http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 720 https://escholarship.org/uc/ucrhonors_capstones2024/rss Recent eScholarship items from UCR Honors Capstones 2023-2024 Sat, 16 May 2026 21:54:24 +0000 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/45z9f5nm Annotated Bibliographies of Hugh Falconer and Henry Hayden's Works on the Geological and Paleontological History of the Indian Subcontinent https://escholarship.org/uc/item/45z9f5nm Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Steele, Amy https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9zk831ff African American women in the United States are three to four times more likely to experiencepreventable pregnancy-related deaths than women in any other race group. A growing body ofresearch shows that systematic and medical racism, low health literacy and power-imbalance indoctor-patient relationship in healthcare delivery are the major contributing factors of pregnancy-related deaths in Black women. The death rate of Black women due to complications related topregnancy and childbirth – known as Black Maternal Mortality Rate – was 44.0 per 100,000 livebirths in 2019, which then increased to 55.3 in 2020 and 68.9 in 2021. In an effort to improvehealth risks, reduce inequalities in healthcare settings, and achieve better maternal healthoutcome, pre-medical students must learn about contributing factors of high death rates ofAfrican American women. This study will explore the use of branching scenario of h5p moduleto raise awareness among pre-medical students about underlying causes... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9zk831ff Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Mushtaq, Fatima https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9w10650h Inversion ankle sprains, or IAS, occur very often in everyday life, mostly during sports and exercise. Detecting and evaluating the severity of an IAS are very important, but we need to understand how to differentiate a normal ankle from an injured one. The goals of this Capstone project are to find out what internal properties are impacted by inversion ankle sprains and how they change the functions of the ankle ligament complex and to quantitatively differentiate between a normal ankle and one affected by an IAS. In order to complete these goals, we developed a mathematical model and simulated the stress relaxation behavior of the normal and sprained ankles on MATLAB. We conducted a literature review on the possible differential equations we could possibly use that calculate stress over time, we calibrated the possible options for equations using experimental data from literature and then chose the best fitting equation as our mathematical model, and then we tested our chosen... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9w10650h Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Abad, Ronald S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sw7q5hg Swords and other weapons had been placed into Athenian graves for over 700 years when thepractice was abandoned in the late 8th century BCE. The Greek world during this periodwitnessed several dramatic shifts in political, economic, and cultural realities from centralizedMycenaean authority to the “Bronze Age Collapse”, and four centuries of fragmentation andpopulation decline followed by an unprecedented explosion of literacy, art, and geographicalexpansion in the 8th century. How is it that these so-called “warrior graves” were a persistentfeature of such a dynamic cultural landscape? And if the practice was so persistent throughoutchanging cultural circumstances, why was it finally abandoned? Through a comprehensiveliterature review, this paper recontextualizes swords as bearers of meaning that, when used infunerary contexts from ca.1450-720 BCE, co-constituted Athenian communities’ social realities.Synthesizing and following work in social funerary archaeology and theorizations... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sw7q5hg Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Kyritsi-Loper, Melita https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sq7b21d The effects of alcohol on microalgae cells using different alcohol concentrations and howthose impact the cell’s structural integrity will be studied. This study is significant because I willbe connecting the results to fetal alcohol syndrome in humans. When alcohol is consumed by apregnant woman, potential damage could occur to the fetus. In my research, I will bedetermining at which point in time and amount of consumption greatly effects the organism. Thereason I am studying microalgae is due to accessibility and ethicality. My expectations for thisproject are that with any amount of alcohol present, the cells will be impacted and that theirmembrane will deteriorate as the mass flow rate and concentration increase. With the help of Dr.Ke Du, an Assistant Professor in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, andwith $8,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation, I will be executing myexperimental research.The way I am going to conduct this research is by... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sq7b21d Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Hajj-Shehadeh, Jana H https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9pb3h1cx This research tests whether the responses from utilizing ChatGPT can have more refined outputs compared to regular search engines when participants receive prompt-coaching. Receiving prompt-coaching means participants are provided tips and guidance that will, in theory, enhance their ChatGPT searching abilities. There will be four groups of participants–the control group, the Google search-engine users group, the ChatGPT users without prompt-coaching, and ChatGPT users with prompt-coaching. All participants will be randomly placed into a group and be asked to take a pre-survey, conduct a search activity on a randomly generated topic, complete a scored quiz on the same topic, and fill out a post-survey. Although all groups will complete a different search activity and be quizzed on different topics, the biggest differences in the searchtask will be between the control group, who will only partake in a search activity without the quiz, and the ChatGPT group with prompt-coaching,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9pb3h1cx Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chow, Josalyn S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9kt2f69s The term “emerging adulthood” was only coined in 2000. This life stage, ranging from 18 to 25years of age, is foundational in one’s course of well-being and trajectory of life. However, its laterecognition necessitates more research on emerging adults. Additionally, their unique set ofpivotal transitions and decisions call for ways to cope and protect one’s well-being. One waypeople cope is by listening to music, and a vital source of well-being for emerging adults areinterpersonal relationships, especially with parents. This brings into question what personal,musical, and interpersonal factors may play a role in strengthening parent-emerging adult bonds.The present study aimed to see if university students with higher levels of self-esteem,purposeful music-listening (i.e., personally identifying with the music as well as gratifyingpsychological and emotional needs), and shared musical engagements with parents report havingbetter quality relationships with them. Participants of... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9kt2f69s Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Baek, Jieun https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9h0993zh Disabilities affect the lives of people worldwide in the present and in the past. Hearingimpairment is one rather common disability, yet it is largely misunderstood and stigmatized. InMexico, hearing-impaired persons are still denied many rights able-bodied people possess.Contemporary views of deafness in Mexico have tended to emphasize the biomedical model,which recognizes deafness as an impairment and something that requires fixing. To this end,oralism, hearing aids, and cochlear implants are standard. Framed within disability studies, thisresearch project is an effort to understand and challenge this ableist perspective that persists inMexico today through an interdisciplinary study of Deaf Mexican history. One of the main goalsfor this paper is to demonstrate that ableism and the biomedical model of disability derive from along history of Western, Christian thought which was imported to Mexico by the Spanish startingin the early 16th century during colonization. In the pages... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9h0993zh Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Houser, Madelyn https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g98t7zd In American dyadic interactions, it is common that the person who benefits from moreinstitutional, societal, and cultural privilege will exude the most authority over the exchange, butpower is more than simple authority; power is the ability to act, and influence others’ lives withthe effects of that action more than your own. “Power Has Placed Us: A Poetry Collection”shares fragments of the lives impacted by the common power imbalances between men andwomen as well as people of color and white people in the United States. These poems areaccompanied by supplemental research and commentary to assess how this power is distributed,and why these traits which we have no control over are viewed as strengths and weaknesses. Inexamining power dynamics, I dissect the ways those of a privileged gender and/or race partake inbehaviors that enforce oppression, both implicitly and outright violently, and give a voice tothose who have been silenced. By drawing attention to how the actions of... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g98t7zd Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Fields, Jaelen M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9c5509xr Zoe Butler’s poetry collection The Main Worry is a means of escaping the clutches of self-doubt,where readers can commiserate with the insanity that is reality. The Main Worry works toinclude small snippets of life that aim to capture feelings that congregate in the gray area of thehuman condition — emotion. Using a background of psychological phenomenon, The MainWorry brings readers together by connecting with the all-encompassing human experience. Inher first poetry collection, Butler documents chronological lessons that she carries with her asmetaphors, strength, and art. The Main Worry works to explore the unspoken corners of theshadowy psyche and celebrate the triumph of escaping the pit that all humans inevitably fall into.As an only child, analyzing became a way to interpret life, and writing became the vessel of herinterpretation. Zoe Butler has spent her life coping with the intense anxiety of obsessive-compulsive disorder by burying herself in her writing. Now, she works... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9c5509xr Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Butler, Zoe J https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9917p066 Bumble bees are among the most important and efficient pollinators of crops and wild floweringplants. Unfortunately, over the past twenty years, some bumble bee species have been facingdeclines. To add to the understanding of bumble bee reproduction to ultimately discover differentfactors associated with bumble bee species declines, such as male mating behavior and spermquality, this research aims to develop a new method for collecting and assessing sperm qualityfor the common eastern bumble bee species Bombus impatiens. I observed male offspring atdifferent ages and analyzed sperm motility to quantify sperm quality and concentration. Throughthis experiment, the impact of age on sperm quality for a stable (commercially reared) bumblebee species can be understood. Ultimately, this experiment is also designed to support thedevelopment of conservation efforts through the success of artificial queen insemination, whichwill help increase bumble bee populations and other pollinators... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9917p066 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lim, Soo Yon https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9859z92j Pulmonary emboli are one of the most common causes of deaths annually. When patientsundergo anticoagulant therapy, they may either experience long-term health effects or evenexperience another PE. Therefore, surgical interventions have been introduced to remove PEs.There are several commercially available surgical tools that remove PEs by using catheters todeliver thrombolytic agents to lyse the clot. However, some patients may have contraindicationsto the delivered drugs, so patients opt to have their PEs removed mechanically. However, the tipof the catheter that physically breaks apart PEs can only move in low degrees of freedom, whichcould result in some fragments getting left behind in the vessel since the catheter cannot press thefragments against the surface area of the vessel. Additionally, tips made with metal meshes poseharm to the vessel tissue. Our research presents the design and fabrication of a hydraulic helicalsoft actuator aimed at enhancing surgical catheters... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9859z92j Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Sevic, Sophia S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/95f8j3sp Childhood asthma is a prevalent problem in the United States and is an illness that takesthe lives of many children every year. Children who live around the Salton Sea, a drying lake bedfilled with chemicals from agricultural runoff, have a rate of childhood asthma around twentypercent (double the national average). As the Sea’s lake bed dries, chemicals from the water arereleased into the air, contributing to increased childhood asthma and related chronic healthconditions. The population living next to the Salton Sea is mainly Latinx and IndigenousMexican. The goal of my capstone project will be to examine how race/ethnicity contributes tochildhood asthma conditions and why it matters. I will join an existing research project,Childhood Asthma and the Salton Sea, and join the project activity to collect data. I willregularly attend Community Advisory Board (CAB) meetings with caregivers and healthcareprofessionals focused on environmental and childhood asthma. Likewise, I will... