Spring Student Research Symposium 2022
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/90409
The purpose of the symposium is to provide students (undergraduate, graduate, postbac) from participating colleges (Science and Engineering, Education and Human Development, Nursing and Health Sciences) with an opportunity to present their research and obtain feedback in preparation for participation in national and international conferences.
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Item Exploiting and securing programmable logic controllers(2022-04) Morales, Efrén López; Rubio-Medrano, CarlosMillions of people rely on vital utility infrastructure such as oil pipelines and water treatment plants. This makes them valuable targets for cyberattacks, and the security of the systems that manage this infrastructure, otherwise known as Industrial Control Systems (ICS), becomes ever more important. ICS are comprised of multiple control components, e.g., electrical, that work together to achieve an industrial goal, e.g., energy, transportation. One crucial component of ICS are Programmable Logic Controllers or PLCs. What makes PLCs a prime target for cyberattacks is their unique capacity to bridge the cyber and physical worlds. In 2021 a cyberattack that targeted the Colonial Pipeline ICS caused fuel shortages across several US states. Thus, it is worth asking: What are the attacks that adversaries can leverage to exploit PLCs? What are the available fortifications that can be used to ensure PLCs remain secure? In this research project, we conduct the first wide-scale systematization of knowledge that categorizes both cyber-attacks and defense- focused approaches for PLCs. Our methodology considers criteria such as attack complexity and defense effectiveness and considers an updated model of the attack surfaces of the PLC. We apply our methodology to several research papers from the past 20 years with the aim to discover trends and patterns. Preliminary results show that there are important research gaps. For example, we found that there are far more attack methods than defense methods. This leaves many attacks unchallenged. Properly identifying and addressing these research gaps may lead to new defense methods for previously unknown vulnerabilities, thus ultimately preventing the occurrence of future cyberattacks affecting vital infrastructure.Item A preliminary assessment and subsequent data evaluation of socioeconomic indicators of water quality(2022-04) Kramer, Mary; Yoskowitz, DavidUrban and agricultural runoff, changes to land use patterns and other anthropogenic sources of pollution affect water quality. Water quality is a key factor in ecosystem health. While physical and ecological models of pollution have been widely used to determine water quality, there is a significant gap in the use of socioeconomic metrics in these models. Numerous studies have explored the effects and/or trends of impaired water quality on socioeconomic factors. However, less information is available on the impact of socioeconomic factors on surface water quality. This study conducted a literature review of commonly assessed human activity and socioeconomic variables associated with water quality and assessed the availability of data to quantify these variables. The intent of this review is to apply available evidence-supported data to two case studies in the Texas Coastal Bend: Baffin Bay and San Antonio Bay. From the literature, commonly used socioeconomic metrics include land use/land change, community type, demographics, and population density. Possible point sources of pollution that relate to socioeconomic factors identified were wastewater treatment facilities, stormwater drainage, mining and oil extraction operations, and product manufacturing/ chemical production. Furthermore, this presentation will provide a preliminary assessment of data sources, data gaps, and recommendations.Item Comparison of growth rates of larval Atlantic croaker collected near Corpus Christi and Galveston(2022-04) Weigand, Angelina; Geist, Simon; McAskill, Shannan; Bromschwig, MichelleDuring their early life stages, larval fish are vulnerable to a variety of physical, biological, and environmental processes. The ability of larval fish to successfully capture prey items affects their body condition, growth rates, and ultimately survivorship. Previous studies on the larval diets of M. undulatus collected from October to November 2017 at two distinct locations Galveston, TX and Corpus Christi, TX showed significantly different diets at the two locations at the family level taxonomic resolution of prey items. The goal of this study was to determine if the M. undulatus between the two locations also have a difference in condition and growth rates that may be related to differences in diets and localized prey availability. Larvae for this study were collected approximately two to two and a half months following Hurricane Harvey, which may have changed the water quality which affects the growth of larval fish. Therefore, this study will also assess differences in environmental parameters between the two locations to determine the potential effects of the Hurricane. For that otoliths