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  Computer Vision-Based Model for Drawing Skill Assessment

  Asaad Saeed M. Alghamdi

  Drawing is a natural process for all people. Assessing the drawing skill is beneficial to some applications. The main objective of this assessment is to match the hand drawing with a pre-defined template. In computer vision, a rapid and robust method for matching objects is required to fulfill this goal. Many recent techniques have a complicated struggle with the same concept which means they could encounter some difficulties to determine the object in an image. On the other hand, computers can be trained to identify the match at a human level. In this research, we propose a framework to assess the drawing skill based on computer vision algorithms.

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  Contributing Factors to the Primary Care Shortage

  Luke Samuel Adams, Mackenzie S. Gross

  Across the country, there is a considerable shortage of primary care physicians (PCPs). A 2021 article from the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health noted, “the country is projected to have a shortage of primary care physicians between 21,400 and 55,200 by 2033,” (Srikrishna et al., 2021). There are multiple reasons for this shortage, including the well-known crisis of Medical School debt, as well as the average salaries of PCPs and length of residency. For example, initial research shows that from 2020 to 2021, average medical school debt increased from $207,003 (“What Is the Average Medical School Debt?” 2021) to $241,600, making average medical school debt more than the average salary of a PCP (“What Is The Average Medical School Debt in 2021?” 2021). The New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine may have a practical solution. Beginning in 2018, the NYU Grossman School of Medicine began offering a full-tuition scholarship to each student that matriculates into their Doctor of Medicine (MD) program (Affordability & Financial Aid for MD Students, 2022). The scholarship program essentially reduces the financial burden associated with medical school, hopefully removing the financial disincentive to pursue a career in primary care, a field of medicine that makes on average $100,000 less than a specialist per year (Harris, 2018). The purpose of this poster is to show the multiple factors contributing to the PCP shortage beyond medical school debt, including range of specialty income, length of residency, and lifestyle. It also explains the potential limits of NYU’s scholarship program in alleviating the PCP shortage. Ultimately, NYU’s program may not increase PCPs because of other contributing factors. The final result is yet to be determined because the program is so new.

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  Conversion of Bi₄Se₃ to Bi₂Se₃ via post-annealing under Se flux

  Ryan P. Laing

  Bi₄Se₃ and Bi₂Se₃ are materials with topologically protected surface states that are currently thesubject of extensive research as potential next-generation quantum technologies. In this study,DC magnetron sputtering was used to grow Bi₄Se₃ thin films. Conversion of Bi₄Se₃ to Bi₂Se₃was explored via post-annealing under Se flux at moderate temperatures. The Se flux wasgenerated by RF magnetron sputtering of a Se target onto Bi₄Se₃ films. Bi₄Se₃ was grown undertwo morphological distinct regimes, an atomically flat surface and faceted surface to contrast theSe incorporation through flat surfaces or grain boundaries. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopywas used to analyze film composition, while X-ray diffraction was used to verify crystalstructure and orientation. Scanning electron microscopy additionally verified morphologicalchanges post annealing. Determining Se percolation into the film under different temperaturesand geometries allows an expansion of thin film sputtering capabilities by further control of filmcomposition under various conditions. This work can lead to techniques in tailoring the fermi-level in chalcogenides.

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  Cope’s gray treefrog Dryophytes chrysoscelis maintains cellular integrity during freezing by adjusting membrane composition and by accumulating cryoprotective compounds

