Festival of Scholars

Student Abstracts

California Climate Compliance Automation System

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California's climate disclosure laws, Senate Bills 253 and 261, require approximately 2,600 to4,100 companies to report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions beginning in August 2026, yet fewaccessible tools exist to guide organizations through this complex regulatory process. Thisproject addresses that gap by developing a web-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)application that automates GHG emissions calculations and compliance report generation inaccordance with California's requirements. The system implements the GHG Protocol CorporateStandard's dual Scope 2 reporting methodology both location-based and market-basedcalculations alongside Scope 1 direct emissions, drawing on authoritative emission factordatabases from the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). A multi-tenantarchitecture supports secure, concurrent use across organizations, while an intuitive guidedinterface enables non-technical users to complete their first compliance report within one hour.The application generates California SB 253-compliant PDF reports complete with emissionsbreakdowns, methodology documentation, and audit trails. By making rigorous, accurate climatecompliance accessible without relying on expensive proprietary platforms, this system lowersthe barrier to regulatory adherence for small and mid-sized California businesses facing animminent and consequential new legal mandate.

Student(s):
Yasmine Afkir

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Formigo - Form Management System (Web App SaaS)

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ABSTRACT
Organizations across industries continue to rely on paper-based documentation that slows operations, complicates audits, and increases security risks. Existing solutions address parts of this problem but often carry licensing costs that put them out of reach for many organizations. Formigo is a web-based form management system designed to streamline data collection while safeguarding organizational boundaries. The platform enables any manager (aka "admin") to design customizable form templates with features like drag-and-drop interfaces, supporting dynamic fields, scheduling rules, and automated reminders. Employees (aka "users") can complete, save, and submit forms from any browser, with built-in auto‑save minimizing data loss during interruptions. Security is embedded in every stage of the system architecture: server‑side validation ensures that all API requests are authenticated and restricted to their respective organizations. Completed forms proceed through a structured review workflow, creating a tamper‑evident audit trail that reinforces accountability and compliance. Formigo demonstrates how enterprise‑grade security can exist on the web with a seamless user experience at an affordable, reasonable price.

Student(s):
Sean Aguilar

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Digital Scorecard for Golf

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This project presents the design and construction of a mobile application which enhances the experience of golf by simplifying scorekeeping and game setup. The app allows users to select a course, a specific game, and track player scores through a simple interface. A future integration feature will be an image based import of a course scorecard to create minimal input from the user. The application minimizes input and customization for multiple types of games and betting formats. Constructed with a modern mobile application framework and integrated with a backend database which supports course selection and future integration to allow users to add courses to the database. The application aims to simplify golf scoring on the course while introducing a digital solution for casual and competitive players.

Student(s):
Aidan Allen

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

A Comparison of Microfiber Quantities in Wild-Caught and Farmed Oysters from the California Coast

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Microfibers are fragmented contaminants from synthetic fabric materials like polyester and nylon. They are shed through laundry and wastewater, finding their way to and polluting the oceans. Filter feeders, like oysters, can be used as biomarkers to monitor the environmental conditions of their environment. Additionally, oysters are important in aquaculture, with farmed oysters being raised in a controlled environment where human activity is limited. Likewise, wild oysters can be found in areas with heavy human activity, influencing their exposure to microfibers. This study aims to see if there is a difference in microfiber quantities between wild and farmed raised oysters along the coast of California. Wild oysters were collected from Channel Islands pier, and farmed raised oysters were from Chesapeake Bay. Using KOH, organic material was dissolved and filtered to be observed under a microscope to count for microfibers. Data were collected to test the number of microfibers in different sized oysters. There was a significant microfiber difference between the wild and farmed samples (p < 0.0001) that was positively correlated with the size of the oyster. A total of 239 microfibers were quantified, 210 sourcing from 20 wild caught Channel Islands oysters, 14 from 7 oysters farmed from Chesapeake Bay, and 15 oysters farmed from Morro Bay. Between the three sample locations, the wild oysters collected from Channel Islands contained a significantly higher number of microfibers.This supports the idea that because of the controlled conditions, minimal microfiber exposure by human activity decreases the amount of microfibers found within of oysters and other filter feeders.

Student(s):
Kiara Apeles

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Simulating Cybersecurity Attacks in a Virtual Linux Environment

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Cybersecurity is something most systems deal with today, so having a basic understanding of how attacks work is important. In this project, I set up a virtual lab using Kali Linux as the attacker machine and Ubuntu Server as the defender to simulate real-world cybersecurity scenarios. The goal was to show how common attacks, such as port scanning and basic intrusion attempts, actually work and how they can be recognized within a controlled environment.
The lab environment was created using Oracle VirtualBox, where both machines were connected through a private virtual network to allow direct communication. Using tools available in Kali Linux, I performed network scans and simulated different attack scenarios, then observed how the Ubuntu system responded, especially when identifying open ports, active services, and potential vulnerabilities. I also looked into different types of attacks to determine which ones were realistic and appropriate to demonstrate within the scope of this project.
After setting everything up, I ran multiple test scenarios, mainly focusing on repeated network scans and connection attempts, to evaluate system behavior and consistency in results. These tests showed that even simple configurations can expose weaknesses if a system is not properly secured. Overall, this project helped me better understand both the attacking and defending sides of cybersecurity and gave me a stronger foundation to build on.

Student(s):
Hilda Arellano

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Uncovering EmrR Role and Control of MFS Pumps in E. coli

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Multidrug efflux pumps found in bacteria are important to promote resistance to several classes of drugs. It has been demonstrated that EmrAB-TolC, an major-facilitator family (MFS) efflux pump found in Escherichia coli, has two components which is encoded by the emrRAB operon. EmrR is a known repressor of the emrRAB operon. Previous studies from the Harmon Lab, found several genes whose expression is increased when emrR is deleted including four pumps, ygaY, fsr, yebQ, and narK, found in the same family as EmrB. My project examines if EmrR acts as a direct regulator of those four genes using a technique called Electrophorotic Mobility Shift Assay, an in vitro technique to determine if DNA-binding proteins can interact with specific DNA sequences. Finding that EmrR protein binds to the DNA sequences in vitro, would suggest that EmrR acts as a master regulator of MFS family pumps.

Student(s):
Aarya Bangali

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dana Harmon

AudioMemory: A Web-Based Personal Music Timeline Visualizer

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Music streaming services like Spotify track millions of user listening habits, but current tools offer limited ways to explore complete listening history beyond annual summaries. Understanding long-term musical preferences and how they evolve provides valuable insights into personal identity and cultural engagement.
The purpose of this project was to develop AudioMemory, a web-based application that transforms raw Spotify streaming data into interactive visual timelines, allowing users to explore their complete listening history and discover patterns in their music consumption habits.
The application was built using Flask (Python) for backend data processing and Chart.js for frontend visualizations. Users first request their complete listening history from Spotify, which provides exported streaming data as JSON files. Once received, users upload these files through a drag-and-drop interface. The system parses thousands of listening records, filters plays by duration, calculates aggregate statistics, and identifies temporal patterns including monthly trends, hourly listening habits, and day-of-week preferences. The data is then visualized through interactive charts displaying monthly activity timelines, top artists and tracks, and listening pattern heat maps.
Testing with a dataset of 62,753 listening records spanning 13 months demonstrated the application successfully processes large datasets in under 2 seconds. The system identified 2,466 unique artists, 30,026 valid plays totaling 1,491 hours, and revealed distinct listening patterns throughout different times of day and week. Unlike existing tools focused on annual summaries, AudioMemory provides users with a complete retrospective view of their musical journey, helping them rediscover forgotten favorites and understand how their relationship with music has changed.

