About me
Oral Presentation Abstracts Session #12
3:30 to 3:50 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2025
Location: SUB Top Floor Rooms
These abstracts were published unedited to reflect the author’s original submission
Canler, Adam - Major: Psychology, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Mentor: Dr. Jospeh Rudolph-Simons, Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Exploring the Relationship of Emotional Intelligence and a Growth Mindset
Abstract: Growth mindset, the belief that intelligence and abilities are malleable and can be developed through effort, has been linked to academic achievement, resilience, and improved mental health. Emotional Intelligence, the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions, similarly predicts academic success, adaptive coping, and motivation. Despite overlapping benefits and theoretical connections, there has been little research examining the direct relationship between the two constructs. This study examined the correlation between a growth mindset and emotional intelligence and also investigated whether emotional intelligence could predict the presence of a growth mindset in undergraduate students. Participants (N=22) completed an online survey including demographic measures, the Subjective SES Scale (Adler et al., 2000), the Emotional Intelligence Scale (Husain et al., 2022), and the Intrinsic Thoughts, Emotions and Behaviors Questionnaire (Schleider and Weisz, 2016). Results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between a growth mindset and EI. Regression analysis also demonstrated that EI was a significant predictor of a growth mindset among participants. These findings suggested that higher emotional intelligence is associated with stronger growth mindset beliefs, highlighting the connection between the underlying mechanisms in each construct.
Guerrero Rivera, Katherine - Major: Criminology and Criminal Justice , University of Maryland, College Park
Mentor: Nancy Raquel Mirabal, PhD, Associate Professor , Department of American Studies
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Luminaria
Title: Always the Same, Always Effective: The Ever Evolving and Cruel Rhetoric of U.S.-Salvadoran Migration Policies.
Abstract: Both of Donald Trump’s administrations can be characterized by a fiercely anti-immigrant stance that has included inflammatory rhetoric and language. Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has exhibited a disregard for legal precedent– deporting undocumented migrants to a third country and allying with the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, to illegally detain and incarcerate men without due process. Salvadoran men, like male migrants from Venezuela, have been uniquely conflated as criminals and gang members related to MS-13. What role has anti-immigrant propaganda and rhetoric played in the rise of extreme anti-immigrant policies and actions that criminalize migrants and position them as an ever-impending threat to U.S. democracy?
Through a content and discourse analysis of a range of U.S. news articles, Salvadoran news, and social media posts by the Trump Administration, it is possible to determine to what extent rhetoric and propaganda have contributed to our current understanding concerning migration from Latin America. What ideas are conjured up by the images and specific language used by some of these outlets, such as “illegal,” “threat,” and “invasion?” How do they challenge or reinforce the criminality of Salvadoran men? From the research conducted, it is clear that conservative news outlets employ propagandistic terms designed to promote a more outwardly negative, misinformed, and polarized image of migrants in comparison to center and left-leaning media which do not appear to have a similar political agenda.
Herrera, Nathan - Major: Exercise Science, University of New Mexico
Mentor: Dr. Len Kravitz, Professor and Program Coordinator, Exercise Science
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Acoma A
Title: Effect of Resistance Training on Type 2 Diabetes
Abstract: The prevalence of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes
mellitus (T2DM) continues to rise, posing a serious threat to public health. T2DM
is primarily linked to insulin resistance, pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, and
oxidative stress, and is often associated with age, obesity, physical inactivity, and
genetic predisposition. Individuals with T2DM are at greater risk for
cardiovascular complications, impaired metabolic regulation, and reduced
physical independence. Exercise has emerged as a low-cost,
nonpharmacological strategy to improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control.
To gain these metabolic adaptations, physical training must challenge the
musculoskeletal and metabolic systems beyond habitual activity. Although the
exact molecular mechanisms remain under investigation, current research
indicates that resistance training improves HbA1c levels, fasting glucose, and
muscle mass, all of which contribute to better metabolic health. Evidence from
randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses suggests that resistance
training can match and positively enhance the cardiovascular benefits of
aerobic exercise. Resistance training meaningfully increases skeletal muscle mass,
supporting physical independence in aging women and men populations.
Individualized resistance training programs offer a promising intervention for
managing and preventing T2DM, particularly when individually tailored for the age,
physical limitations, health, and exercise history of a patient.
