development due to societal expectations, cultural norms, and stigmas surrounding masculinity. Many males are not encouraged to express emotions in healthy ways, which may increase the long-term effects of emotional maltreatment. This concern is reflected in mental health disparities, including lower help-seeking rates among men and higher suicide rates compared to women. Despite these outcomes, childhood emotional maltreatment is often underresearched because it can be difficult to identify and measure. This study will use a survey methodology to collect data from adult male participants. Standardized instruments will be used to measure experiences of childhood emotional maltreatment and current levels of emotional intelligence. Expected findings include a statistically significant relationship between higher levels of childhood emotional maltreatment and lower emotional intelligence in adulthood. This research aims to increase awareness, inform interventions, and help break generational cycles of emotional harm.

 

  1. Beyond Resources: How Socioeconomic Status Shapes Educational Inequality Through Structural and Psychological Factors

Morgan Parker
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Educational inequality remains a persistent challenge in the United States. Students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds face barriers that limit their academic success and long-term opportunities. While existing research has documented disparities in school funding, access to educational resources, and academic opportunities, less attention has been given to how structural inequalities interact with students' psychological experiences. Understanding the relationship between structural inequalities and students' psychological experiences is important because educational outcomes influence future economic mobility, college access, and well-being. This knowledge may help educators and policymakers develop strategies that improve student success and address educational disparities. The purpose of this study is to examine how socioeconomic status contributes to educational inequality through both structural factors, such as funding and resource disparities, and psychological factors, including self-perception, classroom engagement, and sense of belonging. This study uses a multidisciplinary literature review approach, drawing on research from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and education. The peer-reviewed articles are analyzed to identify themes and patterns that recur across disciplines. Findings from the literature suggest that students from low-SES backgrounds experience educational disadvantages that extend beyond material resources, influencing academic confidence, participation, and achievement. These disadvantages often being in early childhood and continue through their educational experiences. Overall, the literature indicates that educational inequality is maintained through the interaction of structural barriers and internalized psychological processes. Future research should explore interventions that address resource inequities and students' well-being to create more equitable educational environments and improve outcomes for disadvantaged students.

 

  1. Comparative Analysis Between Large Language Models and Humans in their Tendency to Underestimate their Strengths of Emotional Language

Amiah Thomas
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

As AI is becoming more humanlike, research is examining AI's cognitive performance in comparison to humans. However, limited attention has been given to AI's emotional language use and how AI's emotional cognition compares to human emotional language. Understanding Large Language Models' (LLMs) emotional language and cognitive abilities is important because they are becoming prominent in therapy spaces, with some individuals turning to chatbots for therapy rather than real professional therapists. If chatbots aren't careful with their language use, it could affect sensitive populations. This study examines language and cognitive abilities of LLMs and humans. In a prior study, undergraduate participants were given an emotional language matching task in which they were shown pairs of emotional sentences, the second of each pair missing a key emotional word. Their task was to complete the second sentence so that it matched the first in emotional intensity. Data showed that participants' sentences consistently escalated in emotional strength. Furthermore, they separately rated their sentences as weaker. We hypothesize that LLMs, in contrast to humans, will rate their own emotional language as lower emotional strength than the sentence given, while large language models will rate their own words higher than the given sentence. Overall, this research demonstrates that humans have a cognitive bias to their own language that LLM's do not possess. Future research should continue to examine Large Language models' linguistic skills and their emotionality. These findings may help further research within the area of language comprehension to understand large language models' linguistic abilities.

 

  1. Increased Parental Age Compromises Early Embryonic Germline Development

Amira El-Sheikh
The University of Texas at San Antonio

Among sexually reproducing species, genetic material is passed from one generation to the next by the germline. The germline consists of egg and sperm, as well as their precursors called Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs). PGCs are among the first cell types specified in developing embryos and thus have to migrate through several tissues to reach the developing ovaries and testes. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model, my lab found that increased parental age compromises PGC migration in offspring. Although advanced parental age is known to impair fertility and offspring health, its specific impact on germline development is less understood. We investigated whether age-related DNA damage is a cause of PGC migration defects. We crossed three wild-type Drosophila lines to minimize inbreeding effects and confirmed age-dependent PGC mis-migration. To test whether DNA damage in gametes explains these defects, we stained 3- and 15-day-old gametes with γ-H2AV to mark double-strand breaks. Across all three backgrounds, aged females showed no significant increase in γ-H2AV foci, suggesting that age-related PGC migration defects are not driven by DNA damage and likely arise from alternative mechanisms.

