Stander Symposium: College of Arts and Sciences

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Do You Truly See Them? Disabled LatinX Artists in the Arts

Guadalupe Sanchez-Salvador

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.
Drivers of Prairie Establishment during Post-Agricultural Ecosystem Restoration in Southwestern Ohio, USA

Valerie Thurston, Michaela Woods, Madelaine Gregory, Ryan McEwan

Ecological restoration of degraded lands, such as abandoned agricultural fields, often requires establishing native species in challenging environmental conditions. The interruption of this process by invasive species, such as Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), in the United States poses a significant obstacle to native plant reestablishment. Woody invasive species like Callery pear outcompete native plants, creating favorable conditions for invasion and rendering post-agricultural fields unsuitable for native species establishment. Traditional methods for controlling invasive species require consistent upkeep and observation, but in tallgrass prairies, increasing the diversity and abundance of plants has shown some ability to decrease the number of invasive species in the area. In collaboration with community partners at Five Rivers Metroparks, initiated an experiment on a 30-acre parcel of post-agricultural land in Trotwood, Ohio. Twenty 50 x 50m plots were established, each receiving one of four prairie seed mixes with varying levels of species diversity and legume content (n = 5 / seed treatment). These plots were further subdivided and treated with one of four soil amendments: mulch, whole soil, mulch & whole soil, and a control with no amendment. A vegetation survey conducted in the summer of 2023 to assess the state of the plant community. After around 5 years, we have found that there is still a significantly smaller presence of invasive species compared to native species. There is also a higher species richness in the higher diversity seed mix plots than the lower diversity seed mix plots, which shows some success in the different seed mixes. The research conducted continues to help gain a better understanding of the complex problem surrounding native restoration projects, particularly in the Midwest, and our ability to defend landscapes against invasion.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Group Effects of Inmate Behavior

Jack R. Dewine, Cameron J. Johnson

For our research, we were interested in looking into the effects of drug or alcohol treatment programs on prison inmates. Specifically, we were looking at the effects that the treatment programs had on inmate behavior during their time incarcerated. Our research was done by examining the 2004 Survey of Inmates. The main focus of our study revolved around treatment programs and how they affected the behavior of inmates. In this study, we analyzed a multitude of factors, spanning from demographics to how the inmates conducted themselves before and after prison. In terms of demographics, we looked into male and female populations and how they may differ. Behaviors of inmates such as whether or not they went through treatment while imprisoned, whether or not they were charged with a drug offense, and if they were either written up for a drug/alcohol offense while in prison. In terms of actual attendance to treatment programs, our research led us to finding out that 80.9 percent of inmates incarcerated never attended a program. This comes as a surprise considering that our research also revealed to us that 65.72 percent of offenders arrested were in for a drug offense. Only 19.65 percent of those charged with a drug offense were not charged with drug possession. This was telling to us, showing that inmates who would benefit from help were not participating in the treatment programs which may be available. We found that in each model we ran, the sex of an inmate was the most significant in association with being written up for a drug or alcohol violation and that it was mostly men that were being written up. We also found that attending a treatment group before being incarcerated was significant in all models that they were included in. This result told us that if you had gone to a treatment group before prison, you were less likely to receive a write up for a violation.
Dve interacting partner chb role in microtubule dynamics during eye development

Sunanda Yogi

Chromosome bows (chb)/Mast/Orbit is required for bipolar mitotic spindle organization at the kinetochore. This is an important microtubule plus end tracking protein functions in maintaining the microtubule dynamics. It is evolutionary conserved and the human ortholog is cytoplasmic linker associated protein 1 (CLASP1) which plays crucial role in microtubule distribution and stability during cell cycle and has been shown to impact neurofibrillary tangle formation in tauopathies. To mechanistically understand, how chb regulate microtubule orientation? We are utilizing Drosophila, a genetic tractable model system with various developmental stages and looked at its genetic interactome, where has been shown that chb is being suppressed by defective proventriculus (Dve). It is a K50 homeodomain transcription factor required for the cell type specification and expressed in the dorsal head vertex region of eye-antennal imaginal disc of Drosophila. We hypothesize that if chb expression is regulated by dve which results in altered kinetochore assembly, when we knockdown the expression of chb using RNAi (RNA interference) in the eye, it gives us small and necrotic regions in the proper ommatidium arrangement of the eye. We are further interested into looking at what happens to dve expression and wg which is negative regulator of eye development. This will further illustrate on key partners involved in the cellular assembly of microtubules.
Ebony G. Patterson : Exploration of Invisibility and Visibility

