Follow

• 

  Using viral tracing methods to identify connectivity deficits between cerebellum and the thalamus in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down Syndrome

  FNU Mir Abbas Raza

  I.Objective: Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder characterized by behavioral abnormalities in multiple brain regions. The cerebellum, a key area of the brain responsible for governing motor coordination and motor learning, has been implicated as being affected in many different Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs), including DS. The cerebellum forms an extensive network of connections with other brain regions during development - also known as the ‘cerebellar connectome’. If there is dysfunction in the cerebellum during critical periods of circuit formation, it could result in altered development and dysfunction of extracerebellar targets such as the thalamus. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the development of the cerebellar connectome in the context of complex disorders like DS. However, the connections between the cerebellum and other brain regions have not been systematically mapped out across postnatal development. Most importantly, potential disruption in these connections has not been mapped out at the synaptic level in DS. Our goal is to determine the connectivity between the cerebellum and one of its major targets - the thalamus across postnatal development and how this connectivity is potentially disrupted in a mouse model of DS.II.Methods: To visualize connections between the cerebellum and the thalamus, we will use a precise and efficient Cre-dependent viral tracing strategy. This will enable us to specifically target the cells in the cerebellar nuclei that project to the thalamus. To accomplish this, Cre-expressing promoter specific Adeno Associated Viral vectors along with Cre-dependent viral vector carrying the Double-floxed inverse open reading frame (DIO) system and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) reporter gene will be injected into the cerebellar nuclei of the DS mouse model. This system will control the timing and specificity of gene expression, enabling the labeling of only the cells that have been infected with both viruses. The GFP reporter gene will allow for the visualization of the labeled cells and their projections. Histological analyses will be performed to visualize the GFP-labeled cells and their projections in thalamic nuclei. High-resolution images of the labeled cells and their projections will be obtained using confocal microscopy. The morphology of the labeled cells, including their dendritic and axonal arborization, as well as their connectivity patterns, will be analyzed using ImageJ and MATLAB.III.Significance: Although the prevalence of DS is on the rise, there has been little improvement in the development of innovative therapies to enhance behavioral outcomes for children with DS in recent times. One of the contributing factors to this lack of progress is the inadequate basic research on the neural connection deficits in the DS brain. The proposed study will help provide crucial data in understanding atypical brain development in DS, specifically, alterations in neural circuitry. Mapping connections between the cerebellum and the thalamus and studying the deficits in these connections during development in the Ts65Dn mouse brain will allow us to understand more deeply the underlying mechanism of dysfunction related to these regions and provide avenues to eventually develop targeted interventions towards treating deficits in children with DS.

• 

  Utilizing Deep Learning Methods and Semantic Segmentation to Detect and Map Glacial Lakes in the Central Himalayas

  Alison Hardie

  Glacial lakes provide insight into the melting rates of glaciers; thus, the ability to detect and map them opens possibilities for improved monitoring of the changing size of glacial lakes. An accurate automated method for glacial lake segmentation would provide the means to perform constant monitoring without the need for tedious manual labeling. This work utilizes a deep learning approach using semantic segmentation in MATLAB with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to automatically detect and map glacial lakes. This work can be used to produce quick estimates of lake areas in order to monitor changes in their size. The network inputs include Landsat 8 spectral bands, ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003, which is processed into geomorphic features as an additional input into the network. Glacier outline data is sourced from the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) database; this data is processed into a glacier distance band and fed into the network. Lake polygon data is sourced from the Annual 30m Dataset for glacial lakes in High Mountain Asia from 2008 to 2017. These labels were loaded and the boundaries were reduced to remove edge and mixed pixels from the training data. The CNN used is DeepLab v3+ with the Resnet 18 backbone. This presentation will include a detailed concept of deep-learning based automated lake mapping and performance analysis, including quantitative result metrics and network output lake boundaries.

