Stander Symposium: College of Arts and Sciences

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Automated Bird Classification using Deep Learning

Kasturi Avinash Jamale

In this work, we introduce a novel approach to bird classification using deep learning methods. Leveraging YouTube videos, we collect annotated data for training a model capable of accurately identifying bird species. Our model is designed to handle various environmental factors and achieves high classification accuracy across diverse bird species. This work contributes to advancing automated bird classification techniques, offering valuable applications in ecological monitoring and conservation efforts.
Automatic Basketball Formation Recognition

Saivedant Hava

In this research work, we aim to develop an Automatic Basketball Formation Recognition system utilizing video analysis techniques. Through computer vision and machine learning, the system identifies and categorizes basketball formations observed in game footage. This enables coaches and analysts to gain valuable insights into team strategies and player positioning. The system's effectiveness offers a practical tool for enhancing basketball match analysis and strategic planning.
A Writing of One's Own: Research Findings and Experiences of HISTORY CAPSTONE STUDENTS, Spring 2024

Reece Blackmore, Maria Gomez, Logan C. Miller, Ellen C. Moore, Riley M. Smith

The History Capstone Students will be presenting on original research conducted during the Spring 2024. In addition to findings that cover the 19th -21st centuries and reach across the globe, students will reflect on their experiences with writing in community as part of the capstone they created.Reece Blackmore, Running Saddam Hussein's Gauntlet: Iraqi Persecution of Shia Muslims during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) María Estefanía Gómez Bibiloni, A State's Right: Puerto Rico and the Struggles Over Independence in the Twentieth CenturyLogan Miller, Authoritarian Pluralism: Japan and a Big Tent for FascismEllen Moore, Whose Home on the Range? African American Cowboys and the Mythology of the American Frontier in FilmAidan Mornhinweg, Napoleon's Mind's Eye: The French Campaign of 1812 and BeyondRiley Smith, The Lives of the Winter Palace: The Lasting Legacy of Imperial Russia in Place, Space, and Time
Banksy: The Street Artist and Activist

Emily J. Bryan

This THR/VAR 250 Diversity in the Creative and Performing Arts poster presentation project requires each student to research and present on a topic relevant to the interdisciplinary fields of visual and performing arts through a critical multicultural and social justice lens that foregrounds the appreciation of diversity and enables the expansion of personal cultural competencies.
Beavers at Glen Helen Nature Preserve

Dustin Jacob Holmes

Ecosystem engineers are vital for natural areas, having a large impact on species richness and ecosystem health. An example is the North American beaver (Castor canadensis). Around three years ago a beaver colony began to build a dam in Glen Helen Nature Reserve (Yellow Springs, OH). This has caused significant flooding of the stream that the dam was built on and an opening of the canopy due to the beavers removing many large trees within the area. Our aim was to study what trees the beavers preferred over others and what new species had arrived in the area since the beavers constructed the dam. For this objective, we marked trees that showed signs of beaver activity with numbered tags and recorded their diameter at breast height (DBH) and whether beavers were actively using them or not. Once all of the chewed trees were recorded, we measured and identified the four closest trees without beaver activity. We surveyed 24 trees with beaver activity and 36 undamaged trees. It was found that maples were most preferred by beavers and their preferred size of tree was 18-36 DBH. As for new species, we worked with an expert birder based at Glen Helen who had been collecting data on the preserve’s birds for many years. The new species since the construction of the dam include but are not limited to the green heron (Butorides virescens), prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea), and the mourning warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia). In addition to birds, some new herps have also been found in the pond such as an eastern spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera). We intend to disseminate this data to the preserve staff so that proper conservation and management practices can be implemented to protect the beavers and any new species in the area.
Behavioral responses of two color morphs of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) to novel urban environments