 

  1. Assessing Nutrient Export from Bioretention Basin Soils under Different Treatments

Jibel Mendez
The University of Texas at San Antonio

Bioretention basins are designed to improve stormwater quality, but their effectiveness can be compromised if soils release nutrients such as nitrate and phosphorus back into standing water. It was hypothesized that vegetated treatments, particularly those containing the native species frog fruit (Phyla nodiflora), would reduce nitrate and phosphorus export compared to bare soil and organic amendment treatments. This study evaluated nutrient export from bioretention basin soils following a 72-hour saturation period using 16-oz mesocosms fitted with side-port tubing for leachate collection. Seven treatments were established including bare soil, soil with mulch, soil with leaf litter, soil with the native species frog fruit, soil with the non-native species rescue grass (Bromus catharticus), and each plant species combined with leaf litter. Following saturation with tap water, leachate samples were analyzed for nitrate and phosphorus. The average nitrate concentrations were highest in the frog fruit (56.25 mg/L), rescue grass (47.77 mg/L), and bare soil (43.31 mg/L) treatments, while leaf litter treatments produced the lowest concentrations. Phosphorus concentrations showed a similar trend, with frog fruit (2.87 mg/L), bare soil (2.73 mg/L), and rescue grass (2.54 mg/L) producing the highest concentrations and leaf litter treatments showing the lowest. The results did not support the hypothesis that vegetation alone would consistently reduce nutrient exports. Instead, treatments containing leaf litter generally produced the lowest nitrate and phosphorus concentrations, suggesting that leaf litter may play a greater role in nutrient retention during prolonged saturation than vegetation alone.

 

  1. Personal Disability Identity and Depression Across Types of Disability

Ashton Page
The University of Texas at San Antonio

Approximately 13.7% of the U.S. population is living with a disability (U.S. Census, 2024). Previous research found that adults with disabilities experience higher prevalence rates of depression (Lee, 2026), highlighting the need for research focused on factors that contribute to mental health among adults with disabilities. One potential factor is disability identity; however, little research has been done to examine how disability identity varies between types of disability. The present study examined the interaction between disability identity and depressive symptoms across types of disability. We hypothesized that denial and affirmation of disability would differ between types of disability and that while greater denial would lead to increased depressive symptoms, greater affirmation of disability would be associated with less depressive symptoms. Types of disability were grouped into two groups: neurodiversity (i.e., autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities) and visible (i.e., motor, physical, and sensory). Participants (N=166; 60.8% Female, MAge=32.7) included 31 with visible disabilities, 119 with neurodiverse disabilities, and 16 with both. Three one-way ANOVA tests were conducted to compare the mean difference of affirmation of disability [F(2,163)=0.150,p=.861], denial of disability [F(2,163)=2.367,p=.097], and depressive symptoms [F(2,163)=4.125,p=.018] across disability type. Bonferroni post-hoc tests indicated participants with both neurodiverse and visible disabilities (M=18.25) had significantly [p=.014] higher levels of depression compared to those with visible disabilities alone (M=12.42). Moreover, a multiple linear regression [F(4, 161)=7.269,p<.001] found that denial of disability was associated with greater depressive symptoms (β=-.316,p<.001). Implications for clinical mental health outcomes will be discussed.

 

  1. "Situationships": Exploring The New "Casual" Relationship Style in a Cultural Context

Chau Nguyen
Wesleyan University

The term situationship has recently emerged to describe romantic or sexual connections that exist in a gray area as more emotionally involved than a casual hookup, but without the clarity or commitment of a traditional relationship. These connections often lack defined labels, involve ambiguous boundaries, and carry the potential for emotional complexity. For some, situationships offer flexibility, autonomy, and emotional intimacy without the pressure of commitment. For others, they can lead to confusion, unmet expectations, and psychological distress. Despite their growing prevalence, there is limited understanding of how situationships operate and what distinguishes them from other relationship structures (e.g. friends with benefits vs hookups). Moreover, there is also a lack of empirical research investigating how motivations differ across cultural settings and how culture shapes both the appeal and emotional outcomes of situationships. This gap is significant when it comes to examining how cultural norms shape relationship expectations, communication styles, and how we begin to define intimacy. In individualistic cultures, situationships may be preferred for their emphasis on autonomy, flexibility, and reduced obligation, whereas in collectivist cultures, they may emerge as a way to navigate tensions between personal desires and familial or societal expectations. To understand situationships, we must consider how social context influences our perception of intimacy and how we experience it in relation to our expectations of how relationships are negotiated. Cultural context further influences how these factors are experienced, including varying levels of social acceptance, community support, and pressure to conform to traditional values. Situationships may therefore function as culturally adaptive relationship forms, offering emotional intimacy and flexibility while allowing individuals to navigate identity, belonging, and social expectations.

