IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCIEVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SOCIAL NETWORK DIVERSITY AND EXPERIMENTAL PAIN INTENSITY, PAIN CATASTROPHIZING, AND STRESS?

Is social support or social network diversity associated with pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and stress in an experimental pain task? When you are experiencing pain, many factors can affect how you respond to and experience pain. This study aimed to look at the relationships of social support and social network diversity on the pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and stress reported before and after the cold pressor task. We hypothesized that those with greater levels of perceived social support and a wider variety of types of relationships would experience a lower pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and stress and higher pain tolerance and threshold. This study was conducted using a cold pressor where 25 undergraduate participants over age 18 were instructed to keep their hand in the water until it became too painful. The water was maintained between 2-4 degrees Celsius. Our results partially supported our hypothesis as perceived social support explained 64% of the variance in dispositional pain catastrophizing (p = .004). Specifically, reassurance of worth predicted lower pain catastrophizing (p = .002). Even though sample size limited our ability to detect additional significant results, the remaining findings suggested that perceived social support might be associated with lower stress in the last month (43% variance; p = .097) and pain intensity during an acute painful event (46% of variance; p = .125) and number of relationships might be associated with situational pain catastrophizing (11% of variance; p = .104). Effect sizes suggest that perceived social support was a more important predictor than social network variables. Future research should examine the relationships between social support variables and pain response using a larger sample size

Current threat to the native endemic Muckalee Crayfish (Procambarus gibbus) from an invasive crayfish (Faxonius palmeri creolanus) and tests of cold tolerance as a limiting factor

Surveys for native and invasive crayfish were conducted in Muckalee creek in 2015 and 2021. Both surveys used passive minnow traps and examined upstream and downstream sites, including at the mouth of the creek where it connects with the Flint River. The Flint River has been overrun with an invasive crayfish species, Faxonius palmeri creolanus (Creole Painted Crayfish) and its range has spread rapidly throughout southwest Georgia. In Muckalee Creek there were only a few F. p. creolanus found during each survey and both times they were only found at the mouth of the creek. One hypothesis on why they don’t invade these tributaries is the impact of lower temperatures in the tributaries compared to the Flint River itself. We tested survival aggressive behaviors of F. p. creolanus with the Muckalee endemic and state protected Procambarus gibbus (Muckalee crayfish) and found no negative effects of cold on F. p. creolanus. It is possible that there are some other habitat or water chemistry impacts on the invasive species, or that the species will still expand its range into these tributaries and potentially extirpate the native P. gibbus

BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND DIETARY PREFERENCES OF GAMBUSIA AFFINIS IN A LABORATORY SETTING

Gambusia affinis, or mosquitofish, is an adaptable species found in freshwater and brackish environments, playing an important role in controlling mosquito larvae populations that transmit diseases. Parasitized mosquitofish with trematode infestations show visible dark spots, allowing us to categorize them as parasitized. These parasitized fish can have reproductive issues and altered mating behaviors making it crucial to investigate differences compared to healthy fish. Understanding the dietary preferences and behaviors of G. affinis is essential for its management as an environmental health indicator. Following the collection of mosquitofish from their natural habitats, experiments were conducted in a controlled laboratory setting to assess food preferences and behavioral differences in visually parasitized and non-parasitized G. affinis. The first study examined the food preferences of non-parasitized males, gravid non-parasitized females, and gravid parasitized females (n=10) across three food types: artificial pellets, live brine shrimp, and seaweed. Results showed a strong preference for live brine shrimp among all groups (p\u3c0.05). Secondly, we investigated how behaviors, such as swimming, freezing, thrashing, hiding, and eating, varied under different light conditions, such as daytime and nighttime simulations. Parasitized females (n=15) exhibited around 10.2 (±0.6) behaviors per minute during the day in white light, compared to 9.1 (±0.5) in red light simulating night. Non-parasitized females (n=15) under white light displayed about 7.3 (±0.6) behaviors per minute, while in red light they displayed 8.1 (±0.7). There was no statistical difference in behaviors across the red versus white light treatments for all female fish. These findings improve our understanding of the behavioral ecology of G. affinis and provide insights into their dietary preferences. As there are limited studies investigating mosquitofish, these results can later be compared to climate change models to determine if climate change is affecting mosquitofish populations

