Stander Symposium Projects

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  Design of GeSn single photon avalanche photodiodes for short wave infrared detection

  Alexander Skender

  There is a desire for single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) capable of detecting light in the SWIR wavelengthrange for Lidar systems to increase their range while maintaining eye safety. It is also desirable for these SPADsto be CMOS compatible. Ge-on-Si SPADs have been demonstrated by several groups, but Ge only extends thewavelength response to around 1.6 µm. This paper investigates the design of SPADs using GeSn as an absorberto increase the wavelength response to 2 µm. We will compare the use of Si and Ge as a material for themultiplication region.

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  Design Space Exploration for a Novel Self-Healing Elastomer, Informed by Bayesian Optimization

  Robert Drexler

  Self-healing elastomers are an emerging class of materials capable of mitigating vulnerability to externally-induced damage. Recent advancements in polymer chemistry have led to self-healing elastomers that are 3D-printable, exhibit real-time self-healing in the absence of external stimuli (e.g., heat, light), and use commercially available (COTS) precursors to enable production at scale. However, at present, the trade-offs between virgin mechanical properties and self-healing efficiency are not well known. To address this research opportunity, this talk presents an experimental program – informed by a Bayesian optimization platform – to (a) facilitate design space exploration and (b) investigate the interplay between virgin mechanical properties (i.e., hardness and toughness) and self-healing efficiency (e.g., ratio of healed toughness to virgin toughness) as chemical composition is varied. The material of interest is BeckOHflex, a new acrylate/thiol-ene elastomer that exhibits real-time, autonomous self-healing and is exclusively prepared from COTS precursors. The experimental design was conducted by varying the crosslinker and thiol components from 0-10% by volume while holding the molar ratio of acrylate and photoinitiator constant. Test samples were cast in custom silicone molds and cured using an external UV lamp. Hardness data was obtained using an analog Shore OO durometer, and mechanical property data was collected through uniaxial tension testing. Informed by previous-iteration experimental inputs (chemical composition) and the resulting outputs from mechanical testing (virgin hardness, virgin toughness, and self-healing efficiency), a Bayesian optimization platform (EBDO+) was used to suggest next-iteration experimental inputs. Through this iterative process of synthesizing, testing, and analyzing different compositions throughout the experimental campaign, a well-defined Pareto frontier will be determined to bound the design space, allowing for a fundamental, quantitative understanding of tradeoffs between virgin mechanical properties and self-healing efficiency. It is expected that the Pareto frontier will be determined after tens of experiments out of a possible 2,000+ discrete input parameter combinations.

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  Detective Fiction and Anti-Intellectualism at the Fin de Siècle

  Allie Thiele

  At the turn of the century there was an increase in social concern surrounding intellectualism and the role of the academic in a rapidly industrializing world. While anti-intellectualism is addressed in a variety of literary texts, detective fiction offers a unique insight into the emergent anxieties surrounding intellectualism through its stark representations of good and evil. The Sign of the Four, published in 1890 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and The Man Who Was Thursday, published in 1908 by G.K. Chesterton, both address the increased cynicism surrounding intellectualism. The Sign of the Four is also riddled with concerns surrounding reverse-colonization, which is the fear that the colonizer (Britain) will be invaded by the colonized. I argue that Conan Doyle attempts to justify the work of the intellectual by proposing that they are necessary to prevent reverse-colonization; while Chesterton critiques the idea that intellectuals are openly planning the downfall of Western society. Chesterton and Conan Doyle’s different approaches to addressing the fears surrounding intellectualism highlight the pervasive distrust of the intellectual through two decades and the efforts of literary authors to emphasize the continued importance of intellectuals in modern times.

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  Determine the role of zinc finger protein (ZFP36L1) on host immune response and antiviral activity against RNA viruses

