Stander Symposium: All projects - 2024

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  Designing Spherical Mechanisms, from Wrist Orthotics to Mechanical Novelties

  John Gordon Hoover, Franklin Alexander McClimans

  This research explores a spherical mechanism designed as a component in a wrist orthotic. A spherical mechanism, a little used class of mechanical device, allows the limitations commonly associated with conventional wrist orthoses to be effectively addressed. With a theoretical model of the wrist orthotic and its component spherical mechanism developed in previous work, several questions remain. These questions include addressing the mechanical design issues to realize a working orthotic prototype, and exploring the spherical mechanism fundamental to the orthotic to explore its unique properties. The spherical mechanism is classified as a drag-link device, meaning it is capable of large motions of many of its component links. To take advantage of these large motions, several design considerations need to be addressed by this work.

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  Design of Smart Magnetic Beads for Water Purification

  Adam J. Jones, Levente Istvan Karetka

  New technologies are needed to advance current state-of-the-art water purification processes. Sodium alginate, a bio-based polymer made from brown seaweed, is a promising material for this application. Current studies using this biopolymer include applications in water treatment, drug delivery, and food engineering. Over the last two semesters, undergraduate students have explored this polymer along with magnetic nanomaterials in the Nanoscale Engineered Materials Laboratory (NEMLab) at UD as part of their Ethos R&D course. The students not only performed technical research but also participated in outreach activities, including in-person and video demonstrations with the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. In the NEMLab, students are actively participating in research involving the preparation of magnetic sodium alginate gels and beads, performing viscosity and rheological studies of various concentrations and dispersions.

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

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

  FNU Mir Abbas Raza

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

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

  Abeer Abdullah M. AlMuafa

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

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

  Adam J. Jones

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

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  Development of an optical technique for microplastic detection in water

  Geoffrey Scott Campman

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

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

  Vincent Alexander LoBiondo

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

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

  Lauren E. Carr, Penelope Margaux Fisher

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

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  Dimensional Vision Synthesis: An Aesthetic Transformation of 2D Views into Dynamic 3D Realities for In-Car experience

  Sankarshan Dasgupta

  In recent years, 3D reconstruction has garnered significant attention, driven by the ever-growing demand for immersive experiences and realistic digital environments. With the development of advanced algorithms and substantial processing resources, it is now possible to convert static 2D images into dynamic, navigable 3D spaces. Using an emphasis on tackling the difficulties involved in precisely converting the subtleties of a 2D car front view image into an extensive multi-view 3D representation. This study explores the nexus between computer vision and spatial cognition. The proposed approach identifies the way we perceive and interact in a car with digital imagery, especially in contexts where depth perspective and spatial awareness. By advancing the synthesis of 3D representations from 2D images, we aim to elevate the capabilities of computer vision systems, enabling them to provide more immersive, realistic, and contextually accurate virtual environments.The goal of this project is to completely transform how we view and engage with 3D environments. Our research goes beyond basic understanding of computer vision and artificial intelligence; By establishing a seamless communication between the in-car driver and the virtual world, where we try to blend in the experience to replicate an real-world scenario. This aims to transform street view into an interactive 3D experience and mimic conventional in-car experiences. This approach is defined in game engine as specific sub tasks: (i) Extract the shape and texture of the scene objects. (ii) Implement advanced computer vision algorithms to extract depth information from 2D images. Thus, utilizing depth sensing mechanism for accurate depth measurement. (iii) Develop a real-time rendering engine to create a 3D representation of the scene. In this process, ensure the algorithm is computationally efficient for on-the-fly processing, considering the real-time computational ability required for in-car experience. In order to ensure resilience in identifying and reacting to a variety of driving circumstances, it is important to handle real-time processing constraints for immediate responsiveness and variations in surrounding factors that may effect the accuracy of depth sensing and scene reconstruction.

