Stander Symposium: Projects with UD Institutional Learning Goals

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  Determining connectivity deficits between the cerebellum and the thalamus in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down Syndrome.

  FNU Mir Abbas Raza

  Introduction:The cerebellum - a key brain region that regulates gait, motor coordination, and adaptive learning - has an altered developmental trajectory in Down Syndrome, with preclinical mouse models mirroring these phenotypes. During development, the cerebellum not only forms its internal circuitry but also forms an extensive connectome with other major regions of the brain including the thalamus. However, potential connectivity deficits within the cerebellum and its connections with other regions of the brain in DS remain unknown. Methods:In this study, we stereotactically injected promoter-specific Cre-expressing retrograde Adeno Associated Viruses (AAVs) and Cre-dependent anterograde AAVs tagged with GFP to specifically label neural projections from the Cerebellar cortex to the Ventromedial thalamic nucleus (VM) via the Fastigial Cerebellar Nucleus (FN) in both Euploid and Trisomic Ts65Dn mice at postnatal day 45. Using confocal images of brain sections after signal enhancement with Immunohistochemistry we analyzed the morphology of the labeled cells, including their dendritic and axonal arborizations, as well as their connectivity patterns using Fiji. We performed descriptive statistical analysis to validate the AAV expression using MATLAB. Results:We have successfully labeled Purkinje cells through injections into the cerebellar cortex. Our injections into the simplex lobule of the cerebellar cortex of the Euploid Ts65Dn mice have yielded an 82.5% co-localization of 5.4 ± 0.3 Purkinje cells/(100µm)2 labeled with the Cre-dependent GFP expressing AAV out of the 6.6 ± 0.6 Purkinje cells/(100µm)2 immuno-positive for Calbindin (n=2).Conclusion: Our initial injections show good labeling and high colocalization of the Purkinje cells labeled with GFP in the cerebellar cortex. We are currently working on more injections into the cerebellar cortex and have also begun injections into the cerebellar and thalamic nuclei.

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  Developing Translanguaging Exercises: Utilizing Arabic Grammar Knowledge to Facilitate English Grammar Comprehension

  Abeer Abdullah M. AlMuafa

  Research on utilizing students' existing linguistic skills in their first language (L1) to learn a second language (L2) through translanguaging has received considerable attention. However, there is hesitancy in Arabic schools to integrate Arabic into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Arabic-speaking teachers and students have mixed attitudes toward the presence of Arabic in English grammar classes, fearing potential interference with English proficiency. Although Arabic is used in these classes, it often happens informally or spontaneously due to a lack of planning. This issue is compounded by the absence of instructions on incorporating Arabic in English grammar textbooks and teachers' limited understanding of how to utilize students' prior knowledge of Arabic grammar through pedagogical translanguaging to understand English grammar concepts. Consequently, students' full linguistic potential remains overlooked. To address this gap, five translanguaging grammar exercises have been developed, aligning Arabic and English grammar concepts. These exercises aim to enhance metalinguistic awareness among Arabic-speaking students, moving beyond traditional grammar translation methods to incorporate culture and facilitate comprehensive language learning.

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  Development of a Machine Learning-Based Program to Measure Cell Proliferation

  Adam J. Jones

  Many tools have emerged to investigate the functioning of biological systems, especially when in contact with foreign substances. In vitro procedures are often used due to their cost effectiveness and suitability for high-throughput experiments. These procedures collect basic measurements, such as toxicity and biocompatibility, that provide insight into the compatibility and safety of a substance.In vitro toxicity tests are favored for their expediency, affordability, and consistent outcomes. Quantitative methodologies, like colorimetric and fluorometric assays, offer objectivity and high-throughput analysis. However, they require lengthy incubation times and only provide a single metric. Microscopy-based methods provide more information in terms of cell morphology and localization, and can be captured quickly without the need for reagents and incubation. Yet, this method requires specialized expertise and is prone to subjective biases and variations based on the region-of-interest.Given the limitations of microscopy-based approaches, there is a growing interest in leveraging machine learning (ML) to streamline and enhance cell analysis. This study aims to develop an ML-based approach to evaluate cell count and confluency from microscope images and compare its performance to the colorimetric assay, CCK8. The CCK8 assay, which releases a dye when metabolized by live cells, served as the benchmark for comparison. The ML-based method, developed using Ilastik, CellProfiler, and Python, segments microscopy images into cell and background regions, followed by erosion for cell boundary enhancement. CellProfiler subsequently quantifies the cell count and confluency from the processed images.This novel ML-based approach offers expedited analysis, while mitigating the inherent subjectivity and error associated with conventional techniques. This approach also eliminates the need for excess reagents and waste associated with quantitative assays. In conclusion, this technique presents an alternative in scenarios where traditional assays are impractical, such as with low cell counts or when cells must be reused.