Hunt, Roddy - Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Northern Colorado
Mentor: Dr. Caitlin Raaz, Associate Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Barriers in Access to Speech-Language Pathology Services for Latine Caregivers of Young Children in Colorado
Abstract: Latine families in the United States face a range of barriers when accessing speech-language pathology (SLP) services, yet these challenges remain underexplored in the broader literature. This study seeks to address that gap by identifying and examining the specific barriers encountered by Latine caregivers in Colorado when seeking SLP services for their children. As the Latine population continues to grow, evidence shows that Latine children are often not receiving timely interventions, raising concerns about potential adverse developmental outcomes. While previous research has explored access issues through narrower lenses—such as focusing on specific diagnoses—there is limited understanding of broader, systemic, structural, and cultural challenges. This project will involve 2–3 interviews and 30 surveys. Thematic analysis of interviews will illuminate the lived experiences and recurring obstacles caregivers face, while survey data will provide demographic context and highlight common barriers. I anticipate the findings will reveal intersecting factors that contribute to disparities in access, reflecting the broader inequities faced by historically marginalized populations. The goal of this research is to support SLP professionals in improving outreach and service delivery to Latine families, ultimately promoting more equitable and timely care for children from underserved communities.
Johnson, Fondren - Major: Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Mentor: Dr. Lior Gideon, Professor, Department of Law, Police Science & Criminal Justice
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Punishment or Care: Exploring Factors Associated with Incarceration Versus Psychiatric Diversion in Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
Abstract: This research aims to investigate factors associated with the incarceration of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) versus their diversion into psychiatric treatment. Utilizing a mixed-method design, this study will explore individuals’ perspectives on law enforcement encounters. It will also examine their perceived unmet needs and systemic experiences within the criminal justice and mental health care systems. The proposed data collection involves semi-structured interviews with adults diagnosed with SMI who have experienced recent incarceration or diversion. This will be contextualized by the analysis of relevant institutional policies. The inclusion of primary qualitative data obtained from participant interviews will rely upon successful recruitment during the study. Should direct participant recruitment prove unfeasible or limited, this research will primarily focus on analyzing existing literature and policy documents regarding SMI within the criminal justice system. This approach would explore published studies on factors influencing incarceration and diversion outcomes, review legislative frameworks, and examine institutional policies related to mental health crisis response and diversion criteria. It is hypothesized that insufficient access to community mental health crisis services and restrictive diversion program criteria will be significantly associated with incarceration over diversion. Findings aim to inform policy for more accessible and effective SMI diversion pathways.
Lara, Orlando - Major: Biology, University of Chicago
Mentor: Dr. Sho Yano, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Lobo B
Title: Characterizing an intronic variant to understand wide disease severity variation among patients with ATP1A3 splice variants
Abstract: Alternating hemiplegia in childhood (AHC) is a neurological disorder categorized by recurrent episodes of paralysis on either side of the body. AHC is caused by heterozygous missense ATP1A3 variants that produce altered protein. Counterintuitively, “null” variants that completely eliminate ATP1A3 expression can be asymptomatic. Additionally, it is unknown whether splice site variants cause any disease. Surprisingly, we identified a patient with AHC and an ATP1A3 c.2542+1G>A splice variant, even though this variant is predicted to be “null” via nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). Our research aims to understand whether this splice variant affects splicing and produces an altered protein to shed light on genetic mechanisms of phenotypic variability in ATP1A3-related disease. To do so, we constructed and successfully validated a minigene system to measure splicing of the last introns of ATP1A3. This system will allow us to test whether the c.2542+1G>A splice variant causes abnormal splicing that triggers NMD. If abnormally spliced RNA is detectable, the variant likely does not trigger NMD, indicating that the splicing effect of a variant might be used to predict whether or not the patient will develop AHC or remain asymptomatic. If variant minigene RNA is undetectable, this would imply that NMD was activated and variant mRNA was degraded. This suggests that other factors influence whether a “null” variant produces a disease phenotype. Thus, better understanding of ATP1A3 splice variants would improve prognostication for this condition.