  Malabika Bhowmik, Mychaela Janzow, Tooba Ahmed Momin

  Zinc finger proteins (ZFP) are one of the most abundant proteins in eukaryotes. ZFPs bind with different cellular components such as DNA, RNA, lipids, or other proteins (1). A specific type of ZFP, ZFP36L1, belongs to the CCCH-type ZFP, which has been identified as a regulator of RNA metabolism. It is known to control the turnover of cellular mRNA through poly A tail deadenylation. That is why ZFP36L1 also binds to viral RNA, facilitating its degradation and controlling virus replication. ZFP36L1 can inhibit virus replication by several other pathways, and in the influenza virus, it inhibits viral protein translation. We have found that ZFP36L1 inhibits Coronavirus replication by directly binding to its Nucleocapsid open reading frame. Since virus infection triggers inflammation, we hypothesized that ZFP36L1 could break down the mRNA of pro-inflammatory cytokines, moderating virus-induced inflammation induced by the virus. We have found that the stable overexpression of ZFP36L1 through lentivirus transduction significantly reduces Rotavirus and Norovirus titre and reduces expression of proinflammatory cytokines like IFN-α and TNF-α, while knockdown of ZFP36L1 enhances viral titres and immune responses. Thus, influencing other immune responses is a possibility as the knockdown of ZFP36L1 in RAW 264.7 cells showed more migration when stimulated by bacterial LPS when compared to wildtype and overexpressed cells. Viruses are known to modulate autophagy (a cellular degradative process), which is closely tied to innate immunity. Several viruses are known to influence autophagy and use autophagy machinery for their efficient replication. We will investigate the mechanism of autophagic degradation and ZFP36L1 influence. Our data shows the possibility of a direct relationship between ZFP36L1 and autophagy induction. The main goals of this study are to investigate the role of ZFP36L1 in inhibiting Rotavirus and Norovirus replication, mitigating virus-induced inflammation, regulating immune responses, and understanding its connection with autophagy.

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  Determining potential connectivity deficits between the Cerebellum and the thalamus in Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome

  Mir Abbas Raza

  Down Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by triplication in human chromosome 21 and characterised by alteration in cognitive and motor behaviour. 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 between the cerebellum and its connections with other regions of the brain in DS remain unknown. In this study, 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 analysis 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 the same in developmental stage 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 as well as assessment of functional connectivity using Fiber photometry. 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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  Deus Ex Machina: Exploring the Feminist Phenomenology of Body, Motherhood, and Technology

  Aila Carr-Chellman

  Either by nurture or nature, we have a social situation wherein the control and domination over people is necessary for the world to function. The modern man is made instrumental to anything and everything, spurring systematic disconnection and alienation. The physical, psychological, and social alienation of women, in particular, is crucial for understanding the true nature of personhood. What alternative narratives of existence could emerge if the patriarchal structure of our world were dismantled? What would it mean to understand ourselves outside of a system that strips us of our connection to the social and relational world? I seek to contribute to a tradition of corporeal phenomenologists; philosophers that seek a more free version of existence through the lived body. The process of women grappling with the social distinction of Mother creates a unique relational and existential perspective that is important to understanding freedom in life. A technologizing world will continue to make all things, people or otherwise, mere means to an end. The ontological perspective of Women, of a lived corporeal reality, is essential in creating a more free world. My project seeks to draw upon the liberatory thinkers like Merleau-Ponty, Haraway, Heidegger, and De Beauvoir to reconsider our existential situation through the eyes and bodies of women. This project is to understand more deeply how a traditionally masculine project of control and domination perpetuates systemic disconnection, exploitation, and the dismantling of humanness in the most inherent sense.

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  Developmental Variation in Keratodont Counts of American Bullfrog Tadpoles

  Nicholas Canfield, Arianna Olivares

  Tadpole oral morphology plays a crucial role in feeding and development, yet its structural variations across developmental stages remain poorly understood. In particular, keratodonts—keratinized, tooth-like structures—are integral to tadpole feeding but have not been extensively analyzed for their consistency within and between developmental stages. This study examines the relationship between developmental stage and keratodont count in Rana catesbeiana (American bullfrog) tadpoles. Specimens were collected from metroparks in Dayton, Ohio, and assigned a developmental stage using the Gosner staging system. Their mouthparts were photographed under a microscope, and keratodonts were systematically counted. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess patterns of variation within and across stages. Understanding keratodont development may provide insights into the functional morphology of tadpoles and broader ecological and evolutionary implications.