 

  1. Love, Fertility, and Commitment: Examining the Impact of Religiosity and Race Centrality on Black and Hispanic Women's Willingness to be with an Infertile Partner

Yerliza Valenzuela
Florida International University

Latinas and Black women remain underrepresented in research centered around reproductive health disparities, paired with the continued disparities that they face in this area. By exploring factors, like religiosity and race centrality within these populations, we can better understand the research gap that exists in facets of reproductive health, like infertility. This study explores religiosity and race centrality in relation to willingness to be with an infertile partner among Black and Hispanic emerging adult women.

Data was collected from Hispanic-serving institution with sample of 197 Hispanic and 175 Black emerging adult women. Using cross-sectional design, participants completed measures assessing religiosity, race centrality, and willingness to be with an infertile partner. Correlation analyses examined relationships between these variables within each group. Correlation analysis revealed religiosity and willingness to be with an infertile partner having a negative correlation (r = -.177, p = .015). No significance between religiosity and race centrality and race centrality and willingness to be with an infertile partner. Participants' means reported moderately high religiosity (M = 7.16, SD= 2.72) and moderately high race centrality (M = 13.03, SD= 3.05). None of the independent variables were significantly associated with willingness to remain with an infertile partner or one another (all ps > .05).

While these factors play vital roles in shaping identities, they do not necessarily influence one another in a significant way. This reflects a need for physicians to be more informed on these factors and how they may influence reproductive attitudes, while viewing them as mutually exclusive.

 

  1. Poverty In Rural Areas of West Virginia

Lilly Palmer
Concord University

Poverty is a socially constructed term shaped by societal norms, values, and policies. In acts of poverty, individuals are viewed in head-turning ways, such as the term, lazy. This study shows the details of poverty, specifically in West Virginia. Amongst individuals living in West Virginia, it heavily impacts the Black community and others that work on minimum wage income. West Virginia faces great poverty than any other in the United States. Many communities that once relied on coal industries for their work, now closed and forced to find other jobs without warning. Families and children in more affected areas have resulted in low-income, limited access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure issues. This study consisted of the quantitative method. This method compared the individuals in the state of the year 2023. In the time the study was compared, at least 1.7 million citizens lived in the state of West Virginia. This data was conducted by the U.S. Census and the West Virginia Legislature. Results indicated that most individuals in the state work a minimum wage job. To reach the goal(s) for most individuals will have to work seventy plus hours, and Black citizens suffer the most with poverty and other care needs, especially Black women. In the rural areas of West Virginia, the root of the problem of poverty are socioeconomic impacts, economic decline, the lack of essential resources, and demographic shifts. Another cause of poverty in state is generational.

 

  1. Exploring the Role of Language Experience and Reading Attitudes on Eye Movements in Late Learners of English

Talia Mapletoft-Bush
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Attaining reading proficiency is a struggle for many children and adults. Contrary to subjective experience, readers perceive only 7–10 letters at a time, requiring continuous eye movements to extract meaning from text. Skilled reading is therefore characterized by efficient eye movement patterns that support visual and linguistic processing. Eye tracking provides a direct method for observing these processes in real time. Previous research has documented substantial individual differences in adult readers' sensitivity to the visual and linguistic properties of words, which modulate eye movement behavior during reading (Kuperman et al., 2018). Studies of reading motivation and attitudes further show that positive attitudes toward reading are associated with greater reading amount and breadth (Mol & Bus, 2011; Schiefele et al., 2012). However, much of this research has focused on native English speakers or early language learners, leaving adult readers who learned English after age five underrepresented, particularly in eye movement research. This project analyzes a sub-portion of the PROVO ILLINI corpus, containing eye movement data from adolescents and young adults reading authentic passages, supplemented with survey measures of language experience and reading attitudes (Stoops & Montag, 2023, 2025). Focusing on readers who acquired English after age five, this study examines how these learners' characteristics relate to eye movement measures such as fixation durations, skipping, and regressions during reading. Ongoing analyses explore relationships between reading motivation, reading proficiency, and eye movement patterns, comparing early and late English learners.