  Elizabeth Evans Yokum

  Only a few species of vertebrate animals can survive seasonal bouts of cold temperatures by tolerating repeated whole-body freezing and thawing. Of this unique groups, Cope’s gray treefrog Dryophytes chrysoscelis, can survive freezing and thawing of up to 70% of its body fluids. The objective of this study is to investigate two possible mechanisms that may contribute to cellular freeze competence: changes to lipid composition of the cell membrane, and synthesis and distribution of molecules that protect against freeze-induced damage (cryoprotectants). It is hypothesized that cells modify the lipid (phospholipid and cholesterol) content of their membranes in ways that affect membrane fluidity and thereby optimize cell function at cold temperatures. Preliminary 1H NMR analysis indicates that phospholipid distribution, fatty acid composition, and cholesterol all vary between warm and cold acclimated groups in membranes prepared from liver tissue. It is further hypothesized that glycerol, glucose, and urea serve as cryoprotectants in gray treefrogs; these compounds can help to maintain cellular fluid volumes, prevent intracellular freezing, and support molecular structures in freeze tolerant animals. Compared to animals that were cold acclimated only, accumulation of cryoprotectants is expected to increase in animals frozen and thawed once (single freeze-thaw) and further increase in animals frozen and thawed three times (repeated freeze-thaw). Results indicate that plasma, liver, and skeletal muscle concentrations of glycerol and glucose are elevated in both groups of frozen and thawed treefrogs, but no significant differences were detected between the two groups. Both membrane lipid remodeling and cryoprotectant accumulation likely contribute to cellular and organismal freeze competence in D. chrysoscelis. Further investigation of these (and other) mechanisms will help to elucidate the physiological underpinnings of vertebrate freeze tolerance.

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  COVID 19 and the Funeral Industry

  Samuel Lynn Baranick

  Over the past year and a half, the COVID-19 Pandemic has changed most aspects of society, including the funeral process. Whether directly due to the increase of deaths in communities, or indirectly such as the collective negative view of the public about deaths in hospitals, the pandemic has had a great impact on the future and how we will approach the death of loved ones. Data for this project were gathered by in-depth interviews with professionals in the death industry. By learning the shared experiences of those working as funeral directors, we can better understand the funeral industry during the pandemic and key in on the future of the funeral industry post-pandemic.

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  COVID-19 Isolation Effects on Anxiety/Depression Levels

  Madeline C. Froehlich, Caroline Julia Senseman

  Solitary confinement in the corrections system is a prolific issue that has been the focus of debate for years. However, such isolation has been difficult for the average person to understand since the majority of the population has never thoroughly experienced any level of isolation until the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. While research into the effects of COVID-19 on mental health is still in its preliminary stages, there may be evidence that this isolation has resulted in negative impacts. Accordingly, there is now a growing interest into whether this isolation affected college students’ mental health, specifically their levels of anxiety and depression. Using a sample consisting of students from the University of Dayton, we evaluated the impact social isolation had on these individuals. Furthermore, participants included those who were placed in isolation housing on campus and those who were not, aiding in the exploration of whether the length of isolation impacted their mental health. Specifically, our research question asks: Does isolation due to the COVID-19 protocols at the University of Dayton adversely affect the mental health of students?

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  COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Pregnant Women

  Katherine Marie Murin, Emma Catherine Schaefer

  The effects of SARs-CoV-2 infection on maternal and fetal health has been at the forefront of research throughout the pandemic (Shimabukuro et al., 2021). Chen (2021) reports that vaccination above the herd immunity level can decrease the spread of communicable diseases, such as COVID-19. A study of 300 pregnant women conducted by Ahyan et al. (2021) suggests that the initial limited research on vaccine efficacy and mistrust of the vaccine were two factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women. SARs-CoV-2 infection is known to cause inflammatory and vascular changes in the placenta and activate a maternal immune response that can disrupt development of the fetus (Prochaska et al., 2020). Further research shows that unvaccinated pregnant women are at a higher risk for hospitalization compared to those who are vaccinated (Iacobucci, 2021). According to Leik et al. (2021), current research on the effects of the vaccine in pregnant women suggests no significant effects on gestation, childbirth, and perinatal mortality and provides evidence that the vaccine is safe and effective in providing maternal immunity with possible transference of maternal antibodies to the fetus. Iacobucci (2021) argues that to reduce hesitancy, vaccines should be easily accessible and healthcare providers should be open to multiple discussions with patients, emphasizing the benefits outweighing the risks of vaccination. The purpose of this poster is to summarize current research studying the effects of SARs-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine on maternal and fetal health. The poster will provide recommendations for healthcare providers to encourage the vaccine during pregnancy and to educate pregnant women to combat hesitancy.