• 

  Validation of effective removal of PFAS from glassware sampling train used for evaluation of thermal treatment of PFAS

  Elizabeth Riedel

  Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals that are extremely stable and highly toxic to the environment and human health. PFAS are used in a myriad of common products including nonstick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, personal care products, cosmetics, and aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). Because of their widespread use and resistance to degradation, PFAS have infiltrated the environment, including drinking water sources. To combat the spread of PFAS, various methods for treatment and removal of PFAS are being researched. A promising solution that has been identified for PFAS removal is thermal treatment, where degradation of PFAS occurs after exposure to exceedingly high temperatures. However, chemical characteristics of certain PFAS create the potential for them to adhere to equipment used during experimentation. For proper assessment of PFAS removal, it is essential to confirm that there is no carry over from sampling or contamination on the experimental equipment. This paper evaluates two techniques for their potential to effectively eliminate PFAS carry over on glassware used in a sampling train for thermal treatment. The first is a procedure used to clean glassware in the field when sampling for PFAS. The second is a modified version of the glassware cleaning procedure recommended in the OTM 45 protocol from EPA for PFAS sampling. In this experiment, glass impingers contaminated with solutions containing two of the most prevalent PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), were cleaned following the two separate procedures. Results from an analytical laboratory following EPA Method 537 showed that the second cleaning procedure was approximately five times more effective at removing PFOA and about two times more effective than the first cleaning procedure at the removal of PFOS from the impingers. Therefore, the second cleaning procedure is recommended for glassware used in PFAS experimentation.

• 

  Virtual Mirror Illusion

  Lucy Kuempel

  Awareness of body and limb location typically comes from neural pathways within the skin, muscles, and joints as well as visual information from peripheral vision. This study employs a virtual version of the mirror illusion to examine the importance of visual and body-based information in spatial body awareness. In the mirror illusion, the seen location of the hand differs from the felt location of the hand. With this conflicting information, the perceived location of the hand is biased toward the visually-specified limb information. The current study extends this phenomenon into virtual reality to determine whether visual information in a virtual environment influences perceived body part location. Each participant is seated at a table, outfitted with a virtual reality (VR) helmet in which they view a virtual tabletop and a virtual depiction of their right hand. The participant’s actual right hand is positioned at a location that is either aligned or misaligned with the virtual right hand. After repeatedly flexing their right index finger while viewing a corresponding movement in VR, participants are asked to point with the left hand to the perceived location of their actual right hand. Errors in pointing to the hand location are compared in instances in which the virtual hand is aligned versus misaligned with the real hand. It is predicted that when the real and virtual hands are misaligned, participants will point closer to the seen virtual hand location than to the actual hand location. This suggests that body part awareness is dominated by visual information and suggests a sense of ownership of the virtual limb.

• 

  Visualizing Convex Regular-Faced Polyhedra through 3D Printing

  Elizabeth Paci

  Hilbert’s third problem asks whether two polyhedra of equal volume are scissors-congruent. In other words, is it possible to slice one of the polyhedra into a finite number of polyhedra and then rearrange them to form the other polyhedron. Dehn showed that this is not the case by creating a polyhedra invariant now named in his honor: the Dehn invariant. One may show that two polyhedra are scissors-congruent if and only if they have the same volume and Dehn invariant. A related topic concerns whether it’s possible to slice a convex regular-faced polyhedra into a finite number of solids which are themselves convex regular-faced polyhedra. Examples of regular-faced polyhedra include the Platonic, Archimedean, and Johnson solids. We will discuss how these and related ideas—including the nomenclature of polyhedra—can be visualized using 3d printing techniques.

• 

  Voices from UD Faculty: The Impact of COVID-19 on Productivity and Progress

  Eden Michelson

  We have all spent the last three years sharing our concerns, frustrations, and hopes with one another. By offering channels for faculty to specifically name the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their professional and personal lives, the 2022-23 Gender Equity Research Fellowship team hopes to stimulate tangible institutional change that will support faculty moving forward.Our project utilized a mixed methods approach, though the present research focuses on the qualitative research findings. The purpose of the qualitative data was to find commonalities between the responses that faculty provided when asked about the pandemic in relation to their role(s) at the university. Data collection included three focus groups and individual interviews. The sample for the one-on-one interviews consisted of 19 participants. The research team analyzed the data using two rounds of coding, and results found that participants experienced various challenges. Faculty’s primary roles at the university were shaped around professional duties, such as scholarship and being a resource for students, rather than responsibilities like parenting and caregiving. Many faculty members shared experiences related to exhaustion and burnout.Our findings have led us to suggestions that focus on improving faculty well-being by calling for a shift from focusing on productivity to emphasizing people, policies, and programs. Creating a space for participants to share their experiences brought new insights about the countless roles that faculty take on and how to best support them as we continue to navigate a post-quarantine world.

• 

  Watershed Analysis of the University of Dayton Campus

  Steven Shattuck

  The project seeks to create a watershed map of the University of Dayton campus through ArcGIS data and techniques. The campus has a network of stormwater drains that output directly to the river, with every area of campus having runoff that goes to specific drains. Using digital elevation model (DEM) data and GPS locations of stormwater drains, the campus will be divided into small parcels or mini watersheds displaying all of the area that flows to each drain. Any rain that falls in these regions will runoff to the drain associated with it. This knowledge could be used in future projects and research to evaluate the water management of the campus.

