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  Toward DLP 3D-Printed Soft Robots: A Stereo DIC Investigation of the Mechanics of Ultra-Stretchable Self-Healing UV-Curable Photopolymers

  Joseph G. Beckett

  Digital light processing (DLP) additive manufacturing (AM) is a recent development in 3D printing where full layers of photo-curable polymers (photoresins) are irradiated and cured with projected ultraviolet (UV) light to create a three-dimensional part layer-by-layer. Recent breakthroughs in polymer chemistry have led to a growing number of ultra-stretchable, self-healing UV-curable elastomeric photoresins, some capable of over 450% elongation at fracture. Coupled with the practical manufacturing advantages of DLP AM, these novel elastomeric photoresins are compelling candidates for numerous exciting applications, ranging from regenerative medicine (e.g., vascular grafts and tissue scaffolds) to soft robotics (the focus of this research). In general, soft robotics refers to the use of “soft” materials (i.e., those with a high degree of flexibility, stretchability, and conformability, such as natural rubber) in robotic devices, producing conformal mechanisms that safely interact with humans and are adept at grasping and manipulating assorted objects. To advance the role of DLP AM in this novel and promising technological space, a fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior (i.e., deformation and fracture) of UV-curable elastomeric materials over a broad range of loading conditions is requisite. At present, however, this remains an open problem. Thus, the research described herein takes a first step toward addressing this critical technological gap by (a) designing and implementing a stereo digital image correlation (DIC) system optimized for large-deformation soft materials testing; (b) conducting an inaugural experimental test program on a novel self-healing UV-curable elastomer synthesized at the Air Force Research Laboratory; (c) using the resulting mechanical test data to develop working analytical and computational models that facilitate the design, optimization, control, and virtual testing of a prototype soft robot; and (d) validating the models using 3D DIC strain measurements of a full-scale soft robotic actuator.

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  Uncovering the Role of the Central Nervous System in Salamander Regeneration

  Ben Klocke, Augustine J. Miller, Jason Andrew Tornes

  Limb loss is a significant and debilitating health issue, affecting almost 2 million citizens in the United States alone. Unlike humans, the axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum possesses the remarkable ability to regenerate entire limbs and organs following amputation. The nervous system is known to play a critical role in regeneration, as intact peripheral nerves are necessary for proper limb regeneration. However, the role of the brain in regulating this fascinating process is unknown. In order to uncover the role of the brain in limb regeneration, we have conducted a series of neurochemical studies using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), as well as a high-throughput proteomics analysis to identify the neuromolecular processes affected in the axolotl brain during the course of limb regeneration. Taken together, these experimental data will contribute to ongoing studies by our group aiming to uncover the neuromolecular mechanisms underlying the role of the brain in amphibian regeneration.

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  Underwater Document Recognition

  Jaimin Nitesh Shah

  In this project, we propose an Image Quality Assessment and Comparison metrics for Image denoising algorithms. It is well known that Image denoising plays a significant role in various Image related applications. Motivated by this, we attempt to develop Image quality assessment and comparison metrics specifically targeting image denoising algorithms. We have prepared a dataset containing images of text documents with appropriate noise specifically to meet the needs of this project. Images are denoised using different algorithms and then fed into an OCR engine to obtain text, we then compare it with text obtained using ground truth images which do not have any added noise to assess denoised image quality obtained using different algorithms Keywords—image denoising, image quality assessment (IQA), optical character recognition (OCR).

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  Upward Mobility: Serving the Needs of Underrepresented Minority Students at a Predominantly White Institution, Perspectives of Administration and Staff

  Natalia Davila

  Higher educational institutions are challenged to improve graduation rates and are aggressively making degree completion a priority, thus, the issue of retaining underrepresented students becomes specifically acute and must be addressed. Examining the administration and staff’s perspective on supporting BIPOC students in a predominantly white institution (PWI) is essential to understanding, developing, and implementing effective strategies at universities and increasing graduation rates among minority students. Supportive practices are vital for providing these students with an opportunity to overcome academic struggles and eliminate challenges throughout the educational process. The purpose of this research is to determine the challenges preventing minority students from college graduation and identify the best approaches to support, prepare, and retain students from historically underrepresented groups within PWI’s. To retain and graduate these groups of students, the institution must ensure they are supported and prepared to succeed. This idea involves the university holistically evaluating the implications of race and culture from the effects of history, societal perceptions, and inadequate preparation on underrepresented students in the context of the university. The role of administration and staff was identified as critical to designing and executing plans to retain underrepresented students and support diversity along with associated benefits to the students' academic performance. The positive outcomes of diversity in the classroom are often highlighted by this research, which emphasizes the need for creating ethnically and culturally diverse educational environments. Hence, obtaining feedback and examining the supportive practices to foster minority student groups' retention from the perspective of faculty and administration can provide valuable insight and identify aspects for further, larger-scale research. Connection, engagement, and learning environment are deemed as critical factors of supporting minority students and increasing retention and graduation rates from the perspective of the faculty, administrative staff, and leadership of the PWI.

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  Virtual Me: Virtual Medication Evaluation Application

  Uday Aditya Kurapati

  There exist several health reminder applications in practice. In this project, we develop a smartphone application that interacts and reminds users of their routine via the avatar-based reminder system. In particular, the virtual avatar visualizes the user’s health condition. Our application reminds users to take medicine based on the scheduled time. The timely routine of the users in turn updates the virtual avatar. For the evaluation, we will test our system in the pool of actual users for their feedback.