Lopez , Sailyn - Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona
Mentor: J. Ross Buchan, Assistant Professor , Molecular and Cellular Biology
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Isleta
Title: Colocalization of Ash1 mRNA with Ded1 and Edc3 in Stress Granules and P-Bodies During Heat Stress
Abstract: Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast is a powerful model for investigating fundamental eukaryotic processes, including RNA metabolism and stress response. While gene-tagging technologies have enhanced understanding of protein function, understanding transcriptome-wide mRNA behavior, especially during stress, remains limited. To address this, we are constructing an mRNA tracking library in yeast. Using innovative molecular tools such as Halo/SNAP tags and the MS2-MCP system, our work builds on existing live-cell mRNA imaging methods within yeast models. As proof of principle, we have used these tools to study if the ASH1 mRNA localizes to cytoplasmic biomolecular condensates implicated in mRNA fate regulation, termed stress granules (SGs) or P-bodies (PBs), following heat shock. Following live-cell fluorescence microscopy of Halo/SNAP-labelled Ash1 mRNA, and GFP/RFP-tagged protein markers of SGs and PBs, we found that Ash1 mRNA may colocalize to stress granules (SGs) or P-bodies (PBs) during heat shock in S. cerevisiae, implying that its translational regulation is responsive to environmental stress. The observed colocalization of Ash1 with markers Ded1 (stress granules) and Edc3 (P-bodies) may indicate that Ash1 mRNA may be selectively stored or degraded under stress conditions, potentially to preserve cellular energy or regulate asymmetric protein distribution.
Melendez, Chloe - Major: Mechanical engineering, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Steimel, Associate Professor, School of engineering
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Lobo A
Title: Investigating Composite Materials of PLA and PLA+
Abstract: This study investigates the mechanical performance of fiber-reinforced polymer composites fabricated via Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) additive manufacturing, focusing on PLA and PLA+ matrices. Tensile specimens were printed with fibers aligned at 0°, 45°, and 90° relative to the loading direction, following ASTM D638 Type V standards. Mechanical testing revealed that fiber orientation significantly influences stiffness and tensile strength, with specimens printed at 90° exhibiting the highest Young’s modulus (2.77 GPa), consistent with micromechanical model predictions using the Rule of Mixtures and Halpin-Tsai equations. Specimens at 45° showed slightly lower stiffness, attributed to improved interlayer bonding rather than optimal load alignment. A Mathematica-based simulation was developed to model stiffness variation with fiber angle, providing a practical design tool. These results demonstrate the critical role of fiber alignment in optimizing composite properties for additive manufacturing applications. The findings support the potential of PLA-based composites in sustainable and cost-effective 3D printing of structural parts, while highlighting the need for further research on failure mechanisms to improve reliability and performance in engineering contexts.
Morales Jr., Ruben - Major: Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law & Sociology, New Mexico State University
Mentor: Dr. Sabine Hirschauer, Associate Professor, Department of Government
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Fiesta B
Title: “Filed, Forgotten, Deported: When the System Becomes the Sentence”
Abstract: This research project examines how the judicial system can become a quiet enabler of executive-led immigration enforcement under a securitization guise – particularly focusing on an extension of the executive, localized federal courts in the Paseo del Norte region; what I term the judicial arm. Through the lens of securitization theory and Giorgio Agamben’s concept of bare life, this project examines how migrants are reduced to their biological presence, stripped of political voice, and funneled through judicial processes that conceal, rather than curb, structural violence. Drawing from courtroom observations, interviews, and fieldwork in the Paseo del Norte region, I argue that while the courtroom’s procedural form creates the illusion of neutrality, its routine procedures often serve as theatrical mechanisms through which state violence is sanitized and executive power legitimized. Migrants often suffer most in this routine, prosecuted for the mere fact of crossing space and turned into subjects of surveillance rather than citizens of due process – ultimately handled through legal rituals that prioritize deterrence over justice. Historically courts in the U.S. have acted far from a check on executive overreach – at pinnacle times the judicial system has functioned as an institutional buffer, absorbing political pressure and diffusing it through bureaucratic language and procedural discretion. This study contends that the violence of enforcement is not merely physical or spectacular – it is administrative, rhetorical, and legal. It is the kind of violence that erodes rights under the guise of law, and silences dissent through the slow normalization of exception.
Sepulveda, Johnathan - Major: Cybersecurity, Michigan Technological University
Mentor: Dr. Ronghua Xu, Assistant Professor, Applied Computing
Oral Presentation Session #12, Room: Acoma B
Title: Securing Digital Evidence Using Blockchain
Abstract: With advancements in Information Technology ever growing, analyzing and storing digital evidence in a safe, non volatile way has become more crucial than ever in order to solve the growing amount of cybercrime investigations. Handling digital evidence can be a problem due to its volatility and just how important it can be to a case.The idea behind this project is to have a blockchain based system that tracks the chain of custody that evidence flows through in order to maintain a clear history of what is being done with evidence. A working test prototype was developed featuring a frontend interface, smart contract layer, and backend logic, enabling secure registration, transfer, and retrieval of evidence all working on a local machine. This project demonstrates that blockchain can be a powerful tool in digital forensics, offering transparency, immutability, and enhanced trust in the chain of custody process.