• 

  Watershed and Land-use Analysis in Harrison Township using ArcPro

  Sammy Miller

  The purpose of this project is to provide the planner(s) within the Harrison Township Government with a resource about their water systems and land-use to assist them in future decision-making processes. This includes creating a map, using ArcGIS ArcPro, that incorporates the delineation of watersheds, land-use information, and socioeconomic data. Locations of industries with National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits are also identified to indicate areas where the water quality could be negatively impacted. Special attention is given to watersheds that contain these industries. Furthermore, for these specific watersheds, the fraction of different types of land-use is calculated. Lastly, socioeconomic data is included in another layer to provide suggestions of potential environmental justice issues within the watersheds that have a larger percentage of industrial land usage.

• 

  Website monitoring system

  Nikhil Suresh

  Develop a web application that allows users to monitor website status. The main functions of the application include the following:1) Monitor the website status2) Monitor the SSL Certificate expiration date3) Alert if the system goes down4) Dashboard to visualize the status and downtime.

• 

  When is Peace Not Peace? Conflict is an Opportunity for Deepening Relationships

  Grace Sutter, Robin Park, John East

  Drawing on the work of Kazu Haga, a Buddhist who offers training in Kingian nonviolence, this poster will describe ways conflict can be transformed into an occasion for uncovering obstacles and building deeper connections. In the face of so much conflict among us, what changes in ourselves and in our education will prepare us to engage conflict constructively?

• 

  Which Wounds Will be Redeemed? The Role of Disability, Suffering, and the Resurrection in Teresa of Avila's Spirituality

  Elise Abshire

  The objective of my presentation, "Which Wounds Will be Redeemed? The Role of Disability, Suffering, and the Resurrection in Teresa of Avila's Spirituality," is to engage in an historical investigation of redemptive suffering and Resurrected woundedness, especially for persons with disabilities. Teresa of Avila, with her embodiment of suffering, provides a first-hand example of the spiritual tension experienced when living with a disability. From the perspective of Teresa, her body was physically limiting her from fully serving God; "que servía mucho más a Dios con la salud" ["I would be able to serve God much better if I were in good health"] (Autobiography VI: 5). Thus, does disability or woundedness hinder one's relationship with God? Teresa reveals that she wishes her body was healed in order to serve God in a greater way. The main aspect of this project is to present the tension between these two approaches to suffering happening within the same person with special consideration of her early modern European social context. After setting a Christological foundation, I will combine the voice of Teresa of Avila with contemporary thinkers, such as Paul Gondreau and Miguel Romero, to arrive at the present conversation in theological disability studies. Through providing Teresa of Avila's first-hand account of embodiment of suffering with a disability while striving to live a spiritual life, this paper can help to fill a lacuna in current research on this historical religious woman and Resurrected bodies, suffering, and woundedness in disability.

• 

  Who Do We Include? Exploring Inequity in Least Restrictive Environments (LRE)

  Delaney Barga

  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) legally protects students’ access to the least restrictive learning environment (LRE). When possible, placing students with disabilities in general education classrooms with minimal intervention is required. The positive effects of inclusion have been supported in research over the years, yet schools continue to segregate classrooms in ways that are not aligned with the LRE guidance. This project explores the IDEA law, LRE guidance, and implementation of inclusion in schools.

• 

  Who’s “Smart” Enough for This Class? The Effect of Math Tracking on the Success of Students

  Libby Kreikemeier

  Tracking or the separation of students into different classrooms based on perceived ability, within the math classroom is often considered a norm today. Yet there is significant evidence pointing towards it being more harmful than helpful. This literature review explores the impact of math tracking on the success of students from middle school through higher education math.

• 

  Why You Should Care About Book Bans: Book Bans vs. Democracy

  Matthew Chandiles

  This project investigates the hindering effects of book bans as a constraint on the curriculum of real-world problems for America's youth. First, the cause-and-effect relationship of book bans under several rationales of protest, including political, personal, parental, or religious concerns are explored. Next a consideration of limiting the voices of marginalized and minoritized groups as a result of book bans is highlighted. Removing these literary resources and others in schools actively threatens a curriculum that promotes a holistic democratic education that prepares America's youth as informed, functional citizens.