Jillian R. Fahey

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.
Educating the Whole Person: Building a Community-based English Language Learning Program

Kateri Marie Dillon

While some resources exist to support adult English language learning in Dayton, Ohio, many immigrants and asylum seekers are prevented from accessing language instruction due to barriers of scheduling, transportation, and childcare. This is a detriment to the city of Dayton, which cannot effectively receive the gifts of its members not fully integrated into the community. In this study, the researcher takes a holistic and assets-based approach to adult English Language Learning (ELL). A tutoring, classroom hybrid English program was implemented to support the large Latinx population at Immaculate Conception Church, in partnership with Brunner Literacy Center. To mitigate barriers of scheduling, transportation, and childcare, the program was scheduled immediately after the well-attended Spanish mass each Sunday morning, while a children's program took place simultaneously. Over the course of the program, attendance increased from about 25 to 35 learners weekly. Tutors described feeling supported and satisfied with their volunteer experiences. Learners reported positive relationships with their tutors and an increase in confidence in their ability to speak English.
Effects of Chronic Pharmacological SERCA Activation on Cognitive Behaviors, Dendritic Spine Density and Aminoacidergic Neurochemistry

Carter J. Moore

Intracellular Calcium (Ca2+) signaling plays a crucial role in a multitude of neuronal processes. These processes range from cell development and potentiation, to programed cell death, however they all share the commonality of being paramount in neuronal function. One key regulator of intracellular Ca2+ is the Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) pump. SERCA is responsible for sequestering cytosolic Ca2+ into the ER, a major site for Ca2+ storage. Due to its importance in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis, it comes as no surprise that dysfunction of SERCA has been shown to be involved in various neuropsychiatric diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and Schizophrenia. Consequently, drugs that affect SERCA are of high interest for future therapeutic treatments, but the role that SERCA plays in the brain and behavior is not well understood. In the context of the current study, we assessed the effects of chronic pharmacological SERCA activation using the drug CDN1163 on learning and memory processes, as well as on aminoacidergic neurochemical responses and dendritic spine density in brain regions implicated in cognitive processes in mice of both sexes.
Effects of Paternal Heat Exposure and Parental Care on the Development of Offspring in Gasterosteus aculeatus

Emma R. Borgert

Humans are profoundly altering the abundance and distribution of organisms via climate change. In particular, warming temperatures are affecting marine and freshwater ecosystems by increasing physiological stress, limiting growth, and decreasing dissolved oxygen. With all this change occurring, an understanding of how organisms are going to cope is crucial. Transgenerational plasticity – when parental experiences alter offspring traits - can allow organisms to rapidly adapt to environmental change. Previous literature has focused on the role of maternal experiences on offspring traits, but paternal experiences are just as important. Fathers can influence their offspring in multiple ways, including changes via both sperm and paternal care behaviors. Three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, are a small fish found in freshwater and marine ecosystems with paternal-only care. Many populations are facing the threats of drought and wildfire, making it important to understand how they will adapt to climate change. To understand how paternal heat exposure alters offspring development, I exposed parents to cool (~17°C) or warm (~20°C) water temperature and then manipulated whether fathers provided paternal care or offspring were artificially aerated; this generated offspring that received cues of heat exposure from gametes alone versus from gametes and paternal care. I found that males exposed to warmer temperatures were less colorful but provided the same amount of care overall to their offspring. Offspring of cool-temperature males were shorter than offspring of warm-temperature parents, but only when males provided paternal care. Offspring survival was not affected by parental heat exposure but was lower when offspring themselves were exposed to warm temperatures. Overall, these results suggest that heat exposure alters both paternal and offspring traits, and that the effects on offspring depend on the mechanism of paternal effects (care versus sperm).
Empowerment Through Autonomy: Gandhi’s Vision for Women and Women’s Rights

Mary K. Kelty

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.
Environmental Toxins, Breast Milk, and Nursing Madonnas

Rihanna L. Domingos

The Relationship Between Mary and Environmental Toxins in Breast Milk and Their Implications for Generational Health