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  Development and Validation of General Greenhouse Model for the University of Dayton

  Jacob Brenner

  The use of a greenhouse model is essential to ensuring that any greenhouse design presents the best value that is possible within that region of the world. Often times, greenhouse models within research papers are created, with varying levels of detail, but the models themselves are often not shared openly. This problem can be solved via some of the greenhouse models that have been made openly available, but unfortunately, the vast majority of these require a subscription, either to the model itself, or to a software that the model was built on. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to create a clear open source model, created in the programming language Python, that is published alongside this paper. This model was validated through data collected for a short period from late August to early October of 2024 within two greenhouses in the area of Dayton, Ohio. The data was collected via temperature and humidity loggers placed within 3D printed solar shields that were previously validated, while the two greenhouses contained two different environments, one with vegetation and no electronic equipment, and one with no vegetation and a fan present.

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  Development of a novel atmospheric chloride detector

  Hannah Buchanan

  Silver is often used as an indicator in atmospheric corrosion studies to better understand the effect of environmental chemistry on corrosion severity. A common experimental method involves the exposure of silver coupons at environments of interest, allowing corrosion products to form, followed by coulometric reduction analysis. However, this type of analysis makes a key and often overlooked assumption: that the composition of the corrosion film does not change after initial formation. This assumption of chemical stability of the corrosion product has not been extensively studied and does not account for possible chemical changes within the corrosion products due to ongoing environmental exposure or storage conditions.In the first phase of the study, coulometric reduction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to study multi-component lab-grown silver corrosion product films, which reveled differences in the corrosion product films based on component deposition order. This was inferred to be due to a substitution reaction within the corrosion product film which occurred during exposure to other electrolytes during the deposition of the subsequent films.In the second phase, salt spray was used to demonstrate that the amount of substitution reaction that occurs from Ag2O to AgCl is proportional to the extent of exposure to NaCl. Ag2O films were electrochemically grown and exposed to salt spray under varied conditions. This demonstrates the applicability of silver oxide films for the quantitative detection of atmospheric chloride deposition in a new way.

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  Diabetes: Its Impact on the Hispanic Community

  Jemly Perez

  In 2022, Hispanic adults were 60% more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor. As the largest minority in the U.S, Hispanics are the most affected by diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. In the Hispanic community, more than half of Hispanics suffer from type 2 diabetes and other diseases such as kidney disease, some even being hospitalized for treatment of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease. Hispanics face difficult circumstances such as language barriers, limited access to health insurance, high rates of complications such as obesity, and cultural diets that on the surface appear harmless but overuse can have severe consequences. Therefore, this study will explore these factors to develop initiatives and aid in prevention in the Hispanic community.

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  Dietary specialization of two benthic fishes in the Lake Erie Basin: the native Common Logperch and the invasive Round Goby

  Emerson Amy

  The introduction of Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) to the benthic ecosystem in Lake Erie and its surrounding tributaries has already had significant effects on the native fishes in this system. To measure these effects I looked at diet specialization and diet overlap as potential sources of competition between Gobies and native fish. The Common Logperch (Percina caprodes) is a member of the benthic community in Lake Erie and its surrounding tributaries. Its similar size class, feeding morphology, diet, and range makes the Common Logperch a good model for determining the effects of invasive Round Gobies in the Lake Erie Basin. This research aims to identify the contemporary foraging mode of P. caprodes and N. melanostomus, determine if the foraging mode of the Common Logperch has changed since the Round Goby Invasion, and calculate proportional similarity (PS) between modern Logperch and Goby diets as a measure of diet overlap. Fish were caught from seining, or taken from Stone Laboratory’s teaching collection. They were dissected so stomach contents could be identified and benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected to represent the resource base. Chironomids were found to be a preference in both diets in Lake Erie and the Portage River. Hydropsychids were common in both diets in the Portage River, while Common Logperch in this system also selected for multiple families of mayflies. Logperch diet has changed since Gobies arrived as the Small Square-Gilled Mayflies (Caenidae) has left the Portage River resource base and is thus absent from the diet. High diet overlap (PS= 0.81-0.93) was found between both species, but high resource abundance does not indicate competitive exclusion occurring.

