Stander Symposium: College of Arts and Sciences

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  Future Changes of Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curves for Extreme Precipitation in Ohio Based on CMIP6 Climate Models

  Joseph Baker

  The purpose of this study is to generate future Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves for extreme precipitation events in Ohio under three climate change scenarios using output of CMIP6 climate models. IDF curves define the amount of precipitation produced by storms of various durations with specific return intervals. They are used widely by many groups including engineers and urban planners for infrastructure design and other projects. Current IDF curves are generated based on past climate data and the assumption that the climate of a region does not change over time. However, climate change is expected to significantly increase extreme precipitation in the future. Therefore, it is important to update IDF curves to account for such changes. For this study, we used two main datasets: historical precipitation data of 1970-2014 from rain gauges in Ohio and precipitation data from 28 CMIP6 models including the historical run (1970-2014) and future runs (2015-2100) under ssp245, ssp370, and ssp585 scenarios. We extracted model data covering Ohio (38.125-41.875N and 84.875-80.125W). We first compared the model historical runs with observational data to evaluate the models and correct model biases. After that, we used the frequency analysis method to establish the magnitude of precipitation events of different durations with different return intervals. With these results, we developed future IDF curves under three climate change scenarios. In general, extreme precipitation will increase more than average precipitation, and the rate of change is generally higher for shorter-duration and more extreme (i.e., longer return intervals) events. Our results could provide practical guidance for designing long-lasting infrastructure projects.

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  German Mainstream Political Response to the Rise of Far-Right Nationalism

  Mitchell O'Brien

  Right-wing nationalism has been on the rise in Germany in the last twenty years. A range of factors have contributed to this, similar to factors in Europe and around the globe. While the mainstream parties have traditionally had a firewall policy, the “Brandmauer,” recent events have seen that weaken. The far right has polled well among older and younger Germans, as well as in the states that made up the former East Germany. Germany’s economic stagnation and immigration policies have led to distrust and disillusion with the government and other mainstream parties. Because of this rise it is important to explore how the mainstream German political parties have responded. As one of Europe’s largest and wealthiest democracies, it is important to see how the mainstream shifts policy positions and talking points. If Germany normalizes far right parties, then there is no telling how both large democracies and smaller states will interact with more fringe elements of their societies. By using academic research, economic data, opinion polling and recent election results, I will explore how rightwing nationalism has shaped the current German political discourse. It is important to examine the rise of right-wing nationalism, as it will help understand the current global political undercurrents.

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  Ginkgo Biloba and Canis Latrans: Ancient Seed Meets Modern Predator

  Rose Combs

  Ginkgo biloba (thereafter gingko), known for its decorative leaves and notorious smell, is regarded as one of the most primitive seed-bearing tree species living today (Rothwell and Holt, 1997). Ginkgo is believed to have originated nearly 100 million years ago, with its main dispersers possibly being Mesozoic marsupial-like rodents (Del Tredici, 2000; Crane, 2019). Dinosaurs have also been suggested dispersal agents, although which ones specifically are not mentioned (Del Tredici, 2000). The seeds are dispersed through endozoochory or the process of consumption, digestion, and defecation by vertebrate species such as mammals or birds. Fossil records show that past the Cretacious period, ginkgo frequency has decreased over time (Wang et al., 2023). Few wild populations of ginkgo exist today, confounding botanists and researchers as to why (Del Tredici, 2000). This experiment aims to explore how ginkgo has been impacted by the extinction of its original dispersers and the procuring of modern ones, such as birds, squirrels, raccoons, and coyotes (Del Tredici, 2000). This research examines the distinct relationship between ginkgo and Canis Latrans, the coyote, a modern day carnivore mammal, focusing on seed viability after being processed through digestion. Our hypothesis states that digestion will have a positive effect on the viability of ginkgo seeds. We predict that the seeds processed through the gut of a coyote will have a higher germination rate than whole seeds with the sarcotesta (i.e. outer flesh) manually removed.

