Stander Symposium Projects

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  Image Dehazing for Autonomous Driving in Inclement Weather Conditions

  Jaimin Nitesh Shah

  In recent years, research into autonomous vehicles has received substantial attention which has accelerated the development and adaptation of these vehicles in our day to day world. However, there are still major pitfalls that need to be solved before these vehicles are to become fully driver-less on public streets. These self-driving vehicles use image recognition algorithms that have been trained to detect objects such as streets, stop signs, and people. However, in bad weather conditions, these objects become increasingly difficult to detect. As such, all things inclement weather related with object detection and image segmentation are a major focus in research. Imagine if you are driving in an adverse weather with a lot of snow to lessen your visibility of the surroundings, how do you drive without knowing what’s ahead? Therefore, this proposed work aims to solve these problems to help drive in adverse weather conditions. Image dehazing also plays an important role in climatology, environmental perception wildlife monitoring and conservation, surveillance systems, object detection and recognition. The proposed work will provide more opportunities to explore different models in the field of image denoising.

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  Image Processing Techniques Used for Dermatology Research

  Brandon Phillips

  Over the last semester, Premier Health has Partnered with the University of Dayton in improving its TeleHealth Mobile Cart. Premier Health is interested in dermatology this semester. This semester’s project will focus on the dermatology aspects of light filtering and image processing of images to capture and determine better ways to help detect different degrees levels of burns and different skin anomalies. This semester I have focused on and tested different color light filters and different image processing techniques that I have learned about in ECE 563 class.

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  Image Synthesis Using Deep Learning

  Nikhil Suresh Wani

  There has been an increase in the popularity of artwork generated by computers. The goal of sketch-based image synthesis is to generate some image, photorealistic or non-photorealistic, given the constraint of a sketched object. This allows non-artist users to turn simple black and white drawings into more abstract, detailed art.

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  Impact of cDLP Process Parameters on the Tensile Properties of ELAST-BLK 10

  Asma Ul Hosna Meem, Kyle Rudolph

  Continuous digital light processing (cDLP) is an emerging vat-photopolymerization-based 3D-printing technology where full layers of photosensitive resin are irradiated and cured with projected UV light to create a three-dimensional part layer-by-layer. Recent breakthroughs in polymer chemistry have led to a growing number of UV-curable elastomeric photoresins developed exclusively for vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing (AM). Coupled with the practical manufacturing advantages of cDLP AM (e.g., industry-leading print speeds and sub-micron print resolution), these novel elastomeric photoresins are compelling candidates for emerging applications requiring extreme flexibility, stretchability, conformability, and mechanically-tunable stiffness (e.g., soft robotic actuators, stretchable electronics, cellular metamaterials, and anatomical models for surgical prep). To advance the role of cDLP AM in these novel and promising technological spaces, a fundamental understanding of the impact of cDLP manufacturing process parameters on mechanical properties is requisite. This talk highlights our recent efforts to explore the process-property relationship for ELAST-BLK 10, a new ultra-soft, cDLP-printed, UV-curable elastomer. A full factorial design of experiments was used to investigate the effect of build orientation and layer thickness on the quasi-static tensile properties (small-strain elastic modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at fracture) following ASTM D412. Statistical results, based on a general linear model via ANOVA methods, indicate that specimens with a flat build orientation exhibit the highest Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at fracture, likely due to higher crosslink density. Several popular hyperelastic constitutive models (e.g., Yeoh, Gent, and Ogden) were calibrated to our quasi-static tensile data for implementation in commercial finite element software.

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  Impact of Space Travel

  Patrick Neil Ruhala, Ryan C. Simkins, Drew Christopher Whalen

  We are looking at the environmental impact and sustainability of interplanetary space travel. Based on the past and current cost of launching objects into space we are attempting to determine the current and future cost to the planet and whether an LCA can accurately capture all the costs and benefits. We are also interested in understanding not only the environmental cost, but the societal impact as well, with many of the major space programs being funded by governments.

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  Impact of β-Gallium Oxide Growth Conditions on Surface Roughness

  Carlos Ruben DeLeon

  β-Gallium Oxide (Ga 2 O 3 ), the most stable phase of Ga 2 O 3 , is a semiconductor with an ultra-wide bandgap and has applications in high power electronic devices. In this study, we investigated the impact of Gallium beam flux on the surface roughness in order to maximize the growth rate of Ga 2 O 3 . The Ga 2 O 3 films were grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Five samples were grown and measured. The beam flux for these samples were: 1.6 × 10 -7 , 8.0 × 10 -8 , 4.0 × 10 -8 , 3.0 × 10 -8 ,and 2.0 × 10 -8 Torr. With the exception of the first sample, our results convey a decrease of surface roughness with the decreasing Gallium beam flux.

