Stander Symposium Projects

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  Lovecraft and the Uncanny: A Psychoanalytic Critique of H.P. Lovecrafts' The Outsider

  Jules Carr-Chellman

  Scholarship on H.P. Lovecraft’s literature often will erroneously label his work as simply grotesque or weird. In this paper, I will use a psychoanalytical lens to critically examine Lovecraftian literature and argue that his fiction is not merely grotesque, but instead that his work displays elements of the uncanny that are ciphered in with more intentionally weird parts of his narrative. The first objective of this project is to define the uncanny as it is understood by Sigmund Freud: a feeling that occurs when something that is meant to be hidden is revealed. Having established Freud’s psychoanalytical framework of the uncanny, I will then apply it to H.P. Lovecraft's short story The Outsider.

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  Mahatma Gandhi’s View on the Implementation of Railways and the Impact in India

  Robert T. Bordenkircher

  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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  Mapping Solar Potential: A GIS-Based Analysis for Assessing Solar Viability for University of Dayton

  William Fitzgerald Grob

  In an era marked by growing concerns about climate change and the imperative to transition towards sustainable energy sources, this capstone project endeavors to explore the solar viability of our University of Dayton campus through a comprehensive GIS-based analysis. The objective is to provide valuable insights into the potential for harnessing solar energy, thereby contributing to informed decision-making in renewable energy effectiveness and usage for powering our campus. This study employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools to integrate various spatial datasets, including topography, land use, and LIDAR data. Utilizing advanced analytical techniques, we assess the solar potential of University of Dayton's campus by considering factors such as sunlight exposure, shading effects, geographical features, and rooftop angle. The GIS-based model developed for this project serves as a powerful tool to visualize, analyze, and interpret the complex interplay of factors influencing solar energy generation.The findings of this research will not only shed light on the solar energy potential for Dayton but will also offer valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, renewable energy stakeholders, and administrators to make decisions for reducing our energy usage. The project contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable energy solutions, offering a tangible and data-driven approach to evaluating the feasibility of solar energy implementation in the chosen area. Through the examination of our current university energy usage, I will make informed conclusions on how much money and resources will be saved for the university upon switching to a more renewable and environmentally friendly form of energy. Through this capstone presentation, I aim to showcase the methodology, key findings, and implications of our GIS-based analysis. By understanding the solar viability of Dayton, we take a step forward in fostering sustainable energy solutions and shaping a more environmentally conscious future.

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  Martin Luther King Jr.´s Leadership and Nonviolent Resistance: Shaping the March on Washington

  Laura Zamorano Garcia

  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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  Mary as Nurturer, A New Model for Contemporary Times

  Caitlin B. Cipolla-McCulloch

  Mary’s role in salvation history, characterized by her birthing of Christ, remains the singular descriptive feature of how the Mother of God is viewed in the Church today. While this role, affirmed uniquely at the Council of Ephesus in 431--Mary as the Theotokos, that is “God-bearer” is important--her life and participation in the early Church are not able to be limited to just this feature. This paper will argue that Mary’s role in the life of Christ is a role of nurturing, not simply birthing. We will explore this thesis in four parts. We will first investigate the life of Middle Eastern women in antiquity to highlight an origin of the notion of nurturing. Secondly, a clear definition of nurturing as it applies to Mary will be presented. Utilizing this definition, we will then explore the evolution of this nurturing in the French school of spirituality particularly in the wake of the French Revolution. Finally, we will engage the writings of a mid-twentieth-century Marianist Mariologist who helps provide language that can be adapted to fit the needs of the Church today.

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  Measuring and Addressing Collegiate EMTs' Preparedness for Mental Health Emergency Responses

  Spencer J. Hawkins, Allison Marie Johnson

  The COVID-19 Pandemic highlighted the increasing mental health burden felt by graduate and undergraduate students in the United States. A study from 2020 showed that 35% of undergraduate students screen positive for major depressive disorder, while 39% screen positive for general anxiety disorder (Chrikov et al., 2020). Previous research has supported the claim that collegiate EMS programs are especially effective at responding to mental health emergencies on college campuses (Friedman, 2022). UD EMS utilized multiple established questionnaires and surveys to gain insight into the preparedness of members to respond to various emergencies. The "perceived ability to attend to various patient presentations survey", adapted from Waltrich et al. (2022), allowed measurement of the perceived knowledge, ability, and confidence of UD EMS members when responding to medical-related calls, trauma calls, and mental health-related calls. Day's Mental Illness Stigma Scale (Day et al., 2007) allowed the measurement of mental health stigma across seven different measurements. 39 UD EMS EMTs completed these measurements before and after a mental health training program to determine how the training would affect attitudes. Data from before the training indicated that the EMTs possessed more perceived knowledge, ability, and confidence when responding to medical and trauma calls than mental health-related calls. After the training, the EMT's perceived knowledge, ability, and confidence related to medical and trauma calls did not change but perceived knowledge and ability to treat mental-health-related calls matched medical and trauma scores. Additionally, the measurement of Day's Mental Illness Stigma Scale showed that mental health stigma decreased across four of seven measures in the EMTs and increased in no way. While confidence in mental health-related calls was unaffected, additional mental health response training for collegiate EMTs shows promise to increase effective mental health emergency responses on college campuses.