Amy Q. Friemoth

Human modified landscapes can provide challenging new environments that can lead to rapid changes in species traits. In temperate forest ecosystems, salamanders play a critical role in forest floor dynamics, but populations are now faced with rapid habitat change, which can lead local extinctions unless these species behaviorally adapt. The Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, is the most common salamander species in Ohio and serves as a model species for examining the effects of anthropogenic change. Further, the Eastern Red-backed Salamander poses two common color morphs (striped and unstriped) that appear to differ in their responses to environmental change. Here, I investigated how urbanization differentially influences behavioral responses of the two color morphs of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander. I collected 20 striped and 20 unstriped individuals from Caesar Creek State Park, Ohio. I exposed them to a novel environment (cement paver) and novel objects (anthropogenic waste) to test exploration and neophobia behaviors. We are examining these variations in behavior and will run statistical models to test whether the morphs differ in their behavioral responses to these anthropogenic pressures. Based on previous studies, we expect the striped morph to display more bold behaviors and ultimately do better with urbanization. This work will highlight whether both color morphs persist with rapid habitat modification which will have important implications for other North American salamanders as many species share the same color phenotypes and may be responding similarly.
Benefits of a Community Reentry Intervention for Reentry Self-Efficacy in Homeless Shelter Residents With Past Incarceration

Kathryn E. Hurley

The U.S. has one of the highest levels of incarceration and recidivism in the world (American Civil Liberties Union, 2022; U.S. Department of Justice, n.d). Several factors contribute to recidivism, including the loss of monetary funds and loss of housing upon incarceration. Homelessness especially predicts recidivism. It has been found to increase the risk of recidivism by almost 50% (Jacobs & Gottlieb, 2020). Within the context of a long-term ongoing participatory community action research project in homeless shelters (Reeb et al., 2024), this study examined the benefit of reentry support sessions within the homeless shelter environment, with an attempt to overcome barriers in utilizing community resources. Twenty previously incarcerated, unhoused men participated in a reentry support session within St. Vincent De Paul’s Gateway Shelter for Men (Dayton, Ohio). The reentry support session was developed in collaboration with the Montgomery County (Ohio) Office of Reentry. Participants completed a measure of self-efficacy for community reentry at pre- and post-session, followed by a brief interview to identify their plans for obtaining reentry services in the community. In support of Hypothesis 1, it was found that the self-efficacy for coping with community reentry improved from pre- to post-intervention. Consistent with hypothesis 2, residents both with and without a disability benefited from the session at approximately equal levels. Post-session interviews revealed that a majority of residents expressed intentions to obtain additional reentry-related resources. Keywords: recidivism, community reentry, homeless, disability, self-efficacy, participatory community action research in homeless shelters
Beyond Skin Deep: new photographic works by Elena Bellisario

Elena Aniella Bellisario

Elena Bellisario’s senior Captstone photography project, Beyond Skin Deep, explores her relationship with the body as it relates to her own experiences and perceptions of womanhood from a young age. Utilizing friends and found objects as symbols and co-conspirators, she works through her struggles with gender identity, using the camera to gain an outsider’s perspective. In the process, she asks questions that trouble many who are female-identifying, such as “Is it alright if I want to show off my body or should I cover it up? Do I dress up nice for male validation or for myself? Is it ok if I still want to be skinny or is that not body positive?” Her photographs and related research from this cathartic journey ultimately question societal norms surrounding femininity, body image, and self-worth, revealing both unique complexities and shared struggles within womanhood.Beyond Skin Deep will be on view in Fitz Hall's Radial Gallery through the end of April.
Bias Analysis with ChatGPT

Shravanth Reddy Reddy, Harish Pavan Rolla

This research investigates the efficacy of bias protection in ChatGPT, a leading AI conversational model. In particular, we systematically examine ChatGPT's responses and measure biases using the Bias Protection Rate (BPR), considering a hierarchical structure that includes Identity Biases, such as Gender and Religion, among others. We employed a methodical approach, incorporating specific prompts and questions designed to elicit unfiltered responses from ChatGPT. The results, presented through visualizations, illustrate the varying degrees of bias protection across domains. While the model exhibits effective protection against sexual orientation bias, with a BPR of 73.2%, both confirmation bias and income bias score 0%, indicating a complete lack of protection. These findings prompt discussions on the continuous refinement of these models and ethical considerations.
Black Hollywood