Student(s):
Nicolas Barrios

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Approach Strategies and Trunk Control in the Flag‑Pulling Action of Flag Football

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This study analyzed lower extremity movement strategies and trunk control as defensive players approach the flag pull action. Nineteen female flag football players with high school varsity experience or higher volunteered for this study. Participants were instructed to pull the flag of a stationary dummy placed 3 yards away as fast as possible. Trials were conducted 45 degrees left from center, forward, and 45 degrees right from center. Motion capture (Vicon, 120 Hz) analyzed kinematics. Repeated measures ANOVA analyzed trunk angle and center of mass (CM) position across times (first movement, reach and flag pull, ɑ = 0.05). Stance and swing legs showed little directional bias, while approach direction was predominantly forward. The penultimate step was typically opposite the trial direction, whereas the final step most often aligned with the direction. Post-pull movement also generally followed the same direction, although variations occurred due to factors such as full stops. Trunk flexion angle did not change across time events. Forward trials (38.4±8.6°) had greater trunk flexion than right trials (37.2±9.4°, p<0.05). Significant interaction between time and direction was found (p=0.012) but individual differences were not determined. Trunk flexion is seen throughout the motion but participants were more upright at reach and flag pull. Center of mass height was lower at flag pull (0.76±0.1m) than reach (0.84±0.03m, p<0.01) and first movement (0.85±0.05m, p<0.01). Women’s flag football players use directionally specific foot placement strategies in a flexed trunk position to lower their CM at the flag pull.

Student(s):
James Bermudez, Joli Fong, Samantha Swerdloff, Rianne Aguilar, Claudia Delacruz

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Travis Peterson

The Effects of Myricetin, a Plant-Derived Bioactive Compound, on Cancer Cells in Vitro

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Moringa oleifera, colloquially known as horseshoe radish, is a plant used extensively as cultural herbal medicine throughout African and Asian countries, such as Nigeria, India, and the Philippines. Moringa contains a variety of bioactive compounds throughout its entirety as a plant, leading to its interest in biomedical research applications. Myricetin is a flavonoid that is abundantly found in Moringa that exhibits strong anti-oxidant properties. Previous studies have shown that Myricetin demonstrates anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects in vitro. Our research aims to further investigate the anti-cancer properties of Myricetin in vitro by assessing its effects on cell viability, migration, apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokine secretion in various concentrations of 0uM, 25uM, 50uM, and 100uM in osteosarcoma and leukemic cell lines.

Our study found that Myricetin significantly reduces cell migration, decreases cell viability, and promotes apoptosis across all tested cell lines in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, we found that Myricetin inhibits the IL-6 secretion in osteosarcoma cells, an inflammatory cytokine linked to tumor growth and metastasis. Further studies will be conducted to examine the effects of Myricetin on protein and gene expression and potency when used with common cancer drugs in treated cancer cells. Our findings emphasize Myricetin as a potential chemosensitizer for current targeted therapies to increase the effectiveness of these pre-existing therapies against more aggressive forms of cancer. As cancer continues to affect the global population, there is an increasing need for new and more effective treatments, especially as more patients develop resistance to existing therapies.

Student(s):
Nevign Angelique Besas

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber

Leg Kinematics During Anticipated and Unanticipated Backward Running Cutting Movements in Female Soccer Players

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Soccer requires frequent change of direction under high-intensity circumstances that place athletes under increased risk of injury. Limited research has been completed on anticipated and unanticipated backward running cutting; however, research suggests that training programs should include running backward to decrease the risk of injury, increase lower limb strength, and improve change of direction performance (Uthoff et al., 2018). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of whether the change of direction in an athlete’s preferred direction was anticipated or unanticipated on preferred leg kinematics in female soccer players during a backward change of direction movement. Eight female collegiate soccer players participated in this study using eight Vicon Vantage 5 cameras (120 Hz) and Nexus 2.15 software to capture and analyze the data. Participants were directed to run backwards, cutting to the left or right when given a signal. For anticipated trials, the participant knew which direction they would go at the signal. For unanticipated trials, participants did not know which direction they were cutting and shadowed the investigator's movement. The trials were analyzed from the final touchdown of the preferred foot prior to the change of direction until the non-preferred foot first landed after the direction change. Lower extremity angles during this phase were obtained and compared between conditions (anticipated vs. unanticipated) using a dependent t-test (p < 0.05).

Student(s):
Maya Blodgett, Anna Evenson

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Event Selection & Machine Learning for Detecting SUSY Events in CERN Collision Data

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In the ongoing search for Supersymmetric (SUSY) particles, this project focuses on identifying potential signatures of the Supersymmetric Top Quark, or stop quark (t~), produced in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. SUSY provides a theoretical framework extending the Standard Model, offering both a path toward unifying the fundamental forces and a compelling dark matter candidate—the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). Earlier stages of this research developed a CMSSW-based analysis framework using FWLiteHistograms to process simulated CMS collision data through di-lepton decay channels—electron-electron (ee), muon-muon (μμ), and electron-muon (eμ). Preselection cuts on kinematic variables such as missing transverse energy (MET), invariant mass, and lepton isolation were optimized to separate SUSY stop signals from dominant background processes including tt¯, WZ, WW, and Drell–Yan events. Building on that foundation, the current phase transitioned the analysis to a NanoAOD-based workflow utilizing the Coffea library and Awkward Arrays in a Jupyter environment, enabling faster and more scalable event processing. New b-tagging algorithms, jet energy scale (JES) corrections, and MET resolution refinements were implemented, alongside comprehensive systematic studies. The team is now awaiting updated simulation samples to validate the refined selection criteria and to train a boosted decision tree (BDT) classifier for improved SUSY signal discrimination. This work contributes to the broader effort to uncover evidence for supersymmetry—an essential step toward unifying the fundamental forces and identifying the nature of dark matter.

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Student(s):
Khusanjon Bobokhojaev

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Sebastian Carron Montero

Determining Substrates of the emrAB-tolC Pump; Development of the Influx Inhibition Assay

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EmrAB-TolC is a multidrug efflux pump in E. coli that exports harmful compounds, including antibiotics and toxic metabolites. Deletion of the emrB gene, encoding the pump’s inner membrane transporter, leads to accumulation of TCA cycle intermediates such as succinate, malate, and α-ketoglutarate (Harmon et al., 2025). This suggests that EmrAB-TolC contributes to maintaining intracellular metabolic balance. My project investigates how succinate interacts with the EmrAB-TolC pump and its respective regulatory mechanisms to better understand its role in metabolic homeostasis. To assess this interaction, efflux inhibition assays were carried out using ethidium bromide (EtBr) as a fluorescent substitute for efflux competition. EtBr, a fluorescent molecule that binds to DNA, is actively effluxed under normal cellular conditions. In this study, EtBr is used to evaluate potential competitive inhibition of efflux with succinate. This experiment aims to quantify the competition between EtBr and succinate for the EmrAB-TolC pump. With further data, this approach may help determine whether succinate is a direct substrate of the EmrAB-TolC efflux system.