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  Development of an optical technique for microplastic detection in water

  Geoffrey Scott Campman

  In the last ten years, microplastic pollution has become a very salient problem in large bodies of water such as lakes or oceans. Therefore, study of pollution of that sort has become an area of interest for oceanographers and physicists alike. Present-day collection, detection, quantification, and analysis techniques are time-intensive, complex, and lack standardized procedures. One of the main drawbacks is that the water sample is collected and taken back to the lab for further processing and analysis, often using a form of microscopy. This all makes it difficult to observe the temporal behavior of the amount of microplastics present at a certain location. The use of laser beam propagation in the ocean for detection purposes has been studied in recent years. A novel pollution detection method for microplastics has been developed, which records laser-light scattering induced by said microplastics at multiple angles. A camera is added to the setup, which will be able to give an estimate of the size and shape of the microplastics. Measurements were performed in a laboratory setting using two types of microplastics; PET and PLA. The results showed that correlations between outlier scattering readings and average power of scattering can be used to determine the composition of plastic in a body of water. Furthermore, we believe that this method of detection has the added advantage of providing temporal measurements, as it can be performed in-situ and over a long(er) period of time. This could provide a more accurate understanding of the temporal behavior of the concentration of microplastics in a body of water.

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  Did the Blessed Virgin Mary Die or Not? Opinions of the Early Church as Well as the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches in the 20th Century

  Vincent Alexander LoBiondo

  Pope Pius XII's 1950 definition of the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary did not say whether or not Mary died. Therefore, Catholics are still free to believe either possibility. The Immortalists say that Mary did not die, while the Mortalists hold that Mary did die. Most of the Church Fathers, Apocrypha, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theologians take the Mortalist position for various reasons. The Mortalists of the Eastern Orthodox Church say that Mary was subject to death from Original Sin. Meanwhile, a minority of Roman Catholic theologians argue from the Catholic dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception, i.e. that Mary did not have Original Sin, to say that Mary would not have had to die since that was a punishment for the Original Sin that she did not have. The two Churches also disagree on how the body is united to the soul. Despite these theological differences, theological similarities exist.

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  Digging up the dirt on soil: The link between heavy metals in soil, agricultural practices, and pollinators on urban farms in the Midwest.

  Lauren E. Carr, Penelope Margaux Fisher

  As city populations grow, the need for fresh produce in cities to feed people also grows. One such growing urban environment is Dayton, Ohio, which has begun to implement measures aiming to limit the hunger experienced by underserved individuals in the city. According to The Dayton Food Bank, in Montgomery County alone 14.2% of individuals living in the county experience food insecurity, a majority of whom are children. Urban farming has proven to be a lucrative solution to some of these issues. However, these farms are often established in areas where the soil is degraded due to previous land use, which could pose challenges in growing crops in cities, and it is unknown what practices are most effective in restoring soil in urban agriculture. I hypothesized that farms which were closer to urban areas would contain a higher presence of heavy metals than those of peri-urban farms, farms who were run by individuals knowledgeable in soil ecology would have a healthier overall nutritional and moisture content, and farms with healthier soil composition would experience a higher abundance of pollinator diversity.We surveyed 18 local urban and peri-urban farmers about their understanding of the health of their soil, the practices they use to rejuvenate the soil, and what they were doing to promote pollinators. At each site, we took three soil cores from inside agricultural plots while three were taken outside of the agricultural plots. These soil samples were then analyzed for soil bulk density, moisture concentration, pH, and conductivity. The samples were then analyzed for various heavy metals including zinc, arsenic, and lead. Understanding the ecology of soil in urban farms and how to rejuvenate this soil can provide essential steps to creating sustainable farming habitats, and help create healthier methods for producing large-scale, nutritious food for many communities.