 

  1. [DOCUMENT NOT PROVIDED]

Grace Carson
University

 

  1. The Impact of Childhood Parenting Styles on Marital Satisfaction

Elizabeth Parker
Lee University

Childhood parenting experiences play an important role in shaping emotional development, communication patterns, attachment, and relationship expectations, which may influence marital satisfaction in adulthood. This quantitative study examined the relationship between childhood parenting experiences and marital satisfaction in adulthood. Understanding this relationship is important because early family experiences may influence the development of interpersonal relationships and overall relationship quality later in life. The primary research question guiding this study was: What is the relationship between childhood parenting experiences and marital satisfaction in adulthood?

Data were collected from 120 participants through Prolific using a cross-sectional survey design. Participants completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment to assess childhood attachment to parents, the Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised to measure adult attachment, the Communication Patterns Questionnaire to evaluate communication behaviors, the Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication, and Happiness scale, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale to assess relationship quality and marital satisfaction. The data are currently being analyzed using Jamovi and Google Sheets to address the study's research question.

Data analysis is currently in progress. This study is expected to contribute to the growing body of literature examining the long-term effects of childhood experiences, attachment, and relationship development. The findings may provide insights for relationship education, family interventions, and future studies exploring adult relationship outcomes.

 

  1. Media Training and Political Communication in the Digital Age

Karina Martinez
Lamar University

Social media has changed how audiences encounter, evaluate, and challenge political messages. This study proposes that media-trained practices, including strategic framing, message discipline, emotional control, redirection, and repeated talking points, may improve consistency while reducing perceived transparency. It examines how politicians and other senior public officials communicate during contemporary controversies and how those messages are interpreted, challenged, or verified across media environments.

Using qualitative comparative content analysis and archival research, the study analyzes four controversies involving different policy areas and leadership roles. Each case includes an official communication, a traditional news report, an independent creator response, and available primary or independently verifiable evidence. Materials are coded for framing, clarity, tone, consistency, responsiveness, evidence use, transparency, timeliness, and corrections.

Data collection and coding are ongoing. The principal result to date is a comparative coding framework that distinguishes how communicators establish authority, address uncertainty, and provide supporting evidence. This framework treats credibility as a product of not only message consistency but also transparency, sourcing, responsiveness, and the ability to explain complex events clearly.

The study concludes that social media expands public scrutiny of political communication and may reshape how audiences judge competence and truthfulness. Future research will apply the framework to a larger sample and examine audience responses directly.

 

  1. Examining the Citywide Implications of New and Existing Sports Infrastructure in San Antonio

John de Hoyos
Trinity University

The purpose of this research is to examine the social implications of San Antonio's Project Marvel and existing entertainment and sports developments. With this, I will be able to situate these projects within both historical and contemporary contexts, as well as by analyzing current city council efforts, reviewing past council records, and stakeholders. I hypothesize that these developments will underperform projected economic impacts, reduce access to city services, and distribute wealth across the region unevenly.

This research draws on Field of Schemes by Neil DeMause and Joanna Cagan, Convention Center Follies by Heywood T. Sanders, and Urban Fortunes by John R. Logan and Harvey L. Molotch, along with reporting from the San Antonio Report, the San Antonio Express-News, Texas Public Radio, as well as public discourse from city and county leaders, investors, and developers, and analyzing economic impact studies from different consulting firms such as CSL International, and Stone Planning. By comparing the arguments and assumptions presented in these sources, I will analyze how the proposed developments are justified and how those justifications align with or differ from critiques found in the academic literature.

City leaders and consultants argue the downtown sports and entertainment district will generate major economic benefits, but existing venues such as the Alamodome, Frost Bank Center, Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, and Henry B. González Convention Center raise questions about whether long-term projections are realized. Ongoing budget and bond debates, along with rising property taxes and CPS Energy and SAWS rates, may also reduce service accessibility and limit equitable distribution of economic gains across San Antonio.

