UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

A letter from the editors, introducing the Spring 2025 issue.

This article describes modern media preservation methodology with a focus on film preservation. Media in all forms is an extension of culture and most is lost over time without preservation efforts. Preservation is deliberate through methods such as special storage and digitization, which are often hindered by tradition and corporate interest. Due to the preservation tradition, organizations that prioritize preservation may not be able to receive funding from larger organizations. Piracy is a concern for many intellectual property holders that prevent preservation for supposed monetary injury. Preservation efforts are hindered through legislation and digital rights management installed into releases. Piracy is the solution to the problem piracy itself creates, as decentralized archives of media not officially preserved ensure their preservation through multiple sources. There is no true solution to these hindrances, but the general population making efforts to preserve what little they are able to can still make a difference.

Amidst a time defined by overwhelming contemporary upheavals—namely, the climate crisis, escalating global conflicts, and the rapidly expanding influence of artificial intelligence—why should humanity concern itself with the past? The past is, after all, irretrievable. However, as this research paper will emphasize, the past is not merely a closed chapter; it is a living essence that imbues the present and subtly directs the unfolding of the future. Engaging with the past is, therefore, not a mere exercise in nostalgia but rather a critical process of understanding, resistance, and responsibility. This intellectual reflection becomes particularly vital given the historical ramifications endured by Indigenous communities, whose pasts have been forcibly rewritten, silenced, or erased.

Psychology as a discipline has been historically shaped by Western ideologies and overrepresented by Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations. This over-representation results in a narrow and culturally biased understanding of mental health, marginalizing Indigenous and non-Western perspectives. The dominance of “whiteness” in psychology, in which Western norms are treated as universals, fails to account for the diverse cultural, spiritual, and communal frameworks of Indigenous populations. This paper explores Indigenous psychology as a necessary response to this imbalance, emphasizing the decolonization of psychological practices and the implementation of culturally centered treatments. Drawing on global Indigenous movements, it highlights the significance of reconnecting with traditional knowledge systems, holistic and collectivist models of well-being, and culturally rooted healing practices. Case studies such as the Māori philosophy of Hauora, community-led workshops in Canada, and the National Empowerment Project in Australia demonstrate the efficacy of culturally grounded approaches in addressing historical trauma andpromoting mental health. Ultimately, the paper argues for a reimagining of psychological practice that prioritizes Indigenous epistemologies, supports cultural revitalization, and seeks justice and healing for historically marginalized communities.

Cathartic expression in psychology has been written about and discussed since the early 20th century. Early literature surrounding catharsis has described it as a useful tool in many therapies that laid the groundwork for many coping mechanisms that exist today. Many people describe cathartic release as a coping mechanism to deal with negative emotions, such as physically exercising while stressed. However, the effects of catharsis have not been studied and explored significantly in recent years. The model suggested by this study includes a phenomenon knownas Fading Affect Bias (FAB), in which recollection of events trends to positive valence after along period of time. Previous discussion regarding catharsis points to two main models by whichcatharsis is effective: a cognitive model and a hydraulic model. Working with these models of catharsis, this study aims to delve into the efficacy of catharsis and how strong the moderating effect would be on Fading Affect Bias. In this study, undergraduate students from the University of California, Merced played a game designed to induce frustration and then completed a survey (n=31). The survey items measured three dimensions relating to the game: Control, Fairness, andEnjoyment. The results show that there were significant differences between participants who experienced a cathartic intervention, while also being unable to show a significant effect accounting for the timescale in which FAB works.

The Great Recession had a profound impact on healthcare access, particularly for marginalized communities. This period of economic downturn highlighted the urgent need for healthcare reform. Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was not a direct response to the recession, the financial uncertainty it created led to a surge in Medicaid enrollment, contributing to the official passage of the ACA in 2010. Medicaid expansion improved healthcare access for low-income individuals, particularly pregnant women, by increasing coverage and access to essential maternal health services. However, disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality persist, with Black women facing significantly higher risks of pregnancy-related complications than white women. While previous research has explored the ACA’s impact on healthcare access, limited attention has been given to how insurance type (public vs. private) affects maternal morbidity and birth outcomes, particularly after the 2014 Medicaid expansion. This study examines the relationship between insurance coverage and maternal health outcomes, highlighting existing disparities and assessing whether public insurance expansion has mitigated adverse maternal health effects. By addressing these gaps, this research contributes to policy discussions aimed at improving maternal healthcare quality and reducing inequities in health outcomes.

