In the pursuit of achievement, people often find themselves propelled by a combination of self-belief and an inherent drive to continue working towards a goal. These traits can be attributed to self-esteem and intrinsic motivation. According to self-determination theory, intrinsic motivation is a form of motivation that comes from within, directed by self-interest and curiosity. Those who are extrinsically motivated are reward-driven, and will act with the intention of receiving external rewards such as social status or compensation (Barszcz et. al, 2022; Park & Word, 2012).

Self esteem may raise intrinsic motivation by providing the foundation needed to persevere (Baumeister & Tice, 1985; Tang et. al., 1987). This workshop will demonstrate the differences between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, and offer a personal measurement to each participant for how their self-esteem affects their levels of both types of motivation. Participants will work on a series of Sudoku puzzles for three stages of seven minutes, with the difficulty increasing for each stage. Those who reach the final difficulty will earn a prize, following a short intermission until the discussion phase. 

Results of this workshop will not be collected, however previous experiments conducted of a similar nature suggest that self-esteem may increase intrinsic motivation. In one experiment, those with the highest intrinsic motivation were those with high self-esteem who received positive feedback. In another experiment, those with high self esteem exhibited the highest intrinsic motivation and set higher goals for themselves with the belief they would achieve them (Baumeister & Tice, 1985; Tang et. al., 1987).

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A month before the 2020 Presidential election, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic shelter-in-place, private investors from Pacific 6 and personnel from Hubbs Sea World Institute aligned with a cohort of staff from select federal agencies under the Trump administration (including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corp of Engineers), in an attempt to fast track a large, commercial-scale, open ocean fin fish farm, composed of yellowtail and white sea bass, only three miles off the La Jolla coast. This proposed Pacific Ocean Aquafarms raised an alarming number of red flags across communities in the entire San Diego and southern California region. As a desperate measure to save local fishing grounds and marine reserves, the author visualized a massive “wake” of the myriad of negative human and environmental impacts of this fish farm through a large graphic mural. Shifting the panels across this detailed mural empowered the author to articulate the primary problems of cumulative pollution and spillover effects, marine wildlife impacts, corporate erosion of the fishing and local seafood industry, absence of farmed fish welfare, infrastructural and navigational hazards, institutional and spatial use conflicts, and a decay of residential, business, and tourist quality of life. This poster and associated graphics shows how creating visual and conceptual clarity of the complex and chaotic effects of fish farms continues to assist in the collective, cross-sector effort in stopping the implementation of Pacific Ocean Aquafarms in San Diego’s marine backyard.

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Technology and social media first began in the 1970s and continued to grow through the 1970s (Glazer sec. 4). Moving to the early 2000s when Myspace first launched, this sparked other competitors in the social media world (Glazer sec. 4). With the creation of more social media applications after Myspace in the early 2000s, nearly 20 years later in 2019, the world began to see the harmful effects of social media with suicide rates heavily increasing (Glazer sec. 4). Using a grounded theory framework, this paper examines the impacts of social media on mental health. These impacts are: (1) addictions (Johnson, Sridhar, and Joseph 137), (2) body image and confidence issues (Feijoo et al. 1-11), (3) The third issue is victimization (Espinoza 509), (4) psychological impacts (Iannattone et al 1), These impacts can cover loneliness (Alam et al. 939), emotional dysregulation (Iannattone 1), depression and anxiety (Ferguson 1), and suicide (Balt et al. 1). Taking action to limit the effect of social media on mental health is crucial and will take lots of effort to inform people about the dangers of overuse. 

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Significant research points to a correlation between attachment styles and mental health, including its psychological, emotional, and social elements. Mental health disorders affect a large portion of the population. Identifying risk factors, such as attachment styles, can prevent and safeguard against serious mental illness. A person’s attachment style develops based on their early experiences with their primary caregivers. Attachment styles then impact how a person views themself and others. Extensive research indicates that insecure attachment styles, characterized by a negative view of self, others, or both, correlate with greater mental health problems. In contrast, secure attachment correlates with good mental health. More specifically, insecure attachment types relate to psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation (Shtayermman & Zhang, 2022). Furthermore, attachment styles correlate with emotions, including anger, aggression, and hostility (Maalouf et al., 2022). Additionally, insecure attachment types positively correlate with interpersonal problems that harm social relationships (Haggerty et al., 2009). Hence, attachment styles act as a predictor of mental health outcomes. Early identification of insecure attachment types coupled with therapeutic treatments could reduce negative mental health outcomes. Yet, treatment for insecure attachment styles warrants further examination and research. Nevertheless, attachment styles correlate significantly with mental health, allowing for earlier detection of psychopathology and accompanying treatment.  

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This project goes into detail using an anonymous survey and peer reviewed journals to test multiple hypotheses involving personality type, and depending on their personality type if they prefer more online or more in person classes, and how that is associated with their academic feeling of belonging. It is for a research methods in psychology class.

This project explores the relationship between music genres, mood, and overall well being. We believe that music can heavily influence mood in the short term, by listening to different genres of music evoke different emotions. In our study we tested positive music can make an individual feel joyful while sad music can evoke feelings of melancholy. Participants took an online survey - one version had a happy song while the other had a sad song. We measured well-being and mood (before and after they listed to the song). Results indicate that mood was significantly lower after participants listed to the sad song, but not the happy song. These results show that music can affect mood.