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  Industry 4.0 in the Retail Sector: Sustainability of Food Retail with a Focus on Food Insecurity in Dayton, Ohio

  Katrina A. Coleman

  With the advent of Industry 4.0, the fourth wave of the industrial revolution, the food retail industry has been revolutionizing at an unprecedented rate. Stores have become stocked with a large variety and quantity of goods, leading to an increase in waste accumulation. Although there have been advancements in large scale agriculture, not as many advancements have been made in efficiently distributing produce and minimizing waste. While performing field work in Dayton, Ohio, I began to realize that food was not as accessible in lower-income areas and Dayton is a food apartheid. This led me to look deeper into the issue of food insecurity and ways to create a more sustainable environment using methods of Industry 4.0, while also giving access to those without.

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  Influence of prairie restoration on Hemiptera diversity and functional traits

  Stephanie Gunter

  The Hemiptera (the true bugs) are an abundant and varied order of insects including leafhoppers, aphids, cicadas, stink bugs, and more. They play an important role in grassland ecosystems, feeding on plant sap and acting as prey for many predators. In order to expand the field of prairie restoration, I seek to investigate the Hemiptera as their abundance, functional roles, and response to disturbance makes them ideal as study organisms. It is also important to understand functional traits such as dispersal abilities to understand what types of taxa are colonizing a habitat, and Hemiptera such as leafhoppers can be used as a model for this. Previous research has found that leafhoppers follow a predictable pattern in habitat succession: generalists with greater dispersal abilities colonize early successional sites, and specialists with inferior dispersal abilities follow. This research aims to answer three questions regarding prairie restoration: 1- Do more recently restored prairies host a different composition of Hemiptera than older restored and remnant prairies? 2- Do more recently restored prairies host a higher proportion of leafhoppers with superior dispersal abilities than older restored and remnant prairies? And 3- Do more recently restored prairies host a higher proportion of generalist leafhoppers than older restored and remnant prairies? Insect samples were taken via sweep net from 13 local prairies (7 restored and 6 remnant) in summers 2017, 2018, and 2019, and sorted to order. I am currently organizing Hemiptera into morphospecies. I will then identify specialist and generalist leafhoppers, and record dispersal abilities based on wing size and known literature. The questions answered in this research will benefit the field of restoration and help us to more accurately evaluate the success of local restoration projects.

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  Inspecting the Role for the Trans-Regulatory Landscape to the Origin, Diversification, and Loss of a Sexually Dimorphic Fruit Fly Pigmentation Trait

  Jesse Taylor Hughes

  A major goal for evolutionary-developmental biology research is to identify the genetic changes underlying the origins, diversification, and loss of morphological traits. Such traits are built by the spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression, and thus the evolution of gene expression is often involved in their evolutionary histories. Gene expression is under the control of a network of transcription factors (trans-landscape) that ultimately impinge on the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) of differentiation genes whose encoded proteins produce particular traits. Transcription factor genes are often highly pleiotropic, as they can regulate the expression of multiple genes for multiple traits. Thus, it seems reasonable to expect that evolutionary changes in gene expression more frequently occurred by mutations altering the CREs for differentiation genes than changes to the trans-landscape. Our research aims to test whether this expectation for a conserved trans-landscape applies to the origin, diversification, and loss of a well-studied fruit fly pigmentation trait in the Sophophora subgenus. The origin of a male-specific pattern of abdominal tergite pigmentation involved the gain of CREs controlling the expressions of pigmentation enzyme genes responsive to the prevailing trans-landscape of body plan patterning and sexual dimorphism transcription factors. Here, we share our results from tests of these CREs in transgenic hosts that represent the ancestral sexually monomorphic trait, diverse forms of the derived dimorphic trait, and a secondary loss of the dimorphic trait. The outcomes from these tests will reveal the extent to which this particular trans-landscape has remained conserved while the pigmentation phenotype has widely evolved.