In the future, brain-computer interfaces–implanted or external devices that allow the human brain to directly interface with computer systems and networks–have the potential to create massive shifts in both medical and non-medical fields, as well as have great implications for privacy, human intelligence, and how we interact with technology. This technology could allow people to use prosthetics that give complete feeling and dexterity to their users. It could be a way to cure paralysis and may even be able to remove chronic pain. Further in the future, brain-machine interfaces may give us access to fully immersive virtual worlds that are nearly indistinguishable from reality. In addition, these devices could allow for knowledge to be added directly into the brain in a very rapid manner, allowing humans to become vastly more intelligent. However, there are also risks that come with this technology. Privacy could be threatened, as companies and unscrupulous individuals could retrieve information directly from your brain. This could lead to intrusive and targeted advertising as well as blackmail depending on the nature of the information retrieved. There are also other threats such as hackers who could attempt to use brain-computer interfaces to bring harm to their users. Even the users of these technologies could be a threat as an unregulated and highly immersive virtual world grows and becomes accessible to anyone with an implant. New forms of harassment could appear, as well as abuse and exploitation in the virtual world. And that’s all without mentioning the possibility of governments using this technology to monitor their citizen's every thought. While this technology will have a great impact on humanity, it will be up to us to decide whether that impact is positive and beneficial, or negative and potentially even dangerous.

Symbiotic relationships are fundamental to ecological systems, shaping species interactions andinfluencing survival, reproduction, and evolutionary pathways. One well-studied example of a mutualistic symbiotic relationship occurs between the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymnascolopes) and the gram-negative bacterium Vibrio fischeri. This partnership enhances the survivability of both organisms through a specialized form of camouflage known as counterillumination. In this process, V. fischeri utilizes quorum sensing to regulate bioluminescence, producing light that matches the surrounding environment and conceals the squid’s silhouette from predators below. In return, the squid maintains a specialized light organ that provides rich nutrients, creating a stable environment for the bacteria to proliferate. While notably efficient and stable, the effectiveness of this relationship can be influenced by external environmental factors. Conditions such as temperature, pH, and salinity play crucial roles in determining the success of bacterial colonization, bioluminescence efficiency, and host-symbiontinteractions. Since E. scolopes and V. fischeri are highly sensitive to environmental changes, they serve as valuable bioindicators for assessing the broader impacts of climate change on oceanic symbioses. Climate change impacts, such as ocean acidification and increasing temperature, have been demonstrated to be detrimental to this intricate mutualism. This review paper will examine the effects of climate change factors on the symbiotic relationship and the surrounding environment, and analyze how each factor can promote or prevent the growth of the microbe V.fischeri. The possible implications and adaptations made by these organisms in the face of progressing environmental stressors will also be discussed and analyzed throughout the review.

This study presents a parallel analysis of indoor air quality in UC Merced dormitories with outdoor air pollution levels within Yosemite Valley, underscoring the importance of understanding how outdoor pollution impacts indoor air quality and offers insights for improving environmental health practices in residential and natural settings. Data was collected from October 2 to October 9, with indoor air samples taken twice daily, once in the morning and once at night, focusing on particulate matter in the size of 2.5 and 10 micrometers (PM2.5 and PM10). Outdoor pollution data for the same period was obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. The analysis reveals unique patterns in PM2.5 and PM10 measurements across indoor and outdoor environments, reflecting the influence of human activity indoors and environmental conditions outdoors. Factors such as dormitory ventilation, occupancy, andregional atmospheric conditions contribute to these differences.