This study investigates the kinetic activity of β-Glucosidase sourced from plasmids housing mutated sequences of the β-Glucosidase gene (mutant N160S). β-Glucosidase, a key player in the glycosyl hydrolase enzyme family, demonstrates significant potential across diverse sectors including food, energy, and healthcare. Its pivotal role in cellulose degradation holds promise for advancing biofuel technologies. The project involves transforming BL21 E. coli cells with the mutant plasmid, N160S, inducing protein synthesis, and purifying the protein via affinity chromatography. Protein assays are conducted to determine concentration, followed by assessing kinetic activity using colorimetric assays. Additionally, SDS-PAGE analysis ensures protein purity. This comprehensive approach aims to elucidate the impact of mutations on enzyme function, shedding light on β-Glucosidase's applicability in biotechnological endeavors.

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The goal of this research was to transform BL21 E.coli cells with a mutant plasmid containing the B-Glucosidase gene by following the routine protein transformation steps; incubation, heat shock, and recovery. The transformed cells were then induced with IPTG. IPTG induced expression of the target protein. The mutant enzyme was purified using affinity chromatography with the goal of isolating the BglB enzyme. A kinetic assay was performed to determine the catalytic efficiency of the mutant enzyme by observing a color change in the solution over time. The yellow color of the solution was an indicator of the product formation. The final step, SDS-PAGE, analyzed protein purity and verified product formation. 

The purpose of this study is to use plasmids that house mutated sequences for the β-Glucosidase gene to analyze the effects on enzyme activity. β-Glucosidase is specifically chosen due to its abundant application towards food, energy, and health branches. The enzyme is also designated as ubiquitous, indicating that its involvement is integral to multiple biological systems. Its involvement in the deterioration of cellulose also displays beneficial interactions within biofuel research. β-Glucosidase causes degradation of cellulose through hydrolyzation of non-reducing ends of cellulose to create β-D-glucose residues. This deterioration of cellulose allows plants to be consumed by other organisms. 

 The project was conducted by transforming BL21 E. Coli cells with plasmids containing the mutated β-Glucosidase gene sequence. Subsequently the transformed cells were grown overnight, and the β-Glucosidase was expressed using IPTG and incubated for an additional 24 hours. After sufficient growth, the β-Glucosidase protein was purified and extracted using immobilized metal affinity chromatography, which utilizes an elution buffer which out-competes and separates the protein from nickel beads. After extraction, a kinetic assay using the substrate 4-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside was utilized to determine protein concentration. A colorimetric assay was used to identify the differentiation of enzyme activity which is displayed as a result of nitrophenyl being cleaved from the sugar which causes an increased yellow pigmentation. Protein purity was confirmed from an SDS-PAGE.

The D2D research project aims to determine the impact of the mutant allele, H192R, on the activity of B-Glucosidase. Initially, competent BL21 E. coli cells containing sequences of the B-Glucosidase gene are transformed, and protein production is produced. Afterwards, proteins are purified through affinity chromatography where a nickel column is used in order to isolate proteins with histidine tags. Additionally, controlled conditions were maintained to induce protein expression adequately for analysis. Furthermore, the color change in the enzyme-substrate-product solution is analyzed over time to determine the catalytic efficiency, and lastly followed by SDS-PAGE to analyze the purity of the protein.

The purpose of the D2D project is to study the kinetic activity of mutated B-glucosidase enzyme, which contains a mutation at amino acid position 169. Specifically, serine has been changed to alanine at this position. The project started with a transformation of BLR21 cells, resulting in a particularly high level of protein production. Secondly, there was overnight growth and induction of expression using IPTG. The third step required the use of immobilized Metal Affinity chromatography to purify the protein from cellular lysate. These procedures facilitated the kinetic assay to determine the difference in kinetic activity between wild-type and mutated enzyme. 

Anxiety is the most common psychiatric disorder in the United States. Therefore, rather than prescribing medications right away, there should be an effort made to get to the root cause of anxiety and its symptoms. 

I analyzed six peer-reviewed articles on the topics of anxiety, panic disorder, and cortisol levels to get my results. 

In analyzing these articles, I was able to conclude that panic disorder leads to a higher level of cortisol in the body via the HPA axis. 

While there was direct evidence linking panic disorder to heightened cortisol levels, there is a lack of research between cortisol levels and other types of anxiety disorders - such as generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety. 

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Individuals in low-income settings are notoriously at a disadvantage for being exposed to issues that deter their quality of life. One of these inhibitors includes adequate access to mental health care. Not only is there a lack of access but the stigmas surrounding the assistance is also prevalent in these environments. The five empirical resources obtained contain research on the barriers, coping strategies, and perceptions low-income individuals face when attempting to embrace mental health assistance. The studies undeniably demonstrate how a scarcity of resources accompanied with generational stigmas and different cultures impair individuals from accessing equitable mental healthcare. The greatest realization from the synthesis of all the studies is that mental healthcare needs to be malleable and adaptive in order to accomodate the specific needs of each community. From the research, what appears to be beneficiary is educating the individuals in low-income communities on mental health and how to address it so they can create the changes necessary rather than using external means. 

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Fandoms are an anonymous space where individuals can explore their queer identities in non-judgemental spaces fulfilling a need for acceptance that is often unmet in everyday life due to discrimination, fear, and underrepresentation. Two qualitative studies, two quantitative studies, and one mixed study were analyzed in order to research the topic of queer identity development in relation to the fandoms of Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, and K-pop. This research concluded that interactions with other queer fans not only allow for connection over a media, but also makes it possible for questioning and fluid individuals to create a better understanding of themselves through the normalization of fandom interactions. Queer fandom was most widely expressed through online discussion boards and fanfiction websites (McInroy & Craig, 2020). The safety and representation found in fan-created works support queer identities and show a positive side to queer relationships to both queer fans as well as straight, cisgender fans (Dajches & Abrey, 2023). It is important to have authentic and complex representation that is truer to experience than the stereotypical portrayals of queer identity in mainstream media. Through fanfiction and fan theories, fans create a scenario in which they can see their identity reflected in a character or person that provides them comfort (Duggan, 2020; Floegel, 2020; Kuo et al., 2022). Fandom provides an opportunity for queer fans to express their identity by processing their own emotions through connection with other fans going through similar experiences–while also having a fun connection through something enjoyable, like music or fiction. 