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  Mechanical Design of an Aircraft with a Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage

  Colin E. Meehan

  An aircraft without a vertical stabilizer and using a novel rotating empennage is currently under study at the Air Force Research Lab. The project aims to produce a highly maneuverable tailless fighter aircraft that is inspired by the flight of hunting birds. Flying creatures do not have a vertical stabilizer and exhibit remarkable maneuverability by rotating their tail feathers for lateral stability and pitch control. In the tailless bio-inspired aircraft, lateral control is gained by providing the empennage with an additional degree of freedom. The bio-inspired rotating empennage (BIRE) concept aircraft has the capability to rotate the empennage about the roll axis, in addition to tilting each horizontal stabilizer about the pitch axis. The selected platform for the BIRE project is a single-engine, supersonic, tactical aircraft, based on the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The design of the outer mold line, the mechanical drive and structural components is ongoing. This poster will illustrate the concept and current state of development.

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  Media’s Role in College-Aged Students' Misconceptions of the Criminal Justice System

  Hallie M. Callitsis, Anya Christine Jawyn

  In recent decades, the widespread prevalence of fictional crime shows has become a defining feature of popular culture, captivating audiences with their intricate narratives of criminal investigations, courtroom dramas, and forensic analyses. This research aims to delve into the connection between these fictional crime shows and the perceptions of the criminal justice system among college-aged students. The central research question guiding this study is: How does exposure to fictional crime shows influence college-aged students' perceptions of the criminal justice system? By employing a survey-based methodology and distributing questionnaires to college students, the study intends to analyze responses, identify patterns, correlations, and significant findings related to the impact of media exposure on perceptions of the criminal justice system. After analyzing the data using a linear regression model, with the dependent variable being knowledge-based questions we found that nothing was significant. While this does not support our hypothesis, it is still relevant in determining how fictional crime shows impact the perception of the criminal justice system. Similarly, we ran two additional linear regression models with dependent variables based on the answers to the following questions: on average, what percentage of criminal cases in the US end in a plea bargain; and approximately what percentage of police officers have ever fired their gun while on duty? In regards to plea bargains, we found that being a criminal justice major/minor or not was significant, and with police officers firing their guns on duty being a criminal justice major/minor or not, race, and gender were all significant.

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  Membrane-Level Experiments: Validation Testing for Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

  Nathan Benham

  Nonlinear Dynamics of Soft Electro-Active Materials Under AC Voltages

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  Mind the Gap: Navigating Educational Inequality Amplified by the Pandemic

  Thomas Christopher Jammal

  The lasting changes to the education system and the impact on individual students observed after distance learning during the pandemic have been immense. Researchers have identified many impacts and changes such as (1) learning loss from time spent during distance learning (2) an increase in students not performing at grade level and (3) increased mental illness in students and other mental health issues. These topics and their broader implications are explored.

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  Mock Trial

  Kaylee N. Ballard, Selena Rosalind Geary, Gabriella Jeanne Grant, Logan Thomas Groff, Melanie Grace Herzog, Katherine Jean Hoener, Crystal Safowah Kissi, Mireille Mahirwe Kuzwa, Antonino M. Lacorte, Rylie Mick, Taryn Elizabeth Mitchell, Madeleine Elizabeth Onderak

  The University Mock Trial team engages in trial simulations in competition with teams from other institutions all across the country. Through these trial competitions, students develop critical thinking and public speaking skills, as well as a knowledge of legal practices and procedures. The team will present an abbreviated version of the case they have worked on this year – the State of Midlands v. B.F. De la Porta and Poe Cameron.Case summary: During the annual charity gala for Sohi Children’s Hospital, four masked individuals break into the vault at Miller Tower. During the heist, one of the armed robbers and Emory Sands, a Miller Tower security officer, are severely wounded. Two of the robbers flee via a helicopter on the rooftop and two flee into the streets of Santa Ivo City. After an extensive investigation on the local and federal level, Poe Cameron is arrested as one of the four suspected armed robbers, and local billionaire Berkley De la Porta is arrested for funding the criminal operation.