Student(s):
Ian Boyd

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dana Harmon

Machine Learning Automated Stock Trading Program

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Algorithmic trading now dominates modern financial markets, yet building a personal automated trading system has historically required institutional resources and expertise beyond the reach of most individuals. This project develops a machine learning–based stock trading system capable of making autonomous buy, sell, and hold decisions across a portfolio of large-cap equities. A fifteen-year dataset of historical price and volume data is used to calculate technical indicators, including momentum oscillators, trend-following signals, and volatility measures. These serve as inputs to a supervised classification model trained to predict next-day price direction. The model’s signals are then translated into trading actions through a portfolio tracking framework that maintains a running record of holdings, cash, and net returns. Strategy performance is evaluated on five years of out-of-sample data and compared against an equal-weight buy-and-hold benchmark using risk-adjusted metrics including cumulative return, Sharpe ratio, and maximum drawdown. The final market timing strategy achieved a 357.9% cumulative return with a risk-adjusted Sharpe ratio of 1.41, outperforming the benchmark’s Sharpe of 1.21 despite the inclusion of transaction costs. These results suggest that a data-driven approach to market regime detection can generate a meaningful and measurable edge over passive market participation.

Student(s):
Jack Bradbury

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Berberine Reduces the Viability and Proliferation of A-673 Cancer Cells in vitro

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There is an increasing need for complementary treatments to cancer as patients face adverse side effects of chemotherapeutics. Attention to herbal medicines historically used in Traditional Chinese Medicine has increased as a possible source of bioactive compounds that can support conventional therapies. Berberine, a natural isoquinoline alkaloid herbal compound, has shown promising anti-cancer effects in other studies. In this study, we tested various concentrations of berberine chloride (10, 20, 40, 80uM) against A-673 cells in vitro, at 24, 48, and 72hr marks, using flow-cytometry, microscopy, and hemocytometry. We found that berberine decreased cell proliferation and viability, inducing a dose and time-dependent cell death in the A-673 cells. Although cell death increased, berberine was not found to affect apoptosis in cells after 72 hours as determined by FITC/PI staining and flow-cytometry. Berberine in this experiment exhibits anti-cancer effects on A-673 cells by decreasing proliferation and viability, showing its potential as a complementary therapy. Future directions include additional flow-cytometry trials to further characterize the mode of cell death, testing against additional cell lines, as well as primary tissue such as canine tumors.

Student(s):
Nicolas Caputo

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Chad Barber

The Role of EmrAB-TolC in Mitigating Oxidative Stress in E. coli

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In this research, we investigated the role of the emrR gene in E. coli’s resistance to oxidative stress. The emrR gene represses the emrAB gene (1), which, when expressed, codes for the synthesis of the emrAB-TolC pump. EmrAB-TolC is a multidrug efflux pump (1) that extrudes toxic materials and increases the cell’s resistance to oxidative stress, and when inhibited, we expected to see a decrease in the cell’s ability to survive in oxidative stress conditions. We tested this hypothesis by examining bacterial motility in semi-solid agar, determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in both hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 0.6 μM potassium tellurite (K2TeO3) (2), and running growth curve trials in the MIC of H2O2. In all three experiments, we did not find a significant, replicable difference between the wild-type E. coli and the emrR deletion variant. This was contrary to our expectations, but provided valuable information on the potential role of efflux pumps such as EmrAB-TolC on the resistance to oxidative stress.

Student(s):
Oliver Caputo

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dana Harmon

Effects of Anticipation on Lower-Limb Kinematics During Change of Direction in Female Collegiate Soccer Players

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Non-contact injuries to the knee joint are most common in women's soccer. Unanticipatedcutting movements performed on the unpreferred limb during a backpedal transition mayproduce a mechanically vulnerable movement pattern. This is due to deceleration,suboptimal lower-limb kinematics, and increased knee joint loading. These conditionsincrease anterior cruciate ligament injury risk. The purpose of this study was to determine ifbeing informed of the direction of change before initiating the movement alters jointkinematics when compared to not being informed. Eight female collegiate soccer playersfrom California Lutheran University were recruited. The participants performed twoconditions, both being initiated by backpedaling at full speed. In the first condition theathletes were informed prior to starting the backpedal movement what direction they wouldturn to when told to change direction. In the second condition, the subject was not informedin advance, rather they were informed which direction they would turn by a movementmade by the researcher after they had initiated backpedaling. Eight Vicon Vantage 5cameras (120 Hz) and motion capture software (Nexus 2.15) were used to collect markerdata and to compute joint angles of the hip, ankle, and knee and stride length during thechange of direction. A dependent t-test (p<0.05) was used to compare stride length postchange of direction, and joint excursion throughout the movement.

Student(s):
Cole Cederwall, Jack Gominiak

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Too CEWL for School

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As urbanization expands and alters ecosystems, it is important to understand how urban environments differ in abiotic factors and how species respond to those differences. This knowledge can inform land management and conservation strategies. In urban environments, irrigation can provide consistent water availability and moist conditions, potentially supporting organisms that would be limited by drier conditions in their native environments. This project provides insight into how Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) exhibit morphological differences in different environments. We quantified habitat differences between two sites, along with 10 other universities and their respective research teams, in southern California, USA. On each campus, we collected data from urban (on-campus) and natural (off-campus) study sites. Each university captured lizards, measured lizard snout-to-vent length (SVL, body size), and cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL) between natural and urban habitats. Results indicate that male lizards had no significant difference in CEWL or body condition. Males significantly differed in SVL and mass, with the natural lizards being larger. In females, there was no difference in mass and SVL across different environments. However, there was a significant difference in body condition (p= 0.46), with urban lizards having higher body condition. Additionally, in females, CEWL differed significantly (p = 0.46), with natural lizards having higher rates of water loss. These findings may reflect the consequences of higher mean temperatures and less moisture in natural environments. While the effect of urbanization on males appears to be unclear, results suggest that there is a stronger influence on female physiology.

Student(s):
Cristiann Dipietrantonio

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Kris Karsten

Investigating the Role of Female Choice on Seasonal Fattening in Male Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri collinsi)

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Female choice, a form of sexual selection, often leads to the evolution of male ornaments. Squirrel monkeys (genus Saimiri) are small, neotropical primates that live in large social groups and are seasonal breeders. Seasonal “fattening” in male squirrel monkeys is a hormonally driven increase in body mass that occurs prior to and during the breeding season, yet its role in mating remains poorly understood. We tested whether females preferentially associate and mate with “fatter” males, to examine the relationship between male fattening and female choice. Behavioral observations were collected from two wild social groups of Saimiri collinsi, in Eastern Amazonia, during three mating seasons (2023-2025; 414 contact hours). Males were categorized visually into three fatness grades (1=least fattened; 3=fattest). Focal samples were collected on adults, noting their nearest neighbor within 3 meters. We also recorded all male-female sociosexual interactions, noting if females were receptive to male solicitations. Females copulated mostly with grade 3 males (88%, N=50 copulations). Grade 3 males spent more time in proximity to adult females compared to leaner males. Of the 1,852 observed sexual solicitations by males, 75% were initiated by grade 3 males. Females also responded more positively to sociosexual behaviors from these males. These results indicate that seasonal fattening may function as an honest signal of male condition that influences mate choice in squirrel monkeys. Our findings support the hypothesis that intersexual selection plays an important role in shaping this male trait. This research was funded by NSF (Award no. BCS-2140666).

