Symposium for Student Innovation, Research, and Creative Activities 2023 Posters
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/97195
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Browsing Symposium for Student Innovation, Research, and Creative Activities 2023 Posters by Type "Presentation"
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Item A fine-tuned large language model for improved click-bait title detection(2023-08-29) Vuppala, Pavan Sai; Sekharan, Chandra N.The internet has experienced a widespread phenomenon of clickbait, especially on social media platforms and news websites. Clickbait headlines and descriptions attract clicks and generate ad revenue by using exaggerated, sensational, or misleading language. Clickbait can harm online users by wasting their time, spreading misinformation, damaging reputations, or even exposing them to malware or phishing attacks. Detecting clickbait manually is subjective and time-consuming since different people may have different opinions on what constitutes clickbait. Rule-based approaches, machine learning models[8], deep learning models[9] and natural language processing techniques are some of the existing methods for clickbait detection. However, clickbait detection remains a challenging task due to the diversity and complexity of clickbait content, as well as the constantly evolving strategies used by clickbait creators. In this research, we employed a methodology to detect clickbait titles using a fine-tuned large language model (LLM) that was trained on a limited dataset of clickbait titles.Item A mental health literacy intervention to improve psychological treatment-seeking attitudes and intentions in African Americans(2023-08-29) Gipson-Washington, Raven K.; Houlihan, Amy E.Systemic-Level Barriers: The ineligibility of services, treatment disparities, limited access to treatment facilities, and the lack of culturally-relevant care Cultural Barriers: Spiritual beliefs and community stigma Individual-Level Barriers: Limited finances, lack of insurance coverage, lack of transportation, childcare, lack of social support, the fear of being locked away, the fear of losing one’s children, and negative experiences with the mental healthcare system (personal experiences or learning of others’ experiences) Psychological Barriers: The inability to recognize symptoms of mental illness, the perceived insusceptibility to mental illness, the belief that there is no need for treatment, internalized stigma, and the Black strength schema. African Americans are disproportionately less likely to receive treatment for their mental illness(es) (39.4%) than their European American counterparts (52.4%; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2021). This is a public health problem. To confront this problem, it is necessary to address the issue of treatment-seeking. Typically, the first step in the treatment life-cycle is to decide to seek psychological treatment. For African Americans, this decision is often complicated by a significant number of barriers to treatment, unique to the Black experience (Bryant et al., 2013; Conner et al., 2010; Davis et al., 2008; Haynes et al., 2017; Jegede et al., 2021; Redmond et al., 2019; Sonik et al., 2020; Ward et al., 2009; Williams et al., 2012): The present study will address the psychological barriers. The primary aim of the study is to increase formal psychological treatment-seeking attitudes and intentions by increasing mental health literacy, reducing internalized stigma, and redefining the Black strength schema. To do this, a single-session, online mental health literacy intervention, has been developed specifically for African Americans: The Black Mental Health Education Program - Anxiety and Depression (BMHE-AD).Item Alkane composition of the microlayer in Corpus Christi Bay: Implications of HAB formation(2023-08-29) Hodge, Wayne; Silliman, JamesShort-chain n-alkanes (n-pentadecane, n-heptadecane, and n-nonadecane) stem primarily from algae. Long-chain n-alkanes (n-heptacosane, n-noncosane, and n-hentriacontane) originate from terrigenous/land plants and are introduced to coastal waters by runoff. Since alkanes are hydrophobic compounds, they tend to concentrate in the microlayer (air-water interface). This study strives to ascertain the efficacy of using the aquatic-terrigenous ratio (ATR) as a precursor to harmful algal bloom (HAB) formation. Since the ATR is a new HAB parameter, it may further our understanding of HAB formation. Corpus Christi Bay microlayer samples have been collected via the glass plate method. Although algal and terrigenous n-alkanes have been detected in these samples using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), they are present in lower concentrations than expected. As a result, new microlayer samples are currently being collected at larger volumes to increase their n-alkane concentrations. Once adequate concentrations have been achieved, ATRs will be calculated in order to establish a range in baseline values for Corpus Christi Bay. ATR values are expected to increase prior to and during HAB events.Item An analysis of the El Nino Southern Oscillation's effects on tropical cyclones(2023-08-30) Lilljedahl, Madalyn; Liu, Chuntao; Lavigne, ThomasIn the 20 years, 2,023 tropical cyclones provide us a robust sample size to study the impact of the El Nino Southern Oscillation on tropical cyclone with respect to precipitation on a global scale. It is clear that the El Nino Southern Oscillation does play a significant role in the intensity, location and magnitude of tropical cyclones. We also found that the depending on which phase of ENSO and