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  Discovery of Novel Mechanisms During the Biodegradation of Polymer Coatings by an Environmental Strain of Aureobasidium

  Paige Aileen King

  In order to create novel sustainable and biodegradation resistant coating formulations that do not include toxic additives to humans and/or the environment, the mechanistic complexity of the biodegradation process has to be simplified into general categories and knowledge gaps. This approach will truly identify where active biodegradation stops by microorganisms and where purely chemical hydrolysis and degradation begins. The specific research focus of my project is on the essential role of water and secreted hydrolytic proteins play in the movement and activity of polymer degrading fungi. The result of this focus could ultimately identify if degradation may be attributed to thermodynamic potentials of the organism, polymer coating, or both the microorganisms and polymer coating. My project will focus on a strain of yeast (Aureobasidium sp. W12) isolated and identified from degraded polymer coatings inside of Air Force cargo aircraft. I will determine the culture conditions that stimulate the release of hydrolytic proteins from A. sp. W12 and then use defined polymer coatings and techniques to understand how these proteins are affecting the degradation of polyester polyurethane coating over time as biofilms or facilitate the condensation of water on the surface below the relative dew point during the degradation of the coating. The result of my summer project should be the first identification and key hydrolytic enzymes and mechanisms used by A. sp. W12 in the degradation of polyester polyurethane coatings.

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  Diversity in the American Ballet World

  Haleigh Melina Gross

  This THR/VAR 250 Diversity in the Creative and Performing Arts poster presentation project requires each student to research and present on a topic relevant to the interdisciplinary fields of visual and performing arts through a critical multicultural and social justice lens that foregrounds the appreciation of diversity and enables the expansion of personal cultural competencies.

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  Documenting Inequities

  Ellana Rose Davis

  This THR/VAR 250 Diversity in the Creative and Performing Arts poster presentation project requires each student to research and present on a topic relevant to the interdisciplinary fields of visual and performing arts through a critical multicultural and social justice lens that foregrounds the appreciation of diversity and enables the expansion of personal cultural competencies.

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  Does Cycle Syncing Help Females Balance Hormones?

  Aubrey M. Swart

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

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

  Madelyn Grace LoPresti

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

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

  Ashlee Hoang Nguyen

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

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  Does Gang Involvement and Exposure to Violence Affect Perceptions of Juveniles’ Chances for Future Success?

  Justin P. Parlette, Ethan James Zemek

  For our project, we looked at how gang involvement and exposure to violence affect perceptions of chances for future success. This is a quantitative research project using the Pathways to Desistance dataset, which is focused on 1,354 juveniles involved with the justice system in both Maricopa County, AZ and Philadelphia, PA. We looked at the baseline data (lasting from November 2000 until March 2003). In order to be eligible for the study, juveniles had to be between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of their offense. In our research, we used a total of nine variables. For our independent variables we used subject gender, ethnicity, number of biological parents in the household, ever involved in a gang, victim score, witness score, and personal rewards of crime. For our dependent variables we used aspirations and expectations for the future. Through our research, we found that victim score, the personal rewards of crime and ethnicity were significant in determining the results of future expectations. Furthermore, we found that ever being in a gang and the personal rewards of committing crime were significant in determining the result for future aspirations.

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

  Matthew T. Mahoney

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

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

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

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

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  Do You Truly See Them? Disabled LatinX Artists in the Arts

  Guadalupe Sanchez-Salvador

  This THR/VAR 250 Diversity in the Creative and Performing Arts poster presentation project requires each student to research and present on a topic relevant to the interdisciplinary fields of visual and performing arts through a critical multicultural and social justice lens that foregrounds the appreciation of diversity and enables the expansion of personal cultural competencies.

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  Drivers of Prairie Establishment during Post-Agricultural Ecosystem Restoration in Southwestern Ohio, USA

  Valerie Thurston, Michaela Woods, Madelaine Gregory, Ryan McEwan

  Ecological restoration of degraded lands, such as abandoned agricultural fields, often requires establishing native species in challenging environmental conditions. The interruption of this process by invasive species, such as Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), in the United States poses a significant obstacle to native plant reestablishment. Woody invasive species like Callery pear outcompete native plants, creating favorable conditions for invasion and rendering post-agricultural fields unsuitable for native species establishment. Traditional methods for controlling invasive species require consistent upkeep and observation, but in tallgrass prairies, increasing the diversity and abundance of plants has shown some ability to decrease the number of invasive species in the area. In collaboration with community partners at Five Rivers Metroparks, initiated an experiment on a 30-acre parcel of post-agricultural land in Trotwood, Ohio. Twenty 50 x 50m plots were established, each receiving one of four prairie seed mixes with varying levels of species diversity and legume content (n = 5 / seed treatment). These plots were further subdivided and treated with one of four soil amendments: mulch, whole soil, mulch & whole soil, and a control with no amendment. A vegetation survey conducted in the summer of 2023 to assess the state of the plant community. After around 5 years, we have found that there is still a significantly smaller presence of invasive species compared to native species. There is also a higher species richness in the higher diversity seed mix plots than the lower diversity seed mix plots, which shows some success in the different seed mixes. The research conducted continues to help gain a better understanding of the complex problem surrounding native restoration projects, particularly in the Midwest, and our ability to defend landscapes against invasion.