Many different items that we encounter in everyday life contribute to the consumption of environmental toxins, which can be transmitted across generations through breastfeeding. The infiltration of these toxins into our food, water, and even medical equipment underlines the effects of environmental pollutants on human health, particularly among vulnerable populations such as newborns and breastfeeding mothers. Utilizing a comprehensive review, this research initiative seeks to examine the impact of distinct toxins in breast milk and establish correlations between breastfeeding practices and depictions of Nursing Madonnas.
Establishing Drosophila Intestinal Tumor Models to Study Signaling Interactions that Regulate Tumor Growth

Venolia Adjei, Sydney Ellen Anderson, Brandon Jericho Clark, Maria Theresa El Biri, Michael K. Gruhot

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the US, with the American Cancer Society estimating 153,000 new diagnoses and 53,000 deaths in 2023. Genetic mutations in the genes Ras, APC, and p53 occur at a high frequency in human CRC, including the activation of oncogenic Ras, loss of function of APC, and dominant negative mutations in p53. This potentially implicates dysregulation of the Ras-MAPK, Wnt, and DNA repair pathways associated with the products of these respective genes. Prior studies in patients have revealed two or more of these pathways to be dysfunctional in the majority of clinical cases, suggesting a greater need for multigenic models of CRC. To better understand tumorigenesis in the context of different genetic alterations, we have developed Drosophila melanogaster models of CRC by mispressing them individually (one-hit), in pairs (two-hit), and collectively (three-hit). Using these models, we will investigate the interactions among the aforementioned molecular pathways, characterizing the expression of pathway-specific downstream target genes, changes in the cell cycle, and tumor progression. To generate tumors in the Drosophila intestine, we misexpressed the genes under study using escargot-GAL4 (esg-GAL4), which specifically drives the expression of tumor-promoting genes in intestinal stem cells, in tandem with the heat shock-inducible FLP-FRT system. We quantified the survival rates of mutant and control flies to determine the impact of these mutations on survival. Additionally, the phenotypes and gene expression patterns of intestinal tumor cells were analyzed and compared via dissection of third-instar larvae and subsequent use of immunohistochemistry. Here, we present our preliminary data from these experiments and our progress in developing a preclinical model of CRC in Drosophila.
Euphoria’s Trans Representation

Katharine G. Tucker

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.
Evaluating the Developmental Evidence for the Re-Evolution of Lost Mandibular Teeth in Frogs

Madeline M. Brinkman

Osteopilus septentrionalis, the Cuban tree frog, is a frog species that possesses upper jaw teeth but lacks mandibular teeth as an adult and is emerging as a new model organism for amphibian dental research. Through my research, I am evaluating the development and genetics of teeth in O. septentrionalis from late-stage tadpoles to froglets in order to increase our understanding of the underlying gene signals responsible for the formation of amphibian teeth, as well as the evolutionary loss and regain of complex traits. I am evaluating the presence and absence of core tooth development genes that indicate the induction and formation of teeth on the developing upper and lower jaws of O. septentrionalis. Several different genes of interest are being studied during the morphogenesis of teeth in order to investigate possible mechanisms for the re-evolution of lost mandibular teeth in G. guentheri, a species that was last seen in the wild in 1996 and is feared to be now extinct. Histology and in situ hybridization experiments will be conducted in order to answer these questions and better understand broad-scale patterns of dental diversity in frogs.
Evaluation of Object Detection Methods in Inclement Weather

Vatsa Sanjay Patel

In this study, we thoroughly investigate the reliability of computer vision object detection systems in real-world traffic scenarios, particularly focusing on challenging weather conditions. Traditional evaluation methods often fall short in addressing the complexities of dynamic traffic environments, which is increasingly important with the advancement of autonomous vehicle technologies. Our research specifically examines how these algorithms perform in adverse weather like fog, rain, snow, and sun glare, recognizing the significant impact of weather on their accuracy. We emphasize that a system performing well in clear weather may struggle in adverse conditions. Our study includes detailed analyses of different architectural approaches, aiming to enhance traffic monitoring, vehicle tracking, and object tracking. Ultimately, our goal is to enhance transportation safety and efficiency by advancing robust computer vision systems for future autonomous and intelligent transportation technologies.
Evil Born from Good Intentions: Gandhi’s Critiques of Technology and Science

Beecher Charles Dunne

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.
Evolution and Diversity of Frog Osteoderms