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  Crime Shows and the Affects and Perceptions on the Criminal Justice System

  Brenna Anne Ward

  The main purpose of this study is to determine if watching crime and law enforcement-related television shows can affect people’s views about the criminal justice system. The online survey asked about an individual’s television viewing habits and their perceptions of the criminal justice system, including their beliefs or expectations toward particular criminal justice system issues. The population for this study were undergraduates at the University of Dayton. Participants were recruited through email and social media networks. They were provided a link to take the anonymous online survey. Snowball sampling through the posts/messages was conducted to help expand the sample size and increase participation.

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  Crosses on Campus

  Kelsi Steinkamp, Zinaejah Ozier, Marissa Coon, Cole Abell

  UD has incorporated a cross in every classroom across campus. A cross in the classroom reinforces UD's mission statement of being a comprehensive Catholic university, committed in the Marianist tradition to educating the whole person and to linking learning and scholarship with leadership and service.

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  Dayton Civic Scholars & Gem City Market

  Rose C. Arkus, Charles Kenneth Baker, Lilianna Jin Biswas, Madeline Elise Calhoun, Benjamin Joseph Crawford, Lauren Elizabeth Durham, Ryan David Greensfelder, Kate Mulvihill Jones, Meghan Elizabeth Leinhauser, Larissa Anne O'Shea, Grace Julia Pigman, Erin Marie Rafter, Jada Lynn Smith

  The Dayton Civic Scholars 2022 cohort is excited to share our capstone project and our journey despite pandemic challenges. As a cohort we are passionate about sustainable and meaningful engagement opportunities, and identify the Gem City Market as an important asset to our community, both on and off campus. Since Spring 2021 we’ve partnered with the GCM and focused our time, energy, and resources on the market in hopes of supporting their work in the community. Our cohort explored ways to engage with the community through GCM and worked together on marketing, transportation, and programming initiatives. We believe the University of Dayton can continue to support and benefit from GCM and are excited to share our journey and accomplishments throughout the past year of engaging with the community and the market.

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  Department of History Major Capstone Projects

  Hallie M. Bergmann, Matthew James Frabotta, Eshaan Garst N. Garst, Samuel Christian Johnson, John R. Lally, Thomas Jacob Martin, Jackson Fryer Prieto, Sebastian M. Quinones, Katherine Elizabeth Smith, Nicholas Jordan Torchio, Lindsey E. Vanhoose

  Capstone presentations by History Department Seniors showcasing scholarly historical projects based on primary source analysis and historiographical context. Topics range from Post-War Japanese reconstruction, The Nature of Violence in colonial Hispaniola, Communism and Catholicism, Medieval ideals of gender, The Western Schism, Argentinian Politics under Juan Peron, Theater and Politics, Italian immigration, women in Colonial Latin America, Theater and politics, Drugs and Prohibition in twentieth century USA.All are welcome!

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  Department of Music Honors Recital Auditions

  Amanda Bursch, Anna Delaney, Teresa Grijalva, Trinity Hines-Anthony, Camryn Horning, Emily Hunt, Angelo Moore-Knight, Emily Lewis, Declan Phelps, Daniel Sheldon, Anna Simmons, Anna Smith

  Each year, UD Department of Music faculty select top student performers from the Department’s Friday Recital season and invites them to audition before a panel of preeminent musicians from the Dayton community. The top six performers are awarded a position on the Department of Music Honors Recital, the culminating performance of the academic year, held at 1:25 pm on April 29. 2022 in the Humanities Building’s Sears Recital Hall. Both the auditions and the Honors Recital itself are open to students, faculty and members of the community.