• 

  Women Superintendents in the Rural Midwest: Narratives of Challenges and Resistance

  Anne Strothman

  Women represent 76.5% of all teachers in U. S. public schools (Institute of Education Sciences, 2020). Yet, only 26.7% of superintendents leading districts are women (Tienken, 2021, p.19). Although women have made gains in leading schools in larger districts, the same trend is not evident in smaller, rural school systems, which describe the majority of school districts in the United States (AASA: The School Superintendents Association, 2017). Scholars commonly attribute this disparity to gender bias prevalent in rural cultures. Quinlan’s analyses (2013) underscored the gender inequality and sexism that women can face in rural contexts. To help address gender inequalities in educational leadership, schools, districts, and educational leaders must develop an awareness of specific structural and sociocultural barriers to the superintendency faced by women in rural contexts and take proactive steps to understand and mitigate those challenges. This study focuses on the narratives and lived experiences of women superintendents in rural school districts, and of women who aspire to the superintendency in a rural context. This qualitative study also explored the effects that COVID-19 has had on these women’s experiences as rural superintendents, an important aspect of their experience since the pandemic has disproportionally affected women in the United States (AAUW, 2020; Donovan and Labonte, 2020; Hilferty et al., 2021; Karageorge, 2020). This study can help women interested in pursuing careers as rural school district leaders to learn about those challenges and thus prepare themselves better to overcome them. Finally, this study aims to promote gender equity in rural K-12 systems to support women serving in district-level leadership roles in providing leadership models for all students, especially those who identify as female.

• 

  Working With An Arduino and Sensors

  Abril Robinson

  This project comes from the computer science class "Internet of Things" where we have learned about various microcontrollers. In this project, a sensor is used to collect data and to react automatically to input from an environment. Using an arduino, I can now unlock the door to my house using my phone.

• 

  Yorkie dependent transcriptional network promotes tumor growth

  Arushi Rai; other authors: Indrayani Waghmare, Amit Singh, Madhuri Kango-Singh

  The Hippo pathway effector, Yorkie (Yki) is a key mediator of signaling interactions and transcriptional addictions in tumor cells and presents an attractive opportunity to study transcriptional dependencies in cancer cells. The RasV12 scrib-/- tumor mosaic model, a well-established model, shows activation of oncogenic Ras in the background of impaired apical-basal polarity. Previously, we have shown that in RasV12, scrib-/- cells Wingless (Wg) act upstream of Caspases, JNK and Yki and via its canonical and non-canonical pathways to interact with Yki to regulate the development and cancer growth. Our goal is to understand further how the two evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways i.e., Hippo and Wingless crosstalk and interact with each other to regulate tumor growth using the RasV12, scrib-/- tumor model in Drosophila imaginal discs. Our data showed that the wg transcriptional reporters and wg transcript levels both are upregulated in RasV12, scrib-/- cells. In other contexts, wg is shown as a transcriptional target of Yki. Therefore, we will test for (a) the effects of Yorkie protein, the main effector molecule of the Hippo pathway, on the transcription and expression of Wg and other Wg pathway components by reporter assays, and qRT-PCR- based approaches, and (b) the effect of wg pathway components (frizzled, TCF) on the intrinsic wingless signaling and also the growth of RasV12, scrib-/- tumor (c)the effect of feedback interactions that promote tumorigenesis using genetic epistasis-, and immunohistochemistry-based approaches. Here, we present our progress on the organization of the molecular network involving Wingless and Yorkie.

• 

  Youth, Violence, and the Reproduction of Social Inequalities

  Caroline Hauer, Ariana Adkins, Melissa Moore

  Violence -- whether physical or rhetorical -- is a key mechanism by which social groups navigate their status and power. Groups with less power tend to experience disproportionate rates of violence. In this panel, presenters explore the social conditions in which violence emerges; how individuals are impacted and react to violence; and how violence is represented in both mainstream and social media outlets. The first paper investigates how children who experience abuse or trauma go on to enact aggressive behaviors themselves. The second paper investigates how media representations of violent crime committed by American juveniles have evolved since 1980. The third paper investigates inter-generational discourse on TikTok and how adversarial group dynamics contribute to current polarized and politicized identity-based rhetoric on the Internet. Each of these papers is based on original social science research undertaken by presenters for the sociology senior capstone. Taken together, the papers reveal the myriad ways that violence and conflicts emerge in social interactions. This panel should be of interest to folks who are interested in thinking through ways to build a more safe, peaceful, and democratic society.