Achille Kpeya

This THR/VAR 250 Diversity in the Creative and Performing Arts poster presentation project requires each student to research and present on a topic relevant to the interdisciplinary fields of visual and performing arts through a critical multicultural and social justice lens that foregrounds the appreciation of diversity and enables the expansion of personal cultural competencies.
Black Male Queerness and the Poetic Performance of Survival

Ophelia Danielle Knight

The poetry produced by queer black men tells of the intersecting ideals of racism, cultural norms and expectations of masculinity, and the homophobia that directly impacts the ways in which Black queer men exist in any space. I believe this poetry allows for insight and cultural nuance of safety and agency. Throughout my research of the poetry chosen it became obvious to me that forcing gendered ideals onto these people requires assimilation and controlled conformity, emphasizing that intersectional bonds can not be ignored. I argue that if queer Black men are to exist, they must be stereotypically “queer” in the way that tropes have depicted, within the poetry I have analyzed they must feed into stereotypes, hide their queerness, or they must escape the bonds of heteronormative expectations. The poetry depicts their sexuality and gender as a performance, a dance of survival Black queer men must practice and execute regularly in order to be visible in both racial and queer society. The performance of stereotypical queerness expressed within the poetry of Black queer male poets exemplifies the way in which queerness enables modes of survival.
Breaking Barriers: Judith Hernandez and the Evolving Narrative of Women Artists in the Art World

Giselle Franco

In this presentation, we dive into the captivating world of Judithe Hernandez, a trailblazing Latina artist whose work transcends boundaries and challenges conventional perceptions. Through an exploration of Hernandez's life and artistry, we examine the intricate intersectionality of gender, ethnicity, and artistic expression within the broader context of the art world. We navigate the complexities of how women artists, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, are historically perceived and positioned within art institutions. Drawing upon Hernandez's impactful contributions and experiences, we critically analyze the prevailing narratives and advocate for a more inclusive and equitable future for women artists in the evolving landscape of contemporary art. Join us as we celebrate Hernandez's indelible legacy and ignite conversations about representation, empowerment, and the transformative potential of art.
Breaking the Chains of Birth: Gandhi and the Untouchables

Lorena G. Idris

What is nonviolence — a concept, a mode of protest, a practice for modern living? This poster explores the ways in which nonviolence has been historically interpreted as "ahimsa," "beloved community," and as a way for practical and ethical thinking in our modern lives. We highlight the role of nonviolence as method and practice in historical and contemporary global instances that range from the farm workers movement, anti-nuclear protests, environmental green politics, and Dalit and Black actions towards representation.
Buffer Areas Are Critical Reservoirs for Mycorrhizal Fungi Colonization in Solar Prairies

Jacquelyn K. Amaya, Abigail G. Carter, Madelaine Claire Gregory, Alexander W. Owens

Mycorrhizal fungi are a naturally occurring beneficial root fungus. Over ninety percent of all vascular land plants live in association with this fungus (www.sciweb.nybg.org). This mutualistic relationship is vital for both the plant and the fungus, due to the exchange of sugars and fixed carbons in return for water and nutrients. An important new use of land for both native plant expansion and clean energy production is solar prairies. Solar prairies are protected zones of native prairie plants that also collect energy through the use of rows of solar panels. While a source of clean energy and a haven for these natural species, the solar panels erected on these prairies create shadowed areas. Our research team aims to study the potential effects of this shading on mycorrhizal fungi colonization in the University of Dayton’s Solar Prairie. A total of 10 soil samples with 3 replicates at each sample were collected to test for colonization of mycorrhizal fungi for each area of the prairie with possible varying light availability. These three areas include a buffer which is an important area of a solar prairie due to the absence of panel shading and full light exposure, an area between panels with partial shading, and an area under panels with almost full shading of the understory. We evaluated colonization in plant roots by extracting roots from the soil in petri dishes with ethanol and recording total roots and amount of roots with mycorrhizal fungi. Data was analyzed to find the variance and percentage of mycorrhizal establishment for each measurement location. Our research group found that colonization of Mycorrhizal Fungi decreased with the distance from the buffer, with the buffer indicating the highest colonization. These results are important for future solar prairie planning, with an emphasis on larger buffer zones.
Butterfly in the Sky: Methods to Reintroduce the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly

Lucy L. Reed, Joseph W. Reichel

Insect populations are declining across the globe. The goal of this project is to aid in the reintroduction of the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly species, that is one of the declining species, to Montgomery County by creating a sustaining population at the Spring Run Conservation Area in collaboration with the Five Rivers MetroParks. This species is experiencing population decline throughout the Eastern United States due to habitat loss from agriculture, land development, and invasive species. The Baltimore Checkerspot can only utilize a few plant species, and it feeds on the White Turtlehead plant. To reintroduce this species, we first monitored for Checkerspot caterpillars in early May. Adult Checkerspots were then collected in early June from the already existing wetland at Siebenthaler Fen, where a population of this species is known. Males and females were then placed in an enclosure with White Turtlehead plants to encourage mating and egg-laying. Once eggs were laid, the adults were re-released into Siebenthaler Fen, and the egg clusters were kept in rearing enclosures at the Cox Arboretum MetroPark greenhouse. During the fall semester, we visited the greenhouse twice weekly to monitor their development and have been trying different methods to further encourage their growth. Once a week, I took measurements of caterpillar head capsule sizes to not only monitor growth, but to hopefully create a definitive way to determine what instar a caterpillar is currently in, as this has not been documented before for this particular species. At the end of the fall semester, the 232 caterpillars that survived were placed underground in clay pots while they overwinter. When temperatures become warm enough, we will begin the rearing process again at Cox Arboretum. When the caterpillars reach a large enough size, they will be released into Spring Run where they can hopefully begin a self-sustaining population.
Can Creativity be Assessed?

Mae E. Wilhite

This research paper dives into the multifaceted realm of assessing creativity in art education. By unpacking types of non-creative ideas proposed by scholars, this paper provides insights into the negations of creativity, facilitating a deeper understanding of its essence. By synthesizing insights this paper offers a roadmap for art educators to nurture creativity as a cornerstone of modern education, empower students to thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic world, and the challenges of assessing student artwork.
Can Ruminating About Trauma Foster Growth? Emotion Regulation's Role in the Link Between Intrusive and Deliberate Rumination

Molly Julianna Campbell, Elizabeth A. Chevalier, Karoline Elizabeth Harshbarger

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes resulting from cognitive struggle after stressful situations or traumatic events (Tedeschi et al., 2018). The theoretical framework of PTG says that traumatic or disruptive life events challenge a person’s core beliefs. As a result of this challenge, one can experience intrusive rumination, or automatic, uncontrollable thoughts about the event, which is sometimes associated with lower PTG (Cann et al., 2010) and sometimes uncorrelated (Bakaityte et al., 2022). Instead, if a person can manage their distress, and reassess their goals and beliefs, there is some evidence that this may be able to turn into deliberate rumination (Bakaityte et al., 2022), which consists of reflective, constructive thoughts about the event, and is linked with more growth (Tedeschi et al., 2018). Though the transition from intrusive to deliberate rumination may be crucial in fostering PTG, it is not well understood. Among the few studies that have looked at this association, some have found self-blame to mediate the intrusive - deliberate link (Bakaityte et al., 2022), while others have tested multiple cognitive mediators and not found significance (Rider Mundey et al., 2019). To better understand the mixed findings regarding the pathway from intrusive rumination to deliberate rumination to PTG, it is important to consider variables that moderate these links, such as emotion regulation, which is linked with both deliberate rumination and PTG (Zhou & Zhen, 2024). This study will use self-report data from undergraduate students who have experienced one or more traumatic events to test the relation between intrusive and deliberate rumination (assessed using the Event-Related Rumination Inventory), to test emotion regulation domains (assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale) as moderators of this link, and test these associations with PTG (assessed using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory). Moderation will be tested using the PROCESS macro for SPSS.
Case Analysis: Forced Abortion of Disabled Woman's Fetus