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  Determining Nitrate Sources Using Dual Nitrate Isotopes in Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed, Ohio

  Maria Isabel Schutte

  Grand Lake St. Marys, one of the largest lakes in Ohio, regularly experiences harmful algae blooms that disrupt access to drinking water and recreation. The Grand Lake St. Marys watershed, designated as a distressed watershed since 2011, is one of the most nutrient impacted lakes in Ohio with pollutants potentially originating from anthropogenic sources including organic and inorganic fertilizers, human wastes, and urban runoff. The eutrophication of the lake is in part caused by an excess of nitrate, which can come from these sources. The aim of this study is to identify and quantify the relative contributions of these anthropogenic sources of nitrate in the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed to better inform nutrient management decisions. We collected field environmental data and 43 water samples from the lake and all streams in the six sub-basins of the watershed. Samples were analyzed for nitrate concentration and isotope ratios of nitrogen and oxygen in nitrates. Dual isotope tracing of nitrate (δ15N and δ18O) allows us to determine nitrate sources based on isotope end-member values from those sources. But as δ15N of human and animal waste overlaps, further analysis of boron isotopes (δ11B) is used to distinguish anthropogenic sources from natural sources. Our results indicate that the main source of nitrate in this watershed is manure, which contributed 77-100% of all nitrate sources in the watershed. Although denitrification could increase the δ15N and δ18O values of nitrate and overlap with manure, based on high level of measured dissolved oxygen (DO) in the field and slope of δ15N and δ18O values, we were able to rule out this process. This research provides an initial nitrate contaminant source tracing data and helps to better inform state and local water quality and nutrient management planning.

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  Determining the association between gut microbiota and its metabolites with higher intestinal Immunoglobulin A response

  Tooba Shafeeque Ahmed Momin, Adam D. Moorman, Jessica Marie Sheldon

  The gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors an enormous amount of complex microbiota community and the GI-immune system is one of the largest immune organs in the body. Gut microbiota influences gut health and affects local and systemic immune response. The current study was designed to determine the specific gut microbiota and its metabolites responsible for higher intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration. Twenty piglets (Scrofa domesticus) with an equal number of males and females were used in the study at one-week post-weaning. Fecal samples from these piglets were collected in sterile test tubes and analyzed for IgA concentration while part of the samples was stored at -80 °C for later analysis. Based on IgA concentration, piglets were divided into two groups, group 1 with lower IgA concentration (< 2.0 µg IgA/gram of feces) and group 2 with higher IgA concentration (>2.0 µg IgA/gram of feces). These groups were then analyzed for their differences in microbial metabolites and microbiota community using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Results indicated that higher IgA concentration was associated with significantly higher Bacteroidota and Desulfobacterota population and significantly lower Firmicutes and Firmicutes/ Bacteroidota ratio (p <0.05). Results also indicated that higher IgA was associated with low acetic acid, butyric acid, formic acid, isovaleric acid, and propionic acid. All these short-chain fatty acids have shown their effectiveness in reducing gut inflammation. Higher IgA was directly related to higher valeric acid concentration. Piglets with higher IgA also had significantly higher xylulose, tocopherol-alpha, glycine, adenine, pantothenic acid, xylitol, pimelic acid, palmitic acid, and alanine concentration in the gut (p<0.05). Higher IgA was associated with significantly lower tyramine, putrescine, phytosphingosine, beta-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid concentration (p<0.05). Overall, the current study indicated that higher gut IgA had a direct relationship with lower Firmicutes/ Bacteroidota ratio and lower short-chain fatty acids.

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  Development of Melamine Derivatives as Flame Retardants for Thermoplastic and Thermoset Polymers

  Ryan J. Maguire

  Melamine is an aromatic, nitrogen-containing compound used to produce a myriad of items ranging from kitchenware to laminate. This project focused on the investigation of pathways to prepare melamine derivatives, which could function as potential reactive flame retardants. For that purpose, a set of bifunctional derivatives was prepared and characterized. Attempts to involve these compounds as co-monomers in the preparation of Nylon-type polymers is currently being studied.