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  Diversity in the American Ballet World

  Haleigh Melina Gross

  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.

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  Documenting Inequities

  Ellana Rose Davis

  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.

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  Does Cycle Syncing Help Females Balance Hormones?

  Aubrey M. Swart

  Some of the most important hormones that influence women throughout a cycle are cortisol, leptin, estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Examining the relationship between small variations in these hormones and emotional and cognitive functioning has been made easier with the use of the menstrual cycle (Le, Thomas, 2020). Throughout the menstruation cycle, hormones can drop or rise through specific phases of the cycle. It is important to learn how hormones fluctuate throughout a cycle so that women can learn how to balance them. Having balanced hormones can lead to a better lifestyle, less PMS symptoms, regulate cravings, and help regulate weight. Cycle syncing is one way that women are able to balance hormones. Cycle syncing is somewhat of a new concept where women exercise and eat specific foods around the different phases of a menstrual cycle. The goal of this research project is to see if cycle syncing helps female college students to balance hormones.

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  Does Engaging in Mindfulness Activities Improve Mental Well-Being in College Students?

  Madelyn Grace LoPresti

  Research has shown that mental health is a common struggle among college students, which can lead to disruptions in daily routines. According to Pevekar et al., (2023), college students struggling with anxiety were more likely to have impaired academic performance, decreased quality of life, and increased utilization of healthcare services. The purpose of this research study is to determine if engaging in mindful activities can help to improve mental well-being in college-aged students.

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  Does Engaging in Physical Activity Provide College Students with Greater Academic Success?

  Ashlee Hoang Nguyen

  It is shown that in order to maximize health benefits, adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Past research has shown that regular engagement in physical activity has the potential to improve cognitive ability. The goal of this research project is to better understand the relationship between physical activity and academic performance among college students at a private university in Central Ohio.

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  Does Regular Exercise Improve the Quality and Quantity of Sleep in College Students?

  Matthew T. Mahoney

  The purpose of this investigation is to determine if regular exercise improves sleep patterns in college students. In order to have strong cognitive function, it is imperative that sleep quality and quantity remain positively consistent. Research shows that strong cognitive function can lead to greater success in college coursework and extracurricular activities. Sleep is also important for physical and mental health. Building high-quality exercise and sleep habits at a young age can lay a solid framework for a person's health as they age, leading to a higher quality of life.

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  Doors, Trikes and Folding Wings: Advancing Concepts for Machines Using MotionGen

  Andrew William Gasser, Veronica Michele Hatfield, Brian Andrew Piper, Brock Robert Smith

  MotionGen, a kinematic analysis and synthesis tool, helps to readily develop working kinematic models of mechanisms, planar robotic systems, and heavy machinery like backhoes and bulldozers. By using MotionGen, these systems can be readily synthesized and animated. A team of DIMLab (Design of Innovative Machines Lab) students has been busy this semester learning MotionGen and using it to create novel yet practical designs. We have utilized MotionGen to model recumbent tricycles for people with disabilities who pedal with FES, to investigate novel architectures for mechanical presses, to ideate on a novel swinging door, and to assess the motion of a foldable airplane wing.

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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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  Effect of Si/Al Ratio on the Transport Behavior of Zeolitic Nanotubes.

  Muhammad Rizwan

  Carbon nanotubes are the poster child of 1-dimensional nanomaterials, but in recent years attention has spread to other chemistries such as boron-nitride and molybdenum-disulfide. The first nanotubes with zeolitic walls were recently synthesized. This new structure presents both nanoscale pores in the nanotube wall and a mesoscopic channel along the tube axis. These molecular structures have the potential to be impactful in several applications, but a fundamental understanding of how their new structure affects their adsorption and transport properties is critical to realizing their widespread use. We use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of Si/Al ratio and the associated charge defects on the adsorption and transport of different liquids within the multiscale features of the zeolite nanotube.

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  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.