DEVELOPMENT OF A MICROWAVE INTERFEROMETRY BASED CHEMICAL ANALYZER**

This project explores the integration of microwave interferometry and machine learning to achieve near-real-time inference in sensing and diagnostics applications. Microwave interferometry, known for its high sensitivity to permittivity changes in materials, is employed to measure subtle interactions between chemicals and the electromagnetic field produced by a custom-designed bandpass filter. The filter operates within a frequency range of 0–6 GHz and is constructed on a Rogers TMM 13i substrate, chosen for its high dielectric constant and low-loss characteristics. The collected microwave data is processed using advanced signal processing techniques and fed into a machine learning model for inference. The machine learning pipeline is trained on a dataset representing a wide range of chemical interactions, enabling robust classification and prediction capabilities. Feature extraction from the interferometric signal focuses on key parameters such as amplitude, phase shift, and resonance frequency deviations, which correlate strongly with changes in the material\u27s interaction with the electromagnetic field. A custom Python-based control system integrates sensor operations, data acquisition, temperature management, and inference. Temperature control ensures stability in the resonator’s performance, minimizing environmental influences and enhancing measurement precision. Real-time control of the experimental environment, including flow dynamics and thermal conditions, ensures high fidelity in measurements and reliable data acquisition. The system is validated through controlled experiments involving various chemical samples, demonstrating its ability to detect and classify interactions with high precision. The project advances the field of smart sensing by combining the physical precision of microwave interferometry with the analytical power of machine learning. Applications range from environmental monitoring and industrial quality control to advanced material characterization. By achieving near-real-time inference, this system sets the stage for efficient, scalable, and automated detection solutions, addressing critical needs in rapid decision-making scenarios

EXTRACTION OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES FROM MUSCLE TISSUE SAMPLES OF FISH IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES**

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made \u27forever chemicals,\u27 meaning they do not naturally break down once they enter the environment. They often enter a water supply through improper waste disposal or human activity, where they may accumulate within the bodies of aquatic life. This research aims to analyze fish flesh samples from the Chattahoochee River via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the presence of PFAS. Currently, the goal of this project is to develop a method of preparing the flesh samples for analysis. To do this, non-Chattahoochee test samples will be deliberately injected with a known mixture of PFAS. Organic solvents will be used to extract the PFAS from the fish, which will then be derivatized for detection via GC-MS. This analysis, when compared to the original mixture of PFAS injected into the sample, will show the reliability of the method. It will also be used to determine the loss of PFAS during the preparation, derivatization, and analysis process. This development will ultimately yield a reliable method for flesh sample analysis and allow the true PFAS content to be extrapolated from the Chattahoochee flesh sample data. Once the method is refined, the samples from Chattahoochee River fish can be analyzed to determine the presence, identity, and amount of PFAS in the flesh. Since fish of varying species and catch locations will be tested, this data will not only illustrate the overall severity of PFAS pollution in the Chattahoochee River, but also help determine which species and parts of the river have been impacted the most

THE MAKING OF A MENTOR

Dr. Abdulalim A. Shabazz, who taught at Clark Atlanta University for many years, had a well deserved reputation as a mentor to numerous students of mathematics, particularly advanced students, who achieved the masters and doctoral degrees. Before he changed his name, he was born Lonnie Cross. This talk will seek to present from written records of his time as a graduate student at MIT, 1950-51, how aspects of his making as a mentor may have been formed. We explore how the environment at that time; the professors, administrators and students, contributed to this formation

IMPACT OF URBANIZATION, HABITAT STRUCTURE, AND FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY ON SCAVENGER BEHAVIOR IN MOBILE COUNTY, ALABAMA AND CENTRAL GEORGIA**

Scavengers play a crucial role in ecosystems and urbanization introduces complex gradients in landscapes and their food availability. Our study explored scavenger behavior along a rural-to-urban gradient in Mobile County, Alabama and Central Georgia (CG) using trail cameras at bait stations. Data from Mobile County, collected from 2015-2017, served as pilot and comparison data for CG, which included counties south of Interstate 20 and north of Highway 280. We also evaluated how habitat structure, including the arrangement of plant communities and other physical features that affect habitat suitability, can impact scavenger behavior. Additionally, we examined how functional connectivity, which encompasses environmental elements like storm water systems and greenspaces that influence a population\u27s ability to move through the landscape to find food, shelter, and mates, affects scavenger behavior within levels of urbanization. We hypothesized that urbanization would affect scavenger behavior by: 1) Increasing the diversity of species acting as scavengers from rural to urban areas; 2) Changing the succession of species at bait sites across urban, suburban, and rural areas based, in part, on habitat structure; and 3) Influencing species composition based on functional connectivity within levels of urbanization. Preliminary data from Mobile County indicated that while species diversity was not significantly impacted, the succession of species at bait stations was. Avian scavengers (e.g., turkey vultures) arrived first in rural areas where habitat structures were more open, whereas small mammals (e.g., opossums, raccoons, domestic cats) arrived first in urban sites with less open spaces. Further investigation across more diverse sites is necessary. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses were conducted to confirm urbanization levels and examine land connectivity. This research sought to deepen our understanding of ecosystem health and guide future studies on animal behavior and cognition

