closure, satisfaction with case outcomes, and trust in the justice system. The study also explores how factors such as the nature of the offense, the structure of the restorative process, and the level of offender accountability influence these outcomes.Preliminary findings suggest that victims who engage in restorative justice processes report higher levels of emotional closure and greater satisfaction compared to those who go through traditional court proceedings alone. Many participants highlight the importance of being heard, receiving direct acknowledgment of harm, and gaining answers to unresolved questions. However, the study also identifies limitations, including variability in program quality and the need for careful facilitation to avoid re- traumatization.This research contributes to ongoing discussions about criminal justice reform by providing evidence on the potential benefits and challenges of restorative justice from the victim’s perspective. The findings aim to inform policymakers, practitioners, and community organizations seeking more holistic and victim-centered approaches to justice. Erica Burch Palomino - “Steroid-like Compounds in Shark and Ray Skin: Organic Structures, Reactivity, and Antimicrobial Function” (poster session I) Steroid-like antimicrobials derived from the epidermis of elasmobranch fish are examined, with particular attention directed toward aminosterols such as squalamine, which has been identified as both an antiretroviral and antimicrobial agent. Squalamine, aminosterols and marine-derived steroidal antimicrobials are very important in modern organic chemistry, as they are natural substances with elaborate structures and a more significant role in drug discovery and chemical biology. The topic deserves in-depth study at an advanced level due to the clear definition of the chemical field, the growing popularity of steroid derivatives with biological activity, and their importance in the correlation between structure and activity. The compounds chemistry raise a number of fundamental questions, including the stereochemistry of steroid structures, the reactivity of different functional groups, acid-base behavior, nucleophilic substitution reactions, redox reactions, and conformational analysis that relate more fundamental mechanisms to molecular design in biology. Cole Carlson - see Muller et al. “Student Mental Health Outreach” (session 17) Stella Cashin - “Exploring Connections Between Chronic Stress, Diet, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)” (session I) Chronic stress, different from acute stress, is a constant feeling of being overwhelmed or anxious. While acute stress is often triggered by a single event that may cause a quickly increasing level of dissatisfaction, chronic stress often accompanies a long term stressor. There is a diverse population of people who suffer with chronic toxic stress. Diet, and the quality of the food selected, may have a significant impact on these stressors, possibly inhibiting the severe symptoms of chronic toxic stress. Implementing self regulatory skills and analyzing the environment of the person is a key factor in successfully improving their diet. In patients with symptomatic chronic stress, an educational pamphlet on the importance of implementing habits around food that promote eating a healthy diet may improve their negative psychological symptoms, as evidenced by the Perceived Stress Scale. A healthy diet seems to correlate significantly to improvement in depression, anxiety, and lower levels of stress. People who partake in heavily processed diets eat foods containing high levels of glucose, unhealthy fat, and
artificial additives, which contributes to symptoms of mood disorders advanced by stress. Education on the relation between limiting stress and a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, could reduce systemic inflammation to alleviate symptomatic chronic stress. When healthy dieting interventions are implemented, people are less likely to consume processed foods, lessening their likelihood of negative psychological symptoms. Makayla Casjens - “A Spatial Comparison of Riparian Zones and Their Influence on Community Diversity of Fishes within the Salt Fork Creek, Saline County, Missouri” (session 9) Riparian areas surrounding water ecosystems have a direct effect on the species diversity of fishes. Riparian health can provide researchers with insight into the health of surrounding ecosystems and waterways. Fishes were sampled from multiple sites along the Salt Fork Creek in Saline County Missouri in Spring 2026 within and outside of riparian corridors. Sampled fishes were measured, examined for ectoparasites, noted for breeding colors, and released unharmed at the point of capture. A community diversity index was calculated for each sample site. Comparisons were then made to determine if diversity is influenced by the presence or absence of riparian zones. Makayla Casjens - “Moral Perception and Environmental Ethics in Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass ” (poster session I) Human exploitation and destruction of natural resources is often displayed as a scientific, economic, or even political problem. However, it should be also seen as a problem that concerns society’s moral perception. Society consistently sees plants, animals, and ecosystems as objects or resources that are unlimited and there for the taking. This idea makes it easier for humans to justify the exploitation of the natural world. In this project, I will examine the moral principles shared by indigenous scientist, Robin Wall Kimmerer. In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, she challenges modern mindsets by encouraging her readers to reconsider how they look at the natural world. Her writing discusses changing language, the use of positive reinforcement (reciprocity), and relational responsibility in order to argue that harming the environment stems from the cultural framework that humanity has created to separate themselves from nature, reducing other living beings into commodities, in place for humanity to exploit. Using this text, current events, and concepts in relation to dehumanization and moral perception used by David Livingstone Smith, this project will discuss the idea of how a shift in human perception can change current moral judgments toward nonhuman life for the better. By discussing new ways of understanding humanity’s relationship with the environment, Braiding Sweetgrass encourages the audience to work to better understand nature and work with it rather than dominate and exploit it. Increased moral attention to the natural world is essential in understanding and addressing the current environmental crisis and developing ethical relationships between humanity and the ecosystems that maintain our presence on Earth. Makayla Casjens - “People and Pets: Holistic Medicine and How it Affects Modern Diets of Humans and Their Furry Companions” (poster session I) Reflecting upon modern diet trends for human and companion animals, one can note society’s heavy reliance on ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Designed for convenience, affordability, and long shelf lives, these industrial formulas are often filled with
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