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  Glory: Dean Summer Fellowship Project

  Jayonna Johnson

  A photographic project in fulfillment of a Dean’s Summer Fellowship mentored by Associate Professor Glenna Jennings (Photography and Social Practice). The work explores the insider and outsider perspectives within the context of worship gatherings and offers a reflective presentation on how the studio was transformed into a space for fine art and spiritual encounters to combine.

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  Gravitational Waves - LIGO Project

  Aidan Augustus, Emma Tams, Ethan Tedder

  The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project is an experiment designed to observe gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are a phenomenon that was first predicted by Albert Einstein in his general theory of relativity in 1916, and physicists have been attempting to detect and measure their existence since. Gravitational waves can be described as ripples in spacetime that are produced by large astronomical events such as collisions between black holes, neutron stars, and more. These waves travel through the fabric of spacetime at the speed of light and are able to “pass” through matter itself, including whole planets, such as Earth. These waves have a minuscule effect on spacetime itself. Thus, making them elusive and extremely hard to detect. LIGO utilizes two highly sensitive laser interferometers located 3000 kilometers apart that are capable of detecting small changes in the distance traveled by the lasers due to the presence of gravitational waves. The first successful detection occurred in 2015, and since then LIGO has continued to improve its technology and expand its collaborations to further our understanding of gravitational waves and events happening distances beyond our solar system. This foundational accomplishment in physics has confirmed this phenomenon predicted by Einstein and has made progress in both theoretical and experimental physics in very important ways.

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  Group Action in Major Scale Intervals

  Ava Franke

  This project explores the application of group theory to musical intervals within a major scale. By representing intervals as a subgroup of the integers modulo 12, we examine properties such as transitivity, faithfulness, isomorphism, homomorphism, rotations, and reflections. Our analysis reveals that musical intervals exhibit both cyclic and dihedral group structures. This establishes the integers modulo 12 as a symmetry group, allowing for understanding of note transformations in 12-tone equal temperament.

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  Hamiltonian Cycles and Cartesian Products

  Connor Seng

  This is a project for MTH 466, Graph Theory and Combinatorics. A graph is a mathematical object that allows us to describe the relationship between two vertices by placing an edge between them, and vertices without an edge between them are not related. A Hamiltonian cycle in a graph is a closed walk in the graph which visits each vertex exactly once. Given two graphs, G and H, a new graph, called the Cartesian product, can be created. This project will investigate what conditions on G and H are required for their Cartesian product graph to have a Hamilton cycle. Conversely, this project will investigate what conditions on G and H prevent their cartesian product graph from having a H-cycle.

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  Harnessing crowdsourced images to investigate the relationship between color polymorphism and climate in woodland salamanders

  Brendan Enochs

  Color polymorphic species, where multiple color phenotypes (i.e., morphs) coexist within the same population, are extremely common in nature. In the salamander genus Plethodon, at least ten species exhibit a striped/unstriped color polymorphism, while closely related species are fixed for either morph. In a single species, the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), previous work has indicated that morphs diverge in climatic niche use. However, the magnitude and direction of color morph-climate associations has varied across studies. Further, little research has examined the relationship between climate and color morph in the nine other color polymorphic Plethodon. Here, I scored color phenotypes from >65,000 web-based georeferenced community science images of color polymorphic Plethodon. With this extensive color morph dataset, I quantified the climatic niche of each species and their color morphs when applicable and utilized a comparative approach to examine patterns of climatic niche overlap, niche breadth, and potential responses to future climate change.

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  Health Disparities in Spanish Speaking Communities Increasing the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

  Liam Byrne

  The purpose of this project is to investigate the various social, financial, and civil disparities in healthcare that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in Spanish-speaking populations. The research question is “what aspects support the disparity in cardiovascular care that Spanish speakers suffer from?”. Disparity in cardiovascular care is only one of the many health disparities Spanish speakers face, but it is one of their largest disparities in healthcare. 43% of Hispanic women and 53% of Hispanic men have a cardiovascular disease. This project aims to acknowledge some of the factors that lead to this issue, including their causes, effects, and possible solutions.