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  Watersheds in The Region of Columbus, Ohio Located Between Cowan Lake/Creek and East/Todd Fork

  Isaiah Matthew Beaver

  The purpose of this study is to analyze watershed locations in a region of Columbus, Ohio that is located between Cowan Creek and Todd Fork. Cowan Creek is an extension of Cowan Lake, and Todd Fork is an extension of East Fork. All four of these will be used in this study, as they share the same waterbeds, just with different names. This area will be analyzed using several hydrological analysis tools in ArcMaps. This analysis will give results that display each unique watershed area. The USDA describes a watershed area as “the perimeter of drainage areas formed by the terrain and other landscape characteristics” (USDA). Watershed areas drainage locations will be noted as locations that should be considered for detention ponds and/or green infrastructure (Stormwater Solutions).

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  Were the Protests in Vain? - A Quantitative Data Analysis of the Relationship Between Black and White Populations in the United States

  Anna Mumma

  Death by the hands of police and their use of lethal force has been a consistent headline in news across the country. With the Black Lives Matter movement and the cry for justice being heard both online and through protests, this exploratory research study seeks to find a relationship between race and the criminal justice system in the states where the largest Black Lives Matter (BLM) names arose during the summer of 2020. These states include Minnesota, Kentucky, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, and Wisconsin. This research asks, “Are there racial disparities in incarceration rates and conviction rates in the states where the victims of police force—whose names were later echoed in Black Lives Matter protests—were killed?” Utilizing a dataset from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, state-level incarcerated information, and Census data, this quantitative analysis is conducted through a series of independent samples t-tests and chi-square analysis. Based on the p-value, this research seeks to discover if there is a significant relationship between race and incarceration rates. With a highly significant relationship found in each state (a p-value of less than 0.001), my research concludes that there is a 99.9% chance that the relationship between race and incarceration is not due to chance. Therefore, this study suggests there are external factors for high incarceration rates for Black people. While this research cannot determine exact causes, existing literature suggests that possible explanations could be related to implicit bias, militarization of police, and/or overuse of lethal force.

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  Where Do I Belong? Dyslexia and High Achievement in school

  Hannah Y. Riesenberg

  This presentation will explore the unique trials and successes of students that are twice exceptional or “2e” especially in regards to dyslexia. 2e students are children who have both a learning disability and are identified as gifted. I will draw from accounts of 2e students, their teachers and their parents to showcase a larger picture of what traditional education is like for 2e learners. I will explore the process of diagnosing a student as 2e and the resources that are available to help them succeed in a traditional school setting.

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  Women Participation in Development Across Bangladesh

  Anna J. De Cecco, Sophia E. Giles, Rhyan Pearson

  Based on the work and data gathered by Counterpart International, a development agency funded by USAID, this presentation examines how women’s participation in development projects in Bangladesh impact gender equality. This is part of a larger program Counterpart International has implemented since 2018, titled, ‘Promoting Advocacy and Rights’ (PAR) in collaboration with local NGOs. Anchored the in Gender/Women in Development (GID/WID) approach, PAR aims to deepen democratic values within civil society to improve public governance. We are specifically interested in understanding if the NGO is taking the necessary steps to include women participants in their meetings and seminars. One of the main goals of Counterpart’s project, through seminars and training events, is to close the gender gap in Bangladeshi communities to create a more inclusive and progressive society. Like many other patriarchal systems, men in Bangladesh are the powerholders in families, and women have to seek and receive permission from the men in the family in order to travel or take part in activities in Bangladesh. Given this context, Counterpart is working to help develop their society in order for women to have a more independent lifestyle. However, their research shows that women have rigorous domestic work schedules as they are in charge of all of the housework. It has been difficult for Counterpart to find inclusive times and locations as well as childcare for women to be involved. Our group aims to determine the methods Counterpart has used to reach out to women in their 6 cities of study and reduce the gender gap to ensure equal participation in their events. This is significant as these events are meant to empower women in order to create positive and lasting impacts.

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  “Women’s Suffrage for Whom?: How the 19th Amendment Failed to Secure the Right to Vote for Black Women and the Continued Efforts of Black Suffragists During the Roaring Twenties.”

  Megan Grace Brock

  With 2020 marking the 100 year centennial anniversary of Women's Suffrage in the United States, we are forced to ask ourselves, "What is it that we are truly celebrating?" The ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 has been revered for the past century as the year of American Women's Suffrage, but the harsh realities of racism and historic disenfranchisement meant that the freedoms guaranteed by the 19th Amendment were not equally extended to all women. Black Women’s struggle for the vote did not end with the passage of the 19th amendment, rather, the 1920s was a decade of both continued struggle and immense organization for Black Suffragists who were still fighting for the equal right to vote across the United States. Black Women's contributions in nearly all dominant historical movements and narratives have been historically overshadowed, misrepresented, minimized, and even omitted entirely. In an attempt to somewhat rectify this injustice, and rather than centering the focus on the factors that continued to restrict the equal access of Black Women to the ballot, this research will focus on the voices, demands, writings, and perspectives of Black Suffragists who lived, worked and dedicated themselves to the continued fight for Black Women's Suffrage during the 1920s. Focusing specifically on what Black Suffragists had to say, how they felt, their demands for change and progress, and the various ways Black Women organized for a cause that was for the first time inherently on behalf of the voting rights of Black Women is imperative to producing more holistic and accurate histories.