Student(s):
Casey Edwards

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

The Effect of Turning Direction on Kinetics During the Transition Phase of a Backpedal-to-Sprint Movement

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In sports such as American football, defensive backs must rapidly transition from a backpedal to a forward sprint using a hip flip technique when needing to effectively guard receivers. Similarly, baseball outfielders perform a comparable movement when tracking a pop fly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanics of the hip flip technique by analyzing the forces produced during this movement. Ten physically active, college-aged participants were recruited to participate in this study. Participants were instructed to backpedal and, upon reaching the force plates, perform a hip flip toward their preferred or non-preferred direction, as instructed, to simulate sport-specific movement. A trial was used for analysis if their entire foot made contact with the force plates. Motion capture and force plate analysis were used to quantify movement and force production during the transition. The transition phase was defined as the period from initial contact of the plant foot on the force plate to initial contact of the subsequent step used to accelerate forward. Kinetic variables, including ground reaction forces, braking and propulsive impulses, and contact time, were examined to assess how force production compared between preferred and non-preferred turning directions. Dependent t-tests were used to determine significance between conditions (p<0.05). Understanding these mechanics may provide insight into movement efficiency and inform training strategies for athletes performing rapid directional transitions in their respective sports.

Student(s):
Tyler Enderle, Richard Garboski

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Investiagting the Role of the Phage Shock Protein System in Escherichia coli

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The phage shock protein (psp) system is a conserved bacterial stress response pathway that maintains inner membrane integrity and cellular energy homeostasis in Escherichia coli. While its role in mitigating membrane stress is well established, its potential involvement in regulating bacterial motility remains unclear. This study investigates the relationship between psp-mediated stress responses and motility, as well as the potential connection between the psp system and efflux pump activity. Previous studies suggest that hypermotility observed in certain bacterial mutants represents a generalized response to membrane stress rather than a direct consequence of disrupted metabolite processing.
To test this, motility assays were conducted on E. coli strains lacking psp genes (ΔpspA–ΔpspE), and β-galactosidase assays and green fluorescent protein assays were used to assess acrAB and emrAB efflux pump expression. Results showed that ΔpspA, ΔpspC, ΔpspD, and ΔpspE strains exhibited significantly increased motility compared to the wild-type control, while ΔpspB showed no significant difference. Efflux pump expression remained largely unchanged in ΔpspA–C, but ΔpspE showed increased expression, and ΔpspD showed decreased expression when compared to the wild type strain. These findings suggest that the phage shock protein system may be indirectly involved in managing envelope stress in conjunction with efflux pumps.

Student(s):
Ashley Escamilla

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dana Harmon

Is Seasonal Fattening in Male Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) Associated with Male-Male Competition?

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Sexual dimorphism describes trait differences between males and females of the same species. In primates, body size dimorphism can help with male-male competition for females. Adult male squirrel monkeys (genus Saimiri) undergo a hormonally-induced “fattening” in their 8-week breeding season. Possibly, male fattening is a sexually-selected trait that allows fatter males to have higher access to mates. This field study examined whether the male fattening trait in Saimiri collinsi is linked to advantages acquired during male-male competition events. We hypothesized fatter males would gain more access to females due to their higher competitive abilities. We predicted that more robust males would participate in and win more contests. We collected behavioral data on two squirrel monkey social groups during three mating seasons (2023-2025; N=414 contact hours), in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil. Study groups averaged 46 individuals, 12 were adult males. Males were classified on a visual scale of 1 to 3 (1=smallest, 3=fattest). Focal animal samples were used to construct nearest neighbor budgets for different males. We recorded the initiator, recipient, winner of male-male contests, and copulation occurrences. Grade 3 males were responsible for 88% of the copulations (N=50). During male-male contests, females were within 3m 73% of the time (N=164 observations). Grade 3 males won 67% of competitive interactions, initiating 71%. Fatter males are more competitively dominant and gain more access to females, suggesting that the degree of fattening of male S. collinsi affects their competitive ability and mating success. Funded by NSF (Award no. BCS-2140666).

Student(s):
Bella Fuentes

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Anita Stone

Designing a Binding Study for NIS Synthetase FsIA

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Iron acquisition through siderophore molecules is critical to the survival and virulence of pathogenic bacteria such as Francisella tularensis. FslA, an NIS synthetase, is a key protein that helps to make a siderophore molecule called rhizoferrin that allows iron scavenging by F. tularensis. This promising drug target is increasingly associated with virulence, and other closely related NIS synthetase enzymes, such as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) enzymes SfnA and SfnB would also be targeted by this new class of antibiotics. However, there is limited data on the properties of FslA. This study aims to pilot a thermodynamic binding assay for FslA, which will be a fundamental component of structure-based drug design.
The Hoffmann lab is interested in characterizing the basic biochemical and mechanistic features of NIS Synthetases, primarily in DesD and FslA, to prepare for future drug design. Techniques include kinetic turnover to explore the effective inhibition by drugs in the future, binding studies to ensure preferential binding of inhibitors over substrates, and structural studies to maximize potential electrostatic and size complementarity of the inhibitor. Studies in the Hoffmann Lab on other NIS Synthetase DesD suggest that thermodynamics can be well characterized using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). This study aims to troubleshoot FslA overexpression and design an ITC-based binding protocol. If successful, the protocol will be utilized throughout the drug design process, and the importance of critical functional groups in the substrates which can be used in the future to optimize drug binding affinity and specificity will be quantified.

Student(s):
Undral Ganbaatar

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Katherine Hoffmann

A Computational Pipeline for Spherical Surface Reconstruction and Map Projection

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We present a computational pipeline for reconstructing approximately spherical surfaces from multiple images and analyzing them via map projections. A Python script is developed that takes six images of an object from orthogonal views and reconstructs a textured 3D sphere by mapping image data using inverse orthographic projection. The reconstructed surface is then projected onto the plane using either stereographic (conformal) or Lambert cylindrical (equal-area) projection.
This work is motivated by imaging techniques in medical and biological contexts, where curved surfaces are commonly flattened for visualization and quantitative analysis. By framing the six-view reconstruction as a discrete atlas for the sphere, the project provides an explicit computational connection to concepts from differential geometry. The resulting pipeline serves both as an educational tool for understanding surface parameterization and projection, and as a simplified model of key steps in modern imaging workflows, while also producing visually compelling representations of spherical data.