 

  1. The Role of Prosodic Transfer in Second Language Acquisition: What Teachers Need to Know

Bailyn Wood
University of Texas at Arlington

Prosodic transfer remains an area of second language acquisition that has received little attention. However, the research that has been conducted over the decades proves that its role is important within second language acquisition. Previous research and instructional materials largely focus on segmental features or the individual phonemes and do not provide much attention to suprasegmental features, such as intonation, stress, or duration. This literature review argues that more attention to prosody is needed to better support more natural target-like production and inform language teaching practices. The review synthesizes current research on prosodic transfer, examines its implications for language classrooms, and analyzes how widely used ESL curricula address prosody. Additionally, this project will present a case study of an adult native Poptí (Mayan) speaker who acquired English without any formal classroom instruction to help contribute to the current gap in the literature. This study will examine whether prosodic features, such as intonation and stress, transfer from Poptí into the speaker's second languages (English and Spanish). While the case study has not been completed, the study is expected to provide evidence regarding the patterns of prosodic transfer from Poptí. These findings are intended to contribute to a broader understanding of how languages interact, influence each other in second language acquisition, and highlight the need for more explicit instruction of prosody in language classrooms. Future research should investigate effective instructional approaches for teaching prosody and examine prosodic transfer across different languages to better understand how prosodic systems influence each other.

 

  1. Teachers' Opinions on What Supports Are Necessary for Less-Affluent Wisconsin Middle School Students to Achieve Academic Success and Well-Being

Isabella McColl
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Over the years, progress has been made in the world of education. New strategies have been developed to reach students' potential. However, despite all the progress, a gap still exists between the academic success rates of less affluent students and their more affluent peers. While there are many ideas for why we are seeing this gap, my research focuses on informing educators on how to support less affluent students. The research aims to understand the academic success gap between less affluent students and their more affluent peers and to determine supports that may offset this gap. The particular focus of the research aims to gain a deeper understanding of why we are seeing a gap in academic success rates. This research seeks to find ways to inform educators on how to support less affluent students. The study will focus on identifying the support less affluent students need to improve their academic success. To identify these supports, I will seek the opinions of Wisconsin middle school teachers who work with less affluent students. In this study, I will be reviewing the research on the academic success seen in less affluent students in comparison with their more affluent peers. Through my literature review, I will identify the barriers faced by less affluent students across the United States, along with resources to offset these barriers. With this information, I will conduct open-ended surveys with middle school educators in Wisconsin. Through this investigation, I aim to identify stronger resources that will support less affluent middle school students in Wisconsin in achieving better academic success.

 

  1. Historical Marketing Practices and Their Lasting Effects on Black Women: The Need for Authentic Corporate Marketing Strategies

Storri Murrell
University of Wisconsin – Whitewater

Historically, African American women have been misrepresented and overlooked as a viable consumer segment by large corporations. These misrepresentations have reinforced harmful stereotypes that leave lasting effects on the treatment and disenfranchisement of Black women, negatively impacting several social institutions (economically, politically, and familial). This research will directly address the following question: What are the long-term impacts of historical marketing practices targeting Black women, and how should corporations adapt their marketing strategies to better reflect the authentic experiences and needs of Black women? This research is significant because African American women are among the fastest-growing and most influential consumer segments in today's marketplace. As African American women's purchasing power grows, corporations have an opportunity to strengthen brand loyalty and competitive advantage. This qualitative study will use in-depth interviews with moderately to highly earning college-educated African American women to gain a detailed understanding of their perceptions of corporate marketing. The interviews will identify authentic representation while forming recommendations for improving marketing strategies. I anticipate that this study will reveal to the sample that they are an influential consumer segment that has historically been misrepresented. The study is also expected to identify recommendations for how companies can create more authentic and effective marketing strategies that better reflect the experiences and needs of Black women. In conclusion, this study examines historical marketing practices and the misrepresentation of African American women, along with the lasting social effects, while addressing opportunities for corporations to adopt more authentic and inclusive marketing strategies. Future research should evaluate how these evolving marketing strategies influence both consumer relationships and corporate performance over the next five to ten years.

 

  1. [DOCUMENT NOT PROVIDED]

Jermaria Seals
University

 

  1. Intergenerational Trauma and Healing: The Role of Art, Activism, and Maternal Bonds

Abril Garcia-Linn
University of Texas at San Antonio

In this project, I explore how art and activism can serve as healing practices that address intergenerational trauma through maternal bonds spanning three generations of Chicanas. Using a Chicana feminist lens, this project centers the lived experiences, embodied knowledge, and cultural intuition of my mother, my daughter, and myself. Through testimonio, autoethnography, plática, poetry, and arts-based research, I examine how our stories connect to larger histories of migration, survival, cultural preservation, and resistance.