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  High Concentrations of Benzalkonium Chloride Enhance Listeria monocytogenes Biofilm Formation

  Sydney Herzog

  Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen frequently detected in food processing environments, continues to cause product recalls and outbreaks despite strict cleaning protocols. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a widely used disinfectant, is effective against L. monocytogenes, but the ability of L. monocytogenes to form biofilms can reduce the efficacy of BAC by protecting the bacterial cells within the biofilm matrix. In this study, we used a standard microplate biofilm assay to investigate the impact of biofilms on L. monocytogenes susceptibility to BAC. Crystal violet staining revealed that exposure to higher BAC concentrations (≥0.1% [wt/vol]), either during or after biofilm formation, resulted in significantly increased biofilm levels regardless of different temperatures, surface types, and oxygen levels. This increase was not due to direct chemical interactions between crystal violet and BAC but required the presence of L. monocytogenes cells. Despite the observed biofilm augmentation, BAC inhibited both biofilm-associated metabolic activity as well as colony-forming units. Microscopic and survival assays suggested that the enhanced biofilm formation resulted from bacterial lysis, which led to cellular aggregation and greater surface adhesion. Overall, these findings indicate that elevated BAC concentrations, whether from direct application or environmental accumulation, can lead to the deposition of biofilm materials even in the absence of viable L. monocytogenes cells. This accumulation may facilitate the persistence of pathogens by promoting subsequent biofilm development by L. monocytogenes or other microbes. As a result, optimizing BAC concentrations and ensuring the removal of residual BAC are crucial for effective cleaning and disinfection strategies in food processing environments.

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  “Hippo’s Dynamic Duo”: How Wg and Yki Orchestrate Tumor Growth?"

  Arushi Rai

  Studies with Drosophila Ras V12 ,scrib -/- tumor models reveal that Yorkie, a Hippo pathway effector, interacts with other signaling pathways to form a dynamic network in cancer cells. In these models, Wingless (Wg) acts upstream of Caspases, JNK, and Yki, regulating tumor growth and development (Waghmare et al. 2024). We hypothesize that Yorkie is the key downstream regulator of this network. Heterozygosity of yki (yki B5 /+; Ras V12 ,scrib -/- ) reduced tumor clone size compared to Ras V12 ,scrib -/- clones, showing effects on survival (low Diap1 expression and change in apoptotic response). Wg is ectopically induced in Ras V12 and Ras V12 ,scrib -/- clones. Wg acts upstream of this network, and is also Yorkie's transcriptional target. We tested the interaction between Yki and Wg and found that downregulating Wg signaling (dTCF DN ; Ras V12 ,scrib -/- ) also reduced tumor clone size. Downregulating Wg pathway in Ras V12 ,scrib -/- resulted in decreased DIAP1 intensity (survival) when compared to Ras V12 ,scrib -/- tumor clones. To further explore how Wg and Yki promote tumor growth, we created double mutants combining loss of yki (yki B5-/- ) and dominant-negative dTCF to downregulate Wg signaling in Ras V12 ,scrib -/- clones (dTCF DN yki B5 ;Ras V12 ,scrib -/- ). We have investigated the synergistic effects of double mutants on (a) hallmarks of cancer such as invasion, cell adhesion, and survival signaling by immunohistochemistry-based approach (b) the transcriptional network of Ras V12 ,scrib -/- tumor clones by analyzing the mRNA expression by qRT-PCR. Here, we present our progress on the organization of the molecular network that involves Wingless and Yorkie.