were extracted from larval M. undulatus and use otolith increment growth analyses to investigate the differences in their growth rates. The samples were divided into different categories including catch date, size class, and catch site. The two size classes that the study focuses on are 5.0-6.99 mm and 7.0-8.99 mm. By extracting, mounting, polishing, and measuring the otoliths from the collected samples, we are able to determine the growth rate and the age of the fish and expect to see differences between locations that may be caused by diet differences and water quality.Item Corals in crisis: How temperature and nutrient fluctuations affect physiological responses of corals and their microbiome in Kāne’ohe Bay, Hawai’i(2022-04) Ruben, Zoe; Pinnell, Lee; Abdulla, Hussain; Turner, Jeffrey; Bahr, KeishaCoral reefs are the foundation to the social, cultural, and economic life in Hawai i; however, these reefs have not escaped the conditions that have ravaged coral reefs worldwide. Along the east coast of O ahu lies Kāne ohe Bay, which serves as a living laboratory with distinct difference in environmental gradients due to variation in circulation and residency times. Landward, there is a distinct gradient of cesspool presence and therefore a gradient of potential effluent intrusion and nutrient loading to these reefs. Together, these provide a unique opportunity to explore the impact of water quality and ongoing ocean warming on coral health, susceptibility and tolerance. This research investigates how temperature and nutrients influence the coral holobiont across a spatial and temporal environmental gradient. Pairs of known bleached/non-bleached corals were collected at two sites within Kāne ohe Bay which encompass this spatial gradient in temperature and nutrient influence. Corals were then subjected to experimental treatments (Control, Nutrient, Heated, Heated + Nutrient) for one month. Measurements of bleaching were collected at the beginning, middle, and end of the experiment and coral subsamples were collected at the beginning and end of the experiment for subsequent metagenomics analysis. I hypothesize that (A) coral subjected to a combined increase in temperature and nutrients will experience higher levels of bleaching and lower levels of survivorship, (B) historically non-bleached phenotypes will show higher levels of survivorship than their historically bleached counterparts, and (C) there will be an observed shift in microbial community composition across corals due to these stressors. If validated, these findings will support that coral bleaching susceptibility is manifested throughout the coral holobiont and the physiological response to stressors such as temperature and nutrient loading can be better understood and potentially mitigated, therefore supporting reef resiliency and restoration in the face of climate change.Item Large and fine-scale genetic structure of king snake eels (ophichthus rex) throughout the gulf of Mexico(2022-04) Chavez, Aline Trejo; O’Leary, Shannon; Cotton, Charles; Murwawski, Steve; Portnoy, David S.The king snake eel (Ophichthus rex), is a large, long-lived demersal predator and their distribution is limited to the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). King snake eels, like other ophichthids are data deficient, little is known about the O. rex biology. Eels were sampled throughout GoM (2011-17); eel tissues were prepared for sequencing using new molecular techniques resulting in robust ddRADseq SNP libraries. Genetic differentiation was estimated and new multidisciplinary approaches were used to explore large and fine-scale patterns of observed genetic connectivity. Previous studies of genetic connectivity in the Gulf of Mexico, have been limited to a few commercially important species and have been spatially limited to northern GoM (US). This study is unique, as it encompasses the entire species distribution and utilizes Gulf-wide fisheries-independent survey data (GoMRI 2011-2017). In this study we present evidence of large-scale population structure as reported in previous GoM connectivity studies and discuss potential drivers of fine-scale differentiation patterns within and among populations. Finally, this study explores potential implications for other fisheries- affected species and increases overall understanding of the underlying biology that drives observed patterns of genetic connectivity.Item Abundance of bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus) in Texas coastal bend(2022-04) Wilkins, Allison; Orbach, Dara N.Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are the only species of marine mammal residing in the Texas Coastal Bend and have been specifically identified as imperiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It has been almost 40 years since research has been published on the local population of bottlenose dolphins. In recent decades, the Texas Coastal Bend has substantially expanded in industrial growth and the Port of Corpus Christi is the third largest port in crude oil exportation in the U.S.A. The Corpus Christi Shipping Channel is also undergoing continual dredging to widen and deepen the channel to attract more commercial and industrial developments. With increasing and rapid changes and associated threats, it is important to monitor the local population of bottlenose dolphins and quantify how they are impacted by anthropogenic disturbance to inform policymakers for conservation mitigation. The population abundance of dolphins inhabiting the Texas Coastal Bend was determined by counting the number of animals based on unique markings. Photographs were captured of the individually distinctive dorsal fins of dolphins from a research vessel during 45 survey days since 2018. Photographs were subjected to quality control checks, cropped, matched by a minimum of two researchers, and scored based on quality. Preliminary results show that the current population of bottlenose dolphins consists of over 1,300 individuals, indicating a substantial population growth from the 593 dolphins reported in 1983. Findings from this study and additional photo- identification surveys will provide insights on the stability of the population that can be used as baseline data for conservation, including if dolphins are year-round residents and frequently inhabit areas of high vessel traffic.Item Tracking bottlenose dolphin movement and behavior in the Corpus Christi ship channel(2022-04) Mills, Eliza; Orbach, Dara N.Port Corpus Christi and Port Aransas, Texas, have undergone considerable infrastructure and oil exportation growth over the past 40 years. As humans continue to transform and exploit these coastal marine habitats, understanding dolphin and vessel interactions in the area is vital to improve conservation and management practices. As dolphins increased diving intervals and avoidance behavior in the presence of vessels, protecting marine mammals in areas of high vessel activity is urgent. To test the hypothesis that the movement patterns and behaviors of free-swimming bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are altered by vessel presence and size near Port Aransas, a shore-based digital theodolite is being used. Dolphin behavioral state and movement are analyzed in response to vessel activity. Distance between dolphin positions and habitat features are being calculated in ArcGIS Pro. Large vessels may elicit social and travel behavioral states as dolphins rode on the bows of most large tankers and cargo carriers. Dolphins mill and forage along channel banks and near the ferry crossing, suggesting that physical structures of concrete seawalls and mixing currents from vessel activity are utilized by dolphins to capture prey. In the morning and afternoon, dolphins oriented along the channel perimeter against the current flow with no positional changes in movement, indicating that tides may influence this population’s movement and behavior patterns. Understanding behavioral associations with diverse microhabitats in the Port Aransas area is crucial to conserve critical environments utilized by dolphins.Item Swarm enabled inspection of parallel structures through marker enabled path planning and IOT(2022-04) Ramos, Andres; Falcon, Jose; Mehrubeoglu, Ruby; Rangel, PabloThe use of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for applications such as exploration and surveillance have grown in popularity with the increase in UAV availability. With applications of exploration and surveillance in mind, and the knowledge of path finding and data exchange in a multi-UAV system, the focus of this research will be to use fiducial marks for path planning and data exchange. Binary square fiducial markers such as ArUco or AprilTag, alongside OpenCV algorithms, will be used to allow the UAV’s camera to detect fiducial markers and plot a course of navigation according to the data related to the identified marker. Structural damage inspection (Fig1) will be another application of this research where OpenCV and image processing techniques will be implemented to collect real-time valuable data. The data collected by the multi-UAV system will be collected and transmitted in real-time to the user as an application of Internet of Things (IoT).Item Physiological stress and health of dolphins in the Texas coastal bend(2022-04) Guinn, Makayla A.; Orbach, Dara N.Common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are an important bioindicator species of ecosystem welfare and sustainability and generate critical economic capital annually through ecotourism in the Texas Coastal Bend (TCB). The TCB stock of dolphins has specifically been identified as imperiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration due to the number of anthropogenic and natural disturbances they encounter, and proactive monitoring of TCB dolphins is a current management priority. Recent economic growth has supported large-scale coastal infrastructure initiatives, including the imminent construction of desalination plants within the TCB. Because common bottlenose dolphins are highly vulnerable to salinity changes, which can lead to infectious disease and mortality, it is critical to determine baseline health and stress levels before the construction of desalination plants in order to monitor physiological changes post- construction and to inform policymakers of environmental impact. In this study, we