THE IMPACT OF MEDICAL JARGON ON PATIENT COMPREHENSION AND SATISFACTION.

Using medical jargon can significantly impact patient comprehension of medical diagnoses and directives, particularly when health care information is delivered using complex terminology. This study examined how medical jargon affects college students’ understanding of medical diagnoses and health care interactions. Participants (N = 32) viewed three videos of a medical care provider explaining different diagnoses across three topic areas (orthopedics, diabetes, cancer); the videos were randomized and varied in complexity level as determined by a standardized measure of terminology complexity and script length. Participants also completed a vocabulary assessment, including several questions assessing familiarity with medical terminology. We hypothesized that individuals with lower vocabulary levels would be disproportionately negatively impacted by more complex, jargon-filled simulated diagnoses. Results indicated that overall, as the simulated medical diagnoses became more complex, participants rated them lower in clarity (p \u3c .001, ŋ2 = .331) and reported less understanding (p \u3c .001, ŋ2 = .342). These differences, however, were not qualified by participant vocabulary level, and participant vocabulary scores were not related to video comprehension ratings overall (p = .497, ŋ2 = .004). While a restriction of range within the medical term vocabulary sub-scores prevented an examination of the impact of medical knowledge on ratings, our data suggest that future research should take such pre-existing knowledge into account; collapsing across difficulty levels, average ratings differed across the three topics (p = .014), with participants rating orthopedic (M = 3.05, of 5) diagnoses as more difficult to comprehend than diabetes (M = 3.48) and cancer (M = 3.52) diagnoses. Overall, our data support prior findings that complex medical language can hinder patient understanding. Future research should explore interventions such as the use of visual aids, plain language summaries, and health care professional training to improve communication and enhance patient comprehension in medical settings

A 25-Year Progress Report Of Jupiter\u27s Oval BA

Oval BA has now been present on Jupiter for 25 years. During this time, the east-west length of this feature, in visible wavelengths, has shown a gradual shrinkage at an average rate of 0.045 degrees/year. The average shrinkage rate of its east-west length in methane band images (wavelength of 890 nanometers) is 0.11 degrees/year. The north-south dimension of this oval has also shrunk. There is also a correlation between the latitude of Oval BA and its speed with respect to Jupiter\u27s interior

IMPACTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON PHYTOPLANKTON ASSEMBLAGES IN LAKE LOUISE GEORGIA**

Lakes are important aquatic ecosystems that are extensively influenced by seasonal variations. In this study we investigate the influence of environmental conditions on phytoplankton association in Lake Louise, a sinkhole lake located in southern Georgia. Seasonal changes in environmental conditions and their impacts on the phytoplankton of Lake Lousie have been investigated sporadically over the past 20 years, most recently in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017. In this paper we examine the current state of the phytoplankton in the lake five years after the passage of Irma and describe the impacts of Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, and Helene. Environmental variables measured include temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. Additionally, chlorophyll concentrations and the structure of the phytoplankton association were determined at 1 m intervals from the surface to a depth of 5 m. The summer thermocline was found at depths of 1.2 to 3.5 meters, with a temperature drop of 12 °C recorded on approaching the hypolimnion. Oxygen concentrations were below 1 mL/L throughout the hypolimnion. Ion concentrations were higher in the hypolimnion than the epilimnion and increased over the course of the year. Both Debby and Helene caused increased mixing between the epilimnion and the upper parts of the hypolimnion, but the effects did not extend below 3 meters; this is similar to what was observed after Hurricane Irma. In contrast to Irma, we did not see an increase in chlorophyll or phytoplankton concentrations in the epilimnion in the aftermath of Debby and Helene. The heavy rainfalls associated with these two storms may have led to a higher proportion of the phytoplankton being washed out, while the lateness of the season reduced the regrowth of the association