whether it’s a major or minor tropical cyclone, different parts of the globe have experienced more or less precipitation that can be attributed to tropical cyclone. How does ENSO influence frequency of tropical cyclones globally? What is the global precipitation contribution from tropical cyclones? How does ENSO influence global precipitation that is contributed by minor and major hurricanes?Item Changes in blood cell morphology associated with HBA1c levels in diabetes mellitus(2023-08-30) Flores, Gabriel; Nguyen, Arthur; Chessher III, David; Sparks, Jean; Omoruyi, FelixDiabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by impaired glucose utilization leading to chronic hyperglycemia. It is an endocrine disorder that presents severe clinical and public health problems worldwide, including in South Texas. Blood glucose levels are commonly used in the diagnosis of diabetes. Microvascular and macrovascular complications are common in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. However, HbA1c is a simple blood test that measures the average blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months and is used to diagnose and effectively manage diabetes mellitus to prevent diabetic complications. In this study, we evaluated changes in red blood cell morphology with varying HbA1c levels in diabetic patients versus nondiabetic patients. Blood samples were collected from Driscoll and Shoreline Hospital labs in Corpus Christi, Texas. Sample collections are still ongoing at clinical sites. Peripheral blood smears were prepared from the unidentified patients’ blood samples and examined under the microscope for the number and kinds of cells present and other morphologic abnormalities. The collected blood samples were categorized based on HbA1c levels - group 1 (< 5.7% - nondiabetic); group 2 (5.7 - 6.4% - prediabetic); group 3 (>6.5% - diabetic) and by pediatric and adult groups. The pediatric control group indicated the highest number of ovalocytes (94%), anisocytosis (78%), and echinocytes (76%), the prediabetic group (80%, 90%, 60% respectively) and the diabetic group (83%, 83%, 67% respectively). The adult control group showed 53% ovalocytes, 58% anisocytosis, and 83% echinocytes, the prediabetic group showed 75%, 0%, 75% respectively, and the diabetic group showed 67%, 43%, 65% respectively. Surprisingly, the adults with the highest HbA1cs showed few morphological alterations. Overall, the numbers of anisocytosis, echinocytes, and ovalocytes in both pediatric and adult diabetic samples did not correlate with HbA1c levels, the observed few morphological changes may be attributable to the clinical care.Item Connecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to resources at the farmers' market(2023-08-29) Stinson, JuliaThis project aims to examine the issue of poverty and food insecurities on individuals' nutrition in Corpus Christi, Texas- a city where 17% of the population falls below the poverty line (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.). To address this, I have worked at the Grow Local Farmers' Market to increase access to fresh, nutritious food for SNAP recipients and provide education on its utilization.Item Development of a machine learning system for detection of the atmospheric potential of wildfire-driven thunderstorms(2023-08-30) Krell, Evan; Nguyen, Chuyen; Nachamkin, Jason; Peterson, David; Hyer, Edward; King, Scott A.; Tissot, Philippe; Estrada, Beto; Tory, Kevin J.; Campbell, JamesMachine Learning Pipeline: Align pyroCbs to satellite fires > Remove weaker fires > Add engineered features > For valid dataset, drop either fire features or unaligned pyroCbs > K-Best Feature Selection > Data balancing techniques > Train & Evaluate modelsItem Don't blame the siblings! Social experiences of gender non-conformity: Does a higher proportion of male siblings and negative feedback affect masculinity among sexual minority men?(2023-08-30) Cowan, Alisha R.; Seidel, StevenSocial role theory Eagly et al. 2004 ; Eagly , 1987) suggests that individuals who conform strongly to traditional gender roles promote the hegemonic male's hierarchy a model of power, status, and strength to receive the benefits of social inclusion For sexual minority men, however, violating these gender roles can lead to negative consequences such as social exclusion, physical violence , and suicidal thoughts Fiske et al. 2002; Vaughn et al. 2017). As a result , sexual minority men may feel pressure to conform to traditional masculinity standards to gain social approval (Taywaditep , 2002; Research has often neglected to consider the significance of sibling relationships from the perspective of sexual minority men. Although sibling relationships are viewed as a normative part of growing up, they can have a significant impact on one's emotional and behavioral development. Positive sibling relationships may serve as protective factors against mental and physical health risks faced by individuals who experience prejudice based on their sexual orientation (Hilton & Szymanski, 2014). Therefore, it is important to investigate the role of sibling relationships in the developmental trajectories of sexual minority men. This study aimed to explore the relationship between a sexual minority man’s experiences with their sibling’s social feedback about their gender nonconforming behavior and his subsequent levels of masculinity. Specifically, does negative feedback from brothers or sisters because of their gender nonconformity in childhood affect a sexual minority man's schema of masculinity and adherence to traditional gender roles in adulthood?Item Drone2Drone: A search and rescue framework for