Student(s):
Carys Garvey

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Mike Gagliardo

The Topology of Manifolds

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This project explores the structure of topological manifolds through a unique blend of formal mathematics, pedagogy, and creative visualization. I investigated core concepts in topology—such as compactness, connectedness, separation axioms, and locally-Euclidean spaces—and how they give rise to the manifold structure. Alongside rigorous proofs and theoretical study, I wrote Exploring Manifolds: A Guided Introduction through Topology and Analysis, a 50-page pedagogical resource designed to make abstract concepts accessible to students through intuitive explanations, visuals, and cross-disciplinary analogies.
In line with my passion for blending art and mathematics, I developed an interactive Python-based tool that creates digital artwork by visualizing vector fields on Seifert surfaces derived from topological knots, leveraging the fact that these surfaces are 2-manifolds. This tool not only illustrates topological concepts but also serves as an artistic expression of the beauty and structure of topology!

Student(s):
Carys Garvey

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Nathan Carlson

Strength-Versus Power-Oriented Training on 1RM Bench Press Performance

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Resistance training is used to improve muscular strength and power. However, what is considered optimal loading to maximize strength adaptations is debated. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a strength and power-oriented training program on one-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press in collegiate soccer players. Fifteen collegiate soccer players from California Lutheran University participated in a 4-week training program during their spring season. Participants were divided into two groups: a strength group that performed 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 85% of 1RM, and a power group that performed 3 sets of 5 repetitions at 75% of 1RM. Both groups were instructed to perform repetitions with maximum intent to complete as many reps as possible if failure occurred before reaching 5 repetitions. Both groups were given 3 minutes of rest between sets. 1RM bench press was assessed before and after the program. It was hypothesized that the strength-oriented training protocol would result in greater improvements in maximal strength compared to the power-oriented group. These findings aim to contribute to understanding how different loading strategies influence strength development in athletic populations.

Student(s):
John Gominiak

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly

Thermodynamic Characteristics of Metal Ion Binding to Model Chelating Agents by ITC

View abstract

This study evaluated the thermodynamics of metal ions binding to chelating agents by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Corn cellulose was mechanically processed as a model system for a low-cost and used as a sustainable bio-adsorbent for heavy metal ions (cadmium and nickel) in solution. EDTA was used at varying concentrations, along with differences in metals and metal concentrations, used as a reference chelating agent for comparison of thermodynamic characteristics. Including binding affinity (Kd), stoichiometry of molecular interactions (n), and binding enthalpy (ΔH) changes. Initial results indicated that a 0.05 M EDTA solution demonstrated lower K d values and near 1:1 value related to n with metals, especially nickel. Moreover, high exothermic ΔH values were revealed at higher metal concentrations (up to 25 ppm), indicating that heat is released upon successful binding. Future studies will focus on testing additional metals, pH effects on EDTA complexation potential, and investigating additional metal concentration ranges.

Student(s):
Natalie Guillen

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Grady Hanrahan

Metrizability in Topological Spaces

View abstract

This project studies when a topological space is metrizable, culminating in the Urysohn Metrization Theorem with focus on the roles of regularity, Hausdorffness, and second countability in determining when a topology arises from a metric. Urysohn’s Lemma provides the key step by separating disjoint closed sets with continuous functions. Using a countable family of such functions, the space is embedded into a countable product of intervals, where a metric can be defined and pulled back to the original space. Examples are included to show why each hypothesis is necessary and to illustrate the distinction between metrizable and non-metrizable spaces.

Student(s):
Riley Hulit

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Nathan Carlson

When Language Becomes a Barrier: Access to Rehabilitation and Health Education in Spanish-Speaking Communities

View abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine Spanish speakers’ views on accessibility to rehabilitation services and education materials.
Design and Setting: Cross-sectional survey study. Participants included 35 Spanish speaking individuals.
Subjects: Participants were asked questions on a Likert scale regarding access to rehab services, provider communication, health education material availability and understanding, and barriers they faced while receiving care.
Variables: Frequency, percentage, and median calculations were computed for all survey questions. One-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were utilized to determine whether the responses were significantly above or below the neutral midpoint.
Main Outcome Measures: We assessed views on access to care, communication with providers, availability of health education materials, and clarity of health education materials.
Results: Findings revealed significant challenges to accessing rehab services and health information. Spanish speakers noted feeling there were over 90% of the time significant barriers to finding Spanish-speaking providers and encountering language barriers. Sixty percent noted having difficulty accessing rehab services. One hundred percent of individuals stated they do not feel like they know everything about their rehab plan. Individuals felt education materials were mostly confused (71.4%), not available in Spanish (34.3%) and not culturally relevant (77.2%). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed that responses were significantly below the midpoint. (p < .05).
Conclusion: Spanish speakers may face linguistic and systematic roadblocks when receiving rehab services and health education. Culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions are needed to address healthcare access and communication to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Student(s):
Valeria Islas-Alvarado

Faculty Mentor:
Louise A. Kelly

Intervention to Reduce Stress in the Latino Community- Fuerza y Bienestar - Strength for theMind and Body

View abstract

Background: Latino communities experience disproportionately high chronic stress related tostructural inequities, language/cultural barriers, discrimination, financial strain, and lack ofaccess to mental healthcare services. Exercise may be a viable alternative or adjunct strategy toimprove mental health outcomes for Latino individuals. Exercise referral interventions havetraditionally been implemented without tailoring to Latino communities; thus, the currentrandomized controlled trial aims to determine if a culturally tailored, community-based strengthtraining intervention can reduce perceived stress among Latino adults.Mehtods: Participants will be randomly assigned to either the strength training group (n =~60–128) or waitlist control group (n = ~60–128). Inclusion criteria specify all participants mustbe Latino, 18 years or older, and experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress. Thestrength training group will participate in a 12-week strength training program consisting of threesupervised, bilingual resistance training workouts per week in a culturally responsive andaccessible environment that promotes community among participants. Participants will completethe Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) at baseline, midpoint (6 weeks), and post-intervention (12weeks).Anticipated Results: The primary hypothesis predicts that scores on perceived stress will belower for participants in the strength training group compared to participants in the waitlistcontrol group. Group (intervention vs. waitlist control) by time (baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention) will be examined using mixed-design ANOVA.Discussion: The proposed study will likely find that engagement in structured strength trainingreduces perceived stress among Latino adults and that this type of exercise referral interventionmay be one method of delivering scalable mental health care to minority populations.

Student(s):
Angela Martinez Dominguez, Vanessa Facey, Rory Peterson, Miguelangel Bolio

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Louise Kelly

The Effect of Turning Direction on Lower Extremity Kinematics During Backpedal Transition to Hip-Opening Flip

View abstract

While previous research has examined cutting or change of direction maneuvers frequently used in sports, these tasks are typically performed from forward running (Nishizawa et al., 2022). However, many sport-specific situations require athletes to transition from backward running into a cutting or lateral movement, which may require different biomechanical demands. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the biomechanical effects of transitioning from backward running to lateral hip opening (left vs. right) in an athletic population. Methods: A sample of 10 collegiate male football or baseball athletes performed a backwards run that then transitioned into a left hip opening flip and a right hip opening flip separately. Lower extremity kinematic measurements, such as knee valgus angles, hip external/interal rotation angles, trunk rotation angles, and step length, were collected using motion capture cameras (eight Vicon Vantage 5 cameras obtaining data at 120Hz) and Nexus 2.15 software to compute kinematic data. Dependent-t tests were used to determine differences with alpha= 0.05.