will assess physiological stress and health conditions in TCB bottlenose dolphins using a novel approach system. A drone will be flown over dolphins to measure the prevalence and severity of skin lesions, which are an indicator of compromised epidermal integrity, for the first time from an aerial perspective. Blubber samples will be collected from the same dolphins using a remote biopsy technique to measure stress hormone levels; this study will be the first to validate aldosterone in the blubber of bottlenose dolphins. The baseline health and stress data collected will be used to directly measure bottlenose dolphin susceptibility to environmental disturbances and will assist in the preservation of marine life in the TCB.Item Impact of ocean acidification on montipora capitata growth(2022-04) TenBrink, Eleanor; Tripler, Abigail; McNicholl, Conall; Bahr, Keisha D.In Kāne’ohe Bay Hawai’i, the second most dominant coral species, Montipora capitata is an ecologically important reef building coral that has shown to be resilient to environmental changes. However, ocean acidification may compromise the structural integrity of the coral’s skeleton threatening the species’ resiliency. Therefore, this project will analyze various biological response variables of M. capitata under the stress of ocean acidification (OA). OA is a change in ocean water chemistry due to an increase in atmospheric carbon absorption, which decreases the pH and aragonite saturation state. This also increases the amount of hydrogen ions in the water, which will impact the total alkalinity, or the ability of the water to neutralize ions. Previous research has stated that a lower aragonite saturation state negatively impacts the coral’s ability to calcify under OA conditions. Contrarily, the Proton Flux Hypothesis states that the increase in hydrogen ions limits coral calcification under OA. To better understand coral growth under OA conditions, corals were exposed to a control and 3 experimental treatments varying in pH and total alkalinity levels, over a month-long experiment. Following experimentation, individual biological response variables from each coral will be measured. These variables include the concentrations of chlorophyll and symbiodinium, along with the protein content and changes in the skeletal density of the coral host. It is hypothesized that the combination of low pH and total alkalinity will have a synergistic effect on the coral’s skeletal density. However, the symbiodinium and chlorophyll will experience an antagonistic effect from the changes in water chemistry. The result of this work aims to determine the driving forces behind the dissolution of coral skeletons under OA conditions in order to support the Proton Flux Hypothesis.Item Changes in seagrass genotypic diversity over a four-year time span(2022-04) Larkin, Abigail; Larkin, PatrickThe seagrass Halodule wrightii is a vital part of Texas Gulf Coast ecosystems. Genetic diversity is associated with many positive traits, and a decrease could result in a decline in the viability of the overall plant population. We examined genotypic diversity (R) in a population of Halodule wrightii from Oso Bay, Tx, and compared the results to those collected in 2017 and 2019 from the same location. Past results indicated low to moderate genotypic diversity in this population and a lack of an evident seed bank. In 2021, we were only able to collect samples from 25 out of 48 positions, representing a 49% loss of seagrass coverage since 2019. We found that, over this time period, 11 genotypes were lost, and 9 new genotypes were gained. The genotypic diversity estimate for 2021 (R = 0.25) was similar to that of 2017 and 2019 (0.22 and 0.24, respectively). Our results indicate that Halodule wrightii is able to maintain genotypic diversity over time, despite a significant decline in population size and lack of an evident seedbank.Item The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the psychological well being of Chinese international students’ spouses living in the U.S.(2022-04) Zhang, Yunyun; Watson, Joshua C.Utilizing the follow-up explanations variant of an explanatory sequential design (Creswell & Clark, 2018), I aimed to answer the following research question in the present study: how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the psychological well-being of Chinese international students’ spouses (Hereinafter referred to as “spouses”) living in the U.S.? I recruited a sample of 24 participants (n = 18, 75% females; n = 6, 25% males) from a national solicitation for participants. First, each participant was asked to respond to a single self-report item related to psychological well-being (on an ordinal scale of 1 to 5) and the 42-item Ryff psychological well-being scale (Ryff, 1989) where responses are made on a Likert-type scale with values ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). Participants’ self-reported psychological well-being results indicated slightly higher than normal levels of well-being during the pandemic (M = 3.21, SD =.83). Results from the Pearson Correlations suggested that there was a significant relationship between participants’ psychological wellbeing and