finding lost UAV swarm agents(2023) Phadke, Abhishek; Medrano, Fernando AntonioUAV swarms have seen widespread use in SAR (Search and Rescue operations). SAR missions are generally defined as exploration problems. Exploration approaches can be used in a wide range of applications [1]. Applications can include searching for an entity in danger or need of medical attention [2] or finding the spread of forest fires [3]. These approaches are labeled as application-specific SAR methods in UAV swarms. However, these do not contribute to the resiliency of the swarm itself.. Resiliency is defined as the ability of a system to withstand disruptions. As a part of multiobjective research toward increasing UAV swarm resiliency, an alternate approach is explored. Efforts towards the development of a Search and Rescue protocol that is directed towards the UAV agents that make up the swarm is underway.Item Financial literacy outreach to local high school students(2023-08-29) Rogers, Paige; Alvarez, DiegoA lack of financial literacy can lead to significant barriers for students trying to access education (Chen, 1998). Our project aims to address this issue by engaging with local high school students in the Corpus Christi area to improve their financial literary. Through this initiative, we hope not only to empower students with the financial knowledge they need to succeed but also expand our own understanding of the finance world.Item Fine-Scale genotypic diversity in the seagrass Halodule wrightii from Oso Bay(2023-08-29) Burton, Amanda; Larkin, Patrick D.Seagrasses are the only marine angiosperms in the world. They reproduce sexually and asexually through clonal growth. Seagrass beds are vital ecosystems that harbor the adult and larval stages of many marine animals, including fish, manatees, stingrays and many other vertebrates and invertebrates. Seagrass also play a vital role in carbon sequestration, protecting shorelines from wave energy, and maintaining the water quality of coastal bays. Seagrass beds around the world are declining at alarming rates, and conservation-related research is becoming increasingly important. Genetic variation in seagrass beds has been demonstrated to be positively correlated with productivity, resistance to, and recovery from environmental stress. While several studies have examined genetic diversity at fairly large (meter) scales, few have examined fine-scale (cm) genotypic diversity. Diversity at this scale could have important implications for biological and chemical processes such as pollination or toxin neutralization. This project focused on the seagrass Halodule wrightii, otherwise known as "shoal grass”, the most abundant species of seagrass on the Texas Gulf coast. Ninety six single rhizome fragments were collected from each of three, 60 x 90 cm quadrats placed in H. wrightii beds on the south side of Ward Island, Texas. Each sample was genotyped and genetic diversity estimates (genotypic richness, evenness, and architecture) were produced for each qaudrat. We found a fair amount of genotypic variation at this scale, that declined from east to west in the sampling region. We also found the presence of a very large clone that was present in all 3 quadrats. We conclude that H.wrightii has been present near Ward Island for at least a century, and that environmental and/or anthropogenic factors may be influencing H. wrightii reproduction in an, as yet, undetermined manner.Item Improving the voltage and lifetime in aqueous redox flow batteries utilizing the organometallic [Fe(bpy)3]2+/3+(2023-08-30) Burghoff, Alexis; Holubowitch, NicolasLong term battery storage is needed for renewable energy sources to buffer their variable output. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) have the potential to store large amounts of energy for on-demand power generation. Current issue: low energy density due to poor solubility of the active species and low voltage outputs. Robust, high voltage catholytes are needed. Iron (II/III) tris-2,2’-bipyridine ([Fe(bpy)3]2+/3+) is a suitable catholyte. This work introduces a new way to synthesize [Fe(bpy)3]2+ and methods to improve performance.Item Interaction between nitric oxide and serotonin in the formation of long-term sensitization in the mollusk Aplysia(2023-09-19) Richards, Landrue; Wainwright, Marcy; Mozzachiodi, RiccardoLearning is a process by which all animals modify their behaviors to ensure increased fitness (Nordell 2021). Long-term sensitization (LTS) in the mollusk Aplysia is a well-known example of learning in which defensive responses, such as the tail-siphon withdrawal reflex (TSWR), are heightened for prolonged periods following repeated exposure to noxious stimuli (i.e., aversive training; Byrne and Hawkins 2015). The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) mediates LTS formation in Aplysia (Byrne and Hawkins 2015). In vivo, 5-HT exposure alone can induce LTS (Levenson et al. 1999). However, recent findings indicate that the neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO) is also necessary for LTS formation (Farruggella et al. 2019). Therefore, in this study, an experiment was designed to position NO on the 5-HT-mediated biochemical pathway.Item Investigation of the role of Nitric Oxide in the synaptic facilitation that underlies long-term sensitization in the mollusk Aplysia(2023-08-29) Chen, Ayleen; Wainwright, Marcy; Mozzachiodi, RiccardoLong-term memory (LTM) is the capability of an organism to store information for an extended period of time and is meditated by intrinsic plasticity (modulation of neuronal excitability) and synaptic plasticity (facilitation/depression of synaptic