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  Interrelationship of Alcohol Use and Masculinity Development for Nontraditionally Masculine College Students

  Justin Lyons

  This study sought nuanced, developed voices to demonstrate how individual experience of developing masculinity through a nondominant identity was interrelated with their alcohol use. Participants represent marginalized voices in the conversation of masculinity, specifically gay and bisexual, transman, trans femme, and non-binary participants. Participants grappled with masculinity from a nondominant lens, representing unique experiences not wholly captured by existing literature. Participants’ growth and change in gender identity largely correlated with changes in alcohol use. I found that alcohol served multiple purposes in guiding participants toward an individual sense of masculinity. Participants used alcohol as a means of suppressing emotions, conforming with masculine norms, and lowering inhibitions to break from masculine norms. Participants also made connections between traditionally masculine drinking spaces as contrasted with drinking spaces that decenter that experience, such as queer and women’s drinking spaces. While participants largely do not conform to traditional norms of masculinity, as college students, their experiences, at least externally, fit into the dominant experience. As practitioners, we must create space for students to move between identity groups and approach men from both a collective and individualistic perspective.

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  Investigating the Effects of Chronic Pharmacological SERCA Modulation on Mouse Behavior

  Aikaterini Britzolaki, Claire C. Cronin, Patrick Robert Flaherty, Riely Legiralde Rufo

  Neuronal cell survival and development are heavily dependent on intracellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis. Ca2+ ions not only regulate the electrophysiological properties of neurons, they also serve as pivotal second messengers in a cascade of intrinsic molecular pathways. Notably, intracellular Ca2+ dyshomeostasis has been shown to have detrimental consequences on synaptic activity, neuronal growth and may even lead to neuronal cell death, all common hallmarks of brain pathophysiology. Thus, nerve cells have developed intricate pathways to maintain intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, with ER playing an important role serving as the intraneuronal Ca2+ reservoir. The major regulator of Ca2+ influx into the ER is the sarco-/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA), a P-type ATPase that pumps two ions of Ca2+ into the ER in the expense of one ATP molecule. Importantly, SERCA’s pivotal role in brain physiology and pathophysiology has been supported by several studies associating SERCA dysregulation with debilitating brain disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Hence, in the present study we sought to assess the effects of chronic SERCA modulation on mouse behavior by implementing widely used behavioral mouse paradigms. In the context of this presentation, we are demonstrating overwhelming behavioral data, highlighting a role for SERCA in regulating mouse behavior.

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  Investigating the Role of a p53 Mutation in Glioma Progression and Therapy Resistance in Drosophila

  Kaitlyn M. Alleman

  Gliomas are some of the most aggressive types of tumors and have devastating effects for those diagnosed with this cancer. These tumors arise from mutated glia cells in the brain. One of the reasons this type of cancer has a high mortality rate is because of lack of effective treatments. This project aims to study the effect of a p53 mutation on the tumor’s progression and whether this mutation contributes to therapy resistance. p53 mutations are known to occur in gliomas as well as other kinds of cancer. However, its role in gliomas is not well understood. By inducing a p53 mutation into a fruit fly model, the mutation’s possible contribution to the tumor’s progression and therapy resistance can be studied. Furthermore, this tumor present in the fruit fly can be treated with a slew of various chemotherapy drugs (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors) to see how the tumor responds to various treatments. This mutation can also be added in with other mutations known to occur in gliomas to test how this combination affects the tumor. Data gathered from this project will give a better insight into the range of mutations present in gliomas. Gaining a better understanding of the many genetic defects found in gliomas can lead to better outcomes for patients.

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  Investigating the role of cellular membranes in the freeze tolerance of Cope’s gray treefrog Dryophytes chrysoscelis

  Elizabeth R. Evans

  The freeze tolerant Cope’s gray treefrog Dryophytes chrysoscelis can survive multiple winter freeze-thaw cycles in which up to 70% of extracellular fluids may be frozen solid without apparent detriment to the animal. Previous studies in our lab have shown that post-freeze cell viability in D. chrysoscelis is likely enhanced by biophysical and biochemical properties of cellular membranes, in addition to accumulation of cryoprotectants and upregulation of membrane aquaglyceroporin proteins. Largely composed of lipids, cellular membranes may varysignificantly in phospholipid composition and cholesterol content during thermal fluctuation tobest preserve membrane integrity and cellular function. The objective of this study is to assess the biochemical and biophysical differences in cellular membranes of treefrogs in discrete stages of the freeze-thaw process to better discern the adaptation of membranes to freezing temperatures. It is hypothesized that lipid biochemistry significantly affects membrane physical conditions, and in combination, the biochemical and biophysical membrane properties actively adapt to and compensate for changes in environmental temperature.