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Gambling often appears as a thrilling pastime that fosters social bonding and anticipation. However, a percentage of those who partake are afflicted with pathological gambling, a behavioral disorder. This study investigates the roles of dopamine, genetics, and mental health in susceptibility to gambling addiction. The study analyzes multiple empirical sources on gambling addiction, each individually covering the roles of dopamine, genetics, and mental health. Many of these were qualitative reviews, surveys, and meta-analyses, which were examined to understand the relationship between these factors. The results found that dopamine has a large role in creating impulsive tendencies and can affect cost-benefit analyses, which increases the likelihood of engaging in high-risk gambling activities. Genetic predispositions were found to also influence the susceptibility of disordered gambling, with one major factor being gender. Along with this, gambling disorders were reported to simultaneously occur with mental health conditions, particularly depression and anxiety. In conclusion, this study highlights the multiple factors that foster a gambling addiction, highlighting the need for a more holistic approach toward diagnosis and treatment. Moving forward, future research is needed to explore the other factors that contribute to gambling disorders, in order to continue treating this societal issue.

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Depression is a common mental health disorder impacting people all across the globe. This research highlights why exactly some people with certain genetic, diet, and gut health characteristics are more susceptible to developing this disorder than others. Five recent, peer-reviewed studies on depression risk in relation to gut health, or diet choice, or genetics were analysed and drawn conclusions from to generate the results provided in the poster. From the research I dove into, I learned that there are ways for people to reduce their depression risk, such eating a balanced diet and having or developing good gut health. The clear research gives me hope that I can reduce my chances of developing depression, even though my parents both have the condition, by eating a healthy diet. Sharing these findings can give hope to those who fear they may develop depression by giving those individuals hope that they can do something to reduce their risk for developing this common mental health condition.

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The usage of media has increased significantly over the past decade and has impacted our daily lives in many aspects such as our romantic relationships both before and during a relationship. This study dives into the effects that media of film and social forms have on the modern world of dating including the motives, comparing behaviors and expectations. Results were found from 5 empirical studies and examinations. It was found that in more ways than one, our views are constantly changed with a swipe on the feed or switch of a television channel. Starting in children's movies, films and shows have implemented our fundamental views on love and relationship-contingent self esteem. The media also has the power to make one feel pressured to be in a relationship. Social media then may also influence one to receive external validation in that relationship through posting and sharing with family and friends. When scrolling in the media, highlight reels of other relationships may cause relationship or partner comparison, decreasing commitment. This research found that the media can both flourish or destroy relationships depending on situational factors. The media shapes our perceptions of romance and also our view on our romantic partners. It's important to take note of these impacts as they are implemented into our lives and know there is a line between basic standards and outrageous expectations. 

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Even if a student gains admission into a school, their success isn't solely in their own hands. Factors such as motivation, learning styles, and financial stress can significantly impact academic achievement. The research of this poster consists of analyzing a multi-pronged approach, three scholarly studies, a qualitative investigation, and a clinical trial to obtain detailed results. The results presented in these studies uncovered several notable insights. Regarding motivation, the findings show that intrinsic motivation has a significant positive effect on academic performance in higher education, with students driven by internal factors demonstrating higher achievement compared to those primarily motivated by external factors. However, the influence of extrinsic motivation was found to be more mixed, not consistently aligning with students' academic outcomes. In terms of learning styles, research revealed that while most students preferred visual forms of learning, such as using diagrams and videos, this preferred learning style did not significantly impact their academic success. Similarly, no clear link was established between teaching methods and students' achievements, or between learning styles and academic performance. Notably, the research uncovered a substantial negative impact of financial stress on students' academic achievement. The studies found that financial challenges and family dysfunction created significant barriers to student success, outweighing the benefits of intrinsic motivation. The implication of these findings is that universities need to take a holistic approach to supporting student success. This includes nurturing intrinsic motivation, accommodating diverse learning needs, and providing resources to address non-academic barriers like financial stressors and family challenges.

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Objectives. Reports of hate crimes have indicated an increase of anti-Asian behaviors, such as xenophobia, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated whether people of Asian descent that reported racial microaggressions also reported greater stress and negative emotions.

Methods. The National COVID-19 and Mental Health Study surveyed U. S. adults in spring 2020 (N = 3,969; mean age = 39 years) and measured microaggressions, stress, negative emotions, experiences of prejudice and discrimination due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and supportive circles.

Results. Consistent with the hypotheses, Asian participants who reported racial microaggressions were associated with higher levels of stress, r(309) = .20 and negative emotions, r(309) = .25.

Conclusions. Seeking supportive communities may reduce the negative impact of racial microaggressions, for example, reducing negative emotions.

Policy Implications or Recommended Interventions. Efforts to seek supportive communities may result in greater personal emotional relief, reassurance of their racial identity, and reliability that they aren't alone for future incidents of racially-charged situations.