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/95f8j3sp Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Pandya, Athena E https://escholarship.org/uc/item/946323j1 Social movement campaign messaging is key to successful social change. Effectivemessaging not only shifts attitudes, but also generates engagement. This study examines whichmessaging strategy would be more effective in increasing awareness and of engagement in theOpportunities 4 All Campaign (O4All). O4All, aims to enable university employment eligibilityfor all college students, regardless of legal immigration status (undocumented with DACAeligibility and undocumented without DACA eligibility), at the University of California-Riverside (UCR). To understand which messages mobilize UCR undergraduate students tosupport the campaign, I recruited through a variety of efforts to attain a sample of ~100undergraduate students enrolled in UCR by the Fall of 2023 into an online survey experimentwith three conditions. Subjects received one of three vignettes that provided different types ofinformation about employment opportunities for undocumented UCR students on campus. I thenmeasured... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/946323j1 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Aguilar-Ampudia, Emmanuel https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9425w1h7 Rebecca is a psychological drama that explores the breakdown of a young woman'sidentity over the course of a night. Through precision editing and camerawork, along with asparse and surreal soundscape, the film aims to convey the tension and emotional turmoil of itscentral character. The film will be no longer than 15 minutes in length and will feature UCRstudents as the cast and crew.The narrative of the film follows Rebecca as she experiences a series of conversationsthat lead to a profound sense of dislocation and confusion. As the night progresses, she becomesincreasingly detached from her sense of self, leading to a climactic confrontation that forces herto confront the fundamental questions of her identity.The film's director will oversee all aspects of production, including casting, productiondesign, and location scouting. Through these efforts, the film seeks to create an immersive andauthentic atmosphere that fully captures the emotional journey of its protagonist.In summary,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9425w1h7 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Fay, Connor M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/93z7g2w3 Grief is a natural response to the passing of a loved one or someone who has had a significanteffect on one’s life. As the process of grieving is rather personal, there lies this unexplainablebarrier that withholds people from uniting together, but rather seeking isolation as a way tointernally cope with these negative experiences. One way to cope can be to channel or expressthose internal feelings through forms of music and art. Our focus will be concentrating onproviding a musical and visual experience through a music record titled Sclera, which will beaccompanied with an art composition detailing the journey that the listeners will experience. Thetracklist features a combination of lyrical and instrumental songs, primarily inspired by varyinggenres such as cinematic, jazz, and classical. When listening to these forms of music, we analyzethe methodology, what inspired them to compose their own songs. Through this research process,we can gain a better understanding of the artists’... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/93z7g2w3 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Son, John S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9242416v It is taught in textbooks that steroid hormones are lipid based molecules that passivelydiffuse through the cell membrane into the cell. However, recent studies have shown that thefruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has a membrane transporter for ecdysone, a steroid hormonein insects, called Ecdysone Importer (EcI). This implies that other steroid hormones, includingmammalian steroid hormones, might also require transportation across the cell membranes,challenging our current understanding of this pathway. EcI is a member of a highly conservedsuperfamily of genes called Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATPs), which are alsoconserved in mammals. In these experiments, we investigated the potential role of OATPs thatare highly expressed in HEK293T cells in cortisol cellular import. We tested for the transport ofcortisol into cells by measuring cortisol-induced GR activation through a luciferase assay. UsingqPCR, we analyzed the differences in expression levels of glucocorticoid-inducible... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9242416v Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Morse, Avery https://escholarship.org/uc/item/91d075b8 Goodnight, Simon is a novel that follows Simon, a little boy creating life on other planetsto get closer to his family and to satiate his loneliness. The story as a whole mixes mythology,geology, chemistry, biology, creationism, and familial drama to largely encompass the currenthuman experience. Through this fictional lens, we’ll go from before abiogenesis, to the cambrianexplosion, to the extinction of the dinosaurs, to humans taking their first steps towards ourmodern age. On the more interpersonal level, it's a coming of age story, as well as creativedevelopment and discussion between a mother and son.The novel is meant to be a shared reading between parents and their children, giving wayto future discussions about boundaries, creative freedoms, and how to take criticism. It is alsomeant to be educational, looking towards Earth’s history, as well as an introduction to evolution,biology, and astronomy. I hope it will be enlightening for those curious about an amalgamationbetween... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/91d075b8 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Williams, Em I https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8zs5s57q Sexual education in public schools has notoriously provided little guidance to adolescentsduring their period of sexual growth and exploration. While seeking parental advice on sex mayappear as a reasonable alternative, that endeavor can prove to be just as unfruitful—especially inAsian American families. Many Asian American parents and children go through a processknown as acculturation, in which individuals of one culture learn and adopt the beliefs andvalues of another. However, the rate at which parents and children acculturate can vary—leadingto acculturation gaps. These acculturation gaps can have implications on parent-childinteractions, particularly for sensitive topics like sex. Insufficient sexual communication andeducation can unfortunately lead to worse health outcomes in adolescents, including sexualignorance, unsafe sex and even the development of sexually transmitted diseases. Usingacculturation measures tailored to the Asian American experience and additional sexcommunication... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8zs5s57q Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Han, Kaitlyn M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8xd171jc Inequitable treatment of migrant workers has long been a major point of discourse relatedto challenges and human rights violations faced by individuals in the workforce, with Japanbeing no exception despite its deteriorating population and need for foreign labor. The history ofJapan’s perceived superiority is examined and the term “Japaneseness” is introduced as a meansof conceptualizing the embedded racism within the culture. This capstone thesis analyzes Japan’sexisting immigration regulations and posits that most foreign laborers face discrimination in theJapanese workspace overall. Through a qualitative analysis of non-governmental organizations(NGOs), legislation, public surveys and expert opinions, this study suggests a correlationbetween Japan’s perception of generational superiority and the rights of migrant workers. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8xd171jc Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Adling, Makenna R https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8w23w4q3 Education in our world today has undergone a massive shift due to COVID-19. There hasbeen a noticeable shift in the places where students learn, which affects how they learn and theirunderstanding of difficult content. A large field which has adopted this transition to virtuallearning environments is Computer Science. Here we have seen that traditional methods ofteaching and learning have struggled to translate to online platforms. To respond to thesechallenges, my capstone project was to create VidQuest, a dynamic learning solution to helpstudents comprehend content better in an online learning world.This solution is designed to build effective online learning experiences to make computerscience accessible to everyone. Looking back on completed research and pedagogical theorybased on computer science education, VidQuest aims to introduce a new solution. Our goal withVidQuest is to bridge the gap between our traditional learning environments and our new e-learning world. VidQuest... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8w23w4q3 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Shah, Krish S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8tz028vz This study investigates the impact of Medicaid expansions, including those implementedas part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), on reducing Black-White inequalities in augmentedincome poverty in the United States from 2009 to 2019. Utilizing bi-annual individual-levelpanel data for approximately 8,100 Black and White individuals under age 65, the study employsa method of monetizing Medicaid and Medicare benefits to recalculate household income,adjusting for taxes, transfers, tax credits, and household size. This recalculated "augmented"income provides a basis for assessing relative and anchored poverty levels. Despite initialconcerns that Medicaid expansions might exacerbate Black-White poverty disparities—givenWhite individuals' growing advantage in residing in states that expanded Medicaid—the studyprovides evidence to the contrary. Descriptive analyses indicate a decline in Black-Whiteinequalities in augmented relative poverty over the study period, with both Black and Whitepoverty... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8tz028vz Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Mekonnen, Hemen W https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8tj3n7zq Managing time effectively to complete assignments while balancing studying and dailylife can be a challenge for students pursuing higher education. To address this, I have developeda time-management application specifically tailored to the needs of students. The application,named Starting Today, is designed to select and assign homework tasks to students based on anadjustable algorithm that considers the due date, priority, and difficulty of each task. The aim ofthis application is to reduce procrastination and promote better time management skills amongstudents. This project encompasses the creation and implementation of the application.During the development process, I used Flutter, a cross-platform framework for creatinguser-friendly interfaces for both desktop and mobile devices. Starting Today includes featuressuch as a customizable task list, a work-hour estimator, a modifiable calendar, and the capacity tosynchronize with assignments on the widely-used learning management... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8tj3n7zq Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Wolfel, Marie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8rs9j23f Alternative subcultures are characterized by being outside mainstream society, with membershaving similar music preferences, appearances, and values. The goal of this study was tounderstand the experiences of emerging adults who identify with alternative subcultures (e.g.,goth, emo, punk, etc). The sample included 83 participants from three groups: 1) self-identifiedalternative social media users, 2) self-identified alternative undergraduate students, and 3)undergraduate students who did not identify with alternative subcultures. Participants completedan online survey containing open-ended questions about subcultural identity and mental healthmeasures for depressive and anxious symptoms, positive affect, and negative affect. Resultsrevealed higher levels of depressive symptoms in both alternative groups compared to thenon-alternative group, and higher levels of negative affect in the social media alternative groupcompared to the non-alternative group. There were no significant... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8rs9j23f Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Louie, Angie K https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8qf5h7p7 In this study, we will be recording the significant impacts that social status andconsequently social mobility have on a person's mental health. Practicing social mobility is thegoal for every family to give the next generation a better starting point in life. Having financialstability along with financial support can do an awful lot for an individual's mental state.Existing research shows how difficult it is to be a minority in the US but fails to look deeper intowhy minorities continue to have high rates of untreated mental health issues while being on thelower end of the social ladder. The purpose of this study is to highlight the importance of socialmobility and mental health which can go hand in hand with one another. This is not always thecase but studies have shown that practicing social mobility has a positive impact on mentalhealth which in return allows you to live a psychologically healthier lifestyle. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8qf5h7p7 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Leon Fernandez, Miguel A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8pf2650g Myths and storytelling have long been a major contributing factor in the establishment ofculture within societies. In turn, these cultures shape attitudes and behaviors that define howcertain groups are treated within that culture. The Greek mythological tradition was a majorfactor in the attitude towards and treatment of women in Ancient Greece. This paper seeks toexamine one source of that attitude, the myths, and analyze the connection between myth makingand cultural identity. What factors in Ancient Greek society led to the creation of these storiesand in turn, how do those stories affect the culture as a whole? I will trace the evolution of thesestories throughout history, from its ancient roots to the present. This analysis will include themyths in their earliest forms, extending to the use of their established tropes and viewpoints inlater works. As such, analysis of modern adaptations of mythological stories will also be done.The tracking of this evolution seeks to understand... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8pf2650g Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Debatian, Aissiah https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8n33s8vk The present study compares the frequency of conversations between individuals and theirpartners coping with a cancer diagnosis and their support system using naturalistic observationmethods. This study followed 53 eligible couples (106 participants total) throughout the study’sobservation period. Descriptive analyses showed that in general individuals talk to their partnersmore frequently than any other group of their support system. Secondly, when comparing Whiteindividuals to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), White individuals talk morefrequently to their partners than BIPOC individuals. However, there is no notable difference inthe frequency at which they talk to their family or friends. Finally, conversation frequency wascompared to self-reported depressive scores. There was no correlation between increasedconversation frequency and reduction of depressive symptoms. By gaining a betterunderstanding of these associations, researchers will be able to further explore... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8n33s8vk Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chan, Emily E https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8mk056kn False memory is a psychological phenomenon in which people falsely remember eventsthat have happened. It is usually harmless, though at times it can have damaging consequences.Several factors, such as emotion, can affect false memory. This project proposes a study toobserve the relationship between induced emotion, in particular, negative emotion, and falsememory. Participants will be split into two groups: negative emotion group and the controlgroup. The negative group will listen to Mahler’s Adagietto, a musical piece that inducesnegative emotions, for 8 minutes. The control group will listen to Holst’s The Planets, a neutralpiece, for 8 minutes. Participants will continue to listen to the music while taking theDeese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm that is used to measure false memory. In theDRM, participants will be presented with study word lists to memorize and then, after a30-minute delay, to report whether each word in the test word lists was previously learned fromthe... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8mk056kn Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Metobo, Johari M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jj2687j In this paper, I will tell the story of two of my ancestors. My paternal great-grandmotherand great-great-grandfather. A story that is tied to the history of the world and the history of Iran.I will explore their lives and legacy, shaping many people, families, and towns. My Great-greatgrandfather, a wealthy Khan, controlled vast amounts of land and held great influence in thewestern regions of the province of Kurdistan in the Kingdom of Persia by the late 19th and early20th centuries. The clan, however, would be nearly wiped out by bandits and outlaws, killingmost of the family, burning the family manor, stealing their wealth, and later hanging the head ofthe family, my great-great-grandfather. My great-grandmother and her brother lived as they hidin the wine cellars. However, this is where the story of my great-grandmother begins with mostof her young life surviving the First World War, nearly being killed, and watching ImperialRussian Forces slaughter her hometown. Her bravery... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jj2687j Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Ahmadi, Arian https://escholarship.org/uc/item/87v4t471 Student perception of school climate and teacher support is strongly associated witheducational persistence (Gale et al., 2020; Hadre & Reeve, 2003). Persistence is a driving forcein motivating students to continue doing well in school, despite changes and challenges (Harris& Kiyama, 2015). Prior work suggests there is a critical time period between middle school tohigh school where students face changes in adult support both inside and outside the classroom(Alspaugh, 1998; Cohen & Smerdon, 2009). Compounding the fragility of this period, it iscommon for adolescents to observe changes and limitations in guidance from teachers after thetransition to high school (Hadre & Reeve, 2003; Wells, 1996). This has deleterious implicationsfor student persistence (Alspaugh, 2010). This study sought to further understand the relationshipbetween student perception of teacher support and persistence. Furthermore, it examined if thisrelation differs for middle school students... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/87v4t471 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Duron, Terra M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/85h93008 Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN) is the third leading cause of kidney failure in theworld today (Krasinski, 2020, p.274). The condition develops in patients that receive iodinatedcontrast media (ICM) which is a dye that helps visualize the veins and arteries during coronaryangiograms and computed tomography (CT) scans. CIN is defined as a deterioration of thekidney due to the injection of contrast administration leading to kidney failure. Current CINliterature lacks fundamental understanding of how current hydration methods affect thelikelihood of this condition manifesting itself. The team sought to study this condition using ahydration protocol where 500 mL of normal saline was administered pre- and post-catheterization. Our main method of measurement was serum creatinine (sCr) which is theamount of creatinine found in the blood. The primary question of this study was to determinewhether patients with high-risk factors would be less likely to develop Post-Contrast AcuteKidney... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/85h93008 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Randolph, Elliot https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81x630fd What is the best way to spend money on an election? While it may seem the best to spendcampaign funds on furthering your campaign through advertising, the most optimal way to winan election may be to spend on other candidates. This project is a political science project basedon the idea that using campaign funds on other candidates may be the best way to win anelection. The outcome of this can be that candidates match up better against one candidate ratherthan the other due to factors such as charisma, career experience, and position in politics. Anexample of this is that funds may go to a candidate that is more radical politically while thecandidate spending the money is more moderate. Therefore, the more moderate candidate willappeal to a much wider audience and therefore win rather than going against another moderatecandidate. This idea will be based around Game Theory and using statistical models to showcasethis idea. This strategy is something not commonly used, but hopefully,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81x630fd Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Faul, Raffi m https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81g110gd Plants are remarkably able to colonize and succeed in a wide variety of environments.The number and types of genetic changes that contribute to adaptation to different areas of theworld remains mostly unclear. In this experiment, I investigated the genetic diversity of thebarley composite cross parents that are geographically and genetically diverse. To explore theparents' genetic diversity, I performed genome alignment for each of the parents using long readsequences produced using the Pacific Biosciences HiFi Technology and use the most suitablebioinformatic tools to identify and analyze the structural variations. I identified 366,149structural variations, and over 60% of them are deletions. We also observe that structural variantsare most abundant near the centromere and at the ends of chromosomes. GO enrichment analysisfound deleted genes associated with DNA transposition, integration, DNA repair enzymaticactivity, and tissue development, which might contribute to the role... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81g110gd Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Wen, Yongyi https://escholarship.org/uc/item/813258zr Music therapy has demonstrated itself as a promising intervention across a variety of patientconditions, ranging from intensive neonatal care to older adults coping with stress anddepression. While existing research has demonstrated the positive benefits of music therapy,there are few studies that examine the breadth of real-world applications of this therapeuticapproach. This study will seek to address this gap of knowledge by utilizing a clinical dataanalysis platform, TriNetX, to investigate how music therapy is used across 51 medical systemsand 7750 patients in the United States. This platform provides access and the analytical toolsneeded to review de-identified clinical data that can be filtered and organized to show patterns ortrends in healthcare use.In conducting this analysis, we examine a wide range of data regarding the use of music as atherapy based on demographic factors such as age, sex, and ethnicity, along with clinical factorssuch as health state and pharmacological... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/813258zr Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Koudsi, Rami https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7n0060tb The majority of research in the field of Psychology has been conducted by American researchers, in American-based institutions, with participants who have largely come from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) backgrounds. This has severely limited thegeographical and cultural applicability of the results of our studies. This is particularly true formental health assessments, which are highly correlated with local cultural influences. Thepresent study was conducted in Kenya. Using African university students as participants, weused three surveys to determine the relationship between cultural, socioeconomic factors andlocal mental health. We focused on three main mental health variables: depression level, anxietylevel, and general mental health, as well as five cultural and socioeconomic factors: age, familyincome, perceived social support, gender, and ethnic (tribal) identity. Hypotheses included thefollowing: (1) A positive correlation between age and... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7n0060tb Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chen, Yixing https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7m29p9xm This project will describe the factors of job satisfaction of student employees working inthe retail or warehouse industry. The impact of these factors will help explain the relationship ofwell-being and mental health (which is used interchangeably) and job productivity of studentsworking the night shift. Understanding these relationships will inspire the retail and warehouseindustries to foster a better work environment in the Inland Empire. A background of theseindustries is provided to understand the role and function that they play in today’s generation.For our analysis, we obtained data from an anonymous survey of undergraduate students fromthe University of California, Riverside. The results indicate whether students are workingfull-time or part-time, their work schedule is one of the factors that determine their satisfaction atwork. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7m29p9xm Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Uscanga, Milagros https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7k99w6v3 The swift pace of modernity presents unique challenges to Generation Z. Thesechallenges range from economic and social to political and ecological issues. Inflation, achanging job market, and high educational costs have economically stressed this generation. Atthe same time, the impacts of the internet along with social media platforms have alteredinteraction, affecting mental health. Political issues such as inequality and social justice persistand often intersect with ecological concerns, including climate change and environmentaldegradation, shaping ideological perspectives. Through personal narrative, social analysis, andstatistical representation, this study aims to contextualize and shed light on how Generation Zadapts to and simultaneously shapes their future amidst adversity. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7k99w6v3 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Ianni, Bryson https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7hz00640 This creative project, a full-length playscript, follows Mira, a young woman who hasstruggled with addiction and abuse at her lowest: in jail, awaiting a trial for the murder of herboyfriend and drug trafficking. We follow her story as her lawyer, Pierce, asks her questionsabout why Mira made certain decisions and how she got to this point. Throughout the story, welearn about her past with addiction, how she was trying to get back on the right path, how she feltsmothered by her mom, and ultimately ended up back with her ex in order to maintain some tieto the past. Themes of addiction, abuse, fear of change, family, and allyship are at the core of thispiece as it delves into the cyclical nature of abuse and how generational trauma maintains thiscycle. We learn that there is more to people than victimhood, that accepting love can help upheal and move forward, and that change, is necessary but looks different to everyone. Thisproject culminated into a table read and a filmed interview... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7hz00640 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chavez, Gabriella L https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7g90j2dt Research has indicated the development of identity under gendered racist oppression inBlack women in the United States is unique due to the intersection of their dual marginalizedsocial status and the resulting unique multifaceted approach to assimilating and combatingnormative narratives of prototypical ideas on race and gender (Williams & Lewis, 2021; Cooleyet. al, 2018). The inherent contradictions between racialized stereotypes of Blackness and that ofwomanhood effectively others Black American women and this othering is exacerbated withinthe confines of the racial (and patriarchal) American Competitive Capitalism (Marsh, 2015;Fletcher Jr, 2020; Albee & Perry, 1998; Bernard, 2016;Brown, 1975; Wills, 2018; Schwartz,2007). This research builds upon the idea that the intersection of racism and sexism (this authorargues capitalism as well) has a particular, unparalleled influence on the development of Blackfemale identity. Understanding of the oppression of Black women... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7g90j2dt Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Khalfani, Jahmila A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7d9871hb The advent of large language models (LLMs) has revolutionized various fields, yet theirapplication in generating educational modules for mechanical engineering still needs to beexplored. This study aims to bridge this gap by developing an automated system that utilizesLLMs to create comprehensive educational content for mechanical engineering students. Weemployed a combination of text and image inputs to generate modules, significantly reducing thecreation time from over an hour to just five minutes. The results demonstrate high accuracy andrelevance in the generated content, indicating the potential of LLMs to enhance the efficiencyand effectiveness of educational material development. Future work will focus on refining thesystem for broader applications and integrating feedback from educators to improve the modules'quality further. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7d9871hb Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Bermudez-Viramontes, Luciano https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7bm0r7t1 Language ideologies continue to be a prominent subject in Spanish linguistics (Carreira2011). They influence not only the identity of the speaker, but also confidence in their skills innavigating the language. Individuals who are learning a new language experience different levelsof success in their target language due to their preexisting language attitudes. For example,monolingual students with ideologies such as “One Nation, One Language”, would have apredetermined attitude towards their target language, which would make it harder for them tosuccessfully acquire the second language. Linguistic culture in the United States is centeredaround monolingualism, which is directly tied to the nationalist ideologies that are present in thecountry, despite it being a multilingual, multiethnic nation (Valdes et al 2003). Americanlanguage ideologies showcase on a bigger scale, which language ideologies are prominent on theindividual level. Departing from the frameworks of Valdes, Kroskrity,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7bm0r7t1 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Nadirashvili, Mariam https://escholarship.org/uc/item/79f8b5pg The focus of this project is assessing the critical connections which may be viewedbetween the musical works of Black artists during the 1970’s and 1980’s which served as thegenesis of the genre of hardcore punk and the foundational theories which created the culturalphenomenon, aesthetic, and critical lens that is Afrofuturism. In doing so, this project highlightsforms of African American speculative thinking and defines Afrofuturism itself through theworks of these musicians. Furthermore, by pulling out these connections, this research begins theprocess of seeing the genre of hardcore punk—its uniquely African American form, sound, andpurpose integral in this—as a necessary strand in Afrofuturism, to be viewed in the larger streamof African American approaches towards speculativity in the 20th century. To achieve this goal,this essay will analyze primarily Jacques Attali’s Noise: The Political Economy of Music, afoundational text of sound studies, in relation to musical works... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/79f8b5pg Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Jimenez, Michael Y https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73t2n1tc While many students take photos of lecture slides during class, research has revealed that doingso may impair memory for photographed content compared to unphotographed content.However, little is known about how taking both photos and notes simultaneously affects learningfrom a lecture. Early work on this topic from our lab has found a significant note-taking benefitbut also a significant photo-taking impairment when students engage in these behaviors in an in-person class setting. The present study sought to replicate these findings in an online setting. Inaddition, the present study sought to evaluate the relationship between quality of the notes andlearning from the lecture. Specifically, we: 1) compared the difference in the number of correctanswers found in the notes when taking both photos and notes compared to only taking notes,and 2) correlated the proportion of answers found in the notes with memory performance.Additionally, we used a cross-experiment comparison to examine... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73t2n1tc Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Gabr, Rawan W https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73s7s88t The world is facing devastation from climate change as countries are not implementingeffective and efficient carbon emission policies quickly enough to decrease the effects of climatechange. Countries have supposedly tried to decrease their contribution to worsening climatechange but are not meeting their climate goals set by the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Thispaper examines the factors leading to the policy implementation gap in carbon emissions andtheir policy implications. It looks at how the policies implemented based on internationalorganizations fall short of meeting their carbon emission reduction goals. I assess this policyimplementation gap in four Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)countries: Australia, Canada, Norway, and Türkiye. I argue that varying levels of politicalwillingness to meet climate goals, the differing types of multilevel governance, and varyingresources devoted to climate issues significantly impact the level of policy... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/73s7s88t Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Nguyen, Emily T https://escholarship.org/uc/item/739743nj Stereotypic behaviors, characterized by persistent repetition of actions without an obvious goal,are often observed in captive animals but not in their wild counterparts. Voluntary wheel runningin captive rodents is one such behavior, potentially indicative of stereotypy. This study exploresthe hypothesis that selectively bred high runner (HR) mice, known for their extreme levels ofwheel running, also exhibit higher levels of other stereotypic behaviors compared to non-selectedcontrol (C) lines. Behavioral observations were conducted on both HR and C lines to quantifystereotypic behaviors. Additionally, the impact of environmental enrichment (addition of acardboard toilet paper tube to the cage) on these behaviors was assessed. When housed withwheels for six days, HR mice had significantly higher levels of both wheel running and otherstereotypic behaviors compared to C mice. With the introduction of enrichment, wheel runningby HR mice increased during the next 24 hours, whereas... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/739743nj Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Nguyen, Thomas https://escholarship.org/uc/item/71b55244 It is essential to recognize that selfish actions often have repercussions. This researchexplores the intricate history of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi schemes spanning over two decades,dissecting their mechanics and shedding light on the perpetual exploitation seen in similarfraudulent schemes. By delving into the psychology behind such scams and analyzing theirsocietal ramifications, this study aims to underscore the importance of ethical decision-makingand its implications on the broader social fabric. It will elucidate how the economy and legalsystem have been affected by the scheme and focus on the influence that comes with makingcrucial, large-scale decisions. Consequently, portray how the lives of victims have beencompletely changed, helping people understand through pathos how the choices they make tobenefit themselves could lead people on the other side to their downfall. Inevitably, it isparamount to uphold proper ethical principles for several compelling reasons, includingrecognizing... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/71b55244 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lee, Hyun https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6wx423tz Women’s reproductive health encompasses more than just pregnancy. There are manyfactors that play crucial roles in the health and well-being of women, such as contraception,abortion, the struggles of infertility, and most importantly, gaining access to proper care tomaintain overall health. However, as we have seen throughout history, women in the UnitedStates have had to overcome many challenges and fight for the right to be able to govern theirown bodies and healthcare. The immense impact that lack of proper care, such as denied accessto abortion, birth control, and fertility treatments, has on women daily is all too often overlooked,and this is not due to lack of research. This project studied women’s reproductive health in termsof the history of access to contraception and abortion, the impact of values of others on publicpolicy, and advocacy of reproductive justice to better understand the disparities that exist inwomen’s healthcare and explain how they came to be. These... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6wx423tz Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Wood, Isabella V https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6tk1k0sf Self-reflection and self-assessment are an important part of the learning process and have beenan area of interest for educators aiming to improve student learning gains. Prior research hasfocused on how student performance is affected due to the implementation of self-reflectioncredit compared with more traditional performative and graded assignments, as well as thecorrelation between self-reflection and student achievement. This study further investigated theeffectiveness of self-assessment in the classroom by measuring the correctness and accuracy ofstudent self-assessment performance and its effect on summative assessments and learningmindset. This was measured by analyzing student work via low-stakes self-assessmentassignments in an organic chemistry lecture course. These assignments were intended to offerstudents the opportunity to self-assess without the need for instructor involvement. In addition toanalyzing student work, surveys on students' impressions of the assessment... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6tk1k0sf Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Fukazawa, Ella https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qg5t91x Although researchers have examined the way observers view positive deviants (individuals whoexceed normative standards for positive behavior), the literature fails to specify two issues: howemotional displays and the actor’s gender affect perceptions of positive deviance. I used AffectControl Theory and its computer simulation program, Interact, to develop four hypotheses abouthow a display of positive deviance (operationalized as an extremely high academicperformance), gender, and self-directed disappointment affect observers’ deviance ratings: (1)individuals who engage in positive deviance will be viewed as more deviant than those who donot, (2) individuals who express self-directed disappointment will be viewed as more deviantthan those who do not, (3) self-directed disappointment will moderate the effect of positivedeviance, with disappointed deviants viewed as more deviant than non-disappointed deviants,and (4) gender will moderate the effect of self-directed disappointment,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6qg5t91x Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Sezer, Tamra N https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6nz8b1vd To understand how lung inflammation alters parts of the brain that regulate breathing, weuse Alternaria alternata, an air-borne fungal allergen, and observe how it affects the NucleusTractus Solitarii (NTS) region of the brain. The NTS is the major regulatory region for breathing.To imitate the air-borne quality and the effects of A. alternata, we expose mice to ultrafineaerosolized non-infectious particles of A. alternata in controlled chambers for one week.Exposure is done in conditions where the mice live in their home cage without any restrictions intheir moving, sleeping, or eating patterns. This administration mimics the most common route ofexposure in mammals. After exposure, NTS brain samples are collected and cryosectioned 5micrometers, then used to quantify molecules involved in the neuronal synapse. We incubate theNTS brain sections with immunofluorescent antibodies specific to VGLUT2, an excitatorypresynaptic marker, and PSD-95, a postsynaptic marker. We use immunofluorescence... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6nz8b1vd Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Drake, Samantha L https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6ks5c141 Everyone who has experienced grief due to the loss of a loved one, all carry a uniqueperspective about it. These feelings or emotions are rather intimate and can only be expressed ona more personal level. One of the common ways of expressing these raw emotions are throughmusic and art. By collaborating with fellow honors student, John Son, we wish to create a uniqueexperience for listeners who have experienced grief and also to listeners who have not, and shareour journey of grief and solace. Each song that we will be composing is tied with a particularemotion of grief. Expressing emotions through art is our way of representing a personal journeyof understanding the passing of life and how we can move forward. The album cover art is acollection of memories and symbolic imagery of nature to describe the passing of time, life anddeath, and the permanence of love. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6ks5c141 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Son, James C https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6gc6j60b Outside of academia, there is a negative stigma around genetic engineering. In the media,it is often used as a point of conflict (i.e a genetically engineered virus that causes a zombieapocalypse, or the creation of inhuman “super soldiers”). Outside of the entertainment industry,there is rhetoric against genetic engineering, specifically in the use of “GMO.” Many people willnot buy a product that is labeled as a GMO, even when the genetic modification may improve itfor consumption (i.e Golden rice is more nutritious than its organic counterpart because it isgenetically modified to contain vitamin A precursor beta-carotene). There is very little positiverepresentation for genetic engineering in the media. This project seeks to increase positiveexposure of children (ages 12-15) to genetic engineering via a narrative and informationalwebtoon. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6gc6j60b Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Solkowitz, Samantha https://escholarship.org/uc/item/69x044j3 Associative memory refers to a form of memory in which separate pieces of information arelinked together into a cohesive memory through binding processes. The long-term memoryversion of our QuadMax associative task demonstrated that memory performance decreased asthe number of items to-be-remembered together increased from two to three to four words, aswould be expected if demand on binding processes also increased with associative load.However, an alternative interpretation is that memory worsens at higher associative loads due toincreased demands on short-term associative memory processes which may exceed the amountof information that can be held in mind at once (short-term memory capacity), as there is moreinformation to hold in mind when encoding and retrieving sets of four versus two words. Thecurrent study aimed to disentangle these processes by developing a short-term associativememory variation of the QuadMax task. Thirty-five young adults studied pairs, triplets, andquadruplets... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/69x044j3 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 McCollum, May W https://escholarship.org/uc/item/68k5z43r The synthesis of bioactive molecules is a key topic in organic chemistry, particularly inthe development of anti-cancer agents. Our work consisted of three catalytic approaches aimed atsynthesizing potent bioactive compounds through the use of C-H functionalization and high-energy vinylic cation strategies. The first project focuses on the synthesis of anti-cancercolchicine derivatives utilizing high-energy vinylic cation intermediates. The methodologyinvolves the use of iron(III)/HCl “super acid” vinylic cation formation to access structurallydiverse colchicine analogs with anti-cancer properties. In the second project, a cobalt(III)-catalyzed C-H functionalization approach is employed for the synthesis of dihydroisoquinolones,a class of compounds with significant medicinal potential. Specifically, benzamides andnorbornadiene substrates were employed to access valuable intermediates with potentialmedicinal applications, facilitated by the selective activation of C-H bonds. The... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/68k5z43r Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Vega, Crystal https://escholarship.org/uc/item/664342mg Biochemistry is a difficult upper-division course because students often assume thatmemorization leads to comprehension. One of the primary topics is to understand the body’sneeds, and the actions it may take to achieve a biological balance. This requires more than justmemorization to comprehend the processes that occur. While memorization may prove effectivein the short-term, students tend to forget about the subject upon finishing the course. The goal ofthis study is to explore whether in-class active learning is effective for long-term retention inbiochemistry, and how effective it may be based on their own approaches outside of class.Currently, blank templates of metabolic pathways are used in lecture as an active learning tool.Students are strongly encouraged to use these templates to practice during class as well as studyon their own outside of lecture. The frequency of how many times they have filled it out(repetition) and how they have chosen to memorize and/or study the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/664342mg Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Ku, Erin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6510f5w5 Learning new skills and information can be one of the most time-consuming actions toengage in. Students can be considered the biggest contributor to this. It is very vital for schoolsto ensure that students are receiving the right tools to successfully motivate and further theirstudies. This study has been designed to measure the effects of technology that students are beingexposed to within K-12 level classrooms and whether it affects the student’s willingness toparticipate and ability to learn topics being taught in their respective grade level. The method ofresearch consisted of six interviews with teachers who are first-hand observing the effectstechnology exposure has had on their students and whether improvements or disadvantages arebeing experienced by these students. The teachers who were interviewed are from a variety ofschools within the Inland Empire of California to better understand the effects of technologyintegration across all content areas and analyze how educators... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6510f5w5 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Mayorga, Sara A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/63c026pm The suppression and stigmatization of minority groups creates division within oursociety. Therefore, our collective need to investigate the nuances of self-perception as it relatesto our perceived identity is becoming increasingly crucial. We aim to understand whetherexperiences related to one’s identity can influence one’s self-concept. Specifically, we willexplore the impact of recalling identity-related experiences, as memories, on self-conceptpositivity and stability. We will perform two behavioral studies. Our first pilot study willexamine the content and reliability of new stimuli (participant-disclosed autobiographicalmemories related to their racial and ethnic identity) later used for an adapted autobiographicalmemory (ABM) recall task. The second full study, using the same ABM recall task, will test theeffects of recalling positive (e.g., celebratory) and negative (e.g., stigmatizing) identity-relatedmemories on self-concept positivity and stability. Participants will... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/63c026pm Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Leem, SeoHa https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5tn0z3tf Adults who have experienced parent loss go through a very traumatic period in their life.Even as an adult, age does not determine the impact of this devastating loss. The purpose of thisstudy was to examine the behaviors, emotions, and reactions of adults (ages 18 and above) whohad lost a parent by listening to a range of media pieces. The many media pieces includeinterviews, long-form videos, and podcasts. These media pieces include adults who haveexperienced parent death, discussing their experiences, feelings at the time, and how they arecoping with the loss and going on. After analyzing the media pieces, I timemark what the adultssay, give my thoughts beneath the timemark, and add my own emotions and responses. I sharemy experience and some of the same sentiments with my mom’s passing. By analyzing the fivemedia pieces that were used, four important aspects of adult mourning were found: the adults'response to the loss of their parents, their needs and life after the parent... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5tn0z3tf Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Mbagwu, Chukwunaenye https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5t81m98p The end of World War II ushered in a period of cultural changes and economic growth inthe United States, which set the stage for renewed relationships between citizens and theirgovernments. In the decades since, the levels of confidence and dissatisfaction in governmentinstitutions have varied widely, leading to the intriguing question of why citizens trust or mistrusttheir governments.The evolving dynamics of trust in government have been a subject ofsustained interest and debate in the realms of political science, sociology, and public policy, withvaried perspectives on its causes and consequences. This paper will attempt to understand andanalyze trust in government institutions through two perspectives, focusing primarily on thethree branches of the United States federal government in the past 78 years (1945-2023) sincethe end of World War II. There is the rational choice perspective, which argues that trust isrooted in individuals' rational calculations of government performance,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5t81m98p Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Silvano, Adrianni P https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5rc5t8p7 The current study examined associations between risk contexts (i.e., immigration discrimination,classism, colorism), acculturation (i.e., assimilation, separation, integration, marginalization),and adjustment (i.e., school belonging, substance use, GPA) among U.S. Latinx adolescents.Additionally, we considered how gender may moderate study associations. Participants for thisstudy include a subsample of Latinx adolescents from a larger study with two public highschools in the western United States (N=703, Mage=15.93 (SD =1.22); 51.3% male). Preliminaryresults revealed that experiencing more colorism, classism, and immigrant discrimination wasassociated with a higher inclination for separation and substance use (e.g., tobacco, cannabis,alcohol). Specifically, Latinx adolescents were more likely to reject U.S. culture and formstronger ties with the culture and values of their country of origin, as well as engage in substanceuse, when they experienced higher levels of risk contexts.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5rc5t8p7 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Perez Luis, Laura M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5q70f6mx Optogenetics is a powerful piece of technology that is highly utilized in neuroscienceresearch. It makes use of light and channelrhodopsin proteins to remotely manipulateneuronal circuits and behavior of organisms in vivo. Ecdysis Triggering Hormone (ETH) is apeptide hormone that is produced by endocrine Inka cells in arthropods. Previous workshowed that ETH injection inhibits courtship behavior in male Drosophila melanogaster,indicating a reproductive role in adult Drosophia melanogaster. The goal of this study is touse optogenetic manipulation to test the hypothesis that elevation of endogenouslyreleased ETH likewise inhibits courtship behavior. That is done using red light exposure ata wavelength of ~600nm and a dose dependent duration. That allows cuticle penetration,which should elevate endogenous ETH levels using light-gated CS-Chrimson channels. Redlight entry into the cell causes the channel to open and an influx of Na+ and Ca+,depolarizing the Inka cell and activating... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5q70f6mx Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Amer, Tala https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5q46v8mz Understanding the interactions between vector-borne pathogens and non-crop plantspecies is crucial for managing diseases in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. This studyfocuses on the role of potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, haplotypes, and the pathogenCandidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, CLso, in affecting native plants in the genera Physalisand Lycium within California’s Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. We employed a combination ofyellow sticky cards and custom-built preservative traps to monitor psyllid populations and thebacterial pathogens they may carry over the late winter to early spring season. Moleculartechniques, including PCR and Sanger sequencing, were used to identify psyllid haplotypes andscreen each psyllid for infection with CLso. Our results indicated that the Southwesternhaplotype of potato psyllids was prevalent, but none of the captured psyllids tested positive forCLso. These findings suggest a currently low risk of CLso transmission to native desert... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5q46v8mz Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chan, Natalie A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5p46m610 Gender disparities between men and women have deep historical roots. In present dayMexico and Brazil, these disparities follow women all the way to death. The female murder ratein these two countries far surpasses that of men, and my research question is: WHY? Case aftercase there has been very little accountability done to the murderers of these women, and therehas been no progress in preventing the murder rate as it has been climbing. The female murderrate has a name, and this is known as femicide. Women are at risk of falling victim to this crimeevery single day. The daily lives of women in Latin American countries are being tampered withthe fear of not being able to see their loved ones the next day, or to be unable to continueexperiencing their lives. Because of this, I want to examine why the legal system has allowed themurder rates in Mexico and Brazil continue to rise each year. In 2022, Brazil was the numberone country with the highest rate of Femicides in Latin America,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5p46m610 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lara, Celyne A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5kn971n6 Electron Transfer Flavoproteins (ETFs) are electron-transporting proteins that containflavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) at their active sites. There are two different types of ETF: oneonly performs electron transfer between a physiological electron donor and acceptor while theother has the additional capacity to catalyze electron bifurcation. Electron bifurcation involvestaking a pair of electrons from a median-potential reductant such as NADH and sending theelectrons separately along low- and high-potential pathways in a way that is overallthermodynamically favorable. In this way, it is possible to acquire the low-potential reducingequivalents needed for carbon and nitrogen fixation in many organisms, particularlymethanogenic archaea and acetogenic bacteria. We know that the simple ETFs bind anequivalent of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in addition to their FAD while the bifurcatingETFs instead have a second equivalent of FAD which is the site of the primary bifurcation event.X-ray... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5kn971n6 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Yoon, Sol https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5j2901pg Dark matter is a mysterious form of matter thought to comprise 27% of the total mass-energycontent of the universe, and it plays a critical role in understanding the history of the universe,the formation of galaxies, and the dynamics of astronomical processes. Even still, little is knownabout dark matter’s properties, and it has never been detected directly. DarkSide-20k is a directsearch detector led by a global collaboration consisting of an array of international universities andorganizations. The detector will hold 20 tonnes of liquid argon kept at cryogenic temperatures in anunderground laboratory in Italy. The outermost chamber of the detector, known as the outer veto,is responsible for “vetoing” unwanted particles from being mistakenly identified as dark matter.When a particle enters the chamber and collides with an argon nucleus, the collision produces lightwhich is measured by photodetectors within the chamber. The data collected by the outer veto isused to distinguish... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5j2901pg Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Hudnall, Jared S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5hp7245d The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction hypothesis has been proposed to helpunderstand the etiology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In particular, it has beendemonstrated that MK-801, a highly potent and selective NMDA antagonist, induces spatialmemory and learning impairments in rodents similar to cognitive deficits observed in patients withschizophrenia. Additionally, it has been shown that MK-801 leads to decreased blood perfusion inbrain regions associated with the memory and learning network (i.e., the septohippocampalnetwork). However, there is still a lack of functional connectivity analysis for the impact of MK801on the septohippocampal network related to learning and memory. Here we conduct a functionalconnectivity analysis for MK801 effect on the septohippocampal networks using functionalUltrasound Imaging (fUSI) between two groups of mice injected with saline (control) and MK-801. Additionally, we demonstrate the importance of prewhitening fUSI... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5hp7245d Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Hakopian, Erik https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cn4h7nz According to the book Social Emergency Medicine, about “70% of adults living in the U.S.are experiencing or are at risk of financial insecurity”, meaning most adults are not financiallyprepared for any unforeseen expenses. Financial stress has become a normal responsibilitythroughout life for most individuals, however, an increasing number of individuals have becomeso stressed due to their finances that it has impacted their well-being negatively. I study thepsychological effects on individuals when it comes to financial stress because I want to find outhow financial uncertainty affects individuals not only mentally but also physically. By studyingand finding potential causes, we can bring attention to this persisting issue and help thoseindividuals financially struggling. I use scholarly research papers and the General Social Survey,which is a website that collects high-quality data from adults throughout the U.S. of different areasand topics that impact our society, to find... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cn4h7nz Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Covarrubias, Biridiana M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5bp4x450 Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a genetic mutation, is a leading cause of attention andlearning related disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, the question ofhow dysfunctional mechanisms contribute to symptoms related to FXS remains unclear. Priorstudies have shown that mice with FXS have an increase in cholinergic signaling. Cholinergicinput allows sensory responses to occur in a more reliable way, and therefore when elevatedatypically can lead to hyperarousal and deficits in learning. Our research goal is to examine thecircuit defects that cause an increase in cholinergic input and determine if a reduction incholinergic signaling to the primary visual cortex (V1) will rescue visual perceptual learning. Wewill use Fmr1–/– knockout (KO) mice, which is an established mouse model of FXS and sharessimilarities in sensory and learning issues observed in humans with FXS. Wild type (WT) mice,with neurotypical brain circuits will be used as controls. We will use a genetically... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5bp4x450 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Intwala, Bhakti B https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5bn9t4p9 Health effects of electronic cigarettes (ECs) are not well understood despite theirgrowing popularity. In this project, I tested the hypothesis that apical air-liquid interfaceexposure of 3D human bronchial epithelium to EC aerosol would produce adverse effects inthe tissue. I have analyzed proteomics data collected on human respiratory tissue that wasexposed to aerosol from various ECs. I used the PRISM graphing software to create volcanoplots showing the up and downregulated proteins. I used the DAVID BioinformaticsDatabase software to determine which processes were significantly affected by specific flavorgroups of ECs. This was done using the functional annotation tool to group the significantclusters. These groups were created based on biological similarities, such as organelles andfunction. I also used Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software to create a tox list and determinewhich pathways and biological processes were affected in these experiments. Using thisinformation, I... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5bn9t4p9 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Abiani, Sara https://escholarship.org/uc/item/53f6h3vj Background: The lack of trust in medical institutions among LatinX and Indigenous Mexicanfarm working communities prevents some from seeking medical attention. This study focuses onbuilding trust in medicine among LatinX and Indigenous Mexican immigrant patientpopulations in the Eastern Coachella Valley, a rural desert region in Inland Southern California.These populations face barriers to culturally appropriate medical care contributing to healthdisparities. My capstone project focused on increasing trust in medical institutions andphysicians and compared patients’ healthcare experiences. . This project was carried out incollaboration with the Coachella Valley Free Clinic (CVFC), a student-led and communityengaged clinic that serves rural, low-income farm working communities in the ECV, andcommunity health workers (promotoras).Methods: Individuals who had not yet assessed healthcare services at the CVFC but hadaccessed other local medical institutions were invited to participate... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/53f6h3vj Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Reyes, Marcos A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/52p9x11d This project takes a critical look at online fandom communities and the individuals thatinhabit them, specifically taking a look at the American Girl doll online community on YouTube,also known by its inhabitants as “AGTube”. This community, primarily composed of young girlsmaking YouTube videos with their American Girl dolls, is an example of how fandom coincideswith artistic creation. Thus, this research goes into depth on the intersection of fandom and art,and what it means for the individuals, in this case young people, who inhabit these types offandoms. My research will chronicle the existence of this community, going back to the originsof the American Girl company, to the height of the community’s online presence, in addition toproviding a textual analysis of the content created. By documenting each point in this fandom’shistory, as well as the creative projects produced by the community, this project seeks tocritically understand where, how, and why the fandom originated.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/52p9x11d Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Jimenez, Yael S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/52g5c8q5 The use of electronic nicotinic delivery systems (ENDS) by pregnant women and women ofreproductive age is a growing concern. Due to the perception that electronic cigarettes (ECs) aresafe or less harmful than smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes, there has been an uptake in ECuse among all demographics. In pregnant women who use ECs, the most commonly reportedreasons are out of curiosity, their attempts to quit smoking, and general perceptions of reducedharm. Recent studies involving Zebrafish, rats, and mouse animal models have shown thatprenatal exposure to EC can cause significant health defects in dams. However, comprehensiveresearch is needed to investigate EC's short- and long-term effects on human maternal, fetal, andchild health and development. This review aims to understand how the use of ECs by womenaffects embryonic and fetal development by determining the effect of ECs and dual-use (ECs +tobacco cigarettes) on pregnancy outcomes. This systematic review completed... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/52g5c8q5 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Hoang, Sharon O https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5175290n Mangroves are woody plants that thrive in the tropics and subtropics inestuaries—regions where freshwater and saltwater meet. Bacteria associated with mangrovepeat (plant material unable to decay due to anoxic and acidic environments) with recalcitrantnutrients play an important role in sequestering carbon. In a previous study by Costa et al.,bacteria isolated from collection sites at La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, have beenshown to sequester carbon in peat aged approximately 5,000 years. Microbial communityvariation with depth was observed. While microbes have cycled nitrogen deposits, there islittle sign of remineralized carbon back into the ecosystem. Nevertheless, the diversity ofbacteria differs at each peat level, giving insight into peat carbon density, which is relativelystable. Assuming similar anoxic conditions with recalcitrant material, distinct bacterialcommunities with decreased carbon turnover according to peat depth are hypothesized in amangrove forest in... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5175290n Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Crelencia, Marie P https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4wk8v2d3 Literature is a cornerstone in societies the world over because of the power it holds tochange the way people view their lives. It is easy to pick up a book; what is not so easy are theprocesses that get that book into the hands of readers. Publishing trends in the United States andUnited Kingdom change with the wind, and at no time is this more present than in the 21stcentury as social media impacts trends. This ever-changing market means that there is often littlespace for large publishers to take a risk on non-traditional books — that is, books that breakliterary expectations. While this gap can be filled by independent presses, these do not alwayshave the resources to market the non-traditional literature they publish, and in many cases thesebooks do not end up well-liked by the general public because they break from the form thatmany expect from modern literature. Through an analysis of modern book social media circlesand publishing trends, the ways in which non-traditional... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4wk8v2d3 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Homan, Evelyn R https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4qm659mn Much of the Southern Inland Empire can be characterized by a term that depicts aseemingly barren wasteland — food desert. That title describes an environment plagued by foodinsecurity. Residents have little to no access to supermarkets or large grocery stores, and theycompensate by shopping where they can keep individual transactions low. Healthy food sourcesand markets have been supplanted by fast food establishments, liquor stores, convenience stores,and gas stations. This issue of food insecurity largely overlaps with an overabundant access anduse of alcohol, as many retail stores that sell food act as off-sale alcohol outlets as well —establishments authorized to sell alcohol for consumption off of the premises. As of 2019, nearly13% of Riverside and San Bernardino residents experience food insecurity, and there has been a29.3% increase in binge drinking in these counties. These interconnected disparities havebecome commonplace in minoritized and disadvantaged communities,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4qm659mn Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Ngo, Casey N https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4p88n9zv Starbuck’s is the number one leading coffee company with over thirty-thousand locationsacross the world, while keeping a strong brand image. In 2021, Starbucks had the first store inBuffalo New York petition to unionize while over 300 stores slowly followed. Starbucks workersjoined Starbucks Workers United in hopes to improve working conditions and safety concerns.Now almost two years later, both Starbucks and their workers are in unknown territory that createschallenges amongst managers and their employees due to this stand still. I plan to uncover thechallenges and dynamics of managerial behaviors under the conditions of labor uncertainty alongthe lines of unionized versus non-unionized Starbucks locations. This capstone will uncover thedynamic of factors such as workforce demands, collective bargaining and shifts in the labormarket. I will go into detail around the unionization efforts, the process of negotiations betweenStarbucks and Workers United, and Starbucks adaptation... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4p88n9zv Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Johnson, Courtney M https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4k81w9h4 The topic of escapism can be described as a self-regulatory process in which Stensengand Rise (2012) define in the context of engaging with an activity as providing a means to copewith “emotional distress by repressing acknowledgment of the stressors causing the stressfulsituation” (p. 19). Arguably, any activity that allows us to postpone tasks and responsibilitiesrelated to our goals is sufficient for being categorized as one of two dimensions of engagement,those being the promotion and suppression motive. However, the concept of escapism and thetwo underlying dimensions have yet to be explored in an academic setting, in particular itspossible influence on academic performance. Thus, inquiry into the topic of escapism and itsrelevance in higher education.The purpose of this study was to identify whether sponsorship of either of the dimensionsof escapism (i.e., self-promotion-based motives, self-suppression-based motives) were related todistinct outcomes on academic achievement... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4k81w9h4 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Zurita, Hernan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/49s3f5vk Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid and infects citrus trees, leading to leaf mottling, poorly colored and bitter-tasting fruit, and ultimately, tree death. The causative agent for HLB is Candidatus Liberibacter, a gram-negative, alpha-proteobacterium. While no treatment for HLB currently exists, the quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) serves as a gold standard for detecting target genes. The qPCR system identifies the presence of our target gene through simultaneous thermocycling and detection. This study aimed to answer the question: Can we reduce the cycle threshold (Ct) value in qPCR runs without increasing the initial concentration of nucleic acid? We proposed two methods to lower Ct values. The first method involved using ribonucleic acid (RNA) instead of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), with reverse transcription converting RNA to complementary DNA (cDNA). The second method utilized protein additives... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/49s3f5vk Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chen, David https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4734b5hh The film serves as an evolving canvas for artistic expression, facilitating profoundreflections on the human condition while providing a platform for societal and cultural discourse.This creative project is a screenplay entitled "Blood Martini," an exploration of the complexitiesof happiness and purpose through the lens of vampire characters. Set in an alternate dimension,the story unfolds in a world where humanity is ensnared by superficial gratifications, oblivious tothe presence of vampires and other supernatural beings coexisting in their midst. Through theorchestration of a vampire-turned-fashion designer who manipulates beauty products tohypnotize the world, our protagonist embarks on a transformative journey. Stripped of societaldistractions, she confronts the essence of genuine fulfillment and resolves to initiate change.Central to this exploration is an investigation into the historical contexts that inform the story'sbackdrop, dissecting their impact on character development,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4734b5hh Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lopez-Elwell, Kenneth G https://escholarship.org/uc/item/43w893tr Over the last 2 million years, the human brain has undergone an extraordinaryevolutionary journey, expanding in size to nearly thrice that of our ancient ancestors, Homohabilis. This remarkable growth far surpasses the evolutionary changes seen in other primates,indicating a unique path of human development. Scientists have suggested a wide range offactors to explain the dramatic increase in brain size, including environmental, dietary, social,and climatic influences. This paper uses environmental data joined with hominid fossil data tocreate a prediction model using linear regression. Four different models are created, with themost significant model showing that environment variables along with time explain 21 percent ofthe variance found in cranial capacity over the past 7 million years. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/43w893tr Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Harnett, Joshua J https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3w69j743 In this research, we are studying the allelopathic effects between the common Sunflower(Helianthus annuus) and Shortpod Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana). Allelopathy is the synthesis ofchemicals by a plant species that may impact nearby plants or soil microbes. It is used tosuppress weeds from growing, in insect pest management, and to control diseases in field crops.However, allelopathy also allows many invasive plants to invade native habitats. Black Mustard(Hirschfeldia incana) is one of the common invasive species in California. Several studies haveshown that planting sunflower seeds after Brassica reduces the sunflowers chances ofgermination and growth. Although sunflowers and Brassica share allelopathic traits, this researchwill be testing if Hirschfeldia incana affects Helianthus annuus seed germination and growth. Inorder to test this, We collected Brassica leaves from the field and prepared a leachate using theBrassica leaves. Then, we conducted germination trials using... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3w69j743 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Salama, Kyrollos https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3n71r3cf The Codex of Curses is an application of consumer research into the field of TabletopRoleplaying Games (Tabletop RPGs) to demonstrate the importance of a Brand within theindustry and how Hasbro’s recent business decisions have damaged their Brand. The result isthat Hasbro must now spend more resources on promoting and regaining the trust of theirconsumers, who have sought out competitor’s products in protest and have reducedHasbro/Wizard of the Coast’s competitiveness. From the sale of my own product (a rulessupplement for 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons which provides character creation options forplayers), I noticed the main issue inhibiting sales was the lack of reputation which detersconsumers from purchasing as many consumers are risk averse when purchasing RPG products.Hasbro’s damage to their brand means that they have lost notoriety and will thus face thedifficulties and costs I faced when selling my own product.The company that owns Wizards of the Coast (who produces... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3n71r3cf Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Wainer, Keaton T https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3k93v5jw In the proposed research, the correlation between racial/economic disparities and the highmaternal mortality rate among black women will be examined. Despite advancements inmedical technology and practices, maternal mortality rates in the US have more than doubled inthe past twenty years and black women are disproportionately affected the most. Researchshows that black women are 3 - 4 times more likely to die during childbirth compared to otherraces of women. One of the lingering results of institutionalized racism in the US is theeconomic disparities that have produced inadequate treatment and care for black communities.Due to decades of racial discrimination and biases, the wealth gap between black and whitefamilies remains very distant. Lack of access to resources like healthcare, insurance, housing,transportation, etc is because of the socio-economic issues within black communities that thegovernment has yet to provide proper solutions to. It’s important to note that black... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3k93v5jw Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Smith, Jaianna L https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39k4f8ts Cognitive and physical activities often interact with arousal in our daily lives. As anexample, a reaction of fear triggered by visual identification of a dangerous object or situationmay elicit a stress response that prepares the body to fight or flee. The proposed study thereforeconsiders arousal to stimuli in relation to motor actions. Specifically, it investigates whetherphysical exertion affects arousal. Physical exertion is experimentally induced with a hand griptask in which participants squeeze a hand dynamometer with exerted grip force proportional totheir physical strength. Arousal level is assessed with a pictorial assessment task in whichparticipants report the arousal level of images on a 9-point scale. It is hypothesized that arousalratings with the concurrent hand grip task will increase with exerted handgrip force. This study issignificant because it will examine whether arousal is connected to physical action in our dailylives. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39k4f8ts Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Doddi, Divitha https://escholarship.org/uc/item/34t3r8qr This project examines several historical institutions that have been used to educate Nativepopulations and the impacts of these respective schooling systems. This project analyzescurricula and living conditions within these schooling systems so that their cultural and historicalimpacts may be better understood. To understand the full impact that varying educationalopportunities have on Native communities, this project spans from as early as colonial schoolingattempts in the seventeenth century until education about and for Native peoples in the modernday. By first examining the type of education offered to Indigenous populations and how thisaltered the lives of Native people, the issues within modern public school curricula regardingNative history can have harmful consequences. This project will also touch upon the changesthat have been made in modern curricula to provide more accurate depictions of Nativecommunities and their histories. By showcasing historical forms of Native... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/34t3r8qr Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Ochoa, Sarah L https://escholarship.org/uc/item/335373qj Data sonification is the translation of any set of data into sound. There are functionalapplications of this, such as heart monitors and morse code. In this project, I wanted to delve intothe artistic application of data sonification. Specifically, I was most intrigued by devices thatintegrate data from plants. Some of these devices include MIDISprout, Music of the Plants, andsome modular synthesizers. Inspired by these products, my goal in this project was to engineer adevice that takes the bioelectrical resistance of plants and converts it into music within a digitalaudio workstation.Once finalizing the device, I recorded four tracks of raw data. These four tracks alltotalled to approximately fifteen minutes, two of which coming from a healthy snake plant andanother from a snake plant on the brink of death. One of the two tracks per each plant was aMIDI recording of the plant in isolation, while the other was a recording of the plant beinginteracted with. This was to observe... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/335373qj Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Zon, Ronna A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3211b7sf Each year in the United States there are more than 600,000 reports of suspected childmaltreatment (National Child Abuse). Child abuse can take many forms including physicalabuse, neglect, and even emotional abuse. Emotional abuse of a child can be described as aninstance when an adult uses intimidation tactics to control a child. This type of influence can bedefined as “suggestibility”, or the degree to which a child’s “encoding, storage, retrieval, andreport of events” are influenced by social and psychological factors (Ceci, 1993, p. 404). While itmay not be intrinsically obvious that intimidation can be considered a form of child abuse,suggestibility is just as damaging and threatening to a child’s self-confidence and psychologicalstate.Emotional abuse of a child occurs because of the vulnerable position children are induring the stages of their cognitive development. Because a child’s cognitive abilities are stillforming in their early years, children are naturally set behind... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3211b7sf Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Clark, Kassidy A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/31m9j5sf Around 1920, Wishart began researching how different sets of data could be connected. He focusedon the eigenvalues of matrices, which are special numbers that can inform us about the structureof the data. This work laid the foundation for Random Matrix Theory, a field that combines ideasfrom linear algebra and probability.In the 1950s, Wigner, an American physicist, used Random Matrix Theory to study the behaviorof eigenvalues in large matrices. He found that as the size of the matrices became very large, thedistribution of eigenvalues tended to form a semicircle shape. This unexpected result, known asWigner’s Semicircle Law, showed that the distribution of eigenvalues was not normal, but insteadresembled a semicircle.This project aims to prove Wigner’s Semicircle Law using concepts from probability, linear al-gebra, and rigorous mathematical proofs. The goal is to provide a clear explanation of the proofand to understand the reasoning in why this happens. The aim of demonstrating... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/31m9j5sf Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Kim, Dabin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/31d7k315 This project develops a robust chess vision system capable of detecting and tracking agame of chess under a variety of lighting conditions and angles consistent with the abilities of ahuman. It includes a graphic that displays the current state of the chess game, the last movemade, and the best move to make. It works using a single camera and a continuous video streamand uses machine learning for piece recognition. It is able to adapt to different viewing angles,changes in lighting, obstructions on the board, or unexpected adjustments or movements ofpieces. However, unlike a human, it runs every move it detects through a state-of-the-art chessengine to determine the best possible move to make in response. This system can beimplemented in a consumer smartphone app or be used during professional chess competitions asa much more economical alternative to electronic chess computer boards. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/31d7k315 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Bugarin, Adolfo I https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xq112qq The University of California, Riverside is one of the top two UCs with the biggestundergraduate student-parent population (parenting students’ experience, 2019). Student-parentsare an invisible population amongst undergraduate students that not only have to maintain highereducation coursework, jobs, and survival, but also the well-being and survival of their child/ren.This research aims to highlight the effects of parenthood on student-parents' mental, emotional,physical, and economic struggles while trying to be successful in academia at UCR. This will beachieved through interviews with UCR staff, undergraduate student-parents, and student-parentUCR alumni. Staff interviews within the ethnic and gender programs and supportive services oncampus such as the Women’s Resource Center, Chicano Services Programs, UndergroundScholars program, and UCR Center for Early Child Education will explore resources andprogramming that support student-parent activities and what services they offer... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xq112qq Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Rodriguez, Trina L https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2tr7152h Soil microbiomes are formed from a diverse community of bacteria, fungi, archaea,protozoa and other types of microorganisms. These microscopic organisms play crucial roles insoil health, nutrient cycling, gas exchange, and overall ecosystem functioning. Soil microbialcommunities are capable of decomposing organic matter, detoxifying toxic substances, andfixing nitrogen. Surface soils differ from subsurface soils, in their pH, texture, moisture, redoxreactions, and nutrient concentrations. This project aims to explore how microbial communitieschange in response to soil depth in the “Nivolet Critical Zone” field site, in Gran ParadisoNational Park, Italy. We hypothesized that microbial communities will change with soil depth,and that dominant taxa would include Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, and Euryarchaeota and parentmaterial would heavily influence microbial diversity within sites. Soil pits were dug in a range ofsites with variable bedrock parent materials and positions on the slope.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2tr7152h Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Lyew, Abigail J https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2ss7r812 African American adults are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared toNon-Hispanic White individuals. Positive psychosocial resources (optimism) are associated withreduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in African American individuals. However, littledata exist on the relationship between optimism and T2D among African American individualsby age. We hypothesize that high levels of optimism and younger individuals will be negativelyassociated with T2D. This study examines the association of optimism with T2D prevalenceamong African American men and women stratified by age categories, using data from theJackson Heart Study (JHS). Optimism was measured using the 6-item Life OrientationTest-Revised (LOT-R) scale. Using multivariable Poisson regression analysis, we estimated theprevalence ratios (PR, 95% confidence interval-CI) of diabetes (yes/no) by tertiles of optimism(low, medium, high), adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and behaviors. A greaterpercentage... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2ss7r812 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Sumida, Darwin G https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2nd7b6hb Multilingual education opportunities in California are on the rise and have given way toestablish more dual language immersion (DLI) programs. In the Inland Empire, being Spanish-English bilingual with the ability to read, write and communicate at an academic level isadvantageous, culturally, and economically. Prior research has established that teacher trainingneeds revision to allow space and time in developing the necessary skills for instruction(Capdevila-Gutierrez et al., 2020). Teachers have been found to encounter challenges inimplementing DLI instruction strategically while creating a communal classroom climate.Teachers may benefit from: feeling identified with the student population, having experiencewith bilingualism, and incorporating active learning. Teacher preparation has been crucial infacilitating student adaptation and performance inside and outside the classroom (Capdevila-Gutierrez et al., 2020). The study reviews Spanish-English DLI teachers' perceptions of... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2nd7b6hb Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Hernandez, Vanessa A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2dq4b06b This research paper examines the history of grassroots LGBTQ+ activism in Riverside,California during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s. Specifically, this research strives toanswer the question of how Riverside’s LGBTQ+ community survived and persisted in theconservative environment of the Inland Empire during the deadly AIDS epidemic. To investigatethis question, this paper draws on oral histories with local LGBTQ+ community leaders from “APeople’s History of the IE” digital archive, archival materials in the Connie Confer and KayBerryhill Smith LGBT activism collection at the UC Riverside library, and secondary sourcesfrom scholars examining the AIDS epidemic within the United States. Findings include localcommunity history and the activism of the Inland AIDS Project as well as the RiversideCoalition Against Discrimination in battling to defend Riverside’s 1987 AIDSAnti-Discrimination Ordinance. This paper also builds on knowledge of LGBTQ+ communityactivism in the fields... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2dq4b06b Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Mitchell, Sierra L https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2807p2zq Among the many hotly contested election laws in the country, one of the mostcontentious is ballot harvesting. This practice, ballot harvesting, entails that any designatedperson that a voter selects, or any political campaign official, can collect and submit an absenteeballot on their behalf to the voting polls. As of now, California does make ballot harvesting legalunlike in some states of the US where this practice was widely condemned and banned. Thisprompts further inspection because although there has been no evidence of ballot harvesting usedfor voter fraud, the practice bears ethical concerns among state lawmakers. To do so, I conducteda survey experiment on UCR undergraduates in the winter of 2024. Subjects were randomlyassigned a vignette that described ballot harvesting, described ballot harvesting and includedadditional text about who uses ballot harvesting, or described ballot harvesting and includedadditional text on concerns about electoral integrity. Neither treatment... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2807p2zq Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Nguy, Scott https://escholarship.org/uc/item/21g395zs The video game industry is one of the most popular sources of satisfying the desire tocultivate unique experiences and interactions, from gameplay to storytelling and characters.Companies can take advantage of this demand for media consumption by adding transactionswithin their games, forcing players to spend money to satisfy themselves as the companies profitfrom gamers’ time and money. Although playing through these games without spending may bepossible, games typically incentivize players to pay for the most optimal experience. As such,this project examines how interactions within the virtual world of lootbox gaming may lead togambling addiction. Previous studies of video game psychology focused on video game habitsand the rise of lootbox gaming and gambling. Recently, there has been a rise in researchregarding the psychological aspects of engaging with the lootbox system. By observing eightlootbox opening videos from three Western games and four Eastern games, this qualitative... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/21g395zs Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Leano, Pauline V https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1zg2v06p For my Honors Capstone, I wrote a two-hour feature screenplay, Oscura, and produced aportion of the narrative. In a world full of ruined-filled deserts, fantastical magic, and vibrantcities, Johnathan Stills, a twenty-two-year-old homebody who lives in Light City, has alwaysbelieved his father, Henry Stills, died on the frontlines as a war hero at the end of World WarThree ten years ago. One day, Johnathan encounters a thief who stole his wallet and is revealedto have an illegal magic-infused weapon. In an attempt to get his wallet back, Johnathan bumpsinto two agents of Lux, a city government-issued organization, who have been watching overhim for the Stills family. After discovering how his father truly died and hearing a new evil islurking in the shadows, Johnathan finds himself continuing a legacy Henry left behind andfighting for the people he loves around him. In this imaginative and original post-apocalyptic,fantasy, and action narrative, our stubborn yet passionate protagonist... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1zg2v06p Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Byun, Lindsey J https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1sc8q6m8 Nematodes are mostly microscopic, wormlike creatures that can be found in almost all soilhabitats around the world; one handful of soil could contain thousands of nematodes. Tomato cropplants are among the main victims of plant-parasitic nematodes and infections may destroy over20% of all crop yield that given year. Current nematode pesticides can contaminate soil, water,and other vegetation, as well as leave toxic residues in our food. Additionally, they can be harmfulto many other organisms that are part of the same ecosystem, such as mammals, birds, fish, andmany beneficial insects. Wild relatives of our tomato plants have naturally evolved varying levelsof resistance in the presence of higher nematode pressure, typically observed in warmer and drierenvironments, such as Central and South America. In this study, we aim to determine the specificphysical traits and underlying genomic loci contributing to nematode resistance. Utilizingnematode staining, we can observe these parasites,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1sc8q6m8 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Chiu, Han Hsi https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1q05c046 Influenza is one of the most prevalent viruses that has plagued millions worldwide. Every yearhealth organizations encourage the public to get their flu vaccines to combat the flu season.Although the flu vaccines and medicines are widely available, it is estimated that flu viruses stillcause 300,000-500,000 deaths every year. The two most common influenza virus strains areinfluenza A and B viruses, or IAV and IBV, respectively. It has been discovered that drugresistance develops very soon after a new drug is launched. It is highly demanded that anti-fluvirus drugs with novel mechanisms be developed. Our lab has discovered that SUMOylation, apost-translational modification, is essential to the viral IAV and IBV life cycle. In this study, wehave screened all the E3 ligases in the human genome to discover the SUMO E3 ligaseresponsible for the essential SUMOylation of IAV M1 protein using our QuantitativeFluorescence Energy Transfer(qFRET). We first determined the FRET spectrum of... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1q05c046 Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Wong, Nikki https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1dp9t83b Restricted by the gendered, patriarchal structures of colonial society, women in New Spain hadlimited options or protections outside of marriage. The church, and convents in particular,offered women an alternative. Many women found fulfillment in conventual communities, wheremusic, libraries, servants and even delicacies were part of their lives. But not every woman couldenter a convent. The church required an extensive dowry for a woman to enter the convent andbecome a fully professed member of the order. The status and luxuries of a “nun of the blackveil" was limited to elite women who could afford the significant expense. Those who could notsecure the full dowry were relegated to second class religious citizenship as “nuns of the whiteveil,” or a “donada” a resident and servant who never professed. My research explores howwomen with religious vocations from elite and non-elite social backgrounds navigated ecclesialsocial structures and how class (as well as race) impacted the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1dp9t83b Wed, 7 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Cobain, Dallys I