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  Differentially Expressed Genes in Multifocal and Multicentric Breast Cancer (MMBC) and Their Role in Breast Cancer Progression: A Multi-Cohort Analysis

  Thanh Chu

  Breast cancer has been considered as the second contributor to cancer-related fatalities among women worldwide. Among different categories of breast tumors, multifocal and multicentric breast cancers (MMBC) tend to be more aggressive than unifocal tumors and are highly associated with lower survival rates, higher recurrence rates, and increased lymph node metastasis. Despite its clinical significance, the underlying mechanisms governing MMBC progression have remained unclear. In this study, we utilized the advances of bioinformatics to discover key differentially expressed gens (DEGs) and associated functional pathways driving MMBC progression. Initially, we accessed and analyzed a published MMBC dataset (GSE79058) from a study of multifocal invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) to discover DEGs clusters based on tumor grades (ILC1 and ILC2), following by enrichment analysis to reveal potentially related functional processes involved in MMBC. A total of 153 DEGs were identified in ILC1 and 265 DEGS in ILC2. Functional pathway analysis revealed several closely related pathways that could be highly impacted by MMBC. Specifically, the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway exhibits differential expression across both grades, manifesting in both up-regulated and down-regulated gene clusters. This suggests a complex interplay of genes associated with this pathway, both upstream and downstream orientation.To further discover key features of MMBC, we examined MMBC-related gene signatures across large datasets including METBRIC and SCAN-B breast cancer cohorts. Clustering analysis revealed a clear distinction between MMBC from non-MMBC cases, with HER2, Luminal A and Luminal B breast cancer subtypes exhibiting significantly higher MMBC-associated scores than normal-like subtypes. In addition, survival analysis demonstrated that MMBC patients experienced significant worse overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), possibly indicating poorer prognosis. These findings shed the light for initial understandings of MMBC characteristics, by identifying and validate novel gene signatures and their functional role in tumor progression. As MMBC continues to be a significant clinical challenge, further research into its molecular drivers will be essential for developing more effective interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes.

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  Diverse bacteria from the skin of Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

  Nicolina Valore

  Amphibians are facing a significant biodiversity crisis. In the last few decades, these animals have been decimated by two fungal pathogens, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). Curiously, the most common amphibian species in the northeastern United States, the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, (Plethodon cinereus), appears to be largely resistant to Bd infections and also does not appear to be greatly affected by Bsal. The factors that contribute to this resistance are not fully understood. In this study, we collected P. cinereus skin swab samples from a total of three locations (Caesars Creek, Hills and Dales, and Taylorsville) surrounding Dayton, Ohio. Suspensions from the swab samples were plated to isolate bacteria. From a total of 27 skin swab samples, we obtained a total of 107 bacterial isolates. Many of the isolates are identified as bacteria commonly found in soil. Interestingly, some isolates are closely related to environmental clones where no cultivation of the organisms has been reported. In a preliminary test, the antimicrobial activity of the bacterial isolates was tested against Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, Salmonella enterica, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Findings from this study will help elucidate the role of skin microbes in the protection against pathogens for P. cinereus and ultimately provide insight into amphibian conservation.

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  Does baiting influence deer estimates within Metroparks?

  Brooke Owens

  Many wildlife studies use bait to attract animals, making it easier to observe, capture, or monitor them for research purposes. However, bait can also alter animal behavior, attract non-target species, create dependency on human-provided food, and increase the risk of spreading diseases, especially among deer populations. This study teamed up with Five Rivers MetroParks to evaluate the influence of using bait to estimate white-tailed deer densities in MetroPark protected areas through the use of bait stations and trail cameras. The experiment was conducted over two four-week periods: one in the summer of 2023 and one in the summer of 2024. During this time, cameras were deployed for two weeks with bait and two weeks without bait at sixteen different sites. The objective was to assess whether bait was necessary to achieve accurate deer counts. Camera trap photos were processed to identify species and record counts, followed by a comprehensive data analysis to compare detection rates and species presence across the two conditions. This study aims to determine if the addition of bait influences deer detection rates, providing insights into the use of baiting as a tool for wildlife monitoring as well as the possibility of stopping bait use due to the potential risks and issues associated with it.

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  Does Exposure to Community Violence as a Juvenile Offender Increase the Risk of Re-offending/Re-arrest?

  Hannah Kepreos

  This project explores the relationship between juvenile offenders and their risk of re-offending due to exposure to community violence. By analyzing the Pathways to Desistance (PTD) dataset, the largest longitudinal study of serious adolescent offenders, the project investigates how different variables contribute to re-offending. Specifically, it examines the effects of exposure to community violence, both as a witness and as a victim, on the frequency of offending. The findings aim to demonstrate that increased exposure to violence correlates with a higher likelihood of re-offending, providing valuable insights into the factors that influence juvenile delinquency and the potential for intervention.