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  Effects of Digital Use on Social Wellbeing and Development

  Johnny P. Nguyen

  With the advancement of technology in the 21st century, digital usage has become more prevalent in society that the younger generations are now growing up in the presence of technological innovations. Because of this, researchers have tried to study the impact of digital technology on the social well-being of not just the youth, but people of all ages as well. This study observed the effects of digital technology on the social well-being of young adults–ages 18-25. Many studies have been conducted observing a generalized usage of digital technology on social well-being. With how advanced digital communication has become and how efficient young adults are able to use such digital modes for communication, studies have shown some disconnect when it comes to social well-being and development. This study specifically examined how communicating and connecting through digital technology affects social well-being in young adults.

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  Embracing College Students LinkedIn Profile

  Alyssa Leanne Smith

  LinkedIn is a tool all college students should embrace, whether they realize the importance of it now or not. The goal of the platform is to create a professional image. It can enhance and grow an expert network, which allows students to pursue career goals. The presentation conducted will analyze not only how to update and create LinkedIn profile, but it will also give ways to continue to enhance and utilize the tool daily. Following these steps on LinkedIn will allow career seekers to organize their page and start the connection process with contacts and employers. This presentation will show best practices of how to start and maintain a professional LinkedIn profile. These steps are needed for all college students to be in the game of networking and feel confident in the way they display themselves through their professional profile.

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  Empirical Research Presentations in Economics

  Aaron Michael Arellano, Joseph C. Ariano, Michael F. Baffa, Austin S. Baker, Brett Robert Beardsley, Kevin James Borah, Andrew J. Cade, John Michael Connor, John P. Deeley, Anthony Vincent Dipaolo, Jack Joseph Drago, Luke J. Dreas, Justin Alexander Eichholz, Benjamin Matthew Engels, Matthew J. Erhardt, Trevor T. Fraley, Matthew K. Freel, John Thomas Graham, Garth E. Hall, Gabriel A. Haubner, Nathan Glenn Jabaay, Nicholas R. Kairys, Joseph R. Lauterbach, Daniel J. Lins, Timothy J. McCabe, Ryan P. McRae, Milan Miscevic, James A. Olson, Catherine Ann Rafter, Joshua John Russell, John James Smithwick, Greta Josephine Spees, John Richard Stanley, Matthew Casaclang Szell, Robert Brendan Taggart, Adam R. Thill, James R. Thomas, Jackson P. Ward, Elizabeth Claire Wonderley

  Four years of coursework culminate in a written and oral presentation of an empirical research project during the senior capstone course. Students apply economic theory and econometric techniques to analyze data in order to answer an original research question.

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  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.

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  Energy Sector Stock Returns During Periods of Rising Fed Fund Rates: An Empirical Analysis 1999-2023

  Kathleen Mae Hattrup

  Stocks in the energy sector are highly volatile due to ongoing imbalances in the supply and demand for oil and natural gas. In this study, I examine the impact of rising interest rates and in particular, fed fund rates on energy sector stock returns. The period of analysis is from 1999-2023 within which there are four distinct periods where fed fund rates are rising. I expect positive returns to energy sector stocks in periods where the rate rise is simply due to economic growth. I expect negative returns when the rates are rising due to a policy of aggressive monetary tightening by the fed. I use the top 20 stocks by market cap in the S&P 500 energy sector to carry out my study.

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  Enhancing Deep Collaboration through Experiential Learning: The Impact of the Stitt Scholars Program

  Avery Lorraine Baltrus, Trent Edward Borgmann, Anna Isabella Carollo, Lauren E. Carr, Austin M. Ebbing, Brooke Elisabeth Hunstad, Brian Nicholas LeCocq, Loring L. Leitzel, Lucianna T. Nice, Kevin Louis Nudo, John Protz, Yadiel Yomar Roque, Raegan Mae Rowland, Catherine Sayeedi, Erin O. Wagner, Jack Vincent Waters

  Collaboration in higher education has significantly improved, with programs increasingly incorporating collaborative elements in their curricula. Despite these advances, there is a pressing need to further enhance interdisciplinary collaborations through experiential learning. The Stitt Scholars Program exemplifies this by offering students from the School of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Business Administration opportunities to work with startup companies at the HUB, supported by PNC Bank. Students commit ten hours weekly to their projects and engage in lectures on innovation and entrepreneurship. The program's success has attracted further investment, enabling its expansion and continued contribution to interdisciplinary education and community engagement.

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  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.