Arianna Jenelle Olivares

Osteoderms are bony deposits that form and are embedded within the dermis layer of vertebrate skin. Osteoderms can be found in many species of tetrapods (amphibians, reptiles, and mammals), but are most well known from crocodilians, lizards, and armadillos. These structures are generally plate-like but can exhibit substantial variation in size, shape, thickness, surface ornamentation within and across species. The function of osteoderms is also variable, acting as protective armor, aiding in heat exchange and thermoregulation, or serving as a calcium reservoir. Several frog species have previously been reported to possess osteoderms, but the evolution, diversity, and function of these structures within living amphibians is poorly understood. The central aim of this study is to investigate the presence and characteristics of osteoderms among species to better understand how many times this trait has evolved in frogs and infer potential functions based on ecological data from the literature. We are using publicly available micro-computed tomography (microCT) data of all major frog groups to identify all species that possess osteoderms and to quantify osteoderm diversity (e.g., size, shape, thickness). Our results demonstrate that 1) osteoderms have evolved many times throughout the frog tree of life, 2) the location and anatomy of osteoderms vary substantially across species, and 3) these structures have arisen in species that vary dramatically in body size and ecology.
Examining Students' Perspectives on Restorative Justice

Kyle A. Linares, Joshua Tate Weiss

The aim of this study is to compare college students’ perceptions on restorative justice and traditional justice. Our topic revolves around students’ attitudes regarding restorative justice alternatives when presented with certain crimes. Furthermore, we are aiming to examine students’ perceptions of punishments for crimes and whether they believe that a restorative justice alternative is more favorable than traditional punishment.
Examining the Influence of Social Media Usage on Knowledge of Political and Social Issues

Kaelene Samaria Walter, Alayna M. Yates

This study will outline how social media can be a resource in educating its users considering the political climate, as well as the social activism that is present today. Previous research has helped explain the ways social media can act as a resource for learning about political and social news and occurrences, how it can spark civic engagement, and encourage political discourse and participation. However, there is still a gap that exists that this study aims to fill. This study asks how social media usage influences knowledge of political and social issues. It seeks to explain how news from social media is consumed by citizens, how it resonates with them, and whether it encourages specific participation or involvement in today’s social movements.
Exploring Neural Circuitry and Purkinje Cell Changes Underlying Cerebellum-Dependent Motor Abnormalities in Down Syndrome

Amelia Rhyne Moore

Down syndrome (DS) is a commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder and is caused by the triplication of human chromosome 21 (Trisomy 21). Individuals with DS have a broad range of behavioral deficits in cognitive and motor domains. From previous studies, it has been found that the cerebellum- a region of the brain that is critical for locomotor learning and coordination- has altered developmental trajectory in DS. This includes atypical development of purkinje cells (PCs) which are the sole output neurons for the cerebellar cortex that impacts locomotor behavior. We will use the Ts65Dn model to look at the abnormal brain development and compare the results to euploid mouse brains as the control. Previous studies have shown that these inputs are important for proper motor learning. However, it is unknown if the motor deficits in DS are caused by altered synaptic input in the PCs. The aims of my research include- 1.) define potential changes of PCs in a mouse model of DS by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and 2.) define gait abnormalities using locomotor learning tasks- ErasmusLadder and RotaWheel. Future experiments will be targeted towards continuing to make connections between the circuitry and behavioral tests to advance the understanding of DS.
Exploring Rhetoric: Insights from Bacon & Nichols

Zack Rocco, Emma Sawchuk, Jessica Schad

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.
Exploring the effects of anaerobic propionate exposure on the cell wall of Listeria monocytogenes

Elizabeth K. Herr, Angela J. Murrin, Troy D. Reisner, Jeanne Paula Escalante Sering

Listeria monocytogenes is a food borne pathogen that causes serious infection, especially in immunocompromised, elderly, and infant populations. The gram-positive facultative anaerobe is exposed to many different conditions during its path of infection, and studying its ability to survive in these conditions can be helpful in learning how to prevent its spread. Anaerobic propionate exposure is frequent during Listeria transmission and infection but little is known about the ways in which Listeria fitness is impacted. To investigate Listeria fitness, we first measured cell morphology by comparing cell length to width ratio between bacteria grown with or without propionate. To further look into cell wall homeostasis, we also tested lysozyme susceptibility, peptidoglycan synthesis, and cell surface charge. We found that exposure to propionate changes the length to width ratio of Listeria cells in both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Further research discovered that propionate exposure protects Listeria from degradation by lysozyme under anaerobic but not aerobic conditions. Tests for peptidoglycan synthesis and cell surface charge can provide further insight into reasons for the change in cell morphology. Overall, the impact of anaerobic propionate exposure on Listeria indicates changes in its cell wall but further research is necessary to understand the full implications.
Exploring the Impact of Parenting Styles on Juvenile Interpersonal Violence