Student(s):
Neiman McCoy, Ryan Cynkin-Hardy, Luis Luhrs, Tyler Enderle, & Richard Garboski

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

First Spin: A Mobile App for Personalized Daily Music Exploration

View abstract

This project presents First Spin, a mobile application designed to improve the music discovery experience through a personalized, daily format. While modern streaming platforms provide recommendation systems, users often encounter overwhelming amounts of content or repetitive suggestions, making it difficult to engage meaningfully with new music. First Spin addresses this problem by delivering a small, curated set of songs each day, encouraging more intentional listening and reducing decision fatigue. The application incorporates user listening preferences to guide recommendations while still introducing new and diverse content. In addition, each daily selection includes contextual information about the songs and artists, allowing users to better understand and connect with the music. By combining personalization with a limited, structured approach, this project aims to create a more focused and engaging music discovery experience, while supporting future expansion and deeper integration with external music platforms. The application was created to support music discovery and encourage users to return each day to explore new music.

Student(s):
Trevor McGinnis

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Tetris in Java Swing

View abstract

This project focuses on the design and implementation of the puzzle game Tetris within the context of software engineering and game development. The goal is to recreate the core mechanics of the game while maintaining a clear and well-structured object oriented design. A systemic development process is followed, beginning with planning and system modeling using Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams to define class structure, object relationships, and system behavior. The implementation reflects essential gameplay features, such as piece movement and rotation, collision detection, line-clearing mechanics, and game state management within a fixed grid environment. In addition to the standard gameplay, multiple game modes are incorporated to extend functionality and demonstrate flexibility in design, including variations that emphasize scoring and dynamic challenges. The project highlights the importance of organization, abstraction, and event-driven design in building interactive systems. Overall, it serves as a practical application of core programming and software engineering principles in the development of a structured and interactive game.

Student(s):
Andrew Mendez

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Valhalla: A Mythologically-Integrated Life-Sim Game

View abstract

This project focuses on designing a life-sim video game that combines farming, fishing, and social interaction with characters based on different mythologies. Many life-sim games, like Stardew Valley, focus on building relationships and managing daily tasks, but what makes my game different is the infusion of multiple mythologies. The goal of this project is to give players a relaxing escape from their everyday lives while also teaching them about different mythologies and their gods. In this game, players help restore a small town while growing crops, fishing, and forming relationships with both regular townspeople and gods such as Ra, Zeus, and Odin. These gods can interact with the player in different ways, like giving small rewards, reacting to offerings, or being a larger part of the town. This project demonstrates a simple way to expand the life-sim genre by mixing everyday activities with mythological storytelling.

Student(s):
Christian Meyer

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Cyborgan

View abstract

As my Capstone project, I developed "Cyborgan", a cross-platform software synthesizer.
Cyborgan takes some inspiration from electric organs, with nine drawbars used to control the volumes of nine wavetable oscillators pitched at various multiples of the base pitch of a note played. Unlike electric organs, each of these oscillators may have their volumes further modulated by a corresponding envelope generator; in addition, a tenth envelope generator modulates the synthesizer's overall output volume. Each envelope generator incorporates six parameters, consisting of Delay, Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain, and Release, granting fine control over how an oscillator's volume changes over time. The independence of each of the ten envelopes allows for the creation of evolving timbres atypical of both electric organs and conventional synthesizers, such as fading different oscillators in and out.
Cyborgan is cross-platform, compatible with MIDI, and usable as a standalone program or as a VST3 or AU plugin for a digital audio workstation.

Student(s):
Adam Noland

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Formalization and Analysis of the Face-Turning Octahedron Puzzle

View abstract

This poster comprises a brief group-theoretic analysis of the Face-Turning Octahedron (or ”FTO”), a niche combination puzzle analogous to Rubik’s Cube. This analysis is done as a pure-mathematical exercise for the purpose of demonstrating competence in group theory. We establish a formal definition of the FTO group by defining a set of basic moves of the puzzle and describing their effects on the pieces of the puzzle by way of a group action. Building upon this definition, we examine several properties of the FTO, including limits on how the puzzle’s pieces may be manipulated, the group’s order, and its structural similarities to the more popular Pyraminx puzzle. These properties are found by way of both group-theoretic and combinatorial methods.

Student(s):
Adam Noland

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Karrolyne Fogel

Structural Studies of NIS Synthetase FslA

View abstract

Francisella tularensis is a pathogenic bacterium that creates siderophores—small iron-chelating molecules that correspond to virulence factors for bacterial infections. When infecting a eukaryotic host, these siderophores have a high affinity for acquiring essential iron compounds and tend to outcompete the host for this iron. There are two main pathways of assembly for siderophores, one of which remains relatively understudied: the Nonribosomal peptide synthetase-Independent Siderophore pathway (NIS). In every NIS pathway is at least one NIS synthetase, a unique family of proteins that are particularly good drug targets due to their novel structure, unusual adenylate-forming catalytic mechanism, and increasing association with bacterial virulence.

In F. tularensis, the siderophore rhizoferrin is catalyzed by FslA, which is an NIS enzyme that comprises the entire pathway creating rhizoferrin. Crystallization of the FslA synthetase from F. tularensis has not yet been successfully achieved. Purification of wild-type FslA in-house has proven challenging due to the production of rhizoferrin, which we believe is stripping essential iron from the host cell during overexpression and potentially interfering with immobilized metal affinity chromatography in the purification step. Therefore, the first goal of this project is to successfully overexpress wtFslA, with a redesigned cell-free overexpression method we will pilot this summer. Following successful overexpression, we will purify using a streptavidin tag rather than metal ion affinity; this should avoid our previous issues with rhizoferrin contamination in the wild-type protein purification.

Student(s):
Samridhi Ojha

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Katherine Hoffmann

The Effect of Load Movement on Squat Variations

View abstract

The squat is a fundamental movement used in daily activities as well as in performance and rehabilitation settings (Lynn & Noffal, 2012). In applied contexts, external loads are not always statically positioned; rather, they may be shifted or held away from the body, which can influence balance and movement mechanics. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of load position on kinematic differences between two front-loaded squat conditions: an arms-close condition and a counterbalance condition. Six participants performed two squat conditions: (1) an arms-close condition, in which a 10-lb plate was held against the sternum, and (2) an arms-extended (counterbalance) condition, in which the same load was held at 90° of shoulder flexion throughout the entire movement. Foot position, squat depth, and movement tempo were standardized across trials to minimize variability between conditions.Data were collected using an 8-camera Vicon Vantage motion capture system sampling at 120 Hz and processed using Nexus 2.15 software. Reflective markers were used to track lower extremity motion, and right hip and knee joint angles were analyzed to assess joint kinematics. A paired-samples t-test was used to compare kinematic variables between conditions, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Student(s):
Rory Petersen, Simone Juarez

