Thermo-Optic Modeling for Greater Data Handling Capabilities

Phase change materials (PCM) serve an important role in the advancement of computing, as they enable computers to have greater data handling capacity, faster processing times, and decreased energy consumption. PCM’s like germanium telluride (GeTe) function in tandem with microheaters to change from an amorphous state to varying levels of crystallinity. Thus, it is through controlled phase changes that one can manipulate the transmittance of light and get different states of memory. Therefore, the objective of this research activity is to model microheaters and photonic devices, and subsequently implement a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) to vary the intensity of light. For this project, a well-known PCM, such as GeTe sputtered on a thin film of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), will be modeled. COMSOL will be used to find the temperature distribution induced by the ITO microheaters in the PCM. Next, Lumerical FDTD will be used to model the MZI and the effects of different phases of the PCM on the device’s operation. With the exploratory nature of this research project, expected outcomes are to find suitable power input parameters, specific levels of crystallinity, and varying levels of output intensity

Health Implications of First Responders

First responders, specifically firefighters and police officers, experience high-stress work environments regularly, significantly impacting their mental and physical health. This research explores the health implications of first responders focusing on mental health disorders and the physical demands which first responders endure. We plan to collect research by analyzing specific mental health databases for first responders, looking into injury reports, and researching different occupational organizations dedicated to improving the lives of first responders. With this research, we are confident in developing a comprehensive understanding leading us to discover methods to improve first responders’ health and wellbeing. The importance of implementing preventative measures, including physical training, mental health support, and safety, is an essential part in protecting the well-being of these individuals who risk their lives for the public\u27s safety. Employment is a determinant of health because your work conditions and environment play a huge role in both your health and well-being

Needs Assessment: Examining Nurse Mentorship in a Military Treatment Facility

Background Despite 4.3 million registered nurses (RNs) in the United States, nearly a third are not practicing, exacerbating nursing workforce shortages across the nation’s healthcare settings. The Military Health System (MHS) reported significant attrition, with some specialties losing up to 37% annually. Research shows mentorship boosts job satisfaction and retention, yet the MHS lacks a formal program to support and sustain its nursing workforce long-term. Aim This needs assessment investigates the feasibility of establishing a nurse mentorship program at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) to help elevate job satisfaction and strengthen nursing retention. Methods Anonymous questionnaires, structured interviews, and stakeholder engagement assessed mentorship benefits and barriers. Two pre- and post-literature exposure questionnaires and face-to-face stakeholder interviews gathered critical insights. Outcomes Study findings indicated that 91% of respondents acknowledged mentorship’s potential to enhance job satisfaction, while 87% agreed it would improve nurse retention. However, 30% of respondents expressed neutrality regarding participation, citing time constraints and staffing limitations as key barriers. Interviews reinforced these findings, emphasizing the need for voluntary, standardized mentorship programs. Impact The findings provide a basis for initiating a mentorship program at an MTF, with promising prospects for MHS-wide adoption to improve job satisfaction and stabilize the nursing workforce

Weighted Sample Elimination: Subsampling Point Clouds Using Poisson Disk Sampling

This research focuses on developing efficient algorithms for subsampling point clouds using Poisson disk sampling techniques. Point clouds are unorganized sets of points in 2D or 3D space that represent surfaces of objects, scenes, or areas. These point clouds can consist of hundreds of thousands to millions of points, so reducing their size can make numerically analyzing their properties much more efficient. This reduction, called subsampling, aims to create a smaller set of points that preserves the essential features of the original cloud. An ideal subsampling method would maximize the minimum distance between points, achieving what is known as the maximal Poisson disk radius. However, this is computationally intractable (NP-hard). Approximate solutions, known as Poisson disk sampling algorithms, can be used to combat this issue. This research specifically focuses on one of these methods, called Weighted Sample Elimination. My project implemented this algorithm and extended it for subsampling point clouds with anisotropic distributions, where point spacing varies depending on the local geometry. This extension could improve efficiency and accuracy in applications with complex spatial data

Childhood Trauma and Anxiety: A Guide to Boise State Resources

Research Question: What resources are available to students at Boise State who have experienced childhood trauma and live with anxiety? Anxiety may result from traumatic experiences, particularly during childhood. Traumatic experiences can have a significant impact on the brain\u27s development and the regulation of emotions, leading to increased risk of anxiety. Childhood trauma is a determinant of health. The aim of our research is to share how childhood trauma leads to anxiety and offer students information on the resources at Boise State. To find substantial information on this topic we are going to use the Albertsons library database to find peer-reviewed articles on how childhood trauma increases the risk for anxiety. We will utilize the Boise State Health Services website to research resources available to students. The expected findings from our research will provide those who may be struggling with anxiety and to highlight resources available to students at Boise State

Why Do Spanish Heritage Language Learners Learn Spanish? How Do Their Motivations Differ From Those of Non-Heritage Spanish Learners?