Audrey Olivia Pohlod

I examine a case that involves a disabled pregnant woman from the United Kingdom whom a judge ruled must have an abortion, against the wishes of the woman and her mother. The woman suffers from a disability which gives her the mental capacity of between a six and nine-year-old, despite being in her twenties, but the fetus itself bore no evidence of impairment. The woman’s mother had stated her willingness to care for the fetus once born, but the judge determined the woman’s life would be worse if the pregnancy was continued. Personal autonomy and social expectations are issues relevant in this case. The pregnant woman and her mother as persons have a measure of autonomy, a capacity which forms the basis of freedoms. This capacity thus begs the question of whether a judge has the right to overrule the women’s decisions in regards to the abortion. The judge within this case also hints that the United Kingdom’s society frowns upon abortion, but that the social expectations should not hold weight when deciding the best action to promote the well-being of the pregnant woman.The Categorical Imperative of Kantian ethics holds that one should act only on that maxim that could hold as a universal law, and in this case, forcing abortions against the will of the mother would not hold universally. Utilizing justice and virtue ethics, I claim that it would be most just to support the will of the pregnant woman and her mother. Finally, natural law theory would consider the act of forced abortion a negative action to bring about a good effect, and thus the judge’s ruling would fail the principle of double effect. Therefore, I argue that the judge’s decision to force the abortion of the woman’s fetus was immoral.
Case Analysis of Mentally Disabled Pregnant Woman

Mary Lucille Mislansky

In the UK, a 20-year-old pregnant woman with the mental capacity of a 6-9 year old is ordered by the court to have an abortion. The cause of her pregnancy is unknown and currently under police investigation. She and her mother do not wish for her to receive an abortion. In this case analysis, I will use the moral theories and moral norms of respect for patient autonomy, the natural law theory, and the ethics of care, to argue that the mother and her daughter should be permitted to keep the fetus and give birth to the child. In addition, the mother and the pregnant woman have the right to continue the pregnancy as there is no evidence the fetus will be mentally disabled and the mother has offered to care for the child with her daughter. The last line of reasoning against abortion is based on the idea of fetal personhood. Mary Anne Warren argues that a fetus is not a person because it does not have consciousness, reasoning, self-motivated activity, capacity to communicate, and presence of self-concepts. However, this does not mean an abortion needs to be performed. In this case, the mother and the pregnant woman want to have this baby. I will conclude that it is not morally right for the judge to court order that this woman receive an abortion.
Christianity and Judaism: Perspectives and Solutions to Poverty

Grooznyi Nicole Armstrong, Gabriel Christian Jones, Ricky Steven Miller

This literature review of sociology, anthropology, and psychology asks about how material and monetary poverty is addressed by Christianity and Judaism. The purpose was to explore how religious groups alleviate poverty and what their perspective is in regard to impoverished communities. We compared articles in various social disciplines about the prevalence of poverty in different religions. From our research, we found that these religions cope and view poverty in different ways. This is relevant because poverty is a real and growing issue around the world and individuals look to religion as a way to cope with their hardships.
Civil Religion: Presidential Inauguration and The Star-Spangled Banner

Andrew Bray, Kennedy Byrd, Meredith Grigsby

Rhetoric drawing on religious stories, ideals, concepts, and experiences surround us in our daily lives. These posters represent a sampling of the rhetorical analyses conducted by students from CMM 357 Religious Rhetoric throughout the Spring 2024 semester. Groups presented several themed reports prior to Stander and picked one to showcase at the symposium.
Civil Religion & The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Erin Callahan, Grace Kovesdy, Laynie Gerhardt

Rhetoric drawing on religious stories, ideals, concepts, and experiences surround us in our daily lives. These posters represent a sampling of the rhetorical analyses conducted by students from CMM 357 Religious Rhetoric throughout the Spring 2024 semester. Groups presented several themed reports prior to Stander and picked one to showcase at the symposium.
Climbing assay to study behavioral deficits in Alzheimer’s disease