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  Does having a relative who has been or is incarcerated affect the likelihood that a juvenile will be incarcerated?

  Ashley Burger, Abigayle Dix

  Our thesis for our project is to determine if a juvenile has a relative that has been arrested, will this increase the likelihood that the juvenile will also be arrested? For this study the relative must live in the same house as the juvenile. We chose to research this because over the past couple of decades many teenagers have experienced having a parent in prison. This number has grown substantially. Since there has been an increase in incarceration in general and an increase of adolescents with a parent or relative who lives with them, there is a push to figure out preventative strategies to decrease the risk of delinquency and if having a parent or relative incarcerated is the main cause of delinquency. Our study aims to discover if relative incarceration causes the juvenile to be more likely to be incarcerated or if other factors contribute to the juveniles behavior more. If this can be determined, it can lead to better help and support for juvenile's who have a relative incarcerated.

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  Does Living in a Poorer Area Put You at a Higher Risk of Death?

  Joseph Giagrande

  What is the relationship between median income and homicide rate across police districts in Chicago in 2024? Data sources:

  • Chicago Police Department website
  • ArcGIS website
  • Statistical Atlas
  • Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

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  Does the existence of multiple color variants aid in predator avoidance for a common frog in southwestern Ohio?

  Adelyn Hughes

  Blanchard’s Cricket Frog, found across the Midwest and Southwestern United States including southwestern Ohio, exhibits a color polymorphism, but reasons for the evolution of these different color patterns remain unclear. In a summer research project at the Berry Summer Thesis Institute Program, I investigated whether varied color patterns aid in camouflage and predator avoidance. Assisted by Dr. Hantak’s lab, I used non-toxic colored clay to create over 600 frog models mimicking Blanchard’s Cricket Frog; half of which were brown with a green stripe, and half being uniformly brown. Placed at Spring Run Conservation Area near Dayton, 414 models were positioned one meter apart along transects near ponds where these frogs reside. After five days, the models were collected and then analyzed for predator marks. Trends in the data indicate that color may play an important role in predation. However, at this time, with a low sample size, we lack sufficient power to form strong conclusions. Additional data will be collected in the fall of 2024 and spring of 2025 to increase support of our findings.

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  Do Schools Have Adequate Accommodations for Anxiety?

  Anna Murray

  There are numerous accommodations identified for students with anxiety. These include presentation, response, timing, environment, and organizational accommodations. Although accommodations are identified, there is minimal research on which accommodations are most beneficial and for which students. This lack of research, identified in the literature, makes it difficult to answer the question: Do schools have adequate accommodations for students with anxiety?

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  Drosophila CRC models to study tumor-promoting signaling interactions

  Venolia Adjei, Sydney Anderson, Brandon Clark, Maria El Biri, Evelyn Krebs, Edmund O'Rourke, Arushi Rai, Olivia Stolly, Kate Weber

  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the US, with an estimated 53,000 deaths in 2024. Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC, the proto-oncogene KRAS, and the dual tumor suppressor and proto-oncogene TP53 frequently co-occur in human CRC, underscoring its heterogeneity. The DNA damage repair pathway, mediated by the transcription factor p53, promotes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to genotoxic stress. The Ras-MAPK pathway, regulated by the signal transduction protein Ras, triggers cellular proliferation and growth when active. The Wnt pathway, negatively regulated by Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), likewise promotes cellular proliferation and growth through the activity of the transcription factor beta-catenin. The Hippo pathway and JNK pathway have also been found to crosstalk extensively with these pathways, regulating cellular proliferation, cell cycle progression, growth, and cell death. While the individual contributions of these signaling pathways in CRC have been well-documented, additional research is needed to better understand their interactions during tumorigenesis and tumor development. Thus, this study seeks to establish one-hit, two-hit, and three-hit models of CRC in Drosophila and to characterize them for cell cycle defects and altered cell signaling. To generate tumors, MARCM clones were made using escargot-GAL4 to drive the expression of dominant-negative p53, oncogenic RasG12V, and/or loss-of-function APC specifically in intestinal stem cells in early larvae and adult flies. Subsequent phenotypes and gene expression patterns were then assessed via dissection and immunohistochemistry. Here, we present preliminary data from these experiments and our progress in developing preclinical models of CRC in Drosophila.