responses; Mozzachiodi and Byrne 2010). A simple form of LTM found in virtually all organisms is long-term sensitization (LTS), where the response of an organism to a noxious stimulus is strengthened. In the invertebrate organism, Aplysia sensitization manifests as the enhancement of defensive reflexes, for example the withdrawal of the siphon in response to an electrical stimulus applied to the tail (Byrne and Hawkins 2015). The two cellular mechanisms known to be responsible for LTS in Aplysia are long-term increased excitability (LTIE) of the tail sensory neurons (SN) and long-term synaptic facilitation (LTF) between SNs and motor neurons (MNs), expressed as enlarged excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSP) in MNs (Cleary et al. 1998). Recent research on Aplysia has identified the gaseous neurotransmitter nitric oxide (NO) as an important co-modulator for long-term sensitization by utilizing L-NAME, a compound responsible for blocking NO synthesis (Farruggella et al. 2019). The application of L-NAME prevented LTS in vivo, which implied that NO was necessary for LTS. However, long-term increased SN excitability persisted at the cellular and molecular levels. This project investigates the discrepancy between the absence of LTS and the persisting SN excitability by analyzing the MN EPSPs following L-NAME application.Item Online and simulation-based training: Prepping nursing students for deeper, practical engagement(2023-08-30) Massey, Sameera; Squires, David; Fomenko, Julie; Amidon, BraytonThere is need for effective virtual learning design for clinical nursing students that yields high levels of knowledge acquisition, self-efficacy, and transferrable skills. Students’ experiences during learning impacts these outcomes. An online innovation project was developed at a South Texas University, designed to measure students’ experiences in simulated clinical experiences. We hypothesized that custom, personalized online learning simulations may reduce cognitive load and promote online students’ self-efficacy, potentially impacting associative information processing. Researchers collected data measuring cognitive load, students’ experiences, and embedded analytics and were analyzed using open and thematic coding. Participants reported low levels of frustration, high levels of support in the modules, perceived skill transferability, and self-efficacy. Planning personalized, online scenario-based modules that reduce cognitive load, may positively impact students' self-efficacy and associative skill transfer.Item Perceptions, attitudes, and skill improvements of high school baseball players participating in visual skills training(2023-08-29) Paulison, Emily; Spaniol, F.; Bonnette, R.Professional baseball players with greater visual capacity exhibit superior batting performance, linking visual skills to a player's performance [1]. Previous research has shown vision training using analog and digital methods to improve visual skills [2,3] Confidence and perceived sport competence is an important part of a proposed positive feedback loop between physical activity and motor skills [4,5]Item Service-Learning at the Wesley Community Center: Health & wellness(2023-08-30) Barrera, Guadalupe; Zarate, LeslyOur purpose for this community-based project is to learn about issues facing low-income families. As future healthcare providers, we hope to develop empathy and understanding to provide better quality care to low-income families.Item Shell morphology of an intertidal patellograstropod (cellana exarata) varies with shore type(2023-08-30) Larriviere, Keenan; Cate, Kinley; Bird, ChristopherC. exaratalimpets (locally called‘opihi) are a crashed fishery & are culturally important, Inhabit the emergent tidal zone –never submerged & periodically washed by waves1, Evolutionary trade off in shell shape between thermal stress & predation2,3, Shells maladapted to thermal stress on islands with humans2, Will negatively affect sustainability considering global warming4, May be differences in shell morphology between shores with more (boulder) and less (bench) thermal refugesItem Synthesis of aspartic acid-based bifurcated tripeptide surfactants(2023-08-29) Swonke, Roslyn; Garcia, Angelina; Billiot, Eugene; Billiot, Fereshteh; Olson, Mark; Azad, ChandraAmino acid-based surfactants (AABS) are amphipathic molecules composed of an amino acid-based polar headgroup and nonpolar hydrocarbon chain. Surfactants, the truncated name for surface-active agents, are molecules that decrease surface tension. It is this property, along with their amphipathic structure, that imbues surfactants with useful properties, such as encapsulating other compounds and emulsifying insoluble phases. AABS are of particular interest, as they incorporate amino acids, which are the building blocks of life. The incorporation of amino acids as the polar headgroup thus improves bioavailability and biodegradability, thereby increasing the applications of this subset of surfactants. The objective of this study is to synthesize and characterize a group of novel tripeptide bifurcated AABS with aspartic acid as the central amino acid at the polar headgroup.Item The impacts of meditation vs mindfulness on stress levels of nurses in the hospitals post-COVID-19(2023-08-30) Caster, Reesen; Guadalupe, Patrick; Quezon, Zeinhelle; Rodriguez, Leanna; Leal, MelissaDue to the concerns regarding mental health awareness and increasing burnout from COVID-19 within the nursing field, the question was raised: how does a group activity like practicing mindfulness for 15min/day or meditation for 15min/day affect fatigue and ultimately, patient outcomes?