This project argues that knowledge is not only created in academic spaces but also in the home, in the body, in community work, and through creative expression. By placing our testimonios in conversation with Chicana feminist scholarship, poetry, and art, I show how maternal bonds can carry both inherited wounds and the tools needed to heal them. Art and activism become ways to break the silence, preserve memory, and transform personal and collective pain into resistance. Ultimately, this paper argues that three generations of women in my family use creativity, love, and community care to imagine liberatory futures and create collective healing.

 

  1. Disidentification In Queer Latinx Men's Sexual Encounters

Cristian Rivera
University of Texas at San Antonio

This project examines how top and bottom labels function as sexual scripts that shape masculinity, power, and desire in queer men's hookup culture. While these labels are often treated as simple shorthand for sexual position, they also carry deeper meanings about dominance, submission, masculinity, femininity, control, shame, and value. Rather than understanding these labels as neutral, this project asks how they become tied to hierarchies that shape who is desired, pressured, fetishized, dismissed, or treated as disposable. Grounded in intersectionality, sexual script theory, bottomhood, and José Esteban Muñoz's theory of disidentification, this research explores how intersecting identities and systems of power shape queer sexual experiences. Through queer pláticas and personal positionality, this project asks how queer men negotiate, resist, or reshape the hierarchies attached to top/bottom labels through reciprocity, communication, mutual pleasure, care, aftercare, and role flexibility. Preliminary findings from three queer pláticas suggest that participants understand top/bottom/verse labels as socially constructed and shaped by patriarchy, heteronormativity, and colonial gender expectations. Participants connected "top" with masculinity, dominance, and control, while "bottom" was often linked to femininity, submission, and vulnerability. Early findings also show how hookup apps, racial fetishization, HIV stigma, and pressure to perform fixed roles shape queer sexual encounters. Ultimately, this project argues that the issue is not the labels themselves, but the hierarchies attached to them. Through disidentification, queer men can work with these labels without fully accepting their dominant meanings, reshaping them toward pleasure, agency, communication, and care.

 

  1. How Social Drivers of Health and Social Constructs Affect the Use of Prosthetic Devices

Shiann Ramirez
Oklahoma State University

This research aims to understand how different social drivers of health, like cost of prosthetic devices and accessibility of prosthetic care influence the use or abandonment of the prosthetic device. This research is important as the number of individuals eligible to use a prosthetic device is facing a rapid upward trend, and understanding the results of this project will help us understand how to best support these individuals. The methods used to conduct this research include an online electronic self-report survey that includes general demographics, information about their prosthetic use/abandonment, and how social drivers of health have influenced their use or abandonment of a prosthetic device. It is a cross-sectional survey that will be deployed to the target population for a specific period. The use of a prosthetic device is our binary outcome variable, with a yes/no result. At this time, the results and conclusions of this project are not available; they will be collected, analyzed, and reported when the data collection from the survey concludes. Life without a limb can have major impacts on an individual's life, like lowering their economic potential and reducing their life expectancy; in the future, the results of this project will help us understand and explore what factors would support the use of prosthetics devices for the population who do not use or have abandoned their prosthetic device.

 

  1. Evaluating the biological effects of basic PLA₂s from the Florida Cottonmouth on the innate immune response using a murine model

Clarissa Cavazos
Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Snake venom is composed of a variety of components, such as peptides, carbohydrates, and enzymes, some of which are highly toxic, such as phospholipases A₂ (PLA₂s). Basic PLA₂s are known to induce myotoxicity, inflammation, and anticoagulation, thus causing substantial damage to the host. Because a large portion of snake venom contains these toxic PLA₂s, their pharmacological effects have been well documented in vitro in some species; however, they are seldom examined in vivo, especially those found in North American snake venom. The goal of this research project is to evaluate the innate immune responses triggered by basic PLA₂s from the Florida cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti) using a murine model. By comparing the immune responses elicited by these toxins, the study will explore how components of snake venom either inhibit or stimulate immune activity. The experimental design will involve BALB/c mice, which will be injected via intramuscular (IM) and intraperitoneal (IP) routes to assess their local and systemic effects. This will be achieved by analyzing identifiable markers associated with immune response modulation. These findings will enhance the understanding of PLA₂s by revealing how they affect the host and how the immune system responds to them.

 

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  • Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center

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  • Friday, 2:00 - 3:00pm

Session Type

  • Poster Student Presentations
  • Student Presentations

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