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Neurolytics: A Health Informatics System for Neurological Episode Pattern Analysis

View abstract

Neurolytics is a health informatics system designed to improve the documentation and analysis of neurological episodes, addressing the limitation of traditional symptom tracking methods that rely heavily on unstructured patient recall. Conventional approaches to capturing neurological events often fail to capture subtle or non-obvious events, such as focal-aware or absence seizures, reducing their value for longitudinal analysis and clinical interpretation. The purpose of this project is to develop a structured framework for consistently capturing and analyzing neurological episodes across sensory, cognitive, motor, and autonomic domains. The system transforms user-reported data into standardized representations, enabling more effective comparison and analysis over time. Pattern recognition techniques are applied to identify recurring symptom clusters and relationships between events, supporting more consistent interpretation of patient-reported data. A modular, layered architecture was implemented to separate data collection, processing, and analytical components, ensuring scalability and maintainability of the system. Preliminary results indicate that structured episode logging improves the consistency of patient-reported data and enables the detection of recurring symptom patterns that may not be evident through traditional tracking methods. These findings suggest that Neurolytics can enhance clinical interpretation and support more informed neurological assessment by providing a more reliable and analyzable representation of patient experiences.

Student(s):
Zachary Ritter

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Streamlining Gym Operations Through QR-Based Attendance and Data Tracking

View abstract

This project presents the design and implementation of a QR-code-based attendance and access control system tailored for gym environments. The system addresses the limitations of traditional manual attendance tracking by providing a more efficient and accurate method for recording member participation. Through QR code scanning or name-based search, the application enables rapid check-in while automatically associating each entry with a specific class session and timestamp. The system incorporates attendance policy enforcement based on member type, ensuring that gym rules are applied consistently without requiring manual oversight. In addition to improving operational efficiency, the application includes administrative features such as attendance summaries and reporting tools, which support data-driven decision-making related to class scheduling, staffing, and overall gym management. Designed as a browser-based solution, the system emphasizes accessibility, scalability, and ease of deployment in real-world settings. This project demonstrates how integrating simple digital technologies into existing workflows can significantly enhance accuracy, efficiency, and organizational insight within small business operations.

Student(s):
Raphael Sampaio Rosa Altomar

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Jsynth1 (Software Synthesizer)

View abstract

Jsynth1 is a software synthesizer which aims to emulate traditional analog synthesizerinstruments via digital software. Jsynth1 contains many industry standard features which requirestrict event flow and multithreaded code. These features include note triggered oscillators,envelopes, polyphony, midi control, UI, patch storage, and postprocessing effects. The mainfocus of my research is to outline how I went about organizing and connecting all of thesedynamic parts to create a cohesive instrument. The goal is to create software such that a personwith little to no knowledge of computer science or synthesis can adeptly utilize the instrument ina way that seems obvious. The user should always be in the position of making creativedecisions rather than the user being overwhelmed or confused. As for the backend, a majorchallenge is managing data flow for asynchronous events. Each note played on the keyboard isdynamically assigned a voice which triggers the assigned envelope, and the voice also needs tobe notified when a given key is released, triggering the release part of the envelope. My hope isthis research provides useful information and guidance to others who are interested in creatingdigital instruments.

Student(s):
James Sutton

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

The Effect of Diagonal Drop Cut Direction and Fatigue on Exit Strategy and Ground Reaction Forces

View abstract

Cutting movements are rapid changes in direction commonly used in sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball. They are a fundamental part of athletic performance. However, these movements place female athletes at a significantly higher risk of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries compared to their male counterparts (Boham et al., 2013). The purpose of this study was to determine how exit strategy and corresponding ground reaction forces were affected by drop cut direction and fatigue status. Seventeen college-aged, physically active females (ages 18–23) participated in the study. Participants performed 120 drop-landing to cutting movements from a 46 cm box (60 to the right and 60 to the left), alternating directions at a rate of three landings per minute. Each trial required participants to step off of the box and land at a 45° angle (right or left) from their forward facing direction, then run as fast as possible (cut) at a 45° angle in the opposite direction. When they landed, each foot made full contact with a Kistler force plate (1000 Hz) to record the ground reaction forces. BioWare software was used to analyze three trials from early, middle, and late phases of the 120 landings to determine the effect of fatigue. Data from both legs was also considered with leg preference being obtained by the Waterloo Footedness Survey. The choice of lead leg when leaving the force plate was noted and a two-factor ANOVA was run to determine the effect of direction and fatigue status (p < 0.05).

Student(s):
Hailey Swerdloff, Sophia Muller and Carmen Bufkin

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Michele LeBlanc

Investigating Microfiber Contamination in Wetland Sediments at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

View abstract

Microfiber contamination, a pervasive form of microplastic pollution originating from synthetic textiles, is increasingly recognized as a widespread environmental stressor in marine and aquatic ecosystems, yet its distribution in wetland sediments remains understudied. This study aimed to quantify microfiber contamination in the sediments of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a critical estuarine habitat in Huntington Beach, California, and to assess spatial variation in microfiber abundance across sites with differing levels of human activity and hydrodynamic influence. Sediment samples were collected from five sites and processed using density separation and vacuum filtration, followed by microscopic identification and counting of microfibers. Precautions were taken throughout to minimize contamination. Average microfiber counts were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mean microfiber abundance ranged from 0.75 fibers per sample in more protected areas to 5.25 fibers per sample at Bolsa Chica State Beach, which exhibited the highest contamination and variability. However, ANOVA results indicated no statistically significant differences among sites (F(3,4) = 1.80, p > 0.05). The hypothesis that microfiber concentrations would be higher in areas with increased human activity and water flow was not supported at the 0.05 significance level. Although differences were not statistically significant, observed trends suggest greater accumulation in coastal and high-use areas. These findings contribute to understanding microfiber distribution in wetland sediments and highlight the need for further sampling to clarify the influence of anthropogenic and hydrodynamic factors on microfiber pollution.

Student(s):
Faith Timney

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Investigating the Regulatory Network of EmrR, a Transcriptional Regulator of Efflux

View abstract

EmrR is a transcriptional regulator of both efflux and microcin production in Escherichia coli. EmrR binds directly to the emrRAB locus to mediate transcription of the emrA and emrB genes that encode for components of the EmrAB-TolC efflux pump. Although EmrR is known for its role in regulating the transcription of efflux genes, as well as plasmid-encoded microcin genes, the full extent of the regulatory network governed by EmrR has not been fully explored. RNA sequencing and Gene Ontology analysis was used to compare the transcriptomic profiles of both wild type and ΔemrR E. coli strains. Analysis reveals that EmrR may play a role in flagellar organization, nitrogen metabolism, and arginine-dependent acid resistance pathways, in addition to its known function of regulating efflux.