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  Isolated microbial life of soil samples

  Mackenzie T. Kincaid

  Category: Goal 3 - Good Health and Well Being Advisors: Yvonne Sun, Jessica GeyerName: Mackenzie Kincaid Title: Isolated Microbial Life of Soil Samples Abstract: In response to the overuse of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria have emerged and are no longer affected by standard treatments. In order to overcome these resistant microbes, there is a demand in research to find and develop new antimicrobials. Environmental bacteria use antimicrobial properties against other bacteria as a way to compete for resources, increase their fitness and ultimately reproduce successfully. These antimicrobials can be developed into an antibiotic, while other forms can be synthetically produced. As a component of the Small World Initiative, the goal of this project was to isolate different bacterial species from the soil and screen them for production of antimicrobial properties. Zones of inhibitions were utilized to detect antimicrobial activity and indicate if known clinically relevant pathogens are susceptible. The bacterial isolates that exhibited zones of inhibition underwent a series of biochemical tests to determine bacterial type. The antibiotic resistance crisis and development of new antibiotics will be aided with the contributions of this research and its relevance to the field of medicine.

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  Is There a Relationship between Breakfast Nutrient Quality and Academic Performance?

  Maura N. Hohl

  Breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day by health professionals. Americans are recommended to eat a nutritious breakfast in the morning to fuel them for their busy schedules ahead. Many studies have reported the benefits of eating a well-balanced breakfast including having a lower BMI, meeting micronutrient needs earlier in the day, being more physically active, and even improving academic performance (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2018). The American Dietary Guidelines recommend five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day to promote a healthy individual in meeting their nutrient needs. However, according to the American College Health Association, only 5% of both female and male college students are meeting the daily recommendation of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day (2018). This suggests that college students are not meeting their daily fruit and vegetable needs, possibly due to their lack of nutrient quality breakfast, which could hinder their academic performance. This research study will measure whether there is a relationship between the breakfast nutrient quality and academic performance of the University of Dayton (UD) students. UD students will be electronically surveyed on breakfast consumption, quality of breakfast (breakfast choices), college class-level, and cumulative Grade Point Average. Once data are collected, the data will be analyzed, and conclusions will be drawn. In the final report, the limitations of the study will also be discussed.

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  JAK/STAT signaling regulates defective proventriculus (dve) to determine dorso-ventral patterning in Drosophila eye

  Neha Gogia, Akanksha Raj

  Long range signaling plays an important role in patterning and growth. During organogenesis, axial patterning is involved in delineation of Antero-Posterior (AP), Dorso-Ventral (DV) and Proximo-Distal (PD) axes. We employ Drosophila eye model to study the mechanisms behind DV patterning, which marks the first lineage restriction event. We have identified a new dorsal eye selector gene, defective proventriculus (dve, a Homeobox gene), an ortholog of SATB homeobox 1 (special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1), which controls expression of wingless (wg), a negative regulator of the eye development, to determine the head fate. Loss-of-function of dve results in dorsal eye enlargement by downregulating Wg, which is similar to the gain-of-function of JAK STAT signaling in the eye. Here we present that Unpaired (Upd), a long-range secreted ligand for JAK STAT pathway, plays an important role in DV patterning by regulating Dve expression in the dorsal eye. Gain-of-function of JAK STAT pathway in the eye disc exhibits dorsal eye enlargement by downregulating dve and its downstream wg. Conversely, inactivation of JAK STAT pathway causes dorsalization of the entire developing eye field due to ectopic induction of Dve and Wg in the ventral eye domain resulting in no-eye phenotype. Our data strongly imply that JAK STAT signaling plays a central role in DV axis determination by limiting the functional domain of the dorsal fate selector and thereby determine the boundary of eye versus the head field in the developing eye.

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  Just Like You, Invasive Ants Diet Too: How Do Micronutrients Affect Colony Fitness in Tawny Crazy Ants?

  Ryan Reihart

  Human activities have altered nearly every major nutrient cycle across the globe with little understanding of the ecological consequences. These changes in nutrient availability have consequences that cascade through food webs and ultimately affect the abundance and richness of higher trophic levels. The tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva), for example, is an invasive ant whose abundance is limited by calcium and stressed by sodium. Little is known, though, how the availability of micronutrients, which are less abundant in living tissue, can affect the fitness of consumers, especially invasive arthropods. To determine how changes in micronutrients affect the fitness of N. fulva, we collected 208 colonies of N. fulva and conducted feeding trials that manipulated the ratio of Ca:Na in food (by 10%, 25%, and 50%) in 2018 and 2019. Each colony contained 3 queens, 100 workers, and no brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) at the beginning of the experiment. Colonies were maintained for 50 days, and at the end of the experiment, we counted the number of queens, workers, and brood and measured fresh colony biomass. After 50 days, we found that the Ca:Na ratio had little effect on the number of queens and workers, as they were similar across all treatments; however, colony biomass increased with increasing amount of Ca in the diet, while biomass decreased with increasing amounts of Na in the diet. These results indicate that these changes in colony biomass may be due to a change in the number of brood or worker size, and that Ca is an important factor regulating the success of N. fulva. Our results support growing evidence that micronutrients may be important for structuring arthropod communities, and that Ca may help to facilitate the spread of an invasive ant.