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  Modern Implications of Gandhi and Sanger’s Views and Debate on Birth Control Use

  Lucy K. Schuermann

  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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  Modulation of Tumor Growth by Yorkie and Wingless

  Arushi Rai

  Studies with Drosophila RasV12,scrib-/- tumor models have shown that Yorkie, the effector molecule of the Hippo pathway, interacts with other signaling pathways to form a dynamic transcriptional network within cancer cells. Previously, we have shown that in RasV12,scrib-/- cells Wingless (Wg) acts upstream of Caspases, JNK, and Yki forming a tumor-specific network that regulates tumor growth and development. By studying this complex network, we aim to unravel the key players that regulate tumor growth. Wg appears upstream of the molecular network and is also a transcriptional target of Yorkie. Wg expression is ectopically induced in RasV12 and RasV12,scrib-/- tumor clones. However, accumulation of Wg is reduced in tumor clones with heterozygous loss of yki (ykiB5/+;RasV12,scrib-/-) or downregulation of Wg signaling (dTCFDN; RasV12,scrib-/-). Heterozygosity of yki (ykiB5/+;RasV12,scrib-/-) and downregulation of Wg signaling (dTCFDN; RasV12,scrib-/-) both resulted in reduced tumor clone size in comparison to RasV12,scrib-/- tumor clones. To further understand the molecular mechanism by which Wg and Yki promote tumor growth, we will investigate the effect of downregulation of Wg pathway and Hippo pathway on the (a) the transcriptional network of RasV12,scrib-/- tumor clones by analyzing the mRNA expression by qRT-PCR and (b) hallmarks of cancer such as invasion, cell adhesion, and survival signaling by immunohistochemistry-based approach (c) analyzing the Hippo pathway (Mst,p-MST), JNK pathway (JNK,p-JNK) and Wg pathway activity by Western blot assay. Here, we present our progress on the organization of the molecular network that involves Wingless and Yorkie.

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  Molecular genetic dissection of a transcription factor Defective proventriculus in growth versus cell fate decisions

  Anuradha Chimata Venkatakrishnan

  Defective proventriculus, a homeodomain containing transcription factor acts as a dorsal fate selector during Drosophila eye development. It is highly conserved across species and its human ortholog SATB1 is highly upregulated in cancer. Earlier, we have shown that dve is crucial to establish dorsal fate which is required to promote growth and cell fate decisions. Furthermore, the dve expressing cells (~150-200) are responsible for expression of a morphogen wingless (wg)/Wnt in the developing eye. These dve expressing cells provide an inductive signal to determine eye vs head fate specification. Since dve is involved in growth regulation and cell fate decisions, we wanted to dissect these two independent functions during eye development. We employed structure-function analysis because dve has two isoforms and the Dve protein has multiple functional domains such as ULD domain, two Hox domains and a PPP4R2 domain. We hypothesized that different domains of Dve might be involved in regulating different functions. We present our results from studies on the role of these domain(s) on eye development and regulation of Wg expression in the developing eye. Here, we present results from individual functional domain(s) of Dve, combination of domain(s) and chimeras with SATB1. SATB1, human ortholog of dve, has similar domains and such studies can shed light on how SATB1 might function in diseases.

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  Monitoring Air Quality Using a Visibility Meter

  Kaya Alina Niemiec, Cameron A. Pierson

  Atmospheric aerosols constitute most of the air during non-ideal weather conditions such as fog, haze, and mist. These aerosols cause light to be attenuated while propagating through the atmosphere leading to reduction in effective visibility. Visibility is the distance at which an observer can view an object clearly. The atmospheric extinction coefficient is related to the visibility and can be measured from designing a visibility meter. The overall goal of this project is to understand how to measure visibility in non-ideal weather conditions by built in the visibility meter. The visibility meter built in this project is cheaper than commercial visibility meters.

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  Montessori Schools:Benefits Over Time

  Dana Grace Rodden

  The Montessori method is a non-traditional schooling philosophy and method which emphasizes hands-on learning as well as a focus on each child's individual needs. Children are in mixed-age classrooms and work at their own pace, allowing students to each make their own self-discoveries. Research has shown the Montessori method can be effective in creating an encouraging learning environment benefiting the individual growth of students.

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  Motivating Factors in Incorporating Physical Activity Into an Individual's Daily Routine

  Sydney Marie Gibbons

  Past research has shown there are many benefits to engaging in regular physical activity. These benefits include but are not limited to managing weight/weight loss, reducing health risks, and improving mental health. The World Health Organization recommends 150-300 mins of physical activity weekly, and while there are many recommendations on the amount and type of activity there is limited research on how to get engagement in physical activity. The purpose of this research project is to better understand the motivating factors behind the start of an individual's physical activity journey.