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Throughout the course of history, women have made their mark. The suffragist movement, spearheaded by many influential women, inspired a domino effect of women stepping into power. However, women have to be active voters in order to be properly represented in the government. Women’s votes are important because (1)  they challenge conservatism (Edlund and Pande 921), (2) women are starting to hold more positions in office (Yang par 14), (3) they protect reproductive laws (Farmer par 16), and because women's perspectives were historically excluded (Gentithes 442). Undoubtedly, women’s presence in the political atmosphere has increased and for the better (Yang par 14). Women’s dedication to liberal values can be found in their voting patterns in support of subsidized child care and reproductive rights (Edlund and Pande 921). Many successes achieved by women can be pointed back to proper education of issues at hand (Morgan-Collins 163). Unfortunately, men do not understand or care about causes regarding women’s rights to the same caliber (Edlund and Pande 922). Therefore, it is crucial that women be able to sustain their momentum in politics in order to ensure a future that safeguards the rights of many marginalized communities. 

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The research proposal focuses on exploring the impact of organic food consumption on human health. The primary claim posits that a diet predominantly consisting of organic food may have notable effects on various aspects of human health. The main research question guiding this study is: Does organic food provide more health benefits than conventionally grown food? To address this question, several sub-questions will be investigated, including the nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods, potential health benefits associated with organic food consumption, and the comparative analysis of organic and non-organic diets in terms of long-term health outcomes. The working thesis of this research asserts that an organic diet, characterized by the consumption of food produced without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, may contribute to improved health outcomes, which include enhanced nutritional intake and reduced exposure to harmful substances. By analyzing the history of organic farming, a substantial understanding of organic farming’s role in sustainable food systems may be understood. Furthermore, research reveals organic food is healthier for human consumption than conventionally grown food for a multitude of reasons. The proposed paper structure will consist of an introduction and thesis, key terms, historical background, significance, methodology, data: counterargument, data: argument, results: common ground, results: solution, and the conclusion. The literature review will explore existing research on the nutritional content and health implications of organic food, while the methodology will focus on sample selection and data analysis methods. The findings section will present the results of the investigation, and the discussion will analyze these findings and explore the implications for public health. The conclusion will summarize the key insights relating to the field of organic food and human health. This research proposal aims to investigate the impacts of organic food consumption on human health as compared to conventionally grown food through studies investigating various diets and their long-term health outcomes. 

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In the fields of medicine and/or biomedical engineering, should we prioritize advancement or restraint? Unrestrained medical advancement causes harm. This is exemplified by: (1) rDNA gene editing (Venter sec. 1), (2) procedural breaches (Sparks sec. 3), and (3) harmful medical inventions/medications (Splavski, et al. sec. 1), as well as how these restraints have created benefits to the field of medicine (Splavski, et al.; Hayes sec. 2; Sass sec. 1; Holm sec. 2; Clark sec. 3). Historically, advancements in medical technology and treatment have both positively and negatively affected patients, therefore highlighting the question of medical ethics (Holm sec. 2).

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The institution of marriage, once considered long-lasting, has significantly changed in recent years. Divorce rates have consistently increased, prompting a need to investigate the complex factors contributing to this trend. The research aims to better analyze the various aspects of this shift, including social, economic, legal, and psychological factors, to understand the reasons behind the higher occurrence of divorce. The primary research question is: Why have divorce rates changed over time? The secondary research questions are: 

• To what extent do cultural factors contribute to the rise in divorce rates? 

• How have changes in divorce laws affected the rates? 

• How has economic independence contributed to the increase in divorce rates?

• How have technological advancements, increased connectivity, and social media impacted relationships and marriage?

• Are there regional or cultural differences in the divorce rate trends? 

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The history of the term “Genius” spans centuries, movements, different empires, and both modern and postmodern influences; and it has gone through transformations. With a clear understanding of the term, we can pick out the contributing components to genius, which can be seen through the work of 20th-century contemporary artist Lucian Freud. The main parts that contribute to genius are: (1) the literal brain (Ghosh and Parida 1787–88), (2) the psychology (Ambrose 64-67),  (3) Darwinism’s role (Rich 237–39), (4) nurturing genius (Clynes 40–47), and (5) outliers (Thornton 1-12). An analysis of Lucian Freud’s paintings shows how he developed into being regarded as a “Genius” artist. Throughout this study, what leads people to become a “Genius” is materialized and defined. This offers a detailed and comprehensive understanding of these people instead of summing them up in one oversimplified and high-status word. In addition, people aspiring to be considered a “Genius” can apply this newfound knowledge to their journeys to help them achieve their goals.

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The research project will be based on using plasmids with mutated sequences for ꞵ-Glucosidase gene to test for the effect on enzyme activity. The plasmids will have a kanamycin resistance gene which will result in expression of histidine-tagged protein, and use a lac promoter which will allow us to control expression of BgIB. First, transform BLR21 cells with heat shock, and add high levels of C167D plasmids using IPTG. Then perform BSA to make a standard curve and use copper ion-based Assay Reagents to see if the proteins are present. Finally, purify the protein using SDS-PAGE and compare the plasmid with control and wild-type.

In 1983, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus changed the world. His concept was simple: to establish a bank that would provide micro-credit to the world’s poorest people. Yunus believed that those who had access to loans could help themselves out of poverty through basic financial principles and an entrepreneurial spirit, which transformed the scope of poverty alleviation forever. Following Yunus’s bright idea, hundreds of thousands of microfinance banks have been established across the world. Yet, microfinance has increasingly become a controversial field. Skeptics point to a mission drift in microfinance institutions, as banks have begun to prioritize financial stability over the requests of the poverty-stricken. In addition, the poor have begun to distrust microfinance institutions due to their unreliability in the midst of ever-changing government regulations and overdrawn accounts. Others in developing countries think that they have successfully gamed the system, maximizing withdrawals from a multitude of microfinance institutions and paying the interest through informal loans. Within the tangled mess of micro-credit lies Muhammad Yunus’ idea shining like a guiding star. How have current microfinance institutions failed, and what do these institutions need to prioritize so that they can continue to be a source of hope in the very real world of poverty? Based on current research, it becomes clear that the root of the issue lies in balancing the pursuit of profitability with the goal of outreach. When microfinance institutions are able to balance their monetary and humanitarian objectives, they establish trust and respect in poverty-riddled communities. 