positive relations (r= .57, p = .004) and self-acceptance (r = .58, p = .003) during the pandemic. Follow-up analyses showed a statistically significant gender difference for personal growth (t(22) = -2.41, p = .03, Cohen’s D = 3.86, very large effect) and positive relations (t(22) = -2.78, p = .01, Cohen’s D = 4.85, very large effect). From these participants, six individuals (n = 5, 83% females; n = 1, 17% male) were recruited to participate in a follow-up qualitative investigation. Four themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: mental health concerns, environmental emotional reactions, salient challenges, and together we can. The study sheds light on spouses’ psychological, relational, and societal needs, which can be used to inform advocacy aimed at helping mental health professionals, communities, and universities provide multiculturally competent services to spouses.Item Drifting between two worlds: identifying plankton diversity and abundance in packery channel, Texas(2022-04) Bruce, Morgan N.; Epps, Ashleigh; Bahr, Keisha D.Packery Channel is a eutrophic environment in a small jetty system that allows plankton migration between Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Plankton are marine organisms that play a critical role as primary food sources for many animals, such as corals. Recently, corals have been found surviving in the dynamic conditions of Packery Channel. However, there has been limited research conducted on plankton abundance and diversity due the channel recently reopening. Therefore, this project aims to identify and quantify the abundance of plankton present in Packery Channel by collecting samples at various tides during the full moon cycle over a year-long period. Plankton nets were towed (phytoplankton = 63 m and zooplankton = 243 m) along a 50-meter transect alternating between the North and South sides of Packery Channel to encompass the whole channel. It is hypothesized that the highest abundance will occur during summer and night periods and the lowest abundance will occur during winter and daytime periods. This is due to the difference in light availability, tide flow, and temperature which has been found to make an impact on plankton. Results from this study indicate the corals within Packery Channel potentially have resources available when under stressful conditions such as limited sunlight. Understanding the seasonal dynamics of plankton within Packery Channel is necessary to expand research within estuarine systems and aid in understanding how corals survive in extreme conditions.Item Tailoring frequency of vibrations using IOT-based sensing(2022-04) Moore, Alexandra; Mehrubeoglu, RubyInternet of Things, or IoT, has emerged as a method for cloud-enabled data collection and sharing by connecting everyday objects to the internet. Further, by allowing the interconnection of transmitted data, IoT devices create a network of communication among objects, sensed data, and users. This work uses an IoT development board equipped with a microcontroller to perform sensor data collection, fusion, and processing to assess simulated data that represents a muscle, perform signal processing on the data, and based on results determine the optimal frequency with which vibrations can be adjusted for improving the state of the source of stimulus. The initial work focuses on simulated signals from IMU and pressure sensors. In this work, the preliminary results from setting up the IoT systems, sensor data acquisition and transmission, signal processing, and vibration frequency identification will be presented.Item Understanding the motivating factors and collegiate experiences of international non-stem students(2022-04) Salunke, Vedika S.; Bazner, Kevin J.The scale of movement of international students has increased dramatically since the 1950s, with the U.S. acting as a major destination owing to a good education system and generous funding of graduate studies (Alberts & Hazen, 2005). International students are not only a valuable financial asset to the host country, but they also enrich these host countries by their cultural and diverse backgrounds. International students also offer skilled, intellectual labor to the workforce with a wide range of knowledge across disciplines. According to Adhikari (2017), the number of international students in the United States is helping fill that demand but there is likely to be a push for more domestic students to enter the STEM field. There is also likely to be a shift in the reasons of students pursuing STEM fields because of the push to engage students in STEM fields earlier in their academic careers. This increase has led to more focus by researchers and institutions on STEM students, leaving out non-STEM students and their needs, experiences, and challenges. The purpose of this study is to understand the motivating factors and campus experiences of international students enrolled in non-STEM degree programs. Based on data collected from six participants in semi-structured interviews, the study explores: (1) Motivations of international students to enroll in a non-STEM program; (2) Their understanding of the OPT policies for STEM and non-STEM degree