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  Diabetes in Dayton, OH: a Focus on Free Healthcare Clinics

  Griffin Andrew Kirsch, Audrey Elizabeth Muck

  In less than a decade, the State of Ohio increased in rank from 19th to 13th in the United States of America for diabetes prevalence, according to a 2020 statistic from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (https://stateofchildhoodobesity.org/). The average diabetes prevalence rate in the United States is estimated to be 10.5%, whereas the prevalence rate for diabetes in Montgomery County is 13.6% (CDC, 2016-2017). This prevalence is well above national, state, and other surrounding county averages, and is also coupled with extreme racial data discrepancies. The diabetes mortality rate among black men is nearly two times the rate of other races in Montgomery County; furthermore, the rate of diabetes-related hospital visits is 1.5 times higher for black individuals than white individuals, according to the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association Healthcare Database (2018). In addition, racial and ethnic minority populations have a higher percentage of adults, adolescents, and children diagnosed with diabetes and are more likely to have poorer management of diabetes. An approach to preventing the progression of diabetes and decreasing mortality and hospital visit rates includes prioritizing and providing information and skills for people to manage their diabetes and related conditions at local health clinics that treat individuals at target risk. This approach includes a program known as the Diabetes SelfManagement Education and Support (DSMES) which yields effective results in managing diabetes (CDC, 2018). As a result of this approach, the mortality rate is declining. This poster will describe the prevalence of diabetes in Montgomery County, highlight racial disparities, review relevant social determinants of health, and discuss how a community can improve the outcomes of diabetes.

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  Differences in leaf litter rates in forests: Lateral vs. vertical input of leaf litter into a broadleaf forest river

  Rianna Soltis, Amanda N. Thieneman, Valerie Nicole Thurston

  Leaf litter is the collection of leaves that fall from the surrounding trees in an ecosystem. The leaves decompose in the spot they fall or where they get carried away towards water. Leaf litter data showcases the biodiversity in an area, which can help identify if the area is healthy or not. We also thought it important to see how much of this leaf litter is ending up in the river. In our experiment, we wanted to look at the difference between leaves that were collected vertically versus laterally in the oxbow river. Vertical litter is what falls off the tree, in our case, over the water. This can be caused by wind or by naturally falling off. The lateral litter we are looking at refers to the leaves that are not falling directly into the river by tree fall. They fall more inland and are carried by water from rain or wind into the river. We wanted to see the difference between the two types of leaf litter collection. The study site, Old River Park, was once a manicured park for employees but now it belongs to the University of Dayton. It is partially maintained by mowing, but a portion of it has been designated as a research area and has become an area with little to no upkeep and has become overgrown. This is the area of the park that we conducted our research in. The oxbow is partially shaded by broadleaf deciduous trees, like American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and White Ash (Fraxinus americana). At the site of the oxbow where we studied the input of leaf litter, there was a mix of larger trees like Sycamore, but there was also a large presence of the invasive Honeysuckle tree (Lonicera maackii). Because of the density of trees surrounding the river, compared to the density of trees reaching over top the river, we hypothesized that the leaf litter from entering the river laterally would be greater than the leaf litter entering the river vertically.

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  Direct polymerization of aliphatic bis-piperazine compounds and their non-antimicrobial properties

  Emilie A. Moses

  The piperazine functional group has found applications in the structure of novel antidepressants, chemotherapeutics, stimulants, and more recently as antimicrobial agents. Inclusion of piperazine in a material also leads to the chelation of metals (including toxic metals), which would have several environmental applications as fiber mats or bioengineering scaffolding materials. Thus, we synthesized the first aliphatic polyester polypiperazines directly from the Ti(IV) condensation of 1,4-bis(1-hexanol)piperazine with succinic acid. We characterized these novel polymeric materials using NMR, IR, and gel permeation chromatography. Since the biodegradation of these polymeric materials could lead to the release of a toxic by-product (the bis piperazine compounds), we analyzed the antimicrobial activities of the diol using AG100 E. coli as planktonic cultures (using the starting bis alcohols). We determined the antimicrobial activities using growth inhibition assays (with and without levofloxacin) as well as live/dead fluorescence staining of planktonic cells. We compared our growth inhibition results to 1-napthylmethylpiperazine and napthylmethylpiperazine derivatives. These collective data suggest polyester polypiperazines could be a novel thermoplastic, bioinert, biodegradable scaffolding material for tissue engineering and environmental applications.