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The research done in this paper consists of two parts. The first part is an explanation of hash value algorithms and how they have been used to flag reports of child pornography to law enforcement. The second part consists of research being done to see the different perspectives that people in Court had of hash value algorithms through the analysis of Court documents. Through analyzing the different in the evidence used between the prosecuting and defense team, the purpose of the study was see how each team argue for/against HVAs through analyzing their language and tone. 

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Most children in today's society spend most of their time online. Whether it is for school or not it creates a potential gap in their exposure to nature, which could pose a threat to their development. Understanding nature's influence on children's well-being and cognitive development is vital. This research addresses the growing concern about children's limited exposure to nature and better understand how to integrate it into their lives. This paper reviews a wide range of empirical studies and systematic reviews focused on children between the ages of 3 and 18. They analyzed the impact of various types of natural exposure on psychological and cognitive development. Findings from the studies examined nature exposure in urban settings and school environments with a brief section for more rural areas. Various mental health and academic outcomes were positively associated with nature exposure in urban and residential settings for children. Cognitive abilities, attention processes, and academic performance were also all increased after being exposed to some sort of nature. The focus of this research was to stress the importance of exposing children to nature daily in order to promote children's psychological well-being and cognitive development. Parents and educators should prioritize incorporating nature experiences into school and at home. Policymakers should also look into future initiatives to enhance access to green spaces in residential areas and schools. Future research needs to be conducted on the most beneficial ways to introduce nature into kids' lives and a better look at the benefits of more rural nature.

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As video games have become an integral part of many adolescents' lives, the research on how video games and even their genres affect the development of adolescent’s cognitive skills, social interaction skills, and even their emotions, particularly their aggression becomes more crucial everyday. This study aims to evaluate how video games and even their genres actually affect adolescents cognitive skills, social interaction skills, and their aggression mostly. These results were discovered through analyzing 5 journal articles of empirical studies. This analysis discovered how the social interactions skills of adolescents are not affected directly, but rather indirectly by factors such as their social capital and their deviant peer affiliation. It was found that adolescents appear to be more aggressive in different aspects of hostility, anger, physical aggression, and verbal aggression from video game exposure compared to adolescents who do not play video games. The genres of the video games were found to have significant impacts on what forms of aggression the adolescents actually had. It was also found that the cognitive skills of adolescents were impacted by video games in both positive and negative ways. Overall, the implications of these findings is that more research is needed on how video game genres affect adolescents directly and overall what can be done to make them safer.

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Young people without any mental health conditions were not exposed to the same frequency or severity of childhood trauma as individuals with early-onset bipolar disorder. This research not only informs tailored therapeutic interventions for those at risk but also advances the comprehension of the multifaceted etiology of bipolar disorder, contributing to the development of more effective preventive strategies and treatments. To derive its findings, the study conducted a thorough analysis of sixteen peer-reviewed articles published within the past five years. Trauma experienced as a child is linked to abnormalities in the adult brain function, emotional difficulties, cognitive deficits, and impaired neuroendocrine and immune system markers, which are risk factors for psychosis and mood disorders, namely bipolar disorder. Exposure to violence as a child is linked to decreased amygdala and hippocampus volume. Over time, these reductions in brain capacity are connected to a higher chance of developing depressive symptoms, particularly when combined with stressful life events. Potential biological markers for treatment response in BD patients exposed to childhood trauma include cortisol reactivity, brain function patterns, inflammatory markers, amygdala and hippocampal volumes, and functional connectivity. Through the integration of genetic characteristics and early life stress information into therapeutic practice, practitioners can identify patients who are more vulnerable to the development of bipolar disorder. Then, medical professionals can use innovative diagnostic techniques like neuroimaging and biomarker analysis to track treatment responses and modify their treatment plans according to their case histories.

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Physical touch is a major component of relations and interactions. Important in expressing emotion, understanding, and compassion. The power of touch is not only fascinating but it can be a useful tool. However, I think the influence of physical touch is often overlooked. My topic strives to address these overlooked components. We all may understand that touch is beneficial but to what extent and how can we utilize it in healthcare, stress management, and development? Understanding this can help our approaches in all these areas and more. And can be major in influencing our future interactions. Through my analysis of scholarly journals, experiments, and observational studies, it was found that physical touch has a positive association with recovery and wellness of patients. Positive relationships with touch reduce the risk of psychological illness throughout each developmental state. Positive touch also reinforces stress management tactics and reduction in stress as it signals the brain to release neurotransmitters that help us to become more calm and composed.  The larger implications of my findings stress the point of implementing positive touch in healthcare systems and prioritizing it as a tactic for stress management. This study pushes for the importance of outlining boundaries for touch that not only create safe, comfortable, and open relationships but also push for healthy interactions that reinforce psychological wellness.

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The average age an individual views pornography is 13 years old (Panthmendra et al., 2023). As the accessibility of online content has increased, the effects it has on adolescents' perceptions of intimacy, relationships, and self image have become pronounced. 