programs; (3) Academic challenges and college experiences of international non-STEM students. Limited support from recruiting agencies in the university’s application process, unawareness of STEM/ non-STEM differentiation and OPT policies, limited funding opportunities were the key findings of this study. Implications for this research will aid institutional leaders in better understanding the campus experiences of non-STEM international students and provide opportunities for improvements to student recruitment, campus programming, and academic support initiatives.Item Physical properties of dicarboxylated amino acid based surfactants in presence of diamine alkane counterions(2022-04) Fritz, Shayden; Billiot, Eugene; Billiot, Feri; Olson, MarkSurfactants are being examined for many different fields such as chemical, medical, cosmetics, and phar- maceutical applications. Surfactants consist of two regions a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic region. The hydrophobic region is the head in most surfactants, while the hydrophilic region is the tail. Surfactants are dynamic molecules and able to form micelles. The micelles form when the hydrophobic region aggregates together and forms different shapes. The concentration at which micelles are formed is called the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The CMC is the lowest concentration needed for the surfactants to form mi- celles. Many different types of surfactants can be created. The surfactants that were examined consisted of dicarboxylated amino acid groups (glutamic and aspartic) with a 11 and 13 caron chain hydrophobic tails. The CMC of these surfactants were measured in presence of 1,2 diamino ethyl, 1,3 diaminopropane, 1,4 diaminobutane, 1,5 diaminopentane and 1.6 diaminohexane. The effects of the different amino acids, tail structures, and counterions were tested by comparing the CMC values of the solution. The CMC was measured using the change in solution conductivity at different surfactant concentrations. Preliminary re- sults indicated that the hydrophobic chain length and the counterion type significantly effects aggregation behavior of the dicarboxylated amino acid surfactants in solution.Item A new method for compound-specific radiocarbon analysis of amino acids(2022-04) Baca, Jesus; Xu, Xiaomei; Lee, Wing Man (Charlotte); Zhang, LinRadiocarbon (14C) measurements have been used to provide reliable age estimates extensively in the fields of climatology, atmospheric science, biogeochemistry, and paleoceanography. However, most radiocarbon data is generated by measuring a bulk sample (e.g., bulk sediments), averaging 14C content of all carbon (C)-containing organic compounds (after inorganic C removal) rather than the specific organic compound produced by the organisms of interest during their life. Compound-specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) of amino acids (AA) can thus be a useful tool to precisely determine the age when the AAs were produced by the organisms. Robust methods for CSRA-AA are not yet widely available, partly due to the relatively small amount of C in AAs. Here we present a new approach of CSRA-AA combining semi-preparative ion- exchange chromatography (IC) and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Phenylalanine (Phe), glutamic acid (Glu), and methionine (Met) with their corresponding blanks were separated and collected using the IC as individual fractions from a commercial AA mixture, followed by graphitization and AMS analysis for 14C measurements. Current blank contribution was 5.2 and 16.6 g C with corresponding yields of 132 and 71.1 g C for Phe and Glu respectively. The obtained fraction modern (FM) with blank subtraction and error propagation was 0.9937±0.0065 for Phe and 1.1362±0.0271 for Glu, which is in line with the modern origins of the AA standards (Phe: 1.0276±0.0017; Glu: 1.0293±0.0005). Initial result for 14C-free Met standard was 0.0108±0.0062 (FM) with a blank contribution of 12.3 g C, consistent with its origin (0.0024±0.0005). The next step is to include additional AA standards and test real samples. Our ultimate goal is to conduct multiple-isotope measurements (13C, 14C, and 15N) of AAs preserved in sediments and separate the N cycling signals produced by surface plankton community from influences induced by diagenesis, microbial reworking, and horizontal transfer.Item Fingerprinting circulating tumor cell with characteristic membrane viscoelasticity by atomic force microscopy(2022-04) Lopez, Kimberly; Tamuno, Sophia; Brzezinski, Molly; Martin, Leisha; Xu, Wei; Sheng, JianAtomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool that can resolve nanoscale cell surface features (e.g. re- ceptors, channels) as well as perform the mechanical characterization of living cells and tissues. Anecdotal observations suggest that metastasized tumor cells bear their phenotypical “telltale” signatures in their mem- brane characteristics, i.e prostate cancer cells are often stiffer and more elastic than breast cancer. In this talk, we present a new methodology allowing us to quantify mechanical properties of cells through force- deformation relations (F-D curves) by nano-indentation, as