Student(s):
Elisha Tong

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Dana Harmon

GuitarIt

View abstract

Many guitar applications exist today, all with different features such as tuners, metronomes,backing track libraries, and interactive video lessons with chord recognition software. All ofthese applications, however, require subscriptions to access most features. This capstoneattempts to use open-source libraries to create an all-in-one guitar application that contains manysuch features. The pitch detection library CREPE was used in the implementation of a tuner andwas also used in conjunction with Spotify’s BasicPitch library and my own model, created tomap a given audio clip to a fret on a specific string, to automatically generate tabs while the useris playing their guitar. Open-source sounds were used to create a working metronome, and thebacking track generator relies on a Google cloud model to generate loopable audio based on userselected keywords. This app, therefore, is a free alternative to the subscription based guitar appsand was designed with the everyday guitarist in mind.

Student(s):
Eric Tuesta

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Craig Reinhart

Suitability of Mytilus edulis as a Bioindicator of Microfibers from the Ventura Harbor Jetty

View abstract

As the popularity and practicality of synthetic textiles increase, so does the number of microfibers released into the environment through the production and consumption of synthetic textiles. The microfibers enter our oceans in abundance and are consumed by many marine animals. To better understand the impact of microfiber pollution on marine animals, we aim to investigate microfibers in filter-feeding invertebrates, such as the Mytilus edulis, or the blue mussel. This study’s main objectives are to provide evidence for the viability of Mytilus edulis as a bioindicator and to identify the composition of the primary pollutants in Ventura Harbor. Sample collection was focused on the jetties in Ventura Harbor, which attract a steady stream of surfers, fishermen, and boaters. To separate microfibers from mussel tissue, the animals were removed entirely from their shells, and the tissue was dissolved in 30% potassium hydroxide (KOH). Then, the fluid was filtered to collect microfibers on filter paper. To determine the microfiber composition, we used μ-FTIR spectroscopy and identified fibers such as fiberglass and polystyrene. However, few microfibers were found, with an average of less than 2 per mussel (n=60) in May-July. These findings show that Mytilus edulis may not be the most effective bioindicator of microfiber trends in the environment. Additional research is needed to better understand lab contamination and μ-FTIR procedures, and how to analyze microfibers in the lab more effectively.

Student(s):
Ashley Van

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Improving the Methodology of Microfiber Trends Quantified Through Sediments from the Ventura Harbor

View abstract

As the popularity and practicality of synthetic textiles increase, so does the number of microfibers released into the environment. Microfibers are everywhere in our oceans, not only in open-ocean water but also in sediments and many marine animals. To increase our understanding of microfiber pollution, we investigated the pollution trend of microfiber in the sediment of Ventura Harbor. We chose to conduct this study in Ventura Harbor because it is one of the tourist hotspots with many opportunities for recreational activities and whale watching. To quantify the microfibers from the sediment, we stirred filtered seawater into our samples to suspend them, then poured the supernatant through a filtration system to isolate the microfibers. There wasn’t a steady trend in microfiber pollution throughout the summer months that followed the trends of tourism. But we did find that 46.5% of the total microfibers observed were blue. These findings are essential for monitoring pollution, supporting conservation efforts, and increasing our understanding of the scope of plastic pollution in the ocean.

View presentation file

Student(s):
Chian-Yow Wey

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Andrea Huvard

Modeling Enzymes Using Knot Theory

View abstract

Topology is the study of invariant-preserving transformations of open sets, and has applications in molecular biology for modeling the structure and behavior of enzymes. Topologists Ernst and Sumners[1] previously published a theorem describing DNA recombination products of the bacterial enzyme TN3 resolvase. The theorem used the Cyclic Surgery Theorem, properties of 2-fold branched covers, and tangle theory to predict the equivalence class of the resulting DNA product and predict the structure of rarer recombination products. This project explains the important connection between biochemistry and topology and gives a detailed overview of the published theorem for a general audience. We present a centralized list of definitions supported by intuitive examples to demonstrate how topological concepts are utilized in the theorem’s proofs without requiring previous topology knowledge.

Student(s):
Sarah Wong-Moon

Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Nathan Carlson

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Schedule of Events

Science Showcase Poster Session

Student Abstracts

California Climate Compliance Automation System

Formigo - Form Management System (Web App SaaS)

Digital Scorecard for Golf

A Comparison of Microfiber Quantities in Wild-Caught and Farmed Oysters from the California Coast

Simulating Cybersecurity Attacks in a Virtual Linux Environment

Uncovering EmrR Role and Control of MFS Pumps in E. coli

AudioMemory: A Web-Based Personal Music Timeline Visualizer

Approach Strategies and Trunk Control in the Flag‑Pulling Action of Flag Football

The Effects of Myricetin, a Plant-Derived Bioactive Compound, on Cancer Cells in Vitro

Leg Kinematics During Anticipated and Unanticipated Backward Running Cutting Movements in Female Soccer Players

Event Selection & Machine Learning for Detecting SUSY Events in CERN Collision Data

Determining Substrates of the emrAB-tolC Pump; Development of the Influx Inhibition Assay

Machine Learning Automated Stock Trading Program

Berberine Reduces the Viability and Proliferation of A-673 Cancer Cells in vitro

The Role of EmrAB-TolC in Mitigating Oxidative Stress in E. coli

Effects of Anticipation on Lower-Limb Kinematics During Change of Direction in Female Collegiate Soccer Players

Too CEWL for School

Investigating the Role of Female Choice on Seasonal Fattening in Male Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri collinsi)

The Effect of Turning Direction on Kinetics During the Transition Phase of a Backpedal-to-Sprint Movement

Investiagting the Role of the Phage Shock Protein System in Escherichia coli

Is Seasonal Fattening in Male Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri collinsi) Associated with Male-Male Competition?

Designing a Binding Study for NIS Synthetase FsIA

A Computational Pipeline for Spherical Surface Reconstruction and Map Projection

The Topology of Manifolds

Strength-Versus Power-Oriented Training on 1RM Bench Press Performance

Thermodynamic Characteristics of Metal Ion Binding to Model Chelating Agents by ITC

Metrizability in Topological Spaces

When Language Becomes a Barrier: Access to Rehabilitation and Health Education in Spanish-Speaking Communities

Intervention to Reduce Stress in the Latino Community- Fuerza y Bienestar - Strength for theMind and Body

The Effect of Turning Direction on Lower Extremity Kinematics During Backpedal Transition to Hip-Opening Flip

First Spin: A Mobile App for Personalized Daily Music Exploration

Tetris in Java Swing

Valhalla: A Mythologically-Integrated Life-Sim Game

Cyborgan

Formalization and Analysis of the Face-Turning Octahedron Puzzle

Structural Studies of NIS Synthetase FslA

The Effect of Load Movement on Squat Variations

Neurolytics: A Health Informatics System for Neurological Episode Pattern Analysis

Streamlining Gym Operations Through QR-Based Attendance and Data Tracking

Jsynth1 (Software Synthesizer)

The Effect of Diagonal Drop Cut Direction and Fatigue on Exit Strategy and Ground Reaction Forces

Investigating Microfiber Contamination in Wetland Sediments at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Investigating the Regulatory Network of EmrR, a Transcriptional Regulator of Efflux

GuitarIt

Suitability of Mytilus edulis as a Bioindicator of Microfibers from the Ventura Harbor Jetty

Improving the Methodology of Microfiber Trends Quantified Through Sediments from the Ventura Harbor

Modeling Enzymes Using Knot Theory