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  Kennedy Union Stairwell Refresh Project

  Aqilah Alshehab, Ashley Cooper, Erica Rose Davis, Matthew Detweiler, Jack Hadley, Paul Kramer, Maddie Kurlandski, Aubrey Makar, Tara Masthay, Olivia Pettigrew, Nora Riley, Natalie Stanziano, Elizabeth Weiler

  The Kennedy Union (KU) Stairwell Refresh Committee had a strong interest in students playing a key role and reached out to the Department of Art and Design to initiate a student co-curricular experience. The task: “Re-imagine the KU stairwells so that they reflect the myriad of activities students engage in inside and outside the classroom, and around the world." While asked to consider art, design, photography, and other visual expressions of the lifeblood of the University, students enrolled in the senior level Graphic Design III course began by looking at key words and phrases used to promote, market, and define the University. Small collaborative groups of 4–5 students then designed multiple floors for one of three KU stairwells. Through the creation of large-scale environmental graphics, each group’s design intends to visually communicate UD’s story in places and spaces across campus and beyond. Throughout the semester, students met regularly with representatives from the "stairwell refresh" committee to present their concepts and design development. The work being presented highlights each group’s final design proposal intended for production and implementation.

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  Let's Be Real: aBANDonment

  Allison Burns

  aBANDonment documents my experience of leaving behind marching band as graduation approaches. The images reflect concepts such as isolation, reflection, and introspection.

  “Let's Be Real” presents six senior capstone photography projects. The collective works all grapple with notions of authenticity, belonging, and expression within the context of contemporary art and existence.

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  Let's Be Real: Beautiful and Endangered

  Kaitlyn Leach

  Beautiful and Endangered consists of a short film and still images that document the Cincinnati Zoo’s polar bear project. The work is inspired by my passion for wildlife conservation and photography.

  “Let's Be Real” presents six senior capstone photography projects. The collective works all grapple with notions of authenticity, belonging, and expression within the context of contemporary art and existence.

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  Let's Be Real: Faux

  Justine Liptak

  Faux loosely addresses topics including fashion, the body and animal cruelty through a series of images depicting figures in a range of real and fake fur garments.

  “Let's Be Real” presents six senior capstone photography projects. The collective works all grapple with notions of authenticity, belonging, and expression within the context of contemporary art and existence.

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  Let's Be Real: In Passing Time

  Maia George

  In Passing Time shares imagery that addresses loss, grief and mourning through poetic documentary, found and constructed photographs.

  “Let's Be Real” presents six senior capstone photography projects. The collective works all grapple with notions of authenticity, belonging, and expression within the context of contemporary art and existence.

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  Let's Be Real: Oakwood Project

  Grace Elliott

  Oakwood Project uses signifiers and influences from many iconic horror movies set in suburbia to address the intersection of domesticity, suburbia and horror.

  “Let's Be Real” presents six senior capstone photography projects. The collective works all grapple with notions of authenticity, belonging, and expression within the context of contemporary art and existence.

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  Let's Be Real: senior capstone photography projects

  Allison Burns, Zac Collopy, Grace Elliott, Maia George, Kaitlyn Leach, Justine Liptak

  From faux fur jackets, horror films and marching band to polar bear conservation, familial loss and our common search for meaning in the techno-digital landscape, “Let's Be Real” presents six very different photo-based art projects. However, through unique processes, styles, themes and voices, the collective works all grapple with notions of authenticity, belonging, and expression within the context of contemporary art and existence.

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  Let's Be Real: Staring into the Sun

  Zac Collopy

  Staring into the Sun asks the question, “Can photography help us reignite our spiritual connection with nature by reimagining the relationships among digital technology, the body and its environment?

  “Let's Be Real” presents six senior capstone photography projects. The collective works all grapple with notions of authenticity, belonging, and expression within the context of contemporary art and existence.