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  History 498: Preservation and Digitization of Iraqi Cultural Heritage (Capstone Seminar)

  Daniel Cornish, Emma Donnelly, Bryon Helbling, Haven Holsinger, Rae Angela Hoskins, Phoebe Kladitis, Jack Lucas, Charles Radgowski, James Saadi, Henry Wentworth

  Course Description: In this history Capstone students will play a vital role in safeguarding the cultural heritage of communities in Iraq through digitization and preservation efforts. This capstone course offers a unique opportunity to engage with the urgent mission of securing heritage collections that hold the key to identity, history, and community resilience for religious and ethno-religious minority groups in the cradle of civilization. In this immersive program, students will join an ongoing, on-the-ground project initiated by the Antiquities Coalition (AC), dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of communities in Iraq through digitization. Partnering with four prominent organizations in Iraq—the Catholic Diocese of Mosul’s Centre Numérique des Manuscrits Orientaux (CNMO), the Syriac Heritage Museum, Sinjar Academy, and Assyrian Aid Society—this project seeks to document, digitize, and make accessible the rich cultural treasures of Iraq to local, regional, and international audiences. Students will be responsible for partnering with an organization and creating a digital humanities project that elevates a particular aspect of the community or organization chosen.

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  History Seminar (HST 485) Research Project Presentations

  Maeve Danek, Emma Donnelly, Emma Gaver, Bryon Helbling, Clare Mack, Nicholas Paulson

  The students of the Spring semester History Seminar will be presenting their research into the history of the Iberian Peninsula in the High Middle Ages (roughly 1000-1300). This fascinating world, in which Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities lived side by side, sometimes peacefully, sometimes violently. Each student's project examines some facet of this world, and represents a semester's worth of work honing the historian's craft.

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  Hot Girl Summer: Climate Planning and Ecofeminism in the City

  Eleanor Yates-McEwan

  This paper investigates ongoing climate planning using ecofeminist philosophical grounding, particularly inspired by Donna Haraway’s work, Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene. An active comparison of socialist, Marxist, and Haraway’s self-ascribed ‘compostist’ (a cousin to post-humanist) ecofeminisms evaluates the state of city climate planning in relationship to self-narrative and ideals of flourishing. I use qualitative content analysis on ten Midwestern city Climate Action Plans (CAPs), identifying the presence or absence of commitments similar to ecofeminist projects and analyze the distribution of commitments across those ten CAPs. I found that very few cities are practicing storytelling as Haraway’s theory would recommend, rather demonstrating commitments reflecting aspects of socialist ecofeminist and occasionally Marxist ecofeminist projects. These commitments tend to stack in a “yes, and” pattern, suggesting these theories run as a spectrum, progressively adding requirements for flourishing. Radical philosophies provide helpful tools for the project of city climate planning, ever an exercise in storytelling and relationship. But radical projects are not intelligible unless a city has a standing commitment to similar ideals. This suggests climate practitioners should meet cities as they are on the spectrum to most effectively promote projects of flourishing.

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  How Dining Hall Environments Affect Social Interaction Among College Students

  Mackenzie Hill, Elizabeth McGurn, Kenna Ryan, Quinton Smole

  This study examines how the environment of different college dining halls affects student social interactions. Factors like seating arrangements, noise levels, and ambiance may encourage or hinder engagement. Through observations and surveys, the research explores how these spaces shape campus social dynamics and community building.

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  How does drinking culture impact student behavior and belonging?

  Caroline Sullivan

  This study explores perceptions of drinking culture at the University of Dayton. Specifically, I examine if students believe that the drinking environments at the University of Dayton influence students' social dynamics, attitudes, and behaviors. Results show that gender and social media are important factors in how students think about drinking culture, especially in terms of a sense of pressure to participate in drinking. Although there are a lot of opinions about drinking culture, this research takes an empirical approach to understanding the relationship between drinking culture and belonging.

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  How Does Screen Time Impact Drug Use in Juveniles?