This study delves into how watching pornography during adolescent years can influence one's behavior and outlook, with the main focus being how frequent exposure to sexual content can affect outward behavior, perception of sexuality and the opposite sex, social interactions, self esteem. By examining and analyzing 20 articles, research suggests the consequences of consuming pornography such as addiction, changes in attitudes towards the opposite sex, engaging in risky behaviors, and distorted views of sexuality, has an intricate link between consumption and its outcome on adolescent development. Frequent consumption of pornography during adolescence has a significant impact on individuals behavior and perception through an exhibition of symptoms that include aggressive behavior (Andrie et al., 2021), obsessive thoughts surrounding sex and a heightened sexual desire (Setyawati et al., 2020), and a susceptibility to loneliness. This project emphasizes the need to address the dangers of easy access to pornography by exploring its social impacts on young individuals. Suggestions are made for promoting sexual health information, advocating for regulations on online porn content, and encouraging healthy perspectives on sexuality among teens. Ultimately, this research aims to enhance understanding of how viewing pornography during adolescence can have effects and underscores the significance of taking steps to minimize its impact on individuals well being and progress. 

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Tinder sells the false promise that using their app will help people find their true love, yet an overwhelming amount of users are not using the app to fulfill this promise. This research shows how Tinder is a gateway for temptation, it perpetuates online sexual harassment, and creates an environment for trolls to prey on people. Five empirical studies were analyzed and all of them were also scholarly sources. The research gathered demonstrated the consequences using Tinder can have. Tinder causes ego-boosts and can make people believe they are constantly being yearned for and it reminds them that there are other people outside of their current relationship who would date them, increasing chances of infidelity. Research showed that there are many users on there sending non consensual and degrading pictures to others. Dating apps leave room for online bullying and harassment to take place, especially in private messaging chats. Tinder also houses a lot of people who use the app with malicious intent and to get personal validation or find a sexual partner. Tinder relationships are often sexual rather than romantic, despite the claim that Tinder is supposed to help users find real romantic connections. Dating apps in general are causing problems in how people are able to form real romantic relationships. By being on dating apps like Tinder, it can easily turn into an endless cycle of craving the validation users get from being desired. In turn, this makes it harder for people to settle down and stay loyal.

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Around the world corporal punishment is still being banned; however parental use of corporal punishment is still commonplace and is proven to increase the probability of children developing aggressive behavior. Five empirical studies have examined factors that either mediate or protect against children developing aggressive tendencies related to their parent's use of corporal punishment. The factors that are theorized to mediate aggression are the excessive use of behavioral control by parents and peer victimization. The factors analyzed to serve as direct protective factors are positive teacher relationships and high levels of self-control. What was found was that extreme use of behavioral control by parents of either gender did serve to moderately increase the risk of children developing aggressive tendencies combined with parental use of corporal punishment. Peer victimization was shown to significantly increase aggression when combined with corporal punishment from data collected from middle schoolers in China. Conversely, positive teacher-child relationships did not correlate with a protective factor, and high levels of self-control were a significant direct protective factor against developing aggressive tendencies. These variables need more research and attention. The psychological literature has given great evidence of the connection between aggression and parental corporal, but these other variables are the new frontier of psychological research. 

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This research poster looks into the role of perceived relational closeness on social media in the relationship between psychological well-being and social media usage, especially targeting self-esteem and perceived social support. The studies analyzed break up social media use into active and passive interactions, exploring the different impacts on emotional and mental health outcomes. The research shows that platforms that prioritize strong relational ties significantly enhance self-esteem by promoting feelings of social connectedness. Conversely, platforms that have been shown to have weaker relational ties contribute to negative self-esteem outcomes, mainly through intensified social comparisons. In particular, teens who engaged in passive social media use experienced stronger feelings of envy and distorted perceptions, potentially leading to depressive symptoms. The research underscores the duality of social media’s impact, where the quality of relational ties can either shield against or exacerbate the psychological distress. We conclude that cultivating genuine connections and nurturing close relationships on social media can not only mitigate its adverse effects but also improve the users psychological well-being. The focus of future research should be to explore these dynamics across a larger and more diverse demographic to find strategies for healthier social media use, emphasizing the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and building a supportive online community.

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Language’s main purpose is communication, however, it can also affect how we visually and mentally perceive things according to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. The study used 7 empirical studies to help examine how much language affects perception under the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis or Linguistic Relativity hypothesis. What was found was that a key part of the Linguistic Relativity hypothesis is categorization, which is the mode of language that most directly impacts visual and mental perception. Two of the studies examined provided insight on how, depending on how many semantic categories a language uses to describe something like spatial relations, the more likely speakers of that language will be able to pick up different visual cues relating to spatial relations. In terms of mental perception, category learning has shown to affect how one groups objects together, providing behavioral, psychological, and neural evidence to support it. This study also goes into how the implications suggest category learning as an effective tool to help expand people’s worldview and discusses how communities with more robust categorization systems tend to be more interconnected, especially in larger communities. 

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Objectives. Considering the obstacles in relationships where mental health problems interfere causing difficulty in being emotionally open while one battles with themself, the current study examined whether those that suffer more with loneliness reported greater depression and avoidant attachment style. 

Methods. The National COVID-19 and Mental Health Study surveyed U. S. adults in spring 2020 (N = 3,969; mean age = 39 years) and measured loneliness, depressive symptoms, and avoidant attachment style. 

Results. The results showed a positive correlation between loneliness and avoidant attachment style with a medium effect size (r = .387), and a positive correlation between depression and avoidant attachment style (r = .387).

 Conclusions. These findings suggest that those that feel lonelier are more likely rely on themselves for assistance due to habituation with being alone and those that experience higher levels of depression are also more likely to fear closeness in relationships because of their fears about experiencing emotional damage. 

 Policy Implications or Recommended Interventions. Research on variables of mental health prior to initiating a relationship can be beneficial for therapists in associating how our past affects behaviors in relationships. 