well as develop a novel mathematical framework to quantify cell membranes’ viscoelasticity by performing Ting’s integral over F-D measurements to differen- tiate cancer phenotypes. We have developed a custom-made flow cell that enables simultaneous microscopic observation and AFM experimentation. Three cell lines, prostate cancer (PC3), breast carcinoma (T47D), and lung a-carcinoma (A549), are used for this kernel study. Cells are split once reaching a confluence of 70% and a 10% dilution of cells are plated on 12 mm diameter wafer. After 24-hour growth, the plated slides are transferred to in-house flow cell containing the corresponding culture medium. With an integrated LED illuminator sealed within a polydimethylsiloxane matrix underneath the wafer, simultaneous observation of live cells can be achieved by an integrated upright microscope. Indentation measurements are conducted with a “wet” AFM. Gold coated probes (k=0.03N/m) are used to allow measurement on soft cell membrane. Differing from past studies, we probe the membrane with large indentation. Standard Linear Solid model are fitted over measurements to obtain viscoelasticity parameters. Preliminary results show distinctive hys- teresis between loading and unloading of the membrane. It is also found that multi-power law model is more suitable for cancer characterization. Model parameters of three phenotypes show clear distinction and great potential to develop membrane viscoelasticity as a biomarker for cancer cell diagnostics and characterization.Item A coral’s true colors: Understanding color hues to assess coral health and welfare(2022-04) Herrera, Gabriella; Good, Alexandra M.; Hirota, Alexander; Razal, Catherine; Gaertner, Nicole; Sefcik, Justin; Gilbert, Jesse; Bahr, Keisha D.Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on Earth and various methods are utilized to monitor and assess coral health. But there is not a standardized method for quantifying coral health for corals held in captivity in zoos and aquariums. Therefore, a health assessment card using coral color to non-invasively monitor coral health was developed with the Texas State Aquarium (TSA). To quantify coral health, individual corals of each species were photographed in a controlled environment to develop color profiles. Simultaneously, nondestructive measurements of “health” were assessed using Pulse- Amplitude Modulation Fluorometry. These photosynthetic efficiency measurements determine how efficiently the symbiotic algae provides energy to the coral host. This project successfully corresponded photosynthetic efficiency to coral color to develop a Coral Health Assessment Card for all species at TSA. By implementing a standardized assessment of coral health, TSA can effectively and rapidly assess the health of their corals improving overall coral wellness. Consequently, the results of this work support TSA’s mission to support wildlife conservation by promoting education and conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems through their interactive exhibits.Item An innovative approach to improving artificial insemination success(2022-04) Rich, Jacquline; Cowart, Jonathan; Orbach, DaraArtificial insemination is an important tool for conservation of endangered species and is highly reliant on access to high-quality sperm. Unfortunately, artificial insemination has had mixed success in different species, which may be due to collection and insemination of poor-quality sperm. Therefore, development of a novel technique to promote ejaculation of high-quality sperm is necessary to improve the success of future conservation efforts through artificial insemination. The purpose of this study is to develop an innovative tool that will function to improve the quality of sperm at the time of collection from animals in managed care. This biomimetic artificial vagina (BAV) is the first artificial vagina designed to mimic the natural shape and elasticity of biological tissue. Our BAV is designed to collect ejaculates from common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), which exhibit complex genital morphologies that have coevolved between the sexes. We hypothesize that the morphology of the vagina may play a role in stimulating the penis during ejaculation and will result in the production of higher quality ejaculates compared to traditional manual collection techniques. BAVs are created by coating vaginal molds made from post-mortem female dolphins with a soft, skin-like silicone. Ten adult male common bottlenose dolphins housed at aquaria around Florida and Texas are currently being trained to ejaculate into the BAV. We will assess sperm quality through examining the morphology and movement patterns of the sperm using computer-assisted sperm analysis software. The integrity of the sperm will be assessed using basic histochemical and microscopy techniques. We will compare the properties of the sperm collected using the BAV with sperm collected using traditional collection techniques to determine the impact of collection method on sperm quality. Our research has wide applications to conservation of terrestrial and marine endangered species through improving artificial insemination success.