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  Drinking Culture on College Campuses: A Look Into Why It Is So Prevalent

  Christine Ann Grimes

  Drinking culture at college campuses and universities is a serious problem among students. Students drink for various reasons which can be controlled by students’ choices or peers. Four subsets are researched as to why drinking culture is so prevalent and some factors that play a role in this behavior. Four variables relating to student life in college were: residential locations, mental health issues, student athletes and peer pressure. Scholarly journals were selected to research these variables as they relate to drinking culture. Secondary data were analyzed from The Healthy Minds Study relating to alcohol use and consequences. There are many factors that cross over the four categories researched and the state of one's mental health is common to all four.

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  Drosophila eye model to study the role of NAT9 in Alzheimer’s Disease related Dementia (ADRD)

  Prajakta D. Deshpande, Emily M. Snider

  Alzheimer's Disease (AD), an age-related progressive form of dementia, is characterized by a decline in cognitive function. Accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ42) plaques is one of the characteristics of AD. The accumulation of these Aβ42 plaques trigger the hyperphosphorylation of tau, a microtubule associated protein, which results in the intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) due to destabilization of microtubules. We employed the Gal4/UAS system in Drosophila melanogaster to misexpress human Aβ42 within the developing fly retina, exhibiting AD-like neuropathology. Accumulation of Aβ42 plaque(s) triggers the aberrant activation of signaling pathways like the JNK pathway resulting in neuronal cell death by unknown mechanism(s). Using candidate based forward genetic screening, we identified N-acetyltransferase 9 (NAT9) as one of the genetic modifiers of GMR>Aβ42 reduced eye phenotype. Previously NAT9 has been shown to stabilize microtubules by acetylation of tubulins, thereby inhibiting JNK signaling. This study aims to understand the role of NAT9 in Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. The gain-of-function of NAT9 in GMR>Aβ42 background suppresses the Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration whereas loss-of-function of NAT9 in GMR>Aβ42 background enhances Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. We have also found that the gain-of-function of human NAT9 also suppresses Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration suggesting the functional conservation. Interestingly, mutated NAT9 in the acetyl- CoA binding site shows similar phenotype as gain-of-function of NAT9 suggesting its function is independent of acetylation activity. Moreover, the eye antennal imaginal discs of loss-of-function of NAT9 in GMR>Aβ42 background shows the activation of JNK pathway by increased pJNK levels. Hence, here we propose that NAT9 downregulates JNK signaling pathway which can ameliorate Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration.

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  Effect of COVID-19 on mental health resources and symptom prevalence

  Shannon Patricia Camardese, Elli Jeannette Ertl, Paige Marie Kompa

  Crisis Text Line provides a free, 24/7 text-based mental health support and crisis intervention composed of trained volunteers. In 2020, 1.4 million interactions between the counselors and texters were exchanged, supporting 843,982 texters. This totaled to more than 48 million messages (Crisis Text Line, 2020). Data was collected by Crisis Text Line through 2019 and 2020 focusing on COVID-19 pandemic's most severe stages. Additional data was obtained through a local partner, University of Dayton's Counseling Center. In the fall of 2021, 2,890 UD students were seen in a clinical appointment setting; due to the overwhelming need for broader access, the Counseling Center added brief consultations, called “Let’s Talk Sessions”, allowing 240 more students to be seen in their time of need. Overall, 28.5% of UD students seen by the Counseling Center reported symptoms of depression and 52.8% reported excessive anxiety (University of Dayton Counseling Center, 2021). These results mirror those of Crisis Text Line that reported depression and anxiety as the top issues texters struggle with. This trend is also seen in the interactions of a crisis counselor. In conversations of one Crisis Text Line counselor (Paige Kompa) dating from April 2020 to present, 26.2% of texters reported experiencing anxiety and 35.0% dealt with depression (2022). The experiences of Americans and UD students alike show the vast impact of COVID-19 on mental health and demonstrates the need for mental health resources. This poster aims to discuss the effects of the pandemic on mental health and highlight what has been done to address the issue.