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  Dynamic Radiator Fins for CubeSat Cooling (Electronic Component Thermal Control Via Nitinol-Actuated Radiators)

  Anthony Lococo

  This project aims to develop and optimize a dynamic radiator fin to cool any electronic device in a space environment. Historically, these devices have been subject to temperature limits, as they cannot become too hot or too cold within their orbital duty cycle. This duty cycle corresponds to a spacecraft's orbit, as the device needs to idle or perform functions along certain arcs during its orbit. Traditionally, managing this has been done through creating a conduction pathway to space directly from the electronics, or through constructing static radiators which protrude into space. Both of these issues are problematic, as they cannot adapt to the variable heat loads which the electronics induce. The solution is a dynamic radiator, which is able to retreat inside the spacecraft and protrude outward according to the demands of the system. When inside, it will collect the heat of the system, and when outside, it will release it into space. The device will be passively actuated via nitinol, which has shape-memory alloy (SMA) characteristics. As the nitinol undergoes its phase change, it either heats up and stiffens to a trained shape or cools down and subsequently relaxes. This will be implemented by instituting nitinol wires to bend outward, springs to extend, or torque tubes to twist, forcing the radiator fin to extend outwards into space. The design consists of material characterization, experimental testing, and theoretical modeling of the system. Experimental testing includes identifying an optimal actuation nitinol attachment method. The Thermal Desktop model will be used to tune contact resistances. The Python model will vary properties significant to heat transfer to optimize the design. Current results show that proper thermal management can be achieved via modeling, and experimental testing has shown a maximum actuation angle of 60 degrees, which provides significant heat transfer into space.

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  Dyscalculia in the Classroom: Students Experiences, Strategies, and School Support

  Alexis Detty

  The purpose of this project is to understand the effects of dyscalculia. Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that makes it challenging for students to perform basic mathematical operations and understand numerical relationships. I present findings about how educators can better understand how schools identify and can make changes for students with dyscalculia. Spreading valuable information about this learning disability in order to broaden people's understanding and have awareness is important.

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  Echoes of the Arena: The Lasting Impact of Ancient Stadiums on Today’s Sports Culture

  Oliver Thimling

  This paper examines the evolution of stadiums and spectator sports, focusing on the influence of ancient arenas on the design and culture of modern sports venues. Beginning with the grand structures of ancient civilizations, such as the Roman Colosseum and Greek amphitheaters, the study explores how these early stadiums were designed to host large audiences for competitive and often theatrical events. These ancient venues not only served as architectural marvels but were also central to the social and cultural fabric of their societies. The paper then traces the transformation of these ancient designs into modern stadiums, analyzing how architectural advancements, technology, and the commercialization of sport have shaped the spectator experience today. The research draws on a variety of sources, including scholarly books, journal articles, and firsthand accounts gathered from virtual tours of both ancient and contemporary stadiums. By comparing ancient and contemporary sports venues, this study highlights the ways in which the fundamental purpose of stadiums is to entertain, unite, and inspire. It has remained consistent, even as the nature of sports and global fandoms has evolved. Through this historical lens, the paper offers insights into the lasting legacy of ancient sports venues and their continuing influence on modern entertainment and stadium design.

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  Educating Diverse Student Populations in Inclusive Settings

  Ava Franke, Gabriella Hudetz, Carly Olson

  The landscape of education is shifting to become more pluralistic with students who are culturally and linguistically diverse. As future teacher educators, our project aimed to create a set of resources for K-12 educators that would support culturally responsive teaching strategies for all students especially culturally and linguistically diverse students with a focus on the ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity in schools. Our work is grounded in critical theory research with frameworks such as Global Education, Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, and Culturally Relevant Teaching with the Marianist Social Justice at the forefront of the work. We focused on collectivism where multiple stakeholders are included and actively engaged in educating our students as we sustain their cultures and communities. Teachers across the globe need to find strategies to address classroom curriculum instruction, environment and to empower and engage students in the classroom if we plan to foster students who are citizens of the world.

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  Effect of Flipped Classrooms

  Holly Short

  In a flipped-learning environment, students watch, use, and learn from content outside of the classroom which they then implement inside the classroom for practical application. Giving students a way to learn and practice outside of the classroom can increase confidence and participation when they are back in the classroom. This practice and confidence can relieve stress when cooperating with peers.