  Natalia Glinzler, Keanna Yoder

  The study examines the effect that screen time(independent variable) has on juvenile drug use(dependent variable). Understanding the addiction to screen time correlates with understanding the addiction to drugs. Both seek pleasure and dopamine in the brain. Present-day questions arise about the correlation between screen time and drug use in juveniles. It may be assumed juveniles are influenced to participate in drug use through screen time by viewing peers, influences or celebrities engaging in drugs; however, this is not the case. Unexpectedly, it is the opposite. Our brains crave dopamine, and often can only handle the amount of dopamine from a singular addiction. Rather than juveniles being influenced by what they interact with online, they are influenced by the lack of dopamine from screen time, hence turning to an alternate activity with surges of dopamine. The common answer: drugs. A multitude of factors may contribute to the modern low numbers of drug usage, however, screen time seems to be a common theme and more discussions of the obsession need to happen.

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  How do group-oriented traits relate to college students’ democratic attitudes?

  Rebecca Sutton

  Typically, research suggests that age relates to political ideology such that youth are more liberal than older people (Glen, 1974). However, recent research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic and social media have increased the popularity of right-wing ideology among European college students (Vinocur & Goury-Laffont, 2024). The present research aims to measure a similar phenomenon among American college students with particular attention toward group-oriented traits and democratic attitudes. Previous research shows that perception of government and democracy depends not only on political party affiliation, but also on traits and values. One influential trait is social dominance orientation (SDO), which describes one’s belief that their societal group surpasses other groups. Individuals high in SDO were found to prefer hierarchical power structures and be more conservative and less altruistic (Pratto et al., 1994). Another group-oriented trait that may predict civic engagement and democratic attitudes is collective narcissism, which describes extreme belief in the superiority of one’s group. Beside being related to outgroup aggression above and beyond SDO and right-wing authoritarianism (de Zavala et al., 2009), American collective narcissism specifically positively correlated with upholding racial inequality and negatively correlated with egalitarianism (Keenan & de Zavala, 2025). The current study will examine how collective narcissism and SDO relate to democratic attitudes and civic engagement among American college students. Our online survey will launch in mid-March 2025, and we aim to recruit 200 undergraduate participants enrolled in Psychology courses at the University of Dayton. In the survey, participants will complete a random order of predictor variables such as SDO and collective narcissism followed by a random order of outcome variables such as interest in voting and democratic attitudes. We predict that collective narcissism will negatively relate to democratic attitudes and civic engagement above and beyond SDO. We will also test if these relationships depend on political ideology.

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  How Eastern Europe is Failing to Protect Young Girls

  Sarah Naughton

  This paper aims to analyze, evaluate, and address the ongoing issue of human trafficking of young girls through and from Eastern Europe to Asia, as well as how sovereign states within this region are in clear violation of international protections and law. Clearly, the boundaries between prostitution, trafficking, and forced labor migration are blurred due to independent legal proceedings within each sovereign state. Geographically, this paper addresses Russia and surrounding states’ inaction towards the exploitation of women and young girls after the collapse of the Soviet Union by sovereign states in Asia, such as China, Japan, and Taiwan, specifically focusing on why there is a high market for young girls from Eastern Europe. The geographic trafficking routes, while having altered in the past century, maintain their structure and organization for the purposes of transporting young, hopeful girls seeking a better life and new opportunities across continents. Today, there remains little research into the industry of trafficking because underground modeling institutions tend to cover any malpractice, and how they manage to transport young girls under the guise of a better future. Overall, by contrasting the legal standard of each sovereign state with international protections and signed treaties, it is evident that these states are in violation of international policy and that “trafficking” is not clearly defined across nations. Keywords: International Protection, Children’s Rights, Eastern Europe, Asia, Trafficking

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  How the use of children’s music in educational settings aid in the development of children

  Kaitlyn Fetsko, Kelly O'Connor Goggin

  Remember that song from kindergarten graduation that you still know all the words to? This is the case because music is a profound tool in educational settings when it comes to development and memory, especially in children. In this presentation, the impacts of music and songs are looked at in greater detail. Research shows that using music in early childhood educational settings provides for stronger development in language, memory, social-emotional skills, and cognition. Furthermore, engaging in these activities allow children to have more opportunities to learn and grow. Incorporating music into these settings provides a strong foundation for children and it is important for educators to do so. The significant developmental outcomes of utilizing songs in an educational environment will be discussed in depth during this presentation.