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  Drug and Alcohol Treatment Group Effects of Inmate Behavior

  Jack R. Dewine, Cameron J. Johnson

  For our research, we were interested in looking into the effects of drug or alcohol treatment programs on prison inmates. Specifically, we were looking at the effects that the treatment programs had on inmate behavior during their time incarcerated. Our research was done by examining the 2004 Survey of Inmates. The main focus of our study revolved around treatment programs and how they affected the behavior of inmates. In this study, we analyzed a multitude of factors, spanning from demographics to how the inmates conducted themselves before and after prison. In terms of demographics, we looked into male and female populations and how they may differ. Behaviors of inmates such as whether or not they went through treatment while imprisoned, whether or not they were charged with a drug offense, and if they were either written up for a drug/alcohol offense while in prison. In terms of actual attendance to treatment programs, our research led us to finding out that 80.9 percent of inmates incarcerated never attended a program. This comes as a surprise considering that our research also revealed to us that 65.72 percent of offenders arrested were in for a drug offense. Only 19.65 percent of those charged with a drug offense were not charged with drug possession. This was telling to us, showing that inmates who would benefit from help were not participating in the treatment programs which may be available. We found that in each model we ran, the sex of an inmate was the most significant in association with being written up for a drug or alcohol violation and that it was mostly men that were being written up. We also found that attending a treatment group before being incarcerated was significant in all models that they were included in. This result told us that if you had gone to a treatment group before prison, you were less likely to receive a write up for a violation.

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  Dve interacting partner chb role in microtubule dynamics during eye development

  Sunanda Yogi

  Chromosome bows (chb)/Mast/Orbit is required for bipolar mitotic spindle organization at the kinetochore. This is an important microtubule plus end tracking protein functions in maintaining the microtubule dynamics. It is evolutionary conserved and the human ortholog is cytoplasmic linker associated protein 1 (CLASP1) which plays crucial role in microtubule distribution and stability during cell cycle and has been shown to impact neurofibrillary tangle formation in tauopathies. To mechanistically understand, how chb regulate microtubule orientation? We are utilizing Drosophila, a genetic tractable model system with various developmental stages and looked at its genetic interactome, where has been shown that chb is being suppressed by defective proventriculus (Dve). It is a K50 homeodomain transcription factor required for the cell type specification and expressed in the dorsal head vertex region of eye-antennal imaginal disc of Drosophila. We hypothesize that if chb expression is regulated by dve which results in altered kinetochore assembly, when we knockdown the expression of chb using RNAi (RNA interference) in the eye, it gives us small and necrotic regions in the proper ommatidium arrangement of the eye. We are further interested into looking at what happens to dve expression and wg which is negative regulator of eye development. This will further illustrate on key partners involved in the cellular assembly of microtubules.

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  Ebony G. Patterson : Exploration of Invisibility and Visibility

  Jillian R. Fahey

  This THR/VAR 250 Diversity in the Creative and Performing Arts poster presentation project requires each student to research and present on a topic relevant to the interdisciplinary fields of visual and performing arts through a critical multicultural and social justice lens that foregrounds the appreciation of diversity and enables the expansion of personal cultural competencies.

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  Educating the Whole Person: Building a Community-based English Language Learning Program

  Kateri Marie Dillon

  While some resources exist to support adult English language learning in Dayton, Ohio, many immigrants and asylum seekers are prevented from accessing language instruction due to barriers of scheduling, transportation, and childcare. This is a detriment to the city of Dayton, which cannot effectively receive the gifts of its members not fully integrated into the community. In this study, the researcher takes a holistic and assets-based approach to adult English Language Learning (ELL). A tutoring, classroom hybrid English program was implemented to support the large Latinx population at Immaculate Conception Church, in partnership with Brunner Literacy Center. To mitigate barriers of scheduling, transportation, and childcare, the program was scheduled immediately after the well-attended Spanish mass each Sunday morning, while a children's program took place simultaneously. Over the course of the program, attendance increased from about 25 to 35 learners weekly. Tutors described feeling supported and satisfied with their volunteer experiences. Learners reported positive relationships with their tutors and an increase in confidence in their ability to speak English.