Kassandra L. Correa, Odyssey Marie Oehme

1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced physical violence from an intimate partner. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men (NCADV, 2023). The root of this problem can be found in different ways. Depending on who the offender is, who the victim is, the individual's background, and mental issues all influence this kind of behavior. Although it might be difficult for some to understand how one can physically abuse another and claim that they love them, this presentation specifically offers a different view into interpersonal violence and the relation between the different parenting styles. That is, if there is any role of parenting styles in influencing children to become future offenders involved in dating violence. Starting from a young age, what experiences and trauma led one to become future offenders? The objective is to discover if there is a connection. It is important to study the data, using the Pathways to Desistance, in order to come to a conclusion as to what triggers this kind of behavior and stop it before it happens and not after it has already occurred. This presentation will review the previous literature on theories, studies, and data about interpersonal violence to uncover what, if anything, is missing.
Exploring the Role of Social Support in Juvenile Recidivism.

Jose Yeriel Antonio Urena, Caroline E. Majors

There is existing research that supports the idea of social supports acting as a criminal deterrent. Therefore, the current research project took a sample from the Pathways to Desistance research study of 1354 juvenile offenders, ages 14-18, and created a negative binomial regression to study the participants’ self-reported offending as they are associated with other factors. The current research in Model 1 is studying whether familial or non-familial social support, and the depth of those supports, has an impact on the frequency of offending in the past year. Furthermore, the research in Model 2 is looking at the models of social support in addition to demographic factors and peer influence to see if there was an impact on frequency of offending. Models 1 and 2 were both included in separate tables for each dependent variable, one for the frequency of offending including drug offenses, and one for frequency of offending excluding drug offenses. The results of Model 1 show that more non-familial social support was associated with higher amounts of offending. The results also showed that depth of social support exhibited a significant negative correlation, indicating that greater support depth, or the depth of support a caring adult gave to the participant, was associated with lower offending frequency. In Model 2, antisocial behavior from peers demonstrated a highly significant positive correlation with offending. Antisocial influence from peers showed a positive correlation associated with offending including drug crimes, and a negative correlation with offending excluding drug crimes, but both without statistical significance. Demographically, higher ages were associated with higher offending frequency, the female gender was associated with lower offending frequency, and ethnicity was found statistically insignificant. These findings suggest nuanced relationships between social support, demographic factors, peer delinquency, and offending behavior, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon.
Exposure to Violence and Abuse: The Impacts of Juvenile Trauma on Mental Health

Flordeliz Lapso, Jayden A. Lewis

Increasing focus on juvenile mental health creates a need for explanatory methods over the causes, to better inform treatments. Two populations of interest are those with childhood exposure to violence and those in contact with the criminal justice system. This research study examines how exposure to violence and trauma affects mental health and life satisfaction in juveniles. We employed the Pathways to Desistance dataset to evaluate hypotheses informed by literature across multiple disciplines. We gathered dependent and independent variables that follow logically from findings in our literature review. Two forms of regression analysis test the association between the dependent and independent variables. The results demonstrate correlations between specific subject characteristics and the likelihood of victimization, severity of mental illness, and the cumulative impact on future success and satisfaction with life. More specifically we found that if you are a female or you have been exposed to higher levels of victimization you are more likely to have a high severity of illness and be more depressed. This work presents our findings in two contextual studies from distinct perspectives. The two different perspectives allow for the discussions of how we can tackle issues that are mentioned above. If we understand what is happening in the criminal justice system, specifically the jails, and how individuals are impacted by the environments they live in will allow the necessary changes to happen.
Factors That Create Positive Outcomes for Encounters with Frontline Workers

Leonard Patrick Zaleski III

Frontline public service workers (street-level bureaucrats) provide the most critical services to our most vulnerable populations. Residents of various communities may only interact with frontline workers instead of upper-level public servants throughout their lives, meaning that these public servants are crucial to the positive perception of their agencies, departments, and entire government. This creates a need to understand what factors can produce a positive outcome, both for the frontline workers and the residents they interact with. To understand what creates positive experiences, a comprehensive literature review of recent research from two of the top journals in public administration will be examined to determine what creates positive encounters with frontline workers for local residents.