Aydan Romeo Wilson

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that manifests as profound loss of neuronal tissue and high levels of stress and cell death. Patients with AD present with memory problems, motor dysfunction, and the eventual loss of the ability to perform everyday tasks. While there are some medicines that can alleviate the symptoms, there is no cure for AD. AD is characterized by high accumulation of amyloid-beta-42 (Aβ42) that forms layer on the brain as plaques and thus affecting cell function. In our lab, we utilize the Drosophila model to investigate how AD progression affects behavior. We have previously established and validated an AD model where misexpression of the human Aβ42 in the differentiating neurons (GMR>Aβ42) results in progressive neurodegeneration and cell death. We have performed climbing assay (a behavioral assay) as a functional readout of neurodegeneration. The climbing assay measures the ability of flies to climb up ten centimeters on the inside of a test tube within a predetermined duration. For the climbing assays, we have modelled AD in the brain using a mushroom-body specific Gal4 driver (Ok>Aβ42). In this poster, we have presented our results from climbing assays performed at different time points. We demonstrate that the AD flies (Ok>Aβ42) have significantly lesser climbing ability when compared to the wild-type controls (Ok-Gal4).
Combining bioinformatic and transgenic approaches to better understand the regulatory control of genes for a Drosophila pigmentation trait

Logan A. Brubaker, Hayley Grace Long, Allison Elizabeth Pavlus

Spatially- and temporally-regulated patterns of gene expression are an essential feature of animal development. Moreover, changes in expression patterns are known to underlie cases of evolution and disease. These expression patterns are sculpted by the activity of sequences often referred to as cis-regulatory elements or CREs. The collective number of CREs in a typical metazoan genome greatly exceed the number of genes. However, even in the most thoroughly studied animals, like Drosophila (D.) melanogaster, most CREs remain to be found and/or characterized. We previously used a small set of known CREs that function in a gene regulatory network (GRN) for the sexually dimorphic pigmentation of D. melanogaster to predict additional CREs genome-wide. Using the transcription factor motif-blind SCRM-shaw bioinformatic tool, more than 500 potential pigmentation GRN CREs were predicted. Here, we share our findings that are part of a follow-up study that focused on CRE predictions residing in or near to regulatory genes, including those populated by multiple predicted CREs. This includes the eight CRE predictions distributed across the Eip74EF locus. In addition to furthering an understanding of the evolution and development of a fruit fly trait, the results and future studies may shed light on the expression control of regulatory genes and its evolution.
Come on in, the water's fine! How solar panels may affect damselfly behavior.

Stephanie Kaitlyn Murray, Chelse M. Prather, Chloe M. Reilly, Skylar M. Shannon

Solar energy is a booming industry in the United States, especially in Ohio. Several areas within the state are urgently converting land into solar fields to normalize the more sustainable energy source. While the transition away from fossil fuels is essential for repairing Earth’s environment, it is important to ask the hard questions regarding potential environmental risks associated with solar panels. This study focuses on the effect solar panels may have on Odonata, specifically, damselflies. Odonates are ecologically significant in terms of their indication of water quality and their role as prey for many species of birds and fish. They also benefit humans as they rid our space of vectors such as mosquitos, which are known to carry fatal diseases. Previous observations have suggested that damselflies may be attracted to solar panels due to their resemblance to water, which could serve as a threat to damselfly larvae. We observed damselfly behavior over three types of solar panels that differed in color, thickness of gaps between solar cells, and panel flexibility. Six solar panels were laid flat on a plot of land close to water where there were high population densities of damselflies. Each panel had a matching control plot, in which vegetation was sheared to match the size of the panel. These were used to confirm whether the damselflies behaved differently over panels laid in grass than over bare land with grassy overhang. The panels were observed during the month of August, which is when Odonate activity is at its highest. Observations of specific interactions between damselflies and solar panels or control plots were logged in a data sheet and later analyzed using R statistical software. Through statistical analysis, it was found that there was no significant difference between Odonate activity among the solar panels and the control plots.