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  Effects of Deposition Temperature, External Magnetic Field, and Annealing for Magnetron Sputtering Deposition of Bi4Se3 Thin Films

  Tobin C. Muratore

  Recently, bismuth chalcogenides have been of interest as topological insulators, especially for their potential use in polarized light detecting and other devices. In particular, Bi4Se3 presents a topologically insulating material which contains a native heterostructure of Bi2Se3 and Bi2 layers, each with its own topological state. In spite of these valuable properties, the growth of Bi4Se3 via magnetron sputtering remains less studied. This study elaborates the properties of Bi4Se3 films grown in a magnetron sputtering system with an external magnetic field. Numerous films were grown on heated sapphire substrates with different deposition temperatures, external magnetic field orientations, and annealing procedures. These films were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the X-ray results were analyzed to determine crystallite size. This characterization indicates the role of temperature in determining whether the deposition produces an amorphous, polycrystalline, or primarily basally oriented film. In addition to XRD, some films were characterized by Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy to observe the variation in electrical properties in the amorphous, polycrystalline, and basally-oriented films. Results display a clear effect of external field orientation on film microstructure. Additionally, annealing appears to effect microstructure as well and demonstrates a clear ordering effect on the films.

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  Effects of the United States foster care system on juvenile delinquency

  Olivia Watson

  The United States foster care system was home to nearly 500,000 children in 2019. The link between the United States foster care system and juvenile delinquency is empirically under-explored and theoretically under-examined. Using data collected from the Pathways to Desistance study, the current study examines the relationships between drug and alcohol abuse, exposure to violence, and early onset behaviors with those who have been in the foster care system. Using a linear regression for the statistical analysis, findings show a significant association between exposure to violence and the foster care system. While there is no significant association between drug and alcohol abuse or early onset behaviors and the foster care system, the findings suggest a trend toward a positive relationship.

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  El Pueblo Unido: Diversity in Latin American Theatre

  Anna Ruzena Kopsick

  Latin American theatre is an art of culture and protest. Much of it is politically and socially-based and often provides commentary on society as a whole. Throughout history, different Latin American artists have utilized theatre to explore their struggles, identities, and hopes for the world. This research will discuss how Latin American theatre and performance bring forth, fight for, and support the common good in their societies. My sources will include the analysis of works by artists of the Latin American diaspora, including Augusto Boal, Sr. Juana Ines de la Cruz, and Quiaria Alegria Hudes.

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  Establishing a Drosophila colon cancer model to study interactions and therapeutic targets of oncogenic pathways

  Kathleen McCaslin

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, with an estimated 147,950 new cases in 2020. Current treatment varies based on severity of the cancer. If potentially curable, the patient may undergo surgery; in advanced cases, chemotherapy may improve and maintain quality of life. Both treatment options are invasive and target healthy cells as well as cancerous ones. Therefore, it is important to find therapeutic targets for less invasive and more effective treatment. The objective of this project is to develop CRC models in fruit flies to test the role of Hippo and Wnt pathways in gastrointestinal cancer as potential therapeutic targets. To do so, we have (a) developed a CRC model in flies, and (b) tested the levels of Hippo and Wnt pathway activity in this model. Using fly mutants and transgenic flies we have created small patches of cancerous cells in the fly intestine in which have activated oncogenic Ras (mutation RasV12) and dominant negative p53 (mutation UASp53H15N) together with loss of function of APC. This model allows evaluation of multiple genetic combinations (one-, two-, or three- hit models) to evaluate the induced tumor, its growth profile, and the effect of the drug on tumor growth. Here we present our progress with the establishment and analyses of this tumor model.