This study investigated the association between Anxious Attachment Style, Relationship Conflict, and Stress Levels in a sample of 2269 adults living with their partners, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying psychological distress in couples. The National COVID-19 and Mental Health Study surveyed U. S. adults in spring 2020 (N = 2269; mean age = 39 years) and measured Anxious Attachment Style, Relationship Conflict, and Stress Levels. Anxious Attachment Style was positively correlated with Relationship Conflict (r = .433, p < .001) and Stress Levels (r = .349, p < .001). Relationship Conflict was also positively correlated with Stress Levels (r = .307, p < .001). These findings highlight the importance of considering attachment dynamics and relationship conflict in understanding stress in romantic relationships. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the role of Anxious Attachment Style and Relationship Conflict in predicting Stress Levels in adults living with their partners. These results contribute to the existing literature on attachment theory and relationship dynamics, highlighting the need for interventions aimed at addressing attachment-related concerns and reducing relationship conflict to mitigate stress in couples. Interventions targeting communication skills, conflict resolution strategies, and attachment-based interventions may help alleviate stress in adults living with their partners. Providing couples with resources and support to improve relationship quality and address attachment-related issues could have positive implications for mental health and well-being.

Objectives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals living with their romantic partners were able to spend a lot of time at home with their partner. Due to the pandemic, increased time at home might have brought on higher levels of anxiety and possible relationship conflict, and this study aims to measure the correlation of anxiety and relationship conflict on an individual’s sexual satisfaction.  

Methods. The National COVID-19 and Mental Health Study surveyed U. S. adults in spring 2020 (N = 3,969; mean age = 39 years) and measured relationship conflict, anxiety, and sexual satisfaction.  

Results. Consistent with the hypotheses, increased levels in both relationship conflict and anxiety were linked to lower levels of sexual satisfaction. Relationship conflict and sexual satisfaction were negatively correlated, r(2268) = -.254 and anxiety and sexual satisfaction were also negatively correlated, r(2268) = -.112.  

Conclusions. Individuals may be able to increase their sexual satisfaction with partners by seeking out ways to reduce feelings and symptoms of anxiety and relationship conflict. 

Policy Implications or Recommended Interventions. Couples counseling can use this information to incorporate more information in its practice such as coping strategies, and advice on better communication, that can help lower levels of anxiety in individuals and navigate ways that reduce overall relational conflict for couples.  

Political Partisanship is rampant across the U.S. This research focuses on the origins of rising political partisanship as well as its positive and negative effects in American society. The role of social media is also taken into account and how it further perpetuates polarization through what is known as the "echo-chamber effect."

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A combination of self-belief and an inherent drive to continue working towards a goal is typically found in those who pursue success. This combination of traits can be attributed to self-esteem and intrinsic motivation. Self-determination theory defines intrinsic motivation as a form of motivation fueled by internal drives, such as self interest and curiosity. People motivated by external rewards such as social status are extrinsically motivated (Barszcz et. al, 2022; Park & Word, 2012).

The strong self-worth and confidence that comes with high self-esteem may be the groundwork for higher intrinsic motivation (Baumeister & Tice, 1985; Tang et. al., 1987). People with high self-esteem may derive more worth in internal validators than external ones, which may foster greater appreciation for self improvement. In Baumeister’s experiment, participants were sorted based on self reported self-esteem levels and instructed to complete anagrams with varying “difficulties” (Baumeister & Tice, 1985).  In a similar study, participants were also sorted by their self reported self-esteem levels and randomly assigned to complete “easy” and “difficult” anagrams (Tang et. al., 1987). In both experiments a “free period” was granted and provided the option of continuing the anagrams.

In Baumeister's study, they found that  those with high self-esteem who received positive feedback were more likely to continue the anagrams with no reward, thus exhibiting higher intrinsic motivation. In Tang’s study, they found that those with high self-esteem also displayed the highest levels of intrinsic motivation by working more in the free period and setting higher goals for themselves during the work periods. 

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Cloud seeding is a newer form of technology in which rain is artificially produced to increase the precipitation within a location. The United Arab Emirates has chosen to use the technology in hopes of solving its water crisis. The water crisis in the UAE stems from climate change affecting their already arid region. The UAE area is built of many different regions, each with differing characteristics that make finding a solution to their water crisis more difficult than a single answer. Scientists in the UAE have favored developing cloud seeding technology within the country to try and improve perception and recharge groundwater. Our project explores this new form of solution and its effects within the country which debatably has created a new problems within the country. 

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Biofuels are a source of energy derived from biomass ranging from biotic material to agricultural or industrial biowaste. Biofuels are a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to the cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and renewable nature of the treatments. Cellulose is a polysaccharide that is an essential structural component of plant cell walls. The enzyme responsible for the partial breakdown of cellulose is β-glucosidase. This study focuses on I244K, a plasmid containing a mutation of the  β-glucosidase gene (BglB), and its effect on the enzymatic activity of the BglB protein. Competent BL21 E. coli cells were transformed with I244K, followed by induction of high levels of protein expression, using isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). After centrifugation and lysis of the cells, protein purification was performed using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. Specifically, a nickel column was used to precipitate out the histidine-tagged proteins. Finally, the purified BglB protein was loaded onto an SDS-PAGE to determine the size of the mutant in kilodaltons (kDa) and to verify purity. The data shows that I244K resulted in a significant decrease of enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase in comparison to the wild-type control.