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  HSI Sustainability Leader Projects: Engaging students in impactful sustainability initiatives

  Lucia Bair, Andrew Bartsch, Emily Bednarski, Shannon Dennemann, Amelia Dougherty, Zay Htike, Elizabeth Miles-Flynn

  Hear from the Hanley Sustainability Institute’s Student Leaders about how they have effectively engaged the student body in a variety of sustainability initiatives and programs. Their projects showcase a diverse range of sustainability topics including waste reduction, sustainable procurement, and energy literacy. Each 5-10 minute presentation will illustrate the importance of student engagement in shaping a sustainable future through creative problem-solving and collaboration.

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  Hydrologic Modeling on Baker Farm Using GIS

  James Lambert

  GIS technology lends itself to be used to help further many research initiatives and products in unique and useful ways. The creation of maps and models in GIS enables researchers to view their findings in a geographic context and present this work to colleagues and shareholders. One such use that greatly benefits from the geospatial capabilities of GIS is modeling groundwater/surface water interactions. The Miami Conservancy District owns a property known as “Baker Farm”; over the past year there have been a variety of hydrological studies being conducted in this area. This project aims to use GIS applications (primarily ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online) to gain a greater understanding of the hydrologic properties of the “Baker Field” property. This will be accomplished by both visualizing current data in a presentable format and to create layers that model the hydrologic processes of the groundwater/surface water interaction on the property. The presence of the Great Miami River at the edge of boundaries of the property, and looking at a broader scale at the buried valley aquifer (BVA) that it lies upon, provides this location with much hydrologic importance. Understanding the hydrologic profile of this land is an important step in determining its role in the greater watershed area and may better help dictate future uses for the property.

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  Identifying Connectivity Deficits Between the Cerebellum and Thalamus in Down Syndrome

  Samantha Bailey, Alaina Sharp

  Down Syndrome (DS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by behavioral abnormalities in multiple brain regions. The cerebellum, a key regulator of motor coordination and learning, shows hypoplasia and reduced connectivity in individuals with DS with preclinical models mirroring this phenotype. Clinical imaging studies have shown volumetric reduction in cerebellar afferent tracts suggesting impaired communication with other brain regions. The cerebellum also forms extensive output connections with the thalamus, a critical relay center for motor and sensory processing, over a prolonged developmental timeline. However, the extent to which cerebellar-thalamic connectivity is potentially altered across postnatal development in mice models of DS remains unknown. Potential changes in cellular density of cerebellar nuclei were assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the alteration in neural circuitry was quantified using dual Adeno-Associated Viral (AAV) injections combined with IHC and image processing using the QUINT workflow. At postnatal day 30 (P30), no significant differences were observed in cellular density of osteopontin positive cells in the cerebellar nuclei between Euploid and Trisomic Ts65Dn mice and quantification for P45 is underway. An anterograde AAV expressing GFP was injected into the interposed cerebellar nuclei, while a retrograde AAV expressing Cre-recombinase was injected into the lateral-ventral thalamus and successfully labeled connections between these areas. Co-localization of fluorescent markers allowed for visualization of cerebellar-thalamic connectivity at P45 (n=4 each Euploid and Trisomic). Analysis of these injections is underway with experiments planned to extend assessment to later developmental stages to determine whether connectivity disruptions emerge over time. Understanding these developmental circuit alterations will help elucidate the mechanisms underlying behavioral deficits in DS and may provide avenues for targeted interventions to address motor and cognitive deficits in affected individuals.