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  Mouse Brain Image Analysis

  Aditya Shrivastava

  For the study of brain function and behavior, the mouse brain serves as a valuable model system. Methods to accurately analyze the complex signals produced by the mouse brain are becoming increasingly important due to developments in neuroimaging and optogenetics. Techniques that can take the information contained in mouse brain signals and turn it into useful biological insights are especially needed. In brain analysis, image segmentation is commonly used for measuring and visualizing the brain's anatomical structures, for analyzing brain changes, for delineating pathological regions, and for surgical planning and image-guided interventions. In the last few decades, various segmentation techniques of different accuracy and degree of complexity have been developed and reported in the literature. In this work, we focus on dataset collection and computational model for mouse brain image segmentation.

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  Mucin Can Rescue Anaerobically Grown Listeria monocytogenes from Killing by Antimicrobial Peptide Ll-37

  Nicolina Valore

  Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can cause infections with a high mortality rate in the United States. Therefore, learning more about the interactions between this pathogen and our immune defenses could greatly strengthen our ability to protect high-risk communities. During transmission from food to the human intestines, L. monocytogenes is exposed to various environmental conditions, including propionate, a common food additive as well as a fermentation product by our gut microbiota, and various oxygen levels. How these environmental factors influence L. monocytogenes fitness and pathogenesis is not fully understood. My Berry Summer Thesis Institute research investigated L. monocytogenes interactions with mucin and antimicrobial peptides, both are critical barriers found in the intestinal lumen. L. monocytogenes was grown with or without propionate under aerobic or anaerobic conditions and then exposed to mucin and antimicrobial peptides. Then, I measured the bacterial colony forming units (CFUs) to calculate survival after exposure. My preliminary results showed that anaerobically grown bacteria were more susceptible to antimicrobial peptide LL-37 than aerobically grown bacteria. However, the presence of mucin rescued anaerobic, but not aerobic, bacteria against LL-37. These results highlight the need to further investigate the role of oxygen in L. monocytogenes fitness and pathogenesis under relevant conditions.

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  Navigating the Food Crisis: Food Insecurity, Sustainability, and Gandhi

  Kevin M. Gonzalez-Brito

  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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  Navigating the Transition: An Examination of Faculty and Staff’s Experience Supporting First-Year Engineering Students

  Jason Zhu

  This study investigates two questions: What are the common challenges and needs that faculty and staff encounter working with first-year engineering students as they transition from high school to a four-year Marianist university? How do faculty and staff provide support for the common challenges and needs of engineering students during the transition from high school to a four-year Marianist university? Data for this constructivist, qualitative study was gathered from four advisors, two faculty members, and one resident assistant in an engineering focused living learning community. Themes relating to common challenges during the transition, changing challenges and needs, how and when students make needs known, and important campus resources for students emerged. Findings from this study have implications for faculty and staff who work with first-year engineering students.

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  Negative Perceptions of Standardized Testing in Schools

  Olivia Marie Dunning

  Standardized testing is seen throughout schools in almost all grade levels. Standardized testing affects teachers, students and parents. Negative impacts of standardized testing include biases based on race, gender, and household income. Students also experience negative stress in response to standardized testing. This literature review highlights why standardized testing is viewed so negatively throughout the school system.

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  Non-Violence and Vegetarianism

  Casey M. Tirado

  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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  Northern Triangle parent perspectives on the family dynamic effects of immigration-driven family separation and reunification

  Ann Bryner Mcglaughlin

  This study presents the results of in-depth interviews with Northern Triangle parents who have experienced separation from, and subsequent reunification with, at least one child as part of the immigration process. It builds upon previous understanding of how family dynamics are affected by this process. Some of the main themes that emerged involved the challenges the parents faced, the factors they found to be helpful, the role of the school, and a possible return to home country. The results highlight the need for services for this growing population, particularly in the area of trauma-informed interventions that focus on repairing attachments between children and parents.

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  Novel role of miRNA-137 in Drosophila eye development

  Rad Radhika Padma

  During organogenesis various players including genes non-coding RNAs like microRNA (miRNA) are involved in differentiation and development. miRNA are involved in post- transcriptional regulation of gene expression in a tissue-specific manner and thereby fine tune the expression of their target gene(s). Therefore, miRNAs play a crucial role in regulation of the cell fate and differentiation during development. In a forward genetic screen, we identified a miRNA which exhibits reduced eye phenotype upon overexpression in the developing eye. Here, we present our characterization of the role of this new miRNA (miR-137) in growth and development of an eye-antennal imaginal disc of Drosophila. Our results illustrate the novel role of miR-137 in eye development and growth. The results from our studies on molecular characterization of the role of this miR-137 during eye development will be presented.