The purpose of the experiment, beyond identifying our individual plasmid, is to work with a larger network of labs alongside UC Davis, in an effort to harness the power of crowdsourcing in science research. Our experiment aims to identify a specific plasmid whose mutations have led to a change in enzyme activity. In order to do this, we will transform competent BL21 E. coli cells with our plasmid which contains a mutated sequence of the Glucosidase gene. We do this by using the Design-to-Data workflow developed by the Siegel Lab at UC Davis. Our plasmid will undergo gene expression of a histidine-tagged protein, alongside a sequence for BgIB, a gene for kanamycin resistance which will allow us to select for the transformed plasmid, as it will survive under the presence of the antibiotic kanamycin. Our plasmid also uses a lac promoter, which will allow control expression of BgIB. To begin, the plasmid F57Y will undergo BLR21 Transformation and Protein Production, the BRL cells contain E. coli B strain, do not. After that, we will grow our BLR cells overnight, to be used in our next step, Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography. This step uses our histidine-tagged protein which interacts with the nickel beads in our chromatography column, in a process of protein purification. A protein assay is then used to determine protein concentration, which helps us draw conclusions about the efficiency of our mutant enzyme. By comparing efficiency of our enzyme, we can determine which mutation our plasmid has and, therefore, identify it. A final step of SDS-PAGE allows us to analyze protein purity.

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Both people and animals are negatively impacted by environmental estrogen levels that are too high. These impacts are: (1) impacted male reproduction (McLachlan and Arnold 686; Safe 784; Stone 308), (2) animals being “feminized” from being exposed to certain chemicals (McLachlan 452), (3) impacted women’s reproduction and cancers (Lee Davis 166; McLachlan 452), and (4) estrogens being produced by plants (McLachlan 452). Eliminating products containing these substances would have a significant effect on the environmental estrogen problem. Addressing the issue of environmental estrogens is complex due to the prevalence of estrogenic hormones in common items, making it challenging to simply "stop” their production. Eliminating these items could disrupt essential aspects of daily life, such as personal care products and household items, affecting the comforts of civilization. The best course of action is to educate people about these hormones and their effects and allow them to make their own decisions.

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Saddleback College Robotics develops a new rover each year to compete in the University Rover Challenge, an international competition consisting of 102 teams from over 10 countries. SC Robotics is the only community college team to qualify as a competition finalist and has done so for the past five years. The rover is designed to accomplish tasks including navigating rough terrain, completing dexterous tasks using a robotic arm, detecting life in soil samples, and autonomous navigation. The team currently consists of 26 members organized into Mechanical, Electrical, Programming, and Science subteams. Our presentation would consist of discussing the competition the team competes in, explaining and demonstrating core subsystems, and providing information on how interested students may apply to join the team.

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In this research paper, the goal is to educate readers the symptoms of ADHD in an academic setting in order for teachers and peers to understand those with ADHD to help them thrive, particularly in academia. 

Climate change has become a global phenomenon, wreaking havoc on countries around the world through its production of wildfires, rising sea levels, extreme storms, and other environmental changes that have been increasing at an alarming rate (Mavuso et al. 180). Historically, human intervention has been responsible for both increasing global warming as well as significant climate science discoveries, and climate education in schools can help reduce human created climate damage. Some say that there are a few drawbacks to climate education, including its complex scientific and political nature (Cordero et al. 2). Even with those concerns, climate education is still a significantly effective solution to combat climate change.  Proof of this includes: (1) positively influencing perceptions about climate change (Halliwall et al. 1-11; Mavuso et al. 185), (2) positively changing attitudes about climate (Armstrong et al. 25-28), (3) promoting positive behavior change (Cordero et al.), and (4) popularizing other effective solutions (Demattio and Halawi 2-8). In order to combat climate change, there needs to be a global implementation of climate education that will in turn positively influence the current perceptions that individuals possess (Armstrong et al. 25-28; Halliwall et al. 11) and improve behaviors and decisions about climate science (Cordero et al. 1-15; Antonetti and Maklan 121-128) while popularizing effective choices to limit carbon footprints (Demattio and Halawi 2-8). All of these solutions require developing an educated population (Cordero et al. 1), thus pointing to climate education as the most effective solution in our global fight against climate change. 

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First, we wonder, “What is the relationship between self-esteem and intrinsic motivation?” Then we must ask, “How do we find that out?” Previously conducted research suggests that self-esteem may increase intrinsic motivation by providing the traits and characteristics needed to appreciate internal growth (Barszcz et al., 2022; Baumeister & Tice, 1985; Park & Word, 2012; Tang et al., 1987). Self-esteem can be defined as a person’s self-worth or apprehension of their value as a person (Tafarodi & Ho, 2006). Intrinsic motivation is a form of motivation that propels individuals by internal wants and needs (Barszcz et al., 2022).

Although literature reviews are crucial in developing a hypothesis, promising results can be found when collecting it for oneself to be further analyzed or manipulated. This digital presentation focuses on the methods for discovering this correlation through a self-report survey that utilizes one self-developed scale from each student and a series of  established scales. It will address how the survey was created, why it was developed the way it was, and how it was intended to collect data. 

This study was conducted under a limited IRB approval intended only for the use of the class it was created in. Due to the limited IRB approval, this presentation won’t disclose participant data or results collected from these methods. In this study, the survey used consisted of scales developed by each student of the class and various established scales. This scale developed for this study was on intrinsic motivation and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965) was used.

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We are all aware that school is a stressful environment. But what exactly makes school stressful? Is it the amount of homework given, unrealistic expectations imposed upon by parental figures, lifestyle as a result of school, or the inability of a student to meet the demands of a constantly changing world. 

My paper researches looks into stress being positively correlated to increased levels of anxiety while in  school.  I also intend to focus on the methods we can use to treat anxiety in an educational setting. Neurological mechanisms of anxiety will be presented as well. 

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Through the administration of an online survey, we aim to learn more about the relationship between empathy, emotional intelligence, and happiness. While most other studies done on these subjects have focused on specific age groups or those in the medical field, we will be focusing on college students. We hope to gain insight on how to help raise college students’ levels of happiness. 

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