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  Identifying Mechanisms of Cerebellar Circuit Dysfunction in the Ts65Dn Model of Down Syndrome

  Samantha Bailey, Mir Abbas Raza, Ashlynn Prater, Alaina Sharp

  Down syndrome (DS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the triplication of human chromosome 21. The cerebellum plays a critical role in motor coordination and adaptive motor learning. Individuals with DS exhibit deficits in functional and adaptive motor behavior across development. A deficit in cerebellar volume, or hypoplasia is a hallmark of DS, and is mirrored in preclinical mouse models. What remains unknown is the underlying circuit dysfunction contributing to these behaviour abnormalities. Our objective is to investigate the connectivity deficits in the cerebellum throughout postnatal development and its role in behavioral abnormalities in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS. In this study, we have used the ErasmusLadder to assess deficits in Locomotor coordination and cerebellar-dependent adaptive behavior in Euploid and Trisomic mice. Synaptic density of Parallel fiber and Climbing fiber input was quantified using Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and analyzed with python. Our results show that the Ts65Dn mice models displayed distinct deficits in both locomotor coordination and adaptive behavior across juvenile (P30) and young-adult (P45) stages. We found no significant differences for absolute learning exhibited in the euploid (wild type) in comparison to trisomic mice at P30. However, there was a significant decline of absolute learning behavior for the Ts65Dn at P45. Machine-learning enabled quantification showed significant reduction in VGLUT2 synaptic density via climbing fiber input onto Purkinje cells (PCs), but no significant difference in VGLUT1 synaptic density via parallel fiber input at P45. Findings indicate abnormalities in cerebellar-dependent adaptive learning at P45 could be a result of circuit deficits in climbing fiber synaptic input onto PCs. We are currently analysing potential synaptic density changes at P30 as well. Further investigation of these circuit deficits using Fiber Photometry would contribute to a deeper understanding of DS-related motor impairments and lead to potential therapeutic interventions.

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  Identifying the Molecular and Behavioral Basis of Cerebellar Dysfunction in TcMAC-21 and Dp-16 Mouse Models of Down Syndrome

  Samantha Bailey, Andrew Ganninger, Madeline Kocher, Ashlynn Prater, Alaina Sharp, Ayesha Sheikh, Oluwayemisi Tayo-Ayorinde

  Down Syndrome (DS) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder, caused by the triplication of chromosome 21. This genetic anomaly leads to distinct cognitive and motor impairments, often linked to cerebellar dysfunction. Prior studies have reported cerebellar hypoplasia and a reduction in both Purkinje cells (PCs) and granule cells (GCs) in human and mouse models of DS. Given the cerebellum’s crucial role in motor coordination, its abnormal development likely contributes to the motor deficits observed in individuals with DS. However, the extent to which altered synaptic input to PCs impacts motor deficits remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate cerebellar cytoarchitecture and locomotor function using TcMAC-21 and Dp16 mouse models of DS, compared to euploid controls. TcMAC-21 mice carry a cloned human chromosome 21, while Dp16 mice possess a duplication of the orthologous region on mouse chromosome 16. To assess cerebellar structure, we performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) on sagittal brain sections, specifically focusing on lobules 3 and 9 in both mouse models, using markers for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate (VGLUT1 and VGLUT2) and cell-specific markers like GABRA6 to label GCs. Confocal imaging was employed to observe synaptic organization in the cerebellum. Locomotor function was evaluated using the Erasmus Ladder, a task designed to measure gait and adaptive learning. Our findings revealed no motor or adaptive learning deficits in the TcMAC-21 mice, whereas Dp16 mice exhibited significant motor impairments. These results suggest that different DS models may present distinct neurodevelopmental profiles, offering valuable insight into the variability of motor phenotypes associated with DS. By elucidating the molecular and functional alterations in the cerebellum, this study enhances our understanding of DS-related motor deficits and lays the foundation for potential therapeutic interventions.