Idaho State University is striving to be an emerging Hispanic-serving institution, with a Hispanic population in the 2024 academic year of 14% (Idaho State University Institutional Research, 2025). Many students at Idaho State University (ISU) take classes to learn Spanish. Some are heritage language learners and may have different reasons for studying their language from non-heritage learners. At ISU 10 Spanish courses are currently offered. In 2024 ISU offered the first ever Spanish course for heritage learners (ISU News, July 2024). However more courses may be needed to meet learner needs. Without a full understanding of learners’ different motivations it is difficult to know if the correct courses are available and if teaching methods are appropriate to all learners. Heritage language learners are more likely motivated by wanting to make or strengthen familial or cultural/community ties,whereas non-heritage language learners are more likely to be motivated by career opportunities.(Gardner and Lambert 1959; Carreira, 2004). Using Redd’s (2025) model of heritage and indigenous language learners’ second language learning motivations we compare motivations for heritage and non-heritage learners of Spanish at ISU to better understand why heritage language learners learn Spanish and how their motivations differ from those of non-heritage Spanish learners. We conducted surveys of 87 Spanish language learners at Idaho State University to categorize their motivations for learning Spanish. The data was coded and analyzed with thematic analysis of open-ended survey questions to determine students’ motivations. Based on our findings, we suggest offering expanded course options for heritage learners at ISU and strategies for marketing classes to attract heritage learners

Observing Transits of Ultra-Hot Jupiters (UHJs) in Pursuit of Orbital Decay

Boise State’s exoplanet research program has been observing transits of Ultra-Hot Jupiters to determine whether or not these exoplanets are demonstrating orbital decay. Exoplanets are planets that are outside our solar system, orbiting other stars. Ultra-Hot Jupiters are a type of exoplanet, Jupiter-sized or larger, have a very high temperature (2000+ K), and orbit very close to their host stars, with orbital periods of 3 days or less. Transits occur when an exoplanet passes in front of its star from Earth’s perspective, blocking out some of the light the star emits. We can observe these transits on Earth by viewing the changes in the brightness of the star. Orbital decay is the process in which a planet\u27s orbital period decreases, leading to falling into its host star. At Boise State, we have been observing several different exoplanets on the roof of the Education Building, using photoimaging telescopes. In this poster, we will discuss developments in the project and overview our plans for our next steps

Fin-tastic Contenders! Does Dorsal Fin Size Influence Hierarchy?

Animals hold different social values depending on their position within a group’s hierarchy, directly impacting their fitness. The bluebanded goby (Lythrypnus dalli) is a sexually plastic, highly social fish. These fish use aggressive displays involving morphological features to gain and maintain social status. Often, they start with low intensity aggressive behavior, known as a dorsal fin raise, as a size display before escalating to higher intensity aggression. We aim to understand the relationship between dorsal fin ray length and hierarchy status. Using ImageJ, we measured each individual fin ray of the dorsal fin. Fin ray length was then averaged to compare between dominant and subordinate fish. Additionally, a comparison between the longest fin rays between the dominant and subordinate fish was performed. Because the dorsal fin ray can affect the perceived size of an individual, we predicted that fish with longer fin rays will become the dominant fish. This data begins to untangle and elucidate the importances of additional morphological features other than standard length in size demonstrations during social instability

Evaluating Coarse-Grained Models of Solution-Phase Aggregations

Colloidal suspensions are important industrially relevant materials, from milk, to paints, to advanced manufacturing inks. Unstable colloids will eventually aggregate and crash out of solution, so it is essential to understand the thermodynamic stability of colloids used for specific applications. In this work we consider a model of nanoparticle flakes that are suspended in solution with linear copolymers. In experiments, the flakes are observed to crash out of solution above a weight percentage of about 7%. Here we develop a phenomenological model to represent the shape, size, concentration, and molecular interaction components of the experimental system. We investigate the aggregation behavior of the flakes as a function of their shape, size, concentration, and interactions relative to the copolymers with the aim of mapping a phase diagram of thermodynamic stability. En route to that we report on successes and challenges deploying our model on laptop and high performance cluster hardware and summarize the aggregation behaviors observed thus far

Dataset for Interaction of βL- and γ-Crystallin with Phospholipid Membrane Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Highly concentrated lens proteins, mostly β- and γ-crystallin, are responsible for maintaining the structure and refractivity of the eye lens. However, with aging and cataract formation, β- and γ-crystallin are associated with the lens membrane or other lens proteins forming high-molecular-weight proteins, which further associate with the lens membrane, leading to light scattering and cataract development. The mechanism by which β- and γ-crystallin are associated with the lens membrane is unknown. This work aims to study the interaction of β- and γ-crystallin with the phospholipid membrane with and without cholesterol (Chol) with the overall goal of understanding the role of phospholipid and Chol in β- and γ-crystallin association with the membrane. Small unilamellar vesicles made of Chol/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (Chol/POPC) membranes with varying Chol content were prepared using the rapid solvent exchange method followed by probe tip sonication and then dispensed on freshly cleaved mica disk to prepare a supported lipid membrane. The βL- and γ-crystallin from the cortex of the bovine lens was used to investigate the time-dependent association of βL- and γ-crystallin with the membrane by obtaining the topographical images using atomic force microscopy. Our study showed that βL-crystallin formed semi-transmembrane defects, whereas γ-crystallin formed transmembrane defects on the phospholipid membrane. The size of semi-transmembrane defects increases significantly with incubation time when βL-crystallin interacts with the membrane. In contrast, no significant increase in transmembrane defect size was observed in the case of γ-crystallin. Our result shows that Chol inhibits the formation of membrane defects when βL- and γ-crystallin interact with the Chol/POPC membrane, where the degree of inhibition depends upon the amount of Chol content in the membrane. At a Chol/POPC mixing ratio of 0.3, membrane defects were observed when both βL- and γ-crystallin interacted with the membrane. However, at a Chol/POPC mixing ratio of 1, no association of γ-crystallin with the membrane was observed, which resulted in a defect-free membrane, and the severity of the membrane defect was decreased when βL-crystallin interacted with the membrane. The semi-transmembrane or transmembrane defects formed by the interaction of βL- and γ-crystallin on phospholipid membrane might be responsible for light scattering and cataract formation. However, Chol suppressed the formation of such defects in the membrane, likely maintaining lens membrane homeostasis and protecting against cataract formation